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Mets’ Juan Soto vows to ‘come back stronger’ after shocking All-Star Game snub

The reserves and pitchers for this year’s All-Star Game were announced on Sunday night. 

Francisco Lindor was already set to represent the organization for the first time in his Mets career after being selected as the NL’s starting shortstop via fan voting. 

Now he’ll have two teammates joining him -- Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz. 

Surprisingly not on that list is Juan Soto, who has been widely regarded as one of the biggest snubs heading into this year’s event. 

Instead, we’ll see Miami’s Kyle Stowers, Arizona’s Corbin Carroll, Washington’s James Wood, and San Diego’s Fernando Tatis Jr. serve as the NL’s outfield reserves next week in Atlanta. 

This snaps a four-year stretch in which Soto has participated in All-Star festivities. 

“Sometimes you’re going to make it and sometimes you don’t, that’s just part of baseball,” he told Dan Martin of the New York Post. “It looks like I didn’t [do enough this year]. I’ve just got to be better.”

Soto started his Mets career on a bit of a low note based on his incredibly high standards, but of late he’s been making a strong case for the honors. 

The big-money outfielder was particularly locked in during June -- securing the NL Player of the Month after slashing an incredible .322/.474/.722 with 11 home runs, 20 RBI, 25 walks, and 25 runs scored. 

His 11 homers tied the most he’s hit in a single month. He also joined Darryl Strawberry as just the second player in franchise history with 10-plus home runs and 20-plus walks in a calendar month.

Soto’s been able to carry that success over to the first few days of July -- he now finds himself 10th in baseball with 21 long balls, he’s driven in 52 runs, and is up to a much more respectable .904 OPS on the season.

Still, it appears his mid-season turnaround won’t be enough this year. 

“Everyone wants to be an All-Star and live the experience of being there,” he said. “I was glad I was able to be there four years in a row, if I didn’t make it this year, it’s no big deal. I’ll come back stronger next year.”

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As Cam York Re-Signs With Flyers, Which NHL RFA Defensemen Are Left?

The Philadelphia Flyers re-signed RFA defenseman Cam York to a five-year contract on Monday.

York's new deal is worth an average annual value of $5.15 million, which is $50,000 more per year than Flyers teammate Rasmus Ristolainen's $5.1 million but less than Travis Sanheim's $6.25 million.

The 24-year-old from Anaheim had four goals and 13 assists for 17 points in 66 games this past season, missing time with a shoulder injury and being benched twice in March. His career-high 10 goals, 20 assists and 30 points in 82 games came in 2023-24.

With York now under contract through the 2029-30 season, there are 11 RFA defensemen left in the NHL without a new deal.

Cam York (Kyle Ross-Imagn Images)

The highest-scoring of that bunch is 21-year-old Luke Hughes, who had 37 assists and 44 points in 71 games with the New Jersey Devils in 2024-25. Hughes completed his entry-level contract and was not eligible to file for arbitration. He's played two full NHL seasons and averaged just over 21 minutes in ice time in each. He has 93 points in 155 career games and another two points in four playoff contests. Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald told reporters on July 2 that re-signing Hughes is their No. 1 priority.

The Buffalo Sabres elected for salary arbitration with Bowen Byram, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. When an RFA or team elects for arbitration, that player can no longer sign an offer sheet with another franchise. Byram could still be traded, however.

Byram, 24, had 38 points in 82 games this past season. He completed a two-year contract with a $3.85-million cap hit.

The Winnipeg Jets' Dylan Samberg, Sabres' Conor Timmins, Montreal Canadiens' Jayden Struble and Anaheim Ducks' Drew Helleson filed for player-elected arbitration, the NHLPA announced Saturday.

Samberg, 26, had 20 points and a team-leading 120 blocked shots this past season. His last contract was two years long at a $1.4-million cap hit.

Timmins, 26, started this past season on the Toronto Maple Leafs but was moved to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the trade deadline. At the NHL draft, the Penguins traded him to the Sabres. He had 15 points and 90 blocked shots in 68 games in the final season of a two-year deal with a $1.1-million cap hit.

Struble, 23, had 13 points and 124 hits in 56 NHL games. He's also played a combined 15 games for AHL Laval over the past two seasons. His entry-level contract lasted two seasons, but since he signed that deal before his age-22 campaign, he only needed to play two professional seasons to be eligible for arbitration.

Helleson, 24, signed his three-year entry-level contract before his age-21 campaign, meaning he needed three pro seasons for arbitration eligibility. He had 13 points in 56 games while playing 12 matches for AHL San Diego in 2024-25.

