Sports
Brian Brobbey, Cody Gapko net braces as Netherlands rout Sweden
June 20, 2026; Houston, Texas, U.S.; Netherlands’ Brian Brobbey in action with Sweden’s Victor Lindelof. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images Brian Brobbey pounced for a first-half brace, Cody Gakpo scored two more goals after the break and the Netherlands romped to a 5-1 victory over Sweden on Saturday in Houston to take command of Group F.
Crysencio Summerville added a late goal for The Oranje (1-0-1, 4 points), who posted their largest margin of victory in a World Cup since a 5-1 win over Spain in the 2014 group stage.
Denzel Dumfries had two assists, while Gakpo and Summerville each had one as the Netherlands took sole possession of the top spot in the group. They opened with a 2-2 draw against Japan, who plays Tunisia later on Saturday.
For Brobbey, it was just his second and third goals in an international competitive fixture. For Gakpo, it was his fourth and fifth all-time tallies in the competition after scoring once in each Dutch group game match at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Anthony Elanga pulled a late goal back for Sweden (1-1-0, 3 points), his second of the tournament as his side missed an opportunity to put one foot firmly into the knockout stage.
The Scandinavians weren’t as poor as the final score indicated in their worst World Cup loss since a 7-1 defeat to hosts Brazil in the 1950 final round robin stage.
Nevertheless, they absorbed the worst swing of results between two matches this tournament after a 5-1 opening win over Tunisia that precipitated the firing of Tunisian boss Sabri Lamouchi.
Brobbey had his brace by the 17th minute.
In the 5th minute, his exceptional hold-up play helped turn a simple ball out of the back into a dangerous counter-attack down the left.
From there, he literally outran center backs Victor Lindelof and Isak Hien to reach Gakpo’s low cross and thump in a first-time finish from close range.
Sweden’s defense gave Dumfries far too much space on the right on Brobbey’s second, allowing the winger time to line up his first-time cross into the path of Brobbey, who again finished with his first touch.
Gakpo had his brace nine minutes into the second half, and after Elanga’s 59th-minute tally, Summerville completed the scoring on a feed from substitute Memphis Depay in the 89th minute.
–Field Level Media
Sports
FaZe send Falcons to first loss in CDL Major 4 qualifying
The hands of an esport gamer clutching the controler at Encore Esports Gaming Lounge in New Rochelle on Thursday, December 20, 2018.
E Sports
FaZe Vegas handed the Riyadh Falcons their first defeat in Call of Duty League Stage 4 Major qualifying, prevailing 3-0 on Friday as the third and final week of matches began.
In the day’s other action, the undefeated Los Angeles Thieves downed Cloud9 New York 3-1, and the Paris Gentle Mates topped the Boston Breach 3-1.
The 12 Call of Duty League teams are playing five qualifying matches apiece to determine seeding for the fourth major of the season to be held Thursday through June 28 at Nanterre, France. Each team receives 10 CDL points for each win.
On Friday, Vegas routed Riyadh 250-166 on Gridlock Hardpoint, 6-1 on Gridlock Search and Destroy and 7-0 on Gridlock Overload.
The United States’ Jovan “04” Rodriguez paced FaZe with 61 kills and a plus-40 K-D differential. Saudi Arabia’s Saud “Exnid” Al-Ati logged 45 kills and a minus-7 K-D differential for Riyadh.
The Thieves opened with a 250-158 triumph on Hacienda Hardpoint before Cloud9 equalized with a 6-2 win on Sake Search and Destroy. Los Angeles wrapped up the match by capturing Scar Overload 3-2 and Den Hardpoint 250-210.
France’s Paco “HyDra” Rusiewiez carried the Thieves with 93 kills and a plus-7 K-D differential. The United States’ Jordan “Encourage” Byrd put up 95 kills and a plus-15 K-D differential for Cloud9.
After Paris took Gridlock Hardpoint 250-121, Boston claimed Fringe Search and Destroy 6-3. The Gentle Mates then prevailed 3-1 on Den Overload and 250-233 on Sake Hardpoint.
The remaining qualifying schedule:
Saturday
–Miami Heretics vs. Cloud9 New York
–Vancouver Surge vs. Los Angeles Thieves
–Toronto KOI vs. OpTic Texas
–Riyadh Falcons vs. G2 Minnesota
Sunday
–Vancouver Surge vs. Miami Heretics
–Toronto KOI vs. G2 Minnesota
–FaZe Vegas vs. Carolina Royal Ravens
Call of Duty League Stage 4 Major qualifying standings, with match record and map differential:
1. Los Angeles Thieves, 4-0, +5
2. Riyadh Falcons, 3-1, +2
3. Paris Gentle Mates, 3-2, +4
4. Boston Breach, 3-2, +2
5. G2 Minnesota, 2-1, +2
6. OpTic Texas, 2-2, +4
7. FaZe Vegas, 2-2, +1
8. Carolina Royal Ravens, 2-2, 0
9. Miami Heretics, 1-2, -2
10. Toronto KOI, 1-2, -4
11. Vancouver Surge, 0-3, -7
12. Cloud9 New York, 0-4, -7
–Field Level Media
Sports
Injury-plagued Tigers hope Troy Melton continues success vs. White Sox
Detroit Tigers pitcher Troy Melton (52) throws against Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Troy Melton missed his most recent turn in the Detroit rotation due to back tightness. The right-hander avoided a trip to the injured list, however, and is scheduled to start for the Tigers against the visiting Chicago White Sox on Saturday.
The Tigers won the opener of the three-game series 4-3 on Friday.
Melton (3-0, 2.81 ERA) had his season debut delayed until late May due to right elbow inflammation. He has wasted no time giving the Tigers’ rotation a boost, winning three of his first four starts.
The only time Melton didn’t notch a victory came against the White Sox on May 29, but it was a quality performance. He limited Chicago to one run and six hits in seven innings, but the Tigers lost 4-3 in 10 innings.
Melton is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in three career outings (two starts) against the White Sox.
Keeping Melton healthy is crucial for the Tigers, who continue to deal with a host of injuries.
Justin Verlander, who has pitched just once this season due to a left hip ailment, was slated to return on Sunday. Instead, he will be out several more weeks due to a left hamstring strain.
Starter Jack Flaherty is on the injured list due to a left ankle injury.
Key position players Gleyber Torres, Wenceel Perez, Javier Baez and Parker Meadows are also sidelined. Perez fractured his left orbital bone in Houston this week when he was hit in the face by a resistance band.
“We will know more when we get through the eye doctor and face doctor and see where he’s at in terms of activity level. But he’s safe and he’s in a good place,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “The swelling has started to go down.”
The Tigers called up 27-year-old outfielder Trei Cruz from Triple-A Toledo to take his place. Cruz’s grandfather, Jose Cruz, and father, Jose Cruz Jr., both played in the majors. Trei Cruz went hitless in three at-bats on Friday in his major league debut.
“He’s had to work hard to get here,” Hinch said. “It just shows, not everyone’s journey to the big leagues is a smooth ride. I love that he’s been tough enough to handle it.”
No matter who is wearing the White Sox uniform this season is seemingly producing. Chicago called up Junior Perez from Triple-A Charlotte this week to fill in for Everson Pereira, who sustained a concussion while hitting the outfield wall as he made a catch against the New York Yankees on Wednesday.
Perez delivered the first two hits of his career on Friday, including a solo homer.
“He is an above-average runner, defender on the corners and projects about average in center field,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “Stolen bases are part of his game. He has plus power and makes plus decisions at the plate. He is very similar to Pereira.”
Perez played 36 games for Triple-A Las Vegas in the Athletics’ system this season before the White Sox acquired him in a trade last month.
Sean Newcomb was a late choice to be the opener for the Saturday contest as Venable will employ a bullpen game. It will be his first start this year after 28 relief outings.
The 33-year-old left-hander exited his most recent appearance on Wednesday against the Yankees due to a left triceps contusion after getting hit by Anthony Volpe’s line drive. He allowed three runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning.
Newcomb has a 1.74 ERA and no decisions in five career appearances (all in relief) vs. the Tigers. He did not give up a hit in 2 2/3 scoreless innings against Detroit on May 29.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reds ask Andrew Abbott to slow surging Yankees, Ben Rice
Jun 19, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice (22) hits a three run home run during the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images While Cam Schlittler dominates every few games, Ben Rice seemingly is productive every day for the New York Yankees.
Rice is among the reasons the Yankees are off to a good start since losing Aaron Judge to a right rib stress fracture, and the first baseman will attempt to contribute to another victory Saturday in New York against the struggling Cincinnati Reds.
The Yankees are 10-5 since Judge last played on May 31. New York also is 16-6 in its past 22 games.
New York opened the series with a 5-0 victory on Friday. Schlittler struck out 13 batters in six dominant innings for his first career double-digit strikeout game in the regular season.
Schlittler also was supported by another big hit from Rice. The 27-year-old slugger belted a three-run homer and is batting .320 (8-for-25) with three homers and seven RBIs in his past six games.
Since May 26, Rice is hitting .333 (27-for-81) with five home runs and 19 RBIs in 20 games.
“He’s the lead man,” Schlittler said of Rice, who has 21 homers and 52 RBIs. “He’s a front-runner right now, and with Judge being out now, guys have stepped up and he’s been a huge piece of that and you expect that out of him.”
Aside from trying to quiet Rice’s bat, the Reds will attempt to generate more offense. After scoring 17 runs in a pair of wins over the New York Mets earlier this week, the Reds have scored once (an unearned run) and struck out 26 times over their past two games while facing Nolan McLean and Schlittler.
On Friday, the Reds finished with four hits and struck out a season-worst 17 times.
Eugenio Suarez struck out three times and is 11-for-58 (.190) in June. Sal Stewart is 12-for-60 (.200) this month, while Spencer Steer is 6-for-50 (.120) after fanning twice. The trio combined to go 1-for-12 in the opener at Yankee Stadium.
“It’s been a tough stretch for us,” Suarez said. “We have a really good team. At some point, we are going to be where we want to be.”
The Reds are 5-11 since losing Elly De La Cruz to a right hamstring strain. The shortstop may be close to returning after homering in his first rehab game for Triple-A Louisville on Friday.
After Schlittler’s dominant showing, Will Warren (7-1, 3.47 ERA) heads into his first career start against Cincinnati. The right-hander hopes to give the Yankees a longer outing after failing to complete five innings during no-decisions at Cleveland and at Toronto in his latest two appearances.
Warren threw 91 pitches in 4 1/3 innings of three-run ball against the Guardians on June 8. On Sunday, he fired a season-high 98 pitches in four innings while giving up two runs on eight hits against the Blue Jays.
Warren is 3-0 with a 3.48 ERA in his past six starts since allowing six runs in four innings during a 6-1 loss to Texas on May 6.
Left-hander Andrew Abbott (4-4, 3.95), who is 0-2 with a 3.91 ERA in his past four starts, gets the ball for Cincinnati on Saturday. Abbott has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his past nine starts, including a no-decision against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday, when he allowed one run on four hits in five innings.
Abbott earned the win in his only career start against the Yankees. He gave up one run on three hits in 6 1/3 innings during a 3-2 victory on July 3, 2024, in New York.
–Field Level Media
FaZe send Falcons to first loss in CDL Major 4 qualifying
Injury-plagued Tigers hope Troy Melton continues success vs. White Sox
