LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 14: Head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers and head coach, Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors meet at the end of the game during a 104-98 Lakers preseason win at Staples Center on October 14, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors are shoring up their bench for the upcoming season, agreeing to hire longtime NBA coach Frank Vogel as their new associate head coach under Steve Kerr. The high-profile addition fills a critical void on the coaching staff left by the recent departures of lead assistants Terry Stotts and Jerry Stackhouse.
Longtime NBA coach Frank Vogel has agreed to become the associate head coach for the Golden State Warriors under head coach Steve Kerr, sources tell ESPN.
Vogel brings 12 seasons of head coaching experience and a proven championship pedigree to the Bay Area. Best known for his elite defensive schemes, he famously guided the Los Angeles Lakers to an NBA title in 2020. He most recently served as an assistant with the Dallas Mavericks following a head-coaching stint with the Phoenix Suns.
For Kerr, adding a veteran tactician of Vogel’s caliber provides a trusted sounding board and a defensive specialist to help anchor Golden State’s schemes. The move also signals the front office’s commitment to maximizing the current roster’s competitive window. By pairing Kerr’s offensive fluidity with Vogel’s structured defensive identity, the Warriors aim to re-establish themselves as legitimate title contenders in an increasingly fierce and competitive Western Conference.
DENVER, COLORADO – JULY 3: Logan Webb #62 of the San Francisco Giants pitches in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on July 3, 2026 in...
SAN FRANCISCO — There’s little risk of Logan Webb taking the mound nursing a hangover this week in Philadelphia, like he did after enjoying his first All-Star experience a little too much.
After some discussion with manager Tony Vitello and the Giants’ coaching staff, they came to the decision that it would be best if Webb doesn’t pitch in Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic.
Although Webb will be fully rested, having made his last start of the first half on Wednesday, he will only be available to National League manager Dave Roberts if nobody else is left.
After some discussion with the Giants’ coaching staff, they came to the decision that it would be best if Webb doesn’t pitch in the Midsummer Classic. Getty Images
“This wasn’t just a ‘me’ decision; this was kind of a team decision,” Webb said before he jumped on a cross-country flight for his third All-Star Game. “I might [still] be pitching in the game, but I think the plan was, at least from my understanding, talking to our team, was not to pitch.”
The logic is twofold: Webb already went above and beyond his normal workload by participating in the World Baseball Classic this spring, and he also missed a month with bursitis in right knee that forced the workhorse to the injured list for the first time since 2021.
“He’s done a lot, in general, when you count the WBC and then a couple of those outings with some knee pain,” manager Tony Vitello said. “I think the biggest thing he did for fans and for baseball was to throw in that WBC. … I think he put in his time there.”
Webb, who will represent the Giants alongside Luis Arraez, will get some time off over the break for the first time in three years. He appeared in the game, to varying degrees of success, the previous two years when he was named an All-Star.
Last year, Webb pitched a scoreless third inning in a 6-6 tie at Truist Park in Atlanta. In 2024, he was tagged for three runs on three hits and a walk in the NL’s 5-3 loss at Globe Life Field in Texas. Afterward, he revealed that he had partied a little too hard the night before.
There should be nothing stopping Webb from enjoying himself this time around.
The unfortunate part is that fans will be prevented from seeing one of the game’s most durable and reliable starting pitchers — only Zack Wheeler has amassed more value since Webb debuted in 2021 — while other deserving pitchers were passed over.
Wheeler, who is 9-1 with a 2.28 ERA since returning from thoracic outlet surgery, was arguably the most glaring snub, especially given that the game is at his home ballpark. But there are another four qualified NL starters with lower ERA’s than Webb’s who weren’t selected.
Given that Webb stopped short of pulling out entirely, it wasn’t clear if MLB would name a replacement.
Representing the Mets at the MLB Futures Game on Sunday afternoon was first baseman Ryan Clifford who entered the game as a defensive replacement in the fifth inning and worked a walk in the sixth.
Clifford, of course, was acquired by New York at the 2023 trade deadline when the Mets traded Justin Verlander and cash considerations to the Houston Astros for Clifford and Drew Gilbert.
Since then, Gilbert was traded to the San Francisco Giants and has made his MLB debut while Clifford remains in the Mets’ farm system as their No. 6 ranked prospect, per SNY contributor Joe DeMayo.
Clifford, a power bat currently playing for Triple-A Syracuse, has had an up and down season in his first full season with Syracuse. The 22-year-old is slashing .196/.283/.395 with 16 home runs and 47 RBI and while the power is obvious, Clifford has struggled to make enough contact and has struck out 129 times in 86 games.
