A blown save. Two extremely rare pitching performances. Corn-powered Schwarbombs. Thursday’s MLB action provided all that and much more.

Here are all the best moments from last night in Major League Baseball:

Brewers Rally Against Díaz In 9th For W

The Brewers and Dodgers have both struggled a bit of late, to varying degrees: the Dodgers didn’t get a win in August until this past weekend, and sweeping the Royals is good and all, but Kansas City isn’t exactly setting the standings on fire, while the Brewers were swept by the Padres and lost their standing as the holders of MLB’s best record in the process. The two are facing off in a four-game set, though, which could end up having postseason implications given only the top two teams in each league end up with a bye of the Wild Card Series. What kind of implications? Well, the Dodgers are now half-a-game behind the Braves in the overall standings, following a blown save against Milwaukee on Thursday.

In the bottom of the sixth, Max Muncy pinch-hit with two runners on, and hit a three-run shot to put the Dodgers ahead, 4-2.

This dinger made Max Muncy the all-time leader for Dodger Stadium homers, with 131, but it also ended up being the last runs that Los Angeles would score on the night. Closer Edwin Díaz would enter in the top of the ninth to close out the game, but instead, he allowed a single to shortstop Joey Ortiz, another to second baseman David Hamilton and a third to leadoff hitter and left fielder, Jackson Chourio, to make it a one-run game.

Center fielder Garrett Mitchell then followed with another single, the fourth in a row, to tie things up. 

While first baseman Gary Sánchez struck out for the second out, there was one more to go, and the Dodgers tabbed Alex Vesia to try to get it. He fared no better than Díaz, however, giving up a single to right fielder Jake Bauers to give the Brewers a lead.

The three-run rally would hold in the bottom of the ninth: Trevor Megill entered the game for Milwaukee, and sat down Mookie Betts, Muncy and Kyle Tucker in order to secure the W. The Brewers are 75-47, the Dodgers 73-49, and the Braves in between the two at 73-48. Assuming a postseason berth for all three is safe enough, but as far as what seed? It might take the rest of the season to sort that out.

Tigers Shut Out Guardians Without A Single K

Shutouts aren’t rare, but in this age of constant strikeouts and game-planning built around relievers throwing gas at max efficiency? A shutout without any strikeouts is absolutely a rarity. In fact, the last such game came in 2014, when groundballer Rick Porcello was on the mound for the Detroit Tigers. And now the Tigers have pulled it off again, throwing a shutout against the Guardians on Thursday, courtesy three different pitchers: starter Keider Montero (6 ⅓ innings) and relievers Tyler Holton and Kenley Jansen. The trio allowed just four hits, walked one batter total and didn’t give up any runs, but they also didn’t record a single K.

To the credit of Guardians’ pitching, they did well, too: Cleveland gave up just three runs with starter Parker Messick going 5 ⅔ with six strikeouts against five baserunners, and two runs allowed, and the pen gave up just one more run. But that’s too much when the bats are silenced.

The win also vaulted Detroit over the Guardians in the AL Central standings: the Tigers are 60-61 and 2.5 back of the White Sox, while holding on to the final wild-card spot in the AL by half-a-game over the Rangers.

A Masterclass In Efficiency

Pirates’ starter Braxton Ashcraft went the other way entirely from the Tigers. He did allow a run, but that’s not the differentiator: the 6-foot-5 right-hander threw a complete-game on just 85 pitches, and he struck out 10 batters, too. The Pirates didn’t need him to go quite that hard against the Marlins, since the final score ended up being 13-1, but hey, show off.  

Ashcraft’s 85 pitches are the second-fewest in a complete game with at least 10 strikeouts, according to OptaSTATS, behind only Randy Johnson’s 2004 effort with 82 pitches and 11 strikeouts — no one has been more efficient on a 10-K night than this pair since this info was first tracked in 1988.

The timing could not have been better for Pittsburgh, either: the Pirates are just 59-64 and fell into the NL Central basement. While the Bucs are still in the NL wild-card race, sitting six games back, they also have eight teams in front of them, including the Marlins — Miami won the first two games of the series before Pittsburgh avoided the sweep on Thursday.

Kyle Schwarber, Better With Corn

The annual Field of Dreams game was played on Thursday in Dyersville, Iowa, with the Phillies taking on the Twins. It turns out Kyle Schwarber, midwestern boy that he is, gets a stat boost from being around corn. The Phillies’ DH blasted a leadoff homer, his MLB-leading 36th of the year…

…and then another in the fourth inning to extend both Philadelphia’s and his own lead. 

Paired with five innings and just one run allowed by Aaron Nola in a nine-strikeout effort, and four Phillies’ relievers shutting Minnesota down the rest of the way, this one wasn’t close — Philly would win, 7-1, and snap a tie with the Diamondbacks for the third NL wild-card to move half-a-game up on Arizona because of it.

