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  • ⚽ What a finish! | Sports Daily Newsletter

    ⚽ What a finish! | Sports Daily Newsletter

    The last 39 days have brought a spectacle to the United States — and Philadelphia witnessed it firsthand.

    Whether you’re a fan of soccer or not, I hope you enjoyed this World Cup. I certainly did. From the Cinderella story of Cape Verde becoming the smallest nation ever to reach the round of 32 to watching the greatest footballers of all-time in Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi compete in what was likely to be their last appearances on this stage.

    It also gave us a glimpse of the future: Norway’s Erling Haaland, England’s Jude Bellingham, and of course, Spain’s Lamine Yamal showed there’s more star power to come in 2030 — and if you’re thinking, “What about us?” Good news. Historically speaking, every World Cup spawns change, writes Kerith Gabriel.

    But the U.S., during its 250th anniversary, was the perfect host, and it was the fans from all over the world who played a large part in making the tournament better. Watching Norway’s “row” chant or England singing “Wonderwall” were some of the many memorable moments off the pitch.

    And on Sunday, in the Meadowlands, it was Spain that took down defending champion Argentina, 1-0, in overtime in front of a sold-out crowd of 80,663.

    The clock read 125:01 when the final whistle blew, sealing Spain as the champion and marking the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. What a ride!

    — Isabella DiAmore, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    ❓What did you think of this World Cup? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

    Not chasing perfection

    Trea Turner reacts after striking out to lead off the bottom of the first inning against the New York Mets on Sunday.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    Trea Turner is working on addressing his plate discipline, which has been a major issue this season. He first needs to cut down on chasing pitches outside the strike zone — and he actually has shown improvement there.

    Back in June, Turner was chasing at a 37.1% clip. In July so far, he has cut that to 29%. He isn’t chasing perfection, he just wants production.

    And the Phillies dropped their first series after the All-Star break on Sunday, following Alan Rangel giving up five runs to the Mets before the third inning. It was the latest dud from a No. 5 starter. Now they’ll need to turn the page to the Dodgers.

    What we’re…

    ⚾ Learning: Philadelphia fans helped turn the All-Star week into one of the strongest retail performances in the history of the Midsummer Classic.

    👂 Hearing: While making an appearance at Fanatics Fest, LeBron James said he wants to go to a team that “trusts the process.”

    🏌️ Watching: On Monday, the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship is returning to Saucon Valley Country Club for the first time since 1983.

    🏈 Wondering: After sitting out part of the offseason program due to injury, will Eagles first-round pick Makai Lemon be ready for training camp?

    Loving the challenge

    Jordan Mailata shown at Art History 101 Clothing Co.’s event on Saturday in Mayfair.Ryan Novozinsky

    Jordan Mailata knows that the Eagles will look very different this season. With training camp just over a week away, the nine-year veteran said he and his teammates are focused on one thing: “Learning the playbook.”

    The new playbook in question is the brainchild of offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, who is expected to implement a similar system to those of Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan. Mailata says he is excited about its potential.

    Ohio basketball roots

    A photo of Mike Gansey (far right) and LeBron James (to the left of Gansey) that originially appeared in the Cleveland Plain Dealer in 2000. Gansey and James both played high school basketball in Ohio.Courtesy of Steve Gansey

    Steve Gansey recently posted an old photo that was taken in 2000, and was on the front page of the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s sports section. It featured 10 high school basketball players from Northeast Ohio in their respective jerseys.

    What caught folks’ attention was that it showed his older brother, Mike, standing alongside LeBron James. The two never competed against each other but shared a mutual respect.

    Two-semester sport?

    Photo illustration of someone playing soccer with a map of Philadelphia in the backgroundJulia Duarte / Staff Illustration, Photography by The Inquirer, Courtesy of Getty.

    A change to Division I men’s soccer looks to be on the horizon. After years of discussion and debate, the NCAA adopted legislation to shift the sport’s season from the fall to a two-semester schedule.

    However, several conferences opposed it. Philadelphia’s six Division I men’s soccer program weighed in on the possible change.

    Marcus Hayes’ take

    The World Cup parties in Lemon Hill were one of the triumphant scenes of the summer in Philly.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    The World Cup, the PGA Championship, and the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the most daunting events in this Summer of Sports Celebration, are finished here.

    Well done, Philadelphia. Think about it. So many things could have gone wrong. Instead, the people in charge and those they represent can breathe sighs of relief after three high-profile events went off without an issue, writes columnist Marcus Hayes.

    🧠 Trivia time

    Before this year, when was the last time Spain won the World Cup?

    A) 2006

    B) 1998

    C) 2010

    D) 1990

    We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Marcus Hayes, Scott Lauber, Kerith Gabriel, Jonathan Tannenwald, Lochlahn March, Olivia Reiner, Michael Klein, Ryan Novozinsky, Alex Coffey, Olivia Reiner, Lauren Jones, and Conor Smith.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    Thanks for getting your morning started with me. Have a wonderful Monday, and we’ll be back in your inbox tomorrow. — Bella

  • What the Sixers are saying about the Jaylen Brown trade, from ‘Oh, snap!’ to ‘It’s going to be special’

    What the Sixers are saying about the Jaylen Brown trade, from ‘Oh, snap!’ to ‘It’s going to be special’

    LAS VEGAS — Jaylen Brown has made one brief Sixers appearance, sitting courtside for Saturday’s Summer League game.

    Still, the acquisition of the All-NBA wing was one of the more prominent topics throughout his new team’s stay in Las Vegas. There were entertaining stories about how various Sixers found out about the blockbuster trade, illustrating how stunning the move was even to those close to it. And there was excitement for how Brown is expected to enhance a talented roster now with realistic aspirations to contend.

