KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JULY 01: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates his two-run home run against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s the middle game of a three-game series in Kansas City, with the Rays looking to secure the series win after last night’s 10-4 win over the Royals. Shane McClanahan takes the mound tonight against Seth Lugo, who allowed seven runs to the Rays last week inside of Tropicana Field.
Jonathan Aranda singled with one out in the top of the first to put a runner on for the scorching hot Junior Caminero, who is on a five-game home run streak coming into tonight’s game. On the first pitch he saw, he extended that streak to six games, sending a ball 425 feet over the left field wall and giving the Rays an early 2-0 lead.
McClanahan took the mound in the bottom of the first and struck out leadoff hitter Lane Thomas to start the inning. He worked a scoreless first, and did so again in the second, allowing a leadoff single but striking out Carter Jensen and getting a double play to end the inning.
The game was fairly quiet through the middle frames, with McClanahan not allowing a run through five innings, and Lugo, despite allowing seven hits, recovering to keep the Rays off the board after the Caminero home run. In the top of the sixth however, Cedric Mullins got the eighth hit off Lugo, launching a solo home run over the right field wall to extend the lead to 3-0.
McClanahan worked a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the sixth, throwing only his 69th pitch of the game after six frames. Matt Strahm was brought in for the Royals to replace Lugo, who allowed three runs on nine hits over six innings of work.
Shane’s day was also done after six innings of work, with Cole Sulser being brought in to replace the lefty. McClanahan allowed only three hits and struck out four, bouncing back in a big way from a loss against the Royals last week. Sulser allowed a leadoff single, but kept the score at zero with a groundout and two strikeouts to end the seventh.
Garrett Cleavinger entered in the bottom of the eighth, and was a little shaky, allowing a walk and a single, so Kevin Kelly was brought in to get out of the inning and did just that.
In the bottom of the ninth, Kelly stayed in, and he allowed a leadoff single to Jac Caglianone, but worked a double play and flyout to end this one for the Rays.
Two home runs provided the four runs on the board, and the Rays take the series in Kansas City with a sweep opportunity tomorrow. Stephen Kolek will get the start for the Royals against a Rays pitcher to be determined, first pitch set for 7:40 pm.
What were you expecting? I was expecting a pitchers’ duel, and so were you, probably. Paul Skenes vs. Zack Wheeler, a heavyweight bout. I had a whole plan for this recap: take each inning like a round of a prize fight, load it up with boxing references. You can see the beginnings of that below. But I had to abandon the idea quickly because Skenes got TKO’d in the second. So it goes.
In round one, Wheeler and Skenes were evenly matched, each getting one strikeout, and each allowing one base runner via walk and no other damage. It almost wasn’t so: Brandon Marsh took a pitch deep to center, but Bucco centerfielder Jake Mangum, befitting his team’s nickname, robbed him.
Wheeler blinked first, with Nick Gonzalez sending a grounder through the right side of the infield for the game’s first hit. But he nimbly dealt with the rest of the Pittsburghs, and Gonzalez stayed where he was until it was time to trudge back to the dugout for his glove. Skenes plunked Alec Bohm, then allowed a single to Bryson Stott. Round two thus went to Wheeler, and before Skenes even recorded an out. Adding insult to injury, J.T. Realmuto proceeded to force Skenes to throw 10 pitches in his at bat before striking out on a low changeup. Skenes loaded the bases on a walk of Gabriel Rincones Jr. aided by a missed call in the upper outside corner that should’ve been strike three. Justin Crawford chopped one to third base, and Gonzalez tossed it home for what ought to have been an easy out. But his errant throw struck Bohm on the hand and scooted away, scoring two. Rattled, perhaps, Skenes tossed a sweeper that Trea Turner was able to get all of. It sailed into left field; fireworks before it even got dark. 5-0, a joy to Phillies fans, and a disappointment to anyone hoping for a proper pitchers’ duel .
Had that bottom of the second not happened, Wheeler’s surrendering of a solo shot to nine-hole hitter Henry Davis would’ve been a disappointment, and Turner’s bobbling of a grounder as he charged for it would’ve been heartburn-inducing, even more so after said bobbled grounder became Pittsburgh number two. But in light of that triumphant five-spot, they seemed less bothersome than usual.
And even less so after Brandon Marsh, on a heater that made the temperatures in Philadelphia look positively arctic, knocked a pitch into the right field seats in the bottom third. And it would get worse for young Skenes. In the fourth he allowed a pair of base hits to Rincones Jr. and Turner, and then with two outs induced an opposite-field line drive ball from Harper. A few inches more and it would’ve been the end of the inning. Instead, it slipped right under the glove of Tyler Callahan and scooted away as two more Phillies scooted home and scored.
