BALTIMORE — The frustration of struggling through a lackluster first half of the season became alarmingly evident for both the Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals.
An errant pitch from Royals reliever Lucas Erceg that struck Baltimore’s Blaze Alexander on the left hand resulted in both dugouts and bullpens emptying onto the field near home plate during the seventh inning of the Orioles’ 8-2 victory.
Though both teams began the day in last place in their divisions, there was no shortage of emotion after Erceg hit Alexander with an inside fastball. Alexander took a few steps toward first base before shouting at Erceg, prompting Orioles manager Craig Albernaz to quickly restrain his infielder from charging the mound.
During that time, however, players from both teams emerged from the dugouts and pitchers from both bullpens charged in from beyond the outfield wall.
No punches were thrown and no one was ejected. But Alexander ended up with a non-displaced fracture of his left hand, according to Albernaz.
“Definitely a gut punch,” Albernaz said of the prospect of being without Alexander when the team returns from the All-Star break to face Houston.
Alexander leads the Orioles with a .312 batting average. He was not made available to the media after the game.
Erceg insisted the errant pitch was a complete accident — even though the previous batter, Samuel Basallo, homered for an 8-2 lead.
“There’s no ill intent. That’s baseball,” Erceg said. “I mean, guys are going to get hit, and you have to, I guess, kind of understand the situation. I understand why he’s mad. Obviously, you don’t ever want to get hit, especially in the hand. So sorry about that.”
It’s been that kind of year for the Royals and Erceg.
“I’ve got like a five-something ERA,” Erceg noted. “I mean, I’m not going out there to hit guys and put guys on and give up homers and this and that.”
Kansas City dropped a season-high 21 games under .500 (38-59) after being swept for the eighth time, most in the majors. The Royals have dropped five in a row, and a four-day break might not ease the angst they’re feeling.
“Frustration is one word. Disappointment, anger,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “You know, every emotion that you can think of we’re battling, not getting any results and it stinks.”
Culture, media and sport committee questions bear a striking similarity to those racing industry has been asking
Last Tuesday’s announcement by the Gambling Commission that it planned to introduce “financial risk assessments” – or affordability checks – for gambling customers seemed to mark the end of racing’s fierce, five-and-a-half-year campaign against the policy, but there has been a further twist to the extended tale after it emerged that the House of Commons’ culture, media and sport committee (CMSC) has written to the commission, requesting answers to a series of questions on the checks by 24 July.
The cross-party committee’s questions for the regulator bear a striking similarity to many of those that the racing industry has been asking – to little or no avail – since checks were first proposed under the last Conservative government in late 2020.
WASHINGTON — Not since 1910 — before Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson and so on — had the New York Yankees swept a series quite like this.
Ben Rice’s two-run triple in the eighth inning helped the Yankees to a 5-3 victory over the Washington Nationals. New York trailed in the ninth Friday and in the eighth Saturday and Sunday but still won all three games.
It’s the first time the Yankees swept a series of at least three games while trailing in the eighth inning or later in each of them since May 19-21, 1910, according to Sportradar. Back then it was the New York Highlanders taking three straight from the Cleveland Naps.
The previous time any team accomplished the feat was June 13-15, 2014, when Colorado won three in a row at San Francisco.
“Winning at-bats in different ways in all three games,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “A good job by the pitching staff of holding a really good offense enough in check, and giving us a chance to win each game, and the guys just did some really good things late in games.”
On Friday, the Yankees trailed 3-2 when Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a two-run homer in the ninth. Austin Wells added a solo shot and New York won 5-3.
Washington led 2-0 before New York’s four-run eighth Saturday, which included homers by Ryan McMahon, Trent Grisham and Paul Goldschmidt.
On Sunday, the Yankees didn’t need any home runs. Down 3-2, Rice hit a drive that center fielder Dylan Crews was unable to catch against the wall.
“I didn’t think I got it quite right, but I saw it kept going,” Rice said. “The wind must have just been helping it just enough to make it a tough wall-ball play there.”
After another run in the ninth, the Yankees finished the series outscoring the Nationals 10-0 in the eighth and ninth innings.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Meleek Thomas #15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Indiana Pacers on July 10, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking for their first win in Summer League. We’ll see if they can do so against the Miami Heat on Monday evening.
Meleek Thomas has been the story out of Vegas so far for Cleveland. The excellent shooting that was the headline in the post-draft analysis has been on full display. He’s connected on 6-15 (40%) from three and 17-39 (43.6%) from the floor. This has added up to an impressive 25 points per game.
The playmaking has been better than anticipated from Thomas. Koby Altman discussed wanting to see him play the point more in Summer League. We can see why, as he’s displayed a nice feel for the game, resulting in five helpers per contest.
Look, I am not at all suggesting they’ll be the same caliber of player
While Thomas has been impressive, not everyone on the team has. The Cavs would certainly like to see more out of the two-way players under contract.
