Top News:
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.
RELATED:
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.
Discussion:
Plain Dealer, Yahoo Sports, New York Daily News, Sportsnet.ca, Covering the Corner and MLB Trade Rumors
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.
Discussion:
Royals Review
RELATED:
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
Discussion:
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
Discussion:
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
Discussion:
Orange County Register and Battery Power
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
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Associated Press:
Mets add pitchers Paul Blackburn and Dedniel Núñez to long injured list — NEW YORK — Already running low on pitching, the New York Mets added starter Paul Blackburn and reliever Dedniel Núñez to a crowded injured list Thursday in their latest flurry of roster moves.
Discussion:
New York Times, SNY and MLB Trade Rumors
Associated Press:
Poor hitting has Braves fending off trade deadline questions after series loss to Angels — ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves don't want to hear they are running out of time to prove they can still compete for a playoff spot. — Continued offensive woes are making a case Atlanta could be sellers instead of buyers at the trade deadline.
Discussion:
Battery Power, Braves Today, Associated Press, Orange County Register and New York Times
Associated Press:
Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt goes on injured list and heads for scan of forearm — NEW YORK — Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt was placed on the 15-day injured list because of right forearm soreness on Friday, one day after his start at Toronto was cut short following three innings.
Discussion:
New York Post, New York Daily News, New York Times, MLB.com, Pinstripe Alley and Sportsnet.ca
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 …
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune
Associated Press:
Aaron Judge draws 23rd intentional walk, matches Mickey Mantle's 1957 Yankees record — TORONTO — New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge drew his 23rd intentional walk of the season in the eighth inning Thursday night against Toronto, matching Mickey Mantle's 1957 team record.
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 …
Discussion:
ESPN, Dodgers Digest, Sportsnet.ca, Orange County Register, True Blue LA, Yahoo Sports and New York Times
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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:
Associated Press, Yahoo Sports, Federal Baseball and Sportsnet.ca
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.
Discussion:
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.
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:
MLB Trade Rumors, Gaslamp Ball, 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 …
Discussion:
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 …
Discussion:
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.
