Author: rincon

Just how incredible is it that the INDYCAR season will feature a race in the nation’s capital?

The Freedom 250 around the streets of Washington, D.C., is set for Aug. 23 on FOX. Most of the grounds will be free admission. With such a historic event being announced, we decided to break down some of the coolest and most iconic sporting events and venues to date. 

Let’s take a look:  

WNBA Stars vs Team USA at Radio City Music Hall, 2004

Dubbed as “The Game at Radio City”, the WNBA hosted an exhibition game between the U.S. Olympic team and a group of WNBA stars. Some of the biggest names in the history of the sport, like Lisa Leslie, Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird took the court in one of the most iconic entertainment venues ever. 

The game was set up as a way to excite fans for the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Athens. Team USA defeated the WNBA stars, 74–58, and would go on to win the gold medal as well. 

NHL Winter Classic (Hockey at Wrigley, Fenway, Big House), 2008-Present

The NHL Winter Classic is staged in large outdoor stadiums originally built for baseball or football, including Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, and Michigan Stadium. A full-size ice rink is constructed on top of the field surface, creating an incredible scene. 

Whether it’s Wrigley Field’s ivy-covered walls, Fenway Park’s Green Monster, or Michigan Stadium’s massive bowl, the venue becomes part of the story. These stadiums typically hold between 35,000 and 100,000 spectators, far exceeding standard NHL arena capacity. 

In 2010, Northwestern’s football team took on Illinois in what was the first football game to be played at Wrigley Field in 40 years. The iconic baseball venue provided a picturesque backdrop for two of the oldest programs in the Big Ten. The Wildcats would also later return to Wrigley, playing four games there between 2024 and 2025 due to ongoing construction at their home stadium.

Carrier Classic, 2011-12, 2022

The Carrier Classic was a series of college basketball games played on the deck of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier beginning in 2011. Set against an open sky and the ocean, the image of a basketball court in the middle of the ocean is one that’s hard to beat. 

Every camera angle feels like a movie shot, especially at sunset when the horizon glows behind the baskets. And it helps that powerhouse teams like Michigan State, North Carolina, Syracuse, and Gonzaga have all participated in some electric games in this series.  

Battle at Bristol, 2016

In 2016, Bristol Motor Speedway was converted to a football stadium for a college football game between Virginia Tech and Tennessee. The game saw 156,990 people, making it the largest college football venue in history. Peyton Manning and Bruce Smith were the alumni representatives for each school at the coin toss, further adding to the spectacle. 

Field of Dreams Game, 2021-22, 2026

The 1989 baseball movie Field of Dreams is arguably one of the best sports films of all-time. It revolves around an Iowa farmer who builds a baseball field on his cornfield. Major League Baseball decided to pay homage to it by creating the “Field of Dreams” game in 2021 between the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox, constructing a field in Dyersville, Iowa. 

It is one of the most jaw-dropping images in sports, as players are often photographed while walking through the cornfields. In 2022, the Chicago Cubs took on the Cincinnati Reds and will feature the Minnestoa Twins and Philadelphia Phillies this season.

Clash at Coliseum, 2022-24

Racing inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum turns NASCAR into a stadium spectacle. The historic venue, once home to the Olympics and still the house for the USC football team, becomes a tight, high-banked short track packed into an iconic bowl. 

Fans tower over the action from all sides, creating a sense of intensity and closeness rarely seen in motorsports. Joey Logano won in 2022, Martin Truex Jr. in 2023, and Denny Hamlin in 2024. 

Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, 2023-Present

People often view Vegas as the city that never sleeps, known for opulence, luxurious hotels and casinos, and excess. What else could you add to the world-famous Las Vegas strip? Well, Formula 1 decided to build a racetrack around it, constructing a 6.2-kilometer course for the world’s fastest drivers and cars. 

Imagine being at the Bellagio Hotel, looking out the window, and seeing cars drive 200-plus miles per hour on the streets! The first edition took place in 2023, with Max Verstappen getting the victory.

NASCAR’s Grant Park 165, 2023-25

Few motorsports events can match the spectacle of NASCAR racing through the heart of a major American city. The Chicago street race transforms downtown streets into a temporary speedway, wrapping stock cars around Lake Michigan, Grant Park, and the skyline itself. Instead of grandstands and infields, fans get skyscrapers, waterfront views, and iconic landmarks framing every lap. 

It feels less like a traditional race and more like a citywide festival, where Chicago’s energy collides with NASCAR in one of the sport’s most visually striking settings. Shane van Gisbergen won the event in 2023 and 2025, while Alex Bowman took it in 2024.

Nebraska Women’s Volleyball at Memorial Stadium, 2023

Dubbed as “Volleyball Day in Nebraska”, the University of Nebraska hosted a two-match event featuring four schools at Memorial Stadium, the home of the Cornhuskers’ football program. The second match, featuring the women’s volleyball team against Omaha saw a whopping 92,003 people in attendance, widely considered one of the highest attendances on record for a women’s sporting event. 

The sea of red all over the stadium was one of the most incredible sights you’ll see in sports.

