Phil Taylor believes an amateur darts player could possess the capability to defeat Luke Littler, having helped judge thousands of contenders at regional heats for a new Netflix show.
The 16-time world champion joined a judging panel tasked with selecting up to 20 potential challengers to Beat Luke Littler in London on Saturday.
Taylor sat alongside Sky Sports pundit Laura Turner and PDC supremo Barry Hearn to decide whether applicants who cleared two initial stages could overcome Littler in a single leg of 501, with a £501,000 jackpot on the line.
Hosted by Gary Lineker, the live show will be streamed on Netflix on October 30, with a second qualification heat taking place in Manchester next Saturday.
Barry Hern, Laura Turner and Phil Taylor.Thousands of amateur darts players arrived at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London today 12th Sept 2026 for the first of two open auditions to find the 20 finalists who will take on the two-time defending World Champion, Luke Littler, in Netflix’s upcoming live sports event, Beat Luke Littler.
Taylor suggested that the pool of amateur talent might produce a ‘Rocky Balboa’ moment for someone to claim life-changing money.
He told the Press Association: “The event is great to be honest, it gives people the opportunity to change their lives.
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“It’s a Rocky Balboa kind of fairytale really. It will boost the profile of darts even further.
“The standard of the applicants is so far really good, there has been a lot of really talented players coming through.
“Any player who can throw a 12-leg dart has a great chance but it’s also about bottle as well as ability, so we will see.
“The amateur would need to have their best day and pray that Luke has a poor leg to be fair.”
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Having dominated darts for nearly two decades prior to his 2018 retirement, Taylor was emphatic that he could still defeat the 19-year-old.
“A simple answer. Yes!” he said.
Amateur players had to check out 501 in 24 darts or less (Tom Dymond/Netflix)
Thousands of amateur players aged 12 and over tested their skills in a rigorous three-stage qualification process at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on Saturday.
They had to complete a 501 checkout in 24 darts or fewer before entering the reality television phase, where successful players were interviewed by the show’s production team.
The final stage required them to impress the PDC judging panel led by Taylor, who assessed their skills to decide if applicants had the ability to realistically challenge Littler. Those who succeed will reach the live show at the end of October for a chance to win a life-changing prize.
A top AEW star has made a major revelation regarding her pregnancy while reflecting on a recent NSFW moment in Tony Khan’s promotion.
The star in focus is Jessica McKay (fka Billie Kay) of the popular tag team, The IInspiration, alongside her best friend, Cassie Lee. IInspiration made their AEW debut at House Rules, a house show held in Brisbane the day after the Grand Slam: Australia event in Sydney in February. The duo then began competing in ROH, and their last match came on the May 30 edition, where they lost to Mina Shirakawa and Harley Cameron. Notably, the match featured an NSFW moment.
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Jessica McKay recently announced that she is four months pregnant. In her recent Instagram story post, she reflected on IInspiration’s match against Shirakawa and Cameron. The former WWE Women’s Tag Champion and TNA Knockouts Tag Champion revealed that she was pregnant during that match but didn’t know it. The clip she posted was an unconventional wrestling moment, as the foursome engaged in a somewhat over-the-top, synchronized chest-shaking routine.
“Fun fact, I was actually pregnant here & I didn’t know it,” wrote McKay in her IG stories.
Check out her IG story post below:Jessica McKay’s story (Screengrab via Instagram/@jessicamckay)
AEW star Jessica McKay on the working relationship between WWE and TNA
Jessica McKay is a veteran in the pro-wrestling industry and has worked for all three top North American wrestling promotions: WWE, TNA, and now AEW. Many know that WWE and TNA have a working relationship. The former Billie Kay explained how beneficial it is for the business during an appearance on TMZ Sports’ Inside The Ring.
