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Royals' Michael Wacha seeks return to form against Giants

Jul 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Michael Wacha (52) delivers a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn ImagesJul 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Michael Wacha (52) delivers a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Michael Wacha has been the Kansas City Royals’ most consistent starting pitcher in 2026. Of late, however, he hasn’t looked like the All-Star he has been this season.

The 35-year-old right-hander has been exceptional during his career against the San Francisco Giants, who visit the Royals on Monday night.

Wacha (5-7, 3.77 ERA) ranks among the major league leaders with 12 quality starts. Just one reason he earned his second All-Star Game nod — 11 years after his only other such honor.

“Just the way I still love the game, and how much I love to prepare,” said Wacha, Monday’s scheduled starter for Kansas City. “I love to go out there and compete every day. I’m glad that the fire is still there.”

Wacha remains an inspiration and Royals management has stated it’s not actively shopping him in advance of the upcoming trade deadline.

However, he has allowed a combined 10 runs and four homers over 10 2/3 innings in losing each of his last two starts. In his most recent, at the New York Mets on July 9, Wacha matched a season high with six runs surrendered, plus three walks, across a season-low 4 2/3 innings.

Wacha has not faced the Giants since 2024, but he’s 3-1 with a stellar 1.94 ERA in 10 career starts against them.

Kansas City is last in the AL Central with 40 victories but took two of three from San Diego at home despite losing 19-2 on Sunday. Budding Royals star Jac Caglianone homered in that series finale, and has recorded seven extra-base hits during his 10-game hitting streak.

Teammate Bobby Witt Jr. was given the day off Sunday. Perhaps that rest will help the All-Star shortstop get back on track after batting .167 (6-for-36) with 10 strikeouts in his last eight games.

He’s batted .310 with six RBIs in 12 career games against the Giants.

San Francisco has just two more wins than Kansas City and will try to avoid a third straight defeat after dropping two of three at Seattle. The Giants managed just five hits during a 6-3 loss Sunday, and they have scored more than three runs twice while splitting their last six games.

“It’s not ideal, but all we can do (Monday) is come out and put our best game forward,” San Francisco left-hander Robbie Ray said.

Despite the Giants’ struggles, rookie Bryce Eldridge hit his 10th homer Sunday and is batting .320 with three homers, four RBIs and six walks in the last seven games.

The Giants are scheduled to start Trevor McDonald (3-7, 5.02), who allowed a homer and two other hits over seven strong innings against Colorado on July 12. It was a needed bounce back for the right-hander, who yielded eight runs and 11 hits in 2 1/3 innings versus Toronto in his previous start on July 7.

“Come back (from the All-Star break) with some confidence and momentum,” McDonald said. “I’m looking forward to the second half (of the season).”

This will be McDonald’s first appearance against the Royals.

San Francisco’s Luis Arraez is 6-for-16 (.375) with two home runs versus Wacha. Giants teammate Willy Adames is 3-for-8 against him.

Royals veteran Salvador Perez is batting .211 this season, but he’s two shy of tying George Brett’s franchise-record 317 career home runs. Perez has four homers in 72 career at-bats over 18 games versus San Francisco.

–Field Level Media

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Kylian Mbappe wins second World Cup Golden Boot, Spain claim other awards

July 18, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S.; France's Kylian Mbappe reacts after the match.  Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images July 18, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S.; France’s Kylian Mbappe reacts after the match. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

French superstar Kylian Mbappe became the first player to win multiple FIFA World Cup Golden Boot awards after Spain shut out Argentina 1-0 in the final on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.

Mbappe finished with 10 goals for the tournament after scoring twice in France’s 6-4 loss to England on Saturday in the third-place match.

His only competition still active was Lionel Messi, who was searching for his first Golden Boot along with trying to guide Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup. Messi and Argentina defeated Mbappe and France on penalty kicks in the 2022 final in Qatar.

But Argentina could not muster a shot on goal against Spain’s stalwart defense and had just two total shots, both coming late in the match. Messi went scoreless for the third match in a row. He had collected eight goals across the three group-stage matches, the round of 32 and the round of 16.

At 27, Mbappe already can call himself the greatest goal-scorer in World Cup history. His two second-half goals on Saturday pushed him past Messi for the all-time tournament record with 22 in just 22 matches. Messi — the first to break German Miroslav Klose’s career record early in the tournament before Mbappe caught up — stayed at 21 and may have played his final World Cup match Sunday at 39 years old.

Eight of Mbappe’s 10 goals this summer came in braces. He scored twice against Iraq, Senegal, Sweden and finally England. He was the first with 10 goals in a single World Cup since Gerd Muller of Germany in 1970.

Aside from Mbappe, it didn’t come as a surprise that the rest of the awards went to Spanish players after their remarkable run to the country’s second World Cup title.

Spain midfielder Rodri collected the Golden Ball award, given to the best overall player in the tournament. While he didn’t record a single goal or assist in Spain’s eight matches, he completed more passes, ran more distance and had more player involvements than any other player in this year’s tournament.

He also played a key role in heavily limiting Messi’s touches during Spain’s stifling 1-0 win.

Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon and defender Pau Cubarsi were named winners of the Golden Gloves award and FIFA Best Young Player award, respectively. The pair each played critical roles in La Roja allowing just one goal — a record for a champion team — and 10 shots on goal in eight matches during this World Cup.