Never one to hit for a high average, Clifford is hitting a career-low this season and his .678 OPS is well-below his career average of .799 in 494 games across all minor league levels. But what Clifford lacks in batting average, he makes up for in on-base percentage and even though his walks are down this season, the lefty-swinging slugger walked in his only at-bat on Sunday against a left-hander after working the count full.
“It was great. It was fun to play in front of a big crowd and hopefully one day be back in this environment again,” Clifford said about his experience at the MLB Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park.
For Clifford to reach the next step in his development he needs to work on consistency, something he’s already well aware of.
“I think the first half was kind of up and down so I’m looking to, after the break, just maintain some consistency and stay out on the field and be healthy,” he said. “Look to cut down on strikeouts and keep the power up.”
Because of that elite power he possesses, New York, in the middle of a lost season, might be inclined to promote Clifford at some point later in the year even if he doesn’t improve with his consistency at the plate, especially because of the long-term hole at first base since the departure of Pete Alonso.
At the very least, Clifford is certainly a candidate for a September call-up to show what he can do at the big league level. In fact, earlier this year Clifford was invited to the Mets’ spring training for the first time and went 2-for-20 with seven strikeouts before being reassigned to minor league camp.
Despite the results, just being around major league players gave Clifford some great insight into being a pro and he was grateful for the opportunity.
“The clubhouse is great,” he said. “Everyone is open to helping out the younger guys and I shared a locker next to [Marcus] Semien so it was cool to be able to work with him everyday and overall just all the infielders were all kinda close to each other.”
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 11: Tarris Reed Jr. #10 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during the 2026 NBA Summer League game on July 11, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much. The rule against trolling also applies to members of this site that visit other fan sites.
The Spurs are no longer winless for the Summer, having blown out the Summer Knicks 70-49 yesterday afternoon. Not too many people watched that game, played at at the same time as one of the World Cup semifinals, but it was a nice defensive performance from the Summer Spurs, as Carter Bryant dominated the game on both ends and only Taylor Nickel did much for the Knicks, who only had one assist for the game, which means that I can’t call him Nickel and Dimes just yet.
Tonight, they face the Bucks, who could be seriously considering some of the Summer League players for roster spots after trading away their best player in the offseason. They’ve only played one game so far in Las Vegas, an 86-119 blowout loss to the Miami Heat. This looks like another winnable game for the struggling Summer Silver and Black, and they could gain some confidence with a win over Brayden Burries, Pete Nance and a bunch of guys you’ve never heard of. Hey, if you watch Summer League, you’re a hard core fan. As usual, the scores don’t mean much, but you’d like to see the Summer Spurs have some good performances, like they did against the Knicks. Hopefully, Carter Bryant will have another dominant performance before he gets sent home. The Spurs will play the Jazz on Wednesday night at 8:30 PM, and one more game this weekend. Let’s all watch some summer ball, and see what the young guys can do.
Game Prediction:
The game is interrupted at the first quarter break when Corliss Williamson runs into the stands and punches Jacob Tobey. For some reason, Bam Adebayo shows up and joins in unexpectedly.
San Antonio Spurs vs Milwaukee Bucks (Las Vegas Summer League) July 12, 2026 | 8:00 PM CT Streaming: ESPN TV: ESPN Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 25: Jonathan Kuminga #0 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts after being charged with a foul against the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter of game four of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at State Farm Arena on April 25, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here we thought that the departure of LeBron James meant the Lakers’ offseason wouldn’t be put on hold.
With the full-court press on for Jonathan Kuminga, LA is left waiting on his decision before making any final roster moves. The problem is that Kuminga, notably, is not someone who makes quick decisions in free agency.
Last season, Kuminga and the Warriors had a lengthy stand-off, though largely a result of restricted free agency, that eventually came to an unsatisfying conclusion. This summer, Kuminga and his agent are still searching for that money.
After having his option for $24 million turned down by the Hawks, Kuminga and his agent seem unsatisfied with the offers on the table. Clearly, the Lakers’ contract hasn’t moved him enough to sign and with multiple other teams waiting for LeBron James’ decision, it appears Kuminga’s own free agency will be put on hold.
“His dynamic is a bit on pause, on hold, while LeBron’s future is determined. But it’s also a thing where he probably could have signed with the Lakers if he was more amenable to what Los Angeles was envisioning. I think Kuminga and his representation are kind of navigating what their market looks like and what they want at this point in time.”
The Lakers aren’t really in a position where they need to move quickly anymore. At this point, the team will have to do a sign-and-trade for Kuminga or any other player they acquire, so there isn’t necessarily a rush.
The Cavs have been heavily linked to Kuminga throughout free agency as well, so there is some rationale as to why he would wait.
