Category: Baseball

PHILADELPHIA — Cristopher Sánchez, untouchable for most of the first half, will feel the full appreciation of his dominance when he throws the first pitch of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 14.

Full starting lineups were announced in a press conference format with managers Dave Roberts and John Schneider on Monday.

Sánchez will kick-start what could be a nightlong fawning over the Philadelphia Phillies' brightest stars, leading a contingent of six hometown players in front of a Citizens Bank Park crowd eager for its first time playing host to the Midsummer Classic since 1996, when it was staged at Veterans Stadium, and many of this game's stars were not yet born.

Yet Sánchez and the National League will not have it easy; the American League will trot out Toronto Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease — who flirted with a no-hitter in his last outing — to start the game; as the Philadelphia Inquirer noted, the last pitcher to start an All-Star Game for either team was the late Hall of Famer Roy Halladay.

“This feels real special, real exciting, especially at home, so I am able to enjoy it overall,” says Sanchez through a translator.

“This can be described as the best moment of my career," the NL's starting pitcher said.

HOME RUN DERBY FIELD: Who is competing in Monday's All-Star Game event?

Cease will be backed by a power-packed lineup that gets a quick jump-start with future Hall of Famer Mike Trout, followed immediately by consensus first-half MVP Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros.

The NL lineup will be missing Shohei Ohtani, but that simply opens up the designated hitter slot for the Phillies' Kyle Schwarber, who has hit 88 homers, most in the major leagues, since the start of the 2025 season.

USA TODAY Sports is providing live on-site coverage of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia. Here are the latest updates and news as the National League and American League starting lineups were announced:

MLB All-Star Game starting lineups

This section will be updated once the starting lineups are released

American League

Starting pitcher: Toronto Blue Jays RHP Dylan Cease

Starting Lineup - American League:

• Mike Trout CF Los Angeles Angels
• Yordan Alvarez DH Houston Astros
• Shea Langeliers C A's
• Junior Caminero 3B Tampa Bay Rays
• Bobby Witt Jr. SS Kansas City Royals
• Cody Bellinger RF New York Yankees
• Ben Rice 1B New York Yankees
• Riley Greene LF Detroit Tigers
• Ernie Clement 2B Toronto Blue Jays

National League

Starting pitcher: Philadelphia Phillies LHP Cristopher Sánchez

Starting Lineup - National League:

• Kyle Schwarber DH Philadelphia Phillies
• Juan Soto LF New York Mets
• Freddie Freeman 1B Los Angeles Dodgers
• CJ Abrams SS Washington Nationals
• Max Muncy 3B Los Angeles Dodgers
• Ozzie Albies 2B Atlanta Braves
• Brandon Marsh RF Philadelphia Phillies
• Andy Pages CF Los Angeles Dodgers
• Drake Baldwin C Atlanta Braves

Who is the National League starting pitcher for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game?

MLB announced on Sunday that Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez will start for the National League on Tuesday in the All-Star Game. He is the first Phillies pitcher to start the Midsummer Classic since Roy Halladay got the start in 2011.

Sánchez, who finished as the runner-up in the Cy Young Award race last season, has continued to be one of the top pitchers in the league this year. He finished the first half with an 11-4 record and a 2.62 ERA with 144 strikeouts in an MLB-leading 20 starts.

Who is the American League starting pitcher for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game?

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider, who is serving as the American League manager in the All-Star Game, shared in the Blue Jays locker room on Sunday that right-hander Dylan Cease will start the Midsummer Classic.

Cease, who was one of the Blue Jays' big free agent additions this past offseason, went 6-4 in the first half of the season with a 2.56 ERA and 148 strikeouts in 98 1/3 innings pitched.

In his final start of the first half, Cease nearly came three outs shy of pitching the second no-hitter of his career and just the second in Blue Jays history, as he struck out 11 San Francisco Giants and threw a career-high 118 pitches in a 10-0 conquest of the San Francisco Giants.

How did Cease learn he's starting the All-Star Game?

A "vintage painting" from his Manager ⭐️😅 #BlueJays50pic.twitter.com/1qUMapoyvC

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 12, 2026

When is the 2026 MLB All-Star Game?

• Date: Tuesday, July 14
• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• Location: Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia)

The 2026 MLB All-Star Game is set for an 8 p.m. ET first pitch at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB All-Star Game starting lineups live: Mike Trout, Kyle Schwarber lead off

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Bettors are backing the hometown hero in the Home Run Derby, but it’s not Bryce Harper. 

Key Takeaways

• Kyle Schwarber is a big liability at sportsbooks.  
  
  
• MLB changed the Home Run Derby’s format for this year. 
  
  
• Bryce Harper and Junior Caminero are two other popular picks.

The other Philadelphia Phillies’ star, Kyle Schwarber, is the favorite and most-bet participant in Monday night’s event at Citizens Bank Park in the City of Brotherly Love. FanDuel told Covers that Schwarber is getting 22% of the tickets and 26% of the handle with Home Run Derby odds of +290. 

Home Run Derby Winner Splits @DKSports

28%💰| 25%🎟️on Kyle Schwarber
21%💰| 18%🎟️on Junior Caminero
13%💰| 13%🎟️on Munetaka Murakami
11%💰| 12%🎟️on Bryce Harper
9%💰| 12%🎟️on Ben Rice
8%💰| 8%🎟️on Jordan Walker
6%💰| 7%🎟️on Jac Caglianone
4%💰| 6%🎟️on Willson Contreras pic.twitter.com/XqXXdzRvbQ

— DK Insights (@DKInsights_) July 13, 2026

BetMGM reported that Schwarber (+310) has seen an even higher 24.8% of the bets and 29.1% of the money, making the Phillies’ designated hitter the operator’s biggest liability. 

