Category: MLB

It’s another West Coast late start, and I want to go to bed. Unfortunately, I’m bound to my duties as the Sunday recap guy, so we’re going to do another live blog so I can push publish as soon as this bad boy wraps up. Join me for the next three or so hours as I live-react to the Red Sox, the World Cup, and whatever else is going on in Jake-land on this Sunday evening.

8:53 PM: One of my roommates recently moved out, and his room was much bigger than mine, so I moved in today. The only problem is, my dog is terrified of the beeping noise an air conditioner makes, and every time my roommate would walk in here, he would turn on the AC or a space heater, and my dog would run. Now, she doesn’t want to come into this room even though there’s no AC unit set up. The point is, I’m doing this from my new room for the first time, which is exciting for me because I could pretty much touch all four walls at the same time in my old room.

8:56 PM: My neighbors gave me a Rice Krispie treat that may or may not be infused with other ingredients. I’m not normally one to eat special Rice Krispie treats, but tonight feels like it would make for a fun recap.

8:59 PM: My girlfriend said it was a bad idea.

9:04 PM: I shared this document with her, and she told me I should add that she’s always right. She’s not, but I’m telling her that I’m adding it.

9:15 PM: Just learned that Connelly Early is getting a second opinion. You only get a second opinion if you don’t like the first opinion. Gulp.

9:19 PM: It’s going to be very hard for me to flip over to the Red Sox from the World Cup game at 9:30. There’s nothing I’d like to watch more than Mexico get the boot at their home stadium where they never lose.

9:30 PM: Screw it, soccer is staying on the big screen.

9:32 PM: Is my Peacock playing tricks on me or is this game actually starting even later than advertised?

9;36 PM: GOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. Suck it, Mexico.

9:36 PM: What is Ryan Johnson doing? How is he throwing 92 mph like that? What a weirdo.

9:37 PM: GOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. Dos a cero.

9:38 PM: Lots of sports going on, Wilyer Abreu spoils an immaculate inning with an 0-2 foul ball on the ninth pitch of the inning.

9:41 PM: Johnson strikes out the side in the top of the first after a 12-pitch battle with Abreu. Mexico has a free kick in a dangerous position and pulls one back to make it 2-1. Great finish.

9:45 PM: Back-to-back bloop singles give the Angels runners at first and third with nobody out.

9:48 PM: Ranger Suarez strikes out Vaughn Grissom with a curveball for the first out, but Caleb Durbin can’t get a handle on a ground ball to third, and the Angels get a run. 1-0, Angels as Mexico has opportunity after opportunity in front of the England net. What a game.

9:51 PM: Jo Adell singles to center and Ceddanne Rafaela bobbles it twice. Some rough fielding early from the Red Sox put them behind, 2-0.

10:02 PM: Jarren Duran CRUSHES a ball to center field to tie the game. 422 feet. 2-2.

10:03 PM: I really think lefties should be able to hit this guy. He can’t really come inside to lefties, so half the plate is basically eliminated. The second time through the order will be telling.

10:08 PM: The Red Sox thought they turned a 3-6-1 double play, but the Angels challenge, and the call is rightfully reversed. England has a hard time playing out from the back through Mexico’s press. If they can break through, Harry Kane will likely have a chance to make a line-breaking pass. That’s the kind of soccer analysis you don’t get on most baseball blogs.

10:11 PM: Suarez hangs a curveball, and Zack Neto doubles in a run. 3-2, Angels. England has a shot go off the post.

10:14 PM: It’s been 45 minutes, and we’re through two innings. Scorching pace here in Anaheim.

10:15 PM: The referee has been called to the monitor for a possible red card. I think it’s harsh, personally, but when they’re called to the monitor, the call is rarely ever upheld. It’s a red for Jarell Quansah — England will now play with 10 men for 40 minutes.

10:17 PM: Tsung-Che Cheng with a beautiful bunt for a single to begin the inning.

10:20 PM: Great header by Harry Kane to play Anthony Gordon in, who draws the penalty. The Mexican players can’t believe the call, because they’ve never believed they’ve committed a foul in their lives. I hate the Mexican national team, if you can’t tell.

10:21 PM: Zack Neto boots a ground ball at shortstop to give the Red Sox two runners on with two outs.

10:22 PM: Willson Contreras makes them pay for that error by putting the first pitch he sees in the left field seats. 5-3, Red Sox. Harry Kane buries the penalty. 3-1, England.

10:29 PM: We’ve got another VAR check. This time, Mexico looks like they’re going to be awarded a penalty. Jarren Duran strikes out with two runners on, but the Red Sox get three runs in the inning to regain the lead.

10:31 PM: Raul Jimenez converts the penalty. 3-2, England.

10:35 PM: Jo Adell gets an infield single with two outs. That’s the issue with pitching to contact.

10:36 PM: Oh god, Suarez is talking to the trainer and exiting the game. There really is no such thing as too much pitching. We’re gonna be here all night.

10:39 PM: It’s Greg Weissert on in the bottom of the third in place of Suarez.

10:41 PM: He gets the first guy to pop out, and we’re through three innings with the Red Sox leading, 5-3.

10:51 PM: Ceddanne Rafaela is locked in a battle with Johnson and started walking to first base on the 10th pitch of the at-bat. Unfortunately, it was only ball three. He struck out on the next pitch, though he should have challenged the strike three call.

10:53 PM: 11 minutes of added time with England leading by a goal. That’s a lot of added time. England took Harry Kane off for some reason. I’m not sure they know there’s an additional 30 minutes should they concede.

10:59 PM: Greg Weissert retires the Angels in order in the fourth.

11:00 PM: England is defending for their lives, and Mexico is screaming at the referee any time something doesn’t go their way. Three minutes to go.

11:03 PM: I didn’t even notice Jose Fermin took over for Johnson, but he’s got two quick outs in the fifth.

11:05 PM: ENGLAND WINS. SEE YA MEXICO. What a game.

11:08 PM: Tyron Guerrero on in relief of Weissert here in the fifth.

11:10 PM: It was weed in the Rice Krispie treat. I didn’t eat it. I don’t think I would have been able to comprehend both a soccer and baseball game at once if I had, so I’m happy with that decision. Don’t tell my girlfriend that she was right.

11:11 PM: I made a wish, but I will not tell you guys what it was, so don’t even bother asking.

11:15 PM: Guerrero works a scoreless inning. 5-3, Red Sox after five.

11:17 PM: I went to get water, and my dog took the treat bribes I left while I was gone. Apparently she’s not scared of the room but doesn’t want me to know that.

11:19 PM: It’s left adductor tightness for Suarez. If he misses time, Sonny Gray will be the only starting pitcher from the opening day rotation on the active roster.

If Suarez is placed on the IL, that will make Sonny Gray the only starter from the opening day roster still on the active roster. https://t.co/FFSlV73I8O

— Jake Roy (@Jake3Roy) July 6, 2026

11:22 PM: Weird play in the sixth. Denzer Guzman bobbled the ball at third, Zack Neto caught it and threw to first to get Carlos Narvaez. In the process, Jarren Duran tried to go first to third and appeared to be caught, but Jose Peraza was called for interference at second base. That all nets to a runner on third with two outs for Cheng.

