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Today is the last day of June. That means the most impactful month of the regular season is upon us. How July unfolds will determine which teams will be sellers and buyers for the Aug. 3 trade deadline (it is Aug. 3 because that is a Monday instead of have the deadline on Friday, July 31). Teams will be happy to have the extra days to sort things out, but this feels like a deadline that will be as busy as any, with some big names set to change teams. Who? Where? Depends on what happens in July.
Today’s Headlines
Maximum Muncys: Same-Name Duo Makes History
We all knew the story of Max Muncy and Max Muncy. One is more well-known and plays third base for the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The other plays third base for the A’s, who hosted the Dodgers at a minor-league stadium in West Sacramento to begin a three-game series Monday. Both were born on the same date, Aug. 25, 12 years apart and both were drafted by the A’s. In a designed quirk, both were in the lineup hitting seventh in their respective lineups and playing third base in what would eventually be a 9-4 Dodgers victory. This isn’t the first time two guys with the same name started in the same game and in the spot spot in the batting order. It has happened four times before. The A’s Muncy helped the night get a little more quirkier when he hit a ground single that caromed off third base, where the other Muncy was playing, for a single. The Dodgers’ Muncy hit a solo homer in the fourth inning to tie the game 3-3. Andy Pages snapped that tie in the fourth with a two-run homer and Shohei Ohtani padded the advantage with a three-run blast in the sixth.
lmaooooooo, what a way to get it
Contreras Shows All Emotions As Red Sox Win
No one doubts that Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras is an emotional player. But the series opener showed a vulnerable side of Contreras. Then the other side — or at least his reputation — surfaced. Contreras smashed a three-run homer in a four-run first inning as the Red Sox beat the Washington Nationals 6-3. Contreras unleashed an epic bat flip, turned to his dugout and pounded his chest and screamed “Venezuela!!!” and then circled the bases. Once back in the dugout and sitting on the bench, tears came pouring out as he continued to think of his home country and the 1,700 and rising who have perished as a result of two devastating earthquakes Wednesday. An inning later, Contreras was called out on a check swing and was ejected by the first base umpire as he was entering the dugout. Replays showed Contreras tapping his helmet, as if signaling for a nonexistent check-swing challenge, as he made his way toward the dugout. Meanwhile, left-hander Ranger Suarez turned in the Red Sox’s 12th consecutive quality start, the third-most in team history. Suarez struck out eight over six innings, allowing all three runs.
Suzuki, Cubs Get Walk-Off Facing Miller
It wasn’t a blown save, but it almost feels like one. One batter after having the potential wining run thrown out at the plate in the bottom of the ninth, Seiya Suzuki’s two-out single off the left-field ivy off superstar right-handed closer Mason Miller to bring in Pete Crow-Armstrong with the winning run in the Chicago Cubs 3-2 triumph over the San Diego Padres. Miller, who is a perfect 21-for-21 in saves this year, came on with two runners on an no outs in the ninth. Miller gave up a single to Alex Bregman to load the bases. Michael Busch then hit a fly to shallow left field down the line that was caught by defensive replacement Jase Bowen, who then fired a one-hop throw home to easily nail Dansby Swanson as he tried to score. But Suzuki drilled a 1-0 slider deep to left field that Bowen made a leaping effort to catch, but just missed, leaving him with a handful of ivy and giving the Cubs the win.
Pirates Rookie Valdez Homers In 4th Straight
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Esmerlyn Valdez’s power is real. It didn’t take him very long to prove that. Valdez, in his 16th MLB game, homered for the fourth straight game as the Pirates rallied for an 11-7 victory. The Phillies jumped out to a 5-0 on the strength of Bryce Harper’s 20th homer of the season, but Valdez’s fourth-inning two-run blast started an eight-run burst that flipped the script. The Pirates scored six times in the fifth inning, including a Jared Triolo homer, his first of the season. Valdez now has six homers in his brief time in the majors.
