Ho Chi Minh City’s Ho Thi Bich Diep during a game vs PLDT High Speed Hitters in the 2026 PVL Invitational Conference. –PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Sixteen-year-old spiker Ho Thi Bich Diep and Vietnamese squad Ho Chi Minh City are eager to learn from the Philippine pro clubs in their rare overseas stint in the 2026 PVL Invitational Conference.
Team captain Dang Thi Kim Thanh also powered the Vietnamese club with 19 points as they improved to 1-2 and joined Farm Fresh in a three-way tie with PLDT.
For Ho Chi Minh, its participation in the PVL is integral to the program’s growth and the young Vietnamese aim to learn from the Filipinos as well as Thai club Est Cola.
That’s why Ho is soaking in all the lessons she can pick up in every game.
“I was trying hard to follow this high-level of play, being young and as a rookie,” Ho said through a translator. “I’m grateful for the more experienced veterans that are on the court, reminding and pushing me, giving me the support, so that I can play comfortably, and to be able to keep at the same level of the team.”
Ho was also grateful for the veteran Vietnamese players who are guiding them in their PVL campaign, including their captain Dang, who had a national team call-up.
“I’m happy that I got the support and trust of my teammates, motivating me to accomplish what I did tonight, and for the future games,” she said.
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Ho Chi Minh has two more games, facing Nxled on Friday before EST Cola on Sunday, with the top two teams advancing to the final.
The young spiker is slowly getting her groove in the week-long PVL tournament.
“A lot of the younger players had a really good time experiencing older players, more experienced players, understanding the high technical level, the attack patterns, and how to adjust and how to adapt to this high-level play. I’m grateful for the experience and being able to adapt when it comes to these challenges,” Ho said.
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Sep 1, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) scores a run during the seventh inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
When Tarik Skubal takes the mound for his sixth start with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the health of Shohei Ohtani will be front and center Thursday night in advance of the series finale against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.
The Dodgers will try to avoid a three-game sweep and might have to do it without Ohtani, who appeared to be dealing with right-arm discomfort during Wednesday’s 8-6 loss in 10 innings. Ohtani struck out in each of his final four trips to the plate for his first four-strikeout game of the season.
“You can see the swing wasn’t the swing that we’re used to seeing,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “So he’s not close to optimal. What is going to get him close to being able to perform at the level that you know he expects? That’s kind of the question. And time off obviously seems logical, so I’m not blind to that.”
Arm and knee discomfort have prevented Ohtani from pitching since early July. The arm ailment, at least, could take him off the field entirely, although Roberts said he does not expect a stint on the injured list for his star.
The manager told reporters he will consult with the Dodgers’ head athletic trainer and with Ohtani to address the superstar’s physical issues.
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Meanwhile, Skubal (8-7, 2.84 ERA) has pitched well in a Dodgers uniform, but the club is just 3-2 in his starts. The two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner was acquired at the trade deadline last month from the Detroit Tigers.
In four career starts against St. Louis, Skubal is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA.
The Dodgers (82-57) saw Freddie Freeman end his career-long 47-game home run drought on Wednesday, while Mookie Betts also homered. But the Dodgers were just 1-for-18 with runners in scoring position.
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“I know that everyone doesn’t want to hear it, and the fans don’t want to hear it, but 18 opportunities, at least, I guess you got to try to find a positive,” Freeman said. “But that was a tough loss.”
The Cardinals will seek a series sweep with left-hander Quinn Mathews (1-2, 5.03 ERA) on the mound. He will make his fifth career start following his major league debut on Aug. 1.
Mathews earned his first career win Friday when he allowed one run on five hits over 5 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts in a 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was his first home start.
“It took me four games to get (to a home start), so it was definitely special to finally get to throw in front of the home fans and put together a quality outing,” Mathews said, according to MLB.com.
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After scoring 13 runs in the series opener Tuesday, the Cardinals’ most ever in a game at Dodger Stadium, they failed to deliver a hit over the first five innings against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, then chased down two separate three-run deficits.
Thomas Saggese again tormented the Dodgers with a two-run home run and a go-ahead RBI infield single in the 10th inning. He hit two home runs in the 13-8 win on Tuesday.
