MLB announced on Sunday that Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz will remain on non-disciplinary paid leave “until further notice" after they were originally placed there from a gambling investigation, ESPN's David Purdum reported.
The league would not provide any further information until the investigation is complete. Ortiz was placed on leave back on July 13, while Clase followed on July 28. Ortiz's leave ended on Sunday, but now it has been extended.
MLB is investigating gambling activity around two Ortiz pitches earlier this year—one on June 15 against the Mariners and one on June 27 against the Cardinals. The latter came in Ortiz's most recent start since he's been on leave, in which he gave up four earned runs and lost 5-0. Clase is tied to the same investigation.
Before being put on leave, Ortiz posted a 4.36 ERA with 96 strikeouts in 88 2/3 innings pitched in 2025. Clase, as a closer for Cleveland, posted a 3.23 ERA in 48 games this season with 24 saves.
Spinner takes six wickets as Somerset come close to leaving visitors in deep relegation trouble
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay18-Sep-2025
Archie Vaughan finished with six wickets•Getty Images
Hampshire 172 (Leach 7-69) and 201 for 8 (Sundar 46, Gubbins 37, Vaughan 6-96) drew with Somerset 454 for 8 dec (Aldridge 180, Abell 118, Overton 50*) Nick Gubbins led a determined rearguard action as Hampshire eased their relegation fears with a battling draw on the final day of the Rothesay County Championship Division One match with Somerset at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.The experienced left-hander faced 203 balls to score 37 and shared a crucial fourth-wicket stand with skipper Ben Brown that occupied 40 overs after their side had begun the day on 35 for one, needing a further 247 runs to avoid an innings defeat.Washington Sundar top-scored with 46 as Hampshire fought their way to 201 for eight by the close, despite the best efforts of Somerset off-spinner Archie Vaughan, who finished with a career-best six for 96 from 50 overs, and Jack Leach, whose two for 40 from 49.5 overs, including 33 maidens, gave him match figures of nine for 109.Somerset took 16 points from the game to consolidate third place in the First Division table, while the eight points for the draw plus two bowling points meant Hampshire stayed out of the bottom two going into the final round of fixturesThe visitors had added only two to their overnight score when Vaughan struck the first blow for Somerset, Fletcha Middleton getting an inside edge to be caught at leg slip by Kasey Aldridge.It was soon clear that Hampshire were going to rely on application, concentration and skilful defence to avoid defeat. Toby Albert had faced 52 balls to score ten when pinned lbw on the back foot by Vaughan with the total on 57.At times, Somerset had as many as seven fielders crowded around the bat for Vaughan and third day hero Jack Leach, but Gubbins and Brown displayed solid resistance to take the score to 82 for three off 57 overs at lunch.The pattern continued in the afternoon session, Brown surviving a tough stumping chance to James Rew off Vaughan when on 16. It was a rare moment of anxiety as the fourth-wicket partnership continued to frustrate all Somerset’s efforts to force another breakthrough.The second new ball made the difference. After Craig Overton had taken it from the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion End, bowling in tandem with Leach, skipper Lewis Gregory soon recalled Vaughan to his attack with almost immediate effect.The sixth over with the new ball saw Gubbins push forward defensively as he had done successfully on numerous occasions, only to edge in the direction of Aldridge, fielding in a kneeling position at a close-in gully. Out went a right hand to take the ball fractionally before it pitched and the reflex catch reignited Somerset’s victory hopes.Gubbins had battled away for three hours and three quarter hours, barely risking an attacking shot in an innings perfectly suiting his team’s situation and the stand of 67 with Brown had proved hugely frustrating to Somerset.But there was still time before tea for Leach to strike Brown on the back pad and earn an lbw verdict after the Hampshire captain had faced 128 deliveries. At 129 for five, Hampshire were back in a position of peril.The final session saw Sundar bat with authority, counter-attacking when possible and striking 9 fours before being bowled through the gate by a ball from Vaughan that went on with the arm from around the wicket.Felix Organ then added studiously to the Hampshire resistance, facing 82 balls for his four runs before falling to another brilliant close-in catch, this time from substitute fielder Josh Thomas off Leach, with less than half an hour left to play.The tension grew when James Fuller, who had played solidly to reach 20, was bowled between his legs by Vaughan to become the bowler’s sixth victim. But Keith Barker and Kyle Abbott saw out the final 15 minutes to seal a potentially huge day in their side’s season.
