Deadspin | MLB roundup: Cubs overtake Dodgers late for 10th straight win 
Apr 24, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) celebrates with Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman (3) after the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images Dansby Swanson hit the go-ahead two-run home run in the ninth as the visiting Chicago Cubs rallied for a 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.
The Cubs won their 10th straight game as they came back from a 4-0 deficit, scoring all their runs over the final three innings.
Swanson was 2-for-3 with two runs, a triple, homer and four RBIs. Alex Bregman was 2-for-5 with a solo home run and Moises Ballesteros had two hits and a run.
Pete Crow-Armstrong led off the ninth with a single and was plated on Swanson’s homer off Tanner Scott (0-1).
Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan kept the Cubs at bay as he yielded one run on four hits over 6 1/3 innings with 10 strikeouts.
Yankees 12, Astros 4
Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered and drove in four and visiting New York ran its winning streak to seven by taking control early in its victory over Houston.
The Yankees lost Giancarlo Stanton to tightness in his lower right leg in the sixth. Will Warren (3-0) allowed two hits on seven hits in six innings. Chisholm had his first three-hit game of the season and third multi-hit game in four games after not getting a multi-hit game in his first 21 games. Ryan McMahon, Ben Rice and Jose Caballero also hit solo homers.
Yainer Diaz homered and had an RBI single for the Astros, who lost for the 14th time in 18 games.
Orioles 10, Red Sox 3
Adley Rutschman hit the first of his two two-run homers in Baltimore’s three-homer first inning and the Orioles went on to rip visiting Boston.
Rutschman, who has three home runs in two games since being activated from the injury list earlier this week, finished with six RBIs. The Orioles blasted six home runs — four of them solo blasts. Gunnar Henderson began the homer parade, and Rutschman and Dylan Beavers joined him with long balls in the inning. Samuel Basallo and Coby Mayo later went deep.
Wilyer Abreu hit a homer for Boston in the second inning, and he, Marcelo Mayer and Trevor Story each finished with two of their team’s 10 hits. The Red Sox have lost four games in a row.
Marlins 9, Giants 4
Liam Hicks and Connor Norby smacked home runs and Kyle Stowers, Xavier Edwards and Otto Lopez collected three hits apiece as Miami opened a six-game California swing with a romp over San Francisco.
Benefitting from a season-high-tying 16 hits of support, Sandy Alcantara (3-2) snapped a three-game personal winless streak with six comfortable innings, helping the Marlins win for the fourth time in their last five games.
Luis Arraez and Jung Hoo Lee had three hits apiece for the Giants, who tallied 11 hits but lost their second straight.
Guardians 8, Blue Jays 6
Angel Martinez launched a pair of two-run home runs and visiting Cleveland held on to defeat Toronto.
Daniel Schneemann had a solo shot for the Guardians in the opener of a three-game series. Gavin Williams (4-1) allowed six runs and seven hits in six innings.
Jesus Sanchez and Kazuma Okamoto homered for the Blue Jays.
Rockies 4, Mets 3
Michael Lorenzen tossed a season-high seven innings and earned the win for visiting Colorado, which beat New York in the opener of a three-game series.
Jake McCarthy laced the tiebreaking RBI double in the sixth while Troy Johnston had what proved to be the decisive two-run single an inning later for the Rockies. TJ Rumfield hit a run-scoring groundout in the fifth while Ezequiel Tovar finished with two hits.
Marcus Semien hit into a run-scoring double play in the second and Brett Baty delivered a two-run single in the eighth for the Mets, who had won two straight following a 12-game losing streak.
Pirates 6, Brewers 0
Paul Skenes took a perfect game bid into the seventh inning and Konnor Griffin celebrated his 20th birthday with his first career homer to pace visiting Pittsburgh over Milwaukee in the opener of the three-game series.
Skenes (4-1) retired the first 20 hitters before Jake Bauers lined a 3-2 pitch for a single up the middle with two outs in the seventh for the Brewers’ only hit. The Pirates, who played their first game in 1882, have yet to throw a perfect game. Their last no-hitter came in 1997.
Skenes, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, struck out seven without a walk in a dominant 93-pitch outing. Mason Montgomery followed with a perfect eighth and Isaac Mattson preserved the one-hitter despite a two-out walk in the ninth.
Rays 6, Twins 2
Junior Caminero hit a pair of tape-measure home runs and drove in three runs and Jonathan Aranda also homered twice to lead Tampa Bay to a victory over visiting Minnesota.
