Juventus could end up with Zion Suzuki after all, with surprising reports PSG could buy him from Parma only to loan the goalkeeper to the Bianconeri.
GENOA, ITALY – OCTOBER 19: Zion Suzuki of Parma (2nd from L) celebrates with his teammates after the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Parma Calcio 1913 at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on October 19, 2025 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
It is no secret that the Old Lady is interested in the ******* an international to take their gloves this term, but coach Luciano Spalletti warned against the 'prohibitive' costs of the operation.
Suzuki's impressive performances at the 2026 World Cup raised his profile and with it his transfer valuation, alerting the interest of Paris Saint-Germain.
TOKYO, ******* AN – MAY 31: Zion Suzuki of ******* an applauds fans after the international friendly match between ******* an and Iceland at MUFG Stadium on May 31, 2026 in Tokyo, ******* an. (Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images)

#suzuki

CHICAGO (AP) — Seiya Suzuki, Carson Kelly and Kevin Alcántara each hit a two-run homer, and the Chicago Cubs handed the Los Angeles Dodgers their fourth consecutive loss with a 10-5 victory Monday night.
Michael Busch drove in three runs against his former team, helping Chicago improve to 2-2 on a seven-game homestand. The Cubs also pulled within 5 1/2 games of NL Central-leading Milwaukee, which lost 4-3 to Pittsburgh.
Los Angeles has dropped six of eight overall after it was swept by Boston over the weekend. Tarik Skubal takes the mound Tuesday night for his first start with the NL West leaders since the ace left-hander was acquired in a trade with Detroit.
Tommy Edman hit a three-run homer for the Dodgers, and Teoscar Hernández also went deep. Justin Wrobleski (11-3) was tagged for seven runs and seven hits over 4 1/3 innings in his first loss since May 22.
Suzuki connected for his 19th homer in the first, driving in Pete Crow-Armstrong after a leadoff single. Alcántara gave the Cubs a 4-3 lead with his first career homer in the second, a two-out shot to left-center after Dansby Swanson walked. Kelly added his seventh homer in the third.

#Cubs #suzuki #kelly

You may never know in Wrigley, but that doesn't mean you don't know early on. And here that was the case with the ball flying out of the yard right from the get-go in a 10 to 5 defeat against the Cubs, with the Dodgers outmatched offensively.
The first inning alone saw five runs cross the plate, as Matthew Boyd had to contend with one of a pitcher's worst nightmares, seeing one mistake turned into a 3-0 game. Tommy Edman hit a home run, driving in Shohei Ohtani and Andy Pages, who had both reached base on soft contacts.
Any idea the Dodgers had of quickly controlling this game went away just as that first-inning lead came. The Cubs immediately countered with a two-run shot from Seiya Suzuki two batters into their offensive performance. And that would be one of three two-run homers in as many innings that Justin Wrobleski would allow, eventually conceding a fourth one as well.
In the second inning, it was Kevin Alcántara helping the Cubs take the 4-3 lead with the first home run of his big league career. From youth to experience, Carson Kelly then managed to isolate the Dodgers number as his favorite victim, knocking a ninth long ball versus LA. Lastly, in Kyle Tucker's first game with the Cubs, it was a different player facing his former club that did the real damage: Michael Busch's fifth-inning solo shot knocked Wrobleski out of the game.
In still a short sample, Busch is building up quite the resume versus his former team with nearly an extra-base hit a game against them (15 in 16), including five long ******* . A pitcher who had allowed just eight home runs prior to his last start, Wrobleski doubled that mark in the span of two games, with back-to-back appearances allowing four home runs.

#Cubs #runs

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost their fourth consecutive game on Monday, losing the first game in a three-game set against the Chicago Cubs.
LA got things started early, taking a 3-0 lead in the first inning before Cubs starter Matthew Boyd could record an out. Shohei Ohtani and Andy Pages both singled to lead off the first inning, and Tommy Edman took advantage of the first pitch he saw, hitting it over the fence for his third bomb of the year.
It didn't take long for the Cubs to pull themselves back into the game, though, as Seiya Suzuki hit a home run of his own in the bottom of the first to make the score 3-2. The Cubs went on to take the lead in the following inning, as No. 9 hitter Kevin Alcantara hit a two-run home run shortly after crushing a ball which narrowly crept foul.
The Cubs extended their lead in the bottom of the third inning, as catcher Carson Kelly hit the hosts' third two-run home of the game to make the score 6-3.
LA began chipping away at the deficit in the top of the fourth, as a two-out single from Eliézer Alfonzo brought home Kyle Tucker to make the score 6-4.

