Jun 30, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (23) slides into home plate before scoring a run on an RBI single by Athletics designated hitter Jonah Heim, not shown, during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Marshall-Imagn Images | Scott Marshall-Imagn Images
The Athletics took on the MLB-leading Los Angeles Dodgers in game 2 of a three-game series at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. For a second straight night, the A’s were no match for the Dodgers, who coasted to a 9-3 victory, securing the series with a game to spare and sending the hosts to their fourth straight defeat.
Early Offense
A’s starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs got off to a rough start. The Dodgers scored two runs in the top of the first, as shortstop Mookie Betts hit an RBI single and then left fielder Teoscar Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly.
The Athletics immediately got a run back against Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski. With one out, catcher Shea Langeliers hit an infield single. He then scored from first on designated hitter Jonah Heim’s two-out RBI single off the right field wall. The A’s could have scored more, but Los Angeles’ third baseman Tommy Edman made a nice diving play to end the inning.
It looked like the Dodgers would add to their lead after the first two batters of the second inning reached on an A’s fielding error and a walk. However, Springs buckled down, retiring the next three hitters to escape the jam and keep his team’s deficit at one run.
What to do about Springs
Springs’ home run issues resurfaced in the third inning. With two outs and two runners on, Edman crushed the first pitch he saw over the center-field fence for his first home run of the season, giving the visitors a 5-1 lead.
A’s Waste First RISP Chance
In the top of the fifth, A’s second baseman Joshua Kuroda-Grauer made his second nice catch of the night on a popup in the shallow outfield. In the bottom of that frame, the Athletics stranded third baseman Max Muncy at second after his one-out double down the left field line.
The A’s left Springs in to pitch the sixth inning, a decision that backfired when Dodgers’ second baseman Miguel Rojas led off the inning with a solo home run to left, his third of the season.
A’s manager Mark Kotsay removed Springs after he walked Shohei Ohtani. The left-hander struggled once again, allowing six runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked four, only struck out two and served up two more long balls. Right-hander Elvis Alvarado replaced Springs, recording the final two outs of that inning.
Dodgers Dominating Again
The Dodgers scored three more runs in the seventh against A’s reliever Geoff Hartlieb. The rally began when A’s left fielder Joey Meneses failed to catch a fly ball off Betts’ bat. A few batters later, Meneses misplayed Edman’s RBI single that brought home the Dodgers’ seventh run.
The next batter, Rojas, hit a sacrifice fly to bring home his team’s eighth run of the evening. Dodgers’ catcher Dalton Rushing then followed with a two-out single, marking the second straight night the Dodgers scored nine runs.
Colby Jack
In the bottom of the seventh, the A’s scored for the first time since the first inning. Right fielder Colby Thomas homered for the second straight night, his fourth of the season, making it a 9-3 game.
ATH – Colby Thomas 2-run HR (4)
📏 424 ft | 💨 104.9 mph | 📐 35° ⚾️ 86.7 mph slider (LAD – LHP Justin Wrobleski) 🏟️ Out in 29/30 parks (❌ COL)
Wrobleski continued his impressive start to the season, limiting the A’s to three runs on seven hits over seven innings while striking out a career-high 11 batters on a career-high 110 pitches.
The A’s comeback attempt stopped there, as they went down quietly against Dodgers’ relievers Brock Stewart and Wyatt Mills.
Through two games, the Dodgers outscored the Athletics 18-7, racking up 31 hits and five home runs against the Green and Gold’s subpar pitching staff. The win marked Dodgers manager Dave Roberts’ 1,000th career victory, a milestone reached faster than any other manager in MLB history.
The further the Athletics fall below .500, the harder it will be to dig out of the hole. With the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners all playing well, the A’s need to figure things out sooner than later.
Tomorrow, the “Green and Gold” look to salvage the final game of this series. Right-hander J.T. Ginn will start, aiming to help his team end its four game losing streak. Ohtani was supposed to pitch the series finale, but the Dodgers are moving his next start to Friday, choosing to roll with a bullpen game rather than waste an Ohtani start at this minor-league stadium.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 3: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons talks to the media after the game against the Orlando Magic during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 3, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers’ chase for a big man is not limited to just Walker Kessler, but also the other top big man on the market, Jalen Duren.
After meeting with the Lakers on Tuesday, Duren is set for a second meeting with the team on Wednesday, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. During the first meeting, the Lakers reportedly told Duren they see him as a max-level player, which the Pistons clearly do not.
Detroit Pistons restricted free agent center Jalen Duren had a productive meeting with the Lakers on Tuesday and is scheduled to meet with them again on Wednesday morning, league sources told The Athletic.
Duren was told by the Lakers in the meeting that they view him as a maximum-salary level player, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe ongoing deliberations. The 22-year-old received a similar message of strong interest from the Sacramento Kings, who also met with Duren on Tuesday and indicated that they will continue to explore sign-and-trade scenarios to land him.
The Pistons and Duren have been at odds during the offseason, which has led the big man to meet with other teams in search of an offer he finds fair.
However, as is the case with restricted free agency, the ball is in Detroit’s court, no matter what happens. And all reports leading up to free agency indicated that the Pistons had no interest in a sign-and-trade and would match any deal he signed.
The Detroit Pistons have offered what the franchise believes is the most lucrative contract possible for their All-Star restricted free agent Jalen Duren, are not interested in any sign and trade deals and will match any potential offer sheet he signs, sources @espn@andscape.
Jun 30, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) reacts after hitting a home run during the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images | William Purnell-Imagn Images
Yesterday’s off day following five straight wins wasn’t enough to slow down the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night in Kansas City. The offense remained hot putting up a ten spot on the Royals as the Rays rolled to their sixth consecutive victory.
The Rays trailed early in this one as Griffin Jax surrendered a first inning homer to Carter Jensen. The solo shot, his twelfth of the year, gave the Royals a 1-0 lead. However, the Rays answered in a big way in the top of the third.
Leading off the third, Nick Fortes dropped a bunt down the third base line and reach second on a throwing error by Nick Loftin. Yandy Diaz walked and Aranda quickly followed with a RBI single to tie the game at 1-1. With runners at the corners and nobody out, the red-hot Junior Caminero sent a long fly ball over the wall in left field to give the Rays a 4-1 lead. The blast marked his 23rd of the year and it was his fifth consecutive game with a homer.
