The National League is led by a trio of Los Angeles Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith. Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes is on the mound first.
It’ll be a key moment for the NL as it has only won one of the last 11 All-Star Games against the American League.
Leading the way for the AL alongside Raleigh is New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and four Detroit Tigers: Gleyber Torres, Riley Greene, Javier Baez and starting pitcher Tarik Skubal.
Here’s where to watch the clash between the league’s top stars:
When is the 2025 MLB All-Star Game?
The All-Star Game is set for Tuesday, July 15.
What time is the 2025 MLB All-Star Game?
First pitch is set for 8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT.
Where is the 2025 MLB All-Star Game?
Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves, is hosting the game for the first time.
Where to watch the 2025 MLB All-Star Game on TV
The game will be broadcast on FOX.
Where to stream the 2025 MLB All-Star Game online
The game will be available to stream on FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports mobile app.
Who are the 2025 MLB All-Star Game starters?
These are the players starting for the AL and NL:
American League
C: Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
2B: Gleyber Torres, Detroit Tigers
3B: Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays* (replacement)
The National League is led by a trio of Los Angeles Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith. Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes is on the mound first.
It’ll be a key moment for the NL as it has only won one of the last 11 All-Star Games against the American League.
Leading the way for the AL alongside Raleigh is New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and four Detroit Tigers: Gleyber Torres, Riley Greene, Javier Baez and starting pitcher Tarik Skubal.
Here’s where to watch the clash between the league’s top stars:
When is the 2025 MLB All-Star Game?
The All-Star Game is set for Tuesday, July 15.
What time is the 2025 MLB All-Star Game?
First pitch is set for 8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT.
Where is the 2025 MLB All-Star Game?
Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves, is hosting the game for the first time.
Where to watch the 2025 MLB All-Star Game on TV
The game will be broadcast on FOX.
Where to stream the 2025 MLB All-Star Game online
The game will be available to stream on FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports mobile app.
Who are the 2025 MLB All-Star Game starters?
These are the players starting for the AL and NL:
American League
C: Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
2B: Gleyber Torres, Detroit Tigers
3B: Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays* (replacement)
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks during the first round of the MLB draft Sunday. (Mike Stewart / Associated Press)
Major League Baseball will not cancel its 2028 All-Star Game in order to participate in the Los Angeles Olympics, Commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday.
Manfred said representatives of the league and LA28 met Monday, with both sides hoping to work toward an agreement in which major leaguers would play in the Olympics. MLB has declined to stop its season for previous Olympic baseball tournaments, so minor leaguers and college players have participated in those Games.
But Manfred also warned that any agreement likely would apply only to the L.A. Games, where major leaguers could be done in a week. If baseball remains on the Olympic schedule for Brisbane in 2032, MLB would remain reluctant to shut down for the extended period needed to get players to Australia, allow them to prepare and play, and then return to their major league teams.
“I think that the idea of playing in L.A. in ‘28, regardless of the possibility of ongoing Olympic participation in another location, that there is some merit to it,” Manfred said at a meeting of the Baseball Writers Assn. of America.
“I think it is an opportunity to market the game on a really global stage. I think, obviously, because it is in the U.S., the logistics of it are easier.”
On Monday, LA28 announced that baseball would be played July 15-20, 2028, intended as an inducement for MLB to minimize schedule disruption by skipping the All-Star Game for that year and switching to the Olympics in the same week.
Manfred indicated the league’s preference would be to play the All-Star Game in its usual window, then compete in the Olympics and resume the regular season.
"It’s doable," Manfred said. "They put out a schedule. They tell you it’s not going to move. We’ll see whether there is any movement on that.
“It is possible to play the All-Star Game in its normal spot, have a single break that would be longer, but still play 162 games without bleeding into the middle of November. It would require significant accommodations, but it is possible.”
Winners of 10 straight games heading into the All-Star break, the surging Boston Red Sox are poised to buy at the 2025 MLB trade deadline.
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has been open about his plan to pursue starting pitching, but he should also explore options to upgrade the bullpen. Reliable relief pitching is critical for a deep postseason run, and the Red Sox have a chance to make a serious playoff push in the wide-open American League.
Breslow made an effort to improve the bullpen last summer — his first as Boston’s front-office leader — by acquiring rental relievers Lucas Sims and Luis Garcia. Both were in the midst of solid seasons with their previous teams, but they struggled mightily over the final two months with the Red Sox.
This time, Breslow should shoot higher than Sims and Garcia types in his pursuit of bullpen upgrades. The relievers he targets should have a proven track record beyond just 2025, and he shouldn’t be afraid to pay up for an elite high-leverage option to pair with All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman.
Here are 10 relievers who should be on Breslow’s shortlist of trade targets:
Helsley has been among MLB’s best relief pitchers for the last four seasons. The two-time All-Star even earned Cy Young votes after his outstanding 2022 and 2024 campaigns.
