Feb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Stephen F Austin defensive back Chuck Demmings (DB07) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
OTAs and minicamp are in the rearview mirror, and training camp will be here in late July after the players and coaches take a month of vacation, except for Kyler Murray, who wisely says he is sticking around and continuing his efforts to master the Vikings offense during this downtime.
With that in mind, here’s my list of the top 15 things I will pay closest attention to when the Vikings open training camp and hit the field for the first padded practice on August 3.
Jeff Diamond Has His Eyes on Vikings’ Biggest Summer Questions
1. Kyler Murray: He had an uneven performance in OTAs and minicamp (including two interceptions on the first day of minicamp) as he dealt with the learning curve of mastering a new, complex Kevin O’Connell-directed offense. This is not cause for alarm unless he struggles in training camp, in limited snaps during the preseason games, and especially during the two days of joint practices with the Ravens in Week 3 of training camp.
Advertisement
I applaud his doing extra work in this dead period as an indication that Murray realizes he has a great opportunity to revitalize his career with a very good supporting cast led by elite WRs in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and his offensive line should be a top unit if center Blake Brandel is a quality center and the other starters stay healthy.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Dillon Bell appears in team-produced content after joining the organization as an undrafted free agent. On June 8, 2026, the Vikings featured Bell in released media as he continued offseason work in Minnesota, preparing for a summer roster battle and an opportunity to earn a spot on the regular-season squad. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Murray seems to be at a career crossroads, and a big season will likely lead to another $50 million-plus-per-year contract with the Vikings or elsewhere. So he’ll clearly be the focal point #1 in training camp for his coaches and fellow players, along with media and fans. Now he needs to perform at the level expected for a first overall pick and not complain about how many reps he gets in training camp, which smacked of excuse-making when he made the rep comments in minicamp.
2. J.J. McCarthy: O’Connell and players such as Jefferson talked this offseason about McCarthy making positive strides in the offense and with his mechanics. I believe Murray and McCarthy will both start games this season, as injuries have been a problem for both. If Murray gets hurt or struggles as the expected starter, McCarthy will be ready to pounce on the opportunity, and then it might be tough for Murray to dislodge him, with McCarthy seemingly more of the long-term answer at the position.
J.J. also has to be careful with his public comments and talk team-first. People—especially in the national media —tend to downplay that McCarthy played well, winning his last four starts with a passer rating over 100 and a completion percentage around 64%. I certainly haven’t given up on his future at 23 years old, and I don’t think anyone at Vikings HQ has either.
Advertisement
3. Caleb Banks: O’Connell said he thinks the No. 1 pick will be ready to go on Day 1 of training camp. After seeing him standing around in minicamp, I’ll be mildly surprised if his broken foot is healed to the point that he’s full go when the pads come on that first week of camp. If he’s working with the first unit in the Ravens’ joint practices, that will be a big win for the team. And if he starts every game at defensive tackle this season, count me as very surprised given his injury history.
Banks is being counted on to start in his rookie year, and perhaps he’ll have a chip on his shoulder after many draft analysts said he was a reach in the mid-first round. The Vikings need Banks and third-rounder Domonique Orange to be impact players on the D-line right out of the gate against Green Bay on September 13.
4. Jake Golday: The second-round pick worked almost exclusively at inside linebacker in OTAs and minicamp despite O’Connell saying on draft day that he envisioned Golday as a combo edge and inside backer with his size, strength, and athletic ability. He should get a ton of reps at edge/outside backer in camp as the Vikings need him to be the relief/rotational edge rusher behind Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner to soften the loss of Jonathan Greenard. Comparisons have been made between Golday and Van Ginkel, so let’s see him in that spot.
Golday played both edge and inside in college, so he has the versatility and the athleticism to do either job. But with Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson, and Ivan Pace at inside backer, it’s obvious Golday’s greatest impact this season will be if he’s that third edge rusher/OLB and does it well. I’ll be closely watching where he lines up in camp and how he looks.
Advertisement
If Golday can’t be a contributor on the edge as a rookie, I think there’s a good chance the team will try to sign a proven veteran pass rusher such as Jadeveon Clowney or Haason Reddick if they’re still available as a playoff caliber team has to have more than two capable edge rushers and I don’t see that kind of production coming from the likes of Bo Richter, Chaz Chambliss or Tyler Batty who are other edge/OLBs in camp.
5. Blake Brandel: I think the Vikings missed the boat on several quality centers in free agency and in the early rounds of the draft. I don’t begrudge them if the players they took in the early draft rounds had higher grades. But the center is so important to the O-line and the quarterback in terms of his responsibilities as a run blocker, pass protector, and in making the line calls.
On Nov 10, 2024, in Jacksonville, Minnesota Vikings guard Blake Brandel (64) went through his pregame routine at EverBank Stadium before facing the Jaguars. The lineman has become a versatile piece along the offensive front, working in different roles when injuries and lineup changes occur. His steady presence continues to provide value for Minnesota’s offensive unit heading into critical stretches. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images.
Brandel has made 31 starts over his five-year career, mostly at guard, but he did start a couple of games at center in relief of the injured Ryan Kelly last season and seemed to do ok. If Brandel proves to be a quality center and the rest of the O-line stays healthy, the team should have one of the league’s best units.
