Paul DePodesta at Colorado Rockies spring training | Kyle Cooper | Colorado RockiesTrade season is upon us! With a little over a week to go before the August 3 trade deadline, its expected that the Colorado Rockies will be one of the more active teams as a bona fide seller. The Rockies have already made one notable trade, sending Seth Halvorsen to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and there are plenty more moves that could potentially be made. The other night, Renee Dechert asked you to speculate about who could be dealt at the deadline, and there was a lot of great conversation. This time, Im asking you to put your general manager hats (or, in this case, it can double as a president of baseball operations hat) to build upon that speculation.If you were the one calling the shots, what deals would you try to make? What players are you getting in return to build this team and fulfill that Rockies goal of getting help right now and in the near future?Additionally, what other moves are you looking to make after the deadline? For example, what prospect are you calling up, and when, to get a long look at as the season winds down? For this exercise, Id ask that you try to be as realistic as you feel you can be, but I also welcome the off-the-wall moves (and please, no mock trades Yankees fans tend to make). As an added element, I plan on reacting to a number of these moves in my Rockpile next Wednesday. So, without further ado, sound off with your best ideas in the comments below and lets have some fun wheelin and dealin!Join the conversation!Sign up for a user accountand get:Fewer adsCreatecommunity postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community postsNew, improved notifications system!Please keep in mind ourPurple Row Community Guidelineswhen youre commenting. Thanks!

If Paulo Costa wants a shot at the interim UFC light heavyweight title he better ask former division champion Alex Peieira first.As you know, UFC light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg underwent knee surgery back in April following his TKO win over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 327. Ulberg and Prochazka fought for the vacant 205-pound strap after Pereira decided to move up to heavyweight to fight Ciryl Gane at the UFC White House card, which Pereira lost via second-round knockout (watch HERE).With Black Jag currently sidelined, UFCs light heavyweight division needs some movement in the second half of the year. That has left a door open for Costa, a former UFC middleweight title challenger, to step in and potentially fight for an interim title. Costa recently returned to the light heavyweight division at UFC 327 and delivered an upset knockout win over previously undefeated contender Azamat Murzakanov.It might make sense for UFC matchmakers to ride the hot hand and grant Costa a 205-pound title shot, but it sounds like theyll have to run it past Pereira. Thats because the former UFC double champion sent a warning to Costa earlier this week that he can step back in at light heavyweight any time he wants and get an immediate title shot. Poatan is probably right, but its not something Costa wants to hear from his fellow Brazilian.Check it out below:Im just gonna say, if Ulberg is gonna be out for so long due to injury, who are they gonna put in for an interim title fight right now? asked Costa during a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani show.It is not a provocation! But I see that youre outdated, and I understand why, because its been a while since you signed your contract, and a lot of things have changed, said Pereira in response (via Bloody Elbow).If I want to compete for the light heavyweight belt, I can do this! A lot of fighters are waiting or working to get to that opportunity, and I went and took the opportunity. But now I want something more, which is the third belt. I have to take risks, because, if I hadnt taken risks in all my struggles, I wouldnt have conquered all that I have conquered.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 24: Teoscar Hernandez #37 of the Los Angeles Dodgers scores a run on a sacrifice during the seventh inning past pitcher Brooks Raley #25 of the New York Mets at Citi Field on July 24, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesWhat was a close game for much of the evening in this series opener between the Mets and Dodgers ended with an ultimately rather comfortable 4-2 victory for the Dodgers. Whats more, Juan Soto had to leave the game early due to more soreness in his ailing calf. Sean Manaea, who had a very strong outing, but did not factor into the decision worked around a leadoff single by Shohei Ohtani, who was initially called out on strikes but challenged and got an extra life, which he is going to take full advantage of