St. Louis is back to .500 at 70-70 and 3 1/2 games out of the final wild-card spot in the National League.
“Coming to places like (Los Angeles), Philly, Chicago, you want to be able to check those (positives) off,” manager Oliver Marmol told Cardinals TV. “And the one thing you want to make sure your club does is to go into those types of spots fearless. We’ve done that.”
State of Play September 2026 showcased quite a few major releases heading to PlayStation. We got a peek at gameplay from previously announced titles and new games from 2026 and beyond, all of which will intrigue PlayStation fans.
If you have skipped the livestream this article is for you. It explores everything shown at the State of Play September 2026.
Everything announced at PlayStation State of Play September 2026
We have listed below all the official announcements from State of Play September 2026:
Marvel’s Wolverine
Crimson Desert Charting The Unknown DLC
Ace Combat 8
Metro 2039
Saros Zenith update
Fangtopia
Ontos
Maneater 2
Until Dawn 2
Marvel’s Wolverine trailer
Marvel’s Wolverine’s among other games showcased during the livestream (Image via PlayStation)
State of Play September 2026 showcased the final trailer for Marvel’s Wolverine ahead of its official release. This highly anticipated title from Insomniac Games is slated to go live on September 15, 2026, featuring a feral Logan who rejoins the mutant task force.
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The gameplay involves third-person brawling and a heavy gorefest – something fans have wanted from a superhero game for a long time. The trailer showcases several iconic characters from the X-Men universe, including Jean Grey, Sabretooth, and Sentinels.
Crimson Desert Charting The Unknown DLCCharting The Unknown DLC will introduce underwater diving (Image via PlayStation || Pearl Abyss)
Pearl Abyss has cooked up some exciting content for Crimson Desert. The upcoming DLC titled “Charting The Unknown” will feature underwater diving, naval combat, and other gameplay elements.
The trailer from State of Play September 2026 shows Kliff exploring the ocean with what appears to be a pet shark. He is also seen piloting a vessel, building a beach house, and fighting new bosses. The DLC is expected to further the narrative of Kliff, Oongka, and Damiane.
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RBC made a significant PGA Tour announcement Thursday, but Canadian golf fans will need to wait for an official update about the future of the Canadian Open.
The RBC Heritage presented by Boeing was announced as part of the PGA Tour Championship Series, which will begin in 2028. This year was RBC’s 15th as title sponsor, and it was the fourth consecutive year the event had elevated status on the PGA Tour schedule, being played as a Signature Event the last three seasons.
“It is an incredible honour for the RBC Heritage to be a part of the PGA Tour Championship Series. This recognition reflects the strength of our tournament and the support of RBC, Boeing, our sponsors, volunteers and loyal fans,” said Heritage tournament director Steve Wilmot in a press release.
The RBC Heritage is the ninth announced regular-season event on the 2028 PGA Tour Championship Series. The Tour is set to confirm 11 more in the coming weeks, leaving just four remaining spots in the Championship Series schedule.
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The full 2028 PGA Tour Championship Series schedule will be announced Feb. 22 in a televised event hosted at PGA Tour Headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said at the Tour Championship last week in Atlanta that the PGA Tour is in “active discussions” with 14 prospective partners.
A 14-for-4 update from Rolapp seems to suggest that we’ve entered a situation of simple economics — when demand outweighs supply, the price goes up.
As far as the Canadian Open specifically is concerned, the work continues.
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But other entities are actively placing bids for the remaining Championship Series events.
On the sponsorship side of things in Canada, it’s been reported that Golf Canada has been late to the conversation with Canadian brands to try to marshal upward of US$35 million — or more now, likely — for a winning Championship Series bid.
With respect to the Heritage, RBC has Boeing as the presenting sponsor.
The question now is, does the Canadian Open, and its longstanding history, even need to be a Championship Series event?
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“We’ve got to be careful with that because then these national opens lose the fabric of what they are … you can’t call yourself a national open anymore if it’s a closed-off tournament and there’s a certain number of guys,” two-time Canadian Open winner Rory McIlroy said at the Genesis Scottish Open this summer.
