Author: MLB Baseball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

A 4-2 homestand against two of the best teams in the National League has put some wind behind the Mariners’ sails. Over their last 15 games, they’re 8-7 against some pretty tough competition. From here through the rest of the season, the Mariners face either teams directly competing against them in the playoff race (TOR, BOS, TEX, HOU) or teams who are on pace to lose at least 98 games this year (ATH, LAA, COL). For those still holding onto hope, this soft schedule to finish off the season has been the guiding light; beat up on a bunch of weak teams and win just enough head-to-head games against those two division rivals to eke out the division in September. It starts with an East Coast road trip through Toronto and Boston.

After their deep postseason runs last year, both the Mariners and Blue Jays have suffered through shockingly similar seasons. They’re separated by half a game in the standings right now and both teams have started to play a little better recently, though it might be too little too late for the Jays. Toronto has continued to be plagued by injuries and its superstars haven’t been able to carry the team through the summer. The team traded away a bunch of impending free agents at the trade deadline — Kevin Gausman, Daulton Varsho, and Jeff Hoffman are out — but they also looked towards the future by acquiring José Soriano and Spencer Arrighetti.

Vladito’s struggles this year have been bewildering; his contact quality has taken a massive hit despite swinging just as hard as he has in the past. He simply can’t square up the ball right now and it’s driving his offensive production into the ground. The one guy who is hitting well right now is Alejandro Kirk. He missed more than two months of the season with a fractured finger and it took him a while to get his bat going after returning in mid June. Since the All-Star break, he has posted a 152 wRC+, easily the highest mark on the team in that period. The rest of the Jays’ postseason heroes from last year haven’t been able to keep it up this season; Ernie Clement has a 96 wRC+, Nathan Lukes is a hair higher at 98, and Addison Barger only played in nine games between two major injuries.

Probable Pitchers 

Updated Stuff+ Explainer 

• Stuff+ scores for Mariners starters

From a previous series preview:

Dylan Cease was the Blue Jays’ headlining acquisition this past offseason when he signed a seven-year, $210 million free agent contract just before Thanksgiving. He’s long been one of baseball’s best strikeout artists, though all those punchouts come with some spotty command. He’s usually able to make it work because he can just work out of any trouble he gets into by avoiding contact altogether, but he can also be prone to big blowups from time to time if his command really slips. He primarily relies on a hard fastball and a nasty slider as his out pitches. He’s increased the usage of his changeup this year and it’s been nearly unhittable; the whiff rate on his offspeed pitch is over 50%!

Cease is one of the two favorites to win the AL Cy Young award. He’s been absolutely dominant throughout the entire season. Back in July when he faced the Mariners, he held them scoreless over seven innings, striking out nine while allowing just four baserunners.

From a previous series preview:

José Soriano is a weird pitcher. He throws extremely hard, he has three pitches with elite whiff rates, and his groundball rate is among the highest in baseball. Last year, his ERA outpaced his FIP by more than half a run. This year, the script is flipped; his ERA is nearly a full run lower than his FIP. Maybe he read my profile of his issues from last summer because, all of a sudden, he’s striking out a bunch more batters. He’s reduced the usage of his sinker in favor of his four-seamer and splitter, but his command hasn’t improved with the pitch mix change. The result is more punchouts, but also a lower groundball rate, a high walk rate, and more damage on contact allowed.

Soriano was traded to the Blue Jays at the trade deadline, an interesting move made for the future at the same time the team was selling off some of their expendable parts. The Mariners are well acquainted with him from his time with the Angels, but he’s only faced them once this season; he allowed three runs in five innings while striking out nine back in June.

After helping the Blue Jays reach the World Series last year, Max Scherzer staved off retirement for one more go around with Toronto. His age-41 season has been marred by a few injuries, limiting him to just 12 starts. They haven’t been good starts either. It’s pretty clear his arsenal just isn’t good enough anymore and batters are happy to tee off on his diminished stuff. For the first time in his long career, his strikeout rate is sitting below 20% and his walk rate is sitting above 10%. It’s an ugly combination and it’s the reason why his ERA is sitting above seven right now.

The Big Picture:

The Astros kept pace with the Mariners after beating the Yankees on Thursday and winning that series in New York; they’ll head across town to face the Mets this weekend. The Rangers lost some ground after dropping the final two games of their series against the White Sox this week and face a tough challenge this weekend as they travel to Milwaukee.

In the Wild Card race, the Guardians have won seven straight and nine of their last 11 to put a sliver of daylight between them and the rest of the field. They host the hot-hitting Royals this weekend. Elsewhere, the Orioles play in Sacramento while the Twins host the White Sox.

For most of the offseason, the Dallas Cowboys have operated with fewer distractions than usual, keeping them under the radar. Then, after two strong performances in the first two preseason games, Dallas became a focus of sports talk television, raising the question, “Is this finally the year they do it?”

Before jumping too far ahead in that conversation, the Cowboys have one more preseason game to play at home against the New Orleans Saints. The top end of the roster is almost set for the season opener, but questions remain about what to do with the final spots and who will win certain competitions.

Who sits and who plays on Friday night will tell us a lot to begin with, but here are four remaining questions Dallas needs answers to by the end of the preseason finale.

Can Dallas keep three quarterbacks?

Joe Milton has performed exceptionally well in his second season as a backup to Dak Prescott. When Dallas signed Sam Howell, it “pissed off” Milton, but it also brought out the best in him and pushed him to become a proficient commander of the offense.

Milton has the fourth most passing yards in the preseason (286), leads quarterbacks in passing touchdowns (3) and passer rating (142.9) for any quarterback who has had 20 percent of the total dropbacks, according to Pro Football Focus.

Sam Howell has made a case for himself to stay on the roster as well. His first preseason game was better than the second, but Brian Schottenheimer continues to praise him and what he’s brought to the quarterback room. If Howell does nothing more than continue to keep that fire under Milton lit the entire season and grow as a player, does that justify keeping Howell in the building on the 53?

