Sports
World Series star Trey Yesavage rejoins Blue Jays to face Red Sox
Feb 11, 2026; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage (39) throws a bullpen session for spring training practice at Blue Jays Player Development Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage will try to duplicate his magic from late in 2025 when he makes his season debut Tuesday night against the visiting Boston Red Sox.
The Blue Jays dropped the opener of the three-game series against Boston 5-0 on Monday when they were held to two hits.
Yesavage began the season on the injured list with impingement in his right shoulder. He completed a minor league rehabilitation assignment, splitting four games (three starts) between Class-A Dunedin and Triple-A Buffalo, going 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA.
“He checked all of the boxes that we had hoped for,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “I wasn’t really looking at results, more looking at his stuff and the plan we had laid out since spring training.”
Yesavage went from Class-A to the majors in one swoop last season. He found himself back in the minors to start this season while working his way back to health, but this time he knew he would soon be back with Toronto.
“I think I’ve handled it well,” Yesavage told Sportsnet. “My mindset was kind of like how I was in the minors, play so they have to bring you up here and whatnot, so just still having that competitive nature and being able to prove that I should be here. The toughest part is it’s kind of slow. I wish I could have been up here sooner.”
In three regular-season starts in 2025, Yesavage went 1-0 with a 3.21 and 16 strikeouts in 12 innings. In the postseason, he posted a 3-1 mark with a 3.58 ERA in six games (five starts), including a 1-0 record and a 2.08 ERA in the World Series, when he struck out 12 and walked one in 8 2/3 innings.
Yesavage has not faced the Red Sox, who will start Payton Tolle (0-0, 1.50 ERA). The left-hander allowed one run in one inning in relief in his only appearance against Toronto, last Sept. 24.
Boston has won three straight for the first time this season, the past two for interim manager Chad Tracy, who replaced the fired Alex Cora.
Red Sox left-hander Ranger Suarez allowed one hit and one walk with a season-best 10 strikeouts in eight shutout innings on Monday. In three career appearances (two starts) against Toronto, he is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 17 1/3 innings.
“Today is who he is,” said Boston catcher Carlos Narvaez, who homered in the eighth inning. “That’s who has been the last five, six, seven years. We used all pitches, all locations, so that is fun.”
The Red Sox continued the process of reorganizing the coaching staff after six were let go with Cora’s departure.
One of the moves was shifting Jose David Flores from first base coach to bench coach, a position he held from 2022-24 at Triple-A Worcester, where Tracy was the manager.
“One of our most experienced guys left here as far as baseball knowledge,” Tracy said before the game on Monday. “So having him with me, next to me, as well as (pitching coach) Andrew Bailey in there, is important. He’s a great baseball man and one of my closest friends, so the combination of those two and having him by my side is huge.”
Pablo Cabrera will take over as first base coach and Jack Simonetty will become an assistant hitting coach.
Toronto put starter Max Scherzer on the injured list on Monday due to right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation.
“Doctor’s order was just get rest,” Scherzer said on Monday. “There’s nothing structurally wrong.”
Chase Lee was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo, and he allowed the homer to Narvaez in a 1 1/3-inning outing during his Toronto debut.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Streaking Quakes may be without key player at Toronto
Apr 25, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; San Jose Earthquakes forward Timo Werner (11) celebrates after scoring against St. Louis CITY SC in the second half at Energizer Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images The league-leading San Jose Earthquakes may not be at full strength Saturday afternoon as they look to continue the best run in franchise history at Toronto FC.
The Earthquakes (9-1-0, 27 points) extended their club-record winning streak to eight matches in all competitions when they eliminated Minnesota United FC in the Round of 16 at the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup by a score of 4-2 on Tuesday. Jack Skahan, Beau Leroux and Niko Tsakiris each scored in a seven-minute stretch to rally the Quakes from a 2-1 deficit.
It wasn’t all good news for head coach Bruce Arena’s side. April’s MLS Player of the Month Timo Werner, who had played the full 90 minutes three days earlier against St. Louis, was forced off in the 34th minute with a hamstring injury and may not feature in the matinee at Toronto.
“We’re somewhat limited. It’s not like you take Timo off and the next guy can fill that void,” Arena admitted after match vs. Minnesota. “And how we manage it, it’s never perfect, and we try our best, but the part that you manage is how you work every day with the players and you give them the confidence to know that when their numbers fall, they’re ready to play.”
Toronto FC (3-3-4, 13 points) are dealing with their own injury problems in the midst of a four-match winless run.
Center-back Benjamin Kuscevic and midfielder Jose Cifuentes made for two more additions to TFC’s lengthy injury list in their 2-1 defeat to Atlanta United last Saturday. Designated players Djordje Mihailovic and Richie Laryea were among those absent. Deandre Kerr and Walker Zimmerman, who was away for the birth of his daughter, are slated to return.
“I feel like we just have to put our heads down and work and the guys who are available have to step up,” head coach Robin Fraser said on Thursday.
The fixture will mark the two teams’ first encounter in more than three years. Four of their last five clashes have ended in draws, dating back to August of 2018.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jack Adams Award finalists: Jon Cooper, Dan Muse, Lindy Ruff
Jan 24, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff coaches against the New York Islanders during the first period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper, Pittsburgh’s Dan Muse and Buffalo’s Lindy Ruff are the three finalists for the 2026 Jack Adams Award, the league announced Friday.
The award, which is presented annually to the top coach in the NHL as voted on by the National Broadcasters’ Association, will be announced at a later date.
Cooper, 58, guided the Lightning to a 50-26-6 record this season and a ninth consecutive playoff appearance.
A two-time Stanley Cup champion, Cooper has been a finalist for this award on two occasions (2013-14, 2018-19) — however he has yet to win it.
Muse, 43, succeeded in his first season as head coach of the Penguins, leading the club to a second-place finish in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins posted a 41-25-16 record (98 points), which represented an 18-point increase from the previous season.
Ruff, 66, helped the Sabres halt a 14-year playoff drought by guiding the club to a first-place finish in the Atlantic Division with a 50-23-9 record. He previously won the Jack Adams Award in 2005-06, during his first stint with the Sabres.
Spencer Carbery of the Washington Capitals won the award last season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cowboys sign 1st-rounder Caleb Downs, five other picks
Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Caleb Downs is selected by the Dallas Cowboys as the number eleven pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Dallas Cowboys signed six of their seven picks from the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday, including first-round selection Caleb Downs to his four-year rookie deal.
Downs, the 11th overall pick of the draft, will receive $28.95 million in fully guaranteed money that includes a $17.5 million signing bonus. The deal also includes a fifth-year team option.
The Cowboys traded up one spot with the Miami Dolphins to acquire Downs, a safety. Dallas has yet to sign its other first-round pick, edge rusher Malachi Lawrence, who was selected with the 23rd overall pick.
Downs, a two-time consensus All-American, was named the 2025 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Ohio State and took home the Jim Thorpe Award and Lott Trophy.
His career totals include 164 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, six interceptions and three forced fumbles in 44 games for Alabama (2023) and Ohio State (2024-25).
In addition to Downs, the Cowboys signed third-round linebacker Jaishawn Barham, fourth-round tackle Drew Shelton, fourth-round cornerback Devin Moore, fourth-round edge rusher LT Overton and seventh-round wide receiver Anthony Smith.
–Field Level Media
