LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 20: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Dodger Stadium on June 20, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
How quickly does one get hit in the face with a reality check? Why don’t we ask the San Diego Padres, a team that, when it faced the Dodgers for the first time this season, trailed in the race for the NL West by just half a game? And no, this series didn’t occur so early in the year as to make this point irrelevant—it happened on May 18th, well short of two months ago. Now, as Yoshinobu Yamamoto gets ready for a second straight matchup against the Friars, the Dodgers possess a 14-game lead, one that sounds like a lot, but it’s even bigger when you put it into a certain context.
If the Dodgers were to beat the Padres tonight, their lead over the Padres—who are currently tied with the Diamondbacks for the second spot in the NL West—would represent the second largest lead any team has against any opponent in their own division. As things currently stand, the Padres are much closer to the Rockies and the worst team in baseball (Royals) than they are to the Dodgers—the numbers show that, even if reality often brings much closer games such as Friday’s night one-run win thanks to a Teoscar Hernández grand slam.
Addressing tonight’s specific matchup, Yamamoto is still working on fixing what was initially a rather poor track record against the Padres. Despite allowing just three runs in the 15 innings he has pitched against San Diego this season, Yamamoto only has a 4.60 ERA versus the Friars, his second-worst mark against any National League team.
Aug 10, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; General view of T-Mobile Park during the sixth inning of a game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images | Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Game number 89…..the season is flying by. Winnning a second game in a row would be nice.
George Springer is still away, moved to the Family Medical Emergency list, but there is no emergency, just letting George have more time with his son.
Unfortunately, it looks like Canada’s time in the World Cup is over. They did great. I would have been good with a couple more wins, but they played well.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 2: Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers prepares to bat against the Detroit Tigers during the second inning at Globe Life Field on July 2, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
And while Hardaway Jr. will look to emulate his dad’s sharpshooting in South Beach, the Hall of Famer wants to maintain his “legacy” and keep his No. 10 uniform retired.
Hardaway Jr., seen guarding the Knicks’ OG Anunoby, wore No. 10 last year for the Nuggets Jason Skenes/ NY Post
“My legacy is my legacy. Even though he likes to wear No. 10, that is not coming down from the rafters,” Hardaway Sr. told WQAM radio in Miami. “That is tough to do. And when it’s up there, you want [it] to stay up there, and you don’t want nobody to touch it.
“I love him. I love him. I’m happy for him. …. Watching him play through college and the NBA, he’d been to three places I’d never been: the Final Four, a championship, and now, he’s going to his hometown team. I never done that, and so, I’m happy that he’s doing it,” Hardaway Sr. continued about his son, who grew up in South Florida.
“But no, he can’t wear No. 10.”
Tim Hardaway of the Heat dribbles against the Warriors on November 26, 1996 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. NBAE via Getty Images
The 34-year-old wing has worn No. 10 for the Hawks, Mavericks and Nuggets, and his father also wore the number in Miami before the franchise retired it in 2009
Hardaway Jr. has also worn Nos. 3, 5, 11 and 8 during his career, though only No. 3 is currently available on the Heat roster.
Tim Hardaway Sr. (left) is not letting his son (right) wear his Miami Heat No. 10. NBAE via Getty Images
He had a solid year for the Nuggets last season as he averaged 13.5 points per game and finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
Now, with the Heat’s trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo expected to be finalized soon, Hardaway Jr. will look to serve as a complementary piece around the two-time MVP.
As July 1st, 2026, has passed, Cale Makar is available for a contract extension. He is set to be an unrestricted free agent next summer, and with how much the cap is going up, today's price is not tomorrow's price. Another potential Norris Trophy season for Makar could make what many suggest he might make this summer look like a joke this time next summer.
Though Joe Sakic has stated that a contract will be done this summer, this brings up another potential extension to tackle: Artturi Lehkonen’s. In the last year of his five-year, $22.5 million deal that carries a cap hit of $4.5 million, what number do the Avalanche want and can expect to sign someone turning 32 this season, who has dealt with injuries?
Avalanche Needs To Be Careful With Their Next Extensions
There is no question about how important Lehkonen has been for the team during this time with them. A massive part of the 2022 Stanley Cup run, and despite time and time again dealing with nagging injuries each season, the effort he brings when in the lineup can be irreplaceable, or if so, can be pretty expensive.
As we saw this summer and the following summers, the cap is set to jump exponentially each year. More precisely, the cap ceiling is expected to be $113 million for the 2027-28 season, the first year of their new deals. Every season, the talks between players and management will differ as teams, agents, and players view the rising cap differently and consider how to make the most of it.
