Not to everyone’s delight, Elversberg are active in the transfer market ahead of their first-ever top-flight season. The smallest town to be represented in Bundesliga is backed by investor Frank Holzer, who is the head of pharmaceutical company Ursapharm, which didn’t go well with the traditional ethos of German football.
How was their 2025/26?
After missing out on a promotion the previous season with a narrow defeat to Heidenheim in the playoff, Elversberg faced a similar scare in the final month of the 2. Bundesliga campaign. A defeat to eventually relegated Fortuna Düsseldorf made them wait until the final matchday of the season to write history.
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The club from a town of 13,000 inhabitants has only made the jump to the second division in 2023. Despite the promising 2024/25 campaign, few predicted them to be around the top once again since their long-serving coach Horst Steffen was poached by Werder Bremen, while top scorers Fisnik Asllani and Muhammed Damar returned to their parent club Hoffenheim.
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And, in the middle of the season, 12-goal hero Younes Ebnoutalib joined Eintracht Frankfurt. To their credit, Vincent Wagner’s side maintained their momentum after the departure of the Moroccan attacker with David Mokwa proving to be the perfect replacement.
Their form at the Ursapharm-Arena an der Kaiserlinde was a big factor as Hertha and Schalke were the only teams to return home with three points. In the end, Elversberg followed the latter to win automatic promotion to Bundesliga.
The Coach
A goal-scoring center-back in his playing career, Vincent Wagner wasn’t able to go beyond Regionalliga. However, he has now become a Bundesliga head coach at the young age of 40.
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After Asllani and Damar’s memorable loan spells, Elversberg glanced at Hoffenheim once again to replace Steffen. Including three years in Sinsheim, Wagner worked with youth teams in four different clubs.
The Nordhausen native has managed back-to-back promotions, leading Hoffenheim II to 3. Liga before joining Elversberg. His repertoire of working with youth teams perfectly suits Elversberg’s policy in the transfer market.
Transfers
Christian Weber, who signed Christos Tzolis during his time at Fortuna Düsseldorf, is preparing a Bundesliga squad for the first time. Weber and co. are tasked with finding promising youngsters so that debutants Elversberg could emulate Heidenheim’s success instead of an immediate relegation like Holstein Kiel.
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Bambasé Conté and Jarzinho Malanga returned to their parent clubs after playing their part in the promotion season, while Die Elv hope to reach an agreement with HSV for the permanent transfer of Immanuel Pherai as they did for fellow midfielder Lukasz Poreba.
With Cole Campbell(Dortmund) and Maurice Krattenmacher(Bayern), Elversberg signed prospects from Germany’s big clubs. The club shattered its transfer record for the US youth international as they parted ways with €6 million to sign the winger who only played 90 minutes of Bundesliga football for BVB and Hoffenheim last term.
According to Transfermarkt, they also spent €2.5 million to secure loan deals for Noel Futkeu (Frankfurt), Francis Onyeka (Leverkusen) and Noah Darvich (Stuttgart). The former finished as top scorer in 2. Bundesliga last season despite his club Greuther Fürth needing a playoff tie to stay in the division.
Onyeka also had a successful campaign in 2. Bundesliga with Bochum before captaining Germany U19 in their way of reaching the final of the European Championship. Darvich previously led Germany U17 to continental and World Cup triumphs, and he’ll hope to make his breakthrough in first-team football after scoring 10 3. Liga goals for Stuttgart II last season.
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The lack of Bundesliga experience in the squad isn’t addressed in the market. Michel-Ange Balikwisha is linked with a move after his poor debut season at Celtic as 27-year-old center-back Luca Sirch, who played 60 2. Bundesliga games for Kaiserslautern in the past couple of seasons, is so far the oldest new signing.
Pre-season preparations
Wagner’s side had a positive pre-season with marquee wins over NEC Nijmegen and Strasbourg. Darvich, Campbell and Onyeka were in excellent form as they ended their preparations with a 4-1 victory against Lorient.
In the opening competitive game of the season, 3. Liga leaders Duisburg gave them a bigger test until Onyeka’s late brace sealed Elversberg’s place in the second round of the DFB-Pokal.
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Predicted starting lineup
In the absence of the suspended skipper Lukas Pinckert, Luca Schnellbacher captained the side in Duisburg. The 32-year-old striker continued his fine pre-season form by scoring Elversberg’s first goal of the season, but Futkeu and Mokwa are expected to have more playing time ahead of him.
In midfield, Darvich and Onyeka could compete for the number 10 role, although there is a possibility for a lineup featuring all three youngsters (including Campbell) at the same time. Krattenmacher rarely featured during pre-season, but he’ll also be in contention for a starting berth.
