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The first half of the 2026 MLB season has given us enough evidence to stop talking about what teams were supposed to be.

Ian breaks down the Mets’ complete collapse, who David Stearns should consider moving at the trade deadline, and why trading Francisco Lindor would signal something much bigger than a normal sell-off.

Across town, the Yankees remain one of the American League’s best teams—but Aaron Judge’s absence exposed just how narrow their championship path becomes without him. Ian also looks at their deadline needs, Cam Schlittler’s Cy Young case and a potential playoff matchup with Tampa Bay.

Plus, it is time to check the receipts on the preseason edition of Rolling the Dice with Rice, sort MLB into contenders, surprises and disappointments, revisit the award races, make a World Series prediction and review the ABS challenge system.

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Episode 76: The 2026 World Cup Became Too Big to Ignore

After a two-week break, Rice on the Radio returns with something a little different: a World Cup episode.

The 2026 World Cup has taken over the sports conversation. The United States had the stage, the crowd, the ratings and the chance to make a real run at home—but Belgium ended that dream with a 4–1 knockout-round win.

Ian breaks down why the U.S. exit is both progress and a missed opportunity, why the Balogun controversy became one of the strangest stories of the tournament, and why a record American soccer audience makes the loss sting even more.

Friend of the show Danny joins during halftime of USA-Belgium to give a real soccer fan’s view of the tournament, the U.S. team, Haaland, Messi, Mbappé and the remaining contenders.

Then Ian reacts to the second half, the U.S. elimination, Argentina’s wild comeback, Norway’s Haaland-led run, and a quarterfinal field featuring France, Morocco, Spain, Belgium, Norway, England, Argentina and Switzerland.

This is not Rice on the Radio becoming a full-time soccer podcast.

Probably.

But this World Cup deserved an episode.

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The Knicks finally gave New York the parade. Now baseball has brought the city right back to reality.

Episode 75 of Rice on the Radio gets back into Major League Baseball with the Yankees and Mets moving in very different directions after the Knicks championship high.

The Yankees are still good, still dangerous, and still in the championship conversation, but Aaron Judge being hurt changes the entire feel of the season. Ian breaks down the Yankees’ first real stress test, Ben Rice becoming a legitimate breakout story, Cam Schlittler looking like homegrown front-line pitching, the veteran stability from Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, and Gerrit Cole, and why the deadline priority should be a trustworthy late-inning bullpen arm.

Then it’s Mets time.

The rotation is a disaster, the roster feels clunky, and the David Stearns honeymoon is over. The Mets still have bright spots — Juan Soto is still Juan Soto, Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing look like real pieces, Nolan McLean and Christian Scott have shown flashes, and Francisco Lindor’s return helps — but this season is slipping fast.

The Knicks set the standard. The Yankees are trying to chase it. The Mets are trying to figure out what comes next.

Tell someone you love them and spread good energy.

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