Sports
Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski ready to bring heat against Reds
Jun 26, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images Everything points to the Thursday afternoon game between the Cincinnati Reds and the host Milwaukee Brewers being a miserable contest for hitters.
That’s because the contest features a pitching matchup of the major league’s ERA and strikeout leader, Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski (9-3, 1.45 ERA), and the Reds’ ace, Chase Burns (9-1, 2.36).
“It’s gonna be fun. He’s good,” Burns said. “He’s so good. I’m pumped about it.”
Misiorowski has 146 strikeouts in 99 innings. Burns is tied for fourth in the NL in wins, along with Misiorowski and three others. Burns has 112 strikeouts, tied for seventh in the league, in 91 2/3 innings.
In addition to his spectacular stats, Misiorowski made more news in his last start, a 6-2 win over the visiting Chicago Cubs on Friday in which he allowed a run on two hits in six innings with four walks and eight strikeouts. He unleashed a 105.5 mph pitch to Pete Crow-Armstrong in the first inning.
It was the third-fastest pitch since tracking became official in 2008. Only Aroldis Chapman, who threw a 105.8 mph pitch in 2011 and a 105.7 mph offering in 2016, has thrown faster pitches. Misiorowski tied a 105.5 mph delivery from Ben Joyce in 2024.
“I think I slipped a little bit,” Misiorowski joked about the pitch after the game. “I think I’ve got a little more.”
He can hope the heat will faze the Reds, who have done well against him in his two appearances (one start). On Aug. 15, 2025, the Reds tagged him for five runs on four hits and three walks in 1 1/3 innings. He then faced Cincinnati in relief on Sept. 27, and he yielded two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks in 2 1/3 innings.
Misiorowski fanned three in each of those contests.
Burns got a no-decision in his latest outing, when the Reds defeated the host Pittsburgh Pirates 9-7 on Saturday. He was uncharacteristically knocked around to the tune of five runs and nine hits in six innings, though he did not walk a batter and struck out 10.
Burns’ lone appearance against the Brewers came in relief last Sept. 28. He didn’t allow a run or a hit in 1 2/3 innings while walking two and striking out four.
The Brewers will be going for a sweep of the four-game series on Thursday after earning a 4-2 win on Wednesday.
Garrett Mitchell is 6-for-8 in the past two games after going 4-for-4 with an RBI and a run on Wednesday. He produced the game-winning RBI, as his two-out triple in the seventh inning broke a 2-2 tie.
Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby (12-1) boosted his major-league-leading victory total after tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
The Reds have lost four in a row.
Cincinnati catcher Tyler Stephenson, who went 2-for-4 with a run on Wednesday, is 7-for-15 in his past four games. He scored ahead of Noelvi Marte’s fifth home run in the second inning.
Cincinnati’s Matt McLain started in center field for the first time in his three-season major league career on Wednesday. He appeared at the position for the first time on Tuesday after entering as an eighth-inning pinch hitter. McLain previously had seen action in the field only at second base and shortstop.
–Field Level Media
Sports
After blowing big lead vs. Dodgers, Padres could have hands full with Shohei Ohtani
Jul 2, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing (68) celebrates after hitting a two run home run against the San Diego Padres in the second inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Dodgers intend to have a bonding moment wrapped up inside a baseball game when they host the San Diego Padres on Friday.
The Dodgers are set to send right-hander Shohei Ohtani to the mound, while Dalton Rushing will be his catcher.
Ohtani (8-2, 1.58 ERA) will be pitching with eight days of rest between starts, more to manage his season workload than because he had trouble getting on the same page with Rushing behind the plate June 24 at Minnesota. Ohtani and the Dodgers won 4-3 that day.
The issues in the outing became troublesome enough that Ohtani took over calling pitches at one point, with manager Dave Roberts having a heart-to-heart discussion with Rushing in the dugout between innings.
Will Smith typically catches Ohtani, but he has been on the injured list since early June with neck inflammation. Roberts will return to the Ohtani-Rushing partnership again instead of using current backup catcher Chuckie Robinson.
