Sports
Behind strong pitching, Guardians shut out Tigers in Game 1
Oct 5, 2024; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas (8) hits a three-run home run against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning in game one of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images CLEVELAND — Lane Thomas slammed a three-run homer to cap a five-run first inning as the Cleveland Guardians jumped all over the Detroit Tigers while notching a 7-0 victory on Saturday afternoon in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.
David Fry added a two-run double in the sixth inning as Cleveland cooled down the sixth-seeded Tigers, who stunned the No. 3 Houston Astros in the wild-card round. The No. 2 Guardians had a first-round bye.
Detroit had just four hits, including none in 4 1/3 innings against the Guardians’ bullpen. Cleveland pitchers totaled 13 strikeouts.
Game 2 is Monday in Cleveland.
The Tigers used Tyler Holton (0-1) as an opener for the second straight game, and the strategy was quickly foiled when he didn’t retire any of the four batters he faced.
Holton allowed a double to Steven Kwan and walked Fry to open the game. Jose Ramirez then hit a bouncer right down the third base line that Zach McKinstry couldn’t field for an error as Kwan scored.
Josh Naylor then stroked an RBI single through the right side to make it 2-0, ending Holton’s outing. Reese Olson entered, and Thomas ripped a first-pitch slider over the wall in left-center to make it 5-0.
The blast came in Thomas’ first career postseason at-bat.
“I had faced him earlier on in the season before I got here,” said Thomas, who was acquired from the Washington Nationals at the trade deadline. “And I thought in that situation that I was either going to get a fastball kind of in off the plate or something soft that I could hit in the air and at least score that run from third. So I kind of picked one or the other and got the one I was looking for and put a good swing on it.”
The quick start was fueled by Cleveland’s aggressive approach.
“You try to cause chaos on offense, and our guys did that … just trying to make things happen,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “We get the break in the first inning, but our guys kept their heads down, and they’re running hard. It’s who we are. We’re always going to play hard until the last out is recorded.”
The Guardians added on in the sixth inning. Cleveland had two on and two out when Fry lined a two-run double into the left field corner off Ty Madden to make it 7-0.
By then, the Guardians’ lead appeared nearly insurmountable to the Tigers.
“They punch you with five in the first, it’s hard to overcome,” Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said. “We never recovered.”
In the fifth, Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee was one out away from qualifying for the victory when he gave up a single to Parker Meadows and subsequently was removed. The right-hander allowed four hits and one walk and struck out six.
“The past three days felt like there was a lead block in my stomach,” Bibee said of his nerves. “But I think once I kind of got through that first inning, I felt like it was a nice weight off the shoulders.”
Cade Smith (1-0) retired the next four batters. Tim Herrin and Hunter Gaddis each pitched a hitless inning before Emmanuel Clase finished up in a non-save situation.
“This is a five-game series for a reason,” Hinch said. “We’re going to see a lot of this bullpen and the more looks you can get, the better. We’re trying to do anything we can to make it a game.”
Olson gave up one run and three hits in five innings for the Tigers. The right-hander struck out four and walked one.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Phil Mickelson out of LIV Virginia, PGA Championship status uncertain
Aug 22, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Phil Mickelson of HyFlyers GC walks the course during the quarterfinals of the LIV Golf Michigan Team Championship at The Cardinal at Saint John’s Resort. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images Phil Mickelson will miss this week’s LIV Golf Virginia tournament and his status for next week’s PGA Championship is uncertain, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.
The six-time major winner has only participated in one event on the 2026 LIV Golf schedule due to a family health matter.
Mickelson, 55, finished T48 at LIV Golf South Africa in March before missing last month’s Masters, where he is a three-time champion.
Scott Vincent will replace the HyFlyers GC captain for this week’s LIV Golf tournament at Trump National Golf Club in Washington, D.C.
As a two-time winner, Mickelson has a lifetime exemption into the PGA Championship. This year’s tournament will be held from May 14-17 at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jon Rahm remains Ryder Cup eligible after DP World Tour deal
Apr 9, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Jon Rahm tees off on the fifth hole during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale-Imagn Images Jon Rahm will remain eligible to compete for Europe in the 2027 Ryder Cup with the Spaniard reaching an agreement with the DP World Tour regarding outstanding fines and requirements to retain tour membership.
Rahm, 31, did not provide specifics but said both sides made concessions and that the agreement will allow him to play the tour without accumulating more fines. He had also taken issue with the tour requiring LIV Golf members to play in a minimum of six events — two determined by the DP World Tour — to retain membership.
“The DP World Tour and Jon Rahm have come to an agreement on conditional releases to play in conflicting tournaments on LIV Golf during the remainder of its 2026 season,” the DPWT said in a statement obtained by bunkered.co.uk.
“This involves payment of all outstanding fines accrued from 2024 to date, along with participation in agreed DP World Tour tournaments (outside the Majors) in the remainder of the 2026 season.”
Eight LIV Golf players had previously agreed to drop their appeals, pay pending fines to the DPWT and play in the mandatory minimum of six events rather than the typical four required. Rahm, who reportedly faced more than $3 million in fines, had balked at the conditions, saying they amounted to “extorting players like myself.”
However, Rahm softened his stance a bit at last month’s Masters, saying that discussions remained ongoing and that he was confident he would compete in next year’s Ryder Cup in Ireland.
“We keep talking to the DP World Tour and trying to figure out a solution that works best,” Rahm said at Augusta National. “I didn’t think that going the legal route and going to court was good for anybody. So I have faith in us and the DP World Tour we’re going to find a good solution for both of us.”
It appears that solution has been reached, and Rahm is expected to compete on the DP World Tour later this year. He said at the Masters that he hoped to play in multiple events following the conclusion of the LIV Golf season in late August, mentioning the Irish Open, the Spanish Open, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and “maybe even the (Alfred) Dunhill” as DPWT events he is looking forward to potentially playing.
–Field Level Media
Sports
LIV's Thomas Pieters: Rather retire than return to PGA Tour
Apr 4, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Thomas Pieters plays his shot from the 18th tee during the first round of the LIV Golf Miami golf tournament at Trump National Doral. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Belgium’s Thomas Pieters said he won’t return to the PGA Tour if the financially challenged LIV Golf League shutters its doors.
“I’m definitely never going back to the PGA Tour,” he recently told host Dan Rapaport of the “Dan on Golf” YouTube channel. “I’ve never liked that life. And that’s not me having a go at the PGA Tour, it’s not for me. I tried it and I just wasn’t happy there. If (LIV) goes away, I’ll probably try and play some on the European Tour or I don’t know. I really don’t know.”
Pieters, 34, joined the PGA Tour in 2017 and made 53 starts, with his best finish a runner-up effort at the Genesis Open in 2017. He has six wins on Europe’s DP World Tour.
He signed with LIV Golf in 2023 and currently plays for captain Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces GC. He finished T4 at the 2026 season opener at Riyadh in February and third at LIV Golf Hong Kong in March.
Pieters said he was “ready to retire” if LIV Golf had decided to “pull the plug” after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund announced plans to cut off funding.
“The atmosphere was really grim. I had enough of it after 3-4 hours, everybody talking about it,” he said. “I’m not fussed about it at this point because I feel like I still have a duty to focus on these next six, seven tournaments on LIV and then we’ll see. They’re obviously trying to get it together next year. We’ll see.”
Pieters, a member of the 2016 European Ryder Cup team, said he will make a decision about his future after he has more information from LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil.
“We are just guessing right now,” Pieters said. “But if we’re playing for $5 million next year or I could play on the DP World Tour for $3 million but be close to home that’s something I’d have to look at it when it comes. Possibly there’s guys going. But I think that’s up to Scott and his team to get this thing together and we’ll just have to find out.
“… Scott is telling us that he’s going to a broader market and trying to fund this for next year. I guess it’s a massive challenge. But we just have to wait and see.”
–Field Level Media
Phil Mickelson out of LIV Virginia, PGA Championship status uncertain
Jon Rahm remains Ryder Cup eligible after DP World Tour deal