    Here is what the Sixers are saying about Brown:

    Inside Sixers: The LeBron James waiting game, Labaron Philon Jr.’s creativity, and more from Las Vegas Summer League

    VJ Edgecombe

    Edgecombe was in his native Bahamas — and at a spa — when he accidentally missed multiple calls from Sixers executive vice president of basketball operations Jameer Nelson.

    Then, when he saw a text from Nelson asking to call him as soon as possible, Edgecombe got nervous.

    “I was like, ‘Man, it’s free agency, why you calling me so much?’” Edgecombe recalled. “I thought I was gone.”

    VJ Edgecombe and Jaylen Brown will be the defensive pillars of the Sixers. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    The actual news Nelson wanted to share — that the trade for Brown was about to happen — still “shocked” Edgecombe, calling it “the last thing I expected.” Edgecombe also described it as “bittersweet” because of the quick rapport he developed with the outgoing Paul George, but said he is eager to play with Brown while at the “peak of his career.”

    Justin Edwards

    This trade was kept so under wraps that even Edwards did not catch wind of it while at the Sixers’ facility on the day it popped.

    Edwards had just finished a pool conditioning workout and glanced at the television on a sports program dissecting all the league-wide offseason moves. And did a double-take.

    “They were talking about Jaylen Brown and PG, but I didn’t pay attention to it,” Edwards said. “I [saw] it, but I looked away. Then I looked again. I’m like, ‘Oh, snap!’ So I called ’Rese [Tyrese Maxey] and he was like, ‘Yeah, man, I knew since this morning.’ I’m like, ‘That’s crazy.’”

    Dean Wade

    Wade had already agreed to sign with the Sixers as a free agent the night before the Brown trade. Wade said he was intrigued by a brief “rumor” he heard about the possibility of such a move, but believed it had died out. Then, “all of a sudden, out of nowhere, it just kind of popped back up and it was a done deal.”

    As a versatile wing defender who has played his entire career in the Eastern Conference, Wade has plenty of first-hand experience with trying to counter Brown’s offensive prowess and “edge.” He called Brown “definitely one of the toughest people I’ve had to guard. Especially last year, he was just a monster.”

    “He gets to his spots [on the court],” Wade said. “It doesn’t really matter if you’re there or not. If you don’t block it, it’s going in, probably. … His size and his athleticism and his skill, they all go hand-in-hand.

    “He’s hard to stay in front of. And then he’s also a lot stronger than people think. So he gives you a little bump in the paint [and] it’s kind of hard to recover from that.”

    Labaron Philon Jr.

    The rookie guard said he was not overly shocked when he heard about the trade because he prides himself on keeping his emotions in check. But he knows Brown is going to be a valuable resource during his first NBA season.

    Before Mike Gansey became a Sixers executive, he was a hard-nosed high school player that earned LeBron James’ respect

    “He has that championship DNA,” Philon said. “I feel like, as a young guy, that’s somebody you want to look up to [and] somebody you want to learn from. Somebody that’s already been in that moment, he can help all the other guys too that haven’t reached that level yet [and] help us get over that hump.

    “With him coming in, I feel like it’s going to be special. We’re going to go at it at practice. He’s going to push me. I’m going to try to push him to the next level.”

    Anfernee Simons

    Simons is joining a new team in the Sixers, but reuniting with a former teammate in Brown. They played together with the Celtics for part of last season, before Simons was traded to the Chicago Bulls at the February deadline.

    Simons called Brown “kind of the epitome” of a two-way player.

    “He’s going to guard the best [opposing] player and go out there and give you 30 [points],” Simons said during his first media availability as a Sixer. “That’s what makes him special, what makes him different.

    “So he’s going to come in and bring that championship mentality from Day 1 and try to instill that in the team.”

    Mike Gansey

    The Sixers’ new president of basketball operations landed Brown by following advice he learned while working his way up the Cleveland Cavaliers’ front office: Make the call. Gansey then aimed to assuage Brown’s initial shock about being traded to the rival Sixers with this simple message: “I want you on my team.”

    “I’ve watched him against Cleveland, and he’s always killed us,” Gansey said. “ … We’re just super lucky to get him, and I know he’s motivated. He’s going to be great for everyone because the young guys want that. He’s been a champion and Finals MVP. I think Joel [Embiid is] in a great space and he’s excited, as well.

    Mike Gansey shared a simple message with Jaylen Brown after the blockbuster trade: “I want you on my team.”Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    “Obviously, we’ve got to see what it looks like. You can’t win a trade in July. … Until we actually have a practice or a game, you just don’t know. You hope it’s going to work out, but it’ll take some time, I’m sure.

    “I would have never envisioned this, when I’m sitting there [for my introductory news conference in early June]. … Just opportunities arise. And that’s why, this business, you can plan all you want and prepare, but you just don’t know. Things happen.”

    Dalen Terry

    Terry was taking a nap — with his cell phone and his baby daughter resting on his chest — when the calls and messages about the trade started pouring in.

    “I’m like, ‘Am I still on the team?!’” Terry said once he checked his phone. “ … I’m like, ‘OK, who was it for?’ They said PG [and] I’m like, ‘Dang …’

    “I was just thinking about PG the whole time. Then I was like, ‘Wait, we got Jaylen Brown.’”

    Nick Nurse discusses Sixers’ ‘really good’ offseason, next steps for Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, and more

    Nick Nurse

    The Sixers’ coach praised Brown’s versatility on both ends of the floor, along with his competitiveness and winning pedigree.

    “You watch him get a lot better from year to year to year,” Nurse said, “and how much harder that became to game plan for him. … He’s sitting in his prime. It’s amazing that he’s going to be a Sixer.”

    T.J. DiLeo

    When asked about Brown sitting courtside for Saturday’s Summer League game, DiLeo had a confession.

