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The MLB All-Star Game is a terrific event, with the best players in the sport facing off. There are 32 players on each of the American League and National League rosters, with each of the 30 clubs guaranteed to have one All-Star. Pretty fair, right? Well, the discourse began shortly after the pitchers and reserves were announced Sunday. The question everybody asked and some answered was: Who got snubbed? Totally understand the question, but when you see a player got snubbed, you need to pull someone who was selected from the game while still abiding by the roster rules. A popular pick for the snub list this year is New York Mets superstar Juan Soto. OK, so which one of the NL reserve outfielders do you yank? The candidates would be Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Kyle Stowers of the Miami Marlins, or James Wood of the Washington Nationals. I will even throw in Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies, who is a designated hitter. Stowers is the only Marlin, so can’t knock him. Wood is deserving. Schwarber has more homers and RBIs. So it comes down to Carroll and Soto. I can see Soto being the better choice, but it also is very telling that the players did not feel Soto was deserving.
Player all-star voting results. Always interesting. Why is Juan Soto not an all-star, for example? Wasn't voted onto the team by either the players or the fans.
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst.bsky.social) 2025-07-06T21:59:06.562Z
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Today’s Headlines
Nationals Clean House, Fire Rizzo, Martinez
With some rising talent but sitting in last place in the standings, the Washington Nationals made the bold move of firing Mike Rizzo, the president of baseball operations as well as general manager, and manager Dave Martinez following Sunday’s 6-4 loss to the Boston Red Sox. Mike DeBartolo will ascend from assistant GM to replace Rizzo on an interim basis, while Martinez’s successor will be named today. Not only did Sunday’s setback complete a three-game sweep, it dropped the Nats’ record to 9-23 since the start of June, which included an 11-game losing streak. The Nationals are 37-53, last in the NL East, 16 games behind the first-place New York Mets. The move came the same day the Nationals had two players named to the All-Star Game, with outfielder James Wood and left-handed starter MacKenzie Gore selected to the NL team. The Nationals have lost at least 91 games each of the last four seasons — including 107 losses in 2022 — and are on a pace to do the same in 2025, while also finishing last in the division in four of the last five seasons.
The move is striking for a few reasons, most prominently that the Nationals hold the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft, which takes place starting next weekend in conjunction with the All-Star Game festivities. While high school shortstop/third baseman Ethan Holliday is atop most prospect boards, the Nationals are thought to be in line to take college left-handed starter Kade Anderson of LSU by MLB Pipeline and Baseball America in mock drafts that came out last week. Anderson is ranked No. 2 by MLB Pipeline and No. 4 by Baseball America. Both are represented by superagent Scott Boras. Rizzo was in his 17th year in command of the Nats’ baseball operations, while Martinez was named manager before the 2018 season and is the winningest skipper in club history at 500-622. Martinez is the third MLB manager fired this season, joining Derek Shelton of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Bud Black of the Colorado Rockies.
All-Star Pitchers, Reserves Named
The reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers will have two more players repping the NL in the All-Star Game, which will take place a week from Tuesday in Atlanta. Already with three starters — designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, first baseman Freddie Freeman, and catcher Will Smith — the Dodgers learned left-handed starter Clayton Kershaw and right-handed starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto were added as pitchers and nonstarting position players were revealed. Kershaw, who has made just nine starts this year, made it as a legend pick by Commissioner Rob Manfred. There are 19 first-time All-Stars on the AL and NL rosters following Sunday’s announcement. Conversely, 14 players have five or more All-Star selections.
The American League All-Star pitching staff is looking NICE 😮💨
Here are your reserves for the American League All-Stars!
The National League All-Star pitching staff has been revealed!
National League reserves for the All-Star Game have been announced!
Woodruff Wows In Return
Having been sidelined for 652 days — including two unrelated injury delays — no one knew quite what to expect when right-handed starter Brandon Woodruff took the mound for the Milwaukee Brewers in the series finale vs. the Miami Marlins. Woodruff last appeared in an MLB game on Sept. 23, 2023, when he blew out his right shoulder and needed surgery. Coincidentally, his return came on the same mound from which he last pitched in an MLB game. Maybe that was part of the karma that was in the works with the two minor injuries (a sprained ankle and a bruised elbow from a comebacker) setting the stage for what transpired Sunday. The 32-year-old looked crisp, retiring the first six batters he faced en route to an eight-strikeout performance over six innings as the Brewers beat the Marlins 3-1. Woodruff allowed just two hits, a single and a homer while walking none. He threw 70 pitches, 53 for strikes, including a 95.7 mph fastball, his fastest of the day. Woodruff took the roster spot of right-hander Chad Patrick, who was optioned to Triple-A. Jackson Chourio hit a two-run homer and had a sacrifice fly to account for all of the Brewers’ scoring.