“I think it’s incredible. I think it’s just so good for the wrestling business in general, because it opens up doors for so many more people. It’s also exciting. It’s exciting watching each show and not knowing if somebody is going to pop over to either show. It’s really exciting. So I’m all for it. I think it’s a great partnership. It’s definitely been awesome to watch,” she said. [H/T: Fightful]
It will be interesting to see whether the IInspiration will go on to become AEW Women’s Tag Team Champions once Jessica McKay returns to active competition.
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Joe Root and Sachin Tendulkar (Image credit: Agencies)
NEW DELHI: England captain Joe Root went past Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most fifties in Test cricket during England’s eight-wicket win over Pakistan in the third Test at Edgbaston on Saturday.Root remained unbeaten on 62 off 69 balls, hitting nine fours, as England chased down 130 to complete a 3-0 Test series whitewash.His unbeaten half-century took his tally of Test fifties to 69, moving him past Tendulkar’s 68.West Indies great Shivnarine Chanderpaul is third on the list with 66 fifties, while Allan Border and Rahul Dravid have 63 each. Ricky Ponting has 62.
Most fifties in Test cricket
69* – Joe Root
68 – Sachin Tendulkar
66 – Shivnarine Chanderpaul
63 – Allan Border
63 – Rahul Dravid
62 – Ricky Ponting
Root joins elite 1,000-run club
Root also became the first batter to score more than 1,000 Test runs at Edgbaston. The England star has now crossed the 1,000-run mark at four different Test venues. He has scored 2,203 runs at Lord’s, 1,128 in Manchester and 1,050 at The Oval.Only two other players — South African great Jacques Kallis and Australian legend Ricky Ponting — had earlier scored more than 1,000 Test runs at four different venues.
England complete 3-0 whitewash
Root’s record came on a day when England completed a dominant 3-0 Test series win over Pakistan.England, chasing 130, finished on 130/2, with Root unbeaten on 62 and Jordan Cox not out on 59.England had already won the first two Tests at Headingley and Lord’s. The Edgbaston victory completed their 3-0 series sweep over Pakistan.
Filipinas at the Asian Games 2026. PHOTOS: Philippine Football Federation/Philippine Women’s National Football Team
MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine women’s football team is making a second straight Asian Games appearance, aiming for a bigger goal and a stepping stone ahead of next year’s Fifa World Cup.
Several youngsters have been added in lieu of the absence of key veterans for the Filipinas, who three years ago reached the quarterfinals in their maiden Asiad stint.
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When and where will the Asian Games women’s football be played?
The women’s football competitions kick off on Sept. 14 to Oct. 2 in the cities of Fukuroi, Osaka, Gifu and Kariya.
What is the Filipinas Asian Games schedule?
The Filipinas are in Group G with China, Uzbekistan and Hong Kong and will play all of their group stage matches in Gifu at Nagaragawa Stadium.
September 14, Monday
September 17, Thursday
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September 21, Monday
What is the format for the women’s football competitions?
Each of the top two teams from the three groups plus the two best third-placers will advance to the knockout stage. The quarterfinals are set on Sept. 25, semifinals are on Sept. 29 and the medal-round matches are on Oct. 2. Fukuroi will host the semis and finals.
How familiar are the Filipinas with their opponents?
The Filipinas have faced Uzbekistan and Hong Kong recently. The Filipinas beat Uzbekistan, 2-0, in a play-in round at the Asian Cup in Australia to book their place in the 2027 World Cup. They also battled to a 2-2 draw in a friendly in October 2025 at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
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The Filipinas’ most recent match with Hong Kong was a 1-0 win in July 2025 at the Asian Cup Qualifiers in Cambodia, while they have not faced China since losing 3-0 in the 2018 Asian Cup in Jordan.
Who is in the Filipinas roster for the Asian Games?
