Bart Verbruggen of the Netherlands, one of the World Cup teams with a close Big Four parallel. Verbruggen is facedown, lamenting a bad penalty-kick goal he had just allowed to Morocco in a penalty shootout
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The Big Four Guide to World Cup Teams: Finding the U.S. Sports Twin for Soccer Giants

The Big Four Guide to World Cup Teams (Author’s Note: For those new to or unfamiliar with soccer, “friendly” is soccer’s word for “exhibition game.” What defines a “competitive match” can vary depending on who is speaking, though there are universals, like the World Cup or a continental championship. For purposes of this article, a […]

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Carlos Rodon of the withering Yankees roster leaving the field
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Withering Yankees Roster Dealt Two Major Blows

Despite snapping a seven-game skid on Friday, the New York Yankees suffered two major blows to their rotation. First, the team placed starting pitcher Carlos Rodon on the 15-day IL with left elbow inflammation. Hours later, the team announced prospect Carlos Lagrange, the No. 2 player in the Yankees’ farm system, will miss at least […]

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Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers and first baseman Nick Kurtz, both 2026 All-Stars, celebrating a home run
Photo: Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images

Athletics: Langeliers, Kurtz to Start at 2026 All-Star Game

Athletics: Langeliers, Kurtz Starters at 2026 All-Star Game UPDATE: Kurtz was originally a reserve. Shortly after press time, Sport Relay learned that original AL starting first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr withdrew. Consequently, Kurtz — who led AL first basemen in player voting — became the starter. The article has been updated to reflect that. For the first […]

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Juan Soto
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Juan Soto Named to NL All-Star Team

Major League Baseball named New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto a National League All-Star starter. This marks his fifth appearance, as the only player from the Mets to make it this year. The selection was revealed Saturday evening along with the rest of the members of both teams for the 2026 All-Star game on July […]

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Tigers Hand Rangers a Dud on Independence Day

Tigers 3, Rangers 0 ARLINGTON, Texas (July 4) — The Texas Rangers’ bats ran out of black powder on the Fourth of July as they dropped one to the Detroit Tigers, 3–0. The big firecracker came from Tigers outfielder Riley Greene, who hit a two-run home run in the first inning that helped knot this […]

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Ranking Every World Series Champion of the Past 10 Years

The past decade of baseball has made for legendary Fall Classics. Amongst controversy, heartbreak, glory, and everything in between, this is how the past 10 World Series champions compare. 10. 2021 Atlanta Braves Embed from Getty Images At the 2021 All-Star Game break, the Atlanta Braves weren’t worried if they were going to make the […]

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Alec Burleson of the Cardinals celebrating a home run against the Braves with his teammates
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Cardinals Erupt for Seven in Seventh against Braves

Cardinals 11, Braves 5 The St. Louis Cardinals erased an early deficit with a seven-run seventh inning and rolled to an 11-5 win over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night at Truist Park. Jordan Walker drove in four runs, and Nathan Church, Alec Burleson, and Walker all homered. Gordon Graceffo earned the win in relief […]

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Mets Down Stretch
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Mets Struggles Can End Against Braves

The New York Mets down stretch has carried on for longer than three months. Anytime the team strings together some wins, they are met with a losing streak. In June, they went 6–9 to start the month. However, they proceeded to only win six more going into July. The inconsistency culminated in manager Carlos Mendoza […]

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