Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Atlanta's Ronald Acuña Jr. has been confirmed as a participant in the upcoming Home Run Derby. He will be showcasing his power alongside other talented players such as Oneil Cruz, Byron Buxton, and Cal Raleigh.
Pirates slugger Oneil Cruz has officially accepted his invitation to compete in the 2025 Home Run Derby. Known for his immense and elite power, Cruz previously clobbered the hardest-hit homer in the Statcast era at 122.9 mph. His participation is expected to bring a formidable display of hitting prowess to the competition, joining a suddenly stacked group of power hitters.
SportsLine's model has identified Giancarlo Stanton as a key player for Wednesday's MLB prop betting picks. He is included in recommendations for sites like PrizePicks, DraftKings, and FanDuel, highlighting his potential value for bettors.
Luis Arraez is maintaining his exceptional contact hitting ability, rarely striking out as the MLB season approaches the All-Star break, positioning him as a league standout. Additionally, SportsLine's model recommends Arraez as a key player for Wednesday's MLB prop betting picks, further underscoring his consistent performance and value.
Francisco Lindor played a vital role as a key member of the Mets' top lineup, fueling their 'special' comeback victory against the Orioles on Tuesday with his essential contributions. In other news, Lindor also weighed in on teammate Juan Soto's egregious All-Star Game snub, expressing his hope that Soto receives the recognition he deserves.
Juan Soto significantly contributed to the Mets' 'special' comeback victory against the Orioles on Tuesday, fueling the top of their lineup and proving to be a crucial difference-maker. Despite being initially snubbed from the National League All-Star squad, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza and the team firmly consider Soto a bona fide All-Star, with hopes he will still be added. Teammate Francisco Lindor also reacted to the snub, expressing his hope that Soto gets the recognition he deserves.
Fantasy baseball analyst Fred Zinkie has identified Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as a key player to consider buying via trade for the second half of the season. Zinkie's analysis suggests that Guerrero Jr. is poised for another strong second-half performance, making him a valuable asset for fantasy teams.
Veteran pitcher Zack Wheeler is currently in a compelling duel for the National League Cy Young award. Reports indicate that the 35-year-old Wheeler is locked in an amazing competition against phenom Paul Skenes, making for a fascinating race as the season progresses.
New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte has been placed on the injured list (IL) due to a bruise on his right knee. This roster move was announced on Tuesday. To fill Marte's spot, the Mets activated Jesse Winker from the 60-day injured list prior to their game against the Orioles in Baltimore.
Eric Lauer is set to pitch for the Toronto Blue Jays with a 2.65 ERA and 51 strikeouts on the season. He has exceeded 4.5 strikeouts in three of his last four starts, including a six-strikeout performance on July 4. The model projects him for approximately 4.8 strikeouts in his upcoming start.
Eric Lauer will start for the Toronto Blue Jays against Adrian Houser of the Chicago White Sox. The model suggests props for George Springer and Andrew Benintendi, and also provides strikeout projections for Eric Lauer.
Pitcher Max Fried is preparing to participate in the upcoming MLB All-Star Game in Atlanta. His former coaches from Harvard-Westlake are planning to attend the event to watch him compete.
Tigers All-Star pitcher Tarik Skubal, who famously stated he "wasn't good until he was 26," has become an extraordinary mystery in MLB. His remarkable ascent from Little League lore to a Cy Young contender showcases his significant development and impact on the league.
Patrick Bailey delivered a historic inside-the-park, walk-off home run to lift the San Francisco Giants to a victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. This remarkable feat, described as once-in-a-century, was a three-run homer that caused social media to erupt. Bailey's inside-the-park home run is the first by a catcher in 99 years.
Brandon Nimmo played a crucial role at the top of the Mets' lineup, fueling a "special" comeback victory against the Orioles on Tuesday. His performance contributed significantly to what manager Carlos Mendoza called "a hell of a win there."
Two-time Home Run Derby champion Pete Alonso has announced his decision to skip this year's event, marking the first time he has declined the invitation. Alonso stated he aims to prioritize the New York Mets' performance and his contributions, noting he has never fully enjoyed the three off-days associated with the Derby. His decision comes as other sluggers like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Cal Raleigh have committed to the event, though Alonso has not ruled out a return to defend his crown in the future.
Despite not being initially selected for the National League All-Star squad, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza considers Juan Soto an All-Star. Mendoza expressed hope that Soto would still be added to the roster in the coming days.
Rafael Devers' potential debut at first base for the San Francisco Giants has been postponed until after the MLB All-Star break due to a minor back injury. Earlier reports indicated Devers skipped three consecutive first-base workouts with Giants legend Will Clark.
Shohei Ohtani hit a 431-foot leadoff home run against the Milwaukee Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski on Tuesday night. This blast marked Ohtani's 31st home run before the All-Star break, setting a new record for the most by a Dodgers player.
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw expressed a mix of gratitude and surprise regarding his 11th career All-Star Game selection, particularly its designation as a 'Legend Pick.' Despite making only nine starts this season, Kershaw appreciates the honor, acknowledging that this All-Star nod feels 'weird but cool' compared to his previous selections, initially catching him off-guard but leaving him thankful.
