Bayern Munich chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen had words of encouragement for Vincent Kompany and his players following the Bavarians' 3-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday. Dreesen admitted that it was better for Bayern to lose now than "sometime in the knockout phase." He also had words of assurance for Kompany, adding that "we're happy to be together with you".
Arsenal bring blistering Bayern down to earth
Bayern tasted defeat for the first time this season at the hands of Arsenal in a Champions League encounter at the Emirates on Wednesday. Young star Lennart Karl scored the only goal – an equaliser in response to Jurrien Timber's 22nd-minute opener – for Bayern, before Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli effectively put the tie to bed by scoring their goals in the space of eight second half minutes.
It brought an end to Bayern's 18-game unbeaten streak since the 2025-26 season began, during which they won 17 games and drew once. They even broke AC Milan's 33-year-old record of 13 consecutive wins at the start of the season, going on to win the opening 16 games this campaign.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportBayern CEO encourages 'fantastic team' to continue making fans happy
In the aftermath of the game, Bayern CEO Dreesen shared a heartfelt speech at a banquet in London, expressing gratitude for how far the team has come and encouraging Kompany and Co. to keep their heads high.
"I did a little Googling, some dark memories, and [the last defeat] was exactly 144 days ago in the quarter-final match against Paris Saint-Germain at the Club World Cup," he began. "And of course, in the last 18 competitive matches, which we haven't lost, with 17 wins and one draw, we've gotten used to winning. And so, naturally, it's hard to accept something like that.
"Of course, we played a first half, I think, on equal terms. We saw a fantastic equaliser in that three-man combination between Josh [Kimmich] and Serge [Gnabry], and then Lennart with the finish. That was fantastic. We could perhaps have had a few more chances, but in the second half we were certainly the weaker team. And that's part of the game, and you have to acknowledge it. And that's why you have to give Arsenal credit; we deserved to lose in the second half, and that's why Arsenal rightly won. And that has to be accepted. So, congratulations to Arsenal at this point."
Dreesen also admitted that it's better for Bayern to lose now than when it matters the most.
"Some people said today, better now than sometime in the knockout phase. And there's definitely something to that," he conceded. "We've had a wonderful journey with you, dear team, so far in these 18 games, and we've been thrilled by your play, most recently in Paris. And that's what we should perhaps keep in mind going forward, because you're a fantastic team, you play outstanding football, inspiring football, and that's what makes us happy, what makes the fans happy, and that's what will last. And so, a day like today is just an interim step.
"We might be a little downcast today, but ultimately we know what we have in you. We trust you, you're a top team and you know it, and that's a good thing. So, dear Vincent, it's a shame today, but we're happy to be together with you and we're looking forward to the next game on Saturday against St. Pauli."
Kompany not making any 'excuses' after being humbled by Arsenal
It was the Gunners' first win over Die Roten after 10 years. Much of the build-up to the game focused on Arsenal and Bayern being the top two strongest teams in Europe at the moment. However, Mikel Arteta's side now remain the only team in the Champions League to register five wins out of five this season, firmly establishing themselves as one of the favourites to lift the trophy come May 30.
As for Bayern, the defeat exposed major chinks in their armour. For a team that is supremely loaded in attack, thanks to the presence of world-class names such as Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and Luis Diaz.
"I don't like excuses," Kompany told reporters, accepting that Bayern were second-best all evening. "We've lost now, and let's be honest: Arsenal were better today, and we have to fix that from Saturday onwards.
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Getty Images SportBayern turn focus to St. Pauli
Bayern will be eager to ensure the loss to Arsenal reflects a one-off lapse rather than a trend that could unravel their form in the coming weeks. They hold a healthy six-point lead atop the Bundesliga table and will have a chance to extend it on Saturday, when they host St. Paul at the Allianz Arena.
The Philadelphia Phillies beat up on the woeful Colorado Rockies on Monday night, notching a 9-3 victory that included a titanic solo blast by Kyle Schwarber that served as the 300th homer of his career. The ninth-inning missile featured an exit velocity of 109.3 mph and traveld 466 feet before denting the facade of Coors Field's third deck.
While this is a tremendous accomplishment for the 32-year-old slugger, the most important thing is that everyone is OK as no unlucky fan found themselves the path of the rocket.
The Phillies also offered some proof of life for the baseball involved in the milestone, which somehow stayed spherical despite the two tremendous impact.
The sweet-swinging lefty was asked postgame if 12-year-old Kyle Schwarber ever would have imagined a future with 300 major league home runs to his name.
"Probably not," Schwarber admitted.
Schwarber was 12 in 2005 and there was plenty to think about beyond his baseball future, like learning all the lines from Wedding Crashers or Derrick Lee chasing a batting title for the Chicago Cubs.
The Phillies' victory kept them atop the National League East and moved the Rockies to 8-39 in a season they could never conceive of either.
Liverpool are in a dire rut of form at the moment and the pressure only ramped up on Arne Slot following their 3-3 draw with Leeds United on Saturday evening.
As if Slot didn’t think things could get any worse, what hasn’t helped is Mohamed Salah’s remarkable interview after the game.
The Egyptian has been on the substitutes bench for the last three games and according to reports, will not travel to Milan when the Reds face Inter in the Champions League this week.
What Mo Salah has said about his Liverpool future
Salah was in conversation with reporters after Liverpool’s dismal draw with Leeds at the weekend and it’s safe to say he did not cover Slot and Co in glory.
“‘I’m very disappointed, Salah began. “I’ve done so much for this club – everyone can see that – over years, especially last season, sitting on the bench I don’t know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That’s how I feel it.”
The Liverpool great continued: “It’s very clear that someone wants me to get all the blame. Club promised me a lot in summer. So far I I’m on bench three games, so can’t say they have kept those promises.
“I say many times I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden we don’t have any relationship, I don’t know why. It seems like someone does not want me in the club.
“But again this club, I always support it. my kids will always support it. I love the club so much and I will always do. I called my mum yesterday because I knew I wasn’t going to start and told my mum and dad to the Brighton game [next Saturday].”
How Salah trained on Monday
Salah smiled and chatted with his teammates on Monday as he attended the club’s first training session since his outburst over the weekend.
He arrived on the training pitch in conversation with French striker Hugo Ekitike. Salah listened as Slot addressed the squad and then took part in a series of warm-up and passing drills, interacting with the likes of Curtis Jones, Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai.
The session was overseen by Slot who is really up against it now. Who the Liverpool board decide to side with, Salah or the Dutchman, will be very interesting.
