Category: Baseball

Baseball News

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Diamondbacks infielder Pavin Smith heads to injured list with strained right oblique

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks have placed infielder Pavin Smith on the 10-day injured list with a strained right oblique and recalled infielder Tristan English from Triple-A Reno.

Arizona also placed right-hander Ryan Thompson on the 15-day injured list with a strained scapular, retroactive to Saturday, and recalled right-hander Bryce Jarvis from Reno before Sunday’s game against Kansas City.

Right-hander Tommy Henry was recalled to the big league roster and placed on the 60-day injured list with a right elbow injury to make room for English on the 40-man roster.

Smith is hitting .261 with eight homers and 28 RBIs in 79 games while primarily splitting time between first base and designated hitter.

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Mets ace Kodai Senga could rejoin rotation next weekend in Kansas City

NEW YORK — Mets ace Kodai Senga could rejoin the rotation next weekend in the final series before the All-Star break, a little over a month after straining his right hamstring.

Senga allowed four runs — three earned — and six hits in 3 2/3 innings during Saturday’s minor league injury rehabilitation start for Double-A Binghamton at Hartford. Senga struck out four, walked two and threw 44 of 68 pitches for strikes.

“Physically he feels fine,” manager Carlos Mendoza said Sunday before the Mets concluded their three-game series against the Yankees. “So we’ll see how today, tomorrow, how they go and hopefully he’s making a start for us next time.”

Senga was injured covering first base on a grounder by CJ Abrams when he made a leaping catch on Pete Alonso’s throw June 12 against Washington.

Senga is 7-3 with a 1.47 ERA in 13 starts this season for the Mets, whose starters had a major league-best 2.78 ERA at the time of his injury. The Mets lost 14 of 17 after Senga’s injury, then won four straight with a patchwork rotation that included two openers and Justin Hagenman’s first big league start.

“He’s a big part of this team,” Mendoza said of Senga. “He’s a big part of the rotation. For us to be able to get him back this quickly (is big) because we thought when he went down, in my head I was more like after the All-Star break and then for him to be in play for us now before we go into the All-Star break is huge for us.”

Mendoza also said Sean Manaea may start Sunday in Kansas City. Manaea is slated to make his fifth rehab start and sixth overall appearance Tuesday.

Manaea has been sidelined since spring training with a strained right oblique and had a rehab outing pushed back because of elbow discomfort to a bone chip. The left-hander received a cortisone shot and threw 60 pitches in three innings Wednesday for Binghamton at Hartford.

The Mets have 13 pitchers on the injured list and entered Sunday with the fourth-best rotation ERA at 3.38.

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AL East-leading Blue Jays place infielder Andrés Giménez on injured list with left ankle sprain

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays placed second baseman Andrés Giménez on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a left ankle sprain.

Giménez left Toronto’s 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. He had tweaked his left ankle covering second base on a steal on Wednesday against the New York Yankees and did not play Thursday as Toronto completed a sweep of the four-game series. His move to the IL was retroactive to Saturday. Giménez is batting .218 with five homers and 23 RBI’s for the AL East-leading Blue Jays.

In other moves before Sunday’s game against Los Angeles, right-hander Ryan Burr was reinstated from the 60-day IL and outfielder Joey Loperfido was recalled from Triple-A. Also, right-hander Lazaro Estrada was optioned to Triple-A and outfielder Will Robertson was designated for assignment.

Burr had been sidelined with a right shoulder issue and did rehab with Triple-A Buffalo, where he struck out 17 in 12 1/3 innings over 11 games and went 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA.

Loperfido was in the lineup Sunday, batting eighth and playing right field. This season in Triple-A, the 26-year-old is batting .278 with nine home runs and 36 RBIs.

Estrada made his big league debut against the Angels on Saturday, striking out four in four innings of relief.

Robertson made his MLB debut last month and saw action in three games. He had one hit and one RBI with Toronto.

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Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas on 10-day IL with right foot injury

CLEVELAND — Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas was placed on the 10-day injured list because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot Sunday before Cleveland faced the Detroit Tigers.

The move is retroactive to Saturday. Infielder Will Wilson was recalled from Triple-A Columbus

Thomas also missed 11 games in late May and early June because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Manager Stephen Vogt said before the game that next week’s All-Star break should hopefully also give Thomas plenty of time to rest up for the second half of the season.