Red Sox Snap Losing Streak In Grand Fashion

The Red Sox won 27 of 30, then lost a series to the Athletics and dropped the first three to the Blue Jays, as well, giving them a five-game losing streak. Boston is still in a great spot — posting a .900 winning percentage for over a month will give you some leeway there — but everyone would surely feel better if the losing streak ended. Well, not anyone in Toronto, but that’s because the Jays are also fighting for a postseason spot.

That journey got just a little bit tougher thanks to a 7-0 loss on Thursday: Red Sox starter Payton Tolle threw eight shutout innings with just four baserunners allowed, and the just-recalled Greg Weissert threw an uneventful ninth. 

This had been a 1-0 game until an inning before, when third baseman Caleb Durbin broke things open with a grand slam off reliever Chase Lee. 

That’s bad enough, but this came after a start from Max Scherzer that was one of the best he’s thrown all season: the 42-year-old Scherzer went five innings while allowing one run and five baserunners, giving him a 2.37 ERA in his four starts since returning from the IL in late-July.

The Sox are five up on the third wild-card spot, and have the third-best run differential in the AL, behind the Tigers and Yankees. Toronto is two games behind those same Tigers with the L, but there’s plenty of time left there… assuming the Tigers don’t just keep on winning like they have been, anyway. You know, the Tigers that were 16 games under .500 on May 31, and are now just one dub away from an even record.

A HBP, And Benches Clear

White Sox starter Davis Martin didn’t last very long against the Reds on Thursday, but it wasn’t because he got knocked around — he wasn’t his sharpest, sure, but Martin was ejected after knocking Sal Stewart’s helmet off with a pitch in the top of the third.

That got the benches cleared, but the worst for the White Sox was yet to come: after Martin exited, Erick Fedde allowed another four runs, and Tanner McDougal another. Chicago scored one in the fifth and another three late, but it wasn’t enough: Cincinnati won the game, 9-8, and the series, too, against the AL Central-leading White Sox.

Every Angel Gets A Hit

Jacob deGrom was pulled from this Rangers-Angels game after just two innings, thanks to triceps fatigue. He allowed six hits and two runs before he was lifted, and that was just the start of the bad news for Texas. Every singles Angels batter would get a hit, with center fielder Mike Trout and shortstop Denzer Guzman notching three a piece. 

The real star of the game was rookie starter Walbert Ureña, who threw six scoreless while giving up two hits and two walks against five strikeouts. He’s been having quite a season, as the Angels were quick to brag about on social media.

The Rangers got knocked out of holding a wild-card spot with this loss, but even so Texas is just half-a-game out of getting it back, and are two behind the Astros in the AL West. And if deGrom is feeling fine, then Rangers fans still have plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

Cavalli Stops Cubs

The Cubs have been on a seemingly unstoppable run lately, but for at least a moment, the Nationals slowed them down. Cade Cavalli went eight innings allowing just one hit and two walks, keeping the Cubs off the board while striking out 10. Trade deadline acquisition Kevin Gausman, meanwhile, gave up half-a-dozen runs and didn’t make it out of the fifth inning.

The game-winner had already been hit at this point, but first baseman Abimelec Ortiz had the big bop of the day: a three-run homer off Gausman that went 414 feet, and 105.2 mph off the bat.

Chicago is 4.5 up and holding the top wild-card in the NL, with a (markedly) better record than all but one AL division leader, but this is the kind of win that the Nats need more of: Washington is five back of the last wild-card and coming off of selling some pieces at the deadline. 

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One can forget the things people say, but never the way they make them feel.

For Texas Longhorns transfer linebacker Rasheem Biles, who grew up roughly 30 minutes south-east of Columbus in Pickerington, Ohio, the team’s Sept. 12 matchup against the Ohio State Buckeyes in Austin is personal.

“They called and stuff [when I was in the transfer portal], but I didn’t want to stay in Columbus if I’m being honest. Obviously, we got agents. When I made my list and stuff, I told my mom, I ain’t trying to be in Columbus, and I’m not trying to be a Buckeye. They didn’t want me out of high school, and I was right there, so there’s no point in trying to get me now,” Biles said at a press conference about Ohio State on Thursday afternoon.

“I’m excited for that game, definitely. That’s circled on my calendar, for sure.”

The senior linebacker transferred to Texas after spending the first three seasons of his collegiate career with the Pitt Panthers (2023-25). Last season, Biles totaled 101 combined tackles, 17.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions — which were each run back for touchdowns — two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery across 10 games.

