What are the biggest second half storylines for the Toronto Blue Jays?
WATCH BELOW: On the latest episode of Long Ball, Postmedia's Rob Wong speaks with Toronto Sun Blue Jays writer Rob Longley about Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s season to date, if George Springer can keep up his strong play, what manager John Schneider will do when Daulton Varsho and Anthony Santander return from injury and if a swing-off was the right way to decide the MLB All-Star Game.
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Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
The Kansas City Royals and pitcher Seth Lugo agree to 2-year extension, AP source says
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals and right-hander Seth Lugo have agreed to a two-year extension that includes a vesting option for the 2028 season, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday night. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal, which presumably takes one of the most talked-about names on the trade market off the table ahead of this week's deadline, had not been officially announced. The 35-year-old Lugo made his first All-Star Game and won his first Gold Glove last season, when he went 16-9 with a 3.00 ERA in the first year of a two-year, $30 million deal that included a player option for next season. Lugo has followed that up with an even better start to this season, going 7-5 with a 2.95 ERA through 19 outings for Kansas City. Rumors surfaced of several contenders interested in trading for Lugo ahead of Thursday's deadline, and the fact that the Royals have been hanging on the fringe of contention themselves left many wondering whether they would be buyers or sellers. It appears that they are going to make a push for a second consecutive playoff appearance. The Royals acquired outfielder Randal Grichuk from the Diamondbacks for reliever Andrew Hoffmann late Saturday, shoring up a weakness in the lineup by adding a right-handed bat. Now, they have indicated that Lugo remains big a part of their future with his extension — an especially timely one given it came the same day that All-Star pitcher Kris Bubic went on the injured list. Kansas City also is missing starters Cole Ragans and Michael Lorenzen due to injuries. Both are expected back at some point in August, and the Royals are hopeful that their return to the rotation will propel them down the stretch run. After beating the Guardians on Sunday, the Royals were four games back of the final American League wild-card spot. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP MLB:
Global News
a day ago
- Global News
Family-driven slugger Menard delivering at the plate for Saskatoon Berries
Ethan Menard's start to his second season with the Saskatoon Berries may have come a bit later than he expected, but the top-of-the-lineup slugger has certainly made up for lost time. Missing Saskatoon's first nine games of the Western Canadian Baseball League season with his University of Texas-Tyler team playing in the NCAA Division II College World Series, Menard has put together an MVP-calibre campaign in just 30 games for the Berries. A threat to capture a triple crown title, Menard leads all WCBL batters this summer with a .404 batting average and 12 home runs, while ranking third in the league with 46 RBIs. 'It's unbelievable every night,' Berries outfielder Ethan Murdoch said. 'It seems like every day he puts together a few swings where it's like, 'Man, that could be anybody's best swing of the year.' It seems like he does it every day, even some of his flyouts.' Story continues below advertisement As part of that dominance at the plate, Menard has strung together a 17-game hit streak that has helped rocket the Berries to first place in the WCBL with a 39-7 record. The combination of individual and team success has made this senior season a special one for the power-hitting infielder. 'I couldn't be happier,' Menard said. 'Coming through in the big spots when I need to, that's been the thing that I've been trying to chase after. It's just worked out to this point, so hopefully it keeps going.' Menard is coming off an MVP performance at the 2025 WCBL All-Star Game earlier this month in Okotoks, Alta., delivering the game's lone home run in a 10-3 victory for the East Division. Also competing in the league's annual home run derby, Menard became the second Berries player to win all-star game MVP honours after Carter Beck last season. That was the second-most surprising moment of his day, however, as his father Marty, stepmom Kindi and four siblings, Easton, Eibilene, Marti Kay and Edge, drove nearly 3,200 kilometres from their home state of Louisiana to meet him for all-star weekend. 'I was sitting in the locker room before the home run derby and Carter Beck comes up to me and said that somebody needed to do an interview about a jersey,' Menard said. 'I was like, 'All right, whatever.' At Okotoks, they have that little pavilion in left field, so they were all hiding behind it. I'm walking up the little hill and they all jumped out and surprised me. It was just pure shock.' Story continues below advertisement It was a trip that began the Monday prior, with the Menard family working their way up through the United States before arriving at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks less than two hours before game time. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We drove a lot of miles and we surprised Ethan in Okotoks,' Marty Menard said. 'It was really nice. He had no clue we were here.' Following Ethan's MVP showing in Okotoks, the Menard family loaded back onto the highway to make the trek to Saskatoon and Cairns Field, where their eldest son has become a fan favourite since arriving just over a year ago. 1:33 Saskatoon Berries chosen to host 2026 WCBL All-Star Weekend According to Marty, it's still surreal to hear stories of how well-known Ethan is in the community due to his combination of power hitting and an affable personality. 'We hear the 'Mayor of Saskatoon' and all of these things,' Marty said. 