CINCINNATI — Spencer Steer broke up a scoreless game with his 14th home run this season, Nick Lodolo pitched six scoreless innings, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 on Sunday.
The win avoided a sweep and stopped the Reds’ six game losing streak at home.
Kyle Bradish retired the first 12 Reds of the game but walked Eugenio Suarez to start the fifth before Steer’s homer made it 2-0.
Bradish (5-9) pitched 7 ⅔ innings and allowed three runs and five hits with five strikeouts.
Rookie All-Star Sal Stewart doubled home Edwin Arroyo to knock Bradish out of the game. Stewart has 61 RBI, tied for seventh in MLB and the most by a rookie this season. He is tied for 10th in baseball with 21 doubles, also the most by a rookie.
Lodolo’s string of 14 scoreless innings ended in the sixth inning. Taylor Ward doubled and scored on a single by Coby Mayo with two outs.
Brock Burke made his 44th appearance this season, tied for second most in baseball, when he relieved Lodolo and pitched a 1-2-3 seventh.
Lodolo (3-2) pitched six innings, allowing one run on six hits. He walked two and struck out four.
Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. left Sunday's game against the Minnesota Twins early due to left big toe discomfort, the team announced.
Chisholm flied out in the bottom of the fifth inning and did not return to the field on defense in the sixth inning, getting replaced by Amed Rosario. Jose Caballero slid over to second base while Rosario took over third base.
New York said Chisholm was examined by Dr. Christopher Ahmad at Yankee Stadium and X-rays were negative. He will be reassessed on Monday to determine the next steps.
Chisholm had gone 1-for-2 on Sunday, recording one of the team's few hits against Twins starter Joe Ryan. Through 85 games this season, he's hitting .225 with 12 home runs and 33 RBI.
Manager Aaron Boone said after the game that the injury occurred while Chisholm stumbled on a caught stealing in the bottom of the second inning. Boone added it's not looking like an IL stint for Chisholm, but it's a "nagging thing" with his toe since having surgery on it in 2023.
"Sometimes it comes back, a little bit of throbbing and stuff in there," Chisholm said. "When you kind of aggravate it, it kind of hurts. You don't move the same a little bit sometimes."
He added: "I was in a lot of pain, but I kind of figured that it wouldn't be that bad because it wasn't as bas as when I injured it the first time. But other than that, huge relief, thinking I'm good. Did a couple stuff in rehab when I came out, starting to feel better."
The infielder noted he doesn't expect to miss any time with the lingering injury.
Jan 23, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) defends against Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) during the second half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images | David Reginek-Imagn Images
Well, well, well, that didn’t take long. Mr. Grass is Always Greener Kevin Durant, who came to the Houston Rockets just last season, is already gazing longingly at another franchise and potential teammate, as Brett Siegel of Clutch Point is reporting that Durant has a desire to go to Detroit and play with Cade Cunningham. In addition, apparently the Rockets do not view Durant as untouchable and are more than willing to trade him if the right offer comes around (come on, Detroit).
Siegel said:
“Whether or not the Rockets look to continue their partnership with Durant is the big question at large, especially since they don’t view him as an untouchable talent in trade talks on their roster, Houston viewed the opportunity to acquire Durant as a way to upgrade from Jalen Green and bridge the gaps in their lineup to contend in the West, but by no means was this addition viewed as a long-term commitment.
“Many around the league are skeptical of the Rockets wanting to keep Durant through the end of his current contract running through the 2027-28 season, It isn’t a secret to anyone that there were tensions between Durant and the Rockets’ locker room last season after reports of an alleged burner account came to light and frustrations were mounting internally about the team not taking a step forward with the former league MVP at the helm.”
As for the wish for Cade, Siegel said this:
“If Durant becomes available in any capacity or the Rockets look at possible trades involving him either now or in the near future, the Pistons are fully expected to be at the front of the line to bid on his services.”
“Two league sources with knowledge of the situation told ClutchPoints that the Pistons were set on figuring out a path to land Durant, but nothing ever materialized in this three-team idea, nor did anything appear possible in brief discussions with only Houston. Perhaps the greatest detail to emerge from all of these rumors is that Durant has interest in playing alongside Pistons star Cade Cunningham.”
Does any of this sound familiar? It’s the same old story, same old song and dance for Durant. Never happy anywhere, it’s always everyone else, and this morning’s KD dump smelled like candy and roses.