The Rays weren’t done. The very next pitch delivered by Royals starter Noah Cameron was ambushed and deposited in the seats in left center. The homer was Vilade’s sixth of the year and gave the Rays a 5-1 lead. Then DeLuca and Simpson singled. Deluca later scored on a RBI single by Ben Williamson and the Rays would end the inning with a 6-1 lead.
The six runs were all they needed tonight, but you would be foolish to turn down insurance runs. They tacked a pair of runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. Fortes drove home both runs on a single in the fifth inning and the sixth inning was, to put it lightly, a disaster for Royals pitching.
The Rays worked six walks in the sixth inning, though one was negated by a double play. Following the double play, Eric Cerantola walked five consecutive batters and allowed a run to score via a wild pitch. He walked in the other run.
On the night, the Rays totaled 10 hits, walked 11 times and only struck out twice. All 11 walks were issued in the first 5.2 innings.
Contrary to the Royals staff, Jax and the pen walked only one batter tonight and struck out seven. Jax did the heavy lifting, turning in what might be his best line of the season. Across six innings he allowed three runs on five hits, struck out five and walked none. He earned the win and gave way to Booser, Sulser, and Kimbrel. Suler allowed the only other run to score in the eighth.
Lastly, for those watching the standings in late June, the Yankees dropped their sixth straight and fell to 2/5 games back of the Rays in the division. The Rays are now four games up in the loss column on the Yankees. With a record of 49-33 , the Rays will look to continue their hot streak on Wednesday night with Shane McClanahan taking the ball after being given some extra days of rest. He will look to get back in a groove opposite Seth Lugo.
Jun 30, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson (4) hits a 2-RBI single against the Los Angeles Angels during the seventh inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images | Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 30: Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox reacts during a benches-clearing altercation during the fourth inning of a game against the Washington Nationals on June 30, 2026 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cade Cavalli pitched brilliantly tonight, striking out 13 Red Sox hitters while only allowing one hit and no walks over seven superb innings. Unfortunately, that’s not what I’ll remember most about his unwanted presence at Fenway.
Instead, it will be this comment he shouted at Willson Contreras after striking him out in the bottom of the fourth inning:
Cavali said “SIT DOWN BOY” to Wilson Contreras and he didn’t exactly like it. pic.twitter.com/suXT50dDS1
The next time somebody utters that phrase, in that tone, at a person whose heritage hails from a country near the equator and doesn’t have ill intent, will be the first. Frankly, if he would have just said “sit down bitch,” it would have been far less problematic.
But like a louse, he launched language loaded with racial undertones, and it rolled off his tongue like it came from the mouth of a suspended cop. The only thing more jarring than the junk jumping out of Cavalli’s jugular is the fact Contreras didn’t immediately try to snap it in half given everything happening in his world right now.
And as far as intent goes, you don’t need to take my word for it. Here’s somebody with a far more relevant perspective on Cavalli’s comment than me:
several people have said it to me, and I personally believe it, that the ejection last night was racially motivated. this here is almost not in doubt. if you have any knowledge of the history of "boy" as a racial term, you should be calling for a head here. https://t.co/FhRl6cAJoY
— baseball enjoyer 3000 (@TheNotoriousHRT) July 1, 2026
Cavalli claims the racial outburst stemmed from him taking exception with Contreras bumping him on the way off the base paths to end the first inning, which Contreras absolutely did. Here’s Cavalli on that incident:
“There’s a certain level of respect you have for other players. I have respect for him. But you don’t run by me and brush me going off the field. It’s just not something you do in this game.”
You know what else you don’t do? Call somebody “boy” in that tone and context and not expect blowback. If Cavalli thinks Contreras lightly brushing him is in the same zip code of disrespect as the garbage spewing out of his trap in the fourth inning, then he’s as lost as Flight MH370!
Speaking of lost, how about this umpiring crew? Last night, Nic Lentz threw Contreras out of the game for tapping his helmet following a check swing, and yet somehow what Cavalli did tonight was deemed less severe than that. I mean, what are we doing here? This is a horrendous look for them on multiple levels, and I hope both they and Cavalli are suspended by the league!
Meanwhile, Contreras, who was ejected, didn’t do himself any favors after leaving the field. He spent the next couple of innings hopping on Instagram and getting into it with idiot fans while his replacement at first base, Andruw Monasterio, was coming up short on both defense and at the plate. Here are those items juxtaposed:
At this point, it’s Chad Tracy’s job to get to Contreras and try and bring the temperature down, and I’m sure (after he was also ejected) they had a very compelling conversation down in the clubhouse during the second half of the game. (It was almost certainly more interesting than the rest of the game itself, which saw the Red Sox middle relief spiral out of control in an 8-1 defeat.)
Unfortunately, the brawl wasn’t the only disaster from this game. The other major story, which was actually unfolding around the same time, is Connelly Early leaving with “left elbow discomfort” after four shutout innings. This broke the Red Sox string of 12 consecutive quality starts (it was very likely to reach 13 the way Early was going), and could obviously lead to much bigger problems for the rotation going forward. We’ll know more tomorrow after they get some tests done.
Three Studs
Connelly Early: Four shutout innings, and well on his way to another great outing when the injury bug paid him a visit.
Anthony Seigler: Led off the game with a double and scored the only Red Sox run – A run that was holding up until Connelly left the game Early.
Chad Tracy: He absolutely had to get ejected after what Cavalli said to Contreras and the umpires allowing Cavalli to stay in the game. My only gripe is he didn’t get tossed quicker!
Three Duds
Danny Coulombe: He was the first bullpen arm into the game after Early’s exit and boy did he suck! He faced four hitters, failed to get three of them out, and the two outs he did get were from a lineout and a Wilyer Abreu assist at third base on a hit. Coulombe is rapidly turning into a guy you can’t go anywhere near in a close game.
Ceddanne Rafaela: 0-4 with two strikes outs and burned the last ABS challenge in a useless spot. He needs to show way more restraint with those!
Jarren Duran: Now hitting .196 with a .604 OPS after tonight’s 0-3 performance.
