Over the San Jose Sharks' history, there have been just two players to ever wear the number 63, including one of the Sharks' young core players currently on the roster.
Zack Ostapchuk was originally drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft. He then went on to make his professional debuts, both at the NHL and American Hockey League levels, during the 2023-24 season with the Senators and their affiliate, the Belleville Senators.
After two seasons splitting time between Ottawa and Belleville, Ostapchuk was included in a trade that saw Fabian Zetterlund heading to Canada's capital city in the middle of the 2024-25 campaign.
Ostapchuk finished out the season with the Sharks, appearing in 13 games for the team in teal. The following season though, he apparently didn't have a strong enough showing in training camp and was reassigned to the San Jose Barracuda to start the 2025-26 season. After 11 games in the AHL though, Ostapchuk was brought back up to the NHL and never looked back.
In 59 games, Ostapchuk's offensive production wasn't overly impressive, even for a fourth-line center, but his other attributes solidified him as the Sharks' 4C of the future. As a result, he earned a four-year contract extension this summer and will remain on the team for the foreseeable future.
The Raptors were going to send forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks (2031, 2033), two second-round picks (2030, 2033) and a 2027 first-round swap to Los Angeles.
Instead, both teams have put a halt to the trade, citing an ongoing investigation.
Leonard, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, and Leonard's uncle/advisor Dennis Robertson are being investigated for their alleged involvement in a “no-show” agreement with a company, Aspiration, to funnel extra compensation to Leonard as part of a salary cap circumvention.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver stated on July 14 that he expects the investigation to be concluded before the start of the 2026-27 season. Silver and the NBA are not conducting the investigation and instead using a third-party law firm.
ESPN's Baxter Holmes reported earlier this week that the investigation into the Clippers and Leonard could carry on into 2027. If the investigation were to carry on into the upcoming season, Leonard could be back in a Clippers uniform.
“I can’t comment on the specifics of the investigation, but what I can say is we did not do what we are accused of doing,” Lawrence Frank, the Clippers' president of basketball operations, saud on June 23, a week before the trade was announced. “The investigation has had no impact on how we go about our business. We just continue to go about our business as normal.”
Do Raptors still want Kawhi Leonard?
The Raptors are not ready to officially welcome Leonard until a decision is reached regarding the investigation.
The organization released the following statement on July 9:
“Regarding our planned trade with the LA Clippers for Kawhi Leonard, the NBA league office informed us that as a result of the ongoing investigation involving the Clippers, we would assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation impacting Kawhi.
In light of this, we will wait until the league's investigation is complete.
The Raptors remain eager to bring Kawhi back to Toronto and look forward to a swift resolution for our players, our organization, and our fans.”
Toronto doesn’t want to be stuck in a situation like the Miami Heat found themselves in with Terry Rozier.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne shared on the network’s show “NBA Today” that the Clippers would be fine with having Leonard back on the team next season.
The genesis of the trade happened because the Clippers were not willing to extend Leonard’s contract beyond the upcoming season, according to Shelburne.
Leonard is scheduled to make $50.3 million during the final year of his contract.
What’s Brandon Ingram thoughts on pending trade?
Ingram was named as an NBA All-Star for the second time in his career this past season. He played in 77 games in his first season with the Raptors, averaging 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 33.8 minutes per game.
Marc J. Spears stated that he spoke with Rich Paul, CEO of Klutch Sports Group, about Ingram.
"It's a business,” Spears said while sharing Paul’s comments on the show. “Brandon knows it's a business. He's fine either way."
Ingram will make $40 million next season. He has a player option for the 2027-28 season.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani wasn’t in the lineup for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night because of lingering soreness in his left knee that is keeping him off the mound.
The two-way superstar wanted to play against the Seattle Mariners, manager Dave Roberts said, but it was the team’s decision to rest him. Ohtani told the training staff of renewed soreness after Wednesday night’s 4-2 win.