If the Cowboys cut either quarterback, it might not be as easy to claim them back on the practice squad, since good backup play is hard to come by in the NFL. Dallas has kept three quarterbacks in the past. This roster makes it much harder to find a scenario where that’s possible.

Does Dallas keep five or six wide receivers?

Over the last week, there’s been chatter on social media about Camden Brown’s flaws. He can’t separate; he doesn’t have the finishing speed; Dallas could find another developmental wide receiver. And then Brown makes another highlight play in training camp practice that makes everyone remember how consistent he’s been all offseason, forcing his way onto the 53-man roster.

Jonathan Mingo has also played extremely well in training camp and in the preseason games. He has four catches on five targets, 82 receiving yards, one touchdown, and a 90.5 PFF grade, which is fifth-best among all wide receivers in the preseason. Add that on top of him becoming a special teams player for Dallas, and it makes it hard to cut a player like Mingo, too, who Dallas has invested a ton of time in and has been patient.

If Dallas decides to go with five wideouts, which player would be unlikely to return to the practice squad and get claimed by another team? The way Brown has flashed and has been showcased in games could catch the eye of another team looking to bring on a developmental player who’s ahead of the curve as a rookie. Mingo gives another team a pro-ready player who elevates the back end of a wide receiver room, with the potential to be a high-end WR3 for a team like the Miami Dolphins.

The best-case scenario is that both players make the 53, and Dallas goes short at another position. It shouldn’t be an either-or conversation because both players deserve to be on the final roster.

Do the Cowboys have their backup tackles?

Nick Leverett, Ajani Cornelius, and Trevor Keegan have played really well in the interior of the offensive line. With T.J. Bass already locked in as the sixth offensive lineman, Dallas might only be able to keep two of the three. That’s a small potato question (if you know, you know). The big potato question is what Dallas should do about their backup offensive tackles?

Nate Thomas was supposed to push Tyler Guyton at left tackle for a starting job. Guyton quickly ended that battle, pushing Thomas down to backup. Throughout training camp and the preseason, things haven’t always looked great for the former seventh-round pick. The team has tried him at left and right tackle to practice position flex, but his development seems to be taking a step back instead of forward. For a player who has started four games in the NFL, Dallas was hoping for more.

Drew Shelton will need more time to grow as an NFL tackle. The 2026 fourth-round pick has not been great and has given up the second-most pressures (seven) of any offensive lineman in the preseason. Like Thomas, the coaching staff has tried to move him from right to left so he can learn to be a swing tackle and find the best role for him.

Dallas might not feel great about where either player is in their development, and with Cornelius moving to offensive guard, the Cowboys might have to find their swing tackle on the open market. If the front office has to pick either Thomas or Shelton to make the initial 53-man roster, the tie would probably go to Shelton, considering he’s the most recent draft pick and Dallas doesn’t usually give up on fourth-round picks this early.

Sam Williams or Marist Liufau?

After the Cowboys signed Von Miller, it took away a roster spot from James Houston, Sam Williams, and Marist Liufau. Instead of all three making the team, the competition could come down to two. All three can play on special teams and have been really good at it, so who makes the roster might be decided by who can show the most as a pass rusher.

Houston was a surprise for Dallas last year, getting 3.5 sacks in the first five games as a rotational player. He’s also continued that production in the preseason. Houston is the one Dallas might be most confident in out of the three.

Williams re-signed with Dallas on a one-year deal after testing the waters of free agency and getting nothing on the open market. The transition to a 3-4 defense could benefit him at stand-up outside linebacker. Williams has done a lot on special teams during the regular season, but has hurt the Cowboys at times with costly penalties. Do the Cowboys still believe the same player exists who had 8.5 sacks over the first two seasons of his career?

After two seasons at off-ball linebacker, Liufau made the switch to outside linebacker in the new scheme in what feels like a last-ditch effort to make the cut. Liufau has received praise from Schottenheimer for the way he’s attacked the transition and played with effort. Watching the preseason games, it looks like he may be too small to consistently go up against offensive tackles and blocking tight ends. Despite being the most recent draft pick of the three players listed, he might not fit the scheme anymore.

The final preseason game will be a chance for all three to make their final mark, with Williams and Liufau being at the center of it.

After a belated adjustment to Pacific time, the Phillies will now have to travel all the way down the coast to Los Angeles. The good news is that they’ll be greeted in Southern California by one of the worst teams in baseball.

The Angels were bad to begin with, and then they shipped out a bunch of guys before the trade deadline. What’s left? A bunch of young players of varying degree of promise, along with one notable veteran who seems content playing out his career in obscurity.

Opposition research: Mike Trout

You’d think that one of these years, Mike Trout would say, “You know what? I’d actually like to experience being on a good team before I retire.” Sure, Ernie Banks also spent his entire career playing for mostly moribund Cubs teams, never making the playoffs, but you have to keep in mind that a lot fewer teams made the playoffs back then. In the current setup where the American League allows six teams into the postseason every year, it’s rather embarrassing that Trout has only been there once – and promptly got swept.

As there is every year, there was some talk that the Phillies should trade for Trout at this year’s deadline. While he’s not anywhere near the hitter he was in his heyday, he’s still swings a good bat and would have fit in well at the top of the Phillies’ order. Of course, there’s the little matter that he’s still owed $37 million for each of the next four seasons, he’s been injury prone throughout his career (though he’s on pace to play close to a full season for the second straight year), and his defense in the outfield has slipped.

Perhaps more importantly, despite the wishes of many Phillies fans, he’s never really expressed any desire to play in Philadelphia.

If you really want to see Trout in Philadelphia, you’re in luck: Eagles season begins in just a couple of weeks, and Trout’s schedule will be nice and open by the beginning of October.

Hating on the Angels

If you’re an Angels fan, it has to be grating to see the crosstown Dodgers enjoying so much success, while your team has been a mess for almost two decades. (Those Rally Monkey shirts are looking pretty ragged these days, huh?) Since 2010, the franchise has had more name changes than playoff wins. I don’t know how had arguably the two best players in baseball over the past 15 years and still couldn’t sniff contention.

