The Baltimore Orioles (57-61) and the Minnesota Twins (58-61) meet in the opener of a three-game series at Target Field in Minneapolis on Monday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:40 p.m. ET.

The Orioles salvaged the series finale Sunday in Arlington against the Texas Rangers, winning 10-5 as a slight underdog as the Over cashed. The 10-run outburst tied the most runs for Baltimore since inexplicably erupting for a dozen runs in a 12-1 road rout of the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 21.

Sunday’s victory halted a three-game losing streak, and the Over snapped a five-game run Under streak. The Under is still 6-1-1 in the past eight outings. Baltimore is an impressive 4-3 in the past seven road outings, while the Over is 4-2 in the past six games away from home.

The Twins suffered a pair of gut-wrenching 4-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday and Sunday at American Family Field. Minnesota is now just 2-6 in the past eight games, while the Under is 3-1-1 in the previous five contests.

At the MLB non-waiver trade deadline, the Twins acquired RHP Dean Kremer (1-4, 5.93 ERA, 1.32 WHIP) from the Orioles. Kremer made his team debut in Kansas City on Wednesday, allowing just one run and three hits with two walks across five innings in a no-decision, as the Twins won 2-1. Now, he’ll get a crack against his former team.

The Orioles counter with LHP Trevor Rogers (7-7, 4.20 ERA, 1.24 WHIP), as he gets the chance to face his former rotation mate. Rogers is 3-0 with a 2.32 ERA and 1.03 WHIP across his past seven starts across 42.2 IP.

Minnesota has managed just a 17-22 record against left-handed starting pitchers this season, and they’re 13-12 vs. AL East opponents this season. The Twins are just 30-27 at home, too.

Baltimore has posted a 25-31 record on the road, and it has a minus-33 run differential, which is slightly better than Minnesota at minus-35. The O’s have managed a 16-9 record against AL Central teams this season, too.

These teams met three times in late March at Camden Yards in Baltimore, with the Orioles taking two of those games. Rogers picked up his first victory of the season, twirling seven scoreless innings with three hits and four walks while striking out five batters in a win and quality start.

Let’s back the ORIOLES (-112) on the moneyline based on the hot pitching of Rogers lately, as well as the struggles of the Twins against southpaws. If you’re looking for a same-game parlay (SGP), too, look to the UNDER 8.5 (-106).

The Russian Athletics Federation has filed a new claim with the Court of Arbitration for Sport to challenge sanctions imposed by World Athletics.

Athletes from Russia and Belarus have been banned from international competition under the world governing body since the country’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russian Athletics says the ongoing sanctions “infringe on the organisation’s rights”, adding they “prevent it from fully representing the interests of Russian athletes on an international level.”

The International Olympic Committee provisionally lifted Russia’s suspension in July, potentially allowing the country to compete at the 2028 Olympics Games in Los Angeles.

Cas, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, serves as sport’s highest arbitration body and hears disputes involving athletes, federations and governing organisations.

“The sanctions against Russian Athletics are unprecedented. No other sports federation faces such severe restrictions,” Boris Yaryshevskiy, chief executive director of Russian Athletics, said in a statement.

“They not only hinder the federation’s normal operation but also hold back the development of athletics in Russia, particularly among young athletes, preventing us from properly representing our sport in the international arena.

“That is why we will consistently defend our rights, pursue the lifting of the sanctions through the courts, and continue our work in this direction. We are already preparing our next steps to restore justice.”

Russian Athletics lodged a separate appeal on 9 July challenging a decision by the World Athletics Council – the main rule-making and executive body of World Athletics – to extend the ban on Russian athletes from international events.

Other sporting federations, including World Gymnastics, World Aquatics and World Boxing, have this year eased restrictions on Russian athletes competing.

Some Russian and Belarusian athletes competed as neutrals at both the 2024 Paris Games and this year’s Winter Olympics in Milan.

