Let the odds tell it, and the Rams and Ravens are expected to be this season’s juggernauts. 

Los Angeles certainly makes sense, but why might this be the case for Baltimore? Well, presumably, the hope is that a healthy Lamar Jackson returns to form.

Check out which teams are expected to win the most games, as well as which squads are expected to remain undefeated the longest (DraftKings Sportsbook, as of Aug. 3). 

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.

MOST WINS

Rams: +590 (bet $10 to win $69 total)
Ravens: +790 (bet $10 to win $89 total)
Bills: +1125 (bet $10 to win $122.50 total)
Seahawks: +1150 (bet $10 to win $125 total)
Lions: +1425 (bet $10 to win $152.50 total)
Eagles: +1450 (bet $10 to win $155 total)
Patriots: +1550 (bet $10 to win $165 total)
Chiefs: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
Bengals: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
Packers: +1700 (bet $10 to win $180 total)

WHAT TO KNOW: Last season’s leaders in wins were the Broncos, Seahawks and Patriots (14), followed by the Jaguars (13). However, Seattle is the only one of that group near the top of the oddsboard coming into this season, and still, it only has the fourth-shortest odds. Topping the board are the Rams (who are also the Super Bowl favorites), along with the Ravens (who are favored to win the AFC). The Rams won 12 games last season, finishing second in the NFC West behind the Seahawks. The Ravens, though, only won eight games and missed the playoffs in the process. Buffalo slots in at third on the board, and it also won 12 games last year.

LAST UNDEFEATED TEAM

Chiefs: +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total)
Rams: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Ravens: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Seahawks: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
Lions: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Packers: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
49ers: +1300 (bet $10 to win $140 total)
Texans: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Bears: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Eagles: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)

WHAT TO KNOW: The Chiefs are +1600 to win the most games (eighth on the board), but are favored to be the last undefeated team. Why? Well, this one has a lot to do with scheduling, but the Chiefs’ schedule isn’t a walk in the park to begin the season. They host the Broncos in Week 1 and Indy in Week 2, before games against the Dolphins and Raiders in Weeks 3 and 4. Then there is a bye in Week 5, followed by a home date with the Chargers, at Seattle and at Denver in Weeks 6, 7 and 8. As for the Rams and Ravens, they are tied at second on the board. L.A. opens the year with the 49ers, Giants, Broncos, Eagles and Bills, while the Ravens have a seemingly easier road, opening with the Colts, Saints, Cowboys, Titans, Falcons and Browns.

Source

With the Phillies’ latest trade-deadline splash, Bryce Harper is likely to be playing a different position down the stretch.

According to MLB.com, Harper will likely move from first base to the outfield the rest of the season for Philadelphia. That is because the Phillies added an impact bat to the infield on Monday morning.

The Phillies acquired three-time batting champion Luis Arraez, who has played primarily first and second base in his career. Bryson Stott will reportedly move from second base to third, while Alec Bohm will move from third base to first. That creates an opening for Arraez at second base, where he has played most of this season for the Giants.

All of that means Harper will likely go back to his roots as an outfielder. He brought his outfield glove on the Phillies’ last road trip, indicating he was ready to make the move. It sounds like it will now become a reality.

Bryce Harper (right) will head back to the outfield while Alec Bohm takes over at first base. (Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

–>

Harper underwent Tommy John surgery before the 2023 season. Since then, he has not played in the outfield. He also had elbow surgery in 2022, so he was mostly a designated hitter that year.

Harper has played 947 games in right field in his career, more than any other position. He has played 415 games at first base and 207 games as a designated hitter.

At the plate this season, Harper has remained a consistent contributor, even though his batting average has continued to dip. He’s hitting .255, which would be his lowest average since 2018, but his .858 OPS entering play on Monday is still quite respectable.

The Phillies have started the second half slowly at 5-10, and they’re now 8.0 games behind the Braves for first place in the National League East. Philadelphia has a one-game lead over the Padres for the third and final NL wild-card spot entering play on Monday.

MLB Related Stories

Source

The fun of NFL training camp is the bustling enthusiasm of the coaches, the players and the media. But it also makes it difficult to cut away the fiction from fact.

It’s hope season and hype season. It’s also the season for catastrophe and doom.

A perfect example? A.J. Brown dropped a pass in his first practice as a New England Patriot. Brown and quarterback Drake Maye then proceeded to struggle for a few days and on Boston sports radio and social media, it was like The Citgo Sign was falling. 

Things turned around as soon as the pads came on. Brown and Maye have been beating up New England’s defense, even with superstar corner Christian Gonzalez in coverage.

So you get it. Things were horrible until they were incredible. There was nothing in between. (And I’ll have more on Brown, Maye and the Patriots.)

That’s happening in all 32 NFL training camps. So let’s do what we always do here with the Sound Smart column. I’m here to spin it forward, dive deeper, think outside the box and read between the lines. 

1.

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye recognized the pressure coming off the right side. It was cornerback Marcus Jones, one of the fastest players on the field. The play came in a red-zone drill — 11 on 11 — in full pads last week on the practice fields at Gillette Stadium.

Whether or not Maye knew the blitz was coming before the snap, the QB knew exactly what to do with the ball when it hit his hands. He looked to his right to find A.J. Brown, who’d created just enough separation on a slant route. Maye fired the ball at the star receiver, acquired in June in a trade that included a first-round pick. Brown managed a catch-and-run that put the Patriots inside the 5-yard line.

I couldn’t help but wonder: What might that play have looked like without Brown? It doesn’t take that much imagination.

It was a series of corner blitzes that devastated the Patriots in the Super Bowl, when they fell behind against the Seattle Seahawks. Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon finished with six blitzes, four pressures and one sack. One of the best cover corners in the league, Witherspoon made an effective — albeit shocking — pass-rusher. 

Maye never seemed to have an answer, not even deep into the game.

Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon forces a fumble by Drake Maye during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in February. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

–>

But in camp, Maye did. And that’s especially important because … well, guess who the Patriots will see in Week 1. To open the NFL season. On a Wednesday.

Yeah, it’s the Seahawks. It’s also in Seattle, probably the least hospitable stadium in the league.

The last time they saw each other, the Seahawks owned the Patriots. But New England has upgraded its roster sizably since then. Receiver Romeo Doubs is an upgrade at WR2. Defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker aren’t flashy players, but they will be excellent starters at their respective positions.

Brown is the biggest upgrade. There’s no way around it. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels can build a system that gives Maye answers, but somebody has to make a play. Brown is showing the Patriots they can trust him to do just that.

“I want to say I’m 90 percent [comfortable in the offense],” Brown said last week at Pats camp.

A.J. Brown figures to be QB Drake Maye’s best friend in the Patriots’ offense this season. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

–>

Brown struggled to connect with Maye in the early practices at camp. But that just goes to show how difficult it is to make a real evaluation after just a few sessions. Because Maye and Brown were firing when the pads went on.

I asked Brown if he had to change the way he played his position, depending upon his quarterback.

“You have to. You have to do what your quarterback likes,” Brown said. “As far as my game, my game will be my game. But as far as what he likes and what he needs, that’s the thing that I got to get on the same page with him and continue to work on.”

It’s surely no coincidence that, just 24 hours after delivering this quote, Brown caught a fade for a touchdown against Christian Gonzalez, the No. 1-rated cornerback in Madden 27. Brown gives the Patriots answers, especially against a defense as good as Seattle’s.

New England is currently a 3.5-point underdog for the season-opener. I’d say that underestimates the Patriots.

2.