On Repeat: Skubal Shines As Tigers Win In 10
Sundays are made for pitching duels and, as usual, Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal more than delivered on his end. His opposite number, Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams, was just as good. And while neither allowed a run, it took a dramatic dash in the top of the ninth inning to force extra innings, then the Tigers’ power took control for a 7-2 victory. The Tigers swept the three-game series, sending the Guardians to their 10th consecutive loss. Zach McKinstry scored on a two-out, two-strike wild pitch to tie the game, then Trey Sweeney snapped the deadlock with a three-run homer in the 10th, and Riley Greene tacked on a two-run shot. For Skubal, it was more of the same as the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner struck out 10 and walked none in seven shutout innings, allowing three hits. It was the sixth time this season Skubal reached double digits in strikeouts and the eighth time he has not allowed a run. Skubal’s ERA sits at 2.02, making him a favorite to start the All-Star Game. At 57-34, the Tigers not only have MLB’s best record, but they also possess the largest lead in any division, 13.5 games in front of the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central. Williams allowed just one hit over six shutout innings, walking three and striking out eight.
Almost Perfect: Wheeler Retires 27 of 28
Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler came about as close to pitching a perfect game as you can come. With the exception of one pitch, Wheeler was unhittable, retiring 27 of the 28 batters he faced in the Phillies’ 3-1 triumph over the Cincinnati Reds. The lone blemish on Wheeler’s day was Austin Hays‘ solo homer in the fifth inning on a 3-1 pitch. Otherwise, Wheeler did not yield another hit nor did he walk anyone, while striking out 12 in a dominant performance. It was Wheeler’s first complete game since Aug. 8, 2021. While the Phillies tied it in the bottom of the fifth on a Kyle Schwarber RBI, it took Bryson Stott hitting a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth for the Phillies to give Wheeler the win.
Bellinger’s Defense, Judge’s Blast Snap Yanks’ Skid
While right fielder Aaron Judge did his part to keep pace in the home run chase, all anyone wanted to talk about was a stellar defensive play by left fielder Cody Bellinger. Judge hit a homer and drove in three and Austin Wells also homered and drove in a pair as the Yankees snapped a six-game losing streak to beat the New York Mets 6-4, salvaging the finale of the three-game set in the Subway Series. With the Yankees leading 6-4 and a runner on first in the bottom of the seventh, Mets superstar Juan Soto hit a sinking liner to left that Bellinger charged in and snared just before it hit the ground. Then, without hesitation, Bellinger uncorked a missile of a throw to double off Francisco Lindor at first. Wells hit a solo shot to open the scoring in the third inning, then Judge hit his 33rd homer of the season, a two-run shot, in the fifth inning to stake the Yankees to a 5-0 advantage. The Mets responded with a pair of runs in the fifth and sixth innings to pull within 5-4, before Judge added a sacrifice fly in the seventh to make it 6-4.
Scoreless In Seattle: Kirby, M’s Blank Pirates Again
If the Seattle Mariners are truly going to make a push this season, they need to be better at Safeco Field. While they won’t be able to replicate what they did this weekend, it provided a terrific template. George Kirby and three relievers combined on a five-hit shutout as the Mariners beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0, completing a three-game sweep in which they didn’t allow a single run. It was the first time in franchise history the Mariners threw three straight shutouts. Randy Arozarena continued his power display by hitting a sixth-inning solo homer, an inning after Pirates ace Paul Skenes left the game. Skenes, who has a record of 4-7, lowered his ERA to 1.94 with five shutout innings, striking out 10 and allowing five hits. Kirby went 6.1 shutout innings, allowing four hits and striking out nine while walking none. Right-hander Carlos Vargas, left-hander Gabe Speier and closer Andrés Muñoz combined to limit the Pirates to one hit over the last 2.2 innings, with Speier notching three strikeouts and Munoz earning his 21st save.
Best Moments From Yesterday
A True Laser
Watching Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz throw is a privilege.
We are still in complete awe of Oneil Cruz's rocket of a throw 🚀
You Can Be An All-Star, Too
Who knew, but apparently you can vote to send two people to the All-Star Game to be a ball boy or a ball girl. There are four finalists.
All-Star voting isn’t over yet because the All-Star Ball Crew is back!TWO go to Atlanta and YOU decide who ➡️ http://mlb.com/abcballot
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish (right elbow inflammation) will be activated from the 60-day injured list and start today’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. It will be Darvish’s 2025 debut after being injured during spring training.
⚾ Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins is headed for the 10-day injured list after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 sprain of his left thumb. First baseman Andrew Vaughn, acquired from the Chicago White Sox in the Aaron Civale trade, is expected to be promoted from Triple-A.
⚾ Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Andrés Giménez went on the 10-day IL with a sprained left ankle as part of a series of moves.
⚾ With a sixth catcher being placed on the injured list, the Baltimore Orioles acquired minor-league catcher Alex Jackson from the New York Yankees and put him on the major-league roster. Gary Sánchez went on the 10-day IL with a sprained right knee.
⚾ Diamondbacks first baseman Pavin Smith was placed on the 10-day IL due to a strained right oblique.
⚾ Left-handed reliever Jesse Chavez was called up by Atlanta, the third time he has been with a team in the majors this season. The 41-year-old began the year with the Texas Rangers.
⚾ Right-hander Dan Straily, who pitched for eight teams across six MLB seasons, has retired. He compiled a 4.56 ERA in 156 games, including 140 starts.
Articles You Should Read
This is the Mize the Tigers have been waiting to see — Cody Stavenhagen, The Athletic
Thanks to large Giants fan presence, Webb aces homecoming — John Shea, San Francisco Standard
Dodgers’ sparkling record masks problems exposed by Astros — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
