Francisco Alvarez put on an absolute SHOW in Philadelphia on Thursday night, going 2-for-3 with two home runs, two RBI, two runs scored, a walk, and a strikeout in the Mets' convincing 4–1 victory over the Phillies. The young catcher was the whole offense, and then some!
The Mets, who sit at 41–57 on the season — 8.0 games back in the NL East — badly needed this win. Alvarez gave them exactly what they needed, launching solo shots that left the Phillies' pitching staff shaking their heads. Even though New York is fighting to climb out of the division cellar, nights like this remind everyone why Alvarez is one of the most exciting young players in baseball.
For the Phillies, the loss stings. Philadelphia is 54–44 and sitting 5.0 games behind the division-leading Atlanta Braves (55–40) in the NL East. Every loss in July matters when you're chasing a pennant. The Mets' Alvarez made sure this was a night Philly fans would rather forget.
Just one game on the MLB schedule Thursday, but it was a good one! Francisco Alvarez stole the show in the only contest of the night. Check out the box:
| Matchup | Away | Home | Final | Star of the Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYM @ PHI | Mets ✅ | Phillies | 4–1 | F. Alvarez: 2-3, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB, K |
Three MLS matches lit up Thursday night! The biggest news was out of Seattle, where the Portland Timbers absolutely CRUSHED the Sounders 5–1 in a wild Cascadia Cup rivalry game. That's a statement win! St. Louis also edged Kansas City 3–2 in a nailbiter, and the Canadian derby between Toronto and Montréal ended in a goalless draw.
| Matchup | Away | Home | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOR @ MTL | Toronto | CF Montréal | 0–0 | Draw |
| SKC @ STL | Kansas City | St. Louis ✅ | 3–2 | St. Louis Win |
| POR @ SEA | Portland ✅ | Seattle | 5–1 | Portland Win |
That Portland–Seattle score of 5–1 is WILD. The Cascadia rivalry is always intense, and the Timbers left no doubt who was the better team on Thursday. Five goals! Keep an eye on Portland — they're playing some serious soccer right now.
No NBA games right now — the season wrapped up with playoffs and the Finals earlier this summer. Teams are busy in the offseason: signing free agents, making trades, and getting ready for training camp. Keep an eye on news from the Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18 — wow!), San Antonio Spurs (62-20), and Detroit Pistons (60-22), who were the top dogs this past season. The 2026–27 season tips off in October! 🎃
The NFL is deep in the offseason too — training camps are either just starting up or right around the corner (usually late July). Teams like the New England Patriots (14-3), Denver Broncos (14-3), and Seattle Seahawks (14-3) were the class of the league last season. Preseason games are coming in August, and then real football kicks off in September. Get hype, Jacob! 🏈
College hoops is way off in the distance — the season doesn't tip off until November, and March Madness won't be here until next spring. But this is the time when teams are recruiting players, and the transfer portal is buzzing! Keep an eye out for big roster announcements from your favorite programs. The road to the Final Four starts NOW behind the scenes. 🎓
| Team | W-L | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 Braves | 55-40 | — |
| Phillies | 54-44 | 5.0 |
| Marlins | 52-45 | 3.5 |
| Nationals | 48-49 | — |
| Mets | 41-57 | 8.0 |
| Team | W-L | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 Dodgers | 61-36 | — |
| D-Backs | 49-47 | 1.0 |
| Padres | 48-48 | 0.0 |
| Giants | 41-55 | -7.0 |
| Rockies | 39-59 | -10.0 |
| Team | W-L | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 Rays | 56-38 | — |
| Yankees | 54-42 | 6.0 |
| Red Sox | 46-48 | -1.0 |
| Orioles | 46-51 | -2.5 |
| Blue Jays | 45-51 | -3.0 |
| Team | W-L | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 Guardians | 51-46 | — |
| White Sox | 50-45 | 2.5 |
| Twins | 48-49 | -0.5 |
| Tigers | 44-52 | -4.0 |
| Royals | 38-59 | -10.5 |
| Team | W-L | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 Rangers | 49-47 | — |
| Mariners | 48-49 | -0.5 |
| Astros | 47-51 | -2.0 |
| Athletics | 41-55 | -7.0 |
| Angels | 38-59 | -10.5 |
| Team | W-L | GB |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 Brewers | 59-37 | — |
| Cubs | 54-42 | 6.0 |
| Cardinals | 50-45 | 2.5 |
| Pirates | 50-47 | 1.5 |
| Reds | 43-52 | -4.5 |
Season complete — final records shown!
| Division | Leader | W-L |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest | ⚡ Thunder | 64-18 |
| Southwest | 🌹 Spurs | 62-20 |
| Central | 🔧 Pistons | 60-22 |
| Atlantic | ☘️ Celtics | 56-26 |
| Pacific | 💜 Lakers | 53-29 |
| Southeast | 🦅 Hawks | 46-36 |
Last season's final division leaders:
| Division | Leader | W-L |
|---|---|---|
| AFC East | Patriots | 14-3 |
| AFC West | Broncos | 14-3 |
| NFC West | Seahawks | 14-3 |
| AFC South | Jaguars | 13-4 |
| AFC North | Steelers | 10-7 |
| NFC East | Eagles | 11-6 |
| NFC North | Bears | 11-6 |
| NFC South | Panthers* | 8-9 |
*Panthers, Bucs & Falcons all tied at 8-9!
Test your sports brain, Jacob! Try to answer before you peek! 👇