This seemed — at least to me — to be a good year to pick the San Francisco 49ers to go to the Super Bowl. Their defense improved significantly over the offseason. Their offense got healthy and added veteran receiver Mike Evans. It just felt like this could be the year when they could make their own luck (or overcome their inevitable bad luck) and make a deep run.

But San Francisco seems to have nothing but bad headlines.

Most recently, there was the news about receiver Ricky Pearsall, whose PCL injury had not healed correctly and will need season-ending surgery after just a few practices. It seems like the 49ers have been preparing for this possibility — drafting receiver De’Zhaun Stribling in Round 2 and, immediately after the news broke about Pearsall, signing veteran receiver Deebo Samuel. But of course, Stribling is dealing with a hamstring injury.

Then there was coach Kyle Shanahan’s car accident. He crashed head-on into another car after taking his attention off the road by dropping his phone. He suffered three broken ribs, a broken left hand, a concussion and a head wound that required 40 stitches, per ESPN. Shanahan is participating on a limited basis at the training camp.

Finally, there’s receiver Brandon Aiyuk, whose behavior — so far as we can see from social media — is troubling. He has refused to report to the 49ers’ facility since he suffered an injury, and his outbursts on social media have rendered him totally untradeable. This has gone on long enough that Aiyuk is no longer much of a distraction. But even on the back burner, it’s still there — particularly as the team sorts through the drama at the receiver position.

This isn’t to say that the 49ers can’t overcome this tumultuous patch. We’re still over a month from a regular-season game. But in the competitive NFC West, a slow start feels like a bad start.

3.

By all accounts, the Cowboys’ offense is humming in training camp.

Best of all, there’s no ho-humming. 

At this time last year, we were waiting for the tension to resolve between superstar Micah Parsons and team owner Jerry Jones. And it didn’t with Jones trading Parsons in a massive blockbuster after the All-Pro edge rusher posted regularly on social media to provide updates around the failed contract talks with the Cowboys.

It felt like history might repeat itself, with All-Pro receiver George Pickens set to play on the franchise tag. Pickens could’ve fought for a new long-term deal and caused unrest in many of the same ways as Parsons. And Pickens would be justified in doing so. 

Instead, the receiver has been torching the Cowboys’ defense alongside Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. And Pickens is remaining patient and confident that his agent and the Cowboys will get a deal done.

The offense could be even better than it was last year. So if the defense is better — and it should be, given the additions of safeties Jalen Thompson and Caleb Downs and edges Rashan Gary and Malachi Lawrence — then the Cowboys could win their division.

But Prescott has bigger plans. He’s thinking about the Super Bowl.

He invited discussion by wearing a Super Bowl XXX shirt (when the Cowboys last won it all) to the team hotel to start camp. 

When he faced a question about it, Prescott spoke freely.

“The tone’s been set,” he said. “I knew you [reporters] would like it. Didn’t know how many of the teammates would see it. It’s just the manifesting thing. We want stuff in life a lot of times, but then when people start talking about it, you kind of hesitate. Should I say that if they’re going to hold me to it? Well, absolutely. Playing in this organization, being in it 10 years, going into Year 11, I’m not going to shy away from it.

“When you don’t have it, it sucks. When you don’t get to play for it, when you’re watching other teams play in the playoffs, there’s nothing worse than that. I said I’d be the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys when I was 6 years old, and said I’d be in the NFL, and I got here. A lot of things in my life, I said I’d do and I did it. And so why shy away from that now? Why shy away from asking people to hold me to the same standard that I believe that I can accomplish and this team can accomplish?

“I don’t know if the T-shirt was [saying], ‘This is it.’ … It was an energy thing.”

4.

The Chiefs will almost definitely start cornerback Mansoor Delane at CB1 after trading up to draft him in Round 1. But that move — pushing draft pieces into one big acquisition — might normally mean that a draft class is less likely to produce a handful of instant-impact players. 

Yet early in camp, the Chiefs are giving youngsters every opportunity to prove themselves.

Edge R Mason Thomas appears to have a direct path to a starting spot, getting plenty of work with the first team. It’s something of a surprise that a second-rounder has earned the trust of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo so quickly. 

But there’s an even bigger surprise: rookie receiver Cyrus Allen. 

The Chiefs took Allen on Day 3 of the draft. And he has been sensational, according to reporters on the scene — and the social-media video clips that have leaked out of camp.

“The quarterbacks trust him,” Andy Reid told reporters.

Most importantly, Patrick Mahomes trusts Allen.

Cyrus Allen may have been a fifth-round pick, but he’s turning heads in Chiefs camp. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

–>

Kansas City doesn’t exactly have proven entities at receiver, even with Xavier Worthy having his first-round status and even with Rashee Rice producing when he’s on the field. (Because Rice can’t seem to stay on the field between his injuries and his suspension.) It’s early. But Allen is making a surprising push to get a real workload and target share.

And then there are other names popping into the starting lineup, per The Athletic’s Jesse Newell. The Chiefs are experimenting with tackle Kahlil Benson and receiver Andrew Armstrong, among others.

It’s likely that the Chiefs are thinking about the long haul of the season. That probably means the rookie work is to 1) rest veterans and 2) give young players exposure in the event of an injury.

But given the way GM Brett Veach has a tendency to find draft gems beyond the first round, it’s likely that we’ll see the Chiefs get major contributions from rookies, perhaps even relatively unknown ones.

For all you fantasy football owners out there, Allen might just be one of those guys to monitor — and draft.

5.

When it comes to the 2025 quarterback draft class, Jayden Daniels has turned into the forgotten man.

There’s all this hype about Drake Maye, who is fresh off a Super Bowl appearance. There’s all this hype about Bears QB Caleb Williams, appearing on the Madden cover after nearly taking down the Rams in overtime. There’s hype for Bo Nix, whose ankle injury left us wondering “what if” as the Broncos might’ve been capable of winning the AFC Championship if they’d only had their QB.

Even J.J. McCarthy is holding up against Kyler Murray in a QB competition in Minnesota. And McCarthy — as rough as he was last year — is stirring national conversation.

Daniels — who missed 10 games in 2025 due to a dislocated left elbow, a knee sprain and a hamstring strain — isn’t really making headlines. Expectations are low for him — and his Commanders. I’m not here to say that Washington is going to shock people this year, but I do wonder what Daniels can do for this offense under new OC David Blough. Daniels doesn’t have a proven weapon on offense other than two-time Pro Bowl receiver Terry McLaurin. 

How much can Daniels do?

The good news is that Washington’s defense looks totally rebuilt — and with legitimate starters. So I’d at least hope the Commanders can be pesky, in part because of their rebuilt defense — but also because their young QB will have reinserted himself into the discussion as one of the league’ elite signal callers, like he did at the end of the 2024 season (and playoffs).

NFL Related Stories

Source

With the 2026 MLB season now entering the home stretch, both Cy Young races are taking shape. 

Let’s check out the odds for this season’s winners at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Aug. 3. 

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.

AL CY YOUNG WINNER

Cam Schlittler: -165 (bet $10 to win $16.06 total)
Dylan Cease: +125 (bet $10 to win $22.50 total)
Drew Rasmussen: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)

What to know: When the season began, Detroit’s Tarik Skubal was favored to win a third straight Cy Young. That’s how dominant he’s been. However, he was forced to have surgery to remove loose bodies in his throwing elbow, was sidelined for months, and has now been traded to the Dodgers. The Yankees’ young star, Cam Schlittler, owns a 2.04 ERA (second), 165 strikeouts (fifth) and a 0.91 WHIP (third) this season, and remains the clear favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award. His only competition at this point is Toronto’s Dylan Cease, who has won five of his last six starts and has the third-most strikeouts in baseball (174).