“With eight days until the break, we’re not in a position to play short right now and wait day to day. And we want to give this the 13-14 days that we have from now until we come out of the end of the break to really try and knock it out.”

Thomas hit a grand slam in last year’s fifth and deciding game of the American League Division Series against Detroit, but his tenure in Cleveland has been mostly frustrating. Since being acquired at the trade deadline last year from Washington, Thomas has a .189 batting average in 92 games.

This season, Thomas is batting .160 and .197 (13 for 66) since coming off the injured list on June 9.

Thomas also missed five weeks because of a right wrist bone bruise after getting hit by a pitch during the April 8 home opener against the Chicago White Sox.

“It’s been a frustrating year for Lane. We feel it with him. It’s not at all what we want for him. Not at all what he wants,” Vogt said. “So hopefully with this break we’re able to really get this thing under control so that we can get the best version of Lane.”

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Shockingly, only 2 Phillies selected as All-Stars

Shockingly, only 2 Phillies selected as All-Stars originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

It was going to be difficult to beat a franchise record set last season of eight players being named to an All-Star team, but the Phillies seem heavily underrepresented with only two players heading to Atlanta with the honors.

Kyle Schwarber will join Zack Wheeler in his hometown for the Midsummer Classic July 15 at Truist Park.

It’s a huge honor for the players named to the team, but Rob Thomson feels similar sentiments as the manager being able to deliver the news.

“It’s an honor,” Thomson said. “It’s tough to pitch in this league, or play in this league, and it’s even tougher making an All-Star team. I know it’s an honor for the players so it’s a big honor for me to let them know.”

This is the third All-Star selection for Wheeler, who represented the Phillies in 2021 and 2024. It’s been a busy week for the 35-year-old, who was named NL Pitcher of the Month for June and learned of his All-Star nod in the span of four days. A little over an hour before the announcement came out, Wheeler was dealing on the mound and had his first complete game since 2021, being one blemish away from perfection.

Even in his 11th season, there have been no signs of slowing down for Wheeler. In his 18 games this season, Wheeler is 9-3 with a 2.17 ERA, 148 K and 0.84 WHIP.

This will also be Schwarber’s third time as an All-Star, being named in 2021 and 2022.

Schwarber is leading the way in home runs (27) and RBI (63) for the Phillies this season while averaging .251 at the plate.

“He does a lot of things for this club other than slugging and getting on base,” Thomson said. “He’s a great teammate, great in the clubhouse, one of the team leaders.

“I love all these guys. I love Schwarb, I’m just really happy for both those guys.”

There are a handful of question marks surrounding the Phillies who weren’t named to the team including Ranger Suarez, Cristopher Sanchez, and most shockingly, Trea Turner.

Turner is currently leading the National League in hits (109) and averaging .299. Aside from Schwarber, Turner has been the most consistent hitter on the Phillies through this point in the season. There is still a chance any of the trio could be named due to injuries or players opting out, but for now, Wheeler and Schwarber will be holding down the fort.

The All-Star experience kicks off Monday, July 14 with the Home Run Derby 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. Then, catch the MLB All-Star game 7 p.m. ET Tuesday on FOX.

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Mets Injury Notes: Next steps for Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, Jesse Winker and more

Prior to Sunday's game against the Yankees, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza gave a handful of updates on the team's injured players...

Kodai Senga feeling good after rehab start

Senga threw 3.2 innings on Saturday for Double-A Binghamton, his first start since suffering a hamstring strain on June 12. The team said that Senga could be back before the All-Star break against the Kansas City Royals and that's now appearing to look more probable.

"Good, he physically feels fine," Mendoza said. "We'll see how today, tomorrow, how they go. Hopefully, he's making a start for us next time."

The manager noted how important Senga is to the pitching rotation and that potentially getting him back this soon is "huge" for the team.

"Yeah, huge," Mendoza said. "We saw it when he went down, how hard it was for us. He's a big part of this team, he's a big part of the rotation. For us to be able get him back this quickly. We thought when he went down, in my head I was more like, 'After the All-Star break.'

"And then for him to be in play for us now before we go into All-Star break, he's huge for us."

Sean Manaea still on track for return before All-Star break

Manaea (elbow and oblique) will have one more rehab start this week with Triple-A Syracuse before "hopefully" rejoining the Mets on the road in Kansas City.

"He's making a start on Tuesday in Syracuse," Mendoza said. "And then we'll see where we're at. Hopefully he's a player for us toward the end of the next road trip, so in Kansas City. He's pitching Tuesday, we'll see how he comes out of that one and then we have a decision there."