It was the fifth career multi-homer game for Caminero, who has hit six home runs during a nine-game hitting streak. Drew Rasmussen (2-0) picked up the win, allowing one run on five hits over six innings.
Brooks Lee homered and doubled in a 3-for-4 game and Royce Lewis also homered for Minnesota, which took its seventh loss in the last eight games.
Braves 5, Phillies 3
Michael Harris II delivered a pinch-hit double to drive in two runs and help Atlanta rally for a win and hand visiting Philadelphia its 10th straight loss.
The losing streak is the longest for Philadelphia since it dropped 11 in a row in 1999. The Braves have won all four games against the Phillies and have won nine of their last 10 games. Ronald Acuna crushed a two-run homer to pull Atlanta even in the fifth.
Trea Turner hit a solo shot and Bryce Harper smashed a two-run blast to put the Phillies up 3-2 in the sixth. For Harper, it was the 800th extra-base hit of his career as he became only the 27th player, and 10th left-handed hitter, to reach that milestone prior to his 34th birthday.
Mariners 3, Cardinals 2
Josh Naylor hit a tiebreaking home run and George Kirby won his third straight start as Seattle defeated host St. Louis in an interleague matchup.
Naylor’s leadoff homer to right-center field in the sixth was the difference. The Mariners snapped a streak of eight consecutive road defeats.
Kirby (4-2) allowed two runs on five hits over six-plus innings. Andre Pallante (2-2) pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on four hits. The right-hander fanned a season-high eight, one shy of his career best.
White Sox 5, Nationals 4
Sam Antonacci delivered a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning and Munetaka Murakami homered as host Chicago edged Washington.
Seranthony Dominguez worked around a Luis Garcia Jr. double in the ninth for his sixth save, sending the Nationals to their third straight loss.
Garcia had two hits for the Nationals, while Miguel Vargas had a pair of hits for the White Sox, who have won four of their last five.
Royals 5, Angels 3
Veteran Mike Trout set a franchise record for most career games played at any one position with his 1,367th appearance in center field, but Los Angeles fell to host Kansas City in the opener of their three-game series.
The Royals scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning against Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi (0-3), who allowed five runs on five hits in five innings.
The Angels rallied for three runs in the seventh against left-hander Noah Cameron, who had a shutout going for six innings. Cameron (2-1) got the win with three runs allowed on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Athletics 8, Rangers 1
Nick Kurtz, Carlos Cortes and Tyler Soderstrom each hit solo homers in the first inning as the Athletics opened a three-game series against Texas with a victory in Arlington.
Cortes also hit a three-run homer and Zack Gelof slugged a two-run shot among his two hits for the Athletics, who have won three of their last four games. Kurtz also singled, walked and scored two runs. Luis Severino (1-2) allowed one run on six hits over 6 2/3 innings.
Josh Jung doubled in a run and Corey Seager and Josh Smith had two hits apiece for Texas. Nathan Eovaldi (2-4) gave up six runs on six hits over six innings.
Reds 9, Tigers 8
Nathaniel Lowe belted a two-run walk-off home run, lifting Cincinnati to a victory over Detroit.
After Detroit closer Kenley Jansen (0-1) recorded two quick outs in the ninth, Spencer Steer singled. Lowe then connected on his second homer of the game and the season. Matt McLain also homered twice for Cincinnati, which overcame a 5-0 deficit.
Spencer Torkelson and Kerry Carpenter homered in the eighth to give Detroit an 8-7 lead. The Tigers had won 10 of their past 13 entering the Friday contest, which was the opener of a three-game interleague series. Javier Baez and Riley Greene also went deep for the visitors.
–Field Level Media
#Deadspin #MLB #roundup #Cubs #overtake #Dodgers #late #10th #straight #win
Apr 24, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) celebrates with Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman (3) after the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images Dansby Swanson hit the go-ahead two-run home run in the ninth as the visiting Chicago Cubs rallied for a 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.
The Cubs won their 10th straight game as they came back from a 4-0 deficit, scoring all their runs over the final three innings.
Swanson was 2-for-3 with two runs, a triple, homer and four RBIs. Alex Bregman was 2-for-5 with a solo home run and Moises Ballesteros had two hits and a run.
Pete Crow-Armstrong led off the ninth with a single and was plated on Swanson’s homer off Tanner Scott (0-1).
Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan kept the Cubs at bay as he yielded one run on four hits over 6 1/3 innings with 10 strikeouts.
Yankees 12, Astros 4
Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered and drove in four and visiting New York ran its winning streak to seven by taking control early in its victory over Houston.
The Yankees lost Giancarlo Stanton to tightness in his lower right leg in the sixth. Will Warren (3-0) allowed two hits on seven hits in six innings. Chisholm had his first three-hit game of the season and third multi-hit game in four games after not getting a multi-hit game in his first 21 games. Ryan McMahon, Ben Rice and Jose Caballero also hit solo homers.
Yainer Diaz homered and had an RBI single for the Astros, who lost for the 14th time in 18 games.
Orioles 10, Red Sox 3
Adley Rutschman hit the first of his two two-run homers in Baltimore’s three-homer first inning and the Orioles went on to rip visiting Boston.
Rutschman, who has three home runs in two games since being activated from the injury list earlier this week, finished with six RBIs. The Orioles blasted six home runs — four of them solo blasts. Gunnar Henderson began the homer parade, and Rutschman and Dylan Beavers joined him with long balls in the inning. Samuel Basallo and Coby Mayo later went deep.
Wilyer Abreu hit a homer for Boston in the second inning, and he, Marcelo Mayer and Trevor Story each finished with two of their team’s 10 hits. The Red Sox have lost four games in a row.
Marlins 9, Giants 4
Liam Hicks and Connor Norby smacked home runs and Kyle Stowers, Xavier Edwards and Otto Lopez collected three hits apiece as Miami opened a six-game California swing with a romp over San Francisco.
Benefitting from a season-high-tying 16 hits of support, Sandy Alcantara (3-2) snapped a three-game personal winless streak with six comfortable innings, helping the Marlins win for the fourth time in their last five games.
Luis Arraez and Jung Hoo Lee had three hits apiece for the Giants, who tallied 11 hits but lost their second straight.
Guardians 8, Blue Jays 6
Angel Martinez launched a pair of two-run home runs and visiting Cleveland held on to defeat Toronto.
Daniel Schneemann had a solo shot for the Guardians in the opener of a three-game series. Gavin Williams (4-1) allowed six runs and seven hits in six innings.
Jesus Sanchez and Kazuma Okamoto homered for the Blue Jays.
Rockies 4, Mets 3
Michael Lorenzen tossed a season-high seven innings and earned the win for visiting Colorado, which beat New York in the opener of a three-game series.
Jake McCarthy laced the tiebreaking RBI double in the sixth while Troy Johnston had what proved to be the decisive two-run single an inning later for the Rockies. TJ Rumfield hit a run-scoring groundout in the fifth while Ezequiel Tovar finished with two hits.
Marcus Semien hit into a run-scoring double play in the second and Brett Baty delivered a two-run single in the eighth for the Mets, who had won two straight following a 12-game losing streak.
Pirates 6, Brewers 0
Paul Skenes took a perfect game bid into the seventh inning and Konnor Griffin celebrated his 20th birthday with his first career homer to pace visiting Pittsburgh over Milwaukee in the opener of the three-game series.
Skenes (4-1) retired the first 20 hitters before Jake Bauers lined a 3-2 pitch for a single up the middle with two outs in the seventh for the Brewers’ only hit. The Pirates, who played their first game in 1882, have yet to throw a perfect game. Their last no-hitter came in 1997.
Skenes, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, struck out seven without a walk in a dominant 93-pitch outing. Mason Montgomery followed with a perfect eighth and Isaac Mattson preserved the one-hitter despite a two-out walk in the ninth.
Rays 6, Twins 2
Junior Caminero hit a pair of tape-measure home runs and drove in three runs and Jonathan Aranda also homered twice to lead Tampa Bay to a victory over visiting Minnesota.
It was the fifth career multi-homer game for Caminero, who has hit six home runs during a nine-game hitting streak. Drew Rasmussen (2-0) picked up the win, allowing one run on five hits over six innings.
Brooks Lee homered and doubled in a 3-for-4 game and Royce Lewis also homered for Minnesota, which took its seventh loss in the last eight games.
Braves 5, Phillies 3
Michael Harris II delivered a pinch-hit double to drive in two runs and help Atlanta rally for a win and hand visiting Philadelphia its 10th straight loss.
The losing streak is the longest for Philadelphia since it dropped 11 in a row in 1999. The Braves have won all four games against the Phillies and have won nine of their last 10 games. Ronald Acuna crushed a two-run homer to pull Atlanta even in the fifth.
