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Here are the lineups. For the Phillies:

📍Cincinnati#RingTheBellpic.twitter.com/oAcWZjB4Gs

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 7, 2026

For the Reds:

First of three with the Phillies.

Powered by @PNCBankpic.twitter.com/Wmbv3Re756

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 7, 2026

Let’s talk about it.

Interim Mets manager Andy Green provided some injury updates prior to Tuesday’s series opener against the Royals… 

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Plan for Polanco

For the first time since April 14, Jorge Polanco is back in the big leagues.

Polanco has been sidelined for the majority of the season with Achilles and wrist issues, but he’s been grinding his way back in the minors over the last few weeks. 

After his latest rehab games with Syracuse, the club deemed him ready to return. 

Polanco immediately jumps back into the starting lineup, batting sixth and serving as the DH for Tuesday’s meeting with former Met Seth Lugo.

“We’re all excited to have him there,” Green said. “He had some nice games in rehab, homered in his last game, so we think he’s ready to DH for us and ready to get going here.”

Polanco’s playing time will be based on how he responds on a daily basis, but he’s expected to be available off the bench on the days he doesn’t start.

His bat is the big thing Green values at the moment, but the team will see if he can get into the field at first base depending on how he feels. 

“We have guys we can slide to first, somebody is going to have to DH,” he said. “We’re just happy to have his bat, and if he gets to first in the near future, we’ll be thrilled about that.” 

Next steps for Robert Jr. 

Robert Jr. had his rehab assignment transferred to Double-A Binghamton on Tuesday, where he’ll continue to play to see exactly how far off he is. 

The outfielder won’t be in the Rumble Ponies’ lineup Tuesday as he takes the day to workout, but the hope is that he’ll be back out there Wednesday. 

He reached base just twice across 10 at-bats over the past week with Syracuse. 

Green hasn’t figured how the team will handle the outfield mix when Robert is ready to return, but he continues to be impressed by youngsters Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing. 

Plus, a Marcus Semien update

Green said that Semien is progressing well in his recovery from a hip flexor strain. 

The veteran ran up to 80 percent on Monday, and was spotted running and taking grounders again Tuesday. 

Semien, still however, remains without a timeline for a return.

“He’s a baseball player, he wants to be on the field,” the skipper said. “He’s doing everything humanly possible to make that happen as fast as possible -- he’s progressing very well.”

Semien’s reported timeline called for him to miss at least 4-to-6 weeks. 

Fresh off a sweep by the suddenly resurgent Miami Marlins, the Athletics take on the Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit today. The Tigers enter the game with a 40-50 record and sit in fourth place in the American League Central, while the visiting A’s are 41-49 and are also in fourth place, but in the AL West.

The A’s will welcome Jacob Wilson back from a short stint on the Injured List (IL) today with an inflammation in his right thumb. He’ll re-enter the lineup batting fifth and playing his usual shortstop position.

J.T. Ginn will get the start today against the Tigers. Ginn is 7-4 with a 3.04 ERA in nineteen 2026 appearances. He has 82 K’s in 94.2 innings of work. He’ll go up against reigning Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal for Detroit. The 29-year-old lefty is 4-4 this season with a 3.15 ERA in an injury-shortened sixty-five innings of work.

Skubal, the most coveted name tossed around as a trade deadline mover, will face this lineup for the Athletics this afternoon:

Ginn, who has emerged as the team’s ace this season will go up against this lineup for the Tigers today:

Follow the Game:
Watch:
Athletics – NBCSCA

Listen:
Athletics – Talk 650 KSTE, A’s Cast

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Well, it’s not quite over yet. Despite snapping their eight-game losing streak on Sunday afternoon, the San Diego Padres went back to their unfortunate losing ways with an 8-0 shutout against the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday night. The club couldn’t manage a single run against Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt and didn’t reach second base until Jackson Merrill did so in the seventh inning.

