Worldwide Sports News

Just when it couldn’t get any worse for the Mets, Juan Soto was removed from Tuesday’s game against the Cubs to start the top of the fifth at Citi Field with what the team later called left side back tightness.

After the Mets’ 9-6 loss, manager Carlos Mendoza said Soto is considered day-to-day.

Jared Young moved from first base to take Soto’s spot in left, while Mark Vientos entered at first base.

It comes as Francisco Lindor was playing perhaps his final minor league rehab game with Triple-A Syracuse after being sidelined since April with a strained calf.

Soto also missed time early in the second with a calf injury.

Tonight, the Kansas City Royals dismantled the Tampa Bay Rays in a cathartic 12-5 victory. It was a full-team showing, with Carter Jensen extending his hit streak to 14 games, Nick Loftin swatting a home run on a four-hit night, and Luinder Avila navigating his way through five tough innings of one-run ball in front of some of some incredibly bad infield defense. 

But you’re here for Jac Caglianone, who ended the day with three hits and a pair of home runs. Here’s his first, which came immediately after Loftin’s home run in the first frame of the game and sounded like a thunderclap.

And here’s the other one, an arguably more impressive center-left shot to the deepest part of the ballpark.

To say that Caglianone has been on fire would not be accurate, because he is fire right now. Tonight’s gigantic dongs were his eighth and ninth of the month of June; they extended his hitting streak to five games and his home run streak to four games. 

This was one of those games were so much happened that, paradoxically, nothing much happened, because each successive hit meant less and less as the score ballooned and ballooned. I mentioned the infield defense–Salvador Perez lost two popups, and the rest of the infield didn’t see them, either. That required Avila to essentially get five outs in one inning. It was really quite comical in hindsight, but groan-worthy in the moment for sure. 

Pretty much everyone got involved in the offense. Lane Thomas and Starling Marte were the only two batters without a hit. Michael Massey, Perez, and Kameron Misner recorded doubles, which in addition to the home runs made six extra base hits. The Royals did a nice job totally putting the game away in the eighth inning against Steven Matz, who was just tossing batting practice out there. 

Kansas City’s bullpen also did a nice job (mostly). It helps to have such a big lead, but Stephen Cruz and Matt Strahm pitched before the lead was quite as big as it was, and you know what? They both turned in clean innings! So, too, did Beck Way. Someone named “Connor Seabold” came in to pitch the ninth, and the Royals might as well have sent Tyler Tolbert out there. Seabold gave up a trio of runs, but the Royals closed it out. 

At 34-46, the Royals are still closer to the American League basement than they are the penthouse. But have you looked at the AL right now? The current owners of the third Wild Card slot, the Toronto Blue Jays, don’t even have a .500 record. What a weird year. 

An ugly Royals season has taken yet another ugly turn.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro announced Tuesday that pitcher Cole Ragans likley will need surgery to repair a left elbow impingement that’s kept him sidelined since May 6.

The Royals skipper isn’t sure what type of surgery Ragans will need or whether he will return this season, but more will be known when the lefty sees another doctor soon.

“It’s awful,” Quatraro told reporters about the news. “We talk about it all the time when guys get hurt. These guys grind and work; and do it year-round to put themselves in the best position to go out there and compete.”

“Clearly, it’s a blow for him and for us. I mean, it’s our Opening Day starter the last few years. That’s a really tough one to swallow for him and his family,” Quatraro added.

Ragans exited a May 6 start against the Guardians with the injury, and though he made a rehab start for Triple-A Omaha in late May, he didn’t respond well and was shut down.

The elbow injury is just one of multiple injuries Ragans has suffered throughout his career, as he underwent Tommy John Surgery in 2018 and 2019 while with the Rangers.

The Royals acquired Ragans in 2023 in exchange for Aroldis Chapman, and the righty’s Royals tenure got off to a hot start.

Ragans posted a 2.64 ERA in 2023 and 3.14 ERA in 2024 while playing a pivotal role on the Royals 2024 squad that made the playoffs for the first time in nine years.

