The Arizona Cardinals had to sign a new defensive lineman because of an injury to one of their players from last season. It wasn't because of Walter Nolen, though, despite his leaving practice early on Friday.
It was to replace PJ Mustipher. Mustipher was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury he suffered in training camp, and the Cardinals signed defensive lineman Brodric Martin to replace him.
Martin is 6-5 and 330 pounds. He entered the league in 2023 as a third-round pick of the Detroit Lions. He struggled with his weight and injuries in Detroit and played in only five games in his first two seasons.
Since then, he has spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers and Las Vegas Raiders, appearing in one game for the Steelers last season.
He now joins the Cardinals at the back of their depth chart with a shot to make an NFL roster again.

#mustipher #steelers #defensive #lineman

On the third pitch of the game, Ceddanne Rafaela homered and the Sox were off and running. Yippee! 1-0.
Then in the second, Payton Tolle gave up a homer that scored two. Ouch! He then proceeded to load the bases. Yikes! It was a nerve-wracking inning, though a ball that would have likely scored two runs ended up landing just foul, bouncing right over the line in front of Wilyer Abreu. The old July luck was clearly still with the Sox because Tolle managed to get out of the inning with only those two early runs. It felt like an August miracle. Dodgers 2-1.
Rafaela repeated with another homer to left field in the third inning, tying it up, 2-2.
Although Tolle struggled early, he settled down after that rough second inning, at one point striking out four in a row across the fourth and fifth innings. He finished with 9 H, 2 ER, 2 BB and 7K, not his best game by any means, but pretty darn impressive anyway, with how he turned things around. It looked like it would be a short outing, but he ground it out, didn't have any further issues, and turned it over to the bullpen after six full innings. The bullpen was spot-on, giving the offense (other than Rafaela) a chance to show up.
By the bottom of the sixth inning, the Dodgers had out-hit the Sox 9-2. The Sox held there until a ground-rule double by Andruw Monasterio in the eighth. He was followed by Jarren Duran who bunted to put men on the corners. Connor Wong then grounded into a double play – but the good kind, the kind that allows the runner to score from third. Hooray for small ball! Sox took the lead 3-2.

#second

Paul Skenes' nightmarish July leaves ex-Cowboys star searching for answers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Paul Skenes has done nothing but impress over his past two years in the MLB. However, July marked a rare instance for the Pirates ace, who struggled to keep the ball out of play.
In July, the right-hander went 3-2 with a 6.25 ERA, allowing 22 earned runs and 37 hits. In his latest start against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday, Skenes lasted only four innings, giving up five earned runs on seven hits, walking four and striking out seven. His season ERA has now climbed to 3.90.
After Skenes' latest start, former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant was curious about this uncharacteristic downfall.
"Curious question..What do you guys think the issue is with Paul Skenes?" he asked on X.

#paul #july #hits

No loss is a good one, but this one is annoying because the things the team is normally good at, they weren't so good at. We accept the Yankees' lineup is going to struggle to score, but we expect the bullpen to get the outs after a big night from the starter. Two of those three things happened today — the Yankees struggled to score, and the starter had a big night. Handed a slim 2-1 lead late, the New York bullpen collapsed in the late innings, and the Cubs tied up this series, with 5-2 your final score.
We had about one inning of worry about Max Fried tonight. He was a little scattershot in the first, with Pete Crow-Armstrong working his was back from 0-2 into an eight-pitch leadoff walk, before a pair of spiked curveballs allowed the NL MVP frontrunner to scamper home and put the Cubs up 1-0. Just like earlier this week against the White Sox, we had to contend with the fact the Yankee co-ace would labor his way through the opening frame.
And then, he was pretty well academic. Fried allowed just two hits and didn't walk a batter after PCA in the first, freezing out the league's second-best offense and taking advantage of heavy winds blowing in off Lake Michigan. Neither team had the best day at the plate but Fried had a slightly higher degree of difficulty — for as good as he was against Pittsburgh I would argue this outing is more impressive.
At 73 pitches through five innings, many of us ***** umed Fried's day was done, but an in-depth discussion with
Ali Sánchez while the Yankees batted had me wondering if they'd let the lefty face PCA one more time. Sure enough, Aaron Boone rolled the dice against one of the better players in all of baseball, and Fried rewarded his skipper's confidence.
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#good #Cubs #things #night

The Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox pulled off the biggest trade of 2026, two days before the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline.
The White Sox are acquiring starting pitcher Luis Castillo, a three-time All-Star, according to multiple reports. The Mariners will get reliever Seranthony Dominguez, outfielder Nolan Jones and catching prospect Boston Smith. ESPN's Jeff Passan was first to report the deal was in place.
It's a rare trade between two contending teams — the White Sox are leading the American League Central, while Seattle is 2.5 games out of the third and final AL Wild Card berth.
MORE: Mets make trade, begin trade deadline activity by sending reliever to Twins
The trade also resolves the season-long intrigue around the Mariners' six-man starting rotation — a luxury for a team that has struggled to defend its first-ever run to the AL Championship Series a year ago.

#Seattle #starting #reliever #first

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers right-hander Will Klein has struggled of late, and on Saturday was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort. Wyatt Mills was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
That wasn't the only roster move on Saturday, as Kyle Hurt was also recalled from Triple-A and Cole Irvin was designated for ****** ignment after pitching six innings on Friday night.
Klein was slowly working his way up manager Dave Roberts' trust tree in the Dodgers bullpen, pitching in increasingly important spots over the first few months of the season. The right-hander's first third of the season was much better than his second third of the season, and it's been especially ****** ounced of late, with Klein allowing runs in each of his last six appearances.
In those last six games, Klein allowed 13 runs (eight earned) on 10 hits and eight walks with eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. Since the beginning of June, Klein has a 6.11 ERA and 15-percent walk rate, after a 1.88 ERA and 7.3-percent walk rate through the end of May.
On the season, Klein has a 3.67 ERA and 3.43 xERA with two saves, the first of his career, with 49 strikeouts and 21 walks in 41 2/3 innings in his 36 games pitched.

#klein #right #first #eight

The Pittsburgh Pirates are buying at the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline, as it was announced today from Jeff Passan the Buccos acquired relife pitcher Camilo Doval from the New York Yankees. In return, the Bucs send two Minor Leaguers in catcher Omar Alfonzo and outfielder Luis Cruz. New York has also agreed to pay a portion of Doval's salary.
The 29-year-old right-handed reliever has elite velocity, touching 101 mph and throwing a fastball, cutter, ans slider. He has 3.53 career ERA and 393 strikeouts in 326 innings, but he hasn't been great since coming to New York last season, finishing with a 4.84 ERA last year and holding a 4.54 one this year.
This deal has been described as being one with "high-upside risk" as Doval has loads of arm talent and potential to be a key piece in Pittsburgh's bullpen. In 2023 as a member of the San Francisco Giants, the 29-year-old righty was an All-Star closer before being traded to the Yankees in the Summer of 2025. His stuff which includes a cutter that regularly touches triple digits, a sinker that sits at 98mph and an incredible cutter gives him the tools to be very effective on the mound. His results since arriving in the Bronx is why the Pirates were able to buy low with him, because he's had lots of problems with consistency.
Doval's rough adjustment to New York could be that it just wasn't the right environment for him. Going from San Francisco which is a pitcher friendly ballpark to the Yankees' shallow outfield could be why he struggled. Regardless the Pirates add another arm to what has been a struggling bullpen. Doval fits the mold that a player like Aroldis Chapman provides to the backend of the bullpen. His blazing pitch speed is pure power in late game situations, and could be beneficial in high leverage situations. Although he struggled at Yankee Stadium it's worth nothing that he's been very good on the road with a 1.86 ERA and just one homer allowed in 19 1/3 innings. The change of scenery and a great pitching staff could be exactly what Doval needs to get back to his All-Star ways. If he can find consistency, he could be a key contributor in helping the Pirates reach the playoffs for the first time in 11 years.
Mike Axisa of CBS Sports gave the Pirates an A grade on the trade, citing the low cost as one of the big factors that makes this trade a win for Pittsburgh.

