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Alex Bregman is in serious trouble heading into October. The Cubs star suffered multiple facial fractures after taking a foul ball to the face while standing in the on-deck circle Sunday, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. Bregman is reportedly hopeful he can return for the postseason, but right now Chicago holds its breath.
Shifting to the NFL, the Atlanta Falcons have made it official — Michael Penix Junior gets his first start of the season this Thursday night against Green Bay. The former first-round pick steps into the spotlight on a national stage, and this is exactly the kind of primetime moment that can define or derail a young quarterback's trajectory. All eyes on Atlanta.
And over in MLS NEXT Pro, the Professional Soccer Referees Association is firing back hard. The PSRA publicly condemned the league after a head coach received what the association calls a shortened suspension — this following an incident where the coach allegedly told a female referee that soccer, quote, is a man's game. The PSRA says the punishment sent entirely the wrong message, and the backlash is only growing.
That's your play-by-play. Sports Desk, back to the booth.
