Jun 27, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers second baseman Hao-Yu Lee (50) receives congratulations from left fielder Riley Greene (31) after he hits a home run in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (41-50) vs. Athletics (41-50)
Time/Place: 6:40 p.m., Comerica Park SB Nation Site:Athletics Nation Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Troy Melton (4-1, 2.05 ERA) vs. LHP Jeffrey Springs (3-8, 5.79 ERA)
Jul 8, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Dylan Cease (84) delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the second inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images | D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
Blue Jays 10 Giants 0
What an amazing start by Dylan Cease. I wasn’t all for sending him back out for the eighth inning at 104 pitches. But Clease isn’t going to make a start in several days, with the All-Star break ahead (well, he might start the All-Star game). But in the eighth Daulton Varsho made an amazing catch running into the center field wall at close to full speed to make the catch, and then got two strikeouts. At 116 pitches, Clease was coming out for the ninth.
Unfortunately the first batter, Heliot Ramos, in the ninth lined a singled to center.
Cease walked three and struck out eleven. And the one hit. Just an amazing start.
Tyler Rogers finished off the one-hit shutout.
Everything that mattered, offensively, happened in the top of the first (well I shouldn’t say that, Vlad’s homer in the ninth matters, I hope, as a step in the right direction).
Ernie Clement and Nathan Lukes singled to start the first inning off. Vladimir Guerrero tapped a ball that barely trickled in front of the plate, which worked like a bunt, moving runners up to second and third. George Springer walked. Daulton Varsho popped one in front of the right fielder, who came up just short of making the catch (the Giants defense was terrible today), getting us a run. Then Kazuma Okamoto hit a grand slam (barely, hit right at the edge of the right field wall). They did a replay review and called it a home run. It was very close. 5-0. Barely works, and it is a long say out to right field in SF.
The Jays had four hits that inning, Logan Webb would go seven innings and gave up just one more hit. He did have some bad luck that inning
We scored two more in the eighth. With one out, Varsho and Okamoto each singled. Alejandro Kirk walked (on eight pitches). Myles Straw hit into what looked to be a double play, but first baseman Rafael Devers missed the catch at first base, gifting us another run. Andrés Giménez followed that with an infield single. As talked about in the GameThread, Giants shortstop Willy Adames isn’t the defensive player he used to be (maybe that unnecessary ‘e’ in his last name stands for error?). Adames made an error in the fifth inning.
And then three more in the ninth. Lukes walked and Vlad hit the first pitch for a home run. 108.3 mph and 419 feet. Then George Springer, hitting cleanup and playing in his first game since coming back to the team from Paternity Leave, also homered. This one 104.3 mph and 415 feet. Almost to the same spot as Vlad’s.
Vlad had hits of 108.3, 101.8 and 99.9 today. Springer 104.8 and 104.3. Lukes had one 106.1. Kirk 104.7. Okamoto 101.7. And Varsho 101.6….so there was lots of hard contact. Well, not all hits, contact off the bat.
Jays of the Day: Cease (0.18 WPA), Okamoto (0.19), and Varsho (0.10, plus that catch in the eighth).
No one gets the ‘Other Award’.
19 runs in the past two games is a nice sign.
Tomorrow is an off-day.
Then we have three in San Diego to lead us into the All-Star break.
In a matter of days, the MLB's most talented players will face off in Philadelphia during the 2026 MLB All-Star Game. From established names such as Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Juan Soto, to the 26 first-time All-Stars, there will be plenty for baseball fans to enjoy.
In the latest episode of his podcast, MLB According to CC, CC Sabathia reacted to the starting position players and pitchers for both the American League and National League. A six-time All-Star himself, Sabathia knows a thing or two about the Midsummer Classic. Here are some of his takeaways:
2nd base is deep for National League
Every year, there are players who may have been "snubbed" from the All-Star Game. While Sabathia believes that Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies was the right pick to start, he acknowledged the depth at the position in the NL.
San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez was selected as a reserve. Arraez is hitting .327, second-best in the majors this season. Two of the NL second basemen who didn't make the cut for the All-Star Game are JJ Wetherholt of the St. Louis Cardinals and BriceTurang of the Milwaukee Brewers. Wetherholt has 13 home runs and 36 RBIs while playing elite defense, while Turang has 54 RBIs and a .815 OPS for a Brewers team that is one of the best in baseball.
It's a deep position that leaves some key contributors home during the break.
Junior Caminero will be a superstar
Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero was selected to the All-Star Game for the second time and will be starting at the hot corner. At just 23 years old, Caminero isn't just one of the best young players in the sport, but one of the best, period.
