Blessedly as an act of soaring mercy, the 2026 Major League Baseball season is upon us. Opening Day is in the immediate offing, and soon we’ll have actual, for-keeps baseball games to distract us from the inferior remainder of human existence.
Specific to the 30 MLB teams that will do this honest work for us, there are questions — questions about how their 2026 seasons will go and which players will determine how those seasons go. Let’s explore those 30 questions now in suspenseful alphabetical order as a means to anticipate and proclaim the return of This, Our Baseball.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Biggest question: Can that rotation hold up?
There’s potential for disaster with this rotation. Zac Gallen was mostly bad last season and signed a one-year deal to try to re-establish his worth before diving back into free agency. Merrill Kelly is 37 and already dealing with back issues. Eduardo Rodriguez’s ERA has been above 5 both years in Arizona. Brandon Pfaadt got clobbered last season to the tune of a 5.25 ERA and his career mark is now 5.13 across more than 80 career starts. Corbin Burnes will miss most of the season. Ryne Nelson was good last year, but what’s his upside? Ace? Probably not. Mike Soroka hasn’t been a good starter for more than a few starts at a time since 2019.
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There’s certainly upside in this group if you could be guaranteed to get the best versions of Gallen and Kelly while Nelson kept building on last season, Pfaadt put things together and Rodriguez could pitch back to 2023 form. If all these things happen, the Diamondbacks have a good rotation before they even think about getting Burnes and his ace-caliber stuff back in there.
Can all of that really come together, though? Realistically?
The most likely scenario here is the starting pitching is a problem. — Matt Snyder
It wasn’t even technically just “late.” The A’s were one of the worst teams in baseball through June 4, sitting 23-40. Things clicked after that, though, and they went 53-46 the rest of the way. If we started the standings on June 5, the A’s would’ve been a playoff team. Of course, we don’t do that; the horrific stretch of baseball that preceded that run mattered.
In looking toward 2026, the A’s are surely telling themselves that they found something. One thing they found was Nick Kurtz as a centerpiece and rising superstar. Shea Langeliers is a force as an offensive catcher. Brent Rooker is a quality middle-of-the-order slugger. Tyler Soderstrom runs hot and cold, but his hot streaks are glorious. Jeff McNeil and Jacob Wilson are capable of running high batting averages. It’s a really good lineup. Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs can look good in the rotation too, but there are questions all over the pitching staff.
Still, we might’ve seen a glimpse of the A’s turnaround last season. There’s good talent here, especially with the bats. — Matt Snyder
Biggest question: Do they have the depth to survive these injuries?
Even before spring training let out, the Braves lost Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow bone spurs), Spencer Strider (oblique), Hurston Waldrep (elbow bone spurs), and Joey Went (torn ACL) from the rotation. That’s a lot of pitching depth down for weeks, if not longer. Also, Reynaldo López’s fastball is missing about 4 mph after last year’s shoulder surgery. The Braves got slammed by injuries last year and they’re already heading down that road this year. The team’s pitching depth is not great. Injuries are part of the game and the best teams figure out a way to navigate them. Atlanta didn’t last year. Whether they can this year will shape their season. — Mike Axisa
Baltimore Orioles
Biggest question: Will their homegrown hitters actually hit?
Pitching was the No. 1 reason the Orioles underperformed so aggressively last season, but don’t let their homegrown hitters off the hook. Gunnar Henderson is great and he had a terrific season once he returned from his oblique strain. Colton Cowser, Jackson Holliday, Heston Kjerstad, Adley Rutschman, and Jordan Westburg all fell short of expectations. In some cases, far short. I’m willing to give Holliday a pass because he’s still so young. The others? Not so much. Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward bring needed righty power, and the rotation has been upgraded with Shane Baz and Chris Bassitt. Ultimately though, these homegrown hitters were the centerpiece of the rebuild and it’s time for everyone to join Henderson in pulling their weight. — Mike Axisa
There is more to this game than hitting home runs, but you do need them, and the best teams tend to hit a lot of them. The 2023 Arizona Diamondbacks are the only team in the last nine years to reach the World Series while finishing in the bottom half of the league in home runs during the regular season. Last year’s Red Sox finished 15th in home runs, and they’re projected to finish even lower this year:
A full season of Roman Anthony should help in the power department, ditto replacing Alex Bregman with Willson Contreras. Otherwise, there is not much reason to believe the Red Sox will hit the ball out of the ballpark at a rate typically seen by the game’s top teams. Their rotation is much improved and their defense should be better. Will they be able to put points on the board with one swing often enough? — Mike Axisa
Chicago Cubs
Biggest question: What will Bregman provide at the plate?
The departed Kyle Tucker — now with the Dodgers — indeed moved the needle for the Cubs last season with a 4.6 WAR in 136 games. That’s a quite significant loss and the Cubs will need to find a way to replace that lost value. Getting Pete Crow-Armstrong to hit like he did in the first half of the 2025 season is one path to doing so, but the more obvious one lies within Alex Bregman, the Cubs’ flagship addition of the offseason. Bregman upgrades the Cubs’ defense at the hot corner — they probably have the best infield defense in all of baseball now — and he’s an accomplished hitter of long-standing.
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Still, the fit and Bregman’s future outlook at the plate raise questions about his offense moving forward. Wrigley Field is a tough environment for right-handed batters, of which Bregman is one. As well, Bregman has spent his entire career to date in Houston and Boston, which feature parks much friendlier toward right-handed hitters. On the other hand, Bregman has balanced home-road splits for his career (he’s actually been a bit better on the road), which tracks given that he’s a high-contact, all-fields kind of batsman. You can find some signs of soft decline in his expected stats over the last two seasons, and that’s something to monitor as he moves into his age-32 campaign. This is probably more of a question of how Bregman’s five-year pact with Chicago will age, but the ballpark fit bears monitoring right away. They could use vintage Bregman at the plate and in the field if they’re going to end the Brewers‘ run in the NL Central. — Dayn Perry
Chicago White Sox
Biggest question: Will the rebuild take the next step?
This winter’s trade of Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets was in some ways the capstone on the White Sox’s teardown process — a teardown that saw them crater to a record 121 losses in 2024. After the teardown comes the rebuild. With their veteran contributors largely departed, the focus now shifts to developing and improving the young talent that’s on hand. That’s the next step for a club that could possibly contend as soon as 2027. The projected lineup features seven hitters 26 years old or younger. The bench skews young as well, as do two of the five projected members of the rotation. That’s not to mention five consensus top-100 prospects still on the way, and the Sox will of course have the top overall pick in this year’s MLB Draft. Other questions flow from that central question above. Will Colson Montgomery scale his power outburst in 2025 to a full season in 2026? Will splash signing Munetaka Murakami — himself just 26 — make enough contact to tap fully into his impressive raw power? Which of those prospects will trickle into the South Side this season? It’s a big bridge year for Chicago. — Dayn Perry
The Reds throughout much of recent history have been known for scoring runs, thanks in part to the strong tendencies of Great American Ball Park. Last season, though, it was run prevention that carried them to their first playoff berth in a full season since 2013. The offense, meantime, ranked a mere 28th in MLB in xWOBA (what’s this?), which does not bode well for the 2026 season. On the upside for Cincy, there are causes for hope. Major offseason addition Eugenio Suárez is the new cleanup hitter, and he’s fresh off a 2025 resurgent campaign in which he racked up 49 homers and placed in the 89th percentile in barrel rate. As well, star shortstop Elly De La Cruz may have been on his way to an MVP-caliber season at the plate before a lingering quad injury sapped his production. Elsewhere, Matt McLain will be looking for a bounceback season as he gets further removed from the shoulder surgery that cost him all of 2024, and 22-year-old Sal Stewart has middle-of-the-order potential. Some of those factors will need to go the Reds’ way in 2026 if they’re to make it back to the postseason. — Dayn Perry
Cleveland Guardians
Biggest question: Can they score enough runs?
The Dolans are, perhaps somewhat quietly, some of the worst owners in the sport — utterly unwilling to invest in the product for so much of recent history despite receiving a quite substantial amount of money through revenue sharing. This time around, their lack of interest in the on-field product will be most keenly felt on offense. The Guardians last season finished strong to eke out the division title, but they did so despite a negative run differential. That was largely a reflection of the offense, which ranked 28th in MLB in runs scored, 29th in OPS, 28th in OPS+, 29th in wOBA, and 30th in xwOBA. That’s a terrible run-scoring attack, and the ever-excellent José Ramírez can do only so much. As for new additions, there’s … Rhys Hoskins, who made the team out of spring training as an NRI. Yes, the Guardians are among the very best at developing pitchers and Ramírez is a future Hall of Famer who’s still at the top of the game. The rest of the lineup, though, probably isn’t good enough to put the Guards in contention for another trip to the playoffs in 2026. That fatal flaw traces right back to ownership. — Dayn Perry
Biggest question: How many more games can they win?
