Jul 3, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) celebrates at first base after hitting a RBI-single during the third inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images | Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
Blue Jays 2 Mariners 0
The bad news? We only scored 2 runs, which is pretty normal.
The good news? They didn’t score 2 runs.
We got both our runs in the third inning. Sean Keys started it with a single. Andrés Giménez doubled him home. John had Nathan Lukes bunt Giménez to third. IN THE THIRD INNING. When he was already in scoring position. Nathan Lukes, the one guy in the lineup who has been hitting (well, not the one guy, but hyperbola works when ranting). Vlad Guerrero singled Andrés home (he would have scored from second too). Kazuma Okamoto singled, but Daulton Varsho lined out and Alejandro Kirk ground out.
We only had six hits on the day (four of them in the third inning). Sean Keys had two hits. Lukes, Varsho, Kirk, and Ernie Clement had 0 fors.
It wasn’t a great offensive showing. Luis Castillo pitched a very good game.
Dylan Cease pitched a better game. Seven innings, just three hits, one walk and nine strikeouts.
He was helped out by Randy Arozarena, who, in the second at bat of the game, challenged two pitches and was wrong on both. He used both their challenges in one at bat. And they were easily strikes. That was a turning point in the game.
Jeff Hoffman pitched the eighth, allowing a walk, while getting two strikeouts. He was great. That’s hold #9 for Jeff.
And Louis Varland, giving up just a single, got the save (18th). He was helped by a very nice play by Vlad at first. He knocked knocked down a hard hit ground ball, picked it up and beat Arozarena to the bag for the first out.
Jays of the Day: Clease (0.40 WPA) and Giménez (0.13). And let’s give Honourable Mention to Hoffman and Varland.
No one got the ‘Other Award’. Kirk had the low mark, -0.08. But then, he did a great job with Cease and the relievers.
Tomorrow it is a 4:00 Eastern start time. Shane Bieber (0-0, 6.00) vs. Logan Gilbert (6-5, 3.42).
It was very nice to give most of the bullpen the day off (after yesterday’s day off). Hoffman threw 24 pitches and Varland 16.
Lakers rookie Cameron Carr celebrates after making a three-pointer against Golden State in an NBA summer league game on Friday night. (Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)
He needed one shot to warm up. Then almost nothing could stop Cameron Carr.
In his unofficial NBA debut, the first-round draft pick flashed the type of three-point shooting that could turn him into a valuable player for the Lakers, scoring 19 points on seven-for-15 shooting in their 104-72 summer league loss to the Golden State Warriors on Friday night.
Ten days after walking across the stage at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center as the 24th pick in the NBA draft, Carr still could barely wrap his mind around his new job. The 21-year-old was nervous and excited putting on the Lakers’ gold jersey Friday at Chase Center. His nerves didn’t settle until the ball was in the air for the opening tip, he said.
Carr knocked down a three on an offensive rebound for the Lakers’ first summer league points. He dished an assist to second-year forward Adou Thiero on the next possession, then knocked down his next shot, another three-pointer. He held his thumb and forefinger in a circle over his eye in celebration.
“It was a great moment,” Carr said of his summer league debut. “It was exciting, a blessing, like I’ve been saying. I’ve been preaching it: just the opportunity to get to step on the court with these dudes, and just learn the way and how they play and how we’re coming together.”
The Lakers spent the first days of free agency addressing their shooting deficiencies. While Luke Kennard signed a two-year contract with Phoenix, the Lakers reloaded with guards Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton and versatile power forward Sandro Mamukelashvili. The three free-agent additions came in a flurry Wednesday after the Lakers pulled off an aggressive trade for center Walker Kessler.
The moves were meant to reshape the roster to maximize superstar Luka Doncic, who will take the reins with the departure of LeBron James.
Lakers rookie Cameron Carr shoots a three-pointer over Golden State's Lachlan Olbrich during the first half of the California Classic on Friday. (Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)
After leading the offense at Baylor, Carr knows his assignment supporting Doncic with the Lakers will be simpler: cut, run and dunk, he said at his introductory news conference.
And, for the guard who shot 37.4% from three-point range at Baylor last season, his job is also to knock down shots.
“If you can shoot the ball,” Carr said with a slight smile in New York the day before the draft, “you’re wanted by a lot of people.”
The Lakers wanted the 6-foot-5 guard so badly that they executed a draft-day pick swap with the New York Knicks. Carr was projected to be a mid-first-round pick but slipped in what many considered to be the deepest draft in a generation.
Any of the consensus top three picks — AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Carlos Boozer — could have been No. 1, analysts predicted. Eleven guards were taken before Carr, who was named third-team All-Big 12 last season after averaging 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists with 45 blocks.
ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla estimated that Carr could be the best athlete out of the entire draft class.
His 7-foot wingspan was the best among guards at the NBA combine, and his 38-inch standing vertical and 10.46-second lane agility test ranked first for his position.
The length and athleticism make Carr the type of rookie who could make an immediate impact on defense, Lakers summer league coach Ty Abbott said.
“He’s got an ability to read the game,” Abbott said. “He’s not out there and completely lost. He kind of understands, and if he does make a mistake, he recognizes it pretty early. ... So for him, it’ll just be about probably adding some strength, maybe some weight, and then just getting the reps. ... You just got to go out there and do it. There’s no better way to learn how to guard good players than to guard good players.”
Carr said his top objective is to put on weight. Weighing 184 pounds at the combine, Carr would have been the third-lightest 6-5 player in the league last year, ahead of only Sacramento’s Nique Clifford (175 pounds) and Dallas’ AJ Johnson (160 pounds). Carr may be joining the Lakers at the exact right moment as the team — with the investment and guidance from big brother organization the Dodgers — will expand weight room, treatment and sports science resources in its facility. Carr plans to make the weight room his new home.
