Sports
Hunter Brown, Astros tasked with slowing down Rays
Jul 1, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Hunter Brown (58) in the dugout prior to the game against the Minnesota Twins at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images Houston’s Cristian Javier was reinstated from the 60-day injured list before the Astros opened a three-game series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays with a 3-1 loss on Friday.
Javier is the second of five Houston starting pitchers either already back in the fold or soon to rejoin the active roster.
Fellow right-hander Hunter Brown (1-0, 1.78 ERA), who returned last month, has the starting assignment for the Astros on Saturday night when they continue their series against the Rays, who have won nine games in a row.
Right-handers Lance McCullers Jr. (shoulder) and Ronel Blanco are set to make rehab starts on Tuesday, while right-hander Hayden Wesneski has a rehab start set for Sunday. Blanco and Wesneski are coming back from elbow surgery.
McCullers Jr., Blanco and Wesneski could be in line to return following the All-Star break, and reinforcements would be welcome for the Astros, who are four games under .500.
“You can never have enough pitching,” manager Joe Espada said. “These guys are progressing well, and we’re entering that time of the year where we’re going to need all the help we can get.
“Those guys are coming along, and they’re throwing the ball really well.”
Brown did not factor into the decision of a 7-5, 10-inning victory over the Detroit Tigers on June 28 after allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts over six innings. That marked his third start following a two-plus-month stint on the injured list (shoulder). Brown has a 2.45 ERA with 15 strikeouts across 14 2/3 innings in those outings.
He is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA across six career appearances (four starts) against the Rays. He finished 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA in two starts against Tampa Bay last season, including a home start on June 1, 2025, during which he threw six scoreless innings with five strikeouts, one hit and four walks allowed in the Astros’ 1-0 victory.
Right-hander Drew Rasmussen (7-4, 2.45 ERA) is scheduled to start on Saturday for the Rays.
Rasmussen recorded his fifth consecutive quality start on June 28 against the Arizona Diamondbacks after working six shutout innings in a 5-1 victory. He was named American League Pitcher of the Month for June after finishing 3-2 with an 0.82 ERA across six starts.
Rasmussen is 2-2 with a 4.01 ERA in five career appearances (four starts) against the Astros. In his previous outing against them, on Aug. 13, 2024, Rasmussen worked two scoreless innings and allowed two hits with three strikeouts in the Rays’ 3-2 home loss.
Tampa Bay played its 14th game of a stretch of 23 games in 24 days on Friday, and manager Kevin Cash is mindful of providing his regulars rest when viable. Second baseman Richie Palacios had Friday off, and left fielder Chandler Simpson (hand) was a late scratch.
“We’ve got to mix and match and get some guys in there,” said Cash, whose Rays completed a three-game series sweep on the road against the Royals before arriving in Houston. “Get some guys off their feet. It was hot in Kansas City, so watching guys’ workload for sure.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Six-run first propels Marlins to runaway defeat of A's
Jul 3, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Miami Marlins first baseman Kyle Stowers (28) acknowledges the dugout while running the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Athletics during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images Heriberto Hernandez hit a three-run homer and Jakob Marsee added a solo shot during a six-run first inning to help the Miami Marlins post a 12-5 victory over the Athletics on Friday night at West Sacramento, Calif.
Kyle Stowers went 4-for-5 with two homers, three RBIs and three runs for the Marlins, who halted a two-game slide. Owen Caissie added a solo shot as Miami matched its season high with five homers.
Major league batting leader Otto Lopez had two hits to raise his average to .337 and Liam Hicks scored three times for the Marlins.
Nick Kurtz hit a two-run homer and Jeff McNeil had a three-run double for the Athletics, who lost for the ninth time in 12 games.
The Athletics’ Jack Perkins (2-4) was torched for seven runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. He matched his career high of eight strikeouts and walked four.
Lake Bachar (1-0) retired six straight batters over the seventh and eighth innings and was credited with the victory for the Marlins. He was one of five relievers who combined to allow just two hits over 5 2/3 innings.
Miami starter Tyler Phillips gave up five runs and seven hits over 3 1/3 innings. He struck out two and walked two.
Hicks, Stowers and Lopez opened the game with singles off Perkins and Xavier Edwards walked to force in the first run. Stowers then scored on a passed ball by A’s catcher Shea Langeliers to make it 2-0.
Hernandez then swatted a three-run blast to center to make it 5-0. Perkins retired the next two batters before Marsee drilled a homer to right to cap the six-run explosion.
