Luke Weaver will pitch for yet another team, as the 11-year veteran has been traded by the Mets to the Pirates before the deadline, per MLB Network. In return, the Mets received the Pirates’ No. 9 prospect, shortstop Sammy Stafura.

Weaver was one of the more appealing trade targets on the market, as one of the few high-end relievers available. The 32-year-old right-hander is having the best season of his career to this point, as he has a 1.84 ERA through 44 innings while keeping the ball in the park more often than in the past.

He signed a two-year, $22 million deal with New York this past offseason, following a two season and change run with the Yankees, where he produced a 3.22 ERA over 162 innings with 10.6 strikeouts per nine. Weaver is owed $12.5 million in 2027, but that additional season meant he was more than just a two-month rental.

The Mets added Luke Weaver, Bo Bichette and more to the roster this offseason, but ended up in the NL East basement, anyway. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

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Weaver was one of the only bright spots among Mets brought to the roster in 2026: starting pitcher Freddy Peralta struggled after he was acquired from the Brewers, free agent infielder Bo Bichette only started hitting like he did with the Blue Jays in mid-June and ex-Mariners slugger Jorge Polanco has been injured and ineffective. Weaver, though, seemingly improved in a way that made him attractive at the deadline to Pittsburgh.

Weaver will slot right into the Pirates’ underwhelming bullpen, which has a 4.34 ERA as a unit. While he could always regress from this career-best form, Weaver was also a high-quality reliever prior to joining the Mets – even previous versions of his work would be a boon to Pittsburgh’s efforts.

Stafura is 21 years old and a second-round pick from the 2023 MLB Draft. He’s in his second stop at High-A, batting .301/.365/.656 with 19 of his 20 home runs this season.

Source

We’re only in the opening days of NFL training camp. However, there are plenty of things observers around the league are keeping their eyes on as we’re getting a peek at how teams might look in the 2026 season. 

So, we asked scouts and executives around the NFL what they’re focused on as teams are starting to put on the pads in practice. While most are focused on on-field matters, there was one off-field story that’s emerged that some around the league are keeping tabs on. 

Here’s more on what NFL scouts and executives are following during the opening week of training camp. 

Eric D. Williams: A couple league sources I spoke with said they’re keeping a close watch on the contract impasse between Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and the front office.

Mayfield publicly voiced his displeasure, saying he feels disrespected and undervalued by Tampa Bay’s contract offer sheet and that he deserves to be paid like a franchise quarterback.  

The 31-year-old Mayfield is entering the final season of a three-year, $100 million deal. However, the Bucs lost seven of their last nine games last season, missing out on the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Mayfield’s 27 interceptions over the last two seasons are second to only Geno Smith (32) over that time frame.

Baker Mayfield ‘disrespected’ by Bucs, How much pressure is on Lamar & Ravens this season?

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But since Mayfield’s arrival, he’s led Tampa Bay to NFC South division titles in two of the last three seasons he served as the team’s starter, including throwing for 4,500 passing yards and 41 touchdowns in 2024.

“It’s interesting that Tampa Bay and Mayfield have not been able to agree on an extension and Baker came out saying he feels disrespected,” an NFL contract negotiator told me. “When I worked in NFL front offices, we never wanted a player in our locker room feeling like the team was getting over on them, especially at the quarterback position.”

However, a longtime NFL scout intimately involved in evaluating Mayfield as a prospect coming out of Oklahoma wasn’t surprised by Mayfield’s prideful stance.

“Mayfield is being disrespected by the Bucs? What a crock,” the longtime NFL scout told me. “He’s lucky they saved his career. He’s got a big ego and needs to get real. In the NFL, they only give you what you prove.”

Ralph Vacchiano: Trading away a No. 1 receiver for future draft picks isn’t a good formula for making a team better. But somehow, that might be exactly what the Philadelphia Eagles did when they traded away A.J. Brown.

At least that’s what the Eagles are hoping. They’ll spend the summer making sure that Brown has been adequately replaced. 

“You can’t argue that the deal made them better on the field. He was their most talented receiver,” one NFL executive told me. “But we all saw that something looked off with them last year. They were always out of sync, [with] no chemistry. Their body language made them look almost unhappy at times. And nobody was more out of sync or unhappy looking than A.J. Brown.

“Dealing him shows they thought he was the problem. If they were right, maybe they are going to be better without him.”

