All-Star - Baseball Wiretap

Cristopher Sanchez of the Philadelphia Phillies will start Tuesday's All-Star Game for the National League in his home ballpark, facing Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays for the American League. The Blue Jays confirmed Cease's start on Sunday, while Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who is managing the NL squad, named Sanchez as his starter.

Roberts explained the decision to hand Sanchez the honor in his home city.

"I think he deserves it. He's the hometown ballplayer and I think the city of Philly will enjoy watching him and supporting him," said Roberts. "I had a conversation with him this morning. ... He was very grateful. In a time when guys are not wanting to participate, this guy in the Midsummer Classic for fans, I think this is a good thing. He's very excited about pitching."

Sanchez enters the game with an 11-4 record and a 2.62 ERA, ranking third in the majors with 144 strikeouts. His 50 2/3-inning scoreless streak has been one of the season's top pitching storylines.

Cease is 6-4 with a 2.56 ERA for Toronto and nearly threw his second career no-hitter Wednesday against San Francisco before it was broken up in the ninth inning. He becomes the first Blue Jays pitcher to start the All-Star Game since Roy Halladay in 2009.

Cease learned of the assignment from Blue Jays manager John Schneider, who will lead the AL squad, during a team meeting Sunday.

"It's pretty surreal. I didn't know what to say. Everyone's saying, 'Give a speech,' and I'm like, I was pretty speechless, so it was just a really cool experience," said Cease. "It's really cool how all of these things have lined up, you know, even being able to pitch in it and having a good enough first half to be in the running for it and all that. And the fact that pretty much our entire staff is going, it's really a really great recipe."

Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler said he declined an invitation to be added to the National League All-Star roster, adding that he felt "disrespected" by being snubbed multiple times.

Wheeler did not make the initial NL All-Star roster, which was revealed last weekend, and also was not among several replacement additions announced Tuesday.

The veteran right-hander told reporters that he was invited Friday by Major League Baseball to join the NL roster as an injury replacement but refused, saying he was "not gonna be the fifth option.""They disrespected me, so I'm just not going to participate in that thing," Wheeler said Saturday, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Shohei Ohtani was scratched from his scheduled pitching start Friday because of continued irritation in his left knee, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced roughly six hours before first pitch. Ohtani will still serve as designated hitter for the weekend series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Ohtani will not join his teammates at the All-Star Game following the series. The Dodgers said in a statement that he will instead undergo interventions on his knee to prepare for the second half of the season.

A source told ESPN that Ohtani is expected to have the knee drained and likely receive an injection. He will not undergo surgery, according to the source.

Ohtani first left a June 11 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates early because of irritation in the same knee, which underwent surgery in September 2019 to address a congenital condition called bipartite patella. He has managed the issue since taking the following day off.

Ohtani, who turned 32 five days ago, had also dealt with a blister on his pitching hand and tightness in his right bicep earlier this season. Both issues have since subsided.

Ohtani is slashing .290/.405/.534 with 20 home runs and six stolen bases. He has gone 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA across 14 starts on the mound.

The Dodgers will use a bullpen game Friday in Ohtani's absence.

Bryce Harper will compete in the Home Run Derby for the first time in eight years, this time representing the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Harper announced the decision Thursday via social media, captioning his post, "Derby at home? Sure why not?"

Harper previously won the event in 2018 while playing for the Washington Nationals, launching 45 home runs at Nationals Park. He topped future teammate Kyle Schwarber in that final.

Harper made this year's All-Star Game as a legend selection. He becomes the sixth player to join the Derby field, alongside Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals, Ben Rice of the New York Yankees, Willson Contreras of the Boston Red Sox, Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays and Jac Caglianone of the Kansas City Royals.

Harper and Caminero are the only two competitors with prior Derby experience. Harper remains the lone past champion in the group, with two spots still open in the eight-player field.

Only four players in Derby history have won at their home ballpark. Harper is aiming to become the first to accomplish that feat twice, and the first to do it with two different franchises.

A win would also place Harper among an exclusive group of multiple-time Derby champions that includes Prince Fielder, Yoenis Cespedes, Pete Alonso and Ken Griffey Jr.

The Home Run Derby takes place Monday night at Citizens Bank Park.

Major League Baseball revealed its 2026 All-Star Game starting lineups Saturday, with Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani topping the fan vote and three teammates joining him in the National League's starting group.

Ohtani will serve as designated hitter for the NL, appearing alongside Freddie Freeman at first base, Max Muncy at third and Andy Pages in the outfield. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Friday that Ohtani probably won't pitch in the exhibition after they altered his workload schedule.