Riley Minix has struggled to find his shot and has yet to hit a three in Vegas on 10 attempts. Additionally, Ernest Udeh Jr. hasn’t been able to make much of an impact as a scorer or on the glass in his run so far. We’ll see if either can turn things around on Monday.
The Cubs finished the “first half” (actually, first 59.3 percent) of the 2026 schedule on a high note, taking four fo six on a road trip to Baltimore and Cincinnati. That gives the Cubs a 27-23 road record, one of the better road marks in MLB to date. And of their 66 remaining games, 35 will be at Wrigley Field, where they are 27-19.
At the All-Star break I usually post a Cubs mid-season grades article. That will appear here tomorrow. In the interim, here’s who was hot and not for the Cubs over the past week.
Three up
Welcome back, Alex Bregman
Bregman had just six hits on the week, but two of them were key home runs that helped the Cubs solidify leads in games they won against the Reds Saturday and Sunday. For the week he posted an OPS of .846, which included nine RBI. Even some of the outs he made on the trip were hard-hit balls.
A good second half from Bregman would be an enormous boost to the offense.
Pete Crow-Armstrong has turned into an OBP machine
PCA had two games of the six on the trip in which he didn’t have a hit, and he still put up a really good slash line of .273/.429/.591 because he drew six walks. He also hit two home runs, scored six runs, stole a base and continued to play outstanding defense.
For most, if not all, other teams, that ball likely falls in between three fielders and continues the inning. Instead PCA makes it look routine.
After the Cubs got swept by the Brewers in May at Wrigley Field, PCA was batting .225/.302/.357. Since then, in 46 games: .358/.465/.710 (63-for-176) with 10 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs, 33 RBI, 37 runs scored, 32 walks and 12 stolen bases. He was NL Player of the Month for June and so far in July (10 games): .353/.500/.676 (12-for-34) with two doubles, three home runs, seven RBI, four stolen bases, eight walks and nine runs scored. Keep that up and another monthly award could happen.
Lastly, his .386 season OBP ranks fifth in the National League. You did not have that on your Bingo card for this year.
The starting pitching was surprisingly good
As you know, the Cubs rotation has been ravaged by injury. And yet, in the six games on the road trip, Matthew Boyd, Shōta Imanaga, Colin Rea, Javier Assad and David Peterson combined for a 3.03 ERA and 1.286 WHIP in 32.2 innings, keeping the team in position to win in pretty much all of the games. And in one of the two games the team lost on the trip, the bullpen failed — in that 3-2 loss to the Orioles Thursday, Peterson threw five good innings and the Cubs had the lead entering the eighth.
No question, the rotation needs reinforcements. But if they can even pitch this well for an extended period, if the bullpen also can be reinforced and hold leads, perhaps another long winning streak can happen.
Three down
Nico Hoerner continues in his long slump
At the end of April Nico was batting .291/.370/.449 with four home runs and seven stolen bases in 31 games.
In 63 games since then he’s batting .202/.270/.263 with no home runs and seven steals. He does have a lot of doubles — he has 15 in that 63-game stretch and his 23 doubles are tied for fourth in the NL — but otherwise his offense has almost completely disappeared, and he enters the break on a skid of 0-for-14.
There’s really no one on this team who needs the break to reset more than Hoerner. Hopefully he comes out blazing when the season resumes.
Ian Happ’s slide is still going
Happ went 6-for-21 (.238) over the week with no extra-base hits, though he did have three walks for a .333 OBP.
He started the year looking like he might set a career high in home runs, but now he’s hit just one in his last 25 games dating to June 14, and over that span has a .565 OPS with 31 strikeouts.
As we all know, Happ is a notorious streak hitter. Coming out of the All-Star break would be a perfect time for him to go on a hot streak.
The Drew Pomeranz experiment might be short-lived
Pomeranz had a really good year for the Cubs in 2025, but they declined to re-sign him. Instead he went with the Angels and didn’t perform well there. They wound up releasing him and the Cubs signed him. There wasn’t much risk, as they’re only paying a pro-rated portion of the MLB minimum.
In four appearances, Pomeranz has an 8.31 ERA and two home runs allowed in 4.1 innings. If that doesn’t improve soon, I could see the Cubs letting him go when one of the currently injured relievers returns, or if the team can make a deal for a reliever.
Mascots race around CitiField during a game between the New York Mets and the Boston Red Sox, Jul 12, 2026, Flushing, NY, USA. | Yannick Peterhans / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Welcome back to Monday Stat Party, a weekly series showcasing some of the most curious and nostalgia-inducing statistical developments from the past week of Mets baseball. What unites each entry is the sense of intrigue which they aim to spark, and the unbridled love of the game’s anomalies from which they arise. Without further ado, let the stat party begin.