11:25 PM: Cheng strikes out to end the inning.

11:29 PM: Guerrero quickly gets the Angels to go down, 1-2-3.

11:33 PM: Dave O’Brien is talking about soccer. What kind of lunatic would talk about soccer in baseball content?

11:37 PM: Anthony Seigler and Ceddanne Rafaela with a double steal of second and third. Wilyer Abreu does a good job recognizing the huge jumps and takes the pitch to allow them to advance. Good baseball there.

11:39 PM: Abreu can’t get all the way around the ball, but he muscles it out to center field, and Seigler is able to tag up from third and score. 6-3, Red Sox.

11:39 PM: Willson Contreras almost got hit by a pitch. He did not try to fight anyone. Chants of “sell the team” coming from the outfield.

11:43 PM: Yoshida goes the other way for his third hit of the night. 7-3, Red Sox.

11:46 PM: Durbin strikes out, and the Angels go to a lefty with two outs in the seventh.

11:50 PM: Jarren Duran beats out a broken-bat infield single swinging bunt thing. That was cool.

Gotta be quicker than that!

Duran DIVES to stay safe 🦎 pic.twitter.com/0Jv1zNp9oA

— NESN (@NESN) July 6, 2026

11:54 PM: Carlos Narvaez strikes out with the bases loaded to end the threat.

11:58 PM: It’s Garrett Whitlock for the bottom of the seventh. I am so tired.

12:01 AM: Happy Monday. Garrett Whitlock got three guys out very quickly. Thanks, Garrett.

12:02 AM: If you read this whole thing, you’re insane, and I appreciate you.

12:06 AM: The Red Sox go quickly in the top of the eighth. Eighth is a weird word to spell. That’s five consonants in a row. I can’t think of many words that have that. In fact, I can’t think of a single other word with five consonants in a row, but I’m far from operating at maximum brain capacity.

12:08 AM: Justin Slaten for the bottom half of the hard-to-spell inning.

12:09 AM: Willson Contreras chased a ball into foul territory and had a nice moment with a Red Sox fan sitting in the front row. Maybe he’s not so scary after all.

12:13 AM: Donovan Walton, whom I have never heard of before today, gets a pinch-hit double with two outs.

12:15 AM: Jo Adell hits a sweeper off the plate down the line; Walton scores. 7-4, Red Sox as Aroldis Chapman begins to stir in the bullpen.

12:16 AM: Wade Meckler, whom I have also not heard of, is now pitching hitting.

12:17 AM: Meckler strikes out to end the inning.

12:22 AM: Went to the bathroom to brush my teeth, et cetera, and came back to two outs in the top of the ninth.

12:24 AM: Here comes Chapman to try to shut the door on the series.

12:27 AM: Caleb Durbin makes a diving stop and throws to first for the out. Willson Contreras stretches and maybe comes off the base, though. I think he held it, but the Angels are challenging.

12:28 AM: Call stands. One down.

12:30 AM: Chapman strikes out Lowe. Two down.

12:31 AM: Zack Neto homers. 7-5, Red Sox.

12:33 AM: Red Sox win! For those of you counting at home, that’s 8 of the last 10. Day off tomorrow before moving on to Chicago to play the White Sox. We couldn’t possibly make a run, could we? I don’t know. But I do know that I’m going to bed. Once again, if you read this whole thing, I appreciate you. It’s 2,000 words of nonsense. Well, actually, it’s 1972 words of nonsense right now. But the official word count really isn’t important, especially because it counts all of my timestamps that aren’t original content. Now it’s 2,000. Goodnight to all.

As the announcer called out his name in the lineup, Eliezer Alfonzo hugged fellow Venezuelan Miguel Rojas before the catcher walked down the dugout to greet his teammates and coaches. The two had written messages on their caps in silver ink: On Alfonzo’s, “EyP, RIP,” the initials of his stepmother Patricia and his younger sister Eliana. On Rojas’, a cross was drawn next to “Alfonzo” and below “Fuerza Matatan.” In other words, stay strong, Matatan, the nickname given to Alfonzo’s father, the former major league catcher Eliezer “El Matatán” Alfonzo.

An unimaginable weight rested on his shoulders when Alfonzo stepped into the batter’s box to a standing ovation. Alfonzo’s stepmother and sister were reportedly found dead after the earthquakes in Venezuela last month.

Alfonzo went 0-for-2 in an otherwise quiet Dodgers 5-2 loss to the Padres, though even in that performance, he found moments to reflect. His sister, he said after the game, had a dream that she refused to tell him until it came true.

“I’m pretty sure the dream was something about this. I wish she was alive to watch me play in the big leagues,” Alfonzo said. “But I know she’s in God’s side now, and she’s gonna protect me, and she’s gonna enjoy every moment that I’m gonna have.”

He honored his family’s loss by playing as if his sister were sitting in the stands. Because if she were here, he said, she would be yelling from the stands, “Hit the ball hard!”

The Dodgers catcher had previously clung to hope that the two, who had been reported missing, would be found. His father had searched tirelessly for them, his hope bolstered when he found the family’s dog alive. Alfonzo’s father stayed in the country, searching, when the Dodgers called his son to let him know he’d join the team.

The series finale with the Padres should’ve been a happy day. Most players who have toiled in the minor league system debut in front of applauding friends and family. Instead, Alfonzo’s first appearance, the culmination of nine tireless years, was somber , stricken by the grief overshadowing what should’ve been a joyous moment in the Dodgers’ to the Padres.

Read more:Dodgers' Eliezer Alfonzo to start after his sister and stepmother died in Venezuela

Even manager Dave Roberts was lost for words.

“After today, it’s going to really hit him,” Roberts said. “All of us feel for him and his father, who I know, their family. It’s devastating.”

Alfonzo never considered not playing today, despite the personal tragedy. He’s spoken with his brother and his father in Venezuela, who asked him to play in the series finale for his sister. His agent, girlfriend and teammates, like Rojas, also helped Alfonzo approach the game calmly.

“What happened, unfortunately, is out of my hands and part of life,” he said in Spanish. “Only God knows why they happen. I went out there to honor my sister and my stepmother, and give my best in a difficult moment. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the win, but you have to keep moving forward.”

Rojas, who spoke through reddened, teary eyes after the game, knows the family well. He learned from and played against Alfonzo’s father in Venezuelan winter ball. And, in a country struck by tragedy, this loss felt close to home.

“Everybody in Venezuela loves his dad,” Rojas said. “It’s really tough right now to put into context and to put into words. Just for him to be here today and making the decision that he was going to fulfill his childhood dream of playing in the big leagues, thinking about that and thinking about them and what happened over there and what his dad has to be going through right now by himself in Venezuela, it’s really tough.

“For me, I’m just going to support the whole family and especially Eliezer, because I know how hard it is to play like that. It’s been hard for me. Nothing happened to one of my family members, but as soon as I heard the news about them, it hit me as hard as if it were my family. I consider Eliezer Alfonso Sr. one of my close friends in baseball.”