Fakhar Zaman, who suffered a hamstring injury in the first week of August, has recovered and is part of the squad
Danyal Rasool17-Aug-2025
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have fallen out of favour with Pakistan’s T20I plans•AFP/Getty Images
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have not been selected in Pakistan’s T20I squad for the upcoming Asia Cup in the UAE. Fakhar Zaman, who suffered a hamstring injury in the first week of August, has recovered and is part of the side.Salman Agha will lead the 17-member squad, which will also participate in the tri-series against UAE and Afghanistan in the lead-up to the Asia Cup.Babar last played a T20I in December 2024. In PSL 2025, he scored 288 runs in ten innings for Peshawar Zalmi. It included knocks of 56*, 53* and 94 but his overall strike rate was 128.57. He was part of the recent ODI series against West Indies where he had scores of 47, 0 and 9.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Rizwan, like Babar, has not been part of Pakistan’s recent T20I squads for the home and subsequent away series against Bangladesh, followed by the T20Is in the West Indies. He made 53 in the opening game of the ODI series against West Indies, followed by scores of 16 and 0.Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson said Babar had been challenged with improving his T20 game. I think it’s really harsh to challenge a player on their form on three games,” he said at a press conference. “Babar played nicely in the first ODI but missed out on the next two. There’s no doubt Babar’s been asked to improve in some areas around taking on spin and in terms of his strike rate. Those are things he’s working really hard on.”But at the moment, the players we have have done exceptionally well. Sahibzada Farhan has played six games and won three Player of the Match awards. A player like Babar has an opportunity to play in the BBL and show he’s improving in those areas in T20s. He’s too good a player not to consider.”Shaheen Afridi, who had also found himself out of favour in T20 cricket of late, retained his place for the tri-series and the Asia Cup, though Naseem Shah missed out once again. Naseem is currently in action in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).Lahore Qalandars fast bowler Salman Mirza, who was Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker with eight against Bangladesh in the away T20I series, was included in the side. Ahmed Daniyal, who also impressed briefly, though was not part of the squad. Both specialist wristspinners – Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem, kept their place.The squad is something of an amalgamation of the sides that have played T20I cricket under Hesson in the three T20I series over the summer. The recent ODI series – which Pakistan lost 2-1 in the Caribbean – appears not to have influenced decision making either way. Hesson said he intended to stick to the aggressive top-heavy approach he has championed in the format, and repeated that Pakistan’s game was suited to such a style.”We were challenged with three different surfaces [in each of the three series]” Hesson said. “In Lahore, the surfaces were flat and the batting excelled. We went to Bangladesh where they were incredibly challenging and low-scoring games. Our top order sets the game up. All the games we won the top order performed really well. The third game in the West Indies, our openers put on 140 [138]. We need that at a run rate that gets us ahead of the game. T20 is all about setting the game up and being ahead of the game all the time in case you get yourself out. From a batting point of view we’ve got a line-up that can continue to do that.”The tri-series in the UAE between the hosts, Afghanistan and Pakistan will serve as a warm-up to the T20 Asia Cup, which will begin on September 9. Pakistan have never won the T20 version of that tournament; they reached the final when it was last played in 2022.Pakistan squad for the UAE tri-series and Asia CupSalman Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem
If you ignore his underwhelming display on Sunday, it has largely been a positive start to life at Arsenal for Eberechi Eze.
Despite it taking him a little while to get up to speed with what Mikel Arteta wants from him, the former Crystal Palace star has already amassed five goals and four assists for the team in 18 games.
