Newcastle United have walked out of the race to sign Toulouse left-back Dayann Methalie (20) with their Premier League rivals Sunderland AFC now the clear favourites to sign the France U21 international, according to The Guardian. The Black Cats, who are set to compete in the UEFA Europa League next season, have already secured an agreement on personal terms with Methalie over a five-year contract, as reported yesterday by RMC.
The 20-year-old is billed as one of the best French prospects in the left-back role, with a senior France bow expected in a few years with Lucas Digne and Théo Hernandez entering the twilight of their career. Methalie has been extensively scouted by Eddie Howe's Magpies, but the latter have opted against submitting a bid this summer. Aston Villa also enquired about the Toulouse left-back.
GFFN | Bastien Cheval

#back #newcastle #united

Newcastle United have been linked with plenty of centre-backs over the past few windows, but Giorgio Scalvini feels like one of the more coherent names on the list. According to Tutto Atalanta, Atalanta are now prepared to listen if a club comes forward with €45 million for the Italy international.
That matters, because for a long time the message from Bergamo was simple, Scalvini was not going anywhere. Now there is movement. Clubs do not shift their position for the fun of it. They do it when they need flexibility, and Atalanta appear ready to create room for a squad refresh after other plans failed to materialise.
Photo IMAGO
From Newcastle's perspective, the appeal is obvious. Scalvini is 22, has already played more than 100 senior games, and has international experience with Italy. That is a serious body of work for a defender of his age. He is not a raw project and he is not being signed purely on upside. He already looks like a player built for a high-level team.
He also fits the practical brief. Eddie Howe needs another central defender, particularly one capable of complementing Sven Botman over the long term. Scalvini's ability on the ball, his comfort stepping into midfield, and his aerial strength all line up with what Newcastle need. This is not about buying a name, it is about buying function.

#scalvini #international #long

Rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran are driving up oil prices and bond yields, increasing borrowing costs for consumers and businesses.
Higher bond yields are raising mortgage rates, with the 30-year fixed mortgage rate reaching its highest level since last August.
The rekindling of the Iran war has the bond market worried about inflation again, driving up borrowing costs for homebuyers and businesses alike.
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate hit 6.58% this week, its highest level since last August, according to Freddie Mac. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield—a key input into mortgage rates and business borrowing costs—also soared to its highest level this year and breached 4.7% in mid-afternoon trading.
The sharp rise in yields follows hostilities in the Middle East, with the resumption of U.S.-Iran attacks and the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen also striking Saudi Arabian oil tankers.

#Iran #bond #yields #august

Mike Perry and Dillon Danis are venturing into new waters.
The two well-known combat sports names have agree to meet in an MMA bout on Aug. 29 at the Kia Center in Orlando, headlining the debut combat event from online crypto casino and sportsbook DuelBet. The show will be held under the "Duel: Arena" promotional banner, organized by veteran MMA matchmaker Dean Toole, featuring a hybrid card composed of MMA, kickboxing and boxing bouts.
The card, including Perry vs. Danis, will take place in a ring rather than a cage, per MMA Fighting. Toole told the outlet that the Aug. 29 lineup will additionally include "some influencer bouts as well, and a few [other] UFC vets" to be announced soon.
Perry (15-8 MMA) made his successful return to MMA in May with a second-round stoppage of Nate Diaz on MVP MMA's Rousey vs. Carano event on Netflix.
Prior to that, "Platinum" hadn't competed in MMA since exiting the UFC in 2021. Over that five-year gap, Perry emerged as the face of bare-knuckle boxing, rattling off a perfect 6-0 record in BKFC buoyed by brutal wins over a cascade of UFC veterans, including former champions Luke Rockhold and Eddie Alvarez, and current contender Michael Page.

