Jul 24, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Grant Holmes (center) meets with coach Jeremy Hefner (left) and catcher Joey Bart (right) during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images | Mitch Stringer-Imagn ImagesGrant Holmes starts this season are getting to be a bit like a choose-your-adventure book where no matter what choices you make, the story ends up the same.He hasnt had a truly disastrous start in terms of putting the team in a hole this season, getting charged with more than three runs just once (five on May 1 at Colorado). In fact, hes been charged with exactly two or three runs in well more than half of his appearances (13 of his 20).Thats not bad on its face, but its a stat that becomes worse when you realize hes thrown six innings just three times just once in his last 16 outings after doing so twice in his first three starts of the season.His last four starts have been exactly five innings, and he didnt make it through five innings in the four appearances before that. With a depleted rotation and a bullpen that the team treats as taxed due to shorter-than-preferred outings by the rotation, Holmes-as-starter is part of the problem rather than part of the solution.Hes got a 3.79 ERA (89 ERA-), which is very nice, but a 4.82 FIP (116 FIP-) and a 4.63 xFIP (109 xFIP-), which are both below-average marks. Essentially, hes been continuing to get away with it, at least to a degree, helped in part by the strong defense behind him. That the Braves have continued to need to rely on him as heavily as they have through the first four months of the season drills home their need to add one, if not two starters before the August 3 Trade Deadline.In a perfect world where Atlanta had a healthy Spencer Schwellenbach and A.J. Smith-Shawver, Holmes role would likely have been different. A rash of in-season starter injuries during the season have only amplified the Braves need to consistently throw Holmes out there as a starter every five or six days. But no one who follows the Braves feels any more confident about Holmes being tasked with starting a playoff game than they did at the start of the season. And yet, pending a few ongoing rehabilitations, that could be the case as things currently stand considering Holmes ERA is third-best on the team among starters behind only Chris Sale and Martn Prez. (In theory, the Braves shouldnt even consider that given how much worse his peripherals are but) Holmes has served his role this season. Hell continue to serve a role once the Trade Deadline has passed, But his five-inning outing in Fridays 7-6 win over Baltimore where he allowed three on six hits was more proof of this critical starter role not being what would best serve the Braves as the stretch run approaches.The sad thing is, Holmes has been good, if not dominant through nine batters: a 2.98 FIP and 3.92 xFIP. In his starts so far, hes allowed just two homers to the first nine batters, has a 48/17 K/BB ratio, and has seen four or more of the first nine batters reach base just five times in all of his starts. Even on a pure runs basis, the first nine batters have scored in just six of his starts. Theres a clear role for him that isnt take the ball every five days and hope that the game is still within reach by the time the team sees fit to remove him, while trying to balance their chance of winning the game against their desire to rest the bullpen. The Braves even shunted him in that role for a little bit, before injuries pulled him back into a starting spot. The starts expected to be made the rest of this series by Bryce Elder and Reynaldo Lpez, who have similar problems with less obvious solutions, are likely to only add more fuel to the fire of the Braves need to make a starter move (or two).