#game #make

Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti's comments about Guglielmo Vicario raised questions, but it's reported the goalkeeper was determined to leave Tottenham Hotspur long before Roberto De Zerbi's arrival.
The Bianconeri are expected to swoop for Italy international Vicario this month after Paris Saint-Germain moved ahead in the race for Parma and ******* an goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.
When asked about the situation, Juve boss Spalletti's comments raised a few eyebrows.
"Vicario is an experienced goalkeeper who has already gone through some situations, one of them serious. We have to understand why a club like Tottenham decided to leave him out, what evaluations they made."
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 24: James Maddison and Guglielmo Vicario of Tottenham Hotspur celebrate after the team secured safety from relegation during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

#hotspur #guglielmo #raised #leave

Paris Saint-Germain are preparing to accelerate negotiations for Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki (23) after submitting an opening offer worth €33m, including bonuses, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The European champions intend to continue talks with the Serie A club this week and hope to bring the transfer to a swift conclusion. Suzuki, who had previously attracted strong interest from Juventus, is now open to joining PSG after being presented with the club's project.
Parma are reportedly ready to negotiate following the arrival of PSG's official proposal, with the French champions now considered to be ahead of Juventus in the race for the ******* an international.
PSG's interest comes despite already having Lucas Chevalier and Matvey Safonov competing for the starting position. Chevalier joined the capital club last summer with the expectation of becoming first choice but was subsequently displaced by Safonov.Suzuki made 20 Serie A appearances last season, recording five clean sheets in a campaign interrupted by a fractured left hand. The 23-year-old also enhanced his reputation with ******* an during the 2026 World Cup, helping his country reach the round of 16 before their elimination against Brazil.GFFN | George Boxall

#safonov

Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly accelerated their pursuit of Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki amid Juventus' interest. According to Fabrizio Romano, Les Parisiens have 'presented their project' to the ***** anese star after identifying him as a priority target.
Lucas Chevalier has fallen short of expectations at the Parc des Princes despite his phenomenal stint at Lille. The Frenchman's arrival set PSG back around €40 million last summer, but he lost his place in the starting lineup over the course of the 2025/26 season.
Indeed, Matvey Safonov has leapfrogged the 24-year-old in the pecking order, becoming Gianluigi Donnarumma's heir. However, the back-to-back Champions League winners are keen to add more quality between the sticks, with Suzuki emerging as an ideal solution.
Moreover, the French heavyweights have overtaken Juventus in the race for the Parma star. They've opened talks with the player's camp after the Crusaders turned down Juventus' opening bid and are looking to close the deal swiftly.
Suzuki has been brilliant for Parma in the last two years, helping the club avoid Serie A relegation in consecutive seasons while establishing himself as one of the division's standout goalkeepers. Furthermore, he starred for ***** an at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with his market value skyrocketing after a superb tournament.

#juventus #last #zion

Cubs believed to have 'best shot' of trading for Mariners' 3.26 ERA ace-level pitcher originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Chicago Cubs are in dire need of starting pitching help, and it's been widely reported leading up to the deadline that they're in pursuit of rotation help.
While the Cubs could wind up targeting many different options, including Tarik Skubal, a better, more realistic target might be a controllable starter with a few of their current starters set to hit free agency after the season comes to a close.
One starter, 3.26 ERA Seattle Mariners righty ace-level pitcher Emerson Hancock, would be an incredible acquisition. USA Today's Bob Nightengale is reporting rival MLB clubs believe the Cubs have the "best shot" to land Hanock, but it would be very costly.
"Teams are salivating over the idea of acquiring Hancock, who's easily the most prized young starter on the market," Nightengale writes. "They believe that the Cubs could have the best shot at him if they include outfielder Seiya Suzuki and perhaps infielder Matt Shaw in a deal."

