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Vaughn Dalzell / NBCSports.com:
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.
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Royals Review
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Vaughn Dalzell / NBCSports.com:
Giants at Diamondbacks prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats for July 3
Vaughn Dalzell / NBCSports.com:
Guardians at Cubs Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 3
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Sidney Daily News, New York Times, Plain Dealer and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Vaughn Dalzell / NBCSports.com:
White Sox at Dodgers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 3
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True Blue LA and South Side Sox
Vaughn Dalzell / NBCSports.com:
Angels at Braves Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for July 3
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Battery Power, Orange County Register and Braves Today
NBCSports.com:
Yankees at Blue Jays prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for July 3
NBCSports.com:
Tigers at Nationals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 3
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Federal Baseball
David Purdum / ESPN:
Sources: Guardians' Luis Ortiz subject of gambling investigation — Cleveland Guardians right-hander Luis Ortiz is under investigation by Major League Baseball after a betting-integrity firm flagged a pair of pitches that had received unusual gambling activity, sources told ESPN on Thursday.
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New York Times:
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.
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Plain Dealer, Yahoo Sports, New York Daily News, Sportsnet.ca, Covering the Corner and MLB Trade Rumors
Associated Press:
Cleveland pitcher Luis Ortiz placed on non-disciplinary leave by MLB amid investigation — Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz was placed on non-disciplinary leave on Thursday due to an investigation by Major League Baseball. — MLB said Ortiz's paid leave will be through the end of the All-Star break on July 18.
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Plain Dealer, New York Times, New York Post, Lone Star Ball, Yahoo Sports and Pittsburgh Baseball Now
Jacob Feldman / Sportico:
MLB's Two Worst Teams Play Today. The Game Is Sold Out. — The 20-67 Colorado Rockies, last in the National League, host the 28-59 Chicago White Sox, last in the American League, for the start of a three-game series Friday. Good luck getting a seat. — The Rockies are expecting …
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Chicago Tribune
Associated Press:
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 …
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ESPN, Orange County Register, Sportsnet.ca, Dodgers Digest, True Blue LA, Yahoo Sports and New York Times
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Associated Press:
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.
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Associated Press, Sportsnet.ca and ESPN
Associated Press:
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.
Associated Press:
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.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, Federal Baseball and Sportsnet.ca
Ken Rosenthal / New York Times:
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.
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball, MLB Trade Rumors, Royals Review and Pittsburgh Baseball Now
Eric Samulski / NBCSports.com:
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 …
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MLB Trade Rumors
Associated Press:
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 …
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Newsday, Brew Crew Ball and MLB.com
NBCSports.com:
Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Josh Hader leads the way in mid-season rankings — In this week's Closer Report, Josh Hader has been the best closer in baseball through the first half of action amid one of his best seasons. Andrés Muñoz gets back on the board with his first save since June 8.
