Cease Carries No-Hit Bid Into 9th Inning — Blue Jays Rout Giants 10-0

Dylan Cease carried his bid for a second career no-hitter into the ninth inning Wednesday, coming within one out before Heliot Ramos broke it up with a line-drive single to center. Cease threw 118 pitches and struck out 11 — pushing his AL-leading total to 148 — in the Toronto Blue Jays’ 10-0 rout of the San Francisco Giants at Rogers Centre. The 30-year-old right-hander retired 24 of the first 25 batters he faced before Ramos ended the drama. Manager John Schneider left Cease in until the hit, citing the upcoming All-Star break for rest. Toronto improved to 44-49 on the season.

Sources: MLB.com  Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text

Justin Verlander Announces Retirement — Three-Time Cy Young Winner to End Career After 2026

Justin Verlander announced he will retire at the end of the 2026 season Wednesday, closing one of the most decorated pitching careers of the modern era. The 43-year-old Tigers right-hander, currently on the 60-day injured list with hip and hamstring ailments, was named a Legend Pick for next week’s All-Star Game — his 10th Midsummer Classic selection. Verlander leaves with 266 regular-season wins and 3,554 strikeouts across 21 seasons, along with three Cy Young Awards, an AL MVP, and a World Series ring with Houston in 2017. “I’ve been trending toward this decision for quite a while,” he said Wednesday. He departs as a certain first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Sources: ESPN  Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text

Trout Returns From IL, Homers in Angels’ 13-1 Demolition of Rangers

Mike Trout made his return from a strained right hamstring Wednesday night, delivering a 438-foot two-run homer in the eighth inning as the Los Angeles Angels routed the Texas Rangers 13-1. Trout, who missed 17 games, connected for his 48th career home run against Texas — the most ever against the Rangers franchise since their 1972 move. The story of the night belonged to Jo Adell, who hit two home runs and drove in a career-high five runs, including a three-run blast in the fifth. Vaughn Grissom went 4-for-5 with four RBI as Los Angeles improved to 37-56.

Sources: ESPN  Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text

McClanahan Blanks Yankees Into 7th as Rays Extend AL East Lead to Five Games

Shane McClanahan was masterful Wednesday, blanking the Yankees into the seventh inning and striking out five in Tampa Bay’s 3-0 win at Tropicana Field. McClanahan allowed just four hits with no walks, firmly entering the AL Cy Young conversation. Jonathan Aranda drove in all three runs, including a sacrifice fly that pushed his season total to 61 RBI — third-most in the American League. Yandy Díaz was a perfect 4-for-4. Tampa Bay improved to 54-36, pushing its AL East lead to five games over the slumping Yankees (50-42), who have dropped 14 of their last 18. Gerrit Cole allowed eight hits and two runs in five innings for New York.

Sources: Tampa Bay Times  Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text

Betts Delivers Clutch Go-Ahead RBI as Dodgers Take Series From Rockies, 4-3

Mookie Betts delivered a clutch go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning Wednesday, sparking the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. With two outs and the bases loaded, Betts battled Rockies reliever Antonio Senzatela through a full count before singling to center to score Tommy Edman, who had moved to third on a Freddie Freeman double. Tanner Scott then worked a perfect ninth for his 13th save. Los Angeles took two of three in the series, which Colorado hadn’t won at Dodger Stadium since August 2021. The Dodgers improved to 61-33, leading the NL West by 14 games.

Sources: ESPN  Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text

Crow-Armstrong Becomes MLB’s First 20-20 Player of 2026 in Cubs’ 9-7 Win

Pete Crow-Armstrong became the first player in the majors to reach 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases this season Wednesday, launching his 20th and 21st homers in the Chicago Cubs’ 9-7 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Wrigley Field. The 22-year-old center fielder now has 21 home runs and 23 stolen bases, giving him back-to-back 20-20 seasons before the All-Star break — the first player since Alfonso Soriano to do so in consecutive years. Crow-Armstrong is only the third Cub with multiple 20-20 campaigns, joining Sammy Sosa and Ryne Sandberg. Chicago improved to 52-40, staying six games behind the NL Central-leading Brewers.

Sources: Chicago Sun-Times  Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text

McGreevy’s Birthday Gem Ends Brewers’ Win Streak; Cardinals Win 5-1

Michael McGreevy pitched six-plus innings on his 26th birthday and Alec Burleson and José Fermín each homered as the St. Louis Cardinals ended Milwaukee’s four-game winning streak with a 5-1 win at American Family Field. McGreevy (4-7) struck out six and allowed one run on five hits while the Cardinals’ offense woke up early — stringing three consecutive doubles from Masyn Winn, Jordan Walker, and Burleson in the first inning. Fermín capped the damage with a 404-foot solo shot to left-center in the fourth. St. Louis improved to 48-43, trimming the Brewers’ NL Central lead to 9.5 games as Milwaukee fell to 58-34.

Sources: Yahoo Sports  Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text

Abrams and García Jr. Each Hit 20th Homer as Nationals Rout Astros 8-2

CJ Abrams and Luis García Jr. both clubbed their 20th home runs of the season Wednesday, and rookie Foster Griffin continued his remarkable year as the Washington Nationals routed the Houston Astros 8-2 at Minute Maid Park. García ripped a three-run blast to right-center off Spencer Arrighetti in the fourth inning — his 11th homer in 18 games since June 19 — before Abrams led off the fifth with a solo shot to extend the lead to 6-1. Griffin (10-2) allowed just one earned run in seven innings; his 10 wins are the most by a Nationals rookie since the franchise left Montreal in 2005. Washington improved to 48-46.

Sources: Washington Post  Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text

Alan Roden’s Walk-Off Single in Season Debut Lifts Twins Past Guardians 6-5

Alan Roden made his 2026 season debut memorable, lashing a walk-off RBI single off the center field wall in the ninth inning to give the Minnesota Twins a 6-5 victory over the Cleveland Guardians at Target Field. Roden, called up from Triple-A Saint Paul after Byron Buxton was placed on the injured list, worked a nine-pitch at-bat against reliever Matt Festa before driving a fastball to the wall. Minnesota had trailed 5-3 entering the seventh before the Guardians’ bullpen walked three consecutive batters in a key inning. Roden finished 2-for-5 with two RBI. The loss dropped Cleveland to 47-43 in the AL Central, with Minnesota improving to 43-47.

Sources: Star Tribune  Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text

Transactions & Injuries — July 8, 2026

• Twins: CF Byron Buxton (hamstring) to 10-day IL; OF Alan Roden recalled from Triple-A Saint Paul
• Mets: RHP Ryan Curry and LHP Andrew Myers recalled; RHP Cody Seelinger DFA’d; LHP Austin Warren to 15-day IL
• Cubs: LHP Brandon Wilson elected free agency
• Orioles: C Chance Tromp outrighted to Triple-A; RHP Zulueta claimed off waivers
• Angels: OF Kolby Walton waived
• Mariners: OF Scott Fairchild signed to minor-league deal