Sports
Tigers' Jack Flaherty, Rangers' Kumar Rocker have momentum after rough starts to season
Jun 28, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Jack Flaherty (9) pitches in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Following a short stint on the injured list, Detroit Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty didn’t allow a run in his return. He’ll look to build off that outing when his team plays the middle contest of a three-game series against Texas on Saturday afternoon in Arlington, Texas.
Flaherty recorded nine strikeouts in his five-inning start against the visiting Houston Astros on Sunday. The only negative was that Flaherty required 94 pitches to get that far. The Tigers wound up losing 7-5 in 10 innings.
“Still needed a better job to find a way to get some quick outs. Some quick outs, quicker ABs,” said Flaherty, who was on the injured list due to a left peroneal strain, a tendon injury along his lower leg. “They did a good job of getting the two strikes, and fouling some pitches off and making at-bats go a little bit longer.”
It was just the second time this season Flaherty (1-8, 4.97 ERA) had gone at least five innings without giving up a run. He started against the Rangers on May 1 and was pulled after 3 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits while issuing three walks.
In five career starts against Texas, Flaherty is 1-1 with a 4.18 ERA.
After starting their road trip with a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees, the Tigers lost the opener of this series, 10-4, on Thursday. The teams didn’t meet on Friday due to the Australia-Egypt World Cup match played at nearby AT&T Stadium.
Detroit trailed 5-0 before fifth-inning homers by Colt Keith and Hao-Yu Lee cut the deficit to two runs. The Tigers’ bullpen failed to keep them within striking range.
“We’re chasing it from behind. That’s a tough recipe, but we did give ourselves a chance,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “They were able to get out of it and then tack on runs.”
The Rangers’ victory was their seventh in the last eight games and gave them at least a share of the AL West lead for the fifth straight day. Their run total on Thursday matched their season high.
“At the end of the day, everybody in here wants to win,” said Texas outfielder Evan Carter, who went 2-for-2 with a homer off the bench. “I think everybody’s showing up in the field every single day, everybody’s got their own unique skill sets, and we go out there trying to compete and grind and do whatever we can to help the team win every single day. I think that’s a collective thing that everybody here feels. Nobody here is playing for themselves, and I think that shows on the field.”
The Rangers pounded out 17 hits despite not having Corey Seager, Wyatt Langford or Brandon Nimmo due to injuries. The Rangers are hopeful Nimmo can play this weekend. He sprained his AC joint when he slammed into a wall while making a catch on Sunday.
Kumar Rocker (2-6, 3.83) is slated to start on Saturday as fellow right-hander Cal Quantrill (3-0, 3.31), who has spent most of this season in a relief role, was pushed back to Sunday’s game.
Rocker has walked 31 batters and entered Friday tied for the major league high with six wild pitches in 80 innings over 16 games (14 starts) this season. He hasn’t won since May 19.
In his most recent outing on Sunday, Rocker threw six scoreless innings while allowing four hits and one walk and striking out five in a no-decision against the host Toronto Blue Jays.
“He’s on the attack really with the fastball today,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said after the game. “I thought his fastball command was one of the best he’s had in a while. Really kept (the Blue Jays) off guard throwing in and outside to righties and lefties. The slider is real; he can throw at any time to strike guys out.”
Rocker is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA and seven strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings over two starts against the Tigers. He faced host Detroit on May 2 and yielded five runs on seven hits in two innings in taking the loss.
Texas selected Rocker third overall in the 2022 MLB Draft out of Vanderbilt.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Agent: LeBron James would've joined Knicks if not for title
Feb 1, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket against New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images LeBron James would have taken his talents to Madison Square Garden next season had the building’s tenants not just won the NBA title, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul said.
Given the New York Knicks ended their 53-year NBA title drought last month, James and Paul have been left to examine their options with the former once again testing free agency. Paul, who also is James’ agent, used a whiteboard to dissect his client’s potential destinations during the latest episode of his “Game Over” podcast.
“If the Knicks hadn’t won, there would be no board,” Paul said. “He’d be going to the Knicks.”
That said, the Knicks are not out of contention to land James, who on Tuesday informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he will continue his NBA career elsewhere.
James, 41, has spent the past eight seasons with the Lakers, highlighted by helping the franchise win the 2020 NBA title.
Paul, however, knows James would come under fire if he joined the Knicks and inadvertently became the face of the defending champions.
