Could the Royals have had a much better final week of pre-season? Its hard to think so. Following victories against Woking last Saturday (0-2), Newport County on Tuesday (0-4) and Crawley Town on Friday (0-1), Reading made it four clean-sheet wins in four on Saturday afternoon by seeing off Charlton Athletic 0-3 at The Valley.Lewis Wing was the star man, beginning and ending the scoring with a pair of excellent strikes. Perhaps Boyd Beacrofts halfway-line lob over the keeper at Crawley inspired Wing to go one better?Either way, this was Wing at his very best. He gave the Royals the lead just before half-time when he slammed in a free-kick, later making absolutely certain of the result by curling the ball beautifully into the far top corner after getting a shot corner back from David Hicks. Reece Evans will be having words about which goal was the highlight of the afternoon though. He opened his account for the first team to make it 2-0 in the second half, heading the ball powerfully past the keeper at the end of an incisive, fluent counter-attack. Hicks played a neat pass down the right and into the area for Kyreece Lisbie, who checked back onto his left foot and crossed cutely for Evans.Even outside those goals though and stop me if youve read this before about Readings 2026 pre-season friendlies the Royals looked confident and well structured. Inventive, energetic and dynamic, this was a display that simply wouldnt have happened last season.Thats nothing new for me to write about this current Reading side. Todays game was a real test however for a couple of reasons but it was one the Royals came through with flying colours.For a starter, this was the toughest match of our pre-season. Id put this one ahead of the Getafe fixture as it came much later in the summer, with the Addicks at a similar stage of their pre-season development to us (Getafe understandably appeared to be lacking physical sharpness in comparison to Reading, although they managed a 1-0 win).So Readings ability to scale up their previous performances to a more difficult encounter, applying the qualities and traits wed seen against Getafe, Woking and Newport, proves this summers progress has been built on strong foundations. Thats not to say were guaranteed a good season when competitive action resumes next weekend, but its a mightily encouraging sign.A rejigged sideFurther, this wasnt even Readings best XI. Some players were already known to be unavailable or making their way back from injury: Haydon Roberts got 45 minutes at Crawley and Jack Marriott didnt feature today but should be back for the visit to Bromley. Added to that though were absences for Paudie OConnor, Josh Stokes and Jacob Brown, amid an outbreak of illness in the squad this week.That also meant a start for a surprise trialist, who was accidentally named on commentary as Conor Masterson (it happens to the best of us, Phil). Academy players Hicks and Evans took up the number 10 and striker roles respectively, with a very young bench largely made up of those whod featured at Crawley.Reading (4-2-3-1): Pereira; Godwin-Malife, Trialist, Ward, Dorsett; Wing, Rinomhota; Lisbie, Hicks, Kyerewaa; EvansSubs: Rowley, Harrison, Duah, St Louis, Spencer, Sackey, Howard, Osho, Dashi, JonesFirst halfThe first half was another bright period for the Royals. Reading looked well drilled, confident and positive throughout, looking to press high and get the ball forward quickly.Quality chances at either end were thin on the ground though. Evans had an early effort blocked from inside the area, Hicks followed suit with the same outcome (from the edge of the box) and Wing dragged a long-range strike wide of the post.Thats no bad thing from a defensive point of view, of course. Reading restricted the hosts effectively before the interval, with Joel Pereira not needing to make a save. With the game seemingly heading towards a goalless stalemate at the break, Wing had other ideas. Dokes was taken down not too far outside the area and to the left of the goal prime real estate for free-kick specialist Wing who finished into the top corner expertly for 0-1 (see the goal here). Half time: 0-1Reading started the second half quickly and purposefully, penning Charlton back in the early stages after the restart. Lisbie had a couple of efforts from distance blocked, while Daniel Kyerewaa came close when cutting infield from the left and forcing a save at the near post.The Royals momentum eventually stalled however and the match became a more even encounter. Charlton then had a couple of chances of their own, with a forward getting in behind and forcing a strong, low save out of Joel Pereira. He had to be on his guard again soon after, clearing the danger after a loose pass from Philip Duah (whod replaced Masterson just before the hour mark).But it was Reading who struck next. Andy Rinomhota carried the ball forward on the counter and played it to Hicks, then to Lisbie, who set up Evans excellently for 0-2 (see the goal here). That goal seemed to kill off the hosts fight, with the game looking reassuringly quiet from a Reading perspective for a while afterwards. But Wing put the icing on the cake in the 83rd minute, playing a one-two with Hicks from a short corner before whipping the ball into the far top corner. 0-3. (See the goal here).There was time for a few more substitutions. Emmanuel Osho and Luke Howard replaced Hicks and Evans respectively, with TShay St Louis later coming on for Lisbie.Full time: 0-3You couldnt ask for a much better confidence-booster ahead of the new season or endorsement of the improvements made over the summer than this result and performance. Reading were excellent across the pitch including the young attacking duo of Hicks and Evans drafted in to start and scored some outstanding goals.Theres a lot more to come in the way of squad building in the transfer market of course. Joe Jacobson admitted as much on co-comms this afternoon, noting that Reading are after another striker and centre-back, although he was coy enough with his answer that youd expect theres more on the list than just those two positions.But Leam Richardson has done an excellent job on the training ground in the last couple of months. This is a Reading side bursting with energy, intensity and positivity, making it a real force both in and out of possession, and Im able to honestly say the most important thing I could say at this stage of the football calendar:Im looking forward to the new season.Up the Ding!