Trea Turner hit a solo shot and Bryce Harper smashed a two-run blast to put the Phillies up 3-2 in the sixth. For Harper, it was the 800th extra-base hit of his career as he became only the 27th player, and 10th left-handed hitter, to reach that milestone prior to his 34th birthday.
Mariners 3, Cardinals 2
Josh Naylor hit a tiebreaking home run and George Kirby won his third straight start as Seattle defeated host St. Louis in an interleague matchup.
Naylor’s leadoff homer to right-center field in the sixth was the difference. The Mariners snapped a streak of eight consecutive road defeats.
Kirby (4-2) allowed two runs on five hits over six-plus innings. Andre Pallante (2-2) pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on four hits. The right-hander fanned a season-high eight, one shy of his career best.
White Sox 5, Nationals 4
Sam Antonacci delivered a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning and Munetaka Murakami homered as host Chicago edged Washington.
Seranthony Dominguez worked around a Luis Garcia Jr. double in the ninth for his sixth save, sending the Nationals to their third straight loss.
Garcia had two hits for the Nationals, while Miguel Vargas had a pair of hits for the White Sox, who have won four of their last five.
Royals 5, Angels 3
Veteran Mike Trout set a franchise record for most career games played at any one position with his 1,367th appearance in center field, but Los Angeles fell to host Kansas City in the opener of their three-game series.
The Royals scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning against Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi (0-3), who allowed five runs on five hits in five innings.
The Angels rallied for three runs in the seventh against left-hander Noah Cameron, who had a shutout going for six innings. Cameron (2-1) got the win with three runs allowed on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Athletics 8, Rangers 1
Nick Kurtz, Carlos Cortes and Tyler Soderstrom each hit solo homers in the first inning as the Athletics opened a three-game series against Texas with a victory in Arlington.
Cortes also hit a three-run homer and Zack Gelof slugged a two-run shot among his two hits for the Athletics, who have won three of their last four games. Kurtz also singled, walked and scored two runs. Luis Severino (1-2) allowed one run on six hits over 6 2/3 innings.
Josh Jung doubled in a run and Corey Seager and Josh Smith had two hits apiece for Texas. Nathan Eovaldi (2-4) gave up six runs on six hits over six innings.
Reds 9, Tigers 8
Nathaniel Lowe belted a two-run walk-off home run, lifting Cincinnati to a victory over Detroit.
After Detroit closer Kenley Jansen (0-1) recorded two quick outs in the ninth, Spencer Steer singled. Lowe then connected on his second homer of the game and the season. Matt McLain also homered twice for Cincinnati, which overcame a 5-0 deficit.
Spencer Torkelson and Kerry Carpenter homered in the eighth to give Detroit an 8-7 lead. The Tigers had won 10 of their past 13 entering the Friday contest, which was the opener of a three-game interleague series. Javier Baez and Riley Greene also went deep for the visitors.
–Field Level Media
![How the USMNT copes without Folarin Balogun against Belgium How nice of VAR to overshadow one of the most important results in U.S. men’s national team history on Wednesday…The USMNT advanced to the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 after defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina, but lost standout striker Folarin Balogun for the match against Belgium after a 64th-minute red card. Balogun scored the game-winning goal near the end of the first half and has been one of, if not the best USMNT player this tournament.We can all debate until the cows come home whether or not it was the “right” decision, application of VAR, what have you, but the end result remains the same: Mauricio Pochettino must make a change if the host nation is to advance.The Argentine has already cemented himself as the most successful USMNT coach in World Cup history picking up his third victory of the tournament, but he’ll really earn his money if he plays his cards right in the next round. Pochettino has multiple options at his disposal, but how exactly should the USMNT set up against the Red Devils?SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JULY 1: Haji Wright #19 of United States arrives at the stadium prior to playing Bosnia And Herzegovina during a FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Santa Clara, United States. (Photo by John Todd/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images). ISI Photos via Getty ImagesGiven form, there isn’t an option on the bench currently that naturally fills Balogun’s absence. He’s got three goals in three appearances so far and has been a crucial focal point in multiple phases.The other out-and-out No. 9s are:Pepi’s received significantly more playing time (185 minutes) after starting the dead rubber against Türkiye. Wright, after a standout season for Coventry City, has only played a minute so far coming on as a substitute deep into second half stoppage time against Australia.Diving deeper into their numbers from last season:Pepi: 20 goal contributions (19G/1A) in 31 appearances [Eredivisie and Champions League]Wright: 18 goal contributions (17/1A) in 40 appearances [EFL Championship]Pochettino seems to trust Pepi more this tournament, though Wright has received opportunities in previous international windows. If he doesn’t want to alter his tactical