Daniel Jones will ‘pick up where he left off,’ Eagles offense a concern heading into 2026 season

–>

Of course, as one scout told me, “even if it’s addition by subtraction, they still have to replace him on the field,” and this summer will show how they plan to do that. DeVonta Smith, who topped 1,000 receiving yards in three of the last four seasons, will slide seamlessly into Brown’s old No. 1 role. But beyond him, it could be an open competition with first-round pick Makai Lemon and the recently acquired duo of Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown.

“They’re deep enough to run their offense,” the scout told me. “But it remains to be seen if any of them are as good as Brown used to be.”

***

Vacchiano: Jaxson Dart re-energized the New York Giants with his promising rookie. Now the NFL is waiting to see if John Harbaugh can turn him into a star.

“There’s a lot to like about that kid,” one NFL executive told me, “I think given what he had around him last year, his rookie year was even better than his numbers. He clearly can run. And he was pretty efficient as a passer.

“What you need to see is whether he can take the next step. Having [receiver Malik] Nabers healthy would be a big part of that, no doubt. But he’s still got a ways to go to prove he can be their guy for the next 10 years. He’s not a star yet.”

Actually, in some ways, the 23-year-old is already a star, which made one opposing coach worry a little. Dart was everywhere in the offseason, enjoying the trappings of celebrity. He was also a fixture on social media. And he got into a public rift with teammate Abdul Carter — and angered more than a few people in the front office, not to mention parts of the fan base — when he introduced the president at a political rally without informing the team.

Jaxon Dart threw for 2,272 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions as a rookie, adding 487 rushing yards and nine rushing scores. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

–>

“Being a franchise quarterback is about more than play on the field,” the NFL assistant told me. “It’s about being the face of the franchise. It’s about leading a team and projecting the right image. 

“I think that will be Harbaugh’s biggest challenge with him — helping him mature. The kid is a star and he knows it. And he seems to love that part of it. That’s fine. But at the end of the day, everyone — the front office, the coaches, teammates, fans … everyone — they all need to see that the work comes first.

“That’s how you lead best: By example.”

***

Greg Auman: We had a good sense of this before the draft even, but 2026 looks to have as quiet a class of rookie quarterbacks as the NFL has seen in a long time.

The Las Vegas Raiders will take it slow with Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, letting veteran Kirk Cousins open the year as their starter, and we’ve seen the Arizona Cardinals give Jacoby Brissett a nice bump as their 2026 starter, which makes it less likely to see much of third-round pick Carson Beck.

NFL fans have come to expect a steady dose of rookie quarterbacks every year — in the last 15 seasons, there have been at least 40 touchdown passes thrown by rookies in all but one season. That was 2022, when no quarterbacks went in the top half of the first round and the rookie class totaled just 29.

Fernando Mendoza is set to backup Kirk Cousins to open up the 2026 season. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)

–>

Mendoza might end up being a fine NFL quarterback, but we might not see much of it this year, and it could take an injury for any other rookies to get real snaps in games this season. Las Vegas gave up an NFL-high 64 sacks last year, and while they’ll be improved after bringing in center Tyler Linderbaum, they want Mendoza to be ready when he takes the field. The lack of rookies with clear paths to playing is also a function of teams knowing the 2027 draft will be loaded with promising quarterbacks — perhaps in line with the elite 2024 class, which had 97 touchdown passes between Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams, among others.

But don’t worry — 2026 won’t be the worst year for rookie quarterbacks. In 2007, even with a No. 1overall pick in JaMarcus Russell, rookies combined for just 16 touchdown passes, and the all-time low was in 2000, when all the rookie quarterbacks combined for four touchdown passes all season. 

***

 

Williams: During the World Cup, NFL players made a plea on social media for the NFL to make grass fields mandatory for all NFL stadiums. Players pointed to NFL stadiums that usually have artificial turf converting to grass fields for the World Cup soccer games as evidence that the same thing can be done on NFL game days.

Players believe practicing and playing on grass curbs injuries and is better for the longevity of players’ careers. However, NFL owners are still not fully on board. Currently, 15 NFL stadiums have grass fields. The NFLPA conducted a player survey, with the results stating that 92% of players prefer grass fields.

