Sports
Cubs, A's bring strong interleague records into series finale
Sep 17, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Oakland Athletics players celebrate after defeating the Chicago Cubs in a baseball game at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images The host Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics get one last chance to improve on impressive interleague records when they close out a three-game series Wednesday afternoon.
The Cubs (77-74) took a costly loss in the second game of the series Tuesday night, falling 4-3 despite two home runs by Ian Happ. Oakland catcher Shea Langeliers matched that with a pair of long balls.
The loss dropped the Cubs six games out of the last National League wild-card spot with just 11 games to play.
It was a rare interleague defeat for Chicago, which has gone 27-18 against American League competition. Only the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves have more interleague wins.
The Cubs’ .600 interleague winning percentage is far better than the team’s overall .510 mark.
The A’s (66-86) can say the same. Having split the first two games of this series, Oakland will take a 23-22 interleague record into its final game against NL competition on Wednesday.
The A’s have also played better in interleague play (.511) than against American League opponents (.402). Oakland and the Tampa Bay Rays are the only teams in the majors with a winning record in interleague play but a losing record overall.
The Cubs, with one more game against the A’s and then four against the struggling Washington Nationals, can’t afford any slipups in their playoff push. And they are giving importance to the series finale, as left-hander Justin Steele (5-5, 3.09 ERA) returns to the rotation after a stint on the injured list caused by tendinitis in his left elbow.
Chicago manager Craig Counsell defended the decision to activate a pitcher who last appeared in a game on Aug. 27.
“If he’s healthy, he’s gonna pitch,” Counsell said. “And all signs point to him being healthy.”
In his most recent outing, Steele allowed two runs in five innings to earn a 9-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. He went on the injured list five days later.
In his only appearance against the A’s, Steele limited Oakland to four hits and two runs (one earned) in six innings during a 12-2 road win on April 19, 2023.
A’s manager Mark Kotsay discussed his team’s one-dimensional offense after the Tuesday win.
“The majority of our runs have been on home runs this year,” Kotsay said. “In games when we hit more than one home run, we have a decent record.
“We don’t preach to hit home runs. It’s rewarding to know that these guys aren’t focused on hitting home runs. They’re focused on hitting the ball hard. The success has been fun to watch.”
Seeking to pitch his way into Kotsay’s 2025 rotation plans, rookie left-hander Brady Basso (1-0, 1.23 ERA) will be in search of his third consecutive strong start.
After pitching out of the bullpen for his first three major league appearances, Basso moved into the rotation this month and has yet to give up a run over 11 1/3 innings. In starts against the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox, he allowed just eight hits and two walks while striking out eight.
The 26-year-old has yet to face the Cubs.
–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
Sports
Ex-pitcher Dan Serafini gets life sentence for '21 murder
Dan Serafini (file photo) pitched in MLB with seven teams. He was convited of first-degree murder. Former major league pitcher Dan Serafini was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Friday for the 2021 shootings of his in-laws in North Lake Tahoe, Calif.
Serafini, 52, was convicted in July of the first-degree murder of father-in-law Gary Spohr and the attempted first-degree murder of mother-in-law Wendy Wood during a burglary. Spohr, 70, died from a single gunshot and Wood, then 68, survived but died by suicide the following year.
In the courtroom on Friday in Auburn, Calif., Placer County prosecutor Morgan Gire described Spohr and Wood as loving grandparents.
“The impact of this attack has extended far beyond the immediate victims, deeply affecting family members and the broader community, and highlighting the lasting harm caused by deliberate violence,” Gire said.
Serafini, who pitched for six MLB teams from 1996 to 2007, addressed the court and maintained his innocence. He said he was out partying with his wife, Erin Spohr, at the time of the shooting and referred to himself as a “broken, imperfect man that makes mistakes,” according to MyNews4.
The Minnesota Twins selected Serafini, a native of the San Francisco area, with the No. 26 overall pick in the 1992 MLB Draft. He made his debut in 1996 and went on to appear in 104 games (33 starts) with the Twins, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies before his retirement in 2007.
He had a 15-16 record with a 6.04 ERA and one save. He threw 263 2/3 innings and struck out 127 batters.
–Field Level Media
Report: RB David Montgomery 'wants out' of Detroit
SaaS in, SaaS out: Here’s what’s driving the SaaSpocalypse