#year #trade #pittsburgh

It is Day 43 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff. We are looking back at the 100 most iconic games in Dallas Cowboys history. The countdown will leads us right up to the opening game of 2026. Our look back doesn't depend on just one criteria for our rankings. We take into consideration things like how big the game was for the organization, how memorable the game was, games that had unusual events take place, games that are a part of NFL lore, Cowboys firsts, and games where the Cowboys just plain dominated. Variety is the spice of life and we have all different kind of Cowboys games to review. At the bottom, we'll link each day of the countdown so you can go back and check out any you missed.
Welcome back as we get to Day 43 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff, when we revisit another chapter in what was unquestionably the NFL's premier rivalry of the 1990s. By the time the Cowboys traveled to Candlestick Park in Week 11 of the 1996 season, Dallas and San Francisco had met in the previous four NFC Championship Games, splitting them two apiece. Even though this was a regular-season matchup, it carried the feel of January football.
San Francisco controlled the first quarter. Jeff Wilkins opened the scoring with a 28-yard field goal, then Steve Young found Iheanyi Uwaezuoke for a 29-yard touchdown. The 49ers led 10-0, while Dallas struggled to establish Emmitt Smith or generate any consistent rhythm against one of the league's strongest defenses.
The Cowboys finally responded late in the second quarter. Troy Aikman finished a lengthy drive by scrambling three yards for a touchdown with 32 seconds remaining before halftime. That cut San Francisco's lead to 10-7 and gave Dallas something tangible from a first half in which the 49ers had largely dictated the game.
The matchup changed when Young was knocked out after taking multiple sacks from the Dallas defence. He had completed seven of 13 passes for 83 yards and the early touchdown before Elvis Grbac took over. Grbac had tormented Dallas in San Francisco's 38-20 win at Texas Stadium the previous season, but this time the Cowboys pressured him into mistakes.

#dallas

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Guardians acquired outfielder Blake Perkins and right-handed pitcher Craig Yoho from the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday for catcher Bo Naylor and right-hander Codi Heuer.
Naylor and Heuer have been ****** igned to the Brewers 40-man roster and ****** igned to Triple-A Nashville. The Guardians have not determined where Perkins and Yoho will report.
The 26-year old Naylor has spent his entire career in Cleveland but has struggled offensively the past three seasons. He was sent down to Triple-A Columbus after the Guardians acquired Patrick Bailey from San Francisco and batted .225 with seven home runs in 45 games for Columbus.
Heuer, 30, was in his first season with Cleveland and split time between the major league club and Triple-A. He was 0-1 with a 4.66 ERA in eight appearances out of the bullpen.
The 26-year old Yoho has a career 1.10 minor league ERA. He was 2-0 with a 3.15 ERA in three stints with the Brewers this season.

#Guardians #columbus

Liverpool are one step closer to a dream signing.
It finally feels like Liverpool's transfer window is coming to life. After weeks of rumours, false starts and deals going nowhere, there's at least a sense that things are beginning to happen behind the scenes. For supporters, though, it's been a painfully long wait.
This was meant to be a huge summer.
A new manager had arrived in Andoni Iraola, several big names had moved on and Liverpool looked like a club that needed to move quickly in the market. Instead, fans have spent most of the window watching other teams get their business done while the Reds have struggled to get going.
Unsurprisingly, that's put Richard Hughes under plenty of pressure.