“I think these events need to be treated differently than, you know, the Travelers Championship or RBC Heritage or whatever else that are going to be in the Champions Series. … There’s a little bit more nuance with these tournaments, for sure.”
Indeed, the way that the Championship Series is structured, those events will feature only the top 120 (or so) golfers on the PGA Tour. There were 20-plus homegrown talents in the field this year at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, many stamping their ticket via sponsor invites from Golf Canada or winning various cross-country qualifiers.
As it stands, if the event were a Championship Series event, just six Canadians would tee it up. By the time we get to 2028, there may be even fewer. This year was the first time since 2011 that a Canadian did not make it to the second round of the FedExCup playoffs and the first time since 2018 a Canadian did not make it to the Tour Championship season finale.
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If the RBC Canadian Open were to become part of the Championship Series, it would essentially cease as a national open in the truest form.
As far as the second-tier Challenger Series events are concerned, McIlroy, again, was a vocal advocate for the Canadian Open to be bigger than those. Featuring the next 100-plus golfers in the standings, there would likely be more Canadians in the field but none of the top players in the game — plus, for example, Corey Conners and past champion Nick Taylor. Those in the Championship Series can’t “play down” onto the Challenger Series as it stands.
“(The Challenger Series) is a glorified Korn Ferry (Tour) event. That’s what (the Challenger Series) is going to be. I don’t think the Canadian Open should be one of those,” McIlroy said at the U.S. Open this summer.
Golf Canada, as a business entity, needs more time to work through things behind the scenes. But there is other real estate in the new ecosystem of golf to consider.
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The winning option could be to look bigger — and global.
When the Championship Series was announced, the PGA Tour also brought forth details about how top players from the Championship Series category could be eligible for a “limited series of elevated international events,” played in the fall. These tournaments will be announced later, with the intent to be delivered alongside the DP World Tour, adding that “these events will include prominent national opens” and “will give the best players in the world an opportunity to shine brightly in front of new audiences on an international stage.”
This, on the surface, would likely be the best-case scenario for the Canadian Open.
The event would be able to keep its national open status — and even be given an elevated platform — while also seeing a field featuring some of the best players in the world from the PGA Tour (as golfers who are on the Championship Series track could tee it up) and from around the world, along with plenty of homegrown talent.
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As long as the event is hosted early enough in September, there would also be zero issue with the weather conditions in the Greater Toronto Area.
While there are still some uncertainties about the formalized future of the Canadian Open, there is a pathway to a kind of tournament that would make everyone happy.
Which is something harder and harder to do in professional golf these days.
Hamilton and team-mate Charles Leclerc have both won one race this season, with the Briton 59 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes.
“To win this weekend, the whole collective has to come together. Everything has to flow from the beginning,” said Hamilton.
“There is a first ahead of me, in the sense of if I was to win I go into new territory winning for the first time in Ferrari at Monza. It would be phenomenal.
“The pressure’s high. You want to do it for the team. Many of them will come to this race. The tifosi come out in huge numbers with a passion that’s unmatched.
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“And my mum’s here. I don’t think she’s been to Monza, and certainly not (while I was) with Ferrari. I wanted her to experience this and bring any lucky dust she can bring.”
Ferrari’s hopes of a home victory are boosted by the fact that Italian Antonelli will have a grid penalty for exceeding his permitted number of engine parts and is likely to start at the back.
Hamilton said: “There is big gap between the top teams and the rest. Kimi will start from the back but with the power he has, and the performance he has, he should slide through that pack pretty easy and it’s probably why they chose this race to do that.
“So achieving eighth or sixth should be relatively easy. We have to focus on maximising our weekend and try and take the energy from the tifosi to hopefully push us to the front.”
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Antonelli’s grid penalty was inevitable at some point after reliability problems earlier in the year meant they would need to exceed his allowance of four engines for the season.
They chose this weekend because they calculated it was the most optimal race to do it, both in terms of the effect of a new engine on a track dominated by straights, and managing their engine pool through the rest of the year.
Team-mate George Russell will also have an engine penalty, most likely in Azerbaijan in two races’ time.
