MLB Morning Lineup Podcast MLB.com

Steven Kwan became MLB's new batting average leader after his three-hit day, the Yankees' recent struggles continued with a sweep at the hands of the Reds and Christian Walker made it back-to-back nights with two home runs at Dodger Stadium.

On today’s episode:

Act I: THE BIG STORIES: (0:59-5:18)
Steven Kwan suddenly finds himself near the top of several leaderboards after his three-hit day gave him enough plate appearances to qualify and made him the MLB batting leader with his .367 mark. The Yankees' fall from the best record in baseball to second place in their own division continued as the Reds completed a three-game sweep in the Bronx.

Act II: WHIPAROUND: (5:18-8:20)
Christian Walker continued his Dodger Stadium dominance with two more homers, giving him five in the three-game series. The Nationals played their traditional 11 a.m. ET Fourth of July game against the Mets and prevailed in under two hours thanks to Jake Irvin's gem and Jesse Winker's clutch home run. Julio Rodríguez might be heating up after hitting a double and a home run in a victory over Corbin Burnes and the Orioles.

Act III: LOOKING AHEAD: (8:20-9:17)
Two of baseball's best rivalries are on tap as the Red Sox and Yankees meet on MLB Network at 7:05 p.m. ET, and the Braves host the Phillies on Apple TV Plus at 7:20.

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Kyle Isbel helped seal a Royals win by making one of the best catches we've seen this season, Yordan Alvarez homered again to keep the Astros rolling and Chris Sale continued building his All-Star candidacy by picking up his 11th win.

On today’s episode:
Act I: THE BIG STORIES: (0:51-2:53)
If you're not familiar with Kyle Isbel's game, you should be now. With the tying run at the plate in the ninth, the Royals center fielder covered 103 feet to make a snow-cone catch at the wall to help preserve a win over the Rays. Since 2023, Isbel has saved the third-most runs among all center fielders. The Astros are back, and maybe scarier than ever, beating the Blue Jays for their 13th win in their last 17 games. Yordan Alvarez, who was named an All-Star starter on Wednesday, homered for the third straight game. The resurgent Chris Sale turned in a vintage performance against the Giants, striking out nine across six innings of one-run ball. The 35-year-old is now tied for the Major League lead in wins (11). Should he start the All-Star Game? He has a case!

Act II: WHIPAROUND: (2:53-4:38)
A's right-hander Joey Estes tossed a "Maddux" in Oakland, only needing 92 pitches to shut out the Angels. James Wood, MLB's No. 2 prospect, stole his first base, scored his first run and recorded his first career RBI in the Nationals' win over the Mets. Oneil Cruz ripped a walk-off single to lift the Pirates over the Cardinals.

Act III: LOOKING AHEAD: (4:38-6:16)
A loaded Fourth of July slate starts bright and early when the Mets face the Nationals in the nation's capital at 11:05 a.m. ET on MLB Network.

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Elly De La Cruz dazzled in his Yankee Stadium debut, Shohei Ohtani hit a big homer as the Dodgers celebrated Japanese Heritage Night, and the Mets outlasted the Nationals in extra innings thanks to some help from a fast-healing hero.
 
On today’s episode: Act I: THE BIG STORIES (0:44-6:58)
Playing in his first game in the Bronx, Elly De La Cruz, who grew up a Yankee fan, lit up The Stadium by launching a 425-foot homer and legging out a triple with his trademark speed. Aaron Judge mashed his MLB-best 32nd homer, but the Reds held on to take the series opener. Out west, the Dodgers celebrated Japanese Heritage Night in the most appropriate way possible -- with Shohei Ohtani crushing his 27th homer of the season, a two-run shot that gave L.A. the lead in the seventh. A go-ahead homer by Joc Pederson nearly spoiled the night, but the Dodgers strung together three two-out hits to walk off the Diamondbacks in the ninth. Meanwhile, Brandon Nimmo was something of a medical miracle in the Mets' extra-inning win in Washington, coming off the bench to deliver two clutch hits just a day and a half after suffering a head injury after fainting in his hotel room.
 
Act II: WHIPAROUND (6:58-8:24)
Nathaniel Lowe had a bobblehead night to remember, homering twice to lead the Rangers past the Padres in Arlington. Jarren Duran went yard for the third time in as many games to key a Red Sox win in Miami.
 
