Bears to Host Practice at Local High School in August

Fans hoping to attend the walk-through practice at Stevenson HS can register for tickets on July 16 at 10 a.m. CT via Ticketmaster. According to the team’s press release today, tickets will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. The event is open to the general public, and if you’re fortunate enough to get in the digital queue in time, tickets are free of charge.

Things will kick off at 11 a.m. CT with gates opening at 10 a.m. CT. The event, dubbed “Varsity Bears,” will feature “family-friendly, interactive football activations, food and drink offerings, retail opportunities, appearances by Staley Da Bear and entertainment by the Stevenson High School Patriots’ gameday entertainment squad,” the press release read.

If you missed it, Luis wrote last week about the difficulty fans have had securing tickets to Bears Training Camp practices at Halas Hall, and even offered up a few solutions.

The Chicago Bears have a training camp ticket problem.

Sure, there are some tips and tricks that could be helpful for fans wanting to get tickets. But not enough to satisfy the demand. For instance, my favorite hack is getting weekday practice dates while others rush to get weekend passes. But even that didn’t work for me this time around. Heck, now that I’m writing this out, it didn’t even work last year.

If this were just a problem I had, then I’d brush it off as a user error. But it wasn’t just me. I can get over not getting training camp tickets. When it comes to fighting The Great Ticketmaster War, I know that there are some battles you’ll win and some you’ll lose. However, what I will not get over is that my fellow fans are losing out in droves.

If you haven’t checked that out, you should!

USA Today’s Tyler Dragon unearths the best landing spots for 12 notable NFL free agents who remain without teams as we hit the midway point of July. There are a bunch of interesting players and intriguing fits. But when it comes to the Chicago Bears, one stands out above the rest — Jadeveon Clowney.

This is what Dragon had to say about Clowney and the Bears:

“The Bears ranked 31st in pass rush win rate and 26th in run-stop win rate in 2025, per ESPN. Dayo Odeyingbo, who had one sack and 10 pressures in 2026, is slated to start alongside Montez Sweat. The Bears need more pass rush juice on the outside. The 33-year-old Clowney can still set the edge and has some pass rush sizzle left: he’s produced at least 5 1/2 sacks and 41 tackles the past three seasons.”

It’s not as if what Dragon says above is something we haven’t heard before or said ourselves. Chicago’s football team could use some additional depth in the pass-rushing department coming off the edge. Maybe Chicago’s front office will heed the call if enough of us say it out loud

Is Jadeveon Clowney a Perfect Fit for the 2026 Chicago Bears?

Without Jadeveon Clowney, Montez Sweat and Austin Booker are pencilled in as projected starters as of right now. Even if the Bears did sign Clowney, I’d still have Sweat and Booker locked into starting spots. All things being equal, that tandem makes for a solid foundation for building a pass rush. Adding Clowney would make that collection of defensive ends better and allow starters to get a breather without risking an extreme drop-off. To me, that is what makes him a perfect fit.

To be clear, the Bears don’t need Jadeveon Clowney to be a star. What they need is someone who can add another dimension to their pass rush because there are some intriguing pieces already in place.

For instance, Sweat has established himself as a steady and reliable force on the defensive line. And while there might be a vocal segment of Bears fans who don’t think highly of Sweat, his peers (plus those in front offices and on coaching staffs around the NFL) clearly see what the veteran defensive end brings to the table. Meanwhile, Booker finished the football year by flashing strong play down the stretch and during the team’s biggest games. Given that Chicago’s front office didn’t pull the trigger on a big, splashy addition on the outside, it looks like Booker has an extended runway to prove that he can be exactly what the Bears are looking for in the edge rusher department.

As for the rest of the defensive line…

Sure, we could see Dayo Odeyingbo, Gervon Dexter Sr., and Shemar Turner flex out to the edge in a pinch. And I am open to the possibility of someone unexpectedly contributing. But as someone who values a player who has a high floor, I’m interested in Jadveon Clowney as a fit for the Bears.

