Sports
Astros' AJ Blubaugh set for big-league debut vs. Tigers
Feb 14, 2024; West Palm Beach, FL, USA; Houston Astros pitcher A.J. Blubaugh (69) works out during spring training at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Detroit Tigers right-hander Jackson Jobe, set for the seventh outing of his major league career, will be the more experienced starter on the mound when he faces the host Houston Astros on Wednesday afternoon.
The Astros are calling up their top pitching prospect, right-hander AJ Blubaugh, for his major league debut as they shoot for a three-game series sweep.
Blubaugh went 2-2 with 3.86 ERA in five games (four starts) for Triple-A Sugar Land this season, recording 28 strikeouts and 10 walks in 21 innings.
The 24-year-old Ohio native was a seventh-round pick out of Wisconsin-Milwaukee by the Astros in the 2022 draft. He has recorded 297 strikeouts and 112 walks over 268 1/3 innings in 65 appearances (44 starts) in the minors.
Blubaugh will start in place of right-hander Hayden Wesneski, who is getting extra rest between outings.
“We’re going to give him a couple of more days to recover from his last start,” Espada said of Wesneski, who is 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA through five starts. “Yes, he’s healthy. …
“I just want to make sure he plays catch, recovers well and I’ll make a decision on (whether he starts this weekend vs. the White Sox in Chicago).”
Wesneski has lasted at least five innings in each of starts for the Astros, who acquired him as part of the trade that sent Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs in December. Most recently, he threw a season-low 80 pitches while tossing five-plus innings of two-run ball in a 2-0 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Friday.
Jobe (2-0, 2.70 ERA) earned his second consecutive winning decision on April 18 against the Royals, allowing one run on five hits over five innings, but he hasn’t pitched since. That outing followed a 4-0 road win over the Minnesota Twins on April 12, when Jobe worked six scoreless innings. He made his major league debut on Sept. 25, 2024, and appeared twice as a reliever for the Tigers that month.
Jobe will be making his first career regular-season appearance against the Astros. He faced Houston in Game 2 of the 2024 American League wild-card series and surrendered two runs on two hits while recording one out in a no-decision during the Tigers’ 5-2, series-clinching win.
As the organization’s top pitching prospect, the Tigers are exercising caution in utilizing Jobe. However, the time between his starts was extended a bit beyond what they considered ideal.
“He’s more than ready to go,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “Poor guy, he’s been waiting and waiting and waiting. The best-laid plans were we loved the fact that we were going to get him extra rest. We didn’t know or intend for it to be this long. He will be eager for the day game. Day game after a night game has its own challenges. It will not be a challenge for Jackson.
“The work (between starts) is great. But I think the routine part of the season and the rhythm and being able to be in competition is important. That’s the one downside. He hasn’t competed in 10 to 12 days. It doesn’t mean it’s not an issue, but it will be fine once he gets back in rhythm.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
Oct 31, 2025; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Truck Series driver Tyler Reif (41) during the NASCAR Truck Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Tyler Reif was treated for heat exhaustion after Saturday night’s street race in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Reif, 18, was transported to an area medical facility after finishing 16th in the race in the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet. He was later released.
“Tyler and his family would like to express their gratitude to the NASCAR officials, track medical workers and the local medical facility staff for their care,” Niece Motorsports said in a release.
Reif made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series in 2025. Saturday’s race was just his third on the circuit, including a 17th-place finish at Atlanta on Feb. 21.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: RB David Montgomery 'wants out' of Detroit
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) looks on before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images Lions running back David Montgomery “wants out” of Detroit after three seasons, ESPN reported on Sunday.
Montgomery, however, immediately appeared to refute the report on X, posting: “Damn, Dmo told you that?”
The ESPN report claims the Lions would want “a decent Day 3 pick (possibly a fifth-rounder)” in the 2026 NFL Draft in return for Montgomery, who turns 29 in June and is owed $6 million next season.
The report follows general manager Brad Holmes’ remarks after the season about Montgomery being unhappy with his playing time in 2025. Sharing a backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery rushed for a career-low 716 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games (no starts).
“Those are conversations that we’re going to have to have because I’ve got a lot of respect for that player,” Holmes said of Montgomery in January. “He deserves to be in a situation where his skillset can be utilized, and so yeah would love for it to be here, but if it can’t be here then you’d just love to see where could work out best for him.”
At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Holmes said the situation with Montgomery is “fluid.” He signed a two-year extension during the 2024 season that runs through the end of the 2027 campaign.
“Yeah, I have been in touch with David’s agent, and his representation,” Holmes revealed. “Obviously, we love David, he’s a great player, we love to have him, you know, kind of want to put last year in the rear view, and just move forward. But, obviously, a player has to want to be at a certain place as well. The conversations are still fluid, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Montgomery has rushed for 2,506 yards and 33 touchdowns in 45 games (28 starts) in three seasons with Detroit (2023-25). He has 76 catches for 650 yards in that span.
He began his career with the NFC North rival Chicago Bears, who drafted him in the third round in 2019. Montgomery rushed for 3,609 yards and 26 scores in 60 games (51 starts) with the Bears (2019-22).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Yankees LHP Ryan Yarbrough joins U.S. roster for WBC
Jun 18, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Ryan Yarbrough (33) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images New York Yankees left-hander Ryan Yarbrough was added to the Team USA roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic on Sunday.
The 34-year-old reliever replaces Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan, who is dealing with low back tightness. Ryan moves into the designated pitcher pool, meaning he is eligible for a call-up after each round of the WBC.
Yarbrough went 3-1 with a 4.36 ERA and one save in 19 games (eight starts) during his first season with the Yankees in 2025, striking out 55 batters and walking 19 in 64 innings.
Ryan Yarbrough has been added to our roster for the World Baseball Classic!#ForGlory???? pic.twitter.com/RrtKJQ20gz
— USA Baseball (@USABaseball) March 1, 2026
Team USA will play its first game of the 2026 WBC on Friday night, meeting Brazil in a Pool B contest in Houston.
Yarbrough has a career record of 56-41 with a 4.22 ERA and four saves in 215 games (76 starts) with the Tampa Bay Rays (2018-22), Kansas City Royals (2023), Los Angeles Dodgers (2023-24), Toronto Blue Jays (2024) and Yankees. The side-arming southpaw signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal in November to return to New York in 2026.
–Field Level Media
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
Report: RB David Montgomery 'wants out' of Detroit