MONDAY
Juan Soto’s three-run homer was the Mets’ second game-tying or go-ahead homer when down to their final out this season, along with Tyrone Taylor’s in the Subway Series on May 17. The Mets have had nine such homers since 2015, and three of the nine have come against the Braves (Daniel Murphy’s at Turner Field on September 13, 2015, Dominic Smith’s walk-off at Citi Field on September 29, 2019, and now Soto’s on Monday).
Soto’s homer had an astonishing +74.5% WPA (Win Probability Added), the most for a Mets plate appearance since Pete Alonso’s three-run walk-off home run of Pete Fairbanks (+78.4%) on May 17, 2023.
TUESDAY
Bo Bichette’s single in the bottom of the first marked his 1,000th career hit. Bichette accomplished the feat in 840 career games, making him just the fifth player debuting since 2008 to do that, along with Jose Altuve, Mookie Betts, Trea Turner, and Luis Arraez.
Kodai Senga’s strikeout of Lane Thomas to begin the top of the third marked the 400th strikeout by the Mets bullpen this season, making them the second-fastest group to reach that mark behind the White Sox’ ’pen.
A.J. Ewing became the youngest player to record four hits, a home run, and a stolen base in a game in franchise history, and the first since Francisco Lindor on May 30, 2024 against the Diamondbacks.
Ewing also became just the ninth Met to simply record a four-hit game at age 21 or younger, joining: Ed Kranepool, Wayne Garrett, Wally Backman, Gregg Jefferies, Edgardo Alfonzo, José Reyes, David Wright, and Francisco Alvarez.
The Mets allowed 59 runs in a six-game span for the first time in franchise history.
The Mets lost despite scoring 12 or more runs for just the second time in franchise history, after a 13-12 loss on May 24, 2022 in San Francisco. The Mets now have a 200-2 record in games when they score 12+ runs. (credit: SNY)
The Mets allowed 14 or more runs for the fourth time this season, tied for most in the majors with the Nationals and A’s. The only other seasons in Mets history where they have allowed 14+ runs on at least four occasions through their first 92 games were 1962 (5) and 2020 (4).
The Mets allowed 19 or more hits for the first time since the first game of a doubleheader on August 12, 2023, when they lost 21-3 to the Braves. Those two games mark two of four contests in Citi Field’s history in which the Mets allowed 16 or more runs.
The Mets allowed five or more runs in multiple innings for the first time since a 20-2 loss in Atlanta on June 30, 2021.
Seth Lugo appeared in his 135th game at Citi Field, the fourth-most of any player in the ballpark’s history behind Jeurys Familia (256), Edwin Díaz (188), and Bobby Parnell (169).
Jac Caglianone’s fifth-inning double off Austin Warren had a 115.0 mph exit velocity, representing the hardest-hit ball the Mets have allowed this season. The next day, Caglianone’s 113.1 mph double off Tobias Myers earned sixth place on that leaderboard.
WEDNESDAY
A.J. Ewing’s leadoff homer went 420 feet, tied for the furthest-hit ball of his young career.
Ewing became the fifth different player to hit a leadoff homer for the Mets this season. Only the 2019 Rays and 2022 Giants have had more players (6) hit leadoff homers in a year. (source: SNY broadcast)
Christian Scott began his night by striking out Carter Jensen, marking the 100th strikeout of Scott’s career. Scott became just the 13th player in Mets history with 100 strikeouts in their first 21 career outings, joining: Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Gary Gentry, Dwight Gooden, Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz, Tylor Megill, Kodai Senga, and Nolan McLean.
THURSDAY
Sean Manaea completed seven innings for the first time since October 8, 2024, against the Phillies in Game 3 of the NLDS at Citi Field.
On July 18, 2017, Michael Wacha threw a complete game shutout at Citi Field as a Cardinal. Since then, he has made seven starts at Citi Field and allowed at least four earned runs in each one, with a combined 0-7 record and 8.39 ERA.
Juan Soto’s 435-foot homer was his longest at Citi Field as a Met, and the longest home run hit by a Met from the left side at Citi Field since Brandon Nimmo’s 440-foot shot off Patrick Corbin almost exactly two years earlier on July 10, 2024.
FRIDAY
Nolan McLean racked up his fifth consecutive start with six or more innings pitched. He’s the first Mets right-hander to do that since Luis Severino from June 5-July 20, 2024. He also notched his third consecutive quality start, something only one other Mets pitcher (Clay Holmes) has done this season.
For the second time this season, the Mets scored just two runs despite getting 10 hits. The Mets are one of just six teams to score two or fewer runs despite getting 10 or more hits on multiple occasions this season, along with the Blue Jays (4), Tigers (3), Orioles (2), Pirates (2), and Giants (2).
Brett Baty achieved a 10-game hitting streak, the longest of his career (his previous high was eight, set in July 2025).
Baty tallied six total bases for just the fifth time in his career, and the first since May 10, 2025 against the Cubs at Citi Field. The Mets now have a three-game losing streak in games where Baty tallies six or more total bases.