Last year, it was playing with Alperen Sengun that was going be good for KD. It took all of one season for us to hear about Durant flirting with the next girl (sorry, Cade).
As far as I am concerned, the sooner KD hits the road, the sooner the Rockets can get back to building a team for the present and the long term, and not a collection of guys standing around and watching KD throw his arms up in the air and act all exasperated when he doesn’t get the ball or the shot. Or the Rockets standing around and watching KD go to work. Either way, the team stands around and watches KD, and that’s not good for anyone but Durant, which we all know is KD’s only concern, but that wasn’t the temperament of this team before he got here, despite the fact there have been too few offensive sets in both the before and after KD scenarios.
Some of this does indeed fall on Ime Udoka for not having an offensive gameplan and for not stepping in to address the locker room concerns, but anyone who doesn’t think there have been chemistry issues since the burner scandal just hasn’t been paying attention.
This team lost more than just Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green when they traded for Durant, they lost their identity. Most of you know that I was against the KD move at the time, warmed up to it slightly through the first 20 games or so when the Rockets started off 15-5, then went to — trade KD at all costs.
We all know KD is gonna KD, and if there’s one thing we should have learned with Durant after all these years and all the nonsense that comes along with rostering him is that where there is KD smoke, there is almost always fire.
And honestly, as far as I am concerned, if there’s fire with KD, Cade and the Pistons, that’s the best news of the offseason.
Jul 5, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Baltimore Orioles outfielder Tyler O'Neill watches as a fan attempts to catch the two-run home run by Cincinnati Reds first baseman Spencer Steer in the fifth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images | Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
The Baltimore bats couldn’t deliver in the clutch, and a strong Kyle Bradish start went to waste, as the O’s dropped their series finale in Cincinnati 3-2.
The O’s came into the bottom of the 9th trailing 3-1 after struggling to get their bats going all afternoon. The pinch-hitting Dylan Beavers worked a leadoff walk to put the winning run on base. Jackson Holliday then entered for Jeremiah Jackson, with the former No.1 overall pick correctly challenging a 3-1 pitch to also reach via walk. The red-hot Blaze Alexander then battled Reds closer Emilio Pagán, finally getting ahold of a 2-2 cutter and sending a single into left to load the bases.
With the bases loaded and one out, former All-Star Gunnar Henderson stepped to the plate. After falling behind 1-2, Gunnar just missed a fastball up and away, sending a fly out to deep left field. The sac fly allowed Beavers to score and cut the deficit to one.
That put the weight of the Orioles’ chances on the newly named All-Star Adley Rutschman. The Orioles’ catcher fell behind like Henderson and could only send a fly ball to center, ending the game with the tying run on second base.
The rally in the 9th was the Orioles’ first good scoring opportunity since the 6th inning. With the O’s trailing 2-0. After Adley Rutschman started off the frame with a fly out, Taylor Ward got the rally going with a double to the left field gap. Pete Alonso then sent a rocket of a ground ball to short, where a bobble by Elly De La Cruz allowed Ward to advance on a 6-3 groundout. That brought up Coby Mayo, the lefty masher, against Reds’ left-handed starter Nick Lodolo. The southpaw left a 1-1 changeup over the plate and Mayo smashed it into left field to bring home Ward.
Outfielders Tyler O’Neill and Leody Taveras then worked back-to-back walks to load the bases for Jeremiah Jackson. The infielder couldn’t come through, striking out to end the threat.
The lack of clutch hitting doomed starter Bradish to his second straight loss. The Orioles’ right-hander was as dominant as they come through the first four innings of the game, but saw his outing unravel a little in the 5th inning.
The Orioles’ right-hander started the game by setting down the first 12 Reds batters he faced. Bradish got an assist from Adley Rutschman in his first AB against De La Cruz, with the starter picking up a strikeout of the All-Star SS after a successful strike three challenge by Rutschman. He then got back-to-back groundouts from Sal Stewart and JJ Bleday to complete the 1st inning on just six pitches.
He’d repeat that same pattern in the 2nd, punching out Eugenio Suárez on a slider in the dirt before groundouts from Spencer Steer and Tyler Stephenson ended another 1-2-3 frame on only 11 pitches. Like your favorite song playing on repeat, Bradish would again cruise through the 3rd by starting with a strikeout before rolling back-to-back groundouts. He started the frame by getting Noelvi Marte to swing over a dive-bomb curveball, before TJ Friedl and Edwin Arroyo each grounded out to the right side to complete Bradish’s perfect first time through the order.