One of the Buffalo Bills' key offseason acquisitions has potentially suffered a training camp injury.Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was carted to the locker room on Saturday, with reports indicating that he may have suffered a lower leg injury.Sal Maiorana of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle part of the USA TODAY Network noted that trainers were examining the back of Gardner-Johnson's leg, and he spent time in the medical tent before being carted off the field.Maiorana also reports that Gardner-Johnson may have been rolled up on. Videos from practice later showed that Gardner-Johnson was able to walk under his own power after exiting the medical tent. That isn't entirely an indicator of how severe the injury may or may not be, however.Gardner-Johnson signed with the Bills on a one-year contract worth up to $6 million after spending time with the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens in 2025. Here's the latest on Gardner-Johnson:C.J. Gardner-Johnson injury updateThe Bills have yet to release an official update on Gardner-Johnson. The safety's lower leg was being examined after suffering an injury during the Saturday, Aug. 1 practice. He was reportedly helped off the field by staff before entering the medical tent. He later was carted to the locker room.Further, offensive lineman Dion Dawkins got word from coaches and trainers that the safety would be "all right" after the injury."I got the messages from coaches that he's all right," Dawkins said. "They're gonna do their protocol, he'll get his whatever he has to get, and he'll be right back in the loop. But C.J. is okay."This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CJ Gardner-Johnson injury update: Safety may be 'all right' after scare

There is always baseball happening almost too much baseball for one person to follow themselves. Don't worry, we're here to help you by figuring out what you missed but shouldn't have. Here are all the best moments from last night in Major League Baseball: We have a new leader in the American League West. Defeating the Texas Rangers at home, 11-2, the Houston Astros (56-55) now have a half-game lead on their in-state rival for first place in the AL West. It marked Houston's ninth win in its last 10 games. As for Friday night, the Astros' offense went to work in the bottom of the second inning and continued to pour it on. In said inning, left fielder LaMonte Wade Jr. doubled home a run, which Yordan lvarez later followed with a two-run single. Shortstop Jeremy Pea singled home a run in the fourth, with Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker hitting back-to-back solo home runs to open the fifth. Texas put two runs on the board in the top of the sixth, but Houston put the game out of reach with a four-run inning in the seventh, with Yainer Diaz hitting a solo homer, Pea smacking a two-run double and Paredes adding an RBI single. An eighth-inning RBI single from Lucas Spence got Houston to 11 runs. The Astros got 5 innings from Hunter Brown, who gave up just two runs. The Miami Marlins won six in a row, then lost 12 in a row and are now back on track after playing the National League East? Following the prolonged losing streak, the Marlins have won four of their last five games, highlighted by a sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies and, most recently, a Friday night road win over the New York Mets. Miami scored the bulk of its Friday night runs in what was a four-run fifth inning. Center fielder Jakob Marsee had an RBI double, which catcher Joe Mack later followed with a two-run single and second baseman Xavier Edwards followed with an RBI single. Then, in the sixth, first baseman Kyle Stowers got hold of a curveball and hit it over the right-center field wall for a solo home run, his 16th long ball of the year. On the hill, Janson Junk pitched five scoreless innings (no earned runs) for the Marlins, who won 5-2. The Marlins are now 56-55, good for being just 1.5 games behind the Phillies for the third NL wild-card seed. The Detroit Tigers may be gearing up to trade one-fifth of their roster at the MLB trade deadline, but they came to play in Sacramento. Athletics catcher Jonah Heim hit an RBI single in the bottom of the first, and it was all Tigers after that it just took a couple of hours. Detroit infielder Kevin McGonigle leveled the score at 1-all in the top of the third with a solo home run and then drove in a run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth. The Tigers broke the game open with a seven-run eighth inning that saw center fielder Max Clark who had three hits in what was his MLB debut log an RBI double, infielder Javier Bez bring home a run on a single and catcher Dillon Dingler hit his first career grand slam. But there was more. Bez had a two-run single in the top of the ninth, and right fielder Ben Malgeri blasted a two-run homer, giving Detroit a resounding, 13-1 victory. Clark, Bez and first baseman Spencer Torkelson each tallied three hits. The Tigers rolled with a bullpen day after scratching right-hander Casey Mize in the wake of reported trade talks surrounding both him and two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. In all, the A's were held to just three hits. As for the one who had the big swing of the night, Dingler, a 2026 All-Star, leads the Tigers in home runs (23), RBIs (72) which also leads MLB catchers slugging percentage (.520) and OPS (.853). The 2024 NL Rookie of the Year and 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner is going through a rough spell. Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes lasted just four innings in a road tilt against the Cincinnati Reds. Cincinnati struck for two runs in the bottom of the first on an RBI double from catcher Tyler Stephenson and an RBI single from designated hitter Nathaniel Lowe. Later, left fielder JJ Bleday hit a solo home run in the third and first baseman Sal Stewart hit a two-run shot in the fifth. Skenes gave up seven hits and four walks, with the combined 11 baserunners the most he has surrendered in a start in his MLB career (2024-present). To make matters worse for Pittsburgh, they led 7-5 entering the bottom of the eighth, but Cincinnati flipped the script with a three-run inning, as Stewart had a two-run single and Lowe brought home a run on a force-out, helping the Reds get an 8-7 win. Skenes has a 6.38 ERA with opponents hitting .419 on balls put in play against the right-hander (BAbip) over his last seven starts. On the season, he boasts a 3.90 ERA, a 1.12 WHIP, a 111 ERA+ and 156 strikeouts over 124 innings pitched (23 starts). Skenes has also given up 13 home runs, which is a career-high. For context, the superstar right-hander averaged a 1.96 ERA, an 0.95 WHIP and a 217 ERA+ per season from 2024-25. Rhys Hoskins had an RBI single in the bottom of the first, and the Cleveland Guardians tried to hold a 1-0 lead against the Arizona Diamondbacks into the eighth inning, with right-hander Tanner Bibee pitching seven scoreless innings. Moreover, D-backs designated hitter Adrian Del Castillo struck out to open the top of the eighth. But then, the dam broke for Cleveland. After three consecutive runners reached base, shortstop Geraldo Perdomo pulled off an RBI single, with catcher Gabriel Moreno then smacking a two-run single and second baseman Ketel Marte adding an RBI single for good measure. Arizona starter Mitch Bratt surrendered one run over five innings, with its bullpen then pitching four scoreless innings to give the D-backs a 4-1 victory; the Guardians were limited to three hits. The Diamondbacks are in possession of the second NL wild-card seed at 58-52, whereas the Guardians have lost seven of their last nine and are tied for the third AL wild-card seed at 56-55. The long ball and dominant pitching led the New York Yankees to a victory at Wrigley Field. Yankees third baseman Amed Rosario broke the ice in the top of the fourth with a towering, solo home run to center field, with left fielder Spencer Jones launching a solo homer of his own in the fifth. Meanwhile, right-hander Will Warren posted seven strikeouts and gave up no runs and just four baserunners (four hits) over 6 innings. Fellow right-handers Paul Blackburn and David Bednar shut the door on a 2-0 win for the Yankees with a combined 2 scoreless innings of relief. Jones, the Yankees' long-time esteemed outfield prospect, has homered in two of his last three games and is 4 for his last 9, while the long ball was Rosario's 10th on the year. The Cubs were limited to just five baserunners (five hits). Ironically, the Yankees tallied just four hits. This marked the longest shutout of the season for Warren, his fourth shutout on the year (no unearned runs) and his second-longest outing this season altogether. Both teams are 62-48 and the top wild-card seed in their respective league. The Chicago White Sox are brought to you by the deep ball. In a 6-1 road victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago blasted four home runs. The first one came off the bat of third baseman Miguel Vargas in the top of the first; the second one came on a leadoff homer in the second from designated hitter Andrew Benintendi; later, first baseman Munetaka Murakami went to the opposite field for a two-run homer in the third, with shortstop Colson Montgomery hitting a two-run shot of his own in the sixth. Each of the four players who went yard for the White Sox make up the top-four home run leaders on the team, as Montgomery (25), Murakami (24), Vargas (23) and Benintendi (11) combine for 83 homers on the year, while Chicago is collectively fifth in MLB with 143 home runs. If looking for a Tampa Bay bright spot, star third baseman Junior Caminero's fourth-inning homer was his 30th of the year. That said, Chicago starter Erick Fedde gave up just one run over five innings, with three scoreless innings from Tyler Schweitzer serving as the bridge to a scoreless ninth inning from Trevor Richards. The Boston Red Sox are on one right now. Trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 entering the top of the seventh, Boston proceeded to have a five-run inning that saw center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela who had a team-high three hits crank a go-ahead, two-run home run, shortstop Andruw Monasterio hit a two-run double and left fielder Jarren Duran add an RBI ground out. The Red Sox got a ninth run on a sacrifice fly in the ninth, finishing off a 9-4 victory. Elsewhere for Boston, Duran had an RBI single in the second and the Red Sox scored two runs on an error in the third. The unsung hero for the Red Sox, though, was Brayan Bello, who pitched four scoreless innings to close out the game. While their 15-game winning streak came to a halt last week, the Red Sox have since won six of eight contests and are the No. 2 AL wild-card seed at 58-51. Furthermore, they went 21-4 in July. Just one week ago, the San Diego Padres were spiraling. Now, they've stabilized themselves, as their Friday night win over the San Francisco Giants (7-0) was their sixth victory in seven games, moving them to 56-54 and just one game behind the Phillies for the third NL wild-card seed. Regarding the divisional matchup, San Diego plated two runs in the bottom of the first on a Manny Machado sacrifice fly and an RBI single from designated hitter Luis Campusano, who finished with a game-high three hits. Later, shortstop Xavier Bogaerts who also had a sacrifice fly in the sixth drove in a run on a ground out in the third, and the Padres