Sports
Dodgers have held up their end, Mets haven't in build up to their series
Jun 26, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) delivers during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images The New York Mets return home for the first time since the All-Star break, starting a three-game series Friday with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
What many expected to be a possible playoff preview will be anything but that between the two largest payrolls in Major League Baseball. The Dodgers roll into Queens winning four of their last six, as the consensus favorites to win a third straight World Series hold a comfortable lead in the National League West.
“Every team has its ups and downs,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after their 9-5 road win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. “I will say that we’re trying to stack wins, trying to win series. … We do find ways to win.”
Meanwhile, the Mets sit last in the NL East, having not recovered from a 12-game losing streak in April that included three losses to the Dodgers. New York has split its last six games.
Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (3-5, 4.98 ERA) gets his first matchup against the Mets. Los Angeles has posted wins in his last three starts, but Sasaki last earned a win of his own two months ago. The right-hander is 0-2 in his last eight appearances.
Sasaki, 24, last pitched last Friday in the Bronx. He allowed an unearned run on five hits and a walk over 5 2/3 innings to the New York Yankees as the Dodgers won 2-1.
Sean Manaea (2-5, 4.74) will start for the Mets. Last Saturday, the host Phillies tagged him for four runs on seven hits and two walks. The left-hander, 34, did strike out seven in 4 2/3 innings, but he still earned the loss in the 6-1 game.
The Dodgers have hit well against the veteran of 11 seasons. In 11 games, including eight starts, Manaea has a 1-5 record with an ERA of 7.09 across 47 innings against them. He’s given up 57 hits and 14 walks against 42 strikeouts.
Friday will be Manaea’s first game against the Dodgers since April 19, 2024. He allowed just two runs over five innings but ended up not getting a decision as the Mets won 9-4 on the road.
Kyle Tucker has struggled in his first season with the Dodgers, and the outfielder has just two hits in 19 at-bats (.105) in his last five games. However, he’s hit .364 (8-for-22) against Manaea with four home runs and five RBIs.
While the Mets have struggled, one bright spot has been outfielder Juan Soto. The team’s lone All-Star this season, Soto leads the squad with a .283 batting average, 21 home runs and 52 RBIs. He also tops the NL in on-base percentage (.404) and ranks second in the league in on-base-plus-slugging percentage (.944).
New York gave Soto the day off Wednesday as it wrapped up the road trip with a 4-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. He experienced some soreness in his left calf earlier in the trip, and interim manager Andy Green wanted to use that day and Thursday’s off day to let the team’s slugger recover from the nagging injury that put him on the injured list back in April.
“At this point in time, we’d like him playing the rest of the season as healthy as possible,” Green said.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Patrick Kane rejoins Blackhawks on 2-year, $16M deal
Feb 22, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) waits for the face-off in the Dallas Stars zone during the third period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Three-time Stanley Cup champion Patrick Kane rejoined the Chicago Blackhawks on a two-year, $16 million contract on Thursday.
The 37-year-old forward starred in Chicago for 16 seasons before being traded to the New York Rangers in February of 2023. He spent the past three campaigns with the Detroit Red Wings.
“Day in and day out for 16 seasons, Patrick captivated the city of Chicago with his dazzling skill, creating some of the most memorable moments in Blackhawks history as he helped bring our storied franchise back to the pinnacle of our sport,” Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said. “He’s shown on countless occasions that he knows what it takes to win at the highest levels, and we couldn’t be prouder for Patrick to once again call the United Center home and continue to shine in Chicago’s brightest lights.”
Drafted No. 1 overall by Chicago in 2007, Kane has collected 1,400 points (508 goals, 892 assists) in 1,369 regular-season games. He ranks second in Blackhawks history in assists (779) and points (1,225) ands is third in goals (446) and games played (1,161).
He won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in 2007-08 and added the Hart Memorial Trophy, Art Ross Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award to his collection in 2015-16.
Kane contributed 57 points (16 goals, 41 assists) in 67 games with the Red Wings in 2025-26.
Kane is a nine-time All-Star and the NHL’s all-time leader in points by an American-born player. He and Alex Ovechkin are the only players with at least 40 points in each of the past 19 seasons.
Kane captured Stanley Cups with Chicago in 2010, 2013 and 2015 and has posted 138 points (53 goals, 85 assists) in 143 career postseason games. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP in 2013.
–Field Level Media
Sports
WR Tyreek Hill: 'No power' in left leg after surgeries
Sep 29, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) is tended to by medical staff after injuring his leg against the New York Jets during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images Free agent wide receiver Tyreek Hill still has “no power” in his surgically repaired left leg, 10 months after undergoing two operations.
The eight-time Pro Bowler and five-time first-team All-Pro selection posted a workout video on YouTube on Wednesday night, updating his recovery from a dislocated left knee and torn ACL sustained in late September last season.
“My left leg is the one that I injured,” said Hill, 32. “I have no power in my left leg, so I’m trying to regain all the power back in my left leg. But it’s one day at a time.”
Hill, who said doctors told him he “might not be able to walk again” after the injury, is seen running and performing a variety of exercises in the video.
With NFL teams starting to report to training camp this week, Hill did not say when he will be ready to get back on the field.
“I ain’t going to tell you what my timeline is, but timeline looking real good right now, man,” Hill said.
The Miami Dolphins released Hill on Feb. 16 in a cost-cutting move after four seasons with the team, making him a free agent for the first time in his career.
Hill caught 21 passes for 265 yards and one touchdown in four games in 2025 before the injury. He has 819 catches for 11,363 yards and 83 TDs in 145 career games for the Kansas City Chiefs (2016-21) and Dolphins (2022-25).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Dallas signs Benji Flowers, 15; reaches deal with Chelsea
Mar 15, 2025; Frisco, Texas, USA; A view of the logo and stadium during the game between FC Dallas and Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images FC Dallas signed 15-year-old U.S. forward Benji Flowers to a first-team deal and agreed to a future transfer to Chelsea FC when he turns 18, The Athletic reported Thursday.
Dallas will receive an initial fee of about $3 million from the Premier League side and up to an additional $7 million in performance-based add-ons, per the report. Triggers for the incentives include how many minutes he plays for Dallas as well as milestones with the U.S. youth national team. Dallas also will retain a sell-on clause, The Athletic reported.
Flowers recently traveled to London to complete the Chelsea portion of the deal, per the report.
The future is bright ??
Benji Fowers has been named to the MLS NEXT All-Star Game! pic.twitter.com/xk0HuFk16q
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) June 24, 2026
Last month, Flowers was named to the MLS NEXT All-Star Game. The FC Dallas Academy product made his debut with North Texas SC on March 21 at 14 years, 11 months and seven days, making him the second-youngest player in that club’s history.
–Field Level Media
Patrick Kane rejoins Blackhawks on 2-year, $16M deal
WR Tyreek Hill: 'No power' in left leg after surgeries
