While the rest of this year’s All-Star rosters won’t be announced until next week, Ohtani was able to punch his ticket early on Thursday, courtesy of receiving the most overall votes in the initial round of fan balloting.
Shohei Ohtani will be the National League’s starting DH at the All-Star Game!
Ohtani earns an automatic bid after leading all NL players in Phase 1 voting. pic.twitter.com/JPjOAQNHbk
The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani already has received more than 3.3 million votes for the All-Star Game. Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
By garnering more than 3.3 million selections from fans, Ohtani easily outpaced all other National League players, ensuring he will be the starting DH in the Midsummer Classic.
His total was also more than 100,000 greater than Blue Jays infielder and top American League vote-getter Ernie Clement, who earned the automatic spot in the AL starting lineup.
Ohtani, a four-time MVP, has now been to the All-Star Game in all three of his seasons with the Dodgers and each of the last six going back to his first MVP season with the Angels in 2021.
The two-way star should have plenty of fellow Dodgers teammates heading with him to Philadelphia, as well.
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Ohtani will be the NL’s starting DH for the All-Star Game after receiving the most votes in the initial round of fan balloting. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The club had six other players advance to the second round of voting: catcher Will Smith, first baseman Freddie Freeman, third baseman Max Muncy, shortstop Mookie Betts and outfielders Andy Pages and Teoscar Hernández.
They could have a couple pitchers make the team, as well, most notably Yoshinobu Yamamoto and potentially Justin Wrobleski.
Busch Stadium and City of St. Louis skyline with Gateway Arch and Mississippi River, Missouri. (Photo by: Visions of America/Joseph Sohm/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Today’s Lineups
DIAMONDBACKS
CARDINALS
Ketel Marte – 2B
JJ Wetherholt – 2B
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Ivan Herrera – C
Corbin Carroll – RF
Alec Burleson – 1B
Adrian Del Castillo – C
Jordan Walker – DH
Max Kepler – LF
Lars Nootbaar – RF
Pavin Smith – 1B
Masyn Winn – SS
Lourdes Gurriel – DH
Nathan Church – CF
Ildemaro Vargas – 3B
Blaze Jordan – 3B
Tommy Troy – CF
Jose Fermin – LF
Zac Gallen – RHP
Michael McGreevy – RHP
Roster moves
The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ 40-man roster is at 40.
Reinstated from the restricted list and activated: OF Max Kepler (No. 22)
Recalled from Triple-A Reno: RHP Juan Burgos (No. 52)
Optioned to Triple-A Reno following last night’s game: OF Tim Tawa + LHP Mitch Bratt
Transferred to the 60-day injured list: RHP Ryne Nelson (strained right elbow)
A fair bit to unpack here, though none of the moves are a particular surprise. Interesting to see Bratt sent right back down. He won’t be eligible to come up again for a bit, so we’ll need a different arm to start Monday’s game, back at Chase against the Giants. Will that be Brandon Pfaadt? Probably not. He hasn’t pitched since the 20th, and only threw 52 pitches. There’s no time to get another start in and then have him pitch again on Monday, except on very short rest (he’s not starting tonight for the Aces either). Oh, well. That’s an issue for Mike Hazen to figure out. We just report things.
Nelson goes to the 60-day IL, confirming what we largely knew, that he won’t be back until late August at the very earliest. That opens up the 40-day spot for Kepler, who replaces Tawa on the active roster. I find myself in two minds about the new arrival. Of course, he’s a Diamondback and I want him to do well. But he’s also a convicted PED user, and doesn’t seem to have made even the token noises about it. So I also want him to go into a slump of Fernando Tatis Jr.-esque proportions. Be also get the return of Juan Burgos, who kinda sucked last year, after coming over from Seattle at the trade deadline. A 6.59 ERA this year in Reno isn’t exactly encouraging.
The weather for this one looks distinctly iffy, so may be interrupted or not completed. Jack wrote earlier, “Looking at the radar from 6:45-8:00 it looks like VERY heavy rain with more coming in behind that” Given it’s a Zac Gallen start, perhaps “pray for rain”, as the old proverb went, might be the best option. Him going three innings, and the game being called as a no-content, sounds like a plan. If it needs rescheduled, common off days for the two teams are Thursdays July 23, August 13, September 10 + 17, and Monday September 21. September 10 might work: Arizona would be coming back from Kansas City and St. Louis from San Francisco. August 13 (AZ going to Atlanta, STL at home) is another possibility.
