All posts by h716a5.icu

Just like buses, you wait a while for a Rangers win in the Scottish Premiership and then two come along at once.

On Wednesday night, Rangers, donning their new bright orange fourth kit, for once did not look off colour, beating Hibernian 1-0 at Easter Road, thanks to Danilo’s left-footed strike inside four and a half minutes.

So, having won only one of their first eight league matches this season, Danny Röhl has now won both since his appointment, also battling to a 3-1 victory over Kilmarnock at Ibrox last Sunday.

Next up for Röhl is an Old Firm derby in the League Cup semi-finals at Hampden on Sunday, facing a Celtic side led by Martin O’Neill, wait, what year is this?

Ahead of that massive Glasgow derby, which Rangers star made himself simply undroppable thanks to his exploits in Leith?

Danilo's Rangers resurgence

Fair to say, in general, since arriving from Feyenoord for £6m over two years ago, Danilo has not lived up to expectations.

His goal in Edinburgh this week was only his 15th in 62 outings for the Light Blues, sitting out a whopping 65 matches due to various injuries.

Now though, having also headed home against Killie on Sunday, the Brazilian has scored in back-to-back Premiership matches for the first time in 11 months.

Speaking during Sky Sports’ coverage, Chris Sutton asserted that Danilo has grabbed his opportunity, while former Rangers striker Kris Boyd would like to see him deployed as the centre-forward on Sunday, given that he has shown more promise than either Youssef Chermiti or Bojan Miovski to date.

Well, Danilo’s father Marcelo Silva, who has been a prominent figure at Rangers matches for a few years now, possibly outshone his son in Leith, very much enjoying his night at Easter Road, dancing away at the very front of the away stand.

Nevertheless, despite Danilo’s sudden scoring spree, he was not the biggest Rangers hero on the night.

Rangers' "best player this season"

Worth highlighting that the only reason Rangers departed the capital with all three points on Wednesday was thanks to the contribution of goalkeeper Jack Butland.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

With five minutes to go, Connor Barron bundled over Junior Hoilett and referee John Beaton pointed to the penalty spot.

Jamie McGrath stepped up, but saw his effort spectacularly saved by Butland, preserving victory for the Gers.

Butland has now, remarkably, now saved six of the last seven penalties he’s faced, excluding shootout, already denying Oh Hyeon-gyu of Genk and Lawrence Shankland of Hearts from 12 yards earlier in the campaign, albeit the latter did convert the rebound.

Nevertheless, this save secured Rangers’ first away clean sheet since a 3-0 victory over Ross County in Dingwall on 8 December 2024, a run of 325 days and 24 matches, the latter an unwanted club record, smashing the previous one of 22 set in 1897 when Queen Victoria was still on the throne.

For Butland specifically, irrespective of whom the manager has been, he has been a consistent performer so far this season.

Towards the back end of the last campaign, during Barry Ferguson’s interim tenure, Butland found himself on the bench, following a string of errors, with Liam Kelly starting both legs of the Europa League quarter-final against Athletic Club.

Now though, the England international appears to be back to his best, as the statistics below highlight.

Clean sheets

2

6th

Goals conceded

10

3rd*

Goals conceded per 90

1

4th

Saves

27

7th

Save %

68.8%

10th

Runs out

8

1st

Penalties saved

2

1st

*minimum 600 minutes.

Of course, despite Rangers leakiness at the back, Butland is nowhere near the busiest goalkeeper in the Premiership, with both Scott Bain of Falkirk and Dundee United’s Yevhen Kucherenko facing more than 50 shots apiece to Butland’s 32.

Nevertheless, for the most part, he has made big saves when called upon.

Back when he was at Stoke, then-manager Paul Lambert labelled him the “best goalkeeper in Britain”, while journalist Scott Bradley notes that Butland “was a shell of his former self last season” but has been “Rangers’ best player this season” so far.

Thus, while new manager Röhl is quickly searching for player he can rely on, Butland has certainly proved himself to be one of those, underlining his undroppable status.

If Rangers are going to beat their fiercest rivals at Hampden on Sunday and book their place in December’s League Cup Final, chances are they’ll need their goalkeeper to be at his brilliant best, possibly even in a penalty shootout.

Better than Danilo: Rangers star may have saved his Ibrox career

This Glasgow Rangers star who was even better than Danilo may have saved his career at the club.

ByDan Emery Oct 30, 2025

The MLB trade deadline beckons a certain suddenness that can be jarring to some players.

One moment, they're teammates with a player, the next moment, they're striking out that same player they were sharing a seat on the team plane with. Or, in the case of Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Randal Grichuk, the sudden nature of a trade forced him to say his farewells to teammates during a game.

So on Tuesday, when Minnesota Twins star closer Jhoan Duran, the No. 4 player on SI's Big Board of trade candidates, was spotted hugging an individual in the bullpen, many thought he was headed out the door on a trade.

ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan, already chronically online due to his job as a news breaker, decided to ease the minds of the masses.

One Twins source told Dan Hayes of that Duran "hugged [Twins bullpen catcher] Frank [Nigro] like he always does."

Well, there you go. Much ado about nothing.

Though, for the record, it remains possible that the Twins—currently five games back of the third wild-card spot in the American League—opt to deal their flamethrowing closer, who would fetch quite the trade return.

