The kids are celebrating Independence Day, so let’s see how they did last night.
Rochester 11, Lehigh Valley 5
So yeah, the Phillies are in trouble if someone in the rotation gets hurt, aren’t they? Kolby Allard allowed seven runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings for the IronPigs, dooming their game from the beginning. It wasted solid efforts at the plate from Dylan Moore (3-4, 2 2B, 3B, 2 R) and Otto Kemp (2-4, R) too. The lack of pitching depth has been an issue for a few years as the team has failed to bring in those starting pitchers on minor league deals in the winter thanks to their having so few opportunities at the big league level. This year it is really starting to show, so we’ll have to continue to hope for continued health.
Of note, Brad Keller had his first rehab appearance last night and it didn’t go great. He allowed two runs in his inning of work and didn’t strike anyone out. His fastball topped at 96.9 mph. He only got one swing and miss.
New Hampshire 12, Reading 4
Alex Binelas (3-4, 2 2B, RBI) and Raylin Heredia (2-4, HR, RBI) led the offense on the evening, but it was the same as the IronPigs. The pitching was a mess, particularly the late game relief and New Hampshire was able to pull away. Braydon Tucker allowed five runs on nine hits in 3 1/3 innings to start, but it was Tristan Garnett and Aaron Combs, allowing a combined seven runs in two innings of relief in the eighth and ninth innings, that salted the game away.
Rome 1, Jersey Shore 0
This game was shortened by a power outage that caused the game end after six innings, but the story was Ramon Marquez. He struck out nine over five innings, only giving up two hits and the one run scored in the game. The offense did nothing, so let’s focus in on Marquez.
Another DOMINANT outing for Ramon Marquez tonight. He struck out the first 5 batters he faced.
His final line: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K 65 pitches (45 strikes) 18 whiffs
That changeup is illegal in most states. The team seems to have really found something in Marquez, a pitcher climbing the ranks of many Phillies lists. How far up he goes remains to be seen, but don’t be surprised to see his name popping up in trade rumors this year. Maybe he doesn’t have ace upside, but this looks like a quality arm that can lead a trade package for something significant.
Ft. Myers 4, Clearwater 3
A clean sweep of the Phillies affiliates, the Threshers got home runs from Griffin Burkholder (3-5, HR, RBI) and Nathan Humphreys (2-5, 2B, HR, RBI) on offense, but not much in the way of starting pitching to hold on for a victory. Ryan Degges led up three runs in two innings of work to start the game to put the Threshers in a hole that they could not climb out of. Of note, Zuher Yousuf had four innings of relief and allowed only three baserunners while striking out five.
Jul 3, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) shakes hands with teammates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images | Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images
Meet the Mets
A two-run homer from Juan Soto was close to the only moment of joy for the Mets last night, as they fell to the Braves 5-3 in the series opener in Atlanta. Christian Scott took the loss after giving up three runs on two homers in four innings of work, and A.J. Minter and Kodai Senga both surrendered homers as well out of the bullpen.
Happy Fourth of July! I hope everyone has fun plans and that the Cardinals celebrate with another 17 runs or so this evening. Today, I want to take a step back from the chaotic, and entertaining, iteration of the Cardinals and indulge in a little nostalgia by checking in on where some of the most memorable teams of this century were sitting on Independence Day. What is the point of this exercise? Mostly just for fun, but I will say, these snapshot views are a good reminder that anything can happen in baseball, and usually does.
We will start our journey a quarter century ago at the dawn of the Albert Pujols era.
2001
Entering play on July 4, 2001, the Cardinals’ record stood at 40-41 after having dropped their sixth straight game and ninth out of their last 11 the day before. They trailed Chicago by seven games in the NL Central and were three games behind the Astros.
Despite the mediocre record, the team looked pretty loaded on offense. Jim Edmonds was coming off a 6.5-WAR introduction to St. Louis in 2000. Mark McGwire had struggled mightily, but he was also coming off a 195 wRC+ season himself. The real excitement was with a couple of young guns leading the way. JD Drew was having a coming-out party in his age-25 season with 21 home runs and 3.8 WAR through the first half. There was also a rookie named Albert Pujols who was off to a historic start to his career.
On the pitching side of things, Matt Morris had returned to the rotation after missing 1999 with an injury and pitching 31 games out of the bullpen the year before. His record was 10-4 and he carried the fifth-best ERA in baseball at 2.65. Darryl Kile was coming off a 20-win season the year before and was the only other effective starting pitcher, having posted 1.6 WAR through the first half of the season. After those two, veterans Andy Benes and Dustin Hermanson had been largely ineffective. Rick Ankiel had started six games in April and May, but after averaging over a walk per inning, was sent to rookie ball to sort out his problems. The Cardinals had another highly touted pitching prospect in Bud Smith, who had been given his first start several weeks prior. Smith was the 39th-ranked prospect in baseball heading into the season and was excelling in Memphis as a 21-year-old.
The lineup the Cardinals rolled out on July 4 against the Brewers was missing Drew, but it was still a solid group.