6. Jakobe Thomas: The Vikings passed on top safeties Dillon Thieneman and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the first two rounds and waited until pick No. 98 in the third round to select Thomas, whom the Vikings coaches and player personnel staff highly praised. Whether Harrison Smith returns or not, I think Thomas still needs to play regularly as a rookie and quickly beat out Theo Jackson and Jay Ward for the third safety spot if Smith is back, or the second starting safety spot with Josh Metellus if Smith retires.
Thomas needs to be the safety who can run with receivers deep and play underneath routes against tight ends, while also being a run stopper. I think he’s a somewhat under-the-radar critical player in the secondary this season.
Advertisement
7. James Pierre: The ex-Steeler corner was signed in free agency to be the Vikings’ third corner, who is expected to get a lot of snaps along with Byron Murphy and Isaiah Rodgers, unless fifth-round pick Charles Demmings supplants him. Pierre was targeted by DC Brian Flores and DB coach Gerald Alexander, who both worked with Pierre in Pittsburgh.
With so many teams having three quality wide receivers on the field on over half the snaps, the third corner is a critical position that quarterbacks will often target. Pierre needs to play well, or Demmings has to come on quickly.
8. Dallas Turner: He made big strides in his second season as a 2024 first-rounder when he led the team with eight sacks and added 15 QB hits, 66 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss, and four forced fumbles. With Greenard gone, the pressure is on Turner to become a double-digit sack artist who strips the QB and also plays the run well.
He’s still only 23 years old and looks to have a great future as a Pro Bowl-quality edge rusher. He needs to keep hitting the weight room to get bigger and stronger to go along with his 4.46 speed. A big year for Turner will be a huge boon to the defense.
Advertisement
9. Andrew Van Ginkel: Speaking of critical pieces on defense, a healthy Van Ginkel is a must after he missed five games last season with a neck injury. His stats dropped from 11.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 79 tackles, and two Pick-6s in his Pro Bowl season of 2024 to seven sacks, 11 TFLs, 54 tackles, and no picks last season, but he was still impactful when he was healthy and playing.
Van Ginkel is one of the most instinctual defenders I’ve ever seen when he’s at his best. He’s a game-changer that NFL offensive coordinators have to account for, and he has to play well for the Vikings’ defense to be a top unit.
10. Justin Jefferson: He’s the most popular Viking among fans at training camp, and we’re always watching Jets in camp, so he has to make my list of players I’ll be paying attention to. We know he won’t get any snaps in preseason games, which is the smart approach by the coaches, but he always competes hard in practices and joint practices. It will be fun to see how well he and Murray (and McCarthy) connect in camp.
Jefferson is looking for a big bounce-back season after his production dropped from 103 catches for 1,553 yards and 10 TDs in 2024 with Sam Darnold to 84 catches for 1,048 yards and only two TDs with McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer last season. And he’s also a team captain, so he’ll be a highly motivated player in camp and on into the season.
Advertisement
11. Demond Claiborne: The sixth-round pick brings the element of elite speed (4.37 in the 40) to the running back corps. He was a dual-threat player as a fine runner (5.1-yard average in 2025) and good receiving back (28 catches last season) at Wake Forest. He was also a good kick returner in college.
Vikings rookie running back Demond Claiborne participates in rookie minicamp during May 2026 at the TCO Performance Center in Eagan. Minnesota selected Claiborne in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft after an accomplished college career at Wake Forest, where he earned attention for his burst, vision, and ability to contribute in multiple offensive situations. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
We should see a lot of snaps for Claiborne in the preseason games, and I expect him to be a crowd favorite with his speed and agility. I’m excited to see how he performs and if he can be a viable option as a third back behind Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason this season, with a potential bigger role in the future.
12. Charles Demmings: See No. 7 (James Pierre) above regarding Demmings potential battle for the third corner or at least becoming the fourth corner who gets play time in certain defensive schemes and in the event of injury to the other corners.
He’s a 4.4 guy with good size at 6-1, 193 pounds who can run with wide receivers and should be able to play the run, but it’s a big leap from a smaller college, Stephen F. Austin, to the NFL. I want to see Demmings trying to cover the Vikings’ top three WRs in camp—Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings, and he should get a lot of playing time in the preseason games.
13. T.J. Hockenson: The two-time Pro Bowl tight end is now a couple of years removed from his ACL injury late in the 2023 season that limited him in 2024, and then his production was lessened by the QB carousel last season (51 receptions for 438 yards and three TDs).
Advertisement
The Vikings need the 28-year-old Hockenson to be back in his 2023 form before the injury, when he had a career-best 95 catches for 960 yards and five TDs. I’ll be watching how he connects with the Vikings QBs and whether he appears to be a big part of the offense as an intermediate receiver, along with how he does with his run blocking.
14. Aaron Jones: After a stellar 2024 season with 1,138 rushing yards, 408 receiving yards, and seven combined TDs when he played in every game, Jones missed five games last season with various injuries (most notably a hamstring that landed him on IR), and his stats dropped to 548 rushing yards, 199 receiving yards, and three combined TDs.
