Smyly, Cubs Take Field of Dreams Game; Marlins Snap Phillies' Streak

The Chicago Cubs took the second annual Field of Dreams Game in Iowa on Thursday night, doubling up their NL Central Division rival Cincinnati Reds, 4-2. Drew Smyly starred on the mound, striking out nine batters over five shutout innings for his fifth win. The Cubs compiled 10 hits in front of the cornstalks, becoming the second straight Chicago team to get a win there. The White Sox walked off against the Yankees on Tim Anderson's home run last season. Nick Madrigal had three hits and two steals, while Ian Happ had a key RBI double. The Cubs got off to a fast start in front of a sellout crowd of 7,823 fans. Smyly is now 3-1 with a 2.49 ERA over his past four starts, and Roman Wick came on to get his seventh save. The Miami Marlins put an end to the Philadelphia Phillies' win streak at seven games with a 3-0 shutout on the road Thursday afternoon. The Phillies did lose slugger Kyle Schwarber to a calf injury, which has bothered him over the past few weeks.  Schwarber, who leads the National League with 34 home runs, could miss this weekend's series against the New York Mets. The injury was to his right calf, as he was pulled after he walked with two outs in the fifth inning. The Phillies finished their homestand at 6-1, as well as 12-2 overall in their past 14 games, hanging on to the second Wild Card spot. ' Edward Cabrera pitched in to the sixth inning, as the Phillies were shut out at home for the first time since May 19th. Other key scores saw Oscar Gonzalez get the go-ahead RBI in extras to lift the Cleveland Guardians past the Detroit Tigers, 4-3. Zack Greinke pitched in to the seventh inning in the Kansas City Royals' 5-3 home win against the Chicago White Sox. Eric Hosmer had the go-ahead RBI double to send the Boston Red Sox past the Baltimore Orioles, 4-3. The Colorado Rockies used a six-run seventh inning to rally past the St. Louis Cardinals, 8-6.  And Framber Valdez threw seven shutout innings as the Houston Astros topped the Texas Rangers, 7-3.

Braves Place Max Fried on Concussion IL

The Atlanta Braves made a move to their starting rotation, placing pitcher Max Fried on the seven-day concussion injured list on Thursday. The news comes days after he hit his head on the ground while throwing the ball during a play at Citi Field against the New York Mets. Fried remained in the game after the incident in the third inning, and allowed four runs on six hits over six innings. He took the loss on that night thanks to the marvelous effort of Max Scherzer for the Mets. Fried has a 2.60 ERA and a 10-4 record at the top of the Braves' rotation. The Braves did recall pitcher Jay Jackson from Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Giants Beat Pats on Late FG in Preseason Opener

The New York Giants got their starting core some action in their preseason opener on Thursday, which led to a thrilling win over the New England Patriots.  Graham Gano hit the game-winning 24-yard field goal as time expired for a 23-21 road win. The late kick gave Giants coach Brian Daboll his first win as a head coach. Quarterback Daniel Jones completed 6-of-10 passes for 69 yards on the night. Saquon Barkley also got action with four carries for 13 yards, as well as one catch for 13 yards. Antonio Williams ran for a touchdown, while Gano finished with three field goals. Brian Hoyer and Bailey Zappe both threw a touchdown pass for the Patriots, as Mac Jones and the starters took the night off. The only other preseason game saw the Baltimore Ravens top the Tennessee Titans, 23-10 without their starters for their 21st straight preseason win.

Patriots' James White Retires From The NFL

New England Patriots running back James White announced that he is retiring from the National Football League on Thursday.  The three-time Super Bowl champion makes this decision after eight NFL seasons. White re-signed with the Patriots on a two-year deal this off-season, but is currently on the physically unable to perform list. He suffered a hip injury last September, which required surgery and ended his season, and he is still recovering. The tailback released a statement on his Instagram account to reveal the news. The 30-year-old spent his entire career with the Patriots, who drafted him in the fourth round out of Wisconsin in 2014. White holds three Super Bowl records from Super Bowl LI with 14 receptions, 20 points scored, and three touchdowns. The four-time team captain set career highs and franchised records by a running back for 87 catches for 751 yards in 2018. Over his career, he compiled 381 catches for 3,278 yards and 25 touchdowns in the regular season, along with 59 catches for 506 yards and three touchdowns in the playoffs.

Jets Agree to Deal With Duane Brown

The New York Jets are dealing with the tough loss of right tackle Mekhi Becton, so to help with that, they agreed to a two-year deal with offensive tackle Duane Brown. The five-time Pro Bowler visited with the Jets this past weekend at their Green & White scrimmage at MetLife Stadium. According to Jets head coach Robert Saleh, the Jets were targeting Brown as a "bonus" before the Becton injury. The 36-year-old has 203 career starts, all of which have been at left tackle. He spent the past two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and did not miss a game. That led to him making the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement at the end of the year. The big man finished 26th among offensive tackles in pass block win rate. Brown was arrested last month at a Los Angeles International Airport for allegedly carrying a concealed weapon.

Bears' N'Keal Harry Out Indefinitely Following Surgery

The Chicago Bears got official word on the injury to wide receiver N'Keal Harry, as the young star has been ruled out indefinitely following ankle surgery. The wideout had a procedure done to his left ankle, but the official timetable for his return is unknown. The injury occurred in the first place of team drills last Saturday, as his ankle got wrapped up with linebacker Nicholas Morrow. The former first-round draft pick in 2019 by the New England Patriots is entering his first season with the Bears. He joins the likes of Bryon Pringle and Velus Jones Jr. on the injury list for their wide receivers. They were without 21 players at practice for a second straight day and will open the preseason on Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

NBA to Retire Bill Russell's No. 6 Around Entire League

The number 6 will never be worn around the NBA ever again after the league officially retired the jersey number on Friday in honor of the late great Bill Russell. Russell becomes the first player in NBA history to have his jersey retired for the entire league. This news comes 11 days after the legend passed away. The likes of LeBron James, Alex Caruso, Kristaps Porzingis, Montrezl Harrell, and Lou Williams wore that number last season. This rule will go in to effect for the 2022-2023 season.

Michigan State Gives Tom Izzo Five-Year Deal

To the surprise of no one, the Michigan State basketball program has no intentions of moving on from head coach Tom Izzo, showing that on Thursday with a new five-year contract. The deal is worth $31 million, as it will pay him $6.2 million per season. This gives the legendary coach about a $2 million raise per year. Izzo was inducted in to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016, won a National Championship in 2000, and has reached eight Final Fours with the Spartans. The 67-year-old led Michigan State to a 24th straight NCAA Tournament berth last season, while also compiling 10 Big Ten regular season titles. His teams went on to win six conference tournaments, as he has skyrocketed the program even more after taking over for Jud Heathcote in the 1995-1996 season.

Golden Knights' Robin Lehner to Miss 2022-2023 Season

The Las Vegas Golden Knights will be shorthanded between the pipes next season, as goaltender Robin Lehner will miss the entire 2022-2023 campaign following hip surgery. Lehner's official recovery timeline is still to be determined, and it is unclear when the surgery will take place. The 31-year-old took over as the Golden Knights' starting goalie after they traded Marc Andre Fleury to the Chicago Blackhawks in July 2021. The Knighst gave Lehner a five-year contract extension after acquiring him from the Blackhawks in 2020. Over 44 games last season, he had a 23-17-2 record with a .907 save percentage and a 2.83 goals-against-average. With Lehner down, the likes of Laurent Brossoit and Logan Thompson will step up next year.

Dodgers Extend Streak to 10 Straight; Mariners Take Series From Yankees

The Los Angeles Dodgers are on yet another long winning streak, moving to 10 straight games with an 8-5 home win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night. Chris Taylor had the go-ahead home run in the sixth inning, his first home run since early June. Joey Gallo also added his first home run with the Dodgers, which was a three-run shot in the seventh. It is the first time since July 2017 that the Dodgers have a double digit winning streak.  This was also their third straight series sweep and 14th of the season. Max Muncy also went deep for the Dodgers, who now have a 16-game lead on the Padres in the NL West. The Twins have now fallen out of first place in the AL Central, despite home runs from Jorge Polanco and Gary Sanchez, with the Guardians taking over the top spot. The Seattle Mariners have given their fans some exciting, playoff-caliber baseball this week, taking two of three from the New York Yankees with a 4-3 win on Wednesday. Carlos Santana had the game-winning home run in the seventh inning, which snapped an 0-for-17 slump. The Mariners scored three times in the seventh, taking a series from the Yankees for a second straight week. Aaron Judge did hit his major-league leading 45th home run of the season in the eight inning. The first-place Yankees have dropped eight of their past 10 games, but still hold a double digit lead on the Toronto Blue Jays. The Mariners have not lost a series to a team other than the Houston Astros since mid-June, as they are 10-10 since the All-Star break. The M's also improved to 27-14 in one-run games as they overcame a go-ahead home run from Kyle Higashioka.  ​Other key score saw Willy Adames hit the walk-off RBI single in the Milwaukee Brewers' 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Prospect Vaughn Grissom went deep as the Atlanta Braves doubled-up the Boston Red Sox, 8-4. The New York Mets won their sixth straight with a 10-2 rout of the Cincinnati Reds J.T. Realmuto had the go-ahead RBI single as the Philadelphia Phillies won their seventh straight, 4-3, against the Miami Marlins. Albert Pujols and Nolan Arenado went deep as the St. Louis Cardinals held off the Colorado Rockies, 9-5. The Cleveland Guardians extended their AL Central lead with a 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers. And Austin Nolan and Brandon Drury had long balls in the San Diego Padres' 13-7 win over the San Francisco Giants.

