An All-Star night without Ohtani
Baseball’s top vote-getter sits out the Midsummer Classic with a knee issue as Mike Trout starts in his home state and the World Cup semifinals open with France against Spain.
Good morning! Big day, two big stages. The Midsummer Classic is in Philadelphia tonight without Shohei Ohtani, baseball’s leading vote-getter, who is sidelined by a knee issue. And the World Cup semifinals begin at noon with France meeting Spain. Meanwhile the Lakers keep stacking depth, and the Sparks keep searching. Let’s get into it.
🚨 HEADLINES
🏀 Depth signing. The Lakers added Ziaire Williams on a one-year, $3 million deal — Carlos Yakimowich has it.
🏀 Ring chaser. Three-time champion Kevon Looney officially signed with the Lakers — Carlos Yakimowich in Los Angeles.
🏒 Offer-sheet fallout. Leo Carlsson’s agent details the negotiation timeline with the Ducks and Pat Verbeek — Zach Cavanagh in Anaheim.
🏀 Burn it down? A blistering take on the Sparks’ front-office churn — Eric Lambkins II on the spin cycle.
🏀 Summer showcase. Keaton Wagler broke out as the Clippers routed the Jazz in Vegas — Grant Mona at Thomas & Mack.
See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.
📋 SCOREBOARD — MONDAY
🏀 WNBA: Dream 101, Sparks 92
⚾ AN ALL-STAR NIGHT WITHOUT OHTANI
Baseball’s biggest star was voted in as the National League’s starting designated hitter, his sixth straight All-Star selection and the top vote total in the game, but Shohei Ohtani won’t take the field in Philadelphia tonight. The Dodgers announced he’ll undergo medical interventions on his left knee, with Kyle Schwarber sliding into the starting DH spot. Los Angeles still sends five All-Stars, four of them starters: Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy and Andy Pages join the lineup, with Justin Wrobleski added to the pitching staff. In the American League, Angels icon Mike Trout starts in the outfield for his 12th All-Star selection, in the state where he grew up. First pitch is 5 p.m. PT on Fox.
GO DEEPER
› Shohei Ohtani hits No. 300 as the Dodgers’ bullpen struggles (The Sporting Tribune)
› Dodgers limp into the All-Star break after D-Backs complete sweep (The Sporting Tribune)
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🏀 THE LAKERS KEEP BUILDING
After locking up Austin Reaves, the Lakers spent Monday adding depth on both ends. They signed three-time NBA champion Kevon Looney, a proven rebounder and screener with a championship pedigree, and brought in forward Ziaire Williams on a one-year, $3 million deal. Neither move is a headliner, but together they fill the kind of rotation gaps that decide playoff series. The roster is taking shape.
GO DEEPER
› Lakers officially sign three-time champion Kevon Looney (The Sporting Tribune)
› Lakers add Ziaire Williams on one-year, $3 million deal (The Sporting Tribune)
🏀 THE SPARKS’ SPIN CYCLE
Fire the GM, run it back, repeat. Eric Lambkins II argues the Sparks’ latest front-office shakeup is another lap in a cycle that never actually breaks and that a franchise 30 seasons deep needs more than a new nameplate on the door. On the floor, the story didn’t change either: Los Angeles got closed out by the Dream on a late run in Atlanta, 101-92.
GO DEEPER
› Eric Lambkins II: The only way out of the Sparks’ spin cycle (The Sporting Tribune)
› Sparks get closed out by Dream in late run (The Sporting Tribune)
📺 WATCHLIST — TUESDAY, JULY 14
⚽ World Cup (SF): France vs. Spain — Fox — 12 p.m. PT · Arlington, Texas
⚾ MLB: All-Star Game — Fox — 5 p.m. PT · Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
Coming up: Argentina vs. England in the second World Cup semifinal Wednesday in Atlanta. The final is Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
🎟️ GOING TO A GAME THIS WEEK?
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⚾ MLB (Fri): Dodgers at Yankees — Yankee Stadium — $75
🌴 TSTTRIVIA
Mike Trout starts tonight in his 12th All-Star Game, the most of any player in this year’s field. In which two seasons did he win All-Star Game MVP?
Answer at the bottom.
🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY
Today’s episode digs into an All-Star Game without Shohei Ohtani and what his knee means for a Dodgers team that limped into the break, breaks down the Lakers’ free-agency haul, and previews France-Spain in the first World Cup semifinal. Hear it on the radio across Southern California and Las Vegas via Westwood One Sports.
› Listen to the latest episode
Trivia answer: 2014 and 2015 Mike Trout won back-to-back All-Star Game MVP awards
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