The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Iowa Speedway this weekend for the Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol, bringing the sport back to one of its newest and most competitive short tracks.
Last year's race produced one of the most memorable finishes of the 2025 season, with fuel strategy ultimately deciding the winner after a caution-filled afternoon.
Here's everything to know about the 2025 Cup Series race at Iowa before the green flag drops this weekend.
The 2025 Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol was held on Aug. 3, 2025, and featured 350 laps around the 0.875-mile oval.
After stretching a tank of fuel over the closing run, William Byron drove the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to victory, holding off Chase Briscoe by 1.192 seconds.

#ethanol

NASCAR is gearing up for the 25th race weekend of the 2026 season at Iowa Speedway, and the Cup Series is bound to put on a show. In 2025, William Byron beat Chase Briscoe for his second win of the year. Now, the sport will head to Iowa with a substantial amount of money on the line.
The purse for the Cup Series race at Iowa will be $11,233,037 on Sunday afternoon. NASCAR doesn't release the earnings for the winning driver anymore, meaning it's impossible to tell how much of the $11,233,037 will go toward the team in victory lane. Last year, the purse for Iowa sat at $9,797,935, which is a $1,435,102 increase.
It will be fascinating to see which NASCAR driver will earn the most money at Iowa this weekend. Byron is looking to go back-to-back in the race at Iowa, but Briscoe and Brad Keselowski had good cars in 2025. Iowa always puts on a show, and this weekend should be no different.
NASCAR qualifying order for Cup Series at Iowa in August 2026
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: NASCAR purse for Cup Series race at Iowa in August 2026

#iowa #series #purse #byron

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., one of Congress' most outspoken progressives and a member of the "Squad," won the 12th Congressional District's Democratic primary Tuesday evening, teeing up her re-election for a fifth term.
Tlaib's primary victory against Michigan state lawmaker Shanelle Jackson and Inkster Mayor Byron Nolen continues a string of victories for progressives as the Democratic Party's far-left wing enjoys ***** ounced primary election success that has strengthened the hand of its coalition. It has also widened the range of positions held by their candidates.
When Tlaib and fellow Squad members joined the House of Representatives in 2019, their campaigns stood out for their far-left views. Tlaib and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., in particular, stood out because of their membership in the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
Eight years later, the DSA has backed Tlaib again.
Bernie Sanders, Dsa Reveal Demands For Dem Party After Socialists Sweep New York Elections

#democratic #primary #election #left

Over the course of Sean McVay's coaching career, one part of his operation that rarely gets the praise is the medical team. At the forefront of sports medicine, not only are players exposed to the top medical minds and concepts, but the team has also put together individualized practice schedules to maintain the health of their roster.
A key to their approach is the instillation of rest days. Regardless of status, the Rams have used off-days to manage a variety of issues, including Matthew Stafford's back, Byron Young's knee and Alaric Jackson's battle with blood clots. The Rams are even taking extra precautions with Myles Garrett.
Recently, veteran receiver Davante Adams spoke about those health days and the impact that they have.
"It keeps you healthier," Adams said. "You can come out here, it's a grind. We all know that. It's a mental grind. It's a combination of mental and physical. It's not supposed to come out here and tear your body down to separate the boys from the men. That's the old school way of doing things. There are ways of separating the boys from the men, but I don't think it's through just trying to callous us coming out here and killing us on the field."
"When we go, we go. The type of people that we have, **** ody's taking advantage of the fact that he'll look out for us a little bit in the schedule or notice if the volume is a little high for certain players, he'll have certain off-days. It took me 12 years to even have an off day. Coming here and I told them, 'If you want me to have an off day, you all are going to have to manipulate the schedule for that.'