padded their lead in the fourth on a solo home run from left fielder Jase Bowen and a two-run single from first baseman Ty France. The Padres shut out the Giants on a bullpen night, with Bradgley Rodrguez pitching the first inning, Yuki Matsui pitching the next three and German Marquez throwing the last five. They collectively surrendered just three baserunners (two hits and one walk). Sticking with the NL West, Denver weather is a sight to behold. Mere hours after hail was coming down at Coors Field, the sun was out and shining. The Colorado Rockies then went on to defeat the Kansas City Royals, 3-1. We have a developing situation in the American League Central. Beating the Seattle Mariners 5-3 on the West Coast, the Minnesota Twins (56-55) are now winners of seven of their last nine, are tied with the Guardians for the third AL wild-card seed and three games back of the White Sox for first place in the AL Central. As for their latest win, third baseman Brooks Lee got the Twins even on the scoreboard at 2-all in the top of the second with a two-run home run. After going behind again, Twins infielder Royce Lewis tied the game at 3-all with a solo homer to lead off the seventh. Center fielder Luke Keaschall gave Minnesota the lead for good with an RBI double later in the inning, with catcher Ryan Jeffers giving the Twins some more breathing room with a leadoff homer in the eighth. Conversely, the Mariners (53-58) have lost seven of their last nine and are three games behind the Astros for first place in the AL West and three games behind the Guardians and Twins for the third AL wild-card seed.

Next FIFA president: Candidates to challenge Gianni Infantino once presidential election is called originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.There is a growing animosity inside and outside FIFA regarding the standing of president Gianni Infantino, who has spent a decade in charge of the football governing body.For the majority of Infantino's 10 years in charge, the feeling within FIFA has been that of a united front behind Infantino, even as fans and media express frustration with the direction of the game throughout recent years. The Swiss-born football executive has seen the non-profit's cash reserves grow exponentially, while the World Cup has blossomed into a cash behemoth.Yet it only took one major controversy for Infantino's position to become not just tenuous, but downright toxic, as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal has completely eroded faith in the president and generated criticism and vitriol across all corners of the football world.The Sporting News explains if Infantino will step down, and who could push to take over if the current president is either ushered out or loses the upcoming presidential vote in early 2027.MORE:Every confederation's response to Infantino's FFE plan, including UEFA and CONCACAF aggressionWill Gianni Infantino resign?At this point, there is no indication that Gianni Infantino has any intention of stepping down, even as the football world starts to unite against him. In fact, there is no indication that he has changed his mind about running for reelection in March should he make it that far.However, there is growing pressure for Infantino to reconsider his position as FIFA president, both outwardly and internally.According to a report byTom Morgan of The Telegraphon August 1, UEFA has informed Gianni Infantino that the federation will trigger a vote of no confidence unless the FIFA president resigns of his own accord.UEFA released a public statement that implicated Infantino as a tyrant whose "secret schemes on fast track timescales, cooked up by faceless individuals and of dubious benefit to the game" have fractured the sport's power structure and left the organisation's executive committee fighting from within."The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family," the statement read.There are multiple reports over the last few days as well as statements from at least three confederations that have indicated anger within FIFA towards Infantino's secrecy over the FFE deal.CONCACAF expressedtheir "deep concerns about the lack of due process surrounding the proposal, the artificially short deadline imposed, and the absence of any review or approval by the relevant FIFA governance bodies." Meanwhile, AFC stated that questions remained regarding "the central concerns surrounding governance, institutional process and meaningful consultation."According to The Athletic, emergency meetings for both UEFA and CONCACAF resulted in open expressions of doubt about Infantino's ability to continue in charge.When is the next FIFA presidential election?As it currently stands, the next FIFA presidential election is scheduled to take place onMarch 17, 2027.Gianni Infantino was planning to run for his fourth presidential term, which by FIFA statutes would be his final term as president.FIFA presidents are limited to three full four-year terms. Infantino was first elected president in 2016 following the dismissal of Sepp Blatter, given an initial three-year term, which did not count towards the term limit due to the special nature of the election.Infantino was re-elected unopposed in both 2019 and 2023. Because those are technically his first and second full terms as FIFA president, he therefore would be eligible to run for one more four-year term. If elected, he would be in charge until 2031 until he would be forced to step down.Who could challenge or replace Gianni Infantino?There is no guarantee that Gianni Infantino is forced to step down. A vote of no confidence is a strong move for member nations to take, a precedent that many could potentially be afraid to set.If Infantino survives that, there's also no guarantee that he is voted out in the March 