Then again, the franchise wasn’t doing all that hot before the 2000’s either. Here’s a quick summary of Angels’ history:

• One World Series title of which the lasting memory is a monkey
• They can’t seem to decide what city they represent
• One of their outfielders tried to assassinate Queen Elizabeth

Trivia

Last week’s answer: Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina each had multiple multi-home run games at Citizens Bank Park as members of the Cardinals. Multiple people guessed Pujols but nobody picked Molina.

This week’s question: The Phillies’ first ever game against the Angels was a 3-0 win on June 6, 2003. Name two of the three pitchers who combined for that shutout.

Additional thought about the series

The Angels’ offense has been horrendous, scoring the second fewest runs in the league in August. Surprisingly, the Angels’ pitching staff has been solid, carrying the fifth best team ERA since the All-Star break. Reid Detmers (Whose name sounds like how Carnac the Magnificent might describe Philadelphia Eagles history) is emerging as a star pitcher and former Phillies prospect George Klassen is off to an impressive start to his career. (Welp)

The good news is that in addition to Detmers, the Phillies are scheduled to face Ryan Johnson and Yusei Kikuchi, both of whom have been mostly bad this season. (Though Johnson has been much better over the past month and is coming off a start where he pitched seven shutout innings.)

With key series against the Diamondbacks and Braves looming, it would be ideal for the Phillies to take advantage of the talent disparity and rack up at least two wins this weekend.

Two weeks ago today, the Washington Nationals announced that they were planning to move star shortstop CJ Abrams to second base. However, for a variety of reasons, Abrams has still yet to play the position. The longer that remains the case, the more awkward this situation will get for the Nats.

From a purely statistical perspective, moving Abrams off short makes a lot of sense. He is one of, if not the worst defensive shortstop in the game. Abrams has also had years to improve defensively, but has just not taken the required leap. However, the timing of the move was curious.

Instead of waiting until the end of the season, the Nats forced the issue, switching their star’s position in the dog days of summer. While the Nats were struggling due to trades and the injury of James Wood, the new regime decided to unsettle Abrams.

Despite not being a good defensive shortstop, Abrams takes a lot of pride in playing the position. He has been a shortstop his whole life and sees himself as “the captain of the infield” when he is playing short. With this in mind, it seems like this was a decision that should have come in the offseason.

There was never going to be a perfect time to make this needed decision. However, I think the move would have been less messy in the offseason. As it stands, Abrams has reluctantly agreed to switch positions. Even his agent said that Abrams was “uneasy” about the move but was willing to put the team first.

With all this in mind, the fact that Abrams still has not played second is a bit awkward. One important piece of context to consider is his ankle injury though. It seemed like Abrams was close to finally making the move, but during the Texas series he rolled his ankle. This caused him to miss a few games, and he has only been a DH since.

However, the Nats were planning on putting Abrams back in the field the other day. They had him go through pre-game workouts, but it was determined he was not ready to go yet. Confusingly, Abrams was set to play shortstop that game, not second base.

I get he was coming back from an injury, but what does that injury prevent him from playing second base? This whole situation is just becoming a distraction for the entire team and Abrams in particular. The clear solution to this issue is to just pull off the band-aid and play him at second. I wish they waited until the offseason, but at this point you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube.

Making this ordeal even more awkward is the fact that Abrams has been in a deep slump since the position move. After winning player of the month in July, Abrams is hitting below .200 in August. Abrams came into the second half with a point to prove and looked to crush the narratives about his second half struggles.

It looked like he was on his way to doing that, but this situation has brought his momentum to a halt. Everybody involved in this does not look great right now. From the outside, it is easy to look at this situation and say that Abrams is not handling this very well. His play and enthusiasm have taken a noticeable dip since the announcement. Even that play where he hurt his ankle could have been prevented if Abrams was running harder and slid.

For the new regime, it seems like they made a star player unhappy and unsettled without much of a reason. It is not like Abrams is being moved off the position for a super star or an exciting prospect like Eli Willits or Seaver King. They are just swapping him and Nasim Nunez. Is that move really worth all the trouble it is causing?

The longer Abrams is not at second base, the weaker the team looks as well. We do not know what is going on in the building, but from the outside you can make a narrative that Abrams is dragging his feet. Why would Abrams go back to short after the injury?

In the long term, this should work itself out. However, the longer Abrams is not at second base, the weirder this looks. I hope to see Abrams playing second sometime this weekend. It would remove a distraction from a clubhouse that needs to come together over this final month of the season.

The Buffalo Bills mounted a glorious comeback to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-27 on Thursday night to cap a 3-0 preseason.

Now Brandon Beane, Joe Brady, and Co. have to trim the roster from 91 players to 53 by Sunday at 6pm EST. Therefore it’s time for my final roster projection of the summer.

Quarterback (2)

• Josh Allen
• Kyle Allen

Allen won the QB2 battle — a competition that did have some legs in training camp — with another surgical performance in the second preseason game. He’s not the best backup in the NFL but appears comfortable in Joe Brady’s system.

Running Back (4)*

• James Cook
• Ray Davis
• Frank Gore Jr.
• Ben VanSumeren

Tipping the scales back to Gore Jr. after he demonstrated how he can make something out of nothing on multiple occasions against the Steelers and had another stellar blitz pickup on a Shane Buechele long completion for the second-straight week. This is no slight on Ian Wheeler. He was dynamic in the preseason. Gore Jr. has earned this spot on the roster that he’ll at least hold until Ty Johnson returns from what I’m predicting will be a IR designation to begin the season.

Wide Receiver (6)

• D.J. Moore
• Khalil Shakir
• Josh Palmer
• Keon Coleman
• Skyler Bell
• Trent Sherfield

No changes here — I wanted to include Mecole Hardman here as the primary punt returner. But he muffed a punt last season and had three drops in the preseason. I’m guessing Ray Davis will be the primary kick and punt returner this season. Yes, his initial muff was ugly.