Additional NL starters include Juan Soto of the New York Mets, Brandon Marsh of the Philadelphia Phillies, CJ Abrams of the Washington Nationals, and Atlanta Braves duo Ozzie Albies and Drake Baldwin.

American League voting leader Ernie Clement will start alongside fellow Toronto Blue Jays infielder Vladimir Guerrero Jr., though Guerrero has since withdrawn from the game. Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz will replace him after winning the players' vote at that position.

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers and Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez round out the AL infield and battery. Mike Trout, Aaron Judge and Byron Buxton comprise the American League's starting outfield.

This year's contest takes place July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Fans selected the starters, while a combination of league officials and current players, managers and coaches chose the reserves.

The Dodgers, Braves and Phillies each landed a league-best five All-Stars apiece. Five starters, Langeliers, Clement, Baldwin, Marsh and Pages, earned their first career selections, while Freeman and Chris Sale are making their 10th appearances.

Trout returns for his 12th All-Star nod and first since 2023, currently recovering from a hamstring injury but expected to play. MLB will feature players wearing original team uniforms this year rather than specialized event jerseys.

American League All-Stars

Starters
C: Shea Langeliers (ATH)
1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR)
2B: Ernie Clement (TOR)
3B: Junior Caminero (TB)
SS: Bobby Witt Jr. (KC)
OF: Mike Trout (LAA)
OF: Byron Buxton (MIN)
OF: Aaron Judge (NYY)
DH: Yordan Alvarez (HOU)

Reserves

C: Dillon Dingler (DET)
C: Adley Rutschman (BAL)
INF: Travis Bazzana (CLE)
INF: Nick Kurtz (ATH)
INF: Kevin McGonigle (DET)
INF: Ben Rice (NYY)
INF: Miguel Vargas (CWS)
OF: Randy Arozarena (SEA)
OF: Cody Bellinger (NYY)
OF: Riley Greene (DET)
DH: Yandy Díaz (TB)

Reserves

C: Dillon Dingler (DET)
C: Adley Rutschman (BAL)
INF: Travis Bazzana (CLE)
INF: Nick Kurtz (ATH)
INF: Kevin McGonigle (DET)
INF: Ben Rice (NYY)
INF: Miguel Vargas (CWS)
OF: Randy Arozarena (SEA)
OF: Cody Bellinger (NYY)
OF: Riley Greene (DET)
DH: Yandy Díaz (TB)

Starting Pitchers

RHP: Dylan Cease (TOR)
LHP: Parker Messick (CLE)
RHP: Drew Rasmussen (TB)
RHP: Joe Ryan (MIN)
RHP: Cam Schlittler (NYY)
LHP: Ranger Suarez (BOS)
RHP: Michael Wacha (KC)

Relief Pitchers

RHP: Bryan Baker (TB)
LHP: Aroldis Chapman (BOS)
LHP: Jacob Latz (TEX)
RHP: Cade Smith (CLE)
RHP: Louis Varland (TOR)

National League All-Stars

Starters
C: Drake Baldwin (ATL)
1B: Freddie Freeman (LAD)
2B: Ozzie Albies (ATL)
3B: Max Muncy (LAD)
SS: CJ Abrams (WSH)
OF: Brandon Marsh (PHI)
OF: Juan Soto (NYM)
OF: Andy Pages (LAD)
DH: Shohei Ohtani (LAD)

Reserves

C: William Contreras (MIL)
C: Hunter Goodman (COL)
INF: Luis Arraez (SF)
INF: Bryce Harper (PHI)
INF: Otto Lopez (MIA)
INF: Matt Olson (ATL)
INF: Sal Stewart (CIN)
OF: Corbin Carroll (AZ)
OF: Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC)
OF: Jordan Walker (STL)
OF: James Wood (WSH)
DH: Kyle Schwarber (PHI)

Starting Pitchers

RHP: Chase Burns (CIN)
RHP: Max Meyer (MIA)
RHP: Jacob Misiorowski (MIL)
LHP: Eduardo Rodriguez (AZ)
LHP: Chris Sale (ATL)
LHP: Cristopher Sánchez (PHI)
RHP: Paul Skenes (PIT)
RHP: Logan Webb (SF)
RHP: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD)

Relief Pitchers

RHP: Jhoan Duran (PHI)
RHP: Raisel Iglesias (ATL)
RHP: Mason Miller (SD)
RHP: Dylan Cease (TOR)
LHP: Parker Messick (CLE)
RHP: Drew Rasmussen (TB)
RHP: Joe Ryan (MIN)
RHP: Cam Schlittler (NYY)
LHP: Ranger Suarez (BOS)
RHP: Michael Wacha (KC)

Relief Pitchers

RHP: Bryan Baker (TB)
LHP: Aroldis Chapman (BOS)
LHP: Jacob Latz (TEX)
RHP: Cade Smith (CLE)
RHP: Louis Varland (TOR)

Major League Baseball will eliminate the clock from its Home Run Derby next month, reverting to a swing-based format for the first time since 2014, people briefed on the decision told The Athletic Wednesday.

