For a while, the football appeared to have taken over the politics at the 2026 World Cup. Cape Verde taking world champions Argentina to the wire, Paraguay knocking out Germany and Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe fighting it out for the top scorer’s Golden Boot — the focus was on the pitch.
He was successful, with FIFA ripping up the rulebook that bans red card appeals to say that the “automatic match suspension for USA player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year.” FIFA cited Article 27, a broad provision that allows them to “fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.”
The decision was handed down a little more than 48 hours before the US are to face Belgium in the quarterfinals. Trump celebrated with a post on his Truth Social platform that read, “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!”
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The close relationship between Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who created a FIFA Peace Prize to award Trump in December, has faced much scrutiny in the buildup to the tournament and will now come under the microscope again.
What has the US and Belgian reaction been to Balogun decision?
Belgium, as you might expect, are not happy. The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) responded with a strong statement of condemnation, saying they were “astonished” by the decision.
“I didn’t know that 5 July was equal to 1 April [April Fools’ Day] at FIFA,” joked a clearly angry Belgium coach Rudi Garcia in his prematch press conference.
On Monday, The Athletic reported that the RBFA have been granted the right to appeal the decision to a member of the FIFA appeals committee not associated with UEFA, Europe’s football confederation, or the North American equivalent CONCACAF. The judgment on that appeal could land as late as 12 hours before the quarterfinal kicks off.
Garcia’s opposing coach, Mauricio Pochettino, suggested issues had been “conflated” by those with an unspecified “agenda” to justify the decision.
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“If anyone was harmed in this whole situation, it was the United States. Can anyone justify the idea that we weren’t punished? I mean, playing 30 or 35 minutes a man down in a World Cup knockout match? It’s not as if we’re benefiting. Ultimately, we aren’t victims, but we aren’t the villains of this story either.”
How has the rest of the football world reacted to FIFA’s decision?
Those without skin in the game have, almost universally, backed the Belgian standpoint. The US are manifestly not the only side in the tournament frustrated by a call they believe is incorrect. UEFA, which is increasingly at loggerheads with FIFA, said the u-turn “crossed a red line” in a statement released on Monday.
Norway coach, Stale Solbakken, admonished Infantino’s organization even before Trump’s involvement became clear.
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“It is a big mistake by FIFA. It is not a great conclusion. He got a red card and the VAR concluded that it was a red card. That means you are suspended for one game,” he said. “I think what is really bad about that situation is, if the USA beat Belgium, they will always have that extra thing about it. The Belgians will be furious.”
Norway beat Brazil on Sunday, but their coach still criticized FIFAImage: Takuya Matsumoto/AP Photo/picture alliance
“The impression that there has been active political interference in sports must be dispelled swiftly and conclusively. The integrity of the competition and the credibility of FIFA are at stake,” he said, calling on FIFA to clarify Trump’s involvement.
His compatriot, England coach Thomas Tuchel, was among those who questioned whether this case now becomes a precedent.
“Where does this start and where does this end now? Can we overturn it or not overturn it? What’s going on? Where to draw the line is the question that I ask. I have no answer to that,” he said.
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What could happen next in the Balogun case?
Pending the result of Belgium’s appeal, Tuchel’s questions will no doubt be among those considered by every federation left in the tournament, and perhaps even some who are out. If this red card can suddenly be overturned, the thinking goes, why not others? Or a disallowed goal? Or a yellow card leading to suspension for a key match?
Indeed, the French Football Federation (FFF) is considering appealing a dubious yellow card that Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Olise picked up in France’s last-16 match against Paraguay, according to local media reports. Two yellow cards in different matches in the tournament mean a one-match suspension, the same punishment Balogun was set for.
Michael Olise is walking a suspension tightrope after a yellow card, unless France appeal and winImage: Charly Triballeau/AFP
FIFA could be set for a barrage of complaints and appeals. It remains to be seen, though, whether any other head of state or government will get involved, or whether they would have Infantino’s ear in the same way.
Not exactly. Brazil’s Garrincha was sent off against Chile in the semifinal of the 1962 tournament but played as Brazil won the final. However, in those days bans were decided by a committee, rather than an automatic one-match suspension.
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A closer precedent came shortly before this tournament. Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo received a three-match ban for a red card in a World Cup qualifier before the tournament. However, days after meeting Trump for dinner at the White House in November, the ban was reduced from three matches to one, the other two matches suspended for a one-year probation period, similar to Balogun’s case. Cristiano Ronaldo served the one-match suspension against Armenia and did not miss any of Portugal’s World Cup games.
