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Happy Hump Day!  It’s a great day for an entire day of major league baseball. 

If you want to get in on the action, I’ve found a couple of appealing plus-money strikeout props for you to consider: one for the afternoon and one for the evening slate. 

Let’s have some fun!  

MLB Best Bets Today

Framber Valdez under 4.5 K (+120) at San Francisco Giants

After three games without a win, Everton now reportedly want to address one of their concerns by signing a talented forward when the January transfer window arrives.

Everton's early Premier League concern

The Toffees initially got off to a positive start and even saw summer signing Jack Grealish pick up the Premier League Player of the Month award in August. Since then, however, David Moyes’ side have stuttered for the first time – failing to win in three games.

Defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup was a particularly disappointing game for the Merseyside club, but one that they must bounce back from when West Ham United come to town on Monday night.

Everton’s biggest concern in their recent run has come in attack. They’ve scored just once in their last three games, which was Idrissa Gueye’s Anfield strike, and have watched on as Beto has particularly struggled.

The forward was taken off at half-time for Thierno Barry in the Merseyside derby and the Toffees went on to enjoy a much-improved second period. Whether that will be that for Beto’s starting place will be interesting to see.

Moyes didn’t hold back when delivering his verdict on the forward earlier this season, telling reporters: “I’ve been a bit disappointed with Beto and I’ve told him.

“We’re needing a bit more and he can do more and he has done more. So we’re hoping we can get a bit more from him, but he’s a really honest working lad and I’m sure he’ll try and prove that tonight.”

Whilst Barry gets up to speed, there’s still a chance for Beto to prove his worth. But Moyes’ patience won’t last forever and speculation is already arriving over a potential move that the Toffees could make to replace their forward in January.

Everton eyeing move for Norwich striker Josh Sargent

As reported by Graeme Bailey and Everton News, Everton now want to sign Josh Sargent in the January transfer window and are keeping tabs on the Norwich City striker, who has been in fine form.

Everton launch first enquiry to sign £265,000-a-week Premier League star in 2026

The Toffees could land a rival star…

By
Tom Cunningham

Sep 25, 2025

The American has been linked with a move away from Carrow Road for some time and could finally earn a route back to the Premier League in January. After scoring six goals in seven Championship games too, it’s clear that he’s good enough to step up.

The Friedkin Group proved that they’re not afraid to spend big in the summer transfer window and could do so once again when the winter window swings open.

Eddie Howe stopped short of getting embroiled in a war of words with Arne Slot after the Liverpool boss labelled Newcastle a “smaller club” when questioning their handling of Alexander Isak. The striker was in the process of regaining his match fitness following his British record transfer in the summer, before sustaining a groin injury in the Reds' victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday.

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  Isak arrived short of fitness after missing Newcastle's pre-season

  After refusing to play for Newcastle in order to force through his £125 million (€144.5m/$169.3m) move to Liverpool on transfer deadline day, Isak arrived at Anfield short of match sharpness. The Sweden international made it clear he did not want to play for the Magpies again, missing the club’s pre-season tour of Asia as well as their opening three Premier League fixtures against Aston Villa, Liverpool and Leeds.

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• Sweden striker sustained groin injury in Liverpool's win over Frankfurt

  Following the completion of his switch to Liverpool, Isak has been slowly introduced into the fold, with Slot mindful of the forward’s lack of a pre-season. However, after starting alongside fellow summer signing Hugo Ekitike in the thumping 5-1 win over German side Frankfurt in the Champions League, Isak sustained a groin problem at Deutsche Bank Park, meaning he is a doubt for his side’s trip to Brentford on Saturday evening.

  "Alexander is not too bad,” said Slot ahead of the Brentford game. “He is a question mark for the weekend so we will see where he is.”

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  Slot questions Newcastle's handling of Isak following injury setback

  Slot’s update follows his previous comments which saw him question Isak’s treatment at Newcastle as the summer saga surrounding his future played out.