Nicolas Kristof, who joined the club when they were in Regionalliga, will be the undisputed number one after helping them to three promotions over the years.
Elversberg’s first-ever Bundesliga game will be at home against the 2023/24 champions Bayer Leverkusen. The mighty FC Bayern will be the next team visiting Spiesen-Elversberg a week after the newcomers face Borussia Mönchengladbach away from home.
The last two matchdays of the league season will see them face Eintracht Frankfurt and Werder Bremen. With their closest southwest rivals Kaiserslautern in 2. Bundesliga, there will be no derbies for Wagner’s men this term.
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Expectations & Prediction
Alongside Paderborn, Elversberg are tipped for an immediate return to 2. Bundesliga. Before Holstein Kiel’s relegation in 2024/25, the last four Bundesliga debutants avoided that fate. Elversberg’s trust in prospects – they are also linked with 17-year-old Frankfurt defensive midfielder Eba Bekir Is – is admirable, but the lack of Bundesliga experience in the squad could be their downfall in the battle against the drop.
Calvin McEvoy observed a fitting synchronicity as Yellow Jersey accompanied Half Yours during a workout at Sandown on Saturday, with both horses nearing their spring racing comebacks.
Last year, Half Yours provided McEvoy and his father Tony with a taste of the pressure that accompanies the carnival’s major events, and it’s this same level of aspiration the stable holds for Yellow Jersey.
The McEvoys hold significant Cox Plate ambitions for the imported galloper, who is set to resume in this Saturday’s $200,000 Listed Heatherlie Handicap at Caulfield.
“He’s very untapped and he comes with a very big profile, which comes with pressure, I think,” Calvin McEvoy commented.
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“He cost a lot of money and the horse needs to come out and perform.
“Imports don’t always do that, but I believe that we’ve seen enough from him that has shown us that he’s a really good horse.
“He needs to go to the races and perform and I’m hoping that he can be another headline horse for us.”
The 1700-metre Heatherlie Handicap will be the sixth career start for Yellow Jersey. He won his first three races in France before achieving a second placing over 2200m at Group 2 level prior to his export to Australia.
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His sole run in Australia was a narrow second in the Listed Wayne Wilson Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 13.
The McEvoys had considered a start for Yellow Jersey in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m), but opted to manage his rating and keep options open, especially as he is also entered for the Caulfield Cup, a Group 1 handicap over 2400m for which weights are yet to be released.
“If he were to run sharp in that sort of race, there’s a chance he’d get eight to 10 (ratings) points and we thought that was a low percentage play,” Calvin stated.
Yellow Jersey held a slight advantage over Half Yours at the conclusion of Saturday’s track gallop. This session was part of a preparation geared towards a start in the Makybe Diva Stakes, a race targeted by last year’s Caulfield/Melbourne Cups champion.
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“He was a little bit fresh in behind, travelled very strongly and couldn’t have worked any nicer,” McEvoy said of Half Yours.
“He had a healthy blow, he gets one more trial this coming Friday and then goes into the Makybe Diva Stakes first-up.
“He’s exactly where you want him to be.”
The $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) is scheduled for Flemington on September 12.
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Explore popular online bookmakers for the upcoming races at online bookmakers.
The Rock got involved in The Bloodline storyline for a few months in 2024, but has changed its whole trajectory since then. Keeping the WWE angle aside, though, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has been a proud Samoan and backs up his extended family tree so much.
This time, his praise comes after WWE NXT’s post before its recent Tuesday night show, which featured a training clip of Fatu. Zilla is training his triceps, with a caption saying he is pumped.
Thanks for the submission!
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The Great One simply commented here that it’s time for his family to ‘eat,’ implying a slang term for doing amazing work. You can see the post here.
“Time to eat fam.”
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Zilla will make his WWE in-ring debut this Sunday at NXT Heatwave against NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo, Cruz Montana, and Grayson Waller in a Fatal Four-Way match for the NXT Championship.
Fatu made his debut just weeks ago on NXT, taking out Montana and Waller in their No. 1 Contender’s match to face D’Angelo. Instead, it turned into a mess, resulting in the final outcome involving him.
The Rock is advertised for a WWE tryout
The current speculation in the wrestling world is that Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson could be making his long-awaited return to WWE. The buzz started when WWE deleted and reposted an official announcement for an upcoming tryout in Honolulu. The updated promotional graphic featured The Final Boss alongside Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, and Jey Uso.
The tryouts are scheduled around WWE’s October 16 and 17 live events at the Blaisdell Arena. While WWE hasn’t officially explained the graphic tweak, adding The People’s Champion to a promotional asset featuring his real-life family members has sent the wrestling world into overdrive.
