Daily News 19

Author: DN19 Newsroom

  • Emmy Predictions: ‘The Pitt,’ ‘Widow’s Bay,’ ‘Hacks’ in Contention

    Emmy Predictions: ‘The Pitt,’ ‘Widow’s Bay,’ ‘Hacks’ in Contention

    Emmy Awards 2025 Predictions: Final 19 Primetime Categories Analysis

    Last Friday, my Emmy Awards predictions Part 1 covered select categories among the 102 awards handed out over the weekend. The headline read: “Pete Hammond’s Emmy Predictions, Part 1: Are ‘DTF St Louis’, Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, Jimmy Kimmel, Rob Reiner & More Heading For Early Wins This Weekend?” With the exception of Taylor Swift, who experienced a rare loss, every predicted winner hit the mark — a strong start to the ceremony.

    Now we turn to the final 19 categories of Monday’s Primetime Emmy Awards, armed with significantly more information than was available last week. On paper, Widow’s Bay, The Pitt, DTF: St Louis and Stephen Colbert appear positioned as the night’s big winners. Betting against them might seem like a fool’s errand, yet the Emmys are rarely that predictable, and the two-day Creative Arts ceremonies can be misleading.

    Comedy Series: Widow’s Bay vs. Hacks

    The most impressive aspect of Widow’s Bay’s sweep of eight wins (out of 19 total nominations) is that it was a late breaker — its final episodes weren’t even eligible. This suggests Television Academy branches (all voting except Outstanding Program categories are branch-specific) flipped for the show and watched it just before voting began, keeping it fresh in mind. This despite Hacks earning a record 24 nominations for its fifth and final season, far more than ever before, and appearing poised to dominate.

    The only head-to-head matchup where Hacks prevailed last weekend was in Picture Editing — a positive sign for the veteran HBO Max comedy. Before that win, Hacks had won only a single crafts category in its history (Contemporary Costume Design in 2022). In 2024, Hacks pulled a stunning upset over The Bear’s second season to claim its sole Comedy Series Emmy, winning just two other awards (Comedy Writing and Lead Actress Jean Smart) compared to The Bear’s 11. Could history repeat against Widow’s Bay?

    Widow’s Bay could still add more wins and end up in the same position as The Bear that year. It may well set a Comedy record even if it eventually loses the top prize. If above-the-line enthusiasm matches the below-the-line strength, watch out — so far, Betty Gilpin’s Guest Comedy Actress win is its only above-the-line victory, possibly because five Hacks actresses split votes five ways.

    The TV Academy has recently favored first-timers, especially from Apple (Ted Lasso, The Studio) and FX’s The Bear in its first season. Voters like shiny new toys, and Widow’s Bay appears strong in writing, directing, Lead Actor and Supporting Actress. Yet uncertainty remains. Hacks could triumph with just a handful of statuettes — notably Jean Smart, maybe writing. Seven of Widow’s Bay’s eight wins are crafts; the comedy/horror hybrid has no peer in production values. But when the full Academy votes, stranger things have happened. Hacks is coming from behind, even after nominations day gave it early frontrunner status for a sterling finale. It could have one last hurrah.

    THE WINNER: Hacks

    Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

    THE WINNER: Matthew Rhys for Widow’s Bay

    Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

    THE WINNER: Jean Smart for Hacks (setting several records along with it)

    Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

    THE WINNER: Stephen Root for Widow’s Bay (unless sentiment for Harrison Ford finally sets in)

    Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

    THE WINNER: Kate O’Flynn for Widow’s Bay

    Writing in a Comedy Series

    THE WINNER: Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky for the Hacks finale

    Directing in a Comedy Series

    THE WINNER: Hiro Murai for Widow’s Bay

    Drama Series: The Pitt Poised for Repeat

    No other outcome seems likely than a second-season repeat for industry favorite The Pitt. Night 1 and Night 2 of the Creative Arts Emmys were close numerically: chief competitor Pluribus won three awards to The Pitt’s four. But the innovative medical series should prevail, even if Pluribus creator Vince Gilligan wins writing and/or directing (the Breaking Bad maestro has never personally won in those categories). He must beat both Pitt nominees in writing (who could cancel each other out) and Noah Wyle in directing — not a slam dunk. Task, snubbed in Drama Series, could still spoil both categories, but among nominated series, The Pitt is the expected winner — even Gilligan told me he expects it to win.

