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The Big Ticket

Padres, D-backs Meet in Season-Defining Series

Both NL West clubs enter the four-game set searching for answers before the trade deadline

Filed 8 JULY 2026SAN DIEGO — 7 JULY 2026USA Major League BaseballWed 8 Jul • 01:40

San Diego snapped an eight-game losing streak just before Arizona came to town, but the fix looks temporary. The Padres' offense remains historically bad, and manager Craig Stammen's team now opens a pivotal four-game set against a Diamondbacks club that's stumbling in its own right. Stammen said after the streak ended that his team 'still has that fight in them.' The next four games will test that claim against a division rival separated by just one game in the standings.

San Diego Padres vs Arizona Diamondbacks
The Big Ticket

Gausman Returns to a Home Run Killer

Toronto's veteran righty finds a friendly ballpark against the club that once called him its ace.

Filed 7 JULY 2026SAN FRANCISCO — 6 JULY 2026USA Major League BaseballTue 7 Jul • 01:46

Kevin Gausman took the mound at Oracle Park on Monday night for the first time as a visitor, starting for Toronto against his former team. The Blue Jays sent him out at 4-7 with a 4.19 ERA, a season defined by home run trouble. Oracle Park, the most pitcher-friendly yard in the majors, gave him a reprieve from that exact problem.

San Francisco Giants vs Toronto Blue Jays
The Big Ticket

Braves Bash Five Homers, Mets Freefall Continues

Atlanta's five-homer night and Sale's 10th All-Star nod contrast a Mets skid nearing historic lows

Filed 6 JULY 2026ATLANTA — 5 JULY 2026USA Major League BaseballMon 6 Jul • 23:16

The Braves blasted five home runs in a 14-3 rout of the Mets on July 4, with Michael Harris II, Eli White, Mauricio Dubón, Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Riley all going deep. Chris Sale was named an All-Star for the 10th time just hours before that start. The Mets answered back a night later, stealing Game 3 10-9 on Juan Soto's go-ahead single, but the loss dropped New York to 36-53 and deepened a collapse with few precedents.

Atlanta Braves vs New York Mets
The Big Ticket

Royals' Skid Hits Nine Against Surging Phillies

Phillies bid for series sweep at Kauffman as Kansas City's slump deepens

Filed 6 JULY 2026KANSAS CITY — 5 JULY 2026USA Major League BaseballMon 6 Jul • 18:10

The Royals' skid hit eight losses in nine games Saturday, falling 6-1 to the Phillies behind nine strikeouts from Jesus Luzardo. J.T. Realmuto, Gabriel Rincones Jr. and Alec Bohm all homered for Philadelphia. Kansas City went just 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position, part of a miserable .118 clip in those spots during the slide.

Kansas City Royals vs Philadelphia Phillies
The Big Ticket

Dodgers Rally Twice, Ohtani's Arm a Worry

Rushing and Hernandez power back-to-back rallies as San Diego's skid deepens and Ohtani's biceps becomes the finale's storyline.

Filed 5 JULY 2026LOS ANGELES — 5 JULY 2026USA Major League BaseballSun 5 Jul • 23:20

The Dodgers erased a six-run hole Thursday and did it again Friday, rallying past the Padres 12-7 and then 4-3 in back-to-back comebacks at Dodger Stadium. Dalton Rushing drove in four runs in the first win. Teoscar Hernandez capped the second with a go-ahead grand slam off Adrian Morejon in the seventh, though Shohei Ohtani's exit with right biceps tightness after 110 pitches looms over the series finale."]

LA Dodgers vs San Diego Padres
The Big Ticket

Azteca's Altitude Looms Over England's Biggest Test

Mexico's unbeaten Azteca record and a compressed acclimatization window frame the Round of 16 clash

Filed 4 JULY 2026MEXICO CITY — 6 JULY 2026FIFA World CupMon 6 Jul • 01:00

Thomas tuchel said it plainly this week. His England team cannot adapt to playing at 7,300 feet in four days. Mexico have never lost a World Cup match at the Azteca in 10 tries across six decades, and Tuchel's admission lands like a coach conceding ground before kickoff.

Mexico vs England
The Big Ticket

Twelve Years Later, Belgium Returns to Haunt the U.S.