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With deep family ties to Polynesian wrestling, Hawaii provides the ideal backdrop for The Most Electrifying Man in All of Entertainment to resurface and kick off the next chapter of the Bloodline saga if it is to go that way.
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Organizers of the annual Nigeria Pitch Awards are optimistic that the country’s national teams will bounce back despite a recent string of setbacks in international competitions.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday, Dr. Shina Philips, President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, expressed confidence in the ability of the national team players and the leagues to turn the tide and set our football looking north again.
“We have absolute confidence in our footballers who are doing well in various leagues across Europe, America, Africa, and other parts of the world,” Philips said.
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As a further demonstration of his confidence in Nigerian football, Philips announced that the 12th edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards Ceremony, which had been scheduled for earlier in the year, would now hold on Tuesday, 8th September 2026, at the Ibis Hotel, Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos.
“Hosting the 12th Awards Ceremony at this time is a demonstration of our faith in Nigerian football. Since 2013, when we held our maiden edition in Calabar, we have shown Nigerians that our players deserve commendations and encouragement for their selfless, patriotic contributions to the growth of our football,” Philips noted.
On behalf of the organizers, Philips regrets the delay in hosting the 12th edition of the awards, stating that although the trophies and other logistics were already in place, certain factors necessitated postponing the ceremony beyond the expected date.
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“All necessary logistics, including the award statuettes, have been in place, but the awards itself could not be held as earlier scheduled,” Philips noted.
The 12th Awards Ceremony will feature awards in 18 categories. In the King of the Pitch category, Atlético de Madrid striker Ademola Lookman, the 2024-winner of the award, will face competition from Fulham defender Calvin Bassey and Galatasaray S.K. goal poacher Victor Osimhen.
Ademola Lookman (Atlético de Madrid) and Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray S.K) will face competition from Anas Yusuf (Nasarawa United) for the Rashidi Yekini Award for the Best Striker of the Year.
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The Queen of the Pitch Award will be a stiff battle between Chiamaka Nnadozie of Brighton & Hove Albion Women FC, Esther Okoronkwo of AFC Toronto, and Rasheedat Ajibade of PSG Feminine.
The award for the Football Friendly Governor of the Year will be a contest among Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State.
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GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Kayode Bankole Gold Geita F.C.
Maduka Okoye Udinese Calcio
Stanley Nwabali Chippa United F.C.
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DEFENDER OF THE YEAR
Benjamin Frederick Brentford F.C.
Calvin Bassey Fulham F.C.
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Ola Aina Nottingham Forest F.C.
MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR
Alex Iwobi Fulham F.C.
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Frank Onyeka Coventry FC
Raphael Onyedika Eintracht Frankfurt
Wilfred Ndidi Beşiktaş J.K.
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RASHIDI YEKINI AWARD FOR THE BEST STRIKER OF THE YEAR
Ademola Lookman Atlético de Madrid
Anas Yusuf Wolaita Dicha F.C.
Victor Osimhen Galatasaray S.K
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TEAM OF THE YEAR
Remo Stars F.C
Rivers United F.C
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Super Falcons
COACH OF THE YEAR
Daniel Ogunmodede Kano Pillars F.C
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Finidi George Rivers United F.C
Justin Madugu Super Falcons
SAM OKWARAJI AWARD
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Kunle Soname Bet9ja
Patrick Olusegun Odegbami Nigerian Ex-International
Victor Osimhen Galatasaray S.K
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STATE WITH THE BEST GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Delta State
Kwara State
Lagos State
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FOOTBALL PITCH OF THE YEAR
Godswill Akpabio Int’l Stadium Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
As we count down to the first college football game of the 2026 season, we continue our series on the records of each top CFB program in the West against all others in the region.
Some schools have met many times over the years, while others are beginning new rivalries in the wake of recent realignment.
For each opponent in the table below, we provide the total games played, wins, losses, ties, winning percentage, first year played, and most recent contest.
We continue with Washington State, which has played 829 games against regional foes, winning 324, losing 475, and recording 30 ties, for a winning percentage of .409.
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The Cougars have recorded the most wins (58) against Oregon State, have played the most games (117) and lost the most (77) against Washington.
Here is a breakdown of Washington State’s records vs. the region’s teams.
Washington State Football Wins vs. the Top Programs in the West
Cameroonian midfielder Carlos Baleba has moved from Brighton to Manchester United for around 75 million euros.
Olympique Lyonnais face Fenerbahçe in a bid to qualify for the Champions League. Tadej Pogacar dominated the fourth stage of the Vuelta a España. Klay Thompson was officially presented by the Miami Heat.
India has 3,41,862 registered football players, 16,295 coaches and 3,347 referees, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has told the Central Information Commission (CIC).