SATURDAY
Carson Benge reached 15 career stolen bases in his 93rd career game. He’s one of just five Mets with 15+ stolen bases in their first 100 career games, joining: Mookie Wilson (26), Lenny Dykstra (23), José Reyes (22), and Lee Mazzilli (19).
The Mets were shut out for the ninth time this season, leaving them tied with the Cubs and Giants for the second-most shutout losses in baseball behind the Padres (10) entering the All-Star break.
SUNDAY
Luke Weaver recorded his 25th consecutive outing without allowing an earned run, tying A.J. Minter for the second-longest such streak by a pitcher in franchise history behind Mark Guthrie (33).
Zach Thornton’s 39 pitches through four innings were the fewest of any Mets pitcher through four innings this season. (source: PIX broadcast)
Thornton became just the third Mets pitcher to finish seven innings without allowing an earned run this season, along with Clay Holmes on April 4 in San Francisco and Nolan McLean on June 17 in Cincinnati.
The Mets scored two runs or fewer through nine innings for the 41st time this season, leaving them tied with the Angels for the most such games in MLB entering the All-Star break.
The Mets played their 15th extra-inning game of the season. No other team in MLB has played more than twelve. Only the 1971 Mets (15) and 1978 Mets (19) played that many extra-inning affairs through their first 97 games of a season in franchise history.
For a fourth consecutive time, the Mets’ meeting with the Red Sox at Citi Field resulted in a series sweep. In both 2020 and 2021, the Red Sox swept a two-game series from the Mets at Citi Field. In September 2024, the Mets swept the Red Sox in three games. Now, the sweep streak continues in the Sox’ favor.
Miscellaneous Mets stat of the week:
Carlos Beltrán is the only Met to triple in the All-Star Game, having done so in San Francisco in 2007 off Justin Verlander. Beltrán’s triple marked the first batter that 24-year-old Verlander ever faced in an All-Star Game.
This July, Beltrán is getting inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, while Verlander heads to his 10th and final All-Star Game before retirement.
Cristopher Sánchez of the Philadelphia Phillies will start the All-Star Game in his home ballpark, taking the mound for the National League against Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays announced Cease will be the American League’s starter. Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who is managing the NL, said Sanchez is his starter.
“I think he deserves it. He’s the hometown ballplayer and I think the city of Philly will enjoy watching him and supporting him,” Roberts said. “I had a conversation with him this morning. ... He was very grateful. In a time when guys are not wanting to participate, this guy in the Midsummer Classic for fans, I think this is a good thing. He’s very excited about pitching.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said New York’s Cam Schlittler was not planning to pitch in the All-Star Game, then hours later said the right-hander could be available after all.
With less than 72 hours left before the game, there was no replacement planned for the AL roster if Schlittler wasn’t going to pitch.
“The staff’s had a lot of injuries this year ... I don’t want to put that risk in there of kind of letting the team down,” Schlittler said after New York’s win at Washington. “I’m on the roster, and if they need me I’ll throw. That’s a conversation I’ll have within the next day or two.”
Schlittler was a candidate to start, boasting an AL-leading ERA of 2.05. He pitched for the Yankees over the weekend.
Sanchez is 11-4 with a 2.62 ERA this season. He’s third in the major leagues with 144 strikeouts. The left-hander’s streak of 50 2/3 scoreless innings was a highlight of the major league season so far.
Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski, who leads the majors in ERA (1.62), WHIP (0.76) and strikeouts (167), was replaced on the All-Star team when it appeared he would be starting for the Brewers over the weekend. Then Milwaukee scratched him from that start because of arm fatigue.
Cease is 6-4 with a 2.56 ERA for the Blue Jays. He nearly threw his second career no-hitter against San Francisco, but it was broken up in the ninth inning.
Cease is the first Toronto pitcher to start the All-Star Game since Roy Halladay in 2009.
Cease got the word from his manager, John Schneider, who will skipper the AL squad, during a team meeting before the series finale at San Diego.
“It’s pretty surreal. I didn’t know what to say. Everyone’s saying, ‘Give a speech,’ and I’m like, I was pretty speechless, so it was just a really cool experience,” Cease said.
“It’s really cool how all of these things have lined up, you know, even being able to pitch in it and having a good enough first half to be in the running for it and all that. And the fact that pretty much our entire staff is going, it’s really a really great recipe,” Cease added.
After concerns about the way his sophomore season in the NHL went, Philadelphia Flyers starlet Matvei Michkov is already doing what he can to begin erasing those doubts.
To the dismay of a small faction of Flyers fans, Michkov, 21, has spent much of his offseason back home in Russia, and he'll soon participate in the Match of the Year before returning to North America.
In the meantime, though, the young Flyers star has spent some time recently training with a star-studded group of NHLers in preparation for the new season.