On the flight home from Chicago, as he reflects on the 4-2 loss to Leeds that ended Liverpool‘s United States tour, manager Andoni Iraola will have plenty to think about.
The first-half display was arguably the best since he took charge of Liverpool, but the second was categorically their worst as they conceded four times without reply inside 25 minutes.
Iraola did make a raft of changes at the break and in the second half but that is no excuse for the way they capitulated against Daniel Farke’s side.
Their lack of squad depth and physicality was alarmingly exposed and Iraola will be concerned with the ease with which Leeds scored, albeit against an inexperienced backline that finished with Calvin Ramsay, Ifeanyi Ndukwe, Mor Talla Ndiaye and Kostas Tsimikas.
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With Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz making their return, Liverpool were excellent in the first half and it is important not to be too critical but perhaps Iraola will be glad in the long-run that he saw this second-half display, where Liverpool‘s set-piece deficiencies were highlighted too.
The intensity Iraola demands on the training pitch was evident in the first half but seemed non-existent after the break. Senior figures like Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa did not cover themselves in glory.
“I particularly hate this month of August because you start the competitions and you still don’t know if some of the players are going to leave and who’s going to come – there is a lot of uncertainty,” said Iraola, earlier in the week.
Iraola will meet Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Alisson Becker and new signing Victor Munoz over the coming days at the AXA Training Centre.
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By then, the only first-team player he will have yet to meet will be Alexis Mac Allister, who has been granted extra time off following Argentina’s run to the World Cup final. Munoz, who did not play a minute in Spain’s successful World Cup campaign, will return earlier to aid his integration into the squad.
However, over the course of a fortnight in America, Liverpool have had no incomings. That was in part because Iraola wanted to see the squad at his disposal before making decisions. What he saw in this defeat will play into those decisions.
“I think we learn a lot of things. Obviously it’s not the result you want but I think (it was) probably the most useful friendly we played – in a positive way in the first half and in a negative way in the second half,” said Iraola. “I think we’ve learned a lot and I think we can take good conclusions and solve some things.”
Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we discuss the PGA Tour’s Championship Series, the Tour’s playoffs, the Women’s Open and more.
1. The 2028 schedule dominoes are starting to fall, and in the past week we learned the first batch of Championship Series events will be the Travelers Championship, the newly minted Sompo Championship — which takes over the current Napa stop with a 2028 location TBD — the Sentry and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Any learnings from this?
Nick Piastowski, senior editor (@nickpia): We expected the Travelers, the Sentry and the Arnold Palmer to be among the top tier. It’s the newly announced Sompo Championship that’s intriguing here, though. Securing a new sponsor following a format shakeup should be considered a big win for the PGA Tour. Where the event will be played in two years will also be of interest. Stay tuned.
Josh Schrock, associate news editor (@Schrock_and_awe): The Tour’s ability to get a new sponsor to buy in for a Championship Series event with a $20 million purse is noteworthy. We’ve heard the demand from sponsors is higher than initially thought and this might prove that case. The rumored move of the Sompo to Seattle in 2028 would be a big win if it comes to pass.
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Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsens): We’ve heard that the demand from sponsors is higher than expected, but who’s been telling us that? The Tour. Time will tell if that’s really the case. Meantime, it is an interesting change in status for what used to be the Procore, an event with such a low-wattage field that it had morphed into a kind of wine country version of the Waste Management, with live bands and food and other non-golf attractions aimed at ramping up interest. The rumored move to Seattle makes sense. A major market that doesn’t see a lot of pro golf. I’ve heard Sahalee tossed around as a potential site, but why not Chambers Bay? More interesting course. And public access, too.
2. Does a surprise Championship Series event (the Sompo) mean there could be more unpredictability than we anticipated?
Piastowski: Maybe. Let’s try to figure this out. We’re gonna get 23 to 24 events in the Championship Series, the Tour says — and that includes the Players, the four majors, the Tour Championship, an international team event (Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup) and, once every four years, the Olympics. So that’s seven or eight events. Let’s add two playoff events. That’s nine to 10 events. We know of the four above. That’s 13 to 14. The final 10? Likely candidates are the WM Phoenix Open, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the Genesis Invitational, the RBC Heritage, the Cadillac Championship, the Truist Championship and the Memorial. So … the final three could be interesting.
