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Phillies Talk: Chase Utley discusses 2025 team and much more originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Chase Utley hopped on the Phillies Talk podcast to discuss his golf game, the current state of the team and what’s next for him.
“The Man” also discussed the trade deadline, Phillies Wall of Fame and much more with NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Sean Kane and Spencer McKercher.
Watch the episode right here.
Tampa Bay Rays slugger Junior Caminero announced Wednesday he will take part in the Home Run Derby on Monday in Atlanta, then learned hours later he will start at third base for the AL squad in the All-Star Game the following night.
In between, Caminero belted his 22nd homer of the season in the seventh inning of a 7-3 win in Detroit.
Caminero, who turned 22 on July 5, leads all American League third basemen in homers during a breakout season. He is hitting .254 with 58 RBIs for the Rays, who moved within four games of first-place Toronto in the AL East on Wednesday night.
“I’m going to put on a show. I’m going to try to put on a show just to give the fans the opportunity to get to know me, see my power,” Caminero said. “Just being there with all those other All-Stars, it’s going to be something very special.”
Caminero is the sixth player to commit to the Home Run Derby, joining the Mariners’ Cal Raleigh, James Wood of the Nationals, Byron Buxton of the Twins, the Pirates’ Oneil Cruz and Ronald Acuna Jr. of the host Braves. Two more contestants are still to be announced, and Buxton’s status is unclear after he was hit in the left hand by a pitch during Wednesday night’s win over the Cubs.
New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., also headed to the All-Star Game, said Wednesday night he’d be interested in participating if asked. Chisholm hit two homers in a 9-6 victory over Seattle to give him 17 this season.
Caminero was picked earlier this week as the All-Star replacement for Boston third baseman Alex Bregman, who has been dealing with a strained right quadriceps. Caminero learned he will start at the hot corner after Cleveland’s José Ramírez opted out of the Midsummer Classic so he could rest an ailing Achilles tendon.
Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes was chosen to replace Ramírez on the AL roster.
The only Rays players besides Caminero to participate in the Home Run Derby have been Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena and Randy Arozarena, who reached the finals two years ago before losing to Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
“We get to see (Caminero) do probably a modified Home Run Derby every time he takes batting practice. I’m excited for him. I’m excited for his family,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “Somewhat of a coming-out party for him. Hopefully, he gets the recognition that we’ve all seen in the talent and the ability to hit the ball a long way.”
The Detroit Tigers have the best record in the majors. Now they are tied for having the most All-Stars, too.
Zach McKinstry was picked Wednesday to replace Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña, who has been dealing with a rib injury. The infielder-outfielder will join Detroit second baseman Gleyber Torres and outfielders Javier Báez and Riley Greene — all AL starters — and staff ace Tarik Skubal, who also is among the candidates to start the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta.
The five All-Stars for Detroit is tied for the most with the World Series champion Dodgers, who have DH Shohei Ohtani, catcher Will Smith and first baseman Freddie Freeman starting for the NL along with pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Yamamoto is scheduled to start Sunday for Los Angeles, so Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott has been picked to replace him.
McKinstry was among several replacements announced Wednesday for the Midsummer Classic.
Houston third baseman Isaac Paredes was chosen for the AL team in place of starting third baseman José Ramírez, the seven-time All-Star, who wants to spend the week rehabbing an Achilles injury; Twins right-hander Joe Ryan was selected as the replacement for Astros pitcher Hunter Brown; and Brewers closer Trevor Megill was added to the NL team in place of teammate Freddy Peralta, their scheduled starter for Sunday’s game against Washington.
The shuffling of replacements gives the Astros four All-Stars in Paredes, Peña, Brown and pitcher Josh Hader. The Brewers have two in Megill and Peralta. And the Twins have two with Ryan joining two-time All-Star outfielder Byron Buxton.
“This was the goal in the offseason,” said Megill, who struck out Freeman, Andy Pages and Tommy Edman in order in the 10th inning to secure the Brewers’ 3-2 win over the Dodgers on Wednesday. “Just worked my butt off for it, and here we are.”
The four replacements make six total and 71 players players between the two All-Star teams. The other sub announced was Rays third baseman Junior Caminero for Boston’s Alex Bregman, who has been dealing with a strained right quadriceps.
The Tigers have been one of the surprise stories of the first half of the season. After going 86-76 and tying for second in the AL Central last season, they are off to a 59-35 start even after a 7-3 loss to the Rays in their series finale Wednesday night.
The versatile McKinstry has been a big reason why.
Along with playing every infield position besides catcher, and both corner outfield spots, McKinstry entered Wednesday hitting .283 with seven homers and 27 RBIs. The 30-year-old needs just three more homers and nine RBIs to set career highs.
Peña, who is hitting a career-best .322 with 11 homers and 40 RBIs in 82 games for Houston, has been out since June 28 with a fractured rib. He had hoped to return by the All-Star break but has not been cleared to resume baseball activity.
Paredes, his teammate, is headed to his second straight All-Star Game in his first season in Houston. He is hitting a career-best .255 with 19 homers and 49 RBIs for the Astros, who have a comfortable lead over Seattle in the NL West.
“My main focus is to work hard for the team and be able to give the most I can for the team,” Paredes said, “but as you can see now with the results that I’m getting ... those results allow me to get to the All-Star game, so it feels good.”
Ramírez was hit by a pitch in a game against Toronto on June 26 and has struggled at the plate since, though he said Wednesday that it was an Achilles injury that’s been bothering him. Even with the slump, Ramírez began the day hitting .299 with 16 home runs, 44 RBIs and 24 stolen bases through 87 games for Cleveland.