Play of the game:
It’s the brouhaha in the fourth inning:
Here’s the whole NESN broadcast side on the Willson Contreras and Cade Cavalli back and forth.
It was also Chad Tracy’s first ejection. Contreras tried to fire up the dugout before he left. pic.twitter.com/l48sBicK6q
SACRAMENTO, CA - JUNE 30: Justin Wrobleski #70 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Don Collier/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Justin Wrobleski had the most strikeouts by any Dodgers pitcher in a game this season, going seven innings to beat the Athletics 9-3 on Tuesday night at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.
Wrobleski struck out a career-high 11 in seven innings on Tuesday, the most by a Dodgers pitcher this season. This was the left-hander’s sixth start of at least seven innings this season, tied with Yoshinobu Yamamoto for most on the team. Wrobleski allowed three runs, two of them in the seventh inning, but the Dodgers offense provided plenty of support made those late runs not matter much.
Tommy Edman and Miguel Rojas each homered off A’s left-hander Jeffrey Springs, who leads the majors with 24 home runs allowed. The Dodgers put up crooked numbers in three different frames, with a pair in the first inning, then three runs each in the third and seventh.
Edman had four hits and drove in four runs while getting the start at third base, continuing his hot start. Since returning from the injured list on June 16, Edman has reached base at least twice in seven of his nine starts, and overall is hitting .395/452/.579.
Dodgers are 7-1 in the first eight games of their nine-game road trip, averaging seven runs per game. On the season, the Dodgers average 6.15 runs scored per game on the road, compared to 3.96 at home.
The Dodgers were 18-9 in June.
Tuesday particulars
Home runs: Tommy Edman (1), Miguel Rojas (3); Colby Thomas (4)
Dave Roberts, during a spring training earlier this year, is in his 11th season managing the Dodgers. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
The Dodgers’ storied history has allowed many a manager to thrive. In the nearly 70 seasons since the franchise moved to Los Angeles, the Dodgers have had a losing record 13 times, the last coming in 2010. They have made the playoffs every year since 2013, and, with the best record in baseball this season, are primed to reach the postseason for a 14th straight year, tying the MLB record set by the Atlanta Braves from 1991-2005.
A lot of the Dodgers’ recent success has come under Dave Roberts, who on Tuesday night became the fourth manager in franchise history to reach 1,000 career victories. This fall, he will try to guide his team to its third consecutive World Series title, a feat last accomplished by the New York Yankees in 2000 under the tutelage of Joe Torre — who later managed the Dodgers for three seasons.
Here’s a look at how the 10 managers during the Dodgers’ time in Los Angeles have fared.
Dodgers manager Walter Alston, left, with pitcher Sandy Koufax during spring training in Vero Beach, Fla., in 1963. (Jim Kerlin / Associated Press)
Years as manager: 1954-1976
Record: 2,040-1,613, .558 win pct
Alston, who managed the team’s final four seasons in Brooklyn, is the team’s winningest manager and won four of the franchise’s nine World Series titles, the first coming in 1955. He won three more in Los Angeles in 1959, 1963 and 1965 while also guiding them to the World Series in 1966 and 1974. When he won his 2,000th career game in 1976, Alston was only the fifth manager in MLB history to reach that mark. (There are 13 now.)
A 1983 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and six-time NL manager of the year, Alston also invited radio broadcaster Anita Martini into the clubhouse in 1974 after the Dodgers beat the Astros in Houston to clinch the NL West title — the first time a female journalist had been allowed in any professional sports locker room.
Tommy Lasorda
Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda celebrates after the Dodgers beat the Montreal Expos to win the NL pennant in 1981. (Associated Press)
Years as manager: 1976-1996
Record: 1,599-1,439, .526 win pct
After serving as the team’s third base coach for four seasons, Lasorda took over as manager late in the 1976 season when Alston announced his retirement. He led the Dodgers to the National League pennant in his first two full seasons, losing both times to the Yankees in the World Series. He won his first World Series in 1981, knocking off the Yankees, and rallied his team to a surprise title in 1988 in which the Dodgers beat the heavily favored Athletics. Lasorda was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997, his first year of eligibility.
A fiery and vibrant presence who spent 71 years with the Dodgers, Lasorda managed nine players who won the NL rookie of the year award. The Dodgers also opened the Japanese player pipeline on his watch. Hideo Nomo, the first Japanese big leaguer to permanently relocate to the U.S., joined the Dodgers in 1995. Three decades later, the team features Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on its star-studded roster.
Bill Russell
Bill Russell managed the Dodgers for parts of three seasons after succeeding Tommy Lasorda in 1996. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Years as manager: 1996-1998
Record: 173-149, .537 win pct
A stalwart at shortstop for most of his 18 seasons with the Dodgers, Russell stepped in after Lasorda suffered a heart attack in June 1996 and stayed on when Lasorda resigned a month later due to health concerns. Russell was only the third Dodgers skipper in 43 seasons when he took over on an interim basis for the rest of the 1996 season. He guided the team to a wild-card berth — the team’s last postseason appearance until 2004 — and became the full-time manager after the season.
During his tenure, ownership of the team shifted from the O’Malley family to Rupert Murdoch’s Fox Entertainment Group, which completed the purchase of the Dodgers in March 1998. After winning 88 games and finishing second in the NL West in his only full season at the helm in 1997, Russell was fired 74 games into the 1998 season as part of a housecleaning that included the removal of general manager Fred Claire.
Glenn Hoffman
Glenn Hoffman, right, speaks at a news conference introducing him as the new manager of the Dodgers on June 22, 1998, as Tommy Lasorda, who'd been named interim general manager, looks on. (Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images)
Years as manager: 1998
Record: 47-41, .534 win pct
Hoffman served as a stopgap measure more than a permanent replacement in his short tenure with the team. After nine years playing in the majors, Hoffman took up coaching in the Dodgers’ minor league farm system, splitting time between managing and coordinating field instruction for player development. However, when the Dodgers needed someone to take over for Russell in late June, Hoffman stepped up from his position managing the Dukes.
The skipper led the team to a third-place finish in the NL West, 15 games behind the eventual league champion San Diego Padres. After Davey Johnson took over before the 1999 season, Hoffman remained with the team as third-base coach for seven seasons.
