Sports
Red Sox place LHP Connelly Early (elbow) on 15-day injured list
Jun 30, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Starter Boston Red Sox pitcher Connelly Early (71) throws in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Jaiden Tripi-Imagn Images The Boston Red Sox placed starting pitcher Connelly Early on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday because of left elbow inflammation.
In other moves, the Red Sox activated left-hander Jovani Moran (elbow inflammation) from the 15-day IL, recalled lefty Alec Gamboa from Triple-A Worcester and designated right-hander Tommy Kahnle for assignment.
Early, 24, pitched on Tuesday, scattering three hits and two walks with five strikeouts over four innings before exiting in an 8-1 home loss to the Washington Nationals while experiencing left shoulder soreness.
“It’s tough,” Early said. “I thought I was throwing the ball really well. I felt really good going into the game, so just a little unfortunate thing that happened there.”
The rookie is 7-5 with a 3.44 ERA, 34 walks and 93 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings. He was scheduled for an MRI exam on Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury.
“Yeah, he comes out of the game. There’s soreness,” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said Wednesday. “He’s feeling better today, but it’s still a little sore. So with one more start remaining prior to the All-Star break — it’s not just the start right, it’s like, (are we really) going to have this guy go out in two days and throw a side? That’s not something we’re going to do with that kid.
“Connelly will tell you that he fought to not have it happen. But between that and having to use as much bullpen as we did and some of the moves we had to make to make sure we got arms, that’s an easy decision to make sure you take that out of his hands and do right by him.”
Early made his major league debut last September and is 8-7 with a 3.24 ERA, 38 walks and 122 strikeouts in 21 starts.
Boston selected Early in the fifth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Virginia.
Kahnle, 36, gave up four runs on four hits and one walk in one inning of Tuesday’s setback. He was 0-0 with an 8.00 ERA, six walks and five strikeouts in nine innings in his first season with Boston.
For his career, Kahnle is 11-19 with 17 saves and a 3.70 ERA in 464 games (all in relief) with six different teams since 2014.
Moran, 29, is 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA, 15 walks and 38 strikeouts in 33 innings over 21 games (three starts) this season. He is a career 3-5 with one save and a 3.94 ERA in 102 games (three starts) in parts of five seasons with the Minnesota Twins (2021-23) and Red Sox (2025-present).
Gamboa, a 29-year-old rookie, did not allow a hit, run or walk while recording three strikeouts against five batters in his two games after making his major league debut with Boston on May 5.
He was 2-3 with a 3.21 ERA, eight walks and 40 strikeouts in 42 innings over 13 games (six starts) at Worcester.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: England-Mexico start time Sunday moving due to storm risk
June 30, 2026; Mexico City, Mexico; Mexico’s Julian Quinones is thrown in the air in celebration by teammates after the match as Mexico qualify for the round of 16 stage of the World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Eloisa Sanchez-Reuters via Imagn Images The start time for the World Cup round of 16 match between England and host Mexico on Sunday is likely to move up to avoid inclement weather, according to multiple reports on Friday.
The kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. local time in Mexico City, 1 a.m. in the United Kingdom. FIFA has discussed moving up the kickoff six hours to 12 p.m. at Azteca Stadium, which would be 7 p.m. in the UK and 2 p.m. Eastern time, per the reports.
Mexico’s 2-0 victory over Ecuador in the round of 32 on Tuesday in Mexico City was delayed due to rain.
France’s group-stage match with Iraq on June 22 was paused under tournament safety rules when lightning strikes are detected within eight miles of the stadium, resulting in an automatic 30-minute delay to play.
England defeated the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2-1 on Wednesday in Atlanta to advance to the round of 16.
Fans of the Three Lions in Great Britain probably would prefer the earlier start time. Licensing laws were relaxed to allow pubs in the United Kingdom to stay open until 5 a.m. local time.