UFC 306 at The Sphere, 2024

There aren’t many venues that are cooler in the country than the Sphere in Paradise, Nevada. Built in 2023, it features 580,000 square feet of LED displays and measures 366 feet tall and 516 feet wide. A year after its construction, the UFC decided to host one of its biggest events there. 

Headlined by “Suga” Sean O’Malley taking on Merab Dvalishvili for the Bantamweight Championship, UFC 306 was also a celebration of Mexico’s Independence Day, and dubbed “Noche UCF.” Throughout the night, incredible visuals representing Mexican culture were featured on the Sphere’s massive screen.

MLB Speedway Classic, 2025

The 2025 MLB Speedway Classic brought baseball into the roaring world of motorsports, transforming a racetrack into a diamond. The Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves played a game at Bristol Motor Speedway with over 91,000 fans present, setting the attendance record for a MLB regular-season game. The venue combined features of a traditional ballpark, such as dugouts and backstops, with the scale and layout of a speedway. 

Grand Prix of Arlington, 2026

INDYCAR is headed to Arlington, Texas, this year, bringing two “American institutions together.” From March 13-15, INDYCAR will unveil a brand-new stop right outside AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. 

This will be the first-ever Grand Prix of Arlington and the third stop on the INDYCAR calendar, after the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway.

Freedom 250, 2026

For more information on INDYCAR’s newest event, check out the links below:

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Superstars will be in abundance at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, especially on the United States and Japan rosters, but that’s not the case for other countries.

Houston Astros stars Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa and New York Mets star Francisco Lindor aren’t cleared to compete in the esteemed baseball tournament for their respective countries.

Here’s what’s going on:

Insurance at the heart of the issue

Altuve (Venezuela), Correa (Puerto Rico) and Lindor (Puerto Rico) are among the players who can’t participate in the World Baseball Classic due to not being granted the proper insurance to play; an insurance policy is in place that financially protects MLB teams if a player gets hurt in the tournament.

“Due to the criteria for WBC insurance coverage, Jose Altuve was looking forward to participating in the WBC and representing Venezuela, but unfortunately is not eligible to do so,” the MLBPA said in a statement. “Jose is obviously disappointed in this result, but he is looking forward to getting to spring training and preparing himself for a successful season.”

Altuve, who suffered a thumb injury in the 2023 WBC and missed the beginning of the 2023 MLB regular season due to the injury, underwent foot surgery in November; Correa has missed extensive time due to back, rib, finger and foot injuries, among other issues throughout his MLB career; Lindor underwent elbow surgery in October.

“Due to the cleanup procedure that Francisco Lindor had on his right elbow earlier this offseason, he will not be participating for team Puerto Rico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic,” the MLBPA said in a statement. “Francisco is obviously disappointed that he will be unable to participate. However, because of WBC insurance constraints, he is ineligible to play in WBC games. “He will participate fully in all spring training activities.”

Puerto Rico is in trouble

Additionally, Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios and Cincinnati Reds reliever Emilio Pagan, who would each play for Puerto Rico, haven’t been cleared. The country is considering withdrawing from the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Dr. Jose Quiles, the President of the Puerto Rico Baseball Federation, said.

“We are considering not participating in this edition [of the WBC]. It’s a discussion we’ve already had,” Quiles said. “If we are not playing under equal conditions, we will not participate. It’s a decision that is almost, almost, made. We are issuing a warning. We’ll see what happens in the coming days, and we will make a final decision.”

Precedent

In the 2023 World Baseball Classic, reliever Edwin Diaz — who signed a five-year, $102 million contract with the Mets just four months earlier — suffered a torn right patellar tendon in a celebration pile after a Puerto Rico victory. Diaz subsequently missed the entire 2023 MLB season.

Prior to the 2023 WBC, Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw wasn’t able to secure the needed insurance coverage to play due to concerns about his back.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Shohei Ohtani has been continually writing baseball history. Now, the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar is writing something else.

Ohtani wrote a children’s book centered around his dog, Decoy, called “Decoy Saves Opening Day,” which sees the Dutch Kooikerhondje deliver the Opening Day baseball to Ohtani behind home plate. It will be released for purchase on Feb. 20.

Decoy has made numerous public appearances throughout Ohtani’s MLB career (2018-present), including before regular-season games, during World Series parades and in live reaction videos of the two-way sensation winning MVP honors.

One season after accomplishing the first 50-50 season (50 home runs and 50 stolen bases) in MLB history in what was his first year with the Dodgers (2024), Ohtani put together a third consecutive MVP campaign in 2025. In the regular season, Ohtani totaled 55 home runs, 102 RBIs, 20 stolen bases and 6.6 wins above replacement, while posting a .282/.392/.622 slash line. Meanwhile, he led the National League with 146 runs scored and a 179 OPS+. 

Ohtani also returned to the mound for the first time since tearing his UCL in August 2023, posting a 2.87 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 145 ERA+ and 62 strikeouts in 47.0 innings pitched (14 starts).

