Good morning! The baseball world declared the season over on Saturday. The Dodgers haven’t won since. Los Angeles dropped a 10-5 decision to the Cubs on Monday — its fourth straight loss and sixth in eight games — on the eve of Tarik Skubal’s Dodger debut. Down south, the Padres bought big at the deadline and then went quiet in Phoenix. In Las Vegas, the Aces answered a bad loss with a statement, and training camps got physical in Los Angeles and Henderson. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

⚾ Reality check at Wrigley. The Dodgers have lost four in a row since acquiring Skubal — Arash Markazi in Chicago.

⚾ Debut night. Skubal takes the mound Tuesday as Los Angeles finalizes its post-deadline roster — Arash Markazi at Wrigley Field.

⚾ Preller strikes twice. The Padres landed Robbie Ray from the Giants and Casey Mize from the Tigers, then lost 5-1 in Phoenix — Brady Charette at Chase Field.

🏀 Answer delivered. Jackie Young’s triple-double keyed a 109-87 Aces rout of the Dream — Derek Hegna at State Farm Arena.

⚾ New era in Anaheim. A firesale deadline resets the Angels — Jack Janes on what comes next.

🏈 Cousins responds. The Raiders QB answered criticism of sluggish practice footage with full-speed sprints Sunday — Muhammed Asif in Las Vegas.

🏈 The real camp story. Why the Rams’ backups matter more than the starters right now — Eric Lambkins II at Loyola Marymount.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — MONDAY

⚾ MLB: Cubs 10, Dodgers 5 · Diamondbacks 5, Padres 1

🏀 WNBA: Aces 109, Dream 87

⚾ THE DODGERS AREN’T INVINCIBLE — AND THEY KNOW IT

According to much of the baseball world, the season ended Saturday night when the Dodgers acquired back-to-back AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. The hot takes started Friday, grew louder Saturday and hit full volume Monday as Skubal met the media at Wrigley Field. Everyone has been busy crowning the Dodgers. The Dodgers, meanwhile, haven’t won a game — four straight losses since Friday, six in eight, capped by Monday’s 10-5 defeat to the Cubs. “We haven’t won a game since he’s been here, but it’s not his doing,” Dave Roberts joked. “We just need to win a game.”

Arash Markazi’s point is that the crowning misses what the trade actually was. Go back two Octobers: the Padres had Los Angeles on the brink in the 2024 NLDS, forcing consecutive elimination-game wins — one started by a bullpen because the Dodgers had run out of healthy arms. Last October, Toronto led the World Series 3-1 and was two outs from a title in Game 7 before Miguel Rojas tied it and Will Smith won it. Even in 2020, Atlanta had three chances to end them. This is still a team waiting on Ohtani’s full pitching workload, with Snell and Glasnow sidelined, Smith and Rushing hurt, Betts scuffling and Tucker still searching for consistency. The Dodgers didn’t trade for Skubal because they think they’re invincible. They traded for him because they know exactly how fragile a championship is.

GO DEEPER

› Arash Markazi: Tarik Skubal makes the Dodgers better but not unbeatable (The Sporting Tribune)

› Arash Markazi: Tarik Skubal set for Dodgers debut as post-deadline roster finalized (The Sporting Tribune)

› Fredo Cervantes: Dodgers Notebook — three deadline moves bolster championship push (The Sporting Tribune)

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⚾ THE PADRES BOUGHT BIG, THEN WENT QUIET

A.J. Preller wasn’t subtle. Before first pitch in Phoenix, the Padres added left-hander Robbie Ray from San Francisco and former No. 1 overall pick Casey Mize from Detroit, filling the rotation hole behind Michael King. “You need starting pitching to get into the postseason,” Preller said. Then the offense that had averaged 5.11 runs while winning eight of nine went silent. Arizona’s Brandon Pfaadt fired 6.2 scoreless innings — he’s at a 1.55 ERA in seven starts since being recalled June 30 — and held Tatis Jr., Cronenworth and Machado hitless in nine at-bats. King allowed three runs over five, the damage coming on Tim Tawa’s 404-foot three-run shot in the fourth. San Diego’s only run scored on a Nolan Arenado throwing error. Arizona doubled its Wild Card cushion and now leads the season series 4-3 with six to play.

GO DEEPER

› Brady Charette: Padres drop series opener to Diamondbacks following Trade Deadline (The Sporting Tribune)

› Brady Charette: Padres acquire LHP Robbie Ray in trade with Giants (The Sporting Tribune)

› Brady Charette: Padres strike deal with Tigers for Casey Mize (The Sporting Tribune)

🏀 THE ACES NEEDED THAT ONE

Two nights after handing Chicago a game they should have won, Las Vegas ruined Barbie Night in Atlanta. The Aces rampaged to a 109-87 win, flipping a sloppy first quarter with a 33-14 second and never letting up — a departure from the last trip to Atlanta, when they let a lead slip. “Our defense was just really locked in,” A’ja Wilson said. “We showed them different looks and we made it hard for them to get clean looks.” The night belonged to Jackie Young, who followed a first-quarter flagrant with the third triple-double of her career: 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, plus four three-pointers — matching Atlanta’s entire team output from deep. “Just play hard, make the right reads and just play good basketball,” Young said.

GO DEEPER

› Derek Hegna: Aces respond to adversity with blowout win over Dream (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — TUESDAY, AUGUST 4

⚾ MLB: Angels at Orioles — ABTV — 3:30 p.m. PT

⚾ MLB: Dodgers at Cubs — TBS, SNLA — 5:05 p.m. PT

⚾ MLB: Padres at Diamondbacks — Padres TV — 6:40 p.m. PT

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

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⚾ MLB: Dodgers at Cubs — Wrigley Field — $95

🌴 TST TRIVIA

No team has won three straight World Series in a quarter century. Which team was the last to do it — and in which years?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

Today’s episode gets into why the Dodgers’ losing streak has complicated the coronation, plus the Padres’ deadline haul, the Angels’ reset and the Aces’ bounce-back in Atlanta as well as an update from Raiders, Rams and Chargers training camp. Hear it on the radio across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii via Westwood One Sports, The Bet Las Vegas, Hawaii Sports Radio Network and KIRN in Los Angeles.

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: The New York Yankees, 1998-2000.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Good morning! The Dodgers spent the week telling everyone they were fine being baseball’s villain, then went out and proved it — Tarik Skubal is a Dodger. The catch: Los Angeles got swept at home by the Red Sox over the weekend anyway. Down the freeway, the Angels sold at the deadline but got a gem from Walbert Ureña to close out the weekend, the Aces gave one away in Chicago, and camps rolled on in Los Angeles and Henderson. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

⚾ Blockbuster. The Dodgers acquired Tarik Skubal from Detroit for Zyhir Hope, River Ryan and Brady Smith — Fredo Cervantes has the deal.

⚾ Angels sell. Los Angeles dealt José Soriano to Toronto for shortstop Arjun Nimmala and two others — Jack Janes on the return.

⚾ Ureña deals. The 22-year-old out-dueled NL Cy Young frontrunner Jacob Misiorowski in a 3-0 Angels win — Jack Janes at Angel Stadium.

⚾ Swept at home. Emmet Sheehan struggled as the Red Sox completed a sweep at Dodger Stadium — Fredo Cervantes has the recap.

🏀 One that got away. The Aces blew a fourth-quarter lead and lost 84-83 on a buzzer-beater in Chicago — Derek Hegna at Wintrust Arena.

🏈 Learn and listen. The Rams used Day 7 of camp to slow down and absorb — Eric Lambkins II at Loyola Marymount.

🏄 Emotional wins in HB. Marshall and Kerr took the 2026 Lexus U.S. Open of Surfing — Michael Silver in Huntington Beach.

✈️ Fly to Chicago. Where to stay, eat and drink this week in Chicago where the Dodgers face the Cubs and the Sparks take on the Sky after the trade deadline — read the travel guide.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — SUNDAY

⚾ MLB: Angels 3, Brewers 0 · Red Sox 8, Dodgers 4 ·Padres 5, Giants 4

⚽ NWSL: San Diego Wave 1, Washington Spirit 0

⚾ THE DODGERS CASH IN AT THE DEADLINE

Four days after Arash Markazi wrote that the Dodgers shouldn’t hesitate to go all in, they did exactly that. Los Angeles acquired reigning two-time AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal from Detroit for outfield prospect Zyhir Hope, right-hander River Ryan and right-hander Brady Smith — and kept Emmet Sheehan and the rest of its premium young arms out of the deal. Skubal, 29, has a 2.79 ERA with 116 strikeouts and a 0.91 WHIP across 96.2 innings this season despite missing five weeks after arthroscopic elbow surgery. The arithmetic on how the Dodgers built the package is almost absurd: Hope came over in the Michael Busch trade, Ryan in the deal that sent Matt Beaty to San Diego. Los Angeles essentially turned Busch and Beaty into the best pitcher in baseball. Yoshinobu Yamamoto found out mid-interview: “I was hearing some rumors about that, but then it actually happened. I’m pretty surprised.” The rotation options now read Skubal, Yamamoto, Snell, Glasnow, Ohtani, Wrobleski, Sheehan and Sasaki. The weekend sweep at the hands of Boston was a reminder that games still have to be played — but nobody in the National League is feeling better this morning than the Dodgers.

GO DEEPER

› Fredo Cervantes: Dodgers acquire Tarik Skubal in blockbuster trade with Tigers (The Sporting Tribune)

› Arash Markazi: Dodgers embrace role of baseball’s ‘bad guy’ entering trade deadline (The Sporting Tribune)

› Fredo Cervantes: Emmet Sheehan struggles as Dodgers swept by Red Sox (The Sporting Tribune)

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⚾ THE ANGELS SOLD — AND THEN FOUND SOMETHING

The Angels moved right-hander José Soriano to Toronto on Monday for a package fronted by shortstop Arjun Nimmala — MLB Pipeline’s No. 43 overall prospect, slashing .280/.353/.458 in 32 Double-A games at age 20 — along with outfielder Eddie Micheletti and 19-year-old righty Angel Rivero. Soriano brought a 3.29 ERA and two more years of club control, but also a league-leading 57 walks and two Tommy John surgeries on his ledger at 27. Meanwhile, the weekend closed with a reminder of what the Angels already have. Walbert Ureña, 22, out-pitched NL Cy Young frontrunner Jacob Misiorowski with six scoreless innings in a 3-0 win, dropping his ERA to 2.58 across 18 starts since being called up April 19. “Today might have been the best game he’s pitched all year,” manager Kurt Suzuki said. Wade Meckler supplied the offense with a two-run homer — his third of the season, all off Misiorowski, Jacob deGrom and Drew Rasmussen.

GO DEEPER

› Jack Janes: Angels trade José Soriano to Blue Jays (The Sporting Tribune)

› Jack Janes: Ureña deals, Meckler’s homer lifts Angels over Brewers (The Sporting Tribune)

🏀 A GAME THE ACES SHOULD HAVE HAD

Las Vegas opened a five-game road trip in the worst way possible, coughing up a 10-point fourth-quarter lead and losing 84-83 to Chicago on Sydney Taylor’s buzzer-beating three. The Aces held the Sky to 16, 21 and 18 points through three quarters, then surrendered 29 in the fourth while scoring just 18. “This loss was completely avoidable,” Becky Hammon said. A’ja Wilson went for a game-high 36 points and a double-double, and Jackie Young added one of her own, but the supporting cast never showed up — the bench mustered five points and the team shot 5-for-22 from three. Sixteen turnovers, their most since May, did the rest. Young alone had a season-high six. “You just got to keep playing and make the easy play,” Hammon said. “I thought we didn’t make easy passes.”

GO DEEPER

› Derek Hegna: Too many mistakes doom Aces in trap game loss against Sky (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST —MONDAY, AUGUST 3

🏀 WNBA: Aces at Dream — Peacock — 4:00 p.m.

⚾ MLB: Dodgers at Cubs — SNLA — 5:05 p.m.

⚾ MLB: Padres ar Diamondbacks — Padres TV — 5:40 p.m.

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME TODAY?