#medical #Health

Byron Scott believes James Harden prevented LeBron James from joining the Cavaliers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
James Harden is still a free agent, but everyone believes that he is headed back to the Cleveland Cavaliers on a long-term deal. They were much better when he joined the Cavs from the Los Angeles Clippers, and they reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018.
Of course, the Cavs got swept, but it was a step in the right direction. Some of the players and fans thought they could've gotten LeBron James for a third stint in free agency, but it did not work out, as he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Now that LeBron is with the 76ers, people are speculating about the reasons why he didn't join the other teams in the running to sign him. Cleveland was among them, which would have been a poetic ending to LeBron's career because he is an Ohio native, and he already had two stints in Cleveland with a championship in the second.
Since they have a talented roster with Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen, the Cavaliers are always a team that can threaten anyone. They reached the Conference Finals, and they are on a positive trajectory despite the loss in the postseason.

#cleveland #conference #since

Newly acquired star Myles Garrett is set to miss his fourth-consecutive practice in his first training camp with the Los Angeles Rams.
Head coach Sean McVay said Garrett is managing "a little soreness in his lower half". The DPOY has already missed three practices and is set to also miss Monday's session. Sarah Bishop of ESPN reporting that he should return for the next block of practices.
.LATimesklein and I's full back and forth with Rams head coach Sean McVay, asking about Myles Garrett, who is experiencing "a little bit of soreness in his lower half."

Garrett has not practiced the last three days and will not practice Monday, McVay said. pic.twitter.com/hi9Kjp9VW0
The Rams are likely taking a precautionary approach with Garrett. Splash offseason moves only matter if the star player is healthy enough to contribute in the regular season and into the playoffs. McVay and the Rams don't need Garrett for training camp. They need him ready for Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia.
Garrett isn't the only player whose workload is being managed by the team. Matthew Stafford, Davante Adams, and Byron Young have all received lighter-than-usual workloads in the early going of training camp.

#mcvay

It's safe to say that Seattle Seahawks stars Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy are two of the best players at the defensive tackle position in the NFL.
CBS Sports released their top 10 rankings for every defensive position in the NFL on Thursday, and first ranked Williams No. 4 overall among all interior defensive linemen in the league.
"Williams has been an absolute steal for the Seahawks, who have had no shortage of them as part of their run to Super Bowl champs," CBS Sports' **** ysts said. "Acquired from the Giants for a third-rounder and a fifth-rounder, Williams has played at an All-Pro level the last two seasons."
Williams earned an All-Pro nod last season as a second-team honoree. He recorded seven sacks on the year and was one of the most technically sound and explosive players at the position.
Murphy was ranked No. 6 overall after having a breakout year in 2025.

#ranked

Detroit — With big names atop the leaderboard at the Rocket Classic, the galleries, already impressive through two rounds, are expected to swell on the weekend at Detroit Golf Club.
But the field, at the halfway point, has now shrunk.
The cut line came in at 3 under par after Friday's round, with 73 players at that number or better. The rest of the 146-player field is heading home after finishing 2 under or worse after two rounds. The field started at 147, but Patrick Rodgers withdrew after an opening-round 77.
Among the big names who missed the cut was Wyndham Clark, the No. 9 player in the Official World Golf Ranking who won his second U.S. Open last month at Shinnecock Hills in New York.
Clark got off to a good start this week, shooting 2 under through his first nine holes Thursday, but it was a struggle the rest of the way. He finished 5 over after a second-round 74 that included a double-bogey at the par-5 14th hole. It's Clark's second straight missed cut (British Open), after a scorching stretch in which he had a six-tournament stretch during which he won twice (Byron Nelson, U.S. Open), and didn't have a finish worse than a tie for 13th.

#round #rest

The disrespect for the reigning Super Bowl LX champions Seattle Seahawks continues to grow. At this point, the growth is a daily feature. I'm talking specifically about the disrespect leveled at the Seahawks by the popular Madden video game franchise.
In the latest edition of the game, Madden 27, the team at EA Sports have been releasing their top 10 rankings for various positions, units and even teams. Seattle's elite defense was mightily disrespected earlier in the week, as Madden 27 had them as only the 10th best unit in the game. Out of the position rankings (defensive tackle, edge, linebacker, cornerback and safety) only one Seahawk - Devon Witherspoon - cracked the top 10 in any of those lists. Players like Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II, Ernest Jones IV, Julian Love and Nick Emmanwori were nowhere to be seen.
Now, the disrespect continues to an equally insulting degree. On Friday, Madden 27 released their top 10 rankings for teams overall. Yes, Seattle did make the cut... but only barely. According to Madden 27, the Seahawks are only the 10th best team in the game. As for those ahead of them, well, just take a look for yourselves.
The Seahawks obliterated the 49ers in the Divisional Round, outlasted the Rams in the NFCCG (one missed field goal from going 3-0 against them last year) and humiliated the Patriots in Super Bowl LX.

