The San Diego Padres (50-53) started the second half of the season with question marks surrounding the roster and whether the club would look to buy or sell at the upcoming trade deadline.The Friars entered their longest road trip of the season looking to recapture the form that carried them through the first two months of the year. Instead, San Diego has stumbled to a 2-5 start despite opening the trip against a Kansas City club with the American League's second-worst record and an Atlanta team playing without star right fielder Ronald Acua Jr., whom the Padres swept in June. The stretch has included four one-run losses and a crushing extra-inning defeat to the Royals in Friday's opener.The season is quickly unraveling from San Diego and it could force them to move the most electric reliever in Major League Baseball. Sitting three games under .500 and 4.0 games back of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the third Wild Card spot, Padres' president of baseball operations AJ Preller finds himself in a pinch.With five teams ahead of San Diego in the Wild Card chase and 15.0 games back of the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, Preller could opt to trade one of the most valuable players in the sport. It would take a significant return to create any sort of blockbuster.According to MLB insider Robert Murray, San Diego would have to be "blown away" to trade the 27-year-old superstar. The flamethrowing right-hander is perfect this season on save opportunities (25/25) while owning an ERA below one and striking out 48.4% of batters this season.Speculation surrounding San Diego's willingness to trade one of its most valuable pieces will only intensify if the club continues to slide in the standings. If the Padres want to keep their elite closer and remain in the postseason race, the turnaround must begin Friday in Miami.The Miami Marlins (52-51) welcome the Brown and Gold to LoanDepot Park looking to snap a nine-game losing streak that dates back to before the All-Star break. Since Miami won six straight over the A's and Mariners from July 3-9 and improved to a season-best 10 games above .500, the Marlins have come crashing down being swept in three consecutive series and falling out of a playoff spot.A driving force behind Miami's skid has been an ice-cold offense, which has averaged just 2.55 runs per game since July 10. Miami's recent dip in production at the plate comes as a surprise after the club ranked in the top ten of the league in several offensive categories in the first half of the season, including average (8th), on-base percentage (7th) and on-base plus slugging (10th).Shortstop Otto Lopez has excelled in his third season with Miami, leading the majors in batting average (.332) while posting a .886 OPS and 5.0 WAR in 99 games.Prior to the skid, Miami's starting pitching proved to be one of the strengths of the club. Right-handers Sandy Alcantara, Max Meyer and Eury Perez have all exceeded 100 strikeouts this season while combining for 24 total wins. Miami placed the 27-year-old Meyer on the 15-day injured list on Monday with a neck strain.San Diego's lineup, which ranked near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories during the first half, has shown signs of life since the All-Star break, averaging 6.71 runs per game, including a 19-run outburst in Sunday's win over Kansas City. Despite the offensive surge, the Padres are just 2-5 over that span.The Padres' next nine games may determine their season. Following series losses to Kansas City and Atlanta, San Diego enters the stretch with its trade deadline approach hanging in the balance. A winning streak could prompt Preller to add talent for another postseason push, while another disappointing run could turn the Padres into sellers ahead of the deadline, with Miller likely to draw massive interest from contenders.Pitching ProbablesFriday, July 24, 4:10 p.m.: RHP German Marquez (4-2, 5.24 ERA) vs. RHP Ryan Gusto (0-2, 4.70 ERA)Marquez makes his 10th start of the season as San Diego searches for its fourth straight win with the 31-year-old on the mound. Gusto takes the ball looking for his first win of the season in his seventh start.Saturday, July 25, 1:10 p.m.: LHP JP Sears (2-3, 4.38 ERA) vs. RHP Eury Perez (5-7, 3.53 ERA)After two bad starts to begin his first full season with San Diego, Sears has bounced back in July boasting a 2.51 ERA in three starts this month. Miami sends Prez to the mound for his 18th start of the season after one of his best outings of the year, firing six scoreless innings while allowing just one hit in Sunday's loss to Cincinnati.Sunday, July 26, 10:40 a.m.: RHP Walker Buehler (6-5, 5.23 ERA) vs. RHP Janson Junk (4-6, 5.09 ERA)Buehler's first season with the Padres has been defined by inconsistency. The right-hander followed a dominant June, when he posted a 1.71 ERA in five starts, with a difficult July that has seen his ERA balloon to 11.88 across 16.2 innings. As for Miami, Junk has allowed a home run in six of his last seven starts. The 30-year-old has failed to post a quality start since April 28.