In a way, playing baseball helps bring happiness to those going through tragedy, Rojas said. He knows because he’s lost both his parents, but his family still asks him to play.

“This is how I make a lot of people happy in my family and people who know me,” he said. “This is not just my job. This is who I am.”

Against the Padres, Rojas helped break a five-inning hitless streak for the Dodgers (59-32), who lead MLB in batting average (.265), with a single in the fifth. However, by then, the team had already found itself in a hole.

Emmet Sheehan gave up an RBI single to Padres’ center fielder Jackson Merrill in the fourth inning. In the fifth, he pitched himself into a jam, giving up a successive walk and double that put two runners in scoring position. With no room for error, Sheehan was quickly replaced by Jack Dreyer, who escaped the inning scoreless.

Read more:Dodgers' Edwin Díaz pushes back against alleged links to illegal cockfighting

Sheehan (4-6) has now had five straight starts that lasted no more than five innings. But, having given up only one earned run in the series closer to the Padres (44-45), Sheehan’s start could be viewed as a step in the right direction: only three hits and five strikeouts.

“I thought the first three innings were great,” Roberts said. “They really were. I thought the stuff was up, he was on the attack, you’re getting the swing-and-miss, getting the soft contact, he was great.”

However, emotions remained high on both sides. San Diego’s manager Craig Stammen and coach Ryan Goins were ejected three pitches into the game after arguing a check-swing call. The ejection seemed to spark the Padres back from a season-high eight-game losing streak, though the Dodgers didn’t make the win easy at times.

The pressure ratcheted up in the sixth when Shohei Ohtani and Andy Pages worked walks off Yuki Matsui, who replaced JP Sears. The Padres switched pitchers again before Mookie Betts’ two-out at-bat, and the move paid off. Betts hit a routine flyball, and the inning — and the Dodgers’ momentum — ended.

After scoring in the fourth, San Diego extended its lead in the seventh courtesy of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado. Tatis Jr. beat out a throw from Rojas to Freddie Freeman, driving in one run. And though the Dodgers challenged, the call was upheld. Then, two batters later, reliever Kyle Hurt threw a four-seam fastball down the middle of the plate, and Machado rocketed the pitch to the center field wall beyond the grasp of a leaping Pages.

The Dodgers clawed back two runs in the seventh. Alex Freeland drove in one on a line-drive RBI-single. Ohtani added another one. Neither was enough to win, though it ensured the Dodgers weren’t blanked.

Still, the game’s result seemed minuscule when stacked against Alfonso’s personal tragedy and the earthquake’s destruction in Venezuela. And, as the country and its people begin to piece together the full toll of the destruction amid the rubble, the notion of playing baseball seems absurd in the wake of such tragedy.

“It’s not always easy, but sometimes getting on the field, competing, life goes to the wayside,” Roberts said. “And you can just compete and do your job, and that’s sort of a blessing. But yeah, to play every day, and to have to perform, it’s pressure in itself.”

But for the men who have only known how to play baseball since they were young, there’s little else to do.

“That’s the worst feeling, feeling selfish of being here and playing, and we look out there like we’re having fun and we’re laughing,” Rojas said. “At the end, when I put my head to bed after everything is over, after the show is over, it’s really hard to go to sleep. I’m pretty sure a lot of Venezuelans are going through the same thing.”

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

After shutting out the Padres on Saturday, the Dodgers couldn’t rally back from down five as they dropped Sunday’s contest 5-2, helping San Diego snap their seven-game losing streak.

Both Emmet Sheehan and JP Sears were nearly untouchable over their first three innings of work, only allowing one walk while holding each other hitless. San Diego broke through against Sheehan in the top of the fourth, as Manny Machado worked a one-out walk before Gavin Sheets singled to break up the no-hit bid and put runners on the corners. Jackson Merrill broke the scoreless ice with a two-out RBI single to give San Diego their first run since Friday, and Sheehan needed 28 pitches to end the inning.

San Diego knocked Sheehan out in the fifth inning after Luis Campusano walked for the second time and Fernando Tatis Jr. sprayed a double down the right field line. Jack Dreyer came in to help extinguish the rally, as he got out of a bases-loaded jam with two outs.

Although Sheehan only logged 4 1/3 innings on 96 pitches, the right-hander was tagged for just one run for a second consecutive start against San Diego. Sheehan now has a 1.94 ERA over his last two starts, helping to bring his season ERA down to 4.91.

The lefty Sears entered Sunday’s start with an ERA at 6.97 over his first two starts. Sears flirted with a no-hitter up until the fifth inning when Miguel Rojas lined a single up the middle to end the bid. Sears managed to complete five innings of scoreless work, registering his best start at the big league level since being acquired from the Athletics last year.

The Dodgers managed to get both the tying and go-ahead runners on base with a pair of walks against Yuki Matsui in the bottom of the sixth inning, the the opportunity was wasted as Bradgley Rodriguez got out of the inning unscathed.

San Diego got an insurance run on an RBI single from Tatis in the top of the seventh against Kyle Hurt, and Machado broke the game open with a three-run home run to center field to give the Padres a 5-0 lead. It was Machado’s 26th home run hit as a Padre against his old team, passing Hall of Fame outfielder Dave Winfield for the most home runs hit against the Dodgers in franchise history.

The Dodgers ensured that they wouldn’t suffer the same fate as San Diego did on Saturday, as singles from Alex Freeland and the birthday boy Shohei Ohtani gave the Dodgers a pair of runs. Andy Pages had a chance to tie the game with two on and two out, but Adrián Morejón got him swinging to end the threat.

Morejón remained in for the eighth inning, holding the Dodgers in check, before Mason Miller retired the side in order to put San Diego back in the win column for the first time since June 26.

Shohei Ohtani couldn’t celebrate his birthday with a win, but the two-way superstar went 1-3 with an RBI and a walk. Ohtani is now a career .138 hitter (4-29) on his birthday.

Freddie Freeman’s on-base streak came to a close after 19 games, going 0-4 on Sunday.

Eliezer Alfonzo made his big league debut on Sunday, as the switch-hitter went 0-2 before Tommy Edman pinch hit for him in the bottom of the seventh.

Game particulars

• Home runs— Manny Machado (18)
• WP— JP Sears (2-1): 5 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts
• LP— Emmet Sheehan (4-6): 4 1/3 IP, 3 hits, 1 earned run, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts
• SV— Mason Miller (22): 1 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout

Up next

The Dodgers kick off the final week of the first half with a three-game home series against the Colorado Rockies beginning Monday (7:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Eric Lauer faces Kyle Freeland.

Back in March, we posed questions around way-too-early All-Star Game roster predictions, asking which Rockie (or, optimistically, Rockies) you thought would represent the club in Philadelphia, whether Hunter Goodman would be a repeat All-Star, and which surprise players from around the league would make or miss the Midsummer Classic.