Schwarber leads all MLB players with 32 home runs at the All-Star Break, and he’s competing in his third Home Run Derby. No other participant on Monday has more than 20% of the handle.

Kyle Schwarber's MLB-leading 32nd home run 💣 pic.twitter.com/AFu9Czlvph

— MLB (@MLB) July 9, 2026

New format

Bettors could also be backing Schwarber because of MLB’s format change. The Home Run Derby is ditching the clock, instead opting for a swing-based system for each round. Participants will get 20 swings in Round 1, 15 in Round 2, and 15 in the final round, attempting to hit as many homers as possible in those ranges. 

If they hit a home run on their final swing of a round, they can keep going until the ball doesn’t go out. 

This format also removes the first-round matchup brackets of years past, and tiebreakers in the first round are determined by home run distance and a swing-off in the later two rounds. 

The main competition 

Schwarber’s teammate, Harper, is BetMGM’s second-biggest liability. His odds have shortened from +900 to +850, third in the market, and Harper is getting 16.1% of the tickets and 14.4% of the money.

Only three players EVER have won the Home Run Derby in their home ballpark (h/t @SlangsonSports)

The @Phillies have TWO chances to add to this exclusive list with Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper 💪💪@TMobile#HRDerbypic.twitter.com/pfnzKXKgkI

— MLB (@MLB) July 11, 2026

Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero is second on the odds list at +380 at FanDuel, where he’s getting 19% of the tickets and 20% of the money. He’s getting just over 17% of the handle at BetMGM and is third on the book’s liability list.

BetMGM has seen Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami’s odds in the Home Run Derby winner market go from +500 to +475, and the Japanese star has 10.7% of the bets and 10.3% of the handle.   

Taking a shot? 

New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice is a popular longshot. With odds of +1,000, 16% of the bet count and money are backing the Bronx Bomber at FanDuel. He’s fourth at BetMGM, where his odds have shortened from +1,100 to +850, with more than 11% of both the tickets and handle. 

Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone (+650) is getting 8.8% of the money at BetMGM, while St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker (+750) has taken 5.2% of the handle. Boston’s Wilson Contreras (+1,500) has seen the least amount of tickets (5.3%) and handle (2.4%).  

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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Baseball's annual moonshot extravaganza is set for tonight, as Citizens Bank Park hosts the 2026 Home Run Derby. 

Before you tune in to Netflix at 8 p.m. ET, consult our MLB expert picks for Monday, July 13.

MLB expert picks for the Home Run Derby

Pick	Odds
Josh Inglis: Junior Caminero to win	+425
Neil Parker: Ben Rice to win	+733
Joe Osborne: Bryce Harper to win	+809
Colby Marchio: Jordan Walker to win	+733
JD Yonke: Kyle Schwarber to win	+344
Chris Hatfield: Kyle Schwarber to win	+344

Prices courtesy of Polymarket.

Josh Inglis' expert pick: Junior Caminero to win

Price: 19¢ (+425) at Polymarket

Junior Caminero was very close to becoming the youngest player ever to win the Home Run Derby last year, but came up a little short vs. Cal Raleigh.

He still hit 21 bombs in the first round and averaged 435 feet per homer. That distance is powered by the league's fastest bat speed at 79.9 mph, the best BlastCont% (26%), and a Top-10 IdealAtlAng%. 

This is as short as +330 in some places.

Neil Parker's expert pick: Ben Rice to win

Price: 12¢ (+733) at Polymarket

A “super-short, super-tight swing,” has New York Yankees star Ben Rice up to 29 home runs, and his 29.8% home run to fly ball rate ranks fourth in the majors. Rice will also have his father, Dan Rice, on the mound tossing to him Monday, just like the father-son duo do every offseason.

Rice’s ability to replicate his compact swing gives him an edge with the format changes to the Home Run Derby, too.

Joe Osborne's expert pick: Bryce Harper to win

Price: 11¢ (+809) at Polymarket

Experience matters in this event, and Bryce Harper has already proven he thrives under its unique pressure.

He won the 2018 Derby in front of his home crowd in Washington, showing the spotlight only fuels him. 

Some hitters get rattled under the bright lights of this competition, but Harper is built for it. Now he’ll have another chance to perform in front of a home crowd, and I think that experience gives him an edge.

Colby Marchio's expert pick: Jordan Walker to win

Price: 12¢ (+733) at Polymarket

I want young guys who have raw, natural power in the Home Run Derby, and Jordan Walker has all of that and more.

The younger stars are always a draw for me because I want to see them leave their mark and make a bigger name for themselves. The Cardinals' 6-foot-6, 250-pound outfielder is easily one of my favorite looks in this event.

JD Yonke's expert pick: Kyle Schwarber to win

Price: 23¢ (+344) at Polymarket

Citizens Bank Park is crafted for left-handed power, given its short porch in right field. Kyle Schwarber knows this park as well as any contestant, and he has something to prove with only a runner-up finish on his resume.

He's crushed 12 more dingers than any other player to lace them up since the start of last season (88), and it's time he takes the throne as the rightful home-run king with the hometown crowd behind him.

Chris Hatfield's expert pick: Kyle Schwarber to win

Price: 23¢ (+344) at Polymarket

Kyle Schwarber is my pick. While June may be the star's typical magic month, it will be this night in July that's his.