Australia are on the brink after taking six wickets in the final session, with England still trailing by 43
Tristan Lavalette06-Dec-20255:03
‘Neser has justified his selection ahead of Lyon’
Mitchell Starc continued his remarkable Ashes 2025-26 after stonewalling a weary England attack amid Brisbane’s stifling humidity before dismissing Joe Root under the lights as Australia finished day three on the brink of a comprehensive second Test victory.Just five days into this much-hyped series, England’s hopes of regaining the Ashes look forlorn although skipper Ben Stokes survived a tough period before stumps.The situation is grim for England after spending more than half a day wilting in the heat before losing six wickets under the lights in the final session. Quicks Scott Boland and Michael Neser, perhaps justifying his controversial selection over offspinner Nathan Lyon, had the pink ball zipping around on the Gabba surface.Related
Australia's tail smokes and chars predictable England in Gabba cauldron
But the standout of the day was again Starc, who is submitting an Ashes series for the ages after he top-scored with 77 off 141 balls to help Australia secure a sizable 177-run first innings lead. It meant England’s second innings started late in the second session amid the dipping sun as the floodlights took over.Starc did look gassed after his batting effort as Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett finally managed to survive the opening over for the first time in the series.Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett added 45 runs in the first six overs of the second innings•CA/Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesDuckett was lucky on 6 after rifling back to Neser who couldn’t take a sharp return catch although he would soon get more opportunities. In what was England’s best passage of a tortuous day, Duckett and Crawley batted well and eased to 45 for 0 after just six overs.There was some concern over Starc who grabbed at his lower left side and he needed some painkillers. However, Australia’s dominance resumed in the final session with Boland rattling the stumps of Duckett with a delivery that was short of a length but didn’t get above shin height.Ollie Pope briefly defied Boland, who had his tail up, but did not look convincing as he edged nervously on several occasions. He did manage to get to 26 only to fall in tame fashion when he was caught and bowled by Neser after miscuing a drive. It was the third time in the series that Pope failed to kick on from a start with the pressure on his spot set to intensify once more. England’s increasingly slim hopes rested on Root, fresh off his first ton on Australian soil in the first innings.But he watched in horror as Crawley on 44 attempted to drive on the up only to miscue and chip back to a giddy Neser, who couldn’t believe his good fortune. All the pressure fell on Root but he could not back up his first day heroics after he fell caught behind on review having chopped down on a full and wide Starc delivery.Boland was almost unplayable and thought he had Harry Brook caught behind on 15, only for replays to show that he missed the ball by a mile. But on the next ball he had Brook nicking off in a decision that was overturned on review.Pushing through the pain barrier, the indefatigable Starc summoned a remarkable late spell that accounted for Jamie Smith as the match appears headed for an early finish on day four.Mitchell Starc left Ben Stokes exasperated•CA/Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesStarc had earlier played a major role in Australia’s supreme and complete effort with the bat, marked by six half-century partnerships and five individual fifties. It didn’t even matter that no one kicked on for a big score. For just the 12th time in Test cricket, every batter made it into double figures but no centuries were struck.Australia batted with controlled aggression – apart from a bizarre passage of play late on day two – much to the envy of England as they finished with a run rate of 4.34.Starc had the right template, leaving the ball well but swinging freely when the bowling missed its length which was quite often in a ragged England effort.Seamer Brydon Carse encapsulated their wildly inconsistent performance by taking four wickets, including Steven Smith and Cameron Green in the space of three extraordinary deliveries on day two, but he leaked 152 runs from 29 overs.England had started the day desperately needing a strong start after a slew of dropped chances proved costly under lights on day two. Australia resumed on 378 for 6 with the aim of not only scoring runs but stretching their innings through the daytime when batting has been at its best.Alex Carey quickly became the latest Australian to notch a half-century, crisply off 55 balls, before Stokes nicked off Neser with a perfect length delivery.Mitchell Starc acknowledges his half-century•CA/Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesStarc came out aggressively to dish up more pain to Carse, whose tame attempts at a short-ball barrage proved once again ineffective. The second new ball did seem to produce more inconsistent bounce off the surface, offering hope for England to wrap up the innings. They appeared to be closing in when the luckless Gus Atkinson finally took his first Ashes wicket after nicking off Carey for 63, ending 41 overs of toil without reward in the series.But England were made to endure the heat for a few more hours as Starc and Boland combined for the longest partnership of the series in terms of balls faced. Starc cleverly farmed the strike as their plan to keep batting until the sun set worked to perfection.England appeared on the brink of imploding with a flustered Stokes furious with Jofra Archer after some lackadaisical fielding allowed Boland to get off strike. A lionhearted Stokes tried to will his team by pushing his body through a long spell but to no avail as he finally turned to spinning allrounder Will Jacks who only bowled one over on day two in his return to the side.Jacks opened the second session with a delivery that fizzed and bounced past Starc’s bat, no doubt catching the eye of Lyon in the terraces. But a few deliveries later Starc smoked a boundary to notch his 12th Test half-century. In the process he became the first Australian to score a fifty and take a five-wicket haul in an Ashes match since Mitchell Johnson during his wondrous 2013-14 series.Starc moved past Stuart Broad for most career Test runs batting at No.9 as he inched closer to a maiden century having once made 99 in India. But after more than two hours in the middle, Starc started to feel the pinch as he called for medical assistance with his right elbow feeling sore. He didn’t last much longer after holing out to mid-off but England’s agony was prolonged by No.11 Brendan Doggett and Boland, who finished 21 not out in a career high Test score.Jacks finally ended Doggett’s resistance to claim the first wicket through spin in the series.
First Ruben Amorim came for Marcus Rashford but Manchester United fans did not speak out because they had also questioned his commitment and performances. Then he came for Alejandro Garnacho and still they did not speak out as the winger’s attitude had become unbearable. But then he came for Kobbie Mainoo and there was total uproar, enough to finally push the patient supporters over the edge.
In Amorim's very first interview as Manchester United manager with the club's website, he said the most important thing was not to get his players to adapt to his new formation but to go back to the basics of what it meant to play for the Red Devils.
"The most important thing is the feeling of belonging of the club. And we have history in that department," Amorim said after his first week working at Carrington.
"I think it's important because a lot of people now talk about the 3-4-3 and the 4-3-3 and all that stuff. But when I think as a player or as a team-mate of Manchester United, it is not a system or formation, it's like the character of the players, the way they see the club. The most important thing for me at this moment is to create the principles, the identity and the character that we had in the past."
