The Little League World Series hosts twenty teams from across the United States and the world. Where do they start? Hamilton, Ohio. West Chester, Pennsylvania. Henderson, Nevada. Seoul, South Korea. Léon, Nicaragua. Teams of 12-year-olds from these places and more came together for 12 days to compete for the coveted title of the best little league team on earth. But how do teams from such diverse backgrounds get there? The answer is, it depends on where you’re from. The Pat

August 27, 2026 With roughly one month remaining in the regular season, the 2026 MLB playoff picture has begun to take shape—but very little has been settled. The Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers are battling for the National League’s best record. The Tampa Bay Rays have created separation in the American League East. The Braves, Cubs, Yankees and Red Sox appear headed toward October. Behind those teams, however, the standings are packed. The entire American League W

Major League Baseball is heading toward its most consequential labor battle in decades. The current collective bargaining agreement expires on December 1, 2026, and negotiations between MLB and the MLB Players Association have exposed a fundamental disagreement over how the sport’s money should be distributed. MLB has proposed a seven-year agreement built around a hard salary cap and payroll floor. For 2027, the league’s opening proposal would establish a $245.3 million cap a

Updated August 5, 2026 The 2026 MLB trade deadline did more than move a few recognizable names. It changed the balance of power in both leagues. Nearly 50 deals were completed on deadline day alone, with contenders acquiring frontline pitching, impact bats and postseason experience. The result was one of the most consequential deadlines in recent memory—and a clear message from baseball’s biggest buyers: October is the only objective that matters. Tarik Skubal gives Los Angel

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