Welcome to The Pregame Lineup, a weekday newsletter that gets you up to speed on everything you need to know for today, while catching you up on fun and interesting stories you might have missed. Today's edition is brought to you by David Adler.

The Trade Deadline is less than three weeks away, and every team needs something. 

Our beat reporters broke down the biggest need for all 30 teams at the Deadline. Let's take a look at some of the big ones … 

Rays: Proven hitter

The Rays' strength during their last batch of playoff runs was often the depth and balance of their lineup. This season, they're unusually top-heavy, with their "Big Three" of Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero. Adding another bat in the outfield, middle infield or at catcher could help them stave off the Yankees in the American League East. 

Yankees: Catching 

Speaking of the Yankees: Austin Wells, a big part of their lineup the last two seasons, has been one of the worst hitters in the league this year. As the Yanks await the return of big hitters like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, they'll look for a catcher to at least platoon with Wells. The Twins' Ryan Jeffers and Rockies All-Star Hunter Goodman are options.

Tigers: Right-handed bat … or pitching prospects

The Tigers are one of the most polarizing teams. It looked like they would have to be sellers and trade Tarik Skubal. But with the parity in the AL, they've managed to hang around on the fringes of the playoff picture, with the league's best record since the start of June (22-14). If Detroit goes for it, hangs onto Skubal and buys at the Deadline, getting a veteran right-handed hitter is an absolute must. If the Tigers sell, they'll need to inject talented arms into their farm system.

Braves: Starting pitching 

The Braves have Chris Sale … and not much behind him. As the team's lead in the National League East has dwindled over the Phillies and upstart Marlins, Atlanta needs at least one frontline starter to pair with Sale, if not two starters.  

Phillies: High-leverage reliever 

The Phillies' turnaround under Don Mattingly has them eyeing the postseason once again. The last three times they've gotten there, their bullpen has faltered in October. So even though Philadelphia has lights-out closer Jhoan Duran, this team wants at least one more late-inning reliever who can help get the ball to him. 

Brewers / Cardinals / Cubs: Innings 

It's interesting that three NL Central contenders all need the same thing: starting pitchers who can eat innings. The Brewers just added some starting pitching depth today by trading for Lance McCullers Jr. from the Astros. Will the rival Cardinals and Cubs follow suit?

See all the other teams' Trade Deadline needs here >>

John Hancock would be proud. 

The Declaration of Independence-style lineup card signed by all the All-Star Game starters last night -- one of the coolest artifacts from the game -- is headed to the Hall of Fame.

With the All-Star Game being played in Philadelphia for America's 250th anniversary, the Midsummer Classic naturally paid tribute to the signing of the Declaration in the city in 1776. 

Every member of the AL and NL starting nine signed the oversized scroll at home plate before lining up for the pregame National Anthem -- with Philadelphia's own Kyle Schwarber pulling his best Hancock impression, complete with quill pen, as he started things off for the NL.

Now that "national treasure" will be on display in Cooperstown. Just keep it away from Nicolas Cage.

We're bringing you all the latest trade rumors leading up to the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline. Today, a pair of big-name arms are in the news. 

Yankees eyeing Miller? 

Catching help might be the Yankees' most obvious priority, but adding a high-leverage reliever is also on their list. So how about the most dominant closer on the planet? 

According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman in an article for the New York Post (subscription required), the Bronx Bombers "love the idea of adding Mason Miller." 

Miller's name has popped up in trade rumors recently as the Padres have struggled, though it would take a haul to get him. Miller-to-the-Yankees would be a huge blockbuster.

Skubal suitors emerge 

The market for Tarik Skubal is coming into focus. If the Tigers make their ace available, the Cubs, Braves and Rays are expected to be among the strongest suitors, according to a report from Heyman. 

One other wild card team to watch in the Skubal sweepstakes? The Dodgers. Some rival teams suspect the Dodgers might be underselling their interest in Skubal. 