    “Can I tell you the truth?” the summer Sixers’ coach said. “I didn’t even see him. I try not to look over there that much, but that is amazing to have him here. … The guys seeing him, obviously, that’s great. That’s what we’re looking for with our team, just the support of one another, the support of the organization. So that’s really cool that he [was] here, man.

    “I wish [I’d seen] him now. I probably [would have] looked over and would have shook his hand afterward, or something.”

  • Eagles newcomers ‘26: Will Hollywood Brown give the Birds a much-needed, reliable vertical threat?

    Eagles newcomers ‘26: Will Hollywood Brown give the Birds a much-needed, reliable vertical threat?

    With Eagles training camp drawing nearer, The Inquirer is taking a closer look at the more than three dozen new faces who are expected to report along with the rest of the team on July 28.

    Player: Marquise “Hollywood” Brown

    Position: Wide receiver

    Age: 29

    Previous experience: Brown is a seven-year NFL veteran who was the first receiver taken in the 2019 draft (No. 25 overall out of Oklahoma by the Baltimore Ravens). He spent the first three years of his career with the Ravens, including a standout 2021 season in which he racked up a career-high 1,008 yards and six touchdowns on 91 receptions.

    But Brown said that he wasn’t fond of the Ravens’ offensive system, leading to his trade request following his third season in Baltimore. The Ravens shipped him to the Arizona Cardinals on the first day of the 2022 draft.

    Hollywood Brown’s best seasons came as a member of the Baltimore Ravens. Kenneth K. Lam / MCT

    The Cardinals picked up his fifth-year option. He played the final two years of his rookie deal in Arizona, ranking second on the team in receiving yards in both seasons (709 in 2022 and 574 in 2023).

    Brown signed consecutive one-year deals over the last two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. He missed the majority of the 2024 season with a shoulder injury. In 2025, he started six games (16 games total), finishing the year with 587 yards (second-most on the team) and five touchdowns (tied for the team high) on 49 receptions.

    Early in his career, Brown established himself as a speedy deep threat. He didn’t run the 40-yard dash at the combine or Oklahoma’s pro day due to a foot injury, but he reportedly ran a 4.3 40 in 2018. While Brown may have lost a step since then, he can still stretch the field vertically.

    Path to a roster spot: Brown figures to slot in as the Eagles’ third or fourth receiver behind DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon. He’ll also vie for targets against Dontayvion Wicks, the 25-year-old receiver whom the Eagles acquired from the Green Bay Packers this offseason.

    Hollywood Brown is a former first-rounder and 1,000-yard receiver. The Eagles are giving him another chance at NFL relevance.

    But Brown could carve out a singular role for himself in the offense as a deep threat, reminiscent of the job that Quez Watkins sought to fulfill early in Nick Sirianni’s tenure. Brown has the potential to open up opportunities for players underneath, so long as defenses respect him downfield.

    Fun fact: Before he went to Oklahoma, Brown started his collegiate career at College of the Canyons, a community college in Santa Clarita, Calif. He wasn’t on a scholarship, so Brown made money by working as a ride operator at a nearby Six Flags, according to Sports Illustrated.

    Quotable: “I think when you talk about Hollywood, there have been times [in] our offense we’ve had, really, that vertical skill set, but also a guy who can separate at the top of his routes. We had that a little. I always look at our teams in ’17, I thought Nelson [Agholor] did a great job of that, bringing that to the team. I think you look [at] ’22 and Quez did a good job of that. I think the ’24 team was constructed a little bit differently, but I think that really fits the skill set of our quarterback.” — Howie Roseman in March

    Player: Zion Wilson

    Position: Defensive tackle

    Age: 23

    Previous experience: Wilson spent the last five years at East Carolina. He joined the team as a walk-on in 2021 as an offensive lineman. He did not see game action until 2023, when he mostly began to serve in a special-teams capacity (11 games, 51 snaps on special teams). That role continued in 2024 — he played in all 13 games (70 snaps) on special teams.

    Wilson, 6-foot-3, 316 pounds, also switched to the defensive line in 2024. The following season, he had a breakout performance, finishing with 42 tackles (including 10 for a loss) and seven sacks (which ranked second in the American Conference).

    He reportedly spent the spring of 2026 at Virginia, where he planned to play in the fall. But the NCAA denied his sixth-year waiver, forcing him to go pro. Wilson signed a three-year deal with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in June. His contract includes $225,000 in guaranteed money, according to Over The Cap.

    Path to a roster spot: Wilson is an intriguing rookie, but he would have to beat out the likes of Byron Young, Uar Bernard, and Ty Robinson for one of the last couple of active roster spots among the defensive tackle corps. He is most likely a contender for the practice squad in 2026. His special teams experience would make him a valuable, versatile addition, too.

    Fun fact: Wilson comes from a football family. His uncles, Willie Smith and C.J. Wilson, both played at East Carolina and had NFL careers. Smith, an offensive tackle, played a total of four seasons (2011-14) for Washington, the Oakland Raiders, and San Diego Chargers. The elder Wilson, a defensive end, played a total of seven years (2010-16) for the Green Bay Packers, the Raiders, the Detroit Lions, and the Chicago Bears.

    Quotable: “Dude knows a lot about football. A lot. And just seeing his mind just [transfer] over [from] O-line straight to D-line. Just taking off from there. I kind of look up to him. Dude’s been wanting to do this his entire career here. Now, he’s got to finish it out here at ECU his senior year doing it. That dude is balling out. I could not be more happy and proud of him.” — East Carolina defensive lineman Preston Carr on Wilson in November, via The Holton Ahlers Show on Pirate Radio

  • Spain outlasts Argentina to complete a star-studded World Cup final

    Spain outlasts Argentina to complete a star-studded World Cup final

    EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — At the start of this World Cup, Spain was one of the biggest favorites to win it all. And in the end, it was the team that deservedly won the title.

