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MLB News & Moments: Dodgers Come Back Again, Traumatize Padres

The Dodgers continue to show ownage of the Padres.

Pablo Figueroa
MLB Morning News 4 Hours Ago

Stay updated on everything baseball with our morning MLB News & Moments articles. We’ve got you covered to keep you in the know.

In a weekend where we all celebrate Independence Day and the World Cup is reaching its final stages, it is a great day to be part of the U.S. of A. The National Team made an appearance in Seattle, with coach Mauricio Pochettino even throwing out the first pitch, as they will play there on Monday against Belgium with a chance to reach the quarterfinals. Here’s hoping that it all goes well for the Americans.

 

Today’s Headlines

 

(Almost) Ultimate Grand Slam

After blowing a 6-0 lead on Thursday, the Padres found another painful way to lose last night. Despite tagging Shohei Ohtani for three runs and holding that commanding advantage, a rare blowup from the bullpen led to a clutch grand slam from Teoscar Hernández that turned the game on its head. It served as a sort of ultimate grand slam, as the 3-0 deficit became a 4-3 lead that would hold until the end, with LA’s bullpen holding on with five strikeouts over the last three innings. The Dodgers have now won six of the eight meetings in 2026.

Who’s the Guy Who Hits all the Homers? Caminero!

What once was a nice power surge has become a true demolition course, as Junior Caminero refuses to stop hitting homers. Last night, Houston became his latest victim, as a Caminero homer became the key hit to give Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish, using their powerful bullpen to scratch out a 3-1 win. Caminero’s 25th homer, paired with Tampa’s clutch pitching, has continued to be key for the Rays, as they have now won nine straight to regain control of the AL East.

Atlanta Power

Atlanta’s recent slump has opened the door for Philadelphia to dream of a return in the NL East. However, the chance of playing the Mets has proven a nice reprieve for many teams in 2026, and it has now given Atlanta the chance to get back on track. Despite a Juan Soto blast that tied the score at two early, starter Grant Holmes settled down and was able to guide his team to a win, as homers from Michael Harris II, Ozzie Albies, and Matt Olson accounted for four of Atlanta’s five runs. In typical Mets fashion, New York out-hit Atlanta 10-to-5 and even had two hits with runners in scoring position, but neither was able to score a run. While Atlanta still has some cushion atop its division, the Mets are in real danger of having the worst record in the NL.

Only 17

In a traditional early Friday game in Chicago, the rival Cardinals showed no mercy to kick off the weekend, scoring in each inning from the second to the seventh as they cruised to an impressive 17-1 win. Homers from Nathan Church, Masyn Winn, and Bryan Torres led the way for a relentless St. Louis attack, as the Cards collected 17 hits. Starter Andre Pallante took advantage of the massive run support to earn his 10th win of 2026, with 5.2 scoreless frames. As the series resumes, the Cardinals have a chance to overtake Chicago for second place in the NL Central, in what is shaping up to be a fantastic year for the rivalry.

Coors Awakening

On the day he was named NL June Pitcher of the Month, Logan Webb faced the harsh reality of pitching at altitude, where he found that things can get bad in a hurry. Webb started off by allowing a lead-off homer to Jake McCarthy, and then saw the next three batters reach base via a hit. The three-run first inning was ominous, but the Rockies would not let him off the hook, scoring twice against Webb in both the second and third, giving him an ugly final line of eleven hits and seven runs allowed in only three frames. The subpar Giants bullpen would not be much better, as Colorado mounted a seven-run fifth to turn the game into a laugher, with three separate Rockies collecting at least three hits in this 15-3 rout.

 

By The Numbers

 

7 As part of Colorado’s destruction of the Giants, Jake McCarthy achieved a rare feat, becoming only the seventh player in MLB history with a lead-off homer and a grand slam in the same game. The latest such milestone was achieved by George Springer in October 2021.

1/1  Following their 23-3 win on Thursday with a 17-1 loss on Friday, the Cubs are the first team in modern baseball history (since 1900) to follow up a run by 15+ runs with a loss by 15+ runs.

-8 With Cleveland retaking the top spot in the AL Central, two American League teams are topping their divisions with negative run differentials. The Guardians at -6 and Texas at -2 are proving that old computer adage of a task failing successfully.

 

Best Moments From Yesterday

 

Casey at the Bag

The Giants had what may be their most embarrassing loss of 2026, and that’s saying something for the maligned franchise. Even in all that lousiness, Casey Schmitt reminded San Francisco fans that he may be part of a bright future someday. Playing third base in Matt Chapman’s absence, Schmitt provided the top web gem of the day, turning an improbable 5-3 double play in which he stepped on the bag and somehow found the arm strength to throw out the runner at first. This amazing display of defense would be moot in the end, but it warrants a place in this article.

Grisham Spares the Suspense

Mired in a seven-game losing streak, the Yankees found solace in facing their usual punching bag, the Minnesota Twins. And while the visiting Twins took an early lead, it was immediately erased by an unlikely source. Trent Grisham was back from the IL, playing for the first time since June 12, and wasted no time making a splash, tying the score with his ninth homer of the season. The energy added by Grisham helped the Yankees take control, as Gerrit Cole was effective enough to get back on the win column, and New York cruised to a 5-2 victory.

The Mask

In an instance of “things we haven’t seen before”, a perfectly-placed foul tip found its way into a minor league catcher’s mask and into MLB’s Twitter account. The lucky backstop was Ryan Campos, currently playing for AA Springfield, a St. Louis affiliate. Campos was a fourth-round pick for the Cardinals in 2024, and his numbers as a lefty-hitting catcher have caught the attention of many scouts, who consider him a future MLB talent. If he is as lucky as this moment suggests, maybe he is in line for a bright future.

 

Injuries and Other Moves

 

⚾ Yankees lefty Carlos Rodón has been placed on the 15-day IL with elbow inflammation, putting a dent in New York’s recent rough stretch. This is the second IL stint for Rodon in 2026, as he didn’t make his season debut until May. He now joins Max Fried and Clarke Schmidt as sidelined Yankee starters, creating a sense of urgency for the front office to add more pitching. 

⚾ Baltimore has placed closer Ryan Helsley on the 15-day IL with elbow discomfort. The move is retroactive to June 30, when Helsley initially showed symptoms. This injury could be ominous, as it marks the second IL stint for him with the same ailment, suggesting that this could require a long time on the shelf. With no clear closer on the horizon, it is likely that the Orioles will use several relief options in that role.

⚾ Former MVP Andrew McCutchen will try to extend his career after signing a minor league deal with Atlanta. McCutchen started the season with Texas but was released following a poor start to 2026, which included some play in the outfield. Considering Atlanta’s recent run of injuries, it is likely that Cutch will find at-bats this summer.

 

Articles You Should Read

 

Coolest Stats of the Week — Sarah Langs, MLB.com

Let’s Improve Bryce Harper’s Defense — Davy Andrews, Fangraphs

 

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Pablo Figueroa

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Pablo Figueroa is a Baseball Writer here at Pitcher List, with experience as a writer since 2013. He lives in Aguascalientes, Mexico - proud home of Los Rieleros. When he´s not thinking about baseball , he's a husband, owns two dogs, watches random episodes of The Sopranos , plays padel, and works on his day job to pay the bills.

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