Stay updated on everything baseball with our morning MLB News & Moments articles. We’ve got you covered to keep you in the know.
Four weeks from today is the trade deadline. Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. ET. This was the latest it could have been per the terms of the last collective-bargaining agreement. MLB didn’t want trades going down on a weekend, so it will happen on a Monday. That also means there could be a lot of action on the Sunday before (Aug. 2) as teams travel. Even a few results that happened yesterday can change the fortunes of where teams go from here.
Today’s Headlines
Finally, Padres Snap 8-Game Skid
There have been a lot of confounding teams as we enter the first full week of July. But the San Diego Padres have to be one of the more inexplicable ones. Sometimes they hit, but don’t get starting pitching. Sometimes they get a little starting pitching, but don’t hit. The were near the top of the NL West standings on Memorial Day, but now are on the outside of the NL wild-card scene. So with a frustrating road trip coming to an end and facing a sweep by the Los Angeles Dodgers, what happened? The confounded Padres confounded us again. Thanks to one-hit ball by left-handed starter JP Sears for five innings and a Manny Machado three-run blast, the Padres halted an eight-game losing streak with a 5-2 win. The Padres have had a mix of routs and blown leads during this bad stretch, including the first two games of this series. But they somehow pulled together, maybe sparked by the first-inning ejections of infield coach Ryan Goins and manager Craig Stammen after checked-swing calls.
As a side note, Dodgers catcher Eliézer Alfonzo made his MLB debut, the same day he was notified his sister and stepmother were found dead in the rubble of the twin Venezuelan earthquakes almost two weeks ago. Check in the Articles You Should Read section for more on Alfonzo, the son of the former MLB catcher of the same name.
Perez Perfect For 7, Then Marlins Hang On
When Miami Marlins right-handed starter Eury Pérez was in the game, the A’s couldn’t get a single baserunner. With Perez out of the game, the A’s almost pulled off a miraculous comeback. Perez was perfect through seven innings before being lifted as the Marlins hung on through a three-run ninth inning for a 9-8 victory. In his third start back from a right gracilis (inner thigh muscle) strain, Perez was at 92 pitches through seven innings with eight strikeouts in hitter-friendly West Sacramento stadium. Perez has never gone beyond seven innings in his career. Once Perez exited, the A’s remembered how to hit. They scored five in the eighth on the strength of a Jonah Heim grand slam to pull within 8-5 and, after the Marlins got one in the top of the ninth, three more in the bottom half before Miami got the final out with a runner on first. Heriberto Hernández homered twice for the Marlins as part of a three-hit, two-walk day for the Marlins. Heim drove in the final two runs of the ninth to give him six RBIs. The Marlins hit four homers in the series finale, giving them a club-record 11 in the three games.
Hancock Continues Mariners’ Shutout Run
Surprisingly, the Seattle Mariners didn’t have a pitcher selected to the All-Star Game. That is OK, though. They will just continue to shut out opponents. Right-handed starter Emerson Hancock tossed seven shutout innings as the Mariners held the Toronto Blue Jays to just three hits in a 4-0 victory. (Outfielder Randy Arozarena was the Mariners’ All-Star pick.) It was the Mariners’ second straight shutout and third in four days as they continue to navigate workloads for their six starting pitchers with a rehabbing Bryce Miller a few weeks away. Hancock allowed two hits and two walks while striking out five. Mitch Garver hit a two-run homer.
Ryan’s Gem Gives Twins Rare Series Win vs. Yanks
There is a reason why Joe Ryan’s name will be very popular over the next month. The Minnesota Twins‘ All-Star right-hander blanked the New York Yankees for seven innings, striking out nine, in a 6-1 victory. In what appeared to be a soft spot in their schedule, the Yankees have lost nine of 10 as they hit the road for four games against the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays. Brooks Lee had three hits and Royce Lewis two hits and two RBIs for the Twins, who won their first series in New York since 2014. Twins All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton left the game after sliding into second base while being caught stealing in the second inning. He aggravated a right hip impingement that sidelined him for four games this week. Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. left after five innings due to right big toe discomfort.
White Sox Survive Test, Retake First Place
This was the litmus test for the Chicago White Sox. The upstarts entered a four-game series with the Cleveland Guardians with a one-game lead over their AL Central counterpart. After dropping their first two to relinquish that slim edge, the young White Sox bounced back with a pair of wins, including a 7-6 triumph in the series finale. It didn’t start out well for the White Sox, who trailed 3-2 after the first inning, but then got one in the second to tie it and three in the third, including Colson Montgomery’s 23rd homer of the season, to grab the lead. But the Guardians would tie it again on Gabriel Arias‘ three-run shot in the bottom of the fifth, his fourth of the year. Rookie Sam Antonacci’s run-scoring groundout in the sixth proved to be the difference and left the White Sox again with a one-game lead in the Central.
Rash Of Umpire Retirements Should Benefit Pawol
MLB will be losing seven high-profile umpires, who are set to retire following the 2026 season, according to a report by Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Those umpires are C.B. Bucknor, Lance Barksdale, Marvin Hudson, Laz Diaz, Brian O’Nora, Tony Randazzo and Andy Fletcher. Bucknor, who has had his share of criticism but has not umpired since sustaining a concussion, is the most veteran of the group, having began his career as an NL umpire in 1996. The number of retirements is likely to open the door to Jen Pawol becoming the first full-time female umpire in MLB history. She made her debut last year. You have to wonder how much of this is ABS-related.
By The Numbers
10 Detroit Tigers left fielder Riley Greene came up a double shy of the cycle, driving in four runs in a 6-3 victory over the Texas Rangers. Greene drove in 10 runs on this six-game road trip.
4 The Kansas City Royals snapped a four-game losing streak as Salvador Perez drove in a pair of runs in a 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
20 Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker hit his 20th homer of the season in a 2-0 victory over the Rays. Walker has 20 homers for a fifth straight season.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Rook Can D It Up, Too
Offense got Pittsburgh Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin to the majors. But he had to be able to play defense, too. He showed off that part of his game with this play in an 11-5 win over the Washington Nationals.
Ohtani A Track Olympian?
It was kind of fitting that NBC was televising the Dodgers-Padres game as Shohei Ohtani now has an audition tape for the Olympic hammer throw.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Boston Red Sox left-handed starter Ranger Suarez left Sunday’s game with left adductor tightness and will get more testing done today to determine his status.
⚾ For the second time this season, the Milwaukee Brewers have placed right-handed starter Brandon Woodruff on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. Woodruff left Saturday’s start in the fourth inning following a significant drop in velocity.
⚾ Washington Nationals minor-league outfielder Robert Hassell III, a key piece acquired in the 2022 Juan Soto trade with the San Diego Padres, was designated for assignment.
Articles You Should Read
Dodgers’ Alfonzo praying for sister, stepmother after Venezuela quakes — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times
Nationals are full of surprises as rebuild speeds up under new management — Peter Abraham, Boston Globe
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
