Here’s the Rangers’ lineup:
Here’s the Guardians’ lineup:
Let’s go, Guardians!
RANGERS AT GUARDIANS: Messick vs. Alexander/Santos, discussion
Mets At Jays Game Thread
Bo returns to Rogers Centre.
It will be weird watching him wearing a different jersey. As much as I wish the best for him, I’d be ok with an 0 for 12 series for him.
There are a bunch of tweets about Bo tearing up before the game, I’m curious to see him when they play the video.
Washington Nationals vs Boston Red Sox Game Thread
After getting back on track in Baltimore, the Nats continue their road trip against another AL East foe. They head up to Boston to face a Red Sox team who just completed a 4 game sweep over the Yankees. However, for most of this season, the Red Sox have been inconsistent at best.
With a lefty on the mound, Blake Butera elected to make a few changes. However, he decided to keep his hottest hitter Luis Garcia Jr. in the lineup. Garcia usually sits against lefties, but he is too hot for that right now. Andres Chaparro will be in there as the DH. Daylen Lile will get a day off, meaning James Wood is in left, Jacob Young is in center and Dylan Crews is in right. Miles Mikolas will be on the mound with no opener in front of him.
This Red Sox lineup has underperformed for most of the season, but they have been better in June. Newcomer Willson Contreras has been their best hitter. Caleb Durbin has also been hot in June. The Nats very briefly rostered Tsung-Che Cheng, before DFA’ing him two days later. Now he is with the Red Sox, and starting at shortstop. Big money signing Ranger Suarez will be on the mound.
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Game Info:
Stadium: Fenway Park
Time: 7:10 PM EST
TV: Nationals.TV
Radio: 106.7 The Fan
This should be a fun week with Paul Toboni returning to Boston. There are plenty of storylines to chew on in this series. However, the Nats need to take care of business here. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!
New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers: Ryan Weathers vs. Casey Mize
Readers, I begin this humble game thread with a question: is it better to head right back to work after a four-game sweep at the hands of your archrivals, to get an opportunity to flush it and leave it in the past? Or would an off-day at this juncture give you a much-needed chance to reset in the grind of a long season?
It’s a false choice, of course. The Yankees have no alternative but to return to the Bronx tonight and welcome the Tigers to town, after that aforementioned four-game mop at the Red Sox’ hands. The Tigers, if you recall, were the Bombers’ previous opponent before that ill-fated weekend in the Molasses City; they beat New York in a dud of an opener before the Yanks squeaked out a pair of close victories to take the set. You can bone up on the familiar matchup if you haven’t already by checking out Estevão’s series preview here.
Ryan Weathers was victorious in one of those games at Comerica Park, logging his second straight quality start with six innings of one-run ball. He was aided in his quest by excellent Yankee defense, including a pair of nifty grabs in center field by Max Schuemann. (Schuemann, it should be noted, is not in the lineup.) Overall, Weathers has had a bumpy beginning in pinstripes but remains a solid back-rotation option for New York. His penchant for the home run ball (his 16 homers allowed is 4th in the AL so far) has been a major culprit for his uneven season.
Casey Mize took the loss in the other game the Tigers dropped to the Yankees last week. His start wasn’t unlike the last few Gerrit Cole starts: good stuff shown, but too many misses in bad spots and an opportunistic lineup which was ready to punish mistakes. Mize allowed four runs on eight hits, striking out six Bombers and surrendering a go-ahead home run to Jazz Chisholm Jr.; a bright spot in what has been a very bipolar month for Jazz.
Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger will start the lineup with a rare double-lefty setup. Four of the first five batters against Mize will be left-handed, with Jazz and Jasson Domínguez on the other side of Paul Goldschmidt, hitting third. Anthony Volpe takes short, Spencer Jones patrols center field, Austin Wells dons the tools of ignorance, and José Caballero mans the hot corner tonight in the Bronx.
How to watch
Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
First pitch: 7:05 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES, Detroit SportsNet
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | WXYT 97.1 FM (DET)
Streaming: Gotham Sports App, MLB.TV (out-of-market only)
For updates, follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.
Atlanta Braves off day chat and discussion: June 29
There’s one more off day until the Atlanta Braves are back in action on this side of the country. Hopefully the change in scenery will result in a change in fortune for the Braves, who have been on a very dire run as of late. As I mentioned with the title of a series recap from awhile back, the only way out is through, so hopefully the Braves can break through against the Cardinals and Mets this week.
