Apr 11, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) looks to pass the puck against St. Louis Blues right wing Jordan Kyrou (25) during the second period at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
CHICAGO — Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard agreed to a five-year, $75 million contract, completing a major offseason goal for the team.
The rebuilding Blackhawks announced the move. There is a full no-movement clause in the final year of the deal.
Bedard, who just turned 21, had been a restricted free agent.
“Connor has continuously defied our expectations since being drafted, and has quickly established himself as an elite player in the NHL,” general manager Kyle Davidson said in a release. “He utilizes all aspects of his game to not only be a constant threat, but to make the players around him better every time he steps on the ice. Connor’s strong work ethic and determination to always improve his game has set an extraordinary standard for our young core.”
The deal was finalized 10 days after Bedard had surgery on his left shoulder. The center is expected to miss the start of the season after he got hurt while skating with a group of NHL players in western Canada.
Chicago went 29-39-14 this year, an 11-point improvement on the previous season and still nowhere near playoff contention. The team has finished No. 31 in the NHL each of the last three years.
The Blackhawks haven’t made a postseason appearance since the NHL used an expanded playoff format after the 2020 season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. They acquired defenseman Bowen Byram in a trade with Buffalo on June 23, and they also signed forward prospect Roman Kantserov in May.
Bedard has been the centerpiece of the team since he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft. He made his anticipated NHL debut that October and won the Calder Trophy as the league’s rookie of the year.
He had 23 goals and 44 assists while appearing in all 82 games in his second season. He continued his steady improvement this year, setting career highs with 30 goals and 45 assists in 69 games.
“He’s so important to our team,” Davidson said in April. “He took such a big step forward this year in every facet.”
Bedard missed nearly six weeks of his rookie season with a broken jaw, and he was sidelined for 12 games this year after he injured his right shoulder.
With the contract done, the next big moment for Bedard could be taking over as the 36th captain in franchise history. He became an alternate captain after the team traded away its entire leadership group in March.
His teammates think he’s ready for the challenge.
“I think that he has every leadership quality like I was just talking about to be a captain in this league,” forward Oliver Moore said in April. “He brings it every day.”
Former Chicago Cubs player Anthony Rizzo gestures towards the crowd during the MLB All Star Game handoff event before a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the Minnesota Twins in Chicago, Friday, July 17, 2026.
The second time was the charm for Anthony Rizzo.
While sitting in the outfield bleachers at Wrigley Field during the Cubs’ 6-2 win over the Twins on Saturday, the former Chicago first baseman was able to get his hands on a homer hit by Chicago infielder Michael Busch — with his infant son in his arms.
The fans surrounding Rizzo cheered as he held the ball in the air after tracking it down, with the 36-year-old then holding his son high above his head.
MICHAEL BUSCH JUST HIT A HOME RUN TO ANTHONY RIZZO IN THE BLEACHERS!
The Marquee Sports broadcast booth was also in disbelief once Rizzo got the ball.
“You gotta be kidding me!” announcer Jon Sciambi exclaimed.
Even Busch was baffled at the chances of Rizzo catching his home run.
“I thought that was super, just like mind-blowing,” Busch told reporters, according to The Associated Press. “Who knows how things work out, but I thought that was pretty cool.”
The fans surrounding Rizzo cheered as he held the ball in the air after tracking it down. MLBONFOX/X
Rizzo’s catch comes nearly a year after he botched a similar home run ball in the stands in embarrassing fashion.
During a game in September, Rizzo attempted to catch a homer — standing up and waving his arms to clear out the fans — from Moisés Ballesteros, only to see the ball bounce right out of his hand and into the seats behind him.
Despite the blunder, Rizzo erupted into cheers alongside the fans.
Former Chicago Cubs player Anthony Rizzo gestures towards the crowd during the MLB All Star Game handoff event before a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the Minnesota Twins in Chicago, Friday, July 17, 2026. AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh
Rizzo has been in Chicago since Friday, taking part in celebrations for the Cubs’ 10th anniversary of their 2016 World Series title.
He threw out the ceremonial first pitch ahead of Friday’s game as the Cubs revealed the logo for the 2027 All-Star Game, which will be held at Wrigley Field.
“Just the 2016 team, what they did for this city and the championship that they brought was obviously a big deal,” Busch told reporters. “You could just tell from the fans how much they were loved and how much joy they brought to the city.
“And then Rizzo was kind of a cornerstone for them.”
The A’s received cash considerations and 22-year-old minor league pitcher Aiden Moffett, according to multiple reports.
Aaron Civale of the Athletics pitches during the second inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on July 10, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images
Civale, 31, has experienced a rocky season since signing a one-year deal with the Athletics in February.
Through 16 games, Civale holds a 5-7 record with a 5.42 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 74⅔ innings.
He got off to a solid start this season, posting a 3.23 ERA in 60⅔ innings in six starts through March and April, but things have gone downhill since, causing the Athletics to designate the righty for assignment on Wednesday.
This move also sees Civale return to the Cubs nearly a year after the organization claimed him off waivers.
During his brief Cubs stint in 2025, Civale held a 2.08 ERA in five appearances out of the bullpen.
He also tossed 4⅓ scoreless innings in relief in the postseason for Chicago last year.
Aaron Civale of the Athletics pitches in the bottom of the first inning. against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on June 23, 2026 in San Francisco, California. Getty Images
Civale joins a Cubs team that sits six games behind the Brewers for the top spot in the National League Central and holds the NL’s top wild-card spot.
