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Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers: Preview, start time, how to watch

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Blake Hinson #25 of the Utah Jazz grabs the rebound during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on July 15, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Utah Jazz will take on the Portland Trail Blazers in their last game of the Las Vegas Summer League. They will also be doing it without their three most prominent summer league players: Darryn Peterson, Ace Bailey, and Cody Williams.

It’s been a very up-and-down summer league for Utah for multiple players. Darryn Peterson started the Salt Lake City Summer League and was easily the best player of anyone in Salt Lake or Las Vegas. After two electric games, he came to Las Vegas, and his shooting numbers slumped. Outside of the shooting, Peterson showed great defense, moved the ball well, and showed an elite ability to get to the line. Overall, it’s been a solid showing for the #2 pick and foreshadows the start of a great career.

Cody Williams had a much better showing in Salt Lake than in Las Vegas. He showed some nice things in Salt Lake but looked pretty dreadful in Las Vegas. It’s not clear why he struggled so much, but it was certainly disheartening. We’ll see if that’s a trend for both players or if it means something more. Needless to say, it would be nice to see some improvement from Williams come training camp and preseason.

Finally, what little we did see of Ace Bailey was great. He has played very little because of back spasms, but the small time we did see him, he showed fantastic defensive potential, and his offense looked good. There’s not much else to say about Bailey other than that he still has some sky-high potential.

How to watch

Who: Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers

When: 8:30 PM MT | July 17, 2026

Where: Pavilion, Las Vegas, NV

How to watch Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers: Prime Video

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Florida Panthers equipment manager arrested, suspended by NHL team

Florida Panthers equipment manager Thaddeus "Teddy" Richards was arrested on Friday, July 17 in Coral Springs, Florida, and suspended indefinitely by the team.

Richards was charged with misdemeanor battery/domestic violence and unauthorized use of 911 services. He is currently being held at Broward County Jail in Fort Launderdalle, Florida.

A bond amount was not listed on the Broward County Clerk of Courts website.

Richards is also an equipment manager for USA Hockey, where he served on the gold-medal winning U.S. men's team at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. He also worked with the team at the 2026 IIFH World Championship and the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off.

The Panthers released the following statement after acknowledging Richards’ arrest: "Effective immediately, he will be suspended from all team activities and facilities pending investigation.”

Richards has spent over a decade working in the NHL and has been with the Panthers since the 2016-17 season. He was the equipment manager for the team when they won consecutive Stanley Cup titles in 2024 and 2025. He also worked with the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2015-16 season in the first of their back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida Panthers equipment manager arrested, suspended by NHL team

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Washington Nationals vs A’s Game Thread

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 12: Keibert Ruiz #20 and Andrew Alvarez #54 of the Washington Nationals interact during the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Nationals Park on July 12, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We have gotten some time to decompress and get away from Nationals baseball, but now we are back. The Nats head out west to play the Athletics in Sacramento. With two strong lineups and a small ballpark, there could be some fireworks on display this weekend. 

The big news in today’s lineup is that Harry Ford is going to make his Nats debut. The 23 year old will be catching and batting 6th. With a lefty on the mound, Andres Chaparro will get the nod at first over Luis Garcia. James Wood will DH, which means the outfield will consist of Daylen Lile, Jacob Young and Dylan Crews. Cade Cavalli will get the start as the Nats kick off the second half.

Despite super star first baseman Nick Kurtz being out injured, the A’s lineup is still fierce. Jacob Wilson, Shea Langeliers and Tyler Soderstrom are a fearsome trio in the middle of the lineup. Former LSU star Tommy White is also making his debut tonight which will be interesting to watch. Another LSU standout, Gage Jump will be on the mound tonight.

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Game Info:

Stadium: Sutter Health Park

Time: 9:40 PM EST

TV: Nationals.TV

Radio: 106.7 The Fan

The Nats will look to get back to .500 as we start the second half. With the A’s and Rockies to start things off, this could be an opportunity for the Nats. However, there are no easy games in the MLB, especially for a team with the weaknesses that the Nats have. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!