He’s 31 years old and took a pay cut to return to the Vikings, but he can still be a dynamic player when healthy. How much does he have left in the tank? We’ll be watching for early clues at camp.
15. Brian O’Neill & Christian Darrisaw: It’s nice for a team to enter training camp without a lot of contract drama. O’Neill is a top right tackle when healthy. He turns 31 in September and is seeking an extension, as he is in the final year of his contract. He’s a team captain, so I don’t expect him to be a hold-in as he was during part of the offseason program (though he did practice at minicamp).
Advertisement
Let’s see how the new GM, Nolan Teasley, handles O’Neill’s contract. He can reduce his 2026 cap hit significantly from the current $23 million with a three or four-year extension, and that could be money needed to add a vet edge rusher.
Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw (71) lines up during first-half action against an NFC opponent, Dec 7, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The blindside protector continues to work back into form following a major knee injury that affected his availability and consistency during the season. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
And while I’m talking about OTs, the Vikings need Darrisaw to return to top form as a Pro Bowl-caliber left tackle who stays on the field after dealing with the aftermath of his 2024 ACL injury that had him in and out of the lineup last season.
Around the NFL: Thoughts on the continuing Brendan Sorsby saga
The NFL has refused to allow Sorsby to participate in a supplemental draft and has told him to enter the 2027 draft. Sorsby’s attorney has said that’s a violation of the player’s legal rights and the CBA. Will Sorsby sue the league or ask the NFL Players’ Association to file a grievance in an attempt to force his entry?
It probably would be best for all parties if Sorsby would take this year off while he collects his NIL money from Texas Tech and continues his treatment for his gambling issues. But this case will probably head to the courts or an NFL grievance hearing, so it will likely be an ongoing saga over the next few months.
Advertisement
Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was selected NFL Executive of the Year … More about Jeff Diamond
India vs Bangladesh LIVE Score, Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Updates: Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana has won the toss and opted to bat against India in a highly-anticipated Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash at Old Trafford on Thursday. After suffering defeat to South Africa, Harmanpreet Kaur-led India cannot afford any more slip-ups if they want to keep their semi-final qualification hopes alive. India will be relying on star batters Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma to propel them to a good start. India have brought in experienced pacer Renuka Singh Thakur into the playing XI. On the other hand, Bangladesh enter the match with good momentum after a historic win over Pakistan in their previous game. (Live Scorecard)
Featured Video Of The Day
Delhi vs Mumbai IPL 2026: Fans Flood Arun Jaitley Stadium for High-Voltage Clash
Oscar Onley has been ruled out of next month’s Tour de France with a shoulder injury, his team Netcompany-Ineos have confirmed.
The 23-year-old Scottish rider sustained the injury after crashing on stage six of the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes in France.
Onley’s team first announced he had dislocated his shoulder but further tests revealed he had suffered a “significant shoulder injury”.
Last year, Onley finished fourth in the Tour de France to equal the best result by a Scottish rider, previously achieved by Philippa York (then known as Robert Millar) in 1984.
Advertisement
“I’m gutted not to be able to line up for the Tour de France this year,” said Onley.
“My focus is now on recovering and getting my shoulder in a good place, but I’m really motivated to try and make something out of this season.”
In a statement, Netcompany-Ineos added Onley has begun rehabilitation and is making encouraging progress.
The Tour de France starts in Barcelona on 4 July and ends at the Champs-Elysees in Paris on 26 July.
Morocco has the youngest squad among the top 10 Fifa-ranked teams competing in this year’s World Cup, with an average age of 25.92 years and seven of its 26 players below the age of 23, according to a study by UK-based Lane Clark & Peacock (LCP).
The study, led by Amlan Roy, investment partner for global macro research at LCP, examined the macro demographics of participating countries in the ongoing tournament.
Advertisement
Spain follows Morocco, with an average squad age of 26.19 years. France is third at 26.58 years, while England is fourth at 26.62 years. Each team has a squad of 26 players and a coach.
Among the top 10 ranked teams, the oldest squads are from Latin America. Brazil has an average squad age of 28.65 years, followed by Argentina at 28.62 years. Argentina’s squad includes 39-year-old Lionel Messi, who has already scored five goals in two matches in the tournament.
Advertisement
Among all 48 teams playing in the World Cup this year, Ecuador has the youngest squad, with an average age of 25.58 years and seven players below 23.
The study also looks at which countries have the highest concentration of professional footballers and clubs, a measure that reflects not only the sport’s popularity but also the opportunities available to players.
Advertisement
Mexico tops the table among the 48 participating countries. It has 9,464 professional footballers and 244 professional football clubs, the highest in both categories.
Spain follows with 8,560 professional footballers, while England has 5,582. Turkey is fourth, with 3,917 professional players.
Advertisement
The growing popularity of football in the US is also striking, particularly because the country is one of the venues for the current World Cup. Once seen largely as the land of American football, the US now has more than 101 professional football clubs, the fourth-highest among the 48 countries. It also has 2,971 professional footballers.
Saudi Arabia, too, is flexing its football muscle. It has the third-highest number of professional football clubs among participating countries, while 1,505 players in the country have turned professional.