Caminero has been on fire as of late, with 11 home runs in his last 14 games. He'll take his power surge with him to compete in the Home Run Derby on Monday night. Sabathia said Caminero, who has 26 home runs and a .918 OPS, is the "catalyst" for a Rays team which leads the American League by four games.
Sabathia believes that the All-Star break should be longer. This year's break doesn't start until Sunday afternoon's games wind down, and action picks back up just a few days later on Thursday and Friday. If the break was a full week, Sabathia thinks MLB players who aren't in the All-Star Game would show up to watch, NBA-style.
The short break also means that star pitchers can't take the mound at the All-Star Game. Brewers' pitcher Jacob Misiorowski, who is having a "season for the ages," is facing off against Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes on Sunday. Both will only be in the dugout on Tuesday because of it.
New episodes with CC and Ahmed Fareed drop every Wednesday on NBC Sports NOW, NBCSN, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JULY 03: Spencer Arrighetti #41 of the Houston Astros pitches in the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Daikin Park on July 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros (46-48) and Washington Nationals (47-46), who share their Spring Training complex together in West Palm Beach, FL, will conclude their three-game series with a rubber game in the nation’s capital tonight.
RHP Spencer Arrighetti (7-4, 3.81 ERA), who owns a share for the club lead with seven wins, will make his final start of the first half tonight opposite LHP Foster Griffin (9-2, 2.87 ERA) and the Nationals.
SPENCER’S GIFTS: RHP Spencer Arrighetti has been tough to hit this season, entering tonight’s start ranking fourth in the AL in hits per 9.0 (6.69) and seventh in opponent average (.208, 58×279) (min. 75IP). Arrighetti, who’s coming off a strong start his last time out vs. TB (1ER/6IP), is looking to regain his form from May, when he was the AL Pitcher of the Month after going 4-1 with a 0.93 ERA (3ER/29IP) in five starts.
SPINNING RECORDS: At 46-48, the Astros are two games below .500 for the fourth time in the last 10 days. A win tonight would move them to just a game below .500, a mark they have not been at since they were 6-7 on April 8.
THE SLOW TURNAROUND: After a slow start to the season, the Astros are 26-17 since May 21, which is the best record in the AL in that span. On that date, the Astros were 20-31, 11 games under, which is their low water mark for the season.
Winning Percentage since May 21, AL
1. Astros 26-17 (.605)
2. Mariners 23-18 (.561)
3. White Sox 22-19 (.537)
SERIES-LY SPEAKING: The Astros have six series victories in their last seven chances and can improve on that by winning tonight’s rubber game vs. the Nationals. The Astros have also won four of their last five road series.
ROAD WARRIORS: The Astros are 16-9 on their last four road trips combined and are 22-15 on the road since going 1-9 on their first road trip of the season. At 23-24 on the road this season, a win tonight would even the Astros road record at an even .500.
WINNING THE CLOSE CALLS: The Astros are 9-6 in one-run games and 21-11 in two-run games. Prior to last night’s three-run victory, each of the Astros last nine wins and 14 of their last 15 victories had come by two-or-fewer runs.
GET ‘EM EARLY: The Astros and Nationals rank first and second in the Majors in first-inning runs, with the Astros leading the AL with 64, and the Nationals leading the NL with 70. Overall, the Astros rank third in the American League in runs scored (430), while the Nationals check in leading the Majors in runs scored with 500 on the season.
LAST NIGHT’S WIN: The Astros evened their series with the Nationals last night with a 6-3 win in Washington. The bottom of the Astros order picked up five RBI between SS Nick Allen (1×12, 3RBI) and C Christian Vázquez (1×3, 2RBI), which proved to be enough in the win. The Astros bullpen was great, tossing 5.1 innings on one-run ball.
ALL-STAR ALVAREZ:DH Yordan Alvarez has been voted by the fans as the starting DH for the AL AllStar team…this marks the fourth All-Star selection for Alvarez (2022-24, 2026) and the second time that he has been voted as a starter (also in 2024).
MVP-CALIBER: DH Yordan Alvarez has had a torrid first half to his season, currently leading all of baseball in OPS (1.041), OBP (.420), SLG (.621), and total bases (208). Additionally, he ranks first in the AL in extra-base hits (45), first in HR (29), first in hits (105), first in runs (62), first in RBI (67), second in batting average (.313), and fourth in walks (59).
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Announced on Monday, DH Yordan Alvarez was named the American League Player of the Week for the week of June 29July 5. For the week, Alvarez hit .435 in six games with four home runs and 11 RBI while posting a 1.418 OPS. This marks the sixth career AL Player of the Week Award for Alvarez and his third this season.