He also fills a hole for Chicago, which has a dozen arms on the injured list, though starting pitchers Jameson Taillon and Edward Cabrera are expected to make a return soon.
Cubs ace Justin Steele, who hasn’t pitched since April 7, 2025, is also expected to start throwing off a mound in August.
“The hope is that guys can start getting healthy and trickling back, and we can keep getting good news on guys,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Friday, according to MLB.com.
NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge will need another scan before a major ramp-up of activity while his fractured rib heals, and the New York Yankees moved their captain to the 60-day injured list Saturday.
Sidelined since May 31, Judge had a scan during the All-Star break that was reviewed by Dr. Gregory J. Pearl, chair of the department of vascular surgery at Baylor Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital in Texas.
“Obviously healing going on, which is good, but still not able to start any baseball activities or anything,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers was rained out and rescheduled as part of a day-night doubleheader Sunday.
“He needs to get to a point to where he’s asymptomatic to where you really start ramping up more upper body stuff,” Boone said.
Judge is hitting .248 with 17 homers and 38 RBIs but had just one homer in his last 18 games before going on the injured list.
“The good news is, you know the the pain is subsiding somewhat over the last couple weeks and changing from that sharp to more of that pull,” Boone said. “So hopefully he continues to improve there and then we can start upping things.”
Boone said how Judge feels will determine when he goes for another scan.
New York was 36-23 when the 34-year-old outfielder last played but is 18-20 since.
His move to the 60-day IL was procedural to open a 40-man roster spot for right-hander Bradley Hanner, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Hanner then was optioned back to the RailRiders.
A 30-year-old right-hander, Schmidt threw four-seamers, sinkers and cutters among 15 pitches to Anthony Volpe and Ali Sánchez. He did not throw sliders, sweepers or knuckle-curves.
“Not full game feeling with the butterflies and stuff like that, but close to it,” Schmidt said. “To be able to put your stuff on display and be able get back out there after a year is a good feeling.”
Schmidt had an internal brace in this operation. He had Tommy John surgery in May 2017, a month before the Yankees selected him with the 16th overall pick in the amateur draft.
“The first one, when you kind of start the bullpen phase, it feels a little yucky at times and you just have a lot more days where you’re like, ah, it doesn’t feel great,” he said. “It just feels a little more easier where it’s like I don’t have to reach back and have those days where you’re grinding a little bit.”
Schmidt is to throw batting practice again in four or five days. He may return this year as a reliever and is willing to be an opener or a bridge pitcher.
“I know that we have a little more limited time for me this year as far as ability to build up the pitch count,” he said. “Obviously I’m open to everything as long as I’m out there competing and being able to help the guys. ... I know I’ll be able to be back at some point in some facet this year.”
“He is a week into the running progression, been hitting,” Boone said. “Obviously had a setback, whenever, three, four weeks ago now, but he seems to be moving in a good direction so hopefully getting close.”
Stanton still hasn’t run the bases.
Max Fried to get another minor league rehab start
Left-hander Max Fried, out since May 14 because of a left elbow bone bruise, made his first rehab start Friday for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre against Worcester, allowing two runs and five hits over three innings with three strikeouts and no walks.
“He looked really good. I watched his whole outing,” Boone said. “He felt really good. So 52 pitches, so another one in five days. We’ll up that and we’ll see what we’re at from there.”
George Lombard potentially an option
Shortstop prospect George Lombard Jr. went 2 for 3 with a home run and a walk for the RailRiders on Friday night in his return from the injured list. He hadn’t played for Scranton since June 16 because of sprained fingers on his left hand.
“Obviously it’s no secret how highly we think of George,” Boone said. “Had a good game last night, obviously, so he’s certainly more and more in his development pushing himself into the conversation.”
A 21-year-old son of a former major leaguer, Lombard is hitting .239 with five homers, 16 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 43 games at Triple-A.
“I want him to get going here coming off the injury and start stacking some days,” Boone said.
Davis Martin was good, but not quite good enough. | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
When you have a game featuring one pitcher who was once a superstar but has been awful all year facing another who was a big star earlier in the season but hadn’t been for weeks, it could go either way — slugfest or pitchers’ duel.
Duel it was, and a good one. Fast one, too — the game started 40 minutes late due to a statue-unveiling ceremony by the Blue Jays but ended right when expected, because it only took two hours and seven minutes.
Turns out, extra rest over the All-Star break can pay off. At least for pitchers.
Davis Martin was terrific for the Sox, only needing 35 pitches to cruise through the first three innings, allowing just a broken-bat single to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The fourth wasn’t as smooth. With one out, Guerrero hit the ball as far as you can at Rogers Centre without getting to trot around the bases. George Springer then snuck a grounder under Colson Montgomery’s glove, Guerrero came in, and that was it for the scoring in the game. Martin went 5 2/3 innings and Sean Newcomb and Jordan Hicks were solid in relief, despite Newcomb giving up a double to the first batter he faced and putting men on second and third.
Good as Martin was, Shane Bieber was better, looking like his old self despite a horrendous start to the season. He went six innings on 80 pitches, giving up just three hits and two walks while striking out six. All three hits were doubles, two of them the opposite way by Munetaka Murakami and Braden Montgomery leading off innings. But the Sox went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, all through the first five innings.