Then, Ohtani totaled eight home runs and 14 RBIs in 17 postseason games for the Dodgers, while posting a .265/.405/.691 slash line. He also made four starts, posting a 4.43 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 28 strikeouts in 20.1 innings pitched. In Game 4 of the Dodgers’ closeout NL Championship Series matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers, Ohtani had one of the best individual performances in MLB history, blasting three home runs and striking out 10 batters in six scoreless innings pitched as the Dodgers’ starting pitcher. The Dodgers became the first back-to-back World Series champions since the New York Yankees three-peated from 1998-2000.

Ohtani, a four-time Silver Slugger and four-time MVP, will play for Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He also played for Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, with Japan winning the tournament.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

The dust has mostly settled on the MLB free agent market, but a handful of impactful players are still for the taking, most notably Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen.

While the 30-year-old Gallen is coming off a 2025 season that saw him post a career-high 4.83 ERA, he has been among the best starting pitchers in the sport for the better part of his MLB career (2019-present) and is a proven top-of-the-rotation force; he can move the needle for a pitching staff that needs a boost.

Here are the top three fits for Gallen should he depart Arizona.

Since losing Corbin Burnes last offseason, the Orioles have been searching for an ace. Adding Gallen would, at the very least, quell some of the concern about the upper portion of Baltimore’s rotation.

Gallen would beef up an Orioles’ starting rotation that was 26th in MLB in opponent batting average (.265), 24th in ERA (4.65) and 21st in WHIP (1.32) last season. The right-hander, who leans on his four-seamer and knuckle curve while mixing in a changeup, pitches deep into games and was the ace of Arizona’s starting rotation en route to it winning the 2023 National League pennant.

Combine Gallen with left-hander Trevor Rogers, who posted a 1.81 ERA and 5.5 wins above replacement in 18 starts last season, and offseason acquisition Shane Baz, among others, and the Orioles would have a plausible rotation. Plus, with the additions of star first baseman Pete Alonso and outfielder Taylor Ward — who blasted a career-high 36 home runs last season — an improved starting staff gives the Orioles a chance to compete in an ever-improving American League East.

All that said, given that Baltimore has already made some moves on the pitching front this offseason (trading for Baz and re-signing Zach Eflin), it may prefer to add a more consistent ace-caliber pitcher like Framber Valdez or make a blockbuster trade (e.g., acquiring Detroit Tigers two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal), rather than take a chance on Gallen getting back on track should it seek to add another starting pitcher.

The Giants are in no man’s land in the National League West (the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are in their division), but they have plenty of potent talent and should be operating as if they expect to be in the postseason. Operating as such entails adding to their starting rotation, and signing Gallen would fit the bill.

From 2022-24, Gallen averaged a 3.20 ERA and 1.09 WHIP per season with the Diamondbacks. He can post strikeouts at an efficient rate and would improve a Giants’ starting rotation that was tied for 23rd in WHIP (1.34), tied for 23rd in opponent batting average (.255) and was 17th in ERA (4.10) last season.

Sure, the Giants have already added veteran right-handers Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser this offseason. At the same time, assembling a rotation trio of Logan Webb, Robbie Ray and Gallen would make for a fierce attack. And that’s without mentioning that Mahle posted a 2.18 ERA in 16 regular-season starts for the Texas Rangers last season, right-hander Landen Roupp has held his own to date (3.80 ERA in 22 starts last season) and Houser is a proven commodity who can also come out of the bullpen.

The Giants have been both buyers (signing Willy Adames on a seven-year, $182 million deal and acquiring Boston Red Sox star infielder Rafael Devers) and sellers (they traded relievers Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers and outfielder Mike Yastrzemski at the 2025 MLB trade deadline) over the last 18 months. Combining it all, though, this team is closer to competing for the playoffs than hoping to win the MLB Draft Lottery (that’s still funky to type out). Adding Gallen gives the Giants a fighting chance.

At the same time, while Gallen would enhance San Francisco’s chances of returning to the postseason, he could progress a different California team in a more profound way.

The Athletics are close, and with an improved starting rotation, they have a legitimate chance of being a playoff team next season, hence them being a fit for Gallen.

Why are the A’s, who won 76 games last season, “close?” Outside of teams that made the playoffs in 2025, the A’s have the best young positional core in baseball, which includes Nick Kurtz, Tyler Soderstrom, Jacob Wilson, Shea Langeliers and Lawrence Butler. It’s also a unit that’s complemented by two-time All-Star Brent Rooker and could later be joined by highly touted infield prospect Leo De Vries, who was acquired in a 2025 trade with the Padres. Last season, the Athletics’ offense was tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for fourth in slugging percentage (.431), while being fifth in hits (1,403) and tied for fifth in batting average (.253).

What was this offense accompanied by? A starting rotation that was 27th in ERA (4.85), 25th in opponent batting average (.257) and tied for 23rd in WHIP (1.34). Gallen would become the Athletics’ ace from the outset, providing a stabilizing right-hander with postseason experience who’s in the prime of his career to anchor their pitching staff.

The need for a top-of-the-rotation arm, if not two, comes with the continued struggles of the A’s to develop their homegrown pitchers into rotation linchpins. Meanwhile, free agent signee Luis Severino had a rough first year with the team in 2025 (4.54 ERA in 29 starts), while left-hander Jeffrey Springs (4.11 ERA in 32 appearances/30 starts) was arguably their best starting pitcher. With Gallen in the fold, the urgency for Jacob Lopez, J.T. Ginn, Luis Morales and a healthy Gunnar Hoglund, among other young pitchers, to make a jump would decrease.

