CINCINNATI — Spencer Steer broke up a scoreless game with his 14th home run this season, Nick Lodolo pitched six scoreless innings, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 on Sunday.
The win avoided a sweep and stopped the Reds’ six game losing streak at home.
Kyle Bradish retired the first 12 Reds of the game but walked Eugenio Suarez to start the fifth before Steer’s homer made it 2-0.
Bradish (5-9) pitched 7 ⅔ innings and allowed three runs and five hits with five strikeouts.
Rookie All-Star Sal Stewart doubled home Edwin Arroyo to knock Bradish out of the game. Stewart has 61 RBI, tied for seventh in MLB and the most by a rookie this season. He is tied for 10th in baseball with 21 doubles, also the most by a rookie.
Lodolo’s string of 14 scoreless innings ended in the sixth inning. Taylor Ward doubled and scored on a single by Coby Mayo with two outs.
Brock Burke made his 44th appearance this season, tied for second most in baseball, when he relieved Lodolo and pitched a 1-2-3 seventh.
Lodolo (3-2) pitched six innings, allowing one run on six hits. He walked two and struck out four.
Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. left Sunday's game against the Minnesota Twins early due to left big toe discomfort, the team announced.
Chisholm flied out in the bottom of the fifth inning and did not return to the field on defense in the sixth inning, getting replaced by Amed Rosario. Jose Caballero slid over to second base while Rosario took over third base.
New York said Chisholm was examined by Dr. Christopher Ahmad at Yankee Stadium and X-rays were negative. He will be reassessed on Monday to determine the next steps.
Chisholm had gone 1-for-2 on Sunday, recording one of the team's few hits against Twins starter Joe Ryan. Through 85 games this season, he's hitting .225 with 12 home runs and 33 RBI.
Manager Aaron Boone said after the game that the injury occurred while Chisholm stumbled on a caught stealing in the bottom of the second inning. Boone added it's not looking like an IL stint for Chisholm, but it's a "nagging thing" with his toe since having surgery on it in 2023.
"Sometimes it comes back, a little bit of throbbing and stuff in there," Chisholm said. "When you kind of aggravate it, it kind of hurts. You don't move the same a little bit sometimes."
He added: "I was in a lot of pain, but I kind of figured that it wouldn't be that bad because it wasn't as bas as when I injured it the first time. But other than that, huge relief, thinking I'm good. Did a couple stuff in rehab when I came out, starting to feel better."
The infielder noted he doesn't expect to miss any time with the lingering injury.
Jul 5, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Baltimore Orioles outfielder Tyler O'Neill watches as a fan attempts to catch the two-run home run by Cincinnati Reds first baseman Spencer Steer in the fifth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images | Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
The Baltimore bats couldn’t deliver in the clutch, and a strong Kyle Bradish start went to waste, as the O’s dropped their series finale in Cincinnati 3-2.
The O’s came into the bottom of the 9th trailing 3-1 after struggling to get their bats going all afternoon. The pinch-hitting Dylan Beavers worked a leadoff walk to put the winning run on base. Jackson Holliday then entered for Jeremiah Jackson, with the former No.1 overall pick correctly challenging a 3-1 pitch to also reach via walk. The red-hot Blaze Alexander then battled Reds closer Emilio Pagán, finally getting ahold of a 2-2 cutter and sending a single into left to load the bases.
With the bases loaded and one out, former All-Star Gunnar Henderson stepped to the plate. After falling behind 1-2, Gunnar just missed a fastball up and away, sending a fly out to deep left field. The sac fly allowed Beavers to score and cut the deficit to one.
That put the weight of the Orioles’ chances on the newly named All-Star Adley Rutschman. The Orioles’ catcher fell behind like Henderson and could only send a fly ball to center, ending the game with the tying run on second base.
The rally in the 9th was the Orioles’ first good scoring opportunity since the 6th inning. With the O’s trailing 2-0. After Adley Rutschman started off the frame with a fly out, Taylor Ward got the rally going with a double to the left field gap. Pete Alonso then sent a rocket of a ground ball to short, where a bobble by Elly De La Cruz allowed Ward to advance on a 6-3 groundout. That brought up Coby Mayo, the lefty masher, against Reds’ left-handed starter Nick Lodolo. The southpaw left a 1-1 changeup over the plate and Mayo smashed it into left field to bring home Ward.
Outfielders Tyler O’Neill and Leody Taveras then worked back-to-back walks to load the bases for Jeremiah Jackson. The infielder couldn’t come through, striking out to end the threat.
The lack of clutch hitting doomed starter Bradish to his second straight loss. The Orioles’ right-hander was as dominant as they come through the first four innings of the game, but saw his outing unravel a little in the 5th inning.
The Orioles’ right-hander started the game by setting down the first 12 Reds batters he faced. Bradish got an assist from Adley Rutschman in his first AB against De La Cruz, with the starter picking up a strikeout of the All-Star SS after a successful strike three challenge by Rutschman. He then got back-to-back groundouts from Sal Stewart and JJ Bleday to complete the 1st inning on just six pitches.
He’d repeat that same pattern in the 2nd, punching out Eugenio Suárez on a slider in the dirt before groundouts from Spencer Steer and Tyler Stephenson ended another 1-2-3 frame on only 11 pitches. Like your favorite song playing on repeat, Bradish would again cruise through the 3rd by starting with a strikeout before rolling back-to-back groundouts. He started the frame by getting Noelvi Marte to swing over a dive-bomb curveball, before TJ Friedl and Edwin Arroyo each grounded out to the right side to complete Bradish’s perfect first time through the order.
The ground ball remained Bradish’s best friend through the 4th inning, getting De La Cruz and Stewart to ground out up the middle to begin his second time through the lineup. Bleday then hit the Reds’ first ball out of the infield, lining out Leody Taveras in center to complete another perfect frame by the Orioles’ former ace. Bradish came into Sunday with a season of high of 10 groundball outs, and already had eight at the end of four frames.
That perfect start quickly turned into a Reds advantage thanks to a walk and a blast in the 5th. Bradish fell behind Suárez 3-0 and ultimately allowed his first base runner on a five-pitch walk. The Orioles’ right-hander then got ahead of Steer 0-2, but couldn’t find his out pitch. After failing to get Steer to chase a couple of breaking balls out of the zone, a 3-2 slider caught too much of the plate, and the Reds’ 1B sent an opposite-field two-run homer into the right-field bleachers.
After seeing his perfect game, no-hitter and shutout disappear in a matter of two batters, Bradish locked back in. He worked around a single from Tyler Stephenson to limit the Reds from doing any more damage. He then came back in the 6th and started the frame with another punch out of De La Cruz. After Sal Stewart gave the 29-year-old his 10th ground ball out of the afternoon, he won an eight-pitch battle with Bleday to complete another scoreless inning.
Thanks to only needing 77 pitches to get through the first six innings, Bradish came out for the 7th looking to keep the deficit manageable. He got fly-outs from Suárez and Steer before Stephenson picked up his second single of the afternoon (the Reds’ third hit). Bradish didn’t let the base runner faze him, however, getting Marte to bounce out for his 11th ground ball—a new season high.
Despite sitting at 89 pitches, manager Craig Albernaz sent his starter back out for the 8th inning. He started the 8th with a two-pitch flyout against Friedl, before giving up a soft single up the middle to Arroyo. The Orioles’ righty would win an eight-pitch battle against De La Cruz to strike out the SS for the fourth time.
Albernaz then came to the mound, looking like he was going to take Bradish out at 102 pitches. Instead, the starter convinced his manager to leave him in, and the Reds made the Orioles pay for that decision. With Stephenson on second after a wild pitch, Bradish tried to sneak a curveball inside to Stewart, but the Cincinnati 3B rocketed it down the third-base line to give the Reds a 3-1 lead.
That’d be Bradish’s last batter, finishing his afternoon with a line of 7.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB and 5 Ks. It was the third time in his last four starts that Bradish pitched into the 8th inning, and his eighth quality start of the season.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 05: Pitcher Nick Lodolo #40 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch during the fourth inning of the baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Great American Ball Park on July 05, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds got a brilliant start from lefty Nick Lodolo, a Spencer Steer homer, and a timely insurance run courtesy of noted RBI-guy (and All Star) Sal Stewart and held on to defeat the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 on Sunday afternoon in Great American Ball Park.
The victory made sure the Reds were not once again swept on their own home turf seeing as they’d dropped each of the first two games of the weekend series by three runs each.
Lodolo kept the ball in the yard and mostly over the plate through 6.0 IP of 6 H, ER ball, striking out only 4 but limiting the Orioles to just 2 walks in his time on the bump. Brock Burke and Tejay Anton each fired clean innings to back him up, though closer Emilio Pagan walked a pair, allowed a hit and a sac-fly run to score, and barely escaped with the save to hammer out the 3-2 win.
Steer’s homer, his 14th of the year, came in the 5th inning off Baltimore starter Kyle Bradish and marked the first runs scored of the game. Lodolo yielded a run in the subsequent half-inning, but an Edwin Arroyo single off Bradish in the Bottom of the 8th put a runner on for Stewart, who doubled them in for his 61st ribbie of the season. That proved vital given Pagan’s inevitable struggles to close things out, and the Reds escaped with a win that brought them to 41-48 on the year.
The Reds get Monday off before welcoming the Philadelphia Phillies to town on Tuesday for a three-game midweek series, one that will be backed up by a home series against the Chicago Cubs to close out the season’s first half before the All Star break. Andrew Abbott will toe the rubber on Tuesday for the series opener against the Phils opposite Zack Wheeler, with first pitch in that one slated for 7:10 PM ET.
Mar 17, 2020; Seattle, Washington, USA; Pike Place Market will be closed starting tomorrow for all non-essential goods vendors because of COVID-19. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY NETWORK
Game #90.
It really can’t be as bad as yesterday’s game, right?
Jun 30, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Martin Perez (33) throws against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Martín Pérez has had some pretty rotten luck when it comebackers lately and now it appears that one was enough to take him out of a game. Back on June 24, Pérez took a comebacker to the leg and hadn’t really looked completely right since taking that hit.
Now, he’s unfortunately taken a comebacker to the forearm during the fifth inning of his start against the Mets and this one was rough enough (and in a key spot) to force an exit from the game.
Martin Perez exits after his left forearm was hit by this Soto liner to begin the fifth. Ended up retiring the last nine batters he faced. Retired just two of the first 11 he faced. pic.twitter.com/Sn4xeZSKu6
It’s a shame because as MLB.com beat writer Mark Bowman mentioned in his post, Pérez had actually found his groove and had settled in after getting hit hard by the Mets to the tune of five runs allowed (four earned) across 4.1 innings pitched. It’s an even bigger shame since Pérez had mentioned earlier this season that this is the first time that he’s felt fully healthy since the 2023 season, so he’s had to travel a long road to get to this bounce back season so far.
Instead, there could be a detour on this road if there’s bad injury news ahead for Pérez. Let’s all hope for the best as this would be a terrible blow both for Pérez and an Atlanta Braves rotation that can ill-afford any more bad injury luck coming their way. We’ll see what happens.
[UPDATE 5:46 p.m. ET]: We don’t have an official diagnosis yet but it’s likely not to be a good one as Walt Weiss informed the media following Sunday’s loss that Pérez is more than likely headed to the IL.
Weiss says he doesn’t believe Martin Perez’s forearm is fractured, but more imaging is likely needed. He will go on the IL.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JUNE 8: Bryan Baker #47 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates a win against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field on June 8, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Parker S. Freedman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Right-handed pitcher Bryan Baker, infielder Junior Caminero, designated hitter Yandy Díaz, and right-handed pitcher Drew Rasmussen have been named American League (AL) All-Stars and will represent the Tampa Bay Rays at the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, July 14.
This marks the fifth time the Rays have had four players or more selected as All-Stars, joining 2025 (four), 2023 (four), 2010 (four), and 2009 (five). It is also the fifth season in which multiple Rays pitchers have been named to the Midsummer Classic along with 2015 (Chris Archer and Brad Boxberger), 2012 (David Price and Fernando Rodney), 2011 (Price and James Shields), and 2010 (Price and Rafael Soriano). Between Baker (31), Díaz (34), and Rasmussen (30), three Rays have received All-Star selections at age 30 or older for the second time, joining 2021 (right-handed pitcher Andrew Kittredge, 31; infielder Joey Wendle, 31; and catcher Mike Zunino, 30).
Caminero, Díaz, and Rasmussen all earned their second career All-Star bids, joining Price (four), outfielder Carl Crawford (four), infielder Evan Longoria (three), Archer (two), left-handed pitcher Shane McClanahan (two), infielder Brandon Lowe (two), right-handed pitcher Scott Kazmir (two), infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist (two) as the only players to receive multiple All-Star selections with the Rays.
Baker, 31, earned his first career All-Star selection, becoming the ninth relief pitcher in Rays history to be named an All-Star and the second over the last 10 seasons (2017-26) along with Kittredge in 2021. The Fort Walton Beach, Fla. product is the sixth Florida-born player and third Florida-born pitcher to earn an All-Star nod with Tampa Bay, joining Zunino in 2021 (Cape Coral), left-handed pitcher Matt Moore in 2013 (Fort Walton Beach), outfielder Matt Joyce in 2011 (Tampa), right-handed pitcher Lance Carter in 2003 (Bradenton), and infielder Fred McGriff in 2000 (Tampa).
Entering tonight’s game, the right-hander has gone 1-0 with a 1.83 ERA (34.1 IP, 7 ER) and 23 saves, two holds, a 0.82 WHIP, 37 strikeouts, and 11 walks over his first 36 appearances. The 23 saves are second most in the majors behind Cleveland’s Cade Smith (26). Among AL relievers with 30.0 innings pitched or more, Baker ranks second in opponent on-base percentage (.220) and third in WHIP, opponent batting average (.143), and opponent OPS (.463). He was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles on July 10, 2025 for a Competitive Balance Round A draft pick (No. 37 overall) in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft.
Caminero, 22, was announced as the AL’s starting third baseman for the second consecutive season and is slated to become the first player in franchise history to start multiple Midsummer Classics. Longoria was voted as the AL’s starting third baseman in both 2010 and 2009, but he did not participate in the latter contest due to an infection on his right ring finger. Caminero is set to become the first third baseman and 14th player in the modern era (since 1900) to start back-to-back All-Star Games in age-22-or-younger seasons (age as of June 30). Since the All-Star Game’s inception in 1933, he is the second primary third baseman to receive multiple All-Star nods in age 22-or-younger seasons, joining Manny Machado (two), the 11th infielder, and the 34th player overall.
The 22-year-old will also represent the Rays during the 2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby on Monday, July 13. In last year’s Derby, Caminero finished runner-up to Seattle’s Cal Raleigh and launched 44 home runs across three rounds. He was defeated, 18-15, in the final round, falling four home runs shy of becoming the youngest champion in the event’s history. Caminero is set to become the first Ray to participate in the Derby multiple times and is already one of four players to represent Tampa Bay in the competition, joining Randy Arozarena (2023), Carlos Peña (2009), and Longoria (2008).
Entering play tonight, Caminero has batted .288/.376/.557 (93-for-323) with 12 doubles, 25 home runs, 55 RBI, 47 walks, 55 runs scored, and a .934 OPS through 85 games. The AL Player of the Month for June has the second-most total bases in the AL (180), is tied for second in homers, ranks third in OPS, is fourth in slugging percentage, and is tied for fifth in hits and extra-base hits (37). The 25 home runs are second most by a Rays batter before the All-Star break, trailing only José Canseco’s 31 blasts in 1999. He was acquired from Cleveland on Nov. 19, 2021 in exchange for right-handed pitcher Tobias Myers.
Díaz joins Corey Dickerson (2017 starter) as the only primary designated hitters in team history to be named to the Midsummer Classic. Díaz (34), Greg Vaughn (2001, 35), McGriff (36, 2000), and Canseco (1999, 34) are the only Rays position players to be named All-Stars in an age-34-or-older season.
The current AL batting leader, Díaz has slashed .325/.408/.495 (101-for-311) with 15 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs, 53 RBI, 37 walks, 46 runs scored, one stolen base, and a .904 OPS over 82 games entering play tonight. The Sagua la Grande, Cuba native is tied for the AL lead in hits, ranks third in on-base percentage, and is sixth in OPS. He was acquired from Cleveland along with right-handed pitcher Cole Sulser in a three-team trade with the Seattle Mariners on Dec. 13, 2018.
The reigning AL Pitcher of the Month, Rasmussen earned his second straight All-Star nod, joining McClanahan (2022-23) and Price (2010-12) as the only Rays pitchers to be selected in consecutive seasons. Rasmussen, Price, McClanahan, Archer, and Kazmir are the only Rays pitchers to earn multiple All-Star selections in their careers, with Rasmussen and Archer representing the only two right-handers in that group.
Entering his outing tonight, Rasmussen has gone 10-5 with a 2.45 ERA (92.0 IP, 25 ER) a 0.87 WHIP, 94 strikeouts, and 16 walks over 16 starts, 10 of which were quality. The right-hander paces the AL in WHIP, opponent average (.191), opponent on-base percentage (.236), and opponent OPS (.532) while ranking second in ERA and opponent slugging percentage (.296). He recorded a 0.61 WHIP over five starts in June, lowest in a single June by any pitcher with 30.0 innings pitched or more during the month in the modern era (since 1900). The right-hander was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers on May 21, 2021 along with right-handed pitcher J.P. Feyereisen in exchange for infielder Willy Adames and right-handed pitcher Trevor Richards on May 21, 2021
The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ 40-man roster is at 40.
Recalled from Triple-A Reno: INF/OF Tim Tawa
Optioned to Triple-A Reno following last night’s game: INF LuJames Groover
And right into the line-up goes Tawa… at third-base? A position where he has made one previous start in his 107 major-league appearances. All told, only 266 professional innings at the hot corner for Tim, with 85 or so over the last couple of seasons. So let’s hope this works out.
Yesterday was Paul Sewald’s 20th save of the season. He’s the first Arizona pitcher to reach that mark before the All-Star break since Brad Boxberger in 2018, who had 24 saves in the first half. With eight games still left to play, another couple could quite possibly be in Paul’s wheelhouse. If he does record two more saves, it will leave Sewald behind only Boxberger and Jose Valverde (26 in 2007). It has been a while since we have had a “reliable” closer (and I’ll get to those quotes in a bit). In this decade so far, never mind twenty saves, the only D-backs with more than ten saves before the break were Mark Melancon in 2022, and Sewald in 2024, his previous time here – both men had 13.
However, there’s no doubt that Sewald has been lucky. He has allowed runs in eight of his 35 appearances, but has saved 20 of his 21 opportunities. Last night was a case in point, allowing a solo home-run. Indeed, he has conceded four runs over his last three save situations and innings. Fortunately, the lead he was handed in each was exactly large enough to allow him to exit with an eventual one-run win and save. Had he entered in them with a one-run lead to start with, he’d have blown three consecutive chances. We would then likely be having a very different conversation about Sewald, leading up to the All-Star break.
Paul currently sits sixth in the majors for saves. But at 4.50, he is the only man in the top ten with an ERA even at four. The average across the other nine closers is just 2.05, less than half of Sewald’s figure. His FIP and xFIP are also the highest in the group, so that doesn’t make the picture any brighter. xERA, a stat based on quality of contact, does improve Paul’s number by more than a run, dropping him to 3.39. That’s better than MLB saves leader Cade Smith of Cleveland, who has 26 saves and an xERA of 3.62. We’d better hope Sewald can stay away from barrels, and continue doing such a masterful job of pitching to the scoreboard.
Public service announcement: today’s game is on Peacock.
PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 29: Tyler Mahle #54 of the San Francisco Giants pitches during the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Monday, June 29, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Zach Gardner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It’s series finale time, with the San Francisco Giants concluding their six-game road trip by finishing business with the Colorado Rockies. If you’re sad to see the Rockies go, well, don’t worry … they’ll be in San Francisco on Thursday!
Taking the mound for the finale is right-hander Tyler Mahle, who makes his 14th start of the year. The veteran is 1-8 on the season, with a 5.67 ERA, a 4.83 FIP, and 64 strikeouts to 29 walks in 66.2 innings. He gave up four runs in 4.1 innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks in his last start.
For the Rockies, it’s righty Tanner Gordon, who makes his 11th appearance and fourth start of the year. The 28-year old is 0-2 with a 6.69 ERA, a 4.18 FIP, and 39 strikeouts to eight walks in 40.1 innings. He gave up five runs in as many innings against the Miami Marlins in his last game.
Jul 4, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Riley Greene (31) points to the dugout after hitting a single against the Texas Rangers during the eighth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (39-50) vs. Texas Rangers (45-44)
Time/Place: 3:30 p.m., Globe Life Field SB Nation Site:Lone Star Ball Media: Peacock, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Casey Mize (3-5, 2.63 ERA) vs. RHP Kumar Rocker (2-6, 3.83 ERA)
According to USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale, seven MLB umpires have informed the league they will be accepting a buyout offer and retiring after the 2026 season. Among them are CB Bucknor and Laz Diaz, alongside Brian O’Nora, Lance Barksdale, Marvin Hudson, Tony Randazzo and Andy Fletcher.
It will cap off a 30-year career for Bucknor, who started by working in the National League in 1996 and has worked both the AL and NL since 2000. Diaz has been umpiring since 1999 when he stared in the American League and has worked both leagues since 2000.
The latter had a fun moment with ABS earlier in the year, when Royals catcher Salvador Perez successfully challenged two calls in a row and Diaz good-naturedly stared him down following the next ball call, which well outside the zone.
As noted by Nightengale, this small exodus of umpires may open the door for Jen Pawol as the first woman to be a full-time MLB umpire. Pawol has previously umpired games at the pro level.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 04: Griffin Canning #17 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres have been unable to buy a win. Despite starter Griffin Canning surrendering just one run, the Friars couldn’t get anything on the board against Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ ace went seven scoreless innings before the bullpen pitched two more to complete the shutout. San Diego managed just four hits in the game, struggling to make headway against L.A.
They’re now one game away from back-to-back sweeps. The Padres just hit eight games straight in their current losing streak. It’s the longest streak the Friars have had since their 2013 season. San Diego must find a way to win today’s game, otherwise the season may be over at the halfway point.
Taking the mound
Emmet Sheehan (LAD) v. JP Sears (SD)
Sheehan hasn’t been the most inspiring pitcher for Los Angeles. He owns a 5.08 ERA on the season and has racked up just 81 strikeouts. That said, he pitched well against San Diego last week. Sheehan twirled five one-run innings against the Friars.
He’s struggled with command, surrendering 22 walks for a 1.27 WHIP through 72 2/3 innings. San Diego will need to take advantage of any mistakes Sheehan makes in order to stave off the sweep versus the rival Dodgers. If not, the Padres will have a tough time putting runs on the board.
It’s Sears’ third start in a Padres uniform this season. He’s been inconsistent but has undeniably good stuff. Sears pitched well in Petco Park against the Atlanta Braves but struggled in Wrigley Field versus the Chicago Cubs. That’s likely due to Sears being a fly-ball pitcher. He induces a lot of hard contact, and the wind at Wrigley resulted in Sears surrendering six runs to the Cubs.
Tonight, he’ll need to perform much better to bring San Diego a win. Dodger Stadium has traditionally been known as a pitcher-friendly ballpark, which should help Sears to induce fly outs. That said, Los Angeles could take advantage and launch some home runs out of the yard. Hopefully, the former turns out to be the case.
Batter up!
The Friars don’t have a ton of historical success against Sheehan. That said, the right-hander has struggled this season. If San Diego is going to put a stop to their losing streak, now is the time. The lineup was looking solid until last night. That’s somewhat admissible since they were facing Yamamoto, but getting shut out didn’t help matters.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Manny Machado, 3B
Gavin Sheets, DH
Ty France, 1B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Jackson Merrill, CF
Samad Taylor, LF
Luis Campusano, C
Tatis was the only solid hitter in last night’s game. He went 2-for-4 from the leadoff spot and was the only batter not to strike out against the Dodgers’ pitching staff. Tatis has been one of the few consistent hitters for San Diego despite a slow start. Hopefully, that production can continue.
Relief corps
The Friars’ bullpen has looked more rested lately, but that hasn’t helped the Padres get a win. Wandy Peralta opened the game for Canning before Kyle Hart and Mason Miller took over. Miller only pitched because he hasn’t since Monday night against Chicago. He surrendered a run, raising his ERA to 1.01 on the season.
That leaves Alek Jacob, Ron Marinaccio, Yuki Matsui, Adrian Morejon and Bradgley Rodriguez for the Padres to turn to. Miller will also be available if San Diego has a lead in the ninth. He threw just 13 pitches to get through the bottom of the eighth inning last night.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 20: Sal Stewart #43 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrates with teammate Chase Burns #26 during a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park on September 20, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s not uncommon for the Cincinnati Reds to have a pair of representatives in Major League Baseball’s annual All Star Game in July. Frankly, it’s become both common and expected for them to do just that, particularly with a fireballing starting pitcher drafted 2nd overall with high expectations and with a position player lauded for his unmatched skill.
We aren’t talking about Hunter Greene and Elly De La Cruz on this occasion, though. After both missed significant time during the first half of the 2026 season, neither will be making a return trip to the ASG this time around (barring Elly being called upon as a late injury replacement). Instead, the Reds will be sending a pair of outstanding younger players to the game in their stead.
Each of Chase Burns and Sal Stewart have been selected to represent the Reds in the game a week from Tuesday in Philadelphia, the two making their debuts in such an affair. They mark two of the 26 first-timers selected to the respective rosters of the American League and National Leagues, and each is very deserving in their own right.
Sal Stewart and Chase Burns are the third set of teammates in Reds history to each earn an All-Star selection at age 23 or younger in the same season🌟 pic.twitter.com/lmuyxfuBOH
Stewart entered play on Sunday with 60 ribbies to his credit, which is tied for 7th most in all of Major League Baseball. He’s also smashed 17 homers,swiped 11 bags, played each of 1B, 3B, and 2B, and owns an impressive .348 wOBA and 114 OPS+. The former 1st round draftee and top prospect has flashed his excellent eye at the plate with above-average marks in terms of walk-rate (11.7%) and K-rate (21.7%), and has seemed immediately as-advertised since the moment he became a big leaguer.
Burns, on the other hand, has emerged as simply one of the most unstoppable forces on the mound on the planet so far this season. He entered Sunday with 4.3 bWAR, which was second only to Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez in the game, and owns a 2.40 ERA, 1.08 wHIP, and impressive 10.7 K/9 through 97.2 IP so far as Cincinnati’s resident ace so far in 2026.
Congrats to both, and here’s to this being the first of many appearances for them!
BRADENTON, FL - MARCH 02: Guillermo Zuniga #66 of Team Colombia poses for a photo during the Team Colombia photo day at Pirate City on Monday, March 2, 2026 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Harrison Barden/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Earlier today, the Mets called up right-handed reliever Guillermo Zuñiga to join the bullpen. Zuñiga will wear number 46 for New York. To make room on the roster, the team sent Joey Gerber back to Triple-A.
The Mets signed Zuñiga to a minor league deal back in May. The right-hander last pitched at the major league level for the Angels in 2024, where he posted a 5.09 ERA in 17 2/3 innings. He also pitched for the Cardinals in 2023, where he allowed one earned run on two hits over two innings. He pitched for Colombia in the WBC this year and allowed four earned runs on five hits over one inning of work in two outings. He owns a 6.23 ERA in 4 1/3 innings for Syracuse and a 1.93 ERA in 9 1/3 innings for Binghamton prior to that.
Gerber started the eighth inning of last night’s 14-3 loss and allowed a three-run home run to Austin Riley. In 8 1/3 innings for New York across three different stints with the club, he has a 4.32 ERA and a 4.19 FIP, with eight strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings. Prior to last night’s effort, he had allowed just one earned run across his previous six appearances for the Mets.
Jun 30, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Tanner Gordon (29) pitches in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
In a rare, nationally televised game for the Colorado Rockies, the goal is a series win over the San Francisco Giants in the final game at Coors Field before the All-Star break. The series kicked off with an absolute drubbing of the Giants on Friday before the bats fell relatively silent last night in a loss.
The final home game of the first half comes as the Rockies are in the middle of 17 consecutive games without an off-day with another seven–including a three game set against the Los Angeles Dodgers–to go after today before All-Star Game festivities begin.
Right-handed pitcher Tanner Gordon will be making his 11th appearance and fourth start of the season for the Rockies this afternoon. The 28-year-old currently has a 6.69 ERa with 39 strikeouts in 40.1 innings of work so far.
His last time out, Gordon took the loss in a five inning start against the Miami Marlins in which he allowed five earned runs on nine hits–including a home run–while striking out four batters and issuing no walks. It was his first game back after a stint on the injured list for a hip injury.
On the bump for Los Gigantes is the right-handed Tyler Mahle. The 31-year-old journeyman has posted a 5.67 ERA through 13 starts with the Giants and has 64 strikeouts over 66.2 innings of work during his first season in the Bay Area. In his last start he went 4.1 innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks while giving up four earned runs on four hits and three walks.
Mahle has made six career starts against the Rockies previously with a 5.08 ERA, 27 strikeouts, and two home runs given up over 33.2 total innings. This season he is working with a five pitch mix anchored by a four-seam fastball that averages 92.4 MPH. He also uses a split finger, a cutter, a slider, and the occasional sinker.