Once the Blue Jays went to the pen, there was no problem about runners in scoring position, because there weren’t any. Andrew Benintendi drew a leadoff walk in the seventh, but that was followed by two Ks and a ground out. Chase Meidroth laid down a nifty leadoff bunt single in the eighth, but pinch-runner Luisangel Acuña was caught stealing.
Not only was the pitching really good on both sides, it was really efficient. The Sox only threw 108 pitches in eight innings, the Blue Jays 114 in nine.
The loss dropped the White Sox to 51-46 but left them still in first in the AL Central (at least for the moment) because the Guardians also lost the first game of a doubleheader to the Pirates. The series in Toronto ends tomorrow afternoon, with Sean Burke and Trey Yesavage doing the honors.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 18: An Arizona Diamondbacks fan watches the action during the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Chase Field on July 18, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Brandon Pfaadt squared off against Dustin May and the St Louis Cardinals in this Saturday afternoon game, and a three-run frame for Arizona proved the difference maker, as the home team leveled the series.
Pfaadt pitched a 1-2-3 first, retiring the first three Cardinals in order, with Corbin Carroll making a great sliding catch to rob Ivan Herrera of a bloop single for the second out of the inning. In the bottom of the first inning, Ketel Marte led off with a walk, but Geraldo Perdomo hit into a double play, quickly erasing the lead runner. Corbin Carroll then struck out swinging for the third out, ending the first inning.
In the top of the second inning, Pfaadt got Jordan Walker and Lars Nootbar to ground out for the first two outs. Masyn Winn then lined a two-out single to left field, but Pfaadt struck out Nathan Church for the third out, stranding the runner at first. In the bottom half, Gabriel Moreno leadoff by lining a single into right field. Max Kepler popped out for the first out, but Nolan Arenado was able to reach on a groundball single, advancing Moreno to second. Tim Tawa struck out for the second out of the inning, but James McCann came through with another single to right, scoring Moreno to put the Diamondbacks up 1-0 over the Cardinals. Ryan Waldschmidt then struck out to end the inning.
In the top of the third inning, Pfaadt continued cruising through the Cardinals batting order. He’d get José Fermín to groundout for the first out, the strikeout Pedro Pagés for the second out, before getting JJ Wetherholt to groundout for the third out.
Arizona broke things open in the third, with some two-out offense. Ketel Marte lead of the bottom of the third inning with a single, Geraldo Perdomo followed with a walk to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Corbin Carroll unfortunately was unable to come through with a hit, instead grounding into a double play. Fortunately, that at least advanced Marte to third, who was then able to score on a wild pitch to make the score 2-0. A Gabriel Moreno single and Max Kepler walked to put runners on first and second for Nolan Arenado, who’d come through with a clutch two-run double (above), Kepler just beating the throw to put the Dbacks up 4-0. Tim Tawa then struck out to end the inning.
Pfaadt continued cruising through the Cardinals hitters, putting up a scoreless fourth inning while working around a one out single to Alec Burleson. In the bottom of the frame, Ryan Waldschmidt hit a one out double then scored on the Ketel Marte single that followed to put the Diamondbacks up 5-0. Corbin Carroll would draw a two-out walk later in the inning to put runners on first and second, but Gabi Moreno flew out to right to end the inning
In the top of the fifth, Pfaadt begin the inning by hitting Masyn Winn with a pitch. However, he’d set down the next three batters to once again get out of the inning without any real damage done. In the bottom of the fifth, Cardinals starting pitchee Dustin May finally had an easy innings, retiring all Kepler, Arenado, and Tawa in order.
However, Pfaadt started to run out of steam in the sixth. He gave up a leadoff single to JJ Wetherholt, and although Ivan Herrera popped out for the first out, the next batter, Alec Burleson, singled to put runners on first and second. A Jordan Walker single up the middle, scored Wetherholt to make the score 5-1, and a third consecutive single by Lars Nootbar, loaded the bases. That prompted Torey Lovullo to take Pfaadt out of the game and bring in reliever Ryan Thompson to face Masyn Winn. Winn then ground into a force out, erasing Nootbar at second, but scoring Burleson from third to make the score 5-2. He stole second base but Ryan Church popped out to end the inning.
The Cardinals also went to their bullpen in the home half of the sixth. Dustin May was replaced by RHP Gordon Graceffo, who’d strike out McCann and Waldschmidt, then get Marte to ground out for a 1-2-3 inning.
Ryan Thompson was relieved by Jonathan Loáisiga, who’d issue a leadoff walk in the seventh to José Fermín. Bryan Torres pinch hit for Pedro Pagés, but he’d line out to center for the first out of the inning. JJ Wetherholt singled to put runners on first and second. Ivan Herrera then struck out swinging for the second out of the inning. Brandynn Garcia relieved Loáisiga to face Alec Burleson, and ended the threat by getting the Cardinal to line out to right.
The D-backs offense continued to remain quiet. A two-out walk by Moreno in the bottom of the seventh inning, was the only baserunner off LHP Justin Bruihl, who relieved Graceffo. Otherwise, Perdomo lined out, Carroll ground out and Kepler flew out to short to end the inning. The eighth was no better: Matt Svanson relieved Bruihl and had an easy 1-2-3 inning, getting Arenado to lineout to left field, followed by a pair of groundouts to second by Tawa and McCann.
