MLB ROUNDUP: DODGERS WIN AS CLAYTON KERSHAW GETS 3,000TH K
The Los Angeles Dodgers had a full night Wednesday, watching Clayton Kershaw record his 3,000th career strikeout before Freddie Freeman capped a three-run ninth-inning rally with a game-ending single in a 5-4 victory over the visiting Chicago White Sox.
Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani also drove in runs for the Dodgers in the ninth. Ohtani scored the game-winner, and Will Klein (1-0) earned his first victory for the Dodgers.
Kershaw struck out three batters to finish the night with exactly 3,000, setting down Vinny Capra looking on a slider to end the top of the sixth inning. The milestone strikeout came on Kershaw’s last batter of the game and on his season-high 100th pitch. He gave up four runs on nine hits while becoming the fourth lefty to fan 3,000.
Will Smith and Andy Pages hit home runs for the Dodgers, who won for the eighth time in nine games. Austin Slater hit a two-run home run for the White Sox, while Sean Burke gave up one run on six hits over six innings.
Rays 6, Athletics 5
Yandy Diaz hit a two-run home run in a five-run sixth inning as host Tampa Bay held on in a white-knuckle ninth to avoid a series sweep with a win over the Athletics.
Edwin Uceta survived the ninth inning for his first save. The right-hander came on after Max Muncy homered to leadoff and Austin Wynns doubled and gave up four hits as the A’s scored three times and cut a 6-2 deficit to 6-5 with one out and the bases loaded. Ryan Pepiot (6-6) went six innings, allowing four hits and two runs. Brandon Lowe extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a double. Diaz has reached base in 26 straight games.
Mitch Spence (2-4) took the loss for the A’s. The right-hander went five-plus innings, allowing seven hits, four runs and striking out five.
Braves 8, Angels 3
Sean Murphy hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning and Matt Olson belted a grand slam later in the frame as Atlanta rallied to defeat visiting Los Angeles.
Olson went 3-for-5 and extended his on-base streak to 32 consecutive games. Atlanta’s Jurickson Profar, who returned after serving an 80-game suspension for violating MLB’s banned substance policy, went 2-for-4 with a homer. Reliever Aaron Bummer (1-1) threw 2 1/3 scoreless, hitless innings.
Jorge Soler hit his 200th career homer for the Angels. Los Angeles reliever Ryan Zeferjahn (5-2) failed to retire a batter and allowed five runs on four hits.
Twins 2, Marlins 1
Carlos Correa’s go-ahead single in the fourth inning stood up as visiting Minnesota defeated Miami, snapping the Marlins’ eight-game winning streak.
Twins starter Simeon Woods Richardson (4-4) allowed just two hits, two walks and one run in five innings. Jhoan Duran handled the ninth inning and earned his 13th save. Duran got Dane Myers to bounce into a game-ending double play, snapping the Twins’ three-game skid.
Miami’s Kyle Stowers went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, extending his hitting streak to nine games. He has hit five homers during his streak. Starter Janson Junk (2-1) permitted six hits, no walks and two runs in a career-high six innings.
Pirates 5, Cardinals 0
Mitch Keller pitched seven scoreless innings to lead Pittsburgh past visiting St. Louis, the Pirates’ third consecutive shutout in the series sweep.
Keller struck out seven, walked one and gave up five hits in helping Pittsburgh record their season-high sixth straight victory. Pirates pitchers have held opponents scoreless for 31 consecutive innings — their longest such streak since 2015. It’s also the first time since at least 1901 that an MLB team has scored 43 or more runs and allowed four or fewer in any six-game span.
Cardinals ace Sonny Gray, who threw a one-hitter in his prior start, allowed four runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings. St. Louis has lost five of its past eight games, and all five losses have been shutouts.
Brewers 7, Mets 2 (Game 1)
Joey Ortiz hit a tie-breaking grand slam in the sixth inning to help visiting Milwaukee beat New York in the opener of their four-game series, postponed by rain a night earlier.
Isaac Collins went 4-for-4 with a walk and a solo homer and Sal Frelick had two hits, including a solo homer for the Brewers, who have won five of six games. Starter Freddy Peralta won his fourth consecutive start, allowing two runs on two hits over six innings.
Mets right-hander Clay Holmes went 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks. New York has lost four in a row and 14 of its last 17 games.
Mets 7, Brewers 3 (Game 2)
Brandon Nimmo belted a grand slam and Francisco Lindor drove in three runs, helping New York salvage a split of their doubleheader against visiting Milwaukee.