Davey Johnson
Dodgers manager Davey Johnson, left, during the 2000 season, his second and last with the team. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)
Years as manager: 1999-2000
Record: 163-161, .503 win pct
Johnson’s managerial history before the Dodgers was chaotic and full of front-office disputes. And, despite having won the AL manager of the year award in 1997, it took two years for another team to take a chance on him.
While in L.A., Johnson did win his 1,000th game, doing so in May 1999. But his tenure did not live up to expectations, even with a roster that included Hall of Famer Adrián Beltré, Kevin Brown and Gary Sheffield. Johnson’s only losing full season of his career was in 1999, finishing third in the NL West. The Dodgers performed better the next year, but Johnson wouldn’t return.
Jim Tracy
Jim Tracy looks on from the dugout during an August 2005 game against the Washington Nationals. Tracy managed the Dodgers for five seasons. (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
Years as manager: 2001-2005
Record: 427-383, .527 win pct
Tracy had been a minor league manager and served as a bench coach with the Montreal Expos under Felipe Alou and with the Dodgers under Johnson. Tracy posted four winning seasons, including two with more than 90 wins, and guided the Dodgers to the NL West title and a playoff appearance in 2004. The St. Louis Cardinals knocked out the Dodgers in four games in the NL Division Series in what was the team’s first postseason action since 1996.
The bottom fell out in 2005 as the team finished 71-91, the second-worst mark since the team moved from Brooklyn, with a roster revamped by general manager Paul DePodesta — who was hired after the 2003 season a few weeks after Boston real estate developer Frank McCourt purchased the team. Tracy had approached the team about a contract extension late in the 2005 season, a bold request considering the team’s record. When Tracy was let go at the end of the season, the team called it a “mutual parting of ways.” Less than four weeks later, DePodesta was fired for not adequately replacing Tracy.
Grady Little
Dodgers manager Grady Little argues with first base umpire Marvin Hudson during a 2007 game. (Chris Carlson / Associated Press)
Years as manager: 2006-2007
Record: 170-154, .525 win pct
Little came to the Dodgers with a reputation that preceded him. The manager — the most recent soul tortured by the Curse of the Bambino — gave Pedro Martínez the nod to continue in the eighth inning of Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS matchup between the Red Sox and the Yankees, a game New York won in extra-inning, walk-off fashion.
After spending two years in the Chicago Cubs organization as a consultant and scout, Little restarted his managerial career with the Dodgers, reuniting with some of his former players, including Nomar Garciaparra and Derek Lowe. The Dodgers clinched a wild-card berth in 2006 but were swept by the Mets in the NLDS before muddling through an injury-plagued season and missing the playoffs in 2007. Little’s lack of response to a possible return that offseason resulted in general manager Ned Colletti pursuing other options.
Joe Torre
Dodgers manager Joe Torre, center, pats starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw on the back as he relieves him in the eighth inning of a game in September 2008. (Stephen Dunn / Getty Images)
Years as manager: 2008-2010
Record: 259-227, .533 win pct
Torre packed his suitcases for the West Coast rather than taking a pay cut with the Yankees, bringing future manager Don Mattingly with him. The winning started soon after the move. The Dodgers returned to the playoffs in 2008 and won a postseason series for the first time since 1988.
Though, it did not go without controversy. Manny Ramirez tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2009, leading to a 50-game suspension. And while other players — namely Clayton Kershaw — rose through the ranks on his watch, Torre’s one issue remained consistent: He couldn’t beat the Phillies. Twice, the Dodgers were downed by Philadelphia in the NLCS. After an 80-82 season in 2010, Torre passed on skipper duties to Mattingly.
Don Mattingly
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly signs autographs before the start of a game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 10, 2014. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Years as manager: 2011-2015
Record: 446-363, .551 win pct
Mattingly came on board during a tumultuous time in the franchise’s history as the Dodgers filed for bankruptcy protection in June 2011 in a bid by McCourt to preserve his ownership. (He eventually agreed to sell the team, with the Guggenheim ownership group taking over in 2012.)
After two winning seasons, Mattingly was in the hot seat with the Dodgers in last place early in the 2013 campaign. But the Dodgers caught fire midseason and won the NL West and knocked out the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS before losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS. Mattingly called out the team’s front office, asking for a multiyear contract in exchange for returning in 2014, which he eventually got. But the Dodgers couldn’t get past the NLDS in 2014 and 2015, and the team parted ways with Mattingly with one year left on his deal.
Dave Roberts
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, left, talking to shortstop Mookie Betts during a game on June 7, has led the team to five World Series appearances and three championships. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
Years as manager: 2016-present
Record: 1,000-605, .623 win pct
The son of an African American father and Japanese mother, Roberts is the first minority manager in Dodgers history. After guiding the Dodgers to the NLCS in 2016, he became the first manager of Asian heritage to go to the World Series in 2017 and the first to win when the Dodgers captured the team’s first championship in 32 years in 2020.
Before Roberts led the team to back-to-back World Series championships, he earned a four-year contract extension worth a record $8.1 million annually. In addition to the three World Series titles, the Dodgers have won five NL pennants and nine division titles under Roberts. To further underscore the consistent winning the Dodgers have achieved with him: The Dodgers had two 100-win campaigns in their first 58 seasons in Los Angeles. Since Roberts took over in 2016, the franchise has had five.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone and some players spoke about the team's loss to the Tigers on Tuesday night...
Spencer Jones' near-robbery
One of the biggest moments of the game occurred in the first inning. With two outs and no one on, Kerry Carpenter hit a long fly ball to center field off of Cam Schlittler. Yankees prospect Spencer Jones drifted back, timed his jump and seemingly came up with the catch. But once Jones hit the outfield wall, the ball came loose and went over, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
It was an unfortunate moment for Jones and the Yankees, but it would get worse.
Instead of the inning ending, the Tigers wound up taking Schlittler deep two more times and pushed their lead to 4-0 before the Yankees came up to the plate. He also had to toss 36 pitches and almost didn't get out of the opening frame.
Boone was asked after the loss whether the first home run rattled Schlittler.
"Cam’s a dog out there," Boone said. "It’s obviously a robbed home run, ball gets jarred out a little bit by the impact of the wall.
That shouldn’t have a big effect and I don’t think it did."