    Spain’s second-half substitute Ferran Torres’ scored in the 106th-minute goal to fuel a 1-0 victory over Argentina. La Roja dethroned the reigning champions with a 20-2 advantage in shots over Lionel Messi’s side.

    It was Spain’s second men’s World Cup title in a brilliant era from 2008 to now, which also includes three European championships and a UEFA Nations League title. The country is also the first to hold the men’s and women’s World Cup crowns at the same time, thanks to the women’s team’s triumph in 2023.

    A sellout crowd of 80,663 was on hand in the Meadowlands — though with quite a few empty seats in the lower deck — and heaven knows what they paid to be there. Projections of $14 billion in revenue from this summer rose to $15 billion, the Guardian reported, with fans paying a lot of the bill.

    FIFA was no doubt also happy with the 11-page list of “VVIPs and Celebrities,” spanning Spain’s reigning King Felipe VI and its prime minister, Pedro Sánchez. Argentina’s president Javier Milei didn’t attend out of superstition, putting his fandom ahead of his friendship with President Donald Trump, who emerged to a chorus of boos during the trophy presentation.

    Madonna, Anna Wintour, Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, and Mick Jagger alongside halftime show performers Shakira and Justin Bieber were also some of the names in attendance.

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    From the sports world? How about soccer legends Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane (who will soon be France’s manager), and Roberto Baggio; current U.S. women’s stars Rose Lavelle and Alyssa Thompson; the Eagles’ Saquon Barkley and the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes; a pile of basketball players led by Victor Wembanyama, Jalen Brunson, and Union part-owner Kevin Durant; Olympians Ilia Malinin and Mikaela Shiffrin; and tennis’ Carlos Alcaraz.

    They might even have watched the game, and if they did, they got to see other stars. Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez, and Enzo Fernández started for Argentina against Spain’s Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, and Rodri, the last of whom captured FIFA’s Golden Ball, given to the player of the tournament.

    Lionel Messi (left) and Lamine Yamal battling for the ball during the first half.Julio Cortez

    But while it was a superbly sunny, surprisingly breezy, and thankfully wildfire-smoke-free afternoon, there wasn’t much action to enjoy early on. Instead, there was the first scoreless half of a men’s World Cup final since 2014. Spain outshot Argentina 3-0, with Yamal forcing a save in the fifth minute and Marc Cucurella firing narrowly wide from 18 yards in the 43rd.

    Perhaps that shouldn’t have been too surprising. Soccer finals are usually cagey, and on top of that Spain likes to win games by controlling them. Argentina, meanwhile, is often content to take its time and strike late. Messi’s renowned playing style exemplifies that: he often spends the first stretch of any game just walking, so he can watch how the opposing defense moves and find gaps in it.

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    The other end of the field was a different story. Along with Spain having the better of the play in the first half, Argentina centerback Lisandro Martínez had to leave the game injured in the 44th, not long after picking up the first of his team’s eight yellow cards. Nicolás Otamendi replaced him, and Spain might not have minded seeing the 38-year-old come in.

    After the first halftime show concert in World Cup final history (which enough of the supposed American target audience didn’t like), Albiceleste manager Lionel Scaloni made another swap: Leandro Paredes for Nicolás González at left wing in their 4-4-2 setup.

    There were quite a few empty seats in the stands during the World Cup halftime show.Matt Slocum

    In the 58th, Scaloni made it three subs before his players had taken a shot by withdrawing right back and 2022 World Cup final hero Gonzalo Montiel for Nahuel Molina. Spain was starting to assert control by then, and four minutes later manager Luis de la Fuente upped the ante with a double-sub: Ferran Torres for Mikel Oyarzabal at striker and great playmaker Pedri for Fabián Ruiz in midfield.

    Spain’s big cluster of red-clad fans behind one goal could sense the momentum, even more when Yamal split two defenders and crossed for Torres to head right at Emiliano Martínez.

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    Scaloni tried to bolster his side by sending defender Facundo Medina and midfielder Giuliano Simeone on for Cristian Romero and Rodrigo de Paul in the 70th. Those were his last subs in regulation, and Argentina still hadn’t recorded a shot. Meanwhile, a lot of firepower watched from the bench: midfielders Giovani Lo Celso, Nico Paz and Thiago Almada (formerly of Atlanta United), and especially striker Lautaro Martínez.

    De la Fuente, meanwhile, countered in the 75th with two more attacking moves. Nico Williams replaced Álex Baena at left wing, and Mikel Merino replaced Olmo in attacking midfield.

    It took until the 92nd minute for Argentina to finally register an attempt, and it wasn’t even officially scored a shot. But Messi was on the ball for enough of the buildup that the stadium held its breath.

    With everyone just about ready for extra time, the plot took a big twist. Fernández sent Pau Cubarsí flying into the air from a collision, and referee Slavko Vinčić quickly gave Fernández his second yellow card of the day. A red followed right afterward.

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    But there were still no goals when regulation ended, making this the fifth men’s World Cup final of the last eight to require bonus sessions. The only one to reach penalty kicks with no goals was the last one in this country, 1994 at the Rose Bowl.

    Williams finally put the ball in the net in the 96th, which Spain fully deserved for its 15-0 lead in shots through 90 minutes. But the goal was ruled out for a foul in the buildup, and that was the right call.

    Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni (center) had lots of words for his players, but he left a lot of attackers on the bench.Seth Wenig

    Extra time grants each side an extra sub. Scaloni chose to use his not just to send in another defender, but to take off a striker: Álvarez for Marcos Senesi.

    The goal finally came in the 106th, and it was perfectly executed. Right back Pedro Porro hit a cross over the crowded 18-yard box, Williams headed it down, and Torres slammed the loose ball in with all his might.

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    Everyone knew Spain deserved it, but Argentina wasn’t dead yet. In stoppage time of the extra time, officially the 122nd minute, Cubarsí had to scramble to clear a chance Messi and Simeone created. From the ensuing corner kick, Simeone shot over the bar.

