Mar 14, 2026; Miami, FL, United States; Japan designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (16) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against Venezuela in the first inning during a quarterfinal game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn ImagesBaseball has a deep history in the United States and is even referred to as Americas pastime. However, the truth of the matter is that the U.S. is ceding its status as the top of the sport to a new emerging superpower: Japan.On Sunday, Chicago White Sox breakout star Munetaka Murakami had a dominant showing in the Soxs 12-3 win over the Houston Astros. Murakami finished the day with six RBI and two home runs. It was perfect timing too, on a day when Murakamis parents threw out the first pitch, and his bobblehead was given to fans; the White Sox celebrated Japanese culture across the stadium by adding sushi push-pops to the food offerings at Rate Field.The White Sox are far from the only team with a dominant Japanese player. Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani is almost certainly the greatest player the sport has ever seen, and barring injury, he will almost certainly win his fifth MVP award for his play this season.Its not just a two-man show representing Japan in the MLB, either. Ohtani is joined on the Dodgers by standout pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki. Toronto Blue Jays rookie Kazuma Okamoto has 23 homers on the year, breaking Ohtanis record for a Japanese rookie. The Cubs Seiya Suzuki has been essential in the heart of Japans order.Still, star power alone isnt enough to say that the United States is chasing Japan in baseball. Its the results that do that.Japan has won three World Baseball Classics, with its last win coming in 2023. The U.S. has only won the event once, in 2017. The good news for the U.S.? Baseball is having a moment in the States (thanks in large part to Ohtani), as sports video essayist Joon Lee noted on his YouTube channel.This rise in popularity and cultural relevance will only lead to more young athletes taking up the sport and an increase in the talent pool. Thats not all the U.S. has going for it, either. MLB players may be permitted to compete in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. If so, the U.S. wont have to wait until the next WBC in 2030 to reclaim bragging rights.The post Japan has passed the United States in baseball appeared first on The Comeback: Todays Top Sports Stories & Reactions.

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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 aboutSports Betting on FOX Sports. New users on Kalshi can use promo code FOXSPORTS to unlock up to $500 in bonuses when trading on today's MLB action. The Miami Marlins have lost a franchise-record of 12 straight games and their next series comes against the Philadelphia Phillies. Can the Marlins end this record-breaking losing streak? The New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox meet in Chicago for a three-game series. Yankees' ace Max Fried takes the mound for New York against this White Sox offense that erupted for 12 runs in their last game. The Atlanta Braves also open a divisional series against the New York Mets with both teams on the opposite ends of the division. Another divisional catchup hitting the diamond is the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs. A pivotal race for the Wild Card. Use the Kalshi promo code FOXSPORTS to unlock up to $500 in bonuses and trade on today's biggest MLB matchups as the playoff race continues to heat up. For more information and full terms and conditions, visit our Kalshi promo code page. How to Claim the Kalshi Welcome Bonus Braves vs. Mets Yankees vs. White Sox More markets are available on Kalshi. MLB Games on Today

Michigan is paying former athletic director Warde Manuel a lump sum of $7.14 million as part of his separation agreement after he agreed to step down earlier this month, according to The Associated Press.Manuel is going to step down from his post as Michigans athletic director at the end of 2026, the two sides announced on July 20 in the wake of an investigation into the scandal surrounding former football coach Sherrone Moore.In addition to the more than $7 million that Manuel will receive in the split, he will also receive standard former athletic director perks from the university which includes, among other things, tickets to Michigan games and golf privileges. He will also receive a more than $100,000 contribution to his retirement account and attorney fees.Manuel, who played football at Michigan himself, was hired as the schools athletic director in 2016. He oversaw multiple national championships during his time running the athletic department, including football in 2023 and mens basketball earlier this year. He had signed a five-year extension that ran through 2030, and his contract required 36 months of severance pay in the result of a buyout.While there was plenty of success, there were several notable scandals within the athletic department, too. Former football coach Jim Harbaugh was caught up in recruiting infractions and the large-scale sign-stealing scandal.Then there was Moore, who was arrested by police and then fired by Michigan in December after an alleged inappropriate relationship with a staff member. Moore was eventually charged with felony home invasion, among other things, and he reached a plea deal earlier this year to avoid jail time. Michigan has since replaced Moore with Kyle Whittingham to lead the football program.As part of his departure, Manuels personnel record will reflect a resignation and he is allowed to accept employment outside of the Big Ten conference without any penalty. Manuel, per the report, agreed not to be an athletic director or senior athletic adviser for any Big Ten school for two years.

The Indianapolis Colts placed linebacker CJ Allen and wide receiver Alec Pierce on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) ahead of training camp starting.Players who end up on the PUP list can be activated and return to practice at any time once medically cleared to do so.Why is Alec Pierce on the PUP list?Pierce is still recovering from offseason ankle surgery. He did not take part in the on-field portion of offseason programs.When exactly Pierce will be back on the practice field is not yet known at this time.Kind of somewhere in there I should be back right before the season or ready to go sometime during camp, whether thats the beginning of the end, Pierce said during minicamp,via Mike Chappell.Why is CJ Allen on the PUP list?According to ESPN's Stephen Holder, Allen is dealing with a calf injury. Holder adds that his absence is "expected to be brief."Allen is presumably going to be the Colts' starting MIKE linebacker this season.This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts place 2 players on PUP ahead of training camp starting

Aryna Sabalenka is the WTA world number one, while Novak Djokovic is a 24-time major champion [Getty Images]Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka are set to play together in the upcoming US Open mixed doubles, which was controversially revamped last year to include superstar pairings.Serbia's Djokovic, 39, and 28-year-old Belarusian Sabalenka are set to join forces for the two-day event, which starts on 25 August in New York.Former British number one Jack Draper is planning to reunite with American Jessica Pegula after they made the 2025 semi-finals, while Poland's Iga Swiatek and Norway's Casper Ruud - last year's runners-up - will also team up again.Other notable names who have indicated they want to play together include Japan's Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori, American star Taylor Fritz and two-time major champion Elena Rybakina, plus Russian pair Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev.There had been a suggestion some of the leading names would boycott the event as part of their demands for a greater share of Grand Slam revenue, but the likes of Sabalenka, Swiatek and Pegula - who have each played a prominent part in supporting the collective action - have signed up.Injured Draper withdraws on eve of another tournament Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner - the two leading players in the men's game - have not entered.Spain's seven-time major champion Alcaraz, who played alongside Britain's Emma Raducanu at Flushing Meadows last year, is still recovering from a wrist injury and it is not certain when he will return.Italy's Sinner - who won his fifth major at Wimbledon last month - did not play in last year's revamped event and has pulled out of the upcoming Canadian Open to "prioritise" his health.There is also no place yet for Serena Williams. The 23-time major singles champion made her comeback at Wimbledon last month but sustained a knee injury which ruled her out of a planned doubles appearance alongside older sister Venus.But the announcement of the first wave of entries does not mean Williams will not play - nor does it guarantee the pairings who signed up already will end up taking part.When the entry window closes on 17 August, the six teams with the best combined singles ranking will be directly accepted into the main draw.Eight teams will be given wildcards, while the final two places will be decided by an eight-team qualifying round played on 24 August.Can doubles stars prove a point again?Last year, there was criticism that only one team of doubles specialists was invited into the draw - Italy's Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, who won the revamped event and declared they had completed their "mission".The pair will look to defend their title next month, while British world doubles number one Henry Patten has signed up alongside Czech Katerina Siniakova.When the US Open announced the revamp of the mixed doubles - featuring a shorter scoring format in the earlier rounds and new scheduling slot before the singles draws - opinion was split.It provoked outrage among doubles players, with Errani and Vavassori issuing a joint statement where they called out the organisers for what they felt was a "profoundly wrong" move.But the pair ended up walking away with the title - and a $1m (740,000) prize pot which was designed to attract the superstars.'Bold' US Open gets everyone talking about mixed doublesRevamped US Open mixed doubles divides opinionAnalysis: Superstar mixed doubles again proving attractiveThe US Open's decision to "reimagine" the event polarised opinion - but there was no doubt the bold move breathed new life into an event which had often been overlooked.It was a huge money-spinner for the US Open last year and looks set to attract significant interest again.Each of the Slams is trying to maximise its ability to rake in cash in the week preceding the singles main draws and the US Tennis Association's strategy is again banking on star power to sell out Arthur Ashe Stadium on these two days.Sources have told BBC Sport that US Open organisers have dangled huge appearance fees in front of the big names - up to $500,000 each - in a bid to entice them to play.Ticket sales already look strong - with seats ranging from $39 in the upper tier on day one to more than $500 for courtside spots on day two - and the names revealed in Monday's announcement are likely to drive further sales.Even though the other Grand Slams have refused to follow suit, the revamped mixed doubles looks set to provide excitement and intrigue once again.Live scores, results and order of playGet tennis news sent straight to your phone

Jack Draper has only played 13 matches this season and dropped out of the world's top 100 [Getty Images]Former British number one Jack Draper has withdrawn on the eve of another tournament because of the long-term arm injury which continues to cause him discomfort.Left-handed Draper, 24, has pulled out of the ATP Tour event in Washington, which was set to be his first appearance since ruling himself out of Wimbledon last month.Draper has been hampered by bone bruising in his serving arm for more than a year, but said at the weekend he was "feeling physically good" before the Mubadala DC Open.He looked strong in practice sessions under the guidance of new coach Andy Murray, but withdrew from the ATP 500 event on Monday after feeling more soreness in the problematic arm.It is another frustrating setback for Draper and a similar scenario to the All England Club, where he talked positively about his fitness before withdrawing just 24 hours before his first-round match.Draper remains hopeful of playing in Montreal and Cincinnati before the US Open - where he reached the semi-finals in 2024 - starts on 30 August.However, there is no doubt this is another concerning development - and a worrying pattern with an injury which Draper describes as "complicated".Sabalenka & Djokovic to team up in US Open mixed doublesBritain's Jones defends Challenger title in PalermoThe former world number four has only played 14 matches in the past 12 months, largely because of the bruised humerus which he has tried to overcome by resting for long periods."It's hard to tell when you can push [and] when not to push," Draper said at Wimbledon."At the end of the day I'm playing a very aggressive sport, that you need to play through some stuff. Sometimes it's too much. Sometimes it's not."I wouldn't be competing anywhere if there was a chance that I'm going to get a lot worse, for instance."Draper's initial comeback earlier this season was derailed by tendinitis in his knee and the three-time ATP Tour winner had not played for more than two months before his return at Eastbourne in June.Reaching the semi-finals came at a price, though, with his arm injury flaring up again at Wimbledon and leaving Draper "devastated" at having to pull out of his home Grand Slam.Draper, who is now ranked 147th in the world, has not played a major since the US Open in August.If he is fit enough to play at Flushing Meadows this year, he will have to come through qualifying - or be given a wildcard - to play in the main draw.In Washington, Draper will be replaced in the draw by lucky loser Mackenzie McDonald.Live scores, results and order of playGet tennis news sent straight to your phone

Well, this is a bit of a surprise.After Sundays game, Cubs manager Craig Counsell had said the team would discuss what to do with Jameson Taillons next scheduled start, which would have come up Friday against the Yankees at Wrigley Field.Taillon wont make that start nor any others for the Cubs, as the team announced Monday by press release that he had been designated for assignment.To replace Taillon on the active roster, the Cubs selected the contract of right-hander Andrew Wantz from Triple-A Iowa.Wantz is clearly on the roster just to be an extra bullpen arm for a few days. He is 2-1 with a 4.32 ERA (12 ER/25.0 IP) in seven appearances, including three starts, with the I-Cubs this season. Prior to being signed as a minor league free agent by the Cubs on June 6, Wantz was with the Tampa Bay organization. He made one relief appearance this season for the Rays and went 2-0 with a 7.04 ERA (18 ER/23.0 IP) in 18 appearances, one start, with Triple-A Durham. Wantz also made 91 appearances (four starts) for the Angels from 2021-24, posting a 3.88 ERA and 1.158 WHIP.When Wantz makes his first appearance for the Cubs, he will become the 34th man to pitch for them this year (not counting Carson Kelly).It is entirely possible the Cubs might wind up trading Taillon somewhere if they eat the rest of his contract. A team like the Angels or Giants, for example, might want someone to eat up innings. In that case the Cubs might get some sort of A-ball lottery ticket in return.I wish Jameson Taillon well. He pitched reasonably well for the team in 2024 and 2025. It just didnt work out well this year.Id think Javier Assad will start against the Yankees Friday, unless a starter is acquired by trade before then. As always, we await developments.

Javier Chicharito Hernndez has agreed to join Atltico Dallas, first reported by transfer insider Fabrizio Romano. The deal makes the 38-year-old striker the first player signed in the history of the new USL Championship franchise. Earlier in February, the club announced that former LaLiga and Ligue 1 player Peter Luccin would serve as the team's first-ever manager. Hernndez is set to begin playing in 2027. This marks the next phase of Hernndez's career, which began in 2006 playing for Chivas Guadalajara, before playing in Europe from 2010-2019, for Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham United and Sevilla. After leaving Sevilla, Hernndez made his way stateside to join LA Galaxy in MLS from 2020-2023. He then joined his boyhood club Chivas from 2024-2025 before joining FOX Sports' coverage of the 2026 World Cup. Hernndez is also Mexico's all-time leading goalscorer with 52 goals and three World Cup appearances (2010, 2014, 2018), with his last cap with the national team coming in 2019.