What’s funny, to me, is that this isn’t the first offseason that we have entertained the idea of the Bears signing Jadeveon Clowney to bolster the pass rush. This is what we wrote in May 2025 about the possible pursuit:

I don’t know if Jadeveon Clowney is a good fit for the Chicago Bears or if he will be on the team’s target list now that he is hitting free agency. We discussed his potential fitin Chicago in 2023. Since then, he has signed with other teams in 2023 and 2024. With that being said, I do know is that Bears General Manager Ryan Poles has publicly expressed his interest in adding help at the edge defender position. And after not doing so in the 2025 NFL Draft, browsing the list of available free agents for help is likely atop what remains of his offseason to-do list.

What’s old is new again!

It irks me that what was written about the Bears’ needs at defensive end is as true in July 2026 as it was in May 2025. Down to the details of the Bears GM expressing an interest in adding help at the position, then not doing so in the NFL Draft. Sigh. I don’t know if Chicago’s football team will pursue Jadeveon Clowney. But based on the team’s needs, they should. However, if history is any indication, they won’t.

A NEW BN BEARS PODCAST EPISODE IS OUT: Apple | Spotify | YouTube

John Alkire II, RHP, Hawaii

A bullpen convert in his senior year at Hawaii, John Alkire II is the Cubs’ only pitching UDFA so far this year. It’s possible the Cubs like him as a true reliever, but it’s also possible there are some raw materials they want a chance to work with on a possible move back into starting work.

Johnny in the Windy City 🔥💨@JohnAlkire35 signs an undrafted free agent deal with the @Cubs.#GoBows pic.twitter.com/AmA95aXyMY

— Hawaii Baseball (@HawaiiBaseball) July 13, 2026

Motivated to follow in the footsteps of father John & uncle Jeff who were both MLB Draft picks, Hawai'i pitcher John Alkire II has embraced a move from being a starter to the team's closer • Through 14.2 innings, the California native has 14k w/ 4 saves • For more 'Bows… pic.twitter.com/g9EV7J2Rqq

— Rob DeMello (@RobDeMelloKHON) March 26, 2026

Hawai'i wins, 10-5, and sweeps the series!
John Alkire II gets the W. #HawaiiBSB ⚾⚾⚾ pic.twitter.com/WMynz0lbj4

— Spectrum Sports HI (@specsportshi) May 4, 2026

#HawaiiBSB closer John Alkire II on notching consecutive saves at the Les, as well as the journey that led him to Mānoa for his senior year of college baseball: pic.twitter.com/Ezt14CdTbN

— Christian Shimabuku (@c_shimabuku) February 21, 2026

Grant Gray, UTL, Riverside City College

A summer ball player the last two years after starting out at UCLA, Grant Gray played in the MLB Draft League this year. He wasn’t drafted, but he nevertheless gets an opportunity to begin his professional career. At the amateur level, he was a true utility guy, playing everywhere on the field.

Grant Gray ➡️ #Cubs

The @Cubs are signing Grant Gray (@TrentonThunder) as a UDFA! ⚡ ✍️

22 G, 3 2B, 11 RBI, 7 R, 4 SB pic.twitter.com/MYV3fqtUaI

— MLB Draft League (@mlbdraftleague) July 13, 2026

Cubs sign Grant Gray (Riverside CC) as UDFA, plenty of physical tools to dream on big league future

— Taylor Blake Ward (@TaylorBlakeWard) July 14, 2026

Introducing…𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐲!

His first career hit is a home run 🤯#GoBruins // B1G+ pic.twitter.com/J85afcU4aV

— UCLA Baseball (@UCLABaseball) March 26, 2025

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2026 AL Cy Young Odds

The AL Cy Young betting board has settled into a defined hierarchy. Sportsbooks have settled on the very top contenders, creating a secondary tier of options with enticing longshot prices.

The Pace-Setter: Cam Schlittler (+120)

Yankees starter Cam Schlittler remains the betting favorite at +120, but his grip on the top spot is loosening. The 25-year-old right-hander has been incredibly reliable, pacing all AL contenders with a 4.1 WAR. Over 118.2 innings of work, Schlittler has put up a stellar 2.05 ERA and a microscopic 0.944 WHIP, while racking up 137 strikeouts. His massive workload gives him a strong foundation, but he has very little room for error with a major challenger right on his heels.

The Surging Challenger: Dylan Cease (+145)

Dylan Cease has been the biggest mover of the summer, now at +145 to win the award. The Blue Jays’ right-hander has been lightning on the mound, weaponizing his high-spin arsenal to pile up a league-leading 148 strikeouts in just 98.1 innings. Though his 2.56 ERA and 1.129 WHIP sit slightly higher than Schlittler’s, Cease’s 3.6 WAR and unmatched ability to miss bats make him a highly dangerous threat to take over the top spot.

The Mid-Tier Pivot: Drew Rasmussen (+1100)

The gap between the top two and the rest of the league has widened, but Drew Rasmussen at +1100 still warrants some attention. The Rays’ right-hander has hit a slight rough patch, seeing his odds slip from +600 as his ERA rose to 3.26. However, Rasmussen still offers a highly respectable 0.946 WHIP and a 1.9 WAR for the AL’s top team. Other candidates like Joe Ryan (+2200) and Jacob deGrom (+2500) are lingering in the background, waiting for the frontrunners to stumble.

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Bet on Pitching Futures Responsibly

Futures markets for major season awards are highly volatile, especially as fatigue sets in during the hot summer months. If you are looking to place a wager, keep these structured strategies in mind:

• Establish a Flat Wager Size: Resist the urge to chase a hot hand by overextending on a single pitcher after a dominant outing. Consistency is key.
• Manage Your Bets Without Emotion: If a pitcher you backed early in the season starts to struggle or lands on the injured list, do not chase your losses by immediately panic-betting the current favorite.
• Prioritize Workload Indicators: Cy Young voters place a high premium on total volume. Focus heavily on core underlying metrics like total innings pitched, WHIP, and strikeout-to-walk ratios rather than basic win-loss records.
• Set App Limits Today: Utilize the responsible gaming tools on your sportsbook app, like deposit limits and time-out periods, before the critical August stretch.

New users must be 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Responsible Gaming Resources

Within the appearance is a story from Epstein that I had not heard before, and would have changed EVERYTHING about Game 7 of the 2016 World Series if a FOX executive had gotten his way:

With Game 7 of the World Series heading to extra innings, but stuck in a rain delay, someone suggested suspending the game and restarting it the next night.

CAN YOU IMAGINE⁉️🤯 @CoronaUSA pic.twitter.com/O9Zz1ZfPjk

— Lovable Reunion (@LovableReunion) July 15, 2026

“I went down and I was called down to a meeting with the Indians GM Chris Antonetti and the commissioner, because you guys might not know this, it’s a cool story, called down for a meeting to talk about the rain delay ….

“But then I go to the little room with Commissioner Manfred and Chris Antonetti and the meteorologists and all the officials, and they were looking at the radar, like, we don’t think it’s going to be too long. I remember Chris and I looked at each other and we were just like, this is unbelievable, I’m exhausted, can you believe we’re here in a rain delay and someone has to lose, someone has to win.

“But then the commissioner got a call, and he takes it, and I’m kind of listening in, and I’m like, that can’t be what I think it is. And he hangs up, and he goes, ‘You won’t believe who that was.’ He’s like, ‘That was the head of Fox.’ He’s like, ‘They were asking about the rain, and they said if we can suspend this game right now and pick it up tomorrow night in primetime, it’s going to be worth like 25 million more viewers or whatever.’ And he was like, ‘As tempting as that is, we can’t do that. This is World Series Game 7.’ But in my mind, I’m thinking, oh, we’d have [Aroldis Chapman] rested instead of him making up curveballs and changeups, he had just gotten through the ninth inning. Everyone knew it would have been bad for us. But Manfred obviously did a great job, said no.”

I can’t even put myself fully back in those shoes to think about how I, personally, would’ve handled having to go home and try to sleep, knowing the game would be resuming the next night. And that’s not even the big thing! The big thing obviously is how differently the game could’ve played out! Who knows if the rain delay really did make the difference for the Cubs (that’s the lore, of course), and if a rested set of teams actually would’ve given the Guardians the edge? I can make arguments in either direction, but I’m glad I don’t have to. Thank you, Rob Manfred, for doing the obviously right thing.

Even if the Cubs win their division, there’s no guarantee they finish with one of the NL’s top two records, which means they’d still land on a three-game Wild Card series to open up October. Skubal obviously increases the odds of winning a series like that dramatically. But for the Cubs, once they hit that brutal losing streak and gave up their once comfortable position in the standings, that particular deal has not felt like the right use of resources.

Instead, it seems eminently wiser to me to use the same prospects to try acquiring a controllable starter who can help fill in some starts next year, as well, when Shota Imanaga, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, and David Peterson will all be free agents *and* Cade Horton will be out.

But obviously, acquiring Tarik Skubal would be exciting. And in one of his latest articles at The New York Post, Jon Heyman identified the Cubs as one of his “prime players,” alongside the Yankees (who have him as their No. 1 target), Rays, and Braves.

Now, to be very clear about what was actually said, Heyman writes that the non-Yankees teams are merely “expected to be among” those prime players. So maybe it’s a little softer than an initial read. But this is the first time in a long time (that I can remember, at least) the Cubs being so clearly mentioned in connection to this particular trade.

So here’s where I stand: There are basically only two scenarios where I think this could make sense for the Cubs. And they’d be even better if they happened together.

(1) The Cubs come out of the All-Star break hot as hell, making up serious ground not only on the Brewers for the division, but as a potential first or second seed. Given where the Braves stand (just 1.5 games ahead of the Cubs), that is sort of the same thing. At least, for now, if you catch the Brewers, you catch the No. 2 seed and the bye.

(2) They intend to go ALL IN at the deadline. As in, you acquire Tarik Skubal, but you also acquire a sure-fire, dominant, shutdown, elite closer plus another pretty good reliever at the minimum. Give yourself a MUCH better chance at winning the Wild Card series, perhaps even in two games, and you can maybe decide it was worth going for it.

Again, if the first happens, I kind of hope the second does too. But neither of these is particularly likely in my estimation.

I think, no matter what, the Cubs will get a starter and a reliever this deadline. Failing to do so would be a mistake. To me, that’s basically them thinking small. Likewise, I think if they decided to “go big,” it’ll be for a controllable starter, not Skubal. But the deadline is later than usual this year, and the Cubs have been playing well lately. They’ll also get Jameson Taillon, Edward Cabrera, Daniel Palencia, and Matt Shaw back soon enough. So some reinforcements are on the way. Maybe they can make up some ground and force Jed Hoyer to do the unthinkable. Will be interesting to follow and to see if Jon Heyman is the only one who connects the Cubs to this particular possibility.

Which is where the draft comes into play.

In recent years, the Cubs haven’t exactly been known for their pitching development. They are great at signing reclamation projects and reviving careers, but not many successful homegrown arms have come out of the farm system. Hoping to fix their pitching development woes, the Cubs decided to go pitching-heavy in this year’s draft, which is something that VP of Scouting Dan Kantrovitz alluded to last week.

“This year, the reality is we’re probably going to be a little less dogmatic about sticking to that, and realize that practically, to get more good pitching, we just might have to take more pitching … Tyler Zombro and the pitching department will have their fingerprints all over this, which has been a huge help to me … We’ve tried to revisit everything across the board, but honestly, it mostly comes down to investing more of our draft capital in pitching,” Kantrovitz said.

Kantrovitz kept his word, using 16 of the team’s 21 draft picks on pitchers. That feels like an extreme amount, though the Cubs selected 16 pitchers just four years ago in the 2022 draft, which featured notable names such as Cade Horton (1st round), Jackson Ferris (2nd), and Mason McGwire (8th). With how volatile player development and pitching in general are, having even a few arms of note is impressive.

So far, Horton is the only player out of the group to have reached the majors. Ferris was dealt to the Dodgers in 2024 for Michael Busch, now listed as the 10th-best prospect in Los Angeles’ farm system. McGwire was selected to the NL Futures Game roster this year, a fun token of recognition for what’s been a breakout season for the son of former slugger Mark McGwire. It’s fair to say that the 2022 draft has just one success, that being Horton, who technically has only thrown 125.1 innings in the major leagues, but there were at least a few promising selections.

With the Cubs in need of more pitching, it made total sense to draft a lot of pitchers. Although it isn’t an immediate fix to the problem, it’s definitely a start. Using over 75% of their picks on arms increases the odds of multiple success stories, which will boost the quality of the farm system as a whole.

The Cubs clearly prioritized spin and stuff with this year’s draft class, a trend that makes sense when you factor in Tyler Zombro’s role as the VP of Pitching. They also focused mainly on college pitchers, with Dylan Blomker the only prep arm selected by Chicago.

Velocity isn’t something we typically see the Cubs prioritize, but that changed on Saturday with both their first-rounder Cade Townsend and third-rounder Carson Jasa. Both pitchers have fastballs that reach 98 mph, although there’s potential for even more velocity to be found, specifically for Jasa. This is yet another variation from the norm that is not only exciting but also shows that the organization is trying new things to increase its hit rate on draft picks.

A unique but annoying aspect of the MLB Draft is that, unlike other sports, it will likely be years before any of these arms reach the big leagues. Therefore, we may not know until at least 2028 if this new strategy of drafting more stuff-heavy pitchers and more pitchers in general was the right move. We’re still a year away, and this is totally getting ahead of things, but I’ll be interested to see if Kantrovitz and Zombro keep the same trends going next draft, or if events in between now and next July steer them off course.

There were so many other intriguing pitchers taken by the Cubs this year, all of whom Brett listed in his draft recap on Monday. Check that out for more information on what should be a super fun class to follow over the coming years.

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If you plan to place a wager on this heavyweight meeting, let’s look at the match odds, tactical outlook, and where the public money is moving before kickoff.

The Chess Match: Tactics and Rosters

Both managers face distinct challenges heading into this semifinal. England’s backline remains under pressure after a physical quarterfinal run, but the depth of the Three Lions’ squad gives them plenty of tactical flexibility. On the other side, Argentina relies on their trademark midfield work rate to disrupt opponents and transition into quick counter-attacks. With both teams possessing elite playmakers who can change a match in a single sequence, the opening thirty minutes could serve as a feeling-out process. A single mistake could dictate which nation books their plane ticket to the final.

The Journey to the Final Four

Both nations arrive at this stage after surviving physical battles in the quarterfinals, proving they have the mental toughness required of potential champions.

England

The Three Lions entered the tournament with heavy expectations and have shown the grit of a tournament team. After topping their group with minimal problems, England navigated a demanding knockout stretch, including a tense 3-2 victory over Mexico and a gritty quarterfinal triumph over Norway. Jude Bellingham has been an integral piece with his clutch goals, while Harry Kane continues to anchor the attack. Tuchel’s squad has shown it can win both high-scoring shootouts and tight defensive struggles.

Argentina

Argentina has been put to the test all tournament, but continues to find ways to win behind their veteran core. Argentina fought through a demanding group stage and a physical knockout path, relying on defensive organization and clinical finishing from Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez. The aforementioned knockout stages began with an insane 2-goal comeback against Egypt, followed by an extra-time victory over a Swiss squad down a man for much of the 2nd half on. They’ve more than proven to be true contenders to retain the World Cup title.

What the Bookmakers Are Saying

Oddsmakers lean toward the English side today, but the regulation lines point to a close 90 minutes. In the standard three-way moneyline market, England stands as a +165 favorite, with Argentina a +200 underdog, and a draw after 90 minutes priced at +190. Public backing slightly favors the English, with England drawing 55% of the moneyline tickets compared to 45% for Argentina.

If you prefer to wager on a team to advance by any means necessary, including potential extra time or a penalty shootout, the odds sit at -120 for England and +100 for Argentina. As far as scoring goes, sportsbooks expect a tight, low-scoring affair, with the Under 2.5 goals favored at -170, leaving the Over at a plus-money payout of +135.

Anytime Goal Scorer Market

The goal-scorer market features elite attacking options, highlighted by two of the game’s top goal scorers. England captain Harry Kane and Argentina legend Lionel Messi top the board, both at +125 to score.

For the Three Lions, forward options like Ollie Watkins (+185) and Ivan Toney (+190), as well as midfielder Jude Bellingham (+240), provide some value. While Argentina counters with threats of their own, Julian Alvarez (+270) and Lautaro Martinez (+270) are intriguing targets, with midfielder Alexis Mac Allister sitting at +800 to punish England from distance.

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Keeping It Smart: A Note on Responsible Play

Knockout football delivers great drama, which means emotions can alter your judgment during the match. Keep your wagering disciplined and smart with these core ideas:

• Stick to a Strict Budget: Set your exact spending limit before kickoff and never chase losses if the match takes an unexpected turn.
• Account for Extra Time: Remember that standard moneyline bets apply only to the first 90 minutes plus stoppage time. If you simply want to back a team to progress, use the ‘To Advance’ market.
• Keep Live Betting Controlled: The pace of World Cup soccer causes live lines to shift in seconds. Avoid making impulse in-game wagers based on short bursts of momentum.

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Long-time Houston Astros starting pitcher (long-time injured Houston Astros starting pitcher) Lance McCullers Jr. is headed to the Brewers in a trade, per reports:

The Astros are finalizing a deal to send Lance McCullers Jr. to the Milwaukee Brewers, source tells @TheAthletic. Not done yet, but close. First: @brianmctaggart

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 15, 2026

McCullers has a no-trade clause, so he had approve this move. No word on the return, but this should free up some money for Astros to help at Trade Deadline. https://t.co/yva8VOPpXh

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) July 15, 2026

McCullers, 32, is making $17.7 million in the final year of the ill-fated deal he signed with the Astros back in 2022. Since signing, he’s managed just 142.1 big league innings total, with a 5.19 ERA and deteriorating peripherals. He was pitching at Triple-A most recently, and apparently the Brewers believe they have a way to get him back on track after so much underperformance and so much lost time.

I have to believe the price in trade is going to be very minimal at this point, and even that is going to require the Astros to eat some salary.

UPDATE: This definitely has the scent of a Brewers deal now, because it looks like they’ve taken on McCullers and some of his salary (dice roll) in exchange for being able to add another controllable pitcher:

Lefty Colton Gordon is going with McCullers from Astros to Brewers. Crew adding to depth.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 15, 2026

With Quinn Priester out for the year, with Brandon Woodruff potentially out for a long time, with Jacob Misiorowski’s innings skyrocketing, and with Kyle Harrison on the IL for a little soreness, the Brewers probably wanted to add some depth sooner than the Trade Deadline, which is still three weeks away.

Commissioner Rob Manfred suggested that a salary cap is needed long-term to preserve the competitiveness of the league, and the positive momentum that has built up over the past few years.

“We got that momentum by listening to our fans and making changes that you know candidly, the MLBPA was not interested in,’’ Manfred said, per USA Today. “Those changes have paid off in terms of creating that momentum, and the best way to lose momentum is to stand still. We’re doing exactly the same thing that we did with the rule changes, we’re listening to our fans.”

Citing a $441 million gap in payrolls from the highest expenditure to the lowest, Manfred argued that it’s unreasonable to think the competitiveness there is going to be equal (notably without explicitly mentioning revenue-sharing and owner spending). “I have an ownership group that is more united than any group in my entire time in baseball,” he said, which seems like a very strong confirmation that the owners are going to lock things out in December and hold the line on a salary cap system.

MLBPA Director Bruce Meyer, for his part, continues to bang the drum that a salary cap system is neither necessary for the owners nor good for the sport.

“The owners, many of them, want a system that not only guarantees their profits, not only increases their franchise values,’’ Meyer said, “but essentially is a form of subsidized mediocrity, owner protection, protection from competition. Salary cap is the ultimate excuse not to compete. It’s the ultimate excuse for an owner to say, “Gee, I would like to make the team better, but you know I can’t.’ Salary caps are bad for fans. Salary caps prevent teams from doing the things that they believe are in their interest to make the team better.”

The reality is that this fight is going to look a whole lot like this for the next six or seven months – public criticisms that amount to the same things we’ve heard over and over about a cap system in baseball. There won’t actually be any substantive movement by either side until Spring Training approaches, I suspect. At the earliest.