GOING FOR 200: 1B Christian Walker hit his 199th career double on Monday and now needs just one double to reach 200 for his career. Walker is also in pursuit of his 200th career homer, as he checks in with 194 career long balls entering play tonight.
TAP FOR SUCCESS: Astros hitters have won an MLB-best 68 ABS challenges and lead the Majors in challenge success rate (62%). 3B Isaac Paredes (11-for-11) has the most successful challenges in the Majors without losing one. 2B Jose Altuve has been successful on 15-of-21 challenges (71%), ranking second in the Majors in challenges won.
WHAT A RELIEF: LHP Josh Hader is 3-0 with 10 saves (in 10 chances), has a 0.59 ERA (1ER/15.1IP), 25 strikeouts in 15.1 innings, a .061 (3×49) opponent average, and a 0.72 WHIP in 16 appearances. Prior to allowing an infield hit last night, Hader had not allowed a hit in eight straight appearances (8IP).
OUT ON ASSIGNMENT: The Astros have five players out on minor league rehab assignments:
• RHP Ronel Blanco (rt. elbow surgery) pitched in relief at Triple A last night, tossing 2.0 hitless innings on 27 pitches before the game was called due to lightning.
• RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (rt. shoulder inflammation) started at Triple A last night, tossing 4.0 innings, allowing two earned runs with four K’s on 77 pitches.
• LHP Bennett Sousa (lt. elbow inflammation) began a rehab assignment at Triple A on Sunday, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning on 10 pitches with one strikeout.
• RHP Hayden Wesneski (rt. elbow surgery) made a rehab start at Double A on Sunday, tossing 4.0 innings, allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts while tossing 46 pitches (29 strikes).
• SS Jeremy Pena (lt. calf strain) began a rehab assignment at Triple A last night, going 1×4 with an RBI double in a start at shortstop.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1980 – RHP J.R. Richard becomes the first Astro to be the starting pitcher in an All-Star Game. He fans three in 2.0 scoreless innings of work in the NL’s 4-2 win at Dodger Stadium. Richard faces nine hitters, striking out three, including a 1st-inning strikeout of perennial Yankees All-Star RF Reggie Jackson.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Wednesday, July 8, 5:45 p.m. CT
Location: Nationals Park, Washington, DC
TV: SCHN
Radio: KTRH 740 AM; KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
After a rough series opener, the White Sox turn to Davis Martin to stop the skid and keep their grip on first place in the AL Central. | (Michael Hirschuber/Getty Images)
After getting thumped, 8-1, in Tuesday’s series opener, the White Sox will get a shot at redemption and even the series against the Red Sox. Fortunately for the South Siders, Cleveland also lost, allowing Chicago to maintain its one-game lead atop the American League Central despite the lopsided defeat. It was an ugly loss, but the standings did not budge.
The Good Guys will hand the ball to Davis Martin, rolling in at 9-3 with a 3.08 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. The book on Martin is simple — stay away from the heart of the plate. Opposing hitters have feasted on pitches left in the middle third of the strike zone, batting .356 or better across all three middle-zone locations. By contrast, Martin has been far more effective working the edges, especially at the top corners, where hitters are batting just .188 and .111. Against a Boston lineup that has been swinging the bats well of late, the key will be living on the corners. If Martin can establish the fastball on the edges, keep his secondary pitches below the zone to generate chase, and avoid catching too much of the middle, he’ll give himself a strong chance to navigate the Red Sox lineup and give Chicago a fighting chance.
Boston counters with rookie lefthander Jake Bennett, who made his major league debut in May after arriving in a December 2025 trade with the Nationals. Bennett has been impressive through his first seven starts, going 3-3 with a 3.10 ERA and 0.98 WHIP across 40 2/3 innings. The book on Bennett is do not chase up. He is untouchable up in the zone, where hitters are batting a big fat zero. The damage comes when he misses down or grooves one over the plate. Opponents are hitting over .400 in the middle and .333-plus low. The Sox need to ignore anything up, work the count, and capitalize on mistakes that leak down or catch too much of the plate.
If the Sox want to salvage this series, the bats need to wake up. Over the past seven days, Chicago has managed just six home runs while batting .220, ranking 22nd in Major League Baseball with a paltry .660 OPS. Reinforcements are on the horizon, with Munetaka Murakami starting his rehab in Charlotte, but he will not be back before the weekend. Until then, the South Siders have to scrape together enough runs to give Martin a chance.
