The Seattle Mariners have acquired Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Josh Naylor, according to a report from Ken Rosenthal of

Naylor is slashing .292/.360/.447 with 11 home runs and 59 RBI for Arizona this season.

In exchange for Naylor, the Mariners are sending left-hander Brandyn Garcia and righty Ashton Izzy in the deal, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

The 25-year-old Garcia has appeared in two games for Seattle this season, and has posted a 4.50 ERA across two innings of work in relief. Izzy, meanwhile, is a 21-year-old who has pitched this season for high-A Everett. He has accumulated a 5.51 ERA across 41.1 innings.

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O Internacional conquistou a vitória sobre o Nova Iguaçu por 2 a 0, nesta quarta-feira (13), pela segunda fase da Copa do Brasil. Enner Valencia foi o autor dos dois gols da equipe de Eduardo Coudet.

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Com o triunfo, o Colorado aguarda o sorteio da próxima fase para conhecer seu adversário no torneio. Os próximos confrontos serão disputados em jogos de ida e volta.

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

⚽ COMO FOI A PARTIDA?

Na etapa inicial, o Internacional teve controle da partida e mereceu a vitória parcial. O Colorado saiu na frente do Nova Iguaçu com Valencia aproveitando um rebote do goleiro Fabrício após cabeçada de Wanderson para abrir o placar. A equipe do Rio de Janeiro teve uma boa oportunidade com Yago, mas esteve mais perto de sofrer o segundo gol na reta final com Maicon impedindo uma finalização de Alan Patrick em cima da linha da meta.

No segundo tempo, as duas equipes entraram em uma intensidade menor, e o Nova Iguaçu ficou com um jogador a menos com a expulsão de Igor Fraga. Logo na sequência, o Internacional ampliou o marcador com Valencia recebendo passe de Bustos em posição irregular e finalizando para marcar o gol. Como essa fase da Copa do Brasil não tem VAR, a jogada foi validada.

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✅ O QUE VEM POR AÍ?

No domingo (17), o Nova Iguaçu encara o Vasco pelo jogo de volta da semifinal do Campeonato Carioca em busca de uma vaga na decisão do estadual. Por outro lado, o Inter enfrenta o Juventude, pelo jogo de ida da semifinal do Gauchão.

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Copa do BrasilInternacionalNova Iguaçu

Chelsea’s brilliant run of results, which saw them beat the likes of Benfica, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, came to a screeching halt on Saturday afternoon.

Instead of picking up another Premier League win against the recently promoted Sunderland, Enzo Maresca’s side managed to lose 2-1 thanks to a late goal from Chemsedine Talbi.

What is most frustrating about the game, though, is that while the West Londoners were not anywhere near their best, they still had chances to win, taking seven shots on target to the Black Cats’ four.

Unfortunately, they just didn’t have their shooting boots on, although with the striker situation at the club, that is hardly surprising.

So, there is an argument that Maresca should look to drop Marc Guiu and start one of Cobham’s most exciting prospects, a striker compared to the legendary Didier Drogba.

1

Goals

2

68%

Possession

32%

16

Total Shots

10

7

Shots on Target

4

629

Passes

293

10

Shots in the Box

7

8

Tackles

14

Chelsea's striker situation

In the summer, Chelsea decided to sell Christopher Nkunku to AC Milan and João Félix to Al-Nassr, while also loaning out David Datro Fofana to Karagümrük and Nicolas Jackson to Bayern Munich.

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Now, while these weren’t necessarily bad moves for the club, they did only sign Joao Pedro and Liam Delap to replace the leaving players, and when the latter went down with a hamstring injury earlier this season, they were forced to recall Marc Guiu from his loan with Sunderland.

Moreover, while nobody can question Pedro’s ability, it has become increasingly clear that his best position is just behind another striker, either as an advanced ten or a classic second striker.

In other words, due to their business and the injury to the former Ipswich Town star, Maresca has been forced to either use Pedro out of his best position, start the young Tyrique George up top when he’s a natural winger, or, as he has done recently, play Guiu.