Tigers Fire Vice President, General Manager Al Avila

The Detroit Tigers are not nearly living up to the competitive expectations they had for this season, which led to them firing general manager and vice president Al Avila on Wednesday. The 64-year-old had spent over 20 years with the Tigers organization, and had the title of GM and VP for the past seven seasons. He was the only GM of Latin American descent in MLB, and one of just four people of color in that position. The Tigers finished in last place of the AL Central four times during his run, and has a 43-68 record this season, along with a -122 run differential, both of which are the third-worst in the majors. The team spent $140 million on shortstop Javier Baez and $77 million on pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez, both of which have been busts for different reasons. They were supposed to contend for the Postseason for the first time since a run of four straight playoff seasons that ended in 2014. Instead, Baez has not nearly lived up to his expectations, Rodriguez is not with the team, Spencer Torkelson was sent to the minors, and most of their young arms are sidelined. So for the Tigers, it's time to start over, but how far back to they have to start is going to be the interesting outcome.​

Wake Forest QB Sam Hartman Out Indefinitely

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are starting to prepare for life without quarterback Sam Hartman, who has been ruled out indefinitely with a non-football-related medical condition. The program revealed that Hartman will miss "an extended period of time," but he is expected to return this season. Head coach Dave Clawson said that Hartman underwent a medical procedure on Tuesday night after seeking medical attention during a workout earlier that day. The school has not specified the nature of this situation, citing privacy laws. The QB accounted for 50 touchdowns last season for Wake Forest and was at practice on Wednesday, addressing the team afterward. He led the Demon Deacons to an Atlantic Division title last season and a Gator Bowl win, becoming one of 16 Power 5 QBs with a 50-touchdown season.

Browns to Start Deshaun Watson at QB in Preseason Opener

The Cleveland Browns will be without quarterback Deshaun Watson for at least the first six games, if not longer, but that is not stopping them from giving him the start in the preseason opener. The Browns will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars to kick off their preseason Friday night. The team is waiting to see whether he will be suspended longer than the six games that judge Sue L. Robinson appointed to him last week. The league appealed Robinson's ruling on August 3rd, hoping for an indefinite suspension for the 2022 season. Nobody involves knows when the decision from the appeal will come through.​ This news comes after there were over 20 accusations of sexual misconduct against him. The punishment was compared to 32 previous suspensions for the same issue, as 21 of those saw the player get six games.

Browns WR Jakeem Grant Done For Season With Torn ACL

The Cleveland Browns confirmed that wide receiver Jakeem Grant Sr. has suffered a torn Achilles and will miss the entire 2022 season. The team placed him on injured reserve on Wednesday, this after being carted off the field during Tuesday's practice. The Browns gave Grant a three-year deal this past off-season and a kick and punt returner. Although, Grant ended up standing out as a wide receiver during training camp. The former Pro Bowl returner with the Chicago Bears has four punt returns and two kick returns for touchdowns. With him now sidelined, Demetric Felton Jr. is set to return punts and kicks.

Former NFL RB Frank Gore Facing Simple Assault Charge

Former NFL running back Frank Gore is reportedly facing a simple assault charge for an alleged incident of domestic violence in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Officers reportedly responded to a call at the Tropicana Atlantic City on July 31st, finding a 28-year-old woman speaking with hotel security. No official complaint was filed at the time and the woman did not show signs of injury. All of this came from a news release on Tuesday from the Atlantic City Police Department. A police investigation afterward is what resulted in the simple assault charge, which means that bodily injury was caused or threatened. The 39-year-old Gore was issued a police summons to answer the charge on a future date. A TMZ report stated that Gore grabbed the woman by the hair and began "violently dragging her nude person" in the hallway on the 59th floor.

Mariners Walk Off in Marathon Over Yankees; Dodgers Win Ninth Straight

The Seattle Mariners walked off for a wild, playoff-style win over the New York Yankees Tuesday night, 1-0, in 13 innings. Luis Torrens had the walk-off RBI single to end a game that lasted over four hours. Gerrit Cole and Luis Castillo both dominated on the mound in a rematch of last week's pitching matchup.  It was the first major league game to reach the 13th inning scoreless since the Tampa Bay Rays and Detroit Tigers on August 17th, 2019.  Jonathan Loaisiga took the tough loss, his third, after the M's loaded the bases against him. Cole allowed just three hits over eight innings while striking out seven. Castillo became the first Mariners pitcher to go eight innings in what was his third start against the Yankees in the past month. The Los Angeles Dodgers rolled their win streak to nine straight games with a 10-3 rout of the Minnesota Twins. Max Muncy got going with a long ball, while Trea Turner had two doubles and scored three times. Cody Bellinger added a two-run double in a battle of first place teams. The Dodgers moved to a major league leading 76-33 on the season, and are now 31-5 since June 29th. They matched a season high with eight doubles on the season, and welcomed back Justin Turner from the injured list. Turner had two hits and an RBI after recovering from an abdominal strain. Byron Buxton went deep for the Twins, while Joe Ryan suffered his fifth loss after giving up a run in each of the first four innings, and six of them on the night.​ Other key scores saw Manny Machado clobbered a walk-off three-run shot to send the San Diego Padres past the San Francisco Giants, 7-4. C.J. Cron drove in five runs as the Colorado Rockies snapped the St. Louis Cardinals' seven-game winning streak with a 16-5 blowout. Andrew McCutchen and Kolten Wong each drove in two runs as the Milwaukee Brewers topped the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-3. Rougned Odor's eighth-inning homer rallied the Baltimore Orioles past the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-5. Austin Riley had the go-ahead two-run single to lift the Atlanta Braves past the Boston Red Sox in extras, 9-7. Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil each homered with two RBIs to lead the New York Mets over the Cincinnati Reds, 6-2. J.T. Realmuto homered, doubled, and had two RBIs to lead the Philadelphia Phillies over the Miami Marlins, 4-1. Aledmys Diaz had a grand slam to lead the Houston Astros' 7-5 home win against the Texas Rangers. Shane Bieber struck out eight over seven shutout innings as the Cleveland Guardians beat the Detroit Tigers, 5-2. And the Chicago White Sox split a doubleheader with the Kansas City Royals.

Red Sox's Chris Sale Done For Season With Broken Wrist

The Boston Red Sox are planning to be without pitcher Chris Sale for the remainder of the season after he suffered a broken wrist in a bike accident. Sale will underwent season-ending surgery on Monday for his right wrist. The 33-year-old pitched in just 5.2 innings this year, missing most of this season with a broken ribcage suffered in a workout. He return on July 12th, but has since been out with a fractured pinky on his throwing hand after getting hit with a line drive. The seven-time All-Star is in the third year of a five-year, $145 million contract, but he has just 48.1 innings thrown in that year. He can opt out of the final two years and $55 million, but is expected to be ready for the Spring Training 2023.

White Sox Place Tim Anderson on IL

The Chicago White Sox just got shortstop Tim Anderson a shorter suspension, but now he is sitting out with an injury, as the team has placed him on the 10-day injured list. Anderson suffered a sagittal band tear on the middle finger of his left hand. The injury occurred during an at-bat last Saturday against the Texas Rangers, and he could miss up to six weeks. The shortstop will undergo surgery on the finger Thursday in Chicago. The 29-year-old just got his suspension bumped from three games to two and was expected to come back on Tuesday. Since 2020, the White Sox are 38-42 without Anderson in the lineup and 145-106 when he does play.​ The star is hitting .301 this season with six home runs and 25 RBIs over 79 games this season.

Blue Jays Add Jackie Bradley Jr.

The Toronto Blue Jays are keeping outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. in the AL East, signing the former Boston Red Sox player to a one-year deal on Tuesday. The deal comes just five days after the Red Sox parted ways with him.​ The 32-year-old was in his second stint with the Red Sox in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers in December 2021. Over 92 games this season, he hit just .210 with three home runs and 29 RBIs.  Bradley is a career .228 hitter and was making $9.5 million this season. His first run with the Red Sox went from 2013 to 2020, where he was an All-Star, an ALCS MVP, and had 62 outfield assists over 769 starts.

Reds' Mike Moustakas Placed on IL

The Cincinnati Reds placed one of their few veterans left in Mike Moustaks on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a calf strain. The injury occurred during Monday night's loss to the New York Mets at Citi Field.  Moustakas and Jonathan India both left Monday's game with what was called soft tissue issues. This is the fourth time this season that he has been placed on the injured list. He was in the middle of a 1-for-18 slump, with that one hit coming in last night's game. Over the past month, he has a .217 average over 18 games. Taking his place on the roster is infielder Alejo Lopez from Triple-A Louisville.

Nationals Claim Veteran Pitcher Jake McGee

The Washington Nationals are adding a veteran presence to their bullpen, claiming pitcher Jake McGee off waivers on Tuesday. This news comes two days after the Milwaukee Brewers designated him for assignment.  The 36-year-old is in the middle of his 13th MLB season, previously spending time with the Rays, Rockies, Dodgers, Giants, and Brewers. He signed a two-year deal with the Giants ahead of the 2021 season, but that deal ended earlier this season. The first year went great, as he finished with a 2.72 ERA over 59.2 innings in 2021. Although, he has been DFA'd twice this season after posting a 7.00 ERA between his two teams in 2022.