Look, there’s no reason to sugarcoat this. The Rockies are awful and might be the worst team in baseball. They were historically bad last season and came close to the all-time record for losses with 119. They’ll improve because it’s very, very difficult to be that bad. The White Sox set the modern record with 121 losses in 2024 and were terrible again in 2025, but they ended up 60-102. Does that automatically mean that the Rockies will improve by roughly 20 games? Of course not. They’ll win more games, though, mark my words. The question is just how many more. — Matt Snyder
Detroit Tigers
Biggest question: Is this Tarik Skubal‘s last ride in Detroit?
The winner of the last two American League Cy Young awards and perhaps the best pitcher in all of baseball, Skubal will be in his walk year in 2026. The expectation is that he’ll again be at the top of his craft and position himself for a massive payday on the free agent market during the 2026-27 offseason. Or will the Tigers somehow manage to sign Skubal to an extension before that time comes? Signs at this juncture point resoundingly toward no. It’s exceedingly rare for a superstar like Skubal to sign an extension this close to reaching free agency, and the Tigers — meaning, mostly, lackluster owner Christopher Ilitch — have not behaved seriously toward their franchise talent. First came their extension talks following the 2024 season, in which the club reportedly made an offer that can’t be characterized as anything but insulting. Then came an absurdly low arbitration offer (the Tigers, not surprisingly, lost their arbitration hearing against Skubal). Consider all of this and, no, a late-hour extension for Skubal doesn’t seem plausible.
To the Tigers’ credit, they didn’t trade their ace of aces this past offseason, which makes them real threats to make the playoffs for the third straight year and favorites to win the division. As well, they fortified their rotation behind Skubal with Framber Valdez, the top starting pitcher on the free-agent market. They also brought back franchise legend Justin Verlander to stabilize the back end after Reese Olson underwent shoulder surgery that will sideline him all season. The arrival of top prospect infielder Kevin McGonigle, who made the Opening Day roster, should also help make Skubal’s (presumed) final season in Detroit a memorable one. The Tigers, though, shouldn’t let the Skubal era end without a good-faith, powerhouse effort to keep him around beyond 2026. — Dayn Perry
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Houston Astros
Biggest question: How does the rotation fare?
There are plenty of offensive questions, but better health and a few bouncebacks are expected.
The rotation, though, is worrisome. Hunter Brown took a huge leap into acedom last season, but continued improvement is far from guaranteed. Cristian Javier has a 4.47 ERA in 46 starts in the last three seasons with a Tommy John surgery sandwiched in there. Tatsuya Imai was a beast in Japan, but sometimes pitchers struggle in the transition to Major League Baseball with the travel schedule (Japan only has one time zone, for example) and pitching once every five days instead of once a week. It’s hard to know exactly how he’ll fare. Lance McCullers missed all of 2023 and 2024 with injuries and had a 6.51 ERA in just 55 ⅓ innings last season. Mike Burrows could be good, but he has fewer than 100 innings of MLB experience and none with the Astros. Ryan Weiss is a 29-year-old minor-league journeyman who was in Korea last year.
It’s entirely possible to see something like Brown remaining an ace, Javier pitching like it’s 2022, Imai looking like a frontline starter all year, McCullers throwing it back to his prime, Burrows blossoming and Weiss bringing back frontline stuff from overseas. How likely is all of that, though? — Matt Snyder
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Kansas City Royals
Biggest question: Will Jac Caglianone be the hitter they need?
There’s a lot to like about the Royals as they angle to notch a third straight winning season in 2026. There’s rotation depth, and ace Cole Ragans is a bounceback candidate this season. The Matt Strahm signing was a nice targeted strike that improves the bullpen. Bobby Witt Jr. will likely be in the American League MVP race once again and Maikel Garcia is one of the most underrated players in the game. They could, however, use additional power to complement what’s provided by Witt, Salvador Perez, and Vinnie Pasquantino. That brings us to Jac Caglianone.
The University of Florida product and the No. 6 overall pick of the 2024 Draft has big-time power, but getting to that power against more advanced competition is an issue thanks to his occasional swing-and-miss problems. Across 232 plate appearances with KC last season as a rookie, Cags had an OPS+ of just 49 and chased pitches outside the zone way too often. None of this is overly concerning for a 22 year old who was facing big-league pitching for the first time, but the Royals need Caglianone to flip the switch in 2026. Last season, KC ranked 26th in MLB in home runs and 18th in slugging, and Caglianone could address those deficits in direct fashion if he finds something close to his expected level of production in 2026. For what it’s worth, Caglianone this offseason is coming off a strong showing in camp and a strong showing as a lineup regular for Italy during their deep run in the World Baseball Classic. — Dayn Perry
The Angels look ticketed for last place in the AL West. They finished last in 2024 and 2025 and own the longest playoff drought in baseball, having missed the postseason every year since 2014. They’ve wasted Mike Trout‘s career and the years they had with Shohei Ohtani.
I hate going this hard because I always feel bad for the fan base. They deserve better. So instead, what we’ll do now is find some fun stuff.
Well, there’s Trout. He’ll never not be fun on a baseball field for me. That’s likely a stale answer, though. Jo Adell and Jorge Soler both have light-tower power so there’s always the chance to see some prodigious home runs.
Also, bring on Zach Neto! He’s still only 25 years old and is a very nice power-speed combo. In just 128 games last season, Neto had 26 home runs and 26 steals — meaning there’s 30-30 or more potential in there in a full season. The only 30-30 players in Angels history are Trout (2012) and Bobby Bonds (1977). — Matt Snyder
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Los Angeles Dodgers
Biggest question: Will they threepeat?
The portmanteau threepeat was coined in Los Angeles when Pat Riley was discussing his “Showtime” Lakers. The most prominent baseball team in L.A. has never done it and the Dodgers have a shot this season, heading in as back-to-back champs. In fact, only the Yankees and A’s in MLB history have ever gone for a threepeat. This is how rare it is. These are the only times it has happened:
1936-39 Yankees
1949-53 Yankees
1972-74 A’s
1998-2000 Yankees
That’s it.
Can the Dodgers join that group? They are absolutely capable. The only question is will they. We’ll find out later this year, likely in mid-October at the earliest. Probably in late October.
As for the regular season, yeah, they likely cruise to the NL West title. Again. — Matt Snyder
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Miami Marlins
Biggest question: Will they build on their strong finish to 2025?
Last year’s 79-83 record represented a 17-win improvement for the Marlins, and that 79-83 record hides a really strong finish. Miami went 25-41 in their first 66 games and 54-42 (91-win pace) in their final 96 games. Several young hitters began to emerge (Jakob Marsee, Agustín Ramírez, etc.) and pitching stabilized. The Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers trades removed some rotation depth, though lefties and top prospects Robby Snelling and Thomas White are knocking on the door. Are the Marlins good enough to contend for a postseason berth? I don’t think so, but a) I could be wrong, and b) the arrow is pointing up regardless. At minimum, a winning record should be the expectation in 2026. — Mike Axisa
Milwaukee Brewers
Biggest question: Can they once again survive the departure of multiple key contributors?
The Brewers are without question one of the smartest and most impressive organizations in all of baseball. They’re in a class with the Dodgers. In broad terms, they’re the National League’s answer to the Rays, in that they doggedly succeed year after year despite significant churn among their core contributors. The Rays right about now may be at risk of finding the limits of such an approach — or, to be more precise, the limits of consistent success despite paltry commitment from ownership.
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But what of Milwaukee, which has won three straight division titles and made the playoffs in seven of the last eight years? This time around, they’ll be without ace Freddy Peralta (traded to the Mets in the offseason) and breakout infielder Caleb Durbin (traded to the Red Sox). The absence of Peralta may be acutely felt, as he’s reached at least 30 starts and 200 strikeouts in each of the last three seasons. There’s rotation depth in place and on the way in Milwaukee, but is there enough certainty post-Peralta? Brandon Woodruff is an ace when healthy, but that health is far from guaranteed. Will Jacob Misiorowski‘s command and control rise to meet his lights-out stuff? Will Luis Rengifo amply fill Durbin’s role? The model, impressive as it is, will be tested in 2026. — Dayn Perry
Minnesota Twins
Biggest question: Is the teardown complete?