“I appreciate the communication,” Roberts said. “I can’t read minds, the training staff can’t read minds, so just for him to communicate that then allows for us to make a decision.”
Second baseman Tommy Edman was set to bat leadoff in Ohtani’s place in the series finale.
Ohtani has been dealing with knee soreness since June 11 and hasn’t pitched since July 3 while also dealing with a right biceps issue. He skipped the All-Star Game in Philadelphia to stay home and receive a lubricant injection in the knee.
He is still serving as the designated hitter. Ohtani was 5 for 7 combined in his last two games against the Mariners, with a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored.
“The last couple days he’s been on base a lot more whereas the last part of the road trip he wasn’t, so there might have been a little something to that,” Roberts said, adding that nothing occurred in the game Wednesday to precipitate Ohtani sitting out the next day.
The Dodgers expect Ohtani to return to pitching this season, but they’re not rushing him back to the mound.
“If there was something structural, then we would be much more concerned,” Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations, said Wednesday. “The fact that there’s not and the fact that it does keep improving suggests that we’re on the right path.”
For now, the team doesn’t have any plans to shut down Ohtani entirely to give him time to recover from his ailments.
“We’re talking about this constantly,” Roberts said. “Nothing should be off the table and nothing is set in stone. So I think it’s more of how he feels. With this new information we’ve got to have new conversations.”
On Thursday, it was announced that Hershiser would be honored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and would be presented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Sports Entertainment.
EXCLUSIVE: Dodger Legend Orel Hershiser will be honored by Hollywood Chamber of Commerce with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in the category of Sports Entertainment.
The ceremony will be held on August 13, at 11:30 am at 6755 Hollywood Boulevard. pic.twitter.com/yNRZdFQWif
Orel Hershiser to be inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
During his 18-year playing career, Hershiser spent his first 12 years in the league, wearing a Dodgers uniform.
In his rookie year, in 1984, Hershiser was given the nickname “The Bulldog” by legendary Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda because of his nature as a fearsome competitor.
In 1988, Hershiser was a CY Young Award winner for the Dodgers when he led the National League in wins [23], while pitching with a 2.26 ERA and striking out 178 batters.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
1988 was a year for the ages for the Dodgers as the team won their sixth World Series in franchise history, and it was also their second World Series within a seven-year timeframe.
Hershiser was crowned the 1988 World Series MVP after tossing two complete games, giving up only 7 hits and two runs, and striking out 17.
Hershiser’s career came to an end after having one last run, pitching in a Dodgers uniform in 2000. In 2023, he was inducted into the “Legends of Dodger Baseball.”
Orel Hershiser to be inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame. MLB Photos via Getty Images
When his baseball career came to an end, he began working as a broadcaster, having multiple stints at ESPN between 2000 and 2013. In 2013, Hershiser joined legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully in the booth in a color commentary role.
The two have gone on to cover some of the best years of Dodgers baseball as the team has constantly been a World Series contender, and have won three of them over the last 10 seasons.
Jul 4, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Ryan McMahon (19) reacts after striking out to end the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Major League Baseball’s trade deadline is just a few days away. On Monday, August 3rd at 4:00 PM MT, the Colorado Rockies will hopefully have had one of their most active deadlines in recent memory.
With a new front office helmed by president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta and general manager Josh Byrnes, it has been indicated that the Rockies are open for business. Many players–especially veterans and those on expiring contracts–have been designated as available and are even reportedly drawing interest from teams throughout the league.
The Rockies made their first trade last week to signal the start of the trade season. Right-handed reliever Seth Halvorsen was sent in a surprising and rare trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for two prospects. Last season, the Rockies similarly made their first big move before the deadline. However, under former general manager Bill Schmidt they ended up making just three total trades. Let’s take a look back at those trades and see where the bar sits for this season’s deadline.
