Sports
Orioles vie to continue win streak in matchup vs. Astros
Jul 17, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Baltimore Orioles left fielder Taylor Ward (3) runs the bases after hitting a two run home run against the Houston Astros in the eighth inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images The Baltimore Orioles will look to extend their season-best, five-game winning streak when they visit the Houston Astros on Saturday afternoon.
The Orioles maintained their winning ways when Taylor Ward hit a two-run, go-ahead home run in the eighth inning of a 3-2 victory in Friday night’s series opener in the first game for both teams following the All-Star break.
Baltimore has had some close results recently, including those that have been relatively low-scoring. Across their 11 games in July, they’ve had three 3-2 outcomes, going 2-1.
“For us, it’s being able to win these (low-scoring close games),” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said. “We have to be able to navigate these games.”
The Astros are 0-3 in one-run games this month. Since pulling to within two games of the .500 mark, Houston has lost four of its last five.
“At the end of the year, you want a chance, you just need to be close,” first baseman Christian Walker said. “Anybody can get hot at the right time.”
The Astros will use right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (7-5, 4.50 ERA) as their starting pitcher on Saturday. He’ll look to make amends for one of his rough recent outings, when he gave up eight runs in four innings in an 8-2 loss to the Washington Nationals on July 8. He has lost his past four decisions, last recording a victory on May 28 vs. Texas.
Still, his next win will give him a career-high total in his three seasons in the big leagues. He’s 1-1 with a 1.54 ERA in two career matchups against Baltimore while throwing 11 2/3 innings.
Left-hander Trevor Rogers (6-7, 4.48 ERA) will try to continue his strong stretch as a Baltimore starter. Across his last four outings, he has allowed two runs in 24 1/3 innings and has gone 3-0.
Rogers has faced the Astros twice in his career, going 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA covering 12 1/3 innings.
The Orioles have some interesting bullpen numbers, as seven relievers have at least one save this season. Ryan Helsley with eight is the only pitcher on the staff with more than four, but he’s on the injured list.
“The best thing about everyone in our ‘pen, they don’t care when they pitch,” Albernaz said. “They just want the ball and they want to help the team win.”
Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman has gone 34 consecutive plate appearances without a strikeout. He began play Friday with the second-longest active streak in the majors in that category.
The Orioles added infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand to the roster to replace infielder Blaze Alexander, who suffered a hand fracture when he was hit by a pitch Sunday in the final game prior to the All-Star break.
The Astros were active as well in setting up their roster for the first post-break series. They added outfielder Lucas Spence to the roster from Triple-A Sugar Land and reinstated pitcher Kai-Wei Teng from the injured list.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves return from break with a bang, dominate Rangers
Jul 17, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin (30) celebrates with shortstop Jim Jarvis (74) after a three-run home run against the Texas Rangers in the fourth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Drake Baldwin, Matt Olson and Austin Riley all homered and Chris Sale pitched seven scoreless innings to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 15-1 win over the visiting Texas Rangers on Friday in the opener of their three-game set.
It’s the eighth time this season Atlanta has scored double-digit runs and improved their record in Friday home games to 9-0. It was the most runs allowed by Texas this season.
Sale (10-6) became the 10th National League pitcher to reach double-digit wins. He allowed only two hits, never allowed a runner to reach third base and struck out six.
The left-hander’s fourth strikeout was the 2,700th of his career. Sale is No. 27 on the all-time strikeout list and needs 71 to catch Frank Tanana (2,773).
With Atlanta up 2-0 entering the fourth inning, Baldwin hit a 419-foot three-run blast into the Atlanta bullpen in right-center field. Olson followed one out later with a 420-foot solo homer into the right-field seats, his 26th of the season.
Baldwin was 3-for-4 with one walk, two runs and five RBIs. The Braves had 19 hits, with each player in the starting lineup getting at least one. Olson, Riley, Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II, Mauricio Dubon and Jim Jarvis each had two hits.
Rangers starter Cal Quantrill (3-2) was roughed up for six runs on 11 hits, both season highs, in four innings, causing his ERA to jump from 3.11 to 3.93.
Right-hander Emiliano Teodo followed with 1 2/3 innings and allowed two runs in his major league debut.
The Braves scored two runs in the second inning on RBI singles by Baldwin and Albies.
Atlanta added two more runs in the fifth to build an 8-0 lead. Jarvis had a run-scoring double and he came around to score on Baldwin’s single.
Harris just missed a grand slam in the seventh, settling for a three-run double off the wall, and scored on Dubon’s single.
