MLB News
The Dodgers for the first time in their history will play a baseball game that counts in West Sacramento, facing the nomad Athletics for a three-game series beginning Monday night at Sutter Health Park.
It’s a battle of southpaws to start on Monday, with Eric Lauer for the Dodgers and Gage Jump for the A’s.
Beautiful day in the Bay for the 50th win of the season, who says no?
Well, it may be the Braves offense, if last night is any indication. Logan Webb was as excellent as advertised, unfortunately. It’d be great to see some signs of life in this last West Coast road game of the season by solving Robbie Ray to take the rubber match and series.
The Braves’ lone hit last night came from today’s leadoff man Mauricio Dubón, who remains in left field. Otherwise, it’s a familiar sequence of Michael Harris II, Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, and Drake Baldwin. Baldwin gets the day off behind the plate today with Joey Bart serving as the battery mate for Chris Sale and batting seventh. Mike Yastrzemski started the first two games of this homecoming series, but will sit today with Eli White in right field. Notably, Ha-Seong Kim will start his third consecutive game at shortstop and batting ninth. He worked a walk last night, which I’ll delusionally hope and pray is the beginning of a turnaround.
The Giants will line up as follows behind Ray:
As the excited caption indicates, Heliot Ramos returns from the IL after being sidelined with a right quad strain. He’ll bat sixth as the designated hitter.
With the most experience against Sale, third baseman Matt Chapman will lead off for San Francisco. Victor Bericoto returns to right field after sitting yesterday. Rookie catcher Drew Cavanaugh will get his first day off since debuting Friday as Eric Haase rounds out the lineup batting ninth.
If nothing else, the 9 or 10 pm ET start times are behind us, Braves Country. Today’s first pitch is at 4:05 pm ET.
During the bottom half of the third inning in the Angels’ 5-2 victory against the Athletics on Saturday night, interim general manager John Mozeliak appeared on the broadcast and spoke briefly about how he plans to help fix the Angels.
Mozeliak is stepping in as the interim GM after the club fired Perry Minasian on Friday night.
As Mozeliak was being interviewed by Angels play-by-play commentator Wayne Randazzo and color commentator Mark Gubicza during the game, Mozeliak admitted that for the Angels to start winning they need to fix the way they operate, from the major-league level all the way down to the minors.
“The tough part is … being patient,” Mozeliak said. “Because it’s not a light switch, you can’t just automatically become great at scouting and developing players.”
Some key moments in the interview with Interim GM Mozeliak on the Angels' broadcast today pic.twitter.com/Pz8sJWwMMX
— Halos Hub(@haloshub) June 28, 2026
For over the past decade, the Angels have failed to reach the postseason, produce a winning record and have consistently been one of the worst farm systems.
Even while having a roster that boasted three future Hall of Famers — Albert Pujols, Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani — the Angels have consistently placed in the bottom half of the American League during this stretch.
With Pujols now retired and Ohtani winning back-to-back World Series with the Dodgers in 2024 and 2025, the Angels sit in the basement of the AL West and still have one of the worst farm systems.
“You look at any major-league team you admire, and how they go about it, that’s what you need to have to be successful,” Mozeliak said. “If you know people that … know me, or how I … think about management or leadership, it is about creative autonomy. Letting the people that are supposed to be doing these jobs do it.”
Mozeliak said it is up to the scouting directors to do their jobs and that he will be available to help with the draft. He admitted he hasn’t been out scouting this past spring but understands the evaluation process.
Before the interview concluded, Mozeliak said the Angels need to take a hard look at themselves, including how things are run and how they can improve.
“It’s not to say everything they do is wrong, it’s not to say that there is no chance or opportunity [to win] games. So that’s the patient part,” Mozeliak said. “So, I really look forward to that challenge, getting to know all the people that work here for the Angels, and I know that this is a special place. Therefore, I know I want to get it right.”
The St. Louis Cardinals will wrap up their homestand Sunday taking on the Miami Marlins. The Cardinals will start Kyle Leahy while the Marlins will send RHP Tyler Phillips (1-2, 3.09 ERA, 49 SO) to the mound. First pitch scheduled for 1:15pm central time at Busch Stadium with the game TV broadcast being handled by Cardinals.tv.
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Fresh off their seventh walk-off win of the year, which followed the second-biggest win margin in team history, the White Sox try to sweep the Royals out of the palace this afternoon and send them back to Kansas City, where the song says everything is up to date, but the baseball team isn’t.
Facing a Royals lineup that has only managed one run per game so far this series will be lefty Anthony Kay, who has had a very up-and-down June, being belted around by the Yankees and Phillies but dominating not just the very weak-hitting Tigers and Guardians but also the mighty Dodgers. For the season, Kay has an excellent 6-2 record but a meh 4.24 ERA and very poor 5.06 FIP and 1.389 WHIP.
The Royals counter with righty Luinder Avila, who sports a terrible 5.06 ERA, largely because he has trouble figuring out where home plate is, having walked 27 in 42 2/3 innings. Avila has been good his last two times out, holding the Rays and Nationals to one run each, but was crushed by the Astros the game before that, giving up eight runs before being pulled in the first inning.
