Sports
Blue Jackets enter matchup vs. last-place Blackhawks on hot streak
Nov 23, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (19) awaits the face-off against the Carolina Hurricanes in the third period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images The second half of November was much better than the first for the Columbus Blue Jackets, who will look to ride their newfound momentum when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday afternoon.
The Blue Jackets went 5-1-1 over the final two weeks of November after a six-game losing streak from Nov. 1-12. They are 4-0-1 in their past five outings, most recently earning a 5-2 victory over the Calgary Flames on Friday.
“Last year, we went on that bit of a losing skid,” Columbus center Adam Fantilli said of the Blue Jackets’ nine-game rut (0-7-2) from Nov. 4-19, 2023. “You never want to get used to losing and having a bit of a winning culture in here, and how much fun we have with each other and how tight of a group we have, it makes it way more enjoyable to come to the rink every day.”
Columbus is tied for 10th in the NHL with 77 goals scored, averaging 3.50 per game. After scoring 11 goals over the course of the recent slide during the first two weeks of November, the offense has rebounded, producing 25 markers in the past five games.
Everyone has been getting in on the action to help the Blue Jackets find their way offensively. Though no one has a double-digit goal total — Kirill Marchenko is one score away with a team-leading nine — Columbus has eight players with at least five markers.
Fantilli became the eighth member of that group with a pair of goals against Calgary, his first tallies since Oct. 28.
“He’s been committed to doing the right things in the right areas,” Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said of Fantilli. “If he continues to play like he has played literally all year — he’s had some learning curves — but if he plays the right way defensively and sound in all areas, the scoring will come.”
The Blackhawks, meanwhile, are trying to climb out of the NHL’s basement. Chicago is in dead last in the entire league, just one point behind the Montreal Canadiens and two behind the Nashville Predators.
Chicago has alternated wins and losses over its past five games, unable to build off big wins against the Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars. On Friday, the Blackhawks held a 2-0 lead against the Wild before Minnesota scored three times in a span of just over seven minutes to steal a 3-2 win.
“We’ve been playing well the last couple of games, and sometimes the other teams are going to get bounces, too,” Chicago forward Ryan Donato said. “It’s infuriating and hard to lose games and have it be that way, especially when you get off to a good start.”
Chicago has led in the second period in each of its past six games but is 2-3-1 in those contests.
“We’re past the first 10 games, the first 20 games,” Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said. “We got to make sure we’re getting into a mode where we can hold that and sustain it and play the way we played to get to that point and even better.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dodgers acquire RHP Seth Halvorsen from Rockies
May 29, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Seth Halvorsen (54) delivers a pitch in the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired right-handed reliever Seth Halvorsen in a trade with the Colorado Rockies on Monday.
The Rockies received a pair of minor leaguers in right-hander Nick Frasso and outfielder Landyn Vidourek.
Halvorsen, 26, is 0-1 with a 4.74 ERA in 21 relief appearances for the Rockies this season. In three major league seasons with Colorado, he is 3-4 with a 4.31 ERA in 75 relief appearances.
After just spending time on the injured list because of right shoulder inflammation, Halvorsen made a rehab appearance at Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday and pitched a scoreless inning. Los Angeles is expected to send Halvorsen to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Frasso, 27, was 1-0 with a 4.74 ERA in 21 appearances (one start) with Oklahoma City this season, while Vidourek, 22, was batting .170 with six home runs and 24 RBIs in 59 games at Single-A Ontario.
Also on Monday, the Dodgers optioned right-hander Kyle Hurt to Oklahoma City. Hurt was the additional 27th man on the roster for the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader against the New York Yankees and pitched two scoreless innings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Royals star SS Bobby Witt Jr. (back tightness) exits vs. Giants
Jul 18, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) makes a diving stop during the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images Royals All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. left Kansas City’s game against the San Francisco Giants after four innings Monday due to low back tightness.
Witt, who has dealt with back issues of late, returned to the lineup Monday after he was given the day off Sunday against the San Diego Padres. He went 0-for-1 with a walk before exiting the contest.
Nick Loftin replaced Witt at shortstop.
An All-Star for each of the past three seasons, including the starting shortstop for the American League in last week’s Midsummer Classic, Witt is batting .279 in 94 games with 13 home runs, 39 RBIs and an AL-high 30 stolen bases. He has been durable since reaching the majors in 2022, playing at least 150 games in every season.
Meanwhile, San Francisco starting pitcher Trevor McDonald came out for the bottom of the fifth, but never threw a pitch in the inning as he exited with a trainer. His injury was not yet known. The right-hander allowed three runs on four hits, walked two and struck out three on 67 pitches.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Guardians go deep seven times as they club Twins
Jul 20, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians designated hitter Rhys Hoskins (8) celebrates his solo home run in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images Rookie Petey Halpin hit his first two home runs and Rhys Hoskins had his 14th career multi-homer game as the Cleveland Guardians went deep a season-high seven times, rolling to a 13-4 victory over the visiting Minnesota Twins on Monday night.
Travis Bazzana and Brayan Rocchio also cleared the fence against Twins starter Joe Ryan (6-6), who allowed a franchise- and ballpark-record six homers in four innings — the most in the majors this season — in his first appearance since the All-Star Game.
Patrick Bailey belted Cleveland’s seventh homer off Woo-Suk Go in the seventh, tying the club’s mark for most ever at home. It was the second-most home runs for any team in a game this season.
Rookie Chase DeLauter had four hits and three RBIs, Bailey totaled four hits and drove in a pair, and Halpin had three hits and three RBIs.
The Guardians scored in each of the first seven innings, hitting six homers in the first four for the initial time since the franchise was founded in 1901. They moved within one-half game of the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central Division.
Tanner Bibee (4-9) won his second consecutive start, working six innings and giving up two runs on six hits. The right-hander struck out five and walked one to post his second victory in 12 home outings this season.
Minnesota lost its third straight, falling 2 1/2 games behind the Boston Red Sox for the final wild-card spot in the AL. The Twins got as close as 3-2 in the second on Brooks Lee’s RBI triple and a sacrifice fly by Alan Roden.
All-Star Byron Buxton went 2-for-3 in his return from the injured list with a right hip strain for Minnesota. Backup catcher Alex Jackson pitched a scoreless eighth.
Ryan, who entered the contest with a 1.72 ERA in six starts in Cleveland, gave up eight runs on a career-high 10 hits with three strikeouts and zero walks. Halpin had a two-run homer in the second for his first blast in 68 at-bats in the majors.
The Guardians’ three runs in the first came on Rocchio’s two-run homer and Hoskins’ solo shot, both after Kody Clemens failed to turn an inning-ending double play on a routine grounder.
Cleveland took its largest lead at 13-3 in the seventh on DeLauter’s two-run double off Go. Its 10 extra-base hits, 13 runs and 19 hits were season bests.
–Field Level Media
Dodgers acquire RHP Seth Halvorsen from Rockies
Royals star SS Bobby Witt Jr. (back tightness) exits vs. Giants