Over the last two years (2024-25), he averaged 91.5 combined tackles, 15.8 tackles for loss, five sacks, 1.5 interceptions and 1.5 forced fumbles per season. Biles joins a Texas defense that was 12th in the SEC last season in opponent passing yards (234.9 per game), eighth in opponent total yards (338.8 per game), sixth in opponent points (20.3 per game) and fifth in opponent rushing yards (103.9 per game).

The Longhorns missed the College Football Playoff at 9-3 before beating the Michigan Wolverines in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, while the then-defending champion Buckeyes were the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff before losing to the Miami Hurricanes in the quarterfinal round. Texas is entering its second season with redshirt junior and former No. 1 recruit Arch Manning as its full-time quarterback.

As for the looming powerhouse showdown, the Week 2 duel between Texas and Ohio State will be their third matchup in as many years.

The two teams met in the 2024 College Football Playoff semifinals, with the Buckeyes beating the Longhorns (28-14) and then defeating them again to open the 2025 season at Ohio Stadium (14-7). It will be just the sixth all-time meeting between the two programs, with Ohio State 3-2 in those matchups.

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In Driver’s Eye with James Hinchcliffe, the six-time INDYCAR winner will bring you inside the mind of a racer while breaking down the nuts and bolts of the sport for fans.

As INDYCAR continues its mad dash to the season’s checkered flag, the next two stops on the calendar represent a unique challenge: brand-new street circuits.

Now, this concept isn’t new for the teams and drivers in the series. It’s not even new this year, after we went to Arlington, Texas, for the first time back in March. But having this many in a season — and two back-to-back in Markham, Ontario, and Washington, D.C. — is certainly outside the norm.

So naturally, you might want to know: How does a driver prepare for a brand-new, temporary street circuit? 

The answer is the Driver In The Loop simulator, or the DIL. 

(Render courtesy of INDYCAR)

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The DIL is a frequently used and massively helpful tool for drivers and engineers alike in preparation for any race. But it has extra importance when coming to a new, temporary track.

Why do I keep emphasizing the “temporary” part? Because if you’re going to a track that is new for you, but not brand new, there are other things you can look at to prepare. 

Drivers will look at on-board videos from other motorsports series that have raced there. Engineers can look at data sets from a completely different race car, then use offsets they know — based on how that type of car performs against an INDYCAR at a track that they have both been on — to try and determine rough performance parameters.

But when it’s a brand-new track, the DIL simulations are the best — really, the only — tool you’ve got. 

Chip Ganassi Racing and Alex Palou recently posted a video online of him doing some sim laps around the upcoming D.C. venue that gives you a sense of what this is like for the driver. Behind the wheel, it provides drivers with a general literal and figurative feel for what to expect when they won’t be on the track until race weekend.

For a new track, the online model used in the sim is built from laser scanning the roads the track will be run on and building out corner radii based on CAD files used to assemble the track. Think architectural drawings that show where each line, curb and wall is.

Part of that scan should give you a rough idea of the level of grip in each corner and also highlight things like bumps in the road. These can all vary greatly on a street track from the sim to real life, so they have to be taken with a grain of salt.

The sim is most useful for drivers getting an idea of where a new track turns left or right, for car placement in corner sequences and for the general rhythm of a track. Things like braking points and minimum speeds and gear selection should be close, but not perfect. 

So again, you have to understand that this is a high-level introduction to the circuit. If you take what you feel in the sim as fact, it can bite you!

I remember one year ahead of going to a new track, my teammate and I did a sim day to prepare. We got comfortable and confident. But when we showed up to the real track, the grip level was so different that we had to relearn every braking point and throttle point! The whole morning of the test day was a waste because we were undoing bad habits we had built in the sim.

That level of judgment comes with experience, and INDYCAR drivers this year have already experienced this process in 2026 with the streets of Arlington. So they know a bit about what to expect from the sim’s accuracy.

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE FAST: MARKHAM

Before INDYCAR tackles D.C., we have the streets of Markham on Sunday. 

Will Power posted a similar video from the DIL showcasing what the series has in store for it in the Great White North. And I have to say, it looks mighty impressive — even if you set aside perhaps a little bias on my part with the course practically in my childhood backyard.

There is one major standout feature of the new Markham track: The entire 2.19-mile circuit was repaved ahead of the race. While commonplace in F1, I can’t remember a time when INDYCAR arrived at a street track with the entire surface newly repaved.

This has two significant impacts on a street track. 

First, it means the grip will be largely consistent across the whole track. One of the staples of street racing is having to navigate multiple different surfaces — asphalt, concrete, patches, new repairs, old and weathered sections — which inevitably have different levels of grip.

The car might perform in a particular way in one corner and a completely different way in another, owing to the different surface type or age. It’s a challenging but fun trait of street courses.

Another formidable, yet often less fun, element of racing on city streets is bumps. Any transition from one surface to another can create a bump. Normal wear and tear from 362 days of civilian traffic can create bumps. Harsh weather — or the response to it, like salted wintery roads — certainly contributes to that as well.