San Diego’s Walker Buehler went five innings but surrendered seven runs to the Dbacks. It’s a worrying trend as Buehler has now given up 16 runs between his last two outings. Prior to that, the righty hadn’t given up more than a run in each of his June starts. Now Buehler is barely a serviceable back-end starter. The Friars were out of the game before they ever came to bat. They’ll need to turn things around in Game 2 tonight against Arizona. If they can’t, it will worsen the tough stretch the club has found themselves in.

Taking the mound

Zac Gallen (AZ) v. Germán Márquez (SD)

It’s unfortunate, but Gallen has been one of the worst pitchers in the league. After re-signing with Arizona this offseason, he hasn’t helped the club at all. The righty owns a 6.36 ERA through 92 innings and has just 56 strikeouts with an overblown 1.57 WHIP.

Gallen has had the worst season of his career this year. The Dbacks’ ace hasn’t been able to put it together at any point this year. He’s been even worse lately, with an 8.60 ERA in his last seven starts. The Friars should be able to tag Gallen for plenty of runs tonight.

Márquez is making his first start back after returning from the injured list earlier this week. The right-hander pitched three innings against Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night. Márquez pitched in bulk relief after Randy Vásquez exited the game early. With Vásquez now on the IL, Márquez will be taking over for the righty.

He pitched decent against L.A. in his first outing back, giving up two runs on two hits while walking three. He struggled with his command, but showed flashes of the ace-like stuff he once had. The hope for San Diego is that Márquez can quiet Arizona’s bats after a loud series opener (three home runs).

Batter up!

Apart from last night’s mishaps, the San Diego lineup has been effective as of late. The offense produced 15 runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers in their most recent series against the division rivals. More than that, Manny Machado has had a recent power surge. The third baseman has three home runs in his last seven games.

1. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
2. Jake Cronenworth, 2B
3. Manny Machado, 3B
4. Gavin Sheets, 1B
5. Ty France, DH
6. Jackson Merrill, CF
7. Xander Bogaerts, SS
8. Samad Taylor, LF
9. Luis Campusano, C

Cronenworth went 2-for-4 last night against Pfaadt. The second baseman has a fantastic career when facing the Arizona righty. He’s also hit well against Gallen, batting .300 with a .917 OPS against the Dbacks’ ace (30 at-bats). Hopefully, Cronenworth will be able to continue that successful streak.

Relief corps

Thankfully, Alek Jacob was able to cover three innings for the Friars. With Arizona’s lead ballooned to seven runs by the time Jacob came in, the reliever was left on the mound for as long as possible. He threw 42 pitches, giving up just one run on a solo shot by Nolan Arenado. After him, Ron Marinaccio pitched the ninth inning. That outing from Jacob helped to salvage the bullpen for the remainder of the series.

That will allow San Diego to have plenty of options for Game 2. Kyle Hart, Yuki Matsui, Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, Wandy Peralta and Bradgley Rodriguez will be available if Márquez struggles in his first start back. With no off day before the All-Star break, the club will be forced to rely on quality outings from their starters to save the ‘pen.

Atlanta Braves vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, July 7, 2026, 6:40 p.m. ET

The Pittsburgh Pirates are returning home to take on the Atlanta Braves for the first matchup of a three-game set.

The Braves are handing the ball to Hurston Waldrop, who is making his second start of the season. Waldrop made his 2026 debut on June 26 against the San Francisco Giants, pitching two innings and giving up two hits and zero earned runs.

In his next appearance, he made his first start of the season against the St. Louis Cardinals at home. He pitched 5.1 innings, giving up five hits and three earned runs, in an 11-5 loss at Truist Park. Now he’s making his first start on the road at PNC Park against the Buccos.

The Pirates will hand the ball to their ace, Paul Skenes, but he hasn’t been pitching like one as of late. In his last start, Skenes pitched four innings, giving up six hits and seven earned runs in a 10-6 loss on the road against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 1. The Pirates have lost nine consecutive games when Skenes takes the mound, which is a big surprise given how well he has pitched in his first two seasons.

Skenes still has the stuff to be one of the best pitchers in the league, but the Pirates haven’t been able to put it together with him on the mound.

Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA

Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh

Pitching Matchup: Hurston Waldrep (0-0, 3.68 ERA) vs. Paul Skenes (6-8, 3.62 ERA)

BD community, chime off in the comments section below.

There are precious few things that Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler cannot defeat. That includes venous thoracic outlet syndrome, which shut him down in August of last season and cost him most of the month of April in 2026.

At age 36, you may have begun to wonder if the end was near for the three-time All Star. Oh, how far from the case that has been.

Through 13 starts since his return on April 25th, Wheeler sports a 2.36 ERA – a mark that would be his best over the course of a single season. His 3.30 FIP is right in line with his 3.29 career mark, and his 2.3 BB/9 is actually lower than his 2.5 per 9 mark across his brilliant 12 year career. The injury, it would seem, was merely a hiccup over which he would rise again to regain his elite form.

Wheeler will start for the Phillies in Tuesday night’s series opener at Great American Ball Park against the Cincinnati Reds. Fortunately for the ol’ Redlegs, they’ll be sending out a starter who’s been almost as hot as Wheeler for that period of time, too.

Andrew Abbott will toe the rubber in the series opener, the southpaw having pitched to a 2.71 ERA in his 12 starts dating back to the final week of April. The first four weeks of April were positively abysmal from the former All Star, but he’s once again regained the form that has him outperforming all of his peripherals through deception, precision, and an elite ability to induce soft contact. That’s what we’ll hope to see from him again tonight as he faces a Phillies lineup stacked with hitters who mostly excel from the left side of the plate.

First pitch is set for 7:10 PM ET. Here’s how the Reds will line up to begin:

First of three with the Phillies.

Powered by @PNCBankpic.twitter.com/Wmbv3Re756

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 7, 2026

It’s been nearly a month since Ronald Acuña Jr. went down with his second Grade One left hamstring strain across the span of two months and the Atlanta Braves have kept to their word when it comes to making sure that Acuña eases back into things following the latest strain.

As such, there weren’t many expectations that the Braves would try to rush to get Acuña back in action before the break and he will indeed make his return after the All-Star break. The good news is that we may not have to wait long after the break to see Acuña make his return to action since Mark Bowman of MLB.com is reporting that Walt Weiss believes that Acuña could go out on rehab assignment as soon as next week.

Weiss said Ronald Acuña Jr. could begin his rehab assignment next week. As for Robert Suarez, the Braves are taking it slow with him. He won’t be ready immediately after the break. But maybe a week or two later.

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) July 7, 2026

If that’s the case then I’d assume that Acuña could be back with the Braves by the end of the month. I’m guessing that July 24-29 road trip to Baltimore and New York (Citi Field) would be a reasonable time to guess that Acuña could be back with the Braves, or they just might push it until July 30 when they come back home from that road trip to play the Nationals.

By then, it will have been nearly a two-month long stint on the IL but when it comes to that type of injury and potentially aggravating it again, it’s better to play it safe than sorry and the Braves are indeed planning on continuing to take their time bringing Acuña back into the fold.

Meanwhile, Robert Suarez is also eyeing a potential post-All-Star break return from his forearm issues. Suarez went on the IL back on June 26 with inflammation but apparently those issues weren’t structural and all he’s needed is a bit of rest and recuperation to get his arm back in pitching shape. Even back when the IL stint was reported, Walt Weiss was reportedly “hopeful” that their set-up man would be able to come back “shortly” after the All-Star break and I’d say that a couple of extra weeks wouldn’t be too bad.

With that being said, the bullpen does need him since cracks are starting to show in what’s been a great season for the ‘pen as a collective so far. Maybe the break will do a lot of those guys some good since it means that the bullpen especially should be fully rested and ready to go once play resumes on July 17 in Cobb County against the Texas Rangers but for now, it appears as if the bullpen will have to hold on just a little while longer while Robert Suarez gets back in shape. The same goes for the outfield and having Ronald Acuña Jr. out there. Slowly but surely, the stars are coming back.

