Boston Red Sox pitcher Ranger Suarez walks back to the dugout after the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels.
The Red Sox have suffered a low blow to their pitching staff.
Left-hander Ranger Suárez has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a left groin strain retroactive to Monday, the team announced Thursday.
Suárez has been a bright spot in a dark Red Sox season, holding a 3.15 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with opponents hitting .232 against him in 17 starts.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Ranger Suárez walks back to the dugout after the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels. AP Photo/William Liang
The move takes him off his last start before the All-Star break, which was expected to be Saturday against the Mets at Citi Field.
It will also take him out of the 2026 All-Star Game after being selected for the second time in his career.
“Obviously it doesn’t feel great [to miss the All-Star Game],” Suárez told reporters of his injury, per MLB.com. “I’m obviously sad. I wanted to be able to go there and represent my team, and also enjoy the moment.
“But I think the best thing for me is to take care of my body and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Missing the All-Star Game likely stings even more as it’s in Philadelphia, where Suarez spent eight seasons playing for the Phillies.
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Ranger Suarez works against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday. AP Photo/David Zalubowski
Suárez said he will not be in attendance at all, choosing to stay in Boston to rehab.
“At the end of the day, he is an All-Star,” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy told MLB.com. “He’s been named an All-Star, so you love the players that make the All-Star team.
“You can’t take away from an All-Star season, and now our biggest objective is, let’s make sure we do the right thing and get him healthy and have him ready after the break.”
Tracy added that he hopes Sonny Gray is able to take Suárez’s spot as an injury replacement for the Midsummer Classic.
Roch Cholowsky has been the presumed No. 1 pick in 2026 for nearly an entire year. | (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
The White Sox kick off the 2026 MLB draft by making the No. 1 overall selection at noon CT on Saturday, and will choose among three plum prospects: UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey and shortstop Grady Emerson from Fort Worth Christian (Texas) H.S. We’re digging deeper into all three players in anticipation of the third No. 1 overall pick in White Sox history.
The White Sox could add a potential cornerstone player by selecting UCLA shortstop Daniel Roch Cholowsky with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB draft. In doing so, Cholowsky would become just the third college shortstop ever selected first overall, joining Bill Almon (1974) and Dansby Swanson (2015). Although neither player went on to a Hall of Fame career, that would be rare company, and another indication of just how highly Cholowsky is regarded.
Or perhaps … was regarded? As the draft comes closer, some of the conversation for No. 1 overall has shifted to the other prime prospects, Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey and prep shortstop Grady Emerson. That could be a case of overall draft fatigue and prospect evaluators rationalizing their professions. Still, Cholowsky has been at or near No. 1 overall in mock drafts for essentially a solid year now. The right-handed hitter entered the spring with a reputation for elite bat-to-ball skills and polished defense, then strengthened his case by continuing to produce throughout the 2026 season.
If Cholowsky is Chicago’s pick, that would indicate the White Sox went with the prospect many evaluators considered the most complete position player in the class. Cholowsky offers an advanced offensive approach, dependable defense at shortstop, and the kind of all-around game that gives him both a high floor and an equally enticing ceiling.
For an organization that has emphasized athleticism — especially up the middle — at premium defensive positions and high baseball IQ throughout its rebuild, picking Cholowsky makes perfect sense. Rather than drafting for immediate need, the White Sox would be staying true to their philosophy of taking the best player available. They were also high on Cholowsky coming out of high school, scouting him extensively ahead of the 2023 draft, meaning that this is a relationship that has been years in the making.
For Cholowsky, baseball has always been a way of life: His father, Dan, was a first-round pick by the Cardinals in 1991 and spent eight seasons in professional baseball before becoming a major league scout. That familial background helped shape one of the most polished players in the draft, giving Cholowsky an advanced feel for the game long before he arrived on a college campus.
The 6´2´´, 202-pound Arizona native arrived at UCLA as one of the nation’s top prep recruits and quickly became the centerpiece of the Bruins’ lineup. Over the next three seasons, he developed from a polished contact hitter into one of college baseball’s most complete players, combining consistent production with elite defense at shortstop. As a junior, the 21-year-old slashed .320/.452/.636 with 21 home runs and finished as a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award. He closed out his UCLA career with a .329/.447/.624 slash line, along with 52 home runs over 178 career games, and was one of the NCAA’s premier defensive shortstops, finishing his final season with 15.3 defensive runs saved.