“The thing I’m hot about right now is that NFL owners refuse to look at uniform grass logistics for all 32 teams and take care of the players,” a league source told me. “Just like the helmets and healthcare, they’ll have to be required to be committed to it, all while going to the bank big time.”

With the league dangling the expansion to an 18-game season, the move to mandatory grass fields could be used as a bargaining chip by players. But one league source I spoke with doesn’t see the push for grass fields as a galvanizing issue for NFL players.

“I don’t think a half-hearted NFLPA social media campaign will do much,” the league source told me. “Elite players will need to lobby their respective teams, eye-to-eye and face-to-face, for change to actually happen.

“And free agents will have to stay away from field turf teams/divisions for anything to really change.”

 

Source

Just when the Chicago Bears got their first injured player of training camp back to the practice field on Monday, they had a second injury on their first day in pads.

Running back Kyle Monangai returned to practice briefly after missing three straight workouts with a soft tissue injury, but starting safety Coby Bryant went out during one-on-one drills with an apparent leg injury and left the field in a cart.

Bryant is expected to miss eight-to-10 weeks with a hyperextended knee, bone bruise and small fracture, ESPN reported Monday. He reportedly won’t need surgery, though. 

If Bryant is out for at least eight weeks, that could rule him out for Chicago’s first four regular-season matchups. The Bears face the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets in the first four weeks of the season.  

Bryant, the former Seahawks player who was acquired in free agency, was working against tight end Cole Kmet in one-on-one drills and clutched his left leg near the knee. He was able to get in the cart on his own power, but the scene was scary for the Bears, who are depending on Bryant’s speed in a revamped starting secondary.

“You know, it always sucks to see,” tight end Colston Loveland said of the injury. “That’s part of it. You know, he’s tough, he’s a dog. He’s going to be fine.

“We’re not worried about it but I don’t know. We’ll leave that [prognosis] to coach Johnson.”

Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson described Bryant’s value as more than just speed in the secondary.

“He’s come in with the juice,” cornerback Tyrique Stevenson said. “Obviously from practice, when he’s coming out in the middle of the field to make PBUs, he’s just a spark plug.

“He’s bringing that energy every day and he done won it at the highest level so he’s not letting nobody slip under the standard.”

Bryant was replaced at safety by both Cam Lewis and Gervarrius Owens. His role is also critical because he is a veteran playing alongside rookie starter Dillon Thieneman at the other safety spot.

The Bears signed Lewis as a free agent from Buffalo, while Owens was on Chicago’s practice squad last season.

Monangai had been out from Day 2 of training camp and was able to get back on the field for the individual drills. He left when the team went to scrimmage.

Monangai ran for 783 yards on 169 carries with five touchdowns last season as the No. 2 back behind starter D’Andre Swift. He provides the power punch to Swift’s speed in Johnson’s attack.

It could be soon when Monangai is able to rejoin full practices.

“We’re taking it day-by-day right now,” Johnson said of Monangai. “We’re working through it. He’s working hard with his rehab and it should be on the shorter side here.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Source

The Mets have traded one of their top starters, Clay Holmes, and sent outfielder Tyrone Taylor with him. The pair are headed to the Cubs, per the New York Post. Infielder Jefferson Rojas, the No. 2 prospect in the Cubs’ system, is going back to New York per ESPN.

Holmes has a 2.39 ERA across nine starts, and is currently in the minors rehabbing from a fractured fibula sustained on a comebacker in mid-May. His strikeouts were up (7.7 from 7.1) and both walks and hits were down in the 52 ⅔ innings he did throw prior to that injury, however.

Multiple reports leading up to the trade deadline indicated that there was no discussion of an extension of Holmes, who has a $12 million player option for 2027. That made it seem all but guaranteed that the 6-foot-5 right-hander would be dealt by the deadline, especially given that his success as a starter has made it likely that he turns down the player option and becomes a free agent before the 2027 campaign.

Holmes was pitching brilliantly in 2026, until a 111-mph comebacker fractured his fibula. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

–>

Holmes was a full-time reliever from 2019 through 2024, with the Pirates and Yankees. The Mets signed him as a free agent before the 2025 season, and converted him to the rotation. In 2025, Holmes made 31 starts in 33 appearances, throwing 165 ⅔ innings with a 3.53 ERA. His 2026 began with even more success, until the broken fibula interrupted his season.

