Kade Anderson Debuts, Randy Arozarena Delivers as Mariners Walk Off Cubs Again
Looking to gain ground in a tight wild-card race, Seattle welcomed the Chicago Cubs back into T-Mobile Park after walking them off the night before. The Mariners elected to go the exciting route again, advancing from a walk-off single to a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth.
This was the Randy Arozarena game. Coming into the night, everyone thought the story would be about the phenom pitcher making his debut for the Mariners. Randy had other ideas, blasting a two-run home run 404 feet to dead center. If Seattle makes the playoffs this year, this game could mark the turning point of the season.
Seattle saw its top prospect, and one of the top prospects in all of baseball, make a promising debut. The bullpen was also able to keep the game close to set up a dramatic ninth inning.
Grand Ole Audition: Seahawks to Watch in Second Preseason Game at Titans
While starters won't play once again for the Seattle Seahawks in their second exhibition tuneup, Sunday's matchup against the Tennessee Titans still carries plenty of weight for several players sitting on the roster bubble.
Emerald City Spectrum reporter Corbin Smith breaks down which players he will be watching most closely in Nashville, including a pair of backup running backs set to see a heavy workload, a handful of EDGE defenders who need to pick up their play after underwhelming preseason debuts, and the duo of Montorie Foster Jr. and Cody White being under the microscope after Jake Bobo's season-ending knee injury.
Freshman Edge Ramzak Fruean Makes More Impressions at Huskies Mock Game
While it’s important to avoid reading too much into the Washington Huskies’ “mock game” on Saturday, true freshman edge Ramzak Fruean once again looked like a future star.
By future, we mean when UW kicks off the season Sept. 6 against Washington State in the Apple Cup. As has been the case for much of fall camp, Fruean once again proved difficult to contain on Saturday. He broke through for, unofficially, 2½ touch sacks against UW’s offense in a scrimmage that served as a dress rehearsal for the season.
After the mock game, head coach Jedd Fisch confirmed Fruean will become Washington’s third true freshman starter, joining defensive lineman Derek Colman-Brusa and left tackle Kodi Greene.
Takeaways: Reign Survive for Draw in Kansas City
The Seattle Reign bounced back from a midweek loss with a 1-1 draw at defending NWSL Shield-winner Kansas City Current on Saturday afternoon, defending chance after chance to split the points.
The result, Seattle's first at Kansas City since 2021, moves the eighth-place Reign to 8-8-4, two points ahead of the Houston Dash with 10 games remaining. Getting the point was monumental, as Seattle was left preserving the 1-0 advantage it picked up off an early Kayla Sharples own-goal forced by dangerous service from Seattle defender Sofia Huerta.
By the end of KC's onslaught, however, the Reign didn't concede a goal in the run of play. Only when striker Mia Fishel's elbow crept up to make contact with a Current pass in the box in the 51st did Seattle concede a goal off a penalty from star midfielder Debinha.
From there, Seattle defended for its life as defensive fixtures Jordyn Bugg (five tackles), Phoebe McClernon (six tackles) and Madison Curry (eight tackles) seemed to only get stronger as the game went on. By the end, KC ended up dwarfing Seattle's 0.7 expected goals with 3.3, but had to split the points.
Reign head coach Laura Harvey knew what type of effort she was going to need from her young team without star midfielder Sam Meza (thigh) for a third straight game, and she got it.
"We know coming here is really difficult," Harvey said postgame. "There's been moments this season and last season where I think some of our inexperience has shown. And I think tonight we looked like an experienced team at times.
"And look. If you'd have said to me before the game started, 'Would you take a point on the road in Kansas?' Probably."
WATCH: Sounders Snap Eight-Game Losing Streak, Draw with Cincinnati Despite Rotated Team
Emerald City Spectrum reporter Qasim Ali breaks down the Seattle Sounders’ 1-1 draw at FC Cincinnati on Saturday night.
The result marked the end of a franchise-worst eight-game MLS losing streak as Kalani Kossa-Rienzi bagged the equalizer in the 83rd minute off service from Albert Rusnak. Seattle also managed to split the points with a heavily rotated squad that saw Stuart Hawkins and Ryan Sailor notch 90-minute games while winger Paul Rothrock wore the captain’s armband for the first time.
