Pete Crow-Armstrong has emerged as the National League MVP favourite after hitting two home runs to guide the Chicago Cubs to a 7-6 series-sweeping victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The standout centre-fielder outperformed Shohei Ohtani in a thrilling encounter at Wrigley Field, where the Dodgers’ designated hitter also blasted two balls into the stands.
The narrow victory completed a highly impressive three-game sweep for Chicago against the two-time defending World Series champions.
Crow-Armstrong takes MVP advantage
Following the statement performance, the 24-year-old overtook Ohtani in the betting odds to claim his first Most Valuable Player award.
He finished the game with a double and four runs batted in, while posting an elite .938 on-base plus slugging percentage for the season.
The top-rated defender later admitted that the growing individual accolades were enjoyable to consider alongside team success.
“I would be crazy to say that I don’t want to win an MVP, but if we’re talking about having priorities straight, I think mine are pretty straight,” he said.
“It’s not on the forefront of my mind. It’s fun to joke about it, and it’s fun to acknowledge, but it’s not like following me up to the plate.”
Ohtani injury opens the door
The Japanese superstar kept up his end of the bargain on Wednesday, collecting three hits and driving in three of Los Angeles’ six runs.
However, the former two-way phenomenon has been restricted strictly to hitting duties since early July due to left knee soreness.
Ohtani stated he is confident of returning to the mound at some point this season, though he acknowledged his recovery schedule remains uncertain.
“He’s a great player, but I’m really focused on myself right now,” Ohtani said through a translator.
Historic milestones at Wrigley Field
Both sluggers launched home runs to lead off the game, marking only the second time in Wrigley Field history since 1913 that opposing teams have achieved the feat.
The dynamic Cubs prospect continued his remarkable form by adding a second blast in the fourth inning off left-hander Eric Lauer.
That pivotal strike brought his season tally to 25, making him the first player in franchise history to record consecutive campaigns with at least 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases.
Furthermore, his 67 career home runs rank as the second-most in team history for a player before the age of 25, trailing only Hall of Famer Ron Santo.
“I think it’s fun watching Pete have this season,” Chicago manager Craig Counsell reflected. “It’s a season you remember.”
Despite the individual praise, the in-form outfielder remained firmly focused on team success as the postseason approaches.
“I would feel much more accomplished taking them down at some point,” Crow-Armstrong concluded. “I want to see this group in October.”
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge has been cleared to resume light physical activity following a rib fracture and remains confident he will play again this season.
The 34-year-old has not featured for the Major League Baseball franchise since 31 May because of a stress fracture in his right rib.
Following a scan on Tuesday, medical staff permitted the three-time American League MVP to begin running and upper-body resistance exercises.
“Oh, I’ll be back this season. I don’t know why I wouldn’t be.”
The formidable slugger added that returning to the field was always his primary objective.
Hitting remains the ultimate test
Despite the positive medical update, the American has not yet been cleared to resume baseball-specific activities.
He will require further imaging on the healing bone before being allowed to swing a bat or throw a ball.
“I think that’s going to be the ultimate test, is hitting. That’s the most violent of it all, more than running or lifting and stuff like that.”
The injury originally occurred when the outfielder dived for a ball on his birthday in late April.
He bravely played through the pain for over a month before being placed on the injured list in early June.
Yankees desperate for offensive spark
In his absence, New York’s offensive production has plummeted dramatically.
Since the beginning of June, the team ranks among the worst in the major leagues for runs scored and overall batting metrics.
This alarming slump prompted general manager Brian Cashman to acquire Luis Garcia Jr and Heliot Ramos before Monday’s trade deadline.
Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged that his star player understands the urgency of the situation.
“I think he certainly wants to push the envelope as much as he possibly can but also understands that healing needs to happen with this.”
With just 52 days remaining in the regular season, the Bronx Bombers currently trail the Tampa Bay Rays by four games in their division.
The returning veteran endorsed the recent roster additions, stating that chasing down the Rays remains the squad’s most important goal.
Former England defender Kyle Walker insists he is completely at ease with his international retirement as he looks to prolong his club career with Burnley.
The 36-year-old right-back stepped away from the Three Lions in March after earning 96 caps across five major tournaments.
His decision comes despite a recent injury crisis in the national squad that forced midfielder Declan Rice to deputise in defence.
Focusing on club football
When asked if he had stepped down too early after being omitted from Thomas Tuchel’s recent squads, the veteran defender firmly rejected the suggestion.
“Decisions in life you stand on what you do,” Walker stated.
He explained that stepping away was a collaborative choice made alongside his family, who had supported him through years of demanding summer tournaments.