As for one of the five other RFA blueliners, the Seattle Kraken's Ryker Evans had 25 points in 73 games while playing for Team Canada at the 2025 World Championship. The four remaining players split this past season between the NHL and AHL: Wyatt Kaiser and Louis Crevier of the Chicago Blackhawks, Jack Thompson of the San Jose Sharks and Donovan Sebrango of the Ottawa Senators.

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Short-handed Dodgers may be forced to make roster moves after Astros sweep

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts could do little to counteract Houston Astros left-handers Bennett Sousa and Bryan King in the seventh and eighth innings of a 5-1 loss.

Three of Roberts’ four right-handed hitting reserves — Teoscar Hernández, Kiké Hernández and switch-hitter Tommy Edman — were unavailable because of minor injuries, which could force the Dodgers to make a roster move to bolster their bench depth before the series opener at Milwaukee.

That forced left fielder Michael Conforto, second baseman Hyeseong Kim and catcher Dalton Rushing, all lefties, to bat against Sousa and King, who threw scoreless innings to help the Astros sweep a three-game series in Dodger Stadium for the first time since 2008.

“Today, we had one player available, and that was the catcher,” Roberts said, referring to All-Star starter Will Smith, who is healthy but was given the day off. “That’s not a good feeling.”

Teoscar Hernández, who is batting .257 with a .758 OPS, 14 homers and 54 RBIs, fouled a ball off his left foot. A scan of the foot was negative, but he was too sore to play and will be reevaluated.

Edman, who is batting .239 with a .718 OPS, 10 homers and 38 RBIs, fractured his toe when he fouled a ball off his right foot, but Roberts said the utility player should be able to play through the injury.

“It’s kind of per his (pain) tolerance,” Roberts said, “so I don’t see an (injured list) situation.”

Kiké Hernández, a utility player who is batting .195 with eight homers and 22 RBIs in 71 games, has been playing with left-elbow discomfort for about a month and seems the most likely of the three to go in the injured list.

“It doesn’t affect the defense, but his swing has been compromised — yesterday (Saturday), it came to a head as far as swinging, and so we stayed away from him today (Sunday),” Roberts said. “So with these three guys, we’re trying to figure out where we’re at.”

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Clayton Kershaw makes his 11th All-Star team. James Wood is the youngest All-Star at 22

NEW YORK— Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was picked for his 11th All-Star Game and Paul Skenes, James Wood and Elly De La Cruz boosted the 23-and-under group to five when they were picked for the July 15 showcase at Atlanta’s Truist Park.

Wood at 22 is the youngest of the 65 All-Stars, while Skenes, De La Cruz and fan-elected starters Pete Crow-Armstrong and Jacob Wilson are all 23.

Cal Raleigh and Yoshinobu Yamamoto joined Wood, Wilson and Crow-Armstrong among 19 first-time All-Stars. Wood was acquired by Washington in the August 2022 trade that sent outfielder Juan Soto to San Diego.

“It’ll just be cool being around some of the best players in the game,” Wood said.

Kershaw became the 20th pitcher to reach 3,000 strikeouts and Commissioner Rob Manfred made the left-hander the 65th All-Star as a so-called Legend Pick, his first since selecting Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols in 2022 under a provision in the then-new collective bargaining agreement.

Kershaw gives the Dodgers at least five All-Stars for the sixth straight season. The oldest NL All-Star at 37 and most senior All-Star with 11 selections, Kershaw is joined by Yamamoto and fan-elected starters Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith.

Kershaw said he didn’t want to discuss the selection.

Pittsburgh’s Skenes is willing to start his second straight All-Star Game if picked by Dave Roberts, the Dodgers manager in charge of the NL team.

“I think it would be stupid to say no to that. It’s a pretty cool opportunity,” Skenes said. “I didn’t make plans over the All-Star break or anything. So, yeah, I’m super stoked.”

Detroit and Seattle will have four players each at the game.

Starting pitchers Hunter Brown of Houston, Garrett Crochet of Boston, Jacob deGrom of Texas, Max Fried of the New York Yankees and Tarik Skubal of Detroit were voted to the AL staff by players, managers and coaches along with relievers Aroldis Chapman of Boston, Josh Hader of Houston and Andrés Muñoz of Seattle.

Chapman is the oldest All-Star, born 19 days before Kershaw.

AL reserves picked by players included Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk, Tampa Bay first baseman Jonathan Aranda and second baseman Brandon Lowe, Houston shortstop Jeremy Peña, Boston third baseman Alex Bregman, Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker and outfielders Byron Buxton of Minnesota, Steven Kwan of Cleveland and Julio Rodríguez of Seattle.

MLB used its six picks on pitchers Kris Bubic of Kansas City, Yusei Kikuchi of the Los Angeles Angels, Shane Smith of the Chicago White Sox and Bryan Woo of Seattle, along with Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.