Advertisement
Football, however, remains a game of the masses, and there is little direct correlation between a country’s per capita gross domestic product (GDP) ranking and its Fifa ranking.
Morocco, for instance, is ranked eighth in Fifa rankings, but 38th among the 48 participating countries in terms of per capita GDP. Brazil is ranked sixth in football, but 29th on per capita GDP. Argentina is ranked third in Fifa rankings, but 27th by per capita GDP.
Switzerland, by contrast, tops the table among participating countries in terms of per capita GDP, but is ranked 18th in Fifa rankings. Morocco youngest, Brazil oldest
Country
Fifa rank
Average squad age
Players under 23
Morocco
8
25.92
7
Spain
2
26.19
5
France
1
26.58
5
England
4
26.62
4
Belgium
9
27.12
4
Netherlands
7
27.27
4
Portugal
5
27.54
5
Germany
10
27.54
5
Argentina
3
28.62
2
Brazil
6
28.65
3
Source: LCP’s 2026 World Cup Countries’ Macro Demographics report
Advertisement
Mexico has the deepest professional football base
Country
Professional footballers
Professional clubs
Mexico
9,464
244
Spain
8,560
41
England
5,582
92
Turkey
3,917
136
Argentina
3,613
18
Sweden
3,092
32
Czechia
2,959
30
France
2,906
47
USA
2,791
101
Japan
2,126
60
Source: LCP’s 2026 World Cup Countries’ Macro Demographics report
Football strength does not follow income rankings
Advertisement
Country
Fifa rank
GDP per capita rank
What it shows
France
1
14
Strong football, rich economy
Spain
2
30
Football rank far ahead of income rank
Argentina
3
27
Football strength exceeds income rank
Brazil
6
29
Same pattern as Argentina
Morocco
8
38
Major football overperformance
Switzerland
18
1
Richest, but not top football rank
USA
16
3
High income, mid-table football rank
Qatar
38
5
High income does not imply football strength
Source: Source: LCP’s 2026 World Cup Countries’ Macro Demographics report
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi‘s family, and the rest of India, would be looking forward to the team sheet on Friday when the side gets down to action against Ireland in the first of two T20Is in Belfast. If Sooryavanshi is named in the XI, he will be the youngest cricketer (15 years, 91 days) to play for the Indian cricket team. Sooryavanshi has also been selected for the India T20I series against England that starts next month, and his chances of making an India debut are high.
Sooryavanshi might be making his India debut before reaching the age of just 16, but his journey has been long and arduous. In fact, it did not even begin with him; it began with his father, Sanjiv, who was a club-level cricketer from the village of Motipur, according to a deep-dive story on Sooryavanshi by The Athletic. He could not fulfill his dream but invested everything when cricket coaches said his son had the potential to make it big.
Brajesh Jha was Sooryavanshi’s first coach. “When he first came, there were very few children playing cricket in Samastipur district,” Jha says. “There was this tiny child among all the seniors… as soon as he was told something, he followed the task very quickly – how to take a stance, how to run, whatever was explained to him.”
Advertisement
He saw Sooryavanshi’s meteoric rise from close quarters. “When we took him to Patna for trials, in the whole area, the news spread that there was a small left-handed batter from Samastipur who had exceptional talent,” Jha says. “He was selected in the state Under-17 team at the age of eight-and-a-half.”
Batting was always his first love. “The level of toughness that he had in his practice sessions – the more I increased it, the more easily he adapted to it,” Ojha says. “His adaptability was amazing.”
“When Vaibhav used to train, if you sent him for fielding, within 10 minutes he would come and say his head was hurting. But if you asked him to even bat at night, he would never say he was tired.”
“Today, Vaibhav is scoring the fastest hundreds in T20 cricket, but I have seen the day when he played 100 balls and scored only 30 runs,” says Jha, recalling Sooryavanshi at the age of nine. “I was so happy because playing 100 balls meant he had the capacity to play 100 balls. He was facing state bowlers sometimes more than twice his age. He wasn’t making runs because he didn’t have the power yet, but he was playing 100 balls.”
Advertisement
Soon, from Samastipur, Sooryavanshi and his father travelled to Patna, Bihar’s capital. He went on to make his IPL debut at the age of 12. Then, at the IPL auction in 2024, Rajasthan Royals secured him for INR 1.10 crore. While many thought it a marketing move, RR knew they had found a gem and played him. He scored a 35-ball ton against Gujarat Titans. There has been no stopping Sooryavanshi since then
Featured Video Of The Day
IPL 2026 | Delhi Capitals Wins By 6 Wickets Against Mumbai Indians: Redemption For Sameer Rizvi
The FIFA World Cup trophy has surged more than two-fold in value since the last tournament in 2022, with its gold content now worth approximately USD 713,000 (approx. Rs 6.73 crore), according to data from financial markets provider LSEG. The trophy, crafted from 6.175 kg of 18-carat gold containing 4.93 kg of pure gold, has climbed in value alongside a broader rally in the precious metal, driven by geopolitical tensions, trade uncertainty, and slowing global growth. “Although gold has eased from its recent highs, the long-term trend in its value remains remarkable,” said Debajit Saha, lead analyst at LSEG Metals Research.