With a fresh repave, you’d expect far fewer bumps than the old surface, which will affect how teams set up the cars. 

You’ll be able to run the car stiffer and lower to the ground. But to throw a bit of a wrench in everyone’s plans, the track layout for the sim model was scanned before the repave, so what drivers felt for grip level and bumpiness will be completely wrong!

The second notable and advantageous impact of the complete repave on a debut course is more options on track layout. 

Since you are repaving everything, there are areas you can now drive an INDYCAR that maybe you couldn’t previously. So we now have a unique and challenging layout that isn’t just a sequence of simple 90- or 180-degree corners that you see on some street circuits.

Add in a bit of elevation, which is not always a trademark of street racing, and you’ve got a recipe for a highly entertaining inaugural Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham.

Pato O’Ward during the 2025 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto, the last INDYCAR race on the old circuit. (Joe Skibinski/Penske Entertainment)

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And while this weekend will be the first INDYCAR race in Markham, it is certainly not the first in the greater Toronto area. 

For 40 years, the race was held in the heart of downtown Toronto, along the water beside the city’s landmark Exhibition Place. It was a venue that hosted some incredible races where many in the current generation of Canadian INDYCAR fans — myself included! — first fell in love with the sport.

1 FOR THE ROAD

Me in 2018 going through Turn 1 at the Princess Gate during practice on the previous course. (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

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I want to sign this week’s column honoring the four decades of great races, lives lost, and fans captured down at Exhibition Place. The circuit had a phenomenal run, but this was the perfect time to pass the baton to Markham. I cannot wait to start the next chapter of INDYCAR history in Canada, where the next generation of Canadian INDYCAR fans will no doubt begin their love affair with the sport.

MORE DRIVER’S EYE:

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Markham, Ontario — Jared Odrick is about 50 pounds lighter than when he was playing in the NFL at around 300-315 pounds.

But the 38-year-old still stands at 6-foot-5. And for a man that tall who weighs about 250 pounds, getting into a race car can be tough.

In fact, when he was in Las Vegas several years ago and attended a racing experience, he could only fit into a GT3 Porsche. But it was that trip that helped fuel his love of fast cars.

He later bought a 901.1 Porsche Cup so that he could compete in SCAA amateur racing about four years ago.

During his NFL career, Jared Odrick played for the Dolphins and Jaguars.

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Odrick has progressed to a successful racer in TransAm and will make his second career NASCAR Canada Series start on Saturday on the streets of Markham, where INDYCAR is the headliner this weekend.

“We had to move the footbox back a few inches,” Odrick said during a virtual news conference earlier this week. “The seat was good. The height was good. But just the length for the legs had to be adjusted. … Sliding through the window is kind of difficult.

“I have a former football injury where I tore my labrum in my right shoulder, so I have some scar tissue there. But I also have a little bit of extra flexibility that I might not be able to have unless I had that happen that allowed me to get into the car.”

Having played seven years in the NFL where he totaled 170 tackles (135 solo) for the Miami Dolphins and the Jacksonville Jaguars, the 2010 first-round pick from Penn State finished 22nd in his series debut last week at Trois-Rivieres. 

He was running well until getting collected in a wreck.

“The competition was high, but we were so happy to see how competitive we were in a racing situation and how good the car was late in the race,” Odrick said.

Odrick would love to race Cup one day but he isn’t focused on it. Currently driving for BC Race Cars in NASCAR’s stock car series in Canada, he just wants to keep competing no matter the series, whether it’s in NASCAR’s international series or in any national series. 

He does feel he could compete on any level if given the time to properly train and prepare with a team. He has competed against some of the top NASCAR prospects on road courses.

“Everybody says they want to get to Cup, especially with the young drivers I’m driving against in TransAm,” Odrick said. “Sometimes when you’re competing against 15-, 16-year-old kids — whether it’s the Tristan McKees, Thomas Annunziatas and Brent Crews and stuff like that — sometimes you look and feel silly that your goals and aspirations are the same as a 16-year-old kid who hasn’t got a chance or is trying to actively prove themselves as a man.

“Then you sit there. ‘Did I not do that with the NFL?’” 

With a home in Toronto near the clinic and a doctor who has treated him throughout his athletic career, Odrick said he wants to show he can switch to another sport.

“I don’t miss playing the game,” Odrick said about football. “It’s a young man’s game, and I think if I missed it at 38 years old, I’d be doing something wrong. … Racing definitely has given my life new meaning, new purpose.

“And it feels like a lot of the discipline that I missed as a young 20-something professional football player, I’m definitely thinking about a lot.”

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We’re going back to Cali — but maybe not exactly where Biggie Smalls was referencing.