While everyone in hockey is excited about the rise in the cap, especially with how stagnant it has been during the COVID-19 days and how it limited many teams in making many moves, teams like the Avalanche, who are excited to see the cap increase, need to be careful with how much they send out to pending UFAs and free agents.
The Ins And Outs Of A New Lehkonen Contract
In terms of what a new Lehkonen contract might look like, what plays into his new extension, and if so, how long of a term and how much do the Avalanche value him?
The unfortunate part of Lehkonen you can compare to is Valeri Nichushkin, and it's the phrase “When he's available, he's at his best,” with “when available” as the major standout.
Since joining the Avalanche in the 2021-22 season, Lehkonen has only played over 70 games twice, and every other season he has missed at least 25% of the regular season. Adding to the two missed games of the second round this season and looking pretty bad in his return during the Conference Finals.
His value is way above the 104 goals and 112 assists for 216 points; those totals, not including the playoffs, could have been way higher, barring some injury luck. His two-way, physical, penalty-killing prowess is crucial to the Avalanche and is even more pronounced during the playoffs.
So injuries are a factor, but beyond that, we know he can produce and raise his game in the playoffs. How does it compare to other wingers based on his age, production, and the cap hit he could be looking for?
His new contract will take him into his mid-to-late thirties; add in some injury history, but don’t discount the level of production he can bring when healthy or his competitiveness in the playoffs.
I think of players like:
Victor Arvidsson (Red Wings) with a two-year, $8 million contract at $4 million AAV.
Tyler Toffoli (Sharks), with a three-year $16.2 million contract, $5.4 million AAV.
Reilly Smith (Knights), three-year $15 million contract, $5 million AAV.
Vincent Desharnais (Capitals), four-year $16.8 million contract, $4.2 million AAV
Anders Lee (Mammoth), three-year $16.20 million contract, $5.4 million AAV
You can make the argument that, in Lehkonen's position, he is more important to his team than those listed to theirs. Still, they are all players who can fit the mold of a player with a contract heading into their mid-to-late thirties, with a contract comparable to what Lehkonen can be given.
Among those listed, those cap hits take up roughly just over 6% of the team's cap. The problem is, as I said in the beginning, today's price is not tomorrow's price. Next season, with the cap increase, the amount will be just around 7%. So if you're in Lehkonen’s camp, you could make an argument for north of $5 million AAV for his next deal, when you can make the argument that, when Lehkonen is at his very best, he's well over $6.5 million.
Does $6.5+ million work for the Avalanche? While I think $5-6 million would be a sweet spot, the biggest factor would be the term. How many years do the Avalanche want to keep this “core” together, and do they think they can make a run with them?
There is no denying the importance Lehkonen brings, but considering his age and injury history, getting him a contract with the right term and value, and potentially moving him down the lineup for other top-six wingers as the years go on, might be the best play for the Avalanche going forward.
Brian Gregory and the Suns have moved with purpose this offseason, securing three of their own free agents and adding Miles Bridges to the mix, but as the dust settles after the opening skirmishes of the offseason, they find themselves with a couple of round holes to fill and a bag full of square pegs.
Adding talent isn’t the same as getting better, and on paper, the fit of the projected starting lineup of Booker, Green, Brooks, Bridges and Williams seems dubious. There’s not a lot of three-point shooting, Brooks is the only plus defender at his position, there’s not a clear answer to the rebounding issues, and there’s only one ball. So while the roster has a lot of scoring options, who’s getting the shots? Or more importantly, who’s giving up their shots?
The Jalen Green mock trades have been flying since he landed in Phoenix. I’ve written about his fit previously.
I think Jalen Green is a number one option on a team. He’s not going to be a guy who thrives being the second, or in the case of last year, the third option. He’s been consistently Jalen Green throughout his career, and I think it’s unlikely that he would be effective in or even open to accepting a different role. It may be mutually beneficial for Jalen Green and the Suns to part ways this offseason. I’ve taken the time to help expedite the process by coming up with five mock trades that I would like to see in the event the Suns move off of Jalen Green.
So Brian Gregory, if you’re listening, this is how you fix the Suns.
The first option I see for constructing a Jalen Green trade is to package him with the recently signed Mark Williams to upgrade the center position. In these scenarios, we would improve at center but also open up a spot in the starting five for Collin Gillespie.
