MLB

The Pittsburgh Pirates are releasing veteran designated hitter Marcell Ozuna after a poor performance, including a .203 average and 8 home runs in 70 games, and will promote Ronny Simon from Triple-A to fill his roster spot. The move aims to strengthen the team's playoff chances as they trail for the National League's third wild-card spot.

Tarik Skubal made his Los Angeles Dodgers debut with six innings of pitching in a 2-1 Chicago Cubs victory, allowing two runs and striking out six. The Dodgers' defense contributed key plays, and Skubal expressed respect for the team's organizational success.

Washington Nationals All-Star outfielder James Wood is headed to the 10-day injured list after suffering a mild left oblique strain during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The injury occurred during his at-bat, and manager Blake Butera expressed hope for a short-term recovery. Wood, batting .265 with 30 homers and 73 RBIs, had played in all 114 games for Washington before the injury.

Tarik Skubal dismissed criticism of his trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers, stating that every team had the opportunity to acquire him and defending the Dodgers' focus on winning. The article critiques calls for a salary cap in MLB, arguing it does not address competitive balance issues and instead hinders organizational success.

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired veteran right-hander Luke Weaver from the New York Mets in exchange for shortstop prospect Sammy Stafura to bolster their bullpen. Weaver, signed to a two-year, $22-million deal, is expected to strengthen the Pirates' playoff push after a recent 2-7 stretch. This marks the second major trade for Pittsburgh around the deadline, following the acquisition of reliever Camilo Doval from the Yankees.

President Donald Trump described new Iran talks as the country's 'last chance' to avoid U.S. strikes and address nuclear concerns. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche terminated Trump's $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization fund,' while a poll showed immigration remains a stronger issue for Trump than the economy or Iran. Trump criticized U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro over a Lincoln Memorial case and avoided commenting on supporting an MLB salary cap.

The New York Mets traded veteran right-hander Freddy Peralta to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for three young prospects ahead of the MLB trade deadline. Peralta's time with the Mets aligned with New York's roster adjustments.

The Atlanta Braves placed right-hander Reynaldo López on the 15-day injured list with left knee inflammation and recalled right-hander JR Ritchie from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Sunday’s game against the Washington Nationals. The move adds urgency to the Braves’ search for rotation help before Monday’s trade deadline.

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired right-handed reliever Camilo Doval from the New York Yankees in exchange for prospects Omar Alfonso and Luis Cruz. Doval, a 2023 All-Star closer for the San Francisco Giants, joins a Pirates bullpen that has blown 20 saves this season. The trade aims to address Pittsburgh's struggles in the National League wild-card race.

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The Minnesota Twins acquired left-handed reliever A.J. Minter from the New York Mets in a trade, sending prospects Billy Amick and Bruin Agbayani to the Mets. The move aims to strengthen the Twins' struggling bullpen, with Minter returning from injury and posting a 2.35 ERA in 23 games since May. The Twins, currently 55-55, remain active ahead of the MLB trade deadline.

Sports teams are transitioning from being seen as trophy assets to serious investment targets, with private equity deals in the sector growing significantly from 13 deals worth $1.9 billion in 2014 to 71 deals valued at $18.45 billion by 2025. Major leagues like MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL have relaxed institutional ownership rules, enabling valuations such as the Miami Dolphins at $8 billion and the Los Angeles Lakers at $10 billion.

The Atlanta Braves overcame a three-run deficit with a two-run single by Ozzie Albies in the sixth inning to defeat the Washington Nationals 5-4. Ronald Acuña Jr. and Mike Yastrzemski homered for the Braves, while Daylen Lile hit two solo home runs for the Nationals, who have hit 48 homers in July.

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber walked six of nine batters he faced, including three with bases loaded, before being removed after two-thirds of an inning in a game against the Washington Nationals. Bieber became the 11th pitcher in MLB history to walk at least six batters in two outs or fewer and the first Cy Young winner to do so.

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CJ Abrams and James Wood each hit two home runs and drove in three runs as the Washington Nationals defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-7. The Nationals moved within one game of Arizona for the final National League playoff spot.

The Los Angeles Angels fired advance scout Justin Prinstein, nicknamed 'The Baseball Spy,' after he was caught filming the Colorado Rockies' coaching staff at Coors Field. Prinstein used a smartphone to record coaches during a game, violating MLB's strict rules against using personal electronics to gather insider information, leading to his immediate dismissal.

The Baltimore Orioles and pitcher Kyle Bradish agreed to a $90 million, five-year contract for 2027-31. Bradish, 29, has a 3.50 ERA across five MLB seasons and recently returned from Tommy John surgery in 2024. The deal covers his final two years of arbitration eligibility, and Orioles owner David Rubenstein emphasized retaining high-caliber players as part of the team's vision.

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will undergo a left knee drainage procedure on Sunday, causing him to miss the All-Star Game. The procedure follows ongoing knee irritation that impacted his pitching effectiveness in recent starts. Ohtani remains a top two-way player with strong offensive and pitching stats this season.

America faces an overwhelming surge in sports events, with simultaneous major tournaments like the World Cup, Wimbledon, and expanded MLB/NBA/NHL schedules. Leagues have added games and rescheduled matches to maximize revenue, while streaming access has intensified the volume of available content. Experts note this expansion is unprecedented and driven by financial incentives.

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Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff was diagnosed with a new injury to his right shoulder's anterior capsule after exiting a game early. The team plans to seek a second opinion from surgeon Dr. Keith Meister following an initial diagnosis of inflammation. Woodruff has a 2.98 ERA in nine starts this season but missed 2024 and part of last season due to injuries.

Pittsburgh Pirates' Ryan O’Hearn set a franchise record with 10 RBIs in a game against the Atlanta Braves, hitting three home runs, including a grand slam and two three-run homers. He surpassed the previous record of nine RBIs set by Johnny Rizzo in 1939 and became the 16th player in Pirates history to hit three homers in a game.

The New York Mets, despite spending over $3.5 billion on player payroll since 2022, are struggling with a disastrous 2026 season and a 2% playoff chance. A new report suggests the team may trade Francisco Lindor amid ongoing roster overhauls and poor performance, with owner Steve Cohen backing front office decisions.

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NBCUniversal will broadcast all 15 MLB games on a single Sunday through Peacock, with simulcasts on NBC and NBC Sports Network. Key games include the White Sox vs. Guardians and Cubs vs. Cardinals, featuring dedicated broadcast crews combining team-specific announcers. The event, called 'Star-Spangled Sunday,' will use consistent graphics across all broadcasts without a central studio show.

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The Chicago Cubs acquired left-handed pitcher David Peterson in a trade with the Mets, hoping a change of scenery will help him return to his All-Star form from last season. Peterson has struggled with a 6.09 ERA this season after a 3.06 ERA before the 2023 All-Star break. Cubs manager Craig Counsell expressed optimism that the new environment and a strong defensive infield could re-energize Peterson.

FanDuel Predicts offers a $25 bonus for users who make their first trade on MLB using a promo code. The promotion is tied to the Mets' upcoming game against the Phillies, following the Mets' 15-3 loss in their previous matchup. David Peterson, with a 3-5 record and 5.91 ERA, is set to pitch for the Mets.

VP JD Vance criticized MLB's warnings to three Giants players who wrote Bible verses on their hats. State Senator Scott Wiener responded.

Nationals reliever Paxton Schultz earned his first major league win in a 6-4 victory over Kansas City, awarded due to Rule 9.17 (c) which governs reliever effectiveness in brief appearances. The decision followed a recent MLB rule controversy involving Texas rookie Robby Ahlstrom.

A San Francisco Democrat, Matt Dorsey, criticized Giants players for writing Bible verses on their caps during Pride Night, arguing the act was politically motivated cherry-picking. MLB warned the players about the messages, citing rule violations. Giants pitcher Landen Roupp defended the expression as a personal faith statement.

The Philadelphia Phillies have improved to 35-30 after a managerial change, with pitcher Christopher Sanchez posting a 1.46 ERA and 103 strikeouts. The Toronto Blue Jays, two games below .500, face challenges with their pitching staff, including Patrick Corbin's 3.98 ERA. Phillies hitters have a .335 average against Corbin, and the team is positioned to contend for postseason spots.

Scott Erickson, a former MLB pitcher, claims his millions are gone as the jury considers his financial fate in a fatal crash involving two young boys in a Westlake Village crosswalk in 2020.

A jury is considering punitive damages in a Westlake Village crash that killed two brothers, with Rebecca Grossman and Scott Erickson found liable. The Iskander family was awarded over $170 million in damages, and jurors will decide if additional punitive damages should be added.

The wife of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tanner Scott received threatening messages targeting their newborn child after his recent game. The threats are part of a broader pattern of online harassment toward MLB players, including threats against families of pitchers Tayler Saucedo, Liam Hendriks, and Lance McCullers Jr., linked to the rise of sports betting.

The Detroit Tigers are increasingly likely to trade two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal before the deadline as their playoff hopes fade due to poor performance and injuries. Skubal, recovering from elbow surgery, could return by mid- to late-June, but the Tigers' struggles—third-worst offense/defense, struggling bullpen, and a 22-37 record—have made a trade more realistic, per Ken Rosenthal.

The BetMGM bonus code NYPNEWSGET offers up to $1,000 in no-sweat tokens for the Yankees vs. Rays MLB game on Saturday. The promotion targets sports betting enthusiasts ahead of the matchup.

Disney is using facial recognition technology at certain entry gates to improve the guest experience and prevent fraud. The system captures a photo of a visitor's face and converts it into unique numerical values to confirm their identity. This technology is part of a wider shift toward biometric entry systems in various venues.