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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.

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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.

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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?

Today’s roster move: Here

Friday notes…

• THE FRIENDLY CONFINES: The Cubs are only 30-29 in day games this season, but are 20-15 in sunshine at home. They are 10-11 overall on Friday, including just 4-6 at home, where they finished 10-4 last season. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• THE BATS WENT SILENT: After having outscored the Mariners and Diamondbacks, 30-0, over a span of 20 innings from Sunday through Tuesday, the Cubs now have been outscored, 7-0, in the last 12 innings. They are 22-5 when they have scored first in games at home. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• YOU GOTTA HIT TO WIN: The Cubs have lost 29 games in which they made at least seven hits and also have lost 29 in which they made no more than six. They have won 65 games with at least seven vs. just 11 wins with six or fewer. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: The Cubs go to the eighth inning trailing the Phillies 4-1. They score five runs in that inning, including a grand slam by Aramis Ramirez, and win the game 6-4. It happened 18 years ago today, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008.

Cubs lineup:

Reds lineup:

David Peterson, LHP vs. Rhett Lowder, RHP

David Peterson, last eight starts: 2.20 ERA, 1.146 WHIP, only four home runs allowed in 41 innings — that’s since the meltdown he had against the Cardinals in early July.

He has faced the Reds twice this year and, well, yikes, it has not gone well: 10.13 ERA, 2.250 WHIP in nine innings, one start, one relief appearance. Current Reds are batting .376 (32-for-85) against him. So… hope the sinker is working well for him today.

Rhett Lowder got off to a good start this year, then missed a month from early May to early June with a shoulder issue. Since his return: 4.98 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, 13 home runs allowed in 68.2 innings. He’s faced the Cubs twice this year, one start (the last one before the IL stint) and one relief appearance. In those outings he has allowed just one hit in five innings — but six walks. The hit was a home run by Michael Conforto.

Here is the weather forecast for the area around Wrigley Field.

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network.

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Reds site Red Reporter. If you do go there to interact with Reds fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.

You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.

The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.

You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Dean Connors and Ty Simpson led the Los Angeles Rams to a victory in the team’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night.

The Rams will kickoff their regular season journey in just two weeks. Before we turn the corner, let’s assess who performed well and who didn’t in the final exhibition game.

These are the grades and data from Pro Football Focus (PFF):

Top five grades on offense

1 – Dean Connors, RB: 77.4

Connors rushed 18 times for 69 yards and added three receptions for 24 yards and a score through the air. The rookie UDFA was LA’s highest-graded receiver on Thursday night. He posted his third receiving touchdown of the preseason.

More impressive is the fact that 60 of his rushing yards came after contact (88%). Connors forced five missed tackles and rushed for eight first downs.

Will the rookie make the roster? Who knows? He at least made a very compelling case to all the teams across teh NFL.

2 – AJ Arcuri, LT: 66.1

Struggling in pass blocking (47.6) with two pressures allowed and a penalty, Arcuri’s best work came in the run game with a grade of 80.7. He played all 74 snaps, which could be a troubling sign ahead of roster cutdowns. The Rams should remain mindful of Alaric Jackson’s possible suspension, though Arcuri playing the full game may be a sign that the team isn’t that worried.

3 – Ty Simpson, QB: 65.7

Worth noting—Simpson’s grade after the first half was in the 75 range. Reserve quarterback Matthew Caldwell was injured and Simpson had to step in for an emergency situation. He did very little more than handing the ball off each time in order to prevent injury. This may have lowered his overall PFF grade from the first half mark.

The most promising outcome from Thursday night was that Simpson posted his first big-time throw of the preseason on a scrambling touchdown to Brennan Presley. The rookie’s average depth of target rose to 5.9 after being sub-5 through two games.

Prior to the remaining preseason games, Simpson has attempted the most passes. He’s completed an impressive 78.3% of his throws. After adjusting for drops and throwaways, his adjusted completion rate climbs to 82.8%. He isn’t being asked to throw the ball very far downfield; however, he’s executing the plays in front of him very well. It’s an encouraging sign.

4 – CJ Daniels, WR: 65.6

Daniels added another five receptions on six targets for 42 yards on Thursday night. This brings his preseason total to 15 catches on 24 targets for 128 yards. Before this weekend’s games, Daniels leads all rookie receivers in targets by a 10(!).

5 – Mark Redman, TE: 62.5

Rookie Max Klare played over half the game with 41 snaps out of the total 74. He received a few targets early.

The attention then turned to Redman, who caught all three of his targets for 16 yards. His best work came as a blocker where he earned marks of 72.9 in pass protection (two snaps) and 66.6 in run blocking (11 snaps). His run blocking grade ranked third on the team behind Arcuri and Tyler Scott.

Other notes on offense

After standing out in a very positive way through two games, rookie UDFA Austin Blake did not perform well against the other LA team. Blaske has played four of five spots on the offensive line. His best performance has come at left tackle. After moving to RG against the Chargers, he posted a grade of 46.0.

Top five grades on defense

There seem to be fewer roster spots up for grabs on the defensive side of the ball. I’m going to keep it shorter for this group because none of them project well in terms of the final 53-man roster.

1 – Darryl Peterson, EDGE: 93.2

Peterson posted an elite pass rushing grade of 93.8 with three pressures on 23 rushes. He earned two sacks and helped closeout the game while the Chargers were driving for the would-be game-winning score.

2 – Jaxson Moi, DT: 73.3

Moi fared well from a grading perspective despite missing one of two tackle attempts. His best contribution came as a pass rusher where he tallied four pressures.

3 – Alex Johnson, DB: 69.7

Johnson played 17 snaps with 10 coming in coverage. He was not targeted, which is a sign he was tight with his assigned receivers.

4 – Eli Neal, LB: 68.0

Neal made three tackles plus an assist without a miss. He was on the field for 21 plays with 14 coming in coverage.

5 – Steven Gilmore, CB: 66.0

The Rams signed Gilmore this week and he was their best corner on Thursday night through 10 reps. He was not targeted in coverage.

Other notes on defense

Wesley Bailey started the game but played only two snaps after the defense recovered a fumble by Justin Herbert.
Standout safety Nick Andersen also started and played just eight snaps. Are the Rams telling us they’d like to keep both players around, whether on the 53-man roster or practice squad?

Thursday afternoon, the New York Islanders announced that Bryan Marshall had been named the team's Director of Player Performance.

Marshall will oversee all levels of the organization's strength and conditioning program.

Additionally, the Islanders announced that Andrew Kacsor has been named Strength and Conditioning Coach and will work alongside current Strength and Conditioning Coach, Joe Erdos.

Marshall, who is the founder and program director of Milo Athletics, has worked with Matthew Schaefer, Calgary Flames star Nazem Kadri, New York Rangers forward Will Cuyle, among many other NHLers.

Both Kacsor and Marshall have deep connections with Bo Horvat.

Marshall spent 13 years with Canucks, while Kacsor has served as head performance coach at Maskoka Hockey.

Horvat was with Canucks, as you know, and also trains in Maskoka. https://t.co/RyOVEYyHzO

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) August 27, 2026

In a statement released to the public, Islanders' General Manager Mathieu Darche praised the hires.

"Bryan and Andrew are outstanding additions to our performance staff," Darche said. "Bryan's track record of developing elite athletes at every level of the player’s development process, combined with Andrew's training and approach to athlete development, gives us real depth in this department. Alongside Joe Erdos, they'll form a group we're confident will not only prepare our players to be strong and ready to compete over the course of a season but allow them to have great careers."