  The Dutchman said: “I don't think there's a rule that every single player has the same (pre-season preparation). But it also depends on what he did when he didn't train with the team, what the impact is if you go to a new club as a big signing.

  “So you cannot compare, maybe a player who hasn't trained or played in pre-season at a smaller club than if you go to Liverpool.”

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• Howe refused to get involved in exchange with counterpart Slot

  However, when asked about Slot’s accusations following the injury to Isak, Newcastle boss Howe refused to get involved in an exchange with his counterpart, though he did defend the club’s care of their “elite players”.

  Speaking ahead of his side’s clash with Fulham on Saturday, Howe said: “The set-up here is very good. It is not perfect, we've got things to improve and to grow. But the owners here have developed the facilities since I've been here very, very well.

  “You can see there is building work going on currently to hopefully deliver even better in the future. But I have no complaints. We've got elite athletes here, many of them, and touch wood, we're managing them pretty well at the moment.”

  And when asked if he would “go into bat” and defend Newcastle following Slot’s comments, Howe added: “I like the way you’ve worded that… encouraging me to go into bat!

  “I don’t have to do that, I don’t feel. You’ve done it for me, reeling off all those things! But you obviously know what my answer would be.

  “I don't think that's wise for me to get involved in those discussions. Alex is no longer at this football club, so I won't comment on it.”

An “incredible” manager has now emerged as the leading candidate for the Nottingham Forest job, with Evangelos Marinakis considering sacking Ange Postecoglou.

Ange's future in doubt after terrible start

Ange has made an awful start to life as Forest manager, becoming the club’s first manager in 100 years to fail to win any of his first six games, and things may not improve anytime soon, with some very tricky fixtures on the horizon.

Consequently, it is no surprise the Australian’s future is now up in the air, with the Tricky Trees identifying a number of potential replacements, including Fulham’s Marco Silva, and Rafa Benitez, with the latter recently emerging as a leading candidate.

However, the ex-Liverpool boss is not the only major contender for the job, according to a report from The Telegraph, which states that Sean Dyche has now emerged as the frontrunner to replace Postecoglou in the dugout.

Marinakis is considering parting ways with the 60-year-old, as he is still yet to get a win on the board, and Dyche could be a safe pair of hands, given that he has experience guiding relegation-threatened teams to Premier League safety.

As previously mentioned, Silva has also been considered, alongside Brondby manager Steve Cooper, but with both currently employed, compensation would be an issue, so a move for an out-of-work manager could make more sense.

"Incredible" Dyche could be ideal appointment for Forest

It was always going to be a risk appointing Ange, given that the former Tottenham Hotspur boss is well-known for his attacking style of play, which is completely at odds with Nuno Espirito Santo’s more pragmatic, counter-attacking approach.

Trophy-laden manager open to Nottingham Forest talks after being spotted with Marinakis

The Greek billionaire was in “close proximity” to him very recently.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Oct 10, 2025

The appointment simply hasn’t worked out, and with some tough fixtures coming up, it would not be a surprise to see the 60-year-old face the sack soon, at which point Marinakis may be concerned about Forest being dragged into a relegation battle.

As such, it would be ideal to bring in a proven Premier League manager, who knows what it takes to avoid the drop, meaning Dyche could be perfect, having kept both Burnley and Everton in the top flight over the years.

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has also lauded the 54-year-old, who utilises a 4-2-3-1 system, for the previous work he has done in the Premier League.

Long-term, Dyche may not be the answer, given that he was unable to turn Everton into contenders at the top end of the table, but on a short-term basis, the former Nottingham Forest trainee could make a real impact.

Manchester United are reportedly staring at a major financial headache ahead of next summer, with the club set to miss out on around £10 million ($13M) due to the scheduling of the 2026 World Cup in North America. The global showpiece event, kicking off on June 11, 2026, just 18 days after the Premier League season concludes, has thrown United's pre-season blueprint into disarray.

• 2026 World Cup wrecks Man Utd's plans

  According to the the Red Devils had hoped to embark on another money-spinning post-season tour, similar to their lucrative visits to Malaysia and Hong Kong this summer just gone. That trip, which came right after the conclusion of the campaign, earned the club a tidy £10m windfall. But those plans are now off the table as there simply won’t be enough time between May 24 and the start of the World Cup for the club to travel, train, and recover adequately. The decision is already being described internally as a logistical nightmare, and one that could potentially have knock-on effects on both finances and fan engagement.

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  Friendlies in Saudi Arabia?

  Summer tours are not just about fitness, but they’re an essential revenue stream. Financial margins are tighter than ever at Old Trafford, especially after missing out on European football, and United are desperate to recoup as much as they can.  The club’s commercial department has spent the last few weeks running simulations on whether the World Cup could completely saturate football interest in the U.S. market. The final, which is scheduled for July 19 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, falls right around the time United traditionally kick off their own pre-season tours. This has led United to consider whether they should pivot towards the Middle East, another region where the club has historically drawn massive crowds and sponsorship interest. 

  Talks are reportedly underway to see if a mid-season friendly in Saudi Arabia can be organised, which could bring in a hefty payday. There is indeed a growing appetite to return to Asia next summer, particularly after three consecutive pre-season tours in the United States as part of their £60m ($78m)-a-year deal with Snapdragon. United’s failure to qualify for this season’s Champions League cost them approximately £100m ($130.5m) in potential revenue, including a £10m penalty paid to Adidas, triggered by the performance clause in their record kit deal. That financial strain has put added pressure on the commercial and operations teams to maximise income from every opportunity, including global fan tours.

• Man Utd back in form after struggles

  While meetings and discussions are underway in the boardroom, things on the pitch are finally showing signs of recovery. After a shaky start that saw United win just two of their first seven games, Amorim’s men have stabilised, going four league matches unbeaten following a dramatic 2–2 draw with Nottingham Forest. The Portuguese boss has slowly moulded United into a more cohesive, hard-working outfit by making little tweaks to his preferred 3-4-3 formation, and they are finally reaping the rewards. The team sits eighth in the table, but only two points behind second-placed Manchester City, proof that progress is being made.

  "Ruben’s got a very clear idea. It’s a lot more flexible, the idea, than what people give it credit for," Jason Wilcox said in an interview on the club’s podcast. "We’ve got to start with the end in mind and understand that the game model, how Manchester United are, is really important.  

  "We have to pull the jigsaw pieces together and put the jigsaw pieces together. We would love to have all the pieces in place where we can see a very clear picture, but whilst we’re building the picture, it’s even more difficult when you lose some football matches, because people start questioning things. But myself and Ruben, Omar, the ownership, we’re really clear on the direction of travel, and this is really important."

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  Tottenham next: A chance for redemption for Amorim

  Next up is a blockbuster away clash with Tottenham Hotspur, the same side that denied United silverware in last season’s Europa League final. For Amorim's men, it’s not just about revenge, but it’s about maintaining momentum in a campaign that has demanded resilience. They struggled in the early months but have finally resurrected themselves on the back of a sensational October. The Red Devils will be eager to get another three points and mount a meek title challenge before the international break sets in. 

Game 1 of the New York Yankees-Los Angeles Dodgers World Series will be underway in a matter of hours. There's so much to discuss as these two blueboods square off in their first shared Fall Classic since 1981. Two incredible atmospheres will host all the drama as baseball crowns its ultimate champion.

Joey Votto was asked about the differences between playing in New York vs. playing in Los Angeles on , and his answer didn't disappoint.

"No disrespect to LA, but there is nothing like being in New York with a good Yankees team, at Yankee Stadium. There is nothing like it. I'll tell a quick story. I was in New York at the old stadium. First time. The roster was Jeter, A-Rod, Hideki Matsui, the roster was deep. It was the seventh inning and I was on the field up 3-1 thinking sort of thing. And all of the sudden you could just feel the energy of the crowd. This is a regular season game. You could feel the ghosts. There's no ghosts. I'm not a ghosts believer but you could feel the ghosts inside the stadium."