    The clock read 125:01 when the final whistle blew. Most importantly, the scoreboard read 1-0 with Spain as the winner.

  • Phillies look ahead to Dodgers after No. 5 starter Alan Rangel struggles in series loss to Mets

    Phillies look ahead to Dodgers after No. 5 starter Alan Rangel struggles in series loss to Mets

    Bring on the Dodgers.

    No, really, bring ’em on. So what if the two-time defending World Series champs are still the best team in baseball? The Phillies would sooner face them for three days than talk about what happened Sunday.

    Oh, all right. A few words about that:

    In the latest noncompetitive dud from a No. 5 starter (more on that later), Alan Rangel gave up five runs before some fans found their seats. The Phillies managed six hits and lost, 6-1, to the Mets to drop the first series after the All-Star break, their warts on display.

    Phillies trade deadline preview: Bullpen is becoming a top priority, and maybe the Mets can provide answers

    But hey, that’s life when neither Cristopher Sánchez nor Zack Wheeler pitches in a series. That won’t be the case against the Dodgers. Sánchez is scheduled to start the opener Monday night followed by Wheeler in the second game.

    So, bring on the champs, right?

    “Obviously they’re a good team, one of the best,” said Alec Bohm, whose homer accounted for the offense. “I think just the opportunity is to win some games. I don’t think it’s anything crazy. It’s kind of getting down to that time of the year. We’re in the second half now. We just want to come in and take care of business.”

    Say this: It’s a measuring-stick series. The Dodgers are talented and endlessly deep, with the best record in baseball — 63-36, a 103-win pace, through the opener of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium. Shohei Ohtani won’t pitch this week because of left knee pain, but he went 2-for-5 with a double and drove in two runs Sunday in Game 1 against the Yankees, so hitting won’t be a problem.

    Phillies starter Alan Rangel gave up two runs in the first inning and three in the second in a loss to the Mets on Sunday.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    The Phillies were still ascending from a season-opening 9-19 hole when they visited Dodger Stadium the last weekend in May. They lost two of three, including Wheeler’s only defeat in 15 starts.

    But they went 9-3 against the Dodgers over the last two regular seasons and lost three games by a total of four runs in the divisional round last year. Dodgers officials didn’t want to face the Phillies and were mostly relieved to survive the series.

    They could be headed for an October rematch, in which case the Dodgers’ uneasy feeling won’t likely subside if Sánchez, Wheeler, and Jesús Luzardo are lined up to pitch.

    To get there, though, the Phillies need more from the back of the rotation. They are 41-14 when Sánchez, Wheeler, or Luzardo start; in starts made by anyone else, they are 14-31, including 10 consecutive losses from the No. 5 spot.

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    “Obviously,” interim manager Don Mattingly said, “you don’t want to have a day that we never win.”

    The Phillies haven’t won with a No. 5 starter since May 18. Since then, Andrew Painter got demoted to triple A, where the results have been mixed. Rotation depth is an organizational weakness. Rangel is the best (only?) option — and has a 5.75 ERA since replacing Painter.

    Rangel’s next start would be Saturday at home against the Yankees. Will he make it?

    “It’s something to talk about,” Mattingly said. “Now is not a great time to talk about that when you’re 10 minutes after the game. But I’m sure it’s something that everybody’s looking at.”

    With a day off Thursday, the Phillies could skip the No. 5 spot and have Sánchez, Wheeler, and Aaron Nola start on regular (four days’) rest. In that case, they would need a fifth starter only once before the Aug. 3 trade deadline — and not until July 28 in Miami.

    Bryce Harper pauses during a pitching change in the sixth inning against the Mets on Sunday.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    Before sending Rangel to the mound against the Mets, Mattingly wondered how the 28-year-old righty would fare after facing them three weeks earlier in New York.

    It’s safe to say the advantage went to the Mets.

    “My mind wasn’t there,” Rangel said through a team interpreter. “I wasn’t thinking about that. I wasn’t worried about that. I was just trying to make my pitches and just try to do that.”

    Rangel said he sensed some hitters seemed to change their approach “maybe a little.” He relies heavily on his changeup and deceptive over-the-top delivery to get soft contact. This time, the Mets fouled off a lot of pitches against him.

    “I think more than anything he just wasn’t able to put guys away,” Mattingly said. “Second time they’ve seen him. Everybody’s making adjustments.”

    Mike Trout said he loves Philly during Monday’s All-Star festivities. But he seems no closer to playing here.

    To wit: Bo Bichette fouled off six consecutive pitches and worked an 11-pitch walk with two out in the first inning. Rangel then left a fastball over the plate to Francisco Lindor for a two-run homer into the second deck in right field.

    It got worse for Rangel in the second inning. Brett Baty led off with a single before Luis Torrens lined an RBI double. Juan Soto walked and Bichette singled to load the bases for Lindor, who stroked an RBI single. Carson Benge lifted a sacrifice fly to make it 5-0.

    How’s that for deflating in the rubber game of a series?

    “Well, it can be,” Mattingly said. “You know, getting down five early. With that, the guy on the mound today [Mets ace Nolan McLean], he was good. It puts you in a tough spot. … It feels like kind of all day you’re kind of out of it.”

    The Phillies won’t face the Mets again until September. Before that, New York is expected to be an active seller at the trade deadline, with several pitchers who could help the Phillies, perhaps none more than right-hander Clay Holmes.

    A closer-turned-starter, Holmes is rehabbing from a right leg fracture. If he shows he’s healthy in upcoming minor-league starts, he would fit the Phillies as a No. 5 starter down the stretch who could easily transition to a late-inning relief role in the postseason.

    In the meantime, here come Ohtani and the Dodgers.

    At least the Phillies will have Sánchez and Wheeler waiting for them.

