Aug 5, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers designated hitter Justin Foscue (14) dives to third base on his two-run triple against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
I listened to most of the Giants 6-nuthin’ loss to the Texas Ranger while driving on the freeway. The context was fitting. The stretch of I-95 from Portland, Maine to Boston, like much of east coast road travel, is tree-lined. While for a Californian, the dense summer growth of the woods and the thick green of its foliage is unique, its novelty, on a long-ish car ride, wears off quickly. There’s just nothing to look at or break-up the monotony — no expansive valleys with mountains in the distance, no ocean cliffs, no passes to climb or grades to descend. Occasionally there’s a bridge over a river, or a rest stop, or a pond, and I find myself trying to gulp down those small changes in environment as I rush past at 75 MPH before the white pine or maple or birch or whatever the trees are quickly close in, creating a tunneling effect that numbs, and makes one aware of the sound of your tires rolling against the concrete.
The rest of the 2026 season is going to be exactly that: one painfully long and dull east coast car ride. Something to get through with little to look at or distract.
Wednesday’s loss in Dallas was just another mile on this road to nowhere. Tony Vitello had few righty counter-punches to the Rangers lefty starter Cody Bradford. The line-up went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on base. Those numbers suggest a level of threat that wasn’t really palpable though. Only two San Francisco runners reached third base in the entire game — one in the 1st and the other in the 9th.
Carson Whisenhunt, once again, looked perplexed on how to find his way out of the 4th inning. He had limited tools — or just did not know how to use them — when dealing with Texas’s line-up the second time through. Facing Rangers batters for the first time, he held them hitless with 4 strikeouts. But when the line-up flipped over in the 3rd, five of six would reach, with two singles, two doubles and a triple, scoring four two-out runs. There were some clear mistakes in terms of location, especially with his fastball and slider.
It was his third walk, to base-stealing threat and number-9 hitter Evan Carter, that got pulled from the game.
That’s really it. There is nothing of substance or interest to report from this one. The small, insignificant, and individual scratchings on the box score are our literature now, our cheap entertainment to pass the time. Inevitably, someone in the car gets so bored they just start reading roadside signs out loud, or making statements about what they see beyond their window, with little commentary or discretion. Bryce Eldridge batted first. He hit a long fly out to deep center, he singled, and there’s a McDonalds. Eddys Leonard got another start in left and bagged his first Major League hit with a double in the 2nd, and Historic Kennebunkport. Drew Cavanaugh finally notched his first Major League extra base hit with a two-bagger of his own in the 9th. Nate Furman pinch hit for Buddy Kennedy, and got everyone to lean in in the 8th inning with the Giants down 6-0 — would he get his first knock too? A bird soared overhead. Maybe a hawk? Or even an eagle of some kind…? Furman walked on five pitches. Nah…just a turkey vulture.
There was a point on the drive, somewhere in southern Maine, maybe in the 4th when Leonard popped up with two on to end the 4th, or when Willy Adames chased out of the zone for the second out with Cavanaugh in scoring position in the 5th, that I really zoned out. Perhaps Tony Vitello, or Ron Washington, or Rafael Devers experienced the same thing — going glassy-eyed as they stared out from the dugout at the field in front of them. Nothing ahead on the horizon. The trees on either side of the road blurred. My gaze panned slowly from my side mirror, to my speedometer, to the hair on my knuckles to the license plate of the Honda Element I had been chasing for miles. I couldn’t stop myself, and read it out loud: LOL LIFE.
CHICAGO — Two weeks ago, Dave Roberts was declarative.
Shohei Ohtani, he said then, “is going to be the MVP of the National League.”
By Wednesday morning, however, the Dodgers manager sounded less sure.
While Ohtani remains one of the best hitters in baseball, his inability to pitch lately has opened the door to a potentially competitive MVP race.
The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani appeared to be a lock for NL MVP, but now he has some competition. AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh
And the player who has stepped right through it: Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who staged an epic duel with Ohtani in the Cubs’ 7-6 win over the Dodgers on Wednesday at Wrigley Field.
“He’s having a heck of a year,” Roberts said of Crow-Armstrong pregame. “He has rightfully made it a lot closer than most people expected.”
Indeed, as the Cubs completed a series sweep that sent the Dodgers to a season-worst sixth straight defeat, the two superstar sluggers went back-and-forth with heavyweight blows.
Ohtani led off the top of the first with his 25th home run of the season. Crow-Armstrong then did the same in the bottom half of the frame to match that total.
Crow-Armstrong then followed with an RBI double in the second, punctuating a two-run rally, and another two-run home run in the fourth, helping push the Cubs to what became a 7-1 lead.