“When LeBron comes onto your team, I don’t care if you just won a championship, I don’t care if you’ve been the best player — it’s different, man,” Paul said. “Jalen Brunson would have to literally pick up the phone and say, ‘Hey man, it’s no issue with me. It’s no issue with me.’ I’m not saying that would make his decision, but you’ve gotta respect that.”
The Philadelphia 76ers garnered Paul’s attention given their recent moves, namely acquiring star guard Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics for 36-year-old Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks.
“How could you not have the attention when you have (Tyrese) Maxey, (V.J.) Edgecombe, Brown and (Joel) Embiid?” asked Paul, who also noted James’ had worked with new 76ers president Mike Gansey during his previous stint in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets were solid contenders on the whiteboard, while the Golden State Warriors, Celtics, San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks also serve as potential candidates.
A four-time NBA MVP and the league’s all-time leading scorer, James just completed his record-setting 23rd NBA season. He officially became a free agent at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds this past season with the Lakers. The 22-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion is the all-time leader in games (1,622) and points (43,440).
–Field Level Media
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Braves signing Andrew McCutchen to minors deal
May 19, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Texas Rangers designated hitter Andrew McCutchen (4) on deck in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images The Atlanta Braves reportedly are signing Andrew McCutchen to a minor league deal, perhaps giving the 39-year-old outfielder one last path to a World Series.
McCutchen was released by the Texas Rangers on May 28 after batting .192 with one homer and five RBIs in 37 games and striking out 22 times in 73 at-bats.
The five-time All-Star and former National League MVP has appeared in 2,299 games and has been to the playoffs four times in his 18 seasons but has never made it beyond the divisional series.
McCutchen has 333 career homers, 2,280 hits, 1,157 RBIs and 220 steals to go with a .271 average with the Pittsburgh Pirates (2009-17, 2023-25), San Francisco Giants (2018), New York Yankees (2018), Philadelphia Phillies (2019-21) and Milwaukee Brewers (2022). The Pirates selected him with the 11th overall pick in the 2005 draft.
McCutchen grew up as a Braves fan and is expected to report to Triple-A Gwinnett, per reports.
Atlanta recalled Anthony Molina on Friday after optioning fellow right-hander James Karinchak to Gwinnett following Thursday night’s game.
The Braves also returned left-hander Danny Young from his rehabilitation assignment and reinstated him from the injured list while designating right-hander Ian Hamilton for assignment.
–Field Level Media
Sports
LIV golfer acknowledges league's future 'not looking great'
Aug 15, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, United States; Carlos Ortiz of Torque GC reacts to his tee shot on the 6th hole during the first round of LIV Golf Indianapolis. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
Carlos Ortiz admitted Friday that the future of LIV Golf looks bleak, now that the Saudi group that bankrolled it said it will stop paying the bills.
“It’s looking a little bit tough, hopefully there’s a way forward,” Ortiz said following his second round at the BMW International Open in Germany, a stop on the DP World Tour.
“I mean, I honestly don’t know all the situation, but it’s not looking great, obviously, as we all know. That’s a shame. I’ve really enjoyed my time playing all around the world and it’s been awesome playing with my team.”
Ortiz, a 35-year-old from Mexico, has one LIV Golf win (LIV Golf Houston, 2024) and one PGA Tour victory (Houston Open, 2020). He joined LIV in 2022.
He said Friday that should LIV cease operations after the 2026 season, he knows he will come through just fine.
“We’ll see what happens, you know, but whatever happens, I’m sure I’ll find a place to play and, for me, it’s just about playing golf,” said Ortiz, a member of the LIV team Torque GC. “If I can start coming to places like this and seeing new places, then it will be great. For me, whatever happens is totally fine.”
After 36 holes at the Golfclub Munchen Eichenried in Munich, Ortiz was in a three-way tie for second place on Friday at 10-under after back-to-back rounds of 67, one shot behind the leader.
Joaquin Niemann of Chile, captain of Torque GC, struck a much more hopeful tone when he spoke on Friday. He told bunkered.co.uk that he plans to honor his LIV commitment in 2027.
“I know for sure he (Scott O’Neil, LIV CEO) is doing the best job he can to raise the money and keep getting the product that we have — which I think is the best,” Niemann, 27, said.
“Coming and seeing the difference on DP (World Tour) to what LIV has, LIV is great. But, yeah, hopefully we can get the money and please the fans who hope we keep going.”
–Field Level Media
I found the best robot vacuums for every floor, budget, and level of laziness
Agent: LeBron James would've joined Knicks if not for title
