“The sky is the limit,” Ball said. “I’m just going to show up and try to learn and do the best I can.”
Ball will be paired alongside franchise superstar Anthony Edwards.
“I’ve known Ant for a minute,” Ball said. “We’ve been talking, and everybody is excited. We’re ready to get to work.”
Ball made more than $35 million a year in each of the last two years after signing a contract extension in 2023. He remains under contract, making more than $40 million, for each of the next three years. Minnesota paid a hefty price to acquire the guard.
“I feel like we could do a lot,” Ball said. “It means a lot when someone values you.”
The Hornets traded Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota in exchange for Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps (2028, 2029, 2030), and three second-round picks.
“It gives us a point guard and gives us great size in the West,” Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said. “You need to have a big backcourt and we learned that through the playoffs.”
Finch also believes that Ball will have the ability to help elevate the offense.
“He can unlock (Rudy Gobert) to another level at the rim,” Finch said of what Ball can offer the team. “We’ve got to find a way to generate more catch-and-shoot 3-point shots for Anthony (Edwards), who is elite at that and take some of the burden of handling and creating off his hands.”
Philadelphia fans embraced Mike Trout like one of their own at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game.
The event serves as a homecoming of sorts for the Los Angeles Angels star. The three-time MVP is a New Jersey native but has deep ties to Philadelphia, which is located 45 miles south of his hometown.
Trout received a loud ovation from the crowd as he was introduced before the Midsummer Classic.
A nice cheer for Mike Trout as he makes his return to the All-Star Game!
"It's been everything," Trout said about this All-Star experience during a pregame interview on the broadcast. "… Philly is a special place, it's where I grew up and it's awesome."
Trout served as the American League's leadoff hitter but struck out in his first at-bat against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez.
Among those in the crowd cheering for Trout were his friends and family.
It was Trout's first All-Star Game appearance since 2019, allowing his two sons, Beckham Aaron and Jordy Michael, to watch him play in the event.
Trout was named as an All-Star for the 12th time in his career. He was selected eight consecutive times from 2012 through 2019.
Where to watch the 2026 MLB All-Star Game
The festivities continue in Philadelphia on Tuesday, July 14 with the 2026 MLB All-Star Game.
Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals defeated Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber to claim the title of Home Run King on Monday night.
USA TODAY at MLB All-Star Game
The 2026 Midsummer Classic has arrived, and USA TODAY will have reporters on the ground in Philadelphia and at home eager to deliver the goods. From media day and the Home Run Derby, to the red carpet and All-Star Game, we'll have everything covered.
The MLB All-Star Game brings the best players in the game together for a friendly exhibition. But if the game is close as the end draws near, the pressure and the intensity rise to another level.
And if it goes down to the wire, there won't be any extra innings. Instead, if the game is tied after the bottom of the ninth, MLB has created a fun way to settle the score that borrows from the Home Run Derby the previous night.
And last season, a home-run tiebreaker was used for the first time since the new rule was implemented.
MLB All-Star Game tiebreaker rules
If the All-Star Game is tied after nine innings, the winner is determined by a home run swing-off. Here's how it works:
Each team selects three players from its active lineup to compete in a mini home run derby. Each player gets three swings to try to hit as many homers as possible, and the team with the highest total is declared the winner. If it's still tied, each manager selects one of the three participants to take three more swings. That process continues until one team hits more homers.
Last season, the National League prevailed in the tiebreaker when Kyle Schwarber cleared the fence with all three of his swings for a 4-3 victory. Not surprisingly, Schwarber was named the All-Star MVP.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Mikel Brown Jr. #0 of the Brooklyn Nets is guarded by Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Sacramento Kings on July 14, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It took a few extra days, but we finally got our Mikel Brown Jr. vs Darius Acuff summer showdown. It was Nets as a unit, however, who delivered the box office production.
Brooklyn leapt out to a 22-6 advantage to the begin the game, forcing eight Sacramento turnovers in the contest’s first six minutes. Joshua Jefferson, who struggled in his first appearance as a Net over the weekend, got in on the action right after coming in off the bench.
Brown Jr. personally didn’t do any scoring to help to build that run, but facilitated on a few buckets. Despite having no points to match Acuff’s six in the first, he did come up with two assists.