Ohtani, however, wasn’t done, either, recording his own multi-homer game with an opposite-field two-run blast in the eighth that — after Max Muncy had hit a three-run bomb earlier in the inning — brought the Dodgers back within a run before their wild comeback bid fell narrowly short.
The Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong has entered the MVP conversation. AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh
“I guess today for me, what was cool was just getting to watch him from a different angle,” said Crow-Armstrong, who got a rare start as designated hitter that allowed him to study Ohtani’s swing from up close.
“I do think they were going toe to toe,” Roberts added. “Obviously, there’s a lot of talk about those two guys being the front-runners for the MVP. And they both showed up. You can see that they hear what’s being said about them. And that was fun for the fans.”
For the Dodgers, the loss undoubtedly still stung.
They extended their season-long losing streak, suffering consecutive sweeps to the Cubs and Red Sox after having previously gone winless in just one series all year.
They have also started to slip in the standings, now tied with the Braves for the No. 2 seed in the National League playoff picture (and the an all-important first-round bye that comes with) after owning the best record in baseball just a few days ago.
“You just got to kind of put your head down,” Roberts said.
“Right now, the priority is to win one game and stop the negative flow,” Ohtani added in Japanese.
As far as the MVP race is concerned, however, Wednesday was a thrilling exhibition; offering an exhilarating reminder of why Crow-Armstrong and Ohtani are now seen as MVP co-favorites.
“I haven’t followed the race, [but] I have followed what Pete’s doing,” Roberts said pregame. “He’s figured some things out with the bat … which has made him more of a complete player. So, yeah, he’s having an MVP-type season.”
At this point, even public betting odds are largely split between the two players.
Ohtani led off the top of the first with his 25th home run of the season. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Simply put, just having your name in the same conversation as someone as profound as he feels, it’s awesome and it’s a nice nod,” the 24-year-old Crow-Armstrong said, amid a career-best campaign in his fourth MLB season.
“There’s really no point in worrying about it at this stage,” Ohtani, whose four career MVP awards trail only Barry Bonds for most all time, countered when asked of the race postgame. “Numbers go up and down, so depending on the time, it changes whether you’re in a favorable position. Right now, the priority is to win one game and stop the negative flow.”
Offensively, Ohtani’s numbers are still a shade better than Crow-Armstrong’s: Ohtani was hitting .297 with 26 homers, 70 RBIs and an NL-best .953 OPS at the end of play Wednesday. Crow-Armstrong was at .288 with 26 homers, 69 RBIs and a .938 OPS that ranked third in the league.
But, for as good as Ohtani was on the mound earlier this year (8-2 record, 1.79 ERA in 14 starts), the fact his ongoing knee injury has kept him from pitching in more than a month has negated his typical two-way advantage.
“It’s getting better little by little,” Ohtani said of his knee Wednesday, but without being able to offer a specific timeline to begin ramping up on the mound again.
Wednesday was a thrilling exhibition; offering an exhilarating reminder of why Crow-Armstrong and Ohtani are now seen as MVP co-favorites. AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh
If anything, Crow-Armstrong’s daily defensive contributions (he leads all MLB players in outs-above-average and ranks top 10 in defensive runs saved) and base-running prowess (his 28 steals are fifth most in the majors) have given him more surplus value beyond his performance at the plate.
According to FanGraphs’ combined wins-above-replacement metric — which accounts for hitting and pitching production, and is often a bellwether for MVP voting — Crow-Armstrong has been worth a full WAR more than Ohtani, outpacing him before Wednesday 7.5 to 6.4.
“You remember seasons like this. You cherish seasons like this,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters, without wading into the MVP debate. “That’s the best part.”
Ohtani has had plenty of similar campaigns himself, of course, having won all four of his prior MVPs by unanimous first-place votes.
And a little more than a month ago, he seemed to be on a glide path to do so again.
But as the Dodgers have let the competition catch up in the standings, so too has their two-way star for the game’s highest individual honor.
And while Ohtani might downplay his budding rivalry with Crow-Armstrong, the Cubs’ young outfielder came out of Wednesday eyeing an even loftier team-wide goal.
“I would feel much more accomplished taking [the Dodgers] down at some point,” Crow-Armstrong said, before later adding: “I would be crazy to say that I don’t want to win an MVP, but if we’re talking about having priorities straight, I think mine are pretty straight.”
Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani gestures towards the dugout after hitting a home run to lead off Wednesday's game. (Jessie Alcheh / Associated Press)
Ebel, who coached Cubs star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic this year, gave him grief for serving as the designated hitter on Wednesday. He couldn’t play center field every day?
Ohtani and Crow-Armstrong had just traded leadoff home runs, so Crow-Armstrong told reporters that he shot back with: “Well, it took your guy 10 pitches, it only took me one.”