“Red carpet, that’s my thing,” Chisholm said. “I do have a ‘fit in mind.”

Smith became the second player since 2000 to become an All-Star in the season after he was selected in the Rule 5 draft, following Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla in 2006, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Smith was left unprotected by Milwaukee and joined Wilson (Athletics) as the only rookies on the All-Star rosters.

Skenes, Washington’s MacKenzie Gore, Atlanta’s Chris Sale, San Francisco’s Logan Webb and Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler were elected to the starting rotation by players along with relievers Jason Adam of San Diego, Edwin Díaz of the New York Mets and Randy Rodríguez of San Francisco.

Skenes started last year’s All-Star Game just 66 days after his major league debut, pitching a hitless inning in the NL’s 5-3 loss at Arlington, Texas.

Player-elected NL reserves were Colorado catcher Hunter Goodman, Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, St. Louis second baseman Brendan Donovan, Cincinnati’s De La Cruz at shortstop, Arizona third baseman Eugenio Suárez, Philadelphia DH Kyle Schwarber and Wood, Arizona’s Corbin Carroll and the Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. in the outfield.

MLB’s NL picks were Yamamoto, the Cubs’ Matthew Boyd, Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta and the Giants’ Robbie Ray for the pitching staff along with Atlanta first baseman Matt Olson and Miami outfielder Kyle Stowers.

Mets outfielder Juan Soto, Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts, Blue Jays outfielder George Springer, Phillies shortstop Trea Turner and Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray were not picked. There usually are about 10 roster replacements between the announcements and the game.

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Canadiens’ GM Kent Hughes Is Never Done

In the last 32 Thoughts podcast of the season, Elliotte Friedman mentioned that Montreal Canadiens’ GM Kent Hughes was the most aggressive GM on the market this offseason, and that shouldn’t be news to anybody.

Hughes and Jeff Gorton have been clear that making the playoffs last season wouldn’t speed up the rebuild, which means they weren’t about to throw unreasonable money at free agents that weren’t going to make the team better long term, but that didn’t mean they would idly stand by while other teams got better.

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The Canadiens' front office identified its needs: a right-shot defenseman and a top-six player, although initially, this was a second-line center. However, they circled back to a top-six player when they realized how thin the market was. They discovered that quite early on, since Gorton, speaking at the end of the season media availability, said an impact winger could also drive a second line, it didn’t necessarily need to be a center. Additionally, they needed to get bigger; their participation in the playoffs made that abundantly clear.

Speaking to the media before the draft, Gorton said that when something is happening in the league and a player becomes available, they are aware and evaluate whether that player could be a fit for the Canadiens. As he was saying that, Hughes was still busy negotiating with the New York Islanders to land Noah Dobson, and he managed to do that.

Then, Hughes pulled the trigger on another deal, sending Logan Mailloux to the St.Louis Blues in return for Zach Bolduc, a Quebecer who was coming off a good rookie season with plenty of potential and with a physical edge to his game. There could even be top six potential there. In free agency, he also added Samuel Blais, a depth player with size and a Stanley Cup champion with the Blues in 2018. He spent the last season in the AHL but wants to get back to the NHL, and he’ll no doubt be given plenty of opportunities to do that.

The GM also acquired plenty of experienced players for the Canadiens' AHL farm team, who made the Conference Final but were swept by a bigger and more experienced team. Hughes decided to give Pascal Vincent the tools for a deeper playoff run. The Rocket coach had said a team of men would beat his kids, and that they needed to hit the gym to get bigger. I’m sure they will have done that, but Hughes adding veterans certainly won’t hurt.

Friedman also added that Hughes is the kind of guy who is never done, and it makes sense. As of now, he hasn’t managed to address the hole in his top six, and it’s pretty evident that he wants to get someone who will be able to make rookie Ivan Demidov’s life easier. The fact that the rookie will be under pressure in Montreal is no secret, and Hughes would like to put his talented youngster in the best possible opportunity to succeed, which means real top-six players.

In that sense, it’s logical for Hughes to be still watching the market and be ready to pounce if he sees someone who could fit the profile. The GM has said he would be comfortable starting the season with his current lineup, but he was never going to say otherwise; he’s keeping his cards close to his chest.

Hughes and Gorton are not ready to pull the plug on the “Dach as a second-line center experiment”, but they know that right now, he’s not a real top-six player. They also know that as talented as Patrik Laine is, he’s not a real top-six player either, because he doesn’t play a complete game, and that won’t help Demidov much either.