#starter #Mariners

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

Thursday's afternoon game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs can be described with two words: missed opportunities. Runners in scoring position not realized would be a problem for both the Cardianls and Cubs. Andre Pallante kept the Cubs relatively quiet, but would he get enough offensive support for a win? So many questions.
The St. Louis Cardinals were the first to score Thursday in the bottom of the 2nd inning when Lars Nootbaar and Masyn Winn drew one-out walks. That brought up Bryan Torres who singled to left scoring Nootbaar and giving the Cardinals an early 1-0 lead. That run would unfortunately be all St. Louis could manage in the bottom of the 2nd as Blaze Jordan and Nathan Church left runners in scoring position.
The Chicago Cubs tied the game in the top of the 4th inning when Alex Bregman slammed a one-out double. He would score when Lars Nootbaar forgot there was only one out when Ian Happ flew out to right allowing Bregman to score. File this under mistakes the St. Louis Cardinals cannot afford to make, but stuff happens and that tied the game at 1-1.
Both the Cardinals and Cubs would have opportunities to score in the middle innings, but no results until the top of the 7th inning when Dansby Swanson drew a one-out walk. That would end Andre Pallante's day. By the way, if you didn't see Masyn Winn's play in the top of the 7th inning on a ball to deep short, it might be his best play of the year so far.
George Soriano would enter the game and be greeted by Swanson stealing second base. After Pete Crow-Armstrong struck out (a moment all of Cardinals Nation enjoys), Suzuki walked followed by a two-out single by Michael Busch scoring Swanson and giving the Cubs a brief 2-1 lead. Very brief.

#inning #Chicago

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ and Nico ***** ner drove in two runs apiece and the Chicago Cubs jumped out to a seven-run lead after two innings on the way to a 10-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.
Happ punctuated an 11-pitch at-bat with a two-run double to get the Cubs' scoring started. Pete Crow-Armstrong's sacrifice fly scored Michael Conforto and Suzuki added a double. Michael Busch and ***** ner added RBI singles to make it 7-0, chasing Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy.
McGreevy (4-9) lasted 1 2/3 innings and gave up eight hits and seven earned runs. He walked two and struck out two as the Cardinals lost their third straight game.
Alec Burleson walked and Lars Nootbaar and Masyn Winn singled as the Cardinals loaded the bases in the fourth. Burelson scored on a sacrifice fly by Nathan Church. Winn hit a ground-rule double that plated the Cardinals' second run of the game in the ninth.
Pedro Ramírez had an infield single that scored ***** ner in the fifth. Suzuki added an RBI single in the eighth, and Carson Kelly drove in a run with a single in the ninth as the Cubs banged out a total of 17 hits.

#hoerner #scored #single

Trying to describe what happened when the St. Louis Cardinals played a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Tuesday night is like trying to explain what it looked like when you see a dumpster on fire. It wasn't pretty, but it happened so let's begin.
The Chicago Cubs made St. Louis Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy look like a batting practice pitcher. It started out promising enough (for the first out, anyway) when Pete Crow-Armstrong struck out gloriously. From there, it was downhill at blazing speed. I'll keep this as brief as possible. Suzuki singled. Two batters later, Bregman hit a ground rule double then Ian Happ hit a double which made it 2-0 Cubs before most of the Busch Stadium crowd had even taken their seat.
The top of the 2nd inning was worse. So much worse. Conforto singled. Kelly walked. Two batters later, PCA hit a sacrifice fly then Suzuki doubled, Busch singled, Bregman singled, Happ walked, then Nico ******* ner singled to right. By the time the carnage was over, it was 7-0 Cubs. Even the all-you-can-eat Busch Stadium food deal isn't enough to redeem this type of experience. Michael McGreevy didn't even finish the 2nd inning. That was Gordon Graceffo's job and, to his credit, he kept the Cubs from piling on any more runs until he was replaced by Justin Bruihl in the top of the 5th inning.
The Cardinals would manage to scrounge around for a run in the bottom of the 4th inning when they loaded the bases with an Alec Burleson walk, a Nootbaar infield single, a Masyn Winn single and a Nathan Church sacrifice fly with the bases loaded slightly reducing the humiliation making it 7-1 Cubs.
The Cubs were determined to squash whatever faint hopes the Cardinals might have managed with that menial 1-run bottom of the 4th by grabbing another run in the top of the 5th inning when Nico ******* ner walked then stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch by Justin Bruihl and then scored on an infield single from Ramirez restoring the 7-run lead making it 8-1 Chicago. The Cubs added another run in the top of the 8th to make it 9-1 and another in the top of the 9th to make it 10-1, but who really cares? Oh, the Cardinals did add a run in the bottom of the 9th inning when Masyn Winn doubled in Lars Nootbaar who had walked to make the final score 10-2, but we still don't care.

