Category: Sports News

Brewers have a chance to win their second series in a row and their first of July this evening in Arizona as they get set to take the season series against the Diamondbacks.

After a late night yesterday with over eight innings thrown by the Brewers bullpen, they’ll lean on Brandon Woodruff to provide them with rest. Woodruff will be making his third start on the mound since returning from the injured list and his ninth overall on the season. Since returning, Woodruff has thrown 11 2/3 innings, giving up just two hits, no runs, and has struck out 16. That brings his season total to a 2.59 ERA with 41 strikeouts.

Tonight’s start will be Woodruff’s ninth against the Diamondbacks in his career. Most recently, he was sent to the injured list after he completed 1 1/3 innings at the end of April. Overall, he has been up-and-down throughout the course of his career against the Diamondbacks, posting a 4.65 ERA with 51 strikeouts.

Pressure on getting long outings from the starting pitching was just increased as right-handed pitcher Joel Kuhnel was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder injury, retroactive to July 3. Craig Yoho was recalled from Nashville. In five games this season with the Brewers, Yoho has a 6.00 ERA in six innings pitched with eight strikeouts.

Today’s transactions pic.twitter.com/TbVdBvBJAm

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 4, 2026

For the Diamondbacks, Merrill Kelly will be handed the ball to make his 15th start of the season. He’s been in the midst of his worst season up to this point in his career as he enters tonight with a 5.84 ERA, having allowed 18 home runs, 33 walks, and only striking out 33. He finished the month of June with a 7.31 ERA, as in his last start, he allowed five runs to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Lifetime against the Brewers, Kelly has been successful, posting a 3.41 ERA in 11 games. However, in his last outing against the Brewers in April, he gave up five runs on six hits and five walks.

Both of these lineups have faced both teams’ starting pitcher. For the Brewers, Sal Frelick and Brice Turang have witnessed the most success against Kelly, as they hope to replicate what they did in Milwaukee back in April tonight.

You’ll be able to listen to tonight’s game on the Brewers Radio Network on WTMJ 620 while being able to watch it on Brewers.TV. First pitch will be another late one as it’s slated for 8:40 p.m.

Win a series on Independence Day 🇺🇸

📺: https://t.co/eycfmE2vgm
📻: WTMJ#ThisIsMyCrew  x @NicoletLawpic.twitter.com/5Ngu55RXZb

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 4, 2026

Saturday in the ballpark, I think it was the Fourth of July. pic.twitter.com/BFFOU2l654

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) July 4, 2026

The Cincinnati Reds have been beseiged at Helm’s Deep for four days running. They sit at just 40-47 on the season, mired in last place in the National League Central and 7 full games back of the final NL Wild Card spot. That’s closer to the team in last place in the NL Wild Card standings (the Colorado Rockies at 12 games back) than they are to the St. Louis Cardinals, who occupy that final playoff position.

Today, though, is dawn on the fifth day. At least, that’s what the team must hope lest they barrel into trade season needing to blow this whole operation up and begin once again.

Reds ace Hunter Greene was activated on Saturday ahead of the team’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, their two-time All Star finally ready to make his 2026 debut after his March surgery to clean up debris in his prized right elbow. His minor league rehab starts have been basically perfect, his touted velocity once again there, and the Reds will now turn to Greene to help miraculously turn around their fortunes before it’s all too late.

He’ll start opposite Orioles starter Brandon Young, who pitched to an impressive 2.76 ERA across 29.1 IP (5 GS) during the month of June. That backed up an equally impressive May where he pitched to a 2.86 ERA in 28.1 IP (5 GS) as he has settled in as a force within the O’s rotation.

First pitch is set for 7:10 PM ET this 4th of July, with a massive fireworks display scheduled for after the game at Great American Ball Park.

With Ha-Seong Kim hitting the IL, Jorge Mateo gets the start at shortstop over Jim Jarvis, facing the lefty Manaea. Elsewhere, Joey Bart starts at catcher, with Baldwin DHing and batting second. Austin Riley bats fifth, ahead of Michael Harris for reasons that are clearly more about mixing lefties and righties than recent production. They have a clear pitching advantage on paper and can hopefully continue their offensive momentum they showed, hitting four homers on Friday night. If they can, it should be a fun national TV game for Braves fans on this country’s 250th birthday.

America’s game on America’s 250th birthday 🇺🇸#BravesCountrypic.twitter.com/6MY05GMbPt

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 4, 2026

UPDATE: The Mets’ lineup is now available below

🇺🇸⚾️ #LGMpic.twitter.com/2PEAJ8ltxG

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 4, 2026

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Saturday, July 4, 8:08 p.m. ET

Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA

TV: FOX

Streaming: MLB.tv

Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan

After the game, I was playing catch with my dad, thinking about what to write. The performance on the field by the Washington Nationals was pretty unremarkable. They lost 7-1, falling behind early and then looking sluggish in the heat. However, some of the pre-game ceremonies and the occasion itself were remarkable. Those moments captured me on the 250th birthday of this nation.

Between Artemis astronauts throwing out the first pitch, to all of the ceremonies, it was a special day at the yard. In America’s 250 year history, baseball has played a key role in much of it. The National Pastime has become central to American culture, as well as our image both internally and around the world.

4 … 3 … 2 … 1 …

FOUR first pitches from the Artemis II crew!@NASA | #natitudepic.twitter.com/4Gx35v3582

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 4, 2026

In so many ways, baseball has been a cultural zeitgeist for this nation. Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier is an iconic moment in history, and in some ways kicked off the Civil Rights movement. It took a long time for integration to happen, and race relations in the US are far from perfect even today. However, Jackie paved the way for so many both on and off the field.

This country likes to think it is based on a true meritocracy. However, that is not really the case despite the great imagery of the American Dream. In baseball though, it is more of a meritocracy. That is a big reason why Jackie got a shot in the MLB long before the Civil Rights Act. Baseball is a game where differences can be put to the side in the name of winning and competing.

The game can also be a great unifier. After 9/11, baseball played a key role in the country’s healing process. That Mets game just 10 days after the horrific tragedy was a truly iconic moment, and ended in storybook fashion. George Bush throwing out the first pitch in New York during the World Series was a similarly emotional moment.

In so many of America’s biggest moments, you can easily find a connection to baseball. During World War II, many of baseball’s biggest stars such as Ted Williams and Joe Dimaggio served our country. They fought for our freedom in years that would have been the prime of their career.

That is why baseball is such a big part of the July 4th holiday. It is a quintessentially American game and has been part of so many American moments. Even if the game did not go the Nats way today, there is always something special about playing baseball in DC on the 4th of July.

It is a big stage for these players. We saw James Wood homer today, and Nats stars have come to life on the 4th in the past. Mr. National Ryan Zimmerman had a great track record on Independence Day. He hit .361 with 4 homers in 11 July 4th games. 

To play America’s game in America’s capital is a great honor. Even though they lost, it really did seem like the players appreciated that. As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, we cannot tell the story of this country without talking about baseball. This game is so special, and it is always a treat to watch those 11:05 games at Nationals Park.

Today, the Houston Astros announced a series of moves affecting their outfield:

We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/mcXgAOpRiF

— Houston Astros (@astros) July 4, 2026

Wade Jr., 32, was signed by Houston on June 4 to a 1 year, $1M contract. He made an immediate impact, going 4×12 in 4 games with 2 doubles, a HR, 4 RBI, and 2 runs scored before a hamstring injury landed him on the IL.

Wade had gone only 1×10 on his rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land, but batted .250 with a .420 OBP and .861 OPS for Triple-A Charlotte Knights, part of the Chicago White Sox system, this season before requesting his release and being signed by the Astros. His patience and plate discipline were reasons cited by Astros GM Dana Brown for why the team signed him, and why the team had interest in him in the offseason.

Dezenzo, 27, was hitting .264 with a .417 OBP and .780 OPS at Sugar Land this season. He has demonstrated better plate discipline this season, with a 22/25 BB/K ratio in 115 PA at Triple-A. The Astros are looking for better plate discipline and less strikeouts out of their outfield.

Dezenzo has played small parts of 3 seasons in Houston with the Astros, never really getting a consistent opportunity and not being successful in the small opportunities he’s had to date. This season with the big league club, Dezenzo was batting .191 with 4 doubles, 1 HR and 2 RBI in 47 AB across 21 games. He also struck out 19 times.

Meyers, 30, has followed up a career-best .292 average last season with what would be a career-worst .206 average so far this season. Meyers missed 2 months of last season with a calf injury. He was batting .308 when he went on the IL after play July 6, and returned September 6. He batted just .204 in the month of September last year, finishing the year at .292.

This season so far has been more of September 2025 for Meyers, who hit just .183 in June.

In 2024, Meyers finished with 13 Outs Above Average per Statcast, and was a finalist for al AL Gold Glove in CF. Despite missing two months last season, he finished with 9 Outs Above Average in 2025. Meyers has only 2 Outs Above Average this season, partly due to missing 38 games due to injury and partly due to poor offensive performance.

Loperfido, 27, got off to a decent start this season, albeit without any power. He was batting .276 with a .348 OBP on April 17 when he went on the IL with a right quad strain. He returned June 9, but struggled badly, batting just .122 in 41 AB in June. He did have 2 heroic moments, a 3-run HR in extras to beat Toronto June 23, then tripled late in a tie game the next day and scored on a throwing error as the pitcher tried to pick him off. He was just unable to capitalize on those moments or gain momentum, going 1×15 since.

Detroit Tigers (38-50) vs. Texas Rangers (45-43)

Time/Place: 4:05 p.m., Globe Life Field
SB Nation Site:Lone Star Ball
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Jack Flaherty (1-8, 4.97 ERA) vs. RHP Kumar Rocker (2-6, 3.83 ERA)

Player	G	IP	K%	BB%	GB%	FIP	fWAR
Flaherty	16	70.2	26.7	11.3	29.5	3.90	1.3
Rocker	16	80.0	20.3	9.0	47.5	3.89	1.3

Wishing you a safe and happy Fourth of July! 🎇 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/vTddugTmOJ

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) July 4, 2026

The Mariners have scored one run, on a bases-loaded walk, in their last 20 innings of baseball.

Logan Gilbert takes on the Blue Jays today approaching a career milestone – he’s nine strikeouts away from his 1,000th career K. That’s a heavy lift for a day’s work, but it would be so special if he could hit that milestone in front of the fans at home, especially since there hasn’t been much to cheer about for Mariners fans lately.

Lineups:

News:

While today was originally scheduled to be a Gilbert/Hancock piggyback, instead the Mariners are going back to a six-man rotation until the All-Star Break in order to get the starters some extra rest. Hancock will pitch tomorrow, and the rest of the rotation will continue to slot in as normal.

Injury updates:

Julio Rodríguez was at the park today and did some light jogging on the treadmill but is still experiencing concussion symptoms (headache, nausea, lightheadedness).

Brendan Donovan was also at the park working on baserunning and fielding drills. He’ll go out on a rehab assignment when the Mariners are out of town next week; unfortunately, the Rainiers and AquaSox are both out of town as well, so Donovan will head to Arizona to get in some work at the complex. Thoughts and prayers to the 18 year old complex kids getting to pitch to Brendan Donovan.

Today’s game information:

Game time: 1:10 PT

TV: Mariners TV with Aaron Goldsmith and Ryan Rowland-Smith

Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr.; ESPN radio with Roxy Bernstein and Madison Shipman

How quickly does one get hit in the face with a reality check? Why don’t we ask the San Diego Padres, a team that, when it faced the Dodgers for the first time this season, trailed in the race for the NL West by just half a game? And no, this series didn’t occur so early in the year as to make this point irrelevant—it happened on May 18th, well short of two months ago. Now, as Yoshinobu Yamamoto gets ready for a second straight matchup against the Friars, the Dodgers possess a 14-game lead, one that sounds like a lot, but it’s even bigger when you put it into a certain context.

If the Dodgers were to beat the Padres tonight, their lead over the Padres—who are currently tied with the Diamondbacks for the second spot in the NL West—would represent the second largest lead any team has against any opponent in their own division. As things currently stand, the Padres are much closer to the Rockies and the worst team in baseball (Royals) than they are to the Dodgers—the numbers show that, even if reality often brings much closer games such as Friday’s night one-run win thanks to a Teoscar Hernández grand slam.

Addressing tonight’s specific matchup, Yamamoto is still working on fixing what was initially a rather poor track record against the Padres. Despite allowing just three runs in the 15 innings he has pitched against San Diego this season, Yamamoto only has a 4.60 ERA versus the Friars, his second-worst mark against any National League team.

Saturday’s game info

• Teams: Dodgers vs. Padres
• Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
• Start time: 7:10 p.m. PT
• TV: SportsNet LA
• Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)