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⚾ MLB: Dodgers at Cubs — Wrigley Field — $80

🌴 TST TRIVIA

Tarik Skubal joins a Dodgers rotation that already includes multiple Cy Young winners. Which Dodgers pitcher was the last to win the award before this era?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

Today’s episode breaks down the Skubal blockbuster and what it means for the Dodgers’ three-peat chase, the Angels’ deadline sell-off, and the Aces’ collapse in Chicago. Hear it on the radio across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii via Westwood One Sports, The Bet Las Vegas, Hawaii Sports Radio Network and KIRN in Los Angeles.

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: Clayton Kershaw, who won three (2011, 2013, 2014).

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Good morning! The MLB trade deadline is Monday, and no team looms larger over it than the Dodgers. Los Angeles beat Seattle Thursday to push its NL West lead to 12 games and is now the favorite to land Tarik Skubal. Elsewhere, the Padres’ five-game win streak came to an end against the Giants, the Aces survived a shootout with the Liberty in Las Vegas, and training camps rolled on for the Chargers, Cowboys and Raiders. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

⚾ Bad guys finish first. The Dodgers beat the Mariners 6-2 and are the favorites to land Tarik Skubal before the trade deadline — Arash Markazi at Dodger Stadium.

⚾ Streak snapped. Robbie Ray shut down the Padres in a 4-1 Giants win that ended San Diego’s five-game run — Eric Evelhoch at Petco Park.

🏀 Resilient Aces. A’ja Wilson’s 33 points powered Las Vegas past the Liberty, 104-99 — Steve Carp at Michelob Ultra Arena.

🏈 Dak’s dialed in. The Cowboys offense is already finding its rhythm in Oxnard — Sebastian Sanchez has the details from Oxnard.

🏈 Mentor mode. Khalil Mack is guiding the Chargers’ young pass rushers while Justin Herbert keeps lighting up camp — Fernando Ramirez at The Bolt.

⚾ Ohtani sits. The Dodgers gave Shohei Ohtani a day off Thursday due to knee soreness — Fredo Cervantes at Dodger Stadium.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — THURSDAY

⚾ MLB: Dodgers 6, Mariners 2 · Giants 4, Padres 1

🏀 WNBA: Aces 104, Liberty 99

⚾ THE DODGERS AREN’T APOLOGIZING FOR ANYTHING

“What’s wrong with being the bad guy?” That’s the question actor Jason Bateman asks in the Dodgers’ Opening Day hype video, and it played again Thursday before Los Angeles beat Seattle 6-2 to improve to an MLB-best 69-40 and extend its NL West lead to 12 games. The Dodgers leaned into the villain role all offseason — signing Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million deal and closer Edwin Díaz for three years and $69 million — and now they’re the favorites to add reigning two-time AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal before the MLB trade deadline. With three of last October’s four playoff starters currently sidelined and a contentious labor fight looming in December that could bring a salary cap and shrink the Dodgers’ championship window, Arash Markazi argues the time to go all in is now, not later. As manager Dave Roberts put it after last year’s NLCS sweep: “Before the season started, they said the Dodgers are ruining baseball. Let’s get four more wins and really ruin baseball.” They got those four wins. Now they’re chasing a third straight title — something no team has done since the Yankees’ 1998-2000 run.

GO DEEPER

› Arash Markazi: Dodgers embrace role of baseball’s ‘bad guy’ entering trade deadline (The Sporting Tribune)

› Fredo Cervantes: Dodgers give Shohei Ohtani day off due to knee soreness (The Sporting Tribune)

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⚾ NO TRAFFIC, NO RUNS FOR THE PADRES

San Diego’s five-game win streak came to a close Thursday in a 4-1 loss to the Giants, as Robbie Ray retired 11 of his final 12 batters and the Padres could never turn traffic into runs. Xander Bogaerts drove in San Diego’s lone run, and Fernando Tatis Jr. robbed a Rafael Devers drive at the wall, but the Padres stranded seven runners and drew only one walk all night. “It felt like we were in a lot of good counts for a lot of the night, and then he just made pitches to get himself out of it,” manager Craig Stammen said of Ray. Randy Vásquez turned in the longest relief outing of his career to keep it manageable, and Stammen struck an optimistic note afterward: “We were able to lose in a good manner tonight… hopefully it sets us up better for the next day and the days going forward.” The Padres (55-54) go for the series lead Friday night at Petco Park.

GO DEEPER

› Eric Evelhoch: Lack of traffic leads to Padres winning streak getting snapped by Giants (The Sporting Tribune)

🏀 ACES OUTLAST THE LIBERTY

In front of a sellout crowd of 10,500, A’ja Wilson delivered 33 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and two blocks as the Aces held off the Liberty, 104-99, in a battle of two of the league’s marquee stars. Las Vegas improves to 20-8 and two games back of Minnesota for the top seed, with Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray and Jewell Loyd all contributing behind Wilson. Breanna Stewart led New York with 26 points, but the Aces’ defense made enough stops down the stretch to hold on. “Resiliency is part of any championship team,” coach Becky Hammon said. “We talk about trying to be consistent in what we do, especially defensively.” Gray, who added 16 points, said the group is still finding its identity 28 games in: “I like where we’re at. We’re getting better in real time.” Las Vegas hits the road for a five-game trip starting Sunday in Chicago.

GO DEEPER

› Steve Carp: Aces show resiliency in win over Liberty (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — FRIDAY, JULY 31

⚾ MLB: Brewers at Angels – ABTV — 6:30 p.m. PT

⚾ MLB: Giants at Padres – Padres TV – 6:40 p.m. PT

⚾ MLB: Red Sox at Dodgers – SNLA — 7:10 p.m. PT

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

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⚾ Fri., July 31: Giants at Padres — Petco Park — $37

⚾ Fri., July 31: Brewers at Angels — Angel Stadium — $13

⚾ Fri., July 31: Red Sox at Dodgers— Dodger Stadium — $64

🌴 TST TRIVIA

The Dodgers are chasing a third straight World Series title. Which team was the last to win three consecutive titles?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

Today’s episode breaks down the latest on the NBA’s investigation into the Clippers and how it might kill the Kawhi Leonard trade to the Toronto Raptors. Hear it on the radio across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii via Westwood One Sports, The Bet Las Vegas, Hawaii Sports Radio Network and KIRN in Los Angeles.

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: The 1998-2000 New York Yankees.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Good morning! Training camps are stacking up across the region. The Chargers opened in El Segundo with Justin Herbert turning the page on a rough January, the Raiders got their best player back on the field in Henderson, and the Cowboys even set up shop in Oxnard. On the diamond, the Astros took a third straight from the Angels and the Padres completed a sweep of the Rockies behind a six-pitcher mix-and-match effort. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏈 Herbert’s Day 1. The Chargers QB looked sharp in a new shotgun-heavy offense under OC Mike McDaniel — Fredo Cervantes and Fernando Ramirez at The Bolt.

🏈 Crosby’s back. The Raiders’ All-Pro edge rusher returned from knee surgery for Day 1 of camp in Henderson — Steve Carp in Henderson with the column.

🏈 Puka’s Growth. Rams all-pro wide reciever Puka Nacua opens up about personal growth, therapy ahead of season — Carlos Yakimowich from Loyola Marymount.

⚾ Sweep complete. The Padres beat Colorado 3-1 behind six pitchers, stretching their win streak to five — Eric Evelhoch at Petco Park.

⚾ Astros keep rolling. Houston beat the Angels 7-4 for a third straight win in the series — Jack Janes at Angel Stadium.

⚾ Building trust. Eric Lauer continues giving the Dodgers reasons to believe down the stretch — Fredo Cervantes at Dodger Stadium.

🏈 Cowboys in Oxnard. Dallas opened camp on the Central Coast with a rebuilt defense — Sebastian Sanchez in Oxnard.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — WEDNESDAY

⚾ MLB: Astros 7, Angels 4 · Padres 3, Rockies 1 · Dodgers 4, Mariners 2

🏈 THE CHARGERS TURN THE PAGE

Under clear skies and in front of thousands of fans packed into The Bolt, the Chargers officially opened camp Wednesday with a fresh sense of optimism — and the memory of a 16-3 Wild Card loss to New England still lingering. It was Justin Herbert’s first football practice since that game, and he looked the part of a quarterback ready to move on: clean footwork, sharp timing, accurate throws across the field in a new shotgun-heavy scheme. “I think there’s always a sense of urgency,” Herbert said. “I think the guys are focused and dialed in this year.” New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has already made an impression — “He loves what he does. He loves football, he loves being here,” Herbert said — and the pairing of Herbert’s arm talent with McDaniel’s scheme is quickly becoming one of the league’s more intriguing storylines. Herbert also fielded a lighter question, on his recent engagement to Madison Beer: asked whether the proposal or his unexpected 2020 NFL debut brought more nerves, he didn’t hesitate. “The proposal, for sure.”

GO DEEPER

› Fredo Cervantes: Justin Herbert sets the tone as Chargers open training camp with renewed expectations (The Sporting Tribune)

› Fernando Ramirez:: News and notes fom Day 1 of Chargers training camp (The Sporting Tribune)

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🏈 MAXX CROSBY IS BACK WHERE HE BELONGS

Few were certain Maxx Crosby would still be a Raider after last season, and even fewer expected him ready for Day 1 of camp after a second knee surgery in January. But there he was Wednesday in Henderson, working with the first-team defense under his fifth head coach in six years, Klint Kubiak. “It’s a blessing. It’s an absolute blessing,” Crosby said of the grueling rehab that kept him off his feet for more than a month. “I love this game, and I heard all the noise… but everyone knows if my back’s against the wall that’s when I’m at my best.” New quarterback Kirk Cousins noticed immediately: “It’s not by accident that he’s an All-Pro level player… you just start to see name after name, and when it’s some of your better players like a Maxx, you say, ‘Hey, we can work with this.’” The plan is to have him at full strength for the Sept. 13 opener against Miami — not rushed back a day sooner.

GO DEEPER

› Steve Carp: Crosby’s back, but what’s the rush? (The Sporting Tribune)

› Derek Hegna: Battles on offense take center stage as Raiders training camp begins (The Sporting Tribune)

⚾ PADRES CLOSE OUT THE SWEEP

A night after needing a ninth-inning walk-off, San Diego made it look easy. The Padres rode a three-run fourth inning and six pitchers to a 3-1 win over Colorado on Wednesday, completing the sweep and stretching their win streak to a season-best-tying five games. Jackson Merrill, Luis Rengifo and Gavin Sheets all drove in runs in the decisive frame, while Jeremiah Estrada made his first appearance since June 2 and struck out the side in the eighth. “Eventually if you stick with it, keep a good attitude, continue to work hard… you’re going to figure out a way to get on a good streak,” manager Craig Stammen said. The Padres improve to 55-53 and 8-1 against Colorado on the season, with a four-game set against the Giants up next.

GO DEEPER

› Eric Evelhoch: Strong pitcher mix, big fourth inning stakes Padres to sweep Rockies (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — THURSDAY, JULY 30

⚾ MLB: Giants at Padres — Padres TV — 6:40 p.m. PT.

⚾ MLB: Mariners at Dodgers — SNLA — 7:00 p.m. PT.

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

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⚾ Thu., July 30: Giants at Padres — Petco Park — $42

⚾ Thu., July 30: Mariners at Dodgers — Dodger Stadium — $60

🌴 TST MARKET TRIVIA

Maxx Crosby is entering camp under his fifth different head coach since the Raiders drafted him. Can you name all five?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

Today’s episode breaks down Justin Herbert’s first camp practice since January, checks in on Maxx Crosby’s return in Henderson, and recaps the Padres’ sweep of the Rockies. Hear it on the radio across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii via Westwood One Sports, The Bet Las Vegas, Hawaii Sports Radio Network and KIRN in Los Angeles.

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: Jon Gruden, Josh McDaniels, Antonio Pierce, Pete Carroll and Klint Kubiak.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Good morning! Aaron Donald is back in the headlines without throwing a single pass-rush move, and Sean McVay’s not exactly closing the door on it. Elsewhere, it was a rough night at Crypto.com Arena as the Sparks’ skid hit six, while the Aces came out of the All-Star break and made a statement in a sweep of Portland. On the diamond, the Astros beat the Angels for the second straight night and the Padres needed a ninth-inning walk-off to escape the Rockies. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏈 Donald buzz builds. Sean McVay says he’s in regular contact with Aaron Donald, who “is feeling good” and training hard — Arash Markazi at Rams camp.

