Robbie Ray replaced on National League All-Star roster due to start vs. Dodgers

Robbie Ray replaced on National League All-Star roster due to start vs. Dodgers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Robbie Ray earned his second MLB All-Star selection, but the Giants southpaw won’t be making an appearance in this season’s Midsummer Classic.

Ray is scheduled to start San Francisco’s matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday at Oracle Park, with the player and the club deciding to opt out of the former Cy Young winner making an appearance in the July 15 exhibition game.

Ray is being replaced on the National League’s roster by New York Mets pitcher David Peterson.

MLB’s former rule stipulated that any pitchers making a start on the Sunday before the All-Star break would be deemed ineligible to appear in the Midsummer Classic. Now, both the team and player have the option to decide if they will appear in the All-Star Game.

The Giants pushed for Tyler Rogers to replace Ray, with the submariner posting All-Star-caliber numbers with a 1.62 ERA in 44 innings pitched during the 2025 MLB season. Ultimately, MLB opted to go with Peterson instead.

Ray has been one of the NL’s best starting pitchers this season, posting a 9-3 record with a 2.63 ERA in 19 starts. While Ray won’t pitch in the Midsummer Classic, the All-Star selection still remains on his resume, forever highlighting his stellar first half.

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Mariners at Yankees prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for July 10

Its Thursday, July 10 and the Mariners (48-44) are in the Bronx looking to avoid being swept in their three-game series against the Yankees (51-41).

Bryan Woo is slated to take the mound for Seattle against Marcus Stroman for New York.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. was electric last night. The All-Star infielder for New York homered twice in support of the major league debut of Cam Schlittler and the Yankees won 9-6 at Yankee Stadium. New York has now won three in a row.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Mariners at Yankees

  • Date: Thursday, July 10, 2025
  • Time: 7:05PM EST
  • Site: Yankee Stadium
  • City: Bronx, NY
  • Network/Streaming: RSNW, YES, MLBN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Mariners at the Yankees

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Mariners (-120), Yankees (+100)
  • Spread:  Mariners -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Mariners at Yankees

  • Pitching matchup for July 10, 2025: Bryan Woo vs. Marcus Stroman
    • Mariners: Bryan Woo (8-4, 2.77 ERA)
      Last outing: 7/4 vs. Pittsburgh - 6IP, 0ER, 3H, 2BB, 8Ks
    • Yankees: Marcus Stroman (1-1, 7.45 ERA)
      Last outing: 7/4 at Mets - 5IP, 3ER, 7H, 1BB, 4Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Mariners at Yankees

  • The Yankees have won 4 of their last 5 games at home against American League opponents
  • The Over is 32-25-4 in the Mariners' games against American League teams this season
  • The Yankees have covered in 4 of their last 5 games for a profit of 3.18 units
  • Clay Bellinger has now hit safely in 14 straight games with multiple hits 7 of games to raise his average to .281
  • Paul Goldschmidt is 10-27 (.370) in July
  • Aaron Judge is 12-29 (.429) in July with 4HRs

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Mariners and the Yankees

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Mariners and the Yankees:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Yankees at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

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  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Jesse Winker could be heading to IL due to back injury

Mets designated hitter Jesse Winker could be heading back to the IL just a few days after returning from an extended absence.

Winker, who exited Thursday's game against the Orioles after just one at-bat due to back tightness, is being sent back to New York for an MRI, manager Carlos Mendoza said after the game.

Mendoza noted that an IL stint is a possibility.

If Winker lands on the IL, the Mets will essentially be without a regular DH until after the All-Star break, which begins for them after Sunday's game in Kansas City.

Starling Marte landed on the IL on Tuesday, retroactive to July 7. The expectation is that he'll be able to return right after the break, with the Mets beginning the second half against the Reds on July 18 at Citi Field.

On the at-bat before he came out, Winker popped out to end the first inning. He was pinch-hit for in the fourth inning by Mark Vientos.

The 31-year-old was playing in just his second game since May 4 after returning from the injured list on Tuesday after working his way back from an oblique injury.

Winker was hitting .239 with a .739 OPS (112 OPS+) prior to his oblique injury, totaling just one home run and 10 RBI.

The lefty hit .286 with two home runs, a double, seven RBI, and five walks over five games in the minor leagues during his rehab assignment.

Rangers Most Valuable List, Players Who Deserve Praise

Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

There's no need for us to get into an argument over this. The season is over and even the glass-bangers are sorry they made fools of themselves.

But it suddenly dawned on The Maven that I should have put together a "My Rangers Most Valuable Player List."