NL CY YOUNG WINNER

Jacob Misiorowski: -425 (bet $10 to win $12.35 total)
Chris Sale: +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total)
Cristopher Sanchez: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
Zach Wheeler: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)

What to know: The NL Cy Young race looks a lot different than it looked a few months ago. Entering June, Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez was atop the board (+145), followed by Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski (+340), Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes (+450) and the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani (+750). Now, while “The Miz” has only become more dominant and Sanchez has continued to find success, Skenes and Ohtani have fallen off the map. The more shocking fall-off belongs to Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young winner who entered 2026 as the favorite to repeat and now sits at +15000. He began the season 6-3, but then lost his next nine starts. He has a 3.9 ERA, a far cry from the 1.97 ERA he had last season and the 1.96 ERA he registered as a rookie. His 8.0 WAR from last season has dropped all the way to 1.8 this season. As for Ohtani, he’s been dealing with a bothersome knee and has not taken the mound since July 3. Going back to Misiorowski, he’s quickly become the best pitcher in the NL and possibly in baseball. He leads MLB in ERA (1.63), strikeouts (195) and WHIP (0.73).

Source

Last year, the Las Vegas Aces captured their third WNBA title in four years, sweeping the Phoenix Mercury in the championship series.

Can A’ja Wilson & Co. make it two in a row by winning in 2026? Not if one rookie PG has anything to say about it.

Here are the latest odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Aug. 3.

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.

2026 WNBA Championship

Minnesota Lynx: -105 (bet $10 to win $19.52 total)
Las Vegas Aces: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)
New York Liberty: +950 (bet $10 to win $105 total)
Golden State Valkyries: +950 (bet $10 to win $105 total)
Atlanta Dream: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Indiana Fever: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)
Dallas Wings: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
Washington Mystics: +12000 (bet $10 to win $1,210 total)
Los Angeles Sparks: +50000 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total)
Phoenix Mercury: +70000 (bet $10 to win $7,010 total)
Toronto Tempo: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Chicago Sky: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Portland Fire: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Seattle Storm: +200000 (bet $10 to win $20,010 total)

Here’s what to know about this oddsboard:

THE FAVORITES: Who expected the Lynx to be title favorites at this point in the season? Minnesota is on a 10-game win streak and has been the best team in the league all year (25-6). Actually, as of Aug. 3, Minny is better on the road (13-2) than it is at home (12-4). How is it doing it? Well, its rookie point guard, Olivia Miles, has already become a superstar. On the season, in the midst of endless highlight reel plays, she is averaging 19.7 points, 5.8 assists and 4.7 rebounds. And consider this: Minnesota’s best player, Napheesa Collier, has only played four games this season due to injury. What a scary proposition.

REIGNING CHAMPS: Las Vegas can never be looked over. Case in point: Last season, the Aces went into the All-Star break at 14-14 but then turned things around by winning 16 straight to end the season. Led by the game’s best player, A’ja Wilson — who claimed her fourth regular-season MVP in 2025 — the Aces only lost three games during the 2025 postseason en route to winning the title. This year, they have the second-best record in the WNBA (20-9), and Wilson is putting up 26.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks.  

CLARK & CO.: The Fever are 19-11 and in a battle with Atlanta (18-10) for the best record in the East. However, they are sixth on the title oddsboard. Kelsey Mitchell (24 PPG), Caitlin Clark (21.5 PPG) and Aliyah Boston (16.9 PPG) lead the way for Indy offensively, but there is a big drop-off after that, considering no other Fever player averages 10 points. Clark is second in the WNBA in assists per game (8.0).

Source

Tarik Skubal’s league-shaking move to the Dodgers headlines the top MLB trades ahead of the deadline we’ve seen so far. But three other deals for starting pitchers – Freddy Peralta to the Rays, Luis Castillo to the White Sox, and Kevin Gausman to the Cubs – have stirred things up. And the Yankees went after young slugger Luis Garcia Jr. as well.

Monday began with the Phillies acquiring Luis Arraez, which will cause a defensive shift around the diamond for them. Adley Rutschman and former Cy Young winner Robbie Ray are also on the move.

There is surely more to come before Monday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline. We will be grading every big deal as it happens. 

JUMP TO: Rutschman to Red Sox | Arraez to Phillies | Ward to Mariners | Ray to Padres | Soriano to Jays | Adell to Guards | Skubal to Dodgers | Garcia to Yanks | Gausman to Cubs | Peralta to Rays | Castillo to White Sox

Red Sox Give Up Haul Of Prospects For Adley Rutschman

Red Sox: B
Orioles: B

Who else is involved: The Orioles receive three prospects — right-handed pitchers Anthony Eyanson and Kyson Witherspoon and outfielder Enddy Azocar — and catcher Carlos Narváez. The Red Sox also get catcher Jake Rogers in the deal.

Wow.

I mean… wow.

Grading this one is tricky. The return is massive for Baltimore, and a couple of years from now, when Eyanson and Witherspoon are dominating in the O’s rotation, maybe we view this move as a turning point for the franchise. Still, it has to be gut-wrenching for Orioles fans to see the topsy-turvy Rutschman era come to an end like this, watching him play for a division rival at 28 years old.

Rutschman has been banged up again this year, but it has been a bounce-back season for the three-time All-Star after he hit below league average for the first time in his career last season. The 2019 top overall pick burst onto the scene with two straight .800+ OPS seasons to start his career in 2022-23 … then immediately started to plummet — a .709 OPS in 2024, a .673 OPS in 2025. This year, Rutschman is back up to a .764 mark with underlying numbers that suggest he could be even better, though he’s currently injured with a wrist issue. He isn’t expected to be out much longer.

Clearly, the Red Sox are putting faith in his health. After sweeping the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium to continue their extraordinary turnaround, they’re hoping to keep the momentum going by swinging big. They have won 28 of their last 33 games, and now they’re going all in. With this move, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow addresses one of the offense’s problem areas. Boston catchers rank 25th in OPS and 26th in fWAR this season, and the Red Sox are betting that Rutschman can change that in a meaningful way.

The addition of Rutschman, who’s under team control for another season, as well as Rogers makes Narvaez expendable. Eyanson, a third-round pick last year out of LSU, is one of baseball’s most electric pitching prospects and is now the best prospect in Baltimore’s system. He has a 1.69 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 48 innings at Double-A. Witherspoon was a first-round pick last year. Azocar, one of Boston’s best lower-level position player prospects, is only 19 yet is already handling pitching at High-A Greenville to the tune of an .885 OPS.

It’s a massive return, even though it’s disappointing for Baltimore fans who were hoping to contend this season. The Orioles, just 2.5 games out of a wild-card spot, have indicated their direction on deadline day with the trade of Taylor Ward and now this. They have to hope catcher Samuel Basallo’s shoulder will heal quickly.

I feel like I need to say it again to let it sink in: Adley Rutschman, Red Sox catcher. Bizarre. – Kavner

Giants Send Arraez To Active Phillies Ahead of Deadline

 Phillies: B+
Giants: A-

Who else is involved: The Giants received pitching prospects Ramon Marquez and Marty Gair. The Phillies also received reliever Caleb Kilian.