Leading up to the 2025 trade deadline, no team was more active on the seller side than the Twins were. With front office turnover, a new manager, and persistent rumblings about a sale of the team, what’s ahead? It’s hard to see the Twins as contenders, even in the AL Central, and that’s especially the case after ace Pablo López was lost for the season to Tommy John surgery. If the Twins struggle in the first half, will franchise stalwart Byron Buxton be asked to consider waiving his no-trade clause? Will the underrated Joe Ryan be shopped to a contender? Will high-upside Royce Lewis be dangled now that he’s into his arbitration years? Those are the big unknowns, which fittingly reflect the uncertain future of the organization. — Dayn Perry
Biggest question: Will all the turnover equal more wins?
We’ll never truly know how much discord there was in the clubhouse last season, or whether it was something that had to be addressed or a narrative POBO David Stearns used as pretext to rebuild the roster in his image. What we do know for certain is it is now a much different clubhouse. The club’s four longest-tenured players were jettisoned in the offseason:
Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and Mark Vientos will be only players in New York’s 2026 Opening Day lineup who were also in their 2025 Opening Day lineup. Soto changed positions too, shifting from right field over to left. The Mets emphasized defense up the middle with Luis Robert Jr. and Marcus Semien, and hitters with strong contact/power blends on the infield corners in Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco. They also added a new ace (Freddy Peralta) and have given the right field job to top position player prospect Carson Benge. The Mets will look much, much different this year, and, frankly, the change was needed. Will it result in more wins? In the end, that’s the only thing that matters. — Mike Axisa
New York Yankees
Biggest question: What will they get from their injured pitchers?
They might not come out and admit, but it sure feels like the Yankees are counting heavily on Gerrit Cole returning from Tommy John surgery as an instant ace. He looked good in his first spring training appearance and his rehab has gone very well, but still, it’s a lot to ask. Sandy Alcantara showed everyone last year that even the best pitchers can need time to get on track after having their elbow rebuilt. Cole is expected back in late May or early June. Carlos Rodón should return from his elbow surgery (loose bodies) in April. Clarke Schmidt (UCL surgery) is looking at an August or September return. The 2026 Yankees will look an awful lot like the 2025 Yankees. If Cole hits the ground running when he returns, he could swing the balance of power in the AL East. — Mike Axisa
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Philadelphia Phillies
Biggest question: How much will the young players contribute?
Other than effectively swapping Nick Castellanos for Adolis García, the Phillies spent the offseason bringing back their own players. They’re banking on several prospects coming up and contributing right away. Justin Crawford (Carl’s son) is the starting center fielder and righty Andrew Painter is in the rotation. Later this year, infielder Aidan Miller could come up to play somewhere (likely third base). Ultimately, the Phillies will only go as far as Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, et al take them. The young players being able to limit the growing pains could be what separates Philadelphia in the NL East race. — Mike Axisa
Pittsburgh Pirates
Biggest question: When will the Konnor Griffin era begin?
The Pirates this winter finally ramped up their spending just a bit, what with a trio of (quite dubious) free-agent signings and a canny trade for Brandon Lowe. The big story, though, involves one of the best prospects in baseball, shortstop Konnor Griffin. The 19-year-old former No. 9 overall pick is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he slashed .333/.415/.527 across three different levels with 48 extra-base hits and 65 steals in 122 games. That was his first professional season. This spring, he started off magma-hot in Grapefruit League play before cooling off and getting optioned to the minors before the Opening Day active roster was set. The Pirates, who hope to matter this season, at some point could absolutely use Griffin’s bat in the lineup that struggled last season, especially at the shortstop position. As well, the arrival of Griffin would put a charge in a fan base that’s been worn down over the years by owner Bob Nutting’s abject neglect. The Pirates can justify starting Griffin off back in the minors since he’s not yet 20 and hasn’t even played at Triple-A. Barring the unexpected, though, he’ll make it to Pittsburgh this season. How soon and how much he helps the cause this season are the unknowns. First, though, he needs to thrive once again back on the farm. — Dayn Perry
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St. Louis Cardinals
Biggest question: Will the young core take the next step?
The Cardinals under first-year president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom have drastically built out the player-development program, and they’ve also added lots of pitching and depth upside thanks to recent trades and other acquisitions by the Bloom regime. Now the focus becomes, to a large extent, developing the young talent that’s in the fold. Will Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman find a higher level as hitters and become a part of the young core? Will JJ Wetherholt‘s rookie season unfold as hoped? Will the velocity and swing and miss that’s been added to the organization make a difference in St. Louis this season, or is that more of a longer-term consideration? Will Masyn Winn take the next step as a hitter now that his knee has been surgically repaired? Will Dustin May get back to his old form and become a valuable deadline piece for the Cards? Speaking of trade candidates, will Lars Nootbaar produce after having surgery on both heels and be moved in the first half? Are Iván Herrera and his cleaned-up elbow capable of controlling the running game, or is a permanent move off the catcher position ahead? The 2026 season probably won’t bring contention to St. Louis, but it will be a clarifying campaign on many fronts. — Dayn Perry
San Diego Padres
Biggest question: Can the depth pieces step up?
There’s no question the Padres have the top-shelf talent needed to make the Dodgers sweat and maybe even to win a World Series. Fernando Tatís Jr. is capable of winning MVP. Hell, Manny Machado still might be. He finished second in 2022 and is still only 33 years old. Jackson Merrill and Xander Bogaerts look like All-Stars at their best. The rotation has three pitchers for whom you could say the same. The bullpen could be the strongest in all of baseball, or at least when we narrow it down to the late-inning guys.
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The roster depth is the concern. The Padres have a litany of main characters, but the problem here might be the supporting cast. The back half of the lineup can’t afford to be terrible. The fourth and fifth spots in the rotation can’t just be batting practice for opposing teams. They can’t rely on just a few arms in the bullpen to pitch every single time they are winning a close game.
The Padres are on one of the better runs in club history. They’ve made the playoffs in four out of five seasons and had previously only been to the postseason five times in 52 years. There’s an NLCS appearance in there, too. But they haven’t won the pennant in this five-year stretch and remain one of five MLB clubs with zero World Series titles.
New manager Craig Stammen needs his studs to be studs, yeah, but he needs the supporting cast to step up if this season is to be special in San Diego. — Matt Snyder
Biggest question: How does the Tony Vitello hire work?
Surely there will be some sort of transition phase with the new Giants manager, who was hired straight from the University of Tennessee. This isn’t like jumping from college to the pros in football or basketball, and college baseball coaches can be dictatorial. That won’t fly in the majors with high-priced talent on this team like Rafael Devers, Logan Webb, Willy Adames and Matt Chapman.
Tony Vitello traveled in the offseason to meet his players, including the Dominican Republic (Adames and Devers) and South Korea (Jung Hoo Lee), then gave a speech at the start of camp to the entire organization. He got rave reviews from his players. Will that translate on the field?
Seattle Mariners
Biggest question: Can they take the next step?
The Mariners were once one of the worst franchises in baseball, but they rose to respectability in the mid-90s and have since been the biggest tease to their fan base. They’ve had all-time greats like Ken Griffey Jr., Ichiro Suzuki, Randy Johnson and Edgar Martinez (and A-Rod … and King Felix … ), but have the unfortunate distinction of being the only franchise with zero World Series appearances.
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It isn’t just that, though. We can’t forget about the regular-season collapses. They set an MLB record with 116 wins in 2001 and failed to win even two games in the ALCS. In 2022, they finally got their first home playoff game since 2001 and scored zero runs in 18 innings in front of what started as a raucous crowd. Last year felt different for a while. They had that 3-2 ALCS lead after a five-run eighth inning in Game 5 — headlined by a Eugenio Suárez grand slam — sent T-Mobile Park into a frenzy. And then they lost the next two games.
That was the closest they’d ever come. The fans are as excited as ever now for 2026. Will the tease job continue or can the Mariners finally break through?
The rotation is on point, though there isn’t much margin for error concerning a terrible season or injury from one or two of them. The bullpen looks good, too, but sometimes those things go south. The lineup is capable, albeit with questions to answer. Things need to break right. My concern is that there isn’t enough depth to absorb a few bad outcomes, along with the reality that Cal Raleigh can’t possibly replicate what he did last season.
They have a very good roster, though, and the American League seems wide open. The front office needs to be ready to strike at the deadline, again, just like last year. — Matt Snyder
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Tampa Bay Rays
Biggest question: What can Junior Caminero do for an encore?