To give the former Barcelona gem his credit, he did score against Ajax in the Champions League, but against the Black Cats on Saturday, he was poor.

In fact, the Spaniard was so underwhelming that the Standard’s Sam Tabuteau gave him just a 4/10 match rating, writing that he showed ‘plenty of energy but not a lot of finesse.’

In short, Chelsea really need another option up top this season, and while it would be a risk, it looks like Cobham might have the player for them – a player compared to Drogba.

Chelsea's future Drogba

Now, it should really go without saying that comparing a youngster to Drogba is not something that should be done lightly.

After all, the Ivorian icon was one of the best strikers to ever play in the Premier League and is most certainly a massive Chelsea legend.

With that said, there is plenty of excitement building around 18-year-old Shim Mheuka, so much so that one analyst has made the bold comparison, calling him “the new Didier Drogba.”

So then, what makes him such an exceptional talent, and one worthy of a proper run in the first team?

Well, simply put, he is starting to look like a real goal machine and potentially one of “Cobham’s finest” prospects, per talent scout Jacek Kulig.

For example, despite being just 16 at the start of last season, he ended the campaign with 11 goals and three assists to his name, 30 appearances across the U18S and U21S.

Moreover, he also got a few run-outs in the first team, making five appearances totalling 118 minutes across the Conference League and Premier League.

Appearances

59

Goals

31

Assists

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.66

This season, he has taken another leap forward, and as things stand, he has already scored ten goals and provided two assists in just ten appearances, totalling 883 minutes for the U21S and Youth League sides.

That works out to an average of 1.2 goal involvements every game, or one every 73.58 minutes, and if that’s still not enough, he has also racked up a tally of ten goals and three assists in 18 appearances for England’s U19S.

Ultimately, while it is still so early in his career, it is becoming increasingly clear that he is a lethal goalscorer, and while he might not reach the level of a Drogba, he might be able to have a significant impact on the team this season.

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Celtic booked their place in the final of the League Cup on Sunday after they beat their Glasgow rivals 3-1 after extra time at Hampden Park.

Martin O’Neill was in the dugout for the second time as he continues to manage the side until the club can find a permanent replacement for Brendan Rodgers, who resigned last week.

The Northern Irish head coach moved on from Parkhead after winning four trophies in just over two seasons in his second spell with the Scottish Premiership giants.

Rodgers decided to tender his resignation after successive league losses to Dundee and Hearts, which left Celtic eight points adrift of first place in the league at the time.

It is hard to deny that the former Leicester City boss had a successful return to Parkhead on the whole, given that he won four trophies in two full seasons, but it was far from a perfect spell.

In fact, there are several players within the current first-team squad, and possibly out on loan, who may benefit from his departure from Celtic.

The players who may benefit most from Rodgers leaving Celtic

Luis Palma and Maik Nawrocki were both sent out on loan this summer, having been signed in Rodgers’ first transfer window in the summer of 2023, after rarely featuring last season.

The duo combined for four starts in the Premiership in the 2024/25 campaign, per WhoScored, and may wonder if they now have a future at Parkhead when they return from their loan moves.

Palma, for example, has four goals and three assists in ten league games for Lech Poznan on loan, per Sofascore, and could provide Celtic’s attack with an injection of quality next year.

Meanwhile, in the current squad, Paulo Bernardo is one player who may benefit from a clean slate under the next head coach, after falling out of favour under Rodgers.

As you can see in the table above, the Portugal U21 international has barely featured after showing promise last term, which is why the change in management may benefit him.

The Celtic player who has benefitted the most from Rodgers’ departure, though, appears to be Callum Osmand, who did not play a single minute under the Northern Irishman.

O’Neill has brought him off the bench in the last two games, against Falkirk and Rangers, and he scored his first goal for the club in the League Cup semi-final.

The 19-year-old centre-forward may also be pleased to hear who the Scottish giants are looking to appoint, as they are keen on a boss who could be perfect for him.

Celtic considering move for £5m manager

According to Football Insider, Celtic are considering a move to appoint Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna as their replacement for Rodgers.