more often than not. Leadoff hits would be a theme this evening for the Dodgers, but in the first Manaea bounced back to strike out two batters in a row to end the inning. In the bottom of the second, the Mets got on the board first via a towering one-out solo homer to left by Luis Roberthis second long ball in four games since returning from the injured list. Jared Young followed with a double, but the Mets were unable to drive him in and add on. Heading into the top of the third, Manaea had retired six straight, but that ended when Teoscar Hernndez doubled down the left field line to lead off the inning. A.J. Ewing had a chance to throw him out at second, but Ewing rushed the throw and it was off line. However, Manaea was able to navigate around this as well and escape the inning unscathed. Juan Soto drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the third, but Bo Bichette grounded into a double play to end the threat. Roki Sasaki kept the Mets hitters off balance all evening with his lethal splitter, generating an enormous number of whiffs on it and ultimately striking out nine in seven innings of work. The Dodgers tied the game off Manaea in the top of the fourth. Freddie Freeman, who went on to collect three hits, singled to lead off the inning and Mookie Betts followed with a single of his own to put runners at the corners and nobody out. Miguel Rojas then hit a fly ball deep enough to score Freeman and tie the game. Manaea then walked Kyle Tucker; Francisco Alvarez wanted to challenge the ball four call, but he waited too long to do so, prolonging the inning. But Manaea got the next two batters to fly out to end the inning and limit the damage to just the one run, navigating through the Dodgers lineup effectively using predominantly fastballs.Shohei Ohtani demonstrated a piece of hitting only he can achieve in the top of the fifth when he poked a Manaea sweeper that was at least six inches off the plate to right field for a double, but he tried to stretch it into a triple and Carson Benge and Francisco Lindor combined for a sparkling play to throw him out at third base, helping Manaea to get out of the inning. The Mets briefly threatened in the bottom of the frame when Jared Young laced a leadoff single, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch by Sasaki. But Sasaki did not yield and the score stay knotted at one run apiece. Freeman led off the top of the sixth with a double that was hit so hard that if Carson Benge had fielded the carom off the wall cleanly in right field, he may have thrown Freeman out at second. Alas, Benge did not field it cleanly, but he would make up for it. Mookie Betts hit a deep fly ball to center and Freeman tagged to third base. Miguel Rojas then hit a fly ball deep enough to right field to go in the scorecard as his second sac fly of the evening, but Benge unleashed a 100mph cannon of a throwthe fastest by any Mets outfielder in the Statcast erato nab Freeman at the plate and keep the go ahead run off the board, much to the delight of Manaea, who raised both arms above his head in salute. The joy of Benges fantastic defensive play was short-lived because Juan Soto was due up to lead off the bottom of the sixth, but Jorge Polanco strode to the plate instead as a pinch hitter, marking Sotos premature departure from the game due to continued soreness in his calf that had been plaguing him. The Mets went down 1-2-3 in the inning and Manaea, having given up just one run in six innings of work, made way for Brooks Raley to pitch the seventh. Kyle Tucker slapped a slow bouncer to the third base side to lead off the inning and was able to beat it out for an infield hit. Teoscar Hernndez then blooped a soft single to right to advance Tucker to third. Dalton Rushing then attempted a squeeze play, but bunted it too hard back to the mound and Raley threw the ball home. But Rushing managed to get caught in a run down between third and home long enough that the trail runners were able to advance to second and third. That turned out to be a key turn of events because Shohei Ohtani hit a sacrifice fly to plate the go-ahead run. Raley then walked Andy Pages, but got Tommy Edman to ground out to short to end the inning. The Mets were retired in order in the seventh by Sasaki, who matched his career longest outing. The Mets then turned from one lefty reliever on the trading block to another and as it turns out, neither of them were able to put up a zero. A.J. Minter gave up a leadoff single to Freddie Freemanthe seventh Dodgers leadoff hit in eight innings. The now slow-footed Freeman managed to steal second base and Minter retired the next two batters on popups to get within one out of escaping the jam. But then Kyle Tucker delivered the death knell: a two-run homer that put the Dodgers ahead 4-1. It was