Hali Long —PFF PHOTO
Team captain Hali Long and goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel headline the squad list for the Asian Games. The complete names on the updated list of athletes on the Philippine delegation are as follows:
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Reina Bonta
Leah Bradley
Alessandrea Carpio
Natalie Collins
Jourdyn Curran
Janly Fontamillas
Carleigh Frilles
Katrina Guillou
Kaya Hawkinson
Skye Leach
Charisa Lemoran
Hali Long
Olivia McDaniel
Nina Meollo
Megan Jane Murray
Azumi Oka
Bella Pasion
Camryn Elizabeth Penn
Mallie Ramirez
Jaclyn Sawicki
Aiselyn Sia
Dionesa Tolentin
Sofia Wunsch
Who are the notable absences from the Asian Games squad?
Sara Eggesvik, Chandler McDaniel, Jessika Cowart, Jael-Marie Guy and Angela Beard are not part of the Asian Games squad for various reasons. Of the five, Eggesvik and McDaniel are unavailable due to club commitments overseas while Beard was a late scratch due to a minor injury, according to coach Mark Torcaso.
How did the Filipinas perform in the last Asian Games?
FILE–Filipinas at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.–PFF PHOTO
The Philippines reached the quarterfinals in the pandemic-delayed 2022 edition held three years ago in China by virtue of being three of the best second placers among the four groups. The Filipinas were eliminated in the quarterfinals by eventual champion Japan, 8-1. It was the first time the Filipinas ever competed in the Asian Games.
Why is this year’s Asian Games held of high importance for the Filipinas?
The Filipinas are also using the Asian Games as preparation for next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Torcaso said the competition is also being used to expose his players to high-level matches, which he’ll use as one of the gauges for selection before the World Cup.
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Who are the other teams competing in the Asian Games women’s football?
Japan is in Group E with Chinese-Taipei, Vietnam and Thailand while Group F has South Korea, North Korea, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Sep 11, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez (44) hits a RBI single against Athletics pitcher Chris Roycroft (not pictured) during the tenth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images
The Chicago Cubs are tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the top National League wild-card spot and homefield advantage in a series that will likely be between those two teams. The Cubs broke a four-game losing skid by routing the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday and will look to create more momentum during Saturday’s middle game of the series.
Chicago was outscored 26-15 during its skid before punishing Pittsburgh in a 12-2 triumph. The Cubs have scored 10 or more runs three times against the Pirates this season but on Saturday they will be up against Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes.
The Texas Rangers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2023 World Series and the teams are facing each other this weekend hopeful of moving toward capturing wild-card berths in their respective leagues. The Seattle Mariners are in desperation mode after Friday’s loss but send right-hander Bryan Woo against the Athletics, something that is typically a winning proposition.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES AT CHICAGO CUBS
Alex Bregman was a big disappointment in the first half of the season but suddenly has 25 homers after hitting a two-run shot on Friday. Bregman has 16 homers since the All-Star break and he had 30 RBIs in August and that count now sits at a respectable 84.
Skenes (10-11, 3.83 ERA) is having the worst of his three big league seasons as the dominating stretch everyone was waiting for never occurred. The right-hander also has had issues against the Cubs, going 2-4 with a 3.45 ERA in nine career starts and he lost both starts so far this year, compiling a 5.06 ERA despite 21 strikeouts in just 10 2/3 innings.
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The Pirates had put together four straight wins and nine in the past 11 games before being shellacked. Bryan Reynolds is a hitter to watch after going deep Friday and he is batting .326 with three homers, five doubles and seven RBIs in 43 at-bats against the Cubs this season.
Bryan Reynolds to hit one or more home runs, +569 (DraftKings)
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TEXAS RANGERS AT ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Arizona rolled to a 9-1 victory in the series opener and has won five of its past six games. The Diamondbacks are a half-game behind the San Diego Padres in the NL wild-card race and both teams have been playing well of late.
And look who Arizona fans like again? Three-time All-Star Ketel Marte. Go figure. The player who went AWOL last month and then missed time with a knee injury delivered two doubles and three RBIs on Friday to gain sustained cheers from the home fans.