Ask any United fan what the club's identity is and two themes will come up: bold, attacking football and young players, particularly homegrown young players. Amorim has given little priority to either principle.
While United fans have been remarkably patient with the coach that presided over their worst campaign in 51 years, continuing to sing that the Portuguese will "turn the Reds around" at matches, his sparse use of Mainoo, who is the only academy graduate in the squad with a first-team appearance to his name, is severely testing their faith…
Getty Images SportTwelve minutes per game
United’s fans’ feelings towards Mainoo could be seen in the rapturous applause he got when he came off the bench against Wolves on Monday. But the timing of his arrival said all about his lack of importance in the team. It was the 78th minute and United were already 3-1 up against the worst team in the league, perhaps in Premier League history.
It was hard not to think back to when Mainoo appeared at Molineux for the first time little more than two years ago, playing the whole game and scoring a last-gasp winner with a jinking run and low curled finish right into the bottom corner. There was tangible excitement about Mainoo then after scoring his first Premier League goal against Wolves, which he followed with a stunning curler against Liverpool and then finished off an incredible team goal which proved to be the winner in the FA Cup final against Manchester City.
His rapid ascension into the England team to play six games at Euro 2024 seemed to cement his rise but his career is now at a crossroads as he is still waiting for his first Premier League start of the season. The most he has played was 45 minutes against Burnley in August when Mason Mount got injured. He is averaging 12 minutes per Premier League game.
AdvertisementNo laughing matter
Amorim started Mainoo in eight of his first 13 Premier League games, mostly in the double midfield pivot alongside Manuel Ugarte. The most eye-brow-raising moment was when he started him as a false nine against Crystal Palace, a game United lost 2-0. He then suffered an injury in training which kept him out for two months and when he returned Casemiro had re-established his place in the midfield two, with Mainoo only starting when Amorim wanted to rest players for the Europa League knockout rounds.
Mainoo’s brilliant goal against Lyon kept United in the competition but he was not rewarded with a bigger role and in the final against Tottenham he was brought on in added time. But it was still a surprise to see him not start any of the team’s first three Premier League games and his continued absence from the line-up four months into the season has led to Amorim, understandably, being frequently asked why he has used Mainoo so little.
And when Mainoo’s name was mentioned in a press conference in the aftermath of the limp 1-1 draw at home to West Ham, Amorim let out a snigger, stunning journalists in the room and angering many fans watching online. To the coach, it would seem, Mainoo had become something of a joke.
"I understand what you are saying – you love Kobbie, he started for England," he said. "But that doesn't mean that I need to put Kobbie [in] when I feel that I shouldn't put Kobbie [in], so it's my decision. I just want to win, I don't look who it is, I don't care about that, I'm just trying to put the best players on the pitch."
AFPAcademy culture war
Amorim, though, was missing a crucial point: it does matter that Mainoo is the only academy player left and he is barely part of the team any more. It led to heated conversation between the coach and BBC journalist Simon Stone, who suggested Amorim did not “trust” players from the academy. "Why?" was the coach’s tetchy response, only to be told "because you never pick any players from it". To sum up the dire situation, Amorim mentioned Mainoo as one academy player he does pick.
Mainoo’s lack of playing time has partly led to a large focus falling on Shea Lacey, the 18-year-old from Liverpool who has been named in the squad for the last four matches.
The mention of Lacey led to more incredulity from Amorim, who reasonably explained that Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo were more reliable options than the untested teenager. United fans are not really up in arms about Lacey’s lack of minutes. It is the absence of Mainoo, who started a European Championship final and scored in an FA Cup final, and who many believe could make his stop-start team better, that people find hard to understand.
And for all Amorim talks about wanting to win, his team are not doing it regularly enough.
In the coach’s defence, he has far fewer games in which to give opportunities to young players than last season, when Chido Obi, Toby Collyer, Tyler Fredricson and Harry Amass all got their chances. Mainoo, though, had already proven himself but is a victim of Amorim’s rigid system and his insistence on playing two midfielders. It means that he is directly competing with Bruno Fernandes, who just happens to be United’s most important player and someone who never gets injured.
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Getty Images Sport'Got to get out of there'
Amorim has been unable to give any assurances that Mainoo will play more when Mbeumo and Amad head to the AFCON. And while an obvious solution is to play Fernandes further forward to replace Mbeumo in attacking midfield and bring Mainoo back in, it is more likely that Mason Mount will get a greater run in the team and the 20-year-old will stay in the shadows.
For Mainoo to get his career going again, seeking a loan move in January is obligatory. The fact that he does not want to leave permanently, or at least not yet, shows that he is still committed to the club and does not want to jump ship, especially with Amorim’s long-term future at the club far from secure. But now prominent former United players are urging him to leave.
"If I think about it and put myself in Kobbie Mainoo’s shoes I’m out of there, I’ve got to," said Rio Ferdinand on his Youtube channel. "He has just wasted 18 months of his career now at Manchester United. He’s probably been there six months longer than he should’ve been. He should’ve just gone and I think his agent and more importantly his family around him have to protect him."
The July 31 trade deadline is almost here, and there are still plenty of teams yet to emerge as buyers or sellers. When we released our initial trade candidate rankings and predictions a month ago, there were only six teams more than seven games outside of a wild-card spot. Now, there are … seven.
Even so, since then there seems to be more teams that have internally admitted they aren’t going to win the World Series in 2025, adding some more players to the rumor mill to boost what had been quite a barren trade market. We’re still waiting for our first game-changing deal of July, however—and it seems more than likely Rafael Devers will be the most talented player traded this season.
Still, there are plenty of intriguing players available. We’ve updated last month’s initial rankings of the 25 best players who seem most likely to be traded, with six new entries making their debut. We’ve identified each player’s most logical landing spots, and offer predictions for where (or if) they’ll be dealt.
1. Joe Ryan, Minnesota Twins SP
2025 stats: 10–4, 2.63 ERA, 3.13 FIP, 0.90 WHIP, 132 K, 23 BB, 2.9 fWAR in 116 1/3 IP
Best fits: Cubs, Mets, Dodgers, Blue Jays, Astros
Ryan has put everything together this season, flashing masterful control with a five-pitch mix that keeps hitters guessing. He’s a legitimate ace who just turned 29 and carries two more years of team control beyond 2025. The Twins will rightly demand a massive return for the righthander, but if he’s moved, it’s difficult to foresee a better player changing teams over the next week.