Miami tacked on another run in the second on a sacrifice fly by Edwards.
The Athletics displayed life in the bottom of the third as Alika Williams doubled and Kurtz slugged a mammoth 457-foot, two-run homer to center, his 20th of the season.
The A’s loaded the bases in the fourth on singles by Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and Carlos Cortes and a walk to Henry Bolte. McNeil followed with a bases-clearing two-bagger into the gap in left-center to pull the Athletics within 7-5.
Stowers led off the sixth with his first homer, a shot to right off Justin Sterner. In the eighth, Hicks drew a one-out walk before Stowers hit a two-run blast to right-center off Mason Barnett to give the Marlins a 10-5 lead.
Hernandez singled to lead off the ninth against Barnett. One out later, Caissie hit a two-run homer to left-center to make it a seven-run margin.
–Field Media Level
Sports
Four-run, 11th-inning rally sends Brewers past Diamondbacks
Jul 3, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell (right) celebrates with teammate Cooper Pratt after hitting a two run home run in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Brice Turang hit a two-run single in a four-run 11th inning to help the Milwaukee Brewers earn a 7-4 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the opener of a three-game series on Friday in Phoenix.
Turang had three hits and also a run, Jake Bauers collected three hits, an RBI and a run, and Garrett Mitchell hit a two-run homer for the Brewers, who have won four of five.
Milwaukee starter Kyle Harrison has won seven straight decisions, but he got a third straight no-decision after letting a 3-0 lead slip away. The left-hander was tagged for three runs and five hits in 2 2/3 innings, striking out three and walking one on 72 pitches.
Grant Anderson (2-3) pitched the final two innings for the Brewers, yielding just an unearned run.
Ildemaro Vargas had three hits and an RBI, Gabriel Moreno produced two hits, an RBI and a run, and Nolan Arenado contributed a two-run double for Arizona, which has lost two in a row.
Diamondbacks rookie Jose Cabrera went 3 1/3 innings, allowing three runs and six hits while striking out three and walking three.
After neither team scored in the 10th, Ryan Thompson (3-2) hit Cooper Pratt with a pitch to start the 11th.
A sacrifice bunt moved both runners up before Christian Yelich was walked intentionally to load the bases. Jackson Chourio hit a swinging bunt that was fielded by Thompson, but his throw home was wide. Two runs scored on the play for a 5-3 lead.
Turang followed with an opposite-field two-run single to left.
Vargas hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 11th to make it 7-4.
After Bauers led off the second with a single, Mitchell lifted the first pitch he saw from Cabrera to deep center and off a fan above the home run barrier. The play was briefly reviewed for fan interference, but the home run was confirmed, giving the Brewers a 2-0 lead.
Turang, William Contreras and Bauers strung together three consecutive one-out singles in the third to extend the lead to 3-0.
Mitchell followed with a long fly ball to left that appeared destined for the seats, but Lourdes Gurriel Jr. leaped and snared the ball high above the wall to rob him of a three-run homer.
Corbin Carroll lined a single to right with two outs in the bottom of the third to put runners on the corners for Moreno, who grounded an opposite-field single through the right side to cut the deficit to 3-1.
After a walk loaded the bases, Arenado pulled a 2-2 pitch off the base of the wall down the left field line for a two-run double, tying the score 3-3. That ended the night for Harrison, who threw 38 pitches in the inning.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Athletics C Shea Langeliers exits due to left thumb contusion
Jun 15, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (23) catches a foul ball against the Pittsburg Pirates during the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers sustained a left thumb contusion during the team’s 12-5 loss to the Miami Marlins on Friday in West Sacramento, Calif.
A’s manager Mark Kotsay said after the contest that Langeliers underwent X-rays, adding, “We’ll evaluate him again tomorrow.”
Kotsay said the injury occurred on a passed ball in the first inning. Langeliers went to catch the pitch from Jack Perkins and it hit the thumb area of the glove and bounced away, allowing Miami to score a run.
Langeliers, who struck out in both of his at-bats, initially remained in the game but was removed for pinch hitter Jonah Heim in the bottom of the fourth.
Langeliers will also learn Saturday if he will be the starting catcher for the American League for the July 14 All-Star Game in Philadelphia. He and Toronto’s Alejandro Kirk are the AL finalists.
Langeliers is batting .264 with 20 homers and 44 RBIs in 80 games this season. He leads AL catchers in homers and hits (87).
–Field Level Media
Six-run first propels Marlins to runaway defeat of A's
Four-run, 11th-inning rally sends Brewers past Diamondbacks