The lefty received a cortisone shot last week after test results revealed a loose body in his elbow, slightly delaying his return, but he's already been cleared to pitch.

His next start will be his sixth rehab outing after throwing three innings on Wednesday for Double-A Binghamton.

Jesse Winker could return Tuesday

Winker, who has been out since May 4 with a right oblique strain, is expected to be back from the IL soon.

"Got all the at-bats, he's got one more today. We'll check with him after the game today and see if there's there's a chance for him to be active Tuesday," Mendoza said.

DH-ing for Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday, Winker went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.

It was his first game in Triple-A after playing one game with High-A Brooklyn and two games with Double-A Binghamton. The veteran went 3-for-7 with a home run, double, five RBI, three walks and two runs scored during those three games.

Jose Siri "still ways to go" in recovery

Mendoza said that Siri is scheduled to get another MRI to see if his left tibia bone has healed properly.

Siri fractured his left tibia on April 12 after fouling a ball off his shin and suffered a small setback earlier in June. The bone hadn't healed to the team's liking and he was then shut down from baseball activities.

The Mets moved Siri to the 60-day IL on June 23.

Max Kranick making progress

Kranick was shut down for 3-4 weeks on June 21 after an MRI revealed a minor flexor strain, but Mendoza said the reliever is "getting close" to start throwing again.

"Kranick is in Port St. Lucie. He's getting close," Mendoza said. "Last report I got was he's feeling a lot better, almost symptom free. He should be getting close to start a throwing progression here."

The 27-year-old pitched to a 3.65 ERA in 24 appearances across 37 innings for New York this season. He last pitched on June 15 against the Rays, tossing two scoreless innings.

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Wheeler one blip away from perfect game, leads Phillies to series win over Reds

Wheeler one blip away from perfect game, leads Phillies to series win over Reds originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

We’re running out of ways to describe what Zack Wheeler is doing right now.

The All-Star teams won’t be announced until later Sunday but after the series finale against the Reds, it’d be a shock to pretty much everyone in baseball if Wheeler doesn’t emerge as the National League starting pitcher.

The Phillies’ ace put on quite a show in the club’s 3-1 win that should not only lock him in as the starter for the All-Star Game but keep his name at the top of the Cy Young conversation.

Earlier this week, Wheeler was named the NL Pitcher of the Month for June and is already making his case for July.

With each outing, the 35-year-old continues to find ways to up his performance. While it almost sounds redundant after each start, it can’t be stressed enough that we’re witnessing one of the greatest pitchers in franchise history.

His last five starts:

vs. Cubs: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
vs. Blue Jays: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K
vs. Mets: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
at Astros: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
vs. Padres: 8.0 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 K

Which brings us to Sunday afternoon against the Reds.

Wheeler had one blip — a solo home run from former Phillie Austin Hays — in the fifth inning. It was the first hit and baserunner of the day for Cincinnati. … It was also the last.

Wheeler has flirted with a pair of no-hitters in the past, once in Apr. 2024 against the White Sox and another in June 2023 against the Tigers. Both of those performances had a few walks and a batter getting hit by a pitch.

Sunday had one singular blemish. A perfect game tainted with one swing.

It marks Wheeler’s first complete game since Aug. 8, 2021 against the Mets. He struck out 12 along the way.

“After the fourth I thought ‘this has a chance to be a no-hitter or a perfect game.’ I really did,” manager Rob Thomson said. “He was just dominant. Everything working, control, command. Everything was great.

“That was as dominant as you’re going to get other than a perfect game.”

Trea Turner collected a hit in the leadoff spot for all three games in the Reds series (two singles and a double). He’s currently on a six-game hitting streak and continues leading the way as the National League hits leader (109).

Turner’s combination of power and speed creates the perfect storm at the top of the order. And when Turner isn’t able to get the job done? Well, look to the next man up … literally.

Kyle Schwarber also had a solid series against the Reds, with 4 hits and 5 RBI. His double in the fifth scored Brandon Marsh.

Bryson Stott, who has struggled mightily at the plate in recent weeks, cracked a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth to give the Phillies their first lead of the day. It was also the loudest collective sigh of relief the tri-state area has heard in recent years, knowing one of the top performances of Wheeler’s career wouldn’t go to waste.

