Sports
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani continues 50-50 chase vs. Marlins
Sep 16, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates with teammates after scoring a run against the Atlanta Braves in the seventh inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is now two homers and two steals away from becoming the first player in major league history with at least 50 in each category in a season.
Ohtani will get another shot to get there on Wednesday night as the Dodgers visit the Miami Marlins for the second contest of a three-game series.
Miami, which has the worst record in the National League at 56-95, surprised the Dodgers on Tuesday with an 11-9 win in the series opener.
The Dodgers, who lead the NL West with an 89-62 record, received a two-run homer from Ohtani on Tuesday. He did not get a stolen base, but he still ranks second in the majors in both steals and homers behind Cincinnati Reds speedster Elly De La Cruz (64 steals) and New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge (53 home runs).
“I don’t want to see (Ohtani) at the plate ever,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “He hit one a long way (402 feet). But he’s a superstar. That’s going to happen.”
Marlins left-hander Ryan Weathers (3-5, 3.55 ERA) will take the mound to start Wednesday’s game. He will come off the injured list to make his first appearance since June 7.
“He’s ready to take the next step,” Schumaker said. “He’s ready to go.”
The Marlins are 6-7 when Weathers starts this season. He is 0-2 with a 4.62 ERA in six career appearances (five starts) against the Dodgers.
Los Angeles will turn to right-hander Landon Knack (2-4, 3.70) to start Wednesday’s game.
Knack, 27, was the Dodgers’ second-round pick out of East Tennessee State in 2020. He has never faced the Marlins.
The Dodgers are just 4-8 in Knack’s appearances this season. The rookie is 0-2 with a 7.88 ERA in two starts this month.
He will face a Marlins team that can be dangerous despite their poor record. Just ask Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
“The Marlins are a young team with nothing to lose and everything to gain by playing well against us,” Roberts said.
Roberts said those words a couple of hours before Miami’s win on Tuesday, and he proved to be prophetic.
The Marlins were led on Tuesday by outfielder Jesus Sanchez, who went 5-for-5 with three RBIs and two doubles.
“I’m proud of getting five hits — not just for myself but for my team,” said Sanchez, who never had a four-hit game prior to Tuesday. “I tried to focus on being on time (in the batter’s box) or even early and then react.”
Miami also received four RBIs from corner infielder Jake Burger, who slugged his first homer since Aug. 21.
“It felt like a million tons had been lifted off my shoulders,” Burger said after his homer. “I want to do what I’m really good at, and I feel like that’s hitting homers.
“In the last three weeks, i haven’t been connecting. I had a chance to be with my wife and kid on the off day (on Monday), and they ground me so much.
“With them, it doesn’t matter if I’m in a 0-for-70 slump.”
Burger has 26 homers. But he said he “probably circled 30 (homers) way too early” in the year.
“When I start putting pressure on myself, my mechanics get out of whack,” Burger said. “My front shoulder flies open trying to hit home runs, and that leads to low line drives and ground balls.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rangers place 3B Josh Jung (calf) on 10-day IL
Jul 21, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) follows through on his single against the Chicago White Sox during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images The American League West-leading Texas Rangers placed starting third baseman Josh Jung on the 10-day injured list on Saturday — retroactive to Wednesday — with a left calf strain.
In a corresponding move, the Rangers recalled infielder Josh Smith from Triple-A Round Rock before Saturday’s home game against the second-place Seattle Mariners.
Jung, 28, exited Tuesday’s game against the Chicago White Sox after three innings with a left calf issue and has not played since. In 92 games this season, the 2023 All-Star is hitting .294 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs. He is eligible to return to the active roster on Aug. 1.
Texas’ first-round pick (No. 8 overall) in the 2019 MLB Draft, Jung has hit .264 with 58 home runs and 196 RBIs in 417 games with the Rangers.
Smith, 28, is in his third stint with the Rangers this season, batting .230 with one run and eight RBIs in 40 games. The versatile five-year veteran has played five positions in 2026, mainly seeing time at second base (34 games/30 starts).
In 496 games with Texas since being acquired from the New York Yankees in 2021, Smith has hit .236 with 32 homers and 136 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros put RHP Spencer Arrighetti (foot) on 15-day IL
Jul 8, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Spencer Arrighetti (41) throws a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images In the thick of the American League West and AL wild-card races, the Houston Astros placed right-handed starter Spencer Arrighetti on the 15-day injured list Saturday with nerve irritation in his foot.
Arrighetti, 26, left Friday’s start against the Chicago White Sox after one inning and 33 pitches due to the foot issue.
In a corresponding move, Houston recalled left-handed reliever Bryan King from Triple-A Sugar Land.
In 17 starts this season, Arrighetti is 7-5 with a 4.60 ERA, allowing six or more earned runs in three of his final four starts before the All-Star break. The 2021 sixth-round pick, who debuted with Houston in 2024, is 15-23 with a 4.66 ERA in 53 games (52 starts).
The 29-year-old King has made 42 relief appearances with the Astros in 2026, posting a 2-3 record with a 3.40 ERA. Across his three MLB seasons, all with Houston, he is 8-7 with a 2.91 ERA in 138 relief outings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Athletics activate star Nick Kurtz (thumb) from IL
![Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) takes first base as Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (16) misses a catch during the first inning] at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.](https://dailyfacthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/29355296.jpg)
Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) takes first base as Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (16) misses a catch during the first inning] at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. The Athletics activated All-Star first baseman Nick Kurtz from the 10-day injured list prior to Saturday’s road game against the Minnesota Twins.
Kurtz sustained a right thumb capsule sprain and was placed on the IL on July 10 and the injury forced him to miss the All-Star Game. He had been elevated to American League starter when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (back) of the Toronto Blue Jays backed out.
Kurtz is batting second and serving as the designated hitter on Saturday.
Kurtz exited a 6-1 loss at Detroit on July 8 after 1 1/2 innings after he appeared to hurt the hand while trying to field a throw in the bottom of the first. The following day, he was the designated hitter and went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in a 4-1 loss to the Tigers.
Kurtz, 23, is batting .266 with 20 homers and 66 RBIs in 92 games. He was the unanimous 2025 AL Rookie of the Year with a .290 batting average, 36 home runs and 86 RBIs in just 117 games.
Third baseman Max Muncy was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. He was recalled by the A’s earlier this week and went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in two games.
Muncy, 23, is batting .223 with five homers and 20 RBIs over 48 games. He has a .218 average in 111 big league games over the past two campaigns.
–Field Level Media
Rangers place 3B Josh Jung (calf) on 10-day IL
Astros put RHP Spencer Arrighetti (foot) on 15-day IL
