Category: Sports

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. The UFC heads to Belgrade, Serbia, for the first time and new users can take advantage of one of the top UFC promos at DraftKings. New users can receive $150 instantly in bonus bets, making it a great time to get involved with this weekend’s UFC Fight Night card. The main event features hometown favorite Uroš Medić taking on veteran Daniel Rodriguez in a pivotal welterweight showdown. Medić enters on a three-fight winning streak, with all three victories coming by first-round knockout, while Rodriguez returns after more than a year away looking to spoil the Serbian’s homecoming. The main card also includes former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz against rising contender Navajo Stirling. Whether you’re backing Medić to continue his knockout streak or predicting an upset from Rodriguez, DraftKings offers moneylines, method-of-victory props, round betting, parlays, and live wagering throughout the show. New users can claim the DraftKings promo and receive $150 instantly in bonus bets before UFC Fight Night gets underway. DraftKings Claim the New User Offer No Promo Code Needed Uroš Medić vs. Daniel Rodriguez — Fight Odds Method of Victory Odds Event Details & Schedule The Matchup Breakdown Main Card Lineup

The 2026 MLB trade deadline is approaching, and there will be teams buying and selling – and plenty of rumors about both – before then. Here you’ll find the latest rumors, news and trades from around the league. July 31 The Minnesota Twins appear to be buyers. Just hours after acquiring reliever A.J. Minter from the New York Mets, Minnesota acquired Baltimore Orioles right-hander Dean Kremer, the two teams announced. Minnesota is sending 18-year-old outfield prospect Jhomnardo Reyes to Baltimore in the trade; Reyes is now ranked as the No. 20 prospect in Baltimore’s farm system, per MLB Pipeline. Over seven starts this season, Kremer, who sports a career 4.37 ERA, owns a 6.50 ERA, a 1.36 WHIP and a 65 ERA+ across 36.0 innings pitched. The Twins (56-55) have won seven of their last nine games and are now tied with the Cleveland Guardians for the third American League wild-card seed and three games behind the Chicago White Sox for first place in the AL Central. The Milwaukee Brewers appear to be putting their money where their mouth is. If Milwaukee were to acquire Detroit Tigers superstar left-hander Tarik Skubal, it would be willing to eat the remaining money on his 2026 salary, according to The Athletic. Skubal has roughly $9.8 million remaining on his salary for this season and is a free agent at year’s end. If Skubal lands in Milwaukee, he’d form a tantalizing, one-two rotation punch with Jacob Misiorowski and a Brewers starting staff that’s first in MLB in opponent batting average (.213) and second in ERA (3.38) and WHIP (1.08). The Brewers stand atop the National League Central at 67-41, good for the second-best record in the sport. AJ Minter may just be the first of many relievers on his way out of Queens. The Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates are among the teams expressing interest in acquiring New York Mets reliever Luke Weaver, according to The Athletic. Weaver, who’s in the first season of a two-year, $22 million deal, boasts a 1.88 ERA, an 0.84 WHIP and a 222 ERA+ this season, while totaling 44 strikeouts and 1.9 wins above replacement over 43.0 innings pitched. The Mets’ big offseason splash could be on the move. The Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies are among the teams showing “strong interest” in acquiring Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta, per The Athletic. The report notes that the Mets are asking for a top-100 prospect, among other assets, in a trade. Peralta, who’s a free agent after this season, has a 4.99 ERA, a 1.48 WHIP and an 83 ERA+, which are each career worsts. That said, Peralta is a two-time All-Star who’s a year removed from posting a career-best 2.70 ERA and 5.5 wins above replacement. July 30 Cincinnati Reds star right-hander Hunter Greene is drawing “significant interest,” according to The Athletic. The report notes that the Reds aren’t necessarily looking to move Greene. Rather, if a team blows them away with a trade offer, a deal could then materialize. Greene, a 2024 All-Star, has made just four starts this season, as he recently returned from an elbow injury. Last season, across 19 starts, Greene posted a 2.76 ERA, an 0.94 WHIP and a 161 ERA+, while totaling 132 strikeouts and 4.2 wins above replacement. The 26-year-old Greene is under team control through 2029, with the Reds sitting in last place in the National League Central at 50-57. Detroit Tigers superstar left-hander and two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal “is going to be traded,” according to ESPN. Skubal, who’s a free agent after this season, has a 2.79 ERA, an 0.91 WHIP and a 154 ERA+, while totaling 116 strikeouts and 3.1 wins above replacement over 96 ⅔ innings pitched (16 starts). The Milwaukee Brewers “would love” to acquire San Diego Padres star closer and two-time All-Star Mason Miller, according to ESPN. Miller, who’s under contract through 2029, is 28 for 28 in save situations, boasting an 0.79 ERA, an 0.79 WHIP and a 525 ERA+, while totaling 85 strikeouts and 2.7 wins above replacement over 45 ⅔ innings pitched. If Miller lands in Milwaukee, he’d join a Brewers bullpen that’s fifth in MLB in ERA (3.68). July 26 With his future uncertain, right-hander Freddy Peralta held the Los Angeles Dodgers to three runs (two earned) and six hits while throwing 93 pitches in four innings Sunday before New York rallied with three-run homers by Tyrone Taylor and Marcus Semien in an 8-3 victory. It could end up being Peralta’s last start for the Mets. “I can’t hide that,” Peralta said. “I know it probably is, but I have to focus and keep giving the best of myself and if it happens, it happens. I’m just thankful and grateful to be part of this organization. I know that so far I let them down. I haven’t (done) what I was supposed to do, but I’m grateful to be here.’ Peralta can become a free agent after the season. The two-time All-Star was acquired from Milwaukee in January for youngsters Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat as the Mets gave up a pair of players rated among the game’s top 100 prospects in the anticipation Peralta would be the frontline starter they needed. Instead, he is 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA in 22 starts and has failed to complete five innings in four of his past five outings. He was 5-5 with a 3.90 ERA after beating Atlanta 8-1 on June 14 but is 0-4 with a 7.93 ERA in his last seven starts, including a June 20 dud when he allowed 10 runs and 10 hits over 2 ⅔ innings at Philadelphia. July 25 Could the starting shortstop for the National League in the 2026 MLB All-Star Game be on the move? While they’re “not shopping” the two-time All-Star, the Washington Nationals will “listen” to trade offers for shortstop CJ Abrams, according to The Athletic. The report notes that the New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers are among the teams interested in acquiring Abrams. Abrams is under contract through 2028 and is in the midst of arguably the best season of his career. Through 100 games, Abrams has totaled 24 home runs, 76 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, a 148 OPS+ and 3.9 wins above replacement, while boasting a .288/.361/.544 slash line. Abrams leads MLB shortstops in home runs, RBIs, slugging percentage (.544) and OPS (.905). The Nationals are 52-52 and three games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks for the third NL wild-card seed. The Athletics got some pitching help. Dallas Keuchel has signed a minor-league deal with the A’s, according to ESPN. Keuchel, 38, will report to the team’s Triple-A affiliate. Keuchel, a two-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glover, last pitched in MLB in 2024 with the Milwaukee Brewers, making four starts. If the southpaw makes his way to the big-league club, the Athletics would be his eighth MLB team. Keuchel won the 2015 American League Cy Young Award with the Houston Astros, where he spent the first seven seasons of his MLB career (2012-18). The Athletics, who are 44-59, are 29th in MLB with a 5.22 rotation ERA, a 1.48 rotation WHIP and a .266 opponent batting average against their rotation. July 23 The Los Angeles Angels, who own the worst record in the American League (41-62), are “very open to trading controllable players if the right offers materialize,” according to ESPN. Those players reportedly include starting pitchers José Soriano and Reid Detmers — who are each under contract through 2028 — and shortstop Zach Neto, who’s under contract through 2029. Over 118.0 innings pitched (21 starts), Soriano has recorded a 3.43 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 122 strikeouts and a 122 ERA+; over 120.0 innings pitched (21 starts), Detmers has posted a 4.05 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP, 136 strikeouts and a 103 ERA+. Neto has totaled an AL-high 69 runs scored, 19 home runs, 46 RBIs and a 117 OPS+, while sporting a .238/.326/.446 slash line. Granted, he also leads the AL with 141 strikeouts. July 22 If the Padres make flame-throwing closer Mason Miller available before the trade deadline, then the Yankees will attempt to bring him to New York, per the New York Post. There is no indication yet that the Padres are putting Miller on the block, as whether they buy or sell has a lot to do with the team’s record as the deadline nears, but the Yankees wanting Miller makes a lot of sense given his dominance. Miller is also under team control through 2029, so he would not be a rental – which also means he would not be cheap. The Padres acquired Miller last deadline in a package that included one of the top prospects in baseball, Leo De Vries, and while that might not be what San Diego gets back with a year less of team control left, Miller isn’t exactly being dealt away at rental prices. New York has David Bednar closing for it already, but Miller has a 0.86 ERA with 78 strikeouts in 41 ⅔ innings. He’s one of the most dominant arms in the game, is still 27 years old and could anchor the Yankees’ bullpen for the rest of the decade without an extension. San Diego, though, is two games back of a wild-card spot, with its struggling star hitters no longer struggling, so dealing Miller now to reload for 2027 might not be appealing given that much of the current core will carry over into next season. It all depends on what the Padres decide to do, however, whether it’s to buy, sell or a combination of both. Trade two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal for a deadline haul, and start working on 2027 and beyond? Hold on to Skubal and attempt to win in 2026 while he’s still a Tiger? Those were the options under consideration. Per the Athletic, though, a third path is being discussed by Detroit, and that’s dealing Skubal – a pending free agent – now in a package that will give the Tigers both a present-day replacement for him in the rotation, as well as help for the future. The plan would be to bring back a pitcher under team control who, while not being the pitcher Skubal is – few are – would productively fill in his innings as well as give them one less pitcher to have to acquire over the offseason. There are obvious risks to this – the American League is weak, and the presence of Skubal means a short playoff series could go the Tigers’ way if they can simply get to October – but with just two months maximum of the defending AL Cy Young winner in Detroit, the risk could be worth it if it helps to secure a better future. Especially since, through July 21, the Tigers are five games out of a wild-card spot and 6.5 out of the AL Central lead. Neither are impossible deficits, but the Tigers are looking at seven teams ahead of them in the wild-card race and three in the division; they aren’t alone in trying to secure one of these playoff tickets. The Tampa Bay Rays have the best record in the American League, and that may spur an aggressive trade deadline. “I think the big surprise will be Tampa buying big,” one rival executive reportedly told The Athletic. “They’re everywhere scouting.” At 58-42, Tampa Bay, which hasn’t made the playoffs since 2023, holds a two-game lead on the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East and the best record in the AL. Even though he hasn’t pitched since May, Clay Holmes is attracting interest. There’s a “greater chance” the New York Mets would trade Holmes, rather than extend him, according to The Athletic. Coming off a 2025 campaign where Holmes posted a 3.53 ERA and a 116 ERA+ in what was his first season as a full-time MLB starting pitcher (Holmes was previously a two-time All-Star as a reliever), the right-hander boasts a 2.39 ERA and 175 ERA+ this season, but he hasn’t pitched since May due to a fractured fibula. Holmes is in the second season of a three-year, $38 million deal. The Mets are 43-59, good for last place in the National League East. Could one of the best free agent signings of the offseason be moved? Some teams feel it’s “inevitable” that the Washington Nationals trade left-hander Foster Griffin, according to The Athletic. Griffin, who signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Nationals after not pitching in MLB since 2022 (he pitched in Japan from 2023-25), boasts a 2.68 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP, a 159 ERA+ and 3.7 wins above replacement across 117 ⅓ innings pitched (20 starts) this season, with him earning a spot on the NL All-Star roster. The Nationals are 51-51 and 1.5 games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates for the third NL wild-card seed. July 21 The Giants have had a rough 2026, but there are pieces on the team that could be moved to try to build a better 2027 and beyond. Per the San Francisco Chronicle, two such players are outfielder Heliot Ramos and infielder Casey Schmitt. The Chronicle reports that scouts from the Mariners and Phillies were in attendance to see the Giants face the Royals on Monday. What makes Ramos attractive to other teams is also why the Giants might want to hang onto him, though, so it’s unclear if he would actually be moved: Ramos is batting .276/.310/.469, which is even better than it looks owing to Oracle Park’s pro-pitcher dimensions, and the 26-year-old isn’t even arbitration-eligible for the first time until 2027 – Ramos would not be a free agent until before the 2030 season. As for Schmitt, he is playing third, first, second base and shortstop for the Giants in ‘26, while batting .275/.304/.482 with 19 homers. Like with Ramos, that line is even better than it looks – his 120 OPS+ has him very comfortably above the league-average production at any of the positions he’s played this season. Also like Ramos, Schmitt isn’t eligible for arbitration until this offseason – any teams looking to pry Ramos or Schmitt from the Giants will be paying for the privilege, but they will also be getting far more than just a rental for the price. The Giants might be willing to hear those offers, though, as San Francisco is 20.5 back in the NL West even with the likes of Ramos and Schmitt on the roster, and has the third-worst record in the NL, putting it ahead of just the Mets and Rockies in the NL wild-card race. July 20 The Los Angeles Angels have the worst record in the American League (40-61). Is the inevitable coming at the trade deadline? “We are going to have to be very open-minded,” general manager John Mozeliak, who was promoted to the role last month in the wake of Perry Minasian’s dismissal, said about the team’s trade deadline plans, according to MLB.com. “Obviously, we’re not having the year we hoped to. When you think about the trade deadline, you think about the offseason. There are certain times when you have the ability to get better, and so understanding the market and where that’s going, that’s first and foremost my biggest thing.” Angels shortstop Zach Neto (AL-best 69 runs scored), ace José Soriano (3.43 ERA in 21 starts) and left-hander Reid Detmers (4.16 ERA in 20 starts), among others, are theoretically candidates to be moved. “I’m not going to mention names, but what I am going to stick to is we know things have to change,” Mozeliak said. “And what that looks like, who that looks like, that’s to be determined. But not going into this with an open-minded approach, I think, would be a failure on my part.” The Detroit Tigers have a losing record and arguably the best pitcher in the sport, Tarik Skubal, is a prime trade candidate given his looming free agency. But will the Tigers go against the grain and aim to make a playoff push? “We’ve been playing Game 7 since May,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said before the team’s 8-6 win against the Chicago Cubs on July 20. “We know what’s ahead. We know what the conversation around our team is. Tarik is in the news every single day because someone has a dream trade to make up — yet we have a game to win that night. … We’re taking it [trade buzz] with open arms, that it’s part of our identity. We’ve got to block out all the news of what’s ahead the next few weeks and get to winning games.” While 47-53, the Tigers are just 3.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox for the third AL wild-card seed and 6.5 games behind the Chicago White Sox for first place in the AL Central. They’ve also won 12 of their last 16 games. Colorado Rockies general manager Josh Byrnes orchestrated a trade with his former team Monday, sending right-hander Seth Halvorsen to the Los Angeles Dodgers for two minor league players. Halvorsen is eligible to come off the 15-day injured list after being placed on it earlier this month with inflammation in his right shoulder. He is 0-1 with a 4.74 ERA across 21 appearances this season. As part of the deal, Colorado picked up right-handed pitcher Nick Frasso and outfielder Landyn Vidourek from the Dodgers. Byrnes knows the Los Angeles farm system after spending more than a decade in the front office with the team. He left in December to join forces with Paul DePodesta, the Rockies’ president of baseball operations, in an effort to turn around a franchise that’s trying to break a string of three straight 100-loss seasons. The 27-year-old Frasso was 1-0 with a 4.74 ERA with Triple-A Oklahoma City this season. He was picked up by the Dodgers as part of a deal with Toronto on Aug. 2, 2022. Frasso was ranked the 80th overall prospect in baseball before the 2024 season by MLB.com. He will report to Triple-A Albuquerque. Vidourek, a third-round pick out of the University of Cincinnati in 2025, is hitting .176 with eight home runs and 28 RBIs in the minors this season. He will report to Single-A Fresno. Colorado drafted Halvorsen in the seventh round out of Tennessee in 2023. The 26-year-old is 3-4 in 75 career games with the Rockies and has 13 saves. The Rockies entered the day 23 1/2 games behind Los Angeles in the NL West.

There are 15 MLB games on today’s schedule, and three of them air nationally on FOX and FS1. FS1 carries an afternoon matchup between the Twins and Mariners, two teams hovering right around .500, while FOX has a doubleheader of its own in prime time featuring the Diamondbacks and Guardians, both clubs sitting comfortably above .500, and the Yankees and Cubs, two of the stronger records in baseball right now. All three streams live and on demand on FOX One. MLB Schedule for August 1 on FOX Networks Twins at Mariners Minnesota is hovering around .500 and Seattle is hanging just below it, so this one shapes up as a tight, low-margin affair between two teams still very much in the mix. Both sides need wins to keep pace in a crowded American League field, which should make for a competitive afternoon on the West Coast. Diamondbacks at Guardians Arizona and Cleveland enter this one on comparable footing, both clubs a handful of games over .500 and pushing for playoff positioning in their respective leagues. It is a matchup of two teams trending in the right direction, and neither wants to slip this weekend. Yankees at Cubs This is a marquee matchup between two of the better records in baseball. New York and Chicago have both separated themselves from the pack, and a night game at Wrigley Field between two contenders is about as good as the regular season gets. Other August 1 MLB Games How to Watch MLB Games FOX and FS1 carry today’s national games, Twins at Mariners, Diamondbacks at Guardians and Yankees at Cubs, all of them streaming live and on demand on FOX One.