🏀 Six in a row. The Sparks shot 60 percent and set a franchise assist record — and still lost, 113-109 to the Liberty — Rey Moralde has the recap.

🏀 Aces stay unbeaten vs. Portland. A’ja Wilson (28 points) led Las Vegas past the Fire, 98-83, completing the season sweep — Arion Armeniakos in Las Vegas.

⚾ Walk-off in San Diego. Fernando Tatis Jr. set a career high with five hits and Xander Bogaerts delivered the winning sac fly in an 8-7 win over Colorado — Eric Evelhoch at Petco Park.

🏈 Open competition in Vegas. The Raiders enter training camp with jobs up for grabs across the roster — Derek Hegna has the plan.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — TUESDAY

⚾ MLB: Astros 3, Angels 2 · Padres 8, Rockies 7 · Mariners 7, Dodgers 6

🏀 WNBA: Liberty 113, Sparks 109 · Aces 98, Fire 83

🏈 THE RAMS’ BIGGEST QUESTION WON’T GO AWAY

Aaron Donald’s NFL future remains one of the biggest storylines surrounding the Rams, and while Sean McVay stopped short of suggesting a return is imminent, his comments Tuesday did little to quiet the speculation. Speaking after the Rams’ third day of camp at Loyola Marymount University, McVay confirmed he has remained in regular contact with Donald and said the future Hall of Famer continues to train at a high level — “no new news on the front of any imminent decision on whether he’s going to play or not.” Asked whether Donald has been training at the Rams’ facility, McVay smiled and kept the mystery alive: “I’m not sure. There’s nobody at the Rams facility right now. Maybe TMZ knows the answer to that.” Donald’s name still comes up daily at camp, even with the Rams boasting one of the league’s deepest fronts after the blockbuster addition of Myles Garrett — veteran guard Kevin Dotson already has a nickname for what it would mean to face both: “AD protocol.”

GO DEEPER

› Arash Markazi: Aaron Donald return buzz grows after Sean McVay reveals ongoing conversations (The Sporting Tribune)

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🏀 SIX STRAIGHT FOR THE SPARKS, BUT NOT FOR LACK OF TRYING

Close again, but close doesn’t count in the standings. Los Angeles shot better than 60 percent, set a franchise record with 35 assists, and got six players in double figures — and still fell, 113-109, to a Liberty team led by Breanna Stewart’s 29 points. Rae Burrell tied a career high with 24 points and Nneka Ogwumike added 21 with nine assists, but New York’s 29-point bench game proved too much. “We had 30 points off of 18 turnovers… good offense beats good defense,” said coach Lynne Roberts. “We didn’t get the reward of the win but I’m proud of the team.” The Sparks are 10-17 and head into a three-game road trip opening in Portland, with the trade deadline looming.

GO DEEPER

› Rey Moralde: Sparks lose sixth straight after falling short to Liberty (The Sporting Tribune)

🏀 ACES ROLL PAST PORTLAND, COMPLETE THE SWEEP

Coming off the All-Star break and missing two frontcourt regulars, the defending champion Aces never trailed in a 98-83 win over the Fire, clinching the season sweep of Portland. A’ja Wilson led all scorers with 28 points and 14 rebounds, Jackie Young added 25, and Chelsea Gray notched 17 points and seven assists while becoming just the seventh player in franchise history to reach 4,500 career points. Las Vegas shot 76 percent from the field in an opening quarter that set the tone. “Everybody is just trying to get into a flow,” said coach Becky Hammon. “It’s hard to replicate game flow in one day of practice, but it was a good game to kind of get back into our groove.” The Aces improve to 19-8, winners of four of their last six.

GO DEEPER

› Arion Armeniakos: No Fire hazard in Vegas; Aces win secures season sweep of Portland (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — WEDNESDAY, JULY 29

⚾ MLB: Rockies at Padres — Padres TV — 1:10 p.m. PT

⚾ MLB: Astros at Angels — ABTV — 6:38 p.m. PT

⚾ MLB: Mariners at Dodgers — SNLA — 7:00 p.m. PT

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

Get-in prices across Southern California and Las Vegas — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

⚾ Wed., July 29: Astros at Angels — Angel Stadium — $4

⚾ Wed., July 29: Rockies at Padres — Petco Park — $6

⚾ Wed., July 29: Mariners at Dodgers — Dodger Stadium — $56

🌴 TST TRIVIA

Aaron Donald retired after the 2024 season as one of the most decorated defenders in NFL history. How many times was he named NFL Defensive Player of the Year?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

Today’s episode digs into the Aaron Donald buzz out of Rams camp, the Sparks’ six-game skid, and the Aces’ statement win over Portland. Hear it on the radio across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii via Westwood One Sports, The Bet Las Vegas, Hawaii Sports Radio Network and KIRN in Los Angeles.

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: Three times — 2017, 2018 and 2020.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Good morning! Matthew Stafford took his first live snaps of camp Monday and found out what $100 million in defensive upgrades feels like. Down the road, WWE closed out Intuit Dome with the last Raw before SummerSlam, and our travel desk already mapped out the whole Minneapolis weekend. The Angels led for 26 outs against the Astros and lost anyway. The Lakers added a two-time All-Defensive wing. And out in Las Vegas and San Diego, the summer keeps moving. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏈 Productive failure. Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie made the reigning MVP earn every rep in Day 2 of Rams camp. — Eric Lambkins II has the column

🤼 Heat before the Cell. Reigns-Rollins, a title change and a boxer crashing the party at Intuit Dome — WWE’s last stop before Minneapolis. — the full recap

⚾ Nightmare ninth. The Angels blew a two-run lead in the ninth and fell 6-4 to the Astros. — Jack Haslett from Angel Stadium

🏀 Thybulle is a Laker. L.A. adds a two-time All-Defensive Team wing to the rotation. — Carlos Yakimowich has the details

✈️ Fly to Minneapolis. Where to stay, eat and drink for SummerSlam weekend — our complete city guide. — read the travel guide

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — MONDAY

⚾ Astros 6, Angels 4 — Houston scored four unearned runs in the ninth to erase a two-run Angels lead.

Coming up: the Dodgers open a series with Seattle and the Padres host Colorado starting tonight; SummerSlam Takeover opens Friday in Minneapolis.

🏈 THE PRICE OF ADMISSION

Sean McVay has a phrase for what happened at Loyola Marymount on Monday: productive failure. Matthew Stafford took his first live snaps of the summer and immediately felt what $100 million in defensive additions buys you, getting bent backward by Myles Garrett before Trent McDuffie erased the exact route he’d lost to Puka Nacua two plays earlier.

Eric Lambkins II was at Loyola Marymount for the whole exchange — Byron Young’s read on Garrett’s first step, a rookie receiver quietly stealing the day from the backups, and a coach who insists the point isn’t winning the drill in July. “We want to see good, high-caliber ball,” McVay said. The Rams, in other words, aren’t building for September.

GO DEEPER

› Eric Lambkins II: Inside the Rams’ Day 2 practice where failure has purpose (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Rams Training Camp, Monday, July 27 (The Sporting Tribune)

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🤼 THE ROAD TO MINNEAPOLIS RUNS THROUGH INGLEWOOD

WWE closed out its run at Intuit Dome with the last Raw before SummerSlam, and the go-home show delivered: a title change for Raquel Rodriguez, a boxer named Ryan Garcia crashing a musical number to join The Judgment Day, and a Reigns-Rollins staredown that needed security to break up.

Now the whole operation packs for Minneapolis, where U.S. Bank Stadium hosts its first WWE stadium show in history this weekend. We built the full guide — where to stay near the gates, which bar actually invented the Juicy Lucy, and why a sitting governor once reffed a world title match twenty minutes from where Brock Lesnar trained.

GO DEEPER

› WWE turns up the heat at Intuit Dome as final Raw before SummerSlam delivers major moments (The Sporting Tribune)

› SummerSlam 2026 Minneapolis: Where to Stay, Eat and Drink (The Sporting Tribune)

⚾ TWENTY-SIX OUTS OF LEAD, ONE OUT OF DISASTER

The Angels led the Astros for 26 outs. It was the 27th that got them. Jack Haslett was at Angel Stadium as a hit batter, a should-have-been double play, an intentional walk that backfired and a bases-loaded walk turned a two-run lead into a 6-4 Houston win — with Vaughn Grissom, who’d homered earlier in the night, at the center of both the meltdown and the final out.

Kurt Suzuki had one line for it: “Tough way to lose.”

GO DEEPER

› Jack Haslett: Nightmare ninth inning spells defeat for Angels against Astros (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Astros defeat Angels, 6-4, at Angels Stadium (The Sporting Tribune)

🎰 FROM THE VEGAS DESK

🏀 Aces keep restocking. Las Vegas is sending another player off to the FIBA World Cup. — Derek Hegna has the details

🏆 A’ja gets the last laugh. Team Spoon topped Team Coop at All-Star Weekend, and Wilson made sure her teammates heard about it. — Derek Hegna in Chicago

🏈 Raiders camp questions. Five burning questions for Las Vegas heading into training camp. — Derek Hegna previews camp

✍️ Mendoza is locked in. The Raiders’ top pick is set for camp after his $57.27 million deal became official. — Steve Carp has the terms

🌊 FROM THE SAN DIEGO DESK

⚾ Padres sweep the Marlins. Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill powered a sweep in Miami. — Brady Charette from loanDepot Park

⚽ Wave falls to Seattle. The Reign scored twice in three minutes to hand San Diego a loss at Snapdragon Stadium. — Sebastian Sanchez has the recap

🌊 FROM THE HAWAII DESK

🏈 Warriors are ready for battle. Hawaii football is ready to go deep, survive and stay far away from straight fairways — Emily Van Buskirk from Mountain West Media Day

📺 WATCHLIST — TUESDAY, JULY 28

⚾ MLB: Astros at Angels — ABTV — 6:30 p.m.

⚾ MLB: Rockies at Padres — Padres TV — 6:40 p.m.

⚾ MLB: Mariners at Dodgers — SNLA — 7:00 p.m.

🏀 WNBA: Liberty at Sparks — Spectrum SN — 7:00 p.m.

🏀 WNBA: Fire at Aces — Prime Video — 7:00 p.m.

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME THIS WEEK?

Get-in prices across Southern California and Las Vegas — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

⚾ MLB: Mariners at Dodgers — Dodger Stadium — $100

⚾ MLB: Rockies at Padres — Petco Park — $40

⚾ MLB: Astros at Angels — Angel Stadium — $3

🏀 WNBA: Liberty at Sparks — Crypto.com Arena — $7

🏀 WNBA: Fire at Aces — Prime Video — $20

🌴 TST TRIVIA

Minneapolis last hosted SummerSlam in 1999, when the sitting governor of Minnesota refereed the main event and counted the fall himself. Name him.

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

Today’s episode opens with Stafford’s first live reps against L.A.’s new-look defense, runs through the final Raw before SummerSlam and the Minneapolis travel guide, and closes with the Angels’ blown ninth and the Lakers’ newest addition. Hear it on the radio across Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii via Westwood One Sports, The Bet Las Vegas, the Hawaii Sports Radio Network and KIRN in Los Angeles.

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: Jesse Ventura — the pro wrestler turned Minnesota governor refereed Mankind’s title win over Steve Austin and Triple H at SummerSlam 1999.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com,

Good morning! Football is officially back in Los Angeles. The Rams opened training camp Sunday, and it took exactly one practice to feel the expectation around a reloaded roster. On the diamond, the Padres swept their way into the playoff picture just as the deadline heats up, and the Dodgers took a series at the Mets. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

⚾ Buyers now. Machado and Merrill powered the Padres to a sweep of the Marlins and into a wild-card spot — Brady Charette at loanDepot Park.

🏈 Fernandomania. Fernando Mendoza’s $57.27 million deal is done and the Raiders’ top pick is in camp — Steve Carp in Henderson.