Schrock: I don’t know how unpredictable it could get. With the Heritage, Pebble, Cadillac, Memorial, Genesis, WMPO and Truist presumably filling Championship slots, we don’t have a lot of room for shock. I feel like the winds are blowing toward the 3M getting a spot, which would be a surprise of sorts.
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Sens: There’s not a lot of room left for wild surprises. What’s less obvious is which sponsors will step up. In that sense, it seems likely to be a tail-wagging-the-dog type scenario. Which event becomes part of the Championship Series will depend more on the interests of the sponsor than on the merits of the tournament itself.
3. The FedEx Cup Playoffs are just around the corner, and this week’s Wyndham Championship is the last chance for pros to play their way into the top 70. Rocket Classic winner Michael Thorbjornsen made a massive jump Sunday (69th to 38th) and others will look to do the same in North Carolina. Which bubble-boy player is most intriguing to you?
Piastowski: I’m going right to Mr. 70 at the moment — Jackson Koivun. Don’t you get the feeling he’ll make a run in the playoffs? Then get a call to the Presidents Cup team? Then get one to next year’s Ryder Cup team? Just having some fun here.
Schrock: It’s Brooks Koepka. Withdrew from the Rocket with an injury so his playoffs are in doubt. Needs a big week, if he plays, to not see his season end next week. Honorable mention to Tony Finau, who has been fighting it this year and needs something special to keep his playoff streak alive.
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Sens: I’d add Keegan Bradley to that list. Currently at 72, just outside the bubble. He may never get over the Ryder Cup, but nabbing a spot in the playoffs wouldn’t hurt his mood.
4. The PGA Tour debuted a new announcer-free stream for all four rounds of the Rocket Classic in which the focus was on player-caddie interaction, crowd reactions and natural course audio. What did you think? And what do you think could be done differently or better next time?
Piastowski: Hand raised, I didn’t tune in to this, but I think it’s extremely dependent on the PGA Tour’s “talkers.” Otherwise, it’s a bit stale. But what I very much want to see is pro golf’s version of the Manningcast. Two former pros as hosts. Fun guests. Some analysis. Action in the background.
Schrock: It seems like an interesting idea that needs more work. I could do with a lot of caddie-player convo with a walking on-course reporter and no play-by-play and desk commentator. This was fun and interesting at times but needs work.
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Sens: I think it works well in small doses, but, as Nick suggests, it depends on the players and the caddies, and which announcer voices are being silenced. Not all network commentators are created equal. Some add so little to the broadcast that I’d almost rather hear chatbots discussing the action, which, come to think of it, is probably where we’re headed anyway.
5. Shiho Kuwaki beat Esther Henseleit on the second playoff hole to win the AIG Women’s Open on Sunday in England, officially putting a bow on the women’s major season. What was your 2026 major-season takeaway for the LPGA? And which pro is most upset wondering what could have been with the major season now in the rearview?
Piastowski: Nelly Korda is great, Haeran Ryu is great, playing majors at great venues is great. I really thought Jeeno Thitikul would win a major this year, though. She did post three top 10s. A one-under on Sunday would have gotten her in the playoff. She’ll break through eventually.
Schrock: The LPGA got the major start that it wanted with Nelly ripping off the first two. They did their best to parlay that into more interest but needed more from Charley Hull, Lydia Ko, Jeeno Thitikul and other star names. Haeran Ryu went on an epic heater and looked like she was poised to win three in a row before Lytham punched her on Saturday. Hull should be kicking herself after another major season without a win. She did her best to push Korda at the USWO but came up short. I thought she had a chance on Sunday at Lytham (as did 10 others) but couldn’t hit the shots down the stretch. She’s now 0-for-65 in majors, and while she still has a lot of runway in front of her, sometimes you’re just always a bridesmaid.
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Sens: Hull is a great personality and a compelling player. But I sense a bit of a Rickie Fowler phenomenon to her stardom, where her popularity outstrips her actual performance. She has three career wins on the LPGA Tour. That’s a fine accomplishment. But the sky-high expectations around her in the majors are a tad unrealistic. As for what might have been … Haeran Ryu can’t possibly be disappointed with her major campaign. But I’d understand her feeling wistful after this past weekend, when a chance for what would have been a historic three straight eluded her.
Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri has expressed his anguish over Indian Super League side Jamshedpur FC’s decision to pull out of the upcoming season, describing the development as “a punch in the gut” and urging the club’s management to reconsider.
Jamshedpur FC, winners of the ISL Winners’ Shield in the 2021-22 season, had announced their withdrawal from the ISL on July 31 just hours after missing the deadline for payment of participation fee for the upcoming season, beginning September 4.