    THE WINNER: The Pitt

    Lead Actor in a Drama Series

    THE WINNER: Noah Wyle from The Pitt

    Lead Actress in a Drama Series

    Zendaya won for the first two seasons of Euphoria, but can she threepeat for a less well-received final season? The actors branch loves her, but the 2022 win may be too distant. This comes down to long-overdue Keri Russell in The Diplomat Season 3 (gaining steam, plus a SAG Actor Award win this year) and Pluribus’ Rhea Seehorn, continually overlooked for Better Call Saul.

    THE WINNER: Rhea Seehorn for Pluribus

    Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

    Shawn Hatosy won Guest Actor for The Pitt last year as Dr. Jack Abbot. Now in supporting, he faces co-stars Patrick Ball and Gerran Howell. Do they split the vote, allowing Ball (memorable as Dr. Frank Langdon) to squeak through? If a genuine split occurs, could Task standout Tom Pelphrey surprise? Or will the branch return to an old favorite — the show’s sole nominee, two-time winner Billy Crudup in The Morning Show?

    THE WINNER: Patrick Ball for The Pitt

    Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

    Katherine LaNasa won last year and is a frontrunner to repeat, but now joined by three co-stars: Taylor Dearden, Fiona Dourif and Sepideh Moafi — the latter a genuine threat. If they split, look for Allison Janney in The Diplomat (now playing a U.S. President) to make Emmy history, joining Cloris Leachman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus as an eight-time acting winner in a year where Jean Smart is also favored to join that short list.

    THE WINNER: Katherine LaNasa for The Pitt

    Writing in a Drama Series

    THE WINNER: Vince Gilligan for Pluribus

    Directing in a Drama Series

    THE WINNER: Vince Gilligan for Pluribus

    Limited Series or Anthology: DTF St Louis vs. Beef

    Early Limited Series predictions hit: writing, directing, supporting actor, supporting actress, cinematography and picture editing for DTF St Louis. At the Oscars, that’s Best Picture pedigree. How can it lose? Beef, sweeping this category in 2023, has name recognition when all voters choose, and this season’s edition may be even better. But HBO flexes its muscle — DTF is favored.

    THE WINNER: DTF St Louis

    Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Anthology or Television Movie

    This category often throws curveballs. On the surface, Oscar Isaac’s Beef performance should win, but don’t discount Charlie Hunnam in Monster: The Ed Gein Story — a dominant performance if voters watched. The rest are past Emmy winners: Matthew Rhys (certain Comedy Actor winner for Widow’s Bay, unlikely to double with The Beast In Me); Riz Ahmed (surprise nomination); Jason Bateman (dark turn in Black Rabbit came almost a year ago — will it be remembered? He has four nominations this year, already lost two, and his best shot is as EP of predicted Limited Series winner DTF St Louis). A win isn’t out of the question for Bateman, possibly representing two outstanding nominated performances (he lost to DTF co-star David Harbour in Supporting Actor last weekend). This category is wide open.

    THE WINNER: Oscar Isaac for Beef

    Lead Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology or Television Movie

    Beloved veterans Sally Field and Claire Danes are in the mix. Field, 79, would be the oldest winner here, truly deserving for Remarkably Bright Creatures (which won TV Movie last weekend) — 50 years after her first win for Sybil. Since TV Movie merged with Limited/Miniseries in 1998, the last TV movie star to win was Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin in Game Change (2012). Limited Series stars hold the advantage. Carey Mulligan is odds-on favorite for Beef and could join co-star Isaac; recent winner Sarah Snook is nominated. But Emmys love anointing breakout newcomers. Sarah Pidgeon, playing Carolyn Bessette in the widely seen Love Story, overcame internet scorn before filming and emerged as the standout.