MY MVPS:

1. WILL CUYLLE: He sets the best example with all-round hustle and goals.

2. ARTEMI PANARIN: The Breadman is so far ahead of the other scorers, it's scary.

3. BRADEN SCHNEIDER:  Growing by the season, he's the best blue liner. (And don't tell me that's not saying much.

4. VINNIE TROCHECK: He's the best go-to guy for a post-game quote. 

MLB insider doubles down on Jarren Duran-to-Padres possibility

MLB insider doubles down on Jarren Duran-to-Padres possibility originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox’ outfield logjam is the elephant in the room with the 2025 MLB trade deadline approaching.

Even if they’re technically buyers ahead of the deadline, the Red Sox are expected to part ways with at least one member of their crowded outfield. The emergence of top prospect Roman Anthony has resulted in Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu being mentioned in trade rumors as Boston prioritizes pitching help.

Duran has been linked to the San Diego Padres since early June, when The Athletic reported the 2024 All-Star Game MVP was on their list of trade targets. Their interest comes as little surprise given their glaring weakness in left field.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan listed the Padres as one of Duran’s “best fits” last month, and he doubled down on that assertion Thursday by naming him as the “best match” for San Diego.

“No player and team have been linked as strongly as Duran and the Padres — and that’s without any knowledge of how the Red Sox intend to handle the deadline,” Passan wrote. “Roman Anthony’s emergence has put Boston in a position to float Duran and Wilyer Abreu in trade discussions, and whether it’s now or over the winter, Boston wants to use its surplus of bats to fill voids elsewhere.

“Left field in San Diego is among the biggest voids in the game. The Padres have tried eight players in left this season, and collectively they’re barely have an OPS of over .600. A Duran-Jackson Merrill-Fernando Tatis Jr. outfield would be a factory of dynamism that would be under team control through the end of the 2028 season.

“The Padres might need to get creative — beyond shortstop Leo De Vries (who’s believed to be off-limits) and catcher Ethan Salas, their farm system is middling — but nobody does creativity like GM A.J. Preller. And whether that means facilitating a deal through a third team or including one of their high-leverage relievers such as closer Robert Suárez, San Diego is willing to go places most other organizations would never consider.”

The Red Sox’ primary outfield currently consists of Duran in left, Ceddanne Rafaela in center, and Abreu in right. Anthony has spent 19 games in right and nine as the designated hitter, though his recent switch to left field suggests Boston is preparing to make it his primary position.

Theoretically, the Red Sox could take advantage of Rafaela’s versatility and move him to second base, with Duran sliding to center and Anthony sticking in left. But Rafaela is arguably the best defensive center fielder in the game, and moving him to second would give top infield prospect Marcelo Mayer no clear path to consistent playing time when third baseman Alex Bregman returns from injury.

It’s a complicated situation for chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, but he told WEEI on Thursday that trading one of his outfielders isn’t a necessity.

“It’s something that you would have to consider if there was an opportunity to improve the team elsewhere,” Breslow said on The Greg Hill Show. “But I think it’s really important to point out that we don’t have to trade one of the outfielders simply because we have more guys that are capable of contributing than can start every night.”

Duran is slashing .262/.318/.438 with an MLB-leading 10 triples, eight homers, and 50 RBI in 93 games. He has caught fire in July, posting a 1.154 OPS with 11 RBI in eight games.

Riding a six-game win streak, the Red Sox will wrap up their first half with a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park.

Elite Cardinals closer linked to Red Sox as potential trade target

Elite Cardinals closer linked to Red Sox as potential trade target originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox are trending toward being buyers ahead of the 2025 MLB trade deadline. If they do make moves to strengthen their roster, pitching should be the priority.

Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow echoed that sentiment on Thursday, telling WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show that the club would likely focus on improving the starting rotation. However, bolstering the bullpen should also be a point of focus for Boston’s front office.

A strong bullpen is often the key to postseason success. As great as veteran closer Aroldis Chapman has been this season, the Red Sox could use another reliable arm to stabilize the back end.

So, who should be on Breslow’s radar?

ESPN’s Jeff Passan named an intriguing option as the “best match” for Boston with the deadline looming: St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley.

“Red Sox relievers walk too many hitters and don’t strike out enough. Take away Aroldis Chapman — the best reliever in the AL this season — and the Red Sox have a middle-of-the-pack bullpen,” Passan wrote.

“Getting Helsley from St. Louis would give Boston arguably the top setup-closer combination in baseball and go a long way toward supporting a rotation that has been among the game’s best over the past month.”

Helsley, who turns 31 later this month, has been among MLB’s best relievers for the last four years. The hard-throwing right-hander is a two-time All-Star who received Cy Young votes last season and in 2022.