Here’s how Will Venable sends them out to tackle Bennett.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 07: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals leads off first base in the fifth inning during the game between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alyssa McDaniel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
After winning the first game and dropping the second, the Nats are looking to avoid a repeat of what happened against the Pirates. They will look to secure the series win and stay above .500. To do so, they will lean on their reliable ace Foster Griffin.
The Nats are only making a couple of changes to the lineup. Dylan Crews will be back in center field, taking Jacob Young’s spot. Jose Tena will be the DH in this one. Keibert Ruiz is catching, but he is moving down in the lineup. With CJ Abrams back at short and Jorbit Vivas remaining at second, there will be no Nasim Nunez tonight. As mentioned, Foster Griffin will be on the mound.
The Astros aren’t changing a ton. Yainer Diaz will be catching again, but that is the only change in personnel. There are a few tweaks in terms of the order, but nothing major. Spencer Arrighetti got off to a red hot start to the season, but has not been as sharp lately. Hopefully that trend continues.
Astros 7/8
J. Altuve 2B Y. Alvarez DH I. Paredes 3B C. Walker 1B C. Smith RF Y. Diaz C B. Matthews CF Z. Dezenzo LF N. Allen SS
This feels like an important rubber match for the Nats, who look to avoid another home series loss. With Foster Griffin on the mound, Blake Butera will like his chances. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 07: Manny Machado #13 and Jake Cronenworth #9 of the San Diego Padres celebrate on the field after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park on July 07, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After dropping their series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the San Diego Padres put one back in the win column quickly. The club rode a resurgent start from Germán Márquez alongside a Jake Cronenworth three-run homer to a convincing victory over Arizona.
It felt like maybe the Padres’ recent tough streak would continue after Márquez loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning. That was due to Cronenworth making an error at first base, though Márquez would have been in trouble either way. With the bases loaded, he walked Max Kepler for the first run of the game before Sung-Mun Song made an unassisted double play to get out of it.
Cronenworth made it up immediately with a deep drive to right field off of starter Zac Gallen, putting the Padres ahead. The score wouldn’t change on either side for the remaining eight innings. It was a fantastic showing for the Friars after a tough shutout on Monday night. They’ll need to keep it up in the hopes of winning the series over the Dbacks.
Taking the mound
Jose Cabrera (AZ) v. Michael King (SD)
With the Dbacks dealing with injuries to their rotation, Cabrera was called up a few weeks ago to bolster the pitching staff. The righty has pitched just three games for Arizona and had looked decent. He debuted with five shutout innings against the Minnesota Twins but has since regressed, surrendering seven runs in his last 8 1/3 frames.
Cabrera is a pitcher the Padres should be all over tonight. His two primary pitches are a cutter and four-seamer, both of which feature below-average velocity (89.6 and 93.4 mph on average). Even though the Friars haven’t faced Cabrera before, he shouldn’t be difficult for them to solve.
There’s no other way to say it, King needs to rebound soon. It’s the right-hander’s last start before the All-Star break. It would certainly be much better to head into the break with a good outing in the minds of the Friar Faithful.
That said, King has been better lately than it’s seemed. In his last three starts, the righty has given up six runs across 17 1/3 innings, good for a 3.12 ERA. That’s considerably better than the 4.69 mark across his last seven outings (and a slight improvement from the 3.52 ERA King’s posted this season). If he can keep that recent uptick going by quieting Arizona’s bats, it could give San Diego some momentum.
Batter up!
After scoring four runs on three hits in the first inning, the Padres’ lineup went somewhat dormant. They scraped together three more hits but didn’t put any more runs on the board. They didn’t need it last night, but San Diego didn’t take advantage of as many mistakes from Arizona’s pitching staff as they could have. They’ll be more margin for error tonight against the rookie Cabrera, but only if King can rebound from his recent difficulties.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jackson Merrill, CF
Manny Machado, 3B
Gavin Sheets, 1B
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Miguel Andujar, DH
Luis Campusano, C
Samad Taylor, LF
The new-look lineup paid off immediately despite looking quite interesting. After Cronenworth’s move to second in the order, the keystone position player shifted to the cold corner for the day. That went just about as well as could be expected, with Cronenworth making an error on the first ball hit his way. He mellowed out after that, but Sheets or Ty France should be back at first base tonight.
Relief corps
After Yuki Matsui struggled to record a second out in the sixth inning, newcomer Jhony Brito came in with runners on first and second base and just one out. He immediately induced a double play to end the trouble before pitching a perfect seventh inning. Brito has long been viewed as a hopeful addition for San Diego who has been derailed by injuries. Hopefully, he can finally put it all together.
