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NEW YORK – After another exceptional outing from their starting pitcher, the Yankees were trailing 2-0, down to their final out, facing a loss that would directly be blamed on an insipid performance from the offense. But New York’s bats came alive at just the right time on Friday night against the Atlanta Braves. Austin Wells and Ben Rice delivered big hits, forced the game into extra innings, and the Bronx Bombers eventually walked it off in the 10th inning for a 3-2 victory. It was another tense, ugly win. But winning doesn’t have to be pretty for these Yankees, who are operating without three of their biggest bats. “We haven’t played well on offense the last two months,” Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt told me on Tuesday. “We’re not satisfied with how we’ve played, at all. It hasn’t turned as quickly as we’d like.” Since June 1, when Aaron Judge went on the injured list with a fractured right rib, the Yankees offense has been rudderless. They rank last in the majors in batting average (.217), on-base percentage (.284), and wRC+ (87). They’re ranked 29th in MLB in RBIs (214), 28th in OPS (.670), 27th in runs scored (226), 25th in slugging (.385), and 24th in walks (174). Across all the major statistical hitting categories, the Yankees are a mess. And yet, Yankees hitting coach James Rowson saw something in that come-from-behind win against the Braves. There was a steady confidence in the dugout when it was easier to believe they were toast. The fight from the lineup meant a lot to Rowson, who thinks that was exactly the type of close, gritty win the Yankees will need to emphasize in October — with or without Judge, Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton, who are all currently sidelined with injuries. “This is a great experience for our group,” Rowson told me on Tuesday before New York’s series opener against Seattle. “What happens is, when our lineup’s full, we have Judgy, we have Belli, we have G, and you get away from fighting. You win so many games with a three-run homer. You win so many games by double-digit runs because those guys can do it. But all of a sudden, when we’re in tight games, we haven’t played a lot of those throughout the year. So I think there’s a different mentality. “I think, right now, this is going to help us down the stretch. This is going to help us win close games. To get where we want to go, which is to hoist that trophy at the end of the season, I guarantee we’re going to have to win some close games no matter who’s in the lineup. So I’m trying to use this as a breeding ground for how we have to play.” It says something about the Yankees that two-plus months of underwhelming offense hasn’t derailed them. As recently as the 2023 season, the Yankees completely slid out of contention and missed the playoffs when Judge spent significant time on the IL due to a toe injury. This year, they’ve remained in second place in the AL East, the same position they were in when Judge was healthy. New York (67-52) has scored three or fewer runs in 16 of its last 21 games, and the club is 11-10 in that span. The Yankees’ 30 comeback wins this season are tied for second-most in the AL. Despite a surging Red Sox team (64-54) that’s threatening to catch up, the Yankees have continued to win by leaning on brilliant pitching. Their 3.29 ERA as a staff leads the majors, and it’s not close. Plus, at the trade deadline, they welcomed an unexpected boost from 21-year-old rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr., who has so far met the sky-high expectations that the Bronx demands of him. Put it all together and this stretch just might be building the team that shows up in October. “It’s been several weeks now where it’s been difficult for us to score runs, an area where we gotta be better, and we know that,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “The good thing is we’ve had to play a lot of really close games day in and day out. We’ve done a really good job against a lot of really good teams by winning a lot of those games.” On Saturday in the cafeteria after the Yankees put the finishing touches on yet another come-from-behind win against the Braves, Lombard was already quizzing teammates about the next day’s starting pitcher. To his teammates, it doesn’t seem like Lombard is overly locked in. This is simply the only way he knows how to be after growing up in and out of major-league clubhouses. Lombard is the son of former major-leaguer and current Tigers bench coach, George, who played six seasons as an outfielder for the Braves, Tigers, Nationals, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Lombard’s younger brother, Jacob, made his pro ball debut the same day as his older brother. The Lombard brothers are commended for their high baseball IQs, no doubt a result of spending their childhood around clubhouses, batting cages, and big leaguers. They both hit home runs in their respective debuts, underlining the extreme preparation that’s been built into the foundation of their young careers. It’s no wonder, then, that Lombard said he felt “relaxed” on the field and at the plate throughout his major-league debut last week. “I think the biggest thing is his demeanor,” Rowson said when I asked what has stood out to him about Lombard’s first handful of games in the majors. “It’s impressive how calm he is through this. You see a 21-year-old kid coming