Sports
Blue Jays blank White Sox, snap 3-game skid behind Shane Bieber's strong start
Jul 18, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Shane Bieber (57) throws a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images Shane Bieber pitched six strong innings Saturday afternoon and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Chicago White Sox 1-0.
Bieber (1-1) allowed three hits and two walks with six strikeouts in his fifth start of the season. George Springer’s RBI single in the fourth against Davis Martin (9-5) was the difference in the game.
Louis Varland pitched a perfect ninth with one strikeout to earn his 20th save and end Toronto’s three-game losing streak. The White Sox had won four straight.
The teams have split the first two of a three-game series, with the White Sox leading the season series 4-1.
During a pregame ceremony, the 1992-93 Blue Jays, who won back-to-back World Series titles, were honored. There was also the unveiling of a statue honoring Joe Carter’s ninth-inning World Series-winning homer in 1993.
Martin retired eight batters in a row before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled off the center field wall with one out in the fourth. Springer then grounded an RBI single up the middle to give the Blue Jays the lead.
Meanwhile, Bieber survived a leadoff double and a walk in the fourth and a leadoff double in the fifth.
The Blue Jays failed to capitalize on a single, a stolen base and a walk in their fifth.
Martin walked Guerrero to lead off the sixth before striking out the next two batters. Sean Newcomb replaced Martin and allowed Daulton Varsho’s double off the wall in right-center. Alejandro Kirk was intentionally walked to load the bases before Andres Gimenez grounded out to end the threat.
Martin allowed one run, four hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
Jeff Hoffman took over in the seventh from Bieber and pitched around a leadoff walk with two strikeouts and a groundout.
Chase Meidroth led off the White Sox eighth with a bunt single against Tyler Rogers. Pinch runner Luisangel Acuna was caught stealing and Rogers finished the inning with a strikeout and a flyout.
Toronto recalled right-hander Lazaro Estrada and left-hander Brendon Little from Triple-A Buffalo. Left-hander Adam Macko and right-hander CJ Van Eyk were optioned to Buffalo.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Wings' Paige Bueckers out vs. Liberty
Jul 19, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) and Los Angeles Sparks guard Erica Wheeler (17) react after a play during the second half at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images Dallas Wings star guard Paige Bueckers has been ruled out for Monday’s game against the New York Liberty in Arlington, Texas.
The Wings (17-8) announced the decision was based on “rest” for Bueckers, who was involved in a scary fall during the fourth quarter of her team’s 90-82 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday.
Bueckers was cleared from having a concussion following post-game evaluation and is not in concussion protocol, but is dealing with soreness, per the team.
As Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike was dribbling down the court, she was fouled and lost her balance. Ogwumike tumbled into the legs of Bueckers, who fell and appeared to hit the back of her head on the floor.
Bueckers, 24, finished with a game-high 25 points on 10-of-18 shooting — including 2-of-4 from 3-point range — as well as five assists and four rebounds in 32 minutes.
She boasts team-best averages in points (20.9) and assists (6.2) to go along with 4.2 rebounds in 24 games (all starts) this season.
Bueckers was named the WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2025, the same year she was selected by Dallas with the top overall pick of the draft out of UConn.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Injury-riddled Wings, Liberty tip off in rescheduled game
Jul 7, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Dallas Wings forward Jessica Shepard (32) and New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones (35) at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images The Dallas Wings will be chasing their seventh straight win when they host the slumping New York Liberty on Monday in Arlington, Texas, but they will be without the services of star guard Paige Bueckers.
Bueckers spent the final minutes of Sunday’s 90-82 home win over the Los Angeles Spark in the locker room after suffering an apparent head injury late in the fourth quarter.
On Monday, the Wings announced Bueckers was ruled out due to “rest” purposes. She was cleared from having a concussion following post-game evaluation and is not in concussion protocol.
As Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike was dribbling down the court, she was fouled and lost her balance after being tripped by Azzi Fudd. Ogwumike tumbled into the legs of Bueckers, who fell and appeared to hit the back of her head on the floor.
Bueckers, 24, finished with a game-high 25 points on 10-of-18 shooting — including 2-of-4 from 3-point range — as well as five assists and four rebounds in 32 minutes.
She boasts team-best averages in points (20.9) and assists (6.2) to go along with 4.2 rebounds in 24 games (all starts) this season.
“We worked hard for this win, and when Paige went down, it was all about the rest of us stepping up,” Ogunbowale said after the victory over Los Angeles.
Wings coach Jose Fernandez said Bueckers was in good spirits.
“She’s upset at Azzi because she said Azzi tripped her (Ogwumike) and took away P’s charge,” Fernandez said lightheartedly.
Monday’s game was rescheduled from July 16 because of travel difficulties for the Liberty, creating a home back-to-back for Dallas.
The Wings (17-8) enter Monday’s game carrying their longest winning streak in 11 years. Dallas has captured six straight games for the first time since the 2015 campaign when the franchise was in Tulsa, Okla.
In that season, the Wings (then known as the Shock) won eight straight outings early in the year and then six in a row before bowing out against the Phoenix Mercury in the Western Conference semifinals.
The Liberty (13-12) limp into Arlington on the heels of a 108-88 loss in Indianapolis to the Fever on Saturday. Breanna Stewart led the way with 26 points and eight boards for New York, while Jonquel Jones netted 13 points and Marine Johannes and Sabrina Ionescu each added 12.
Johannes sustained a left ankle injury in the game and has been ruled out for Monday’s game.
The Liberty jumped out to an 11-point, first-quarter lead and were up by four at halftime before succumbing in the second half. New York’s 17 turnovers which led to 30 Fever points had plenty to do with the loss.
“We don’t like where we’re at right now, but (here) we are,” Stewart said after the loss. “(We’re) playing with that, realizing that we’re in it. We’re in the trenches, and we can either keep sinking or we can dig ourselves out.”
New York has dropped six of its past seven games and eight of its last 10. The Liberty have trailed by at least 13 points at some juncture in six of their past eight games and has lost all six of those contests.
“We’re really mature about it,” Ionescu said. “It really hasn’t been too frustrating. Every team goes through it. During the process, kind of when you’re in it, it sucks, but I think everyone has a really good mindset of knowing it’ll pay off for us in the long run.”
Key New York players Satou Sabally (concussion protocol) and Leonie Fiebich (foot) have been ruled out for the game.
It is the teams’ third and final meeting of the season. Dallas took the first two matchups, both in Brooklyn, including an 88-77 decision on July 7 that started the Liberty’s current four-game losing streak.
–Field Level Media
Sports
MLB Best Bets: Jacob Misiorowski, Dylan Cease Lead Monday's Top Picks
Fatigue time is over for Jacob Misiorowski as the All-Star right-hander steps on the mound for the first time since July 7 when the Milwaukee Brewers face the visiting New York Mets on Monday night. Misiorowski missed his final start before the All-Star break due to a tired pitching arm and he also sat out the All-Star Game.
Misiorowski is one of the top pitchers in the National League and the Brewers will be a trendy postseason pick if the 24-year-old fireballer is healthy. It will be interesting to see if he is on a pitch count against the Mets.
Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays took a no-hitter into the ninth inning in his last start and he will look to silence the Tampa Bay Rays. We’ll also look at the Cincinnati Reds visiting the Seattle Mariners.
NEW YORK METS AT MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Misiorowski is 10-4 over 18 starts and leads the majors with 167 strikeouts and a 1.62 ERA while throwing 111 innings, close to last year’s combined 129 1/3 innings between the minor leagues and the Brewers. Those pitches that reach 105 mph put a lot of stress on the arm and his long-term chances of avoiding a serious arm injury are a constant fear to the Brewers.
Misiorowski has fanned 10 or more batters eight times this season as he tries to silence the New York bats that sit 25th in the majors with just 409 runs scored. Juan Soto is batting .290 with 21 homers and 52 RBIs but Francisco Lindor has played in just 43 games due to injuries and has just six blasts and 15 RBIs.
Free-agent signee Bo Bichette has been a bust for the Mets with a .253/.300/.370 slash line and trade acquisition Marcus Semien is hitting just .207. It is hard seeing New York doing much against The Miz as its miserable season continues.
Jacob Misiorowski to strike out 10 or more batters, +134 (DraftKings)
Our Current Best Offers
Channel debug: betting
TAMPA BAY RAYS AT TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Cease ranks second in the majors with 148 strikeouts and also fanned three in his one inning as American League starter and winning pitcher in the All-Star Game. He finished play before the break with 15 shutout innings in which he allowed four hits and struck out 20.
He put up a great performance while chasing his second career no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants on July 8 before Heliot Ramos led off the ninth with a solid single to center. Toronto has been a disappointment after losing in the World Series last year and sits in last place in the AL East heading into its 100th game of the season.
The Rays own the best record in the AL but have lost a season-worst five straight games so another Cease gem is possible. Tampa Bay will look for All-Star Nick Martinez to continue a strong season in which he has issued just 19 walks in 18 starts.
Teams to combine for under 7.5 runs, -115(DraftKings)
Our Current Best Offers
Channel debug: betting
CINCINNATI REDS AT SEATTLE MARINERS
The Mariners have won consecutive games to get back to .500 but have been season-long underachievers after losing to Toronto in seven games in the American League Championship Series last season. Seattle has guys named Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, Josh Naylor and Randy Arozarena on the roster but you will find surprise team leaders like Luke Raley (15 homers) and Cole Young (48 RBIs).
Raleigh has collapsed this season with a .163 average, nine homers and 29 RBIs after his monster 2025 season that included 60 homers and a second-place finish in the AL MVP race. Cincinnati is eight games under .500 and close to falling out of the National League wild-card chase in what would be a disappointing development after landing a wild-card spot last season.
Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott (5-5, 4.11) is having the worst of his four big league seasons but he’s capable of going on a strong finishing kick. He should find pitching in Seattle much to his liking despite losing in his lone appearance in the ballpark in 2024 when he gave up two runs on four hits over six innings, including homers to Raleigh and Mitch Garver.
Reds to win via Moneyline, +129 (DraftKings)
Our Current Best Offers
Channel debug: betting