Linebacker Roquan Smith Requests Trade From Bears

Linebacker Roquan Smith wants to move on from the Chicago Bears and he let that be known on Tuesday in a written statement, officially requesting a trade. This news comes after contract negotiations between the two sides reached an impasse. Smith added in his statement that the "new front office regime doesn't value me here." The two sides have been trying to work out a deal since April.  The Bears drafted Smith eighth overall in 2018, and he has since totaled 14 sacks while getting at least 101 tackles and an interception in each season. The 25-year-old thought he would be able to work out a deal when asked in April, but those talks have gone sideways since.

Jets' Mekhi Becton Done For Season With Knee Injury

It is heartbreaking when you hear of season-ending injuries before the first preseason game, but the New York Jets are dealing with that as right offensive tackle is done for the season with a knee injury. Jets head coach Robert Saleh announced the news on Tuesday, as Becton has a chip fracture in his right kneecap. The 23-year-old was selected 11th overall by the Jets in the 2020 NFL Draft. Becton is dealing with his second knee injury in the past 11 months, and is seeking other medical options. The Jets have him under contract for 2023 for a fully guaranteed $3.1 million, which is the final year of his rookie deal. The young force has appeared in 35 of a possible 50 games, missing 15 due to injuries. The team will have an option for the fifth year of his contract in 2024.

Rams Coach Sean McVay Signs Extension

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay announced himself on Tuesday that he signed a contract extension during the off-season. The announcement came during an interview, as he admitted to saying yes to the deal in July. He did not disclose the terms or length of that extension. This comes right after the Rams got their first Super Bowl win under McVay, led by Matt Stafford over the Cincinnati Bengals last February. That was the second Super Bowl appearance since McVay took over in 2017. Over his five seasons with the team, McVay has a record of 55-26, and was the youngest coach in NFL history at the time of his hiring.

Former NFL RB Marshawn Lynch Arrested on Suspicion of DUI

Former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch was recently arrested in Las Vegas on suspicion of driving impaired, according to the police. The 36-year-old was stopped around 7:30am, where it was decided he was impaired and he was then detained. He was booked in Las Vegas City Jail on a DUI charge. It was not disclosed whether or not he was tested for driving impaired. Lynch spent most of his 12-year NFL career with the Seattle Seahawks.

Kings Agree to One-Year Deal With Quinn Cook

The Sacramento Kings have agreed to terms with Quinn Cook on a one-year contract, which was agreed upon Monday night and announced Tuesday morning. Cook is a two-time NBA Champion, but played in the G League Stockton Kings last season. He worked out for Sacramento in Las Vegas last July during the Summer League. The 29-year-old has averaged 6.4 points and 1.6 assists over 186 NBA games. He last played in the league with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2020-2021 season.

Hurricanes Lose Pacioretty to Surgery, Re-Sign Necas

The Carolina Hurricanes got some bad news and some good news on Tuesday, starting with recent acquisition Max Pacioretty going down with a torn Achilles tendon. Pacioretty will undergo surgery for the injury and is expected to be sidelined for six months. The Hurricanes acquired the 33-year-old from the Las Vegas Golden Knights in July. Pacioretty has reached 30 goals in a season six separate times, and was expected to play a big role for the Eastern Conference favorites. How and when this injury occurred is still unknown. The good news of the Tuesday is that they were able to re-sign forward Martin Necas to a two-year contract. Necas' deal is worth $6 million, as he will make $2.5 million next season and then $3.5 million for the 2023-2024 campaign. The 23-year-old was a first-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft and most recently posted 14 goals and 26 assists last season. Over 203 career NHL games, the restricted free agent has compiled 45 goals.

Yankees Snap Skid Against Mariners; Orioles Power Past Blue Jays

The New York Yankees put an end to their slide on Monday night, powering their way past the Seattle Mariners, 9-4, on the road. Aaron Judge hit his 44th home run of the season in the ninth, his first home run in nearly a week Josh Donaldson also went deep and drove home three runs, while Andrew Benintendi doubled home two. Both Donaldson and Benintendi had two doubles on the night. Mariners starter Logan Gilbert was rocked for seven runs on 10 hits, including six extra-base hits. Jameson Taillon lasted seven innings, working in and out of trouble, to earn his 11th win in 13 decisions. The Yankees held a team meeting after their fifth straight loss and sweep in St. Louis over the weekend, and clearly it kicked his team back in to gear. The Baltimore Orioles are keeping their Wild Card hopes alive in serious fashion, doing so on Monday night with a powerful 7-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. The Orioles hit four home runs on the night, including a three-run shot from Ramon Urias to get the party started in the first. Anthony Santander, Ryan Mountcastle, and Austin Hays also went deep on this night. This was the first of 15 meetings between these two teams the rest of the season, and the Orioles entered the game just two games out of a Postseason spot. Jordan Lyles got his ninth win despite allowing a Cavan Biggio homer in the third. Matt Chapman also homered for the Blue Jays in the sixth, as multiple comeback attempts were thwarted.  Yusei Kikuchi got his sixth loss after allowing five runs on six hits, but Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did extend his hitting streak to 19 games. Other key scores saw Chris Bassitt go eight innings of one-run baseball in the New York Mets' 5-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds. And Alex Wood pitched in to the seventh as the San Francisco Giants shut out the San Diego Padres, 1-0.

Yankees' Matt Carpenter Fractures Foot

The New York Yankees have been the best comeback spot for Matt Carpenter, but that was halted on Monday night when the utility player broke his left foot in Seattle. The injury occurred when he fouled the ball off of his left foot in the first inning. He finished the at-bat against Logan Gilbert, but then exited the game next half inning. The 36-year-old was seen wearing a protective boot after the game and is hopeful to only miss a month. Tim LoCastro replaced him as the designated hitter on Monday. Carpenter is hitting .305 with 15 home runs and 37 RBIs over 128 at-bats with the Yankees, reaching base in 27 of his 35 starts.

Cubs Claim Franmil Reyes Off Waivers

The Chicago Cubs added some serious potential power to their roster on Monday, claiming outfielder Franmil Reyes off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians. This news comes two days after the Guardians waived the slugger. The 27-year-old had already been optioned to Triple-A Columbus earlier this week. Reyes is hitting just .213 this season with nine home runs and 104 strikeouts over 263 at-bats. This is a guy that hit 37 home runs between Cleveland and the San Diego Padres in the 2019 season. He went on to add 30 home runs and 85 RBIs in the 2021 campaign.​

Jason Heyward Won't Return to Cubs in 2023

The relationship between the Chicago Cubs and Jason Heyward is set to come to an end, as it was revealed on Monday that the outfielder will not return to the team in 2023. Team president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer confirmed this news on Monday. The 32-year-old has been on the injured list since late June with a knee injury and may not play again this season. The Cubs signed him to an eight-year, $184 million contract before the 2016 season and then went on to win the World Series that year. Heyward rallied that World Series win in an extra-inning, Game 7 victory over Cleveland following a rain delay. Over his seven years with the Cubs, he hit .245 with 62 home runs and 289 RBIs. Since entering the league with the Atlanta Braves in the 2010 season, he is a .257 hitter with 159 home runs.

Ravens Sign Justin Tucker to Four-Year Extension

The Baltimore Ravens have absolutely no plans of letting veteran kicker Justin Tucker kick the ball anywhere else in the league, as they signed him to a four-year extension on Monday. Tucker's contract is worth $24 million, paying him $6 million per season, which is $1 million per season more than any other kicker. This news comes one week after Chris Boswell officially signed his extension with the Pittsburgh Steelers, which matched Tucker's $5 million annual value. The kicker had two years left on his current contract and is now signed through the 2027 season. ​The new contract includes $17.5 million in guaranteed money, which is $5 million more than any other kicker. The 32-year-old is known as the most accurate kicker in NFL history over his 10 seasons out of Texas. He holds the best field goal percentage at 91%, as well as the league's record for the longest field goal at 66 yards. Tucker has been named to the All-Pro first team five times, which is two more than any other kicker. Since his rookie year in 2012, he ranks first with 326 field goals made and 1,360 points.

Bruins Reach Deals With Bergeron, Krejci, Zacha

The Boston Bruins had themselves a very busy Monday, locking in three different players, headlined by captain Patrice Bergeron getting a one-year deal. The deal for Bergeron is worth $2.5 million with $2.5 million in incentives. He is fourth in franchise history with 982 points. The team also hooked up David Krejci with a one-year contract. The 36-year-old ranks ninth in franchise history with 730 points of his own. Both Bergeron and Krejci helped the Bruins to a Stanley Cup in 2011. The team was able to give forward Pavel Zacha a one-year deal that will count for $3.5 million against the cap. Zacha is coming off a season that saw him post 15 goals and 21 assists.

Golden Knights, Nicolas Roy Agree on Five-Year Extension

The Las Vegas Golden Knights came to terms with a most recent addition to the team, giving forward Nicolas Roy a five-year contract extension on Monday. The deal will pay Roy $3 million per season. Roy is coming off a season that saw him set career highs with 78 games played, 15 goals, 24 assists, and 39 points. That was his third season with the Knights, as he also played for Team Canada in the 2022 IIHF World Championships. The Knights acquired him from the Carolina Hurricanes in June of 2019 after he appeared in just seven games with Carolina.  After spending most of his time with Carolina at the AHL level, he has taken over a consistent component of the Knights' franchise, ranking third on the team in games played last season.

Coyotes Lock in Lawson Crouse With Five-Year Deal

The Arizona Coyotes were able to avoid arbitration on Monday with forward Lawson Crouse, signing him to a five-year contract. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, as this came about just hours before the scheduled arbitration hearing for him. Crouse set career highs with 20 goals and 14 assists last season. He has spent six years with the Coyotes, as the 24 year-old showed off his physicality for them last year with 181 hits to lead the team. The Coyotes acquired him from the Florida Panthers in 2017. Crouse has posted 56 goals and 54 assists over 346 career games, this after going 11th overall to the Panthers in the 2015 NHL Draft.