On Sunday, Michkov was spotted working out with fellow Russian star Artemi Panarin and standout defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, as well as former Flyers forward Andrei Kuzmenko, Vasili Podkolzin, Ilya Lyubushkin, and Marat Khusnutdinov under the tutelage of established trainer Dmitry Yashankin.
Panarin, Sergachev, Michkov, Lyubushkin, Kuzmenko, Podkolzin, Khusnutdinov. NHL players are training together under the guidance of Dmitry Yashankin pic.twitter.com/BctASqMF2L
The Match of the Year will take place in St. Petersburg on Saturday, July 25, and shortyl thereafter, Michkov is expected to return to Voorhees, N.J. to begin training and associating with his Flyers teammates ahead of the start of training camp.
Kevin Kurz of The Athletic reported Monday that the Flyers expect their young star back sometime in early August, which would give Michkov at least a week to prepare for the long and complicated flight from Russia back to the United States.
The 2026-27 season will be a crucial one for Michkov, as he is heading into the last year of his entry-level contract with an up-and-down start to his NHL career.
After scoring 26 goals and 63 points in his first year with the Flyers under John Tortorella and Brad Shaw, Michkov regressed to 20 goals and only 51 points under first-year head coach Rick Tocchet last season amid concerns about his fitness level and preparation coming into the year.
The 5-foot-10 winger was eligible to sign an extension with the Flyers as of July 1, but all signs indicate we will have to wait to see any movement there.
Until then, we have video proof that Michkov is working diligently to erase any doubts about his attention to detail and physical condition.
Joshua Jefferson during his Nets summer league debut on July 11, 2026.
LAS VEGAS — Mikel Brown Jr. isn’t the Nets’ only first-round rookie, or even the only one, with a delayed debut.
After having to wait for the trade that brought him to the Nets to finally become official — a holdup that cost Joshua Jefferson the first four games of summer league — he finally saw his first action in Saturday’s 83-76 loss to Atlanta.
For a player who hadn’t seen live action since his college career was cut short by injury, Jefferson showed predictable rust. The 22-year-old will spend the rest of the Nets’ stay in Las Vegas knocking that off.
“Definitely. [Saturday] was just the first game in four months, since March when I got hurt. So it’s really been a long time since I’ve been in a playing setting because I wasn’t able to get any practice reps either,” Jefferson said. “So, I definitely think I’m going to be fine. I showed some glimpses [of] what I can do with the ball in my hand, so just got to keep playing.
Joshua Jefferson during his Nets summer league debut on July 11, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
“[The] first half was good. Had some really good showings. Just getting comfortable with the guys. I never played with them before, so it’s going to be pretty foreign for me for this first time. But just good to get good reps right now. So, just continue to play hard.”
Jefferson certainly played hard, if not particularly crisply. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward struggled from the floor. Jefferson finished with nine points in 26 minutes, shooting just 1-for-8 and 0-for-4 from deep. His only make came on a driving layup.
“We’d both say he wanted to make more shots. He’d say the same thing,” Nets summer league coach Dutch Gailey said. “It’s the little things that he’s doing well, and it’s the first game to get him a feel. We’ll watch the film with him, come back, get practice and then we’re back at the game [against] Sacramento.
“He’ll have a better understanding of the pace of the game. … The change is a big change, especially when you haven’t played. He’s coming off an injury; he hasn’t played in a while. So, there’s a lot of stuff he did well, and there’s stuff we can help him with. That’s going to be our goal over these next two days.”
The aforementioned injury and trade delay made Jefferson’s wait longer than expected and the rust more glaring than usual.
Jefferson averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.6 steals for Iowa State, but a left ankle sprain in its NCAA Tournament opener ended his college career.
The Nets drafted Jefferson with the No. 28 pick they got in the Julius Randle trade. But with the deal not official until Friday, he missed the California Classic and opening win over the Knicks in Las Vegas.
Unable to even practice with the Nets, both the rust and unfamiliarity were obvious in Saturday’s debut.
“I’ve been training on my own, just trying to push my wind as much as I can. My body felt good; just gotta keep playing,” Jefferson said. “I’d be pleased with my activity level and how hard I’m playing. You’re going to miss shots; you’re going to make shots. So I can’t dictate how I play off of that, just your energy and your effort level.”
Still, Jefferson showed a couple of the traits that convinced the Nets to add him to a crowded power forward room behind Randle and alongside Noah Clowney and Danny Wolf.
Jefferson ripped down a rebound and went coast-to-coast for his only bucket, went 5-for-6 from the line and added a nice bounce pass for an assist.
Granted, down 75-72, he drove and kicked out to the corner, but the spacing was off to result in a turnover with three minutes left. With improved familiarity, though, his playmaking fits with the passing the Nets have been indexing.
“Just the way my passing can affect the game, making everybody feel involved, get the ball flying around. It’s easy to guard people when the ball’s sticking in one person’s hands,” Jefferson said. “So as long as I can continue to show that with the team, we’ll be fine.”
LOS ANGELES — The Arizona Diamondbacks placed right-hander Zac Gallen on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation, while left-hander Mitch Bratt was recalled to start against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Gallen was supposed to start the final game before the All-Star break before manager Torey Lovullo announced a late change.
Gallen, 30, has struggled for more than a month, going 0-5 with an 8.24 ERA over his past eight starts, going back to May 29. He is 3-9 on the season with a 6.34 ERA over 19 starts.
“I think he felt something and he spoke up and that’s when we decided to get him examined,” said Lovullo, who added that a timeline for recovery will be established during the All-Star break.
A veteran of eight major league seasons, Gallen is 69-61 with a 3.83 ERA over 195 career starts for the Miami Marlins and Diamondbacks. He was a National League All-Star in 2023 when he finished third in NL Cy Young Award voting.
Bratt, 23, is making his second appearance on the Diamondbacks’ roster. He made his major league debut June 24 when he allowed one run over three innings in a start against the St Louis Cardinals.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 11: Jaylen Brown attends a game between the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers on July 11, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
What an eventful couple weeks it’s been!
Jaylen Brown is a Sixer, the team is reportedly one of the organizations LeBron James has genuine interest in joining and Labaron Philon Jr. is hooping in Vegas.
We went from a doldrum offseason to arguably the most exciting summer in recent memory for the local basketball team.
Raygun competes during the Breaking B-Girls Round Robin Group B battle between Logistx and Raygun on Day 14 of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at La Concorde on August 9, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images) | DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Recaps
[Dbacks.com] D-backs roll into break with statement sweep in LA: ‘We haven’t told our story yet’ – It’s the Diamondbacks’ first sweep of the Dodgers in Los Angeles since Sept. 4-6, 2017. They also became the first team to sweep the Dodgers this season. “You know, this is a pretty good team,” Perdomo said. “They have amazing players. To come here and play three games against those titan players, it feels good to sweep them up. They haven’t been swept [by us at home] since ’17, and I think that was our goal, try to get that sweep for us.” With the sweep, the Diamondbacks enter the All-Star break with a 49-47 record and sit just 2 1/2 games back of the final NL Wild Card spot currently held by Miami.
[Arizona Sports] Sweeping Dodgers sends Diamondbacks to All-Star break with sense of optimism – Sunday’s game did not start quite so positively with rookie starter Mitch Bratt getting touched up for three runs in three innings in place of Zac Gallen, but Arizona’s defense and bullpen simply took over the baseball game. Moreno made an athletic, bare-handed play to rob Shohei Ohtani of a potential infield single in the fifth inning. Geraldo Perdomo made a highlight bare-handed play and Arenado snagged a diving catch in the sixth. The Diamondbacks’ bullpen threw six hitless innings on Sunday against one of the game’s most dangerous lineups.
[AZ Central] Diamondbacks MLB Draft. Day 2 focuses on pitching depth – The Arizona Diamondbacks selected nine pitchers out of 16 picks on the second day of the MLB Draft on Sunday, July 12. Three were taken with the first three picks and eight of the first 12 were pitchers Sunday. The DBacks had five selections on the first day, July 11, two of those picks being pitchers. “You try to play to the trends of the draft every year, and a lot of hitters go early,” Diamo1ndbacks amateur scouting director Ian Rebhan said at the end of the draft Sunday. “There’s a lot of really good value in the college pitching circuit in those middle rounds and we kind of leaned into that.”
[SI] Diamondbacks Draft Intriguing Lefty Flamethrower – Worley made just 14 starts in the 2026 season at Stony Brook, but pitched to a stellar 3.12 ERA and struck out an unbelievable 93 batters in just 69.1 innings of work, though eh did walk 31. Not only is Worley a left-hander, which is a premium asset unto itself, but he’s 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, which can easily lend itself to big velocity readings and high levels of extension. In terms of velocity, his 60-grade fastball has a bit of a wide range, but has hit 99 MPH on occasion, and scouting reports state that he measured out at 20 inches of induced vertical break, or “ride” at the Combine.
[Burn City Sports] How the Diamondbacks swept the Dodgers without their biggest bats – What made the sweep even more impressive was who led the way. Arizona’s top three of Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo and Corbin Carroll didn’t play their best baseball at the plate, collecting just two hits as a trio. With its biggest stars relatively quiet, the club needed the rest of the lineup to step up. That’s exactly what happened. Tim Tawa, who was recalled from Triple-A Reno on July 5, put together the best series of his young MLB career. He went 7-for-13 with two home runs and seven RBIs, providing timely hits and steady defense at first base while giving the lineup a spark.
[USA Today] What do we really know at MLB All-Star break? Baseball’s biggest second-half questions – [The Rays] have shown interest in seeing whether the Diamondbacks would move second baseman Ketel Marte and Giants All-Star second baseman Luis Arraez as a backup plan. He now has 10-and-5 rights and is expected to veto all trades, which Arizona has told teams… Ever since several D-backs officials and players expressed their frustration with Ketel Marte for sitting out their game against the Dodgers and starter Shohei Ohtani, Marte has since played in every game – starting all but six times this season. “He’s very driven as an athlete overall,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said.
[Arizona Sports] Diamondbacks OF Tommy Troy getting MRI on shoulder – Arizona Diamondbacks rookie outfielder Tommy Troy will undergo an MRI on his right shoulder on Monday, manager Torey Lovullo said Sunday. The news comes one day after Troy left Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers after banging into the center field wall to make a catch in the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium. Jorge Barrosa entered the game in place of Troy. Troy’s injury comes as the D-backs (49-47) enter the All-Star break still without outfielder Jordan Lawlar, who has not played since June 19 after sustaining a right hamstring strain.
And, elsewhere…
[MLB] Ranking all 8 competitors in a stacked Derby field – Is this the most fun Home Run Derby field in memory? The Derby is always a blast, but I’m not sure we’ve ever had eight competitors who are as individually compelling to watch as what we’ll see in Philadelphia on Monday. Even without Aaron Judge, two-time Derby winner Pete Alonso or defending champion Cal Raleigh, this lineup is absolutely stacked. Any of these guys could win. Here’s a semi-educated guess at who will. To be clear: I’ve listed the players in order of what I believe to be their likelihood of winning. [2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby takes place today, starting at, 5 pm-ish AZ time on Netflix]
[ESPN] Blaze Alexander fractures hand after being hit by pitch – The frustration of struggling through a lackluster first half of the season became alarmingly evident Sunday for both the Orioles and Royals. An errant pitch from Royals reliever Lucas Erceg that struck Baltimore’s Blaze Alexander on the left hand resulted in both dugouts and bullpens emptying onto the field near home plate during the seventh inning of the Orioles’ 8-2 victory. Though both teams began the day in last place in their divisions, there was no shortage of emotion after Erceg hit Alexander with an inside fastball. Alexander took a few steps toward first base before shouting at Erceg, prompting Orioles manager Craig Albernaz to quickly restrain his infielder from charging the mound.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 11: Tarris Reed Jr. #10 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks on July 11, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
How glorious it is to see Tarris Reed Jr. end up a San Antonio Spur. The Bear snuck into the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, after quietly rising up draft boards in recent weeks thanks to his intriguing measurements and workouts. He’s teaming up with another former Husky in Steph Castle on one of the best teams in the league.
After watching Huskies go to poorly managed organizations like Charlotte and New Orleans in recent years, Reed going to San Antonio is a breath of fresh air. The house that RC Buford and Gregg Popovich built runs the franchise like a finely-tuned machine, drafting and developing the likes of Keldon Johnson, Tre Jones, Dejounte Murray, and Derrick White over the years, all late-round picks.
Beyond the organizational pedigree, there’s an immediate pathway for Reed Jr.
Backup center Luke Kornet is in year two of a $41 million deal. The 7’1 former Boston big averaged six ppg and six rpg last year in a career-high 21 mpg, but averaged only 3.7 ppg in 13 mpg in the playoffs.
The Spurs desperately needed more than just size in the post to back up Wemby. There was also no one to put the ball in the basket when Wemby sat beyond Dylan Harper. Kornet offered next to nothing beyond an occasional lob, and his lack of athleticism was exposed in switches defensively.
Enter Tarris Reed Jr, who can now keep frontcourts honest. He also made massive strides as a defender, adjusting in year two under Hurley to the intensive defensive scrutiny he puts on his big men. He always had the mobility to stay in front of quicker players and the length to recover; now he can read angles and defenses.
There’s a world where Reed can end up taking some, if not all, of Kornet’s minutes his rookie year. Not a bad baseline.
Using that role classifier below, Reed has the potential to slot into two roles as a backup big in the league. He’s already a solid post scorer, a skill that should translate to the next level albeit in a less featured role. His ability to become a serviceable roll & cut big will determine his ceiling.
Built an NBA role classifier using Synergy play type data where every player gets an offensive role and a defensive role based on what they actually do, not their listed position.
How dire of a need was an athletic, mobile, space-eating big man? Reed Jr was technically part two of San Antonio’s double-down on the center position from last month’s draft.
Six picks earlier, San Antonio took 6’10 Kentucky big Jaiden Quaintance. But Q is recovering from meniscus surgery, having only appeared in four games for the Wildcats last season. Quaintance on paper is a skilled two-way big man that can protect the rim at an elite level, but needs to stay on the court. In a perfect world, he and Reed combine to become the Bash Brothers on the bench protecting Wemby the way Kornet did from the overly physical treatment he’s begun to receive. Except unlike Kornet, Reed (and Quaintance) have higher ceilings.
The timetable for Q is unclear, and thus the draft plan from the Spurs makes sense. Let him recover without an urgent timeline, and put the older, more proven Reed out there to see if he can provide an immediate impact.