#even

The St. Louis Cardinals entered Monday night's game against the Chicago Cubs with an urgent need to turn their recent downward spiral around. The Chicago Cubs and specifically their bats seemed determined to not allow that to happen.
Matthew Liberatore started the game for the Cardinals who planned to piggyback his start with Hunter Dobbins for the final half of the game. David Peterson, who the Cardinals hit hard in their last encounter, made that seem like a distant memory as he held St. Louis and their struggling offense to a minimum of opportunities.
The Cubs scored on Matthew Liberatore in each of the first 3 innings. In the top of the 1st inning, Liberatore walked Pete Crow-Armstrong, but then picked him off of first to the delight of the "Tarps Off" crowd in right field. Chicago got the last laugh, though, as Suzuki and Bregman hit back-to-back doubles giving the Cubs a 1-0 lead.
Chicago would score again in the top of the 2nd inning as Nico ****** ner led off with a single. After Ian Happ struck out, Dansby Swanson singled giving Chicago runners at first and second with just one out. Amaya then smacked a single to right doubling the Cubs lead to 2-0.
The Cardinals would get one run back in the bottom of the 2nd inning when José Fermín would become the Fermínator muscling up for a 407 foot shot into Big Mac Land reducing the Cubs lead to 2-1.

#liberatore #game #lead

New vehicle sales in the Philippines declined by a further 8% to 37,231 units in June 2026, down from 40,483 units in the same month last year, according to member wholesale data released jointly by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers ***** ociation (TMA).
This was the sixth consecutive month of decline for the market, as economic growth in the country continued to slow. The latest government data show that GDP growth slowed to 2.8% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, down from 3.7% in the second half of 2025 and 4.4% for the whole of last year. Higher fuel prices resulting from the conflict in the Middle East have added to existing economic pressures, including the fallout from last year's infrastructure corruption scandal.
Despite a sharp drop in household consumption in the first quarter, the central bank has raised its benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points to 4.75% since April, reversing a two-year easing cycle from a peak of 6.5% in mid-2024, to help rein in surging inflation resulting from the recent fuel price hikes.
In the first six months of 2026, the Philippine vehicle market was down by over 11% to 204,557 units, from 230,912 units in the same period last year, with sales of passenger cars and commercial vehicles both falling by over 11% to 40,503 units and 164,054 units, respectively. Sales of electrified vehicles, including battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrids, surged by 132% to 31,351 units in this period, however, as consumers prioritized fuel-efficient vehicles amid rising fuel prices.
The overall market leader, Toyota, reported a 9% sales decline to 100,909 units year-to-date, followed by Mitsubishi with 36,321 units (-17%); Suzuki 9,262 units (-14%); Ford 7,435 units (-32%); and Nissan 6,921 units (-42%).

#units #year #down #philippines

For the first time in nearly two decades, both the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox have entered the second half of the season with legitimate playoff aspirations.
While the Cubs entered the year expecting to compete for the National League Central, the White Sox have exceeded every preseason outlook after one of the worst stretches in franchise history. As the trade deadline approaches, the White Sox find themselves in a position few predicted, while the Cubs continue to manage expectations; both clubs are playing meaningful baseball in July.
Throughout the season, fans have seen both teams step up and play with their deep rosters carrying them to victory.
The Cubs entered 2026 with one goal: a return to the postseason. Through the first half of the season, they have looked like a playoff contender. Rather than relying on one superstar, Chicago has won through roster depth, strong defense, quality starting pitching and timely hitting. They have consistently remained near the top of the National League despite competing in one of baseball's toughest divisions and recovering from a 10-game losing streak earlier in the season.
One of the biggest reasons for the Cubs' success has been their ability to get production throughout the lineup. Pete Crow-Armstrong has continued his emergence as one of baseball's premier defensive center fielders while becoming a dangerous hitter at the top of the order. Seiya Suzuki has provided middle-of-the-order power and run production, giving the Cubs one of the more balanced offenses in the National League.