Tight End (3)

• Dalton Kincaid
• Dawson Knox
• Jackson Hawes

Despite strong pushes by Keleki Latu and even Shane Zylstra, the Bills opt to keep their normal three tight ends on the roster. Do not sleep on Latu or even Zylstra getting practice-squad elevations this season. They’ve proven their worth this summer.

Offensive Line (9)*

• Dion Dawkins
• Alec Anderson
• Connor McGovern
• O’Cyrus Torrence
• Spencer Brown
• Austin Corbett
• Lloyd Cushenberry
• Tylan Grable
• Sedrick Van Pran-Granger

For now, I have nine Bills blockers making the roster but there are caveats galore here. Given that Jude Bowry was seen in a walking boot at practice this week, it’s sensible for this raw, high-upside rookie to start the season on IR, making room for another player on the 53-man roster. That player is Van Pran-Granger who, despite losing the backup center job to Cushenberry, pieced together a strong summer.

Then there’s this reasonably distinct possibility — the Bills trim the roster to 52 players to prep to add a veteran blocker released by another team after they trade Van Pran-Granger to the Commanders (or another interior offensive line needy club).

Defensive Line (6)*

• Ed Oliver
• Deone Walker
• T.J. Sanders
• Landon Jackson
• Greg Gaines
• Zane Durant

No changes here, although Durant leaving the Steelers game late with what looked to be a non-serious injury, is worth monitoring.

InsideLinebacker (4)

• Terrel Bernard
• Kaleb Elarms-Orr
• Dorian Williams
• Joe Andreessen

Yes, I just advocated a place for Jenkins on the 53-man roster earlier this morning… but Andreessen is more of a proven commodity as a depth linebacker and special teams ace. He is ahead of Jenkins’ developmental track by a year, having first made the team in 2024. In this case, the Bills cling to hope Jenkins isn’t snagged by another club after Buffalo moves him to the practice squad.

RushLinebacker (6)

• Greg Rousseau
• Bradley Chubb
• Michael Hoecht
• T.J. Parker
• Javon Solomon
• Mike Danna

Based on WAWW, Danna would not make the roster. He played the majority of the fourth quarter in the final preseason. That’s typically a dead giveaway that a player isn’t going to be part of the original 53-man roster to start a regular season. HOWEVER, Danna provides Buffalo serious experience on the edge — along with some interior rushing flexibility — and I expect Leonhard would want an extra rush linebacker over another inside linebacker (see: Keonta Jenkins). Although special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers probably would lean in the opposite direction.

.Defensive Backs (10)

• Christian Benford
• Maxwell Hairston
• Dee Alford
• Davison Igbinosun
• Cole Bishop
• CJ Gardner-Johnson
• Jordan Hancock
• Jalon Kilgore
• Kani Walker
• Sam Franklin Jr.

I’ve gone back and forth on Damar Hamlin — he was an afterthought this offseason but has parlayed a strong camp into a solid preseason, and I do think in a perfect world, the Bills would like to keep him as veteran experience at safety behind Cole Bishop and CJ Gardner-Johnson. For this projection, he’s left off the 53-man roster with Buffalo hoping he can be stored on the practice squad, although I do think it’s very possible Hamlin vs. Franklin Jr. is the final roster decision for Beane to make.

Specialists (3)

• Reid Ferguson
• Tommy Doman Jr.
• Tyler Bass

Hard to say if there’s been a clear winner in the punter battle — as both Mitch Wishnowsky and Doman only got cracks at it in the second preseason game. This one could go down to the wire.

*Phidarian Mathis will begin serving his three-game suspension at the start of the regular season so he will not originally be on the 53-man roster Week 1.

*Ty Johnson and Jude Bowry begin the season on IR in this projection

It’s the last week of preseason, which means roster cuts are on the horizon for the Seattle Seahawks and the rest of the NFL. With Seattle retaining so many of its players from last season, the roster bubble is probably a bit smaller than most other teams, but nevertheless still compelling.

Let’s get to some roster bubble talk before the Seahawks take on the Kansas City Chiefs at 5 pm PT at Arrowhead Stadium. And no, Jalen Milroe is not on this list. You were going to be watching Milroe regardless of whether he was on the bubble or not, so this is about filling out positions for which the depth is a bit questionable.

Running Back: Jacardia Wright and Velus Jones Jr

It’s possible that neither player makes the cut, if only because Seattle likely has its three running backs (Jadarian Price, George Holani, and Emanuel Wilson) for the regular season. When Zach Charbonnet comes back, they’ll have four. Wright and Jones can both be practice squad stashes and game day elevations for a few weeks, if needed.

Wright returned from injury last week and rocketed his way into the end zone on a 69-yard touchdown run. Jones has had a good camp in his first proper offseason as a running back, plus he has experience (albeit not great ones in the NFL) as a wide receiver.

The edge probably goes to Wright IF Seattle keeps a fourth running back, I suspect.

Wide Receiver: Montorie Foster Jr, Cody White, Emmanuel Henderson, Ricky White III

I contemplated leaving Foster off completely because I think he has a spot secured, but let me not get ahead of my skis and risk him being the new Kasen Williams or Easop Winston. Foster should have an inside track, but Cody White has the most experience of this group, Emmanuel Henderson has done pretty much nothing at receiver but could be a very good special teams players, and Ricky White III is another special teams standout.

With Jake Bobo’s season over, will the Seahawks roster five receivers or six? This could be two spots for the aforementioned four or everyone competing for the fifth and final spot. Foster has been the best actual wide receiver among this quartet, with Henderson maybe the most versatile on special teams.

Cornerback: Andre Fuller, Michael Dansby, and Trevon Diggs

I’ve left off Noah Igbinoghene if only because he’s a vested veteran and doesn’t have to go through waivers. There’s a chance that, in order to roster one of Fuller or Dansby, the Seahawks get creative and “cut” Igbinoghene and sign him after the practice squads have formed. Even still, from what I’ve seen of Noah I believe he has value on this roster.