up to the big leagues in this situation, in this part of the season, things are on the line. We’re playing for something. And he was able to step in and kind of go seamlessly and move forward with the work. To me, that’s the story.” Lombard entered Tuesday batting .294 (5-for-17) with two home runs and four runs scored in his first 20 plate appearances in MLB. He’s helped spark the Yankees offense, to be sure. But his biggest impact has been at shortstop, where his dazzling plays elicit loud gasps and thunderous applause from the home crowds on a nightly basis. Already, Lombard has accumulated 0.6 WAR in just five games, and his terrific defense has a lot to do with it. The Yankees are doing their best to downplay Lombard’s instant and obvious positive impact on the rest of the roster, to avoid over-hyping his future and unnecessarily increasing expectations. But it’s getting harder to ignore how much of a star he’s already been. “It’s not surprising coming from the family he’s from,” Goldschmidt said of Lombard. “He’s been in and out of major-league clubhouses. It’s a little bit unique, which is why those things are so valuable. He’s able to slow the game down. You know there’s going to be struggles, ups and downs. But he’s seen that, and probably knows that’s part of the game. Definitely confidence is a big thing, and he’s wise beyond his years. That’s a big reason he’s had success.” Whether we’re analyzing the Yankees offensive struggles or Lombard’s standout play and maturity as a rookie, both pieces tie into the same reason New York has managed to remain successful in the standings without Judge. Their new identity is composure under pressure. They’re winning without hitting. They’re relying on sharp defense and stellar arms to keep games close. The Yankees are figuring out ways to win, while being refreshingly honest about how punchless their offense has been. That matters now, as the Yankees hold on to the top AL wild card spot, but it will matter even more in October. Whenever Judge, Bellinger and Stanton return and the lineup is whole again, the habits that the Yankees have formed without them will only help. By then, Lombard will have settled in, and the Yankees will have proven to themselves that their late-game grit can pay off. In the long run, how New York has handled this adversity is what will determine whether the club can finally break its 17-year championship drought. “It’s hard to go through,” Rowson said. “But you’re learning something. You learn how tough you are. You learn to fight. And there’s a lot to knowing that you have that inside of you to get where we want to go, which is to be World Series champs.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Get your popcorn ready. Using player intrigue across the league as his guide, Danny Parkins unveiled his list of the ten most exciting NFL players heading into the upcoming season on First Things First. Parkins emphasized that the exercise focuses on viewing entertainment and narrative stakes rather than pure positional rankings or overall roster value. Counting down from number ten to the top spot, the ranking features established stars, potential trade targets, and young quarterbacks. Aaron Donald opens the list as a conditional entry at number ten despite currently being retired from football. Speculation of his return to the league has started with Donald working out for the Rams already and being spotted working out at the team facility. “If Donald returns… He’s arguably the best defensive player of my lifetime,” Parkins said. “The guy was number one in pass rush win rate. He was a first-time All Pro when he retired, so he retired early. He walked away. It wasn’t because anything had really dipped off. So if he joins the overwhelming Super Bowl favorites after two years away, it’ll just be an absolutely fascinating story.” Though Donald is not on an active roster, rumors regarding a potential comeback keep him in the discussion on the list. Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud occupies the ninth spot following an inconsistent second half of last season. He enters the upcoming year with expectations to recapture his efficiency from his rookie year and drive the Texans deep into the postseason. “I don’t think anyone individually has more riding on this season than C.J. Stroud,” Parkins said. “They picked up his fifth-year option, but he was bad in every loss last year.” Parkins went on to question whether Houston looks into the quarterback market pending Stroud’s performance. “Was absolutely terrible in the playoffs,” Parkins said. Is this a J.J. McCarthy spot? Do they just turn to Davis Mills as their backup? Do they call Jimmy Garoppolo, or does he play like he did as a rookie?” Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker lands at eighth on the list as a major addition to the Kansas City offense. Parkins labeled Walker as the most accomplished running back Patrick Mahomes has played alongside during his career. “Kenneth Walker is the best running back Patrick Mahomes has ever had,” Parkins said. “The Chiefs have never ranked higher than 16th in rushing yards per game since Mahomes has been there.” “They gave him a ton of money,” Parkins said. “They’re going to use him, and there’s two things that really contribute to a great play-action game. When you have to honor and respect the run. You give Mahomes a real running game. I think that part of the game opens up for him.” Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher Max Crosby comes in at seventh as a potential in-season trade candidate. Because the Raiders timeline may not align with young talent development, Parkins projects that a strong start to the season could prompt contending franchises to pursue Crosby before the trading deadline, potentially altering division races and championship odds across the league. “I don’t think he’s finishing the season with the Raiders. So if he has a good September and is healthy, he gets traded for one first-round pick instead of two to a team that starts hot,” Parkins said regarding Crosby’s situation in Las Vegas. “Is he a Bear by October? Is he a Bill by October? Is he a Cowboy by October? An in-season trade for a pass rusher that could tilt the Super Bowl odds mid-season,” Parkins continued. “That’s interesting. I think it’s going to be a huge story.” Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love takes the sixth spot as one of the league’s most talented passers. Parkins described Love as a high-upside quarterback capable of producing elite offensive production during hot stretches, balanced by occasional turnover issues during off weeks. “He is just streaky. When he is on a hot streak, he looks like he could be the MVP of the league. He doesn’t throw a lot of interceptions, but when he throws interceptions, they are among the worst interceptions you’ve ever seen,” Parkins said. “The first five, six, seven weeks of the season, Micah Parsons is going to be out. So Jordan Love, I mean, they gave him Matthew Golden and Christian Watson, and Tucker Kraft is back,” Parkins said. “He has to lead a top 10 offense this year.” Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs arrives at fifth as an explosive offensive focal point for Detroit. “I think he should be the number one pick in fantasy football over Bijan Robinson, a great one v two debate. But also, we’ve never seen this guy without David Montgomery. Like his touches have gone up year-to-year to year,” Parkins said. Parkins highlighted Gibbs’ dynamic playmaking ability out of the backfield and as a receiver, Gibbs projects as one of the most versatile weapons in football. “I don’t see why Jahmyr Gibbs shouldn’t lead the league in touches this year. So if Jahmyr Gibbs gets 350 plus touches, I just think the sky’s the limit for him. Is one of the most dynamic offensive players in football.” Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen lands at fourth due to the structural expectations and legacy implications tied to his upcoming season after a divisional round exit last season. “Speaking of dynamic offensive players, Josh Allen at number four. No one has more on the line legacy-wise for him,” Parkins said about the Buffalo quarterback on First Things First. Parkins went on to highlight the recent addition of wide receiver DJ Moore. “You add DJ Moore. I don’t think the defense is going to be very good this year. Think they’ve got a real shot at the number one ranked offense.” Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett enters the rankings at third following his offseason trade from Cleveland. “We talked about this when the trade happened when we were all on. It is a stat that is just now seared into my brain. He had 23 sacks last year. It’s five straight years of 14 or more sacks,” Parkins explained. Parkins went onto explain how Garrett can break his own record that he set last year. “Why can’t he have more sacks this year than he did last year and break his own record when he’s going to be playing with a lead. He is going to just have more pure pass rush opportunities this year than he’s had in the last couple of years combined in Cleveland could be an absolutely monstrous season.” Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert takes the second spot on the list of most exciting players across the NFL. Parkins went on to explain how injuries to both starting tackles led to Herbert being the third-most sacked player in the league and how the hiring of new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel can unlock a new version of Herbert. “Geno Smith and Cam Ward were the only two players sacked more than Justin Herbert [last] year,” Parkins said. “When you have an entirely new offensive line this year, you bring back two of the best tackles football and you add a new offensive coordinator.” Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams claims the top spot on the list as the single most compelling figure entering the upcoming NFL season. “Number one, it’s Caleb Williams,” Parkins declared to close out his rankings, with Nick Wright summarizing Williams as a young ascending superstar quarterback. Entering his third year as the starter in Chicago and second year under Ben Johnson, Williams combines elite arm velocity, pocket mobility, and off-script playmaking abilities that make the Bears offense central to league-wide attention.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