“Everybody wants to go to the All-Star Game and especially for the support from the fans,” Ramírez said. “But I feel the best thing for the team is to be able to be resting (those) days and be able to contribute to the team in the second half.”
The 29-year-old Ryan, whose name has surfaced in plenty of trade talk recently, was one of the biggest snubs when the initial All-Star Game rosters were announced. The right-hander is 8-4 with a career-best 2.76 ERA across 18 starts, and he’s struck out 116 against just 21 walks over 104 1/3 innings for the Twins.
“The last couple years, I’ve had really good numbers at voting, then I’ve kind of scuttled the last two outings or so. I can see why optically it might not look as good,” Ryan said. “But putting it together, it was kind of a shock not to be in (this year).
“At the same time,” he said, “there’s so many good pitchers in the league right now. You’ve just got to hang with them and if you don’t like it, play better. That was kind of the mindset I was trying to shift into, but to get the news and be excited to go, it makes everything kind of go away and you just think about the future and going forward.”
In this week's Closer Report, the Diamondbacks lose another closer to the injured list. The Padres send two relievers to the All-Star game. And Raisel Iglesias appears to be getting back on track in Atlanta. There's much more to cover as we run down the last week in saves.
Josh Hader - Houston Astros
Hader has been hurt by home runs of late, with five of his seven allowed on the year coming over the last month. After notching his 25th save against the Dodgers on Saturday, he took the loss on Tuesday, giving up a grand slam in the tenth inning after a scoreless ninth. Still, the 31-year-old left-hander has been the most valuable closer in baseball, posting a 2.38 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, and a 63/9 K/BB ratio across 41 2/3 innings to earn his sixth All-Star honors.
Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners
Edwin Díaz - New York Mets
Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox
Jhoan Duran - Minnesota Twins
Emmanuel Clase - Cleveland Guardians
Robert Suarez - San Diego Padres
Muñoz, making his second All-Star appearance, is a close second behind Hader. He locked down two saves this week with a pair of clean outings against the Pirates. The 26-year-old right-hander has recorded a spectacular 1.06 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and a 45/13 K/BB ratio over 34 innings.
Díaz, now a three-time All-Star, continues his dominant season with three scoreless outings, picking up a save and a win. The 31-year-old right-hander has allowed just one earned run over his last 24 innings since the start of May. Meanwhile, Chapman extended his scoreless appearance streak to 16 games, striking out two batters against the Nationals on Sunday. The 37-year-old veteran left-hander has been so dominant this season, earning an eighth All-Star selection, that it's fair to speculate whether the Red Sox should trade him regardless of their standings in the playoff race, given the return they could potentially get.
Duran struck out three batters over two innings and picked up the win against the Rays on Saturday. He was then unavailable to pitch on Tuesday due to an illness before returning Wednesday to lock down his 14th save against the Cubs.
Clase blew a save on Sunday against the Tigers, then bounced back against the Astros on Monday with a clean inning for his 19th save. After pitching in a tie game Tuesday, his third straight day on the mound, he got the day off Wednesday as Paul Sewald stepped in for a save.
Suarez, replacing Chris Sale for his second All-Star selection, picked up two saves this week with a pair of clean outings. The 34-year-old right-hander is up to 26 saves with a 3.72 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a 41/12 K/BB ratio across 38 2/3 innings. Setup man Jason Adam joins him on the NL All-Star roster for the first time with a 1.58 ERA over 45 2/3 frames.
Mason Miller - Athletics
Devin Williams - New York Yankees
Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers
Félix Bautista - Baltimore Orioles
Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers
Will Vest - Detroit Tigers
Emilio Pagán - Cincinnati Reds
David Bednar - Pittsburgh Pirates
Daniel Palencia - Chicago Cubs
Camilo Doval - San Francisco Giants
Jeff Hoffman - Toronto Blue Jays
Ryan Helsley - St. Louis Cardinals
Carlos Estévez - Kansas City Royals
Pete Fairbanks - Tampa Bay Rays
Kyle Finnegan - Washington Nationals
Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Angels
Miller didn't see a save chance this week. He tossed a clean inning with one strikeout in a non-save situation against the Giants on Sunday. In New York, Williams struck out two batters in a perfect inning for his 12th save on Sunday, then converted his 13th with two more strikeouts in a clean frame against the Mariners on Wednesday.
Megill collected three saves and a win this week, with three clean outings against the Marlins and Dodgers. His 21 saves match his season total from 2024 while posting a 2.41 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 43/15 K/BB ratio across 33 2/3 innings.
Bautista added a win and a save, then struck out the side in a tie game in the ninth against the Mets on Tuesday. The 30-year-old right-hander is enjoying a strong comeback season, converting 17 saves with a 2.48 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 48/20 K/BB ratio across 32 2/3 innings.
The Dodgers converted no saves as the team rides a six-game losing streak. Scott tossed a clean eighth inning with two strikeouts against the White Sox last Thursday, then gave up two runs in the eighth against the Astros on Sunday before blowing a save Wednesday against the Brewers. Meanwhile, Vest picked up two saves, striking out the side against the Rays on Tuesday for his 15th of the season. With Vest getting the day off on Saturday, Tommy Kahnle picked up his ninth save, first since June 4.
Pagán continued his stellar season with another save in a scoreless outing against the Phillies on Friday. The 34-year-old right-hander is up to 19 with a 2.92 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and a 45/12 K/BB ratio across 37 innings. Pagán could also be on trade watch depending on where the Reds are in the standings by the end of the month.