The report claims that the Northern Irish head coach has emerged as one of the club’s key targets, alongside the likes of Kjetil Knutsen and Craig Bellamy.

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However, he has a £5m release clause in his contract with the Tractor Boys, which has left the Hoops to consider their options for now.

Speaking to Football Insider about the prospect of Celtic landing McKenna, reporter Pete O’Rourke said: “He is one of the most highly regarded young managers in the country as well.

“He would fit all of the criteria that Celtic are looking for in that respect. It’d be a huge coup if Celtic were to land Kieran McKenna.”

Why Kieran McKenna would be perfect for Callum Osmand

Swooping for the Ipswich manager to replace Rodgers in the coming days or weeks could be great news for emerging Celtic star Osmand, for several reasons.

McKenna has an impressive history in youth coaching. Per Transfermarkt, he worked as a youth coach for Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur before stepping into first-team management with the Tractor Boys.

This suggests that he wants to develop and work with young players, which is great news for a 19-year-old prospect like Osmand, who could be identified as a player with big potential by the boss.

As you can see in the clip above, Osmand grabbed his first senior goal for the Hoops on Sunday with brilliant movement to get ahead of the defenders to slide a cross from Kieran Tierney into the back of the net.

McKenna’s style of play at Ipswich has revolved around left-back Leif Davis providing creativity with his deliveries into the box from the left flank, which would provide Osmand with plenty of similar opportunities to score.

Davis, as shown in the statistics above, was an incredibly creative force down the left flank for Ipswich in their two promotion-winning seasons under McKenna, assisting an eye-catching 32 goals in 86 matches.

This suggests that the Northern Irish head coach would build his attack around Marcelo Saracchi or Kieran Tierney’s creativity, which may not be a bad way to go, given Tierney has already delivered four assists in all competitions this season, per Sofascore.

That would ensure that Celtic have a constant supply of creativity down that side, with crosses coming into the box for strikers to attack, which could provide Osmand or Johnny Kenny with chances to score more goals.

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Therefore, McKenna could be the perfect appointment for a player like Osmand, after his breakthrough goal, because of his coaching background and the way his team creates chances to score goals.

Tottenham Hotspur have endured an impressive start to life under Thomas Frank over the last couple of months, as seen by the club’s current sixth-place standing in the Premier League.

The Dane took the reins from Ange Postecoglou during the summer and has made an immediate impact in changing the Lilywhites’ fortunes within the final third of the pitch.

His side have already found the back of the net on 17 occasions in the first ten outings of the campaign, with such a tally being the fourth best of any team in the division at present.

The goals have been massively spread out across the first-team squad, with nine players already getting themselves on the scoresheet in England’s top-flight in 2025/26.

Centre-back Micky van de Ven and centre-forward Richarlison are currently sitting at the top of the goalscoring charts on three goals, but the latter has failed to score in any of his last five league outings.

Whilst Frank’s men have impressed during the early stages of the current campaign, their tallies within the final third will no doubt have been massively boosted if they had one player at their disposal.

Bukayo Saka’s record against Spurs & how he compares to other PL wingers

Winger Bukayo Saka has been a player Spurs supporters have no doubt envied over the last few years, with the attacker often providing the goods for bitter North London rivals, Arsenal.

The England international has netted a combined 100 goals and assists in the Premier League throughout his professional career, numerous of which have come against the Lilywhites.

Many of his efforts have directly affected the Spurs faithful, even coming up with goods in the North London Derby and securing countless victories for Mikel Arteta’s side.

After his breakthrough in 2020, the Arsenal star has featured against Spurs on ten separate occasions, subsequently being on the winning side in 60% of the outings.

Saka has also found the back of the net five times against the Lilywhites, with his last strike in such a fixture coming in September 2024, subsequently securing a 1-0 triumph for the Gunners.

In 2025/26, the 24-year-old has only netted twice in the Premier League, but his underlying stats highlight the top-level quality the winger possesses within the final third.

He’s completed 2.4 successful take-ons per 90 to date, a tally that has placed the Englishman in the top 10% of all players in England’s top-flight at present.