The case is simple: he has the most homers in baseball, elite barrel volume, and a lefty pull swing aimed at the 330-foot corner he calls home. The new 20-swing format rewards efficiency over stamina, and nobody wastes fewer swings than Schwarber. 

Bonus storyline: he lost the 2018 final to Harper. Revenge at home against a teammate. Sign me up.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

When the Atlanta Braves’ 2026 All-Stars were revealed just over a week ago, Ozzie Albies earned the distinction for the fourth time in his career. Though it might seem rote for a veteran player by that point, Albies believes this may be his most meaningful trip to the midsummer classic yet.

Beginning with a key home run on Opening Day, Albies appeared poised to return to his slugging ways and once again become a difference maker in the Atlanta lineup. The past three months only strengthened that notion as Albies earned the opportunity to start the All-Star Game for the first time in his 10-year career.

“It’s one of the most exciting things you can get named for,” Albies said of earning his spot on the National League All-Star team. “It makes your whole year. You work so hard since Day 1 in spring, the offseason, putting the work in. It’s nice to get the recognition that, hey, you’re an All-Star and you play your butt off every single day.”

Albies, who was previously an All-Star in 2018, 2021 and 2023, built a reputation as one of the game’s top offensive threats at second base. He surpassed 65 extra-base hits four times, compiled seasons with 30-plus home runs and 100-plus RBIs twice, and surpassed 100 runs scored on three separate occasions.

Of course, hard work has never been an issue for Albies, who’s built a reputation as one of the most dedicated players on the Braves roster and routinely goes the extra mile in both his offseason and daily preparation. Injuries, however, took their toll on Albies’ ability to go to the post and produce.

In 2024, a fractured right wrist cost Albies just over two months of playing time and factored heavily into his slow start last year. After finally hitting his stride in the second half, Albies then suffered a fractured hamate bone in his left hand which ended his season in late September.

Overall, 2025 was a disappointing year in which Albies batted a career-low .240 and hit just 16 homers to go along with a .671 OPS in 157 games. Those numbers coupled with subpar defensive metrics, resulted in a career-low 1.7 fWAR for Albies in 2025.

That was a sharp departure from the player who’d been such a major cog in Atlanta’s lineup since debuting in 2017.

Prior to last year, Albies averaged 4.0 fWAR in each of his four full seasons from 2018-2023. During that stretch, Albies dealt with several major injuries, however. He missed 31 games due to a bone bruise in his left wrist during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and lost 98 games in 2022 because of both a fractured foot and a fractured finger.

Having overcome that laundry list of setbacks, once again being recognized as one of the best players in the game was even more meaningful to Albies this time around.

“When they told me, I got tears in my eyes immediately,” Albies said of finding out he was an All-Star again. “Dealing with (injury) issues here and there in baseball, it’s part of the game. But to come back and have a better season, it’s huge. It’s amazing. Like I said, we work every single day. Each and every single one of us works our butt off every single day on this team. That’s why it’s great when we get recognized like this.”

New Braves manager Walt Weiss, who was an All-Star for Atlanta in 1998, experienced the challenge of overcoming injuries multiple times during his 14-year playing career. Given a front row seat to watch Albies on a daily basis while serving on the Braves coaching staff since 2018, Weiss believes his second baseman should be held in high regard for his perseverance.

“I told Ozzie that I have a deeper level of respect for guys that get kicked down in this game, then fight their way back and get back to a high level,” Weiss said. “It’s not easy to do and he’s had to deal with injuries the last couple years and has worked hard to get back to where he’s at. Now, he’s being recognized for it… It’s a credit to him, because that doesn’t just happen. It takes a lot of work and a lot of patience, but it’s great to see him playing the way he is.”

With all of those injuries in the past, Weiss was counting on Albies to once again contribute to the Braves lineup in meaningful ways in 2026.

“I liked what I saw from Ozzie this spring, especially right-handed,” Weiss said as the season got underway. “For the majority of his career, he’s been one of the best hitters in baseball against left-handed pitching. I know last year was a bit of an outlier. He got off to a slow start like a lot of our guys did, but I still believe in the guy, especially right-handed. I think he’s a beast. So, part of the lineup construction is going to be putting him in a position to get as many right-handed at-bats as possible.”

That strategy paid off for Weiss and the Braves during the first half of the season.

Albies owns a .798 OPS in 172 plate appearances with 19 extra-base hits and six of his 14 home runs against left-handers this season. That comes after posting just a .708 OPS with only four homers against southpaws in 186 plate appearances in 2025.

That boost in production against lefties has helped Albies’ overall 2026 numbers return to form. He finished the first half slashing .267/.320/.439 with 21 doubles, 14 homers, 51 RBIs and 61 runs scored in 95 games.

As for starting the All-Star game for the first time, Albies shared his appreciation with the Braves fans who put him in that position. He received a total of 1,498,141 votes and edged out Bryson Stott of the All-Star host Philadelphia Phillies for that honor.

“I want to say thank you to the fans,” Albies said. “They’re cheering us on in every moment. Even when we’re down, they’re still cheering for us. It’s gets us hyped, especially coming to the plate in big moments and you listen to your name get chanted out there. It helps you out to even have a better at-bat. We’ve all been there. I want to tell them thank you for voting for us, supporting us, and coming to give us all the energy we need every single day. It makes the game better.”

The Rays entered the 2026 draft with one of the best opportunities in baseball, and they capitalized on it. Headlined by Grady Emerson at No. 2 overall and complemented by an unusually prep-heavy class, Tampa Bay assembled one of the most interesting classes in the league. More notably, the Rays selected a franchise-record seven high school players in the first 10 rounds, continuing a philosophical shift that began in last year’s draft. Whether that’s simply confidence in their player development system or something more, the organization’s emerging willingness to invest premium picks in prep position players and prep pitchers has become one of the more intriguing draft trends in baseball. Nearly 50% of the Rays picks this year were from high school players while the league average continues to trend down for this demographic.

Day One

The Rays’ first five selections add impact talent all over the field. Emerson and Marchand immediately bolster what was already an athletic group of middle infielders, giving Tampa Bay two more high-upside players capable of sticking on the left side of the infield. Emerson, in particular, projects to become one of the system’s premier prospects the moment he signs. I expect him to slot in as a consensus top 25 prospect behind Theo Gillen – who is looking like a consensus top 10 prospect. Marchand has a unique hit and power combo that gives him impact potential at the top half of a lineup.

On the pitching side, Ben Blair and Gavin Giese strengthen a farm system that has become increasingly position-player heavy near the top. Selecting Blair at No. 49 marked a departure from recent drafts, where the Rays had overwhelmingly favored position players with their early selections. Blair gives the Rays an advanced college starter whose deceptive, low-slot delivery and feel for spin could allow him to move quickly through the minors while Giese adds another projectable prep arm with the type of offspeed profile the organization has consistently developed well.

Collin Bland also fills a niche within the system. While the Rays have accumulated plenty of athletic position players in recent years, true middle-of-the-order power remains relatively scarce throughout the lower levels. Bland’s raw power gives the organization another potential impact bat to develop, even if there’s inherent risk in his hit tool.

Taken as a whole, Day One of this class reinforces what has become a hallmark of the Rays’ farm system: exceptional depth. Rather than targeting one demographic, Tampa Bay added premium athletes, two intriguing starting pitching prospects, and one of the better prep power bats in the draft. The result is a more balanced system that now features increased upside at several positions without sacrificing the organizational depth that has long been one of its greatest strengths.

Day Two

The Rays way was on continued display on Day 2 as Tampa Bay repeatedly targeted pitchers with flatter approach angles, lower arm slots, and above-average feel for spin. Lower arm slots can produce flatter approach angles, making fastballs appear to stay above hitters’ barrels longer and allowing them to play above their raw velocity. Owen Kramkowski, Tate McKee, Logan Georges, Cole Stokes, Steven Gonzalez, Mason Bixby, Alex Philipott, Nate Smithburg (lefty submarine pitcher!), and Ivan Sabater all fit that mold. Ben Blair belongs in this group as well despite being selected on Day One. While each has different velocity bands, the common denominator is the ability to spin multiple secondaries with lower slot deliveries that create deception.

A second group consisted of athletic, relatively low-mileage arms. Kyle Johnson, AJ Rice, Griffin Long, Amp Phillips, McCarty English, and David Horn Jr. all have comparatively light workloads for their age while showing either advanced feel for an offspeed pitch or the athleticism to develop one. Gavin Giese from their Day One group also falls under this category. Rather than chasing finished products, the Rays appear to have prioritized pitchers with developmental runway in this group.

The only position player the Rays selected on Day Two was prep OF Tai Jones. Jones is a big, 6’2 righty who is a great athlete. His swing is smooth with above average bat speed while still being direct to the ball. His plus arm and speed will play anywhere in the outfield. Jones could grow into a significant power-speed threat as he refines his approach. He also comes from Jackson Academy, where current Rays first base coach Corey Dickerson served as head coach before joining Tampa Bay’s staff.

Overall, this class reflects a subtle but meaningful shift in the Rays’ draft philosophy.

Tampa Bay invested heavily in prep talent more than ever before, added four position players with legitimate impact offensive tools, and diversified the types of pitchers it targeted throughout the draft – particularly in the later rounds where they usually go pitcher-heavy.

In recent years, the Rays largely targeted pitchers with riding fastballs and feel for spin. This class was noticeably broader. Some pitchers this year fit that mold, but others were selected for deceptive lower arm slots, athleticism, or standout offspeed characteristics. Rather than searching for one archetype, Tampa Bay appeared to identify several different developmental pathways and filled each one with multiple prospects.

Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski could have been content with his performance the first couple months of the season. After all, he’d come into the year fighting for a rotation spot, and he’d shown in that time that he was ready to be a full-time major-league starter.

That wasn’t enough.

While still holding onto his identity as a pitcher who goes right at hitters, over Wrobleski’s last two starts, he tallied 20 strikeouts.

“I think we’re just doing a good job with the plan,” Wrobleski said last week, days before he was named an All-Star. “I feel like I’m continuing to get better at knowing where to go with two strikes, knowing where to go versus a certain hitter with two strikes and just kind of reading the game.”

Read more:Dodgers swept by Diamondbacks in first winless series of season as they stagger into All-Star break

Wrobleski is the only Dodgers pitcher set to appear in Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia. Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani’s schedules didn’t line up — and Ohtani eventually pulled out of All-Star activities altogether in order to have his left knee drained on Sunday.

The story of how Wrobleski got there, in his first full season in the rotation, after debuting two years ago, includes plenty of twists and turns.

“It’s a chronicle story in his young career, the down to up, but at the end of the day, he’s been a rock for us these first three months,” Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior said in a conversation with The Times. “Was hoping he got in on the first set of announcements, but at the end of the day, he’s an All-Star, and he’s earned every bit of it.”

When Wrobleski wasn’t included on the initial NL All-Star roster, the Dodgers coaching staff went to work lobbying for him to be a replacement player. Manager Dave Roberts publicly made the case for Wrobleski and closer Tanner Scott whenever he had the chance.

Then, a week later, Wrobleski (10-2, 2.69 ERA) got the call after Reds right-hander Chase Burns bowed out because of tightness in his groin.

“He’s done so many intangible things that I think get lost in the shuffle of numbers and metrics,” Prior said. “But he’s eaten innings, he’s provided length for us when we needed length. He went toe-to-toe with [Phillies three-time All-Star Zack] Wheeler. He went toe-to-toe with [José] Soriano when he was dealing with the Angels, kept us in ballgames.”

Admittedly, a year and a half ago, Prior wouldn’t have imagined Wrobleski would be an obvious All-Star pick this quickly.

The tipping point came when Wrobleski surrendered eight runs to the Nationals in his first major-league start of the 2025 season. And it didn’t help that his last start of the previous season was a 10-run slog against the Diamondbacks.

“It was a long, raw emotional sit down with him,” Prior said. “And [Roberts] and I, and [assistant pitching coach Connor McGuiness] and the staff, we left with like, ‘Which way is this going to go?’”

But persistence has been a hallmark of Wrobleski’s career, dating to his college years, when he infamously bounced back from a car hitting him on a scooter, and a baseball breaking his jaw. He also underwent Tommy John surgery two months before the Dodgers selected him in the 11th round of the 2021 MLB draft.

So, committing to a delivery change last April wasn’t all that intimidating.

Read more:Yoshinobu Yamamoto has rough start as Dodgers drop series to Arizona

Wrobleski returned to the majors in mostly a bullpen role. And his steadiness in those shorter outings culminated in a strong postseason run that included four scoreless appearances in the World Series.

“We talk about, who can you depend on to not let the moment get too big?” Prior said. “And I think Wrobo had proved that all the way through September, but clearly proved that the moment is not too big for him to continue to make pitches. And that was exciting to see, too, as a staff.”

Still, Wrobleski wasn’t guaranteed a rotation role in 2026. And Prior was frank about that over the offseason.

Wrobleski’s first outing of 2026 was in relief, but the Dodgers had earmarked him as their sixth starter for the second turn in the rotation.

In his first five starts, Wrobleski posted an eye-popping 0.56 ERA.

His swing-and-miss rate and strikeouts were down, but pitching to soft contact was getting him positive results. The most glaring example came against the Cardinals in early May, when he threw six shutout innings without recording a punchout.

Wrobleski wasn’t going to coast on that early success, however. He kept fine-tuning his delivery and adjusting his pitch mix, right through a rough patch in late May, and into a consistent June.

“He went from paring down his arsenal to kind of two pitches, to regrow his arsenal while he’s learning how to pitch at this level,” Prior said. “I think the big thing is now these guys have different looks.”

Throughout the year, Wrobleski’s four-seam fastball and slider have done the heavy lifting. But the rest of his secondary pitch mix has been a moving target.

He and the pitching coaches have talked through the most effective use of his curveball. He started integrating his sinker more consistently in late April, especially against left-handed hitters. He’s tinkered with different grips for his changeup, a pitch he started deploying more in mid-May. Three weeks ago, he introduced a sweeper. And in his past two starts, he’s thrown that pitch 19 times.

Read more:Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski added to National League roster for All-Star Game

“At the heart of it, though, is he never lets off the gas pedal,” Prior said. “He just gets the ball, he’s on the rubber, he puts the hitter on defense from the get-go before they’ve even seen a pitch. And that’s something that not everybody can do.”

So, despite the journey, when Wrobleski looks back at the pitcher he was a year and a half ago, he doesn’t see a complete overhaul.

“Same guy but different, I guess,” he said. “It’s crazy. I’ve had to go through a lot of small tweaks and changes. And it’s just all been about just having belief that I could continue to do it. And I knew that there were a lot of things that I could do just to get better, and I wasn’t as far away as maybe it seemed on the outside — or, as people thought it was.

“I felt like I was close, that whole time, even though the results weren’t really there. It’s been cool to see the results come.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

With their 11th round pick in the 2026 MLB Draft the Atlanta Braves have selected Arizona prep infielder Ryne Barker. Barker is an older for the prep class prep infielder with a very interesting mix of tools who probably would have ranked higher if not for both age and a more limited track record in showcase events.

Bio

Name: Ryne Barker

Position: Third Base/Shortstop

Hometown: Queen Creek, AZ (Casteel HS)

School: Texas Tech

Height: 6’2

Weight: 175

Bats/Throws: L/R

Rankings

Baseball America: 324

Perfect Game: 229

Pipeline: 197

ESPN: 181

Overslot: 186

My Own: 176

Consensus: 188

Hit 50

Barker is a bit raw as a hitter and has a fairly limited track record against top competition, but the growth he has shown this spring makes teams hopeful that he can eventually get to an average hit tool. He’s got a solid feel for contact and decent bat speed to work with.

Power 40

Power is never going to be a big part of his game, even though he is a guy with a good amount of projection remaining on his frame. His power is projected to be more of the extra base variety than over the fence.

Speed 70

It’s a pure double plus grade, and his most impactful tool.

Glove 50

He’s been a prep shortstop, though he played mostly at third base this spring and that’s where this grade comes from. He is a little light with the glove for short, leading to most believing he is more of a third baseman to possible second baseman. Other teams have wondered if he could use his speed in the outfield, despite the fact he’s spent the bulk of his time on the dirt thus far.

Arm 50

The arm is average at present, but there are some who believe it could grow into an above average arm as he continues to get stronger.

Overall Thoughts

Barker is an interesting player. Although he is 19.6 years old, he is still a raw but premium athlete who took a step forward this year. I’m not quite sure where he ends up defensively, as he doesn’t have the ideal power for third base. However the speed and feel for making contact are reasons the Braves wanted him in their player development system. He had a solid showing at the combine and although he is years away from the big leagues, should be a fun player to watch in the minor leagues until then.

Day two of the 2026 MLB draft kicked off on Sunday morning. Four Tar Heels baseball players were selected on Saturday, highlighted by Jake Schaffner’s surprising selection as the 20th overall pick by the Boston Red Sox. Carolina fans didn’t have to wait long before seeing another UNC player taken off the board.

Macon Winslow was selected in the sixth round with the 190th pick by the Philadelphia Phillies. The UNC catcher set multiple career highs in his only season with the Heels after transferring away from the wrong shade of blue. Winslow batted .282 with 10 home runs and 57 RBIs for the Heels and was a regular behind the plate for one of the best pitching staffs in the country. Winslow’s selection made five UNC selections in the first six rounds of the draft; that’s the most Tar Heels selected in the first six rounds since 2009.

Mathew Matthijs also heard his name called on Sunday, as he was taken in the 17th round (520th overall). The four-year Tar Heel pitcher had a bit of a rocky 2026 but still finished his career with a 4.48 ERA overall and a 16-6 record as a UNC reliever. Matthijs was a Third Team All-American selection by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association in 2024; he will head to Seattle to join the Mariners.

Also somewhat notable is a UNC player who didn’t get drafted: Gavin Gallaher. One of the best pieces on offense for the Heels, Gallaher didn’t end up getting drafted despite being ranked among the top 150 prospects. This should clear the way for Gallaher to return to Chapel Hill for his senior season.

The NL Central has been a surprisingly competitive and deep division in MLB this year. The Brewers have once again established themselves as the cream of the crop, but the Cubs and Cardinals are contenders in the Wild Card race and even the Pirates have shown flashes, with a record over .500 at time of writing. But after a 20-11 start to the season, the Cincinnati Reds have fallen precipitously to the bottom of the pack, and find themselves with virtually no shot of climbing back up the ladder to contention.

A shame, too, since the Reds have a plethora of exciting young talent, particularly on the mound. Additionally, Elly De La Cruz remains of the of the most exciting players in the sport. But Cincinnati’s offense has been shockingly poor this season, posting a 90 wRC+ as a team — tied with scuffling NL West neighbors Arizona and San Diego for the worst mark in baseball.

So with that in mind, the Reds will have little choice than to continue to build for the future. The problem: Cincinnati’s roster is largely comprised of young, pre-arbitration players who don’t fit the mold for deadline deals. There are still a couple of veteran players the Yankees could potentially take a chance on — but they won’t light up the sports talk circuit.

In terms of bats, again, we’re talking about one of the worst hitting teams in baseball here. Much of their good production has come from guys like De La Cruz and rookie Sal Stewart. J.J. Bleday has come into his own as a strong lefty bat for the Reds after signing on a one-year deal, but still has a few more arb years ahead of him. As an outfielder, there’s little roster fit anyway unless somebody suffers an injury that sidelines them indefinitely. And let’s just say that a coveted bat from last year’s trade deadline, Eugenio Suárez, does not project to be a difference-maker at third base this time around.

There is one interesting opportunity for the Yankees to make a potential upgrade: behind the plate. Cincinnati’s catcher tandem of Tyler Stephenson and old friend Jose Trevino could be available. Reuniting with Trevino would mitigate the friction generally associated with trading for a catcher at the deadline, since he’s a familiar face. Obviously, we know his offensive ceiling is limited — so Stevenson would present a more tangible upgrade.

Stephenson is a pending free agent with a power hitter’s build who has a career 102 wRC+; though he’s fallen short of that mark in 2026. The 6-foot-3, 225 pound righty hit 19 homers as part of a career year in 2024, and it’s not inconceivable that the stick could come along. The problem lies in his defense. Stephenson has always been a poor framer by MLB standards, but his -10 catcher framing runs this season is the poorest mark in baseball, with nobody particularly close. The Yankees are known for developing elite framers, but it’s hard to imagine Stephenson’s results improving over the course of a few short months as he tries to learn a challenging pitching staff on the fly.

The remaining options of note for the Reds lie in the pitching staff. The bullpen is where you’ll find more veterans: guys like Brock Burke, Sam Moll, and the undefeatable Tejay Antone, who has persevered through three Tommy John surgeries. Burke and Moll both have a tendency to walk a lot of batters, and Antone obviously has quite the history. Pierce Johnson is a breaking-ball-first veteran who pitched well last season and got off to a strong start to this year. Again, we’re not talking about household names here.

The Reds’ biggest player development successes have come in their starting rotation, and it’s hard to imagine the Yankees will care to pay the price for guys like Andrew Aboott and the recently-returned Hunter Greene. Brady Singer has put together a couple of good recent seasons, and could be available as a back-of-the-rotation arm. Singer has battled to a 4.72 ERA this year, and lacks a truly elite pitch, so there should be higher-quality options if the Yankees feel compelled to add rotation depth.

Cincinnati is in a weird spot — they don’t fit the traditional mold in terms of sellers, with few veterans performing well enough to command a lot of attention. As such, it’s not very likely we’ll see a new face from the Queen City come to the Bronx ahead of this month’s deadline.

Born and raised in Morgan Hills, California, Aidan Keenan grew up playing baseball with his older brother, Tyler, who eventually went on to be selected by the Seattle Mariners in the fourth-round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of the University of Mississippi. Aiden was just as good, but unlike his brother, he shone on the mound rather than at the plate.  In addition to playing basketball and football, Aiden was a three-year letterman at Live Oak High School, winning the 2021 Blossom Valley Athletic League Sophomore of the Year Award and the 2023 Blossom Valley Athletic League Pitcher of the Year Award, in addition to others. In his senior season, he posted a 0.74 ERA in 47.0 innings with 75 strikeouts, and was considered one of the better prep players in California available in the 2023 MLB Draft, but had a very strong commitment to Stanford and withdrew from the 2023 draft class.

The right-hander did not see much action in his freshman season. All in all, he appeared in 5 games for the Cardinals, starting 2, and allowed 5 earned runs in 6.2 innings, resulting in a 6.75 ERA, allowing 4 hits, walking 10, and striking out 7. When he returned to Stanford in 2025 for his sophomore season, coach Esquer decided to use Keenan exclusively out of the bullpen, and the right-hander had a bit more success. Appearing in 24 games, he posted a 5.59 ERA in 37.0 innings, allowing 33 hits, walking 14, and striking out 43. That summer, Keenan played for the Santa Barbara Foresters of the California Collegiate League and looked good in the pair of games he started.

A junior for the 2026 season, coach Esquer moved the right-hander into the Cardinals’ starting rotation, but an oblique injury in mid-March cost him the majority of the season. In five starts in February and March prior to the injury and two more in May after returning from it, Keenan posted a 5.82 ERA in 21.2 innings, allowing 22 hits, walking 21, and striking out 25. Following the conclusion of the NCAA season, the right-hander appeared in a pair of games for the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

The 6’2”, 200-pound right-hander throws from a low-three-quarters arm slot using a high-tempo delivery that has a bit of effort to it.

Keenan’s fastball sits in the mid-90s, reportedly topping out as high as 99 MPH. Coupled with the riding life that the pitch has, the pitch has the potential to be a well above-average offering, but on the whole, the pitch grades down because the right-hander does not have the best command of it.

The right-hander complements it with a sweeping slider, a cutter, and a changeup. His slider is the best of the three, a mid-80s, high-spin offering that features a tight vertical drop and impressive horizontal movement. His cutter, which sits in the high-80s, has tighter horizontal hop, but has been effective in inducing weak contact. Keenan throws two variants of his changeup, a high-80s circle changeup with more run and a low-80s split changeup with more vertical drop, but both variants are still developing and are only occasionally used during in-game situations.

As mentioned, Keenan has poor command not just of his fastball, but of all of his pitches. When he is on, he is more of a control-over-command pitcher, where he is still hitting the strike zone despite not hitting his spots, but when he begins tiring and losing stamina, he starts losing the entire strike zone.

Paul Toboni and his front office have officially completed their first draft class for the Washington Nationals, and while it will be years before we know if it was truly successful or not, my initial reaction is that they did a fantastic job of accumulating both talent and depth in the class. Let’s take a look at the class as a whole, and what each prospect is bringing to the table for the Nats.

Round One: 2B Chris Hacopian Texas A&M

Starting with the big fish, Hacopian can flat-out hit. He only posted a 116 wRC+ this season for the Aggies after transferring in from Maryland, but his batted ball profile was one of the best in the country, with excellent bat-to-ball skills, plate discipline, and raw power numbers. I am confident not only in his ability to be an above-average big league hitter one day, but to be one sooner than almost anyone from this draft class. It will be interesting to see how the Nats deploy him defensively in pro ball, as the middle infield is quite crowded currently, but he could likely handle third base if needed.

Round Two: OF Chase Brunson TCU

I was especially high on Brunson entering the draft, ranking him 17th on my overall big board, so I was thrilled to see the Nats snag him in round two. In 51 games in 2026, Brunson posted a 131 wRC+, with 10 home runs and 13 stolen bases for the Horned Frogs. He possesses above-average raw power and excels at both getting the ball in the air and to the pullside. The hit tool is roughly average, but the power potential and ability to handle centerfield are what make Brunson so appealing for the Nats.

Round Three: SS Luke Williams Franklin Regional HS (PA)

I was higher than perhaps anyone on Williams entering the draft, ranking my 44th on my big board, so getting him in round three was another pick I’d consider nearly perfect by the Nats. Williams is one of the very best athletes from this year’s high school class, and he displays it with solid power and elite speed. An ankle injury his junior season caused him to miss most of the 2025 summer circuit, meaning data on him against top competition is limited, but the Nats, and I, believe this means they got a steal on a great prep prospect due to limited sample size.

Round Four: RHP Cooper Harris Flower Mound HS (TX)

To cap off an already great day one, the Nats snagged right-handed pitcher Cooper Harris from Flower Mound High School in Texas in the fourth round, another prospect I was higher than most on, ranking him 49th on my big board, fantastic value for a pick outside the top 100. Harris has all the traits of a future big league starter: a big fastball, currently topping 96 MPH with more coming, a repeatable delivery, a feel for spinning breaking balls, and the ability to keep the ball on the ground. With some work to develop 1-2 more pitches in his arsenal, Harris could become one of the highest ranked arms in the Nats farm system.

Rounds 5-10:

5. 3B Daniel Cuvet Miami

6. RHP Cooper Allen UNC Wilmington

7. RHP Gage Peterson App. State

8. RHP Max Hansmann Evansville

9. C Cashel Dugger UCLA

10. OF Nick Williams Michigan State

The Nats kicked things off on day two with third baseman Daniel Cuvet from Miami, a power-hitting righty who has an eerily similar profile to another former Cane, Yohandy Morales. Cuvet has plus power, but will need to make more contact to successfully tap into it enough in pro ball.