  • Trea Turner looks to cut down on chasing — and he’s starting to see the results

    Trea Turner looks to cut down on chasing — and he’s starting to see the results

    In early June, as his struggles at the plate dragged on, Trea Turner had a conversation with Josh Studnitzer, the Phillies’ manager of hitting strategy.

    It was illuminating.

    “Just the way I was getting pitched was unbelievable in the sense that everything was on the edge of the plate, just nothing to hit really, and trying to do a little too much,” Turner said. “And sometimes it felt like I wanted to walk, but I couldn’t walk, because they were strikes.”

    According to StatCast data, 42.9% of the pitches to Turner this year have been on the edge of the strike zone. Out of all major league hitters, that ranks 21st highest.

    But learning that those numbers supported what he was feeling at the plate didn’t help him much. He was still going to have to find a way to turn things around, and get back to what helped him win the National League batting title in 2025.

    “Doesn’t matter, because it’s all about production, right?” Turner said. “I’m not the prettiest player or whatever you want to call it. I don’t do everything perfect, and I just find a way to help the team. … When I try to be perfect, it just sets me backwards. And I just have to be who I am.

    “Everyone likes to tell you all the things, that they even out, or this can’t happen the whole year. But after a while, it gets so old. How do you get better? How do you find more production?”

    Trea Turner was chasing at a 37.1% clip in June. He has cut that to 29% in July.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    One of the major keys is cutting down on chasing pitches outside the strike zone, which has been a major issue for Turner this season. Back in June, when he had that conversation with Studnitzer, Turner was chasing at a 37.1% clip. In July so far, he has cut that to 29%.

    In turn, that forces pitchers to attack him differently, and makes it more likely he gets pitches to hit, like the fastball he sent 414 feet on Saturday for his second homer in as many games after the All-Star break.

    “You’re definitely going to get pitched differently when you quit chasing. You keep chasing and swinging, they’re going to keep throwing it until you stop,” said interim manager Don Mattingly. “So he’s getting pitched differently. He’s creating the pitches. It’s like we talk about with [Bryce Harper]. He has to protect himself. If they’re not pitching to him, he needs to walk. Things like that. And I think that’s what you see with Trea, is that you’re not chasing as much, you’re getting better pitches.”

    Trea Turner’s post All-Star break reset shows results in Phillies’ 6-1 win over the Mets

    Ahead of the All-Star break, Mattingly gave Turner an extra day off during the Phillies’ road series in Cincinnati because he was a “little banged up in the lower half.” Turner has been in the lineup all three games since the break.

    “I don’t know if we’re 100%, but I think we’re a lot better than we were before the break. Let’s put it that way,” Mattingly said.

    Turner still has the green light on the bases to steal whenever he feels he is able to, Mattingly said. Turner swiped his 17th base of the season on Saturday, which ties Bryson Stott for the team lead.

    Turner said that he doesn’t feel limited physically on defense. Where he feels the room for improvement lies in reading hops better.

    “Physically, there’s nothing to change,” he said. “Just keep doing the things that I’ve been doing the last two years with [infield coach] Bobby [Dickerson] and working on those fundamentals. But just reading the ball a little bit better.”

    Looking ahead to Dodgers series

    When Los Angeles comes to town on Monday, the Phillies will avoid facing Shohei Ohtani — on the mound, at least.

    Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Sunday that Ohtani will not make his next scheduled pitching start on Wednesday against the Phillies, due to lingering left knee soreness. Ohtani, who has a 1.79 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 14 starts this year, opted out of the All-Star Game for the same reason. He has never pitched at Citizens Bank Park during the regular season, but was on the mound last year for Game 1 of the 2025 National League Division Series, when he held the Phillies to three hits and three runs over six innings.

    Shohei Ohtani has a .943 OPS and 22 homers in 93 games.Kyusung Gong

    The two-way star is, however, able to hit as normal, and is expected to be in the lineup as a designated hitter during the upcoming series. In 93 games, Ohtani has a .943 OPS and 22 homers.

    Extra bases

    Cristopher Sánchez (11-4, 2.62 ERA) is scheduled to start opposite Dodgers right-hander Emmet Sheehan (4-6, 4.81) in Monday’s series opener.

  • Saquon Barkley’s home in Malvern burglarized, police say

    Saquon Barkley’s home in Malvern burglarized, police say

    Eagles running back Saquon Barkley’s home was burglarized early Saturday morning, Tredyffrin Township police said.

    Officers were called to the Malvern home about 5:10 a.m. to reports of a burglary in progress, according to a police account. At least one person made it inside the home, Tredyffrin Township Police Capt. Tyler Moyer told The Inquirer. By the time police arrived, the burglars had fled.

    Barkley and his family were unharmed, according to police and a statement from Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe. No arrests have been announced.

    “We are incredibly grateful that the Barkley family was not injured during this incident,” de Barrena-Sarobe said.

    A spokesperson for the Eagles could not immediately be reached for comment late Saturday.

    No additional information about the break-in or possible suspects were immediately available, but police were investigating a white SUV that may be connected to the crime.

    Authorities are also asking the public for home security footage or reports of suspicious activity. Moyer said there is believed to be no ongoing threat to the community and no other break-ins were reported.

    Anyone with information should contact Detective Sgt. Stephanie Bills at sbills@tredyffrin.org.

    This is a developing story and will be updated.

  • Trea Turner’s post All-Star break reset shows results in Phillies’ 6-1 win over the Mets

    Trea Turner’s post All-Star break reset shows results in Phillies’ 6-1 win over the Mets

    On his way home for the All-Star break last Sunday, Trea Turner spent some time pondering his season so far.

    It has been a disappointment for the Phillies shortstop overall, on both sides of the ball. He was especially frustrated with his performance on the team’s last road trip before the break, where he felt like he was making the contact he wanted but the results weren’t following.