Cardinals Get Wild Win to Sweep Yankees; Dodgers Streak to Eight Straight

The St. Louis Cardinals are getting hot as we near the end of the summer, and they did so against one of the best teams in baseball this weekend, sweeping the New York Yankees with a 12-9 win on Sunday. Nolan Arenado and Paul DeJong both went deep for the Cardinals, who have won seven straight games. They also extend their NL Central lead to two games over the Milwaukee Brewers. Arenado's three-run shot gave the Cardinals the lead for good in the second inning, while DeJong's three-run shot extended their lead in the eighth. The game last four hours, 25 minutes, good for the longest nine-inning game of the season. DJ LeMahieu went deep for the Yankees, who have now dropped five straight games. St. Louis now sits a season-best 12 games over .500 with their 60th win and their first ever regular season sweep of the Cards. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers clearly do not care about the additions the San Diego Padres made, as they completed the sweep with a 4-0 shutout on Sunday night. Cody Bellinger homered twice, as the Dodgers won their eighth straight game and hold the best record in baseball. Freddie Freeman added two RBI singles in their 30th win over the past 35 games. Tyler Anderson was marvelous on the mound, giving up just two hits over seven shutout innings.  Manny Machado's groundout completed the victory as Dodger Stadium chanted "SWEEP," "SWEEP." The Dodgers now hold a 15.5-game lead on the Padres in the NL West after outscoring them, 20-4, over the weekend. Other key scores saw Jacob deGrom take a perfect game in the sixth and strike out 12 as the New York Mets downed the Atlanta Braves, 5-2. The Toronto Blue Jays got a controversial 3-2 extra-inning win over the Minnesota Twins after an out call at home plate was reversed, much to the displeasure of Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. Triston McKenzie pitched eight innings of shutout baseball as the Cleveland Guardians shut out the Houston Astros, 1-0. The Tampa Bay Rays struck for seven in the ninth to top the Detroit Tigers, 7-0. The Chicago White Sox pounded out 15 hits in an 8-2 blowout of the Texas Rangers. The Pittsburgh Pirates snapped the Baltimore Orioles' five-game winning streak with an 8-1 rout. Jesse Winker hit a grand slam as the Seattle Mariners doubled-up the Los Angeles Angels, 6-3. Aristides Aquino and Donovan Solano drove in runs in the 10th as the Cincinnati Reds took out the Milwaukee Brewers again, 4-2. And The Philadelphia Phillies hit four home runs to cruise to a sweep of the Washington Nationals with a 13-1 blowout.

Twins' Kirilloff to Undergo Season-Ending Wrist Surgery

The Minnesota Twins are set to be without outfielder Alex Kirilloff for the rest of this year, as he is set to undergo season-ending wrist surgery. The team announced on Sunday that he is undergoing the procedure on his right wrist, making it the second straight season that he has been through this. Kirilloff underwent a similar procedure last July, which ended his season short. He ended up on the injured list twice this season with issues, once in April and another time in June. The 24-year-old has played in 104 games over two seasons, batting .251 with 11 home runs and 55 RBIs.

White Sox's Tim Anderson Has Suspension Cut to Two Games

Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson reached a settlement this past weekend, cutting his suspension from three games to two games with an appeal. The punishment came after he made contact with an umpire during a game against the Oakland Athletics. The 29-year-old did not agree with a first pitch strike in the seventh inning and then had words with umpire Nick Mahrley. The two exchanged words and Anderson's helmet made contact with Mahrley's hat because of how close they were. Anderson sat out Sunday's game against the Texas Rangers, and will do the same Tuesday, with Leury Garcia stepping in at shortstop. The star is hitting .301 this season with six home runs and 25 RBIs over 79 games this season.

Browns Deny Kareem Hunt's Trade Request

The Cleveland Browns have a little bit more drama to deal with now, as running back Kareem Hunt has reportedly requested a trade. The fun part of this story is that the Browns have denied the veteran's request. Hunt is in the final year of a two-year $12 million contract, but missed team drills the past two practices. He has reportedly told the Browns that he will not participate until he gets an extension. Cleveland.com was the first to report this news, as the Browns look to juggle this and the Deshaun Watson fiasco. The 27-year-old Hunt missed nine games last season with calf and ankle injury. He finished with 386 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, finishing third behind Nick Chubb and D'Ernest Johsnon on the team in rushing yards. Hunt led the NFL as a rookie with 1,327 rushing yards with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017, but that relationship ended after a video surfaced of him shoving and kicking a woman. The Browns have given him a second chance on an NFL career, signing him in 2019, and now will have to sign him again to keep him.

Saints LB Kiko Alonso Retires From NFL

The New Orleans Saints are all of a sudden feeling shorthanded, as linebacker Kiko Alonso announced that he is retiring from the National Football League. This comes one week after Alonso signed a one-year deal with the Saints. The 31-year-old practiced just once with the Saints in training camp, not even making it to a preseason game before making this decision. He was a second-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills in the 2013 event.  Alonso spent two seasons with the Bills, while also stopping by for stints with the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, and one other time with the Saints. He was traded three times, and did not play at all in the 2021 season. The linebacker finishes with 86 games played in his NFL career, compiling 10 interceptions and one pick-six.

Mets Sweep DH From Braves; Montogomery Leads Shutout of Former Team

The New York Mets extended their NL East divisional lead to 5.5 games over the Atlanta Braves, sweeping a doubleheader against them on Saturday with 8-5 and 6-2 victories at Citi Field. It started off with Francisco Lindor leading the charge with three hits and three RBIs. It was his sixth three-hit game of the season, as he had an RBI single and then a two-run double that was nearly his 20th home run. Pete Alonso did single home a run, extending his RBI lead with his 92nd run driven in. Jeff McNeil, James McCann, and Starling Marte all drove in runs, as they moved to 30-9 this season following a loss. Max Scherzer then dominated game 2 on the mound, striking out 11 batters over seven innings in his eighth win. Alonso had three singles and drove home his 93rd run of the season, 11 more than Paul Goldschmidt for the RBI lead. Lindor reached base two more times and scored on an error by Dansby Swanson.  The Mets are now 30 games over .500 at 69-39 for the first time since finishing 97-65 in the 2006 season. The New York Yankees were haunted by their former pitcher on Saturday night, as Jordan Motgomery pitched the St. Louis Cardinals to a 1-0 shutout at Busch Stadium. Montgomery lasted five innings, escaping multiple jams, as he earned his fourth win of the season. The Yankees traded Montgomery to the Cardinals earlier this week in exchange for Harrison Bader.  The Cardinals have now won a season-high six straight games, moving in to first place all alone atop the NL Central. They have also won eight of their past nine overall, and are now 10-2 over their past 12 home games, including seven straight home wins. Giovanny Gallegos pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 11th save, and Nolan Arenado singled home the only run for the home team. The Yankees have now dropped four straight games, and are now 6-10 since the All-Star break. Other key scores saw Will Smith and Max Muncy each go deep in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 8-3 win over the San Diego Padres, their seventh straight victory. Jorge Polanco doubled home the go-ahead run to lift the Minnesota Twins past the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-3. The Detroit Tigers honored Lou Whitaker with a number retirement and then upset the Tampa Bay Rays, 9-1. The Baltimore Orioles won their fifth straight by doubling up the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-3. Cal Quantrill threw six shutout innings to pitch the Cleveland Guardians past the Houston Astros, 4-1. Dane Dunning threw seven shutout innings against his former team as the Texas Rangers blanked the Chicago White Sox, 8-0. Rhys Hoskins homered for a third straight game as the Philadelphia Phillies blew past the Washington Nationals, 11-5. And the Milwaukee Brewers fell out of first place in the NL Central with a 7-5 upset loss to the Cincinnati Reds.

Blue Jays Place George Springer on Injured List

The Toronto Blue Jays placed outfielder George Springer on the 10-day injured list Saturday with what is being called an inflamed elbow. The news came before their game on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins, as he has been dealing with an elbow issue for most of the summer. He is scheduled to receive an anti-inflammatory injection this weekend. Springer had missed four of the past five games, and went 1-for-4 in that one game against the Twins. The four-time All-Star is hitting .251 with 18 home runs and 49 RBIs over 89 games, while scoring 59 runs, which is good for 10th in the American League. He will be eligible to return on August 15th.

Guardians Designate Franmil Reyes For Assignment

The Cleveland Guardians were forced to part ways with struggling slugger Franmil Reyes on Saturday, designating him for assignment.  The 27-year-old had already been optioned to Triple-A Columbus earlier this week. Reyes is hitting just .213 this season with nine home runs and 104 strikeouts over 263 at-bats. This is a guy that hit 37 home runs between Cleveland and the San Diego Padres in the 2019 season. He went on to add 30 home runs and 85 RBIs in the 2021 campaign. The Guardians now have seven days to trade, release, or outright him to the minors.

Cubs DFA Andrelton Simmons

The Chicago Cubs made a tough move with a veteran of their own, designating shortstop Andrelton Simmons for assignment on Saturday. The 32-year-old appeared in just 34 games this season after signing a one-year, $4 million deal with the Cubs last off-season. He hit .173 over 75 at-bats, driving home seven runs with no homers. Simmons ended up on the injured list multiple times this season due to lingering shoulder issues. The veteran has 11 years of major league experience, is a four-time Gold Glove winner, and spent time with the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, and Minnesota Twins.

