Mark McGwire’s son has been traded in a deadline deal
Many of the prospects that change hands at the MLB trade deadline will be anonymous to casual fans. That will not be the case with one deal between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Angels.
The Cubs reached an agreement to acquire relief pitcher Ryan Zeferjahn from the Angels on Monday. In return, the Angels are receiving two prospects, one of whom is Mason McGwire, the son of slugger Mark McGwire.
To get reliever Ryan Zeferjahn from the Angels at the deadline, the Cubs are planning to give up Moisés Ballesteros and pitching prospect Mason McGwire (Mark’s son) in the trade, per source confirming reporting from @JeffFletcherOCR.
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) August 3, 2026
This is a homecoming of sorts for the younger McGwire, who was born and raised in Orange County. The Cubs had drafted him out of Capistrano Valley High School in Mission Viejo, Ca. in the eighth round of the 2022 MLB Draft.
The comparisons between Mason and his father end pretty quickly, as Mason is a pitcher. He has shown himself to be a pretty good one as well, though he has hit a bit of a rough spot since being promoted to high-A South Bend with a 4.91 ERA.
Zeferjahn, the main piece of the deal, has a 3.66 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 51.2 innings with the Angels this season. Los Angeles clearly thinks McGwire has a future in the game if they wanted him in return for a fairly valuable reliever.
Bears get brutal injury news on $40 million safety
The Chicago Bears are already dealing with a major injury even before the first preseason game.
On Monday, safety Coby Bryant had to be carted off the field, and reports later came that he will miss 8-to-10 weeks due to a hyperextended knee.
Bears safety Coby Bryant is expected to be sidelined 8-10 weeks due to a hyperextended knee, bone bruise and small fracture that he suffered at today’s practice, per sources. No surgery is expected to be needed. pic.twitter.com/LxaZFt4hPP
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 3, 2026
Bryant spent the first four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, as they selected him in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. After the Seahawks’ Super Bowl win, Bryant was one of a few departures, and he signed a massive three-year, $40 million deal with the Bears.
Bryant’s injury occurred during a rep against tight end Cole Kmet, but Bryant was emotional as he left the field on the cart.
Not good. Coby Bryant just went down grabbing his left knee during a 1-on-1 rep vs Cole Kmet. He was clearly emotional as he got on a cart under his own power.
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) August 3, 2026
I’ll caution you that they are on the far fields so a cart is not unusual, but the fact that he was so emotional is…
Currently, Bryant is listed as the starting free safety, and the others in the room include Cam Lewis, Skyler Thomas and Gervarrius Owens.
Notre Dame and USC announce major news about their rivalry game
The break in the Notre Dame-USC rivalry game will ultimately be short-lived.
Both schools announced Monday that their annual football rivalry will resume in 2030. The initial agreement provides for a four-game series running through 2033.
the rivalry, renewed. ⚔️
— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) August 3, 2026
We will play Notre Dame in a four-game series beginning in the Coliseum in 2030. pic.twitter.com/4bj1jZW4NI
Notably, the agreement suggests Notre Dame gave in on a key bit of scheduling. The first two games will take place in Week 1, while the latter two will be played no later than Week 3. The game had previously been played after Thanksgiving, and the Fighting Irish had been reluctant to allow that to change.
The Trojans and Fighting Irish have played annually nearly uninterrupted since 1926, but that streak will be broken starting in 2026. The inability to find an agreement to continue the annual game drew backlash from fans of both schools, and it was perhaps not a coincidence that it emerged in May that the two sides had re-entered talks about restarting the game.
Ultimately, the Trojans and Fighting Irish will still go each of the next four years without playing unless they wind up meeting in a bowl game. By the time 2030 comes around, both sides should be very eager to renew hostilities.
Brewers acquire 2 Cardinals pitchers after missing out on Tarik Skubal
The Milwaukee Brewers missed out on Tarik Skubal, but now they are adding a pair of pitchers before the MLB trade deadline.
On Monday afternoon, the Brewers agreed to a deal with the St. Louis Cardinals that will send Dustin May, the ex-Los Angeles Dodgers star, and reliever Jo Jo Romero, according to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic.
Brewers acquiring RHP Dustin May and LH reliever Jo Jo Romero from Cardinals, source tells me and @WillSammon
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 3, 2026
The Brewers were one team linked to a Skubal trade, but the reigning AL Cy Young winner went to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a major move for the back-to-back World Series champions.
May spent the first six seasons of his career with the Dodgers and was with them in 2025 before he was traded to the Boston Red Sox at last year’s deadline.
May has playoff experience with the Dodgers, as he has three starts with a 3.86 ERA in nine total playoff appearances.
This season has been up and down for May, as he has a 5-7 record with a 4.38 ERA, but he has thrown 109 innings.
Romero is turning 30 years old in September and is currently on the IL, but he has a 1-3 record with a 3.35 ERA in 44 games and is a solid addition as a left-handed reliever.
Aaron Rodgers goes off on Dr. Fauci and Dianna Russini in wild interview
Aaron Rodgers’ interview on “The Pat McAfee Show” went a bit off-topic Monday when the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback decided to bring up Dr. Anthony Fauci and the Dianna Russini scandal.
McAfee asked Rodgers a fairly mild question about the quarterback’s mindset as he enters into his final NFL season. Rodgers took the opportunity to go after Fauci, who invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during a Senate hearing on COVID-19 origins last Wednesday.
“I’m going to plead the fifth like that absolute coward Tony Fauci. Absolute coward,” Rodgers said. “You got a pardon and you pleaded over 100 times? What are you scared of, Tony? I thought you were the science. And how much time did the network spend on my responses every week, on my vaccination status, on Taylor and Travis’ wedding? Did they do even a minute on Tony Fauci?”
Rodgers then pivoted to the offseason controversy regarding Russini’s relationship with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, suggesting that ESPN had been too fixated on that story. He went on to proclaim himself vindicated over his previous COVID comments, and questioned what his critics would say about him now.
“There was another scandal this offseason involving a voter for MVP, for Coach of the Year. How much time did your network spend on that?” Rodgers asked. “What are you going to say about me now? You can’t talk about the COVID stuff. Tony Fauci is an absolute criminal. I’m on good terms with my family. What are you going to say now?”
"I'm pleading the Fifth 😂😂
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 3, 2026
You've gotta be kidding me" ~ @AaronRodgers12 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/kg3y0uMxxR
Rodgers has long voiced skepticism about the COVID vaccine, so none of this is particularly new from him. The fact that he brought it up unprompted certainly suggests he was looking for a reason to take what he sees as a victory lap.
As he enters his final NFL season, Rodgers is, as he noted, on better terms with his family, and is also happily married. Clearly, that has him feeling even more unfiltered than usual.
Orioles trade Adley Rutschman to division rival
The Baltimore Orioles are parting ways with one of their faces of the franchise, and are shipping him off to an AL East rival.
The Boston Red Sox are acquiring catcher Adley Rutschman from the Orioles, according to multiple reports. The Orioles are receiving a package headlined by pitcher Anthony Eyanson, who is the No. 49 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline.
The full return for Adley Rutschman, per source:
— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) August 3, 2026
Anthony Eyanson
Enddy Azocar
Kyson Witherspoon
Harold Rivas
Carlos Narvaez https://t.co/ZcygUhxK4n
This is a bit of a coup for the Red Sox in more ways than one. Not only is Rutschman a former No. 1 overall pick, but they also beat out the New York Yankees for his services. Catcher was also a clear need for Boston, as Carlos Narvaez has provided very little offense this season and Connor Wong’s defense is regarded as something of a liability.
Rutschman never quite became the superstar it appeared he would be when he debuted with Baltimore as a No. 1 overall pick. He is, however, a good all-around catcher who has consistently provided above-average offense at the position. He has hit .251 this season with eight home runs, but injuries have limited him to 157 games dating back to the start of the 2025 season.
The Red Sox are the hottest team in the American League. They are 28-5 in their last 33 games and are fresh off a road sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They have vaulted themselves firmly in playoff position, and are clearly going for it this season.
Dodgers acquire another All-Star pitcher after Tarik Skubal trade
The Los Angeles Dodgers just continue to stockpile All-Star pitchers.
Just two days after landing American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, the Dodgers are now bringing in Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are acquiring left-hander Kris Bubic in a trade with the Kansas City Royals, sources tell ESPN
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 3, 2026
The Royals are acquiring right-handed pitcher Carlos Duran in exchange for Bubic.
The Dodgers are acquiring Kris Bubic from the Royals for RHP Carlos Duran, per source.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) August 3, 2026
The Athletics reportedly showed interest in Bubic in June, but their losing skid changed the direction ahead of the trade deadline.
Bubic was an All-Star in 2025 as he went 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA, which was a career-high in both wins and ERA. In 2026, the left-hander has a 3-2 record and a 4.11 ERA, although he missed significant time due to injuries.
Bibic hasn’t pitched since May 14 due to elbow soreness, so he won’t make an impact right away. He is also in the final year of his contract, so it is a low-risk, high-reward move for LA.
There is a chance Bubic returns in August, but in the very worst-case scenario, the southpaw makes his return in September, just in time for the playoff push as LA adds another valuable arm.
Padres acquire former Cy Young winner in trade with Giants
San Diego Padres GM A.J. Preller has made his first move of the trade deadline, and it’s a much-needed one.
The Padres are finalizing a deal that will send San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Robbie Ray to San Diego, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Ray is a two-time All-Star, and he won the American League Cy Young Award in 2021 as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.
The San Diego Padres are finalizing a trade to acquire left-hander Robbie Ray from the San Francisco Giants, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 3, 2026
For the past few weeks, it looked like San Diego would sell, with stars such as Mason Miller linked as potential trade chips.
The return going to San Francisco is Miguel Mendez and Joniel Hernandez, according to Ken Rosenthal and Dennis Lin of The Athletic.
However, the Padres won eight of nine games coming into Monday, including three straight over the Giants. On Thursday, Ray started against the Padres at Petco Park, and he got the win to move to 10-6 as he threw six innings with just one run and one walk.
Now, Ray is set to head to San Diego as the Padres add much-needed pitching depth to the rotation.
The Giants have not had a great year, and Ray’s name has surfaced in trade rumors since May. Earlier on Monday, San Francisco traded second baseman Luis Arraez to the Philadelphia Phillies, and starting pitcher Tyler Mahle was traded to the Atlanta Braves over the weekend.
Jacob deGrom blocks potential trade from Rangers
The Texas Rangers were seemingly ready to sell at the trade deadline, but Jacob deGrom prevented them from going all the way with it.
The Rangers approached deGrom about waiving his no-trade clause, but the star pitcher declined to do so, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. deGrom told the Rangers he wants to remain with the team, seemingly suggesting he will not accept a trade to any destination at this point.
It is unclear which team deGrom might have had the chance to go to, but Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the Atlanta Braves had checked in on his availability.
Braves checked on Jacob deGrom. Rangers listening on everyone. Unknown what chances are,
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 3, 2026
deGrom, 38, is not quite the pitcher he was in his prime. However, he remains effective, and has a 3.96 ERA in 21 starts this year. He still strikes out over a batter an inning, and most importantly, he has largely been able to stay healthy, which has been a recurring issue over the past few years.
Like many American League teams, the Rangers are in a very awkward spot. They sit just 2.5 games out of the AL West lead and 1.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot. However, they have an underwhelming 55-57 record, have lost five in a row, and were just swept by the division rival Houston Astros.
Phillies make bold move with Bryce Harper
The Philadelphia Phillies are making a very bold decision with Bryce Harper after acquiring infielder Luis Arraez on Monday.
The Phillies are moving Harper back to the outfield for the remainder of the season, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. That will allow third baseman Alec Bohm to shift to first base, while second baseman Bryson Stott will move to third so Arraez can play second.
Bryce Harper brought his outfielder's glove on the last road trip, saying he was ready to move to the outfield, if needed.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) August 3, 2026
He's expected to move to the outfield to make room for Luis Arraez in the infield. Alec Bohm to first base, Bryson Stott to third base.
Harper has not played a single inning in the outfield since 2022. Initially, he made the move to first base when recovering from Tommy John surgery, as the position did not require him to throw as much as right field would. That was three years ago, so it goes without saying that he has recovered from any elbow issues he was experiencing at the time.
Harper was an excellent outfielder in his prime. That said, he is now 33 years old and four years removed from playing right field. Some of it will certainly be muscle memory, but this is far from a risk-free proposition for the Phillies.
Regardless of his defense, Harper is putting together a typically solid season at the plate. He is hitting .255 with 23 home runs and was an All-Star for the ninth time this year.
Mariners acquire impact outfielder in trade with Orioles
The Seattle Mariners are in buy mode on the MLB trade deadline.
The Mariners are acquiring outfielder Taylor Ward from the Baltimore Orioles, according to multiple reports. Seattle is giving up three players, including MLB reliever Alex Hoppe.
Return for Ward is:
— Jonathan Mayo (@JonathanMayo) August 3, 2026
Alex Hoppe
Harrison Kreiling
Brock Moore https://t.co/2yKFleCWBt
The Mariners appear to have landed Ward without giving up too much in value. The 32-year-old is one of the more prominent outfield names on the market, though he is a free agent at the end of the season and purely a rental.
Ward is hitting .246 on the season with seven home runs. His primary asset is his ability to get on base, as he leads the American League with 87 walks and has a .383 on-base percentage. He did hit 36 home runs last season, so he is capable of hitting for more power than he has so far this year.
Both the Mariners and Orioles find themselves in somewhat awkward spots on the deadline. Seattle is 55-58, but just three games back in the AL West and two games out of the final AL Wild Card spot. The Orioles are not a factor in the AL East, but are only 2.5 games back of that last Wild Card spot.
There had even been reports that the Mariners were open to trading some of their more prominent players. While they did deal Luis Castillo to the White Sox on Sunday, that might wind up being as far as they go in that department.
Phillies acquire former batting champion in major trade
The Philadelphia Phillies are giving their offense a boost before the MLB trade deadline. On Monday, the Phillies struck a deal with the San Francisco Giants to acquire three-time batting champion and second baseman Luis Arraez, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported.
Meanwhile, Bob Nightengale of USA Today provided additional details about the trade, with reliever Caleb Kilian going with Arraez to the Phillies, who are sending starter Ramon Marquez and their No. 4 prospect and reliever Marty Gair to San Francisco.
The 29-year-old Arraez’s time in the Bay Area proved to be short. With the Giants struggling mightily to win games and falling way back in the playoff race, they decided to part ways with one of their best trade assets in the Venezuelan infielder.
Arraez signed a 1-year, $12 million contract with San Francisco in January and in 105 games played with the Giants, hit .324/.360/.440 with 4 home runs and 43 RBIs. He also recorded 7 triples with San Francisco, already the most he’s ever had in a season in the majors.
The Phillies have plenty of options in the infield, but he is expected to continue playing second base in Philadelphia, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. That could force Bryson Stott to move to another position while also affecting the roles of Alec Bohm and Bryce Harper.
Arraez arrives in Philadelphia with the Phillies looking to bolster their chances to make the playoffs. They entered Monday with a 59-53 record, eight games behind the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves and good for the third and final wild card spot in the NL.
LeBron James reveals backup plan if hard times ever hit
LeBron James has wealth that will last generations, but if hard times ever hit, he says he has something locked away in a vault that could help bail him out.
In a video shared by Topps, the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player and new Philadelphia 76ers forward James was informed that one of his rookie cards has a tantalizing price of $5.2 million.
Apparently, the future Basketball Hall of Famer has one of those cards stashed away as an emergency financial lifeline.
“I happen to have like maybe one or two of those things locked in a vault somewhere,” James said. “So, just in case if I ever fall on hard times, then I’m good.”
LeBron was shook after hearing the price of his most valuable trading card…😆💰 @KingJames pic.twitter.com/ZmyCPWrUTp
— Topps (@Topps) December 5, 2025
James is one of the business-savviest athletes ever, and that has helped him amass a net worth of approximately $1.4 billion, according to Forbes’ latest estimate. With a wealth that could fund a space program, it is extremely unlikely that he’ll ever be so financially strapped that he would need to sell his astonishingly valuable rookie card, so he’ll likely keep that precious piece of cardboard, perhaps forever.
James, who signed a team-friendly $7.94 million contract (with 20276-28 player option) with the 76ers in the offseason, is set to play in his 24th season in the NBA after eight years with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Blue Jays quickly pivot from Kevin Gausman with a trade for AL West pitcher
The Toronto Blue Jays have made another pitcher trade ahead of Monday’s deadline.
After trading Kevin Gausman to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, the Blue Jays kicked off their workweek by acquiring pitcher Jose Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels, according to baseball insider Jeff Passan of ESPN.
In a follow-up update, Passan reported that in return, the Angels are getting shortstop prospect Arjun Nimmala, outfielder Eddie Micheletti and right-hander Angel Rivero.
This will be the first time that Soriano will wear a non-Angels uniform in the big leagues. He made his MLB debut in 2023 with the Halos, and through 113 career appearances in the majors thus far, he’s gone 26-27 with a 3.72 ERA and 1.302 WHIP.