Gallen’s timeline and that of the burgeoning A’s is a match.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Want a veteran player who hits for power? A plug-and-play designated hitter? Meet Marcell Ozuna.

The 35-year-old designated hitter/outfielder remains a considerable power threat from the right side of the plate, blasting 21 home runs in 145 regular-season games in 2025 and averaging 39.5 home runs and 102 RBIs per season for the Atlanta Braves from 2023-24. 

He provides a creditable power hitter who can do damage in the heart of any MLB lineup.

Here are the top three MLB free agent fits for Ozuna should he depart Atlanta.

We know the drill in Pittsburgh. The Pirates have an accredited starting rotation, but their offense severely lacks behind that asset. Ozuna would be a boon to a lineup that needs a boost wherever it can get it.

Last season, the Pirates were last in MLB in runs (583), home runs (117) and slugging percentage (.350), 28th in hits (1,244) and tied for 23rd in on-base percentage (.305). Enough said? Ozuna would give the Pirates arguably their most dangerous power hitter and serve as a veteran complement in the middle of the order.

Picking up infielders Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn were savvy moves for Pittsburgh. Plus, one figures that Bryan Reynolds, a two-time All-Star and one of the best outfielders in the sport, bounces back from the worst statistical offensive season of his career since becoming a full-time MLB player in 2019 (.245/.318/.402 slash line in 2025). 

Maybe Oneil Cruz finally puts it all together and/or 2024 first-round pick Konnor Griffin reaches and has success at the big-league level? Add Ozuna into the mix, and the Pirates could begin charting a path to competing for a National League wild-card seed. That said, Ozuna may prefer to play for a team that’s closer to contending than the Pirates, such as a team within their own division (NL Central).

The Reds, who made the playoffs with 83 wins last season, are close to being a shoo-in playoff team. They need more juice at the plate, though, and Ozuna — who still posted a 113 OPS+ in 2025, a down year by his standards — would certainly provide that.

Elly De La Cruz is a budding superstar; Spencer Steer is becoming one of the best first basemen in the sport; Matt McLain, Noelvi Marte and TJ Friedl have had their moments. Concurrently, while Cincinnati’s offense was a respectable bunch in 2025, it was also just 21st in home runs (167) and slugging percentage (.391).

Ozuna would give Cincinnati much-needed oomph in the heart of the order, helping it capitalize on Friedl, Steer and, if they move up the lineup, De La Cruz and McLain creating traffic on the basepaths. Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo and Brady Singer make for a potent starting rotation. Now, the Reds have to complement their roster’s strength with a more balanced offensive attack. Veteran slugging is the answer, and Ozuna, who has a rocketing, power swing, fits the bill. At the same time, there’s a team that could use Ozuna’s bat and not only be a playoff team but definitively win their division with him in the fold, too.

The Rangers missing the playoffs in each of the last two seasons doesn’t tell the whole story: This is a talented roster that can be a playoff team in any given year and is just two seasons removed from winning the World Series. Ozuna threads the needle for Texas and fits its timeline.

The Rangers’ starting rotation had the best ERA in the sport last season at 3.41, and they recently acquired left-hander and 2025 All-Star MacKenzie Gore from the Washington Nationals. A mere mid-level offensive attack makes Texas a playoff team. On that front, the Rangers were 26th in slugging percentage (.381), tied for 26th in on-base percentage (.302), 24th in hits (1,275), 22nd in runs (684) and 18th in home runs (175) last season.

Trading second baseman Marcus Semien for New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo should give Texas more plate discipline and consistent power, but it’s not enough to call it quits this offseason — even if two of Wyatt Langford, Josh Smith, Josh Jung and Evan Carter make a considerable jump in 2026.

After non-tendering outfielder Adolis Garcia and trading a position player-heavy haul to Washington for Gore (2025 first-rounder Gavin Fien, infielder Devin Fitz-Gerald, infielder/outfielder Abimelec Ortiz and outfielder Yeremy Cabrera were among the players sent to the Nationals), the Rangers need all the proven depth they can find for manager Skip Schumaker’s lineup card — even if Ozuna is locked into the designated hitter slot.

As for the American League West, the Seattle Mariners were one win away from the World Series and the Houston Astros are a proven ballclub, but neither team is invincible. Seattle won just 90 games in the 2025 regular season, and Houston hasn’t won 90 games since 2023. Texas has arguably the best starting rotation in the AL, if not all of MLB, and positional upside across the board. Ozuna, who finished in the top 9% of MLB in average exit velocity in 2024, would provide offensive clarity and needed slugging for the Rangers, making them that much more likely to be a player in the AL West. 

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Aaron Judge has 46 career multi-home run games at the MLB level. He’s now gone yard multiple times in another way.

It was announced on Tuesday that Judge is the cover athlete for “MLB The Show 26,” marking the second time in the New York Yankees‘ superstar’s career that he has been on the cover of the game; the first time was in 2018.