Steelers Give Diontae Johnson Contract Extension

The Pittsburgh Steelers were able to reach a contract extension with wide receiver Diontae Johnson, giving him a two-year deal this weekend. The contract is worth $18.355 million per season, making it worth up to $39.5 million overall, including $27 million in guaranteed money. Johnson is in the final year of his rookie contract and will become a free agent in 2025. The 26-year--old was the final remaining hold-in of the 2019 NFL Draft for wide receivers, joining DK Metcalf and Deebo Samuel as those that reached a deal. He did report to training camp on time and participated in individual drills. Johnson led the Steelers with 107 catches for 1,161 yards to go with eight touchdowns last season.

Giants Rookie OL Marcus McKethan Done For Season

The New York Giants' protection for quarterback Daniel Jones took a blow to one of its newest members, as rookie offensive lineman is done for the season with a knee injury. The rookie suffered a torn ACL in his right knee, which was confirmed on Saturday. The news comes one day after he was carted off during a scrimmage at MetLife Stadium. The fifth-round draft pick out of North Carolina was working on the second team as a right tackle. This also comes within the same week that right tackle Matt Gono revealed that his recurring neck injury has likely ended his career. McKethan was the 173rd overall pick by the Giants this past April, this after playing in 43 games, including 37 starts, with the Tar Heels.

Thunder Re-Sign Center Mike Muscala

The Oklahoma City Thunder reached a deal with forward/center Mike Muscala this weekend, keeping him on a one-year deal. Muscala had a team option for the 2022-2023 season, but that was declined. Details of the contract were not disclosed.  The 30-year-old averaged just under 14 minutes per game, averaging 3.8 three-pointers per contest. He hit those three-points at a 42.9% clip, Muscala was a second-round pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, spending his first five seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, before a stint with the Philadelpha 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers.

Dodgers Honor Vin With Rout of Padres; Cardinals Rally Past Yankees

The Los Angeles Dodgers were able to pay tribute to the late Vin Scully in their first home game since his death on Friday night, and then honored him with an 8-1 rout of the San Diego Padres. Tony Gonsolin pitched five scoreless innings to earn his 13th win, as the Padres were held to just four hits. The win extends the Dodgers NL West lead to 13.5 games in the first meeting since Juan Soto, Josh Bell, and Brandon Drury joined the Padres. Gonsolin struck out six and allowed three of the four hits, overcoming a 30-pitch first inning. The Dodgers broke out with four runs in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Hanser Alberto. Chris Taylor returned from the injured list with a two-run double, while Cody Bellinger added one of his own. Sean Manaea suffered his sixth loss after allowing eight runs on 10 hits over four innings. The St. Louis Cardinals were able to rally late, as Paul DeJong continues his surge since his return from the minors with a two-run double in the eighth for a 4-3 win over the New York Yankees. Nolan Arenado and Tyler O'Neil scored for the Cards on another big hit from DeJong. All four of his hits since returning from Triple-A have been for extra bases.  Clay Holmes gave up the big hit on this night, suffering his third loss. Andre Pallente got his fifth win after going four scoreless innings in relief, giving up three hits and two strikeouts while throwing 65 pitches. Ryan Helsley got his 10th save, getting Matt Carpenter to ground out in the ninth after the former Cardinal got a standing ovation in the first inning. The Cardinals have won a season-high five straight, despite getting just four hits in this one. They have also won six straight home games, sending the Yankees to their third straight loss, and staying in a tie atop the NL Central. Other key scores saw Nick Gordon score the winning run in the 10th to give the Minnesota Twins a 6-5 walk-off win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Dylan Cease went six strong innings in the Chicago White Sox's 2-1 win over the Texas Rangers. Trey Mancini homered twice to power the Houston Astros past the Cleveland Guardians, 9-3. The Tampa Bay Rays drew 13 walks, which is a franchise record, as they topped the Detroit Tigers, 5-3. Dean Kremer pitched in to the seventh as the Baltimore Orioles shut out the Pittsburgh Pirates, 1-0. The Atlanta Braves tagged Taijuan Walker for six earned runs in a 9-6 win against the New York Mets. Kyle Gibson retired the first 18 batters he faced, while Kyle Schwarber gave up one run over eight innings in the Philadelphia Phillies' 7-2 home win against the Washington Nationals. Eric Lauer went seven innings to pitch the Milwaukee Brewers past the Cincinnati Reds, 5-1. And Taylor Ward had the go-ahead RBI in extras to give the Los Angeles Angels a 4-3 road win over the Seattle Mariners.

Tigers' Miguel Cabrera Confirms His Return in 2023

Detroit Tigers veteran Miguel Cabrera cleared the air on Friday, confirming that he will return for his 21st season in 2023. The 39-year-old had indicated that he could be done after this season, but after news took off on that, he had to shut it down quickly.  He has always wanted to finish out his contract, which is fully guaranteed through the 2023 season. The future Hall of Famer joined the 3,000-hit, 500-home run club earlier this season. Cabrera, along with Albert Pujols, was invited to the All-Star Game in Los Angeles by commissioner Rob Manfred last month. As of July 8th, he was hitting .308, but he has since hit .131 with three extra-base hits over 21 games. That does not take away what the former MVP and Triple Crown winner has done, and he continues to rack up the hits for the lowly Tigers.

Dodgers Place Clayton Kershaw on Injured List

The Los Angeles Dodgers are giving veteran pitcher Clayton Kershaw some rest, placing him on the 15-day injured list on Friday with lower back pain. This news comes one day after he left his start on Thursday against the San Francisco Giants with that issue. Kershaw had an MRI and X-Ray done on Friday, but the official results of those were not specified.  Manager Dave Roberts could not give a specific timeline for his return, but he is hoping it will be a short rest. The team was able to activate Chris Taylor off the IL and recalled pitcher Reyes Moronta.  Kershaw is 7-3 this season with a 2.64 ERA, getting the start for the National League in the All-Star Game. He has dealt with back issues for much of his career, spending time on the injured list earlier this season with inflammation in a pelvic joint.

Reds' Pitcher Hunter Greene Lands on IL

The Cincinnati Reds placed young pitcher Hunter Greene on the 15-day injured list Friday with a strained right shoulder. The 22-year-old was dealing his last time out, striking out eight over six scoreless innings against the Miami Marlins. The severity of the injury and when specifically he suffered it is not yet known. His last four starts had been the best stretch of his rookie season, posting a 2.70 ERA and 29 strikeouts with just eight walks over 23.1 innings. The move was announced before their series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers, as they also recalled pitcher Ryan Hendrix from Triple-A Louisville.

Twins Designate Tyler Duffey For Assignment

The Minnesota Twins made a tough move on Friday, deciding to designate relief pitcher Tyler Duffey for assignment.  ​The team will move on to pitcher Cole Sands to take over in the bullpen, as he was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul. Duffey is a former fifth-round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft and debuted at the major league level in 2015. His rookie season was his most promising, posting a 3.10 ERA as a starter. Although, he went on to struggle, causing a move to the bullpen, as he had a 6.33 ERA over 133 innings the next three years. He found a groove as a reliever, posting a 1.88 ERA in the shortened 2020 season and then a 3.18 ERA last season. This season sees him with a 4.91 ERA with eight home runs against him in just 44 innings.

Flames Sign Jonathan Huberdeau to Eight-Year Extension

The Calgary Flames locked in their newest addition in a big way early Friday, giving forward Jonathan Huberdeau an eight-year contract extension. The deal was reportedly finalized late Thursday night, but announced on Friday. Huberdeau will make $84 million throughout the contract, this after getting traded from the Florida Panthers in the Matthew Tkachuk deal last month. The Flames are moving on to another big scorer in Huberdeau, who is coming off a season with 30 goals and 85 assists for 115 points. The 29-year-old was drafted in 2011 and has spent his entire 10-year NHL career with the Panthers. In that time, he has 198 goals and 415 assists for 613 points in 671 games. He ended his time with the Panthers as the franchise's leader in games, assists, and points.

Predators Give Yakov Trenin Two-Year Deal

The Nashville Predators have locked in forward Yakov Trenin with a two-year contract, doing so late Friday night. The deal is worth $3.4 million, this after going through arbitration. The 25-year-old posted 17 goals and 24 points to go with 33 blocked shots and 191 hits in 80 games. All of those numbers set career highs for him, as he was just one of six NHL players with at least 191 hits and 17 goals last season. The forward added 13 points in his rookie campaign back in the 2020-2021 campaign, along with three goals in four playoff games. Trenin was drafted with the 55th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, and has played 146 career games since debuting in the 2019-2020 season.