Turner is a stretch five who could open up the floor so that Booker, Brooks, and Bridges can go to work. The Suns also get Kyle Kuzma, a 50% shooter who can guard 1-5, according to Kyle Kuzma, on a $30 million expiring contract, as well as Gary Harris. Milwaukee gets the new engine of their offense as they work to rebuild their team after Giannis’s departure. Mark Williams and Ryan Dunn are two more young players who may better fit their timeline.
This trade addresses any issues Phoenix might have with spacing in their starting lineup. Myles had a tough year last year, but he’s only one year removed from being a core piece in the Pacers’ run to the Finals. He is a better rim protector than Mark Williams, averaging two blocks a game over his career. Personally, I feel he’s a better long-term fit with Devin Booker than Mark Williams, and if Ishbia and crew are serious about building a contender around Booker, they could do much worse than a player like Myles Turner. However, one drawback is Turner isn’t a great rebounder, which remains an area of concern for the Suns going into the 2026-27 season.
In trade two, we take a huge cut, trading away Green and Brooks.
Jalen Green has always seemed like a King to me, so the fit seems natural as the Kings move to rebuild around their recent lottery pick. Dillon Brooks would give the young team a veteran who’s proven to be a leader who can help establish a culture. They’ve been openly shopping Sabonis for a while now, but he carries a large contract. He would, however, be a great fit for Jordan Ott’s offense, as a strong screen-setter and playmaker at center. He’d also immediately impact the Suns’ rebounding woes. He’s long been one of, if not the best, rebounders in the league.
I really like the fit of Sabonis and Booker. It would give Booker an outlet for when teams try to press him off the screen. He could also act as a connector, in ways similar to how Oso operates in the offense. He would be a clear upgrade over Mark Williams on the offensive end and on the glass, but the Suns would sacrifice some length inside. In addition to Sabonis, the Suns would add Malik Monk to replace the bench scoring of Grayson Allen, and Collin Gillespie, who would be moving to the starting lineup.
The second option I see for trading Jalen Green is to replace him with another guard who is more complementary to Devin Booker’s game. The following trades will involve three different types of guards: a ball-handling combo guard, a two-way guard, and a playmaking guard.
Trade Target #3: The Mavs
Suns Get:
Kyrie Irving
Mavs Get:
Jalen Green
Projected Starting Lineup: Irving, Booker, Brooks, Bridges, Williams
The most common response I’ve heard to fans asserting that Devin Booker needs a point guard to take the ball out of his hands is that there aren’t any point guards left and that, beyond being a table-setting point guard, CP3 was a Hall of Fame, top 75 player. Where do you find another guy like that?
In Dallas.
Kyrie has a similar skill set to Jalen Green in that he can put downhill pressure on the rim, but that’s where the similarities end. Kyrie is one of the best finishing guards ever. He’s great with the ball in his hands, but he’s also been successful in the number two role next to LeBron and Luka. He’s older and coming off an injury, but if he makes a healthy return, he’d give the Suns what they really need to free up Devin Booker: a second offensive threat the defense takes seriously.
Teams will not be able to take Devin Booker out of the game if it means giving up space to Kyrie Irving. This trade would also give the Suns a closer in the fourth quarter who is a great ball handler and good in tight spaces and big moments. It would take some of the pressure off of Booker and give the Suns more options to attack at the end of games.
There are some concerns about Kyrie’s age and just Kyrie in general, but if the Suns want to compete for championships over the next three years, an all-time great like Kyrie next to Booker would put them in contention.
Trade Target #4: The Blazers
Suns Get:
Jrue Holiday
Blazers Get:
Jalen Green
Projected Starting Lineup: Holiday, Booker, Brooks, Bridges, Williams
Holden Sherman from Bright Side has already posted an article about a hypothetical trade with Portland to put Jrue next to Book. At the time of the article, it didn’t seem likely to happen, but Portland just added Ja Morant and Dame Lillard is returning from injury with a no-trade clause.
Portland has said they are not shopping Jrue, but they still have some questions to answer about their roster and some of their young guards. If they choose to move on from players like Henderson or Sharpe, then a player like Jalen Green might give them back some of the pop they’d be giving up. While a Jrue trade may still be unlikely, the fit next to Booker is unquestionable.
Jordan Ott could field a different type of defense with this hypothetical lineup. A defense more aligned to his desire to create turnovers and extra shot opportunities. At the same time, Jrue is an opportunistic scorer, capable of huge games, but not needing to put up a lot of shots to make an impact. I think for the Suns this makes a lot of sense, but it may not make as much sense on Portland’s end.
