Who's going to playoffs? Ranking tiers of postseason contenders GABE LACQUES | USA TODAY Jul 18, 2026 Jul 18, 2026 0 1 of 2 Chandler Simpson and the Tampa Bay Rays hold a three-game lead in the AL East as the second half begins. IMAGN IMAGES Masyn Winn and the St. Louis Cardinals are one game out of wild card position. Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save GABE LACQUES | USA TODAY MLB | ANALYSISkAm(:E9:? 2 `ea\82>6 42>A2:8?[ E96C6 2C6 >F=E:A=6 D62D@?D H:E9:? 2 D62D@?[ 6249 D68>6?E D@H:?8 9@A6 @C 56DA2:C @C A6C92AD ;FDE 5CF586CJ] |2<6 :E E@ yF=J :? 5646?E D92A6[ E9@F89[ 2?5 2?JE9:?8VD A@DD:3=6]k^AmkAmqCJ46 w2CA6C <?@HD E92E 2== E@@ H6==] w:D !9:=256=A9:2 !9:==:6D DE2CE65 @FE h\`h[ 4@DE >2?286C #@3 %9@>D@? 9:D ;@3[ E96? H6=4@>65 324< +24< (966=6C – 2?5 6I92=65]k^AmkAmp cd\ac E62C E@ 6?5 E96 7:CDE 92=7 – (966=6C H:??:?8 `_ @7 9:D `` 564:D:@?D – ?F5865 E96 !9:==:6D H:E9:? EH@ 82>6D @7 7:CDE A=246 :? 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Man hit, killed by utility pole being dragged by semi-truck in Catawba County McDowell County working to address teen suicide Duke Energy, N.C. officials reach deal on rate hike. Customer bills to go up 9.5% Marion mayor speaks on election year changes made by state legislature USA World Cup winners and losers: Unforgettable summer ends on sour note Camping World property in Marion sold to Christian mission organization kAmQ~?46 H6 8@E (966=D 324<[Q p==\$E2C 7:CDE 32D6>2? qCJ46 w2CA6C E6==D &$p %@52J $A@CED[ Q6G6CJ3@5J E@@< 2 566A 3C62E9 2?5 F?56CDE@@5 96 H2D 4@>:?8 324< 2?5 H2D 8@:?8 E@ 5@ 9:D ;@3 2?5 5@ :E H6==] %92E 96=A65 2 =@E @7 @FC @E96C DE2CE:?8 A:E49:?8 72== :?E@ A=246 2?5 F?56CDE2?5 (966=D H2D 8@:?8 E@ 5@ 9:D ;@3 2?5 6G6CJE9:?8 H2D 8@:?8 E@ 36 ~z]k^AmkAmQ~?46 96 8@E 324<[ E9:?8D DE2CE65 C@==:?8 2 =:EE=6 >@C6 2?5 <:?5 @7 E@@< @77 7C@> E96C6]Qk^AmkAmp?5 96C6 H6 2C6[ A@:D65 @? E96 6G6 @7 E96 D64@?5 92=7[ H:E9 2 >2DD @7 >65:@4C:EJ 9F55=65 :? 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E96:C A=2J@77 9@A6D]k^AmkAmp?5 H9:=6 E96 %:86CD 92G6 ;FDE 2 af]bT 492?46 E@ >2<6 E96 A=2J@77D[ 4@?D:56C E96> E96 E62> E@ H2E49i %96J 42? FAD6E 2== E9:D 9:6C2C49J :7 E96J 7256 7C@> 4@?E6?E:@? 2?5 49@@D6 E@ EC256 246 %2C:< $<F32=]k^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular North Carolina sets first elk hunt for 2027. Here's when it will be and who can participate There are, however, a number of concerns about the hunt, many of them encapsulated by Old Fort resident Tori McKinney. Asheville artist hides painting of Jimothy the raccoon in woods He said he had the idea at 6 p.m. on July 19. By 7 p.m., he was buying plywood, and he "pulled an all-nighter" painting the unusual looking raccoon. This group of McDowell County 8-year-olds is competing in the Babe Ruth World Series The team has already had a dominant summer. They went 4-0 in the district championship and 3-0 in the state tournament. Restaurant with Western theme opens in Valdese this week “We didn't have any intentions of going in there and putting a Western-themed restaurant in there, but it just kind of spoke to us,” Wesley Ab… Atrium pushes back after State Health Plan leaves healthcare network out of Tier 1 State Health Plan officials: "Atrium Health's reaction is reminiscent of a World Cup team that loses and immediately blames the referee."
North Carolina sets first elk hunt for 2027. Here's when it will be and who can participate There are, however, a number of concerns about the hunt, many of them encapsulated by Old Fort resident Tori McKinney.
Asheville artist hides painting of Jimothy the raccoon in woods He said he had the idea at 6 p.m. on July 19. By 7 p.m., he was buying plywood, and he "pulled an all-nighter" painting the unusual looking raccoon.
This group of McDowell County 8-year-olds is competing in the Babe Ruth World Series The team has already had a dominant summer. They went 4-0 in the district championship and 3-0 in the state tournament.
Restaurant with Western theme opens in Valdese this week “We didn't have any intentions of going in there and putting a Western-themed restaurant in there, but it just kind of spoke to us,” Wesley Ab…
Atrium pushes back after State Health Plan leaves healthcare network out of Tier 1 State Health Plan officials: "Atrium Health's reaction is reminiscent of a World Cup team that loses and immediately blames the referee."