This was an absolute must-win for Yankees — even in July
Don't miss Greg Joyce's text messages from The Bronx and beyond — he's giving Sports+ subscribers the inside buzz on the Yankees. Sign Up Now
It was July 6, Game 90, still a week short of the All-Star Game.
So not really the scenario you associate with a must-win contest beyond some social-media scream sites.
But the Yankees had lost six in a row, have been the worst team in the majors for three-plus weeks and were on the verge of making it all hurt more by being Subway swept. And then there was this: The Yankees were starting their ace, Max Fried, against the cast of Who Wants to be a Mets Pitcher … and built a 5-0 lead.
At this moment, Fried must be 'Win Day' for the Yankees, especially if the opponent is using a group of pitchers more likely to be on a bus to Jupiter, Fla., in March than in a Subway Series in July.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
24 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Mulder lets 'legend' Lara keep record 400 so SA can begin bowling out Zimbabwe twice
BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe — Wiaan Mulder sacrificed a shot at one of cricket's most hallowed records to start mopping up Zimbabwe in the second test at Queens Sports Club on Monday. The first-time captain of South Africa was on 367 — just 33 runs shy of Brian Lara's world record 400 not out set 21 years ago — when he stopped his epic innings and declared with South Africa on 626-5.
New York Post
40 minutes ago
- New York Post
Paolo Banchero signs five-year max extension with Magic that could reach $287 million
The Magic are shelling out a big-time sum to keep their young star in Orlando. Paolo Banchero has agreed to sign a five-year maximum rookie contract extension with the Magic that could be worth as much as $287 million, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Monday. The base salary is $239 million over the five years, or $47.8 per season, but Banchero could make more if he makes an All-NBA team, wins MVP or captures the Defensive Player of the Year award next year. The deal also includes a player option in 2030-31, marking the first time a rookie extension has featured a player option since Luka Doncic and Trae Young signed their rookie extensions in 2021. Paolo Banchero celebrates during Game 3 of the Magic's first-round series against the Celtics on April 25. AP The Magic have taken steps to solidify their core this offseason – most notably, trading for Desmond Bane from the Grizzlies on June 15 in exchange for Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and four first-round picks. Orlando also signed free agent point guard Tyus Jones to bolster its depth. The team has a quality group of homegrown talent to surround Banchero, too, including Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs. Banchero, Wagner, Suggs and Bane are now all under contract with the Magic through the 2028-29 season. Paolo Banchero in Game 4 of the Magic's first-round series against the Celtics on April 27. AP Banchero, the No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft, has led the Magic to back-to-back playoff appearances. The Seattle native missed 34 games in 2024-25 with an oblique tear, but he still averaged 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists in the 46 games he did play. The year prior, he was an All-Star and averaged 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists, and he also captured Rookie of the Year honors in 2022-23. Now, Banchero will look to help the Magic become contenders in a weak Eastern Conference, with the Celtics' Jayson Tatum and the Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton both expected to miss most, if not all, of next season with respective Achilles injuries.
Los Angeles Times
43 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Clayton Kershaw grateful for ‘weird but cool' All-Star selection as ‘Legend Pick'
MILWAUKEE — Clayton Kershaw has been an All-Star 10 times before. But no selection surprised him quite like this year's. Included on the National League All-Star team as a 'Legend Pick' by commissioner Rob Manfred in recognition of his career accomplishments, Kershaw did not get any advance warning from Manfred or anyone in the league office that he would be in the Midsummer Classic. When manager Dave Roberts gathered his Dodgers team to announce the club's All-Star selections on Sunday, Kershaw forgot that the 'Legend Pick' — which has been used in the past for players like Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera — was even a thing. Thus, when Roberts announced Kershaw's name, the 37-year-old was caught more than a little off-guard — having made just nine starts this season since returning from offseason toe and knee surgeries. 'Obviously, I don't deserve to get to go this season, haven't pitched very much,' he deadpanned. 'I don't know if Doc was going for the surprise factor or not. But I had no idea until he said it.' But by Monday, the meaningfulness of what he described as a 'tremendous honor' had also set in, with Kershaw expressing gratitude for what will be his 11th career selection, tied for the most among active players with Mike Trout. 'You never take for granted getting to go to an All-Star Game, regardless of the circumstances,' Kershaw said. 'At the end of the day, it's weird but cool, so I'm just going to enjoy it.' While Kershaw's limited workload would normally not warrant an All-Star selection, his stats haven't been too far off that pace this year: A 4-0 record, 3.43 ERA and 1.254 WHIP in what is the 18th season of his future Hall of Fame career. 'I think there's some good and some bad,' Kershaw said of his season so far. 'I wouldn't say happy, but I wouldn't say disappointed either. I would say kind of right in the middle.' The highlight of the campaign, of course, came in Kershaw's last start, when he became the 20th pitcher in MLB history to record 3,000 career strikeouts. But at this stage of his career, Kershaw's real satisfaction has been with his health — finally past the various back, elbow, shoulder, knee and toe injuries that had plagued him over the last several seasons. 'I think the biggest thing is just the mental toll [that takes on you],' Kershaw said. 'Anyone that has been dealing with stuff, I think it's always in the back of your head. You wake up and you test it and you move around and you test it to see if it hurts, see how bad it hurts. [Now], instead of wondering if you can pitch, it's just a matter of how you're going to pitch. I don't think I took into appreciation the mental toll that takes over time. So to just worry about pitching is nice, for sure.' It has also allowed Kershaw 'to get the reps and go back out and be able to feel OK in between starts to work on some stuff,' he said. 'Figure out some different things mechanically and pitch-wise and stuff.' Long-term, Kershaw still hasn't decided if this will be his final season. 'I don't know what is going to happen in the future,' he said. 'I really have no idea when it comes to the years beyond this one. So I'm just trying to enjoy it, be part of a really good team this year.' When it comes to next week's All-Star Game, he isn't even sure if he'll pitch in the showcase exhibition, which will be held at Truist Park in Atlanta. 'I'd love to pitch but I don't want to take an inning away from somebody who's never done it before or this is their first year or whatever,' he said. 'I'll enjoy just to hang or pitch or whatever.' On Monday, Kershaw's focus was instead on his final start of the first half: A scheduled Tuesday outing against the Milwaukee Brewers and their 23-year-old rookie starlet, Jacob Misiorowski. Kershaw, 14 years Misiorowski's senior, laughed when asked what it's like to be the elder statesman in such high-profile matchups now. 'I saw a couple highlights [of him], know he throws hard,' Kershaw said. 'But so does everybody. Except me.'