While he hasn’t been as dominant this year (3.19 ERA, 1.39 WHIP in 31 appearances), Helsley would pair perfectly with Chapman and take pressure off overworked Red Sox relievers Greg Weissert, Garrett Whitlock, and Brennan Bernardino. He’d also be a rental, so Boston may be able to pry Helsley from St. Louis for a relatively affordable price if he and the Cardinals can’t come to terms on an extension this month.

Passan believes adding a Helsley-like reliever and a starter before the deadline would make the Red Sox legitimate contenders.

“Boston has the makings of a very good team in the second half,” he added. “…Everyone is contributing. A reliever or two and another starter would make the Red Sox the sort of contender they envisioned being at the beginning of the season.”

The Red Sox have also recently been linked to Minnesota Twins starter Joe Ryan, though it will likely take a significant haul to acquire the All-Star righty. Ryan, who’s in the midst of his best statistical season, is under team control through 2027.

The 2025 MLB trade deadline is set for 6 p.m. ET on July 31.

Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker to compete in 2025 MLB Home Run Derby

Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker to compete in 2025 MLB Home Run Derby originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Brent Rooker had mentioned he’d be open to competing in the 2025 MLB Home Run Derby for some time, and on Thursday, the Athletics star’s wish came true.

The 30-year-old enters Thursday’s game against the Atlanta Braves with 19 home runs this year and is on pace to have 30-plus home runs for the third consecutive season – he’d be just the third A’s batter, along with Khris Davis (2016-18) and Jason Giambi (1999-2001), to accomplish the feat since 1999.

The 2024 Silver Slugger Award winner is having himself quite a week after also being named to his second All-Star Game on Sunday as an American League reserve. Along with the 19 long balls, the designated hitter also has a .270 batting average and 50 RBI this season.

Rooker will be the first player to represent the Green and Gold in the Home Run Derby since Matt Olson competed in 2021 and he’ll look to be the first Athletics batter to win the event since Yoenis Cespedes won back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014. Cespedes and Mark McGwire are the only A’s players to win the event.

The other competitors already announced for the event include Cal Raleigh, James Wood, Byron Buxton, Oneil Cruz, Junior Caminero and Ronald Acuña Jr.

It won’t be much of an All-Star “break” for Rooker, but it’ll definitely be one to remember for the A’s slugger.

How Roman Anthony is helping fuel Red Sox' resurgence

How Roman Anthony is helping fuel Red Sox' resurgence originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox are red hot. They’ve won six straight games and eight of their last 10. With a 49-45 record, they are four games above .500 for the first time all season.

They entered Thursday tied with the Seattle Mariners for the third and final wild card playoff spot in the American League. Playing meaningful baseball in October is a real possibility for the franchise.

What’s fueling Boston’s recent resurgence? A couple things.

The starting pitching has improved. Garrett Crochet has been an ace all season, but now other pitchers like Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello are giving quality starts more consistently. The schedule also has been quite favorable for the Red Sox. Their last nine games have come against the Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals and the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies might not even win 40 games this season.

In fairness to the Red Sox, you have to take care of business regardless of the opponent, and they’ve taken advantage of this opportunity in their schedule.

One player who’s taken full advantage of the schedule is Roman Anthony. The No. 1 ranked prospect in baseball is finding his groove at the plate, and he’s been a major catalyst for Boston’s recent success.

Anthony made his Red Sox debut June 9 against the Tampa Bay Rays. It took him a while to get acclimated to the majors. He tallied just two hits and struck out eight times in his first 27 at-bats.

But in July, Anthony has been on a tear offensively. He has almost matched his June hits total in 29 fewer at-bats.

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Anthony has collected at least one hit in seven of his eight games played in July. He currently has a six-game hit streak with 11 total hits and four multi-hit games during that stretch.

Anthony is seeing the ball at the plate at such an impressive level right now. The ball is exploding off his bat, evidenced by his average exit velocity of 94.7 mph, which is the second-highest of any Red Sox player this season, per Baseball Savant. His average exit velocity is also the fourth-highest of any player in the majors. Anthony’s hard-hit rate (percentage of batted balls hit with an exit velocity of 95 mph or higher) of 55.1 is the second-highest on the team.

Anthony’s plate discipline has gotten better, too. His chase percentage — which measures how often a batter swings at pitches outside the strike zone — is 19.6, which is below the MLB average of 28.6 percent.

What has Red Sox manager Alex Cora seen from Anthony during this uptick in performance?

“Obviously getting hits helps, but I think the process and the quality of at bats has been there since Day 1,” Cora told the WEEI Afternoons show on Wednesday. “The kid — he controls the strike zone, he hits the ball hard, he doesn’t deviate from his plan, and kind of like (Jackson) Merrill last year in San Diego, right?

“They took him overseas in the opening series — I think it was Japan — and they didn’t expect him to be part of the roster, and all of the sudden he became a force for them. This kid is becoming a force for us. And I was kind of stupid pinch hitting (for) him in his first big league start. We’re not doing that anymore. Now he’s hitting second, he’s hitting third, he’s playing good defense in right field.

“(Wednesday) he’s going to play left field. And we keep challenging him. He’s a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish now and in the future. And we’re very happy with the progress.”

Anthony is already playing a prominent role in the lineup — 78 of his 95 at-bats have come as the No. 2 or No. 3 hitter. Add in his quality defense, and Anthony has quickly become a player the Red Sox need to have in the lineup every single game, regardless of whether the opponent is starting a lefty or a righty.

If the Red Sox are going to reach the postseason for the first time since 2021, they’ll need Anthony to continue to be a force at the plate. It’s a lot to ask of a kid who just turned 21, but he’s shown an ability to make adjustments as needed.

Now that Anthony is getting hot at the plate, the next challenge for him is keeping it up against better competition. The next four series for the Red Sox are against playoff-caliber teams in the Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Cam Schlittler brings heat and hope to Yankees in winning MLB debut

NEW YORK — One game into his major league career, Cam Schlittler is the hardest-throwing member of the New York Yankees’ rotation.

Schlittler used his 100 mph fastball to shut down Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners during an eye-opening debut Wednesday night, pitching the Yankees to a 9-6 victory before a throng of friends and family members in the crowd.

“Obviously, it’s been my goal my whole life,” Schlittler said. “I don’t think I’ve really processed it yet.”

One of the team’s top-rated prospects, the 6-foot-6 Schlittler struck out seven over 5 1/3 innings to earn the win. He threw New York’s seven fastest pitches this season and his average fastball velocity of 97.9 mph was the highest for a Yankees pitcher this year.

But it was his poise and improved secondary pitches that really impressed manager Aaron Boone.

“You see his stuff really plays,” Boone said. “I see a lot of potential.”

Boone called it “a great first step” and said Schlittler will get another big league start, likely after the All-Star break.

“He was sick,” said Yankees teammate Jazz Chisholm Jr., who homered twice and drove in four runs.

Schlittler was called up from Triple-A to pitch in place of injured Clarke Schmidt, who is expected to undergo a second Tommy John surgery on his right elbow that would sideline him for the rest of this season and much of next year.

So there’s a genuine opportunity for Schlittler to stick in the rotation for a Yankees squad trying to catch Toronto atop the AL East.

“Obviously, just trying to get the first one under my belt and then whatever happens. I’m just fortunate that they gave me that opportunity,” Schlittler said. “Just take it day by day and see what happens.”

Staked to an early 3-0 lead, Schlittler gave up three runs and four hits — including solo homers by J.P. Crawford and Jorge Polanco.

The 24-year-old right-hander walked his first batter but settled down quickly and froze Raleigh, the major league home run leader, with a 100 mph heater for his first strikeout in the opening inning.

“He was nasty,” Yankees outfielder Jasson Domínguez said.

That baseball was one of two sitting in Schlittler’s locker after the game, both keepsakes inscribed and encased above the Yankees’ championship belt for the night.

Schlittler said the strikeout ball will probably end up in his room back home eventually, but first he planned to give it to his parents.

“I know they’ll cherish that,” he said.

Schlittler, who walked two, ending his outing with another strikeout of Raleigh before leaving with a 6-2 lead in the sixth to a standing ovation as his parents hugged in the Yankee Stadium stands.

Schlittler was born in Massachusetts but said he always wanted to play for the Yankees. They selected him in the seventh round of the 2022 amateur draft from Northeastern in Boston, right in the heart of rival Red Sox country.

The pitcher said his girlfriend and cousin were on hand in addition to plenty of friends, and he left 23 tickets for his supporters. But he said he wasn’t all that nervous come first pitch.

“I think probably had more jitters this morning, honestly,” Schlittler said. “I know my dad just in general gets more nervous than I do when I throw.”

Luisangel Acuña back up with Mets; Travis Jankowski DFA'd

Luisangel Acuñais returning to the Mets ahead of Thursday's doubleheader against the Orioles in Baltimore.

Travis Jankowski was designated for assignment to make room on the roster.

Acuña replacing Jankowski makes sense, since the two have a similar skill set.

While Acuña is a natural infielder, he's gotten exposure in center field and played one game there for the Mets earlier this season. And manager Carlos Mendoza said on Thursday that Acuña will be relied on in center when needed.

"From the very beginning when we sent him down to Triple-A, we knew we were looking at somewhere between 40-to-50 plate appearances," Mendoza explained. "Got up to 53, got consistent playing time. And we knew how important he is to this ball club -- the versatility, the speed. So there's a lot of upside there.