“The FIFA World Cup trophy is ultimately priceless to the players who lift it, but its gold content offers an interesting reminder of how dramatically the value of the precious metal has increased over the years,” he said in a statement.
The trophy was valued at around USD 277,000 when Argentina lifted it in Qatar in 2022, and at roughly USD 25,000 when the current design was introduced ahead of the 1974 tournament.
Advertisement
No other major sporting trophy is made from gold, leaving the World Cup prize unrivalled in melt value. The UEFA Champions League and Europa League trophies, both crafted from sterling silver, carry estimated melt values of USD 16,950 and USD 22,600, respectively.
Among American sports trophies, the Borg-Warner Trophy – presented to the winner of the Indianapolis 500 auto race – ranks as the most valuable and heaviest, standing 1.62 metres tall and containing around 69 kg of sterling silver, giving it a melt value of approximately USD 156,000.
The Woodlawn Vase, awarded to the winner of the Preakness Stakes, carries a melt value of around USD 24,860, while the Vince Lombardi Trophy – produced by Tiffany & Co. and awarded annually to Super Bowl champions – contains 3.2 kg of sterling silver with a melt value of around USD 7,230.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which kicked off on June 11 in the US, features an expanded field of 48 teams, up from 32 at the previous tournament
Advertisement
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
Delhi vs Mumbai IPL 2026: Fans Flood Arun Jaitley Stadium for High-Voltage Clash
There’s no way of getting around it: It’s been a frustrating season for Nolan McLean. Everyone’s favorite breakout pitcher pick has a 4.03 ERA after giving up six runs in six innings Wednesday, and he’s been even worse lately: A 5.32 ERA over his past eight starts.
And it’s got me thinking: Did we just overrate this guy?
I think there’s a case to be made. McLean was viewed as a very good prospect, but his success at the end of the season with the Mets definitely pushed him up a tier or two – in BaseballProspectus’ mid-season top-50 rankings last year, he was the No. 34 prospect, but he jumped all the way up to No. 4 by the preseason. It wasn’t all on the strength of his dominant eight-start run at the end of 2025, but that surely played a sizeable role. He had a 2.06 ERA and 30.3% strikeout rate in his first taste of the majors, albeit with a 3.57 xERA and 10.9% swinging strike rate that suggested McLean was more “good” than an immediate ace.
And this is a weird profile for an ostensible ace. McLean gets a lot of strikeouts – 28.5% in 2026! – but he doesn’t actually miss a ton of bats, with Wednesday’s game marking just his sixth start out of 16 with a swinging strike rate over 10%. For all the .gifs McLean’s stuff generates on Baseball Twitter, he actually relies a lot more on called strikes than just about any pitcher in baseball. That’s not an inherently bad thing, but when you look at the list of pitchers with the highest called strike rates over the past decade, Logan Webb and Aaron Nola are probably the only true aces in the top 10.
Advertisement
But hey, a 28% strikeout rate is still great. McLean doesn’t have great control, but a 9% walk rate isn’t awful, either. The problem this season, as was certainly the case Wednesday, has been what happens when guys put the ball in play. He has gone from an elite groundball pitcher (61%) to just a pretty good one (47%), and homers have started to become something of an issue for him. Not a huge one, at least not generally, but he’s now given up multiple homers in three of his past seven games, which, combined with his control starting to back up a bit, has led to a handful of these blow-up starts.
All that being said, I’m not sure it makes sense to panic about McLean. He’s still on pace for 210-plus strikeouts, has a solid 1.12 WHIP, and has peripherals that suggest he should be better than his 4.03 ERA. I can’t guarantee this is as bad as it’ll get for McLean, but if you set the over/under on his ERA at 3.50, I still might lean toward the under just ever so slightly.
He’s not the ace you hoped he could be, and he’ll need to figure out a way to turn all those .gif-able moments into missed bats a bit more consistently to make that leap. But he’s still a super-talented pitcher, and at least a very good one, despite some recent struggles. It’s just about whether he can make the leap beyond that. If not? Well, there’s nothing wrong with being Logan Webb or Aaron Nola, either.
Pre-game Lineup Card
Here’s what you might have missed from CBSSports.com’s MLB coverage in recent days:
Advertisement
Prospects Report!Kade Anderson‘s massive first season as a professional has him knocking on the door to the majors even at Double-A. Scott White says he’s worth stashing even with the Mariners‘ crowded rotation.
Buy-low Pitchers!Scott highlights six pitchers who still have plenty of room to live up to their potential. It’s time to make some trade offers.
Week 14 Trade Values!My rankings have been updated for both H2H points and Roto leagues for Week 14. Go check out the latest changes and get some guidelines for a deal as we near the halfway point of the season.
MLB Trends.We’ve talked a lot about Jac Caglianone‘s breakthrough here at the FBT Newsletter recently, and Mike Axisa has another perspective on the blossoming Royals slugger.
Advertisement
Rumor roundup.Byron Buxton and Logan Webb won’t be on the move this summer, allegedly. Here’s who could be.