A source at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) has raised concerns over players playing through injuries during the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to franchise and financial pressures before being sent to the national cricket board’s rehabilitation facility, making the task of managing their return to international cricket increasingly challenging. “Too much cricket. The human body has its load limits. Overuse and stress injuries, especially in older players, are unpredictable in terms of return to play. Players play through injuries during IPL due to franchise and financial pressures and then are dumped onto unsuspecting COE physios. The team physios and COE physios are competent and conscientious, and are keeping player safety as their top priority. This, of course, makes it difficult for selectors, coaches, and captains,” said a COE source to ANI.

The remarks came on the sidelines of a press conference at the BCCI CoE in Bengaluru on Sunday, where CoE head VVS Laxman addressed the media alongside BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia and BCCI President Mithun Manhas.

The comments come at a time when India are dealing with a growing injury list ahead of their two-Test series against Sri Lanka, with left-handed batter Sai Sudharsan the latest addition to the unavailable players.

Sudharsan was ruled out of the series after failing to recover from a big toe injury sustained during the second India A Test against Sri Lanka A last month. He scored two centuries in the two ‘A’ Tests before being hit on the toe and has since been undergoing rehabilitation at the CoE in Bengaluru.

Sudharsan joins Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar on the injury list for the Sri Lanka series.

Bumrah was ruled out after failing to recover from a left knee niggle sustained during the second ODI against England in Cardiff last month. Jammu and Kashmir seamer Auqib Nabi, 29, has replaced him in the Test squad.

Rana, meanwhile, is recovering from a Grade 1 biceps femoris muscle strain sustained after his return from a major right knee ligament injury and surgery that kept him out for four months. He subsequently missed the 2026 T20 World Cup and IPL 2026.

Reddy is recovering from a left quadriceps injury that forced him to miss India’s recent white-ball tours of Ireland, England and Zimbabwe. He suffered the injury while bowling against Afghanistan in the home ODI series in June.

Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the first Test due to a hamstring injury, while Akash Deep remains unavailable after suffering stress reactions in his back.

There is also a fitness concern around India captain Shubman Gill, although he has not been ruled out of the series. Gill did not take the field on the opening day of India’s practice match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo after hurting his right finger during practice.

The injury concerns have also brought the role of the CoE and its coordination with team management and selectors into focus. Laxman had earlier said there was seamless communication between the CoE, team management, support staff and the selection committee regarding players’ fitness and rehabilitation.

India’s two-Test series against Sri Lanka begins in Galle on August 15.

India’s Test squad for Sri Lanka: Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Auqib Nabi, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal and Saransh Jain.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Cricket governing bodies in Scotland and the Netherlands have strongly criticised the planned restructuring of next year’s 50-over World Cup, claiming that the proposed changes “risk weakening the integrity and credibility of international cricket”.

At a board meeting in Edinburgh last month, the International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed that the central phase of the tournament in southern Africa will feature 12 nations split into two groups of six.

Although 14 sides remain involved, the competition will begin with an initial round featuring the three lowest-seeded qualifiers, with just a single team reaching the main group stage.

A preliminary qualifying tournament will run from 22 February until 23 March next year, with the top team advancing directly and those in second, third and fourth entering the opening round.

Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB) released a joint statement expressing that they were “deeply disappointed” with the ICC’s move, announced under 18 months before the event begins.

The statement declared: “At a time when cricket is seeking to expand its reach, attract new audiences and strengthen its position on the international sporting landscape, reducing meaningful opportunities for emerging nations sends entirely the wrong message.

“We have significant concerns about both the impact of these changes and the process through which they have been introduced.

“The changes risk weakening the integrity and credibility of international cricket, and only highlight the importance of strong governance, transparent decision-making and effective engagement with members.”

In the men’s ODI rankings, Scotland and the Netherlands are currently placed 13th and 14th respectively.

Monday’s statement follows similar concerns raised by the World Cricketers’ Association over the overhaul, though Cricket Scotland and the KNCB stressed they are “fully committed to working constructively with the ICC and fellow members to strengthen the global game”.