Third Baseman Ryan McMahon to the New York Yankees
In the week preceding last year’s deadline, the Rockies signaled change might be coming when they dealt long-time third baseman and face of the franchise Ryan McMahon to the New York Yankees in exchange for pitching prospects Josh Grosz and Griffin Herring.
Grosz showed off his strikeout stuff in High-A Spokane to finish the 2025 season with 41 strikeouts in 38.1 innings. However, he struggled with his command and ended the season with a 5.87 ERA. The Rockies’ new front office then traded Grosz this off-season to the Arizona Diamondbacks for outfielder Jake McCarthy. McCarthy has in turn become one of the Rockies’ most valuable contributors and is now potentially on the market t be traded again within the next few days.
Herring (no. 10 PuRP) dominated with the High-A Spokane Indians after being acquired by the Rockies. He quickly became one of the team’s more highly ranked prospects and held a 2.40 ERA over seven starts with 47 strikeouts in 30 innings. Unfortunately, his 2026 has been a difficult one. Herring has struggled with the move to Double-A Hartford. While still showcasing the ability to strike out loads of batters with 32 in 23.1 innings, he has also struggled with his command with 25 walks and has been hit hard. Herring has been sent on development stints with the Arizona Complex League several times this season.
Meanwhile, McMahon hasn’t necessarily taken to his change of scenery. Once an every day starter, he is now in a platoon situation with Amed Rosario–who was also obtained by the Yankees during last year’s deadline. While still a strong defensive third baseman, McMahon is hitting just .210/.270/.369 with nine home runs and a 30.8% strikeout rate.
Right-handed pitcher Tyler Kinley to the Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves were one of the Rockies’ most common trade partners during the Bill Schmidt era, and the two teams once again made a deal last season when right-handed reliever Tyler Kinley was sent in exchange for right-handed pitcher Austin Smith.
Kinley was excellent for the Braves last season. In 24 appearances and 25 innings he posted a 0.72 ERA with 22 strikeouts and six walks. He gave up just two earned runs to finish the season, one of which came off a solo home run.
This season, Kinley has been much more down to earth. Although he missed time with an elbow injury, Kinley has made 44 relief appearances in Atlanta with a 4.23 ERA and 38 strikeouts over 38.1 innings.
Austin Smith spent the remainder of the 2025 season with the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats an posted a 1.69 ERA over his final 15 relief appearances. He struggled during the 2025 Arizona Fall League with a 10.80 ERA in eight appearances and was re-assigned to Hartford for 2026.
As with the other pitching prospects the Rockies received during last year’s deadline, walks have been an issue for Austin Smith this season. He’s given up 31 free passes in 28 appearances and 35.2 innings. However, he has also struck out 38 batters and has a 3.53 ERA with only two home runs allowed.
Right-handed pitcher Jake Bird to the New York Yankees
The Rockies capped off the 2025 trade deadline by sending long time bullpen stalwart Jake Bird to the Bronx in exchange for two more prospects from the Yankees’ farm system.
Bird’s initial tenure with the Yankees was nothing short of a disaster. In three appearances he pitched just two total innings and gave up seven runs–six earned–with two home runs allowed before being optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He was left off the Yankees’ playoff roster.
His 2026 season has been less eye-wateringly bad, but Bird has continued to struggle for the Yankees. He’s bounced back and forth between Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and the big league squad, being optioned three times so far this season. When with the Yankees, he has posted a 5.93 ERA in 36 appearances with 31 strikeouts in 30.1 innings.
The main prize the Rockies got in return for Bird was second base prospect Roc Riggio (no. 14 PuRP). Although he got off to a slow start with Double-A Hartford this season, Riggio is now hitting .257/.370/.496 with 21 doubles, two triples, and 14 home runs. He’s also stolen 16 bases and leads the Yard Goats with 50 walks.
The Rockies also received left-handed pitcher Ben Shields in the trade. Shields made five strong starts for the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats in 2025. Over five starts he posted a 2.33 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 19.1 innings. Shields was sent to the Arizona Fall League, but made just one incredibly difficult appearance. He gave up five earned runs on four hits and a walk while recording just one out. Shields was then shut down with a left shoulder injury that has kept him sidelined for the entire 2026 season thus far.
Conclusion
Last season was one of the Rockies’ most active trade deadlines in recent memory, but even then they only dealt three players and received five prospects in return. With the team now dedicated to rebuilding and a new front office in power, expectations are much, much higher.
Do you consider last year’s deadline successful? What would it take for you to consider this year’s deadline successful? Let us know in the comments.
The San Francisco Giants will shut down outfielder Harrison Bader for the rest of the season following his left plantar fasciitis injury that has kept him out since May 29.
"The impact of that injury changed the nature of his evaluation, which had originally been to determine the severity of the initial injury/condition (left plantar fasciitis)," the Giants said in a team release.
He received an MRI on July 28 to "better understand the severity of the injuries sustained from the scooter accident," per the Giants.
On Thursday, July 30, Giants manager Tony Vitello told NBC Sports Bay Area's Alex Pavlovic that the team already determined that Bader would not return during the 2026 season. This determination allegedly was before the 32-year-old's scooter accident.
As far as the scooter accident, Vitello had no updates and said the front office was sorting it out. In the 2026 season, Bader finished with a .170 batting average, 14 RBIs and five home runs in 30 games.
Tony Vitello said Harrison Bader won’t return this season, but apparently that was the case because of the plantar fasciitis anyway. No new details on the new (scooter-related) injury. Vitello said the front office is sorting through that.
Bader joined San Francisco during the offseason after signing a two-year, $20.5 million contract on Jan. 30, 2026.
Bader was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round of the 2015 MLB Draft. He made his major league debut in 2017. He has since played 12 major league seasons, where he's batted .244 and hit 93 home runs with 336 RBIs. He won a Gold Glove Award with the Cardinals in 2021.
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 29: Teoscar Hernández #37 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after hitting a double in the fourth inning during the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Roki Sasaki faces Bryan Woo as the Dodgers wrap things up against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday.
Jonah Tong is beginning to string together quality starts with Triple-A Syracuse.
The Mets right-hander pitched five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out seven batters Thursday night against Rochester.
It was a relatively easy night for Tong, who scattered every baserunner against him. The only inning where Rochester threatened to score was in the fourth when Tong gave up a leadoff double. Tong bounced back to strike out the next three batters.
As SNY's prospect writer Joe DeMayo points out, of Tong's 89 pitches (56 strikes) thrown, the right-hander generated 14 swing and misses and topped out at 97.9 mph.
Over Tong's last six starts, he's pitched to a 3.52 ERA with 32 strikeouts across 30.2 innings.
It's been tough sledding for Tong this season. Even with his stretch of quality outings, his ERA in the minors this season sits at 5.59. His walks allowed, which have been his bugaboo, were much better on Thursday. After walking four in his last start, he dropped it to two. However, he's walked at least two in his last seven starts.
With the upcoming trade deadline likely to open up the Mets' starting rotation, Tong could see some run in the big leagues, especially if he keeps being effective on the Triple-A level.
The Atlanta Braves opened a four game series against the Washington Nationals at home in a clash of two of the top three scoring offenses in MLB this month. The Braves went 9-4 against the Nationals last season but are not doing quite as well against them this season being 4-3 against them thus far. The last two games were low scoring by both teams despite both offenses being some of the best in MLB. The Braves have this four game series plus another series in early September left to widen their season series lead against the Nationals.
Tonight Grant Holmes took the mound for the Braves to face both the Nationals and Jake Irvin for the second time this season. He was able to hold the Nationals to two runs and strike them out ten times. Irvin one hit the Braves the last time he faced them this season.
Per usual, the first inning was solid for Grant Holmes. He was able to get James Wood to ground out to lead off the game. He gave up a double to Luis García off a hard hit ball, but then sat down Dylan Crews and CJ Abrams via ground out and fly out. Jake Irvin, pitching his first game since he faced the Braves in late May, picked up right where he left off against them and retired the side.
Grant Holmes struggled in the second inning. Daylen Lile smashed a cutter that Holmes pitched right down middle over the center field wall for a solo shot. Holmes was able to prevent anymore damage in the second after surrendering a single. Irvin continued to show he was locked in against the Braves sitting them down in order yet again.
In the third inning Holmes was now at the top of the order again. It is well documented that he struggles mightily the second time through the order. He was able to get Wood to ground out again, but then García, who already had a double, took him deep to make the score 0-2. Holmes then settled down and picked up his first two strikeouts of the game. Irvin continued his dominance in the third, and sat down the Braves in order for the third straight inning.
In the fourth inning, Holmes was still facing the order a second time and it showed. Lile homered off of him for the second time of the game to lead off the inning to put the Braves in a three run hole. Fortunately, Holmes showed off one of his best skills, which is to shake off mistakes and settle back in. He was able to sit down the next three hitters in order. Drake Baldwin flied out to CF to lead off the bottom of the fourth making it ten straight Braves to be retired by Irvin. Ronald Acuña apparently decided ten hitters were enough and absolutely destroyed the ball with a 104.9 MPH shot over the CF wall that flew 421 feet.
That was the only hit of the fourth inning, but it seemed to be a spark the Braves drastically needed.
In one of the key innings of the game, Holmes came back out to pitch the fifth and instantly struggled. He walked Nuñez and Wood to lead off the inning. Both players then stole a base. In a tough spot, Holmes settled down again and struck out García, who had a double and HR already, and Crews before being replaced by Danny Young who got Abrams to pop out. Somehow the Braves got out of a jam with runners on second and third with no outs. Holmes finished his night with five hits to include three solo shots, three earned runs, two walks, and four strikeouts.
The Braves struck back in their half of the fifth. With Irvin still in the game, Albies popped up and Dubón lined out, but Dom Smith was able to get on via a single and then Mike Yastrzemski finally came through for the Braves with a clutch two-run HR that was a no-doubter to tie the game at three.
Jarvis grounded out, but the Braves clearly had some momentum after struggling to start the game.
Danny Young stayed in the game to pitch and Walt Weiss’ confidence in him paid off for the most part. He got Lile, who had two HRs this game, to ground out, and struck out Ruiz. He did give up a double and was wisely pulled from the game to be replaced by fan favorite Victor Mederos after the Nats had Brady House pinch-hit for Jorbit Vivas. House grounded out.
The sixth started off great for the Braves. Irvin walked both Baldwin and Acuña and then was replaced by Carson Palmquist. It got a little scary for a second like the Braves were not going to be able to take advantage of the free passes when Olson flied out and the Harris hit a soft grounder that moved the runners but resulted in the second out. However, Ozzie Albies, now facing a lefty, came in clutch with a single off the end of the bat that scored both runners to put the Braves up by two. Dubón grounded out on a sharply hit ball, but the damage was done.
Mederos stayed in to pitch the seventh and struggled a bit. He induced a pop up, but then the top of this scary lineup was up to bat again. Wood walked and then García tripled to score Wood which made him a single short of the cycle and bring the Nats within a run. After a pop up from Crews, Dylan Lee came in the game and got Abrams to ground out. The Braves did not do any damage in the seventh, even with red hot Eli White replacing Yazstremski for the platoon advantage.
Dylan Lee stayed in for the eighth and retired the side in order. The bottom of the eighth started off for the Braves with the player who sparked the offense to wake up, Ronald Acuña striking out looking followed by an Olson strikeout and Harris grounding out.