The Pirates plated another with a a trio of consecutive two-out singles in the fifth; Wheeler’s night ended. It wasn’t his best night, but the fact that one can say that about a night where tossed 10 Ks says a great deal about him. Kyle Backhus came in to get the final out of the frame. Two consecutive HBP loaded the bases and scored one, respectively; the inning came to an end with a backwards K of the next batter.
Skenes’ day was over after the fifth, and thus both teams were into their bullpens. There was some traffic on the base paths for both clubs in the sixth, but no more runs.
The same was not true of the seventh. Seth Johnson walked two and allowed a double to Jared Triolo, bringing the Phillies’ once mighty lead down to two. Orion Kerkering was tasked with cleaning things up, and did. He was aided in that mission by Bohm, who got the final out of the inning on a beautiful diving catch.
But he was not content to merely assist in keeping the lead. Instead, he chose to expand it, sending a ball into the verdant batter’s eye in the eighth to give the Phillies their ninth and tenth runs. And it was thus that Jhoan Duran came in with a four-run lead to defend. He did. What were you expecting?
The Phillies are 49-38. They’ll conclude the series against the Pirates tomorrow at 12:35.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JULY 01: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates his two-run home run against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Junior Caminero is really good at hitting home runs. At the moment he does it every night. Seth Lugo got a strikeout to start the game before Jonathan Aranda singled in front of Caminero. Junior then smashed the first pitch deep to left and gone to get Tampa Bay an immediate two run lead. That is his sixth game in a row with a home run and he is the youngest to reach such a streak passing another Jr. of the Griffey variety. Caminero turns 23 on Sunday and already has 76 career homers.
Lugo settled in after that tough first inning and looked pretty sharp. That 2-0 lead for the Rays stayed for much of the game as Shane McClanahan was also dealing. He also got out of a couple of innings where the Royals got something started and then hit into double plays. The Rays did nearly score a run in the 4th when Chandler Simpson led off the inning with a single. He then tried to swipe second base with Taylor Walls up and one out. Carter Jensen was having none of that and gunned him down for his second caught stealing of the night. He has now thrown out more than 40% of runners at 15 for 36 and is only one caught stealing behind the MLB leaders at 16 William Contreras and Shea Langeliers. Walls hit a double that would have scored him if Jensen had not thrown him out.
Seth did get the quality start for the Royals but also gave up one more run in the 6th before he exited. Cedric Mullins came up with two outs in the sixth and hit a flyball to right that seemed to have a balloon-like ability to float forever. He got enough backspin on it and then let the hot air do the rest. It was 98 mph off the bat. So, Lugo out with a line of 6IP, 9H, 0BB, 6K, and 3ER. He was going to need the offense to get going to avoid taking the loss. McClanahan also went six with 3 hits and no walks. The Royals bats hit a couple of loud flyouts to the track, but he was mostly in control the whole game. They are limiting his throwing lately and pulled him after just 69 pitches.
One nice thing from this game was another good outing for Matt Strahm. That’s five outings in a row without giving up a run and he has only had one hit and two walks in those five innings. Newly arrived Jose Cuas took the 8th and did not have as clean an inning. He did look okay but gave up an RBI single to Mullins to push the lead to 4-0. Cuas did come back out for ninth and that inning went smoothly.
Kansas City finally got a threat going in the 8th against Lawrence, Kansas native Garrett Cleavinger. Nick Loftin walked to start things off. Then Tyler Tolbert popped out on a bunt to first base. Why is he bunting when the team is down 4? Michael Massey got a bloop to drop and move Loftin into scoring position. Now with two on and one out, Lane Thomas got frustrated getting rung up on what he thought was a check swing ball four. Instead, it was a strikeout and the end of the day for Cleavinger as the Rays brought in Kevin Kelly to face Bobby Witt Jr. It looked like the bases might be loaded again when Bobby hit a weak grounder to the left side. With his speed that is often an infield single. Kelly got to it quickly and threw a strike to barely beat him and end the inning.
The Royals final chance started well with Jac Caglianone getting a lead-off single. Kameron Misner pinch hit for Starling Marte and hit what looked like a nice easy fielder’s choice, however, Richie Palacios at second base made an error to make it first and second with no one out. Salvador Perez promptly grounded into a double play, the third of those on the night, and Jensen lined out to center to end the game and his hitting streak.
Now with the worst record in the American League, the Royals are starting to make a run at Colorado for the worst in all of baseball. The dog days of summer indeed.
It just keeps getting worse for Paul Skenes. Not only has he not won a game in nine starts, but on Wednesday, July 1, the Phillies made it sting. Philadelphia battered the Pirates' ace for a career-high seven earned runs, and eight total, in an outing that lasted just four innings.