The Phillies needed help in the outfield, so naturally, they acquired a second baseman. Similar to the Yankees’ position at this deadline, Philly had to upgrade its middling offense in any way, shape, or form, and Arraez’s always-elite bat-to-ball skills will be a major improvement. The Phillies’ 92 wRC+ is tied with the Mets and Blue Jays for 26th in the majors.

Arraez was reportedly insistent on remaining at second base in any trade that involved him. The Phillies will apparently honor that request and plug him in at second. And that’s the right move. Arraez leads the NL with a .324 batting average. He has an .801 OPS. Following longtime concerns about his defense, he’s improved his glove under Ron Washington’s tutelage. The Phillies gained a major upgrade.

So, how will the rest of the Phillies roster accommodate Arraez on the diamond? There are some options. They can move Bryce Harper from first base back to right field, shift Bryson Stott from second base to third and toss Alec Bohm across the diamond from third base to first. 

Luis Arraez is going from a losing situation in San Francisco to a playoff race in Philadelphia. (Brendon Baranov/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

–>

Harper, who recently said he would be willing to return to the outfield to accommodate a trade, would be playing right field for the first time since he underwent Tommy John surgery after the 2022 season. It would be a nice full-circle moment for Harper, who last week called out the front office for roster help, signaling his fractured relationship with Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.

In another scenario, Harper could stay at first while Stott moves to the outfield to make room for Arraez at second. Philly can also shift Trea Turner from shortstop to the outfield and move Stott to short. Regardless, the Phillies will figure it out for the 29-year-old Arraez, who’s a rental pickup before he hits free agency after this season.

The Giants, meanwhile, were always going to deal Arraez and get something back before he entered free agency. They did well to acquire Marquez, the No. 4 overall top prospect in the Phillies’ system, per MLB Pipeline. The 20-year-old right-hander is widely viewed as Philly’s best pitching prospect. Marquez has excellent stuff and is certainly a name to watch, even though he’s still only at High-A.

It’s classic Dombrowski to deplete major pieces from the top of the farm system in his attempt to win a championship before potentially moving on. The Phillies’ window to win is getting smaller every year, and this aggressive approach is warranted, even if Arraez is not the right-handed bat they need.

Mariners Add Potential Impact Bat, Acquire Ward From Orioles

Mariners: A-
Orioles: C+

Who else is involved: The Orioles received right-handers Brock Moore, Alex Hoppe and Harrison Kreiling.

The Mariners are going for it. There were some lingering questions going into the trade deadline about which direction Seattle would go after making it to the ALCS last year and falling short of those expectations this year. Even as of Monday morning, it was difficult to predict which way the M’s would end up going. They entered Monday two games out of the final AL wild card spot, with just three teams (the Guardians, Twins and Rangers) ahead of them.

Now, their trade for Ward makes their position clear. They needed a right-handed hitter desperately, ranking 28th in the majors against left-handed pitching with a .303 on-base percentage. Ward owns a .383 OBP this season, and a .413 OBP against lefties. Though it’s a bit of a concern that Ward’s terrific career slugging numbers have taken a massive hit this year. He owns a .425 career slugging percentage, with last year’s .475 mark representing the best of his career. This season, that mark has dipped to .346. It’s baffling.

Still, Ward leads the AL in walks with 87. He’s a free agent after this season and will fit in perfectly in right field for what Seattle needs to compete. In a market where right-handed bats are in huge demand, the M’s did a nice job getting their outfielder without giving up more than a few bullpen arms. 

The Orioles, it seems, are choosing quantity over quality. It’s hard to imagine president of baseball operations Mike Elias couldn’t get a better return for Ward’s elite on-base skills.

Padres Add Robbie Ray To Rotation

Padres: B+
Giants: B

Who else is involved: The Padres received two prospects: right-handed pitcher Miguel Mendez and shortstop Joniel Hernandez.

The intra-division trades continue. 

Ray, a rental for the lowly Giants, was a lock to be moved at the deadline and goes to a San Diego team that desperately needed the rotation help if it wanted any hope of making a run at a wild-card spot. Padres starters rank 27th in ERA this year, and San Diego is still awaiting the returns of Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove from the injured list. The club needed another reliable option (or two) to pair with Michael King.

Ray’s strikeout rate is down this year, and his underlying numbers suggest some regression, but he has a 3.08 ERA and has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 19 of his 22 starts this year. He also has a 1.09 ERA over his last eight starts. At the least, he should provide more stability. That is worth the cost of two prospects with some upside. 

Mendez, who was on the Padres’ 40-man, has an ERA near 5.00 at Double-A, but he excelled at High-A last year. He will need to develop a third pitcher to stick as a starter over the long haul, but his fastball-slider combo gives him a strong starting point to potentially contribute to a big-league staff soon. Hernandez is a 17-year-old shortstop who is putting up big numbers in the Dominican Summer League. – Kavner

Blue Jays Get Jose Soriano To Help Rotation

Blue Jays: A-
Angels: A-

Who else is involved: The Angels received three prospects: SS Arjun Nimmala, OF Eddie Micheletti Jr., RHP Angel Rivero.

This is one of the most interesting deals of the deadline, as the last-place Blue Jays, shortly after trading away one of the top rental starters in Kevin Gausman, now add one of the top controllable arms available in Soriano. This, friends, is what we call threading the needle.

Jose Soriano will now aim to help the Blue Jays make a second-half push .(Getty) 

–>

Soriano got off to an extraordinary start to the season with a 0.84 ERA at the end of April. He has a 4.59 ERA in his 15 starts since then and has gotten hit harder and seen his strikeout rate fall, but he just wrapped up a productive month of July in which he got his season back on track. His walk rate can be an issue, but he’s 27 years old with a career 3.72 ERA and an ability to both keep the ball on the ground and miss bats. That’s an extremely valuable piece for a Blue Jays team that needs to add arms to the rotation alongside Dylan Cease and Trey Yesavage in the years to come. If Soriano, who’s under team control through 2028, can help spark a miraculous second-half surge, even better.

If there were any questions before about Angels interim general manager John Mozeliak’s ability to actually create change under owner Arte Moreno, that’s out the window. Dealing a controllable arm to restock the lagging farm system with potentially impact talent is a move the Angels never could have or would have made under their previous regime. The Angels are not a team that’s one move away from winning. 

This move is a long-awaited acknowledgment of reality. Nimmala, a 20-year-old former first round pick who has an .806 OPS at Double-A, immediately becomes their best position player prospect. He could be one of the best prospects moved at the deadline. The other prospects aren’t as highly regarded, though they have been productive — Micheletti has an .800 OPS with 14 homers at Double-A, while Rivero has a 2.36 ERA in rookie ball. — Kavner

Guardians Add Addell To Outfield

Guardians: B+
Angels: B-

Who else is involved: The Angels received catching prospect Jacob Cozart.

Adell, a former first-round pick and top prospect, is not having a great season in Anaheim. He’s hitting slightly below league average, and though he has had some highlight-reel plays, he does not grade out well defensively. Still, his upside and ability to mash lefties and hit the ball out of the yard made him one of the more desirable right-handed bats available at the deadline, and he’s under team control through next season.

The Guardians, per usual, simply needed to find a way to bring more power to a lineup that ranks last in the majors in slugging and OPS and 29th in runs scored. Adell, despite his issues getting on base, should help. He had 37 homers and 98 RBI in a career year last season. His hard-hit and barrel rates have dropped precipitously this year back closer to his career norms, and his on-base percentage has remained below .300 every year of his career, but he still has 16 home runs on the season — a tally that’s greater than any hitter in the Guardians lineup. Maybe he becomes an October hero with a change of scenery.

Cozart, a 2024 second-round pick, is a 6-foot-3-inch, defense-first catching prospect. He slashed .235/.341/.371 last year between High-A and Double-A and has a nearly identical slash line this year (.239/.330/.384) at Double-A. 

It’s a perfectly reasonable return for Adell, but that reality is a bit disappointing considering the prospect pedigree and what he displayed last year. – Kavner

Dodgers Win The Deadline By Acquiring Tarik Skubal

Dodgers: A+
Tigers: C+ 

Who else is involved: The Tigers received three prospects: outfielder Zyhir Hope and right-handed pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith.

The rich got richer as the two-time defending champions acquired the prize of the deadline. The Dodgers kept all of their big-league players and each of their two top (and arguably three) star outfield prospects and still managed to land Skubal. The reigning back-to-back Cy Young Award winner joins the reigning back-to-back world champions, whose strong chances of winning a third straight World Series title get even stronger. How could they possibly receive another grade?

Their ability to outbid goes beyond their seemingly endless pocketbooks; clearly, it extends to their prospect capital, despite their annual triumphs preventing them from accessing the top picks in the draft. And now, through the help of their thriving farm system, they have added Skubal to an already star-studded rotation that didn’t need the help nearly as much as some of baseball’s other top contenders.

They did it because they could. And because their desire to three-peat knows no bounds.

Skubal joins Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the reigning World Series MVP and a proven October ace, in a rotation that includes All-Star Justin Wrobleski and, by the end of the season, he could also include two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, 2024 All-Star Tyler Glasnow and four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani. Snell, Glasnow and Ohtani are currently sidelined (at least as a pitcher, in Ohtani’s case), but all of them are either nearing a return or expected back before season’s end. 

Snell said he’s feeling the best he has felt in three years after his elbow procedure and is only expected to need one more rehab outing before returning to action. Ohtani’s knee is keeping him off the mound for now, but he’s still healthy enough to be in the Dodgers’ lineup and is expected to pitch in October. Glasnow is about to start his rehab assignment. 

None of that includes Emmet Sheehan or Roki Sasaki, who seems to be figuring things out with a 2.25 ERA over his last four starts. Wrobleski, Sheehan and Sasaki are helping to hold down the fort as the injured stars work their way back. 

Many assumed it would take at least one of Sheehan or Wrobleski to headline a Skubal package. Somehow, the Dodgers got it done without any of them, with two days left to spare before the deadline. Somehow, no other team offered better.

Zyhir Hope is one of the best prospects in the minors. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)

–>

To be clear, it’s not that this is a bad return. Hope, who has 23 homers and 18 steals at Double-A, is a tremendously gifted prospect, arguably one of the top 25 in the sport. Ryan is one of the Dodgers’ top pitching prospects, though he’s also about to turn 28, missed last season recovering from Tommy John surgery, and has barely pitched this year due to lingering hamstring issues. Smith has racked up strikeouts this year between Low-A and High-A. All of them bring upside.

But, even for a rental, I expected more. This is Tarik Skubal we’re talking about. Brewers? Rays? Braves? Where you at?

The rich get richer. The rest of the baseball world weeps. – Kavner

Yankees Add Bat By Acquiring Garcia From The Nationals

Yankees: A
Nationals: C+

Who else is involved: The Nationals received four pitching prospects: right-handers Yovanny Cruz, Jack Cebert, Ben Grable and Jake Bird.

The Yankees finally got their big bat, and even though a four-prospect package seems costly, look under the hood, and GM Brian Cashman didn’t pay much for what might end up being the best hitter moved at this deadline.

Garcia Jr. leads the National League in slugging (.560) and instantly becomes the second-best hitter in the Yankees lineup, behind Ben Rice. He’s 26 years old, and New York will have him under control for one more year before he hits free agency in 2028. Particularly in this market where position players and sluggers are scarce, this is an excellent acquisition to address the Yankees’ offense problem with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton sidelined indefinitely by injuries.

The only real wrinkle with Garcia’s impact in the Bronx is where exactly the Yankees will play him.

Besides DHing, Garcia has played exclusively at first base this season. He has experience playing second base — with mixed results. He played 129 games at second base last year and graded as a poor defender there, posting -7 Outs Above Average for the Nationals in 2025. He was much better at second base in 2024, registering 5 OAA in 129 games.

The Yankees already have two first basemen on the roster in Rice and Paul Goldschmidt, with the latter receiving reps mainly against left-handers. If the Yankees plan to throw Garcia into that platoon, then it would make most sense to plug Rice into everyday DH duties, with Goldschmidt coming off the bench against southpaws. If they play Garcia at second, that puts Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s playing time into question. Chisholm will hit free agency after this season, so New York can shift Garcia to second base for 2027, presuming they believe they can improve his defense there. Whenever Stanton returns healthy from his season-long calf strain, it will only complicate matters even more. Stanton is typically limited to DH-only  duties, with reps in the outfield only in emergencies or days off for other players.

Luis Garcia Jr. brings a big bat to the Bronx but it’s unclear which position he’ll play. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

–>

From the Nationals’ perspective, even though they desperately need bullpen help, it’s hard to believe they couldn’t swing some more promising arms for Garcia. The headliner from their return is Cruz, who has a 1.69 ERA in 5 ⅓ innings and four games in his rookie season this year. Right-handers Cebert and Grable are prospects ranked No. 14 and 25 in the Yankees system, per MLB Pipeline. And Bird, who has a 5.93 ERA in 30 ⅓ innings pitched this season, was purely a throwaway in the deal.

Sure, Washington is still one or two years away from their contention window, but this seems like an underpay from the Yankees for a bat that rakes in Garcia. Parting ways with depth relievers for much-needed pop in the lineup is a no-brainer for Cashman. It’s surprising the Nationals didn’t receive better offers for Garcia. They could have waited until the offseason to deal him, or even extended him through his prime years so that he could be a part of their contention window.  – Thosar

Cubs Add Veteran Starter In Gausman From Blue Jays

Cubs: A
Blue Jays: B+

Who else is involved: The Blue Jays received two prospects: outfielder Brett Bateman and infielder Ty Southisene.

It’s been an emotional, rollercoaster season for Gausman. After getting out to a solid start, including recording 21 strikeouts across his first 12 innings pitched this season, Gausman took a turn for the worse around the middle of June. He’s slogging through his worst career season since 2019, with his 4.38 ERA ranked 45th among 53 qualified starting pitchers. But, even with as many starters that are available on the market this summer, there are few with his postseason pedigree.

Gausman had an exceptional playoff run with the Blue Jays last year, and the Cubs clearly noticed that he was a major reason Toronto won the American League pennant. He recorded a 2.93 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 30 ⅔ innings in six games last October, and that type of slow heartbeat under the brightest lights on the game’s biggest stage is exactly what this Cubs pitching staff needed.

The Cubs (63-49) had one thing on their deadline checklist this year: pitching, pitching, and more pitching. Holding onto the first NL wild card spot with a four-game lead, the Cubs rotation owns a 4.25 ERA, good for 14th in MLB. But things have already started to look up even before this blockbuster trade for Gausman. Since June, Chicago’s rotation has owned the fifth-best ERA (3.71) in the majors. Since July, their starters are second in MLB with a 3.38 ERA.

Gausman adds postseason experience to a rotation that features Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, David Peterson, Colin Rea and Javier Assad. Edward Cabrera is due back from the injured list sometime this month, which means Rea and Assad will likely shift to the bullpen. That’s already a strong staff, and there are rumblings within the industry that they might not even be done adding to the rotation, hoping to swing another deal for a starter under team control beyond 2026 in a market that’s unusually flooded with pitchers.