With preseason games on the horizon, Tuesday brought us our first taste of joint practices across the NFL this summer — and with joint practices came injuries and fights. The Los Angeles Rams had an eventful day, with All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett missing Tuesday’s practice, while wide receiver Puka Nacua left early with a groin injury. Following a competitive quarterback competition, the Minnesota Vikings named Kyler Murray as their starting quarterback. Chicago Bears safety Coby Bryant is undergoing knee surgery and expected to miss the next four-to-six months, while San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa deals with tendinitis in his surgically repaired knee as he eyes a Week 1 return. Catch up with all the updates across the NFL: The Los Angeles Rams held defensive end Myles Garrett out of Tuesday’s joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys due to knee swelling.  Head coach Sean McVay didn’t appear concerned and labeled the decision to reporters as precautionary. “I don’t know what 100% is going to look like, but it must be pretty good if that’s 85%,” McVay told reporters. “He’s so tough, he wanted to be able to be out there. … There’s nothing to be concerned about. It was just kind of us erring on the side of caution. There wasn’t any setbacks, anything like that.” Wide receiver Puka Nacua left Rams practice early with trainers, leaving McVay without an immediate update on his status. It was later revealed that the star receiver is dealing with general groin soreness and the team plans to take a cautious approach with Nacua, NFL Network reported. Following practice, quarterback Matthew Stafford downplayed concerns regarding Nacua’s early exit, telling reporters he didn’t believe the issue was major. “I’m not really sure what the issue was, but nobody ran up to me in a panic,” Stafford said. “I don’t think it was anything too major.” After weeks of split reps, film study, and heavy debate, the Minnesota Vikings have made their decision at quarterback. Head coach Kevin O’Connell is rolling with Kyler Murray over J.J. McCarthy this season, the team announced Tuesday. Murray signed a league-minimum deal with the Vikings this offseason and every indication suggested he would eventually win the job. The team was desperate for stability at the position after a year that saw McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer all take snaps under center. Not only did Murray’s Arizona Cardinals tenure end abruptly, but his lack of production in recent seasons was hard to ignore. With O’Connell’s strong reputation as a quarterback whisperer, Murray signing with the Vikings felt like the ultimate opportunity to potentially reignite his career. In seven NFL seasons, Murray has never reached the 4,000-yard mark and has thrown 25 passing touchdowns only once. O’Connell’s system is built to elevate passing numbers; just ask Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold, who both hit those benchmarks under his watch. Now that the dust has settled on the competition, all eyes turn to McCarthy. Entering his third season, the former national champion finds himself on the bench, now leaving his long-term future in Minnesota suddenly up in the air. San Francisco 49ers pass rusher Nick Bosa hasn’t played since week three of last season after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee. He’s been working on his recovery all offseason, but hit a setback this week after head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed he’s dealing with tendinitis. Shanahan and the rest of the coaching staff don’t appear concerned, as they described it as “a pretty normal thing with ACLs.” Still no firm timetable for Bosa’s return, but Shanahan gave an update Monday saying that Bosa is currently week-to-week with tendinitis. He also said he has “no concerns” about Bosa’s long-term status and expects him ready for the Week 1 opener against the Los Angeles Rams. Joint practice sessions brought physical play and multiple altercations between the San Francisco 49ers and the Tennessee Titans before both squads are scheduled to face each other in preseason action Thursday. The two teams were reportedly involved in four separate scrums during the first 10 minutes of their joint session, NBC Sports Bay Area reported. One of the altercations was reportedly initiated following a hit by 49ers cornerback Renardo Green on receiver Wan’Dale Robinson. This led to immediate responses from players on both teams before coaches stepped in to separate the groups. Chicago Bears safety Coby Bryant has undergone knee surgery following a recent training camp injury, significantly shifting his recovery timeline. He is now expected to miss four to six months while recovering from the procedure, the team announced. Chicago remains hopeful that the veteran defensive back could return in time for a potential postseason run. Bryant signed a three-year, $40 million deal with the Bears this offseason after winning the Super Bowl last season with the Seattle Seahawks. With Bryant now sidelined, the defense will be looking at Oregon first-round pick Dillon Thieneman, Cam Lewis, Elijah Hicks and Xavier Woods to fill out the safety room. The Arizona Cardinals are heading into the season with plenty of question marks, but that won’t stop head coach Mike LaFleur from playing his starters in the preseason. He revealed to the media on Monday afternoon that he plans to play all of his starters on Thursday night. Not only will rookie running back Jeremiyah Love finally see some game action, but veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett will also take the field. “They’re all going to play, so we’ll have our guys out there,” LaFleur said. “How much? It’s not going to be much. Could be one drive, max of two for those main guys. They’ll be playing and they know that…that includes Jacoby [Brissett].