Well, he can star in the World Baseball Classic. We know that much. Junior Caminero went 7 for 20 (.350) with three home runs in the Dominican Republic’s six games and was arguably the most dangerous hitter on a team that included Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Juan Soto, and Fernando Tatis Jr. Last season, Caminero slugged 45 home runs for the Rays, the second most ever for a player in his 21 season (Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews hit 47 in 1953). Tampa finished in last place last season, then subtracted some pieces over the winter (Brandon Lowe, Shane Baz, etc.). To have any shot at contention in 2026, they’ll need Caminero to not just repeat his big 2025, but improve upon it. — Mike Axisa
Texas Rangers
Biggest question: Can the rotation carry them?
The upside of this rotation is the best in baseball. I have them fourth right now and that might end up being too low. There are ace-caliber arms and there is depth. It could be so great. There are questions in the bullpen, though, and the lineup has taken a huge tumble since being such a force in 2023. Last season, the Rangers finished 23rd in runs scored and 26th in OPS.
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They swapped out Marcus Semien for Brandon Nimmo and let Adolis García walk, giving the top of the order a makeover. They’ll need Wyatt Langford to become the star everyone thinks he can be while Corey Seager stays as healthy as can be expected. Still, that leaves the bottom part of the lineup. Is the Evan Carter breakout coming? Is there more from Joshes Jung and/or Smith? Jake Burger and Joc Pederson must be better to make this work, but are they capable?
That’s a lot of questions. The rotation has to be the engine here. — Matt Snyder
Toronto Blue Jays
Biggest question: Will all that go their way again?
In addition to being an excellent team, the Blue Jays had a lot break their way last season. Several role players, including backup catcher Tyler Heineman and extra outfielder Myles Straw, performed way above expectations, plus George Springer had close to a career year offensively at age 35. Teams that go to the World Series tend to have players come out of nowhere to perform unexpectedly well. That was the case with Toronto last season. There are already some cracks in the rotation (José Berríos’ elbow, Shane Bieber‘s forearm, Trey Yesavage‘s shoulder) shrinking their margin of error. As good as they are, the Blue Jays could use a little of that 2025 magic early in 2026. — Mike Axisa
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Washington Nationals
Biggest question: What would qualify as a successful season?
The Nationals won the World Series in 2019 and only the Rockies have lost more games since. Longtime GM Mike Rizzo was let go last summer and, in the offseason, new POBO Paul Toboni was brought in to get the organization up to speed. The Nationals had fallen behind in just about everything that matters. Analytics, scouting, player development, you name it. A sixth straight 90-loss season is the likely outcome here, but that doesn’t mean Washington can’t have a good season. Success for them would be young players like Dylan Crews and Harry Ford (both starting the year in Triple-A) emerging as legitimate building blocks, and some veterans playing their way into trade value. Think Zack Littell, Miles Mikolas, etc. The Nationals have had bad seasons the last few years. Will the 2026 team have a bad season that at least shows some signs of hope and progress? — Mike Axisa
Man Utd youngster Kai Rooney has confirmed he is out for the rest of the season after picking up an injury recently.
11:05, 26 Mar 2026Updated 11:13, 26 Mar 2026
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Manchester United academy youngster Kai Rooney has picked up an injury that will rule him out for the rest of the season and deny him the chance of featuring in the Under-18s bid for FA Youth Cup glory.
Rooney, 16, was part of the Under-16s side that won the Premier League Shield and the academy prospect has featured for Darren Fletcher’s Under-18s at times this season.
It has been a productive campaign for the forward, who is following in the footsteps of dad Wayne by trying to earn a career at Old Trafford, but the injury he has picked up will bring it to a premature end.
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“Disappointed to be out for the rest of the season. Back stronger next pre-season,” Rooney wrote on Instagram on Thursday morning.
Rooney picked up an injury earlier in the campaign as well, but he will still look back on 2025/26 fondly, having also won the Super Cup NI with the younger age group.
He also earned his breakthrough with the Under-18s. He has two goals and an assist in six U18 Premier League fixtures, with that tally coming in just 119 minutes of action.
The youngster also made his first appearance at OId Trafford, playing 21 minutes in the FA Youth Cup fourth-round win against Derby County, while he was an unused substitute in the quarter-final success against Sunderland.
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It promises to be a thrilling end to the campaign for the Under-18s, who face Crystal Palace at Old Trafford in the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup, play the same opponents at Selhurst Park in the Premier League Cup final and are locked in a battle with Manchester City at the top of the league.
Having come off the bench in the last three games, Rooney would have been hoping to play his part in the charge for silverware until his injury blow.
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Mohamed Salah is to leave Liverpool at the end of this season, the Premier League champions announced Tuesday ending an “illustrious” nine years on Merseyside.
The 33-year-old Egypt forward arrived at Anfield from Roma in 2017 and has made 435 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 255 goals.
Salah’s form has dipped in his ninth year at Anfield, to such an extent that he was dropped for a stretch of games late last year – leading to the winger telling reporters in an impromptu interview that the club “has thrown me under the bus”.
“Unfortunately the day has come,” Salah said in a post on Instagram Tuesday.
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“I never imagined,” he added, “how deeply this club, this city, these people would become part of my life. Liverpool is not just a football club. It’s a passion, it’s a history, it’s a spirit. I can’t explain in words to anyone not part of this club.”
2025 AFCON: Egypt begins its bid to win tournament with Mohamed Salah
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FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – African Cup of Nations Qualification – Group C – Egypt v Cape Verde – Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt – September 6, 2024 Egypt’s Mohamed Salah shoots at goal REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File PhotoREUTERS – Amr Abdallah Dalsh
The Instagram post came around the same time as Liverpool published a six-paragraph statement announcing the imminent departure of a club great.
“Mohamed Salah is to bring the curtain down on his illustrious career with Liverpool at the end of the 2025-26 season,” the statement said.
“The forward has reached an agreement with the Reds that will see him close a remarkable nine-year chapter at Anfield.
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“Salah expressed his wish to make this announcement to the supporters at the earliest possible opportunity to provide transparency about his future due to his respect and gratitude for them.”
In-form Salah had scored in three of his past four starts after an uncharacteristic lean spell.
Salah, who is rarely absent through injury, appeared to be back in the fold at Anfield after a dramatic fallout with Liverpool manager Arne Slot earlier in the season.
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Despite his recent good form, Salah has scored just five Premier League goals this season, compared with 29 in Liverpool’s title-winning campaign in 2024/25.
Who is India’s greatest-ever cricket captain? It is a debate that has raged on for years, across generations, and will undoubtedly continue to. From Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi in the 1960s to Rohit Sharma in the 2020s, there are several candidates. Now, Sourav Ganguly has had his say on the matter. Ganguly is himself regarded as one of India’s greatest-ever captains, having led the team during the early 2000s and paved the way for future success. But he had a simple answer to the question.
When asked to choose India’s greatest-ever captain between himself and MS Dhoni, Ganguly leaned towards the latter.
“Mahendra Singh Dhoni. MS Dhoni has won a World Cup, while I have been a runner-up,” Ganguly said at a TV9 summit.
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“Dhoni has won the World Cup, and I would say he was an outstanding white-ball captain,” Ganguly added.
Ganguly further praised Dhoni for rising out of Jharkhand, which is a state that had not seen many cricketers play for India before him.
“I feel proud that he came from a small place like Jharkhand. Before him, not many players from there represented the country. To come from there and become such a legend is something to be proud of,” Ganguly said.
Ganguly added that Dhoni’s rise would’ve given confidence and belief to the youth of the area, and took the example of 14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who hails from Jharkhand’s neighbouring state of Bihar.
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“When someone from a state makes it big at the highest level, it creates an impact, it builds confidence – ‘If Mahi can do it, I can do it.’ Take Vaibhav Suryavanshi, for example. Yes, he is from Bihar, but he must have grown up watching Dhoni,” Ganguly said.
“I feel proud because I am from Bengal and he is from Jharkhand. These regions haven’t produced as many cricketers as places like Mumbai, Delhi or Bengaluru. That is why I take great pride in MS Dhoni,” he added.
Dhoni made his India debut under Ganguly’s captaincy in 2004. He went on to lead India to Cricket World Cup glory in 2011, to the T20 World Cup title in 2007 and the Champions Trophy in 2015.
Oct 5, 2025; Tottenham, United Kingdom; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) walks off the field after their win against the Cleveland Browns in an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
After the Kyler Murray signing, I figured the Vikings were set at quarterback, with Murray and J.J. McCarthy dueling for the starting spot while both tried to stay healthy, and Max Brosmer would continue to develop as a cheap third QB.
Then the news hit that the Vikings re-signed Carson Wentz to a one-year, $3 million contract with a $1.1 million signing bonus and $2.645 million guaranteed, according to Spotrac. My first thought was that this further muddies the waters at the most important position for the Vikings.
My second thought was that they want to make sure they don’t ever go into a game with a rookie QB starting his first NFL game against the eventual Super Bowl champs, which was the case in the 26-0 Week 13 shutout in Seattle, when Brosmer had a dismal performance.
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How Wentz’s Return Reshapes the Vikings’ QB Hierarchy
That won’t happen in 2026 with two QBs in Murray and Wentz, who have 186 regular-season starts (and two playoff starts) between them, plus McCarthy started 10 games last season, and Brosmer had two starts.
This assumes both Murray and Wentz make the team, which is not automatic, since neither player has a big dead-money hit if cut or traded due to poor performance, bad chemistry in the QB room, or a trade offer too good to pass up. The 23-year-old McCarthy is not going anywhere after the team invested the No. 10 overall pick (in 2024) in him as a potential future franchise QB, and despite his early struggles as injuries piled up, he is 6-4 as an NFL starter.
On October 19, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz went through pregame drills before the matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium. The veteran passer, facing his former team for the first time in purple, displayed sharp focus during warmups as fans packed the stands for the highly anticipated reunion against one of the NFC’s top defensive units. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
Yet the fact that Murray and Wentz are in the house tells us Kevin O’Connell is not yet convinced that McCarthy can be counted on in 2026 to be consistent and accurate enough to lead an offense with plenty of supporting talent, and adds the caveat that he has not yet had an injury-free season.
Which brings me to my next thought on the Vikings quarterback situation and McCarthy specifically.
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What if O’Connell decides to give McCarthy another red-shirt year and goes with Murray as the starter and Wentz as the No. 2 this season? That will mean McCarthy would be through his third NFL accrued season, as he received an accrued season in his rookie year of 2024, since he was on IR for at least six games, and a second accrued season in 2025.
As he then heads into his fourth season in 2027, the Vikings will be faced with a deadline around May 1 next year to exercise the fifth-year option for McCarthy’s rookie contract at a fully guaranteed amount of an estimated $23 million. If McCarthy rides the bench this season, how could the Vikings make that commitment to a still unproven player with an injury history?
The team could then be looking at what the Giants dealt with after they didn’t exercise Daniel Jones’ fifth-year option in 2022 and wound up overpaying him on a $40 million per year deal when he did have a very good season in that final year of his four-year rookie deal (including his playoff win over the Vikings) before injuries and poor play derailed him in New York. Jones wound up in Indianapolis last year, where he played well enough before tearing his Achilles in Week 14 to earn a two-year deal that could reach $100 million with incentives.
And what if Murray plays well, stays healthy, and leads the Vikings on a playoff run this season? Then the Vikings won’t want a repeat of Sam Darnold leaving for Seattle after his 14-win season, so Murray would likely be re-signed to at least a three-year deal in 2027 with no fifth-year option for McCarthy, who would remain in a backup role for his fourth season and almost certainly sign elsewhere in 2028. Thus, another No. 1 pick down the drain for the Vikings, and the fear McCarthy—still only 26 years old—flourishes for another team.
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Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy drops back and delivers a first-quarter throw at U.S. Bank Stadium, Jan 4, 2026, in Minneapolis against the Green Bay Packers. The snapshot captured McCarthy operating within the structure of the offense early, as Minnesota looked to establish rhythm and tempo during a high-stakes divisional matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
There are so many ways this Vikings QB drama can play out over the next few years, beginning at OTAs in the coming months, through training camp/preseason, and into the upcoming season.
The Vikings certainly wish McCarthy had not hurt his knee and sat on IR for his rookie season and that he would have played better early last season and not sprained his ankle to open the door for Wentz (who as we know played so-so—2-3 record in five starts with six TD passes, five interceptions and a lackluster 85.8 passer rating—but he’ll have a better handle on O’Connell’s offense this year as will McCarthy after his 10 starts with a strong finish but it was not enough to prevent the arrival of Murray and the return of Wentz).
The good news for the team is that the combined 2026 salary cap hit for their four QBs is only $11.3 million. The bad news is the uncertainty at such a critical position.
Yet I understand why O’Connell and Rob Brzezinski decided to load up with Murray and Wentz, despite further muddying the waters for McCarthy and, to some extent, Murray. More options create more competition and protection against a repeat of the injuries that hit the QB room last year.
The best-case scenario for the Vikings is McCarthy taking a major step forward this season by claiming the starting role through improved play if he gets the chance due to Murray faltering in a new system or getting hurt again (he missed 21 games over the last three seasons with knee and foot injuries), and O’Connell going with McCarthy over Wentz.
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And McCarthy leading the team back to the playoffs and on a playoff run to cement his position moving forward to the point the Vikings exercise his fifth-year option (while waiting for another quality season from McCarthy before he gets a huge second contract).
Nov 27, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) against the Los Angeles Chargers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
One thing is for sure: there will be an abundance of quarterback drama and fan interest in the Vikings QB battle this year.
Around the NFL free agency/trade observations
1. Instead of opening the 2026 NFL season on Thursday in Week 1, which is the usual custom for the defending Super Bowl champs, the Seahawks will host the opener on Wednesday, September 9, to allow for a Thursday night game in Melbourne, Australia between the Rams and 49ers.
That will be the first of a record nine international games this coming season. Other sites are London (three games), Munich, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, and Paris.
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Early speculation is that the Seahawks will host either the Patriots (in a Super Bowl rematch), the Chiefs, the Cowboys, or the Bears in the Week 1 opener. Patrick Mahomes posted a video of himself in a throwing session as he continues his rehab following ACL surgery in December.
He is targeting a Week 1 return, and given his competitiveness and dedication, I don’t doubt he’ll play in the opener, which could be in Seattle, to play up the drama of his possible return.
Carson Wentz lines up at midfield on September 28, 2025, at Croke Park in Dublin as the Vikings opened play against the Steelers in an NFL International Series matchup, taking the snap atop the league shield during first-quarter action overseas. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
The Vikings have been regulars on the international circuit in recent years but may get the year off after playing back-to-back last season in Dublin and London (with a loss to the Steelers and a win over the Browns).
As a former team travel coordinator for the Vikings early in my career, I was in charge of preseason game trips to London and Sweden, so I understand all too well the logistical challenges of playing overseas.
2. With the news that the negotiations for a new CBA between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association are not going well at this stage, it brings up the possibility of a work stoppage that would force the use of replacement officials early in the upcoming season.
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The last time that happened was during the first three weeks of the 2012 season, and it did not go well for the league, with plenty of controversy and unhappy coaches and players due to the relatively poor job the replacement officials did compared to the regular officials. For the sake of the sport, let’s hope this labor issue gets resolved before the season.
Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was selected NFL Executive of the Year … More about Jeff Diamond
Gujarat Titans have significantly expanded their commercial portfolio ahead of IPL 2026, onboarding a total of 37 partners as the franchise continues to strengthen its brand presence. The development reflects not just an increase in numbers but a broader strategy focused on long-term value, deeper collaborations, and a diversified partnership ecosystem.
Since their title-winning debut in 2022, Gujarat Titans have steadily built a reputation for consistency on and off the field. The current mix of partnerships — ranging from renewals to new additions — highlights sustained trust in the franchise’s growing stature and its ability to deliver visibility and engagement.
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Strong on-kit partnerships anchor ecosystem
At the centre of the Titans’ commercial structure is a well-established on-kit portfolio. Birla Estates continues as the principal partner, occupying the prime front-of-jersey position. The association reflects a long-term alignment between the brand and the franchise’s ambitions.
The core group is further strengthened by continuing partnerships with Torrent, BKT Tyres, Jio, Astral Pipes, and Livpure. These associations underline continuity while also pointing to deeper integration between the team and its key stakeholders.
New integrations enhance match-day visibility
Gujarat Titans have also added fresh partnerships to boost on-field visibility. Brands such as Google Pixel, Grew Solar, and IGI have joined the ecosystem, ensuring a strong presence across match-day assets.
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Equitas has also upgraded its association, moving from helmet branding to a more prominent position on the team jersey. The shift indicates growing confidence among partners in the franchise’s reach and engagement potential.
Diversified portfolio reflects wider reach
Beyond the playing kit, the franchise has focused on building a diverse and future-ready partner mix. Technology-driven collaborations, including those with Google’s platforms, are aimed at enhancing digital engagement and fan interaction, while AirAsia brings a lifestyle and travel dimension to the portfolio.
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Consumer-facing brands such as Campa, Budweiser 0.0, Amul, Dream11, and Scapia continue to strengthen mass appeal. At the same time, partnerships with gaming and youth-focused platforms such as Krafton, Pokémon, and Big Ant highlight the team’s push towards engaging younger audiences.
Expansion into emerging and service sectors
The Titans have also broadened their footprint across emerging and service-driven categories. Associations with Bharat Taxi, Finkeda, Next Care Inc., HCG Hospital, and Max Fresh add value across mobility, fintech, healthcare, and personal care segments, reflecting a more holistic commercial strategy.
Focus on fan engagement and accessibility
Fan experience remains a central pillar, with BookMyShow continuing as the ticketing partner, ensuring streamlined access to matches. Radio partnerships with Mirchi and Fever are expected to enhance regional outreach and audience engagement throughout the season.
Merchandise push extends brand presence
Off the field, Gujarat Titans are expanding their retail and merchandise footprint through collaborations with T10, EM, Hapipola, Baller Athletik, Versant, Chupps, Cricket Icons, and Valiente. These partnerships aim to take the franchise brand beyond stadiums and into everyday consumer spaces.
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Franchise targets long-term value creation
The franchise leadership believes the growing partner base reflects increasing confidence in the Titans’ vision and identity. The management indicated that these collaborations are focused not just on visibility but on building long-term relationships that deliver consistent value both on and off the field.
Betting sign up offers and free bets are available from betting sites for signing up and betting online.
At The Independent, our experts have used their impartial and detailed analysis to find new and existing customers the best betting sign up offers and free bets on the market.
We have stringent criteria when it comes to picking our top betting offers available. Our experts focus on accessibility, flexibility, fairness, key terms and conditions and regularity when selecting the best options out there.
Every betting site that we recommend is licensed and regulated by United Kingdom Gambling Commission, ensuring that new and existing customers are using a reputable betting operator.
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Free bets can be claimed from betting sites by new and existing customers, allowing bettors to bet without risking their own money.
Terms and conditions are attached to free bets and betting offers. Usually, bettors must deposit or stake a qualifying amount to claim a free bet, which can be used on selected sports and events.
Wagering requirements can be attached to free bet offers, which means winnings must be played through a set number of times before you can withdraw funds as cash, but this is more common on casino sites.
Types of free bets
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Bet & Get: The most common betting sign-up offer, bet a minimum amount, meet the T&Cs and receive a free bet bonus.
Moneyback specials: Typically an ongoing free bet promo, whereby punters get their money back as a free bet if there’s an underwhelming outcome such as a 0-0 draw.
Free bet clubs: Loyalty reward schemes aimed at those who bet regularly with one bookmaker in particular.
Enhanced odds with free bet winnings: A bookmaker offers a wildly inflated price on a popular market, such as 40/1 on Man City to win, with winnings paid out as free bets.
No deposit free bets: These are rare, but can be obtained via free-to-play prediction games on several online bookmakers.
Free bets are straightforward to use for customers, although the way they can be deployed may differ depending on your chosen bookmaker.
Usually, betting sites will have a box or toggle on your bet slip that users can tick or move to confirm free bets on their bet.
An important note. If your bet wins, you only keep the profit, the free bet stake itself isn’t returned.
Bookmakers may require you to use free bets in precise portions, such as £5 or £10, while others will allow you to bet with amounts of your choosing until you’ve used up your balance.
Here are the latest betting sign up offers and free bets available for this week’s major sporting events.
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William Hill: Wales World Cup Epic Boost
William Hill are offering an Epic Boost price for Wales to qualify for the World Cup play-off final on Thursday.
Customers can claim the Epic Boost price of evens boosted from 2/5 for Wales to advance from their World Cup play-off semi-final clash against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Qualifying bets must be placed before kick-off and customers are limited to a maximum £10 stake.
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Paddy Power: Free Bet Builder Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland
Paddy Power are offering customers a free bet builder for users that place a qualifying bet builder on Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland on Thursday.
To qualify, customers must opt-in on the free bet offer before placing a £2 bet builder on the World Cup play-off clash with three selections or more and odds of evens or greater.
Once the qualifying bet has settled, customers will receive a free bet builder worth £2 to use on football. Free bet builder expires within seven days.
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Bet365: Bet Builder Boost 25% World Cup Playoffs
Bet365 are offering 25 per cent bet builder boosts on select games for tonight’s round of World Cup play-off matches.
Customers can claim the betting offer for matches including Italy vs Northern Ireland, Wales vs Bosnia-Herzegovina and Czech Republic vs Northern Ireland.
Qualifying bet builders must include three selections or more and odds of evens or greater, with users selecting the bet builder boost option in their bet slip.
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Winning bet builders will be paid out with the 25 per cent boost.
Betting Site
Offer Type
Min. Bet
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Free Bet Value
Best For
Coral
Welcome bonus
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£5
£30
Low-stake sign up value
Betano
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Welcome bonus
£10
£50
Football free bets
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Tote
Welcome bonus
£10
£30
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Horse racing free bets
Bet365
Moneyback special
£10
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£10
Ongoing money-back as free bet offers
Virgin Bet
Free Bet Club
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£20
£5 weekly
Ongoing rewards for regular bettors
Free bets value for money (Independent)
Here are the standout betting offers on the market for users broken down into strength of category.
Coral – Best low-stake betting sign up offer
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Coral offer the best low stake betting sign up offer allowing new customers to secure £30 in free bets after signing up and betting just £5 on any sports bet of their choice.
There’s plenty of flexibility over where users can place their qualifying bet. Customers can choose any sport with odds of 1/2 odds or greater, only Bet365 has a lower threshold among welcome offers, but their value is not as high as Coral’s.
Time is also on your side using Coral. Customers can take up to 14 days after sign up to make their first bet and still qualify for the betting sign up offer.
Coral rewards customers with £30 in free bets for betting just £5 online (The Independent)
Payout is also prompt as soon as your qualifying bet settles. Coral will credit your account with £30 in free bets within 24 hours. These free bets are paid out in 6 x £5 free bets, giving customers plenty of scope to use their funds.
These free bets are fairly flexible as 4 x £5 free bets available to use on any sport on Coral, while the remaining £10 free bet balance is reserved for 1 x £5 football bet builder and a 1x £5 horse racing bet builder.
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It’s arguaaly the best £5 deposit betting site around as customers secure a 600% return from their first deposit and bet. For first-time bettors it’s a perfect betting sign up offer for value.
Betano – Best football betting sign up offer
Betano is the best option for punters looking for free bets at leading football betting sites, with the Betano sign up offer providing £50 in free bets with an initial wager of just £10 (an excellent return for a low entry stake).
The offer includes a straightforward qualifying bet with minimum odds of evens and no accumulator required, while the 30-day expiry on free bets gives users flexibility, with plenty of time to use bonuses.
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Newcomers can get £50 in free bets after an initial £10 bet (iStock/The Independent)
This new betting site provides great variety on its football markets – from match odds and BTTS to goalscorers, correct scores and much more – and users will also find regular offers and promotions once signed up to the site.
Tote – Best for horse racing free bets
The Tote betting sign up offer is an excellent choice for horse racing fans, with a £10 bet returning £30 in racing value – a strong 3x reward for such a low qualifying stake.
The offer provides £20 in Tote Credit for horse racing – which is ideal for pools, exotics, and Tote-only markets – as well as £10 in free bets to use on the sportsbook, offering plenty of flexibility for new customers.
The Tote website performs equally well on mobile and desktop (iStock/The Independent)
The qualifying bet simply need to be a £10 wager on any sport (with some exclusions, though win, place, or pool bets all count) at odds of evens or greater, and winnings are fully withdrawable, with Tote Credit profits available to be cashed out, keeping risk low.
Tote also guarantee boosts payouts paid at SP or better, adding an extra upside for horse racing bettors and making Tote the best choice among horse racing betting sites.
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Bet365 – Best for moneyback as a free bet
Bet365 have recently launched its moneyback specials across a number of sports, including football and horse racing, as well as a range of major events.
Customers can wager up to £10 and will receive their stake back in free bets if their bet fails. The system is simple for claiming the betting offer, with users ticking the ‘Money Back As Free Bets’ box on their bet slip to qualify.
Free bets are usually credited within a matter of hours, but it can take up to 24 hours. Free bet credits can be used anywhere on one of the best betting sites in the business with no limit on where and how your credits can be spent.
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Bet365 customers can get up to £10 back as a free bet on losing racing and football bets (iStock/The Independent)
Bet365 moneyback specials are most common on football, and notably the Premier League where the highlight games of the week are covered with a moneyback special notably on Saturday and Sunday evenings, although Champions League and Europa League midweek games have also featured this betting offer.
