It’s unclear whether the Padres will be buyers or sellers at the MLB trade deadline, but there is a general consensus president of baseball operations A.J. Preller will orchestrate a wild deal.
Entering Friday’s game against the Royals, the Padres were 3 ½ games out of an NL wild-card spot. Depending on how the next two weeks unfold for San Diego, the front office will decide which route to go.
Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller will decide what direction the team goes at the trade deadline. The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images
If the Padres choose to sell at the Aug. 3 deadline, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports the team is open to trading a number of its stars.
“Multiple sources said the Padres have not ruled out anything, including the possibility of trading closer Mason Miller, high-leverage lefty Adrian Morejón or [Michael] King,” Acee wrote.
Padres closer Mason Miller could be traded at the deadline. AP Photo/Matt Rourke
King was also dealt to San Diego in the trade that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees in 2023. The right-hander is sporting a 3.41 ERA with 92 strikeouts across 108.1 innings pitched. He has a 6-7 record this season.
King’s mark is similar to his 3.44 ERA in 2025, a season that was headlined by injuries for the pitcher.
Morejon is the only hurler of the trio who wasn’t acquired via trade. The Padres signed the reliever as an international free agent from Cuba. The lefty has posted a 3.42 ERA, which is far higher than his 2.08 ERA last season.
Padres ace Michael King could be traded at the deadline if San Diego’s season is lost. Getty Images
Miller is baseball’s best closer, and it would certainly be tough for San Diego to lose such a talented star. However, the Padres have endured a rough season, and things can’t continue as they are.
Preller has largely operated under the element of surprise, so the Padres shouldn’t be underestimated heading into the trade deadline.
Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani is expected to pitch Wednesday against the Phillies. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Shohei Ohtani was at the top of the Dodgers’ lineup Friday against the New York Yankees, five days after receiving an injection in his left knee. And he’s penciled in to pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday.
Ohtani received an orthovisc shot in his knee to lubricate the joint and relieve irritation, manager Dave Roberts said, and did not have it drained.
“It gives him some relief in his knee which we were hoping to get,” Roberts said. “Then the four days off with no activity which gives it a chance to settle in.”
Ohtani was expected to be in the lineup for all three games against the Yankees. He planned to play catch and throw off the mound in the coming days, and the team would monitor his response before finalizing pitching plans.
Taking the mound Wednesday would give Ohtani more recovery time heading into the team’s day off. When asked if Ohtani would shoulder two-way duties Wednesday, Roberts said, “We’ll see when we get there.”
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hits his 300th career home run against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on July 7. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
When it isn’t possible to have Ohtani pitch before a day off, Roberts would like to rest him the following day.
“It’s all contingent on how his knee is feeling,” Roberts said of Ohtani’s second-half workload. “I think we are certainly more prepared to back off on the workload if it calls for it. But Shohei wants to be out there as much as he possibly can.”
Asked if Ohtani would need offseason surgery, Roberts said: “I would highly doubt that.”
Coming out of the break, the Dodgers shuffled their rotation to have Roki Sasaki, Emmet Sheehan and Yoshinobu Yamamoto face the Yankees in that order.
That leaves left-handed starters Eric Lauer and Justin Wrobleski (not necessarily in that order), to face the Phillies before Ohtani would take the mound.
Smith shut down
The Dodgers are shutting down catcher Will Smith from all baseball activities for a week as he continues to deal with a lingering neck injury. That pushes his return timeline back to at least August, if not later.
“It was flaring up, wasn’t recovering — however you want to word it,” Roberts said. “He didn’t feel like he was making any improvement.”
Smith has been sidelined since early June because of what he described as an inflamed disk. He initially treated it with rest and then an injection. But it still was bothering him during his latest buildup.
“I talked to the trainer, Thomas [Albert], today and he said that Will doesn’t feel any pain,” Roberts said. “Now with that, I think we’re in a much better spot.”