Nimmo’s grand slam in the second inning was followed by Lindor’s solo homer. Lindor added an RBI single in the sixth and an RBI double in the eighth. Edwin Diaz struck out three batters over the final 1 1/3 innings to record his 17th save. The Mets had lost four in a row and 14 of 17 games following their 7-2 setback in the opener of the doubleheader.
Rhys Hoskins and Jackson Chourio each collected two hits and a run for the Brewers, who lost for just the second time in their last seven games. Starter Jacob Misiorowski sustained the first loss of his career after permitting five runs on as many hits with three walks in 3 2/3 innings.
Cubs 5, Guardians 4
Seiya Suzuki had two hits and three RBIs and Shota Imanaga pitched into the sixth inning as host Chicago beat Cleveland, handing the Guardians their sixth straight loss.
Pete Crow-Armstrong had two hits and drove in two runs for Chicago, which rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to win for the fifth time in its last seven games. Dansby Swanson added two hits. Imanaga (5-2) allowed three runs on four hits over 5 1/3 innings.
Carlos Santana, Lane Thomas and David Fry each hit solo homers for Cleveland, which has scored a total of 12 runs during its losing streak.
Rangers 6, Orioles 0
Marcus Semien ripped a three-run homer and Corey Seager added a solo shot as Texas pounded out a shutout win over Baltimore in the decisive game of a three-game series in Arlington, Texas.
Nathan Eovaldi (5-3), making his second start after missing a month because of right triceps fatigue, pitched five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and a walk and struck out five while lowering his ERA to 1.75 through 14 outings.
Orioles starter Tomoyuki Sugano (6-5) continued his recent struggles, yielding six runs on 10 hits and a walk while striking out five in 4 2/3 innings. Sugano has surrendered 13 runs on 19 hits over 9 2/3 innings in his past two starts.
Astros 5, Rockies 3
Jose Altuve had two singles to pass Jeff Bagwell for second on Houston’s career hit list, Shay Whitcomb hit his first major league home run and the Astros beat Colorado in Denver.
Altuve now has 2,315 hits, one more than Bagwell amassed for the Astros in his Hall of Fame career. Cam Smith had three hits and Cooper Hummel, Christian Walker, Yainer Diaz and Isaac Paredes each had two of the Astros’ 16 hits. Astros starter Hunter Brown (9-3) gave up two runs on six hits in six innings.
Mickey Moniak homered, Tyler Freeman had three hits to extend his on-base streak to 17 games, Thairo Estrada also collected three hits and Yanquiel Fernandez went 0-for-3 in his major league debut for Colorado. Rockies starter Austin Gomber allowed two runs on eight hits in five innings as Colorado fell for the 10th time in 12 games.
Giants 6, Diamondbacks 5 (10 innings)
Jung Hoo Lee singled, doubled, tripled, drove in a run and scored two for San Francisco, which ended a four-game losing streak with a 10-inning win over Arizona in Phoenix.
Mike Yastrzemski hit a game-opening home run and Brett Wisely had two hits, an RBI and a run from the No. 9 spot for the Giants, whose skid matched their longest of the season. Giants starter Landen Roupp was lifted after four-plus innings. He allowed two runs and five hits.
Arizona’s Ketel Marte hit a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth off San Francisco closer Camilo Doval (4-2). Alek Thomas also homered, Geraldo Perdomo had three hits and Jake McCarthy had two hits and an RBI for the Diamondbacks.
Mariners 3, Royals 2
Randy Arozarena homered for the fourth time in the past three games and added a sacrifice fly as Seattle defeated visiting Kansas City.
Mariners slugger Cal Raleigh, named the American League’s starting catcher for the All-Star Game earlier in the day, got just his second night off in 86 games this season. Arozarena led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a 418-foot blast off Royals reliever John Schreiber, tying the score at 1-all. It was his 12th long ball of the year.
Royals rookie left-hander Noah Cameron pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed four hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
Phillies 6, Padres 4 (Game 1)
Manny Machado drove in three runs in support of Nick Pivetta, who quieted Philadelphia over six innings to guide San Diego to a road victory in the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader.
Pivetta (9-2) allowed one run and seven hits against his former team.
Kyle Schwarber hit his 26th homer for Philadelphia, which had won three of its previous four games. Philadelphia starter Mick Abel (2-2) allowed five runs, two hits and five walks in 1 2/3 innings.
Phillies 5, Padres 1 (Game 2)
Christopher Sanchez allowed a run and five hits over seven innings and Max Kepler and Brandon Marsh homered in Philadelphia’s win over visiting San Diego to split a day-night doubleheader.
Sanchez got 13 ground-ball outs and struck out five for the Phillies. It was his fourth consecutive game with at least six innings pitched and no walks. Kepler was 2-for-4, including his 10th homer, a two-run shot, in the fourth inning.
Padres starter Dylan Cease gave up four runs on eight hits in six innings while picking up the loss. San Diego got its lone run on Jackson Merrill’s RBI single in the fourth.
Tigers 11, Nationals 2 (Game 1)
Riley Greene hit a pair of three-run home runs, Jake Rogers and Spencer Torkelson also went deep and visiting Detroit routed Washington in the opener of a day-night doubleheader.
Greene has homered in three straight games and has 21 on the season. Zach McKinstry had four hits and Colt Keith added three for Detroit, which has won four of five. Dylan Smith (1-0) pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings on two hits for the win.
Alex Call had three hits for Washington, which went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Trevor Williams (3-10) gave up seven runs on nine hits over three innings. Washington prospect Andry Lara, 22, retired nine of the 10 batters he faced in his major league debut.
Nationals 9, Tigers 4 (Game 2)
Nathaniel Lowe’s bases-loaded triple keyed a six-run eighth inning and host Washington rallied past Detroit to earn a split of a day-night doubleheader.
Lowe also had an RBI single, Bell finished with three hits and three RBIs and Washington rookie Daylen Lile extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Cole Henry (1-1) pitched a scoreless eighth for his first career win.
Jahmai Jones had two hits and two RBIs for the Tigers. Tommy Kahnle (0-1) yielded five runs without recording an out.
Reds 8, Red Sox 4
Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s seventh-inning grand slam sparked a Cincinnati comeback as the visiting Reds defeated Boston in the finale of a three-game series.
Encarnacion-Strand joined Tyler Stephenson, Gavin Lux and Matt McLain with multiple hits for the Reds, who erased a 3-0 deficit by scoring five in the seventh and three in the eighth. They remain the lone major league team that has not been swept this season. Despite trailing for most of his outing, Cincinnati right-hander Nick Martinez (6-8) wound up working 6 2/3 innings in his second straight winning start. He allowed four runs on nine hits.
Boston errors helped fuel both of the Reds’ big innings, which included seven of their 12 total hits. Stephenson led off both frames with singles. Trevor Story went 3-for-4, Ceddanne Rafaela had two hits and Wilyer Abreu (home run) and Romy Gonzalez each had two RBIs for Boston.
Red Sox 5, Reds 3 (completion of Tuesday’s suspended game)
Wilyer Abreu and Trevor Story drove in runs in the eighth inning to lift Boston to a win over visiting Cincinnati in a suspended game that was completed Wednesday afternoon. The first three innings were played Tuesday night before heavy rain halted play.
Abreu’s go-ahead RBI single broke a 3-3 tie, then Story followed with a two-out RBI double. The two-run cushion was plenty for Aroldis Chapman, who tossed a 1-2-3 ninth inning to notch his 14th save. That also made a winner out of Brayan Bello, who tossed five innings of one-run ball. Abraham Toro and Abreu each had two hits while Carlos Narvaez had two RBIs for the Red Sox.
Lyon Richardson took the loss for the Reds after Scott Barlow blew a save. Spencer Steer, the reigning NL Player of the Week, knocked his 10th homer to left in the fourth, a two-run shot.
Blue Jays 11, Yankees 9
Davis Schneider homered twice and Addison Barger also went deep as host Toronto defeated New York. The Blue Jays have won the first three games of the four-game series to tie the Yankees for first in the AL East.
Toronto squandered an 8-0 lead, with New York’s Aaron Judge’s two-run homer in the eighth tying the game at 9. But the Blue Jays came back to take an 11-9 lead against Yankees reliever Devin Williams in the home eighth on two walks, a run-scoring wild pitch and Barger’s RBI single.
Barger finished with four RBIs while Schneider drove in three runs. Andres Gimenez contributed three hits and Jeff Hoffman pitched around a single in the ninth for Toronto to earn his 20th save. For New York, Giancarlo Stanton hit a three-run homer, while Judge finished with three hits and three RBIs.
MLB ANNOUNCES 2025 ALL-STAR GAME STARTERS
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.
The results of the fan vote to determine this year’s All-Star starters were announced on Wednesday on ESPN. Alongside Yankees slugger Aaron Judge and Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani — who had already earned automatic bids as each league’s leading vote-getter in Phase 1 of voting — the starters include plenty of familiar faces, such as Freddie Freeman, and blossoming superstars like Seattle’s Cal Raleigh.