    THE WINNER: Sarah Pidgeon for Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette

    Reality Competition Program

    Once voters latch onto a show here, they keep checking it off for years. The Traitors won in 2024 and 2025, and added six more wins last weekend. It can’t lose.

    THE WINNER: The Traitors

    Variety Series: Colbert and Kimmel Could Share the Stage

    The Academy keeps tweaking this category. This year returns to true variety: Saturday Night Live, consistent winner Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, hybrid winner The Daily Show, and network late-night shows Jimmy Kimmel Live! (never won) and Late Show With Stephen Colbert (finally won last year after CBS cancellation). Late Show swept five early awards, including beating Oliver and Kimmel in Writing. Its final CBS season (ended May) may carry emotional power and a “f*ck you” to CBS to prevail again.

    However, the Academy created a new grab-bag Variety category with different voting: a simple yes/no question — “Does this series deserve an Emmy?” — with a 90% threshold to win; multiple winners are possible. Colbert may be the only show to clear it. I voted “Yes” for both Kimmel and The Daily Show to boost them, assuming Colbert didn’t need help. Hoping for multiple winners, and the Academy is bracing for it. With Kimmel’s FCC troubles and brilliant comeback, wouldn’t it be great if both Colbert and Kimmel passed 90% and stood onstage together — an Emmy moment for the ages? It could happen. I hope it does.

    THE WINNER(S): Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel Live!

  • Skip Bayless Returns to First Take with Stephen A. Smith

    Skip Bayless Returns to First Take with Stephen A. Smith

    Skip Bayless Returns to ESPN for Recurring First Take Appearances with Stephen A. Smith

    Skip Bayless is officially returning to ESPN. The veteran sports commentator will join Stephen A. Smith for recurring appearances on First Take beginning this month, marking a notable reunion a decade after Bayless left the network.

    Announcement Made on SiriusXM Radio

    Smith revealed the news Friday afternoon during his SiriusXM Mad Dog Sports Radio show, with Bayless appearing as a guest. The duo outlined a two-pronged schedule: Bayless will join Smith every Friday on the radio program, and on the last Friday of each month on First Take.

    “Let me alert the public to what’s going on,” Smith began. “On Fridays, yours truly and the one and only Skip Bayless will be joining me on this show. So, let’s get that out the way. That’s every Friday, the beatdown is coming, my condolences to you. But the other part that everybody needs to know, starting next week, the last Friday of every single month, Skip Bayless will join yours truly on First Take. You are back, my brother.”

    Building on a Successful Reunion

    The agreement follows a one-day reunion on First Take earlier this year. That appearance evidently resonated with Bayless, who described it as the “most fun” he had experienced in a long time and expressed enthusiasm about making the partnership regular.

    “I am personally highly entertained by getting to sit across from you,” Bayless told Smith. “You are a one and an only, and I do believe what you and I had, and will have, is a one and an only.”

    Strategic Fit for ESPN and Bayless

    The move mirrors the trajectory of Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, whose guest spots on First Take evolved into a weekly role. Mutual interest in extending last May’s reunion was clear, and the dynamic became even more logical after Smith lost co-panelists Cam Newton and Ryan Clark to summer layoffs. The final hurdle—structuring a contract agreeable to Bayless and ESPN—has now been cleared.

    Bayless, once the central figure of First Take, will now occupy a reduced role and salary on the program he helped establish. However, the arrangement offers significant promotional value. Bayless recently relaunched his digital show Gridiron with Aqib Talib following a split with Underdog, and the ESPN platform provides a powerful vehicle to drive attention to that venture.

    Calculated Exposure to Sustain Interest

    The May reunion revisited familiar debates surrounding Tim Tebow, the Dallas Cowboys, and LeBron James. While daily appearances might dilute the novelty, the limited cadence—once a week on radio and once a month on television—is calibrated to generate viral moments and headlines without overexposing the pair’s signature confrontational style.

  • Bucs-Bengals Features NFL’s Two Biggest Wild Cards in 2026, Plus Three Bounce-Back Teams

    Bucs-Bengals Features NFL’s Two Biggest Wild Cards in 2026, Plus Three Bounce-Back Teams

    Buccaneers Enter 2026 Season with High Expectations After Mayfield Extension

    The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have eliminated their biggest offseason question mark by signing quarterback Baker Mayfield to a three-year, $165 million contract extension. With their franchise signal-caller secured, Tampa Bay enters the 2026 campaign positioned to reclaim the NFC South crown after the Carolina Panthers ended their four-year division reign last season.

    Offensive Firepower Gives Mayfield Multiple Weapons

    The Buccaneers’ passing attack features a versatile trio of playmakers that should stress opposing secondaries. Second-year wide receiver Jalen McMillan joins veteran Chris Godwin Jr. and rookie first-round pick Emeka Egbuka to create a receiving corps blending big-play ability with reliable chain-moving skills. McMillan is expected to miss the season opener with a knee injury, though the issue is not considered long-term.

    Mayfield’s checkdown options are equally dangerous. Running backs Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell both excel in space, giving the quarterback reliable outlets on swings, screens, and option routes when downfield coverage takes away primary reads. If Tampa Bay can establish a consistent ground game to complement its aerial attack, the offense has the pieces to challenge elite defenses weekly.

    Defensive Rebuild Aims to Restore Bowles’ Signature Pressure

    Head coach Todd Bowles’ reputation as a defensive architect took a hit in 2025 when the unit produced just 37 sacks — the franchise’s lowest total since 2017. The Buccaneers responded by overhauling the coaching staff and roster on that side of the ball, betting on a blend of youth and experience to reignite the pass rush.

    Rookie outside linebacker Rueben Bain Jr., linebacker Josiah Trotter, and defensive back Keionte Scott are being counted on for immediate contributions alongside free-agent additions Alex Anzalone at linebacker and A’Shawn Robinson on the interior. They’ll join a proven core featuring defensive tackles Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey, edge rusher Yaya Diaby, and safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

    The critical question remains whether this group can generate consistent quarterback pressure. Bain possesses the traits to become a premier sack artist, but he has yet to take a regular-season NFL snap. Until Tampa Bay proves it can disrupt opposing passing games, the defense risks forcing a one-dimensional, offense-reliant approach that rarely succeeds against the conference’s top teams.

    2026 Outlook: Division Favorites with Playoff Upside

    With Mayfield operating at a high level and a revitalized supporting cast, the Buccaneers are well-positioned to recapture the NFC South. Beyond the division, Tampa Bay’s ceiling depends on defensive improvement. If Bowles’ unit rediscovers its suffocating identity, the Buccaneers could secure a No. 3 or 4 seed in the NFC playoffs and emerge as a legitimate threat to reach Super Bowl LXI.

  • England vs Pakistan 3rd Test: More Questions Than Answers After England Face Down Much-Needed Test

    England vs Pakistan 3rd Test: More Questions Than Answers After England Face Down Much-Needed Test

    England’s hopes of a swift series clean-sweep evaporated on day three at Edgbaston as Pakistan debutant Razaullah produced a stunning counter-attacking half-century to set the hosts a fourth-innings target of 130. The tourists, bowled out for 247 in their second innings, found unexpected resistance through their lower order, turning what appeared to be a three-day finish into an absorbing contest heading into Saturday.

    Hollies Stand roused as Pakistan defy expectations

    At 2:40 pm on Friday, with Shan Masood and Babar Azam constructing the series’ highest partnership (125), the famously partisan Hollies Stand erupted—not in celebration of an England wicket, but from a crowd forced to manufacture its own entertainment. For ten days, Pakistan’s wickets had fallen with metronomic regularity; this stand, stretching the tourists’ final innings to the longest of a dispiriting tour, broke the pattern.

    Normal service briefly resumed when Dan Lawrence claimed a spectacular gully catch to dismiss Masood for 95, yielding just Gus Atkinson’s second wicket of the series. Yet the respite proved fleeting.

    Razaullah’s chaotic brilliance turns the tide

    Enter Razaullah. The debutant’s cavalier assault—swinging at everything from the moment he arrived—single-handedly produced the most thrilling passage of the series, all at England’s expense. As the ball aged and the pitch flattened, England’s attack toiled for two full sessions before an elongated evening session saw their plans dismantled.

    Razaullah’s fifty brought the 18,215-strong crowd to its feet, a higher proportion remaining than on previous evenings. “I was being selective with which balls to slog, but they all seemed within range,” he said in his end-of-play press conference, oblivious to England’s specific plans to starve his scoring arcs.

    England’s bowling strategy exposed

    Interim head coach Marcus Trescothick pulled no punches in his assessment: “Disappointing, of course. We were in a position where they were eight down, scores were level. We hoped to go through them pretty quickly.”

    He continued: “I don’t think we bowled very well this morning. I thought we didn’t hit the areas that we wanted to hit. You know, the consistency in line or length or the top of the stumps, whatever you see it as, we weren’t in the areas that we needed to be. I think we probably expected we’ll come out, get a couple of early wickets and put them under pressure.”

    England’s assumption that they could simply bowl Pakistan out by bowling at them—reasonable given the first two Tests—crumbled once the new ball softened. Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue proved particularly expensive as Masood and Azan Awais drove freely. Dan Lawrence’s part-time off-spin accounted for Awais (caught down leg by Jordan Cox via DRS), but Root used him for just five overs total.

    Root’s captaincy under scrutiny as plans falter

    The tactical burden fell heavily on captain Joe Root. With a raw attack, moments arrived where he appeared shorn of ideas—and support—when manufacturing breakthroughs. At one stage Root left the field, though Trescothick avoided confirming a dressing-room search for solutions.

    “We tried many different things. You have variations of plans; you bowl short ball for periods of time, then you go length for periods of time, then you go a bit of spin for a period of time. I think you’re always chopping and changing. You have various ideas.”

    Marcus Trescothick

    To Root’s credit, he exhausted the playbook. A bouncer barrage—square leg, two deep fielders, catching cover, midwicket, slip, gully, fly slip, narrow deep fine—nearly paid dividends. Theo Wylie, the substitute fielder, grassed a relay catch at fly slip to dismiss Babar Azam (69), having earlier missed Masood at gully. Babar subsequently gloved Tongue to Cox, and Archer had Saud Shakeel caught at short midwicket—a 40-for-4 collapse where England’s bowlers were most effective.

    Abbas joins the party as England’s plans backfire

    Yet the morning’s loose half-volleys were bookended by a scatter-gun approach to Razaullah and Mohammad Abbas. The latter, in his 51st Test, smashed a first-class best 42—including two sixes, tripling his career Test six tally—feeding off the confidence his partner’s assault generated.

    Trescothick explained the tactical conundrum: “I think looking at the way he [Razaullah] was hitting it, when we did bowl on the stumps, he played it pretty well and that was the balls that he was getting hold of more than anything else.”

    “We were trying to keep it out of the swing, and try and keep it away from the plane of the swing because he played it well when it was going there. It was just above the stumps that we were hoping to try and get the edge as much as possible. Didn’t happen today.”

    Marcus Trescothick

    Chase of 130 offers jeopardy—and opportunity

    England’s chase of 130 presents a moment to seize. Home batters have scrambled from pockets of discomfort this series—48/2 and 36/3 in the first innings of the first two Tests—but Saturday morning brings genuine jeopardy. At the dregs of an uncompetitive few weeks, England needed to be tested: to graft in the field, to confront an aging ball on a flattening pitch, to endure the realities of Test cricket beyond wobble-seam generosity and obliging opponents.

    Pakistan found fight on the best batting track of the series. England, ultimately, took more blows. They will rest wearily ahead of an unexpected day four, knowing that when Pakistan finally came at them, they wilted.

  • ‘The Uprising’ Review: Andrew Garfield Kicks Off a Revolution

    ‘The Uprising’ Review: Andrew Garfield Kicks Off a Revolution

    Filmmaker Paul Greengrass is often associated with a cinematic aesthetic colloquially known as “shaky cam” — handheld cinematography enabled by lightweight digital cameras that function a lot like another character in the room, on foot, at eye-level, responding and reacting to action and dialogue the way a person would.

    Greengrass Brings Signature Style to Medieval History

    It’s a style that has served him well in modern action thrillers like his installments of the “Bourne” franchise, and films depicting recent real-world events like “Captain Phillips” and “The Lost Bus.” Now, Greengrass applies his signature style to the Middle Ages — can shaky cam work in a medieval movie?

    It may seem odd, but it’s a brilliant creative choice when considering that while “The Uprising” is technically about the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt in England, that’s not really what it’s about. It’s about right now.

    Visual Language Connects Past and Present

    The shaky cam is intended to jolt us into that awareness. When we pick up with our protagonist, a pathetic ploughman (Andrew Garfield) living a grief-filled and wretched existence, a plague has wiped out half the population. A small group of men hoards wealth and resources, while the peasant class is heavily taxed, laws brutally enforced. As Greengrass lays out the bare facts of this situation with a cinematic style that’s more news documentary than stuffy period piece, the parallels to our own current situation are laid bare.

    “The Uprising,” which Greengrass wrote and directed, is told in a fairly simple fashion, with an emphasis on visual storytelling and visceral sensation (the disparate English accents are also lost in the melee of the mob). All we need to know is that the council advising the 14-year-old King Richard II (Woody Norman) conspires while the young royal prays and his mother (Katherine Waterston) glowers. Outside, a bloodthirsty mob armed with farm tools marches on London, led in part by Garfield’s ploughman, who started his own local uprising when he fought back against the taxman. He joins forces with Wat Tyler (Cosmo Jarvis), a former soldier, and John Ball (Jamie Bell), a priest deemed heretic, as the crowd demands an audience with the king.

    Neutral Lens on Revolutionary Chaos

    As the chaos unfolds, Greengrass doesn’t pontificate on the morality of these events and, in fact, maintains a rather neutral stance on them for most of the film, withholding judgment. A revolution is not right or wrong for most of “The Uprising.” It is simply inevitable under the conditions the film presents.

    The ploughman wants to play by the rules, but it’s how the revolt plays out that radicalizes him. While Greengrass shows us the uprising in all its messy confusion as the logical outcome of oppression, by following our protagonist as he witnesses treachery and deceit, Greengrass ultimately arrives at the belief that revolution is necessary, even in failure, and that freedom is worth more than anything.

    Performances Anchor the Narrative

    The opening and closing of “The Uprising” are bracing and stark in their storytelling — the middle is a bit mushy and confusing. But it’s the performances that carry us through. Garfield, sensitive and earthy, is our bellwether as the events descend into bloody carnage dictated by muddled agendas. When he turns, we turn, and the anguish that Garfield wordlessly conveys is our compass.

    Greengrass surrounds Garfield with actors who deliver bigger performances, like Jarvis as the brutish but shrewd Tyler, and Bell as the fervent Ball. Thomasin McKenzie plays a young woman, Alyce, steeped in her own trauma and loss, who attaches herself to the ploughman, and her ability to express wide-eyed, barely contained hysteria and fear is unmatched. Young Norman is riveting as the increasingly dastardly king.

    Historical Complexity Meets Modern Resonance

    The Peasant’s Revolt of 1381 is a fascinating moment because it’s a time when the notion of democracy wasn’t even a twinkle in a feudal servant’s eye. The mob’s actions are frustrating because they’re religiously bound to the king, who they believe is an emissary of God, and desperate to change their day-to-day existence. When those two instincts collide, it’s bound to be complex and conflicting, and Greengrass delivers that with a boots-on-the-ground style.

    The murkiness of it all clarifies by the end of the film, not just in terms of its heroes, villains and message, but Greengrass also situates this story within a recognizable cinematic and storytelling history. There’s a thrill as it all comes together. Greengrass might be taking a big swing (of the scythe), but his blade finds its target nevertheless.

    Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic.

    Film Details

    • Title: ‘The Uprising’
    • Rating: R, for violence/bloody images
    • Running time: 2 hours, 8 minutes
    • Release: Opens Friday, Sept. 11 in wide release
  • San Francisco Bay Area Weather Forecast

    San Francisco Bay Area Weather Forecast

    Bay Area Weather Forecast: Seasonal Temperatures and Breezy Weekend Conditions

    Daytime highs will be mostly in the high 60s to high 70s on the coast, in the mid 60s to low 80s around the bay, and in the high 70s to mid 80s inland. Overnight lows will be in the mid to high 50s.

    Extended Outlook: Normal Temperatures Through Next Week

    The National Weather Service expects temperatures to remain near seasonal norms from Saturday through the following week, providing consistent spring conditions across the region.

    Weekend Wind Advisory: Breezy Onshore Flow

    Additionally, expect breezy winds from the ocean Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning. The onshore flow will bring cooler marine air to coastal and bayside communities during the afternoon and evening hours.

    Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

  • Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. Free Agency Has $17 Million Catch

    Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. Free Agency Has $17 Million Catch

    Braves Face Key Contract Decisions as Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ozzie Albies Approach Free Agency

    The Atlanta Braves have significant roster decisions looming once the 2026 season concludes. Multiple franchise cornerstones, including Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ozzie Albies, are technically scheduled to hit free agency. However, the likelihood of either player actually reaching the open market appears extremely low.

    Albies’ Club Option a Near Certainty

    Albies carries a $7 million club option for the 2027 season, a figure the Braves will almost certainly exercise. The second baseman signed a seven-year, $35 million extension prior to the 2019 campaign, a deal that has provided the club with immense surplus value relative to his on-field production.

    Acuña’s Contract Structure Strongly Favors Atlanta

    Acuña’s situation mirrors Albies’ in many ways, though the financial stakes are higher. The superstar outfielder’s current contract includes a $17 million club option for the 2027 season. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, writing in a new article published Thursday, that option falls under the category “likely to be picked up by the team”—an assessment that barely scratches the surface of the Braves’ incentive.

    Signed before the 2019 season for eight years and $100 million, Acuña’s deal was structured around long-term financial security for the player in exchange for a contract that risked looking team-friendly by its conclusion. Atlanta has received an extraordinary return on that investment, and the value proposition is far from exhausted.

    Two Option Years Remain at Below-Market Rates

    Beyond the 2027 option, Acuña’s contract contains a second club option for 2028, also valued at $17 million. Effectively, the Braves have secured Acuña’s prime years at a fraction of his fair-market value for the entirety of the agreement. While Acuña has earned life-changing generational wealth, the deal remains one of the most team-friendly contracts in modern baseball history.

    Injury History Adds Complexity to Long-Term Outlook

    The current contract carries Acuña through his age-30 season. Assuming Atlanta exercises both option years, he would be positioned for a potentially massive free-agent payday heading into the 2029 campaign. However, his future valuation carries more uncertainty than most elite players due to a career significantly impacted by injuries.

    Acuña runs considerably less than he did earlier in his career, a direct consequence of his health history. Front offices around the league will closely monitor his performance and durability over the next two seasons before committing to a long-term investment in his 30s.

    Atlanta Remains the Logical Landing Spot

    Even if Acuña eventually reaches free agency, the Braves would be considered heavy favorites to retain him. However, should he return to peak form, a competitive bidding war would be inevitable.

    Acuña Focused on Finishing 2026 Strong

    For now, Acuña is concentrated on the present. Through 94 games in the 2026 season, he has posted 16 home runs, 20 stolen bases, and a .780 OPS. While those numbers fall short of his historic peak, a strong finish to the regular season and a productive October would validate the Braves’ continued faith in their franchise player.

  • Rennes vs Marseille: French Ligue 1 Stats and Head-to-Head

    Rennes vs Marseille: French Ligue 1 Stats and Head-to-Head

    Ligue 1 Standings After Opening Matchdays

    The French top flight has delivered an unpredictable start to the season, with AS Monaco sitting top after three wins from three matches. Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain find themselves in unfamiliar territory at 13th place with just two points from three outings.

    Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Form (Last 5)
    1 Monaco 3 3 0 0 5 1 +4 9 W W W
    2 Rennes 4 2 2 0 7 5 +2 8 D W W
    3 Paris FC 3 2 1 0 6 2 +4 7 D W W
    4 Olympique Lyonnais 3 2 1 0 6 2 +4 7 W D W
    5 Lille 3 2 1 0 5 2 +3 7 W D W
    6 Strasbourg 3 2 0 1 8 7 +1 6 L W W
    7 Brest 3 1 2 0 6 5 +1 5 D D W
    8 Marseille 4 1 1 2 6 5 +1 4 W L L
    9 Lorient 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4 D L W
    10 Troyes 3 1 1 1 4 7 -3 4 D W L
    11 Lens 3 1 0 2 6 5 +1 3 W L L
    12 Angers 3 1 0 2 4 5 -1 3 L W L
    13 Paris Saint-Germain 3 0 2 1 5 6 -1 2 D D L
    14 Le Mans 3 0 2 1 5 6 -1 2 D L D
    15 Nice 3 0 2 1 1 4 -3 2 D L D
    16 Le Havre 3 0 1 2 2 4 -2 1 L D L
    17 Toulouse 3 0 1 2 2 5 -3 1 L D L
    18 Auxerre 3 0 0 3 4 11 -7 0 L L L

    Key Talking Points

    • Monaco’s perfect start sees them lead the table with maximum points and a +4 goal difference.
    • PSG’s slow beginning marks their worst start in recent memory, level on points with Le Mans and Nice.
    • Rennes are the only side with four matches played, sitting second after an unbeaten run.
    • Auxerre prop up the table with three defeats and a -7 goal difference.

    With the season still in its infancy, the table remains fluid. Several teams have played only three fixtures, while Rennes and Marseille have already contested four. The international break will offer struggling giants like PSG a chance to regroup before the next round of fixtures.

  • Schalke to Miss Sylla Against Union After Birth of Child

    Schalke to Miss Sylla Against Union After Birth of Child

    FC Schalke 04 suffered a last-minute personnel blow ahead of their Bundesliga away fixture at 1. FC Union Berlin on Friday evening. According to the official team sheet released shortly before kick-off, offensive star Moussa Sylla was surprisingly absent from the matchday squad at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.

    Sylla misses Union Berlin clash for joyous reason

    The 26-year-old striker, who typically spearheads the Royal Blues’ attack, was not available for head coach Kees van Wonderen. However, the reason for his absence is a happy one: Sylla became a father shortly before the match and did not travel to Berlin with the team for this emotional family occasion.

    Schalke congratulated the new father and his family publicly on social media just before the game started.

    Lineup changes: Karaman leads the line, Dina Ebimbe on bench

    The omission of Sylla was not the only personnel adjustment in van Wonderen’s starting XI. Summer signing Junior Dina Ebimbe was named among the substitutes, while Loris Karius retained his place in goal.

    The back three consisted of Timo Becker, Nikola Katić, and new arrival Hasan Kuruçay. In midfield, Soufiane El-Faouzi, Satoshi Tanaka, Robin Gosens, and Junior Adamu were selected. The attacking duo of Dejan Ljubicic and Adil Aouchiche were tasked with supporting the lone striker.

    Captain Karaman shoulders attacking burden

    With Sylla sidelined, the primary responsibility in the center of attack falls squarely on captain Kenan Karaman. The skipper, recently returned to the fold, is expected to lead Schalke’s offensive efforts as the side searches for a second consecutive positive result following a credible draw against Bayern Munich.

    It is firmly planned that Sylla will rejoin the squad for the next matchday after his family leave.

  • Venezia vs Fiorentina Live: Score, Goals, and Updates – Serie A

    Venezia vs Fiorentina Live: Score, Goals, and Updates – Serie A

    Where to Watch Venezia vs Fiorentina: Serie A Matchday 4 Early Kickoff

    The first early fixture of the fourth round of Serie A, Venezia against Fiorentina, will be broadcast exclusively on Dazn. Subscribers can stream the match live by downloading the Dazn app on a smart TV or mobile device — including PC, smartphone, or tablet — or by accessing the platform’s official website. For those preferring text updates, a live commentary will be available on Gazzetta.it.