Japan 32-35 Australia: rugby union international – live

  • Wallabies win first match under new coach Les Kiss

  • Amatosero red carded in the first half

“Deep care,” is the message from Les Kiss ahead of his first match in charge of Australia. He wants his team to care about every second, on and off the pitch, when they’re on national team duty.

The 2026 Test calendar is a patchwork quilt of matches scattered around the world as the the All Blacks and Springboks flex their financial muscles and teams begin preparations for next year’s World Cup.

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Phillies news: Chase Utley, Luis Arraez, Dave Dombrowski

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 07: Phillies legend Chase Utley is shown during his Wall of Fame induction ceremony before the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Toronto Blue Jays on August 7th, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

What a night for an all-time Phillies great. Chase Utley gave his Wall of Fame speech on a night that was a little delayed by rain and he was finally immortalized among the team’s greats, as he should be. Next stop: Cooperstown.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

    MLB news:

    Summer reset: FSU baseball’s portal haul and draft luck put Link Jarrett’s program on the right track heading into the fall

    For the last two baseball seasons, Florida State has been in a vicious cycle of not being able to line up veteran bats with veteran arms.

    Last season, the Noles’ top seven pitchers in innings were all juniors or older, making the Seminole arms the calling card that pushed FSU to host its third-straight regional. However, the reason why Florida State did not make it to a third-consecutive Super Regional was the lack of composure at the plate and in the field. Jarrett’s team scored five runs or fewer in three of four games in the Tallahassee regional, as the bats went silent at the worst time.

    A year before, a veteran duo of Alex Lodise and Drew Faurot powered FSU at the plate and in the field as Florida State finished one win away from going to Omaha. The offense finished second in the ACC in batting average and ripped over 100 home runs, 24 more homers than in 2026. Unfortunately, the Noles did not have the experience needed on the mound and lacked trustworthy bullpen options, as Florida State struggled to put away games while giving up too many crooked numbers.

    But for the upcoming 2027 season, FSU will have age, talent, and experience on both the mound and at the dish for the first time since 2024.

    It starts with a bit of luck, especially on the pitching side.

    Even though Florida State lost its top-two high school recruits in the MLB Draft, Jarrett and his staff will feel they came out ahead given who was not selected, as RHP John Abraham, RHP Chris Knier, LHP Payton Manca and LHP Cooper Whited return to Tallahassee after not hearing their name called. Starting with Abraham, it was shocking he did not get drafted, and he would have almost certainly signed after his junior season. But, according to Brett Nevitt, he will now turn into a full-time starter, giving Florida State a 1-2 punch atop its rotation alongside transfer LHP Cayden Suchy, who was the 2026 Big East Pitcher of the Year at UConn. On the backend of the rotation, Manca and Whited return for another season and will battle for the Sunday and midweek slots with a host of right-handed transfers, including RHP Isaiah Shayter, who started 14 games for Penn State last season.

    In the bullpen, the Noles return a ton of experience, headlined by Knier, who became Micah Posey’s #2 reliever over the course of the 2026 season. LHP Kevin Mebil was also not selected in the MLB Draft and should be in line for an increase in his 20.0 innings pitched a season ago. Further down the line, RHP Cade O’Leary will be expected to take another step after an erratic sophomore season, and RHP Rhett Vaughn looks exceptional on the Cape this summer, with an ERA under one with over 20 innings pitched.

    This will be one of the oldest staffs Posey has had in his time in Tallahassee, with a mix of returning production and four transfer pitchers, all with starting experience. The questions in fall camp will be around Abraham’s transition as a starter, who wins the Sunday slot, and who else besides Mebil can be trusted as a bullpen LHP. But the Seminoles will begin the season with a belief that the answers to those questions are in their clubhouse.

    On the position-player side, FSU also received welcome draft news with the return of OF Brody DeLamielleure and INF Cal Fisher, but more importantly, Jarrett entered the portal to address some of his wrongs from the 2025 season. Out is Gabe Fraser at shortstop, who entered the transfer portal, and in comes former Indiana SS Cooper Malamazian, who has played in 106 collegiate games with a career .310 batting average, bringing a veteran presence to the infield the Noles desperately lacked a season ago. Jarrett also picked up 1B Nick Barron from Northwestern and 1B/LHP Jackson McKenzie from FAMU, both LHH who hit for power to try and replace the production from Myles Bailey. The rest of the infield should be a battle between returners Cal Fisher, Will Bavaro, Jace Estes, and Texas transfer Callum Early. Both Estes and Early are LHH and will help solve the over-reliance on RHH in the lineup in 2025.