Moreover, he’s already etched his name into the club’s history books by scoring an unreal hat-trick in the North London Derby, the first anyone has scored since 1978.
Appearances
18
Starts
14
Minutes
1216′
Goals
5
Assists
4
Goal Involvements per Match
0.5
Minutes per Goal Involvement
135.11′
Points per Game
2.50
So, fans should be delighted about reports linking Arsenal with someone who could be the club’s future Eze.
Arsenal target their future Eze
With the transfer window reopening next month, Arsenal have once again begun being linked with a host of talented players.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
For example, Nottingham Forest’s £79m Murillo has been touted for a move to the Emirates, as has his £120m teammate Elliot Anderson.
Yet, as talented and potentially game-changing as the two Forest men are, neither one could be described as Eze-like, nor a long-term heir to him, unlike Holger Quintero.
Yes, according to a recent ESPN report, Arsenal are looking to sign the highly rated teenage talent.
In fact, the report has revealed that the club have already agreed a deal in principle for the midfielder and his twin brother, Edwin Quintero.
The two 16-year-olds are said to be in London at the moment to iron out the final details of the move, with an official announcement to come at a later date.
They will then move to the Emirates in August 2027, when they are both 18, due to rules around foreign-born youngsters.
Holger Quintero is unlikely to make an impact on the team for some time, but based on what those in the know say about him, he could prove to be Arsenal’s next Eze.
Why Holger Quintero will be Arsenal's next Eze
Now, the first thing to say is that given Eze is still just 27 and in fine form, there is little chance of Quintero coming in to replace him.
However, five or six years from now, when the former is ageing out, the latter could be the ideal player to step in and add creativity to the midfield.
At least it sounds like that is the case based on what those in the know are saying, like Ben Mattinson.
The Como scout has described the 16-year-old as a “skilful attacking midfielder with 1v1 prowess to take on players,” which sounds an awful lot like the former Palace star.
Moreover, he highlights that, in addition to his close control, the teenager also has an “excellent weight of pass” and is a “decisive creator with a killer final ball.”
That combination of being a direct threat while also creating ample opportunities for teammates is just like the Englishman at his best.
It’s not just Mattinson raving about the young phenom, though, as U23 scout Antonio Mango has described him as someone who is blessed with “high technical & intellect qualities” and is “effective in all thirds of the pitch.”
Finally, if that still isn’t enough, respected talent scout Jacek Kulig has been bold enough to describe the midfielder as “one of the most exciting U17s in South America.”
Ultimately, while it is too early in his career, Quintero looks like an exceptional superstar in the making, and his combination of incredible close control and game-breaking passing means he could be the perfect long-term heir to Eze.
Rice was fuming with him: Arsenal's "future captain" has regressed big time
It has been a season to forget for the Arsenal star so far this year.
O maior propósito do Jogo das Estrelas, evento beneficente anual organizado por Júnior Coimbra e que tem o ídolo Zico como anfitrião, é viabilizar a maior parte de sua renda a projetos sociais e instituições de caridade. Com a presença do Galinho, a entrega oficial das doações da edição 2023 será realizada nesta quinta-feira (25/04), no Hotel Windsor Barra, Zona Oeste do Rio.
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– É claro que é um prazer enorme todo ano reunir amigos e craques do futebol no Jogo das Estrelas, uma grande festa que fazemos para a torcida, que sempre comparece em peso e eu só tenho a agradecer por tanto carinho. E é justamente todo esse apoio do público que nos leva a esse dia tão especial, quando conseguimos reverter grande parte da renda a várias instituições, objetivo do nosso evento – disse Zico, sempre realizado ao receber os projetos beneficiados.