cushion the Dodgers turned out to need, as Francisco Alvarez launched a solo homer off Evan Phillips in the eighth to cut the Dodgers lead to two runs. But after Cionel Prez pitched the only scoreless inning by a Mets reliever in the top of the ninth, Tanner Scott set the Mets down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the frame to close things out for the Dodgers. SB Nation GameThreadsAmazin AvenueTrue Blue LABox scoresMLB.comESPNWin Probability AddedWhats WPA?Big Mets winner: Sean Manaea, +22% WPABig Mets loser: A.J. Minter, -17% WPAMets pitchers: -8% WPAMets hitters: -42% WPATeh aw3s0mest play: Luis Robert Jr.s solo home run in the second, +11.5% WPATeh sux0rest play:A.J. Minter gives up a two-run homer to Kyle Tucker in the eighth, -18.2% WPA

One of the initial tasks for first-year Arizona Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur is figuring out who the team's starting quarterback will be, now that the post-Kyler Murray era has arrived. The answer might not be coming any time soon. Veteran Jacoby Brissett who started the final 12 games last season was the initial favorite to land the role, but didn't practice with the team during the offseason because he's unhappy with his contract situation. However, he participated in Thursday's workout in a signal a new deal could be close. Brissett appears to be in a three-man battle with veteran Gardner Minshew and rookie Carson Beck for the starting job, but LaFleur didn't give any clues about the depth chart when asked to describe the competition. "I'd describe it as practice one on July 23," LaFleur said. The 33-year-old Brissett is in the final year of a $12.5 million, two-year deal, though only $1.5 million is guaranteed. If he remains the starter, he would be among the leagues lowest-paid quarterbacks. Brissett had good individual stats last season with 3,366 yards passing, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions, but the Cardinals went 1-11 in his starts. The Cardinals finished last in the NFC West at 3-14. Safety Budda Baker made his feelings known about Brissett's situation on social media earlier this month, posting: "Just want bro to get his (expletive) done he is not asking for what you think. Bro is asking for below the bare minimum. Lets just get it done!!!" Baker stood by his statement on Thursday. "I definitely think Jacoby did a great job coming in last year," Baker said. "I know we didn't get the wins that we wanted to get, but I think he commanded the offense at a high level." Johnson And Sweat On The PUP List Starting left tackle Paris Johnson (knee) and star edge rusher Josh Sweat (knee) opened camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. LaFleur said he wasn't concerned about the long-term prognosis for either player. "The Paris thing, that's really, honestly nothing. We're all on the same page, it's really just maintenance stuff so he'll be back before you know it," LaFleur said. "Same thing with Josh. Seeing him yesterday, he's fired up to be here. He was in great spirits and looked really good." Johnson and Sweat won't practice, but they still count toward the 90-man training camp roster limit. They are permitted to attend meetings and can return to practice at any point during the preseason. Johnson is entering his fourth season as a starter, while Sweat had a career-high 12 sacks last season. The other two on the PUP list cornerback Garrett Williams (Achilles tendon) and Tip Reiman (ankle) are still recovering from serious injuries that happened last season. Off-The-Field Issues Percolate LaFleur's first training camp including the quarterback battle has been overshadowed by off-the-field issues over the past few weeks. The NFL suspended Cardinals personnel executive Ryan Gold indefinitely on July 17 for violating the leagues gambling policy. The league said its investigation determined that Gold provided confidential, non-public inside information regarding 2026 draft selections by the Cardinals before the picks were announced, and Gold also participated in parlay bets on NFL and college games. Gold is in his 13th season with the organization. More recently, Cardinals offensive lineman Isaiah Adams was arrested in Canada on four weapons charges. Adams, a third-year player who is competing for a starting spot, was at camp Thursday. The 25-year-old was charged with possession of a firearm obtained in a crime, possession of a restricted/prohibited firearm, no license while in possession of a loaded firearm and possessing a prohibited device. Adams attorney, Adam Weisberg, said in a statement that Adams is "completely innocent in this matter." "He's doing good," LaFleur said of Adams. "I'm not going to comment too much on that obviously ... but he's doing good and it's good to see him." Reporting by the Associated Press.