#like #andoni #instead

At the All-Star Break's conclusion, I wrote on expectations, and their virtue as an exercise with this franchise towards a more hopeful future near and far. These Seattle Mariners, 3.0 games back of the AL West and the third Wild Card spot alike, have earned little and less belief. They've played poorly, wasted chances, and frittered opportunities to cleanse their palates. Much has rightly been made of the necessity for the core players to perform at or near the standards they've set for several years. But Seattle is giving up massive production on the fringes, and they've forced themselves into an uncomfortable, desperate position.
It is time for them to call up Michael Arroyo.
Seattle needs right-handed hitting, and with J.P. Crawford sidelined at least for several weeks, there is no easy solution at third base. Brendan Donovan returns on Tuesday to rotate around the field, but it's hard to look at the lineup as constructed and see anywhere for him to play more frequently than the hot corner. Arroyo has played some third base, but it's realistically not where he could be thrown in, although his defense is less egregious and more limited if asked to play second base or corner outfield. But they need his bat, because the Mariners need to take some risks, and rotating Weston Wilson, Victor Robles, Rob Refsnyder, Leo Rivas, and Mitch Garver through to take flaccid swing after flaccid swing is a Wile. E. Coyote kind of road that the Mariners have been slamming into the wall of all summer. The Rainiers' roster is stocked with similar players who've struggled to set themselves apart this year and over many years, from Connor Joe to Patrick Wisdom to Stuart Fairchild, along with injured options like Ryan Bliss and Brennen Davis. With Luke Raley seemingly ailing, the M's have to be more aggressive to rev up their offense before it's too late.
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Arroyo is a 21 year old Colombian ~utilityman whose profile made him the most-heralded hitting prospect from his burgeoning baseball nation since Colombia's first and greatest star: SS Edgar Renteria. The 5'10, compact youngster has never been at the top of Seattle's prospect list, but has hit his way into top-100 status nationally over the past couple seasons, with an approach I first wrote about in the winter before the 2024 season. Following a strong debut at age 18 with the Low-A Modesto Nuts, I said this of Arroyo:

#arroyo #Seattle #wrote

With the MLB trade deadline just two days away, the Seattle Mariners are expected to be one of the more active teams in baseball. After coming within one win of the World Series by reaching Game 7 of the ALCS last season, expectations were sky-high entering 2026. Instead, Seattle has struggled to find consistency and now sits third in the AL West with a record below .500 as the calendar turns to August.
As a result, the Mariners appear willing to make significant changes to their roster, and while most of the trade speculation has centered around veteran pitchers like Luis Castillo and Emerson Hancock, a surprising new name has entered the conversation.
MORE: One player every MLB team will trade at the 2026 trade deadline
According to MLB insider Jeff Passan, several teams have contacted the Mariners to inquire about right-hander George Kirby.
The report is somewhat unexpected considering Kirby has been viewed as one of the cornerstones of Seattle's rotation since breaking into the majors. Still, when a talented young starter becomes even remotely available, rival clubs are always going to make the call.

#kirby #deadline #teams #series

Although he struggled a bit in the second half, Warriors rookie Will Richard had an impressive 2025-26 season, especially considering he was selected No. 56 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. Richard was praised throughout the year by coaches and teammates for his basketball IQ and ability to move without the ball.
In 69 games, Richard averaged 6.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 ***** ists and 1.2 steals in 20 minutes per game. The former Florida Gator was an efficient shooter from within the arc, converting on 67.9% of his 2-point attempts and a serviceable 33.5% of his 3-pointers. With zero new free agent additions to this point, Richard will have an opportunity to earn more minutes in Golden State's rotation as a sophomore.
Here are some of Richard's strongest plays for the Warriors during his rookie campaign.
This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Will Richard Golden State Warriors 2025-26 regular season highlights

#Warriors #rookie #season #Florida

Mired in an atrocious 2026 season after falling apart last year, the New York Mets are likely to be big sellers ahead of Major League Baseball's trade deadline on Monday, Aug. 3.
Despite the highest payroll in baseball, the Mets are in last place in the NL East but have a handful of high-end players to trade, including starting pitchers Freddy Peralta and Clay Holmes, as well as relievers Luke Weaver and Brooks Raley.
Luis Robert Jr., acquired in an offseason trade like Peralta, is one of a few Mets position players who could also be moved in the days to come. The former top prospect has struggled with injuries again this year but his name continues to ring out in trade rumors.
Franchise shortstop Francisco Lindor is unlikely to be dealt this summer, but it's a move the Mets could seek to revisit this winter as Steve Cohen's franchise retools again.
Here's a look at some of the Mets players who could be traded:

#METS #peralta #mired #york

Everton have reached an agreement in principle to sign ***** nal midfielder Christian Norgaard for around £7 million, according to The Athletic journalist David Ornstein. Everton manager David Moyes wants a replacement for Idrissa Gueye and the Gunners star could move to the Hill ***** inson Stadium club. Norgaard would undergo a medical next week and become the Toffees' fourth summer signing should the deal be formalised.
The 32-year-old Danish midfielder joined ***** nal from Brentford last summer but struggled for regular playing opportunities.
The Everton target made 20 appearances for Mikel Arteta's side and will hope to become a regular starter for Moyes next season.
The Toffees have already signed English midfielder Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough, and adding Norgaard to their squad will be huge.