What stands out most about Cholowsky isn’t one loud tool — it’s the completeness of the package. MLB Pipeline gives him at least a 60 grade in four of the five major scouting categories, including his hit, power, arm, and field tools, resulting in a 65 overall. He controls the strike zone, rarely gives away an at-bat, and consistently squares up the baseball. As he’s added strength throughout his amateur career, the power has come naturally without sacrificing the disciplined approach that made Cholowsky successful in the first place. If that profile sounds familiar, it should. It’s become the blueprint for the type of hitter GM Chris Getz and his front office have prioritized throughout the rebuild.
Defensively, Cholowsky has every opportunity to remain at shortstop as a professional. His smooth actions, reliable hands, instincts and above-average arm have long drawn praise from scouts. While he won’t wow anyone with top-of-the-scale speed, his feel for the position allows him to make difficult plays look routine.
Cholowsky would join an emerging young core that already includes Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, Braden Montgomery, Noah Schultz and Grant Taylor, giving Chicago yet another premium talent to build around. Given Colson’s seemingly inevitable move to third base at some point, selecting Cholowsky won’t create a clog on the roster or in the lineup.
Cholowsky should begin his professional career shortly after signing, with a token Winston-Salem assignment likely coming later this summer. (Cholowsky is considered “MLB-ready,” and would not be out of place as one of the two White Sox September call-ups.) Because of his advanced offensive approach, defensive polish, and experience against some high-level collegiate competition, almost assuredly, he will move through the White Sox system more quickly than the typical first-round pick.
Cholowsky would arrive in Chicago with one of the most polished résumés in the 2026 draft class. If his college success can carry over to professional baseball, the White Sox may have found another foundational piece for its next championship-caliber club.
SAN FRANCISCO – With an opportunity to get his name into the conversation about who should be in the Giants’ starting rotation, Carson Whisenhunt admitted he tried to do too much and was rushing his delivery in his return to the majors.
The numbers showed he was correct in that assessment.
Called back up from the minors before Thursday’s game against the Colorado Rockies, Whisenhunt set a career-high with four walks while throwing 87 pitches in 5 2/3 innings, a respectable 65 percent success rate — but not exactly the type to secure a roster spot.
So now, Whisenhunt has to play the waiting game. Will he still be in the rotation when his next turn comes up, or will he head back down to the minors?
When that scenario played out in mid-June, the Giants sent Whisenhunt to Triple-A Sacramento. All sides agree that the brief trip back to the minors did Whisenhunt some good and got him going back in the right direction.
The Giants felt good enough about it to give Whisenhunt another shot in the pros, and he held up pretty well despite the command issues in San Francisco’s 8-2 win.
Whisenhunt set down the first eight batters he faced, pitched out of bases-loaded jam in the third then gave up a two-run home run to Willi Castro in the fourth, the only runs the Rockies got off the Giants starter.
“Whisenhunt was really good today,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said. “He pounded his fastball. His changeup was good. I thought he attacked the strike zone well, just kept us off balance.”
That was quite a compliment when compared to Whisenhiunt’s postgame talk with reporters. The Giants pitcher said he was out of sync in the early part of the game.
“Felt comfortable, felt confident. But a little rushed, just trying to do a little too much I think,” Whisenhunt said. “The first two innings felt really good. Third inning’s when I felt it.
“Then going back out in the fourth I felt like I slowed it ack down and everything was fine after that. It’s just a little bit going on.”
Before the game, Giants manager Tony Vitello spoke about Whisenhunt’s opportunity to make a case for himself to be in the starting rotation.
Afterward, Vitello sounded very pleased with what the Giants got out of Whisenhunt.
“He was good,” Vitello said. “If you’re going to harshly critique, to me it looked like he was rushing a little bit off the stretch. You want to be quick to the plate but it’s a fine line. Aside from that it was outstanding.”
Now comes the waiting.
It could be hours or days. But soon and very soon, Whisenhunt will get a message from management letting him know he’s staying or to pack his bags for another trip back to Sacramento.