Antonelli said: “I am very much looking forward to this weekend despite starting from the back. I will be able to enjoy it more than I did previously and hopefully we will still be able to have a good race.
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“In some ways it helps to release pressure, although I would very much rather fight for pole and start at the front.
“It makes me a bit more relaxed going into the weekend. I think this track can be very good for us but we have to take into account that McLaren, Ferrari, even Red Bull can be good this weekend.
“There are other tracks where it is possible to overtake but this one is very energy starved and there are a lot of places where you can race differently and it gives us the best chance to climb through the field.”
Antonelli referred to energy starvation because the hybrid engines will be without their battery power for a higher percentage of the lap in Monza than at most races this year, because of the long straights and the lack of opportunity for recovery.
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Drivers are expecting a difficult and frustrating weekend, and for slipstreaming, which saves energy by reducing drag, to become a major feature in qualifying and the grand prix.
Antonelli said he expected speed would flat-line on the straights but not drop significantly, and that the situation would be “better than many expected”.
There threatened to be late movement in Manchester United’s striker department on deadline day but the chance to secure their ideal addition passed weeks ago.
Manchester United are often accused of living in the past, but that might not have been such a bad thing this summer.
United considered drafting in a back-up option to Benjamin Sesko, though signing a striker was never particularly high on the transfer to-do list in a summer where overhauling the midfield was the priority.
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Everton’s late move for Joshua Zirkzee on deadline day raised the question of whether United could make an 11th-hour approach for a replacement. Ultimately, United chose to keep the Dutchman at Old Trafford and Michael Carrick’s forward options went unchanged aside from the return of Marcus Rashford.
While United’s failure to add a left-back to their squad has dominated the grumbles from fans in the wake of the transfer window, not signing a back-up to Sesko hasn’t been far behind. The Slovenia international enjoyed a promising maiden campaign in English football, scoring 12 goals in 32 appearances. However, he has yet to start a game this season as he continues to work his way back to match fitness after injury, and the lack of a focal point without him in the team is clear for all to see.
Zirkzee has shown himself not to be at the level required to lead the line in Sesko’s absence, and while Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha can play through the middle, both are better suited to roles behind the striker.
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United clearly missed a trick when opting not to offer Danny Welbeck a return to Old Trafford.
Giving Welbeck the chance to return to his boyhood club at the age of 35 certainly wouldn’t have been a move fuelled purely by emotion. Welbeck scored 13 Premier League goals last season – more than any United player in 2025/26 – and has hit double figures in the last two Premier League seasons having failed to do so in his entire career until 2024/25.
It is therefore no surprise to see Chelsea lure him to Stamford Bridge. Xabi Alonso has been keen to add some experienced heads to his Chelsea squad, yet no signing has been made purely with off-the-field advantages in mind. At 36 and with a recent World Cup appearance under his belt, Jordan Henderson can clearly be relied upon when turned to, and Welbeck is no different.
United were crying out for an experienced forward to take some of the burden off Sesko this season. There could be more than 20 games added to United’s schedule this year compared to last, and asking Sesko to play the majority of them simply isn’t a viable option. Rotation will be needed, and United really should have added a recognised centre-forward to their squad.
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Returning to Old Trafford would have been the cherry on the cake of what has been a great career for Welbeck, and he’d have given United what they needed to help Sesko in what will be a demanding campaign.
Instead of returning to his former club, Welbeck will come up against United when they travel to Chelsea on the other side of the international break. With eight goals against his boyhood club since leaving in 2015, you wouldn’t bet against him coming back to haunt United once again.
Deion Sanders is back on the sidelines for Colorado after a health scare in the offseason. Sanders got to nine wins in his second season in Boulder but he had quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter on that squad. Brent Key has steadily improved at Georgia Tech, winning at least seven games in each of the last three seasons.