Over the course of the season, Sam Bradfield made the case for Mickey Moniak, Antonio Senzatela, and Hunter Goodman to be All-Stars, as well.

The results from the various fan voting phases trickled in this week before the final rosters were announced yesterday. As expected, league-wide fan voting was not kind to the Rockies. As the early balloting results came in, only two Rockies finished in the top 10 at their positions: Goodman (5th among catchers) and Troy Johnston (9th among designated hitters). Even then, they were hundreds of thousands of votes behind the positional leaders.

National League All Star balloting pic.twitter.com/woqZGksO0a

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) June 15, 2026

By the time things progressed to Phase Two voting, the National League roster was almost exclusively full of Dodgers, Braves, and Phillies, with a National and a Met joining that group. Goodman wasn’t able to secure one of the top two slots, despite ranking first among all catchers in home runs, total bases, runs scored, slugging, and extra-base hits, and second among NL catchers in hits and RBI. However, after the dust settled and final rosters were announced, Goodman secured his second straight All-Star nod.

The full AL and NL All-Star rosters for the 2026 MLB All-Star game 🤩

Who's missing from the list? 👀 pic.twitter.com/LiGjEedHz8

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 5, 2026

The Rockies are among 12 teams sending only their one required representative. The Braves, Dodgers, and Phillies lead the MLB with five representatives each. The Yankees, Rays, and Blue Jays are just behind, leading the American League with four All-Stars each.

There are lots of new names joining All-Star week. In the AL, 15 of 32 players are making their first All-Star appearance, with 11 newcomers of the 32 selected in the NL. Players like the Nick Kurtz, Kevin McGonigle, Jordan Walker, and Sal Stewart are among that group.

The field isn’t without some early controversy or intrigue. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has already announced that he’ll skip the All-Star game, citing a desire to focus on his team first. He’s dealt with back tightness over the last month and has struggled on the season, posting a career-worst .699 OPS and just four home runs this season. Aaron Judge got a starter spot, and although he had a strong start to the year, he hasn’t played since early June and is still dealing with an injury.

Plenty of familiar faces are returning to the game, with guys like Aroldis Chapman, Chris Sale, Mike Trout, Freddie Freeman, Bryce Harper, and, of course, Shohei Ohtani each adding another selection.

With the full rosters out, how are you feeling about the 2026 All-Star Game?

• Which All-Star selections are you most surprised by or disappointed in?
• Who was snubbed around the league? Do you think a second Rockie should have made the cut as a reserve?
• There’s still buzz around Goodman representing Colorado in the Home Run Derby. So far, Rays third baseman Junio Caminero is the only confirmed participant. Do you think Hunter will get the call? Who else do you think will fill out the Derby field?

Let us know in the comments!

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The Milwaukee Brewers are set for a big five-game, four-day series in St. Louis this week, as they’ll take on the Cardinals in an NL Central battle. After a rainout in early May, the two teams will have a makeup doubleheader on Tuesday, meaning we’ll get to see a rare five-game series.

Milwaukee currently sits atop the division at 55-33, as they’ve gone 6-4 in the first 10 games of their current 18-game, 17-day stretch that wraps up with the All-Star break. On the other side, the Cardinals sit in third place at 47-40, though they’re just 1.5 games back of the Cubs after taking two of three against them at Wrigley this weekend. They’re also currently sitting in the final NL Wild Card spot, tied with the Marlins (who technically are just behind them based on win percentage).

The biggest injury news for Milwaukee is the loss of right-hander Brandon Woodruff, who exited after another shoulder injury on Saturday in Arizona. He’s currently listed as TBD, but it’s not looking great for Milwaukee’s veteran leader. Fellow pitchers Joel Kuhnel (TBD), Logan Henderson (possibly this series), Brian Fitzpatrick (2027), Coleman Crow (July), Rob Zastryzny (July), Carlos Rodriguez (late July), DL Hall (late July), Quinn Priester (2027), and Angel Zerpa (2027) are also out, with outfielder Brandon Lockridge (late July) still the only position player on the IL.

The Cardinals have stood as one of the healthiest teams in baseball this season — their current IL is exactly one player long, with infielder Ramón Urías (the older brother of Luis) out since May with an elbow injury. Right-hander Dustin May is considered day-to-day with an ankle contusion, but he’s still expected to make his next start here against Milwaukee.

Jake Bauers leads the Brewer offense with 16 homers this season, driving in 54 and scoring 51 runs as he’s slashing .266/.363/.498. Jackson Chourio ranks second on the team with 13 homers, followed by Brice Turang at 12. William Contreras, Garrett Mitchell, Christian Yelich, Sal Frelick, Gary Sánchez, Andrew Vaughn, and David Hamilton also fit in as regulars, with Joey Ortiz and Cooper Pratt mostly splitting time at shortstop and Blake Perkins serving as a baserunning/defensive sub. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .255/.337/.398 (.735 OPS ranks 11th), with 83 homers (28th), 449 runs (fifth), and 84 steals (tied for sixth).

Jordan Walker continues to have a great breakout season, as he’s hitting .292/.352/.529 with 20 homers, 18 doubles, 67 RBIs, 54 runs, and 11 steals just beyond the halfway point. Alec Burleson, Iván Herrera, and NL Rookie of the Year frontrunner JJ Wetherholt also have double-digit homers. Nathan Church has also had a quietly solid season, as has 29-year-old rookie Bryan Torres. Masyn Winn, Lars Nootbaar and Pedro Pagés are also regulars, with José Fermín, Nelson Velázquez, Jimmy Crooks, and Blaze Jordan serving in depth roles. As a team, the Cardinals are hitting .248/.325/.397 (.722 OPS ranks 16th), with 99 homers (tied for 19th), 403 runs (15th), and 56 steals (18th).

The Brewer bullpen is led by closer Trevor Megill as well as the Vulture, Aaron Ashby, and setup man Abner Uribe, all of whom have been solid this season. Chad Patrick had a nice bounce-back week after a rough month of June, Jared Koenig continues to be a fairly reliable lefty, and Drew Rom, Grant Anderson, Craig Yoho, and Garrett Stallings round things out. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.35 team ERA (first), including a 3.24 starter ERA (first) and a 3.48 bullpen ERA (fourth). They’ve struck out 865 batters (second) over 790 2/3 innings.

Closer Riley O’Brien leads the way for St. Louis’ bullpen, with 22 saves in 26 chances this year. JoJo Romero, George Soriano, and Justin Bruihl all rank among team leaders in appearances and have sub-3.70 ERAs over roughly 40 innings apiece. Ryne Stanek has also tossed 33 2/3 innings, though he has a 3.72 ERA. Matt Svanson sits in a low-leverage role with a 6.69 ERA over 37 2/3 innings, and Max Rajcic has made just six appearances totaling nine innings with five runs allowed. As a staff, the Cardinals have a 4.14 team ERA (14th), including a 4.15 starter ERA (12th) and a 4.14 bullpen ERA (16th). They’ve struck out 654 batters (28th) over 776 2/3 innings.

