Why the Rays' Shane McClanahan vs. Orioles pitching matchup looks like a betting gift

I've talked about this before, but there are some games where the line just stands out to you. Normally, it is because you feel like the book is really off about something. In my experience, I've either been a huge winner because of this, or I temper my expectations because I feel like there is something I have to be missing that the books know. That's how I feel about today's game between the Rays and Orioles. The line is off, but maybe I'm missing something. The only way to find out is to throw some cash on it.

The Tampa Bay Rays are among the best teams in baseball, and they were a team that was predicted to be essentially a .500 team. As of right now, they own the American League East and the best record in the American League. They only need to hold up for another few weeks in order to get to the finish line. The Yankees are still chasing them, despite all the injuries, and the Red Sox are within a reasonable striking distance. They aren't playing great baseball at the moment, having lost three of the last five, but they are still in a good spot.

What is surprising to me about today's game is that Shane McClanahan is on the bump for the Rays, and they are only moderate favorites to beat the Orioles. For the season, McClanahan is 9-6 with a 3.25 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. Perhaps the reason is that he hasn't been great on the road this season, throwing to a 4.31 ERA in away games. It really isn't the result of home runs or hits. It seems that his control just isn't quite as good. He has 21 walks in 48 innings on the road, compared to 14 in 54 innings at home. The other reason is that he has allowed seven earned runs in 13.2 innings over three starts against the Orioles. However, his best start against them came on the road, when he allowed just three hits in 5.1 scoreless innings.

The Baltimore Orioles are a team we've spoken about frequently in these articles. They didn't get the season they were hoping for, but there is some reason for positivity. Their signing of Pete Alonso was great. Gunnar Henderson has shown good pop, even if he has struck out far too much. But I suppose the best thing to keep in mind is they got some decent returns for the players they traded away midseason. It isn't going to help them this year, but when you're already looking forward to next season, some positivity helps.

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Another bright spot in the dark year has been today's hurler, Brandon Young. For the season, Young is 9-3 with a 3.52 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. He has been solid at home this year with a 3.39 ERA. Young is a guy the Orioles probably will lean on next season as well. With his numbers, he can reasonably fit into the middle of their rotation and not have any real issues. He has faced Tampa once this season, it was his most recent start, and he allowed four earned runs (three homers) over four innings of work.

When I looked at the pitching matchup I just kind of scratched my head on why this wasn't a -165 or higher game. McClanahan doesn't go overly deep, but the Rays have one of the better bullpens in baseball. Sure, Young should make some adjustments and improve on his performance. However, McClanahan should as well. I just don't see why the Orioles are getting love. I'll temper my expectations a bit in case I'm missing something, but I'm taking the Rays because I think this line is a gift from the books.

For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024

source https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/rays-shane-mcclanahan-vs-orioles-pitching-matchup-looks-betting-gift

Laken Snelling, ex-University of Kentucky student, pleads guilty to death of baby found dead in closet

A former University of Kentucky student-athlete has pleaded guilty to charges related to the death of her infant son, who was found inside a trash bag in a closet.

Laken Snelling, 22, a member of the university's STUNT team, initially pleaded not guilty before changing her plea on Friday in connection with her newborn's death, FOX 56 reported. She was indicted by a Fayette County grand jury and faced a slew of charges, including abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant.

"I was under a lot of emotional stress and my baby came unexpectedly," Snelling said while crying in court. "And instead of helping him, I ended his life and afterward I cleaned up and didn’t tell anyone."

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When asked by Judge Diane Minnifield how she ended the baby's life, Snelling said: "I deprived him of oxygen."

Commonwealth's attorney Kimberly Baird said that Snelling’s attorney approached prosecutors as plans changed.

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"This was a case that needed to go straight to the grand jury anyway, as opposed to just entering a plea," Baird said, according to the news outlet. "The grand jury returned the indictment for first-degree manslaughter, and then they returned and suggested that offer. We accepted."

Officers in Lexington responded to reports of an unresponsive infant on Aug. 27, 2024, and found the child's remains inside a black trash bag, according to a news release from the city of Lexington. The baby's body was cold.

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Snelling was arrested days later. She told staff at the University of Kentucky hospital that she heard the newborn "whimper" at birth and "guessed" he was alive, according to an affidavit previously cited by FOX 56.

The baby also showed "a little fetal movement," the court document stated. Snelling told investigators that she was awake for 30 minutes after giving birth before passing out on top of the baby. When she woke up, she saw the newborn "turning blue and purple," court documents state.

She believed the baby was dead, so she "wrapped him like a burrito" and laid next to him, saying it "gave her comfort," officials said. At some point, she told her roommates that she was going to see a doctor because she had fainted from not eating.

Afterward, she picked up McDonald’s and went to the student health clinic but "did not go inside," the affidavit stated.

A subsequent search of Snelling’s phone revealed she had deleted labor photos and evidence of the pregnancy, police said.

Snelling faces up to 10 years in prison.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Snelling's attorney and the Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney's Office for comment.

source https://www.foxnews.com/us/laken-snelling-ex-university-kentucky-student-pleads-guilty-death-baby-found-dead-closet

Driver accused of killing 2 college cyclists in Tennessee crash allegedly failed to brake: court docs

A Tennessee driver accused of striking a group of college cyclists, killing two and seriously injuring five others, allegedly failed to brake or take evasive action before the crash, according to a newly filed affidavit.

John Alexander Benfield faces two counts of reckless vehicular homicide and five counts of reckless aggravated assault in Wednesday’s crash involving members of the Milligan University cycling team in Carter County.

The collision happened around 9 a.m. on Highway 19E near Simerly Creek Road, according to the affidavit filed by the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Investigators said Benfield was driving a 2003 Subaru Baja Sport behind another vehicle when the vehicle ahead moved from the outside lane into the inside lane.

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Benfield told investigators he did not see the group of cyclists traveling ahead in the outside lane until the other vehicle changed lanes, the affidavit says. A trooper wrote that investigators found "no physical evidence" that Benfield attempted to stop or take evasive action before striking the cyclists.

Two riders, Milligan University sophomores Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers, were pronounced dead at the crash site, according to the university. Seven other cyclists suffered serious or critical injuries, the affidavit states.

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Milligan said in a statement that the university was "profoundly shocked and saddened" by the deaths and asked the public to keep the victims, their families and the campus community in their prayers.

"There are no words to adequately describe this level of loss," the university said. "Our prayers are with all those impacted by this tragedy. Please keep the Milligan community in your prayers."

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An arrest affidavit also said officers detected the odor of marijuana coming from Benfield’s vehicle. The document does not say whether Benfield was impaired, and he was not charged with driving under the influence in the warrant.

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The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), which is leading the investigation, said Thursday that troopers are interviewing witnesses, reviewing evidence and examining the crash site.

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"We owe it to them to take the time, follow the facts and get this right," Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security spokesperson Jason Pack said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

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THP said its findings will be submitted to the district attorney’s office once the investigation is complete.

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A judicial officer found probable cause for Benfield’s arrest Wednesday. His bond was set at $150,000, according to the warrant.

USA Cycling also issued a statement mourning Engdahl and Rogers and offering condolences to their families, teammates, coaches and the Milligan community.

"We are deeply saddened to learn of this morning's tragic crash involving the Milligan University Cycling team. Our hearts go out to the two student-athletes whose lives were taken far too soon, Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers, as well as to the riders who were injured," the statement said.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Carter County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference for comment.

source https://www.foxnews.com/us/driver-accused-killing-2-college-cyclists-tennessee-crash-allegedly-failed-brake-court-docs

‘Stripper’ Venmo ‘scandal’ makes Dems the punchline as Trump candidate flips script on viral DNC post

Conservatives mocked criticism of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s son-in-law, Republican congressional candidate Michael Alfonso, over old Venmo payments with suggestive captions, arguing the notes were being taken too literally as Alfonso called the criticism "wildly dishonest" and turned it into a fundraising pitch.

A post from the DNC’s social media account, FactPost, went viral this week after highlighting Venmo payments Alfonso made with notes reading "The strippers" and "High supplies." Alfonso responded by sharing screenshots of the payments and saying the captions were jokes.

"It’s wildly dishonest to leave out the part where the ‘strippers’ were $5 because—brace yourself—they obviously weren’t actual strippers. You can write literally anything in a Venmo note. This is called a joke—something the humorless left is incapable of comprehending," he wrote.

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"Patriots: I would be very grateful for $5 or any amount you can contribute to my campaign. None of the proceeds go to strippers or high supplies—only toward defeating the radical left in November," he wrote.

The exchange sparked a broader discussion about Venmo payment captions and the joking or unserious descriptions users may attach to payments, with conservatives arguing that Alfonso’s critics were reading too much into the notes.

"I have no idea if there is anything here. I do know that literally not one of my male friends has ever—ever—sent me a Venmo payment with a description that wasn't a joke," said National Review editor Charles C.W. Cooke.

"People thinking the Venmo comment line is an actual audit trail," wrote Wisconsin State Representative Calvin Callahan.

YOUNG CONSERVATIVES REVEAL WHAT’S TOP OF MIND AS GOP, DEMOCRATS BATTLE FOR 'HOPELESS' GEN Z VOTERS

"Yeah, because people who pay strippers totally put that truthfully in Venmo," said one user.

"BREAKING: boomers have discovered the Venmo comment section exists," said New York Post correspondent Lydia Moynihan.

"This is such a Gen Z ‘scandal’ I’m dying Buckle up, because every incoming member of Congress under 30 is going to have something like ‘heroin — $1’ in their Venmo history," Alfonso’s wife, Evita Duffy-Alfonso, wrote.

"The Left can’t meme, can’t take a joke, and then wonders why it keeps losing young men at the ballot box," she added.

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"One time my wife Venmoed a bunch of our friends for their share of an Airbnb with risqué captions, got banned from the app, and had to call customer service to explain it was just a joke. Unlike the media, Venmo understood and let it go," shared Daily Wire bureau chief Tim Rice.

The 26-year-old congressional candidate advanced Aug. 11 in a crowded GOP primary and is set to face Democrat Fred Clark in November.

Fox News Digital reached out to Alfonso for comment.

source https://www.foxnews.com/politics/stripper-venmo-scandal-makes-dems-punchline-trump-candidate-flips-script-viral-dnc-post

Cruise ships with the worst CDC sanitation scores revealed, see which vessels failed inspection

The lowest-scoring cruise ships of 2026 have been identified based on data from unannounced health inspections conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) does periodic, unannounced inspections of cruise ships in U.S. ports, examining conditions aboard to determine whether vessels comply with federal public health standards, according to the agency.

Cruise ships are graded on a 100-point scale. Ships must score 86 or above to pass inspection — while a score of 85 or below is considered unsatisfactory, the CDC noted.

CLEANEST CRUISE LINES REVEALED AFTER CDC SURPRISE SANITATION INSPECTIONS

Several ships have landed near the bottom of the CDC's sanitation scale so far this year.

Norwegian Dawn, Carnival Breeze, Kydon, National Geographic Sea Lion, Sun Princess, MSC Meraviglia and Amadea were the seven lowest-scoring vessels among the 2026 inspections reviewed, according to CDC data.

Norwegian Dawn received a score of 84 during a March inspection — putting it below the CDC's passing threshold of 86.

Carnival Breeze, Kydon and National Geographic Sea Lion each received scores of 86 — while Sun Princess, MSC Meraviglia and Amadea received 89s.

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The scores reflect conditions observed at the time of inspection — and the scores can change from one inspection to the next. 

Carnival Breeze, for example, received a perfect 100 earlier in the year before earning a score of 86 during a later inspection.

The scores do not necessarily mean a ship is unsafe; rather, they reflect how well the vessels met the CDC’s public health standards at the time of inspection.

Fox News Digital reached out to Norwegian Dawn and the CDC for comment.

Norwegian Cruise Line issued a detailed report to the CDC five days after the inspection, showing all the corrective measures the organization put in place after the ship scored poorly, the "Cruise Fever" blog reported. 

Gavin Macgregor-Skinner, an infection prevention expert and epidemiologist affiliated with Penn State College of Medicine, previously told Fox News Digital that the federal government’s Vessel Sanitation Program plays an important role in protecting passengers and crew.

"The federal government's Vessel Sanitation Program, established in 1975 to work with the cruise industry to protect travelers’ health, is critical for the health and safety of passengers, staff and the locations that cruise ships visit," Macgregor-Skinner said.

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Inspectors focus on a wide range of areas aboard the ship.

"Ships participating in the VSP can expect two unannounced inspections every year, with a focus on medical facilities, potable water systems, swimming pools and whirlpool baths, galleys and dining rooms, child activity centers, cabins, ventilation systems and common areas," Macgregor-Skinner said.

The latest scores come as cruise lines continue to face scrutiny over sanitation and illness prevention aboard vessels carrying thousands of passengers.

"Cruise ships are shared environments where thousands of people touch the same surfaces every day," Brian Sansoni, senior vice president of communications at the American Cleaning Institute in Washington, D.C., previously told Fox News Digital.

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"Without strong cleaning and hygiene practices, germs can spread quickly, increasing the risk of illness among passengers and crew," he added.

Still, a lower sanitation score does not necessarily mean a ship will experience an illness outbreak.

Cruise lines report illnesses to federal health officials more routinely than many other parts of the travel industry, Macgregor-Skinner said.

"It is very important not to confuse the wider availability of cruise health data with a higher incidence rate on cruise ships compared to settings like restaurants, hotels and planes," he said.

Meanwhile, on the high side of the spectrum and based on the latest inspection data from the CDC, 42 cruise ships earned a perfect score of 100 — ranking them among the cleanest cruise ships reviewed in 2026.

Among the cruise ships earning perfect 100 scores in 2026 from the CDC were Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, Carnival Celebration, Celebrity Apex, Disney Dream, Norwegian Viva and Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth.

"Normally, over the course of a year, 25–35 ships will earn a perfect health score," noted the "Cruise Fever" blog. 

Fox News Digital reached out to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) for further comment.

Jessica Mekles of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.

source https://www.foxnews.com/travel/cruise-ships-worst-cdc-sanitation-scores-revealed-see-which-vessels-failed-inspection

American tourist killed by lightning while hiking Sicily's Mount Etna

An American tourist was killed after being struck by lightning while hiking Sicily's Mount Etna, Europe's largest volcano, which was recently active, Italian firefighters said Monday.

The 29-year-old man from Kansas, whose name had not been released at the time of this reporting, was found at an altitude of 1,000 feet in the Rocca Capra area.

He was rescued by helicopter after he was struck Sunday night in a barren, exposed area. He was later pronounced dead by medical officials.

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Ash from the volcano forced the closure of Sicily's largest airport last week, impacting summer travelers during the busy travel season.

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Planes were forced to be re-routed to other airports on the island.

More people have died on Etna from lightning strikes over recent decades than from volcanic activity, officials said. The last eruption-related fatalities were in 1987.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

source https://www.foxnews.com/us/american-tourist-killed-lightning-hiking-sicilys-mount-etna

Famed ex-Yankees pitcher Tommy John dead at 83 after sending farewell message to fans

Tommy John, the former MLB pitcher whose elbow surgery set the standard in baseball and helped lengthen the careers of countless players, has died. He was 83.

Mike Maguire, his agent, announced John’s death in a statement.

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"Thomas Edward ‘Tommy’ John Jr. passed away peacefully at his home in Lakewood Ranch last night surrounded by his loving wife, Cheryl, and his sister-in-laws Judith Florentino and Karen Jordan," the statement read.

"A private celebration of life will be held in Florida."

John’s death comes about a week after he released a farewell message to fans on New York Yankees’ Old-Timers’ Day.

He said in his message he was "saying goodbye" as the team revealed he had been battling health issues.

"I want to thank the Yankees organization & the Steinbrenner family for giving me this opportunity to say goodbye to everyone, along with all the friends & fans who followed me throughout my 26-year career," John’s message read.

"Thanks to Dr. Jobe, who saved my arm & made it possible for me to continue pitching. That surgery has since gone on to save the careers of countless pitchers, including many of the very best in the game today.

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"Thank you to all the fans who supported me & my teammates for 26 years. I will never forget you."

John had his famed surgery in 1974 and became a success story as he went on to win more than 160 games after the operation was completed. He missed the entire 1975 season and was a three-time All-Star after the surgery.

He finished his career as a four-time All-Star and played eight of his 26 seasons with the Yankees.

He also played for the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, California Angels, Cleveland Indians and Oakland Athletics.

He had a career 3.34 ERA with 2,245 strikeouts.

"The day I left for my first job as a pitcher, my father looked at me & said, 'Good luck, Tommy. Just remember one thing: whether you make it big in the big leagues or you don't, you'll always just be Tommy John from Terre Haute, Indiana,'" his message added.

"I've never forgotten those words. Thank you & God Bless."

source https://www.foxnews.com/sports/famed-ex-yankees-pitcher-tommy-john-dead-83-farewell-message-fans