Colorado vs. Georgia Tech betting odds (via DraftKings)
Colorado vs. Georgia Tech money line:
Colorado +220, Georgia Tech -270
Colorado vs. Georgia Tech over/under:
50.5 (Over -120, Under +100)
Colorado vs. Georgia Tech spread:
Georgia Tech -6.5
Colorado vs. Georgia Tech betting preview
Julian Lewis will take over as the starting quarterback for the Buffs, and he’s looking to replicate Sanders’ 2024 numbers. Lewis showed some flashes in 2025 but he will need to improve his accuracy to elevate Colorado’s skill group. The Buffs will get Micah Welch and Joseph Williams back to provide some familiarity at running back and receiver, while transfer DeAndre Moore Jr. was an ascending receiver at Texas before coming to Boulder. The defense is a different story entirely. Colorado was one of the worst defensive teams in 2025, and that entire unit is being churned through the transfer portal. It’s hard to imagine the Buffs being worse on that side of the ball but it’s going to take some time for the defense to work well together. If Lewis is the real deal, Colorado should be able to get to a bowl game in 2026.
King is gone and in steps Alberto Mendoza, brother of last year’s Heisman Trophy and national championship winner Fernando Mendoza. The Indiana transfer is unproven as a passer but if he can give Georgia Tech even half of what his brother gave Indiana, this team will be in good shape. Justice Haynes arrives from Michigan after some productive years in Ann Arbor, so expect the Yellow Jackets to be a run-first team. Georgia Tech was better at preventing opponents from scoring compared to how they let offenses move the ball, but this secondary was not creating turnovers. The good news is linebackers Kyle Efford and E.J. Lightsey both return to anchor that unit. If transfer receiver Isaiah Fuhrmann builds on his 900-yard campaign at Elon last year, this offense should be good enough to compete in an open ACC behind Miami. Use the BetMGM bonus code CBSSPORTS to get up to $1,500 in bonus bets for Week 1 college football:
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Colorado vs. Georgia Tech picks, prediction
Colorado-Georgia Tech Under 50.5
Neither of these defenses inspire much confidence for over/under betting but there are also two unproven quarterbacks taking the field. Lewis started some games a year ago but now he’s front and center in a tough road environment. Mendoza has the name recognition but not the production. Even with the Buffs having some key holdovers on offense and Georgia Tech picking up a great transfer with Haynes, this doesn’t look to have the makings of a shootout. These teams combined for 47 points a year ago, and both offenses figure to need some time to gel in 2026. The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every game 10,000 times, has the Under hitting in 61.5% of simulations.
The hold up, despite both men having signed contracts earlier this year, is a disagreement over where the fight should take place.
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A proposed November 20 date is quickly approaching, so a resolution will have to be found very soon if it is to proceed, but it appears Fury is preparing a contingency plan.
Posting on social media, ‘The Gypsy King’ revealed that he won’t waste much longer on the Joshua clash, as he believes his long-term rival does not want to step through the ropes with him.
“One thing for sure is I won’t wait for a sausage who has been knocked spark out by Daniel Dubois for long.
“I’ve waited 10 years for this and I’ve been ready every single time. One thing I won’t be doing is wasting my later years at 38 year old with a freak who doesn’t want to fight.
“I will move on and there are plenty of world champions out there who do want to fight and do want to make some money so I’ll be giving them a knock. There are plenty of men.”
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‘The Gypsy King’ then listed three current heavyweight champions that he would be willing to face it the ‘AJ’ fight does not materialise.
“Agit Kabayel, Hrgovic, Daniel Dubois, whoever else there is, they’re all very brave men and all looking for a few quid. Maybe I’ll give them a call and they can fight me in November as this is going nowhere.”
Kabayel was elevated to WBC champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated his titles earlier this year, while Hrgovic defeated Moses Itauma on Saturday to win the vacant IBF crown.
Hrgovic now looks set for a mandatory defence against Frank Sanchez next, while Dubois overcame Fabio Wardley in May to win the WBO strap, with the pair set to rematch in October.
Promoter Eddie Hearn, who represents Joshua, has said that there will be a resolution this week.
Though he has made it clear that their side wants the fight in the UK as per ‘AJ’s contract, Hearn has admitted that New York’s Madison Square Garden can happen if Saudi Arabia’s Sela sign an addendum.
Jul 28, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Milwaukee Brewers closing pitcher Abner Uribe (45) throws against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images
When searching for reasons for the growing divide between the MLB-best Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs, the bullpen is a good place to start.
