MORE: MLB Power Rankings, every team ranked worst to first as August ends

Kelenic gets another opportunity

Kelenic was once considered one of the best prospects in baseball. The New York Mets selected him No. 6 overall in the 2018 MLB Draft, but he was traded to the Seattle Mariners that offseason as part of the deal that sent Robinson Canó and Edwin Díaz to New York.

The 27-year-old has now played for four MLB organizations, appearing with the Mariners, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers. He became a free agent after declining a Minor League assignment from Texas.

Kelenic’s Major League career hasn’t lived up to the enormous expectations that followed him into professional baseball. In 443 career games, he owns a .211 batting average and .654 OPS, with 50 home runs and 162 RBI.

MORE: Jacob Misiorowski makes MLB history, becomes first pitcher in 41 years to accomplish feat

Yankees provide low-risk landing spot

Kelenic has struggled in the Majors this season, hitting .219 with one home run and six RBI in 36 games between the White Sox and Rangers. However, he has shown considerably more production in the Minors.

In 37 games with Triple-A Round Rock this season, Kelenic hit .373 with a 1.102 OPS, showing that there is still plenty of offensive ability in his bat.

That’s what makes the Yankees’ decision intriguing.

New York doesn’t need to immediately put Kelenic on the Major League roster. Instead, he can report to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, get regular at-bats and try to rebuild some confidence while providing the organization with additional outfield depth.

The Yankees recently welcomed Cody Bellinger back from the injured list and are also anticipating Aaron Judge’s return sometime in September, so Kelenic won’t necessarily have an obvious path to the Bronx.

But if he starts hitting, that could change quickly.

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How to Watch Prairie View A&M vs Tarleton State

• Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
• Time: 9:00 PM ET
• Channel: ESPN2
• Stream: Fubo (try for free)

Saturday should be quite the showdown with both teams having incredibly successful 2025 seasons. The Panthers enter 2026 as defending SWAC champions that helped them reach the Celebration Bowl. The Texans enter the season ranked as a preseason Top 5 FCS team and will host the game in front of a home crowd expecting a “Purple Out.”

The Panthers nearly made it to the highest point in HBCU football last fall when they reached the Celebration Bowl for the first time in program history. However, four overtimes against South Carolina State saw their historic run fall just short. Overall, the team finished 10-4 on the season.

The Texans set a program mark last season when they won 12 games and reached the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs for the first time in school history. The school lost, 26-21, to Villanova after getting off to a strong 14-0 lead after the first quarter.

All of last year’s success has the team ranked as the preseason No. 5 team in FCS. 

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How to watch Southern Utah vs Montana

• Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
• Time: 9:00 PM EDT
• Channel: KUPX – Utah 16
• Stream: Fubo (try for free)

Southern Utah is desperate to end a streak of four straight defeats to Montana as the two teams reunite in Week 0 of the new-and-improved Big Sky Conference on Saturday. The Thunderbirds are back in the most entertaining sector of the FCS after migrating from the United Athletic Conference, with a big opening test on their hands in No. 2 Montana.

The Grizzlies made it as far as the semifinals of last year’s championship before being booted out by close rival and eventual title-winner Montana State. Bobby Kennedy is attempting to fill some big shoes left behind by Bobby Hauck after his 15-year spell in charge came to an end, with the former making his head coach debut.

It will be a test of the roster’s resilience to see how this season stacks up compared to last year’s 13-2 record now that Hauck’s tenure is at its end. However, former wide receiver coach Kennedy was part of that same system last season and will hope to keep the fire alive as he moves into a more senior role.

Southern Utah quarterback Will Burns returns this year hoping to generate even more minutes, while transfers Noah Lugo (QB from UTSA) and Lamason Waller II (RB from BYU) add more firepower. The Griz have recruited more muscle on the defensive line, meanwhile, as big men Manase Tupou and Zaiden Wallace prepare to make their debuts for the team.

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How to Watch Alabama A&M vs Howard

• Date: Saturday, August 27, 2026
• Time: 9:00 PM ET
• Channel: ABC
• Stream: Fubo (try for free)

Alabama A&M and Howard are both in the process of rebuilding their programs. Sam Shade is in his second year at Alabama A&M, while Howard hired Ted White to be its new head coach in the offseason. White is a legend at Howard, playing quarterback for the Bison from 1995-99. He still holds the program marks for passing yards (9,808), touchdowns (92) and completions (639).

Last season Howard went 5-7 and 2-3 in the MEAC. The Bison struggled in the run game, going from 172.6 yards per game in 2023 to 123.3 in 2025, and they ranked last in the MEAC in scoring at 19.8 points per game. 

Alabama A&M went 4-8 last season. Cornelious Brown IV will once again be under center after he tore three ligaments in his ankle in Week 6 last season against Jackson State.

Neither school has ever won the contest. Howard is 0-1 in the Challenge, losing 23-13 to Alabama State in 2022.  Meanwhile, Alabama A&M is also 0-1, losing 47-13 to North Carolina A&T in 2014.

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Jacksonville has acquired Quinn Ewers from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2028 NFL Draft, pending a physical.

MORE: Previewing all 16 NFC teams & predicting every record in 2026

Jaguars add another option behind Trevor Lawrence

Ewers, 23, was selected by Miami in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft after a standout college career at Texas. He appeared in four games for the Dolphins as a rookie, making three starts after Miami benched Tua Tagovailoa late in the season.

In those appearances, Ewers completed 55 of 83 passes for 622 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions, finishing with a 66.3% completion rate.

Now, he’ll head to Jacksonville and compete for a backup role behind Trevor Lawrence.

The Jaguars already had veteran Nick Mullens, Carter Bradley and rookie Joey Aguilar behind Lawrence, so Ewers’ arrival creates an interesting situation with the roster deadline approaching.

MORE: NFL predictions: Previewing all 16 AFC teams & predicting every record in 2026

Ewers gets another chance to prove himself

Ewers entered the 2026 offseason with an opportunity to compete for Miami’s backup job, but the Dolphins signed Malik Willis and ultimately moved in a different direction.

His preseason didn’t help his case. Ewers completed just 1-of-8 passes for 27 yards and an interception in Miami’s preseason opener before suffering a groin injury that kept him out of the team’s next two games.

The Jaguars, however, apparently saw enough from Ewers’ rookie season to make the move.

His college résumé remains impressive. At Texas, Ewers threw for 9,128 yards and 68 touchdowns while helping the Longhorns reach the College Football Playoff semifinals in consecutive seasons.

Jacksonville isn’t giving up much to find out whether some of that potential can translate to the NFL.

A sixth-round pick in 2028 is a relatively small price for a 23-year-old quarterback with starting experience, particularly for a team that has legitimate postseason aspirations and needs reliable insurance behind its franchise quarterback.

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She admitted not being comfortable being in front of the microphone but was engaging, funny, and wonderful.

Mrs. Federer shared a funny story of Andy Roddick bemoaning losing a final to Roger after his girlfirend Mirka, who was a tennis player in her early years, warmed him up for the event. She also talked about how they met at the 2000 Sydney Olympics when she was 21 and he was 18.

MORE: Billie Jean King presents Mary Carillo for International Tennis Hall of Fame

Federer was in tears listening to his wife

Roger and his parents broke down in tears listening to Mirka’s words.

She talked about how much better Roger was as a man than as a tennis player.

Roger called his wife “a tough act to follow”

Federer acknowledged his family, the fans, and the legends who were in attendance.

He admitted it was difficult to put everything he was feeling into words.

Roger talked about his start as a ball boy at Swiss Indoors. He thanked the ball kids who were at his matches.

His love affair with tennis began at age 3 when he picked up his dad’s wooden racquet which was very heavy, forcing him to play with a two-handed forehand and backhand.

Roger told the crowd “his mom made it happen.” She worked multiple jobs and supported his career from the start. He also thanked Robbie Federer, his father, “the real RF.”

He always thought of himself as a tennis player, loved the aspect of play in it. Federer thanked his coaches and broke down in tears listing them name by name.

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Carillo was lauded for her preparation including the use of old school black notebooks and her stellar storytelling skills in professional tennis and other sports.

She was celebrated for her ability to let the action speak for itself and knowing when to add her expertise and commentary.

MORE: British tennis stars slam ongoing 2026 US Open marijuana odor problem

Carillo has been around tennis for decades

She started as a player whose career was cut short by bad knees, King said.

Carillo won the 1977 French Open mixed doubles championship with her New York neighbor and fellow lefthander, John McEnroe.

She broke the glass ceiling for female broadcasters by becoming the first full-time female sports broadcaster.

MORE: Tennis royalty flocks to Newport for Roger Federer’s International Tennis Hall of Fame induction

Carillo honored Billie Jean King and the sport she loved

The articulate Carillo was humble in paying her respects for Billie Jean King, the trailblazer of the sport who is busy getting ready for the US Open. She is so honored to be “a drop in this chalice” among the tennis greats in the HOF.

Carillo’s exemplary storytelling skills were on full display in her speech as she conveyed her story.

She humorously recalled playing McEnroe, younger than she was, who she said was so good even as a little kid. Carillo was conveyed that one of her proudest earliest moments was beating her dad at around the age of 10 and added that he did not let her win.