2027 election. The current president has always held strong support from the African confederation, who hold 54 member nations, a strong voting bloc. If he can figure out how to fracture the remaining confederations, or the rest of the voting community is unable to unite behind one candidate, then Infantino could survive to serve another four-year term.Here are the candidates that could stand to challenge Infantino's position, who will make their pleas to the rest of the football world in the hopes of forming a united front against Infantino's station.Victor MontaglianiThe main frontrunner to challenge Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency, either upon Infantino's potential dismissal or in March at the upcoming FIFA presidential election, is current CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani.The 60-year-old Canadian has risen through the ranks as a football executive, first serving as president of the British Columbia Soccer Association in 2005, before being voted as president of the Canadian Soccer Association in 2012. In that role, he led the host nation at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup and oversaw the genesis of the Canadian Premier League. He won election as president of CONCACAF in 2016, replacing the disgraced Alfredo Hawit, where he has served ever since.It has been understood for years that Montagliani has harbored dreams of serving as FIFA president, but he has also positioned himself as a staunch Infantino ally. However, with the current climate turning on Infantino, Montagliani has now come out as a leading contender to challenge for the position.A report by Reuters on July 31 claimed that Montagliani was "making moves" to run for the presidency, and on August 1 CONCACAF released a scathing statement attacking Infantino for his FFE plan."A proposal of this magnitude does not reach that stage by accident," CONCACAF said in their statement. "It is a symptom of leadership that has stopped putting football first. This recent unilateral and egregious act of poor governance and leadership follows a pattern of missteps and similar behaviour. A comprehensive reckoning with this presidency is imperative."Montagliani would be a strong candidate to challenge Infantino. With much of the football world trepidatious of European dominance in football, Montagliani would represent a non-European voice that opposes Infantino, something much of the community would be able to unite behind if they wished to make such a move.Sheikh SalmanAnother non-European voice that FIFA powers could potentially unite behind is AFC president Sheikh Salmon bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa.Also 60 years old, Bahrain-born Sheikh Salmon has been in charge of the Asian confederation since 2013, elevated from the presidency of the Bahrain FA.FIFA member associations are extremely familiar with Salmon and his platforms, as he ran against Gianni Infantino in 2016, losing the vote for FIFA president narrowly, 115-88. Despite this defeat, Salmon was elevated to Senior Vice President of FIFA by Infantino in 2018, where he has been in place since.Sheikh Salmon has not yet announced his intention to run against Infantino again, but his name has been floated several times given his history in the federation, his experience running a FIFA presidential campaign, and his presence as a non-European figure who could potentially unite the organisation against Infantino should he decide to stand.Nasser Al-KhelaifiDespite never having held a position within FIFA, Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has risen to a position of prominence in global football. He was tabbed by ESPN as the seventh-most influential figure in global football in 2015, and has only grown his power further as PSG continue to establish themselves as a football force having won the last two Champions League titles.Hailing from Qatar, the 52-year-old has served as chairman of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) since 2011, leading the sovereign wealth fund which had acquired PSG earlier that year. During his time in charge of the club, Al-Khelaifi has gained a reputation for being a strong leader who has built a self-working sporting structure at the club.Al-Khelaifi would be an extremely strong candidate, given his power and influence in Europe but being from an Asian nation, he could be an individual who could unite the voting blocs of multiple confederations, seen as an unbiased figure with varied interests.However, his spokesperson indicated on July 29 that Al-Khelaifi has "no interest" in running for the position, so he is unlikely to stand for election unless he is convinced otherwise.Aleksander CeferinAleksander Ceferin, the president of UEFA, has taken an extremely hardline stance against Gianni Infantino's regime for years.Hailing from Slovenia, Ceferin was voted in as the seventh president of UEFA in 2016, replacing Michel Platini who exited in disgrace on suspicion of corruption. During his time in charge of the European governing body, Ceferin has repeatedly opposed Infantino and FIFA, especially World Cup expansion which he called "a bad idea." He has also opposed European leagues holding competitive matches overseas, spoken out against the reversal of Folarin Balogun's red card at the 2026 World Cup, and led UEFA's strong, united front against Infantino's FFE deal.While that aggression has served Ceferin well in charge of UEFA, it is likely working against him in any effort to run for FIFA presidency. Europe's dominance throughout the world of football has made other confederations wary of the continent's influence in the game, and it would be extremely difficult to gather enough votes for such an outspoken European president in the current FIFA climate.

