​After a rough stretch of play in late June and early July, the Yankees capped the first half on a high note by sweeping the Nationals. It wasn’t completely stress-free, as they needed late-inning comebacks against a Nationals bullpen that hadn’t anything left to offer to secure all three wins, but given how bleak things looked just a week ago, nobody is complaining. Riding the momentum from splitting with the Rays, the sweep pushed New York to a solid 5-2 mark on the road trip heading into the All-Star break, and they sit three games behind first place. That gap is far from insurmountable, but it will require continued strong performance and a bit of external help once they return to the field.
In the meantime, though, it’s time to celebrate the club’s top achievements with their All-Star representatives, and the festivities get underway tonight with the Home Run Derby. Ben Rice will be among the participants, and we’ll have an open thread for the event just as we do for our usual game threads. Before that, we kick off the day with a quick look back at the MLB Draft as Michael shares his thoughts on the 2026 class the Yankees now have waiting in the wings. Matt covers the Rivalry Roundup, including a Rays defeat that closes the AL East race to one game, Josh reflects on DJ LeMahieu’s two remarkable and questionable contracts and the production he delivered under those terms, and the birthday-born Yankee ponders what the Reds could offer in a potential trade with the club. Later on, I’ll open the mailbag to field more of your questions, and I’ll also recap the Derby once everything is said and done.
All-Star Home Run Derby
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
Streaming: Netflix
Venue: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
– How far will Ben Rice go in the Derby? Surely he’ll post a better showing than Jazz Chisholm Jr. managed last year, right?
– Was John Schneider out of line for choosing his own guy in Dylan Cease as the All-Star Game starter before Cam Schlitter declined the role for himself?