Spencer Jones nearly robs Kerry Carpenter at the wall, but the ball pops out of his glove for a home run pic.twitter.com/eOkW9qUovr
Schlittler entered Tuesday's game with the AL lead in ERA (1.62) and that changed in a hurry.
The young right-hander went just four-plus innings, allowing a career-worst six earned runs on four homers. His ERA jumped to 2.08 and after such a dominant start to the 2026 season, it was jarring to see Schlittler struggle. But the Yankees believe it was simply a lack of execution.
"I thought the stuff was ok; they hit the ball out of the ballpark. Got to him, obviously," Boone said of Schlittler's night. "Missing locations…and just long at-bats that added up against him...
Took advantage of mistake locations and made him pay for it."
"Not good. Didn’t execute with two strikes to a team that likes to put the ball in the air. Just didn’t get the job done," Schlittler said. "Comes down to execution. Just didn’t make the right pitches when it mattered."
With the Yankees having lost five in a row, they were hoping Schlittler would put a stop to the losing streak. Schlittler welcomed that pressure, but lamented not being able to get it done.
"We’re not playing good ball right now. It’s my job to stop that bleeding and I couldn’t get it done," Schlittler said. "Put our team down four against [Tarik Skubal]. Took a while to experience an outing like that. Take what I can from it and get ready for next week."
Yankees offensive struggles
The now six-game losing streak is mostly due to the Yankees' lack of offense. On Tuesday, they had four hits, the first time they eclipsed three in five games. During that span, they have scored 15 runs.
“We know we have a lot of talent. It’s such a long season," Ben Rice said after the loss. "It just so happens that right now, it’s kind of like the whole team is going through something all at once.”
Rice went 1-for-4 with his lone hit being a solo shot off of Skubal. The hit snapped an 0-for-18 stretch for the slugging first baseman.
"We're all trying to have good at-bats and put stuff together, and then when you want to do it so bad, you probably press," Volpe said. "And it feels like, as an offense, we're pressing.”
The Yankees skipper said he wouldn't go as far as to say he's seeing a lot of pressing from his players, but they have to simplify their at-bats.
"I like our preparation. Our guys are committed and dialed," Boone said. "Nothing’s changed there, but when you have a handful of guys struggling, you might start pressing a little bit.
I don’t see a lot of pressing going on, but keeping it small and focusing on winning pitches, winning at-bats. And when you start doing that as a group. All of a sudden that can start to snowball."
The Yankees are in the midst of a 16-game stretch of not having a day off, with one game remaining (5-10 record in that span). They'll look to salvage a win in the series finale on Wednesday afternoon.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 30: Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros hits a grand slam in the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Daikin Park on June 30, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This was a game the Houston Astros (43-45) needed to win if they were going to have a shot to win their 6th straight series. It didn’t start well, but it did end well.
Astros starter Mike Burrows (W, 4-8) surrendered 3 runs in the first inning on 2 hits, 2 walks and an HBP, but would settle down to only allow 1 more run over the next 4 innings. The Astros offense, and specifically Yordan Alvarez (3×4), would have his back.
The Astros offense exploded for 6 runs in the 4th off Minnesota Twins (41-46) ace Joe Ryan (L, 5-5), highlighted by a grand slam from Houston’s MVP frontrunner.
Three straight 1-out singles by Cam Smith, Taylor Trammell and Yainer Diaz in the bottom of the 4th would get the Astros on the board, with Diaz’ single driving in Smith to make it a 3-1 game. With 2 outs, Ryan walked Ray Delgado to load the bases. Ryan then walked Jose Altuve on a pitch originally called strike three, but Altuve challenged the call and won, resulting in ball 4 to drive in the Astros’ second run.
Burrows would allow another run in the top of the 5th when Josh Bell doubled in Kody Clemens, but that was as close as the Twins would get.
The Astros bullpen combined for 4 perfect innings with 6 strikeouts. Josh Hader would strike out 2 in a perfect 9th for his 8th save.
The Astros are currently 2GB of Texas in the AL West and 1GB of Seattle (pending tonight’s game) in the AL Wild Card race.
Tomorrow’s rubber game at Daikin Park will match up Astros SP Tatsuya Imai (5-3, 5.36 ERA) vs. Twins SP Taj Bradley (6-3, 3.98 ERA). First pitch 7:10pm CT.
On Tuesday, the Vegas Golden Knights added an experienced voice to their coaching staff, hiring former NHL forward Mark Letestu as an assistant coach. Letestu joins head coach Ryan Craig's staff for the 2026-27 season, with the remainder of the Golden Knights coaching group set to return as well.
Letestu brings both playing pedigree and a steadily building coaching resume to Vegas. The former forward spent 11 seasons in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets, appearing in 567 regular season games and producing 210 points on 93 goals and 117 assists.
His NHL career painted a picture of a reliable two-way centre who carved out a long professional career through intelligence, faceoff ability and a willingness to embrace whatever role his team needed.
His final NHL stint came with the Jets, where he appeared in seven games during the 2019-20 season before transitioning out of playing and into coaching. The move to the bench suited him well. Letestu spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the AHL's Cleveland Monsters, helping build a winning culture in the organization.
The Monsters qualified for the postseason in each of the final two seasons of his tenure, capturing the North Division title during the 2023-24 campaign and advancing to the Eastern Conference Final that same year.
From there, Letestu took his biggest step yet in coaching, becoming head coach of the AHL's Colorado Eagles ahead of last season. He wasted little time making an impact, guiding Colorado to a 41-20-11 record and a berth in the Calder Cup Playoffs, with the Eagles advancing all the way to the Western Conference Final in his first and only season behind the bench.
The strong showing made Letestu one of the more attractive coaching candidates available this summer and clearly caught the attention of the Golden Knights front office.
The connection to Craig also likely played a role in the hire as the two shared the ice together in Columbus during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. For Vegas, the addition of Letestu rounds out a coaching staff built around Craig, who is entering his first season leading the Golden Knights after the team fell short in the Stanley Cup finals under interim hire John Tortorella.
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Jun 30, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Eury Perez (39) reacts at the end of the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
In their second contest with the Miami Marlins, the Colorado Rockies had hoped to even the score after dropping the series opener. However, a persistent Marlins offense coupled with effective pitching left the Rockies mostly empty handed with catcher Brett Sullivan pitching the final 1.2 innings.
The Rockies dropped the game in a 14-3 slog, a fitting final chapter in the Marlins’ remarkable June.
The best team in baseball in June, by a decent margin, is the Miami Marlins. They're about to go 20-6, have outscored opponents 129-78 this month and have the lowest CBT payroll in MLB. The Marlins' third-highest-paid player is Giancarlo Stanton, who last played for them in 2017.
The Marlins got off to a quick start with a Kyle Stowers triple. The next batter, Griffin Conine, hit a double to make the score 1-0 with just one out. However, Tanner Gordon managed to get two outs, giving the Marlins a 1-0 lead in the first.
However, it did not take long for the Rockies to catch up when Mickey Moniak hit his 13th home run of the season.
However, the Marlins would take the lead again in the second when a Cole Carrigg error (his first) allowed Javier Sanoja to get on second. After that, a Leo Jiménez single was enough to bring Sanoja home and make the score 2-1 Marlins.
In the third inning, the Marlins continued to score. This time, Sanoja hit a three-run homer to score Xavier Edwards (fielder’s choice) and Owen Caissie (HBP).
When the Marlins’ half of the third ended, they had a 5-1 lead.
Finally, in the fourth inning, the Fish failed to score.
The Rockies finally got players on base in the fifth inning when Eury Pérez walked Edouard Julien and Kyle Karros with one out. However, they were unable to capitalize.
Seth Halvorsen entered the game in the sixth inning and got two outs but struggled to get the third. After walking Jiménez, five straight hitters would reach. Liam Hicks and Stowers both singled, with the latter earning the RBI in scoring Jiménez, which made the score 6-1. Following that, Conine singled, and the Marlins grew their lead to 7-1. Keeping up with his teammates, Edwards singled, and the score ballooned to 8-1.
In the sixth inning, the Rockies again had traffic on base due to Moniak and TJ Rumfield walks. It was enough for the Marlins to pull their starter.
Still, the Rockies did not have an answer for Pérez, who gave the Marlins 5.1 solid innings. His final line was one run (earned) on two hits. He walked four and struck out eight on 86 pitches. Pérez has an ERA of 4.21
The Rockies were no better against reliever Lake Bachar who quickly snagged the final two outs and ended the sixth inning.
The seventh inning went to John Brebbia in relief of Halvorsen but fared no better, giving up a two-run, 450-foot homer to Joe Mack, his fifth. The score was 10-1.
In the Rockies half of the seventh, they once again managed to get the first two batters on base via walk. This time, the Rockies scored Julien on a Jake McCarthy ground out, giving the Rockies their first run since the first inning.
As the seventh inning closed out, the scare was 10-2 Marlins.
That changed in the eighth when Brebbia gave up a three-run homer to Caissie. With the score 13-2, Brebbia left the game, and RHP/catcher Brett Sullivan entered the game.
On a positive note, Rumfield extended his hitting streak to 13 games after getting a double in the eighth inning. (It was the Rockies first hit since the second inning.)
Sullivan allowed an RBI double in the ninth to Stowers, and the score jumped to 14-2.
The Rockies, big fans of arriving fashionably late, tacked on one more run in the ninth. Karros knocked a serious double, and Ezequiel Tovar followed with a double of his own for a final 14-3 score.
The Marlins had a season high in runs and hits. Their final line was 14 runs (all earned) on 21 hits. They walked twice and struck out five times. Only Jakob Marsee failed to record a hit.
As for the Rockies, three runs (earned) on five hits. They walked six times and had 12 strikeouts.
”You’re gonna have one of these every now and then,” manager Warren Schaeffer said, adding the team would flush it and be back tomorrow.
Tanner Gordon fought through it
There’s no other way to put it: The Marlins hit Tanner Gordon hard from the first inning. However, he still managed to give the Rockies five innings and keep the game within reach. (After all, it was not yet the seventh inning, which is when the Rockies clock in.)
He left the game after finishing the fifth inning on 74 pitches. His final line was five runs (all earned) on nine hits. Gordon did not walk a batter and struck out four.
“I thought he battled,” Schaeffer said, noting that he was able to help preserve the bullpen. “A couple of elevated off-speed pitches hurt him.”
The bullpen struggled
In the sixth inning, Seth Halvorsen entered the game in relief of Gordon. The inning did not go well with the Marlins scoring three runs on his watch. Halvorsen’s final line was three runs (earned) on four hits in one inning of work. He walked one and did not tally a strikeout on 25 pitches. Halvorsen’s ERA is 4.74.
John Brebbia entered the game to pitch the seventh. It took 25 pitches for him to finish that inning, and he allowed two runs on two hits.
He came back out to handle the eighth and allowed a three-run homer. His final line was 1.1 IP, allowing five runs (all earned) on five hits. He struck out one and currently has an ERA of 10.38.
RHP/catcher Brett Sullivan handled the ninth inning as well. His final line was one run (earned) on three hits. He walked one and did not notch any strikeouts in 1.2 IP.
Coming into this game, Sullivan lacked 22 innings of pitching to be classified as a two-way player. That number has now decreased to 20 innings. Should this happen, only Sullivan and Shohei Ohtani would have this classification.
Next up
Tomorrow night, the Marlins and Rockies will continue their series with Max Meyer facing Kyle Freeland.
Inglewood, CA - April 15: Forward Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers fights for the ball against forward Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors and forward Gui Santos, right, of the Golden State Warriors in the first half of a NBA play-in tournament basketball game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Kawhi Leonard is a Toronto Raptor again?! Whoaaa, eight years after he delivered the championship that shut Oracle Arena’s lights off forever, he’s headed back north for what could be the final chapter of his career.
It’s rather Shakespearean about the way his current chapter with the Warriors dynasty decided to end. Not with another Finals matchup or one last signature series, but with Draymond Green stealing the ball right out of his hands in the closing seconds of a Play-In game, sending him into the offseason and ultimately back to Toronto.
The Warriors have a strange habit of outlasting every villain in their story. Eventually, somehow, they get the last word. Kawhi Leonard was never supposed to be one of them.
The era of Kawhi Leonard in Los Angeles has officially come to an end:
2020: Blew a 3–1 series lead 2021: Lost in the Western Conference Finals 2022: Missed the playoffs 2023: 1st Round exit 2024: 1st Round exit 2025: 1st Round exit 2026: Missed the playoffs
Go back to the 73-win season. San Antonio was the respectability test for the dynasty, the team that made everyone who doubted the Warriors sharpen their pencils and reconsider. Kawhi Leonard was already becoming something dangerous, a two-way freight train who moved with mechanical patience and struck with violence. Then there was that February showdown, the kind that felt more like a Western Conference Finals preview than a Tuesday night in the regular season. Steph Curry hit a stepback that blew the roof off Oracle and made you feel the weight of what Golden State was becoming in real time. You could feel both franchises circling each other, understanding exactly what the other represented. The Warriors were ascending. The Spurs were the last empire standing between them and permanent dynasty status.
The rivalry never got its full resolution on the court. The injury to Kawhi in the 2017 Western Conference Finals derailed the Spurs’ best chance at contesting the Warriors on a level playing field, and it denied us the chess match we deserved. Depending on who you ask and how you feel about the circumstances, that moment either leveled the dynasty’s path or exposed the dynasty’s luck. Either way, the conversation never got finished.
Kawhi came back for his revenge as a Toronto Raptor. And he delivered one of the coldest postseason performances in NBA history against these Warriors, who were already broken and bleeding through an injury crisis unraveling in real time. Game Six was in Oracle Arena aka the house that built the dynasty, the most intimidating building in basketball. And with the Warriors set to move to San Francisco the next season, this was the last dance for Oakland.
Alas, Kawhi and the Raptors walked in and turned the lights off forever. Kevin Durant’s Achilles and Klay Thompson’s ACL were afterthoughts as the Raptors celebrated in front of a devastated Dub Nation. The last image Golden State’s faithful had of Oracle wasn’t the Splash Bros high fiving and pouring champagne. Instead it was Kawhi Leonard’s stone face unbothered, watching their dream die. As Finals MVP he ended the Oracle era, the threepeat, and the Oakland chapter of the Warriors dynasty.
The rivarly between Kawhi and the Dubs continued across the Bay. Chase Center opened and on opening night, the Los Angeles Clippers arrived as a superteam with Kawhi Paul George, and the specific energy of an organization that believed its moment had finally arrived. They walked into that building and won by 19, cruising to the finish over a proud but mortally wounded Golden State squad. Afterwards Patrick Beverley told Curry that the next five years belonged to him. Insane hyperbole? Absolutely. But that’s the confidence Kawhi’s presence against the Warriors warranted. The Clippers genuinely believed they were coming for the throne with “The Klaw” as their instrument of conquest. He had already buried Oracle. Now he had christened Chase with a victory and planted a flag in the new era.
Fast forward seven years to this year in the springtime where, in a Play-In game in Los Angeles the Warriors had no business winning, Draymond Green put Kawhi in handcuffs. Leonard finished with 21 points on 17 shots, committed 5 turnovers, and left that game with his own postgame assessment as the most revealing verdict of all: that Draymond was a Hall of Fame defender and it was hard to even get shots up against him.
With 49 seconds left and the Warriors clinging to a three-point lead, Green stole the inbound pass intended for Leonard, immediately found Brandin Podziemski streaking to the basket for an and-1 that crippled the Clippers for good, then ripped Leonard’s dribble in the final moments to seal it. The Klaw, who had haunted this franchise across two uniforms and a decade of history, got his cookies taken in the most consequential game of the Clippers’ season, on his home floor, with everything on the line.
Draymond Green’s solitary confinement of Kawhi Leonard compilation, final 3 minutes: pic.twitter.com/tNabKVpLOX
Draymond Green says he had to live with the fear of being embarrassed by Kawhi Leonard the last 2 days coming into the game, but prides himself on his work and being prepared heading into a matchup like this.
When told Kawhi’s praise for him being an all-world defender, Draymond…
I’m loving the symmetry. Kawhi stole the final championship game ever played inside Oracle Arena. And then he won the first regular season game ever played inside Chase Center. And the final possession of his Clippers career ended with Draymond snatching the ball away from him.
Nearly a decade after Toronto borrowed him to end the Warriors’ first act, Golden State sent him back to Toronto having written the ending to his L.A. story.
Jacob Gonzalez went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, and is slashing .440/.481/.720 over his last seven games. | (Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
In back-to-back nights, the offense scored eight or more runs while the pitching staff maintained its command, as the White Sox secured their first road series win since the May 1 series in San Diego after beating the Orioles, 9-3.
His ERA didn’t improve much (4.41), but Erick Fedde was solid enough tonight to earn his third win of the season, working out of some key jams to keep himself and the Sox in the game. Fedde tossed 90 pitches across five innings and gave up three runs on five hits, walking three and striking out three, and eventually had a nice eight-run cushion to work with.
Despite leaving eight runners on base as a team, the Good Guys were efficient (3-for-9) with runners in scoring position, and every batter in the lineup reached base at least once, except for Miguel Vargas – but hey, he can’t be the hero every night. His teammates picked him up anyway, mashing 11 hits with three doubles and two homers while also drawing six walks to keep the baserunners flowing. Andrew Benintendi and Jacob Gonzalez each popped off for three hits, while three players racked up two or more RBIs: Gonzalez (three), Junior Perez (three), and Colson Montgomery (two), with the latter two each mashing a bomb.
The White Sox scored early with one run in the top of the first after Kyle Teel drew a walk to start the game, and Benintendi mashed his 12th double of the season to the right field corner. Righthander Trey Gibson stumbled through the first for the Orioles, walking three batters to load up the bases, but the Good Guys unfortunately couldn’t capitalize, and Tristan Peters grounded out to strand all three.
The South Siders’ one-run lead lasted for maybe 10 minutes, give or take. Gunnar Henderson struck from the leadoff spot once again, beginning the frame with a base hit, and Pete Alonso walked to put two runners on with two outs. Jumping on the first pitch, Samuel Basallo delivered in the clutch with a base hit in the right-field gap to erase the lead and tie the game, 1-1.