Soriano was having a Cy Young-worthy start to the 2026 MLB season. In five starts in April, he put together a 3-1 record and a 1.17 ERA. However, he followed that up with back-to-back months of sub-5.00 ERA. The 27-year-old Dominican hurler has picked things up of late, though, posting a 2.74 ERA over his last four starts.
With Soriano, the Blue Jays are getting a controllable asset with two more years of arbitration eligibility remaining. He signed a 1-year, $2.9 million deal with the Angels in January to avoid arbitration.
De’Von Achane is eyeing an ambitious goal in 2026
After his best season yet in the NFL, Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane is eyeing a big achievement in the coming 2026 NFL campaign.
The former Texas A&M star running back has set his sights on winning the 2026 rushing title. It will be easier said than done, but at least he has confidence in himself.
“For me, it’s trying to get the rushing title,” Achane said during an appearance on the NFL Network.
“I feel like, if I got the rushing title, then, obviously, you know, every game we’re doing something good,” added the 24-year-old Achane, who also earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2025.
That is not a far-fetched goal for Achane. Last season, he finished sixth overall in the league with 1,350 rushing yards in 16 games on 287 carries. James Cook of the Buffalo Bills won the rushing title with 1,621 rushing yards in more games (17) and carries (309) than Achane, who signed a 4-year, $64 million contract extension with Miami in May.
However, there is the threat of fewer touches out of the backfield for Achane in 2026, with dual-threat quarterback Malik Willis coming over to Miami as Tua Tagovailoa’s successor.
Nevertheless, the Dolphins are bound to feed Achane with a healthy dose of touches every week, beginning in Week 1’s showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev.
Freddie Freeman had a great reaction to Tarik Skubal joining the Dodgers
Freddie Freeman is simply relieved that he no longer has to worry about facing Tarik Skubal after the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off a blockbuster trade to bring the star pitcher to town.
“I’m glad he’s on our side now,” Freeman said during an interview with NBC Sports on Sunday.
“Whenever you see the [Detroit] Tigers on the schedule, you kind of circle it and like ‘Oh, are we going to draw Tarik or are we not going to draw him?”
Freeman also commended the Dodgers for having such an aggressive mindset in acquiring the best players available despite already being so stacked with elite talent.
“It’s fun to be part of an organization that goes out there and tries to win every single year,” added the former National League Most Valuable Player.
Los Angeles has won a World Series in each of the last two seasons, and the Dodgers’ chances to go for a three-peat considerably got even better with the addition of the two-time American League Cy Young Award winner.
With Skubal in the fold, the Dodgers’ rotation gets even scarier for opponents, as he joins Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow.
Before parting ways with the Tigers, Skubal went 7-5 with a 2.79 ERA and a 2.60 FIP in 16 starts in 2026.
DeMar DeRozan may have dropped a hint about his free agency destination
DeMar DeRozan may have dropped a clue about where he wants to take his talents next as he navigates free agency.
Early Monday, the six-time NBA All-Star shared a seemingly cryptic post on X, writing “In closing, I remain the same. I come as I leave…”
The line appears to be lifted from “Fly Again,” a 2019 song by Kevin Gates, but others can also interpret it as DeRozan’s way of trying to speak a reunion with his original NBA team, the Toronto Raptors, into existence.
DeRozan, who will be turning 37 on Friday, has played for four teams in the NBA, but he will always be most associated with the Raptors. Toronto selected the former USC Trojans star ninth overall in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft and had him on the team for nine seasons.
Over that time, he averaged 19.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists through 675 games, while becoming one of the greatest players ever to put on Raptors colors. He earned four All-Star nods during his time north of the border.
Toronto is a young team on the rise after ending a three-year playoff drought, and potentially adding a franchise legend back into the mix could help the Raptors sustain that momentum.
Mario Lopez posts the most deranged AI video of him at a Dodgers game
Celebrity host Mario Lopez probably should have reconsidered hitting “post” on one of his recent social media uploads.
Lopez was in attendance as the Los Angeles Dodgers hosted the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif. The “Saved By The Bell” actor was with his niece, Kalia, in what appeared to be a wholesome afternoon out with Uncle Mario.
Lopez even posted a video of himself soaking up some sun next to Kalia and raving about the Dodgers’ blockbuster trade for Tarik Skubal.
“Hotter than a Dodger dog on the grill out there, but the Dodgers might be even hotter,” Lopez said in the clip. “Big moves. Let’s go, Skubal. Big expectations, and I’m all-in for this postseason push. Let’s do it.”
Sunshine, baseball, family… doesn’t get much better than that. Let’s keep this postseason momentum rolling…#VivaLosDodgers #GoBlue #LAvsBoston #ITFDB pic.twitter.com/zrTtAwnAPE
— Mario Lopez (@mariolopezviva) August 2, 2026
About an hour later, Lopez posted another video on his X account. It appeared to be a different version of the first one, altered by artificial intelligence.
The strange clip showed Kalia eating two hot dogs with a lot of mustard drizzled on top. The video then zoomed into AI-Kalia’s face as she rubbed mustard all over her cheeks. Yes, the video is as strange as it sounds.
“I can’t take her anywhere!” the AI version of Lopez said in the second clip.
I can’t take my niece anywhere! pic.twitter.com/rh0FoSUDXi
— Mario Lopez (@mariolopezviva) August 3, 2026
Whether Lopez got hacked or got roped into a social media humiliation ritual is anyone’s guess.
The Dodgers lost Sunday’s game 8-4 as the Red Sox completed a three-game sweep of the defending champs.
Diamondbacks manager sounds off on his player ‘breaking’ unwritten rule during perfect game bid
Arizona Diamondbacks skipper Torey Lovullo had Tim Tawa’s back after a contentious moment Sunday against the Cleveland Guardians.
Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams had a perfect game through five innings of work against the D-Backs at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. The 6’6″ right-hander sat at 67 pitches when Tawa came up to bat as the leadoff man in the top of the 6th inning.
Facing an 0-1 count, Tawa squared up to bunt. While the attempt went foul, it didn’t make the move feel any less disrespectful to some of the Guardians players. Catcher Patrick Bailey and shortstop Brayan Rocchio exchanged words with Tawa, who ended up breaking the perfect game anyway with a single to right field one pitch later.
Guardians were pissed at the Dbacks after they tried to bunt and end Gavin Williams' perfect game
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 2, 2026
The benches ended up clearing in the pouring rain as the grounds crew tried to get the tarp on the field pic.twitter.com/Yn27HaqCnS
The game was paused later in the inning due to heavy rain, but not before a benches-clearing scrum broke out on the field.
While speaking to reporters after the game, Lovullo was asked if Tawa had broken an “unwritten rule” in that moment. The longtime D-Backs manager didn’t think so.
“Not even close, for me,” Lovullo responded, via Sports Illustrated’s Alex D’Agostino.
“I’m totally fine with him bunting in the sixth inning of a game,” Lovullo said, speaking with D-backs.TV’s Todd Walsh.
“It’s either black or white for me. I don’t like gray stuff. So [Tawa] asked if he could bunt. We all checked off on it, said absolutely. And they clearly took exception to that.”
Lovullo didn’t disparage an unwritten rule, but instead argued about what the rules actually were. He shared that he had a conversation about such a scenario with Guardians manager Steven Vogt in the past, when the latter was still a D-Backs player under Torey.
The understanding the two supposedly had was that teams “can do basically anything” through six innings. Anything beyond that and teams staring down getting no-hit or being on the wrong end of a perfect game have to “be careful” with their decisions.
Tawa’s hit, however, failed to spark a Diamondbacks comeback. The visitors managed just a pair of hits in a 5-0 loss to the Guardians.
Browns make decision on their new $2.6 billion stadium that players will not like
The Cleveland Browns are making one major change as the team moves to a new state-of-the-art stadium.
The Browns have announced that their $2.6 billion stadium, set for completion in 2029, will use artificial turf for its playing surface instead of grass. The Browns, who will play out the next few seasons in Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio, are currently one of 16 teams that play on real grass.
The move will tilt the scales 17-15 in favor of turf, a movement which players have vocally opposed for years.
But all is not lost for soil truthers. According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the new stadium will reportedly be able to accommodate grass, just as several NFL venues did for the recently concluded 2026 FIFA World Cup. That means the Browns could have the option to swap out the turf for grass should the pressure from players be too heavy to ignore.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle repeatedly called out the NFL during the World Cup for not mandating grass fields across the league. Players have long argued that artificial turf causes more lower-leg injuries than grass does. But there has been some debate about whether that’s actually the case.
Kittle and the rest of the pro-grass movement still have at least three seasons to prevent turf from claiming majority in the NFL.