His backcourt mate had him covered, however. Egor Dëmin led everyone with 16 first period points, shooting 3-3 from the field and 4-4 from the line. The sophomore, who’s starting to look a bit too good to be out there, had a near-perfect frame even outside of his shooting figures, pitching in three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and zero turnovers in 10 minutes.
Then, Brown Jr. started to get going. Acuff picked his pocket on the second period’s first possession, though Brown Jr. got back in time to block his subsequent shot in transition. MBJ walked the ball down the court right after, shook Acuff with a crossover, and dropped in a buttery midrange jumper. He finished with five points and two more assists in the period.
But while it was good to see Brown Jr. win round two, Drake Powell experienced a far larger and more cathartic redemptive arc. After beginning the summer 1-28 from the field between the California Classic and Vegas, he started the game 4-5 from three and a +11 at halftime.
Drake Powell continuing to cash in on the basketball gods' summer debt to him.
He started the SL 1-28 on FGs between Vegas and Sacramento. He's now 4-5 from deep today. pic.twitter.com/8PDr2cr5aJ
Brooklyn eventually waltzed its way to a 56-34 lead at halftime, and it would’ve been even messier than that if not for Emanuel Sharp. The 45th overall pick out of Houston also went 4-5 from deep in the first half to lead his team with 14 points. Nobody else on Sacramento had more than eight at that point.
Dëmin, who put up a 20-piece last time out vs New York, had the same amount today by halftime while shooting 5-9 from the field. He continued to have Brown Jr.’s back all the way until the first half horn…
Egor Dëmin picks up the Mikel Brown Jr. miss and his third dunk of the first half right before the buzzer.
The dunking didn’t stop there, nor did the deposing of the Kings. The Nets continued to force Sacramento turnovers that led to easy points the other way. Brooklyn ended up earning 41 points off 28 Sacramento giveaways by the end of the night. About halfway there, Johnson, Dëmin, Brown Jr., and Wolf collaborated on what has to be the play of the summer so far for the team…
Nets level….
Major highlight for the Nets. Starts with Chaney Johnson hustle. Finishes with a Danny Wolf poster on Maxime Raynaud. pic.twitter.com/DFLqHkpusy
Helped by that sequence, Brooklyn went on a 13-0 run in the heart of the third to open up a 30+ point lead, and while that was enough to excuse Dëmin for all but one random possession in the fourth, Brown Jr., Powell, and a few others played on.
The former got a few points back on Acuff before sitting a few sequences later. Acuff still finished the game with the higher scoring total, although he had sacrifice his efficiency to get it. MBJ finished with 16/5/2, and four turnovers while shooting 6-11 from the field and 2-5 from deep. Acuff ended with 26 points, five assists, and five turnovers while shooting 9-18 from the field and 2-6 from deep.
Mikel Brown Jr. hits a three over Darius Acuff, flashes a smile on his way back down the floor. pic.twitter.com/v4sVySGm2I
The Nets did get a bit too rowdy in the that third period, picking up three technical fouls between the bench, Dëmin, and Powell, who got caught hanging on the rim for a tad too long after finishing off an alley-oop. Normally, you’d rather avoid seeing that. But hey, its summer. And again, you saw the Powell numbers before this one. He finished with 18 points, two steals, and a block after shooting 6-10 from the field and 4-7 from deep.
For the most part, the bench plus Johnson and Wolf took us the rest of the way. Sacramento never put any pressure on the lead as Ben Saraf’s methodical game and Johnson’s dominance on the glass kept the Kings on a leash anytime they tried to string together quick points. Saraf bounced back with 11 points, five assists, four steals, and zero turnovers on 3-4 shooting in 20 minutes played. Johnson, a game high +31, nabbed 13 points and nine rebounds, three assists, and a steal after shooting 5-7 from the field.
The Nets nabbed their second win in Las Vegas. The were five points shy of tying the league record for the most points scored in a Summer League game.
Final: Brooklyn Nets 115, Sacramento Kings 83
Sean Marks Speaks
Midway through the second period, Sean Marks also joined the broadcast for a brief interview where he touched on the the team’s young pool of talent., Julius Randle, and Jordi Fernández.
