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A whole dozen games on a Thursday, what did we do to deserve this? Thanks to the upcoming All-Star break, Thursday’s slate was a bit heavier than usual this week, with the vast majority of teams taking the field and plenty of enticing matchups. Let’s get into it.
Today’s Headlines
Rice Helps Salvage Series Split for Yankees
The New York Yankees came into this week’s series against their division rivals three games back of the Tampa Bay Rays, unable to afford to lose the four-game series and fall further behind in the AL East standings. After taking the first game on Monday, they proceeded to put together a pair of pretty miserable performances in losing the next two to Tampa, making yesterday’s game of vital importance for the recently-reeling club. Thanks to a long overdue offensive explosion that was led by 1B Ben Rice, the Yankee bats broke out in a big way to secure a 12-4 victory and keep the team within three games of the division lead.
New York opened the scoring with a six-run outburst in the third inning that was sparked by Rice’s first homer of the game, who would go deep again in the sixth inning to add three more runs to the team’s tally. Austin Wells also homered in this one, and the Yankees bullpen were able to stifle the Tampa Bay bats throughout the game, starting with RHP Paul Blackburn who opened for the first two innings. On the Tampa side of things, newly-named All-Star RHP Drew Rasmussen pitched a rare dud (2.1 IP, 6 ER, 2 K, 7 H) as the Yankees teed off on him in that third inning. The lone bright spot for Tampa in this one came from 3B Junior Caminero, who homered yet again to bring his total to 27. The Yankees now travel to Washington for a series with the Nationals prior to the break, while the Rays stay home to welcome the Seattle Mariners to town for a three-game set.
These Fish Are Hot
The Miami Marlins are the hottest team in baseball at the moment, with a 13-2 record in their last 15 games and an active six-game winning streak. Miami completed a three-game series sweep against the Seattle Mariners yesterday with an emphatic 8-4 win over Seattle’s RHP Bryce Miller, who had been pitching like an ace prior to this one with a sparkling 2.18 ERA and 0.83 WHIP. The Marlins did not have any homers in the game but reeled off 12 hits and had key contributions up and down the lineup, including three hits by OF Griffin Conine and two RBI from SS Otto Lopez. They also got solid pitching from RHP Janson Junk (5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 K, 3 H, 4 BB). The Marlins will look to keep their streak going this weekend with a three-game home series against the Cleveland Guardians, while the Mariners will look to bounce back on the road against the Rays.
Tiger Keep Rolling
The Detroit Tigers are also currently playing really good baseball, with an 11-4 record in their last 15 games and some serious momentum gathering heading into the break. They were able to complete a three-game series sweep against the Athletics yesterday with a a 4-1 victory that was propelled by the long ball, with three home runs including one by DH Eduardo Valencia in his first career at-bat. LHP Framber Valdez (7.0 IP, 9 K, 1 ER, 3 H) was dominant for Detroit and will certainly look to keep that form going for the Tigers after the break. Detroit stays at home this weekend for an enticing three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies, while the Athletics head to Chicago to take on the White Sox.
By The Numbers
114.5 The hardest hit ball of the day yesterday came of the bat off San Diego Padres OF Fernando Tatis Jr. Jr., who scorched a 114.5-mph single in the third inning of the Padres 3-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Despite the lack of power this season, Tatis Jr. has quietly been a top-20 hitter over the past month, and he shows no signs of slowing down.
442 The longest blast of the day came from Cleveland Guardians IF Gabriel Arias, surprisingly, as he crushed a 442-ft. homer in the second inning to open the scoring and help lead the Guardians to a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
20 The most number of swing and misses induced came from Philadelphia Phillies LHP Jesús Luzardo, who racked up 11 strikeouts across seven shutout innings to help the Phillies secure a narrow 1-0 victory.
20 Atlanta Braves 1B Matt Olson played in his 740th consecutive game with the club yesterday, tying Dale Murphy’s franchise record. Overall, Olson’s consecutive games streak currently sits at 874, as it started when he was still with the Athletics. Very impressive stuff.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Two Web Gems Save the Sawx
The Boston Red Sox have suddenly won 11 of their last 13 games after a dreadful start to the season and are suddenly within reach of being a .500 club, moving to 43-48 after yesterday’s narrow 2-1 victory that saw them complete a three-game series sweep over the Chicago White Sox. Boston needed help from their defense to secure yesterday’s win, as both OF Jarren Duran and OF Ceddanne Rafaela made great plays in the ninth to lock it down, with Rafaela’s play being especially impressive. It’s not surprising that he consistently shows up near the top of league-wide defensive metrics every year.
Dancing on the Basepaths
The Milwaukee Brewers took down their division-rival St. Louis Cardinals yesterday with an 8-4 victory, in the midst of which OF Jake Bauers showed off some nifty footwork to miraculously avoid a tag after he was dead to rights at third base. Dancing With the Stars just might be hitting up Bauers’ phone after this one..
Heroics Fresh Off the IL
The Texas Rangers came into yesterday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Angels with an even 46-46 record, and they woke up this morning a winning ball club thanks to OF Wyatt Langford’s heroics in his first game back off the IL. Langford had been shelved since June 28 with a Grade 2 hamstring strain, with expectations initially being that he would be out until well after the All-Star break. Thanks in large part to great work by the Texas training staff, Langford was able to return to action last night well ahead of schedule, and he showed no signs of rust when he knocked in the game-winning run on a walk-off single.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ New York Yankees OF Aaron Judge (rib) is set for further imaging during the upcoming All-Star break, which they hope will provide clarity on a timeline for the Yankee captain’s expected return.
⚾New York Yankees OF Giancarlo Stanton was revealed to have suffered a new calf injury last month while rehabbing a previously reported calf strain. That seems to have reset the entire timeline for Stanton, who is expected out until at least August.
⚾ Chicago Cubs OF Seiya Suzuki left Thursday’s game early after experiencing cramping in his calf. Neither Suzuki nor the Cubs seem overly worried about the development, and we should expect Suzuki back in the lineup today.
⚾ New York Mets 3B Mark Vientos suffered a fractured hand on a hit by pitch yesterday and will be heading to the IL.
⚾ Boston Red Sox LHP Ranger Suarez has been placed on the 15-day IL (groin strain) retroactive to July 6.
⚾ Boston Red Sox 1B Wilson Contreras has had his suspension reduced from seven game to five games. The suspension began yesterday prior to the break, and will continue after.
⚾ Chicago White Sox 3B Munetaka Murakami is expected back in the lineup today after a stint on the IL.
⚾ Minnesota Twins placed LHP Connor Prielipp on the 15-day IL (blister).
Articles You Should Read
“The Biggest Draft Class Yet” — Mike Baumann, FanGraphs
“2026 Mock Draft 1.0” — Eric Longenhagen, FanGraphs
“Points League Risers and Fallers: Week 14” — Scott McDermott, Pitcher List
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