Former President Barack Obama jokes with WNBA All-Star Caitlin Clark during a practice at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Friday, July 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)AP Photo/Paul BeatyCHICAGO From the moment President Barack Obama first stepped onto the national stage as a freshman senator from Illinois, his speeches and keynote addresses became a calling card. He could inspire and uplift, encourage and steady a nation.At the newly opened Obama Presidential Center on the South Side of Chicago on Friday, he did so again with far fewer words.In a surprise appearance ahead of WNBA All-Star practices, Obama spoke at length with WNBA Players Association president Nneka Ogwumike, interrupted the conversation to defend center Jonquel Jones, and inquired into the well-being of Breanna Stewarts daughter. When he came to Caitlin Clark, he addressed the elephant of the weekend.Dont let all this nonsense get you down, Obama said. You know, I always say, one of the things that was luckiest for me was I didnt get famous until I was like 45. So I was an old-ass man. I mean, youre my daughters age. Theyve not had that much immersion and nonsense. So dont lose that joy. The games the game.Former President Obama gives words of encouragement to Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark: "Don't lose that joy. The game's like the game. And you're a hooperyou're always hooping. And you are on a nice little run right now." pic.twitter.com/srRWsquTls CSPAN (@cspan) July 24, 2026Clarks game has always been based on joy, and though she repeated again on Friday that she hasnt lost it, its not as prevalent a feeling as it was when she led an overlooked Iowa team to back-to-back Final Fours. She did, as she jokingly noted, recently celebrate her 24th-and-a-half birthday a fact she only knows because it shares a date with the Fever mascot. At an age not far removed from being able to vote, shes feeling political-level pressure.The president is probably one of the best people to understand how [the spotlight] might feel, Clark told a group of reporters that included visitors from China and Brazil at yet another deep All-Star media scrum. Obviously, Im not on the same level as that. I want to make that perfectly clear. But there are going to be some people that love you and some people that hate you. And thats just the reality of the world when you get into a position like this.The hate is at an all-time high, a sentiment repeated so often these last few months of Clarks third WNBA season that its losing meaning. WNBA and union leadership are taking action, first meeting via videoconference on Tuesday to discuss, in part, the racist, hateful, and abusive messages directed at players.The notable moments have all tangentially included Clark, most recently stemming from the Flagrant 2 assessed retroactively to Alyssa Thomas. Chelsea Gray shared a racist message that was sent to her from a man who placed bets on the Aces-Fever game. Everything and anything Clark does, or potentially does, or might be doing, is fodder for sides to throw tomatoes across party lines.It began even before Clark made her first public appearance at All-Star festivities in Chicago. There was a column criticizing her flopping that invoked Emmett Till. She was called out for skipping Thursday nights orange carpet kickoff and going home to Iowa to have her hair done, when she was actually there for a Caitlin Clark Foundation event.As that online discourse and speculation swirl around Clark, the three-time All-Star began her weekend sticking to the business of being the name. She answered nearly 30 minutes of questions, both serious and fun, a typical All-Star whiplash she maneuvered as well as ever.There are multiple versions of Caitlin Clark, a dividing line that Obama surely knows well. They come out at different times, and some parts not at all. Her public relations is one of them, giving just enough without giving all that much. The steely competitor said her hands were sweaty and clammy at Obamas appearance. She asked for a photo, a question typically posed the other way around.After morning practice, she took a seat on the sideline to complete the 2026 All-Star blue outfit with a sweatshirt, pulling the hood over her head and untying the new White Label LX Promo colorway of her Nike Caitlin 1. She stopped by WNBA Live alongside another long-time partner, State Farm, to visit with fans. Following another outfit change, she made her way further up Lake Michigan to the heart of the city for a fireside chat unveiling the third line of her Wilson basketball at the Chicago-based flagship store.Caitlin Clark bounced from interview to appearance to interview during Friday's All-Star activities. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)AP Photo/Paul BeatyMore media. Endorsement deal partners. The daughter of the Wilson general manager, clad in an Indiana Fever jersey. These are the real-life people Clark cares most about, not the constant thread of comments on everyone's phones, and she knows which part of herself to play. They want to sell a lot of basketballs, she said at one point during her Wilson appearance. Again, as in the morning, she notes the dedication to inspiring young boys and girls.She takes a jab here, another joke there. Yes, the new basketballs are dust-free, but why would they collect dust anyway? Go play! When her connection to two-time NCAA champion pitcher and two-time Most Outstanding Player Teagan Kavan is mentioned, she dryly jests she got her right.Her dad, Brent, smiled and nodded in the front row when she said she would get in trouble as a child when she took her indoor ball outside. Or when she destroyed the garage door hitting a tennis ball with her (Wilson!) racket. Her mom reacts to the memory of a school project in which she listed her goals as a college scholarship, reaching the WNBA and getting a Bernese Mountain dog.It was what everyone should expect out of Clark, a player her teammates consistently describe as goofy, fun and caring.There is definitely a misconception about who she is as a person, Fever teammate Kelsey Mitchell said.On Thursday, the StudBudz called Clark for help again on their popular All-Star live stream, a running half-joke that her status can help them out of any predicament. Clark returned the favor Friday, taking a beat before landing on Courtney Williams as an All-Star shes most excited to play with who isnt Mitchell or Aliyah Boston.Even getting on the bus this morning, everyones dragging a little bit, Clark said. Not Courtney. Shes fired up and ready to go.But being Caitlin Clark in the WNBA at this particular moment, she had an addendum: But honestly, everybody. I think its fun to get to play with other people and obviously people who are still skilled and talented at what they do.Williams and Natasha Hiedeman, an honorary additional teammate in Clarks mind, are frustratingly or endearingly online, depending on ones vantage point. Williams used the block button constantly, though she said on Friday that there are times she needs to let people know theres a real person behind the account. The thing about social media is that were all living a version of a reality show, even those who dont want to be. The most innocuous footage can be seen by someone 5,000 miles away within seconds, while conclusions are jumped to just as quickly. And on Friday, the unauthorized Clark show continued to reach new heights before Obama had even left the building, while his words and intention will stick with her for the rest of her life.

Slugging Milwaukee Brewers first-base prospect Blake Burke left the yard three times, while fellow prospect teammate Josiah Ragsdale hit two and Andrew Fischer notched his 30th bomb of the season for Class AA Biloxi on July 24, all needed in a 10-7 win over Chattanooga.Catcher Matthew Wood wound up with the biggest blast of the night, a two-run homer to break a tie in the top of the ninth that marked the Shuckers' seventh homer of the night. Fischer added a sacrifice fly in the frame for his 20th RBI since arriving in Biloxi (29 games).Burke, the No. 18 prospect in the organization according to MLB Pipeline and one of the team's first-round draft picks in 2024, deposited his third blast of the game in the eighth, turning a 6-5 deficit into a 7-6 lead on the road. OH YOU THOUGHT WE WE WERE DONE HITTING HOMERS? THINK. AGAIN.BLAKE BURKE BASHES HIS THIRD OF THE BALLGAME FOR THE LEAD! https://t.co/LIZcF8bIA9 @bally__sports, https://t.co/5dYqzkzNIs#ShuckYeah#ThisIsMyCrewpic.twitter.com/sm5b6V0CC3 Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) July 25, 2026Burke came into the game with 21 home runs already this season and a .906 OPS, plus an impressive 23 stolen bases for the 6-3, 236-pound slugger. He didn't have a chance to steal Friday, hitting homers in each of his first two at-bats and finishing 3-for-4 with four driven in.He stepped to the plate with two on and one out in the ninth with a chance for a fourth homer, but he was hit by a pitch on the foot to load the bases.It was an eventful game in the context of an eventful week for the Shuckers, who've become the central hub of Milwaukee's vaunted farm system, including with the promotion of catching prospect Marco Dinges to the level from Class High A Wisconsin on July 23. The lineup also features Jess Made, the top-ranked prospect in the organization, and Josh Adamczewski, the organization's top outfielder who made a diving catch in the ninth for the second out.The Shuckers pitching staff took a combined no-hitter into the ninth inning July 21 and another one into the sixth on July 23. Then came the Friday night game with seven homers.Ragsdale, ranked No. 14 in the system by MLB Pipeline, hit two homers in the game. He now has six in 18 games since getting promoted to Biloxi, and he came into the night with a .975 OPS. Overall this year, he has 13 homers and 30 steals.The home run party continues for Josiah Ragsdale! Our 5th of the night gets us within one! https://t.co/LIZcF8bIA9 @bally__sports, https://t.co/5dYqzkzNIs#ShuckYeah#ThisIsMyCrewpic.twitter.com/oT02M0QXa1 Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) July 25, 2026Andrew Fischer, meanwhile, hit his 30th homer of the year between two levels, and his 10th in 29 games at Biloxi. Fischer, the team's first-round pick in 2025 and No. 7 prospect according to Pipeline, had a gaudy 1.002 OPS at AA heading into the night.According to the Shuckers' Javik Blake, it's the third Brewers prospect to have a 30-homer season in the minors and first since 2001 ... and Fischer reached the milestone with more than a month of season left.Andrew Fischer joins the 30 HR club The @BrewersPD No. 9 prospect is now tied for the minor league lead (@BiloxiShuckers) pic.twitter.com/Oh7VWFCSYu Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) July 25, 2026In just more than a year since he began playing in the Brewers organization, Fischer has a 1.032 OPS.This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers prospect Blake Burke hits three homers for Class AA Biloxi

Layne Riggs led 198 of 200 laps to win the TSport 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on July 24 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.Riggs was in control for the entire race distance, save for a restart issue at the beginning of the second stage that forced him to second for a couple laps.The driver of the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford earned his fifth win of the season at IRP.Connor Mosack finished second, while Ty Majeski was third.Christian Eckes finished second in the first stage but had an alternator issue and lost several laps for repairs before finishing 35th. Stewart Friesen wrestled control of 10th in the points standings over Tyler Ankrum after a sixth-place run, plus a handful of stage points. The two were tied for the final Chase spot coming into the race, and Friesen left IRP with a eight-point cushion over Ankrum.Here are the full results for Friday's Truck Series race at IRP:WEEKEND SCHEDULE: NASCAR Indianapolis full weekend track schedule, TV