See the rest of today's trade buzz here >>

We've collected all the best facts and figures from the American League's 4-0 win over the National League in last night's All-Star Game. Here are five that stand out: 

1) The AL pitched just the 10th shutout in All-Star Game history, and the first one in 13 years. The last shutout came in 2013, when the AL beat the NL, 3-0, at Citi Field in New York. (Fun fact: Mike Trout led off for the winning AL team in both the 2013 and 2026 All-Star Games.) 

2) Yankees stars Cody Bellinger and Ben Rice led the way for the AL, smacking RBI singles off NL starter Cristopher Sánchez in the first inning. They became the first pair of Yankees teammates to record RBIs in an All-Star Game since Roger Maris and Tom Tresh in 1962. 

3) Bellinger was named the All-Star Game MVP, becoming the fourth Yankee to win the award after Giancarlo Stanton (2022), Mariano Rivera (2013) and Derek Jeter (2000).

4) Dodgers lefty Justin Wrobleski got to pitch in the All-Star Game on his 26th birthday. He's just the ninth different player to play in an All-Star Game on his birthday. The others are Justin Steele (2023), Howie Kendrick (2011), Yadier Molina (2010), Jeff Shaw (1998), Robin Ventura (1992), Andre Dawson (1990), Ted Simmons (1981) and Billy Herman (1936 and '37). 

5) The one home run of the game was a 433-foot shot by Miguel Vargas in the eighth inning. He's the third White Sox player to homer in an All-Star Game, after Magglio Ordoñez in 2001 and Frank Thomas in 1995.

Paul Skenes is just the fourth pitcher to start his career with three straight All-Star seasons, along with Yu Darvish, Dwight Gooden and Tom Seaver. But this wasn't his usual dominant first half. 

The reigning NL Cy Young winner had his rockiest stretch as a big leaguer, including going nine straight starts without a win from May 17 through July 1.

At the All-Star Game, Skenes talked about his "weird" first half. Here's what he had to say:

On his first half overall: "It was a really interesting first half, because I don't think I've thrown the ball poorly. But obviously some numbers look different. The strikeout rate is in a very good spot. The walk rate is in a good spot. Not giving up hard contact consistently. For whatever reason, the ERA is a little higher. Not something I'm losing any sleep over. It's just been kind of a weird first half in that sense."

On his fastball velocity, which is down from 98.2 mph to 96.6 mph: "I don't think velocity is something I need to pitch well. I think it's probably the first time in my career the velo has kinda dipped. It's not something that I'm stressed over at all. I'm healthy. I'm feeling good and still pitching at a high level."

On how he would grade his first half: "Probably a B. Not terrible. Could have been better. I think I've learned a lot. Interesting first half."

Read more here >>

MLB.com's Courtney Hollmon has the story of how the National League's ballgirl at the All-Star Game, Genevieve Ortega-Alves, got engaged -- on the All-Star red carpet: 

Ethan Klingenberg had every intention of staying in the background on Tuesday afternoon. His girlfriend, Genevieve Ortega-Alves, had earned every bit of the spotlight as the National League’s representative on the MLB All-Star ball crew, and Klingenberg was simply happy to walk the red carpet as her guest.

But as the couple stepped onto the carpet ahead of baseball's biggest stars, Klingenberg decided to make their whirlwind trip to Philadelphia completely unforgettable. Standing in front of the cameras at the designated photo-op station, he reached into his pocket, dropped to one knee and proposed.

"Oh my God, yeah, I was so scared," Klingenberg laughed. "But we were all done up. Once we got in front of the photo opportunity place, I was like, 'Yeah, this is perfect.' I just thought, 'Do it now, say something cute.' I didn't want to sound too rehearsed, but I had an idea of what I was going to say, and I just went for it."

The red carpet proposal was the culmination of a 12-year love story that started long before Ortega-Alves ever put on a Padres ballgirl uniform. The two 28-year-olds are true San Diego sweethearts, having met in the hallways of Albert Einstein Middle School. They rode the bus together as close friends before officially starting their relationship in the 10th grade. Since then, they have navigated college at San Diego Mesa, started their respective careers and moved into their first apartment together in 2021.

Read the rest of this baseball love story here >>

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