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10:45 AM ET, June 18, 2026

Ballbug

 Top News: 
The Athletic:
MLB Home Run Derby to ditch clock, revive swing-based system: Sources  —  In one area of baseball, the clock is dead.  —  Major League Baseball's Home Run Derby will put a new twist on an old format next month.  Hitters will have a number of swings rather than a clock that dictate their turns at the plate …
Jaylon Thompson / Kansas City Star:
Why Royals starter Luinder Avila showed promise in series-ending win at Nationals  —  AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.  — Luinder Avila pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowed one run and struck out five.  — Avila's slider registered 18 swings and seven whiffs and was thrown 30 times.
RELATED:
Jaylon Thompson / Kansas City Star:
How the Royals' bullpen imploded again in Tuesday's loss to Washington Nationals  —  AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.  — Lynch entered the seventh with a 1.80 ERA and was charged with three runs.  — Foster Griffin, drafted in 2014, allowed one run across six innings.
Discussion: Yahoo Sports and Deadspin
Shreyas Laddha / Kansas City Star:   Kansas City Royals end losing streak with impressive pitching performance vs. Astros
Scott Polacek / Bleacher Report:
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani Seen With Bloody Finger on Pitching Hand During Rays Game Amid Blister Issue  —  Shohei Ohtani was not as effective as usual on the mound during Wednesday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays, and he was seen with a bloody finger on his right pitching hand.
RELATED:
Liana Handler / Los Angeles Times:
Freddie Freeman's two-run home run helps Dodgers complete sweep of Rays  — 5 min Click here to listen to this article  — Freddie Freeman crushed a go-ahead, two-run homer over Cedric Mullins' outstretched glove, lifting the Dodgers to a 5-4 win and a three-game sweep of the Rays.
Pat Brennan / Cincinnati.com:
Reds drops series finale to Mets ahead of trip to face NY Yankees … A series sweep was within reach for the Cincinnati Reds, and it would have been a vital gain ahead of a challenging back stretch in the month of June.  —  Already trailing the New York Mets 3-1 in the teams' June 17 series finale …
Discussion: sports.yahoo.com and Deadspin
RELATED:
The Athletic:
Phillies pause Andrew Painter's disappointing season, option struggling starter to Triple A  —  PHILADELPHIA — When Andrew Painter, his eight teammates sharing the field and the 37,000-plus fans watching wanted nothing more than a nightmare second inning to end, Xavier Edwards would not stop fouling off pitches.
ESPN:
Ranking top 2026 MLB trade deadline candidates: Skubal, more  —  Major League Baseball's Aug. 3 trade deadline is now less than seven weeks away, and teams are ramping up conversations about plans for the trade season ahead.  —  Whether from contenders determining how big of a splash …
Evan Petzold / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers send Keider Montero to bullpen: 'I'm always available'  —  HOUSTON - The Detroit Tigers have sent right-hander Keider Montero to the bullpen.  —  The 25-year-old will be available as a reliever for the Tigers on Tuesday, June 16, in the second of three games against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park.
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors and Yahoo Sports
RELATED:
Evan Petzold / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers scratch Troy Melton from Monday's start with injury
Discussion: Deadspin and sports.yahoo.com
Jim Buzinski / Outsports:
MLB warns 3 San Francisco Giants players who scrawled a Bible verse on Pride hats  —  Major League Baseball issued a response to three San Francisco Giants pitchers who wrote Biblical inscriptions on the team's Pride caps: You've been warned.  —  “The writing on the cap violates our rules …
RELATED:
Baseball-Reference.com:
2026 Baltimore Orioles Batting Splits  —  Record: 35-40, 4th place in AL_East (Schedule and Results)  —  General Manager: Mike Elias (Executive VP & GM) Ballpark: Oriole Park at Camden Yards Attendance: 874,389 (11th of 15)  —  (Over 100 favors batters, under 100 favors pitchers.)
Discussion: Yahoo Sports
Cameron DaSilva / USA Today:
Jared Verse reveals what he told Rams teammates after being traded to Browns  —  Verse: 'Make sure you beat the Seahawks.  That's all I care about.'  —  Jared Verse was hit with some tough news earlier this month when the Los Angeles Rams informed him that he was being traded to the Cleveland Browns in a deal for Myles Garrett.
Gary Phillips / New York Daily News:
Yankees not quite ready to use Spencer Jones against lefties  —  With the Yankees facing Blue Jays southpaw Patrick Corbin and the lefty-swinging Spencer Jones out of the lineup on Sunday in Toronto, Aaron Boone was asked if the young outfielder could get some chances against left-handed pitches moving forward.
Discussion: New York Post and Pinstripe Alley
 
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 More News: 
Buster Olney / ESPN:
MLB 2026 trade deadline: Front office execs under most pressure
Discussion: sports.yahoo.com
MLB.com:
First All-Star Ballot update: Ohtani, Yordan cruising; both 1B fields loaded
Jaylon Thompson / Kansas City Star:
Kansas City Royals acquire veteran reliever in two-player trade with Blue Jays
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors and Deadspin
 Earlier Picks: 
Eric Samulski / NBCSports.com:
Fantasy baseball streaming starting pitchers: Griffin Jax rebounds, Anthony Kay surging, more
Alex D'Agostino / Sports Illustrated:
There's No Reason Diamondbacks' Manuel Pena Should Still Be in AA
 

 
From WeSmirch:

TMZ.com:
Daveigh Chase, Star of ‘The Ring’ and ‘Lilo & Stitch,’ Dead at 35

TMZ.com:
Faizon Love Arrested in Florida

Daily Star:
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