Former Minnesota Twins catcher/first baseman and Hall of Famer Joe Mauer is the only other player to grace the cover of “MLB The Show” twice, doing so in 2010 and 2011.

The 33-year-old Judge, a five-time Silver Slugger and seven-time All-Star, totaled 53 home runs, 114 RBIs and an American League-high 124 walks and 9.7 wins above replacement last season, while posting an AL-best — across the board — .331/.457/.688 slash line. In doing so, Judge earned his third career American League MVP, and has now won the award in three of the last four seasons.

Over his nine-plus-year MLB career (2016-25), Judge has led the AL in WAR, runs scored, home runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS and OPS+ three times apiece, while also leading the AL in walks four times and RBIs and intentional walks twice apiece.

Judge, the 2017 AL Rookie of the Year, hit an AL-record 62 home runs in the 2022 regular season. He has also posted 64 defensive runs saved in right field over his MLB career.

Judge will be the captain for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. It’s the first time that Judge will participate in the tournament.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Justin Verlander is still getting the job done.

The soon-to-be 43-year-old right-hander is coming off a solid 2025 campaign with the San Francisco Giants that saw him post a 3.85 ERA in 29 regular-season starts. Any team that potentially signs Verlander would likely be doing so to round out the final spot in their starting rotation, but it’s a role that the three-time Cy Young Award winner could thrive in, especially as a veteran complement.

Here are the three best MLB free agent fits for Verlander should he depart San Francisco.

Given where expectations stood, the Marlins going 79-83 last season was impressive, and there are some pieces to be bullish on (e.g., Kyle Stowers and Agustin Ramirez). They could use some veteran enhancements, though, which is where Verlander comes in.

An opening in Miami’s rotation comes in the wake of trading both Edward Cabrera (Chicago Cubs) and Ryan Weathers (New York Yankees), and Cal Quantrill being put on waivers in August of last season. Moreover, this was a Marlins’ starting rotation that was 26th in MLB in ERA last year (4.84).

After a rocky start with the Giants that saw Verlander’s ERA hit 4.99 on July 18, the future Hall of Famer proceeded to post a 2.60 ERA over his next 13 starts over 72.2 innings pitched. In a similar manner, Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara, the 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner and a two-time All-Star who has been ravaged by injures the last three years, had a 7.14 ERA on July 18 of last season but proceeded to post a 3.13 ERA over his next 12 starts in 77.2 innings. Verlander can be a veteran voice for Alcantara to bounce ideas off and also serve as a mentor to budding pitchers like Eury Perez and Max Meyer, among others.

All that said, while Miami had a competitive 2025 season, Verlander may prefer to pitch for a bona fide playoff team, rather than one that has a mere outside chance of competing in the postseason next season.

Dylan Cease signed a seven-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, Nestor Cortes — who remains a free agent — will miss the bulk of next season due to an elbow injury, Yu Darvish may be retiring and the Padres’ starting rotation is coming off an underwhelming season as a collective. Getting a pitcher who can make at least 25 starts and is attainable on a one-to-two-year deal like Verlander would be a shrewd move for San Diego.

While Michael King making just 15 regular-season starts played a role, San Diego’s starting rotation was in the middle-of-the-pack last season, finishing 16th in ERA (4.07) and tied for 14th in WHIP (1.25). Moving forward, a healthy King is an All-Star-caliber pitcher; Nick Pivetta is coming off a breakout season (2.87 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 31 starts); Randy Vasquez has had his moments over the last two years. Maybe star reliever Mason Miller is moved into the starting rotation next season? Even if Miller is moved into the rotation and thrives, though, getting another proven arm for 2026 would be prudent.

Over the last two years, Verlander has primarily leaned on his four-seamer, while frequently mixing in a slider, curveball and changeup. Meanwhile, he was still providing length down the stretch of last season, as Verlander had two outings in September where he pitched through seven innings.

Verlander, who has made 37 career postseason starts, would fill a hole for the Padres, but there’s a team where he’d shore up a loose end and potentially expect to be playing in the National League Championship Series.

Simply put, the Phillies would benefit from having another proven starting pitcher, and this is indeed an article based on finding the best fits for Verlander. This is a match.

Over the last two years, Ranger Suarez, a 2024 All-Star, had a case for being the Phillies’ best starting pitcher when on top of his game. Earlier this month, Suarez signed a five-year deal with the Boston Red Sox; Zack Wheeler’s 2025 campaign ended in August after a blood clot; Aaron Nola posted a career-high 6.01 ERA in 17 regular-season starts; the Phillies traded right-hander and 2020 first-round pick Mick Abel to the Minnesota Twins to acquire star closer Jhoan Duran in July of last season. Verlander would provide stabilizing clarity to manager Rob Thomson’s rotation.

Cristopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo have come into their own as stiff, top-of-the-rotation left-handers. Working under the mindset that one of Nola getting back on track and Wheeler making a return to full strength takes place, Philadelphia’s starting staff looks sharp. Add Verlander into the mix, and the Phillies have another pitcher who can give them 150.0 innings in the regular season and start in the postseason, if needed.

Signing Verlander would, theoretically, move Taijuan Walker to the bullpen on a full-time basis; Walker made 13 appearances out of the bullpen last season. Plus, Verlander should come at an affordable rate (say, a one-year, $10 million deal).