Holmes has not yet returned to the majors, but has thrown 6 ⅓ innings of minor-league rehab, so coming back to the Mets was imminent. However, he will now pitch for the Cubs in a rotation that also added Kevin Gausman before the trade deadline.

Taylor has played in 67 games for the Mets in 2026. The eight-year veteran joined New York for the 2024 season after beginning his big-league career with the Brewers, and is hitting .241/.290/.503 this season with 10 home runs and 18 extra-base hits in 159 plate appearances and a .900 OPS against lefties.

Rojas ranked second among Chicago’s prospects, according to MLB Pipeline, and is considered both a third baseman and a shortstop. The 21-year-old was ranked as a top-100 prospect by MLB prior to the 2026 season, and has spent the summer at Double-A batting .270/.339/.461.

Source

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This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

Along with the chaos of the MLB trade deadline, today’s slate brings its own compelling games.

New and existing bettors can find moneylines, run lines, totals, player props, and same-game parlays at DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, bet365, and Caesars Sportsbook.

The Texas Rangers look to turn things around after dropping their last five games. They take on a San Francisco Giants team that’s also coming in the middle of a losing streak of their own.

The Toronto Blue Jays to face the red-hot Houston Astros. Houston enters the series riding a six-game winning streak after sweeping the Rangers, making the Astros one of the hottest teams in baseball.

Elsewhere, the New York Yankees host the St. Louis Cardinals, while the Los Angeles Dodgers begin a road series against the Chicago Cubs. National League contenders also square off as the San Diego Padres visit the Arizona Diamondbacks in an important NL West showdown.

FanDuel

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MLB Games Today

*Odds may differ each site*

• Nationals @ PhilliesMoneyline: Phillies -157Total: 9 (Over -118 / Under -102)
• Moneyline: Phillies -157
• Total: 9 (Over -118 / Under -102)
• Cardinals @ YankeesMoneyline: Yankees -224Total: 7.5 (Over -119 / Under -102)
• Moneyline: Yankees -224
• Total: 7.5 (Over -119 / Under -102)
• Pirates @ BrewersMoneyline: Brewers -150Total: 8.5 (Over -102 / Under -118)
• Moneyline: Brewers -150
• Total: 8.5 (Over -102 / Under -118)
• Dodgers @ CubsMoneyline: Dodgers -126Total: 8 (Over -110 / Under -110)
• Moneyline: Dodgers -126
• Total: 8 (Over -110 / Under -110)
• Giants @ RangersMoneyline: Rangers -125Total: 8 (Over -115 / Under -105)
• Moneyline: Rangers -125
• Total: 8 (Over -115 / Under -105)
• Blue Jays @ AstrosMoneyline: Astros -136Total: 9 (Over -118 / Under -102)
• Moneyline: Astros -136
• Total: 9 (Over -118 / Under -102)
• Rays @ RockiesMoneyline: Rays -184Total: 11.5 (Over -103 / Under -117)
• Moneyline: Rays -184
• Total: 11.5 (Over -103 / Under -117)
• Padres @ DiamondbacksMoneyline: Padres -102Total: 9 (Over -105 / Under -114)
• Moneyline: Padres -102
• Total: 9 (Over -105 / Under -114)

DraftKings

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Which Pitcher Can Dominate Today?

Aaron Nola	6+ Strikeouts	+112	Nationals @ Phillies
Cam Schlittler	8+ Strikeouts	+122	Cardinals @ Yankees
Justin Wrobleski	6+ Strikeouts	-124	Dodgers @ Cubs
Logan Webb	6+ Strikeouts	+124	Giants @ Rangers

Caesars Sportsbook

Sign Up and Claim the Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code

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Which One of These Hitters Will Go Yard?

*Odds may differ each site*

• Nationals @ Phillies: James Wood (+237), Kyle Schwarber (+227)
• Cardinals @ Yankees: Ben Rice (+309), Luis Garcia (+369)
• Pirates @ Brewers: Brandon Lowe (+345), Esmerlyn Valdez (+391)
• Dodgers @ Cubs: Shohei Ohtani (+356), Seiya Suzuki (+421)
• Giants @ Rangers: Rafael Devers (+359), Corey Seager (+378)
• Blue Jays @ Astros: Yordan Alvarez (+235), Kazuma Okamoto (+361)
• Rays @ Rockies: Junior Caminero (+255), Hunter Goodman (+289)
• Padres @ Diamondbacks: Ketel Marte (+412), Corbin Carroll (+416)

bet365

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Which Club Can Get Hot in August?

