The Sportsletter - Astro Annihilation

BY JEFF YODER, MATTHEW CAHILL & MARISSA KASCH

JULY 22, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

Happy Friday 🙌

The back half of the MLB season picked up last night, and the Astros made a statement yesterday to the Yankees and the rest of the American League. With pennant and division races in the near future, the home stretch of the MLB season looks to be an exciting one. 

Letter Rip!

MLB

Astro Annihilation

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Houston Takes Both Games of Doubleheader Against Yankees

The two best teams in the MLB faced off in a doubleheader yesterday as the Astros took both games over the Yankees, winning the first 3-2 and the second 7-5.

In the first game, the Astros headed into the ninth with a 2-1 lead, but Isiah Kiner-Falefa tied the game up in the top of the ninth with an RBI single. However, Houston immediately answered thanks to J.J. Matijevic’s walk-off single for the win. The second game on the other hand wasn’t nearly as close. Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman hit back-to-back homers in the first inning to set the tone and complete the wire to wire victory over New York. 

Trouble Brewing in New York

While this has for the most part been a magical season for the Yankees, they cannot seem to exercise their demons in Houston. After crushing playoff defeats to them in 2017 and 2019, they are just 2-5 against the Astros this year, with their only wins coming via walk-off. If New York wants to get back to the World Series for the first time since 2009, they are very likely going to have to figure out a way to beat Houston, because they are still the team to beat in the American League until proven otherwise.

Additional Storylines

ESPN: Sweep Gives Astros Season Series vs. Yankees, but Aaron Boone says 'it's not going to matter unless' it's October

NY Post: Yankees Get Reality Check in Humbling Doubleheader Sweep by Astros

NFL

Murray Gets His Money

Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images

Cardinals and Kyler Murray Agree on 5 Year Extension

While there have been rumblings about an extension not getting done due to him missing voluntary OTAs in May and scrubbing his instagram account clear of any Cardinals-related content, the Cardinals and Kyler Murray seemed to have reconciled. 9 days before their training camp is scheduled to begin, Arizona locked up their quarterback of the future, as they agreed on a five year, $230 million extension that keeps him under contract through the 2028 season. This extension gives the 24 year old quarterback the second highest annual salary in the NFL at $46.1 million, trailing only Aaron Rodgers. 

After being drafted first overall in the 2019 draft, Murray has led the Cardinals to an improved record in each of his three seasons. Last year, Arizona started off 7-0 and briefly looked like Super Bowl contenders, but a Murray ankle injury derailed their season, as they finished just 4-6 and were ultimately blown out in the Rams in the Wild-Card round. Now that the extension is done, the Cardinals now look towards Murray to continue leading them all the way from the bottom of the league to becoming a true force for years to come.

Additional Storylines

ESPN: Why the Arizona Cardinals had to Give Kyler Murray Whatever he Wanted

Yahoo!: Kyler Murray's $46 Million Annual Salary is Almost the Same as the Athletics' 2022 Payroll

CYCLING

Vingegaard Separates Himself  

Photo: Michael Steele / Getty Images

Jonas Vingegaard's Big Day Puts him in Prime Position to win Tour de France

Tadej Pogacar came into the 2022 Tour de France looking to win it for the third straight year, but those hopes are all but insurmountable after stage 18 yesterday. Heading into the stage, Pogacar trailed Jonas Vingegaard by 2 minutes and 18 seconds, and needed to cut into the lead at least a little bit before the final three stages. However, Vingegaard only built upon his lead, winning yesterday by 1:04. His big day puts him in prime position to win his first Tour de France this weekend as it wraps up this Sunday. 

Watch: Stage 18 Highlights 

Tour de France Standings

1. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma): 71H, 53M, 34S

2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates): 71H, 57M, 00S

3. Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers): 72H, 01M, 34S

Full Standings

Additional Storylines

VeloNews: Tadej Pogačar Crashes on Descent and Jonas Vingegaard Waits: ‘We Respect Each Other a lot’

Yahoo!: 'Best Man Won': Pogacar Hails Vingegaard as Tour de France Slips Away

THE STORYLINES

⚾️ 7 Biggest Storylines for MLB’s 2nd Half

The All-Star break didn’t turn out to be much of a break for major baseball news. From Juan Soto trade rumors to the Yankees and Shohei Ohtani, these are the biggest storylines to know for the MLB’s second half. (Yahoo! Sports)

🏈 Ranking the Highest-Paid QBs in the NFL

After Kyler Murray’s massive extension, the league’s top young signal-callers are securing the bag. Here is Over The Cap’s top 10 list of the highest paid quarterbacks in the league – the highest paid. Period. (USA Today)

🏀 The Donovan Mitchell Trade Market

The Knicks have all the pieces to bring Utah’s All-Star guard to Broadway, but it should be hesitant to go all in. As good as Mitchell is, questions remain about his ability to carry a team. (The Ringer)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Georgia Football Extends Head Coach Kirby Smart to 10-Year, $112 Million Deal (ESPN)
• Browns Bring In QBs Josh Rosen & AJ McCarron Ahead of Possible Deshaun Watson Suspension (CBS Sports)
• Charles Barkley to Play at Next LIV Event, Contemplates Joining Tour as Broadcaster (Yahoo! Sports)
• 76ers Announce Plans to Build Privately Funded $1.3 Billion Arena (B/R)

🗓️ WEEKEND SCHEDULE

The Must-Watch List

Tour de France

Stage 19: Castelnau-Magnoac > Cahors (Friday)

Stage 20: Lacapelle-Marival > Rocamadour (Saturday)

Stage 21: Paris la Defense Arena > Champs-Elysees (Sunday)

MLB

Dodgers-Giants Series

Padres-Mets Series

Astros-Mariners Series

Blue Jays-Red Sox Series

Full MLB Weekend Schedule

Women’s EUROs (Quarterfinals)

Sweden vs. Belgium (Fri. 2:00 pm)

France vs. Netherlands (Sat. 2:00 pm)

WNBA

Storm at Mercury (Fri. 9:00 pm)

Sparks at Aces (Sat. 9:00 pm)

Full WNBA Schedule

PGA Tour

3M Open (All Weekend)

*All Times ET

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