Building up his strength to handle the NBA will be critical for Carr as he hopes to show “that I’m the best defender here,” he told reporters last week. Adding another defender became even more important after guard Marcus Smart signed with Western Conference rival Houston.
The Lakers, after agreeing to trade center Deandre Ayton to Washington for guard Jaden Hardy and two second-round draft picks on Friday, could look for a backup center and wing defender to round out their roster, which stands at 13.
“I’ll be honest,” Carr said with a bashful smile. “It still doesn’t feel real.”
Lakers re-sign Chris Mañon
The Lakers re-signed guard Chris Mañon to a two-way contract. The second-year guard appeared in nine games for them last season and also played 33 G League games for the South Bay Lakers, averaging 10.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists. With a team-high 1.9 steals per game, Mañon was named to the G League all-defensive team and finished second in defensive player of the year voting.
Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani, left, gets a fist bump from catcher Dalton Rushing during the first inning of a 4-3 win over the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on Friday night. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing tapped Shohei Ohtani from behind with his glove, as he passed the two-way superstar putting on his hitting guards at the entrance to the dugout.
By the time of that brief exchange in the fourth inning, the battery was already looking, if not completely dominant, at least more in sync Friday, setting up their team for a 4-3 win against the Padres highlighted by Teoscar Hernández‘s grand slam in the seventh.
As Ohtani held the Padres to three runs through six innings, the battery had a much smoother ride than the previous week.
Ohtani took his at-bat in the sixth but was replaced by pinch-hitter Miguel Rojas in the seventh after feeling something in his right biceps during his final at-bat. He told reporters the move was “precautionary” and that he felt something in the same spot a couple months ago that cleared up relatively quickly.
The last time Rushing caught Ohtani, the pitcher took over pitch-calling after a disastrous second inning against the Twins last week.
“I just overthought last time,” Rushing said in a conversation with The Times on Thursday night. “I was trying to be perfect, and with a guy like that, you don’t have to be perfect. You just need to call the right pitches at the right time and allow his stuff to just beat them naturally. And that’s the plan [Friday]. Whether I call the pitch, he calls the pitch. I want to make sure we’re both convicted in what we’re throwing, and we can execute it to the best of our ability.”
On Friday, Ohtani handed back over pitch-calling duties, communicating with head shakes and nods instead of the PitchCom buttons on his arm.
Ohtani walked the first two batters he faced. But then he struck out three of the next four, escaping the jam down just 1-0, courtesy of an RBI single from Gavin Sheets.
That started a streak of 10 batters who Ohtani retired in order, fanning six of them.
“The best way that I can describe it is, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Rushing said when asked what he’d learned from following along last week. “That’s the way he pitches. ... Trust what you do, trust how good his stuff is, and just go from there.”
Ohtani’s back-to-back strikeouts to end the second inning were a good example. Against left-handed hitting Sung-Mun Song, he threw mostly four-seam fastballs and splitters, finishing off the six-pitch at-bat with a sweeper, according to Statcast.
Against right-handed hitting Rodolfo Durán, Ohtani threw mostly sinkers and sweepers, with one four-seamer mixed in out of seven pitches.
Ohtani eventually relented a second run with two outs in the fourth inning. He fell behind 0-2 in the count to Jackson Merrill, who flipped a strike call with an ABS challenge. Then Merrill hammered a fastball over the plate for a solo homer.
Ohtani successfully navigated traffic to throw a scoreless fifth, but Xander Bogaerts tagged him for an RBI double in the sixth.
Ohtani gave up seven hits for a quality start that wasn’t his cleanest but was enough for the Dodgers to win after Hernández’s blast.
The Dodgers struggled to get anything going against Padres starter Michael King. But he turned the game over to reliever Adrian Morejon with two runners on and no outs in the seventh. Two batters later, Hernández ambushed a first-pitch slider.
Teoscar Hernández hits a grand slam in the seventh inning of the Dodgers' 4-3 win over the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on Friday night. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Hernández drifted up the first-base line as he watched the ball fly. When it landed, he launched his bat back toward the dugout, and it made it halfway there.
The home run helped dissolve any lingering worries about Rushing and Ohtani’s pairing.
Rushing has been the Dodgers’ primary catcher since June 6, when a neck injury sidelined Will Smith. The Dodgers initially expected the problem to resolve with a day or two of rest. But after stalled progress and an injection to address it, Smith is not expected to return from the injured list until after the All-Star break.
He’s at least progressing through baseball activities. Smith has resumed throwing and took swings on Thursday, Roberts said.
The Dodgers pushed back Ohtani’s start this week from Wednesday against the A’s to Friday against a division rival. The change in schedule likely means he won’t pitch in the All-Star Game.
“If you just kind of do the math it would be hard to imagine,” said Roberts, who will also manage the NL All-Star team. “But I don’t have to make that decision quite yet.”
Ohtani is lined up to pitch again next Friday against the Diamondbacks, four days before the All-Star Game. The break from pitching could also benefit his left knee, a problem that seems to have been aggravated by pitching.
“The knee feels as good as it’s felt in quite some time,” Roberts said before the game Friday, “so that’s encouraging for tonight.”
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 03: Kahlil Watson #31 of the Cleveland Guardians hits a walk-off single during the tenth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field on July 03, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Guardians defeated the White Sox 4-3 in 10 innings. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On another hot day in Cleveland, the game today started as a pitchers’ duel. The Big Rig and Anthony Kay got off to blazing starts, and it was Anthony Kay who would blink first. After retiring the first 6 hitters in a row to start the game, Gabriel Arias and Austin Hedges would draw back to back walks to start the 3rd inning. Kwan would sacrifice them both to 3rd with a bunt, and an RBI single from Travis Bazzana would plate the first run of the game for the Guards. That would be all they got in the inning, as David Fry would ground into a double play.