schedule for the Brickyard 400, other racesWho won the NASCAR Truck Series Indianapolis Raceway Park race? Winner, race results for theTSport 200 raceUnofficial resultsfrom the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on July 24, 2026 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.Layne Riggs, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports FordConnor Mosack, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletTy Majeski, No. 88 Thorsport RacingFordChandler Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports FordNick Sanchez, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletStewart Friesen, No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing ToyotaKaden Honeycutt, No. 11 TRICON Garage ToyotaGavan Boschele, No. 1 TRICON Garage ToyotaTyler Ankrum, No. 18 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing ChevroletAndres Perez de Lara, No. 44 Niece Motorsports ChevroletMichael Christopher Jr., No. 62 Halmar Friesen Racing ToyotaParker Eatmon, No. 42 Niece Motorsports ChevroletGio Ruggiero, No. 17 TRICON Garage ToyotaGrant Enfinger, No. 9 CR7 MotorsportsChevrolet (-1 lap down)Ben Rhodes, No. 99 Thorsport RacingFord (-1)Harrison Burton, No. 5 TRICON Garage Toyota (-1)Dawson Sutton, No. 26 Rackley W.A.R. Chevrolet (-2)Justin Haley, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Ram (-3)Timmy Hill, No. 56 Hill Motorsports Toyota (-3)Butterbean Queen, No. 12 Kaulig Racing Ram (-3)Jake Garcia, No. 98 Thorsport RacingFord (-3)Tanner Gray, No. 15 TRICON Garage Toyota (-3)Cole Butcher, No. 13 Thorsport RacingFord (-3)Corey Lajoie, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Ram (-3)Toni Breidinger, No. 27 Rackley W.A.R. Chevrolet (-3)Conor Daly, No. 25 Kaulig Racing Ram (-3)Mini Tyrrell, No. 14 Kaulig Racing Ram (-3)Spencer Boyd, No. 76 Freedom Racing Enterprises Chevrolet (-3)Frankie Muniz, No. 33 Team Reaume Ford (-4)Kris Wright, No. 81 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet (-4)Monty Tipton, No. 22 Team Reaume Ford (-4)Cassten Everidge, No. 93 Costner Motorsports Chevrolet (-7)Christian Eckes, No. 91 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet (-36)Daniel Hemric, No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet (OUT, crash)Landen Lewis, No. 45 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet (OUT, crash)Jackson Macenko, No. 2 Team Reaume Ford (OUT, mechanical)This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Who won NASCAR Truck Series Indianapolis race? Winner is Layne Riggs, plus full results

Red Sox fans shed shirts in numbers as part of largest 'tarps off' demonstration in history of movement originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.While the "tarps off" movement seemed to have subsided in recent weeks compared to the beginning of the summer, Boston Red Sox fans revitalized the movement during their game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.Typically, the "tarps off" movement is kept to one or two sections to make the number of participating fans more dense. Boston's Friday night showing, however, was spread out across the Fenway Park stands from edge to edge.It can never hurt to take a look back at how the "tarps off" movement started, along with how vast Boston's effort looked.Here's how Boston displayed its take on the "tarps off" movement.SN's MLB HQ:Live MLB scores|Updated MLB standings|Full MLB scheduleRed Sox fans shed shirts in numbers during game vs. Blue JaysDuring their game against the Blue Jays on Friday, hundreds of Boston fans took their shirts off and waved the garments around in a circular motion. Some fans questioned their existence, while others knew this was the start of the famous "tarps off" movement.Each fan that stood up and partook created a domino-like effect, and the number of shirts in the air steadily rose at Fenway Park. Here's a look at the Fenway fanatics who took their tarps off on a warm July night:LMAO @TarpsOff at Fenway again! @BBisntBoring#redsox#tarpsoffpic.twitter.com/2TdBxwlzIp John Tackeff (@jtackeff) July 25, 2026The Red Sox fans have the tarps off early, and there is a LOT of themincluding one woman pic.twitter.com/zKQgIGlRRJ ' (@RomansReign617) July 25, 2026An absolutely alarming number of Red Sox fans have gone tarps off.It's not just one section of bros who all have the same haircut.It has broken containment. Thousands of tarps are being waved. Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) July 25, 2026MORE:What did Tarik Skubal say about the trade deadline?What is 'tarps off'?"Tarps off" is when a group of fans takes their shirts off and waves the article of clothing in a circle. The motion should emulate that of a rally towel.The key to an impactful "tarps off" showing is when a group of fans all partake in the deed while standing near each other in the same section. Along with that, volume is key. The louder the cheers and the more people who partake, the more likely a "tarps off" movement is to be noticed by an MLB team's broadcast or rally its team.MORE:Donald Trump takes jab at Mets during Georgia rallyHow did 'tarps off' start?In the MLB, the trend began at Busch Stadium when shirtless St. Louis Cardinals fans came together through a duo of sections in an attempt to rally their team to a walk-off win on May 15. A Stephen F. Austin University club baseball team is credited with starting the trend, and fans from across the stadium joined in after noticing the fun.Happening now at Busch Stadium. Several sections of shirtless men. Rooting for a walkoff. #stlcardspic.twitter.com/6fPD1LychB Aaron Belz (@belzpoems) May 16, 2026The Cardinals won on an 11th-inning walk-off single by Yohel Pozo, so the team leaned into the trend in future games. St. Louis hosted the Stephen F. Austin club baseball team the following week and let a shirtless member of the Lumberjacks team throw out the first pitch. Just one day later, the Cardinals announced that a designated section of the bleachers in right field would become a "dedicated high-energy fan section."Want to join the movement? Starting tonight, the upper right field bleachers at Busch Stadium will become a dedicated high-energy fan section, inspired by the Tarps Off atmosphere fans have brought to the ballpark.Any fan in the ballpark, regardless of seat location, can pic.twitter.com/wW2jPMNLkD St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) May 20, 2026The trend didn't fully start in baseball, though. It truly began in college football in 2025, when one Oklahoma State fan was dared to go to an empty section of the stadium and take off his shirt. More fans started joining him, and the "tarps off" trend became a theme, often at games with few fans in the stands hosted by bad teams. Oklahoma State went 1-11 in 2025 and had already fired coach Mike Gundy by the time its "tarps off" trend started.How the Oklahoma State shirtless fan frenzy all started How can you not love College Football?!(Via: abbymariiie/X, callistaperigo/X) pic.twitter.com/Yc1FWN6vQn Whistle (@WhistleSports) October 12, 2025Fans at Wisconsin, UCLA, Virginia Tech, and more soon joined in on the fun at their own home games, and the rest was history.MORE:MLB's best player year-by-year

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 11: James Harden #1 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrate a basket against the Detroit Pistons during the first quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesFor the third time in his illustrious career, LeBron James ripped the hearts out of Cleveland Cavaliers fans everywhere. This time is undoubtedly worse than in 2018 when he left for Los Angeles, which seemed expected. But James was saying and doing the things one would expect of someone making their way back to where it all began, a sentimental return to make even the coldest NBA hearts melt just a little.[Insert fart noise here]The Cavs waited patiently, or maybe impatiently behind the scenes, for James to decide what to do with his NBA career. They watched Dean Wade, a stout wing defender, leave for the Philadelphia 76ers (an omen of things to come, apparently). Keon Ellis, whom many around the league thought was a sneaky-good get last year, went to the Brooklyn Nets. Cleveland has not signed or traded for anyone new, with their only acquisitions being a second-round draft pick. James Harden is still a free agent, and the Cavs have the inside track on re-signing him.But the thunderous collapse of plaster and concrete around them is LeBron James with the rejection, signing with the Sixers on a deal similar in length and dollar amount to DeAndre Jordan. It was a catastrophic blow to the Cavs otherwise silent offseason.Now the pivot is on, and the options are bleak.Jonathan Kuminga is a perennial what-if prospect who has clashed with coaches and had trouble staying healthy, but he would certainly help. Max Strus and Dennis Schroder are reportedly still available via trade, though the Cavs may have to keep them now. There are trades out there, there always are, but the NBAs business for the summer is mostly done. The Cavs gambled that they were getting James, and bet wrong.Normally, a team that makes the Conference Finals running it back is fine. But these Cavs are not fine, nor were they dispatched in a way that makes you think they are close to the NBA Finals. In fact, they may not be a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference. The star power in the starting lineup will win them a lot of games, but their ceiling is certainly capped come playoff time, barring a dramatic acquisition or internal improvement from Evan Mobley.Meanwhile, James Sixers move to the top of the conference. The New York Knicks just won a championship. The Boston Celtics still have Jayson Tatum and find ways to win games. The Toronto Raptors are still probably getting Kawhi Leonard. Down in South Beach, Giannis Antetokounmpo is motivated with a better roster around him. We havent even gotten to the Detroit Pistons who were the top seed in the East last year or the Atlanta Hawks who won more games against the Knicks in the playoffs last season than anyone else.The Cavs have the talent to be a top-three seed in the East, if everything goes according to plan. They are also teetering toward being unequivocally broken, gutted at losing out on a player they desperately needed not only on the court but in the locker room. The players certainly will not admit that, but this is a team that now needs to do the one thing that has been terrible at for years: overcoming adversity.Blowing up teams is not as lucrative as it used to be. The Cavs cannot simply hit the eject button and wind up with a ton of first-round picks and young prospects for their top-end players. Jaylen Brown, an NBA Finals MVP and MVP candidate last season, was traded for the decaying corpse of Paul George and some subpar first-round picks. This is a different landscape for transactions.If you want something positive, the Cavs have locked up Donovan Mitchell for the long-haul with a contract extension. He is their bona fide star, the 1A to lean on and build around. Mobley is still young. Jarrett Allen is a bargain for what his contract is. Jaylon Tyson has some promise. Their cap sheet is a little cleaner than it was a few months ago. Cleveland should be a playoff team, but they have missed a lot of shoulds over the last few years. That heartburn still persists.The Cavs probably thought they should have landed James. Their offseason of inaction lends me to believe that they expected a better outcome, clearing the deck for the return of the King. Now they have to pick up the pieces and move on, pushing forward in a way they have never had to do before. This is the type of motivation that should be the kindling to stoke their internal fires, hitting that extra gear to prove to themselves that they didnt need James and the circus to come to town.Lets hope they dont miss that should next season.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Ryan Vilade and Richie Palacios hit home runs, Nick Fortes had four hits, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 11-3 on Friday night.Shane McClanahan (9-6) allowed one run on two hits while striking out three and walking a pair in five innings. He improved to 7-1 in nine home starts this season. Chris Roycroft earned his first career save, allowing two runs on four hits in three innings.Fortes tied a career high in hits, drove in a pair of runs and scored twice as he extended his hitting streak to five games, going 11 for 19 in that span.Tampa Bays Nos. 4-9 hitters finished a combined 13 for 26 with 10 RBIs in the game.Joey Cantillo (8-6) allowed five runs over 3 2/3 innings and Austin Hedges hit a two-run home run in the ninth for the Guardians. Cleveland has dropped three consecutive games.Vilade hit his eighth home run of the season in the second to give Tampa Bay a 2-0 lead. Chase DeLauter and Brayan Rocchio doubled in the fourth to bring the Guardians to within one.Tampa Bay broke the game open in the fourth as the first six batters reached base to stretch the lead to 5-1. Fortes came home on Junior Caminero's base hit and an error at the plate by Hedges in the sixth to make it 6-1 before Fortes finished his night at the plate with a double to bring in Ben Williamson in the seventh.Chandler Simpson hit a sacrifice fly and Palacios capped the scoring for the Rays with a three-run home run in the eighth.Up NextCleveland will send RHP Tanner Bibee (4-9, 3.86 ERA) to the mound on Saturday against Tampa Bay RHP Nick Martinez (9-2, 2.59) for the second game of the three-game series.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB