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Detroit Lions’ Defensive Injuries Catching Up to Them at the Worst Time

The Detroit Lions had one hell of a path to get to 14-2.

They’re undefeated against the best division in the league. Sunday night’s regular-season finale with the Minnesota Vikings will decide the NFC North crown and the No. 1 seed in the conference. The Lions had to overcome more than their fair share of injuries throughout the journey.

But you could not have watched Detroit’s 40-34 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night and come away feeling good about the state of the Lions’ defense entering the playoffs.

It’s hard not to like these Lions. I’m a big, big fan of Dan Campbell; their offense is endlessly fun to watch, and it’s great to see a franchise that had no punch for the better part of the last 60 years get their turn in the limelight, contending for their elusive first Super Bowl.

Their weaknesses, however, are clear. I’m not laying any blame at the feet of defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. He’s playing the players he’s got on a unit devastated by injuries.

The biggest name the Lions are missing on that side of the ball is elite pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who broke his tibia and fibula in Week 6, but that’s just the start. Six starters from the Lions’ Week 1 defense are on injured reserve, important guys the average football fan might not know, like 2023 leading tackler Alex Anzalone.

Just two weeks ago, No. 1 corner Carlton Davis suffered a fractured jaw, and defensive lineman Alim McNeil (second in sacks behind Hutchinson) tore his ACL.

On paper, it may not seem like it’s mattered that much. The Lions entered Monday with the No. 7 scoring defense (19.9 ppg allowed) despite giving up the 14th-most yards per game (338.9), a true “bend but don’t break” setup.

But in seven games against playoff teams (counting the NFC South-leading Buccaneers, who could clinch in Week 18), the Lions gave up 26.4 points per game. And some of Detroit’s roughest showings have come this month as the ranks continued to thin: 31 points in a win over Green Bay, 48 in a loss to Buffalo, and 34 on Monday night at San Fran.

Not only did the 49ers’ first five drives result in four touchdowns and a missed field goal, but they only reached third down a grand total of four times. A Niners offense with Isaac Guerendo instead of Christian McCaffrey and Ricky Pearsall instead of Brandon Aiyuk was getting everything it wanted.

I give credit to Kerby Joseph, the lone bright spot in Detroit’s bottom-five pass defense, as he collected his eighth and ninth interceptions of the year in the second half. (To be fair, Brock Purdy uncorked a terrible overthrow on the first one and completely telestrated the second.) But both of them came after teammate Brian Branch committed boneheaded penalties to help the opponent’s drives along.

Glenn gave a quote the other week that I can truly appreciate. It was right after the Lions lost Davis and McNeil, and it was clear he’d heard enough about his team’s bad injury luck.

“We’re going to the playoffs. We’re in the tournament. Why in the hell is the sky falling for us?” Glenn said. “What do we have to sit back and be sad? We let you guys do that.”

It’s far preferable to the unseemly “woe is me” tack from a coach. His job isn’t to worry but to work with what he’s got.

But if I’m a Lions fan right now and I’m thinking about what Minnesota, Green Bay, Philadelphia or Washington could do to my defense in the playoffs… the sky might not be falling, but I’d be lining up to donate my leg and my jaw to the guys in Honolulu blue who really need it.

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Jose Ramirez hits 3 doubles to guide Guardians over Yankees

May 31, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) celebrates after scoring during the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn ImagesMay 31, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) celebrates after scoring during the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Jose Ramirez hit a tiebreaking double with one out in the fifth inning and the visiting Cleveland Guardians earned a 9-4 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday.

Ramirez had three doubles for the fifth time in his storied career, and the first since Aug. 26, 2024 against Kansas City.

He doubled in three straight at-bats in the fourth, fifth and seventh, producing his third three-hit game this season.

Ramirez’s second double snapped a 4-4 tie. After the Guardians loaded the bases when Brayan Rocchio was plunked by New York’s Cam Schlittler (7-3), rookie Travis Bazzana lifted a sacrifice fly to tie the game.

Ramirez followed by ripping a 2-2 curveball over first baseman Ben Rice and to the right field corner as Patrick Bailey easily scored. Ramirez added an insurance run with a double to left field in the seventh off Tim Hill to put Cleveland ahead 6-4.

Bazzana padded the lead with a bases-clearing double in the eighth off Camilo Doval as the Guardians collected 12 hits, marking the fourth time in five games they totaled double-digit hits.

Paul Goldschmidt drove in all four runs for the Yankees, who lost for the second time in eight games. Goldschmidt gave New York a 2-1 lead with a two-run homer off Joey Cantillo in the third and added a two-run single in the fourth for a 4-3 advantage.