Bednar didn't get a save chance this week. He made one appearance, striking out the final batter in the eighth inning against the Royals on Monday for his first outing since July 1. It was a similar situation for Palencia, who needed just five pitches in his only outing this week.
Doval gave up a run on two walks and a hit in a non-save situation against the Athletics on Sunday, then worked around a walk to record his 14th save against the Phillies on Monday. But it was top setup man and bullpen breakout Randy Rodriguez who earned All-Star honors with a 0.69 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and a 54/8 K/BB ratio across 39 innings.
Hoffman extends his modest scoreless streak to six games as he continues to recover from a terrible May in which he allowed 15 runs over 10 innings. He converted two saves this week to give him 22 on the year.
Helsley tossed a clean inning with one strikeout for a save against the Cubs on Saturday, then worked around a hit and a walk for his 18th save on Tuesday against the Nationals.
In Kansas City, Estévez gave up a run last Thursday, but held on for a four-out save against the Mariners. He then fell in line for a win against Pittsburgh on Tuesday before picking up his 25th save Wednesday. Meanwhile, Fairbanks recorded five outs to fall in line for a win against the Twins on Sunday for his only appearance this week.
Finnegan made a pair of scoreless appearances in non-save situations. And Jansen has extended his streak to 11 outings without allowing an earned run, picking up a win against the Rangers on Monday and his 16th save on Wednesday.
Dylan Lee/Raisel Iglesias - Atlanta Braves
Kevin Ginkel - Arizona Diamondbacks
Matt Strahm/Orion Kerkering - Philadelphia Phillies
Robert Garcia - Texas Rangers
No save chances for Atlanta this week. Lee and Iglesias will presumably continue to work in a committee for saves. Iglesias could work his way into the primary role again, with no runs allowed over his last 9 2/3 innings since giving up three runs on June 5. He's posted a 14/1 K/BB ratio in that span.
The Diamondbacks lost yet another closer with Shelby Miller hitting the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain. The team had already lost AJ Puk and Justin Martinez to season-ending injuries. Ginkel has hardly been effective this season, posting a 9.00 ERA across 20 innings. But he's expected to step in for most save chances. He picked up a save on Monday against the Padres with a scoreless inning. Left-hander Kyle Backhus, mentioned in last week's column, could be someone to watch if Arizona goes to a matchup-based committee.
Jordan Romano hadn't recorded a save since May 29. He got the save chance Tuesday against the Giants with a two-run lead, but gave up three runs on an inside-the-park home run to blow the opportunity and take the loss. Philadelphia should be a team in the market for a closer at the deadline, much like last season when they acquired Carlos Estévez.
There isn't much more clarity in Texas. Garcia has not been sharp on the mound and has just one save over the last month. He took a loss Friday against the Padres. Chris Martin also took a loss this week against the Angels, while both Shawn Armstrong and Hoby Milner were charged with blown saves.
Calvin Faucher/Ronny Henriquez - Miami Marlins
Seth Halvorsen - Colorado Rockies
Grant Taylor - Chicago White Sox
Braydon Fisher has emerged as an excellent reliever for the Blue Jays and a big part of the team's recent success. The 24-year-old right-hander made his major league debut this season, posting a 2.30 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and a 36/7 K/BB ratio across 27 1/3 innings. Working his way up the high-leverage ladder, he's picked up four holds and three wins for Toronto. While Yariel Rodríguez has been effective in a setup role, it could be Fisher in line for saves should Hoffman ever be unavailable. In Pittsburgh, Isaac Mattson has been effective for the Pirates. The 29-year-old right-hander has posted a 1.89 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and a 21/7 K/BB ratio across 19 innings while working his way into high-leverage work. With both David Bednar and Dennis Santana expected to draw trade interest at the deadline, Mattson could be someone to watch for save chances down the stretch.
It's only a small sample size, but the Yankees may have something batting Jasson Dominguez in the leadoff spot.
Wednesday, manager Aaron Boone put out the same lineup he wrote for Tuesday's game -- the first time he's had the same lineup in back-to-back games since April 1-2 -- and received similar results, all with the 22-year-old outfielder hitting leadoff.
After going 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in the series opener against the Mariners, Dominguez turned it around in Wednesday's 9-6 win. He went 3-for-4 with an RBI, two runs and a walk, all while showing off the various skills he brings to the field that have made him one of the organization's top prospects for a number of years.
He was asked what skills he brings to the leadoff spot and Dominguez while showing appreciation to Boone for trusting him in that position.
"I’m able to walk and get those hits and run the bases. That helps me in that spot to be able to perform as a leadoff hitter," he said. "It means a lot when the manager trusts in you and makes me want to play harder."
Dominguez also showed off skills that don't necessarily show on the box score. He took extra bases on the basepaths, scoring from second on a Cody Bellinger single and getting home from first on an Aaron Judge double. And he was clutch, driving in a run of his own with runners on second and third in the sixth inning when the Mariners cut the Yankees' lead to 6-4.
"JD always has confidence. He’s got an amazing skillset and super talented," Boone said of Dominguez's recent performance. "I would say, and I’ve said this a lot, the first few months of the year here, maybe hasn’t been spectacular but it’s been real steady. He gives you a mature at-bat, h continues to improve in the outfield. You’re really seeing his baserunning be a real factor. Speed on the bases scoring first to home...It’s pretty much every at-bat, he has been really dialed in going back to Toronto. He was excellent and I feel like he’s gotten hot this past week."
In that four-game Toronto series, in which the Yankees were swept, Dominguez was one of the few bright spots. He went 9-for-18 with three RBI and three runs scored. If you include the two games he played against the Mets, those numbers improve to 11-for-22 with a two-homer game added in. By the way, in that two-homer game, Dominguez led off.
"Lately, I’ve been feeling pretty good at the plate," Dominguez said. "I feel like all the work I’m putting in is paying off."
Again, it's only a small sample size. He's appeared in four games (three starts) this season as the leadoff hitter and he's now 8-for-21. We'll see where Boone pencils in his young outfielder in the series finale on Thursday, but batting leadoff needs to be in consideration.
Jasson Domínguez has an RBI and a three-hit game! pic.twitter.com/0HRvYKijvb
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) July 10, 2025
NEW YORK — DJ LeMahieu was cut Wednesday by the New York Yankees with almost $22 million remaining on his contract, one day after the two-time batting champion got demoted to the bench.
“It's been a tough couple days. Some hard conversations," manager Aaron Boone said before New York's 9-6 victory over the Seattle Mariners. "But in the end, feel like this is the right thing to do at this time."
LeMahieu, who turns 37 on Sunday, was designated for assignment and fellow infielder Jorbit Vivas was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
New York has seven days to trade or release LeMahieu, or send him outright to the minors - an assignment he would have the right to refuse in favor of free agency.
It's very unlikely another team would claim LeMahieu off waivers because he's still owed $21,612,903 from the $90 million, six-year deal he signed with the Yankees prior to the 2021 season. New York must pay him $6,612,903 for the rest of this season and $15 million in 2026.
“Tough decisions," general manager Brian Cashman said. "It ultimately comes down to how this roster sits and what’s best. You want to provide your manager with enough chess moves.”
LeMahieu, a three-time All-Star, was batting .266 with two homers, 12 RBIs and a .674 OPS. He made his season debut May 13 after recovering from a left calf strain and had a .310 average in his last 31 games since June 1.
A versatile defender in the past, LeMahieu has made all 35 of his starts at second base this year - even though he's got plenty of experience at third and the Yankees essentially have a hole there.
Going back to the winter, LeMahieu expressed a preference to play second or first because third base “had become an issue physically” at this stage of his career, Cashman said.
So that's why LeMahieu played second exclusively throughout his minor league rehab assignment and was inserted there when he came off the injured list.
All-Star infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. began the season at second base, his most natural position, after playing third for the Yankees last year. But he got hurt in late April and when he returned in early June from a right oblique strain, he moved back to the hot corner for a while as LeMahieu stayed at second.
“We gave him runway to see what he looked like, to see if this dimension with the current setup was going to be workable,” Cashman said. "At some point, you make some tough decisions.”
LeMahieu won three Gold Gloves at second with Colorado from 2014-18 - and another one in a utility role with the Yankees in 2022. But his range has been diminished by toe, foot, hip and calf injuries in recent years.
The athletic Chisholm, meanwhile, has made some wild throws from third base lately while hindered by a sore shoulder. So on Tuesday, Boone moved Chisholm back to second and put LeMahieu on the bench.
Boone said LeMahieu didn't ask for his release and was willing to start working out at other positions - including third base - to provide options.
But a day later, after multiple meetings with Boone and Cashman this week, LeMahieu's 6 1/2-year tenure with the Yankees came to an unceremonious end.
“Looking at what the next few weeks could unveil, kind of Cash and I decided today like, it was probably the day to go ahead and do it," Boone said. "I just feel like now and how our roster’s built, maybe this gives us some more flexibility in the short term.”
Boone said third base going forward will be “some kind of combination" between Vivas and light-hitting Oswald Peraza, who started at the hot corner for the second consecutive night Wednesday.
Boone also said backup catcher J.C. Escarra could even “figure into that mix.”
Regardless, Cashman will be looking for a third baseman as the July 31 trade deadline approaches.
New York added depth by signing infielder Nicky Lopez and third baseman Jeimer Candelario to minor league contracts this month.
LeMahieu won his first batting title in 2016 with the Rockies and his second with New York in 2020, when he hit .364 with 10 homers and 27 RBIs in 50 games during the pandemic-shortened season.
“As widely respected a player as we’ve had - and understandably so,” Boone said. “He’s earned that with just his professionalism, his toughness, his play on the field and just kind of the quiet way he goes about things. There’s a lot of guys that have an immense amount of respect for DJ.
“Sometimes you have to make hard decisions.”
In another move, the Yankees opened a roster spot for right-hander Cam Schlittler by designating reliever Geoff Hartlieb for assignment. Schlittler was selected from Triple-A to start Wednesday night against Seattle in his major league debut.
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball plans to use its robot umpire technology for ball-strike challenges in Tuesday's All-Star Game at Atlanta, another step toward possible regular-season use next season.
MLB said Wednesday it intends to make the All-Star announcement Thursday.
Teams won 52.2% of their ball/strike challenges during the spring training test, with 617 of 1,182 challenges successful in the 288 exhibition games using the Automated Ball-Strike System. ABS was installed at 13 spring training ballparks hosting 19 teams, and an animation of the pitch was shown on video boards displaying the challenge result for spectators to see.
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said last month that the ABS system was likely to be considered for regular-season use by the 11-man competition committee, which includes six management representatives.
“I do think that we’re going to pursue the possibility of change in that process and we’ll see what comes out at the end of that,” he said. “The teams are really positive about ABS. I do have that unscientific system that I use: my email traffic. And my distinct impression is that using ABS in spring training has made people more prone to complain of balls and strike calls via email to me referencing the need for ABS.”