The question that could start arising is whether Kuminga is worth all this. There probably should be, but considering President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka once chased after Christian Wood into early September, there almost certainly won’t be.
Kuminga might be the most convenient option because he’s a free agent, but there are other players around the league the team could trade for. Perhaps the Lakers feel no one will be in a rush to acquire them and have some time. Whatever the decision from the Lakers or Kuminga may be, though, don’t expect it to happen in the near future.
June 6, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama pitcher Tyler Fay (8) makes a pitch during the NCAA Tuscaloosa Super Regional game between Alabama and St. John’s at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. | Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
After Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron was drafted #18 in the first round by the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, three of his teammates joined him in pro ball on Sunday. Right handed pitcher Tyler Fay was picked by the Pittsburgh Pirates, left handed pitcher Zane Adams went to the Baltimore Orioles, and catcher/outfielder Brady Neal was nabbed by Cincinnati. Two pitchers that had committed to Alabama out of the transfer portal were also chosen, as well as two incoming freshman, and two former Tide pitchers also were taken. Dylan Marionneaux, a right handed pitcher out of NW State, and Garrett Lambert, a righty out of Mercer, were both drafted. Canadian high school pitcher, Cade Dorland will have a decision to come to school or sign after being picked, as will as pitcher Hudson DeVaughn out of Indiana. Former Alabama hurlers Beau Bryans and Ariston Veasey also heard their names called on Sunday.
The 6’6’ Fay was drafted in the 6th round, 169th overall, by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Fay had a special season in 2026 with an 11-5 record and 4.54 ERA, striking out 127 batters in 109 innings. The strikeout total was one short of tying former Tide left hander Wade Leblanc’s single season record of 128, set in 2006. The highlight of Fay’s year was the no-hitter he tossed against Florida, striking out 13 Gators along the way. The slot value of the 169th pick is $406,500.
Adams was picked two spots after Fay at 171 by the Baltimore Orioles. Adams was a three year starter for the Tide and has a career record of 19-14 with a 5.09 ERA. In 2026 Adams finished 8-5 with a 4.58 ERA, pitching 90 innings and striking out 100 batters. The slot value for Adams is $396,300.
The Cincinnati Reds took Neal in the 8th round at #242. Neal played catcher and outfield for the Tide. After two years at LSU, Neal transferred to Alabama in 2025. The Tallahassee, FL native had a career year in 2026, hitting .316 with 15 doubles, 10 home runs, with a .969 OPS. The slot value for pick 242 in $229,700.
Dylan Marroineaux, a junior at Northwestern State in Louisiana, committed to the Tide out of the portal in June. The Chicago Cubs used the 126th pick in the 4th round on the right hander. Originally a walk-0n at NW State, Marroimeaux had a break out year in 2026 with a 4-2 record and 3.51 ERA in 84 innings with 81 strikeouts. The slot value is $609.200. However, Marroineaux was not listed as a top 500 prospect, and the thought is there may have been a deal cut at a lower bonus to secure the draft spot. Lambert, a redshirt freshman from Mercer, committed to transfer to Alabama out of the portal in June. The Colorado Rockies picked Lambert with the #165 pick-6th round- on Sunday. After two injury plagued years, Lambert broke out in 2026 with a 5-1 record, and a 4.31 ERA while pitching 71 innings, allowing 58 hits, and striking out 90 batters. The slot for the pick is $417,400.
Alabama had two 2026 high school signees drafted. Dorland was taken #382 in the 13th round by the Atlanta Braves and DeVaughn was picked with the 569th pick in the 19th round. The Tide will have a good chance of getting the two right handers to campus.
Former Tide players chosen were: left handed pitcher Beau Bryans out Jacksonville State in the 7th round with the 208th pick by the SF Giants and right handed pitcher Ariston Veasey out of Clemson with the 337th pick in the 11th round. Bryans pick carries a slot value of $292,300.
BROOKLYN, NY - MARCH 1: Keon Ellis #14 of the Cleveland Cavaliers plays defense during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 1, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Keon Ellis, the newest member in the Nets guard corps, is different the others. He’s not 20 or 21 years old, not here to run the offense so much as to run the defense. And he can shoot. At 26, he’s near the top of the list of 3-and-D operators. If you don’t know, take a look at what he did two years ago; he was the only player in the NBA to rank in the top 10 in both steals (1.5) and 3-point percentage (43.3%). If those two numbers are not what defines a 3-and-D, what does?
There were comments from some in the fan base about the two-year, $18 million contract. They argued that the Nets don’t need yet another guard, defensive qualifications or not and if Sean Marks & co. wanted to improve the team’s defense, why not find a replacement for or an enhancement of Nic Claxton, now of the Chicago Bulls.