If Hughes hears that a top-six winger who fits the bill is available, he’ll explore the idea, even if it wasn’t his first preferred course of action, but he won’t pull the trigger unless he believes the player would be a fit on and off the ice. The Canadiens aim to build a contender, and while that requires talent, it also entails fostering a strong culture in the dressing room. You need someone who will fit the vibe of the room and who will be ready to buy what Coach Martin St-Louis is selling. Talent is not enough; the Canadiens are after a hard worker who will be prepared to do the less glamorous plays and chase the puck deep in the opponent’s zone, finishing his check to separate the defenseman from the puck and retrieve it to create opportunities.

Could he still be in on Jordan Kyrou even though his no-trade clause has kicked in? Yes, he could be. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that the player could agree to lift his no-trade clause to come to Montreal. Dobson wanted to go to Montreal; that’s a sign that the way players see the market is changing. They know what Hughes and co. are building and like what they’re seeing.

It’s also possible that Hughes pulls a different move out of nowhere, one nobody will have seen coming, which is usually the way it goes with the Canadiens' GM. He's aggressive and creative; it’s not because there are no rumours that nothing is brewing.

Photo credit: Pierre Bourgault/Club de hockey Canadien inc.

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Stevens addresses Holiday and Porzingis trades in statement

Stevens addresses Holiday and Porzingis trades in statement originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

On Monday, the Boston Celtics officially bid farewell to 2024 NBA champions Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.

Holiday was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Anfernee Simons. Initial reports had Boston also acquiring two second-round draft picks in the deal, but according to The Oregonian’s Aaron Fentress, the Blazers removed the picks from the trade after going over Holiday’s medical records.

The Celtics sent Porzingis and a 2026 second-rounder to the Atlanta Hawks for Georges Niang and a 2031 second-rounder. Boston made the franchise-altering moves as part of its effort to get under the second apron of the luxury tax.

As part of Monday’s announcement, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens released a statement on Holiday and Porzingis’ impact since joining the team in 2023.

“We are so thankful for KP and Jrue and the time we had together in Boston,” Stevens said. “They were great Celtics whose impact on our organization went well beyond the court. They were integral parts of two great teams, including one which brought us all a new banner. Their impact on this organization will last a long time, and we look forward to celebrating them when they return to the Garden this season.”

In his debut season with Boston, Holiday earned his sixth career All-Defensive nod while helping the C’s bring Banner 18 to TD Garden. The two-time NBA champion averaged 11.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per game over two seasons with the Celtics.

Porzingis battled injuries throughout his two-year Celtics tenure, but he played a critical role in the team’s success. “The Unicorn” averaged 19.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game in Boston, and he set the tone in the 2024 NBA Finals with a sensational Game 1 performance against the Dallas Mavericks.

Stevens also shared a brief statement on the Celtics’ acquisitions, Simons and Niang.

“Anfernee is a really good young player who has continuously improved in his seven years in the NBA,” Stevens said. “Georges is no stranger to Boston and has continuously been a winning player over the course of his career. We are excited to add both of them to the team,” said Stevens.

Simons averaged 19.3 points per game in 70 games for the Blazers last season and has shot 38.1 percent from beyond the 3-point arc for his career. Niang, a Massachusetts native, averaged 9.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game last season with the Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers.

With the Celtics still slightly above the second apron, more moves are likely to be made this summer. Simons and Niang are not locks to be on the 2025-26 roster with $27.7 million and $8.2 million salaries, respectively.

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Clippers trade Norman Powell to Miami Heat as part of three-team deal, net John Collins

Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell shoots a three point shot.
Clippers guard Norman Powell averaged a career-high 21.8 points per game last season, second-best on the team. (David Dermer / Associated Press)

The Clippers have traded guard Norman Powell to the Miami Heat and have acquired forward John Collins from the Utah Jazz in a three-team, multiplayer deal that also includes a draft pick, according to people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak on the matter.

The Clippers will send a 2027 second-round pick to the Jazz and the Heat will send Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love to the Jazz as part of the deal.

In Collins, the Clippers get some much-needed size for the frontcourt and youth.

Though Collins, 27, played just 40 games last season for the Jazz, including 31 starts, he averaged 19.0 points and 8.2 rebounds.

Read more:Clippers agree to two-year deal with Brook Lopez

A 6-foot-9, 226-pound power forward, Collins improved his outside shooting, making a career-best 39.9% of his three-pointers last season despite dealing with back and ankle injuries.

Over the course of his eight-year career, Collins has averaged 16.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and shot 54.6% from the field, 36.3% from three-point range and 79.2% from the free-throw line, including a career-best 84.8% last season.

Collins opted into his player option that pays him $26.5 million next season, his last year of that deal.