#first

Newcastle United are no longer in the race to sign Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford.
According to The Athletic, the Magpies previously held talks with City about signing Trafford but are now looking at alternatives.
They are exploring a deal for Parma’s Zion Suzuki and Carl Rushworth of Brighton & Hove Albion.
Leeds United are locked in discussions with City over a move for Trafford, who also prefers a switch to Elland Road.
The Whites are seeking a replacement for Karl Darlow, who recently joined Manchester United on a free transfer.

#united #parma

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Reid Detmers had another stellar start out of the All-Star Break on Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals, but he was facing a different kind of foe while battling it out with the Cardinals: the summer sun.
It was a hot one at game time and Detmers was at the mercy of the Wednesday afternoon sun the entire time on the mound. While he more or less cruised through the Cardinals lineup for most of his start, fatigue started to set in as his velocity steadily dropped the entire game, going from 94.1 MPH on his first fastball of the game to just 91.9 on his last.
"It was just hot. The first couple innings felt really good and then the longer I stayed out there, obviously the more tired I got," Detmers said. "But, I didn't really feel like my stuff felt bad. Just the velo's down a little bit. Stuff felt really good actually."
That last fastball was also the one that caused him the most trouble considering that JJ Wentworth took it for a ride for his 15th home run of the season, a solo shot that broke a scoreless tie and put the Cardinals ahead 1-0 in the top of the sixth.
After that, manager Kurt Suzuki from the game to finish what was otherwise an outstanding start with Detmers going 5.1 innings pitched with just one earned run, two hits and two walks allowed while striking out six.

#start #felt #entire

Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki continues to attract new clubs, as Newcastle United are the latest linked after Juventus, Aston Villa and Leeds United.
The shot-stopper had already made a strong name for himself with his Serie A performances, but his profile stepped up several levels thanks to the heroics for ****** an at the 2026 World Cup.
He is widely expected to leave the Stadio Tardini this summer and there is no shortage of options for his signature.
TOKYO, ****** AN – MAY 31: Zion Suzuki of ****** an applauds fans after the international friendly match between ****** an and Iceland at MUFG Stadium on May 31, 2026 in Tokyo, ****** an. (Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images)
Now Chronicle Live and Sport Mediaset claim that Newcastle United have held initial talks with Suzuki and his entourage.

Newcastle United have entered the race to sign Parma's breakout ***** an international goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, threatening to hijack Leeds United's long-standing pursuit. Eddie Howe and Daniel Farke are at St James' Park and Elland Road, respectively. The Magpies' interest in Suzuki has intensified in recent days as manager Eddie Howe seeks to further reshape his goalkeeping department following the arrival of Ewen Jaouen from Ligue 2 side Reims.
Following the free-transfer departures of Illan Meslier and Karl Darlow, with the former joining ***** nal, Leeds United had pinpointed Suzuki as their absolute priority target between the sticks and reportedly already agreed a contract running until 2031 to outmanoeuvre parallel European interest from Juventus and Aston Villa.
However, Newcastle's interest has shifted the landscape. Senior recruitment figures on Tyneside have been monitoring the 'world-class' keeper closely since March, when senior scout Mick Tait watched Suzuki keep a clean sheet in ***** an's 1-0 win over England at Wembley. Suzuki's profile has only risen since, having started all four matches for ***** an at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America before their narrow last-32 elimination against Brazil.
Newcastle's urgency is fuelled by growing uncertainty over Nick Pope. The 34-year-old veteran has entered the final year of his contract at St James' Park and has been linked with a move to Ipswich Town.
With Suzuki cleared to leave Parma this summer, Newcastle's recruitment team must act swiftly if they are to win the race for his signature. While Leeds remain in contention and are desperate to secure a long-term successor to Meslier, the prospect of European football under Eddie Howe could give the Magpies a crucial edge.