During the 2024 regular season, 10.9% of called pitches in the strike zone were ruled balls and 6.3% of called pitches outside of the strike zone were ruled strikes, according to MLB Statcast.
MLB has been experimenting with the automated ball-strike system in the minor leagues since 2019.
Cam Schlittler got the news on Monday that he would be making his major league debut for the Yankees on Wednesday night against the Seattle Mariners.
The right-hander said it was a "great feeling" when he found out he got the call and it was even better that he was able to join the team on Tuesday, a day before his start, to "get his feet wet" as he and manager Aaron Boone both put it after the game.
"It was really good to get here Tuesday and kind of just get my feet wet a little bit, see how guys go about their business and just kinda (see) the expectations around here," Schlittler said.
That full day of being around the team certainly helped calm the 24-year-old's nerves ahead of his debut, though he admitted to having "more jitters" Wednesday morning. Those jitters soon went away when he arrived back at the ballpark, focused for his first major league start.
After walking the first batter he faced, losing J.P. Crawford on a full count, Schlittler dialed back in and retired the next three batters, including two via strikeouts and showing off his 100 mph fastball in the process.
It's a pitch that Boone has been impressed with since watching Schlittler in spring training.
"Especially when he went up against some of the better lineups… you saw it play and that’s kinda been his calling card coming through," Boone said of the right-hander's fastball. "His size really works for him."
But the fastball wasn't the only pitch that Schlittler relied on. Of course, tempting as it is to try and blow hitters away with triple digits, Schlittler mixed in his secondary pitches as well and did so effectively.
"It’s about being under control and being solid with the secondary stuff and I thought that was as big a deal as anything tonight -- the secondary stuff was solid for him," Boone said. "I thought it was a really composed outing."
After the game, Schlittler mentioned that since the Yankees last saw him in spring training he's since ditched his splitter and gyro and added a cutter to give him a four-pitch mix of fastball, cutter, curveball and slider.
"I’ve seen really good results with it," he said.
He sure has as the 6-foot-6, 225-pounder was called up after pitching to a 2.82 ERA across 15 games (14 starts) between Double-A and Triple-A this season.
"He earned this opportunity, not just because there’s a bunch of guys down, but because he’s absolutely the guy that’s put up the numbers and done the work here in these first few months now at the higher level to get this opportunity," Boone said. "He’s got a big arm and he continues to get better."
After his scoreless first inning, Schlittler pitched well and was aided by a quick 3-0 lead to keep the pressure to a minimum. He exited after 5.1 innings, giving up three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out seven on 75 pitches (52 strikes). One of those seven strikeouts came on the last batter he faced, All-Star Cal Raleigh, who leads MLB with 36 home runs and is having one of the greatest seasons for a catcher.
Schlittler struck him out swinging on a 98 mph fastball up and away after striking him out looking in the first. Raleigh finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
"I liked the matchup… I just felt like his heater could play," Boone said. "... To be able to get out of there on a high note with some score leverage, I was gonna let him get Raleigh."
When Schlittler walked off the field, he was given a well-deserved standing ovation, although he was too focused on the game to look up and soak the moment in.
"I think I kept the head down, probably should’ve looked up more, but again just fortunate for all the fans and family cheering me on," he said while adding, "it was really loud."
"It’s really good to go out there and put the team in a position to win and just kind of live out that dream," he continued. "... Obviously just trying to get the first one under my belt. Whatever happens I’m just fortunate to be here and get that opportunity and just take it day by day and see what happens."
Boone confirmed after the game that Schlittler will make his next start for the Yankees, taking the spot of Clarke Schmidt, who is out for the rest of the season.
"His stuff really plays and I thought his calm and poise and focus was excellent," the skipper said.
The Yankees' offense remained hot and Cam Schlittler had an impressive major league debut as New York extended its winning streak to three with a 9-6 win over the Mariners.
Manager Aaron Boone put out the same lineup on back-to-back games for the first time since early April and it worked out as the Yankees have now scored 19 runs on 26 hits in the first two games of this series.
-Yankees prospect Schlittler made his major league debut Wednesday and the flamethrowing righty did not disappoint.
With one out and a man on first in the opening frame, Schlittler struck out Cal Raleigh with a 100 mph fastball on the black, looking for his first major league strikeout. He would strike out Randy Arozarena to end an electric first inning. Prior to Wednesday, the fastest pitch from a Yankees pitcher was a 98.5 mph sinker by Yerry De Los Santos. Schlittler threw six pitches in the first that were faster than that.
Schlittler got the full Yankee Stadium experience, allowing a line drive homer to J.P. Crawford that went 344 feet over the short porch. The second solo shot allowed was a no-doubter off the bat of Jorge Polanco that went 417 feet just inside the right field pole.
Schlitter came out for the sixth inning and after a ground-rule double to Julio Rodriguez, the young right-hander struck out Raleigh for the second time. Boone pulled his young pitcher to a standing ovation from the Yankee Stadium crowd.
Other than those two long balls, Schlittler was impressive. He threw 5.1 innings (75 pitches/52 strikes), allowing three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out seven.
-The third earned run allowed by Schlittler was thanks to Jonathan Loaisiga. Arozarena took the first pitch Loaisiga threw and deposited it into the right field stands to cut the Yankees lead to 6-4. He then allowed a two-run shot to Cole Young -- the first of his career -- in the seventh. Loaisiga has now allowed six home runs this season, the most he's given up in one year since 2019.
