The New York Yankees are looking to snap out of their awful skid where they’ve lost 16 of their last 22 games when they take on the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.
Tampa Bay fell to two games under .500 after losing three in a row over the holiday weekend, and it finds itself as a home underdog in this one.
Carlos Rodon gets the ball for the Yankees, and he’s been awful since late June, posting a 10.89 ERA over his last four outings. Can he turn things around and get the Yankees back on track?
Here’s a look at the odds, probable pitchers and my best bet for this AL East clash.
Yankees vs. Rays Odds, Run Line and Total
Run Line
Yankees -1.5 (+130)Rays +1.5 (-155)
Moneyline
Yankees: -122Rays: +102
Total
8 (Over -118/Under -102)
Yankees vs. Rays Probable PitchersNew York: Carlos Rodon (9-6, 4.45 ERA)Tampa Bay: Ryan Pepiot (4-5, 4.40 ERA)Yankees vs. Rays How to WatchDate: Tuesday, July 9Time: 6:50 p.m. ESTVenue: Tropicana FieldHow to Watch (TV): Bally Sports Sun, YES NetworkYankees record: 55-37Rays record: 44-46Yankees vs. Rays Key Players to WatchNew York Yankees
Carlos Rodon: The lefty has been awful over his last four starts, allowing five, eight, eight and three runs over that stretch. That pushed Rodon’s season-long ERA from 2.93 all the way to 4.45, and he’s really struggled with his fastball this season.
Rodon is a tough pitcher to trust heading into this road matchup.
Tampa Bay Rays
Yandy Diaz: This is a favorable spot for Yandy Diaz, who has crushed left-handed pitching this season with an impressive .326/.362/.477 slash line in 86 at-bats. Diaz hasn’t been nearly as good as last season when he was an All-Star, but he’s still hitting .270 through the first half of 2024.
Yankees vs. Rays Prediction and Pick
This is a game that I broke down in today’s MLB Best Bets, as the Rays are a sneaky bet as home underdogs:
José Caballero leads Major League Baseball with 41 stolen bases and after seeing how easy his latest theft was, you'll understand why.
Caballero was on first based after earning a two-out walk from Nationals reliever Clayton Beeter in the bottom of the seventh on Tuesday night. After watching Beeter throw three pitches to Trent Grisham he took off.
He got such an incredible jump that he actually made it all the way to second before Beeter even threw the pitch. Video of the play barely looks real. What must have been going through first baseman Josh Bell's mind as he pointed at Caballero running to second?
The only way we can tell for certain that the footage wasn't doctored is the combination of the box score and the laughter of the announcers as they watched it happen.
After the game, manager Aaron Boone called his jump on this play, "elite" and joked about his pace maker.
Caballero was aquired by the Yankees at the trade deadline. He has now appeared in 17 games for the team.
The 2025 All-Star Game at Truist Park in Atlanta couldn't be decided in just nine innings. Instead of the typical extra innings we'd see in any other game, we got another Home Run Derby to finish off the night.
Each league got to send up three batters who each got three swings apiece. Whichever side had the most total homers would win the game. The National League came out on top of the swing-off thanks to three homers from Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber. In total, the NL had four homers compared to three for the American League after the even 6-6 contest.
Here are the full results from each player who participated in the swing-off. Remember, they only had three swings to hit as many long balls as they could.
Player
Team
League
Swing-Off Home Runs
Brent Rooker
Athletics
American League
2
Kyle Stowers
Miami Marlins
National League
1
Randy Arozarena
Seattle Mariners
American League
1
Kyle Schwarber
Philadelphia Phillies
National League
3
Jonathan Aranda
Tampa Bay Rays
American League
0
Pete Alonso
New York Mets
National League
N/A (swing-off decided)
The AL had a 3-1 lead before Schwarber stepped to the plate and went 3-for-3 which put the NL on top heading into the final two batters. Rays infielder Jonathan Aranda followed Schwarber with an opportunity to tie things up or give the AL the lead before the NL's final batter, Pete Alonso. Aranda hit a ball just off the top of the wall in right field for a close call, but wasn't able to go deep, which ended the thriller with the NL on top.
