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Blue Jays blank Mariners behind Cease as Okamoto earns Rookie of the Month

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SEATTLE – Recognition of a strong June, during which he posted a .913 OPS with seven homers and 20 RBIs, arrived for Kazuma Okamoto on Friday morning, when he was named the American League’s Rookie of the Month. 

He’s the first Toronto Blue Jays player to pick up the award since Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in July 2018 and his 19 homers so far this season are already the fifth-most by a rookie in team history. Combined with the way he’s acclimated to third base, he’s delivering as expected at the plate and beyond that in the field.

“He’s adjusted very well offensively and I think that the defensive part kind of gets put on the back burner because of the homers and the RBIs, but he’s been really damn good,” said manager John Schneider. “We always talk about him adjusting to pitches and pitch shapes and seeing guys he’s never seen, but he’s also adjusted really well to the speed of the game and understanding when he needs to be quick, when he needs to be slow and then just where he needs to be. He’s been everything we’d hoped for and a little bit more.”

The 30-year-old isn’t settling for what he’s accomplished to this point, either, saying through interpreter Yusuke Oshima that, “I still think I could be even better, just knowing myself.”

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“Obviously came over here to the major-leagues to test myself and challenge myself,” he continued. “But knowing my abilities, I think I’ve got another gear.”

The Blue Jays can certainly use that, especially as they wait for their collective lineup to get out of neutral, a challenge that continues even after a 2-0 win over the Seattle Mariners. 

An Andres Gimenez RBI double and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. run-scoring single in the second inning were all they could muster in the opener of this ALCS rematch, but an overpowering Dylan Cease made that standup for the team’s eighth victory when scoring just two runs.

“Our mindset is score as many runs as we can, of course, but I just want to talk about the pitching,” Guerrero, in comments interpreted by Hector Lebron, said of winning with so few runs. “The pitching was great tonight, it’s been great, not just the starters but also the bullpen after that.”

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Rebounding from an erratic outing last time out, when he struck out 10 but walked a season-high five while not escaping the fifth against Texas, Cease allowed only three hits and a walk over seven shutout innings against the Mariners, striking out nine.

Of his efficient 102 pitches, 70 were strikes, and his stuff was so hard to track that Randy Arozarena challenged two called strikes in his first at-bat, only to see both were clear strikes, costing the Mariners their challenges in their second at-bat of the contest.

He was only in trouble once, when Cole Young and Victor Robles singled to open the third, but used a changeup to induce a double-play ball from rookie Colt Emerson, and after a walk to J.P. Crawford, got Arozarena on a groundout to second to end the frame.

Cease credited “a slight mechanical tweak,” tied to his sightlines when he peeks at third in his delivery, for the improved performance, as “once I felt comfortable with that, it was just letting the rhythm of everything take over.”

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“I didn’t feel like I really got in a great rhythm until probably the fourth,” he added. “I didn’t really power the ball ’til a little later in the game when I really felt comfortable in my mechanics.”

Jeff Hoffman handled the eighth and Louis Varland took care of the ninth for his 18th save, keeping the Blue Jays bullpen in good standing after an off-day. It was a much better ending than the last time they played at T-Mobile Park, when the Mariners rallied from a 2-1 deficit with a five-run eighth on a Cal Raleigh solo shot and Eugenio Suarez for a 6-2 win that put them up 3-2 in the ALCS.

“I was not in a good mood last time I was in this office, I can tell you that, in the post-season,” Schneider said. “New season, for sure. But whenever you walk into a place, you’re like, all right, what was I doing last time I was here? And there was some furniture rearrangement by me last time we were here before we hit the bird. They got it back in order, though. It’s good. … Nothing broke, nothing crazy. I helped with the cleanup, too. I was raised well.”

Okamoto had a single in four trips with a pair of rockets to the outfield as he continues to post for the Blue Jays.

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While they believed in both his bat and his glove when they signed him, they were less certain what they had in him defensively as he split time at both infield corners in Japan. The plan was for Addison Barger to get some time at third, too, but his injury woes removed him from the mix, leaving Okamoto to play there every day. 

Friday was his 82nd game at the hot corner and he’s logged 727 innings there, third-most in the majors, underlining his durability. Last year with the NPB’s Yomiuri Giants, he played 54 games at third and hasn’t played this much there since playing 84 games there in 2023. 

Had he not handled the transition on both sides of the ball as well as has, this season filled with improvisation would have been even more complicated for the Blue Jays.

“It’s hard to evaluate myself, not just defensively, but also offensively, I just want to continue to get better,” said Okamoto. “Obviously I’m making adjustments because the other teams are always scouting me, as well. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes, but don’t want to give much away.”

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Three months into his first big-league season, he needn’t worry about that.

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YouTube star near the top on DP World Tour. So here’s a YouTube-style story

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Formula 1 fans snap up luxury motorsports watch reduced by £320 in time for British Grand Prix

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TAG Heuer has gained a stellar reputation for its motorsports-inspired watches

With just a day left until Formula 1 returns to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix, many fans have sparked a new interest in racing-inspired watches. Chief among these is TAG Heuer’s F1 series of watches, with a rich history in motorsports dating all the way back to 1986.

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According to pre-owned watch specialists Watchfinder & Co., TAG Heuer is dominating sales in racing-inspired watches, accounting for 73% of all sales in the category over the previous 12 months. One such model synonymous with motorsports can be grabbed by F1 fans at a major 20% discount.

While Goldsmiths usually offers the TAG Heuer Formula 1 43mm Mens Watch Blue for £1,600, motorsport fans can grab it for £1,280 just in time for the British Grand Prix. The watch is one of the newest additions to the TAG Heuer F1 lineup, and was previously exclusive to the Watches of Switzerland Group (WOSG).

READ MORE: PS5 players snap up official controller for £43 instead of £60 ahead of GTA VI release

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The classic-style quartz watch comes equipped with a minimalist blue watch face featuring oversized ‘6’ and ’12’ numerals. This blue colourway is matched by the watch’s blue rubber strap, with the overall design directly inspired by Formula 1 racing.

The watch itself is also water-resistant up to 200 metres, while the case is made of stainless steel, which adds to its durability and potential longevity. With a 43mm diameter, the watch should also be comfortable on most men’s wrists.

However, its price tag may be out of reach for many. If you’re on a smaller budget, there is a wide variety of luxury watches currently on offer at various retailers, such as Debenhams – albeit non F1 related. We’ve broken down some of our top picks that could help you save as much as over £1,000 in the process.

Heritor Automatic Aura Watch – From £1,000 to £149.99 (Save 85%)

Heritor’s Automatic Aura comes with a surgical-grade stainless steel case paired with extravagant jewelled bearings and a jewelled automatic movement. It also comes paired with a crocodile-embossed leather strap, adding another layer of style to the watch.

This is also equipped with a logo-engraved steel clasp to keep the watch secure without sacrificing any elegance. The watch itself comes with a 44mm diameter and is rated for water resistance.

Tudor Black Bay S&G 41mm – From £6,170 to £4,100 (Save 33%)

Tudor’s uniquely coloured Black Bay S&G watch is aimed at those who want a classic-styled watch. It comes with a stainless steel and yellow gold bracelet with yellow gold centre links. The rotating bezel also comes with a 0.3mm yellow gold cap mounted with a matt black aluminium disc.

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The watch is also waterproof up to 200m and comes with a champagne-coloured dome dial. The glass cover of the watch face is also durable, being made of sapphire crystal glass.

STÜHRLING Original Ultima 3960 – From £995 to £102 (Save 90%)

STÜHRLING’s Original Ultima 3960 features a 42mm round stainless steel case and a matching stainless steel link bracelet. It operates via a battery-powered quartz movement and even comes with its own built-in chronograph and date display window.

It has also been rated for water resistance up to 100 meters, increasing its durability. This is paired with a stainless steel watch face, adding an overall industrial design to the timepiece.

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STÜHRLING Original Anatol 3924 – From £1,625 to £188.25 (Save 88%)

The STÜHRLING Original Anatol runs on a self-winding automatic movement, eliminating the need for any batteries. It also comes with a skeleton see-through dial that exposes its internal components.

The case itself is quite large, spanning 46mm and is paired with an elegant alligator-embossed leather strap. It is also water-resistant up to 50 metres, protecting it from splashes and brief submersion.

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Hamann: Kimmich should step away from Germany duty

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Captain Joshua Kimmich should retire from the Germany team following their World Cup last-32 exit, former national team midfielder Dietmar Hamann has said.

“He has had five tournaments in a leadership position and five times he hasn’t managed to achieve anything,” Hamann told the TOMorrow Business Podcast, also referring to Kimmich’s previous role as vice captain.

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The 31-year-old is a midfielder for Bayern Munich but played right back for Germany in the United States.

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“It has nothing to do with running away. It has to do with taking responsibility,” Hamann added. “If he is supposed to be this top player, he should take responsibility and say: ‘Right, it was wonderful here. I thank you for the support. I tried everything.’”

Keeper Manuel Neuer has already returned to international retirement and Jürgen Klopp looks poised to replace coach Julian Nagelsmann, who resigned. But no other Germany figure has yet announced their future plans.

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Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani out Saturday after precautionary exit vs. Padres

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LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani left Friday night’s game against the San Diego Padres in the seventh inning with a right biceps issue and is unlikely to pitch in the All-Star Game after the Los Angeles Dodgers adjusted his schedule.

The two-way superstar was hitless in three at-bats before being lifted as a precaution. On the mound, Ohtani allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings. He struck out nine and threw a season-high 110 pitches before Los Angeles rallied for a 4-3 victory.

Ohtani said he felt the biceps issue during his at-bat in the sixth, when he flied out to right field.

“It’s the same location that I felt a couple months ago,” he said through a translator. “It went away pretty relatively quickly, so I expect that to happen again.”

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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani would be given Saturday off to recover and receive treatment.

“He’s a quick healer and finds a way to get back,” said Roberts, who added that Ohtani’s previous biceps issue was “so benign that I didn’t hear about it until tonight.”

Ohtani has primarily been starting on the mound every Wednesday, but the team pushed him back to Friday this week to manage his workload.

Asked if that meant Ohtani was unlikely to pitch in the All-Star Game, Roberts said before the game: “I haven’t formally said it, but if you just kind of do the math, it would be hard to imagine. But I don’t have to make that decision quite yet.”

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Roberts will manage the National League All-Stars in Philadelphia.

He said the possibility of Ohtani skipping his last pitching start before the All-Star break should “be on the table.”

Ohtani is already pencilled into the all-star starting lineup as the NL designated hitter because he was the overall leader with 3,341,257 votes after the first phase of fan balloting.

The right-hander is a strong candidate to be selected to the NL pitching staff as well, but Philadelphia left-hander Cristopher Sánchez seems most likely to start in his home ballpark. Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski leads the majors with a 1.45 ERA but is on turn to pitch for the Brewers two days before the All-Star Game, which would make him unavailable against the American League.

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Ohtani’s ERA rose to 1.79 from 1.58 after his start Friday.

The Dodgers wanted Ohtani to get additional rest during a stretch of 13 games in 13 days. If he makes his final scheduled start before the All-Star Game on July 10, that would give his arm only three days of rest prior to the Midsummer Showcase.

“Shohei hasn’t had his best stuff recently and that’s the truth,” Roberts said. “The fastball command hasn’t been what it was earlier in the season, the sweeper hasn’t been the same.”

Ohtani has been bothered by left knee soreness and has a blister on the middle finger of his right hand.

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“He feels good, the body feels good,” Roberts said before Friday’s game. “The knee feels as good as it’s felt in quite some time, so that’s encouraging.”

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2026 World Cup: France vs. Paraguay prediction, picks, odds, preview

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Can anyone stop France? Kylian Mbappe and Co. have looked incredibly strong and now enter the Round of 16 in incredible form. Their opponents, however, will be full of confidence. Paraguay should be riding high after their upset victory over Germany. Can they shock the world again, or will France be too strong? Kickoff in Philadelphia is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET.

The latest France vs. Paraguay odds from FanDuel list France as -1800 favorites to advance to the next round, while Paraguay are +1080 underdogs. Meanwhile, the Over/Under for total goals scored in regulation time is 2.5. There’s no shortage of other soccer betting options at FanDuel, where you can use the latest FanDuel promo code to get $1,000 in bet reset tokens. 

You can get even more France vs. Paraguay picks and more World Cup bets from SportsLine’s experts like Brad Thomas, Jon Eimer, Martin Green and Brandt Sutton. Anyone following their World Cup betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.

France vs. Paraguay odds

France vs. Paraguay 90-minute money line: France -600, Tie +600, Paraguay +1700
France vs. Paraguay 90-minute over/under: 2.5 (Over -150, Under +122)
Bet France vs. Paraguay on FanDuel: Check out the latest FanDuel promo code here

France vs. Paraguay betting preview

Germany are a shadow of what they used to be on the pitch, but Paraguay can still proudly proclaim themselves to be giant slayers after they sent the Germans packing in the Round of 32. A gutsy performance dragged the game out to penalty kicks, where the Paraguayans kept their cool and delivered the knockout blow. It was a match that cost German manager Julian Nagelsmann his job.

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Paraguay’s reward? A date with Kylian Mbappe and France, undoubtedly the tournament’s best team thus far. Les Blues have been downright terrifying. This isn’t a one-man show with Mbappe, even if he’s scored a hefty chunk of the goals. Reigning Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele is here too, as is Bayern Munich maestro Michael Olise, who may very well be the tournament’s MVP to this point. PSG attacker Bradley Barcola? Manchester City magician Rayan Cherki? They’re usually on the bench because of the sheer embarrassment of riches here. 

Didier Deschamps, now coaching his last World Cup, has taken the shackles off his team. France used to win by controlling the game with possession and midfielders like N’Golo Kante. Now it’s an all-out attack that looks to punch you in the mouth and then throw another to your gut before you can catch your breath. 

Paraguay, to their credit, showed plenty of defensive resilience against the Germans. But Germany have been harshly criticized for lacking a true killer in attack. Les Blues are a murderer’s row. 

The upset of Germany was an amazing spectacle. But this is likely the end of the road for Paraguay, even if they make France work for their meal. 

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France vs. Paraguay picks, prediction

Half with most goals: First half (+194)

That performance against Germany makes it easy to forget that the United States put three goals past Paraguay before halftime. As good as the USMNT have been at this World Cup, they’re not France. It might take 15-20 minutes, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see France land a few haymakers before halftime and then ease off the gas in the back end. It’s going to be brutally hot in Philadelphia, and the pitch could also be a mess from storms that are also in the forecast. Either way, Deschamps may want to get his stars off their feet as soon as possible to preserve them for the quarterfinals. 

Ousmane Dembele anytime goalscorer (+145)

Dembele has grown into the tournament and had a hat trick in France’s shellacking of Norway and an assist against Sweden. We’ll take a gamble here and say that Dembele doesn’t just have a particular grudge against Scandinavia.

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D’Tigers reach FIBA World Cup Qualifiers Second Round

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Nigeria’s D’Tigers secured their place in the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers after edging Guinea 80-79.

The narrow victory booked Nigeria’s place in the next stage and also handed Guinea their first defeat of the qualifying campaign.

In a game that was decided by just one point, D’Tigers held their nerve late on to seal another important win and continue their push toward a place at the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

  • FIFA World Cup 2026 official tournament logo ahead of the global football championship.FIFA World Cup 2026 official tournament logo ahead of the global football championship.

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Nigeria Basketball celebrated the result on social media, writing:

“NIGERIA WINS!!!!! WHAT A GAME!!”

Shortly after the victory, the federation also confirmed Nigeria’s qualification with another message that read:

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“TEAM NIGERIA QUALIFIED – SECOND ROUND.”

The result continues an impressive run for D’Tigers, who followed up their victory over Tunisia with another hard-fought performance against one of the competition’s strongest teams.

With qualification for the second round now secured, Nigeria will shift its attention to the next phase of the qualifiers as the team moves a step closer to earning a place at the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

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World Cup Latest (July 3)

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World Cup Latest (July 3)

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What I’m snagging at PGA Tour Superstore this July 4th weekend

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Wyndham Clark’s putter is June’s best seller, so I built one for myself

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England face Mexico in Azteca fortress, returning to scene of Maradona handball

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Thomas Tuchel’s stuttering England are an ideal target for co-hosts Mexico as they seek a prestigious World Cup win in their final game at the near-impregnable Azteca stadium, the scene of the infamous Maradona handball that still haunts the Three Lions decades later.  

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