Sports
Mariners craving consistency entering series with White Sox
May 2, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Emerson Hancock (26) throws against the Kansas City Royals during the fifth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images A pair of right-handers with stellar ERAs but few victories will face off on Friday as the Chicago White Sox host the Seattle Mariners in the opener of a three-game series.
Seattle’s Emerson Hancock (2-1, 2.59 ERA) and Chicago counterpart Sean Burke (2-2, 2.72) know what it takes to keep their teams afloat, though receiving consistent run support has been another story.
After winning two of his first three starts, Hancock enters on a streak of four consecutive no-decisions despite allowing eight earned runs in 24 innings over that span.
On Saturday, he had a career-best 14 strikeouts over seven innings while allowing one run with no walks, but the Mariners lost to visiting Kansas City 3-2 in 10 innings.
“Things happen. It’s just the game,” said Hancock, whose lone start against the White Sox came in 2024 when he allowed two runs over seven innings of a no-decision. “The good thing is, we’ve got another day tomorrow.”
Burke was similarly dazzling on Saturday, scattering four hits and one walk with eight strikeouts over six shutout innings at San Diego. The Chicago bullpen finished off the shutout to hand Burke the win.
In his previous outing on April 26, Burke delivered 7 1/3 shutout innings of bulk relief in a 2-1 loss over 10 innings against the Washington Nationals. Burke brings a streak of 14 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings into the game.
To White Sox manager Will Venable, the key for Burke on Saturday was “just a lot of strikes.”
“(It) was the slider early,” Venable said. “Got a ton of swing and miss. Had a really nice fastball that got him through the back end of his start.”
Burke will be making his first career appearance against the Mariners.
Seattle and Chicago both enjoyed off days Thursday. A day earlier, the Mariners used six shutout innings from Bryan Woo, a Julio Rodriguez home run and three Cole Young hits to defeat the Atlanta Braves 3-1.
The Mariners dealt the Braves their first series loss this season.
“You definitely want to build on it,” Woo said. “I think that’s the only thing really that we’re looking for now, is just consistency. We’ve seen some really good stretches, and the next series would just kind of lose that momentum a little bit. We’ve got to start piecing some games together, piecing some series together.
“Obviously, we still have a long ways to go, but just finding that rhythm and consistency series to series.”
Chicago has started to channel consistency of its own. The White Sox have won six of nine as they return to Rate Field for a nine-game homestand.
Still, the White Sox are looking to pick up the pieces after losing two straight games to the Los Angeles Angels to finish 3-3 on a West Coast road trip.
Chase Meidroth had two of Chicago’s four hits in an 8-2 loss Wednesday. Colson Montgomery doubled for the only extra-base hit.
“We are in a really good spot,” Venable said after the defeat. “Go out West and get three wins against the Padres and these guys, it’s good overall and a couple of those losses were really hard-fought games. Today got away from us a little bit.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
LIV on? Cam Smith given 'every assurance' league will survive
Apr 10, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Cameron Smith tees off on the 18th hole during the second round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images Former World No. 2 Cameron Smith said he has been given “every assurance” that LIV Golf will continue beyond 2026 as the league works to secure new funding sources.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund announced last month that it will not continue its financial support of the league beyond this season. Smith signed with the breakaway league in 2022, receiving a contract reportedly worth $140 million.
He is also the captain of the all-Australian team Ripper GC. LIV Golf’s Adelaide event has been among the league’s most popular stops, and he told Australia’s 10 News that the goal is “definitely” to have the event return in 2027.
Smith, along with fellow LIV Golf stars Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, turned down an offer to return to the PGA Tour earlier this year, saying in January that “I am here to stay, I’m here to support LIV.”
LIV CEO Scott O’Neil has stated confidence the league will survive in a “multi-partner” format. Whether that comes to fruition and what impact it would have on the league’s makeup remains to be seen.
“Since joining LIV, I’ve learned to live with, you know, speculation,” Smith said, while laughing at the notion that he might retire if the league folded. “I’m 32, so I’ve got a while yet.”