The ground ball remained Bradish’s best friend through the 4th inning, getting De La Cruz and Stewart to ground out up the middle to begin his second time through the lineup. Bleday then hit the Reds’ first ball out of the infield, lining out Leody Taveras in center to complete another perfect frame by the Orioles’ former ace. Bradish came into Sunday with a season of high of 10 groundball outs, and already had eight at the end of four frames.
That perfect start quickly turned into a Reds advantage thanks to a walk and a blast in the 5th. Bradish fell behind Suárez 3-0 and ultimately allowed his first base runner on a five-pitch walk. The Orioles’ right-hander then got ahead of Steer 0-2, but couldn’t find his out pitch. After failing to get Steer to chase a couple of breaking balls out of the zone, a 3-2 slider caught too much of the plate, and the Reds’ 1B sent an opposite-field two-run homer into the right-field bleachers.
After seeing his perfect game, no-hitter and shutout disappear in a matter of two batters, Bradish locked back in. He worked around a single from Tyler Stephenson to limit the Reds from doing any more damage. He then came back in the 6th and started the frame with another punch out of De La Cruz. After Sal Stewart gave the 29-year-old his 10th ground ball out of the afternoon, he won an eight-pitch battle with Bleday to complete another scoreless inning.
Thanks to only needing 77 pitches to get through the first six innings, Bradish came out for the 7th looking to keep the deficit manageable. He got fly-outs from Suárez and Steer before Stephenson picked up his second single of the afternoon (the Reds’ third hit). Bradish didn’t let the base runner faze him, however, getting Marte to bounce out for his 11th ground ball—a new season high.
Despite sitting at 89 pitches, manager Craig Albernaz sent his starter back out for the 8th inning. He started the 8th with a two-pitch flyout against Friedl, before giving up a soft single up the middle to Arroyo. The Orioles’ righty would win an eight-pitch battle against De La Cruz to strike out the SS for the fourth time.
Albernaz then came to the mound, looking like he was going to take Bradish out at 102 pitches. Instead, the starter convinced his manager to leave him in, and the Reds made the Orioles pay for that decision. With Stephenson on second after a wild pitch, Bradish tried to sneak a curveball inside to Stewart, but the Cincinnati 3B rocketed it down the third-base line to give the Reds a 3-1 lead.
That’d be Bradish’s last batter, finishing his afternoon with a line of 7.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB and 5 Ks. It was the third time in his last four starts that Bradish pitched into the 8th inning, and his eighth quality start of the season.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 05: Pitcher Nick Lodolo #40 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch during the fourth inning of the baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Great American Ball Park on July 05, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds got a brilliant start from lefty Nick Lodolo, a Spencer Steer homer, and a timely insurance run courtesy of noted RBI-guy (and All Star) Sal Stewart and held on to defeat the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 on Sunday afternoon in Great American Ball Park.
The victory made sure the Reds were not once again swept on their own home turf seeing as they’d dropped each of the first two games of the weekend series by three runs each.
Lodolo kept the ball in the yard and mostly over the plate through 6.0 IP of 6 H, ER ball, striking out only 4 but limiting the Orioles to just 2 walks in his time on the bump. Brock Burke and Tejay Anton each fired clean innings to back him up, though closer Emilio Pagan walked a pair, allowed a hit and a sac-fly run to score, and barely escaped with the save to hammer out the 3-2 win.
Steer’s homer, his 14th of the year, came in the 5th inning off Baltimore starter Kyle Bradish and marked the first runs scored of the game. Lodolo yielded a run in the subsequent half-inning, but an Edwin Arroyo single off Bradish in the Bottom of the 8th put a runner on for Stewart, who doubled them in for his 61st ribbie of the season. That proved vital given Pagan’s inevitable struggles to close things out, and the Reds escaped with a win that brought them to 41-48 on the year.
The Reds get Monday off before welcoming the Philadelphia Phillies to town on Tuesday for a three-game midweek series, one that will be backed up by a home series against the Chicago Cubs to close out the season’s first half before the All Star break. Andrew Abbott will toe the rubber on Tuesday for the series opener against the Phils opposite Zack Wheeler, with first pitch in that one slated for 7:10 PM ET.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 28: The sneakers worn by Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Mar 17, 2020; Seattle, Washington, USA; Pike Place Market will be closed starting tomorrow for all non-essential goods vendors because of COVID-19. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY NETWORK
Game #90.
It really can’t be as bad as yesterday’s game, right?
HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 24: Bronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2026 at the Toyota Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Even if the Lakers are going to have quite the task this summer to replace LeBron James’ production, isn’t nice to finally not be held hostage during the summer?
While many teams around the league are lining up to put themselves in a situation that appeals to LeBron, the Lakers are going about their business any care in the world to what he is doing in free agency. Being able to ignore Rich Paul’s terrible basketball takes and LeBron’s cryptic social media posts is like breaths of fresh air this offseason.
However, LA could still be roped into things once LeBron does make a choice. While Sr. is no longer on the Lakers’ roster, Jr. is, at least for now. Once LeBron makes his decision, one of the next questions will be whether Bronny follows him to his new team.
And those franchises interested in LeBron are already making those calculations. According to NBA reporter Jake Fischer, the Cavs are keeping open a roster spot for Bronny, should they land LeBron.
One conspiracy whisper making the rounds: They want to make sure that they have open roster spots to be able to trade for the Lakers’ Bronny James in the event that they are able to welcome Dad back as a free agent signee.
While Bronny and LeBron teaming back up again is an easy assumption to make, there are a lot of pieces to this, still. Does LeBron want that? Does Bronny? Surely that’ll be discussed between them before any pseudo demands are made.
After that, the Lakers will need to be convinced to trade Bronny. All jokes about him aside, he has developed significantly with the Lakers, who used a second round pick on him. While he’s far from untradeable, obviously, the Lakers would seek compensation back for him. LeBron is gone. There’s no reason to appease him anymore by simply handing Bronny over to the Cavs.
It would be a situation that the team landing LeBron would basically have to work out and the Lakers shouldn’t exactly hold Bronny hostage, but it’s a situation that could lead to LA getting more than would be expected for a player taken in the late second round who hasn’t broken into the rotation in his first two seasons.
Given how few draft assets the Lakers have, though, it wouldn’t be the worst thing to trade Bronny for a handful of second round picks, for example. Depending on where LA is in their roster-building this summer, it could prove extra beneficial in helping them open up some more cap space.
It would also be fine if he stuck around, too. There’s a decent chance LeBron and Bronny are neither all that enamored anymore about playing with each other. Those days are gone and, perhaps, Bronny is interested in carving his own path now.
He has familiarity with the Lakers. He wouldn’t be under the shadow of his father anymore. And he’s on the fringes of being in the rotation in LA. Would those same opportunities exist elsewhere?
I won’t sit here and pretend to know Bronny or LeBron’s thinking. They could just as easily enjoy playing together and want to do it again. And if that’s the case, the Lakers have more leverage in a trade.
So, while the Lakers are mostly free from the drama of a LeBron James summer, there are still some lasting ripple effects that could still create some waves this offseason.
Jun 30, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Martin Perez (33) throws against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Martín Pérez has had some pretty rotten luck when it comebackers lately and now it appears that one was enough to take him out of a game. Back on June 24, Pérez took a comebacker to the leg and hadn’t really looked completely right since taking that hit.
Now, he’s unfortunately taken a comebacker to the forearm during the fifth inning of his start against the Mets and this one was rough enough (and in a key spot) to force an exit from the game.
Martin Perez exits after his left forearm was hit by this Soto liner to begin the fifth. Ended up retiring the last nine batters he faced. Retired just two of the first 11 he faced. pic.twitter.com/Sn4xeZSKu6
It’s a shame because as MLB.com beat writer Mark Bowman mentioned in his post, Pérez had actually found his groove and had settled in after getting hit hard by the Mets to the tune of five runs allowed (four earned) across 4.1 innings pitched. It’s an even bigger shame since Pérez had mentioned earlier this season that this is the first time that he’s felt fully healthy since the 2023 season, so he’s had to travel a long road to get to this bounce back season so far.
Instead, there could be a detour on this road if there’s bad injury news ahead for Pérez. Let’s all hope for the best as this would be a terrible blow both for Pérez and an Atlanta Braves rotation that can ill-afford any more bad injury luck coming their way. We’ll see what happens.