    “Looking up expected numbers, and have the guys tell me what it looks like, and I’m getting half the production that I should be getting,” Turner said. “That’s just frustrating.”

    Brandon Marsh had a blistering start for the Phillies. Don Mattingly is not worried about his recent cold streak.

    After winning the National League batting title in 2025, Turner entered the break with a subpar .236 average. He spent the plane ride mulling it over, and then tried to turn his brain off for the next three days he spent with his family.

    Perhaps the reset did him some good at the plate. Turner’s 414-foot homer in the fifth inning of Saturday’s 6-1 win over the Mets was his second home run in as many games after the break. He also picked up two singles for a three-hit, three-run day.

    “Obviously, he’s hit a couple balls out of the ballpark, but he’s kind of controlled the zone a little better, where he’s getting the ball in the strike zone,” said interim manager Don Mattingly.

    There is room for improvement defensively, though. In the second inning, Turner botched a routine ground ball for his 14th error of the season. It also happened to be his second error in as many games after the break, after a misplay during Thursday’s series opener.

    Turner committed just eight errors last season. He did extra drills with infield coach Bobby Dickerson ahead of Saturday’s game as he tries to recapture the improvements he made in the field last year.

    “I just want to, I think, read the ball a little better,” Turner said. “I feel like physically, I feel good. I feel like I’m making moves that I want to make. It’s the last few mistakes I’ve made has just been judgment on a hop I think I’m going to get, and then the second or third hop’s not exactly what I envision, and I just put myself in a bad spot.”

    Phillies trade deadline preview: Bullpen is becoming a top priority, and maybe the Mets can provide answers

    Saturday’s error did not wind up biting the Phillies much, as starter Jesús Luzardo struck out the next two batters to end the inning. Along with the back-to-back walks he issued in the first inning, though, it did cost Luzardo some pitches and he was lifted at 90 after the fifth.

    A solo homer from Tyrone Taylor was just one of two hits the Mets managed against Luzardo, as he struck out seven. Juan Soto, one of the most disciplined hitters in the game with just a 12.7% strikeout rate, accounted for two of those.

    The first time, Luzardo got Soto to chase his signature sweeper low and away in the third inning. The second time, in the fifth, he stunned Soto with a left-on-left changeup. Luzardo and Soto, who briefly coincided earlier in their careers in the Nationals minor league system, both smiled as they walked off the field.

    Jesús Luzardo allowed just two hits and one run in five innings on Saturday.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    “Hadn’t struck him out in a couple years, I think, so that was nice,” Luzardo said. “But finding any way to get him out is always a pleasant surprise.”

    The Phillies capitalized on a sloppy Mets team that committed three errors on Saturday, but the win was a positive sign for their bats overall. They racked up 12 hits in a game that was delayed for just over 45 minutes due to heavy rain during the bottom of the seventh.

    Kyle Schwarber gave the Phillies some breathing room with a towering 399-foot two-run blast in the first inning. And after Turner’s homer in the fifth, they continued to tack on. Schwarber drew a walk and advanced from first to third when catcher Francisco Alvarez’s pickoff attempt sailed high and wide. He then scored easily when Alec Bohm punched a single to left field.

    A single from Edmundo Sosa and a J.T. Realmuto walk kept the line moving, but the rally ended when Derek Hill struck out to strand the bases loaded.

    Phillies will open the 2027 season at the Washington Nationals

    “Had a couple innings there that type of innings that make you nervous,“ Mattingly said. ”Leadoff double, we don’t score. First and third, we don’t score. You look at those and you feel like sometimes they’re going to come back to haunt you. Today it didn’t. Obviously, we were able to keep pushing.”

    The Phillies loaded the bases again in the sixth inning, and this time they capitalized. Bryson Stott tripled and Turner and Schwarber drew back-to-back walks against Mets right-hander Kodai Senga to put three on for Bryce Harper.

    He got hold of Senga’s signature forkball for a two-run single that gave the Phillies’ bullpen a comfortable cushion.

    Not that they needed much. Orion Kerkering had pitched a 1-2-3 sixth, striking out Carson Benge with a 97.8 mph fastball. José Alvarado sidestepped an infield single for a scoreless seventh, and Chase Shugart retired six consecutive Mets in the eighth and ninth to seal it.

    Bryce Harper (right) delivered a two-run single in the sixth inning.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Following the rain delay in the bottom of the seventh, Turner picked up his third hit of the day on an infield single against Mets reliever Xzavion Curry.

    “Once you get some of those infield singles and hits to fall, you start having stuff to build on,” Turner said. “I feel like early on, I didn’t have anything to build on. I feel like in the last 30, 40 games if I have something wrong, I can fix it real quick, and hit the ball the other way or whatever it may be, and make the adjustments faster. And that’s the way I am.”

  • Why Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata ‘absolutely loves’ the new offensive scheme

    Why Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata ‘absolutely loves’ the new offensive scheme

    Jordan Mailata knows all too well that this Eagles season is going to look very different.

    The team’s left tackle is experiencing firsthand the sweeping changes that were made this offseason — like moving on from its offensive coordinator, longtime offensive line coach, and No. 1 wide receiver — and he knows it’ll take time for them to sink in.

    So, with training camp just over a week away, the sixth-year veteran said he and his teammates are focused on just one thing.

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    “It’s just learning the playbook,” Mailata said, speaking at Art History 101 Clothing Co. in Mayfair to celebrate the launch of the store’s T-shirt made in his honor. “There’s no, like, pressure to come in any sort of way. The season’s long, training camp’s long, so the mindset of the team has never changed. I mean, daily deposits. Yeah, it’s good to even have the same vets that carry over.

    “Just because we’re in a new system doesn’t mean that the daily grind changes.”

    The new playbook in question is the brainchild of new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, who is expected to implement a wide zone scheme with concepts that look similar to those of Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan. If executed properly, the wide zone blocking concepts will stretch opposing defenses horizontally. Mailata said he is excited about the potential of this new scheme.

    Jordan Mailata said of Sean Mannion implementing a wide zone run scheme: “It’s going to stress defenses and it’s going to be fun.”Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    “I absolutely love it,” he said. “It’s a new challenge. Very easy to follow along, but hard to remember, just because there’s so much to setting up the plays. But so far it’s been fun. You’re having a great time just learning this new offense because it’s something that we’re not familiar with. It’s a whole new direction, going into an outside direction.

    “It’s going to stress defenses and it’s going to be fun.”

    Teaching Mailata and Co. these concepts is offensive line coach Chris Kuper, who replaced 13-year line coach Jeff Stoutland in February. Getting used to a new face has been an adjustment — especially for Mailata, a former Australian rugby player who learned to play the sport from Stoutland — but the early reviews of Kuper, who played eight years in the NFL, have been positive.

    “He brings a lot to the table, especially for me, who’s had the same coach for the last eight years,” said Mailata, who added that Kuper’s experience has been a “tremendous boost“ with Mannion’s new scheme. “Having someone new coming to the table with a new technique, new things to offer me, it’s refreshing. It’s nice because I’m not one to always say, ‘I know everything, I’m the best.’ That’s not me. So if you have something to offer me, I’m always going to sit down and say, ‘Yes, sir.’ And he has a lot to offer.”

    The offensive line will need to play much better than in its injury-riddled 2025 season, when Lane Johnson missed half the season, and Cam Jurgens and Landon Dickerson played through injury. Mailata played well, allowing just two sacks and 28 pressures on 566 pass protection reps, but the unit will need more cohesion (and better injury luck) if it is to return to its dominant 2024 form.

    As a transformative offseason winds down, Mailata is taking in his last few days by giving back. At the meet-and-greet event in Mayfair on Saturday, Eagles fans lined up for hours just to speak to and take photos with the 6-foot-8 lineman. He greeted every fan as if he knew them for years.

    “Everybody needs some positivity right now,” said Brian Fritz, who helped organize the event at Art History 101. “There’s no better representative of Philly than Jordan Mailata. He’s not from here, but it feels like he is.”

  • Kai Wagner is happy to be back with the Union — and to be one of the team’s leaders

    Kai Wagner is happy to be back with the Union — and to be one of the team’s leaders

    It might be too cliché to say that, as Kai Wagner walked off the Union’s practice field on Saturday, it felt like he’d never left.

    But considering that he was only gone for six months, he really did fit right back into things when he returned to Chester.

    Of course, the clearest sign that he really did leave is the Union having the worst record in MLS (1-10-4, 7 points) as the league returns from its World Cup break. The quest to change that will begin Wednesday when Red Bull New York visits Subaru Park (7:30 p.m., Apple TV) for the first of the 19 remaining regular season games.

    “We have to step with the right mindset on the field, and go in there and get the fans back behind us,” Wagner said. “And then we will see what the second half of the season brings for us. But I came here because I want to go back to the playoffs, and that’s the main target.”

    Some of what Wagner said sounded a little more like his side of the story than the full story. He didn’t go too deep on how much his family wanted to return here, and he didn’t say anything about the Union paying a $4 million transfer fee to bring him back — one of the higher sums in team history, and well above the $2.5 million they sold him for.

    But it was nonetheless clear that Wagner had kept a close eye on the Union after leaving, and wasn’t happy about the team’s collapse this year.

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    “It’s sometimes hard to say, maybe stupid to say for myself, but I also personally felt a little bit guilty that the team doesn’t do that well anymore,” he said. “When I see all my friends here and how they wrote me the whole time after each game — I was watching the games at 1:30 in the morning [in England] … I couldn’t [bear to] see the ship going down.”

    So when Jon Scheer called to make the first big deal of his tenure as sporting director, Wagner was open to it.

    Kai Wagner (left) in action for the Union during last year’s playoffs.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    “When Jon called me and told me the clear message of what he wanted to bring to the team and what he wanted to change in the team, for me it was straight [away] clear that I wanted to talk to the club to try to make this happen,” he said.

    Wagner enjoyed his time in Europe, as brief as it was. He wanted for years to go, as the perennial offseason rumblings from his camp showed. But the Union got the point, and ultimately agreed to help make it happen.

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    “I would always do that step again,” Wagner said of going abroad. “For me this experience was something really special. I hopefully have a lot of years left, but at the end of my career if I would say to myself I never tried it or I never did it, I would always say to myself why I never did it — even if it was just seven months, the experience was unbelievable.”

    Being at Birmingham City specifically came with some extra perks. Though he didn’t meet part-owner Tom Brady, they exchanged text messages a few times. And in a February FA Cup home game against Leeds United, Wagner got his first chance to play against a Premier League opponent — one that happened to have an old friend in Union alum Brenden Aaronson.

    “We had a long, long chat after the game, and that was a special game,” Wagner said, adding that he got to talk with Brenden’s father, Rusty Aaronson, too. “I saw one post from you guys where you said you thought that I would tackle Brenden, but Brenden tackled me the first time. It was really fun to play against him — I got his jersey, too, at home, and we had a really good relationship with each other.”

    Though the penalty shootout loss after a 1-1 tie didn’t go Birmingham’s way, Wagner still called it “one of the top three games probably of my career, just with the atmosphere and all that stuff.”

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    He particularly noted that he “was not the main guy anymore, and maybe also had a little bit of pressure off my shoulders.” That won’t be the case with the Union, and he knows it.

    “That was the main target from Jon, just bring mentality and leadership back to the team,” Wagner said. “He knows that I can step in and I don’t need a lot of time to adapt to everything. … I think these are all players who really have belief now on the field again, and just to see them this morning, I felt so, so happy that I made that step back.”