Los Spurs traded up for Tarris. There’s a plan for him. There are no other backup bigs on the roster beyond Kornet and Quaintance. Reed will have all summer to make his mark; he started the first Summer League game over the weekend, scoring 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting, with seven rebounds in 27 minutes. He followed that up with his first professional double-double, scoring 12 points (on 10 shots) and snagging 12 rebounds.
All UConn fans want to see from their guys at the next level is a plan. There didn’t seem to be a plan for Liam McNeeley with the Hornets. For the Spurs, it’s simple: beef up around Wemby. The superstar needs enforcers around him to ascend to the next level. It’s exciting there are not one but two Huskies involved in a team’s very shrewd and very intentional efforts to become the next dynasty.
Zach Benson locked up on long-term deal with the Sabres
The only outstanding business remaining this summer with the Buffalo Sabres roster was the status of forward Peyton Krebs, who filed for salary arbitration earlier this month. The 25-year-old forward was someone who head coach Lindy Ruff relied on frequently last season because of his versatility. On Monday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the two sides avoided arbitration and agreed to a four-year, $18 million contract extension ($4.5 million AAV).
Krebs scored a career-high 39 points (12 goals, 27 assists) last season and showed his value in an increased role during his fifth season with the Sabres. The former Vegas Golden Knights first rounder was part of the Jack Eichel trade in November 2021 (along with former Sabre Alex Tuch and a 2022 first rounder - Noah Ostlund) and has adapted from being a high scoring forward in juniors to a feisty aggravator.
Ruff utilized Krebs in different situations last season, playing an energy role at center or wing on the fourth line, and being elevated higher in the lineup late in games, and referred to him as his Swiss Army knife.
“My daughter was born here; I got engaged here. This is definitely a home for my family and I, and I’d love to be a part of this team as long as I can,” Krebs said as part of the Sabres press release. “Obviously, the group of guys here are unbelievable and a lot of fun to be around. I think that’s the biggest thing: Is it a fun environment to come to the rink? And that it is, for sure. I got to know my neighbors really well, and all the people out in Clarence where I live. It’s definitely something I’m looking forward to, and I want to bring a Stanley Cup here.”
KREBSY’S BACK 😤
We have signed forward Peyton Krebs to a four-year contract with an AAV of $4.5 million.
Filing for arbitration prevented Krebs from receiving an offer sheet, and with the deal, the Sabres lock him up for the bulk of his prime years. The AAV is consistent with a number of free agent contracts that depth forwards signed on July 1. For example, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Colton Sissons to a two-year deal for $4.25 million and Jack Roslovic for two years at $4 million, both who can play multiple positions.
On the trade and free agent front, there continues to be speculation regarding three-time Cup winner Patrick Kane and Vezina and Hart Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck coming to Buffalo. With the signing of Krebs, the Sabres have just over $4 million in available cap space. A trade for Hellebuyck would likely involve players off the Sabres roster and would open cap space to fit his $8.5 million salary. The contract for the 37-year-old future Hall-of-Famer would likely be an incentive based deal as his deal with Detroit was last season.
Kane had $4 million in incentive bonuses, and if the Sabres structured a deal like that, the cap hit on the incentive would be transferred to next year’s cap if Buffalo is close to the cap limit.
On Saturday, former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Josh Gorges was inducted into the British Columbia Hockey Hall of Fame. He was welcomed to the Hall alongside Andrew Ladd, Travis Green, Daryl Reaugh, Malcolm Ashford, and the Vernon Vipers (the 2008-09 and 2009-10 teams).
While the stay-at-home defenseman wasn’t by any means a spectacular player, his work ethic was second to none, and he excelled defensively at blocking shots and breaking up plays. He spent 13 seasons in the NHL with the San Jose Sharks, the Canadiens, and the Buffalo Sabres, skating in 783 games, picking up 124 points, and racking up 404 penalty minutes.
Eight of his 13 seasons were spent in Montreal, where he played 464 games for the Sainte-Flanelle, gathered 88 points, and spent 192 minutes in the box. For two of those eight seasons, he wore an A on his jersey and was an important part of the Canadiens’ leadership group. The blueliner was instrumental in Brendan Gallagher becoming the player and the professional he has become, as he welcomed the rookie into his home when he first joined the Habs. Gorges was awarded the Jacques Beauchamp Trophy at the end of the 2011-12 season as the team’s unsung hero.
Photo credit: Angela Price Instagram
Had he had a choice in the matter, Gorges would likely have finished his career in Montreal, but he was traded to the Sabres on July 1, 2014, after famously refusing to be traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The defenseman explained he couldn’t see himself playing for a team he spent years despising.
Former Canadiens superstar goalie Carey Price, who played with Gorges for seven seasons, was in attendance at the ceremony to welcome the blueliner to the Hall after being inducted himself in 2024.