“Very excited about this group,” Marks said. “I mean, they’re young but they’re out there competing. They’re playing hard. They’re playing the right way. You see the ball moving around. These guys are competing — diving on the floor for loose balls. They want to compete for something, so that’s exciting.”
Marks later spoke specifically on Mikel Brown Jr., even giving us a bit of an idea of what he and the Nets look for in draft prospects.
“Obviously watching him, going back from from my days, watching him at the Hoop Summit, and then obviously Louisville, you see how he played there, and just how he approached his teammates,” Marks said. “I know he missed a few games, but then even in the games he was out, it was like, just watch him on the sidelines. Who’s interacting with? What do the coaches say about him? He’s a very cerebral player. He’s incredibly competitive, so that’s obviously going to translate to our level.”
It’s similar to what he said shortly after the Nets selected Brown Jr. last month.
“And what we’ve seen so far, not only in the California Classic Summer League, but in Vegas here, is just how he’s got those leadership characteristics, taken a lot of the guys under his wing, and spent time with them away from the court as well, which is really unique for a young man like that,” he added. Those things will translate to a really, really positive career.”
Marks also praised the borough of Brooklyn as a platform to raise up prospects like Brown Jr. He called it a “melting pot” before acknowledging its salt-of-the-earth reputation.
“It’s such a diverse borough that, to me, is exciting,” he said. “It’s a working-class borough. That’s that adds something to the culture of the locker room like we experienced with the Spurs. So, to me, that’s great. Everybody has their own story, and that’s it’s a worldly game now, which is what we’re just seeing right now on the on the court.”
He also shouted out Fernández and his coaching staff in that same regard.
“One of the things that’s really shined from Jordi and how he’s approached his first few years here has been just how honest he is with players,” Marks said. “Nobody ever questions, ‘Well, where do I stand? What are my expectations? What am I supposed to do?’ Jordy lets everybody know right off the get-go and and owns it. He’s honest with it, honest about himself, honest about the mistakes that he makes, and I think that takes a lot. That’s a special leader, and he’s been absolutely tremendous in these first couple years.“
Marks wrapped up things up soon after that, but not before sharing what he expects Julius Randle to bring to the Nets this season. Randle also shared his thoughts on coming to Brooklyn in a different Summer League game a few days before.
“I look at how enthusiastic Julius is about coming back here and you know being in New York again, and so forth. I think he’s he’s been on winning franchises. He understands what it takes. He’s a pro’s pro. He’s a powerful player — that’s something we’re looking for. We need a downhill player that can play in that position, which we didn’t have, so I think him being able to take some of these young guys under his wing, show what it means to be a real pro at this level, and lead flags out will be great. That’s exactly what we’re excited about with Julius.”
Erik Slater of ClutchPoints also caught up with Marks during the game to ask about a potential Michael Porter Jr. contract extension. He indicated there won’t be any news on that soon.
Asked Sean Marks whether the Nets feel urgency to get an extension done with Michael Porter Jr. as he enters the final year of his contract:
"No. Any time you're in a hurry, that's when you make mistakes… We don't wanna do anything hastily or in a rush here. I love Mike… and… pic.twitter.com/9ip1LvxzqG
Brooklyn will take a day off before playing in its final “regular season” Summer League game on Thursday afternoon vs the Houston Rockets. That’ll tip off at 4:30 p.m. EST. Depending on how the standings shake out, they’ll either move onto a four-team playoff or play one consolation game after that either on July 17, July 18 or July 19th.
LAS VEGAS — NBA free agency drags on — apparently just like LeBron James wants it to — and the rumor mill keeps churning. Here is the latest, including about LeBron and his next destination.
LeBron nearing decision?
The vibe in Las Vegas and at Summer League has shifted in the last 48 hours from "LeBron can just be LeBron and take his time" to more of a "make a decision so the teams involved — and everyone else — can move on." Or, maybe that's just me. Either way, there are multiple reports that LeBron is getting closer to a decision, but when that might land remains up in the air.
LeBron has been reaching out to players on the teams he is considering, reports ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. It's known that LeBron was spending time with Draymond Green, but be careful not to read too much into it. League sources NBC Sports has spoken with still think all signs point to Cleveland as the destination, but other reputable reports have Miami and Philadelphia in the mix as well.