Fernando Mendoza eventually taking over as the Raiders’ starting quarterback seems inevitable, so much so that the only question is a matter of when it occurs. Kirk Cousins doesn’t appear to be in any terrible hurry to hand the position to him, exhibiting the emotions and precision of someone ready to secure the spot entering Las Vegas’ season. “I think in this league, it’s kind of one day at a time,” Cousins said. “You’re only as good as your last throw, your last practice. You try to every day go out and earn that opportunity and never take anything for granted.” Coach Klint Kubiak made national news on the eve of training camp that Cousins would be the starter when practices began, but he was stating the obvious. Cousins ran the first-team offense in organized team activities and minicamp and there was no indication that would change entering camp. Kubiak also made it clear at the time that he expected Mendoza and Aidan O’Connell to push Cousins, noting Friday he thought that position was off to a good start this camp. “Any time they complete a ball better than (Cousins) does or get it out faster than he does, then he should get pissed and want to do it better,” Kubiak said. “That’s the goal, and I think they’ve done that in these first three practices. Every guy is doing something good every day, and it makes the other guy want to stay after practice a little bit longer to work on that throw that they missed.” Cousins doesn’t hold back much emotionally on the field, though none of that has been directed at Mendoza or O’Connell. He has punched his fist in the air after throwing a touchdown pass and gotten into some verbal back and forth with the defense. “I think I’ve always kind of been pretty spirited and competitive in practice and kind of have a little inner fire,” Cousins said. “Sometimes I can be relatively calm, but if you rattled the cage, then maybe you’ll see a little different guy. Sometimes it’s good then to get my cage rattled because it brings out the best in me.” The Raiders brought in Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowler entering his 15th season, to be a bridge rather than hand the offense directly to a rookie. Cousins is playing for a guaranteed $20 million, though his former club, Atlanta, is responsible for $8.7 million of that. Las Vegas drafted Mendoza first overall after he won the Heisman Trophy and led Indiana to a highly unlikely national championship. The hope is he will help deliver the Raiders, who haven’t won a playoff game in more than two decades, back to contention. For his part, Mendoza is still adjusting to NFL life, learning to take snaps under center and the footwork adjustments that come with that. He struggled during much of OTAs and minicamp, his passes often nowhere close to on target. That wasn’t the case so far in training camp. Mendoza was not only on point, he completed some tight-window passes. “I love the mindset that he has,” Kubiak said. “That’s what all of our players should have. Nobody has arrived, especially a rookie quarterback.” Mendoza would not argue, saying sometimes a play he feels good about on the practice field looks a lot different when reviewing the video, that he’s had to get used to the fact the margins are a lot smaller than in college. “When it was rookie minicamp and OTAs, it happens very quick,” Mendoza said. “However, now in training camp, I truly feel like a member of the team rather than a new rookie on the scene.” That was evident on Thursday in just his second camp practice during a seven-on-seven drill. Before the snap, Mendoza signaled to ninth-year wide receiver Phillip Dorsett II to move to his left. Dorsett indeed moved over and then Mendoza hit him in stride with the throw. When asked later about taking such command of the offense, Mendoza deflected the praise. “There’s a lot of times that the offensive line would correct me,” Mendoza said. “The running backs, tight ends, receivers, they would help put me in place. It’s that relationship that we have, that dynamic relationship where we can hold each other accountable.” That kind of answer likely sits well in the locker room. Rather than expecting to be handed the job as the top draft pick, Mendoza has shown he is willing to work for it. “Every day, he’s trying to get better,” fourth-year wide receiver Tre Tucker said. “I’m watching him in meetings and he’s listening, taking the corrections. Those are the type of things that you want to see from a guy like him, and he has a very bright future.” Reporting by the Associated Press.

The San Francisco Giants are suspending payments to Harrison Bader following a scooter accident that resulted in a season-ending foot injury. “Over the weekend, Harrison Bader was involved in an accident that has delayed Harrison’s prior treatment timeline for plantar fasciitis and, unfortunately, his return to the field,” Giants President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey said in a statement. “We are still investigating the circumstances of the accident, but will be suspending payment to Harrison until he is able to resume performing services for the club.” Bader has been sidelined since May 29 due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot. The injury was further aggravated during the scooter accident. However, Giants manager Tony Vitello said on Thursday that Bader’s season was already over due to his pre-existing foot injury. Bader signed a two-year, $20.5 million contract with the Giants in January. Bader appeared in 30 games before his season-ending injury and batted .170 with five home runs. The Giants are fourth in the NL West with a record of 47-62.

In today’s Fast Five, Jerry Jones is playing a dangerous game with Micah Parsons, Indiana coach Curt Cignetti takes a shot at the SEC, ‘lofty’ goals for the Bears and more! (7/23)

With the MLB trade deadline set for 6 p.m. ET on Monday, and as the calendar simultaneously flips to August, World Series odds are attracting more attention. That includes one Caesars Sports customer who thinks the Dodgers just might land Tigers ace Tarik Skubal between now and Monday night. “We just took a $10,000 bet [Friday] morning on the Dodgers +175 to win the World Series,” Caesars head of baseball trading Eric Biggio said Friday afternoon. Biggio and Caesars senior baseball trader Matt Torchia help break down 2026 World Series odds and action, as the regular season hits its final two months. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Skubal Sweepstakes At 51-58, Detroit is fourth in the AL Central and trails seven teams in the AL wild-card chase. That means the Tigers will likely be trade-deadline sellers, with Skubal the best piece to offer up by far. The left-handed ace can walk as a free agent after this season, so Detroit almost assuredly wants something in return. As of Friday afternoon, the Dodgers are the frontrunner to snag him. If that happens, then World Series favorite Los Angeles would surely move off its current +175 price, becoming an even stronger favorite, likely in the +140 range. But Caesars wouldn’t be that enthused about a third straight Dodgers championship. “We’re OK to the Dodgers on straight bets,” Biggio said. “But what’s been popular with bettors is including the Dodgers in futures parlays. That connected for a few of our players last year. “I think there’s gonna be some futures parlay liability with the Dodgers.” Banking On Boston A huge surprise over the past month has been the resurgence of the Red Sox. On July 1, Boston was 37-48 and an afterthought for the playoffs. Then came a 15-game win streak, which comprised the bulk of a 20-2 run that actually began in late June. That took the Sox from 100/1 long shot to +1800 10th choice in Caesars World Series odds. If the season ended today, Boston would be the second of three AL wild-card teams. “A good amount of bets came in on the Red Sox at some decent numbers for the bettors,” Biggio said. “Not many got in at the peak of 100/1, but there are some tickets at 50/1 and 40/1. “We’re still OK to the Red Sox, though. They’re a good story, and their playoff matchups would draw a lot of action. Red Sox-Yankees and Red Sox-White Sox would do a lot of business.” And a Red Sox-Dodgers World Series — a repeat of the 2018 championship, won by Boston — would do massive numbers at sportsbooks. Southside Ride Arguably the biggest surprise of the 2026 MLB season is the White Sox sitting atop the AL Central, at 57-51. In fact, through games of July 30, only the Rays (64-44) and Yankees (61-48) have better records in the AL, and Chicago is tied with Boston. So a team that opened at a massive +30000 (300/1) at Caesars is now all the way to +2500. And plenty of bettors got on the White Sox at longer-shot odds. “Our position on the White Sox is a pretty big red figure, and I imagine it’s similar at other sportsbooks,” Biggio said. “All those $10 and $20 bets add up.” Indeed, a $20 flier at 300/1 would profit $6,000 if the White Sox lift the trophy. If you got frisky and put down a hundred bucks — which surely some people did — that bet would profit $30,000. Torchia pointed to a couple other surprising teams that would blow up Caesars’ bottom line in World Series odds, including the Pirates and the Cardinals. Both are within three games in the NL wild-card hunt. Pittsburgh is a dead-even 55-55, 2.5 games out of the third and final wild-card slot. St. Louis is 54-55, three games out in the wild card. Pittsburgh opened at +15000 (150/1) to win the World Series and is now +7500. “The Pirates have been a fun story. Every year, they seem to do this, and they normally flame out,” Torchia said. “But this year, they’re stuck around .500 and maybe could eke out a Wild Card spot. “We’d take a big hit on the Pirates winning the World Series.” As for St. Louis: “It’s not as much of a hit on the Cardinals, but it wouldn’t be great for us,” Torchia said. “We had their win total at 74.5. We had no faith in them. They’ve outperformed their expectations. “And our customers were betting into the Cardinals, because of the name brand and the big price.” All that said, as noted above, the Pirates are still well down the oddsboard at +7500, and the Cardinals are double that at +15000 (150/1). Texas Twosome The top three teams in tickets and money in Caesars’ World Series odds are the Dodgers — by far — followed by the Yankees and Mariners. New York is the +550 second choice to win it all, trailing only Los Angeles. Seattle is the +1600 co-seventh choice, despite currently sitting sub-.500 at 53-57. Torchia said Caesars is rooting for two of the Mariners’ division rivals at this point. “We’d like to see the Astros or the Rangers win the World Series,” he said. Like Seattle, both Texas and Houston are hovering around .500, with the Rangers in first at 55-54 and Houston a half-game back at 55-55. “I could see Texas as a sleeper, a good under-the-radar team. Nobody talks about the Rangers,” Torchia said. The Rangers are +1600 — joining the M’s — while the Astros are +3500 in World Series futures. Biggio agreed that Texas and Houston are both good for the book. But he’s really looking for the least attractive matchup possible. “I’m rooting for a non-sexy World Series, the most boring possible: the Brewers vs. the Rays,” Biggio said. “They both play the best fundamental baseball. I think the Brewers are very underrated.” Biggio might just get that matchup. Tampa Bay (64-44) has the AL’s best record and is the +1200 co-fourth choice in odds to win the World Series, joined by the Braves. Milwaukee (67-41) has the second-best mark in all baseball, behind only the Dodgers (69-40). Caesars has the Brew Crew at +900, the third choice to win it all, trailing only the Dodgers and Yankees.