Trade Target #5: The Bulls
Suns Get:
Josh Giddey
Isaac Okoro
Bulls Get:
Jalen Green
Projected Starting Lineup: Giddey, Booker, Brooks, Bridges, Williams
This trade has been making the rounds on Twitter for a while now. I don’t like this trade. Giddey is a young star ascending and would add playmaking and rebounding to the Suns. He can handle the ball and allow Booker to work in more of a traditional shooting guard role. But that defense…that defense looks so awful I can’t stand it.
For all of Green’s faults and ill fit on the offensive end, I feel like he has the potential to be a really disruptive defender. Maybe not the guy you match up on the other team’s best player, but more of the impact we saw in the Golden State play-in game where he gave the Suns 3 blocks and 2 steals. Giddey would only add to the Suns’ defensive woes, which saw team after team cutting through the Suns’ defense off the drive, like paper through uncalloused fingers. You can’t win games when you can’t stop the ball. Giddey is a no-go. Shame on anyone out there who thought the Suns should trade for him.
All of these trade ideas are hypothetical. I’m not an insider. I just know center is a really impactful position on the court, a position where the Suns have, at least since I’ve been in Phoenix, always been a little shaky.
We need to get more production there, and I’m not sold on Mark Williams being able to stay healthy, and the fact that they signed him to three years makes me think that Khaman Malauch is not close to starting. I don’t think they signed Williams to be a backup at that price, not when they have Oso, who Ott turned to last year in the fourth quarter over Mark. Before the Suns signed Mark, if you had asked me whether I think we should trade for Myles Turner or Domantas Sabonis, I might have said, “No, it would interfere with Khaman’s development.” I’m not so sure about that now.
If the Suns were to trade Green, I’d prefer them to package him with Mark for a center.
Let me know in the comments what return you would like for Jalen Green or if you think the Suns should keep him. If anyone has a good Hornets trade, let me know. I looked there first and couldn’t find anything, but I’m sure Gregory could cook something up.
Jun 28, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale (51) delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the second inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images | D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
The Braves are exiting a June that was absolutely miserable, but they finally hit a handful of homers on Friday night, hosting the Mets. They’ve got another favorable matchup here, with Chris Sale on the mound and facing the imminently hittable Sean Manaea for New York. We’ve got a national TV matchup on the 250th anniversary of this great country’s founding. The Braves have lived up to expectations, despite their horrid June, but FOX will be a bit disappointed in the Mets, relative to what they expected before the season when this matchup was scheduled.
Chris Sale has been brilliant of late, and really all year, but the struggles of Atlanta’s offense have prevented the team from capitalizing on that in the form of wins since May. One would think that this would be a game that the Braves could put some runs up against Manaea at home, perhaps building on the power they showed Friday, but this is the type of game they have frequently been losing lately. Sale may figure out a way to score a run off the pitching mound out of pure fury if he doesn’t get any run support today.
Manaea has been ever so slightly above average in most things other than ERA this year, getting the opener treatment frequently and starting only 4 games. His elite extension props up a pretty uninspiring arsenal of primarily a four-seamer, sinker, and sweeper, with a cutter and changeup sprinkled in. His four-seamer and sinker have a lot of arm-side run, while the rest of his pitches have quite average movement with well-below-average velocity. He’s perhaps been getting some HR/FB rate luck this season, so hopefully he gets some regression in favor of Atlanta’s bats.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 26: Ha-Seong Kim #7 of the Atlanta Braves waits for a hit against the San Francisco Giants in the fourth inning at Oracle Park on June 26, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves have made handful of moves this July 4th, with the team placing struggling shortstop Ha-Seong Kim on the injured list with right middle finger inflammation. Taking his place on the roster is utility man Kyle Farmer, who was activated from the IL.
Additionally, the team re-called pitcher JR Ritchie and opted reliever Anthony Molina back to Gwinnett.
Kim’s roster spot has become increasingly precarious as his struggled continued to mount after a late start to the season. He’s hit an unfathomable .239 OPS in 27 games with Atlanta. Shortstop Jim Jarvis was recalled from Gwinnett and started in his first game in Atlanta, with Jorge Mateo getting the call at short in last night’s contest.
Farmer, who saw limited action earlier this season on the end of Atlanta’s bench, does give the team roster flexibility with his ability to play infield, outfield and catch – something he worked on while rehabbing. His ability to the the team’s 3rd catcher – he spend time behind the plate early in his MLB career – provides late-inning flexibility.