🏀 Last laugh. A’ja Wilson’s Team Spoon beat her Aces teammates at the WNBA All-Star Game — Derek Hegna at the United Center.

⚽ Streak snapped. Angel City’s hot start under Smerud came to a halt against Racing Louisville — David Martinez at BMO Stadium.

⚽ Home debut. San Diego FC edged FC Dallas 1-0 in its return to Snapdragon — Angel Rodriguez in San Diego.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — WEEKEND

⚾ Padres: Swept the Marlins — 4-2, 7-2, 5-3 (Miller’s 27th save)

⚾ Dodgers: Took 2 of 3 at the Mets — 4-2, 4-3, then fell 8-3 Sunday

⚾ Angels: Dropped 2 of 3 at San Francisco, salvaged Sunday 4-3

🏈 THE RAMS ARE AURA FARMING

It took one practice. On Day 1 of Rams training camp at Loyola Marymount — no pads, no tackling, the hitting still theoretical — Eric Lambkins II found a team carrying the weight of expectation, one year removed from an NFC Championship Game and one blockbuster trade removed from landing the most terrifying edge rusher in football. Myles Garrett bent the geometry of the field, and even Trent McDuffie, the league’s highest-paid corner and a two-time champion, watched like everyone else: “When he’s out there, you can just feel his aura.” That aura is the season’s central bet. Les Snead went all-in, importing Garrett plus corners McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to remake a defense that faded late last year — and Watson validated it immediately, breaking up a deep ball for a highlight pass-defense with safety Kam Kinchens. With Matthew Stafford given a scheduled day off, Stetson Bennett ran the first team and hit Tyler Higbee for the day’s first touchdown. It was only Day 1. But when Garrett lines up on the edge, “special” starts to feel like an understatement.

GO DEEPER

› Eric Lambkins II: The Rams’ aura is undeniable in their first training camp practice (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Day 1 of Rams training camp in Los Angeles (The Sporting Tribune)

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⚾ THE PADRES PICK THE RIGHT WEEK TO GET HOT

A week ago the Padres looked like a team drifting toward a hard decision. Now they look like buyers. San Diego swept the reeling Marlins — 4-2, 7-2 and a 5-3 comeback on Sunday, with Mason Miller slamming the door for his 27th save — to climb back to .500 and leapfrog Miami into a National League wild-card spot, powered by home runs from Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill. The timing could not be sharper: the trade deadline is Aug. 3, and a front office that had every reason to hesitate suddenly has a reason to add. “If we keep playing like this,” Jake Cronenworth said, “we’re going to put ourselves in a position to make A.J. help this team.” San Diego comes home Tuesday to face the Rockies with a playoff push — and a deadline mandate — taking shape. The Dodgers, meanwhile, took two of three at the Mets and stay atop baseball.

GO DEEPER

› Machado, Merrill power the Padres to a series sweep over the Marlins (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Mets defeat Dodgers, 8-3, at Citi Field (The Sporting Tribune)

🏈 FOOTBALL SEASON ARRIVES IN THE DESERT

The calendar has turned to football in Las Vegas. With Fernando Mendoza’s $57.27 million rookie deal signed and the top pick in camp on time, the Raiders can get to the questions that actually matter: how quickly Klint Kubiak brings his rookie along, and how the quarterback room sorts itself out with Kirk Cousins in the building. Steve Carp has been on the story from Henderson, and camp will start supplying answers this week — the first real football of a season that ends, for this city, with a Super Bowl at SoFi looming on the horizon in 2027.

GO DEEPER

› Steve Carp: Mendoza signed, sealed and delivered (The Sporting Tribune)

› Why Klint Kubiak is refusing to force Fernando Mendoza out there (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — MONDAY, JULY 27

⚾ MLB: Astros at Angels — ABTV— 6:38 p.m. PT

Coming up: The Dodgers host Seattle and the Padres host Colorado starting Tuesday.

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME THIS WEEK?

Get-in prices across Southern California and Las Vegas — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

⚾ MLB: Astros at Angels — Angel Stadium — $9

⚾ Tue., July 28: Mariners at Dodgers — Dodger Stadium — $100

🌴 TST TRIVIA

The Padres are chasing a National League wild-card spot. In what year did San Diego last reach the World Series — and which team swept them in it?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

Today’s episode opens Rams training camp with Myles Garrett setting the tone and a roster built to chase a title, digs into a Padres sweep that flips San Diego into buyer mode a week from the deadline, and welcomes football season with Raiders camp underway in Las Vegas. Hear it on the radio across Southern California and Las Vegas via Westwood One Sports.

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: 1998 — the Padres reached the World Series and were swept by the New York Yankees. (San Diego also lost the 1984 Series to the Tigers.)

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Good morning! Football season is stirring. The Raiders got their top pick under contract just in time for camp, and the Rams dipped into the archives for a uniform drop worth seeing. It was a quiet Thursday on the diamond — only the Padres played, and it didn’t go their way — but all three clubs are back tonight. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏈 Done deal. Fernando Mendoza’s $57.27 million rookie contract is official, clearing the Raiders’ top pick for camp — Steve Carp in Henderson.

🏈 Blast from the past. The Rams unveiled throwback alternates honoring the 1951 champions and the Fearsome Foursome — see the uniforms.

⚾ Series slips away. Griffin Canning couldn’t deliver as the Padres dropped the four-game set in Atlanta — James Newell at Truist Park.

🏀 Finding her rhythm. Ariel Atkins is rounding into form even as the Sparks keep coming up short — Holland Kaplan at Crypto.com Arena.

🏀 Tune-up. What UCLA learned from its exhibition against Team Canada — Jack Haslett in Victoria.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — THURSDAY

⚾ MLB: Braves 6, Padres 5 — Atlanta takes the four-game series

💤 Quiet night: Dodgers and Angels were off; the WNBA is on its All-Star break.

🏈 THE RAIDERS GET THEIR MAN UNDER CONTRACT

No holdout, no drama, no wasted reps. Fernando Mendoza’s $57.27 million rookie deal became official Thursday, and the Raiders’ top draft pick will be on the field when training camp opens this week — which is precisely how a franchise wants this to go. Steve Carp has the details from the Intermountain Health Performance Center on a signing that removes the last bit of uncertainty from Las Vegas’s offseason. The interesting part starts now: how quickly Klint Kubiak brings his prized rookie along, and what that means for a depth chart with Kirk Cousins on it. Camp will start answering it.

GO DEEPER

› Steve Carp: Mendoza signed, sealed and delivered (The Sporting Tribune)

› Why Klint Kubiak is refusing to force Fernando Mendoza out there (The Sporting Tribune)

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🏈 THE RAMS RAID THE ARCHIVES

Los Angeles went looking for its own history and came back with something worth wearing. The Rams unveiled throwback alternate uniforms honoring the 1951 NFL championship team and the Fearsome Foursome, the defensive line that terrorized the league in the 1960s and remains one of the great nicknames in American sports. For a franchise that spent decades away from Los Angeles and has worked hard to reclaim its place in the city, leaning into the deep local history is more than a merchandising play — it’s a statement about whose team this is.

GO DEEPER

› Rams unveil throwback alternate uniforms honoring the 1951 champions and the Fearsome Foursome (The Sporting Tribune)

⚾ A ROAD TRIP THE PADRES WANT BACK

San Diego had this series in hand and let it go. After a Tuesday blowout put them in control, the Padres lost a rollercoaster on Wednesday and then watched Griffin Canning falter again Thursday in a 6-5 defeat that handed Atlanta the four-game set. It’s a familiar frustration for a club hovering around .500 with the trade deadline a week out — the offense has shown up in bursts, the rotation hasn’t held. A.J. Preller has seven days to decide whether this roster is worth adding to. Next up: three in Miami.

GO DEEPER

› Griffin Canning fails to deliver again, dropping the four-game series to the Braves (The Sporting Tribune)

› Padres show grit to rally big late, fall just short in rollercoaster loss (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — FRIDAY, JULY 24

⚾ MLB: Dodgers at Mets — SportsNet LA — 4:10 p.m. PT

⚾ MLB: Padres at Marlins — Padres TV — 4:10 p.m. PT

⚾ MLB: Angels at Giants — ABTV — 7:15 p.m. PT

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?

Get-in prices across Southern California and Las Vegas — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace. All three clubs are on the road tonight — here’s what’s next at home:

⚾ Mon., July 27: Astros at Angels — Angel Stadium — $9

⚾ Tue., July 28: Mariners at Dodgers — Dodger Stadium — $109

🌴 TST TRIVIA

The Rams’ new throwbacks honor the Fearsome Foursome, the fearsome defensive line of the 1960s. Can you name all four?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

Today’s episode gets into Fernando Mendoza’s signing and what Raiders camp will tell us about the quarterback room, admires the Rams’ dive into 1951, and checks in on a Padres club running out of runway before the deadline. Hear it on the radio across Southern California and Las Vegas via Westwood One Sports.

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, Lamar Lundy and Rosey Grier — the Rams’ Fearsome Foursome of the mid-1960s.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Good morning! Same hero, bigger stakes. A night after his two-run shot won a 2-1 grinder, Max Muncy went deep again in Philadelphia — this time passing a Dodgers legend on the way — as Los Angeles closed out the series 9-5. Elsewhere, LAFC kept rolling, the Angels got blanked, and the Aces limped into the All-Star break. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

⚾ Climbing the list. Muncy’s go-ahead homer was his 229th as a Dodger, passing Ron Cey for fifth all-time — Fredo Cervantes at Citizens Bank Park.

⚽ Rolling. Son and Bouanga powered LAFC to a second straight win at BMO Stadium — Holdenn Graff on the 3-1 result.

🏀 Deflating finish. The Aces coughed up a lead and fell to the upstart Mystics heading into the break — Derek Hegna at CareFirst Arena.

⚾ So close. A five-run rally wasn’t enough as the Padres fell in a rollercoaster at Truist Park — Eric Evelhoch in Atlanta.

🏀 Tune-up. What UCLA learned from its exhibition against Team Canada — Jack Haslett in Victoria.

📋 SCOREBOARD — WEDNESDAY

⚾ MLB: Dodgers 9, Phillies 5 (series win) · Cardinals 1, Angels 0 · Braves 7, Padres 6

⚽ MLS: LAFC 3, Real Salt Lake 1 · St. Louis City SC 3, LA Galaxy 1 · Colorado 1, San Diego FC 0

🏀 WNBA: Mystics 100, Aces 99 · Mercury 86, Sparks 82

⚾ MUNCY PASSES A DODGERS LEGEND

He’s become the Dodgers’ late-game lifeline, and Wednesday he became a piece of their history. With the game tied at three in the sixth, Max Muncy drove a two-run homer to left-center off Aaron Nola — the 229th of his Dodgers career, moving him past Ron Cey into fifth place on the franchise’s all-time list. Dalton Rushing snapped an 0-for-19 skid with his 11th homer and drove in three, Tommy Edman added a bases-clearing triple in the eighth and finished with three RBI, and Freddie Freeman collected three hits including two doubles, tying Robinson Canó and Iván Rodríguez for 26th all-time. Eric Lauer gave up three over 5⅓ to earn the win. The Dodgers take the series 2-1 and stay atop baseball.

GO DEEPER
› Fredo Cervantes: Muncy climbs the Dodgers’ home run list in victory over the Phillies (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Dodgers defeat Phillies, 9-5, at Citizens Bank Park (The Sporting Tribune)

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⚽ A TALE OF TWO L.A. CLUBS

The gap keeps widening. Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga combined to power LAFC past Real Salt Lake 3-1 at BMO Stadium, a second straight win for a side hitting its stride. Twenty miles south, the Galaxy’s summer went from bad to worse, falling 3-1 at home to St. Louis City SC at Dignity Health Sports Park. It’s the same story that’s defined Los Angeles soccer this season — one club building momentum, the other searching for answers.

GO DEEPER
› Son, Bouanga propel LAFC to a second consecutive victory (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: LAFC defeat Salt Lake, 3-1, at BMO Stadium (The Sporting Tribune)

🏀 THE ACES LIMP INTO THE BREAK

It wasn’t the send-off Las Vegas wanted. The Aces let a lead slip away against an upstart Mystics team and head into the All-Star break on a sour note — a fatigued finish to a first half that has asked a lot of a short rotation. The break arrives at the right time: A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young are off to the All-Star Game, and the rest of the roster gets a week to reset before the stretch run.

