League of Legends

07/17/2024

By: Jeff Yoder

Good Morning!

For the second straight night, an MLB All-Star event was settled with one swing. And for the 10th time in 11 years, the Midsummer Classic belongs to the American League. Plus, we’re teeing up the British Open a day early due to some untimely tee times (sports never sleeps), and the Tour de France goes back up the mountains with five stages left.

Let’s bat clean up on the MLB All-Star festivities before we hop the pond for the weekend ahead.

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MLB ALL-STAR GAME

American League of Legends

AL Rallies to Beat NL (5-3) on Jarren Duran’s Go-Ahead 2-Run HR — AL Has Won 10 of Last 11 All-Star Games

The American League is back on top after the latest Midsummer Classic Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas. The NL donned the sleek, new-school neon blue uniforms while the AL rocked the old-school peaches and creams (tough threads if you ask me). The game itself was largely a show for ‘The Show’ and a pitcher’s duel with a pair of home runs, one that decided it all. The NL was hot early with a scoreless start from Pirates’ rookie Paul Skenes and a three-run blast from Dodgers’ superstar Shohei Ohtani. The AL fired back immediately with three more runs in the bottom of the 3rd to set up a tie game (3-3) before Red Sox CF Jarren Duran lifted the decisive two-run homer in the 5th. That 413-footer landed Duran the All-Star Game MVP.

It was a pitcher’s paradise once again down the stretch. A’s ace Mason Miller threw a handful of 100-plus pitches, including a 103-mph zinger that made All-Star Game history. There were a lot of great moments and fun throughout, but few had Jarren Duran winning MVP on their bingo card.

The American League of Legends

Tuesday marked the AL’s 10th All-Star victory in the last 11 meetings. They’ve also won 22 of the last 27 (22-4-1) dating back to 1997. Talk about dominance. It doesn’t count for much, though. The AL only holds a slight edge in World Series wins (14-13) during that same time frame.

Top Highlights

Pirates’ Paul Skenes Fans AL With Scoreless Start

A’s Mason Miller Ks Ohtani, Fires 103.6-MPH Pitch

Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Hits 3-Run Homer

Red Sox’s Jarren Duran Launches GW 2-Run HR

Watch: AL Beats NL (5-3) in 2024 MLB All-Star Game

ESPN: AL Wins All-Star Game Behind Duran’s Tiebreaking HR

CBS Sports: Paul Skenes vs. Aaron Judge Matchup Was Best Showcase MLB Could Have Hoped For

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GOLF

Major #4: The Open Primer

*Photo: Andrew Redington / Getty Images*

Set Your Alarms — The Quest for the Claret Jug Begins Bright & Early Tomorrow in Scotland (By Marissa Kasch)

Three golf majors have come and gone in 2024, each with different champions. This week, we’re gearing up for golf’s final major of the year — The Open Championship — with early-morning tee times (tomorrow) due to the six-hour time difference in Scotland.

Will Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele or Bryson DeChambeau hoist the Claret Jug and capture their second major in 2024? Or will a new golfer join the pack and claim a major of his own? The last time The Open was at Royal Troon (2016), the world watched Phil Mickelson and Henrik Stenson’s iconic Sunday battle. If this year is anything like 2016, we’re all in for an exciting conclusion to the majors. And before you ask: Yes, Tiger Woods is playing.

The Course: If you remember Royal Troon from the aforementioned 2016 duel, you’ll find not much has changed. The course was lengthened, but other than that, prepare for the same tight fairways, greenside pot bunkers, and coastal views with plenty of water trouble in play.

The Weather: Temperatures are not expected to rise above 70 degrees during Round 1. Thursday also brings heavy rain and strong winds predicted to reach 20-25 mph. It’s Scotland, so the rain could be a factor throughout the weekend.

The Favorites: Per usual, Scottie Scheffler is heavily favored and looking to bounce back from his most recent major blunder in the U.S. Open (+8). Everyone believes that weekend was a fluke. The most favorable golfer who hasn’t won a major this season is none other than Northern Ireland native Rory McIlroy. He’s been staying consistent all season, and he’s coming off a runner-up finish at the U.S. Open.

Round 1 Tee Times (Featured Groups)

4:36 AM: J. Rahm, T. Fleetwood, R. MacIntyre

4:47 AM: L. Aberg, B. DeChambeau, T. Kim

4:58 AM: B. Harman, V. Hovland, S. Theegala

5:09 AM: R. McIlroy, M. Homa, T. Hatton

8:26 AM: J. Day, B. Hun An, R. Fowler

9:04 AM: P. Mickelson, J. Luiten, D. Johnson

9:26 AM: W. Clark, H. Matsuyama, B. Koepka

9:37 AM: T. Woods, X. Schauffele, P. Cantlay

10:10 AM: J. Spieth, S. Scheffler, C. Young

*All Times ET

Best Odds: S. Scheffler (+500), R. McIlroy (+800), L. Aberg (+1200), B. DeChambeau (+1400), X. Schauffele (+1400), C. Morikawa (+1600), J. Rahm (+2500), T. Fleetwood (+2500) | Full Odds

Read More

NBC Sports: Scheffler & McIlroy Get Ready for the Open (Video Interviews)

GolfWeek: Open Championship Picks: Best Bets for the British Open at Royal Troon

SI: At the British Open, Bryson DeChambeau Trying for Feat Last Done by Tiger Woods in 2000

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TOUR DE FRANCE

Excite Bike: The Tour’s Final Week

Jasper Philipsen Wins Masterful Sprint in Nimes, But Tadej Pogacar Still Leads Entering Final Week of Tour de France

Tuesday’s Stage 16 reset launched the final week of the Tour de France, and it’s time to get excited! Riders are about to make their final uphill climb before turning their sights on Nice (the town in France, not my demeanor). Normally, the Tour finishes via Champs Elysees in Paris, but this year’s ultimate stage has been altered due to Olympic preparations. Yesterday’s Stage 16 produced another wild ending with three riders — Jasper Philipsen, Phil Bauhaus, and Alexander Kristoff — all within a bike length at the finish line. Philipsen used a late burst to snag his third stage win, and we’re now into the final five stages of the world’s greatest cycling race.

Watch: Jasper Philipsen Sprints to Stage 16 Win in Nimes

Overall Standings

1. T. Pogacar: 66H, 7M, 51S (—)

2. J. Vingegaard: 66H, 11M, 0S (+3 Minutes)

3. R. Evenepoel: 66H, 13M, 10S (+5 Minutes)

4. J. Almeida: 66H, 18M, 45S (+11 Minutes)

5. M. Landa: 66H, 19M, 12S (+11 Minutes)

The Tour Finale: Barring a late-race slip-up, Tadej Pogacar is poised to take back his Tour de France crown from Jonas Vingeggard and capture his third win in five years. Both Pogacar (2) and Vingegaard (2) have won the last four races. The rivalry adds another chapter this week.

Today’s Schedule

Stage 17: Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux > Superdevoluy

Streaming on NBC / Peacock

Bicycling: Stage 17 Preview: Will the Uphill See Pogacar’s Dominance Challenged?

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HIGHLIGHTS

WNBA

Mercury def. Mystics (96-87)

Griner (23 pts), Copper (22 pts) & Taurasi (18 pts)

Storm def. Sparks (89-83)

Nneka Ogwumike (23 pts, 10 rebs, 6 stl)

Sky def. Aces (93-85)