Gavin Williams would get into a little trouble in the 4th, as the White Sox would get 2 runners on with only one out. He was able to work out of it with a strikeout and a weak grounder to end the inning. The Big Rig would get into trouble again in the 5th. After back to back singles and a sacrifice, the White Sox would get both runners into scoring position with only 1 out. Gavin got a weak ground ball that was unable to score the run from 3rd for the second out of the inning. Unfortunately the Big Rig wouldn’t be able to escape this jam. As the wind began to pick up and blow debris all around the field, and after a hard fought 10 pitch battle with Miguel Vargas, it would be Vargas who would emerge victorious, clobbering a 3 run homer down the left field line. Immediately after, the umpiring crew would call for the tarp, and we would head into a weather delay.
Once we finally got back to action, both offenses would stay silent until the bottom half of the 7th inning. The Guards would get 2 runners on base with walks from Hoskins and Rocchio. Then with 2 outs, Austin Hedges would come through with an infield single on a ball in the hole between the SS and 3rd base, and Hoskins would score after the ball was booted a little bit by Colson Montgomery. Next, Steven Kwan would come to the plate with the score now 3-2. Kwan was able to get a soft liner down the left field line to drive in the tying run. That was all for the Guards in the 7th, as Bryan Hudson was able to strike out Travis Bazzana to end the inning.
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) July 4, 2026
After the Guardians tied the game, both Colin Holderman and Cade Smith would throw 1-2-3 8th and 9th innings. But despite getting a runner on base in each inning, the Guards couldn’t scratch a run across, and we were headed to extras.
The Guardians would send Erik Sabrowski out for the 10th. He would strike out the first two hitters and retire the last on a flyout to right field, preserving the 3-3 tie and giving the Guards offense a chance to win if they could get the free baserunner home in the bottom half of the inning. It was Travis Bazzana to lead it off with Steven Kwan on as the free baserunner. He would single on a hard ground ball to left, but the left fielder was playing in, so Kwan could only get to 3rd. It was down to Khalil Watson, who, with the infield in, smashed a ground ball right back up the middle. For the second night in a row, the Guardians would walk off the White Sox and take back sole possession of 1st place in the Central Division!
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) July 4, 2026
The Guards look to clinch a win in the 4 game series Saturday night at 7:10. It’ll be Parker Messick on the mound for the Guardians up against Sean Burke for the White Sox.
Jul 3, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernandez (37) hits a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jon Endow-Imagn Images | Jon Endow-Imagn Images
Teoscar Hernández capitalized off an error and launched a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning to lead the Dodgers (58-31) to a 4-3 comeback win over the Padres (43-44) Friday night at Dodger Stadium. The dramatic blast was Hernandez’s eighth home run of the season, erasing a 3-0 deficit and securing the win.
It was an uncharacteristic shaky start for Shohei Ohtani on the mound. A four-pitch walk to Tatis Jr. started the game for Ohtani who missed the strike zone with his first six pitches of the game. Another walk to Jake Cronenworth immediately gave the Padres the opportunity to get on the board quickly.
The Padres, once again, scored early. Gavin Sheets smacked a high sweeper to right field for a RBI single. Ohtani ended up striking out three in the first inning, but the Padres took an early 1-0 lead.
Ohtani and Dalton Rushing settled down nicely and had collected seven strikeouts through the first three innings.
Michael King was perfect through three innings, using his sinker and changeup to fool batters.
Jackson Merrill took advantage of an overturned strike call and homered against Ohtani with two outs in the fourth to make it 2-0 Padres.
Freddie Freeman’s two-out single in the bottom of the fourth was the first hit the Dodgers mustered off King. The Dodgers got nothing to show for it after Mookie Betts flied out to end the inning and erase the base runner.
Max Muncy snagged a Machado grounder at third to get the final out in the fifth after the Padres had runners at the corners with two outs.
The Dodgers got the tying run to the plate against King in the bottom of the sixth, but Freeman grounded out to end the inning and strand another two base runners.
Kyle Hurt took over for Ohtani in the seventh, and a double play helped the reliever escape without allowing a run. Ohtani wasn’t involved in the decision with a line of: 6 IP, 3 R, 7 H, 2 BB, 9 K (110 pitches).
The Dodgers adjusted at the plate against King and got their first two men aboard in the bottom of the seventh to chase the Padres ace from the game. Things unraveled for the Friars after they took out King. Adrian Morejon, who had been lights out coming into the game, got ambushed by the Dodgers offense.
Coming off a four-hit game, Tucker looked to get that big hit the Dodgers needed all night. Betts walked, and Muncy singled. The Dodgers got a lucky break when Tucker reached safely on a bumbling error by Cronenworth which ended up to be very costly.
Hernández brought the early 4th of July fireworks to Chavez Ravine with a monstrous grand slam to give the Dodgers a 4-3 lead. It was the first home run for Hernandez since returning to action after missing a month with a hamstring injury.
Edgardo Henriquez pitched a 1-2-3 eighth to keep it a one-run game. Henriquez has been a key part of this Dodgers bullpen that has been particularly effective of late. Opposing hitters had a .154 batting average against him in June.
Dave Roberts gave Tanner Scott the ball in the top of the ninth. Tanner struck out Samad Taylor, Miguel Andujar, and Tatis Jr. to slam the door on the Padres who have now lost seven straight.