Prediction: Not traded
2. Jarren Duran, Boston Red Sox LF
2025 stats: .257/.323/.433, 9 HR, 10 3B, 25 2B, 54 R, 51 RBI, 1.7 fWAR in 101 games
Best fits: Padres, Braves, Royals, Dodgers, Phillies, Guardians
Duran ranked fourth in the AL in WAR last season—directly above Juan Soto and José Ramirez—while leading the majors in doubles and triples. The 28-year-old has fallen off quite a bit this season, but he’s under team control through 2028 and still profiles as an above-average leadoff hitter for the next several years. The Red Sox would have to be blown away by an offer to consider trading another building block so soon after the Rafael Devers deal, especially after their recent surge that has them right in the thick of the playoff race, though they do possess a surplus of outfielders and Duran has been the name most frequently popping up in rumors.
Prediction: Not traded
3. Eugenio Suárez, Arizona Diamondbacks 3B
2025 stats: .257/.328/.605, 36 HR, 18 2B, 64 R, 86 RBI, 3.4 fWAR in 99 games
Best fits: Yankees, Cubs, Tigers, Mariners, Brewers, Royals, Twins
Suárez is a streaky power hitter who’s had a terrific first half—the 33-year-old leads the majors in RBIs and with 36 home runs is on pace to top his previous career high of 49 homers set during the 2019 juiced-ball season. He also hit the 300th home run of his career last month and will likely be the best bat moved before the deadline. D-Backs GM Mike Hazen has thus far indicated an unwillingness to sell, but top prospect Jordan Lawlar is waiting in the wings, Suárez is a pending free agent and Arizona may not have the pitching to keep up in the playoff race following season-ending injuries to ace Corbin Burnes, starter Jordan Montgomery and closers Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk.
Prediction: Traded to Yankees Update: Suárez was traded to the Mariners.
Best fits: Cubs, Phillies, Tigers, Dodgers, Rangers, Rays
Durán has taken his game to new heights in his fourth big-league season, blowing hitters away with a four-seamer that sits 100.3 mph and a devastating knuckle curve that’s generated a 42.6% whiff rate. He’s posted a staggering 67.8% ground ball rate and has allowed just one home run. Should the Twins decide to capitalize on what is likely to be Durán’s peak value, there should be no shortage of contending teams lining up to add a game-changing closer to the back of their bullpen.
Prediction: Traded to Cubs Update: The Phillies acquired Durán for starting pitcher Mick Abel and catching prospect Eduardo Tait.
Dylan Cease has pitched better this season than his ERA indicates. / Bill Streicher-Imagn Images5. Dylan Cease, San Diego Padres SP
2025 stats: 3–9, 4.64 ERA, 3.49 FIP, 1.30 WHIP, 139 K, 39 BB, 2.2 fWAR in 108 2/3 IP
Best fits: Cubs, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Rays, Mets
Most teams currently in playoff position such as the Padres wouldn’t consider trading a player like Cease, who has two top-four Cy Young finishes in the last three seasons. But most teams aren’t run by A.J. Preller. San Diego is reportedly listening to offers for Cease to potentially augment other parts of their roster. Cease is averaging double-digit strikeouts per nine innings for the fifth consecutive year, though hitters have been doing much more damage against his breaking pitches than usual. Still, the pending free agent has the potential to be a superb rental despite his discouraging 14.85 ERA in three career playoff starts.
Best fits: Cubs, Dodgers, Phillies, Tigers, Diamondbacks, Rangers
Bautista’s stuff hasn’t quite returned to its pre-Tommy John surgery level of dominance—his sinker is a couple ticks slower and doesn’t generate whiffs as frequently. He’s also walking batters at a 16.2% rate—second-highest out of over 350 pitchers with at least 30 innings this season. None of that has stopped him from putting up strong results, with a .158 expected batting average against that ranks as the second-best among qualified pitchers.
Prediction: Not traded
7. Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland Guardians RP
2025 stats: 5–2, 2.86 ERA, 2.34 FIP, 1.23 WHIP, 21 SV, 44 K, 10 BB, 1.2 fWAR in 44 IP
Best fits: Tigers, Cubs, Yankees, Phillies, Dodgers
The typically dominant Clase struggled to begin 2025, posting a 6.75 ERA through the end of April. He’s regained his form since then and would certainly cost quite a bit for a team to acquire sometime in the next week. Clase is owed $6 million in ‘26, followed by $10 million club options for ‘27 and ‘28, so a club that trades for the three-time All-Star would be getting its closer for the next three seasons.
Prediction: Not traded Update: Clase has been put on leave amid a sports betting investigation.
8. Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals SP
2025 stats: 6–5, 2.94 ERA, 4.37 FIP, 1.09 WHIP, 93 K, 31 BB, 1.0 fWAR in 107 IP
Best fits: Blue Jays, Cubs, Dodgers, Cardinals, Angels, Padres
Lugo doesn’t strike out a ton of hitters, but he hasn’t posted an ERA above 3.60 since 2020 and quietly finished second in AL Cy Young voting last year while winning a Gold Glove to boot. The 35-year-old also fared well in two playoff starts last season. The converted reliever would improve just about any postseason rotation and the Royals may feel obliged to deal Lugo ahead of his looming free agency to either improve the AL’s lowest-scoring offense or retool for next year.
Prediction: Traded to Blue Jays Update: Lugo and the Royals have agreed to a two-year extension.
9. Mitch Keller, Pittsburgh Pirates SP
2025 stats: 3–10, 3.48 ERA, 3.34 FIP, 1.14 WHIP, 92 K, 27 BB, 2.6 fWAR in 119 IP
Best fits: Cubs, Blue Jays, Mets
Like his teammate Paul Skenes, Keller too has a lopsided win-loss record despite quality work this season thanks to the Pirates’ woeful offense. Keller doesn’t blow hitters away like Skenes, but his six-pitch mix and pinpoint command make him effective. The 29-year-old has made 112 starts since 2022—ninth-most during that span—and is under contract through 2028, so Pittsburgh ought to get some serious interest from the many pitching-needy teams looking to buy.
Prediction: Traded to Mets
10. Josh Naylor, Arizona Diamondbacks 1B
2025 stats: .293/.362/.452, 11 HR, 11 SB, 49 R, 58 RBI, 1.5 fWAR in 91 games
Best fits: Mariners, Rangers, Reds, Red Sox, Twins, Royals
A 2024 All-Star with the Cleveland Guardians, Naylor is enjoying his fourth straight above-average offensive season following an offseason trade to Arizona and its hitter-friendly confines, where his OPS is more than 100 points higher than on the road. Still, he’s one of just 12 qualified players batting at least .290 with an OPS over .800. Naylor, like Suárez, is set to be a free agent this offseason and a number of teams in need of a bat could sway the D-Backs into selling.
Prediction: Traded to Red Sox Update: Naylor was traded to the Mariners for prospects Brandyn Garcia and Ashton Izzi.
The Braves have indicated they intend to hang onto Sean Murphy, but he could fetch a monster return on a typically thin catching market. / Brett Davis-Imagn Images11. Sean Murphy, Atlanta Braves C
2025 stats: .240/.331/.514, 16 HR, 27 R, 38 RBI, 2.4 fWAR in 64 games
Best fits: Padres, Giants, Guardians, Rangers
Catchers are rarely traded midseason, especially those as talented as Murphy. And the Braves have indicated they won’t deal the 2023 All-Star they have under contract through 2028. But with Drake Baldwin emerging as a Rookie of the Year contender and this season looking like a lost one for Atlanta, Murphy could fetch a monster haul for a team short on organizational depth.
Prediction: Not traded
12. Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks SP
2025 stats: 9–5, 3.32 ERA, 3.48 FIP, 1.06 WHIP, 118 K, 37 BB, 2.2 fWAR in 122 IP
Best fits: Cardinals, Cubs, Blue Jays, Twins, Red Sox, Angels
Kelly has never made an All-Star team or garnered Cy Young votes, but he’s been one of the league’s most solid starters since coming over from the KBO in 2019. His 3.76 ERA over that span ranks 16th (min. 800 IP), ahead of hurlers like Dylan Cease and Aaron Nola. He also showed during Arizona’s 2023 World Series run that he can be counted on in the playoffs, recording a 2.25 ERA in four postseason starts. The 36-year-old could make for a sneakily good hired arm amid one of his best seasons before he enters free agency in the winter if the D-Backs elect to move him.
Prediction: Traded to Astros
13. Ryan O’Hearn, Baltimore Orioles 1B
2025 stats: .278/.373/.451, 12 HR, 40 R, 36 RBI, 2.1 fWAR in 86 games
Best fits: Mariners, Royals, Giants, Rangers
O’Hearn has been among the few bright spots in what’s been a dismal season in Baltimore. After posting a respectable 119 wRC+ from 2023 to ‘24, his 134 mark to start the year ranks as the sixth-highest in the American League. O’Hearn can passably play first base and the corner outfield, and has improved against lefties to the point where he’s not automatically relegated to the bench against southpaws. He’s a free agent after this season, so likely wouldn’t cost much to acquire, and could be a middle-of-the-order bat to boost a contending team’s lineup.
Prediction: Traded to Mariners
14. Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins SP
2025 stats: 4–9, 7.14 ERA, 4.66 FIP, 1.49 WHIP, 73 K, 39 BB, 0.5 fWAR in 97 IP
Best fits: Cubs, Blue Jays, Astros, Tigers, Dodgers, Mets
The 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner has been on a winding path to rediscover his form after making his return from Tommy John surgery. Through the first two months of the season, that form seemed a long way off. Alcantara went 2–7 with an 8.47 ERA through his first 11 starts, with 29 walks and just 40 strikeouts in 51 innings. He looked improved throughout June, but July brought more struggles until Wednesday’s stellar outing against the Padres. The righthander clearly still has it in him to dominate, but finding consistency has been a challenge. That he’s under club control through 2027 makes him more attractive.
Prediction: Not traded
15. Edward Cabrera, Miami Marlins SP
2025 stats: 3–4, 3.61 ERA, 3.70 FIP, 1.26 WHIP, 86 K, 30 BB, 1.2 fWAR in 82 1/3 IP
Best fits: Dodgers, Cubs, Orioles, Blue Jays
Cabrera has long been an intriguing yet inconsistent talent, capable of dominating one outing then looking erratic the next. He’s put together an impressively stable stretch here after a rocky April, posting a 2.47 ERA and 2.99 FIP with a 25.7% strikeout rate in 13 starts since the beginning of May. Cabrera is still only 27 and under team control through 2028, so Miami is likely to want to hang onto him—though offers for one of the few impact starters on the market could entice them to part ways.
Prediction: Traded to Dodgers
16. Marcell Ozuna, Atlanta Braves DH
2025 stats: .235/.361/.390, 13 HR, 11 2B, 37 R, 42 RBI, 0.8 fWAR in 92 games
Best fits: Tigers, Mariners, Royals, Yankees, Twins
After mashing 79 homers over the last two seasons and finishing fourth in NL MVP voting last year, Ozuna’s power has significantly fallen off in his age-34 season, though he’s partially compensated by trailing only Juan Soto in walk rate (16.2%). The Braves have just about run out of time to get hot and Ozuna is one of their only two pending free agents along with reliever Raisel Iglesias, who after quietly unleashing a 16-outing scoreless streak allowed four runs to the Yankees to take his sixth loss of the season on Saturday.
Prediction: Traded to Tigers
17. Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks SP
2025 stats: 7–11, 5.58 ERA, 4.86 FIP, 1.37 WHIP, 116 K, 46 BB, 0.0 fWAR in 121 IP
Best fits: Astros, Blue Jays, Angels, Padres, Twins
Gallen has finished in the top 10 of NL Cy Young voting three times this decade, but the 29-year-old has picked an awful time for a down season. With his team desperately needing quality arms and himself months away from free agency, Gallen ranks 294th out of 300 qualified pitchers in run value and leads the NL in home runs allowed (23). None of his five pitches are working for him as practically all of his batted-ball metrics have trended in the wrong direction. He even gave up 12 combined earned runs in back-to-back June starts against the Rockies and White Sox. It all makes for a somber outlook, and while his track record may convince a contender to try and squeeze some quality innings out of him down the stretch, it also will make it hard for two teams to agree on his value.
Prediction: Not traded
Taylor Ward is in the midst of his best season from a power-hitting perspective. / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images18. Taylor Ward, Los Angeles Angels OF
2025 stats: .233/.305/.492, 23 HR, 56 R, 76 RBI, 1.9 fWAR in 98 games
Best fits: Dodgers, Padres, Phillies, Guardians, Mariners, Royals
Ward is putting up the best power numbers of his career, on pace to soar past last season’s career-high 25 home runs any day now. That’s come at the expense of his results on balls in play, with his .261 BABIP the product of an extreme fly ball approach. Under team control through 2026, Ward could be of use to teams with corner outfield holes and add some extra thump to the middle of the lineup. The Angels are hovering on the periphery of the wild-card race and have demonstrated a reluctance to sell in years past, so the team could opt to keep him around to better its chances of contending next season.
Prediction: Not traded
19. Cedric Mullins, Baltimore Orioles CF
2025 stats: .216/.297/.401, 13 HR, 14 SB, 38 R, 42 RBI, 0.7 fWAR in 83 games
Best fits: Phillies, Mets, Guardians, Royals
A lack of starting caliber center fielders drives much of Mullins’s trade value. At his peak, he was a legitimate difference maker with speed and power, posting a 30–30 season in 2021 and averaging 16 homers and 28 stolen bases from ‘22 to ‘24. This year, Mullins’s offensive production has dipped to career lows in batting average and on-base percentage, though he’s still tracking for over 20 home runs. A sub-par defensive center fielder (ranking last at the position in defensive runs saved), he’s a free agent after this season, and likely not a part of the Orioles’ long-term plans.
Prediction: Traded to Guardians
20. Griffin Jax, Minnesota Twins RP
2025 stats: 1–4, 3.83 ERA, 2.91 FIP, 1.18 WHIP, 67 K, 10 BB, 1.5 fWAR in 42 1/3 IP
Best fits: Dodgers, Phillies, Yankees, Tigers, Rays
Jax doesn’t have a save this season and his ERA is near 4.00, but don’t let that fool you—he has the stuff to be one of the most dominant late-inning relief pitchers in the league. His K-BB% (32.2%) is the second-highest in the league behind Aroldis Chapman, and no pitcher induces swings at pitches outside the strike zone at a higher rate than Jax does. He’s also under club control through 2027.
Prediction: Traded to Dodgers
21. David Bednar, Pittsburgh Pirates RP
2025 stats: 2–5, 2.38 ERA, 2.03 FIP, 1.09 WHIP, 14 SV, 46 K, 9 BB, 1.1 fWAR in 34 IP
Best fits: Phillies, Cubs, Tigers, Blue Jays
The Pirates actually demoted Bednar to the minors early this season after three rough outings in which the two-time All-Star retired only three of the nine batters he faced. He returned in mid-April and has been dominant since, rescuing his trade value for the last-place Buccos. Bednar is making a reasonable $5.9 million this season and has one year left before reaching free agency, so teams would be getting more than just a rental to fortify the back end of their bullpen.
Prediction: Traded to Phillies Update: Bednar was traded to the Yankees.
22. Ramón Laureano, Baltimore Orioles OF
2025 stats: .280/.343/.511, 12 HR, 4 SB, 36 R, 40 RBI, 1.8 fWAR in 72 games
Best fits: Dodgers, Padres, Phillies, Guardians, Mariners, Royals
After forcing his way into playing time down the stretch in Atlanta last year, Laureano has done the same in a crowded Orioles outfield this season and has in fact been Baltimore’s second-most valuable player, per bWAR, behind only Gunnar Henderson. The 30-year-old still boasts a cannon of an arm and can play either outfield corner, with his reverse splits this season (.926 OPS vs. RHP, .734 OPS vs. LHP) indicating he can continue to start if needed. The O’s do hold a $6.5 million team option on Laureano for 2026, but it may behoove them to sell high on him.
Prediction: Traded to Padres
Harrison Bader is a well-rounded center fielder if not a massive difference maker. / Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images23. Harrison Bader, Minnesota Twins CF
2025 stats: .249/.330/.438, 12 HR, 8 SB, 36 RBI, 1.8 fWAR in 88 games
Best fits: Rays, Phillies, Mets
Bader has been a boon for the Twins after signing a one-year, $6.25 million contract this winter. Though he’s spent most of his time in left field, he still provides elite defense in center and is putting up a full-season career-best 113 wRC+. He’ll be a rental for whoever acquires him, but should still command a decent price as a starting-caliber center fielder.
Prediction: Traded to Phillies Update: Bader was traded to the Phillies.
24. Ryan McMahon, Colorado Rockies 3B
2025 stats: .222/.324/.404, 12 HR, 12 2B, 32 R, 25 RBI, 1.3 fWAR in 78 games
Best fits: Brewers, Mariners, Royals, Yankees
McMahon is on pace to hit 20 homers for the sixth straight full season, an impressive accomplishment that’s somewhat lessened by playing half of his games at Coors Field—despite that fact, he’s never registered as an above-average bat by wRC+. His 125 strikeouts are the most in the NL and his OPS this season is nearly 300 points higher in Colorado (.868) compared to road games (.589). The 30-year-old is also set to make $16 million in each of the next two seasons, meaning the Rockies would likely have to pay part of his contract if they want to acquire a meaningful prospect package in a trade. Still, McMahon’s season statistics are about as consistent as they can get, and he could fill multiple spots around the infield for some playoff team.
Prediction: Traded to Brewers Update: McMahon was traded to the Yankees for minor-league pitchers Griffin Herring and Josh Grosz.
25. Luis Robert Jr., Chicago White Sox CF
2025 stats: .206/.292/.344, 10 HR, 25 SB, 35 R, 40 RBI, 0.6 fWAR in 83 games
Best fits: Mets, Guardians, Phillies, Padres, Rangers
Robert’s production at the plate has rapidly diminished since winning a Silver Slugger in 2023 to the point where he’s barely valued as a replacement-level player even with his stellar baserunning and glovework in center field. A pair of $20 million club options for 2026 and ’27 that were once seen as potential bargains are now highly unlikely to be exercised. His walk rate (10.5%) and chase rate (32.7%) have never been better, indicating an improvement in his plate discipline, and he’s suddenly posted a 1.023 OPS in July to partially repair his trade value. Still, his abysmal squared-up rate (18.5%, first percentile in MLB) indicates there’s more work for him to do. The White Sox don’t have much to gain by holding onto Robert, but it’s hard to tell if their valuation on him will come down enough by the deadline for another team to take a swing on the 27-year-old.
Prediction: Traded to Mets
Dropped out: Red Sox RP Aroldis Chapman, Red Sox SP Walker Buehler, Rangers SP Tyler Mahle, Pirates RP Dennis Santana, Marlins OF Jesús Sánchez, Rockies RP Jake Bird, Nationals RP Kyle Finnegan
With six days before the MLB trade deadline, the New York Mets have landed on the board by trading for relief pitcher Gregory Soto from the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, SNY's Andy Martinio reported. ESPN's Jeff Passan confirmed the news.
Acquiring a relief pitcher was high on the list for the Mets' needs ahead of the deadline. Since the All-Star break, three of New York's relief pitchers—Max Kranick, Dedniel Nunez and Brandon Waddell—all landed on the injured list. Kranick and Waddell are on the 15-day IL, while Nunez is on the 60-day IL.
In order to hold on to their close NL East lead in the second half of the season, the Mets needed strong relief pitching. The Mets' 59–44 record puts them 0.5 games ahead of the Phillies as of Friday.
Soto has appeared in 45 games so far this season for the Orioles, posting a 3.96 ERA in that span. He's pitched 36.1 innings and struck out 44 batters. He's had 29 hits, 16 earned runs and two home runs hit on him.
The longest game in World Series history is finally over (we double-checked, just to be sure).
After 18 long, grueling, tension-filled innings, the Dodgers scraped and clawed their way to a 6–5 win over the Blue Jays to take a 2–1 lead in the series, with first baseman Freddie Freeman delivering the decisive blow with a walk-off home run.
Freeman, last year’s World Series MVP thanks in part to his historic walk-off grand slam in Game 1, once again played hero in a game nobody who saw it will forget anytime soon.
“To have this happen again a year later, to hit another walk-off, it’s kind of amazing and crazy,” Freeman said afterwards. “I’m just glad we won.”
Monday’s Game 3 tied the mark set by the Dodgers and Red Sox in Game 3 of the 2018 World Series, which Los Angeles also won on a walk-off homer.
But long before that conclusion, there were what felt like dozens of near-misses, almost-walk-offs and botched opportunities. The two teams combined to leave 37 runners on base. They went 4-for-26 with runners in scoring position. And there were six runners thrown out on the base paths.
Just accounting for the nine extra innings, one team nearly took the lead in at least half a dozen different ways. Here are all the moments that almost provided an “early” ending to an unforgettable Game 3.
Top of the 10th: Davis Schneider gets cut down at home
On a night marked by questionable base running, the Dodgers got extra innings off to an appropriate start by executing a textbook relay from right field to home. Teoscar Hernández made a perfect feed to Tommy Edman, who threw to Will Smith in plenty of time to nab Schneider.
Smith actually got the tag down well before Schneider arrived at home, but was able to gather himself and apply the tag before Schneider got his hand in.
Top of the 12th: Blue Jays leave ‘em loaded
Toronto threatened to take control in the 12th without ever getting the ball out of the infield. Alejandro Kirk walked to lead things off, followed by a failed sacrifice bunt attempt by Myles Straw. Kirk advanced to second on a groundout by Ernie Clement, then Andrés Giménez was intentionally walked to send Schneider to the plate. Schneider then hit a slow roller to Muncy, who opted to try for a force out at third, but the ball arrived too late.
That prompted Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to bring in Clayton Kershaw out of the bullpen, who, after running the count full, got Nathan Lukes to ground out to end the threat.
For Kershaw, who’s retiring at the end of this series, it was the first time in his career he’d ever pitched in extra innings.
Bottom of the 13th: Freddie Freeman nearly does it again
Before we get to Freeman, first, allow us to set the stage. Edman led the inning off with a double, then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. That drew the Blue Jays’ infield in and left Alex Call with an opportunity to end the game with a sacrifice fly. Instead, he popped up to shortstop.
As Toronto did four times on Monday, the team opted to intentionally walk Shohei Ohtani, then did the same to Mookie Betts to load the bases for Freeman. Freeman, who hit the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history in Game 1 of last year’s Fall Classic, nearly gave those at Dodger Stadium another one, driving a ball out to the warning track in center field a few feet short of the wall.
“I was just really trying to hit a single there,” Freeman said of the at-bat. “Get a base hit and move on, get this game over with three hours ago.”
Instead, the game pressed on. According to Statcast, the ball had a 103.9 mph exit velocity and a .600 expected batting average. Instead of history, it was simply a loud out.
Bottom of the 14th: Will Smith comes close
If Freeman’s fly out got people on their feet, Smith’s made them fall out of their chairs.
I mean, just look at this bat drop.
Statcast’s tale of the tape: a 101.5 mph exit velocity and a distance of 383 feet. It would have been a home run in exactly one MLB ballpark (Wrigley Field).
Bottom of the 14th: Max Muncy’s foul ball
This one might not have been all close, but it certainly got the fans off their feet in a hurry.
Had that ball been fair, it would have been a fitting end given Muncy’s role in the longest World Series game of all time. That was Game 3 of the 2018 Fall Classic, when the Dodgers beat the Red Sox, 3–2, in 18 innings thanks to Muncy’s walk-off blast.
Bottom of the 16th: Teoscar Hernández nearly strikes again
By the 16th inning, the charm of a never-ending baseball game seemed to have worn off. There were far more visible empty seats than anyone would have expected in a World Series game, a product of it being nearly midnight and the thought of escaping the Dodger Stadium parking lot surely looming large in the minds of thousands of fans.
Hernández, who opened the scoring in this game with a solo homer in the second inning what felt like 12 days ago, almost brought things to an official end with an opposite field shot that—stop me if you’ve heard this before—died at the warning track.
The fans who’d left early got more time to scamper home to their TVs to watch the ending. The fans still in attendance were sentenced to more baseball.
Bottom of the 17th: Mookie just misses
Betts, who watched Ohtani walk five times on the night, had a chance to call game in the 17th. After roping a ball just foul down the left field line, he ran the count full against Brendon Little, the last man standing in the Toronto bullpen. Instead, he popped up to first base to leave the winning run on second base.
Top of the 18th: Will Klein becomes Houdini
If you hadn’t heard of Klein prior to Game 3, you’d be forgiven. The 25-year-old had made just 14 appearances for the Dodgers during the regular season, spending most of the year in the minors. He was left off Los Angeles’s roster for the first three rounds of the playoffs. And on Monday night, he found himself as the Dodgers’ last bullpen arm standing.
Roberts had used nine relief pitchers before going with Klein for the top of the 15th inning. He proceeded to fire four scoreless innings, throwing 72 pitches (his previous high this season at any level was 45). After walking two batters and allowing them to advance to second and third on a wild pitch, Klein struck out Tyler Heineman to end the threat.
At that point, Game 2 starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto—who threw 105 pitches in a complete game Saturday—was warming up in the bullpen, sending this game careening dangerously close to even more chaos. As it turned out, he would not be needed.
Bottom of the 18th: Freddie Freeman delivers the sequel
On the game’s 609th pitch, Freeman decided enough was enough. He parked a 3–2 sinker from Little over the wall in center field, adding yet another historic October moment in a Hall of Fame career full of them.
Given all the times it seemed like Game 3 was certain to end, and then didn’t, there was an element to the evening that felt like we were being tested, or pranked, or punished, or perhaps all three simultaneously. In the end, though, we were treated to one of the best baseball games of all time, all those teased endings merely laying the groundwork for a final scene straight out of a movie script.
More than six months on from Lord’s and all that, England and South Africa are set to rediscover the 50-over format
Alan Gardner03-Feb-2020Look out, the World Champions are coming! Well, sort of. Eight members of England’s 15-man World Cup-winning squad have been included for the ODI leg in South Africa, with Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood (all rested) among the notable absentees. Trevor Bayliss, the coach, has moved on but Eoin Morgan takes up the reins again as captain – although he is not considered likely to be in charge come 2023, when he will be 36 – and the top order looks pretty familiar, with Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy and Joe Root all involved. Chris Woakes and Adil Rashid are set to play their 100th ODIs, Moeen Ali will make his first England appearance since the first Ashes Test in August, and Tom Curran completes the set.So who else is missing? Of the XI that played the World Cup final, only Liam Plunkett has been dispensed with. Plunkett missed out on a white-ball central contract late last year – and made his disappointment clear – and it looks like, at 34, his England renaissance is over. James Vince played three times during the group stage, deputising for the injured Roy, and was involved in the T20Is in New Zealand last year, but has repeatedly failed to take his chances. Liam Dawson, meanwhile, is a more curious case – brought into the World Cup squad at the last minute, as the back-up spinner in place of Joe Denly, he didn’t feature during the tournament and has slipped down the pecking order once again.Time for an injection of young blood, then…? Yes, for the most part – although Denly (who has a white-ball contract despite being a regular Test pick for the last year) is again involved, and at almost 34 the oldest man in the squad. Three players are in line for ODI debuts, all of whom won T20I caps in New Zealand as part of England’s World Cup planning: Tom Banton, the most exciting of the lot, comes in on the back of a strong Big Bash League but may have to bat out of position in the middle order; while the Lancashire pair of Saqib Mahmood, a reverse-swing-adept seamer, and Matt Parkinson, the legspinning understudy to Rashid, will be hoping for further international exposure.Any other notable inclusions? Dawid Malan is back in contention, having usurped Vince with his exploits in New Zealand – which included becoming only the second Englishman to score a T20I hundred. Malan’s only previous ODI came against Ireland in May but this is arguably his strongest format, with ten List A hundreds and a career average of 41.41. Chris Jordan, a T20 mainstay, could play his first ODI since 2016, and there is a chance for Sam Curran to stake his case as an all-format allrounder.South Africa, by contrast, had a dismal World Cup – so let the rebuilding begin! That’s pretty much the ticket. This is a chance to move on after South Africa were dumped unceremoniously out of the World Cup, their five defeats in seven round-robin games condemning them to an early exit almost before anyone had a chance to mention ch**ing. Quinton de Kock has been anointed as their new ODI captain, with a view to taking the team through to 2023 in India – although Faf du Plessis has not retired from the format, and is also expected to lead the team at the T20 World Cup later this year. De Kock is set for a heavy workload, as he juggles the captaincy with opening the batting and keeping wicket.Do any of the old guard remain? Not really. Hashim Amla, Imran Tahir and JP Duminy retired after the World Cup – taking 487 caps’ worth of experience with them – while Dale Steyn seems to be focused only on winning an international swansong at the T20 World Cup. Kagiso Rabada has also been rested for the England series, with David Miller the most experienced member of South Africa’s 14-man squad.Who should we be looking out for? One of the few positives for South African cricket over the last year or so has been the form of Rassie van der Dussen, who averages 73.77 after 14 ODI innings. Lungi Ngidi, 23, is also a huge talent, and fit again after missing the Test series. Of the uncapped players, JJ Smuts, Lutho Sipamla and Bjorn Fortuin have all played T20 internationals, while Janneman Malan was the second-leading run-scorer in this season’s Mzansi Super League and Kyle Verreynne, the back-up wicketkeeper, averages 50.72 in first-class cricket and has featured for South Africa A.Sounds like England are still the favourites… Certainly as far as the bookies are concerned, although England lost 3-2 here in 2015-16 – one of only three series defeats they suffered during the last World Cup cycle. Their leading performers on that tour were Alex Hales (383 runs at 76.60) and Reece Topley (10 wickets at 21.90)… which tells you plenty about how things can change between now and England’s defence in 2023.
Meanwhile Rupganj, who had seven Bangladesh international in their line-up, lost to Old DOHS in Savar
Mohammad Isam15-Mar-2020Mushfiqur Rahim gave defending champions Abahani Limited a perfect start in the Dhaka Premier League, after his century helped them to a comfortable 81-run win over Partex Sporting Club at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.Batting first, Abahani had lost both openers Liton Das and Mohammad Naim for ducks. From there, they further slipped to 67 for 5 in the 22nd over, before Rahim helped rebuild the innings completely. He added 160 runs for the sixth wicket with Mosaddek Hossain, who made 61 off 74 balls with four boundaries and two sixes.Mushfiqur finished on 127 off 124 balls, hitting eleven fours and four sixes. Mohammad Saifuddin smashed five sixes in his unbeaten 15-ball 39 to take Abahani to a strong total.Partex were then bowled out for 208 in 48.4 overs with left-arm quick Mehedi Hasan Rana taking four wickets.Old DOHS Sports Club beat the big-moneyed Legends of Rupganj by 25 runs in BKSP.Rupganj, who had seven Bangladesh international in their line-up, were bowled out for 205 with three wickets each for Abdur Rashid and Avishek Das, who played in the Under-19 World Cup final. Das’ Under-19 teammate Rakibul Hasan also took two wickets.Earlier, Old DOHS reached 230 in 49 overs with Anisul Islam hitting 59 and Rakin Ahmed 48. Offspinner Sohag Gazi took three wickets.Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club edged out Brothers Union by eight runs in a close finish in Fatullah. Batting first, Doleshwar reached 238 for 7 in 50 overs, thanks to Taibur Rahman’s second List-A century.He made 110 off 94 balls, hitting five sixes and seven fours. In reply, Brothers were bowled out for 230 in 49.4 overs, with Junaid Siddique making a fighting 97 off 125 balls. Medium-pacer Rejaur Rahman finished with four wickets for Doleshwar.