Dodgers utility player Kiké Hernández (strained left oblique) was set to begin a rehab assignment with triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday. And left-hander Blake Snell was scheduled to take the mound for two innings Saturday in his first minor-league rehab start since undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow.
Air quality concerns
The MLB schedule got off to a smoky start out of the All-Star break. With wildfires in Canada raising air-quality concerns in the Northeast and Midwest on Thursday, the New York Mets’ game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia was moved up an hour.
The smoke cleared over Yankee Stadium on Friday afternoon.
“I know that the players got a players’ union text that says it’s a full go,” Roberts said. “They feel good about it. The league feels good. I haven’t heard anything otherwise.”
2027 schedule
With a lockout widely expected to start Dec. 1 and no guarantee of an agreement in time to preserve the 2027 season, take MLB’s schedule announcement Thursday with a grain of salt.
Should collective bargaining negotiations wrap up in time, however, the Dodgers are set to open the season at Dodger Stadium on March 25 against the Atlanta Braves.
They end the season on the road, facing a pair of division rivals in the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks from Sept. 21-26.
Here's the latest Yankees news and buzz ahead of the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline...
July 29, 8:07 p.m.
The Yankees are casting a wide net for catching help at the deadline, and that includes the Orioles' Adley Rutschman.
According to the NY Post's Jon Heyman, the Yankees are among teams that have checked in on Rutschman.
Rutschman, 28, is a switch-hitter who is currently on the IL with left wrist inflammation but is in the midst of his third All-Star season. In 67 games, Rutschman is slashing .251/.331/.433 with an OPS of .764. He has eight home runs and driven in 47 RBI. The Orioles backstop has one more year of arbitration before he's a free agent in 2028.
New York has also been connected to Ryan Jeffers, despite the Twins announcing they want to be buyers, and the Reds' Tyler Stephenson.
July 25, 5:07 p.m.
The Nationals could be sellers at the trade deadline despite being competitive, which is why they are likely to hold onto All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams, despite the Yankees checking on his availability.
But as the report states, the Nationals are not shopping Abrams, but will listen to offers. In fact, the Brewers, who are also looking to upgrade at shortstop, are expected to explore the possibility of trading for Abrams again soon.
Abrams has already hit a career-high 24 home runs while batting .289 with an OPS of .907.
The Yankees, of course, are looking to upgrade at catcher and in the bullpen, but could use the firepower at shortstop. The combination of Anthony Volpe and Jose Caballero has not provided the firepower the Yankees need without Aaron Judge in the lineup.
July 23, 5:10 p.m.
The Yankees are in the market for a catcher, but they will have competition.
Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic report that the White Sox are looking for a backstop after losing Kyle Teel to injury. Chicago will join a thin catching market already inhabited by the Yankees, Rays and Dodgers.
However, while the Yankees have been linked to Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers and a tad to Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman, another option could present itself.
Sammon and Rosenthal point to the Reds' Tyler Stephenson as a potential alternative for the Bombers.
"The Cincinnati Reds’ Tyler Stephenson, one available catcher, might become an alternative for the Yankees, and other teams are pursuing the Minnesota Twins’ Ryan Jeffers," the report states.
Stephenson is the same age as Jeffers, 29, and is also in the final year of his contract. While Jeffers is a better offensive option, Stephenson has been solid for Cincinnati. The catcher is slashing .244/.320/.393 with an OPS of .713 to go along with eight home runs and 27 RBI.
July 17, 7:12 p.m.
The Yankees are in need of a catcher at the trade deadline and while Ryan Jeffers of the Minnesota Twins seems like an obvious target, the Bombers have checked in with the Rockies about their backstop.
According to ESPN's Jorge Castillo, the Yankees have called about catcher Hunter Goodman, although it was not recently.
Goodman would provide that right-handed production from the catcher's spot that the Yankees have been missing all season. Goodman, 26, is batting .254 with 27 home runs and an .863 OPS in 90 games with the Rockies.
As Castillo points out, it will likely take a lot for the Yankees to acquire Goodman, who has club control for another three years.
