Sources: Phillies to sign Nestor Cortes to Major League contract  —  Philly is looking to a veteran to provide some needed pitching depth.  —  Add us as a preferred source  —  Free-agent pitcher Nestor Cortes and the Philadelphia Phillies are in agreement on a Major League contract, according to sources familiar with the deal.

‘It just glanced off.’ Inside the critical play in the Reds loss to St. Louis … The Cincinnati Reds' series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals was the 3,912th game of future Hall of Fame manager Terry Francona's career, and he agreed the game featured one of the wildest endings he'd ever seen.

Royals' Jac Caglianone provides positive update after leaving game with injury  —  Entering Wednesday night's game at Kauffman Stadium, there had been no hotter hitter in Major League Baseball in the month of August than Royals right fielder Jac Caglianone.  —  Among all qualified MLB hitters …

The AL Wild Card Mess Is Competitive Balance, and It's Not Pretty  —  In 1981, when a seven-week players' strike split the season into two “halves,” and in 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic shortened the season to 60 games, teams with sub-.500 records snuck into the postseason via expanded …

Sources: Mariners calling up top pitching prospect Kade Anderson  —  The Seattle Mariners are calling up left-hander Kade Anderson, the best pitching prospect in baseball, to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs as the Mariners try to salvage their postseason hopes, sources told ESPN on Thursday.

How Iowa team was assembled, qualified for Little League World Series  —  Davenport Northwest Little League manager Mark Erwin's team had yet to be assembled, let alone play a game, but he could see plenty of possibilities for an all-star squad back in March.

Little League World Series 2026: Latest bracket, full schedule, teams, TV, stream  —  Mark Giannotto Sherlon ChristieUSA TODAY  —  Editor's note: Follow USA TODAY's live coverage of Little League World Series Aug. 19 games here.  —  The 2026 Little League World Series set to begin …

Royals Release Starling Marte  —  The Royals moved on from veteran outfielder Starling Marte, per his MLB.com transactions tracker.  Marte's release comes after he was designated for assignment on Monday.  He had the right to reject an outright assignment given his service time, but Kansas City opted to skip that step.

Arctos agrees to buy 10% of Atlanta Falcons at $10.6 billion valuation, sources say … Private equity firm Arctos has agreed to buy 10% of the Atlanta Falcons, according to two people who asked not to be named because they are not authorized to speak on the matter.  Arthur Blank currently owns just under 73% of the Falcons.

22-0!  Brewers' rout of Mariners tied for most lopsided shutout win since 1887  —  MILWAUKEE - Jake Bauers scratched, clawed and crawled for the Brewers' first run on Tuesday night.  He smashed his shoulder in the process and dirtied his uniform.  It was quintessential Brewers baseball.

Craig Kimbrel has spent a career proving he can close.  But when will he finish?  —  LOS ANGELES — Craig Kimbrel was days removed from throwing a bullpen in his barn to stay ready.  Weeks removed from being released for the second time this season.  And years removed from being the elite …

Lane Thomas, Sean Murphy back in lineup for Braves-White Sox series finale  —  Before we get to the Pokemon card collector battle that is Sale vs. Misiorowski tomorrow afternoon, there's one left to play in Chicago.  —  Returning to Rate Field, the Braves will be trying to salvage a series …

Little League World Series scores, bracket updates, highlights from Wednesday's games  —  Sherlon Christie Victoria Hernandez Kristie AckertUSA TODAY  —  The wait is over.  Opening day of the 2026 Little League World Series featured four matchups, launching one of the biggest events in youth sports each year.