Latest news with #Central
The Advertiser
13 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Are the NEWRL finals teams already locked in? Can Central charge home? Will the upsets continue?
Are the Newcastle Rugby League finals teams already locked in, or will the likes of Lakes or Central charge into the top five? Can one of the surprise improvers in Macquarie and Kurri Kurri shake things up with a few more upsets? Will injuries cruel a side's chances on the run home? They're some of the questions as most teams in the men's first-grade competition enter the back half of their campaigns this weekend. As it stands, South Newcastle (14 points), Wyong (13), Maitland (13), Wests (12) and The Entrance (12) make up the top five, and overall, they have all looked better than the rest. Sixth-placed Cessnock (10) have been too inconsistent, Lakes (8) and Central (8) - who sit ninth and 10th - haven't quite lived up to expectations, while Macquarie (10) and Kurri Kurri (10) - in seventh and eighth - have done better than expected. Northern Hawks (2) remain without a win. Competition leaders Souths, and Cessnock, are the only teams to have played nine games in what is a 16-match regular season for every team. Every other side has played eight, apart from Central and Macquarie who have played seven. But only six points separate the sides placed first to 10th. "It's probably a good reflection that the points system is actually starting to kick in now a few years after its introduction," Central coach Adam Bettridge said on Friday. "It's levelled the comp out really well, and that's a credit to Newcastle Rugby League and everyone else. "It's the hardest and most consistent comp I've seen in a long time. It's good for the game and ... good footy weekly, which is the main thing." Last year's grand finalists, Central are second last after three wins and four losses. But their position isn't totally reflective of how they've started. "Not at all," Bettridge said. "We've played Wests twice, we've played Maitland twice ... we had a tough start to the year, but we've been in every game bar one. I'm very happy with where the squad is at." Only four points, or two wins, outside the top five, that gap could really widen if Central lose a few, or close quickly if they win a few, in their next block of games. Lakes, who are 3-5 this season but one spot ahead, are similarly placed. Central have five games before their next bye, four of which are home games. But their next three are in the space of eight days. After Sunday's clash with Macquarie (seventh), they host Wyong (second) on Wednesday night and then Lakes (ninth) next Sunday. An away game against Souths (first) is followed by another home match against Cessnock (sixth) on consecutive Sundays. It's a month that could determine their campaign. Central won six of their last nine to storm into third last season, and Bettridge remains confident they can be in contention for the finals this year. "With the way the ladder is at the moment, with a lot of teams beating each other, there's a very big opportunity if you string some games together, you can move up the ladder pretty quick," he said. "We've just got to keep focused on ourselves and keep winning. "If we can stay injury-free and get a fair crack at it, I think we can ... go on a bit of a run. But we can't look past this next week." Coming off a 22-14 win over defending premiers Maitland last week, Central have lost forward Ethan Campbell for their next two matches after he accepted a ban for a crusher tackle, but are otherwise full strength. Playmaker Steven Dengate (wrist) remains sidelined. Macquarie enter the 3.15pm match fresh from a bye. In other Sunday games, all at 3pm, Wests host Souths at Harker Oval, Lakes travel to Raymond Terrace to face Northern, and Wyong are at home to The Entrance in the second Central Coast derby for the year. On Saturday, Maitland host Kurri Kurri at 3pm. Are the Newcastle Rugby League finals teams already locked in, or will the likes of Lakes or Central charge into the top five? Can one of the surprise improvers in Macquarie and Kurri Kurri shake things up with a few more upsets? Will injuries cruel a side's chances on the run home? They're some of the questions as most teams in the men's first-grade competition enter the back half of their campaigns this weekend. As it stands, South Newcastle (14 points), Wyong (13), Maitland (13), Wests (12) and The Entrance (12) make up the top five, and overall, they have all looked better than the rest. Sixth-placed Cessnock (10) have been too inconsistent, Lakes (8) and Central (8) - who sit ninth and 10th - haven't quite lived up to expectations, while Macquarie (10) and Kurri Kurri (10) - in seventh and eighth - have done better than expected. Northern Hawks (2) remain without a win. Competition leaders Souths, and Cessnock, are the only teams to have played nine games in what is a 16-match regular season for every team. Every other side has played eight, apart from Central and Macquarie who have played seven. But only six points separate the sides placed first to 10th. "It's probably a good reflection that the points system is actually starting to kick in now a few years after its introduction," Central coach Adam Bettridge said on Friday. "It's levelled the comp out really well, and that's a credit to Newcastle Rugby League and everyone else. "It's the hardest and most consistent comp I've seen in a long time. It's good for the game and ... good footy weekly, which is the main thing." Last year's grand finalists, Central are second last after three wins and four losses. But their position isn't totally reflective of how they've started. "Not at all," Bettridge