Sports
Dodgers, Phillies, Braves land five players for All-Star Game in Philadelphia
Jul 2, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) celebrates with two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) and teammates in the dugout after scoring against the San Diego Padres in the third inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images The defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers will have four hitters in the National League’s starting lineup when the world’s best players gather July 14 in Philadelphia for the 96th All-Star Game.
Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, who received the most votes among National League players to guarantee his sixth consecutive All-Star spot last week, learned Saturday he will be joined in the lineup by first baseman Freddie Freeman, third baseman Max Muncy and center fielder Andy Pages.
Fans and players also elected Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin, Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies, Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh and New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto as starters. Baldwin, Marsh and Pages are first-time all-stars.
The American League starting lineup features a mix of perpetual All-Stars and new faces. The New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge, Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout and Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton comprise the AL’s outfield, though Judge (rib stress fracture) likely won’t be available and Trout (hamstring) might not be activated in time to play.
Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers and Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement make their All-Star Game debuts alongside Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero and Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez.
Alvarez cracked his league-high 28th home run Saturday night while Caminero delivered his 11th blast in the Rays’ last 11 games to move his home run total to 26 for the year.
Clement, who owns a .293 batting average and .746 OPS for the 42-47 Blue Jays, received the most fan votes to become the first AL player to secure his spot in the lineup. Langeliers is the first A’s catcher selected to start since Terry Steinbach made consecutive starts in 1988 and 1989.
The American League pitching staff features 11 hurlers making either their first or second All-Star Game appearance. Only Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman (ninth selection) knows the ropes extensively.
Toronto’s Dylan Cease, Cleveland’s Parker Messick, Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen, Minnesota’s Joe Ryan, New York’s Cam Schlitter, Boston’s Ranger Suarez and Kansas City’s Michael Wacha are the starters selected while Chapman is joined in the bullpen by Tampa Bay’s Bryan Baker, Texas’ Jacob Latz, Cleveland’s Cade Smith and Toronto’s Louis Varland.
The NL staff features slightly more experience as Atlanta ace Chris Sale (10th selection) is the only pitcher with more than three All-Star Games on his resume. Cincinnati’s Chase Burns, Miami’s Max Meyer, Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski, Arizona’s Eduardo Rodriguez, Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes, San Francisco’s Logan Webb and Los Angeles’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto join Sale on the starting staff.
San Diego closer Mason Miller leads a bullpen that includes Philadelphia’s Jhoan Duran and Atlanta’s Raisel Iglesias.
In addition to Marsh, Sanchez and Duran, Phillies fans will get to cheer for first baseman Bryce Harper and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber as reserves. Harper (ninth All-Star appearance) was deemed a “legend pick” while Schwarber leads the majors with 30 homers.
The National League bench consists of catchers William Contreras (Milwaukee) and Hunter Goodman (Colorado), first baseman Matt Olson (Atlanta), shortstop Otto Lopez (Miami), utility infielders Luis Arraez (San Francisco) and Sal Stewart (Cincinnati) and outfielders Corbin Carroll (Arizona), Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs), Jordan Walker (St. Louis) and James Wood (Washington).
The American League reserves are catchers Dillon Dingler (Detroit) and Adley Rutschman (Baltimore), designated hitter Yandy Diaz (Tampa Bay), first basemen Nick Kurtz (Athletics) and Ben Rice (Yankees), rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana (Cleveland), rookie shortstop/third baseman Kevin McGonigle (Detroit), third baseman Miguel Vargas (White Sox) and outfielders Randy Arozarena (Seattle), Cody Bellinger (Yankees) and Riley Greene (Detroit).
The Phillies, Dodgers and Braves boast the most All-Stars with five apiece. Twenty-six players — including 15 of the 32 players on the American League roster — are making their first All-Star appearance.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Ticket prices plunge for U.S.-Belgium World Cup knockout match
United States fans celebrate outside Seattle Stadium on June 19, 2026. SEATTLE — Ticket prices for the United States’ highly anticipated round of 16 game against Belgium on Monday plunged by more than 30% before rebounding slightly early Saturday evening.
The get-in price for the final 2026 World Cup match in Seattle hit nearly $4,000 on June 1, according to ticket-tracking service TicketData.com. After dipping to as low as $1,549 on Tuesday, the get-in price spiked to $2,836 after the USMNT solidified their spot in the round of 16 with a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
However, the get-in price has steadily declined in the days since. It dropped to $1,423 on Saturday afternoon — a 32% decrease over the past three days — but the get-in price rebounded to $1,635 at 6 p.m. ET.
That late boost pushed the US-Belgium game from the fourth-highest get-in price to the second-highest price among the eight round of 16 matches. Mexico’s game against England in Mexico City on Sunday sits at $3,574.
ROUND OF 16 TICKET PRICES*
Mexico-England, 7/5 (Houston): $3,574
USA-Belgium: 7/6 (Seattle): $1,635
Argentina-Egypt: 7/7 (Atlanta): $1,599
Brazil-Norway: 7/5 (New York): $1,537
Portugal-Spain: 7/6 (Dallas): $1,367
Switzerland-Colombia: $959 (Vancouver): $972
Paraguay-France: 7/4 (Philadelphia): $914
Canada-Morocco: 7/4 (Houston): $721
*TicketData.com as of 6 p.m. ET on July 4
The significant drop in the get-in price for the US-Belgium game is somewhat surprising considering the Red Devils’ base camp is located just 10 miles south of Seattle Stadium at the Sounders FC Performance Center. Monday will mark Belgium’s third match in Seattle following a 1-1 draw with Egypt in the group stage and a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Senegal in the round of 32.
Canada was the first team eliminated from the round of 16 with their 3-0 loss to Morocco on Saturday. The get-in price for that match dropped 14% from $838 over the final 72 hours.
–Derek Harper, Field Level Media
Sports
Denny Hamlin edges Kyle Larson for pole at Chicagoland
Jul 4, 2026; Joliet, Illinois, USA;NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) speaks to the media after winning the pole award for the eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images JOLIET, Ill. — When it comes to oval tracks, Denny Hamlin has established himself firmly on the throne as king of qualifying.
In Saturday’s time trials at Chicagoland Speedway, Hamlin edged Kyle Larson by 0.001 seconds to claim the pole position for Sunday’s eero 400 (6 p.m. ET on TNT, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Hamlin sped around the 1.5-mile intermediate track in 30.296 seconds (178.241 mph). Larson, who ran later in the qualifying order, fell just short at 178.235 mph.
The Busch Light Pole Award was Hamlin’s fourth of the season, his first at Chicagoland (which hasn’t hosted a NASCAR national series race since 2019) and the 52nd of his career, breaking a tie with Ryan Newman for ninth all-time.
Hamlin, the 2015 Chicagoland winner, won poles at the previous two oval tracks on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, Michigan International Speedway and Pocono Raceway. He is the only driver to win poles at both Chicagoland Speedway and the Chicago Street Course (2023).
“I’m the Chicago master — what can I say?” Hamlin quipped.
In fact, Hamlin considered himself lucky to win his third straight oval-track pole, having gotten the benefit of favorable cloud conditions.
“I don’t want to continue to underplay it, but we got very fortunate,” said Hamlin, who leads the series standings by one point over Tyler Reddick. “The last 12 cars had full sun — 100 percent sun. The last few had 90 percent, but I think that was the deciding factor.”
“We saw that, right after I went, the track definitely got hotter, and it seemed like the corner speeds of those guys started to slow down. I think if there was one more car behind Ty Gibbs (the final qualifier), they definitely would have beaten us, because it went full shade.
“We got fortunate there, but they (Hamlin’s No. 11 team) did a real good job overnight with my car (whose balance wasn’t ideal during Friday’s practice).”
Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford drivers Chris Buescher (178.153 mph) and Brad Keselowski (178.089 mph) qualified third and fourth, respectively. With two victories at Chicagoland, Keselowski is the only driver in the field for Sunday’s race with multiple wins at the track.
Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Ty Gibbs, Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe claimed the respective fifth through seventh starting positions. Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott and William Byron completed the top 10, which consisted of four JGR Toyotas, three Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolets, two RFK Fords and one 23XI Racing Toyota (Wallace).
The No. 2 and top remaining seed in the NASCAR Cup Series In-Season Challenge, Hamlin faces Erik Jones in Sunday’s second round. Jones qualified 22nd.
In battles between teammates, Larson faces Byron, while Gibbs takes on Briscoe.
Hamlin, however, will have his eye on Larson.
“In my personal opinion,” Hamlin said, “Kyle Larson is the best driver at this race track, so he’s going to be someone I have to contend with, and I’m sure all the Hendrick cars are.”
Michael McDowell’s No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet failed inspection three times and must start from the rear of the field under penalty. McDowell will have to serve a pass-through on the opening lap.
–Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service
Sports
Riley Greene HR backs Jack Flaherty as Tigers blank Rangers
Jul 4, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Riley Greene (31) hits a two run home run against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Riley Greene blasted a two-run homer to support a strong outing by Jack Flaherty as the visiting Detroit Tigers blanked the Texas Rangers 3-0 on Saturday.
Flaherty scattered three hits and didn’t issue a walk while striking out five in 5 2/3 innings. Flaherty (2-8) has pitched 10 2/3 scoreless innings since coming off the injured list.
Keider Montero didn’t give up a hit and walked one over three innings while notching his first career save. Montero has pitched 12 scoreless innings in his last three outings.
Ben Malgeri drove in the other run as the Tigers improved to 4-1 during their six-game road trip. The teams will play the rubber game of the three-game series on Sunday.
Texas starter Cal Quantrill (3-1) gave up three runs (two earned) and three hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out two. Benjamin Peoples tossed two scoreless innings in his major league debut for the Rangers, who had won seven of their last eight.
The Rangers were shut out for the first time since June 6. The teams were coming off a rare Friday off due to a nearby FIFA World Cup match.
Detroit scored a pair of two-out runs in the first. Kerry Carpenter singled to center before Greene pulled a 2-2 cutter from Quantrill down the right field line that stayed inside the foul pole. Greene’s homer was his 12th this season.
The Tigers made it 3-0 in the second. Colt Keith led off with a single. Left fielder Alejandro Osuna made an error on a fly ball hit by Zach McKinstry, putting both runners in scoring position. Malgeri’s grounder knocked in Keith. Detroit loaded the bases but Carpenter flied out to center, stranding the runners.
Flaherty was removed after Josh Jung banged a two-out double to center in the sixth. Tyler Holton came on and retired Brandon Nimmo on a grounder.
Detroit threatened in the ninth. McKinstry smacked a one-out single and moved up on a groundout and a wild pitch. Chris Martin then induced James Outman to pop out.
–Field Level Media
Ticket prices plunge for U.S.-Belgium World Cup knockout match
Denny Hamlin edges Kyle Larson for pole at Chicagoland
