Sports
Guardians send All-Star Parker Messick to mound vs. Diamondbacks
Jul 21, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians pitcher Parker Messick (77) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Winners in seven of their past 10 games, the Arizona Diamondbacks will look to build upon their momentum as the calendar turns to August and they try to claim the weekend series Saturday against the host Cleveland Guardians.
The Diamondbacks’ bats had little bite to them for most of Friday’s game, but they used a big eighth inning to rally for a 4-1 win in the opener of the three-game series. They won despite managing only six hits and nine total baserunners.
Arizona’s top of the lineup played a big role in the win, as Corbin Carroll drew a walk to load the bases and Geraldo Perdomo, Gabriel Moreno and Ketel Marte each produced run-scoring singles.
“I put it on those guys,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said after the win. “I ask a lot of them, externally and internally, and they accept that challenge. It’s been a little inconsistent at times… but when they do things like they did tonight, we’re capable of putting up four runs on anybody.”
Moreno is one of the hottest hitters in the majors, with an on-base streak of 27 straight games. When you factor in just his starts, the 46-game on-base streak is a franchise record.
Despite being only a game over .500, Cleveland is just three games behind the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central and are tied with division rival Minnesota for the AL’s final wild-card spot. The Guardians are doing that despite having the lowest batting average (.229) and slugging percentage (.367) in the big leagues.
The Guardians managed just three hits and five walks in Friday’s loss. They had only one baserunner in the final four innings, which helped keep Arizona in the game despite a very good outing from Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee.
“We just, unfortunately, were not able to get enough run support for him,” said Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt, whose team is just 3-7 in its past 10 games.
Rookie Chase DeLauter leads the Guardians with a .277 average, but the designated hitter/outfielder is just 3-for-19 (.158) in his past six games. He also has just one extra-base hit — a double — in his past nine games.
The Diamondbacks also are right in postseason contention, holding the second wild-card spot in the NL.
The teams will start a couple of rookie left-handers on Saturday.
Kohl Drake (0-0, 5.00 ERA) will make his third start for the visitors. In his most recent appearance at Washington last Sunday, he pitched four innings and gave up four earned runs on five hits and a pair of walks in a 10-7 loss to the Nationals.
Parker Messick (8-6, 2.59) has pitched very well of late, having allowed just five runs (four earned) over his last four starts, a span of 24 1/3 innings.
However, he was just 1-1 in those games. The loss came in his most recent start, on the road Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Over 7 2/3 innings, Messick allowed just a run on six hits and no walks, but the Rays one-hit the Guardians in the 1-0 setback.
Messick made his big-league debut last year against the Diamondbacks in Phoenix. He threw 6 2/3 innings on Aug. 20, and he allowed one run on seven hits and a walk. He struck out six, departed with the lead, but did not get a decision as the Diamondbacks rallied to win 3-2 in 10 innings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Versatile Taysom Hill could find reunion with Broncos' Sean Payton
Jan 4, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill (7) runs against Atlanta Falcons linebacker Divine Deablo (0) and cornerback C.J. Henderson (39) during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Taysom Hill’s nine-season tenure with the New Orleans Saints is over and former coach Sean Payton could have a landing space for him.
Payton and the Denver Broncos are reportedly interested in bringing in the jack-of-all-trades Hill to discuss a reunion in the Mile High City.
Payton coached Hill in New Orleans from 2017-21 and successfully unleashed his versatility as a receiver, quarterback and rusher.
Hill, who turns 36 next month, could factor in all three roles with the Broncos. He enters this season with 2,426 passing yards and 12 touchdowns against nine interceptions to go with a 7-2 record as a starter.
Hill has rushed for 2,551 yards, 34 touchdowns and recorded first downs on 179 on his 489 career rushing attempts.
As a receiver and tight end, Hill has 110 receptions for 1,034 yards and 11 scores. He accumulated first downs on 48 of his catches.
Hill also has 489 kickoff return yards during his career but it is highly unlikely he would be utilized in that role again.
With Bo Nix coming off ankle surgery, Hill could serve as the running quarterback in short-down situations and help Nix protect the ankle. Jarrett Stidham, who started the AFC Championship Game loss to the New England Patriots in place of the injured Nix, is currently the No. 2 quarterback.
Hill was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent out of BYU in 2017 before being released shortly before the start of the season and getting scooped up by New Orleans.
He passed for 43 touchdowns and rushed for 32 in parts of five seasons in Provo.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Angels scratch RHP Jose Soriano from Saturday start vs. Brewers
Jun 30, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jose Soriano (59) pitches to the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Angels scratched right-hander Jose Soriano from his scheduled start against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.