Warriors star Jimmy Butler gave his honest opinion on rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, whom the team drafted Tuesday with the No. 11 overall pick in the NBA draft.
“I know that guy be speaking his mind. I like that,” Butler said to reporters at Thursday’s media session. “I respect that. I’ve seen him play. One of my really good friends, Mike Smith, did a year at Michigan. I played with some Michigan cats. I think he’s going to be very good.
“He plays tough. He is tough. He’s going to come in and be able to help right away. He’s going to fit in. He’s got the mold to do everything and do everything well. I think he’s going to come in and help and be very comfortable.”
Jimmy Butler gave his honest thoughts on Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg. Getty Images
Lendeborg gives the Warriors size and defensive versatility on the wing for the 2026-27 season. As Butler noted, the 23-year-old should make an immediate impact in Golden State.
Lendeborg already has a friendly rivalry with two-thirds of the Warriors’ core. The Michigan product was asked whether he would take No. 23 from Draymond Green after wearing the number in college, with the caveat of having to sport Michigan State gear for the rest of the year.
Lendeborg immediately said no.
Steph Curry also got in on in the lighthearted jabs with the rookie. Lendeborg told reporters he was a massive Kyrie Irving fan in 2016 when the Cavaliers faced the Warriors in the NBA Finals. In a comment on his Instagram post, Curry told Lendeborg he would work hard to become his favorite player.
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The Warriors drafted Yaxel Lendeborg with the No. 11 overall pick in the NBA Draft. Getty Images
“He’s on one. He gotta cross that bridge at one point in time, though. So, it’ll be fun for them to get ahold of them,” Butler said of the early rivalries.
The Golden State Warriors have joined forces with IREN Limited on a multi-year sponsorship deal.
The AI Cloud provider will be featured on the team’s jersey with a sponsor patch, starting with the 2026-27 season.
It is expected to be the richest sponsorship in the history of North American team sports at an average of more than $50 million per year, according to Sportico. The Warriors are owned by Joe Lacob, who purchased the team in 2010 for $450 million. The team brought in $877 million in revenue in 2025.
NEWS: The Warriors signed a new jersey patch deal with AI cloud firm Iren. The multi-year agreement is the richest sponsorship in the history of North American team sports at an average of more than $50 million per year. pic.twitter.com/dA6cC6qyQr
“The Warriors jersey badge is our most visible global platform, and finding a partner that shares our vision for both innovation and community engagement was paramount,” said Mike Kitts, the Golden State Chief Commercial Officer.
The company will also have prominent visibility throughout Chase Center and will serve as the presenting sponsorship of the Warriors’ annual City Edition platform.
IREN Limited branding will also be featured on Golden State Valkyries player warm-ups and Santa Cruz G-League jerseys.
The Warriors and IREN will also collaborate on a series of initiatives focused on expanding access to educational opportunities, advancing AI and STEAM literacy, and creating lasting community impact in the Bay Area.
The Warriors’ Community Foundation will also join IREN’s community investment efforts to support youth programming and refurbish basketball courts in the community. They will also distribute 10,000 Warriors jerseys each year to underserved youth.
Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp struck out six and scattered six hits in six innings. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Roupp limited the Athletics to two runs over six innings and Jung Hoo Lee delivered a bases-clearing triple that, combined with Victor Bericoto’s two-run blast that followed, gave San Francisco a four-run lead.
The problem was that they needed the bullpen to protect it for three innings.
“Yeah, it wasn’t good,” manager Tony Vitello said a short while later. “I mean, we gave up a touchdown in the last three innings.”
Ryan Walker, Erik Miller and Dylan Smith allowed the A’s to cut into the lead in the seventh and eighth innings, and it evaporated once and for all in the ninth against closer Caleb Kilian.
The result: a 9-6 loss in the series finale that they led 6-2 when the bullpen took over. A 26th series they failed to sweep. And a 10th consecutive start in which Roupp failed to earn a win. Roupp’s winless streak is the longest the Giants have gone without winning in one pitcher’s starts since 2008.
The A’s scored in each of the final three innings, totaling seven runs against the Giants’ bullpen.
