Sports
CF Montreal charging toward playoff spot vs. Charlotte FC
Sep 28, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; CF Montreal forward Josef Martinez (17) kkicks the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half at Stade Saputo. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images A spot in the playoffs is in view for CF Montreal when they travel to face Charlotte FC on Saturday night.
CF Montreal (10-12-10, 40 points) is on a three-match winning streak and a five-match unbeaten stretch, with four victories in that time, and can clinch a spot in the postseason with a win, coupled with either the Philadelphia Union or D.C. United finishing with no better than a draw.
Montreal could also qualify for the playoffs with a draw plus a loss by either Philadelphia or D.C. The Union will face the Columbus Crew while D.C. United take on the New England Revolution.
CF Montreal has a three-point lead on both Philadelphia and D.C. and is eighth in the Eastern Conference, one spot above the playoff line. They understand that a letdown at Charlotte, with two matches remaining, could hurt their playoff chances.
“We know, especially in this league, how everything can change after one game,” Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois said. “We’re all conscious that (D.C. and Philadelphia) are right behind us and they’re waiting for us to slip, (so) we can’t get comfortable.”
Key to Montreal’s run has been Josef Martinez, who has scored twice in each of the past two matches and five time over his last three. Martinez now has a team-best 10 goals.
Charlotte FC (12-11-9, 45 points) has already qualified for the playoffs but has an outside chance at a top-four spot in the East and home-field advantage through at least the first round.
In seventh place, Charlotte is four points behind fourth-place Orlando City but must also jump past New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls over the final two matches to reach fourth place.
Charlotte is unbeaten in its last three (2-0-1) following a 4-3 win over the Chicago Fire on Wednesday, a match that saw Karol Swiderski score twice. The club has scored nine goals in the past three matches.
“I just think at the moment, the players can see the finish line,” Charlotte head coach Dean Smith said. “There’s not too many games left … so they’re excited for that. But when you see the end line, there’s an excitement that comes with it as well of what you can go and achieve, and I think that’s what’s giving the lads a lift at the moment.”
Liel Abada and Junior Urso also scored against the Fire, with Urso’s goal the midfielder’s first since signing with Charlotte in February. Charlotte improved to 8-3-5 at home with the win.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros put RHP Spencer Arrighetti (foot) on 15-day IL
Jul 8, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Spencer Arrighetti (41) throws a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images In the thick of the American League West and AL wild-card races, the Houston Astros placed right-handed starter Spencer Arrighetti on the 15-day injured list Saturday with nerve irritation in his foot.
Arrighetti, 26, left Friday’s start against the Chicago White Sox after one inning and 33 pitches due to the foot issue.
In a corresponding move, Houston recalled left-handed reliever Bryan King from Triple-A Sugar Land.
In 17 starts this season, Arrighetti is 7-5 with a 4.60 ERA, allowing six or more earned runs in three of his final four starts before the All-Star break. The 2021 sixth-round pick, who debuted with Houston in 2024, is 15-23 with a 4.66 ERA in 53 games (52 starts).
The 29-year-old King has made 42 relief appearances with the Astros in 2026, posting a 2-3 record with a 3.40 ERA. Across his three MLB seasons, all with Houston, he is 8-7 with a 2.91 ERA in 138 relief outings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Athletics activate star Nick Kurtz (thumb) from IL
![Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) takes first base as Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (16) misses a catch during the first inning] at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.](https://dailyfacthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/29355296.jpg)
Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) takes first base as Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (16) misses a catch during the first inning] at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. The Athletics activated All-Star first baseman Nick Kurtz from the 10-day injured list prior to Saturday’s road game against the Minnesota Twins.
Kurtz sustained a right thumb capsule sprain and was placed on the IL on July 10 and the injury forced him to miss the All-Star Game. He had been elevated to American League starter when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (back) of the Toronto Blue Jays backed out.
Kurtz is batting second and serving as the designated hitter on Saturday.
Kurtz exited a 6-1 loss at Detroit on July 8 after 1 1/2 innings after he appeared to hurt the hand while trying to field a throw in the bottom of the first. The following day, he was the designated hitter and went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in a 4-1 loss to the Tigers.
Kurtz, 23, is batting .266 with 20 homers and 66 RBIs in 92 games. He was the unanimous 2025 AL Rookie of the Year with a .290 batting average, 36 home runs and 86 RBIs in just 117 games.
Third baseman Max Muncy was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. He was recalled by the A’s earlier this week and went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in two games.
Muncy, 23, is batting .223 with five homers and 20 RBIs over 48 games. He has a .218 average in 111 big league games over the past two campaigns.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Davis Alexander, Alouettes look to extend East cushion vs. Tiger-Cats
Nov 16, 2025; Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Montreal Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander (10) looks to pass during the fourth quarter against the Saskatchewan Roughriders during the 112th Grey Cup Championship at Princess Auto Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-Imagn Images With a healthy Davis Alexander at the controls, the Montreal Alouettes have a chance to run away with the East Division pretty quickly.
When Montreal hosts the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday night, it has a chance to take a three-game lead and earn the tiebreaker with a victory.
Most of that is because Alexander has – to this point – stayed off the injured list after playing just eight games last year due to a hamstring injury. Alexander has rolled up huge numbers for the Als (5-1), passing for 2,181 yards and 11 touchdowns while setting a new CFL record by throwing 336 straight passes without an interception.
Head coach Jason Maas said he and Alexander came to an understanding that he had to curb his scrambling style to be of maximum use to the club.
“He’s very smart about how he plays and what he decides to do,” Maas said. “There’s a reason he has played (six) straight games. These things, after you’ve had one, they can reoccur and it takes a lot of time to get over them.”
While Montreal is soaring with its quarterback at 100 percent, Hamilton (3-3) got back into the win column last week when its third starting quarterback in three weeks gave the offense a big lift in a 24-23 win over Toronto.
Tre Ford hit on 21 of 27 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 109 yards on 10 attempts. The Tiger-Cats struggled mightily on offense in back-to-back losses to Winnipeg and Saskatchewan, largely because star QB Bo Levi Mitchell broke his ankle in the third quarter against Winnipeg.
“Using my legs is going to be an asset for my team,” said Ford, a former starter in Edmonton before being benched last year for Cody Fajardo. “Having legs definitely helps … being able to extend plays, run around and get first downs.”
It was really helpful last week when tackles Trevor Reid and Quinton Barrow left with injuries, forcing rookie tight end Max Mang into emergency duty as a guard.
–Field Level Media
Astros put RHP Spencer Arrighetti (foot) on 15-day IL
Athletics activate star Nick Kurtz (thumb) from IL
