In this preview, Major League Baseball and other baseball league’s reach their all-star breaks. The Basketball Tournament comes to the Cintas Center. Plus, FC Cincinnati strives to get back to winning ways this week.

The Basketball Tournament

Xavier University’s Cintas Center will host a regional in The Basketball Tournament this week. Featuring Xavier and Cincinnati Bearcats alumni men’s teams. Xavier’s represented by Zip ‘Em Up and Cincinnati’s represented by Nasty Nati. The Xavier regional will play out Monday through this Thursday. No.4 seed Nasty Nati will take on No.5 seed Fort Wayne Champs tonight at 6 PM Eastern. That round of 64 game can be seen on ESPN 3 and Sling. No.3 seed Zip ‘Em Up will take on No.6 seed Sweet Home Alabama; tonight at 8 PM Eastern on ESPNU and Sling.

If Nasty Nati wins tonight, they will face either No.1 Florida TNT or No.8 Team About Billions Wednesday. In the Round of 32 at 6 PM Eastern on ESPN 3 and Sling. If Zip ‘Em Up wins tonight, they will face either No.2 Sideline Cancer or No.7 Defeat Diabetes. In the round of 32 Wednesday at 8 PM Eastern on ESPN 3 and Sling. Nasty Nati and Zip ‘Em Up could meet up in the regional final Thursday. In what could be the second alumni Crosstown Shootout game within a week. The full Xavier Regional schedule is available here.

Nasty Nati and Zip ‘Em Up aren’t the only local connections to The Basketball Tournament. TBT uses a scoring format known as the “Elam Ending.” Named for its inventor Nick Elam, a Cincinnati Reds groundskeeper amongst other things. Through the Elam Ending, the game clock shuts off after the first dead ball under the four-minute mark in the fourth quarter. A team must reach a target score to win, the leading team’s score plus eight.

FC Cincinnati vs. Nashville SC

After being shutout 2-0 by their cross-state rival Columbus Crew last Sunday in Columbus. Marking FC Cincinnati’s first loss since May 28th. Along with snapping a four-match streak of ties. FC Cincinnati returns home to face Nashville SC this Saturday. FCC heads into this week seventh in MLS’ Eastern Conference. With 27 match points, one ahead of eighth place Charlotte FC. Nashville heads into this week fifth in the Western Conference.

Saturday’s match between FC Cincinnati and Nashville is set to start at 7:30 PM Eastern. FC Cincinnati will have to manage without midfielder Luciano Acosta. Saturday marks the last match of his two-match suspension. Stemming from a confrontation Acosta had with a referee during FCC’s match against the New York Red Bulls on July 9th. Saturday’s match can be seen on WSTR-TV (64) and out of market on ESPN+. Saturday’s match can be heard on WCKY-AM (1530).

MLB All-Star Game’s Home Run Derby

Monday at 8 PM Eastern on ESPN.

MLB All-Star Game

Luis Castillo will be the Cincinnati Reds’ lone representative. In the 2022 MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic is set to start at 8 PM Eastern on FOX and ESPN Radio. Being broadcast in Cincinnati on WXIX-TV (19) and WCKY-AM in Cincinnati.

Frontier League All-Star Game

There will be all-star games a-plenty across baseball this week. From Major League Baseball to the minor leagues. Including the Florence Y’alls independent Frontier League. The Y’alls will be represented by first baseman Brennan Price, shortstop Alberti Chavez and outfielder Anthony Brocato. Price will be the starting first baseman for the West Division. This year’s Frontier League All-Star Game will take place Wednesday at 7:05 PM Eastern. Taking place at Wild Things Park in Washington, PA on FloBaseball.

Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Friday and Saturday at 6:40 PM Eastern.

Florence Y’alls at New York Boulders

Friday at 7 PM Eastern

Saturday at 6:30 PM Eastern

Sunday at 4 PM Eastern

All Y’alls games can be seen on FloBaseball.

IAAF World Championships

The IAAF World Championships continue and conclude this week. Rolling along now through this Sunday at Hayward Field in Eugene, OR. The United States is dominating the world championships so far. Leading with six gold, four silver and four bronze medals. Heading into Monday afternoon as the only nation totaling double digits in the medal table.

Among Team USA’s medalists are Brooke Andersen and Janee’ Kassanavoid. Andersen won gold in women’s hammer throw and Kassanavoid won bronze. Fellow American teammate and University of Cincinnati alum Annette Echikunwoke finished 12th in the final. NBC Sports’ TV and streaming schedule for Track and Field’s world championships is available here.