NFL

Ravens sign S Eddie Jackson to one-year contract

The veteran safety market has been slow — I can’t believe Justin Simmons hasn’t signed yet — but the Ravens apparently didn’t want to wait any longer to fill a void. Baltimore is set at starting safety, though Marcus Williams is prone to injury, but there will still be snaps available in the Ravens secondary in wake of Geno Stone defecting to Cincinnati.

Jackson isn’t close to the player he was in the late 2010s, but he can still serve as insurance for Zac Orr’s defense with his football IQ. Another benefit: Jackson can play safety while Orr uses first-team All-Pro Kyle Hamilton as a chess piece.

No monetary details were provided, but knowing the Ravens, the deal was likely for good value.

Grade: B

NBA

Grizzlies receive: Mamadi Diakite and draft rights to Nemanja Dangubic

Nets receive: Ziaire Williams and 2030 second-round pick

This deal is all about the Grizzlies giving up on Williams, the No. 10 overall pick in 2021, to create financial flexibility. Diakite isn’t anything more than matching salary; he’s a great defender, but at 27, there’s not much more time for him to become passable on offense.

For the Nets, this is a chance for the rebuilding organization to get a look at Williams, a 22-year-old wing that could still have some untapped potential. For their trouble, Brooklyn also nabs a second-round pick — a nice boon.

Grizzlies Grade: D+

Nets Grade: B+

MLB

Diamondbacks 5, Cubs 2

The tide has turned in Arizona. The Snakes started slow coming off a World Series appearance — the club was 25-32 on June 1st — but Arizona is back on track, having won seven of its past 10. It’ll be hard to feel too good about the Diamondbacks until the pitching improves, but the offense, led by All-Star Ketel Marte, has scored the most runs in the NL. Marte went 2-for-4 with a run in this game.

Justin Steele had been mowing down opposing lineups since returning from a left hamstring strain, but yesterday was a setback for Chicago’s ace. Steele lasted just 4 2/3 innings, allowing five earned runs. Steele will need to bounce back for the 47-52 Cubs to have any shot at the postseason.

Pirates 8, Phillies 7

Yes, it’s not going to happen, but something feels a little bit right about this Pirates team, so around a week ago I bet on Pittsburgh to win the World Series at +30000. For the impossible to happen, Ben Cherington will need to add more hitting to his club, which just crawled over .500 for the first time since April 24th.

Nationals 8, Reds 5

Apparently all Patrick Corbin needed to start pitching well again was to turn 35. On his 35th birthday yesterday, the left-hander turned in a gem, pitching six frames of one-run ball versus a solid Reds lineup. Corbin is still 2-9 with a 5.35 ERA, though.

Noelvi Marte was a revelation last season in 35 games, hitting .316 with three home runs and six stolen bases, creating intense excitement and expectations for year two. Year two hasn’t gone according to plan for the Cincinnati third baseman. First, Marte was suspended 80 games for a PED violation. Upon return from the ban, the 22-year-old has struggled mightily, hitting just .167 through 18 games. Marte finished 0-for-3 last night.

Yankees 6, Rays 1

The start of the second half represents a great time for the Yankees to turn the page from a poor finish to the season’s first half. New York, trying to lift itself out of a lull, leaned on its bigger names in this contest: Gerrit Cole, Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Anthony Volpe.

Tigers 5, Blue Jays 4

The Tigers are surely regretting only giving one year to Jack Flaherty last offseason. I get why Detroit did it — the right-hander was a disaster after being traded to the Orioles in 2023 — but now the Tigers are in a situation where it makes little sense to hold onto the resurgent 28-year-old. Flaherty fanned eight across 5 2/3 innings last night, dropping his ERA to 3.13.

The Blue Jays’ choices are dwindling for how to approach the trade deadline. Buying is long gone as an option, and at 44-53, so is holding. Now, Toronto’s options are to sell or completely blow it up. A simple sell is most likely, and one of the deadline’s most fascinating storylines is whether that includes Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The first baseman continued his hot streak in this game, finishing 1-for-4 with a homer and two RBI.

Marlins 6, Mets 4

A bidding war for Tanner Scott is probably taking place as I write this. Miami’s top reliever has been terrific all year, and he took it to another level in this contest with a four-out save, his 15th of 2024.

Guardians 7, Padres 0

We’re just one day into MLB’s second half, but the Guardians are still fun. Steven Kwan is still hitting — he went 2-for-4. David Fry is still making magic — he went 3-for-3 with an RBI. The bullpen is still elite — Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis and Nick Sandlin combined to pitch 3 1/3 scoreless innings. Cleveland will not finish with the AL’s best record, but the club will obviously be playing in October, frustrating its opponent with timely hitting and ceding no runs late in games.

The 50-50 Padres are what their record says they are: average. A.J. Preller can make as many trades as he wants in an attempt to rectify his club, but the situation won’t improve until the team’s headliners start producing relative to expectations.

Manny Machado has been fine this season — the third baseman boasts a .734 OPS — but that’s not good enough for the $350 million dollar man. The same goes for Xander Bogaerts, whose play has been even more discouraging. Machado and Bogaerts combined to go 0-for-8 in this game.