But Ellis has that resume’ all head coaches want, consistent, reliable D. Brian Lewis listed them:
Per 100 possessions last season — split between the Kings and Cavaliers — Ellis ranked in the 93rd percentile in steals (2.7), in the 95th percentile in blocks (1.5) and the 96th percentile in both turnovers forced (1.6) and deflections (6.4). His stop percentile of 4.4 ranked in the 98th percentile.
And according to Ellis comments to the media Saturday, one head coach in particular liked his resume’.
“From what I heard, he was pulling for me really hard,” said Ellis of Jordi Fernandez. “And I know the way he coaches. He’s very passionate. He’s about the right things. He wants to win. So, the familiarity right there was definitely good.”
There is a connection. Ellis played two seasons in Sacramento when Fernández was associate head coach there and defensive guru. The native of Florida said the Nets head coach who’s about to enter his third year on the Brooklyn bench has a good reputation around the league.
”That familiarity was definitely good. Dennis [Schroder] was saying he loved Jordi as a coach, too,“ said Ellis of the Nets lead guard two years ago and was a teammate of Ellis last year for the Kings. ”So for other guys to be saying the same things, you just know he’s about the right things.”
He also hinted the Nets offer was the most generous. Ellis just finished a three-year, $5.1 million contract that he signed with the Kings. In essence, he’s quadrupling his previous annual paycheck.
“With how much they were offering, that just speaks to how much the team wants you as well. So, that. And then obviously, you’ve got some guys on the staff that you’ve been with before, so you know the ropes a little,” Ellis told reporters. “And then the opportunity here as well. When you combine all those things, they just lined up.”
It all suggests that even with so many guards, Ellis will get minutes. None of his backcourt colleagues is a point-of-attack defender. The young guys may ultimately become that (and maybe with mentoring from Ellis), but expect him to lead the Nets defense when he’s on the court.
He also explained that his slight dropoff in numbers last season, particularly after he was sent from Sacramento to Cleveland, should not be seen as who he is. He compared what he was looking forward to seeing to in Brooklyn with his tenure with the Cavaliers.
“Just the consistency and an established role,” said Ellis. He said that wasn’t necessarily case with the Cavs. “A lot of things were up and down and moving parts, and you just never really knew what was going on.”
Arkansas Razorbacks' Ethan McElvain (33) and Ryder Helfrick (27) celebrate victory as Auburn Tigers take on Arkansas Razorbacks during the SEC baseball tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Ala. on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Arkansas Razorbacks defeated Arkansas Razorbacks 2-1. | Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
While the big names in the MLB draft are all gone after the first day (or essentially committed to going to or back to college next year), there are future big leaguers every year in the second or third day of the draft. Recent Royals draft picks outside of the first 150 picks in the last decade to make it to the big leagues include David Sandlin, Noah Cameron, Anthony Veneziano, Noah Murdock, Vinnie Pasquantino, Tyler Tolbert, Austin Cox, Jonathan Heasley, Nate Eaton, Tyler Zuber, Brewer Hicklen, Nicky Lopez, and Richard Lovelady.
Can anyone from today join them? Only time will tell, but let’s not forget: being drafted at all is an incredible achievement. Only 5% of the roughly 10,000 draft-eligible NCAA baseball players every year are selected by an MLB team.
151st pick: Ethan McElvain, left-handed pitcher from the University of Arkansas
McElvain transferred from Vanderbilt and moved completely to the bullpen, where he threw 38.1 innings, struck out 34.4% of batters, and had a 1.88 ERA. He stands at a hefty 6’ 4”, 250 lbs. Rated by MLB as the 144th-best prospect in the draft.
180th pick: Justin LeGuernic, left-handed pitcher from Clemson University
Another bullpen arm, LeGuernic is young to be drafted as a junior—he doesn’t turn 21 until October—and had a 4.69 ERA in 19 games. Rated by MLB as the 220th-best player in the draft.
Pick 209: Dylan Vigue, right-handed pitcher from the University of Georgia
A starting pitcher, Vigue started 16 games for the Bulldogs with a 4.43 ERA against tough SEC competition. Rated by MLB as the 201st-best player in the draft.
Pick 239: Hunter Possehl, left-handed pitcher from Florida Gulf Coast University
Kansas City’s first position player selected on day two, Johnson transferred from Witchita State to Oklahoma this year and slashed .298/.403/.478 with 31 stolen bases. Rated by MLB as the 116th-best player in the draft.
Pick 299: Grant Fontenot, right-handed pitcher from Louisiana State University
Another reliever, Fontenot has battled with injuries and only has 48.1 total college innings over the last three years. When healthy, he’s been able to strike out 26.9% of batters.