BALTIMORE — Pete Crow-Armstrong isn't showing any signs of cooling off at the plate.
Crow-Armstrong became the first hitter with at least 20 home runs and 20 steals in MLB this season when he went deep in the third inning to give the Chicago Cubs an early lead against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night at Camden Yards.
The 24-year-old center fielder took Orioles starter Dean Kremer out of the ballpark again in the fifth for his second mutlihomer game of the season. Seiya Suzuki added a three-run shot in a five-run seventh, and the Cubs held on for a 9-7 victory, their third straight and eighth in 10 games.
Crow-Armstrong is the first Cub with back-to-back 20-20 seasons since Sammy Sosa did it in three straight (1993-95) and the third with multiple such seasons (Sosa and Ryne Sandberg).
He accomplished the feat before the All-Star break for a second consecutive season. It again puts Crow-Armstrong in rare company as one of four players in MLB history to go 20-20 before their team's 95th game in a season after reaching the mark in 73 games last year and in the Cubs' 92nd game Wednesday. He joins Alfonso Soriano (2002-03, '06), Jose Canseco (1988, '98) and Bobby Bonds (1969, '73, '77).

BALTIMORE (AP) — Pete Crow-Armstrong hit two of Chicago's five home runs and the Cubs outslugged the Baltimore Orioles 9-7 on Wednesday night.
Michael Conforto and Carson Kelly also went deep on the first two pitches of the fifth inning for Chicago, tying the game immediately after Pete Alonso's two-run shot had given Baltimore a 3-1 lead.
Chicago then scored five runs in the seventh, including a three-run shot by Seiya Suzuki.
Tyler O'Neill homered twice for Baltimore and Coby Mayo also went deep.
Colin Rea (7-5) allowed three runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings for the Cubs. Dean Kremer (1-2) gave up just six hits in five innings, but four of them were solo homers.

Brazil’s World Cup campaign began with a bit of scepticism about how they might perform after a bizarre qualifying campaign and mixed results heading into the tournament. Things like a 3-2 loss to **** an, a 1-1 draw with Tunisia, followed by a defeat to France, meant Brazil came into the tournament with plenty of uncertainty surrounding how they would perform, and the fans were hopeful, although there was far less expectation than in recent years.
Their preparations for the tournament kicked off with a 6-2 victory over Panama, which lifted the mood a bit, but their defensive fragilities were still evident in that match. A 2-1 victory over Egypt followed before they began their World Cup campaign with a game against Morocco, where they drew 1-1. Morocco were probably the better side, and Brazil’s doubts before the tournament appeared to be justified.
Then things began to improve for Brazil as they battered Haiti 3-0 with goals from Matheus Cunha and Vinícius Júnior. A solid defensive display and a ruthless attack gave Brazil hope, especially against Scotland, where they once again weren’t at their brilliant best, but were able to rely on moments of quality to capitalise on mistakes. A brace from Vinícius Júnior and another goal from Cunha saw them enjoy another 3-0 victory and another clean sheet.
However, it wasn’t the most pleasing of performances for Brazil. Despite that, they still produced a very dominant attacking display, registering an xG of 4.34 compared to Scotland’s 1.05. It was the type of performance **** ociated with Carlo Ancelotti, where they could win the game by flicking a switch to turn it on when needed and punish any mistakes made by their opponents, which seemed to be perfect heading into the knockout stages.
There, they first took on **** an, and it looked very nervy for the Brazilians when Kashui Sono opened the scoring. Brazil responded by bombarding Zion Suzuki’s goal, but couldn’t find a way through until the 56th minute. Casemiro levelled things before Gabriel Martinelli scored in stoppage time to give Brazil a place in the quarter-finals.

So, it turns out the Cubs are no slouches after all. And though it’s their offense that’s supposed to be a team strength, today the Most Cub-Like Player had to have been the starter, Matthew Boyd. The lefty hounded the Orioles all night, the way you thought a crafty lefty might. Through six innings, Baltimore had no runs and just three hits—a single apiece by Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Pete Alonso—off the 2025 All-Star, who was mixing up speeds and locations. That’s no way to win a ballgame.
You can’t be too mad at a Shane Baz quality start (six innings, three runs) against MLB’s second-best offense. But his team gave him no help at all.
Rain delayed first pitch by an hour, so we kicked off bravely at the pretty regular hour of 7:30 ET. It didn’t appear to faze the Orioles starter, Baz, who confronted the Cubs with confidence, attacking the zone.
For two innings it kinda worked! Baz had a strong first inning, striking out the mighty Pete Crow-Armstrong with high heat before retiring Alex Bregman and Michael Busch on two quick flyouts. In the second, he allowed lots of noisy contact, including to outfielder Seiya Suzuki, who skied a ball deep to center, 383 feet away, 106 mph off the bat.
Despite keeping things scoreless, so many hard hits augured poorly for Baz in the third. Considering, it could have gone worse. With two outs, Miguel Amaya walked and Crow-Armstrong singled to center before Alex Bregman got a hanging Baz knuckle curve and singled home the Cubs’ first run. A concerned O’s pitching staff checked on Baz, but the damage wouldn’t go any further. It took a popout with the bases loaded to get Baz out of trouble, though.