*Odds may differ each site*

• Red Sox (+500)
• Phillies (+550)
• Braves (+900)
• Dodgers (+1100)
• Padres (+1300)
• Rays (+1500)
• Yankees (+1500)
• Brewers (+1500)
• Cubs (+1600)
• Astros (+2000)

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Source

The New York Yankees are continuing to bolster their lineup in the final hour ahead of Monday’s MLB trade deadline. 

New York has agreed to a deal to acquire outfielder Heliot Ramos from the San Francisco Giants, ESPN reported. 

Ramos, 26, is putting up another productive season at the plate for the Giants. He’s hitting .264 with a .728 OPS, nine home runs and 34 RBIs in 74 games this season. Ramos, who was an All-Star in 2024, hit 43 total homers in the previous two seasons. 

The Yankees’ move for Ramos came a day after they acquired first baseman Luis Garcia from the Washington Nationals. New York’s moves for Ramos and Garcia show a clear desire to upgrade their lineup as they’ve struggled at the plate since Aaron Judge’s injury in early August. Garcia had led the National League in slugging percentage prior to Sunday’s trade. 

While New York has struggled offensively with Judge out of the lineup, the Yankees remain in the thick of the AL East race. They’re 63-49 entering Monday, putting them 2.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first place.

Source

The San Diego Padres are going for it. 

Hours after agreeing to a trade for Robbie Ray, the Padres secured right-handed pitcher Casey Mize in a trade with the Detroit Tigers, according to multiple reports. The Tigers will get prospects Kash Mayfield and Jackson Wolf, while the Padres will also acquire third baseman Gage Workman, FOX Sports and The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported earlier. 

Mize, 29, was one of the top pitchers available ahead of Monday’s trade deadline. He’s 4-6 with a 2.70 ERA, 85 strikeouts and a 0.992 WHIP in 86 ⅔ innings pitched over 16 starts.

The Padres’ pitching staff has been relatively mediocre this season. They’re 16th in ERA (4.14) and 18th in WHIP (1.32). 

San Diego entered Monday with a 58-54 record. While the Padres are 11 games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the NL West, they’re only one game out of the final NL wild-card spot. 

Source

Larry Berg, co-owner of Los Angeles FC, will be the next commissioner of Major League Soccer, the league announced Monday.

At the start of the new year, Berg will take over for Don Garber, who has served as the league’s commissioner since 1999.

The 60-year-old Berg, who will divest his ownership interest in LAFC, will be officially introduced on Tuesday at MLS headquarters in New York.

“I’m honored to lead Major League Soccer into its next era,” Berg said in a statement. “Thanks to the vision and commitment of so many people, Major League Soccer has achieved tremendous success, but I believe our greatest opportunities are still ahead. We have an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen the quality of our competition, develop more world-class players, deepen our connection with supporters, and continue elevating Major League Soccer’s place in the global game.

“Together with our owners, clubs, players, partners, supporters, and league staff, I could not be more excited for what comes next.”

Garber will remain MLS commissioner through the end of the 2026 season before taking over as chairman of the league. MLS has grown tremendously during Garber’s tenure, and hopes to capitalize on the momentum of the 2026 World Cup.

“Having worked closely with Larry over the past decade, I’ve seen firsthand the qualities that make him an exceptional leader, and I have complete confidence he is the right person to serve as Major League Soccer’s next commissioner,” Garber said in a statement. “His integrity, judgment, collaborative leadership, and unwavering commitment to building LAFC and the league have made him an invaluable partner. I look forward to working alongside Larry during this transition and supporting him as he leads MLS into its next chapter.”

Berg previously held ownership stakes in Serie A club AS Roma, as well as Swansea City AFC in Wales. Under Berg’s ownership, LAFC won the MLS Cup in 2022, and the Supporters’ Shield in 2019.

Reported by the Associated Press
 

Source

Outside of the World Cup, golf has produced some of the most interesting and entertaining bets of the summer.

That was again the case last weekend with the Rocket Classic on the PGA Tour. But in this instance, it wasn’t a bet on the tournament winner that stood out most.

Rather, it was a stunning parlay on Thursday’s first-round groups, in which $25 turned into more than $150,000.