The Phillies have been eliminated in the NL Division Series in each of the last two seasons, but the positional talent – highlighted by Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner – and rotation core are still in place to contend for the pennant. It’s a matter of coming through in crunch time and, beforehand, ascertaining that they have competent depth across the board. Verlander fits the bill.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

The Dodgers‘ quest for a World Series three-peat. The big-spending Blue Jays aiming to return to the Fall Classic. And plenty of contenders – including the Yankees, Mariners, Mets, and Cubs – looking to make some noise.

The MLB season begins on March 25, and FOX will have over 85 regular season games in 2026. Coverage begins on MLB Opening Weekend with a full slate on Saturday, March 28, that includes the Yankees at the Giants (7 p.m. ET, FOX). 

Before the regular season, the World Baseball Classic returns to FOX from March 4–March 17. Team Japan, led by Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, will look to retain its crown against a stacked Team USA squad that includes Yankees slugger Aaron Judge and last year’s MLB home run leader Cal Raleigh. 

Among the blockbuster games on the schedule include a World Series rematch on April 6 – with the Dodgers back in Toronto to take on the Blue Jays (7 p.m. ET, FS1). The Subway Series also returns on May 16 when the Yankees visit the Mets on May 16 (7 p.m., FOX). 

With the United States celebrating its 250th anniversary, the July 4 slate includes the Mets vs. Braves in an NL East clash and NL Central rivals Cardinals visiting the Cubs. 

The Yankees-Red Sox rivalry will be featured across three FOX games across the season (April 23 in Boston; June 6 and August 29 in New York).  

FOX will also be home for the 2026 All-Star Game on July 14 at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Last season’s All-Star Game in Atlanta featured the first ever swing-off with Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber winning it for the NL in a memorable moment. 

MLB on FOX: 2026 Marquee Baseball Events

• World Baseball Classic — March 15—17
• MLB Opening Weekend — March 28
• 2026 MLB All-Star Game — July 14
• MLB Postseason — October

MLB on FOX: How to Watch

All games will be broadcast on FOX or FS1 and are available for streaming through the FOX Sports app. 

MLB on FOX: 2026 Full Schedule

All Times Eastern
*Available on FOX Deportes

Saturday, March 28

• Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles — 4 p.m. on FS1*
• New York Yankees at San Francisco Giants — 7 p.m. on FOX*
• Kansas City Royals at Atlanta Braves — 7 p.m. on FOX

Monday, March 30

• Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds — 6:30 p.m. on FS1*
• San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres — 9:30 p.m. on FS1*

Saturday, April 4

• Milwaukee Brewers at Kansas City Royals — 4 p.m. on FS1
• Chicago Cubs at Cleveland Guardians — 7 p.m. on FOX
• Atlanta Braves at Arizona Diamondbacks — 7 p.m. FOX*

Monday, April 6

• Los Angeles Dodgers at Toronto Blue Jays — 7 p.m. on FS1*

Wednesday. April 8

• Detroit Tigers at Minnesota Twins — 7:30 p.m. on FS1

Saturday. April 11

• Arizona Diamondbacks at Philadelphia Phillies — 1 p.m. on FS1
• Boston Red Sox at St. Louis Cardinals — 7 p.m. on FOX
• San Francisco Giants at Baltimore Orioles — 7 p.m. on FOX

Monday, April 13

• Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia Phillies — 6:30 p.m. FS1*

Saturday, April 18

• Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies — 7 p.m. on FOX
• Texas Rangers at Seattle Mariners — 7 p.m. on FOX*

Monday, April 20

• Baltimore Orioles at Kansas City Royals — 7:30 p.m. on FS1*

Thursday, April 23

• New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox — 6 p.m. on FS1*

Saturday, April 25

• Cleveland Guardians at Toronto Blue Jays — 3 p.m. on FS1
• Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers — 7 p.m. on FOX*
• Detroit Tigers at Cincinnati Reds — 7 p.m. on FOX

Monday, April 27

• Seattle Mariners at Minnesota Twins — 7:30 p.m. on FS1*

Saturday, May 2

• Cincinnati Reds at Pittsburgh Pirates — 4 p.m. on FS1
• Los Angeles Dodgers at St. Louis Cardinals — 7 p.m. on FOX*
• Texas Rangers at Detroit Tigers — 7 p.m. on FOX

Monday, May 4

• Milwaukee Brewers at St. Louis Cardinals — 7:30 p.m. on FS1*

Saturday, May 9

• Houston Astros at Cincinnati Reds — 4 p.m. on FS1*
• St. Louis Cardinals at San Diego Padres — 7 p.m. on FOX
• New York Mets at Arizona Diamondbacks — 7 p.m. on FOX

Monday, May 11

• Seattle Mariners at Houston Astros — 8 p.m. on FS1*

Saturday, May 16

• Baltimore Orioles at Washington Nationals — 4 p.m. on FS1*
• New York Yankees at New York Mets — 7 p.m. on FOX*
• San Diego Padres at Seattle Mariners — 7 p.m. on FOX