'To walk in and see all of this and 2,000 people, I mean, I think his high school championship had 1,200 people. He was like, 'Dad, it's just amazing there and I can't wait to go back.' So we couldn't wait to go see.' Story continues below advertisement On Thursday, the Berries marked their return to their home diamond after a season-long road trip, one for which the Menard family was front and centre as Saskatoon hosted the Swift Current 57's. In the eighth inning, with Menard making his fifth plate appearance of the night, the WCBL's league leader in home runs went deep again with his family watching on to help secure a 9-0 shutout victory for Saskatoon. 'It's everything I could ask for as a ballplayer,' he said. 'You always hope to have good seasons wherever you go and help the team. Just being able to do that in front of them is really big, so it's nice having them out.' Watching his son fist-pump around first base as the ball sailed over the wall in left field was an emotional moment for Marty and the rest of the Menard family. 'Chills, there's no other way to describe it,' Marty said. Leaning on Menard to provide a bulk of the team's offence this season, Berries head coach Joe Carnahan said he had an inkling that his first baseman would do something special on Thursday night — especially considering who was in attendance to watch Menard touch all four bases with the home run. 'That's what it's all about, special moments like that,' Carnahan said. 'If I was a betting man, I kind of had a feeling he was going to hit a home run (Thursday) like he did in the all-sar game. He comes up in big spots, no matter what those big spots are.' Story continues below advertisement A threat to take home league Most Valuable Player honours at the end of the season, Menard says he is being fuelled by a desire to bring a championship to Saskatoon in his senior season. But even with the dog days of the baseball season sinking in, it's weeks like the one he just experienced that deliver perspective on why he's devoted his life to the diamond. 'It can be tough with a lot of games in not a lot of days,' Ethan said. 'Just seeing them and having them here, it really just reminds you of what you're doing it for. You're doing it for the little kid that's inside of you, the want to compete and do it at the biggest level that you can. Having them there really pushes me, trying to be a role model for my little siblings.' Moments after recording the final out in their victory over Swift Current, it was a quick beeline over to the first base-side fence line for Menard to share in one of those moments with his family. Those moments have become exceedingly rare over the years with his baseball career taking him across North America, but make the weeklong road trips and hours in the car worth it for the Menards. 'My youngest is five and a half (years old) and watching him wait on his brother's autograph was about as good as it gets,' Marty said. Story continues below advertisement Sitting just five wins away from tying the WCBL record for wins in a single season, the Berries (39-7) kick off a home-and-home series against the Moose Jaw Miller Express (21-26) at Cairns Field on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Canada News.Net
2 days ago
- Canada News.Net
David Peterson, Robbie Ray go head-to-head as Mets visit Giants
(Photo credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images) David Peterson will get an opportunity to personally thank Robbie Ray for his All-Star invitation when they go head-to-head on the mound as the New York Mets and host San Francisco Giants continue their three-game series on Saturday evening. Francisco Lindor hit his 20th home run of the season, and the first four batters in the Mets' order combined for seven hits, six RBIs and four runs, lifting New York to a trip-opening 8-1 romp over the Giants on Friday night. Peterson (6-4, 2.90 ERA) appeared destined to watch last week's All-Star Game on television before the Giants elected to start Ray on the Sunday before the showcase, disqualifying him from pitching in Atlanta. Shortly after Ray was formally listed as the projected starter, Peterson got the call that he'd be the veteran's replacement. Coincidentally, Peterson followed the Giants' Logan Webb to the mound in the All-Star Game. Each threw a scoreless inning -- Webb the third, Peterson the fourth -- in the 6-6 contest that ended with their National League team winning a home run contest. Peterson continued the form that earned him the All-Star nod in his first start after the break, limiting the Cincinnati Reds to one unearned run over six innings in his team's 3-2 win last Sunday. It was another indication he's fully healthy after he underwent surgery on a torn labrum in his left hip after the 2023 campaign, with the rehab delaying his 2024 debut until May 29 and limiting his innings last season to 121. He's already reached 115 innings this season -- not counting the one inning he threw in the All-Star Game. 'For me after the surgery, it was just getting back to being healthy, getting used to the new range of motion and all that came with the surgery,' the left-hander told reporters before the break. 'It was nice to have a full, regular off-season (leading into the 2025 season) to work on my strength and get that back. It's been good. It's kind of what I've always thought was in there.' Peterson has made three career starts against the Giants, going 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA. While each team also had an All-Star on the mound to start Friday's game, the Mets' Clay Holmes and Giants' Webb made it through just five and four innings, respectively. Taxing a bullpen in a series opener is never good, but it puts pressure on Ray to go deep into Saturday's game because the Giants have lost two starters in the last week. With ineffective Hayden Birdsong having gotten demoted to the minors and Landen Roupp forced onto the 15-day injured list with a sore elbow, the Giants already have designated Sunday as a bullpen day. 'Look, it feels like every team goes through it, and sometimes when it rains, it pours a little bit,' Giants manager Bob Melvin bemoaned to reporters before Friday's game. 'We do have some guys we like in Triple-A as far as the depth goes, so we'll see where that goes -- and we'll see what the deadline brings.' Ray (9-4, 2.92 ERA) came out of the All-Star break with one of his worst outings of the season, tagged for five runs in 4 1/3 innings by the host Toronto Blue Jays in an 8-6 loss last Sunday. But the left-hander has had success against the Mets, going 4-1 with a 3.48 ERA against them in seven lifetime starts.