Atlanta scored three times in the ninth off position player Kyle Higashioka, the team’s backup catcher. Riley hit his 10th homer and reliever Victor Mederos added a two-run single – the first hit of his career.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Shak Muhammad's late goal lifts Nashville SC over Atlanta United
Jul 17, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Atlanta United midfield Miguel Almirón (10) dribbles the ball against the Nashville SC during the first half at Geodis Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images Shak Muhammad scored in the 79th minute Friday night and Nashville SC stayed atop the East table with a 1-0 win over visiting Atlanta United.
Nashville (11-1-3, 36 points) was outplayed for a good chunk of the match but was able to generate the only clinical finish off a sudden buildup down the left side. Matthew Corcoran’s long pass found Alex Muyl, who crossed into the middle. Muhammad’s header to the left side of the net easily beat Lucas Hoyos.
Atlanta (3-10-2, 11 points) earned a 12-8 advantage in shots and put five shots on net to Nashville’s four. But All-Star goalie Brian Schwake turned in his seventh clean sheet of the season.
Schwake’s best save came in the 59th minute when Luke Brennan had a point-blank chance to initiate scoring. Brennan tried to chip the ball over Schwake from the top of the 6-yard box, but Schwake punched it over the crossbar.
That moment seemed like a microcosm of the season for both teams. Nashville has conceded just 11 goals in 15 matches, and Atlanta has managed only 14 goals in 15 fixtures. It marked the seventh time this year that Atlanta has been blanked.
Emmanuel Latte Lath had a chance to equalize for Atlanta in the second minute of stoppage time, but his shot from the left side sailed wide of the goal.
Atlanta exerted a surprising amount of control over a scoreless first half, holding the possession advantage for the first half-hour. Nashville experienced some difficulty punching into Atlanta’s half of the field to create quality chances.
Despite losing midfielder Ajani Fortune in the 11th minute with a left hamstring injury, Atlanta still doubled Nashville in shots (6-3) and put two shots on frame to the Coyotes’ one.
Atlanta’s best chance came in the 43rd minute, but Enea Mihaj’s shot from the center of the box was easily turned away by Schwake. Hoyos got Atlanta to the half with a clean sheet by punching out a free kick in stoppage time.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braden Montgomery's 4 RBIs help White Sox pound Blue Jays
Jul 7, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Colson Montgomery (12) reacts after hitting a fly ball against the Boston Red Sox during the eighth inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images Braden Montgomery had four RBIs and Colson Montgomery added three RBIs Friday night as the visiting Chicago White Sox defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 12-4.
Sam Antonacci hit a two-run home run for the White Sox in the opener of a three-game series that followed the All-Star break. Reliever Tyler Schweitzer (1-0) allowed one infield hit and a walk over the final three innings to earn his first major league win.
Luis Arias, George Springer and Brandon Valenzuela hit solo shots for the Blue Jays, who have lost all four games against the White Sox this season.
The White Sox took a 5-0 lead in the second against Spencer Miles (4-2).
Colson Montgomery and Andrew Benintendi started with singles. Kyle Teel blooped an RBI double to left. Braden Montgomery’s grounder to shortstop resulted in an out at third while Benintendi scored. Chase Meidroth stroked an RBI single to center then Antonacci homered to right on a 3-1 fastball.
Toronto scored once against Anthony Kay in the third. Ernie Clement was hit by a pitch and took third when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. lined a single off the glove of first baseman Munetaka Murakami. Kazuma Okamoto walked to load the bases. Clement scored on a fielder’s choice grounder to shortstop by George Springer.
Urias lined a homer into the Blue Jays’ bullpen in left on a first-pitch sinker with one out in the fourth.
Meidroth led off the fifth with a single to right and Adam Macko replaced Miles. Antonacci singled to left and Murakami walked to load the bases. Colson Montgomery cleared the bases with a double to left center.
Miles allowed six runs, six hits and no walks with four strikeouts in four-plus innings.
Kay allowed two runs, two hits and three walks with two hit batters and five strikeouts in four innings.
Springer homered to left on a 3-1 fastball from Trevor Richards with two out in the fifth. Valenzuela led off the home sixth with a homer to right against Richards on a 1-0 fastball.
Chicago took a 12-4 lead in the seventh. Miguel Vargas singled against Patrick Corbin and Colson Montgomery walked. The bases were loaded after Okamoto threw errantly to second on Randal Grichuk’s grounder to third. Braydon Fisher replaced Corbin with one out and allowed Braden Montgomery’s triple to right. Tristan Peters hit a sacrifice fly.
–Field Level Media
Braves return from break with a bang, dominate Rangers
Shak Muhammad's late goal lifts Nashville SC over Atlanta United
