Sports
Slugger Hunter Goodman, Rockies strive to slow down Nationals
Jul 19, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman (15) swings the bat in the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman was snubbed from last week’s Home Run Derby, but he already is making a case for next year’s event.
Goodman has a team-high 30 homers for the Rockies, who face the Washington Nationals in the opener of a three-game series on Monday in Denver.
Washington took two of three from the Athletics over the weekend to move two games back from the final National League wild-card spot.
“These guys in the clubhouse have done a lot to get to this point that we are at today,” Nationals manager Blake Butera said. “We still have a lot of work that needs to be done, but overall, I’m happy with the way these guys come out ready to play every single day.”
Despite owning the NL’s worst record (40-61), the Rockies have provided several reasons for optimism. The team boasts a promising young core led by Goodman, right fielder Troy Johnston and first baseman TJ Rumfield.
Goodman hit three home runs in a game for the second time this season and drove in five runs in the Rockies’ 9-6 loss to the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.
“His body looks like it’s flowing right. He looks dangerous. He just looks in-sync,” Colorado manager Warren Schaeffer said. “You can see the confidence seep out of him.”
The 26-year-old Goodman has five multi-homer games this season and is batting .257 with 56 RBIs.
Another player who could be considered for next year’s Home Run Derby is Washington shortstop CJ Abrams, who hit his career-high 21st homer in a 5-2 victory over the host Athletics on Sunday.
Abrams started at shortstop for the NL in the All-Star Game, but he said that wasn’t even his most memorable moment of the week.
“My favorite part was probably the Home Run Derby,” Abrams said. “It was fun to watch.”
The pitching matchup for the series opener features a pair of left-handers as Washington’s Andrew Alvarez (2-3, 4.04 ERA) faces Colorado’s Kyle Freeland (2-8, 7.36).
Alvarez, 27, is set to make his first career start against the Rockies. He has appeared in 13 games this season, including six as a starter.
Alvarez last pitched on July 12, when he replaced starter Cade Cavalli in the seventh inning and allowed three runs over two frames in a home loss to the New York Yankees.
Control has been an ongoing issue for Alvarez, who has walked 22 batters in 49 innings this season. He owns a 4.99 ERA in eight games (three starts) at home this season compared to a 2.45 mark in five games (three starts) away from Nationals Park.
The Rockies will counter with Freeland, who allowed four runs with nine strikeouts over six innings in a 4-2 road loss to the San Francisco Giants on July 11.
“Kyle was excellent,” Schaeffer said. “He was efficient. He attacked the strike zone. His fastball was really good. His changeup was really good. He just felt like he was in command of the game.”
Freeland, in his 10th major league – all with Colorado — is one win away from securing his 68th career victory, which would tie him with German Marquez for third in franchise history. Jorge De La Rosa (86) and Aaron Cook (72) sit atop the list.
Freeland, 33, is 5-3 with a 2.14 ERA in 10 career starts versus Washington.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: NFL analyst Ryan Clark laid off by ESPN
Dec 29, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; ESPN MNF broadcaster Ryan Clark shown on set prior to the game between the Los Angeles Rams against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images In the first of another round of layoffs at ESPN, the network parted ways with NFL analyst and former NFL standout Ryan Clark on Monday.
The move occurred as Clark, who has been with ESPN for 11 years, was on the air during “NFL Live.” Sources told The Athletic that Clark was told of the decision during the broadcast and the outspoken 13-year former NFL safety did not finish the program.
Clark’s departure had been rumored since February and those rumors ramped up last week, according to The Athletic.
The Emmy-Award winning Clark was earning about $2 million per year.
ESPN sources told Sports Business Journal the move was planned for Tuesday, but the network was receiving media inquiries and feared the news would leak out before they could inform Clark.
Disney, the parent company of ESPN and the NFL Network, is expected to cut ties with additional on-air ESPN personnel, and a larger number of NFL Network employees, as soon as Tuesday.