The figures were furnished by the football federation in response to an RTI application seeking the number of registered players, coaches and referees in India for the 2015-25 period.
The application also sought details of the club-wise number of injuries reported by Indian Super League (ISL) clubs during FIFA international windows in 2024 and 2025.
It sought information on the achieved and unachieved goals under the AIFF Lakshya 2022 document, Target 2026 and AIFF Strategic Target 2019-22, along with reasons for failure to achieve the objectives and steps taken to meet the unachieved targets.
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The application also sought details of initiatives taken by the federation for the development of youth and women’s football, plans for the senior women’s national team ahead of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, and the priority accorded to the 2027 tournament.
In its response, the federation said the information relating to ISL clubs could not be produced under the RTI Act, which does not require a public information officer to create information or deduce conclusions from material.
The federation, however, provided the registration figures, saying, “The total number of registered Players in India is 3,41,862. The total number of registered Coaches in India is 16,295. The total number of registered Referees in India is 3347.”
The applicant later approached the CIC, alleging that the response was incomplete, false and misleading. The federation maintained that point-wise replies had been provided.
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In its order, Information Commissioner P R Ramesh held that the queries had been appropriately answered and that permissible information had been supplied.
The Toronto Blue Jays have added some work to their plate.
After a loss to the Royals combined with a Guardians win over the Angels in extras, the Blue Jays now find themselves three games back of the final wild-card spot in the American League.
The Blue Jays were also jumped in the standings by the Orioles (64-68), and are now in a three-way tie with the Mariners and Twins at 64-69.
Wednesday also brought yet another change to the AL West picture, as the Astros jumped back into first place in the division with a victory over the Yankees. Meanwhile, the Rangers fell out of first and now find themselves out of a playoff spot after falling to the White Sox.
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Here’s a look at how the standings look after Tuesday’s results:
Toronto: vs. Kansas City, 7:07 p.m. (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+) Houston: at New York Yankees, 7:05 p.m. (Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet+) New York Yankees: vs. Houston, 7:05 p.m. (Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet+) Boston: at Miami, 6:40 p.m. Texas: at Chicago White Sox, 7:40 p.m. Cleveland: at Los Angeles Angels, 4:07 p.m. Baltimore: at St. Louis, 7:45 p.m. Minnesota: at Athletics, 9:05 p.m. Seattle: vs. Philadelphia, 4:10 p.m. Detroit: vs. Tampa Bay, 6:40 p.m.
TORONTO — Salvador Perez drove in two runs, Seth Lugo gave up one run in five effective innings, and Kansas City beat Toronto to extend its winning streak to nine games.
The last time the Kansas City Royals won nine straight was in July 2017.
Lugo (6-7) allowed six hits while striking out five to help the Royals take the first game of the three-game series.
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Perez drove in the first run of the game despite grounding into a double play, then tacked on a go-ahead RBI single in the fifth for a 2-1 Kansas City lead. Kyle Isbel added insurance with an RBI sacrifice bunt, and Carter Jensen had a sacrifice fly in the sixth.
John Rave capped the scoring for the Royals with an RBI single in the ninth inning.
Max Scherzer (1-7) worked five innings, surrendering two runs on four hits for the Blue Jays. He struck out four and walked five while tying a season-high with 92 pitches. Scherzer is now within nine strikeouts of Gaylord Perry for ninth in major league history.
CHICAGO — Tristan Peters hit a two-run double off Jacob deGrom during Chicago’s six-run first inning, and the White Sox held off the Texas Rangers 11-7 on Tuesday night.
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Peters also went deep in the sixth, extending his career-high homer streak to four games. The All-Star outfielder had three of Chicago’s 14 hits and walked twice.
Brenton Doyle added two hits and two RBIs as the AL Central-leading White Sox (69-63) improved to 3-3 on a seven-game homestand.
Texas had won four of five, including an 11-2 victory over Chicago on Monday night. The Rangers (66-67) dropped into second in the sluggish AL West, a half-game back of Houston.
Jake Burger, Danny Jansen and Justin Foscue homered for Texas.
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SEATTLE — Cal Raleigh tied a team record with homers in four straight at-bats, George Kirby pitched one-run ball into the eighth inning and the Seattle Mariners beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 on Tuesday night.
Raleigh led off the second inning against Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola with a 362-foot shot to right field for his 18th homer of the season. It was his first time up after also homering in all three of his at-bats in a 9-2 win against the Phillies on Monday, matching the Seattle record of homers in four consecutive at-bats set by Mike Cameron on May 2, 2002.
Kirby (9-10) gave up one run on four hits and struck out nine in 7 2/3 innings. Jose Ferrer got the last out in the eighth and Andrés Muñoz pitched the ninth for his 24 save in 32 chances.