He was exaggerating slightly. Ohtani’s leadoff homer came on the seventh pitch of the at-bat against Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga. And that, of course, wasn’t really how Crow-Armstrong felt.
“A [seven]-pitch at-bat to start the game and finish it off with a 110 [mph] ball at 20 degrees is pretty ridiculous,” Crow-Armstrong said.
The National League MVP race transformed into a head-to-head showdown between the frontrunners at Wrigley Field on Wednesday, as the Dodgers fell to the Cubs 7-6.
“Over the course of a season, there’s a lot of ups and downs,” Ohtani, a four-time MVP, said through interpreter Will Ireton. “It’s too early to think about that. So in a way for me it’s more important for the team to win and for me to contribute to that.”
Though Crow-Armstrong played along with the MVP talk, he came around to a similar sentiment.
“I would be crazy to say that I don’t want to win an MVP, but if we’re talking about having priorities straight, I think mine are pretty straight,” he said. “It’s not on the forefront of my mind. It’s fun to joke about and it’s fun to acknowledge and I think it’s absolutely OK to pay attention to. But it’s not following me up to the plate.
“If you guys want to talk about all this back and forth, like, I really should go get in the lab and start pitching. I really should.”
Ohtani was considered the runaway MVP favorite early in the year, while his pitching performance also put him in the Cy Young conversation. But his extended absence from the mound (left knee issue) and Crow-Armstrong’s contributions on offense and defense have made the race more interesting.
Crow-Armstrong entered Wednesday leading the majors in fWAR (7.5), followed by Ohtani (6.4).
Chicago Cubs designated hitter Pete Crow-Armstrong drops the bat after hitting his second home run against the Dodgers. (Jessie Alcheh / Associated Press)
“Simply put, just having your name in the same conversation as someone as profound as [Ohtani] feels, it’s awesome and it’s a nice nod,” Crow-Armstrong said. “It’s cool. But … I would feel much more accomplished taking them (the Dodgers) down at some point. I want to see this group (the Cubs) in October because I think it’ll be a dangerous, dangerous group in the playoffs.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts irked Cubs fans a week and a half ago when, asked to evaluate Ohtani’s season overall, he said he’ll still be the NL MVP.
“I haven’t followed the race,” Roberts said before the game Wednesday. “I have followed what Pete’s doing, and he’s figured some things out with the bat. “He’s having a heck of a year. And he has rightfully made it a lot closer than most people expected. He’s had a tremendous season.”
That continued in the finale of the three-game series, for Crow-Armstrong and Ohtani.
Ohtani, struck first, notching the 32nd leadoff homer of his career and 29th as a Dodger, breaking a tie with Davey Lopes for the second-most in franchise history, behind Mookie Betts (32).
In the bottom half of the inning, Crow-Armstrong matched Ohtani with a tying blast.
The next inning, he delivered a two-run double, and in the fourth, he mashed a two-run blast off the right-field scoreboard to put the Cubs up 5-1.
Not to be outdone, Ohtani led off the fifth inning with a single, but the Dodgers failed to score. Then in the eighth, he made it his first multi-homer game of the season, with a two-run shot that trimmed the Cubs’ lead to 7-6.
“He’s a great player,” Ohtani said of Crow-Armstrong. “But I’m really focused on myself on the hitting side of things right now, really working towards hopefully getting back on the mound and working on that side of the game as well.”
Ohtani’s timeline back to the mound is nebulous at this point. Roberts didn’t have a specific day circled to resume playing catch, and Ohtani didn’t provide one, either.
“It’s getting pretty good day by day,” Ohtani said of his knee. “It’s hard to tell at this point what the schedule is going to look like. First I need to do [weighted plyo balls], then go into long toss, then go into a bullpen progression. Rather than rush the progression of this I would rather make sure we’re headed in the right direction. But making sure we’re taking the right steps.”
The Dodgers’ rotation depth means he doesn’t necessarily need to build up to a full starter’s workload by the end of the year. Ohtani said he’d leave the timing of his progression up to the front office.
“Any innings we get from him are bonuses, given he’s a two-way player,” Roberts said. “Whether it’s one inning, two innings, three innings, I’m not too concerned about the timeline. … I certainly see him as a starter, but how much he could give us, to then have somebody [piggybacking] behind him, that we don’t know yet.”
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman left the game in the bottom of the fifth inning after a pitch hit his right hand. But X-rays came back negative, Roberts said.
“I obviously didn’t come out of that at-bat because I knew it hit my bat as well,” Freeman said. “It hit bat, then hand and pinched my hand onto the bat. Next pitch, I swung. I could swing, and I swung again. As the adrenaline wore off, pain got a little bit more.”