It has been sort of a “down” season by Helsley’s standards, but the 30-year-old is still sporting a 3.27 ERA over 33 appearances. He and Chapman would form one of the scariest and hardest-throwing setup-closer combinations in the game.
Helsley would be a rental as his contract is set to expire after this season.
Reid Detmers, LHP, Los Angeles Angels
Detmers converted to a relief role this season. It was a rough adjustment for the 26-year-old southpaw, but he has been exceptional over the last two months.
Since May 9, Detmers owns a 1.29 ERA wth 37 strikeouts and 13 walks in 28 innings. He went 22 consecutive outings without allowing an earned run before his most recent two appearances.
Making Detmers an even more attractive option for Breslow is that he’s under team control through 2028. Additionally, he’s capable of stepping up as a spot starter if necessary.
Jhoan Duran, RHP, Minnesota Twins
This one might be a pipe dream, but we had to include at least one long shot on the list.
Duran has some of the filthiest stuff in the league, and the Twins aren’t likely to move him this summer unless they get a significant haul in return. The 27-year-old is also under team control through 2027.
That said, Breslow should at least inquire about what it would take to pry him away from Minnesota. Duran has come up in trade rumors over the last couple of weeks, so why not check in on one of the nastiest closers in the league?
Duran has a 1.66 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 49 strikeouts and 16 walks this season. Boston already has a dominant closer in Chapman, but the 37-year-old is playing on a one-year deal. Duran could take over as the Red Sox’ lights-out closer in 2027.
Griffin Jax, RHP, Minnesota Twins
Jax is the more realistic option if Breslow calls Minnesota’s front office for a potential deal. The 30-year-old shined as Duran’s set-up man in 2024, and although his numbers aren’t quite as impressive so far this season, he’d still be a major addition to Boston’s bullpen.
One encouraging number from this season: Jax’s 66 strikeouts. His 14.4 K/9 so far this year is a career-high.
David Bednar, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
If Breslow is looking for a reliever with a proven track record, look no further than Bednar. The two-time All-Star struggled mightily in 2024 but has bounced back so far in 2025, posting a 2.53 ERA and 1.125 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and only nine walks in 36 appearances.
Bednar, 30, is also under team control through next season. The Pirates already are out of contention, so they should be motivated to sell off valuable pieces sooner rather than later.
Chris Martin, RHP, Texas Rangers
The ex-Red Sox reliever is still doing his thing at 39 years old. Is he destined to return to Boston?
In 37 appearances for Texas this season, Martin has a 2.20 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 34 strikeouts and only five walks. He was one of the Red Sox’ few bright spots in 2023 and 2024, so Breslow should consider the possibility of bringing him back for the 2025 postseason push.
Chris Martin (1IP 1H 0R 0BB 1K) picked up his 7th hold of the season in the @Rangers loss to the Athletics. His sinker averaged 94 MPH and was our RP Pitch of the Day pic.twitter.com/xDmRrjSRE2
Finnegan represented the Nationals at the 2024 All-Star Game and has been even better so far in 2025. The 33-year-old has a 3.12 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 35 outings.
While he may not move the needle like a Duran, Jax or Bednar, Finnegan is a rock-solid reliever who should be relatively affordable as a rental.
Steven Matz, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals
It feels like Matz’s name has been connected to the Red Sox in trade or free agency rumors several times throughout his 11-year career. Will he finally join Boston this summer?
Matz has become a full-time reliever this season with St. Louis, and he’s seen some solid results. In 28 outings (two starts), the 34-year-old has posted a 3.35 ERA and 1.14 WHIP.
Similar to Detmers, Matz’s history as a starter means he can be stretched multiple innings if needed. And as a rental, it shouldn’t take too much to acquire him if the price for his teammate Helsley is too steep.
Emilio Pagan, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
Pagan has enjoyed a solid nine-year career as a journeyman reliever. Will Boston mark his seventh team?
The 34-year-old has looked sharp in Cincinnati this season. In 40 appearances, he has posted a 2.93 ERA and 0.875 WHIP.
Reds righty Emilio Pagán records the 500th strikeout of his career in the eighth inning Wednesday in Cleveland! 💥💥 pic.twitter.com/4SO17CxuJS
Pagan’s contract is set to expire after the 2025 season.
Tyler Rogers, RHP, San Francisco Giants
Another rental, Rogers has been nothing short of stellar since joining the Giants in 2018. The 34-year-old is a workhorse who has led the National League in appearances in three seasons, and he’s on pace to do the same this year with an MLB-leading 48 outings before the All-Star break.
Tyler Rogers lowers his season ERA to 1.59 after making his 47th relief appearance, which is tied for the most in @MLBpic.twitter.com/wl5bTK2bxM
Boston is the best sports city in America, but it has not played host to an NBA, MLB or NHL All-Star Game in a long time.
This city hosted four of the first 14 NBA All-Star Games, but the event hasn’t been back since 1964. The NHL All-Star Game last came to Boston in 1996 — the first year of the Fleet Center (now TD Garden).