Smith has struggled to maintain his form while playing for LIV. His missed cut at the Masters last month was his sixth consecutive at a major. Despite LIV golfers earning some world rankings points for the first time in 2026, Smith sits at No. 235, having posted only two top-10 finishes through the first six events of the season.
However, Smith said his competitive fire remains strong as he prepared for LIV Golf Virginia ahead of next week’s PGA Championship.
“I want to win tournaments, I want to win majors,” Smith said. “It’s been a while since I’ve been, you know, truly competitive at the top of the leaderboard. So, the fire is really burning at the moment.
“It feels like I’m getting a lot of confidence back out in the golf once again, which I’ve struggled with.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Bryson DeChambeau: PGA players hold his Tour return fate
Bryson Dechambeau on the 14th hole during the third round of The 153rd Open Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images Wounds created by Bryson DeChambeau’s divorce from the PGA Tour and his active, outspoken role in a player-driven lawsuit in 2022 might not be fully healed.
The 32-year-old said he understands the lingering acrimony, specifically among players on Tour and not new CEO Brian Rolapp, could be a lasting roadblock to a potential reunion. But from his perspective, DeChambeau said he’s always willing to help settle differences with compromise.
“I think that there’s a way to solve any problem. It’s really about if the membership wants me back,” DeChambeau said on the Beyond the Clubhouse podcast on Thursday. “If they want me back, that’s really what it’s about. It’s not anybody, I don’t think it’s even Brian Rolapp or anybody at the top that’s an executive. It’s about the players — if they want me back — and, if not, I understand that.”
DeChambeau and other players who joined LIV Golf to sign massive contracts are less certain about future paydays. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund plans to end funding for all events and the league at the end of the 2026 season. DeChambeau said this week “your guess is as good as mine” as to whether he will receive payments due on the remainder of his contract beyond the current season.
That uncertainty is sparking DeChambeau to consider what might be next if LIV Golf hits a dead end.
Other than player concerns, DeChambeau said this week potential punishment by the PGA Tour as penance for his departure would be “quite unfortunate in my opinion, considering what I could do for them.”
“The egos need to get dropped,” DeChambeau said. “Everybody needs to come in with a level-headed playing field, with an opportunistic mindset to grow the game of golf. That’s why I came over here. That’s why I do what I do on YouTube.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cubs LHP Matthew Boyd out one month after knee surgery
Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd began the road to recovery following left knee surgery necessary to repair a meniscus tear suffered Wednesday playing with his kids.
Boyd was placed on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday and the Cubs are refraining from an official timetable for his return, but he’s likely to be ready to throw off of a mound in early June barring setbacks.
Manager Craig Counsell called Boyd’s injury innocent but “kind of unexplainable.”
Corbin Martin was designated for assignment on Thursday after his blown save against the Cincinnati Reds in Wednesday’s game. The Cubs recalled 6-foot-7 right-handed reliever Gavin Hollowell from Triple-A Iowa. Hollowell, 27, pitched in seven games with the Cubs last season and allowed five runs in 9 1/3 innings with seven walks and 10 strikeouts.
Boyd, 35, was on the IL from April 2-21 because of a left biceps strain. He is 2-1 with a 6.00 ERA, six walks and 31 strikeouts in 24 innings over five starts this season.
An All-Star for Chicago in 2025, Boyd is 62-78 with a 4.61 ERA in 218 career appearances (204 starts) for the Toronto Blue Jays (2015), Detroit Tigers (2015-21, 2023), Seattle Mariners (2022), Cleveland Guardians (2024) and Cubs.
Subtracting Boyd from the rotation, at least for a month, gives the Cubs three starting pitchers on the injured list. Boyd joins Justin Steele (left elbow) and Cade Horton (right elbow).
Martin, 30, allowed runs in three consecutive outings, surrendering four hits, four walks and two home runs in those games while facing 11 total batters. He has a 10.80 ERA without a decision in seven relief appearances this season.
–Field Level Media
LIV on? Cam Smith given 'every assurance' league will survive
Bryson DeChambeau: PGA players hold his Tour return fate