Since then, however, it’s been downhill for Ragans, as he recorded just a 4.67 ERA in 2025 and pitched to a 4.84 mark through eight starts in 2026.

The Royals entered 2026 hell-bent on competing for their first AL Central title in 11 years, but their season has turned into a disaster.

They are just 34-46 and last in the division entering Wednesday.

The San Francisco Giants welcome the Athletics to Oracle Park tonight to begin a three-game series.

Taking the mound for the Giants will be left-hander Robbie Ray, who enters tonight’s game with a 4.07 ERA, 4.96 FIP, with 74 strikeouts to 38 walks in 79.2 innings pitched. His last start was in the Giants’ 7-2 win over the Atlanta Braves last Tuesday, in which he allowed just two hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in six and a third innings.

He’ll be facing off against A’s right-hander Aaron Civale, who enters tonight’s game with a 4.91 ERA, 5.38 FIP, with 41 strikeouts to 19 walks in 58.2 innings pitched. His last start was in the Athletics’ 12-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates last Wednesday, in which he allowed six runs on nine hits with two strikeouts and two walks in three innings.

Game #78

Who: San Francisco Giants (31-46) vs. Athletics (38-40)

Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, California

When: 6:45 p.m. PT

Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area (Giants), NBC Sports California (A’s)

National broadcast: n/a

Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM

Manager Craig Stammen announced in his pre-game media session on Tuesday, the promotion of LHP JP Sears to make his season debut with the San Diego Padres after the team placed starter Lucas Giolito on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.

Stammen reported that Giolito spoke up about the soreness in his elbow after his last appearance against the Texas Rangers. It is reportedly similar to the soreness he felt last season before missing the rest of the year on the injured list. The Padres will push Randy Vásquez back a day, and Sears will start tomorrow against the Atlanta Braves, with Vásquez going the first game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Giolito joins Germán Márquez, Matt Waldron, Nick Pivetta, and Jhony Brito as starters on the injured list. Both Márquez and Brito are completing their work to return from injuries, with Brito pitching two days ago and Márquez nearing the end of his rehab assignment. Waldron just began his rehab assignment with El Paso this past week.

Giolito signed with the organization on April 22, making his season debut May 17 after an abbreviated ramp-up to the season. His velocity, diminished this season, sits 2-3 mph below his norm, and he has been hit frequently, pitching in 29.2 innings over seven games with a 5.16 ERA. The team has used an opener for him in his last two games.

Sears, acquired at the trade deadline last season, has a history as an innings-eater in his MLB career. His previous ERA, before pitching for the Padres, sat between 3.50 and 4.50 from 2022 to 2024. He finished last year with a 5.04 ERA overall, 4.95 with the Athletics before the trade and 5.47 in his five starts with the Padres.

For 2026, Sears has started for El Paso in Triple-A and leads the team with 62 strikeouts, but also has a 7.92 ERA in his 14 starts and 63.2 innings. The dry air and elevation in the Pacific Coast League are not conducive to the effectiveness of pitchers. He could be more successful at Petco Park, with the damp air and being at sea level. Sears features a seven-pitch mix with a four-seam fastball that sits in the low 90’s. His command and movement might look very different in MLB parks.

With Giolito to the IL, both Márquez and Brito could get opportunities to push their way onto the roster. Sears and the two returning pitchers give the team some depth and options as they decide what their moves will be at the trade deadline. With a starting pitching staff ranked 28th in MLB, the Padres need to improve the starting rotation if they are to remain in contention for the playoffs.

The Athletics are back on the road this week, beginning a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants tonight. This past weekend, the A’s lost the final two games of a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels, ending their seven-game West Sacramento homestand with a 3-4 record. Their most recent game on Father’s Day was especially brutal, as the A’s bullpen gave up a game-tying home run in the eighth and then the game-winning blast the next inning.

The Giants, led by rookie manager Tony Vitello, have been one of the most disappointing teams in baseball as their 31-46 record is amongst the league’s worst. Veteran stars Matt Chapman, Willy Adames and Rafael Devers are not living up to their massive contracts, while the team recently faced extensive backlash over the actions of several pitchers during the organization’s Pride Night game.