The Mets "have no desire to pay down contracts" like they did in their 2023 MLB trade deadline deals that sent right-handed pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander for more than $85 million, according to a report Friday by SNY contributor Jim Duquette.
"The Mets have been telling teams that, unlike the '23 deadline where they took on over $85 million to move the Scherzer and Verlander contracts for better prospects, they have no desire to pay down contracts to that extreme at this year’s deadline," Duquette wrote Friday on X.
SNY MLB insider Chelsea Janes reported Thursday that the Mets "informed teams they're open for business" entering this year's trade deadline, which is Aug. 3 at 6 p.m.
"A rival executive said the Mets informed their team that the sale is on, and that everyone but young stars Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, Christian Scott, Nolan McLean and the obvious, Juan Soto,isavailable," Janes wrote. "That doesn't mean everyone will go. But it means the Mets will listen on just about everyone, which is in keeping with what people familiar with their thinking have signaled for weeks."
SNY manager of editorial production Danny Abriano opined Thursday which Mets could be on the move, a list led by right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta.
"A pending free agent, Peralta could be the most established and highest-upside starting pitcher available at the deadline if the Tigers don't deal Tarik Skubal," Abriano wrote. "Peralta's poor season to this point shouldn't be a hindrance when it comes to the Mets getting something of serious value back."
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 14: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays is hit by a pitch during the third inning of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Officially, the second half of the 2026 season begins for the San Diego Padres with a 10-game road trip. The gauntlet includes playing two of the top National League East foes (Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins) after a weekend series against the Kansas City Royals.
This might sound like a daunting task, but the Padres have a chance to put themselves back into the postseason chase. Currently, they trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by a whopping 12-and-a-half games in the NL West standings. But the Friars are only three-and-a-half games behind the Marlins for the final Wild Card berth.
We cannot expect a total collapse from the two-time World Series champs, but chasing down the Fish seems like a reasonable goal.
Here is what to expect from the Padres in the second half:
Get Jake Cronenworth healthy
One of the surprises before the All-Star break was the return of Jake Cronenworth to the starting lineup. Barring any physical setbacks, he will play second base and hit ninth in the batting order.
The Friars need his left-handed stick, as getting the stagnant offense going is of great importance right now. We have seen throughout the season that the team’s best hitters can go cold for long stretches.
Even Manny Machado is experiencing the worst hitting slump of his major league career. Adding Cronenworth to the mix should allow the lineup to get back on track and score runs.
But to achieve postseason aspirations, the Padres need Cro sharp at the plate.
Do not play Freddy Fermin until concussion-free
Playing through injuries is expected from those who put on the tools of ignorance. But the number of catchers sustaining a concussion has grown at an alarming rate this season.
Everyone should be worried about the amount of time Freddy Fermin has spent in concussion protocol this season. We need to get him healthy before he begins playing in the second half of the season.
Concussions are lingering injuries that stay with a sufferer for an extended time. Even if Fermin has passed all the protocol testing, a few extra days out of the lineup will not hurt.
The position’s offensive production has been non-existent all season, but Fermin is an outstanding defensive catcher. The Friars will need his experience to call a game if they expect to move up the standings.
Trust the starting rotation
Let’s stop fooling ourselves; the Padres starting rotation is in shambles. No question, injuries have forced constant change, but the days of juggling starting pitchers in and out of the rotation are over. Team skipper Craig Stammen has to play the cards he was dealt.
Sorry, the Friar Faithful are tired of waiting for Joe Musgrove to make his season debut or the return of Nick Pivetta to the rotation. Their replacements failed to live up to expectations. They struggled with consistency and could not stop opponents from putting runs on the scoreboard.
The second half will begin with Michael King, Griffin Canning, and German Marquez in the opening series against the Royals. Each pitcher is rested and should be sharp for their first start after the All-Star break. Stammen needs to show confidence and allow each starter to work out of potential jams.
The Friars have a grueling road trip ahead, and the club needs quality starts from their starting rotation.
The chase is just starting, but do not plan any postseason viewing parties just yet. The Padres will have to put their foot on the accelerator because it is time to gain some ground in the standings.
All the Friar Faithful want is for the team to be in a position to contend.
Jun 26, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) delivers during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
The Dodgers (61-36) open the second half of the season with a three-game series against the Yankees (54-42) in New York.
Roki Sasaki (3-5, 5.33 ERA, 1.66 WHIP) looks to find consistency in the second part of the season.
Gerrit Cole (3-4, 4.04 ERA, 1.20 WHIP) starts for the Yankees.
BOSTON, MA - JUNE 17: Assistant Coach Amile Jefferson of the Boston Celtics smiles after the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 17, 2024 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LAS VEGAS — In an alternate universe, Amile Jefferson is still playing in the NBA. The 33-year-old gets on the court every practice, and guards the Celtics’ best frontcourt players.
He can still jump high, after all. He can still swat shots. The 6’9, former Duke University standout is very much still in peak athletic condition.
But, in this world, Jefferson is an up-and-coming coach. This summer, he’s the jovial leader of the Celtics’ Summer League squad, the fiery coach who usually has a grin plastered across his face, but sometimes switches gears to become uber-intense — Joe Mazzulla-style.
“On a regular day-to-day basis, you just see me walking around – I’m very calm, very smiley, just easy to be around,” Jefferson told CelticsBlog in an exclusive conversation. “But, as a player, or when I’m coaching, that side gets unlocked, and then I get super competitive, and I’m a totally different person.”
Near center-court, Jefferson emphatically clenches his fist when Hugo Gonzalez sinks a three-pointer.
“That’s a foul, ref!” he belts each time he believes the whistle should have been blown.
“I’m trying to let them know that I’m in the fight with them, that they’re not alone,” Jefferson said. “And making sure they can hear my voice, making sure they know that I can help them be organized, making sure that they know that I got their back. And whether it’s screaming out a call or coverage, or whether it’s just giving an encouraging word, when I’m out there, I’m locked in – and probably am a little bit of a different person.”
He pauses and smiles.
“A lot louder, I can tell you that.”
Inside Amile Jefferson’s journey from Celtics’ training camp player to Summer League head coach
Jefferson’s story is a fascinating one, because just a few years ago, he arrived at Celtics training camp as a player.
In 2020, he signed an Exhibit-10 contract with Boston, but got diagnosed with COVID-19 on his first day of camp, which effectively ended his chances of making the NBA that season. That came on the heels of several years of grinding in the G League, which included stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic on two-way contracts.
After his time with the Celtics was cut short, Jefferson headed to Turkey, where he laced up for the Galatasaray Club. But, at 28 years old, while he was still in his athletic prime, an opportunity came along that changed everything.
Jon Scheyer, one of Jefferson’s closest friends and mentors, had accepted the job of being Duke’s newest head coach, and he wanted Jefferson, the only three-time captain in Duke University history, on the coaching staff.
Jefferson had to make a difficult choice: he was still dominating on the court — he recalls dropping 25 points and 15 rebounds in his last pro game in 2021 with a glisten in his eye — but this was Duke, this was Scheyer, and this was an opportunity almost impossible to resist.
“It was really hard,” Jefferson said. “I was playing well. I thought there was a chance I could get back into the NBA at some capacity. I had training camp offers, which was crazy. My agent was not happy about it.”
There was no major injury. There was no urgent reason Jefferson had to walk away from playing. But the former NCAA champion knew that opportunities like that don’t come by often, and so he capitalized.
“It was fun to do something new and to be uncomfortable and to challenge myself — and that’s where growth happens,” Jefferson said. “And I always had a growth mindset, and I’m always trying to find ways to get better. And so for me, yeah, it was tough. But I knew it was the right thing to do.”
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 09: Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski and associate head coach Jon Scheyer and Amile Jefferson Duke Blue Devils director of player development during the Champions Classic college basketball game between the Duke Blue Devils and the Kentucky Wildcats on November 9, 2021 at Madison Square Garden in New York City,NY. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
If Scheyer hadn’t made that call, Jefferson believes he never would have made the pivot to coaching that young.
“Duke is definitely home, and home base,” he said. “And so if that didn’t happen, especially if that didn’t happen at the timing it happened that year, I’d probably still be playing basketball right now today, which is crazy how life and the world works.”
“Because I was in shape, I was in my basketball prime, I felt great — I was playing really well.”
Jefferson spent one season as an assistant at Duke and then joined the Celtics in 2023 when a coaching position opened up. That marked another difficult decision, but Scheyer encouraged him to take the role, as difficult as it was to leave Duke.
In Boston, Jefferson was first a member of the offensive team, and last year, pivoted to the defensive team. He also helps assistant coach Matt Reynolds determine when to use the coach’s challenge.
“I always say that I got my PhD in basketball my first year here in Boston, and so it was really cool to do,” he said. “It was really hard to do because Duke is the best school, best program in college basketball – and Jon is one of my closest friends. But he wanted me to do it. He wanted me to learn. He knew I would get better, and so it was a hard decision to make. But it was a great one, and one that I’m grateful for. Grateful for Jon, and grateful for Joe [Mazzulla].”
Toward the end of this past NBA season, the decision paid off in another meaningful way: he learned that Joe Mazzulla had picked him as the next Summer League head coach.
And fittingly, as Jefferson coached his first game, Jon Scheyer and Jayson Tatum, Jefferson’s former Duke University teammate, sat courtside. Tatum cheered when Jefferson got called for a technical foul just 9 minutes into his coaching career.
Mic'd up with Jayson Tatum as his former teammate turned coach, Amile Jefferson, gets his first head coaching win at NBA Summer League! 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/UScWIo6YhA
In Las Vegas, Amile Jefferson is prioritizing player connection
Serving as a Summer League a challenge that Jefferson has embraced, and also one that he’s uniquely qualified for. He, like most of the guys on the current Celtics Summer League roster, bounced around on training camp deals in hopes of carving out a spot in the NBA.
In two Summer Leagues spent with the Magic, Jefferson averaged just 4.8 minutes per game. As such, he relates with the majority of the roster, with the many players who have seen limited on-court opportunities as they pursue their lofty dreams.
“I was them,” he said. “I played in three summer leagues. I know what it’s like to be fighting to make it. I know what it’s like to be undrafted. I know what it’s like to be in a new environment, learning a new system in three days, and then trying to apply it.”
As such, Jefferson exudes a palpable pride when he talks about his players.
Take John Tonje, for example. The 25-year-old is fighting for a spot in the NBA after being drafted 53rd overall in 2025. Last year, he was on a two-way contract with the Celtics. This year, he’s angling for one, but he’s facing stiff competition.
“He’s one of the guys I’m most proud of because he wants to make it,” Jefferson said after the Celtics’ Wednesday night win over the Sacramento Kings. “And when a guy wants to make it, and when a guy wants to be in the NBA, that’s how you look. If somebody wants to know how hard it is to be in the NBA — you can all see how good he is. He’s given himself a really good chance. He is definitely an NBA player.”
Jefferson has stressed that message to Tonje. He’s taken the time to get to know all 16 players on the team, some of whom he was already intimately familiar with, some of whom he’s just getting to know.
“I’m trying to talk to all our guys, hit all of them, make sure their mind is right, and make sure that they understand where I see them,” Jefferson said. “And so for John, it was really just giving him his flowers of how I appreciate how hard he’s been playing. I truly do. I think it’s impactful. I think it’s something that guys can learn from. I think when you watch it, you can be inspired because all these guys are trying to chase their dream and fulfill something that they wanted to do since they were kids. So, to see guys going out there, working that hard and implementing that in the game is really cool.”
Milos Uzan, like Tonje, is fighting for an NBA roster spot, and he’s appreciated the way that Jefferson has taken the time to connect with him. The two have chatted about their respective runs to the NCAA title game — Jefferson with Duke in 2015, Uzan with Houston in 2025.