Fortunately, the Arizona bullpen was good enough. Kevin Ginkel relieved Garcia for the eighth, Jorge Barrosa replacing Waldschmidt defensively in center, and immediately was needed to catch a Jordan Walker fly ball for the first out. Lars Nootbar struck out for the second out, but Masyn Winn drew a two out walk to keep the inning going for Nathan Church. Church would nearly hit a double with deep fly ball to center, but the change on defense paid off, with Barrosa there to grab it for the third out (above).
Paul Sewald took over for Ginkel to close out the ninth inning, Ildemaro Vargas also coming into the game to take over from Tawa at first base. José Fermín struck out for the first inning after unsuccesfully challenging the pitch. Jimmy Crooks then blasted a 443 foot, 108 MPH exit velocity solo homer to right-center field, making the score 5-3. However, after giving up his usual run, Sewald settled down. JJ Wetherholt struck out for the second out, and Ivan Herrera lined out to Corbin Carroll in right field, ending the game, as the Diamondbacks beat the Cardinals 5-3.
Click for details at Fangraphs.com
Blinded Me With Science: Ketel Marte, +16% I Want Candy, Nolan Arenado, +16%
867-5309/Jenny: Corbin Carroll, -10%
Just shy of 200 comments in the GDT. Comment of the game to Snake_Bitten:
Same two teams tomorrow at Chase, with a 1:10 pm first pitch. Eduardo Rodriguez, after a successful appearance in the All-Star Game, will make his first start of the second half, so I’m hoping the D-backs can take the series.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: Brandon Boston Jr. #28 and Brayden Burries #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks high five during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on July 18, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Brayden Burries’ contested layup with just over a second left secured a tight 96-94 win for the Bucks over the Philadelphia 76ers in their last Summer League outing. With the win, Milwaukee improved to a 2-3 record. Burries scored 27 points while adding four rebounds and five assists in a promising ending to his time in Vegas. Kam Jones and Nate Ament each pitched in with twelve points, while Gerald Ayayi led the Sixers in scoring with 22 points on 13 shots.
The Bucks started two-way signee Kam Jones, rookies Brayden Burries and Nate Ament, Pete Nance, and Bogoljub Marković. The Sixers started Duke Miles, Dante Maddox Jr., Gerald Ayayi, Amani Lyles, and Isaac Johnson. Meanwhile, Philadelphia’s first-round draft-pick, Labaron Philon Jr., sat out.
The game started in a back-and-forth contest, with Ament pouring in Milwaukee’s first five points in the game. But he wasn’t the Bucks’ only rookie who got on the scoresheet early, with Burries’ and-one layup giving them a 13-10 lead midway through the first quarter. Milwaukee continued to do the right things on offense, freeing up willing shot takers like Zack Austin for open three-pointers and sending Ament up for thunderous lobs. A Jones three-point buzzer-beater put Milwaukee up 28-22 at the end of the first quarter, their largest lead in the game.
The Bucks got off to a hot start at the start of the second quarter, stretching their lead to double digits by connecting from long range. In addition to the long ball, Milwaukee scored frequently in transition, so when Philly went cold and lacked any sort of offensive generation, it directly translated to fast-break layups and numerical advantages for the Bucks. B.J. Boston’s and-one added an exclamation point to a big 9-2 Bucks run. However, the 76ers hunkered down on defense, and some big buckets from Maddox cut the Bucks’ lead to just one point. Eventually, Mylik Wilson’s driving layup and a last-second Lyles chase-down block sealed Philadelphia’s halftime advantage. Philly up, 51-50.
The Bucks continued to battle the Sixers into the third quarter, reclaiming their lead thanks to a pair of quick layups from Jones and Burries, the former of whom had to limp off the court after landing awkwardly. From there, the Sixers and Bucks exchanged scoring runs, with Milwaukee working past their initial turnover troubles by consistently converting at the rim. However, Philadelphia gained a narrow edge at the end of the third quarter, leading 74-69.
In a continuation of the back-and-forth affair, Milwaukee quickly tied the game and took the lead to start the fourth quarter. They caught fire at the right time, forging a 10-0 scoring run off some clutch Kam Jones three-pointers, and held a tight lead throughout the final frame. However, Milwaukee failed to score in their final four possessions, including on a long Nance airball with just 13 seconds left. Philadelphia attempted to run a play to secure the win, but a blocking foul from Marković sent Gerald Ajayi to the line, where he promptly tied the game up. With under 10 seconds left, Burries received the ball in the backcourt, drove all the way downhill to the rim, and converted an acrobatic layup with time expiring to secure the win for Milwaukee. Yeah, he might just be that dude.
Stat That Stood Out
Although Burries will rightfully draw most of the attention for his insane game, Nate Ament shot 2/3 from three-point range. The figure isn’t overly impressive by itself, but when you consider Ament shot 7/18 (.388) from three throughout his five Summer League appearances, his outside shooting becomes genuinely intriguing, if not exciting. One of Ament’s biggest concerns when he was being drafted was his inconsistent shooting, but it looks like he’s been working through it in Las Vegas.
DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 3: Logan Webb #62 of the San Francisco Giants pitches in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on July 3, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Time for more baseball! The San Francisco Giants play their second game out of the All-Star break, as it’s the middle contest of a three-game set against the Seattle Mariners.