Votto added that with this Yankees roster replete with stars and the brightest lights descending on the Bronx that there's a chance to create a new aura there.

Time will tell. About a week's time.

Following another evening of wasted chances, Everton have reportedly joined the race to sign Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus, who have set a bargain price for their striker.

David Moyes was once again left frustrated after being held to a 1-1 draw by Sunderland in a game that saw Thierno Barry spurn a clear-cut opportunity to win the game. In the forward’s third start, expectations were high that he could finally kickstart his Everton career.

When the ball arrived at the far post, it looked as though the £27m man was destined to open his account in Merseyside, only for his attempt to find the stands rather than the back of the net. For the umpteenth time this season, the Toffees simply couldn’t find the missing piece to an impressive attacking move.

Moyes didn’t shy away from mentioning the missed chances at full-time either, and will be getting more and more frustrated with his current striker situation.

What really summed up Everton’s striker problem was the performance of Beto when he came from the bench. Whilst Barry was guilty of missing his chance, his replacement simply struggled to get himself into the game.

It’s something that The Friedkin Group must address if they are to push Everton into the top half of the Premier League. Several names have already been mentioned who could solve Moyes’ problem in the January transfer window, but it remains to be seen whether they’ll arrive.

Moyes could be brewing Everton's own Adam Wharton in "abnormal" 18-year-old

Everton could now be brewing their very own version of Crystal Palace midfield sensation Adam Wharton.

By
Kelan Sarson

Oct 31, 2025

Among those mentioned includes Ivan Toney, who will likely need a move back into Europe from Al-Ahli if he is to get into Thomas Tuchel’s England World Cup squad. But he’s not the only name on the list, with Vlahovic’s new bargain price suddenly making him an interesting option.

Everton enter race to sign Dusan Vlahovic

According to TEAMtalk, Everton have now entered the race to sign Dusan Vlahovic, who is now available for as little as €20m (£18m) in January if he fails to sign a new contract at Juventus.

The Serbian striker has been linked with a move away from the Italian club for some time, but could now get his chance to move on courtesy of the Premier League in 2026. Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and West Ham United are also in the race to secure his signature in a bargain move.

If the Toffees want a clinical striker then Vlahovic could be their man. The forward has scored three goals in just 499 minutes of action so far this season – the same as three goals in around 5.5 full games.

Described as “strong” by former Juventus boss Igor Tudor, Vlahovic has also matched his expected goals so far this season, whilst Beto has fallen far behind what he is expected to have scored by this stage. Simply put, Everton would be landing themselves a major upgrade.

Everton also eyeing Nicolas Jackson move

Mauricio Pochettino took a gamble on Reyna, and the midfielder delivered a Man of the Match performance as the USMNT opened November camp with a win.

CHESTER, Pa. – To say Gio Reyna is under pressure is putting it lightly. Everyone knows what’s at stake for him, especially after so long on the sidelines. He needed a moment this camp – something that showed why he could, and maybe should, be at the World Cup next summer. It took four minutes for him to deliver it. His opening goal was the moment of the match on Saturday, but it wasn’t the only one as he helped lead the U.S. to a 2-1 win over Paraguay at Subaru Park.

Reyna's goal came early and, for the oft-discussed midfielder, it surely felt good. Played in by a Max Arfsten cross, Reyna made no mistake with his header, smashing it off the crossbar and in to set a tone for both himself and his team.

"It wasn't perfect. Just honestly happy to be back playing with this group, with this staff," Reyna told Turner Sports after the game. "It was my first header ever, actually. I've been training [on that] at my club, Gladbach, because I'm pretty tall and feel like I can jump pretty well. It's just about timing and technique. So it's starting to pay off." 