Powell, 32, was one of the Clippers' top performers last season, averaging a career-high 21.8 points per game, second-best on the team. He was in the final year of a contract that was to pay him $20.4 million next season and was seeking an extension.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Blues Sign Three Players To One-Year, Two-Way Contracts

The St. Louis Blues have signed (from left to right) forward Matt Luff, defenseman Hunter Skinner and goalie Vadim Zherenko each to a one-year, two-way contract on Monday. (St. Louis Blues photo)

ST. LOUIS -- Three St. Louis Blues prospects that were restricted free agents are restricted no more.

The team announced on Monday they have signed forward Matt Luff ($775,000 NHL/$400,000 AHL), defenseman Hunter Skinner ($775,000 NHL/$125,000 AHL), and goaltender Vadim Zherenko ($775,000 NHL/$125,000 AHL) each to a one-year, two-way contract.

The interesting one was the 28-year-old Luff, who was on an AHL contract last season but put up terrific numbers with Springfield last season (45 points; 18 goals, 27 assists in 50 games) after being loaned from Charlotte but now gets a contract with the NHL organization. Luff last played in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings (19 games; two goals, two assists) in 2022-23.

The 24-year-old Skinner, acquired along with Sammy Blais and two picks on Feb. 9, 2023 from the New York Rangers for Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola, played in 71 games with the Thunderbirds last season and had 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists).   

Zherenko, 24, dressed in 32 games with the Thunderbirds last season and was 12-17-5 with a 3.44 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage. There was some thought initially that he would be heading overseas to play in Europe this season but apparently has had a change of heart.

With the signings, that leaves just leaves forward Nikita Alexandrov, who is a RFA, as the lone player in the organization without a contract. The Blues did not tender qualifying offers to forward Tanner Dickinson and defenseman Anton Malmstrom. Forward Mikhail Abramov is also a RFA and the Blues own his rights but is playing for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the KHL.

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Football Daily | Two seasons in a day: the Champions League and Club World Cup overlap

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Football Daily would prefer not to have to think about Copa Gianni at all but we have a certain professional obligation to do so and have never knowingly been found shirking in the face of our responsibilities. To keep things simple, we prefer to view the tournament as a stand-alone competition that’s taking place between the end of the last season and the beginning of the next one, but the fact that it’s being contested by clubs instead of countries leaves plenty of room for debate. Watching Kingsley Coman “sprint” on to a through-ball from Harry Kane during Bayern Munich’s defeat by PSG as if he was running in knee-deep wet cement, we were presented with the sight of a player in next season’s kit who was quite clearly exhausted by the exertions of the one that may or may not have ended before the tournament in which he was playing started. Does the goal he didn’t score go down in the official xG column of last season, next season, or neither?

There’s me being able to walk down the stairs after I’ve played 90 minutes of football, there’s me in the future when I have children being able to walk around properly, being able to bend down and pick up toys, there’s me being able to do normal life things like put on socks without being in pain and, for the first time in a long time, I genuinely didn’t think about the response of the public because that just wasn’t a priority” – Millie Bright reveals how she is feeling better in her mind after taking the decision to miss Euro 2025 and prioritise her recovery from a knee injury.

Sometimes Mauricio Pochettino wants it to be a penalty, sometimes he doesn’t. There’s just no pleasing some people. Extra moaning points for Poch insinuating that the officials were swayed by the pro-Mexico crowd for a game that USA USA USA were playing at home. P.S. A doff of the cap to Mexico for that uber cool black and gold kit …” – Noble Francis.

With a tip of the cap to The Usual Suspects … the greatest trick Infantino ever pulled was turning me into a Chelsea fan for two hours rooting against Infantino’s home team making the finals” – Harry Webb.

I can’t have been your only reader who paused between Friday’s tea time email and big website’s MBM coverage of the Jurassic reunion opening gig, to turn the dial of my retro digital transistors to the political satirical radio broadcast, Deadringers. I – and what I suspect to be 1,056 others – nearly choked on my fermented tofu when I heard a repeat of your dinosaur banter about the aforementioned group of monobrows. I assume the requisite phone calls were made – i.e. your people calling their people, etc – and payment made (four pack of budget Tin) before Tom Baker’s closing remarks” – Nicholas Tipple.

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Mets at Orioles: 5 things to watch and series predictions | July 8-10

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Orioles play a three-game series in Baltimore starting on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. on SNY.

5 things to watch

The pitching staff is stabilizing

The Mets entered this past weekend's series against the Yankees with their pitching situation being akin to a giant shrug emoji. That was due to the avalanche of recent injuries and a postponement early last week that resulted in a doubleheader.

The plan, which resulted in two Mets wins as the team showed serious moxie, meant bullpen games on Friday and Sunday that were sandwiched around a Frankie Montas start on Saturday in what was his first time on the mound after correcting pitch-tipping issues.

