A three-homer game. Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani get it done. The Blue Jays are still right in this thing. Wednesday’s MLB action provided all that and much more.

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

Bregman’s 1st 3-Homer Game Lifts Cubs

The Nationals aren’t officially out of the wild-card race at this point by any means, but the Cubs have certainly made things more difficult. Chicago won the series against the Nats on Wednesday, and can go for the three-game sweep on Thursday, thanks to third baseman Alex Bregman’s career first.

Bregman hit three homers and drove in seven runs in the process, while adding a pair of walks in his other two plate appearances. The first dinger came in the fifth inning, and put Chicago up, 4-1.

The second long ball was the very next inning, a 383-foot shot off reliever Yovany Cruz that made it a 9-4 ballgame.

Bregman’s third homer of the game and 16th of the season came in the eighth off Trevor Williams, on a 91 mph four-seam fastball that was up and away — Bregman pulled that to left-center, 394 feet away, and Chicago was up 12-5.

While Bregman had an uninspiring start to the season — and his five-year, $175 million free agent contract signed this past offseason — he’s picked it up and looked like a star since mid-July. In the game before the All-Star break, Bregman went 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs to raise his season OPS to .696; it’s now .758, thanks to batting .327/.397/.644 with eight of his 16 homers in the last 25 games. He’s now a well-above average hitter for the year at third, and combined with his defense, has already accumulated 3.6 wins above replacement despite the slow start. No wonder the Cubs have turned things around and look like a World Series contender.

Meanwhile, the Nationals fell to 59-63, and are five games behind the Diamondbacks and Phillies, who are tied for the final wild-card spot. There’s plenty of season left for Washington to turn things around, but it’s slipped into that tier of sub-.500 teams, behind the six clubs with a winning record vying for the same three wild-cards.

Padres Sweep Brewers With Walk Off

One of those teams aiming for a wild-card berth is the Padres, and San Diego is proving it belongs in that fight. Robbie Ray, acquired at the deadline, started the game for the Padres against the MLB-best Brewers, and Ray went four innings allowing two runs before San Diego handed things over to its bullpen. The Padres scored their first run on a solo homer by shortstop Xander Bogaerts in the third inning, but then their bats went silent until the eighth, when a footrace between second baseman Jake Cronenworth and reliever Aaron Ashby resulted in a second run and tied game.

The game stayed tied and went to extras thanks to this grab out in center by Garrett Mitchell, who had entered earlier as a pinch-hitter and then stuck around.

Milwaukee would actually take the lead in the top of the 11th, when catcher Gary Sánchez drove in his second run of the day on a double — he had gone yard in the second for the Brewers’ first RBI of the day, as well.

Center fielder Jackson Merrill would tie the game with a sac fly in the bottom of the frame, and while that would be the second out of extras, the remaining baserunner, pinch-runner Sung-Mon Song, would steal second while catcher Luis Campusano was at bat. Campusano would then drive Song in on a liner to right, and San Diego would win.

That marked a sweep of the Brewers and the Padres’ fifth win in a row, to bring its record to 65-57. The W snapped a three-way tie for the last two NL wild-card slots, giving San Diego sole possession of the second. The Padres aren’t a sure thing by any means in a race this tight, but the lineup is hitting like it was always supposed to, and the rotation actually has pitchers in it now after the trade deadline, with former All-Star Joe Musgrove set to make his season debut sooner than later after missing all of 2025 recovering from Tommy John, and 2026 to this point recovering from a torn flexor tendon. There’s at least room for some hope, which is a better place than San Diego was a couple of months ago.

Rays Make It 9 Straight

The Rays have completed a 9-0 road trip, tying the franchise’s longest road winning streak, thanks to sweeping the Athletics in Sacramento. Second baseman Richie Palacios got Tampa Bay on the board in the second with a line drive to left…

…but it was the four-run fourth that sealed the deal for the Rays, punctuated by this three-run homer by newcomer Liam Hicks. The catcher was acquired at the trade deadline from the Marlins, and all he’s done is mash since changing zip codes.

The Rays would win, 8-4, and are now in line to get to 75 wins before anyone else in the AL reaches 70: they are the only American League team with a winning percentage over .600, and with Milwaukee losing again, now have the top winning percentage in MLB at .617.

Dodgers Sweep Royals

The Dodgers also swept the opposition in their most recent series, so they seem to be back on track. Los Angeles defeated the Royals, 4-2, thanks to 6 ⅓ strong innings out of starter Eric Lauer, but also the continued resurgence of shortstop Mookie Betts. Betts’ OPS was at its highest point in the summer in early July, but he slumped a bit to end the month. He’s been hot the last seven games, however, batting .423 with a 1.218 OPS, and hit his second homer of that stretch to tie things up 1-1 on Wednesday. 

Shohei Ohtani might not be a two-way player right now while he nurses a knee issue, but the bat is still there: his 27th homer of the year came on the first pitch he saw in the third inning, and gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead.

That would prove to be the game-winner, though, Los Angeles added another run on a on a dinger by catcher Hunter Feduccia in the fifth. With the Brewers getting swept by the Padres, the Dodgers are now just one back of Milwaukee for the best record in the NL.

Yankees Push Mariners Streak to 6

Just like the Nationals aren’t out of it yet, it’s too early to count out the Mariners. But that doesn’t mean Seattle isn’t trying to get knocked out of contention: it lost its sixth game in a row on Wednesday, to fall to 56-65 — nine games under .500 is a season-worst.

Everything started promising enough, with a pair of first-inning homers and another in the third propelling the Mariners to a 4-1 lead over the Yankees, but New York would not take long to respond. Right fielder Spencer Jones laced a two-run double in the third to left to score catcher Austin Wells and DH Ben Rice, cutting the lead to 4-3, and then repeated the trick in the fifth to tie the game up, 5-5.