said. "We've played Wests twice, we've played Maitland twice ... we had a tough start to the year, but we've been in every game bar one. I'm very happy with where the squad is at." Only four points, or two wins, outside the top five, that gap could really widen if Central lose a few, or close quickly if they win a few, in their next block of games. Lakes, who are 3-5 this season but one spot ahead, are similarly placed. Central have five games before their next bye, four of which are home games. But their next three are in the space of eight days. After Sunday's clash with Macquarie (seventh), they host Wyong (second) on Wednesday night and then Lakes (ninth) next Sunday. An away game against Souths (first) is followed by another home match against Cessnock (sixth) on consecutive Sundays. It's a month that could determine their campaign. Central won six of their last nine to storm into third last season, and Bettridge remains confident they can be in contention for the finals this year. "With the way the ladder is at the moment, with a lot of teams beating each other, there's a very big opportunity if you string some games together, you can move up the ladder pretty quick," he said. "We've just got to keep focused on ourselves and keep winning. "If we can stay injury-free and get a fair crack at it, I think we can ... go on a bit of a run. But we can't look past this next week." Coming off a 22-14 win over defending premiers Maitland last week, Central have lost forward Ethan Campbell for their next two matches after he accepted a ban for a crusher tackle, but are otherwise full strength. Playmaker Steven Dengate (wrist) remains sidelined. Macquarie enter the 3.15pm match fresh from a bye. In other Sunday games, all at 3pm, Wests host Souths at Harker Oval, Lakes travel to Raymond Terrace to face Northern, and Wyong are at home to The Entrance in the second Central Coast derby for the year. On Saturday, Maitland host Kurri Kurri at 3pm. Are the Newcastle Rugby League finals teams already locked in, or will the likes of Lakes or Central charge into the top five? Can one of the surprise improvers in Macquarie and Kurri Kurri shake things up with a few more upsets? Will injuries cruel a side's chances on the run home? They're some of the questions as most teams in the men's first-grade competition enter the back half of their campaigns this weekend. As it stands, South Newcastle (14 points), Wyong (13), Maitland (13), Wests (12) and The Entrance (12) make up the top five, and overall, they have all looked better than the rest. Sixth-placed Cessnock (10) have been too inconsistent, Lakes (8) and Central (8) - who sit ninth and 10th - haven't quite lived up to expectations, while Macquarie (10) and Kurri Kurri (10) - in seventh and eighth - have done better than expected. Northern Hawks (2) remain without a win. Competition leaders Souths, and Cessnock, are the only teams to have played nine games in what is a 16-match regular season for every team. Every other side has played eight, apart from Central and Macquarie who have played seven. But only six points separate the sides placed first to 10th. "It's probably a good reflection that the points system is actually starting to kick in now a few years after its introduction," Central coach Adam Bettridge said on Friday. "It's levelled the comp out really well, and that's a credit to Newcastle Rugby League and everyone else. "It's the hardest and most consistent comp I've seen in a long time. It's good for the game and ... good footy weekly, which is the main thing." Last year's grand finalists, Central are second last after three wins and four losses. But their position isn't totally reflective of how they've started. "Not at all," Bettridge said. "We've played Wests twice, we've played Maitland twice ... we had a tough start to the year, but we've been in every game bar one. I'm very happy with where the squad is at." Only four points, or two wins, outside the top five, that gap could really widen if Central lose a few, or close quickly if they win a few, in their next block of games. Lakes, who are 3-5 this season but one spot ahead, are similarly placed. Central have five games before their next bye, four of which are home games. But their next three are in the space of eight days. After Sunday's clash with Macquarie (seventh), they host Wyong (second) on Wednesday night and then Lakes (ninth) next Sunday. An away game against Souths (first) is followed by another home match against Cessnock (sixth) on consecutive Sundays. It's a month that could determine their campaign. Central won six of their last nine to storm into third last season, and Bettridge remains confident they can be in contention for the finals this year. "With the way the ladder is at the moment, with a lot of teams beating each other, there's a very big opportunity if you string some games together, you can move up the ladder pretty quick," he said. "We've just got to keep focused on ourselves and keep winning. "If we can stay injury-free and get a fair crack at it, I think we can ... go on a bit of a run. But we can't look past this next week." Coming off a 22-14 win over defending premiers Maitland last week, Central have lost forward Ethan Campbell for their next two matches after he accepted a ban for a crusher tackle, but are otherwise full strength. Playmaker Steven Dengate (wrist) remains sidelined. Macquarie enter the 3.15pm match fresh from a bye. In other Sunday games, all at 3pm, Wests host Souths at Harker Oval, Lakes travel to Raymond Terrace to face Northern, and Wyong are at home to The Entrance in the second Central Coast derby for the year. On Saturday, Maitland host Kurri Kurri at 3pm.
The Hindu
19 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Missed opportunity: on India, the terror fight and the SCO
The Qingdao meeting of Defence Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), that ended without a joint communiqué, indicates trouble within the 10-nation grouping. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was forced to withdraw from the joint declaration as it contained no reference to terrorism at the behest of 'one nation' — a reference to Pakistan. This is understandable, given that the meeting comes just weeks after the Pahalgam attack, and Operation Sindoor, after which India's resolve to fight terrorism has redoubled. What sounds more surprising is that not only did the draft resolution fail to mention terrorism but member-states including host China and Russia had even reportedly considered referring to 'disturbances in Balochistan', at the instance of Pakistan, while leaving out mentions of the Pahalgam attack and cross-border terrorism, that India asked for. This is stark given that the SCO's founding Charter in 2002 focused on the need to build 'mutual intraregional efforts to curb terrorism, separatism and extremism', and the Director of SCO's signature Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure was present. Statements by the SCO Secretariat and the Chinese Foreign Ministry stuck to anodyne statements such as '...cooperation ...on modern security challenges and threats'. All eyes will now be on the SCO Foreign Ministers' July meet and the SCO Summit in August-September to see if India's concerns are more appropriately addressed. New Delhi must study whether there are shortcomings in delivering its message on the three-pronged 'new normal' Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced after Operation Sindoor. In particular, China's unhelpful role as Chair on the issue is disquieting, given its recent thaw with India. Unlike the SAARC grouping, where India held sway, the SCO is more focused on the original founders China, Russia and Central Asian States. Mr. Singh's participation followed closely on the heels of India disassociating itself from a statement on Israel's June 13 attack on SCO member Iran as it was critical of Israel. Post-Operation Sindoor, the government sent parliamentary delegations to 32 countries, but not to any SCO member-country. It is possible that the government lost a chance to give the grouping any prominence by doing so, although External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar chaired a meeting of the India-Central Asia forum in June. India's decision to skip hosting an in-person Summit of the SCO during its turn in 2023 could also still rankle. Breaking with the grouping, which is an important regional forum, will simply leave an open platform for Pakistan. Instead of crying foul, the government must convince members that their interests lie in strengthening cross-regional support against terrorism.
Fox Sports
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
MLB Roundtable: Which team should be a seller at the trade deadline?