New York has made it through the worst, and reinforcements are on the way. Additionally, every key reliever except for Huascar Brazoban will be on at least two full days of rest when this series starts.

Against the Orioles, the Mets will have Clay Holmes starting on Tuesday, David Peterson getting the ball on Wednesday, and likely Montas taking the mound on Thursday.

When the Mets travel to Kansas City this weekend for their final three games before the All-Star break, the expectation is that Kodai Senga will come off the IL to pitch on Friday or Saturday, with Sean Manaea penciled in for his season debut on Sunday.

The offense is coming around

Since shaking off the terrible run they had to end June, New York's offense has been humming along during their recent 4-1 stretch.

While winning four of five games against the Brewers and Yankees (and beating up on some really good starting pitching along the way), the Mets have scored 32 runs -- an average of 6.4 runs per game.

The top of the lineup has continued to do much of the damage, but Ronny Mauricio and Brett Baty have been hitting better as well.

Mauricio went 4-for-10 with a double and two runs scored against the Yanks over the weekend, and Baty went 3-for-6 with a homer.

Mark Vientos still hasn't found his form since coming off the IL, but he hit into a lot of hard luck on Saturday -- a possible sign that things are about to turn for him.

Jesse Winker's return

Winker last played on May 4, which is when he suffered an oblique injury that threw the Mets' designated hitter situation into disarray.

After looking sharp at the plate during a rehab assignment, Winker is set to be activated from the IL ahead of Tuesday's game.

New York Mets designated hitter Jesse Winker (3) is congratulated by teammates after scoring against the St. Louis Cardinals during the second inning at Busch Stadium.
New York Mets designated hitter Jesse Winker (3) is congratulated by teammates after scoring against the St. Louis Cardinals during the second inning at Busch Stadium. / Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

And it's possible Winker's activation is coming at the perfect time, with the status of Starling Marte up in the air after his knee issue flared up.

Winker wasn't crushing it at the plate before he got injured, but he was solidly above average, with an OPS+ of 112.

His return should help lengthen the lineup in a serious way.

Baltimore's pitching has been among the worst in baseball

The Orioles entered this season as the AL East favorites of many, but the year has been a nightmare for them -- due in large part to their starting rotation.

While losing ace Corbin Burnes to the Diamondbacks in free agency, the O's didn't really do much to improve their rotation during the offseason. Their big signings were Tomoyuki Sugano and Charlie Morton.

Then they were hit with injuries to Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez, and -- most recently -- Zach Eflin.

Baltimore enters this series having allowed 453 runs this season. That is the second-most in the AL (better than only the Athletics) and fifth-most in the majors (the Diamondbacks, Nationals, and Rockies have all surrendered more).

The O's will trot out Brandon Young (7.02 ERA, 1.98 WHIP), Sugano (4.44 ERA, 1.31 WHIP), and Morton (5.47 ERA, 1.55 WHIP) this week against the Mets.

Orioles are looking to stave off a sell-off

With a record of 40-49, the Orioles are in last place in the AL East and 7.5 games behind the Mariners for the final Wild Card spot in the AL.

That means that their six-game stretch against the Mets and Marlins before the All-Star break could be determinative when it comes to what they do at the trade deadline.

If Baltimore decides to sell, it's likely that CF Cedric Mullins and 1B/OF/DH Ryan O'Hearn -- both free agents at the end of the season -- should be on the move.

Mullins could be an intriguing possibility for the Mets, who are in need of more offense in center.

The 30-year-old has a modest OPS+ of 102, but has clubbed 13 home runs.

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Mark Vientos

The hits will start to fall for Vientos at Camden Yards.

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

David Peterson

Peterson returned to form in his last start, holding the Brewers to one earned run in 6.2 innings.

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Jackson Holliday

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'I Know I'm A Better Player Than I Was In Utah': Matias Maccelli Believes He's Ready For Top-Six Role With Maple Leafs

Matias Maccelli was attempting to make a putt when his friend began yelling about a trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"I was at the golf course trying to make a putt and then my friend started yelling that I just got traded to Toronto, so it was a pretty exciting golf round," he said with a smile over Zoom on Monday morning, before admitting he didn't make the putt.

"I was super pumped, excited to be part of the Leafs now, and it was just a super exciting moment."

The former Utah Mammoth forward was acquired from the Maple Leafs in exchange for a 2027 conditional third-round pick the day before free agency opened. After having a down year— scoring 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 55 games—which Maccelli says came down to ice time and limited opportunity, the Finn wants to make sure that season was an anomaly.

"I still know I'm a better player than I was back in Utah," Maccelli said, "I know I got it still in me, so now I just got to show people that again."