GO DEEPER
› Aces go into the All-Star break with a comeback loss to the upstart Mystics (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — THURSDAY, JULY 23

⚾ MLB: Padres at Braves — Padres TV — 9:15 a.m. PT

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME THIS WEEKEND?

Get-in prices across Southern California and Las Vegas — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

⚾ MLB (Fri): Angels at Giants — Oracle Park — $37

🌴 TST TRIVIA

Max Muncy passed Ron Cey on the Dodgers’ all-time home run list. Cey anchored the longest-running infield in major league history, together for eight-plus seasons in the 1970s and ‘80s. Name the other three.

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

Today’s episode gets into Max Muncy’s climb up the Dodgers’ all-time home run list and a team that keeps finding ways to win, breaks down LAFC’s surge alongside the Galaxy’s slide, and checks in on an Aces squad limping into the All-Star break. Hear it on the radio across Southern California and Las Vegas via Westwood One Sports.
› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: Steve Garvey (first base), Davey Lopes (second base) and Bill Russell (shortstop) — who, with Cey at third, started together from 1973 to 1981.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Good morning! The Dodgers answered. A night after getting run out of Citizens Bank Park, Max Muncy’s two-run shot and a gem from Justin Wrobleski flipped the script in a 2-1 win. And it was a clean night all around: the Angels rolled for a third straight, and the Padres broke out of their skid in Atlanta. Nine days to the trade deadline. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

⚾ Muncy’s night. A two-run homer and seven innings from Wrobleski powered the Dodgers past the Phillies — Fredo Cervantes on the game.

⚾ Five-run first. Walbert Ureña was overpowering and Jo Adell went deep as the Angels won a third straight — the recap from Jack Haslett in Anaheim.

⚾ Back on track. The Padres pounded the Braves 8-3 to snap a rough stretch in Atlanta — Eric Evelhoch at Truist Park.

🏈 The real Jerry Maguire. Super-agent Leigh Steinberg on falling, climbing back and a city hosting the world — Eric Lambkins II in Newport Beach.

🎮 Bigger than the game. TST measured esports icon Faker against the LeBron label — Paul Delos Santos.

📋 SCOREBOARD — TUESDAY

⚾ MLB: Dodgers 2, Phillies 1 · Angels 5, Cardinals 1 · Padres 8, Braves 3

⚾ MUNCY ANSWERS FOR THE DODGERS

Even the best team in baseball needed a response, and it got one. A night after a 10-7 drubbing in Philadelphia, the Dodgers leaned on Max Muncy’s two-run homer — his 19th of the season — and seven sharp innings from birthday-week standout Justin Wrobleski to grind out a 2-1 win over the Phillies and Zack Wheeler. Tanner Scott closed it for his 15th save. As Fredo Cervantes writes, it was the kind of low-scoring, pitching-anchored win that October is built on — exactly the blueprint a Dodgers team waiting on its injured arms wants to rehearse. Los Angeles holds the best record in baseball at 64-38.

GO DEEPER

› Fredo Cervantes: Muncy’s two-run homer powers the Dodgers past the Phillies (The Sporting Tribune)

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⚾ A GOOD NIGHT FOR THE HOME TEAMS

It wasn’t just the Dodgers. In Anaheim, rookie Walbert Ureña was electric — touching 101 mph on his changeup, per the broadcast — over six one-run innings, while a five-run first inning and Jo Adell’s 15th homer carried the Angels to a 5-1 win and a third straight victory, their first winning streak of that length in weeks. Down in Atlanta, the Padres finally broke out, pounding the Braves 8-3 behind a 13-hit night to snap a frustrating stretch and climb back toward .500. Three teams, three wins — a rare clean sweep for the region on a midweek night.

GO DEEPER

› Five-run first and six scorching innings from Ureña lift the Angels over the Cardinals (The Sporting Tribune)

🏈 THE REAL JERRY MAGUIRE

If you missed it, it’s worth your morning: Eric Lambkins II’s profile of Leigh Steinberg — the agent who inspired Jerry Maguire — on negotiating $4 billion in contracts, losing nearly everything to bankruptcy and addiction, and climbing back at 77, more than 16 years sober. Steinberg frames his own comeback against the one his hometown is about to attempt: a three-year run of the World Cup, the 2027 Super Bowl at SoFi and the 2028 Olympics. A story about resilience, and a city that keeps getting back up.

GO DEEPER

› Eric Lambkins II: Inside the life of Leigh Steinberg, the real Jerry Maguire (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — WEDNESDAY, JULY 22

⚾ MLB: Dodgers at Phillies — SportsNet LA — 3:45 p.m. PT

⚾ MLB: Padres at Braves — Padres TV — 4:15 p.m. PT

⚾ MLB: Cardinals at Angels — ABTV — 6:38 p.m. PT

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME TONIGHT?

Get-in prices across Southern California and Las Vegas — brought to you by TickPick, the no-hidden-fee ticket marketplace.

⚾ MLB: Cardinals at Angels — Angel Stadium — $9

🌴 TST TRIVIA

Max Muncy has been a middle-of-the-order fixture for the Dodgers since 2018, but he came up with a differen team that released him in spring 2018. Which team let him go?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

Today’s episode digs into a Dodgers bounce-back built on pitching and a Muncy blast, runs through a clean night for the home teams with the Angels and Padres also winning, and revisits Eric Lambkins’ Leigh Steinberg profile. Hear it on the radio across Southern California and Las Vegas via Westwood One Sports.

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: The Oakland Athletics. Muncy was released by the A’s in 2018 before signing a minor-league deal with the Dodgers and breaking out that same season.

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Good morning! We start with a story bigger than a box score. Eric Lambkins II sat down with Leigh Steinberg — the agent who inspired Jerry Maguire — for a remarkable profile of loss, recovery and a Los Angeles about to take center stage. Then to the diamond, where the Angels walked it off and the Dodgers stumbled in Philly. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏈 The comeback. Leigh Steinberg — the real Jerry Maguire — on falling, climbing back and the city hosting the world — Eric Lambkins II in Newport Beach.

⚾ Walk-off. Jo Adell homered and got plunked as the Angels edged the Cardinals — Jack Haslett at Angel Stadium.

⚾ Stumble in Philly. The Phillies handed the Dodgers a 10-7 loss to open the series — see the TST Images gallery.

🏀 No mercy. The Aces rolled a shorthanded Tempo in their first trip to Canada — Derek Hegna at Coca-Cola Coliseum.

⚾ Not enough. Two solo shots couldn’t save the Padres in their opener at Atlanta — Eric Evelhoch at Truist Park.

📋 SCOREBOARD — MONDAY

⚾ MLB: Angels 3, Cardinals 2 (walk-off) · Phillies 10, Dodgers 7 · Braves 3, Padres 2

🏀 WNBA: Aces 109, Tempo 83

🏈 THE REAL JERRY MAGUIRE

From his Newport Beach office above the Pacific, Leigh Steinberg tells Eric Lambkins II a story Hollywood could only approximate. The agent who inspired Jerry Maguire negotiated more than $4 billion in contracts, repped eight No. 1 overall NFL picks and 12 Hall of Famers, and helped his clients raise nearly $1.3 billion for charity. Then came the fall — bankruptcy, DUIs, a lapsed NFLPA certification, a bank selling off his memorabilia while he was in rehab. Now 77 and more than 16 years sober, with a new book called “The Comeback,” Steinberg frames his life around a single question: not whether adversity comes, but how you respond. And he sees that same question being answered by his hometown, a city staring down an unprecedented three-year run — the World Cup, the 2027 Super Bowl at SoFi and the 2028 Olympics. A profile about resilience, redemption, and a place that keeps getting back up.

GO DEEPER
› Eric Lambkins II: Inside the life of Leigh Steinberg, the real Jerry Maguire (The Sporting Tribune)

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⚾ ADELL WALKS THE ANGELS OFF

The Angels found a way to end the night in a dogpile. Jo Adell homered and took one for the team — literally, getting hit by a pitch in a pivotal spot — as the Angels walked off the Cardinals 3-2 at the Big A. It’s the kind of tight, scrappy win that keeps a middling club in the fight coming out of the break, and a welcome bounce-back after a lopsided weekend split with Detroit. The two sides go again tonight in Anaheim.

GO DEEPER
› Adell homers and gets hit by pitch in the Angels’ walk-off win (The Sporting Tribune)

⚾ A RARE OFF NIGHT FOR THE DODGERS

Even the best team in baseball has clunkers. Fresh off taking two of three at Yankee Stadium, the Dodgers ran into a buzzsaw in Philadelphia, dropping the series opener 10-7 at Citizens Bank Park. The offense did its part; the pitching couldn’t hold the line. With a 12-game cushion in the NL West, a July loss barely registers — but it’s a reminder that the reinforcements can’t get healthy fast enough. The series continues tonight.

GO DEEPER
› Mookie Betts’ two homers not enough as Dodgers lose to Phillies (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — TUESDAY, JULY 21

⚾ MLB: Dodgers at Phillies — SportsNet LA — 3:40 p.m. PT

⚾ MLB: Padres at Braves — Padres TV — 4:15 p.m. PT

⚾ MLB: Cardinals at Angels — ABTV — 6:38 p.m. PT

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME TONIGHT?

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⚾ MLB: Cardinals at Angels — Angel Stadium — $9

🌴 TST TRIVIA

Leigh Steinberg’s life inspired the film “Jerry Maguire.” Which actor won an Academy Award for his role as the wide receiver who tells Maguire to “show me the money”?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

Today’s episode digs into where LeBron James will play next season. Hear it on the radio across Southern California and Las Vegas via Westwood One Sports.
› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: Cuba Gooding Jr. He won the 1997 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor as Rod Tidwell in “Jerry Maguire.”

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Good morning! The second half is up and running. The Dodgers took two of three back at Yankee Stadium and rolled on toward a possible three-peat; the World Cup crowned a champion in New Jersey; and it was a mixed bag for the rest of the locals. A lot to get to. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

⚾ Built for October. The Dodgers are the best team in baseball and expect to be even better soon — Arash Markazi from Yankee Stadium.

⚽ Derby domination. LAFC hammered the Galaxy 3-0 in El Tráfico at Dignity Health Sports Park — see our TST Images gallery.

🏀 Depth secured. The Lakers officially added former lottery pick Ziaire Williams — Carlos Yakimowich in Los Angeles.

🏈 Camp questions. Why Klint Kubiak isn’t rushing rookie Fernando Mendoza with the Raiders — Muhammed Asif in Las Vegas.

⚾ Left on base. The Padres stranded too many runners in a series-defining loss at Kansas City — Eric Evelhoch at Kauffman Stadium.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — WEEKEND

⚽ World Cup Final: Spain 1, Argentina 0 (ET) — Spain are world champions

⚾ MLB: Dodgers take 2 of 3 at NYY · Angels split with Detroit · Padres drop series at KC

⚽ MLS: LAFC 3, LA Galaxy 0

⚾ THE DODGERS AREN’T DONE BUILDING

The Dodgers walked back into Yankee Stadium for the first time since celebrating a title there two years ago and left with two of three, the best record in baseball and a 12-game lead in the NL West. But as Arash Markazi writes, everyone inside the organization knows this isn’t the team they’ll take into October. Dave Roberts is managing every decision with the postseason in mind: Ohtani’s return to the mound is on hold as they protect his knee, while Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Edwin Díaz, Blake Treinen, Kiké Hernández and Will Smith all work back from injury. Add a likely run at Detroit ace Tarik Skubal before the deadline, and the message is clear; the Dodgers aren’t chasing a division title or 100 wins. They’re chasing a three-peat no team has managed in a quarter century.