It’s the ace Logan Webb on the mound for the Giants, as he makes his 17th start. Webb, who made the All-Star team for the third time in a row this year, is 5-7 on the season, with a 3.86 ERA, a 3.44 FIP, and 80 strikeouts to 26 walks in 100.1 innings. Webb has struggled in his last two starts, giving up 12 earned runs over 10 innings … which came immediately after winning National League Pitcher of the Month honors in June.
For the Mariners, it’s right-hander Bryan Woo who, like Webb, grew up in Northern California. The 26-year old Alameda High School grad, who was an All-Star last year, has made 18 starts this season and is 7-6 with a 4.23 ERA, a 3.05 FIP, and 102 strikeouts to 20 walks in 104.1 innings. He gave up three earned runs in five innings against the Miami Marlins in his final start before the break.
What felt like a never-ending losing streak for the Athletics finally has ended, and in historic fashion nonetheless.
The A’s came into Saturday’s game against the Washington Nationals having lost 10 straight, and fresh off an embarrassing 23-4 loss on Friday. Fueled by 6 1/3 hitless innings from starting pitcher J.T. Ginn, the Athletics’ offense woke up in a big way.
The A’s went on to win 15-1 and pulled off a feat that MLB’s Sarah Lang revealed hasn’t occurred since 1895.
The A’s allowed 23 runs yesterday They scored 15 today
That’s the most runs allowed in the game prior to scoring 15+ since the 1895 Phillies lost 24-6 and then won 15-2 in consecutive games May 20-21
The seventh inning proved to be the loudest of the night for the Athletics, as they put up six more runs thanks to huge hits from Jeff McNeil and Shea Langeliers, who knocked in three runs with a double to right.
The 14-run victory not only showed that the offense has plenty of juice despite their recent struggles, but OptaSTAS also revealed it was the largest victory since 1955 by a team ending a losing streak of 10 or more games.
The 14-run win for the A's tonight is the largest victory by any MLB team to snap a 10+ game losing streak since May 24, 1955, when the Pirates snapped their 11-game skid by the same 15-1 score.
Lang also shared that the Athletics’ offensive explosion marked the fourth-largest increase in run differential in MLB history, while also marking the most in nearly 30 years.
Largest increase in run differential from one game to the next all-time:
+42: 1887 Phillies -28 to +14 +34: 2000 Yankees -13 to +21 +34: 1897 Chicago Colts (now Cubs) -5 to +29 +33: 2026 A’s -19 to +14
The two teams will face off again on Sunday for the series finale, giving the A’s a chance to secure their first series win since June 12-14 when they beat the Colorado Rockies.
Sunday’s rubber match will be at 1:05 P.T. and will feature a pitchers’ duel between NL All-Star Foster Griffin (10-2) and Jacob Lopez (4-3).
No, that headline is not wrong. Anthony Rizzo was at Wrigley Field Saturday, along with many of his 2016 World Series champion teammates, to dedicate Champions Gate at Gallagher Way (and BCB’s Sara Sanchez will have a full write-up tomorrow) and to be celebrated before Saturday’s game, which the Cubs won 6-2 over the Twins.
Then he went and sat in the right-field bleachers and for the second time (also last September), he got a home run ball hit right to him.
We can start there, since that happened in the bottom of the first inning after Matthew Boyd had a 1-2-3 top of the first. Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki were routine outs.
And there was Busch’s home run, right in Rizzo’s hand… while he was holding his child in the other, cheered on by Ben Zobrist sitting right next to him.
That homer was matched by Minnesota’s Kody Clemens in the second for a 1-1 tie. Roger Clemens’ son has actually become a pretty productive MLB player as the Twins’ more-or-less regular second baseman.
The Cubs got the lead back in the second. With one out, Nico Hoerner singled and went to second on a walk drawn by Pedro Ramirez — on an ABS challenge [VIDEO].
Nice work there by Ramirez. Dansby Swanson hit into a force play, with Nico taking third.
After that, things got quiet for a few innings. Matthew Boyd completed six innings, allowing just two hits besides Clemens’ home run. He struck out four [VIDEO].
Caleb Thielbar threw the seventh and served up another home run ball to Clemens to make it 5-2.
The Cubs got that run right back in the bottom of the inning. Busch led off with a walk. Two outs later he went to second on Nico’s fourth hit of the afternoon.
Trent Thornton threw a scoreless eighth on just 10 pitches. The Cubs didn’t score in the bottom of the eighth, so Jacob Webb entered to protect a four-run lead.
That started to look a bit shaky when the first two Twins singled.
What appears to have happened there is that the runners held up to see if PCA would catch the ball. He’s about the only center fielder who could do that — almost anywhere else that falls for an RBI single. But when PCA blocked the ball and threw in, the Twins runners appeared to be confused and ran themselves into that 8-4-2-5-3 double play, one of the wildest ones you will ever see. Alert Cubs defense is what turned that. A bit faster and it might have even been a triple play.
Here’s more on Nico’s four-hit afternoon from BCB’s JohnW53:
Last night and today are the fourth time this season that Nico Hoerner has made a total of at least five hits in back-to-back games. The others were April 7-8 (five), April 14-15 (five) and April 15-17 (six). Hoerner played 75 games after April 17 and before last night.
…..
This was Hoerner’s 800th game as a Cub. If was his fifth game with four hits, but the first in which he was 4 for 4. He was 4 for 5 three times in 2023 and then on April 16, 2023.
Pete Crow-Armstrong was the only previous Cub with four hits in a game this season. He did it three times between May 30 and June 15, going 4 for 5 in the first two and 4 for 4 in the third.
One more note: After the game the Cubs announced they had acquired Aaron Civale from the A’s for minor league right-hander Aiden Moffett. The move makes the 40-man roster full. Civale had a 5.42 ERA in 16 games (15 starts) for the A’s and honestly I have no idea what the Cubs are going to do with him. No 26-man roster move has been announced yet.
The Phillies defeated the Mets today so the Cubs remain half a game ahead of them for the top wild card spot.
And the Brewers withstood a ninth-inning Marlins rally to beat them 8-6, so the Cubs remain six games out of first place in the NL Central.
The Cubs go for the series win Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Shōta Imanaga will start for the Cubs and Zebby Matthews goes for the Twins. Game time is again 1:20 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 18: Joc Pederson #3 of the Texas Rangers runs to home plate after hitting a solo home run in the first inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on July 18, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Texas Rangers scored seven runs while the Atlanta Braves scored six runs.
The Rangers couldn’t let Eli White get away with it.
With MacKenzie Gore back to having one of those kind of days following stepping up for a heroic turn in the first half finale, it was former Ranger White that turned a 1-0 Rangers lead into a deficit with a two-run home run in the bottom of the second.
Before the second inning ended, it was 4-1 Braves and it seemed like they were well on their way to another blowout of the Rangers. Poor pitching has plagued Gore on the road this season and he tends to have innings that get away from him. That was the second inning today.
Luckily for Gore, the Rangers were in the mood for a battle as they rebounded to score two in the top of the fourth. It could have been more but the Braves were wise enough to know that to stop a Rangers rally, all you have to do is allow them to load the bases.
Texas packed the bags but that is exactly where the rally ended as a one-out, bases-loaded opportunity couldn’t plate the tying run. They nearly pulled it off but a left-hander was brought in to face Evan Carter and he popped out to shallow right field where White ran in to make a sliding catch and dash his old team’s hopes for a bigger inning.
Two pitches later, in the bottom of the third, the Braves went up 5-3 when Michael Harris II went deep for a solo shot off Gore. That sequence felt like a killer but the Rangers still weren’t dead yet.
Gore settled in a little which allowed the Rangers to enter the top of the sixth still down a couple runs. After Carter was victimized of a chance to tie the game earlier, he hit one where White couldn’t reach it for a two-run home run.
It was Carter’s first dinger since his first game of the month on July 2 and it tied the game 5-5. The Rangers would continue their rally, which included three straight two-out hits, to go up 7-5 with a four-run inning of their own.
The failures with the bases loaded would crop up again, however, as the Rangers had a one-out bases-loaded chance in the top of the seventh with an opportunity to put the game away. Instead, pinch hitter Justin Foscue went up 3-0, took a strike, and then grounded into an inning-ending double play.
In the next half inning, the Braves chipped away at Texas’ lack of extra insurance with a two-out rally against Tyler Alexander which scored a run to make it 7-6. With the potential tying run on second, Alexander was able to get White to line out to Carter to end the threat.
For the first time since late June, the Rangers had their high leverage one-two punch of Jakob Junis and All-Star Jacob Latz ready to tackle a situation such as a one-run game in the final innings. Junis allowed a two-out hit in the eighth in his first outing in July, which prompted Skip Schumaker to summon Latz for his patented four-out save, which he accomplished without incident.
Gore hasn’t enjoyed much success for months now, and the inexplicable inability to produce with the bases loaded remains an albatross dangling from Texas’ neck, but as it has been literally more often than not, the Rangers earned the ability to greet the win column again today.
Player of the Game: Joc Pederson led off the game with a solo home run but he also scored three of Texas’ seven runs, which is exactly what you want from your svelte leadoff hitter.
Up Next: The Rangers and Braves close out this series with a rubber match potentially featuring RHP Nathan Eovaldi for Texas against RHP Grant Holmes for Atlanta.
The Sunday finale afternoon first pitch from Truist Park is scheduled for 12:35 pm CDT and you can watch it via the Rangers Sports Network.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 18: Atlanta manager Walt Weiss (22) makes a pitching change during the MLB game between the Texas Rangers and the Atlanta Braves on July 18th, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Braves came into Saturday looking for a series win behind Owen Murphy, facing MacKenzie Gore and the Rangers.
Murphy went up 1-2 on Joc Pederson to start the game, but gave up a solo homer to the Braves’ legend. Drake Baldwin led off the bottom of the frame with an opposite field single, but the Braves were unable to capitalize on the leadoff baserunner. Murphy walked two in the second, though one of those walks could have been a strikeout with a timely ABS challenge, but ultimately escaped the frame unscathed with a double-play. Dubon led off the second with a line drive single and Eli White capitalized with a big homer, giving Atlanta a 2-1 lead.
Austin followed White with a single, Bart walked, Baldwin brought home Austin with a single, and Ozzie brought home another run with a sac fly, as the Braves left the second with a solid 4-1 lead in support of the rookie starter.
A miscommunication between Dubon and Harris in the outfield (that seemed mostly Dubon’s fault) turned an easy out into a baserunner to lead off the third for Texas. Three line drive singles (and a pop-out) later and it was a 4-3 game with two runners on. Jake Burger snuck another single through to load the bases, and this was big trouble still with only one out. Murphy got a big strikeout for the second out and Walt Weiss took that opportunity to pull him for Dylan Dodd, who got a flyout to end the inning. It was an alright outing overall for Murphy, in my view. He certainly wasn’t spectacular, but got a bit unlucky in a few ways that likely shortened his outing. I’d give him another shot next turn of the rotation. Regardless, the game marched on at 4-3, Braves.