Carillo also recited a poem sharing her take on the greatest rivalries of the sport. She choked up when speaking of her family and the early influences of her career and shared a beautiful story of Al Trautwig and one of her early broadcasts.

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Robert’s season with the Mets has not been atrocious, but it definitely has not lived up to expectations. When on the field he has posted a .229 batting average, .310 on-base percentage and .719 OPS, yet he has appeared in just 56 games due to injury and is clearly not living up to his $20 million salary.

He also has a $20 million club option this offseason that is unlikely to be picked up by the Mets, leading to their decision.

MORE: Juan Soto sends message to former teammate after being traded away from Mets

If a team claims Robert they would be on the hook for his remaining salary this year along with having to buy out his option next year.

That does not make it a guarantee he gets picked up, but it is at least worth a shot by the Mets. The Cincinnati Reds earlier this week placed both TJ Friedl and Eugenio Suarez on outright waivers hoping to save some money but no teams bit.

Regardless, it could be different for Robert given that plenty of contenders could use a right-handed bat off the bench. Here are the three best landing spots.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies are certainly an option. Given they consistently sit near the top of the league in payroll, the extra financial commitment does not appear to be a problem.

As it currently stands, Philadelphia has two expendable right-handed outfielders in Derek Hill and Bryan De La Cruz they could potentially move on from if they see Robert as a better option.

While both have played reasonably well in Philadelphia, the ceiling of Robert, a former All-Star and Silver Slugger, is appealing for a team with World Series aspirations.

Cleveland Guardians

The Cleveland Guardians represent another realistic option. Although they are a small-market team, they could benefit from any offensive upgrade in the outfield, especially in center field.

Cleveland’s current center fielder is rookie Petey Halpin, who across 62 games has posted just a .584 OPS. Robert would certainly be an upgrade as Cleveland fights for the final American League wild card spot and every lineup advantage matters.

Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto, similar to Philadelphia, has the financial flexibility to pull off the move and outfield is a clear area of need.

They lost right fielder Addison Barger for the year and it remains unclear if Anthony Santander will return before the season ends. Toronto is also pushing for the final wild card spot, and Robert could provide a meaningful offensive boost down the stretch.

All three destinations make sense, and Robert’s track record alone should be enough to generate real interest before the waiver deadline passes.

Unfortunately, the Dodgers offense was nonexistent once again and they fell 2-1 with Tigers rookie Kevin McGonigle walking Los Angeles off in the ninth inning.

MORE: Dodgers make an announcement on Roki Sasaki’s injury during Braves game

Snell has dominated since returning from a three-month absence after undergoing surgery on his right elbow, yet he did have a bit of a hiccup in the third inning, allowing the first three baserunners to reach and a run to cross.

He escaped the jam, but in the middle of doing so Snell motioned to both catcher Ben Rortvedt and the home plate umpire during an at-bat.

After a brief discussion with the umpire, Snell jogged back to the Dodgers dugout and spent a minute in the tunnel, during which Tigers manager A.J. Hinch got an explanation for where Snell had gone.

He ran back onto the field moments later, greeted by boos from Tigers fans, tossed a warm-up pitch and continued. It was a bizarre sequence that even left the Dodgers broadcast confused about what had happened.

After the game, Snell provided some clarity on the situation. According to Maddie Lee of the LA Times, Snell was slipping on the mound and had to remove a bandaid covering a blister on his toe.

“Anytime I was pushing, I was slipping, and I thought if I kept doing that, I’m going to hit somebody because I had no clue where the ball was going,” Snell said.

It is unclear if the minor issue contributed to the rough start to that inning, but the damage is done. Regardless, the loss falls on the rest of the lineup for failing to produce in what is turning into an ugly road trip for Los Angeles.

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How to Watch Texas Permian Basin vs UT Rio Grande Valley

• Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
• Time: 8:00 PM ET
• Channel: ESPN+
• Stream: ESPN Unlimited (watch now)

UT Permian Basin enters 2026 ranked No. 18 in both the AFCA and D2Football.com preseason Division II polls after an outstanding 2025 season. The Falcons went 11-3 and reached the Division II national quarterfinals, but they begin a new era this fall with Chris Softley taking over as head coach. Opening on the road against an FCS program gives UTPB an immediate chance to show it remains a Division II contender despite the offseason transition.

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UT Rio Grande Valley enters its second season of football after putting together an impressive debut campaign in 2025, including a perfect 7-0 record at home. The Vaqueros will try to extend that home winning streak against a nationally ranked Division II opponent before traveling to face UTSA the following week. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET on Saturday, August 29, from Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium, with the game streaming on ESPN+.

This is a great college football matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.

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