A Round of 16 rematch in Seattle doubles as a test of whether the sport has finally arrived in America

Filed 4 JULY 2026SEATTLE — 7 JULY 2026FIFA World CupTue 7 Jul • 00:00

Twelve years after Belgium eliminated the United States in the 2014 World Cup, the two teams meet again, this time at Lumen Field, with a quarterfinal on the line. The USMNT hasn't reached that round since 2002. Mauricio Pochettino's group gets a shot to end the drought on home soil, in a tournament the U.S. is co-hosting for the first time. Belgium, meanwhile, arrives having survived a wild comeback win over Senegal, still built around the same core that broke American hearts in Salvador.

USA vs Belgium
The Big Ticket

Rockies, Giants Battle to Escape NL West Basement

Webb and Feltner headline a holiday-weekend series with last place at stake in Denver

Filed 4 JULY 2026DENVER — 3 JULY 2026USA Major League BaseballSat 4 Jul • 00:10

Logan Webb and the Giants open a pivotal three-game set at Coors Field on Friday, squaring off against Ryan Feltner and the Rockies with last place in the NL West on the line. San Francisco (36-50) and Colorado (35-53) sit just two games apart in the loss column entering the holiday weekend. Webb (5-5, 3.09 ERA) takes the mound as the clear front-line arm, while Feltner (2-2, 4.42) tries to keep Colorado's rotation afloat.

Colorado Rockies vs San Francisco Giants
The Big Ticket

Cubs Ride Hot Streak Into Cardinals Series

Dansby Swanson's power surge fuels Chicago as St. Louis arrives amid a rebuild

Filed 3 JULY 2026CHICAGO — 3 JULY 2026USA Major League BaseballFri 3 Jul • 20:16

The Cubs roll into Wrigley Field on a five-game winning streak, fresh off a 23-3 demolition of the Padres. Dansby swanson hit three home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in eight runs in that July 1 finale alone. Chicago now hosts St. Louis with the hottest bat in baseball leading the way.

Chicago Cubs vs St Louis Cardinals
The Big Ticket

City Needs a Win, Brentford Needs History

Five points separate Manchester City and Arsenal with the title race at maximum pressure

Filed 8 MAY 2026MANCHESTER — 9 MAY 2026England Premier LeagueSat 9 May • 16:30

Manchester City host Brentford on Saturday sitting five points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, with a game in hand and no margin for error. Pep Guardiola's side dropped two crucial points on May 4, drawing 3-3 at Everton in a collapse that handed Arsenal the psychological edge. This fixture is a must-win.

Manchester City vs Brentford
The Big Ticket

Knicks Take 2-0 Lead, But Anunoby Exits

New York survives 25 lead changes to beat Philly 108-102, then loses its most valuable defender

Filed 8 MAY 2026PHILADELPHIA — 8 MAY 2026USA NBAFri 8 May • 23:00

The New York Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 108-102 in Game 2 on May 6 to go up 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, but OG Anunoby left with a hamstring issue that clouds Game 3 in Philly tonight. Tyrese Maxey scored 26 for the Sixers. Nobody else crossed 20.

Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks
The Big Ticket

Thunder Overwhelm Depleted Lakers in Game 1

Holmgren's double-double and deep bench give OKC a commanding series lead

Filed 7 MAY 2026OKLAHOMA CITY — 7 MAY 2026USA NBAFri 8 May • 01:30

The Oklahoma City Thunder handled the Los Angeles Lakers 108-90 in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, with Chet Holmgren posting 24 points and 12 rebounds to lead a balanced, depth-driven effort. LeBron James put up 27 points for Los Angeles, but it wasn't close after halftime. The Thunder, undefeated through the postseason after sweeping Phoenix in round one, led for the final three quarters.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs LA Lakers
The Big Ticket

Edwards steals Game 1, Spurs face series hole

Minnesota wins 104-102 in San Antonio despite Wembanyama's record 12 blocks

Filed 6 MAY 2026SAN ANTONIO — 4 MAY 2026USA NBAThu 7 May • 01:30

Anthony Edwards scored 18 points in an unexpected return from injury and the Minnesota Timberwolves held on to beat the San Antonio Spurs 104-102 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Edwards, who was expected to miss at least the first two games with a bone bruise and hyperextended left knee, dropped 11 of those points in the fourth quarter alone. San Antonio is down 0-1 in a series the Spurs hadn't even reached since 2017.

San Antonio Spurs vs Minnesota Timberwolves
The Big Ticket

Knicks Host Worn-Down Sixers in Game 1

Philadelphia's historic upset of Boston earns them a rematch — and a red-eye to Madison Square Garden.

Filed 4 MAY 2026NEW YORK — 4 MAY 2026USA NBATue 5 May • 00:00

The New York Knicks opened their second-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night at Madison Square Garden, holding every rest advantage on the board. Philadelphia arrived straight from Boston, where they closed out a Game 7 win that made NBA history and left the roster with no days off before tipoff.

New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers
The Big Ticket

San Antonio Bets on Two Resurrections at Once

The Spurs' Round 2 run and Project Marvel are rewriting the same city at the same time

Filed 4 MAY 2026SAN ANTONIO — 4 MAY 2026USA NBAMon 4 May • 14:00

San Antonio's Spurs are in the second round of the NBA Playoffs for the first time in years, and they want more. They've watched the Minnesota Timberwolves reach the Western Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons, 2024 and 2025, and they aren't interested in baby steps. Game 1 tips off Monday at 8:30 p.m. CT at Frost Bank Center on NBC and Peacock. It is the first playoff matchup between these franchises since 2001, and the city hosting it looks almost nothing like the one that witnessed that series.

San Antonio Spurs vs Minnesota Timberwolves
The Big Ticket

Pistons Force Game 7 After Stunning Orlando Comeback

Cunningham drops 32 and 10 as Detroit erases 24-point deficit to even series

Filed 3 MAY 2026DETROIT — 3 MAY 2026USA NBASun 3 May • 19:30

Cade Cunningham scored 32 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Detroit Pistons erased a 24-point deficit and beat the Orlando Magic 93-79 in Game 6, evening the first-round Eastern Conference series at 3-3. Detroit outscored Orlando 55-19 in the second half, turning a blowout loss into one of the more remarkable playoff comebacks in recent memory. Game 7 tips off Sunday at Little Caesars Arena.

Detroit Pistons vs Orlando Magic
The Big Ticket

San Diego's Sophomore Collapse Tests a Fragile Rivalry

SDFC swept LA twice last year. Eight winless games later, the arithmetic looks very different.

Filed 2 MAY 2026SAN DIEGO — 2 MAY 2026USA Major League SoccerSun 3 May • 01:30

San Diego FC swept LAFC twice last season on its way to a historic first-place finish in the Western Conference. That was the summit. Right now, SDFC is in freefall, mired in an eight-game winless streak across all competitions including five straight losses in MLS play — the worst run in the club's short history. Sunday night at Snapdragon Stadium, LAFC arrives looking for its first-ever win over San Diego, and the fixture has quietly become a referendum on whether that debut season was genius or a fluke.

San Diego FC vs Los Angeles FC
The Big Ticket

Cleveland's Raptors Curse Outlasts LeBron

Mitchell and Harden carry Cleveland's playoff torment of Toronto into Game 6

Filed 1 MAY 2026TORONTO — 1 MAY 2026USA NBAFri 1 May • 23:30

Cleveland holds a 3-2 series lead heading into Game 6 at Scotiabank Arena, and the Cavaliers have now beaten Toronto 12 straight times in the playoffs. LeBron James left Ohio years ago; the humiliation he perfected stayed right there in the rotation. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden are doing the rest.

Toronto Raptors vs Cleveland Cavaliers
The Big Ticket

Wolves Carry Series Lead Into Game 6 Without Edwards

Minnesota holds a 3-2 edge but faces Denver shorthanded as Nuggets fight for survival

Filed 29 APRIL 2026MINNEAPOLIS — 30 APRIL 2026USA NBAFri 1 May • 01:30

The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Denver Nuggets in Game 6 on April 30, holding a 3-2 series lead but doing it without Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo. Denver staved off elimination with a 125-113 win in Game 5, driven by a Nikola Jokić triple-double and a Spencer Jones spark off the bench. The Wolves need one more win at home to advance; the Nuggets need two straight to survive.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets
The Big Ticket

Detroit's Fairy-Tale Rebuild Faces Its Harshest Test

Cade Cunningham has been brilliant, but the Pistons are one loss from erasure in five games.

Filed 29 APRIL 2026DETROIT — 29 APRIL 2026USA NBAWed 29 Apr • 23:00

Two years ago the Detroit Pistons won 14 games. Fourteen. They were the worst team in the NBA, a franchise treading water so low the league's lottery odds barely felt like a lifeline. Wednesday night, facing elimination in Game 5 against the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic, they find out what the last two seasons actually meant. A 30-win turnaround, a No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, and the first playoff win since 2008 are either the foundation of something real or the setup to a punchline the rest of the league never tires of telling.

Detroit Pistons vs Orlando Magic
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