Center fielder Trent Grisham would hit his 14th homer of the season in the seventh to give the Yankees a 6-5 lead, and then, in the eighth, make it 10-5 New York with his 15th blast.

That would end up being the final score, and the Yankees are now one W away from sweeping the four-game set against Seattle. The Mariners’ hopes aren’t on life support just yet, but they are 5.5 back in a division where the leading team is just two games over .500, and are staring up at eight other teams in the wild-card standings, including multiple clubs that sold at the deadline. So there’s that to consider.

Blue Jays Rally Late Against Red Sox

One of those teams that sold at the deadline also did a bit of buying — the Blue Jays. And it’s tough to argue with their decision to not go all-in on selling, considering that Toronto now sits just 1.5 games back of a wild-card spot after stopping the red-hot Red Sox in their tracks: Boston won 27 of 30 games before losing a weekend series to the Athletics and now three in a row to the Jays, and Toronto has a chance at a four-game sweep on Thursday.

This one was tied 1-1 in the eighth, but then the Blue Jays’ bats woke up. DH Kazuma Okamoto singled on a liner to left to give Toronto a 2-1 lead…

…then the Jays just kept scoring. A bases-loaded walk, a sac fly and a two-run double later, and it was 6-1, Toronto. Boston would respond with a three-run ninth, but it wasn’t enough: the Jays got the dub, and last year’s AL champs are within shouting distance of a postseason spot.

What A Grab!

The Cardinals won against the Phillies on Wednesday, giving St. Louis the series victory, as well, and got there with strong showings from starter Kyle Leahy — five innings, six strikeouts, no walks and one run allowed — and first baseman Alec Burleson, who went 2-for-3 with a run and three RBIs in the 7-1 win.

Also deserving of a shout out, though, is this catch by Jordan Walker in right field.

You hear a lot more about his bat, as that helped him to his first All-Star Game in 2026, but Walker timed this extension just right and made a damn impressive catch for his trouble.

Castillo Thrives In Chicago Debut

The first start for Luis Castillo with the White Sox didn’t go so well, but the trade deadline acquisition looked fantastic out there in his first home start for Chicago. The right-hander produced a season-high 10 strikeouts against his other former team, the Reds, allowing just one hit, two walks and no runs across seven innings of work.

A third-inning solo home run by catcher Drew Romo proved to be the game winner since Chicago didn’t allow any runs on the day, and shortstop Chase Meidroth added plenty of insurance an inning later with his 12th long ball of the year.

The White Sox are now 62-57 and 3.5 up on the Twins in the AL Central, which is just slightly ahead of last year’s pace through Aug. 12, when Chicago was 24.5 games back and just 44-76.

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The National League MVP Award was recently renamed the “Shohei Ohtani Award.” Okay, not really, but it feels that way with Ohtani winning unanimous NL MVP honors in each of his first two seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-25) – the third and fourth MVPs of his career.

On that note, has a force emerged that will take away the NL MVP from Ohtani?

Danny Parkins thinks that player is Chicago Cubs star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.

“If the [NL MVP] voting were held today, my vote would go to PCA,” Parkins said on Wednesday’s edition of “First Things First.” “Ohtani is the best player in baseball. He’s a two-way superstar. The problem for his MVP case this year is he hasn’t pitched since July 3. Now, if he returns to the mound soon, pitches effectively and helps the Dodgers secure the top seed in the National League, I reserve the right to change my mind. But, right now, look at the offense: PCA and Ohtani are having remarkably similar seasons.”

Through 121 games (538 plate appearances), Crow-Armstrong has totaled 27 home runs, 73 RBIs, 30 stolen bases, a 156 OPS+ and an MLB-high 7.5 wins above replacement, while sporting a .284/.384/.544 slash line. On the power front, Crow-Armstrong boasts a career-high in average exit velocity (90.2 mph) and hard-hit percentage (48.6%), according to Statcast.

Crow-Armstrong, an All-Star in each of the last two seasons and a 2025 Gold Glover winner, has posted 14 defensive runs saved in center field this season. Last year, he finished ninth in NL MVP voting after recording 31 home runs, 95 RBIs, 35 stolen bases, 5.9 wins above replacement and 15 defensive runs saved in center.

Through 111 games and 509 plate appearances, Ohtani has totaled 27 home runs, 74 RBIs, an NL-high 157 OPS+ and 3.4 wins above replacement, while owning a .292/.393/.544 slash line. Ohtani ranks in the 97th percentile of MLB in average exit velocity (93.4 mph) and the 96th percentile in barrel percentage (16.6%) and hard-hit percentage (52.2%), per Statcast.

Meanwhile, as a member of the Dodgers’ starting rotation, the two-way superstar has posted a 1.79 ERA, an 0.95 WHIP, 95 strikeouts, a 231 ERA+ and 3.0 wins above replacement over 85 ⅔ innings pitched across 14 starts. Granted, he hasn’t pitched in six weeks due to a knee injury.

As for their standing in the NL, Crow-Armstrong is tied for second in runs scored (86), OPS (.928) and triples (seven), is third outright in on-base percentage (.384), seventh in hits (130) and tied for 11th in RBIs. Ohtani is first in OPS (.937), tied for first in on-base percentage (.393), tied for sixth in runs scored (77), tied for eighth in RBIs and tied for 12th in hits (125); Crow-Armstrong and Ohtani are each tied for second in slugging percentage (.544) and sixth in home runs.

“If the offensive production is essentially a wash, that’s where PCA starts to separate himself [from Ohtani]. Defense? Well, PCA is the best defensive center fielder in the game, and he leads all of baseball in wins above replacement,” Parkins said. “On the bases, it’s not even close. Ohtani is only two years removed from stealing 59 bags, but he has seven this year to PCA’s 30. So, let’s add it up: similar offense, Ohtani’s pitching has stopped, and PCA has the clear edge on defense and the bases.