Mize’s 10 K’s Sends Tigers Past Reeling Yankees
After getting swept in four games by the last-place team in the AL East, the New York Yankees returned home to face a team just a half-game out of last in the AL Central. The result was the same. Right-handed starter Casey Mize struck out 10 to match his career high and the Detroit Tigers took advantage of poor fielding to pull out a 7-3 victory over the Yankees. Hao-Yu Lee had a two-run single in a four-run second inning and Kevin McGonigle also drove in a pair for the Tigers, who have the AL’s second-worst record. Now, the Tigers will send two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal against sizzling Yankees rookie right-hander Cam Schlittler in the middle game of this series. The win was the 1,000th in Tigers manager A.J. Hinch’s career.
By The Numbers
1 Texas Rangers left-hander Tyler Alexander became the first person in MLB history to save back-to-back games and start the next game when he opened the game against the Cleveland Guardians. Saves became an official stat in 1969.
6 The Chicago White Sox scored six runs over the last two innings, getting a tiebreaking double from Colson Montgomery in the eighth and four runs in the ninth, to beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-2.
433 Pinch-hitter Griffin Conine hit a go-ahead three-run homer off the third-deck facade, an estimated 433 feet, as the Miami Marlins beat the Colorado Rockies 10-7.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Welcome Back, Bo
It was a separation that no one wanted, but happened anyway. And on Monday, Bo Bichette, now with the New York Mets, made his return to Toronto to face his old Blue Jays teammates. Bichette had a tribute video and received a rousing ovation as he stepped to the plate for the first time, tipping his helmet with some encouragement from good friend Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The Jays won 2-1.
But The Manager Got Fired
Yikes, Juan Soto. When your highest-paid player makes plays like this …
lolMets
— Brent Maguire (@bmags94.bsky.social) 2026-06-29T23:20:33.287Z
Twice Is Nice
Baltimore Orioles center fielder Colton Cowser stole a homer from Dylan Crews of the Washington Nationals on Sunday, then had a nearly identical catch against Miguel Vargas of the Chicago White Sox on Monday.
At Least A Cup Wasn’t Needed
New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. might be filing some medical insurance claims after this game. Chisholm was removed from the game after the second collision.
Jazz Chisholm getting his ass kicked in this half inning, helmet to the knee on a slide then an elbow to the chin by his own teammate. He's left the game
Double-Double
Ever seen someone hit the ball twice in one swing? Probably. Ever seen two people do it on the same day? Unlikely. But that is what Alejandro Osuna of the Texas Rangers and Colby Thomas of the A’s did in separate games.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth, out since May 5, was activated off the seven-day concussion list.
⚾ Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña is heading to the 10-day injured list with a mild strain of his left calf.
⚾ A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson (right thumb inflammation) and outfielder Tyler Soderstrom (left hip impingement) were placed on the 10-day IL, while left-hander José Suarez went on the paternity list. Among the moves to replace those three, the A’s called up prospect shortstop Joshua Kuroda-Grauer from Triple-A.
⚾ Right-handed starter Chris Paddack has signed with the surprising Texas Rangers. The Rangers mark Paddack’s third team this season after signing a one-year, $4 million deal with the Miami Marlins in the offseason, then being designated for assignment and latching on with the Cincinnati Reds, where on Wednesday he was also DFA’d. Paddack has a 6.96 ERA in 13 games, nine starts. Right-hander Joe Ross and outfielder Jarred Kelenic were designated for assignment, while infielder-outfielder Cameron Cauley was called up from Triple-A to make his MLB debut.
⚾ Cincinnati Reds center fielder Dane Myers was taken to a hospital after making a terrific catch as he ran into the wall against the Milwaukee Brewers. The extent of his injury, which appeared to involve his left shoulder and potentially his head, will be determined with further testing.
Articles You Should Read
The fall of Perry Miniasian and the price of doing business — Patrick Dubuque, Baseball Prospectus
Is baseball getting a World Cup bump? MLB sells fans flooding host cities on its game — Cody Stavenhagen, The Athletic
Fernando Valenzuela did the impossible 36 years ago Monday — Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