Major League Baseball announced on Friday morning that Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, will host the 2028 MLB All-Star Game. This will be the first time San Francisco is the site of the midsummer classic since 2007 and the fourth time ever (1961, 1984, 2007 and 2028).

Now, while it will be the fourth All-Star Game in San Francisco, it will be the sixth time the Giants are the host team, as the Polo Grounds was the site of the Midsummer Classic in 1934, which was the second-ever MLB All-Star Game, and 1942; the San Francisco Giants were the New York Giants from 1883-1957 before moving to California, along with the Brooklyn Dodgers, who became the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1958.

“The San Francisco Giants are incredibly honored to host the 2028 MLB All-Star Game at Oracle Park,” Giants president and CEO Larry Baer said in a statement posted to the team’s website about the news. “We’re thrilled to welcome the baseball world to San Francisco and showcase our city, our organization, and our incredible fans.

“We’re grateful to Major League Baseball for this opportunity and look forward to creating an unforgettable All-Star experience for fans from San Francisco and around the world.”

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed that San Francisco “will be an outstanding host for All-Star Week.”

As for this year, the 2026 MLB All-Star Game was in Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies, with the 2027 Midsummer Classic taking place at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs.

This announcement is a smiling one for a Giants team in the dumps this season, as San Francisco is 50-71, good for 14th in the National League and 27th in MLB altogether under first-year MLB manager Tony Vitello. The Giants are on pace to finish with a losing record for the third time in four seasons and to miss the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season.

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Over the next two weeks, INDYCAR will race at two new tracks. The first one on the schedule is Markham and the next is in Washington, D.C.

The first of the two new tracks runs on Sunday, Aug. 16 at noon ET.

And to no one’s surprise, Alex Palou is favored to get into Winner’s Circle this weekend and next.

For now, let’s take a look at the odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Aug. 14 for the entire field for Markham.

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Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham 2026

Alex Palou: 6/5 (bet $10 to win $22 total)
Kyle Kirkwood: 3/1 (bet $10 to win $40 total)
Christian Lundgaard: 8/1 (bet $10 to win $90 total)
Will Power: 9/1 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
Scott McLaughlin: 10/1 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Pato O’Ward: 10/1 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
David Malukas: 10/1 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Felix Rosenqvist: 14/1 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Scott Dixon: 18/1 (bet $10 to win $190 total)
Josef Newgarden: 22/1 (bet $10 to win $230 total)
Marcus Ericsson: 30/1 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Marcus Armstrong: 30/1 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Rinus Veekay: 40/1 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Graham Rahal: 40/1 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Alexander Rossi: 60/1 (bet $10 to win $610 total)
Santino Ferrucci: 100/1 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Romain Grosjean: 100/1 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Nolan Siegel: 100/1 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Mick Schumacher: 100/1 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Louis Foster: 100/1 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Kyffin Simpson: 100/1 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Dennis Hauger: 100/1 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Christian Rasmussen: 100/1 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Caio Collet: 200/1 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total)
Sting Ray Robb: 500/1 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total)

Here’s What To Know About The Oddsboard:

The Favorite

The odds, once again, are in Alex Palou’s favor. Not only is Palou favored at Markham and in the look-ahead lines for next week’s race in D.C., but the reigning champ is a heavy favorite to defend his title. With six wins, six poles and a 110-point lead on the next driver for the championship, it’s hard to bet against Palou.

One To Watch

That next man on the board, who sits 110 points behind Palou for the championship, is Kyle Kirkwood. He’s also second on the board to be the outright winner at D.C. Earlier this season, Kirkwood got the win at Arlington, another inaugural street course on INDYCAR’s 2026 circuit. With that in mind, could Kirkwood end up getting into Winner’s Circle again as the series races on the streets of Markham for the first time?

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The NFL season is underway … sort of. 

This weekend, every team will have played at least one preseason game. So, with the regular season still a month away, let’s take a look at one of the more fascinating divisions in the league, the NFC North.

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Can Vikings Win NFC North?

The Lions are the favorite to win it at +170, despite finishing in last place in 2025. The Packers were one of the best teams in football for much of last season, and are +225 to win the division this year. However, a second-half collapse and an injury to star linebacker Micah Parsons took a 9-3-1 start, and turned it into the seventh seed in the NFC and a wild-card loss to the Bears. 

Those same Bears won the NFC North for the first time since 2018, and are +305 to repeat as division champs.

The team with the longest odds on the board is the one I like to win — the Minnesota Vikings at +510 (a $10 bet pays $51). Two years ago, the Vikings were 14-2 entering the final game of the season against the Lions, and the winner of that game would determine not only the division winner but the top-seed in the NFC. The Vikings were defeated soundly that night, as well as the following week in the playoffs against Rams. 

The Vikings then saw quarterback Sam Darnold leave in free agency, and the team missed the playoffs in 2025.

But a major reason for optimism in 2026 is the quarterback play the Vikings got a year ago — between J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer — was near the bottom of the league and the team still managed to go 9-8. With the addition of the polarizing-but-talented Kyler Murray at QB, there is hope that 2026 could be similar to 2024. 

The Vikings have perhaps the most respected defensive coordinator in the NFL, as Brian Flores has led the Vikings to top-seven finishes in points allowed the last two seasons, and his unit finished third in yards allowed in 2025. 

The Bears won this division last year, but were +22 in turnovers and are a likely candidate for regression in 2026. The Vikings have what should be another very solid defense, an outstanding group of skill players, and again, a major upgrade at QB. They also avoid the Seahawks and Rams on the schedule, and take on the Packers in Week 1, well before Parsons can return. 

At +510 odds, I think the Vikings could be a surprise team in the NFC North in 2026.  

Hill’s Pick: Vikings to Win NFC North (+510)

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One need only be reminded of the fact that quarterback Sam Darnold just won the Super Bowl to understand that when it comes to the NFL, patience truly can be a virtue. 

Darnold was in his eighth NFL season and the Seattle Seahawks are the fifth team of his professional career, but the point is the same with second-year breakout candidates. It is so easy to get caught up in the excitement of the latest draft class and overlook other young players set to pop. 

With that, here are my picks for which 2025 draft picks I believe will take the biggest leaps in their sophomore season.

AFC EAST

I expect Sanders to be one of the big winners of the Bills’ plan to play more of a 3-4 base under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard. The 6-foot-4, 297-pound Sanders is well-suited for the blue-collar role of eating up would-be blockers, offering impressive strength and length. Sanders won’t necessarily put up eye-popping numbers in 2026, but the former No. 41 overall selection will emerge as an every-game starter this season, after recording just 16 tackles and starting two games as a rookie. 

Look for T.J. Sanders to become a full-time starter in his second season, and for his impact to follow suit. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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The bright flashes shown by Trader, a fifth-round pick in 2025, contributed to Miami trading star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to division rival New York in the offseason. Trader is quick, instinctive and a sound open-field tackler. He only started three games for the Dolphins as a rookie and yet still finished seventh on the team with 55 tackles. He might pace Miami’s secondary in stops this year. 

Wilson didn’t start playing organized football until high school, so when the Patriots asked him to switch to a new position (left guard) after he starred at center at Georgia, I was skeptical. Wilson performed reasonably well as a rookie (though he notably struggled in the Super Bowl), starting 13 games. But I like his frame and athleticism much better at center. He’ll start (and be an upgrade) over Garrett Bradbury from a year ago and has the potential to be one of the league’s best at the position. 

Given how often teams throw the football in today’s NFL, it really is remarkable that the Jets did not record a single interception last year. I can’t pin much of the blame on then-rookie Thomas, who tied for third on the Jets in pass breakups — notably one more than Sauce Gardner — despite starting just five games. Gardner started seven games for New York prior to being traded to Indianapolis. In a season full of disappointments for Jets fans, Thomas’ rookie campaign was a relative bright spot. After all, he entered the NFL clearly raw after starting just 14 games at Florida State. He didn’t seem fazed by the jump in competition, however, learning to use his length and physicality to corral receivers in much the same way Gardner has. I see New York boasting a vastly improved defense in 2026 with Thomas emerging as a quality starter on the perimeter. 

AFC NORTH

Jones played right tackle at LSU and could remain there in the NFL, but Baltimore’s starters on the outside seem set with Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten, respectively. As he showed last year in five games, Jones has the bulk and power to slide inside to guard, as well. At minimum, the former third-rounder should prove a valuable swing sixth man this season with the ability to start if called upon. 

With just 11 tackles (and one sack) recorded as a rookie, Stewart — the No. 17 overall selection — was a stark contrast to the rest of the Bengals’ top draft picks last year. The relative success of linebacker Demetrius Knight (second round), guard Dylan Fairchild (third), linebacker Barrett Carter (fourth) and guard Jalen Rivers (fifth) last season should have received more national attention, but the injury to star quarterback Joe Burrow left the Bengals largely an afterthought. Cincinnati invested heavily in its defensive front this offseason, including signing Boye Mafe, trading for Dexter Lawrence and drafting Cashius Howell. So Stewart can’t afford another poor season or he risks being discarded. I think he’ll rise to the challenge and prove to be a versatile and important contributor to one of the NFL’s most improved teams this year. 