“It was a difficult decision but one I’m more at ease with now,” he added.
The former Manchester City star acknowledged he might have been needed during the recent North American tournament due to defensive injuries.
Following Milner’s example
However, the six-time Premier League winner felt comfortable leaving the position to younger talents like Reece James and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Speaking at the English Football League launch in Manchester, the seasoned full-back outlined his ambitions for the upcoming Championship campaign.
Burnley will begin their push for promotion back to the top flight when they host recently relegated West Ham on Sunday, 16 August.
Having featured in 36 league matches for the Clarets last season, he hopes stepping back from international duty will allow him to emulate James Milner.
Taking it season by season
Milner retired from England duty at 30 and continued playing in the Premier League for another decade before finishing his career at Brighton.
“I will take it season by season,” Walker noted regarding his own future in the domestic game.
Approaching his 37th birthday, the experienced defender plans to carefully monitor his physical condition before making any decisions about his long-term future.
Federal prosecutors have accused a co-defendant in Terry Rozier’s ongoing NBA betting case of witness tampering, alleging he used rat emojis on social media to intimidate individuals involved in the trial.
The US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York filed a motion on Tuesday to revoke the bond of Deniro Laster.
Authorities claim the childhood friend of the NBA guard has repeatedly and flagrantly violated the conditions of his release.
It is alleged that the accused attempted to contact fellow defendants directly and through intermediaries.
Intimidation claims and rat emojis
Court documents state that Instagram accounts linked to Laster posted rat emojis on at least two separate occasions.
Prosecutors argued this behaviour, combined with his reputation for carrying firearms, demonstrated a clear intent to intimidate perceived witnesses.
Revocation of Deniro Laster’s bail is the only means of ensuring that he will comply with the Court’s orders, refrain from further criminal conduct, preserve the integrity of these proceedings, and protect witnesses or perceived witnesses.
A spokesperson for the US Attorney’s Office declined to comment further ahead of a scheduled status conference.
The $70,000 betting scheme
The underlying gambling scandal centres around a March 2023 fixture between the Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans.
Prosecutors allege the basketball star informed his associate that he planned to exit the game early, allowing fraudulent wagers to be placed.
The pair allegedly agreed to a bribe of approximately $70,000 in exchange for the inside information.
However, defence attorneys recently produced a text message appearing to show Laster telling an unidentified person not to tell “Chum”, an established nickname for the former Hornets guard, about the bet.
Federal officials have countered this claim, suggesting they possess evidence proving the text exchange is unrelated to sports gambling.
Wire fraud and money laundering charges
Both men face serious charges including conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud.
The two defendants have pleaded not guilty to all accusations and are currently awaiting a trial scheduled for 8 February 2027.
Legal representatives for the professional athlete have formally requested a judge dismiss the charges against him entirely.
An attorney representing his co-defendant has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the latest tampering allegations.
LIV Golf has secured crucial backing from an unnamed lead investor to ensure the breakaway circuit’s survival beyond the current season following the withdrawal of Saudi Arabian funding.
Chief executive Scott O’Neil announced the financial lifeline on Wednesday ahead of this week’s tournament at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
The exact identity of the financial backer and the precise monetary figure remain undisclosed.
However, the organisation hopes to finalise terms in the coming weeks before officially closing the transaction in September.
Players to become majority owners
O’Neil is reportedly seeking between $250m and $300m to maintain operations.
This search for capital was triggered after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced in April that it would cease financing the venture.
The PIF had previously spent more than $5bn bankrolling the controversial tour over the past five seasons.
Under the newly proposed structure, competing golfers will become the majority equity holders in the enterprise.
The league’s chief executive highlighted that this player-owned model represents a first for a major global sports league.
“LIV Golf has an agreement in place with a lead investor, signed by the investor and approved by the board, to anchor the transaction and play a key role in supporting the path forward for the league’s next era, driven by and for the players.” Scott O’Neil
Format changes and future schedule
Alongside structural adjustments, athletes will regain their full name, image, and likeness commercial rights.
Competitors will also be granted permission to participate in other global tours, marking a significant shift from previous exclusivity constraints.
“[It] gives the League the foundation to keep growing the game worldwide. In the meantime, our focus is on delivering a great week for fans and players at Bedminster and finishing the 2026 season strong.” Scott O’Neil
Looking ahead, the circuit plans to host 10 events in 2027.
This proposed schedule features five international team “majors” alongside five “signature events” staged in the United States.
Meanwhile, two-time US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau led a players-only meeting regarding the developments on Tuesday.
Uncertainty still surrounds the current campaign’s climax, as officials declined to confirm whether the scheduled individual and team championships will proceed in Michigan this August.