#moyes #toffees #next

ANAHEIM — The Angels struggled to stop the bleeding in the fifth inning on Friday night, and it ended up costing them the game.
Right-handers Ryan Johnson and José Fermin each allowed home runs in a five-run fifth inning that put the Angels in a hole that they couldn't dig themselves out of.
Despite responding with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning, the offense was silent the other eight innings in this one as the Angels lost, 6-2, against the Brewers.
"I felt like I was kind of battling and kind of just went into a little bit of fatigue, tiredness, and kind of got out of my rhythm," Johnson said. "Especially in that last, it kind of just fell apart with the walks and just losing feel for the whole zone. Felt like even out of the gates I was struggling to find it and get into a rhythm with kind of walking the first guy and then kind of was able to get out of it. But it was fighting the whole night."
The nightmare inning began with a leadoff walk to the nine-hole hitter, Cooper Pratt. Brice Turang made Johnson pay for it by homering to dead center field the very next at-bat.

#kind #johnson #hole

Cristian Romero has been linked with a move away from Tottenham Hotspur since last season. Spurs' captain struggled for form, fitness, and with his relationship with the fans through the 2025/26 campaign, and the feeling in some avenues coming out of the season was that maybe it was time for the center back to explore options elsewhere.
That appears to be accelerating now, with Leo Paradizo, an Argentinian journalist for Todo Noticias, reporting via ESPN Argentina that Spurs and Inter Milan have reached a verbal agreement on terms for a transfer:
Here's a translation of the key parts:
The first thing we can confirm here is that Cuti Romero – although it was somewhat predictable – will not be staying at Tottenham…
…The second thing I'm in a position to confirm – and this is information checked firsthand today – is that there is a verbal agreement between Tottenham and Inter Milan…

#agreement #thing

According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, the Twins have acquired starting pitcher Dean Kremer from the Baltimore Orioles. The Twins are sending outfield prospect Jhonmardo Reyes in return. Kremer is owed $5.75M this season and is controllable via arbitration for 2027.
Kremer has struggled this season to a 6.50 ERA/6.24 FIP in seven starts this year, but has a long track record as a reliable starter. He's also missed most of the season with a quad strain and just returned July 1, and his advanced numbers paint a prettier picture with a 4.92 xERA/3.81 xFIP. From 2022-2025, Kremer had 3.95 ERA/4.17 FIP in 599 innings, so the Twins are making the bet he'll return to that form down the stretch.
If there's one area that is likely to get back to normal immediately, it's Kremer's home run rate. Kremer has allowed 12 home runs in those 7 seven starts for a robust 3.00 HR/9. He was sitting at a 1.17 HR/9 for his career before this season and will likely regress closer to that figure as he rounds into shape.
Reyes, 18, will be heading back to the Orioles. He's still a long ways away, but he's had some very exciting flashes in his first full season in the Twins' system. FanGraphs has him rated as the Twins 10th-best prospect, touting his top end power potential with a lot of questions about his ability to make contact against better pitchers. Twinkie Town's Aidan O'Brien is a bit lower on Reyes, placing him at number 22.
Starting pitching is always significantly more expensive than relievers, but this is a pricey trade for a pitcher that has looked rough this season. His track record will likely pay off in the long run, but Reyes is a significant tier above most 18-year-old wildcard prospects. The Orioles were likely only willing to move Kremer this early specifically because the Twins were willing to offer Reyes. And while I consider this a bit of an overpay, it's not outrageously high and the cost for starting pitching is high in July (See: Minnesota getting a decent prospect for Chris Paddack last season).

#twins #season #reyes

Iowa Cubs pitcher Connor Noland was activated off the Development List.
Second baseman Dom Krupinski was promoted from the ACL Cubs to low-A Myrtle Beach.
The Iowa Cubs were tied to the tracks by the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Yankees), 9-5.
Edward Cabrera started this game on a rehab ***** ignment. Cabrera only threw 1.2 innings and 43 pitches. He was charged with three runs on two hits and two walks, although two of the runs scored in the second inning after he was relieved by Ty Blach. Cabrera struck out three. He struggled with control as only 26 of his 43 pitches were strikes. However, his velocity was consistently between 94 and 98 miles per hour.
First baseman Jonathonn Long went 3 for 5 with a double and one run scored.