Michael Harris launched a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the third, pulling a run back for Atlanta.
Dylan Dodd and JR Ritchie did their job, maintaining the 5-3 lead into the sixth. Tyler Kinley took the ball in the sixth and allowed a very unlucky (.80 xBA) leadoff double that landed about 6 inches in front of a diving Mauricio Dubon’s glove. Evan Carter made the most of it, with a game-tying two run homer. Kinley got a flyout and walked the ninth hitter, before Weiss brought in Dylan Lee to face Pederson and the top of the Texas lineup. Lee got soft ground balls from Pederson and Langford, though Langford’s converted to an infield single, before a moderately hard single loaded the bases for Nimmo. Nimmo hit a dribbler through a hole in the infield for two runs, giving Texas a two-run lead. That is some exceptionally bad BABIP for the Braves’ bullpen.
Gore got the first two outs of the home sixth before hitting Bart and Jarvis consecutively to put two on with two outs for Baldwin, as the Rangers went to the bullpen. Drake lined out to end the threat. A walk, a swinging-bunt single and a hit batsman (with a sac bunt in between) loaded the bases for the Rangers in the seventh, with Danny Young on the mound, but a double-play ended the threat. Michael Harris singled with two outs in the seventh and Dubon brought him home with a double. Eli White had a chance to tie the game up by bringing Dubon around, but flied out to left-center, ending the frame with a 7-6 Rangers lead. Didier Fuentes got the eighth and after striking out Langford, got a soft chopper, fielded it bare-handed, but was unable to convert the out with Olson, on a play that was unclear who was truly at fault. Fuentes fanned Nimmo for the second out and got a nice running catch from Harris to end the inning.
Jim Jarvis singled with two outs in the eighth, but Drake Baldwin lined out to end the inning, leaving the Braves one more inning to try to tie or win the game. Raisel Iglesias got the call out of the pen for the ninth and did his job with a 1-2-3 frame. The offense was unable to do anything in the ninth, however, cementing a huge bummer of a loss.
Join us again tomorrow at 1:35 PM ET, as the Braves go for the series win.
Sean Manaea was very hittable over his short start, and Kodai Senga behind him didn’t exactly inspire confidence.
Both pitchers are available heading to the trade deadline. Proceed at your own risk if you are a team needing a back-of-the-rotation arm. Maybe better yet: Don’t proceed.
The Mets’ uninspiring afternoon — with the game’s start time moved up an hour because of weather concerns — ended with a 6-1 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
The game unfortunately resumed following a 48-minute rain delay in the seventh inning.
Sean Manaea reacts after allowing a home run during the Mets’ July 18 loss. Imagn Images
Manaea and Senga combined to allow all six runs before the rain delay and didn’t receive more than a morsel of support from the lineup, which produced only three hits.
The Mets fell 17 games below .500 to match their season worst.
The Mets already traded one struggling pitcher, sending David Peterson to the Cubs last month for first baseman Cole Mathis, but that Manaea and Senga are still owed significant dollars may leave the Mets stuck with them.
Manaea is just beyond the halfway point of a three-year, $75 million contract.
Senga, who owns an 8.85 ERA, is still owed roughly $20 million through next season.
Teams interested in starting pitching can pursue Freddy Peralta, another underperformer, albeit one who is earning only $8 million this season and is headed toward free agency.
Manaea, who owns a 4.74 ERA, surrendered four earned runs on seven hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over 4 ²/₃ innings.
It was the third time in his past five starts that he failed to pitch beyond five innings.
Interim manager Andy Green cited the uncomfortable, humid conditions, but Manaea offered no excuses.
Kodai Senga throws a pitch during the Mets’ July 18 loss to the Phillies. Imagn Images
“It was hot, it was muggy, it was all those things,” Manaea said. “But at the end of the day I have just got to go out there and perform. We’re all performing in the same thing.”
Over 1 ¹/₃ innings, Senga allowed six base runners — three hits and three walks — with two earned runs.
Any thoughts that he can thrive as a reliever have dissipated with two shaky appearances in his last three. Senga was bounced from the starting rotation last month.
Kyle Schwarber hits a home run during the Phillies’ July 18 win against the Mets. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
On this day, the right-hander hit 99 mph with his fastball, but that didn’t translate into success.
“His stuff is good,” Green said. “There are better outcomes needed, and he’s aware of that. He wants that and we want that from him. But when you watch his stuff come out of his hand, it’s really good.”
Kyle Schwarber continued his rampage against the Mets with a two-run homer against Manaea in the first inning that produced the game’s first scoring.
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Schwarber — who had a three-homer game during the Mets visit last month — leads MLB with 33 homers.
Tyrone Taylor’s second-inning blast pulled the Mets to within 2-1.
The homer was the seventh this season for Taylor, who continues to produce against left-handed pitching — he began the day with a respectable .741 OPS against lefties.
Trea Turner cleared the left field fence leading off the fifth against Manaea, widening the Mets deficit to 3-1.
Turner jumped on a sinker that caught too much of the plate and launched it for his 12th homer this season.
