Good Morning! Here’s what happened in the world of sports on Tuesday, July 16.

MLB ALL-STAR GAME

For the 10th time in the last 11 seasons, the American League beat the National League in the MLB All-Star game. If you missed all the pageantry (and the accompanying baseball game), that’s ok. Here are the highlights from the Midsummer Classic in Texas:

• Shohei Ohtani got the scoring started with a three-run home run off Boston Red Sox starter Tanner Houck. You want the game’s biggest stars to show out on the biggest stage, and Shohei delivered.

• The American League answered quickly, as Juan Soto doubled in two runs and David Fry singled in another to tie the game 3-3 in the bottom of the third inning.

• This game was dominated by pitching. Although 19 batters reached base, there were also 15 strikeouts. The highlight on the mound came from Athletics closer Mason Miller– Miller threw the fastest recorded All-Star game pitch and struck out Shohei Ohtani in the same inning.

• The MVP was awarded to Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran, who hit a game-winning two-run homer in the fifth inning off Reds starter Hunter Greene. It’s a wonderful recognition for Duran, who’s had quite a breakout season in Boston.

MLB MIDSEASON CHECK-IN (Day 2 of 3)

Welcome to Part Two of our MLB midseason check-in! In case you missed it, you can go back and read part one here.

Today’s check-in brings us the middle group of ten teams. Each team is flawed, but they find themselves in the midst of a tightly-contested playoff race…

20. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (47-50)

The Giants are tough to understand. Young hitters Heliot Ramos and Patrick Bailey are showing real promise. Logan Webb leads the National League in innings pitched and continues to be one of the best pitchers in baseball. And yet… San Francisco is fourth in their division, three games under .500. It’s a talented roster, but one unlikely to make a deep postseason run. The Giants have proven everyone wrong before– we’ll see if they can do it again.

19. CINCINNATI REDS (47-50)

The Reds boast a great collection of young stars. With 46 steals and and 17 home runs this season, Elly De La Cruz is one of the most exciting players in baseball. Rece Hinds was named NL player of the week in his first week in the major leagues. Hunter Greene had a rough all-star game, but he earned his spot as one of the best starters in baseball. Like the Giants, however, the Reds are three games under .500 and fourth in their division. The young Reds could go on a run, but it’s more likely that Cincinnati is one year away from reaching their playoff potential.

18. TAMPA BAY RAYS (48-48)

If the Rays played in the National League, they’d only be 1.5 games out of a wild card spot. Despite their early season struggles, you could reasonably expect the team to turn things around. Unfortunately, Tampa plays in the American League East division. They’re 10 games out of the division lead, and while the Rays are only 5.5 games behind the third wild card spot, this financially-prudent ball club is likely to sell pieces and pivot to next season. Outfielder Randy Arozarena and starting pitcher Zach Eflin are two names to watch.

17. PITTSBURGH PIRATES (48-48)

With starters Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, and Mitch Keller the Pittsburgh Pirates could beat any team in baseball in a three-game series. However, Bryan Reynolds is the only consistent hitter supporting them. Electric shortstop Oneil Cruz hasn’t gotten on base enough this season and legendary Pirate Andrew McCutchen is injured. Like their division counterparts in Cincinnati, the Pirates might be a year away from a playoff push– although anything is possible with that pitching staff.

16. SAN DIEGO PADRES (50-49)

The number one prospect in baseball in 2012, Jurickson Profar struggled for many years to find a place in the big leagues. Now a first-time all-star, Profar is leading the Padres in basically every offensive stat. And with Xander Bogaerts and Fernando Tatis Jr. on their way back from injury, San Diego could make waves in the wild card race. Pitching is going to be the difference maker for this team down the stretch– Matt Waldron has an awesome knuckleball and Dylan Cease leads the NL in strikeouts, but the Padres need more from the rest of their starters.

15. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (49-48)

Few teams in baseball are hotter right now than the defending National League champions. Arizona entered the all-star break on a four game win-streak and have won 10 of their last 14 games. Last year’s rookie of the year Corbin Carroll has really struggled this season– if he can turn things around, the Diamondbacks could replicate their magical run from a year ago.

14. NEW YORK METS (49-46) NL Wild Card 3

After a miserable 22-33 start to the season, the New York Mets entered the all-star break in a playoff spot. Their season has been saved by three things: Grimace, the purple McDonalds mascot threw out the first pitch. Shortstop Jose Iglesias made his debut on the latin pop scene with his new hit song OMG. And most importantly, the offense began to drive in a lot of runs. Which Mets team is real? The one that couldn’t buy a win, or the unstoppable one driven by memes and good vibes? All I know is the Mets are very entertaining.

13. HOUSTON ASTROS (50-46)

The Houston Astros have made it to the American League Championship series seven years in a row. That streak was in doubt, because like the Mets, Houston started the season terribly. It seemed every starting pitcher on the team was hurt. However, the Astros are winning a lot recently and the team is getting healthy. Just one game behind the AL West leaders, Houston is ready for lift-off.

12. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (50-46) NL Wild Card 2

Going off run differential, the Cardinals are one of the worst teams in baseball. Luckily for St. Louis, it’s the win/loss column that matters; led by one of the best bullpens in baseball, the Cards have been able to win a lot of really close games. Aging stars Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt need to produce more for St. Louis to be real threats, but there’s something to be said for a team that finds a way to win. Currently in the second wild card spot and only 4.5 games out of the lead in the NL Central, there’s a clear path for the Cardinals to make the postseason.

11. SEATTLE MARINERS (52-46) AL WEST LEADER

If you gave the Mariners pitching staff a middle of the pack offense, they might never lose. Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Luis Castillo, and Bryce Miller lead the best starting rotation in the American League, but no one on the team has an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) over .750. Only catcher Cal Raleigh has more than 12 home runs! There’s no doubt the Mariners are talented enough to be in the playoffs, but with the Astros breathing down their neck, the pressure is on the offense to start playing like a winning ballclub.

Part 3 of 3 is tomorrow, featuring the top 10 teams in the standings. You don’t want to miss it!

NOTEWORTHY NEWS

Three notable stories from the NBA yesterday: first, the Los Angeles Lakers are hiring Lindsey Harding as an assistant coach. Harding will join new head coach JJ Reddick’s new coaching staff as a fellow Duke basketball alum. Next up, Patrick Beverly has signed a deal to play for Hapoel Tel Aviv BC. The 12-year NBA veteran will be playing overseas next season. And finally, Wizards rookie and second overall pick Alexandre Sarr had one of the worst games ever in the summer league. Sarr failed to record a point despite taking 15 shots in 30 minutes.

After losing in the finals of the Euros, England manager Gareth Southgate announced he was stepping down from his position. The divisive manager was quite successful for the national team, but he could never win the big one. Elsewhere in the soccer world, Lionel Messi will be out for a while after suffering an ankle injury in the finals of the Copa America. And after a lengthy years-long courtship, Real Madrid officially introduced superstar Kylian Mbappe as a new member of the club.

Want to feel old? The Boston Red Sox selected D’Angelo Ortiz, son of David Ortiz, in the 18th round of the MLB Draft. The younger Ortiz is a “power-hitting” infielder, just like Big Papi.

PLAY OF THE DAY

Today’s play of the day was submitted by a reader! Thank you Claire for giving us a reason to revisit this classic from 2012:

You’ve never seen anything like it, and you never will again! Regularly scheduled programming comes back soon– only two more days to submit your favorite play.

TODAY’S BIG GAMES (all times Eastern)

WNBA: Fever @ Wings

• Caitlin Clark is back in action tonight, this time on the road against the Dallas Wings.

“All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them”- Walt Disney.

Have a great Wednesday!