Schwarber was named the All-Star Game MVP for the swing-off performance. What a way to end the festivities.
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani crushed a no-doubt home run, a 107.8 mph blast that traveled 419 feet to center field, during the top of the seventh inning of his club's 3–1 win over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.
Ho hum. Business as usual for the reigning National League MVP. But something unique happened as Ohtani's homer left the field of play and landed in the visitor's bullpen at Coors Field.
Dodgers relief picher Kirby Yates was in the midst of throwing his warmup pitches when Ohtani's dinger sailed towards the bullpen. Yates, like a veteran outfielder, tracked the ball and made the catch as if it was a routine pop fly and not a near-110 mph missile off the bat of Ohtani.
After snagging the ball, Yates held his glove up in the air in celebratory fashion. Ohtani waved to the bullpen as he headed towards second base en route to touching 'em all.
The Dodgers might want to see if Yates can shag fly balls on his pitching off-days, as he may have potential out there. It wouldn't be the first time Los Angeles had a player add a new skill to his résumé this year.
And as for Ohtani, the red-hot Dodgers slugger now has three home runs and eight RBI in the last four games, all Dodgers wins.
Manchester United legend Paul Parker has revealed a "big worry" about summer signing Matheus Cunha. He arrived at Old Trafford with a price tag large enough to command immediate attention and expectations. However, only a few months on from his £62.5 million move from Wolves, the Brazilian forward finds himself with only a single Premier League goal to his name, which came during October’s frenetic 4-2 victory over Brighton.
A glimpse of the player United hoped for
Cunha's rhythm has been disrupted repeatedly, including by a head injury that ruled him out of recent fixtures against Crystal Palace and Everton. It was the second time since relocating to Manchester that he was forced to pause his progress. Despite the interruptions, Cunha’s most recent outing provided encouragement. Facing his former teammates from Wolves, he produced one of his sharpest performances in a United shirt. It was from his incisive work in the final third that Bruno Fernandes swept home United’s opening goal. This display has been seized upon by those who remain convinced that Cunha’s contribution goes far beyond his goal statistics. And among his admirers is former United defender Parker.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportParker’s praise for the Brazilian dynamo
Parker believes Cunha brings an edge and urgency that United have long lacked. Speaking about the 25-year-old’s influence, he offered glowing approval of the Brazilian’s work rate and mindset.
In an interview with , he said: "Cunha has done very well. He is very unselfish in everything he does. He never stops running, and sometimes he might even do too much, but that is just the way he is. His teammates need him and the team needs a player like him, because he gets the other people going. It affects his teammates a lot when he is not playing, so I really think he is important to the team."
Parker went on to compare Cunha to another United icon, while insisting that his performances at Wolves last season demonstrated a level of quality that always appeared too elevated for a struggling side.
He added: "His attitude is great and he never gives up. Man United haven’t had a player like him for a long, long time. He is a bit like Park [Ji-sung] in a way, but quicker. He has made a massive difference. He did amazingly for Wolves and he was too good to be in that team."
The 'big worry' beneath the surface
But alongside his admiration, Parker also issued a warning, one which is rooted not in Cunha’s ability, but in the nature of his personality. He suggested that players who operate with such wholehearted commitment often expect the same from those around them, a dynamic that can become troublesome if teammates fall short of that standard.
He said: "But I am worried about what he thinks about his teammates, because players like him who give everything, they can be very unhappy if his teammates are not good enough. That is a big worry, because I think he is demanding a lot. But in almost every other team, it would never be a worry. It is a very positive sign, but at Man United, with the players he is surrounded by, it can become an issue."
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Getty Images SportWhat comes next?