Officially, until LeBron makes the call, everything is still in play. Hopefully that call comes soon.
One quick additional note: Don't expect LeBron's son, Bronny James, to instantly go wherever dad does, reports Dan Woike at The Athletic. After a couple of years of work, Bronny has developed into a player who looks like he could someday be an NBA rotation player. He has taken big strides to get there, and while there's a long way to go, the Lakers have been impressed and like him. They reportedly are not looking just to dump him wherever Dad goes.
Miami eyeing Thompson, DeRozan
From the "trying to move on to other business category," we bring you the Miami Heat, one of the finalists for LeBron, but they are also looking into other options to round out their roster as well.
One of them is Klay Thompson, reports Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Thompson, 36, averaged 11.7 points per game last season, shooting 38.3% from 3-point range, both career lows. Thompson is owed $17.5 million next season in the final year of his contract, and it would be tough for Miami to trade for that deal without giving up some of its already thin depth around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. Miami could offer Nikola Jovic, and the money works, but the Serbian forward is coming off a down season and is under contract for four years at $64 million, which may be more long-term money than Dallas wants back on its books.
There is a belief that if the Mavericks can't find a trade this offseason they might buy out and waive Thompson, making him a free agent, which works for the Heat, but Dallas understandably is looking for a better return for themselves.
The Heat also have had conversations with Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal but are not aggressively pursuing either at this point, according to the report.
Miami is also reportedly interested in free agent DeMar DeRozan as a fallback if LeBron chooses to go elsewhere, and other teams on his list are thinking the same thing, Jackson and Chiang at the Herald report. Something to watch whenever LeBron gets around to announcing his decision.
Peyton Watson interest increasing
Peyton Watson is drawing a lot of interest for two reasons: 1) Every team could use more two-way athletic wings, it's the most in-demand position in the league; 2) He is available as a restricted free agent, the Nuggets will talk sign-and-trade, but the price is steep.
Denver is asking for something similar to what Utah just got for Walker Kessler — two first-round picks and two swaps, plus matching salary at around $25 million a year on average, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
The Clippers and Hawks reportedly have been interested in Watson but have balked at the asking price. Now we can add the Bucks to the list, reports Stein. The matching salary part for the Bucks is easy, Kyle Kuzma could work (the Bucks are under the salary cap and can take back more than they send out by a few million easy), but does a rebuilding Milwaukee team want to give up all those picks? Unlikely, but it's something to watch.
Other free agency notes
• Austin Reaves signed his four-year, $180 million extension with the Lakers, but that was about $5 million less than was originally reported. Reaves took a little less to help the Lakers maintain some future financial flexibility, according to reports.
• The Spurs will re-sign Jordan McLaughlin to a new one-year contract, his agent told Shams Charania of ESPN. That deal will be for the minimum and likely is not fully guaranteed.
• Don't be surprised if former Pelicans coach Willie Green signs on to Dusty May's new staff in Dallas, Marc Stein reports. Multiple teams, including the Warriors, talked to Green about an assistant role.
• Former All-Star Victor Oladipo hosted an open workout for teams in Las Vegas this week, hoping to find his way back into the league. Once one of the top two guards in the game, he last played in the league for the Heat in 2023.
The three amigos: Miguel Vargas, Munetaka Murakami, and Tristan Peters. | Chicago White Sox
The All-Star break is officially in full swing, and following an absolutely epic Home Run Derby Monday, fans are primed and ready for the Midsummer Classic this evening. Philadelphia is hosting the festivities for the first time since 1996, bringing the best of the best to the City of Brotherly Love. The American League leads the National League all-time, 48-45, and has dominated the better part of the last three decades, losing just five times since 1997 and winning 10 of the last 12. Though we can’t forget last season, when a tied game after nine led to the first “swing-off” tiebreaker that allowed the NL to take the W as Philly’s own Kyle Schwarber won it in dramatic fashion.
Two star-studded lineups will be managed by a pair of excellent managers. Dave Roberts, the Los Angeles Dodgers skipper, is managing back-to-back years and his fifth All-Star game, and he will have five of his players on the roster. Making his managerial debut in the Midsummer Classic, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider will be at the helm for the American League. The Jays fell to the Dodgers in a thrilling, seven-game World Series in 2025, and though Toronto hasn’t been as dominant this season, Schneider will have four players attending with Cy Young contender — and an old White Sox pal — Dylan Cease getting the start for the AL.
Leading the field with the most elected All-Stars are the hometown Philadelphia Phillies, with six players represented this year, including two-time All-Star Cristopher Sánchez, who is starting on the mound for the National League. One of the best fun facts coming out of this year’s game is that Roy Halladay was the last starting pitcher to represent both the Blue Jays (2009) and the Phillies (2011). Veterans Chris Sale, Freddie Freeman, and Justin Verlander will each make their 10th All-Star Game appearance, while Mike Trout was elected for the 12th time and will start in center field.
There are also quite a few young guys and rookies making their All-Star debut as well, as there are 11 players younger than 25 years old, and 36 first-timers. There is so much talent on both rosters, but I want to focus on three of those first-timers: Miguel Vargas, Munetaka Murakami, and Tristan Peters.
If you told White Sox fans a year ago that the team would go from 102 losses to three All-Stars (with a few more that were deserving or right on the cusp), they would probably think you were crazy. Heck, if you told them at the beginning of April, it would have felt like one big joke. But here the South Siders are: sending three excellent players to the national stage while holding first place in the AL Central.
Third baseman Miguel Vargas has not only been one of the best stories of the year, but his improvement across every facet of his game over the past two years has been amazing to watch. He’s been consistent every year with not chasing pitches while walking at higher rates. Still, the increases in production across his offensive stats while playing a solid third base have propelled him into the top players in the American League. Vargas’ 3.3 WAR is the fifth-best in the AL, his 13.7% walk rate ranks ninth, his .848 OPS ranks 13th, and he is tied for sixth with 21 home runs. I mean, seriously, this year’s Savant page is bonkers.
He can also rock a blue suit on the red carpet, so pray for the league.
Japanese rookie sensation Munetaka Murakami has also impressed pretty much everyone since he joined MLB, and despite being injured for the past six weeks, he still is tied for seventh for most homers in the AL with 20, and holds a 148 wRC+ on the season, sixth in the AL (min. 250 PAs). Mune’s 33.6% strikeout rate is the highest in the AL and fourth-highest in MLB, though he essentially balances that out with his 17.8% walk rate (third in AL), .540 slugging percentage (sixth) and 911 OPS (fifth). And again, he has maintained all of this while not playing for over a month. Murakami’s nine home runs were just beaten out by Kyle Schwarber’s 10 in the first round of the Home Run Derby, but his swing looked smoother than ever, and it certainly wasn’t a bad showing for his first time around.
Last but DEFINITELY not least is center fielder Tristan Peters. Replacing Byron Buxton due to injury, Peters was a late All-Star addition, but his success this season has been beyond impactful to the White Sox and truly unprecedented. Peters was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in the offseason for “cash considerations,” in what may end up being some of the best money that GM Chris Getz has spent thus far. His .301 batting average is the third-best in the AL and ninth-best in all of baseball, and Peters has mashed 20 of his 75 hits for doubles (26.7%), tied for fourth-most in the AL (alongside Vargas). From the Savannah Bananas to hitting for the cycle in his first full major league season, to the MLB All-Star game, it’s been a lot of fun watching him get to this point.
None of the Chicago White Sox players are starters right now, but hopefully they’ll get an inning at some point tonight. Cease has quite the lineup behind him, nonetheless, especially with all of that power loaded from top to bottom, with Trout leading off and Yordan Alvarez batting second while leading all of baseball with a 1.059 OPS and the AL with 31 homers. Two Derby contestants being on your team is also a flex, with Junior Caminero batting fourth, and Ben Rice balancing out the lineup in the seven-spot while being second in the AL with 29 bombs.
Since being snubbed for an All-Star selection in 2022, Cease is finally making his debut at the Midsummer Classic and is having arguably his best season yet with a 2.84 ERA. His 36.9% strikeout rate is trailing only the flame-throwing Jacob Misiorowski of the Milwaukee Brewers. Walks have always been something that Cease has struggled with in his career, and his 11% BB% is the fifth-highest among all qualified starters, but striking out over a third of your opponents while holding them to a .189 batting average has helped maintain his success this season.
For the National League, the lineup Cristopher Sánchez has behind him is just as scary, with MLB home run leader Schwarber giving Cease a run for his money right off the bat, followed by consistent sluggers Juan Soto and Freeman. Sánchez has been an elite pitcher for the last several years, and his 2.62 ERA and 1.186 WHIP have kept him not only front of mind as an All-Star but as a potential Cy Young candidate for the NL this season. His 38.6% chase rate is among the best in all of baseball, and his changeup is simply nasty, with opponents batting just .167 against him while drawing a 45.2% whiff rate on the pitch.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 14: Jacob Latz #67 of the Texas Rangers poses for a photo during the 2026 All-Star Red Carpet Show presented by Mastercard at Independence Mall on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 7: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers, Joel Embiid #21 and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game on December 7, 2025 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Now 41 years old, future Hall of Famer LeBron James has dominated free agency talk, with his decision on where to play next looming across the landscape. We haven’t heard too much about the Sixers’ pursuit, however, until now. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported the latest on Philly’s pursuit, which has involved all of their big name players.
New story: A trio of Philadelphia 76ers stars — Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown — remain in pursuit of LeBron James, sources told ESPN. With Maxey leading the charge https://t.co/BsNQyVZUQu
McMenamin reported that the Sixers “have kept up their pursuit” of James, with their stars doing the recruiting themselves: “Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown have all been in communication with James, sources told ESPN on Tuesday, with Maxey leading the charge.”
Maxey’s ties to James have been well documented. The two share the same representation, Klutch Sports, led by CEO Rich Paul. The latter two names, however, are somewhat of a development. Brown did go on stream and give a lighthearted recruiting pitch. Embiid, as many have recognized and discussed in the comments, has been quiet in the public eye and online. All three appear to be making a spirited effort to land James, who would slot right into the fifth starting spot alongside VJ Edgecombe and the trio.
Reports have stated that it’s “decision time” for James, and he will likely make his choice in the next few days. ESPN’s Shams Charania labeled the Sixers as a top-three suitor for James, along with his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat. The Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors have also been described as suitors to varying degrees.
We’ll likely know where James is headed soon, but this marks quite the trajectory change for the Sixers, who many held in a hopeless regard at the beginning of the summer. Even if James lands elsewhere, the message is clear: the best of the best recognize what the Sixers have in Maxey and this roster.
DETROIT, MI - JULY 12: A detailed view of a 2026 MLB All Star Game logo patch worn on the jersey of Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies during the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on July 12, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. The Phillies defeated the Tigers 5-0. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia will feature 3 St. Louis Cardinals. Jordan Walker, Ivan Herrera and Riley O’Brien are all on the roster. Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays is the scheduled starter for the American League while Cristopher Sánchez of the Phillies will get the start for the National League. First pitch scheduled for 7pm central time and the game broadcast will be available on Fox.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 14: Cade Smith #36 of the Cleveland Guardians and his wife Elizabeth Smith attend the 2026 MLB All-Star Red Carpet Show at Independence Mall on July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Lisa Lake/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Kyle Schwarber, DH Juan Soto, LF Freddie Freeman, 1B CJ Abrams, SS Max Muncy, 3B Ozzie Albies, 2B Brandon Marsh, RF Andy Pages, CF Drake Baldwin, C Cristopher Sánchez, P
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 13: Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles poses for a photo during the 2026 All-Star player photoshoot at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The regrettably Oriole-light 2026 edition of MLB’s All-Star Game gets under way at 8pm tonight, or however long after 8pm that it takes to do all of the pre-game activities – player introductions and all of that – that MLB doesn’t schedule before 8pm. You can watch the game on Fox and that’s it.
Adley Rutschman is among the American League reserves. It’s nice for him that he’s back in the game for the third time. Probably it was more fun a couple of years ago when he had several teammates there with him. His revival after a couple of down years has been important for the Orioles holding on to what they can so far this season and it is going to be significant for next year as well. He will probably catch two or three innings and get one or two at-bats tonight. Enjoy it while it lasts.
American League starting lineup
Mike Trout – CF
Yordan Álvarez – DH
Shea Langeliers – C
Junior Caminero – 3B
Bobby Witt Jr. – SS
Cody Bellinger – RF
Ben Rice – 1B
Riley Greene – LF
Ernie Clement – 2B
Dylan Cease is the AL starting pitcher.
As a general rule, I don’t go in for “oh, what a nice story for baseball” narratives. I don’t care about nice stories for baseball. I want the Orioles to win games and Orioles players to play well and that’s it. Anybody else has other people to cheer for them and enjoy them. It won’t be me.
That said, even my cold heart can be swayed by Trout being back in the All-Star Game after an absence of a couple of years. His return to relative good health and pretty good performance this year is one of the better random things going on in baseball. In classic Angels form for the duration of his career, it’s coming for a team that is bad and going nowhere. It’s a real shame. Trout getting some late-career postseason success probably would be nice for baseball. I might even enjoy it, as long as it doesn’t come against the Orioles.
National League starting lineup
Kyle Schwarber – DH
Juan Soto – RF
Freddie Freeman – 1B
CJ Abrams – SS
Max Muncy – 3B
Ozzie Albies – 2B
Brandon Marsh – LF
Andy Pages – CF
Drake Baldwin – C
Cristopher Sánchez of the Phillies will start the game for the NL team.
One thing that always mildly interests me with All-Star starting lineups is thinking about how many of these guys are future Hall of Fame guys. Will we look back at this group of guys and think, wow, the fans really nailed it this time?
For the American League, there’s Trout, obviously. Much to my chagrin, Witt looks like a good pick with 26.8 bWAR through his first 4.5 seasons of his career. If Álvarez’s next five years look like his last five years, he could make it. At least for now, that looks like it for this lineup. Aaron Judge, who was elected as a starter but is not going to play, is going to make it some day. I have no joy in saying this.
Among the NL starters, Schwarber looks like a decent bet to hit the 500 home run club that’s the standard for any players who weren’t either caught using or widely believed to have used PEDs. Soto, with 45.4 bWAR and he’s still only in his age 27 season, couldn’t walk into the Hall if he retired tomorrow (for one thing, he hasn’t played the minimum ten seasons) but he probably could after about three more seasons that look like his career averages. Freeman will end up in Cooperstown. The elected starting NL DH, Shohei Ohtani, is also obviously heading there.
If you’re wondering how this compares to last year, I think last year’s elected AL starters had two definitely future HOFers: Judge and José Ramírez. The NL had Freeman, Ohtani, Manny Machado, and Francisco Lindor. Younger guys like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Pete Crow-Armstrong were also in that mix. So, this year’s is maybe about normal or maybe a little bit less on future HOF power than normal.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 13: Randy Arozarena #56 of the Seattle Mariners poses for a photo during the 2026 All-Star player photoshoot at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The American and National League’s best, er, most available square off in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Yes, it’s All-Star week, which means tonight is the All-Star game, which means this is the final MLB-endorsed event until games restart on Friday. For some, especially Mariners fans, that might sound like a blessing. Those fans will be heartened to know Randy Arozarena is the Mariners only representative this year, and he’s not in this evening’s starting lineup. They cannot hurt you today, probably.
The AL has put together an excellent lineup and Ernie Clement. Mike Trout leads off followed by Yordan Alvarez and Shea Langeliers, completing a Western top third. Junior Caminero and Bobby Witt Jr. hit fourth and fifth as the league’s best players. The AL lacks star power on the mound, but Dylan Cease is perhaps the one exception; he’s the current favorite for the AL Cy Young this year. It’s not clear if or when Arozarena will make it into the game, though if it ends in a tie, he will once again be part of the swing off.
The NL’s lineup includes three Dodgers, two Phillies, two Braves, a Met and a National. They’ll also have a third Philly with Cristopher Sánchez on the mound. It’s an All-Star Game. They’re a great team, even they’re only representing a third of their league in the starting lineup.
I’m going to be brave and say the AL wins this one 6-4. Witt hits a homer and a double and wins the MVP. Arozarena comes off the bench and gets hit by a pitch.
Jul 13, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) before the home run derby at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
I hope every MLB fan gets used to Bobby Witt Jr. in the All-Star Game. This is already Witt’s third All-Star Game, and Witt just turned 26 last month. The Kansas City Royals record for most All-Star selections is George Brett with 13; Salvador Perez is second with nine. After that, multiple Royals are tied with five selections, and it seems at least that Witt is on track to move into third place as soon as 2028.
Joining Witt is Michael Wacha, making his second All-Star appearance. Wacha’s first All-Star Game? All the way back in 2015, when he was but a wee 23-year-old with the St. Louis Cardinals.
It’s an All-Star Game with some new faces (Ben Rice, Drake Baldwin) and some old faces (Mike Trout, Freddie Freeman). May the best team win—and may the on-field interviews be as least cringy as possible.
DETROIT, MI - JULY 12: Justin Verlander #35, Kevin McGonigle #7 and Riley Greene #31 of the Detroit Tigers pose with President and CEO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment Ryan Gustafson during an event to honor their selection for the All-Star game before a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Comerica Park on July 12, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Time/Place: 8:00 p.m., Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA Media: FOX Sports, ESPN Radio (Pre-Game coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. ET) Pitching Matchup: AL- RHP Dylan Cease (6-4, 2.56 ERA) NL- LHP Cristopher Sánchez (11-4, 2.62 ERA)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 13: Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees hugs Cody Bellinger #35 after batting during the 2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
This week’s All-Star Week festivities got off to a bombastic start on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park, with outstanding performances from established sluggers and burgeoning stars alike in the Home Run Derby. The spectacle of Jordan Walker silencing a partisan Philadelphia crowd with six consecutive bombs to snatch the title from Kyle Schwarber will be hard to top in terms of pure theatre, but let’s see what the Midsummer Classic itself has to offer!
Tonight, the Yankees will have both Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger representing them in the American League’s starting lineup; they’ll take on Philadelphia ace Cristopher Sánchez on his home mound as the Senior Circuit seeks to claim their second straight victory in the main event. The AL had mounted a late-inning comeback to erase a 6-0 lead, but Schwarber ultimately led the NL to victory by winning a Derby-esque swing-off challenge which replaced extra innings.
Of course, two other Yankees were named All-Stars this season: Aaron Judge and Cam Schlittler. Judge is still working his way back from the rib fracture he sustained in the first week of June. Schlittler was about as deserving as any pitcher to get the starting nod for the AL, but owing to his start this past Saturday, opted not to participate. Strangely, Blue Jays manager John Schneider, who will be leading the American League on the field tonight, said he was always planning to tap the Blue Jays’ Dylan Cease as the starter—even if Schlittler was available to pitch. Weird move, but all right.
Bellinger and Rice will hit consecutively in Schneider’s lineup, at the sixth and seventh spot respectively. (Everybody get those jokes out of the way now.) They were not voted into starting spots, but they will each get the nod regardless due to injuries to Judge and Byron Buxton in Bellinger’s case and the combination of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.‘s withdrawal from the event and replacement Nick Kurtz’s recent addition to the IL.
Rice participated in last night’s Home Run Derby, but failed to advance to the next round. He’ll still get a chance to show off the impressive game power which has brought him to the precipice of 30 home runs at the season’s intermission. Bellinger was slumping mightily ahead of the season’s final week, but finished strong with five hits in the last four games ahead of the break. He gets a chance to keep that momentum going against…well, somebody in the NL’s pitching staff. Since it tends to be a new face pitching every inning, and all. Just one big hit from either of them however, and they could join Derek Jeter (2000), Mariano Rivera (2013), and Giancarlo Stanton (2022) as the only All-Star Game MVPs in Yankees history.
The AL’s lineup is quite front-loaded for pure power, with Mike Trout leading off ahead of Yordan Alvarez, A’s backstop Shea Langeliers and Junior Caminero hitting cleanup. Bobby Witt Jr. and Bellinger provide a more contact-oriented lane in the middle; though both are plenty capable of muscling up themselves. After Rice comes Detroit’s Riley Greene and, yes, the AL’s leading vote-getter, Ernie Clement. To my eye, the NL’s starting lineup is more balanced, but there’s a Ship of Theseus quality to these batting orders, of course.