The good news is that the White Sox apparently got sick of being called a “bad road team” and exploded for seven runs in the top of the third with six hits, three walks, and two home runs: a two-run, 440-foot moon shot from Colson Montgomery, and a three-run tank from Junior Perez for his second of the year.
Since joining the team on June 18, Perez has gone 4-for-13 with two home runs and four RBIs while posting a 1.047 OPS. It’s a small sample size, and Perez has also struck out six times, but there’s been some solid production from him when he’s been called upon.
On top of that, Jacob Gonzalez drove in two during the mega rally in the third, and sent a deep RBI double to right-center the next inning that one-hopped the wall to drive in his third run of the night. Since snapping his rough cold streak, Jacob has slashed .440/.481/.720 while going 11-for-25 with a homer, four doubles, 12 RBIs, and just four strikeouts. With Tuesday’s game, Gonzalez has raised his season OPS above .700 (.738)and has been making massive strides to keep his spot on the team once Munetaka Murakami is back.
After the Perez home run, that was the end of the day for Gibson, and it’s likely one he will want to forget. To make things worse, the Baltimore coaches seemed to let him flounder out there, opting not to use another mound visit during the mayhem. Gibson ended up with his third loss after 2 2/3 frames, allowing eight runs on seven hits, two homers, six walks, and five strikeouts; and his ERA has now ballooned up to 7.36. Ouch. But thank you for your service, sir.
The Orioles added two more runs in an attempt to cut the eight-run lead down in the bottom of the fifth, but Fedde worked through the jam to complete five innings and be on the hook for the win. Back-to-back doubles from Gunnar Henderson and Dylan Beavers scored one, and an RBI single from Pete Alonso scored the third Baltimore run, but that was all she wrote from their offense tonight.
Recalled from the Triple-A Charlotte Knights just a few days ago, Tyler Schweitzer came on to relieve Fedde and ended up finishing out the game and earning his first major league save. Schweitzer looked great throughout all four innings, only surrendering four hits while striking out three. He also tossed 36 of his 46 pitches (78%) for strikes, and looked way more buttoned up this time around. Tyler’s job was to eat innings, and he did that perfectly to save the game and close out the series win.
The Cleveland Guardians just dropped their second game in a row to the Texas Rangers tonight, leaving the White Sox with a two-game division lead. Regardless of whether they sneak out of Baltimore with a sweep, this next series in Cleveland will be huge. With these big wins over the last few games, the Good Guys now have a +30 run differential, which is the third-best in the American League, and have slightly improved their road record to 17-25.
We got an early one on at Camden Yards on Wednesday, with the series finale taking place at 11:35 a.m. CT. Lefthander Noah Schultz returns from the IL and makes tomorrow’s start, not having pitched since May 24 in San Francisco. In three June rehab starts with the Knights, Schultz accumulated a 4.00 ERA across nine innings, giving up four earned runs with two homers, six walks, and 15 strikeouts, with seven Ks in his final 4 2/3 frame outing.
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 30: TJ Rumfield #7 of the Colorado Rockies reacts after failing to field a ground ball in the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at Coors Field on June 30, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After six scoreless innings against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night, Mets starter Nolan McLean reminded everybody just how dominant he can be and proved that his previous start against the Chicago Cubs, where he allowed six earned runs, was a fluke.
In fact, during that start at Citi Field, McLean struck out nine batters and was really only burned on two pitches that both went for homers and accounted for five of the six runs.
For this start, though, the right-hander took the positives of that outing, as well as his start before that in which he didn’t allow an earned run through seven innings against the Cincinnati Reds, and implemented them against the Blue Jays.
“Obviously the result of the last start wasn’t great, but outside of really two swings I felt really good last week,” McLean said. “So I tried to take the positives of what I could. Obviously it’s never fun going in and giving up six runs, but [I] tried to go in and look at the positives and bounce off of that for tonight.”
McLean now seems to be over the struggles he was going through earlier in the season when he allowed 16 runs (13 earned) in nine innings across two starts. And after bursting onto the scene late last season and getting off to a similarly hot start this season, that little stretch McLean went through was his first taste of adversity.
Interim manager Andy Green said after Tuesday’s 3-0 win that he’s been impressed with how the 24-year-old responded to hardship.
“That’s who he is,” Green said. “It’s been fun seeing him kind of bounce back from a tougher stretch. I know last game, a little bit was made out of like a couple of home runs that skewed the line, but [today] he was just mixing his pitches incredibly well.
“He’s got different ways to end at-bats; he was competitive the whole day, he was in the zone the whole day and that was, [from] start to finish, as just clean and dominant as he’s been all year, so it was awesome.”
Since his start on May 25, when he lasted a career-low 3.1 innings against the Cincinnati Reds and allowed seven earned runs, McLean has been on top of his game once again.
Even with the six earned runs allowed last time out against the Cubs, McLean has a 2.79 ERA in five starts this month and has limited his opponent to two earned runs or fewer in five of his last six starts.
The best sign? Outside of the two against Chicago, McLean hasn’t allowed any home runs during that stretch and has started to walk fewer batters, two things that were beginning to plague him.
“I think [when] you go through an entire baseball season for the first time, you’re going to hit stretches where maybe your command wanes a little bit and I think it was mostly that,” Green said of McLean’s rough patch. “So he got to spots where he wasn’t getting his pitches to where he wanted it to and I think that sometimes causes you to go a little bit faster.
“He was able to slow the game down; he’s able to step on the mound and take a deep breath and just go about executing.”
That’s what McLean did on Tuesday night against a Blue Jays team that had never faced him before.
“First off, Luis [Torrens] called a great game,” McLean said. “We had a lot of confidence in all the pitches and that was kind of the goal going in.
“No matter what pitches I threw before, just have the confidence all the way through and trust in the adjustments throughout the game to have a feel if I didn’t have something working early, to be able to find it later. And then it just always goes back to [throwing] offspeed for strikes.”
In particular, McLean thought his sweeper worked for him very well on Tuesday and that he was able to use it to play off the sinker while also mixing in fastballs.
“I’m just trying to get better every time I go out there,” he said. “Find new things that work or old things that I kinda went away from that I should stick by and it always just goes back to landing offspeed. I think that’s a big key for me. Any time I can do that and keep guys off my fastball, it’s really good.”
