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The Athletics are facing the Cleveland Guardians this weekend, winning the first game of the series on Friday, 5-1. This will be the A's final homestand of the month, before heading on the road to Detroit, New York, and Tampa Bay.
It would be a big boost of confidence to head into Motor City with a couple more home wins under their belts. After their last trip to Kansas City, anything can happen. Their dominance in their sweep of the Royals triggered a players-only meeting to be held after the A's handed them a 4-0 loss.
The A's may continue to surprise some people and set some teams back on their heels if they're able to play good, clean baseball with quality starts from their rotation and can execute with runners in scoring position.
The A's will be looking to take advantage of their standout rookies, Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz at the helm of their offense. They both can put the barrel on the ball and make things happen against the Guardians, or any other team for that matter.
The A's have been showing better production offensively as of late, and have impressed in spurts with the glove too. When the pressure was on in the late innings on Thursday night, Max Muncy showed off his skills to make two double plays that were a huge momentum shifts.
In the 10th inning, his double play was clutch to field a hard-hit ground ball, quickly step on third and throw to Kurtz at first to end the inning. Following the game, manager Mark Kotsay remarked that he was impressed that Muncy had the awareness to actually keep the ball down on the throw, intentionally bouncing it to first, where Kurtz was able to make the scoop.
Athletics on SI spoke with Muncy pre-game on Friday about his two huge plays and he reiterated how big that was going into the bottom of the 10th to not let the Houston Astros score in the top half of the inning. He had the mindset of immediately making the play at third, and thought he had a good shot at it.
Muncy's attitude and reaction to the play was full of emotion, and he showed his teammates how he was willing to do whatever it takes to win. It's plays like those that make all the difference in being able to have the confidence to win the game.
The A's are 6-6 at home in June, and want to finish strong before the next month and the upcoming All-Star break. One outcome they could achieve would be to sweep Cleveland this weekend, which would give them a winning month at Sutter Health Park. Given the team's 15-25 record at home this season, that would be a huge step in the right direction.
Of course, they could also win two-of-three against the Guardians and go .500 at home this month, which is a victory of sorts as well. Sweeps are just more fun though.
More must-reads:
- Mets fill need with trade for lefty Gregory Soto
- Trade rejection speaks volumes about Red Sox's Jarren Duran intentions
- The 'Multiple 100-RBI MLB seasons' quiz
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Trade rejection speaks volumes about Red Sox's Jarren Duran intentions
The Boston Red Sox appear to have no interest in trading outfielder Jarren Duran, at least not in the near future. Trade rumors have swirled around Duran for most of the season, especially after designated hitter Rafael Devers was traded to the Giants. However, Sean McAdam from MassLive reported that the Red Sox may wait until the offseason before moving on from the former All-Star. The decision to wait on Duran is not due to a lack of offers. McAdam also reported that the Padres made a significant offer for Duran involving pitcher Dylan Cease, catching prospect Ethan Salas and another unnamed prospect. That offer was quickly rejected. The Padres have long coveted Duran. McAdam had previously reported that the Padres have been "relentless" in their pursuit of the Red Sox outfielder. The reported trade offer including Salas, the Padres second-best prospect and the 21st-best prospect in baseball per MLB.com, illustrates how serious they are about acquiring Duran. Likewise, the Red Sox's refusal to entertain such an offer, even as a starting point for negotiations, speaks volumes about their interest in moving Duran. The Padres' offer would help solve several problems for the Red Sox in both the present and future. Moving Duran would help clear up the logjam in the outfield, while Cease and Salas would respectively improve the back of their rotation and provide a possible cornerstone behind the plate going forward. Duran is a valuable trade chip as he is under team control through 2028. He has also taken a step back in production from his stellar showing in 2024, posting a respectable .254/.321/.428 batting line in 459 plate appearances entering Friday, with nine homers and 25 doubles while stealing 16 bases. That production would be an upgrade for several teams looking to improve their outfield going forward. The question is whether or not the Red Sox will be realistic in their asking price for Duran. Considering how quickly the Padres' offer was reportedly rejected, that may not be the case.
Dustin Rhodes Assigns Blame After Hulk Hogan’s Death
Following the shocking news of Hulk Hogan’s passing, wrestling legend Dustin Rhodes, known to millions as Goldust in WWE, took to social media to share a deeply personal and provocative reaction: “Hospitals truly kill people. I really do mean that.” Rhodes’ blunt statement stunned many fans, but those who know his story saw the pain behind the words. His father, the iconic Dusty Rhodes, passed away in 2015, aged 69, after a fall at home led to hospitalization for kidney failure. After his father's passing, Dustin shared a contemplative response on WWE's YouTube channel to discuss the legacy his father left behind. The news of Hogan's death comes just a month after reports suggested he was on his "deathbed" after undergoing a neck procedure back in May. Hogan's reps denied that was the case. In June, US Weekly reported that Hogan had also undergone a "pretty serious heart surgery and was doing well afterward." Dustin’s connection to his brother Cody Rhodes, now a top WWE superstar and face of the company’s next generation, is unbreakable. The Rhodes family legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of pro wrestling history, and seeing another legend like Hogan pass has clearly hit close to home. While Goldust and Hulk Hogan never had a headline-grabbing rivalry, they did share the ring once. It occurred in WCW in 2000 when Dustin Rhodes matched up against Hogan. Although their paths didn’t often cross in the squared circle, Hogan and the Rhodes family were part of the same larger-than-life era that helped define pro wrestling for decades and catapult the sport into society's zeitgeist. Rhodes’ comment about hospitals might not sit well with everyone, but it speaks to a raw and honest pain felt by someone who has seen too many legends, both personal and professional, fade away in similar fashion. The sport of wrestling has endured more than its fair share of lives cut short. As tributes continue to pour in for Hogan, Rhodes’ reaction serves as a powerful, if somber, reminder of the real human emotions behind the wrestling personas.
Early Themes of the 2025 Miami Dolphins Training Camp
Early Themes of the 2025 Miami Dolphins Training Camp Training camp kicked off this week in Miami Gardens, and the energy is electric. This is the beginning of the journey—and a long season ahead—for these players. It’s the time when optimism runs high, when every player on the field believes they have a shot to make an impact, and every fan believes this might just be the year. But as we all know, this part of the calendar doesn’t come without a price. Unfortunately, Day 1 brought some tough news. Cornerback Artie Burns and offensive lineman Byron Matos both went down with potentially season-ending injuries. It’s a brutal blow—especially to two position groups that already had question marks coming into camp. Burns was expected to compete for valuable snaps in a secondary trying to find its post-Ramsey identity. And Matos, a former basketball player turned promising developmental lineman, had been turning heads with his athleticism and work ethic. These are the gut-punch moments that make camp so bittersweet. You can feel the season coming into focus—but also see just how fragile it can be. Injuries like these don’t just hurt individual careers; they test the depth, chemistry, and resilience of a team. And while it’s heartbreaking for the guys who go down, these moments also open the door for someone else to step up. Because that’s what camp is all about—opportunity. Maybe it’s Cam Smith rising to the challenge in the DB room. Or maybe it’s Erik Ezukanma fighting for a role on the team. Whatever it may be, every rep matters now. Every play is a chance to prove you belong. But what I wanted to focus on most was a theme we’ve already seen emerge early on: accountability. Not only did players make it a point to sprint after practice today for all the mishaps and penalties, but we also heard that same message echoed in their words. Especially when Tua mentioned that Tyreek Hill is still working on regaining the respect and trust of his teammates, that shows this is serious to the team—and that no individual is more important than the whole. While some may see it as excessive or old news, I think it’s a great thing to hold each other accountable, both in the spotlight and on/off the field. If the team is serious about a culture change and putting football over ego, this is what we need: players and captains demanding more from one another. You also look at a player like Zach Sieler, who is a true professional through and through. While he could easily “hold in” and sit out drills to prove a point to the front office about his current contract, he’s instead out there with the team—especially the younger guys—showing them how to go about the game the right way. He’s setting a standard, and you know he’s going to hold his teammates to that same standard. Whether it all pans out in the end is another story—and of course, it’s still way too early to tell. But so far, these guys seem locked in. And more importantly, they’re practicing what they preach.
UDFA makes strong case for Chargers roster spot after training camp pick-six
The Los Angeles Chargers' 2025 training camp is heating up. In less than a week, the team will have its first action against another opponent when they meet the Detroit Lions in the Hall of Fame Game. That means in less than a week, players who may be on the fringe of making the roster will get a chance to show what they've got in the national spotlight. Every season, there are a group of players fighting for a job on every roster, the Chargers being no different. So, who is going to earn themselves a spot on the 2025 roster? Daniel Popper of The Athletic published an incredibly thorough, detailed practice report from the Chargers' seventh day of camp. In his report, Popper described the moment when undrafted free agent Nikko Reed made a statement with his pick-six on backup quarterback DJ. Uiagalelei. "Undrafted rookie cornerback Nikko Reed picked off Uiagalelei in 11-on-11 and returned the interception for a touchdown. Reed has been a mainstay on the second-team defense and appears on track to lock up a practice squad spot," wrote Popper. Chargers' defensive coordinator even told the media that Reed has a chance to make the roster. When the Chargers take the field against the Lions, it could be another moment for Reed to put himself ahead of the pack.
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