Liverpool are considering a surprise loan move for Newcastle United forward Nick Woltemade as they look to rebuild a depleted forward line.
The Merseyside club are eager to recruit attacking reinforcements before the new season begins.
Newcastle have reportedly informed their £69m club-record signing that he is free to leave on a temporary basis.
While formal negotiations are yet to commence, the Anfield hierarchy are closely monitoring the situation.
Attacking void at Anfield
Andoni Iraola is facing a significant shortage of frontline options following the high-profile departure of Mohamed Salah on a free transfer.
Those attacking issues have been compounded by a long-term Achilles injury sustained by Hugo Ekitike at the end of the previous campaign.
The Spanish manager is also dealing with mounting uncertainty surrounding the respective futures of Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa.
That lack of depth has forced the Reds to scour the market for versatile operators capable of providing cover for British-record signing Alexander Isak.
Struggles on Tyneside
The Germany international arrived at St James’ Park amid high expectations after turning down interest from Bayern Munich.
However, the towering attacker struggled to adapt to the rigorous demands of the Premier League during his maiden season in England.
Eddie Howe occasionally deployed the forward in a deeper midfield role as he attempted to unlock his undeniable technical potential.
Despite those tactical adjustments, the former Werder Bremen prospect managed just 11 goals across 51 appearances in all competitions.
An unconventional solution
Acquiring the versatile attacker would represent a slight departure from Liverpool’s traditional pursuit of explosive, high-pace wingers.
The technically gifted playmaker lacks blistering acceleration but thrives when operating as either a traditional striker or a deep-lying number ten.
Paris St-Germain duo Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye reportedly remain the primary targets for the Anfield recruitment team.
However, a pragmatic loan deal for the unsettled Magpies forward could offer a low-risk solution to a growing squad depth crisis.
Juventus are preparing a loan offer for Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee after the Premier League club signalled their willingness to sanction a deal.
The Italian giants are keen to bolster their attacking options and have identified the Dutch international as a primary target.
Old Trafford officials have reportedly opened the door to a temporary departure for the 23-year-old.
It follows a challenging start to life in England for the striker, who has struggled to secure regular starting minutes since his summer arrival.
Serie A return beckons
A move to Turin would offer the former Bayern Munich prospect a swift return to the Italian top flight.
He previously excelled in Serie A with Bologna, playing a pivotal role in their unexpected qualification for the Champions League.
Relocating to the Juventus Stadium would also reunite the attacker with Thiago Motta, his former manager at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.
United restructuring continues
Manchester United are actively assessing their squad dynamics ahead of the upcoming transfer window.
Allowing the recent signing to leave on loan could provide crucial squad space and resources as the club looks to shape its evolving roster.
Further developments are expected in the coming weeks as the two European heavyweights negotiate the terms of the proposed agreement.
Liverpool are preparing a statement £100m bid for Paris St-Germain winger Bradley Barcola as they look to rebuild their attack ahead of the 2026 transfer deadline.
The Merseyside club have identified the 23-year-old as their primary target following a failed pursuit of Ivory Coast international Yan Diomande.
Paris St-Germain currently value their prized asset at £145m.
However, the Reds are hopeful a £100m offer will tempt the French champions into opening negotiations for the highly-rated forward.
Rebuilding a depleted frontline
The Anfield outfit are in desperate need of reinforcements after losing several influential figures during a tumultuous summer.
Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, Ibrahima Konate and manager Arne Slot have all departed the six-time European champions.
Attacking options have been further stretched by Hugo Ekitike’s long-term injury.
Meanwhile, Dutch forward Cody Gakpo is reportedly attracting strong interest from Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Isak seeking a lethal partnership
Securing the Frenchman’s signature could prove vital in unlocking the potential of club-record signing Alexander Isak.
The Sweden striker endured a frustrating debut campaign on Merseyside, managing just four goals across 22 appearances amid persistent fitness issues.
A full pre-season has already benefited the former Newcastle United marksman, who looked sharp during a recent 45-minute outing against Leeds United.
Introducing a lightning-fast winger could provide the exact creative spark needed to occupy defenders and create space for the central striker.
Contract stand-off in Paris
The sought-after attacker is currently unwilling to extend his existing contract at the Parc des Princes.
His current deal expires in 2028, but the French international remains fully open to a Premier League switch.
Preliminary discussions between the two clubs took place 12 months ago, suggesting a long-standing interest from the Premier League heavyweights.
Should a deal fail to materialise, highly-rated Bournemouth prospect Rayan remains a viable alternative on the radar of Europe’s elite.