Nola (5-10) got the loss, allowing two runs on three hits with seven strikeouts over six innings.
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Kirby was coming off a couple of tough outings, including giving up six first-inning runs in his last start against the Brewers. It looked as if he might be in trouble again when he allowed three straight singles in the second inning, including an RBI hit by Justin Crawford. Instead, Kirby got out of the jam and cruised the rest of the way.
NEW YORK — Yordan Alvarez went 3 for 5 and lined a go-ahead triple in the eighth inning off Brent Headrick as the Houston Astros beat the New York Yankees 9-7 on Tuesday night.
Yainer Diaz hit a pair of solo homers, including a tying shot to the short porch in right field off Headrick’s fastball to start the eighth. After Jeremy Pena singled, Alvarez ripped a low-inside sinker to the warning track in right-center for a 7-6 lead.
Alvarez increased his major league-leading batting average to .323. The slugger had his seventh career triple and first since July 21, 2024.
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Pena homered off Fernando Cruz in the sixth for a 5-all tie. Daulton Varsho had two RBI singles for the Astros, who won for the sixth time in 15 games after owner Jim Crane said manager Joe Espada will finish the season.
Isaac Paredes added an RBI single off Headrick (7-3), who has allowed five homers in 68 appearances. Headrick is second in the big leagues in appearances to Toronto lefty Mason Fluharty and permitted a run for only the 12th time.
Diaz tacked on an RBI single in the ninth off rookie Bradley Hanner as the Astros scored six runs against New York’s bullpen.
Houston overcame a four-hit night by New York first baseman Luis García Jr. García hit an RBI double off Steven Okert that gave the Yankees a 6-5 lead and also launched a two-run homer in the fifth off rookie starter Ethan Packo.
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ST. LOUIS — Pete Alonso had four hits, including a three-run homer, and drove in four runs before leaving the game in the fifth inning, and Baltimore routed swooning St. Louis.
Chris Bassitt (5-4) allowed one run on six hits in 6 2/3 innings, matching his longest start of the season. He struck out five and walked none as the Orioles, who are chasing an AL wild-card spot, won for the third time in four games.
The Cardinals lost their fourth straight.
Alonso, who has been dealing with a nagging calf injury, left shortly after he contributed his fourth hit, an RBI double during Baltimore’s eight-run fifth that made it 12-1. He put the Orioles ahead 3-0 with his 435-foot shot in the third off Matthew Liberatore (5-12), his 31st of the season.
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Jackson Holliday had three hits, scored twice and drove in a run for the Orioles in his first big league appearance in St. Louis, where his father, Matt, starred for the Cardinals. Christian Encarnacion-Strand had a pair of hits, including a 450-foot homer in the third, and drove in three. Leody Taveras had two hits, scored twice and drove in two runs.
Liberatore allowed a season-high eight runs on eight hits in four-plus innings. He struck out seven and walked one.
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Carlos Cortes homered and Gage Jump struck out nine in 6 1/3 innings as the Athletics beat the Minnesota Twins 4-2 on Tuesday night.
Jump (6-8) pitched into the seventh for the first time since June 18 against the Angels, when he fanned seven and allowed one hit in seven innings.
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Alika Williams got the first A’s hit with a two-out double in the second, and Cortes put them ahead with a two-run shot to right field. Tommy White hit an RBI double with two outs in the sixth and Donovan Walton added a run-scoring single, extending the lead to 4-0.
Lawrence Butler had two hits for the A’s, and Henry Bolte legged out his first career triple.
Taj Bradley (9-6) tied his career high with 11 strikeouts, but gave up four runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out the side on nine pitches in the fifth for the first immaculate inning in Twins history.
GUARDIANS 8, ANGELS 6, 10
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ANAHEIM, Calif. — José Ramírez drove in five runs with three doubles, Steven Kwan had five singles and the streaking Cleveland Guardians overcame an early five-run deficit to beat the Los Angeles Angels 8-6 in 10 innings Tuesday night.
Kwan capped his second career five-hit game with a leadoff single in the 10th against reliever Blake Weiman (0-1), advancing automatic runner Brayan Rocchio from second base to third. Travis Bazzana popped out, but Ramírez laced a two-run double to left-center to give the Guardians an 8-6 lead.
Cleveland reliever Erik Sabrowski (5-2) struck out the side in the ninth. Cade Smith fanned Denzer Guzman and Adam Frazier with runners on second and third in the 10th for his 35th save, sealing the Guardians’ sixth straight win.
The Angels took a 6-5 lead on Vaughn Grissom’s second homer of the game, a solo shot off reliever Logan Allen leading off the fifth. The Guardians tied it 6-all in the eighth when Kwan singled and scored on Ramírez’s RBI double.