The governing bodies added: “Following the announcement of the changes, Cricket Scotland, the KNCB and other associate members met twice with the ICC, seeking official written communication on the changes and greater clarity around the processes involved.

“We also requested positive action to strengthen future operational decision-making and an invitation to bilateral planning meetings with full members.

“Since the second meeting more than two weeks ago, there has been no further response from the ICC, which is disappointing and disrespectful given the significance of the issues raised.”

Morning session

TV: 10:30-13:15 on BBC One

World silver medallist Hunt, Asher-Smith and Success Eduan, the three fastest European women over 200m this year, all have byes to the semi-finals as qualifying gets under way.

Amber Anning, Britain’s 2025 world indoor champion, is hoping to make her comeback from injury to line up in the heats of the 400m.

And the men’s decathlon begins with the 100m, the first of 10 events over the next two days.

Evening session

TV: 19:00-20:00 on BBC Two and 20:00-22:00 on BBC One

Radio: Updates on 5 Live & Sounds

Finals:

21:45: Men’s 110m hurdles

21:08: Women’s 400m hurdles – Britain’s Emily Newnham should be one to watch

20:50: Men’s 400m – Hudson-Smith aims to win the individual title for a third time

19:45: Women’s hammer

Other events:

19:05 Men’s decathlon high jump

19:55 Men’s 110m hurdles semi-finals

20:20 Women’s 200m semi-finals

20:40 Men’s triple jump Qualification

21:22 Men’s decathlon 400m

Tim Bradley anticipates a “hell of a fight” unfolding between Canelo Alvarez and Christian Mbilli, but only sees one man emerging victorious on October 31.

The pair will collide in a super-middleweight contest in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with Mbilli making a first defence of his WBC world title.

He was upgraded from ‘interim’ to full champion following the retirement of Terence Crawford, who became the undisputed 168lb king by dethroning Canelo with a unanimous decision victory in September.

That same night, Mbilli defended his then-interim belt with a 10-round draw against Lester Martinez, producing a performance that aptly reflected his high-volume style.

But while the Frenchman does, indeed, force a considerable pace in the ring, many doubt that this will be enough to trump the 36-year-old Canelo.

Despite coming to the end of his decorated career, the Mexican hardly disgraced himself against Crawford and, prior to that, had remained unbeaten since his 2022 defeat to Dmitry Bivol.

Not only that, but many feel Alvarez is a more technically savvy operator than Mbilli, who throws punches in bunches but typically comes forward in straight lines.

It is partly because of this that Hall of Famer Bradley, while speaking with FightHype, has predicted a dominant victory for Canelo.

“He going to piece Mbilli’s ass up. I like Mbilli – tough guy, comes to bring the pain. It’s going to be a hell of a fight. But Canelo going to catch and shoot on his ass all night long.

“Uppercuts, hooks … it’s going to be bad. [Canelo’s] going to look like he’s back [to his best].”

By “catch and shoot”, Bradley means he is expecting Canelo to punish Mbilli with his counterpunching prowess, even if the 31-year-old keeps springing back with relentless aggression.

Marcus Rashford is heading back to Manchester United. But this is not simply a returning player reporting for pre-season. It is a reunion between a club, a player and a fanbase whose relationship has become increasingly complicated over the past two years.

Michael Carrick has confirmed that Rashford will join Manchester United’s squad in Dublin for the next stage of their pre-season preparations, alongside Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez.

“We have got a full squad this week in Dublin. We fly straight there and have a few days where we have the whole group back together. Marcus is part of that, and Kobbie and Lisandro. We look forward to seeing them,” Carrick said.

Rashford could feature against Leeds at Croke Park before potentially making another appearance against AC Milan in Poland.

For Carrick, however, the real test will begin long after the pre-season fixtures are over. The question is not whether Rashford can still play football. He clearly can.

The question is whether he can become the kind of Manchester United player the club and supporters need him to be.

