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Orlando City can secure playoff spot, while Dallas desperate for win

MLS: Orlando City at Columbus CrewSep 21, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Orlando City midfielder Facundo Torres (10) dribbles the ball while Columbus Crew defender Andres Herrera (2) defends in the second half at Lower.com Field. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Orlando City SC can clinch a playoff spot with a win against host FC Dallas on Saturday night in Frisco, Texas.

Orlando City (12-11-7, 43 points) are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference and 8-3-1 in their last 12 matches. They had won three straight matches — all shutouts — before a 4-3 loss to the Columbus Crew last Saturday.

It’s a return to North Texas for Orlando City head coach Oscar Pareja, who was at the helm in Dallas from 2014-18.

“It’s always good to be back to a place where you stayed that many years … (Dallas) has a special place in (my) heart,” said Pareja, who led Dallas to Supporters’ Shield and U.S. Open Cup titles in 2016.

That said, the main objective for Pareja on Saturday is clinching a playoff spot.

“I recognize … how important it is for us to be able to play games, for us to go there with our team and collect those three points,” he said.

Luis Muriel entered in the 58th minute and scored twice for Orlando against Columbus, his first time scoring in nearly three months. Facundo Torres leads the team with 12 goals, scoring four times in three matches before the loss against the Crew.

Meanwhile, FC Dallas (10-13-7, 37 points) is five points out of the ninth and final postseason spot in the Western Conference with four matches remaining. They halted an 0-2-1 winless stretch last Saturday with a 3-1 win over Los Angeles FC.

A loss wouldn’t eliminate Dallas from playoff contention, but time is running out.

“Since I came here, the goal was clear that we want to play (in the) playoffs, that we want to fight to win titles, and that’s what we intend to do,” Dallas striker Petar Musa said, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Musa, who scored in the win against LAFC, has been one of the standouts for Dallas in 2024, registering a team-high 15 goals through 27 matches.

“Petar is not very vocal in the locker room. He is more of a quiet personality, but he leads by example,” interim head coach Peter Luccin said.

“Everyone on the team respects him for how mature he is and the professional way he conducts himself.”

–Field Level Media

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PK save in final minutes helps Galaxy earn tie vs. Earthquakes

Jul 25, 2026; Stanford, CA, USA; San Jose Earthquakes midfield Nick Fernandez (20) and LA Galaxy midfield Lucas Sanabria (8) battle for the ball during the first half at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn ImagesJul 25, 2026; Stanford, CA, USA; San Jose Earthquakes midfield Nick Fernandez (20) and LA Galaxy midfield Lucas Sanabria (8) battle for the ball during the first half at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

James Marcinkowski saved a penalty shot five minutes into extra time as the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy preserved a 1-1 tie against the San Jose Earthquakes in the latest installment of the California Clasico rivalry at Stanford, Calif.

Marcinkowski, who is in his second season with the Galaxy after five seasons with the Earthquakes, made a dive to his left to stop a shot from the spot by the Earthquakes’ Timo Werner. Marcinkowski finished with five saves.

Joseph Paintsil scored a goal in the first half for Los Angeles (5-7-6, 21 points), who earned a point for the first time in three matches since the World Cup break ended.

Reid Roberts scored a goal in the 62nd minute for the Earthquakes (10-4-3, 33 points), who were unable to convert the go-ahead goal late in the match after Ousseni Bouda earned a penalty on a foul from Marcinkowski.

Angus Gunn, who played for Scotland in the World Cup, made one save in his second match since joining San Jose during the break.

The Galaxy opened the scoring in the 13th minute when 19-year-old Harbor Miller took the ball up the right side and found Marco Reus in the middle of the field. Reus sent Paintsil forward on a breakaway and the forward slid home his fourth goal of the season.

The Earthquakes got even in the 62nd minute after the Galaxy nearly coughed up an own goal on a clearance header that clanked off the crossbar.

The rebound came to the feet of San Jose’s Benji Kikanovich, who fired a shot that was knocked down in the penalty area. Roberts cleaned up a loose ball on the goal line for his second tally of the season.

Paintsil nearly gave Los Angeles the lead in the 83rd minute before Gunn used his right hand to swat away a shot headed toward the upper right corner of the goal.