Schlittler endured his shortest outing this season and allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits in 4 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out three and walked none.

Kyle Manzardo hit a two-run homer off Schlittler’s first-pitch cutter that landed in the right-center field seats to give Cleveland a 3-2 lead in the fourth.

Cantillo allowed four runs on six hits in four innings. The left-hander struck out four and walked three.

Five relievers followed Cantillo and allowed two hits the rest of the way. Colin Holderman (4-1) stranded a runner in the fifth and Matt Festa finished with a 1-2-3 ninth.

–Field Level Media

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Reds rally late, walk off with 10-inning win over Royals

inning of the MLB Interleague game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Kansas City Royals at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. The Reds won 4-3 on a walkoff hit by Blake Dunn, scoring Spencer Steer from second base in the 10th inning.inning of the MLB Interleague game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Kansas City Royals at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. The Reds won 4-3 on a walkoff hit by Blake Dunn, scoring Spencer Steer from second base in the 10th inning.

Blake Dunn’s RBI single in the 10th inning completed a comeback and gave the host Cincinnati Reds a 4-3 walk-off win over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.

Spencer Steer hit two home runs and scored the winning run as the automatic runner for the Reds, who won for the second time in the last six games.

Will Benson’s pinch-hit home run to right field off Royals closer Lucas Erceg leading off the bottom of the ninth tied the game at 3-all.

Dunn’s game-winning hit, off John Schreiber (0-3), was the only Reds’ hit that was not a home run.

Brock Burke (2-2) earned the win with a scoreless 10th.

The loss spoiled a gem by Royals starter Noah Cameron, who retired 20 of the 21 batters he faced. Kansas City has lost seven of its last eight.

Cameron only allowed Steer’s first homer, did not walk a batter and struck out eight.

Steer’s second home run of the game, a drive to right-center leading off the eighth, pulled Cincinnati to within 3-2. His ninth homer was an opposite field drive into the stands in right-center.

Reds starter Andrew Abbott gave up three runs on five hits in six innings with four walks and five strikeouts.

Steer’s first home run of the game, a shot to left-center, came with one out in the fifth after Cameron had retired the first 13 Cincinnati batters.

The Royals took a 3-0 lead in the fourth on a fielder’s choice groundout with the bases loaded by Jac Caglianone and a bases-loaded, two-run, two-out single by Michael Massey.

Cameron made an outstanding defensive play for the first out of the third on Dunn’s attempt for a bunt single. Dunn bunted the ball between the mound and first, and Cameron, in one motion, picked up the ball with a backhand swipe and flipped it out of his glove first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.

Reds center fielder Dane Myers made a leaping catch at the wall on Starling Marte’s long drive for the second out of the fifth.

–Field Level Media

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Twins prevail over White Sox; halt Davis Martin's 6-game win streak

Jun 2, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins third baseman Brooks Lee (22) hits a single during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn ImagesJun 2, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins third baseman Brooks Lee (22) hits a single during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images

Tristan Gray went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, and the Minnesota Twins held on for a 6-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night in Minneapolis.

Luke Keaschall added a pair of hits and drove in two runs for Minnesota, which secured a series victory. Alex Jackson finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Miguel Vargas went 1-for-4 with two RBIs to lead Chicago at the plate. The White Sox have dropped back-to-back games after winning their previous five in a row.

Twins left-hander Connor Prielipp (2-3) allowed four runs on six hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out seven.

White Sox right-hander Davis Martin (8-2) endured his shortest outing of the season. Martin gave up six runs on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings. The loss snapped a six-game winning streak and he suffered his first setback since April 10.

Twins right-hander Yoendrys Gomez got the final four outs to record his fourth save.

The White Sox opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the third.

Luisangel Acuna started the action when he drew a leadoff walk, stole second base and scored on a throwing error by Jackson. The White Sox had runners on second and third with one out later in the inning, and Vargas delivered with a two-run single to left to make it 3-0.

The hit gave Vargas six RBIs in the first two games of the series.

The Twins got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third. Brooks Lee hit a sacrifice fly to left, plating Gray.

Minnesota added four runs in the fourth to seize a 5-3 lead.

Keaschall started the scoring with an RBI single to left. Gray followed with a two-run single to left, and Jackson capped the outburst with an RBI single to right.

Gray, who hit a grand slam and drove in five runs in the series opener, has 11 RBIs in his past five games.

The Twins increased their lead to 6-3 on another RBI single by Keaschall in the fifth.

Chase Meidroth notched an RBI infield single in the seventh to cut Chicago’s deficit to 6-4. But he fanned to end the eighth with two runners on base.

–Field Level Media

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