Baseball Operations Consultant John Mozeliak released a statement on the decision:
“Today, Jose Soriano will not make his scheduled start. With the trade deadline on Monday and the uncertainty of the next 48 hours, we decided to take a prudent approach and see where these next few days lead us.”
Soriano, 27, has posted a career-low 3.29 ERA this season through 22 starts.
For his career, he has a 3.72 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 432 strikeouts in 113 games (73 starts).
The right-hander is under contact through 2028 and carries a salary of $2.9 million this season. So, he should be an appealing trade option for many teams at the deadline.
The Angels already made a move as “sellers” by shipping right-hander Chase Silseth and catcher Logan O’Hoppe to the Texas Rangers for minor league infielder Angel Arredondo.
–Field Level Media
Sports
UFC Belgrade: Uros Medic enjoys perfect Serbia homecoming with TKO
Jul 31, 2026; Belgrade, Serbia; Uros Medic during weigh ins for UFC Fight Night at Belgrade Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-Imagn Images UFC Belgrade: Uros Medic has perfect Serbia homecoming at UFC Fight Night
Serbian native Uroš Medic survived an early knockdown before rallying to stop Daniel Rodriguez via TKO just 30 seconds into the opening round of Saturday’s five-round, non-title UFC Fight Night welterweight main event at Belgrade Arena, electrifying his home crowd while tying the longest active knockout streak in the UFC at four fights.
After absorbing an initial knockdown, Medic (14-3 MMA) countered with a crisp left-hook, right-hand combination, sending Rodriguez (20-6 MMA) to the canvas while connecting with a kick to the gut before closing the deal with strikes to secure a dramatic victory on home soil.
An emotional Medic, who returned to Serbia for the first time in a decade, broke down in tears post-fight as the Belgrade crowd chanted his name.
“We got it done. Now I just want to cry. I missed home so much,” Medic said. “…I have so many words, but I don’t think we have enough time tonight. I’m gonna cook the rest of this division. With you guys by my side, we’re gonna bring the belt back to Serbia.
“I love you everybody. This was an amazing night. I’m finally home.”
Following the victory, Medic called out Carlos Prates and former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards for potential future matchups.
Saturday’s event also made UFC history, breaking an all-time organization record with 10 finishes across the card, surpassing the previous record of nine.
Undefeated light heavyweight Navajo Stirling (11-0 MMA) earned the biggest victory of his career on Saturday, stepping in on short notice to stop former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz (29-12-2 MMA) via first-round TKO in the co-main event.
Stirling-who took the fight after original opponent Bogdan Guskov stepped up to face Magomed Ankalaev last week in Abu Dhabi – connected with a crisp left hook before establishing dominant ground-and-pound on the mat to force the stoppage at the 2:56 mark of the opening frame.
Austrian former light heavyweight Aleksandar Rakic (15-6 MMA) successfully made his heavyweight debut, keeping the fight mostly on the feet and keeping Poland’s Marcin Tybura (27-12 MMA) off-balance en route to a unanimous decision. All three judges scored the bout 30-27 for Rakic, who snapped a four-fight losing streak to secure his first victory since March 2021.
Swiss middleweight Robert Valentin (13-6 MMA) weathered a wild, wrestling-heavy opening frame before locking in a guillotine choke to submit local favorite Duško Todorovic (13-7 MMA) at the 4:14 mark of the opening round.
Gilbert Urbina (8-5 MMA), an American middleweight, stunned the Belgrade Arena crowd on Saturday, overwhelming Slovakia-based Vlasto Cepo (14-4 MMA) with an explosive display of volume striking in their middleweight bout. Urbina wasted no time establishing his offense, overwhelming Cepo early and forcing a TKO stoppage due to strikes at the 1:01 mark of the opening round to secure a statement victory on foreign soil.
French promotional newcomer Noah Gugnon (10-2 MMA) made a definitive statement to kick off the main card at the Belgrade Arena, making quick work of Montenegrin lightweight Miloš Janicic (19-4 MMA) on Saturday. Gugnon immediately targeted
Janicic’s lead leg with brutal low kicks, destabilizing his opponent before seamlessly transitioning the action to the canvas. Once on the floor, Gugnon locked in a tight rear-naked choke, forcing the tap at the 1:21 mark of the opening round. The victory extends Gugnon’s professional winning streak to six fights, with all six coming by way of finish, while successfully launching his career inside the Octagon.
The UFC returns to Las Vegas for a Fight Night event next Saturday from the META Apex. It continues a stretch of events through Oct. 24 with UFC 333, including a return to Los Angeles for the first time since 2018 with UFC 331 on Sept. 19.
–Field Level Media
Versatile Taysom Hill could find reunion with Broncos' Sean Payton
Angels scratch RHP Jose Soriano from Saturday start vs. Brewers