The mood around Old Trafford has improved following the recent victory over Wolves, a result that lifted United to within a single point of fourth-placed Crystal Palace. Head coach Ruben Amorim will know that momentum, something United have struggled to sustain, must now be preserved with another victory over Bournemouth next Monday.
Forty players listed at the maximum base price of INR 2 crore; Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi the only Indians among them
ESPNcricinfo staff09-Dec-20258:03
Will KKR go all-out to get Cameron Green in?
A total of 359 players are set to feature in the IPL 2026 mini-auction on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. Of these, 40 players have listed themselves for the maximum base price of INR 2 crore, with Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi the only Indians among them.Cameron Green, who is tipped to become the most expensive buy, has listed himself as a batter and will appear in the first set. Devon Conway, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sarfaraz Khan, David Miller and Prithvi Shaw are the others in that set.Quinton de Kock, Dunith Wellalage, and George Linde, who were not part of the longlist, have been included in the final list.Related
IPL 2026 auction – who will be at the heart of the big bidding wars?
Classy de Kock shows shades of old at just the right time
IPL 2026: How the squads stack up ahead of the auction
IPL auction: Green could be biggest buy, but can't cross INR 18 crore mark
Of the 359 players shortlisted, 244 are Indian and 115 from overseas. The auction will commence with a full round of capped players. The order will be batters, allrounders, wicketkeepers, fast bowlers and spinners, followed by a full round of uncapped players. The accelerated process will begin after player No. 70 and will cover the rest of the players. The franchises will then be asked to submit the names of the unsold players from the overall list for further accelerated rounds.A total of 77 slots are available to be filled at the auction, including 31 for overseas players. Kolkata Knight Riders have the biggest purse of INR 64.30 crore and also have 13 slots left to fill, including six overseas slots. Chennai Super Kings are the next with INR 43.4 crores. They have nine slots vacant.
Tottenham Hotspur’s form has been somewhat patchy this season, and ENIC Group are looking to strengthen the first-team ranks this January despite handing £150m to new manager Thomas Frank in the summer.
Injuries have put pressure on the London club once again this season, with the win over Brentford last weekend ending a run of six matches in the Premier League without victory.
However, it’s true that Spurs have left something to be desired in attack this season, and that is holding them back. With that in mind, they might just be something in recent rumours that Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo is on their radar.
The latest on Spurs' interest in Semenyo
You can trace Tottenham’s interest in Ghana international Semenyo back to the summer, with an official enquiry sent to Bournemouth this summer. Chairman Bill Foley didn’t want to let him leave, and the versatile forward has shown why on the field.
Spurs are persistent, though, and it’s understood that they, along with Premier League rivals Liverpool and Manchester City, are ready to move for his signature this January, now that a £65m release clause becomes active.
While Spurs will fight tooth and nail to get a deal over the line, it will candidly be difficult with two of the division’s heavyweights in the mix. Should things not go their way, ENIC will have alternative targets earmarked.
However, they may already be a rising star on the books who has the profile to become Tottenham’s own version of the in-demand forward, and he’s currently completing a year out on loan.
Spurs may already have their own Semenyo
Last season, James Maddison hailed Mikey Moore for his “young, fearless mentality”, having earned a place in Ange Postecoglou’s squad sporadically throughout the campaign.
A decision was made when Frank replaced Ange at the end of the 2024/25 season that the 18-year-old’s development would be best served at a club that could offer him more minutes, and so he joined Rangers in Scotland on a one-year deal.
A “superstar” of a talent, as said by journalist Fabrizio Romano, Moore has torn development opponents to shreds over the past few years, scoring 21 goals and supplying 15 assists across just 34 games for the Londoners’ youth side.
With ferocious dribbling and close control, Moore has what it takes to develop into a leading winger in the Premier League, his dynamism lending itself to roles on both attacking flanks.
Tottenham U18
24
19 (13)
Tottenham
21
1 (2)
Rangers
19
2 (2)
Tottenham U21
5
2 (2)
Tottenham U19
5
0 (0)
It’s been a tough campaign for the teenager, walking into a Rangers side who have fallen by the wayside, but he has started to play with a measure of form for new manager Danny Rohl, scoring in both of his past two Premiership matches.
There’s something quite unique about the 5 foot 11 winger’s profile, with data-driven site FBref likening his creativity and economical sprinting outbursts to Premier League stars like Morgan Rogers and Lilywhites teammate Mohammed Kudus.
But it’s the opinion of Spurs writer James Harris that Moore could “bring back the old Aaron Lennon” to the club with his pace and grace down the wing. The former England international’s explosiveness made him an incredibly effective and unpredictable opponent on his day, but he only scored 30 goals across 376 outings for the outfit.
Moore, with his impressive track record as a youngster, could better Lennon by some margin in that regard, potentially rivalling someone like Semenyo for output in the Premier League.
Whether that will be as the Ghanaian’s teammate at Tottenham, however, remains to be seen.
ENIC could fund the Semenyo move by selling Spurs' £55k-p/w "liability"
Tottenham are planning to get rid of some of the deadwood this January.
Former St. Louis Cardinals star catcher Yadier Molina will reprise his role as the manager for Puerto Rico at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Molina has participated in every World Baseball Classic so far, competing in the 2006, '09, '13 and '17 tournaments, then coaching in the 2023 event. In his coaching debut at the last WBC, Puerto Rico reached the quarterfinals round. As a player, Molina was runner-up with Puerto Rico twice in '13 and '17.
Molina retired from MLB following the 2022 season after 19 years with the Cardinals. He won two World Series titles, earned 10 All-Star selections and won 9 Gold Glove awards during his tenure. He's known as one of the most impressive catchers in recent MLB history.
New York Mets star Francisco Lindor will serve as Molina's captain of Team Puerto Rico, just as he did back in 2023.
The WBC will kick off on March 5, 2026 with Puerto Rico competing in the Pool A group, consisting of Canada, Colombia, Cuba and Panama. The games will be held at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Jesse Lingard is set to be available as a free agent with the former Manchester United forward quitting FC Seoul. Lingard, now 32, confirmed that Wednesday’s AFC Champions League meeting with Melbourne City will mark his final appearance for the club he joined in February 2024, a move dubbed the biggest in K League history.
Lingard prepares for final outing with Seoul
Lingard's departure concludes a tenure that brought no trophies but did lift FC Seoul back into competitive relevance. During his debut season, he played a pivotal role in steering the capital side to fourth place in the K League, their best finish since 2019, while the most recent campaign ended with the team in sixth. Across 66 matches, Lingard recorded 18 goals and 10 assists, figures that underline his steady influence after a turbulent chapter in his career.
Lingard enjoyed a surge of individual recognition this year, most notably during a blistering run in July. Over four league matches, he scored twice, took home two Man of the Match honours and earned a Player of the Week award. That form ultimately earned him the division’s Player of the Month trophy, his first major individual accolade in South Korea.
His improved performances also translated to continental competition. In a crucial AFC Champions League Elite clash away to Chinese champions Shanghai Port, Lingard orchestrated a 3-1 victory almost single-handedly. He broke the deadlock with a clinical finish shortly after half-time and, even after Mateus Vital pulled the hosts level, the midfielder responded by supplying a pinpoint cross for Lucas Silva to restore Seoul’s lead. He wrapped up the night with another crisp strike, sealing three points that strengthened Seoul’s position in the eastern standings.
AdvertisementLingard's message of gratitude
Lingard confirmed his exit through a heartfelt message on social media, reflecting warmly on a journey that revived his spirit as a footballer. In his statement, he revealed that talks with the club had led to a mutual decision to part ways after the 2025 season, acknowledging that walking away was far from easy.