“I think that they will be (in sync) more than they were his last start,” Roberts said Thursday. “They don’t think the same, so it takes time. But again, I think Dalton understands that is what he signed up for. The job of a catcher is to be a servant to the pitcher. That’s the bottom line. So it’s Dalton’s job to get on page with whatever pitcher. I expect that all to be resolved.”
Ohtani also is expected to be in the lineup as a hitter.
In three career starts against San Diego, Ohtani is 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA. The win came May 20 at San Diego when he pitched five scoreless innings in a 4-0 win for Los Angeles.
He is 6-1 overall in his past eight outings.
The Padres hope to end a six-game losing streak when they send right-hander Michael King (5-7, 3.55) to the mound. King’s most recent start came Sunday when he faced the Dodgers at home and gave up four runs on three hits with four walks over 4 1/3 innings. He took the loss in the 4-2 game.
In seven career appearances (five starts) against Los Angeles, King is 3-1 with a 2.94 ERA.
The Padres won the opener of a home series against the Dodgers last weekend but have now matched their longest losing streak of the season. The latest loss came after the Padres led 6-0 as the Dodgers rebounded with 12 consecutive runs in a 12-7 victory.
Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill and Jake Cronenworth all hit home runs in the first two innings for San Diego. Los Angeles received four hits each from Rushing and Kyle Tucker as they both tied career highs. Rushing also matched his career high with four RBIs.
The Padres’ bad news did not end there. They lost catcher Freddy Fermin in the fifth inning after he was hit in the mask by a foul ball. Before the game, right-handed reliever Jason Adam (shoulder) was placed on the injured list, while right-hander German Marquez was activated.
“Felt like the safest thing was to put him on the IL, call German up,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said. “So hopefully Jason’s injury isn’t too long, and that we just give him a little breather, and then he can be back helping our bullpen again.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
WNBA Picks Today: Best Bets for Sky vs. Aces and Lynx vs. Liberty
May 17, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) looks to drive past Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) in the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images The Las Vegas Aces just beat the Chicago Sky in the Windy City six days ago. Now the scene turns to Sin City as the two clubs go at it again on Friday night.
Aces star A’ja Wilson is listed as questionable due to an ankle injury. That would be an equalizer in terms of the talent difference if the four-time MVP isn’t on the floor.
The Minnesota Lynx visit the New York Liberty in Friday’s lone other contest. The Liberty are feeling pretty good after beating Las Vegas in the Commissioner’s Cup title game on Tuesday.
CHICAGO SKY AT LAS VEGAS ACES
Wilson excelled when Las Vegas posted a 107-99 win over Chicago on Sunday as she piled up 30 points, 15 rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots. That stat line never previously occurred in WNBA history. Take all that production out of the lineup and the Sky (6-13) might have a chance at the upset.
If Wilson is sidelined, Jackie Young will take over as the prime scorer and she had 28 points, eight assists and five rebounds against the Sky. She followed up with 31 points and seven assists in the loss to New York and has scored 20 points in five of the past six games. She had 19 in the other for the Aces (14-5).
Chicago has seen recent improvement from center Kamilla Cardoso, who has made 23 of 28 shots (82.1%) over the past two games. Cardoso was a record 13-of-13 shooting while scoring a career-best 30 points in a victory over the Portland Fire on June 26 before having 24 on 10-of-15 shooting against Las Vegas.
Azura Stevens fared well against the Aces with 24 points and six rebounds. The Sky recently won consecutive games against the expansion Fire after losing 11 of their previous 12. Wilson or not, Chicago isn’t hitting on a winner in Las Vegas.
Aces minus 9.5 points spread, -105 (DraftKings)
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MINNESOTA LYNX AT NEW YORK LIBERTY
Minnesota (15-4) owns the best record in the WNBA, which is borderline amazing considering two-time MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier (surgery on both ankles) hasn’t played yet this season. You would think the Lynx would have four or five fewer victories without their star attraction.