Milwaukee (87-53) relied on its relievers again on Wednesday to move a season-high nine games ahead of second-place Chicago (78-62) in the National League Central with 22 games remaining.
The teams will conclude their four-game series at Wrigley Field on Thursday night.
The Brewers have won two straight games since losing the series opener 17-3 on Monday. Jackson Chourio had four hits, including his 21st homer, in a 9-5 Milwaukee victory on Wednesday.
The Brewers overcame a shaky outing by ace Jacob Misiorowski, who allowed a season-high five earned runs in four innings. Five Milwaukee relievers combined for five shutout innings of one-hit ball to secure the win.
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“I think one of the big keys for the bullpen this year from day one has been, game by game, pitch by pitch, not trying to do too much,” Brewers reliever Abner Uribe said. “Just go out there and focus on the game we have that day and every single pitch.”
Alex Bregman hit a two-run homer and singled in two runs for the Cubs, who lost for the sixth time in their last eight games.
“We had very good at-bats,” manager Craig Counsell said. “I thought we did a pretty darn good job against Misiorowski, and then their bullpen pitched very well and kind of put the game in order.”
Milwaukee’s bullpen has allowed a total of one run over the last two games covering 9 2/3 innings, while Chicago relievers have struggled. Daniel Palencia, who returned from the injured list on Aug. 21, has surrendered a total of seven runs in his last four appearances.
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“We need Daniel,” Counsell said. “The results have not been good. The best thing we can do is get him out there as much as we can. We need our bullpen guys to get outs, and Daniel’s one of the key guys we need to get going. We’re going to keep putting him out there.”
The pitching matchup for the series finale will feature a pair of right-handers in Milwaukee’s Logan Henderson (9-2, 2.48 ERA) and Chicago’s Kevin Gausman (8-11, 4.52).
Henderson, 24, allowed only one hit — Danny Jansen’s home run — with no walks and seven strikeouts over seven innings in a 6-1 home win over the Texas Rangers last Friday.
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In 19 starts since debuting with the Brewers in April 2025, Henderson has not given up more than three runs in any outing.
“I mean, he’s been real consistent,” manager Pat Murphy said. “We love it when he’s out there. He’s a guy we trust, and he’s been very, very consistent his whole career.”
Henderson will face the Cubs for the first time.
Chicago will counter with Gausman, 35, who yielded five runs over five innings in a 17-5 home win over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.
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Gausman is 3-1 with a 5.14 ERA in five starts since being acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 2.
Milwaukee’s Andrew Vaughn is 3-for-12 with a homer against Gausman, who is 2-0 with a 1.99 ERA in eight career games (six starts) vs. Milwaukee. He allowed three runs over five innings in a no-decision against the Brewers as a member of the Blue Jays on April 14.
There’s the Premier League and then there’s everyone else. The 20 Premier League sides spent more than €4 billion this summer in the transfer market, setting a new record. Manchester City broke the record for the most spent by a single club in one summer, with more than €500 million spent on new signings. That’s almost as much as the 18 French Ligue 1 clubs combined (€605 million).
Also in this edition:
Lionel Messi will get his tribute after announcing his retirement from the Argentina national team. In Germany, Bayern Munich comfortably secured their place in the round of 32 of the German Cup.
The US Open continues in New York, with Daniil Medvedev and Arthur Rinderknech advancing to the third round. There was a major upset as Rafael Jodar was eliminated after losing to lucky loser Yunchaokete Bu.
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In cycling, British rider Matthew Brennan claimed his third stage victory at the 2026 Vuelta.
HYBE Chairman and founder Bang Si-hyuk has been referred to prosecutors according to a report by Chosunbiz. It was done over allegations that he and four others had misled investors before the company’s stock market debut and subsequently obtained about 263.1 billion won in alleged illicit gains.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Financial Crimes Investigation Division referred Bang to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office without detention on September 3, 2026. Four others were also referred in connection with the case, including a HYBE executive, former chief financial officer Kwon, Eastone PE CEO Yang and New Main Equity CEO Kim.