Jorge Polanco has been reinstated from the 60-day injured list, the Mets announced this afternoon. Polanco has been sidelined for nearly three months due to lingering Achilles bursitis. After being shut down from his rehab assignment last month due to persistent soreness in his ankle, Polanco resumed playing in rehab games for Triple-A Syracuse on June 27. After a slow start, Polanco hit two home runs and drove in three in his past three rehab games. Prior to the injury, the 33-year-old, who is in the first year of a two-year, $40 million contract with the Mets, slashed .179/.246/.286 in a small 14-game sample in April. The Achilles injury has limited Polanco’s ability to play the field and he will be used solely as a DH for the Mets.

“Feeling good, feeling grateful and excited to be back,” Polanco said to reporters this afternoon.

To make room for Polanco on the roster, the Mets optioned Ronny Mauricio back to Triple-A Syracuse. In a separate move, the Mets added righty Matt Seelinger—acquired yesterday in a trade with the Tigers for cash considerations—to the big league roster. “It’s a dream scenario for me,” the Long Island native said of the chance to pitch for the Mets. “I grew up 20 minutes from here. I used to come to games all the time as a kid.”

To make room on the 40-man roster for Polanco and Seelinger, the Mets have designated pitchers Alex Carrillo and Guillermo Zuñiga for assignment—the latter just one day after he made his Mets debut.

There have also been recent updates on a couple of other long-injured Mets. Luis Robert Jr.’s rehab assignment has been transferred to Double-A Binghamton as the Rumble Ponies begin a six-game series against the Hartford Yard Goats in Hartford. Robert had played in three games for Triple-A Syracuse and went 1-for-10 with a walk and two strikeouts. Meanwhile, outfielder Mike Tauchman, who suffered a torn meniscus at the end of spring training and has yet to play in a regular season game, began a rehab assignment today in the Florida Complex League. He went 0-for-2 with a walk in his first rehab game as the DH for the FCL Mets.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Sox fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

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It’s been so long since the White Sox held the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, nearly every one of our readers were not fans when it last happened (1977, Harold Baines) … even a “veteran” fan like Brett, senior to all but one on the SSS staff, had just begun his fandom at that time.

Well, after months of anticipation, and the curious fall of UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky from no-brainer top pick to perhaps as low as No. 3 overall in the draft, Saturday marks the day of reckoning for the White Sox. The draft boasts as many as three apparent generational talents:

• Cholowsky, a collegiate superstar and right-handed bat apparently close to plugging directly into the White Sox lineup
• Vahn Lackey, a Georgia Tech catcher who the White Sox front office apparently now favors
• Grady Emerson, a prep shortstop out of Fort Worth who is three years younger than the two collegians, bats from the left side, is purportedly as MLB-ready as the other two and is said to be the preference of the White Sox scouting corps

There is no clear pick here, which hopefully means there is no way for the White Sox to make a mistake with the choice. But we all know that these three players won’t end up with identical 20-year, 100-WAR careers and Hall of Fame elections. Chicago’s recent high-pick past is no salve for our worries, as the club picked Nick Madrigal No. 4 overall and Andrew Vaughn No. 3 in back-to back drafts.

So, who’s you’re guy on Saturday?

Box Score

The Brewers picked up another win in the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader in St. Louis, as Jacob Misiorowski struck out 11 across seven innings and Christian Yelich and Joey Ortiz each came up with three-hit days in a 4-3 victory over the Cardinals.

After Matt Svanson worked around a leadoff ground-rule double by Yelich in the first, the Cardinals immediately came up swinging against Misiorowski. JJ Wetherholt took a hit by pitch on Miz’s second pitch of the day, and he then advanced on a groundout. Two batters later, Jordan Walker crushed a first-pitch cutter from Misiorowski for a two-run homer, putting St. Louis out to a 2-0 lead. Lars Nootbaar followed with a double on a misplay by Jackson Chourio in left, but Miz stranded him there.