Hitting the Wire
The top waiver-wire targets from Wednesday’s action:
Gage Jump, SP, Athletics (78%) – It’s never a sure thing with young pitchers, but this was what we hoped to see from Jump once he got settled in. He struck out seven in his previous start and then followed it up with nine Wednesday night against the Giants while walking one over five shutout innings. The four-seamer generated six swings of his 11 total swings and misses, and a good fastball from a lefty is always a nice building block. Jump’s home park will hold him back a little with ERA, but I think he’s a very good source of strikeouts and should be worth rostering in all formats moving forward.
Dansby Swanson, SS, Cubs (67%) – Swanson has been mostly awful this season, and up until a week or so ago, there were vanishingly few reasons to be optimistic. But as I wrote about Bo Bichette last week, when we’re talking about established players, track record is generally going to be more predictive than recent production, even if that recent production is backed by apparent changes in the underlying skill set. It’s still just one good week for Swanson, more or less, but what a week it’s been – he has homered in three of the past six games, including twice Wednesday, while going 5 for 9 with 11 RBI across two games. He has 18 RBI in that span and has even chipped in three stolen bases, and all of a sudden, Swanson is on pace for something like 22 homers and 18 steals. Or more or less what we usually expect from him. The batting average is bad (but improving!), but if he hits .250 the rest of the way, he’s going to be at least a viable middle infielder, and that’s what he’s done throughout his career, so I’d bet on it.
Advertisement
Griffin Jax, RP, Rays (40%) – You might see another five-inning outing from Jax and think it’s more of the same. But after being limited to 72 pitches or less in his first 10 starts, the Rays let him go 88 Wednesday, so there’s some loosening of the reins going on here. Jax will need to be more efficient moving forward, but I think he’s very similar to Drew Rasmussen last year, where the lack of quality starts will hold him back, but he should be pretty good otherwise. To wit, he has a 2.40 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 45 innings since moving to the rotation.
Willi Castro, SS, Rockies (55%) – Castro is having a nice little season, and it’s been getting better, as he is hitting .324 with four homers and two steals in June. Typically, he wouldn’t be a particularly high priority on waivers, but the Rockies are finally playing a full Fantasy week at Coors Field next week, so this is the perfect time to pick him up. With eligibility everywhere but catcher, you’ve surely got somewhere in your lineup to stick Castro.
Luis Garcia, 2B, Nationals (61%) – Garcia had an awful April but has been pretty great since then, including eight homers in the month of June. He sits against nearly every lefty, which limits his appeal, but Garcia is hitting .270 with 12 homers in 45 games since the start of May, so he does have some appeal as either a middle or corner outfielder – though likely not next week, with three lefties on the schedule out of six games.
Three Up, Three Down
Three big performances that have players trending up, and three that have the arrow pointing in the opposite direction.
In what might go down as one of the oddest statistical quirks of the season, Chandler Simpson went from May 11 through June 19 without a single stolen base. And the thing about Chandler Simpson is, if he’s not running, he’s really not bringing anything to the table, and that was especially true during this stretch, as he hit .184/.236/.233 and was actively harming your team. He played through some injuries during that stretch and was starting to get some regular time off, but he has started eight straight games after Wednesday, and now has five steals in his past five games after swiping two in this game. It’s still a very limited skill set, and as we just saw, the margin for error here is extremely slim; if he isn’t running unusually high batting averages and stealing a lot of bases, Simpson basically does nothing for you (even in this stretch, he has one run scored in his past five games). But this stretch is also a sign that he isn’t quite done as a contributor yet, so if he’s available in any leagues where you need steals, you can go ahead and add him again. Or at least not drop him.
I’ve been in on Alvarez since he came back from his demotion to Triple-A last season, but I can admit he has mostly been pretty underwhelming so far this season. Between that and a knee surgery, it makes sense why his roster rate has dipped to 42%. But that is too low, and he’s starting to show us why. He’s been making better contact for much of the season, but there hasn’t been a ton of power until the past few days. He homered twice in Wednesday’s double-header against the Cubs to give him three in his past two days and four in 13 games since coming off the IL – with a .319 batting average and .934 OPS. Alvarez has long had the potential to be an impact bat; he just hasn’t done it consistently enough. He’s starting to now, and he should be rostered in at least all two-catcher leagues – and I sure don’t think there are more than 12 catchers with a higher ceiling than Alvarez if he’s truly starting to figure it out. He’s hitting .265/.339/.476 with 15 homers in 90 games since coming back from Triple-A last year, by the way.
I thought I was high on Lopez coming into the season, but I genuinely did not think this kind of stretch was possible. He hit a big homer and went 2 for 3 in Wednesday’s win over the Rangers and is now hitting .340/.374/.483 for the season after three straight multi-hit games in a row. And this isn’t just the result of one hot stretch propping his numbers up – Lopez is now hitting at least .330 in each of the first three months of the season. The underlying data doesn’t buy him being quite this good, but a .292 expected batting average and .441 expected slugging percentage from a guy on a 30-steal pace who could hit 15 homers is nothing to sneeze at, especially with eligibility at both middle infield positions. He’s worth starting, no matter where you put him in the lineup.
