Last weekend’s power plays set the tone for another great week in sports. This week, we have the MLB All-Star Game to look forward to. Plus, the final major of the season tees up at Royal Portrush. Here’s the TLDR for from the past few days:

• The Nationals took high school shortstop Eli Willits taken first overall in the MLB Draft

• Cole Palmer lit up PSG in the Club World Cup Final

• Chris Gotterup outdueled Rory McIlroy in the Scottish Open

• Cal Raleigh takes the Home Run Derby

And here’s how it all went down. ⤵️

Letter Rip!

< SOCCER >

Palmer Party Stuns PSG⚽

Chelsea becomes first winners of the new FIFA Club World Cup tournament, thanks to offense by Palmer and saves by Sanchez

If you told most soccer fans the Club World Cup Final would end 3-0, few would blink. But if you told them Chelsea would be the ones lifting the trophy – not PSG – they might ask what game you were watching. PSG entered the final heavily favored after they steamrolled Real Madrid 4–0 in the semifinals and clinched a near-perfect season with titles in Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Champions League. A Club World Cup win felt like a formality – until Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea decided to flip the script.

Despite a relatively quiet season, it didn’t take Cole Palmer long to remind us who he is and what he’s capable of. Palmer established an early lead for the Chelsea Blues, sinking two goals in the first 30 minutes. His first goal curled straight into the bottom corner. His next goal came just eight minutes later, nearly identical in execution and equally devastating to PSG’s confidence. Palmer’s back-to-back goals secured a comfortable lead for Chelsea, but 15 minutes remained before halftime, and the Blues kept charging. In the 43rd minute, a hat trick looked imminent as Palmer neared the goal. Instead, he settled for an assist, allowing his new teammate Joao Pedro to add insurance for the Blues.

On paper, PSG’s 3-0 loss looks like an anomaly. The Parisians continued to do what they’ve done best all season, controlling possession for 66.5% of the game. They also had six shots on goal to Chelsea’s five and finished with the advantage in corner kicks. Sure, plenty of Chelsea’s success stemmed from Cole Palmer. But the Blues couldn’t have pulled off the shutout without Robert Sanchez and his flawless goalkeeping. Sanchez pulled off six saves versus PSG, interrupting their normal rhythm and stifling their dangerous players. The Parisians’ mistakes coupled with Chelsea’s undying grit gave the Blues the honor of being the first winners of the FIFA Club World Cup tournament.

< MLB >

Big Dumper Bombs Away⚾

Mariners’ Catcher Cal Raleigh Beats Junior Caminero in a Contested Home Run Derby Final

Underdogs had their moment over the weekend – but in the Home Run Derby, Cal Raleigh reminded everyone why the favorites are still the ones to beat. After a dramatic finale, Raleigh edged out Rays’ Junior Caminero 18-15. Caminero would have been the youngest Derby champion ever at 22 years old. But Raleigh made history of his own last night by becoming the first catcher to ever win the Derby.

Here’s how the bracket shook out for the rest of the field:

Round 1

T1. Junior Caminero (Rays) - 21

T1. Oneil Cruz (Pirates) - 21

3. Byron Buxton (Twins) - 20

4. Cal Raleigh (Mariners) - 17

5. Brent Rooker (Athletics) - 17 *

6. James Wood (Nationals) - 16

7. Matt Olson (Braves) - 15

8. Jazz Chisholm (Yankees) - 3

* Rooker’s home run length fell 0.08 feet inches short of Raleigh’s

Semifinals

Junior Caminero def. Byron Buxton (8-7)

Cal Raleigh def. Oneil Cruz (19-13)

Finals

Cal Raleigh def. Byron Buxton (18-14)

While the Home Run Derby may have been last night, the All-Star festivities are just beginning. Tonight, the American and National Leagues face off in the All Star Game. Can the AL defend its title and continue its reign of dominance? Or can the slightly favored NL pull out the win in Atlanta? We’ll find out tonight; but first, let’s take a look at the starters. 

American League:

C: Cal Raleigh (Mariners)

1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays)

2B: Gleyber Torres (Tigers)

3B: Junior Caminero (Rays) *

SS: Jacob Wilson (Athletics)

OF: Aaron Judge (Yankees)

OF: Riley Greene (Tigers)

OF: Javier Baez (Tigers)

DH: Ryan O’Hearn (Orioles)

SP: Tarik Skubal (Tigers)

* Jose Ramirez (Guardians) was originally selected as the AL’s starting 3B but chose to opt out of the game to focus on recovery and the second half of the season

National League:

C: Will Smith (Dodgers)

1B: Freddie Freeman (Dodgers)

2B: Ketel Marte (Diamondbacks)

3B: Manny Machado (Padres)

SS: Francisco Lindor (Mets)

OF: Ronald Acuna Jr. (Braves)

OF: Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs)

OF: Kyle Tucker (Cubs)

DH: Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers)

SP: Paul Skenes (Pirates)

For the full All-Star Game roster, including reserves, starting pitchers and relief pitchers, click here.

< GOLF >

Royal Portrush Preview?

< NEWS >

The Headlines 📰

• 2025 MLB Draft Tracker, Results: Full List of 615 Draft Picks, Analysis of Every Team's First-Round Selection (CBS Sports) 

• Rory McIlroy Goes Full Sicko Mode to Prepare for the Open Championship (Yahoo! Sports)

• Most Intriguing Picks From Day 2 of '25 MLB Draft (MLB) 

• Sources: Jets WR Garrett Wilson Lands 4-Year, $130M Extension (ESPN) 

• Kyle Filipowski’s NBA Summer League Foreshadows Year Two Breakout with Jazz (SI)

• Jannik Sinner Tops Carlos Alcaraz in Rematch to Win Wimbledon (ESPN)

< SCHEDULE >

The Watch Party 🍿