*Stats through July 3
Game Recap
The game was a relative laugher as the Cardinals scored two in the third, one in the fifth, and three in the seventh to build a 6-0 lead in a game that ended 7-2. Fernando Vina hit his third home run of the season and Bobby Bonilla added a pinch-hit bomb in the ninth to back 6.2 scoreless innings from Mike Matthews.
How did the season play out?
The Cardinals stopped the bleeding with that July 4 win, but they limped along for another month carrying a record of 57-55 after being walked off by the Expos on August 8. The next day, Matt Morris pitched the team to a 9-6 win and kicked off an 11-game winning streak. When the dust settled, the Cardinals had 93 wins and took home the NL Wild Card after losing the divisional tiebreaker to the Astros.
The second-half surge was fueled on the offensive side by continued excellence from Pujols (151 wRC+) and Edmonds (161 wRC+), and even a slight rebound from McGwire (22 home runs and 119 wRC+).
The real difference was on the pitching side. Morris continued his torrid pace, putting up another 3.5 WAR while winning 12 games in the second half to finish 22-8. Darryl Kile kicked it into gear with a 2.74 ERA across his last 17 starts. In a brilliant move, Walt Jocketty flipped Ray Lankford for veteran righty Woody Williams. Williams went 7-1 in the season’s last two months while further stabilizing the rotation. Finally, Bud Smith was given 13 second-half starts and pitched to the tune of a 3.86 ERA, no-hitting the Padres on September 3. It would, no doubt, be the start of an exceptional career for the 21-year-old prodigy.
The season would end with a Game 5 loss in the NLDS to the Diamondbacks, led by Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson.
Fast-forwarding five years and about 200 Pujols home runs later brings us to…
2006
The Cardinals had come off of consecutive 100-win seasons in 2004 and 2005. The roster had undergone some reshuffling over the offseason, particularly on the offensive side, as Mark Grudzielanek (2.8 WAR) and Reggie Sanders (1.7 WAR) left via free agency and Larry Walker (2.2 WAR) retired. Still, the MV3 was in place, with Yadier Molina and David Eckstein also in the fold and big offseason acquisition Juan Encarnacion expected to provide solid supporting production. Through June 18, the team was humming along as expected at 42-26 and seemingly tracking toward another 100-win season. Then came an eight-game losing streak. Heading into play on July 4, the Cardinals had lost 11 of their last 14 and had seen their division lead shrink to just one game.
As the Cardinals prepared to play the Braves on July 4, their lineup looked less intimidating than in years past.
*Stats through July 3
Pujols and Rolen were chugging along, but Jim Edmonds had battled injuries and was off to a slow start. Chris Duncan had been recalled from Memphis and had provided some pop with three home runs in his first 18 games, but he had not yet walked and was an adventure in the outfield.
Chris Carpenter was on the bump and was following up his 2005 Cy Young campaign with an excellent first half. He carried a 2.85 ERA and had already accrued 1.9 WAR. After him, the rotation was bleak. Jason Marquis, Jeff Suppan, Mark Mulder, and Sidney Ponson had made the majority of the starts and all carried ERAs that started with a five or higher. Top prospect Anthony Reyes had just been inserted into the rotation and carried a 3.30 ERA through his first five starts. The bullpen was equally as troubling. Star closer Jason Isringhausen had saved 24 games in 30 opportunities and carried a 3.89 ERA, but his underlying metrics were terrifying with a FIP over six. Rookie Adam Wainwright was off to a decent start, and veteran Braden Looper had been solid, but, overall, it was an uninspiring group.
Game Recap
The game was relatively low drama. The Cardinals got two doubles apiece from Jim Edmonds and Yadier Molina as well as a home run from Juan Encarnacion en route to a 6-3 win. Carpenter was not his usual dominant self, but he got through five innings with only two runs allowed and handed the ball to Wainwright for two scoreless innings. The Braves threatened in the eighth inning, but Isringhausen was summoned to record a clean four-out save.
How did the season play out?
This July 4 win was not a grand turning point in the regular season. The win lifted the team’s record to 45-37, but the Cardinals played sub-.500 ball the rest of the way, finishing 38-41. Fortunately, the Astros limped along to an 82-80 record and the Cardinals were able to squeeze into the playoffs with an 83-win season. Chris Duncan and Scott Spiezio would provide just enough second-half firepower to offset the slumping Edmonds and Rolen, and Pujols would continue to obliterate the league, finishing with a 174 wRC+. On the pitching side, Jeff Suppan turned things around with a 3.13 ERA over his final 16 starts and Chris Carpenter cruised to another five WAR season. The rest of the rotation remained a dumpster fire. Midseason acquisition Jeff Weaver had a 5.18 ERA. After the promising start, Reyes struggled to a 6.02 ERA the remainder of the season. Not to be outdone, Jason Marquis went 4-10 with a 6.33 ERA over his final 16 starts.
We all know the rest of the story: the Cardinals made it all the way to the World Series before losing to the juggernaut Detroit Tigers in three games.
