Baseball News
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)
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Editor's note: Read MLB insider Bob Nightengale's full Sunday column here
As MLB continues to adjust to an ABS landscape, its umpiring ranks will be a little thinner after this season.
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.
— Foul Territory (@bsbls885) May 19, 2026
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CB Bucknor, Laz Diaz among MLB umpires to retire after 2026 season
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
First Pitch: 2:00 pm MDT
TV: Peacock
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)
Giants SB Nation Site: McCovey Chronicles
Lineups:
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Go Rays!
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TODAY’S GAME: The Houston Astros (44-47) will conclude their six-game homestand today with another rubber game, this time opposite the top team in the AL, the Tampa Bay Rays (52-44).
RHP Peter Lambert (6-5, 3.51 ERA) will get the start for Houston as he looks to secure the series win opposite the Rays, who will start an opener in RHP Mason Englert (0-1, 3.96 ERA).
RIDING THE LAMBO: Today’s starter RHP Peter Lambert, who was a minor league free agent signing this offseason, has posted a 4-1 record in his last seven starts dating back to May 24, which ties him for fourth in the AL in wins in that span.
Lambert pitched last year for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the NPB, posting a 3.98 ERA (55ER/124.1IP) with 111 strikeouts in 23 appearances in Japan.
SERIES-LY SPEAKING: With a win today, the Astros would win the series, which would secure them six series victories in their last seven chances. Prior to the Astros losing two of three to the Twins earlier this week, the club had won five straight series from June 12-28, their longest streak in 2026.
WINNING THE CLOSE CALLS: The Astros are 9-5 in one-run games and 20-11 in two-run games. Each of the Astros last eight wins and 13 of their last 14 victories have come by two-or-fewer runs.
GET ‘EM EARLY: The Astros lead the AL in 1st inning runs with 63 runs scored in their 91 games. Overall, the Astros rank fifth in the American League in runs scored (411), while the Rays check in ranking seventh in the AL with 396 runs scored.
LAST NIGHT’S W: Trailing 6-2 early, the Astros rallied back for a 10-8 win over the Rays which ended on a walkoff homer by DH Yordan Alvarez (3×4, 2HR, 6RBI) in the 9th. 2B Jose Altuve (2×3, 3R) and C Yainer Diaz (1×4, HR, 2RBI) chipped in on the offensive side. LHP Josh Hader (0ER/1IP) pitched a scoreless 9th for his 3rd win of the season.
WALK-OFF FIREWORKS: DH Yordan Alvarez hit his second career regular season walk-off homer last night, with the other also coming on the Fourth of July in 2022 vs. KC. He is the first player in MLB history with two career walk-off homers on July 4.
FIREWORKS ON THE 4TH: The Astros have won on the Fourth of July for nine consecutive seasons (since 2016), which is the longest active streak in the Majors. Per Elias, only three other teams in Major League history have won nine consecutive game on July 4th, the Indians (13 straight, 1916-1923), the White Sox (14 straight, 1934-1941) and the Pirates (9 straight, 1901-1905).
TODAY’S TELECAST: Peacock and the NBC network will televise every game across Major League Baseball today, including the Astros-Rays game from Houston. Todd Kalas, Doug Waechter, and Julia Morales will be on the call for Peacock today.
ALL-STAR ALVAREZ: Major League Baseball announced yesterday that DH Yordan Alvarez was voted by the fans as the starting designated hitter for the American League All-Star team. This marks the fourth All-Star selection for Alvarez (2022-24, 2026) and the second time that he has been voted as a starter (also in 2024).
MVP-CALIBER: DH Yordan Alvarez has had a torrid first half to his season, currently leading all of baseball in OPS (1.078), OBP (.433), SLG (.645), RBI (67), and total bases (207). Additionally, he ranks first in the AL in extra-base hits (45), first in homers (29), first in hits (104), first in runs (62), second in batting average (.324), and fourth in walks (59).
THE LONG BALL LIST: DH Yordan Alvarez has hit 199 career home runs, needing just one homer to become the sixth player in franchise history to reach the 200-homer plateau.
All-time Homers in Astros History
1. Jeff Bagwell: 449
2. Lance Berkman: 326
3. Craig Biggio: 291
4. Jose Altuve: 263
5. Jimmy Wynn: 223
6. Yordan Alvarez: 199
PEN PALS: Since May 15 the Astros are 27-19 thanks in part to their bullpen, which has posted the lowest ERA in the AL in that span at 2.63 (51ER/174.1P). Since that date, that group has been led by LHP Josh Hader (0.64 ERA), LHP Bryan King (0.89 ERA), LHP Steven Okert (1.57 ERA) and RHP AJ Blubaugh (1.78 ERA).
WHAT A RELIEF: LHP Josh Hader is 3-0 with eight saves (in eight chances) and a 0.64 ERA (1ER/14IP) in 14 appearances. He has 22 strikeouts in his 14.0 innings with a .045 (2×44) opponent average and a 0.57 WHIP. Hader has not allowed a hit in seven consecutive appearances (7IP since June 21).