Sounders to Sign Kansas City Star Striker Dejan Joveljić in $6 Million Deal
The Seattle Sounders were sick of answering for their lack of midseason signings, and they put the criticism to rest on Saturday evening.
GM Craig Waibel and company reportedly agreed to sign Sporting Kansas City star striker Dejan Joveljić for $6 million, according to Fabrizio Romano and later confirmed by other sources. The 27-year-old Serbian was in his second season at KC after four successful years with the LA Galaxy, culminating in a 2024 MLS Cup win.
The move signals Seattle’s first summer signing since 2021, with the transfer window set to close on Sept. 2. In the midst of a record MLS eight-game losing streak, head coach Brian Schmetzer had repeatedly hinted at the Sounders having a move in the works.
That purported move apparently came to fruition on Saturday with the team on the road in Cincinnati, picking up a draw for its first points in eight fixtures. Seattle is 7-9-4 and in 11th place in the Western Conference — two points behind ninth-place Portland.
As for Joveljić, he’s scored 60 goals in five and a half MLS campaigns and brings instant offense to the second-least productive offense in the league. Seattle’s striker pairing of Danny Musovski and Osaze De Rosario has combined for just three MLS goals in 21 games while designated player Jordan Morris has missed large chunks of the season injured as his year-to-year production craters from all-time-leading-scorer territory.
Schmetzer has been openly challenging one of the strikers to make the starting job their own, to no avail on an offense that’s struggling overall.
To make way for the new DP, who's making a listed wage of $3 million according to Capology, Niko Moreno of Sounder at Heart reported the team extended DP Albert Rusnák by two-and-a-half years to move him out of a DP spot. If that report holds, Seattle’s three DP spots will be occupied by Joveljić, Morris (set to return in the next month) and injured winger Pedro de la Vega (out for the season, quad).
Rusnák’s deal, which carried a club option next season, has him carrying a cap hit of nearly $2.7 million this season, per Spotrac.com.
The deal also puts to use the funds Seattle has generated by its many outbound transfers of young players. Midfield Obed Vargas fetched $3 million from Atletico Madrid before the season while Georgi Minoungou (Colorado Rapids) and Danny Leyva (Nexaca) also pulled in $3 combined.
5 Burning Questions as Seahawks Face Titans in Second Preseason Game
Taking their training camp show on the road for detour to Nashville, the Seattle Seahawks held a spirited joint practice with the Tennessee Titans on Friday, likely meaning that no noteworthy starters will play for Mike Macdonald’s squad in Sunday’s second preseason game.
However, that doesn’t mean that the second dress rehearsal at Nissan Stadium isn’t still an important one. Even if Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Leonard Williams, and other stars stay on the sidelines with a jersey and ball cap on, plenty of roster spots remain up for grabs in all three phases with Seattle’s matchup against Tennessee providing another valuable opportunity to impress the coaching staff with cutdown day now less than two weeks away.
Looking to turn in a far better performance than they did in a 17-7 loss to the Cowboys on their home turf last weekend, here are five key questions for the Seahawks heading into their latest preseason tuneup against the Titans:
1. Will Seattle's quarterback duo of Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe bounce back after underwhelming openers?
Putting up just seven points on the scoreboard to kick off exhibition season, there were far more hands in the cookie jar of offensive dysfunction for the Seahawks than just Lock and Milroe, who each completed north of 60% of their passes but failed to generate much yardage with their passing opportunities, combining to average a dismal 3.6 yards per attempt against the Cowboys. As subs started to rotate into the lineup, the offensive line progressively got worse as the game wore on with the third-team unit allowing consistent pressure on both quarterbacks, including Milroe getting sacked twice in the second half. Penalties also proved to be a major issue, including reserve tackle Logan Brown being flagged twice for crucial fourth down holding penalties.
Leo Rivas Walks Off Cubs, Gives M’s Homestand Jolt
It’s the kind of thing that engenders legitimate hope in a team so downtrodden, but it’s the kind of thing fringe Mariners role players have done for decades in ultimately sour-ending seasons.