Florida State will once again close the regular season against archrival Florida, a game that has produced both the emotional high point and one of the lowest moments of Mike Norvells tenure in Tallahassee. The 45-38 win over the Gators on Black Friday in 2022 snapped a three game losing streak in the series and felt like a throwback to the rivalrys Bowden vs. Spurrier glory years. Last years 40-21 loss in Gainesville landed much differently. Florida looked like a program that had already checked out, was playing under an interim head coach, and still managed to push FSU around.A 4-8 Florida team coached by an interim walked Florida State off the field in Gainesville, 40-21, with Jadan Baugh rushing for 266 yards. That was the Gators at their absolute lowest. Billy Napier had been fired, the program was in shambles, and Florida had nothing meaningful left to play for beyond spite. They still hung 40 on a Seminole team that needed the game to reach a bowl.Florida State vs. Florida GatorsDate: Friday, Nov. 27, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)Location: Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, FloridaPrevious matchup: Florida won 40-21All-time series: Florida leads 39-29-2Florida Gators: 2026 Team Preview2025 record: 4-8 (2-6 SEC)Two things to know:Florida hired up while FSU is treading water. The Gators landed Jon Sumrall, who went 42-11 at Tulane and Troy, reached a conference title game every season, and arrived with the kind of obvious program juice Florida State has been trying to manufacture through patience and portal patches. He paired that with a serious staff, including $2 million offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White, and former NFL executive Dave Caldwell as general manager. Sumrall has never run an SEC program, so there is still projection baked into the hire. But first year coach with momentum, a clear plan, and a modern infrastructure is still a better place to be than Year 7 coach with a massive buyout, back to back losing seasons, and a fan base that has stopped believing the next reset is finally the real one.The roster is better than the record, which is both the case for optimism and the most Florida thing possible. The Gators have real SEC athletes, a dangerous running back in Jadan Baugh, upgraded receiving options, and enough defensive talent to make Florida State work. They also have a quarterback situation that went from DJ Lagway as the future to a battle between Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. That does not mean Florida is doomed, but it does mean the Gators are asking a new staff, a new quarterback, and a rebuilt identity to travel to Tallahassee on Thanksgiving weekend and look fully formed. That is a lot to ask.Three key playersRB Jadan Baugh: The obvious name and the one Florida State fans do not need reminded about. Baugh ran for 266 yards against the Seminoles last season, which was the kind of performance that should be projected on a wall in the FSU facility every morning until kickoff. He is the engine of Floridas offense. If he controls the game, Florida can shorten things, protect its quarterback, and make this ugly. If FSU makes him earn everything, Floridas offense becomes much easier to deal with.Dallas Wilson, WR. Wilson only played four games as a freshman because of foot injuries, but the former blue chip recruit still flashed the problem clearly enough: 12 catches, 174 yards, and three touchdowns in a limited cameo. The talent is obvious, and if he is healthy, Florida has a real WR1 for whoever wins the quarterback job.LB Myles Graham: Graham is the defensive piece who can turn Floridas improved organization into something that feels suffocating. He can run, he can pressure, and he can blow up the kind of slow developing FSU possession that starts with hope and ends with a punt. If Florida State is playing behind the chains, Graham is one of the reasons the game can start to feel like it is slipping away.Florida State vs. Florida Gators: Game preview, predictionsThe optimistic version of this game is easy to write if you squint hard enough. Florida is breaking in a new staff. Florida lost DJ Lagway. Florida went 4-8 last year. Florida should still be figuring itself out.The problem is that Florida State has not earned that kind of optimism.This is a program that has gone 7-17 over the last two years, kept the head coach because the buyout was radioactive, and is now asking fans to believe that the next version of the rebuild is the real one.Florida State should not be worried because Florida is suddenly some finished product under Jon Sumrall. Florida State should be worried because Sumrall may only need to make Florida competent. Competent may be enough. Organized may be enough. Physical may be enough. The Gators do not need to roll into Tallahassee looking like a playoff team. They only need to look like a team that knows what it wants to be.Can FSU say the same with a straight face?Best CaseThe narrow hope against hope path is that FSU survives its brutal opening stretch, reaches the finale bowl eligible and with something still to play for, and Floridas first year quarterback looks like a first year quarterback on the road. The Noles get just enough from Daniels, feed off a healthy Doak crowd, and steal one late to snap the streak, salvage the season, and buy Norvell another year.It is possible. Just not likely.Prediction: Florida State 24, Florida 21Realistic CaseFSU enters the game hovering around .500 or worse, the fan base has largely checked out, and a more talented, better coached Florida team walks into Tallahassee as the favorite. Baugh gets going early, the Gators play field position, and FSU starts pressing. The Seminoles hit a few plays and keep it close, but the game