Sports
Rams roundtable: Will 49ers sit their starters? Playoff date ahead in Detroit?
The Rams held on to defeat the New York Giants on the road when Mason Crosby, who was a member of the Rams for a week, missed a potential game-winning 54-yard field goal in the waning seconds. The Rams clinched a playoff spot when Seattle lost to Pittsburgh later in the day. Los Angeles Times Rams beat writer Gary Klein, NFL columnist Sam Farmer and columnist Dylan Hernández discuss what happened and upcoming prospects:
Matthew Stafford aside, who do you think has made the biggest difference on the improving Rams’ offense this season — running back Kyren Williams or receiver Puka Nacua?
Farmer: Puka Nacua has been spectacular. What a find. But Kyren Williams changes the whole complexion of the offense. Williams has made the biggest impact, not just in running the ball but in protecting Stafford.
Klein: Sorry, they both made huge impacts. The Rams would not be going to the playoffs without either one of them. Nacua has made multiple big plays as a receiver and also has contributed as a runner and blocker in the rushing attack. Williams has made the rushing attack go, and that has helped the passing attack.
Hernandez: Williams opens up the field for Nacua and vice versa, no? That said, if you put a gun to my head and make me pick one, I’d go with Williams. He gives the Rams a running game they haven’t had since Todd Gurley was healthy.
The Rams’ Kyren Williams (23), who scored three times against the New York Giants, find running room.
(Adam Hunger / Associated Press)
Aaron Donald aside, who have been the new stalwarts on defense for the Rams, who have been elevated by many young players.
Klein: Lineman Kobie Turner and edge rusher Byron Young have been starters since the start of the season. And they have played very well during the Rams’ second-half run. But the Rams also have received significant contributions from cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon — a veteran-minimum signee — and second-year safety Quentin Lake.
Hernandez: Rookies Kobie Turner and Byron Young continue to be impressive. Obviously, there are benefits to playing with Aaron Donald and they’re taking full advantage of it.
What worries you most about the Rams’ performance against the Giants for the future?
Farmer: The Rams have shown an inability to close the deal in the red zone. That’s a big concern. The kicking game, and coverage teams, have had some big breakdowns. This is one of the youngest teams in the league, so how are those guys going to hold up in the pressure cooker of the playoffs?
Klein: I’m not worried about anything, but Sean McVay is concerned about special teams. And with good reason. The Rams also are giving up a lot of explosive plays. Matthew Stafford will be fine.
Hernandez: OK, I know I just complimented Kyren Williams and the running game, but the Rams really had trouble moving the ball and running down the clock. This could be a problem if they find themselves with a lead in the playoffs.
Do you think the 49ers, who already clinched the top seed in the NFC, and the Rams will play starters in the season finale? For Rams, it is a matter of if they get seed 6 or 7.
Farmer: The Rams will play their starters. They need to keep the momentum going. It would make sense for the 49ers to rest players, seeing as they have already locked up the No. 1 seed. But do they really want to sit guys for three weeks? That’s a real cost-benefit analysis.
Klein: Don’t know all of the playoff scenarios yet. But it seems like the Rams would want to be seeded as high as possible, especially if it means avoiding a playoff matchup against the 49ers. And yes, the Rams beat the 49ers in the NFC championship game two years ago. But if not for a dropped interception …
Hernandez: I wouldn’t. Too much could go wrong. Look at what happened to the Chargers last year with Mike Williams. (Editor’s note: The Chargers’ starting receiver was lost for the season because of an injury in a meaningless Week 18 game.)
The Rams will be either the No. 6 (likely against Detroit) or 7 seed (likely Dallas) after Week 18. Which would be a better matchup for the Rams?
Farmer: There are big challenges with either of those opponents, so I’m going to go with my interest in story lines. Rams-Lions is preferable by far. It would be Matthew Stafford going back to Detroit to at long last play a postseason game at Ford Field, and Detroit’s Jared Goff looking to show Sean McVay the door. Is this football or a soap opera?
Hernandez: Yeah, who cares about which would be the better matchup for the Rams? Our concern should be which is the better matchup for the L.A. Times, and that’s unquestionably the Lions. Think about it: Matthew Stafford returns as an opponent to a city in which he remains beloved. Sam can spend a week in the great city of Detroit reporting that story.
Klein: Agreed who cares about what’s better for the Rams? For sure, the best story line is Rams vs. Lions with Matthew Stafford returning to Detroit to face Jared Goff. That’s also probably a better matchup for the Rams. Despite the Cowboys’ recent playoff history, McVay and Stafford would gladly avoid having to play Micah Parsons.
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As one of three host nations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, El Tri will look to make this summer its year to finally go deeper than the Round of 16.
Mexico opened its World Cup campaign with a dominant 2-0 win over South Africa at Mexico City Stadium on Thursday.
Julián Quiñones quickly got things started with a goal in the ninth minute, which was followed by Raúl Jiménez’s first career World Cup goal in the 67th minute after a South Africa red card.
Because of their ideal first result, Mexico has jumped from +6500 to +5000 on the oddsboard to win the World Cup. They are now also -185 to win Group A, a major jump from the -140 number they were at before the tournament began.
Just how big was Mexico’s win over South Africa? El Tri now has a better chance of making the final than being eliminated in the group stage.
Can they build off their opening match and make a deep run in this tournament? Let’s check out the updated odds for Mexico as of June 12.
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Team Mexico — Stage of Elimination
Last 32: +130 (bet $10 to win $23 total)
Last 16: +150 (bet $10 to win $25 total)
Quarterfinals: +400 (bet $10 to win $50 total)
Semifinals: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Runner-up: +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)
Group stage: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Outright winner: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
Mexico is currently +5000 to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup after their opening win vs. South Africa (Getty Images).
Mexico to Qualify from Group A: –10000 (bet $10 to win $10.10 total)
Mexico Group A Winner: -185 (bet $10 to win $14.76 total)
Mexico Top Goalscorer
Raúl Jiménez: -115 (bet $10 to win $18.70 total)
Julián Quiñones: +150 (bet $10 to win $25 total)
Santiago Giménez: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Armando González: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Roberto Alvarado: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)
Guillermo Martínez: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
Alexis Vega: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
What to know: Mexico has made a habit of being in the running, but never really being in the running. Make sense? Consider this: El Tri made it out of the group stage in seven consecutive World Cups (1994-2018), but never made it past the Round of 16 in any of those years. In 2022, Mexico failed to make it out of the group stage, and it will look to get back to its winning ways in 2026, as it is heavily favored to win Group A after its opening win against South Africa. Mexico will face South Korea and the Czech Republic in its final two group games.
Prior to the tournament, Jiménez was the clear favorite to lead Mexico in goals this summer at +220. Now, after his 67th minute header that found the back of the net vs. South Africa, he is -115. Quiñones, who many believe can be one of the breakout players of the tournament, has surged from +750 to 150 after his goal on Thursday.
Sports
Commentary: Would Dave Roberts snub Yoshinobu Yamamoto to start Shohei Ohtani in All-Star Game?
On the 13th of July, Dave Roberts will reveal his selection for the National League‘s starting pitcher in the All-Star Game.
On the 13th of June, Yoshinobu Yamamoto reminded his manager that he is the Dodgers’ best pitcher.
Is that enough for Yamamoto to start the All-Star Game? Probably not.
Is that enough to force Roberts into the uncomfortable position of picking one of his aces over another, like a father picking one of his sons over another? Maybe.
On Saturday, Yamamoto took a no-hitter into the ninth inning. He did it last September too, and in between he painted an October — and a first day of November — for the ages.
We have heard so much about Shohei Ohtani, and why not? Ohtani decided he would win the Cy Young Award this season, and why not?
His earned-run average did not rise above 1.00 until June 10. He also leads the NL in on-base-plus-slugging percentage, well on his way to his annual most valuable player award.
The Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award sounds nice. Not just yet, but someday, how about the Shohei Ohtani Most Valuable Player Award?
But back to the issue at hand: Which NL pitcher should start the All-Star Game?
Ohtani could, of course. He has, in 2021. In a game that is all about the fans, he is the player fans most want to see.
And, if he does not start at pitcher, he could not start at designated hitter, come in later to pitch one inning and remain in the game at DH. (At least, not under the current rules, which major league officials could waive for the All-Star Game.)
For Roberts and the Dodgers, that would be the ideal: Let Ohtani pitch the first inning so he can follow his normal pregame routine, since he has a routine for both pitching and hitting. Or, since Ohtani is trying to complete his first full season as a pitcher since 2022 and win the Cy Young, he and the Dodgers could agree that he would skip pitching in the All-Star Game.
But Roberts figures to have two other very worthy options. In the category of “player everyone wants to see,” he could select Jacob Misiorowski of the Milwaukee Brewers, not so much for his league-leading 1.34 ERA — Ohtani, at 1.06, doesn’t have enough innings to qualify — but for the 104-mph fastballs he was throwing in the ninth inning of his one-hit, 15-strikeout shutout Friday.
Without worrying about pitching deep into the game, with the opportunity to throw one inning and rear back and fire, can you imagine how hard Misiorowski might throw in the All-Star Game?
Roberts also could select the ace of the home team, Cristopher Sanchez of the Philadelphia Phillies, who threw 50⅔ consecutive scoreless innings this season. No one had thrown 50 since 1988, when Dodgers legend Orel Hershiser set the record with 59.
Sanchez has a 1.54 ERA, and he and Misiorowski lead all pitchers in wins above replacement (WAR).
The hometown favorite would be the safe pick for Roberts, although Dodgers fans have long memories: They remember the New York Mets’ Matt Harvey starting over Clayton Kershaw at Citi Field in 2013, a decision that looked regrettable at the time and looks downright shameful in hindsight.
That brings us back to Yamamoto, whose combination of consistency and excellence makes him the natural choice to start a big game — opening day, for instance, or an elimination game in the World Series.
In his 13 starts this season, he has given up three or fewer earned runs all but once and pitched at least six innings all but twice.
In the regular season last year, he pitched as many as eight innings once. This season, he has pitched at least eight innings in his last two starts.
In his last five starts, he has a 1.01 ERA, with five walks and 32 strikeouts. Keep that up for another month, and good luck telling him someone else is starting the All-Star Game.
Look at it this way: Who would you want if you had to pick someone to win you Game 7? You can’t go wrong with the guy who already did.
Sports
James Harden arrested in Houston on misdemeanor weapons charge after NBA playoff exit: report
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Two weeks after being eliminated from the NBA playoffs, James Harden was reportedly arrested in Houston, where he used to play, early Saturday morning.
The California Post, citing court records, said the 11-time All-Star was placed in custody on a misdemeanor charge of unlawful carrying of weapons.
Harden allegedly “unlawfully, intentionally and knowingly” had a handgun in his vehicle, the records said, according to the outlet.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden controls the ball against New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson during the second half of Game 3 in the Eastern Conference finals in Cleveland on May 24, 2027. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)
The firearm “was in plain view” and “not carried in a holster.”
The outlet reported that Harden was at a local hookah lounge with friends before his arrest.
Harden’s Cleveland Cavaliers were recently swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Knicks are one win away from their first NBA title since 1973.
“The Cleveland Cavaliers are aware of the arrest of James Harden this morning and are in the process of gathering additional information,” the Cavs said in a statement. “We are in contact with James and his representation and will continue to monitor developments as they become available. At this time, we will have no further comment.”
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden disputes a call during the second half of Game 3 in the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks in Cleveland on May 24, 2027. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)
TEEN PUNCHED AND KICKED INTO A COMA AFTER KNICKS-SPURS ALTERCATION NEAR MADISON SQUARE GARDEN: POLICE
The Cavs acquired Harden in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers to boost their playoff push, and they earned the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Harden averaged 20.5 points per game after the trade, understandably taking a back seat to Donovan Mitchell. He averaged 25.4 points per game in L.A., but the Clippers failed to make the playoffs, as they scored the sixth-fewest points per game in the NBA.
The Post said Harden is due back in court on June 22 for arraignment.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden reacts to a call during the first half of Game 4 in the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks in Cleveland on May 25, 2026. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)
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Harden played for the Houston Rockets from 2012 until 2021, when he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. He was named the MVP of the 2017-18 season and led the NBA in scoring each season from that year through 2019-20. In that span, he averaged nearly 34 points per contest.
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