Trea Turner put a three-run homer in the seats, Brandon Marsh tacked on a solo shot and the Phillies had an 8-4 lead before most fans had finished their first hot dog and beer.
Skenes hasn't picked up a win in a start since May 12 and Pittsburgh hasn't won a game he has started since then, either. That last win was against the Rockies and five days later, the Phillies started his spiral. They tagged him with five runs in five innings on May 17.
During this slide, Skenes has allowed 28 earned runs and seven homers in 47 innings, good for a 5.36 ERA. In his first two seasons, Skenes never finished with an ERA over 1.97.
It's a jarring stretch for a pitcher with Skenes' talent and resume.
He won the NL Rookie of the Year in 2024 and then followed that up with a Cy Young Award in 2025. Lately, however, his numbers just haven't looked as dominant.
Jul 1, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) reacts after hitting a home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Braves have been one of the best teams in the National League for the first half of the 2026 season, but the St. Louis Cardinals have shown they can compete and Tuesday night was no exception at Truist Park at least for the first 7 innings. Michael McGreevy kept the Cardinals close through the first half of the game. However, the Cardinals bats were deadly silent and the bullpen let the game escape in the late innings.
The St. Louis Cardinals grabbed an early lead starting in the top of the 1st inning. After JJ Wetherholt flied out to deep center, Iván Herrera turned a 95 mph four-seam fastball into a ground rule double. Two batters later, Jordan Walker hammered a sharp single to right scoring Herrera who made a great slide into home getting his hand over the base just before the tag making it 1-0 Cardinals. Spoiler Alert: St. Louis could just not spark any kind of real rally against Braves starter Reynaldo Lopez. Would you believe these would represent the only Cardinals hits of the game?
That lead would not last long unfortunately. The Atlanta Braves answered in the bottom of the 1st inning a single from Drake Baldwin who scored on a double by Ozzie Albies tying the game at 1-1.
The Braves took the lead in the bottom of the 3rd inning and it was Ozzie Albies fault again. He ripped a 92 mph four-seam fastball from Michael McGreevy into a 380 foot home run to right-center making it 2-1 Braves and that’s the way it would remain until the late innings.
Michael McGreevy overall had a solid outing as he gave the Cardinals 6 full innings allowing just 3 hits, 2 earned runs while striking out 3 and walking just 1. He simply had no run support from the Cardinals offense. Max Rajcic entered the game in the bottom of the 7th inning. He walked Mauricio Dubon to lead off the Braves 7th, but was then able to get Smith to ground out and he struck out the slumping Austin Riley. Dubon advanced to third on a wild pitch by Max before Rajcic walked Mike Yastremski to give Atlanta runners on first and third. Fortunately, Mateo would pop out to Blaze Jordan at third to end the scoring threat and keep the Cardinals within a run.
José Fermín would ALMOST tie the game in the top of the 8th inning off of Braves reliever Dylan Lee as he came within an eyelash of homering to left field, but left fielder Dubon made a leaping grab against the wall to deny him. Dang.
Justin Bruihl entered the game in the bottom of the 8th inning with the sole purpose of keeping Atlanta from adding an insurance run. He would not be successful. The defense behind him was not supportive of his cause either. After Bruihl walked Drake Baldwin, Blaze Jordan botched what looked like an easy groundball from Ozzie Albies that could have been a potential double play starter. Instead it was E5 with Matt Olson at the plate with runners on first and second with nobody out. Olson flew out to deep right which allowed Baldwin to advance to third, but Albies did not advance to second even though Jordan Walker’s throw went to third instead of second. Michael Harris II made Bruihl (and the Cardinals) pay for that leadoff walk as he singled into left-center scoring Baldwin and giving the Braves a 3-1 lead. That would cause manager Oli Marmol to remove Bruihl and bring in Gordon Graceffo to stop the bleeding. He sadly couldn’t. Dubon executed a sacrifice squeeze that Alec Burleson made a great effort on, but his throw was too late to home as Albies slid home safely making it 4-1 Braves. It nearly got worse when Smith singled to right, but Jordan Walker threw a laser beam to home and Pedro Pages made a great tag for the second out. It wasn’t enough to stop the Braves from continuing to pile on. Austin Riley would single to left on the first pitch he saw scoring Dubon and giving Atlanta a commanding 5-1 lead. That would be the score going into the top of the 9th.
The St. Louis Cardinals 9th inning would feature the top of the order starting with JJ Wetherholt. He would end the game 0-3 with a weak groundout off of Braves reliever Iglesias. Iván Herrera then struck out and then Alec Burleson ended the game with a weak flyball to left field representing one of the Cardinals poorer offensive efforts of the season so far.