Madden had put Seattle below all three. https://t.co/iQqX3umMZ3
Aside from the three teams I have listed in the tweet above (all with good reasons I laid out, of course) the other two insulting placements come in the form of the Detroit Lions and the Baltimore Ravens. The No. 3 and No. 4 ranked teams, really? Detroit finished 9-8 last season and weren't particularly good at anything, at least when compared to the Seahawks of course. As for the Ravens, they were 8-9 and missed the playoffs like the Lions did as well. I know Baltimore had injuries they dealt with, but they always have injuries! Not to mention they will be rolling with a first year head coach in 2026.

#Seattle #teams #rankings #super

Tennessee State football practice is under way with a battle for the starting quarterback position between returning starter Byron McNair and two transfers − Daylin Lee from Winston-Salem State and Marcelis Tate from South Florida.
Second-year coach Reggie Barlow said no one is ahead of the others as the Tigers prepare for their season opener on Aug. 29 against Jackson State in the John Merritt Classic at Vanderbilt.
All three quarterbacks worked with the first unit at practice on July 31. Barlow said he hasn't ruled out giving freshman Justin Patton from McCalla, Alabama, a shot at the job if none of the older players take the reins.
"Daylin's experience speaks for itself; he had a real good command (at Winston-Salem State)," Barlow said. "Tate, for a young guy, he looks like an older guy, but he's only played one year. He's a good player. And, of course, we've got Byron, and then there's Justin (Patton), a freshman who's a good football player. He was here in the spring as an early enrollee."
It is a similar situation to what Barlow faced at TSU last year when three quarterbacks were locked in a battle for the starting ******* ignment among Jonathan Palmer, Caleb McCreary and McNair. Palmer earned the starting position at the start of the season before McNair unseated him in the third game. Palmer returned as the starter later in the season.

#palmer #year #winston

Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers saw T.J. Watt take a few steps back last season. Well, the rest of the NFL apparently saw his regression, too.
On Friday, Watt was revealed as No. 41 in the peer-voted NFL Top 100 Players of 2026, falling 30 spots from his No. 11 placement in 2025.
In the hype video for the No. 41 selection, fellow NFL players complimented Watt's level of play, including guest speakers like Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins, Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II, and Steelers teammate Alex Highsmith.
Watt didn't have the 2025 season he was hoping for after landing a historic $123 million extension with Pittsburgh, recording just seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss in 14 games.
Still, when healthy, Watt is capable of completely wrecking the game plan of opposing offenses and will be looking to turn back the clock in DC Patrick Graham's new defense.

#steelers #Friday

Kody Clemens walk-off grand slam helps Twins create MLB history originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Kody Clemens continues to give the Minnesota Twins an unexpected lift.
The son of an MLB icon, Clemens was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in April 25 for cash considerations. The depth transaction last season has developed into a history-making move. One that is keeping the Twins in the AL Wild Card chase, despite star Byron Buxton's injury.
On Thursday, Clemens connected on the MLB's 34th ultimate grand slam, leading the Twins to a 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals at Target Field. Clemens capped an effort in which the Twins didn't record a hit until the seventh inning and won a walk-off grand slam. They became the third team to rally from a three-run, two-out, no-one-on-base, final-inning deficit.
Since becoming a middle-of-the-order solution for the Twins this season, Clemens described his simple approach.