The Rangers have lost three straight games and are now sit three games behind the Cleveland Guardians for the final AL wild-card spot and three games in back of the Houston Astros in the AL West. At four games below .500, Texas needs someone like Corey Seager (four homers this month) to go on a rampage and carry the team into a long stretch of winning.
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Teams to score over 8.5 runs, -115 (DraftKings)
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SEATTLE MARINERS AT ATHLETICS
The Mariners had slim playoff hopes when September began and the Athletics have repeatedly delivered blows by winning four of five meetings this month. The worst punch came Friday night when Seattle moved ahead in the top of the 10th and Donovan Walton led off the bottom of the inning with a walk-off, two-run homer to give the A’s a 6-5 victory. The Athletics have won seven of their past nine.
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Now the Mariners call on Woo to save the day because sitting 10 games below .500 with 14 games remaining is a pretty bad predicament. But Woo beat the A’s last week while allowing just one hit over eight shutout innings. The right-hander is 8-1 with a 1.95 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 11 career starts against the Athletics.
Walton and Lawrence Butler (who also homered) both had three hits on Friday as the A’s play more like a playoff contender than the Mariners, who are six games behind the Guardians in the wild-card race. Seattle came within one victory of reaching the World Series last year but another setback Saturday would give them 80 losses before they reach 70 wins.
Brendon de Jonge enjoyed a lengthy PGA Tour career that encompassed 317 starts. While he never notched a victory, de Jonge did post 10 top-5s, 28 top-10s and 68 top-25 finishes between 2007 and 2018. The 46-year-old is now working in broadcast media as an on-air analyst and radio host.
On this week’s episode of Subpar, de Jonge joined hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz to reflect on his some of his career highlights, including his experience on the 2013 Presidents Cup team, where he was paired with Ernie Els and tasked with taking on Tiger Woods and Matt Kuchar in Saturday afternoon’s foursomes matches.
“It’s around that time that Ernie was struggling with the putter. He wasn’t putting well,” de Jonge said. “I think [he] was, using the belly putter at the time before it got banned, but really was not putting well, and he was not happy that we had to play Tiger.
“Nick [Price] had placed us against them, obviously with the Presidents Cup, you get to decide your matchups. It’s not like the Ryder Cup. So, Nick had put us against Tiger and Kuchar, and Ernie was convinced that we were almost going out as sacrificial lambs, was not really pleased with it.
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“And, of course, starts out that he misses like a 3-footer on the first hole. So, like, that didn’t help. But from there, he just played unbelievably well and turned out that he made a 4-footer on 18 for us to beat them 1 up.”
Els and de Jonge were the only International team to post a victory in that session. Heading into Sunday singles, the Internationals trailed the Americas 14-8. They then mounted an impressive charge on Sunday, winning 7.5 of the available 12 points, but it wasn’t enough, and the U.S. team claimed victory by a score of 18.5-15.5.
“But, you know what, talking about playing with a guy, having him as my partner for all four sessions, that was the absolute dream,” de Jonge said of playing alonsgide Els. “This was a guy that I’d grown up respecting, was an idol of mine, and now I get to play with him on the Presidents Cup team. I mean, I, I couldn’t have drawn it up any better than that.”
Fore more insights and stories from de Jonge, check out the full episode of Subpar below.
Sep 11, 2026; Glendale, Arizona, UNITED STATES; UFC fighter Jean Silva during weigh-ins for UFC Noche Fight Night at Desert Diamond Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The UFC’s Mexican Independence Day weekend tradition is back again. For the fourth year in a row, the Octagon will present a special card celebrating Mexican fighting heritage – and for the second straight year, this UFC Fight Night is combined with a major boxing event. Noche UFC 4 goes down at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
The main event will feature a featherweight matchup between ranked contender Jean Silva and Jose Delgado.
Silva is 17-3 in MMA, including a 6-1 UFC record. His sole loss in the UFC came at last year’s Noche UFC event, getting stopped by Diego Lopes. Silva bounced back from that loss at UFC 324, defeating Arnold Allen.
Delago gets this major opportunity by filling in for the originally scheduled Yair Rodriguez. Delgado is 4-1 in the UFC, with his sole loss coming against Nathaniel Wood. Delgado comes into this bout off a win over Austin Bashi a couple of months ago.
The co-main event will be a key flyweight matchup between former champion Brandon Moreno and Joseph Morales. Moreno is just 2-4 since dropping the title to Alexandre Pantoja, and he enters off a shocking loss to Lone’er Kavanagh at UFC Mexico City in February. Morales submitted Alibi Idiris at UFC 319 to become The Ultimate Fighter season 33 winner, and he followed that with a win over Matt Schnell in November.
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The rest of the main card features Tommy McMillen vs. Marwan Rahiki, Manon Fiorot vs. Alexa Grasso, Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Curtis Blaydes, and David Martinez vs. Dan Ige.
JEAN SILVA VS JOSE DELGADO
We really shouldn’t be counting Delgado out of this fight so easily; after all, it’s been the Year of the Underdogs in the UFC. And Delgado isn’t a slouch, as he’s an MMA Lab product who has shown a willingness to mix it up and exchange. And with the height and reach advantage here, he should be able to fight smartly, keeping his distance and making Silva work.
That said, it’s tough to go against Silva. He’s got more big-fight experience, the clearly better resume, and we’ve seen just how dangerous and explosive he is. If Delgado tries for a firefight here, he will pay for it. Silva is going to look to pressure and overwhelm, and it might be tough for Delgado to find the finish, let alone survive 25 minutes against that kind of pacing.
BET: Silva to win AND UNDER 2.5 rounds (BetMGM SGP: +145)
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TOMMY MCMILLEN VS MARWAN RAHIKI
Mark this bout down, fight fans – this one could end up being Fight of the Night. It’s two undefeated prospects who are looking to throw down and make a statement, especially with some bad blood between the pair. Both men are also coming in with a pair of finishes in their first two Octagon bouts since impressing in their own Dana White’s Contender Series appearances.
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Both men are great strikers with finishing ability, but the key factor in this one is McMillen’s big frame for 145. That size factor is going to allow McMillen to land his shots from range, and he’s already shown how he can overwhelm his opponents with volume. Furthermore, he can mix in his wrestling at any point. Rahiki’s aggression needs to be used to get inside on McMillen and not make this a kickboxing matchup. If he can close the distance on McMillen and attack the body, Rahiki can pull this off.
BET: Fight to end via KO/TKO/DQ (BetMGM: -115)
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YOUSRI BELGAROUI VS DJORDEN SANTOS
It’s time for respect to be placed on Belgaroui’s name. He’s a top kickboxer from GLORY, one who has fought (and defeated) Alex Pereira. He’s got great size and technical striking that always makes him a dangerous fight. He may not have early finishes on his plate in the UFC, but third-round finishes are finishes nonetheless.
Belgaroui’s power from kickboxing hasn’t gone away. And for a fighter like Santos, who is 1-2 in the UFC entering this fight, he’s going to need to get inside and make this a physical slugest, risky as that can be. Belgaroui can afford to fight this from a distance with being the significantly bigger fighter, and that tips the fight in his favor even more.
42’ – Liverpool’s energy levels look rather low at the moment. It’s been a curious performance with not much sign of the attack gelling – yet.
Alan Smith12 September 2026 15:44
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Liverpool 0-0 Fulham
37’ – Another good chance for the away team. Bobb makes a fool of Tsimikas and floats in a deep cross to Robinson. His attempt is wide but a graphic flashes up on screen that shows in the past 10 minutes Fulham have had 73% possession.
Alan Smith12 September 2026 15:39
Liverpool 0-0 Fulham
36’ – Fulham are now well on top and playing with no shortage of composure. The only thing missing is a finishing touch.
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Alan Smith12 September 2026 15:37
Liverpool 0-0 Fulham
My first look at Gonzalo Garcia in the flesh. Early verdict, but seems an excellent signing – the former Real Madrid man is a threat running in behind the Liverpool defence, has the presence and purpose to be the focal point of the attack and looks physical enough for the Premier League. A shame he is wearing No 7, because he has the air of a real No 9.
Richard Jolly at Anfield12 September 2026 15:35
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Liverpool 0-0 Fulham
33’ – Another Fulham corner, again won through some neat combination play on their left flank. Iwobi swings it in and the clearance is only as far as Bobb on the edge of the box. He slips it to King and the shot is straight at Alisson.
Alan Smith12 September 2026 15:34
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Liverpool 0-0 Fulham
29’ – Some more nice play from Fulham. Bassey advances deep into Liverpool territory and shows some deft feet to win a corner off Jacquet. It’s taken short, Iwobi finds King and he sends Szobozlai skidding across the deck with a lovely turn, winning a second corner that Wirtz gets rid of.
Alan Smith12 September 2026 15:31
Liverpool 0-0 Fulham
25’ – The replay shows it was actually a rather fine save from Leno.
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Wirtz, meanwhile, turns well under pressure from Affengruber but cannot direct an effort on target.
Alan Smith12 September 2026 15:27
Liverpool 0-0 Fulham
Didn’t really expect Munoz to be winning headers from corners, but he hit the bar there. Think he outjumped the rather taller Sander Berge.
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Richard Jolly at Anfield12 September 2026 15:25
Off the bar! Liverpool 0-0 Fulham
22’ – That’s the closest either have come. Munoz gets his head to a delivery from the left but directs it off the bar. It may have taken a slight deflection – we’ll need to see a replay – but Iwobi reacts fastest to the rebound and gets rid.
Alan Smith12 September 2026 15:23
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Liverpool 0-0 Fulham
It’s a big game for Ryan Gravenberch. He was dropped after Iraola’s first game, at Newcastle, when he was caught too far forward for both goals Liverpool conceded. So far today, he has played as more of a holding midfielder, in the way Mac Allister has done in the last three games.
In the heat of an American League wild-card race, where every result is magnified, two consecutive series losses could be detrimental for a team wrapped up in said chase.
The Toronto Blue Jays hope to avoid just that when they take the field against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, looking to bounce back from a rough Friday loss and gain ground on the Cleveland Guardians, who still occupy the final playoff spot in the AL.
Catch Saturday’s showdown on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+, with coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET / 11:30 a.m. PT with Blue Jays Central.
Taking the mound for Toronto (73-75) will be reliever Spencer Miles as the Blue Jays get set for a bullpen day with the rotation still in flux. It will be Miles’ seventh start of the season, with his last coming on Sept. 1 in a 6-1 loss to the Cleveland Guardians — a result he had no part in after pitching only a scoreless first.
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Starts have been few and far between for the rookie standout, who has appeared in 45 games this season, pitching to a 2.77 ERA and 2.75 FIP.
One concerning number for Miles is that his numbers have trailed off drastically in starts. The 26-year-old has a 7.41 ERA and 1.529 WHIP, having allowed 14 earned runs in 17 innings over his six starts, while he has a 1.66 ERA and 0.934 WHIP, with 13 earned runs over 70.2 innings coming out of the bullpen.
Regardless, it’s unlikely Miles goes deep, as he hasn’t exceeded two innings or 40 pitches since July 22. Additionally, it’s expected that Spencer Arrighetti will serve as a bulk arm behind Miles, despite the trade-deadline acquisition’s struggles since joining the Jays — he carries an 8.04 ERA in four appearances with Toronto.
On the other side, the Orioles (72-76) will send Kyle Bradish to the mound, who carries a 3.91 ERA and 1.421 WHIP into the matchup. Bradish’s last start came against Boston on Sept. 6, when he allowed three runs (none earned) over four innings in a 3-1 loss.