The 2025 MLB trade deadline is just over a month away and the league's buyers and sellers are starting to become clear ahead of July 31. In this week's roundtable, FOX Sports MLB reporters Rowan Kavner and Deesha Thosar look at one team that could sell high on their talent, and marvel at the season Cal Raleigh is having: 1. The Twins are under .500, again. They've been outscored on the season, and entered play on Tuesday 1-9 in their last 10. Is it time to shop Byron Buxton, who is 31, thriving and signed through 2028 for just $15 million a season, to see if his departure can power the next quality Twins' team? Kavner: I'm not quite to that point yet. It also doesn't sound like Buxton wants to leave, and with a no-trade clause, he has the keys to that decision. Now, it doesn't happen often when a player has a chance to go to a better situation, but there are examples of it (hi, Eduardo Rodriguez). The Tigers are already running away in the Central, but the Twins are only a couple games out of a wild-card spot right now. And despite Buxton's affordable contract, I can't see a world where they get enough value back to make it worth it losing him. I think they're better off looking for trade partners for Willi Castro, Harrison Bader or Chris Paddack, hoping Carlos Correa gets hot in the second half — things have been trending in a better direction there, despite the team's woes — and seeing what happens when Royce Lewis gets healthy again. They could even consider dealing Jhoan Duran, who should be able to fetch a significant package back if recent deadlines are any indication, and let Griffin Jax slide into the closer role. Their bullpen woes of late may deter them from doing that, though. Thosar: Maybe I'm misreading the market and how other veteran outfielders are valued these days, but I just don't think the Twins would net this massive and quality return that could power the next Twins' team. Obviously, it wouldn't be the sort of organization-altering package the Nationals received for trading Juan Soto, but even getting a couple of valued prospects in return for Buxton doesn't make a lot of sense to me. That the Twins owe Buxton just $15 million annually is a steal, even more so when he's healthy and putting up career numbers like he is this season. Plus, Buxton is a homegrown Twin. Shopping a franchise player and fan favorite of Buxton's magnitude just for a mid-level prospect haul that may or may not pan out seems like too much risk that ultimately isn't worth the reward. I think if the Twins are going to win, they have to do it with Buxton. 2. The Reds' Elly De La Cruz led the majors in strikeouts in 2024, with 218 of them, thanks to striking out over 31% of the time. He's down to 25% in 2025, though, and in the last month as his bat has woken up, is actually under 20%. Are we seeing the 23-year-old come into his own as a star? Kavner: I sure hope so — there's no one more fun to watch on a baseball field — but this year has been a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde situation. We know the MVP potential he possesses, but through his first 40 games (.712 OPS, five homers, 28% strikeout rate), that's not what we saw. In the 41 games to follow (1.011 OPS, 13 homers, 23.1% strikeout rate), it's improved. I think we need to see him sustain this success through at least the rest of the first half to feel confident that the latter is what we should expect the rest of the way, and he also has work to do defensively (-6 outs above average) to get back to the level he was playing at shortstop last season (+14 OAA). We know what he's capable of, and the swing decisions over the last month are certainly encouraging. I hope it sticks. When he's going the way he's capable of, he's as dynamic a position player as anyone in the sport. Thosar: It's certainly been nice to see De La Cruz step into his own, particularly this month, and account for nearly 30% of the Reds' runs scored while, as mentioned, improving his discipline at the plate. I still believe he needs to put up these kinds of numbers consistently across the whole season before he truly finds his stride. The danger right now is that as soon as his strikeout rate climbs back up, which happens even to the game's most elite hitters like Aaron Judge, there will be more attention and nitpicking happening than necessary because De La Cruz is carrying the Reds offense. It just seems like if he runs into a slump, so will Cincinnati. The lineup needs more balance, and I think help from a supporting cast will alleviate any pressure and allow him to unlock another level. 3. June is nearly at its end: which team with players worth trading should get a headstart on next month's trade deadline and wave the white flag first? Kavner: If the Marlins get a deal they like for Sandy Alcantara or Edward Cabrera, they don't need to wait. But the most obvious sellers right now don't have a ton of particularly intriguing pieces to deal. So in terms of the teams who could really shake up the deadline, I think the Adley Rutschman injury should trigger white flag time in Baltimore. Every time the Orioles start to seem like they might get something going, they remind us this year needs to be thrown directly into the nearest trash bin. Go see if you can turn Ryan O'Hearn and Cedric Mullins into pitchers who could help in the near future. Listen to offers on every rental on the mound (there are a lot). See what Felix Bautista could fetch. Get something positive out of what appears to be a lost year. They have a lot of pieces that should interest contending clubs. Thosar: The Marlins! Sandy Alcantara should already be wearing a different uniform, although it's reasonable for contending teams to be slightly cautious to trade for him due