Sean Burke put on a pitching clinic against a chippy Guardians offense. | Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images
After two nights of being walked off, the White Sox reversed course, pushing to a 3-1 lead late and then locking the win up with zero drama. In the process, Sean Burke dazzled through six with a career-high strikeout night, Colson Montgomery celebrated a year since his debut by putting two of the three runs on the board, and Grant Taylor saved the lead by blanking Cleveland in the ninth.
But before we break down the game, let’s take a moment to celebrate Miguel Vargas, who was selected to represent the White Sox in the All-Star Game!
A first-inning walk to Vargas would haunt Parker Messick as Colson Montgomery celebrated the first anniversary of his MLB debut with a broken-bat RBI double:
Burke dazzled in the second inning, with two strikeouts, then notched his 100th strikeout of the season in the bottom of the third with back-to-back Ks, blanking Cleveland once more.
Burke collected his seventh strikeout in the bottom of the fourth, but in the next frame Austin Hedges knotted the game with a homer. Cleveland threatened to take the lead after a Steven Kwan one-out triple, but he was caught in a pickle after the Guardians called for an ill-advised contact play. Burke tidied things up with a punch out of Chase DeLauter, A rundown with Kwan and a strikeout kept Burke away from any further damage, ending the frame at 1-1.
Burke smelled a career high in Ks in the sixth, striking out the first three batters he saw to push is total to 11. However, because Drew Romo couldn’t find the ears on a K of Kahlil Watson, Watson scampered safely to first. Despite the speedster then stealing second and third, but Burke escaped the jam by coaxing Cooper Ingle to ground out to first.
The White Sox offense ultimately did enough for the win, but didn’t act with enough haste to earn Burke a much-deserved win.
Speaking of that sleepy offense, Colson Montgomery opened the eighth by driving in his second run of the game, a solo homer to make it 2-1:
Peters doubled to start the ninth and advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Romo picked up a four-pitch walk, and with a sac fly, Vargas sent Peters home for a much-needed insurance run.
Brandon Eisert was fabulous in his two innings of relief of Burke (and vultured the win from him), then handed the ball to Grant Taylor for the save. stepped in to close out the ninth. The win broke a a nine-game losing streak at Progressive Field for the White Sox over the last two years, and knotted the two clubs back up at the top of the AL Central.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JULY 04: Michael Wacha #52 of the Kansas City Royals throws against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals fell to the Phillies 6-1 after Michael Wacha allowed four runs on three homers in six innings. This was Wacha’s first start after being named a 2026 American League All-Star. While it was among his worst starts of the season, it wasn’t a terrible start overall. He even struck out 7! But the Royals’ offense had almost nothing going for it. They managed only 5 hits and didn’t walk once while striking out 15 times.
Bobby Witt Jr., just named an All-Star starter for the first time, went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen struck out a combined 5 times. Tyler Tolbert was the only Royal to reach base more than once. He hit a pair of singles and stole a base each time. His season OPS has now almost reached Salvador Perez’s.
Lucas Erceg pitched the seventh and gave up a run. Jose Cuas, just back up with Stephen Kolek returning to the Family Medical Emergency List, pitched an inning and gave up a run. Beck Way got the ninth and pitched a scoreless inning. He allowed a single and a walk, but he’s the only reliever who got a strikeout. So.
The game was over early when Wacha gave up back-to-back home runs to J.T. Realmuto (with one on) and rookie Gabriel Rincones Jr. in the fourth inning. The Royals scored their run in the bottom of that inning when Lane Thomas doubled down the third base line, advanced to third on a Caglianone groundout, and scored on a Nick Loftin infield single. That single broke an 0-for-23 slide for Nick.
Just to rub salt in the wound, Jonathan Bowlan pitched the seventh for the Phillies, striking out three in a row after allowing a leadoff single to Starling Marte. Clearly, no one was paying any attention to the game as you could hear the sounds of fireworks being fired all around Kauffman Stadium for most of the second half of the contest. I managed to turn the broadcast off before they did their usual annoying thing of attempting to broadcast a postgame show from directly underneath the after-game fireworks display. I don’t know who decided it was a good idea to do that every home Friday game, but it makes for a truly awful television experience, regardless of whether the Royals won.
The Royals will appear again tomorrow afternoon. Not on Royals TV, though. This game will be a national broadcast on Peacock at 2 PM CDT. Luinder Avila will face off against Aaron Nola. Do what you want with that information.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 03: Samuel Basallo #29 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 03, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On America’s 250th birthday, the Orioles celebrated in style.
The Birds’ bats dazzled with some early fireworks, roughing up Reds fireballer Hunter Greene for eight runs in the first four innings, and the O’s held the line from there for an 8-5 victory in Cincinnati. Brandon Young struggled early but hung in to earn his seventh win, freshly minted All-Star Adley Rutschman had a pair of doubles, and new closer Tyler Wells notched his second save in as many nights.
One might have thought the Orioles were unlucky to be the first team this season to face All-Star flamethrower Hunter Greene, who was making his season debut for the Reds after undergoing surgery in March to remove bone chips from his elbow. Greene was the hardest-throwing starting pitcher in baseball in 2025, and if you thought he might need some time to ramp up to full velocity, uh, think again. In the first inning alone, Greene fired 11 pitches clocked at over 100 mph.
But that doesn’t mean the Orioles were intimidated. Gunnar Henderson lined Greene’s first pitch of the year, a 100.3-mph four-seamer, straight up the middle for a single. With two outs, Pete Alonso worked a walk after a fantastic, nine-pitch at-bat, five of which were triple digit heaters. That brought up Samuel Basallo, who similarly worked the count full.
On 3-2, Greene tried to pump another fastball past Basallo. Mistake. Samuel was more than ready for it, connecting right on the barrel and smashing it deep into the right-center field seats. That, my friends, is an Earl Weaver Special. What a blast from the rookie on 100-mph heat against a tough pitcher. I like Samuel Basallo.
The Orioles had to be feeling pretty good at that point, handing a 3-0 lead to their de facto ace, Brandon Young. This was a rematch against the team Young faced in his major league debut last April — which was also against Greene, coincidentally — but this version of Brandon is much better than that overmatched rookie from last year. In his 13 starts this season before tonight, only once had Young allowed more than three runs. So this lead was definitely going to hold, no question about it.
Yeah, uh, about that. The Reds had other ideas, and it took them less than two innings to storm back and grab the lead for themselves. They plated one in the first on an RBI single by Eugenio Suárez, and things really escalated in the second. The first three batters of the inning all tagged Young for base hits — a single, double, and triple, in that order — and in a flash, the game was tied. Two batters later, Elly De La Cruz ripped a go-ahead RBI single to right, and the early 3-0 O’s lead had become a 4-3 deficit.
But fear not: the Orioles’ offense wasn’t done bashing Greene. The Hunter became the hunted, if you will. (Now I’m just recycling puns from my Hunter Greene recap last year.) The O’s knocked him out of the game with an extended fourth-inning rally, which began with a Colton Cowser single and a Leody Taveras walk. Jackson Holliday nearly mucked things up by trying to bunt, making one futile attempt that he popped up (foul, luckily) before Greene did his work for him by uncorking a wild pitch to advance the runners. The bunt now off, Holliday worked a walk to load the bases.
Up came Blaze Alexander, perhaps the best #9 hitter in the league, and he did his thing once again by lacing a two-run single to right field, putting the O’s back in front, 5-4. Two batters later, newly minted All-Star Adley Rutschman proved why he was selected, mashing his second double of the game to plate Holliday and Alexander.
The O’s lead was up to 7-4, and a visibly fatigued Greene was done for the night. He lasted just 3.2 innings and surrendered a career-worst eight runs, the last one scoring on a Pete Alonso RBI single off reliever Sam Moll. I know it was Greene’s first start of the year and maybe he’s rusty, but still, great job by the Birds’ bats to put up that kind of damage against one of baseball’s most intimidating pitchers.
Young, with new life, kept the Reds off the board from there, though he needed a little help. He tossed a scoreless fourth and fifth and returned for the sixth with his pitch count escalating. He allowed a leadoff walk and a sharp single, and at 102 pitches, he was done for the night. It wasn’t Young’s finest outing — five innings, four runs — but he owes a debt of gratitude to Grant Wolfram, who escaped Young’s two-on, no-out jam on just three pitches by inducing a double play and a groundout to second.
In the seventh, it was Wolfram’s turn to get into trouble with a leadoff walk, and Yennier Cano wasn’t quite as generous at bailing him out. The inherited run scored on a Suárez RBI single to make it 8-5, though Cano didn’t allow any runs of his own. The O’s caught a break prior to that when JJ Bleday bounced a hit into right field and greedily tried to take second base, only to get thrown out by Taveras. If not for that baserunning blunder, the Reds might’ve put together a more threatening rally.
Andrew Kittredge mowed through a perfect eighth and, with a three-run lead in the ninth, Craig Albernaz again entrusted Tyler Wells with a save situation. Wells, the closer replacement for the injured Ryan Helsley, was seeking to record saves in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.
He got it done, but it wasn’t easy. A De La Cruz leadoff single and Sal Stewart walk immediately brought the potential tying run to the plate with nobody out. Hoo boy. Can’t we just have one stress-free win? But Wells locked it down from there, retiring Bleday on a foulout, Suárez on a fly to center — on a nifty running catch by Cowser — and Nathaniel Lowe on a popout to short. Nice job by Tyler to not let that inning get away from him.
Orioles win! The Birds now head into Sunday’s finale with the chance to earn their first sweep since late May and their first four-game winning streak of the season. And maybe they’ll give O’s fans a reason to feel just a little bit more optimistic about this team.
DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 4: Sean Sullivan #45 of the Colorado Rockies pitches to Luis Arraez #1 of the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at Coors Field on July 4, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been a weird night at Coors Field. It started with a weather delay, and then there was another delay after home plate umpire Scott Barry was hit with a foul tip and was removed from the game. The Rockies are currently down 6-3.
Once again, there has been a lot of action in the comments that we decided it warranted an overflow thread for the final 4+ innings!
The National League All-Star roster was announced tonight. The inclusion of Corbin Carroll wasn’t really a surprise. He gets his third selection in four years, coming into tonight ranked 6th for bWAR among position players in the league, at 3.3 wins. But in addition, Eduardo Rodriguez was also named to the squad, and that’s a bit of a surprise – not least because this is his first selection in his 11th season in the majors. However, his 2.21 ERA is fourth in the NL, and his 3.7 bWAR is fifth among pitchers, so you’d be hard-pushed to argue that Rodriguez does not deserve his spot.
Through 86 games, Eduardo’s ERA is the lowest by a qualified pitcher on the Diamondbacks for 17 years, since Dan Haren 2.16 figure in 2009. Randy Johnson’s 1.77 in 2000 is the only other which is better than the current campaign by Rodriguez. It’s a startling – and very welcome – turnaround for Eduardo, who struggled to an ERA above five in both 2024 and 2025. After signing a four-year, $80 million contract in December 2023, he is now well on the way towards rescuing it from the abyss of all-time awfulness, on the edge of which this deal was certainly teetering. Hopefully it’ll continue for the remainder of its duration.
Carroll’s season has been almost as fabulous as the one he put up last year, which got him an All-Star selection, a Silver Slugger award and sixth place in the NL MVP voting. His OPS is just fifteen points down (.883 vs. 868) on the 2025 figure, and his ten triples not only lead the majors, they have propelled him to the all-time franchise career mark in that department. The honor pulls Corbin into a tie with team-mate Ketel Marte on three All-Star nominations. Among position players, only Paul Goldschmidt (6) and Luis Gonzalez (5) have more, with Randy Johnson (5) joining that pair from the mound.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 20: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Dodger Stadium on June 20, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yoshinobu Yamamoto meets the Padres for the second straight week.
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 03: Jackson Merrill #3 of the San Diego Padres celebrates during the game between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Friday, July 3, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
San Diego Padres (43-44) at Los Angeles Dodgers (58-31), July 4, 2026, 7:10 p.m. PST
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JUNE 19: Jacob Latz #67 of the Texas Rangers reacts after the final out is made to defeat the San Diego Padres at Globe Life Field on June 19, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers reliever Jacob Latz has been named to the American League All Star team, it was announced today. He is the Lone Ranger representative.
Earlier this year I said I would be surprised if Latz made the All Star team, something I based more on how players are selected and the overall numbers game rather than the merits of his case. Since then, though, he’s built an even stronger case, particularly with a great June that saw him named A.L. Reliever of the Month, such that at this point I’m not surprised he got the nod.
Latz is tied for third in the American League in saves, with 18. He has a 1.71 ERA in 42 innings over 33 games.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING -JULY 23: Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone's largest hot spring, is nearly 300 feet wind and 121 feet deep. The thermophiles give the spring its vibrant colors on the edge on July 23, 2024 in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. (Photo by Jonathan Newton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today’s Lineups
BREWERS
DIAMONDBACKS
Brice Turang – 2B
Ketel Marte – 2B
Christian Yelich – DH
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Jake Bauers – LF
Corbin Carroll – RF
William Contreras – C
Gabriel Moreno – DH
Garrett Mitchell – CF
Adrian Del Castillo – C
Andrew Vaughn – 1B
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Sal Frelick – RF
Max Kepler – LF
Cooper Pratt – SS
Ildemaro Vargas – 1B
Joey Ortiz – 3B
Tommy Troy – CF
Brandon Woodruff – RHP
Merrill Kelly – RHP
Happy Fourth of July, folks. May you all leave this holiday, in possession of exactly the same number of fingers with which you entered it. The depth of this preview is potentially constrained by the burgers and hot dogs being ready, at which point, it will come to a rapid conclusion, as I make a beeline for the dining room. Until then, I’ll do what I can. We’ll see whether Kelly can end his losing streak, currently at five consecutive appearances. He’s the first D-back since Shelby Miller in 2017 to lose five starts in a row. Miller also did it the year before. The last to lose six in a row was the Big Unit in June/July 2008. A rare bad spell by Johnson, with a 7.94 ERA in those six starts.
The franchise record holder, however, is Edgar Gonzalez, who dropped seven consecutive L’s during the trauma that was the 2004 season. He started ten times that year, and went 0-9 with a 9.32 ERA. The tenth? Well, that was easily his best start of the year: a Game Score of 64, thirteen points more than any other start. He took a shutout into the seventh, and allowed two runs over seven, but Mike Fetters coughed up four runs immediately in relief, and the D-backs lost that as well. One more fun fact, Silvino Bracho appeared in 24 consecutive losses as a D-back, including his first 23 appearances of 2016. He only took the L in two of those.
And with that, I hear the sultry sounds of Mrs. S yelling from elsewhere in the house. So that’s my sign! See you in the thread, post-dinner.
Jun 23, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Athletics pitcher Aaron Civale (45) throws during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images | Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
Happy Fourth of July everyone! Anyone else ready for some fireworks tonight?
First we got a game to take care of. The A’s host the Marlins for the second of three during this holiday weekend. It’s Aaron Civale on the mound tonight for the Fourth, hoping to get the A’s back in the win column.
The Marlins meanwhile are countering Civale with former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara. He’s not the same pitcher he was pre-injury but he can still shut down a lineup on any given day of the week.
New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) pitches throws a pitch against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning at Truist Park on July 3, 2026.
ATLANTA — Kodai Senga’s failures as a starter haven’t extended into his new bullpen job.
It’s still too early to declare the Mets right-hander a success as a reliever, but a second straight solid outing Friday at least provided doses of optimism for a struggling pitcher in need of a boost.
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“The preparation is different,” Senga said through his interpreter after allowing one earned run over 2 ²/₃ innings against the Braves. “There isn’t much rhythm going into it, but the job is the same: I try to do my best, try to put up zeroes, try to contribute to a win.”
Senga’s previous relief appearance was last weekend against the Phillies when he allowed two earned runs over five innings.
Even with his recent success, Senga owns an 8.66 ERA this season, which says everything about his work as a starter.
It could be a last shot for Senga, who is signed through next season, to show he still belongs in a major league uniform.
New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) pitches throws a pitch against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning at Truist Park on July 3, 2026. Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images
“One thing that is different, simpler: The data aspect is not going into each line of each start thinking about what pitches I can throw, what locations I can throw to each hitter versus now being a reliever I am just given the data that the team provides and going out there and pitching, so that is different for sure,” Senga said.
The Mets can use the bullpen as an avenue toward improving Senga, allowing him a return to the starting rotation — Sean Manaea took such a path earlier this season.
They also could decide Senga is best suited for the bullpen and leave him there.
Senga’s quality of stuff suggests he could be used as a high-leverage reliever, not just inserted to provide coverage for multiple innings.
New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) walks to the dugout after pitching against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning at Truist Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“He’s throwing the ball really well,” interim manager Andy Green said. “When he comes in, the first couple of innings [Friday] it was an electric fastball. The forkball really plays — it’s been really good. I know he’s given up a couple of home runs, but I think you have to like the look of it. The way it looks he can pitch a leverage one inning. He’s got that one inning as well. If the need arises, he gave us three strong innings [Friday].”
Last year at this time, Senga was on the injured list, nearing his return from a hamstring injury that forced him to the injured list for a month.
Senga had a 1.47 ERA and was regarded as ace material for the Mets rotation.
But Senga struggled after his return from the IL and ultimately agreed to pitch the final month at Triple-A Syracuse.
Senga had two solid starts this season but began to struggle in April and was placed on the IL with lumbar spine inflammation in his lower back.
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He bombed in two June starts upon returning and was sent to the bullpen.
Would Senga embrace a relief role full-time?
“It doesn’t matter where I pitch,” he said. “If I am given the ball, I am going to go out there and pitch. I have started some games this year and haven’t operated well as a starter, so it doesn’t matter if I start in the second, third, eighth or ninth. Whatever inning it is when I am given the ball, I am going to continue to do what I can to help the club.”
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 26: Kevin McGonigle congratulates Dillon Dingler #13 of the Detroit Tigers after his two run homerrun during the fifth inning of a game against the San Diego Padres on Opening Day at Petco Park on March 26, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The final rosters for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game were announced on Saturday evening, and finally the Detroit Tigers got some justice. Dillon Dingler, the best catcher in baseball this season, was named to the team as a reserve behind leading vote getter Shea Langeliers. Rookie phenon Kevin McGonigle, like Dingler a top ten position player in the major leagues this season, was also named as a reserve at the shortstop behind the Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr, while Riley Greene made the reserve squad for this third straight All-Star Game appearance.
The reserves are selected by a player ballot, with several Commissioner’s Office selections rounding out the roster for the Mid-Summer Classic to ensure that every team has a representative.
Dingler is currently 3rd in all baseball in terms of fWAR for position players. The 27-year-old backstop has already been one of the best defensive catchers in the game for two seasons, but this year the bat caught up and its been nothing but fireworks at the plate. Dingler has 19 homers on the year already after hitting 13 in all of 2025. His 133 wRC+ mark is a career best as well. He grades out as the third best blocker, and the second best pitch framer in baseball, and he’s adapted wonderfully to the ABS challenge system as well. The Tigers finally have the all-around monster catcher of their dreams. He’s the first Tigers catcher in 15 years to make the All-Star Game.
Riley Greene will be making his third straight All-Star Game appearance this year. The left fielder has played in all but one game this season and after a sluggish start in power department, now has 12 homers after a big month of June. He holds a .375 on-base percentage and a 133 wRC+ on the year.
The 21-year-old McGonigle has been a revelation this season, even to those of who have predicted eventual greatness throughout his brief minor league career. He’s improved defensively and is playing a solid shortstop while getting a bit of work at third base as well. He’s also showing off the best speed of his career. Combine all that with his elite eye and contact ability, producing a .394 on-base percentage, more walks than strikeouts, and a 135 wRC+ and you have one heck of a player. McGonigle becomes the first Tigers player since Mark Fidyrich to make the Midsummer Classic as a 21-year-old, and the only other Tiger to do that was Mr. Al Kaline. Incredible stuff from the Kid this season.
He’ll be joined by three other rookies. The Guardians’ Travis Bazzana and right-hander Parker Messick made the cut, as well as the Cincinnati Reds’ rookie first baseman, Sal Stewart.
We all know the All-Star Game can be a bit of a joke in terms of the voting process. Even so, it’s still a milestone achievement for any player, especially a rookie. The three Tigers are right among the best players in the game, and so it’s only fitting that they get to head to Philadelphia together.
Even better for McGonigle is the fact that he grew up in the area, graduating from Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. He grew up a Phillies fan, rooting for Chase Utley and modeling his game after the great second baseman. No doubt it will be a special thrill for McGonigle to play the first of many All-Star games in his career at Citizens Bank Park.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 14: Randy Arozarena #56 of the Seattle Mariners poses for a photo during the 2025 MLB All-Star player photo shoot at Truist Park on Monday, July 14, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Randy Arozarena will likely be the Mariners lone representative at the All-Star game in 2026.
Major League Baseball announced on Saturday the initial rosters for the American and National League All-Star teams. This included each team’s starting lineup (chosen by fans) as well as their pitchers and reserves (chosen by players and the commissioner’s office).
Arozarena was the only Mariner named to the team for the AL. He was not selected by fan vote, nor did any Mariners players make it to the second phase of fan voting. But he’s a deserving All-Star nonetheless, ranking fifth among AL outfielders with 2.3 fWAR. He’s been the Mariners most valuable hitter with a 141 wRC+ (.280/.370/.436) and their most valuable base runner (19 stolen bases and 2.2 BsR). No matter what flavor of WAR you use, Arozarena is on track to have his most valuable season as a big-leaguer should current trends hold, something he credits to fully buying in to the Mariners’ approach of using the whole field.
“This year, I came with a different approach,” Arozarena said through team interpreter Freddy Llanos. “I’ve been listening a lot more to the hitting coaches, coming in with a plan and sticking to that plan, and you’ve seen teh results this season. Before, I think I would just go out there and every pitch, my mentality was, hit this ball out of the ballpark.
Now, I’ve been able to use the middle of the field, hit the ball around and make those adjustments. Now I’m going up there and thinking, where can I place this ball, and trying to use all my tools that I can to place that ball in that spot.“
Rosters were announced on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. At about 1:45 p.m., Arozarena capped his bid with a massive grand slam to push the Mariners past the Blue Jays. He also doubled earlier in the game.
It’s Arozarena’s third All-Star selection and second with the Mariners. Last year, he was named to the team after Julio Rodríguez declined to participate.
“I think this [selection] for me is the one that feels a little more special,” said Arozarena. “I see it as a mixture of all the discipline, all the hard work, everything I’ve done, but also all the teammates that have helped me, the fans, especially the fans – I use them as a motor to energize me when I’m out there, I’m able to identify with them, and they’re able to identify with me. So when you get a recognition like this, you kind of look at it in terms of all the hard work and all these little aspects that come together to make something like this happen.”
Speaking of Julio, he was not named to the team after making it in three of his first four years as a big leaguer. Neither was Cal Raleigh, who received the second most votes in the AL just last year. In fact, no other Mariners were selected, reflecting what’s been a frustrating, injury-plagued season in Seattle.
One could argue Bryan Woo deserved a nod. He leads the Mariners with 2.7 fWAR, good enough for sixth in the AL as of Saturday morning. But Woo’s 4.17 ERA (driven by severe home-road splits) likely hurt his chances. Logan Gilbert, Emerson Hancock, and George Kirby are each having better seasons by more traditional metrics, though none rank in the top 10 by ERA.
It’s possible more Mariners will eventually make the team as other players get hurt and opt out. How does that work? I defer to the MLB All-Star selection process FAQ:
Who picks the replacements for injured players or those who decline to participate? If a fan-elected starter is unable to play, they are replaced in the starting lineup by the player on the roster who received the next most votes on the player ballot at their position. The roster replacement is then chosen by the league.
If a player-elected reserve position player must be replaced, the next in line on the player ballot becomes a reserve, unless the leaders of the player ballot have already been accounted for. If the top finishers on the player ballot are already All-Stars, then MLB can select another replacement.
If no other Mariners are selected, it will be the first time since 2021 Seattle has sent just one player (Yusei Kikuchi). Last year, they sent seven.
The All-Star Game will take place on July 14 at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia. The game will be broadcast on FOX at 5 p.m. PT.
Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages makes a sliding catch against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages had been hearing from teammates for weeks that he would be selected as an All-Star. But he wasn’t as bullish.
“I wanted to participate, but that wasn’t in my control. I didn’t want to put it out there until I knew it was for sure,” Pages said in Spanish.
On Saturday it became official. Pages was selected as an All-Star for the first time. After coming so close in 2025, he’s set to start for the National League.
“It’s exciting to be able to participate in my first one,” Pages said. “I’m really proud of the work that I’ve been doing and to have the opportunity.”
Pages is one of five Dodgers on the National League squad. Third baseman Max Muncy (third All-Star selection), first baseman Freddie Freeman (10th) and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (second) were named to the NL roster Saturday. Shohei Ohtani (sixth) was named an All-Star on June 25 after leading the majors in Phase 1 voting.
It marks the first time since 1980 that the Dodgers have had four All-Star starters. Their five All-Star selections ties the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies for the most in the majors.
Muncy is set to be the first Dodger to start the All-Star Game at third base since Ron Cey in 1977.
Though Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski (10-2, 2.80 ERA) was not named an All-Star, he could play as a possible injury replacement.
The All-Star Game will be played July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Ohtani feeling better
Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani pumps his fist after getting San Diego's Manny Machado to ground out in the fifth inning Friday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Ohtani was feeling “considerably better” Saturday, after leaving Friday’s game in the seventh inning with tight right biceps.
“If things trend the way we would expect, then he’ll be in there [Sunday],” manager Dave Roberts said.
Ohtani wasn’t in the starting lineup against the Padres on Saturday, but Roberts left open the possibility that he could be available off the bench depending on “how the day goes.” Roberts didn’t expect the biceps problem to affect Ohtani’s throwing schedule between pitching starts, especially because he aggravated it on a swing.
The Dodgers, however, could still decide to have Ohtani skip his last pitching start before the All-Star break.
“The first step is how he feels tomorrow, and then the days forthcoming,” Roberts said. “So we don’t need to make that decision today, tomorrow, the next day. So we have time. And I think for us it’s just more of reading and reacting on how he feels.”
