NBA

Kings sign PG Jordan McLaughlin to one-year contract

Contract terms weren’t released, but I’m betting this deal is for the minimum. If so, it’s a good one for Sacramento. McLaughlin is a caretaker at point guard that rarely turns the ball over, and in limited action last season, substantially improved as a three-point shooter, nailing 47.2 percent of his attempts from deep.

Grade: B+

MLB

Tigers 5, Reds 1

The Tigers may be just 42-48, but Tarik Skubal is a legitimate AL Cy Young candidate. Detroit’s ace struck out 13 Reds and allowed just one earned run in this game, dropping his ERA to 2.37. A rebuild has been going on in the Motor City for quite some time, and Skubal is easily the best to come out of it.

Sweeping the Yankees is fun and cool, but following it up with losing three straight to the Tigers basically nullifies those fun times. Unfortunately for the 42-48 Reds, the team’s standing isn’t good enough to afford being swept, especially by a below .500 club.

Braves 6, Phillies 0

Atlanta has some questions in the outfield without Ronald Acuna — a trade could be in the works in the coming weeks — but the Braves’ outfielders delivered in this contest. Eli White, Jared Kelenic and Adam Duvall all homered, giving Reynaldo Lopez a cushion that he hasn’t really needed all season. Six scoreless frames for Lopez yesterday.

Guardians 5, Giants 4

The pitcher slots for the All-Star Game are normally reserved for starters and closers, but if exceptions are to be made, a spot could be carved out for Hunter Gaddis. The right-hander held down the eighth inning of this game for Cleveland, giving him hold No. 18, to go along with a 1.28 ERA. Feels like All-Star numbers to me.

Marlins 7, White Sox 4

A mid-July series between the 26-66 White Sox and 32-58 Marlins carries about the lowest stakes possible, but it had to feel great for Jake Burger to walk this game off with a three-run home run. The long ball was only Burger’s ninth of the season, but the third baseman has plenty of pop in his bat.

Michael Kopech was a somewhat highly regarded starter as recently as 2022, but the wheels have fallen off for the 28-year-old. After surrendering four earned runs in less than an inning of work yesterday, Kopech’s ERA is up to 5.45.

Cubs 5, Angels 0

A number of the Cubs’ recent transactions haven’t returned the intended results, but trading for Michael Busch was a stroke of genius. Busch was blocked with the Dodgers by Freddie Freeman, but is making the most of his opportunity with the Cubs as a 26-year-old rookie. After going 2-for-4 with a home run in this game, the first baseman is slashing .264/.359/.457.

Mets 3, Pirates 2

The Pirates signed Aroldis Chapman to a one-year, $10.5 million contract last offseason, making him the club’s highest-paid player, but the deal hasn’t worked out thus far. The flamethrowing lefty just isn’t the intimidating force he once was on the mound, as he allowed two earned runs and blew his third save of the season yesterday. The small-market Pirates can hardly afford their most expensive player not performing.

Cardinals 8, Nationals 3

Willson Contreras was in the midst of a career year when he fractured his forearm two months ago — an injury that could’ve been avoided — and he initially struggled upon return. That’s over now — both the injury and the struggles — as Contreras is back to raking. In this contest, the slugger finished 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBI, raising his OPS to .928, a career best.

Twins 3, Astros 2

The Twins won their first playoff series since 2002 last year, and a repeat may be in store this season. Minnesota is on a roll, torching opponents and getting better at the same time. Most contenders don’t have in-house upgrades available to them mid-season, but the Twins recently promoted Brooks Lee, the game’s No. 13 prospect. Yesterday, Lee finished 2-for-4 with a run.