Sunday Night Baseball on July 19 will feature a matchup of two storied MLB franchises facing off on NBC for the first time since Game 6 of the 1978 World Series.
Also being streamed on Peacock, the game will feature the New York Yankees playing host to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the teams' previous meeting on NBC, the Yankees won 7-2 on Oct. 17, 1978 to claim their second consecutive World Series championship and their 22nd overall title.
That game, which was called by Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek, and Tom Seaver, featured seven Baseball Hall of Famers — Goose Gossage, Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson, Don Sutton, Yogi Berra (as a Yankees coach), Yankees manager Bob Lemon andDodgers manager Tommy Lasorda.
Sunday will bring a similar amount of starpower as four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani leads the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers against the Yankees and 2026 All-Star Game MVP Cody Bellinger.
The Dodgers and Yankees have met in the World Series 12 times, the most in MLB history, with New York winning eight titles.
Play-by-play voice Jason Benetti will be joined by seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens and 1988 World Series MVP and NL Cy Young Award winner Orel Hershiser.
Bob Costas will be the host of the pregame show alongside CC Sabathia, who will also provide “Inside the Pitch” commentary during crucial at-bats in the game.
See below for additional information on how to watch the Dodgers vs. Yankees and a breakdown of the game. Also check out the schedule for the MLB on NBC and Peacock. There will be 27 prime-time MLB games featured across NBC, Peacock and NBCSN in 2026. NBC Sports will also stream one out-of-market game each day of the 2026 MLB season nationally on Peacock.
How to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Yankees
In their quest for a third consecutive World Series title, the Dodgers are off to a better start than their past two championship seasons. Los Angeles was 61-36 (.629) at the All-Star break (last year, they were 58-39, and they were 56-41 in 2024).
Before the All-Star break, Ohtani led the Dodgers and ranked among the top five in the National League with 22 home runs, a .403 on-base percentage, and a .953 OPS. He is scheduled to be the designated hitter against New York after missing the All-Star Game for a knee procedure. The Dodgers, who rank top three in runs per game and batting average, still had three All-Star starters: Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy and Andy Pages.
The Dodgers, who have the best road record in the majors, are at the outset of a nine-game road trip with three games apiece against the Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets. Los Angeles lost five of its last seven games before the All-Star break and were swept (by Arizona) for the first time this season.
The Yankees fell to second in the American League at 54-42 after going 18-19 across June and July before the All-Star break. But New York leads the AL in ERA (3.37), home runs (142) and stolen bases (96) and are managing without injured sluggers Aaron Judge (rib fracture) and Giancarlo Stanton (left calf strain).
First baseman Ben Rice, who is coming off his first All-Star Game appearance, leads the Yankees with 29 home runs and 68 RBI.
New York is entering a stetch of seven consecutive series (22 total games) against teams with a winning record through the All-Star break — the Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves.
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JULY 08: Dean Kremer #64 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 8, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you recall, prior to the All-Star break the Orioles had just climbed a hurdle they’d failed to yet surpass: a four-game win streak. Now, they’re a bit battered and bruised, what with late-inning relievers Ryan Helsley and Keegan Akin on the shelf, and hottest-hitter-of-late Blaze Alexander sidelined, sadly, with a fractured hand, thanks to KC’s wayward Lucas Erceg.
Tonight, the Birds fly the coop for three games against the Houston Astros. Game 1 is tonight, with right hander Dean Kremer (1-2, 4.09 ERA) facing off against righty Peter Lambert (8-5, 3.14 ERA)
Lambert is only in the Houston rotation due to a surfeit of starter injuries, but the fifth-year journeyman, who’d owned a career 6.28 ERA to date, has been a nice surprise for the Astros. He’s done a good job of limiting contact, with an excellent .204 opposing average against. The righty has a really extensive eight-pitch mix that is primarily fastball and changeup-driven. Back in April, Lambert threw 4.1 innings and allowed two runs.