Behind Brito, Bradley Rodriguez and Mason Miller pitched a perfect eighth and ninth. Miller nailed down his 23rd save of the year, putting him atop the National League in the statistic (third overall). Brito’s outing allows the Padres options tonight, with Kyle Hart, Ron Marinaccio, Adrian Morejon and Wandy Peralta available. Miller could also pitch if the Friars enter the ninth in a save situation.
Sep 29, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers assistant coach Johnny Carpenter poses for a photo during media day. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Per Tony East of Circle City Spin and Dustin Dopirak of the Indy Star, the Milwaukee Bucks have hired Indiana Pacers assistant coach Johnny Carpenter as an assistant coach and head of player development, replacing Jack Herum, who had spent the last three seasons in that role for Milwaukee.
Carpenter was slated to be the Pacers’ head coach during Summer League, but that will no longer happen with following his move to the Bucks, where, at least according to Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, he will take on greater responsibility:
“The Bucks’ offer to Johnny was a clear step up in responsibility and therefore received the organization’s blessing. We thank Johnny and his family for a great year with the Pacers and wish them the very best.”
Prior to joining the Pacers, Carpenter worked with new Bucks head coach Taylor Jenkins in Memphis during the 2024-25 season, with roles in player development and scouting. During his lone season there, they had an exceptional draft class from top to bottom, selecting Zach Edey at no. 9, Jaylen Wells at no. 38, and Cam Spencer at no. 53. They were also able to add center Jay Huff—who Carpenter worked with at the University of Virginia—in free agency. Huff had the best season of his career up to that point, averaging 6.9 PPG and 2.0 RPG, shooting 51.5% from the field and 40.5% from three (3.1 3PA). Then, reuniting with Carpenter last season in Indiana, Huff posted a career year replacing Myles Turner as the starting center, averaging 9.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.5 APG, and 1.9 BPG.
Before his stint in Memphis, Carpenter spent nine years at his alma mater, the University of Virginia, where he served in several different roles, including assistant coach, director of player personnel, and basketball technology assistant. During his time with the Virginia Cavaliers, he helped develop several NBA players, including a familiar name to Bucks fans: former Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon. He’s also worked with Trey Murphy III, De’Andre Hunter, Ty Jerome, and Ryan Dunn.
In addition to his NBA roles with Indiana and Memphis, Carpenter also spent the 2014-15 season under Carlisle in Dallas, where he served as an assistant video coordinator.
After a rumor came out that Anthony Volpe refused to learn second base when the club asked him, the Yankees shortstop and the team defended the young infielder.
"It definitely caught me off guard. It's confusing because it's not true. It couldn't be further from the truth," Volpe told the media, including MLB.com's Bryan Hoch, on Wednesday. "From my end, from our perspective, that's been very clearly communicated to Boonie and the team, and I think it's just kind of B.S.”
The rumor began when Yankees play-by-play announcer Michael Kay said on his radio show on Tuesday that he had heard from people that Volpe refused to learn a new position while he was optioned to the minors. Kay has since retracted what he said.
Volpe was asked if he felt playing shortstop was a part of his identity and pushed back on that assertion.
"No. When I was getting optioned, I told Boonie I'd play catcher. I'd do literally whatever the team needed, and that's the truth behind the story," Volpe answered. "I still have no problem [playing second]. I want to be here, and I want to help the team win the World Series. That's literally all I want. So for anything opposite to be put out there, it's kind of just confusing."
"He handles things incredibly well, and I don't think he is affected by the different things that can be said on whatever, social or -- he's a gamer. He's a tough, tough kid that loves the game and plays his butt off every single day," manager Aaron Boone said prior to Wednesday's game with the Rays. "I wish that was celebrated a little bit more."
Volpe's fourth season in the bigs has been a tough one for the 25-year-old. In 41 games, Volpe is slashing .240/.338/.326 with an OPS of .664. He's also not playing shortstop regularly, as Jose Caballero has performed well enough to take playing time away from Volpe.
The Yankees are starting Volpe at shortstop in Wednesday's game against the Rays with Caballero playing second.
WILLIAMSPORT , PA - AUGUST 17: Mr. Met entertains fans atop the dugout during the game between the Seattle Mariners and the New York Mets at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field on Sunday, August 17, 2025 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Aliza Chambers/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Royals are coming off of two wild games in a row. They have amassed 31 runs on 41 hits, and they are even on a winning streak of three games. We have to take small victories at this point. Tonight’s game is likely to have some scoring too, though baseball is weird, so you never know. The Royals will have Stephen Cruz as opener into Randy Dobnak the bulk man. That does not seem like the sort of thing that will keep run production down. Here are the lineups for the 6:10 central start in Queens.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JUNE 09: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on June 09, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After such a promising start to this pivotal four-game series against the Rays, the Yankees ceded that ground back thanks to a disappointing start from Will Warren in which he allowed three home runs in four innings. It means that the Bombers can no longer finish this series tied for the division lead – something that a four-game sweep would have accomplished. All the same, there is still a chance to take three of four from the division leaders, starting with a win tonight.
Hopefully Gerrit Cole can right the ship after Warren’s stinker last night. He’s coming off one of his better starts of the season — five innings of two-run ball with no walks and seven strikeouts against the Twins. His four-seam command was as good as we’ve seen it since his campaign started on May 22nd, but he’ll need to find a more consistent release point on his slider and changeup facing a Rays team that traditionally demolishes fastballs from Yankees pitchers. In eight starts, Cole is 3-3 with a 4.01 ERA (105 ERA+), 4.41 FIP, and 41 strikeouts in 42.2 innings.
Shane McClanahan is back to his best after missing all of the last two seasons to Tommy John surgery in 2024 and triceps surgery in 2025. The fastball velocity is down about a tick-and-a-half from his peak resulting in a slightly depressed strikeout rate, but he has more than made up for that by slashing his home run rate almost in half from his prior career average. That becomes important when you consider that the Yankees’ relative success against him — 4.70 ERA, 4.91 FIP, .507 SLG in eight starts — is largely down to the long ball. In 16 starts this year, McClanahan is 7-5 with a 3.05 ERA (141 ERA+), 3.29 FIP, and 77 strikeouts in 79.2 innings.
The Yankees make three changes to last night’s lineup. Trent Grisham gets the night off, meaning Max Schuemann slides over to play center and Jasson Domínguez comes in to play right. Anthony Volpe returns to play short moving José Caballero to second and Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the bench. Austin Wells replaces Ali Sánchez behind the plate despite the latter’s two hits yesterday.
The Rays also make three changes from last night’s lineup. Victor Mesa Jr. and Hunter Feduccia both homered off Warren, but they are replaced by Jonny DeLuca in right and Nick Fortes behind the plate, respectively. Richie Palacios was pinch-hit for by Ben Williamson in the sixth and now its Williamson who gets the start at second.
Jun 11, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Christian Scott (45) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Mets lineup
A.J. Ewing – CF Juan Soto – LF Bo Bichette – 3B Francisco Lindor – SS Carson Benge – RF Jorge Polanco – DH Jared Young – 1B Brett Baty – 2B Francisco Alvarez – C
Christian Scott – RHP
Royals lineup
Carter Jensen – C Bobby Witt – SS Jac Caglianone – 1B Lane Thomas – CF Salvador Perez – DH Michael Massey – 2B Nick Loftin – 3B Isaac Collins – LF Tyler Tolbert – RF
Randy Dobnak – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 7:10pm EDT TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
For the most part, the major players in the NBA have already found their new homes.
The NBA offseason and free agency cycle have brought about massive changes in player movement and power dynamics, though the one notable exception remains.
James’ next team will generate significant intrigue, but now that the dust has settled after the first week of free agency, here are the early winners and losers of the NBA offseason:
WINNERS
Miami Heat
The question I’ll be asking throughout this exercise is whether teams improved their standing as contenders. Essentially: are they closer to competing for a championship than they were a month ago? For the Heat, the answer is undeniably yes. Giannis Antetokounmpo, when healthy, remains one of the five best basketball players in the world. Bobby Portis was another sneaky solid addition. Miami has become a desirable destination again. The roster still needs some filling out, but the Heat are in play for LeBron James; adding him would make Miami a compelling threat in the East.
Philadelphia 76ers
Getting Jaylen Brown on the cheap is a massive win. Joel Embiid is now 32 and simply not consistently available, so adding another star in his prime — Brown is 29 — instantly makes Philly a problem. Brown should pair excellently next to two-time All-Star Tyrese Maxey, Embiid and VJ Edgecombe. The Sixers now have potent scoring threats all over the floor.
Not only that, but Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons were a pair of solid signings who bring shooting and spacing. If Philly can get Embiid to remain mostly healthy, the 76ers can challenge the Knicks for the conference title in ’27. And if LeBron James signs on, Philadelphia could be dominant next season.
