Royals at Mariners Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 3  —  It's Thursday, July 3 and the Royals (40-47) are in Seattle to take on the Mariners (45-41).  Seth Lugo is slated to take the mound for Kansas City against Bryan Woo for Seattle.

Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz placed on leave due to MLB betting investigation: Sources  —  CHICAGO — Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz has been placed on “non-disciplinary paid leave” through the end of the All-Star break as a result of an MLB investigation, with multiple sources telling The Athletic that the probe is related to gambling.

Dodgers' Max Muncy injured while tagging out Michael A. Taylor of White Sox  —  LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy was injured while tagging out Michael A. Taylor in the sixth inning against the Chicago White Sox.  —  Taylor was caught stealing as catcher Will Smith threw to Muncy …

Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez's setback not as serious as first feared, GM says  —  DENVER — Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez's setback to his recovery from a fractured right hand is not as serious as first feared, general manager Dana Brown said Thursday.

Young players having key roles in Marlins' surprising improvement  —  MIAMI — After Eury Pérez struck out his season-high seventh batter on Thursday, the 6-foot-8 Marlins right-hander pumped his fist and looked up at the stands at Miami's loanDepot Park.

Nationals' James Wood joins Ronald Acuña Jr., Cal Raleigh as Home Run Derby participants  —  WASHINGTON — Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood became the third player to announce he will take part in the Home Run Derby.  —  The derby will be held on July 14, the night before the All-Star Game, at Truist Park in Atlanta.

Justin Verlander's outlook, Royals eye Bryan Reynolds and more notes  —  The battle was always going to be uphill.  Justin Verlander entered the season needing 38 wins to fulfill his goal of reaching 300.  At age 42, seeking to average 13 wins over three years or 10 wins over four, he was never exactly a good bet.

After two years, Brandon Woodruff is excited to go pitch again on an MLB mound  —  It wasn't supposed to be this long for Brandon Woodruff.  When the right-hander had surgery on his right shoulder to repair the anterior capsule back in October of 2023, the expectation was that he would miss …

Brewers phenom Jacob Misiorowski gets tagged for 1st time in loss to Mets  —  NEW YORK — Jacob Misiorowski made everything look so easy in his first three major league starts.  —  Now he knows it's not.  —  The hard-throwing rookie finally got knocked around, serving up back-to-back homers …

2025 All-Star Game starters revealed  —  The starters for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard have been unveiled.  Here's who will be taking the field for the American League and National League at the Midsummer Classic on July 15 (8 p.m. ET on FOX) at Atlanta's Truist Park.