By Satoshi Sugiyama and Hina Suzuki
TOKYO, July 7 (Reuters) - A shortage of critical minerals is starting to affect the broader ****** anese economy, adding a sense of urgency for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government to find alternatives to exports that China has cut off, according to recent corporate filings.
China dominates the global market for rare ‌earths - which are crucial in making items from electric cars to weapons - and it is using those supplies as a diplomatic cudgel.
Since Takaichi enraged Beijing with comments about ‌defending Taiwan in November, Beijing has choked off shipments of certain key minerals to ****** an.
Recent surges in the Nikkei stock index to successive records and buoyant corporate sentiment in the Bank of ****** an's Tankan survey point to an economy on an upswing. But an unprecedented increase in corporate ****** an's notices about critical minerals is flashing a warning signal for the quarters ahead.

Juventus have made an enquiry about Parma striker Mateo Pellegrino, according to Gianluigi Longari, as they continue to weigh up their attacking options this summer.
Randal Kolo Muani remains the priority up front, Luciano Spalletti’s clear preference, with talks ongoing, but the Bianconeri are casting a wider net.
In Longari’s report, via AlfredoPedulla.com, Pellegrino’s name came up as a player Juventus have asked about, the Argentine forward coming off an impressive season at Parma.
SASSUOLO, ITALY – JANUARY 06: Luciano Spalletti head coach of Juventus and Giovanni Carnevali Ceo of US Sassuolo during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Juventus FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on January 06, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Interestingly, the interest in Pellegrino reportedly surfaced during Juventus’s contacts over goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, another Parma man.

Pirates star pitcher Paul Skenes has been named to the National League All-Star team for this year's Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
The game is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Skenes, 24, leads the National League in ERA with 2.35 and strikeouts with 505 since making his Major League debut on May 11, 2024, against Chicago (NL). In that same period, he also ranks second in batting average against with .201 and WHIP with 0.96.
Skenes joins Rip Sewell (1943-44, 1946) and Elroy Face (1959-61) as the only Pirates pitchers to be selected to the All-Star Game in three consecutive seasons. There was no All-Star Game in 1945.
He also became the first pitcher and one of five players to start in the All-Star Game in each of his first two Major League seasons (2024-25), a group that includes Joe DiMaggio (seven straight, 1936-42), Ichiro Suzuki (four straight, 2001-04), Rod Carew (three straight, 1967-69) and Frank Robinson (two straight, 1956-57).

