logo
ENع
#

Latest news with #Sports

Dodgers stars Andy Pages, Will Smith help All-Star cases with solo homers vs. Nationals
Dodgers stars Andy Pages, Will Smith help All-Star cases with solo homers vs. Nationals

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Dodgers stars Andy Pages, Will Smith help All-Star cases with solo homers vs. Nationals

The post Dodgers stars Andy Pages, Will Smith help All-Star cases with solo homers vs. Nationals appeared first on ClutchPoints. Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages and catcher Will Smith continued to add to their All-Star cases with solo home runs in their 7-3 loss to the Washington Nationals on Saturday night. The defending champs are now sitting at 47-31 overall and in first place in the NL West by 3.5 games. While Shohei Ohtani is having another MVP-caliber season, Los Angeles isn't a one-man team, and some under-the-radar players have stepped up their production in 2025. Advertisement One of those players is Will Smith, who, despite being a two-time All-Star, is having the best season of his career so far, posting an OPS that ranks fifth in the MLB. As Smith continues to improve, what has been even more encouraging for the Dodgers has been the breakout campaign of Andy Pages. Los Angeles' third-ranked prospect from a year ago has been one of the best center fielders in the league this season. Through 74 games of action, Pages has a .293 batting average with 16 home runs and 52 RBIs. The 24-year-old is just getting comfortable at this level, and his recent form indicates that the best is yet to come. Dodgers Insider noted in a recent social media post that Pages' this June: '352/.355/.690/1.045, 6 home runs and 16 RBI in 20 games'. Pages went deep in the fifth inning while Smith hit his solo shot in the sixth inning. Unfortunately, neither of those homers was enough to give the Dodgers the win against the Washington Nationals. The Dodgers' starting pitching has taken a hit injury-wise in 2025, but is gradually getting healthier. Shohei Ohtani finally made his debut on the mound for the franchise, and the franchise's newest ace, Blake Snell, and All-Star starter Tyler Glasnow are in line to return sometime in the near future. Los Angeles will have one of the best rotations in the league if all of those guys, along with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, are healthy. Advertisement Overall, the production on Pages and Smith is an excellent sign for this franchise as players like Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman begin to enter the twilight of their respective primes. The National League is completely stacked in 2025 with teams like the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago Cubs looking like legit pennant contenders. The Dodgers will ultimately have to be even better than last year to return to the Fall Classic. But Los Angeles is still justifiably the favorite, and Pages and Smith deserve to be All-Stars this season. Related: Fernando Tatis Jr. smashes crucial 107.9 MPH bomb vs. Royals Related: Dodgers' Freddie Freeman returns to lineup vs. Nationals

Cardinals' Nolan Arenado gets real on St. Louis' success amid constant trade rumors
Cardinals' Nolan Arenado gets real on St. Louis' success amid constant trade rumors

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Cardinals' Nolan Arenado gets real on St. Louis' success amid constant trade rumors

The post Cardinals' Nolan Arenado gets real on St. Louis' success amid constant trade rumors appeared first on ClutchPoints. St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado got honest about his team's success amid several trade rumors. The Cardinals are one of the hottest teams in the league, having won eight out of their past ten games and making up ground in the NL Central race. St. Louis currently sits at 44-36 overall and is just 2.5 games behind the Chicago Cubs in the division. The Cardinals are also tied with the Milwaukee Brewers in the division and for the final spot in the wild card race right now. Advertisement It's a long season, but this team is in a great rhythm right now, and Arenado knows it. The 34-year-old is one of the greatest third basemen of all time, and while he is no longer in his prime, still a key contributor on this roster. Based on recent comments, it doesn't sound like Arenado wants to be traded anytime soon. In an interview with St. Louis sports reporter Tamar Sher, the veteran infielder broke down his excitement about the Cardinals' current series against the Cubs. 'Just seeing everyone, one through nine, contributing, I like playing baseball like this, against the Cubs, where games matter. As you get older, that's what you want to play for. You don't want to play games just to play games. Individually, I've accomplished some things in this sport, and I just want to accomplish something team-oriented and special now, and win a World Series. This is the most excited I've come to the ballpark, for a series like this in about two years. We've done a really good job establishing that there's a standard to be played here on both sides of the ball, and if you're not bringing it offensively, you can still bring it defensively. And I think that's something we're seeing with this group. They are starting to learn that to be a good player, to be here for a long time, you've got to play both sides of the ball.' The Cardinals have now won the first two games of this series against the Cubs, and head into tonight's clash with a chance to shrink Chicago's lead in the division even more. The MLB trade deadline is about a month away, so the rumors are swirling about whether St. Louis will look to deal Arenado. The eight-time All-Star is set to make $52 million total over the next three seasons and still a quality player in this league. Advertisement Overall, should the Cardinals continue their recent run of form, it'll be difficult for the fanbase if the front office makes any drastic moves. The roster could use some upgrades, particularly with the starting pitching staff and the bullpen, to emerge as a true contender in the NL. But it's clear, looking at Arenado's statements, the vibes are very high right now with this current group, and it would be a great idea to potentially mess them up. Related: 2 Cardinals who must be on trade block ahead of 2025 deadline Related: Cardinals rumors: 2 players with 'no interest' in waiving no-trade clause

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store