Chicago gave up its No. 13 and 21 ranked top prospects, per MLB Pipeline, for Gausman, who will become a free agent at 35 years old at the end of this season. The Cubs actually lucked out here, because if Gausman was performing up to his expected numbers this season (3.51 FIP), they’d have to give up a lot more than just Bateman and Southisene. Even though they don’t flash one of the top ranked farm systems in baseball, the Cubs do have solid position-player depth, and president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer was smart to lean on that advantage to strike a deal with the Jays.

Though I would’ve liked to see the Jays get a slightly bigger package from the Cubs for a veteran pitcher with Gausman’s track record — he does, after all, have a 26.8% strikeout rate that’s top 25 in MLB since 2020 — he’s still a rental putting up a largely disappointing season. In this buyer’s market, the high-contact hitters Toronto acquired make for a decent enough haul. – Thosar

Rays Send Mets 3 Prospects For Struggling Freddy Peralta

Rays: B-
Mets: B+

Who else is involved: The Mets received three prospects: outfielder Aidan Smith, right-hander Gary Gill Hill and second baseman Emilien Pitre.

The Rays whiffed on Skubal but quickly pivoted to Peralta to finally get their starter. There are a couple of ways to look at how this trade works out for Tampa Bay.

On one hand, there is genuine concern about whether Peralta can turn his season around after a disappointing four months in New York. The 30-year-old right-hander, who will become a free agent after this season, went 5-9 and registered a 4.99 ERA and 1.48 WHIP across 22 starts for the Mets. It was easily the worst stretch of his career. 

Even the underlying metrics aren’t great for Peralta. His fastball run value went from a 9 (excellent) last year to -2 (poor) this year. His strikeout rate has dipped, his walk rate has increased, and he’s giving up more home runs than he did last year in what was a Cy Young-caliber season for the Brewers.

So, giving up three prospects who are ranked No. 15, 26, and 27 in the Rays’ system, per MLB Pipeline, for a struggling two-month rental starter seems like an overpay.

That being said, if any team believes it can fix all that has gone wrong for Peralta this year, it’s the Rays. They’re widely respected throughout the industry for their ability to develop top-tier arms, using innovative pitch usage and strategies to get them there. Tampa Bay consistently fields high-performing, cost-effective pitching staffs. And with a top-10 bullpen in the league, even Peralta’s inability to pitch, on average, more than 5 ⅓ innings per start shouldn’t be an issue. He joins a strong rotation that includes right-handers Drew Rasmussen and Nick Martinez and lefty Shane McClanahan, who just went on the injured list.

Freddy Peralta will hope that a change of scenery will help ignite his 2026 season. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

–>

As far as the Mets, they were never going to be able to recoup what they gave up for Peralta over the offseason — sending two of their top five prospects in infielder/outfielder Jett Williams and right-hander Brandon Sproat to the Brewers. That’s part of why they’re not getting a higher grade here. 

It was always going to be tough to net a team’s top-10 prospect for Peralta at this deadline after the poor season he’s put together. So, the fact that Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns was able to dip into the Rays’ top farm system and acquire a three-player package can be considered a lukewarm success.

Smith, a righty-swinging 22-year-old outfielder, is the highest-ranked prospect of the haul, but Pitre is the most intriguing. He’s known for his speed, mature approach at the plate and excellent bat-to-ball skills. He takes his walks and doesn’t swing and miss. Pitre is currently slashing .323/.451/.492 across 37 games in Double-A, and the Mets could use more second basemen who are ready to graduate to the upper levels of the minor leagues. – Thosar

Mariners Send Castillo To White Sox For Seranthony Dominguez

White Sox: C-
Mariners: B

Who else is involved: The Mariners received right-handed reliever Seranthony Domínguez, outfielder Nolan Jones and catching prospect Boston Smith.

The White Sox need more reliable starting pitching. This…was not the veteran pitcher I expected them to land. Castillo is a three-time All-Star who was an important piece helping end Seattle’s 20-year playoff drought when the Mariners traded for him in 2022. He was productive over his next three seasons with the Mariners, as well, registering a combined 3.50 ERA from 2023-25 while throwing more than 175 innings in each of those seasons. This year…has not gone the same.

Castillo, 33, has been a below-replacement-level player in 2026 with a 5.06 ERA and the lowest strikeout rate of his career. He was making $24.15 million this year and is due the same amount next season. He also has a $25 million vesting option in 2028 if he reaches the 180-inning mark next season. The White Sox are reportedly taking on the full amount. That’s a lot of money for a pitcher whose numbers — both real and underlying — are trending in the wrong direction. 

Castillo can eat innings, so maybe they have something else up their sleeves to raise the group’s ceiling as it attempts to end a four-year playoff drought. They’ll at least get some relief by moving the contract of Domínguez, who was making $7.5 million this year and is due $10.5 million next year.

The Mariners already have five other reliable starters in Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryan Woo, Bryce Miller, Emerson Hancock and have top prospect Kade Anderson knocking on the door. They did not need Castillo, and they got his contract off the books. 

Domínguez helps fill a bullpen need, and Smith immediately becomes one of the more interesting position player prospects in Seattle’s system. The 2025 sixth-round pick is a left-handed-hitting catcher with an OPS over 1.100 at Double-A. This move doesn’t exactly help lift the Mariners in 2026, however, so it’ll be interesting to see how much help they add over the next few days. A right-handed bat certainly wouldn’t hurt. – Kavner

Braves Add Bat In OF Lane Thomas

Braves: B+
Royals: B

Who else is involved: Braves also acquire LHP Bailey Falter; Royals acquire RHP Lucas Braun and LHP Carter Holton.

The Braves are enjoying a bounce-back season from Michael Harris II in center field, but right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr has been on the injured list twice with a hamstring injury and Atlanta’s left fielders have produced a .646 OPS this year, the second-worst mark in MLB. In addition, the offense had a .692 OPS against lefties in July, a total that ranked 21st in baseball.

Thomas, who has an .800 OPS against lefties and can play both corner spots, is a logical fit in a market short on right-handed bats. At the very least, he can platoon against lefties and has a patient approach, strong arm and speed. Falter, meanwhile, has spent most of the year at Triple-A and can help add depth in a swingman or long relief role.

Braun, who was ranked the Braves’ No. 8 prospect by MLB (and a top-20 prospect in the system by most outlets), projects as a back-end starter. He doesn’t miss many bats, but he has been durable and effective at the upper minors. He had a 3.67 ERA in 149 ⅔ innings last year between Double-A and Triple-A and has a 3.53 ERA with 82 strikeouts in 94 ⅓ innings between the two stops this year. Holton was the Braves’ second-round pick in 2024 and has a 5.08 ERA at low-A. It would’ve been nice to get a little more upside when there are so few right-handed hitters available, but it’s an acceptable return for a veteran rental. – Kavner

Pirates Bolster Bullpen With Doval

Pirates: C+
Yankees: B-

Who else is involved: The Yankees acquire two prospects: C Omar Alfonzo and OF Luis Cruz.

 As it stands, the Pirates are buying low, hoping they can extract the upside out of Doval that the Yankees couldn’t after New York traded for the hard-throwing Dominican right-hander at last year’s deadline. Doval was a below-replacement-level arm in the second half for the Yankees last year and is again through the first half of this season, registering a 4.63 ERA during his time in the Bronx.