"He was a big part of this team the first couple of months. We got to a point where we felt like 'Hey, let's get him some everyday playing time.' And now it's time for him to be back up here and continue to help us win baseball games. Got exposure in center field as well, and that'll be kind of like his role here, too. Playing everywhere, speed. He's a big part of this team."

In 158 plate appearances over 65 games for the Mets this year, Acuña has hit .241/.293/.283 with 11 stolen bases, six doubles, and 23 runs scored while getting playing time at second base, third base, shortstop, and center field.

In an additional move, the Mets added right-handed pitcher Austin Warren as the 27th man for Thursday's games.

Craig Breslow reveals Red Sox' priority at MLB trade deadline

Craig Breslow reveals Red Sox' priority at MLB trade deadline originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox are right in the middle of the American League playoff race with the July 31 MLB trade deadline approaching.

The Red Sox have won six straight games and eight of their last 10, moving them into a tie with the Seattle Mariners for the third and final wild card spot entering Thursday. With a 49-45 record, Boston is four games over .500 for the first time all season.

The Red Sox need to capitalize on the recent improvement and give the clubhouse a jolt by being buyers at the trade deadline.

What might the Red Sox prioritize adding at the deadline? Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow was asked that question during an interview with WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show on Thursday.

“It kinda depends on where we are, so we have to zoom out a little bit and try to figure out who we are, what do we have coming back and what do we think is sustainable,” Breslow said. “A month and a half ago, we would have talked a ton about starting pitching and getting more consistency and finding someone who slots in toward the top of the rotation behind Garrett (Crochet).

“And then you look at what Lucas and Brayan have done over the last month and a half, and you start to feel confident in the way the starting pitching is coming together.

“That said, you can never have too much (starting pitching), so I think that’s probably what we would prioritize. But we’ve seen what (Richard) Fitts has done, (Hunter) Dobbins is getting healthy, (Tanner) Houck is getting healthy. We have some depth, but I think if there’s the opportunity to provide some impact starting pitching, and add that to the group, that’s probably where we’d focus.”

Red Sox starters have a 4.18 ERA this season, which ranks 10th out of 15 AL teams. Boston starters also have allowed the third-most hits, fourth-most runs and the fourth-most walks among AL teams.

Walker Buehler, who the Red Sox signed in free agency last offseason, has been a major disappointment. Tanner Houck has struggled, too, after being an All-Star in 2024.

On the bright side for the Red Sox, recent outings from Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello have been encouraging. However, a good portion of that success has come against lackluster opponents. It remains to be seen whether those two starters can pitch at this level on a consistent basis.

Even if they do maintain that level of performance, the Red Sox still need another ace in their rotation to go along with Crochet. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported this week that the Red Sox are among the teams “monitoring” Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan as a potential trade candidate.

Ryan would not be a rental because he’s under team control through 2027, which makes him an ideal trade target. Crochet and Ryan would be a formidable 1-2 punch.

Whether it’s Ryan or a similar player, the Red Sox must prioritize another impact starting pitcher — not only to compete for the playoffs this year but also in future seasons. So if that kind of pitcher is available in the coming weeks, the Red Sox need to be bold and make an aggressive push.

Phillies Talk: Chase Utley discusses 2025 team and much more

Phillies Talk: Chase Utley discusses 2025 team and much more originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Chase Utley hopped on the Phillies Talk podcast to discuss his golf game, the current state of the team and what’s next for him.

“The Man” also discussed the trade deadline, Phillies Wall of Fame and much more with NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Sean Kane and Spencer McKercher.

Watch the episode right here.

Rays slugger Junior Caminero to compete in Home Run Derby, start at third base in All-Star Game

Tampa Bay Rays slugger Junior Caminero announced Wednesday he will take part in the Home Run Derby on Monday in Atlanta, then learned hours later he will start at third base for the AL squad in the All-Star Game the following night.

In between, Caminero belted his 22nd homer of the season in the seventh inning of a 7-3 win in Detroit.

Caminero, who turned 22 on July 5, leads all American League third basemen in homers during a breakout season. He is hitting .254 with 58 RBIs for the Rays, who moved within four games of first-place Toronto in the AL East on Wednesday night.

“I’m going to put on a show. I’m going to try to put on a show just to give the fans the opportunity to get to know me, see my power,” Caminero said. “Just being there with all those other All-Stars, it’s going to be something very special.”

Caminero is the sixth player to commit to the Home Run Derby, joining the Mariners’ Cal Raleigh, James Wood of the Nationals, Byron Buxton of the Twins, the Pirates’ Oneil Cruz and Ronald Acuna Jr. of the host Braves. Two more contestants are still to be announced, and Buxton’s status is unclear after he was hit in the left hand by a pitch during Wednesday night’s win over the Cubs.