He wrote: "After positive discussions with FC Seoul, we have mutually agreed that I will be leaving the club at the end of the 2025 season, with my final game on December 10th. This wasn’t an easy decision. My time in South Korea has been unbelievable — the football, the atmosphere, and the passion around this club have been top-class. The love, support and the appreciation you have shown towards me for these last 2 years has been truly amazing. Playing football here has been an unforgettable experience and one I will always value. I want to thank FC Seoul, my teammates, the staff, and everyone associated at the club for trusting me and welcoming me from day one. I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to play for such a massive club."
A career of highs, lows and reinvention
Lingard’s decision to leave Seoul marks the latest twist in a career defined by early promise and abrupt setbacks. He left Manchester United in 2022 after 22 years at Old Trafford, during which he played 232 times and scored some of the club’s most memorable goals of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. His trophy cabinet includes the FA Cup, Europa League and League Cup.
But after leaving United, Lingard’s fortunes nosedived. A short stint at Nottingham Forest after a brief revival at West Ham produced just 20 appearances before he departed at the end of his one-year deal. Eight months passed with no club willing to take him on, forcing him into the unfamiliar position of a free agent fighting for relevance. And then he decided to join FC Seoul in the far East. It was a bold step into a new culture and a new league at a time when he desperately needed a fresh start. Yet the early weeks were harsh. Lingard was visibly short of fitness and was subsequently sidelined by a meniscus injury. However, with time, he turned around his fortunes and was even handed the armband on a few occasions.
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Getty ImagesWhat comes next?
As he prepares for his final bow on Wednesday night, Lingard once again stands at a career crossroads. The free-agent market beckons, and while the next step remains uncertain, his two-year stint in Seoul has re-established him as a player capable of influencing matches. Teams across the English football pyramid that are looking to strengthen in the January window suddenly find a Premier League veteran in the market. He should have offers, if not from the top-flight, but more likely from the lower divisions.
It was remarkably just over six years ago that Marcus Rashford enjoyed one of the greatest moments of his Manchester United career, with the Englishman rifling home from the penalty spot to send Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
The United academy graduate had been the undoing of Paris Saint-Germain with that last-gasp spot-kick, while he also netted again in the Parc des Princes during the 2020/21 campaign, to clinch another famous win for Solskjaer and co.
Something about the Ligue 1 side appears to bring the best out of the 27-year-old, it would seem, with the in-form forward having again been electric when facing off with the Parisien outfit – albeit this time in Aston Villa colours.
The Red Devils outcast put in a simply masterful display through the middle for Unai Emery’s side, having notably produced a breathtaking assist for Villa’s third of the night as the hosts flipped the encounter on its head. In truth, it was vintage Rashford.
Frustratingly for the Villans, they could not complete the comeback after bravely crashing out, while for those back in Manchester, such a fine individual display may have Ruben Amorim thinking twice over his decision to exile the £300k-per-week marksman.
But would a return to Old Trafford really be in the best interest of all parties this summer?
Why Rashford still needs to be sold this summer
As far as Rashford is concerned, the decision to make the move to Villa Park back in February could hardly have gone better, with the Midlands side also still in the mix for a top five finish in the Premier League, while having also reached the last four of the FA Cup.
The polarising sensation has been central to Emery’s plans in recent months, with the assist for Ezri Konsa last night taking his total tally to nine goal involvements in just 15 appearances since making the move. Jesse Lingard at West Ham United anyone?
Free from the shackles and the scrutiny of being a Manchester United player, Rashford has looked reborn in claret and blue, with Tuesday night seeing him create four big chances in total – more than any other player on the pitch.
That display backed up Emery’s decision to once again select his loan star ahead of compatriot, Ollie Watkins, in the centre-forward berth, with the Villans boasting attacking depth that Amorim can only dream of – not least with Joshua Zirkzee now sidelined with injury.
Speaking on Amazon Prime, United legend Wayne Rooney suggested that he would “love” to see Rashford back playing for the Red Devils next season, while also claiming that the player himself “wants” to be back at the Theatre of Dreams.
That said, it was only in December that the England international outlined his desire for a “new challenge” after being given the cold shoulder by Amorim, with it difficult to see any form of reconciliation occurring ahead of next season.
Indeed, having found his groove at Villa, why would Rashford risk enduring another stop-start campaign back at his parent club – not least considering three of the last four seasons have been rather underwhelming for him in a United shirt.
2024/25*
24
7
3
2023/24
43
8
6
2022/23
56
30
11
2021/22
32
5
2
2020/21
57
21
18
As for the club itself, the chance to rake in a £40m fee from Villa – a deal that would represent pure profit – is no doubt difficult to turn down, with it perhaps best for everyone that a permanent separation occurs this summer.
That said, even if Amorim and co do change their mind, at least they have only opted to loan out Rashford thus far, with the option of a homecoming still on the table. The same can’t be said for everyone that INEOS have let go…
Man Utd may have made a bigger mistake than Rashford
It appears to be a growing theme that players who have left Old Trafford have gone on to shine elsewhere, albeit with the club having largely been correct in moving those players on.
Indeed, in the case of Anthony Elanga, the Swedish speedster had scored just four goals in 55 games for United prior to departing for Nottingham Forest. David de Gea, meanwhile, was public enemy number one for his mistake in the FA Cup final, before being allowed to leave for nothing.
Equally, the likes of Antony and Jadon Sancho – now on loan at Real Betis and Chelsea – had hardly pulled up any trees following their £86m and £73m arrivals, respectively, with the pair netting just 24 goals between them in 179 games.
Antony
96
12
5
17
Anthony Elanga
55
4
4
8
Amad
57
12
10
22
Jadon Sancho
83
12
6
18
Alejandro Garnacho
135
25
20
45
Dan James
74
9
9
18
Angel Di Maria
34
4
12
16
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
63
13
11
24
Memphis Depay
53
7
6
13
Even Rashford had endured a miserable 18 months after scoring just 15 goals for United following the start of the 2023/24 campaign, with few of a Red Devils persuasion having contested with any of those exits at the time.
In the case of Scott McTominay, however, it may well be a different story, with the Scotland star having actually been one of Erik ten Hag’s key men last term, before sealing a £25m move to Napoli over the summer.
Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries in action with Napoli's Scott McTominay
Indeed, the 28-year-old was the Dutchman’s rescue act having repeatedly delivered the goods in an attacking sense, with the rampaging midfielder – who notably netted a brace at the death against Brentford – ending the season with ten goals to his name in all competitions.
The joint third-highest scorer for United in the end in 2023/24, McTominay appeared to be thriving in an advanced midfield berth, albeit with the desire to meet PSR regulations – and the pursuit of fellow midfielder, Manuel Ugarte – leading to INEOS deciding to cash in.
Scott McTominay
Ten Hag has since admitted that he “didn’t want” to sell the 6 foot 4 giant, yet was almost “forced” into agreeing to the decision due to the club’s financial constraints.
As it is, McTominay has gone on to dazzle in Naples in 2024/25 to date, with the midfield “monster” – as hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson – notably netting twice last time out to keep Antonio Conte’s side in title contention.
Those latest strikes – both of which were assisted by Romelu Lukaku, no less – showcased just what the Lancaster-born hero is all about. Indeed, for his first of the night, McTominay charged from deep before curling home from outside the area. For his second, the ex-Red Devil expertly headed home after towering above the Empoli defence.
The emerging Naples sensation now has eight Serie A goals to his name this season, with only Bruno Fernandes able to match that tally for league goals back in Manchester.
McTominay is then picking up where he left off last term, with INEOS having made a rare move for United by selling a player who was actually in form – unlike the exiled Rashford.
With the Red Devils now in the midst of their worst-ever Premier League campaign, that bold call doesn’t appear to have aged well…
Forget Bayindir & Heaton: Man Utd could unleash "superb" Onana replacement
Man Utd’s goalkeeping woes continued on Sunday afternoon, with a solution needing to be found…