Simon finished with seven clean sheets, two more than the previous record for a single World Cup. The 29-year-old’s nine career World Cup clean sheets are one off the record of 10 shared by former France keeper Fabien Barthez and former England keeper Peter Shilton.

Those three awards are decided by FIFA’s Technical Study Group, made up of former professional players, coaches and analysts.

–Field Level Media

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D-Backs rally from down 7 to beat Cardinals in 10 innings

Arizona Diamondbacks baserunner Max Kepler (22) celebrates scoring a run against the St. Louis Cardinals at Chase Field in Phoenix, on July 18, 2026.Arizona Diamondbacks baserunner Max Kepler (22) celebrates scoring a run against the St. Louis Cardinals at Chase Field in Phoenix, on July 18, 2026.

Max Kepler delivered the game-winning RBI in the 10th inning as the Arizona Diamondbacks scored eight unanswered runs in an 8-7 win against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday in Phoenix.

Kepler drove in automatic runner Jorge Barrosa with a one-out double to right field off Luis Gastelum (1-1).

Juan Morrillo (3-4) allowed one hit over 1 1/3 scoreless innings across the ninth and 10th innings to register the win.

Arizona’s rally began in the sixth. Adrian Del Castillo knocked a lead-off double, Ryan Waldschmidt singled and Ketel Marte’s single up the middle drove in Del Castillo to cut the deficit to 7-1.

Andre Pallante walked Geraldo Perdomo to load the bases, and Waldschmidt scored one out later when Pallante walked Gabriel Moreno, ending his outing.

Ryne Stanek came in and retired the first batter before issuing a walk to Tyler Locklear which brought Marte across the plate, narrowing it to 7-3.

Perdomo pulled Arizona within two in the seventh when he followed up Del Castillo’s leadoff walk with a two-out inside-the-park home run to left field on a liner that skipped past St. Louis left fielder Jose Fermin and rolled to the wall.

Nolan Arenado’s two-run home run just over the left field wall in the eighth tied the game at 7.

St. Louis opened a 5-0 lead in the third inning. Lars Nootbaar walked and scored on Blaze Jordan’s triple. JJ Wetherholt singled to bring in Jordan and double the advantage.

Wetherholt went to third on Ivan Herrera’s base hit, and Jordan Walker brought him around with a double to push the lead to 3-0. Alec Burleson’s single to center field allowed Herrera and Walker to come in, extending it to 5-0.

Fermin chased Diamondbacks ace Eduardo Rodriguez, who threw 40 pitches in the frame, with a single. Right-hander Drey Jameson came in and walked Nootbaar before getting Jordan to line out to retire the side, stranding the bases loaded.

The Cardinals made it 7-0 in the fifth. Burleson singled, and Fermin and Nootbaar each walked to load the bases. That ended Jameson’s appearance, replaced by Philip Abner. Jordan (3-for-5, three RBIs) greeted Abner with a single to right that brought in two runners.

Herrera and Burleson each added three hits for St. Louis. Del Castillo and Kepler led Arizona with two hits apiece.

Rodriguez surrendered five runs on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings. Pallante gave up three runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings.

–Field Level Media

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Valkyries seek 10th straight win in rematch with Mystics

Jul 18, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (left) passes against Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron (right) during the fourth quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn ImagesJul 18, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (left) passes against Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron (right) during the fourth quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

The interior-powered Washington Mystics and perimeter-oriented Golden State Valkyries will seek to do a better job defusing the other’s strength when the clubs meet in a rematch Monday night in San Francisco.

The Valkyries (19-7) finished strongly both offensively and defensively to erase a late six-point deficit and earn a 74-69 win in the front half of the WNBA-style doubleheader Saturday night, which was played on Golden State’s home court.

The hosts saved five of their 12 successful 3-pointers for the final 5:55 to account for all their scoring in a 15-4 finish. It allowed them to secure a ninth straight win in a game in which the Mystics (12-12), led by Shakira Austin, had dominated the Valkyries to the tune of 40-16 in points in the paint.

Golden State coach Natalie Nakase noted after the hard-fought win that it’s not like her players will grow a few inches before the rematch with Austin and fellow interior powers Kiki Iriafen and Lauren Betts.

“We understand they’re very tall, big and physical in size. So it’s got to be a team effort,” she said at her postgame press conference. “I just thought attention to detail with KT (Kayla Thornton) and Kiah (Stokes) down the stretch, just defending without fouling, it was beautiful that last five minutes. For us to rely on our defense down the stretch was huge.”

After Betts’ layup gave the Mystics a 65-59 lead with 6:13 remaining, the Valkyries forced the visitors into 2-for-8 shooting the rest of the way, with three turnovers mixed in. Three of the misses were 3-point attempts, where Washington went just 6-for-23 for the game, as the visitors got away from what had been successful earlier.

Mystics coach Sydney Johnson believed his team played well enough to win the opener but needs to improve in close games. Five of Washington’s 12 losses this season have been by five points or fewer.

“Really challenging us to just physically, emotionally, mentally be locked in,” he expressed to the media afterward about his team’s shortcomings. “It’s a demanding league. There’s absolutely no nights off, no easy games. Those are our consistent themes, most importantly, bringing our toughness and togetherness every time we come to the floor.”

One of the challenges will be managing odd scheduling, with the Mystics flying across the country to face the Valkyries twice in three days. They begin a six-game homestand Wednesday night against Las Vegas.

–Field Level Media

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