Former Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez was fired by Nats general manager Mike Rizzo on Sun Jul 6, 2025. Martinez heads back to the Washington dugout after making a pitching change against the Boston Red Sox. Martinez was fired after the game. (AP News photo)
MLB The Show podcast Stephen Ruderman:
#1 The Washington Nationals Sunday night fired manager Dave Martinez. Martinez was fired by general manager Mike Rizzo, Rizzo in turned was fired by the Nationals after firing Martinez. The firing came after the Nats got swept by the Boston Red Sox in a 6-4 loss. Martinez told the assembled reporters after the game that’s it’s not the coaching or the coaches fault. The Nats are in fifth place in the NL East as they prepare to face the St Louis Cardinals on Tuesday.
#2 The roster for the 2025 All Star Game will have 19 players who will be at the Summer Classic for the first time. While the Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts and the New York Mets Juan Soto were not selected Dodgers left hand pitcher Clayton Kershaw was. Kershaw a three time Cy Young Award winner and made his first All Star appearance in 2011.
#3 What a way to come back Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler pitched a one hitter in his first complete game. The last time Wheeler had a complete game was in 2021. Wheeler and the Phillies got a 3-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds Sunday. Wheeler who improved his record to 9-2 was the NL pitcher of the month in June. Wheeler struck out 12 hitters and didn’t walk anyone and threw 108 pitches.
#4 Another well pitched game as Milwaukee Brewers right pitcher Brandon Woodruf struck out eight hitters, gave up only two hits in six innings against the Miami Marlins Sunday. Woodruff picked his first win since September 23, 2023 after recovering from shoulder surgery in the 2023 season.
#5 Pittsburgh Pirates centerfielder Oneil Cruz threw a 105.2 mph out to catcher Henry Davis as the Seattle Mariners JP Crawford tried to score at the plate. The ball was the second hardest thrown ball for assisted out from the outfield since statcast kept track since 2015. No doubt about it Cruz has a rifle for an arm.
Stephen Ruderman is a MLB podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com