Aston Villa are now reportedly racing to sign Oscar Mingueza alongside Premier League rivals West Ham United as those in the Midlands look to land a La Masia graduate.

The Villans turned on the style against Bournemouth, bouncing back from defeat at Anfield to head into the international break with a convincing victory under their belt. Emiliano Buendia’s free-kick was undoubtedly the pick of the four goals that Unai Emery’s side scored, as he continued his recent, much-welcomed resurgence.

After a tough start to their campaign, Villa now sit seventh and Emery admitted that his side “are recovering from a bad start”, telling reporters: “I am very happy with the win.

“We are recovering from a bad start to the season. The effort physically was huge and to manage the squad with different players, with the effort we needed, we can feel proud after the game.

“This is the level of the players. We are trying to set our standards in everything [we do], every day how we prepare for the game, and the quality of the players is important.”

Qualifying for European football, whether it’s the Europa League, Europa Conference League or in the best-case scenario, the Champions League, is more important than ever in the Midlands. Those at Villa Park can’t afford to miss out and run into more problems with PSR limitations as a result.

Their poor start to the season stemmed from a disappointing summer transfer window and the chaos of potential sales that never arrived. This time next year, they must be in a better position on that front.

Fixing their PSR problem would see Emery’s side reach another level entirely and could finally see long-term target Mingueza arrive.

Aston Villa racing to sign Mingueza

According to reports in Spain, as relayed by Sport Witness, Aston Villa are now battling to sign Oscar Mingueza from Celta Vigo alongside the likes of West Ham and Newcastle United. The Villans have been admirers of the La Masia graduate for some time, but have consistently failed to secure his signature.

Capped four times by Spain, the defender has also played twice for the national team of Catalonia, who are not recognised/affiliated with FIFA or UEFA due to their status as one of Spain’s regional football federations.

Aston Villa fighting to sign Samu Aghehowa amid interest from Tottenham and Arsenal

Recent reports have indicated that Aston Villa would be keen on signing Porto forward Samu Aghehowa.

ByJames O'Reilly Nov 5, 2025

Emery will be hoping that 2026 is finally the year that the right-back arrives, given that he’s on course to become a free agent next summer and any transfer complications will suddenly become far easier to navigate.

Former Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman once predicted that the Spaniard would have a “great future” and that could yet arrive in the Midlands, where he’d compete for a place with Matty Cash, who is in excellent form.

Minutes

670

966

Assists

2

0

Tackles Won

4

10

Ball Recoveries

30

24

When compared, it’s clear that Mingueza and Cash have different qualities. Whilst the former is arguably better going forward, the Villa star has been a more well-rounded player so far this season – impressing in and out of possession.

What is clear is that Mingueza’s arrival would add vital depth to the right-back role for Emery, even if he’s forced to provide backup for Cash.

"Best in the league" – Media stunned by "aggressive" Aston Villa star vs Bournemouth

Maxwell was struck on the right wrist by a Mitch Owen straight drive while bowling in the nets and will likely miss the India series in late October

Alex Malcolm30-Sep-2025Australia have suffered another injury blow with Glenn Maxwell ruled out of the T20I series against New Zealand with a fractured right wrist after being hit by a Mitchell Owen straight drive while bowling in the nets in Mount Maunganui.Maxwell has been sent home and will see a specialist in the coming days. It is understood Australia’s medical staff are expecting a relatively quick recovery but he will be in doubt for the five-match home T20I series against India which begins on October 29. He would be more likely to be fit for the start of the BBL in mid-December subject to the advice from the specialist. It adds to a wretched run of injuries for Maxwell dating back to the broken leg in 2022.Sydney Sixers and New South Wales wicketkeeper-batter Josh Philippe has been called up. Philippe was close to being inclided when Josh Inglis was ruled out with a calf injury but Alex Carey was selected ahead of him.Related

Stoinis gets his chance to make T20 World Cup bid

New dad Jamieson is keen to defuse some fireworks on the cricket field again

Inglis out of T20 tour of New Zealand with a calf strain, Carey called up

Philippe is not a like for like replacement for Maxwell, but Australia needed an option to cover Carey if he got injured on the morning of the match as they had only one keeper in the original squad and Maxwell was set to be Australia’s unlikely short term fallback to keep in that scenario.Maxwell’s injury further complicates Australia’s planning towards the 2026 T20 World Cup with the next eight games seen as a key block to bed down their best XI. Australia are now missing two of their most dynamic and versatile batters in Inglis and Maxwell for the series against New Zealand. They are also missing Cameron Green who has remained home to play Sheffield Shield cricket in the lead-up to the Ashes and he will also miss the T20I series against India in order to prioritise his Ashes preparation.Pat Cummins will miss both series due to the hot spot in his back while Nathan Ellis is also missing the New Zealand series for the birth of his first child.Maxwell is also the first-choice fifth bowler in Australia’s line-up and was set to match-up against New Zealand’s left-handers. Matt Short is on return from injury having missed the past two series against West Indies and South Africa and will be needed to bowl some overs. Marcus Stoinis also returns to the squad and will be capable of bowling the overs that Green was unable to in the previous two series.Captain Mitch Marsh is unlikely to bowl again in the short term and remains an unknown as far as bowling goes for the World Cup. Australia is also keen to continue to develop Travis Head’s offspin in the shortest form. He has a decent ODI record with the ball but has only bowled six overs in T20I cricket in 41 matches and none in his last 24 dating back to April 2022.Josh Philippe last played for Australia in 2023•Associated PressPhilippe returns to Australia’s T20I set-up for the first time since 2023 having come off an impressive tour of India with Australia A where he scored 123 not out, 39 and 50 in the two unofficial Tests against India A in Lucknow. But while his red-ball form has been strong in recent years for Australia A, his T20 returns have not been as prolific for Sixers in the BBL.He has made just one half-century across the last two BBL seasons and has struck at under 130 across 24 innings in that time. He has only two scores above 13 in 12 T20Is striking at just 109.48.Australia preferred Carey because of his ability to play as a finisher in a rejigged line-up despite replacing Inglis who is the permanent No. 3. Philippe has opened in half his T20I innings and never batted lower than No. 4. He has only batted lower than No. 4 10 times in his domestic T20 career but has not done so since 2020.

Granit Xhaka has been linked with a stunning January move to Juventus just six months after joining Sunderland, with Italian reports claiming the midfielder is “back in fashion” for the Serie A giants. His entourage is said to be open to offers, but it has been reported in England that Sunderland have assured the Swiss star is not for sale as he continues to drive the Black Cats’ impressive season.

Juventus reopen Xhaka interest as January move emerges

The Swiss hero Xhaka has surprisingly found himself at the centre of fresh transfer speculation, with Italian outlet reporting that Juventus are ready to revisit the idea of signing the Swiss midfielder in January. The 33-year-old only joined Sunderland in the summer from Bayer Leverkusen on a three-year contract running until 2028, but his immediate impact in the Premier League has reportedly reignited interest in Italy.

The Turin-based paper claims Xhaka is “back in fashion” as Juve urgently seek midfield reinforcements ahead of a planned shift to a 4-3-3 under Luciano Spalletti. With first-choice targets such as Sporting’s Morten Hjulmand deemed “nearly impossible” to secure mid-season, the Bianconeri are said to be studying alternative solutions, and Xhaka has re-emerged as an option.

Xhaka has played every minute of Sunderland’s Premier League campaign so far, captaining the newly promoted side to fourth place with 19 points after 11 games. He has scored once and provided three assists across 990 minutes, prompting the Italian media outlet to describe him as a proven “leader” whom Regis Le Bris “has never given up on.”

The report also claims the midfielder’s entourage is prepared to “listen to potential offers” from Champions League clubs and that Sunderland “have not closed the door” on negotiations, fuelling speculation of a possible mid-season switch.

AdvertisementWhy Juventus see Xhaka as the solution

The report maintains that Juventus’ interest in Xhaka never disappeared entirely after their summer attempt. At the time, the club hesitated due to concerns over his age, as he had just turned 33 in September and did not fulfil all of their recruitment criteria. However, with the midfield overly reliant on Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli, and with limited rotation options, the need for experience has become “urgent.”

The Turin club now view Xhaka as the best value-for-money solution available in January, as per reports. They accept that acquiring him would require more than the €15 million Sunderland paid Leverkusen, but still consider him a realistic target compared to more expensive or unavailable alternatives.

Another factor behind the revived interest is Xhaka’s proven ability to adapt quickly. His rapid integration in England, strengthens Juventus’ belief that he can make an instant Serie A impact.

further claims that Sunderland “will seek a deal that satisfies everyone” should Xhaka push for a departure. Their belief is that the Wearside project, exciting as it is, may not be able to resist pressure from Champions League-level suitors.

Speculation grows as entourage ‘ready to listen’

The most striking detail in the report is the claim that Xhaka’s representatives have utilised Sunderland’s stellar start to gauge interest from top European clubs. The Italian report even suggests that Sunderland aren't against making the move of their captain even after stellar start and that the club would not stand in the way should “Xhaka push for a departure.”

This portrayal paints a picture of opportunity and flexibility, a narrative that gained traction in Italy. However, Keith insists that Xhaka is “very happy” at Sunderland, not exploring a move, and is “not for sale” under any circumstances.

The conflicting versions highlight how quickly transfer noise can escalate once a top European club is involved and how differently speculation can be interpreted across borders.

But, what has intensified the speculation is the scale of Xhaka’s influence at Sunderland in such a short time. Signed for around £13m, he has delivered four goal contributions in 11 games and played a key part in the Black Cats’ rise into the Premier League’s top four, a remarkable position for a newly promoted side.

He scored a penalty in Switzerland’s recent 4-1 victory over Sweden and has been ever-present for Sunderland in the league. His leadership has become central to the team’s unexpected push for European places, with his performances against Chelsea and Arsenal earning widespread praise.

His importance is further underlined by Sunderland’s tactical dependency on his passing range, leadership, and experience. Removing him in January would create a gap almost impossible to fill for a club aiming to establish itself in the top half.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportFocus shifts to Fulham as speculation swirls

Xhaka and Sunderland return to Premier League duty after the international break with a trip to struggling Fulham, a match that begins an important period in the club’s season. As transfer rumours swirl, the Swiss captain is expected to remain the heartbeat of the side as Le Bris’ men aim to maintain momentum and secure a top-half finish.

Juve, meanwhile, are expected to continue monitoring the situation, especially if their primary midfield targets remain out of reach. While Xhaka’s name may remain linked with a Serie A switch, Sunderland’s internal message is quite mixed as of now.

However, one thing is clear, unless Xhaka personally pushes for the move, the January window is far more likely to bring speculation than action. For now, Sunderland’s ambitions, Xhaka’s importance, and the club’s trajectory all point toward stability rather than departure.

England star’s maiden appearance for RCB earns quiet approval as pragmatism holds sway in selection

Matt Roller02-May-2025A decision that would have provoked outrage a decade ago was met with a shrug of the shoulders on Friday: an England player missing a Test match due to their involvement in the IPL. Jacob Bethell scored half-centuries in each of England’s last three Tests, shortly after his 21st birthday, but did not feature in the squad named to face Zimbabwe on May 22.After crossed wires last year prompted short-notice withdrawals from the play-offs and frustration from franchises, the ECB have honoured a commitment to the BCCI that England players will be fully available. The result is that Bethell will be with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in India as they push for a maiden title, rather than batting at No. 3 at Trent Bridge.England’s decision not to pull Bethell out of the IPL early reflects the realpolitik of world cricket, and the status of a one-off Test against Zimbabwe. To do so would have undermined the ECB’s relationship with the BCCI – at a time when Indian investment in English cricket is being finalised – while unfairly placing him in the eye of a storm. Pragmatism has won the day.Bethell’s absence has also deferred a tricky call for England’s management, which will now wait until their series against India in mid-June. “You want your best players always available, don’t you?” Luke Wright, the national selector, said. “But he’s an outstanding cricketer… He’s ticking along really well [at the IPL] and we’re excited to have him back in the summer.”Wright said that he has been “in close contact” with RCB’s management this season to check on Bethell’s progress, and has received positive reports from head coach Andy Flower and director of cricket Mo Bobat – both of whom used to work at the ECB. “To get that experience to even open the batting with Virat Kohli… what an experience that is,” Wright said.

He’s destined for greatness. I think England have a genuine superstar in the making and selfishly, as RCB, we’re very happy to have bought him slightly earlier in the cycleMalolan Rangarajan, RCB’s lead spin-bowling coach

Bethell’s first appearance of the season, against Delhi Capitals on Sunday, was as full-on as it gets: walking out to delirious cheers for his opening partner, and facing a new-ball attack of Axar Patel and Mitchell Starc. He slog-swept his sixth ball to deep backward square, but in whipping a six and a four over the leg side of Starc, Bethell gave the IPL a glimpse of his quality.On Test debut in New Zealand, Bethell earned as much praise for his first-innings 10 as for his second-innings half-century: the scorecard alone did not reflect the impression he made while seeing off probing new-ball spells from Matt Henry and Tim Southee. In the same vein, his 12 on Sunday was only a footnote in RCB’s win, but still made an impression on those who saw it.Starc offered a wry smile after both of Bethell’s boundaries. “We were laughing about it at breakfast,” Alyssa Healy, the Australia women’s captain and Starc’s wife, said on the podcast. “Mitch said, ‘I executed! That ball was top of off. That’s exactly what I was told to bowl.’ And he’s gone for six over backward square… This kid is an absolute gun.”Bobat first encountered Bethell as a 14-year-old playing in the prestigious Bunbury Festival; Bobat was working as the ECB’s player identification lead, and Bethell, playing with boys a year older than him, was named player of the week. Six years later, he signed him for INR 2.6 crore (£250,000 approx.) at the IPL’s mega-auction.Bethell impressed in his maiden Test series in New Zealand•AFP/Getty Images”Everyone in England probably knows that he is going to be one of England’s brightest stars over the next five-to-ten years, across formats,” Bobat told ESPNcricinfo in Delhi. “To secure a player at the value we did of that potential in year one of an auction cycle is brilliant. I’ll be amazed if he’s not featuring more regularly [for RCB] over the next few years.”He’s way beyond his years. He’s 21 years old, but you wouldn’t know it: he may as well be 30. He’s very calm, very professional, and incredibly driven. He’s soaking in everything that the IPL – and RCB – is providing him: there’s some big players here that he is watching, observing, and learning from.”Chief among those is Kohli, Bethell’s opening partner on Sunday night. “Virat’s brilliant around our practice environment, brilliant with the younger lads,” Bobat said. “We’ve paired them up batting together [in the nets] at times too. He’s spent a huge amount of time with him.”Related

Buttler, Bethell and Jacks set to miss IPL playoffs

Cook rested by Essex as prospect of England Test debut grows

Cox: 'Dad was in the queue at Heathrow, I told him to turn round'

Switch Hit: Cap'n Brook, Sir Jimmy

Stone ruled out for 14 weeks after undergoing knee surgery

When England toured India earlier this year, Bethell found himself getting stuck against spin. He has worked closely with Flower and Dinesh Karthik, RCB’s batting coach: “He’s working really hard on his game against spin, which for most English players is an important work-on,” Bobat said. “He’s opening up different scoring areas now.”He has been encouraged to develop his own left-arm spin by England, working with Malolan Rangarajan, RCB’s lead spin-bowling coach. “He has been unbelievable with his work,” Rangarajan said. “He’s destined for greatness. I think England have a genuine superstar in the making and selfishly, as RCB, we’re very happy to have bought him slightly earlier in the cycle.”Bethell may find himself running the drinks again when RCB play Chennai Super Kings on Saturday, with Phil Salt set to return from the illness which vacated an overseas spot. He would have played more cricket if he had spent April and May with Warwickshire, but it is abundantly clear that being in India has helped Bethell’s all-round development.”If he was playing in England right now, of course he’d be developing his red-ball game… But what he’s getting out here is a proper feel for the premier white-ball competition in the world,” Bobat said. “I can say this, having been on both sides of the fence: English cricket likes to pit Championship cricket against the IPL. I don’t believe it needs to be an either/or.”

The 2025 MLB season has reached its final month and there are still questions that need to be answered, division races to shake out and award races to be decided. Which division leader’s lead is safest? And with a month of games remaining, is the playoff field already set? 

In terms of individual player milestones, will Aaron Judge, who surpassed Yogi Berra on the Yankees’ all-time home run list, one day pass the legendary Babe Ruth as well? And could Justin Verlander, after notching his 265th career win, become just the 25th pitcher to record 300 career victories? 

We’ll answer each of these questions and more in the latest edition of Fact or Fiction. 

The playoff field in MLB is already set

I know I’m being a bit of a party pooper with this answer, but it’s hard to argue with the current playoff landscape in MLB. 

For a brief moment to begin August, the Mets and Yankees, both mired in dreadful slumps, had their fan bases longing for the return of New York football. However, both clubs have emerged from the danger zone and stand on firmer ground as the calendar flips to September. 

As for the other current wild-card holders, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario where the likes of either the Red Sox or Padres, two of baseball’s best teams since the All-Star break, fall out of the playoff race. Likewise for the Cubs, who, even after a middling month of August, still have a firm grasp on the third National League wild card. 

If there’s going to be a shakeup in the postseason landscape, it will happen in the American League, where the Royals, Rangers and even Guardians all could conceivably catch the Mariners for the third wild card. But all three of those clubs have a noticeable Achilles heel—offensive woes for the Royals and Guardians, injuries for the Rangers—that make it tough to envision these teams taking the field come October. 

Of the six division races, one is seemingly decided—the AL Central—and two are trending toward that territory—the NL East and Central. The division-leading Blue Jays, Astros and Dodgers all sport leads of fewer than five games. 

All of this to say, there could be some musical chairs going on in the season’s final month as clubs jockey for positioning. The seeding and playoff bracket could look a bit different come season’s end. But get used to the teams that currently represent the playoff field. 

Of the 12 teams in pole position entering September, 10 of them boast 90 percent or better postseason odds on FanGraphs and nine of them have similar figures in Baseball Reference’s playoff odds. Hopefully, the good folks at FanGraphs and Baseball Reference are wrong and there’s a September surprise or two in store. Just don’t be too crestfallen if that doesn’t happen. 

Verdict: Fact

Aaron Judge will one day top Yankees’ all-time home run list 

Aaron Judge on Sunday belted the 358th home run of his career, surpassing Hall of Famer Yogi Berra for fifth on the Yankees’ all-time home run list, which is a who’s who of legends. Judge now trails only Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth for the most home runs in club history. 

DiMaggio, who belted 361 home runs in his career, is next on the list for Judge. That will almost certainly happen at some point in September, barring a cold spell from the two-time AL MVP. So, should that occur, Judge would trail only Gehrig, Mantle and Ruth. 

he one day surpass Ruth, who swatted 659 homers in pinstripes? Let’s take a deep dive. Judge, 33, is under contract with the Yankees for the next six seasons, through the 2031 campaign. And he’ll likely be wearing the pinstripes for the remainder of his career. Back in July, he told Ian O’Connor of that he not only plans to play into his mid-40s, but that he expects to sign another contract that would allow him to do so. So that means, health willing, Judge could conceivably play for another 10 years. 

Let’s say he clubs seven homers in September and finishes with an even 50 in 2025. Judge would need to average about 29 homers per year for 10 seasons to match the Sultan of Swat on the Yankees’ all-time list. Given that Judge has averaged just above 35 homers per season for his career thus far, a drop to 29 per year accounts reasonably well for the dip that aging will undoubtedly induce. 

That’s the elephant in the room when it comes to Judge potentially catching The Babe. We simply don’t know how well Judge will age because MLB has never seen a player with Judge’s size who also possesses his level of athleticism. And given that he’s been arguably more durable in his thirties than he was in his twenties, there’s reason to be optimistic about his chances of one day standing alone among Yankees sluggers. 

I’ll say that Judge surpassing Gehrig and DiMaggio but falling just short of Ruth is still an incredible accomplishment. Time is not on his side, and not only did he get a late start as an older rookie, but he also missed out on effectively another full season due to the pandemic-shortened year in 2020. But that these circumstances occurred and we’re even having this conversation about Judge potentially——being able to catch Ruth one day is a testament to how truly great he is. 

Verdict: Fiction

Walker Buehler will be the most impactful late-season addition

How many times does a club with championship aspirations land a two-time World Series winner with big-game pitching experience this late in the season? That’s what happened when the Phillies on Sunday inked Walker Buehler to a minor-league deal after the Red Sox had parted ways with the veteran righthander amid his struggles in Boston. 

Any way you slice it, Buehler (5.45 ERA, 1.55 WHIP) has not been good this year. But opportunity knocks for a Phillies club that lost ace Zack Wheeler for the remainder of the year. If Buehler can tinker with his mechanics and figure out a way to pitch better, he has a chance to be most impactful late-season addition. 

Right now, though, I’m going in a different direction for that honor. And the winner is … Red Sox first baseman Nathaniel Lowe. That may sound crazy. Lowe, perhaps burdened by the weight of futility, had posted a career-worst .665 OPS in 119 games for the woeful Nationals. Now, however, Lowe is playing for something again—and it shows. 

He’s been a revelation for the Red Sox, who are in the thick of both the AL wild card and AL East races. In 12 games with the club—admittedly, a tiny sample size—he’s posted an OPS of .973 and has solidified first base both offensively and defensively for a Red Sox team that had been searching for production from the position since before Rafael Devers (remember him?) was traded. 

But to a certain degree, this is who Lowe has been all his career. A solid hitter who makes the pitcher give him a pitch to hit, puts the ball in play and works long at-bats. So while he might not be the flashiest or highest-profile late-season addition, Lowe might just prove to be the most impactful come October. 

Verdict: Fiction

Justin Verlander will get to 300 career wins

Justin Verlander is the last of a dying breed in MLB: the old-school ace. Verlander on Sunday did something seldom seen in baseball anymore, as he struck out 10 batters over five scoreless innings on 121 pitches. 121 pitches! In the day and age of beefed-up bullpens and analytics-savvy managers, that simply does not happen anymore.

Aside from that truly rare occurrence, Verlander’s impressive outing was notable for another reason: the start was his 265th career win, inching him ever closer to hallowed ground: 300 career wins. To be clear, wins don’t quite mean what they used to, as talent evaluators—and the game itself—have moved to better indicators of pitcher success, such as ERA. But wins still matter to pitchers, especially to ones like Verlander. 

“Talk to almost any starting pitcher,” Verlander told back in February. “How do you feel after you win compared to a loss or no-decision? It’s easier to write off a loss when you know you do well and give up one or two runs and say, ‘I gave us a chance.’ But I’d rather go seven, give up three and win. “We’re here to win.” 

It’s predominantly one of the reasons why the 42-year-old, who said he’d like to pitch in 2026, is still on the mound—300 wins is a career milestone that to Verlander. And it’s of even more significance because he could be the last pitcher to ever achieve the feat. The only other active pitchers close enough—Clayton Kershaw (221), Max Scherzer (221) and Gerrit Cole (153) are all either already 40 years old or in their mid to late thirties. So, Verlander is seemingly the last hope. 

Will he get there? Simple math says he at least has a chance. The veteran righthander has averaged roughly 13 wins per season in his illustrious career. In order to get to 300 victories, he’d have to average just under 12 wins per season for the next three campaigns to hit the mark. On paper, he could do it—and it may be unwise to doubt Verlander, whose Hall of Fame career was years ago sparked by a perceived snub from a fall in the 2001 MLB draft. 

The odds are against him, though. For one thing, look no further than this season for the best proof that games aren’t played on paper. Plagued by a lack of run support and an, at-times, leaky Giants bullpen, Verlander didn’t get his first win of the season until late-July. 

Then, there’s the injuries. Verlander missed almost two months of the 2024 season with a neck injury, which he later said he returned too quickly from. He’s had an injured list stint in 2023 and this season for the Giants. Even if Verlander stays healthy, he’s racing against the clock. But should he need to miss any starts due to injury in the next season or two, it could prove costly to his quest for 300. 

Ultimately, Verlander doesn’t 300 wins for any other reason than to join an exclusive club in MLB history. He’s a three-time Cy Young Award winner, a former AL MVP and Triple Crown winner, a two-time World Series winner and a member of MLB’s 3,000-strikeout club. It would simply be the cherry on top to one of the greatest careers any pitcher has ever had. 

Verdict: Fiction 

Brewers will set the franchise record for wins 

Buoyed by a franchise-record 14-game winning streak in August, the Milwaukee Brewers seized the title of ‘best team in baseball’ and haven’t relinquished their grasp on the honor. Now, entering September with 85 wins, a different piece of franchise history is very much within reach. 

The Brewers, with 24 games remaining in their schedule, have a chance to surpass the 2018 club, which won a franchise record 96 games, for the most victories in team history. In order to do so, Milwaukee, which has won its games at over a 60 percent clip, will need to merely play .500 ball the rest of the way to reach 97 wins and stand alone in Brewers’ lore. Seems like an easy ask for this club. 

Schedule luck is on their side, too. Milwaukee has the ninth-easiest remaining schedule, with half of its eight remaining series coming against teams below .500. Among the toughest tests remaining for the Brewers are two more games against Philadelphia this week and three contests against the Padres (Sept. 22–24). In theory, all the Brewers would need to do is take care of business against the easier matchups, and history would be theirs. 

Given that Milwaukee sports the best record in baseball against teams above .500, there’s a chance this team could become the first in franchise history to win 100 games. Now would be entering the postseason on a high noteSo, even though the team’s torrid winning pace has slowed since its record winning streak, I’ll still say that come season’s end, this Milwaukee club will stand alone in team history with 97-plus victories. 

Verdict: Fact

India have had to battle bad luck, worse timing, and one too many misadventures in what has simply been “that kind of a series”

Sidharth Monga31-Jul-20251:48

What will be a good score for India?

When you start calculating a team’s batting average in the last ten minutes before a scheduled break (12 for 165 at one point at Old Trafford, if it matters), you know it has been “that kind of a series”. And it has been one of those for India. They came to The Oval having lost all the tosses, having lost their best batter of the last five years to a reverse-sweep against a fast bowler, and run-outs, casual shots, and dropped catches having had a bigger say on their fortune than the ability to bowl well or bat well for long hours.India turned up at The Oval, didn’t hedge their bets for once and picked a specialist batter instead of a bowling allrounder. We can debate whether they should have played a specialist bowler instead, but at least there was clarity of thought there. Then they lost perhaps the most influential toss of the series on a green pitch likely to be kept fresh by rain on day one, which is expected to be followed by two clear days.India have been here before. In 2014, they were inserted on a green top at The Oval, were bowled out on day one and then chased leather for 116.3 overs. At Lord’s in 2018, they lost the toss and were devoured by the sweated damp pitch and frequent mini sessions long enough to put them back by one or two wickets each time. The closest parallel was the middle session between two rain breaks when they had just enough time for Shubman Gill to be run out in slow motion, just like Cheteshwar Pujara had been.Related

Atkinson back in whites, but not quite in the frame

India get caught up in the Tongue paradox

Karun Nair fifty resists England on rain-hit day

Stats – Karun Nair ends 3149-day wait; India hit new high at 3393

At that moment, it felt like India had had another Test match turn on a run-out. It was almost like Gill ran to the shot he was looking to play in his mind. There was no cover, push the ball with a slightly open face, and rotate strike. The ball was full enough to do so, but the inswing on it drew the instinctive reaction to play with a straighter face, and Gill just took off. He would have been out even if he had not slipped when turning.The man who has arguably shown the best judgment all series, whose bat has made a distinctly different, sweeter sound all series, made the error that could cost him the series despite all the records.India were 83 for 3 at that point. To make it more a , they had to contend with a bowler who kept spraying the ball but also kept bowling the odd delivery bordering on the unplayable.”I think the bowlers’ landings were quite tricky today as well,” Ryan ten Doeschate, India’s assistant coach, sympathised with Josh Tongue. “I thought all the England bowlers struggled with that, and that’s maybe why we saw some inconsistency. But it actually makes it very challenging when someone bowls like Josh did today, who is a very good bowler, when you don’t know what’s coming down as a batter. And he’s bowled a couple of absolute jaffas in there, and got two big wickets.”1:35

Bangar: Pressure brought the best out of Nair

From 123 for 5, India’s batting depth did its job despite the wicket of Dhruv Jurel trying to cut a ball too close to him. Even at six down, India had Karun Nair and Washington Sundar, who is coming off a match-saving century and is tipped to be India’s No. 1 allrounder whenever Ravindra Jadeja retires. The score was 153 for 6, but India had proper batters playing properly to make use of the now softer ball.By stumps, they had added 51 largely fuss-free runs in 14.3 overs. In getting his first half-century since the triple-hundred nine years ago, Nair neither counterattacked nor went into his shell. He just made full use of every scoring opportunity thrown at him, and kept good balls out. Washington did much of the same in that partnership.It was as though India had absorbed all the hell the cricketing gods could unleash on them. With some help from some loose bowling from England, who were short on experience in the absence of Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer. However, in Test cricket, especially in England, a good score for the given conditions is quite often not a good score for the match.2:59

Bangar: ‘Gill made the wrong call for a quick single’

India were cautiously optimistic with their effort, which still needs making use of the 16 overs with the old ball on the second morning. They wouldn’t want those 16 overs to be totally easy, though, because that would suggest a massive change in conditions for when England come out to bat.”Hopefully it stays the same,” ten Doeschate said at the suggestion that 203 for 6 might be a good score given the conditions don’t change much on day two. “I think if you get the ball in the right area, you never feel like you’re in there.”There’s always a good ball around the corner, and I don’t think it’s going to go absolutely flat, and there’s going to be a massive change in conditions. Hopefully it stays close to what it is.”Ten Doeschate said 203 for 6 was a good reflection of the conditions, but said India hoped to get close to 300. What he didn’t say was that they don’t want to stroll to 300 with some beautiful batting. They want to huff and puff and streak their way to 300. It has been that kind of a series.

Sunderland have made an incredible start to life back in the Premier League, as they sit 12th, whilst the two teams that finished above them in the Championship are now in the relegation zone.

The Black Cats have had numerous players step up to prove their worth in the top-flight this season, including French centre-forward Wilson Isidor.

He has produced four goals in nine starts in the Premier League for Regis Le Bris, after a return of 12 goals in 43 Championship matches last term, per Sofascore.

Whilst it remains to be seen if he will continue to provide a regular threat in front of goal, the Black Cats are reportedly looking to add another number nine to their ranks.

Sunderland planning bid to sign Serie A striker

With the January transfer window little more than a month away, the Championship play-off winners are already making moves to bolster their squad for the second half of the season.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to Sport Mediaset, via Sport Witness, Sunderland are ready to swoop for AC Milan centre-forward Santiago Gimenez to compete with Isidor and Brian Brobbey.

The report claims that the Black Cats have already made contact with the Mexico international’s agent to discuss a potential move to the Stadium of Light in the winter window.

It adds that Sunderland are planning to make an offer of an initial loan deal with an option to buy that becomes permanent if certain conditions, that remain unknown, are met.

Whilst it does not state how much the option or obligation would cost, it has been reported that Milan want to recoup the fee of around £26m that they paid Feyenoord for his services in February.

Why Sunderland should sign Santiago Gimenez

Some supporters may look at his record in Italy, of five goals in 23 Serie A matches in 2025, and question whether he is an upgrade on Isidor that is worth potentially paying £26m for.

However, Gimenez’s form for Feyenoord before his big-money move to Milan suggests that he is capable of far more than he has shown so far during his time with the Italian giants.

The Mexican number nine spent two-and-a-half years with the Dutch side and proved himself to be an incredibly prolific scorer in the Netherlands, particularly in his final 18 months at the club, as shown in the table below.

Appearances

30

11

Goals

23

7

Minutes per goal

104

110

Conversion rate

21%

25%

Big chances created

9

4

Assists

6

1

Gimenez scored 23 goals in all competitions in the 2022/23 season, 26 in the 2023/24 campaign, and 22 for Feyenoord and Milan combined last term, per Sofascore.

The Milan forward, who was previously hailed as “unstoppable” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, may not have set the world alight in Italy, but his form for Feyenoord in recent years shows that he can score goals at an exceptional rate in the right environment.

Isidor, meanwhile, is one year older than Gimenez and has never scored more than 15 goals in a season, whilst his only season with double figures for goals came in the Championship last term.

The Mexico international has three seasons with more than 20 goals under his belt and has scored goals in the Europa League, the Eredivisie, the Serie A, and the Champions League.

These statistics outline why signing the 24-year-old marksman from Milan could be a brilliant piece of business because he has the potential to be a huge upgrade on Isidor as a goalscorer if Le Bris can extract his Feyenoord form back out of him in the Premier League.

Therefore, as an initial loan deal that could turn into a permanent signing, Gimenez could be a fantastic addition to the squad in the January window.

Le Bris can end £7m star's Sunderland career by signing Guendouzi

This Sunderland leader will surely be shown the exit door if Matteo Guendouzi does join Regis Le Bris’ ranks.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 26, 2025

Mainz defender Dominik Kohr deserves a massive 12-match suspension following his red card for a brutal tackle on Hoffenheim's Max Moerstedt, according to World Cup winner Olaf Thon. The defender was shown a straight red card for his challenge in the late stages of the 1-1 draw in the Bundesliga, the ninth time he has been sent off in his professional career.

Kohr creates a new record

Kohr's reckless tackle on Moerstedt landed him his second red card of the season, having been sent off with two yellows in September. Since the 2016-17 campaign, he has been sent off a total of nine times, which makes him the record holder, having surpassed former Hoffenheim, Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg player Luiz Gustavo and ex-Bayer Leverkusen defender Jens Nowotny, who ended their careers with eight. Six of his suspensions have come during his time at his current club, and no other Mainz player has ever seen more than three red cards. Although the defender has apologised for his deeds, he awaits the final ruling on his ban on Monday.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportThon urges for long-term suspension

As per Thon, who won the 1990 World Cup with West Germany, Kohr has been deliberate when it comes to endangering the opponents and a line needs to be drawn to set an example. He said to : "I think it's time to set an example. In this extraordinary case, I think a ban of up to 12 weeks for the Mainz defender is absolutely appropriate. I myself have often played against opponents who have overdone it with their pace, in a way this is certainly part of the contact sport of football and you sometimes have to endure a lot. But a line is crossed when you constantly endanger the health of your opponent."

Kohr's teammate, Danny da Costa, spoke in support of the defender, saying: "You keep reading articles in which he is described as the ‘bully of the league’. I’ve known and played with him long enough to say that this is not fair to him. He has an aggressive playing style, but there are many other players who occasionally go too far. The tackle on Moerstedt was not intentional."

Nadiem Amiri, who plays as an attacking midfielder for Mainz, however, delivered a flat answer. He said: "It was quite clearly a red card. It was not a smart move as he is a key player for us."

Mainz head coach Bo Henriksen, however, played safe by saying: "I didn't see it. But, everyone says it wasn't smart. I have to talk to Dominik."

Kohr issues apology on social media

The German defender was gutted by his recklessness on the pitch. He did not defend his actions and rather humbly accepted his flaw. 

He wrote: "It’s important to me to address you directly today, and especially you, Max Moerstedt. In my mind, I just wanted to prevent a pass. When I saw the TV images. I was shocked myself. It could have turned out differently. I’m relieved and glad that nothing more happened to you and that you were able to continue playing. I also apologise to the Mainz fans whom I serve and for whom I always want to give my all. I want to throw myself into every tackle for you, but I want to reassure you once again that I never want to hurt anyone on purpose."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Kohr and Mainz?

The DFB Sports Court is expected to announce its verdict on the defender's suspension on Monday, and it is to be seen whether a hefty ban is imposed on the 31-year-old. Reports in Germany claim he could receive as much as a four-game suspension, which will come as a big blow to Mainz. The ex-Leverkusen player has made over 150 appearances for his current club and remains an important member for Danish maestro Henrikson.