One reason why Minnesota is thriving is that rookie point guard Olivia Miles is starring right out of the box and is averaging 18.7 points, 5.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals. Someday, they will be asking how was Miles only the No. 2 pick in the draft. Dallas chose Azzi Fudd, a close associate of Paige Bueckers, instead of somebody who appears to be a lot better player.
New York (12-8) had lost four of five games before winning the Commissioner’s Cup (which doesn’t count in the standings) and perhaps the win will awaken the team from its slumber. Sabrina Ionescu’s presence certainly did against Las Vegas as she had season bests of 26 points and five 3-pointers. She has missed time with foot and back injuries this season.
Breanna Stewart had 25 points and 11 rebounds against the Aces and she might have increased operating room with Collier not on the floor. Still, Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve just continues to figure out a way to silence opponents.
Lynx minus 2.5 points spread, -102 (DraftKings)
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Sports
NBA Free Agency Has Changed Forever, and Fans Are the Real Winners
And on the third day, Pat Spencer signed with the Suns.
It’s official: NBA free agency died this week. RIP, old friend.
As we await the splash-down of LeBron James, it’s already clear there will be just two winners in what we used to know as the annual free-agent frenzy this summer:
LeBron’s new team and NBA fans in general.
Let’s focus on the latter.
Be honest: You love trade speculation. Love to start it. Love to attempt to explain it. Even love wiping the eggs from your front window and trying again.
Move over, Stephen A., this is our arena.
Suffice it to say, this has been a profitable couple of days for egg producers: NBA No Longer Free Agency Week, Brought to You By Hillandale Farms.
It’s not defined to be this way. Free agency is supposed to be, you know, free. As in without the handcuffs.
When Jalen Duren plays four years in a city not on his wish list, becomes one of the top players in the league, and yet has earned less in his entire career than Paul George pocketed just in games he DIDN’T play in 2026, there has to be an evening out.
Well, there used to be.
Remember when LeBron got $153 million from the Heat, Kyrie Irving $136 million from the Nets … for crying out loud, Gordon Hayward $128 million from the Celtics?
Fast forward to this week, when – give me a minute to total this up – OK, one player got more than the mid-level exception as part of a no-strings-attached free-agent move. ONE.
Congratulations, Norman Powell. You’re now one-third as rich as Gordon Hayward.
Here’s the problem: The NBA has created a salary cap so tight and player-movement rules so restrictive, it was literally impossible for Duren to get what he deserved this off-season.
Not that he wanted anything more than some NBA legacy pledge, Jalen Brunson, once got.
All he wanted was to be the biggest headline in Free Agency Week. All he wanted was a freedom of choice.
Maybe not New York, but Boston would have been nice. Even for a Philly kid.
Instead, he finds himself begging the Kings to offer up Domantas Sabonis in a sign-and-trade with the all-the-cards-holding Pistons just to be able to get to Cowtown USA, aka Sacramento.
The silver lining is: The fewer the free-agent moves, the more the need for trades. And NBA fans already are eating it up.
How can your favorite team put the pieces together in order to get Duren in a sign-and-trade?
Got no money to spend because of the salary cap? Doesn’t matter. Sports trades work on a modern-day barter system.
So, let’s continue dreaming …
Wouldn’t Peyton Watson look great in our uniform, but what would the Nuggets want?
How interested are we in Jonathan Kuminga? James Harden? Draymond Green?
Every basketball fan worth their weight in crypto has a sign-and-trade worked out for each member of that quality quintet. And a backup plan when the eggs start flying.
Who had Walker Kessler going to the Lakers? Mitchell Robinson getting dealt to the evil enemy?
Player movement might have been simpler the old way, but, c’mon, this is more fun.
It’s got overheated basketball fans running to their cars, dialing up the air conditioning and listening to hours of wannabe general managers saying things even more ridiculous than what they’d thought up while on hold.
Welcome back, talk radio.
And therein lies the new name: NBA Sign-And-Trade Week, Brought to You By BMW.
– Field Level Media
After blowing big lead vs. Dodgers, Padres could have hands full with Shohei Ohtani
WNBA Picks Today: Best Bets for Sky vs. Aces and Lynx vs. Liberty