Act III: LOOKING AHEAD (8:24-9:24)
Two of the NL's top hurlers will face off at Wrigley Field today when Shota Imanaga and the Cubs welcome Zack Wheeler and the Phillies.

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The No. 3 prospect in baseball, James Wood of the Nationals, made his MLB debut last night vs. the Mets and showed what all the hype is about. Plus the latest update from final fan voting for the All-Star Game saw some big names in tight races.

On today’s episode:
Act I: THE BIG STORIES (0:52-3:17)
James Wood is a name you will be hearing about often. With his elite speed, the 21-year-old Nationals outfielder was off and running in his Major League debut. He singled in his first at-bat, walked and also reached on an error in a wild 9-7 loss to the Mets. J.D. Martinez crushed a three-run homer in a six-run top of the 10th for the Mets, who then hung on for dear life. The resurgent Astros put a damper on Canada Day ceremonies in Toronto with a matinee win over the Blue Jays. The Brewers and Rockies rounded out a quiet slate in baseball with an extra-inning slugfest at Coors Field.

Act II: WHIPAROUND (3:17-5:05)
All-Star Game voting ends at noon ET tomorrow and some races are going down to the wire. It's especially tight in the AL and NL outfields, where Juan Soto and Christian Yelich are leading by slim margins.

Act III: LOOKING AHEAD (5:05-6:16)
There's a pitcher going tonight who is bidding to be the NL starter in the All-Star Game. And that's after being a reliever the past two years with no certainty of even making the Opening Day roster a few months ago. He's Reynaldo López and he'll lead the Braves against the Giants in a game you can watch on MLB.TV at 7:20 p.m. ET.

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Don’t look now but the Astros – an MLB-best 17-8 in June – are within 3 ½ games of the Mariners in the AL West. Also, Aaron Judge is ahead of his record homer pace of '22 and a Rangers rookie hit for the first cycle in Sunday Night Baseball history.

On today’s episode …

ACT 1: THE BIG STORIES (0:50-2:43)
After a rough start to the season, the Astros are suddenly the hottest team in baseball and have hacked away at a once-double-digit Mariners’ lead atop the AL West to sit just two games back in the loss column. Meanwhile, Aaron Judge’s Majors-leading 31 home runs in just 86 games have him halfway to his AL-record 62 homers and Rangers rookie Wyatt Langford hit for the Majors’ first cycle of 2024.

ACT 2: WHIPAROUND (2:43-4:35)
Elsewhere around the Majors, the Giants put a tough couple weeks behind them and took two of three against the Dodgers and slugging Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson became the first player to commit to the July 15 T-Mobile Home Run Derby while mic’d up on Sunday Night Baseball.

ACT 3: LOOKING AHEAD (4:53- 6:10)
Today, the Brewers – who have hit a stunning five grand slams in an eight-game span – head to Coors Field of all places to start a four-game series against the Rockies.

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The night started out great for Bryce Harper, the top NL vote-getter in Phase 1 of All-Star balloting. After that? Not so much as the Phils star appeared to injure his hamstring. Also, with the Trade Deadline looming, is time running out in Toronto?

On today’s episode …

ACT 1: THE BIG STORIES ( 0:48-3:14)
Fans chose Bryce Harper as the starting NL first baseman in the Midsummer Classic. It doesn’t get much better than that. But after appearing to injure his hamstring late in a loss to the Marlins, fans in Philly are holding their breath. Making matters worse for the Phils? Slugger Kyle Schwarber left Thursday’s game early with groin tightness. Meanwhile in Toronto, the Jays have some tough choices to make leading up to the July 30 Trade Deadline. The solution? Just win and Thursday’s series-opening victory over the Yankees is no doubt a step in the right direction.


ACT 2: WHIPAROUND (7:12-7:57)
Elsewhere around the Majors, the Orioles crushed the Rangers in a rematch of last season’s ALDS showdown, the Royals eked out a win over the first-place Guardians and in St. Louis, the Reds coasted past the Cardinals.

ACT 3: LOOKING AHEAD (7:57-9:10)
All but written off after lackluster starts to the season, the Astros and Mets – both sporting .500 records -- are suddenly flying high and kick off a big-time weekend showdown tonight in Queens.

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