While the Galaxy were without defenders Jakob Glesnes (yellow-card accumulation) and Emiro Garces (red card on Wednesday), the Earthquakes were without forward Preston Judd (yellow-card accumulation).

–Field Level Media

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Rams QB Ty Simpson becomes last first-round pick to sign

Jun 2, 2026; Woodland Hills, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson (15) throws the ball during organized team activities at Rams Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesJun 2, 2026; Woodland Hills, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson (15) throws the ball during organized team activities at Rams Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Quarterback Ty Simpson became the last of the 2026 first-round draft picks to sign on Saturday, coming to terms with the Los Angeles Rams.

The rookie’s contract is fully guaranteed at four years and $25.4 million with a $14.9 signing bonus, NFL Network reported on Saturday.

The Rams, with reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Matthew Stafford at quarterback, made a stunning selection in April by drafting Simpson with the 13th overall pick.

Simpson, projected as a second-rounder, passed for 3,567 yards with 28 touchdowns and five interceptions in 15 games at Alabama last season, his first as a starter. He now is projected to have time to develop as a backup to Stafford, 38.

The only other quarterback to be selected in the first round, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, went No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. The Heisman Trophy winner signed a four-year rookie deal worth a fully guaranteed $57.27 million which includes a fifth-year option.

–Field Level Media

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Another Tiger possibly on trade block, Casey Mize, faces Royals

Jul 19, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA;  Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize (12) pitches during the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn ImagesJul 19, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize (12) pitches during the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

The possibility of Tarik Skubal getting traded has loomed over the Tigers all season. But another key Detroit starter and impending free agent, Casey Mize, also could swap out uniforms if the Tigers choose to sell before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.

Mize could be making his last appearance with the club when the Tigers host the Kansas City Royals on Saturday afternoon.

The 29-year-old right-hander has battled groin tightness at various times this season, but when he’s been on the mound, he has delivered quality innings. Mize (4-6, 2.79 ERA) has allowed two or fewer runs in 11 of his 15 starts.

Mize had his latest start, his first after the All-Star break, cut short when a comebacker from Los Angeles Angels’ Jo Adell struck his left wrist. He exited after 3 1/3 innings but didn’t have any lingering effects from the injury.

“I’m good,” Mize said, according to the Detroit News. “I (am) looking forward to Saturday. We’ve been checking all the boxes that we need to and I’m feeling good.”

Mize, who gave up one run and five hits and a walk with five strikeouts in Anaheim, Calif., is not dwelling on the trade speculation.

“Where we are as a team makes that more simple (to deal with),” Mize said. “There are so many unknowns. We’re in a 10-game sprint right now, and it takes tons of focus on what we’re doing here and now, day to day. That’s kind of how I’ve always played, so that makes it pretty easy to focus on that instead of the other stuff. I’m just leaning on that and really caring about what we’re doing right now.”

Mize hasn’t faced the Royals this season, but he has made more career starts against them than any other club. He is 3-2 with a 4.97 ERA in 13 starts vs. Kansas City. Royals catcher Salvador Perez has a .424 average with five extra-base hits against him in 33 at-bats.

Michael Wacha (5-7, 3.66) will start for the Royals. Wacha was sharp in his first start after his All-Star appearance, holding San Francisco to one run and three hits in six innings on Monday.

The 35-year-old right-hander had one of his best outings of the season against the Tigers on May 9, tossing seven scoreless innings. He only allowed two hits and two walks while striking out six.

In 11 career starts against Detroit, he is 3-3 with a 2.95 ERA.

Like Mize, Wacha is a potential trade candidate, as is another veteran Royals starter, Seth Lugo. Wacha is signed through next season with a club option for 2028.

“We’ll be open-minded to anything,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said. “But we have to be very, very pointed on what we want to get out of any one of those two. And it’s also, they made a commitment to us, and that’s big. And I think that’s important to the morale of the team.”

The Tigers have won three straight, including the first two games of the current four-game series. Skubal struck out 12 in 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball during the Tigers’ 2-1 victory on Friday.

Kansas City had won three straight prior to visiting Detroit, while the Tigers have won three in a row.

–Field Level Media

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