INDYCAR HEADQUARTERS (Indianapolis) — I got to see the 2028 INDYCAR. And there is a lot to like. Well, it won’t be exactly what will run at the track starting in 2028. With 19 months to go before it actually is used to race, it will undergo more tweaks and adjustments. Testing starts Saturday and Sunday, with Alexander Rossi in the car on Saturday and Alex Palou in it on Sunday. It won’t have the actual race engines, as Chevrolet and Honda are still developing their power plants. Instead, it will have a 2.4-liter V-6 engine that was developed a few years ago but never used. It won’t have the hybrid system operational. But the tests over the next few months will inform INDYCAR about what might need to be changed before parts and pieces are started in mass production. INDYCAR doesn’t expect full tests of the entire field until after the 2027 season. “This weekend … is just some very basic metrics that we need to get off the car,” INDYCAR VP of Competition and Race Engineering Mike O’Gara told me and other reporters Friday afternoon when showing us the car. “Lap time is not even on our radar just yet. For a brand-new car, you really need to make sure it starts, it steers, and it stops. And then you start looking at more and more data and measuring more things. “If we get through these next couple days with a car that we know the braking system and the steering system work fine and the new damper system is doing what it’s supposed to, it’ll be a good test.” But leave no doubt, this car is well into its development. And for 2028, here are eight things that seem cool. Elements of the car that folks really might like. Things that are noticeable when taking a close look at the car. It’s designed to be faster — without compromising safety. And also, it’s about 100 pounds lighter than the current car used today. We’ll get into more of the tech elements after the test, but this is more what strikes me at first look. 1. LED Lights This was tried a handful of years ago. But trying to incorporate the system into an existing car produced too many problems with overheating and vibrations. It also caused issues with the car’s ability to work properly overall. But now the LED lights, which will show a car’s place during a race and potentially the time of the pit stop, should be good to go. Used in other series including IMSA, it will help fans know what place the car is in while it races. “Anti-vibration is built into it, everything in terms of the way that that carbon was built, so that it fits perfectly in there,” INDYCAR Senior VP of Competition and Operations Mark Silba told me and the gathered media. “There’s also been technical advances that have happened, and we worked with Dallara on that to build a panel that would be more robust. … That’s something we absolutely wanted to bring back for the fans.” 2. Front Wing The front wing still looks good. And for Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the design of the big curved sidepods should help with air flow to allow drivers who are third, fourth, fifth in line to be able to have an easier time making passes. I’m not sure if it is just the way the nose now looks toward the ground, but the front wing is distinctly INDYCAR. 3. It’s Sleek The car appears a little more narrow. It still has that soda-bottle look. It looks cleaner than the current car, and frankly it should. The current car, which debuted in 2012, has had things bolted on and added for safety or aerodynamic reasons. “There’s been a conscious effort to look at the nose-up attitude of the car in different yaw situations and to reduce lift,” O’Gara said. “The current car we’ve sort of piled all these things on. We have flaps on the tire ramps at the speedway, and we have flaps on the back of the under tray at the speedway. “We ran a spine on the current car. This car has none of that. Because all of the learnings from what those have all helped the cars from blowing over. From trying to make them more stable when you’re sideways or sliding backwards — we’ve seen those aero effects, and they’ve been integrated into the actual shape of the body of the car.” 4. Aeroscreen & Halo More Crisp The aeroscreen and halo, now incorporated into the car, definitely look better. It’s not as bulky. They describe it as having more of a fighter pilot look, and it is hard to argue with that. “When you see the car head-on, the windscreen and cockpit, it just fits better,” O’Gara said. 5. Clear Rear Panel There is a clear panel at the rear of the car that will allow people to see the engine cover. It will allow for engine manufacturer branding to be seen through the panel. There’s also a small area where fans — when just looking at the car as it sits on the grid — can see a little bit of the suspension underneath the body. 6. Steering Wheel And Fewer Knobs More of the controls will move to the steering wheel, giving the cockpit area a slightly cleaner look, while still boasting a steering wheel that looks cool. Plus, there’s a safety element. “We’ve tried to limit the number of controls in the car, so you’ll see a lot less knobs and buttons and levers and things like that,” O’Gara said. “The anti-roll bars are electronic now in the car, so they’re on electric actuators, and it’ll be up to the team to configure. But probably the thumb wheels that are on the steering wheel will adjust the anti-roll bars. “It’s going to allow the drivers to not pull their hand off the wheel when they’re making these adjustments for one, but it’s also less stuff in the cockpit for them to hit their hands.” 7. Bigger Cockpit The cockpit is bigger, allowing drivers of all sizes to be more comfortable in the car. It will also potentially be cooler. And we’re not talking about the looks in this instance but about the temperatures inside. “It’s safer because there’s more padding now around the driver,” O’Gara said. “It allows for a wider range of drivers.” Also, the seat doesn’t adjust but the controls can be moved to come toward the driver. 8. Cool Factor Which brings us to the last part of this piece. The cool factor when it comes to temperatures doesn’t mean it won’t be hot. The drivers, though, hopefully won’t feel that they are in an oven just baking throughout a race. The infrastructure needs of the current cool suit system are part of the car and there are many other ways the car is designed to be more comfortable. “The helmet cooling will be through the radiator ducts,” O’Gara said. “There’s cooling up top on the shock cover where we currently have cooling, and then underneath the car, there’s an area where … the bottom of the tub is sort of boat shaped, and at the very tip of that is a screen that comes right in under the steering column, blows air right on the driver. “So a lot more cooling for the driver.” Whew. That’s a good thing. It’s time to get started. “Teams will start receiving cars in about June of next year,” O’Gara said. “We’re going to coordinate the testing with all the teams. So, initially, it’ll be one car per team starting once the 2027 INDYCAR season finishes.”