Fuller has been exclusively a slot corner in preseason, which is interesting to see. Dansby had the more eye-popping camp and his speed and quickness to the ball-carrier is something that has stood out at times. They’ve had their respective ups and downs with their camp and preseason reps, but I think the Seahawks would like to have at least one of these guys on the roster.

Then there’s Trevon Diggs. He says he’s had a healthy offseason for the first time, but now it’s time to see him in live game reps. The former Dallas Cowboys All-Pro corner has had a tough go of it with injuries and lackluster performances over the previous three years, so this is his first chance to show there’s still something left in the tank.

There’s obvious uncertainty as far as the cornerback depth below Josh Jobe and Devon Witherspoon. Do the Seahawks address this with a higher volume of CBs than normal? Nehemiah Pritchett should be fine, as should Igbinoghene even if they do funny roster tricks with him, but it’s still up for grabs as far as remaining spots. There’s also, of course, the looming Terrion Arnold signing, although he’s set to be on the commissioner’s exempt list the minute the ink is dry.

Safety: A.J. Finley, D’Anthony Bell, and Maxen Hook

I’m leaving Rodney Thomas II off if only because I don’t know if he’s playing tonight. He had recent hand surgery and even then was spending a fair amount of time with the third-team in his lone preseason outing versus the Dallas Cowboys.

There are question marks about Nick Emmanwori’s Week 1 readiness and, of course, who will step up now that Bud Clark’s Week 1 readiness is for the 2027 season. Finley could be a great turnaround story after tearing his ACL last training camp, and he’s generally been the starting deep safety over the last two preseason outings.

Bell is really more an approximation of Emmanwori’s presence down in the box, and he’s someone Seattle could keep even temporarily as Emmanwori insurance. Hook has drawn some praise from Coach Mike Mcadonald and had a good game (particularly his tackling) versus the Tennessee Titans.

If Ty Okada, Julian Love, and Nick Emmanwori are roster locks, we might see the Seahawks keep a maximum of two additional safeties out of the aforementioned three (well, maybe four if we include Thomas).

I swear that the goal wasn’t to get to 12 players. It just sort of happened that way! You can name your bubble players in the comments section below!

Rothesay County Championship, Division One, Scarborough (day two)

Yorkshire 263: Wharton 70, Hill 62; Hull 3-57

Leicestershire 12-0

Yorkshire 1 pt, Leicestershire 3 pts

Match scorecard

George Hill posted an increasingly-aggressive 62 and Josh Hull completed a three-wicket haul as Yorkshire and Leicestershire played out a heavily weather-interrupted day of County Championship cricket at Scarborough.

Yorkshire advanced their first innings from 144-5 in their first innings to 263 all out at tea on day two, with Leicestershire only able to respond with 12-0 inside four overs.

There was no play beyond 16:35 BST because of rain, and in all only 24.5 overs were bowled.

The start of play was delayed until 14:10 BST because of a wet outfield following overnight rain.

When play got under way, with 64.1 overs remaining in the day, Leicestershire made the ideal start through their captain Ian Holland, who had James Wharton caught behind pushing forwards for 70.

Wharton failed to add to his overnight score, and Holland had struck with the second legitimate ball of the day - he had started with a no ball - to leave the score at 146-6.

Jonny Tattersall, meanwhile, took his fifth catch and became the first wicketkeeper to claim five dismissals in an innings both for and against Yorkshire. He did it wearing the White Rose against Surrey in 2022.

Hill and Dom Bess (21) shared 56 for the seventh wicket before the latter holed out against Hull, who then removed Ben Coad.

Running out of partners, Hill became more expansive en route to a 64-ball half-century, though he did watch from the other end as Ben Cliff struck three successive boundaries off Rehan Ahmed before being bowled for 22 off the next.

At 263-9 in the 76th over, Hill and Cliff had shared 53 in 29 balls.

Leicestershire's left-arm quick Hull, who finished with 3-57 from 12 overs, has got to the level Yorkshire all-rounder Hill is aiming for.

He played one Test for England, against Sri Lanka at The Kia Oval in September 2024.

Hill has represented the England Lions in the past year or so and is cementing his standing as one of the county game's brightest talents at the age of 25. His performances have come more with the ball than the bat, though this was his fourth fifty of the season.

The performances of Hull and Hill ensured supporters got to see a high-quality, albeit shortened, day of Championship cricket.

Whether or not we get enough time over the next two days for either side to force a positive result remains to be seen, but both counties will feel that chance remains for them, especially with obvious assistance on offer for the bowlers.

Report by ECB Reporters' Network, supported by Rothesay.

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An overwhelming majority of MLB players have been confronted by sports bettors over lost wagers tied to their performance, according to a survey conducted by The Athletic.

Key Takeaways

• One surveyed player predicted that 95% of MLB players would say they have been confronted by bettors.
  
  
• An angry sports bettor repeatedly requested $3,000 from a pitcher after losing parlays.
  
  
• Sportsbooks can suspend or ban accounts of individuals who engage in harassment.

The Athletic released separate survey results from anonymous MLB players in late June. Only 55% of competitors said they felt the league had devoted “sufficient attention and resources” to protecting games from the influence of gamblers with harmful intentions.

The new poll focused on direct confrontations between bettors and players, both online and in person. Eighty-one of the 100 surveyed players had experienced them.

“Is anyone going to answer no to this?” a National League pitcher asked. “Even if you’re not on social media, people find you.”

An AL hitter predicted that 95% of survey participants would answer “Yes,” while another AL player said constant sports betting messages prompted them to leave social media.

“If your social media is private,” an NL pitcher said, “They’ll find your family members.”

Messaging can also extend beyond popular social media platforms. Payment service Venmo allows individuals to send or request money with messages attached.