Having lost two of three when these teams met in California’s capital city earlier this season, the A’s will be looking for revenge. Handing the Giants their fourth straight loss this evening would be a great start to this best-of-three road series.

Athletics’ right-hander Aaron Civale will make his 13th start of the season today. The 31-year-old enters this outing with a 5-3 record, a 4.91 ERA, a 1.59 WHIP and 41 strikeouts across 58 2/3 innings. Civale got off to a good start in his first year with the A’s.

However, his ERA has ballooned over his last seven starts, reflecting a noticeable decline in performance. After missing a couple of weeks with shoulder tendonitis, the A’s activated Civale to start last Wednesday’s final game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It did not go well. The veteran gave up six runs on nine hits in only three innings of work, ruining any chance his team had of winning that series rubber game.

In his second start since returning from injury, Civale will look to be more efficient and work deeper into the game. He should benefit from the pitcher-friendly environment at Oracle Park, after making his last two appearances in a rehab outing at Las Vegas Ballpark and a start at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park.

Here’s the A’s lineup for this matchup:

The Athletics are deploying a right-handed-heavy starting nine, with first baseman Nick Kurtz and left fielder Tyler Soderstrom the only left-handed hitters in the lineup. Second baseman Zack Gelof will look to extend his league-leading hitting streak, with his speed and contact ability making him an ideal leadoff option —capable of getting on base, stealing second, and scoring on a single from Kurtz or Shea Langeliers.

Colby Thomas, fresh off a spectacular catch in right field on Sunday, will start there again. Designated hitter Joey Meneses is also back in the lineup for a second straight game, aiming to extend the hot streak that earned him Pacific Coast Player of the Week honors.

The A’s offense will face Giants left-hander Robbie Ray, who enters his 15th start with a 5-6 record, a 4.07 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP and 74 strikeouts across 79 2/3 innings. The 34-year-old earned the win in his last outing, tossing 6 1/3 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts against the Atlanta Braves. In the start prior, he allowed five runs in 5 2/3 innings, reflecting the up and down nature of Ray’s season to date.

The A’s will hope to see the vulnerable version of Ray this evening. If he is on, the southpaw with over 1800 career strikeouts could make it a long night for A’s hitters. Ray often struggles with command, so the Athletics will need to work counts, stay patient and capitalize when he leaves pitches over the plate.

And the Giants’ lineup for the series-opener:

Entering the season, no one expected Luis Arraez to become a dramatically improved defender at second base or Casey Schmitt to be arguably the Giants’ best hitter. Yet both have happened, serving as two bright spots in what has otherwise been a miserable first half of the 2026 season for San Francisco.

Additionally, the team’s top prospect, Bryce Eldridge, is finally getting everyday playing time and taking full advantage of the opportunity. Civale cannot afford to leave a pitch over the plate to Eldridge, whose prodigious power can send it quickly into McCovey Cove.

The “Green and Gold” look to snap a two-game losing streak tonight against the Giants. Let’s go A’s!

David Stearns might be right. The 2026 New York Mets he built might be capable of better. They might even still be capable of being a playoff team, even though the beat-up, underperforming bunch that was nine games under .500 as Stearns spoke on June 23 certainly has not looked the part.

At the very least, Stearns is going to wait until the last possible minute to admit the roster he retooled after last year’s disappointment is still somehow wrong.

“The cutoff is August 3rd. The cutoff is the deadline. Clearly, you have to have a strategic direction at that point,” Stearns said. “We can prepare along parallel paths as we go through this, and we know we have to play better than what we’ve played right now. And we’re going to give this team a chance to do that.”

No one would argue Stearns is being particularly stubborn. Though the San Francisco Giants, for one, have already made known their willingness to trade from a disappointing roster, good teams and bad teams elsewhere are choosing to wait and see. No points are awarded for giving up first.

But where Stearns remains steadfast – if “stubborn” is too harsh – is in his insistence that this roster was built well from the start, and that it has failed to add up because of temporary inconveniences, not structural deficiencies.

For example, if the Mets are going to play their way back into contention, they will need better from their starting rotation, which entered Tuesday night’s game with the fourth-highest ERA in baseball this season and a 5.92 ERA in June. Clay Holmes breaking his leg is an unforeseeable outcome, but the idea of rookie Nolan McLean struggling for a period while growing into an ace is not.

Even under the pressure of his free agent year, Freddy Peralta falling into the worst slump of his major league career is surprising. But given their lack of year-over-year history, none of Sean Manaea, David Peterson, or Kodai Senga not pitching like the best versions of themselves is not.

“We’ve clearly been inconsistent in that facet of the game. We’ve been inconsistent at various times around all segments of our team, which is why we have the record we have right now,” Stearns said. “From a starting pitching perspective, injury is part of it. That is real. We also haven’t gotten the level of consistent performances from most of our rotations that we expected and that our players expected coming into the season.”

Recently, Manaea has modeled a path to recovery for Mets starting pitchers who once looked like a lost cause. The lefty rebuilt his velocity, clawed his way out of bulk relief duty, and has allowed two runs and pitched into the sixth in two starts since rejoining the rotation. Certainly, the same should be possible for Peterson and Senga.

But so far, he and Senga have shown no signs of much-needed recovery. Senga left the Mets trailing 5-0 after two innings Tuesday, still unable to maintain command and velocity from one batter to the next.

Christian Scott, who was increasingly reliable before suffering a hip injury, is tentatively scheduled to return from the injured list Saturday. That is one more day each time through the rotation that the Mets can feel confident about. McLean has steadied himself after some late-spring stumbles. That day is another.

Stearns admitted Peralta is working through things mechanically, and fixing them is so crucial to the Mets that Carlos Mendoza went out of his way to watch him throw on flat ground before Tuesday night’s game. Fixing things takes time, but the righty has never been as bad as he was in his last outing. History says he will be better. If he is, and Manaea remains consistent, the Mets have one last day to worry about. And at some point in August, if all goes well, Holmes will be back to fill it.

Speaking of Holmes, his injury is also a point in defense of Stearns’s argument that the Mets roster was not broken from the start, just because it is broken now. Indeed, the lineup is built around Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, two of the most durable players in baseball over the last half decade. That both happened to miss significant amounts of time in the first three months of this season is not a foreseeable problem.

But it was not unforeseeable that Jorge Polanco, who has a history of leg injuries, would miss most of the first three months of the season with a nagging leg injury. That Luis Robert Jr., who has a history of lengthy absences and is a month-plus into another one, is not surprising. Stearns said Tuesday he and the Mets “have to evaluate injury risk as it relates to the entirety of our roster.”

“Whenever you bring in a player with injury history, we are aware there is heightened injury risk,” Stearns said. “In many cases, we thought we were insulated by that risk in certain areas of our roster with other players. And we haven’t been.”

Maybe, in keeping with Stearns’ original view of their depth, they will be more insulated against injuries from now on. After all, while Lindor’s return from a calf injury is imminent, he isn’t the only Met close to returning.

Tyrone Taylor is a strong fourth outfielder and will improve the Mets’ bench immediately when he returns. He is currently on a rehab assignment. So is infielder Ronny Mauricio, whose major league track record is unimpressive but whose ceiling is higher than any of the backup infielders the Mets have tried in Lindor’s absence. Even just adding Lindor will give the Mets a significantly more troublesome lineup for opponents. If Polanco comes back – and despite the fact that he is hitting and doing baseball activities, no one seems certain when or if that will happen – the lineup could look even deeper.

So heading into the last week of June, it is still possible Stearns is right about the 2026 New York Mets. It is still possible their struggles are temporary, not inevitable. It is still possible they will play their way back into contention and be buyers six weeks from now. 

For better or worse, all they have to do is be better than they have been at any point this year, despite having provided little on-field evidence that they can be.

After another lifeless offensive performance in Monday’s series opener at San Diego, the Braves look to level the series and force a Wednesday rubber match in Tuesday night’s 9:40 p.m. EDT game at Petco Park.