Saka has also achieved an average of 31.4 touches in the final third and 3.1 carries into the final third per 90, with both figures ranking him in the top 5% in the Premier League for 2025/26.

Such numbers further reaffirm the 24-year-old’s talent within attacking areas, with Frank no doubt wishing he had his own version of the winger within his own first-team ranks.

The Spurs star who’s similar to Saka & better than Johnson

Brennan Johnson was seen as a huge investment for Spurs in the summer of 2023, after the hierarchy forked out a staggering £47.5m for the attacker’s signature from Nottingham Forest.

Eyebrows were raised at the time, given the nature of the transfer fee, but a couple of years on from his switch to North London, he’s been unable to match the expectations that were placed upon him.

The Welsh international may have scored 18 times in all competitions last campaign, but his performances left a lot to be desired – even being subject to abuse from supporters on social media.

Johnson was responsible for one of the club’s biggest moments in recent history, as he netted the winner against Manchester United in the Europa League final back in May 2025.

Frank’s arrival could have handed the 24-year-old a new lease of life, especially after the Dane previously tried to land his services during his time as Brentford manager.

However, despite netting two goals in each of the first two league games of the season, he’s since dropped down the pecking order, often being unreliable when called upon by the manager.

Such a situation was apparent in the recent clash with FC Copenhagen in the Champions League, where Johnson found the back of the net, but was also sent off after a reckless challenge.

His drop down the pecking order has no doubt been as a result of the summer addition of Mohammed Kudus, with the Ghanaian joining the Lilywhites in a £55m transfer during the off-season.

The 25-year-old has cemented his place on the right-hand side in the starting eleven, already registering one goal and four assists in the Premier League to date.

Kudus, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, netted his first goal against Leeds United, with such a performance seeing the attacker attempt six take-ons – leading to Ben Mattinson claiming he’s “very similar to Saka”.

Given the levels he’s produced in recent weeks, Frank has certainly made the right call in opting to utilise Kudus over Johnson, with the Ghanaian massively outperforming the Welshman this campaign.

Games played

10

10

Goals & assists

5

2

Pass accuracy

74%

66%

Progressive carries

3.2

2.2

Progressive passes

2.8

1.3

Key passes completed

1.4

0.6

Take-ons completed

3.2

1.4

Crosses completed

7.2

3.4

Alongside the better tally of combined goals and assists at present, he’s also achieved more progressive passes and carries per 90 – offering Frank’s men a more all-round presence with the ball at his feet.

His chance creation is further highlighted in his higher tally of passes completed and key passes registered per 90 – numbers which have seen him notch the joint-highest assist tally of any player in the division.

Other areas, such as more take-ons and crosses completed, further highlighted his ability to cause carnage to the opposition – similarly to how Saka has for Arsenal in recent years.

After Kudus’ immediate impact in North London, there’s no reason why he can’t be the club’s own version of the Englishman – especially after Mattinson’s praise and comparisons.

Should the winger continue on his current trajectory under Frank at Spurs, he certainly could play a huge part in any future success and help the club reach the next level domestically and continentally.

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been handed a fresh injury update on forward Kai Havertz, with a timeline emerging on his possible return.

The Gunners, even without Havertz, have made a brilliant start to the 2025/2026 season, with their last defeat coming all the way back at Anfield against Liverpool.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Since then, Arsenal have been a force to be reckoned with, sitting firmly atop the Premier League table and showing no signs of slipping.

One of the defining features of Arsenal’s campaign so far has been their dominance from set pieces. Arteta’s side have already scored an incredible 11 goals from dead-balls, making them the undisputed set-piece kings of the league.

From pinpoint corners to clever free-kicks and long-throws, Arsenal have turned these situations into a very reliable source of goals, much to the detest of some critics.

What’s particularly impressive is that they’ve done it while missing a plethora of key stars for long periods.

Club captain Martin Odegaard, who is back on the treatment table until mid-November following a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury against West Ham, had only just come back from a shoulder problem beforehand.

Gabriel Jesus, meanwhile, ruptured his ACL at the very start of 2025 and hasn’t played since Arsenal’s FA Cup defeat to Man United last season.