Three years ago, Doval looked like one of the game’s most promising relievers. An All-Star at 25 years old with the Giants in 2023, he featured a cutter that averaged close to 100 mph and recorded an NL-best 39 saves. But he was unable to consistently replicate that form or maintain his control in the ensuing years and was recently relegated to lower-leverage duties with the Yankees. 

Doval hasn’t walked as many batters this year. Also, he still throws hard, he keeps the ball on the ground, and his expected ERA (3.61) is about a full run better than his actual mark of 4.54. His strikeout rate continues to plummet, though, and he is allowing the highest hard-hit rate and average exit velocity of his career. 

There are clear tools here, though, so the “+” on the Pirates’ grade is in part because Doval is still under team control for another season. But the fact that the Yankees — who are also in need of bullpen help — were willing to just move on after Doval’s disappointing tenure is telling.

That said, it wasn’t particularly surprising. Doval clearly wasn’t figuring it out with the Yankees, who at least turned him into a prospect at a position of need in Alfonzo, a left-handed-hitting catcher who was a top-20 Pirates prospect according to MLB’s rankings and has a .757 OPS at Double-A. Cruz is a dart throw, but the 18-year-old had an .856 OPS for the Pirates’ Dominican Summer League team. I’d expect the Yankees to look for another high-leverage arm, in addition to their offensive needs. — Kavner

Source

The Seattle Mariners have traded for Baltimore Orioles outfielder Taylor Ward, the teams announced. This comes on the heels of starting right fielder Luke Raley landing on the IL with a left forearm strain.

The Angels get back three minor leaguers for Ward, per MLB Pipeline: Brock Moore, Alex Hoppe and Harrison Kreiling.

Ward is leading the American League in walks with 87, and while he hasn’t had his usual power with just seven homers – Ward batted a career-high 36 in 2025, after 23, 17 in just 97 games and 25 in the three prior seasons – his .383 on-base percentage has still helped him be an above-average hitter in the Orioles’ outfield.

Taylor Ward’s power wasn’t what the Orioles expected, but he kept drawing free passes and remained productive that way. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

–>

Adding Ward keeps the Mariners from having to play Victor Robles in right field in Raley’s absence – Robles is batting just .241/.288/.267 in 51 games and 126 plate appearances, and has been a below-replacement-level player for Seattle in 2026.

Baltimore acquired Ward this past offseason for starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez, for his final season before free agency. The 32-year-old left fielder is a rental for the Mariners and a necessary upgrade: Seattle is 55-58 but just two games out of a wild-card spot and three behind the AL West-leading Astros, and Raley’s absence opened up a significant hole in the lineup and outfield.

The Orioles are just 2.5 games out of a wild-card spot themselves, but have moved Ward for prospects signaling a potential desire to step back from that race – though, over the weekend general manager Mike Elias indicated the O’s would buy and sell, per MLB. 

Moore is a 26-year-old reliever missing bats in Double-A. Alex Hoppe, 27, has thrown 28 innings in the majors in 2026, splitting time between the bigs and Triple-A. Kreiling is a 24-year-old right-hander, but he wasn’t drafted until 2024 when he was already 22: he has thrown just 10 ⅔ innings as a professional, as he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2025 and missed the entire season.

Source

INDYCAR HEADQUARTERS (Indianapolis) — Anyone who has watched INDYCAR’s rollout of its 2028 car probably already knows what the buzzwords (or buzz slogan) is for its new machine.

Track Records.

To say that INDYCAR is focused — maybe even a little obsessed — with setting track records with its new car (the IR-28 is what it is called) would be accurate. The Indianapolis 500 qualifying record was set in 1996 by Arie Luyendyk, whose 237.498 mph qualifying lap and 236.986 mph four-lap run have lasted for 30 years.

INDYCAR’s newly designed car is set to debut on track in 2028.

–>

To INDYCAR officials, that’s been long enough. And they hope to start breaking track records in 2028, and not only at Indianapolis.

“One of the first things [among our goals] was to break track records,” INDYCAR SVP Mike Sibla, who oversees the car’s development, told me and other reporters last Friday. “We felt that was something that we were ready to do.

“We felt the technology was there where we could do this safely, responsibly, and it’s a good way to really continue the momentum that the sport’s under right now.”

The car, of course, can only do so much when it comes to posting fast speeds. The tires and the weather at the track certainly influence how fast a car can go at any particular time.

But what about the 2028 INDYCAR is designed to make it go faster than the current version? 

Well, it starts with safety. The car, designed by Dallara, has to be safe enough for INDYCAR officials to land on an engine configuration capable of approaching 240 miles an hour on the speedways.

The safety elements of the aeroscreen, as well as other safety devices to keep the car from lifting, have been incorporated into the design of the car. That means that the air should flow over the car more seamlessly. INDYCAR and Dallara have worked on the aerodynamics of the car to allow for less dirty air that would impact cars further behind if they are running single file.

That has included the shape and endplates of some of the wings. In the simulator, INDYCAR and Dallar put in the data to be able to simulate multiple cars.

“Although two cars haven’t been on track at the same time, the best science that we can use to determine if the car is going to be a good race car and a raceable car, everything we’ve seen so far is pointing to that we’ve made some gains there,” said INDYCAR VP Mike O’Gara, who leads the group working on the new car.

The tub has been tested to handle crashes at high speeds. The cockpit is bigger to allow for more padding to protect the driver.

And then there’s the engine, as INDYCAR goes from a 2.2-liter V-6 engine to a 2.4-liter V-6. 

The hybrid unit, made by Helix, which was not involved in the current INDYCAR hybrid, won’t produce any additional horsepower. But it has 14 times the amount of power storage, meaning the amount of boost the car gets from the hybrid is going to increase dramatically.

With the engine regulations finally settled on by INDYCAR, Honda and Chevrolet just a few weeks ago, the target for the engine is 760 horsepower, which is 60-100 more than the current engine. It is expected as they continue to develop the engines that they could reach closer to 800 horsepower. The hybrid and push-to-pass systems can add up to 120 horsepower.

The hybrid is about 20 pounds lighter and the gearbox is 25 pounds lighter. Those are the most dramatic changes that bring the car back to approximately 1,700 pounds. That weight is about what it was originally with the current chassis. 

“You’re taking weight out, you’re increasing the horsepower, and I think the biggest thing for us, a lot of people will say, ‘OK, safety, that’s great, but is it that exciting?’” Sibla said.

“We wanted to make this car safe so that we could break records. And that’s what we’ve done here.”

And it could be lighter. 

After the initial validation tests at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course last weekend and upcoming tests on the IMS oval, a shorter oval and a street course in the next couple of months, INDYCAR will analyze the spec parts and pieces to see if it can take out even more weight from the car. 

For instance, the aeroscreen was reduced by a few pounds in its latest iteration.

“We learn from these initial tests, you know what can be optimized, what can be changed, and that’s where you get that weight out,” Sibla said.

How will the teams tune the car to make it go faster? 

They used to design and manufacture (or outsource) their own dampers, which are suspension pieces that impact how the car handles. They will no longer be doing that, as the suspension pieces and dampers in this car will be provided by one company (Custom Access). 

But the options when it comes to those pieces, which ones the teams use and how they are installed are well into the thousands.

The wheels will also be different, with a stronger wheel that handles more loads.

And the car is designed to potentially evolve with speeds.

“Some of the magnesium wheels we have are at the very peak of their stress levels at some of the tracks we run at right now,” O’Gara said. “So, the wheels are more robust, the suspension is going to be more robust.