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Cleveland centre-fielder Angel Martínez preserved the tie when he made a leaping catch at the wall to rob Mike Trout of a potential two-run homer to end the bottom of the eighth.
DETROIT — Max Clark hit his first home run at Comerica Park and five Detroit pitchers combined to allow one run as it ended a six-game losing streak with a win over Tampa Bay.
Clark’s homer, the second of his career, gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning, and that was more than enough for Detroit’s pitching staff. Starter Jackson Jobe allowed one run in 4 1/3 innings, and four relievers combined to allow one hit.
Drew Sommers (1-3) retired all five batters he faced for his first major league victory and Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth for his 17th save.
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Detroit had lost nine of its last 10 to fall 4 1/2 games behind Cleveland in the race for the third AL wild card.
Ian Seymour (9-5), who replaced Tampa Bay opener Casey Legumina, gave up four runs, three earned, on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. The Rays have lost eight of their last 12 games.
RED SOX 7, MARLINS 3, 11 INNINGS
MIAMI — Jarren Duran hit a grand slam in the 11th inning, Mickey Gasper had his first career two-homer game and Boston beat Miami.
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The surging Red Sox won their fifth in a row and ninth in 12 games. They have won their past three series and 14 of their last 20.
Willson Contreras led off the 11th with a single that advanced automatic runner Wilyer Abreu from second base to third. Jahmai Jones drew a walk to load the bases, and Abreu was forced out at home on Andruw Monasterio’s grounder.
Duran then connected on a sweeper from Cade Gibson (2-1) to put the Red Sox ahead 7-3. Alec Gamboa (1-0) tossed 1 1/3 hitless innings for his first major league win.
Gasper sent his first homer to right-center to put Boston up 1-0 in the second. It was the only run the Red Sox managed against starter Tyler Phillips, who struck out seven in 4 2/3 innings.
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WASHINGTON — Hunter Goodman homered in his return from a shoulder injury, Mason Adams worked into the fifth inning in his big league debut, and Colorado snapped a seven-game losing streak with a victory over Washington.
Daylen Lile went deep off Adams in the fourth, but that was all the scoring for Washington against six Colorado pitchers. Mark Manfredi (1-0) won in relief for his first career victory, and Jordan Romano worked the ninth for his 13th save in 16 chances.
Andrew Alvarez (2-6) allowed three runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings with two walks and six strikeouts.
Playing for the first time in nearly two weeks, Goodman opened the scoring with a solo shot in the fourth, his 35th homer of the year. Connor Norby added an RBI double later that inning.
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Lile’s homer made it 2-1, but the Rockies restored a two-run lead when Jordan Beck scored all the way from second on a wild pitch. Alvarez covered the plate and received a throw from catcher Harry Ford before Beck came sliding in, but umpires ruled third baseman Brady House impeded Beck after he came around third, and the run was awarded.
ATLANTA — Ozzie Albies singled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the eighth inning and Atlanta defeated Los Angles, snapping its six-game winning streak in a matchup of first-place clubs.
After the Braves squandered an early 3-0 lead against Tyler Glasnow, who made his first big league start in 3 1/2 months, Matt Olson led off the eighth with a double to left-center against Tanner Scott (1-4).
Mauricio Dubón moved the runner to third with a broken-bat grounder to second, but Michael Harris II failed to get Olson home with a weak grounder back to the mound. That left it up to Albies, who came through with a liner to center field.
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Shohei Ohtani tripled off the left-field wall leading off the ninth against Raisel Iglesias, but the Dodgers couldn’t get him home. Iglesias earned his 28th save in 31 chances.
Glasnow gave up hits to four of the first five Atlanta hitters, but the right-hander surrendered just two more during his five-inning stint. He struck out seven and didn’t walk anyone while throwing 89 pitches.
METS 3, BREWERS 2, 10 INNINGS
NEW YORK — Francisco Lindor made a diving catch at shortstop with the bases loaded in the ninth inning and scored the winning run on a throwing error in the 10th to lead New York past Milwaukee.
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Lindor and Luis Robert Jr. homered for the last-place Mets (60-72), who are 13-6 since selling big at the trade deadline. Lindor’s homer was his 154th for New York, tying Dave Kingman for sixth on the franchise list.
Carson Benge had his 11th three-hit game for the Mets, most among major league rookies.
SAN FRANCISCO — Rafael Devers hit his 28th homer, a drive that bounced into McCovey Cove, and reliever Anthony Molina worked 4 1/3 scoreless innings as the San Francisco Giants beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-1 on Tuesday night.
Drew Cavanaugh hit a two-run single in the first inning for San Francisco before Devers went deep in the fifth, his third homer in five games. It was his 16th longball at Oracle Park this season, the most by a Giant since Barry Bonds in 2007.