For now, there’s no Braves action tonight so it’s time to get into the “big” question:
What am I watching tonight?
You may be shocked to hear this but there’s a World Cup game starting at 9:00 p.m. ET tonight and I plan on watching it. All of the matches from here on out are of the single elimination variety so the tension and drama has ratcheted up another level. Tonight’s match will be between the Netherlands and Morocco and I’m hoping it’ll be exciting.
If that’s not your cup of tea then ESPN is running a national game tonight with the Guardians facing the Rangers. Is that a sexy matchup? Not particularly but it’s baseball and it’s (likely) hot outside so you may as well just plant yourself on the couch and put on the game.
I’m not going to suggest a hate-watch since those haven’t been going pretty well for us Braves fans lately (as far as the Phillies are concerned) but if you just can’t help yourself, Braxton Ashcraft is getting a shot at the Phillies as Pittsburgh goes to Citizens Bank Park. You can also watch the Mets and Blue Jays lock horns in the battle of teams who are performing well below expectations. The Braves are currently performing below expectations at the moment so the vibes should be pretty similar.
What will you be watching? Any baseball? The World Cup? Anything else to get your mind off of sports? Let’s hear it. The floor is now yours.
A’s roster moves: Massive Shakeup
The Athletics have not played well over this past week or two, most recently dropping three-game series against the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels. This extended downturn, which has led to them falling from first to fourth place in their division, could partially be attributed to the team playing shorthanded. Several A’s position players and pitchers are on the team’s injured list with various maladies.
Tonight, the A’s begin a three-game home series against the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, who are full steam ahead in pursuit of the three-peat. The A’s would have liked to match up against the champs on full-strength. However, that will not happen, as the team announced several roster moves this afternoon.
Pitchers
The lone move involving the pitching staff concerns left-hander José Suarez, who was placed on the paternity list and will miss a few games as he welcomes a new addition to his family.
Right-hander Kade Morris, who made his first MLB start earlier this month before being optioned back to Triple-A soon after, takes Suarez’s place on the active roster. Morris will look to make a stronger impression and earn a longer stay during his second stint in the majors this season. Lastly, the A’s designated right-handed reliever Michael Kelly for assignment.
Hitters
Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson had not played since re-aggravating his left shoulder injury last week. Wilson was rehabbing in hopes of avoiding another stint on the injured list, but he did not make enough progress. The A’s ultimately placed him on the injured list with right thumb inflammation, retroactive to June 26. Left fielder Tyler Soderstrom joins him out of commission with left hip impingement, an injury he suffered Saturday night against the Angels.
The team recalled infielders Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and Darell Hernaiz to fill the roster spots. While Hernaiz has appeared in 47 games with the A’s this season, Kuroda-Grauer will make his MLB debut this evening.
The A’s drafted Kuroda-Grauer in the third round of the 2024 MLB draft out of Rutgers University. The versatile infielder, who can play third base, shortstop and second base, added muscle during the offseason in hopes of improving his offensive production.
The changes appear to have paid off, as he is slashing .323/.367/.478 this season, earning his first big-league promotion. Kuroda-Grauer’s profile is similar to Wilson’s, as both infielders are strong defenders who bring a contact-heavy approach to the plate, making them difficult to strike out.
What do you make of these transactions A’s fans? Will JKG make an instant impact or will the A’s struggle to overcome the loss of Wilson and Soderstrom against the Dodgers?
Game 85 Game Day Thread – Texas Rangers @ Cleveland Guardians
Texas Rangers @ Cleveland Guardians
Monday, June 29, 2026, 6:10 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / ESPN)
Progressive Field
LHP Tyler Alexander into RHP Chris Paddack? vs. LHP Parker Messick
Go Rangers!
Ranger Suàrez starts as Red Sox host Nationals after sweeping Yankees
It’s been almost four full years that I’ve been an Over The Monster staff writer, and true story: I’ve never written a pre-game thread. That is, until Bryan Joiner called to the bullpen late, and I “accepted the trade for a player to be named later” or “cash considerations.” Two different metaphors, I know. But, starting one metaphor after another may be something of a symbolic gesture with these Red Sox. But, to quote some Bostonians, “I never had to knock on wood, but I know someone who has.” That’s to say, this team isn’t good. I don’t subscribe to the “we’re four and a half games out of the wild card spot” or the success of this weekend being any sort of start to a rally catapulting this team into contending conversations. But I wouldn’t blame anyone who gets a bit hopeful after watching the last four games. Unless this series goes well.