The nuts and bolts of the requirements are as follows. Customers must place a qualifying bet builder on the eligible game or event, with bet builders needing only evens (2.0) or higher odds.
Bet365 also attaches its Sub Play On feature on football bet builders in conjunction with the moneyback special, which keeps bets alive even if a player is subbed.
Virgin Bet – Best free bet club
Existing customers can use the weekly Virgin Bet rewards club to claim £5 in free bets for placing qualifying accas.
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Users only need to opt-in on the promotion before placing four £5 accas with odds of 2/1 or greater between Monday to Sunday, making these qualifying stakes smaller than most rival free bet clubs.
Virgin Bet have an extremely low minimum odds requirement to use your free bet at 1/100.
Claim £5 in free bets for placing qualifying accas on Virgin Bet (iStock/The Independent)
You’re spoiled for choice, and better yet, there are no restrictions where you can use your bonus.
In addition, the seven-day expiry gives plenty of time to use the bonus, meaning the free bet club offers huge flexibility.
After the qualifying bets have settled, Virgin Bet pays out the £5 free acca bet into your account and to activate the free bet offer, simply use the toggle on your bet slip to use up the credits.
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Below, we’ve provided some detail on common traps that users can fall into when claiming free bets:
Stake not returned on free bets
Not all free bet offers return the original stake if your bet wins. For example, a £10 free bet at 3/1 pays £30 profit, not £40; always factor this in when comparing headline free bet amounts.
Short expiry windows
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Free bets usually expire within 5-7 days of being credited, and occasionally less. Unused free bets are removed automatically once they expire, so casual or infrequent bettors can lose value this way.
Remember to always check the expiry date as soon as the free bet is added.
Bet builder or market restrictions
Some free bets are limited to certain types of use. For example, some are football bet builders only, accumulator bets or bets fixed to specific sports, leagues or events. These restrictions reduce flexibility and can increase risk.
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Bet builder-only free bets often require multiple selections to win, meaning long odds, and it is the same with accas. Remember to check eligible markets before placing your qualifying bet.
Minimum odds requirements
Betting offers may require minimum odds on either the qualifying bet or the free bet itself, and sometimes both. Higher odds thresholds can push bettors toward riskier selections, while a smaller free bet with low odds requirements can offer better value.
Cash-Out and In-Play exclusions
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Remember that cashing out a qualifying bet often voids eligibility for the offer. Some free bets also cannot be used on in-play markets.
These exclusions are commonly hidden in the T&Cs, so avoid cashing out unless you’re sure it won’t affect the promotion.
Wagering requirements and bonus conditions
Wagering is uncommon on free bets, but it is not unheard of. Some promotions attach extra conditions to winnings or follow-on bonuses instead.
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Offers requiring winnings to be wagered multiple times reduce real value, while simpler “bet and get” free bets are usually the safest option.
Before a bookmaker makes our list of free bet offers, they must meet key criteria to ensure a high-quality betting experience.
1. Licensing
Only sites with a valid UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licence are considered on our list of recommended operators.
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The UKGC ensures fair play and consumer protection, working alongside independent testing agencies like eCOGRA. If a bookmaker isn’t regulated, it’s not safe – anyone can verify a licence via the UKGC register.
2. Security
Every bookmaker we recommend must implement high-quality security measures such as SSL encryption and two-factor authentication to protect customer data.
3. Reputation
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Reputation also plays a role – established brands like Betfred, William Hill and Bet365 consistently rank highly with us, but we also highlight new, reputable operators such as BetMGM when their free bet offers meet our expectations.
4. Mobile
With most bets now placed on phones and tablets, mobile betting functionality is essential.
Bookmakers with dedicated betting apps that mirror the desktop experience are given preference, and we also consider user app reviews from the Apple and Google Play stores.
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5. Experience
The customer experience is equally crucial – we rigorously test bookmaker support channels, favouring those that provide fast, effective resolutions.
Ultimately, our rankings focus on the quality of the free bet offers, but we also take into account matters including odds restrictions, timeframe to both unlock free bet offers and use your bonus funds, wagering requirements and available payment methods.
6. Value
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Operators that provide valuable betting sign up offers, competitive terms, and ongoing free bet promotions for returning customers get the highest ratings.
Why trust us?
Chris Wilson is a betting content producer and sports reporter who has been working at The Independent since 2023.
He writes betting tips across a range of sporting events as well as reviewing dozens of betting sites and casino sites across the UK.
Chris has extensively tested and reviewed offers from established operators and new betting sites to find the best free bet offers for readers of The Independent.
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Responsible gambling is always at the forefront of his research, ensuring customers have a fair and secure experience claiming and using betting offers online.
If you decide to engage with any of the online betting sites highlighted on this page, remember to gamble responsibly, even when using free bets and betting sign up offers.
When betting, always assume you’ll lose and therefore, only bet what you can afford to lose. Even free bets still involve a level of risk.
Make sure you use the responsible gambling tools offered by betting companies such as deposit limits, reality checks, loss limits and time outs. These can stop gambling from getting out of hand.
If you have gambling-related concerns, then seek independent help. There are several UK charities and institutions that offer support, advice and information, with a few listed below:
Are free bets withdrawable?
No, it is not possible to withdraw a free bet. It must be used according to the terms and conditions of the free bet offer or it will be forfeited.
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Can you cash out free bets?
In most cases, bookmakers will not allow punters to cash out a free bet before the bet has run its course, so you will likely have to wait for your bet to settle before receiving any winnings.
What does money back in free bets mean?
This means you can get a refund on your stake, but not as withdrawable cash – only as a free bet, meaning you have to stake the same cash again on a different bet.
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What is the best betting sign up offer available now?
In the Independent’s view, Coral provides the best betting sign up offer on the market at present. New customers need only sign up and deposit £5 before betting £5 on any sports market with odds of 1/2 or greater to unlock £30 in free bets.
What betting sites give free bets without a deposit?
Few bookmakers hand out free bets for nothing, but you can earn free bets by entering free-to-play prediction games on Bet365, BetVictor, NetBet, Betway, Betfred, Ladbrokes, Coral and BetMGM.
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Dec 21, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Atlanta United FC owner Arthur Blank has named longtime Mexican Football Federation executive Mauricio Culebro to be president of the United of MLS as well as Blank’s NWSL franchise which debuts in 2028.
“This is an exciting day as we welcome Mauricio to Atlanta and our family of businesses,” Blank said in a statement released through his AMB Sports and Entertainment, which includes among its properties the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, Atlanta Drive of the TGL indoor golf league, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“As we progressed through the search process, Mauricio’s impressive experience and clear vision to elevate our clubs made him an outstanding fit to lead Atlanta United and NWSL Atlanta 2028.”
Culebro has spent five years as president of Tigres UANL and has also been chief operating officer of the Mexican Football Federation.
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Blank said that though Culebro is new to MLS, he is no stranger to “building and operating successful global soccer clubs,” adding that he is “fully confident in his ability to help return Atlanta United to the level our fans deserve, while leading the launch of our NWSL club.”
Culebro also led Mexico’s planning for its role in hosting the upcoming World Cup this summer.
“It is an honor to join AMBSE’s highly successful leadership team and become part of an organization with such a strong culture and foundation already in place,” Culebro said. “I am excited to put my experience, passion and commitment at the service of Atlanta United and NWSL Atlanta 2028, working alongside a great team to build long-term projects our fans can feel proud of — teams that truly represent the passion, energy and ambition of this city.”
Northampton Saints will treat playing Saracens at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as if it was a cup final, according to prop Manny Iyogun.
Saturday’s Prem fixture will be the second part of a women and men’s double header, titled Showdown VI, at the 62,850-capacity stadium.
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Last week Saracens reported that 40,000 tickets had already been sold for an event which will also see Dizzee Rascal perform live between the two games.
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“It’s got a bit of a finals vibe to it and games like this prep you for finals in knockout rugby and that’s exactly how we’re approaching it,” Iyogun told BBC Radio Northampton’s Saints Show.
Saints are two points clear at the top of the Prem table following their narrow, below-their-best win over Newcastle Red Bulls – and have already beaten Saracens twice this season in league and cup.
Sarries, meanwhile, returned to Prem action last Friday with a heavy 62-point defeat at Bath, leaving them in sixth place, eight points outside the play-off spots.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was opened in 2019 [Getty Images]
Iyogun’s team-mate Tom Lockett believes they will be playing at the “best new stadium in the UK”.
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“To get a chance to play in it is pretty cool, something we’re all pretty excited for but ultimately we’ve still got to perform as if it’s the Gardens or any stadium,” second row Lockett said.
“We’ll go down on Friday and get a feel for the stadium and then hopefully put that to the back of our mind and go and do the job.
“We’ve got better at that over the years, playing in big environments and finding out what works and what doesn’t work and how we get back on script when things aren’t going to plan.
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“Obviously we want to be involved in as many big games as possible so it can only be a good thing [to play there].”
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England lock Alex Coles could again be absent because of injury suffered on Six Nations duty so 23-year-old Lockett may again inherit the key role as line-out routines caller.
“Colesy is huge for us not only in terms of how he plays but also how he leads that line-out area,” Lockett added.
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“I’ve taken so much from him over the past five or six years. I like to think I’m in a good position now where I’ve got enough experience to take that mantle from him.”
Asked how many different routines Saints have, he replied: “It’s basically a language and you have to be fluent in that language to know all the different moves you could run.
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“If you put a number on it, it would be well into the thousands. Colesy’s coming up with new stuff all the time.”
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So, are there any Tottenham supporters in the Saints dressing room? Not according to Iyogun.
“It’s a very tough time [to be a Spurs fan] and playing at Tottenham probably wouldn’t be the best experience [if you were],” he said.
“I’m Chelsea fan so me and [strength and conditioning coach] Tommy Buller – he’s a Man City fan – have a bit of a natter about it. There’s a lot of football fans, Colesy’s an Arsenal fan, so there’s a bit of rivalry.”
Indian all-rounder Shivam Dube said on Thursday that his train journey back home after winning the T20 World Cup 2026 with his family was exciting but also quite tough, as he had to take extra precautions to avoid being recognised. Dube had to take an unusual route to get back home from Ahmedabad after the historic win. Unlike most Indian cricketers who travel by chartered or private flights, he couldn’t find any available flights from Ahmedabad to Mumbai, as they were fully booked. So, he decided to travel by train in a 3rd AC coach. Even though there was a risk of being recognised by fans, he felt it was the quickest option. In a video shared by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on X, Dube explained how he managed to avoid attention.
“It was quite tough. We took the train around 5 a.m., and there were many people. But since it was right after the World Cup, no one expected me to be there. I went to the top berth and slept for some time. We slept around 5:30 and woke up at 10:30,” he said.
Dube also shared that he had travelled by train in a similar way last year during a BPCL tournament in Baroda.
“I had done this before as well, wearing a mask. Last year, before the IPL, I travelled by train from a BPCL tournament in Baroda because I wanted to reach home early. I was sleeping on my berth, and there were a few friends with me,” he added.
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Sanju Samson, who was also part of the World Cup-winning team, will join Dube at Chennai Super Kings for the first time. Dube said Samson had asked him about the atmosphere in Chennai, and he replied, “You’ll love it. It will feel like home. There’s no pressure—you can just focus on your practice and training.”
Dube is expected to play an important role for CSK in IPL 2026. The five-time champions will begin their campaign on March 30 against the Rajasthan Royals at Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
YMCA member Austin Manengu works the keyboard as he plays a game of Fortnite during the unveiling of the new gaming lab at the Maplewood Family YMCA in Rochester Thursday, June 20, 2024. YMCA of Greater Rochester in partnership with Metro Sports & Entertainment Group will open two gaming labs for youth and teens this year.
PARIVISION and Xtreme Gaming pulled off clutch wins on the final day of group-stage competition on Wednesday to advance into the playoffs of the ESL One Birmingham event in England.
The teams entered the day in sixth and eighth place, respectively, in Group A and Group B. PARIVISION secured its second win over Yakult Brothers and then won a pair of one-off tiebreakers over GamerLegion and BetBoom to clinch the fourth spot.
In other Group A action before the tiebreakers, BetBoom beat GamerLegion while Team Yandex and Tundra Esports locked down the top two spots in the group with wins over MOUZ and REKONIX. MOUZ still finished in third place and advanced despite the loss.
Xtreme Gaming used a win over OG — its first of the competition — and losses by three other teams ahead of them to jump up four spots into fourth place in Group B. The losses they needed were Aurora Gaming beating paiN Gaming, Team Spirit beating Nigma Galaxy and Team Falcons beating Virtus.pro. Aurora Gaming and Team Spirit claimed the top two spots in Group B with Team Falcons claiming third.
The $1 million Dota 2 tournament, featuring 16 teams, will award $750,000 in prize money and $250,000 in club rewards as well as 35,460 ESL Pro Tour points spread among all participants.
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The top two teams from each group advanced to the upper bracket of the playoffs. The third- and fourth-place teams were delegated to the lower-bracket playoffs, with the remaining eight teams eliminated after Wednesday’s competition.
The playoffs will be contested Thursday through Sunday with a double-elimination bracket. All matches are best-of-three except for the grand final, which is best-of-five.
In Wednesday action, PARIVISION completed its win of Yakult Brothers with a 32-minute win on green followed by a 42-minute victory on red. Alan “Satanic” Gallyamov of Russia led the win with a 21-2-20 kill-death-assist ratio. Malaysia’s Daniel “Ghost” Chan led Yakult Brothers with a 7-8-6 K-D-A.
Yandex clinched the top spot with its 2-0 win over MOUZ, winning in 32 minutes and 31 minutes on green. Kazakhstan’s Alimzhan “watson” Islambekov led the win with an impressive 22-1-13 K-D-A, while Dutch competitor Remco “Crystallis” Arets led MOUZ with a 10-12-6 ratio.
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Tundra locked up the second spot with a pair of 29-minute victories on red followed by on green. Bozhidar “bzm” Bogdanov led the win with a 19-3-27 ratio, and Saieful “Fbz” Ilham of Indonesia led REKONIX with a 4-11-8 K-D-A.
BetBoom Team’s 2-0 win over GamerLegion in 45 minutes and 58 minutes on green made the Group A tiebreaker a necessity. Ilya “Kiritych” Ulyanov of Russia posted a 21-6-35 K-D-A for BetBoom, beating out Edmond Dantes’ 11-16-24 ratio for GamerLegion.
PARIVISION won the first tiebreaker over GamerLegion in 45 minutes on green and followed with a 51-minute triumph on red over BetBoom. Gallyamov led the team with an 8-8-19 ratio in the two tiebreakers.
In Group B action, Xtreme Gaming did its part to advance with 41-minute and 39-minute wins on green to beat OG. Wang “Ame” Chunyu of China led the effort by totaling 11-2-30 against a 5-12-9 ratio for OG’s John “Natsumi-” Vargas from the Philippines.
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Team Spirit beat Nigma Galaxy in 35 minutes on green and 49 minutes on red. Russia’s Denis “Larl” Sigitov led the win with a 17-2-27 K-D-A, while Tony “No!ob” Assaf of Lebanon led Nigma with a 14-11-13 ratio.
Team Falcons closed out the group stage with a 46-minute win on green followed by a 45-minute win on red over Virtus.pro. A 22-6-21 showing from Jordan’s Ammar “ATF” Al-Assaf led the way for Falcons against Abed “Abed” Yusop’s 18-6-18 ratio for Virtus.
Aurora Gaming finished atop the group with a 50-minute red victory followed by a 30-minute green beatdown of paiN. Egor “Nightfall” Grigorenko of Russia put up a 19-3-20 K-D-A to lead Aurora. Maximo “Wits” Orozco Alza led the Peruvian paiN squad with a 8-9-10 ratio.
Thursday schedule
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Upper-bracket semifinals
Team Yandex vs. Team Spirit
Aurora Gaming vs. Tundra Esports
ESL One Birmingham standings
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Position, Team, Match W-L (Maps W-L)
Group A
1. Team Yandex, 5-0-2 (12-2)
2. Tundra Esports, 4-0-3 (11-3)
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3. MOUZ, 4-3-0 (8-6)
4. PARIVISION, 2-3-2 (6-8)
5. GamerLegion, 2-3-2 (6-8)
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6. BetBoom, 2-3-2 (6-8)
7. Yakult Brothers, 1-3-3 (5-9)
8. REKONIX, 0-5-2 (2-12)
Group B
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1. Aurora Gaming, 6-0-1 (13-1)
2. Team Spirit, 5-1-1 (11-3)
3. Team Falcons, 3-1-3 (9-5)
4. Xtreme Gaming, 1-2-4 (6-8)
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5. Virtus.pro, 1-3-3 (5-9)
6. paiN Gaming, 0-3-4 (4-10)
7. OG, 0-3-4 (4-10)
8. Nigma Galaxy, 0-3-4 (4-10)
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ESL One Birmingham prize pool (prize money, club reward)
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