And the MLB All-Star Game was most recently held in Boston in 1999, when Red Sox legend Ted Williams took part in the first pitch ceremony and Pedro Martinez gave an iconic performance by striking out five of the six batters he faced and winning MVP.
What are the chances Boston’s All-Star drought ends fairly soon?
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred told reporters, including Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe, ahead of Tuesday’s 2025 MLB All-Star Game in Atlanta that Fenway Park “would be a great venue” to host the Midsummer Classic again.
“Time is one issue. Level of interest of the club is another issue,” Manfred said, per Abraham. “The Red Sox have certainly expressed interest.”
The 2026 All-Star Game will be hosted by the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
There are seven teams, including the Red Sox, that haven’t hosted the MLB All-Star Game in this century:
Rays: Never hosted
Athletics: 1987
Cubs: 1990
Blue Jays: 1991
Orioles: 1993
Phillies: 1996 (hosting in 2026)
Red Sox: 1999
First pitch for this year’s All-Star game is scheduled for Tuesday at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Red Sox will be represented by closer Aroldis Chapman. Alex Bregman and Garrett Crochet were also selected but will not participate.
Former Michigan player Mitch Voit was selected by the New York Mets in the first round of the MLB draft on Sunday. (John McCoy / Associated Press)
Mitch Voit had plenty to celebrate on Sunday after being selected by the New York Mets in the first round of the 2025 MLB draft.
Chances are, that celebration did not resemble the now-infamous one the former Michigan infielder performed during a game against USC on March 16 in Ann Arbor.
With two outs in the bottom of the second inning, Voit ripped a hit into center field for a three-run triple that gave the Wolverines a 5-0 lead. While still on the ground after diving into third base, Voit decided to celebrate the feat in a rather curious manner.
“I would like to apologize for my actions on third base yesterday,” Voit wrote. “I made an immature decision in the heat of the moment. The gesture I made does not reflect my character, the household I was raised in, or the block M that I represent in any kind of way. I take full responsibility for what I did, and I am truly sorry to all those who I have negatively impacted by doing this.”
Voit was not punished by the Wolverines.
“Mitch is a great young man and immediately apologized for his actions in the heat of the moment," Michigan Athletics spokesperson David Ablauf told The Athletic in a March 18 email. "As an athletic department, we did not feel that it was necessary to issue any discipline.”
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Mets vice president of amateur scouting Kris Gross said the organization did its due diligence on the matter leading up to the draft.
“We spoke to him earlier in the spring and at the combine about it," Gross said. "And basically, you know, he’s a young guy, it’s a heat of passion, it’s a big game. He made a big play for his team and made a mistake. And he’s made an apology for it and owned up to it, handled it with class.
"We did a ton of research after the fact with multiple sources about his makeup. We know this isn’t an issue and we feel comfortable with Mitch moving forward.”
Voit was a two-way player during his first two seasons at Michigan, before undergoing internal brace surgery on his right elbow in spring 2024. As the Wolverines' starting second baseman in all 56 games this season, Voit hit .346 with 14 home runs and 60 RBIs, with more walks (40) than strikeouts (34).
“He made a lot of strides, this being his first year to focus on hitting,” Gross told reporters Sunday.
“When you’re scouting him, you sit there and you start to check all the boxes. He checked them all.”
When the Mets return from the All-Star break, they will be under two weeks from the July 31 trade deadline, and there are plenty areas of need they'll have to add reinforcements to as they push for the National League East title and a deep playoff run.
As SNY’s Andy Martino has reported, the Mets are likely to be looking for both starting pitching and relief help, as well as a potential upgrade in center field. I would argue that they should at least consider an upgrade at DH, too. But from a roster construction standpoint it would be difficult pull off adding while also having Jesse Winker, Starling Marte, and Mark Vientos on the roster.
Marte and Winker are currently injured, but they could potentially return not long after the break.
The early feeling is that while there will be activity at the deadline as always, there may not be many top-end players on the move. It’s possible the best player traded this season was already moved with the Red Sox shipping Rafael Devers to the Giants a few weeks ago.
The team to watch over the next couple of weeks is the Diamondbacks, who could shake up the trade market in a significant way if they elect to sell.
I am often asked -- whether in the mailbag segment of The Mets Pod or in my mentions on X (@PSLToFlushing) -- about which prospects the Mets could look to move at the deadline, or more importantly who they shouldn’t move.
Given the expected available inventory, I think David Stearnswould be unlikely to trade from the very top of the farm system. As much as winning now is of most importance -- and I believe Stearns will be more aggressive than he was last year -- he will always make sure to keep an eye on the long-term. That's a difficult needle to thread, but it's one of the reasons the Mets hired him -- the whole idea of sustained success.
Names like Jett Williams, Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, and Carson Bengestand out to me as prospects that I believe the Mets would be reluctant to move, especially for rental players. I would keep an eye on the pitching depth of the system being the spot where New York is most active in discussions with other clubs.
There will come a time that Stearns and the Mets will end up moving top prospects to get an impact player. Just think back to when Stearns acquired Christian Yelich from the Marlins when he was with the Brewers.