“There are also things like we currently aren’t going to run brake-by-wire, which is a thing a lot of hybrid race cars run currently. The car is future-proof for it. There’s a spot under the sidepod for a brake-by-wire system. And as the car evolves, as the engines make more power, as the hybrids make more power, then we can introduce some of those other systems.”

The current testing is being done with an old 2.4-liter engine developed by Ilmor from when INDYCAR was going to change engine packages about four or five years ago. So in these initial tests, they won’t know if the car is truly faster. 

Chevrolet and Honda should get cars early next year.

“This engine … is an older version so you can’t really read too much into that,” Alexander Rossi said in a video news release following his test Saturday on the IMS road course. 

“But all in all, it’s been incredibly smooth and it’s a joy to drive.”

What About Power Steering?

The new INDYCAR still lacks power steering.

–>

Maybe one of those most debated issues is whether the cars should have power steering. Many forms of racing have it, but INDYCAR does not.

It certainly challenges the drivers and gives it a little bit of gladiator effect. But it has also been cited as a reason few women attempt to go the INDYCAR route. 

Jamie Chadwick won the 2024 Indy NXT race at Road America and tested an INDYCAR. She cited the physical challenge as one of the reasons that making a move to INDYCAR would have been difficult for her to compete on road courses.

O’Gara said the new car is set up to add more of a “power assist” element that sports cars use but there is no guarantee it will be in the car.

“It’s not a full hydraulic system like Formula 1 cars run,” O’Gara said. “It’s an electric assist system similar to what’s been run in sports cars throughout the world. So the system exists.

“The car doesn’t currently have it. We have some basic testing we’re to do without the power assist, and then later in the testing phase, we plan on introducing it. … We need to test it at a few different places to see one, if it’s needed, and two, where it’s needed. Is it a road-course only thing? Do we require it everywhere or only certain track types? So that’s going to come with track testing as we run.”

IN THE NEWS

— Joe Gibbs Racing withdrew a pivotal allegation against Spire Motorsports and Chirs Gabehart as part of its suit: “A Spire employee has informed a JGR employee that Gabehart is in charge of and/or significantly participating in Spire’s competition strategy and decisions.” Gabehart is prohibited from doing similar work at Spire as he did as JGR competition director, so that would have violated that order. JGR, in a court filing, said after Spire asked for evidence that “it does not possess non-privileged information sufficient to support the allegations.”

— Front Row Motorsports announced Chandler Smith won’t return to its truck team next season. His future landing spot has not been announced, but it’s expected to be in an O’Reilly car at Richard Childress Racing.

— Tommy Baldwin, on the podcast “Door Bumper Clear” that he co-hosts, said he has parted ways with Rick Ware Racing. Baldwin was the competition director there.

Social Spotlight

They Said It

“We’ve all been waiting for this for a long time. Drivers, fans, teams, sponsors and all of you have been looking forward to it, and now it’s finally here. It’s like Christmas morning.”
— Alexander Rossi after testing the IR-28

Source

The Notre Dame-USC college football rivalry will start again in 2030.

The schools announced Monday they have agreed to a four-game home-and-home series. Notre Dame will play in Los Angeles on Aug. 31, 2030, and the Trojans will visit South Bend on Aug. 30, 2031. The meetings in 2032 and 2033 will be played in the first three weeks of the season.

The teams met each non-pandemic season from 1946-2025, typically in October or November, in what became known as “the greatest intersectional rivalry in college football.” The exception was the 2020 season when most schools played a conference-only schedule.

Negotiations for the continuation of the series became challenging after USC joined the Big Ten in 2024. The Trojans expressed that they did not want to play nonconference games after September. Notre Dame beat the Trojans 34-24 in South Bend last Oct. 18, and the series officially went on hiatus in December when the Irish announced they had filled the last open spot on their 2026 schedule with a game at BYU.

Notre Dame and USC first played in 1926 and the Irish lead the series 53-38-5. The series also was put on hold from 1943-45, during World War II.

The two schools have combined to win 22 national championships and produce 15 Heisman Trophy winners, and the discontinuation prompted consternation on both sides. Navy is the only team Notre Dame has played more than USC, at 98 meetings.

Notre Dame and USC play for the Jeweled Shillelagh Trophy, a tradition which began in 1952. The Jeweled Shillelagh Trophy is presented by the Notre Dame Club of Los Angeles. Notre Dame victories are marked by green-jeweled shamrocks while USC victories are marked by ruby-jeweled Trojan heads.

“USC’s historic rivalry with Notre Dame holds a special place in the history of college football, and we are happy to resume a series that means so much to the entire Trojan Family,” USC athletic director Jen Cohen said. “It remains important for us to play this game early in the season, as it allows us to schedule competitively with our Big Ten peers and takes into account the health and best interests of our student-athletes and program. We are excited for our fans, and we look forward to more memorable matchups and unforgettable games between the Trojans and the Irish.”

Reported by the Associated Press 

Source

Portugal had an up and down showing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, delivering clutch victories, but ultimately falling well short of its goal. Portugal sputtered in the round of 16, losing 1-0 to Spain as it lacked attacking prowess. 

Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo competed valiantly in his final World Cup appearance, which he confirmed earlier in the tournament. At age 41, he started each Portugal match and became the oldest European soccer player to score at a Men’s World Cup. 

Ronaldo will continue to compete at the club level, while his Portuguese teammates carry on the country’s quest for its first World Cup title. 

So what’s next for Portugal’s players after the 2026 World Cup?

Ronaldo started all five of Portugal’s fixtures at the 2026 World Cup. He scored twice during the group stage against Uzbekistan, and converted a penalty kick in Portugal’s 2-1 victory against Croatia in the round of 32, his first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout round match. Ultimately, though, he left his potentially final World Cup appearance empty-handed. Ronaldo will return to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr for his fifth season with the club. 

Many regard Fernandes as Portugal’s most talented player, currently. He did not live up to that regard at the 2026 World Cup, recording one assist in five matches. The lack of inventiveness in a talented midfield on-paper was crucial to Portugal’s undoing. Fernandes will return for his seventh season at Manchester United, where he’s the club captain. 

Vitinha was similarly disappointing at the 2026 World Cup. He failed to record a single involvement throughout the group stage before a heel injury kept him out of both of Portugal’s knockout games. Vitinha is a decorated player with Paris Saint-Germain, where he’s won four consecutive French League titles, and two straight Champions League titles, including in 2026. He’ll return for a fifth season with the star-studded PSG team, and try to continue that run of success. 

Like Vitinha, Nuno Mendes also plays for Paris Saint-Germain, and will return to help continue that run of success. However, he may have picked up an injury in Portugal’s final game as he exited the defeat to Spain in the 56th minute because of a hamstring injury. Mendes scored once against Uzbekistan, and before getting hurt, put forth a respectable effort, defending Spain’s Lamine Yamal. 

Neves is the third of four Portugal players — the fourth being Gonçalo Ramos — who plays for PSG. This past season was his second with the French side, so he has a ways to go to catch his Portuguese teammates in terms of hardware. But at 21 years old, he has the time to do so. 

Dias played all five matches for Portugal, helping it to two clean sheets and conceding just three goals. He’ll return to Premier League giants Manchester City for a seventh season. After finishing second in the Premier League in 2025-26 and third the year prior, Man City is seeking to return to its form of winning four straight league titles, which came in Dias’ first four seasons in Manchester. 

Silva is entering his first season at Spanish side Real Madrid after nine seasons with Manchester City, where he won six Premier League titles. 

Source