Regardless of the view from 30,000 feet, it was a magical moment for those celebrating within a three-foot radius of Leo Rivas in the bottom of the 10th on Friday night.
The game had been a back-and-forth affair between the M’s and Cubs, two teams with high expectations going into 2026 but only one of whom had performed up to snuff. At times, Seattle looked like the team they had constructed on paper, with Brendan Donovan and Cal Raleigh both producing runs. At others, the Cubs ambushed mistake pitches from multiple Mariners pitchers, and it had gone to extras before Seattle triumphed 6-5.
Emerson Hancock recovered from early struggles to put together almost six innings.
During the first half of the season, Mariners starting pitching had the sixth best ERA, fifth best StatCast expected ERA (xERA [1]), best fielding independent pitching (FIP [2]) and third best expected FIP (xFIP [3]) of any rotation in baseball.
In the second half, however, Seattle’s starters have had the seventh worst ERA, fourth worst FIP, and ninth worst xFIP. Their xERA ranking of 10th best since the break is small consolation with their struggles spanning all the non-StatCast metrics. They went from a league-best 11.0 starting pitcher FanGraphs WAR (fWAR) pre-break to a second-to-last 0.5 fWAR post-break.
Bigger Roles, Bigger Stat Lines: 2 Kraken Set to Break Out This Season
The NHL preseason is still a month away. Seattle Kraken news is slow as we enter the dog days of summer and the NHL offseason, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel with hockey not being that far away from returning, as camp opens in September.
Let’s take a look at the Kraken roster as it stands today and discuss two breakout candidates. When naming a “breakout” candidate, this does not necessarily mean they are going to compete for the Hart Trophy. It means that they could be poised to take another step in their development and even put together career years.
Ryker Evans, D
Evans is a 24-year-old left-shot defenseman, selected 35th overall by the Kraken in the 2021 NHL Draft. It has been a slow burn for Evans since then, rising through the ranks of the WHL and AHL, earning his stripes in Regina and then Coachella Valley. Over the last two seasons, he finally set himself into the main rotation of blue liners in Seattle, playing in 73 games in 2024-25 and 67 last season for the Kraken.
Mariners’ Anderson Callup Covers Woo, Lockout Uncertainties
There’s a southpaw down in Double-A with a 1.06 ERA, 1.78 FIP, 0.643 WHIP, 40.5% strikeout rate, and 3.9% walk rate.
His name is Kade Anderson, and he’s either the no. 1 or no. 2 prospect in the Mariners system, depending on who you ask. Even adjusted for Arkansas’ very pitcher-friendly stadium, he has a 413 ERA+ and 246 FIP+, both where 100 is league average and higher is better.
Anderson has perhaps been big-league ready for months at this point, but the Mariners brass has so far kept him pitching for the Double-A Arkansas Travelers. But on Thursday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the prospect would be headed up to the majors to pitch on Saturday instead of Bryan Woo.
Despite - or perhaps because of - the Mariners’ dire position in the standings, the team evidently decided to bring him onto the major league club. The decision may have negative consequences down the road should the impending lockout extend into 2027 (especially if it nixes the whole season), but the move does fit with the way the M’s have operated in 2026: that is, wait a long time to make a decision but ultimately try to nudge things towards winning, even if that nudging can be more than a little halfhearted and much less than enough to turn it around.
Analysis: Where Mariners’ Farm System Ranks and What Comes Next
As the Mariners attempt to claw their way back into playoff contention, it can be easy to focus on the letdowns of the major league club. The organization has plenty of other reasons to be optimistic, with a talent-rich farm system that would be the envy of most teams.
When Seattle traded Luis Castillo to the Chicago White Sox, it was initially billed as a salary dump and a way to reduce the logjam of starters in the rotation. The Mariners acquired Seranthony Domínguez, who slots in as a middle-relief option. Seattle also received prospect Boston Smith, who has been mashing with six home runs in his first 11 games. The catcher adds to an already impressive minor league system.
Seahawks Lose Jake Bobo to ‘Serious’ Knee Injury During Joint Practice With Titans
From team bonding to the opportunity to receive valuable, yet controlled reps against starters from another team, joint practices offer plenty of benefits for NFL teams. But as the Seattle Seahawks learned the hard way on Friday, they can also come with unexpected costs on the injury front.
Per Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune, Seahawks veteran receiver Jake Bobo landed awkwardly while trying to make a contested catch while covered by one of Tennessee’s linebackers, suffering a “bad looking” leg injury. The team ended up carting him off the field, always an ominous sign, and coach Mike Macdonald indicated the the injury looked to be a significant one for the fourth-year wideout after practice concluded.
“Our heart goes out to Jake Bobo,” Macdonald said, confirming that players from both teams took a knee to say a prayer for Bobo after the injury happened. “It seems like it’s going to be a serious knee [injury]. We’re going to get it imaged, but early returns, it looks like a long-term injury, so that’s unfortunate.”
In addition, as reported by Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, starting right tackle Abraham Lucas walked off the field with trainers, though it appears that was for cramping and not due to an actual injury.
Gonzaga Women's Soccer Can't Punch Back in Contentious Match, Falls 2-1 to Arizona
After Oregon handed them their first loss in a 3-0 result Sunday, Gonzaga women’s soccer (1-2) couldn’t rebound upon returning home to Luger Field.
Although they struck first against Arizona (2-1) on Thursday evening, the Zags made several lapses they couldn’t recover from, even with ample opportunity.
The first half transpired fairly briskly, as the flow between the two sides was initially smooth. But after halftime, there were more interruptions, leading to increased physicality and tension. And unfortunately for GU, it didn’t have much to show for it during the final 45 minutes, resulting in a frustrating loss for the Bulldogs.
Has Separation Season Arrived for Montorie Foster Jr. Entering Seahawks’ Joint Practice vs. Titans?
Turning heads since the start of training camp and becoming one of the stars of HBO’s Hard Knocks, Montorie Foster Jr. has evolved from a feel-good story to a legit threat to earn a spot on the Seahawks 53-man roster.
Emerald City Spectrum reporter Corbin Smith discusses how the former Michigan State standout has kept stacking quality days on the practice field and how he could create the last push of separation at a crowded receiver position needed to secure a spot on the 53 with a strong showing against the Titans in Nashville in the upcoming Friday joint practice and Sunday’s second preseason game.
Washington State Football Feels Impact of New Five-for-Five Rule
With the NCAA’s new five-for-five eligibility rule changing the way college basketball teams approach recruiting and roster management, its effects are beginning to reach college football as well. Washington State is now navigating the rule as it looks to add another familiar face to its defensive line ahead of the 2026 season.
According to CougFan.com, Washington State is going through the process of adding defensive lineman Soni Finau to its roster. Finau, a Cal Poly transfer, played for the Cougars during the 2025 season after transferring from Cal Poly.
During his time in Pullman, Finau made an impact on the defensive side of the ball, recording 12 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. If he is cleared to return, Finau would provide the Cougars with another experienced option along the defensive interior.
Finau would join a defensive tackle group that already includes Kaden Beatty, Paul Hudson, Jirah Leaupepetele, Damarjhe Lewis, and Josh Wedel. Adding a player who was in the rotation last season could give Washington State some valuable depth as the season approaches.
Mariners Survive Brewers, Gain Ground in Wild Card Race
Seattle came limping into Milwaukee after getting pummeled 22-0 the night before, looking to exorcise some demons against the Brewers on Wednesday night. Facing former top prospect Dustin May, the Mariners got the bats going early, plating four runs in the first inning before ultimately winning 7-5.
Current Cy Young candidate Logan Gilbert, emboldened by an early lead, battled through five innings before being pulled in the sixth. Likely two batters too late.
As has been the case all season, Dan Wilson made another questionable decision that nearly cost his team the game. But his players persevered, allowing Seattle to gain considerable ground in the wild-card race.
Did Seattle have a great offensive performance? Absolutely. Were they simultaneously incredibly lucky? Unequivocally. That’s a luxury not often enjoyed by this team as it tries to turn its season around.
WATCH: Sounders, Reign Drop Midweek Matches; Rave Green Lose Eighth Straight
The Seattle Sounders and Seattle Reign both lost 2-1 on Wednesday, with the Sounders falling to MLS foe Austin FC at Lumen Field and the Reign losing to NWSL side Racing Louisville on the road.
The Sounders (7-9-3) dropped their franchise-record eighth MLS game in a row, falling to 12th in the Western Conference. Though young center back Stuart Hawkins scored late, the Rave Green were unable to cope with a rotated Austin team focused on its Leagues Cup run despite narrowly winning the expected-goal battle and outshooting the visitors.
Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer backed the effort his injury-riddled team is putting in during this streak, but watched as All-Star center back Jackson Ragen exited the game early with a hyperextended knee. Schmetzer clarified that Ragen’s removal was precautionary.
At any rate, Seattle is now missing Cristian Roldan, Pedro de la Vega, Yeimar, Paul Arriola, Ragen, Jesus Ferreira and Jordan Morris with a trip to FC Cincinnati looming on Saturday. Cristian Roldan and Morris could make a return by that fixture.
As for the Reign (8-8-3), Wednesday marked another lost lead as Seattle couldn’t defend the advantage generated by leading scorer Maddie Mercado’s (seven goals in 2026) early goal. Instead, Louisville’s USWNT team star Emma Sears ran riot for a brace, scoring two goals against the run of play as Laura Harvey’s squad failed to deliver on a large xG night for the second game in a row.
The Reign, who suffered just their second loss since the June World Cup break, will also play again on Saturday as they head to defending Shield-winning Kansas City.
WATCH: Gonzaga Bulldogs’ Roster Crystallizes After Several Transfer Portal Additions
Three experienced transfers are officially heading to Spokane: “5-in-5” transfers Javon Bennett and Chauncey Wiggins, and Skylar Wicks, who earned an eligibility waiver from the NCAA.
Emerald City Spectrum reporter Howard Woodard analyzes Gonzaga’s newest roster additions and other pending options as the Zags' 2026-27 personnel nears completion.
Huskies Receiver Christian Moss’ Long Road Leads to Starting Job at Washington
Christian Moss’ trip to the University of Washington began with the hiring of an attorney.
A common part of one’s journey in modern college football, Moss and his lawyer, Darren Heitner, appealed a decision by the NCAA to deny Moss an extra season of eligibility after he missed all of 2023 with a hand injury. He won, and Huskies receivers coach Kevin Cummings wasted no time convincing the 6-3, 205-pound X receiver to take a trip from Atlanta to Seattle after the injury waiver was granted.
“Literally an hour into me getting it, I got the call from KC and set up a visit, and everything just worked out,” Moss said. “… Coach Fisch has a lot of good people in the building and the vision. They have a really good quarterback coming back, so it just felt like home as soon as I got on campus.”
‘I Want to Win’: Seeking Career Revival, Trevon Diggs Ready to Help Seahawks Title Defense
Coming off a lost season due to injuries, Trevon Diggs had several potential landing spots on his radar this summer as he aimed to land with a new team, but he didn’t rush into a decision to ensure he found the best fit.
Previously an All-Pro with the Cowboys before a torn ACL suffered early in the 2023 season started a bad string of misfortune on the injury front, Diggs waited out the market after the Packers released him in January, awaiting the right situation to continue his career. After meeting with the Lions earlier in the offseason and drawing interest elsewhere, an impromptu visit with the Seahawks on Tuesday proved to be the perfect fit, and just 24 hours later, he had signed a contract.
Stepping up to the podium to speak with local media for the first time on Wednesday, Diggs made it clear that three things mattered most to him seeking a new team: familiarity at a place that “felt like home,” a real chance to play, and a winning culture. The Seahawks checked off all of those boxes, making it an easy decision to stay in town and sign the dotted line finding the best chance to get his career back on track.
“I’m looking to show that I’m still the best and I’m looking to show that I want to win,” Diggs said. “Be there for my teammates, be a great teammate, be a great player.”
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