    Moving to the outfield, this should once again be a position of strength for Florida State in the 2027 season. John Stuetzer should shift to center field and be one of the most dynamic players in the country after starting 51 games as a freshman and leading the Noles in RBI. As mentioned, DeLamielleure returns and will want to capitalize on a strong second half of his season to boost his draft stock in his redshirt-junior campaign. Most likely, transfer OF Ty Peeples, a LHH, will play left field and is one of the most interesting pickups of the offseason for FSU. Peeples spent his freshman year at Georgia and did not play much, but brings an incredible profile to Dick Howser Stadium. Perfect Game rated Peeples the best outfielder in Georgia in the 2025 recruiting class, and the Toronto Blue Jays drafted him in the 20th round of the 2025 MLB Draft, but he elected to go to campus. Listed at 6’2” and 188 pounds, Peeples can hit for average and power on the left side with above-average athleticism. Jarrett will hope that extended playing time can bring out the best in one of the most talented players on the roster.

    It is too early to make any predictions about what this team can be or what its expectations are. But Jarrett assembled a roster where the pieces fit together and used the transfer portal to infuse talent into positions of need, instead of overhauling the whole roster like in previous years. Depending on the way the football season goes, the excitement for the 2027 baseball season will start to build in the fall.

    Rangers v Hibs: Pick of the stats

    Rangers v Hibs pick of the stats
    [SNS]
    • Rangers lost their last league meeting with Hibernian 1-2 at Ibrox in May but have not lost successive top-flight matches against Hibs since November 2005 under Alex McLeish.
    • Hibernian have won two of their past three league visits to Rangers (L1) and could win successive trips in the top-flight for just the fourth time, previously doing so in September 1902, October 1985, and February 2018.
    • There have been 35 goals scored in Rangers' past seven league games at Ibrox, an average of five per game. Their most recent game was a 2-1 defeat by Hibs in May – they have never lost consecutive home league games against the same team both times. They last duplicated the same result and opponent in April/August 1990, back-to-back wins against Dunfermline Athletic.
    • The past six results in Hibernian's Scottish Premiership matches have been away wins – they have lost four home games and won their two away games in this streak. The last side to have a longer run was Rangers between February and April 2025 (7), with the seventh game in that run ending Rangers 0-2 Hibernian.
    • Thelo Aasgaard has scored in each of his past three Premiership appearances for Rangers – the last Ibrox player with a longer streak was Cyriel Dessers in April and May 2025 (5 in a row).

    Braves News: Tyler Mahle debuts, win streak snapped, and more

    NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 07: Tyler Mahle #54 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Friday, August 7, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

    The Atlanta Braves’ eight-game win streak came to an end on Friday after a 3-2 loss to the New York Yankees. Tyler Mahle, acquired just ahead of the trade deadline, made his Braves debut and was fantastic. In six scoreless innings, he allowed three hits, walked two, and struck out nine. 

    Though a terrific start from Mahle, the Braves’ bats were quiet and the bullpen was unable to hang on, ultimately leading to the loss in extra innings.

    The Braves aim to even things up this afternoon behind Chris Sale.

    More Braves News:

    Cam Caminiti made his Double-A debut on Thursday and threw 5.1 innings. More in the minor league recap. 

    Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the Braves were in on Jacob deGrom.

    MLB News:

    Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene will undergo season-ending elbow surgery. It has not been decided if he will require Tommy John surgery.

    The Minnesota Twins have placed pitcher Joe Ryan on the 15-day injured list with a mild left glute strain. 

    From the Feed:

    Braves Clubhouse Manager John Holland has been inducted into the Major League Baseball Clubhouse Managers Association Hall of Fame.

    Today on Pinstripe Alley – 8/8/26

    NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 07: Ryan McMahon #19 (C) of the New York Yankees celebrates his tenth inning game winning sacrifice fly against the Atlanta Braves with teammates Heliot Ramos #34 and Amed Rosario #14 at Yankee Stadium on August 07, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images

    The Yankees haven’t exactly been in a slide with their win-loss ratio of late, but they’ve had some tough losses that could’ve easily been prevented by the offense looking alive instead of comatose. Friday night was looking like one of those losses, as they failed to capitalize on a strong Max Fried start and were getting shutout entering the ninth inning. Then a rally ignited when George Lombard Jr. hit a one-out single and a throwing error led to him advancing all the way to third. Austin Wells doubled him home, and Ben Rice singled Wells in two batters later to tie the game. In extras the Yankees miraculously avoided allowing the Manfred runner to score as Lombard and Luis García Jr. made sterling defensive plays, and then a pair of walks brought Ryan McMahon to the plate with the bases loaded in the bottom half. McMahon delivered the walk-off sac fly, and the Yankees had their biggest win in a while — made all the more real by the fact that the Red Sox’s win earlier in the night necessitated a win in response or they’d get leapfrogged in the standings.

    Before we get to a battle between two of this generation’s top pitchers in Gerrit Cole and Chris Sale, we’ve got a few things prepared for you. Andrés leads off with a look at how George Lombard Jr.‘s defensive ceiling alone is paying dividends for the Yankees’ odds of winning, and Peter follows that with the Rivalry Roundup featuring the aforementioned Red Sox result. John gives Anthony Rizzo a fond look down memory lane in honor of his birthday, and Nick examines the bullpen corps with his monthly Reliever Confidence Index.

    Today’s Matchup:

    New York Yankees vs. Atlanta Braves

    Time: 3:05 p.m. EST

    TV: YES Network, BravesVision

    Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

    Questions/Prompts:

    1. Where does last night rank in your top five biggest wins of the season?

    2. If you could snap your fingers and live out the careers of either Gerrit Cole or Chris Sale — including their statistics, accolades, earnings, and injuries — which one would you choose?

    Breaking: Hagen Smith and Tanner McDougal called up to Chicago

    PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 21: Hagen Smith #33 of the Chicago White Sox pitches during the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.
    No. 2 White Sox prospect Hagen Smith is getting the call to The Show — along with fourth overall prospect Tanner McDougal. | (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

    In a bit of top pitching prospect musical chairs, word broke early Saturday morning that Hagen Smith and Tanner McDougal were getting the call to the South Side, with fellow rookies Noah Schultz and David Sandlin heading down to Charlotte.

    White Sox sources confirmed the news to multiple outlets, with Future Sox first getting the news out.

    While not the impetus for the moves, they couldn’t come at a better time for a depleted White Sox bullpen, whose fatigue was further exacerbated on Friday night when manager Will Venable missed Zach Bove’s mound visit four batters into the game and trotted out to chat with Schultz after a two-run single, forcing the lefthander’s early exit. Despite throwing just 23 pitches, Schultz is burned for the next four days, and Sandlin had thrown just 18 ⅓ innings since June 26 while battling minor injury (he tossed 96 on Friday night in emergency relief of Schultz).

    Smith, the No. 2 prospect in the White Sox system per MLB, and McDougal (N0. 4), both are starting pitchers but have taken on reduced workloads in 2026 due to injuries.

    Smith struggled through a shoulder impingement that sidelined him from mid-June to mid-July, but holds a 1.43 ERA in six games out of the Knights pen since his return.

    McDougal’s injury woes were more dire, as the righthander went from ticketed for a quick call-up to the South Side starting rotation to forearm soreness just a month into the season that evoked fears of a second, looming TJS. Returning to action a couple of weeks before Smith in Charlotte, the fireballer has had a rougher go, sporting a 4.39 ERA over 12 games out of the pen since his return.

    In what turns out to be some cheeky foreshadowing, GM Chris Getz all but promised the duo would be promoted before season’s end during his pregame press gaggle on Friday.

    “[Smith and McDougal] are pitching well out of the bullpen,” Getz said. “We anticipate that they will be helping us at some point. We don’t know exactly when. But those guys are transitioning well.”

    As opposed to the piggyback arrangement planned with Schultz and Sandlin — Sandlin in fact was expected to take over from Schultz mid-game on Friday and close it out, sparing a pen that had seen seven of eight arms spent in the marathon loss in Boston on Thursday — neither Smith nor McDougal will be assuming a rotation spot. As Erick Fedde presumably resumes the rotation role that Luis Castillo booted him from for a turn, the two newest White Sox will provide high-octane relief in doses not deeper than two innings.

    While 0% of Sox brass and fans would anticipate Friday being Schultz’s last taste of the majors, what a tragic finale it would be if so: 23 pitches to earn one out, two runs on his ledger, and an accidental hook from a manager too prior consumed with a possible challenge to realize he was removing his young starter from the game.

    After a shaky MLB debut on April 13, Schultz ran off three straight stellar starts (and his first two MLB wins) that made it appear he might make as much mincemeat of the majors as Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski. Yet Schultz then set on a season-long slump that abated only briefly, in a bulk starter effort (five innings, one run) on August 1 in St. Petersburg. His season line as he heads for a re-set in Charlotte is a 3-9 record, 6.06 ERA, 1.423 WHIP and -0.4 WAR.

    Sandlin, unlike first-rounder Schultz an 11th round diamond in the rough, has struggled similarly, albeit in less time: five games (three starts), 6.93 ERA, 1.398 WHIP, -0.4 WAR. The righty has been more hot-and-cold in his debut season, with two stellar starts spaced a month apart, and now pads his frequent flier miles in being sent back to Charlotte for a third time this year.

    McDougal is on the 40-player roster, but Smith is not, necessitating a move to open space on the maxed list. It would appear that a DFA looms for a Tyler (Gilbert or Davis, both currently at Triple-A Charlotte), although another possibility for release includes outfielder Junior Perez. If Joey Bart’s hand fracture is such that his initial prognosis of a monthlong absence was too optimistic, or if Chris Murphy’s left flexor strain portends surgery, either player could be shifted to the 60-day IL to provide a DFA dodge in adding Smith.

    High divers take the plunge in Paris for a new test of reclaimed Seine’s water

    • European Aquatics Championships taking place in city

    • Threat to water quality tested two years after Games

    Paris is staging its first high-diving competition in the Seine, with athletes launching themselves from a 20-metre platform in front of the Eiffel Tower – a spectacular new test of the city’s effort to reclaim its river for sport. The event on the Pont de Bir-Hakeim has also exposed the fragility of that ambition.

    Organisers suspended training on Thursday when traces of hydrocarbons were detected upstream. By Friday, the French Swimming Federation said the affected area had been treated, allowing athletes to return to the water and the event to proceed as planned. High diving concludes on Saturday with the final two rounds and medal events, while the broader European Aquatics Championships run through to 16 August.

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    Yankees news: Yanks planning out Carlos Rodón’s return

    New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: Later today, Carlos Rodón is set to make a rehab start in Triple-A. The pitcher has been out since June 30th with elbow inflammation, but his return could be close. The team may or may not give him one more rehab outing, but either way, he’ll be back before he’s fully built up pitch count-wise and will initially be used in conjunction with another pitcher “piggybacking” him.

    New York Post | Greg Joyce: The Yankees so-so play of late has them in a pickle. For one, they’ve lost some ground on the Rays at the top of the AL East. However, they’ve also lost a lot of ground to the red hot Red Sox, which now has them staring right down the barrel at third place in the division.

    Deadline | Anthony D’Alessandro: If you ever grow tired of watching the real Yankees, good news: you may have a dramatized and/or fictional version of them to watch soon. Netflix has greenlit a show from actor Jason Bateman’s Aggregate Studios as well as MLB Studios that will be about the Yankees. Details are a little sparce at the moment over what that exactly entails.

    MLB Trade Rumors | Darragh McDonald: In case you missed it, the Yankees signed catcher Mitch Garver to a minor league deal. While Garver is hardly the catcher everyone was hoping they’d acquire at the deadline, he has been a good hitter over the course of his career. The bad news is that doesn’t include this year, which led to his release by the Mariners, which put him on the open market.

    Joe Root’s masterful Hundred cameo shows risk England are taking with captaincy recall | Ali Martin

    A trip to watch a strokeplay exhibition by England’s restored captain serves as a reminder of what can be lost amid the demands of leadership

    My wife and I walked the kids down the hill to Edgbaston last Saturday afternoon, where our latest attempt at cricket indoctrination was the Birmingham Phoenix versus Welsh Fire game in the men’s Hundred.

    Though a one-sided defeat for the hosts – the Phoenix women at least got the win earlier in the day – it was decent enough, with the youngest (six) the only one to get restless before some tactical popcorn lifted spirits towards the back end of the game. The kindness of strangers meant she was happy regardless, having been gifted two foam meerkat paws and a giant red/orange Phoenix flag that looks as if she now supports some obscure separatist movement in the Balkans.

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    A tale of two Murrays: when Ewan met Ewen to talk Tiger Woods, stiff gins and 15 years of mistaken identity

    Guardian journalist Ewan Murray and Sky Sports Golf commentator Ewen Murray on being mixed up by irate fans and ‘canteen commandos’

    It started with an email in early 2011. “I don’t know what it is like in your country, sir,” wrote angry of Arizona. “But here in America we SPIT!!!”

    The penny eventually dropped. Ewen Murray’s commentary on Sky Sports about Tiger Woods emptying his mouth on a putting surface in Dubai triggered a reaction fired directly towards Ewan Murray of the Guardian. Murray of Sky fame can still recall it.

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    Panic time for Dodgers? Losing streak hits 7 as Edwin Diaz blows save

    PHOENIX — The season was supposed to be over, right?

    The World Series champion was crowned in August.

    All that remained for the Los Angeles Dodgers was planning that World Series parade route.

    Well, it has been a week since the Dodgers acquired two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.

    And they have yet to win a game.

    Really.

    They were walked off Friday night by the Arizona Diamondbacks, with Edwin Diaz blowing the save in their 4-3 loss.

    And just like that, the Dodgers have lost seven consecutive games for the first time this season, outscored 46-25.

    It took nearly a month before the Dodgers lost their seventh game of the season, and now, they have lost seven games in eight days, suffering two sweeps and now trying to avoid a third one.

    Certainly, the Dodgers are in no real danger of blowing a 7½-game lead in the National League West over the Diamondbacks.

    They are sitting comfortably in first place, and have absolutely no worries they’ll win the division.

    But suddenly, instead of having the best record in baseball, they have only the third-best in the NL, trailing Milwaukee and Atlanta.

    If the season ended today, they’d be forced to play the wild-card round against the No. 6 seed, which would be the Philadelphia Phillies.

    “A loss is a loss,’’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said calmly, “but to get walked off never feels good. We didn’t play a clean game, a great game on either side of the baseball, but we did enough to put ourselves in position to win the game.

    “Unfortunately, we couldn’t do it.’’

    It was Diaz, their $69 million closer, who blew the game.

    He missed 85 games this year after undergoing arthroscopic elbow surgery in April, has come back and pitched four times, and hardly looks like the same All-Star pitcher. He has pitched three innings and given up six hits, four runs with four strikeouts and two walks.

    And, yes, a blown save when he left a slider hanging over the plate to No. 9 hitter Ryan Waldschmidt, who smacked a 90-mph slider over the middle of the plate into the center-field seats.

    “I’m just trying to be perfect with that pitch,’’ Diaz said, “and I’m just missing right down the middle. I’ve got to be better than that. I’m a big-league pitcher, so I've got to make pitches. Next time when I come into the game, I’ve got to do better.’’

    Diaz, who signed a three-year, $69 million contract, the largest average salary for a reliever in baseball history, insists he feels healthy. He was still throwing his fastball 97 mph, and pretty much where he wanted. But it’s that bread-and-butter pitch, the slider, that’s betraying him.

    “I think that everything what I’ve been doing is good,’’ Diaz said, “but I don’t know when I get into the game, I’m missing my (slider) right in the middle. … I’ve got a good fastball, but my slider, that’s my strikeout pitch.

    “I got to keep working. I’m still positive. I’ve just got to do my job better.’’

    The Dodgers are trying to stay positive, too, but know that if Diaz doesn’t have his slider, he’s only an ordinary reliever. And if he’s only ordinary, the Dodgers have to find someone else who can close out games.

    “I just think he just hasn’t had the feel for that pitch,’’ Roberts said, “since he got back. … I think it obviously sucks to go through it, but he’s working hard to figure some things out. But it’s one of those things that it’s a little bit tougher when you’re trying to work through it and you’re at the back end of a game.

    “It doesn’t feel good, but I know the track record that he’s working hard. He’s not going to run from it. It’s one of those things that you’ve got to kind of throw him into it, knowing he’s healthy, and work himself out of it.’’

    Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Diaz reacts after giving up a two-run, walk-off home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

    The Dodgers are finding themselves in the same situation as a year ago. They acquired Diaz in the first place because Tanner Scott, who signed a four-year, $72 million contract the previous winter, couldn’t handle the closer’s role, blowing 10 saves. Now, they’ve got $141 million invested in closers and are still looking for the right guy.

    When Roberts was asked if he would consider removing Diaz from the closer’s role and using someone else, he was rather blunt.

    “I think honestly,’’ Roberts said, “you’ve got to look at the options, and see the way some of these guys are throwing. They’re not throwing great, either. We’ve got to keep guys in their roles that they’ve earned, and try to get them on a run the way we were a few weeks ago.

    “So, I just don’t think there’s a clear-cut alternative.’’

    The Dodgers wish that was their only problem these days. Their offense has been abysmal, too. They didn’t produce their first hit off D-backs starter Merrill Kelly until Tommy Edman’s infield single in the sixth inning. Their only extra-base hit was Andy Pages’ go-ahead homer in the eighth inning. Their star quintet of Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Mookie Betts and Kyle Tucker went 2-for-16.

    Tucker, who was supposed to be their solution in right field − they gave him a stagging four-year, $240 million contract − is hitting just .244 with 10 homers and a .719 OPS. He was summoned by Roberts into Roberts' office before the game just to make sure his confidence isn’t eroding.

    “I think he’s in a good spot, I really do,’’ Roberts said. “It hasn’t been what anyone had hoped for up to this point, but for me, there’s been some signs breaking. There’s still a lot of baseball left, important baseball to play. But I think he’s in a great headspace.’’

    Really, Roberts can say the same about his entire team. There’s no panic. They’ve got Skubal now, who will make his first start at Dodger Stadium in a Dodger uniform on Monday. Fellow two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell, who has pitched only three innings all season, is scheduled to start Tuesday. And Roki Sasaki turned in a strong outing Friday, giving up just four hits and two runs in six innings.

    The Dodgers have endured rough stretches plenty of times through this dynasty. They lost seven games in a row last July. In 2017, the year they reached the World Series for the first time since 1988, they went through a 1-16 stretch. And still won 104 games.

    “I remember,’’ Roberts said. “It felt like we would never win another game. Well, we did win another game.

    “And you know what? I know we’ll win another game now, too.’’

    Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

    This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Panic time for Dodgers? Losing streak hits 7 as Edwin Diaz blows save

    Sharks PTO Targets: Ex-Avalanche Defenseman Could Provide Solid Depth

    When the San Jose Sharks take the ice for training camp next month, there will be likely two jobs up for grabs on the blue line. The bottom-pairing role will likely go to a young player like Luca Cagnoni, Nolan Allen, or Eric Pohlkamp. While theoretically one of the two who miss out on that job could be used as the Sharks' seventh defenseman, it would make much more sense to let them get more playing time under their belt at the American Hockey League level.

    In order to allow a younger defenseman to get sent down, the Sharks would then need to find a player who can step in and out of the lineup as needed. On paper, there's no better fit for that role remaining than former Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg.

    Despite being undersized at 5-foot-9, Blankenburg has proven himself with multiple different teams as an effective depth player. While he's not the type of player who should likely be playing for a contending team on a day-to-day basis, the 28-year-old has the ability to play both sides of the blue line and does so effectively when his number is called. There's a reason that the Colorado Avalanche went out of their way to add him to their roster at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.

    Blankenburg is often more regarded for his offensive capabilities from the blue line, although he's not a one-dimensional player. He's effective on both ends of the ice, considering he's still a free agent, he'd likely be a cost-effective option, and he's a right-shot which is often a plus for depth defensemen.

    With that being said, Blankenburg isn't the type of player who the Sharks would likely want to slot in on special teams. He's not an overly effective penalty killer, nor is he a game-changer on the power play. He could fill the role if needed, but it would be less than ideal. 

    As an undrafted player, Blankenburg's play is often defined by his work ethic. He's had to overcome the odds due to his size and he's had to overcome being passed on in the NHL Draft on multiple occasions. As a result, his personality could be massively beneficial to some of the Sharks' young defensemen as well.

    Given his rapid improvement through his late 20's, it's somewhat surprising that Blankenburg has yet to find a home for the 2026-27 season. Although it's likely not an ideal outcome for him, as he'd hope to someday become an everyday player in the NHL, he could certainly bring a lot to the table for the San Jose Sharks.

    2026 MLB Awards Tracker: Power Rankings, betting odds for MVP, Cy Young: Has Cease surpassed Schlittler?

    The second half of the season is underway and we're witnessing Jacob Misiorowski and Yordan Alvarez continue to pull away from the competition, while Dylan Cease and Pete Crow-Armstrong are nibbling at the heels of Cam Schlittler and Shohei Ohtani. Let's take a look at the updated MVP and Cy Young rankings. All odds are courtesy of DraftKings.

    National League Cy Young Poll

    1. Jacob Misiorowski, Milwaukee Brewers (-500)

    2026 Stats: 127.0 IP, 11-5, 1.63 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 195 K, 29 BB, .145 OBA

    In my opinion, there is no way Jacob Misiorowski gets caught for the Cy Young lead. The "Miz" has 10 or more strikeouts in four of his last five games and two or fewer earned runs in 14 out of the previous 15 starts. Misiorowski leads the MLB in strikeouts (195), WHIP (0.73), OBA (.145), ERA (1.63), and tied ninth in wins (11).

    2. Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves (+700)

    2026 Stats: 117.0 IP, 12-6, 2.08 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 143 K, 26 BB, .215 OBA

    Chris Sale is rolling. The veteran lefty posted a 2.00 ERA in July and finished the month with 34 strikeouts to four walks, plus a .186 OBA over 27.0 inning and five starts. Sale has surrendered two or fewer earned runs in six of the last eight starts and dropped his ERA to 2.08, which ranks second in all of baseball behind Misiorowski.

    3. Cristopher Sanchez, Philadelphia Phillies (+900)

    2026 Stats: 149.2 IP, 15-4, 2.65 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 174 K, 35 BB, .252 OBA

    Cristopher Sanchez is the sole leader in wins for the MLB after grabbing four straight victories over his last four starts. Sanchez has started August on the right track with a 1.64 ERA over two starts against Washington and Baltimore. Sanchez did walk seven batters, but struck out 17 with eight hits and two earned runs. He will face the Cardinals and Marlins in his next two starts, so there is a good chance the good times keep coming for Sanchez.

    Long Shot: Chase Burns, Cincinnati Reds (+3500)

    2026 Stats: 118.2 IP, 13-1, 2.35 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 137 K, 43 BB, .202 OBA

    Chase Burns continues to be the least talked about up-and-coming star pitcher in the game. Burns has collected four wins in his last five starts, including nine strikeouts and two hits in his previous outing against the Pirates. The Reds are 16-5 in Burns' 21 starts and won eight of the last nine contests. Burns has the fifth-best ERA in baseball (2.35) and ranks third in the NL, plus his .202 OBA is sixth overall and third in the NL.

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    American League Cy Young Poll

    1. Dylan Cease, Toronto Blue Jays (-115)

    2026 Stats: 119.1 IP, 7-5, 2.28 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 184 K, 52 BB, .179 OBA

    There's a new betting favorite for AL Cy Young and he goes by the name of Dylan Cease. The Blue Jays' ace has been unbelievable in his past six starts. Cease posted a 1.00 ERA in July with four earned runs over five starts, then started August with a gem versus the Cubs, going 7.0 innings with two hits, one walk, zero earned runs, and 10 strikeouts. In his last three starts, opponents are hitting .085 and struck out 29 times versus seven walks and six hits.

    2. Cam Schlittler, New York Yankees (+105)

    2026 Stats: 139.2 IP, 10-6, 2.26 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 171 K, 31 BB, .199 OBA

    The red flags are starting to show with Cam Schlittler. Over his last four starts, he failed to make it to the fifth inning in two of them and he's coming off his shortest outing of the season, only 3.0 innings against the Cardinals (4 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 6 K). In that outing, the second-year pro also tied a career-high in walks (5). Schlittler's numbers have dipped a bit over his last five starts with a 3.25 ERA and that's opened the door for Cease to take the lead for Cy Young.

    3. Drew Rasmussen, Tampa Bay Rays (+2500)

    2026 Stats: 117.1 IP, 10-5, 2.91 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 122 K, 20 BB, .205 OBA

    Despite being a distant third, Drew Rasmussen has been dealing to start the second half of the season. The Rays have won three consecutive starts with Rasmussen on the mound as he's allowed two earned runs in that span. Rasmussen has 24 strikeouts to three walks over those three games and almost no-hit the Guardians (one hit over 7.0 IP).

    Long Shot: Parker Messick, Cleveland Guardians (+4000)

    2026 Stats: 136.2 IP, 9-6, 2.57 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 136 K, 38 BB, .209 OBA

    One of the biggest surprises of the season has been the rise of Parker Messick. In his second season, Messick is showing his true potential with his command and endurance. Messick had his 26-start streak of at least 5.0 innings pitched snapped in his last outing against Arizona as he finished in 4.1 innings, but only allowed one earned run on six hits to go along with six strikeouts and one walk. Cleveland has series with the White Sox, Tigers, Padres, Giants, Rockies, Angels, and Blue Jays to finish August — a beautiful schedule for Messick to rack up some more wins.

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    American League MVP Poll

    1. Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros (-900)

    2026 Stats: .329 BA, 35 HR, 85 RBI, 78 R, .442 OBP, 1.083 OPS

    Unless an injury happens, Yordan Alvarez will win AL MVP. The Astros' star has been on a tear to start August. After ripping a ridiculous .360 batting average in July with nine home runs on 31 hits, 15 runs, and 17 RBI — Alvarez has kicked off August with a .421 batting average! Alvarez has a six-game hitting streak going and has reached base safely 22 consecutive games. He is two home runs short of his career-high 37 in 2022 and poised for his second 100 RBI season.

    2. Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays (+600)

    2026 Stats: .283 BA, 33 HR, 71 RBI, 70 R, .556 SLG, .931 OPS

    Junior Caminero is the only player capable of catching Alvarez and despite three home runs in the last three games and a .333 batting average to start August — odds continue to move against Caminero for MVP. The Rays are firmly in first place of the American League, which can be one of Caminero's points of emphasis on why to vote for him, especially if Houston misses the postseason. Caminero's 33 homers are second to Alvarez, plus the 23-year-old's SLG and OPS are top five in all of baseball.

    3. Ben Rice, New York Yankees (+2500)

    2026 Stats: .260 BA, 31 HR, 74 RBI, 71 R, .546 SLG, .900 OPS

    Ben Rice has now gone 11-straight games without a home run and is hitting .130 over his last 46 at-bats (span of 15 days). The race for AL MVP has been a two-man show for more than a month now, but Rice should collect a plethora of MVP votes for third, fourth, and fifth place this season.

    Long shot: Willson Contreras, Boston Red Sox (+10000)

    2026 Stats: .284 BA, 23 HR, 67 RBI, 55 R, .392 OBP, .931 OPS

    Willson Contreras put together a solid July with a .323 batting average and did a little bit of everything. Contreras recorded 20 hits, 14 runs, 14 RBI, and 15 walks to 17 strikeouts. However, he has one home run in the last 14 games for the hottest team in all of baseball.

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    National League MVP Poll

    1. Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers (+100)

    2026 Stats: .296 BA, 26 HR, 70 RBI, 73 R, 8-2 record, 1.79 ERA, .180 OBA

    Not everyone will agree with me that Shohei Ohtani still holds the lead for NL MVP. Heck, even the oddsmakers have made Ohtani the runner-up to Pete Crow-Armstrong, but I've read this story before. The two had a memorable head-to-head recently with both players hitting two home runs in the same game and the Cubs edging the Dodgers. Despite the one-game example, Ohtani is off to a rampant start in August with a .421 batting average. The Dodgers are currently in the midst of a season-long seven-game losing streak, but once Los Angeles break that streak, Ohtani could be at the odds on favorite once again with a home run or two.

    2. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs (-130)

    2026 Stats: .289 BA, 26 HR, 70 RBI, 82 R, 30 SB, .937 OPS

    Like Ohtani, Pete Crow-Armstrong is on a heater to start the month. PCA is hitting .409 with nine hits and nine runs scored over six games. The Cubs star has turned heads with his speed lately, racking up 30 stolen bases and winning a game by stealing home on an errand throw to third. The 24-year-old is doing everything he can to catch the greatest player of my generation, and ranking second in runs (82), sixth in hits (127), third in stolen bases (30), ninth in homers (26), and top 25 in BA, SLG, OPS, and OBP isn't a bad place to start with less than two months remaining.

    3. Jacob Misiorowski, Milwaukee Brewers (+20000)

    2026 Stats: 127.0 IP, 11-5, 1.63 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 195 K, 29 BB, .145 OBA

    We all know the MVP will come down to Ohtani vs PCA, but are we being ignorant to the fact that Misirowski should probably be in the discussion? Since Ohtani isn't pitching anymore, you could make an argument that Misiorowski has been just as important as Ohtani over the last month, if not more. Milwaukee could finish with the best record in baseball, while Misirowski rewrites the history books. What more would he have to do to win MVP and Cy Young? Finish below a 2.00 ERA? Have 300 strikeouts and less than 50 walks? 20-plus wins? Less than 100 hits allowed with more than 200 innings? He's on pace to do all those things.

    Long Shot: CJ Abrams, Washington Nationals (+10000)

    2026 Stats: .287 BA, 28 HR, 88 RBI, 72 R, .548 SLG, .908 OPS

    With James Wood out, CJ Abrams becomes the latest player to find himself top five in MVP voting. Abrams had a fantastic July with a .348 batting average, 10 home runs, 23 RBI, and 17 runs scored. Since Wood has been out for four games in August, Abrams has racked up six hits and three runs scored. The Nationals will need Abrams offense if they want to continue their climb for a NL Wild Card spot.

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    George Lombard Jr. and Luis Garcia Jr. save the day for Yankees with dazzling plays

    An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New York Yankees first baseman Luis García Jr. (26) makes a catch to end the 10th inning, Image 2 shows New York Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. (96) fields the ball during the ninth inning
    Yankees

    In summoning George Lombard Jr., the Yankees knew he could play defense. 

    In trading for Luis García Jr., the Yankees knew he could hit right-handed pitching and probably considered anything else a pleasant surprise. 

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    And so in Friday’s 10th inning, the Yankees were validated and pleasantly surprised, respectively, as both newcomers to The Bronx made sparkling plays to save what became a comeback, 3-2 victory over the Braves

    It was a game they probably do not win without Lombard, who started a rally in the ninth with an infield single in which he advanced all the way to third on an error, drew a key walk in the bottom of the 10th and showed off one other defensive strength in the top of the inning: a cannon of an arm. 

    New York Yankees first baseman Luis García Jr. (26) makes a catch to end the 10th inning in a series-opening win over the Braves. Jason Szenes for the New York Post

    Leading off the extra frame, Atlanta’s Sean Murphy hit a hard ground ball into the shortstop hole, which is where Lombard has starred in his brief time in the majors. The rookie ranged, backhanded and left his feet — a small leap, if not a Jeterian one — and showed off an arm whose power is obvious. 

    “He’s able to — just with ease, whether he’s off-balance — no-sweat some plays because he’s physical and strong,” manager Aaron Boone said of his new everyday, 21-year-old shortstop. “He’s not even reaching for much there, and he makes that play kind of easy.” 

    After a ground out brought ghost runner Austin Riley to third, Ronald Acuña Jr. hit a two-out bloop down the first-base line. Three Yankees defenders converged on a flare that appeared to be sent into no-man’s land. 

    New York Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. (96) fields the ball during the ninth inning. Jason Szenes for the New York Post

    “To be honest,” García said through interpreter Marlon Abreu, “I didn’t think I had a chance.” 

    And yet the first baseman sprinted, extended and stuck out his glove. His best Willie Mays impression ended with catching the third out of the frame with his back to home plate. 

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    “What a play,” Boone said after a game that was clinched by Ryan McMahon’s sacrifice fly but will be better remembered for defensive excellence, which also included Trent Grisham’s strong throw to third base in the first inning that saved a run.