GO DEEPER

› Arash Markazi: The Dodgers are the best team now — but they’ll be even better soon (The Sporting Tribune)

› Yankees avoid the sweep with a win over the Dodgers in the doubleheader finale (The Sporting Tribune)

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⚽ SPAIN CONQUERS THE WORLD AGAIN

The 2026 World Cup ended with Spain on top of the world. La Roja beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time at MetLife Stadium, Ferran Torres burying the winner in the 106th minute after Enzo Fernández’s late red card tilted the final. It’s Spain’s second title and first since 2010, capping a tournament in which it conceded just one goal in seven matches and it makes Spain the first nation to hold the men’s and women’s World Cups at once. Emiliano Martínez set a final record with 11 saves in a losing effort, and for Lionel Messi, at 39, it appeared to be a final World Cup bow.

› Spain ends Argentina’s reign, captures second World Cup title with extra-time victory (The Sporting Tribune)

⚽ LAFC OWNS EL TRÁFICO

The city belongs to the black and gold. LAFC dismantled the Galaxy 3-0 at Dignity Health Sports Park, turning the latest El Tráfico into a statement rather than a rivalry. It’s a rough summer stretch for a Galaxy side struggling to keep pace and another reminder of how completely LAFC has flipped the balance of power in Los Angeles soccer over the past few seasons. With MLS resuming, the derby’s scoreline will sting for a while.

GO DEEPER

› TST Images: LAFC defeats the LA Galaxy, 3-0, at Dignity Health Sports Park (The Sporting Tribune)

› LA Galaxy crumbles in El Tráfico as scoring streak comes to an end(The Sporting Tribune)

› Son breaks through as LAFC cruises past Galaxy in El Tráfico (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — MONDAY, JULY 20

⚾ MLB: Dodgers at Phillies — SportsNet LA — 4:10 p.m. PT

⚾ MLB: Cardinals at Angels — ABTV — 6:38 p.m. PT

⚾ MLB: Padres at Braves — Padres TV — 4:15 p.m. PT

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME TONIGHT?

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⚾ MLB: Cardinals at Angels — Angel Stadium — $9

🌴 TWO-MARKET TRIVIA

The Dodgers are chasing a third straight World Series title. Which franchise was the last to win three in a row and in what stretch of years?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

Today’s episode puts a bow on the Lakers and Clippers at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Hear it on the radio across Southern California and Las Vegas via Westwood One Sports.

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: The New York Yankees, who won three straight (and four of five) from 1998 to 2000. No team has repeated three-peat since.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Good morning! Baseball’s back tonight and the second half opens with all three local clubs in action, headlined by Freddie Freeman’s return to Yankee Stadium. But we start somewhere different: Paul Delos Santos on Faker, the League of Legends icon whose reach now rivals the biggest names in traditional sports. And the World Cup crowns a champion Sunday. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🎮 Bigger than the game. TST went to the Esports World Cup to measure Faker against the LeBron label — Paul Delos Santos on an icon.

⚾ Homecoming. Freddie Freeman is savoring the final act of a Cooperstown career — Arash Markazi from Philadelphia.

🏀 Chemistry class. The Lakers’ togetherness keeps setting them apart in Summer League — Arion Armeniakos at Thomas & Mack.

🏒 Mark your calendar. The Ducks open an 84-game 2026-27 season in Las Vegas on Oct. 2 — Zach Cavanagh at Honda Center.

🏒 Year Ten. The most intriguing games on the Golden Knights’ new schedule — Derek Hegna in Las Vegas.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 THE RUNDOWN

⚾ MLB: The second half opens tonight — all three local clubs in action

⚽ World Cup: Spain vs. Argentina in Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium

🏀 Summer League: Lakers roll on in Las Vegas; Clippers back in the win column

🎮 FAKER, BIGGER THAN THE GAME

They call him the LeBron James of esports. After a trip to the Esports World Cup, Paul Delos Santos makes the case that the label undersells him. Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok signed with SK Telecom T1 at 16, won a World Championship as a rookie in 2013, and has since stacked five Worlds titles — including the game’s first-ever three-peat from 2023 to 2025 — alongside a career’s worth of MVPs and domestic crowns. But the piece’s real argument is about reach: at 30, still competing at the top, Faker has become an Esports Foundation ambassador alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Magnus Carlsen, landed on TIME’s inaugural TIME100 Sports list beside LeBron and Messi, and turned T1’s Seoul PC Báng into a destination fans treat like the Camp Nou. As one source puts it, he’s become “a symbol of esports itself.” A definitive read on the most important figure in a sport most newsrooms still ignore.

GO DEEPER

› Paul Delos Santos: Faker is esports’ LeBron James — and the comparison undersells him (The Sporting Tribune)

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⚾ BASEBALL’S BACK — AND SO IS FREEMAN’S RETURN

The second half opens tonight, and the marquee subplot belongs to the Dodgers: Freddie Freeman returns to Yankee Stadium for the first time since his 2024 World Series heroics — the walk-off grand slam and the record home-run barrage that made him a unanimous Fall Classic MVP. As Arash Markazi wrote this week from Philadelphia, the 37-year-old is increasingly measuring the game in moments rather than milestones, with an eye on 3,000 hits and a finish line that’s finally in view. The Angels host the Tigers and the Padres open at Kansas City on the same night.

GO DEEPER

› Arash Markazi: Freddie Freeman knows the finish line is coming, and wants to savor the last chapter (The Sporting Tribune)

› Dodgers Notebook: Wrobleski shines, Freeman reflects as Dodgers close All-Star Week (The Sporting Tribune)

🏒 HOCKEY SEASON TAKES SHAPE IN THE DESERT

The schedules are out, and both of the region’s NHL clubs have circled dates. The Anaheim Ducks will open an 84-game 2026-27 season in Las Vegas on Oct. 2, a fitting curtain-raiser for a young team on the rise. The Golden Knights, entering Year Ten under new coach Ryan Craig, have a slate full of intrigue of their own. Training camp is still months away, but the runway to another Vegas hockey season — and another Freeway-to-the-desert rivalry night — is officially set.

GO DEEPER

› Anaheim Ducks open 84-game 2026-27 season in Las Vegas on Oct. 2 (The Sporting Tribune)

› Games of intrigue from the Golden Knights’ schedule in Year Ten (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — FRIDAY, JULY 17

⚾ MLB: Padres at Royals — Padres TV — 5:10 p.m. PT

⚾ MLB: Dodgers at Yankees — SNLA — 4:05 p.m. PT

⚾ MLB: Tigers at Angels — ABTV — 6:38 p.m. PT

Coming up: the World Cup final, Spain vs. Argentina, is Sunday at MetLife Stadium — Messi chasing back-to-back titles.

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME TONIGHT?

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⚾ MLB: Tigers at Angels — Angel Stadium — $9

🌴 TST TRIVIA

Faker won five League of Legends World Championships with one organization — the same club he joined at age 16 and has never left. Name the team.

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

Today’s looks at the development of the young players on the Lakers and Clippers, welcomes baseball back with Freddie Freeman’s return to Yankee Stadium, and looks ahead to a Spain-Argentina World Cup final. Hear it on the radio across Southern California and Las Vegas via Westwood One Sports.

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: T1 — the organization formerly known as SK Telecom T1, which Faker joined in 2013 and has represented his entire career.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Good morning! The break is winding down and the second half is nearly here. Today, a quieter, more reflective note: Arash Markazi caught up with Freddie Freeman in Philadelphia, where one of the game’s greats is starting to think about the end — and the memories he’s making along the way. Elsewhere, the World Cup final is set: Spain vs. Argentina on Sunday. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

⚾ The finish line. Freddie Freeman is savoring what’s left of a Cooperstown career — Arash Markazi from Philadelphia.

⚾ Birthday gem. Justin Wrobleski shined and Freeman reflected as the Dodgers closed All-Star Week — Fredo Cervantes from Philadelphia.

🏀 Split allegiances. Sparks stars Kelsey Plum and Nneka Ogwumike were drafted onto opposing All-Star teams — Holland Kaplan in Chicago.

🏀 Righting the ship. Kobe Sanders and the Clippers bounced back with a Summer League win over the Wizards — Arion Armeniakos in Las Vegas.

🏈 Fighting the fight. Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez presses on for the conference — Steve Carp at the Palms.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — WEDNESDAY

⚽ World Cup (SF): Argentina 2, England 1 (Argentina to the final vs. Spain)

🏀 Summer League: Clippers 108, Wizards 94 (NBA Summer League)

⚾ FREEMAN, SAVORING THE LAST CHAPTER

The moment that stuck with Arash Markazi in Philadelphia didn’t happen on the field. It happened outside the National League clubhouse, where Freddie Freeman gathered his father, his wife, his four kids and his aunt Carol for a family photo — and asked our founder to take it. At 37, in his 17th season and his 10th All-Star Game, Freeman has started measuring the game in moments rather than milestones. He talked openly about the end for the first time: he’d like to play until 40, chase 3,000 hits and 20 seasons, then walk away. It’s a striking turn for a player who rarely talks about himself — and who has already authored two of the greatest Octobers in Dodgers history, from the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history to a repeat title a year later. He returns to Yankee Stadium on Friday for the first time since that 2024 classic.

GO DEEPER

› Arash Markazi: Freddie Freeman knows the finish line is coming, and wants to savor the last chapter (The Sporting Tribune)

› Dodgers Notebook: Wrobleski shines, Freeman reflects as Dodgers close All-Star Week (The Sporting Tribune)

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🏀 SPARKS STARS ON THE BIG STAGE

The Sparks may be fighting for footing in the standings, but their stars are front and center this weekend: Kelsey Plum and Nneka Ogwumike were drafted onto opposing All-Star teams, a nice bit of theater for two of the faces of the franchise. It caps an All-Star stretch that also split the Aces’ A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young onto different sides — four players from TST’s markets in the showcase. On the floor, Los Angeles pushed the Lynx on the road before coming up short.

GO DEEPER

› Sparks stars Kelsey Plum and Nneka Ogwumike selected to opposing All-Star teams (The Sporting Tribune)

› Sparks come up short against the Lynx despite a strong fight on the road (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — THURSDAY, JULY 16

🏀 Summer League: Lakers vs. Bulls - Prime Video - 3:00 p.m. PT

Coming up: MLB’s second half opens Friday — the Dodgers at the Yankees (Freeman’s first trip back since the 2024 World Series), the Angels hosting the Tigers, and the Padres at the Royals. The World Cup final is Sunday at MetLife.

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME THIS WEEKEND?

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⚾ MLB (Fri): Tigers at Angels — Angel Stadium — $9

🌴 TST TRIVIA

Freddie Freeman authored the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history in Game 1 of the 2024 Fall Classic. Which Yankees reliever surrendered it?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

Today’s episode highlights what the Lakers and Clippers are doing at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and what LeBron James and Aaron Donald will be doing this fall. Hear it on the radio across Southern California and Las Vegas via Westwood One Sports.

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: Néstor Cortés. Freeman took him deep for a walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Good morning! The NBA’s biggest what-if lives in our backyard. Adam Silver held court in Las Vegas on expansion — long on optimism, short on specifics — as a who’s-who of billionaires jockeys to land a team. On the floor at Thomas & Mack, the Lakers stayed perfect in Summer League. And elsewhere, Spain booked its spot in the World Cup final. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏀 Battle of L.A. The Lakers stayed perfect in Summer League, downing the Clippers 99-85 behind rookie Cameron Carr — Arion Armeniakos at Thomas & Mack.

🏀 All in. New Lakers center Walker Kessler says he’s ready to ‘run through a brick wall’ — Carlos Yakimowich in Las Vegas.

⚾ Heat check. Padres closer Mason Miller featured in a record-setting All-Star pitching night — Eric Evelhoch in Philadelphia.

🏀 Bright spot. Erica Wheeler led the way despite the Sparks’ late collapse against the Dream — Holland Kaplan in Atlanta.

🏒 Offer-sheet fallout. Leo Carlsson’s agent details the negotiation timeline with the Ducks and Pat Verbeek — Zach Cavanagh in Anaheim.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — TUESDAY

🏀 Summer League: Lakers 99, Clippers 85 (Lakers 3-0)

⚽ World Cup (SF): Spain 2, France 0 (Spain to the final)

⚾ MLB All-Star Game: American League 4, National League 0

🏀 SILVER KEEPS THE VEGAS CARDS CLOSE

The NBA is coming to Las Vegas — the only question is who gets to own it, and when. Speaking at Thomas & Mack after the Board of Governors meeting, commissioner Adam Silver said he’s “still hopeful” expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle wraps up by year’s end, but offered no firm timeline, no bid deadline and no favorites. What’s clear is the appetite: as Steve Carp reports, at least six known groups are lining up for the Las Vegas rights — among them Jerry Colangelo, Bill Foley, Magic Johnson, Bob Iger and Marc Lasry — all claiming they can clear a price tag expected to start around $8 billion. Most plan to build a new arena; Foley would pour $300 million into upgrading T-Mobile Arena, which he already partly owns. For a market that landed the Golden Knights, Raiders and Aces in under a decade, the NBA is the last big trophy — and it’s within reach.

GO DEEPER

› Steve Carp: Adam Silver playing NBA expansion cards close to his vest (The Sporting Tribune)

› Vegas Summer League Notebook: Lakers down the Clippers in the Battle of L.A. (The Sporting Tribune)

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🏀 A BATTLE OF L.A. IN THE DESERT

With Austin Reaves and new center Walker Kessler watching courtside, the Lakers stayed perfect in Las Vegas, handling the Clippers 99-85 to move to 3-0 in Summer League. First-round pick Cameron Carr stole the show with 23 points — including a solo 8-0 third-quarter burst capped by a 28-foot heat-check three — as five Lakers reached double figures. For the 1-2 Clippers, No. 5 pick Keaton Wagler came alive after the break to finish with 16. It’s July basketball, but the early returns on the Lakers’ young pieces have Arion Armeniakos and the faithful intrigued.

GO DEEPER

› Vegas Summer League Notebook: Lakers down the Clippers in the Battle of L.A. (The Sporting Tribune)

› Walker Kessler ready to ‘run through a brick wall’ for the Lakers (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — WEDNESDAY, JULY 15

🏀 WNBA: Sparks at Lynx — 10 a.m. PT · Minneapolis

⚽ World Cup (SF): Argentina vs. England — Fox — 12 p.m. PT · Atlanta

Coming up: MLB’s second half opens Friday — the Dodgers at the Yankees, the Angels hosting the Tigers, and the Padres at the Royals. The World Cup final is Sunday at MetLife.

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME THIS WEEK?

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⚾ MLB (Fri): Tigers at Angels — Angel Stadium — $9

🌴 TST TRIVIA

If Las Vegas lands an NBA expansion team, it would be the city’s fourth major men’s pro franchise. Name the three that got there first — across the NHL, NFL and WNBA.

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

Today’s episode digs into Adam Silver’s Las Vegas expansion update and the billionaires lining up for a team, checks in on a Lakers Summer League squad that keeps winning, and looks ahead to Sunday’s World Cup final after Spain’s masterclass over France. Hear it on the radio across Southern California and Las Vegas via Westwood One Sports.

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: The Vegas Golden Knights (NHL, 2017), the Las Vegas Raiders (NFL, 2020) and the Las Vegas Aces (WNBA, 2018).

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Good morning! Big day, two big stages. The Midsummer Classic is in Philadelphia tonight without Shohei Ohtani, baseball’s leading vote-getter, who is sidelined by a knee issue. And the World Cup semifinals begin at noon with France meeting Spain. Meanwhile the Lakers keep stacking depth, and the Sparks keep searching. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🏀 Depth signing. The Lakers added Ziaire Williams on a one-year, $3 million deal — Carlos Yakimowich has it.

🏀 Ring chaser. Three-time champion Kevon Looney officially signed with the Lakers — Carlos Yakimowich in Los Angeles.

🏒 Offer-sheet fallout. Leo Carlsson’s agent details the negotiation timeline with the Ducks and Pat Verbeek — Zach Cavanagh in Anaheim.

🏀 Burn it down? A blistering take on the Sparks’ front-office churn — Eric Lambkins II on the spin cycle.

🏀 Summer showcase. Keaton Wagler broke out as the Clippers routed the Jazz in Vegas — Grant Mona at Thomas & Mack.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — MONDAY

🏀 WNBA: Dream 101, Sparks 92

⚾ AN ALL-STAR NIGHT WITHOUT OHTANI

Baseball’s biggest star was voted in as the National League’s starting designated hitter, his sixth straight All-Star selection and the top vote total in the game, but Shohei Ohtani won’t take the field in Philadelphia tonight. The Dodgers announced he’ll undergo medical interventions on his left knee, with Kyle Schwarber sliding into the starting DH spot. Los Angeles still sends five All-Stars, four of them starters: Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy and Andy Pages join the lineup, with Justin Wrobleski added to the pitching staff. In the American League, Angels icon Mike Trout starts in the outfield for his 12th All-Star selection, in the state where he grew up. First pitch is 5 p.m. PT on Fox.

GO DEEPER

› Shohei Ohtani hits No. 300 as the Dodgers’ bullpen struggles (The Sporting Tribune)

› Dodgers limp into the All-Star break after D-Backs complete sweep (The Sporting Tribune)

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🏀 THE LAKERS KEEP BUILDING

After locking up Austin Reaves, the Lakers spent Monday adding depth on both ends. They signed three-time NBA champion Kevon Looney, a proven rebounder and screener with a championship pedigree, and brought in forward Ziaire Williams on a one-year, $3 million deal. Neither move is a headliner, but together they fill the kind of rotation gaps that decide playoff series. The roster is taking shape.

GO DEEPER

› Lakers officially sign three-time champion Kevon Looney (The Sporting Tribune)

› Lakers add Ziaire Williams on one-year, $3 million deal (The Sporting Tribune)

🏀 THE SPARKS’ SPIN CYCLE

Fire the GM, run it back, repeat. Eric Lambkins II argues the Sparks’ latest front-office shakeup is another lap in a cycle that never actually breaks and that a franchise 30 seasons deep needs more than a new nameplate on the door. On the floor, the story didn’t change either: Los Angeles got closed out by the Dream on a late run in Atlanta, 101-92.

GO DEEPER

› Eric Lambkins II: The only way out of the Sparks’ spin cycle (The Sporting Tribune)

› Sparks get closed out by Dream in late run (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — TUESDAY, JULY 14

⚽ World Cup (SF): France vs. Spain — Fox — 12 p.m. PT · Arlington, Texas

⚾ MLB: All-Star Game — Fox — 5 p.m. PT · Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia

Coming up: Argentina vs. England in the second World Cup semifinal Wednesday in Atlanta. The final is Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME THIS WEEK?

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⚾ MLB (Fri): Dodgers at Yankees — Yankee Stadium — $75

🌴 TSTTRIVIA

Mike Trout starts tonight in his 12th All-Star Game, the most of any player in this year’s field. In which two seasons did he win All-Star Game MVP?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

Today’s episode digs into an All-Star Game without Shohei Ohtani and what his knee means for a Dodgers team that limped into the break, breaks down the Lakers’ free-agency haul, and previews France-Spain in the first World Cup semifinal. Hear it on the radio across Southern California and Las Vegas via Westwood One Sports.

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: 2014 and 2015 Mike Trout won back-to-back All-Star Game MVP awards

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Good morning! A loud weekend in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Max Holloway ended Conor McGregor’s comeback bid in Vegas, Spain sent SoFi’s World Cup run out on a late dagger, the Lakers locked up Austin Reaves, and the Sparks parted ways with their GM. Baseball hits the All-Star break and the Dodgers limp into it after losing three straight and five of seven. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

🥊 Another night to remember. Max Holloway gave Hawaiʻi one more night to celebrate in Las Vegas — Arash Markazi from T-Mobile Arena.

🏀 Reaves gets paid. The Lakers officially re-signed Austin Reaves to a historic new deal — Carlos Yakimowich has it.

🏀 Front-office shakeup. The Sparks parted ways with general manager Raegan Pebley — Rey Moralde in Los Angeles.

⚾ Limping to the break. The D-Backs completed a sweep despite another Ohtani homer — Fredo Cervantes at Dodger Stadium.

⚾ Machado’s day. The Padres rallied past the Blue Jays to reach .500 at the break — Eric Evelhoch at Petco Park.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — WEEKEND

⚽ World Cup (QF): Spain 2, Belgium 1 (at SoFi) · England 2, Norway 1 (ET) · Argentina 3, Switzerland 1 (ET)

⚾ MLB (Sun): Diamondbacks 5, Dodgers 3 (sweep) · Padres 5, Blue Jays 4 · Twins 4, Angels 2

🏀 WNBA: Fever 89, Aces 81 · Sparks 102, Sky 87

🥊 HOLLOWAY ENDS THE COMEBACK

Max Holloway beat Conor McGregor at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night, ending the Irishman’s long-awaited comeback bid before it ever really started and delivering the Ninth Island one more night it won’t forget. The Sporting Tribune’s Will Despart and Arash Markazi were there for a card that reaffirmed why Las Vegas remains the fight capital of the world and why Holloway, win or lose, always brings the islands with him.

GO DEEPER

› Arash Markazi: On the Ninth Island, Max Holloway gave Hawaiʻi another night to remember (The Sporting Tribune)

› Conor McGregor’s comeback bid ends in immediate heartbreak (The Sporting Tribune)

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⚽ THE WORLD CUP SAYS GOODBYE TO L.A.

SoFi Stadium’s World Cup ended the way this tournament has gone — late and loud. Mikel Merino, on the field barely two minutes, buried a rebound in the 88th to send Spain past Belgium 2-1 in Friday’s quarterfinal, La Roja’s first World Cup semifinal since 2010. It was the eighth and final match at the Inglewood venue, which hosted the U.S. opener, the charged Iran-Belgium draw and now a knockout classic. Next stop for the building: the 2028 Olympics. Next stop for the tournament: a semifinal field of France, Spain, Argentina and England — the top four ranked teams in the world, together in the final four for the first time ever.

GO DEEPER

› Arash Markazi: Spain’s Lamine Yamal: ‘If France should fear anyone, it’s us’ (The Sporting Tribune)

› Steve Carp: For Spain, one run ends while another continues (The Sporting Tribune)

› Zach Cavanagh: Spain breaks Belgium late, sets up France semifinal (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Spain defeats Belgium, 2-1, at SoFi Stadium (The Sporting Tribune)

🏀 A BUSY WEEKEND IN L.A. BASKETBALL

Two moves, two directions. The Lakers officially re-signed Austin Reaves to a historic new contract, keeping a homegrown core piece in purple and gold after a summer of speculation. Across the hall at Crypto.com Arena, the Sparks parted ways with general manager Raegan Pebley, a front-office shakeup for a franchise that just celebrated its 30th season and is still searching for a consistent identity.

GO DEEPER

› Lakers officially re-sign Austin Reaves to historic new deal (The Sporting Tribune)

› Sparks part ways with general manager Raegan Pebley (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — MONDAY, JULY 13

⚾ MLB: 4:00 p.m. — Home Run Derby — Netflix

🏀 WNBA: 4:00 p.m. — Sparks at Dream — USA

Coming up: World Cup semifinals — France vs. Spain on Tuesday in Dallas, Argentina vs. England on Wednesday in Atlanta. The final is Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME THIS WEEK?

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⚾ MLB (Fri): Dodgers at Yankees — Yankee Stadium — $73

🌴 TST TRIVIA

SoFi Stadium hosted eight matches at this World Cup, closing with Spain’s quarterfinal win over Belgium. Which nation won at SoFi in the tournament’s very first match there?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

Today’s episode goes cageside for Max Holloway’s win over Conor McGregor in Las Vegas, says goodbye to the World Cup in Los Angeles after Spain’s late winner at SoFi, and unpacks a busy L.A. basketball weekend — Austin Reaves’ new deal and a front-office change with the Sparks. Hear it on the radio across Southern California and Las Vegas via Westwood One Sports.

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: The United States — the USMNT opened its World Cup at SoFi with a 4-1 win over Paraguay.

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Good morning! The main event is here — and it’s in our backyard. Spain and Belgium meet at SoFi Stadium at noon in a World Cup quarterfinal, with a place in the final four on the line. France already booked its ticket, dispatching Morocco 2-0. It was a quieter night for the home nine. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

⚽ Belgium’s back at it. The side that ended the USMNT’s run faces Spain at SoFi today — Steve Carp on what makes Belgium tick.