Avila faces a White Sox lineup which has only had three at-bats against him, those coming on May 14 when he came into the game in relief.
Kay gave faced K.C. in both April and May. Lane Thomas (2-for-6) and Bobby Witt Jr. (2-for-5) hit him well, Salvador Pérez (1-for-7) didn’t.
First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. Central, on a sunny and humid day with temps in the mid-70s and wind in from left around 10 mph. Usual broadcast suspects.
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The Royals have followed up winning 5 of 6, by losing 4 games in a row. In those 4 losses they’ve scored 7 runs, allowed 42. Been no hit for 8.1 innings in one of them and lost 13-2 and 22-1. To say the least, ever since Tuesday night, it’s been rather painful to watch the Royals in action.
The Royals are just 2-7 versus the upstart White Sox, losing the last 6 matchups, in fact the only two wins the Royals have over the Southsiders this season are a pair of 2-0 games. So, when the White Sox score a run against the Royals this season, they are 7-0.
Jac Caglianone was in the lineup today but got scratched due to left groin soreness. Nick Loftin has to be feeling the same to be honest. I don’t say that to poke fun at Nick, because mercy that looked extremely painful yesterday.
Anyways, Bobby Witt Jr. is playing shortstop again today, so that’s a positive. Luinder Avila starts today. It’ll be interesting to see which Avila shows up today.
Here is the Royals lineup.
The Chicago White Sox are 43-38 on the season and winning the AL Central. Imagine hearing that in 2024. They have lost 100 games three straight seasons and were the worst team ever two years ago. “How have they already surpassed the Royals?” I scream into the abyss. Alas, they have a lot of young guys playing well this season, and seem to be getting revenge on KC for the last two seasons.
Lefty Anthony Kay starts today for them. Kay spent the last two years in Japan, and is having a decent season this year, sporting a 4.24 ERA over 76.1 innings. Kay has started twice against KC this season, in total he has gone 11.2 innings, allowing 9 hits, 2 runs, 4 walks and 10 strikeouts.
Here are the White Sox starters behind Kay.
First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. CT and can be watched on Royals.TV. The Royals are off tomorrow before starting a 3-game series at home against Tampa Bay.
Knicks forward OG Anunobywas at Citi Field on Sunday afternoon, throwing the ceremonial first pitch ahead of the Mets' matchup with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Jose Reyes, who previously invited Anunoby to come throw out the first pitch, was behind home plate to catch it.
Anunoby, whose miraculous tip-in gave the Knicks a win in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, has been a Mets fan dating back to his childhood. Reyes was on the cover of MLB 2K8, and he became Anunoby's favorite player because of that.
The forward averaged 21.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in the five-game series as the Knicks clinched their first title in 53 years.
"I used to play baseball so I think I’ll throw a strike," Anunoby said during a brief news conference before throwing the first pitch. "I’m anticipating a strike so I’m really excited."
Here's a look at his first pitch:
To a huge Citi Field ovation, OG Anunoby throws out the first pitch to Jose Reyes! pic.twitter.com/sAu4jQyKI3
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 28, 2026
Time/Place: 1:40 p.m., Comerica Park
SB Nation Site: The Crawfish Boxes
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Jack Flaherty (1-8, 5.35 ERA) vs. RHP Hunter Brown (1-0, 1.40 ERA)
| Player | G | IP | K% | BB% | GB% | FIP | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flaherty | 15 | 65.2 | 25.5 | 11.1 | 30.3 | 4.10 | 1.0 |
| Brown | 4 | 19.1 | 34.6 | 13.6 | 57.5 | 2.90 | 0.6 |
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Mets 1B/DH Jorge Polanco took a big step in his recovery from Achilles bursitis on Saturday night as he resumed his rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse.
The veteran went hitless, but the good news is that he seemingly came out of the game feeling healthy.
“The next step is to play more games to see how that workload feels on my legs, and go from there,” Polanco said in the Mets clubhouse on Sunday, via an interpreter.
Polanco has taken this step before, however. After starting a rehab assignment in June, he was able to play just six games before the soreness in his ankle became too much to weather.
This time around, though, Polanco believes he’s in a better place, physically.
“I think I’ll be able to return, because my leg just feels stronger,” he said. “I’ve put more of a workload in there, but I’ve also been able to recover properly. So I think with that, with being strong, and just having the right plan in place, I think I’ll have a chance to return.”
He later added: “There’s still pain there, but it’s a pain that I feel like I can tolerate… I think I’m in a position right now where my ankle does feel good enough to go out there and play.”
Signed to a two-year, $40 million contract this offseason with the idea of being Pete Alonso’s everyday replacement at first base, Polanco has appeared in just 14 games, hitting .179 with one home run, three doubles, and two RBI.
Polanco has the day off on Sunday, and all minor league levels are off on Monday, giving him a couple days of rest before the next time he takes the field.