Skubal’s recovery from elbow surgery was remarkable, but it wasn’t necessarily miraculous. In three starts since his return from surgery to clean up a loose body in his left elbow, Skubal has a 4.96 ERA, a far cry from what we’re used to from him. Why is this happening? Wednesday’s start highlighted the problem: He’s just getting hit too hard. He gave up three homers in six innings against the Yankees to give him six in 16.1 across the three starts. It’s not a total disaster, of course – Skubal has 21 strikeouts to just two walks in those 16.1 innings, and his 1.10 WHIP is still fantastic – and it’s not like he’s lost a ton of velocity in a way that suggests there is real reason to panic since his surgery. He’s just been a bit off a few times a game, and opposing hitters have made him pay. It’s weird to see Skubal struggling at all, but I don’t really see any reason to think he won’t be an impact pitcher moving forward.
Advertisement
Yeah, Jose Soriano has officially turned back into a pumpkin
Remember April? Ah, April, that was fun, wasn’t it? Jose Soriano added a four-seam fastball to his repertoire, was commanding his entire arsenal of pitches well, and looked like one of the best pitchers on the planet, with consecutive double-digit strikeout games and a 0.84 ERA at the end of the month. Ah, April … it was so long ago. Soriano was clubbed for five runs over just three innings of work Wednesday and while his 3.41 ERA is still easily the best mark of his career, everything else looks just about as mediocre as it ever has. His FIP is up to 4.21, and his 4.20 expected ERA entering Wednesday’s start was actually tied for the worst mark of his career. He still has a career-high strikeout rate, but his control is now as bad as it has ever been and he’s lost some of his standout contact suppression skills as a tradeoff for his improved strikeout rate. Getting that tantalizing glimpse of how good Soriano can be in April will make it tough to ever truly give up on him, but it sure looks like that was just a random hot streak at this point. Don’t drop him, but don’t feel like you’ve gotta start Soriano every time out now.
Shota Imanaga is still getting killed by the long ball
Three more homers allowed by Imanaga on Wednesday bring him to 20 on the season, the third-most in baseball. Everything else about Imanaga’s season looks great, but as it turns out, homers are a pretty big deal. It’s not like Imanaga gets hit unusually hard – his average exit velocity is 88.5 mph on the season and the worst expected wOBA on contact of his career came in 2025 with a .376 mark, hardly worse than the league average of .369. The problem is that, while Imanaga gives up hits less often than nearly any pitcher in baseball – he has a .242 BABIP for his career and .230 mark this season – the hits he does give up tend to be unusually damaging, and it doesn’t seem like a fluke. He’s an extreme flyball pitcher, so the homers are just a part of life with him. I think it’ll lead to better results moving forward than his current 4.40 ERA, but you’re probably still looking at an ERA close to 4.00 in the long run. After his rookie season, we hoped Imanaga might be more than that, but we’re going on two seasons of an ERA at or near 4.00. We probably just have to take him for what he is.
Which is totally understandable. Perez was expected to miss at least eight weeks with a strain on his inner thigh, but he recovered quicker than expected and the Marlins‘ rotation needs saw him return just four weeks later, and he clearly wasn’t 100%. He wasn’t terrible, allowing just one earned run in 4.2 innings of work, but he hardly looked like himself either, generating just one strikeout and four swinging strikes over 68 pitches. His velocity was down a bit across the board, though he did actually ramp up a bit in his final inning, so I’m not too concerned about there being too many lingering issues here. But I’m not surprised Perez wasn’t great in this one, and I’m not really expecting him to be someone you can use in most Fantasy formats until he is fully stretched out and recovered. That may take a few more starts.
The 2026 NBA Draft came to a close after two nights at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, with 64 players officially beginning their NBA careers.
As expected, the draft delivered more than picks. There were emotional celebrations, surprise selections, last-minute trades, and plenty of decisions that will be debated long after draft night.
The Washington Wizards opened the night by selecting AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick, making him the headline act of this year. The Utah Jazz followed by selecting Cameron Boozer at No. 2, before the Philadelphia 76ers completed the top three with Darryn Peterson.
Advertisement
By the end of the second round, all 64 players had found new NBA homes. For some, it was the realization of a lifelong dream. For others, hearing their name called marked the start of a new challenge as they prepared to compete for roster spots and earn meaningful minutes at the professional level.
With the final pick made, the 2026 NBA Draft officially came to an end, but for the 64 players selected, the journey is only just beginning.
Some will be expected to make an immediate impact, while others will have to earn every opportunity. Regardless of where they were selected, draft night marked the beginning of a new chapter as they prepared to take the next step in their professional careers.
Nevertheless, the Ukrainian retained his WBC, IBF and WBA titles with an 11th-round stoppage last month, maintaining his position as the bona fide kind of his division.
Advertisement
Usyk cemented this status with two victories over Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, respectively, crafting a resume that remains unrivalled in the current heavyweight era.
But now, at the age of 39, it seems the two-division undisputed champion could soon be replaced by heavyweight prodigy Moses Itauma.
While yet to test himself at world level, Itauma is widely considered to be a world heavyweight champion in waiting, especially after his fifth-round stoppage of Jermaine Franklin in March.