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As a divisional opponent, Bradish is mighty familiar with the Blue Jays, having made 10 starts against them over his five-year career (tied for second most behind the Red Sox), but has a 4.94 ERA and 1.490 WHIP, having given up 28 earned runs in 51 innings against them. He’s done marginally better this season, posting a 4.09 ERA and 1.727 WHIP in two starts.
That WHIP will look appealing to the Blue Jays, who have had to nickel-and-dime their way into runs this season as their search for power continues, having hit the third-fewest homers in the majors (142).
However, the Blue Jays have found a modicum of that strength in recent outings, with home runs contributing to seven of their last 14 runs scored. Those bombs have come from unlikely sources as well, with deadline acquisition Josh Smith hitting three homers in September, and rookie Brett Bateman going yard for the first time in his MLB career in the ninth inning of Friday’s loss to Baltimore.
Players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Ernie Clement should hope some of that magic rubs off on them, as the former remains without a round-tripper at Rogers Centre and the latter is batting .212 since the start of August and has only one homer in that time.
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Contributions from those all-stars will be necessary as the wild-card race heats up, with Toronto now two games behind Cleveland (75-73) following the Guardians’ win on Friday night. The Orioles are close behind and tied with the Texas Rangers — who face the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday — at three games back.
ESPN College GameDay is in Austin, Texas, for Week 2 of the college football season, setting up shop for the blockbuster showdown between the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes and No. 4 Texas Longhorns.
During one of the show’s opening segments, Texas Senator Ted Cruz pulled up to the set to sit down with host Rece Davis to discuss the Protect College Sports Act.
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Unfortunately for Senator Cruz, fans on the LBJ lawn only wanted to hear about today’s games. When Cruz appeared on set, boos rained out of the crowd.
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Cruz’s interview was drowned out by the raucous crowd, which routinely broke out into “Ted Cruz sucks!” chants throughout his sitdown.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks during a conference on Energy Permitting Reform at The Stack at Municipal Light Plant on Sept. 3, 2026
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks during a conference on Energy Permitting Reform at The Stack at Municipal Light Plant on Sept. 3, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
The Protect College Sports Act is a bipartisan bill Cruz co-authored with Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington.
The bill promotes a federal standard for eligibility, NIL, and transfers, limiting players to just five years of eligibility from the time they graduate high school or turn 19. Under the bill, athletes would receive one no-penalty transfer, which would put an end to the current “wild west” transfer portal.
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A Senate vote on the Protect College Sports Act is currently scheduled between September 15 and September 23.
It’s derby weekend and Manchester City couldn’t have asked for a much better start to the season to tee up their first clash of the campaign with Manchester United.
Enzo Maresca’s side have a 100 per cent record so far this season, winning all three of their Premier League outings and producing a professional display in Portugal to kick off their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win over Porto.
Maresca has plenty of selection decisions to make ahead of this weekend’s trip to Old Trafford, some of which we’ve been asked about in this week’s Q&A.
So, without further ado, here are the answers to some of your questions from this week:
Why is Allan not playing yet?
First, I must apologise for my editor. Normally I pick the questions but this week they have been helpfully picked out for me – only the names have been left off so I cannot address anyone by name. These also all feel like quite grumpy questions given City’s start but let’s get to them.
Allan is not playing yet because he isn’t ready yet. He had a slight issue when he joined which meant that he wasn’t risked for the Coventry game. Antoine Semenyo played on the wing as he has done every game, and Iliman Ndiaye was given his debut because he was fit and had been training and playing with Everton in the same league, so it was a bit of a no-brainer.
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Then to Porto, and one of City’s most difficult Champions League trips of the season. No surprise again that, while Allan was able to be included in the squad, he wasn’t turned to as Maresca sought an immediate result. I wouldn’t expect to see Allan in the derby either, but perhaps against Norwich in the League Cup.
Transfer fees aren’t everything but the fee paid for Allan should give some perspective on the minutes he will get this season as a young player coming over from a different continent that doesn’t have much experience. Jeremy Doku, Semenyo and Ndiaye cost significantly more than him and Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki are much more established so Allan will start off as a squad player and have to go some to oust some of those names to be starting regularly.
Why are young lads like McAidoo not being given a chance?
Pretty much every word of the Allan answer also relates to Ryan McAidoo, except for the fact he’s an 18-year-old coming through the academy from than a slightly older rookie from Brazil. And the fact that he was given a chance against Palace and did well, and then came on in the final minutes of the Coventry game as well.
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If minutes in two out of three Premier League matches so far isn’t being given a chance, then I’d say standards are too high – and certainly not being judged against how Guardiola treated young players. For McAidoo and Kaden Braithwaite to have already played in a league game is promising, and you’d expect more involvement against Norwich.
Is there anything Maresca is trying to do to stop opponents from going through our midfield so easily?
I think there may be an element of teams being able to get in behind City all season because of how attacking Maresca wants them to be, but around the first team they certainly believe that things will tighten up as new players settle into their roles.
We still have no idea what the best midfield combination is and I suspect there will be different options for different games given that if Ayyoub Bouaddi, Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez all play then Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden almost never will – and that isn’t going to happen.
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Maresca has introduced a new press for the whole team that they are still working on, as well as a specific process for the defenders to work on in the build-up. Time will tell if it makes them tight, or tighter than they have been, but again given we are four games into a new era with a different manager for the first time in a decade – with younger players in place – it isn’t shocking that not everything looks polished.
What role will Enzo play in the team, and could his arrival have a negative impact on Cherki or Foden? Is it possible we could see Anderson, Enzo, and Cherki starting together?
I suppose Enzo Fernandez arriving could have a negative impact on Cherki and Foden if they decide that they may as well not play any more given their minutes are threatened. Fernandez does appear more likely to play further forward than the No.6 position – Maresca was talking about him on Friday in terms of the goals and assists he can get – but he gives City better and much deeper competition.
Anderson, Fernandez and Cherki will all start together in at least one game, but there is also Bouaddi and Foden to bring in and real pressure on players to perform because places are all up for grabs. Bouaddi is already speaking about that feeling having only just joined and it is about whether players rise to that – something that did Guardiola well for so long – or react negatively.
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Is Semenyo helping the team?
Yes, don’t be daft.
Sorry, are we talking about the guy that’s set up the opening goal in the last two league games? As in, two out of three league games this season? So in 66 per cent of league games this season, or 67 if you want to be really fruity, he has set up the opening goal and somebody is asking if he is helping the team?
Sorry, I just don’t get it. Obviously he can do more, he had a shocker against Porto in midweek but he has a knack and an actual record of goals and assists that is elite. He’s also one of the senior players in the team already, having stepped up to take responsibility as soon as he joined in January.
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On top of that, he is one of the few players in the City team that can say they’ve scored at Old Trafford…
I read that Man City have loaned Echeverri to Benfica on the basis that City will pay his FULL wages AND give Benfica an option to buy. Is this true? Surely City can’t be that desperate to get rid of the player?
Don’t believe everything you read. But do believe everything you read in these Q&As. Unless it was the one before deadline day where I got so much wrong.
Congratulations to this anonymous reader though on giving somebody in City’s recruitment team a genuine laugh when I checked this. City aren’t a club that generally does things like paying wages in full for sending players on loan but, having not seen the initial report and not wanting to judge the question, I had to confirm and can reliably tell you that it isn’t even close to being true. An option to buy doesn’t mean anything either given it has to have the full agreement of all parties.
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What I will say is that Echeverri’s stock is a lot lower than it was last season. The club were inundated with offers last summer and he went against City’s advice to join Leverkusen on loan, it was a disaster, and then Girona in the second half of the campaign wasn’t much better.
Having not pulled up any trees in pre-season, going to Benfica could be a very good loan but the Argentine can’t afford to get lost there and not play regularly.
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