#iowa #only #pitches

ATLANTA (AP) — Michael Harris II and Matt Olson hit long home runs and the Atlanta Braves pulled away from the Washington Nationals in a 6-2 victory on Friday night.
Olson was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored and Jim Jarvis was 3 for 3 with 2 RBIs. Mauricio Dubón had two hits and two runs scored for the first-place Braves, who are 10-5 since the All-Star break.
Nationals starter Foster Griffin (12-3) struggled in what could have been his final start for the Nationals. Trade speculation has surrounded the 30-year-old left-handed rookie, who entered with a 2.76 ERA in 21 starts. Griffin gave up six runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings, including the home runs to Olson and Harris.
Bryce Elder (7-6) recorded his 12th quality start of the season, allowing one run in six innings. He gave up four hits and three walks. Elieser Hernández threw three scoreless innings for his first career save.
Harris broke the game open with a 421-foot three-run homer in the sixth inning that landed inside the Chop House restaurant in right field and gave the Braves a 5-1 lead. It was his 20th home run of the season, matching his career-high.

#harris #nationals

This article originally appeared on PGHBaseballNOW.com.
For the Pirates, Friday night's game at Great American Ballpark was a nightmare.
Starter Paul Skenes struggled, the bullpen blew its 20th save, a costly miscue in the eighth gave the Reds the lead, and Ryan O'Hearn had to be carried off the field in the ninth inning of an 8-7 loss to the Reds. Their losing streak is now at four games.
Top 1st, 2-0 PIT: The Pirates (55-56) took advantage of a couple defensive miscues and scored a pair of runs on a Nick Gonzales two-out single up the middle off Hunter Greene with the bases loaded.
Bottom 1st, 2-2: Paul Skenes labored through a 36-pitch inning and the Reds (52-57) quickly struck back to tie the game. Tyler Stephenson ripped an RBI double down the left field line and Nathaniel Lowe plated a run with a base hit to right.

#skenes #field #inning #pghbaseballnow

This is about where we sat. But we weren’t looking through a fish-eye lens.
Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images
Tonight's Mariners starter is RHP Bryce Miller, who was promising in his rookie season, stellar in 2024, struggled with control last year and is stellar again this year. Turns out he was playing through elbow inflammation most of last season, and his arm's good now. He throws a 96-ish fastball, a split and a slider; all of which are well above-average pitches. He mixes in a handful of other things too just to eff with you.
Apparently in 2024 he did regular "social media" posts about a tagged shark and the places it swam. They looked like this because all of the world watches gunky-looking videos now:
The Twins playing in Seattle brings back a lot of memories, some good, some bad. We'll start with a bad one.

#stellar #otto

The Brewers didn't get off to the best start on their six-game California road trip, dropping two of three to the San Francisco Giants. After an off day to regroup, they'll have as good an opportunity as any to get back on track against a Los Angeles Angels team that's tied with the Rockies for the worst record in baseball.
On the mound for the Brewers is left-hander Shane Drohan, who's been excellent in his first season with the organization. Drohan has posted a 3.51 ERA while striking out 82 batters in 82 innings this year. He was originally scheduled to start the series finale against the Giants, but Brewers manager Pat Murphy instead called up Thomas Pannone for a spot start to give his rotation a little extra rest.
The Angels will counter with 23-year-old right-hander Ryan Johnson, their second-round competitive balance selection in the 2024 draft. Johnson made headlines last season after breaking camp with the big league club despite never pitching in the minor leagues. He struggled to a 7.36 ERA across 14 relief appearances as a rookie and has posted an almost identical 7.34 ERA through 11 appearances (eight starts) this season.
As for the lineup, Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio will bat first and second for the second straight game, followed by designated hitter Christian Yelich. William Contreras will hit cleanup, with Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell batting fifth and sixth. Rounding out the lineup are Luis Lara (.832 OPS in his first 42 at-bats as a Brewer), David Hamilton, and Cooper Pratt. With Hamilton starting at third base, Joey Ortiz is out of the lineup again tonight.
One final piece of roster news: left-hander DL Hall, who owns a 2.03 ERA in 24 appearances this season, has been activated from the injured list. Pannone was designated for **** ignment in a corresponding move.

#brewers #hander

The Philadelphia Phillies are in desperate need of an outfielder, and they could target Heliot Ramos.
Ramos has three more years of club control and is a former All-Star. This year, he has played in 71 games and has a .739 OPS and nine homers. The San Francisco Giants will clearly be sellers, and the latest report from Bob Nightengale suggests Ramos is available.
"The Giants plan to keep outfielder Jung Hoo Lee and trade Heliot Ramos," Nightengale reported on Friday.
Of the two, Lee is having the better season. However, Ramos is no slouch. The Phillies have Brandon Marsh, but the other two outfield spots have been a disaster. Justin Crawford has struggled offensively, and Derek Hill's bat has cooled down after a hot start.
Looking for the perfect gift for a baseball player in your life? Check out our brand new baseball lifestyle brand!

#Phillies #brand #philadelphia

We are through a week of Arizona Cardinals practices and the changes are… well good it seems.
Will it lead to wins in 2026? Who knows?
The Cardinals are banking on a first time head coach, a young defensive coordinator who has struggled, an offensive coordinator who doesn't have very much respect around the league and a veteran quarterback sitting at 20-45 in his career as a starter.
Yet, there are things to be excited about.
The offense has been open quite a bit in the passing game during practices:

#coordinator #week #changes #lead

The Yankees' offense better wake up, as they've scored just two unearned runs in their last 22 innings. Facing a Cubs team that ranks second in the majors with 5.17 runs scored per game and third with a 111 wRC+, they simply cannot afford to give so many ABs away, New York failing to dent home plate in 28 of their last 32 innings played. Fortunately, they'll face a pitching staff that is seventh-worst with a 4.68 FIP, though it's not like the White Sox were much better in that department and were still largely able to silence the Yankees in the final two games of their just-completed series.
Will Warren is coming off one of his worst starts of the season — six runs on six hits in three innings against the Phillies. It's already the fifth start in which he has given up at least five runs, four of those coming since June 20th, Warren posting a 6.57 ERA over his last eight starts after opening the season at 7-1 with a 3.22 ERA across his first 12 starts. To me, the problems appear to be threefold: he can't get lefties out, he struggles to pitch from the stretch, and he suffers a massive third-time-through penalty. That doesn't bode well against a Cubs lineup that features five batters from the left side and is second in baseball with a .340 OBP. In 20 starts, Warren is 7-5 with a 4.41 ERA (102 ERA+), 4.16 FIP, and 102 strikeouts in 102 innings.
The Cubs declined their three-year team option on Shota Imanaga over the winter after he struggled in 2025, the two sides eventually reuniting on the qualifying offer for 2026. He has rewarded that renewed faith with a rebound performance, gaining a mph back on his fastball which has seen his chase and strikeout rates tick back up to his stellar rookie campaign marks in 2024. The 32-year-old lefty relies on hitters getting themselves out rather than overwhelming you with stuff, the four-seamer acting as a setup pitch for his splitter and sweeper. The Yankees are getting him at an awful time as Imanaga is coming off consecutive scoreless starts of at least six innings. In 21 starts, Imanaga is 7-8 with a 3.72 ERA (109 ERA+), 4.39 FIP, and 113 strikeouts in 121 innings.
The Yankees opt for their usual lineup against lefties, but with a pair of notable changes. Jazz Chisholm Jr. is not in the lineup after exiting yesterday's loss in the 11th with cramps, which allows Spencer Jones a rare start against a lefty in right as José Caballero is forced to man second. Amed Rosario, Anthony Volpe, and Ali Sánchez will be tasked with carrying their weight with the supposed platoon advantage against the soft-tossing lefty.
The Cubs stack their lineup with lefties against Warren. Leading off is the MLB position player leader in fWAR (7.1) in Pete Crow-Armstrong, the All-World center fielder leading baseball with 21 Outs Above Average and sixth in wRC+ (152) as he makes a legitimate push to challenge Shohei Ohtani for the NL MVP. Seiya Suzuki, Pedro Ramírez, Michael Busch, Michael Conforto, and Ian Happ have all been bet

