Sports
James Outman blasts away his slump with home run in Dodgers' win over Twins
After two straight days spent out of the starting lineup, then two straight strikeouts to start Monday night’s game, James Outman’s season-opening slump had reached a nadir entering the seventh inning at Target Field.
Then, with one hanging slider and one cathartic swing, the Dodgers’ second-year center fielder finally found a reprieve.
In a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Twins, it was Outman’s solo shot that put the Dodgers in front for good, a towering 353-foot fly ball that sailed just high enough to clear a tall wall in the right-field corner.
It didn’t give Outman the biggest night offensively, not after Shohei Ohtani recorded his fifth straight multihit game by doubling twice early and homering for the third time this season later in the seventh inning.
Still, following a four-for-34 start, Outman’s contribution might have been the most important development Monday — not only to the final score, but also the trajectory of what had been a slow start to his second big league season.
“It felt good to see a ball land,” said Outman, who had been robbed on several hard-hit balls in the opening weeks. “It’s still pretty early in the season, so it feels a little early to freak out. But yeah, it’s a start in the right direction for sure.”
A year ago, Outman was a breakout piece in the Dodgers’ new-look outfield. Succeeding Cody Bellinger in center, he was selected the National League rookie of the month in both April and August. He finished the season with above-league-average marks in the field (where he ranked in the 90th percentile in “fielding run value,” per Baseball Savant) and at the plate (with an on-base-plus-slugging percentage of .790).
He wasn’t immune to extended rookie struggles, including a .229 batting average from May through July. Yet, he found a way to maintain his status as a regular starter on a star-studded team.
“If there was any time to panic, it was last year, and he didn’t,” manager Dave Roberts said of the former seventh-round draft pick. “For us, and for him most important, to know that he can get to the other side of it is very helpful.”
That’s why, as Outman sat against back-to-back left-handed opposing pitchers Saturday and Sunday at Wrigley Field, he didn’t dwell on his poor start or drastically change his high-powered, but strikeout-prone, swing.
Instead, he enjoyed “the luxury of being able to think more about your swing or mechanical things,” he said.
Did that lead to any big epiphanies?
“No, no big ones,” he said with a laugh. “Just tinkering.”
The adjustment wasn’t instant.
In his first at-bat Monday, Outman whiffed on three fastballs around the edge of the strike zone.
His next time up, he punched out on three pitches, going down swinging on a fastball over the heart of the plate.
“He’s in the middle of it right now,” Roberts said. “He was grinding.”
Then, suddenly, he wasn’t.
With the score tied 2-2 entering the seventh — thanks to a strong six-inning, two-run start from veteran left-hander James Paxton — Outman worked a full count in the first at-bat of the inning.
The 2-and-2 offering was a low slider from Twins reliever Jay Jackson. The payoff pitch was another slider, only this time left hanging right down the middle.
With a sky-high swing, Outman launched the ball on an arcing 42-degree trajectory, typically too high to carry a big league fence. But, even on a crisp April night, the 26-year-old got enough behind it to find the first row of the seats.
“It definitely relaxes you more,” he said, “when you see balls land.”
From there, the Dodgers (9-4) didn’t look back.
Ohtani, who’d already doubled twice earlier in the game, went deep three batters later, giving him 11 hits (including eight for extra bases) in his last 22 at-bats.
The back end of the Dodgers’ bullpen also delivered. Ryan Brasier, Daniel Hudson and Evan Phillips each held the Twins (3-5) scoreless over the final three innings.
“We were sound and pretty seamless,” Roberts said, contrasting the performance with an error-filled defeat the day before. “It was nice that we came to life later in the game.”
The Dodgers might have a new superstition partially to thank.
After watching Ohtani swing a cricket bat during a rain delay Sunday, then return to the field and collect a pair of extra-base hits when the game resumed, Outman decided to do the same Monday.
“After I saw Shohei get two hits, I was swinging the cricket bat [pregame],” he joked afterward.
So, is the flat, rectangular paddle the Dodgers’ new secret weapon?
“I guess if it works for Shohei,” Roberts said with a chuckle, “it should work for anyone.”
Even the second-year slugger in the middle of an early season funk.
“Hopefully that’s a sign of more things to come,” Roberts said of Outman. “But I know he’s grinding every day to kind of work through some things.”
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Team USA’s final group stage match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup may not have had any implications for either team, but patriotism was in full force for the home country as Second Lady Usha Vance was among the many prominent figures at Los Angeles Stadium on Thursday night.
As the U.S. national anthem rang across the stadium, with players and fans singing in unison, the FOX Sports broadcast showed Vance in a suite with a huge smile on her face as “The Star-Spangled Banner” ended.
Vance was present at the match just two days after FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that President Donald Trump would present the World Cup trophy to the winning team at the final in New Jersey on July 19.
U.S. Second Lady Usha Vance attends the 2026 World Cup Group D match between Turkey and the United States at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 25, 2026. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)
Vance was just the beginning of the stars that showed out in Inglewood, as Paris Hilton was seen presenting the match ball before kick-off. Then, cameras started to pick up the many high-profile faces throughout the crowd.
Among them were Edward Norton and Brad Pitt, a pair that many movie lovers know from their hit classic “Fight Club.” Some social media users even hoped that the discussion they were seen having was about a sequel.
TOM CRUISE, DAVID BECKHAM, KATY PERRY AND MORE CELEBRITIES SPOTTED AT 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP MATCHES
Also, movie star Ashton Kutcher was seen speaking with Los Angeles Rams standout wide receiver Puka Nacua, who knows the confines of SoFi Stadium (what it is called outside of FIFA play) very well.
Then, Colin Farrell, though Irish born, was rocking a replica Team USA jersey alongside his son in the stands to support the Stars and Stripes. Leonardo DiCaprio, Scottie Pippen and more were also seen in the seats.
U.S. Second Lady Usha Vance sings the anthem during the 2026 World Cup Group D match between Turkey and the U.S. at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 25, 2026. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)
There has been a tremendous outpouring of support for the USMNT from everywhere, celebrity or not, throughout this tournament. The 4-2 win over Paraguay at the same Los Angeles stadium caused a frenzy in the stands, as the U.S. made a statement to begin the tournament on home soil for the first time since 1999.
USA WORLD CUP TEAM CLINCHES SPOT IN KNOCKOUT STAGE AFTER ANOTHER HISTORIC PERFORMANCE VS AUSTRALIA
Then, it was on to Seattle, where a 2-0 victory over Australia not only led to a spot in the knockout round, but led to a bellowing of the John Denver classic, “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” from everyone in the stands. The USMNT saluted their fans after yet another successful match.
It was a much different look for the USMNT entering Thursday night’s matchup against Türkiye, with nine changes to the starting XI after the team had already secured its place in the knockout stage. The Americans will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on July 1.
Paris Hilton is seen with children before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Türkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on June 25, 2026. (Sarah Stier/FIFA)
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No matter who’s on the pitch, some of the biggest names in the country are showing support for the team that has inspired tremendous national pride to kick off this tournament.
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Shohei Ohtani was the first Dodger to be named a 2026 All-Star, after leading the majors in Phase 1 voting for the All-Star game on July 14 in Philadelphia. Six other Dodgers were finalists through the fan ballot, giving them a chance to claim starting spots in Phase 2 of voting.
Ohtani locked down the starting DH spot for the National League squad, with 3,341,257 votes. The top vote-getters in each league bypass Phase 2. Second baseman Ernie Clement of the Toronto Blue Jays was the top vote-getter in the American League, with 3,232,932 votes.
Ohtani was the expected choice, despite a slow offensive start. His red-hot June boosted him up the leaderboards. He entered Thursday with the second-highest OPS in the National League (.963), barely trailing Mets outfielder Juan Soto (.965).
Pitchers aren’t chosen through the fan vote — hurlers and reserves have to wait for the player ballot (which includes votes from players, coaches and managers) and commissioners picks. But Ohtani has been just as impressive on the mound this year.
He has a 1.58 ERA, the fourth-best mark among NL pitchers who have thrown at least 50 innings this season.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (2,666,008 votes), third baseman Max Muncy (2,890,181) and outfielder Andy Pages (2,158,664) also led their respective NL position groups in voting. Other Dodgers finalists, who advance to voting Phase 2, include catcher Will Smith (1,871,805), shortstop Mookie Betts (1,762,343 ) and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez (1,569,932).
The vote totals reset for Phase 2, which runs from next Monday through Thursday. The remainder of the All-Star starters are set to be announced on July 4 on Fox Sports.
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The United States men’s national team opened its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a commanding 4-1 rout of Paraguay behind two goals from Folarin Balogun, and after taking care of Australia, the team has one match left in the group stage against Turkey on Thursday night.
The Americans took care of Australia last week 2-0 to keep their strong start rolling. The victory clinched a knockout-round berth for Team USA. The USMNT will look to carry its momentum into their match against Turkey as the Stars and Stripes return to Los Angeles Stadium.
Players of the United States celebrate their first goal, an own goal by Cameron Burgess of Australia, during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match at Seattle Stadium in Seattle, Washington, on June 19, 2026. (Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
WATCH USA VS TURKEY ON FOX ONE
Australia began its World Cup run with a win over Turkey before suffering a setback against the U.S. The Australians will meet Paraguay on Thursday in a match featuring two teams already beaten by the Americans during the group stage.
Late last month, the Americans defeated Senegal, 3-2, in a World Cup tuneup match.
Under head coach Mauricio Pochettino, the USMNT entered the tournament as the No. 17 team in the FIFA World Rankings. FIFA determines its world rankings using the Elo rating system, which rewards teams for wins and penalizes them for losses while also factoring in the strength of the competition.
Alex Freeman of the United States celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between the U.S. and Australia at Seattle Stadium on June 19, 2026. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
FOX ONE’S NEW WORLD CUP VIEWING EXPERIENCE
This year’s World Cup features an expanded field of 48 teams.
Here’s how to watch the game, including start time, TV information and streaming options.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed on stage at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw on Dec. 3, 2025. (Michael Regan – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
How to Watch United States vs Turkey
When: Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET
Where: Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood, California.
TV: FOX
Stream: Watch on FOX One and FOX Sports.
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