Uzan, who signed an Exhibit-10 contract earlier this week, will join the Celtics for training camp, an opportunity he’s expressed heaps of gratitude for.
“Amile’s a good dude, man,” Uzan said. “I’m glad I’m able to play for him… It’s so much I’m learning.”
In our conversation, Jefferson made sure to point out that it’s not just him who is in an elevated coaching role at Summer League. He credited player development coaches God Shammgod Jr, Da’Sean Butler, and Nana Foulland for how they have handled their promotion to front-of-bench roles in Las Vegas.
Amile Jefferson leads the Celtics coaches huddle
The cool thing at Summer League is that everyone gets an elevated opportunity, including player development coaches Da’Sean Butler, Nana Foulland, God Shammgod Jr, and Craig Luschenat, who are all front of bench today pic.twitter.com/vX4I43AMtf
“We have an awesome coaching staff, so we’ve been able to do some really cool things with them,” Jefferson said. “Sham, Da’Sean, Nana, in particular, have done an awesome job this summer league, and just finding their voice and really coaching hard and being invested in a way, and being creative and coming up with new schemes and new offenses. So I’m really happy to have those guys around. Really proud of the job they did.”
Jefferson still gets a taste of the on-court competition
Jefferson is no longer in the physical throes of competition the way he was as a player, but as he crouches over at center-court at the Cox Pavilion, he sometimes forgets he’s on the sidelines: “My body, the way I’m moving, the way I’m talking, it feels like I’m out there, even though I’m not.”
During the year, he enjoys getting the opportunity to battle with players on the court. Sometimes, he takes on the task of guarding Neemias Queta and Luka Garza at practice. Other times, he shoots around with close friend Jayson Tatum. Last year, he was tasked with working closely with Nikola Vucevic, a former teammate of his in Orlando.
Jayson Tatum has been working on post-ups at Celtics shootaround this morning, with assistant coaches Sam Cassell and Amile Jefferson.
“It helps me scratch an itch,” Jefferson said. “And I think it’s really helpful for the guys because I can still move really well. I can guard them at a high level. I can show them things, talk through it, but also just get on the court and show them, especially defensively; coming over, helping, protecting the rim, things like that. I feel like I can still do it at a high level — not the level they’re at — but a level that can help them get better.”
At Summer League, Jefferson’s responsibilities have temporarily shifted. He hasn’t spent much time on the court actually battling the players the way he does during the season. He’s been so focused on the big-picture X’s and O’s that he’s not lacing up and competing in practice the way he usually does.
Chris Cenac Jr., the Celtics’ 19-year-old first-round pick, joked that Jefferson has been avoiding guarding him.
“He’s been ducking,” Cenac told CelticsBlog with a grin. “I ain’t gonna lie. Yeah, he’s been ducking.”
Jefferson burst into laughter when asked about that notion.
“That’s actually funny,” he said with a smile. “I was talking to Matt [Reynolds] that, man, I forgot that I didn’t even get on the court with these guys to show them that I can actually still move and play. I’ve been coaching them, trying to coach them so hard. I’ve been worried about that, but Chris, Dillon [Mitchell], they’ll get welcomed to the Academy once training camp and all that stuff goes on. So, ask him again in like a month and a half.”
Amile Jefferson responds to Chris Cenac's claims that he's been "ducking" guarding the #Celtics rookies😂
"Chris, Dillon, they'll get welcomed to the academy once training camp and all that stuff goes on. Ask them again in a month and a half how it's been with me." –@CLNSMedia… pic.twitter.com/1zavUbkJpf
Under Jefferson’s leadership, the Summer League Celtics are 3-1. Despite having no lottery picks and only a few returners from last season, they only missed entry into the playoffs due to point differential.
The players — from the biggest names on the roster to the ones that may not even see the floor — are grateful for the culture that Jefferson has established.
“You can tell he’s a winner,” said Hugo Gonzalez. “He got a lot of passion in basketball, and he wants to have things perfect. And I think he transmits a great message to everybody — of the ambition, of the competition, being hungry for 40 minutes of the game. I think he’s doing an amazing job.”
Munetaka Murakami and Miguel Vargas will have a lot on their shoulders in the second half of the season.
With the All-Star break now behind us, it’s back to the grind of the MLB season. In what can only be described as the shock of the season, the Chicago White Sox enter the second half of the season tied for first atop the AL Central. With 67 games left, the final push for the playoffs starts now.
The first team to be tasked with testing the White Sox is the Toronto Blue Jays. When these two teams met at the beginning of the season, the White Sox made a statement by sweeping Toronto over the three-game series, outscoring the Blue Jays, 14-7. Now, judging by how the two teams have fared since that series, that matchup looks more like an early indication of how the two teams would play out the season.
To say the Blue Jays have been undergoing a World Series appearance hangover would be an understatement. The team that fell just two outs short of a championship now find itself in dead-last in the AL East. To start the second half of the season, they’re throwing out Spencer Miles.
Miles made his MLB debut earlier this season for the Blue Jays after being acquired by the San Francisco Giants in last year’s Rule 5 draft. He’s mostly been used as a long reliever this year, but has started three games so far as an “opener.” On the season, Miles has been on an absolute tear after a difficult start: He comes into this game with an 2.85 ERA and a 4-1 record. Miles is a pitcher who prides himself on limiting damage when he does allow runs, as he has allowed more than two scores in just two of his 26 outings.
Looking more at his “stuff” as a pitcher, Miles leans heavily on a sinker and curveball combo, as he throws one of those two pitches 67% of the time. He doesn’t get batters to chase or whiff very often, but he does limit hard hits and not many batters are able to barrel anything up on his pitches. Due to his low ability to get guys to swing and miss, if Miles isn’t able to locate his pitches as he wants he can open himself up to some damage.
As for the White Sox, they are throwing out none other than Anthony Kay. After a sensational month of May and a bad June, Kay has steadied the ship a bit in July. In his two starts, against the Cleveland Guardians and Boston Red Sox, Kay has allowed just three earned runs in just a shade more than nine innings. It’s also important to remember that Kay was terrific in his start against the Guardians, allowing just one hit over four innings, until the rain delay ended his night early.
With both the White Sox and Guardians having relatively easy schedules to start the second half of the season, it’s crucial for the South Siders to win each and every time out as they no longer have a margin for error. With their team healthy and the Blue Jays still beaten up with some injuries to key players, there is no excuse for the White Sox to not take this series.
Here is the starting lineup for your Chicago White Sox:
Here is the starting lineup for the Toronto Blue Jays:
First pitch is 6:15 p.m. CST. You can watch on Apple TV or listen on ESPN Chicago 1000. Let us know your thoughts and predictions below!
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 12: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated in the dugout after scoring a run during the second inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Petco Park on July 12, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres finally managed to win a series, pushing past the Toronto Blue Jays to take their first series in July. After an 8-7 comeback win on Saturday night, the Friars pulled off the same feat with a 5-4 comeback on Sunday afternoon. Those wins gave their offense some much needed momentum heading into the All-Star break.
The Padres desperately need a consistent turnaround. Now is the time to do it. San Diego has a 10-game road trip with no off days before returning to Petco Park on July 28. That’s six days before the Trade Deadline on Aug. 3. There’s an abundance of speculation on how the Friars will approach the deadline this year. The next 10 games will make or break the rest of San Diego’s season.
Taking the mound
Seth Lugo (KC) v. Michael King (SD)
Lugo has been stabilizer in years past for the Kansas City Royals. That has not been the case this season. Lugo has struggled toward a 4.56 ERA alongside a 6.68 ERA across his last 33 2/3 innings. That line is primarily due to the righty’s fall off after a hot start to the year.
The Royals themselves have struggled, mostly regressing after a solid but uninspiring 2025 campaign. The offense looks rough, but the rotation has been worse. Lugo has been part of an overall regression from Kansas City’s starting pitchers. The Padres will look to add to those troubles.
King had been looking for a bounce back and seems to have found it. After surrendering four runs in as many innings to the Los Angeles Dodgers, King has given up just three runs across his last 12 innings pitched. The right-hander’s command has been excellent lately, and he’ll look to follow it up against the Royals.
The majority of Kansas City’s lineup has seen King minimally. The only batter with 10 or more at-bats against the righty is veteran catcher Salvador Perez. The backstop owns a career .200 batting average against King. San Diego’s ace will hope to limit the rest of the Royals similarly on Friday night.
Batter up!
The lineup has looked healthy over the last few games, but the Padres have yet to prove consistency in their offense. Their final two games against Toronto showed that San Diego still has some grit in them, with back-to-back comeback wins against the Jays. If the Friars can show that fight through the second half of the year, they’ll be well on their way to the playoffs.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jackson Merrill, CF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Manny Machado, 3B
Gavin Sheets, LF
Ty France, 1B
Miguel Andujar, DH
Luis Campusano, C
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Expect Andujar and Sheets to play a big role on offense tonight. Both have a batting average over .300 and an OPS over 1.000 in their careers versus Lugo. France and Merrill do as well, but the former duo has more experience against Kansas City’s right-hander (18 combined at-bats).
Relief corps
The entire bullpen will be available with the series opener being the first game back from the All-Star break. That said, Wandy Peralta was placed on the bereavement list Wednesday afternoon. The Padres recalled Jhony Brito from Triple-A to fill out their ‘pen.
The rest of the available relievers will be made up of Kyle Hart, Ron Marinaccio, Yuki Matsui, Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, Bradgley Rodriguez and Matt Waldron. Brito and Waldron will figure to cover multiple innings as both have worked as starters and bulk relief pitchers.
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 02: A detailed view of the custom Nike cleats worn by Kazuma Okamoto (7) of the Toronto Blue Jays during the Tuesday evening MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Toronto Blue Jays on June 2, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
I’m busy all day today, so getting a Game Thread together early in case I can’t get to it later.
Lineups haven’t been announce yet.
Spencer Miles (4-1, 2.85) and former Jay Anthony Kay (6-4, 4.23). I wonder if they can push Miles thru five innings? At least the pen is rested.
Hopefully some time off did the hitters some good too.
He's made multiple public appearances during Fanatics Fest in New York City where he has spoken at multiple events, including in front of crowds who piled in to hear live podcast recordings of his show "Mind the Game" and "The Shop".
During a live recording of "The Shop", James reminisced about the times in his career where he's been thrown out of games, which happened twice. He looked back at the most recent ejection, a Nov. 22, 2021 game as the Los Angeles Lakers visited the Detroit Pistons.
James and then-Pistons center Isaiah Stewart II were jockeying for position on a rebound during a free throw attempt from Jerami Grant with 9:18 remaining in the third quarter. Grant made the free throw to extend the lead to 78-66 when James accidentally struck Stewart in the face, leaving him with blood dripping down his face.
Words were exchanged, pushing and shoving ensued and Stewart infamously pursued James around Little Caesars Arena.
"He's chasing the (expletive) out of me," James said in laughter. "I was like 'get this big (expletive) up off of me'. That's a big boy. (I was like) aye, y'all better make sure he don't get me."
For what it's worth, Stewart stands at 6-foot-8, 250-pounds of brute force. Both players were ejected from the game, which the Lakers won 121-116.
Now, five years later, James is a free agent and Stewart was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for three future second-round draft picks in June, allowing Detroit to clear $15 million in cap space.
Jun 4, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale (51) looks on during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Mady Mertens-Imagn Images | Mady Mertens-Imagn Images
We’re back with Braves baseball. Let’s see if the Braves can take a dub and start off hot. First things first, the offense needs to step up. And consistency has to come through as well.
The Braves aren’t too far off from being great. They’re just missing pieces that need to be combined to get past slumps and find consistent success. Starting with tonight, we’ll see what version of the Braves we’re going to get.