The St. Louis Cardinals will wrap up their visit to Atlanta with a Thursday night game against the Braves. Dustin May will make the start for the Cardinals. Atlanta has not yet named their starter for Thursday’s game. First pitch is scheduled for 6:15pm central time with the game TV broadcast being handled by Cardinals.tv.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 30: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers dives into third base safe against the Athletics in the top of the seventh inning of a major league baseball game at Sutter Health Park on June 30, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s a bullpen game for the Dodgers, as they look to sweep the Athletics on Wednesday.
Updated lineup:
Ohtani DH Pages CF Freeman 1B Muncy 3B Tucker RF Edman LF Freeland 2B Rojas SS Robinson C Dreyer P https://t.co/UlBcs54qNP
Will Smith remains on the IL because of a neck injury. (Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)
The first half of the season will conclude with Will Smith in the same place he has been for the last month: the injured list.
The Dodgers’ three-time All-Star catcher has been on the IL since June 8 because of what the Dodgers list as neck inflammation. Smith said he had been diagnosed with an inflamed disk.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he “just can’t see any world” in which Smith would return before the All-Star break, which concludes July 16.
“It’s certainly longer, I know, than all of us expected,” Roberts said. “But I don’t think it’s anything real, kind of affecting-the-season type thing.”
Roberts said Smith has not been able to accelerate his rehabilitation to the point of doing baseball activities.
Dalton Rushing, who has taken over as the Dodgers’ primary catcher in Smith’s absence, is batting .213 with one home run and 19 strikeouts in 18 games while Smith has been on the injured list. The Dodgers gave Rushing the day off Wednesday.
The Dodgers were 14-6 with Smith on the IL entering play Wednesday.
Also Wednesday, the team scratched shortstop Mookie Betts from the starting lineup because of a sore right wrist.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero has become the youngest player since at least 1900 to homer in six straight games.
Caminero hit a 425-foot shot to left off Kansas City Royals right-hander Seth Lugo in the first inning on Wednesday night for his 24th homer of the season. The Rays star will celebrate his 23rd birthday on Sunday.
The youngest player before Caminero to homer in six straight games was Seattle’s Ken Griffey Jr., who did it at the age of 23 in 1993.
The only other players since 1900 to homer in as many as five consecutive games before their 23rd birthday were San Francisco’s Jack Clark in 1978, Atlanta’s Brian McCann in 2006 and Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. in 2018.
Caminero becomes the first player to homer in six straight games since Rafael Devers did it for Boston in May 2024. Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber, Detroit’s Spencer Torkelson and the Chicago White Sox’s Munetaka Murakami had all homered in five straight games this season.
The only other Tampa Bay player ever to go deep in six straight games was Carlos Pena in June 2010, according to Sportradar.
Caminero has eight homers over his last six games. He began this stretch by going deep three times in a 13-2 victory over Kansas City on Thursday.
PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 17: A general view of Chase Field during the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday, April 17, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants conclude this three-game road series against the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight.
Taking the mound for the Giants will be right-hander Trevor McDonald, who enters tonight’s game with a 4.94 ERA, 4.01 FIP, with 45 strikeouts to 19 walks in 51 innings pitched. His last start was in the Giants’ 3-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Friday, in which he allowed three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and a walk.
He’ll be facing off against Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen, who enters tonight’s game with a 6.15 ERA, 5.24 FIP, with 52 strikeouts to 27 walks in 86.1 innings pitched. His last start was in the Diamondbacks’ 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, in which he allowed five runs on four hits with two walks in six and two thirds innings.
Brandon Pfaadt gave the Snakes everything they could have asked for yesterday. Despite having a modest pitch count limit, Pfaadt spared the bullpen any undue stress. He completed five innings and allowed only one run. Additionally, Max Kepler finally showed up for a game, the first time since joining the Diamondbacks. Now, the Diamondbacks will look to remain perfect against the Giants in 2026, running their streak against the Bay Area team to nine games.
Will the real Zac Gallen please stand up? Sadly, there is a very good chance that we have been seeing the real Zac Gallen. Gallen’s last outing was a mixed bag. Had Torey Lovullo not sent Gallen back out for the seventh inning, he pitches a quality start. But, Gallen’s first inning was atrocious, matched and surpassed by just how bad his abbreviated seventh was. With the Giants reeling and the Diamondbacks enjoying some home cooking, this is the time for Zac Gallen to keep the good times rolling. A strong start from Gallen helps the Diamondbacks with their momentum. It will also keep the Diamondbacks above .500, an important bellwether mark for the upcoming trade deadline.