Noni Madueke, who was really impressing on-lookers with his early-season form, picked up a knee injury in their 1-1 draw at home to Man City, but the England international could apparently make a “faster-than-expected” return to the team (GiveMeSport).

With Havertz, the signs have also been pretty good.

Arteta’s versatile forward — the club’s highest earner on around £280,000-per-week — is believed to be impressing Arsenal staff with his recovery from knee damage behind-the-scenes.

As a result, Havertz is apparently ahead of schedule to return for Arsenal, but it still might not be too imminent.

Arsenal handed fresh Kai Havertz injury update

The 26-year-old, who scored 15 goals and bagged another five assists in all competitions last season, has played just half an hour so far this term and Arteta will be hoping to have him back as soon as possible.

However, according to journalist and founder of Premier Injuries, Ben Dinnery, Havertz may not be back in full match action until as far down the line as December.

Arteta will want to be careful managing the former Chelsea star’s load, especially considering how light Arsenal are going forward right now after Gabriel Martinelli was also sidelined recently.

Summer signing Viktor Gyokeres has done fairly well in Havertz’s place up front, albeit his goal return so far isn’t what most had hoped for.

The return of Havertz would give Arteta an extra option in that area, and Arsenal have already been tipped to bench Gyokeres for the attacker in big games once he makes his comeback.

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Manchester United have been boosted by the news that key centre-back Lisandro Martinez has returned to full training after a long injury absence.

After a concerning start to the season, things really feel like they are falling into place for the Red Devils, following three wins in a row in the Premier League, including memorable victory away to rivals and champions Liverpool.

Ruben Amorim has overcome a hugely testing period and now feels like the right man to take United forward, and having as many players available as possible can only be a good thing, with one game a week this season and no European football helping in that respect.

One player who Amorim has had to do without for many months is Martinez, with the Argentina World Cup winner not featuring since damaging knee ligaments at the beginning of February, in a cruel blow for the defender.

The 27-year-old is arguably United’s strongest centre-back, so not having him available for such an extended period of time has been far from ideal, but ahead of the trip to Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon, some great news has emerged regarding his fitness.

Martinez to return to Man Utd action in November

Taking to X on Thursday, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Martinez is now back in training for Manchester United, aiming for a return on the pitch in November.

This is fantastic news for anyone of a United persuasion, with Martinez’s tenacity, quality and winning mentality such a loss over the past eight months or so. It has also left Amorim delighted, with the manager saying: “It’s really good. He gives use that edge in every training session, that is also really good for us.”

The Argentine is a hugely popular figure at Old Trafford, playing with so much passion, and Casemiro has heaped praise on him as a character.

“Licha is on the final straight. He is a soldier who works so hard. He is always in the gym working hard. He is a machine that works so hard. He is one of those players that loves to work hard. It is a pleasure to have him here, he works so much. We arrived [today] at 9am and it is now 4pm and he continues working.”

Where Lisandro Martinez ranks among Man Utd's highest-earning players

It is clearly going to take Martinez some time to get back to his very best, given the severity of his injury, but assuming he makes a full recovery and returns as the player of old eventually, he can continue to be a huge player for United for years to come.

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He is tailor-made to thrive in Amorim’s back three, bringing the ball out with quality and purpose, and he even has the characteristics to potentially be a future captain of the Red Devils if Bruno Fernandes moves on before him, endearing himself to the fans with his love for the club.

They built on learnings from a less clinical performance than expected against Sri Lanka and are looking unstoppable

Valkerie Baynes09-Oct-20243:16

Clinical Australia complicate NRR matters for others

Good teams learn quickly.So when Australia’s top order all found themselves set on a now notoriously difficult pitch in Sharjah, they set the blueprint for what was already shaping as a crucial match on Sunday for them and, even more so, India.Australia’s 60-run thumping of New Zealand was their second match at the ground while India will play their first and only group game in Sharjah against them. But it wasn’t all bad for India, who stand to gain from New Zealand’s net run rate sliding into negative territory as they prepare to play Sri Lanka in Dubai on Wednesday.India’s upset at the hands of New Zealand followed by their cautious approach in the chase against Pakistan, whom they beat by six wickets with seven balls to spare, leaves them fourth in Group A with a net run rate of -1.217.ESPNcricinfo LtdIf India bat first and score 130 on Wednesday, they need to restrict Sri Lanka to 84 to go ahead of New Zealand’s NRR and to 81 to convert their NRR into the positive. If Sri Lanka score 100 batting first, India need to chase it down in 12.4 overs or less to go ahead of New Zealand’s NRR and in 12.1 overs or less to turn their NRR positive.Australia’s latest victory was built on learnings from a less clinical performance than expected from them when they defeated a struggling Sri Lanka by six wickets with 34 balls to spare at the same venue on Saturday. Beth Mooney’s unbeaten 43 from 38 balls was then the standout performance of an innings where no other batter passed 17.On this occasion, against New Zealand, Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry and Mooney – again the top-scorer with 40 off 32 balls – all got themselves in and found the boundary with greater authority to take Australia to 148 for 8, comfortably eclipsing the previous best total in Sharjah during this tournament: England’s 125 for 3 the previous evening.This too was a night game and the Australians looked more comfortable than they had in the searing afternoon heat of the Sri Lanka game. With New Zealand’s spinners offering more pace than the Sri Lankans, Australia’s top-order batters capitalised.Healy signalled her intent, repeatedly clearing extra cover to make the vast outfield look manageable for arguably the first time in six games at the ground en route to 26 in 20 balls and helping her side to 43 for 1 in the powerplay.More was to come, with Perry skipping down the pitch to despatch Eden Carson into the fence at long-on and muscling the next ball through square leg for four.Mooney managed just two fours but her knock was crucial in an innings where Phoebe Litchfield’s run-a-ball 18 was the only other score in double figures after the top three.”We spoke this morning and yesterday that it looked a little bit better than the wicket we were on the other day, still very different to conditions to back home and a bit of a hard slog at times with the slow outfield and the big boundaries and the slow wicket itself,” Mooney said.”We know throughout this tournament we’re going to have to dig pretty deep with the bat and try and find a way to score runs and sometimes that’s going to look pretty ugly and sometimes it’s going to be okay. If we just find a way to make it work, that will hold us in good stead, which is what we did tonight.”Being able to get out there in that first game and get an understanding of the conditions was always good and to bank that sort of data is always helpful moving throughout the tournament. But I think the natural dialogue is that it’s going to be pretty tough and you’ve got to really be composed at the crease and make good decisions and be really clear on what options you have and where to hit what holes.”She also said the performance was “not far off” Australia’s best in recent times. In the lead-up to the tournament they hosted New Zealand and won their T20I series 3-0 but twice suffered batting collapses and were bowled out once, for only the second time since early 2020.”If we’re being really critical, we’ve probably missed out on a few with the bat towards the middle and the back-end there with a few wickets in a row, but certainly really pleasing with that we’ve got ourselves into at this tournament,” she said.That was in no small part down to the legspin of Amelia Kerr, who snared 4 for 26. Having removed Mooney and Perry, she took two more wickets, bowling the big-hitting Grace Harris for a first-ball duck and ending Georgia Wareham’s knock, caught by Lea Tahuhu.But Australia had also learned with the ball.Megan Schutt, Player of the Match with 3 for 12 against Sri Lanka, opened the bowling again and, with Healy standing up to the stumps, offered no width for New Zealand to work with and bowled Georgia Plimmer with a beauty dipping in, beating the attempted pull and rattling the woodwork.That made Schutt the leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20 World Cups with 46 but she wasn’t done. Returning in the 12th over, she had Kerr caught by Annabel Sutherland, running in from long-on, and then bowled Carson to complete the rout, and a miserly return of 3 for 3 from 3.2 overs as New Zealand were bowled out for 88 in the final over.For New Zealand, Kerr maintained that their destiny was still in their own hands: “First, you want to win the game, that’s the key. You don’t want to go out there thinking you’ve got to beat them by X amount of runs… if we win both [remaining games], we give ourselves the best chance to qualify.”Australia next play Pakistan on Friday in Dubai and New Zealand play Sri Lanka on Saturday, followed by Pakistan.