Naquin Homers Twice in Mets' Win; Verlander Pitches Astros to Victory

The New York Mets extended their NL East lead on Thursday night behind the power of a new bat, as they held off the Atlanta Braves, 6-4, at Citi Field. Newly-acquired Tyler Naquin homered twice in his home debut with the Mets, leading the charge on this night. Edwin Diaz surprisingly came in for the eighth inning and earned a two-inning save, the first of his career. Pete Alonso and Daniel Vogelbach added back-to-back long balls in the third inning, as Alonso had three RBIs on the night. Carlos Carrasco got his 12th win and extended his scoreless streak to 23.1 innings before Michael Harris III had an RBI single and Ronald Acuna Jr. added his first home run in nearly a month. The Mets now lead the Braves by 4.5 games atop the NL East. Justin Verlander continued to lead the charge atop the American League Cy Young race, earning his 15th win of the season in the Houston Astros' 6-0 shutout of the Cleveland Guardians. Verlander went six shutout innings and extended his winning streak to seven straight starts. He now moves in to a tie with Herb Pennock for 55th place all time with 241 wins. The right-hander leads the majors in wins and also with a 1.73 ERA. The former Detroit Tiger also improved to 11-16 at Progressive Field, but he does have a 5.17 ERA there. Chas McCormick and Martin Maldonado both led the way with long balls, as the Astros moved within 1.5 games from the New York Yankees at the top of the American League. Zach Plesac fell to 2-10 on the season for Cleveland, giving up four runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings. Other key scores Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez went deep in the Toronto Blue Jays' 9-3 rout of the Minnesota Twins. Brandon Lowe went deep and drove in three as the Tampa Bay Rays topped the Detroit Tigers, 6-2. Meibrys Viloria had a pinch-hit RBI single to lift the Texas Rangers over the Chicago White Sox, 3-2. The Pittsburgh Pirates walked off for a second straight day for a 5-4 extra inning win against the Milwaukee Brewers. The St. Louis Cardinals pulled in to a tie for first in the NL Central by sweeping a doubleheader from the Chicago Cubs. Noah Syndergaard got the win in his Philadelphia Phillies debut as they edged the Washington Nationals in a rain-shortened game, 5-4. Clayton Kershaw left the game with back pain, but the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants, 5-3. And Ryan McMahon had five RBIs as the Colorado Rockies took out the San Diego Padres, 7-3.

Phillies Cut SS Didi Gregorius

The return of Jean Segura has signaled the end of Didi Gregorius with the Philadelphia Phillies, as the team released him on Thursday. Segura is returning from a stint on the 60-day injured list. The 32-year-old Gregorius is hitting just .210 with one home run and 19 RBIs.  Over three seasons with the Phillies, he hit .230 with 24 home runs and 113 RBIs. The expectation is for Bryson Stott to move over to shortstop, with Segura placed at second base. Segura has been out since June 1st with a finger injury, and is hitting .275 with six home runs and 19 RBIs this season.

Red Sox Release OF Jackie Bradley Jr.

The Boston Red Sox made the tough decision of cutting ties with veteran outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., releasing him on Thursday. The 32-year-old was in his second stint with the Red Sox in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers in December 2021. Over 92 games this season, he hit just .210 with three home runs and 29 RBIs.  Bradley is a career .228 hitter and was making $9.5 million this season. His first run with the Red Sox went from 2013 to 2020, where he was an All-Star, an ALCS MVP, and had 62 outfield assists over 769 starts.

Twins Place Kyle Garlick on IL

The Minnesota Twins sent outfielder Kyle Garlick to the 10-day injured list on Thursday with what they called a right rib cage contusion. Garlick had missed the previous two games with a rib injury. ​The team reinstated Gilberto Celestino from the paternity list in a corresponding move. The first-place Twins are expected to turn to Mark Contreras and Jake Cave to stand in where Garlick normally does. The outfielder is hitting .257 this season with eight home runs and 17 RBIs.

Brittney Griner Sentenced to 9 Years in Russian Prison

A Russian court sentenced WNBA player Brittney Griner to nine years in Russian Prison on Thursday after being found guilty of drug possession and smuggling. This news was expected due to the Russian law differing from the American. The good side of it all is that this will allow negotiations for a prisoner swap to accelerate. Griner was arrested on February 17th for bringing cannabis into the country. It has been known that Russian would not move forward with a potential swap until after the sentencing came through. She pleaded guilty on July 7th, which made this news a shock to nobody involved.  The Phoenix Mercury player claims that she accidentally packed the cartridges that contained the cannabis. This sentence was close to the maximum of 10 years, and prosecutors asked for a 9.5-year sentence.

Raiders Beat Jaguars in Hall of Fame Game

The NFL returned on Thursday night with the annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, which featured the Las Vegas Raiders getting the best of the Jacksonville Jaguars, 27-11. Derek Carr and Davante Adams were seen warming up, but did not get a chance to play. Trevor Lawrence stayed on the sidelines while third-string quarterback Jake Luton got the start. The game was delayed about 40 minutes due to severe weather that forced fans to find shelter. The main stats to take away from this game was Ameer Abdullah scoring the first touchdown and top pick Travon Walker getting a roughing the passer penalty.

Giants' Matt Gono Reportedly Has Career-Ending Injury

Horrendous news came out for New York Giants offensive tackle Matt Gono on Thursday, as the big man reportedly has a career-ending neck injury. Gono missed the entire 2021 season while with the Atlanta Falcons after undergoing surgery on his neck. He signed with the Giants in the off-season and entered training camp feeling better. Although, issues began to arise after their first fully-padded practice, as he started to experience symptoms in his neck. He will undergo further testing on Friday, but it seems as if he could be done for good. Gono was set to be a swing tackle behind Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal, spending most of spring as the second team tackle. The former undrafted free agent out of Westley College played in 21 career games, getting four starts with the Falcons.

Flames, Mangiapane Agree on Three-Year Deal

The Calgary Flames were able to avoid arbitration with winger Andrew Mangiapane on Thursday, agreeing on a three-year contract. The deal is worth $17.4 million, as they are able to avoid a hearing that was schedule for Friday. The 26-year-old set career highs with 35 goals and 20 assists in the 2021-2022 season. He did not miss a game in that season, playing in all 82 of them, plus the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Flames drafted him back in 2015, and he has since posted 78 goals and 54 assists over 260 career games. The team also avoided arbitration with defenseman Olive Kylington, giving the 25-year-old a two-year contract.

Castillo Gets Win in Mariners' Debut; Mancini Homers in Astros' Win

The Seattle Mariners wasted no time supporting new pitcher Luis Castillo, as he earned the win in his team debut with a 7-3 victory against the New York Yankees. Castillo pitched in to the seventh inning and gave up just five hits while pitching with the lead the entire game. Eugenio Suarez, Carlos Santana, and Jarred Kelenic all homered against Gerrit Cole during a six-run first inning. Jesse Winker added another long ball against Wandy Peralta, as they set a season-high in homers. Castillo earned his fifth win and struck out eight over 6.2 inning, allowing three runs and walking three. He finished with 109 pitches on the day, 66 of which were strikes, and he has now struck out at least eight in four straight starts. Cole got his fourth loss of the year, allowing seven hits and striking out eight over six innings. The Houston Astros were also sparked by their new star, as Trey Mancin got his firth homer with his new team during a 6-1 rout of the Boston Red Sox. Jose Urquidy tied a career-high with 10 strikeouts over seven shutout inning, earning his 10th win. The Red Sox go tjust two hits against Urquidy while falling back to .500 on the season. The Astros acquired Mancini on Monday, and he debuted on Tuesday as a pinch-hitter, which resulted in a groundout. Rich Hill gave up the long ball and suffered his fifth loss of the season. Houston jumped out to a 4-0 lead by the second inning and never looked back in this one. Urquidy retired the first 13 batters he faced, before hitting Alex Verdugo with a pitch in the fifth inning. Jose Altuve tied a career-high with four hits, the 34th time he's done that, as the Astros avoided the sweep. Other key scores saw Julio Urias win his eighth straight decision as the Los Angeles Dodgers shut out the San Francisco Giants, 3-0. Brandon Drury hit a grand slam in his first at-bat with the San Diego Padres as they blew past the Colorado Rockies, 9-1. Bryan Reynolds led off the ninth with a homer to walk the Pittsburgh Pirates off against the Milwaukee Brewers, 8-7. Daniel Vogelbach had a grand slam to power the New York Mets past the Washington Nationals, 9-5. Nick Castellanos' long ball sent the Philadelphia Phillies past the Atlanta Braves, 3-1. David Peralta's go-ahead RBI single gave the Tampa Bay Rays a 3-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. The Baltimore Orioles completed a sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 6-3 win. Jorge Lopez got his first save with his new team as the Minnesota Twins topped the Detroit Tigers, 4-1. Ahmed Rosario hit a long ball 450 feet in the Cleveland Guardians' 7-4 home win against the Arizona Diamondbacks. And Lance Lynn threw six solid innings in the Chicago White Sox' 4-1 victory against the Kansas City Royals.

Blue Jays Place Ross Stripling on IL

The Toronto Blue Jays have placed right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling on the 15-day injured list with a right hip strain. The move is retroactive to July 31st, so he will be eligible to return August 15th. The team has recalled right-handed pitcher Matt Peacock from Triple-A Buffalo in the meantime. The 28-year-old has made five appearances this season, posting a 3.18 ERA in that time. The 32-year-old Stripling has compiled 82.2 innings over 23 appearances. In that time, he has a 3.16 ERA this season for a Blue Jays team that is in the thick of a Wild Card race.

Tigers Place Pitcher Tarik Skubal on Injured List

The Detroit Tigers took yet another blow to their starting rotation, placing left-hander Tarik Skubal on the 15-day injured list with arm fatigue. Skubal was reportedly optimistic that he wouldn't have to miss a start, but manager A.J. Hinch wants to error on the side of caution. The young arm has made a team-high 21 starts this season, throwing 117.2 innings in that time. The Tigers are now sitting with four pitchers on the injured list, with Tyler Alexander being the only arm from the Opening Day rotation that is healthy. Skubal has been the closest thing to an ace this season for the Tigers, going 7-8 with a 3.52 ERA and 117 strikeouts.

Marlins' Avisail Garcia to IL With Hamstring Injury

The Miami Marlins sent outfielder Avisail Garcia to the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a strained left hamstring. Miami did activate first baseman Garrett Cooper from the IL, as he had been sidelined with a wrist injury. The likes of Jorge Soler, JJ Bleday, Jesus Sanchez, and Bryan De La Cruz will step in during Garcia's absence. The injury occurred during Tuesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds, as he left with left hamstring discomfort. Garcia went 0-for-1 before leaving in the second inning. The 31-year-old is hitting .232 with seven home runs and 30 RBIs this season.