Confirmed: Barcelona starting lineup against CE Europa Plenty of La Masia talent on displayHansi Flick has selected his first starting lineup of FC Barcelonas pre-season campaign.The German coach has opted for a youthful side for the friendly against CE Europa, using the opening fixture as an opportunity to distribute minutes and assess several academy prospects ahead of the new season.A youthful starting XIWojciech Szczesny starts in goal behind a back four of Hector Fort, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martn, and Jofre Torrents.The midfield is made up entirely of La Masia talent, with Guille Fernandez, Brian Farinas, and Ibrahim Diarra all handed the chance to impress during the opening weeks of preseason.Up front, Roony Bardghji, Hamza Abdelkarim, and Shane Kluivert lead the attack in another clear indication of Flicks willingness to give opportunities to emerging players.The match against Europa marks the beginning of Barcelonas pre-season preparations, although Flick is still without many of his international players following their extended summer due to the World Cup.Among the substitutes are Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Alvaro Cortes, Tommy Marques, Xavi Espart, Karim Adeyemi, Marc Casado, and Marc Bernal.First glimpse of Barcelonas pre-season squad numbersThe match also provided supporters with the first look at Barcelonas temporary squad numbers for preseason, as listed on the Catalan Football Federations official team sheet.Its important to note that these numbers are provisional and apply only to this preseason fixture. They do not represent the clubs official squad numbers for the upcoming campaign.The most eye-catching assignment was Hamza, who started the match wearing the iconic No. 9 shirt.No. 14 for Adeyemi for the friendly. (Picture credit: X/@FCBarcelona)New signing Karim Adeyemi, who began the match on the bench, wore the No. 14 shirt, the number most recently associated with Marcus Rashford.Although this could attract attention, Barcelona have not yet confirmed their official squad numbers, and the final allocation will only be announced once the full squad has returned from international duty.Other shirt assignments included: Ter Stegen . 1, Szczsny No. 25, Christensen No. 15, Casado No. 17, Fort No. 2, Guille No. 6, Farinas No. 8, Diarra No. 16, Gerard Martn No. 18, Bardghji No. 19, Jofre No. 21, Bernal No. 22, Kluivert No. 23, Cortes No. 5, Tommy No. 10, Espart No. 12Official numbers still to comeThese shirt numbers should not be interpreted as final decisions for the 2026-27 season.With several first-team internationals yet to return from their extended summer break and additional transfer activity still expected, Barcelonas squad numbering is likely to change several times before the club officially confirms the final list ahead of the new campaign.Source: SPORT

Newcastle United monitoring Rayo Vallecano defender Andrei RatiuNewcastle United are closely monitoring the situation of Rayo Vallecano defender Andrei Ratiu, according to Marca. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe wants defensive reinforcements at St James Park, and the Romania has emerged as a target. However, Liverpool also want the La Liga star, and the Magpies will be desperate to pip the Reds to his services. Newcastle were dealt a big blow earlier this summer after the Merseyside club signed Spanish attacker Victor Munoz.The Magpies thought they had wrapped up a deal to sign the winger from Osasuna, but Liverpool hijacked the deal at the last minute. Newcastle will now hope to revenge by beating them to Ratiu. Nottingham Forest are also closely following the right-back, and a move to the Premier League could be on the cards for the 28-year-old. The Toons target bagged four assists in 34 La Liga games last term after weighing in with two goals and three assists in the same number of league games in 2024-25.Ratiu has also been linked with Barcelona, with his attacking abilities attracting the Spanish club. The full-back can also play as a winger, with his dribbling and passing qualities Newcastle could do with in the final third. He also loves to intercept the ball, with his defensive contributions a major part of his game.The Magpies will hope they can get Ratiu ahead of other suitors, but the lack of European football at SJP next season could work against them.

Kyle Larson didnt need long to sum up what Alex Bowman has meant to Hendrick Motorsports.Less than 24 hours after Bowman announced he will retire from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition following the 2027 season, Larson was asked about the news during Fridays media availability at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.Rather than focusing on Bowmans accomplishments behind the wheel, Larson highlighted the qualities that made the driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet one of the organizations most respected teammates.Kyle Larson says Alex Bowman made everyone at Hendrick Motorsports betterLarson praised Bowman as both a competitor and a teammate, saying his impact extended far beyond race day.Hes been an amazing teammate, Larson said.Probably the best teammate you can ask for. Ive really enjoyed my time with him, hes made us all better.Larson and Bowman have shared the Hendrick Motorsports stable since Larson joined the organization in 2021. Alongside Chase Elliott and William Byron, the four drivers have helped Hendrick remain one of NASCARs premier organizations while combining for dozens of Cup Series victories over the past several seasons.According to Larson, Bowmans value inside the team wasnt limited to what happened on the racetrack.Larson says Bowmans personality will be missed just as much as his talentOne of the things Larson said hell remember most is Bowmans personality during team meetings and post-race discussions.Really enjoyed having him around, you know, in the debriefs and all that because he brings a dry sense of humor that we all enjoy.Larson also made it clear Bowman earned the respect of everyone at Hendrick Motorsports through his driving ability.And he can drive the heck out of a race car. So he brings, like I said, a lot to the race team.The retirement announcement came Thursday when Hendrick Motorsports confirmed Bowman had signed a one-year contract extension through the 2027 season before deciding that campaign would be his final one as a full-time Cup Series driver.While Bowman still has the remainder of the 2026 season and all of 2027 ahead of him, Larson said hes happy his teammate is getting the opportunity to leave the sport on his own terms.Im happy that hes able to do it on his own terms.Bowmans decision marks the beginning of the final chapter in a Cup Series career that has included multiple victories, playoff appearances and years as one of Hendrick Motorsports veteran leaders. Judging by Larsons comments, his influence inside the organization may be remembered just as much as the results he produced on the track.

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The Los Angeles Rams kick off training camp this weekend, returning from their summer break refreshed and revitalized. The start of the regular season is less than two months away, and there's still a lot of work for the team to do.Though there are ongoing questions about whether Aaron Donald will come back or not, the Rams are solely focused on the players in their building who will be competing for spots on the 53-man roster.With practices set to begin soon, here's our latest projection for the team's initial roster for the regular season.Quarterback (3)Matthew StaffordStetson BennettTy SimpsonI've gone back and forth often on whether Bennett will make the team or not, but ultimately chose to keep him again. He played well enough last preseason to elicit confidence that he'll be even better this summer, making it tough for the Rams to cut him. And if Simpson doesn't show he's ready to start an NFL game, the Rams may not have much choice but to keep Bennett.Running back (4)Kyren WilliamsBlake CorumRonnie RiversJarquez HunterThe Rams have a great running back room with these four. Williams and Corum will handle the majority of the carries, but it'd be great to see Hunter take a step forward after playing zero offensive snaps as a rookie last year. He can be a big-play weapon for them if he develops the way they hope.Wide receiver (6)Puka NacuaDavante AdamsJordan WhittingtonKonata MumpfieldXavier SmithCJ DanielsAll six of these receivers have utility and potential. Nacua and Adams are obviously locks, and Whittington and Mumpfield will make the team, too. Smith has value as the team's top return specialist, with Daniels bringing some new juice to the room as a rookie. The battle for WR3 will be a fascinating one to watch unfold.Tight end (5)Colby ParkinsonTyler HigbeeTerrance FergusonDavis AllenMax KlareThis is another deep group where it will be difficult to cut anyone. The top three all have TE1 potential, and Allen provides value as a big receiving target. The same goes for Klare, who was productive at Ohio State before landing with the Rams as a second-round pick.Offensive line (9)LT Alaric JacksonLG Steve AvilaC Coleman SheltonRG Kevin DotsonRT Warren McClendon Jr.OT David QuessenberryG/C Beaux LimmerG/C Justin DedichG/T Keagen TrostAlaric Jackson's potential suspension could create some movement here. If he's suspended, it could allow A.J. Arcuri to sneak onto the roster as tackle depth. Dylan McMahon would also be someone to watch as extra depth on the interior, especially if Trost plays tackle.Defensive line (6)DT Kobie TurnerNT Poona FordDL Tyler DavisDE Braden FiskeNT Tim Keenan IIIDL Ty HamiltonHamilton was a highly coveted prospect for the Rams last year, as the team traded a future fourth-rounder for him. But he had a minimal impact as a rookie and now needs a strong camp in order to hold off someone like Larrell Murchison. The other five players ahead of him should all be safe.The wild card in all of this is Donald. If he comes back, it could push Hamilton off the roster and cost Fiske playing time.Outside linebacker (4)Myles GarrettByron YoungJosaiah StewartDesjuan JohnsonThere isn't a ton of depth at this spot, but they certainly aren't lacking pass-rush talent. Stewart is a great No. 3 option to have behind Garrett and Young, and Johnson was on fire toward the end of the season, which earned him playing time in the playoffs. Inside linebacker (4)Nate LandmanOmar SpeightsShaun DolacGrant StuardAs valuable as Stuard will be on special teams, he also has the ability to play linebacker. If Speights struggles in camp, Dolac or Stuard could take snaps away from him and push for playing time. This position still belongs to Landman, despite some late-season struggles in 2025. Cornerback (5)Trent McDuffieJaylen WatsonEmmanuel Forbes Jr.Josh WallaceAl'zillion HamiltonThe Rams could easily get away with McDuffie, Watson, Forbes and Wallace, especially knowing Lake will be covering the slot. But this is a position where someone like Hamilton or Cam Lampkin could sneak onto the roster to provide even greater depth at cornerback.Safety (4)Quentin LakeKam CurlKamren KinchensJaylen McColloughSafety is one of the strongest positions on the roster and it's not hard to see why. All four of these players can be starters for the Rams, and they're all fairly versatile in their roles. Special teams (3)K Harrison MevisP Ethan EvansLS Joe CardonaThe Rams don't have backups at any of these spots, so Mevis, Evans and Cardona will be the main special teamers for 2026.This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams 53-man roster projection ahead of training camp

Kuldeep Yadav at Yorkshire: Tracking every One-Day Cup performance by India spinner after 2026 England ODI snub originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY TAKEAWAYS:Kuldeep Yadav has signed for Yorkshire for five One-Day Cup matches and three County Championship games.The move follows his omission from India's XI throughout the ODI series in England.He made his debut against Glamorgan at Neath on Friday.Tracking every One-Day Cup performance by India's spinner after 2026 England ODI snubKuldeep Yadav spent India's tour of England carrying drinks. Despite holding 194 ODI wickets at an average of 26.83, the left-arm wrist-spinner was left out of the XI throughout the series, most controversially for the decider at Lord's.That decision drew public criticism from Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari, both of whom questioned the logic of picking four seamers on a slow surface while leaving out India's most potent middle-overs threat.Kuldeep has now taken matters into his own hands. He has signed for Yorkshire County Cricket Club as an overseas player, going straight into the squad for Friday's 50-over match against Glamorgan at Neath.MORE:Only way India and Pakistan can meet at 2026 Asian Games cricketWhy is Kuldeep Yadav playing for Yorkshire?The short answer is match practice. Kuldeep has barely bowled competitively for months, and wrist spin is the most feel-dependent discipline in cricket, requiring regular overs to maintain control and confidence.His omission in England was justified by the argument that India wanted batting depth down to number seven, a rationale Ashwin dismantled at Lord's by pointing out that Arshdeep Singh was batting at number eight anyway. Vihari went further, calling the Lord's decision a shocker.He argued that Lord's is a slow wicket, that India played four fast bowlers instead, and questioned how Kuldeep could be picked for a World Cup without being given chances in series like that one. Yorkshire's reasoning was more straightforward.General manager of cricket Gavin Hamilton cited the dry English summer and said Kuldeep gives the club another dimension with his left-arm wrist spin, alongside a wealth of experience at the highest level.Kuldeep will be available for five Metro Bank One Day Cup matches before returning to Headingley for three of the final four County Championship fixtures in September, with international commitments accounting for the gap in between.MORE:Sooryavanshi proves doubters wrong: Historic half-century vs ZIM shows he is ready for international cricketKuldeep Yadav's Yorkshire One-Day Cup scheduleDateFixtureVenueFri, Jul 24Glamorgan vs YorkshireThe Gnoll, NeathSun, Jul 26Sussex vs YorkshireHoveWed, Jul 29Yorkshire vs WorcestershireYorkFri, Jul 31Yorkshire vs DurhamYorkTBCFifth fixtureTBCKuldeep Yadav One-Day Cup 2026 performance trackerMatchOppositionOversRunsWicketsEconomy1Glamorgan103923.902Sussex----3Worcestershire----4Durham----5TBC----MORE:England's Test captain and head coach for the Pakistan seriesMatch 1 vs Glamorgan, The Gnoll, NeathKuldeep made his Yorkshire debut in a low-scoring contest at Neath, bowling in tandem with off-spinner Dom Bess as Glamorgan struggled on a difficult surface. The hosts were reduced to 63 for 4 inside 17 overs before recovering.Eddie Byrom provided the main resistance, reaching a 64-ball fifty with a slog-swept six over midwicket off a low Kuldeep full toss. Glamorgan were eventually dismissed for 186, with Ben Cliff and Jack White among the wickets.Kuldeep then found himself contributing with the bat, coming in late as Yorkshire wobbled in pursuit and reaching 11 not out from 17 balls, with the visitors requiring a handful of runs from the closing overs.MORE:Sooryavanshi proves doubters wrong: Historic half-century vs ZIM shows he is ready for international cricketCan Kuldeep become India's first-choice spinner before the 2027 World Cup?The case for him is overwhelming on numbers alone. Kuldeep has 194 ODI wickets at 26.83 with best figures of 6 for 25, and no Indian spinner takes wickets through the middle overs with anything like his consistency.The conditions argument strengthens it further. The 2027 World Cup will be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, where pace and bounce dominate, and a wrist-spinner who can turn the ball both ways becomes a genuine point of difference rather than a luxury. Abhinav Mukund's projected 15-man squad included him, as most would.The question has never been whether Kuldeep is good enough, but whether the team management sees a place for him when it keeps prioritising batting depth over wicket-taking. That is why this county stint matters.Bowling long spells in English conditions across both formats gives Kuldeep the rhythm he has lacked, and it removes the one argument selectors could otherwise make, which is that he has not been playing enough cricket.For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary and to share your voice, head to ourFacebook,Instagram,andX (Twitter)pages.

The Seattle Seahawks have been searching for new talent to evaluate this offseason.According to The Seattle Times Bob Condotta, the Seahawks had wide receiver Malik Heath, defensive back AMarion McCoy and DB Deantre Prince in for tryouts on Tuesday.Heath has played all three seasons of his career with the Green Bay Packers from 2023-25. The Mississippi product went for 86 receiving yards last season.McCoy recorded four interceptions, two of which were pick sixes, as well as three passes defended, in his final season at Boise State in 2025.Prince was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fifth-round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He played in 10 games that season and recorded a defended pass that year.The Seahawks also evaluated second-year DB Brandon Johnson at the tryout as well, prior to signing him on Tuesday.This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks host three players for tryouts this summer