Sports
WNBA Picks Today: Best Bets for Sky vs. Aces and Lynx vs. Liberty
The Las Vegas Aces just beat the Chicago Sky in the Windy City six days ago. Now the scene turns to Sin City as the two clubs go at it again on Friday night.
Aces star A’ja Wilson is listed as questionable due to an ankle injury. That would be an equalizer in terms of the talent difference if the four-time MVP isn’t on the floor.
The Minnesota Lynx visit the New York Liberty in Friday’s lone other contest. The Liberty are feeling pretty good after beating Las Vegas in the Commissioner’s Cup title game on Tuesday.
CHICAGO SKY AT LAS VEGAS ACES
Wilson excelled when Las Vegas posted a 107-99 win over Chicago on Sunday as she piled up 30 points, 15 rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots. That stat line never previously occurred in WNBA history. Take all that production out of the lineup and the Sky (6-13) might have a chance at the upset.
If Wilson is sidelined, Jackie Young will take over as the prime scorer and she had 28 points, eight assists and five rebounds against the Sky. She followed up with 31 points and seven assists in the loss to New York and has scored 20 points in five of the past six games. She had 19 in the other for the Aces (14-5).
Chicago has seen recent improvement from center Kamilla Cardoso, who has made 23 of 28 shots (82.1%) over the past two games. Cardoso was a record 13-of-13 shooting while scoring a career-best 30 points in a victory over the Portland Fire on June 26 before having 24 on 10-of-15 shooting against Las Vegas.
Azura Stevens fared well against the Aces with 24 points and six rebounds. The Sky recently won consecutive games against the expansion Fire after losing 11 of their previous 12. Wilson or not, Chicago isn’t hitting on a winner in Las Vegas.
Aces minus 9.5 points spread, -105 (DraftKings)
Our Current Best Offers
Channel debug: betting
MINNESOTA LYNX AT NEW YORK LIBERTY
Minnesota (15-4) owns the best record in the WNBA, which is borderline amazing considering two-time MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier (surgery on both ankles) hasn’t played yet this season. You would think the Lynx would have four or five fewer victories without their star attraction.
One reason why Minnesota is thriving is that rookie point guard Olivia Miles is starring right out of the box and is averaging 18.7 points, 5.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals. Someday, they will be asking how was Miles only the No. 2 pick in the draft. Dallas chose Azzi Fudd, a close associate of Paige Bueckers, instead of somebody who appears to be a lot better player.
New York (12-8) had lost four of five games before winning the Commissioner’s Cup (which doesn’t count in the standings) and perhaps the win will awaken the team from its slumber. Sabrina Ionescu’s presence certainly did against Las Vegas as she had season bests of 26 points and five 3-pointers. She has missed time with foot and back injuries this season.
Breanna Stewart had 25 points and 11 rebounds against the Aces and she might have increased operating room with Collier not on the floor. Still, Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve just continues to figure out a way to silence opponents.
Lynx minus 2.5 points spread, -102 (DraftKings)
Our Current Best Offers
Channel debug: betting
Sports
Dodgers escape 6-run hole, overpower skidding Padres
Jul 2, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing (68) runs after hitting a two run home run against the San Diego Padres in the second inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images Dalton Rushing had a home run among his four hits and drove in four runs for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who erased a six-run deficit for a 12-7 victory over the San Diego Padres on Thursday.
The Dodgers matched their season high with 17 hits and won for the eighth time in 10 games. The Padres took their sixth loss in a row, matching their worst skid of the season.
Rushing tied his career highs in hits and RBIs. Teammate Kyle Tucker matched his career best with four hits and also drew a walk.
Andy Pages delivered a game-tying two-run double for Los Angeles in the fourth inning.
The Dodgers’ bullpen gave up one run over the final six innings after Roki Sasaki yielded six runs on seven hits in a season-low three innings. Will Klein (3-2) followed with two scoreless innings.
Manny Machado hit a first-inning homer before Jackson Merrill and Jake Cronenworth each went deep in the second as the Padres built a 6-0 lead. Randy Vasquez gave up four runs over three innings, and Wandy Peralta (1-1) was tagged for four runs on six hits in the fourth.
The Padres saw their losing skid begin with consecutive home defeats against the Dodgers last weekend before they were swept in a three-game road series against the Chicago Cubs, including a 23-3 demolition on Wednesday.
The Padres’ fast start began when Fernando Tatis Jr. hit Sasaki’s first pitch of the game for a double. Machado followed two batters later with a home run to center field.
San Diego made it 6-0 in the second on Merrill’s leadoff home run and a three-run blast from Cronenworth.
Rushing began the momentum swing for the Dodgers with a two-run homer in the bottom of the second. Los Angeles pulled within 6-4 in the third on RBI hits from Max Muncy and Tucker.
Pages tied it 6-6 in the fourth on a two-run double to left before Mookie Betts and Muncy added RBI hits for an 8-6 lead. The Dodgers’ run total reached double digits in the fifth when Tommy Edman had an RBI double before scoring on a wild pitch.
Rushing drove in runs in the sixth and eighth innings, and the Padres’ Miguel Andujar had an RBI single in the ninth.
–Field Level Media
Sports
MLB roundup: Bryce Miller, Mariners blank Angels to complete sweep
Jul 2, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller (50) pitches to the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images Bryce Miller took a no-hitter into the seventh inning as the Seattle Mariners defeated the visiting Los Angeles Angels 1-0 on Thursday to complete a three-game sweep of their American League West rivals.
Cal Raleigh drew a bases-loaded walk off Angels starter Walbert Urena (5-7) with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to score the game’s lone run.
Miller (4-2) allowed two hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out eight after he lost his previous two starts. Andres Munoz allowed a walk and two singles to load the bases in the ninth, but he got Wade Meckler to ground into a game-ending double play.
Neither team had a hit until Seattle’s J.P. Crawford led off the bottom of the sixth with a double into right-center field. Dominic Canzone and Randy Arozarena drew one-out walks before Urena struck out Josh Naylor on three pitches. Urena got ahead 0-2 in the count to Raleigh before last season’s home run champ rebounded to draw a walk.
Guardians 6, White Sox 5
Brayan Rocchio hit a two-run, walk-off homer with one out in the ninth inning to lift host Cleveland over Chicago.
Tim Herrin (1-3) retired all three hitters in the top of the ninth for the victory, while the White Sox’s Grant Taylor (4-2) gave up two runs in 1 1/3 innings as he was being asked to record a six-out save.
Rocchio drove in three runs for the Guardians, who pulled into a virtual tie with the White Sox atop the American League Central. Cleveland has played two more games and has one more win and one more loss.
Reds 7, Brewers 2
Sal Stewart, Jose Trevino and T.J. Friedl homered to lead Cincinnati past flame-throwing Jacob Misiorowski and host Milwaukee.
Starting pitcher Chase Burns bested Misiorowski for the Reds, who snapped a four-game losing streak and averted a series sweep by salvaging the fourth contest. Burns (10-1), who won his ninth consecutive decision, gave up two runs and four hits in six innings.
Garrett Mitchell homered for the Brewers, who had their three-game winning streak end. Misiorowski (9-4) allowed five runs (one earned) on five hits in five innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out 10 to push his major-league-leading total to 156.
Pirates 6, Phillies 1
Rookie Esmerlyn Valdez drove in three runs and Nick Gonzales and Endy Rodriguez each homered, allowing Pittsburgh to split a four-game series with Philadelphia.
Valdez forged a 1-1 tie with an RBI single in the fifth inning. Two innings later, he recorded his first career triple after the ball sailed under the glove of Phillies center fielder Justin Crawford, allowing Brandon Lowe, giving Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead. Valdez came home on Gonzales’ bloop single and went on to add a sac fly.
Bryce Harper ripped an RBI double for the Phillies, who mustered just four hits to the Pirates’ 14.
Rockies 14, Marlins 4
Mickey Moniak singled, doubled, homered and scored three runs to help Colorado earn a split against the Miami with a win in the finale of a four-game series in Denver.
Jake McCarthy also homered and had four RBIs and three runs for the Rockies, and Willi Castro, Troy Johnston and Cole Carrigg each drove in a pair. McCarthy’s two-run single ignited a seven-run sixth for Colorado to break the game open.
Otto Lopez had three hits, including a triple and a double, and scored twice for the Marlins.
Cardinals 11, Braves 5
Nathan Church hit a two-run homer to ignite a seven-run rally and help visiting St. Louis register a come-from-behind win over Atlanta in the decisive game of a three-game series.
The Cardinals sent 11 men to the plate during the seventh-inning uprising and erased a 5-3 deficit to hand the Braves their 14th loss in 19 games. St. Louis has won three of its past four. St. Louis’ Gordon Graceffo (6-1) threw a spotless sixth inning.
Atlanta’s Hurston Waldrep made his first start of the season after undergoing elbow surgery in spring training to remove loose bodies. He worked 5 1/3 innings and gave up three runs on five hits.
Rangers 10, Tigers 4
Elias Diaz, Josh Smith and Evan Carter homered as Texas recorded a season-high 17 hits in a win over Detroit in Arlington, Texas.
Nathan Eovaldi (9-7) allowed three runs on six hits over five-plus innings. He improved to 6-0 in nine career starts against the Tigers. Alejandro Osuna and Nicky Lopez each had three hits and an RBI for the Rangers, who won for the seventh time in eight games.