Ritchie returns as a rotation and long-man in the bullpen option, but doesn’t resolve the team’s bullpen issues, which is short at least one dedicated reliever. Molina has pitched three times for Atlanta in 2026.
Even defensive whiz Michael A. Taylor (standing) was impressed with a Colson Montgomery diving catch, made one year ago today. | (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
1911 Ty Cobb brought a 40-game hit streak into a game facing Ed Walsh, and the White Sox sace shut him down at 0-for-4 in a 7-3 win over the Tigers. Walsh earned his 14th win and chiseled his ERA down to 0.55 (!). Interestingly, he gave up 10 hits in his complete-game win — just none to the Detroit center fielder.
1928 With the White Sox floundering at 32-42, but more importantly after squabbling with owner Charles Comiskey over his salary, Ray Schalk resigned as White Sox manager.
Lena Blackburne took over and managed at a .500 clip for the rest of the season, spurring the team to a 72-82 finish. The 1929 season was not so kind, however, as the White Sox sputtered to a 59-93 record. Blackburne, an ex-infielder for the White Sox, even inserted himself into a game that season, getting one out — as a pitcher!
Blackburne would begin the most famous phase of his baseball career the next year, as the purveyor of rubbing mud from the Delaware River, which he sold to MLB to rub the shine off of new baseballs (and which to this day is the mud used to treat league baseballs).
Schalk finished his career with a 102-125 record and -0.1 mWAR as a manager. Blackburne turned in a 99-133 tally, and -4.7 mWAR.
How about even MORE manager news? Well also on this very day, future White Sox skipper Chuck Tanner was born.
1939 In the category of great feats by players you’ve never heard of, this one ranks near the top. White Sox third baseman Eric McNair finished the best run of at least 10 plate appearances in club history: 12-of-13 (.923) with a home run and five RBIs.
McNair started the run in an 8-3 win over the Browns on July 3, going 5-for-5 with five singles. The win kicked off a five-game winning streak and pushed the club back over .500, at 33-32.
In the opener of the July 4 doubleheader, McNair led off the third inning with a solo homer (a blast to left that curved around the foul pole and caused St. Louis to protest the game, feeling the third-sacker’s blast was a foul ball) and then singled three more times. Not only did that run McNair’s streak to 9-for-9, he drove in three runs in Chicago’s 7-3 win.
The nightcap dispensed with any tension over McNair’s streak, as he was retired in his first at-bat. From there, however, the righty slapped another three singles, including an RBI single as part of a five-run flurry in the top of the ninth that flipped the game from a 3-2 deficit to 7-3 margin.
1960 Bill Veeck’s exploding scoreboard was featured in a night shot on the cover of Sports Illustrated. The headine read: Fireworks at Comiskey Park.
1972 White Sox catcher Ed Herrmann was involved in three double plays, which tied the record for most involving a catcher in a single game. (In fact, he tied former teammate J.C. Martin for the honor.) The three included Herrmann in the middle of a pitcher-catcher-first base double play, a strike out-caught stealing twin killing, and an out at home/out at second double play. The Sox turned five double plays in the game against Baltimore — but lost, 2-1!
1978 At the urging of new manager Larry Doby, the White Sox brought up Tony La Russa to become the club’s new first-base coach. La Russa cut his teeth managing Knoxville with success in the minor leagues, and was deemed ready by Doby and others to take the next step.
La Russa would soon be named White Sox manager and led the Sox to the 1983 Western Division title, then win numerous pennants and championships as a manager of the A’s and Cardinals. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2014 with 2,728 wins over 33 seasons.
In 2021, he came out of retirement to lead the White Sox to a division title, and moved into second place all-time on the managerial wins list. He was forced to resign from the club in September 2022 due to a heart condition.
2000 Ray Durham and José Valentín led off the White Sox half of the first inning in Kansas City with back-to-back home runs. It was the second time in team history a game started that way, and the first since 1937. The game also marked the major league debut for Jon Garland, who only lasted three innings in a 10-7 loss.
The loss was the end of a 12-game road winning streak. The last 10 of those 12 road wins came against teams with records of at least .500, making the White Sox the only team since 1900 to accomplish that feat.
2022 Fundamentals win (or lose) games, and for years the White Sox had suffered because they don’t execute those fundamentals. On this night, though, what they did made the record book.
In the seventh inning of a tie game against the Twins, AJ Pollock hit a long drive to right-center field that was caught on the warning track by Byron Buxton, who immediately threw the ball back to the infield.
What happened next had never happened before in the history of baseball.
Adam Engel and Yoán Moncada both lost track of the ball, assuming it hit the wall and was in play. Engelwas already at third base but had never tagged up, whileMoncada was right motoring right behind him in hopes of scoring from first. As Buxton’s throw bounced in to the infield, Twins third baseman Gio Urshela was in perfect position between third and second base to field the ball and tag Moncada for the second out, then run to touch second base to put Engel out.
It was an 8-5 scored triple play — the first in baseball history. The White Sox would lose a key game, 6-3, in 10 innings, with the triple play helping to cost them an important win.
2025 Colson Montgomery was one of Chicago’s top prospects, and his major league debut in Colorado was one for the record books.
In his first plate appearance, which came in the second inning, he was awarded first base because of catcher’s interference. That made him the first player in the Expansion Era (since 1961) to do so in his first MLB plate appearance, per the Elias Sports Bureau.
Then in the last of the second, Montgomery made a full-out diving catch, with his back to home plate, of a flare off the bat of Ryan Ritter that saved a run. After making the incredible catch, Montgomery — a 6´3´´, 230-pound shortstop — turned from his face-down position in the outfield grass and showed that he had the baseball:
Also on this day Bobby Jenks, a larger-than-life figure with a triple-digit fastball, died at the age of 44 from a form of stomach cancer.
Jenks closed out the White Sox first World Series title in 88 years, then went on to save 173 games in a six-year South Side career. But on this day he became the first member of the 2005 club to pass away.
Jenkswas called up from Double-A in July 2005 and stabilized Chicago’s bullpen down the stretch. He became an All-Star in 2006 and 2007 and at one point retired 41 consecutive batters, which tied the major league record at that time. He posted a 3.40 ERA across 329 relief appearances, and those 173 saves are the second-most in franchise history behind Bobby Thigpen (201).
The Toronto Blue Jays look to make it two in a row when they face the heavily favored Logan Gilbert and the Seattle Mariners in Game 2 of a three-game set.
Shane Bieber has always had electric stuff, and my Blue Jays vs. Mariners predictions expect him to rack up the punchouts against the swing-and-miss Mariners.
Find out more in my MLB picks for Saturday, July 4.
Blue Jays vs Mariners predictions
Blue Jays vs Mariners best bet: Shane Bieber Over 4.5 strikeouts (-155)
Toronto Blue Jays starter Shane Bieber is in an ideal spot to rack up multiple punchouts against the Seattle Mariners today. Over the last 14 days, Seattle’s lineup has been highly prone to chasing, posting a glaring 27.0% strikeout rate.
Bieber’s lifetime rate of over one strikeout per inning, combined with a five-pitch mix that generates heavy horizontal and vertical movement, gives him multiple paths to exploit this matchup.
Facing a Mariners lineup currently whiffing at a top-five rate, five strikeouts projects as a very attainable floor.
COVERS INTEL: The Mariners are striking out at a 27% clip across the last 14 days, sporting a 77 wRC+.
Blue Jays vs Mariners same-game parlay (SGP)
Bieber should exploit a lost Seattle lineup that is striking out at a 27% clip. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays, anchored by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., look to ruthlessly hammer a vulnerable Logan Gilbert, who is coming off a tough outing in Cleveland.
With both bullpens sporting unstable peripherals and constant late-inning traffic expected, the game projects to eclipse 7.5 total runs, with Toronto securing a moneyline victory.
Blue Jays vs Mariners SGP
Shane Bieber Over 4.5 strikeouts
Blue Jays moneyline
Over 7.5
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Blue Jays vs Mariners home run pick: Vladimir Guerrero Over 0.5 home runs (+575)
Guerrero should leave the yard against Gilbert today. Vladdy completely dominates this head-to-head matchup, boasting a massive 1.309 OPS and two career home runs off the Mariners' right-hander.
Gilbert is highly vulnerable following a shaky four-earned-run shellacking against Cleveland, making him target practice for Guerrero’s elite hard-hit ability.
Blue Jays vs Mariners odds
Moneyline: Blue Jays +140 | Mariners -169
Run line: Blue Jays +1.5 (-149) | Mariners -1.5 (+124)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-110) | Under 7.5 (-110)
Blue Jays vs Mariners trend
Toronto has hit the moneyline in 12 of its last 21 road games (+4.75 Units / 21% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Mariners.
How to watch Blue Jays vs Mariners and game info
Location
T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA
Date
Saturday, 7-4-2026
First pitch
4:10 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet, KING 5
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Shane Bieber (0-0, 6.00 ERA)
Mariners starting pitcher
Logan Gilbert (6-5, 3.42 ERA)
Blue Jays vs Mariners latest injuries
Blue Jays vs Mariners weather
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Yankees southpaw starting pitcher Max Fried, who was placed on the IL on May 16 with a bone bruise in his throwing elbow, is expected to throw a live session Sunday.
He will be kept on a limit of 35 pitches during that session.
Manager Aaron Boone said that Fried would need at least one more live pitching session during the coming week week before potentially heading out for a minor league rehab start.
"For him, it’s just a matter of building up some volume from a pitch count standpoint,” Boone said.
Fried told the media at his locker today that he feels "completely normal" and "healthy."
The exact timetable for Fried's return to New York's starting rotation hasn't been outlined yet, but it seems that the Yankees are hoping that he will be able to take the mound again at some point in August.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 22: Jakob Junis #16 of the Texas Rangers celebrates with teammates against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on June 22, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Sam Navarro/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Texas Rangers have placed reliever Jakob Junis on the injured list due to a hip impingement, the team announced today. To take his place on the active roster, the Rangers have activated reliever Chris Martin from the 15 day injured list.
In addition, the Rangers announced that Jalen Beeks has a strained flexor tendon in his elbow and will undergo season-ending surgery to repair that.
So more problems for the Rangers bullpen. Beeks, who was one of the myriad of relievers signed to one year deals this offseason, had a 3.81 ERA in 26 innings over 29 games before landing on the injured list in mid-June. The Rangers will not be getting him back, which puts the Ranger bullpen in an even more precarious position over the final half of the season, especially with Robert Garcia, the Rangers’ other setup/middle relief lefty, currently on the 60 day injured list.
Junis has been the primary setup guy for the Rangers for most of the season, although he’s allowed runs in three of his last four outings. The beat writers are reporting that Junis is expected to return after the minimum time on the injured list, which would have him back after the All Star Break.
Replacing Junis on the active roster is Chris Martin. The veteran righthander has had a pair of stints on the i.l. so far this season, and hasn’t been particularly effective when he’s been healthy, putting up a 7.84 ERA and 6.40 FIP in 10.1 innings over 12 appearances.
The greatest two-way player in baseball history will take a break this Saturday, July 4, sidelined by biceps soreness that forced Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to remove him for a pinch hitter the night before.
And Roberts says that skipping Ohtani's final start before the All-Star break is "on the table."
Ohtani was removed for a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning of L.A.'s victory over the San Diego Padres on July 3. While the Dodgers have preserved some of Ohtani's energy by not using him at DH on nights he pitches this season, they opted to give him double duty in this one.
And as a pitcher, he did fine, struggling with his command early but ultimately striking out nine and posting a quality start, throwing a season-high 110 pitches in six innings. But after his final at-bat in the bottom of the sixth, Ohtani felt something in his right triceps, a pain he said he'd experienced earlier in the season.
It didn't take Roberts long to declare Ohtani out as the DH for Saturday's game.
"He's a quick healer, and finds a way to get back," Roberts told reporters after Teoscar Hernandez's grand slam provided a 4-3 victory. "But I do think that for us to read and react and hear what his body is telling him is really important, given the toll it takes on his body to be a two-way player."
Ohtani posted a 1.79 ERA in 85 ⅔ innings over 14 starts, with 95 strikeouts to 26 walks. At the plate, he's hit 18 homers in 81 games – well off the pace of his career-high 55 homers last season – while posting a .927 OPS, ranking fourth in the NL. He's nonetheless on pace for his first sub-1.000 OPS season since 2022.
The Dodgers finish the symbolic first half with one more game Sunday against San Diego, followed by series against Colorado and Arizona to cap the 10-game homestand before the All-Star break.
ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania already conveyed James’ decision is likely among six teams: the Cavaliers, the Heat, the Nuggets, the Warriors, the 76ers and the Timberwolves.
LeBron James still is mulling his options after deciding to leave the Lakers. Getty Images
James already has played for two of these franchises (Cavaliers and Heat) and has spent two separate stints with the Cavs.
This is why seeing LeBron spend July 3 (and presumably July 4) in Akron, Ohio, about 40 miles from Cleveland, is drawing interest in the NBA community.