setup wholesale, Pepi and Wright likely receive significant minutes against Belgium. Whoever he goes with first must impose themselves physically as Balogun has done, which might give the edge to Wright.The benefit to choosing either, though, is that the rest of the team remains unchanged.SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JULY 1: Christian Pulisic of United States looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images) Getty ImagesPart of what’s made the USMNT so dynamic this far is the threat of Christian Pulisic and Sergiño Dest out wide with Antonee Robinson and Alex Freeman over/underlapping at will on the left and right respectively.Pochettino could push Pulisic further forward, trusting his most talented attacker to hold up and link play at will while providing some box presence. Replacing Pulisic out wide could be:Alejandro ZendejasTimothy WeahGio ReynaOr, if Pochettino wants a similar dynamic on the left that he has on the right with Dest and Freeman, Max Arfsten could come in. However, the Columbus Crew wingback has not played a single minute so far.Reyna has played the most of those options, and could provide a difference cutting in on his favored right foot. He has the technical capability to play with both feet, but likely won’t stretch a backline as much as Weah could with his pace.Having Pulisic up top replaces Balogun’s game-changing ability, but upsetting the balance on the wings could end up having a detrimental effect on the team’s build-up play. One factor, that might end up pushing this option over the line is an conscious decision to try and nullify both Jérémy Doku and Leandro Trossard early.If Pochettino trusts one of his wide players to contribute defensively, then we might see Pulisic up top.SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JULY 01: Malik Tillman #17 of the United States celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images) Getty ImagesCould Malik Tillman get the nod up top?The Leverkusen midfielder prefers to play in the 10, he likes linking play and being the one to start attacking play. His technical quality on the ball is even a step up on Balogun, though he lacks the same box presence of the other wide and center forwards previously discussed. The USMNT will have to make the most of their possession, and having a difference maker on the ball to get Pulisic and Dest more involved in the attacking third could be the exact answer.The trade off here is… what’s the natural change in midfield then?Reyna could play behind Tillman, but we haven’t seen that pairing under Pochettino. Weston McKennie could also play further forward. The Juventus man, who has been one of the USMNT’s best players during the World Cup, can provide the late runs into the box as Tillman serves as a focal point to play through. He’s shown the ability to influence the game in multiple phases, but would need to be a decisive, consistent box-to-box presence all game. If that’s the path chosen, Sebastian Berhalter likely comes into the side forming a double pivot with Tyler Adams.While the Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder is adept at set pieces, using most of your midfield depth early wouldn’t give Pochettino options off the bench.Overall, Pochettino likely sticks with most of his team as is and chooses between Pepi or Wright. No matter who starts, both players will have short leashes if things don’t get off to a good start. Belgium represents the USMNT’s toughest opposition both on paper and in the FIFA rankings this tournament. The Red Devils have the individual quality advantage on paper in multiple areas, making Pochettino’s selection all the more important.The idea of a dynamic front line with Reyna, Tillman, Pulisic and Dest is certainly exciting, but excitement won’t get the USMNT past Belgium. Their opposition has shown resiliency, coming back from 0-2 down late against Senegal to earn their spot despite an underwhelming performance for the majority of the game.Rudi Garcia also isn’t afraid to make big calls taking off Kevin De Bruyne and Doku early in the second half in the Round of 32. No matter what decision Pochettino makes, it will be the defining selection of the USMNT’s knockout stage. #USMNT #copes #Folarin #Balogun #Belgium](https://i1.wp.com/platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/gettyimages-2284246024.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400&ssl=1 "How the USMNT copes without Folarin Balogun against Belgium How nice of VAR to overshadow one of the most important results in U.S. men’s national team history on Wednesday…The USMNT advanced to the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 after defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina, but lost standout striker Folarin Balogun for the match against Belgium after a 64th-minute red card. Balogun scored the game-winning goal near the end of the first half and has been one of, if not the best USMNT player this tournament.We can all debate until the cows come home whether or not it was the “right” decision, application of VAR, what have you, but the end result remains the same: Mauricio Pochettino must make a change if the host nation is to advance.The Argentine has already cemented himself as the most successful USMNT coach in World Cup history picking up his third victory of the tournament, but he’ll really earn his money if he plays his cards right in the next round. Pochettino has multiple options at his disposal, but how exactly should the USMNT set up against the Red Devils?SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JULY 1: Haji Wright #19 of United States arrives at the stadium prior to playing Bosnia And Herzegovina during a FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Santa Clara, United States. (Photo by John Todd/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images). ISI Photos via Getty ImagesGiven form, there isn’t an option on the bench currently that naturally fills Balogun’s absence. He’s got three goals in three appearances so far and has been a crucial focal point in multiple phases.The other out-and-out No. 9s are:Pepi’s received significantly more playing time (185 minutes) after starting the dead rubber against Türkiye. Wright, after a standout season for Coventry City, has only played a minute so far coming on as a substitute deep into second half stoppage time against Australia.Diving deeper into their numbers from last season:Pepi: 20 goal contributions (19G/1A) in 31 appearances [Eredivisie and Champions League]Wright: 18 goal contributions (17/1A) in 40 appearances [EFL Championship]Pochettino seems to trust Pepi more this tournament, though Wright has received opportunities in previous international windows. If he doesn’t want to alter his tactical setup wholesale, Pepi and Wright likely receive significant minutes against Belgium. Whoever he goes with first must impose themselves physically as Balogun has done, which might give the edge to Wright.The benefit to choosing either, though, is that the rest of the team remains unchanged.SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JULY 1: Christian Pulisic of United States looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images) Getty ImagesPart of what’s made the USMNT so dynamic this far is the threat of Christian Pulisic and Sergiño Dest out wide with Antonee Robinson and Alex Freeman over/underlapping at will on the left and right respectively.Pochettino could push Pulisic further forward, trusting his most talented attacker to hold up and link play at will while providing some box presence. Replacing Pulisic out wide could be:Alejandro ZendejasTimothy WeahGio ReynaOr, if Pochettino wants a similar dynamic on the left that he has on the right with Dest and Freeman, Max Arfsten could come in. However, the Columbus Crew wingback has not played a single minute so far.Reyna has played the most of those options, and could provide a difference cutting in on his favored right foot. He has the technical capability to play with both feet, but likely won’t stretch a backline as much as Weah could with his pace.Having Pulisic up top replaces Balogun’s game-changing ability, but upsetting the balance on the wings could end up having a detrimental effect on the team’s build-up play. One factor, that might end up pushing this option over the line is an conscious decision to try and nullify both Jérémy Doku and Leandro Trossard early.If Pochettino trusts one of his wide players to contribute defensively, then we might see Pulisic up top.SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JULY 01: Malik Tillman #17 of the United States celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images) Getty ImagesCould Malik Tillman get the nod up top?The Leverkusen midfielder prefers to play in the 10, he likes linking play and being the one to start attacking play. His technical quality on the ball is even a step up on Balogun, though he lacks the same box presence of the other wide and center forwards previously discussed. The USMNT will have to make the most of their possession, and having a difference maker on the ball to get Pulisic and Dest more involved in the attacking third could be the exact answer.The trade off here is… what’s the natural change in midfield then?Reyna could play behind Tillman, but we haven’t seen that pairing under Pochettino. Weston McKennie could also play further forward. The Juventus man, who has been one of the USMNT’s best players during the World Cup, can provide the late runs into the box as Tillman serves as a focal point to play through. He’s shown the ability to influence the game in multiple phases, but would need to be a decisive, consistent box-to-box presence all game. If that’s the path chosen, Sebastian Berhalter likely comes into the side forming a double pivot with Tyler Adams.While the Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder is adept at set pieces, using most of your midfield depth early wouldn’t give Pochettino options off the bench.Overall, Pochettino likely sticks with most of his team as is and chooses between Pepi or Wright. No matter who starts, both players will have short leashes if things don’t get off to a good start. Belgium represents the USMNT’s toughest opposition both on paper and in the FIFA rankings this tournament. The Red Devils have the individual quality advantage on paper in multiple areas, making Pochettino’s selection all the more important.The idea of a dynamic front line with Reyna, Tillman, Pulisic and Dest is certainly exciting, but excitement won’t get the USMNT past Belgium. Their opposition has shown resiliency, coming back from 0-2 down late against Senegal to earn their spot despite an underwhelming performance for the majority of the game.Rudi Garcia also isn’t afraid to make big calls taking off Kevin De Bruyne and Doku early in the second half in the Round of 32. No matter what decision Pochettino makes, it will be the defining selection of the USMNT’s knockout stage. #USMNT #copes #Folarin #Balogun #Belgium")
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