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Sal Stewart scored the Reds’ first run in 23 innings on his ninth-inning homer. His 28 home runs are the second most by a Reds rookie, trailing only Frank Robinson’s 38 in 1956.
Cavanaugh finished 3 for 3 for his first career three-hit game. Nate Furman got his first major league hit, a single in the third.
Molina (1-0) relieved right-hander Adrian Houser, who left in the second inning with an apparent injury to his throwing arm. He allowed one hit and fanned a batter.
PHOENIX — Pinch-hitter Ryan Waldschmidt hit a game-winning, two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied to stun the Chicago Cubs 5-4 on Tuesday night.
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The D-backs pulled one game behind the San Diego Padres for the final NL wild-card spot.
Trailing 4-3 in the ninth, Tim Tawa coaxed a one-out walk from Jacob Webb to start the decisive rally. Ildemaro Vargas flew out to right field for the second out before pinch-runner Jose Fernandez stole second base. Waldschmidt — a rookie — then launched a no-doubt homer over the left field fence to set off a raucous celebration.
It was Waldschmidt’s second walk-off homer of the season.
Arizona trailed 4-0 in the eighth before mounting a two-out rally against reliever Daniel Palencia. Gabriel Moreno hit a check swing RBI double that hugged the first base line and stayed fair before Geraldo Perdomo’s two-run single cut the deficit to 4-3. Webb relieved Palencia and coaxed a ground out from Max Kepler to end the threat.
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SAN DIEGO — Oneil Cruz hit the first homer allowed by Mason Miller in over a year with two outs in the ninth Tuesday night, sending the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 1-0 victory over the San Diego Padres.
Cruz improbably lined a low 98-mph pitch from Miller (4-2) into Petco Park’s short porch in right field for his 17th homer. Miller, the Padres’ All-Star closer and Pittsburgh native, hadn’t let anybody go deep on him in 73 consecutive appearances since Arizona’s Lourdes Gurriel Jr. did it Aug. 5, 2025, in Miller’s second appearance for his new team.
Gregory Soto (6-4) threw a scoreless eighth for Pittsburgh, and Mason Montgomery earned his sixth save.
Paul Skenes pitched six innings of three-hit ball in a solid rebound by the Pirates’ reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, but Michael King allowed five hits over seven scoreless innings in his latest strong start for the Padres.
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San Diego didn’t get a hit off the Pirates’ bullpen while losing consecutive games for the first time since July 23, interrupting a 21-7 surge into playoff position.
Defiantly has earned an automatic entry into the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) for 2026, following a commanding victory in the Group 2 Prix Kergorlay (3000m) at Deauville on Sunday. This triumph provides trainer Joseph O’Brien with another serious contender for the iconic Flemington race, where he has a distinguished record.
The Prix Kergorlay this year carried a Melbourne Cup Golden Ticket for the first time, guaranteeing the winner a place in the November 3rd Melbourne Cup field. Defiantly capitalised on this opportunity emphatically, following a path with a strong historical precedent.
Americain won the Kergorlay before going on to claim the Melbourne Cup in 2010, and Protectionist achieved the same double four years later. Protectionist’s subsequent purchase by a partnership including Australia Bloodstock after his Deauville win imbues Defiantly’s success with particular historical resonance for his owners.
Joseph O’Brien’s personal success in the Melbourne Cup is also noteworthy. Rekindling delivered his first Melbourne Cup victory in 2017, followed by Twilight Payment in 2020. The stable also saw Goodie Two Shoes finish second last year.
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The four-year-old colt had spent the summer competing in staying handicaps. He was narrowly beaten a head by Kizlyar in the Class 2 Ascot Stakes over two miles and four furlongs at Royal Ascot, prior to defeating Berkshire Sundance by three lengths in the Class 2 Coral Goodwood Handicap over two miles and four-and-a-half furlongs at Goodwood.
His first venture into Group company saw a marked improvement. Dylan Browne McMonagle positioned Defiantly at the front, establishing an even tempo in the initial stages. The pace gradually increased significantly from a long way out, stretching the field before the home turn, with the leader maintaining composure as his rivals began to labour.
When asked to increase his speed in the straight, Defiantly responded strongly, pulling away to defeat Santorini Star by five and a half lengths. Double Major finished a further five lengths behind in third.
“He’s a solid horse and has improved with every run,” McMonagle told Sky Sports Racing. “He’s a strong stayer, he doesn’t do too much and he’s always behind the bridle which helps over this trip. Every question you ask him, he responds good. There doesn’t seem to be a bottom to him, he continues to stay. He’s a solid candidate for the Melbourne Cup and handles the fast ground. He’s got all the right qualities for it.”
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There is also an Australian connection within the pedigree. Defiantly is a half-brother to Group 1 Underwood Stakes winner Buckaroo and to Middle Earth, who finished third in the 2025 Group 1 Melbourne Cup.
Consider the Australian betting sites for wagers on the upcoming Melbourne Cup.
Gratz Vella, a trainer based in Canberra, has had his career’s most significant thrill courtesy of the three-year-old gelding Music Time.
During his debut preparation, the son of All Too Hard captured the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes (1200m), Canberra’s premier juvenile event, and subsequently achieved a strong third place in the nation’s foremost two-year-old race, the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m).
Now, Vella has his sights set on Sydney’s premier three-year-old races, with Music Time slated to make his seasonal reappearance in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens this coming Saturday.
Music Time received a beneficial conditioning run when he finished second in his only trial over 1040m on August 14th, and Vella is confident this outing has prepared him sufficiently for Saturday’s challenge.
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“I said to Tommy Berry before his trial ‘he hasn’t had too much, a couple of nice gallops and one jump out, just go easy with him today and it’s only going to benefit him,” Vella shared.
“And he come back in and said ‘Gratz, this horse is a lot more forward that what you think he is.’”
“He’s come on very well from his two-year-old season, especially since that barrier trial. He had a good gallop Tuesday morning with one of my senior horses and matched strides with him, the jockey came in and said how good he was.”
Having initially considered targeting The Kosciuszko (1200m), a race exclusively for country-trained horses, a consultation with the Racing New South Wales Handicapper has led Vella to aim for more prestigious targets, setting Music Time on a path toward the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m).
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“I rang up the handicapper and I asked him about the Kosciuszko and for a three-year-old, he’d be carrying 60 kilos,” Vella explained.
“So I think that’s out of our picture. But I think if he goes well this weekend, by all means, we’ll just keep heading for the three-year-old races.”
“Who’s to say he can’t make it in a Golden Rose, because the horse’s he’s racing this weekend were mainly in the Golden Slipper and he didn’t finish too far away from the winner.”
Music Time, who will be partnered by Kerrin Mcevoy, is currently listed as a $15 chance for Saturday’s San Domenico Stakes, with the Golden Slipper winning horse Guest House installed as the $2.80 favourite.
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Betting markets for the San Domenico Stakes are available at leading sports betting platforms.
Tom Dabernig is hoping for a strong showing from one of his sprinters this weekend, aiming for Group 1 contention, after another of his horses secured a spot in a major race last Saturday.
The untapped four-year-old Oliveanotherday is scheduled to begin his campaign in Saturday’s $200,000 The Heath at Caulfield.
This Group 3 event over 1100 metres will be Oliveanotherday’s first outing since completing a perfect four-start season in the Listed Wangoom Handicap (1100m) in early May, a performance that announced him as one of the country’s most exciting sprinters.
Dabernig understands the gelding must step up, but he was heartened by the Wangoom Handicap win over older horses and has been satisfied with his recent work.
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“Three to four is always a funny transition, but as a three-year-old he was in races where he was beating older horses, so I think he’s a horse that can make that transition fine,” he said.
“He trialled at Caulfield last Wednesday and trialled really well and he pulled up well.
“He’s had a nice build-up, he’s had two trials and seems to be going well.”
Oliveanotherday is part of a capable sprinting team for the Warrnambool trainer. Last Saturday, Cavalry Girl earned her place in the Group 1 Moir Stakes for this year with a victory in the Group 3 Carlyon Stakes at Sandown.
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Oliveanotherday defeated Point Barrow in a 1000m jumpout on Caulfield’s Heath track on August 19, following an 880m trial at Casterton.
Dabernig considered The Heath a suitable starting point for Oliveanotherday, given his previous win at Caulfield before the Wangoom Handicap, which will help shape his future campaign.
“He was good at Caulfield, so we thought that might be a nice, safe kick-off,” Dabernig explained.
“He hasn’t been to Flemington yet, so what we’re considering is maybe the Bobbie Lewis (second-up) and trying it early, which might help map out what we do.
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“The straight is an unknown and I didn’t want to go first-up down the straight, so I thought we can get that run into him and then make that call on what we do.”
Oliveanotherday is the $2.50 favourite for The Heath, with prominent rivals including Group 1 winner War Machine ($4), Bridal Waltz ($6), and Inkaruna ($8).
Oliveanotherday is the $2.50 favourite for The Heath, and keen punters might be checking out betting sites for the best racing betting markets available on the field, which includes Group 1 winner War Machine ($4), Bridal Waltz ($6), and Inkaruna ($8).
Some schools have met many times over the years, while others are beginning new rivalries in the wake of recent realignment.
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