As a leading contender with the WBO and WBA, the 21-year-old is now gearing up to defend his position against Filip Hrgovic, who he will face at London’s O2 Arena on August 29.
Advertisement
But while Hrgovic represents his toughest opponent thus far, at least on paper, coach Garcia has told Pro Box TV that he believes Itauma will ultimately rise to the challenge.
“I think Moses is ready for those fights. Even though he’s still pretty young, and a lot of people might think [the Hrgovic fight is] too soon, I don’t believe that. I think he’s ready.
“He’s that one fighter that comes every 20-30 years – a special talent. I think he will be the face of the heavyweight division in a few years.”
A win over Hrgovic would solidify Itauma as a genuine world-class contender, putting him in line for a major title shot.
Morocco faced Haiti in a decisive final Group C match and secured a 4-2 victory in a chaotic, end-to-end encounter. However, with Brazil beating Scotland 3-0 and holding a superior goal difference, the Seleção finish top of the group, leaving Morocco to qualify in second place. In a thrilling match that saw both sides trade goals, the Atlas Lions eventually pulled away thanks to their late attacking depth. Relive the match to see how it unfolded.
Official lineups
Morocco: Bounou – Hakimi, Halhal, Riad, Salah-Eddine – Amrabat, El Aynaoui, El Khannouss – Brahim, Saibari, El Kaabi.
Haiti: Placide (c) – Duverne, Adé, Delcroix, Expérience – J. Casimir, Jean Jacques, Bellegarde, R. Providence – Isidor, Joseph.
Advertisement
And that’s a wrap!
Here is our recap:
Advertisement
Another goal
Gessime Yassine finds himself inside the box, reacts quickest to the loose ball, and finishes calmly!
5 minutes of added time
Advertisement
Another late substitution for Grenadiers
Frantzdy Pierrot comes on to replace Lenny Joseph
Advertisement
Double change for Haiti as we approach the final stretch
Jean Jacques is replaced by Simon, with Sébastien Migné giving his final tactical instructions on the touchline. Moments later, Arcus comes on for Duverne
Goaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal
Soufiane Rahimi pounces on a loose ball inside the box and fires past the keeper at the right post. It’s a clinical finish!
Advertisement
Morocco come forward again!
Rahimi tries to pick out a teammate from outside the box, but Haiti’s defence reacts quickly to cut out the danger. The ball goes out for a corner and another set-piece opportunity for Lions de l’Atlas
Advertisement
Triple change for Lions de l’Atlas
Yassine comes on for El Kaabi while Rahimi replaces Saibari and Ounahi enters for Brahim Diaz.
Fresh attacking options for Morocco!
Advertisement
It’s time for another cooling break in Atlanta!
Double change for Haiti
Sebastien Migné reshuffles his side: Louicius Deedson comes on for Wilson Isidor, while Duckens Nazon replaces Ruben Providence
Advertisement
Update from the other Group C match
Cunha gets on the scoresheet as Brazil extend their lead to 3-0 against Scotland. The Seleçao are in complete control in Miami!
Advertisement
Another fantastic save by Johny Placide!
Morocco come close again as Bilal El Khannouss pounces on a loose ball at the edge of the box and fires a low effort towards the bottom-right corner. But Placide reacts brilliantly to keep it out and preserve Haiti’s hopes!
Advertisement
Morocco thought they had a real chance there!
Ayoub El Kaabi gets in behind on the right and squares it across goal, but Saibari can’t quite stretch enough to turn it home at the far post. The flag is up anyway! Offside!
Temporary stoppage in Atlanta
Haiti’s Josué Casimir is down in some discomfort and receiving treatment after the referee waves the medical staff onto the pitch. Play is halted as the winger is assessed
Advertisement
Morocco change tactics
Instead of whipping the corner into the crowded box, El Khannouss plays it short to a teammate. Morocco adjusting their approach as they search for the breakthrough against Haiti!
Advertisement
Second half underway in Atlanta
Another update from Miami
Vinicius Jr has doubled his tally for Brazil! The Real Madrid winger capitalises on Brazil’s pressing around the box, with Guimaraes providing a cross from the right flank. Vinicius Jr peels off his marker at the back post to finish with a neat header!
Advertisement
And it’s half-time in Georgia
Advertisement
Lions de l’Atlas need to overcome a two-goal deficit in the group standings to threaten Brazil for top spot. Haiti, making their historic return to the World Cup after 52 years, will be fighting to salvage something from the competition with qualification now impossible. Brazil currently lead the group and their result against Scotland will determine whether they can hold onto first place.
A Morocco victory would allow them to chase top spot depending on Brazil’s result. For Haiti, the odds are stacked against them, but a strong performance could provide a moral victory to take home. Both matches kick off simultaneously from Atlanta and Miami.
Wales men: Murray (Scarlets); Rogers (Scarlets), James (Scarlets), Hawkins (Scarlets), Mee (Scarlets); Edwards (Ospreys), Hardy (Ospreys); G Thomas (Ospreys), Lake (Ospreys, capt), Lewis (Dragons), Carter (Dragons), T Williams (Cardiff), Plumtree (Scarlets), Morgan (Ospreys), Wainwright (Dragons).
You must be logged in to post a comment Login