Rounds six through eight were about finding upside arms while working on a budget, as money would need to go to afford the Williams and Harris picks from the day before. Allen, a junior righty out of UNC Wilmington, had a 2.79 ERA in 15 starts in 2026, posting a 21.3 K-BB% and 0.62 HR/9, two signs of a pitcher who controls what he can control very well. Peterson posted a 3.28 ERA in 15 starts for App. State, with a strong 29.4 K%, but shakier 10.7 BB%. Hansmann, a senior from Evansville, posted a 3.99 ERA in 15 starts, with a middling 13.7 K-BB%, a money-saving pick mainly from the Nats.

The Nats picked up 2 bats with their final top 10 picks, catcher Cashel Dugger from UCLA and outfielder Nick Williams from Michigan State. The 22-year-old Williams had strong numbers for the Spartans in 2026, hitting .333 with a 130 wRC+, but Dugger is the more interesting one of the two for me, as he is a plus defender behind the dish and displayed an excellent hit tool in 2026. His power output was close to nonexistent in 2026 for the Bruins, but based on his 6’3”, 200-pound frame, there may be more power yet to be unlocked in there.

Rounds 11-20:

11. RHP Weston Moss Texas A&M

12. LHP Matthew Dallas Wake Forest

13. RHP Cody Howard Texas

14. RHP Zack Konstantinovsky Rutgers

15. C Francisco Rivero Canyon del Oro HS (AZ)

16. OF Anthony Murphy Corona HS (CA)

17. SS Isaiah Galason Houston County HS (TX)

18. INF Avery Ortiz Oklahoma State

19. OF Jack Brooks Oregon

20. RHP Anson Seibert Johnson County CC

Rounds 11 through 20 were a mix of dart-throw pitchers and insurance policy hitters for the Nats. Moss is the highest ranked of the four consecutive arms from 11 to 14, a 6’4” righty with a below-average fastball, but excellent secondaries, including a nasty slider. He gets great extension down the mound, so if the Nats can find some way to improve his fastball velocity or shape, he could very well become the Brad Lord of this draft class for the Nats.

The Nats picked up three consecutive high school hitters from picks 15 to 17, and while Murphy and Galason are unlikely to sign unless something goes wrong in the signing process with Williams or Harris, Rivero is interesting. Ranked the 329th prospect on Over-Slot’s high school big board, Rivero was originally going to sign with the Dodgers as an international free agent in 2025, before being denied eligibility by MLB. He moved from Venezuela to Arizona to play ball and become draft-eligible, and the Nats grabbed him in round 14 on Sunday. A strong defensive catcher with a simple swing, there’s a chance the Nats get a deal done with Rivero and prevent him from ever stepping on campus at Arizona.

The Nats finished off their draft class with three more college prospects: 2 hitters and 1 pitcher. In total, the Nationals selected 12 hitters and 8 pitchers in their 2026 draft class, including 15 college prospects and 5 high school ones.

Overall, I thought day one of the Nationals draft was a home run, as they either tied or surpassed their pick value based on my big board rankings. Hacopian was one of the purest hitters from this years draft class, and could be in the Nationals big league lineup as soon as next year. Brunson has plus raw power and the abiltiy to handle centerfield, and is a slight plate approach change away from being one of the best outfielders in the Nationals farm system.

Williams is a tooled-up 18-year-old who could become a valuable big leaguer even if he is just a league average hitter, and I think he has room to become more than that. Harris has every trait you could look for in a high school arm to become a future big league starter, and I think with the Nats organization’s help, he can fill out the rest of his pitch arsenal and become a really fun pitching prospect.

Day two also looked how I hoped it would, snagging one of the better college bats remaining in Daniel Cuvet, a ton of dart throws on pitchers with good stuff, and a few insurance policy high school bats, just in case something goes wrong with signing one of the top 10 round picks.

Based on my limited research so far, I believe one of Allen, Peterson, Moss, or Dallas could wind up being a useful big-league arm for the Nationals one day. I am excited for all these prospects to put pen to paper on their contracts and begin their professional careers in the Nats minor league system.

There's some serious cash on the barrel head in Monday's MLB All-Star Home Run Derby.

As the eight sluggers try to square up as many baseballs as possible to win the competition, they'll also be playing for a $1 million top prize.

For some young players such as Kansas City Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone, New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice and St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker, that figure represents more money than they will make in salary for the entire 2026 season.

Throw in an extra bonus for the longest home run of the competition, and it could be a pretty profitable night's work in Philadelphia.

Home Run Derby payouts

• Champion: $1 million
• Runner-up: $500,000
• Other participants: $150,000
• Longest home run: $100,000

2026 Home Run Derby field: Who is participating?

Below is the list of players that are competing in the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby (with current home run total in parentheses):

• DH Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies (32)
• 1B Ben Rice, New York Yankees (29)
• 3B Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays (28)
• OF Jordan Walker, St. Louis Cardinals (22)
• 1B Willson Contreras, Boston Red Sox (20)
• 1B Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies (20)
• 1B Munetaka Murakami, Chicago White Sox (20)
• OF Jac Caglianone, Kansas City Royals (15)

How to watch 2026 MLB Home Run Derby

This year's Home Run Derby is not available on broadcast or cable TV, only via streaming on Netflix.

• Date: Monday, July 13
• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• Location: Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia)
• Streaming: Netflix

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB Home Run Derby also has big bucks on the line for tonight's champ