Fortunately, they’ll have a guy who’s found his stride on the mound. Ranger Suarez (3-3, 2.83) . He has not had a decision win at home yet this season. He took a no-hit bid into the seventh in Seattle, and had a little more turbulent outing in hitter-friendly Colorado but still emerged from six innings having given up just three runs, and only one of those earned (sadly, the Sox would implode that game). His ERA in 4 starts (24.0 IP) in June is 1.50.
As Mike Carlucci diplomatically put it in this series’ preview article, the Nationals also suck are having their own challenges keeping things balanced this year, having inverse problems that the Red Sox face. Their offense is awesome, the biggest of those worries being Luis Garcia, the reigning NL Player of the week who’s hit six home runs in as many games, including two just yesterday in Baltimore. They rank at the very top of the league in runs scored and are tied for fourth in home runs, which would usually find you at the top of many standings, unless your pitching is horrible having some trouble keeping runs off the board, to the tune of being the third-worst in baseball. Miles Nikolas (2-6, 5.24 ERA) is tonight’s starter for Washington. At one time he was a very serviceable pitcher. At 37, those days may be behind him, as he’s experienced some stark declines in the ability to strike guys out as well as to generate swings and misses in general, ranking in the lowest three percentile via Baseball Savant this season.
See you back here after.
Mets vs. Blue Jays: Lineups, broadcast info, and open thread, 6/29/26
Mets lineup
Carson Benge – RF
Juan Soto – LF
Bo Bichette – 3B
Francisco Lindor – SS
Jared Young – 1B
A.J. Ewing – CF
Mark Vientos – DH
Brett Baty – 2B
Francisco Alvarez – C
SP: Sean Manaea – LHP
Blue Jays lineup
George Springer – DH
Nathan Lukes – RF
Vladimir Guerrero – 1B
Kazuma Okamoto – 3B
Ernie Clement – SS
Brandon Valenzuela – C
Luis Urias – 2B
Yohendrick Pinango – LF
Myles Straw – CF
SP: Trey Yesavage – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 7:07 PM ET
TV: SNY
Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
Liam Greentree Doesn't Want To Fill Artemi Panarin's Shoes
When the whole NHL world was finding out about the trade that sent Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings, Liam Greentree, who was dealt to the New York Rangers as part of the deal, was sitting in the back of a bus, playing video games.
“I was on my way to North Bay, midway through the season last year, and I was actually playing Chell (NHL video game) at the back of the bus, and couple of my buddies were just asking if I got traded,” Greentree said recounting when he found out he was traded from the Rangers to the Kings.
“My buddies were asking about me, and then I obviously called my agent. That's how it went.”
Greentree, who was the centerpiece of the return for Artemi Panarin, hit the ice in Rangers gear for the first time on Monday for the team’s development camp.
The 20-year-old forward spoke about his emotions since being traded in February and his excitement to join a franchise like the Rangers.
“It's been awesome. New York is such a historic franchise; it’s an original six franchise,” Greentree said about being traded to the Rangers. “It's just really cool to be a part of it. This is the first time I've worn the jersey, so it's a pretty cool experience.”
Selected by the Kings in the first round with the 26th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, Greentree flashed off his potential during the 2024-25 season as the captain of the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League, as he recorded 49 goals, 70 assists, and 119 points in 64 games.
Despite his numbers decreasing during the 2025-26 campaign, Greentree still posted a more than respectable 38 goals, 36 assists, and 74 points in 52 games.
Some would say Greentree has big shoes to fill, given that he was essentially traded straight up for Panarin, a player many consider to be the Rangers' greatest free agent signing in NHL history.
However, Greetree does not view it that way.
“It’s the business of it,” Greentree said. “I’m going through the process of it, and trying to make my career a good one. I want to play my game, and I just want to be a Ranger one day.”
Greentree is expected to make the jump to the professional hockey level this upcoming season, whether that means playing in the American Hockey League or for the Rangers.
After spending four total seasons in the OHL, Greentree emphasised that he feels prepared to take the professional leap and begin a new chapter of his hockey career.