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“And then I’ll turn to the “V” in “MVP”: value. PCA has helped carry the Cubs through a season in which over a dozen pitchers have spent time on the injured list. Meanwhile, Ohtani is playing on a superteam with a payroll that exceeds Chicago’s by over $170 million. All that extra help, and the Cubs just swept the Dodgers last week. They have just two fewer wins than L.A. on the season.”

The Cubs are the No. 1 NL wild-card seed at 71-50, while the defending, back-to-back World Series champion Dodgers stand atop the NL West at 73-48.

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Kyle Busch thrived at Bristol, with 22 wins on the track across NASCAR’s three national series — including in 2022 with his final win as a Joe Gibbs Racing driver. 

And it’s for that reason that Bristol is the perfect venue for a tribute to the late driver, who died suddenly in May at 41.

Kyle’s widow, Samantha Busch, announced that Ty Gibbs’ No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota would be painted with an M&M’s mosaic of moments from Busch’s career, describing it as a “beautiful” homage.

“Bristol was always one of Kyle’s favorite tracks. He loved racing under the lights, found so much success there and the iconic M&M’s car holds some of the best memories of his career and our life together,” Samantha Busch posted to Instagram.

“Going back without him will be heartbreaking. He should be there. But I’m so grateful to be able to tell you that those iconic M&M’s colors will be coming back to Bristol one last time, on the 54 car. It’s a chance to honor him at a place he loved so much, surrounded by our NASCAR family and the fans who loved him, too. 

“I know Kyle would want us to be there, to keep showing up, keep racing and keep carrying his legacy forward.”

Gibbs — who is currently second in the Cup Series standings behind teammate Denny Hamlin — is the 23-year-old grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs. He ascended to a full-time position in the Cup series in 2023 with Busch’s departure to Richard Childress Racing. 

Ty Gibbs picked up his second win of the 2026 season on August 9 at the Iowa Corn 350 and has 10 top-5 finishes and 15 top 10s to go with those victories. 

The Bass Pro Shops Night Race and Ty Gibbs’ tribute car will run on September 19 at Bristol.

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The important thing is this isn’t awkward.

An attorney representing Washington Commanders star and former LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels informed LSU that it can no longer use Daniels’ name, image and likeness (NIL). This comes in the wake of LSU sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett changing his number to No. 5, which Daniels wore over his two years with the Tigers from 2022-23.

“The Daniels family is deeply disappointed and feels profoundly disrespected by LSU’s decision to give Jayden’s number to another player,” an Aug. 5 statement from Daniels’ spokesperson read, according to ESPN. “Jayden and his family had every reason to believe that his number would remain a meaningful part of his LSU legacy and would be honored and protected in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the university. …

“Jayden made it clear that he did not want his number given to another player, and he believed his wishes would be respected. His Heisman Trophy-winning season and everything he accomplished on and off the field cemented his place in LSU history. To see his number given to another player is incredibly disappointing and feels like a failure to honor the significance of what Jayden accomplished at LSU.”

Daniels released a statement on Instagram on Thursday afternoon, saying “there are issues to be worked out” with LSU and that he hopes it can remain a private matter.

Pickett, a consensus five-star recruit, wore No. 3 last season, with him recently changing to No. 5, which LSU head coach Lane Kiffin said in a Thursday press conference that the defensive back was “promised” the ability to wear when he was being recruited by the school in 2024.

Meanwhile, Pickett said in a press conference of his own on Thursday that he has worn the No. 5 his “whole life” and was indeed “promised” it by the Tigers. The No. 5 isn’t retired by LSU.

“Accordingly, LSU must immediately cease and desist from any further issue use, display, publication, distribution, promotion, commercialization, or other exploitation of Mr. Daniels’ NIL in any manner or medium,” attorney Adam Kenner wrote in the letter to LSU . “Any use of Mr. Daniels’ NIL occurring after LSU’s receipt of this notice will be deemed knowing and willful and will be pursued vigorously through all available legal and equitable remedies, without further notice.”

As for what he did on the field last season at LSU (2025), Pickett totaled three interceptions, three passes defended, two sacks and 37 combined tackles in his 2025 freshman campaign.

Regarding Daniels, he transferred to Baton Rouge after three seasons with the Arizona State Sun Devils (2019-21) and was the Tigers’ starting quarterback for two seasons (2022-23).

In his second year at LSU, Daniels put together one of the best seasons by a quarterback in college football history, capped off by winning the 2023 Heisman Trophy Award. Across 12 games, Daniels totaled 3,812 passing yards, 40 passing touchdowns, four interceptions and a 208.0 passer rating, while completing 72.2% of his passes. His 40 passing touchdowns and 208.0 passer rating each led the SEC, while Daniels also rushed for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Jayden Daniels is first in LSU history with a 173.6 passer rating over his two seasons with the program. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

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Daniels was then selected by the Washington Commanders with the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and proceeded to lead them to a playoff win for the first time since 2005 and to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 1991, when Washington won Super Bowl XXVI. In doing so, Daniels won 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, totaling 3,568 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, nine interceptions and a 100.1 passer rating in the regular season, while completing 69.0% of his passes. Concurrently, Daniels rushed for 891 yards and six touchdowns.

Daniels was limited to seven games in 2025 due to ankle, knee and elbow injuries, posting an 88.1 passer rating and completing 60.6% of his passes. The Commanders missed the playoffs at 5-12.

LSU is entering its first season with Kiffin, who previously went 55-19 as the head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels from 2020-25, as its new coach.

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In 2025, only five wide receivers surpassed 1,250 receiving yards.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Puka Nacua, George Pickens, Ja’Marr Chase and Amon-Ra St. Brown accomplished the feat, with JSN and Nacua both surpassing 1,700 yards.

In 2024, only Justin Jefferson, Drake London and St. Brown surpassed the 1,250-yard mark.

So, which WRs will top 1,250 receiving yards this season?

Let’s check out the latest odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Aug. 13.

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Player to Have 1250+ Regular-Season Receiving Yards

Puka Nacua: -200 (bet $10 to win $15 total)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: -200 (bet $10 to win $15 total)
Ja’Marr Chase: -200 (bet $10 to win $15 total)
Amon-Ra St. Brown: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)
CeeDee Lamb: +100 (bet $10 to win $20 total)
Justin Jefferson: +120 (bet $10 to win $22 total)
Drake London: +120 (bet $10 to win $22 total)
A.J. Brown: +130 (bet $10 to win $23 total)
Nico Collins: +150 (bet $10 to win $25 total)
Chris Olave: +180 (bet $10 to win $28 total)
Rashee Rice: +180 (bet $10 to win $28 total)
DeVonta Smith: +250 (bet $10 to win $35 total)
Zay Flowers: +250 (bet $10 to win $35 total)
Malik Nabers: +250 (bet $10 to win $35 total)
George Pickens: +275 (bet $10 to win $37.50 total)
Garrett Wilson: +275 (bet $10 to win $37.50 total)
Alec Pierce: +350 (bet $10 to win $45 total)
Tetairoa McMillan: +370 (bet $10 to win $47 total)
Terry McLaurin: +370 (bet $10 to win $47 total)

Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards in 2025 (Steph Chambers/Getty Images). 

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Here’s what to know about the oddsboard.

The Favorites: Smith-Njigba, Nacua and Chase are all heavily favored to reach the 1,250-yard mark once again in 2026. JSN is coming off a dream season in which he caught 119 passes for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns, helping propel Seattle to a Super Bowl title. Smith-Njigba had 1,130 receiving yards in 2024 after recording just 628 yards as a rookie in 2023. Can he follow up his breakout season? Meanwhile, Nacua also had an unbelievable 2025 campaign, catching 129 passes for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns. He recorded 990 yards in 2024 after bursting onto the scene with 1,486 yards as a rookie in 2023. Lastly, there’s Mr. Reliable: Ja’Marr Chase. Chase has eclipsed the 1,250-yard mark in three of his first five seasons, finishing with more than 1,400 yards in each of those campaigns. He’s also surpassed 1,000 yards in all five seasons, and if it weren’t for injuries, he likely would have topped 1,250 in all five as well.

Bounce-Back Season: Arguably the most interesting player on the oddsboard is Justin Jefferson. The 2022 Offensive Player of the Year led the league in receiving in 2024 with 1,533 yards before experiencing a dramatic falloff in 2025. Last season, Jefferson finished with just 1,048 yards and two touchdowns, both career lows. A large part of that decline can be attributed to Minnesota’s inconsistent quarterback play. J.J. McCarthy struggled and was unable to develop a strong connection with Jefferson, while Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer also saw time at QB. Now, Jefferson enters 2026 with Kyler Murray as his starting quarterback, giving him a proven veteran under center. In six NFL seasons, Jefferson has surpassed 1,250 receiving yards four times, including three seasons with more than 1,500. With improved QB play, a major bounce-back season could be in store for one of the league’s most accomplished receivers.

Justin Jefferson is looking for a bounce-back season in 2026 (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images).

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NEW YORK – This was unusual.

On Tuesday night, struggling Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh stepped in front of the cameras and recorders — before his manager spoke about Seattle’s fifth straight loss — in an impromptu and surprising admission of how poorly the slugger has performed this season.

“It starts with me. I’m awful,” said Raleigh, who was still in his game cleats and full uniform after swinging through three high fastballs from Yankees closer David Bednar for the final out of the game. “Gotta find a way to be better and help the guys along. We gotta play better. We’re playing very, very bad baseball in every facet of the game. We gotta pick it up from the energy standpoint, to the execution, to the little things in the game that help you win, and we’re just not doing those things right now.”

David Bednar strikes out Cal Raleigh, sealing Yankees’ win over Mariners

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Raleigh went from on top of the world last year to one of the worst hitters in baseball this year. Similarly, the Mariners go as their catcher goes.

Last season, Raleigh posted a 168 OPS+ and finished as the American League MVP runner-up. Across 159 games, a playing time that was unheard of for a catcher, he led the majors with 60 home runs and accumulated 7.2 WAR, which was second only to Yankees slugger and AL MVP winner Aaron Judge. This season, Raleigh owns a -0.1 WAR and 65 OPS+ in 87 games. He has hit only 12 home runs, and his strikeout rate has elevated dramatically from 26.7% last year to 32.2% this year.

On Tuesday, Raleigh ventured out of the visitor’s clubhouse at Yankee Stadium to speak to the media before his much-maligned manager, Dan Wilson, could take the heat for his team continuing to tumble down the standings. There’s an unwritten order for postgame press conferences in MLB. Managers speak first, followed by players in the clubhouse. Raleigh broke away from that custom. 

The speculation that the Mariners may soon part ways with Wilson and relieve him of his duties has never been higher. As much as Wilson has held firm that “a good streak can change the outcome pretty quickly,” he’s worn down by the club’s 57-65 record after Thursday’s win over the Bronx Bombers. So Raleigh, rather bluntly, taking accountability and shouldering the blame for the Mariners’ season-long slump was crucial timing. 

“We just gotta bring that edge every day,” Raleigh said when asked what the first step should be. “It’s tough when things aren’t going your way. It’s hard. You feel like the world’s against you. You gotta have a good attitude. You have to bring that edge, because nothing’s given to you. We gotta go take it. And sometimes, you’re feeling bad for yourself, you get a little lackadaisical out there. You have less energy. You don’t have that edge that you should have every single day. 

“That starts with me. I need to do a better job of that each and every night, just being prepared and being ready to go every single night. Ultimately, we’ve just gotta play with a little more urgency.”

After hitting 60 home runs last season, Cal Raleigh has only gotten the Mariners’ trident 12 times this season. (Kevin Ng/Getty Images)

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On Thursday, before Seattle narrowly avoided being swept by New York, I asked Raleigh to elaborate on some of those mental adjustments he believes the team needs to make. But Raleigh declined, saying he doesn’t want to talk about it.

“I said what I said. It is what it is,” Raleigh said. “The performance has to show it.”

He went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in the series finale in the Bronx. Even so, this was another honest response from Raleigh that anyone should respect, particularly his manager and teammates. Wilson supported Raleigh’s decision to take questions from the media before the skipper’s usual postgame press conference. 

“I love that Cal stepped up and had a lot to say,” Wilson told me on Thursday in the visitor’s dugout at Yankee Stadium. “I think our guys understand where we’re at, and understand the urgency of what the standings have us at. We got a big series coming up. There’s definitely some urgency. As a team, we’re all pretty aware of that. We’re ready to go.”

There is some truth to Raleigh admitting he’s one of the biggest reasons that the Mariners offense has been floundering this season. The lineup has mimicked Raleigh’s poor decisions at the plate, including off-balance swings and a complete absence of clutch hitting. 

Seattle has scored the fewest runs (469) in baseball this year after scoring the ninth-most runs (766) in the majors last year. The Mariners own a .681 OPS, which ranked 28th in MLB entering Thursday. They were batting .215 with runners in scoring position before the win over New York, which ranked 29th. All of this is confounding for a talented team that, just last October, pushed the Blue Jays to an AL Championship Series Game 7 and fell just short of the franchise’s first-ever World Series appearance. 

The Mariners were expected to run it back this year. Instead, they’re one of the most disappointing teams in baseball. No one understands that feeling of whiplash better than Raleigh. 

“It’s not just him,” Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez told me. “I feel like all of us could do better, especially on the offensive side of things. He tried to take all the blame, but at the same time, we got nine guys. So, I can say the same thing. I’m shifting more of my focus to, what can we do now? Instead of the whole season where we’ve struggled, we’ve battled, we’ve done a lot of things. 

“But what can we do now? I’m focusing on that. It’s not for him to take all the blame.”

One season after almost winning the American League MVP Award, Raleigh has been one of the worst everyday hitters in baseball. (Elsa/Getty Images)

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What can the Mariners do now? 

Due to the parity in the AL, where only five teams are playing above .500, Seattle still has a chance to qualify for a wild-card spot. The M’s are 3.5 games behind the final spot, with six teams ahead of them, which can feel daunting. The Astros lead the AL West with a five-game advantage over Seattle, but Houston has its own problems, and they’re hardly running away with the division. 

If the Mariners can somehow get through a brutal schedule the rest of this month without dropping further down the standings — which in itself would be a remarkable feat, since they’re slated to play the Brewers, Cubs, Phillies, Blue Jays and Red Sox in August — then they can look forward to a soft schedule in September. In the final month of the regular season, Seattle will go up against the Athletics, Rangers, Angels, and Rockies. 

Despite the baseball calendar coming to an end, they believe they have it in them to make a run. Before the season started, FanGraphs’ projection system gave the Mariners a 79.6% chance of making the playoffs. That number had plummeted to 24% entering Thursday’s game, but it’s not zero. Until Seattle is mathematically eliminated, it will still have hope. 

“We have a ton of time,” Raleigh said. “We’ll make some adjustments. That’s just how it is. Baseball is a very hard sport. You have to dig deep sometimes and try to figure out what’s going to be best for you, your circumstances, and whatever the team needs.”

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The Dallas Cowboys having high expectations isn’t anything new, but maybe this is the year they can meet those expectations.

After predicting every game on the Cowboys’ schedule, “First Things First” co-host Danny Parkins believes that Dallas will finish the season 11-6. Parkins envisions the Cowboys starting the year strong, going 5-1 as he thinks they’ll pick up wins against the New York Giants and Washington Commanders before upsetting the Baltimore Ravens. 

“I think they are going to continue to have a ton of success against the Giants and Washington,” Parkins said. On Baltimore, he added, “I just don’t know that Baltimore is ready to win a shootout. I am not as optimistic on Baltimore’s offense as I am on their defense, and I think their defense will be better later in the year than early.”

As for the games the Cowboys will lose, Parkins sees them falling to the Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams. However, Parkins also believes Dallas will win one of its matchups against Philadelphia and take down the Green Bay Packers (who could have former Cowboys star Micah Parsons healthy for that game) and the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

“Dak Prescott is a more reliable commodity than Trevor Lawrence,” Parkins said, explaining why he likes the Cowboys to take down the defending AFC South champion Jaguars late in the year. “Overall, an 11-6 season.”

Dallas isn’t projected to win 11 games in 2026, so Parkins’ prediction is certainly on the optimistic side for the Cowboys. Most oddsmakers have the Cowboys’ win total at 9.5, with over 9.5 wins sitting at +105 at DraftKings Sportsbook. But the Cowboys were favored in 11 games on the look-ahead lines. 

While Parkins and some others might be feeling bullish about the Cowboys, our Ben Arthur isn’t. He predicted Dallas to go 6-11 when the schedule was released in May. 

“It helps that the NFC East isn’t as threatening as it was a year ago at this time. But their non-division schedule is brutal,” Arthur wrote. “Expectations are high in Dallas, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see it take a step back.”

However, the start of training camp could help spark some more hope in Dallas. The Cowboys made sweeping changes to their defense this offseason, poaching Christian Parker from the Eagles and making him their defensive coordinator. Dallas also has eight new starters on defense, including safety Caleb Downs, edge rusher Rashan Gary and cornerback Kobie Durant. 