Go Rays!
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Here’s the Mariners lineup:
Here’s the Guardians lineup:
Let’s go, Guardians!
A three-run homer from Randy Arozarena wasn’t enough for the M’s to overcome the Guardians last night, but they’ll look to both clinch the season series against Cleveland today and avoid setting a franchise record for consecutive games of scoring three or fewer runs.
Dominic Canzone unsurprisingly has the day off due to his hamstring acting up, and Luke Raley has the day off, so Víctor Robles will round out the lineup in right field. Mitch Garver will be behind the plate while Cal Raleigh DHs, and the Cole/Colt duo moves up to the sixth and seventh spots.
Chase DeLauter, who you may remember terrorizing the M’s in the first series of the season, was activated from the IL this morning. DeLauter has a fractured rib and was placed on the injured list on the 17th. These guys are not human, I tell you. Gavin Williams gets the ball, and he has scuffled a bit after a scintillating start to the year. Let’s hope that trend continues today.
First Pitch: 10:40am
TV: Mariners.TV
Radio: Ol’ Reliable
Thanks to the incredible power of Hunter Goodman and the purple coat, the Colorado Rockies came away with a win last night in the Twin Cities despite yet more late game drama from the bullpen. With a win this afternoon in the series finale, the Rockies can come away with a series win against the Minnesota Twins before heading back to Denver.
Making his 11th start for the Rockies this season is the right-handed Ryan Feltner. Since returning from the injured list in late May, Feltner has pitched three quality starts in five outings. He’s given up more than two earned runs just once in that stretch.
Feltner pitched six innings his last time out against the Boston Red Sox. Despite not having his sharpest stuff–giving up four hits and four walks with just two strikeouts–he gave up just two earned runs and threw 93 total pitches.
The Rockies will face their second straight Twins rookie today with left-handed pitcher Connor Prielipp on the mound. Through his first 11 career starts, Prielipp has an ERA of 5.17 with 55 strikeouts in 55.2 innings. His 3.93 FIP indicates he’s pitching better than advertised, but opposing hitters are still slashing .262/.336/.416 against him this season.
Prielipp runs a five pitch arsenal and his predominant combo is a mid-90s four-seam fastball paired with a mid-to-high 80s slider. He also throws a curveball–his best whiff and put-away pitch–a changeup, and the occasional sinker.
First Pitch: 12:10 p.m. MDT
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM KOA Rockies Radio Network; KNRV 1150 AM (Spanish)
Twins SB Nation Site:Twinkie Town
Lineups:
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The Nats got a much needed win to stop the bleeding last night. Now, they will look to get back to their series winning ways this afternoon. The boys have a rubber match with the Orioles. Both teams could really use this win, so this should be a hard fought contest.
Blake Butera is making a few changes to his lineup. Curtis Mead, Keibert Ruiz and Jacob Young are back in the lineup. With Mead at third, the red hot Jorbit Vivas slides over to second to give Nasim Nunez the day off. Young will be in center, with Daylen Lile and Dylan Crews manning the corners. James Wood will be in the DH spot. Zack Littell will get the ball and look to tame this O’s offense like Foster Griffin did.
The O’s are getting two players back in their lineup from the injured list. Adley Rutschman is back, and will be catching. Dylan Beavers also returns for the O’s, and he will be in right. Samuel Basallo will be at first, giving Pete Alonso DH duties. We will also see Colton Cowser for the first time in this series. Kyle Bradish has been very good lately, and gets the call for the Birds.
Game Info:
Stadium: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Time: 1:35 PM EST
TV: MASN and Nationals.TV
Radio: 106.7 The Fan
As mentioned, this is an important game for both teams. Hopefully the weather can hold up so we can get this in. The vibes are not fully back for the Nats yet, but things would be back on track with a win to get over .500. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats.
While Jose Cabrera did everything possible to continue earning opportunities to start for the Diamondbacks, once again, the Arizona offense was flat, unable to break through against Tampa Bay’s elite starter (*checks notes*) Bullpen Game. Bullpen allowed only two runs on seven hits and struck out eight while not walking anyone. As a result of yesterday’s game, the Snakes have now dropped back down to .500. The Rays have already won the weekend series. Meanwhile, Arizona will turn from Cabrera and hand the ball off to Merrill Kelly to try and stave off the serries sweep.
In Kelly’s last five outings, he has alternated between quality start and flaming dumpster fire of a start. As his last outing on the 22nd was one from the quality start column, hopefully Kelly can break the pattern today and double up, going back-to-back with quality starts. Given the injury crisis that has plagued the Arizona pitching staff, the Diamondbacks could certainly use some quality length from their starters for the next few weeks.
Things don’t get any easier for Arizona’s struggling offense. After having come up short against the Rays throwing a bullpen game, they now get to face off against right-handed co-ace of the Tampa Bay staff, Drew Rasmussen. Rasmussen enters today’s game with a sterling 2.62 ERA with 89 strikeouts against 15 walks in 86 innings of work. That’s good for an ERA+ of 165.
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