A return that would have seemed unlikely

Not long ago, Rashford’s Manchester United career appeared to be finished.

His relationship with the club had deteriorated dramatically after a series of disciplinary and performance issues, followed by his public declaration that he wanted a “new challenge”. Ruben Amorim responded by taking him out of the first-team picture.

The Portuguese manager made it clear that selection would be based on standards and application rather than reputation.

“When we want to change a lot of things, when people in the club are losing their jobs, they have to fight for their place in the team,” Amorim said after leaving Rashford out against Manchester City. Rashford chose a different route.

Rather than fighting his way back into the team, he eventually left on loan. That decision changed the trajectory of his career but also damaged his relationship with a section of the United fanbase.

Now, after spells at Aston Villa and Barcelona, he is back where it all began.

Carrick has inherited a different United

The biggest reason Rashford’s return is intriguing is that he is not coming back to exactly the same Manchester United environment that he left.

Carrick has taken charge and inherited a squad that has reportedly benefited from a significant change in culture.

That change was partly created by Amorim’s willingness to remove players he believed were not meeting his standards. Rashford was among those players.

So too were Antony, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho. The departures and loans helped United reshape their squad and remove some of the internal tensions that had contributed to the club’s problems.

Amorim ultimately failed to deliver the footballing transformation United wanted, but his decision to establish clear standards appears to have had a longer-lasting effect. That is something Carrick must protect.

The footballing case for Rashford is obvious

There is nevertheless a strong football argument for giving Rashford another opportunity. United still need attacking options.

Rashford can play from the left, operate centrally and provide a different kind of threat from players such as Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko. At his best, he gives United pace, direct running and the ability to attack space behind defensive lines.

His best season remains 2022-23, when he scored 30 goals in all competitions. That version of Rashford would immediately improve United. The problem is that United have not consistently seen that version since.

Carrick’s task is therefore to determine whether the player who returns to Manchester is closer to the 30-goal Rashford or the frustrated, inconsistent figure who eventually forced his way out of the club.

Aston Villa showed there is still a player to work with

Rashford’s loan spell at Aston Villa offered evidence that his career was not beyond repair.

He recorded 10 goal involvements in 17 appearances and helped Villa progress in both the FA Cup and Champions League. His form was good enough to earn an England recall.

More importantly, he looked happier. “I missed a lot of football before joining up with them [Villa],” Rashford said at the time. “At the minute, my body feels good and I’m enjoying my football.”

But there was an uncomfortable side to that improvement.

Rashford’s immediate revival after leaving United inevitably raised questions about what had gone wrong at Old Trafford in the first place.

Villa ultimately decided against making his move permanent.

That left Rashford’s future uncertain.

Barcelona proved Rashford can still contribute at the highest level 

His next move was even more significant.

Barcelona took him on loan, giving Rashford the opportunity to play alongside some of Europe’s best attacking players.

He responded with 28 goal contributions in 49 appearances across competitions as Barcelona retained La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup.

There were also moments that reminded everyone why United had once considered him one of the brightest products of their academy.

His free-kick goal against Real Madrid was particularly memorable. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick also spoke positively about the forward.

“I appreciate working with him,” Flick said. “He is a fantastic player and a fantastic person.”

Yet Barcelona did not exercise their option to sign him permanently. That is an important part of the story.

Rashford’s performances were good enough to revive his reputation, but not convincing enough to make Barcelona believe he was indispensable.

His biggest battle will be rebuilding trust 

This is where Rashford’s Manchester United return becomes more complicated.

His footballing ability is not the biggest question. Trust is.  United supporters watched him develop from an academy graduate into one of the club’s most important players. They backed him through difficult periods and celebrated his best moments. His public push for a move therefore hit differently.

The perception among many supporters was that Rashford had chosen to leave rather than fight for his place at a time when United needed senior players to take responsibility.

That perception will not disappear simply because he has returned. Rashford cannot expect supporters to forget what happened. He will have to give them reasons to change their minds.

The dressing room will be watching too The same applies internally.

Carrick has reportedly benefited from greater harmony within the squad, and Rashford’s reintegration must not disrupt that.

The forward will need to accept that he is returning as one member of the squad rather than automatically reclaiming his old status. That could mean competing for his place.

It could mean starting some games from the bench. It could mean accepting a role behind other attackers when the tactical situation demands it.

For Rashford, that may be the most important test of all. A successful comeback will require him to demonstrate that he is prepared to put the team ahead of his own status.

Carrick must avoid making the return about sentiment 

Carrick’s previous relationship with Rashford could be both an advantage and a potential problem.

The pair were teammates at United and Carrick later worked as part of the club’s coaching staff. He knows Rashford better than many managers would.

That should help him understand how to get the best out of the forward. But Carrick must also avoid giving Rashford preferential treatment because of their history.

The easiest way to damage the new culture would be to allow one player to bypass the standards expected of everyone else. Rashford should return because he earns his place, not because he is a famous academy graduate.

What should United expect from him?

The sensible expectation is not 30 goals immediately. It should be consistency.

If Rashford can train properly, accept competition, contribute defensively and maintain his intensity when things are not going his way, his footballing qualities can take care of much of the rest.

He does not suddenly need to become a completely different player. He needs to become a more reliable version of himself. The experience of playing for Aston Villa and Barcelona may help. He has experienced life away from United, worked under different managers and played in different tactical systems.

He has also seen what happens when he loses his place. That could make him a more mature player.

The first few months will tell the story 

Rashford’s return should therefore be judged over time.

A good pre-season will not repair everything. A goal against Leeds will not erase the past. Neither will a strong opening month.

What United need to see is sustained professionalism.

If Rashford responds positively to Carrick’s demands, fights for his position and contributes consistently, supporters may gradually begin to accept him again. If old habits return, the club will have learned a very expensive lesson.

Because United cannot afford another cycle of disappointment in which player frustration becomes a bigger story than football.

A second chance, not a clean slate

Rashford’s return offers something that seemed almost impossible when he left Manchester: another chance at Manchester United. But it should not be confused with a clean slate.

The club has changed. The squad has changed. The standards have changed. Rashford now has to change with them. Carrick has the opportunity to turn one of United’s most complicated recent stories into a redemption arc.

But he cannot do it for Rashford. The forward has to earn it himself.

The first step is already confirmed: he is back with the squad. The much harder part starts when the competitive football begins.

Patterson is a product of Sunderland’s academy and made his senior debut for the Black Cats in a 2-1 EFL Trophy loss to Fleetwood Town in 2020-21.

He made his league bow in the following season and, after joining Notts County on loan for the opening half of the 2021-22 campaign, he helped Sunderland gain promotion into the Championship via the League One play-offs.

In 2024-25, Patterson featured 45 times in the Championship as his side beat Sheffield United in the play-off final at Wembley to gain promotion into the Premier League.

Having featured just once for the top-flight side in the first half of last season after falling behind Robin Roefs in the pecking order, Patterson spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Millwall.

He featured 16 times across all competitions for the Lions.

Patterson – who has made 169 competitive appearances for the Black Cats – featured as a substitute for Sunderland as Regis Le Bris’ side beat Wrexham 1-0 in a pre-season friendly at Philadelphia’s Subaru Park on 2 August.

Wrexham have already added full-back Danny Imray and midfielder Ben Whiteman to their ranks this summer.

But speaking ahead of his side’s 1-0 loss to Middlesbrough in the first round of the Carabao Cup, Parkinson said there was still work to be done on the squad.

“We feel we’re not where we need to be yet and we know that,” he said.

“We’re working, as ever, to make sure that the squad is as strong as it needs to be in what is going to be an incredibly competitive division.

“We’re under no illusions about that. We’ve got to make this squad so strong and we are working tirelessly to bring those extra players in to give everybody a boost.”