As NFL teams open training camps this week, there are significant football numbers being unveiled. Yes, EA Sports celebrated “Madden NFL 27 Ratings Week,” with a few elite players earning the rare 99 rating and everyone else complaining. The target of their disappointment is former Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco Johnson, who made six Pro Bowls in a colorful 11-year NFL career and has found a second chapter as a “ratings adjuster” for EA Sports, traveling to games and scouting players in person for his role in choosing their rating. Johnson took a few minutes to talk with FOX Sports about the seriousness and silliness of football video game ratings and his readiness to back up his numbers when players take issue. Chomping on a cigar and wearing an MLS soccer jacket, he talked about everything from a penchant for generous tipping to his favorite receivers to the World Cup and his love of McDonald’s. What is your phone like on a day like today when players find out their ratings for the year? Johnson: In the past, when they didn’t have someone that was in charge of the ratings, they could be upset. They could complain. You can’t complain to me, because I can pull up and show you exactly what you are. I can show you why you’re an 82. You see, this game, where you disappear because you’re playing against one of the better players in the NFL. That’s why you’re rated where you are. Can you do it week in and week out against the best? You disappear; that’s why you’re not rated high. There’s a reason Myles Garrett is a f—ing 99. I’m a former player that played at a very high level and was elite at what he did. This is why you’re rated where you are: you disappear in f—ing games. I don’t want you to name specific names, but is there a position that might complain the most about ratings? Johnson: Every position complains. I’m not going to call out names, but especially skill-position DBs and receivers. Oh man, yeah. The funny thing about this is a great thing: You have 17 weeks to show me otherwise. You have 17 weeks to show me and don’t disappear. Listen, I understand you’re going to drop the ball as a defensive back. You’re going to get beat. It happens. I don’t care who you are; it shouldn’t happen often. But you can appreciate how much these numbers actually mean to players. Johnson: It meant something to me, because I’m a huge gamer. That’s a reflection of who I am. Your ratings numbers are a reflection of what you do on the field. That’s why it means so much. Your title is ratings adjuster. How much adjusting can you do based on your own opinion? Up or down a point? Two? Johnson: Yeah, I would say so. I think my input when it comes to adjusting, outside of those who are above my pay grade, my input matters, because I actually played the game. Not saying they’re not worthy of being able to analyze and make decisions based on what they can also see. Our eyes are one and the same. Even if you haven’t played the game, you can see: You know what? This guy, he’s not really what he thinks he is, and this is why. Having me in there to give that input, it pays dividends. Everything is fair, based on where everyone is rated right now. If you don’t like where you’re rated, show me on Sunday. You get to take very seriously something that’s still just a video game. Do you enjoy how seriously some people take it? Johnson: Absolutely, because it’s more than just a video game. Your production is based on how you get paid, so we base your production on your rating as well. It might just be a video game to some, but to some, it’s a serious matter. I know the 99s are elite, and you’re careful in how you give them out. Who is someone who doesn’t have a 99 this year, but is closest? Johnson: Easy, the quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes (93 rating this year). [Matthew] Stafford and [Josh] Allen are the only two [99s] this year. Mahomes, Lamar Jackson (94 overall), of course. Can you get it done in the playoffs where it matters most? Some receivers should very well be back in the conversation. Justin Jefferson (94 overall), now you have a quarterback. The inconsistency at play at the quarterback position is why you’re not rated where you once were. Puka Nacua (98) has a chance this year to be a 99 at some point because he is really good. His body of work is phenomenal. You’re on the road for 18 weeks straight during the season. Your schedule isn’t set yet, but what’s that like for you? Johnson: I’m ready for it. I’m excited. I love it, because it allows me to still be around the game. It still allows me to be integrated into the game in some sort. Anyone who follows you on social media knows how generous you are, leaving $1,000 tips at nearly any restaurant. When did that start, and why is it still so important for you to help people out like that? Johnson: That started for me back in 2001, when I first came into some money. I remember at times not being able to tip as much as I’d like in high school, going to IHOP, going to Denny’s, hearing their stories on how the service industry or minimum wage wasn’t enough. It wasn’t a livable wage in general, and everybody, they say, ‘Well, get a better job,’ not understanding how difficult it is for certain people based on their circumstances to for one, have transportation for a better job. Everybody’s in unfortunate situations they can’t control. What I can control is the man upstairs being able to bless me in abundance, and me being able to make sure I’m going to make this individual’s day. I started the $1,000 tipping in 2001, and I’ve been doing it now for the past 25 years. Shannon [Sharpe] and I had a funny argument on “Nightcap” about this. He tips based on service, and a lot of people jumped on me about, “Well, if the service is bad, I’m not tipping.” The first thing I say is we’ve lived in this world a very long time, and we’ve all dealt with some goddamn idiots. So there’s no telling what this server had to deal with before you. I’m always tipping $1,000 because you never know what the person had to go through, had to deal with before you got there. Do you think servers know who you are now? Are they fighting to get your table at places? Johnson: I like when they’re not aware, but sure, especially when I’m in Miami and when I’m in Cincinnati, I go to restaurants, and they already know what’s coming. I just left Charlotte after two days. They had no idea, but they knew once I left. It’s something I will always continue to do as long as the man upstairs continues to bless me. I will always do that. I know you’re a huge soccer fan, and you make a point to get to the biggest games. If I give you a chance to brag, who are the elite soccer players you’ve been able to meet in person? Johnson: That’s easy. Multiple times, obviously the two best in the world, the GOATs, depending on who you ask, would be Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi. I’ve met them since Messi was a baby. Not a literal baby, but at Barcelona, I was there when he debuted. Ronaldinho and I have met. We’re friends now. Cristiano and I are friends since he was at Sporting Lisbon. [Mario] Balotelli, [Paul] Pogba, [Gerard] Piqué, Marcelo. Oh, my goodness! The list goes on and on. Son Heung-Min, meeting one of my favorite South Korean players who played for Tottenham. Sol Campbell, Thierry Henry, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic. Oh, my goodness. Samuel Eto’o. Let me think. Neymar, obviously. Brazilian Ronaldo, who I’ve