The best team in baseball isn’t done yet
The Dodgers left Yankee Stadium with the best record in baseball and a 12-game division lead and, as Arash Markazi writes, a roster they fully expect to be even more dangerous by October.
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.
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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.
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