Former first-rounder Shemar Stewart had a quiet rookie season — which puts immense pressure on him to deliver this year. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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It is entirely possible that veteran Deshaun Watson beats out Sanders for the starting role and the numbers the latter posted in his rookie season (1,400 passing yards, 7 touchdowns, 10 interceptions in seven starts) drop in Year 2. But unless the Browns see Watson as a long-term solution, the smarter move would be to allow Sanders to sink or swim in his sophomore NFL season so that the club can adjust accordingly in time for what should be a QB-rich 2027 NFL Draft. Here’s guessing Sanders sees the field again at some point this season and proves he can play. 

Coach Mike McCarthy inherits a defense teeming with good young talent up front. The Steelers, in fact, boast a trio in Sawyer, defensive linemen Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black that are all among my favorite league-wide breakout candidates. I’ll highlight Sawyer, in part, because I don’t think many others will. With fellow pass-rushers T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and the recently extended Nick Herbig theoretically ahead of him on the depth chart, Sawyer faces an uphill battle just for playing time. His production last year was good — 34 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and two interceptions — but the tape was even better. Sawyer played like a Steeler from the start, showing impressive strength and awareness for a first-year player. His anticipated growth is part of the reason why I believe a Pittsburgh defense that ranked a mediocre 17th in the NFL last year in points allowed (387) is going to be a top-10 unit this year.  

AFC SOUTH

Given that Marks led the Texans with 703 rushing yards as a rookie, some would argue that his breakout has already occurred. Further, with Houston trading for veteran David Montgomery in the offseason, the second-year pro’s opportunities will be somewhat capped. With all due respect to the bulldozing Montgomery, however, Marks is the more dynamic runner (and receiver). If C.J. Stroud and the Texans offense get back on track in 2026 like I anticipate, Marks will prove in Year 2 that his rookie numbers were no fluke.

Woody Marks was somewhat of a revelation as a rookie. He might just be getting started for the Texans. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

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I’m so tempted to list Tyler Warren here as I think he’s a legitimate contender to lead all tights ends in receptions in 2026. After all, he finished tied for sixth among the position with 76 grabs for 817 yards and four scores as a rookie. But in terms of true breakouts, I’m excited for the opportunity awaiting Walley, who turned heads during training camp last year before tearing an ACL in a joint practice with Baltimore. With Kenny Moore no longer with the Colts, Walley will have first crack at the open nickel position and the former third-round pick possesses the quick feet and instincts to excel there. 

Like their division rival Colts, I’m tempted to highlight the Jaguars’ celebrated former first-round pick, Travis Hunter, in this space — especially now that he’ll be focusing on “just” playing cornerback. But Tuten is one of my favorite breakout candidates throughout the entire NFL. With Travis Etienne now in New Orleans, I expect Tuten to emerge as the Jaguars’ top runner in 2026, with 1,000-plus rushing yards a realistic target. His longest run from scrimmage as a rookie went for only 15 yards, but I anticipate several explosive plays of 20-plus yards this year. 

Like several others on this list, Winston has already proven himself to be a quality NFL starter. Now, he just needs to stay healthy. He missed the beginning of last season recovering from an ACL tear back at Penn State and saw his rookie campaign end early due to a stubborn hamstring pull. In the 10 games in which he played, however, Winston stood out, including during an exciting three-game stretch against Seattle, Jacksonville and Cleveland just prior to the hamstring injury in which he generated 23 tackles, including four for loss and two pass breakups. I’m excited about the upgrades Tennessee has made to its defense and believe Winston will be one of its biggest beneficiaries. 

AFC WEST

Headlined by All-Pro Patrick Surtain Jr., the Broncos boast one of the NFL’s best cornerback rooms. Denver’s “other” starter on the outside — Riley Moss — led the NFL in pass breakups (19) a year ago and nickel corner Ja’Quan McMillan is also very good. That left little opportunity for Barron to see the field as a rookie last year, and he started just five of 17 games. The former Thorpe Award winner and No. 20 overall pick is simply too good not to see the field more often in 2026. I think Barron could beat out Moss on the outside this year and, even if not, certainly leaves Denver in an excellent position with the latter in the final year of his own rookie deal. 

A strong argument could be made to spotlight cornerback Nohl Williams here, but let’s be honest, all eyes in Kansas City this year will be on Patrick Mahomes — and the rebuilt offensive line tasked with protecting him. Simmons was the eighth offensive lineman drafted last year, but I think he is the most gifted blocker in his class. He may have made some nervous when missing time last year due to personal reasons and a wrist injury, but he played well when on the field, allowing just two sacks while starting eight games. Simmons has Pro Bowl potential. 

Josh Simmons is teeming with potential, and Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are counting on him to fulfull it. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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It would be easy to list Ashton Jeanty here, but with 10 touchdowns scored as a rookie, he’s already an established focal point of the Raiders’ offense. Klint Kubiak and Fernando Mendoza were brought to Las Vegas to liven up the passing game and Bech is a good bet to win big if that occurs. The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder flashed as a rookie. He possesses the body control and strong hands to win contested passes — which could be a theme in the Raiders’ passing game regardless of whether Mendoza or longtime veteran Kirk Cousins is throwing the passes. 