Leeds United have done plenty of the groundwork on Zion Suzuki, but transfer stories are rarely won on groundwork alone. According to Sports View, Leeds have been pushing hard for the Parma goalkeeper, a player described as "one of the best talents", and personal terms are reportedly already in place. That matters, but it does not settle anything.
The issue is straightforward. Juventus are now involved, and when a club of that size enters the conversation, the dynamics change quickly. Leeds may have been frontrunners for weeks, yet Parma now have fresh leverage and a very obvious reason to hold firm on their valuation. The asking price is around €30 million, a hefty figure for a goalkeeper, even one coming off "a string of outstanding World Cup performances for **** an".
There is another layer here, and it is important. Juventus have just sold Giovanni Daffara to Parma for €6 million plus add-ons. That is not incidental business. It creates a direct line between the clubs and, more importantly, it helps Parma prepare for life after Suzuki. As the report states, Parma's move is "a clear move to prepare for life after Suzuki". Once that succession planning is in place, the selling club can negotiate from a position of calm rather than urgency.
Photo: IMAGO
Leeds still have a real chance. The report says they "remain ahead of other Premier League suitors like Aston Villa", which is encouraging. But Aston Villa are not the main threat now. Juventus are. They can offer Serie A continuity, Champions League pull and a familiar environment. For a player who has already built momentum in Italy, that can be persuasive.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — It's not the start to the holiday weekend that the Angels wanted.
Left-hander Reid Detmers got tagged for five earned runs, the offense was non-existent until the eighth inning and Logan O'Hoppe left the game after a foul ball hit him in the mask, and he is now under concussion protocol in the Angels' 5-2* loss against the Red Sox on Friday night.
"We don't really know yet, we've got to kind of see what the tests show with the doctor," Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said about the status of O'Hoppe. "After the doctor looks at him, we're going to see where we're at. But he's just going through some protocol testing right now."
It could be a huge blow to the Angels if O'Hoppe heads to the injured list, as the Angels are already thin on catching depth with Travis d'Arnaud on the injured list with plantar fasciitis and will not return for at least another couple of weeks.
If O'Hoppe does indeed hit the injured list, the catching tandem in Anaheim will likely be Tyler Heineman and Logan Porter.

Leeds United are pushing hard to land **** an goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. Contacts are active. Italian transfer insider Gianluigi Longari broke the news on X, revealing that Elland Road chiefs have been aggressively chasing the Parma shot-stopper since mid-June. It is a bold, expensive move.
Parma are already planning for life without him. The Serie A side recently signed a young keeper, Giovanni Daffara, a move made with the clear expectation that Suzuki is about to bring in a massive profit. His stock has never been higher, fresh off a standout World Cup campaign with **** an. Rival clubs are hovering, threatening to turn this into a bidding war, but Leeds United have been on the front foot for weeks, trying to clear out the competition.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JUNE 25: Zion Suzuki #1 of **** an acknowledges fans after the 1-1 draw in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F match between **** an and Sweden at Dallas Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
Daniel Farke wants a different profile in goal. A modern, proactive presence. Suzuki offers him an ideal option after a solid domestic season in Italy, where he clocked up 20 Serie A appearances, kept five clean sheets, and made 66 saves while conceding 28 goals. He has an imposing physical presence, completely commanding his penalty box, but it is his distribution that really moves the needle. He launches counterattacks in a flash.
Farke demands his teams build play from the back. It is a non-negotiable part of his tactical setup, making Suzuki the ideal target to initiate attacks.

Take a flyball pitcher in JP Sears and put him on the mound in Wrigley Field with the wind blowing out you get a final score that looks like a bad football game. That was the case Tuesday night when the San Diego Padres suffered a 9-7 loss to the Chicago Cubs.
Sears was staked to a lead thanks to a leadoff home run from Fernando Tatis Jr. to start the game, but the 1-0 advantage was short-lived because a Tatis throwing error in the bottom of the inning allowed Seiya Suzuki to reach safely and advance to second base with two outs. Sears allowed an RBI-single to Carson Kelly and the game was tied 1-1 after the first inning.
The trouble for the left-hander came in the bottom of the second inning. Sears allowed a one-out solo home run to Dansby Swanson to give Chicago a 2-1 lead. He then allowed a single and a walk before allowing a three-run home run to Alex Bregman to give the Cubs a 5-1 lead. Manny Machado hit a two-run homer in the top of the third to make the score 5-3 in favor of the home team.
Both sides settled into the rhythm of the game until the bottom of the fifth inning when Sears allowed a solo blast to Michael Busch before allowing a two-out single to Ian Happ. Ron Marinaccio took over for Sears and allowed a two-run home run on a 2-2 pitch to the first batter he faced in Swanson who pushed the Cubs ahead, 8-3. Marinaccio was tagged for another home run to open the bottom of the sixth inning when he faced Pete Crow-Armstrong and the Padres found themselves trailing 9-3.
San Diego did mount a comeback in the top of the eighth inning when Gavin Sheets hit a three-run home run after a walk by Ty France and a one-out single by Xander Bogaerts. Tatis stepped to the plate later in the inning with two outs and connected on his second solo home run of the game and the second home run in the inning for San Diego, but that was where the scoring ended for the Padres and now, they find themselves looking to Walker Buehler to avoid a three-game sweep today at 11:20 a.m.