What's the definition of "not going well?" How about playing a series against a team that came in on a 12-game losing streak, and getting swept? The series against the Marlins showed that it's not just one thing plaguing the Phillies at the moment, it's everything. Each loss came in a different fashion, with the one common thread being poor defense.
Next, the Phillies will travel to Baltimore to take on an Orioles team that theoretically should provide some opportunities for victories. However, considering how poorly the team has played since the All-Star Game, any future opponents could say the same thing.
Jackson Holliday was a can't miss prospect. The son of a former All-Star and first overall pick of the 2022 draft, Holliday was rated as the top prospect in baseball prior to the 2024 season. When he was called up to the majors in April of that year, it was expected that the middle infielder would become an instant star.
For every Phillies fan who complains that the team is too slow to promote their young players, just remember that not every prospect, no matter how touted they are, is going to be succeed immediately upon reaching the majors. Holliday struggled so much that the team quickly demoted him. (For the fans who want to trade every prospect, this is some ammunition for your case.)
He returned to the majors at the end of July that year, and while he wasn't awful, he certainly didn't look anything like the star that was promised. 2025 was slightly better as he hit 17 home runs, but his defense was subpar and his OPS was only .690.

#team #star #prospect #series

Last season, the Minnesota Vikings clawed their way to a 9-8 record, winning their last five games in a row. While the offense struggled, the defensive side of the ball played very well, finishing third in total defense. This was spearheaded by a few unsung heroes who are looking to have an even bigger impact in 2026.
According to Zachary Pereles of CBS Sports, defensive tackle Jalen Redmond is in line for a big season, as Pereles listed him as an under-the-radar player entering 2026. Here is what he had to say:
Last year, the Vikings brought in bigger names -- Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave -- only for Redmond, a former undrafted free agent who spent time in the XFL, to outplay both of them by a wide margin. He racked up six sacks and finished 11th in PFF's run defense grades among interior defensive linemen. His disruptive abilities against both the run and the pass are impressive.
Redmond was a pleasant surprise last season, and with the departure of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, Redmond is in line for significantly more playing time alongside rookie Caleb Banks. Redmond is on a one-year deal, and should he play at the level of last season or even more, he could be due for quite the payday next offseason.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Which Vikings DL is flying under-the-radar heading into 2026?

#Vikings

Tampa Bay's star nose tackle wants out. Jim Leonhard's front is missing exactly what he brings. Brandon Beane's cap situation is a hurdle.
The Buffalo Bills changed defensive coordinators, changed base fronts and changed the language in the meeting room this offseason. What they didn't change was the personnel in the middle of the defensive line — and that's the one place a 3-4 hybrid needs to work.
Enter Vita Vea. Tampa Bay's nose tackle cut off contract negotiations and requested a trade this week, and NFL.com put Buffalo at the top of his list of landing spots.
"The Bills would have to do some cap gymnastics to make it work, but from a scheme and need fit, he'd be the perfect solution in the middle of the defense," NFL.com wrote. "The Bills struggled up the gut last year, particularly when Ed Oliver was out. Vea would plug that hole. Putting the veteran between Oliver and promising second-year defensive tackle Deone Walker would make Jim Leonhard's defense sing."
Buffalo moved off Sean McDermott's 4-3 base into Leonhard's 3-4 without acquiring the one archetype the front requires: a true nose tackle who eats double teams so the linebackers can run free. Oliver is a penetrator, not an anchor. Walker is a projection, not a certainty.

#bills #changed #tampa #front

Eddie Howe confirmed on Friday he had stepped down as Newcastle manager to "recharge and take a break" following a turbulent end to his five-year spell at St James' Park.
Howe revitalised a club that had struggled for decades, securing a first major trophy in 56 years by winning the League Cup in 2025.
The former Bournemouth boss also led Newcastle to Champions League qualification in 2023 and 2025.
But the Magpies struggled to a 12th-place finish in the Premier League last season and have endured a difficult summer transfer window.
Howe oversaw Wednesday's 4-1 pre-season friendly defeat at Bristol City and it emerged hours later that he was set to leave.

#struggled #eddie #park #bournemouth