In a post on Instagram, the club had confirmed that it would not participate in the ISL from the 2026-27 season onwards. The upcoming season will now feature 13 teams.
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“To know that Jamshedpur has folded first team operations is a punch to the gut. The players and staff will be without clubs, and they might find one by the end of it all. The League will have a team less, but the season will go on,” wrote Chhetri, India’s all-time top goalscorer, most-capped player, and the fourth-highest international goalscorer in men’s football history.
“However, not having the TATA group involved in the top tier of Indian football – that would be a disaster with no alternative,” he added.
Jamshedpur FC, which made its ISL debut in 2017, however said in its statement that Jamshedpur Football and Sporting Private Limited (JFSPL) would continue to promote and develop the sport at the grassroots level despite the club’s withdrawal from the league.
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Chhetri lauded the Tata Group for its contribution to Indian football, first through the Tata Football Academy (TFA) and later by establishing and nurturing Jamshedpur FC.
“It takes a lot to be a stakeholder in Indian football. It has been like that for some time now. But when everything around looks like it will crumble, you bank on family to hold on to each other. And more often than not, it is the elders in the house that you turn to, for assurance. All of you at the TATA Group, through TFA first, and then @JamshedpurFC , have been one of our pillars.”
The decision to withdraw is understood to have been influenced by the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) directive requiring clubs to pay an administrative fee of Rs 1.1 crore in two instalments. According to sources, the club’s board of directors has also decided to wind up the senior team for the time being.
“I understand that some tough decisions in sport are down to what makes sense in the board room. But I can only request and hope that the think tank at TATA picks their heart over head and reconsiders this call. It might be a poor business decision, but it will be the one Indian football needs the most at this hour,” added the Bengaluru FC stalwart.
It marks yet another win for TaylorMade’s Spider line of mallet putters — and TaylorMade overall as the former Stanford standout plays a full bag of TM gear. Thorbjornsen stroked the final putt with a Spider Tour X double bend, a putter he switched to earlier this season after beginning his PGA Tour career with a Spider Tour Short Slant.
“You can see how structured his practice is now; the drills, the process,” TaylorMade Tour Rep Adrian Rietveld told GOLF earlier this season during a deep dive of Thorbjornsen’s setup. “He’s gone from a talented putter to more of a student of the game.”
Putter wasn’t the only major change Thorbjornsen made this season. This spring, he moved from a full set of TaylorMade P7MC irons with a P770 3-iron to more of a combo set with TaylorMade P7MBs replacing the 5-PW.
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Thorbjornsen ranked first in greens in regulation this week, missing just nine at Detroit Golf Club, and picked up +3.668 shots on the field on approach.
“The main reason for that is to start to learn how to hit these off-speed shots,” Rietveld said. “I thought that’s actually a better golf ball for him through the bag. And he should be able to incorporate more of these off-speed shots and should be able to incorporate a wedge game that’s required for a top-10 player in the world.”
In his short time on Tour, Thorbjornsen’s bag has morphed into the prototypical setup for the modern bomber player, complete with a backweighted “LS” driver and a mini driver as a secondary option off the tee. Thorbjornsen plays the TaylorMade R7 Quad Mini Driver instead of a 3-wood.
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“Being a 180-plus ball speed guy, the mini driver is kind of a safety for that,” Rietveld said. “When he doesn’t feel comfortable with driver, it becomes almost like a 300-yard club to get him in play and keep him in the tournament.”
For more on Thorbjornsen’s detailed setup, keep reading below.
Michael Thorbjornsen’s winning WITB at the 2026 Rocket Classic
TaylorMade
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Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour X Black Loft: 2˚ Lie: 72˚ Length: 35.5″ Hosel: Double Bend Alignment aid: True Path Mid Line Insert: 80/20 Pure Roll Headweight: 534g Swingweight: E5 Grip: TaylorMade Pistol
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Chenie Tagaod (right) scores off Jewel Encarnacion. —PVL IMAGES
Inspired by her family that made the trip to South Cotabato from Tagum City, Chenie Tagaod left everything on the floor and helped deliver Akari’s first PVL on Tour win on Saturday night at Polomolok Gymnasium.
Tagaod soared for the game-winning kill before dropping to the floor with cramps, as Akari staved off an undermanned but resilient Choco Mucho squad, 27-25, 27-25, 21-25, 25-22.
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The sophomore spiker, drafted by Akari last year, offered her 19-point outing to her father and sibling.
“I’m really inspired because I got to see my dad and my sibling in the crowd today,” the standout out of Far Eastern U said in Filipino. “I hope I made them proud.”
Embracing a bigger role this time, Tagaod poured in 11 attacks, six blocks and two aces in wanting to make the people from Mindanao proud.
“I’m very happy that I was able to show the Bisaya community the talent we have,” Tagaod went on. “To everyone dreaming of playing in the PVL, just keep making sacrifices and working hard. Your efforts will pay off.”
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Akari bounced back from a tough outing against ZUS Coffee in Ilagan, Isabela last July 8, and will head to Lanao Del Norte on August 15 against PLDT now full of confidence.
“We really worked hard in training, so we expected to perform well. As you saw, a lot of us were dealing with cramps, but we kept fighting until the end,” Tagaod said.
Akari coach Tina Salak praised Tagaod and other Akari veterans Ivy Lacsina, Grethcel Soltones, and Faith Nisperos for stepping up to the challenge, as they made up for the absence of Alas Pilipinas players Justine Jazareno, playmaker Mars Alba, and middle blocker Fifi Sharma, who are all playing in the SEA V Cup.
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“That’s exactly what we wanted—to give the team valuable exposure, build chemistry, and continue growing together,” Salak said, also in Filipino. “The PVL On Tour has been a great opportunity for us to get to know each other better on the court.
“I also have to give credit to our veterans for leading the team so well,” she also said. “Our stay here was definitely worth it. We gained so much experience and learned a lot about ourselves as a team and as individuals.” INQ
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The country will become only the second nation after Australia to host the Commonwealth Games on multiple occasions, having previously organised the 2010 edition in New Delhi
1 min read Last Updated : Aug 03 2026 | 7:32 AM IST
Goodbye Scotland. Hello India!
After 11 days of intense competition, Glasgow Commonwealth Games concluded with the flag and baton handed over to India, hosts of the Centenary edition, in a glittering ceremony here on Sunday.
The 2030 Games will be held in Ahmedabad, and the Scotland officials handed over the CWG flag and baton to Indian representatives — Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, IOA president PT Usha and Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi.
The closing ceremony began showcasing the cultural intricacies of Scotland but soon transformed into a vibrant display of India’s cultural diversity and ancient tradition.
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The show also offered a ‘jugalbandi’ of Indo-Scottish cultures with musicians and dancers offering a riveting exhibition of their skills.
However, India will depart from Glasgow as a satisfied bunch after 39 medals at the 2026 Games, including 13 gold, 17 silver, and nine bronze, to end in fourth position on the standings.
The country will become only the second nation after Australia to host the Commonwealth Games on multiple occasions, having previously organised the 2010 edition in New Delhi.
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(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
He’s come up short in some of his biggest title opportunities, he’s suffered injury setbacks and put on a mask to take a tour of Lucha Libre. With every fall, there’s a rise.
Chad Gable faces Penta during SummerSlam at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn., on Aug. 2, 2026.(WWE via Getty Images)
Gable lost his mask earlier this year and turned his attention to making amends to the Luchadores he beefed with, including Penta. Gable earned a shot at Penta’s WWE Intercontinental Championship and the two did battle at SummerSlam on Sunday.
Gable survived a Mexican Destroyer on the apron as well as the rest of Penta’s high-flying moves. He then put Penta in an ankle lock and made the superstar tap out. He became the intercontinental champion on his sixth attempt. It’s also his first singles title.
Chad Gable celebrates after winning the WWE Intercontinental Championship during SummerSlam at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn., on Aug. 2, 2026.(WWE via Getty Images)
As he realized one of his dreams had finally come true in front of his family and his home crowd, Gable broke down into tears. He was immediately overcome with emotion and tears began to trickle down his cut face.
Penta’s reign ends after 153 days. He won the title in March against Dominik Mysterio. It’s unclear what’s next for Penta or who will become the No. 1 contender for the intercontinental champion.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
Manchester United earned a comeback victory against Atletico Madrid and Michael Carrick had a number of positives to take from the victory with two players impressing
Bryan Mbeumo got on the scoresheet twice, but the former United ace was impressed by Carrick’s midfield pairing in the club’s third friendly of the summer. The Swede reckons returning stars will be forced to work hard to earn their place in the team
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With the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans yet to return to action following their respective World Cup campaigns, Santos and Mount have set about winning plaudits. Against Atletico, Santos broke up play and set the tempo with line-breaking passes, while Mount controlled many of United’s attacks.
The combination gave little reason for Carrick to look elsewhere when they play Hull City in less than three weeks’ time.
“He must be happy with the way the central midfielders have performed,” said Bomqvist told MUTV. “Of course, there’s going to be fierce competition in there for places when everyone is back.
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“It’s good that some have played 90 minutes, some have played 70 minutes – that means they are in good shape and ready to go to the next level. The other players still to come back will need to work hard to get back into the team.”
Blomqvist praised Mount’s efforts during the 2-1 win and highlighted the performance of youngster Shea Lacey. The 52-year-old is hopeful that Mount can continue to build momentum but noted that he must avoid injuries to capitalise on his performances.
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“Mason Mount, the way he played both offensively and defensively,” he added. “He played for 90 minutes and looked really sharp which is really, really positive.
“Shea Lacey also had a really good impact on the game. There were a lot of others but for me, these two in particular.
“I think he [Mason] really just needs to carry on the way he’s going and avoid injuries to get the momentum going for him. In the end, he had one nutmeg at the end which was fantastic and you had to stand up and applaud. He’s getting in really good shape.”
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Ken Rosenthal and Mitch Bannon of The Athletic were first to report the trade. Outfielder Brett Bateman and infielder Ty Southisene will go back to Toronto in the trade. Southisene was the Cubs’ No. 13 prospect while Bateman was No. 21, according to MLB Pipeline.
With the deal, the Blue Jays officially part ways with a beloved member of the organization whose success on the field and consistency behind the scenes made him an essential part of their recent success.
In four and a half seasons with the Blue Jays, Gausman combined durability with front-of-the-rotation stuff, making an All-Star team, earning Cy Young votes in two different seasons and posting a 3.79 ERA over the course of 40.1 post-season innings.
“Kev will go down as one of the best free agent signings the organization has made, especially from a pitching standpoint,” said manager John Schneider. “He’s remarkably consistent, professional, good teammate, low maintenance. Everything that you want from a frontline dude.”
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As Schneider said, the Blue Jays have reason to be thrilled with the five-year, $110 million deal they signed with Gausman back in December of 2021. In 148 regular-season starts with the Blue Jays, Gausman posted a 3.62 ERA while pitching 861 innings on his way to 12.8 wins above replacement.
Not only did Gausman shine on the field, but he also embraced the Blue Jays fan base and was beloved in return, all of which made Saturday’s final home start at Rogers Centre more emotional.
“The fans have done a lot of cool moments for me since I’ve been here, but that was definitely up there,” Gausman said of the ovation fans gave him. “I’ve played this game long enough to know those things don’t happen all the time, so I tried to soak it in.”
The right-hander now ranks among the franchise’s all-time leaders in strikeouts (seventh all-time, 920), starts (ninth, 148) and wins (12th, 53).
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“He’s been everything,” George Springer said. “Consistent, and he wants the ball in a big game. But I think the thing that I’ll take from him is how much he cares about us and who he is as an individual, not just a baseball player.”
The 35-year-old said he’d ideally prefer not to be traded while adding that he understands the business side of the game.
Since Gausman has already received one qualifying offer, he’s ineligible for another one. Under those circumstances, no draft pick compensation was possible for the Blue Jays and their only way to get a return for Gausman was to trade him.
Once the deal becomes official, there will be a new opening in the Blue Jays’ rotation. The likes of Chad Dallas and CJ Van Eyk are among the candidates to take on more innings for the season’s final two months, but the Blue Jays also acquired veteran starter Jameson Taillon from the Cubs in a trade earlier on Sunday.
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Southisene, 21, is a speedy shortstop playing in single-A this season. Bateman, 24, is a contact hitter playing at triple-A.
He is now set to proceed with the clash against Fury after ‘The Gypsy King’ was also successful when he defeated Mariusz Wach 24 hours before Joshua competed, but it appears that former undisputed heavyweight champion Lewis still has doubts over the fight.
That’s because Lewis has told The Ring that he thinks Joshua may choose not to fight again after his display against Prenga.
“Does he really belong in the ring right now? A virtual novice put him on the ground twice in the first round. Is that it, have we seen the last of him?”
Choosing when to walk away from the sport is always a difficult decision for boxers, with Lewis famously one of the few who managed to hang up the gloves whilst still on top, retiring in 2004 when he still reigned as world heavyweight champion.
Despite the concerns of Lewis, Joshua still looks set to proceed with the fight against Fury, with the pair expected to meet at Madison Square Garden in New York in November.
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