With those changes in place, our Eric D. Williams believes that the Cowboys might have a defense suited to help their offense after finishing last in points allowed last season. 

“Every day we come out here, we want to compete at a high level and do your one-eleventh,” Durant told Williams following a recent Cowboys practice. “And it’s on display every day we come out here. High energy, everybody doing their part and bringing what we do in the classroom and make it come to life on the field.”

If the Cowboys’ defense is better than it was last year, maybe they’ll make the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. Dallas went 7-9-1 in 2025, with Dak Prescott and the offense doing much of the heavy lifting. 
 

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We’re coming off an incredible summer and arguably the best World Cup in history. Never had we had 48 teams spread across three host nations and so many of the star players actually produce some iconic goals. 

Certainly the U.S. men’s national team could have done better, even though Mauricio Pochettino’s squad did deliver some big moments in its run to the round of 16.  And now attention turns back to the European club calendar for key figures such as Folarin Balogun, Christian Pulisic, and Weston McKennie. 

That gives FOX Sports soccer analyst Alexi Lalas the opportunity to take stock of which of the USA’s European-based stars improved their standing after the World Cup. Who could build on the summer’s momentum, and who needs to get back on track? 

Stock Up ↑ Folarin Balogun (Monaco)

Club performance last season: 43 appearances, 19 goals, 4 assists

If there was a breakout star for the USA this summer, it certainly was Balogun. The 25-year-old striker finished the tournament with three goals (including two in the opening win over Paraguay). His summer was slightly marred by the controversial red-card reversal, but his form bodes well for both the USA and his club. 

“What a summer. I think he came out probably on top if you’re power ranking who came out in the best possible light,” Lalas said. “Even with the red card controversy, I don’t think it hurt him in the least. … He did what he needed to do in terms of scoring the goals. … “People who didn’t know soccer knew who Balogun was.” 

The question is: will that club still be Monaco, or could he be set for a reported move to a Premier League side like Tottenham Hotspur? 

Stock Down ↓ Christian Pulisic (AC Milan)

Club performance last season: 34 appearances, 10 goals, 4 assists

It’s hard to gauge where Pulisic would have been more impactful this summer had he not suffered an early leg injury that limited him the rest of the tournament. The 27-year-old winger didn’t find the back of the net at the World Cup, and now returns to AC Milan to play under a new manager in Ruben Amorim. 

Midfielder Christian Pulisic dealt with an injury throughout the World Cup. (Shaun Clark/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

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“Keep in mind his stock was down even before the World Cup started,” Lalas said. “He didn’t harness the power of being the poster boy of this American team … there was an element of not living up to the hype and, in particular in a home World Cup, where there were so many eyes on him.” 

Pulisic will hope to rebound in what will be a pivotal season for him at one of Italy’s biggest clubs. He started last Serie A season with a flourish but hasn’t scored for AC Milan since last December. 

Stock Up ↑ Weston McKennie (Juventus)

Club performance last season: 48 appearances, 9 goals, 8 assists

McKennie’s time at Juventus hasn’t always been the easiest amid always having to prove himself to the club’s rotating cast of managers. But the 27-year-old midfielder always finds a way to show why he remains an essential player for Juventus. 

Weston McKennie was one of the USA’s most consistent players. (Robin Alam/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

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“Unlike Pulisic in Italy, he had a banner year. He was able to adjust to whatever the circumstances … and make himself a valuable asset very quickly,” Lalas said. “Did he have the best World Cup? No, but he was fine and did what he needed to do. I think people really enjoyed seeing him as a player; they enjoyed his personality.” 

Stock Up ↑ Tyler Adams (Bournemouth)

Club performance last season: 26 appearances, 2 goals, 2 assists

Adams remains a reliable presence in the midfield and looked solid this summer after a season at Bournemouth that was interrupted by injury. At 27, Adams is in his prime years and should factor in the lineup under new manager Marco Rose. 

Tyler Adams claps to the USA fans after the win over Paraguay. (Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

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“What’s been the big knock been on Tyler Adams? Well, the knocks that he takes and the injuries and the time out,” Lalas said. “Again, I don’t think we have yet to see the best of Tyler Adams as a player, but I don’t think he hurt himself this summer.” 

Stock Up ↑ Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen)

Club performance last season: 42 appearances, 8 goals, 1 assist

Two goals – including a set-piece game winner against Bosnia & Herzegovina in the round of 16 win – showed why the 24-year-old attacking midfielder is one of the USA’s brightest talents. Tillman will now need to build on that in his second year at his German club, which saw him struggle amid managerial changes. 

“He had a wonderful World Cup, the way that he showed different facets of the game and the layers that he showed, I’m not sure everybody projected that or saw that coming into the World Cup,” Lalas said. 

 Stock Down ↓ Gio Reyna (Strasbourg)

Club performance last season at Borussia Mönchengladbach: 20 appearances, 1 goal, 1 assist

Reyna had one of the USA’s best goals at the World Cup with his trivela in the win over Paraguay (even making our Top 50 World Cup goals list), but went quiet the rest of the way. At 23, Reyna is now at another club after a transfer to the French club Strasbourg. A change of scenery (again) could help Reyna reach his potential, but it also feels like a last chance to impress in Europe. 

“I think this move says how much talent he still has and how much people still believe that they can find something,” Lalas said. “This move to Ligue 1, you can even frame it as a step-down in competition. But sometimes you have to take two steps back to take a step forward.” 

Stock Up ↑ Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven)

Club performance last season: 27 appearances, 1 goal, 5 assists

Dest has proven his versatility throughout the years in both fullback positions and in a more attacking role. But after an up-and-down World Cup campaign, what’s in store for the 25-year-old defender?