Didier Deschamps has recalled N’Golo Kante to the France squad for the first time in a year, hailing the veteran midfielder as “still at his best.” The 34-year-old Al-Ittihad star has impressed with his consistency in Saudi Arabia and will feature in Les Bleus’ crucial World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Azerbaijan this month.

Kante earns France recall for decisive World Cup qualifiers

Deschamps has named Kante in his latest France squad, marking the veteran midfielder’s first call-up in a year ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Azerbaijan. Kante’s inclusion comes as a surprise to many, given his move to the Saudi Pro League in 2023 with Al-Ittihad, but Deschamps made it clear that the former Chelsea and Leicester City star remains a key part of his plans.

The 34-year-old last featured for Les Bleus in November 2024, captaining the side in a 0-0 Nations League draw against Israel. Since then, he has quietly rebuilt his rhythm and form in Saudi Arabia, making 12 appearances in all competitions this season.

Les Bleus currently sit top of World Cup qualifying Group D with 10 points, three clear of Ukraine. With two decisive fixtures remaining, hosting Ukraine on November 13 before travelling to Azerbaijan three days later, Deschamps has turned to experience to steady his side. Kante’s recall underscores his remarkable consistency, leadership, and ability to influence games even in a new environment. The midfielder, who has 64 international caps, will join a squad missing several key names through injury, including Ousmane Dembele, Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot.

AdvertisementAFP'He’s still at his best' – Deschamps praises Kante

Deschamps was full of praise when asked about Kante’s return, highlighting the midfielder’s professionalism and enduring quality. "I'm in contact with him. He's at his best in the matches I've seen him play; he plays every three or four days," Deschamps said. "He's still potentially eligible for selection, and the proof is that he's been selected.

"He needs to maintain his position; he has a certain status, experience. When I call him up, it's to give him a role, not just to be part of the team. With what awaits us in this match, which could be decisive, he's always on my mind, in my thinking. The coaching staff and I follow him regularly. It's always a pleasure for him to wear this jersey." 

Kante’s recall is not just a sentimental gesture, Deschamps emphasised that the veteran remains a tactical asset capable of dictating play and providing balance in midfield. The French coach’s comments reflect a broader respect for Kante’s influence on and off the pitch. Even as younger midfielders like Eduardo Camavinga and Warren Zaire-Emery continue to develop, Deschamps clearly believes there’s still room for the 2018 World Cup winner’s unique blend of energy and experience.

A symbol of longevity and leadership

Few players have enjoyed the sustained excellence of Kante. Since bursting onto the scene with Leicester's 2016 Premier League title win, the midfielder has gone on to conquer every major competition – two Premier League titles, a Champions League and a World Cup. His time at Al-Ittihad has been marked by quiet leadership and consistency. While the Saudi Pro League has drawn mixed reviews for its competitiveness, the midfielder has been among the few foreign stars to maintain elite physical standards, clocking impressive work rates across all competitions.

Deschamps and his coaching staff have been monitoring his performances closely and were impressed by his match fitness and influence in recent fixtures. Kante is not the only SPL-based player in the latest France squad, Theo Hernandez, currently with Al-Hilal, also received a call-up, marking a new chapter in Deschamps’ openness to players outside Europe’s traditional leagues.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta keeps his spot after debuting in October, while Rayan Cherki and Randal Kolo Muani return from injury layoffs.

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Getty Images SportKante’s redemption arc continues

After enduring a string of injuries during his final seasons at Chelsea, Kante’s renaissance has been one of football’s quieter success stories. His return for Euro 2024, where Les Blues reached the semi-finals, showcased his enduring engine and big-game reliability. Now, with France edging closer to World Cup qualification, Kante’s presence provides calm and clarity. His understanding of Deschamps’ system, paired with his unmatched ball-winning instincts, makes him an ideal anchor for a squad in transition.

The next two fixtures could determine not only France’s qualification but also the veteran’s international future. For Kante, it’s another chance to prove that class and consistency never fade even after a move that many thought marked the end of his European relevance. 

All eyes will be on the midfield maestro when France host Ukraine in Paris. If Deschamps’ faith proves right, Kante’s quiet return could once again make a decisive noise for the 2018 World Cup winners.

In today's baseball, throwing in the upper 90s is much more commonplace than it was even just a decade ago. Bullpens are stacked with fireballers and starters don't throw nearly as many innings as they used to, so there's no need to hold back on the mound.

Add in better training programs, breakthroughs in surgeries and recovery and new nutrition habits and it's no surprise that pitchers are throwing harder than ever.

That's not to say that there weren't incredibly powerful hurlers throughout the years. Nolan Ryan was clocked at 100 mph but was subject the old standard of radar tracking (at home plate). Many believe that if Ryan was clocked using today's standard (about 10 feet before home plate), his fastest pitches would come in somewhere around 108 mph.

And of course Randy Johnson exploded a bird while on the mound. We're not entirely sure how fast that ball was moving, but Johnson and his Diamondbacks catcher at the time (Rod Barajas) estimated it was around 100 mph.

Bob Feller participated in an early speed test where he threw a baseball against a racing motorcycle going 86 mph. Feller didn't release the ball until the motorcycle was already 10 feet or so ahead of him, but his pitch still crossed the finish line first. Early estimates suggested that ball was going over 100 mph. No wonder they called him 'Rapid Robert.'

Then there's Roger Clemens, who earned the nickname "The Rocket" for his 98 mph heater. Clemens maintained his high velocity well into his late 30s and won seven Cy Young awards.

However, these players were anomalies. Not the norm. Go back to just 2007 and you'll see a stark contrast on the mound. For example, in that 2007 season, the fastest average fastball speed was 97.6 mph (it belonged to Jonathan Broxton).

In 2025, Broxton and his 97.6 mph heater would be tied for 28th in MLB. Eight different pitchers currently average at least 99 mph on their fastballs. Three of them (Mason Miller, Jhoan Duran and Seth Halvorsen) average more than 100 mph.

So let's take a look back at the fastest pitches in MLB history, or perhaps more accurately, the fastest pitches of the statcast era.

The Fastest Pitches Ever Thrown in MLB History

Aroldis Chapman: Bringing the Heat Since 2010

Nicknamed the "Cuban Missile," Chapman made his MLB debut with the Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 31, 2010. Just one month later, on Sept. 24, 2010, he threw the fastest recorded pitch in MLB history: a 105.8 mph fastball.

Since then, he's thrown nothing but gas for the Reds, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Red Sox. Chapman is an eight-time All-Star, a two-time World Series winner and a Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year award winner.

And he doesn't appear to be slowing down (or losing any velocity) with age. Despite now being 37-years-old, Chapman still routinely throws 100+ mph and is currently the Red Sox's closer.

How Pitch Velocity Is Measured

In the 1940s, there were some efforts to clock pitch speed, mainly due to Feller's incredible fastball. His motorcycle-radar test was a pioneering effort at the time, but it doesn't really hold up today.

This is because the ball speed was measured by timing the ball as it hit a barrier 60 feet away, but this severely underreported velocity as the ball will lose anywhere between five and 10% of its speed from the time it leaves the pitcher's hand to when it crosses the plate.

By the 1970s, radar guns were pretty commonplace in baseball. They provided much more consistent readings of speed, but it all depended on where the ball was being tracked. More often than not, it was at home plate, where the pitch was at its slowest.

MLB implemented PITCHf/x in all ballparks by 2008, which used triangulation to track both pitch speed and break. At this point, all pitch speeds were normalized to the 50-foot release point as well, making all of them comparable.

Now, MLB uses Statcast. Statcast uses Doppler radar and Hawk-Eye to track pitches' speed, exit velocity, spin rate and more.

Every pitch is now measured at release, making Chapman's 105.8 mph pitch truly the fastest verified throw in MLB history.