As “Let’s go Wheeler” chants broke out in the ninth inning when the ace took the mound to finish his outstanding day, everyone took to their feet when realizing what they were collectively witnessing.

Greatness. Complete and utter greatness.

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Orioles acquire Alex Jackson from Yankees after Gary Sánchez becomes their fourth catcher on IL

ATLANTA — The Baltimore Orioles acquired Alex Jackson from the New York Yankees on Sunday after Gary Sánchez became their fourth catcher on the injured list.

Sánchez left Saturday night’s game against Atlanta with right knee pain and an MRI revealed a sprain. Interim manager Tony Mansolino said he did not have a timetable for Sánchez’s recovery.

Baltimore, which has 14 players on the IL, sent the Yankees international signing bonus pool allocation and a player to be named or cash.

Two-time All-Star Adley Rutschman has not played since June 19 because of a left oblique strain, Maverick Handley has been on the concussion IL since a collision at the plate with the Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. on June 22 and Chadwick Tromp hasn’t played since June 30 because of a lower back strain.

Jacob Stallings, who replaced Sánchez in Saturday’s 9-6 win over the Braves in 10 innings, and Jackson, who was with the team for Sunday’s game in Atlanta, will form the restructured depth chart at catcher. Stallings’ contract was selected from Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday.

Mansolino said he is confident Jackson and Stallings, who started on Sunday, have the experience needed “to quickly catch up and make themselves an asset.”

Jackson, 29, hit .226 with 10 homers in 44 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season. He made his major league debut with Atlanta in 2019 and also has played for Miami and Milwaukee.

“Obviously you have a whole lot of time in the big leagues now with multiple teams,” Mansolino said, adding the Yankees are a “very forward-thinking organization.”

Infielder Jorge Mateo, who last played June 6 due to left elbow inflammation, was transferred to the 60-day IL to clear a roster spot for Jackson.

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He’s back! 41-year-old reliever Jesse Chavez returns again for seventh stint with Braves

ATLANTA — Jesse Chavez has returned yet again for his seventh stint with the Atlanta Braves, including his second this season.

The Braves added the 41-year-old reliever to their major league roster before Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles. It is the sixth move to add the veteran right-hander to Atlanta’s roster since 2021 and the seventh overall since 2009.

Chavez allowed two runs in three innings in his first stint with the Braves this season after being called up on April 1. He was released a few days later and granted free agency before re-signing with the team.

The Braves optioned left-hander Dylan Dodd to Triple-A Gwinnett and transferred right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach to the 60-day injured list. Schwellenbach was placed on the injured list on Wednesday with a fractured right elbow, possibly ending his season.

The loss of Schwellenbach led the Braves to use seven pitchers, including Dodd, in a bullpen game in Saturday’s 9-6 loss to Baltimore in 10 innings. That prompted the move to add Chavez for pitching depth in Sunday’s final game of the series.

Chavez first joined the Braves in December 2009 in a trade with Tampa Bay for reliever Rafael Soriano. He played on Atlanta’s 2021 World Series championship team after signing a minor league deal.

Chavez made his major league debut with Pittsburgh in 2008 and has pitched for nine teams in 18 seasons, including multiple stints with Toronto, the Los Angeles Angels, Texas and the Chicago Cubs.

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Shohei Ohtani works two scoreless innings, strikes out side in second on 31st birthday

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani worked two scoreless innings against the Houston Astros on Saturday in his fourth mound start of the season, striking out the side in order in the second while pitching on his 31st birthday.

Ohtani allowed one hit and threw 31 pitches, 21 for strikes. He fanned Christian Walker, Victor Caratini and Yainer Diaz — all swinging — to conclude his latest outing as an opener as he works his way back from elbow surgery.

Houston scored four runs in the third against reliever Justin Wrobleski and went on to win 6-4.

In his previous mound start a week earlier, Ohtani threw the fastest pitch of his career at 101.7 mph. This time, he hit triple digits only once — a 100.9 mph fastball that Caratini fouled off.

“Very impressed,” Dave Roberts said of Ohtani’s pitching. “His stuff continues to get better, the command, the feel for making pitches. It’s nice to see he doesn’t have to throw as hard as he can. It’s more of a controlled fastball, controlled stuff. Really efficient with the double play in the first inning. Looking at the next one we’ll have a discussion and how much and what we expect of him. Really impressed how he’s continued to get better and better each time out.”