It all came down to a Raisel Iglesias shutting down the bottom two of the Nats’ order and James Wood to win it, if possible. Iggy was able to get two groundouts to start the bottom of the ninth, but then walked Wood on six pitches. This brought up García, who was a single short of the cycle. Iglesias pitched a changeup right down the middle and García just missed it and hit it deep to RF, but fortunately it fell short and the Braves secured the victory.
The key to tonight’s victory was that the Braves only left two runners on base while the Nationals left seven. The Braves’ pitching was able to settle down in tough spots, and the Braves’ bats were able to hit in clutch situations. There was some smart bullpen management by Weiss this game as well.
The Braves will face the Nationals again tomorrow at the same time and same place. Bryce Elder is scheduled to face Nationals’ ace Foster Griffin. Sure would be nice if Griffin got traded tomorrow morning.
Roosters record mammoth 82-12 NRL win in Townsville
Points tally is the third-highest in premiership history
Sydney Roosters sent a warning to the rest of the NRL about their premiership credentials with a 82-12 whipping of North Queensland in Townsville, the most points by a winning team in 91 years.
Halfback Sam Walker, in the midst of a multi-million dollar contract negotiation, showed why Roosters supremo Nick Politis wants to keep him at the club for life in a masterclass display.
UNITED STATES - JULY 10: Baseball: All Star Game, Closeup of Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda falling after getting hit with broken bat during game, Seattle, WA 7/10/2001 (Photo by V.J. Lovero/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (SetNumber: X63437 TK1 R6 F17)
Yesterday, Ryan noted the Seattle Mariners had the chance to do something dumb. The option remains on the table tonight, particularly with Shohei Ohtani receiving a rest day. Against the resurgent Roki Sasaki and the Los Angeles Dodgers, assuming simplicity is simple-minded itself. But Bryan Woo is facing his greatest enemy, with nothing to do with Kyle Tucker or Max Muncy. The .304/.344/.479 line he’s allowed on the road, with a .354 wOBA, is about equivalent to facing Muncy, Randy Arozarena, or Ketel Marte every single plate appearance. He should consider simply returning to magic fastballs instead of these miserable, mundane ones.
With only four games remaining between today and the trade deadline Monday, Seattle needs every bit of clarity they can find.
Baseball fans may have been doing a double-take when they turned on ESPN’s broadcast of Thursday’s Braves-Nationals game.
Calling the game alongside Eduardo Pérez was Karl Ravech, who had been part of the ESPN’s mass layoffs last week, leading to plenty of surprise from viewers.
Despite being let go by ESPN, Ravech was given the option to call select games on the network this summer and is expected to announce during the Little League World Series, sources told The Post.
The supposedly laid off Karl Ravech is in the booth calling Braves-Nationals for ESPN tonight pic.twitter.com/HieiM61kgE
Ravech has been a part of the Little League World Series broadcast team since 2006 and had been the lead voice for ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball” broadcasts for four years through the 2025 MLB season.
The longtime ESPNer was among the names the network let go of last week in the latest round of layoffs at the Walt Disney Company, which owns the sports conglomerate.
ESPN analyst Jay Williams (left) and announcer Karl Ravech before the game between the Connecticut Huskies in the Saatva Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 19, 2023 in New York City. Getty Images
Among the others who saw their time at the Worldwide Leader end included ex-NFL safety Ryan Clark, along with NFL reporter Tom Pelissero and longtime anchor David Lloyd.
Ravech had spent 33 years at the network and it was initially believed that his ESPN tenure had come to an end with calling a game between the Dodgers and Phillies.
ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro had outlined the reasoning behind the layoffs in a memo to staff last week.
Doug Glanville and Karl Ravech smile before the MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park on July 15, 2025 in Atlanta, Ga. Getty Images
“Over the past several months, we’ve made significant progress integrating the NFL assets that we acquired into ESPN,” he wrote. “Throughout this process, we have taken the time to carefully evaluate our collective teams, resources and organizational structure to best position us for the future. As a result, we had to make some difficult decisions about job impacts that we will be communicating today.
“While most of the job impacts are tied to the acquisition, we will also notify colleagues in other parts of the company today that their positions have been impacted. We are committed to treating employees with compassion and respect and to providing support as they navigate this transition.
“Even in moments like these, the strength of ESPN comes from our people, our teamwork and our shared mission to serve sports fans.”
SAN DIEGO, CA - JUNE 08: A general view of Petco Park during the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Monday, June 8, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ryan Levy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants head south to begin a four-game series against the San Diego Padres tonight.
The Giants are going for the element of surprise again, as they have not announced a starting pitcher for tonight’s game as of the time this is being written. You can check out the comments below for more up to date information.
Whoever it ends up being will face off against Padres left-hander JP Sears, who enters tonight’s game with a 3.86 ERA, 4.75 FIP, with 23 strikeouts to nine walks in 28 innings pitched. His last appearance was in relief in the Padres’ 7-2 win over the Miami Marlins on Saturday, in which he allowed just one hit and one walk with three strikeouts in three and a third innings.
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani sits in the dugout during a win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
In the latest twist in Shohei Ohtani’s battle with left knee discomfort, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts held him out of the lineup Thursday against the Seattle Mariners.
Ohtani reported soreness Wednesday night in his left knee, which he treated over the All-Star break with a lubricating orthovisc injection and rest. So the Dodgers’ training staff recommended a day off.
“I expected him to play,” Roberts said. “I appreciate him saying that there’s some soreness to then allow me to make a decision of what is in his best interest, and that’s what we’re doing.”
Roberts said he’s “very confident” that Ohtani will be in the lineup Friday when the Dodgers open a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox.
But the Dodgers previously believed only pitching aggravated the injury. Ohtani hasn’t pitched in a game since July 3, and he hasn’t thrown off a mound in a little over a week. He’s been running through weighted plyo ball drills to keep his arm in shape without putting pressure on his knee.
It raises questions about how to best manage Ohtani for the rest of the season.
“I’m trying to restrain from a forecast of what’s going to happen, as opposed to just reading and reacting,” Roberts said. “Three days ago, we just had an off day, and to say there’s some soreness certainly is different than what we’ve done the last two weeks. Is it a trend? I hope not. But if it is, then we just got to manage it.”
Roberts said he didn’t believe any specific incident Wednesday aggravated Ohtani’s knee.
“The last couple days he’s been on base a lot more,” Roberts said. “So I think that’s been a good thing in one sense, whereas the last part of the road trip he wasn’t, so there might have been a little something to that.”
Ohtani also mentioned earlier this week that his biceps problem, which flared for the second time this season during his last at-bat July 3, has not completely subsided. But the Dodgers have downplayed the severity of that ailment and are under the impression that throwing doesn’t hurt it.
When asked if the team would consider shutting down Ohtani for 10 days to help him fully recover, Roberts said: “That’s a hard question and I understand the thought behind it. But it’s gotten better over the last few weeks, markedly. He’s been a very productive player. ... You trust him. He feels like he can go.
“He’s not 100%; very few players are 100%. Then what is it? Is it 70%, is it 80%, is it 90%? For me, there’s still that conversation, where he understands the most important part of the season is to come, and he understands his value with our team.”
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hits a home run against the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
It doesn’t seem like the Dodgers are ready to put Ohtani on the injured list just yet. Roberts said he hopes Ohtani will start playing catch this weekend or next week.
The Dodgers, however, had expressed hope that the injection and time off over the break would prevent Ohtani from having to manage the problem. That no longer seems to be in play.
“We’re talking about this constantly, we are,” Roberts said. “And nothing should be off the table and nothing is set in stone. So I think it’s more of how he feels. This surprised me. So now with this new information we’ve got to have new conversations.”
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - JULY 29: Raymond of the Tampa Bay Rays interacts with fans during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Rays 3, Rangers 2
What an unpleasant series.
The Rangers allowed 7 runs in this series but still lost two of three, due to scoring just 6 runs.
That’s pretty terrible.
The Rangers rolled with a bullpen game in this one. The pitchers the Rangers used: 1) Cole Winn, who is only still on the roster because he’s out of options; 2) Marco Gonzales, who was out of baseball in 2025, was picked up in June after being released by the Padres after posting a 7.99 ERA in AAA, and who was promoted by the Rangers after putting up a 8.64 ERA for Round Rock; 3) Peyton Gray, was was pitching in Indy League ball in 2022 and 2023, and in the Mexican Pacific Winter League from 2022-25, before being signed by the Rangers prior to the 2025 season; 4) Robby Ahlstrom, who was in AAA and not on the 40 man roster at the start of the season; and 5) Ben Peoples, who has been pitching professionally since 2019, had never pitched above AA until 2025, and who made his major league debut for the Rangers this season after they acquired him from the ChiSox, for whom he was toiling in AAA.
This rag-tag crew of misfits held the Rays to three runs.
They held the Rays to two runs for 7.2 innings. Peoples gave up a homer to Cedric Mullins with two outs in the eighth, a solo shot that was the winning run.
I want to bitch about how that’s what you get for having Ben Peoples be the guy who has to pitch in a tie game on the road in the eighth inning, but Peoples didn’t throw a bad pitch, and Mullins sliced a not terribly well hit pop fly the other way that barely made it over the fence right by the foul pole.
With Shane McClanahan starting, the Rangers opted to go the bullpen game route so they could save Nathan Eovaldi to pitch the opener in Houston on Friday. And the Rangers need to sweep the Astros — currently a half-game back — in order to earn the tiebreaker, which is important. It did feel like they were sort of sacrificing this game to improve their chances in Houston.
And yet, the coterie of relievers pitched well enough for the Rangers to win.
Sadly, the Rangers only had two hits in the game.
Its hard to win a game when you only register two hits. A lot of people don’t know that.
One run came on a Joc Pederson pinch hit grounder that should have been a double play but instead was an error, allowing Ezequiel Duran to score. Duran had reached on a hit by pitch, and advanced to second on a Brandon Nimmo walk then to third on a Jake Burger fly out.
The other run scored when Wyatt Langford doubled off of Craig Kimbrel, driving home Alejandro Osuna, who had singled ahead of Langford.
That’s right, the two hits the Rangers had came in back-to-back at bats, a day after the only three hits the Rays recorded came in a four batter stretch to start the game.
Strange things are afoot at the Tropicana Dome.
The Rangers did draw an impressive eight walks, so that’s something, although the inability to get hits meant that none of those eight walks came around to score.
The Rangers even drew a pair of walks in the ninth, the first of which was originally called a strike on a 3-2 pitch, but which Nicky Lopez successfully challenged. Langford drew a two out walk to put the tying run on second, but Ezequiel Duran fanned to end the game.
After the Pederson RBI E6, Evan Grant said that the Rangers had caught a break by Taylor Walls having booted a potential inning-ending GIDP, and having tied the score on the play, really needed to score more runs in the inning.
The problem is that Cam Cauley and Nicky Lopez were due up next. No shade on the two of them, but if you team needs to score runs in an inning, and Cam Cauley and Nicky Lopez are due up, your needs will probably go unmet.
Cole Winn topped out at 95.5 mph with his fastball. Marco Gonzales hit 90.9 mph with his fastball. Peyton Gray reached 94.5 mph with his fastball. Robby Ahlstrom’s fastball topped out at 95.4 mph. Ben Peoples hit 96.7 mph with his fastball.
Brandon Nimmo had a 108.1 mph groundout. Alejandro Osuna had a 104.9 mph single. Wyatt Langford had a 103.9 mph double, a 100.6 mph groundout and a 100.2 mph fly out. Jake Burger had a 102.8 mph fly out. Cam Cauley had a 100.2 mph groundout.