“You could talk about some balls finding the hole or a broken-bat hit, things like that,” Vitello said. “But the bottom line is we need to do better.”
Kilian, named the closer earlier this month, never recovered after speedy leadoff man Henry Bolte beat out an infield single to the opposite side that Casey Schmitt was shaded.
A wild pitch put the potential tying run on second base with nobody out, but Kilian retired Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers to make it through the meatiest part of the A’s order.
The Giants’ Bryce Eldridge went 0-for-3 and scored a run Thursday. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Then, he issued a two-out walk to Tyler Soderstrom and didn’t record another out.
Jonah Heim, Lawrence Butler and Max Muncy singled home four runs off Kilian before Matt Gage finally recorded the third out of the inning, with a one-run lead now a three-run deficit.
The blown save was Kilian’s second in seven chances, the Giants’ 10th as a team in 26 save opportunities and San Francisco’s fifth loss in 34 games it has led after eight innings. Their five losses when leading after eight are tied for fourth most in MLB.
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The seven runs allowed by the Giants’ relievers raised their ERA in June to 6.38. Their 5.09 mark dating back to the start of May ranks as fifth worst in the majors.
Kilian, however, hadn’t been part of the problem, boasting nine scoreless outings in a row when he emerged from the bullpen.
So much for that streak — and the Giants’ hopes of breaking out the brooms.
What it means
Roupp turned in his second consecutive quality start, limiting the A’s to two runs over six innings with six strikeouts to only one walk, but will still have to wait to get into the win column again.
The visiting Athletics rallied with four runs in the top of the ninth inning to stun the Giants. AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn
Who’s hot
What a couple days it’s been for Bericoto.
The Giants left fielder was in the starting lineup Wednesday for the first time since June 10 and spent the entire game trying to find out if his family was OK following two massive earthquakes in his native Venezuela, also home to Luis Arraez and injured reliever Jose Butto.
That was on his mind when he fired a 93 mph laser beam to nab a runner at home plate and when he crushed the 445-foot walk-off home run in the 2-1 win.
Bericoto, it turned out, wasn’t done.
He unleashed another throw on the money from left field in the fourth inning Thursday. This one (clocked at 94.2 mph — the hardest by a Giants outfielder since 2018) went to second base, where Soderstrom was dead to rights trying to extend a single into a double leading off the inning.
Practically replicating his game from a day before, Bericoto followed up his throw with an almost identical homer — also 445 feet to center field — to drive in the final two of five runs in the sixth.
Bericoto, as well as benchmate Jonah Cox, each got rare starts the past two games because lefties were on the mound for the A’s. Maybe Vitello will try to mix in more playing time moving forward.
Who’s not
Kurtz presented the biggest threat in either lineup this series.
Turns out, there was nothing to fear.
The A’s slugging first baseman came up 13 times over the three games and didn’t record a hit. The major-league RBI leader, with 61 entering the series, drove in only one run. He beat out a would-be double play with runners on the corners in the fifth.
He struck out in his first two tries against Roupp, including with two on and one out in the third, and earned a hat trick by going down swinging with the tying run on second in the ninth.
Up next
The Giants see the Braves again after winning both games the teams played in between downpours last week in Atlanta. It will be Trevor McDonald against Reynaldo Lopez in the series opener Friday night, with first pitch set for 7:15.
Oct 5, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Detroit Red Wings forward Amadeus Lombardi (78) pursues the play against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
It’s draft season, so there are some moves and the Devils made a couple of them, first acquiring 23-year-old center Amadeus Lombardi from the Detroit Red Wings for the Devils 4th round selection in the 2026 NHL entry draft.
🚨 TRADE ALERT 🚨
We’ve acquired Amadeus Lombardi from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for our fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. pic.twitter.com/46te2tnVW7
Lombardi has been nearly a point-per-game player for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL for the past two seasons. My initial reaction is this is a smart gamble. Fourth round picks rarely materialize and clearly the Devils see something in Lombardi, who would be competing for a bottom 6 center role in camp this year. The Devils need center depth and they obtained that in this move for minimal cost.
[Lombardi] has consistently posted strong play-driving results in all three zones and is known for his two-way play and attention to detail. Still only 21, he continues to fly under the radar in fantasy circles, though that will change when he starts to see reps in a Red Wings uniform in the near future.