Instagram user @smallzthevillain, who also works for Klutch Sports, made a story post that showed James getting shouted out while at a community center in Akron called House Three Thirty.
There were also videos of James dancing at the center while holding a drink in his hand.
Of course, James was born and raised in Akron, so it’s no surprise to see him there for Fourth of July weekend. And his being there isn’t any indication that the Cavaliers have a hand up in his free agency sweepstakes.
In fact, Mark Medina of Forbes reported on July 4 that there is “skepticism that [LeBron] would join the Cavaliers on a veteran’s minimum deal.”
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James was spotted in Akron, Ohio, during the Fourth of July weekend. Best Image / BACKGRID
Ultimately, nobody knows where James is going to end up now, and all six teams seem to be viable options for the NBA legend.
Then again, perhaps being back in Ohio this weekend could convince James that ending his career in the same place he started it (and where he returned during his prime) would make for the perfect full-circle moment.
James already has played for the Heat and Cavs and is considering them again, but there are at least four other teams in the mix. Best Image / BACKGRID
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 29 : Joshua Jefferson, Mikel Brown Jr., Tyler Bilodeau pose for a photo during an introductory Press Conference for the 2026 Brooklyn Nets Draftees on June 29, 2026 in Brooklyn, New York. 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 David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Brooklyn Nets basketball is back.
Now, it may not be regular-season action or even preseason, but Nets hoops are back, nevertheless.
Today, while America’s 250th birthday is celebrated around the country, the Nets will kick off their eight-game Summer League schedule in Sacramento, squaring off against the Sacramento Kings. Brooklyn will play three games at the California Classic in Sacramento July 4, 5 and 6, then head to Las Vegas for five games between July 9 and 19.
Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET.
Where to Watch
Early info was that the game would only be carried on Gotham Sports Net but according to the NBA App, the possibilities include NBA TV, ESPN+, NBA League Pass and Prime.
Here’s the Nets full schedule in the California Classic.
Summer League begins!
Throughout the eight-game set, it is expected that we will see all three of Brooklyn’s freshly selected draft picks: Mikel Brown Jr., Joshua Jefferson and Tyler Bilodeau.
However, it remains unknown exactly when each will make their debut. More when we know later Saturday.
If Brown Jr. makes his debut today, it will be a fun matchup for both Nets and Kings fans, as he would be in line to face off against Darius Acuff Jr., whom the Nets passed on with the No. 6 pick before Sacramento swooped him up at No. 7, which was a polarizing decision on Nets Twitter.
Given that it’s a back-to-back-to-back beginning Saturday, there is a chance that the Nets may hold Brown Jr. out of some of the Sacramento portion. As Jordi Fernandez told reporters Wednesday, you don’t want to burn out the rookies.
“We’re not going to do anything that will put their health in danger,” said Fernández before the team headed out West. “I think that we’ve proven that over and over. We have very good medical and performance staff, and right now, I don’t envision them playing all three games, because I think it’s back-to-back-to-back.”
As for Jefferson, he won’t be eligible until Vegas, since the Randle-Claxton trade which the 28th pick, won’t be processed until Monday, too late for him to play in Sacramento.
Bilodeau, who signed a two-way contract with the team after being selected with the 43rd overall pick, is expected to be a full-go.
Three of the Nets’ five first-round picks from the 2025 class will also be in action over the next two weeks: Egor Demin, Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf and Drake Powell while Nolan Traoré will miss both leagues due to a arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.
Another familiar face Nets fans will see on the floor is Chaney Johnson, a late-season riser last year who was brought back on a two-way contract. Grant Nelson will travel with the team, although he won’t play as he continues to rehab from patellar tendinitis, commonly referred to as “jumper’s knee.”
Beyond that, the Nets have three undrafted players on Exhibit 10 deals on the Summer League roster, which virtually ensures they, too, will spend time with the Long Island Nets after a stint in training camp come October.
All three will be in action over the next two weeks, though, in Vegas and Sacramento. The three players include 6’4” guard Dion Brown out of St. Louis University, Ben Humrichous, a 6’9” combo forward who came off the bench for Illinois last year, and 6’10” Duke Brennan out of Villanova.
For the first time since draft night, Nets fans will get a look at their 2026 draft class. And following a lengthy offseason riddled with poor luck, tonight is the night to sit back, relax on the 4th, and watch Brooklyn’s next generation of talent hoop.
COVERS INTEL: The Mariners are striking out at a 27% clip across the last 14 days, 
: smallzthevillain (IG); h/t (Oh Chips) 