Maple Leafs Trade for Matias Maccelli: Why Toronto Acquired Winger From Utah MammothMaple Leafs Trade for Matias Maccelli: Why Toronto Acquired Winger From Utah MammothThe Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired Matias Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for a conditional third-round draft pick in 2027, which will convert to a second-round draft pick in 2029 if Maccelli record at least 51 points in the 2025-26 NHL season.

Maccelli's agent worked with Utah to facilitate a trade this summer. There were many teams interested in the forward's services, with Toronto showing the most interest. That caught Maccelli's eye.

"Definitely right from the start, I told my agent that I would love to play for the Leafs," he said.

With Mitch Marner leaving for the Vegas Golden Knights, Toronto needed to replace at least some of the playmaking that the 100-point forward brought to the table. Maccelli's two years before the 2024-25 season saw him score 106 points (28 goals and 78 assists) across 146 games.

Why Matthew Knies 'Wanted To Go Long-Term' On Six-Year Extension With The Maple LeafsWhy Matthew Knies 'Wanted To Go Long-Term' On Six-Year Extension With The Maple LeafsToronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies was never interested in signing an offer sheet.

The Maple Leafs believe Maccelli can come into the fold after a down year and provide a bit of that offensive playmaking, potentially for Auston Matthews, who's now missing a playmaker on his right wing.

"When he came into the league, his first two years were, he's a dynamic playmaker. When you look at some of the areas that we need to address, playmaking ability was one of them, and we think there's a bet here on a player that we think can rebound from the season he had this year," Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said on July 1.

"With some of the players that we have, ultimately, it'll come down to the fits and the matches and where they all go, so you play around with it on the board. But we just felt at the price that it cost us that this was a chance for a young player who's got some dynamic skill and ability. It was certainly worth the bet."

'My Favorite Player Growing Up Was Mats Sundin' Nicolas Roy Reacts To Be Traded To Maple Leafs In Mitch Marner Deal'My Favorite Player Growing Up Was Mats Sundin' Nicolas Roy Reacts To Be Traded To Maple Leafs In Mitch Marner DealNic Roy was on a trip with family and friends when he found out that he was being traded from the Vegas Golden Knights to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Maccelli, though, believes he's "ready" to play in Toronto's top six and would love to get the chance to skate on either one of Matthews or John Tavares' wings next season.

"I would definitely love that. Playing with a guy like that would be great," he said, thinking about playing alongside Matthews. "I'll make sure I'll be in shape if I get a chance to play with Auston or any of the top guys in Toronto, so that would be super good."

The forward is spending his summer at home in Turku, Finland, working on all facets of his game ahead of next season. He's prioritizing his size, strength, shooting, and passing in hopes that he'll return to the form he was in two seasons ago.

"I've been working a lot this summer on my game more than maybe the previous years," Maccelli said.

"Just have to be comfortable again with the puck and make plays, all that kind of stuff. I've definitely putting the work in this summer and ready to go."

Why the Maple Leafs Are Expected to Target Top-Six Forward Help Through Trades, Not Free AgencyWhy the Maple Leafs Are Expected to Target Top-Six Forward Help Through Trades, Not Free AgencyThe Toronto Maple Leafs have a Mitch Marner-sized hole in their lineup opted for a sign and trade with the Vegas Golden Knights. But when the clock struck noon for the opening of free agency, the Leafs were quiet.

Having played in hockey markets like Utah (and Arizona before that), Maccelli doesn't know what to expect playing in a city like Toronto. He'll be entering a new team, only knowing Shane Doan, Toronto's special advisor to Treliving, and nobody else.

But Maccelli is excited for the next chapter in his hockey career and hopes to do right by Toronto, who's making a smart bet by bringing the forward into the organization.

"I'm super super excited for this opportunity to play for the Leafs next year and can't wait to get going, can't wait to get in the city of Toronto and meet everyone there and just to get going.

"Super excited."

(Top photo of Maccelli: Nick Wosika / Imagn Images)

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Why Mike Krukow believes Giants' hitting trio is what it ‘promises to be'

Why Mike Krukow believes Giants' hitting trio is what it ‘promises to be' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Giants’ offense is heading in the right direction.

San Francisco broadcaster Mike Krukow joined KNBR 680’s “Murph & Markus” on Monday morning, where he was asked about Willy Adames, Matt Chapman and Rafael Devers making the Giants’ lineup for the first time this season against the Athletics. 

Hint: Krukow liked what he saw from the hitting trio.

“It’s what it promises to be,” Krukow said. “Willy Adames got off to a horrendous start. And yet, these last 25 games, he’s hitting like .320. 

“He’s really beginning to carry the club. He’s doing what everybody had hoped he would do in a Giants uniform. He’s red hot, and I think that’s great.” 