ESPN acquired NFL Network in February, giving the NFL a 10% stake in ESPN. The deal was valued at approximately $3 billion.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Fresh off extension, Connor Bedard eyes Blackhawks' playoff return
Apr 13, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) looks to pass the puck against the Buffalo Sabres during the first period at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Connor Bedard doesn’t know exactly what he’ll be able to do physically when the Chicago Blackhawks open training camp in the fall.
The young star forward is sure of one thing, though. Chicago is interested in nothing other than getting back to the playoffs for the first time since the turn of the decade.
“We want to take a big step this year. We want to be a playoff team and that’s our only goal,” Bedard said Monday in his first meeting with reporters since signing a five-year, $75 million contract extension Saturday.
Bedard, who turned just 21 on Friday, was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2023 and the Calder Memorial Trophy winner the ensuing season as the NHL’s rookie of the year.
Hailed as the top prospect to enter the league since Connor McDavid, Bedard has played three solid seasons for the Blackhawks, collecting career highs in goals (30), assists (45) and points (75) in just 69 games in 2025-26.
One thing the Blackhawks have yet to produce in the Bedard era is a winning season. But they have climbed from 52 points in Bedard’s rookie season to 61 in 2024-25 to 72 last year.
The playoff drought reached six years, dating back to the end of Patrick Kane’s tenure in town. Bedard, though, likes what his franchise did to improve this offseason, starting with the acquisition of Colorado Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram.
“We’ve had a great, great summer,” Bedard said. “Obviously getting Bo, he’s someone who’s going to be one of the best D-men in the league. He’s always shown that, but when you play behind Cale (Makar) and (Rasmus) Dahlin (with the Sabres), it’s not easy to take their spots, so just for him to have that opportunity to be that one and prove himself in that way and he’s going to do it. He’s one of the most skilled players in the league.”
He also pointed to the additions of veteran forward Jordan Greenway and defenseman Ian Cole, among others.
But one more potential signing would be the biggest splash of all in Chicago: a reunion with Kane.
After the Blackhawks traded Kane to the New York Rangers late in the 2022-23 campaign, the highest-scoring U.S.-born player in NHL history went on to play three seasons with the rival Detroit Red Wings. Kane, still producing goals at 37, is one of the top free agents still available.
“I don’t know what I can say to persuade his decision, but we’d all be so excited to have a player like that but also a guy like that.
“I can’t imagine his first game back at (Chicago), just the reaction he’d get and how much juice that would bring not only to our team but our fans as well. That would be incredible to get to play with him and learn from him.”
Kane underwent surgery for a left shoulder injury on July 8 and was given a four-month timetable for his return. That would place him back on the ice in early November; the regular season begins in late September rather than the usual October start due to the expansion to an 84-game schedule.
Kane didn’t rule out beating the four-month timeline.
“We’ll see,” he said. “… I’m just going to do everything I can day-to-day to try to get back as quick as possible.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Former Bucs S Jordan Whitehead cleared to play
Sep 29, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead (3) warms up before a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets safety Jordan Whitehead, whose career has been put on hold since he was injured in a two-vehicle car crash in early 2025, has been cleared to resume football activities, per a Monday report from NFL Network.
A member of Tampa Bay’s 2020 Super Bowl-winning squad, Whitehead was cleared to restart his career following neck surgery by his surgeon and the Philadelphia Eagles’ spine specialist Alex Vaccaro.
The veteran safety has already received some interest from teams, working out for the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans.
Whitehead, 29, has been out of football since he was seriously injured in the automobile crash on Jan. 4, 2025. A former fourth-round pick of the Bucs in 2018, Whitehead spent two years with the Jets in 2022-23 before returning to Tampa Bay in 2024.
He has career numbers of 11 interceptions, 557 tackles and 45 passes defensed in 105 games (101 starts).
–Field Level Media
Report: NFL analyst Ryan Clark laid off by ESPN
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