Probable Pitchers

Monday, July 6 @ 6:45 p.m.: LHP Shane Drohan (3-2, 3.12 ERA, 3.18 FIP) vs. RHP Michael McGreevy (3-7, 3.12 ERA, 4.31 FIP)

Drohan has been a solid presence in the rotation, though he still has a 4.09 ERA over seven starts (33 innings) compared to a 1.82 ERA over 10 relief appearances (24 2/3 innings). Overall, this year, he has a 3.12 ERA, 3.18 FIP, and 59 strikeouts over 57 2/3 innings. He took a no-decision on Wednesday against the Reds, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out seven over 5 2/3 innings. Drohan faced the Cardinals in both of the previous series this season, both times in a relief role. He’s totaled 3 1/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts.

McGreevy, 26 this week, has a strange season stat line, with a 3-7 record and 4.31 FIP but a much better 3.12 ERA. He’s struck out just 60 batters over 95 1/3 innings, and the Cards have lost each of his last four outings. In those losses, he’s 0-2, but he still has a solid 3.52 ERA and 11 strikeouts over 23 innings. McGreevy’s only appearance against Milwaukee came in late May, when he got roughed up for five runs on seven hits and three walks, striking out six over four innings in a loss.

Tuesday, July 7 @ 1:15 p.m. (Makeup of May 5): RHP Jacob Misiorowski (9-4, 1.47 ERA, 1.96 FIP) vs. RHP Dustin May (5-6, 4.80 ERA, 3.37 FIP)

Misiorowski is fresh off being named an All-Star over the weekend, as he sits at 9-4 this season with a 1.47 ERA, 1.96 FIP, and 156 strikeouts across 104 innings. He’s coming off arguably his worst start of the season, going five innings against the Reds and allowing five runs (currently one earned, though the Reds have appealed the error ruling) on five hits (two homers) and no walks while striking out 10 on just 82 pitches. Miz has made four career starts against St. Louis, going 2-1 with a 3.05 ERA and 24 strikeouts over 20 2/3 innings. That includes a win in a seven-inning, one-run performance back in late May.

May, a former third-round pick by the Dodgers, has looked really good at times this year, but he’s looked really bad of late. While he has a 4.80 ERA and 3.37 FIP with 78 strikeouts over 84 1/3 innings this year, he’s had a really strange recent run. After tossing 15 shutout innings in wins over the Mets and Padres (including a complete game, one-hit shutout against San Diego), he’s totaled just 2 2/3 innings in his last two outings against the Royals and Braves, allowing 11 runs on 11 hits and three walks, though St. Louis won both of those games in high-scoring affairs. May has made two career starts against the Brewers, totaling 8 2/3 innings with an 0-1 record, 2.08 ERA, and 12 strikeouts. That includes his lone appearance as a Cardinal, which came back in May as he went seven no-hit innings before taking the loss when he gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits and a hit by pitch.

Tuesday, July 7 @ 6:45 p.m.: TBD vs. TBD

Neither team has announced a starter for the second half of Tuesday’s doubleheader, with it seeming possible we’ll be looking at the 27th man for both squads. For Milwaukee, that likely means Robert Gasser. Gasser, 27, has made seven starts in the majors this year, with a 1-3 record, 4.54 ERA, 4.99 FIP, and 36 strikeouts over 35 2/3 innings. The left-hander looked solid in his last three starts before being sent to the ACL Brewers, totaling 17 1/3 innings with five runs allowed on 13 hits and four walks, striking out 17 against the Guardians, Braves, and Reds. Gasser has made two starts against St. Louis, going 1-1 with two runs allowed over nine innings, striking out six.

For the Cardinals, the only real potential option on their non-active 40-man roster is right-hander Hunter Dobbins, who last pitched at Triple-A Memphis on June 30. Dobbins, 26, was acquired in the Willson Contreras trade with the Red Sox over the offseason. He’s made four appearances (two starts) for St. Louis, going 1-0 with a 3.63 ERA, 4.38 FIP, and 19 strikeouts over 17 1/3 innings. He’s also been solid with Memphis, going 5-1 with a 3.79 ERA and 44 strikeouts over 59 1/3 innings in 12 starts this year. Dobbins actually faced the Brewers while with Boston last year, going three innings in relief with two runs allowed on three hits and three walks, striking out one.

Wednesday, July 8 @ 6:45 p.m.: LHP Kyle Harrison (8-1, 2.82 ERA, 3.00 FIP) vs. RHP Andre Pallante (10-5, 3.60 ERA, 3.91 FIP)

Harrison, who was snubbed an All-Star selection (my money is on him getting picked as a replacement), has looked fantastic in his first season in Milwaukee, easily his best in the majors. Across 16 starts, Harrison is 8-1 with a 2.82 ERA, 3.00 FIP, and 99 strikeouts over 79 2/3 innings. The left-hander got roughed up a bit in a no-decision on Friday night in Arizona, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out three, though Milwaukee would go on to win in extras. His only appearance against St. Louis came back in May of this year, when he tossed six scoreless frames with four hits and no walks, striking out two.

Pallante, 27, already has a career-high 10 wins through 17 starts this season, while pitching to a 3.60 ERA and 3.91 FIP with 70 strikeouts over 95 frames. He went 5 2/3 scoreless innings in St. Louis’ 17-1 blowout win against the Cubs on Friday, allowing five hits and a walk while striking out a pair. A familiar foe of Milwaukee, Pallante is 0-3 against them across 16 appearances (four starts), with a 5.45 ERA and 22 strikeouts over 38 innings.

Thursday, July 9 @ 6:45 p.m.: TBD vs. RHP Kyle Leahy (7-4, 3.86 ERA, 4.09 FIP)

Following the injury to Brandon Woodruff over the weekend, his spot in the rotation is now a bit of a black hole. The good news, however, is that the Brewers seem to expect that right-hander Logan Henderson is close to returning. With that in mind, we’ll assume he makes his return here. Henderson, 24, has been great on a big-league mound across parts of two seasons, going 5-1 with a 2.23 ERA, 2.73 FIP, and 63 strikeouts over 48 1/3 innings. Shelved since late May, he made a pair of rehab appearances over the last couple of weeks, totaling 6 1/3 innings with Triple-A Nashville and allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out 11. This would mark his first career appearance against St. Louis.

Leahy, 29, is a former reliever-turned-starter who has found a bit of success here in his third full MLB season. He’s approaching his career high in innings, as he went 88 frames last year and is at 86 1/3 through 17 starts in 2026. He has a 3.86 ERA, 4.09 FIP, and 73 strikeouts for the Cards, and he’s earned the win in each of his last two appearances. In those games, he went 10 total innings against the Cubs and Marlins, allowing one run on five hits and five walks while striking out 11. Leahy is 2-1 in nine appearances (one start) against the Brewers, with a 3.06 ERA and 17 strikeouts over 17 2/3 innings. That includes a 5 1/3-inning outing back in early May, when he allowed one run on six hits and two walks while striking out five to pick up the victory.

How to Watch & Listen

Monday, July 6: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Tuesday, July 7 (Game 1): Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Tuesday, July 7 (Game 2): Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Wednesday, July 8: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Thursday, July 9: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Prediction

The Cardinals have looked a bit better over the last week after a mediocre month of June, while the Brewers continue to hold their own atop the NL Central. Give me Milwaukee to take three of five.

With Martín Pérez very likely heading to the IL after having injured his forearm getting hit with a comebacker and Carlos Carrasco also likely to receive yet another DFA, there’s a spot that’s available in Atlanta’s pitching staff at the moment. As it turns out, the Atlanta Braves may be turning to a rookie who would be in line to make their big league debut if called up.

Consensus top 10 Braves prospect Owen Murphy is apparently heading to Atlanta, according to sources who are informing our very own Gaurav Vedak.

Per source I’m hearing Owen Murphy will be headed to Atlanta.

Last pitched July 1st – 6IP 2H 0R 1BB 7K
Dominant, unique 4s FB that sits 91-93 but high spin and 19-22” IVB. Huge whiff generating pitch when at the top of the zone.

— Gaurav (@gvedak) July 6, 2026

As Gaurav mentioned in his post, Murphy would be on regular rest so the timing makes sense. It also makes sense from a performance standpoint, as Murphy has performed pretty well at the Triple-A level so far this season. He’s thrown 60.1 innings over 11 starts and has recorded a 3.88 ERA (81 ERA-) and a 4.27 FIP (90 FIP-) with the Gwinnett Stripers so far this season. His last start was a solid one as well — Gaurav mentioned the stats from his last start and here’s some video to go along with it as well.

We’ll see if/when the Braves decide to make the move official but for now, it does seem like Owen Murphy is getting a ticket to The Show and if all goes well, he might be sticking around for a bit while Martín Pérez makes his recovery. We’ll see what happens!

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs got egged by the Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers), 6-2.

Will Sanders took the loss after giving up four runs on five hits over four innings. One of the runs was unearned. Sanders struck out five and walked one.

Antoine Kelly had two perfect innings of relief, striking out two.

Left fielder Jonathon Long went 1 for 4 with an RBI double that scored right fielder Hayden Cantrelle. Cantrelle went 1 for 2 with a walk.

Long’s double.

Long gets us on the board! pic.twitter.com/Ivd1XVLsVh

— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) July 5, 2026

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies pied the Columbus Clingstones (Braves), 5-4.

Four Smokies pitchers combined on a one hitter. However, four errors, eight walks, a hit batter and a wild pitch led to four Columbus runs.

Evan Taylor pitched the first two innings and allowed two runs, one earned, on no hits and three walks. He struck out five.

Erian Rodriguez pitched the next three innings and gave up an unearned run on no hits.. Rodriguez did walk four while striking out one.

Yenrri Rojas gave up the only Columbus hit, along with one unearned run over one inning. Rojas walked one and struck out one.

Luke Little threw the final two innings and got the win. He retired the side in order in the eighth, but then put two on and no outs in the ninth after he hit a batter and then make a throwing error on a bunt. But Little hunkered down and retired the next three batters in order to end the game. Little had one strikeout.

Catcher Owen Ayers crushed his 21st home run of the year and 15th with the Smokies with the bases empty in the first inning. Ayers went 2 for 4 with a double, the home run and two runs scored.

Left fielder Carter Trice doubled twice in a 2 for 4 afternoon. He scored one run.

Third baseman Jefferson Rojas was 1 for 3 with a two-run single in the fifth. He was also hit by a pitch once.

Ayers’ home run.

Owen Ayers goes the other way for his 15th homer of the season 💣 pic.twitter.com/TLLQpw48uQ

— Knoxville Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) July 5, 2026

The two-run single by Rojas.

Layout denied. Lead acquired. Jefferson Rojas brings home 2️⃣ #Cubspic.twitter.com/L1GOrMe6np

— Knoxville Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) July 5, 2026

First baseman Edgar Alvarez doubled in a run in the bottom of the eighth that gave the Smokies the lead for good. Alvarez went 1 for 3 with a walk.

Edgar Alvarez breaks the tie with a clutch two-bagger, Smokies take the lead 💥 pic.twitter.com/kucovX9BZZ

— Knoxville Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) July 5, 2026

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were swept in a doubleheader from the Beloit Sky Carp (Marlins), 1-0 and 2-0.

Jameson Taillon made a rehab start in game one and got the loss, but he allowed just one run on four hits over 3.1 innings. Taillon struck out two and walked no one. He threw 45 pitches and 32 of them were for strikes.

Kevin Valdez pitched the final 2.2 innings and retired all eight batters he faced. He struck out four of them.

South Bend had just three hits in this game, all singles.

Here are some Taillon footage.

Jameson Taillon had a solid rehab start today for the South Bend Cubs in Beloit. 3.1ip, 4 hits, 1 run, 2Ks, 0BBs. Video shot by our Tylor Sorensen. pic.twitter.com/qlhGTbVUJz

— Scott Leber (@ScottLeberWTVO) July 5, 2026

In game two, starter Alfredo Romero allowed a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the first. He didn’t give up much else, but that was enough for the loss on a day the South Bend bats stayed home. Romero’s final line was one run on two hits over four innings. He struck out four and walked just one.

South Bend had five hits in this game, all singles. Left fielder Jose Escobar was 3 for 5. He went 1 for 3 in game one.

Josiah Hartshorn was 1 for 3 with a walk in game two after going 1 for 3 in game one

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans lost to the Hickory Crawdads (Rangers), 3-2.

Starter Noah Edders took the loss after allowing three runs on two hits and two walks over four innings. Edders did not strike anyone out.

First baseman Geri Lubo doubled in a run in the bottom of the ninth. He also walked and scored in the fifth inning. Lubo was 1 for 3 with a double and the walk.

Center fielder Alexey Lumpuy went 2 for 4.

DH Edward Vargas was also 2 for 4.

ACL Cubs

Off day.

Series almost always end on Sunday, just because that’s how the schedule works. Being the Sunday recap guy, I often have the series-deciding game. After winning the first two games against the Angels, tonight’s game will be the 5th straight weekend series in which the Red Sox are trying to complete the sweep (if you include a 2-game set against the Yankees with one postponed game). That streak dates back to the beginning of June. Over that span, the Red Sox were 3-12 in weekday series, and 11-3 in weekend series (including the first two against the Angels). Weird.

Anywho, they’re going for the sweep of the Angels on Sunday in a game that starts at 9:30 PM for some reason. It’ll be All-Star Ranger Suarez against Ryan Johnson, who I’ve never heard of before tonight. There’s some intriguing stuff in his arsenal, but his lack of a good fastball makes me think he’s going to have a hard time not walking lefties. We’ll see.

First pitch at 9:30 PM on Peacock, NESN, and WEEI.

Lineups

Series finale coming right up! pic.twitter.com/3VhGEtIh7H

— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 5, 2026

Angels 7/5

Z. Neto SS
D. Guzman 3B
V. Grissom 1B
J. Soler DH
O. Peraza 2B
J. Adell RF
J. Siri CF
L. O'Hoppe C
J. Lowe LF

R. Johnson SP

— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) July 5, 2026

Prior to today’s game, the Mariners players participated in the 2026 Little League Challenger game, a yearly tradition at the ballpark celebrating the Challenger League, an adaptive baseball experience for kids with special needs. While a handful of players are regular participants – J.P. Crawford, George Kirby, Luke Raley – this year almost every Mariners player was out on the field playing catch, helping kids run the bases, signing autographs or taking pictures pregame.

“That’s what’s really important about this game,” said Dan Wilson postgame. “Baseball affords us this incredible platform, and the ability to use that to bring joy to people that are challenged in some way…it’s just a really outstanding event, and to have the participation of the guys in that clubhouse to give up the time before a game to go out there and mix and mingle and run the game, you can’t talk enough about the heart that they have and the selflessness they all have and the understanding of the importance of this game, and how it can impact people outside of baseball.”

Pitching battery of J.P. Crawford, Victor Robles and José Ferrer pic.twitter.com/EodZXtpxGs

— Lookout Landing (@LookoutLanding) July 5, 2026

“I’ve always believed that we have really good people here,” said Emerson Hancock, who wasn’t able to participate this year because he was starting but has in years past. “I think we understand the importance of the platform that we have, and I think we also understand the impact that we can have on kids and people. Any way that we can positively impact someone, just share a smile, make a difference in someone’s life, I think that’s important.”

New pitcher an unrecognizably smiley George Kirby pic.twitter.com/d4DUu9YdDA

— Lookout Landing (@LookoutLanding) July 5, 2026

Mitch Garver, speaking postgame after providing the majority of the Mariners’ offense with a two-run homer, was a bit more direct.

“We do have good people, and that’s something that I love about this organization, is the people, from top to bottom. We don’t have any turds on this team.”

Today the turd-free Mariners banded together and defeated the Toronto Blue Jays. The pitching was lights out, blanking the Blue Jays once again, while the offense steadily added runs to ensure the Jays wouldn’t be able to come back from what was first a one-run deficit, then a three-run deficit, then four.

Emerson Hancock worked around some hard contact in the first, giving up a one-out double to Vlad Guerrero Jr. scorched off the bat at 115 mph on a sinker that didn’t quite sink, but was able to retire his next two hitters on weak-contact outs. He also had to work around a one-out single in the second, when Ernie Clement – the emptiest .300 hitter in baseball – managed to make contact with a sweeper a foot below the zone and just poke it into left field. But the Blue Jays helped Hancock out each time, swinging early and often and making a lot of weak-contact outs – he was at just 31 pitches through the third inning.

“I think that’s what happens when you’re aggressive,” said Hancock, who threw 14 of 24 first-pitch strikes, with seven of his outs coming on either the first or second pitch of the at-bat. “Sometimes they’re singles, but sometimes they’re first pitch outs, and so we always want to err on the side of throwing a ton of strikes, and if you’re able to get that first pitch out, those are always great for us.”

The Mariners had an opportunity to get to Blue Jays starter Trey Yesavage in the second, when Luke Raley opened the inning with a leadoff double, but Cole Young grounded out on the second pitch he saw, Mitch Garver struck out looking in a full count (burning a challenge in the process), and Colt Emerson fell victim to Yesavage attacking him with fastballs up, expanding the zone and chasing helplessly. That was a frustrating inning after the Mariners had managed to put 20 pitches on Yesavage, who didn’t have great command to start, in the first.

Finally, the Mariners were able to convert in the third, although it cost them two outs to score a single run despite the first two hitters reaching – Victor Robles on a piece of weak-contact hitting that dropped, and J.P. Crawford working a walk. Randy Arozarena moved the runners into scoring position with a good-as-a-bunt groundout and Cal Raleigh hit a sac fly to bring home Robles. Small ball runs are still runs, but it wasn’t exactly a back-breaking inning.

The Mariners were able to double up their run scoring in the fourth thanks to Cole Young and Mitch Garver. Young, showcasing one of those at-bats he’s so good at, fell behind 0-2 but battled for eight pitches until he got a fastball on the plate he hit hard at Ernie Clement at shortstop, who couldn’t get a clean throw off, allowing Cole to reach. Mitch Garver also fell behind 0-2, battled back, and got a fastball in that he was able to turn on and send onto the protective roof covering in Edgar’s cantina. Apparently the cantina needed a little Garvsauce.

“Sundays are my days,” joked Garver postgame. “So that was fun.”

Emerson Hancock continued to dominate over the back half of his outing, despite a little shaky command at times; he issued a leadoff walk to the nine-hole hitter to open the sixth, always a no-no, but was able to roll a double play ball immediately after; he then walked Guerrero Jr. on seven pitches (“wasn’t great”) but rebounded to get another quick popout from Kazuma Okamoto, giving him another inning of work. Gabe Speier took over in the eighth and put his foot right back on the Blue Jays’ collective throat, knocking down his trio of hitters 1-2-3.

Meanwhile, the Mariners added another run in the eighth off lefty Mason Fluharty, stacking singles together. Randy Arozarena got the singles party started, hitting a ball that Clement couldn’t field cleanly, and Cal Raleigh followed that up with a nice line-drive single to right, allowing Randy to go first to third. Josh Naylor then got a fluky RBI on a single that bounced off the bag at third, giving the Mariners one more precious run of insurance for Andrés Muñoz, who allowed a leadoff single on a ball that was a foot below the zone but set down the next three hitters he faced after that to secure a Mariners series victory.

The Challengers game might have ended in a tie, but everyone on the field was a winner, including the Mariners, who also brought home the win against the Blue Jays. Pretty nice day all around.

One of the brightest days on our schedule 💙

Our favorite tradition returned to the ballpark with Little League Challenger athletes getting the full big-league experience alongside players, families and staff. pic.twitter.com/L7xHz8itSD

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 5, 2026

Tigers 6, Rangers 3

• The Rangers are now on a losing streak.
• And are back to .500.
• Why do the Rangers want to vex us so?
• Kumar Rocker seemed to be going well to start the game. He faced one over the minimum through three innings, allowing a pair of singles, but erasing one of them with a double play ball.
• Something went wrong in the fourth inning, though. Rocker’s velocity dropped, with what was said after the game to be attributable to his mechanics getting out of whack. And for the second day in a row, a Riley Greene two run home run gave the Tigers the lead, though this time took the lead away from the Rangers, who had gotten on the board with a solo home run by Jake Burger in the bottom of the third.
• Things got even worse in the fifth. After a strikeout to start the inning, Rocker elicited a weak roller from James Outman. In a flashback to 2025, Rocker was slow getting off the mound, which resulted in Burger having to field the ball, but with no one to throw to at first.
• Outman was the last batter Rocker faced, and while the beats reported that Schumaker said after the game it was due to Rocker laboring, the failure to cover first (or alternatively make a play on the grounder), one would think, played a part.
• Unfortunately that is when things when extremely bad. Robby Ahlstrom entered the game. He ended up facing five hitters, none of whom he retired.
• I am a bit concerned about the possibility of there being a Ketel Marte situation developing here. I already have a sense of dread that envelops me when Ketel Marte comes to the plate against the Rangers. I don’t want to assume that Riley Greene is, if given the opportunity, going to do bad things to the Rangers, put the Rangers behind, get hits and suck the life out of us.
• The precise sequence was single, single, catcher’s interference, run scoring wild pitch, triple (to Riley Greene, of course), walk. Gavin Collyer came in and got the next two runners and avoided any more runs from scoring, but, you know, barn doors locked after the fact and all that.
• The Greene triple was a skied opposite field ball that hit off of the left field wall, with Josh Smith (the game’s starting left fielder) hitting the wall going after the ball, which allowed Greene to make it to third. Smith got the start in left in place of Alejandro Osuna, who got the day off after his own defensive misadventure in left field the game before.
• Wyatt Langford will be back soon, though. I hope?
• Collyer, Cole Winn and Peyton Gray kept the Tigers off the board the rest of the way, but the Ranger offense never really seemed to be in danger of making it a real game. Texas got three runners on in the fifth and managed to score a run then. Ezequiel Duran homered in the eighth.
• The Rangers did, earlier in the game, get runners on the corners with two outs due to a Smith triple and a Cam Cauley (starting in place of Josh Jung, who was a late scratch due to a banged up knee from a foul ball on Saturday). That ended with a Nicky Lopez ground out.
• Once again, a lack of baserunners meant a lack of scoring opportunities. Texas had just four at bats with a runner in scoring position in the game, and put just eight runners on base.
• The Rangers were on a really nice run there on the road trip. These last two games have harshed some of the positive vibes being felt earlier in the week, particularly the lackluster offense.
• I liked it better when they were winning.
• Kumar Rocker touched 95.9 mph on his fastball, averaging 94.2 mph. Robby Ahlstrom hit 95.7 mph with his fastball. Gavin Collyer touched 98.8 mph with his fastball. Cole Winn’s fastball maxed out at 96.3 mph. Peyton Gray’s fastball hit 93.4 mph.
• Brandon Nimmo had a 107.0 mph fly out. Jake Burger’s home run was 106.6 mph, and he had a 100.3 mph groundout. Ezequiel Duran’s homer was 104.2 mph. Josh Smith had a 102.2 mph triple. Elias Diaz had a 101.6 mph line out.
• On off day Monday, then six straight at home before the All Star Break.

On a sunny Sunday in West Sacramento, the Athletics closed out their homestand with the finale of their series against the Miami Marlins. The Marlins completed the sweep with a 9-8 win over the A’s, staving off the hosts furious comeback after Miami pulled its starter, who was just six outs shy of a perfect game.

Marlins Score Early

The Marlins scored in the first inning for the second time this series. With one out, left fielder Heriberto Hernández hit his tenth home run of the season, a solo shot to center off A’s starter Gage Jump. The Marlins added two more hits, but Jump worked out of the inning, stranding runners at second and third.

The Marlins extended their lead in the second inning. Following two straight singles, shortstop Otto Lopez hit a ground-rule double over the head of A’s left fielder Carlos Cortes, bringing home Jakob Marsee for the visitors second run of the game. First baseman Liam Hicks drove in Miami’s third run in two innings with a sacrifice fly off Jump.

A’s Pitching Awful

In the third inning, Marlins’ designated hitter Leo Jimenez hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to left-center field to extend the visitors lead to 5-0. After hitting a batter, Jump allowed Brian Navarreto’s double before Otto Lopez added a sacrifice fly to bring home his team’s sixth run.

Jump’s afternoon was done after those three laborious, ineffective innings. He allowed six runs on eight hits, walking three while only striking out one. Jump may be hitting a rookie wall, and how he responds will be key to the rest of his season.

Right-hander Mason Barnett replaced him in the fourth inning out of the Athletics’ bullpen. He performed better than Jump, pitching two scoreless innings. The A’s left Barnett in the game one inning too long. Lopez and Hernández led off the sixth inning with back-to-back home runs, extending Miami’s advantage to 8-0 and setting a franchise record for home runs in a series. For Hernández, it was his second home run of the game.

The A’s finally pulled him, inserting fellow right-hander Justin Sterner. He did not give up any more runs, although he was helped by his teammates, who executed a relay throw to cut down a Marlins’ runner at the plate. Hogan Harris and Luis Medina followed with scoreless innings, with Medina escaping a bases-loaded situation

Perfect Perez

Meanwhile, Marlins’ starter Eury Pérez needed just 92 pitches to complete seven perfect innings. He struck out eight, keeping the A’s hitters off balance throughout his dominant outing. The A’s short-handed offense continued to struggle at the team’s hitter-friendly home ballpark, while its pitching staff gave up runs and baserunners galore.

A’s Offense Finally Wakes Up

Rather than let him have a shot at history, the Marlins took him out as it was just his third start since returning from the injured list. Right-hander Lake Bachar replaced him to pitch the eighth inning. He immediately ended the perfect game attempt by walking Athletics right fielder Lawrence Butler. Joshua Kuroda-Grauer then lined a single for the A’s first hit of the game. Next, Carlos Cortes ripped an RBI double, bringing home Butler for the A’s first run of the game.

With the bases loaded and zero outs, designated hitter Jonah Heim hit a grand slam, his ninth home run of the season making the score 8-5.

Jonah Heim GRAND SLAM!

The @Athletics are right back in this game in the 8th 😳 pic.twitter.com/P5gihomBKq

— MLB (@MLB) July 5, 2026

Miami Takes Back Control

After failing to record an out, the Marlins replaced Bachar with right-hander Michael Petersen, who stopped the bleeding, getting his team out of the inning still up three. In a big momentum swing, Athletics’ center fielder Henry Bolte was thrown out trying to steal second with Nick Kurtz at the plate and only one out.‘

Miami added an insurance run in the ninth against the A’s hard-throwing reliever Elvis Alvarado. With runners on second and third and one out, Hicks hit a soft RBI groundout that brought home the Marlins’ ninth run, increasing their lead by one.

A’s Comeback Falls Short

In the bottom of the ninth, the Marlins brought in their closer Pete Fairbanks to seal the series sweep. A’s second baseman Zack Gelof led off the inning with a single and then Butler doubled, advancing Gelof to third base. Gelof scored the A’s sixth run on a passed ball by Marlins’ catcher Joe Mack.

With Butler on third, Max Muncy on second and two outs, Heim came through again, lining a single up the middle to make it a one-run game. He finished with a career-high six RBIs, the lone A’s offensive bright spot today. Alas, Fairbanks retired catcher Brian Serven to end the game as the A’s last ditch comeback fell tantalizingly short.

This loss, which capped off a 1-5 homestand, drops the Athletics to 41-49 and into fourth place in the American League West. The “Green and Gold” will look to find more success on the road this coming week. Following an off day tomorrow, the team begins a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night. The A’s have not announced who their starter will be, while their hitters will face back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.