#twins #slam #kody #inning

The Los Angeles Rams were expected to have one of the best defensive lines in football entering this season after a solid performance in 2025. However, the Rams had many up-and-down moments that would prevent the national media from establishing the team as having a Tier 1 line.
That changed the moment they added Myles Garrett. The NFL's No. 1 defender is joining a stacked line that could rival the top units around the league for production. That's why CBS Sports' Carter Bahns believes the Rams have the best group of edge rushers in the league, ranking Los Angeles No. 1.
Citing Garrett, Pro Bowler Byron Young, and rising star Josaiah Stewart as key contributors, the Rams could be on the verge of establishing themselves as the most feared edge unit on the line of scrimmage, using their blazing speed and tremendous power to attack continuously from the outside.
It is a thin margin between the Rams and Texans for the top spot in the edge rusher group rankings. The Myles Garrett effect puts Los Angeles in the No. 1 position. He might go down as the greatest player to ever line up on the edge when it is all said and done.
It almost does not matter who lines up next to him, but for good measure, the Rams will trot out a Pro Bowler in Young who racked up 29 quarterback hits last year and might be even better in 2026 with Garrett commanding so much attention. The offensive lines that have to contain both Young and the NFL single-season sack record holder are in for long, long, long days.

#garrett #angeles #young

The Seattle Seahawks have some big contract decisions coming up on their big defensive tackles. While time is on their side regarding Byron Murphy II, who isn't even extension eligible until next offseason, this year is the last of Leonard Williams' three-year contract. Williams confirmed that extension talks have been opened, but he didn't go into any real details beyond that.
If you're already antsy regarding the future of one of Seattle's most important players, perhaps this will put you at ease. In a guest appearance on Daily Puck Drop with Jason Puckett, longtime NFL insider Mike Garofalo indicated that a deal is imminent. How imminent? We shouldn't be worrying about it by the time the Seahawks hang their latest Super Bowl banner.
"It is going to be a big number," Garofalo said. "It'll be before Week 1, I'll put it to you like that, and it's going to be a big number from my understanding.
"A lot of teams now are playing defenses that are really relying upon defensive tackles. The Eagles paid both of their guys [Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis] a combined $64 million per year at defensive tackle. It used to be the defensive ends were getting all the money—I mean DTs got paid along the way, but now it's like really big money for these guys because a lot of these defenses, particularly the Eagles, rely upon these defensive tackles to create havoc up front. Same for the Seahawks and what they're doing."
Garofalo is referencing Jalen Carter's $38 million/year extension, which makes him (for now) the highest paid defensive tackle in the league. Jordan Davis' contract extension was three years for $78 million, or $26 million/year.

#garofalo

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Royce Lewis hit a two-run triple with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Minnesota Twins a 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.
Taj Bradley threw six strong innings for the Twins (54-54), who have won three in a row and five of six. They are third in the AL Cental, just two games behind the first-place Chicago White Sox.
Kody Clemens doubled for Minnesota in the fourth and scored on Josh Bell's single. But center fielder Byron Buxton left in the fifth with right hip soreness after running to first base. It's the same joint that caused him to miss the All-Star Game this month.
Kansas City went ahead 2-1 in the sixth when Josh Rojas stole home on the front end of a double steal and Salvador Perez had an RBI single.
___

#first

The Seattle Seahawks have a lot going for them as the 2026 NFL season creeps closer.
Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox labeled the Seahawks' defensive line as the team's biggest strength prior to the start of this year's preseason.
"The Seahawks were regularly able to pressure opposing quarterbacks despite blitzing just 19.3 percent of the time, the seventh-lowest rate in the NFL," Knox said. "Seattle's defensive line will enter 2026 largely unchanged. While edge-defender Boye Mafe was replaced by Dante Fowler Jr., key standouts Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II, Jarran Reed, and DeMarcus Lawrence are all back for another run."
The Seahawks also have a strong wide receiver room consisting of AP Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed and Cooper Kupp, as well as a top-tier secondary including second-team All-Pro cornerback Devon Witherspoon, Nick Emmanwori, and Josh Jobe. Nevertheless, the defensive line brings frightening pressure to opposing quarterbacks and has nearly all of its players from last year returning for another run in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: ***** sing the Seahawks' biggest strength prior to the preseason

#defensive #line #knox #year

Ireland have announced a 14-member squad for the first three ODIs of their five-match series against Afghanistan, beginning on August 5, with several first-choice players unavailable due to injuries. The selectors have opted to announce the squad only for the opening three matches, with the remaining two ODIs to be finalised after ****** sing the fitness of injured players.

One of the biggest talking points is the inclusion of Jai Moondra, who made his T20I debut against India earlier this month and impressed during Ireland's historic T20I series triumph over the reigning world champions. The youngster has now received his maiden ODI call-up and is one of two capped T20I players in the squad, alongside Ben Calitz, yet to make their 50-over international debut.

Ireland have also handed a first international call-up to medium pacer Byron McDonough. The 24-year-old enjoyed an impressive domestic campaign with Leinster Lightning, helping them win the Inter-Provincial Limited Overs Cup after claiming eight wickets in five matches. Across nine List A appearances, McDonough has picked up 15 wickets at an average of 29.33.
Captain Paul Stirling returns to lead the side after missing the recent T20I series against India through injury. However, Ireland continue to deal with a lengthy injury list, with Josh Little, Matt Hollard, Craig Young, Barry McCarthy, Jordan Neill and David Delany all unavailable due to injuries or return-to-play protocols. Cricket Ireland confirmed that the squad for the final two ODIs will be announced later, with changes possible depending on the recovery of the injured players.

The Afghanistan series will mark the first ****** ignment for newly appointed head coach Gary Wilson, who recently replaced Heinrich Malan. Former England batter Jonathan Trott will also join the Irish camp as a consultant for the first two ODIs against Afghanistan, having previously served as the Afghan national team's head coach.

The five-match series will also be Ireland's first men's bilateral ODI ****** ignment since hosting the West Indies in May 2025. The opening two matches will be played in Bready, while the remaining three fixtures will take place at Stormont.
Paul Stirling (captain), Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Cade Carmichael, George Dockrell, Gavin Hoey, Andrew McBrine, Liam McCarthy, Byron McDonough, Jai Moondra, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker.

#ireland #t20i #squad

Myles Garrett is obviously the headliner of the Los Angeles Rams' pass rush, but Byron Young is a crucial part of the defense, too. Entering a contract year, Young is looking to get even better in 2026 after making the Pro Bowl for the first time last season.
Unfortunately, he's not fully healthy, and it sounds like he hasn't been in quite some time.
After sitting out practice on Monday, the Rams' second session of training camp, Young told reporters that he's still nursing a knee injury that's bothered him "for years." Young says he's "feeling real good," but he spent his offseason managing his knee with the Rams' training staff.
"It's been good," Young said of his offseason. "I've just been nursing up my knee. That was a process. They've got a good plan for me in place."
Young was asked about the recovery plan for his knee, and he says he and the Rams are going to take it "day by day." He practiced on Sunday and then sat out Monday's practice, but he plans to be back on the field "in a couple of days."

#knee #plan

LeBron,
Now that you've officially taken your talents to Philadelphia—your fourth stop, your "last decision," your two-year, $8-million victory lap—Laker fans across the globe can finally exhale.
The eight-year experiment is over. And we have a confession to make: from Watts to Westwood, we never wanted you.
Let's be honest about what you were. You were a mercenary, not a Laker. A hired gun who wore purple and gold but never bled it.
Fred Roggin said it best: "He wore a Laker uniform, but he wasn't a Laker. I always felt that way. I think with LeBron, it's about LeBron." Byron Scott, a man who actually earned his place in Lakers lore, agreed—you're "not a true Laker."

#laker #westwood

The Los Angeles Rams revealed their new alternate uniforms on Thursday, displaying two looks that are throwbacks to the past. One pays homage to the 1950s teams in Los Angeles, and the other is a nod to the "Fearsome Foursome."
Inspiring a new generation with a look back to the past, here are three observations of the uniforms.
When I first saw the all-white uniform, it conjured images of snowy Chicago and how the Rams' white road uniforms blended in so nicely with the snow. It's a sleek look that would look amazing, should the Rams once again be forced to go on the road in the postseason.
What really takes it over the top is the white horns. An homage to the past, the way the white pops off the blue really shows off the entire look.
As the all-white jersey pays respect to the Rams before the NFL-AFL merger, the current defensive line took a picture honoring the original foursome that defined the look in the 60s and 70s. The current crop of fans may not have been able to enjoy watching the likes of Merlin Olsen, Deacon Jones, Lamar Lundy, and Rosey Grier dominate in their time, but Myles Garrett, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Byron Young, and potentially Aaron Donald should be able to emulate that feeling this season.

#homage

Even though Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson look like potential championship contenders, this has not been an overall banner campaign for Hendrick Motorsports.
Larson is amidst a 39-race winless streakWilliam Byron is 12th in the standings and it's a fight to crack the top-10 every weekAlex Bowman suffered a bout of vertigo earlier this year but hasn't been competitive consistently either
So, all told, Hendrick Motorsports is not in a great place this year and their two wins (both by Elliott) has been matched by their satellite partners, Spire Motorsports. Dale Earnhardt Jr. spent a decade driving for Rick Hendrick and detailed exactly what happens during team meetings with the boss has seen enough.
He explained Mr. H's process on this week's episode of the Dale Jr. Download podcast.
"I've been with HMS when they sort of get into these ruts, or these little phases," said Earnhardt. "I'm not concerned, because what happens is they'll have a competition meeting, which they'll have one this week. They'll have one every week.

#larson #earnhardt #happens

Aaron Donald hasn't played football since the 2023 season, but he's all anyone is talking about right now when it comes to the Los Angeles Rams – and, to an extent, the NFL as a whole. The 10-time Pro Bowler is considering coming out of retirement to play for the Rams again, but at this point, that's as far as things have gotten.
He has yet to make a decision about whether he will return to the NFL, and according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, it's going to be a while until he decides.
"What's going on right now is he's trying to get back into football shape. My understanding is it's going to be a while before we hear a final decision about him coming back. When he comes back, he's going to want to be Aaron Donald and he's not going to come back unless he feels like he's Aaron Donald. And that's why it sounds like it's not going to be a quick verdict from him – that he's going to be ramping up all during training camp and this may go towards the start of the regular season before we hear that he has or hasn't signed with the team. He's going through it all right now. This is his own pre-training camp routine."
The idea of teaming up with Myles Garrett and Byron Young and Kobie Turner has Donald intrigued, but it's not as if he's guaranteed to come back. He's still thinking about it and weighing his options, most recently telling Chris Simms of NBC Sports that he still doesn't know what he's going to do yet.
The Rams would love to have him, but they're also not pushing him to return. They're giving the future Hall of Famer his ***** e to decide, which also means they're affording him all the time he needs to choose what he's going to do.

#going #back #aaron #Rams

WASHINGTON (AP) — Byron Donalds, a Republican congressman running for Florida governor, on Monday announced legislation intended to prevent artificial intelligence data centers from driving up utility costs, the latest sign of a political backlash over the new technology.
The proposal, if passed by Congress, would require data centers to obtain all their electricity and water needs from private sources, rather than the power grid or public water systems. The idea aligns with an earlier, voluntary initiative from President Donald Trump.
"If you talk to these guys who are building these data centers, if it means that they have to pick up the utility costs, they're more than willing to do it," Donalds said in an interview with The ****** ociated Press. "It's in their interest to make sure that we can construct these centers, and I think the number one way you address and mitigate the concerns that people are having is to just ensure their utility bills aren't going up in the process."
Donalds' proposal is noteworthy coming from a candidate backed by pro-AI political action committees and Trump. The legislation comes during a rapid nationwide buildout of data centers to match growing demand for artificial intelligence systems. Major technology firms at the heart of the AI boom have quickly become some of the world's most valuable and watched companies, while the Trump administration has aligned itself with the industry's major players.
Several major tech companies developing AI infrastructure have committed to agreements with the Trump administration to cover the expenses of building new power sources rather than shifting the burden to residential households. But given the expected increase in demand, it's unclear if the voluntary agreement is legally enforceable.