Toronto Raptors
Credit Toronto for understanding that its roster was good but not great. Credit the franchise, too, for understanding that Scottie Barnes is one of the young stars in the game, but grasping that a lead scorer was necessary. Kawhi Leonard is exactly that scorer, though he remains an elite defender who fits Toronto’s style perfectly. The Raptors tied for fifth last season in defensive rating (112.1), and Leonard will highlight those efforts.
The Eastern Conference beefs up
Antetokounmpo and Brown stayed in the conference and Kawhi Leonard returned to Toronto after six seasons with the Clippers. It appears LeBron James — who is reportedly favoring the Cavaliers, Heat and 76ers among his list of suitors, per ESPN — may return to the Eastern Conference. The Knicks are the reigning champions and kept their core mostly intact. The 2025 Eastern Conference champion Pacers should presumably get a healthy Tyrese Haliburton to return.
The narrative over the last decade has been that the West has been the superior conference. And while the West may have most of the Top 5 players in the league, the East has bulked up.
LOSERS
Boston Celtics
The timing of the slander against Jaylen Brown is not very subtle. Brown, who has been stellar for the Celtics and carried them this season as Jayson Tatum was on the mend, is suddenly a negative asset? I don’t buy it. The idea behind that narrative is that Brown has stretches of inefficiency in his offensive game and his plus-minus indicates that Boston was better with him off the floor. And while Brown was more of a high-volume option last season, this strikes me as a case where selective analytics are being used to tip the scale and craft a narrative. Watch Brown’s film, and you clearly see a player who can score at three levels, can score in the clutch and who impacts winning. Paul George, at this stage of his career, simply cannot touch the impact Brown provided.
Mitchell Robinson is an interesting addition, but he hasn’t been available, playing just 108 of a possible 246 regular season games over the last three seasons. Going back to the question I posed up top: no, the Celtics did not improve their standing as a title contender. If anything, Boston feels further away.
Los Angeles Lakers
If the pitch to Luka Dončić was that this offseason would be the one to infuse more talent into the Lakers roster, the results, frankly, have been underwhelming. Walker Kessler is a fine center and one who actually provides some of what Los Angeles needs, but this felt like an overpay — both in draft capital needed to acquire him and the contract the Lakers gave him. Kessler is still young and will turn 25 later this month, but will he be able to provide the low-post offense Los Angeles needs? He’s mostly unproven in that regard.
Quentin Grimes is a solid depth addition, as is Collin Sexton, but James’ departure leaves a massive void of institutional knowledge and play-making ability. Despite injuries down the stretch, the Lakers remained competitive. The pressure is now on Dončić and Austin Reaves to deliver.
The NBA’s middle class
It has never been better to be a max player. Donovan Mitchell, a clear top-15 player, just inked a massive four-year, $273 million max deal. Projections for that deal are that the final year will be worth a staggering $70.7 million; his player option for 2030-31 is even steeper, at around $75.5 million. Mitchell is not alone; this is the going rate for max players who reach performance thresholds such as All-NBA selections.
Yet, as the growth of the salary cap has lagged — the cap for 2026-27 will increase just 6.7% — that has squeezed the NBA’s middle class. Essentially, local broadcast revenue has dragged, leading to the lukewarm increase in the cap. And because star players are always a premium, teams are being far more selective with their limited cap space.
Mid-tier teams running it back
I’m looking, mainly, at the Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic. Both were playoff teams, and both flamed out at the end. Houston is likely banking on point guard Fred VanVleet (torn ACL) stabilizing the position. And Houston’s biggest weakness was indeed at point guard, but after a rather awkward season in which Kevin Durant’s frustrations with his younger teammates spilled out into the public, it was time to take some calculated risks in roster management. The Rockets, however, have been quiet and — as currently constructed — are no closer to the Spurs, Thunder, Nuggets or even Timberwolves.
The Magic fired former coach Jamahl Mosley and hired ex-Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney. A change in leadership will help, but Orlando’s lack of consistent shooting hasn’t been addressed. Neither has the seemingly odd fit of stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Sweeney should define the roles more clearly. But as much of the East got better, the Magic have stayed stagnant.
The Golden State Warriors, who missed out on Antetokounmpo and may miss out on LeBron James, should probably be added here as well. Golden State now absolutely needs Jimmy Butler to return from his torn ACL and be an impact player once again.
The Vancouver Canucks’ 2026 development camp was not the first time Austin Brimmer had come out to Abbotsford.
It was, however, the first time he truly got to sit back and enjoy the beauty of BC’s landscape.