More on that six-figure haul, a couple early big plays on college football odds and a one-dollar wager that profited five figures, as we recap the week that was in sports betting.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

ROCKET SHIP

There are all sorts of ways to wager on golf well beyond just picking the tournament winner. Among the more popular plays: picking a player to finish in the top 5, 10 or 20, betting one-on-one matchups, or whether a player makes the cut.

In Thursday’s opening round of the Rocket Classic, players went off in groups of three, per usual. A Hard Rock Bet customer compiled a nine-leg threesomes parlay, on which golfers would post the best score in each group.

The bettor wagered $25 at massive odds of +974568, or in easier-to-read terms, just shy of 9746/1. Then darn near got the whole enchilada, as eight players came through.

However, Mark Hubbard saw his 66 matched by playing partner Emiliano Grillo. So that leg of the parlay was a push and was therefore removed, which ostensibly cut the odds in half, to +487233 (about 4872/1).

Still, odds approaching 5000/1 represented a massive payday of $121,833.47. Furthermore, the bettor utilized a 25% profit boost promotion, so that hiked the payout to $152,285.59.

That’s quite the ROI, hopefully enough to keep the bettor from thinking about what could have been, if only Hubbard shot one stroke better or Grillo one stroke worse.

Had that been the case, the customer would’ve cashed out for a whopping $304,833.75.

BET A LOT, WIN A LITTLE

Week 0 on the college football oddsboard is less than four weeks away, opening with an abbreviated Aug. 29 schedule. Then things really kick into gear with a full Week 1 slate.

That includes Texas opening its season as a 30.5-point home favorite vs. Texas State.

The moneyline on Texas — the odds of the Longhorns simply winning the game, regardless of margin — are a huge -10000. Which means you’d have to bet $100 to win just a dollar.

A Caesars Sports customer took that to the extreme last week, dropping $400,000 on Texas.

As long as the Longhorns dodge a monstrous upset, the bettor will profit all of $4,000, for a total payout of $404,000.

On the national championship front, also at Caesars, a customer got a little more bang for the buck on Ohio State. The bettor put $15,000 on the Buckeyes +600 to win the College Football Playoff.

If Ohio State, currently the favorite, wins it all, then the bettor pockets $90,000 profit (total payout $105,000).

MORE TEE SHOTS

DraftKings Sportsbook saw a couple notable winners emerge from the Rocket Classic, one in the first round and the other as the tournament closed Sunday.

Ahead of the opening round, a DK customer put a modest $33 on Peter Malnati to emerge as the first-round leader. At odds of +32500 (325/1), Malnati wasn’t expected to even sniff the lead on Thursday.

But Malnati shot a scorching 7-under 28 on the front nine en route to a career-best and bogey-free 9-under 61. That was two strokes better than anyone else.

So that $33 turned into a $10,725. Not a bad day’s work at all.

And it was really the only good day for Malnati. He shot 1-over 71 on Friday, then went 74-74 on the weekend to end up way back in a tie for 68th at even-par 280.

On the flip side, Michael Thorbjornsen started with a nondescript 1-under 69 Thursday, tied for 69th. Then he went 64-66-63 over the final three rounds to win the tournament at 18-under 262.

That made a big winner of another DK customer, who put $1,000 on Thorbjornsen +4100 to win the Rocket Classic. The bettor bagged $41,000 profit (total payout $42,000).

$1 HOLLER

On Saturday, before the 15-game MLB slate commenced, a Hard Rock Bet customer placed a $1 dollar wager on a 12-leg parlay.

Every leg was on a player to go over 1.5 total bases, and only four games were involved: Cubs-Yankees, Astros-Rangers, Guardians-Diamondbacks and Braves-Nationals.

All 12 players did their part, and at eye-popping odds of +2589033 (about 25890/1), that lone dollar bill became a $25,891.33 windfall.

That’s the kind of ROI we all can appreciate.

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The summer of soccer continues after the best World Cup ever. This time, select teams from Major League Soccer and their Liga MX counterparts will kick off the Leagues Cup in the latest edition of the tournament.

Here’s what to know as 36 teams featuring star players like Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi square off in the Leagues Cup. The action begins on Wednesday with a full slate of games, including the Seattle Sounders taking on Toluca (10 p.m. ET on FS1).

Which MLS and Liga MX Teams Are Playing?

