After a nine-game West Coast trip, the Guardians are back in Cleveland.
They went 4-5 on their journey, being swept by the Seattle Mariners before bouncing back with series victories against the San Francisco Giants and Athletics.
Next up for the Guardians is a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays as part of a six-game homestand beginning Tuesday night.
Cleveland starter Logan Allen (5-4, 4.21 ERA) will take on Northeast Ohio native Eric Lauer (3-1, 2.29) of Toronto in a battle of left-handers.
"I couldn't be more proud of the way our group was resilient down the stretch on the West Coast trip," said Guardians manager Stephen Vogt. "Obviously, we would have liked to have played better in Seattle. But when you come out of it with two series W's, that's a successful trip."
Allen has won two of his three outings since spending one game in the bullpen on May 31, which includes beating the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco in his last two starts. He has worked 17 1/3 innings during the period, his season high for a three-game span this year.
The third-year big-leaguer is 1-2 with a 4.12 ERA in four starts against the Blue Jays, including a 5 2/3-inning no-decision in Toronto on May 2. He gave up two earned runs in what became a 5-3 loss for Cleveland.
"I feel like my stuff's been pretty good and I've been on a good attack," Allen said. "I've been on the same page with the catchers and I'm just going out there and executing. Just trying to go right after guys and be as efficient as possible."
Toronto stumbled to three losses in the final four games of its homestand against the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox, but the Blue Jays remain in the second wild-card position in the American League.
The finale Sunday was a clunker as struggling closer Jeff Hoffman entered with two outs in the eighth inning, committed a fielding error that allowed the tying run to score and then gave up a two-run double to Miguel Vargas in Chicago's 4-2 victory.
Hoffman has allowed 17 earned runs and seven homers over his last 17 innings, but manager John Schneider is staying positive while noting the right-hander's 6-2 overall record and 17 saves this season.
"We trust the hell out of Jeff Hoffman," Schneider said. "I know he's frustrated with not getting the results and it's easy to point blame at him.
"But he's been on the other side of us winning a whole lot of games. It's a tough stretch for him, but we know he'll come out of it and we have a lot of faith in him."
The 30-year-old Lauer has resurrected his career after splitting 2024 between the minors and Kia Tigers in the Korea Baseball Organization. Since his recall from Triple-A Buffalo on April 30, he has made four starts in 10 appearances. His splits are much better as a reliever (0.96 ERA in 18 2/3 innings) than a starter (3.78 ERA in 16 2/3 innings), but the Blue Jays won his starts on June 11 and 18.
Lauer has only faced his childhood team once, working 5 1/3 innings and allowing one run to help the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Cleveland Indians on Sept. 12, 2021. He will have a large cheering section from his hometown of Elyria, Grafton Midview High School and Kent State University -- all located near Cleveland.
"I'm a starter and I want to be a starter," he said. "The fifth spot in the rotation is kind of up in the air here, so I'm going out there and trying to take it every time."
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
After years of speculation and nothing materializing, the New York Yankees have at last acquired third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies, per the New York Post's Jon Heyman. Pitching prospects Griffin Herring and Josh Grosz are headed to the Mile High City in return. They were the number eight and 21st-ranked prospects in the Yankees' farm system, per MLB.com. Given the Yankees' struggles at the third-base position over the last few years, bringing in a guy who was an All-Star in 2024 and will be much more reliable is a win. Former MLB player and current analyst Cameron Maybin certainly believes that, as he was pushing the McMahon-to-New York narrative over the last week and feels it could be a great fit for both sides. "The third baseman they need plays in Colorado...I'm telling you! Defensively more than adequate and Taylor made for the ballpark offensively," Maybin wrote on social media. Maybin went on to mention how McMahon will feel reinvigorated joining a World Series contender like the Yankees after the last six-and-a-half years of being at the bottom in Colorado. The 30-year-old is not having his best season, slugging 16 home runs and 35 RBI with a .217 average through 100 games with the Rockies, per MLB.com stats. However, he's consistently been a 20-plus home run hitter who drives in runs at a strong rate and has a large sample size of doing so. Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez (.252 average, 36 HRs, 86 RBI) has seemed to be No. 1 target for most teams, and for good reason, but given the Yankees' current situation and weaknesses, McMahon made more sense. Not only does he play a better third base, which New York desperately needs, but he has another two years of control after 2025, whereas Suarez would have been a rental. The acquisition cost was nothing crazy, and adding a lefty bat with some power to potentially take advantage of the short porch at Yankee Stadium is always a bonus. Some may not be satisfied until they see McMahon positively impacting the New York Yankees, but rest assured, this is a very solid pickup.
The Phoenix Suns pursuit for Golden State Warriors wing Jonathan Kuminga is reaching its final stages. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Phoenix and Sacramento Kings have made “concrete” offers to the 22-year-old. Kuminga hasn’t received much interest in restricted free agency but could still make the jump from the Warriors to a different team next season. Charania on Suns interest with Kuminga: “I’m told the Phoenix Suns and the Sacramento Kings are two teams that have made concrete offers to the Warriors over the last week or so. They’re two of the most aggressive teams.” Reports have indicated that the Warriors want a first-round pick, a solid role player and no bad contracts. The Suns are lacking in first-round picks but have plenty of role players to offer in a sign-and-trade. Shooting guards Grayson Allen or Royce O’Neale would have to be a part of any trade with Kuminga because of the former lottery pick’s high asking price. Allen makes nearly $17 million, while O’Neale cost around $10 million. The duo are some of the most effective shooters in the NBA and would be a perfect player to play off ball of superstar Stephen Curry. Phoenix has a surplus at shooting guard and wouldn’t lose much positional depth with the departure of the two backcourt players. In 2024-2025, Kuminga averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists on 45.4% shooting from the field. The turmoil between the young wing and head coach Steven Kerr boiled over after limited playing time in the playoffs. The DNPs that Kuminga racked up in the playoffs likely has hurt the value of him in free agency and in the trade market, which could help Phoenix in its pursuit.