​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Patrick Mahomes’ place atop FOX Sports’ Nick Wright’s NFL quarterback power rankings has been so consistent the segment adopted his name. And, in Wright’s opinion, Mahomes continues to be the king of the mountain as the 2026 NFL season approaches. FOX Sports’ Chris Broussard, however, felt otherwise. Other questions consist of, can Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford repeat his MVP form? How far has Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson fallen? Who will continue to ascend toward the summit? Mahomes is on the peak for now, but will Mahomes Mountain retain its rightful leader, or will another quarterback claim the top spot? In Wright’s first edition of “Mahomes Mountain” this season, he’s confident there are “18 or 19 teams that feel pretty good about their quarterback situation.” The bottom rung aren’t part of that group. 8th Row “Either young, unproven players or guys you don’t feel comfortable being your starting quarterback,” Wright said. While both quarterbacks competing for the Atlanta Falcons’ starting job made the list, only one half of the Cleveland Browns’ competition was included. No DeShaun Watson. “I don’t think it’s a real competition,” Wright said. “If DeShaun Watson’s the starting quarterback, I think it’s because the owner made him do it… It’s pretty clear who [Todd Monken] likes more, it’s pretty clear who has more upside — even though I’m not a Shedeur [Sanders] guy — it’s pretty clear what the best thing for the Browns is.” 7th Row The seventh row consists of a group with the potential to make their teams feel good about the quarterback position, but also the chance to destroy their season with poor quarterback play. That list includes: Daniel Jones, Cam Ward, Tyler Shough, Jaxson Dart, Bryce Young, Kyler Murray, Aaron Rodgers. “[Cam] Ward, [Tyler] Shough and [Jaxson] Dart…They’re too young to have proven anything,” Wright said. Ward will get boosted with the addition of Wan’Dale Robinson and Carnell Tate at hideout, while Dart will get the experience of John Harbaugh in his ear. Shough will get a full season under his belt with the addition of rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. Wright, however, isn’t as optimistic about whom the Minnesota Vikings named their starting quarterback on Tuesday. “I’m not a Kyler Murray guy, you guys will see how this year goes,” Wright said. 6th Row Wright left two vacant spots on the sixth row, “because this is the line of demarcation on if you’re set at quarterback, believe you’re set at quarterback, or have a potential problem.” He believes these quarterbacks have proven themselves, but aren’t solidified as reliable week-in and week-out starters. Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels, Brock Purdy and C.J. Stroud “Stroud is borderline, but the three playoff wins…the playoffs every year and the great rookie season,” Wright said. “I’m not putting him down in the other group.” 5th Row Wright’s fifth row is the definition of solid. The quarterbacks Wright listed know who they are, and their teams are confident in what they have. Still, they lack the superhero traits possessed by the quarterbacks Wright ranks above them. 4th Row Each of these quarterbacks, according to Wright, are “clearly top-10 quarterbacks.” Joe Burrow and Dak Prescott have supported their teams even as the defenses have struggled. Trevor Lawrence and Sam Darnold led their teams to success after being doubted in most of their careers, with Darnold taking the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory last season. 3rd Row “Three guys that either are already superheroes… and two guys with superhero talent.” Jackson dropped to 14th among quarterbacks in ESPN’s top 100, but Wright believes he’s securely in the top 10. “I have some pretty well established concerns about Lamar [Jackson] in the playoffs, and concerns about Lamar not being a consistent rushing threat, but the idea that he’s not still a top 10 quarterback in the league is total absurdity.” “And then you have two guys that, I believe, are going to be perennially top 5 quarterbacks throughout their prime. Maybe this year Drake’s already in it. Maybe Caleb’s entering it… I think they’re star quarterbacks.” “We are in an era of the best quarterbacks having these superhero athletic traits that make it very hard to be atop the mountain if they don’t have one of those. I think Caleb Williams and Drake Maye have those.” 2nd Row Chris Broussard believes Stafford should jump up the list. “Mahomes should not be atop the mountain right now,” Broussard said. “He’s coming off the worst season of his career. He’s coming off the worst injury of his career. His receiving core doesn’t look special… And his last three years, individually, he doesn’t look great. Stafford should be atop the mountain right now.” 1st Row “I believe Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in the NFL. Did he have the best season? Nope. Is he coming off a torn ACL? Yep. Did Matt Stafford have an unbelievable year? Yeah. Did Josh Allen have a pretty good year until the playoffs? Sure. Those guys had the opportunity to go out and grab it, and they didn’t. They didn’t. So, still atop the mountain is a guy who, god forbid, has made five of the last seven Super Bowls, god forbid, three people have won an MVP more recently than him.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports