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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

OHTANI, JUDGE AND THE BAT BRAND OWNED BY EX-MLB STAR CÉSPEDES  —  As the torpedo bat craze stormed Major League Baseball to start the 2025 season, Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge were both asked about making the switch.  “I'm very satisfied with my current bat,” Ohtani told the Japanese press after an April walk-off home run.

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.