Pirates Closer David Bednar to IL

The Pittsburgh Pirates were forced to place All-Star closer David Bednar on the 15-day injured list with lower back inflammation.  Bednar made the All-Star team for the National League this year as the only representative for the Pirates. The team admits that his lower back has been bothering him since late June. The veteran is 3-4 with a 2.70 ERA this season, posting 17 saves and averaging 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The team recalled right-handed pitcher Yohan Ramirez from Triple-A Indianapolis to fill his spot.

NFL Appeals Deshaun Watson's Six-Game Suspension

With less than 24 hours to spare to do so, the National Football League officially appealed the six-game suspension for Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson on Wednesday. The league is reportedly pushing to have this be an indefinite suspension for the entire 2022 season. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell informed the NFLPA of the decision to appeal, and he will decide who will hear the appeal. Watson was suspended on Tuesday by judge Sue L. Robinson, who reportedly just followed the guidelines of the league's policy. This news comes after there were over 20 accusations of sexual misconduct against him. The punishment was compared to 32 previous suspensions for the same issue, as 21 of those saw the player get six games. The biggest suspension of those bans was Jarron Jones getting 10 games in 2021. Watson will be eligible to return for the Browns' game against the Baltimore Ravens on October 23rd. Sources close to Watson say that the six games is too much, despite the 25 lawsuits.

Cardinals WR Marquise Brown Charged With Criminal Speeding

The Arizona Cardinals will have to deal with an off-the-field issue with a new addition, as wide receiver Marquise Brown was arrested and charged with criminal speeding on Wednesday. The news comes from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, which stated that Brown was arrested at 7:05am Wednesday morning. He was booked in Maricopa Count Jai and released on his own recognizance following a brief hearing. Brown was pulled over for driving 126 MPH in a 65 MPH zone. If he is charged, it'll be for a misdemeanor. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 23rd.

Mets Fall to Nats in deGrom's Return; Mariners Top Yankees on The Road

The New York Mets, who are already in first place, just got a huge improvement to their starting rotation without even doing a trade, as Jacob deGrom returned to the mound on Tuesday night. The right-hander made his first major league start since July of 2021 in the Mets' 5-1 loss to the Washington Nationals. DeGrom lasted five innings, allowing a run on three hits while striking out six batters. The loss for New York put an end to their season-high seven-game winning streak. The former Cy Young winner went down for the second half of last season with an elbow injury, and then was shut down in Spring Training by a stress reaction in his right scapula. The 34-year-old won the NL Cy Young twice before the injury, and returned on Tuesday by striking out the first batter he faced. Mets reliever Stephen Nogosek took the loss after giving up homers to Luis Garcia and Yadiel Hernandez. The Seattle Mariners pulled one out in Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night, escaping with an 8-6 win over the New York Yankees. Sam Haggerty led off the seventh inning with a pinch-hit home run, which ended up being the game-winner on this night. The switch hitter went deep off of Lucas Luetge, who suffered his fourth loss. The Mariners jumped out to a 4-0 lead thanks to a two-run shot from Eugenio Suarez and a solo homer from Cal Raleigh. The Yankees used some long balls of their own from Anthony Rizzo, Jose Trevino, and Josh Donaldson to tie the game at six. One night after getting his 1,500th career hit, Carlos Santana drove home three runs, while Adam Frazier singled home a late insurance run. The Mariners are now just 5-8 since entering the All-Star break with 14 consecutive wins. Wednesday afternoon's matchup will feature the Mariner debut of starting pitcher Luis Castillo. Other key scores saw Spencer Strider strike out 13 batters over 6.2 innings in the Atlanta Braves' 13-1 rout of the Philadelphia Phillies. Kevin Gausman gave up just one hit over eight innings in the Toronto Blue Jays' 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Jorge Mateo homered twice and drove in five runs as the Baltimore Orioles blew past the Texas Rangers, 8-2. Rafael Devers homered in his return from the injured list as the Boston Red Sox edged the Houston Astros, 2-1. Riley Greene had the go-ahead RBI in the Detroit Tigers' 5-3 upset of the Minnesota Twins. Christian Walker's three-run homer helped the Arizona Diamondbacks double-up the Cleveland Guardians, 6-3. Eloy Jimenez drove in four as the Chicago White Sox blew past the Kansas City Royals, 9-2. Oneil Cruz's homer powered the Pittsburgh Pirates' 5-3 win against the Milwaukee Brewers. Adam Wainwright went seven scoreless innings as the St. Louis Cardinals shut out the Chicago Cubs, 6-0. Mookie Betts hit a home run with three RBIs in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 9-5 road win against the San Francisco Giants. And the San Diego Padres swept a doubleheader from the Colorado Rockies, including a Trent Grisham walk-off home run in Game 2.

Padres Land Juan Soto, Josh Bell in Mega-Deal

And just like that, the San Diego Padres are looking like World Series favorites, as they pulled off a mega-deal on Tuesday that saw them acquire outfielder Juan Soto and first baseman Josh Bell from the Washington Nationals.​ The package includes pitcher MacKenzie Gore, designated hitter Luke Voit, outfielder Robert Hassell III, shortstop C.J. Abrams, outfielder James Wood, and pitcher Jarlin Susana. Soto is a two-time All-Star and just won this year's Home Run Derby at Dodger Stadium a few weeks back. The 23-year-old turned down a 15-year, $440 million offer from the Nationals, which is what led to them looking to trade him away. The Padres won the sweepstakes over the likes of the Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, and New York Yankees. The star does not reach free agency until the end of the 2024 season, so the Padres have that long to make a deal happen. He is coming off a big month of July, which saw him hit .315 with six home runs. Over his career, he is a .291 hitter with 119 home runs and 358 RBIs, while also having a good eye with 464 walks. Bell is also a big get in this deal, as he is hitting a career-high .301 with 14 home runs and 57 RBIs in his second season with the team. His first five MLB seasons were spent with the Pittsburgh Pirates, making the All-Star team once, and hitting .266 with 127 home runs and 454 RBIs.

Hosmer Rejects Trade to Nats, Sent to Red Sox

First baseman Eric Hosmer had himself a day on Tuesday, and after rejecting a to the Washington Nationals, he was sent to the Boston Red Sox. Hosmer was supposed to be part of the package for Juan Soto, but his no-trade clause included the Nationals on that list, and he was able to reject that. To complete the deal with Boston, the Padres agreed to pay a significant portion of the $44 million remaining on Hosmer's deal. The 32-year-old hitting .272 with eight home runs and 40 RBIs this season. He agreed to an eight-year, $144 million deal with the Padres before the 2018 season. Hosmer spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Kansas City Royals, and is a career .277 hitter with 196 home runs and 875 RBIs.

Braves Land Closer Raisel Iglesias From Angels

The Atlanta Braves got a huge addition to their bullpen on Tuesday, bringing on relief pitcher Raisel Iglesias from the Los Angeles Angels. The 32-year-old could fit in as a closer, which is a job he had for four years with the Cincinnati Reds. Iglesias received a four-year, $58 million contract from the Angels before the 2021 season. He is set to make $16 million in each of the next three seasons. The right-hander tied a career high with 34 saves while with the Reds, and then added 16 more this season. The reliever has a 4.04 ERA with 48 strikeouts over 35.2 innings this season.

Dodgers Bring on Joey Gallo From Yankees

The Los Angeles Dodgers are hoping to give outfielder Joey Gallo and major boost in his numbers as they acquired him from the New York Yankees on Tuesday. The Yankees will receive Double-A pitcher Clayton Beeter in return. The two-time All-Star has now been traded in consecutive seasons, as the Texas Rangers sent him to the Yankees at last year's deadline. He has struggled as of late, hitting just .156 with 106 strikeouts over 233 at-bats this season. Within those numbers are 12 home runs and 24 RBIs, so he still has the power potential to do some damage. The 28-year-old is expected to help the Dodgers in the outfield since Chris Taylor is still dealing with a fracture in his left foot.

Padres Keep Up With Moves, Adding Brandon Drury From Reds

The San Diego Padres did not stop at what could be the biggest trade in MLB deadline history, as they also acquired third baseman Brandon Drury from the Cincinnati Reds. The team sent shortstop prospect Victor Acosta the other way in the deal. The 29-year-old is hitting .274 this season with 20 home runs in 92 games with the Reds. Drury is expected to play a super utility role around the infield. The Padres are hoping to have Fernando Tatis Jr. back at shortstop soon, as the star has been taking batting practice. Tatis' return would push Jake Cronenworth to second base, but until then, Drury will probably slide in to that role. The team did also get some depth at the catcher position, getting Cam Gallagher from the Kansas City Royals for minor league outfielder Brent Rooker.

Phillies Add Noah Syndergaard, David Robertson, Brandon Marsh

The Philadelphia Phillies are preparing for a wild Postseason race down the stretch, and they got busy on Tuesday, acquiring starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard, relief pitcher David Robertson, and outfielder Brandon Marsh. Syndergaard and Marsh both come from the Los Angeles Angels, while Robertson came over from the Chicago Cubs. In corresponding moves, the Phillies designated pitcher Jeurys Familia and Odubel Herrera for assignment. The 29-year-old Syndergaard is 5-8 this season with a 3.83 ERA over 15 starts. He signed a one-year contract with the Angels after overcome Tommy John Surgery. The 37-year-old Robertson has given up just 23 hits over 40.1 innings, while posting 14 saves and a 2.23 ERA. And the 24-year-old Marsh is hitting .226 with eight home runs ad 37 RBIs.