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 31: Elieser Hernndez #57 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the seventh inning during the game against the Washington Nationals at Truist Park on July 31, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesThe Atlanta Braves have once again activated the DFA Cycle and the latest passenger is none other than Elieser Hernndez. Following another one-appearance stint with Atlanta, Hernndez has been designated for assignment and reliever James Karinchak will be taking his place on the roster for the time being. The #Braves today recalled RHP James Karinchak to Atlanta and designated RHP Elieser Hernndez for assignment. Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 1, 2026Hernndez has actually come up pretty big for the Braves over the past couple of weekends. He tossed three crucial scoreless innings against the Orioles in a situation where Atlanta needed every last one of those outs in order to pull off a dramatic victory. This time, he pitched another three innings but it was clear that he was being used to give the bullpen regulars a spell after they were put into heavy use during the series-opening win over Washington. Either way, the three innings were productive (outside of a homer given up to Andrs Chaparro) and Hernndez did his job while he was here. James Karinchak will be returning to the big league fold for the first time since July 9, which is when he pitched a scoreless inning against the Pirates. Karinchak has pitched 9.2 innings so far and has a 1.86 ERA and a 4.34 FIP so far. Id imagine that hell be in line to get some low-leverage innings on a short-term basis. Pour another one out for Elieser Hernndez, though, who appears to be the strongest soldier given the fate of the DFA Cycle so far.

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: New Heights Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce got married at Madison Square Garden almost a month ago, and everyone still cant stop talking about it. The couple still havent shared any photos, so an air of mystery still surrounds the event, though Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid, and others have been dropping details. Reid recently suggested that Kelce stayed in shape ahead of training camp and that all the dancing at the wedding contributed to that. Now, that's proving to be true, as a clip sees Kelce dancing during camp.Kelce has been the tight end of the Chiefs for 13 years, and for a while there was a lot of uncertainty whether or not he would return for this upcoming football season. Ultimately, though, he signed a new contract with the organization he won three Super Bowls for. While Kelce may be considered old in some sports talk circles, Reid's comments helped dispel that notion, and this funny clip of Kelce "grooving" as shared by KCTV5 on Instagram, also adds fuel to the notion that he's still pumped to be on the field:A post shared by KCTV5 (@kctv5)A photo posted by on I mean, should we be surprised that Kelce busted out a quick dance move while waiting on the field? After all, this is a guy who celebrates a victory with a little jig here and there. I love to see the 36-year-old football veteran out there enjoying himself, and it's clear that his coach is pleased with him as well.More on Travis Kelce(Image credit: Scott Yamano/Netflix)How Adam Sandler Apparently Wants To Help Travis Kelce's Acting CareerAs for Reid, he was obviously making a tongue and cheek reference to his attendance to the Kelce and Swift wedding. Its hard not to talk about considering it was so widely publicized and was such a star-studded event. However, its also great to hear from Reid that Kelce looks great on the field at training camp. Football becomes more and more dangerous as a player ages, and the fact that Kelce was in great shape can bode well for how he matches up with the younger players entering the NFL.I personally cant wait to see Kelce hit the field this year. He is one of the best tight ends in the league and has even more of an opportunity this year to defend his legacy coached by one of the best to ever do it. While Kelce signed a three-year extension earlier this year, it's still hard not to wonder whether he could decide to hang it up after this year. If he does, I hope he goes out on top.Also, I'd imagine Swifties are excited about possibly seeing Swift in the crowd amid games, rocking a stunning outfit and cheering as loud as she possibly can for her new husband. It feels like a sweet continuation of the remarkable year both of these megastars have had. Here's to continued love between the couple and more dance celebrations for Kelce on the field.You can watch Andy Reid coach Travis Kelce on the Kansas City Chiefs during this NFL season, which starts on September 14th. Also, see Kelces much-talked about dance moves and and insight into his relationship with Taylor Swift in the End of an Era docuseries, which is currently streaming with a Disney+ subscription.