More than 50 years after leading the White Sox to the 1972 AL West title, Dick Allen continues to inspire a new generation of fans through the documentary series "My Father, Dick Allen." | (Ron Vesely/Getty Images)
Once upon a time, the Chicago White Sox endured a dreadful season, losing more than 100 games, finishing an appalling 42 games out of first place in the division, and drawing less than 500,000 fans all season. From the doldrums, the team ascended from Baseball Hell and re-established the White Sox as a competitive team, leading to a winning season and a reinvigorated fanbase. Sound familiar?
The parallels between the 1972 Chicago White Sox and the current team are many. Still, unlike the roster-wide juggernaut currently working its way into the All-Star Break with a winning record and sole possession of first place, the former team was carried on the back of a single prodigious player.
I had the honor of being invited to a special screening of “My Father, Dick Allen,” a five-part documentary series that chronicles Allen’s life, career, and overdue posthumous induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. I wasn’t alive for Allen’s baseball career, so I called my dad, a lifelong White Sox fan, and asked what he remembered about him.
“Dick Allen was one of my favorite players!” he answered.
Naturally, I had Dad accompany me to the screening at The Chicago History Museum. After collecting our Cracker Jacks, we fangirled over resident South Side Queen Nancy Faust (as per usual) and sang along quietly to “Rosanna,” by Toto, a classic Nancy tune.
The night was emceed by five-time Emmy-winning broadcaster and living legend Kenny McReynolds, whose profound baseball wisdom was on display in real time. Also in attendance was Allen’s teammate (and seemingly his biggest fan besides McReynolds), Rich “Goose” Gossage. Ferguson Jenkins, who played with Dick in Little Rock for the Philadelphia Phillies’ minor league affiliate, The Travelers, was also on the post-screening panel. John Owens, who penned the book “Chili Dog MVP,” which tells the story of the 1972 White Sox and Allen’s impact on the team, and serves as the foundation for the documentary series, was also on the panel along with fellow writer David Fletcher.
The most special guest was Dick Allen Jr., also known as “Doobie,” a nickname affectionately given to him by his father. The story of his father and his life in baseball is told through his eyes, and shortly after the screening began, I learned that Dick Allen, the person, was even more important than Dick Allen, the player.
Yes, Dick Allen, the player, saved the White Sox in 1972, so he, too, is of great importance. His genuine nature, unwillingness to be anyone other than himself, and his pure strength of will are the stuff of legends, and that’s not even mentioning the man’s fabled forearms. As talented as Allen was, the real celebration lies in his lifetime of being himself through the trials and tribulations of a true baseball pioneer.
The screening covered two episodes of the docuseries: first, his early life and the beginning of his baseball career; then, a jump to episode five, covering Allen’s time on the South Side.
Dick and his family grew up in Wampum, Pennsylvania, and by high school, he and his five brothers were already making tracks in sports, both in baseball and basketball. Wampum was integrated, and Allen’s experience growing up hadn’t prepared him for the prejudice and intolerance he’d soon face in his career.
In 1963, Allen became the first African American player on the Philadelphia Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate, the Arkansas Travelers. Although Jackie Robinson paved the way for Black players two decades before Allen was signed, he was still subject to unjust treatment.
Imagine being as talented as Allen and playing unyieldingly with your team, but not being allowed to stay at the same hotel or eat at the same restaurants as your teammates. Through death threats, intimidation, harassment, heckling, and worse, Allen shone. He was voted the International League’s Most Valuable Player.
Allen’s first full season in the majors with the Philadelphia Phillies remains one of the most distinguished rookie seasons of all time for any player. He led the MLB in runs, triples, extra-base hits, and total bases, and also in errors, still being green at his new position as third baseman. Here was a man who could adapt to any spot they placed him — a truly elite athlete.
Despite his Rookie of the Year title, Allen still endured worsening adversity. During his time in Philadelphia, which spanned five seasons, he averaged 20 home runs and 90 RBIs per season. His impressive lines in Philly didn’t make his career a walk around the baseball diamond, however.
“When Dad began to speak out against the racism he experienced at the ballpark and in the city of Philadelphia, his situation became worse,” Allen Jr. wrote. “Our family was subjected to some pretty unfortunate things, too, like having trash thrown on our front lawn, or having to hear the nasty boos when we went to the ballpark to watch Dad play. Although he pleaded with the Phillies to trade him to another team, they refused because Dad was their best player. The longer he stayed with the Phillies, the more he spoke out against the racism he experienced.”
Allen had initially withstood verbal jeers and threats, but after speaking out about the racism he’d endured in Philadelphia, it grew worse instead of better. Phillies fans threw fruit, ice, trash, and even flashlight batteries at his head, but the physical abuse wasn’t enough to make him quit. He simply wore his batting helmet when taking his eventual position in left field, like an absolute boss, and challenged the racist abuse with an even louder voice, always trying to shine a light on the truth of his experience.
In 1969, Allen was finally traded to the St. Louis Cardinals and found some respite from the unjust harassment. After time on the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Oakland A’s, he was eventually traded to the Chicago White Sox in December of 1971.
The myth of Allen being “difficult” to work with was perpetuated by the racism he’d had to endure since the start of his career. White Sox manager Chuck Tanner had a special relationship with Allen and nurtured his talent, permanently placing him at first base so he could focus on his offense, which paid off. That year, Allen led the American League in home runs, RBIs, walks, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS, winning him the AL MVP. That was also the year he single-handedly saved the Chicago White Sox.
The most memorable Allen game in 1972 was the fabled “Chili Dog Game”. During the second game of a doubleheader on June 4, 1972, Dick Allen was called up to the plate to pinch-hit. Tanner had given him the second game of the day to rest, as he’d played in every single game the entire season up to that point. Over 51,000 White Sox fans were in attendance, with standing room only, as fans illegally sat on stairways to catch a glimpse of greatness; more than 8,000 additional fans were unable to gain access to the ballpark. That game broke an 18-year attendance record, and most of the fans were there to witness a piece of Allen’s record-breaking season.
Tanner was saving Allen for late-inning heroics, much to the chagrin of White Sox owner John Allyn, who wanted to give fans of the beloved Allen a show.
It was the bottom of the ninth inning, and the White Sox were losing 4-2 to the despised New York Yankees. Tanner was waiting for a couple of runners to be aboard, and the time had come after Beltin’ Bill Melton walked, and Mike Andrews singled. He made the call for Allen.
But he wasn’t ready. Allen was eating a chili dog when he realized that Tanner had summoned him, and he wasn’t being careful, either.
“I had chili all over my shirt, so I put on a new one and a pair of pants with no underclothes,” Allen remembered in an interview.
Allen ambled out with his heavier-than-heavy bat. He took a strike, then a ball, and then proceeded to launch a 370-footer into the stands for the ninth walk-off dinger of his career, winning the game for the South Siders. The electric crowd remained in the stands long after the game was over. And thus, the Chili Dog Game became legend.
Unfortunately, some legends take a long time to be cemented into history. The important part of Allen Jr.’s story lies in his efforts to get his dad inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Regardless of how beloved Allen was by his teammates and those who had the privilege of watching him play, his achievements were muddied by the negative spin the press had put on his career. Despite being the highest-paid player who broke record after record, and despite the deep admiration from his teammates and players from around the league, Allen always had to fight to be seen. In 1994, writer Bill James wrote that Allen “did more to keep his teams from winning than anyone else who ever played Major League Baseball. And if that’s a Hall of Famer, I’m a lug nut.”
Well, Bill, you lugnut, thanks for your lousy non-contribution.
Allen was celebrated as a leader, a cornerstone, a genuine, funny, loving, caring guy who tried his hardest to be the best he could be. He wasn’t just a larger-than-life baseball star. He knew his worth and fought for himself, leaving an example for generations to look up to when they’re struggling with their own self-worth and feel an urge to make themselves smaller to avoid controversy. It wasn’t just his teammates who knew this about him, either. He cared for his family, his rivals, his friends, and his fans, and with profound humility. Yet, the uphill battle to get Allen the spot in the Hall of Fame that he deserved was anything but easy.
Over 50 years after his career ended, Dick Allen was inducted into the Hall of Fame, where he belongs. “My Father, Dick Allen” covers this journey in a reverent, real, and fascinating way. I hope you get the privilege to see it soon.
Dick Allen was always a Hall-of-Fame player, despite the long road to get there. There is so much more to this epic story that I couldn’t cover here, so if you haven’t already, do yourself a favor and pick up “Chili Dog MVP” by John Owens and Dr. David Fletcher. Note:I purchased this book and am not being incentivized to endorse it.
After learning about Allen from those who knew him best, it’s easy to see why he is a fan favorite to this day. In honor of him, and one of his best quotes, I will now accept the inherited mantle of hating the Phillies.
“I’ll play first, third, left. I’ll play anywhere — except Philadelphia.” — Dick Allen Source: The Sporting News (April 11, 1970)
Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli has apologized for his comment toward Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras on Tuesday that incited a benches-clearing scrum.
Cavalli shouted, “Sit down, boy,” at Contreras after striking him out looking in the fourth inning of the Nationals’ 8-1 win.
“I’m extremely torn up about the way things were perceived. Obviously, there was no ill intention behind that,” Cavalli told reporters Wednesday.
Cade Cavalli (front right) is held back as tempers flare during the fourth inning of the Nationals’ 8-1 win over the Red Sox on June 30, 2026 in Boston. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
Cavalli is referring to the racist connotations of the term “boy” in the United States. Contreras, who is Venezuelan, said Tuesday he would “let MLB handle that” when asked postgame if he felt there were racist undertones to Cavalli’s comment.
“There’s a history behind that word, and that’s just something that as a competitor, like in football or basketball, playing whiffle ball with my brother, you don’t understand it. And then it gets perceived in a way that was not my intention, and then you learn from that,” Cavalli said.
“It’ll never happen again.”
Cavalli said he was unaware of the controversy he’d stirred until he returned to the team hotel.
“I looked at my phone, and I saw what people were saying about me,” the right-hander said. “Saw how torn up my wife was. It hurt my heart … because I know that people know me, and they know my character, and that’s not me. So it was hard. I truly didn’t sleep last night.”
Boston first baseman Willson Contreras (40) gets into an altercation in the fourth inning of the Red Sox’s loss to the Nationals on June 30, 2026. Jaiden Tripi-Imagn Images
Contreras yelled back, “Are you talking to me?” after Cavalli’s comment as he was walking back to the dugout. Contreras then charged the mound after words were exchanged and tried to throw his helmet at Cavalli over a group of players stopping him before he got to the pitcher.
The incident was brief, but resulted in the ejections of Contreras, Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy, Red Sox outfielder Nate Eaton and Nationals pitcher Miles Mikolas.
Cavalli said he hadn’t yet personally apologized to Contreras but hoped he would hear his message.
“I hope that he hears this and understands that was not what was intended at all. I think he knows that. But if I see him, I want to make sure that he knows that,” Cavalli added.
Jun 20, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics starting pitcher J.T. Ginn (35) throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Well, the A’s have one final chance to get a W against the reigning champion Dodgers after dropping the first two games of the series. Neither loss was especially close so now the A’s will have to do a complete 180 if they want to salvage a single game against our Southern California rivals. Hopefully they can end the series with a win and notch their 41st of the season.
Taking the ball today for the good guys will be right-handed J.T. Ginn. The righty comes into tonight’s contest with a solid 3.15 ERA on the year, good for 7th in the American League. He hasn’t been quite as dominant his last two trips to the mound but he posted solid enough starts against the Angels that he could have earned a pair of wins. Instead he split those contests. With the All-Star Game quickly approaching Ginn probably needs a couple more strong starts to really put himself into the middle of the debate when it comes to the pitching staff for the Junior Circuit in this year’s Midsummer Classic. Can Ginn conquer a mighty Dodgers lineup that has put up 18 runs in the first two games against our A’s?
Here’s how the A’s will lineup for tonight’s series finale:
Typical top of the order for the A’s right now; DH Shea leadoff, Kurtz behind him, followed by Colby Thomas and Jonah Heim (tonight’s catcher).
Infield prospect Joshua Kuroda-Grauer gets his first start at the hot corner tonight in place of Max Muncy, who heads to the bench. And he’ll also rise up the batting order to the fifth spot. Butler and Bolte are behind him, followed by the middle infield duo of Jeff McNeil and Alika Williams.
The A’s are getting a bit lucky tonight regarding the Dodgers’ starting pitcher plans. It was originally going to be superstar Shohei Ohtani on the bump for Los Angeles this evening, but with them cruising to the postseason they’ve decided to push his start back, giving him an extra breather during the course of a long season he has double duties. Instead it’ll be a bullpen game for the Dodgers, so hopefully A’s batters have done some homework on the LA relief corps. Lefty Jack Dreyer will start things off for LA, likely only for the first inning.
And the Dodgers’ starting nine this evening:
Updated lineup:
Ohtani DH Pages CF Freeman 1B Muncy 3B Tucker RF Edman LF Freeland 2B Rojas SS Robinson C Dreyer P https://t.co/UlBcs54qNP
Looks like the A’s are getting another break. After originally being penciled into tonight’s starting lineup Mookie Betts will instead head to the bench, giving veteran Miguel Rojas the start at shortstop in the series finale. Still plenty of dangerous hitters in the lineup but at least Ginn will have one less bat to worry about.
Getting desperate. Can we finally end the skid and get a big bounce back victory to wrap the series? Time to find out. Let’s go A’s!
WEST SACRAMENTO — Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts was scratched from the team’s lineup for Wednesday’s game against the Athletics shortly before first pitch because of right wrist soreness, manager Dave Roberts said.
However, Roberts said the issue is believed to be minor, and that Betts should be back in the Dodgers’ lineup on Thursday.
Betts arrived at the ballpark Wednesday dealing with soreness and a lack of strength in his wrist, prompting the Dodgers to “err on the side of caution,” Roberts said, and remove him from the lineup.
Mookie Betts has been playing better lately and had a nice series against the Padres. AP
The setback came at an inopportune time for Betts, who was just starting to rediscover his swing after missing a month earlier this year with an oblique strain.
Entering Wednesday, Betts was hitting .373 over his last 16 games with five home runs, four doubles and 11 RBIs.
During that time, he had raised his season batting average from .181 to .244 and his OPS from .591 to .744.
He had also been playing standout shortstop, ranking second at the position with eight defensive runs saved.
Betts was removed from the starting lineup against the Athletics after experiencing wrist soreness. AP Photo/Matt Krohn
With Betts out Wednesday, Miguel Rojas was inserted into the lineup in his place.
That wasn’t the only discouraging injury news out of the Dodgers on Wednesday, with Roberts also saying that catcher Will Smith is unlikely to return before the All-Star break. Smith has been out since June 5 with a neck injury that was initially expected to be short term but is now set to sideline him for well over a month.
Roberts maintained the Dodgers’ belief that Smith’s issue — which the catcher described as an inflamed disk in his neck when he first went on the injured list — won’t be too long term but acknowledged surprise at what is already becoming an extended timeline to return.
“It’s certainly longer than I know was expected,” he said, “but I don’t think it’s an affecting-the-season type of thing.”
New York Yankees Aaron Judge in dugout when the New York Yankees played the Detroit Tigers Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY. (Robert Sabo for...
Still weeks away from even getting more imaging of his rib, Aaron Judge has had plenty of time to watch the Yankees from the dugout over the past month.
In the past week in particular, which Judge kindly described as “not great,” the captain was more pointed in his diagnosis of what has gone wrong during a losing streak that hit seven games on Wednesday afternoon.
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“Just a little lack of focus,” Judge said Wednesday morning before a 6-2 loss to the Tigers while speaking to reporters for the first time since the day he went on the injured list. “Just got to dial it in. Our ultimate goal is to win a World Series. I think guys just got to remember that every single day they show up here. We’re here to win a World Series. That’s your motivation every single day you step on that field, no matter what happens. No matter what happened the day before, I got a job to do.
“We have an important sign when you walk out on that field, it’s the last sign you see before you go out there. It says, ‘Do your job.’ Guys just got to do their job.”
Aside from his responsibilities as captain, it remains a major question as to when Judge will be able to do his job again. The back-to-back AL MVP declined to share even how he was feeling, deferring until he gets more tests on his right rib, which still appears to be weeks away from happening — and that is just to potentially clear him to start ramping up.
“I’ll give you a good update when we get some imaging and we’ll go from there,” Judge said. “There’s no need to talk about this now. I know it’s an important topic and a big issue, but I want to give you guys the full story, so why give you guys something now when we can get you everything here soon?”
Yankees Aaron Judge in dugout when the New York Yankees played the Detroit Tigers Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post
The Yankees need him back badly, though their problems go beyond just his absence. They have scored just 17 runs on 31 hits while committing 10 errors that have led to a total of 17 unearned runs. By just about every facet of the game, the Yankees have been bad.
A few days before the brutal stretch began, there was also Jazz Chisholm Jr. sucking on a Blow Pop while playing second base for an inning in Detroit, and then getting thrown out of Sunday’s game after arguing and spiking his helmet over a check-swing call he did not agree with.
Yankees pitcher Camilo Doval reacts after catcher Ali Sánchez makes a throwing error, allowing a run to score during the 11th inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Judge indicated he has addressed the lack of focus “with a couple guys, but we’ll be talking here as a bigger group soon.” He declined to get specific when asked about how he was seeing it play out.
“I think you guys see it,” he said. “There’s a couple things. But we don’t need to get into that.”
Aaron Boone acknowledged again that it has been a “terrible week” but did not seem to agree that a lack of focus has been the root of the problems.
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“I think when we’re right, we’re a quality team in those areas where we’ve made some errors this week and let some unearned runs go,” Boone said. “I think moving forward, that should be the case. There’s a little bit of a product of us having some important guys [out] around Judgey that settle us especially defensively and some of the little things, so guys are moving around a little bit, so I think that’s factored in.
“But no, individually speaking, I feel like guys are in the right frame of mind.”
Judge said that being sidelined during this stretch in particular has been “the worst” because he can’t be going through it with his teammates on the field.
“I hate missing games, but I hate missing it in times where things aren’t going your way,” he said. “That’s when I want to be out there. I want to be grinding with the guys and be part of the solution to get us back where we need to be.”