#danis #toole #well #including

We've reached Day 51 in our countdown to the New Orleans Saints' 2026 season opener, so we're looking back to 1999 for our Saints Play of the Day. A rookie quarterback stunned the Dallas Cowboys in front of a big crowd when Jake Delhomme scored a 51-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Eddie Kennison. You can see it for yourself right here.
While the Saints jumped out to a surprising 10-0 lead early on, the Cowboys fought back to get ahead 17-10 midway through the third quarter. So imagine their surprise when Delhomme struck back to tie it all up? It was a great throw off of play action, traveling from the New Orleans 41-yard line to the Dallas 19, where Kennison corralled the catch and jogged into the end zone. The Cowboys had Hall of Famers like Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Deion Sanders on their side, and it didn't matter.
This is a game we've highlighted before; Saints cornerback Fred Weary picked off Aikman and scored the game-winning touchdown on a Smith fumble recovery. Good on him and Delhomme for making such a difference. This was a big win for a Saints team that really needed it. New Orleans went into the game with a 2-12 record, and this ended up being a great gift for fans on Christmas Eve. They couldn't sustain that success, but with wins so rare in those days, this became an easy rallying point for fans to enjoy late in a lost season.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Jake Delhomme's 51-yard touchdown pass is the Saints Play of the Day

#saints

Newcastle United have completed the signing of midfielder Aladji Bamba from Monaco.
The transfer has gone through for an initial fee of £30m, with a further £5.5m possible in add-ons.
The 20-year-old has signed a five-year contract at St James' Park and will wear the club's number eight shirt.
Head coach Eddie Howe described Bamba as a player with "huge potential for growth", praising his development since breaking into Monaco's first team and he was nominated for this year's Golden Boy award as one of the best young talents in the game.
Bamba represents a direct replacement for Sandro Tonali, who departed for Tottenham Hotspur last month.

#year #park #head #eddie

The NBA offseason might seem a little calmer now, but the fixation on LeBron James' unrestricted free agency is at its peak. With the odds for the same teams in the race to land King James constantly changing, media speculation on his 'Decision 4.0' is dominating every major network. It prompted former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Eddie A. Johnson to offer a strategic piece of advice to the superstar as he weighs his options.
Reacting to Shams Charania's most recent updates on LeBron-watch, the Phoenix Suns legend took to social media to urge James to keep his intentions under wraps until the final moment.
"If you already know where you are going and the Team knows you are coming there. Then LeBron can wait till week of training camp to announce," Johnson wrote on X. "I guarantee you TMZ is on alert to see if LeBron Locks up a house in Philly, GS or Miami in the coming days. He has a spot in Cleveland."
Johnson's comments came directly in response to veteran NBA insider Shams Charania's report on The Pat McAfee Show. Charania detailed that 20 days into the free-agency process, the 41-year-old forward possesses all necessary information from potential suitors.
"Now that we're 20 days in, there's nothing left. The teams are the teams. The information is the information. LeBron has everything he needs to make a decision. The conversations have happened. From my understanding, my sources tell me, LeBron James, his agent Rich Paul and that inner circle, they're not waiting for another domino right now," Charania reported during his appearance.

#days

Patrick Kane is returning to the Chicago Blackhawks, the team announced Thursday.
The team said Kane signed to a two-year contract with an $8 million salary cap hit. Kane played 16 seasons with the Blackhawks, leading the team to three Stanley Cups.
Hawks legend and former broadcaster Eddie Olczyk spoke on the return of Patrick Kane Thursday.
The Blackhawks picked Kane with the first overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft. Kane made his debut that season along with fellow rookie Jonathan Toews.
The Blackhawks traded Kane to the New York Rangers in the 2022-23 season. The winger played the past three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings.

#kane #team #thursday #three

Trump's $200 billion GSE order drove mortgage rates below 6% by March 2026, but resumed U.S.-Iran fighting erased those gains by July.
WTI crude surged nearly 10% in one day, pushing gas above $4 and driving Treasury yields higher, lifting mortgage rates to a wartime high of 6.75%.
Economists warn that draining the $200 billion GSE cash reserve could leave the housing finance system more vulnerable to a future downturn.
Don't wait: the ****** yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just revealed his top 10 AI stocks. See the full list FREE now.
On January 8, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order directing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to deploy $200 billion in existing conservatorship cash to buy mortgage-backed securities. The goal was blunt: narrow the spread between the 10-year Treasury yield and the 30-year mortgage rate, and push borrowing costs below 6%. For a few weeks, the math worked. By early March 2026, mortgage rates fell below 6% for the first time since 2022. Then the war got in the way.

#Iran

Donald Trump hosted the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers at the White House on Thursday for the team's second trip to the White House in two years.
The team gave the president a custom jersey and a World Series championship ring during a ceremony at the Rose Garden. Four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani, star first baseman Freddie Freeman, World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto and manager Dave Roberts were among those in attendance, while several players – most notably star shortstop Mookie Betts and utility man Kike Hernández – opted not to attend.
Related: As Dodgers head to White House, loyal fans are conflicted: 'Trump is tearing this city apart'
"Special winners, unbelievable," Trump said. "I would not be surprised to see them back here again."
In remarks that also included lengthy tangents on former Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and the renovation of the Rose Garden, Trump complimented several Dodgers players while also confusing the roles of some others. He made a lengthy comparison between Ohtani and legendary slugger Babe Ruth, and praised Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers ace who pitched an inning of last year's epic World Series Game 3 win over the Blue Jays in 18 innings.

#series #star

Newcastle United have reportedly agreed a fee to sign French youth international midfielder Aladji Bamba.
The 20-year-old is a product of the AS Monaco youth system and broke into the first team last season, making 25 appearances in total in all competitions and providing two **** ists.
Those handful of appearances were enough for the Magpies to quickly pounce and the Premier League side have reportedly agreed a £35 million fee to sign Bamba according to Sky Sports News.
Eddie Howe's side are certainly in need of new midfielders this summer with Sandro Tonali leaving the club for Tottenham Hotspur while **** nal are said to be keen on signing Bruno Guimarães.

#Youth #newcastle

Ryan Garcia won’t be bound by guidelines if he ever signs with Zuffa Boxing.

Garcia is scheduled to put his WBC welterweight ***** le on the line against Zuffa Boxing’s Conor Benn on Sept. 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. While the particulars of the bout are unknown to Garcia, he believes it will be co-promoted. Furthermore, Garcia is certain that he will not be wearing Zuffa fight gear and claims he will never wear a Zuffa uniform even if he signs with the promotion.
Garcia explains that he likes to express himself by designing his own outfit and walkout music. He vows to never sign with Zuffa Boxing if they don’t allow him to express himself the way he wants. However, Garcia complimented Dana White for the way he is building up Zuffa Boxing.

“Even if I ever signed with Zuffa, I will make sure that I never wear a Zuffa outfit,” Garcia told Ariel Helwani. “I'm wearing my own outfits, doing my own thing. If you don't like it, then I'll never sign with you. At the end of the day, I love the whole ‘design your outfit, design your walkout.’ I'm not about to be a robot. I don't care how much money you offer me. I just love the whole show of it and I feel like they should let certain fighters do that. I would like to express myself… I think Dana White's doing an amazing job with Zuffa so far... I like how they run the press conferences... I think it's better.”

Zuffa Boxing is White’s venture into the world of pugilism. The Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO wants to bring boxing under a centralized UFC-style model, but is facing fierce competition from traditional boxing promoters like Eddie Hearn.
"If I ever signed with Zuffa, I will make sure that I never wear a Zuffa outfit. I'm wearing my own outfits, doing my own thing.

If you don't like it, then I'll never sign with you... I'm not about to be a robot, I don't care how much money you offer me."

"I think Dana White's… pic.twitter.com/QOh7pIS3h0— Ariel Helwani (arielhelwani) July 22, 2026

#like #OUTFIT #don 't #wearing

In the 1980s, Coca-Cola infamously introduced a reformulated version of their signature soda that ended up going by the name New **** e. It didn’t go over very well: sales slumped, chastened executives were forced to reintroduce the classic **** e, and conspiracy theories about the revamped recipe being a scheme to juice sales of the rescued original recipe spread. Tonight, Aaron Nola pitched in front of a Coca-Cola logo drawn into the mound dirt. Like that vaunted soft drink, Nola has two recipes: Nola Classic, a highly effective, if not quite ace-level, pitcher, and New Nola, the struggling hurler whose long-ball nemesis often gets the better of him. Will Coca-Nola Classic ever make a permanent return to the beverage aisle? We hope so. But tonight, we got the not-so-sweet taste of New Nola, as the Dodgers took the series.
Nola got the night started off right with a one-pitch out of Shohei Ohtani. Alec Bohm got it started off even more right with a two-run shot to left in the bottom first. In the second, Nola struck out Max Muncy on a classic knuckle curve, then put out the next two Angelenos down on fly **** . It was smooth sailing at first for the Louisianan hurler. And it continued that way through the first two outs of the third. Then, unfortunately, came the familiar refrain, the song of the summer that you wish the radio would stop playing: a homer, this one courtesy of Dalton Rushing, to narrow the lead to one.
He encountered more trouble in the fourth. Freddie Freeman doubled, then did the little dance, both arms up and waving buoyantly, that the Dodgers apparently do after hits. It is said that this dance actually traces its origins back to the Brooklyn days, when the early Dodgers used it to hone the reflexes that were necessary for the dodging of trolleys; it is still extant despite the loss of its purpose, rather like the appendix. Max Muncy singled to put two runners on, but Nola was able to wrap the inning up without further damage.
The same could not be said of the fifth. Nola allowed singles to Teoscar Hernández and Tommy Edman, then a two-bagger to Rushing to score two and give the visitors the lead. Ohtani was given an intentional walk. The move paid off, as Ohtani became part of a twin killing that ended the frame. But the damage was done, and the lead was lost.
Not for long. Bryan De La Cruz sent a fastball flying towards the greenery of the batter’s eye as the first batter in the Phillie fifth. Andy Pages stretched out his arm, and for a moment it looked as if he’d come down with it. Like a bank robber foiled by the dye packs in a sack of cash, his would-be burglary was foiled at the last second, with the ball glancing off his leather and landing safely over the fence to tie the game. Bryson Stott doubled, but was put out on a baserunning blunder; dredging up some bad memories from the not-so-distant past.

#classic

Eddie A Johnson: What a %#%% Joke! Kevin is Royalty and this New Owner treats him like Garbage. trailblazers
x.com
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: What a %#%% Joke! Kevin is Royalty and this New Owner …

#joke #kevin #royalty #johnson

Brandi Glanville has a bizarre definition of what "boring" means!
The reality star devised a rather intriguing way to criticize her kids' lack of passion for trying out some questionable substances like c-caine or alcohol, but this does not mean she is not proud of them for living healthily.
Brandi Glanville welcomed two sons with her ex Eddie Cibrian in 2003 and 2007, respectively, before they finally separated two years later in 2009 and have continued to co-parent their kids amicably.
Snorlax / MEGA
During last Saturday's episode of her "Brandi Glanville Unfiltered" podcast, the reality star revealed that she previously had episodes of drug usage in her past life.

#kids #eddie

Brandi Glanville may have had a party girl phase in her younger years, but her children are not following suit.
On a recent episode of her Brandi Glanville Unfiltered podcast, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 53, talked about her past recreational drug use.
"Well, I mean, let's be clear, we've all done cocaine," Glanville remarked. "Well, in the 90s. I haven't since fentanyl came out."
Instagram / brandiglanville
The reality TV star said she got cocaine test strips for her sons Mason, 23, and Jake, 19, whom she shares with ex-husband Eddie Cibrian. However, the boys are not doing drugs, according to Glanville.