SILVIO FOREVERHe was the president of the Immortals, the Invincibles and the Amazing Ones. He oversaw titles, Ballon d'Or wins and records. He was a president full of life, with AC Milan at heart. The Rossoneri fans loved him, his sporting opponents respected him. Silvio Berlusconi and his helicopter, Silvio Berlusconi and his vision.He planned and brought together squads with a wealth of options so as to compete on all fronts, he desired and dreamed of playing attacking football at home and away, and he always held to the idea that one's opponent is an integral part of sport. He never made himself an enemy of anybody but was a fierce competitor, who required his opponents to be at the top of their game. He was not to be beaten with clenched fists. His vision of football was a game pleasing to the eye and soul, not dedicated to madness and violence. He always showed others that this was the way. He was the Presidentissimo of Italian football."Silvio, Milano loves you". That was the welcome from the fans that greeted him 37 years ago, when AC Milan were suffering, languishing, at risk of a worse fate. And he responded with that courageous, infectious smile. He made a lot of significant and very brave investments. He smiled in victory and in defeat. He brought first-place and podium finishes to AC Milan, though he was always gracious when the title went elsewhere.Now, it's time for the great, unforgettable Cavaliere to take his final journey. On either side of the path, there will be a guard of honour from fans and directors, from coaches and players. His father Luigi will be waiting up there for him, as will Rosa, his mother. They will already be receiving him with a warm embrace and telling him how football fans are applauding him. No ifs, no buts, no maybes. Everyone united in applause, just as he would have wanted. Silvio, you are still loved here.

The Big Ten and Southeastern Conferences agreed Friday night to support a Senate bill that seeks to regulate college sports, ending a breakneck week of negotiations and pulling the bipartisan measure out of what looked like a certain death spiral.School presidents from both conferences voted to back the bill after receiving last-minute concessions over language regarding third-party name-image-likeness deals and the so-called associated entities that often broker those arrangements between players and schools.More details need to be worked out, but the headline is that the bill still has a chance to earn the 60 votes it needs to halt debate and head to an up-or-down vote before the Senate heads for summer break next Friday.The summer recess is increasingly looking like an intractable deadline for the Protect College Sports Act, a bipartisan effort headed by Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.After the conferences, which had balked at large sections of the bill, put out a short release announcing they supported the act as currently drafted, Cruz put out a short statement on social media thanking the leagues and saying: Lets save college sports. And Cantwell said: Good. Now progress can be made in protecting women and Olympic athletes and moving the legislation closer to the Presidents desk.President Donald Trump, who has also been seeking fixes for an industry that now pays its players millions, got involved late Thursday, which helped push the parties back to the negotiating table.Cody Campbell, the Texas Tech regent who has played a big role in shaping this policy, called the SEC and Big Ten support a major breakthrough that moves us closer to a Senate vote and a better future for college sports.Increased salary cap, new language entice holdout leaguesThe most groundbreaking part of the reworked deal is the $27.5 million that schools would be allotted to retain players, in addition to the $21.3 million cap that already exists.It could represent a major reworking of the House settlement the groundbreaking agreement that governs paying players. The idea is that the extra money will take the place of payments from associated entities that were allowed above and beyond the $21.3 million cap. It was those payments that, many schools complained, obliterated any idea of a cap or controlled cost.The SEC and Big Ten sought stronger language in the bill to guarantee that any third-party deals are truly outside deals and not coming from the schools multimedia-rights partners, which currently arrange the majority of those deals.Among the questions still unanswered are whether the new cap will comport with the House settlement, which had very specific instructions about the hard cap (22% of a certain part of athletic department revenues, which equals $21.3 million this season).Also, what would happen to the College Sports Commission, the main NIL enforcement arm that spends the bulk of its time analyzing third-party NIL deals that would be greatly reduced under this arrangement?Even with a victory, a long road remains for billEven with Friday nights victory, the bill has a long road ahead. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., has been a staunch opponent of the bill since the beginning. Before the latest compromise, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said that as written today, the act creates chaos and eliminates opportunity for student-athletes.Whether the SECs approval is enough to get those senators and others from SEC states on board is one issue. If the bill clears the Senate, it would still then need to pass the narrowly divided House, which flailed on another college bill called the SCORE Act, for more than a year.Theres also the matter of whether smaller conferences, long in favor of the bill, would remain so now that their bigger competition is being allowed to directly pay players more than double what was previously allowed.Compromise comes on a day where NCAA loses two more court rulingsAlmost everyone involved in college sports agrees that the status quo isnt working.The news broke only hours after the NCAA lost a pair of key court cases involving its new rule that would give most Division I athletes five years to complete five seasons of eligibility.Using those losses as another chance to urge for passage of the bill, NCAA President Charlie Baker said It is long past time leaders across college sports call for the immediate passage of the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act.Two-time national champion hoops coach Dan Hurley of UConn used social media to outline the stakes in more colorful terms: Somebody please come and fix College Sports. Its a complete (expletive) show, he said, using an emoji where the expletive would go.Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

Good news, Si Woo Kim. The Windsor tunnel wants to be friends, and make amends.Kim made hilarious headlines earlier this week when he made a wrong turn and ended up in Canada prior to the start of the 2026 Rocket Classic at Detroit Golf Club. Kim was planning to meet fellow Tour pro Michael Kim for a Korean barbecue dinner. But as it turns out, the name of the restaurant was a common one. It was called Daebak. There was one in the Detroit suburb of Southfield (right) and one in Windsor, Ontario (wrong).Si Woo Kim was staying in downtown Detroit, so he typed the restaurant name into his GPS. The closest Daebak location was in Windsor, and without thinking, he started driving. He didn't realize something was wrong until he reached a toll gate. It was $9."Why is it so expensive?" Si Woo Kim said in an interview with Golf on CBS this week. "Oh, this is Canada."Si Woo Kim tried to turn around but it was one way, and the border-patrol agent told him he had to go through to the other side first. Then, on the Canadian side of the tunnel, and without his passport, he eventually was met by eight agents, some of whom inspected his courtesy car. He was "freaking out." Eventually, he was allowed back through.And eventually, he made it to dinner, albeit 90 minutes late.Michael Kim told the story on social media this week: "Never a dull moment with Si Woo."The Canadian border patrol agent asked Si Woo Kim if he was going to win the Rocket."If you let me go through," Si Woo Kim said with a laugh, to CBS Golf.The Windsor-Detroit Tunnel is having some fun with the story, and this week even posted on its entrance sign: "FREE TOLL FOR SI WOO KIM." It wrote on Facebook, "We'd love to have you take a ride through the Tunnel again."Even the tunnel's CEO, Tal Czudner, delivered a personal invitation, from the grounds of Detroit Golf Club this week."But please bring your passport," Czudner said. "Bring this tournament home."Kim was doing his best. He started Saturday's third round at 5 under, five shots off the lead. Michael Kim, who shared the Si Woo story, started Saturday's round at 8 under, two shots back.This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: 'Free toll for Si Woo': Windsor-Detroit Tunnel invites Si Woo Kim back through to Canada

Credit: Bussin' With The BoysESPN is reportedly planning a new college football show built around Josh Pate and Bussin With The Boys co-hosts Will Compton and Taylor Lewan, airing Friday afternoons from college campuses, according to Front Office Sports Ryan Glasspiegel.The reported show would mark an expansion of ties ESPN has already built with all three hosts. Pate joined the networks Get Up rotation last year, as part of a broader push from content president Burke Magnus, who has said college football is under-covered on ESPNs talk programming relative to how many people actually watch the games. Compton and Lewan started appearing on ESPNs daytime lineup around the same time, following their decision to leave Barstool Sports for a presenting sponsorship with FanDuel.Of course, the show, which sometimes originates from the same city as the next mornings College GameDaybroadcast, also indicates ESPN is looking tofurther lean into a strategy where its top personalities are digital natives. Naturally, the comparisons will be made to Pat McAfees own rise at the Worldwide Leader, given the trios SEC Championship altcast debut on ESPN2 last December an altcast built off the Field Pass template McAfee had already proven out several times over and now a reported Friday show on top of it. If it feels like a coincidence, it isnt. Its more a barometer for whats possible when a network invests in an audience someones already built, according to Pate.I think when you combine that year-round college football being viable and then just sports media as a concept being presented in practice the way Pat has done it, I think that there is no ceiling on what youre allowed to do, what youre capable of doing, Pate told Front Office Sports in July.What Pate, Lewan, and Compton are actually capable of doing wont be clear until games are being played this fall, when ESPN will have to find out whether a Friday show built around three podcast hosts can hold up against the machine it already runs on Saturdays, one anchored by College GameDay and, per Glasspiegels reporting, the same site the new show would sometimes share. On a recent episode of Bussin With The Boys, though, Pate and Lewan laid out a vision for the alleged concept and the specific gap in ESPNs Friday programming they think it can fill.The Friday is the build, Pate said. The Friday is the shaking up of the Saturday Coke bottle. And you can feel the pressure building. People coming into town, families, kids checking out of school early. Lets hit the road. We got to get to the tailgate. We got to go see our friends that we see maybe eight weekends out of the year.'That image fans streaming toward campus a full day out from kickoff is what Pate returned to repeatedly as the center of the idea, per his comments on the podcast, down to wanting the show itself to physically track the countdown toward Saturdays game.I want a show that captures that, Pate said. The vibe of Friday. The vibe of T-minus 24 hours, 21 hours, 17 hours. And it may be all quiet right now, but when that clock hits zero tomorrow, its going to be all-out chaos.As Lewan framed it, the three of them wouldnt be the party the two schools playing Saturday would still hold that title with their job instead being to bottle the anticipation of arriving on campus the day before kickoff and give fans somewhere to spend those final hours before the pandemonium actually starts.Considering the built-in audiences that Pate, Compton, and Lewan already bring to the table, giving them their own show is a fairly low-risk bet for ESPN, especially with the program set to travel to the site of College GameDay on occasion, opening the door to fold the trio into the networks flagship pregame show down the line.The post Josh Pate, Taylor Lewan detail vision for ESPNs reported Friday college football show appeared first on Awful Announcing.