⚾ Trout’s back. Mike Trout returned from the injured list with a home run in an Angels blowout this week — Jack Janes has it.

⚾ Betts delivers. Mookie Betts’ go-ahead single lifted the Dodgers past the Rockies — Fredo Cervantes from Chavez Ravine.

🏀 Sparks rebound. Inspired play snapped a three-game skid against the Fever — Rey Moralde at Crypto.com Arena.

🏀 Vegas adds depth. The Aces signed Ta’Niya Latson to a development player contract — Arion Armeniakos in Las Vegas.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — THURSDAY

⚽ World Cup (QF): France 2, Morocco 0 (France advances to the semifinals)

⚾ MLB: Rangers 7, Angels 6 · Diamondbacks 3, Padres 1

⚽ THE WORLD CUP COMES TO INGLEWOOD

For one afternoon, the center of the soccer world sits in Inglewood. Spain and Belgium meet at SoFi Stadium at noon in a World Cup quarterfinal, with the winner advancing to face France in the semifinals. Spain arrives as the tournament’s most complete side — unbeaten, yet to concede a goal, and built around teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and breakout star Mikel Oyarzabal. Belgium, the team that ended the USMNT’s run, has grown sharper by the round behind the attacking trio of Charles De Ketelaere, Romelu Lukaku and Jérémy Doku. It is, fittingly, the eighth and final World Cup match SoFi will host — a marquee sendoff for the building that will headline the 2028 Olympics.

GO DEEPER

› Steve Carp: For Belgium, the (Red) Devil’s in the details (The Sporting Tribune)

› TST Images: Belgium’s Round of 16 win over the United States at Lumen Field (The Sporting Tribune)

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⚽ THE ROAD TO THE FINAL

The bracket is tightening. France is through to a third straight semifinal after a 2-0 win over Morocco, with Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembelé doing the damage. Today’s Spain-Belgium winner at SoFi joins them in the final four and will meet France on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas. The weekend rounds out the last eight: Norway and England clash Saturday, followed by defending champion Argentina against Switzerland. The final is set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

⚾ A GOOD WEEK FOR THE HOME TEAMS

Away from the World Cup, it was an encouraging stretch for the locals. Mike Trout returned from the injured list with a home run in a 13-1 Angels rout, Mookie Betts’ go-ahead single carried the Dodgers past Colorado, the Padres’ bats broke out in a 10-4 win, and the Sparks snapped a three-game skid with their most complete performance in weeks. A rougher Thursday — losses for the Angels and Padres — was a reminder there’s still work to do, but the arrows are pointing up heading into the weekend.

GO DEEPER

› Offense explodes, Trout homers in return from IL in blowout win (The Sporting Tribune)

› Sparks snap three-game losing skid with inspired play against Fever (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — FRIDAY, JULY 10

⚽ World Cup (QF): Spain vs. Belgium — Fox — 12 p.m. PT · SoFi Stadium

⚾ MLB: Angels at Twins — 5:10 p.m. PT

⚾ MLB: Blue Jays at Padres — 6:40 p.m. PT

⚾ MLB: Diamondbacks at Dodgers — SportsNet LA — 7:10 p.m. PT

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME TODAY?

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⚽ World Cup QF: Spain vs. Belgium — SoFi Stadium —$1,204

⚾ MLB: Diamondbacks at Dodgers — Dodger Stadium — $54

🌴 TST TRIVIA

Today’s Spain-Belgium quarterfinal is the last World Cup match SoFi Stadium will host. The building will welcome the world again in 2028 — for what event?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

Today’s episode sets the stage for the World Cup quarterfinal at SoFi — Spain vs. Belgium, with a semifinal against France waiting — recaps France’s win over Morocco, and checks in on a solid week for the home teams. Hear it on the radio across Southern California and Las Vegas via Westwood One Sports.

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: The 2028 Summer Olympics — SoFi Stadium will co-host the opening ceremony with the Coliseum and stage the swimming competition.

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Good morning! A clean sweep for the home teams. Mike Trout returned from the injured list with a bang, the Dodgers and Padres both won, and the Sparks snapped their skid. And the main event arrives this week: the World Cup quarterfinals are here, with France-Morocco today and Spain-Belgium coming to SoFi tomorrow. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

⚾ Trout’s back. Mike Trout homered in his return from the IL as the Angels’ offense erupted in a blowout — Jack Janes has it.

⚾ Series clincher. Mookie Betts’ go-ahead single lifted the Dodgers past the Rockies — Fredo Cervantes from Chavez Ravine.

⚾ Bats come alive. The Padres pounded the Diamondbacks 10-4 to keep rolling — Fernando Ramirez at Petco.

🏀 Skid snapped. Inspired play carried the Sparks past the Fever, 106-92 — Rey Moralde at Crypto.com Arena.

🏀 Vegas adds depth. The Aces signed Ta’Niya Latson to a development player contract — Arion Armeniakos in Las Vegas.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — WEDNESDAY

⚾ MLB: Angels 13, Rangers 1 · Dodgers 4, Rockies 3 · Padres 10, Diamondbacks 4

🏀 WNBA: Sparks 106, Fever 92

⚾ TROUT’S BACK — AND SO ARE THE ANGELS

The Angels needed a jolt, and their franchise player delivered one. Mike Trout, back from the injured list, homered as part of an offensive explosion that buried the Rangers 13-1 in Texas and snapped a seven-game losing streak. It was the kind of night that can turn a week — and a reminder of what a healthy Trout still means to a lineup that had lost its way. The Angels go for the series win in the finale tonight.

GO DEEPER

› Offense explodes, Trout homers in return from IL in blowout win (The Sporting Tribune)

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⚾ THE PADRES FIND THEIR BATS

After being shut out to open the series, San Diego’s offense came roaring back, pounding the Diamondbacks 10-4 at Petco Park. It’s a timely turn for a Padres club that had spent the past week scuffling at the plate — and a chance to take the series in Thursday’s finale. Jake Cronenworth and the middle of the order did the heavy lifting.

› Padres’ bats come alive, roll past Diamondbacks 10-4 (The Sporting Tribune)

🏀 THE SPARKS SNAP OUT OF IT

Three straight losses, and then a release valve. The Sparks played their most inspired basketball in a week to knock off the Fever, 106-92, at Crypto.com Arena — the kind of complete performance that had gone missing during the skid. With All-Star reserves Kelsey Plum and Nneka Ogwumike leading the way, Los Angeles heads into the break on a better note.

› Sparks snap three-game losing skid with inspired play against Fever (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — THURSDAY, JULY 9

⚽ World Cup (QF): France vs. Morocco — Fox — 1 p.m. PT · Boston

⚾ MLB: Angels at Rangers — ABTV — 5:05 p.m. PT

⚾ MLB: Diamondbacks at Padres —Padres TV — 6:40 p.m. PT

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME TODAY?

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⚾ MLB: Diamondbacks at Padres — Petco Park — $10

🌴 TST TRIVIA

The World Cup quarterfinals arrive at SoFi Stadium on Friday. Which two nations will meet in Inglewood with a semifinal spot on the line?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

Today’s episode celebrates a big night for the home teams — Mike Trout’s return, wins for the Dodgers and Padres, and the Sparks snapping their skid — then turns to the main event: the World Cup quarterfinals, and Spain-Belgium landing at SoFi. Hear it on the radio across Southern California and Las Vegas via Westwood One Sports.

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: Spain and Belgium — they meet in the World Cup quarterfinals at SoFi Stadium (“Los Angeles Stadium”) on Friday.

Thanks for reading! Follow us on X and Instagram, or drop us a line at tips@thesportingtribune.com.

Good morning! History at Chavez Ravine: Shohei Ohtani joined the 300-homer club, though the Dodgers couldn’t make it stick. The Padres snapped their skid, the Angels dropped a seventh straight, and the WNBA named its All-Stars — with both the Aces and Sparks represented. No World Cup today; the quarterfinals resume Thursday, with Spain-Belgium coming to SoFi on Friday. Let’s get into it.

🚨 HEADLINES

⚾ 300 club. Ohtani’s milestone leadoff blast wasn’t enough as a late meltdown sank the Dodgers — Fredo Cervantes from Chavez Ravine.

⚾ Skid snapped. Jake Cronenworth shook off a scare and powered the Padres past the D-backs — Fernando Ramirez at Petco.

⚾ Seven straight. A late bullpen collapse sent the Angels to their seventh consecutive loss — Anthony Arroyo at Globe Life Field.

🏀 Deadline drama. The Aces made a surprising roster move with the WNBA trade deadline coming into view — Derek Hegna in Las Vegas.

⚽ Belong here. Reporting from the World Cup in Vancouver, our founder makes the case for the Whitecaps to stay put— Arash Markazi at BC Place.

See what else is trending at The Sporting Tribune.

📋 SCOREBOARD — TUESDAY

⚽ World Cup (R16): Argentina 3, Egypt 2 · Switzerland 0, Colombia 0 (SUI advances 4-3 on PKs)

⚾ MLB: Rockies 4, Dodgers 3 · Padres 4, Diamondbacks 1 · Rangers 8, Angels 3

⚾ OHTANI JOINS THE 300 CLUB

He led off the bottom of the first with a 409-foot line drive off Colorado’s Michael Lorenzen — his 20th homer of the season and the 300th of his career. With it, Shohei Ohtani became the first Japanese-born player to reach 300 home runs and the 170th member of the club, getting there in the fifth-fewest games in Major League history. Justin Wrobleski backed the milestone with seven innings of one-run ball and nine strikeouts, but an eighth-inning defensive meltdown undid all of it, and the Rockies slipped out of Dodger Stadium with a 4-3 win. History on an otherwise forgettable night.

GO DEEPER

› Shohei Ohtani hits No. 300 as the Dodgers’ bullpen struggles (The Sporting Tribune)

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🏀 ALL-STAR HONORS FOR ACES AND SPARKS

The WNBA revealed its 2026 All-Star rosters, and both TST markets are well represented. In Las Vegas, reigning MVP A’ja Wilson will be joined by guard Jackie Young. In Los Angeles, Kelsey Plum and Nneka Ogwumike were named reserves — a nod to a Sparks core that has kept the team in the fight through an up-and-down first half.

GO DEEPER

› Aces’ Jackie Young joining A’ja Wilson in the 2026 All-Star Game (The Sporting Tribune)

› Sparks’ Plum, Ogwumike chosen as 2026 All-Star Game reserves (The Sporting Tribune)

⚽ A DISPATCH FROM THE WORLD CUP

With the World Cup barnstorming across North America, our founder Arash Markazi filed from BC Place in Vancouver — a city he argues has more than made its case as a soccer town, and a reminder of how quickly the game is growing in markets still fighting for a seat at the table, Las Vegas among them.

› Arash Markazi: Vancouver already made its case; the Whitecaps belong here (The Sporting Tribune)

📺 WATCHLIST — WEDNESDAY, JULY 8

⚾ MLB: Angels at Rangers — 5:05 p.m. PT

⚾ MLB: Rockies at Dodgers — SportsNet LA — 7:10 p.m. PT

⚾ MLB: Diamondbacks at Padres — 7:10 p.m. PT

Looking ahead: The World Cup quarterfinals resume Thursday, and Spain vs. Belgium comes to SoFi Stadium on Friday at 12:00 p.m. PT.

🎟️ GOING TO A GAME TODAY?

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⚾ MLB: Rockies at Dodgers — Dodger Stadium — $88

⚾ MLB: Diamondbacks at Padres — Petco Park — $24

🌴 TST TRIVIA

Four players from TST’s markets made the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game — two Aces and two Sparks. Can you name all four?

Answer at the bottom.

🎧 THE SPORTING TRIBUNE TODAY

Today’s episode marks Shohei Ohtani’s 300th home run and asks what’s ailing a Dodgers bullpen that keeps giving leads back, runs through the WNBA All-Star honors for the Aces and Sparks, and looks ahead to a World Cup quarterfinal landing at SoFi this week. Hear it on the radio across Southern California and Las Vegas via Westwood One Sports.

› Listen to the latest episode

Trivia answer: Aces — A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young; Sparks — Kelsey Plum and Nneka Ogwumike.

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