Paraguay, however, fired right back, taking advantage of a USMNT breakdown to equalize at one apiece in the 10th minute. Alex Arce, the 30-year-old veteran, provided the finishing touch of a Miguel Almiron assist, one that came as a result of several defensive mishaps on the U.S. side. From there, though, the U.S. settled down before, ultimately, getting their winning goal late on from a familiar goalscorer: Folarin Balogun.

Reyna was once again involved, although he won't technically be credited with an assist. His ball in, though, deflected off a defender and straight to Balogun, who made no mistake in netting his third goal in as many starts for the U.S. Reyna acknowledged he's developed off-the-field chemistry with the U.S. striker. 

"We both can just do a bit of everything," Reyna explained. "I think we just try to get working in training and just speak honestly. I think communication is the most important thing between us. And we have a really, really good relationship, on and off the pitch. So it's eye contact, little things that we've grown to know, to get, get each other, get to know each other. So, yeah, it's great to play with him. Makes my life easy, and I try to help him out too." 

Another win for the U.S., then, who are now unbeaten in four. They've won three of those four and, despite having an obviously weakened lineup, Saturday was the latest of those three. The big story isn't the result, though; it's Reyna, who changed the game on Saturday and offered a reminder that he might just be a player who can change games when they matter more next summer.

GOAL rates the USMNT's players from Subaru Park…

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  Goalkeeper & Defense

  Matt Freese (5/10):

  Nothing he could do on the goal. Had little to do otherwise.

  Sergino Dest (6/10):

  Got forward a whole lot and got back a whole little – which is typical for Dest. Effective, but there were hefty gaps defensively on that right-hand side.

  Joe Scally (6/10):

  Speaking of that right-hand side, he was a bit too high at points, given the player next to him, but he grew into the game. Misread the ball on Paraguay's goal, although he wasn't the only one to break down on that sequence. Still, there were positive signs worth remembering that could lead to Pochettino trying this again.

  Miles Robinson (6/10):

  Lost Arce on the goal as the final breakdown on that goal. Was okay otherwise, particularly on the ball as he grew into the game.

  Tim Ream (7/10):

  Lack of pace was exposed a few times against an athletic Paraguay team. Hit a few stunning cross-field passes, though, and was rock solid outside of that goal sequence.

  Max Arfsten (8/10):

  Fantastic cross in on Reyna's goal. Showed plenty of ability going forward, as he generally does from that wing back role.

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  Midfield

  Tanner Tessmann (7/10):

  In a word? Tidy. Nothing overly crazy, but he was clean on the ball and decent enough defensively. Certainly handled the physicality well.

  Cristian Roldan (6/10):

  Had one great chance that forced a decent save. Not wildly dynamic, but did provide consistency and stability in that midfield spot.

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  Attack

  Gio Reyna (8/10):

  Great header on the goal, which surely felt much-needed. Could have pressed a little better on Paraguay's response, but there's no doubting his ability to impact the game on the attacking side. That popped up again late when he helped set up Balogun's big finish.

  Brenden Aaronson (6/10):

  Got absolutely mauled all through the first half, but kept getting back up. Had a few good moments on the ball, but was generally knocked down before they turned into much.

  Folarin Balogun (8/10):

  Didn't get much service throughout, but did press hard. Was finally rewarded with a good bounce to him for his goal, which was taken well.

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  Subs & Manager

  Alex Freeman (6/10):

  Certainly known for his attacking skill, but did bring a bit more stability on the right once he was thrown into the match. Got into a bit of a scrap at the end, but was nowhere near his fault.

  Diego Luna (7/10):

  Typical from Luna, who made his impact by nearly getting an assist.

  Aidan Morris (6/10):

  Didn't get too many touches after replacing Roldan

  Timothy Tillman (6/10):

  Created a dangerous moment soon after coming on, so kudos to him, especially considering the fact that he was a late call-up.

  Ricardo Pepi (5/10):

  Had a golden opportunity, but took one too many touches to allow Paraguay time to block it away.

  Sebastian Berhalter (N/A):

  Came on late to replace Aaronson. Shoutout to him for jumping right in to defend Freeman, though.

  Mauricio Pochettino (7/10):

  Threw out a strong lineup and was rewarded with a win. He'll be happy with plenty of what he saw, which is the big goal of this camp, isn't it?

Baseball is rapidly careening down a track that could lead to a very dark place.

On Sunday, the Los Angeles Dodgers continued their lavish spending by signing closer Tanner Scott to a four-year, $72 million deal. That move came days after 23-year-old Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki chose to join the Dodgers, which came a few months after the world champions added two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell on a five-year, $182 million contract. That followed a 2023 offseason during which L.A. spent roughly $1.2 billion on contracts. Which came after … you get the idea.

Let me first say the Dodgers are not the problem. The system is. Baseball is facing a jarring division between the haves and have-nots, and there is no sign of it slowing down. The gap between big-market teams and those in medium and small markets is only growing.

Any way you slice it, that is terrible for the game.

The Dodgers have used the financial might of their market to dwarf the competition. In the last 12 months, the franchise has added four nine-figure contracts. Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Snell will combine to make more than $1.3 billion over the course of their contracts, and they all play the same position. Add those deals to the nine-figure agreements signed by Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith, and you've got seven players being paid a combined $2 billion.

Perhaps the most stunning part of L.A.’s spending spree has been the incredible amount of deferred money involved. The team currently has about $1 billion in deferrals still on the books. A common refrain to counter outrage at the concentration of players the Dodgers have hoarded is that any owner and franchise could be doing this. That's far from reality. When the rival San Diego Padres tried to keep up with Los Angeles's spending in 2023, MLB stepped in and all but outright told them to stop.

Fans should expect owners to spend and be competitive, but they can't ask them to lose money on their teams annually. It would be bad business not to at least break even every season. The problem is that thanks solely to geography, the Dodgers and New York’s two teams have a massive built-in advantage.

Manchester City are now reportedly keeping close tabs on one Arsenal star, who Pep Guardiola sees as the perfect fit for his side.

The Citizens have been at their best in recent weeks, with Erling Haaland in his usual ruthless mood. Victory over Liverpool on Sunday would truly cement their title ambitions this season, however, following a tough campaign last time out. It would also represent just how successful their summer transfer was, with the likes of Rayan Cherki now settling into life at the Etihad.

Guardiola, who is set to take charge of his 1000th game in football, told reporters that his City side have to be at their best against Liverpool even after the Reds’ disappointing form in the last month.

The City boss said: “We have to be our best. I know how quickly everything goes here. One week ago, Liverpool, six defeats, was a disaster, won two but now they come back to their best.

“I’m pretty sure all managers take a little time for more perspective and everyone has ups and downs in the competition. I have a higher opinion about Liverpool right now. Last season we were losing six games in seven games, it’s the same.”

Man City "genius" looks like the player Liverpool thought Wirtz would be

This Man City star has outshone Wirtz in less minutes this season

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By
Joe Nuttall

Nov 7, 2025

In previous years, the Premier League title was often decided by this fixture at the Etihad. This time around, though, it looks set to decide Arsenal’s closest challengers following the Gunners’ excellent start.

It’s something that City will be well aware of and they’ve even been impressed enough to take a look at one of Mikel Arteta’s defensive players who could complete a shock exit.

Man City keeping tabs on Ben White

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Man City are now keeping close tabs on Ben White, who Guardiola sees as the perfect fit at the Etihad. The right-back, who can also play centre-back, is reportedly becoming frustrated by his position at Arsenal and could leave in pursuit of more game time – allowing City to swoop in.

The right-back position is certainly one that City could do with looking at. Whilst Matheus Nunes has grown into the role, Guardiola would benefit from a natural option down that side and that’s where White could come in.

Whether Arteta will willingly let his defender leave is another question, however. The Spaniard has been full of praise for the 28-year-old since his arrival in North London, describing him as “brave” when he decided against joining up with the England squad under Gareth Southgate.

Man City ready bid for Vinicus Jr as Real Madrid feelings revealed