Monday, May 18

• Cleveland Guardians at Detroit Tigers — 6:30 p.m. on FS1*

Saturday, May 23

• Seattle Mariners at Kansas City Royals — 4 p.m. on FS1
• Los Angeles Dodgers at Milwaukee Brewers — 7 p.m. on FOX*
• St. Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati Reds — 7 p.m. on FOX

Wednesday, May 27

• Tampa Bay Rays at Baltimore Orioles — 6:30 p.m. on FS1*

Saturday, May 30

• Kansas City Royals at Texas Rangers — 4 p.m. on FS1*
• Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals — 7 p.m. on FOX*
• Atlanta Braves at Cincinnati Reds — 7 p.m. on FOX

Monday, June 1

• San Francisco Giants at Milwaukee Brewers — 7:30 p.m. on FS1*

Thursday, June 4

• Pittsburgh Pirates at Houston Astros — 8 p.m. on FS1

Saturday, June 6

• Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees — 7:30 p.m. on FOX*
• Cleveland Guardians at Texas Rangers — 7:30 p.m. on FOX

Monday, June 8

New York Yankees at Cleveland Guardians — 6:30 p.m. on FS1*

Saturday, June 13

• Philadelphia Phillies at Milwaukee Brewers — 7 p.m. on FOX
• Houston Astros at Kansas City Royals — 7 pm. on FOX*

Saturday, June 20

• New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies — 7 p.m. on FOX*
• Cleveland Guardians at Houston Astros — 7 p.m. on FOX

Saturday, July 4

• New York Mets at Atlanta Braves — 8 p.m. on FOX*
• St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs — 8 p.m. on FOX

Monday, July 6

• Arizona Diamondbacks at San Diego Padres — 9:30 p.m. on FS1*

Saturday, July 11

• Boston Red Sox at New York Mets — 4 p.m. on FS1*

Tuesday, July 14

• ALL-STAR GAME — 8 p.m. on FOX*

Saturday, July 18

• Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Yankees — 8 p.m. on FOX*
• San Francisco Giants at Seattle Mariners — 8 p.m. on FOX

Saturday, July 25

• San Diego Padres at Miami Marlins — 4 p.m. on FS1*
• Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Mets — 7 p.m. on FOX*
• Seattle Mariners at Texas Rangers — 7 p.m. on FOX

Saturday, August 1

• Minnesota Twins at Seattle Mariners — 4 p.m. on FS1*
• New York Yankees at Chicago Cubs — 7 p.m. on FOX*
• Arizona Diamondbacks at Cleveland Guardians — 7 p.m. on FOX

Saturday, August 8

• Minnesota Twins at Seattle Mariners — 4 p.m. on FS1*
• New York Yankees at Chicago Cubs — 7 p.m. on FOX*
• Arizona Diamondbacks at Cleveland Guardians — 7 p.m. on FOX

Monday, August 10

• Philadelphia Phillies at St. Louis Cardinals — 7:30 p.m. on FS1*

Saturday, August 15

• Washington Nationals at New York Mets — 4 p.m. on FS1*
• Milwaukee Brewers at Los Angeles Dodgers — 7 p.m. on FOX*
• Arizona Diamondbacks at Atlanta Braves — 7 p.m. FOX

Saturday, August 22

• Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins — 4 p.m. on FS1
• San Francisco Giants at Boston Red Sox — 7 p.m. on FOX*
• Detroit Tigers at Kansas City Royals — 7 p.m. on FOX

Monday, August 24

• Tampa Bay Rays at Detroit Tigers — 6:30 p.m. on FS1*
• Cincinnati Reds at San Francisco Giants — 9:30 p.m. on FS1*

Thursday, August 27

• Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves — 7 p.m. on FS1*

Saturday, August 29

• Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees — 7 p.m. on FOX*
• Texas Rangers at Milwaukee Brewers — 7 p.m. on FOX

Monday, August 31

• Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs — 7:30 p.m. on FS1*

Thursday, Sept. 3

• Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers — 8 p.m. on FS1*

Saturday. Sept. 5

• Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Guardians — 7 p.m. on FOX
• Arizona Diamondbacks at Houston Astros — 7 p.m. on FOX*
• Boston Red Sox at Baltimore Orioles — 7 p.m. on FOX

Saturday, Sept. 17

• Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets — 7 p.m. on FOX*
• Kansas City Royals at Houston Astros — 7 p.m. on FOX

Monday, Sept. 21

• Toronto Blue Jays at Baltimore Orioles — 6:30 p.m. on FS1*

Thursday, Sept. 24

• Cincinnati Reds at Atlanta Braves — 7 p.m. on FS1*

Saturday, Sept. 26

• TBD at TBD — 7 p.m. on FOX

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

The New York Mets are acquiring All-Star right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, according to a report from ESPN on Thursday.

The Brewers will receive top prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat in exchange for Peralta, and will send out right-handed pitcher Tobias Myers, per reports. Williams and Sproat are ranked third and fifth in the Mets’ farm system, respectively, according to Minor League Baseball.

Peralta finished the 2025 MLB season with a 17-6 record, a 2.70 ERA and 204 strikeouts in 33 starts for the Brewers. He was voted an All-Star in 2025, his first All-Star selection since 2021.