All good things. Welcome to the Devils, Amadeus.
For a good read on Lombardi’s statlines, please check out Andrew Streitel’s article reviewing his season on Grand Rapids Griffin’s site.
Devils Acquire Chisholm
Later in the day, the Devils also acquired left-handed defenseman Declan Chisholm for a 2027 fourth round pick.
🚨 TRADE ALERT 🚨
We’ve acquired Declan Chisholm from the Washington Capitals in exchange for our fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. pic.twitter.com/uW3i7TkvcD
The 26-year-old defender scored a goal and six assists in 26 games for the Capitals last season. Chisholm has played a combined 125 NHL games for the Capitals, Wild, and Jets over the past several seasons.
BRONX, NY - MAY 03: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees and Ben Rice #22 in the dugout during the game against the Baltimore Orioles on May 3, 2026 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
This evening, MLB announced the results of the first phase of All-Star voting on MLB Network. Aaron Judge, Ben Rice, and Cody Bellinger earned enough votes to advance to Phase 2.
The top overall vote-getter in the American League was Ernie Clement (that a decent player like Clement leads the voting brings into question what exactly it is that we’re doing here, but that’s a story for another day), meaning that he has already earned a starting spot on the AL squad. The top two vote-getters at every (top six in the case of outfielders) now advance to the second phase of voting, with the exception of Clement’s position of second base. Vote totals are reset after Phase 1, so the slate will be swept clean before Phase 2 begins, and the winners at each position will go on to start the All-Star Game.
Despite the rib injury that has kept him out for a few weeks now, Judge leads the way for the Yankees, his 2,567,404 votes the most for New York and the most among AL outfielders. Mike Trout, in the midst of a resurgent season but also unfortunately injured, finished second. In third is Byron Buxton, and in fourth is Cody Bellinger, whose excellent all-around contributions have helped the Yankees thrive even without Judge. More Blue Jays, Daulton Varsho and Jesús Sánchez, round out the top six among outfielders; the top three vote-getters in Phase 2 will start across the outfield in the All-Star Game.
Also advancing to Phase 2 is Rice, who finished second at first base but should have finished first, his 2026 campaign easily outstripping that of the actual first-place finisher Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Rice has morphed into one of the game’s finest hitters, and his OPS+ dwarfs that of Vladito (167 to 98). Now, Rice has a shot to start at first if he can defeat Guerrero in Phase 2, but he has work cut out for him, with Canada doing its best to vote for their Blue Jays.
The top vote-getters across the rest of the field are as follows:
Here are your American League All-Star Ballot FINALISTS!
Phase 2 voting opens Monday, 6/29 at noon ET and closes on Thursday, 7/2. Vote totals reset.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. was on the fringes of contention, but he had little chance against the juggernaut that is Clement, ultimately finishing fourth at second base. Otherwise, the only other Yankee to finish in the top five at their position was Giancarlo Stanton, who came in fourth at DH.
Voting in Phase 2 will begin on Monday, June 29th, and lasts until noon ET on July 2nd.
Mar 27, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of the the exterior of the Rogers Centre before the Opening Day game between the Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The Columbus Blue Jackets are on the board with their first trade of the summer, acquiring veteran winger Valeri Nichushkin from the Colorado Avalanche for three draft picks a day before the 2026 NHL Draft.
Nichushkin, 31, was acquired for a 2026 second-round pick (43rd overall) plus the Blue Jackets' 2027 third-round pick and 2028 fifth-round pick. The Russian winger, who is 6 feet 4 and 210 pounds, has experience playing a top-six role and helped the Avalanche win the 2022 Stanley Cup.
He has also totaled 357 points in 627 career games with 154 goals and 203 assists for the Avalanche (2019-26) and Dallas Stars (2013-19). Nichushkin has also scored 41 career power-play goals, 24 game-winning goals and six short-handed goals while averaging 16:25 in ice time.
This past season, he finished with 17 goals, 32 assists and 49 points in 72 games with a +9 plus/minus rating in 17:44 of ice time per game.
"Valeri is a big, strong forward who skates exceptionally well, can score goals, win puck battles and doesn’t shy away from playing in the hard areas,” Blue Jackets president/general manager Don Waddell said in a statement. “He is an accomplished two-way player who competes at a high level and we are very excited to welcome him to the Blue Jackets family."