“You cost me my parlay,” one AL East pitcher recalled being told while being asked for $3,000. “Let’s do the right thing.” 

The pitcher told the bettor his worst day was “still better than your best day.”

The bettor sent another $3,000 request after the pitcher’s next outing, sending a message that read: “You did so poorly today, you don’t deserve to get paid.” The pitcher paid the $3,000 and told the bettor he made “way more than three grand in a day.”

Escalating interactions

The survey results show how sports betting can affect players even when they aren't directly involved in gambling.

MLB and its players' union explicitly prohibit betting-related harassment in their collective bargaining agreement. Major sportsbooks also have the power to suspend or ban individuals who are found guilty of abusing or harassing players, coaches, officials, or team personnel.

While some interactions may be relatively harmless, others can cross the line into threats and abuse.

“(I get threatened) all the time,” one NL outfielder said. “Like, ‘I hope you die.’ ‘I hope your family dies.’ ‘You ruined my parlay.’ All the time. Ever since betting became legal, it’s become ridiculous.”

“I would have a good outing,” an AL pitcher said. “Guys would kind of m*****f*** me for having a good outing because they have the over on a game. Or I would have a bad outing and they would say the same thing, that they had the under or whatever it may be. It’s pretty much every game.”

Another player described the emotional reactions that can follow a losing bet.

“Something that stands out is when someone is very clearly emotional from losing and will say, ‘F*** you. I hate you. I can’t pay my rent because of you,’” an NL pitcher said. “There will be times people do that and then a day or a few hours later, they’re like, ‘Hey, man. Sorry.’ It’s such an emotional, volatile situation.”

Fanatics takes action

Fanatics became the first U.S. sports betting operator to announce it would take sweeping action against abusive sports bettors.

The gaming, merchandise, and memorabilia company partnered with Integrity Compliance 360 to use its ProhiBet Bad Actor technology to identify customers who send threatening and abusive messages to players, coaches, and officials. Identified individuals could have their accounts suspended or banned, starting in the fall.

Other operators can also suspend or ban accounts when there is sufficient evidence of harassment.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PA – When a reporter reached out for an interview, Carsynn Meyer was with Kinley Rasmus.

"They were just playing ping-pong when I pulled her away," Carsynn’s mom, Tiffany, said.

Think about that visual for a moment. Meyer and Rasmus represent the fourth pair of girls who have played in the same Little League World Series.

They are two of 26 girls to ever play in this annual tournament for 12-year-olds in the mountains of Central Pennsylvania.

Rasmus, of Phenix City, Alabama, made LLWS history on the mound and at the plate over five games here. Meyer, of Henderson, Nevada, is poised to become the first girl to play in the event’s American championship when her team faces (Hamilton) Ohio on Saturday, Aug. 29.

“I get asked the question a lot: 'How does that impact your softball?' Little League CEO Patrick Wilson told USA TODAY Sports. "And are you promoting girls playing baseball? We want girls to choose."

Since the tournament's Aug. 19 start, little girls in the stands have made a choice, too. They have shown up wearing white bows emulating the one Rasmus wears, bringing signs that display "Fear the bow," a phrase that's also showing up on T-shirts.

Meyer, an outfielder, says she has conducted interview after interview (“I don't know the number, but a lot”) and been sought after by other girls for autographs and pictures.

“You get kind of swarmed,” Tiffany Meyer said.

Both have rocketed balls off their bats and stirred the imaginations of scores of others, who will have more confirmation of their dreams when they see Meyer on the field in front of a large Lamade Stadium crowd.

What comes next?

Perhaps the result of what can happen when more of us open our minds to possibility within youth sports, especially for girls in this traditionally, and sometimes stubbornly, male sport.

“She’s got a chance to be as big as Shohei Ohtani (for girls baseball),” Case Rasmus, manager of the Phenix City team said earlier in the tournament about his niece, Kinley. “She’s earned every bit of all that she gets. …

“The most perfect player you can ask for. She gets after it. She’s a dog. She’s tough as nails. And she wants to inspire anybody, everybody. She's an incredible human being."

'Girls with Game': Starting a new legacy

Rothesay County Championship, Division Two, OurCoop County Ground, Derby (day two)

Derbyshire 79-3: Jewell 32*; Higgins 2-18

Middlesex: Yet to bat

Derbyshire 0 pts, Middlesex 1 pt

Match scorecard

Ryan Higgins again delivered for Middlesex on another rain-affected day of the County Championship match against Derbyshire.

After the opening-day washout, Higgins exploited helpful conditions to take two wickets in the morning session before more rain meant only three more balls were bowled in the day.

The experienced all-rounder returned outstanding figures of 2-18 from 11 overs, six of them maidens, to leave Derbyshire on 79-3 with Caleb Jewell unbeaten on 32 off 83 balls.

A green pitch and cloud cover suggested conditions were good for bowling so it was no surprise Middlesex opted to put Derbyshire in.

There was some seam movement for Toby Roland-Jones and Higgins but it was a loose shot that provided the visitors with the breakthrough.

A change of bowling from the Racecourse End paid off with Harry Came launching into a big drive at Tom Helm's fourth delivery to be caught by Joe Cracknell diving to his right.

But that was their only success for 18 overs as Jewell, in his last game before returning to Australia, and Matthew Montgomery batted patiently until Higgins swung the session back towards Middlesex.

He had beaten the bat numerous times and seen a couple of lbw appeals rejected but he eventually got his reward for maintaining a consistent line and length when Montgomery was drawn into playing at one that shaped away to give Cracknell another diving catch.

The next ball was full which lured Wayne Madsen into a drive which he inside edged into his stumps, his second duck in consecutive innings.

Jewell and former Middlesex all-rounder Martin Andersson negotiated three overs before lunch but that proved to be the last of the action for the next four hours.

A thunderstorm towards the end of the interval wiped out the afternoon session but after sterling work from the groundstaff, the match was able to restart at 17:10 BST with 24 overs left in the day.

But as the players took the field, the weather was already closing in and Helm sent down only three balls to Jewell before the rain started and play was called off shortly afterwards.

With heavy rain forecast on Saturday, it is a blow to both teams who are still in with a chance of promotion in what is building up to be a thrilling climax to the Division Two season.

Report by ECB Reporters' Network, supported by Rothesay.

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The weekend has arrived, and so have our MLB expert picks!

See why the Covers team is calling for the Yankees to kick off a key weekend series with the Red Sox on a winning note this Friday, Aug. 28.

MLB expert picks for today

Pick	Odds
Dustin Saracini: TB ML	56%
Jon Metler: NYY ML	61%
Robert Criscola: MIA/WSH o8.5	49%

Prices courtesy of Polymarket.

Dustin Saracini' expert pick: Rays moneyline

Price: 56¢ at Polymarket

Casey Mize hasn't quite been the deadline acquisition the Padres hoped he'd be, rocking a 7.00 ERA since making his way from Detroit to San Diego. He allowed eight earned runs in his first start and is coming off an outing where he didn't make it out of the third inning, coughing up four earned runs on three home runs.

It doesn't get any easier against the Rays' offense, which owns a .340 xBA against him across 31 plate appearances. Their "big three" (Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda, and Junior Caminero) are a combined 6-for-10 against him in their career, so we might see another quick exit here.

I'd play this up to 59 cents at Polymarket.

• Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
• How to watch: Padres.TV, Rays.TV

Jon Metler's expert pick: Yankees moneyline

Price: 61¢ at Polymarket

The Red Sox thrive on putting pressure on opposing teams with their speed and aggressive baserunning, but Cam Schlittler's quick slide-step delivery should help neutralize Boston's running game. That, combined with his ability to tunnel his cutter off his four-seam fastball, sets up a difficult matchup for the Red Sox offense.

The bottom of Boston's lineup, including Mickey Gasper and Andruw Monasterio, could have a particularly tough time handling Schlittler's velocity. He can attack the top of the zone with his four-seamer before using his off-speed stuff to finish hitters with two strikes. If Schlittler can stay aggressive against the bottom of the order, he should be able to keep his pitch count under control and work deep into the game.

The Yankees are trading at 61 cents on Polymarket, but I make them closer to a 64-cent favorite, which is why I'm hitting the button.

• Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
• How to watch: Apple TV

Robert Criscola's expert pick: Marlins/Nationals Over 8.5

Price: 49¢ at Polymarket

Eury Perez labored through five innings and 100 pitches vs. the Nationals just last week (three hits and three walks allowed), and this potent Washington lineup (third by OPS) should have the upper hand seeing him again so quickly.

Meanwhile, it's been a rough go for Jackson Kent, registering an 8.03 ERA over his first three starts. The Marlins tagged him for three runs over 4 2/3 frames last Sunday.

Throw in two bullpens that rank in the bottom third by xFIP over the last two weeks, and you've got a recipe for an Over. Play to 52%.

• Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
• How to watch: Marlins.TV, Nationals.TV

More MLB best bets for today

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The Dodgers had a rough go of things in Atlanta, dropping all three games to the Braves, just like two weeks prior when the Milwaukee Brewers took three out of four games in Los Angeles. The rest of the schedule for the last 18 days has been the opposite, with the Dodgers collecting three sweeps over two last-place teams (Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies) and another losing team (Pittsburgh Pirates).

National League division leaders

1. Brewers 83-51
2. Dodgers 80-54 3 GB
3. Braves 79-55 4 GB

Against the other six teams among the top seven records in the National League (Brewers, Braves, Cubs, Phillies, Padres, Diamondbacks), the Dodgers are 23-25, and are 31-35 against MLB teams that are currently .500 or better.

“Honestly, I’m not too concerned about it. I know we’ve got a good ball club. Baseball is one of those things where how you’re playing, who you’re playing, and how they’re playing at a point in time,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Thursday in Atlanta. “I didn’t know that statistic, but I’ll still take our team against any of those winning teams. I think it just comes down to us, we’ve just got to play good, winning baseball.”

You can only play the teams in front of you, and the good news for the Dodgers is their schedule is pillow soft the rest of the way.

• August 28-30 at Tigers (currently 62-71)
• September 1-3 vs. Cardinals (67-68)
• September 4-6 vs. Nationals (63-73)
• September 7-9 vs. Reds (63-71)
• September 11-13 a Marlins (68-66)
• September 14-17 at Reds (63-71)
• September 18-20 vs. Giants (55-79)
• September 22-24 vs. Padres (72-62)
• September 25-27 at Giants (55-79)

Only the Marlins and Padres have winning records among the Dodgers remaining schedule, which amounts to only six out of 28 games. If the Cardinals have a winning home series this weekend against the Pirates, that will make nine out of 28 games against teams at .500 or better.

Meanwhile the Braves play 13 games against the Phillies, Rays, and Cubs in September, plus road series against the Marlins and .500-adjacent Astros. The Brewers have nine games against the Cubs and Phillies, plus a series with the Cardinals.

How the Dodgers play in October will determine how they do in the postseason. But they can at least increase their chances at one of the top two seeds in the National League postseason with a strong final four and a half weeks of the regular season.

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Toronto needs a huge bounce-back game after a double-digit loss last night, so we're riding with Dylan Cease as part of my Mariners vs. Blue Jays prediction. 

The Toronto Blue Jays walk into this one as -155 betting favorites at BET99, and will need a vintage performance from their Cy Young candidate as they're 3.5 games back of a Wild Card spot.

Let’s dive into my MLB picks for Friday, Aug. 28, and fatten that wallet before the weekend.

Mariners vs Blue Jays predictions

Mariners vs Blue Jays best bet: Dylan Cease Over 7.5 strikeouts (-135)

Not only has Dylan Cease gone over this number in four of his last six starts, but he's facing a Seattle Mariners team that has been punched out 1,159 times this season — good for eighth-most in baseball.

Cease is rocking the highest strikeout percentage of his career (an astronomical 36.1%) for the Toronto Blue Jays, and has dominated the Mariners throughout his career, rocking a .162 xBA while striking them out at a 30% clip across 82 at-bats — a sample size we can get behind. Look for him to continue his Cy Young campaign tonight.

If you're a Jays fan clinging to something to watch, Cease should be who you hold on to. I'd bet this up to -140.

COVERS INTEL: It's a year of career highs for Cease, who's .184 xBA, .274 xSLG, .255 xwOBA, and 2.68 xERA are all the best marks of his career. He'll need a big night tonight in order to shrink the gap between him and Cam Schlittler.

Mariners vs Blue Jays same-game parlay (SGP)

The answer is simple here: if the Jays want the playoffs, they'll have to go on a run, and Ernie Clement, who's had some success against Emerson Hancock (3-for-8, .750 OPS), will be at the center of that tonight. Look for Cease to continue his dominance over the Mariners, and for Toronto to squeak out a low-scoring affair.

Mariners vs Blue Jays SGP

• Dylan Cease Over 7.5 strikeouts
• Toronto Blue Jays moneyline
• Ernie Clement 2+ H/R/RBI

Mariners vs Blue Jays home run pick: George Springer (+475)

Can we squeeze the life force out of George Springer and get him to hit one more over the wall in back-to-back nights? He's 2-for-3 against Hancock with an extra-base hit, and coming off a "garbage time" homer just last night. He'll sit on the four-seamer that Hancock has given up nine homers on this season. His shoulder issue looks to be in the past; let's rock with the veteran down the stretch.

Mariners vs Blue Jays odds

• Moneyline: Seattle (+135) | Toronto (-155)
• Run line: Seattle +1.5 (-155) | Toronto -1.5 (+135)
• Over/Under: Over 7 (-115) | Under 7 (-105)

Mariners vs Blue Jays trend

The Blue Jays are 8-0 in their last eight after scoring two runs or less in their previous game. Find more MLB betting trends for Mariners vs. Blue Jays.

How to watch Mariners vs Blue Jays and game info

Mariners vs Blue Jays latest injuries

Mariners vs Blue Jays weather

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The San Francisco 49ers’ preseason finale didn’t have a touchdown scored. The special teams showed out, while the rookies continued to learn on the fly as the coaching staff evaluated the roster. Let’s get into the final winners and losers from August.

Winners

Eddy Pineiro

Kyle Shanahan said he was “pissed” at Pineiro for deferring to the second half in the preseason. The 49ers kicker followed that up with a touchback on the opening kick. You’re here to evaluate players covering kicks, so it was an 0-2 start for Pineiro.

That would be his last blunder.

Dineiro Pineiro made all six of his field goal attempts, including three from 50+ and a 59-yarder. The ball barely moved. Pineiro was making his kicks with room to spare.

Corliss Waitman

Waitman could end up being one of the better additions for the Niners this offseason, if his preseason performance is any indication. He had four punts with a net average of 46.5 yards. All four of his punts landed inside of the 20. Two of them were fair caught. The other two didn’t gain any yards. And Waitman’s long was 53 yards. Any time you can make your opponent go 80+ yards, you’ve done your job.

Jack Jones

Jones only played six snaps. He gave up a curl route for 14 yards. But he jumped a Brock Bowers route for a near interception. Those are the types of plays 49ers cornerbacks haven’t been in a position to make in several years. Jones also made an open-field tackle and was a willing run defender in limited action.

Jones is a different type of player than what the Niners have had at cornerback in some time. That might end up being a good thing.

Khalil Dinkins

This kid is worth investing in. On Dinkins’ second play, the team trusted him to stay in and pass protect. He ended up helping right tackle Brandon Parker on a defensive lineman. On the next play, Dinkins drove the safety about seven yards from where he started.

On the play where Jordan James ran for 17 yards, Dinkins worked to the linebacker and secured him, paving the way for James. Who knows if Dinkins ever turns into a viable pass catcher, but he is the exact type of prospect the team has drafted in the sixth round under this regime.

Dinkins is a keeper. The aggression he plays with is palpable. Dinkins blocks with the intent that George Kittle would admire. He should stick on the practice squad.

Losers

The defensive line

We did not see Sam Okuayinonu, Osa Odighizuwa, Nick Bosa, or Romello Height. So, the players who project to log starter snaps.

Alfred Collins, a second-round pick, played late into the third quarter. Shanahan cited that it was because of rust. The reality is that Collins has not been effective. It was the same as it’s been in each of the previous two games for Collins. He was moved easily against the run and did not win as a pass rusher.

I’d argue the best run play from a defensive tackle was by Keion White on third down. Outside of that, Collins, CJ West, Sebastian Davis, James Thompson Jr., and Bryson Eason all left a lot to be desired against the Raiders’ first- and second-team offensive line. They made Spencer Burford look good.

Nobody really won when it came to rushing the passer, either. Ogbo Okoronkwo had a couple of pressures, but no other defensive lineman can say the same.

West won once as a pass rusher. So did Thompson Jr. and Valdez. But that does it as far as wins are concerned. It was an uninspiring performance from a group that had given us hope during the past couple of weeks. Maybe this is who they are, and it’s a sign the 49ers need to add bodies who are not on the roster in an effort to find somebody who can contribute while Mykel Williams is out.

The defensive line depth, unsurprisingly, is concerning.

Carver Willis

Willis may win the left guard job because nobody else around him can stay healthy. But it won’t be because of the product he put out in the preseason after Week 1. Willis is inconsistent, as you’d expect from a rookie.

He played the entire first half. In those 29 snaps, it’s problematic if Willis is going against a defensive tackle with length. He still looks unsure of who to block at times when on the move. But I think his ability to strain blocks, aka hold his ground when he’s head up against somebody 1-on-1, could be an issue.

I think Willis will end up being a good player, but it’s obvious he needs some time. Can the 49ers afford to give him that time?