FIFA might also move the kickoff time for Brazil’s round of 16 match with Norway at 4 p.m. Eastern on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J., to avoid a potential overlap with the match in Mexico City.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Flyers sign Ducks center Leo Carlsson to $90 million offer sheet
May 6, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (91) scores a goal against Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (79) during the third period of game two of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Flyers announced Friday they have signed Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlson to a five-year, $90 million offer sheet that makes him the league’s highest-paid player.
Carlsson will make $18 million in average annual salary, bettering Minnesota Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov, who last September signed an eight-year, $136 million contract extension paying him an average of $17 million beginning next season. Kaprizov’s deal, the richest in league history, provides the forward the highest average annual salary since the NHL’s salary cap era began in 2005.
The Ducks have seven days to decide whether to match the Flyers’ offer. If they choose to let the 21-year-old Carlsson leave, then they will receive one Philadelphia first-round pick in each of the next four seasons as compensation.
Carlsson was the second overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft. The Karlstad, Sweden, native went straight to the NHL and has produced 61 goals and 80 assists over 201 regular-season games for the Ducks.
He had 67 points (29 goals, 38 assists) with a plus-4 rating in 70 regular-season games last season. During the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, Carlson contributed four goals and seven assists in 12 games.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Egypt top Australia on penalty kicks, advance to round of 16
July 3, 2026; Arlington, Texas, U.S.; Egypt’s Emam Ashour celebrates scoring their first goal with Egypt’s Omar Marmoush. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images Egypt converted all four of their penalty kicks to win a shootout with Australia 4-2 following a 1-1 draw, securing their first World Cup knockout-round victory on Friday in Arlington, Texas.
Mahmoud Saber, Ramy Rabia, Mohamed Salah and Hossam Abdelmaguid all deposited their attempts in the net past Mathew Ryan, who did not appear in this World Cup before subbing on for Patrick Beach late in extra time as a penalty-kick specialist.
Harry Souttar had the first try for Australia and cleared his shot into the stands. Jackson Irvine and Awer Mabil got their shots past Egypt keeper Mostafa Shoubir before Salah made a quick sprint at his ball and scored center-net while Ryan dove to his left.
Australia sent 18-year-old Colorado Rapids defender Lucas Herrington on for the fourth round, and his shot found the crossbar. That left Abdelmaguid to finish off Egypt’s deserved victory as Ryan guessed the wrong way again.
Emam Ashour got Egypt on the board in the 13th minute. The Pharaohs will face either Argentina or Cape Verde in the round of 16 on Tuesday in Atlanta.
Australia, who were also looking for their first-ever knockout triumph, failed to score a regulation goal in their final three matches of the tournament after opening with a 2-0 win over Turkey. Their lone tally Friday came on an own goal by Mohamed Hany.
During second-half stoppage, Beach parried Egypt’s best look over the bar, preventing Rabia’s point-blank header from becoming the game-winner. The 30 minutes of extra time, much like regulation, saw Egypt have far more of the ball and the chances as the Socceroos defended corner after corner.
A creative free kick was the precursor to Ashour’s goal. Salah flicked it back to Ashour for a running start, but his attempt was blocked by a defender. The ball stayed in the area and Ashour floated into good position while Egypt worked the ball the other way to Karim Hafez.
When Hafez uncorked a cross to the far side, Ashour was there to elevate for a strong header that split Beach and the post.
Hany — who needed treatment on his knee during the first half — was at the center of a scary moment in the early minutes of the second. After an aerial collision with Connor Metcalfe near the Egypt net, Hany fell in a heap and teammates immediately called for assistance. Trainers prepared a stretcher, but after Hany stood up and was given a concussion check, he was allowed to stay in the game.
The tying own goal came about five minutes later at 55 minutes, when Hany’s header could not direct a curling free kick from Aiden O’Neill away from net.
–Field Level Media
Reports: England-Mexico start time Sunday moving due to storm risk
Flyers sign Ducks center Leo Carlsson to $90 million offer sheet