never feels within reach because Florida has the more reliable identity. That is the killer. Not that Florida is clearly elite. Not that Florida is dramatically more talented. Just that Florida looks like it knows how it wants to win.Three straight losses to Florida would make the offseason questions a lot louder. Prediction: Florida 31, Florida State 21Worst CaseThis becomes the game that makes everyone stop pretending the rivalry result is separate from the bigger program problem.Florida fans travel well because they sense the opportunity. FSU fans show up ambivalent, angry, or stay home entirely. Doak has too much orange and blue in it by kickoff, and the anxiety only gets worse once Baugh starts ripping through arm tackles again.The first half turns into a series of body blows before the head shot everyone in the stadium can feel coming. Baugh for five yards. Baugh for seven. Missed tackle. Third down conversion. Florida touchdown. FSU punt. Florida field goal. Another FSU three and out. Then Baugh breaks a 40 yarder to make it 17 to 0. The crowd turns toxic, and the entire game becomes a live reading of the case against Mike Norvell.That is the nightmare. A third straight loss to a flawed Florida team. A third straight rivalry game where the Gators look tougher, more composed, and more comfortable in the moment. A third straight reminder that FSU can talk about standards all it wants, but the product keeps circling back to the same place.Prediction: Florida 41, Florida State 142026 FSU football scheduleSaturday, Aug. 29: New Mexico State Aggies (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee) | 7:00 p.m. (The CW)Monday, Sep. 7: SMU Mustangs (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee) | 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)BYESaturday, Sep. 19: Alabama Crimson Tide (Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Ala.) | 3:30 p.m. (ABC)Saturday, Sep. 26: Central Arkansas Bears (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)Saturday, Oct. 3: Virginia Cavaliers (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)Friday, Oct. 9: Louisville Cardinals (Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, Ky.) | 7:00 p.m. (ESPN)Saturday, Oct. 17: Miami Hurricanes (Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.)BYESaturday, Oct. 31: Clemson Tigers (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)Saturday, Nov. 7: Boston College Eagles (Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Mass.)Friday, Nov. 13: Pitt Panthers (Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pa.) | 7:00 p.m. (ESPN)Saturday, Nov. 21: NC State Wolfpack (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee)Friday, Nov. 27: Florida Gators (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee) | 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

Reports say Shanahan suffered a broken nose, three broken ribs, a broken hand, a concussion and required more than 40 stitches to his face after the July 14 crash

Spurs Starting XI vs Auckland FC: Confirmed Team News and Predicted LineupTottenham Pre-Season Tour: De Zerbis New-Look Spurs Set for Auckland FC TestTottenham have started pre-season with a win, 1-0 against MK Dons behind closed doors, and now comes the more useful part, a public look at what this squad actually is under Roberto De Zerbi.Sundays meeting with Auckland FC at Eden Park gives supporters their first proper sight of a heavily reshaped Spurs side. The spending has been significant, more than 200 million on six arrivals, and with that comes scrutiny. It has to. Finishing 17th in successive Premier League seasons leaves no room for spin, no matter how early it is in the summer.De Zerbi Faces Early Tottenham AssessmentThe squad travelling to New Zealand is 35 strong, though not complete. Marcos Senesi, the new Argentina centre-back, is the only signing left behind. Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Andy Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke and Martin Dubravka are all on the trip, which gives De Zerbi a decent platform to start shaping the team.Photo IMAGOThere are, however, notable absentees. Guglielmo Vicario has what the club described as a minor knock, while Pape Matar Sarr and Rodrigo Bentancur have been given extra time off after the World Cup. Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero and Djed Spence, all involved deep into that tournament, have also stayed back.Injuries and Transfer Doubts Shape SquadThere is uncertainty around Vicario and Romero in particular, with both linked with moves away. That matters because pre-season is about rhythm, but also about reading the market. If key players are unavailable or unsettled, the manager needs alternatives quickly.Elsewhere, Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert remain at Hotspur Way, continuing recovery work from long-term injuries. That strips the squad of experience and creativity, though it does create space for younger players to step forward.Young Spurs Players Get Big OpportunityLuca Williams-Barnett caught the eye against MK Dons and Mikey Moore is another with a clear chance to impress. These tours are often dressed up as commercial exercises, but for players on the edge of the first team, they are auditions.Auckland FC, third in last seasons A-League, should provide a competitive enough test in front of what is expected to be a record crowd. De Zerbi is likely to split his selection across the two halves again.The predicted Tottenham XI is Kinsky, Takai, Van de Ven, Van Hecke, Udogie, Fernandes, Tonali, Yang, Moore, Tel, Solanke. Kick-off is 4am BST on Sunday, July 26, 2026, at Eden Park, with the match available on SPURSPLAY. After that, Spurs move on to Australia for games against Sydney FC and Chelsea.

Both the San Diego Padres and Miami Marlins are trying to hit the reset button for the second half of the 2026 season. Neither team is playing good baseball. Despite the poor play, this weekend series is vital for the Padres and Marlins to remain in the wildcard chase.Fridays ResultsWith the game tied at two, Friars pinch-hitter Luis Rengifo hit a game-winning two-run home run that propelled the team to a 4-2 victory over the Marlins. The loss extended the home teams losing streak to 10 games, as they are on the verge of tying the franchise record of 11 games. It has been done three times, with the last occurring in June 2011.View LinkMiamis two runs came on solo home runs by Joe Mack and Heriberto Hernandez. The Padres other two runs came on an RBI single by Manny Machado in the fifth inning and a sacrifice fly by Jackson Merrill in the fourth inning.Taking the mound: Randy Vasquez (SD) vs Eury Perez (MIA)Randy Vasquez will be the opener for todays game. But no complaints from the Friar Faithful about the results from JP Sears (2-3, 4.38 ERA) with the Padres in 2026. He has been steady in his five starts after being called up in late June. The lone negative is that Sears only averages five innings per start, which is why he is the bulk pitcher this afternoon. But Friars manager Craig Stammen will not complain, as Sears has kept the games close for the offense to do their late-inning magic.The left-handers control has been outstanding, as he struck out 20 batters while giving up only eight walks. Opponents are hitting .242 against Sears; he has been excellent at generating weak contact with runners in scoring position.He may not be a hard-throwing starter, but Sears is an ideal back-end rotation option.The Marlins have an elite starting rotation, as Eury Perez (5-7, 3.53 ERA) has been outstanding this season. He has anchored the rotation in the absence of Max Meyer and Sandy Alcantaras inconsistencies. Perez has struck out 104 batters in 91.2 innings pitched, as he generates plenty of swing-and-misses in his starts. The 23-year-old has been dominant with his outstanding fastball (99-101 MPH), a devastating slider, and a sweeping changeup that keeps hitters guessing.In 17 starts, opposing teams are hitting .199 against him. And over his last seven starts, he has allowed two runs or fewer for a 1.14 ERA. Unfortunately, the Marlins offense has been non-existent when he is on the mound.Todays LineupSaturday afternoon baseball. pic.twitter.com/wEwDUtMquY San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 25, 2026Game two. : @PNCBank: https://t.co/pMAEOPHNJ8: @MarlinsRadio, @radiomambi710, @1043wqam: 4:10 PM ET : Roof status: CLOSED#FightinFish// https://t.co/ZrOdIbYDTIpic.twitter.com/FqDnK5Htn4 Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 25, 2026

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 08: Peter Woods #99 of the Kansas City Chiefs on set during a production shoot at The University of Kansas Health System Training Complex on June 08, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesThe Kansas City Chiefs first practice of training camp consisted solely of rookies, quarterbacks and select veterans, as it will for the next two days before the full team gets together for practice on Wednesday, July 29th.A few notes from todays first pre-camp practice, which featured quarterbacks, rookies and select veterans: Jadon Canady had a strong day with multiple PBUs and an INT during 7-on-7 red zone drills Andrew Armstrong was impressive with multiple catches Jimmy Holiday Matt McMullen (@KCChiefs_Matt) July 25, 2026After the first day of practice, rookie defensive lineman Peter Woods, the No. 29 pick in this years draft, stood at the podium and answered questions from reporters. He was excited for camp to get rolling, and talked about how he felt physically.Im really comfortable, Woods said. My weight is like 308 313 [pounds]; I want to try to play around 308, so Im there; Im ready to go.Camp sweat will get some more off of me, Woods acknowledged. So I just have to balance that, make sure Im eating my meals, stuff like that, so Im really excited about that and being able to find where my niche is in playing weight.When asked about what he can do at that size, an increase in weight from his final year at Clemson, where he questionably played at a sub-300 weight, Woods listed off some enticing keywords.Speed. Quickness. Acceleration. Mismatch. So Im really excited.Peter Woods: "Just making sure I'm detailed on my end." On transition from College to Pro .. says he feels like a "kid in a candy store" being here with the #Chiefspic.twitter.com/SSJdU9mSRN Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) July 25, 2026Woods had great energy at the podium on Saturday, glowing with anticipation for the rest of the practices in St. Joe. He will have a lot of eyes on him, especially now that last years second-round pick at defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott will start camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.Woods size and athletic profile make him an option to play multiple spots on the defensive front, from the A-gap or nose tackle to the 3-technique position defensive tackle Chris Jones has long played under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.Look for No. 99 on the Chiefs defensive line this preseason, checking out the movement ability he has at roughly 310 pounds compared to Jones (listed at 310 pounds) and Khyiris Tonga (listed at 335 pounds).

Jul 25, 1991; Chicago, IL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ed Sprague in action against the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park. Mandatory Credit: Imagn ImagesToday marks the 59th birthday of Ed Sprague, former third baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays.Sprague spent eight seasons with the Blue Jays, from 1991 until his trade to the Oakland Athletics on July 31, 1998. In return, the Jays acquired Scott Rivette, who ultimately never reached the major leagues.During his time in Toronto, Sprague posted a .245 batting average, a .315 on-base percentage, and a .419 slugging percentage, tallying 113 home runs and 418 RBIs over 888 games.While Sprague may not have been a superstar, he, like his predecessor Kelly Gruber, delivered one standout season that exceeded his usual performance. However, Gruber was known for his stronger defensive skills.Spragues breakout year came in 1996, when he set career highs in runs (88), hits (146), home runs (36), RBIs (101), walks (60), and slugging percentage (.496). It stands among the best single seasons by a Blue Jays third basemana true outlier in his career. Notably, this was also during a period when Roger Clemens trainer was around the team.Ed later admitted to using steroids, as well as amphetaminesa common practice among players at the time to combat the fatigue of baseballs long season. Energy drinks like Red Bull werent available then, and amphetamines were not banned in baseball until 2006.One of Spragues most unforgettable moments came in Game 2 of the 1992 World Series, when he launched a dramatic, go-ahead two-run homer in the ninth inning off Atlanta closer Jeff Reardon. For a year, it stood as the biggest home run in Blue Jays history until Joe Carters iconic walk-off in 1993. Without Spragues clutch hit, Toronto might have fallen behind two games to nonea daunting deficit to overcome.Beyond his standout 1996 campaign, Spragues career was solid but unspectacular. He made the National League All-Star team in 1999 as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, batting .267/.352/.465 with 22 home runs. He later played for San Diego, Boston, returned to San Diego, and finished his career in Seattle.Over 11 major league seasons, Sprague hit 152 home runs and compiled a .247/.318/.419 career slash line.Spragues father, also named Ed, was a major league pitcher for eight seasons. His wife, Kristen Babb-Sprague, is an Olympic gold medalist in synchronized swimming.In recent years, Ed Sprague Jr. has served as the Director of Player Development for the Oakland Athletics. He was at the celebration for the World Series winning teams last week. Happy birthday, Ed!

UCLA football head coach Bob Chesney brought plenty of talent with him from James Madison, but perhaps one of the best additions for the Bruins could be redshirt senior offensive lineman Carter Sweazie.Sweazie was redshirted his first season for the Dukes, but then went on to play in 34 games and start in 23 of those games at left guard over the next three seasons. His most efficient season was his most recent as he went on to round out an offensive line that was ranked 11th in the FBS in scoring and 17th in total yards on his way to earning 2025 All-Sun Belt Third Team honors.The Bruins were desperate to improve their star quarterback Nico Iamaleava's protection as their signal caller consistently found himself under duress last season. The result was Iamaleava being forced to play on the scramble drill, causing him to lead the Bruins in carries and rushing yards with 505-yards on 112 attempts, according to ESPN.On top of that, the offensive struggled with consistency as they piled up an average of 319.9-yards per game for the 17th worst of any FBS, according to ESPN.Sweazie should be able to not only help Iamaleava stay upright by preventing him from being sacked 27-times next season, but he has proven that he has the ability to open up the running game for his fellow James Madison transfer, running back Wayne Knight.The 342-pound offensive lineman bullied opposing defensive lines as he created running lanes that allowed Knight to cut through defenses for 1,373-rushing yards on 207 attempts for an average of 6.6-rushing yards per attempt, according to ESPN.The success Sweazie displayed for the Dukes brought James Madison a Sun-Belt Championships and College Football Playoffs appearance, but showed that he would be a welcomed addition to the Bruins offensive front.This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: New Bruins lineman helps pave a path for an efficient offense

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