Freeman said he expects to be ready to return to the lineup by the Dodgers’ next game, against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 14: (Editors Note: Tonal effects have been applied to this image) Dillon Mitchell #20 of the Boston Celtics poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at UNLV on July 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Just days after questions surfaced about whether Dillon Mitchell could return to St. John’s for another collegiate season, the Boston Celtics have put any uncertainty to rest.
The team announced Wednesday that it has signed the No. 40 overall pick to a two-way contract, officially bringing one of its Summer League standouts into the organization.
Mitchell’s status had become an unexpected storyline this week after reports surfaced that the NCAA appeal process could allow the 6-foot-8 forward to return to St. John’s for a fifth season. Because Mitchell remained unsigned, there was at least some uncertainty about whether he would pursue another year in college, where a lucrative NIL deal may have awaited him.
Celtics now have 14 roster players, two on two-ways, and two training camp invites for 18 players to begin the preseason. Camp roster should grow over the next month-plus. https://t.co/iXiuX7PpSW
The athletic forward made a strong impression during Las Vegas Summer League, averaging 13.0 points, 2.7 steals and 1.3 blocks while flashing the defensive versatility and relentless motor that made him an intriguing second-round selection. He also knocked down 37.5 percent of his three-point attempts, albeit on limited volume, offering another encouraging sign as he continues to round out his offensive game.
While Mitchell remains a developmental prospect, his archetype is one the Celtics have shown a willingness to invest in. Boston has prioritized long, switchable defenders under Brad Stevens, and the organization has already seen encouraging returns from similar young wings such as Jordan Walsh and Hugo González.
The two-way contract gives Mitchell the opportunity to split time between Boston and the Maine Celtics while continuing his development without the uncertainty that surrounded his future earlier this week.
Mitchell now becomes Boston’s second player on a two-way deal alongside center Amari Williams. The Celtics still have one remaining two-way roster spot available entering training camp.
For Boston, the move also provides some welcome clarity.
Rather than navigating questions about Mitchell’s eligibility, draft rights, or a possible return to college, the Celtics can now begin developing one of the more intriguing young athletes from this year’s draft class. After the flashes he showed in Las Vegas, that’s likely the outcome the organization was hoping for all along.
Last week, Pavel Dorofeyev spoke to the media in person for the first time as a member of the New York Rangers at the Shoulder Check Showcase.
Dorofeyev, who was traded from the Las Vegas Golden Knights to the Rangers, is beginning to adapt to his new home.
“Right now, just trying to settle down, trying to move all my stuff to the New York area and get ready for the upcoming season.”
The 25-year-old forward is generally familiar with the area, as he’s been training at Prentiss Hockey in Connecticut.
Through training with Ben Prentiss over the past three years, Dorofeyev has gotten to know some of his new Ranger teammates, including Adam Fox, J.T. Miller, and Matt Rempe.
Dorofeyev confessed that training at Prentiss Hockey has helped him with this transition to the Rangers organization.
“The past three years, I have been working with Ben, and I kind of know the area now,” Dorofeyev said. “It has kind of helped.”
The Rangers acquired Dorofeyev from the Golden Knights in exchange for the 26th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, a 2026 third-round pick (92 overall), and a 2028 top-10 protected first-round pick.
Shortly after the trade was finalized, the Rangers and Dorofeyev agreed to a seven-year, $77 million contract extension with an AAV of $11 million.
Training camp is set to begin in September, as we’ll get our first look at Dorofeyev with the Blueshirts.
The Wieners Circle mocked the Dodgers after they were swept by the Cubs. Instagram/wienerscircle
“Swept those mothertuckers back to La La Land,” the marquee sign read.
The restaurant’s Instagram caption continued to poke fun at the Dodgers, who signed top free agent of the winter Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million deal in the offseason.
“Goliath @dodgers came to town with their all star team and the @cubs brought out the @ktuck_30 is a $60 mil a year replacement level player #mvpete,” the caption read.
Kyle Tucker spent the 2025 season with the Cubs, earning his fourth consecutive All-Star selection. Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
Tucker spent the 2025 season with the Cubs, where he batted .266 with 22 home runs and 73 RBIs across 136 games. The performance in Chicago earned him an All-Star selection, while Tucker also dealt with multiple injuries throughout his first and only campaign with the Cubs.
Many Cubs fans felt burned by Tucker’s decision to sign elsewhere in free agency last winter, and evidently that feeling still exists amid the outfielder’s visit to Wrigley Field this week. The Cubs, one of the premier teams in the National League, present a threat to LA in the postseason.
Though the Dodgers certainly have their best performance throughout the road series, the playoffs typically tell a different tale for the juggernaut.