Luke Weaver came on and dominated. Weaver picked up five outs, allowing just one baserunner (HBP) and striking out three.
Devin Williams pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to lock down the Yankees' third consecutive win and their first series win in July.
-The Yankees' offense broke out in a big way with 10 runs on Tuesday and had a great start on Wednesday. They put up three runs in the first inning thanks to RBI singles by Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton, and an RBI groundout by Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Chisholm would add a solo shot in the third and a two-run shot in the fifth to give the Yankees a 6-2 lead. The Yankees second baseman has 10 home runs since returning from the IL on June 3. Only Raleigh and Aaron Judge have more in the AL, with 13 homers each.
-After the Mariners cut the Yankees' lead to 6-4, New York's offense put up a three-spot in the sixth thanks to the top of the order. After Austin Wells hit a leadoff double and Oswald Peraza reached on an error by Rodriguez, Jasson Dominguez singled home Wells and Judge doubled in two more.
Four Yankees had multi-hit games with Dominguez having the best game, finishing 3-for-4 with a walk, two runs and one RBI.
-Yankees GM Brian Cashman said Wednesday that he still believes in Anthony Volpe, and the young shortstop did pick up a single -- but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double -- and finished 1-for-4.
Chisholm's homers came whenever the Mariners cut into the team's lead. They were clutch and with the bullpen's woes, the Yankees needed every run they could get.
Cam Schlittler gets Cal Raleigh for his first MLB strikeout! pic.twitter.com/GpYY7xf1Yi
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) July 9, 2025
Cody Bellinger gets the Yankees on the board first! pic.twitter.com/xkg7fh4u62
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) July 9, 2025
Giancarlo Stanton brings home Aaron Judge! pic.twitter.com/jj9AN4WsNd
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) July 9, 2025
Jazz to Monument Park! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/mN4g0HkpI3
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) July 9, 2025
Jasson Domínguez has an RBI and a three-hit game! pic.twitter.com/0HRvYKijvb
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) July 10, 2025
Aaron Judge with a two-run double and he's got 77 RBI on the year 🔥 pic.twitter.com/DdXt1aRK5B
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) July 10, 2025
The Yankees and Mariners wrap up their three-game set Thursday night in the Bronx. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
Marcus Stroman (1-1, 7.45 ERA) will take the mound while All-Star Bryan Woo (8-4, 2.77 ERA) will be on the bump for Seattle.
For the second consecutive outing, Mets pitching prospect Nolan McLean struck out double-digit batters in a start for Triple-A Syracuse.
Six days after fanning 10 over 5.0 innings for the first time in his career, McLean did it again on Wednesday night.
This time, the right-hander went six scoreless innings against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Philadelphia Phillies' Triple-A affiliate, and allowed just three hits and three walks while striking out 10 on 97 pitches (62 strikes).
Now at 95 strikeouts through 87 innings pitched between Double-A and Triple-A, McLean is starting to show some elite swing-and-miss stuff in what has already been a breakout season for him.
Before these last two starts, the most strikeouts the 23-year-old had in a game this year was eight, which happened twice, both of which came while pitching for Binghamton. He struck out seven in his first start for Syracuse, but never had more than six in any other outing before his last two.
Wednesday's start was also the first time McLean allowed no earned runs since May 22, although he's allowed two earned runs or fewer in nine straight outings.
McLean came away with a no-decision, exiting the game in a scoreless tie. However, with Syracuse down 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth, prospect Drew Gilbert hit a game-tying single before Joey Meneses walked it off with a single of his own.
It's no secret Anthony Volpe has had a rough year and an even rougher beginning to his Yankees career.
Now in his third year as the starting shortstop, Volpe hasn't progressed the way the organization had hoped. Through 90 games, he's slashing .217/.293/.393 -- about right on par with his career averages in 409 games.
Not only has his offense stagnated, but his defense and baserunning have appeared to regress -- already with 11 errors on the season and a -3 Outs Above Average (OAA) after a career-high 14 OAA in 2024. He's also been caught stealing seven times in 17 attempts for a success rate of 59 percent.
Drafted in the first round with the 30th overall pick in 2019 and billed as the next Derek Jeter, Volpe has severely underperformed in that admittedly unfair comparison.
But even compared just among his peers, Volpe has not been good.
Since 2023, Volpe is one of 62 players who have registered at least 1500 plate appearances and during that time, he ranks last in average, on-base percentage, OPS, wRC+ and wOBA.
This year, he's currently on pace for a 2 fWAR, which ranks 24th among 30 starting shortstops.
Yet, despite the numbers on both sides of the ball, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he's "a fan of Volpe" and admires his "strength and fortitude" throughout his struggles, especially as he goes through them at such a young age while being the starting shortstop on the Yankees.
In fact, Cashman still believes that Volpe can put it all together and become the player that he and the rest of the organization think the youngster can be and pointed to Volpe's success in New York's run to the World Series last season as a reason to keep the faith.
"He helped us get to a World Series last year, performed in the World Series last year and he does not lack confidence. Yes, there’s struggles that have happened and yet he’s like this," Cashman said while gesturing a wipe of the shoulder. "It doesn’t stick to him. It’s turn the page and he’s focused on tonight’s game, and I do have belief and optimism that he obviously will impact us in a really positive way on both sides of the ball.
Cashman continued: "He’s our shortstop and I don’t forget where he was and what he was doing in the biggest stage of the game last October and despite the twists and turns of how the season currently is playing out, (there's) a lot of season left to be played so I’m not counting him out and I know he’s gonna be part of the solution rather than the problem."
To Volpe's credit, Cashman is right about his performance in the postseason last year.
In his first taste of the playoffs, Volpe slashed .286/.407/.408 with a home run, three doubles, six RBI, 10 walks, 10 runs scored and five stolen bases (no caught stealings). His lone home run was a grand slam in Game 4 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the only game the Yankees won.
Now it's about getting that type of production for an entire season.
"The peaks and valleys are a part of a six-month season," Cashman said. "I mean, we got out of the gate somewhat unbeatable for a period of time and now we’re beatable. And that’s part of the twists and turns of a season, and trying to ride those emotions and try to keep perspective, but also recognize the potholes when they come up. I do not consider (Volpe) a problem. I understand that there’s struggles there, but again,I believe he’ll be fine."
The Yankees sure hope Volpe picks it up sooner rather than later as he's been in a massive slump over his last 30 games, batting just .173 (18-for-104) while making a slew of questionable plays at shortstop.
"We have a really potent offense that’s one of the top run producers in the game," Cashman said. "... and he certainly can come join the party sooner than later and I believe he will. I just have a high belief in him."
As the Yankees play out the final few games before the 2025 All-Star break, holes in the roster have begun to form.
Longtime GM Brian Cashman is well aware of these needs and when speaking with the media prior to Wednesday's game against the Mariners at Yankee Stadium, he listed what he sees as pieces the Yankees need.
"I’m definitely going to be looking for upgrades if I can. We’ve lost three starters out of our World Series rotation so far this year. So I’m going to see if I can find a starter despite getting some real quality starts from others who stepped up like Will Warren and others," Cashman said. "I would import a starter, some relievers, because our bullpen is taxed and some injuries. And an infielder, if possible. That’s a long list. I’m not sure if this will be a deep deadline or not. Not sure how active we can be but we’ll try to be active. And try to import improvements, that’s the gig."
Heading into Wednesday's games, there are 15 teams in Wild Card spots or within five games of the final spot, so the number of teams willing to sell is currently limited. Cashman knows this and points to this past offseason as an example of the disparity of opportunities between the winter and summer months.
When Juan Soto signed with the Mets, Cashman said there were opportunities to replace that production and fill out the roster. The Yankees signed Max Fried and Paul Goldschmidt, and traded for Cody Bellinger and Devin Williams this offseason. Opportunities like those may not be available for Cashman, but the GM will continue to look at all avenues.
"We're going to go to town. We're going to do everything we possibly can to improve ourselves and try to match up. Hopefully, at the end of it all, we'll have whatever's here on the current roster remains healthy, and we can add to it and be proud of it and take our shot. Hopefully, I can fix what ails us because there's some areas on this team that need fixing."
Is there a need more pressing than others? Cashman, as he's said in past seasons, pointed to pitching.
"Pitching is always going to be that," he said. "We’ve taken hits in the rotation when we lost [Gerrit] Cole and Luis Gil and now [Clarke] Schmidt. [Ryan] Yarbrough was a hell of a player for us. Fernando Cruz. Whether it’s bullpen guys or starting pitchers, it’s all of it. That’s the area."
Although Gil, Yarbrough and Cruz are expected to return from injuries this season, Cole and Schmidt are not so lucky. The Yankees are starting prospect Cam Schlittler on Wednesday as the team tries to make it to the All-Star break.
And just a few short weeks after that, the trade deadline will be here and Cashman will need to make moves to try and put the Yankees in a position to return to the World Series.
We'll see if he can do it.
The 2025 MLB trade deadline is set for July 31.
The Mets have been recovering from their early summer swoon without a reliable left-hander working in a high-leverage bullpen role. But it shouldn't be too long until this issue is resolved internally.
Among the handful of injured Mets pitchers completing rehab assignments is Brooks Raley, and the veteran southpaw has undoubtedly resembled a reliever eager to contribute at the big league level after a lengthy absence from the game.
In his second appearance for Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, Raley recorded four outs with one strikeout and one hit allowed. His average velocity reached the same high-80s range that radar guns captured before he underwent Tommy John surgery at the age of 35 last season.
"Really good, really good [reports]. The breaking ball, the sinker, the life with the way the ball is coming out," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of Raley on Wednesday. "He went one-plus yesterday, something that we wanted him to do. Now we're looking at back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday, and then obviously we have a decision. But the reports are encouraging. This is a guy who I'm really looking forward to having back here."
Raley aimed for a comeback with a familiar team -- he logged 61.2 innings for the Mets between 2023 and 2024 -- and right now, he represents much-needed help for a bullpen that owns the third-worst ERA (5.72) in baseball over the last month. He's struck out 12 batters across eight scoreless frames thus far, demonstrating clear value.
He's long valued movement on his pitches too, and he's struck out at least one batter in each of his seven rehab appearances this summer. Raley was an impact reliever at full strength two seasons ago, with a sharp 2.80 ERA in 66 games, and the Mets would obviously welcome similar production from him in the near future.
Carlos Mendoza says that the Mets have gotten "really good" reports on Brooks Raley from his rehab assignment: pic.twitter.com/JsEvWrJbDU
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 9, 2025
Winless Giants starter Justin Verlander makes unfortunate MLB pitching history originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Justin Verlander began the 2025 MLB season needing 38 wins to reach 300 for his career, and 15 starts into his first Giants campaign, he still needs 38 wins to achieve that milestone.
Somehow, Verlander is 0-7 this season after taking the loss in the Giants’ 13-0 defeat to the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday at Oracle Park.
Per OptaStats, Verlander is the first starting pitcher in the All-Star Game Era (1933) to enter the break with at least 65 strikeouts and zero wins.
Verlander pitched well enough to get the win Wednesday, but the Giants’ offense was silenced by starter Jesús Luzardo and the Phillies’ bullpen. In six innings, the 42-year-old allowed seven hits, four runs, two earned runs and didn’t walk any batters while striking out seven.
This certainly isn’t how Verlander or Giants manager Bob Melvin expected this season to go.
“I thought it was his best stuff of the year, by a pretty good margin,” Melvin told reporters after Wednesday’s loss. “We just didn’t play well behind him and we didn’t score many runs, and that’s kind of been a theme when he’s pitched. But I thought his breaking ball was really good, his heater was good. It’s too bad. [He] ends up [giving up] what, only 2 earned runs, but we just don’t do enough for him on today on either side of the ball. Like I said, he pitched well.”
In eight of Verlander’s 15 starts this season, the Giants have scored two or fewer runs, making it hard for him to pick up that elusive first win with San Francisco.
Melvin understands the frustration of everyone in the clubhouse.
“I come in here saying the same thing,” Melvin told reporters. “It feels like every time we don’t score runs for him and I don’t know. At this point in time, he should certainly have a couple of wins and he doesn’t, unfortunately. I think we all kind of feel it.”
Verlander gets a chance to rest and reset with the upcoming MLB All-Star break, and he’ll resume the pursuit of a win early in the second half.
During the Dodgers’ season-long five-game losing streak this week, manager Dave Roberts cited a lack of “fight” from his lineup as the most troubling trend in the team’s recent skid.
On Wednesday in Milwaukee, more fight finally returned — only for the Brewers to still land the knockout punch.
In a 3-2 loss at American Family Field that extended the Dodgers' losing streak to six games, the lineup once again scuffled in a five-hit performance while closer Tanner Scott blew a ninth-inning lead to waste Tyler Glasnow’s encouraging return from the injured list.
It was a grind of a game, with the Dodgers scoring their only runs on a bases-loaded walk following a hit-and-run play and a sacrifice fly that briefly gave them a 2-1 lead. After Scott gave up a game-tying RBI single to Andrew Vaughn in the ninth, Jackson Chourio walked it off against Kirby Yates in the bottom of the 10th, sending the scuffling Dodgers their longest losing skid since April 2019.
While a shorthanded offense remained mired in its recent slump, Glasnow’s return at least provided the afternoon with a positive sign. Making his first start since going on the injured list in April because of a shoulder injury, and just his 28th start in two years with the Dodgers since signing a $136.5-million contract two winters ago, the lanky right-hander pitched decently over his five innings, giving up two hits and three walks with five strikeouts.
Glasnow ran into trouble in the second inning, when Christian Yelich singled on a first-pitch fastball, Isaac Collins drew a full-count walk, and both executed a double-steal to move into scoring position. A 10-pitch walk to Caleb Durbin — ending on a curveball that never ducked into the strike zone — loaded the bases with one out.
Read more:Dodgers Dugout: Who's better, Clayton Kershaw or Sandy Koufax?
However, Glasnow responded, jamming Jake Bauers with a sinker for a pop out before blowing Joey Ortiz away with an elevated 96 mph heater.
That sequence was Glasnow at his best: Going after hitters with his premium velocity, and showing no signs of the tentativeness — or, as Roberts described it in his pregame address, “search mode” — that has often derailed his Dodgers career.
“There’s always fine-tuning, but when you’re out there competing, it’s hard to be in search mode,” Roberts said pregame. “I know he’s healthy. The pitching guys feel good with where his delivery is at. So now it’s just go out there and keep that rhythm and execute pitches and compete.”
As Glasnow settled into a rhythm, however, the Dodgers continued to toil at the plate.
Having scored only one run in four of their previous five games, a shorthanded lineup, which got Tommy Edman back from injury but once again was without Teoscar Hernández in the starting lineup, struggled to get a beat on crafty veteran left-hander José Quintana.
With only a 90-mph fastball and a flurry of funky off-speed pitches, the 36-year-old navigated the first four innings without giving up a hit.
A breakthrough finally came in the fifth inning. After Miguel Rojas drew a leadoff walk, the Dodgers executed a well-timed hit-and-run play, drawing the second baseman out of position just as Esteury Ruiz lined a single through the hole he vacated. With two outs, James Outman then checked his swing just enough to draw a full-count walk, loading the bases for Shohei Ohtani to plate the game’s first run on a four-pitch free pass (benefitting from a couple borderline ball calls).
And while that 1-0 lead didn’t last long — in the bottom of the fifth, Glasnow walked leadoff man Bauers, moved him to second with a balk, then watched helplessly as Bauers stole third and scored on a throw that bounced to the outfield — the Dodgers went back in front in the seventh when Mookie Betts lifted a bases-loaded sacrifice fly.
The Dodgers, though, squandered opportunities to stretch the lead from, leaving the bases loaded to end the seventh inning before stranding more baserunners in both the eighth and ninth.
That left Scott with too little margin to complete a four-out save. While the left-hander stranded a runner at second base he inherited in the eighth, three ninth-inning singles from the Brewers tied the score, culminating with a broken-bat, bloop single from Vaughn that made it 2-2.
Then, after Brewers closer Trevor Megill struck out the side in the top of the 10th, Yates surrendered the game-winning single to Churio in the bottom half of the inning, handing the Dodgers their second-straight series sweep.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.