Friday particulars
Home runs: Jackson Merrill (10); Teoscar Hernandez (8)
LP — Adrian Morejon (6-2): 1 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 2, walks, no strikeouts
S — Tanner Scott (12): Struck out the side in the top of the 9th
Up next
Fireworks are sure to explode during the third of four games between the NL West rivals on 4th of July (7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA), with Yoshinobu Yamamoto (8-5, 2.67 ERA, 0.89 WHIP) on the mound for the Dodgers and Griffin Canning (1-5, 7.09 ERA, 1.66 WHIP) for the Padres.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 03: Randy Arozarena #56 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after striking out during the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at T-Mobile Park on July 03, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Blue Jays 2, Mariners 0
Christmas Beef Wellington: Víctor Robles, +0.11 WPA American attempts at poutine: Colt Emerson, -0.21 WPA
Jul 3, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Aroldis Chapman (44) celebrates the victory against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Besides all that, it’s the start of the holiday weekend. But for all the night owls who tuned in, it was a thoroughly enjoyable game!
Jake Bennett proved he belongs and Romy González showed he’s back. Bennett quickly got out to a confident start, with a 1-2-3 first inning; he repeated that feat in each frame through the fourth, not allowing a hit until the fifth and never giving up a walk. I was surprised that Chad Tracy brought him out for the eighth, not because he was struggling—he most definitely wasn’t—but because he’d never gone that deep in a game before. Sure enough, he was a little gassed and began to falter, giving up a home run, a single, a wild pitch, then another single. Two runs scored in the inning but this wasn’t indicative of his night.
In the ninth, Aroldis Chapman broke Hoyt Wilhelm’s record for most strikeouts by a reliever—not a closer, but all relievers.
As for the offense, the Sox hitters were as confident as their pitchers, with nearly everyone getting at least one hit. Rafaela, Abreu, Contreras, Durbin, and Duran were on the basepaths multiple times. Though Duran didn’t have a hit, he had a nice sac fly, laid down a sacrifice bunt, and advanced on a fielding error.
Fire up the grill, get the drinks on ice, and stay cool over the weekend; the Sox are doing their part to give us something to celebrate.
Studs
Aroldis Chapman
Chapman went into the record books for most strikeouts by a reliever, besting Hoyt Wilhelm with #1,364. He even grinned for the occasion. Nice work.
Jake Bennett
He held the Angels hitless until the fifth. With a lot of first-pitch strikes, soft contact, and short at-bats, he cruised through seven. Good for him, good for us, good for the bullpen. His final line doesn’t quite do justice to how good he looked out there tonight. 7.2 IP, 5H, 2R, 6K, 1 BB.
Romy González
The guy we’ve been pining for all season has arrived. He announced himself with a triple in the first inning and overall went 3-4 with 2 RBI.
Caleb Durbin
He went 1-3 with a home run, and scored another run after getting on base with a walk. He had the Defensive Play of the Game too. Nice night.
Dud
Nate Eaton
Hey, it happens. He was the only hitter to not reach base, going 0-5 with 3 K’s.
Play of the Game
In 2026, we haven’t often been able to consider several potential Plays of the Game; it’s been sparse all season long. Tonight I considered a few different candidates, including Durbin’s homer, but I’m going with Romy’s triple that put the Sox on the board in the second. Romy showed he was back, and said he’s feeling good. Here’s hoping it’s the first of many notable plays that he’ll record for the Sox for the rest of the way.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 03: Cameron Carr #43 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a three-point shot over Malevy Leons #33 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half in the California Classic a NBA Summer League game at Chase Center on July 03, 2026 in San Francisco, California. 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. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers struggled in their first game of the California Classic, losing 104-72 to the Golden State Warriors on Friday night.
LA’s newest rookie, Cameron Carr, was off to a hot start for the team, scoring six points off two 3-pointers. Los Angeles’ other notable name, Adou Thiero, was 1-2 from the field, but looked solid and was moving very well. Golden State’s rookie Yaxel Lendeborg also had six points off two triples.
The Lakers were down by five at the end of the first. Carr ended the quarter with eight points. Arthur Kaluma had five points off the bench.
Pull up curl off the HORNS action. Sticks out how fluid of an athlete he is.
Carr’s excellent play continued into the second period as he knocked down another 3-pointer, giving him 11 for the night so far. Lendeborg was 4-4 from behind the arc for the Warriors and had 14 points.
Will Richard and Lendeborg combined for 32 points in the half and were also a combined 8-9 from behind the arc. Carr drained another triple for LA, giving him 14 points. Los Angeles was down 24 at the half.
A couple more threes by Cameron Carr, and it’ll be time to start designing the statue.
Chris Mañon started the offense off for LA in the third period. Carr missed four shots before draining his fifth triple of the night. Adou finally put some more points on the board, converting on a three-point play.
Golden State, though, had built a big lead that the Lakers just couldn’t cut into. They were shooting 65% from the field.
LA was shooting 37% from the field. Their shot selection was rough and messy. At the end of the third, the purple and gold were down by 34.
I don’t want to make mountains out of molehills, but it’d be nice to see some positive Adou Thiero minutes during this game.
The Lakers started the final frame on a positive note, scoring nine points in a row. Graham Ike put a stop to the run with a layup. The rest of the quarter was essentially garbage time as teams just exchanged baskets until the buzzer sounded.
Key Player Stats
Carr finished with 19 points and two rebounds. Thiero ended with nine points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Kaluma had 12 points and six rebounds. Anton Watson scored nine points with three rebounds.
Mañon logged eight points with three rebounds. Zhaire Smith and AK Okereke combined for 11 points off the bench.
The next California Classic game will be against the Miami Heat on Sunday at 1:30 PM PT.
Amid absolute pandemonium at Dodger Stadium on Friday night, an unexpected cause for concern arose in the home dugout.
Shortly after completing a six-inning, three-run start as a pitcher against the San Diego Padres, Shohei Ohtani was removed from the game as a hitter in the bottom of the seventh, when Miguel Rojas pinch-hit for him shortly after a go-ahead grand slam from Teoscar Hernández in the Dodgers’ come-from-behind 4-3 win.