to his 6.69 ERA. But, he's improved of late, posting a 2.74 ERA with 19 strikeouts and just two home runs allowed across four starts this month. And this is a former Cy Young winner we're talking about. It has always seemed like a change of scenery would only boost his performance, and he's been involved in trade rumors for the past few summers now. For opposing teams, the best time to trade for him was actually earlier in the year, when he hadn't yet figured it out and would've been more of a bargain as a result. Alcantara is under team control through the 2027 season, so the price tag will definitely be high, but the Marlins are just wasting the 29-year-old's talent by holding onto him, rather than elevating their farm system by trading him. Teams like the Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs, and Mets should all be interested in Alcantara right now. 4. Since hitting their season nadir after losing the first game of a May 24 doubleheader to the Red Sox, the Orioles are 18-10. With so much season left, are you buying them as making noise in the AL wild card race, or is this more small sample noise than anything? Kavner: As you saw in that last section, I'm out. They've now lost back-to-back series, I still don't trust this pitching staff, their offense has yet to click and now Rutschman is out. They have a lower winning percentage than the Marlins. FanGraphs gives them less than a 3% chance to make the playoffs. A terrible offseason set the tone for the abysmal first half. Pack it up and try again in 2026. Thosar: Speaking of Alcantara, the Orioles should be a darkhorse candidate to acquire the ace because it would help their chances for this year and beyond. That he's under team control through 2027 aligns perfectly with the Orioles' youth movement and window to win. Now, do I think the 2025 Baltimore Orioles are a World Series team? No, I do not. But, crazier things have happened as recently as 2023, when the Arizona Diamondbacks shocked the world and went to the Fall Classic. The club getting hot and the front office adding the right pieces at the trade deadline, with an ace-level starting pitcher being of utmost importance, just might give the O's the lift they've needed ever since they let Corbin Burnes walk away in the offseason. No matter how hot they get this year, the Orioles' biggest problem is that they're competing in the same division as Judge's Yankees. New York is hungry to get back to the World Series, and Baltimore will have to make some bold decisions and take more risks to get in the Bombers' way. 5. Every home run that Cal Raleigh hits between now and the break extends the record for homers by a switch-hitter and a primary catcher before the All-Star Game. Gut check: does he break the single-season home run record for catchers — 48 — currently held by Salvador Perez? [RELATED: Inside Cal Raleigh's historic rise with the Mariners] Kavner: He shatters it. Raleigh's on pace to hit more than 60 home runs, and I expect him to comfortably pass the 50-homer mark. While some catchers are prone to a second-half dropoff given the taxing nature of their position, Raleigh is not among them. As I wrote about this week, while it might be ludicrous to expect him to continue at this pace, Raleigh has produced better results in the second half of the season every year of his career. He has demonstrated that he knows how to hold up physically for the full marathon. Just last year, he launched 20 home runs in his last 72 games of the season. He's already at 32 dingers, and the Mariners still have 82 games to play. I'd be stunned if he doesn't launch 16 more. We may well be witnessing the best season from a catcher ever. Thosar: Yes. I think he will break the record because he looks absolutely unstoppable right now. As exciting as it would be to watch him slug in Atlanta in a few weeks, Raleigh should stay far away from the Home Run Derby in case it zaps his momentum and leads to fatigue or injury. Though, it sounds like if MLB asked him to participate, he would do it. So I think there's a chance his involvement in the Derby, depending on how many rounds he goes, could negatively impact the chance of him breaking Perez's record. But it might not! The way that Raleigh is hitting right now, I'm not counting him out of anything. Deesha Thosar is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar . Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner . recommended Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Business Wire
19 hours ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Power Grid Components Announces Newell's Partnership with GAMMA Insulators for Composite Distribution Insulators
BESSEMER, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Power Grid Components ('PGC'), a Blackstone portfolio company, is pleased to announce an exclusive agreement between its subsidiary, Newell, and GAMMA Insulators ('GAMMA'). As part of this agreement, Newell will expand its product line to include GAMMA's composite distribution insulators for the North American market. This strategic addition reflects PGC's commitment to strengthening its commercial capabilities and supporting the evolving needs of customers in the North American utility sector. 'GAMMA's expertise in producing high-quality insulators will be instrumental in enhancing our capabilities to service customers in the North American market." Share 'At PGC, we seek manufacturers who share our values and our commitment to delivering reliable products for the growing electrical grid,' said Rick Stanley, President of Newell. 