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Meleek Thomas impresses in Cavs Summer League finale

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 17: Meleek Thomas #15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers derives against Jaylin Sellers #2 of the Chicago Bulls in the first half of the 2026 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 17, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Louis Grasse/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers wrapped up Summer League with a 100-91 win over the Chicago Bulls, led by 24 points from Meleek Thomas.

The Summer League environment rewards score-first guards. The limited practice time, mismatched rosters, and the overall lack of interior defensive talent make it easier for someone in Thomas’s archetype to excel in this setting. Yet, it’s difficult not to be impressed with what we’ve seen in four games.

This wasn’t Thomas’s best scoring outburst in Las Vegas. He missed his first four shots before catching a rhythm. And when he did, the points started to pile up as he converted 10 of his final 16 attempts.

Thomas’s ability to create space off the dribble has been impressive. He’s been able to get to and finish at the rim more efficiently than he did in college in a more spaced-out style of play. Thomas did that again, going 5-5 in the restricted area on Friday. That — combined with his lethal outside shot — has led to impressive scoring performances.

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Natural scorers have a way of getting where they want to on the court. Thomas has looked like one in Las Vegas. Nothing about his offensive game feels forced. He reads the defense and then gets the shot he wants from there. We saw that repeatedly on display in the 24-point performance.

There are understandable questions about how this looks when he’s forced into a more off-ball role, as he will be at the start of his NBA career. The skills that allow him to be effective with the ball in his hands should still show through. How exactly that looks is an open question.

Thomas isn’t a complete offensive player, at least not yet. Running an offense as the point guard and intentionally looking to set up teammates doesn’t seem to come naturally to him. Based on what Koby Altman said right after they drafted him, this is something the team wants him to work on.

Despite those concerns, there’s a compete level with Thomas that you want to see. He plays with intensity, but doesn’t let that overcome other parts of his game. There’s a purpose behind his actions, which is what you want to see, and is something you can’t really teach.

Thomas wasn’t the only Cavalier who had a strong showing.

Riley Minix had a nice bounce back after struggling throughout the first four games in Las Vegas. He put up 12 points on 5-9 shooting.

Malaki Branham concluded a strong Summer League with 13 points and five assists. Tre’Von Spillers added 12 points and nine rebounds off the bench.

The Bulls decided to rest the fourth overall pick, Caleb Wilson. They were led by 22 points from Donovan Atwell.

The Cavs completed their trip to Vegas with three straight wins and a 3-2 record overall.

The next time we’ll see someone on the court in the wine & gold will be when the preseason tips off in early October.

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Game #97, Athletics vs. Nationals Game Thread

The “Second Half” of the 2026 MLB season begins tonight for the Athletics.  They’ll pick up at home in West Sacramento against the Washington Nationals at 6:40 p.m. After finishing the first half on a nine-game losing streak, the team hopes to get off on the right foot against a Nationals team which sits in fourth place in the National League East with a 48-49 record.

There ill be two new faces in the A’s lineup tonight.  Starting at second base is newly acquired infielder Donovan Walton, a seven-year veteran who has made short stops in Seattle, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Anaheim. He’ll be batting seventh in Mark Kotsay’s lineup. Tommy White will man first base tonight for the A’s.  He’s making his MLB debut, after being called up from AAA Las Vegas (officially) today.

Taking the mound for the A’s, making his tenth start of the season is 23-year-old lefty Gage Jump. Jump is 3-4 on the season with an ERA of 3.51 in 48.2 innings of work. He’ll face off against 25-year-old righty Cade Cavalli for the Nats. Cavalli is 5-4 with a 3.83 ERA in twenty starts. He’s struck out 110 batters in 98.2 innings. 

Cavalli will face off against this lineup for the A’s who will be without Nick Kurtz and Zack Gelof who went on the Injured List (IL) before the break:

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Jump will go up against this lineup for Blake Butera’s Nationals:

View Link

Follow the Game:
Watch:
Athletics – NBCSCA

Listen:
Athletics – Talk 650 KSTE, KVMX 92.1/105.5, A’s Cast

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Pistons vs. Heat Summer League Finale

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Ebuka Okorie #23 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns on July 15, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Tom O'Connor/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Detroit Pistons play the Miami Heat in the Summer League finale. It’s not until 9 pm. It will be on ESPN, which means maybe so more people will be able to watch. No clue who will actually suit up for the Pistons. Play ball.