Nichushkin didn't cost Waddell a first-round pick, so he could still package the 14th overall pick in this year's draft to add another experienced forward while preparing to lose captain Boone Jenner and left wing Mason Marchment as free agents.
The risk with the Nichushkin is off the ice, where personal issues have landed him in the NHL Players' Association Player Assistance Program twice, including the second stint reaching Stage 3 on May 13, 2024 to prompt a minimum six-month suspension without pay for violating terms of his treatment plan established in Stage 2 earlier the same season.
The Stage 3 suspension was revealed by the NHL and NHLPA prior to Game 4 of the Avalanche's second-round series, which they trailed 2-1 against the Stars. Neither the league nor NHLPA revealed the cause for the suspension, but it triggered the third of only four stages to the jointly run program.
Should Nichushkin violate the terms of his Stage 3 treatment plan, Stage 4 includes a mandatory one-year suspension without pay and does not include a guarantee of reinstatement to play. While suspended, players in the NHL/NHLPA program still count toward the NHL's salary-cap system unless they're placed on long-term injured reserve for a separate reason.
Nichushkin was also involved with an off-ice issue prior to Game 3 of the Avalanche's 2023 playoff series against the Seattle Kraken. He missed the final five games for what the team described as "personal reasons," but a report by The Athletic cited a Seattle police report that said an Avalanche team physician discovered a highly intoxicated woman in Nichushkin's hotel room.
It was determined the woman was too intoxicated to leave the hotel via taxi or ride-share service, so she was taken to a hospital by ambulance. Nichushkin's agent, Mark Gandler, was quoted in the article and denied his client's involvement, but Nichushkin was the only Avalanche player listed by name in the police report.
That incident didn't lead to Nichushkin re-entering the NHL/NHLPA program, but he did miss the remainder of that series. In the past two years, Nichushkin hasn't triggered Stage 4 of the treatment program and has maintained a significant role in Colorado's lineup.
He has four years left on a contract with a $6.125 million cap charge and 12-team, no-trade clause. Should he steer clear of trouble and arrive in Columbus motivated, Nichushkin could provide a boost to the Blue Jackets' possession metrics, power play and scoring.
The Cubs needed to make a move for a starting pitcher after losing two in the last week, and when Mets southpaw David Peterson became available, the deal was done.
Cubs president Jed Hoyer said Peterson's name was someone they've been talking about as a potential trade target for "quite a while," and his manager echoed those sentiments when talking about the team's newest acquisition.
"This is something we’ve been talking about for a while. And from a timing perspective, we have some needs," Craig Counsell said ahead of Thursday's series finale. "But we’re hopeful we can get a starting pitcher that can solidify some things in a time of need for us and hopefully give him a fresh start and get back to some of the success he’s had."
A fresh start is something Peterson and the Mets needed. After struggling earlier this season, Peterson found himself yo-yoing between the rotation and bullpen as the Mets tried to cobble together viable starters. Through 16 games (eight starts), Peterson is 3-6 with a 6.09 ERA after being an All-Star a season ago. With Peterson set to take the mound for Chicago this weekend in Milwaukee, Counsell and the Cubs are hopeful they can unlock that All-Star caliber pitcher.
When asked how the Cubs' infield defense can help, Counsell boasted his team's skill in that department.
"This is a pitcher among the league leaders of getting the ball on the ground. The ball is going to be in play and that’s something we’re good at," Counsell said. "This is the strength of our team, is playing defense and converting balls into outs. He’s the type of pitcher who benefits most from defense."
This season, Peterson has a 53 percent groundball percentage, which is in the 89th percentile in MLB, according to Baseball Savant. The Cubs are an MLB-best 37 OAA -- the Mets are 20th with -8. The Cubs have committed 31 errors, tied for the fifth-fewest in MLB, while the Mets have committed 51, tied for the fourth-most in baseball.
Those numbers were inflated after the Mets' six-error game in the second of their doubleheader on Wednesday night.
"There’s always going to be some tweaks that you try to make," Counsell said when asked how the Cubs can help Peterson. "Baseball is a team game. One of the ways that we think we can help him is to provide something that is important to him that we do pretty well."
The Cubs entered Thursday with a 0.5-game lead over the Padres for the third and final Wild Card spot.