It will be fun to watch the evolution of the Chargers’ offense this year, with Jim Harbaugh bringing in Mike McDaniel as his offensive coordinator. Should L.A. morph into the uptempo aerial assault McDaniel excelled with (at times) as head coach in Miami, second-year wideout Tre Harris could pop for exponential gains over his rookie season. Ultimately, though, this remains Jim Harbaugh’s operation and I think he sticks to his roots, riding Hampton as a true workhorse to at least double last year’s output (545 rushing yards, four TDs). 

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Is Lionel Messi’s career coming to a close?

“I don’t know what I’m going to do without you. I don’t know how to carry on. All I ever did was play football, and now I have serious doubts about whether I’ll keep doing it for much longer,” Messi posted as part of an emotional goodbye message to his late father, Jorge Messi, on Instagram. “You were by my side from the very beginning; there was so little left until the end. Why couldn’t you hold on just a little longer so we could finish it together? I know your happiness was seeing your family doing well, your wife, your children, and above all, without the others finding out, watching me play. …

“I’m going to miss you so much, but you’ll always be present, especially in the way I raise my children, because I teach and raise them the way you raised me. Rest in peace and look after us from above, just as you did down here. Thank you for everything. I love you, Dad.”

Jorge Messi, who passed away last week at 68, served as Lionel Messi’s agent during the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s career.

As for the 39-year-old Messi, the superstar striker and Argentina, who won the 2022 World Cup, are coming off a brutal, extra-time loss to Lamine Yamal and Spain in the 2026 World Cup Final.

Messi, who’s one of just two players to appear in six World Cups (Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo is the other), tallied eight goals and four assists across eight matches in the 2026 World Cup.

Regarding the present, Messi is in the midst of his third full-time season and fourth season altogether with Inter Miami in MLS. Through 15 matches in the 2026 MLS season, Messi has totaled 12 goals and seven assists.

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The 2026 NFL season begins Wednesday, Sept. 9, when the New England Patriots visit the Seattle Seahawks in a rematch of Super Bowl LX. Fans can watch games across broadcast, cable and streaming services throughout the season. Here is how each national window works and where to stream FOX NFL coverage.

What Channels Show NFL Games in 2026?

• FOX and FOX One: Sunday afternoon games, select special windows and NFC playoff games
• CBS: Sunday afternoon games and select AFC playoff games; eligible games also stream on Paramount+
• NBC: Sunday Night Football and the NFL Kickoff Game; NBC games also stream on Peacock
• ESPN and ABC: Monday Night Football
• NFL Network: Select international and late-season games
• Prime Video: Thursday Night Football and the Black Friday game
• Netflix: Select international and Christmas Day games

How to Watch NFL Games by Day

Thursday Night Football

Most Thursday night games stream on Prime Video. Mobile viewers can also watch eligible local and primetime games with NFL+.

Sunday Afternoon Games

FOX and CBS divide the Sunday afternoon schedule. Out-of-market Sunday afternoon games are available through NFL Sunday Ticket, while NFL+ carries live local games on phones and tablets.

FOX’s Sunday schedule includes AMERICA’S GAME OF THE WEEK and more windows than any other network in 2026. Fans can get every NFL game televised on FOX in one subscription with FOX One.

Sunday Night Football

Sunday Night Football airs on NBC and streams on Peacock. Eligible local and primetime games are also available on mobile devices through NFL+.

Monday Night Football

Monday Night Football airs on ESPN, with select games also available on ABC. Streaming access depends on the viewer’s ESPN plan or participating TV provider.

Can I Watch NFL Games Without Cable?

Yes. FOX One streams NFL games televised on FOX without a traditional pay-TV subscription. Other options include Peacock, Paramount+, Prime Video, Netflix, ESPN’s streaming plans, NFL+ and NFL Sunday Ticket. Live-TV streaming packages may also carry local broadcast stations and cable networks, subject to market availability.

Can I Watch NFL Games for Free?

An over-the-air antenna can receive local FOX, CBS, NBC and ABC broadcasts at no monthly charge when those stations are available in your area. Streaming services generally require a subscription or trial, and availability varies by market and device.

What Is Different About the 2026 NFL Schedule?

The season opens on a Wednesday with the Patriots at the defending champion Seahawks. The league also has a record nine international games across four continents, including its first regular-season game in Australia. FOX’s schedule includes Patriots-Lions in Munich, Seahawks-Eagles on Saturday in Week 15 and Rams-Seahawks on Christmas night.

Schedules and streaming availability are subject to change. Check the FOX Sports NFL schedule and provider listings before kickoff.

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