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Bucks Reacts Survey Results: Majority of fans feel the same as they did about the Giannis trade

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Nate Ament #15 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on July 15, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

There was a big hullabaloo about the Bucks acquiring Kasparas Jakucionis and the 13th overall pick in the draft (which became Nate Ament) from Miami. At the time, certainly, those were seen as two of the prime assets that Jon Horst was able to wrench out of the Heat’s hands. Accordingly, Bucks fans were hyped to watch both in action at Summer League.

Unfortunately, both players experienced a good amount of struggles (along with some positive moments too, to be fair) in Vegas. Jakucionis was something of a human turnover machine, while Ament looked out of place for the first three games just on a physical basis.

Therefore, for this week’s Reacts survey, we wanted to do a temperature check on how fans viewed the Giannis trade package after watching these players’ aforementioned Summer League struggles. Had they changed their tune from how they viewed the deal before they saw these two young Bucks play? Well, while the majority of fans had not (59%), a solid chunk (41%) had.

Milwaukee’s final game in Vegas is now locked in for tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. CDT against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Check out FanDuel, the official sportsbook of SB Nation.

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Flyers Have One Free Agent Option Left for Power Play Help

At some point, the Philadelphia Flyers need their power play to be better than one of the worst, if not the very worst, in the entire NHL, and they can only change systems and coaches so many times before coming to a different conclusion.

Through the offseason thus far, the Flyers have missed out on several players who would have otherwise helped bolster their unit.

The offer sheet attempt on Leo Carlsson was an excellent idea, but Anaheim, obviously, matched the sheet and shut down the move.

Defenseman John Carlson preferred to go to a contender and got his wish with a deal in Tampa Bay.

Flyers legend Claude Giroux considered an offer tabled by his good friend and former teammate Danny Briere, but ultimately opted to remain with the Ottawa Senators for one more year.

Ultimately, the Flyers were forced to walk away from NHL free agency, thus far, with veteran fourth liner Noel Acciari and a host of AHL/NHL tweeners, like Nolan Foote, Jack Studnicka, and Zach Aston-Reese.

Flyers Make Jamie Drysdale Their Highest-Paid DefensemanFlyers Make Jamie Drysdale Their Highest-Paid DefensemanRight after the Philadelphia Flyers signed best buddy Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale re-upped with the team, becoming the Flyers' most expensive defenseman.

In lieu of acquiring a No. 1 center just not being a reliable or realistic option at this time, the Flyers still can, however, find a reasonably effective power play quarterback on the quickly thinning market.

More than two weeks on from the start of free agency, former star defenseman John Klingberg remains an unrestricted free agent, who leads the remaining crop of available defensemen with his 27 points in 55 games last season.

Klingberg, 33, isn't the same player he was in 2017-18, when he scored a career-high 67 points in 82 games for the Dallas Stars, but he can still contribute to a power play on a good team.

Injuries have been a factor for the Swede, too, as a hip injury decimated his 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, limiting him to a total of just 25 regular season games between stints with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers.

Klingberg did return mostly healthy in the 2025-26 season for the San Jose Sharks, but was not always included in the lineup by head coach Ryan Warsofsky.

Still, the former Stars ace averaged 20:28 in the games he did play, scoring five goals and nine total points on the power play, accounting for a third of his total point production.

Image

At his best, Klingberg was a player capable of producing double-digit power play points regularly, and nearly did so again this past season despite his advanced age and having missed nearly two full seasons worth of time.

As illustrated in the JFresh player card above, Klingberg has always been average to bad defensively, but a positive influence offensively.

Fortunately, the Flyers would not be signing the Swede for his defensive prowess, or lack thereof, and Klingberg would serve more as a mentor and rotational piece who could be used to protect someone like David Jiricek or Oliver Bonk from suboptimal matchups as they get their feet wet at the NHL level.

If all goes well, Jiricek would be the Flyers' power play quarterback of the future, but the team cannot guarantee that off rip.

