Sports
Behind Geraldo Perdomo, D-backs vie for sweep of Guardians
Aug 1, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (2) acknowledges the bullpen while running the bases after hitting a home run during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo picked a great role model in Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramírez.
Perdomo has repaid Ramírez for his friendship by powering the Diamondbacks to a pair of wins in their three-game series in Cleveland, strengthening their hold on a National League wild-card spot.
Arizona’s Merrill Kelly (8-8, 4.86 ERA) will be on the mound Sunday against Guardians counterpart Gavin Williams (10-6, 3.71 ERA).
Rain is expected throughout the afternoon in Northeast Ohio, making a postponement possible. The teams have three mutual off days on Sept. 10, 17 and 21.
Perdomo is 6-for-10 with a homer, four RBIs and two runs in the series, but said his favorite part of the weekend has been catching up with fellow Dominican Republic product Ramírez.
“This is a guy I love and he’s my brother, we always keep in touch,” Perdomo said. “He’s one of my biggest mentors I have in baseball. I always enjoy my time playing against him, so to get a ‘W’ against him means more than anything.”
A seven-time All-Star, Ramirez took an interest in Perdomo early in his career, developing a close bond despite being seven years older at age 33. Both have often said they value their close friendship.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo, who began his managerial career in Cleveland’s farm system and keeps close track of the Guardians, is a fan of both players.
“Jose has taken Geraldo under his wing and I think that’s great,” Lovullo said. “That’s a good man to look up to and call a friend.”
Ramírez still is rounding into form after missing five weeks with a broken left hamate bone that required surgery. He is 0-for-6 with three walks against Arizona and 7-for-37 in nine games since being activated off the injured list.
While the Diamondbacks are surging with 14 wins in their last 19 games, Cleveland is playing its worst ball of the season with a 2-8 mark since July 22. Arizona has outscored its hosts 16-9 in the two contests.
The Guardians have fallen out of first place in the American League Central and into a tie for the final wild-card spot with the Minnesota Twins. Instead of being a buyer at the trade deadline, thrifty Cleveland could wind up going in the other direction.
“We’re going through it right now,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “We’re really in it. But we’re going to keep working hard and come out of it. That’s what we do here, and we’ve done it time and time again.”
Williams is working on a franchise-record string of four straight games with 11-plus strikeouts and one or fewer walks.
Over his last four starts, the hulking righty has amassed 45 strikeouts and just two walks over 27 innings. His record during the span is 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA, as five of the 15 hits allowed have been home runs.
Williams’ lone appearance against the Diamondbacks was a road victory on Aug. 18, 2025, as he tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings.
Kelly has only pitched against Cleveland once in his eight-year career, throwing seven shutout innings with eight strikeouts for the Texas Rangers in a home win on Aug. 24, 2025.
The 37-year-old was outstanding in July, posting a 3-0 record and 1.95 ERA over five starts. Kelly equally was as bad in June, losing all five of his outings while giving up 23 earned runs in 28 1/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Sparks trade 5-time All-Star Kelsey Plum to Mercury
Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (10) drives against Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani (8) during a game at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on June 13, 2026. The Los Angeles Sparks made a move ahead of Sunday afternoon’s trade deadline, dealing five-time All-Star guard Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury for guard Monique Akoa Makani, a first-round draft pick in 2027 and a second-rounder in 2028, ESPN reported late Saturday night.
Plum, who turns 32 on Aug. 24, has not played since June 21 because of a left leg injury. She is averaging career highs of 23.9 points and 6.4 assists per game, but she has played in only 12 contests because of injuries in her ninth season.
She missed three games in late May/early June because of an ankle issue, then played in six games before the lower leg injury.
For her career, Plum averages 15.5 points, 4.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 30.0 minutes in 290 regular-season games (248 starts) in eight-plus seasons. She missed the entire 2020 season because of an Achilles injury, then won the WNBA Sixth Player of the Year award the next season.
She also averages 17.4 points, 4.0 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 33.7 minutes in 35 playoff games (28 starts) while with the Aces. She was part of league championships with Las Vegas in 2022 and 2023.
Plum has been selected for the All-Star Game for five consecutive seasons but was unable to play this year.
The San Antonio Stars (now Las Vegas Aces) selected Plum with the first overall pick of the 2017 WNBA Draft out of the University of Washington.
Makani, 25, is averaging 9.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 23.8 minutes in 18 games (15 starts) in her second season with the Mercury. In her two years in the league, Makani averages 8.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 22.2 minutes in 59 games (55 starts).
The Sparks are 10-17, 5.5 games behind the eighth-place New York Liberty for the last playoff berth. The Mercury are 11-19.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cardinals lose DT PJ Mustipher (foot) for season
Dec 21, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman PJ Mustipher (79) against the Atlanta Falcons at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The Arizona Cardinals placed defensive tackle PJ Mustipher on injured reserve on Saturday because of a foot injury, meaning he will miss the entire 2026 season.
The Cardinals also placed defensive back Jaden Davis on IR due to an undisclosed injury sustained during the team’s second padded practice of training camp.
In corresponding moves, Arizona signed defensive lineman Brodric Martin, 27, and safety Quinton Newsome, 25.
Mustipher, 26, made 32 tackles in 15 games as a reserve last season with the Cardinals. The nose tackle played on 30% of the defensive snaps (300) and 20% on special teams (78).
He was on the Arizona practice squad for the 2024 campaign. He also played in four games for the New Orleans Saints in 2023, making four tackles.
Davis, 25, was a seventh-round pick by the Cardinals in the 2024 NFL Draft.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Phillies, Orioles on unsteady footing as trade deadline approaches
Jul 27, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Phillies need more good results on the field when they take on the host Baltimore Orioles in the rubber match of a three-game series Sunday afternoon.
But with the trade deadline looming Monday, there are distractions for both teams.
The Phillies evened the series with Saturday night’s 5-0 victory, holding Baltimore to three hits.
Philadelphia is 2-8 in its last 10 games. It’s too soon to tell what the latest victory might mean for the Phillies, who suddenly seem to be dealing with more attention about retaining their wild-card status than chasing the first-place Atlanta Braves in the National League East.
“This too shall pass,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said of recent struggles.
The Orioles continue to waver when it comes to looking like a playoff contender. They’re 5-6 in their last 11 games and they’ve been shutout victims in two of their last four games.
“Still a lot of season left,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said. “We’re still trying to win every game.”
Baltimore was without an extra-base hit against four Philadelphia pitchers Saturday night.
The Orioles’ trade of starting pitcher Dean Kremer to the Minnesota Twins late Friday night shouldn’t impact the pitching for this weekend because the right-hander wasn’t slated to work against the Phillies.
Yet it might take time for the Orioles to absorb Kremer’s departure as team members reflected on the move Saturday.
“Dean’s been a leader here, a staple here for seven years he’s been here,” Albernaz said. “He has made a great impact on our clubhouse with all those players, and also the coaching staff, including myself, in the short time (I’ve) been around him.”
Right-hander Zack Wheeler (10-2, 2.53 ERA) will head to the mound for the Phillies on Sunday. He already has matched last year’s win total, but he’s without a victory in his past two starts. He lasted only three innings and gave up five runs in Monday’s no-decision at Miami.
“You have a bad day every once in a while, I’m sure,” Wheeler said.
Six of Wheeler’s victories have come in road games. In five all-time matchups against Baltimore, he’s 1-1 with a 4.18 ERA covering 28 innings.
Expect the Orioles, who are 2-3 at home since the All-Star break, to have lineup adjustments compared to Saturday, when the batting order was set to face a left-handed starter. That’s why designated hitter Coby Mayo was put in the leadoff position.
Baltimore used newly acquired catcher Jake Rogers in the starting lineup for the first time Saturday. He went 0-for-3 and struck out twice.
Right-hander Kyle Bradish (7-9, 3.74) will have the starting assignment on the mound for the Orioles, going for a victory in a third consecutive decision. He had two strong starts prior to a no-decision Monday when he gave up five runs in 4 2/3 innings at Detroit.
This will mark only the fourth home start in a 10-game stretch for Bradish. He already has issued a career-high 52 walks this season. He’s 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two career starts vs. Philadelphia.
–Field Level Media
Report: Sparks trade 5-time All-Star Kelsey Plum to Mercury
Cardinals lose DT PJ Mustipher (foot) for season