Neste ano, serão 19 as instituições a receber o auxílio do Jogo das Estrelas. São elas: ABBR, Associação Semente da Vida da CDD, Capoeira IBCE, Casa Ronald RJ, CEEAK – Allan Kardec, Coletivo Vila Beira Mar, Desapego Solidário, É Por Amor, Fundação do Rim, Instituto Arteiros, Instituto Movimento e Vida, LIAP-Amor Puro, Maranathá Rio, Meninos de Luz, Origem Amorim, Projeto Avante e Repartir. O Instituto PHI foi beneficiado pelo Passaporte Solidário, um camarote especial no dia do jogo, e o NEAC-Projeto Equilíbrio receberá chuteiras por conta da parceria com o SporTV no projeto DOE GOLS.
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– Estamos extremamente felizes em ser agraciados com a doação desse projeto maravilhoso que é o Jogo das Estrelas, certamente o evento beneficente de maior público do Brasil, o que vai contribuir para os inúmeros projetos da Fundação do Rim. Somos uma instituição ativa há 20 anos, que atende crianças e jovens portadores de doenças renais em todo estado do Rio de Janeiro, aproximadamente 150 famílias assistidas – vibrou a médica Fátima Bandeira, vice-presidente da fundação.
– O Instituto Brasileiro de Capoeira-Educação se sente honrado com a premiação do Jogo das Estrelas, não somente pela visibilidade que o evento traz, mas principalmente pelo reconhecimento de um ídolo que ultrapassa gerações, o nosso eterno Galinho. A Capoeira está presente no futebol brasileiro, com toda sua ginga, e Zico é o maior representante de um futebol gingado – agradeceu Mestre Ferradura, presidente do IBCE.
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Ano marcante: Jogo das Estrelas chega a sua 20ª edição em 2024
O Jogo das Estrelas entrou em cena pela primeira vez em 2004, realizado no CFZ. E já chegou mostrando toda sua força, ao trazer o craque Diego Armando Maradona para a festa. De lá para cá, passou ainda por outros quatro diferentes palcos: Nilton Santos, Morumbi, Estádio Luso-Brasileiro e Maracanã, que se tornou a casa definitiva, onde Zico emplacou 334 gols na carreira. Assim, o ano de 2024 será marcante nessa trajetória.
– Todo nosso intuito, e por isso fazemos um evento tão bonito, é justamente poder ajudar tantas instituições, sempre tentando adicionar outras mais, na medida do possível. Até mesmo nos momentos de dificuldade conseguimos realizar o evento, com apoio dos patrocinadores, da imprensa e do público. E este ano de 2024 será ainda mais especial, por chegarmos à 20ª edição. Queremos fazer o maior Jogo das Estrelas da história – comentou Júnior Coimbra.
SERVIÇO: Data: quinta-feira (25/04) Horário: das 10h às 12h Local: Hotel Windsor Barra Endereço: Av. LúcioCosta,2.630
He has had a few tough months watching cricket from the sidelines but could play a part in finishing what has been a successful summer for South Africa
Firdose Moonda01-Jan-2025Wiaan Mulder has spent the last four weeks doing something he really does not like: watching games of cricket he wanted to be playing in.”I hate watching cricket,” he said at Newlands, where he has been declared fit and available for selection for the second Test against Pakistan. “Especially when you’re in a position where you feel like you’re playing relatively nicely and you could have filled some gaps. It’s a terrible place to be to watch the game, especially having such a weird injury like this. It’s not like a muscular thing.”Mulder has been out for the last month with a broken finger after he was hit while batting against Sri Lanka quick Lahiru Kumara in the Durban Test in late November 2024.He had to retire hurt at the time but returned to bat in the first innings, when South Africa desperately needed runs, and then again at No. 3 in the second. Then, with the fracture and extended break from the game confirmed, Mulder still wanted to try and impact the match. He asked to be sent up the order, to try and take some of the shine off the new ball, and then returned home for rehab and screen time.Related
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He watched South Africa beat Sri Lanka in Gqeberha, win their first bilateral T20I series under Rob Walter against Pakistan, get white-washed for the first time at home in an ODI series by Pakistan and confirm their place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final with a nerve-shedding Boxing Day Test win. At least for the last of those, he was watching from as close as he could get: as the 12th man in the dugout, which only made him more desperate to get back into the XI especially as he had just cemented his spot.Before the injury, Mulder had played five matches in a row and was on the most regular run he has had since making his debut in February 2019. South Africa have played 40 Tests since then but Mulder just 17 as both he and previous team management struggled to define his role in the side.”I wanted to play for my country from when I was a little kid and when I got the chance, in my heart I wasn’t always sure if I was good enough to consistently put in performances at this level,” he said. “I don’t think anyone really knows until you play and you actually do it.”His confidence in his own game grew when he saw an improvement in his batting, in particular. In 2022, Mulder played at Leicestershire and averaged over 40 and in the 2023-24 South African summer, he batted at No. 5 for the Lions and was the tournament’s third leading run-scorer.Wiaan Mulder gets treatment after taking a knock to his finger – he eventually went off retired hurt•AFP/Getty ImagesThat form has carried across to the international stage. In the last five months, Mulder has scored his first Test half-century and hundred and averages 64.50. That number is inflated by three not-outs in seven innings but remains impressive nonetheless, especially when mentioned alongside his bowling returns.Mulder has taken ten wickets in his last five Tests, six in Guyana and four in Mirpur, at an average of 18.20 and an economy rate of under three runs an over. Those things combined have convinced him that he can do a job for the national side.”I’ve had a couple of seasons in England where I’ve put in match-winning performances. I’ve got a hundred now at international level. I’ve got a couple of important spells where I’ve taken wickets and I feel like I’m a key feature in the slips for this team,” Mulder said. “There’s a lot of good things that I can look back on and rely on when it’s difficult out there to say that I’m actually worthy.”I’m here to win a game for my country. I’m not just here to fill a spot. The word that’s kind of been so hard for me over the years is potential and hearing that: ‘you potentially could fill so many gaps, your potential is you can play all formats for the country.’ Those are all nice things, but how I was going to get there has always been so frustrating for me.”
“We never give up. We’re always fighting. Sometimes we get punched to the floor and then you have to fight your way back. That’s something that we’re also trying to change in this team, is actually finding a way to throw the first punch.”Wiaan Mulder
In a country where fast bowlers come off a production line and there is again a growing number of seam-bowling allrounders, it’s easy to understand why Mulder might always have been looking over his shoulder. Historically, he would have been up against the likes of Dwaine Pretorius or Andile Phehlukwayo and in the current squad, Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch, who debuted at SuperSport Park, are similar kinds of players to Mulder.Jansen is South Africa’s leading wicket-taker this summer and offers the kind of pace and extra bounce that can’t be replaced. Bosch, meanwhile took a four-for and scored an unbeaten 81 on debut so Mulder might again find it difficult to get his place back but the presence of competition in the squad doesn’t scare Mulder.”When I was younger, it would have affected me a lot more because you’re desperate to be here but you’re in a team like this, or maybe I’m at this place in my career now, where I don’t want someone else to fail for me to get in,” Mulder said. “No one deserves it more than somebody else.”That culture is so important for this team. There’s a lot of extra noise that everybody faces when you play international cricket, and if we start picking on each other and hoping each other fails, when it’s crunch time, I don’t think we will win big moments.”Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada added 51 off eight overs to take South Africa to the WTC final•AFP/Getty ImagesAnd Mulder watched South Africa in one of the biggest moments: when they were 99 for 8, chasing 148 at SuperSport Park. A 51-run ninth-wicket stand between Jansen and Kagiso Rabada sealed a two-wicket win and proved Mulder’s point.”To win moments like that and the characters that stood up there, you cherish that for the rest of your career,” he said. “When you come under those crunch moments, having something to fall back on like that as a team is pretty much what we’re about as South Africans in many ways.”We never give up. We’re always fighting. Sometimes we get punched to the floor and then you have to fight your way back. That’s something that we’re also trying to change in this team, is actually finding a way to throw the first punch.”South Africa have one more opportunity to do that before Lord’s, starting on Thursday, when they take on Pakistan in the second Test. Mulder is unlikely to be watching, and will probably come into the team for Bosch, and could play a big part in finishing what has been a successful summer.