Atlanta turns to rookie JR Ritchie on the mound, while the Padres are expected to counter with Wandy Peralta as the opener followed by Griffin Canning.

The good news is that after tonight, there are only two more games that start after 9 p.m. on the East Coast.

The better news is the Braves commentary crew is back on the call tonight after whatever that ESPN broadcast was on Monday.

The weird news is certainly this Braves lineup loaded with changes. Bold move, Walt. Let’s see how it plays out.

Game preview

The Orioles have won three games in a row several times this season. They are yet to win four games in a row. That could change tonight as the O’s send Shane Baz to the mound in search of their fourth consecutive win in the Los Angeles area. The team took the final two games they played with the Dodgers and opened this series against the Angels with a 6-1 win on Monday night.

While Baz has not been spectacular overall in his first season with the Orioles, his performance has been better recently. Across his last six outings, Baz has a 2.39 ERA and 3.02 FIP over 37.2 innings. Usually, if he limits walks, he has a good night.

Ryan Johnson starts for the Halos. The 23-year-old has 19 total appearances under his belt, and only two of them have been starts. His most recent appearance, on June 18, was the longest of his MLB career. He lasted five innings and allowed five runs on eight hits, two strikeouts, and one walk. Games aren’t played on paper, but you would have to give the Orioles the pitching advantage.

Blaze Alexander and Jackson Holliday are both on the bench, and there was no IL news regarding either one. So it seems like the team isn’t too worried.

Alexander and manager Craig Albernaz both made comments after the Monday night win that suggested he may have been able to get back into the game if they had just a few more minutes. They didn’t, so he was pulled. But they weren’t ready to reinsert him into the lineup today.

Holliday has not played in three days due to his groin injury. Despite a favorable pitching matchup tonight, he misses again. That is a bit concerning. It seems like he wasn’t even an option on Monday, which suggests the Orioles are playing a man down. They can’t do that for much longer, especially if they need to be careful with Alexander.

Orioles lineup

1. Taylor Ward, LF
2. Gunnar Henderson, DH
3. Pete Alonso, 1B
4. Samuel Basallo, C
5. Coby Mayo, 3B
6. Leody Tavares, RF
7. Colton Cowser, CF
8. Tyler O’Neill, DH
9. Jeremiah Jackson, 2B

RHP Shane Baz (4-7, 4.04 ERA)

Angels lineup

1. Zach Neto, SS
2. Vaughn Grissom, 3B
3. Nolan Schanuel, 1B
4. Jorge Soler, DH
5. Jo Adell, RF
6. Oswald Peraza, 2B
7. Christian Moore, LF
8. Logan O’Hoppe, C
9. Jose Siri, CF

RHP Ryan Johnson (0-2, 12.83 ERA)

SAN FRANCISCO — Rafael Devers’ interpreter, the Giants’ Spanish-language announcer Erwin Higueros, was halfway through translating his answer into English when the Giants’ first baseman interrupted him. He had something more to say.

“And, and, and, and, and, and,” Devers said in Spanish, winding up for a Donald Trump-style rant against the media.

“I think what it is, the media in general, you guys just blow everything out of proportion. I think it’s a reflection that I really don’t talk to you guys. I really don’t talk to the media. So because I don’t talk to the media, things like this happen. So you guys gotta write everything and try to blow everything out of proportion.”

It’s true: Devers doesn’t really talk to the media.

It’s not like he didn’t have his opportunity to explain himself and provide the clarity he sought to Tuesday, two days after he openly disrespected manager Tony Vitello by wagging his finger, attempting to shoo away a speedier pinch runner and storming back to the clubhouse.

Devers was asked after Sunday’s 2-1 loss to the Marlins to provide his perspective.

He declined.

Matt Chapman and Vitello were left to address the eyebrow-raising incident in the ninth inning of their third loss in three games in Miami. On Tuesday, president of baseball operations Buster Posey said he would have liked to see more accountability from his star first baseman who’s expected to anchor their lineup for another eight seasons.