Hao-Yu Lee hit a two-run homer and Colt Keith added a solo shot for Detroit, which had its three-game win streak snapped. Tigers starter Framber Valdez (4-6) yielded five runs on nine hits over five innings.
Rays 5, Royals 2
Ian Seymour struck out eight over six strong frames, Cedric Mullins clubbed a two-run homer among his two hits and visiting Tampa Bay capped a three-game sweep of Kansas City, its season-high eighth straight victory.
Chandler Simpson and Hunter Feduccia each had three hits for the American League East-leading Rays.
Seymour (5-1) gave up Carter Jensen’s leadoff home run, two other hits and a walk for Tampa Bay, which won the final five meetings with Kansas City this season. Isaac Collins also homered for the Royals.
Dodgers 12, Padres 7
Dalton Rushing had a home run among his four hits and drove in four runs for Los Angeles, which erased a six-run deficit for a victory over San Diego.
The Dodgers matched their season high with 17 hits and won for the eighth time in 10 games. Kyle Tucker matched his career best with four hits and also drew a walk. Andy Pages delivered a game-tying two-run double in the fourth inning for Los Angeles. Roki Sasaki yielded six runs on seven hits in a season-low three innings.
The Padres took their sixth loss in a row. Manny Machado hit a first-inning homer before Jackson Merrill and Jake Cronenworth each went deep in the second as the Padres built a 6-0 lead. Randy Vasquez gave up four runs over three innings, and Wandy Peralta (1-1) was tagged for four runs on six hits in the fourth.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cubs' Dansby Swanson brings historic RBI surge into series vs. Cards
Jun 30, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) hits a two-run home run against the San Diego Padres during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images Dansby Swanson isn’t putting too much stock into his individual accomplishments. However, he is reveling in the fact that his recent video-game numbers have contributed to the Chicago Cubs’ winning ways.
Swanson will look to continue his torrid stretch on Friday as the Cubs open a three-game series against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.
Swanson highlighted his three-homer, eight-RBI performance on Wednesday with a grand slam in the eighth inning of Chicago’s 23-3 romp over the San Diego Padres.
He has driven in 26 runs over his past 10 games. The only other players who knocked in at least that many runs over a 10-game span since RBIs became an official stat in 1920 are Hall of Famers Mel Ott (1929), Lou Gehrig (1930 and 1931), Jimmie Foxx (1933) and Joe DiMaggio (1939), per MLB.com.
“I think at the end of the day the coolest part about it is RBI helps teams win games, and we’re doing that really well right now as a group,” Swanson said after the Cubs’ fifth win in a row and 15th in 19 games.
“So whatever it takes for the group to succeed is all that matters to me, and it will continue to be that way until one day they won’t let me play this game anymore.”
For all of his recent success, Swanson is batting just .210 on the season. He went 0-for-16 in the four games prior to the San Diego series, during which he went 8-for-13 with five homers, 11 RBIs and seven runs.
Swanson struggled against the Cardinals during a series in late May, going 1-for-9 with four strikeouts and no RBIs. St. Louis won two of the three contests.
Chicago left-hander David Peterson (4-6, 5.86 ERA) will get the start on Friday opposite St. Louis right-hander Andre Pallante (9-5, 3.83).
Peterson pitched well in his first start since being acquired from the New York Mets, allowing two runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings en route to an 8-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.
Peterson, 30, was shelled in his last encounter with the Cardinals, yielding six runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings on June 10. Overall, he has a 9.00 ERA without a decision in two career appearances (one start) against St. Louis.
Pallante was 5-0 in his previous six starts before surrendering five runs on 11 hits in 6 2/3 innings during a 5-1 setback to the Miami Marlins on Saturday.
His lone no-decision since early April came against the Cubs on May 29, when he yielded four runs on eight hits in three innings. Pallante, 27, is 0-4 with a 5.12 ERA in 13 career appearances (six starts) vs. Chicago.
St. Louis likely will need Pallante to work deep into the game after the team’s bullpen was taxed by Dustin May exiting two outs into the Thursday contest against the Atlanta Braves due to an ankle injury. The Cardinals’ relievers picked up May by combining to scatter three hits over 8 1/3 scoreless innings in an 11-5 win.
Jordan Walker belted a three-run homer in the first inning and added an RBI single in the seventh for St. Louis, which has won three of its past four games.
“Unreal,” Walker said, according to MLB.com. “We showed what we can do as an offense. On the pitching side, hell of a job for them to lock it in and the bullpen come in a tough situation.”
Walker went 1-for-11 with two strikeouts and no RBIs in the previous series against the Cubs.
–Field Level Media