As for the Orioles’ Kremer, this will be just his start of the year, due, first to his not making the team out of spring training, and then an injured quad. It’s nice to have him back, under the circumstances. In four starts so far, he’s allowed 12 runs in 22 innings. He’s leaning heavily on a pitch that’s new for him, a splitter. So far, so good: hitters are batting just .176 against it. Against these Astros, Kremer has pitched well, although the fearsome Yordan Alvarez has reached base against him in six of 10 PAs, and Jose Altuve is 9-for-20.
A view from the press box level at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio, Friday, July 17, 2026, after the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Guardians was postponed due to air quality concerns.
This game got smoked out.
Friday’s matchup between the Pirates and Guardians was postponed because of air quality concerns stemming from wildfire smoke coming from Canada, Cleveland announced.
“We have to do what’s best and what’s smart for both teams and for the fans,” Guardians skipper Stephen Vogt told reporters, according to The Athletic.
A view from the press box level at Progressive Field in Cleveland on July 17, 2026, after the game between the Pirates and Guardians was postponed because of air quality concerns. AP Photo/Joe Reedy)
In place of Friday’s game, a split doubleheader is scheduled at Progressive Field on Saturday, with the start times being 1:10 p.m. and 7:10 p.m. Eastern.
According to the Guardians’ statement, fans attending the doubleheader must clear the stadium in between games.
“If fans are unable to attend the makeup game on July 18, they will be able to make an exchange based on how their tickets were purchased,” the Guardians stated. “Exchanges must be made no later than July 18 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Please note that exchanges cannot be made in the MLB Ballpark app.”
Gavin Williams, who was slated to start for the Guardians on Friday, will pitch Game 1 on Saturday, with Cleveland calling up Logan Allen from Triple-A Columbus to start Game 2.
As of Friday afternoon, Cleveland’s Air Quality Index (AQI) registered at 244, which is labeled as “very unhealthy” and health risks are “increased for everyone,” according to AirNow.
A healthy AQI typically ranges between 0 and 50.
A general view of Progressive Field as the game between the Pirates and Guardians was postponed because of air quality concerns. Getty Images
Cleveland, along with the surrounding areas of northeast Ohio, has been experiencing smoky and hazy skies for the past two days, though conditions are expected to improve by Saturday afternoon, according to Fox 8.
MLB is also assessing the air quality of several other games Friday night, and the commissioner’s office has the authority to cancel or postpone games based on the AQI, The Athletic reported.
Friday’s game isn’t the first to be affected by the smoky conditions, with the Mets’ 4-1 win over the Phillies on Thursday getting pushed up one hour to try to avoid the weather as much as possible.
Christian Scott throws a pitch to Justin Crawford in the bottom of the sixth inning of the Mets’ win over the Phillies on July 16, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Getty Images
The earlier start time did not do much to thwart the conditions, however, as the smoke eventually engulfed Citizens Bank Park midway through the game.
“My eyes were burning and itching a little bit,’’ Mets infielder Brett Baty said following the game. “[Carson] Benge said it felt like you were sitting by a campfire.
“It was fun … but it didn’t feel great playing ball with it.”
Two starts ago, Seth Lugo faced off against his original big league team in a wild game that the Royals ultimately won despite him pitching quite poorly. He will look to do better today against his other former club, the one that first gave him a shot to resume starting after what had seemed a permanent shift to the bullpen.
We all know who Lugo is at this point; he throws everything but the kitchen sink. But sometimes he’ll add a faucet in there. When he can avoid the middle of the plate and keep guys guessing, he succeeds, when he gets backed into a corner, he can get pounded. The Padres don’t seem like a team that’s likely to pound him, necessarily, but
The Padres have been a bit up-and-down this season with an elite bullpen, an offense that has struggled to hit home runs, and a starting pitching staff that is extremely suspect after Michael King. Unfortunately for the Royals, King is the one who gets the start tonight.