#brandi #well

Dodgers vs Phillies prediction for Wednesday: Trade MLB on Polymarket originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Get ready for a blockbuster National League showdown as the Los Angeles Dodgers are in the City of Brotherly Love to take on the Philadelphia Phillies. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM ET at Citizens Bank Park, with live coverage available for fans on NBCS-PH and SportsNet LA. Follow along for a Dodgers vs Phillies prediction for Wednesday to trade on all the action using Polymarket.
After registering a new account with the Polymarket promo code TSNEWS hereand making an initial deposit of at least $20, users will automatically unlock a $50 sign-up bonus.
The Dodgers enter this prime matchup boasting a stellar 64-38 record, cementing themselves as one of the elite squads in the league with a .627 winning percentage. Meanwhile, the hometown Phillies are putting together a strong campaign of their own, entering the game at 56-46 and eager to defend their home turf against the West Coast powerhouse.
Fans and prediction market traders will not want to miss the star-studded talent taking the field. Los Angeles brings a roster featuring Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman. Philadelphia counters with immense firepower of their own led by Bryce Harper and Trea Turner. On the mound, the Phillies are slated to hand the ball to veteran pitcher Aaron Nola, while the Dodgers are scheduled to counter with Eric Lauer in what promises to be a thrilling contest from the first inning to the last.

#Phillies #wednesday #sporting #angeles

Harry Gray has more on his plate than most 17-year-olds - and he seems to be taking it all in his stride.
The Gray name is football royalty in Leeds, thanks to his great uncle Eddie. His grandfather Frank also played for Leeds - and his father Andy began his career at Elland Road.
Harry's older brother Archie was a Whites prodigy who has since moved to Tottenham for big money. Now, big things are expected of the teenage forward.
He's beloved by Leeds fans. When he joined Rotherham United on loan in January, there were many wishes of success from West Yorkshire.
Some even questioned why he wasn't being used by Leeds at the time in the Premier League rather than being sent out on loan.

#eddie #frank #andy #archie

Newcastle United's summer has quickly become a study in modern football tension, ambition on one side, regulation and market forces on the other. In the latest The Athletic DealSheet, the picture that emerges around Newcastle is sobering, detailed and deeply revealing. This is a club still striving to grow under Eddie Howe, yet also one discovering that progress in elite football rarely runs in a straight line.
There is no shortage of intent at St James' Park. There is, however, a shortage of room for error. Missing out on Europe has bitten hard. The competitive consequences are obvious, but the financial aftershock may prove even more significant. As reported, "Failing to get back into the Champions League or any form of UEFA competition for 2026-27 has massively hit Newcastle's revenue streams, costing the club an estimated £60m in annual income." That sentence alone explains much of the club's current caution, compromise and calculation.
Supporters will understandably focus first on names, on who is arriving, who is leaving, who has chosen somewhere else. Yet this summer for Newcastle is about more than an individual target won or lost. It is about status, financial architecture and whether the club can keep building while burdened by the very restrictions that tend to accompany accelerated ambition.
The Athletic's reporting makes clear that Newcastle are not operating with the freedom many supporters might **** ume ownership wealth should bring. "Despite not being in Europe for the upcoming campaign, Newcastle are still being governed by the strict future-compliance settlement they have reached with UEFA," a line that cuts to the centre of the issue. Money exists in theory, but not all of it can be deployed as fans might wish.
This is why recent sales matter so much. The departures of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali were not football decisions in isolation, they were structural ones. According to the report, "Offloading Gordon ensured Newcastle would avoid a further breach, while Tonali's sale gives the club far greater scope to invest more widely across the squad this summer." Newcastle's transfer business cannot be judged without understanding that context. It is not simply a question of whether the recruitment team likes a player, or whether Howe sees a fit. It is also whether the wider framework allows action.

#whether #Football #Europe

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.
Mortgage rates have held within fractions of 6.5% for the better part of two months. While that makes locking a rate easy, it may disappoint borrowers seeking a home loan rate closer to or below 6%. What will it take for mortgage rates to move lower?
See today's best rates.
As of July 16, Freddie Mac reported that the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate was 6.55%. This is six basis points higher than last week. At this time in July 2025, mortgage rates averaged 6.75%, 20 basis points higher
The average 15-year fixed mortgage rate this week was 5.932%, up 11 basis points from last week, and only one basis point higher than this time last year.

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.
You may have heard that you need a 20% down payment to buy a home, but that isn't the case. In reality, many types of mortgage loans allow for a lot less. One of the most common low-down-payment options is the 3%-down conventional loan, which allows you to put down just 3% of the purchase price when taking out a mortgage.
MORE: See our top picks for mortgage lenders accepting low or no down payments.
The 3%-down mortgage is a type of conventional loan called a conforming loan. These are offered by private mortgage lenders, but their rules are set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) that keep money flowing into the mortgage market by purchasing loans and selling them later on to investors.
Conventional loans are offered by most mortgage lenders and are the most common type of mortgage in the U.S. According to Home Mortgage Disclosure Data, they accounted for roughly 9.2 million of the 12.2 million mortgage loans issued in 2024.

Conor Benn will fight Ryan Garcia on 12 September, it has been announced, as the British star seemingly challenges the American for the WBC welterweight ******* le.
The two stars have been linked for some time, but they will officially square off at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Mexican Independence Weekend.
The bout was announced on Wednesday by Zuffa Boxing chief Dana White, best known as the president and CEO of mixed-martial-arts behemoth the UFC.
Britain's Benn split from his longtime promoter Eddie Hearn to join White and Zuffa in February, in one of the most-shocking developments in boxing's recent history.
Hearn and his company Matchroom had promoted the welterweight for his entire career, and had stuck by him during a two-year saga that began when Benn failed two drug tests. Benn in fact signed with Zuffa just days after another verbal attack on Hearn, 47, by White, 56.

The American League shutout the National League 4-0 on Tuesday in the 2026 All-Star Game. Here’s some notes I took.
Keeping Score: I decided to watch the All-Star Game this year. Not only that, I decided to score the All-Star Game this year. I recently found my old scorebook and thought it’d be fun, since I’m here recapping this with you anyways. The first game in this scorebook is a Félix Hernández complete game from Opening Day 2011. The last is both halves of a doubleheader between Washington State University and Cal State Northridge in Pullman that I covered for the school paper in 2017. In between there’s the Mariners/Marlins game that was played in Seattle because of a U2 concert in Miami; a game from the Tokyo Dome that I woke up at 2 a.m. for, per my diligent notes; a game started by Blake Beavan that I did not proceed to score after the first inning; the Red Sox first game after the Boston Marathon bombing; a 2013 WBC game; a 2017 WBC game; and a bunch of losing Mariners baseball. I’m not quite sure what the point of scoring games is in 2026, with technology and such. But I’m adding to my corporeal collection of bizarre baseball games that I might not otherwise remember.
Star-Less: The 2026 All-Star Game was relatively starless. No Aaron Judge. No Shohei Ohtani. Yes Ernie Clement. I won’t lie and say that this adds to my interest in the All-Star Game, as I watch pretty much every year, albeit more passively. But it is cool that we’ll get to see a lot more of the B+ quality of player that I think makes the league so interesting these days. My takeaways from the starting lineups are that I think it’s cool CJ Abrams is batting fourth for the NL. What a year it’s been for him. The other takeaway is I initially wrote Freddie Freeman’s team in my book as “ATL” rather than “LAD.” I’m not sure what that means, but it’s the first mistake on what’s sure to be a rather messy scorecard.
The Pregame: I’m writing this as the lineups are being announced. Each player is entering through an MLB-branded Liberty Bell and jogging a few feet to a podium, where they’re signing what appears to be the starting lineups on a large, old-timey document using quill and ink. What I’ve gotten out of this All-Star week is that Philadelphia really wants you to know that their culture is boxing, the founding fathers, and booing other teams players. The only players who didn’t get booed on announcement were the Phillies players and the Philly-born players (like Mike Trout). After all the players were aligned on the chalk — a process that took a bit more than 30 minutes — the Mastercard Kids4Techᵀᴹ entered and shook all the players hands.
The Post-Pregame: Play ball! Er, commercial break… Washington’s Lottery, North Idaho College, RnR RV Center, some sort of sponcon game show called Beat Shazam… and Play Ball! Er, no let’s hear from our hosts tonight, Joe Davis and John Smoltz, who I haven’t seen since the postseason. They’re interviewing Justin Verlander, and hinting

The All-Star break is officially in full swing, and following an absolutely epic Home Run Derby Monday, fans are primed and ready for the Midsummer Classic this evening. Philadelphia is hosting the festivities for the first time since 1996, bringing the best of the best to the City of Brotherly Love. The American League leads the National League all-time, 48-45, and has dominated the better part of the last three decades, losing just five times since 1997, and winning 10 of the last 12. Though we can’t forget last season, when a tied game after nine led to the first “swing-off” tiebreaker that allowed the NL to take the W as Philly’s own Kyle Schwarber won it in dramatic fashion.
Two star-studded lineups will be managed by a pair of excellent managers. Dave Roberts, the Los Angeles Dodgers skipper, is managing back-to-back years and his fifth All-Star game, and he will have five of his players on the roster. Making his managerial debut in the Midsummer Classic, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider will be at the helm for the American League. The Jays fell to the Dodgers in a thrilling, seven-game World Series in 2025, and though Toronto hasn’t been as dominant this season, Schneider will have four players attending with Cy Young contender — and an old White Sox pal — Dylan Cease getting the start for the AL.
Leading the field with the most elected All Stars are the hometown Philadelphia Phillies, with six players represented this year, including two-time All-Star Cristopher Sánchez, who is starting on the mound for the National League. One of the best fun facts coming out of this year’s game is that Roy Halladay was the last starting pitcher to represent both the Blue Jays (2009) and the Phillies (2011). Though we will have long-time veterans with Chris Sale, Freddie Freeman, and Justin Verlander making their 10th ASG appearance, and the legendary Mike Trout was elected for the 12th time, getting the start out in center field tonight.
There are also quite a few young guys and rookies making their All-Star debut as well, as there are 11 players under 25 years old, and 36 first-timers. There is so much talent on both rosters, but I want to focus on three of those first-timers: Miguel Vargas, Munetaka Murakami, and Tristan Peters.
View Link

I hope every MLB fan gets used to Bobby Witt Jr. in the All-Star Game. This is already Witt’s third All-Star Game, and Witt just turned 26 last month. The Kansas City Royals record for most All-Star selections is George Brett with 13; Salvador Perez is second with nine. After that, multiple Royals are tied with five selections, and it seems at least that Witt is on track to move into third place as soon as 2028.
Joining Witt is Michael Wacha, making his second All-Star appearance. Wacha’s first All-Star Game? All the way back in 2015, when he was but a wee 23-year-old with the St. Louis Cardinals.
It’s an All-Star Game with some new faces (Ben Rice, Drake Baldwin) and some old faces (Mike Trout, Freddie Freeman). May the best team win—and may the on-field interviews be as least cringy as possible.

The Los Angeles area teams will be well represented at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, on Tuesday, July 14.
The event serves as a homecoming of sorts for Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout. The three-time MVP is a New Jersey native but has deep ties to Philadelphia, which is located 45 miles south of his hometown.
Trout recently returned from the injured list last week before hitting a two-run home run in the Angels' 13-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on July 8. The home run came on the 15th anniversary of his major league debut.
He had missed 17 games after he suffered a right hamstring strain while running the bases during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 17.
The Los Angeles Dodgers tied for the most selections with six. Four of the six players will be starters for the National League, which is a league-best. First baseman Freddie Freeman, third baseman Max Muncy, outfielder Andy Pages and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani were also named as starters.

MLB All-Star Game Score, Live Updates, Highlights From 2026 AL vs. NL Showdown originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Baseball's biggest stars will arrive at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday night for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game.
There is no shortage of stars who will take the field, from Philadelphia native Mike Trout (Angels) and Yordan Alvarez (Astros) for the American League to Juan Soto (Mets) and Freddie Freeman (Dodgers) for the National League.
Aroldis Chapman, Willson Contreras and Ceddanne Rafaela will represent the Red Sox in the Midsummer Classic, but starting pitcher Ranger Suarez will not be available to play. He was recently placed on the 15-day IL with a groin injury.
Follow along right here for live updates and highlights from the 2026 MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday night.

Wales captain Dewi Lake is in danger of missing the Nations Championship fixture against South Africa on Saturday because of a groin injury.
Ryan Elias would be line to start at hooker for Wales with Dragons' Elliot Dee flying to Durban as cover, alongside Gloucester lock Freddie Thomas who has been called in because Taine Plumtree is carrying an injury.
Lake is not going home with the squad being extended to 35 players for the week in South Africa.
Wales have not yet ruled Lake out of facing the Springboks with the Gloucester-bound hooker having been in “light training today”.
“That's a real positive,” said Wales ******* istant coach Danny Wilson.

Johnny Fisher has become the latest fighter to join Zuffa Boxing, splitting from Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom to sign with the rival promotion.
Fisher has a cult following in London and Essex, and he had become one of Hearn’s biggest stars over the last three years, helped in part by the reach of his father “Big John”, a social-media sensation.
Fisher’s popularity has come in spit of his patchy recent form, however. The 27-year-old won a controversial decision over Dave Allen in late 2024, before suffering a fifth-round stoppage in their rematch last May, and even his comeback win – a fourth-round TKO of Ivan Balaz in December – saw Fisher hurt in the first round.
Perhaps Zuffa is trying to capitalise on Fisher’s popularity, in any case, or maybe this signing is another attempt to get one up on Matchroom.
After Zuffa launched in January, it signed Matchroom’s longtime fighter Conor Benn in February, with the British welterweight leaving Hearn despite the promoter’s support over a two-year saga that stemmed from Benn failing two drug tests.

Newcastle United are back in the market for midfield reinforcements and Mason Mount has now emerged as a name under discussion, according to TeamTalk. The move comes at a delicate point in Newcastle’s summer, with Eddie Howe needing greater depth and proven quality in the centre of the pitch after a series of setbacks in recruitment.
The latest disappointment arrived in the pursuit of Johan Manzambi. Newcastle believed they were in a strong position to complete a deal with Freiburg, only for Aston Villa to move late and secure the player on terms he preferred while matching the agreed fee. It is another example of a window where Newcastle have moved with intent but failed to get a key target over the line.
Photo IMAGO
TEAMtalk reports that Newcastle are among the clubs to have made contact over a possible deal for Mount. The 27-year-old has struggled to establish real momentum at Manchester United since his £60m switch from Chelsea in 2023, making 72 appearances across three seasons. He now has two years left on a contract worth £250,000 a week.
There is a logic to Newcastle’s interest. Mount has Premier League experience, tactical flexibility and the energy to suit Howe’s style. If the club are looking to add a midfielder capable of playing centrally or further forward, while also bringing top-level experience, he fits the profile. The issue is Manchester United’s stance. Their position is that Mount remains part of their plans for the coming season, which significantly complicates any approach.