Club America will be one of the Liga MX powerhouses in the Leagues Cup. (Photo by Mauricio Salas/Jam Media/Getty Images) –>

In all there are 36 teams who’ll participate in the Leagues Cup. The tournament will feature 18 of the 30 MLS clubs and all 18 Liga MX squads. The 18 MLS clubs that qualified were based on the 2025 regular season table. Check out the full schedule.

Each team will play three opponents from the other league for a total of 54 MLS vs. Liga MX catchups in the first phase alone. But each league will have its own specific table for this competition. The top four from each table advance to the knockout round.

What Is The Competition Format? When Is The Final?

This year’s edition of the Leagues Cup is played in two phases. The tournament uses a no-ties format to ensure a winner in every match: 

• Phase One (Aug. 4–13) — 54 MLS vs. LIGA MX matchups in a round-robin format

• 3 points for a regulation win
• 2 points for a penalty shootout win (after a tie)
• 1 point for a penalty shootout loss

• Knockout Rounds (Aug. 25–Sept. 6)
      – Single-elimination bracket beginning with the quarterfinals and culminating in the final on Sept. 6.

Will Argentina’s Lionel Messi Play For Inter Miami?

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will participate in the Leagues Cup.  –>

Following Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Spain on July 19 at the FIFA World Cup final, Messi took some time off before reporting back to duty with Inter Miami. He is expected to play for Inter Miami during the Leagues Cup and the rest of the MLS regular season. 

He’ll be joined by his Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul and newly arrived Brazilian midfielder Casemiro. 

It was at this tournament in 2023 in which Messi made his Inter Miami debut. He and Miami went on to win the inaurgural edition, giving him his first piece of silverware stateside.  

Inter Miami’s League Cup Schedule

Aug. 5: Inter Miami vs. Atlético San Luis
Aug. 8: Inter Miami vs. Monterrey
Aug. 12: Inter Miami vs. León

Any USA Stars From the World Cup Playing?

USA’s World Cup captain Tim Ream will lead Charlotte FC. (Photo by Cory Knowlton/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) –>

Several of the players who were part of the USA’s squad this summer at the World Cup are expected to play. Those include defender Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), goalkeeper Matt Freese (NYCFC) and midfielder Alejandro Zendejas (Club América). 

Other players from the USMNT squad include keeper Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), midfielder Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders) and defender Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), 

Two players who just missed the World Cup roster were Real Salt Lake duo Diego Luna and Zavier Gozo. Those two will be playing in the Leagues Cup as well. 

What Are Some Other World Cup Stars At The Leagues Cup?

 Son Heung-Min and LAFC should be one of favorites at the Leagues Cup. (Photo by Luiza Moraes/Getty Images) –>

Plenty of international star power will be featured throughout the tournament. That includes LAFC’s Son Heung-min, who has been part of several South Korea World Cup squads. Vancouver Whitecaps’ Thomas Mueller won the 2014 World Cup with Germany, while new Orlando City signing Antoine Griezmann lifted the World Cup trophy with France in 2018. Robert Lewandowski, who featured for Poland, will play for the Chicago Fire. 

The Liga MX teams feature several talents from Mexico’s World Cup team, including 17-year-old Gilberto Mora (Tijuana). Four players from Chivas – Luis Romo, Roberto Alvarado, Brian Gutierrez, Armando Gonzalez – played for Mexico this summer. 

What’s At Stake? 

The Leagues Cup provides three spots for the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup, which involves top teams across North America. The Leagues Cup winner gets a Round of 16 spot in that tournament, which has a direct path to bigger events such as the FIFA Club World Cup. 

Any Predictions On Who’ll Win It All?

(Photo by Leopoldo Smith/Getty Images) –>

The first two editions of this tournament saw teams from Liga MX win (Cruz Azul in 2019, León in 2021). Since then, it’s been all MLS with Inter Miami (2023), the Columbus Crew (2024), and the Seattle Sounders (2025) taking it all. In fact, no Liga MX team has even made the final since 2021. 

For this edition, expect that to change. Look for a top-tier team like Club América to try and reach the final. Pumas UNAM, Cruz Azul and Toluca have also been among the best Liga MX teams in recent seasons.  

On the MLS side, don’t discount Messi and Inter Miami reaching the final again. Nashville tops the current MLS standing while Vancouver and LAFC are also teams primed for a deep run here. 

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