Thirteen teams are represented in this year’s All-Star starting lineups, with the Tigers and Dodgers leading the way with three apiece, and the Cubs are the only other team to send multiple starters. There are nine players who were elected starters by the fans for the first time.
The complete 2025 All-Star rosters, including pitchers and position player reserves for both teams, will be revealed on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN.
These are your All-Star Game starters for 2025.
The following numbers are entering Wednesday’s games.
American League
Catcher: Cal Raleigh, Mariners (1st starter election)
What a season it’s been for Big Dumper. The Mariners backstop is on pace for one of the best catching seasons of all time and could very well make home run history as a catcher. Raleigh has a 1.024 OPS and 33 home runs in 84 games, while his 5.6 Wins Above Replacement (FanGraphs) were second only to Judge. Raleigh is the first Mariners backstop to be selected to start the All-Star Game.
Runner-up: Alejandro Kirk, Blue Jays
First base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays (4th starter election)
Mere months after signing a franchise-altering 14-year, $500 million extension, Guerrero has produced in a big way yet again with a .380 OBP, .828 OPS and 12 home runs in 84 games. This is Vlad Jr.’s second straight selection as an All-Star Game starter and his fourth in the last five years, as he chases his father’s total of six career fan vote victories.
Runner-up: Paul Goldschmidt, Yankees
Second base: Gleyber Torres, Tigers (1st starter election)
It’s been a remarkable first season in Detroit for Torres, whose 2.3 WAR is second only to Ketel Marte among second basemen. Torres is running a .284/.386/.437 line, with his .386 OBP representing a career high and ranking in the top 10 among hitters with at least 200 plate appearances this season. This is Torres’ third All-Star selection (first as a starter), and he’s the first Tigers starter at second base since Placido Polanco in 2007.
Runner-up: Jackson Holliday, Orioles
Shortstop: Jacob Wilson, Athletics (1st starter election)
Wilson has taken the Majors by storm in his first full season, with a .339 batting average that is second in the Majors behind Judge’s .358 mark. The A’s shortstop has cooled off a bit of late, but his 108 hits are second (once again behind Judge) and he’s third among qualifying shortstops with an .853 OPS. Wilson is the first A’s shortstop to start the All-Star Game since Bert Campaneris started three straight games from 1973-75.
Runner-up: Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
Third base: José Ramírez, Guardians (4th starter election)
Another year, another excellent season for Cleveland’s star third baseman. With 13 home runs and 21 steals in 80 games, Ramírez is on pace for his fifth straight 20-20 season and the seventh of his career. Ramírez paces all third basemen with 3.2 WAR and is second behind Eugenio Suárez, among qualifiers, with his .860 OPS. This is Ramírez’s seventh All-Star selection in what could very well be a Hall of Fame career.
Runner-up: Alex Bregman, Red Sox
Designated hitter: Ryan O’Hearn, Orioles (1st starter election)
O’Hearn has been the biggest bright spot in what’s been a down year for the Orioles. Three years ago, O’Hearn struggled to the tune of a .611 OPS in what would be his final year with the Royals. After two strong seasons with the Orioles in 2023-24, O’Hearn has taken it up a notch this year with a .295/.383/.471 line, good for an .854 OPS that is fifth among qualified designated hitters and tops in the AL.
Runner-up: Ben Rice, Yankees
Outfield: Aaron Judge, Yankees (7th starter election)
What more can really be said about Judge’s season and career? Even with his “slump” in June (a .967 OPS), Judge is hitting a remarkable .358/.466/.722 with an MLB-leading 6.5 WAR a little more than halfway through the season. Judge has already had two all-time seasons in 2021 (11.1 WAR and 62 homers) and 2024 (11.3 WAR and 58 home runs) that resulted in AL Most Valuable Player Awards. He could very well add a third this season in what could end up being a career-best year. This is Judge’s fifth straight selection as an All-Star Game starter, and his seventh in his past eight chances.
Outfield: Riley Greene, Tigers (1st starter election)
Greene has blossomed into the best Tigers player not named Tarik Skubal and is a key reason why Detroit has the American League’s best record. The 24-year-old ranks in the top 10 among outfielders in OPS (.909), slugging (.559), home runs (21) and WAR (3.0). He now has two straight All-Star selections, just six years after the Tigers made him the No. 5 overall pick in the Draft.
Outfield Javier Báez, Tigers (3rd starter election)
Báez’s resurgence has been one of the best stories in all of baseball this season. After struggling mightily in his first three seasons in Detroit from 2022-24, Báez has bounced back with a .783 OPS and 1.8 WAR, putting him on track for his best season since 2021. This is Báez’s third career All-Star selection at a third different position, with his first two coming at second base (2018) and shortstop (2019). He and Greene are the first Tigers outfielders selected as starters since Magglio Ordonez in 2007.
Runners-up: Mike Trout, Angels; Steven Kwan, Guardians
National League
Catcher: Will Smith, Dodgers (1st starter election)
This makes three straight All-Star seasons for Smith, who’s long been one of the best offensive catchers in baseball but has never performed quite like this before. He leads the National League in batting average (.320) and on-base percentage (.418), and given his .532 SLG, he is on pace to be the first catcher with a qualifying .300/.400/.500 season since Buster Posey in 2012.
Runner-up: Carson Kelly, Cubs
First base: Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (5th starter election)
Make it seven in a row for this Dodger. The last time the National League fielded an All-Star roster without Freeman was in 2017, and he’s back in the starting lineup for the second time in a Dodgers uniform. No World Series hangover here — he’s picked up right where he left off last season, hitting .308 with 21 doubles, 10 homers and 43 RBIs.
Runner-up: Pete Alonso, Mets
Second base: Ketel Marte, D-backs (3rd starter election)
Marte has been the most valuable second baseman in baseball, and at least based on offensive performance, it’s not close. Out from April 5 through May 1 with a hamstring injury, Marte has only played 59 games but already has 17 home runs. Among primary second basemen with at least 200 PA on the year, he leads in just about every major category including fWAR (3.0), average (.296), OBP (.400) and SLG (.583).
Runner-up: Tommy Edman, Dodgers
Shortstop: Francisco Lindor, Mets (1st starter election)
A personal milestone and a triumphant return, as Lindor made four straight All-Star appearances with Cleveland from 2016-19 and hasn’t been back since. Although his numbers lag behind the ones that made him the runner-up in 2024 NL MVP voting, he ranks second among NL shortstops in fWAR (3.0, behind Trea Turner) and home runs (16, behind Elly De La Cruz).
Runner-up: Mookie Betts, Dodgers
Third base: Manny Machado, Padres (4th starter election)
As per usual, the 32-year-old Machado is anchoring the Padres’ lineup, hitting a steady .293 with 13 home runs and 47 RBIs. In 14 seasons, he’s put together quite a diverse resume; he’s won the fan vote in both leagues, both at third base (2016, ’22, ’25) and at shortstop (’18), and with this year’s fan selection he is officially a seven-time All-Star.
Runner-up: Max Muncy, Dodgers
Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (5th starter election)
Already a starter by virtue of being the National League’s top vote-getter, Ohtani is having another one of his typically outrageous seasons at the plate, currently leading all Major Leaguers with 83 runs scored (in 84 games) and pacing the NL in home runs (30), slugging (.637), OPS (1.024) and OPS+ (183). Unfortunately, given that he’s still working on getting back to full strength after undergoing elbow surgery in 2023, it’ll be at least another year before he has a chance to be his league’s starting P/DH like he was for the AL squad in 2021.
Outfield: Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves (5th starter election)
Acuña tore his left ACL in May 2024 and as a result didn’t make his 2025 season debut until May 23, not that you can tell. In 35 games, he’s hitting .350 with a 1.076 OPS (199 OPS+) and he has nine home runs, one of which came on the first pitch he’d seen in the Majors in almost a year. This is the fifth time Acuña has won the fan vote — bearing in mind there have only been seven All-Star Games since he debuted in 2018 — but this year’s should be extra special, since it’s coming in front of his home crowd.
Outfield: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs (1st starter election)
The Cubs have cooled a bit in recent weeks, but their hot start clearly boosted everyone’s profile, as they’ll have two outfielders starting at the All-Star Game for the first time since 2008 (Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome). As dynamic and toolsy as advertised, Crow-Armstrong has already made 2025 his first career 20-homer, 20-steal season. With elite speed, outstanding defense and lefty pop, it’s not hugely surprising fan voters wanted to see more of the Cubs’ current phenom.
Outfield: Kyle Tucker, Cubs (1st starter election)
Tucker, acquired from the Astros in December, is a three-time American League All-Star but had never won a fan vote — until now. The 28-year-old has made an excellent first impression in Chicago, hitting .290/.393/.533 with 17 home runs and 20 stolen bases, just about keeping pace with his center fielder, Crow-Armstrong. Tucker’s 4.0 fWAR is also tied with his teammate for the lead among NL outfielders, while trailing Judge (6.3) across MLB.
Runners-up: Teoscar Hernández, Dodgers; Juan Soto, Mets; Andy Pages, Dodgers