met twice; he doesn’t speak good English, but “That’s Ocho, I know his face.” Kaka and I became friends when he was here at Orlando City. Antoine Griezmann, who played at Atletico and for the French national team, he’s now at Orlando City and I know him extremely well. Just to name a few. Every offseason, as soon as the season ends, I just leave and go to Europe and I hop from city to city. Because of me being with Reebok or when I was with Nike, they bridge the gap to meet the players easily. How proud were you of how the United States handled hosting a World Cup? Johnson: It was beautiful. It was beautiful. The fact that we did such a phenomenal job, Gianni [Infantino] having the World Cup here in the U.S. and all the parties and power that be were involved, converted a lot of people into loving the game of soccer. It’s so difficult for us to appreciate here because we have so many other sports to choose from, but getting a better cultural aspect on how good and how awesome those games could be, especially for those able to attend matches in person. Listen, we love our sports here. We think we’re crazy about them. They went crazy in New York about the Knicks winning a championship. Go to a regular game in Europe. We got a small sample size, an appetizer of what it’s like for them culturally when it comes to the beautiful game. I think it was a great thing and we converted a lot of fans. I think the MLS will take over from here, continuing to grow the game here in the States. Unrelated: How many days out of 365 in a year are you eating at McDonald’s? Johnson: Honestly, maybe 362. I just call that a fasting day. Always the same McDonald’s? Johnson: Any time I’m in Miami, it’s the same McDonald’s. When I’m in Cincinnati, it’s the same McDonald’s over in Covington. When I travel, it’s a little bit different. Wherever the closest one is to the hotel, that’s where I frequent. I do eat other things. What do you think of this year’s Bengals? The offense will be great, but what about the defense? Johnson: That’s the problem. With the concerns, I’m hoping those voids are filled. Having Brian Cook come in, Dexter Lawrence to help with the run, we have some young linebackers who played somewhat well, had their ups and downs as rookies. I’m looking for them to make that next step. I’m excited for us. I’m not worried about us offensively. I’m worried about us defensively, and our defense has been our Achilles heel for a very long time. If we can have a good year defensively and we score 35 or 30 a game like we already did, if we don’t allow the other team to score 40, I’m happy. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I know we made the improvements necessary to give us the best chance to win. You had one year with the Patriots. What’s your favorite Tom Brady story? Johnson: My favorite Tom Brady story, I can’t even tell. It’s just personal. Athletes confide in you in a way that it would never get out, and that’s something that you would never tell. But Tommy, Tommy is awesome, man. He’s one of those guys you see on TV. To see him as a quarterback, it’s like if God said, “You know what, I’m going to make the perfect person.” Not only a person, the perfect football player that people can look up to. It is him, man. Words can’t describe what Tom means to me, not as a teammate but as a friend. Who are your top five receivers in today’s NFL? Johnson: That’s easy. I’m always putting Uno first. Ja’Marr Chase always goes first. Justin Jefferson would be 2. Three is tricky. I’m going to slash it between Puka Nacua and JSN (Jaxon Smith-Njigba). The four and five get tricky because there are so many people worthy of that slot. We could go CeeDee Lamb. The way George Pickens played last year, we could put George there as well. What about A.J. Brown? What about DeVonta Smith? You know, it’s so tough. I’m just going to name those four, because there are so many others that are worthy, and I’m not trying to piss anybody off. Last year, you were way ahead in picking the Panthers to win their division. Who are your breakout teams for 2026? Johnson: That’s a great question. Can I go out on a limb and say the New York Jets? I’m not sure that limb is as sturdy as it was last year when I said the Bears and Panthers and stood on a table and beat my chest about them. They did exactly what I said they were going to do. I want to say the Jets. I think Aaron Glenn, in his second year, has a tremendous amount of change offensively, having a quarterback in Geno Smith with the arm talent like no other up there with Matt Stafford and Aaron Rodgers, regardless of what people may think about it. Garrett Wilson should have a year, and then for them to steer that ship, changing some of the bad tastes people have had in their mouths over the years.

It wasn’t the World Cup that Germany had hoped for following an early exit in the round of 32, thus stretching its drought of not reaching at least the semifinals to three tournaments. The four-time champions weren’t tabbed to win it all, but there’s always expectations of a deep run for this team. Things started off on the right foot with 7-1 win over debut side Curaçao in their Group E opener. That followed a 2-1 win over the Ivory Coast, but then 2-1 loss to Ecuador to close group stage play set the Germans back. Then it was a loss on penalties after a 1-1 draw to Paraguay in the round of 32 that sent the Germans home. So what’s next for Germany’s top players after the 2026 World Cup? Havertz finished with three goals for Germany, including two in the 7-1 victory over Curaçao. He scored the equalizer in the game against Paraguay, but his penalty attempt against Oscar Gill was saved. Havertz was key to Arsenal’s Premier League winning campaign and scored in the Champions League final loss to Paris Saint-Germain. He’ll be back in action for the Gunners, who’ll look to defend its league crown. Things have been rocky lately for Germany’s talented attacking midfielder, who saw his first season at Liverpool fall short of lofty expectations. He scored just five goals in Premier League action amid questions on which position best suited him. At the World Cup, he finished with three assists but couldn’t find the back of the net. He’ll now head back to Liverpool under new manager Andoni Iraola, where Wirtz will look to get back on track for both club and country. Undav was Germany’s best player at the tournament despite being used as a substitute for most of it. He finished with three goals and two assists, including bagging a brace in the win over the Ivory Coast. A well-traveled veteran at age 30, Undav returns to Stuttgart in the Bundesliga, where he has been one of the team’s most consistent scorers. Regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers of all-time, Neuer became the oldest Germany player to feature at a major tournament, breaking the record previously held by Lothar Matthäus at 40 years and 79 days. Neuer was the sole player on this squad who was part of the 2014 Germany team that won the World Cup. With four editions on his résumé and with the most World Cup games played by a goalkeeper, he’ll go down as a legend of the game. Neuer retired from international duty after this summer, the second time he did so after initially saying he was done after the 2024 European Championship tournament. He continues to play for Bayern Munich, where he equally holds numerous records. He has a staggering 13 Bundesliga titles and two Champions League titles to his name.