Both teams traded 1-2-3 innings in the second before the Brewers broke through against left-hander Bruce Zimmermann in the third. Zimmermann, who made a spot start for Milwaukee against the Padres last September, walked Cooper Pratt before allowing a run-scoring double to Ortiz. Yelich followed with a single to bring Ortiz in, and it was quickly knotted at 2-2, though Chourio followed with a double play and Brice Turang went down swinging.

Joey and Yeli knot this game up

→ https://t.co/eycfmE2vgmpic.twitter.com/ez9s9OmrYI

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 7, 2026

The 2-2 tie wouldn’t last long, though, as Iván Herrera hit a one-out solo homer in the bottom of the fourth, Miz’s second homer allowed in the game and fourth in his last two starts.

After those few shaky moments from Miz in the first three innings, he settled in nicely. He allowed no more baserunners through the seventh inning, setting down the last 14 in a row after the Herrera homer. He finished the day with seven innings pitched, allowing three runs on three hits and no walks while striking out 11.

He makes striking out 10+ seem routine https://t.co/4bCoYoLYh7pic.twitter.com/pZ3HZvAkhA

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 7, 2026

In a 3-2 hole, Milwaukee threatened with two more baserunners on a Jake Bauers double and a Garrett Mitchell single in the fourth, but they couldn’t cash either in. They then went down in order in the fifth.

After a pair of outs to begin the sixth, Bauers slugged his second double of the afternoon and then came around to score on Mitchell’s second single. The play at home was close, but the call was confirmed upon review after a St. Louis challenge.

A two-out rally to tie it ❕

→ https://t.co/eycfmE2vgmpic.twitter.com/WsP45ohLZD

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 7, 2026

A brand-new ballgame entering the seventh, the Brewers forced a pitching change, with Ryne Stanek taking over for Zimmermann. He allowed a walk and a bunt single before being removed due to a scary injury, as he slid into first in an effort to get Ortiz out on the bunt. Hopefully he’s alright.

JoJo Romero entered in relief of Stanek and promptly gave up a double to Yelich, which gave Milwaukee a 4-3 lead and put runners at second and third with no outs. Looking for some insurance, the Brewers couldn’t cash in, with Chourio grounding out, Turang striking out, William Contreras reaching on an intentional walk, and pinch-hitter Andrew Vaughn grounding out to end the inning.

Yeli puts us in front with his THIRD hit ‼️ pic.twitter.com/kNyMpLUac1

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 7, 2026

Justin Bruihl set Milwaukee down in order in the eighth, and Aaron Ashby took the ball from Misiorowski for the bottom of the inning. After recording the first two outs without a problem, he gave up a pair of singles to Wetherholt and Herrera, putting runners at the corners with Alec Burleson at the plate. Burleson mercifully grounded out, keeping Milwaukee’s lead at 4-3 entering the final inning.

The Brewers, still looking for an insurance run, threatened against Bruihl in the ninth, with Ortiz singling and moving up on a passed ball and groundout. Turang also walked and stole second (without a throw), but Contreras grounded out to end the threat.

After Trevor Megill got his 14th save yesterday, it was Abner Uribe out of the bullpen for this one. He retired Walker on a pop-up but then fell behind Nootbaar, ultimately walking the veteran outfielder. Nootbaar was promptly replaced with the fleet-footed Masyn Winn, but Uribe bounced back with a strikeout of Bryan Torres and a groundout by Nathan Church, picking up his sixth save of the year.

While the Brewers finished with 10 hits, they came from just four players, as Yelich, Ortiz, Bauers, and Mitchell each had multi-hit days — Yelich had two doubles and a single, Ortiz had a double and two singles, Bauers had a pair of doubles, and Mitchell had two singles. Yelich added two RBIs, while Mitchell and Ortiz had one each. As a team, the Brewers went 4-for-16 with runners in scoring position, which was just enough to get the win.

The Brewers are back at it this evening for the second half of their doubleheader, with both team’s 27th man getting the start — Robert Gasser for Milwaukee and Hunter Dobbins for St. Louis. First pitch for that one is set for 6:45 p.m. See you then.