[UPDATE 5:46 p.m. ET]: We don’t have an official diagnosis yet but it’s likely not to be a good one as Walt Weiss informed the media following Sunday’s loss that Pérez is more than likely headed to the IL.
Weiss says he doesn’t believe Martin Perez’s forearm is fractured, but more imaging is likely needed. He will go on the IL.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JUNE 8: Bryan Baker #47 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates a win against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field on June 8, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Parker S. Freedman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Right-handed pitcher Bryan Baker, infielder Junior Caminero, designated hitter Yandy Díaz, and right-handed pitcher Drew Rasmussen have been named American League (AL) All-Stars and will represent the Tampa Bay Rays at the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, July 14.
This marks the fifth time the Rays have had four players or more selected as All-Stars, joining 2025 (four), 2023 (four), 2010 (four), and 2009 (five). It is also the fifth season in which multiple Rays pitchers have been named to the Midsummer Classic along with 2015 (Chris Archer and Brad Boxberger), 2012 (David Price and Fernando Rodney), 2011 (Price and James Shields), and 2010 (Price and Rafael Soriano). Between Baker (31), Díaz (34), and Rasmussen (30), three Rays have received All-Star selections at age 30 or older for the second time, joining 2021 (right-handed pitcher Andrew Kittredge, 31; infielder Joey Wendle, 31; and catcher Mike Zunino, 30).
Caminero, Díaz, and Rasmussen all earned their second career All-Star bids, joining Price (four), outfielder Carl Crawford (four), infielder Evan Longoria (three), Archer (two), left-handed pitcher Shane McClanahan (two), infielder Brandon Lowe (two), right-handed pitcher Scott Kazmir (two), infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist (two) as the only players to receive multiple All-Star selections with the Rays.
Baker, 31, earned his first career All-Star selection, becoming the ninth relief pitcher in Rays history to be named an All-Star and the second over the last 10 seasons (2017-26) along with Kittredge in 2021. The Fort Walton Beach, Fla. product is the sixth Florida-born player and third Florida-born pitcher to earn an All-Star nod with Tampa Bay, joining Zunino in 2021 (Cape Coral), left-handed pitcher Matt Moore in 2013 (Fort Walton Beach), outfielder Matt Joyce in 2011 (Tampa), right-handed pitcher Lance Carter in 2003 (Bradenton), and infielder Fred McGriff in 2000 (Tampa).
Entering tonight’s game, the right-hander has gone 1-0 with a 1.83 ERA (34.1 IP, 7 ER) and 23 saves, two holds, a 0.82 WHIP, 37 strikeouts, and 11 walks over his first 36 appearances. The 23 saves are second most in the majors behind Cleveland’s Cade Smith (26). Among AL relievers with 30.0 innings pitched or more, Baker ranks second in opponent on-base percentage (.220) and third in WHIP, opponent batting average (.143), and opponent OPS (.463). He was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles on July 10, 2025 for a Competitive Balance Round A draft pick (No. 37 overall) in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft.
Caminero, 22, was announced as the AL’s starting third baseman for the second consecutive season and is slated to become the first player in franchise history to start multiple Midsummer Classics. Longoria was voted as the AL’s starting third baseman in both 2010 and 2009, but he did not participate in the latter contest due to an infection on his right ring finger. Caminero is set to become the first third baseman and 14th player in the modern era (since 1900) to start back-to-back All-Star Games in age-22-or-younger seasons (age as of June 30). Since the All-Star Game’s inception in 1933, he is the second primary third baseman to receive multiple All-Star nods in age 22-or-younger seasons, joining Manny Machado (two), the 11th infielder, and the 34th player overall.
The 22-year-old will also represent the Rays during the 2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby on Monday, July 13. In last year’s Derby, Caminero finished runner-up to Seattle’s Cal Raleigh and launched 44 home runs across three rounds. He was defeated, 18-15, in the final round, falling four home runs shy of becoming the youngest champion in the event’s history. Caminero is set to become the first Ray to participate in the Derby multiple times and is already one of four players to represent Tampa Bay in the competition, joining Randy Arozarena (2023), Carlos Peña (2009), and Longoria (2008).
Entering play tonight, Caminero has batted .288/.376/.557 (93-for-323) with 12 doubles, 25 home runs, 55 RBI, 47 walks, 55 runs scored, and a .934 OPS through 85 games. The AL Player of the Month for June has the second-most total bases in the AL (180), is tied for second in homers, ranks third in OPS, is fourth in slugging percentage, and is tied for fifth in hits and extra-base hits (37). The 25 home runs are second most by a Rays batter before the All-Star break, trailing only José Canseco’s 31 blasts in 1999. He was acquired from Cleveland on Nov. 19, 2021 in exchange for right-handed pitcher Tobias Myers.
Díaz joins Corey Dickerson (2017 starter) as the only primary designated hitters in team history to be named to the Midsummer Classic. Díaz (34), Greg Vaughn (2001, 35), McGriff (36, 2000), and Canseco (1999, 34) are the only Rays position players to be named All-Stars in an age-34-or-older season.
The current AL batting leader, Díaz has slashed .325/.408/.495 (101-for-311) with 15 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs, 53 RBI, 37 walks, 46 runs scored, one stolen base, and a .904 OPS over 82 games entering play tonight. The Sagua la Grande, Cuba native is tied for the AL lead in hits, ranks third in on-base percentage, and is sixth in OPS. He was acquired from Cleveland along with right-handed pitcher Cole Sulser in a three-team trade with the Seattle Mariners on Dec. 13, 2018.
The reigning AL Pitcher of the Month, Rasmussen earned his second straight All-Star nod, joining McClanahan (2022-23) and Price (2010-12) as the only Rays pitchers to be selected in consecutive seasons. Rasmussen, Price, McClanahan, Archer, and Kazmir are the only Rays pitchers to earn multiple All-Star selections in their careers, with Rasmussen and Archer representing the only two right-handers in that group.
Entering his outing tonight, Rasmussen has gone 10-5 with a 2.45 ERA (92.0 IP, 25 ER) a 0.87 WHIP, 94 strikeouts, and 16 walks over 16 starts, 10 of which were quality. The right-hander paces the AL in WHIP, opponent average (.191), opponent on-base percentage (.236), and opponent OPS (.532) while ranking second in ERA and opponent slugging percentage (.296). He recorded a 0.61 WHIP over five starts in June, lowest in a single June by any pitcher with 30.0 innings pitched or more during the month in the modern era (since 1900). The right-hander was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers on May 21, 2021 along with right-handed pitcher J.P. Feyereisen in exchange for infielder Willy Adames and right-handed pitcher Trevor Richards on May 21, 2021
For Colorado Eagles fans, the turnover in Loveland this offseason is starting to feel less like roster tweaks and more like a full reset — and now another familiar name is gone from the blue line.
The Washington Capitals have signed veteran defenseman Jacob MacDonald to a one-year, two-way contract, ending his second stint with the Eagles. The deal was announced by Capitals senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick.
For Colorado, it's the latest in a string of departures that has quietly stripped away much of the core that helped power a deep Calder Cup Playoff run just a season ago.
Head coach Mark Letestu, who guided the Eagles to the Western Conference Final in his first year behind the bench, was poached by the Vegas Golden Knights to join their staff as an assistant coach. On the back end, Jack Ahcan departed on a two-year, two-way deal with the Nashville Predators, taking one of Colorado’s most reliable puck-moving defensemen with him. Up front, veteran forward T.J. Tynan, a long-time fixture across multiple stints in the organization, also moved on, signing with the Springfield Thunderbirds.
Now MacDonald joins that list — and in some ways, his exit hits differently.
At 33, he was one of the most productive offensive defensemen the AHL has seen in the modern era, and was still producing when healthy.
In an injury-shortened 2025-26 season with the Eagles, MacDonald still managed 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists) in just 17 regular-season games. He added two more points in 17 playoff appearances as Colorado pushed all the way to the Western Conference Final.
But it’s his body of work that sets him apart.
MacDonald ranks seventh all-time among AHL defensemen in goals with 103, a rare milestone for a blueliner. His peak came in 2024-25, when he put together one of the most dominant seasons by a defenseman in league history. He won the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL’s top defenseman after scoring a league-record 31 goals from the blue line and finishing with 55 points to lead all AHL defensemen.
He was just as dangerous on special teams. 13 of his goals came on the power play — the most among AHL defensemen — and he tied for the league lead with five game-winning goals from the back end. That season earned him First Team AHL All-Star honors and a selection to the All-Star Classic.
Across his AHL career, MacDonald has played 357 games and recorded 260 points (103 goals, 157 assists) with Springfield, Albany, Binghamton, San Jose, and Colorado. A significant portion of that production came on the power play, where he’s totaled 134 points.
His production has shown up everywhere he’s gone. In 2017-18 with Binghamton, he led all AHL defensemen with 55 points and earned First Team All-Star honors. In Colorado during the shortened 2019-20 season, he again led all defensemen in goals with 16 and was named a Second Team All-Star.
He also brings NHL experience, appearing in 135 games with the Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, and San Jose Sharks, recording 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists). In the AHL postseason, he’s appeared in 35 Calder Cup Playoff games with 11 points.
MacDonald’s path has been anything but linear. Undrafted out of Cornell, he began his pro career in the ECHL with the Elmira Jackals before carving out a long, productive career as one of the most consistent offensive defensemen in the league.
Now, as he moves on to the Capitals organization, the Eagles are left to piece things back together. Not just after losing a high-end scoring defenseman — but after watching another key part of a once-promising core walk out the door in what has become a defining offseason of change.
The
Montreal Canadiens are known for being protective of their players. It’s not
because the media want to speak to a particular player or prospect that they’ll
get to speak to them. We had prime examples of that when Patrik Laine joined the organization
or when Jakub Dobes said he wouldn’t understand if he were sent down to the
Laval Rocket last season. So when development camp came around, mere days after
Jeff Gorton intrigued a lot of people when he said that summer is long and that
plenty of things could happen and could make Michael Hage reconsider his
decision to go back to school, it wasn’t a given that the Habs would make the
exciting prospect field questions, but they did. That was the right call.
After
Gorton insinuated the door was still open for Hage to join the Habs this
season, it was obvious that the youngster would be grilled about that
possibility and the reasons which motivated him to make that call. Despite being
only 20 years old, the youngster spoke with calm and eloquence, making it clear
that it wasn’t a decision he had made in the heat of the moment but one he had
really thought through.
Essentially,
the young man believes he still has things to improve before making the jump to
the NHL, and he wants to help Michigan win a national championship. It’s
admirable that he has the maturity to prioritize those things over the
temptation to turn pro and maximize his earnings earlier, because the sooner
you get through your ELC contract, the sooner you can sign a big-money deal. To
see Hage prioritize his development rather than choose to get to the dollar
bags quicker shouldn’t be all that surprising, really. Kent Hughes has made it
clear that the Canadiens, when they draft a player, want to draft character
players. Players who will want to be part of a team and work toward one
objective: winning, not toward maximum earnings.
When Hage
committed to Michigan, he did it to win there, and last year that didn’t happen.
The high ankle sprain he suffered threw a spanner in the works, and he couldn’t
play as much or as well as he would have had he been healthy for the Frozen
Four. At the same time, when he joins the Canadiens, he wants to be the best player he can be, and in that sense, he reminds me of former Habs captain
Max Pacioretty.
Suivez les points de presse des espoirs des Canadiens en direct du camp de perfectionnement
Back in
2009, Pacioretty had raised more than a few eyebrows in town when he declared
in November that his development would be best served with first-line, full
minutes with the Hamilton Bulldogs rather than by playing part-time, fourth-line
minutes with the Canadiens. The Habs had still called him up, and after 52
games in which he put up only 14 points, they sent him back down to Hamilton,
where he was really given a chance to blossom. There’s nothing wrong with an
athlete wanting to improve and to be as good as they can be when they make the
jump to the NHL. Last season, the American-born winger was a special assistant
to coach Brandon Naurato at Michigan, where Hage is playing. I’m not implying
that he swayed Hage’s decision; the young man is clearly mature enough to make up
his own mind, just highlighting the fact that patience can be a virtue. Given that
the Habs’ brass are advocating for fans to be patient with them as they try to
keep improving the team by any means possible, they can hardly be mad at Hage for
asking the same of them.
Hage wants
to be a center in the NHL, and he knows there are still things he needs to work
on to do that. He mentioned he wants to get better at carrying the puck up ice,
making the players around him better, taking those big faceoffs in the dying
moments of a game, being a better player on the defensive side, and, of course,
being better when playing without the puck. Sure, he could work on that in the NHL, and he
will no doubt continue working on them when he does turn pro, but it’s wise to
keep working on those things at the NCAA level. When he takes that next step,
the level of difficulty will be much higher, and the NHL is not a development
league.