OUT ON ASSIGNMENT: The Astros have three starters on minor league rehab assignments:
• RHP Ronel Blanco (rt. elbow surgery) last started on Wednesday for Double A Corpus Christi at NW Arkansas (2ER/4.1IP), tossing 60 pitches (45 strikes). He is expected to make his next rehab start on Tuesday.
• RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (rt. shoulder inflammation) last started on Wednesday for Triple A Sugar Land at OKC (1ER/4IP), tossing 60 pitches (41 strikes). He is expected to make his next rehab start on Tuesday.
• RHP Hayden Wesneski (rt. elbow surgery) began a minor league rehab assignment on Tuesday for the FCL Astros (0ER/3IP), tossing 25 pitches. He is expected to start today for Corpus Christi.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1985 – In a 4-2 win over Montreal, OF José Cruz drives in two runs to set what was then a franchise record for career RBI with 783. He would finish his Astros career with 942 RBI, which currently ranks fourth in club history, behind 1B Jeff Bagwell (1529), 2B Craig Biggio (1175) and 1B Lance Berkman (1090). 2B Jose Altuve ranks fifth all time on that list with 911 RBI.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Sunday, July 5, 2:30 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Peacock
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
The Royals have lost 4 in a row and 8 of their last 9, they are the worst team in all of the Major Leagues. If you told me that on March 25th, I thought you were crazy. Yes, they have a lot of key players hurt currently, but they weren’t that good when they were fully healthy.
JJ Picollo seems to be blaming this disastrous season on injuries, and no changes seem like they are going to be made now or in the offseason. Again, to a certain extent, he is right, but we saw what the fully healthy team looked like most of April.
Luinder Avila will try and stop the bleeding today. He has been up and down as a starter, with him being downright bad at home. His home stats are as follows: 6 appearances, 2 starts. 12.2 innings pitched, 24 hits allowed, 18 runs, 11 walks, 11 strikeouts. A 12.79 ERA in 12.2 innings. Personally, I think Avila should be getting closer reps for next season, but I’ll have an article out on that for a deeper dive soon.
Here are the Royals starters behind Avila for this afternoon’s contest. And yes, Josh Rojas is still on the team! I almost forgot he was. Oh, and Salvador Perez is back in there.
The Phillies got off to a horrendous start and fired their manager and now they are 11 games over .500. (Hm, interesting!) The back-to-back NL East champs are employing almost a carbon copy of last night’s winning lineup. Only the starting catcher is the difference.
Righty Aaron Nola will start for Philly. Nola has been bad this season, with a 6.04 ERA in 85 innings over 17 starts. He has been better on the road, but that doesn’t say a whole lot, with his road ERA still being at 5.40.
Here is the starting lineup for Philly behind Nola.
First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed on Peacock, as part of a special MLB thing.
Shoutout John Wathan for his pregame introduction into the Royals Hall of Fame. Hopefully they bring home a W for him.
Detroit Tigers @ Texas Rangers
Sunday, July 05, 2026, 2:30 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / Peacock / NBCSN Extra)
The Shed
RHP Casey Mize vs. RHP Kumar Rocker
Go Rangers!
Nick Kurtz's rise to major league stardom will now include a starting spot for the American League in the All-Star Game.
The Athletics first baseman assumed the starting position shortly after All-Star rosters were announced, when Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. opted out of the game, telling reporters he needs to prioritize overcoming a lower back issue.
That means Kurtz, who grew up about 90 minutes from Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park and earned the nickname "Big Amish," will get the start in what may be the first of several All-Star appearances in his career.
Kurtz, 23, was an instant smash after making his debut April 23, 2025, though his dominance of major league pitching came too late for him to earn an All-Star nod in his Rookie of the Year season. This year, he's hit 20 home runs and posted a .939 OPS for the Athletics, who are in their second of three seasons playing in West Sacramento's Yolo County before moving to Las Vegas.
Guerrero, who has yet to hit a home run at Rogers Centre this season, didn't exactly have the numbers to justify the position, yet the defending AL champions received such massive support at the ballot box that he held off Kurtz for the start. Nonetheless, he did not want to disappoint those who supported him.
"One of the hardest parts of not going," he told reporters. "It's very difficult for me. But I really have to take care of myself and I’ve got to put my team first for the second half."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nick Kurtz replaces Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as AL All-Star starting first baseman
Probable pitchers: RHP Kyle Bradish (5-8, 3.77 ERA, 96 Ks) vs. LHP Nick Lodolo (2-2, 5.05 ERA, 42 Ks)
Where to watch: Peacock
The Orioles head into today’s finale of their Independence Day weekend series vs. the Reds looking for a couple of things. First, Baltimore is looking to complete only their third series sweep of the season, and their first one since sweeping the Rays at Camden Yards in May. Second, if they can complete the win, it’ll give the O’s their first four-game winning streak of the season. The often inconsistent Orioles have had six previous attempts at extending their winning streak to four, going 0-6 in those games with a combined -22 run differential.
And yet, since hitting their rock bottom of nine games below .500 after Tuesday’s loss to the White Sox, this has looked like a different Orioles team. They avoided a sweep in their series finale against Chicago, winning 6-1 behind a strong outing from Dean Kremer and a ruthlessly efficient offense.
The O’s followed that up with a 3-0 win in Cincinnati on Friday, as a rejuvenated Trevor Rogers combined with Rico Garcia, Yennier Cano and Tyler Wells combined for Baltimore’s second shutout of the season. Last night the offense stole the headlines, as a three-run homer from Samuel Basallo and multi-hit days from Adley Rutschman and Pete Alonso powered the O’s to an 8-5 win.
Carrying the hopes of Birdland this Sunday is former ace Kyle Bradish. The 29-year-old right-hander has had the highest highs of any Orioles starter this season, but is still searching for a measure of consistency in his first full season back after Tommy John surgery. On the Orioles’ recent West Coast swing, Bradish put together a two-start stretch against the Mariners and Angels where he tossed 15.2 innings, allowed only 11 hits, one run and punched out 21. However, in his most recent outing vs. the Nationals, he struggled with command, walking five in four innings while giving up four runs in an eventual 6-4 loss.
Bradish has faced the Reds one time previously, a 6-2 Orioles win at Great American Ballpark during his rookie season of 2022. That start was Bradish’s first back in the big leagues after a six-week demotion to Norfolk, and he rewarded the Orioles’ renewed faith in him by posting a line of 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB and 7 Ks. Bradish has typically been strong against National League opposition, posting a 2.97 career ERA with a .217 BAA and 130 Ks in 121.1 innings against the senior circuit.
Opposing the Orioles’ right-hander is 28-year-old southpaw Nick Lodolo. After posting a career year in 2025, Lodolo started this year on the IL with a finger blister and has struggled to replicate last season’s form since his return in May. The former first-round pick out of TCU has been stronger of late, pitching nine shutout innings across two different starts vs. the Brewers in his latest outings.
The Cincinnati southpaw has faced the Orioles twice in his career, a win in Cincinnati back in 2022 and a lopsided loss also in Great American Ballpark in 2024. The last time the O’s faced Lodolo, they got off to a hot start thanks to an RBI single from Anthony Santander and a two-run homer from Jordan Westburg—both in the top of the 1st.
The O’s have been a below-average team against left-handed starters this year, ranking 22nd in baseball with a .702 OPS. Baltimore’s great neutralizer against lefties has been infielder Coby Mayo, with the 24-year-old posting a 1.056 OPS and 51.1% hard-hit rate against southpaws this season.
The start of Sunday's game between the Mets and Atlanta Braves has been delayed due to weather.
The game was originally scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. on NBC/Peacock.
Once the weather clears, Nolan McLean (5-5, 3.78 ERA) will take the mound for New York, while veteran left-hander Martín Pérez (6-5, 3.27 ERA) will start for Atlanta.
The Mets have dropped the first two games of the four-game series against the Braves and are 2-8 in their last 10 games.
After the Nats offense went wild in game one, they were held in check by the Pirates pitching staff in game two. That sets up a crucial rubber match between two teams sitting in the playoff mix. We will see two hard throwing righties square off this afternoon.
The Nats are making a couple changes to their lineup. Jorbit Vivas will be back in the lineup playing second base over Nasim Nunez. Jacob Young is still out of the lineup, meaning the outfield will consist of Daylen Lile, Dylan Crews and James Wood. Keibert Ruiz will be back behind the dish. Cade Cavalli is on the mound after having his start moved up one turn. He is allowed to pitch with his suspension in appeal.
The Pirates are only making one change in personnel. Endy Rodriguez will be back behind the plate replacing Henry Davis. There is some shuffling of positions though. Ryan O’Hearn will be at first, while Tyler Callihan is in left and Bryan Reynolds is at DH. The flame throwing Bubba Chandler will be on the mound.
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Game Info:
Stadium: Nationals Park
Time: 1:00 PM EST
TV: Peacock
Radio: 106.7 The Fan
This is a crucial rubber match for the Nats. They have been good at winning series this season, and this will be a chance to grab another. Hopefully Cavalli can build on his career best start in Boston, just without the drama. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!
If you will allow me to put my armchair meteorologist hat on, I read an article somewhere about how this heat dome that’s been causing temperatures to skyrocket in recent days has been collapsing since Thursday. As such, that’s been causing enough of a disruption in the atmosphere to where thunderstorms are even more likely to pop up than usual.
So with that being said, it’s not particularly surprising that the weather is a bit spotty over Truist Park in Cobb County and as of right now, the tarp is reportedly on the field and has been since around noon.
While the starting pitchers did both continue their warmups as if the game would start on time, the forecast worsened a bit and now Mark Bowman is reporting that a delay is possible.
We’ll have more updates as they come in, so stay tuned.