By signing Klingberg, the Flyers can get themselves some veteran insurance while ensuring they do not rush Jiricek along before he is ready, or before they feel comfortable giving him an every-night role.

Of note, too: Klingberg and newcomer Simon Benoit played as a defensive pairing in Anaheim in 2022-23, so there is an element of familiarity there. The advanced analytics were as bad as you'd expect, but we can also argue that the Flyers employ a better structure with better personnel to insulate them.

Klingberg played the last season for the Sharks on a one-year, $4 million deal; the Flyers currently have just under $14 million in cap space available after re-signing Jamie Drysdale and Trevor Zegras.

Financially, there is little risk for the Flyers to chase after the best remaining power play specialist, and Klingberg could build himself enough appeal for a trade to a contender later in the season if he straps up his boots and does a tidy job for the Flyers early on.

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Cincinnati Reds vs. Colorado Rockies – Brady Singer vs. Gabriel Hughes

Wilson Peak, San Juan National Forest, Colorado (Photo by: Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The Cincinnati Reds turn to righty Brady Singer for the opener of their 2026 second half. The Reds are on the road in Denver to take on the Colorado Rockies under a muggy high sky.

First pitch is set for 8:40 PM ET, and Rockies righty Gabriel Hughes will be the man firing that pitch.

Here’s how both clubs will line up to start:

Today’s Lineups

REDSROCKIES
Elly De La Cruz – SSJake McCarthy – CF
Sal Stewart – 1BMickey Moniak – LF
JJ Bleday – LFHunter Goodman – C
Spencer Steer – RFTJ Rumfield – 1B
Eugenio Suarez – DHKyle Karros – 3B
Tyler Stephenson – CWilli Castro – 2B
TJ Friedl – CFTroy Johnston – DH
Edwin Arroyo – 2BTyler Freeman – RF
Ke’Bryan Hayes – 3BEzequiel Tovar – SS
Brady Singer – RHPGabriel Hughes – RHP
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Latest LeBron James rumors: 'He's much closer to a decision,' Antetokounmpo makes his pitch

It appears the LeBron James free agency drama will drag into next week as he made a couple of appearances at Fanatics Fest in New York and said nothing new. As LeBron again enjoys basking in the spotlight, here are the latest rumors on the biggest story in the NBA.

LeBron closer to a decision

On Thursday, LeBron said of his decision timeline, "I won't hold you guys up too much longer." The latest reporting from ESPN’s Dave McMenamin echoes that.

"Multiple sources familiar with his thinking told me in the last 24 hours that he is truly getting much closer to a decision."

One of the hot rumors about LeBron during the Las Vegas Summer League was that he wanted to wait until after the World Cup to make the announcement, and whether that is his intent or not, that seems to be how things are playing out. ESPN's Shams Charania said on Friday he thought an announcement could come next week. For now, we're all feeling like Miami’s Pat Riley.

"Right now, I think we're like everybody else, we're just waiting to see what he does," Riley said this week.

Antetokounmpo makes his pitch

Miami is one of the "finalists" in the LeBron sweepstakes, and Giannis Antetokounmpo talked about the opportunity to play with him during an appearance on ESPN with Ohm Youngmisuk on Thursday.

"If there was a scenario for that to happen, I'd be very, very excited. He's one of the best players to ever play this game, if not the best. [I'd] be able to learn so much from him. Obviously, brings such a championship experience to the team right from day one. I think he's still one of the best players in the [game today], if not top 25 [at 41 years old]. You don't see signs of him slowing down at all. You saw in the playoffs how effective and good he was for the Lakers.

"But I'm just like everybody else, we don't have all the information. All the information is in LeBron James' hand and his family's hands, and he's going to make the best decision for him. The history has shown that he's always made good decisions for his career. And I hope if he thinks that the Miami Heat is a good decision for him. I would love for him to be here."

A lot of pundits have Cleveland and Miami — two former LeBron teams — as the frontrunners for his services (NBC Sports continues to hear Cleveland, but nobody really knows).

Did LeBron drop 76ers hint?