Francisco Alvarez’s two-base throwing error on an errant pickoff attempt at first base helped the Phillies take a 4-1 lead on Alec Bohm’s RBI single later in the inning.
Manaea walked Schwarber after Turner’s homer, setting up the run.
Senga left an 0-2 forkball over the plate in the sixth that Bryce Harper smacked for a two-run single that gave the Phillies a 6-1 lead.
Senga allowed a leadoff triple to Bryson Stott in the frame before walking Turner and Schwarber to load the bases.
The Mets’ misery included three errors, one of which Francisco Lindor committed on a throw, continuing a season of defensive lapses for the perennial Gold Glove contender at shortstop.
“It’s not to the level I expect myself and not to the level that people expect us here,” Lindor said of his defense. “For me defense is the most important thing, and it’s been not good at all.”
WASHINGTON - JUNE 4: Randy Johnson #51 of the San Francisco Giants pitches and wins his 300th game, which was played against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, June 4, 2009. The Giants won the game 5-1. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/MLB via Getty Images) | MLB via Getty Images
If you were hoping for more offense out of the Mariners, this may not be the game for you. After recording as many hits as errors last night on their way to their ninth shutout of the season, tonight they’ll have to face San Francisco’s ace, Logan Webb. The Mariners haven’t faced Webb since 2023, when he struck out 11 while allowing just two runs over 6.2 innings. Even for Webb, that’s a good line.
His counterpart that day is also his counterpart today, Bryan Woo. He wasn’t so bad that day either, striking out seven and allowing just two runs over six innings. Woo’s looking to get his second half off to a good start after having some uncharacteristic fits and starts through the team’s first 98 games. Woo’s suffered some blowups this year, allowing five or more runs five times. But he’s also pitched four games where he hasn’t allowed any, going a full seven in three of those. The Bryan Woo we know and love is still in there somewhere.
Lineups
The big news of the day is that Julio Rodríguez is back. He was activated this morning off the concussion IL, where he’d been since taking an errant throw off the back of the head on July 2. To make room for Julio, Miles Mastrobuoni was DFA’d again. Julio will DH tonight as he eases his way back. According to Dan Wilson, he may tomorrow or the next day as well—it’ll all depend on how well he recovers each day. While Víctor Robles has been covering centerfield in Julio’s absence, he’ll be on the bench tonight and Luke Raley will man center. That poor grass. Dominic Canzone will also play the field for the first time since tweaking his hamstring trying to leg out a single on June 21st.
Pretty standard lineup for the Giants, except it’ll be backup catcher Daniel Susac instead of Drew Cavanaugh. Here’s a fun fact: Jung Ho Lee has a career .316 wOBA, but against the Mariners, it’s .516.
Game Info
First Pitch: 5:08 PDT TV: FOX, with Aaron Goldsmith and Eric Karros Radio: Old Reliable Ceremonial First Pitch: Joel Piñeiro, winning pitcher of 2001’s 116th win
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: Gerald Ayayi #55 of the Philadelphia 76ers plays defense during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on July 18, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Sixers wrapped up their 2026 Summer League with a 96-94 loss at the buzzer to the Milwaukee Bucks Saturday evening.
Labaron Philon Jr. got the day off, ending a solid summer for the rookie after four games. His shooting numbers got very skewed by a rough final outing. He ended up averaging 18.5 points per game shooting 38% from the field and 25% from three along with 3.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists.
In three appearances, Johni Broome averaged 14.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game on 45%/13%/25% shooting splits. He also sat out the finale.
In Saturday’s game, Gerald Ayayi, who’s had a long career overseas, led the Sixers with 22 points shooting 7-of-13 from the floor along with three assists. Dante Maddox Jr. put up 15, shooting 4-of-10 from the field. Brayden Burries, the No. 10 overall pick in this year’s draft, led all scorers with 27, including the game-winner.
While both Burries and Nate Ament were able to get theirs to varying degrees of success, the Sixers being able to turn the ball over prevented the Bucks from running away with the game early. Each team turned it over 19 times — Ament had five of them.
The Sixers had their own issues completing passes at the start of the game, but flipping that script is what allowed them to go on a 20-4 extended run that started in the second quarter and ended in the third.
After shooting well from deep in the first half at 46%, the Sixers found a lot of success attacking the rim in the third quarter. Duke Miles started the game off making three of his first four shots, all from beyond the arc before Maddox found his stroke from outside. He may have been on a bit of a pitch count, only playing 11 minutes in this one.
Similar to Miles, Isaac Johnson only played 12 minutes of this game, but had a bit of a bounce-back with 10 points and six rebounds. Nick Townsend, an undrafted forward out of Yale, got more run in his second appearance of the summer. He finished with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
Their shooting would regress though — they only made one three-pointer in the second half — a big reason why they weren’t able to put the Bucks away. They kept their determination in attacking the rim. Ayayi slashed for a big and-1 that cut the lead to four with under two minutes. A minute later, Maddox drove to find Townsend cutting baseline to make it a two-point game.
After getting another stop, Ayayi drew a foul and went to the one with a chance to tie the game. He drilled both (which you still have to do despite the G League rule). Unsurprisingly, the Bucks went to Burries and he got all the way to the basket for the game-winner with 1.5 seconds remaining. For as good of a day he had, Maddox had the ball tip off his feet before he got a heave off. An unfortunate end to Summer League, but at least one that didn’t go to overtime.