“Just trying to do whatever I can to stay but also give the team a chance to win, that’s the biggest thing,” Whisenhunt said,. “Obviously don’t know what’s going to come from tonight’s outing, if I’m going to stay or not, but hopefully I do. Just building off what I’ve done the past few times I’ve had a chance to come up here.”
Jul 8, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; The Texas Rangers fans go Tarps Off during the eighth inning between the Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
In the days leading up to his first draft as Astros general manager, Dana Brown was back in his element.
“This is probably the fun part of the job because it’s something that I’m so used to,” Brown said at the time. “We’re going through all these names and we’re having conversations, and I’m bringing a lot of my philosophies and my thought processes to it, and so it’s actually exciting and it’s refreshing to be able to talk about some upcoming young players.”
The draft was a major reason Jim Crane hired Brown five months prior, and the first-year GM, who was and remains far more involved in the draft process than others in his position, set expectations a mile high.
Brown said he wanted to “nail” the 2023 draft, and to him, nailing the draft meant drafting four Major Leaguers.
“The average is usually two, I like to double that average, and we were able to do it in Atlanta, and I expect to do it here,” Brown said.
While three years is a bit early to fully judge an MLB draft class, Brown’s first with the Astros appears likely to fall short of his lofty goals.
First round pick Brice Matthews, the 28th overall pick of the draft, debuted last season, and has been on the Astros’ active roster the entirety of the 2026 season. Only 14 of the 27 players picked ahead of Matthews have appeared in a major league game, and his career 0.7 bWAR is higher than five of those picked ahead of him.
The Tigers selected Kevin McGonigle nine picks later, but he signed for almost $400k more than Matthews. The Astros had a limited draft pool meant they probably would not have been able to sign McGonigle if they drafted him.
The Astros third-round pick, Jake Bloss, made his Major League debut less than a year after he was drafted, second fastest in the class behind Paul Skenes. Hours before he was set to make his fourth start for the Astros, Brown traded him to the Blue Jays as the centerpiece of the Yusei Kikuchi deal.
Matthews and Bloss are currently the only members of Brown’s first draft class as Astros GM to make the major leagues, though that could change soon.
Sixth round pick Ethan Pecko was just named Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Month, and Brown identified him as an option to start this weekend in Arlington. Before the season, FanGraphs rated the 23-year-old right-hander as the Astros’ fourth best prospect, who projects as a number 4 or 5 starter.
It’s only a matter of time before Pecko will be the class’s third big leaguer, but a fourth seems unlikely, at least out of the day one or day two picks.
Second round pick Alonzo Tredwell is Brown’s best hope of the early picks, but he hasn’t pitched this season due to a shoulder injury. Tredwell has only thrown 157 minor league innings since being drafted. A back injury limited him to nine games during his final season at UCLA, and he underwent Tommy John Surgery in high school.
Fourth round pick Cam Fisher was released last season, while fifth round pick Chase Jaworsky is batting .177 in High-A with the Marlins after being traded as part of the package to land Jesus Sanchez.
Injuries have limited seventh round pick Joey Dixon to 7.1 innings in the Astros system, while eighth rounder Ryan Johnson and 10th rounder Austin Deming have been released.
11th round pick Nehomar Ochoa and 12th round pick Anthony Huezo, high school picks who signed for $300,000 and $397,000 respectively, are having good seasons in A-ball and have yet to celebrate their 21st birthday, while 14th rounder Jackson Nezuh has a 3.97 ERA in Double-A.
Nezuh is rated as one of the Astros top 15 prospects by multiple outside publications, while Huezo is inside the top 25.
There’s still a chance Brown’s first draft class as Astros GM produces four major leaguers. That would qualify as a successful draft, especially given the limited draft capital he had to work with. The bigger question, though, is whether anyone from the class develops into an impact major leaguer. Three years in, that outcome appears far less likely.
Multiple sprained fingers have cost George Lombard Jr. time at Triple-A, but he is on the precipice of rehab games and may not be far off from The Bronx at some point after he proves he is healthy.
The club’s top prospect has resumed hitting, in addition to field work, putting him in position to go on a minor league rehab assignment “somewhere around this All-Star break,” Cashman said Thursday.
And once he returns to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, if he picks up where he left off before the injury, he has a chance to force his way to the Yankees.
Somerset Patriots shortstop George Lombard Jr. #3, gets high-fives in the dugout after he scored from 3rd base on a sac-fly in the 1st inning on April 17, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
That would depend on what their shortstop situation looks like with José Caballero and Anthony Volpe.
“Looking forward to getting him back and active and he might be a choice at some point,” Cashman said. “More importantly, we just got to get him playing again and turning him loose again in Triple-A. Really talented player that offensively was coming a long way of closing the gap despite his age. Defensively, he’s plug-and-play, ready to go.”
The 21-year-old Lombard, after an early-season promotion from Double-A, was hitting .231 with a .765 OPS and eight steals in 42 games at Triple-A before getting hurt June 16.
But he had been heating up prior to the injury — “thriving and conquering the final level,” as Cashman put it — hitting .306 with a .998 OPS in 14 June games.
“He’d been pushing himself before the injury,” Cashman said.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 08: Michael King #34 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning at Petco Park on July 08, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres seemed to have turned a corner. The final four games before the All-Star break will tell a bit more, but the club has its first two-game win streak since June 26. The offense also tagged the Arizona Diamondbacks’ pitching staff for a season-high 10 runs last night. San Diego is, at the very least, heading in the right direction.
The lineup looked fantastic in Wednesday night’s win over the Dbacks. Luis Campusano hit his first home run since returning from the IL and Miguel Andujar had three (yes, you read that right) doubles. San Diego will need to keep its foot on the gas to achieve its first series win of July against Arizona tonight.
Taking the mound
Merrill Kelly (AZ) v. Griffin Canning (SD)
Similar to Zac Gallen, Kelly has been an ace in the past for Arizona and has looked nothing like it this year. The right-hander has been saddled with a 5.71 ERA this year. He’s been even worse lately, pitching to a 6.28 ERA in his last 38 2/3 innings.
Prediction of the day: Fernando Tatis Jr. is going to hit a home run. Across 31 at-bats against Kelly, Tatis has four home runs and a 1.186 career OPS. Unless Kelly has his stuff working tonight, it seems plenty possible that No. 6 comes tonight for Tatis.
Canning has actually pitched considerably better in his last two outings than he has this whole season. After turning in his worst start of the year (4 ER, 0.2 IP), Canning has since given up just three runs across 8 1/3 innings. It’s not miraculous, but it’s a start.
Hopefully, Canning can keep that up against the Dbacks tonight. Most of Arizona’s lineup has faced the righty sparingly and none have seem him this season. That should work in Canning’s favor. That said, if he stumbles, the bullpen is well-rested.
Batter up!
While Andujar and Campusano were the headliners on Wednesday evening, Tatis and Jackson Merrill went 4-for-9 from the top two spots in the order. In a night where Manny Machado was getting a rest day, it felt good to watch the lineup produce without the slugger.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jackson Merrill, CF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Manny Machado, 3B
Gavin Sheets, LF
Ty France, 1B
Luis Campusano, C
Miguel Andujar, DH
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
The Friars pounded out a convincing 10 runs against Arizona last night. It’s only the third time this season the club has scored runs in the double digits. If the lineup continues to produce consistently that way, the pitching staff would get some stress taken off of them.
Relief corps
With Michael King pitching six innings of one-run ball, and the offense giving the pitching staff a sizable lead to work with, the bullpen had plenty of room to work with. Ron Marinaccio and Kyle Hart covered the final three innings, giving up a combined three runs in those frames. Thankfully, it didn’t affect the outcome of the game.
Jhony Brito has been working out of the bullpen for San Diego since getting called up earlier this week. He’ll be available alongside Yuki Matsui, Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, Wander Peralta and Bradgley Rodriguez. All figure to be high-leverage options for San Diego to turn to in a close game.
CHICAGO — Munetaka Murakami is expected to return to the slumping Chicago White Sox on Friday night after being sidelined by a strained right hamstring.
Murakami made two rehab appearances with Triple-A Charlotte, going 2 for 7 with a double. Following Chicago’s 2-1 loss to Boston on Thursday, White Sox manager Will Venable said Murakami would be in the starting lineup for the opener of the team’s weekend series against the Athletics.
“He’s ready to go,” Venable said. “He was challenged running the bases, defensively, had a really long game yesterday. So feel good about the workload, recovered well today so he’s ready to go.”
Murakami got hurt during a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on May 29, grabbing his right hamstring after beating a throw to first on a fielder’s choice in the third inning. At the time of the injury, the Japanese rookie ranked among the major league leaders with 20 homers, 41 RBIs, 43 runs and a .947 OPS.
Chicago (47-45) is in a virtual tie with Cleveland (48-46) for the lead in the sluggish AL Central. But the White Sox have dropped three in a row and six of eight overall. They managed just two runs and 15 hits in the three-game set against the Red Sox.
White Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi said getting Murakami back right now is huge.
“Obviously, he’s a presence in the lineup,” he said. “He’ll bring the energy, I think. It seems like the vibe in here is kind of down right now but I’m sure seeing him tomorrow will spark it back up.”
The 26-year-old Murakami signed a $34 million, two-year contract with Chicago in December. The White Sox went 17-18 while he was on the injured list.
“We understand the impact he makes on the field and in the clubhouse so to activate him is going to mean a lot for our group,” Venable said. “Really excited about him.”
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 02: Bryce Miller #50 of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at T-Mobile Park on July 02, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mariners are on the brink of returning to .500 for the eleventh time this season as they aim to avoid a sweep by the Marlins in the second-to-last series before the All-Star break. They are coming off being shut out Wednesday in an uninspiring performance.
They’ll call upon perhaps their most reliable starter of the 2026 campaign so far, Bryce Miller, to attempt to limit a Miami offense that ranks sixth in baseball in on-base percentage (.331).
Miller will be countered by righty Janson Junk, a Federal Way native. Activated off the injured list Thursday (right shin bone inflammation), Junk is making his first start since May 25 and can likely be expected to work within a pitch count. We’ll see if the Mariners can get to the bullpen early.
Lineups
Look familiar? The Mariners will roll out the same batting order for the third consecutive day.
Game Information
First Pitch: 3:40 p.m. PDT
TV:Mariners.TV, with Aaron Goldsmith, Ryan Rowland-Smith and sideline reporter Brad Adam
Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, with Rick Rizzs and Angie Mentink
Detroit Tigers second baseman Hao-Yu Lee (50) bats against the Athletics during the first inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (42-50) vs. Athletics (41-51)
Time/Place: 6:40 p.m., Comerica Park SB Nation Site:Athletics Nation Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: LHP Framber Valdez (4-6, 4.29 ERA) vs. RHP Jack Perkins (2-4, 6.75 ERA)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JULY 09: Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with Gunnar Henderson #2 and Jackson Holliday #7 after scoring in the eighth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 09, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Orioles avoided a sweep and the weather on Thursday, as Jeremiah Jackson’s pinch-hit double in the 8th delivered Baltimore a much-needed win in their series finale with Chicago.
A chaotic bottom of the 8th inning was the defining moment of the O’s win over the Cubbies, and for once the chaos worked in the Orioles favor. Down 2-1, Taylor Ward started the inning with a strikeout. The tying and winning runs then got on base thanks to back-to-back HBP’s. The first came when Chicago reliever Tyler Ferguson ran a sweeper too far inside on Gunnar Henderson, with the ball just clipping the SS to send him to first. The very next pitch, a sinker, got away from Ferguson against Pete Alonso, plunking the O’s slugger and giving Baltimore two runners on with one out.
Manager Craig Albernaz then executed a perfect bait-and-switch to set up Jackson’s game-winning hit. Originally, the Orioles announced that Dylan Beavers would be pinch-hitting for Tyler O’Neill. This prompted the Cubs to bring in left-handed reliever Ryan Rolison, only for Albernaz to swap out Beavers for Jackson. With the count even at 1-1, Rolison tried to sneak a low fastball past Jackson, only for JJ to smash it into the right-center field gap. Henderson scored easily from second to tie the game at two, and Alonso beautifully slid under the tag of catcher Miguel Amaya to put the Orioles on top.
Andrew Kittredge then came in for the save in the top of the 9th as the rain began to pour in Baltimore. Nico Hoerner reached on an E6 by Henderson to start the inning, but was immediately erased when he attempted to steal second, overslid the bag and was tagged out by Gunnar. After an Ian Happ single, Kittredge rolled a would-be double play ball, only for Jackson Holliday to sail the relay throw to first. The missed out wouldn’t matter, as Kittredge got pinch-hitter Michael Conforto to line out to left to end the game.
The O’s rally came after Tyler Wells had surrendered a run in the top of the 8th to give the Cubs their slim and fleeting advantage. NL MVP candidate Pete Crow-Armstrong led off the inning with a sinking line drive to right that deflected off Tyler O’Neill for a double. Alex Bregman then lofted a deep fly out to center, allowing PCA to advance to third. With the potential winning run now 90 feet away, the Orioles pulled in their infield, which allowed a hard grounder from Seiya Suzuki to sneak past Blaze Alexander to put the Cubs up 2-1.
Prior to the 8th, offense had been hard to come by for both teams. O’Neill gave the O’s an early advantage in the 2nd when he blasted a solo homer off Cubs starter David Peterson to put Baltimore up 1-0. After homering in his final two ABs on Wednesday, the long ball on Thursday tied an Orioles record of homering in three straight ABs.
However, two continuing trends kept the Orioles from adding on any insurance: bad hitting against left-handed starters and poor luck at the plate. Despite coming off a start where he allowed nine hits and 10 earned runs, Peterson largely befuddled the O’s offense. Outside of the O’Neill home run, the only other hit the Orioles managed off the former All-Star was a Ward single in the bottom of the 1st. Through the first five innings, with Peterson on the mound, Baltimore went 2-for-16, 0-for-1 with RISP, while striking out twice and working four walks.
The fact that the Orioles continue to turn hard-hit balls into outs didn’t help their cause against Peterson. They got particularly unlucky in the 3rd, where the O’s got the short end of batted-ball luck AND a questionable call by the umpires. To lead off the inning, Leody Taveras laid a perfect bunt down the first-base line for what looked like a sure bunt single. A scrambling Peterson was able to flip the ball to first for a bang-bang, but the first-base umpire originally called Taveras safe. The play went to review, and despite no clear angle that showed the ball beat the runner, the umpires ruled Taveras out.
The O’s would rebound from that injustice by having Adley Rutschman and Ward work back-to-back walks to give Baltimore their first runner in scoring position. That brought the Orioles’ paragon of bad luck, Henderson, up to the plate. The slumping SS smashed a Peterson sinker at 107 mph to the left side of the infield, only for the ball to go right to Cubs’ 2B Nico Hoerner for an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play. The O’s hit five balls Thursday that had an xBA of .500+ that the Cubs turned into outs.
And yet, for a while, it looked like the one run was all the Orioles would need thanks to the continued brilliance of starter Trevor Rogers. The stingy southpaw came into Thursday’s game with a 1.77 ERA over his last six starts and looked just as sharp against Chicago. He worked around a 1st inning, first-and-third, one-out jam by punching out Carson Kelly and getting Michael Busch to fly out, stranding both runners.
Rogers worked a 1-2-3 inning in the 2nd thanks to a pair of groundouts and a K of Dansby Swanson. After a PCA walk in the 3rd, he rolled a double play ball to end the frame and keep the O’s in front.
The Orioles’ de facto ace also got a big boost from his defense as he navigated his fourth quality start in his last seven outings. With Busch on first and two outs in the 4th, Hoerner laced a grounder down the left-field line for a double. Running on contact, Busch came charging hard around third as he tried to tie the game. However, a perfect relay from Ward to Henderson to Samuel Basallo cut the runner down at the plate and preserved the 1-0 lead.
In the 5th, the boost came from the Orioles’ outfield defense as Rogers continued to keep the Cubs off the board. After Swanson singled to left and stole second, Amaya sent a sinking line drive to no-man’s land in center field. However, a good jump and a sliding snag allowed Taveras to rob the Cubs’ catcher of a hit and keep Swanson from scoring.
That aura of invincibility finally wore off for Rogers in the 6th. After getting Bregman to ground out to start the inning, he left a changeup over the plate to Suzuki, who clobbered it over the left-field fence to tie the game at 1-1. The Orioles’ lefty would get two more ground outs to finish the inning and closed his line at 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB and 4 K. Since the beginning of June, Rogers now has a 1.73 ERA across seven starts, while holding opponents to a .195 average.
Jul 1, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) reacts after hitting a two RBI double against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
It’s a Home Run Derby, in Philadelphia, in front of a large audience that is focusing their attention on one thing for the night.
Was there any doubt that Bryce Harper would participate?
In news that should surprise no one, Harper is participating in the Home Run Derby (don’t forget – it’s on Netflix this year!), which means he must have found a pitcher that he likes. The last time he participated in one, he did so as a member of the Nationals when the event was held in Washington, with his father throwing to him. Let’s see if he can follow up as a member of the Phillies with the event in Philadelphia.
Apparently Bryce Harper found somebody to pitch to him.
Harper will participate in the July 13 Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game, once again entering the field when his hometown team hosts the bash. It will be his first appearance since 2018, when he won the Derby in dramatic fashion at Washington's Nationals Park.
That was his last hurrah in D.C., as he signed a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies the next winter, and quickly became a focal point of Philly sports, eventually helping the Phillies to the 2022 World Series.
Now 33 and a two-time National League MVP, Harper said he would consider participating in the Derby at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park if he was named to the team. He also expressed concern that his father Ron, who pitched to him at the 2018 Derby, would be physically unable to pitch.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred made sure Harper was there, naming him as a "legend" pick to the game - though to be sure, Harper's first half statistics were sufficient, anyway. Now, a few days later, Harper posted on Instagram that he'd join the fray.
He joins Tampa Bay Rays slugger Junior Caminero, Yankees first baseman Ben Rice, Kansas City Royals first baseman Jac Caglianone and Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras in committing to the Derby. Three more slots remain.
One slot would be perfect for Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber. He lost by the narrowest of margins to Harper in 2018. A rematch as Philly teammates before their home crowd would be a must-see event.
Of course the New York Mets lost another player. That's just how the season is going in Queens.
Mark Vientos fractured his right hand Thursday, July 9 when a pitch from Kansas City's Michael Wacha ran inside and caught him on a checked swing in the second inning. He stayed in to run, came out an inning later and will land on the injured list, interim manager Andy Green confirmed after the Mets' 7-3 win over the Royals at Citi Field.
Green did not indicate a timeline for Vientos' return, but broken bones traditionally take six to eight weeks.
The injury is one more thing that has gone wrong for the Mets in a season where everything is going wrong.
The Mets opened the year with baseball's highest payroll at $358 million, then lost 12 consecutive games in April. They fired manager Carlos Mendoza in late June – the franchise's first in-season managerial change since they axed Willie Randolph in 2008 – days after a six-error game against the Cubs.
The injured list has already swallowed Francisco Lindor, Marcus Semien, Luis Robert Jr. , Clay Holmes, Jorge Polanco and Juan Soto at some point this season. At 40-54 and 11.5 games out of a playoff spot, the only question left is who gets traded by Aug. 3.
That list could have included Vientos before the injury.
He's hitting just .211, a far fall from the 27-homer breakout of 2024. But he is still crushing left-handed pitching, hitting .281 against lefties with a .539 slugging percentage.
Ronny Mauricio, MJ Melendez and Nick Morabito are the 40-man options to fill the spot. Mauricio was optioned just two days ago when Polanco returned. While position players usually have to wait 10 days after being optioned to return, an injury gives the Mets an exception.
Every MLB fan thinks they know the game better than their rival. Casino.ca put that confidence to the test with a 5,000-fan survey built around a 20-question baseball knowledge quiz.
New York came out on top, with Mets and Yankees fans tying for No. 1 at 18 out of 20. Both fanbases actually outperformed their own confidence levels, with Mets fans rating themselves 7 out of 10 and Yankees fans just 6 out of 10.
A new MLB fan knowledge survey ranked Mets and Yankees fans first, Rangers and Diamondbacks fans last, and California teams all over. casino.ca
At the bottom, Diamondbacks and Rangers fans tied for last with 10 out of 20. Texas had the funniest miss of the survey, rating itself 8 out of 10 despite finishing at the bottom.
California was all over the board. Angels fans ranked highest in the state, tying for second overall at 17 out of 20 with an 8 out of 10 self-rating. Dodgers fans finished No. 4 at 15 out of 20.
Angels fans ranked highest in the state, tying for second overall at 17 out of 20. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
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The Athletics and Padres tied for No. 7 with 12 out of 20, while Giants fans ranked lowest among California teams at No. 8 with 11 out of 20.
The biggest expectation-versus-reality gap belonged to Rangers fans, while Yankees, Red Sox and Mets fans were surprisingly modest compared to their actual scores.
Take the quiz yourself and find out how you stack up against your most hated rivals. Answers found at the bottom of the article:
Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants fans have fun during Game 5 of the National League Divisional Series MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Which pitcher threw the only perfect game in World Series history?
Don Larsen
Sandy Koufax
Whitey Ford
Bob Gibson
What year did MLB introduce interleague play?
1994
1995
1997
1999
Which franchise was the first to integrate in the American League?
New York Yankees
Cleveland Indians (now Guardians)
Detroit Tigers
Chicago White Sox
Who was the first player to win MVP in both leagues?
Frank Robinson
Reggie Jackson
Hank Aaron
Pete Rose
Can a runner advance on a dropped third strike with two outs?
No
Only if first base is occupied
Yes
Only in extra innings
What constitutes a balk?
Any pitch outside the strike zone
A pitcher dropping the ball
An illegal motion or deception while on the rubber
A catcher leaving the box early
Can a pitcher switch throwing hands during an at-bat?
No
Only once per game
Yes, but must declare before the at-bat
Only in extra innings
Which catcher has the most career home runs?
Johnny Bench
Yogi Berra
Mike Piazza
Carlton Fisk
Which player has the most career grand slams?
Lou Gehrig
Barry Bonds
Alex Rodriguez
Albert Pujols
Which MLB franchise was originally called the Pilots?
Milwaukee Brewers
Seattle Mariners
San Diego Padres
Tampa Bay Rays
True or False: A pitcher can fake a throw to first without stepping off the rubber.
True
False
If a game is called in the 5th inning due to weather, is it official?
No, must reach 6 innings
No, must reach 7 innings
Yes, after 4.5 innings if home team is leading
Only if both managers agree
Can a batter reach first on catcher’s interference even if the pitch is wild?
Yes
No
Is it possible to record four outs in one inning?
No
Yes, via an appeal play
Who was the youngest player to reach 500 home runs?
Alex Rodriguez
Albert Pujols
Ken Griffey Jr.
Jimmie Foxx
If a runner misses a base but scores, does the run count automatically?
Yes
No, defense can appeal
Which Hall of Famer was nicknamed “The Georgia Peach”?
Ty Cobb
Rogers Hornsby
Tris Speaker
Honus Wagner
Which MLB franchise has never appeared in a World Series?
Seattle Mariners
Milwaukee Brewers
Colorado Rockies
Tampa Bay Rays
Who was the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season?
Barry Bonds
Alex Rodriguez
Shohei Ohtani
José Canseco
What major rule change was introduced in MLB for the 2026 season?
Universal DH
Automated ball-strike challenge system
Expanded playoffs
Pitch clock removal
San Francisco Giants fan looks on wearing a hat with players and staff names crossed out in rainbow colors Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesA group of friends, either New York Mets or New York Yankees fans, gesture before a baseball game AP
Answer Key:
Don Larsen – Game 5 of the 1956 World Series
1997 – Interleague play officially began on June 12, 1997
Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) – Larry Doby, 1947
Frank Robinson – 1961 NL with Reds, 1966 AL with Orioles
Yes – The strike is called, but the umpire does not call the batter out.
An illegal motion or deception while on the rubber
Yes, but must declare before the at-bat – Under MLB Rule 5.07(f) (colloquially known as the Pat Venditte Rule)
Mike Piazza – He hit 427 total home runs (396 while playing catcher)
Alex Rodriguez – He hit 25 during his 22-year career
Milwaukee Brewers – On April 1, 1970, the franchise moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin
False – Faking a throw to first base while in contact with the pitching rubber is a balk.
Yes – After 4.5 innings if home team is leading
Yes – The batter is awarded first base whenever the catcher impedes their ability to hit the pitch
Yes – This occurs in two rare ways: when a pitcher strikes out four batters or through a defensive appeal play that supersedes the third out.
Alex Rodriguez – He reached the milestone at 32 years and 8 days old
No – Defense can appeal
Ty Cobb – Born in Narrows, Georgia.
Seattle Mariners
Shohei Ohtani – The only player in MLB history, achieving the feat during the 2024 season