The reason for Ohtani’s removal: Tightness in his right bicep he had felt during his final at-bat as a hitter in the game.
“Just kinda tightened up on him,” manager Dave Roberts said.
On the bright side, both Ohtani and Roberts described the superstar’s exit as a “precautionary” decision, and downplayed the potential severity of the injury.
However, Roberts said Ohtani would still be out of the lineup on Saturday, to “give him a day to fully recover, treat it up.”
“We’ll just go from there,” the skipper added.
Shohei Ohtani exited early on Friday night. Getty Images
Ohtani did not appear to be laboring physically in his two-way performance Friday, even as he grinded through an 110-pitch effort –– which included nine strikeouts, but also nine baserunners allowed (seven hits, two walks), to leave him with a 1.79 ERA on the season and a mediocre 4.38 ERA over his last four starts.
However, during his final at-bat in the bottom of the sixth, he said in Japanese that there “was something that concerned me a little with my biceps” after lifting a flyout to right field.
He said it only impacted his swing, and that he felt no problem while pitching.
Ohtani later revealed that he had dealt with similar discomfort in batting practice earlier this season, but noted “it got better relatively quickly then, so I think that will be the case again this time.”
“You know what, [that instance] was so benign, that I didn’t hear about it until tonight,” Roberts added when asked about Ohtani’s previous bicep issue. “It didn’t take him out of playing.”
Ohtani’s absence didn’t put a damper on the Dodgers’ comeback Friday, when they overcame a 3-0 deficit in the bottom of the seventh.
After six dominant innings from Padres ace Michael King to start the night, the Dodgers finally knocked him out of the game on a leadoff walk from Mookie Betts and single from Max Muncy. Then, they got a fortuitous break to load the bases against reliever Adrian Morejon, with Kyle Tucker’s would-be double-play grounder getting booted by Jake Cronenworth at second base.
Just like that, Hernández stepped up representing the go-ahead run.
And on the first pitch he saw –– a hanging slider over the plate –– the veteran slugger blasted a grand slam that unleashed perhaps the loudest reaction from the crowd all season.
Hernández chucked his bat with an emphatic flip, then rounded the bases as Chavez Ravine shook in celebration, helping the Dodgers –– even without Ohtani at the end –– extend their division lead over the Padres to 14 games.
“We believe in each other, we know what we can do, we know the players that we have, and we’re never out of the game,” Hernández said, after keying the Dodgers’ second stunning comeback against San Diego in as many nights. “That’s our mentality every day that we go into the field. It happens to keep showing every single day.”
What it means
The initial belief might be that Ohtani’s injury is nothing to worry about.
But it is yet another reminder of the toll that comes with his two-way workload.
Roberts acknowledged that fact, and even left the door open to not having Ohtani make his final pitching start before the All-Star break, which is scheduled for next Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“I do think that for us to read and react and hear what his body is telling him is really important,” Roberts said, “given the toll it takes on his body to be a two-way player.”
Still, Roberts also called Ohtani a “quick healer” who “finds a way to get back.”
And though Ohtani will get the day off on Saturday, he already felt on Friday night that he would be able to take the field if the team wanted.
“It’s not as if you can be in perfect condition every time you play,” he said.
Who’s hot
Ohtani’s injury aside, the moment of the night was Hernández’s go-ahead blast in the seventh.
The homer was Hernández’s first since returning from a month-long hamstring injury earlier this week.
It was also the best sign yet that he hasn’t lost the hot swing he’d found before going on the IL, having hit .325 with 14 RBIs in his final 24 games before getting hurt.
“It’s just a little bit of everything,” Hernández explained of his emotional reaction to Friday’s big fly, which continued with a string of high-fives and fist pumps on his way back to the dugout, plus a sunflower seed shower from teammate and mentee Andy Pages.
“I’m just trying to find the same swing that I had before I got hurt, and at the same time, just do something for the team,” Hernández added. “It happened to be a big swing.”
Who’s not
Even before his biceps injury, Friday hadn’t been Ohtani’s most convincing performance.
His pitching outing was a “quality start” only in the most literal sense of the term –– marred by a pair of leadoff walks that led to a run in the first, a home run to Jackson Merrill on a center-cut fastball in the fourth, and a two-out, run-scoring rally he yielded in the sixth that nearly put the Padres’ lead too far out of reach.
“Good outing,” Roberts called it. “But I think, again, with Shohei, the stuff that he has, he’s just got to be more efficient to get into that seventh inning. And the last few starts, he just hasn’t given himself a chance.”
Ohtani’s bat has quietly cooled off in recent days too, with his 0-for-3 performance on Friday dropping him to 2-for-16 over the last four games.
At the very least, he and catcher Dalton Rushing found better chemistry as batterymates, getting on the same page with their pitch calling (the majority of which was done by Rushing) after their glaring miscommunication in Minnesota last week.
Also, as Ohtani noted, he still “left the game in a place in which we could still hope to win.”
And even without him at the end, Hernández made sure the Dodgers did.
Up next
The Dodgers will try to clinch this four-game series, and grow their monstrous lead in the division even further, in a Fourth of July game on Saturday. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (8-5, 2.67 ERA) faces Padres right-hander Griffin Canning (1-5, 7.09 ERA).
The 23-year-old won’t throw for approximately six weeks — well after the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
So instead of potentially joining the bullpen in The Bronx in the coming weeks, Lagrange will be shut down indefinitely, knocking the hard-throwing righty off the list of possible upgrades.
Before the game, Aaron Boone said it altered the team’s plans “certainly for the short term.”
Carlos Lagrange throws a pitch during the Yankees’ Feb. 21 game in spring training. Charles Wenzelberg
Lagrange opened eyes in the spring with his ability to throw 100 mph consistently and the Yankees continue to view him as a starter in the future, but hoped to move him to the pen for the rest of this season as a nasty bullpen arm.
That process began in early June, with a possible second half promotion to the majors.
That’s now on hold, very possibly for the rest of the season.
Lagrange last appeared in a game with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday. He pitched on two days’ rest and had his worst outing as a reliever, allowing five runs on four hits, as well as a pair of walks, in just two-thirds of an inning. Lagrange averaged 98.8 mph with his fastball and hit 100.9.
It was Lagrange’s seventh appearance out of the bullpen and second time pitching on two days’ rest.
Naturally, questions arose about whether the switch led to the shoulder woes.
“It’s impossible to answer that for sure,’’ Boone said. “We were pretty disciplined and methodical with how we took him into that role. I feel like we were careful with it, but you never know for certain why [it] happens.”
It’s no secret why the Yankees were looking to get some help from Lagrange.
Two of last year’s trade deadline acquisitions who were expected to aid the pen, Camilo Doval and Jake Bird, have been huge disappointments, while David Bednar has mostly been solid as closer.
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And if the season had gone according to plan, the Yankees would consider Ryan Weathers as another left-handed option since there would be no room for him in the rotation.
But they’re waiting for Max Fried to get back from a left elbow bone bruise and now have Carlos Rodón on the IL with left elbow inflammation.
There was also belief that Luis Gil might thrive out of the pen, but he last pitched on April 26 with the Yankees and then was shut down with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in early May with a shoulder injury.
He’s resumed throwing, but is a long way from being considered for a role in The Bronx.
That could leave the Yankees looking for at least a pair of relievers in the next month, and as they proved last year, that’s no easy feat.
"You talk about the toughest job, manager of the New York Mets is the toughest job in baseball right now," Martinez, who cited his "freedom" and work-life balance in explaining the outlook on managing before Friday's 5-3 loss at the Atlanta Braves. "Managing is tough. You have to know how to maneuver pieces, how to handle pitching staffs, all that. I pride myself on the offensive side of things."
The Mets hired Martinez, 38, as a special advisor to baseball operations in March.
"It's a really good group," Martinez said in early April when asked about this year's Mets. "I played with and against a lot of these guys. I have a ton of respect for them."
A six-time All-Star, Martinez ended his career with the Mets. He slashed .235/.320/.406 with 16 home runs and 69 RBI in 120 games.
"Every time he speaks I listen -- he has great advice and we relate, so it’s great to have him around and see a familiar face," Mark Vientostold SNY'sSteve Gelbsin early April.
DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 3: Jake McCarthy #31 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates with Mickey Moniak #22 after his first inning solo home run against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field on July 3, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies did not just open their series against the San Francisco Giants with offense. They opened it with a flood.
By the time Gabriel Hughes entered from the bullpen to make his Major League debut in the seventh inning, the Rockies already had a 14-3 lead, 17 hits, three home runs, two triples from Cole Carrigg, a career game from Jake McCarthy, and another strong start from Ryan Feltner. Colorado finished with a 15-3 win, pounding out 18 hits while getting run production from almost every part of the lineup.
The Rockies improved to 36-53, while the Giants fell to 36-51. Colorado is now one game behind San Francisco in the NL West.
Feltner controls the Giants
Ryan Feltner had more than enough run support, but his outing was still one of the biggest reasons the game stayed under control. He gave Colorado six innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits with nine strikeouts and no walks. The Giants scored in three separate innings, but Feltner avoided free traffic and kept them from building the type of inning that can change a game at Coors Field.
Feltner set the tone immediately by striking out Luis Arráez on a changeup to open the game. That pitch became a major part of the night. Feltner threw the changeup 13 times, generated five whiffs on nine swings, and used it for four strikeouts. Its 56% whiff rate was his best mark of any pitch he used regularly, and it gave him a finishing pitch against a Giants lineup that was forced to cover multiple speeds.
Feltner struck out the side in the second inning, then opened the third by striking out Victor Bericoto for his fourth straight strikeout. San Francisco broke through later in the inning when Arráez doubled and Casey Schmitt followed with a 104 mph RBI single, but Feltner limited the inning to one run and kept Colorado ahead 5-1.
The pitch mix supported the line. Feltner threw his four-seam fastball 36% of the time, averaging 94.2 mph, and it produced four strikeouts with a 53% called-strike-plus-whiff rate. His slider was his second-most used pitch at 31%, generating six whiffs on 15 swings for a 40% whiff rate. Between the four-seamer, slider, and changeup, Feltner got 16 of his 17 whiffs and all nine of his strikeouts.
The fourth inning was the only frame where Feltner helped create the damage. Jung Hoo Lee reached on a bunt single and advanced to second on Feltner’s throwing error before Bryce Eldridge singled him home. Feltner again kept it to one run, then responded with a 1-2-3 fifth that included two more strikeouts.
Rafael Devers got Feltner for the loudest swing against him in the sixth, a 104.1 mph, 432-foot solo homer to right field. Feltner finished the inning by getting Lee to fly out and striking out Willy Adames, ending his night with the Rockies ahead 14-3.
This was not just a run-support start. Feltner missed bats, filled the zone, and leaned on a three-pitch core that gave the Giants very little room to turn contact into sustained pressure.
Rockies jump Webb immediately
Logan Webb never had a chance to settle in. McCarthy attacked the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning and drove a 92.2 mph sinker to right-center for a leadoff home run. The swing came off the bat at 105.1 mph and traveled 440 feet, giving Colorado a lead before Webb recorded an out.
The inning did not stop with the first swing. Mickey Moniak, Hunter Goodman, and June NL Rookie of the Month TJ Rumfield followed with three straight singles, and Cole Carrigg drew a bases-loaded walk. The first five Rockies reached base against Webb, forcing him into immediate damage control. Tyler Freeman then grounded into a double play, but Goodman scored on the play, giving Colorado a 3-0 lead after the first inning.
Colorado’s approach carried into the second, but it showed up in a different way. Kyle Karros singled and stole second before Ezequiel Tovar forced Webb through an 11-pitch at-bat. Tovar fouled off four two-strike pitches, including three fastballs after the count reached 3-2, then drove a cutter to right-center for a two-run home run. The swing came off the bat at 101.7 mph and traveled 392 feet, pushing the Rockies’ lead to 5-0.
The third inning showed the same problem for Webb. Carrigg opened the inning with a triple to right field, and Edouard Julien brought him home on a fielder’s choice. Tovar later added a single, and McCarthy followed with an RBI single to right field before stealing second. By the end of the third, the Rockies had scored seven runs on 11 hits against Webb and had forced him into traffic in all three innings.
That was the best version of Colorado’s offense against a starter. McCarthy punished the first pitch he saw. Tovar won a long at-bat and still got to damage. Carrigg added pressure with speed and extra-base contact. The Rockies were not just swinging early; they were forcing Webb to execute in different counts and punishing him when he did not.
The data matched the result. Webb allowed 11 hits and seven earned runs in three innings, and the Rockies produced eight hard-hit balls against him. He generated only eight whiffs on 43 swings, a 19% whiff rate, with a 17% called-strike-plus-whiff rate. Colorado put 17 balls in play against Webb, and 11 of them became hits.
Webb leaned on his cutter more than any other pitch, throwing it 39% of the time, but the Rockies handled it. They collected three hits on five balls in play against the cutter, with two hard-hit balls and a 95.3 mph average exit velocity. The sinker was also a problem from the first pitch, with McCarthy’s leadoff homer setting the tone.
By the time San Francisco went to the bullpen in the fourth, Colorado had already built a 7-2 lead and forced the Giants into a game that was no longer being played on Webb’s terms.
Rockies turn it into a blowout in the fifth
Matt Gage gave San Francisco its first clean inning in the fourth, but the reset did not last. The Rockies came back in the fifth with the same pressure they had created against Webb, and this time they turned a comfortable lead into a blowout.
The inning started with a walk from Julien, followed by singles from Karros and Tovar. That brought McCarthy back to the plate with the bases loaded, and he delivered the swing that put the game away. McCarthy drove a grand slam to right-center for his second home run of the night, pushing Colorado’s lead to 11-2 and giving him a career-high six RBI. It marked McCarthy’s second career grand slam, the first of which came on May 7 against the Mets.
Goodman kept the inning going with a double to left, and Rumfield followed with a walk. The Giants went to Ryan Walker, but the change did not stop the inning. Carrigg drove in both runners with his second triple of the game, then Freeman brought Carrigg home with an RBI single. Colorado scored seven runs in the inning and stretched the lead to 14-2.
The inning also showed how complete the offensive night had become. McCarthy supplied the biggest swings, but the fifth included a Julien walk, a Karros single, a Tovar single, a Goodman double, a Rumfield walk, Carrigg’s second triple and Freeman’s second run-scoring plate appearance. The Rockies were getting production from the top, middle and bottom of the order.
Carrigg’s night stood out beyond the box score. His two triples gave Colorado extra-base production and forced San Francisco to defend the full field. Tovar added three hits, including his long two-run homer in the second. Karros reached base four times, stole a base, tripled and scored three runs. Freeman drove in two runs from the lower third of the order. Rumfield added a hit and walk, continuing a first half that has pushed him into notable franchise company among Rockies rookies before the All-Star break.
By the end of the fifth, Colorado had 14 runs, 17 hits, three home runs and two triples. The Rockies had already beaten Webb, then carried the same approach into San Francisco’s bullpen. That turned the game from a strong offensive showing into one of their most lopsided wins of the season.
Hughes makes his MLB debut
By the seventh inning, the game had shifted into a different phase. McCarthy exited after his career night, Braxton Fulford entered for Goodman, Troy Johnston replaced McCarthy in left field, and Brett Sullivan took over for Rumfield at first base. The Rockies had already created separation, but the final three innings still carried another important development.
Hughes replaced Feltner to start the seventh and made his MLB debut with an 11-run lead. His first inning was clean, even after Eldridge reached on Karros’ error. Hughes got Bericoto to ground into a double play, then retired Cavanaugh on a lineout to Carrigg in center field.
Hughes picked up his first career strikeout in the eighth, getting Jonah Cox swinging to open the inning.
San Francisco followed with singles from Schmitt and Heliot Ramos, but Hughes kept the inning scoreless by getting Drew Gilbert to ground out.
Colorado added one more run in the bottom of the eighth when Karros tripled off JT Brubaker and Tovar brought him home with a sacrifice fly. That pushed the lead to 15-3 and gave Tovar his third RBI of the night. Tovar finished with a home run, two singles, a sacrifice fly and three RBI, giving Colorado run production early and late.
Hughes returned for the ninth and finished the game with help from the defense. After Christian Koss flew out and Eldridge walked, Bericoto grounded into his second double play against Hughes, ending the game.
Hughes finished his debut with three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and one walk with one strikeout. He threw 53 pitches, leaning heavily on his four-seam fastball. The pitch accounted for 35 of his 53 pitches, or 66% of his usage, and averaged 93.6 mph. He paired it mostly with his sweeper, which he threw 14 times, or 26% of his mix. The curveball and changeup were used only sparingly.
The swing-and-miss was limited. Hughes generated six whiffs on 30 swings, a 20% whiff rate, with an overall 21% called-strike-plus-whiff rate. All six whiffs came on the four-seamer. The Giants put nine balls in play against him, but only two went for hits, and Hughes kept the contact manageable with an 85.8 mph average exit velocity.
Final notes
McCarthy led the offense with the best run-producing game of his career, finishing 4-for-5 with two home runs, six RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. He opened the game with a first-pitch homer, added an RBI single in the third and put the game away with a grand slam in the fifth.
Tovar finished 3-for-4 with a home run, a sacrifice fly, three RBI and two runs scored. Carrigg went 2-for-4 with two triples, three RBI and two runs scored. Karros reached base four times, going 3-for-4 with a triple, a walk, a stolen base and three runs scored. Goodman went 2-for-4 with a double, while Moniak added two hits and a walk.
Colorado finished 7-for-16 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on base. The Rockies also got two-out production from McCarthy, whose third-inning RBI single gave Colorado its only two-out RBI of the game.
San Francisco finished 2-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left five runners on base. The Giants did not record a two-out RBI. Devers had the loudest swing for San Francisco with a solo homer in the sixth, while Schmitt finished with two hits and an RBI.
Feltner earned the win to move to 3-2, lowering his ERA to 4.27. Webb took the loss, falling to 5-6 with a 3.66 ERA after allowing seven earned runs in three innings. Hughes recorded a three-inning save in his debut, the second Rockie to do so this year.
Hughes became the eighth player to make his major league debut for Colorado this season, and the Rockies remain undefeated in July.
Up next
The Rockies and Giants continue the series Saturday night at Coors Field, with first pitch scheduled for 6:10 p.m. MDT on the Fourth of July.
Tomoyuki Sugano gets the ball for Colorado after the Rockies used only two pitchers in the series opener. Sugano enters at 8-4 with a 4.80 ERA and 48 strikeouts, and the Rockies will look for him to keep the bullpen rested after Feltner and Hughes covered all nine innings in Thursday’s win.
San Francisco will turn to Robbie Ray, who enters at 7-6 with a 3.39 ERA and 82 strikeouts.
Celtics assistant coach Sam Cassell offered a reminder that even franchise greats are not saved from the business side of pro basketball.
In an interview with WBZTV, Cassell discussed Brown’s exit from Boston to Philadelphia.
Sam Cassell coaches up Jaylen Brown (7) during Game 3 of Celtics vs. Knicks during the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 10. NBAE via Getty Images
“Well, we won a championship with Jaylen Brown in Boston,” Cassell said. “Jaylen has done everything possible for this city… He’ll be missed, but it is the NBA. Wilt Chamberlain got traded after he averaged 50 points one year. So it happens.
“Trades happen in this league. I wish nothing but the best for Jaylen Brown. He’s a hell of a basketball player, a great person, and life goes on,” added the longtime NBA assistant, who has been with the Celtics for the past three seasons.
Celtics assistant coach Sam Cassell on the Jaylen Brown trade:
“Jaylen has done everything possible for this city. He’ll be missed. But it’s the NBA. Wilt Chamberlain got traded after he averaged 50 points one year…I wish nothing but the best for Jaylen. He’s a hell of a… pic.twitter.com/9WmTEXc5om
Cassell’s perspective carries weight given both his playing and coaching careers, which have a combined four championships.
Brown’s departure closes one of the most successful chapters in recent Celtics history.
Drafted third overall in 2016, he spent a decade in Boston and developed from a raw prospect into one of the NBA’s elite two-way wings.
Sam Cassell has been an NBA assistant since 2008, and with the Celtics since 2023. NBAE via Getty Images
During his tenure, Brown earned five All-Star selections, two All-NBA honors and helped lead Boston to multiple NBA Finals appearances while capturing Finals MVP in the 2024 Championship run.
After Jayson Tatum suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in May of 2025, Brown assumed an even larger offensive burden, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists while helping Boston secure the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Now, Brown is headed to Philly.
The trade has generated mixed reactions across the league, and as especially polarizing in Boston.
“We’ll be fine,” Cassell assured. “Yeah, we’ll be fine. We’ll be fine. We’ll figure it out. The game’s played on the basketball court. We’ll figure that part out.”
SACRAMENTO, CA - OCTOBER 26: Chris Manon #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers waits to check into the game during the game against the Sacramento Kings on October 26, 2025 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers need to find defensive-minded players wherever possible, and they just ensured that one who is already familiar with the franchise will remain in Los Angeles.
On Friday night, the Lakers made the re-signing of Chris Mañon official, bringing the guard back on a two-way deal.
This move was expected, as the Lakers had reportedly tendered a qualifying offer to Mañon. Clearly, the Lakers liked what they saw from Mañon when he was on a two-way contract last season.
Mañon didn’t play much as a two-way player, appearing in just nine regular season games for the Lakers. However, he played a lot more with the team’s G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers.
With South Bay, he played in 33 regular season games and started in 26 contests. He averaged 10.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game in the G League.
His defensive play is what really stood out. Mañon is a great on-ball defender. He’s able to disrupt opponents and force turnovers. He registered 1.9 steals with South Bay, which was a team-high.
Thanks to his defensive play, Mañon was named to the 2025-26 NBA G League All-Defensive Team. He also finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
With Mañon anchoring the perimeter defense, South Bay had a great year and was the top overall seed in the Western Conference with a 26-10 regular season record.They made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals, where they were eliminated by the Stockton Kings.
With Mañon back, he can continue splitting up his duties between South Bay and the main team, providing some backcourt help for the purple and gold.
The Lakers have had a ton of success with their two-way players. Jordan Goodwin and Scotty Pippen Jr. were both on two-way deals with the Lakers, and now each is on standard contracts with other NBA teams.