For the second day in a row, LeBron appeared at Fanatics Fest, this time for a live recording of his show "The Shop." Philadelphia fans are running with this quote as a hint that he is coming to the City of Brotherly Love. Quote via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

"What's most important is I want to compete, I want to compete at a high level. I want to join a franchise that kind of shares the same motto as myself, and that's, like, practicing championship happens every day. But trusting the process more than anything."

The process? Philly fans at the event cheered, but LeBron quickly shot that down with his next comment.

"I've been saying 'to trust the process' since I was drafted in like 2003. I don't even know if Embiid was even born yet."

At this point, we could parse LeBron's comments over the past few months and have it point just about anywhere. Read into it if you want, all anybody else really wants is him just to make a decision.

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Shohei Ohtani injury update: Dodgers taking cautious approach with star

Shohei Ohtani was back in the lineup for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, July 17.

He served as the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter to open the series on the road against the New York Yankees in a rematch of the 2024 World Series.

Ohtani was pulled from a scheduled start on the mound before the MLB All-Star break due to inflammation and irritation in his left knee. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Ohtani did have lubricant injected into his knee but did not have it drained. The injection is expected to provide Ohtani with relief in his knee.

He was the league's leading vote-getter but withdrew from the MLB All-Star Game due to the discomfort in the knee, which impacted his pitching mechanics.

Roberts said the team will watch how Ohtani does this week before finalizing his next pitching start, tentatively on Wednesday, July 22. The Dodgers are also expected to be cautious with the superstar’s workload in the second half.

He won an ESPY earlier this week for the Best Single-Game Performance. The Dodgers star received the award for a performance against the Milwaukee Brewers, where Ohtani hit three home runs and pitched six scoreless innings, striking out 10 batters, in Game 4 of the 2025 National League Championship Series. 

When will the Dodgers play next?

Ohtani and the Dodgers will play the Yankees on Saturday and Sunday before immediately starting a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shohei Ohtani injury update: Dodgers taking cautious approach with star

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Game Thread: SummerKnicks vs. SummerMavs, July 17, 2026

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 16: Tyler Nickel #55 of the New York Knicks and LJ Cryer #18 of the Golden State Warriors look on during the game on July 16, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Knicks wrap up their 2026 NBA Summer League schedule on Friday when they face the Dallas Mavericks at The Pavilion in Las Vegas. The Mavs are 2-2 in summer play, while the Knicks are 1-3. This will be the last Knicks action you get until autumn, so soak it up, fans.

Tip-off is 8:30 pm EST on Amazon Prime. This is your game thread. This is Mavs MoneyBall. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be cool, everybody. And go Knicks!

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How to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Yankees: Live stream info, schedule, preview

Sunday Night Baseball on July 19 will feature a matchup of two storied MLB franchises facing off on NBC for the first time since Game 6 of the 1978 World Series.

Also being streamed on Peacock, the game will feature the New York Yankees playing host to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the teams' previous meeting on NBC, the Yankees won 7-2 on Oct. 17, 1978 to claim their second consecutive World Series championship and their 22nd overall title.

That game, which was called by Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek, and Tom Seaver, featured seven Baseball Hall of Famers — Goose Gossage, Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson, Don Sutton, Yogi Berra (as a Yankees coach), Yankees manager Bob Lemon and Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda.

Sunday will bring a similar amount of starpower as four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani leads the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers against the Yankees and 2026 All-Star Game MVP Cody Bellinger.

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The Dodgers and Yankees have met in the World Series 12 times, the most in MLB history, with New York winning eight titles.

Play-by-play voice Jason Benetti will be joined by seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens and 1988 World Series MVP and NL Cy Young Award winner Orel Hershiser.

Bob Costas will be the host of the pregame show alongside CC Sabathia, who will also provide “Inside the Pitch” commentary during crucial at-bats in the game.

Sunday Night Baseball will be preceded by MLB Sunday Leadoff, which will feature the Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays at 12 p.m. on Peacock and NBCSN.

See below for additional information on how to watch the Dodgers vs. Yankees and a breakdown of the game. Also check out the schedule for the MLB on NBC and Peacock. There will be 27 prime-time MLB games featured across NBC, Peacock and NBCSN in 2026. NBC Sports will also stream one out-of-market game each day of the 2026 MLB season nationally on Peacock.

How to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Yankees

  • Where: Yankee Stadium in New York
  • When: Sunday, July 19
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET
  • TV: NBC
  • Live Stream:Peacock

Dodgers vs. Yankees preview:

In their quest for a third consecutive World Series title, the Dodgers are off to a better start than their past two championship seasons. Los Angeles was 61-36 (.629) at the All-Star break (last year, they were 58-39, and they were 56-41 in 2024).

Before the All-Star break, Ohtani led the Dodgers and ranked among the top five in the National League with 22 home runs, a .403 on-base percentage, and a .953 OPS. He is scheduled to be the designated hitter against New York after missing the All-Star Game for a knee procedure. The Dodgers, who rank top three in runs per game and batting average, still had three All-Star starters: Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy and Andy Pages.

The Dodgers, who have the best road record in the majors, are at the outset of a nine-game road trip with three games apiece against the Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets. Los Angeles lost five of its last seven games before the All-Star break and were swept (by Arizona) for the first time this season.

Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani to be available for Dodgers’ weekend series at Yankees after fluid drained from knee
The Los Angeles Dodgers star will be a designated hitter at a minimum.

The Yankees fell to second in the American League at 54-42 after going 18-19 across June and July before the All-Star break. But New York leads the AL in ERA (3.37), home runs (142) and stolen bases (96) and are managing without injured sluggers Aaron Judge (rib fracture) and Giancarlo Stanton (left calf strain).

First baseman Ben Rice, who is coming off his first All-Star Game appearance, leads the Yankees with 29 home runs and 68 RBI.

New York is entering a stetch of seven consecutive series (22 total games) against teams with a winning record through the All-Star break — the Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves.

Check out the latest MLB player news here!

How to watch MLB on NBC and Peacock:

MLB Sunday Leadoff is a weekly Major League Baseball showcase featuring live Sunday daytime games. It highlights marquee matchups throughout the regular season and streams primarily on Peacock, with some games also airing across NBC Sports and NBC.

MLB Sunday Night Baseball is a weekly primetime Major League Baseball showcase, featuring marquee matchups each Sunday night during the regular season. The games air on NBC and Peacock and anchor NBC Sports’ Sunday night programming lineup.

NBC Sports will also stream one out-of-market game each day of the 2026 MLB season nationally on Peacock. Telemundo Deportes will present all NBCUniversal-produced MLB games in Spanish, with Universo televising all games broadcast on NBC.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our live sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You’ll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC and Bravo hits for whatever suits your mood.

MLB on NBC 2026 schedule:

Click here to see the full list of MLB games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

Why are some MLB games unavailable to stream on Peacock?

Due to territorial blackout restrictions, select regular-season, special event, and postseason games may be unavailable on Peacock. TV territory blackout restrictions apply regardless of whether a club is home or away and regardless of whether a game is televised in that club's home TV territory. For more information, visit Peacock’s Help Center.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

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Friday night Orioles game thread: @ Houston, 8:10 PM ET

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JULY 08: Dean Kremer #64 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 8, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

If you recall, prior to the All-Star break the Orioles had just climbed a hurdle they’d failed to yet surpass: a four-game win streak. Now, they’re a bit battered and bruised, what with late-inning relievers Ryan Helsley and Keegan Akin on the shelf, and hottest-hitter-of-late Blaze Alexander sidelined, sadly, with a fractured hand, thanks to KC’s wayward Lucas Erceg.

Tonight, the Birds fly the coop for three games against the Houston Astros. Game 1 is tonight, with right hander Dean Kremer (1-2, 4.09 ERA) facing off against righty Peter Lambert (8-5, 3.14 ERA)

Lambert is only in the Houston rotation due to a surfeit of starter injuries, but the fifth-year journeyman, who’d owned a career 6.28 ERA to date, has been a nice surprise for the Astros. He’s done a good job of limiting contact, with an excellent .204 opposing average against. The righty has a really extensive eight-pitch mix that is primarily fastball and changeup-driven. Back in April, Lambert threw 4.1 innings and allowed two runs.