“I think he is still a quality player, although there might be a moving on from him when it comes to Pochettino and the national team,” Lalas said. “Which is kind of unthinkable if you look back a couple of years and what Sergiño Dest was.” 

What’s next for Sergiño Dest? (Photo by John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images)

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But Dest is still on the radar for a return to Europe’s biggest leagues after a title-winning season with Dutch club PSV Eindhoven. Could the former Barcelona player leverage that to somewhere like the Bundesliga?

“Maybe I should have put a stock up, down, or sideways,” Lalas said. “I could make an argument for stock up and down.” 

2026 FIFA World Cup™ TOP 25 GOALS of the Tournament

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The next two weeks will bring challenges like no other for INDYCAR drivers.

Two new street circuits. Back-to-back weeks of unknowns. 

First up this weekend: A race on the streets of Markham, a suburb of Toronto. It’s a 2.19-mile, 12-turn course on streets that have mostly been repaved.

Then next weekend: A race on the streets of Washington, D.C., around the National Mall. The relatively simple 1.7-mile, seven-turn course will go by some of the most iconic institutions in the nation’s Capitol as part of a celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States of America.

Here’s everything to know about how drivers will handle the next couple of weeks.

How Do They Prepare?

When it comes to preparing for unfamiliar tracks, Pato O’Ward noted that he “hates” the simulator.

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Drivers have worked in racing simulators just as they have for other events, although the scan of the Markham track was done before it was repaved. So many of the bumps are no longer there. Also, for new street courses, teams have no data on the surface and how it reacts to tires and the like. If they were going to an existing track, they could have had a tire test.

There’s another issue. 

Obviously, the temporary barriers have been installed in just the last few weeks, and while the track designs are close to actuality, a wall in a different spot by a few feet can make all the difference.

Some drivers refuse to do the simulator or don’t put much stock in it.

“I hate the simulator,” Arrow McLaren driver Pato O’Ward told me Thursday morning in Markham. “It’s so useless. It’s good for a video game. It’s not good for getting to know exactly what the car is going to feel like.

“And the problem is, whenever you go to these new places, that is your first sensation of a new circuit. Then you get there and you’re like, ‘Hey, that’s not the same.’ Well, no sh–, Sherlock, it’s not the same. It’s important to know where the track goes, which I do know.”

Lundgaard, a teammate of O’Ward, told me he decided not to do the simulator.

“I did it in Arlington and in all honesty, I thought it hurt me. So I didn’t really want to do Markham or D.C.”

But Some Have Done Simulator, Right?

Marcus Armstrong said, “we’re just going to … do our best.”

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Rinus VeeKay, who is 10th in the series standings driving for Juncos Hollinger Racing, said he has done the simulator for both tracks and there are a lot of differences between Markham and Washington. He said he actually dislocated a rib doing the Markham simulator because of the bumps in the surface before it was repaved.

The Markham track has a very tight hairpin, much like Long Beach — except drivers will be carrying much more speed into that turn at Markham.

“I’d say D.C. is more of a straight-forward track, really wide with all the streets,” VeeKay told me Thursday morning. “They’re just really wide there. Markham is a lot tighter, a lot more unorthodox.

“Corners we haven’t really seen with that weird hairpin there. This is going to be an interesting race. It’s going to take a lot of skill to be quick around this track here at Markham.”

And there’s some feeling that this could be one of those places where preparation isn’t as important.

“We’re just going to rock up and do our best,” Meyer Shank Racing driver Marcus Armstrong told me.

So Who Will Be The Favorites?

Kyle Kirkwood is currently second on the oddsboard for both Markham and D.C.

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You could go with Kyle Kirkwood, who won the inaugural race on the new Arlington (Texas) street course earlier this year and has been one of the top drivers on street courses the last few years. 

And then, of course, there’s championship leader Alex Palou. He has won on the streets of St. Pete, Long Beach and Detroit this year.

“You never know until you practice one or two times,” Palou told me and other reporters last week as far as who will be good this weekend.

It was at Arlington where Kirkwood made a daring pass on Palou for the win.

Christian Lundgaard, who has won two races on road courses this year, isn’t sure fans should expect much difference when looking at the top of the board.

“I feel the strong teams will be at the strong end of the field as always,” Lundgaard told me and other reporters last week. “There may be drivers that figure it out sooner than others. I feel like it’ll be pretty similar to Arlington.”

Will This Be An Even Playing Field?

The uncertainty of how the next two tracks will race could help the smaller teams, according to Rinus Veekay.

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That’s a good question. With no driver truly knowing exactly what he needs, that could open up the chances of a driver hitting on the right setup.

Or maybe even bigger, there’s more likelihood that a driver just makes mistakes and ends up in a barrier.

“For a smaller team, I think it’s a good thing,” VeeKay said. “We can guess right, while some big teams maybe don’t.”

As Christian Rasmussen of ECR told me: “I don’t think it hurts us guys.”

Shouldn’t It Be Tougher On Teams With Smaller Budgets?

The cross-country travel over the next few weeks will present challenges for smaller teams like that of Romain Grosjean.

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It very well could. A.J. Foyt Racing driver Santino Ferrucci will admit that much.

“It’s probably a bigger challenge for us than others, but I’m looking forward to it,” Ferrucci told me last week. “We’ve had four new tracks [including the Phoenix oval] this year, three of which have been brand new.

“It’s just great for the sport. Venues that we need to be going to and tracks that need to be changed. …. I’m excited about it.”

Romain Grosjean, a driver for Dale Coyne Racing, might run on the tightest budget of any team in the garage. Coming from Portland last week and then having Milwaukee and Laguna Seca (Monterey, Calif.) in the two weeks following Washington to end the INDYCAR season will be a challenge.

“It’s a tough one for everyone,” Grosjean told me Thursday. “It’s a lot of races in a row, it’s a lot of travel. West Coast to East Coast to West Coast. But we’ll do our best. It’s exciting to have many races.

“It’s exciting to be here in Markham and then D.C. is going to be a big one.”

Why Are They Not Racing Where They Normally Do In Toronto?

This race formerly ran near Exhibition Place (pictured) but now has a long-term deal to run at Markham.

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Several reasons. Construction in the area around Exhibition Place had made things a little more difficult and the streets were not in the best shape. Plus, with the World Cup at the soccer stadium, that made the timeline for trying to get the course set up even more challenging.

Greene Savoree — which has the INDYCAR promotional rights for Toronto and is also the promoter for St. Petersburg, Mid-Ohio and Portland — found a new home in the Toronto suburb of Markham.

The city has paved many of the streets. And having this race in Markham is a long-term deal. The new location is about a 22-mile drive from Exhibition Place.

How Did The D.C. Race Come Together?

The planning for the D.C. race came together quite quickly.

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The D.C. race was not on the original 2026 calendar. However, an executive order by Donald Trump that was signed in January allowed for it to be operated primarily on federal property. This put the race into high gear.

It has been a scramble to get everything done for a race on the streets of Washington.

The race was added and increased the schedule to 18 competitions from 17.

Is It Tough To Put Up A Street Course?

Fencing is seen along Pennsylvania Avenue ahead of the INDYCAR Series Freedom 250 Grand Prix on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

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Yes, and especially a new one. Hundreds of concrete barriers and miles of fencing are required. Manhole covers need to be welded shut (Washington had more than 200).

At Markham on Thursday, workers were scrambling to finish the track build, delaying the scheduled time for INDYCAR teams to set up in the pits so that vehicles working on fencing and barriers could get their work done. INDYCAR teams are scheduled to practice Friday at 3 p.m. ET.

Why Do Street Courses?

The backdrop of NASCAR’s street course at Naval Base Coronado was picturesque. 

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Street course events bring racing to people who don’t necessarily get to see it and can also be considered an economic generator for the area.

They also create iconic images. NASCAR had its race earlier this year in San Diego with aircraft carriers in the background.

The race in Washington will feature both the U.S. Capitol and the Washington Monument in the background.

“Sports generally is a show,” said Grosjean, a former Formula 1 driver. “Racing in the capital of the country is the right thing to do. Going to big cities with St. Pete and Long Beach always works really well. … I’m excited for it and looking forward to be racing there.”

How to Watch the 2026 INDYCAR Race at Markham

• Date: Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026
• Time: Noon ET
• TV: FOX
• Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One
• Location: Streets of Markham, Markham, Ontario, Canada

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That NFL itch has been there, but now it’s starting to get scratched. 

With the preseason underway, and the regular season kicking off in a matter of weeks, I’m making bets. 

Here are two of my favorite bets in the NFC North.

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.

Lions’ Win Total, Lions’ NFC North Finish

The Lions finished 9-8 last season, which was good for a fourth-place record in the NFC North. That gives the Lions three games against other fourth-place seeds from the three other NFC divisions. 

Detroit will face the Giants, Saints and Cardinals, while the rest of the division has a tougher schedule, and that alone gives the Lions a leg up in their race to win the division.

The 2025 Lions were third in total DVOA, but I’m not sure they played like that team for a good chunk of the season. The offense was slightly uneven after offensive coordinator Ben Johnson left for the Bears in the offseason. Detroit missed his play sequencing and steady guiding hand, and head coach Dan Campbell eventually took over the play calling. 

This offseason, the Lions hired Drew Petzing, and they hope he can help them return to that game-to-game, drive-to-drive offensive efficiency. What will surely help the offense is the offensive line returning to being one of the best in the sport. It has been retooled a bit, and even though it’s taken an early hit with center Cade Mays out for a stint, it should be good again. 

The Lions have above-average skill position players, highlighted by Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown. And of course, quarterback Jared Goff can still spin it well. 

Jahmyr Gibbs received a new record-breaking contract from Detroit this offseason. (Getty Images)

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Defensively, Detroit needs more pass rush outside of Aidan Hutchinson. It is hopeful young players can fill that role — Alim McNeill and Tyleik Williams inside, with rookie draft pick Derrick Moore on the edge. The Lions’ linebackers are solid and some returning pieces in the secondary, like a healthy Brian Branch, will be important for their success. The Lions just need an average defense if their offense plays well.

Picking the Lions to win the division means that I’m “down” on the other three teams. 

The Packers just don’t scare me. What about them is scary? Micah Parsons? Sure, but he’s not starting the season healthy. I always find it difficult to pick a division winner without players that I fear. 

I believe the Bears will be a better team this season with a worse record. Weird, yes, but plausible. They won six games last season in which they were trailing with under two minutes left and that just won’t happen this season. Teams that win a ton of one-score games tend to see that number flip in the other direction the next season.

I’m intrigued by the Vikings with Kyler Murray. It’s an uber-talented team, but I’m not sure I fully trust Murray right now.

Schwartz’s Pick: Lions Over 10.5 Wins (-115), Lions to Win NFC North (+170)

This is my favorite prop of the NFL season. 

Colston Loveland is going to have over 1,000 yards receiving this season in his second NFL campaign. In 16 games last season, Loveland had 58 catches on 82 targets for 713 yards. He’s going to explode this year, as Caleb Williams improves his game and offensive coordinator/head coach Ben Johnson figures out ways to get Loveland the ball more often. 

Also, DJ Moore has left the roster and his 85 targets have to go somewhere. Some of those might find their way to Luther Burden, but he’s already hurt in camp. It’s not serious enough to hold him out of the regular season, but I don’t like muscle strains in the preseason. They tend to stay with the player the entire year.

Schwartz’s Pick: Colston Loveland Over 799.5 Receiving Yards

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