The event is scheduled for July 13 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, beginning at 8 p.m. ET, and marks Netflix's debut as the derby's television home after ESPN held the rights since the 1990s.

Under the new rules, hitters will receive 20 swings in the first round and 15 in each of the final two rounds. If a batter homers on his final swing of any round, he earns an additional attempt and may keep hitting until he fails to go deep.

Ties in the first round will be settled by longest home run. In the second and third rounds, tied competitors will receive three additional swings each.

Eight hitters will compete in the opening round, with the top four advancing. The second round shifts to a head-to-head format, with the top first-round finisher matched against the lowest qualifier and the second and third seeds squaring off.

Player feedback drove the format change. Under the previous clock-based system, hitters rushed through swings to maximize attempts in the closing seconds, leading to fatigue. The swing-based structure allows competitors to pause and build tension between attempts.

Netflix, which became an MLB broadcast partner this season on a three-year deal worth approximately $50 million annually, sought input from the league and players on ways to improve the viewing experience.

The previous format allotted three minutes or 40 pitches in the first round and two minutes or 27 pitches in subsequent rounds, with bonus periods for outs and long home runs.

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers leads all players in the first balloting update for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, while Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros tops American League voting, according to MLB.

Ohtani has received 1,165,133 total votes, the most among all players. The four-time unanimous MVP is batting .302 with 14 home runs and 41 RBI this season and is seeking his sixth career All-Star selection.

Phase 1 voting continues through 12 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 25. Fans can cast up to five votes daily through MLB platforms, with the option for a sixth vote through KONAMI's mobile game eBaseball MLB Pro Spirit.

The top two vote-getters at each position, along with the top six outfielders in each league, will be revealed Thursday on MLB Network at 6 p.m. ET. Those players advance to Phase 2, which determines the starters for each league.

Atlanta, which holds the best record in baseball at 46-25, placed three players among NL leaders. Drake Baldwin leads NL catchers with 972,813 votes, while Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuna Jr. also rank among the top vote-getters at their positions.

Dodgers teammates Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy lead voting at first and third base in the National League. Andy Pages leads NL outfielders, while CJ Abrams of the Washington Nationals tops shortstops in a tight race over Mookie Betts and Elly De La Cruz.

Alvarez has totaled 1,015,768 votes, trailing only Ohtani across both leagues. He is followed by George Springer of the Toronto Blue Jays and Yandy Diaz of the Tampa Bay Rays among AL designated hitters.

Aaron Judge and Mike Trout lead AL outfield voting, followed by Cody Bellinger. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Ernie Clement lead at first and second base for the Blue Jays, while Bobby Witt Jr. tops AL shortstops and Junior Caminero leads at third base for Tampa Bay.

Phase 2 voting begins June 29 and runs through July 2, with vote totals resetting for that round. The full 2026 All-Star rosters will be announced July 4 during the MLB All-Star Game Selection Show.

The Chicago Cubs will host the 2027 MLB All-Star Game at Wrigley Field, which previously hosted the marquee event in 1947, 1962 and 1990.

Philadelphia will host next year’s Midsummer Classic, in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and a callback to 1976, when Veterans Stadium hosted the All-Star Game during the nation’s bicentennial.

The Cubs have been lobbying to host the event following their $1 billion Wrigleyville project that renovated the ballpark and developed the surrounding neighborhood. 

“There’s no better place for the All-Star Game,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “Everybody’s excited about it. Players are thrilled with it.”

Despite an excellent first half to the season, Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi wasn't selected as an All-Star this year, but the team made sure that he'll be paid like one.

Despite the snub, Eovaldi was given the $100,000 All-Star bonus in his contract by the Rangers after he posted a 1.58 ERA with 94 strikeouts over 91 innings. Teammate Jacob deGrom, who was selected as an All-Star, also received a $100,000 bonus.

Kyle Schwarber, a man built to smash baseballs over the wall, has never won a Home Run Derby. He lost in the finals in 2018 and failed to advance out of the first round four years later.

But on Tuesday night, the Philadelphia Phillies slugger made home run history on the All-Star stage, pulverizing three pitches in three swings in the first swing-off to decide an All-Star Game, giving the National League a 4-3 home run edge to beat the American League at Truist Park after the score was tied at 6-6 through nine innings.

The performance was enough for Schwarber to win MVP honors in a game that began and ended with historic firsts.