The next few years were not as kind to the Cardinals as Edmonds and Rolen aged and moved on, but Pujols was still there preparing for the final year of his contract as the 2011 season began.
2011
The Cardinals, now five years removed from their magical World Series run, had not won a playoff game since 2006 and had missed the playoffs entirely in 2007, 2008, and 2010. Still, they had the consensus best player in baseball in Albert Pujols and a legitimate MVP candidate in Matt Holliday playing second fiddle. Yadier Molina had emerged as a defense-first, borderline star-level player, and Colby Rasmus was looking to build on the 4-WAR season he posted as a 23-year-old in 2010. The only real offseason move was taking a flyer on 35-year-old Lance Berkman, who had seen his wRC+ decline the last three seasons.
Entering play on July 4, the Cardinals had the third-best offense in baseball by wRC+ at 110. Albert Pujols had fractured his wrist against Kansas City two weeks prior and was expected to be out four to six weeks. Pujols was having his worst season to date, having amassed just 1.5 WAR and a 136 wRC+. Still, the offense was looking pretty solid thanks to a resurgent Berkman and the progression of Jon Jay and David Freese, who had gotten their feet wet in 2010.
The Cardinals lineup facing off against the Reds and Johnny Cueto was:
*Stats through July 3
Chris Carpenter was given yet another Independence Day assignment. He came into the game at 3-7 with an ERA of 4.00, but his underlying metrics were solid enough to support a WAR of 1.7. With co-ace Adam Wainwright out for the season, Jaime Garcia was leading the staff with a WAR of 2.1. Kyle Lohse was enjoying a bounce-back year and carried a 2.97 ERA through the first half of the season. Jake Westbrook and Kyle McClellan filled out the back half of the rotation and were providing roughly replacement-level production between them. The bullpen had accrued -0.8 WAR thanks to horrific performances to date from Ryan Franklin, Miguel Batista, Brian Tallet, and Maikel Cleto. On the positive side, Jason Motte, Mitchell Boggs, and Eduardo Sanchez were doing an admirable job setting up for closer Fernando Salas. All four pitchers carried ERAs below three to keep the bullpen afloat.
Game Recap
Unlike our previous two Fourth of July jamborees, this one was anything but a laugher. Carpenter locked horns with Reds ace Johnny Cueto. The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the eighth inning. Colby Rasmus led off with a single against Cueto and moved to second on a Yadier Molina bunt. Schumaker hit a deep flyout to center, allowing Rasmus to advance to third. Already at 119 pitches, Carpenter was lifted for pinch hitter Mark Hamilton. Hamilton had 11 career hits coming into play that day, but came through with a single to drive in the game-winning run. The hit would be the last of Hamilton’s major-league career, as he was sent down a few days later and never got another chance. The one run held up as Salas slammed the door with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
How did the season play out?
Chris Carpenter continued his dominance, going 8-2 with a 2.93 ERA the rest of the way to lead the rotation. Edwin Jackson was acquired in the Colby Rasmus trade and helped stabilize things with a 5-2 record and 3.62 ERA as a starter. The bullpen was remade as Jason Motte eventually shifted to the closer role, posting a 1.83 ERA after July 4. Octavio Dotel and Marc Rzepczynski were both nails after also coming over in the Rasmus trade.
Pujols miraculously returned from his fractured wrist after just two weeks and carried a 157 wRC+ the rest of the way. It was, however, Yadier Molina who led the team in WAR in the second half as his offense exploded. He ran a 148 wRC+ while putting up 3.2 WAR in 62 games to kick off his three-year run as a legitimate offensive weapon. Rafael Furcal was also added at the deadline and helped solidify the infield by taking over shortstop duties from Ryan Theriot.
The July 4 win against the Reds moved the Cardinals into sole possession of first place in the NL Central, a game up on Milwaukee, at 46-40. The Cardinals mostly tread water in July, taking a half-game lead over the Brewers following a win on the 26th. The Brewers then decided to rip off 23 wins over their next 26 games to put the division out of reach. On August 24, the Cardinals were 10 games behind the Brewers and 10.5 games behind the Braves for the Wild Card. The rest, of course, is history. The Cardinals finished the season on a 23-9 stretch while the Braves collapsed, allowing the Cardinals to capture the last playoff spot. You know what happened after that.
The takeaway from checking in on these three teams at the midseason mark is simple: you just never know.
Jul 2, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) is greeted at the dugout steps by second baseman Nicky Lopez (33) after scoring against the Detroit Tigers during the fourth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
Good morning, LSB.
The Rangers were off yesterday.
Evan Grant’s weekly stock report revives the “buyers/sellers at the deadline” conversation.
Kennedi Landry writes that Evan Carter’s IL stint might have been a silver lining in terms of finding his bat.
There's a nice 4-pack of NBA Summer League coming at you Saturday, headlined by Darryn Peterson, the No. 2 pick in the 2026 draft, as his Utah Jazz take on the Atlanta Hawks.
Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg will suit up for the Golden State Warriors again and square off against the Milwaukee Bucks, who will be showcasing their top pick, Braydon Burries, taken a pick ahead of Yax.
Check out my NBA Summer League Predictions and free NBA picks for Saturday, July 4.
NBA Summer League predictions for July 4
Pick
Hawks moneyline
-117
Bucks moneyline
-122
Kings moneyline
-117
Today's Summer League Picks
Hawks moneyline (-117 at Kalshi)
There was probably no player more speculated on heading into the draft than Darryn Peterson.
An outstanding showing early on would do a ton to quell those rumors about his desire to play and his fitness level, since he pulled himself out of so many games for Kansas this last season.
It's also a chance to see how he meshes with Ace Bailey, last year's top draft pick, as the Utah Jazz awaits his true takeoff.
The Atlanta Hawks got some nice rooks to showcase too, led by Kingston Flemings (No. 8 pick) and high-energy big Zuby Ejiofor (No, 23 pick).
Paired with second-year man Asa Newell, this is one of the nicest Summer League rosters. Their energy carries them to victory.
Bucks moneyline (-122 at Kalshi)
This will probably be the last time for a while where Yaxel Lendeborg gets to be a featured guy, as the Golden State Warriors are veteran-laced and still trying to make big moves to get into contention.
That doesn't mean Yax won't be a glue guy and a major contributor from Day 1, and his wide array of talents will be on display.
But he's going against a Milwaukee Bucks team that should be hungry. Milwaukee is in teardown mode, and there are roster spots to be filled.
While developing Brayden Burries is obviously the top priority, unearthing a couple of gems in Summer League should also be crucial (looking at you, 6-foot-11 Bogoljub Markovic!).
I'd be stunned if these guys aren't going 100mph all game – Milwaukee is where you want to be if you want an NBA job!
Kings moneyline (-117 at Kalshi)
Nothing like a pair of high-pick, explosive scoring guards to entertain on a Saturday in June.
That's what we have when the Sacramento Kings, showcasing No. 5 pick Darius Acuff Jr, face off against the Brooklyn Nets and Mikal Brown Jr, taken just a spot after Acuff.
After a brief "Light the Beam" moment, SacTown is sad again, but Acuff could be the star worth believing in. Also, drafting Alex Karaban is the right culture-shifting dude you want. We'll see how he plays at the pro level.
Brown Jr becomes the centerpiece of a Brooklyn rebuild, though he's another point guard on a team that drafted five of them in the first round a year ago.
Second-year guys Egor Demin, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf will all be in attendance in Summer League too, and that could make for an awkward fit.
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Saturday’s NBA Summer League parlay
Hawks moneyline
Bucks moneyline
Kings moneyline
+526 at Kalshi
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Detroit Tigers visit the Texas Rangers tonight, and there are multiple potential pathways to runs early on. Jack Flaherty takes the mound for the visitors, and while he's been very impressive lately with a 1.74 FIP across his last three outings, the Rangers are hitting .274 in the first inning and have a 114 wRC+ over the last month.
Kumar Rocker, meanwhile, counters for Texas, and he's struggled immensely with a 5-9 NRFI/YRFI record this season. The righty is known for getting into trouble in the first inning, and that's bad news against a Tigers lineup batting .276 in the first inning and posting a 115 wRC+ in their last six games.
Rocker is definitely the more vulnerable arm right now, but both offenses are capable of producing out of the gates.
I'll play this pick up to -130.
Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: DSN, RSN
Rays at Astros: NRFI (-131)
We have quite the matchup on the mound between the Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros tonight. Drew Rasmussen has a five-game streak without allowing a run in the first inning, and he owns a 13-3 NRFI/YRFI record overall. The right-hander has a solid 3.13 xERA over his previous two appearances.
Houston has been kept off the scoresheet in the opening frame in three of their last four games, and they have a poor 78 wRC+ across the last two weeks. As for Hunter Brown, he's been dominant since returning from injury. The righty hasn't allowed a run in the first in five outings. Tampa is scoreless in the first in back-to-back games.
With two thriving arms taking the ball and a pair of offenses far from their best lately, I expect a quiet first.
I'll play this pick up to -140.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Rays.TV, Space City Home Network
White Sox at Guardians: NRFI (-121)
The Cleveland Guardians send Parker Messick to the mound tonight, and he's been absolutely lights out early on. Across 17 starts, the left-hander hasn't allowed a run in the first inning once, sporting a perfect 17-0 NRFI/YRFI record. He also owns a 2.13 FIP across his last two outings.
The Chicago White Sox haven't scored in the opening frame in two straight games, and they're batting just .213 in the first.
As for Chicago starter Sean Burke, he has just an 8-4 NRFI/YRFI record. However, Burke has a 3.02 xERA over his previous two appearances and has allowed just 0.77 HR/9 over that span. More importantly, the Guardians are scoreless in the first in three in a row, and they've posted just 82 wRC+ across the last 13 games.
Messick will deal, and Burke has a real chance to come out of the opening frame unscathed due to Cleveland's offensive inconsistencies.
I'll play this pick up to -130.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Guardians.TV, CHSN
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
NRFI/YRFI picks: 24-48, -5.88 units
What is a NRFI prediction?
NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) picks add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI pick is a prediction that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're predicting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.
A YRFI pick is the exact opposite. You're predicting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.
NRFI and YRFI picks add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for those looking for a quick resolution.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
TORONTO, CANADA - JULY 1 : Fireworks light up the sky during the Canada Day celebrations at Ashbridges Bay Park in Toronto, Canada on July 1, 2026. (Photo by Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
Hickory starter Daniel Keaney went 4.2 IP, allowing four runs, striking out three and walking two. Aneudis Mejia walked two in two shutout innings.
Marcos Torres entered the game for Paulino Santana after Santana was hit by a pitch and went 1 for 2 with a double and a stolen base. Yolfran Castillo had a hit, a walk and a pair of stolen bases. Dewar Tovar was 2 for 3 with a walk. Daniel Flames had a pair of hits.
For Round Rock, Michel Otanez struck out three and walked one in 1.1 scoreless innings. Thomas Ireland allowed two runs in 1.1 IP. Joe Ross, who re-signed to a minor league deal after clearing waivers and electing free agency, allowed a pair of runs in 1.2 IP, walking one.
Jarred Kelenic, who re-signed to a minor league deal after clearing waivers and electing free agency, drew a walk. Aaron Zavala had a double.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JULY 03: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts with third base coach Brady Williams #4 after hitting a solo home run in the seventh inning during a game against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on July 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees at long last broke their losing streak, ending it at seven games after putting up five runs for the first time since June 19th against the Reds. The Twins had their chances to match them, but New York’s pitching held them in check with only Fernando Cruz getting himself into some trouble walking two batters in his inning of work. After finally stopping the bleeding, the only thing that could’ve made things better would’ve been the Rays breaking their winning streak at the same time — alas, not everything lined up how they wanted on Friday.
Tampa Bay Rays (52-33) 3, Houston Astros (43-47) 1
It was a close, low-scoring affair down in Houston as the Rays opened up a series against the Astros. The AL East leaders had won eight straight games entering the contest, but they took a while to get going facing Spencer Arrighetti. The Astros’ right-hander tossed six innings and didn’t give many opportunities to , working around a leadoff single by immediately inducing a double play and then getting a one-out walk erased thanks to Yainer Diaz throwing out the runner.
The third through fifth inning saw Arrighetti mow down Tampa Bay in order, but with two outs in the sixth Nick Fortes finally got the scoring started with a solo shot clanking off the wall in left field.
Houston didn’t go down without a fight, of course. Nick Martinez was doing a similar job to Houston’s offense through five, but Yordan Alvarez got to him in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game right back up with a solo shot of his own, his 27th of 2026 (he now has a very impressive 187 wRC+). Tampa fought right back, getting a Junior Caminero home run—his 10th in 10 games—to go ahead 2-1 in the seventh inning and a Fortes RBI double in the eighth to jump ahead by two runs.
As for the Astros, after that Alvarez blast they were blanked the rest of the way, getting a single immediately afterwards only for the next 11 Houston at-bats to all end in an out. The Yankees remain four games behind the Rays in the AL East with a series looming early next week.
Other Games
Toronto Blue Jays (42-46) 2, Seattle Mariners (45-44) 0: Half of our Rivalry teams were playing up in the Pacific Northwest as Toronto made one inning count enough to carry them to victory. Luis Castillo had one of his better outings this year, tossing six innings and allowing just five hits, but four of them came in the top of the third leading to an RBI double from Andrés Giménez and an RBI single from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to give the Blue Jays a 2-0 lead. That was all the damage necessary to tag Castillo with the loss as Dylan Cease shoved on the other end, pitching seven shutout with nine strikeouts before passing the baton over to Jeff Hoffman and Louis Varland to close the game out. The idle Rangers moved half a game ahead of Seattle in the light AL West.
Cleveland Guardians (47-42) 4, Chicago White Sox (45-42) 3 (10 innings): This was a battle of the bullpens as neither starter made it through a full five innings of work. Chicago’s Anthony Kay blinked first, issuing two walks to lead off the third inning that got moved over on a bunt, but Cleveland only scored one run on the opportunity as Travis Bazzana singled in the lead runner before David Fry grounded into an inning-ending double play. Gavin Williams wound up with the worse stat line, allowing two singles to lead off the fifth and nearly stranding them just to lose a 10-pitch battle with Miguel Vargas that ended in a three-run blast.
After a rain delay briefly interrupted the action, Cleveland got to work tying the game back up. The seventh inning saw them work a pair of walks but go down to two outs as well, just for Austin Hedges to find a fastball over the middle to slap to shortstop hard enough that the ball deflected off of the fielder’s glove. That scored a run and kept the inning alive, and Steven Kwan cashed in with a single to bring home another and tie the game at three. Extra innings were brutal for Chicago, as they went down in order in the top of the 10th while the Guardians got singles from Bazzana and Kahlil Watson to walk it off.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 03: (R-L) Gavin Sheets #30, Adrian Morejon #50 and Rodolfo Durán #48 of the San Diego Padres react as Rodolfo Durán #48 visits the mound, trailing 4-3, during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on July 03, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres and their fans asked Michael King to take the mound and provide a performance that would allow them to have a chance to get a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers and snap their six-game losing streak. He did that, but an error by Jake Cronenworth followed by a poor pitch from Adrian Morejon turned a 3-0 lead into a 4-3 loss for the Padres at Dodger Stadium on Friday night.
King gave San Diego just what it needed, and the offense did enough to score three runs against Los Angeles starter Shohei Ohtani. King cruised through six innings and worked into the seventh when he ran into “trouble,” giving up a leadoff walk to Mookie Betts and a single to Max Muncy. King was pulled after just 75 pitches and was replaced by Morejon.
The left-handed reliever got what appeared to be a potential double play ball with a grounder from Kyle Tucker that rolled out to Cronenworth at second base. The normally dependable second baseman did not field the ball cleanly and flipped toward second base, but Muncy was able to get to the bag safely and the bases were loaded with no outs. Teoscar Hernandez wasted no time and hit the first pitch of the at-bat over the center field wall and the work that was done by King and the Padres’ offense was erased.
As a result of the home run by Hernandez, King’s line looks worse than it was. He finished with two runs allowed on three hits with two walks and five strikeouts. It was a tough ending to what was a solid start and the decision by manager Craig Stammen to pull King considering his low pitch count and his success throughout the outing will be questioned. Morejon got the ground ball he needed but Cronenworth did not make the play and that proved to be a critical error until Morejon compounded it with a hanging slider to Hernandez.
It was a deflating set of events for San Diego and that was reflected in their at-bats over the final two innings. The Padres sent three men to the plate in the eighth inning and three in the ninth and finished the game with two groundouts and four strikeouts to take a one-run loss to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and extend their current losing streak to seven games.
San Diego will send Griffin Canning and his 7.09 ERA to the mound to try to get back to .500 with a win against Yoshinobu Yamamoto today at 7:10 p.m.
Catcher Blake Hunt is staying ready in the minors should the Padres need to bring him back to the MLB roster and he showed that with a home run in a win for El Paso.
Washington Nationals star Luis Garcia is flourishing right now. He has a .750 ISO across his last six games, going deep five times during that span. Garcia had two home runs on Friday evening against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also has a 56.5% hard hit rate over the last week.
Garcia will face Braxton Ashcraft today. He's allowed 2.25 HR/9 across his previous two outings, and the righty gave up three homers last time out to the Philadelphia Phillies. Opponents also have a 57.1% hard hit rate against him during that span.
This is a clear opportunity for Garcia to stay hot.
I'll play this pick up to +300.
Time: 11:05 a.m. ET
Where to watch: Nationals.TV, SportsNet Pittsburgh
Caminero's 55.5% hard hit rate over the last week says it all. He is truly squaring up everything right now, and 55.5% of his contact has been through the air during that span.
He'll face the dominant Hunter Brown tonight, but it's impossible to ignore Caminero's recent brilliance. No matter who is on the hill, he's dominating. Also, Brown has allowed a home run in each of his last two starts, and he's allowed a 42.9% hard hit rate in those outings as well.
I'll play this pick up to +300.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Rays.TV, Space City Home Network
Home run pick: Rafael Devers (+238)
San Francisco Giants star Rafael Devers heads into a favorable matchup tonight against Tomoyuki Sugano. Devers has clubbed four home runs in his last six games while posting a .600 ISO. He has a mind-boggling 62.5% hard hit rate and 25% barrel rate during that span.
Sugano has had trouble with the home run all year, and that's been no different lately. The righty has given up 2.14 HR/9 across his previous four starts while posting a 7.29 ERA. Playing at Coors Field here also heavily benefits Devers due to just how much the ball carries in Denver.
I'll play this pick up to +200.
Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Rockies.TV, NBC Sports Bay Area
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 14-72, -6.56 units
Today’s HR parlay
Luis Garcia
Bet Now +7492
Junior Caminero
Rafael Devers
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 23: Spencer Jones #78 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice prior to the game between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Izzy Rincon/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Yankees’ roster carousel continues. Following last night’s game, they optioned outfielder Spencer Jones to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He had been up with the team for his second stint this year, but while he played better than his initial 4-for-24 showing, he was still running a 40-percent strikeout rate. Fellow lefty hitter Trent Grisham’s activation from the IL immediately prior to the Friday contest also meant that regular time in center field was no longer going to be available, so it was best to keep the outfielder reps in Triple-A instead.
To take Jones’ spot on the roster today, the Yankees promoted righty pitcher Brendan Beck, who will take the spot start for this afternoon’s Fourth of July matinee against the Twins. With Carlos Rodón suddenly on the IL with elbow inflammation and Elmer Rodríguez unavailable after pitching on Thursday, Beck gets the call for his second career appearance.
The 2021 second-round pick out of Stanford has gone through his injuries to make it to The Show, and this will be his first big-league start — no small feat! He last pitched in the majors on May 7th against the Rangers when Ryan Weathers was ill, entering as the “bulk guy” after an opener, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks in three innings, striking out one. Beck has a 3.07 ERA and 3.78 FIP in 88 innings (16 starts) at Triple-A this year; I expect long reliever Ryan Yarbrough will also pitch today and that the Yankees will be delighted if Beck can even give them four solid innings.
The Yankees have had a quite a few roster moves over the past few days. The best way to consider it is to consider the replcements on the 26-man roster from Wednesday night’s game, their seventh loss in a row. Here’s the roster just one full game later:
OF Spencer Jones OF Trent Grisham UT Oswaldo Cabrera 3B Ryan McMahon SP Carlos Rodón SP Brendan Beck RP Yovanny Cruz RP David Bednar
Hopefully Beck and company can help the Yankees win their second straight and put the memory of that seven-game skid behind ’em.
The summer of 2028 is setting up to be quite interesting. If we are to believe there would be some interest in Luka Doncic returning home to Dallas, the Mavericks need to be prepared to not only bring him into the roster, but also have a contending roster around he and Cooper Flagg. What does that look like, and what would the Mavericks even have around to bring him in? This is the path to Project 2028.
The Mavericks end
To get to the future, first the Mavericks must sort out the now. This summer still must shake out, but if we are to believe the various reports of who could potentially be available, many of the Mavericks’ largest salaries could be off the books by the time next summer rolls around. PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford and Klay Thompson all seem to be very available, and only Klay would be expiring next summer. Washington’s deal runs through 2030, while Gafford is on the books until 2029. I think it is very fair to assume at least two of them are gone by the time the 2027 trade deadline rolls around, and it’s not impossible to think all three could be moved.
DALLAS, TEXAS – JUNE 29: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks arrives before a press conference for new Dallas Mavericks head coach Dusty May at American Airlines Center on June 29, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If that were to be the case, the Mavericks would then have exactly two players on the books for the summer of 2028: Cooper Flagg, who would be in the final year of his rookie deal, and Morez Johnson Jr., who would be in year three of his rookie contract. Now, that could change if the Mavericks successfully bring Sergio de Larrea over from Valencia, as well as if they extend guys like Max Christie or Dereck Lively, who are extension eligible now. That also doesn’t address Kyrie Irving, who has a player option after the 2026-27 season. But, even with those guys being extended, the Mavericks would have ample room to work Doncic in with cap space.
The Lakers end
The Mavericks can be prepared all they want, but this only becomes a realistic path if the Lakers aren’t able to become bona fide contenders. But, this is where the recent history of the Lakers has to have an effect on how you view their immediate future. General Manager Rob Pelinka is lucky that LeBron James wanted to live in Los Angeles and that Nico Harrison existed, because every other move that the Lakers have made since he took over has been questionable at best.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – APRIL 24: Luka Doncic #77 and Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers react during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on April 24, 2026 in Houston, Texas. 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 Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers are pot committed to Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler. If that works and Los Angeles contends, this is probably all for not. But, if it doesn’t, everything gets really interesting. Luka has a player option in the summer of 2028, which is the summer in which he will hit his ten years of service. That qualifies him for the super-duper extension money, which he will certainly look for. We can safely expect him to opt out. At that point, the Lakers will be paying Reaves, Kessler, Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili a combined $111 million in 2028-29. Is that a roster that sounds like it’s contending? That’s the point where opportunity could come knocking.
In 2028, why wouldn’t Dallas be the best option for Luka to accomplish that goal? A pairing of Doncic and Cooper Flagg, who has already shown that he is on the fast path to superstardom, offers a ton of promise. Beyond that, there are many opportunities to create flexibility with the vets who will soon be coming off the books. Come the summer of 2028, Dallas could be looking at a roster of Flagg, Morez Johnson Jr. and a ton of cap space. That’s enticing if you’re Doncic, as it means the roster could be tailored perfectly to what that group would need. Plus, beyond the basketball of it all, it would be the best damn homecoming that we’ve seen in the NBA, maybe beyond LeBron in 2014. That’s the path for Dallas to be the best spot for Luka Doncic once again.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 06: Retired NBA Player Milt Newton, Assistant GM, Milwaukee Bucks, speaks onstage during "Navigating the World of Sports: A Roundtable Discussion With NBA Executives" at the 2023 ForbesBLK Summit at Southern Exchange Ballrooms on November 06, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/WireImage)
According to BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas, Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins and assistant GM Milt Newton will be travelling to Bologna, Italy, to formally introduce themselves to the newly acquired Kasparas Jakucionis. Jakucionis—who was reportedly a key sticking point in the Giannis trade—is currently playing for Lithuania’s senior national team, which is trying to qualify for the FIBA World Cup.
Per Urbonas, the trip is expected to last less than 24 hours, with Bucks officials clearly wanting to make a point of reaching out and developing a relationship with the 20-year-old as soon as possible (even though they would meet in under a week at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas).
In a separate interview with BasketNews last week, Jakucionis revealed that the trade news came as a shock.
“Yeah, the first day definitely wasn’t easy,” he said. “I was thinking about it a lot, but then you realise this is a business and there’s only so much you can control. So, I’m trying to focus on what I can control, which is putting in the work and becoming a better version of myself every day. I’m not trying to spend too much time thinking about everything else.”
That said, the budding guard isn’t dwelling on the situation. Instead, he’s looking to take advantage of the opportunity he’ll get on a rebuilding Bucks team.
“Like I said, the first day was tough because it was the first time in my basketball career that something like this happened to me… but I don’t think it’s a bad thing. It’s a young organisation with a lot of young players, so I think it will be a good situation for me.”
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 2: An exterior view of the front of Citizens Bank Park with a statue of Mike Schmidt during a fireworks display after a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Kansas City Royals at Citizens Bank Park on July 2, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Royals won 6-2. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Independence Day, where this year, the 250th anniversary of our independence as a nation, there is a little extra celebration in our country.
Baseball is still America’s pasttime, even if football has passed it in terms of popularity. The majority of little kids still play T-ball first when they’re getting into team sports as opposed to strapping on the shoulder pads, so I’m still going to call baseball America’s pasttime. That means today, as you celebrate, you might be doing something baseball related wherever you are at.
What will you do today that is baseball related on the Fourth of July? Maybe it’s as simple as having a catch in the backyard barbeque that you’re headed out to later on today. Maybe it’s just kicking back and watching the Phillies later on tonight in Kansas City. Maybe it’s far more than that – maybe you’re going to a baseball or softball tournament somewhere for your child. Good luck with that one.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JUNE 30: The Baltimore Orioles mascot performs in the seventh inning against the Chicago White Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 30, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A low-scoring affair saw the RoughRiders break a 2-2 tie in the seventh with a run against Enoli Paredes and hold on to defeat a lackluster Tides lineup. No Norfolk batter had more than one hit, managing only five in total, all singles. José Barrero drove in a run on a single and scored the other on a fielder’s choice, and that was the entirety of the Tides’ run output. A heating-up Heston Kjerstad reached base twice on a single and a walk. Enrique Bradfield Jr. didn’t start but pinch-hit in the ninth and struck out.
Yaqui Rivera started and gave up two runs in three innings. A rehabbing Yaramil Hiraldo worked a scoreless frame with two strikeouts as he returns from right shoulder inflammation that has sidelined him since April 2.
In a wild game, the Baysox erased a late 3-0 deficit with a three-run seventh inning, then fell behind again in the eighth, only to rally for two in the top of the ninth to steal the win. The top of the lineup set the table nicely, as Aron Estrada, Griff O’Ferrall, and Thomas Sosa collected two hits apiece. Sosa played the hero with his two-run single in the ninth to grab the lead for good.
Former Orioles minor leaguers Justin Armbruester and Zach Peek both pitched for Binghamton in this game. Armbruester fared well, working a scoreless inning with two strikeouts, but Peek surrendered three runs to blow the lead in the seventh. That included a two-run homer by Baysox right fielder Fernando Peguero and an RBI single by O’Ferrall.
As for Chesapeake’s hurlers, starter Evan Yates went five and allowed three runs (two earned). Jeisson Cabrera gave up a run in the eighth but vultured the win, and Zane Barnhart worked a perfect ninth for the save.
High-A: Frederick Keys 8, Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets) 7
This was another roller coaster of a game, with the Keys storming out to a 6-0 lead after two innings, then coughing up seven unanswered runs to fall into a 7-6 deficit before responding with a go-ahead, two-run rally in the seventh.
Ike Irish went 0-for-3 and Wehiwa Aloy did not play, but some lesser known names did the heavy lifting for the Keys lineup. RJ Austin got the offensive party started with a leadoff homer, part of his three-hit night in which he was a triple shy of the cycle. Leandro Arias also homered, and Yasmil Bucce and Colin Tuft drove in two runs apiece.
Starter Twine Palmer gave up three runs and struck out eight in five innings, but reliever Jacob Cravey let the early lead slip away by coughing up four runs while recording just two outs. The bullpen was much better after that, with Chandler Marsh, Bradley Brehmer, and Todd Kniebbe combining for 3.1 scoreless frames to allow the Keys to come back. Brehmer struck out the side in a perfect eighth inning.
All you need to know is that the Shorebirds committed five errors and gave up 18 hits in this game. Not gonna win many games that way, and indeed they didn’t. Starter Brayan Orrantia and reliever Kailen Hamson allowed six apiece, with each giving up three earned runs, and Orrantia also committed one of the Shorebirds’ quintet of miscues. Charleston third baseman Nicandro Arias torched the Shorebirds for five hits and four RBIs.
Jaiden Lo Re had a nice night for Delmarva, collecting two doubles and scoring two of his team’s three runs. He’s batting .329 with a .904 OPS in 22 games for the Shorebirds. Leadoff man Braylon Whitaker added a home run. But it was far too little to make up for the Shorebirds’ self-inflicted wounds.
Hawks moneyline 
Bucks moneyline 
Kings moneyline 
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Luis Garcia
Rafael Devers