The Las Vegas Raiders just stunned the league by releasing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins after only one year with the team. After signing a four-year, $110 million contract, he struggled with injuries in 2024. This was supposed to be a big bounce-back year for Wilkins, but after a dispute between the two sides in regard to how to handle his foot injury, the team decided it was best to part ways. Now, a premier interior disruptor is suddenly available. Assuming his medicals get checked out soon, there should be a lot of interest around the league. Where should he land? Dallas Cowboys Dallas has needed a dominant interior presence for quite some time. Osa Odighizuwa is an awesome threat, but he is only solid against the run. Alongside him, the team will be banking heavily on 2023 first-rounder Mazi Smith, who has been disappointing so far. With Dallas looking to return to the playoffs, adding a stud like Wilkins could give Dallas one of the best defensive lines in the NFL. San Francisco 49ers The 49ers added some young bodies in CJ West and Alfred Collins, yet neither offer a proven, all-around talent like Wilkins could if healthy. The 49ers defensive line was horrid outside of Nick Bosa in 2024, but by adding Wilkins, the team would now have a solid cast of starters with Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, Wilkins and Kevin Givens/Jordan Elliott. Miami Dolphins A return to Miami makes a ton of sense for both sides. The Dolphins know exactly how to use Wilkins, he knows the building and players, and the transition would be very easy. Miami needs help in the interior defensive line; by plugging Wilkins back into his old role, he could offer the quickest path to high-level impact. Detroit Lions With Levi Onwuzurike out with injury and Detroit needing more juice on the defensive line, adding a proven disruptor like Wilkins could make some sense. He could provide more depth while he gets fully healthy, and he can join a legit Super Bowl contender. His energy and mentality could be a good fit for a Dan Campbell-led squad. Jacksonville Jaguars The Jaguars defense is average in the interior, but they have excellent edge-rushers who would benefit greatly from a strong disruptor up the middle. Wilkins could balance the front, help in the run defense and allow more one-on-ones for their premier edge-rushers. For a team that wants to return to the playoffs as soon as possible, adding a veteran like Wilkins could be a worthy bet to make.
After a busy and noteworthy week, players from the Las Vegas Raiders are vying for spots on the roster as training camp heats up. With the goal of improving from last year’s performance, head coach Pete Carroll is energizing and motivating the team. Currently, there are no pads, but many of those pads will be cracking on July 31. Before that date, it will be crucial for players to excel in seven-on-sevens and one-on-ones. Additionally, just in case you missed it, Christian Wilkins has been released. Jamal Adams was signed just before training camp and has been practicing with the linebackers. It was certainly an intriguing development, but you could argue that he fits with what Carroll is trying to implement—a player-coach at this point in his career. It is crucial to understand that the starting lineups will change before the preseason starts. Nonetheless, the lineups on day one are significant. The “Starters” on Day 1: Dont’e Thornton Jr. gets early praise There are not many humans who stand at six foot five and run 4.3 forty-yard dashes. He has been receiving most of the first-team reps during training camp. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly believes he has been performing well. “He has a great skillset for someone that tall and that fast,” Kelly said. “It is comforting to Geno [Smith].” Nonetheless, Thornton Jr. is being placed in a position to be a focal point of this offense. After averaging 25.4 yards per reception in college, he will be the field stretcher for Las Vegas. Thayer Munford Jr. missed Day 1 of Raiders training camp For the purpose of maintaining unpredictability against opponents, injuries do not need to be disclosed. Thayer Munford Jr. missed the first day of training camp, but no details were reported. Additionally, the 2022 seventh-round draft pick is competing for a starting position on the offensive line. He needs to improve upon his 45.9 Pro Football Focus grade in 2024. Right now, only the offensive guard positions are up for grabs. Last season, he primarily played as an offensive tackle. On the second day of training camp, the former Ohio State Buckeye was back on the practice field. Can the 25-year-old offensive lineman win a starting job? Who has been performing in the first two days? Maxx Crosby has clearly been the standout player in practice. His relentless effort and tenacity have become a daily hallmark for this Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Tyree Wilson is also beginning to showcase his potential as a strong pass rusher. Meanwhile, the defensive backs have been actively making plays throughout practice. Isaiah Pola-Mao and Trey Taylor both caught interceptions on Thursday. These were the first turnovers of training camp. Taylor also broke up a pass on day one. Additionally, Sam Webb broke up a short route on Wednesday and almost caught an interception. Day one was an evenly matched practice, but the second day was won by the defense. On the first day, tight end Ian Thomas had the best highlight of the day with a one-handed touchdown snag. Overall, the defensive line has emerged as the strongest position group during these practices. July 31 is set to be a crucial day for evaluating the potential of this roster. In terms of roster changes, a significant development occurred on Thursday, leaving the defensive tackle position relatively thin. Maybe you heard? Fallout from Christian Wilkins’ release by the Raiders… The fact is, there was considerable hope from Raider Nation as Wilkins recovered from his foot injury. A healthy Wilkins in the middle would have created numerous opportunities for Crosby and Malcolm Koonce. However, the Raiders did not wait for the depth chart to become unmanageable; they chose to claim defensive tackle Keondre Coburn off waivers from the Tennessee Titans. Still, no one can replace Wilkins’ impact at this juncture with training camp in full swing. Wilkins and the Raiders will be back in the news, especially with the legal and ethical issues that will arise from this mess.