MLB Player News

It had appeared as though Andrew Nardi would close it out, but he was lifted with a man on and two outs after Curtis Mead came on as a pinch hitter for Jorbit Vivas. Ekness made it look easy, getting ahead of Mead 0-2 before getting him to line out to center to end the game. He now boasts a 2.70 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and a 2/1 K/BB ratio over his first 3 1/3 innings for the Marlins. Ekness isn’t a reliable closer and the Marlins have mostly gone closer-by-committee without Pete Fairbanks, with the two saves in the last week going to Ekness and John King despite Tyler Phillips and Calvin Faucher appearing like the top options in the pen.

Kurtz is most deserving. He ranks first in the majors with 66 RBI and second in the AL with a .949 OPS. A’s Communications notes that, with Shea Lanegeliers catching, this will be the first time the franchise has had two All-Star starters since Rickey and David Henderson in 1991.

Dylan Cease, Parker Messick, Drew Rasmussen, Joe Ryan, Ranger Suarez and Michael Wacha are the other starters on the AL team. The relievers are Bryan Baker, Aroldis Chapman, Jacob Latz, Cade Smith and Louis Varland. It’s the second nod for Rasmussen, Ryan, Suarez and Wacha and the first for all of the rest other than Chapman, who will be going for the ninth time.

Joining them on the NL squad are starters Chase Burns, Max Meyer, Jacob Misiorowski, Eduardo Rodriguez, Chris Sale, Paul Skeens, Logan Webb and Yoshinobu Yamamoto and relievers Raisel Iglesias and Mason Miller. Shohei Ohtani might also be available, but it seems less likely that he’ll pitch after Friday’s biceps issue. Misiorowski is also expected to be scratched because he’s slated to start the Sunday before the game. That would make Sánchez the overwhelming favorite to start for the NL.

Guerrero has been struggling with his back for weeks now, so this seems to be for the best. He’ll still be credited with his sixth All-Star selection. If the AL replaces him with another first baseman (there’s still two on the roster in Nick Kurtz and Ben Rice), then Willson Contreras is most deserving, based on 2026 performance. Still, he might be bypassed in favor of Pete Alonso or Jonathan Aranda.

Gilbert retired 22 of 23 batters, and Cole Wilcox was a perfect 5-for-5 after coming on in an 11-0 game. Gilbert, originally due to piggyback with Emerson Hancock today, seemed pleased to have the start entirely to himself. His velocity was again up; he’s come in at 96.8, 97.1 and 97.0 mph with his fastball in his last three starts after averaging 95.5 mph in his first 15 outings. He got 18 whiffs today, including 12 with the fastball, and he allowed just three hard-hit balls. The win makes him 7-5 with a 3.19 ERA. He’s fourth in the majors with a 0.95 WHIP and tied for 12th with 114 strikeouts. He’ll get the Rays in his final start before the break.

In 33 career plate appearances with the bases loaded, Bieber hadn’t allowed a grand slam until the second inning today, when Randy Arozarena hit one. He also gave up a two-run homer in the fifth to end his day after 89 pitches. Bieber’s fastball averaged 91.9 mph today, which was basically a match for his first two outings, and he’s already given up six homers in 13 innings. His ability to hit the corners will probably improve as he continues to start regularly, but unfortunately, he just doesn’t seem like a mixed-league guy right now. He’ll likely make his next start Friday in San Diego.

Arozarena also walked and scored three times. He had been 0-for-9 with the bases loaded this year before hitting the first grand slam ever surrendered by Shane Bieber. It was his ninth homer through the Mariners’ 90th game, so he’ll need to pick up the pace a little in order to collect his sixth straight 20/20 season. The steals won’t be an issue; he’s already 19-for-23 there.

Canzone’s 14th homer was clubbed 401 feet to right-center. His .273/.349/.551 line gives him an even .900 OPS. Since he often sits against lefties, he doesn’t qualify for the batting title, but that .551 slugging percentage is good for 10th in the majors among players with 200 plate appearances.

Clement is 14-for-60 with one RBI in his last 17 games, with his slump briefly predating his brief absence due to a hip injury, and he’s now sitting at .293/.316/.430 for the season. Remarkably, though, he was the leading vote-getting in AL All-Star balloting anyway. He’s on pace to finish with 13 homers, 53 RBI, 69 runs scored and about two WAR in 622 plate appearances.

Harper will have a chance to play in his home park with this year’s festivities taking place in Philadelphia. Kyle Schwarber also joins the team as a reserve, and Brandon Marsh was named a starter for the game. Harper and Schwarber will be joined by catchers William Contreras and Hunter Goodman; 1B Matt Olson; 2B Luis Arraez, 3B Sal Stewart, SS Otto Lopez; and outfielders Pete Crow-Armstrong, James Wood, Corbin Carroll and Jordan Walker.