Twins Get Relief Pitchers Jorge Lopez, Michael Fulmer/Starter Tyler Mahle

The Minnesota Twins solidified the back of their bullpen on Tuesday, acquiring closer Jorge Lopez from the Baltimore Orioles. The O's get four minor league pitchers in return, that being: Cade Povich, Yennier Cano, Juan Nunez, and Juan Rojas. Lopez has posted 19 saves with a 4-6 record and a 1.68 ERA this season. He has added 54 strikeouts over 48.1 innings pitched for an O's team that is right in the thick of the Wild Card picture. The Twins hold a one-game lead on the Cleveland Guardians atop the AL Central. Their closer this season has been Emilio Pagan, who leads the team with with nine saves, while Jhoan Duran has six. The Twins also worked a deal with the team they are facing right now, getting relief pitcher Michael Fulmer from the Detroit Tigers for a pitching prospect. Fulmer has a solid 3.20 ERA out of the bullpen this season, and a 3.90 mark for his career. And the starting rotation got a bump when they acquired Tyler Mahle from the Cincinnati Reds. Mahle will help a rotation that is hampered with injuries to Bailey Ober, Chris Paddack, Kenta Maeda, and Randy Dobnak. The right-hander is 5-7 with a 4.40 ERA this season. In another minor deal, the team got catcher Sandy Leon from the Cleveland Guardians for pitcher Ian Hamilton. Leon only lasted with the Guardians for a little over a month after they acquired him from the Cincinnati Reds.  He is set to be the backup behind Gary Sanchez, as he has only appeared in eight games this season.

Mets Trade For More Power in Darin Ruf

The New York Mets added some more pop that will improve the designated hitter position for them, as they acquired outfielder Darin Ruf from the San Francisco Giants. The deal saw infielder J.D. Davis and three pitching prospects go out west. Ruf is hitting .216 this season with 11 home runs and 38 RBIs. The 36-year-old has an .886 OPS against left-handed pitching, and is set to platoon with Daniel Vogelbach at DH. The 29-year-old Davis has struggled in the DH spot, hitting .238 with four home runs and 21 RBIs this season.

Yankees Get Harrison Bader From Cardinals for Jordan Montgomery

The New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals made a straight swap on Tuesday, as the Bronx Bombers got outfielder Harrison Bader in exchange for pitcher Jordan Montgomery. The Yankees will also receive a player to be named later or cash considerations to complete the deal. Bader is primarily a center fielder, but has not played since June 26th due to planta fasciitis in his right foot. He spent six seasons with the Cardinals and is hitting .256 this season with five home runs over 72 games. The outfielder will also improve the defense, as he did win a Gold Glove last season. Montgomery has been a solid contributor on the mound, posting a 3.77 ERA over 272 innings in 51 starts the past two season. Although, he has struggled as of late with a 5.36 ERA in his past eight outings.

Mariners Acquire Jake Lamb, Matthew Boyd, Curt Casali

The Seattle Mariners quietly put together some solid moves at Tuesday's Trade Deadline, acquiring the battery of Matthew Boyd and Curt Casali from the San Francisco Giants, as well as utility man Jake Lamb from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The M's will send cash considerations or a player to be named later to the Dodgers, while the Giants get two minor league players. The 31-year-old Boyd spent most of his career with the Detroit Tigers, before signing with the Giants last March. An injury last August got the best of him and has kept him out all of this season.  Before then, he posted a career 3.89 ERA, and was once known as the Tigers' ace. Casali will join Boyd in Triple-A Tacoma to finish up a rehab assignment before returning to the majors.  He is familiar with new Mariner Luis Castillo, whom he caught for 27 times with the Cincinnati Reds from 2018 to 2020. The 31-year-old Lamb is hitting .239 this season, with an .808 OPS against right-handed pitching. He players in just 25 games for the Dodgers, who are working with a deep lineup that got even more deep in the form of Joey Gallo.

Brewers Acquire Reliever Matt Bush, Trevor Rosenthal

The Milwaukee Brewers completely reshaped the back of their bullpen on Monday, and then added to it on Tuesday by acquiring reliever Matt Bush from the Texas Rangers. The Brewers are sending over infielder Mark Mathias, who is a top pitching prospect. This deal started to come together on Monday night and was finalized on Tuesday morning. The former top overall pick Bush is 2-1 with a 2.95 ERA over 40 games this season. The right-hander has not allowed an earned run over his past 12 appearances. The 36-year-old has spent his entire five-year MLB career with the Rangers, this after getting drafted as a shortstop in 2004 by the San Diego Padres. The team also got a veteran presence in the bullpen by getting Trevor Rosenthal from the San Francisco Giants. The Brew-Crew sent minor league outfielder Tristan Peters. Rosenthal hasn't pitched since 2020 due to injuries, but got a one-year deal from the Giants last month. The training staff is hoping to have him ready to pitch by the end of August. The 32-year-old has a 3.36 ERA with 132 saves over 373 career appearances, with 93 of those saves coming with the St. Louis Cardinals from 2014 to 2015.

Blue Jays Trade For Whit Merrifield, Anthony Bass, Zach Pop

The Toronto Blue Jays helped their starting lineup and pitching staff on Tuesday, including the acquisition of second baseman Whit Merrifield from the Kansas City Royals. The deal took place minutes before the Trade Deadline, but this deal comes with a decision. Merrifield will have to agree to get one of the approved vaccines so he can play games at the Rogers Centre. He was recently one of 10 Royals players that sat out of a weekend series in Toronto a couple weeks back. The second baseman did hint at the fact that he'd be open to get it if he has a chance to play in the Postseason. The 33-year-old is hitting .240 this season with 30 extra-base hits and 15 stolen bases over 95 games. The veteran is known to be one of the more dependable players, as he had his 553-game Iron Man streak snapped last month. The streaky hitter has led the league in hits twice, and led the league in stolen bases three times. Last season saw him post 42 doubles for the lowly Royals, which led the American League. The team also got bullpen help in the form of Anthony Bass and Zach Pop from the Miami Marlins for a shortstop prospect. The Jays will also receive a player to be named later. The 34-year-old Bass is 2-3 this season with a 1.41 ERA over 44.2 innings. He has struck out 45 batters and walked 10. Pop is just 25 years old and is 2-0 with a 3.60 ERA over 20 innings pitched.

Catcher Jonathan Lucroy Announces Retirement

Amongst all the trades on Tuesday, catcher Jonathan Lucroy announced that he is retiring from Major League Baseball. This news comes over a year after he played in his final major league game. The former All-Star with the Milwaukee Brewers will be inducted in to the team's wall of honor on Saturday. He played for the Brew-Crew from 2010 to 2016, making the All-Star team in 2014 and 2016. The 36-year-old last played in seven games for the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves, with his final game being on July 10th, 2021. He became a free agent on July 22nd of last year when he refused an assignment to Triple-A Gwinnett. The catcher played in 1,210 regular season games, batting ..274 with 108 home runs and 548 RBIs. Lucroy ranks second in Brewers franchise history with 725 games caught, and leads all catchers with 752 hits, a .288 average, 143 doubles, 77 home runs, 358 RBIs, and 326 runs scored.

Legendary Broadcaster Vin Scully Passes Away

The baseball world received some sad news on Tuesday, as legendary broadcaster Vin Scully passed away at the age of 94. Scully is known for being the voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers, whom he followed from Brooklyn to LA. He spent 67 years as the voice of the team, but passed away Tuesday night at his home in Hidden Hills. The legend was the longest tenured broadcaster with a single team in pro sports history. Vincent Edward Scully was born on November 29th, 1927 in the Bronx. He went on to play the outfield for two years at Fordham University and briefly served in the United State Navy. Scully started in broadcasting at the age of 22 for a CBS Radio Affiliate, and began with the Dodgers in 1958.

NFL Strips Dolphins of First-Round Pick, Fine Owner For Tampering

The Miami Dolphins found themselves in deep water on Tuesday afternoon, as they were stripped of their 2023 first-round draft pick for tampering. Owner Stephen Ross was also involved in the punishment, getting fined $1.5 million. This comes after a six-month investigation in to the Dolphins violating the anti-tampering policy on three separate occasions. They all took place between 2019 and 2022, as they were having conversations with quarterback Tom Brady and the agent for then-New Orleans Saints head coach, Sean Payton. The Dolphins will also forfeit their 2024 third-round selection. Ross was suspended through October 17th, as he is permitted to be at the Dolphins' facility or at any team event. This situation and investigation is on top of former head coach Brian Flores filing a lawsuit, alleging racism in their hiring process.

Broncos WR Tim Patrick Suffers Torn ACL

The Denver Broncos will be down a key weapon for new quarterback Russell Wilson this season, as wide receiver Tim Patrick went down with a torn ACL on Tuesday. The injury is season-ending and occurred during passing drills on Tuesday. Patrick's leg buckled as he was turning to catch a pass attempt, and he was seen grabbing his knee as he fell to the ground. The wideout led the team in touchdown receptions last season, and was on pace to be a top three option this season. He ranked third on the team in receptions with 53, while finding the end zone five times. The Broncos signed Patrick off waivers in 2017, and the was waived later that year before returning. His performance earned him a three-year, $30 million deal last November. This is the third straight season that the Broncos are losing a key player to a torn ACL, with Cortland Sutton suffering the injury in 2020 and KJ Hamler going down last season.