King throws five pitches. What’s odd about his success from the outside is that, well, it looks like a bit of smoke and mirrors. None of his pitches get chase, none get whiffs, his xwOBACON is awful. His stuff is rated average. His 3.49 ERA is backed by a 4.49 SIERA and 4.01 FIP. His K-BB% of 11.1% is a career low. If the Royals had a good offense, I’d wonder if they could find a way to break him out of his lucky streak. But they’re not.
Lineups
Not much has changed with the Royals’ lineup since last weekend. For some reason, Salvador Perez still has to be in there despite actively making the team worse. But otherwise, this is about as good as it gets with the current group of players. A group that likely won’t be together much longer.
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 08: Gabriel Hughes #43 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the game between the Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Thank goodness Rockies baseball is back.
The Colorado Rockies (39-59) return to action tonight against the Cincinnati Reds (43-52) at Coors Field after four days away for the All-Star break.
There was still baseball, of course. It just was not the baseball I wanted to watch.
The Home Run Derby had its moments, and the All-Star Game offered the usual appeal of seeing baseball’s best players up close. But neither did much to fill the Rockies-sized hole in the week. Hunter Goodman barely received a passing mention, which was disappointing but not especially surprising.
After everything this organization has done—and failed to do—the Rockies have not earned national respect. They also have not earned anyone’s confidence that this climb will eventually reach the summit.
But for all the frustration, the Rockies are moving uphill. They reached the break 17 games ahead of last year’s pace, and the product on the field has been considerably more watchable.
And, Rockies fans still get the joy of this team on its own terms.
Anyone who showed up for the climb expecting an easy bandwagon ride has clearly never hiked in the Rockies. There is no wagon to the top. The trip is earned step by step.
Through those two appearances, Hughes has a 3.00 ERA with eight strikeouts and three walks over nine innings. He has leaned heavily on a four-seam fastball averaging just over 93 mph. The pitch has accounted for seven of his eight strikeouts while holding opposing hitters to a .130 average.
The sample is small, but the fastball has already shown that it can miss major-league bats.
Cincinnati will counter with right-hander Brady Singer. The 29-year-old enters tonight at 3-9 with a 4.72 ERA and 76 strikeouts over 89.2 innings. He was sharp in his final start before the break, holding the Philadelphia Phillies to one run over 7.1 innings.
The Rockies’ offense went quiet before the break, scoring three runs or fewer in four of its final five games. A few days away may have come at a good time.
Now, the break is over. Hughes is on the mound, the gang is back together, and it is simply good to have Rockies baseball back in front of us.
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 17: The New York Yankees talk before the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 17, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers and Yankees continue their weekend series in The Bronx on Saturday night.
Emmet Sheehan takes the ball for Los Angeles, while left-hander Ryan Weathers starts for the Yankees. The Dodgers are 18-10 in games started by opposing southpaws this season.
The middle game of the series will have Joe Davis on the call, as he was on Friday. Only this time instead of SportsNet LA, he’ll call the exclusive Fox broadcast.
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 31, 5:14 p.m.
The Yankees continue to look for impact right-handed bats ahead of the deadline and it seems Orioles outfielder Taylor Ward is on their radar.
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reports that the Yankees are one of a number of teams with varying interest in Ward. The other teams include the Phillies, Guardians and Rangers.
The injuries to Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger may push GM Brian Cashman to make a move for a proven outfielder like Ward.
Ward, 32, is slashing .248/.383/.350 with an OPS of .733 to go along with seven home runs and 30 RBI.
Ward is an unrestricted free agent after this season.
July 30, 9:18 a.m.
The Yankees, Rays, and Red Sox are among the teams expressing interest in Rockies All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Per Rosenthal, the Rockies have been asking inquiring teams for their No. 1 prospect as part of the talks.
Goodman, 26, holds immense value due to his salary ($810,000 this season) and years of control (he's arbitration-eligible through 2029).
New York is in need of catching help, with Austin Wells having an alarmingly bad year with the bat -- hitting .159 with a .525 OPS in 214 at-bats.
Goodman, who has been an All-Star the last two seasons, is slashing .254/.326/.545 with 31 homers in 100 games this year.
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.”