Dodgers organist Dieter Ruehle played one line of “Happy Birthday” as Ohtani walked to the dugout after the second inning. Before the game, the Los Angeles grounds crew wrote the message “HB Sho” in the dirt.

“I’m already at an age where I don’t celebrate birthdays like I used to do,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “With that being said, I’m grateful for everyone who said happy birthday to me. As long as I can can play the way I want to play, I usually spend my birthday just like any other day.”

Isaac Paredes led off against Ohtani with a single to left. Ohtani then got Cam Smith to hit a comebacker that second baseman Tommy Edman turned into a double play. Jose Altuve followed with a groundout as Ohtani retired the side on 10 pitches.

Ohtani has allowed one run in six innings this season for a 1.50 ERA.

The three-time MVP did not pitch last season, his first with the Dodgers, while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He made 86 mound starts over five seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, going 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA.

Batting in his customary leadoff spot, Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a walk. He led off the ninth with a single against Astros closer Josh Hader, who then retired Mookie Betts, Will Smith and Freddie Freeman to end it.

“I don’t feel too bad at the plate. At the same time, I’m recognizing pitches I should be able to hit, which I’m not,” Ohtani said. “Usually, it’s a matter of a little bit of a difference with the way I’m swinging and the cage work. Hopefully, I can apply that on the field.”

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Mets vs. Yankees: How to watch on SNY on July 6, 2025

The Mets go for a three-game sweep of the crosstown rival Yankees on Sunday at 1:40 p.m. on SNY.

Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...

Mets Notes

  • Mets have won five straight home games against the Yankees, the longest home winning against the Bronx Bombers in franchise history
  • Pete Alonso's two-run homer on Saturday was his 10th HR against the Yankees, breaking a tie with David Wright for the most in franchise history
  • Brandon Nimmo's grand slam gave him three on the season, tying a franchise record with John Milner (1976), Robin Ventura (1999), Mike Piazza (2000) and Carlos Beltrán (2006)
  • Edwin Diazpicked up his 492nd and 493rd career strikeouts with the Mets in his save, passing Tug McGraw for the third-most strikeouts in franchise history by a relief pitcher -- Jesse Orosco (496) is next.
YANKEES
METS
Paul Goldschmidt, 1BStarling Marte, LF
Trent Grisham, CFFrancisco Lindor, SS
Aaron Judge, RFJuan Soto, RF
Giancarlo Stanton, DHPete Alonso, 1B
Cody Bellinger, LFBrandon Nimmo, DH
Anthony Volpe, SSMark Vientos, 3B
DJ LeMahieu, 2BTyrone Taylor, CF
Austin Wells, CJeff McNeil, 2B
Oswald Peraza, 3BHayden Senger, C

What channel is SNY?

Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.

How can I stream the game?

The new way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv. Streaming on the SNY App has been discontinued.

In order to stream games in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone. 

How can I watch the game on my computer via MLB? 

To get started on your computer, click here and then follow these steps: 

  • Log in using your provider credentials. If you are unsure of your provider credentials, please contact your provider. 
  • Link your provider credentials with a new or existing MLB.com account. 
  • Log in using your MLB.com credentials to watch Mets games on SNY. 

How can I watch the game on the MLB App? 

MLB App access is included for FREE with SNY. To access SNY on your favorite supported Apple or Android mobile device, please follow the steps below.  

  • Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices. 
  • Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”  
  • To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.  

For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here. 

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Logan Webb one of three Giants players named to 2025 MLB All-Star Game

Logan Webb one of three Giants players named to 2025 MLB All-Star Game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — The pitchers kept the Giants in the playoff race throughout the first half, and on Sunday, three members of the staff were rewarded with trips to the All-Star Game.

Logan Webb made his second straight All-Star team, Robbie Ray made his first in nearly a decade, and Randy Rodriguez was rewarded for a first half in which he was as good as any reliever in baseball. This is the first time since 2021 that the Giants have had three All-Stars. 

Rodriguez would have been the biggest surprise at the start of the season, but it became an easy call by the time full teams were announced by MLB on Sunday afternoon. The second-year right-hander has a 0.71 ERA, the lowest among MLB relievers and lowest by a Giant through 38 games since 2012, when Sergio Romo was at 0.60. With a 100 mph fastball and a wipeout slider, Rodriguez has dominated left-handers and been absolutely unhittable at home. He hasn’t allowed a run at Oracle Park and has 30 strikeouts in 20 innings. 

Webb is going to the All-Star Game for a second straight year, and he could make the case that he should be the National League’s starter. He leads the Majors in innings pitched and leads the NL with a 2.33 FIP and 3.6 fWAR. While he’s still one of the league’s top groundball pitchers, Webb has increased his strikeout rate and his 133 punch outs rank second behind Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler, who threw a one-hitter Sunday to bolster his own case to unseat 2024 starter Paul Skenes. Webb ranks fifth in the NL in ERA (2.62).

Ray is tied for the league lead with nine wins and the Giants are 14-4 in his starts. He was a strong candidate throughout the first half and made his selection a lock with a complete game at Chase Field on Thursday. Ray is eighth in the NL in ERA, fourth in innings pitched and fifth in total strikeouts. In his first full season back from Tommy John surgery, he made his first All-Star team since 2017.

“This year, just kind of all around, it’s a full year of being healthy. That’s the biggest thing,” he said Thursday. “That’s allowed me to do what I’ve been able to do this year. I always knew that it was in there. It takes time after the (Tommy John) surgery — you know, talking to guys, they said 18-20 months is kind of where the sweet spot is and you kind of feel like yourself again. I hit that around spring training. That’s when I started feeling like myself again.”

The last time the Giants had three All-Stars, Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford were joined by Kevin Gausman. They had some strong position player candidates early in the year but ultimately fell short. Matt Chapman looked like a potential selection before injuring his right hand and missing a month. Heliot Ramos, an All-Star a year ago, has 14 homers and a 128 wRC+, but the NL outfield mix was stronger this time around. Rafael Devers likely was headed for the team in the AL, but switched into the league where Shohei Ohtani is an easy starter at DH every year. 

This year’s All-Star Game will be held at Truist Park in Atlanta on July 15.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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Athletics DH Brent Rooker earns second MLB All-Star Game nod as AL reserve

Athletics DH Brent Rooker earns second MLB All-Star Game nod as AL reserve originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

For the second time in three seasons, Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker is an MLB All-Star.

The 30-year-old slugger was announced Sunday as a reserve player for the American League, joining teammate Jacob Wilson, who was named the AL starter at shortstop last week. It’s the first time the Athletics have had multiple All-Stars in the same season since 2021, when pitcher Chris Bassitt and first baseman Matt Olsonboth received the honor.

The 2025 MLB All-Star Game will be held on Tuesday, July 15, at Truist Park in Atlanta.

This season, Rooker is slashing .273/.348/.490 with 18 home runs, playing in all 91 games thus far for the Athletics. The Mississippi State product previously earned an All-Star nod in his breakout 2023 campaign, and he followed it up by winning a Silver Slugger Award in 2024.

Since the start of 2023, Rooker ranks ninth in MLB with 87 home runs and 12th with a .518 slugging percentage among qualified hitters.

The 2017 first-round pick bounced around between the Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres and Kansas City Royals before finally settling in with the A’s. In January, Rooker signed a five-year, $60 million extension with a $30 million club option in 2030.

So if all goes to plan, this could be far from Rooker’s final appearance representing the Green and Gold at the Midsummer Classic.

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Yankees trade catcher Alex Jackson to Orioles in exchange for international signing bonus pool money

The Yankees announced Sunday morning that they've traded catcher Alex Jackson to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for international signing bonus pool money and a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Jackson, 29, was acquired by the Yankees on Dec. 20, 2024 along with right-handed reliever Fernando Cruz in a deal with the Reds that sent catcher Jose Trevino to Cincinnati.

Over 44 games this season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Jackson hit .226 with 10 home runs, seven doubles, a triple for 34 RBI. He hit .214 in spring training with the Yanks, recording just one homer and two doubles over 14 contests.

The catcher was originally drafted No. 6 overall by the Seattle Mariners in the 2014 MLB Draft. He eventually made his debut with the Atlanta Braves in 2019, playing 19 games with them over parts of three seasons (2019-2021). Jackson was then traded to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Adam Duvall and played 42 games with them in 2021.

He was traded for a third time in 2022, heading to Milwaukee where he played just five games. Jackson was traded for a fourth time in 2023, joining the Tampa Bay Rays and playing 58 games in the 2024 season. He hit .122 last year with TB, recording just three homers and seven doubles for 12 RBI.

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ICYMI in Mets Land: Bats stay hot vs. Yankees; latest pitching plans

Here's what happened in Mets Land on Saturday, in case you missed it...