“I think everybody has to be themselves,” Posey said. But, he continued, “I do think ultimately he understands there’s got to be some accountability. Sometimes it’s not fun. It’s not fun to stand in front of a camera or a microphone, but that’s something he’s going to need to work on.”

Devers, to his credit, answered questions for five minutes before the Giants began their homestand against the A’s. More importantly, he also cleared the air with Vitello.

Devers’ explanation expanded on what Vitello said after Sunday’s game — that it was all a miscommunication and he thought he was being lifted for Jonah Cox because of a hamstring issue that led Vitello to DH him earlier in the series.

Nevertheless, Posey described Devers’ actions as a “misstep.”

“We’re all prone to have missteps at times,” the former catcher turned top baseball executive said. “You could tell he’s frustrated. Look, the way the season’s gone, everybody’s frustrated. I think that’s a byproduct of frustration.”

Devers said he was trying to let his manager know that he was good to run, even though he still represented a far worse option as the potential tying run than the speedy Cox, who is on the roster almost for that express purpose.

Still, Devers said he apologized to Vitello, just in case “if he felt that I was disrespecting him.”

Vitello said after the game that he didn’t feel the need to speak with Devers about the incident, despite the star slugger openly undercutting the rookie manager’s authority.

It wasn’t the first time: Devers rejected former Red Sox manager Alex Cora’s request to play first base, leading to his trade to the Giants last June.

Devers was asked if he understood that this was a “bad look.”

“No, I don’t think so,” he said. “I know the type of person that I am, I know the type of person [Vitello] is. Like I said it wasn’t meant for me to be disrespectful to him.”

The optics alone raised questions about Vitello’s respect within the clubhouse, particularly coming from one of their most important and highly compensated players.

“I think he’s a great person, as a manager and a person,” Devers said of Vitello, chalking up his actions to the heat of the moment. “Obviously he’s getting a lot of experience. But we all respect and will just continue doing the things that he wants and having him lead us.”

Still, Vitello appreciated the gesture from Devers and said they hashed things out on what was surely an unpleasant six-hour flight home from Miami following a sweep against the Marlins.

“It was needed,” Vitello said Tuesday. “We were going to have a conversation. But it was a great talk. It was good of him to come back. We sat there and hung out for a little bit. I told you where I stand on that guy.”

Vitello was clear about his feelings toward Devers, who he said has a “great” relationship with his dad, Greg. They often run into each in the team hotel, Vitello said.

“I’m good to go into battle with him anytime. As a person, with how he treats my family, especially my dad, I’ll go to battle anytime with him off the field, too,” Vitello said, dipping into his rolodex of movie references for a line from “The Town.” 

“If he came over to my condo and said I need your help, [but] you can’t ask about it, we’re gonna do some damage, all I’d say is who’s car are we going to take?”

The hits just keep coming for the struggling Mets. 

Juan Soto is officially day-to-day after leaving Tuesday's game against the Chicago Cubs in the fifth inning with what the team called left side back tightness. 

Soto appeared to wince after swings in each of his first two at-bats, and that's when Carlos Mendoza could tell that something was off with his star outfielder. 

"It got to a point where it was bothering him to throw and just to get his A-swing," the skipper said. "At that point, I thought it was best to just get him out of the game, have the trainers look at him, and as of now we're day-to-day."

Soto did undergo treatment and was spotted back in the Mets' before the end of the night. 

The team will wait and see how he feels when he gets to the ballpark ahead of Wednesday's doubleheader before deciding if he'll have to undergo further testing. 

"We'll see where he's at tomorrow, and we'll go from there," Mendoza said. 

Losing Soto for any amount of time would be a significant blow to a Mets lineup that's expected to get Francisco Lindor back in the mix at some point over the next few days.  

Lindor came out of his potential final rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday feeling fine, but the team still hasn't decided if he'll be activated on Wednesday or not. 

Soto and Lindor have played together in just nine of the Mets' 77 games thus far this season. 

Atlanta Braves (48-29) at San Diego Padres (40-37), June 23, 2026, 6:40 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Petco Park – San Diego, Calif.

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines.

• Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
• Remember Gaslamp Ball is basically a non-profanity site
• Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our threads