“I feel good, I feel ready, and I feel strong,” Greentree said. “I'm here to get better and to learn a lot, and try to see what it takes to actually make it to the next level.”
Monday night game thread: vs White Sox, 6:35
Once again the Orioles are at risk of spiraling completely out of contention. Next up on the schedule is a three-game set with a surprisingly solid White Sox squad. Fortunately for the Orioles, these games are at Camden Yards. The Orioles actually having a winning record (23-21) at home, while the White Sox have been quite poor on the road (15-25). Sooo maybe they actually have a chance?
Gunnar Henderson will bat lead off for the Orioles despite being in the midst of a 1-for-18 stretch that has included zero walks and three strikeouts. Why? Nothing more than Craig Albernaz’s intuition, it would seem. It’s not like the Orioles offense has been firing on all cylinders anyway, so whatever.
Perhaps more important is Shane Baz on the mound for the Birds. He’s coming off of a poor showing against the Angels, where he allowed five runs over five innings. The 27-year-old has shown flashes this season, but has looked more like an innings eater than the potential frontline starter we were promised. A start of six innings or more would push Baz over 100 innings on the season. That is valuable even if the ERA isn’t quite as low as the Orioles front office probably hoped it would be.
Orioles lineup
- Gunnar Henderson, SS
- Taylor Ward, LF
- Adley Rutschman, C
- Pete Alonso, 1B
- Samuel Basallo, DH
- Dylan Beavers, RF
- Colton Cowser, CF
- Blaze Alexander, 3B
- Jackson Holliday, 2B
RHP Shane Baz (4-8, 4.31 ERA)
White Sox lineup
- Sam Antonacci, LF
- Miguel Vargas, 3B
- Colson Montgomery, SS
- Kyle Teel, C
- Randal Grichuk, DH
- Branden Montgomery, RF
- Tristan Peters, CF
- Chase Meidroth, 2B
- Jacob Gonzalez, 1B
RHP Sean Burke (5-4, 3.71 ERA)
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Chicago Cubs vs. San Diego Padres preview, Monday 6/29, 7:05 CT
Today’s roster move: Here
Monday notes…
- SERIES WINS AND LOSSES: The Cubs won eight of the first series they played this season. Then they lost five a row, split one and lost four most. Since then, they have won four and split one, making their record in series 12-13-2. They finished 31-19-3 last year. This year, the Cubs’ record is better the deep they go into each series: 12-15 in first games, 14-13 in second games, 16-10 in third games and 4-0 in fourth games. They lost the opener of the series at Milwaukee, but had won the previous four first games, after having dropped seven straight. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- MONDAY, MONDAY: The Cubs are 4-1 at home on Monday this year, their best record at Wrigley Field on any day of the week so far. They are 3-1 on Thursday and 4-2 on Wednesday. (COurtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- WIN/LOSS SPLITS: The Cubs are 20-19 against teams that had a winning record going into that day’s game, and 26-19 vs. teams at .500 or below. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- SEIYA SOON: Seiya Suzuki during the Brewers series: 4-for-12 with two home runs and six RBI.
Cubs lineup:
Padres lineup:
Shōta Imanaga, LHP vs. Griffin Canning, RHP
Shōta Imanaga again got bit by the home run bug in his last start, serving up three to the Mets, though the Cubs won the game anyway.
He’s got a worse home run rate at home (12 in 53 innings) than on the road (eight in 39 innings), though neither of those is any good.
He did manage to allow just one to the Padres in Game 2 of last year’s Wild Card Series, and in the 2025 regular season he allowed just one earned run to the Padres in 12.1 innings. He has not faced them yet this year.
Do good, Shōta.
Griffin Canning had been in the Padres rotation starting in May after returning from an Achilles injury last year, but after he allowed seven runs to the Orioles June 12 (third time in eight starts he’d allowed six runs or more), he was moved to the bullpen. He hasn’t really been any better there. In his last relief appearance, vs. the Braves June 23, he allowed four runs in two-thirds of an inning.
His last start against the Cubs was May 11, 2025, while he was with the Mets. He allowed one run in six innings.
Alex Bregman is 8-for-17 vs. Canning with two home runs. Maybe this will get Bregman going.
Here is the weather forecast for the area around Wrigley Field.
Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network.
Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Padres site Gaslamp Ball. If you do go there to interact with Padres fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
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Mets recall Joey Gerber, option Tobias Myers to Triple-A
With the Mets in need of some fresh arms in the bullpen, the club recalled right-hander Joey Gerber from Syracuse. To make room on the roster, the team options Tobias Myers to Triple-A.
This move was necessary because the club used Cionel Perez, Tobias Myers, and Kodai Senga yesterday, and it was unlikely that any of the three would be available for today’s game. With Senga not an option to be, well, optioned, Myers made sense to get a ticket back to Syracuse. The right-hander had gotten off to a strong start this season, posting a 2.33 ERA and a 3.25 FIP through 19 1/3 innings by the end of April.
However, May was far less kind to Myers, as he pitched to a 6.43 ERA and a 6.24 FIP in 13 innings in the month before he was eventually demoted the first time with the team in need fresh arms and the club hoping to stretch him out a bit. His return from the minors has been an unmitigated disaster, however. He’s appeared in four games, including one start, and has allowed multiple runs in each outing. He finished June with a 14.54 ERA and a 6.44 FIP in 8 2/3 innings across those four appearances. It remains to be seen what the club plans to do with Myers now that he’s returning to Syracuse.
Joey Gerber returns to the Mets to lend a helping hand to the bullpen. He’s made three relief outings so far across two stints. To date, he has allowed one earned run on five hits, with one walk and six strikeouts in five innings.
Pirates expected to be without Spencer Horwitz for extended stretch
The Pirates are going to be without their first baseman for a while.
Spencer Horwitz tweaked his hamstring running out a ground ball in the Pirates’ 11-1 win against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday.
Appearing on his weekly radio show on Sunday on flagship 93.7 The Fan, general manager Ben Cherington gave a bleak assessment of Horwitz’s injury.
Horwitz is expected to be out “weeks, not days” and will likely not be back until after the All-Star break.
The Pirates return from the All-Star break against the Cleveland Guardians on July 17, which would sideline Horwitz for nearly a month.
One of the most underrated players in baseball this season, Horwitz is fifth in the NL with a .386 on-base percentage. He is two spots below Bryan Reynolds (.402), who is third behind Shohei Ohtani (.412) and Juan Soto (.406). Ivan Herrera (.387) is in between the two teammates.
In 246 at-bats over 74 games, Horwitz is slashing .280/.386/.455 with an .841 OPS. His 10 home runs before July are the most in his career and are two away from tying his career high (12) in 2024.
An improving defender whom the Pirates relied on in the leadoff spot, Horwitz provided timely hits and drove in 33 runs through the first three months. He also owns an even strikeout-to-walk total (40).
The Pirates will play a gauntlet of NL contenders over the next two weeks, beginning with four against the cross-state Philadelphia Phillies.
In a cool scheduling move, the Pirates play in the nation’s capital against the Washington Nationals on Fourth of July weekend.
Pittsburgh will face the Phillies, Nationals, Braves, and Brewers before the All-Star Game, all of whom are either in a playoff spot or ahead of the Pirates in the race to the playoffs. This stretch could define the season.
Mets' Luis Robert Jr. to begin rehab assignment for Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday
Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr. is set to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday as he works his way back from a lumbar spine disc herniation, the team announced.
Robert has been sidelined for more than two months with the injury and last played on April 26.
New York acquired Robert in the offseason, trading Luisangel Acuña to the Chicago White Sox for the outfielder and took on the remaining $20 million in the final year of his contract to be the Mets' every day center fielder. However, Robert was not off to a great start for his new team, slashing .224/.327/.329 with two home runs, two steals and a .656 OPS in 24 games.
Throughout his career, Robert has been injury-prone and played just 210 games over the past two seasons with the White Sox with middling results. A year earlier, though, the 28-year-old slashed .264/.315/.562 with a career-high 38 home runs, 36 doubles and an .857 OPS in 145 games.
The Mets took a gamble and were hoping to get that version of Robert, suspecting a change of scenery could help the slugger. Even if he didn't hit to his full capability, New York believed his defense in center would be worth it.
Yet, a month into the season Robert went down with an injury which resulted in the Mets promoting top prospect A.J. Ewing. Since then, the rookie has been the every day center fielder and has been quite impressive in the field and in the batter's box, slashing .279/.359/.422 in 44 games.
Once Robert is ready to return to the team, New York will have an interesting decision to make in the outfield with Ewing as well as rookie Carson Benge playing well.