Thomas Frank has enjoyed an impressive start to his tenure at Tottenham Hotspur, only losing three of his first 14 competitive games in charge of the club.
However, many fans still aren’t convinced by the Dane, especially after the defeat against Newcastle United in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.
The 51-year-old only made four changes to his starting eleven, but one of which proved to be a huge mistake – with Mohammed Kudus dropping down to the substitutes bench.
The Ghanaian has been the Lilywhites’ shining light in 2025/26, as seen by his tally of one goal and four assists within his first nine Premier League outings.
Such creativity was hugely lacking against the Magpies, with the £55m leaving the responsibility down to one of the other big-money names to move to North London this summer.
Xavi Simons’ best game in a Tottenham shirt
After spending £52m on the signature of attacking midfielder Xavi Simons, huge excitement was generated within the Spurs fanbase – but it’s safe to say he’s failed to live up to such expectations.
The Dutch international has registered just one assist and failed to score a single goal in any of his 11 outings, further backing up his lack of impact in North London.
However, his showing against Newcastle was arguably one of his best for the club, with Frank finally starting to utilise the 22-year-old in his natural attacking midfield role.
Simons featured for the entirety of the defeat, subsequently creating three chances for his teammates – but none of which resulted in a goal for Frank’s men.
Richarlison was often the man on the end of his chances, but the Brazilian’s wasteful nature was highlighted in his own tally of two big chances missed.
There’s no doubt he’s been unlucky during his opening few months in England, but the manager can certainly solve such an issue during the next couple of matches.
The Spurs player who can finally get Simons firing
In Spurs’ nine Premier League matches throughout 2025/26, the side have already netted 17 goals – subsequently averaging nearly two goals per game in England’s top-flight.
The goals have been spread around the first-team squad, as seen by centre-back Micky Van de Ven’s tally of three goals, which puts him joint-top of the goalscoring charts.
Richarlison has also netted the same number of goals, but has been called into question over the last few weeks for his inability to find the back of the net.
The Brazilian has failed to score in any of his last eight outings for the Lilywhites, often being wasteful within the final third – as seen by his misses against the Magpies.
Dominic Solanke has been unavailable over recent months due to an ankle issue, with Frank needing to hand fellow centre-forward Randal Kolo Muani the chance to impress.
Joao Palhinha and Randal Kolo Muani
The Frenchman joined on a season-long loan from PSG on deadline day, but has only started one game to date as he builds up match fitness after a stop-start pre-season.
However, despite his minutes off the substitutes bench, the 26-year-old has still demonstrated glimpses of his quality, which could see him handed a needed run of games as a regular starter.
He was even brought on with 25 minutes remaining at St James’ Park earlier this week, making an immediate impact with his direct run through the midfield, halted by referee Chris Kavanagh.
Kolo Muani, who’s been dubbed “phenomenal” by one analyst, may have failed to score for the Lilywhites to date, but his temporary spells elsewhere have showcased his clinical nature.
Games played
22
Goals scored
10
Shot on target accuracy
55%
Goals per shot on target
0.4
Key passes made
1.4
Take-ons completed
1.5
Carries into opposition box
1.2
Aerials won
1.2
He scored 10 goals in just 22 appearances with Juventus last campaign, even managing to put 55% of the shots he took on target – highlighting his accuracy in front of goal.
Such numbers would allow Simons to increase his own tallies in North London, with his incredible defence splitting passes falling into the path of a clinical talisman.
Creativity has been the Dutchman’s strong point prior to his move to England, but it’s been massively neglected given Richarlison’s inability to find the back of the net.
However, that could all be about to change if Frank decides to start Kolo Muani, with the pair having the talent to make the 2025/26 campaign one to remember for the Lilywhites.
Forget Kudus: Spurs star is rapidly becoming one of the "best in the world"
Tottenham Hotspur now have a world-class talent on their books under Thomas Frank.