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 24: Paul Goldschmidt #48 (R) of the New York Yankees celebrates his solo home run with Chad Bohling, senior director of organizational performance, in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on June 24, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Fresh off a win over the back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner to clinch the series in Detroit, the Yankees head to Boston with Cam Schlittler set to take the ball in the opener of a four-game series at Fenway. We are almost to the midway point of the season, and through five meetings the first-place Yankees hold a 4-1 edge in the season series over the Red Sox. Do not forget, one game was rained out a few weeks ago and will be made up in August.
Boston counters tonight with the Robin, thus far, in Schlittler’s Batman story: Connelly Early. The last time these two faced off was Schlittler’s breakout performance back in October. We all remember how that went! But just so we can all see that final line one more time, Schlittler went eight scoreless frames while striking out 12 batters on 107 beautiful pitches. Early went 3.2 innings and struck out six but gave up four runs (three earned), the defense behind him offering no favors in a sloppy fourth.
Early has been good this season, entering tonight at 6-5 with a 3.64 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. However, the month of June has not been as kind to the young lefty. During the month, opponents have hit .293 against him, and he has surrendered five home runs in 20.2 innings, leading to a 5.66 ERA.
On the flip side, June has also been Schlittler’s least dominant month of the season. When you are a Cy Young frontrunner, though, those numbers still look pretty good. This month Schlittler is 1-1 over four starts with a 2.35 ERA. Most of the damage came against Cleveland, and over his last three starts he has tossed 15.2 innings while allowing only two runs. In two starts against Boston this season, Schlittler has allowed just two runs in 13.2 innings.
In the batter’s box, the Yankees have held their own as injuries have tested the organization’s depth. Since Aaron Judge landed on the injured list, the Yankees have gone 11-9, a pace that would translate to roughly 90 wins over a full season. Though the offense has been volatile, including being shut out four times this month, it is still averaging 4.65 runs per game, a mark that would rank inside the top 10 in baseball this season.
Paul Goldschmidt has shown everyone he is not ready for the rocking chair on the front porch just yet. He has surged to a 1.050 OPS in June with eight home runs. Including two yesterday off of Tarik Skubal. On the season, Goldy is hitting .408 against left-handed pitching, and 8 of his 14 home runs have come against southpaws. When the Yankees have needed him most, the veteran has not only stepped up but has performed at an MVP-caliber level since the Captain went down.
Boston’s offense owns a .244 team batting average, ranking 15th in the majors. Its .312 on-base percentage ranks 23rd, and its 64 home runs rank second-to-last. The Red Sox looked better toward the end of May but have stumbled to a 7-12 record in June.
Boston’s hottest hitter this month has been erstwhile Baby Bomber Caleb Durbin, who is slashing .317/.343/.587. Another previous Yankee, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, has also contributed. IKF had an uninspiring April, a solid May, and has been about what you would expect in June: slightly below league average, which is pretty typical IKF (though he’s now injured). Just to finish the note, Boston will start three consecutive former Yankee farmhands tonight in Durbin, Anthony Seigler, and Carlos Narváez at 6-7-8.
The southpaw Early means a lofty spot for lefty killer Amed Rosario, who bats third. Partner-in-crime Goldschmidt will lead off, and while Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger are also in the top four, they can handle lefties, too. The lineup is fairly straightforward from there. Austin Wells gets the nod behind the plate over J.C. Escarra, batting ninth.
Every Schlittler start feels like a gift. Every chance to watch him face a last-place Red Sox club is just the bow on top. Bombers in Beantown, let the showdown begin!
How to watch
Location: Fenway Park — Boston, MA
First pitch: 7:10 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES, NESN, MLB Network
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280, WEEI 93.7
Detroit Tigers third baseman Kevin McGonigle (7) bats a single against New York Yankees during the ninth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (34-45) vs. Houston Astros (39-43)
Time/Place: 6:40 p.m., Comerica Park SB Nation Site: The Crawfish Boxes Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Troy Melton (4-0, 2.56 ERA) vs. RHP Tatsuya Imai (4-3, 6.15 ERA)
Luke Tuch's time with the Montreal Canadiens organization has come to a close.
TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported that the Canadiens have traded Tuch to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Hunter McKown.
Tuch was selected by the Canadiens with the 47th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. After finishing his collegiate career with Boston University, Tuch spent each of the last three seasons down in the AHL with the Laval Rocket.
In 114 games over three seasons with Laval, Tuch posted 15 goals, 13 assists, 28 points, and 122 penalty minutes. In 68 games this past campaign with the Rocket, he had nine goals, 14 points, and 82 penalty minutes.
As for McKown, he has spent each of the last three seasons in the AHL with the Cleveland Monsters. In 63 games during this past season with Cleveland, he recorded nine goals, 16 assists, and 25 points.
McKown also has NHL experience, as he had two assists in 12 games for the Blue Jackets during the 2022-23. He has not played at the NHL level since that campaign, though.
Overall, this is a minor swap between the Canadiens and Blue Jackets. It will be interesting to see how these two players perform next season with their new teams.
The Los Angeles Lakers had several loose ends heading into the offseason.
The Lakers executed a blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic in February 2025, signaling the franchise had landed its next generational star. Doncic’s first full season in LA didn’t pan out as planned as he dealt with injury, completely missing the playoffs.
Without Doncic on the court, the Lakers faced the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder shorthanded. The holes on the roster were evident in both playoff series, and it was clear the Lakers would need a major rehaul over the offseason to regain contender status.
LeBron James’ future with the Lakers remains a mystery. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
But James’ future with the Lakers remains a mystery.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Lakers haven’t offered the 41-year-old a contract and there has been no communication between the two parties since the negotiation window initially opened.
The Lakers have NOT offered LeBron James a contract yet and there has not been any communication between the two since the negotiation window first opened, per @ShamsCharania
The Lakers reportedly have not offered LeBron James a new contract yet. Getty Images
There are several different scenarios that could unfold for James. The four-time MVP could very well retire after 23 illustrious seasons in the NBA, though that doesn’t seem like the storybook ending for a legend like James.
James could also join another team this offseason, which is perhaps more likely than retirement. James has been linked to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Golden State Warriors, among others.
Regardless, general manager Rob Pelinka faces immense pressure to transform the Lakers roster over the summer. Whether James is apart of that plan for LA, remains to be seen.
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Major League Baseball's All-Star Game is about three weeks away and Phase 1 of voting is over. While fans will still have time to vote for their favorite players, only finalists will be available for voting to start in this year's game from now on.
Two players at each infield position, plus a designated hitter and six outfielders, are now the only players capable of starting this year's All-Star Game, with the leading vote-getters in each league from Phase 1 earning automatic bids into the All-Star Game.
So who earned those automatic bids, and which players are still in the voting pool ahead of the Midsummer Classic? Here are the finalists at each position.
*- indicates leading vote-getter from Phase 1 (guaranteed starter for All-Star Game)
American League
Catcher:
ATH Shea Langeliers
TOR Alejandro Kirk
First base:
TOR Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
NYY Ben Rice
Second base:
TOR Ernie Clement*
Third base:
TOR Kazuma Okamoto
TBR Junior Caminero
Shortstop:
KCR Bobby Witt Jr.
TOR Andres Gimenez
Outfield:
NYY Aaron Judge
LAA Mike Trout
MIN Byron Buxton
NYY Cody Bellinger
TOR Jesús Sanchez
TOR Daulton Varsho
Designated hitter:
HOU Yordan Alvarez
TOR George Springer
National League
Catcher:
ATL Drake Baldwin
LAD Will Smith
First base:
LAD Freddie Freeman
ATL Matt Olson
Second base:
ATL Ozzie Albies
PHI Bryson Stott
Third base:
LAD Max Muncy
PHI Alec Bohm
Shortstop:
WSH CJ Abrams
LAD Mookie Betts
Outfield:
LAD Andy Pages
PHI Brandon Marsh
ATL Ronald Acuña Jr.
LAD Teoscar Hernández
NYM Juan Soto
ATL Michael Harris II
Designated hitter:
LAD Shohei Ohtani*
When does Phase 2 of voting begin?
Phase 2 of voting begins on Monday, June 29 at noon ET. Fans will have just three days to cast their votes from the group of finalists before starters are determined. Votes from Phase 1 do not carry over into Phase 2, so everyone gets a fresh slate.
Starters will be announced on Saturday, July 4, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