The 29-year-old has spent his entire Major League career with the Brewers. He was signed by the Seattle Mariners as an international free agent in 2013, but was traded to the Brewers in 2015. He made his Major League debut in 2018.

Peralta now joins a pitching rotation headlined by Nolan McLean, David Peterson, Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes and Sean Manaea. He also becomes the latest in a flurry of big-name acquisitions from the Mets, which includes two-time All-Star Bo Bichette and one-time All-Star Luis Robert Jr.

Peralta is in the final year of a five-year, $15.5 million contract extension he signed in February 2020. He is owed $8 million for the 2026 season and will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

With multiple offers in free agency, Kyle Tucker was ultimately swayed by the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ championship pedigree.

“It’s a big decision, so you still got to weigh out everything,” he said, “but this team and this city and the fanbase kind of makes it a little bit easier to make some decisions. That is just ultimately what we wanted to do is come here and be part of that and try to win another World Series.”

Tucker signed a $240 million, four-year contract, choosing the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers over the New York Mets and World Series runner-up Toronto Blue Jays. He can opt out after years two and three.

“Obviously, we started lower,” joked Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations. “It doesn’t mean that it has to be two, three, four years here. It could be longer than that. For him to choose us when he had other longer term and other shorter term, I think speaks to the growth and progress that we’ve made on creating a destination spot.”

Tucker gets a $64 million signing bonus, of which $54 million is payable on Feb. 15 and $10 million on Feb. 1, 2027. He gets a $1 million salary this year and $55 million in 2027, and he has $60 million player options for 2028 and 2029.

In each season from 2027-29, $10 million is deferred. The deferred money from all years is payable in 10 equal installments each Dec. 1 from 2036-45.

He also gets a hotel suite on road trips.

Tucker’s $60 million average annual value is the second-highest in baseball history, without factoring in deferred money, behind Shohei Ohtani’s $70 million in his 10-year deal with the Dodgers that runs through 2033. With the addition of Tucker’s $30 million in deferred money, Los Angeles owes $1.0945 billion in deferred compensation to 10 players from 2028-47.

“There was really nobody that moved our World Series odds for 2026 more than Kyle Tucker,” general manager Brandon Gomes said.

Read more: 4 Takeaways From Kyle Tucker’s $240 Million Deal

Tucker’s signing reignited talk of management proposing a salary cap in collective bargaining after the Dodgers added yet another star to one of the sport’s highest payrolls.

“We don’t pay much attention to that because we operate within the rules and we do everything we can to put ourselves in the best position, both short term and long term, and we’re not thinking about more macro things outside of that,” Friedman said. “It is about how can we win as many games and put ourselves in the best position to win a championship in 2026 without really compromising ourselves out into the future and falling off the proverbial cliff.”

Tucker will play right field and likely bat second or third in the lineup, manager Dave Roberts said. Ohtani, who typically leads off, was working out on the Dodger Stadium field ahead of Tucker’s introductory news conference. Teoscar Hernandez will move from right to left.

“This organization from top down is first class,” Tucker said. “It’ll be a lot of fun competing with these guys and competing for another hopefully three-peat here.”

Tucker slipped on a No. 23 Dodgers jersey alongside Roberts and Gomes. He wore No. 30 for most of his career with the Houston Astros and during his lone season with the Chicago Cubs last year. Roberts wears No. 30 in honor of Dodgers star Maury Wills, his mentor.

Tucker said he chose 23 in honor of his former Astros teammate Michael Brantley, who wore the number before retiring in 2022. They won the World Series that year, although Brantley was sidelined during the postseason.

Tucker has been criticized for a perceived casual playing style. Last August, he got booed by Cubs fans for not running out ground balls and lacking intensity. He acknowledged he may be perceived that way because of “a little bit of my demeanor.”

“I try to do my best out there regardless of how I feel or what the situation is,” he said.

The Dodgers sought out clubhouse personnel, training staff, teammates and coaches to find out about Tucker’s competitive makeup and work ethic.

“His demeanor is such that it’s not an outward exuberant personality and so I think that can be misconstrued,” Friedman said. “For us, it’s about how does he compete, how does he work? For that we got very comfortable that when he’s in the box, when he’s in the outfield, he competes as well as anybody.”

Roberts did his own vetting of Tucker with other managers and coaches.

“There’s an inner fire that I’ve seen,” he said.

Tucker, the NL starter in right in last summer’s All-Star Game, assured the Dodgers he wants to continue to improve.

“He talked about that a lot, of how much he cares about the finer points,” Friedman said. “Anything we have that can help him get better in any regard — whether it’s on defense, on the bases, in the batter’s box — he’s like, ‘I’m all for it.’ So having a guy who has achieved what he has, but still have that kind of growth mindset, those are guys that make it easier.”

Roberts believes Tucker is a potential MVP candidate with the ability to win another Gold Glove.

“Having a lot of people around him, there’s more runs scored in there. I think he’s going to have the ability to drive in runs,” Roberts said. “He’s a five-tool player, he loves to compete, he loves to play the game, he pours into the community, he’s a smart player.”

Reporting by The Associated Press. 

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports