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Shohei Ohtani is in a class entirely his own. The Dodgers superstar has become the first player in MLB history to lead jersey sales for four consecutive seasons since tracking began in two thousand ten. Four straight years at the top — nobody else has even come close to that kind of commercial dominance, and the baseball world is taking notice.
Meanwhile in Philadelphia, the Phillies are pushing toward a fifth straight playoff berth, but they'll have to do it shorthanded tonight. Second baseman Luis Arraez is sitting out against Tampa Bay with a sprained ankle, and Philadelphia needs at least one win to keep the pressure on in a tightening National League race. Every game from here feels like it carries extra weight.
Across the leagues, Manchester City refused to deny Friday that a guilty verdict has been reached on the majority of charges in their Premier League financial misconduct case — one hundred fifteen alleged breaches in total. This has been one of the most consequential legal proceedings in the history of English football, and the fallout from whatever comes next could reshape the entire top flight.
That's your play-by-play. Sports Desk, back to the booth.