'GAMMA's expertise in producing high-quality insulators will be instrumental in enhancing our capabilities to service customers in the North American market. By leveraging GAMMA Insulators' manufacturing capabilities in Colombia, this strategic agreement significantly strengthens Newell's nearshoring efforts. This move ensures more reliable service through reduced lead times, improved logistics, and greater control over our supply chain, ultimately benefiting Newell's North American customers. Furthermore, GAMMA's unique offering of porcelain F-neck and aluminum F-neck line posts differentiates Newell's offerings from the current market.' GAMMA brings over 60 years of experience in insulator manufacturing with a proven track record as a leading producer in the Central and South American markets. 'GAMMA has been a leading producer of insulators for over 60 years,' said Claudia Arango Botero, General Manager, Energy Business, at GAMMA. 'In this new chapter, we look forward to continuing to provide leading engineered products and adding capacity and service capability to the PGC commercial teams.' PGC remains focused on expanding its product lines within the electrical grid segment. These products are used in mission-critical applications with a strong focus on electrical substations and overhead distribution lines. About Power Grid Components: Power Grid Components, Inc. was formed by electrical utility veteran Rick McClure in 2017 to acquire and grow companies that supply products used in the North American electric power grid and adjacent industries. Since its founding, PGC has acquired eight businesses. Today, PGC is a supplier of high-voltage disconnect switchgear, high-quality porcelain and glass insulators, instrument transformers, outside plant hardware, controlled switching devices, power distribution products, and fixed-load transformers. Power Grid Components About Newell: A decades-long preferred manufacturer and supplier of solid core station posts, Newell has expanded its product line to include overhead line products. The company now has one of the broadest porcelain offerings in the United States, with products that include station posts, line posts, transmission suspension and distribution insulators, and apparatus porcelain. All Newell products meet or exceed ANSI, IEC, and IEEE standards, ensuring the highest levels of quality and reliability. Newell About Gamma: GAMMA Insulators, a subsidiary of Corona, is a leading manufacturer of electrical and utility line products based in Colombia. GAMMA specializes in isolation equipment and solutions for electric utilities, equipment manufacturers, and distributors. With over 60 years of experience, GAMMA Insulators operates state-of-the-art, ISO-certified manufacturing facilities to produce high-quality solutions for the global utility market. Gamma
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cardinals Back on the Road Following Split with Cubs
Cardinals Back on the Road Following Split with Cubs originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Vibes couldn't have been higher for the Cardinals following an 8-7 win over the rival Cubs on Tuesday night. The win put them just 2.5 games out of first place in the NL Central. Advertisement The final two games of the four-game set went nothing like the first two, though, as the Cubs picked up two shutout victories to split the series. With that, the Cardinals find themselves in the same spot they were in prior to the Cubs series, 4.5 games out of first place. The Cardinals (44-38) will now travel to Cleveland for a three-game series with the Guardians, who are 40-39 and currently occupy second place in the AL Central. Cardinals outfielders Lars Nootbaar, Alec Burleson, and Victor Scott II celebrate a Curry-Imagn Images Friday, June 27, 6:10 p.m. CT How to watch/listen: Apple TV+, KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM Probable starters: Cardinals: Sonny Gray (7-2, 3.72 ERA) Guardians: Luis L. Ortiz (4-8, 4.30 ERA) Advertisement Saturday, June 28, 3:10 p.m. CT How to watch/listen: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM Probable starters: Cardinals: Miles Mikolas (4-5, 4.31 ERA) Guardians: Slade Cecconi (3-3, 3.38 ERA) Sunday, June 29, 11:05 a.m. CT How to watch/listen: Roku, KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM Probable starters: Cardinals: Matthew Liberatore (5-6, 3.96 ERA) Guardians: Logan Allen (5-5, 4.25 ERA) What to watch for: 1. Is Lars Nootbaar healthy? After connecting for a two-run homer in each of the first two games against the Cubs, Nootbaar sat out for the remainder of the series after receiving an anti-inflammatory shot to help ease some pain he was having in his rib cage. The Cardinals went scoreless over the next 18 innings without him in the lineup. Nootbaar is expected to be available for tonight's game. Advertisement 2. Future Hall of Fame third basemen square off Nolan Arenado and José Ramírez are two of the premier third basemen in baseball and have been for a long time. Arenado has been one of the best defenders in baseball this year and seems to have figured things out at the plate as of late. Meanwhile, Ramírez appears to be headed to his fifth straight MLB All-Star Game, as he's having another incredible year on both sides of the ball. 3. Sonny Gray faces familiar foe Sonny Gray is no stranger to facing Cleveland. The veteran right-handed pitcher, who spent two years in the AL Central with the Twins, has faced the Guardians 19 times in his career. In those 19 starts, he's 6-5 with a 3.47 ERA and 100 strikeouts. Friday night's game will mark Gray's first start against the Guardians as a Cardinal. Advertisement Related: Cardinals Escape With Win After Pete Crow-Armstrong Mental Blunder Related: Cardinals' Prospect Joins MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Amid Breakout Season This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