The question: Is this month the time that happens? Only time will tell.
Below are a few mock trades at different acquisition cost levels that could fill some of the Mets' needs. For clarity, I am not saying the Mets would do all of the below deals, but I tried to find fits for the team's top needs.
Jarren Duran / Imagn Images/Envato Elements/SNY Treated Image
This one may be unlikely given the Red Sox rallied off 10 consecutive wins heading into the break and look more like a playoff team now than they did a few weeks ago.
That could lead to them hanging onto Duran at least until the offseason. But with an excess of talent in the outfield, they could look to move him for controllable, near big-league ready pitching.
Clifford could potentially be Boston's long-term solution at first base.
The Mets would have probably the best outfield in baseball with Brandon Nimmo in left, Duran in center and Juan Soto in right. Duran is having a somewhat down year by his standards, with a .749 OPS. But he does have 25 doubles, 10 triples, eight home runs and 16 stolen bases at the All-Star break.
Duran is also under team control through the 2028 season.
Sproat has turned his season around lately, pitching with conviction. He has 18.0 straight scoreless innings and his stuff has ticked up. His fastball is back into the upper 90s, touching 100. And he has further emphasized his curveball and changeup. Sproat looks to be on the precipice of being big-league ready.
Clifford is having a strong year with Double-A Binghamton, with an .814 OPS and Eastern League leading 17 home runs and 54 RBI. His strikeout rate is down a little from last year but still a little higher than you’d like it to be at 27 percent.
Tidwell has gotten looks at the big league level with inconsistent results thus far. He has good stuff and has missed bats at the Triple-A level, but there are questions regarding if he projects as a starter or reliever long-term.
Jun 18, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins (31) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Tampa Bay Rays in the second inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. / Nathan Ray Seebeck - Imagn Images
Mets acquire OF Cedric Mullins and LHP Gregory Soto from the Orioles for RHP Nate Dohm (preseason No. 20 prospect) and RHP Jack Wenninger (preseason No. 27 prospect)
Center field? Check. A reliever? Check. The Orioles could be a great trading partner for the Mets this month as they have options at every position of need for New York.
Mullins is hitting .218 with a .713 OPS while hitting 13 home runs and stealing 13 bases.
Last year, Mullins had a down first half as well (.621 OPS), but he had a massive second half (.831 OPS). And the Mets would be buying him as at minimum a platoon partner for Tyrone Taylor -- and like Taylor, he is a plus defender in center.
Soto has a 3.74 ERA in 42 games spanning 33.2 innings with 40 strikeouts. He averages 96.7 mph on his fastball and has a well above average 27.4 percent strikeout rate. He can at times have his control come and go, but Soto could combine with Brooks Raley to give the Mets two impactful lefties in the pen in the second half.
Both Mullins and Soto are free agents at the end of the season.
The Orioles would get two intriguing arms having strong seasons in Dohm (3.12 ERA with 71 strikeouts in 57.2 innings split between Low-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn) and Wenninger (3.01 ERA with 107 strikeouts in 86.2 innings for Double-A Binghamton).
Mets acquire RHP David Bednar from the Pirates for OF Drew Gilbert (preseason No. 10 prospect) and C/1B/OF Chris Suero (preseason No. 25 prospect)
The Mets could use a reliever they can rely on to be the setup man for Edwin Diaz, essentially forming a two-headed monster at the back end of games.
Bednar is under team control through 2026, with one more year of arbitration remaining.
In 2025 he's posted a 2.53 ERA in 32 innings with 45 strikeouts. His fastball is averaging 97.1 mph and he is in the 96th percentile in strikeout rate.
Being able to shift down the roles of the likes of Reed Garrett, Ryne Stanek and Huascar Brazoban would only make the Mets' bullpen even more dangerous down the stretch.
The Pirates need bats, and Gilbert is a player that they could call up and give a shot to play right field nearly right away to join an outfield with Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz. Dating back to June 11, Gilbert is hitting .284/.368/.569 (.936 OPS) with seven home runs and 22 RBI in 28 games for Triple-A Syracuse.
Suero is a good athlete who has spent time behind the plate, at first base, and in left field this year for Brooklyn. The 21-year-old is hitting .240/.382/.455 with 13 home runs, 51 RBI and 25 stolen bases.
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen (23) throws against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Truist Park / Brett Davis - Imagn Images
Mets acquire RHP Zac Gallen from the Diamondbacks for INF Jesus Baez (preseason No. 6 prospect) and LHP Zach Thornton (not ranked in preseason top 30)
The Mets received encouraging performances from Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea over the weekend before the break. But with Senga struggling to stay healthy consistently, Manaea pitching through a loose body in his elbow, and a question of how long Clay Holmes will remain a starter this year, they need to add here.
Gallen is having a down year with a 5.40 ERA, but this is a former Cy Young candidate who has been better in July -- with a 3.50 ERA over three starts. One of the biggest differences is that his knuckle curve was one of the best pitches in baseball in 2024, and it has not been nearly as effective in 2025.
If you put him with Jeremy Hefner and this Mets' pitching apparatus during a pennant race, you may get the best of him as he heads into free agency this winter -- an improved Gallen surely could be a playoff starter for the Mets.
I think Gallen will be a popular trade candidate if available, so the price will not be cheap.
Baez is an infielder who has played second, third, and shortstop. He is slashing .251/.343/.398 with nine home runs and 41 RBI across 71 games between St. Lucie and Brooklyn. He shows a propensity to hit the ball hard with natural loft in his swing and has a good plan at the plate, where he has a low strikeout rate to go with an above average walk rate. Baez would be an upside buy for Arizona.
Thornton was one of the best performers in the Mets' minors prior to an oblique injury that will keep him out into the second half.
He has a 1.98 ERA in 14 starts between Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton, with 78 strikeouts and a minuscule 11 walks in 72.2 innings. He’s not going to blow anyone away with his stuff, but it’s a fastball in the 91-94 mph range, a gyro slider, curve and changeup. He projects as a potential back end starter.
Whether it's any of the above trades or not, Stearns and the Mets are in a position where there are holes to be filled on this club. And in the next couple of weeks they'll have decisions on their hands and a duty to improve the roster in pursuit of their first World Series championship since 1986.
Per Sammon, Robertson will hold throwing sessions for interested teams within the next week.
The 40-year-old right-hander most recently pitched with the Texas Rangers in 2024, appearing in 68 games while posting a 3.00 ERA. While he’s been well-traveled during his 16-year big league career, Robertson has spent the bulk of it with the Yankees, posting a 2.75 ERA in 501 regular season games in pinstripes while serving primarily as a setup man.
Robertson has experience pitching in Queens as well, as he signed with the Mets ahead of the 2023 season and posted a 2.05 ERA in 40 games before being traded to the Miami Marlins ahead of the deadline.
A fresh Robertson would obviously be a boon for the Mets, Yankees, or any club looking to add a bullpen arm in hopes of winning a World Series. And he can be had without trading away any prospects, which could make the veteran an especially intriguing option.
ATLANTA — Four years of return visits to Atlanta has prepared Freddie Freeman for another, this time as the starting first baseman for the National League in the All-Star Game.
Freeman, now in his fourth season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, played his first 12 seasons in Atlanta. He makes no effort to hide his emotions when he returns and says he won’t be surprised if another warm reception from Atlanta fans creates another emotional response.
“Now that I’m here, I think it’s going to be special,” Freeman said before the Home Run Derby. “For the last four years, every time I come back, the fans, they’ve given me such great big, standing ovations, so I don’t expect anything.
“I’m just happy to be back and play in front of these fans again. So if they give me one, believe me, I’ll take it all in. I think you guys know, whatever I feel on the field, I let it come out. So we’ll see what happens tomorrow.”
Freeman won’t be the only former Atlanta star making his return. Max Fried, who leads the American League and is tied for the MLB lead with 11 wins in his first season with the New York Yankees, returns following eight seasons with the Braves. Both players still have homes in Atlanta and get to sleep in their own beds this week.
Fried won’t be able to participate in the game due to a blister on his left index finger.
Fried left Atlanta to sign an eight-year, $218 million contract with the Yankees in December.
Freeman said he was “so happy” Fried landed the big contract.
“I think we all know Max and how wonderful a person he is,” Freeman said. “And to see him get that contract rightfully, he deserves. He’s, you know, a big-game pitcher pitching on the biggest stage. ... And it’s really hard in your first year of a new contract, new team. ... And for him to go out there and have (success), it’s awesome. Especially in pinstripes in the Bronx, when there’s a lot of pressure on you.”
Fried was replaced on the All-Star roster by Yankees teammate Carlos Rodón but is still attending the festivities in Atlanta. The Yankees may start Fried in a three-game series at AL East-leading Toronto on July 21-23 after opening the second half by visiting the Braves.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said it was clear how much it meant to Freeman to return to Atlanta as an All-Star.
“It’s something that I know once they announced that it was going to be held here, it was marked on his calendar,” Roberts said. “And then that was kind of his goal, was to get back here and get in front of the Braves’ faithful that cheered him on for, what, 11, 12 years. So he’s sleeping in his own bed for a couple nights.”
Freeman said he has visited with Braves manager Brian Snitker and some former teammates but spent more time relishing his relationship with the Atlanta fans.
“It’s special,” he said. “I think every time I come back, I try to portray what Atlanta means to me. Oh, it’s special every time I come back and the receptions they’ve given me the last four years. So I spent a lot of wonderful years here. ... I’m excited to be back.”
ATLANTA — Tarik Skubal views the strike zone differently than robot umpires.
“I have this thing where I think everything is a strike until the umpire calls it a ball,” Detroit’s AL Cy Young Award winner said ahead of his start for the American League in the All-Star Game.
MLB has been experimenting with the automated ball-strike system in the minor leagues since 2019 and will use it in an All-Star Game for the first time this summer. Each team gets two challenges and retains the challenge if it is successful.
“Pitchers think everything is a strike. Then you go back and look at it, and it’s two, three balls off,” Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes, starting his second straight All-Star Game for the National League, said. “We should not be the ones that are challenging it.”
MLB sets the top of the automated strike zone at 53.5% of a batter’s height and the bottom at 27%, basing the decision on the midpoint of the plate, 8 1/2 inches from the front and 8 1/2 inches from the back. That contrasts with the rule book zone called by umpires, which says the zone is a cube.
“I did a few rehabs starts with it. I’m OK with it. I think it works,” said three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers. “Aaron Judge and Jose Altuve should have different sized boxes. They’ve obviously thought about that. As long as that gets figured out, I think it’ll be fine.”
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred anticipates the system will be considered by the sport’s 11-man competition committee, which includes six management representatives.
Many pitchers have gravitated to letting their catchers and managers trigger ball/strike appeals. Teams won 52.2% of their challenges during the spring training test. Batters won exactly 50% of their 596 challenges and the defense 54%, with catchers successful 56% of the time and pitchers 41%.
Hall of Famer Joe Torre, an honorary AL coach, favors the system. After his managing career, he worked for MLB and helped supervised expanded video review in 2014.
“You couldn’t ignore it with all the technology out there,” he said. “You couldn’t sit and make an excuse for, ‘Look at what really happened’ the next day.”
Now 84, Torre recalled how his Yankees teams benefitted at least twice from blown calls in the postseason, including one involving the strike zone.
With the 1998 World Series opener tied and the bases loaded with two outs in the seventh inning, Tino Martinez took a 2-2 pitch from San Diego’s Mark Langston that appeared to be a strike but was called a ball by Richie Garcia. Martinez hit a grand slam on the next pitch for a 9-5 lead, and the Yankees went on to a four-game sweep.
Asked whether he was happy there was no robot umpire then, Torre grinned and said: “Possibly.”
Then he added without a prompt: “Well, not to mention the home run that Jeter hit.”
His reference was to Derek Jeter’s home run in the 1996 AL Championship Series opener, when 12-year-old fan Jeffrey Maier reached over the wall to snatch the ball above the glove over Baltimore right fielder Tony Tarasco.
ATLANTA — National League All-Star manager Dave Roberts said including Milwaukee rookie right-hander Jacob Misiorowski on his team was “an easy answer” despite complaints from some players over his inclusion after just five big league appearances.
“If it brings excitement, attention to our game, then I’m all about it,” Roberts said before the Home Run Derby.
“I think for me, kind of my North Star is the All-Star Game should be the game’s best players,” the Los Angeles Dodgers manager added before also addressing the other side of the argument by adding “It’s about the fans and what the fans want to see.”
Misiorowski has pitched in only five games, a record low for an All-Star, creating a debate between those who say the game is for the most deserving players and those who say the game is for the fans.
The 23-year-old created an instant stir when he threw a 100.5 mph fastball for his first pitch in the big leagues. Oh, and for good measure, he opened that debut on June 12 against St. Louis by throwing five no-hit innings before leaving with cramping in the Brewers’ 6-0 win.
The 6-foot-7 rookie is 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA and has 33 strikeouts with only 12 hits allowed in 25 2/3 innings. It’s an impressive debut, but some players still believe the right-hander hasn’t been in the game long enough to merit All-Star consideration over more established players.
Philadelphia’s Trea Turner was outspoken in his criticism of the decision to add Misiorowski to the team when Phillies’ left-hander Cristopher Sánchez, who is 8-2 with a 2.50 ERA, didn’t make the team. The Phillies also lobbied for left-hander Ranger Suárez (7-3, 1.94).
“What a joke,” Turner told reporters.
Misiorowski said he wasn’t offended.
“They’re not upset with me,” he said, adding he is as surprised as anyone to find himself in Atlanta for the game.
“The last five weeks have been insane,” Misiorowski said. “I thought the All-Star break would be a chance to sit down and reflect. Now we’re here.”
Turner’s teammate, All-Star Kyle Schwarber, said the attempt by Phillies players to speak up for Sánchez and Suárez “was not an attack at Misiorowski by any means. It’s an honor for him that he’s here and it should be an honor for him. It’s not his fault that he’s only pitched five games and he got named.”
Schwarber said Misiorowski could be an All-Star “every year that he pitches. It’s just more of the fact of our guys were having some really good years and some pretty good every day starts and numbers. You want them to feel like they’re gonna get represented the way that they should be.”
Schwarber added that he would likely talk to Misiorowski during All-Star week and would tell him “he’s doing a great job at what he’s doing and he’s going to be a perennial All-Star for years to come.”
Roberts said he plans to bring Misiorowski into the game as early as the fifth inning. “And it’s going to be electric,” Roberts said. “So the fans, the media, you’re going to love it.”
Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, 37, is on his 11th All-Star roster, this time as a legend pick by commissioner Rob Manfred. When asked about the conflicting opinions about Misiorowski, Kershaw said “I don’t think it’s conflicting. I think everybody wants the best players here.”
San Francisco right-hander Robbie Ray, 33, said Misiorowski has “an electric arm. He’s a special talent and I’m excited to watch him pitch.”
Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker, who is serving on Roberts’ staff and has experience selecting an All-Star roster, said there’s room for a player as inexperienced as Misiorowski to find a spot in the showcase.
“You know what? It’s an exhibition game,” Snitker said. “He’s another great talent. ... There are some guys that are very deserving. It is what it is.”
The National League is led by a trio of Los Angeles Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith. Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes is on the mound first.
It’ll be a key moment for the NL as it has only won one of the last 11 All-Star Games against the American League.
Leading the way for the AL alongside Raleigh is New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and four Detroit Tigers: Gleyber Torres, Riley Greene, Javier Baez and starting pitcher Tarik Skubal.
Here’s where to watch the clash between the league’s top stars:
When is the 2025 MLB All-Star Game?
The All-Star Game is set for Tuesday, July 15.
What time is the 2025 MLB All-Star Game?
First pitch is set for 8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT.
Where is the 2025 MLB All-Star Game?
Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves, is hosting the game for the first time.
Where to watch the 2025 MLB All-Star Game on TV
The game will be broadcast on FOX.
Where to stream the 2025 MLB All-Star Game online
The game will be available to stream on FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports mobile app.
Who are the 2025 MLB All-Star Game starters?
These are the players starting for the AL and NL:
American League
C: Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
2B: Gleyber Torres, Detroit Tigers
3B: Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays* (replacement)
Witherspoon was the No. 7 rated player on Baseball America’s 2025 draft rankings, so for Boston to get him outside the top 10 is pretty good value.
He posted a 10-4 record with a 2.65 ERA, 124 strikeouts, and 23 walks in 16 starts (95 innings) for the Sooners last season.
!function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[“datawrapper-height”][t]+”px”;r.style.height=d}}})}();
Before the draft, only one of the Red Sox’ top seven prospects (per MLB.com’s rankings) was a pitcher. So it wasn’t too surprising that Boston took a pitcher with eight of its first 10 picks in the draft.
What do the experts think of the Red Sox taking Witherspoon at No. 15? Here’s a roundup of grades.
“The Red Sox were tied to the second tier of college pitching and likely did not expect Witherspoon to still be on the board at this point, so terrific value for a team that has had a bit more success developing pitching in recent years.”
“I had Witherspoon as the top-ranked righty in the class — blame it on Bremner’s uneven year and Gage Wood’s shoulder injury. He has a deceptively short arm stroke that he uses to chuck a full arsenal, including mid-to-upper-90s fastballs and three breaking pitches (slider, curve, and cutter). This is good value at pick 15.”
“Oklahoma right-hander Kyson Witherspoon, projected to go No. 9 by USA TODAY Sports, falls to No. 15 for the Boston Red Sox. He is MLB Pipeline’s No. 10-ranked draft prospect.
“The Red Sox get good value in Witherspoon, who boasts a big fastball that peaks at 99 mph. His fastball has a 65 grade, according to MLB Pipeline. Witherspoon also has three plus secondary offers in his slider, cutter and curveball, which are all 60-grade pitches.
“Witherspoon spun a 2.65 ERA with the Sooners in 2025 and was one of the top pitchers in college baseball.”
The best player in baseball right now is still a fan at heart.
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani wanted to take home a Barry Bonds bobblehead of his own as the Giants celebrated the franchise legend during Saturday’s rivalry game, San Francisco broadcaster Mike Krukow told KNBR’s “Murph and Markus” morning show Monday.
According to Krukow, several bobbleheads were being given to Giants employees postgame. Ohtani was in a group that walked by the souvenirs, and one of the men in the group requested a bobblehead for the National League’s home run leader.
“He handed the bobblehead off to Shohei Ohtani,” Krukow explained (h/t SFGATE). “He wanted the Barry Bonds bobblehead. Isn’t that a cool story?”
Ohtani started on the mound for the Dodgers on Saturday for the first time at Oracle Park. He pitched three scoreless innings, allowing one hit while striking out four.
San Francisco pursued Ohtani in MLB free agency back in 2023. The Dodgers ultimately won the bidding war, and currently sit 5.5 games up in the NL West.
Ohtani is one of the best shows in all of baseball, but he isn’t above asking for a Barry Bonds bobblehead.
One of the biggest holes in the Yankees' roster is the lack of a third baseman.
General manager Brian Cashman, despite his efforts this offseason, allowed the Yanks to start the regular season with a trio of third base options: Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza, and DJ LeMahieu.
Cabrera was lost for the season after fracturing his ankle in May and LeMahieu, after starting the season on the IL, was "physically unable" to play third base, according to manager Aaron Boone. That forced Jazz Chisholm Jr. to move from his natural position at second base to third to give the team more flexibility on the field.
However, the solid defense Chisholm showed at the hot corner last season regressed, and LeMahieu's age didn't allow the veteran infielder to man second base the way a major leaguer should. That resulted in LeMahieu eventually being DFA'd and Chisholm moving back to second base.
So, where does that leave third base for the Yankees?
Peraza and the recently-recalled Jorbit Vivas are playing third for now, but their inexperience at the plate has made their spot in the lineup an automatic out. With no internal options available, Cashman will have to go and swing a trade for a third baseman who can field and hit. That's where Ryan McMahon comes in.
The veteran third baseman is on a Rockies team that has the worst record in MLB and will flirt with breaking the 2024 White Sox's mark for worst record in history.
Colorado should be sellers at this trade deadline, but the team has not had fire sales in recent seasons like they should. Perhaps this year will be different -- and the Yankees should give the team a buzz to see if McMahon is available.
Here are the pros and cons of New York making a deal for McMahon...
Jul 11, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon (24) reacts after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. / Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Pros
The biggest argument to trade for McMahon is how futile the young Yankees' third basemen have been this season.
Just looking at the current options (Peraza and Vivas), you'll see why McMahon's production is an immediate upgrade. Peraza is slashing .151/.215/.247 with an OPS of .462 to go along with three homers, five doubles and 13 RBI.
Vivas is slashing .149/.245/.255 with an OPS of .500 to go along with one homer, two doubles and four RBI.
Of course, both Peraza (146 at-bats) and Vivas (47 at-bats) have not had regular playing time this season and will get a runway here before the Yankees make a deal. But if either were hitting the ball consistently enough, the Yanks would have given them the job a long time ago instead of resorting to Chisholm playing third base.
McMahon, 30, is slashing .214/.312/.382 with an OPS of .694 to go along with 13 homers, 13 doubles and 28 RBI in 322 at-bats. Those numbers aren't great but, again, it's an upgrade.
He's also not far removed from an All-Star appearance. Just last year, McMahon made his first All-Star Game in a year where he slashed .272/.350/.447 with an OPS of .797 and 14 homers before the break. Perhaps there's something left in there that the Yankees could mine. And perhaps he'd perform better playing for a contending team instead of the 50-games-below-.500 Rockies.
His left-handed bat could also play well at Yankee Stadium.
But on the defensive side is where McMahon really shines. Over his nine-year career, McMahon has never had a negative DRS playing the hot corner. He's also a near double-digit OAA fielder the last three seasons.
The combination of defense and offensive upside is an intriguing possibility that the Yanks should explore.
Cons
Although McMahon is a better hitter than Peraza and Vivas, it's not by much. After making the All-Star team last year, the second half of 2024 was rough for McMahon. He slashed .188/.283/.309 with a .592 OPS and smashed just six homers in the final months of the season. That lack of production has spilled over to the first half of this year, which is odd for a player who calls Coors Field home.
But that advantage is also a warning sign for any team that wants to acquire him. This year, McMahon's home/away splits are alarming.
Jun 17, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon (24) makes a throw to first base after fielding a ground ball by Washington Nationals third baseman Brady House (not pictured) during the fourth inning at Nationals Park. / Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
In 44 home games, he's hitting .241/.358/.441 with an .800 OPS while cracking eight homers and driving in 15. In 48 road games, he's slashing .192/.270/.333 with a .604 OPS and five homers to go along with 13 RBI.
Those splits are a career-long trend for McMahon. He's hit 85 homers and batted a career .263 with an .813 OPS in 511 games (440 starts) at Coors. On the road, he's hit only 52 homers while batting .217 with a .666 OPS across 491 games (436 starts).
McMahon's left-handed swing is also unnecessary on a Yankees roster that needs right-handed bats in the worst way.
On the defensive side, McMahon has seemingly taken his struggles at the plate onto the field. While having a positive DRS this season, it's only at 3 DRS. His career low DRS was 2 back in 2018, but it's a far cry from the double-digit DRS he had the past four seasons.
And then there's the contract.
While the Yanks would have two years of control after this one, it comes to $16 million each year. It's a similar contract to Nolan Arenado's -- who is owed $31 million in the final two years of his deal -- and the Rockies will likely either want the Yankees to take on the majority of it or part ways with some valuable prospects.
While a regular third base option for the next few years is great, it could keep George Lombard Jr. from making the jump to the majors.
Verdict
This is an easy pass.
While McMahon provides an upgrade offensively to the Yankees' current situation, it's not enough to warrant the prospects/money it would likely cost. If a controllable third baseman is what the Yankees want, Arenado -- although he's older -- makes more sense than McMahon.
And if Lombard is the future at third base, the Yankees need to make sure there's a path for him. Trading for a rental is more feasible, and Arizona's Eugenio Suarez fits that bill.
If the Rockies are desperate to move McMahon and the Yanks can get him at a steal, sure. But with that scenario unlikely, Cashman needs to look elsewhere.
