Sports
Small-ball White Sox strive for repeat win against Blue Jays
Apr 3, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox right fielder Tristan Peters (29) celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the 10th inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images The Chicago White Sox hope going small will bring big results.
The approach has given them a chance to clinch their three-game series with the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon. The White Sox used small ball as they defeated the Jays 5-4 in their home opener Friday afternoon after a 1-5 road trip.
A double steal in the third inning set up Austin Hays’ two-run single.
In a two-run 10th for Chicago, Derek Hill’s bunt single and an errant throw to first by Blue Jays catcher Tyler Heineman — who had just entered the game after Alejandro Kirk departed with a left-thumb injury — allowed him to reach second as the tying run. Tristan Peters won the game with a single to right.
“That bunt was incredible,” Peters said. “Just to keep us in the game like that. And then I’m just thinking, I know Derek is very fast, so a single scores him. I’m just trying to make contact and get it on the grass in the outfield somewhere.”
Chicago manager Will Venable said the win was crucial.
“We’ve got to find any way we can, especially in the AL Central in April,” he said. “We know there’s going to be wind, weather. Slug is maybe not part of our offensive package, and we’ve got to find any way we can.”
“That’s just the way we kind of have to play the game,” Hill said. “We’re not like a huge slugging team like the Dodgers, where you have four guys that can hit 30 (homers). So we’ve got to play that small ball, we’ve got to play clean.”
For the Blue Jays, Kirk’s situation is troublesome. He left the game after taking a foul ball off his glove hand and was diagnosed with a fractured left thumb.
“It’s more the thumb,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said, before the results of the X-rays. “It hurts, especially on a cold day. We’re hoping that it’s nothing serious. He’s about as tough as they come, so for him to come out, you don’t love it.”
Brandon Valenzuela, who spent training camp with the Blue Jays, was called up Saturday morning from Triple-A Buffalo. He has yet to make his major league debut.
The Blue Jays opened the season by sweeping a three-game series against the Athletics. Toronto has dropped three of four since, including losing two of three to the Colorado Rockies. The game in Chicago was the Jays’ first on the road this season.
They have scored a total of five runs in their past two games — both 10-inning losses — as their offense has yet to click consistently.
Former Blue Jays left-hander Anthony Kay (0-0, 3.86 ERA) is scheduled to be the bulk pitcher for the White Sox on Saturday. He has never faced his former team.
He pitched for the Yokohama BayStars in the Japan Central League in 2025, going 9-6 with a 1.74 ERA in 24 games.
In 28 games (seven starts) for Toronto from 2019-22, he posted a 4-2 record with a 5.48 ERA.
Grant Taylor (0-0, 3.00), who pitched a perfect first inning on Friday as the opener for Sean Burke, is expected to open again on Saturday. Taylor threw only nine pitches on Friday.
Toronto left-hander Eric Lauer will miss his scheduled start on Saturday because of illness and is scheduled to pitch Sunday instead. Toronto will go with an opener on Saturday, with left-handed reliever Mason Fluharty (0-0, 10.80 ERA) expected to lead a parade from the bullpen.
Fluharty’s one career outing against the White Sox came on June 20, 2025. He allowed three runs in one relief inning in a 7-1 loss.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mets deal reliever A.J. Minter to Twins
Jun 7, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher A.J. Minter (33) throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images The New York Mets have begun their expected sell-off of veterans before the trade deadline, with the first deal bringing a familiar last name back to Queens.
The last-place Mets traded left-handed reliever A.J. Minter to the Minnesota Twins on Friday in exchange for minor league infielders Bruin Agbayani and Billy Amick.
Agbayani, 19, is the son of former Mets outfielder Benny Agbayani, a fan favorite in his playing days.
Minter, 32, is set to become a free agent after the season. He is 1-1 with a 2.35 ERA and 20 strikeouts and just two walks across 23 innings in 23 appearances this season, his second in New York after eight seasons with Atlanta. He is 25-30 with 36 saves and a 3.18 ERA and 456 strikeouts over 382 2/3 innings in 420 games in his career.
Minter suffered a lat muscle tear last season that delayed his 2026 debut to late May, which could help explain his dip in velocity.
Agbayani was the Twins’ sixth-round draft pick last year out of Saint Louis School in Honolulu. He played 10 games for Class-A Fort Myers this season, batting .268 with no homers and six RBIs, before being sidelined since mid-May due to a right shoulder ailment.
Amick, 23, was Minnesota’s second-round draft choice in 2024 out of the University of Tennessee. He hit .217 with 23 homers and 72 RBIs in 86 games for Double-A Wichita this season.
The Twins enter Friday three games behind the Chicago White Sox for the American League Central lead and one game back of fellow Central foe Cleveland for the final AL wild-card spot.
The Mets, in the cellar in the National League East, hold the second-worst record (47-63) in the NL behind only the Colorado Rockies (42-67).
Among the players they are expected to try to move are relievers Luke Weaver and Brooks Raley as well as starters Freddy Peralta and Clay Holmes.
The trade deadline is 6 p.m. ET on Monday.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Karl Ravech not quite finished at ESPN
Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; ESPN commentator Karl Ravech before the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Longtime anchor and play-by-play announcer Karl Ravech, laid off 10 days ago by ESPN, is not quite finished with the network.
Viewers of ESPN’s coverage of the game between the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals on Thursday night heard Ravech on the call. And The Athletic reported that Ravech still has a few more baseball tasks for the network.
He served as ESPN’s lead MLB announcer and the network’s voice of the College World Series before being laid off.
Per the report, Ravech will be in the booth when the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners meet on Aug. 12. He will follow that by calling some games in the Little League World Series, one of the events closely associated with Ravech through the years.
The LLWS will be held Aug. 19-30 in Williamsport, Pa.
Ravech, 61, began work at ESPN in 1993 and anchored “SportsCenter” and hosted “Baseball Tonight”. He also called college basketball games.
ESPN parted with several employees who work both in front of the camera and behind the scenes in its latest round of layoffs. NFL analyst Ryan Clark and NFL insider Tom Pelissero were among the most prominent cuts.
These layoffs were linked to ESPN’s acquisition of NFL Network, according to an internal memo from ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro that multiple media outlets obtained.
The Athletic said it is expected that Ravech’s time on air at ESPN will conclude with the end of his baseball assignments.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Whitecaps acquire Canadian F Kwasi Poku
May 22, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Forge FC Hamilton midfielder Kwasi Poku (20) celebrates after scoring a goal against the CF Montreal during the first half at Stade Saputo. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images The Vancouver Whitecaps acquired Canadian striker Kwasi Poku from Belgium’s RWDM Brussels.
Poku, 23, agreed to a contract through 2027-28 with a club option for the 2028-29 MLS campaign.
He recorded six goals in 31 appearances with the Belgian side from 2024-26.
“We are excited to welcome Kwasi to our group,” Vancouver sporting director Axel Schuster said in announcing the deal on Thursday. “Kwasi is a young, talented Canadian international who brings pace, intelligent movement, and finishing ability to our attack. He has the qualities and mindset to continue his development, and we are excited to help him take the next step in his career while strengthening our team.”
Poku previously played three seasons with Forge FC in the Canadian Premier League, posting 13 goals and four assists in 70 appearances (47 starts) from 2022-24.
“I’m very excited to be joining Whitecaps FC, for me, it feels like a fresh start and it’s great to be back in my home country,” said Poku, who is from Ontario. “I can’t wait to make my debut at BC Place and meet all of you. I understand this is a winning team, and I want to continue that legacy and make even more history.”
Poku earned his first senior cap for the Canadian national team on Oct. 15, 2024, coming off the bench in a 2-1 win in a friendly against Panama.
–Field Level Media
Mets deal reliever A.J. Minter to Twins
Report: Karl Ravech not quite finished at ESPN