Pick 329: Tanner Griffith, outfielder from St. Mary’s College
At 5’ 9”, the small Tanner Griffith nevertheless swung a big bat this year for St. Mary’s, hitting .342/.477/.545 with 22 doubles in 303 plate appearances.
Pick 359: Lance Hartley, right-handed pitcher from the College of Central Florida
Clement and his very nice mustache have pitched out of the bullpen as a starter. Clement is another guy coming back from injury, only tossing 3.1 innings last year.
Pick 479: Dylan Alonso, right-handed pitcher from Troy University
Rated by MLB as the 138th best player in the draft and by Baseball America at 111, DeVaughan is the type of guy who could get some signing bonus overage to try to lure him away from the University of Alabama.
Pick 599: Riley McDonald, two-way player from State College of Florida
With their final pick today, the Royals selected McDonald, interestingly calling him an infielder and right-handed pitcher out of a junior college in Florida.
Dave Roberts had only one real request for his team in their first-half finale on Sunday.
Play. Clean. Baseball.
Once again, it was too tall an ask.
In a 5-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks that sent the team into the All-Star break on an unsatisfying (and unsatisfactory) note, the Dodgers continued their puzzlingly poor run of play over the last week.
“Some mental lapses, some physical lapses,” manager Dave Roberts said. “This last week has just been below average for sure.”
Tommy Edman celebrates after hitting a two-run double. Getty Images
Indeed, there were once again errors on defense, with a dropped ball by Andy Pages in the fifth and a bad throw from Max Muncy in the sixth directly leading to unearned runs that helped Arizona erase an early 3-0 deficit.
Also, again, there was sloppy pitching and wasteful offense, with the Dodgers managing just three hits at the plate while watching their pitching staff succumb to walks, balks and poorly-timed mistakes.
As a result, the club lost its fourth game out of the last five, dropped three in a row for the first time in exactly two months and suffered its first series sweep of the year as it heads into the All-Star break.
Most of it, in hindsight, felt so self-inflicted.
All of it, undoubtedly, served as sources of frustration.
“It’s just one of those stretches for us right now,” Muncy said. “I think everyone’s ready for the break.”
Shohei Ohtani hits a ground ball during the fifth inning. AP Photo/Kyusung Gong
Sunday started well enough for the Dodgers. Shohei Ohtani hit the first pitch of the day out to center for a leadoff home run, then sparked another rally in the third with a leadoff double that eventually set Tommy Edman up for a two-run single.
After that, however, the Dodgers wouldn’t record another hit.
And on the other side of the ball, they opened one door after another to let the Dbacks back into the game.
Following back-to-back doubles off Emmet Sheehan in the fifth, Pages dropped a relatively routine fly ball that led to another score. In the sixth, a leadoff walk from Sheehan and a passed ball from backup catcher Eliezer Alfonzo created another Dbacks threat.
With runners on the corners later in the inning, Muncy got a ground ball at third but hit Geraldo Perdomo in the back while trying to throw home. That allowed Perdomo to score the tying run. Ildemaro Vargas then gave Arizona the lead with an RBI single in the following at-bat.
“The ball took me to my right, so instinctively I just went home,” said Muncy, explaining why he didn’t go to second for a potential double-play. “And the runner did his job by getting inside the line, and it just clipped his shoulder.” The throw was on line, but not on line because he was in the way.”
In the ninth, Arizona added insurance when Tim Tawa took Evan Phillips deep.
And in the end, the Dodgers put a disappointing bookend on their sloppiest week of the season.
Shohei Ohtani hit the first pitch of the day out to center for a leadoff home run. AP Photo/Kyusung Gong
What it means
Going back to Tuesday’s loss to the Colorado Rockies, when a couple late errors effectively gave the game away, the Dodgers have put up ugly marks in most facets of the game.
Most glaring is their defense, which committed just 24 errors in their first 92 games but has stunningly combined for nine in the five games since (leading to eight total unearned runs in that span).
However, the pitching has also been spotty, highlighted by 19 walks, two hit batters, three wild pitches and two balks during this five-game rut.
And the offense hasn’t been bailing anyone out, going just 6-for-35 with runners in scoring position over that same span.
It hasn’t cost the Dodgers (61-36) the best first-half record in the majors. It’s also put only the slightest of dents into what is now an 11 ½ game lead in the National League West.
Still, Roberts was clearly irked even before Sunday’s dud. The search for cleaner baseball goes on, but will now have to wait until the season resumes next Friday on the East Coast.
Who’s hot
The biggest part of Ohtani’s day was slated to happen after Sunday’s game, with the two-way star scheduled to have his ailing knee drained and receive a pain-relieving injection.
But first, the four-time MVP made his latest mark at the plate, finishing his first half as a hitter strong by collecting his 22nd home run, recording his 58th RBI and hitting the All-Star break with a .293 average and .952 OPS.
Now, he’ll take the next couple days to let his knee rest –– which the Dodgers hope will allow him to resume full-time two-way duties when the schedule starts back up.
Who’s not
Hard to pick just one Dodger right now, but Muncy stands out because of his recent struggles on both sides of the ball.
The All-Star third baseman endured a quiet homestand at the plate, batting just .207 with two doubles, no homers and three RBIs. The bigger problems, however, were with the glove, where Muncy’s once-standout defensive season took a quick and ugly turn.
Sunday marked the third-straight game Muncy committed an error (he only had five errors all season previously). In that stretch, he has also missed a couple hard ground balls that were ruled for hits.
On multiple occasions, his frustration was evident.
“Just going through slumps,” Muncy said. “You just try to weather it.”
Up next
With the exception of Ohtani, the Dodgers’ other five All-Stars (plus manager Dave Roberts and his coaching staff) will head to Philadelphia for this week’s All-Star festivities. The team will be back in action next Friday, when it begins a three-city road trip with a three-game set against the Yankees.
But on Saturday night, while the Lakers’ Summer League team was taking on the Dallas Mavericks at the Thomas & Mack Center, Mamukelashvili took other kinds of shots for his new team.
Sandro Mamukelashvili joined the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency on a 4-year, $52 million contract. NBAE via Getty Images
Mamukelashvili became the latest NBA player to trade in his jersey for a photographer’s camera, shooting the first half of Saturday’s game from the first row of the courtside media section inside of the arena.
“I love doing extra stuff,” Mamukelashvili told The California Post. “They call me Side Quest King. So I definitely love it. I’m enjoying it. I’m learning a lot.”
Harboring an interest in photography, Mamukelashvili (“Sometimes I try to take artsy pictures that don’t make [any] sense,” he said. “But I’ve got to explain to people why they’re good.”) quickly found out the challenges of the craft.
He exclaimed “Ahh, I missed it!” after Arthur Kaluma’s pump-and-drive layup four-and-a-half minutes into the game.
Mamukelashvili joined the Lakers at Summer League to serve as team photographer during a game. Khobi Price for the CA Post
He talked about how much he liked to zoom in, but realized he had to find the balance of how far to zoom in and how much space to give his subject.
By the second quarter, he started stretching out his wrists as the weight of the camera started to set in.
“Oh my god, it’s crazy how hard is it to hold the camera steady at the same time, make sure you zoom in correctly, zoom out,” Mamukelashvili told The Post. “Definitely need some strength on your wrist, it’s tough.”
During a Lakers fastbreak in the first quarter, he said out loud to himself: “Run run run … give me action.” Later, he added, “I’m ready … I’m ready.”
Eager to show off his work, Mamukelashvili sat in the press row to share it with reporters. Khobi Price for the CA Post
Mamukelashvili got so into the side quest that he found himself cheering for a Mavericks player to dunk. And when jokingly asked by The Post who he was cheering for, he quipped, “I need a statement!”
“The challenging part is, I would say, making sure you are catching the right moment,” Mamukelashvili said.
At one point in the first quarter, Mamukelashvili gave his photography skills a grade of B+.
“Still got a little bit of action to go,” he said. “So, let’s see what I can cook up here.”
And then, Mamukelashvili met the moment, capturing William Kyle III’s two-handed dunk late in the opening quarter, which bumped Mamukelashvili’s self-assessed grade up to an A-.
By the time the second quarter rolled around, Mamukelashvili found his flow.
“I’m creating art right now, man,” he said as a Laker social media employee gave him Meta Glasses to capture more content.
What was his best shot of the game?
“It’s too many of them,” he responded.
Arguably the best photo of Mamukelashvili’s day was this two-handed dunk by William Kyle III. Khobi Price for the CA Post
Soon, Mamukelashvili will find himself back in a familiar position on the other side of the camera.
But it’ll be in the Lakers’ Purple and Gold after playing for the Toronto Raptors (2025-26), San Antonio Spurs (2023-25) and Milwaukee Bucks (2021-23) since being the No. 54 pick in the 2021 draft.
“Just the name itself — all of the legends play for the Lakers,” Mamukelashvili told The Post of why he signed with the famed team. “The organization is a very high-level organization. They’re starting a new page, and it’s just unbelievable to be part of it.”
Mamukelashvili, who got a “Mamba Mentality” tattoo while he was in college at Seton Hall, grew up a fan of late Lakers icon Kobe Bryant.
“I could only imagine this really in 2K, that I would be playing for this team,” Mamukelashvili said. “I’m so excited, so happy. The coaching staff is amazing, and I can’t wait to just put the jersey on, go out there and just play my heart out every night. You gotta have a chip on your shoulder when you play for the Lakers.”
Mamukelashvili is expected to bring size, physicality and an ability to stretch the floor, which should pair well with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Getty Images
Mamukelashvili (four years, $52 million), along with Reaves, Kessler and Grimes, were among the players who signed long-term deals with a player option for the 2029-30 season.
This deal signified the belief president of basketball operations/general manager Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick have in Mamukelashvili and in the team’s long-term vision.
The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Mamukelashvili is coming off of a career-year with the Raptors, receiving three third-place votes for Sixth Man of the Year. His scoring average (11.2 points), field goal percentage (52.3%), rebounds average (4.9), assists average (1.9), steals average (.8) and blocks average (.5) with Toronto in 2025-26 were all career-best marks.
“They just see me as a basketball player who can go out there, play multiple positions, bring the rhythm,” Mamukelashvili told The Post. “They know I’m gonna play hard; I won’t take possessions off and they understand that I really want to win. That’s where I fit.
“Having players like Luka, Austin Reaves — all those guys who are such amazing creators — that’s gonna help me so much offensively, just flow in it and hopefully get a lot of open corner 3s and then just knock them down.”
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 12: J.T. Ginn #35 of the Athletics exits the game the fifth inning of the a game between the Athletics and the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on July 12, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Griffin Quinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The A’s couldn’t manage to escape the South Side with a win, getting swept by the White Sox 9-1 to wrap up the first half.
Righty J.T. Ginn was off today. After the A’s gave him a quick lead in the first he coughed that right back, allowing six runs in the first inning to put the squad in an early hole they wouldn’t come out of.
The tough part about today was all of the offense came in the first inning off the bat of Shea Langeliers. Other than that, nothing. The offense continues to run silent during this critical stretch.
Now the team has a little less than a week off, Hopefully they can take the time off and figure things out.
Australian loses boys’ final to Jordan Lee of US 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
Two-hour match will likely be 17-year-old’s last as a junior
Cruz Hewitt has vowed to blossom again at Wimbledon as he brushed off the heartbreak of just failing to follow in the celebrated footsteps of his father, 24 years after Lleyton won the men’s title.
With his dad watching on and cajoling him from the players’ box on No 1 Court, the 17-year-old Sydney prospect Hewitt fell agonisingly short in the boys’ final on Sunday after he had led 4-2 in the final set against talented young American prospect Jordan Lee.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 12: Dillon Mitchell #20 of the Boston Celtics dunks the ball during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on July 12, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Boston Celtics returned to the court in game 2 of Las Vegas summer league to take on the Charlotte Hornets. The Summer C’s played a great game with plenty of good performances spearheaded by 2nd round rookie Dillon Mitchell who led the team with 24 points, 6 steals and 8 rebounds. They now move to 2-0 in Las Vegas with a 87-75 victory.
Charlotte came into the game with a win and a loss and a stacked squad with 3 picks from last year’s draft: Liam McNeely, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Sion James; their 2024 6th overall pick, Tidjane Salaun; and Christain Anderson. Boston started the same five as game one: Hugo Gonzalez, Amari Williams, Dillon Mitchell, John Tonje, and Curtis Jones. The Hornets came out of the gates strong with a quick 2-9 lead as they looked extremely poised early.
Chris Cenac Jr. and Milos Uzan were first off the bench for Boston, and Cenac Jr. jumped straight into the fray, matching Ryan Kalkbrenner at the summit and blocking his dunk attempt. Hugo Gonzalez made up for his poor shooting in game one and connected from the corner with a three-pointer off a neat Cenac Jr. skip pass. Milos Uzan nailed a triple on his first shot attempt of the game, putting Boston back in it with scores tied at eight.
Hugo Gonzalez drove and dished to Dillon Mitchell for the easy layup as Derrick White looked on from the coaching bench wearing the pink Boston Summer League polo shirt. Rookie Dillon Mitchell followed that up with a steal and uncontested fast break dunk that rattled the Vegas rim, scores tied at 12. Charlotte went on a 7-0 run at the end of the first quarter before Tucker DeVries’s first triple of the game broke the C’s scoring drought, Hornets up 17-21 after one.
Milos Uzan hit a step-back three-pointer to start the second quarter, the Las Vegas native and former Houston Cougar impressing in his first few Summer League games. John Tonje continued to fill up the summer scoreboards, hitting a quick catch-and-shoot triple and then converting a layup. Boston was down by 1 point, 25-26.
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 12: Milos Uzan #29 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on July 12, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Dillon Mitchell converted his second three-pointer attempt after airballing an earlier attempt. Amari Wilaims swished home a hook shot from the low block, the game remaining tight with the Hornets still up by one point, 30-31. Boston went scoreless for 3 minutes, missing 5 straight three-point attempts; Chris Cenac Jr. drove past Hannes Steinbach at the top of the key and threw down a one-handed jam for his first bucket to make it 32-38.
Milos Uzan drove and dished to John Tonje, who swished home his eighth point of the game. Tonje was feeling it hitting on another three-pointer with the shot clock expiring. Boston got back into the game behind the great play of Tonje, the 2025-26 second-round pick proving his worth with Brad Stevens in attendance. Boston is up by 2 points at the half in a far more polished team performance, 42-40.
Milos Uzan hit a layup to open the second half scoring for Boston. John Tonje stole the ball at mid court to take the ball to the rack with a dunk. It was all one way traffic for Boston as the Summer C’s went on a 14-2 run. Amari Williams was not having a great game for the Celtics, he had 4 turnovers in just 15 minute of action to start the game.
Dillon Mitchell was impressive on the defensive end for Boston, he was touted highly before the draft, but his long arms and positioning were a standout. Mitchell was doing it on both ends, as he was the team’s leading scorer through three quarters with 16 points as Boston opened up a ten point lead, 59-49.
Charlotte managed just nine points in 6 minutes of play in the third. They picked up their play late as Boston held on 63-56 after three quarters. Hugo Gonzalez laced home a rainbow triple to start the fourth quarter. Dillon Mitchell tried to dunk it over Kalkbrenner, but was fouled on the play. The broadcast crew noting Mitchell’s 38-inch vertical on the telecast.
Mitchell chased down a long rebound skipping it to DeVries in the corner who drained the triple, Boston up by 11 points, 71-59. Uzan hit his second three of the game with a crafty behind the back move and a step back jumper. The Summer Celtics in control, and on track to win a second straight game. Mitchell and Gonzalez made a ton of defensive plays on the night, the pair combining for 9 steals.
Boston hold on to win the game 87-75 and register two wins from 2 games. The Summer C’s back in action tomorrow against the Atlanta Hawks at 6pm.
Jul 12, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Daulton Varsho (5) steals second base ahead of the tag of San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) during the fifth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
Blue Jays 4 Padres 3
A rough eight cost them.
Hoffman in. Xander Bogaerts, leading off, ground one softly (63.4 mph) up the middle, but between second and short. Ernie Clement got to it too deep to make a play. Bogaerts stole second. Manny Machado lined a single to center, scoring the run. Gavin Sheets ground one at Andrés Giménez, but Clements was slow getting to second so they couldn’t get the lead runner. The out at first wasn’t enough. I didn’t understand why Clements couldn’t get to the bag before the base runner. They had a shot at a double play. After that, a steal of third and a sac fly brought in the go ahead run. That was the game.
Barker talked about it after and watching it, again, I still don’t get what Ernie was doing.
And the bottom of the ninth went too quick. Ground out, pop out, strikeout.
Kevin Gausman had one bad inning. In the second he gave up a Machado single, Sheets walk, Ty France singled (scoring one). Jake Cronemworth singled to load the bases. A pop out got us one out. A walk scored run number two. Fernando Tatis struckout, but there was a rather weird balk in there. Gausman threw out of the stretch, instead of the windup with the bases loaded. Earlier he had told the plate umpire that’s what he was going to do, but not that time. I’m always unclear on balk rules, but I don’t think that I’ve seen that one before.
He got out of the inning after that, and went 6.0. Three hits and a walk that inning, one hit, two walks in the other five, with eight strikeouts total.
Tyler Rogers pitched a quick seventh.
Offensively:
One in the first: Nathan Lukes homered.
Two in the fourth: With two out, Andrés Giménez doubled and Ernie Clement homered.
One in the eighth: Kazuma Okamonto led off with a single. Two outs later, Alejandro Kirk (pinch hitting for Sean Keys) was intentionally walked. Jonatan Clase singled the run in.
We should have scored more. We had nine hits (two home runs) and three walks.
Clase and Okamoto had two hits each. Vladimir Guerrero (with a walk) and Sean Keys had 0 fors.
We had two on in the second, two on in the third, one on in the fifth. We were two for nine with RISP.
Jays of the Day: Clase (0.26 WPA), Okamoto (0.11
Other Award: Hoffman (-0.55, some of that belongs to Clement), Varsho (-0.11) and Valenzuela (-0.09) anad Keys (-0.09).