As for the Orioles’ Kremer, this will be just his start of the year, due, first to his not making the team out of spring training, and then an injured quad. It’s nice to have him back, under the circumstances. In four starts so far, he’s allowed 12 runs in 22 innings. He’s leaning heavily on a pitch that’s new for him, a splitter. So far, so good: hitters are batting just .176 against it. Against these Astros, Kremer has pitched well, although the fearsome Yordan Alvarez has reached base against him in six of 10 PAs, and Jose Altuve is 9-for-20.

Orioles lineup

  1. Gunnar Henderson SS
  2. Adley Rutschman C
  3. Taylor Ward LF
  4. Pete Alonso 1B
  5. Samuel Basallo DH
  6. Dylan Beavers RF
  7. Colton Cowser CF
  8. Coby Mayo 3B
  9. Jackson Holliday 2B

Astros lineup

  1. Jeremy Peña SS
  2. Yordan Alvarez DH
  3. Isaac Paredes 3B
  4. Christian Walker 1B
  5. José Altuve 2B
  6. LaMonte Wade Jr. LF
  7. Cam Smith RF
  8. Lucas Spence CF
  9. Christian Vázquez C
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Colorado Rockies vs. Cincinnati Reds game discussion: Brady Singer vs. Gabriel Hughes

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 08: Gabriel Hughes #43 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the game between the Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Thank goodness Rockies baseball is back.

The Colorado Rockies (39-59) return to action tonight against the Cincinnati Reds (43-52) at Coors Field after four days away for the All-Star break.

The Rockies have not played since last Sunday, when their 3-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants brought a quiet end to the unofficial first half. Four days without seeing the boys felt considerably longer than they should have.

There was still baseball, of course. It just was not the baseball I wanted to watch.

The Home Run Derby had its moments, and the All-Star Game offered the usual appeal of seeing baseball’s best players up close. But neither did much to fill the Rockies-sized hole in the week. Hunter Goodman barely received a passing mention, which was disappointing but not especially surprising.

After everything this organization has done—and failed to do—the Rockies have not earned national respect. They also have not earned anyone’s confidence that this climb will eventually reach the summit.

But for all the frustration, the Rockies are moving uphill. They reached the break 17 games ahead of last year’s pace, and the product on the field has been considerably more watchable.

And, Rockies fans still get the joy of this team on its own terms.

Anyone who showed up for the climb expecting an easy bandwagon ride has clearly never hiked in the Rockies. There is no wagon to the top. The trip is earned step by step.

Rockies fans learn to enjoy the climb itself: the debuts, the breakouts, the wild Coors Field nights, the heartbreaks, and the evenings spent shouting at the television before tuning in again the next day to watch a young player continue to find his footing.

Meanwhile, the jumpers are still at the trailhead complaining about the breeze.

Tonight, the climb resumes with Gabriel Hughes on the mound.

The 24-year-old right-hander opened his season with three scoreless innings against the Giants, earning a save in his major-league debut. Five days later, he made his first major-league start at Dodger Stadium and struck out seven over six innings, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks.

Through those two appearances, Hughes has a 3.00 ERA with eight strikeouts and three walks over nine innings. He has leaned heavily on a four-seam fastball averaging just over 93 mph. The pitch has accounted for seven of his eight strikeouts while holding opposing hitters to a .130 average.

The sample is small, but the fastball has already shown that it can miss major-league bats.

Cincinnati will counter with right-hander Brady Singer. The 29-year-old enters tonight at 3-9 with a 4.72 ERA and 76 strikeouts over 89.2 innings. He was sharp in his final start before the break, holding the Philadelphia Phillies to one run over 7.1 innings.

The Rockies’ offense went quiet before the break, scoring three runs or fewer in four of its final five games. A few days away may have come at a good time.

Now, the break is over. Hughes is on the mound, the gang is back together, and it is simply good to have Rockies baseball back in front of us.

I, for one, am glad to be back on the trail.

First pitch: 6:40 p.m. MDT

TV: Rockies.TV

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM and KNRV 1150

Reds SB Nation Site: Red Reporter

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