New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., also headed to the All-Star Game, said Wednesday night he’d be interested in participating if asked. Chisholm hit two homers in a 9-6 victory over Seattle to give him 17 this season.

Caminero was picked earlier this week as the All-Star replacement for Boston third baseman Alex Bregman, who has been dealing with a strained right quadriceps. Caminero learned he will start at the hot corner after Cleveland’s José Ramírez opted out of the Midsummer Classic so he could rest an ailing Achilles tendon.

Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes was chosen to replace Ramírez on the AL roster.

The only Rays players besides Caminero to participate in the Home Run Derby have been Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena and Randy Arozarena, who reached the finals two years ago before losing to Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

“We get to see (Caminero) do probably a modified Home Run Derby every time he takes batting practice. I’m excited for him. I’m excited for his family,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “Somewhat of a coming-out party for him. Hopefully, he gets the recognition that we’ve all seen in the talent and the ability to hit the ball a long way.”

Zach McKinstry picked as AL All-Star sub; Tigers tie Dodgers for most Midsummer Classic picks

The Detroit Tigers have the best record in the majors. Now they are tied for having the most All-Stars, too.

Zach McKinstry was picked Wednesday to replace Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña, who has been dealing with a rib injury. The infielder-outfielder will join Detroit second baseman Gleyber Torres and outfielders Javier Báez and Riley Greene — all AL starters — and staff ace Tarik Skubal, who also is among the candidates to start the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta.

The five All-Stars for Detroit is tied for the most with the World Series champion Dodgers, who have DH Shohei Ohtani, catcher Will Smith and first baseman Freddie Freeman starting for the NL along with pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Yamamoto is scheduled to start Sunday for Los Angeles, so Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott has been picked to replace him.

McKinstry was among several replacements announced Wednesday for the Midsummer Classic.

Houston third baseman Isaac Paredes was chosen for the AL team in place of starting third baseman José Ramírez, the seven-time All-Star, who wants to spend the week rehabbing an Achilles injury; Twins right-hander Joe Ryan was selected as the replacement for Astros pitcher Hunter Brown; and Brewers closer Trevor Megill was added to the NL team in place of teammate Freddy Peralta, their scheduled starter for Sunday’s game against Washington.

The shuffling of replacements gives the Astros four All-Stars in Paredes, Peña, Brown and pitcher Josh Hader. The Brewers have two in Megill and Peralta. And the Twins have two with Ryan joining two-time All-Star outfielder Byron Buxton.

“This was the goal in the offseason,” said Megill, who struck out Freeman, Andy Pages and Tommy Edman in order in the 10th inning to secure the Brewers’ 3-2 win over the Dodgers on Wednesday. “Just worked my butt off for it, and here we are.”

The four replacements make six total and 71 players players between the two All-Star teams. The other sub announced was Rays third baseman Junior Caminero for Boston’s Alex Bregman, who has been dealing with a strained right quadriceps.

The Tigers have been one of the surprise stories of the first half of the season. After going 86-76 and tying for second in the AL Central last season, they are off to a 59-35 start even after a 7-3 loss to the Rays in their series finale Wednesday night.

The versatile McKinstry has been a big reason why.

Along with playing every infield position besides catcher, and both corner outfield spots, McKinstry entered Wednesday hitting .283 with seven homers and 27 RBIs. The 30-year-old needs just three more homers and nine RBIs to set career highs.

Peña, who is hitting a career-best .322 with 11 homers and 40 RBIs in 82 games for Houston, has been out since June 28 with a fractured rib. He had hoped to return by the All-Star break but has not been cleared to resume baseball activity.

Paredes, his teammate, is headed to his second straight All-Star Game in his first season in Houston. He is hitting a career-best .255 with 19 homers and 49 RBIs for the Astros, who have a comfortable lead over Seattle in the NL West.

“My main focus is to work hard for the team and be able to give the most I can for the team,” Paredes said, “but as you can see now with the results that I’m getting ... those results allow me to get to the All-Star game, so it feels good.”

Ramírez was hit by a pitch in a game against Toronto on June 26 and has struggled at the plate since, though he said Wednesday that it was an Achilles injury that’s been bothering him. Even with the slump, Ramírez began the day hitting .299 with 16 home runs, 44 RBIs and 24 stolen bases through 87 games for Cleveland.

“Everybody wants to go to the All-Star Game and especially for the support from the fans,” Ramírez said. “But I feel the best thing for the team is to be able to be resting (those) days and be able to contribute to the team in the second half.”

The 29-year-old Ryan, whose name has surfaced in plenty of trade talk recently, was one of the biggest snubs when the initial All-Star Game rosters were announced. The right-hander is 8-4 with a career-best 2.76 ERA across 18 starts, and he’s struck out 116 against just 21 walks over 104 1/3 innings for the Twins.

“The last couple years, I’ve had really good numbers at voting, then I’ve kind of scuttled the last two outings or so. I can see why optically it might not look as good,” Ryan said. “But putting it together, it was kind of a shock not to be in (this year).

“At the same time,” he said, “there’s so many good pitchers in the league right now. You’ve just got to hang with them and if you don’t like it, play better. That was kind of the mindset I was trying to shift into, but to get the news and be excited to go, it makes everything kind of go away and you just think about the future and going forward.”

Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Kevin Ginkel tabbed for saves as Diamondbacks lose another closer to injury

In this week's Closer Report, the Diamondbacks lose another closer to the injured list. The Padres send two relievers to the All-Star game. And Raisel Iglesias appears to be getting back on track in Atlanta. There's much more to cover as we run down the last week in saves.

Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings

Tier 1: At the Top

Josh Hader - Houston Astros

Hader has been hurt by home runs of late, with five of his seven allowed on the year coming over the last month. After notching his 25th save against the Dodgers on Saturday, he took the loss on Tuesday, giving up a grand slam in the tenth inning after a scoreless ninth. Still, the 31-year-old left-hander has been the most valuable closer in baseball, posting a 2.38 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, and a 63/9 K/BB ratio across 41 2/3 innings to earn his sixth All-Star honors.

Tier 2: The Elite

Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners
Edwin Díaz - New York Mets
Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox
Jhoan Duran - Minnesota Twins
Emmanuel Clase - Cleveland Guardians
Robert Suarez - San Diego Padres

Muñoz, making his second All-Star appearance, is a close second behind Hader. He locked down two saves this week with a pair of clean outings against the Pirates. The 26-year-old right-hander has recorded a spectacular 1.06 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and a 45/13 K/BB ratio over 34 innings.

Díaz, now a three-time All-Star, continues his dominant season with three scoreless outings, picking up a save and a win. The 31-year-old right-hander has allowed just one earned run over his last 24 innings since the start of May. Meanwhile, Chapman extended his scoreless appearance streak to 16 games, striking out two batters against the Nationals on Sunday. The 37-year-old veteran left-hander has been so dominant this season, earning an eighth All-Star selection, that it's fair to speculate whether the Red Sox should trade him regardless of their standings in the playoff race, given the return they could potentially get.

Duran struck out three batters over two innings and picked up the win against the Rays on Saturday. He was then unavailable to pitch on Tuesday due to an illness before returning Wednesday to lock down his 14th save against the Cubs.

Clase blew a save on Sunday against the Tigers, then bounced back against the Astros on Monday with a clean inning for his 19th save. After pitching in a tie game Tuesday, his third straight day on the mound, he got the day off Wednesday as Paul Sewald stepped in for a save.

Suarez, replacing Chris Sale for his second All-Star selection, picked up two saves this week with a pair of clean outings. The 34-year-old right-hander is up to 26 saves with a 3.72 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a 41/12 K/BB ratio across 38 2/3 innings. Setup man Jason Adam joins him on the NL All-Star roster for the first time with a 1.58 ERA over 45 2/3 frames.

Tier 3: The Solid Options

Mason Miller - Athletics
Devin Williams - New York Yankees
Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers
Félix Bautista - Baltimore Orioles
Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers
Will Vest - Detroit Tigers
Emilio Pagán - Cincinnati Reds
David Bednar - Pittsburgh Pirates
Daniel Palencia - Chicago Cubs
Camilo Doval - San Francisco Giants
Jeff Hoffman - Toronto Blue Jays
Ryan Helsley - St. Louis Cardinals
Carlos Estévez - Kansas City Royals
Pete Fairbanks - Tampa Bay Rays
Kyle Finnegan - Washington Nationals
Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Angels

Miller didn't see a save chance this week. He tossed a clean inning with one strikeout in a non-save situation against the Giants on Sunday. In New York, Williams struck out two batters in a perfect inning for his 12th save on Sunday, then converted his 13th with two more strikeouts in a clean frame against the Mariners on Wednesday.

Megill collected three saves and a win this week, with three clean outings against the Marlins and Dodgers. His 21 saves match his season total from 2024 while posting a 2.41 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 43/15 K/BB ratio across 33 2/3 innings.

Bautista added a win and a save, then struck out the side in a tie game in the ninth against the Mets on Tuesday. The 30-year-old right-hander is enjoying a strong comeback season, converting 17 saves with a 2.48 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 48/20 K/BB ratio across 32 2/3 innings.

The Dodgers converted no saves as the team rides a six-game losing streak. Scott tossed a clean eighth inning with two strikeouts against the White Sox last Thursday, then gave up two runs in the eighth against the Astros on Sunday before blowing a save Wednesday against the Brewers. Meanwhile, Vest picked up two saves, striking out the side against the Rays on Tuesday for his 15th of the season. With Vest getting the day off on Saturday, Tommy Kahnle picked up his ninth save, first since June 4.

Pagán continued his stellar season with another save in a scoreless outing against the Phillies on Friday. The 34-year-old right-hander is up to 19 with a 2.92 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and a 45/12 K/BB ratio across 37 innings. Pagán could also be on trade watch depending on where the Reds are in the standings by the end of the month.

Bednar didn't get a save chance this week. He made one appearance, striking out the final batter in the eighth inning against the Royals on Monday for his first outing since July 1. It was a similar situation for Palencia, who needed just five pitches in his only outing this week.

Doval gave up a run on two walks and a hit in a non-save situation against the Athletics on Sunday, then worked around a walk to record his 14th save against the Phillies on Monday. But it was top setup man and bullpen breakout Randy Rodriguez who earned All-Star honors with a 0.69 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and a 54/8 K/BB ratio across 39 innings.

Hoffman extends his modest scoreless streak to six games as he continues to recover from a terrible May in which he allowed 15 runs over 10 innings. He converted two saves this week to give him 22 on the year.

Helsley tossed a clean inning with one strikeout for a save against the Cubs on Saturday, then worked around a hit and a walk for his 18th save on Tuesday against the Nationals.

In Kansas City, Estévez gave up a run last Thursday, but held on for a four-out save against the Mariners. He then fell in line for a win against Pittsburgh on Tuesday before picking up his 25th save Wednesday. Meanwhile, Fairbanks recorded five outs to fall in line for a win against the Twins on Sunday for his only appearance this week.

Finnegan made a pair of scoreless appearances in non-save situations. And Jansen has extended his streak to 11 outings without allowing an earned run, picking up a win against the Rangers on Monday and his 16th save on Wednesday.

Tier 4: Here for the Saves

Dylan Lee/Raisel Iglesias - Atlanta Braves
Kevin Ginkel - Arizona Diamondbacks
Matt Strahm/Orion Kerkering - Philadelphia Phillies
Robert Garcia - Texas Rangers

No save chances for Atlanta this week. Lee and Iglesias will presumably continue to work in a committee for saves. Iglesias could work his way into the primary role again, with no runs allowed over his last 9 2/3 innings since giving up three runs on June 5. He's posted a 14/1 K/BB ratio in that span.

The Diamondbacks lost yet another closer with Shelby Miller hitting the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain. The team had already lost AJ Puk and Justin Martinez to season-ending injuries. Ginkel has hardly been effective this season, posting a 9.00 ERA across 20 innings. But he's expected to step in for most save chances. He picked up a save on Monday against the Padres with a scoreless inning. Left-hander Kyle Backhus, mentioned in last week's column, could be someone to watch if Arizona goes to a matchup-based committee.

Jordan Romano hadn't recorded a save since May 29. He got the save chance Tuesday against the Giants with a two-run lead, but gave up three runs on an inside-the-park home run to blow the opportunity and take the loss. Philadelphia should be a team in the market for a closer at the deadline, much like last season when they acquired Carlos Estévez.

There isn't much more clarity in Texas. Garcia has not been sharp on the mound and has just one save over the last month. He took a loss Friday against the Padres. Chris Martin also took a loss this week against the Angels, while both Shawn Armstrong and Hoby Milner were charged with blown saves.

Tier 5: Bottom of the Barrel

Calvin Faucher/Ronny Henriquez - Miami Marlins
Seth Halvorsen - Colorado Rockies
Grant Taylor - Chicago White Sox

Relievers On The Rise/Stash Candidates

Braydon Fisher has emerged as an excellent reliever for the Blue Jays and a big part of the team's recent success. The 24-year-old right-hander made his major league debut this season, posting a 2.30 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and a 36/7 K/BB ratio across 27 1/3 innings. Working his way up the high-leverage ladder, he's picked up four holds and three wins for Toronto. While Yariel Rodríguez has been effective in a setup role, it could be Fisher in line for saves should Hoffman ever be unavailable. In Pittsburgh, Isaac Mattson has been effective for the Pirates. The 29-year-old right-hander has posted a 1.89 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and a 21/7 K/BB ratio across 19 innings while working his way into high-leverage work. With both David Bednar and Dennis Santana expected to draw trade interest at the deadline, Mattson could be someone to watch for save chances down the stretch.