Before Saturday’s game, manager Bob Melvin insisted Chapman’s return to the lineup – after missing 23 games with a sprained right hand  – was favorable in a plethora of ways. 

He was right.

Even though he took better swings for most of June, Adames’ hot July run continued over the weekend, taking his monthly count to two homers and nine RBI. Adames’ OPS is up to a season-high .683. 

With Chapman back in the lineup, the Giants are starting to show signs of breaking out of their collective offensive slump. Krukow believes this change also will benefit both Devers and Chapman.

“I think that’s going to take pressure off of Devers until he still gets to the comfort zone,” Krukow added. “He’s flirting with it. And until Chapman gets completely tuned up, gets the at-bats he needs and gets sharp again. 

“It just promises to be a very exciting second half. Bob Melvin made mention of that, getting everybody back and everybody up to speed and going in the right direction. He thinks it’s going to be a great second half for the Giants.”

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Victor Wembanyama shares advice to Kings' Maxime Raynaud on draft night FaceTime

Victor Wembanyama shares advice to Kings' Maxime Raynaud on draft night FaceTime originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Victor Wembanyama had some words of wisdom for Kings’ second-round NBA draft pick Maxime Raynaud.

The two Frenchmen played together at a young age in France back in the day, and on draft night, Wembanyama FaceTimed Raynaud to share some advice with the No. 42 overall pick.

“We FaceTimed on draft night. I mean, he wanted to remind me that this is just a start,” Raynaud told NBC Sports California’s Morgan Ragan following his introductory press conference. “Like, you need to keep working, obviously. But then at the same time, he really told me to enjoy [it] because this is also my experience and my journey.

“And there’s no better way to find out how it goes than to be thrown into the fire, really. So, yeah, he was doing that. He’s a special guy.”

Wembanyama, the No. 1 overall pick in 2023, surely knows how quickly life changes after the NBA draft.

Sacramento drafted Raynaud out of Stanford with the 12th pick of the second round, adding a 22-year-old Frenchman who is a skilled 7-foot shooter and can hold his own on the glass.

Raynaud was born and raised in Paris, France, before joining the Stanford men’s basketball program, where he earned Second-Team All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 Most Improved Player honors as a junior. He was chosen to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team member during his final season at Stanford after averaging 20.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.4 blocks.

With Wembanyama as a trusted NBA mentor and friend, Raynaud already appears to be in good hands as he embarks on his new journey in Sacramento.

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NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest On Bowen Byram, Questions About Artemi Panarin's Future With Rangers

The pickings are slim in this summer's free-agent market, particularly for top four defensemen. That has NHL teams seeking blueline depth returning to the trade market.

Bowen Byram remains the hot topic in recent media rumor chatter. Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams told reporters last week he'd match any offer sheet from a rival club. With the Sabres taking the 24-year-old RFA to arbitration, he's ineligible to sign an offer sheet.

The Sabres can still trade Byram before his arbitration hearing. Some observers feel the blueliner could be peddled for a top-six winger.

On Thursday, The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford reported a league source claimed the St. Louis Blues were “trying hard” to get Byram. His colleague, Matthew Fairburn, reiterated that if Byram hits the trade block, the Sabres would want a return that immediately helps their roster.

Fairburn speculated that such a deal could contain multiple players, like the return they received from the Utah Mammoth for JJ Peterka last month. Fairburn also suggested the Sabres could package Byram with a pick or prospect to get a better player.

Rutherford and Fairburn also looked at what the Blues might have to give up to the Sabres to land Byram. They felt he could slot in on the right side of their second defense pairing to replace Justin Faulk if he were part of the return to the Sabres.

Faulk, 33, has two years left on his contract with an average annual value of $6.5 million and a 15-team no-trade list. If the Sabres are on his list, the Blues would have to find another trade partner to take him off their hands.

Both writers felt the Sabres would want a good young player (like Jake Neighbours) included in the deal.

Bowen Byram (Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images)

Turning to the New York Rangers, Larry Brooks of the New York Postwondered why there hasn't been any news about a contract extension for Artemi Panarin. The 33-year-old left winger is in the final season of his contract and is UFA-eligible next July.

Brooks believes the Rangers can't let Panarin go. Since coming to New York in 2019, he's been the fourth-highest-scoring player in the NHL. Having him on the roster could also make the Blueshirts an enticing destination for future free agents. Brooks thinks Panarin might agree to a four-year extension.

Panarin could be keen to remain with the Rangers after this season. However, much will depend on their performance in the wake of GM Chris Drury's roster retooling efforts since December. Another disappointing season could prompt Panarin to take his talents elsewhere.

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