The allegations center on events in 2019, when HYBE was still known as Big Hit Entertainment and was preparing for its eventual initial public offering. Investigators allege that Bang and other HYBE officials gave existing shareholders the impression that there were no immediate plans for an IPO.
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Between August and October 2019, some shareholders allegedly sold their stakes to a private equity fund linked to people close to Bang. Police further allege that the same parties later told investors in the fund that an IPO was being planned, helping the fund raise money to purchase HYBE shares.
HYBE eventually went public in October 2020. According to investigators, Bang Si-hyuk and others had reached a confidential arrangement that allowed them to receive part of the profits made when the private equity fund sold its HYBE shares after the listing. Police estimate the resulting alleged unfair gains at 263.1 billion won.
A court has approved an order preserving the full amount ahead of possible forfeiture. Such an order prevents assets believed to be connected to alleged criminal proceeds from being transferred or disposed of before the case is resolved.
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Police said the alleged conduct involved concealing IPO-related information from existing shareholders while using it to benefit management and private equity participants.
Bang Si-hyuk’s IPO related case moves to prosecutors as investigation concludes
The case began with a preliminary inquiry in December 2024 and was formally converted into a full investigation in May 2025. Police later described July 2025 as the start of their full-scale probe. South Korea’s Securities and Futures Commission also filed a complaint concerning the transactions, bringing financial authorities further into the investigation.
Authorities have examined transactions involving HYBE shares, a private equity fund and an alleged undisclosed agreement under which Bang reportedly received about 30% of profits from the transactions. Police estimate the alleged amount involved at around 190 billion won, approximately $129 million. The referral does not mean Bang Si-hyuk has been indicted or found guilty, as prosecutors will now assess the evidence and determine the next steps.
Investigators are examining whether a private equity fund sold HYBE shares following the company’s 2020 stock market debut and whether Bang later received approximately 30% of the resulting profits through an undisclosed arrangement. Police have estimated the alleged profits connected to the transactions at roughly 190 billion won.
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Authorities are investigating the allegations under South Korea’s Capital Markets Act, which prohibits deceptive or misleading practices in financial transactions. Police say the case concerns conduct they believe could undermine the fairness and credibility of the country’s capital markets.
Investigators searched the Korea Exchange in June 2025 for documents connected to HYBE’s listing review. They raided HYBE’s Seoul headquarters the following month and collected documents and other materials related to the transactions.
Bang Si-hyuk underwent five rounds of questioning between September and November 2025. His first session on September 15 lasted more than 14 hours, followed by questioning on September 22 and November 5, 7 and 9. No further summons involving Bang Si-hyuk were reported after November.
Police sought an arrest warrant for Bang twice in April 2026. Prosecutors returned both requests, citing insufficient grounds for detention and requesting additional investigative work. Police subsequently decided to refer Bang’s case to prosecutors without taking him into custody.
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Bang Si-hyuk has been under a travel restriction since August 2025. The measure drew renewed attention in April 2026 after the U.S. Embassy in South Korea reportedly asked the Korean National Police Agency to cooperate with Bang’s travel to the United States in connection with BTS’s ongoing world tour.
A former HYBE chief investment officer surnamed Kim is being handled separately. Kim reportedly left South Korea while the investigation was underway, prompting police to obtain an arrest warrant and seek a wanted notice and an Interpol Red Notice.
Bang Si-hyuk’s defense team has argued that investigators’ concerns can be addressed through objective evidence and supporting materials. The team said it expects the allegations to undergo transparent examination during the prosecution stage.
The investigation has also influenced investor sentiment toward HYBE. The company’s shares reportedly fell 2.9% after reports that authorities had sought Bang’s arrest, while the broader KOSPI index rose 1.8%.
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The case now rests with prosecutors, who can seek an indictment, request additional investigative measures or take other legal action after reviewing the police file. Bang Si-hyuk has not been convicted of any wrongdoing.
Under the Capital Markets Act, fraudulent trading involving financial investment products can carry significant penalties. Where alleged unlawful profits reach at least 5 billion won, the law permits punishment ranging from a minimum five-year prison sentence to life imprisonment.
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