The winger, who turns 25 in October, was one of six players invited to Vancouver’s development camp this year. While he may have officially gone through camp with the invitee title, Brimmer’s already officially a member of the Canucks organization, having signed a PTO and a one-year contract with the Abbotsford Canucks as a free-agent.
“It was actually a really quick turnaround,” he told The Hockey News on the final day of development camp. “I was at Rochester Institute of Technology and had a great season there and we unfortunately got beat in the playoffs, lost back-to-back overtime games in Boston on the Saturday, and Sunday we drove back to Rochester, and by Monday I had my plane ticket booked to come out to Abbotsford, so got on the plane, landed Tuesday night, and then Wednesday I played my first pro game.
“It was honestly just such a quick turnaround, but it was an awesome experience,” Brimmer added.
Brimmer played in a total of 13 games for Abbotsford towards the tail-end of the AHL regular season, during which he collected his first professional-league point with an assist on Jayden Grubbe’s goal against the Henderson Silver Knights on March 15.
While it wasn’t a whole lot of time, Brimmer noted how significant those 13 games will be in how he approaches his first full professional hockey season.
“For me, it was huge, because I got a chance to see what it takes to succeed at that next level, and for me, I got to see areas of my game that I have to improve in the off-season in order to step into next year and be an impactful player and play the capability that I want to play at. Having that experience was huge for me in my development, and I’m very fortunate for that.”
Between that hasty journey out to Abbotsford and the six away-games the AHL Canucks played during Brimmer’s beginning stint with the team, it’s safe to say there wasn’t much time for him to further investigate his surroundings.
Which is why Brimmer appreciated the fact that camp started off with the daunting activity of river rafting.
“It was a great way to kind of break the ice, getting to know all the guys, and just getting thrown into a boat with random players, random guys that you’ve never really met before — so you’re kind of forced to get to know each other and communicate with each other, as well as have fun, and kind of get to see British Columbia in the beautiful way that it is,” he said. “Great opportunity to see how beautiful BC really is.”
Photo Credit: Kaja Antic-THN
As a whole, the week of learning, connecting, and developing was a big one for Brimmer, who will be returning to Abbotsford for the 2026–27 season. Having made the jump from the NCAA to the AHL within a matter of days, getting the chance to absorb knowledge and learn from both his fellow prospects as well as the development coaches has been integral to his growth as a player.
“It’s been an awesome opportunity for me. In a way, it’s something that you’ve always dreamed of as a kid, kind of being in these spots where you get to be surrounded by all these excellent hockey minds and NHL-calibre coaches and management and facilities,” he said. “For me, I was just trying to be a sponge and just soak it all in, I was around and got to play with some unbelievable players out there on the ice, and [...] we had coaches who have NHL experience, like 15, 17 seasons, and just hearing what they have to say was just awesome for me to take that all in.”
There are plenty of lessons Brimmer will be taking with him as he takes the next step in his professional hockey career with Abbotsford. The one thing he’s learned most from camp, he says, is the importance of the little details of the game.
It’s something that Abbotsford fans can look forward to when Brimmer hits the ice at the Rogers Forum next season.
“It’s one thing to have the talent and the compete level, but you’ve gotta totally love it and dedicate your whole life to it if you want to succeed at that next level. And that’s just zoning in on the little details that will separate you from the rest.”
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 05: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on after a monster dunk during the fourth quarter of the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LeBron James is still a free agent. As of now, it’s anyone’s guess as to which of the handful of teams that are vying for his services he ends up with.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are in the running to land James in free agency, but there is company in the group of possible suitors. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Cavs, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers appear to be the top teams.
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In that report, Charania also said that there “isn’t a timetable” for James to make a decision.
Some of the smoke for a possible signing with the Sixers came from the Game Over podcast. LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, had Bob Meyers (who led the Sixers searh for a new general manager earlier this summer) on the show to make a pitch for LeBron for the Sixers. That, understandably, raised some eyebrows.
Still, some insiders around the league aren’t comfortable naming who a favorite is, but they do believe that Cleveland and Miami are the safest best.
Chris Haynes said in a radio hit with Deals and Dunks that he wouldn’t name a favorite, but views the Cavs and Heat as “safe landing spots.” Brian Windhorst said something similar with ESPN Cleveland noting that the vibes would feel “right” with the Cavs and the Heat.
We’ve reached a point in free agency where it’s difficult to really figure out what is actually happening. Everyone still seems to be in the dark. We know that the Cavs have a chance — and make the most sense from a storytelling perspective — but LeBron may not think as we do.
We’ll see how this plays out in a free agency process that is continuing to drag out without an end in sight.