Not so long
ago, the Canadiens were in full rebuilding mode and cared very little about
results; they focused heavily on development, but that's no longer the case.
Now, Montreal wants to win; their core players have all committed long-term to
the team, leaving money on the table, and they want to keep making the playoffs
and improve. There’s nothing wrong with Hage wanting to be as good a player as
he can be when he joins them; that’s not a selfish move on his part, far from
it. Just as Pacioretty once did, Hage knows what he feels is best for him right
now, and seeing him stick to his guns is a testament to his commitment to being
the best player he can be; that should be seen as good news for the Canadiens.
Jul 4, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Riley Greene (31) points to the dugout after hitting a single against the Texas Rangers during the eighth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (39-50) vs. Texas Rangers (45-44)
Time/Place: 3:30 p.m., Globe Life Field SB Nation Site:Lone Star Ball Media: Peacock, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Casey Mize (3-5, 2.63 ERA) vs. RHP Kumar Rocker (2-6, 3.83 ERA)
PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 29: Tyler Mahle #54 of the San Francisco Giants pitches during the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Monday, June 29, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Zach Gardner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It’s series finale time, with the San Francisco Giants concluding their six-game road trip by finishing business with the Colorado Rockies. If you’re sad to see the Rockies go, well, don’t worry … they’ll be in San Francisco on Thursday!
Taking the mound for the finale is right-hander Tyler Mahle, who makes his 14th start of the year. The veteran is 1-8 on the season, with a 5.67 ERA, a 4.83 FIP, and 64 strikeouts to 29 walks in 66.2 innings. He gave up four runs in 4.1 innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks in his last start.
For the Rockies, it’s righty Tanner Gordon, who makes his 11th appearance and fourth start of the year. The 28-year old is 0-2 with a 6.69 ERA, a 4.18 FIP, and 39 strikeouts to eight walks in 40.1 innings. He gave up five runs in as many innings against the Miami Marlins in his last game.
The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ 40-man roster is at 40.
Recalled from Triple-A Reno: INF/OF Tim Tawa
Optioned to Triple-A Reno following last night’s game: INF LuJames Groover
And right into the line-up goes Tawa… at third-base? A position where he has made one previous start in his 107 major-league appearances. All told, only 266 professional innings at the hot corner for Tim, with 85 or so over the last couple of seasons. So let’s hope this works out.
Yesterday was Paul Sewald’s 20th save of the season. He’s the first Arizona pitcher to reach that mark before the All-Star break since Brad Boxberger in 2018, who had 24 saves in the first half. With eight games still left to play, another couple could quite possibly be in Paul’s wheelhouse. If he does record two more saves, it will leave Sewald behind only Boxberger and Jose Valverde (26 in 2007). It has been a while since we have had a “reliable” closer (and I’ll get to those quotes in a bit). In this decade so far, never mind twenty saves, the only D-backs with more than ten saves before the break were Mark Melancon in 2022, and Sewald in 2024, his previous time here – both men had 13.
However, there’s no doubt that Sewald has been lucky. He has allowed runs in eight of his 35 appearances, but has saved 20 of his 21 opportunities. Last night was a case in point, allowing a solo home-run. Indeed, he has conceded four runs over his last three save situations and innings. Fortunately, the lead he was handed in each was exactly large enough to allow him to exit with an eventual one-run win and save. Had he entered in them with a one-run lead to start with, he’d have blown three consecutive chances. We would then likely be having a very different conversation about Sewald, leading up to the All-Star break.
Paul currently sits sixth in the majors for saves. But at 4.50, he is the only man in the top ten with an ERA even at four. The average across the other nine closers is just 2.05, less than half of Sewald’s figure. His FIP and xFIP are also the highest in the group, so that doesn’t make the picture any brighter. xERA, a stat based on quality of contact, does improve Paul’s number by more than a run, dropping him to 3.39. That’s better than MLB saves leader Cade Smith of Cleveland, who has 26 saves and an xERA of 3.62. We’d better hope Sewald can stay away from barrels, and continue doing such a masterful job of pitching to the scoreboard.
Public service announcement: today’s game is on Peacock.