The Cubs pose one of the biggest threats to the Dodgers in the playoffs. AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh
The Dodgers have lost eight of their last 10 games, suffering consecutive sweeps in their last two series against the Cubs and Boston Red Sox. Despite the rough stretch of games, manager Dave Roberts assured the media his team isn’t spiraling down the stretch.
“There’s certainly no panic,” Roberts said. “We’ve been through a lot of these things, this core group of guys. I think that you just got to kind of reset, flush it, find a way to win a game, and not let it just compound.”
Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs hits an RBI double against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning at Wrigley Field on Aug. 5, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. (Getty Images)
The center fielder became the first Cubs player with consecutive 25 home run, 25 stolen base seasons in the Cubs’ 7-6 win over the Dodgers Wednesday, which clinched a series sweep.
Chicago Cubs designated hitter Pete Crow-Armstrong gestures while running the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Chicago on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh
Crow-Armstrong went 3-for-5, blasted two home runs and drove in four.
Down 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning, Crow-Armstrong smoked the first pitch he saw from Dodgers starting pitcher Eric Lauer for a home run to tie the score.
After driving in Dansby Swanson with a double the next inning, Crow-Armstrong hit a two-run homer in the fourth to put the Cubs up 5-1.
Wednesday’s masterpiece was nothing new from the 24-year-old, as he’s hitting .288 with 26 homers and 69 RBIs on the season.
He’s also stolen 28 bases and drawn 60 walks.
Last season, Crow-Armstrong helped the Cubs to their first playoff appearance since 2020 with 31 home runs and 95 RBIs, though he hit just .247.
Crow-Armstrong’s three-hit day Wednesday was an example of how much he’s improved against lefty pitchers, too.
Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs hits an RBI double against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning at Wrigley Field on Aug. 5, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images
In 2025, Crow-Armstrong had just a .594 OPS against left-handed pitchers.
This year, that number has ballooned up to .937, and he made quick work of a lefty in Lauer on Wednesday.
Crow-Armstrong blossoming into an MVP candidate has been a key reason for the Cubs’ recent success, as the team is 66-49 after starting just 34-34.
The Cubs hold the first NL wild-card spot and are five games back of the Brewers for the NL Central lead.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 20: Grounds crew members cover the field with a tarp after a rain delay was announced before the start of the first inning between the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 20, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees’ Tuesday night showdown against the Cardinals had more buzz to it than the majority of the 2026 season to date, as rookie George Lombard Jr. was called up to make his MLB debut. It went swimmingly, with Ryan Weathers and company combining on a shutout that featured excellent defense from Lombard at the six as well as a solo shot off Hunter Dobbins for his first career homer.
So there’s an energy in the Bronx again today with Lombard preparing for Act II (as it were) while the Yanks go for the series victory over St. Louis to keep pace with the surging division rival Rays and Red Sox. But we’re going to have to wait at least a little while to get this one underway. The tarp is on the field at Yankee Stadium and they’ve already announced that the game will not begin at 7:05pm ET as originally planned.
There’s some more rain in the forecast, but there should hopefully be a window if AccuWeather is correct. In the YES Network clip below, announcer Ryan Ruocco also noted that they “are expecting baseball.” The Yankees and Cardinals have a mutual offday tomorrow, so it’s possible that the finale could get pushed to then, but they would probably like to just get this one over with and have a more natural breather on Thursday. The Cardinals also do not return to New York this year, as they’ve finished their season series with the Mets.
It looks like this will only be an hour-long rain delay, as the Yankees have announced an 8:05pm ET start time. Will Warren will be on the bump to deliver the first pitch for New York.
Sunday’s Los Angeles Dodgers game against the Boston Red Sox began like thousands before it: Fans filtered in through the gates at Dodger Stadium, bought their concessions and found their seats.
But when Dodgers’ public address announcer Todd Leitz asked the crowd of 46,834 fans to direct their attention to the videoboards moments before the first pitch game against the Red Sox, few realized that the most emotional moment of the day was about to unfold.
Romy Reiner (L), Rob Reiner, Jake Reiner and Michele Reiner (R) at a Dodgers game. X/@Reiner_Jake
What unfolded over the next few minutes became something far greater than an ordinary ceremonial first pitch: It became a family’s love letter to two parents who’d spent a lifetime making Dodger Stadium feel like their second home.
The Dodgers had reached out to the Reiner family before the season began to let them know if they ever needed anything, the organization was there for them.
The family’s oldest son Jake reached out in early July with a simple request: Could he and his sister honor both of their parents by throwing out a ceremonial first pitch for each of them?
The answer came back immediately: Yes.
“Whatever you guys want to do, we’ll do it,” a Dodgers spokesperson said they’d told the family. “It was something they felt very passionate about. It was their happy place, so we wanted them to have some joy.”
If you’re familiar with the relationship between the Reiner family and the Dodgers, that response should not surprise you. Rob Reiner wasn’t just another celebrity fan.
Jake Reiner and Romy Reiner walk off the mound at Dodger Stadium after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Instagram/jakereiner
Long before he became one of Hollywood’s most celebrated filmmakers, he was just another baseball-loving kid from New York who wore No. 6 growing up. After moving to Los Angeles as a teenager, his loyalty shifted from the Yankees to the Dodgers, beginning a relationship with the franchise that lasted over a half-century.
He became a season-ticket holder, threw out the ceremonial first pitch on several occasions, including in 2012 and 2014, and more importantly, he passed his love of baseball down to his children.
That initial introduction turned into a friendship that lasted over two decades.
“Rob and Michele were good friends,” Steiner told The California Post in an exclusive interview.
The family’s oldest son Jake reached out to the Dodgers in early July with a simple request asking to honor his parents with a ceremonial first pitch. Getty Images
“I first met Rob maybe 20 years ago. We immediately hit it off and became friends. Rob is a year or two older than I am. He once told me, ‘Do you know why we’re friends? We have similar interests in sports, politics and movies.'”
When Jake reached out to the Dodgers, Greg Taylor, the team’s Emmy Award-winning vice president of media productions, immediately began building a tribute to Rob and Michele, knowing exactly who he wanted to write and narrate it: Steiner.
“I had no idea this thing was in the works until Greg called me and asked me if I wanted in,” Steiner said. “That was the easiest part of the whole process. Of course I’ll do it. I was all in.”
For Steiner, the assignment was both an honor and a much-needed therapy session.
Romy Reiner and Jake Reiner hug after throwing the ceremonial first pitch, honoring their father, who was a longtime baseball lover and Dodgers fan. Getty Images
“The Reiners meant a lot to me,” he said, fighting back tears. “Being able to do it was therapeutic and difficult. That’s the best way to describe it. It was hard to do because it hurt, but therapeutic because this is part of the process. If it makes Jake or Romy feel any better at all, I was happy to do it.”
Before every homestand the Dodgers release a breakdown of the theme nights, promotional giveaways, anthem singers, performances and ceremonial first pitch participants for the slate of games.
But they did not announce the Reiners for the next three weeks as production remained under lock and key. Out of respect, the Dodgers, the Reiner family and Steiner kept everything quiet so that Sunday’s appearance could unfold naturally.
It also ensured the crowd would also experience the moment together organically. When the tribute video played, a stadium known for its noise suddenly became remarkably still.
Even Steiner admitted he underestimated the impact it would have.
Nice Rob Reiner tribute before today’s Dodgers game. His kids Jake and Romy threw out first pitch…. pic.twitter.com/gQUChkpMMe
“It surprised me how much attention this received,” he said. “It was just five minutes before the first pitch. There was no promotion. The fans got quiet in a hurry. The reaction was rewarding.”
Then came the moment everyone will remember: Jake walked to the mound wearing a custom Dodgers jersey bearing his father’s childhood No. 6.
Romy followed wearing No. 97, a nod to the year she was born.
Normally, multiple ceremonial first pitch participants throw simultaneously, but the Dodgers allowed Jake to throw first, and Romy followed, giving each sibling an individual moment before sharing one together.
Jake fired a strike to Dodgers’ outfielder Alex Call.
Romy toed the rubber — a rarity for many ceremonial first pitches — and delivered hers all the way to the plate without a bounce, where it was caught by 2025 World Series Game 7 hero, Miguel Rojas.
Afterwards, brother and sister wrapped their arms around each other on the same mound where their father had once stood. It was a beautiful, full-circle moment.
“I was rooting for them as if they were players,” Steiner said. “The emotion they were both dealing with was incomprehensible. When I saw them hug, I thought, ‘This is too much.'”
After the pitch, brother and sister wrapped their arms around each other on the same mound where their father had once stood. X/@Reiner_Jake
Around them, Dodger Stadium rose together, cheered and applauded.
“That was enormously gratifying,” Steiner said of the crowd’s reaction. “It was a beautiful day. It really was.”
A source close to the family called every detail — from the custom jerseys, to the inclusion of both parents in the tribute video, to allowing Jake and Romy to throw separately — “a true testament to what a world-class organization the Dodgers are.”
Steiner agreed. “That’s why they’re the best fans in baseball,” he said.
On Tuesday, Jake Reiner publicly thanked the organization that had quietly helped his family heal. “The Dodgers have always been a huge part of our family,” he wrote on Instagram and X. “My dad and I could talk baseball for hours and I truly never felt closer to him than when we’d watch games together.
“Dodger Stadium is a place we’d love to come to as a family,” he continued. “Romy and I wanted to honor our mom and dad by throwing out a ceremonial first pitch for each of them. We’re grateful the Dodgers helped make this moment so special.”
Sometimes baseball’s greatest moments can’t be found inside a box score. They’re found in the reverence and silence of 50,000 people honoring grief; the embrace of two siblings on a pitcher’s mound.
And sometimes, they’re found in a place a grieving family can make feel like home again.
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ARLINGTON, TX - JUNE 2: Hitting coach George Brett #5 of the Kansas City Royals, umpire Dale Scott #5 and Nolan Ryan, CEO of the Texas Rangers, exchange line-up cards, marking 20 years ago since all three exchanged line-up cards at the old Arlington Stadium (former home of the Texas Rangers) at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on June 2, 2013 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Usually, tonight’s Minnesota Twins vs Kansas City Royals clash would be serenaded with a Matt Monitto song selection. I’m filling in for Matt tonight, so we’ll have a different sort of medium to sort through—print—on this game thread edition of Twinkie Town Book Club.
I recently read Nolan: The Singular Life of an American Original by Tim Brown. Because Ryan’s career took place entirely before my baseball-watching time and is seemingly such a contradiction in terms, he has always been a fascinating subject to me.
In this tome, Brown looks at Ryan very much through the lens of Texas myth-making. Fair, in that there are few (if any) other MLB players as associated with a state as Ryan with TX. When I was last in the Lone Star State for baseball, I can certainly corroborate…
Brown also digs into Nolan’s unique career arc, which saw him be one of the first pitchers to embrace weight training for endurance purposes and one of the first true “max effort” hurlers (i.e. everything he had went into every pitch—nothing saved for later). This all set up an overall line that is somewhat baffling.
On one hand, his career (773 games started, 807 total appearances) with the Mets, Angels, Astros, & Rangers produced a 1.247 WHIP. Solid—but not necessarily spectacular. He also holds the all-time MLB record for walks allowed—2,795. On eight occasions he led the league in BB—with that number twice eclipsing 200!
On the other hand, his workhorse status was unparalleled. Pitching from 1966-1993 would be unprecedented even if one possessed a noodle arm. Ryan was of course the exact opposite, maintaining 90+ mph velocity on his Ryan Express (fastball) into his mid-40s. His 5,714 strikeouts are an all-time MLB high, as is his 6.6 hits-per-nine innings. He completed 222 games (61 of those shutouts!) and tossed in three saves for good measure!
Ryan tossed seven no-hitters, twelve 1-hitters, eighteen 2-hitters, & thirty one 3-hitters. One could make a compelling argument that when possessed with control over his arsenal (if a somewhat fleeting circumstance career-wide), Nolan was the most un-hittable pitcher to ever ascend the bump.
Getting back to Brown’s text for a moment, it is a solid—if unorthodox—look at the entirety of Ryan’s oeuvre. The Texas imagery may wear on the reader at times, but when the prose shifts to Nolan’s on-field performance, rapport with teammates, and general personality, it shines. Worth a read if you are interested in better understanding the literal dominance, legend, and even limitations of Nolan Ryan.
One thing is for sure: neither starter in suburban Kansas City this evening will likely get even half way to the reported (though not officially verified by Baseball-Reference.com) total of 235 pitches Ryan heaved on June 14, 1974 at the Big A in Orange County!
PHOENIX, AZ - JULY 19: Andre Pallante #53 of the St. Louis Cardinals leaves the field during the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Sunday, July 19, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Julia Jacome/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It’s game 3 as the St. Louis Cardinals tackle the New York Yankees again Wednesday night. Andre Pallante hopes for another strong start for the Cardinals while the Yankees will start RHP Will Warren who’s 8-5 on the season with a 4.14 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05pm central time at Yankee Stadium and the TV broadcast will be available via Cardinals.tv.
Angel Genao of the Cleveland Guardians warms up prior to making his major league debut against the New York Mets on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. (Getty Images)
Welcome to the big leagues, Angel Genao.
Before their 6-5 loss to the Mets on Wednesday night, the Guardians called up Genao, their No. 2 prospect on MLB Pipeline, from Triple-A Columbus.
Despite the defeat, Genao delivered a four-hit game, the first time a player had done that in Cleveland franchise history.
After beginning the season with Double-A Akron, Genao was called up to Triple-A, where he hit .309 with 10 homers and 42 RBIs in 72 games.
Genao was particularly hot as of late, going 37-for-97 (.381) with four home runs and 18 RBIs since July 1.
While he’s primarily a shortstop, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said Genao will also see time at second and third base and will start at third in his debut.
Cleveland Guardians’ Angel Genao walks from the batting cage as he warms up before a baseball game against the New York Mets on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Cleveland. Genao was making his Major League debut. AP Photo/Phil Long
“Angel has been pushing the meter all season, and we felt like it was time,” Vogt told reporters. “It was Angel’s time.”
The 22-year-old grew up idolizing former Guardian and current Met Francisco Lindor, who’ll be in the opposing dugout for his debut. Genao watched highlight videos of Lindor growing up.
The two nearly overlapped in the Guardians organization, though Lindor was traded to the Mets eight days before Genao signed with Cleveland.
In a corresponding move, the Guardians designated infielder Gabriel Arias for assignment, who had a throwing error in the second inning of the Guardians’ 6-2 loss to the Mets on Tuesday.
Angel Genao of the Cleveland Guardians warms up before making his major league debut against the New York Mets on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. Getty Images
Genao will become the 10th player to make their MLB debut with the Guardians this season, as the team has been hampered by injuries, notably to star third baseman Jose Ramirez.
Cleveland (57-57) is just 6-11 since the All-Star break and is hanging on by a thread in the AL wild-card picture, a half-game ahead of the Twins for the final playoff spot.
Cleveland is three games back of the White Sox for the American League Central lead.
“It’s very special to know that the team is thinking about you when they’re trying to win, especially in this particular moment of the season,” Genao said. “I try to give 100 percent and be positive 100 percent of all the time, try to help the team in any way they need me.”
With marquee players signed and most impact moves already made, the NBA offseason is deep into a lull.
Yet, that doesn’t mean there are still some difference makers who could find new homes.
One of those players with an unresolved future is current Dallas Mavericks shooter Klay Thompson. As Dallas is looking to build for the future around soon-to-be second-year forward Cooper Flagg, Thompson might not figure into the team’s plans. That’s only magnified, given he has one year left on his deal, worth $17.5 million.
That makes Thompson a prime trade or buyout candidate. The tricky part about a trade is that teams might be reluctant to part with assets — whether draft capital or personnel — for a 36-year-old who shot a career low in 3-point percentage last season.
Granted, that was still a very respectable 38.3%, but it’s clear Thompson is more of a role-playing shooting specialist at this point of his career. A buyout, however, would allow Thompson to pick his preferred destination. But the Mavericks likely don’t want to let him walk without getting anything in return.
Thompson was born in Los Angeles and still has ties to the area, so this would be a nice fit. The roster is very different from last season’s, but the Lakers ranked just 23rd in made 3-point field goals per game (11.8). Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves will dominate ball-handling duties, and Thompson excels at slipping past defenders without the ball in his hands. Coach JJ Redick, who was a sharpshooter in his own right, also knows how to maximize a talented sniper like Thompson. When Thompson signed with the Mavericks in July 2024, Thompson acknowledged that playing alongside Dončić was a big reason why.
When Thompson is at his best, he has plenty of space to find soft spots in opposing defenses. Now that Miami landed Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Heat should have far better spacing, given Antetokounmpo’s ability to slash into the paint and draw multiple defenders. Miami also needs shooting help, though the Heat don’t have a lot of cap space to work with so this would appear to be more of a buyout scenario, unless Miami makes a player like Nikola Jović available.
After failing to land Antetokounmpo and LeBron James, the Warriors are very clearly running it back. Why not, then, really run it back? The money would have to work, but there would be no fit better for Thompson than Golden State. Coach Steve Kerr is still there. Stephen Curry is still there. Thompson knows the system intimately and the Warriors — who tied for 17th last season in 3-point percentage (35.6%) — could definitely use a shooter like him. Highlighting that point: No team took more 3s per game (44.1) last season than the Warriors. Golden State, however, needs to get younger.
If teams don’t bite with any trade offers, and if a buyout becomes the only option, there is the case to be made for Thompson to stay with the Mavericks. His deal will expire at the end of the season, so Dallas will clear his cap space when that time comes. But, Thompson’s market could intensify closer to the trading deadline; perhaps a possible contender will need to add a shooter, or perhaps a team looking ahead to the 2027 offseason will want to enter free agency with more financial flexibility. If the objective for Dallas is to get something in return, patience might prove to be worthwhile.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 4: Luis Arraez #4 of the Philadelphia Phillies salutes the crowd after the game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on August 4, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Nationals 5-0. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves are taking on the Miami Marlins as they look to win their seventh game in a row. On paper if you just look at the ERAs it looks like it may be a pitcher’s duel between Bryce Elder and Eury Pérez.
If we dig deeper we see that Bryce Elder has a FIP north of seven in his past four starts despite his 3.00 ERA and the Braves have a recent history of having no issues tagging Eury Pérez for runs. The Braves have seven regular starters with a career OPS of .762 or better against Pérez in their career. Pérez has an ERA of 1.69 since the start of July, so we will see if the Braves simply have his number, or if he was just in a funk the few times he has faced them.