This week’s All-Star Week festivities got off to a bombastic start on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park, with outstanding performances from established sluggers and burgeoning stars alike in the Home Run Derby. The spectacle of Jordan Walker silencing a partisan Philadelphia crowd with six consecutive bombs to ****** the ****** le from Kyle Schwarber will be hard to top in terms of pure theatre, but let’s see what the Midsummer Classic itself has to offer!
Tonight, the Yankees will have both Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger representing them in the American League’s starting lineup; they’ll take on Philadelphia ace Cristopher Sánchez on his home mound as the Senior Circuit seeks to claim their second straight victory in the main event. The AL had mounted a late-inning comeback to erase a 6-0 lead, but Schwarber ultimately led the NL to victory by winning a Derby-esque swing-off challenge which replaced extra innings.
Of course, two other Yankees were named All-Stars this season: Aaron Judge and Cam Schlittler. Judge is still working his way back from the rib fracture he sustained in the first week of June. Schlittler was about as deserving as any pitcher to get the starting nod for the AL, but owing to his start this past Saturday, opted not to participate. Strangely, Blue Jays manager John Schneider, who will be leading the American League on the field tonight, said he was always planning to tap the Blue Jays’ Dylan Cease as the starter—even if Schlittler was available to pitch. Weird move, but all right.
Bellinger and Rice will hit consecutively in Schneider’s lineup, at the sixth and seventh spot respectively. (Everybody get those jokes out of the way now.) They were not voted into starting spots, but they will each get the nod regardless due to injuries to Judge and Byron Buxton in Bellinger’s case and the combination of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.‘s withdrawal from the event and replacement Nick Kurtz’s recent addition to the IL.
Rice participated in last night’s Home Run Derby, but failed to advance to the next round. He’ll still get a chance to show off the impressive game power which has brought him to the precipice of 30 home runs at the season’s intermission. Bellinger was slumping mightily ahead of the season’s final week, but finished strong with five hits in the last four games ahead of the break. He gets a chance to keep that momentum going against…well, somebody in the NL’s pitching staff. Since it tends to be a new face pitching every inning, and all. Just one big hit from either of them however, and they could join Derek Jeter (2000), Mariano Rivera (2013), and Giancarlo Stanton (2022) as the only All-Star Game MVPs in Yankees history.

The Los Angeles Rams made a series of aggressive offseason trades to overhaul their defense, sending multiple first-round picks and rising young edge rusher Jared Verse to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for star pass rusher Myles Garrett, while also acquiring cornerback Trent McDuffie from Kansas City and signing free-agent corner Jaylen Watson.
The moves were clearly a direct response to how the Rams' defense unraveled in the playoffs, and ESPN's Ben Solak explains that the Garrett-for-Verse swap directly targets a finishing problem and opens up new avenues for defensive coordinator Chris Shula in 2026 and beyond.
A wonderful bull rusher, Verse often demolished the pocket and created pressure but was unable to finish his rushes under control. He has a career pressure-to-sack ratio of 8.4%, which is fourth worst among all edges over the past two seasons. Garrett's recent pressure-to-sack ratio was obviously ballooned by his record-setting season, but over his career, he has a 19.3% conversion rate -- more than double that of Verse.
Because Verse was such a wrecking ball, Shula would wisely use him as the crasher on stunts, twists and other defensive line games. With a runway into a tackle, Verse could break pocket integrity and flush out the quarterback, where a waiting looper or blitzer could clean him up. It was Shula's way of converting Verse's pressures into team sacks, as Verse couldn't easily convert them into individual sacks. Cody Alexander of Match Quarters charted stunt rate last year and had the Rams running more defensive line games than any other team in the league by a pretty large margin.
With Garrett, Solak suggests Shula will lean into more straightforward four-man rush opportunities, often overloading the line away from Garrett to isolate him in one-on-one matchups. Still, Shula is expected to retain some stunt packages to maximize interior rushers like Byron Young and Kobie Turner, using Garrett's presence to draw extra blocking attention and open lanes elsewhere on the line.

PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Schwarber of the host Philadelphia Phillies will lead off for the National League in the All-Star Game as the replacement for designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, who is skipping the showcase to have a knee procedure ahead of the season’s second half.
Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene and two New York Yankees, first baseman Ben Rice and outfielder Cody Bellinger, gained American League starting spots because of injuries.
Rice, third in the major leagues with 29 home runs behind Schwarber (32) and the Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez (31), starts at first because Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is skipping the game to rest a bad back. Guerrero’s initial replacement, the Athletics’ Nick Kurtz, sprained his thumb.
Bellinger replaced Yankees teammate Aaron Judge, who hasn’t played since May 31 because of a fractured rib. Greene took over from Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton, sidelined by a hip injury. Bellinger will be in right and Greene in left.
Philadelphia left-hander Cristopher Sánchez and Toronto right-hander Dylan Cease were announced as the starting pitchers.

As the MLB trade deadline draws closer, Minnesota Twins star Byron Buxton has become one of the more intriguing names mentioned in trade rumors. Despite the speculation, Buxton doesn’t appear interested in going anywhere. The veteran outfielder recently gave a blunt response when asked whether he would consider waiving his no-trade clause if a contender, such as the Philadelphia Phillies, attempted to acquire him. His answer couldn’t have been clearer: “I ain’t going nowhere.”
MORE: MLB Power Rankings: All 30 teams ranked ahead of the 2026 All-Star Game
Trade speculation has followed Buxton for much of the season, largely because of his talent and the number of contenders searching for impact players ahead of the deadline.
The Phillies have frequently been mentioned as a potential landing spot, but they’re far from the only team that could benefit from adding an All-Star caliber center fielder.
The New York Yankees, Houston Astros, Cleveland Guardians, and Atlanta Braves have also been connected to Buxton as clubs that could use another difference-maker for the stretch run. Based on his comments, though, those teams may be wasting their time.

The Detroit Tigers will have an All-Star starter, after all.
Tigers left fielder Riley Greene was named a starter for the American League in the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, taking place on Tuesday, July 14, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on Fox.
This is Greene's third straight All-Star selection and second straight as a starter, though he was not initially named as a starter via the fan vote. He and New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger will replace reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge and Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton as starters.
Greene, 25, is having arguably his best year in the majors in 2026, with career highs in on-base percentage (.380) and OPS (.842) over 400 plate appearances. The 2025 Silver Slugger Award winner has seen his power numbers dip with just 13 home runs over 95 games in 2026, but he has also significantly cut down on his strikeouts and has increased his walk rate to a career-high 12.8% (league average is 9%).
Greene is one of four Tigers players to be named AL All Stars in 2026, joining shortstop Kevin McGonigle, catcher Dillon Dingler and "Legends Pick" Justin Verlander. Greene is the only Tiger to be named a starter, however.

The Detroit Tigers will have an All-Star starter, after all.
Tigers left fielder Riley Greene was named a starter for the American League in the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, taking place on Tuesday, July 14, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on Fox.
This is Greene's third straight All-Star selection and second straight as a starter, though he was not initially named as a starter via the fan vote. He and New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger will replace reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge and Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton as starters.

With training camp only two weeks away, we're counting down the days until players are back on the field getting ready for the 2026 season. Warren McClendon Jr. is a key player to watch this year, entering Week 1 as a projected starter for the first time in his career.
After a successful stint filling in for Rob Havenstein last season, McClendon will be a cog in the offensive line this year. He'll be responsible for blocking the front side at right tackle, keeping Matthew Stafford upright and creating big holes for both Kyren Williams and Blake Corum.
McClendon enters the year as the Rams' 14th-most important player in our 2026 rankings.
Puka Nacua, Byron Young and Kobie Turner get all of the attention as the headliners from the Rams' 2023 draft class, but McClendon was also part of that group – and he was actually drafted three spots earlier than Nacua, so Los Angeles felt more strongly about him and than the former BYU receiver.
As the 174th overall pick in the fifth round, McClendon took his talents from Georgia to Los Angeles and though he was a backup for his first two seasons, he became a starter in 2025 after Havenstein got hurt.