Sports
Early upsets wreak havoc on NFL survivor pools
Sep 16, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) talks with head coach Nick Sirianni during a timeout in the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images The rash of major upsets through the first two weeks of the NFL season has wreaked havoc with survivor pools — contests in which fans select one game each week and continue to advance until their pick in a given week loses.
One of the most popular among regulated sportsbooks is the Circa Survivor, which boasted 14,266 contestants to begin the regular season and a record $14.266 million prize pool. However, nearly 40 percent of those were eliminated in Week 1, with New England’s shocking upset win over Cincinnati knocking out 34.3 percent of the field alone.
The Bengals entered the game as more than a touchdown favorite, only to lose at home 16-10. Another 3 percent of the field was eliminated when Atlanta lost at home to Pittsburgh and Steelers backup quarterback Justin Fields.
The carnage didn’t end there, with the Falcons rebounding to upset Philadelphia on Monday Night Football to finish Week 2. That laid waste to another 785 entries — leaving only 27.2 percent (3,877 entries) of the original pool alive in the contest.
Now in its sixth year, Circa reported a record number of eliminations through the first two weeks of a season. It led the book to create a “Circa Survivor Empathy Package,” with contestants with one-to-two entries eliminated being offered a two-night stay and three or more entries eliminated offered a three-night stay on Mondays through Thursdays (Nov. 4-Dec. 26) at the Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas or two other properties, and a free day bed at the outdoor Stadium Swim sportsbook.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Yankees place LHP Max Fried on IL, recall RHP Elmer Rodriguez
Apr 11, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried (54) looks on against the Tampa Bay Rays in the sixth inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images The New York Yankees placed left-hander Max Fried on the 15-day injured list Saturday and recalled right-handed pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The move involving Fried is retroactive to Thursday and was made after an MRI exam and CT scan revealed a left elbow bone bruise.
After getting off to a brilliant start in 2026, Fried (4-3, 3.21 ERA) struggled in May, allowing 11 earned runs and 17 hits in 14 1/3 innings over three starts. He left Wednesday’s start in Baltimore after only three innings while allowing three earned runs on 61 pitches.
Fried, 32, was 4-1 with a 2.09 ERA through seven starts (47 1/3 IP) in March and April.
After spending eight years with the Atlanta Braves (2017-24), Fried signed an eight-year, $218 million contract with the Yankees prior to the 2025 campaign. He made his third All-Star team with New York, posing a 19-5 record with a 2.86 ERA in 32 starts.
Fried is 96-44 in 210 appearances (194 starts) with a 3.04 ERA in 10 major league seasons.
Rodriguez, 22, made his MLB debut on April 29, allowing two runs on four hits with four walks in four innings of a 3-0 setback to the Texas Rangers. He was optioned back to Triple-A on May 6.
Rodriguez is 0-1 with a 5.19 ERA in two games (both starts) with the Yankees this season and owns a 1-2 record with a 1.38 ERA in five appearances (all starts) in Triple-A.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Justin Rose, others enter PGA fray with 65s on easier Aronimink
May 16, 2026; Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA; Justin Rose prepares to putt on the 14th green during the third round of the PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — The PGA Championship saw exactly one round of 65 and one 66 over the course of the first two rounds at Aronimink Golf Club.
Before 2 p.m. local time Saturday, three players had posted 5-under 65s: Chris Kirk, Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan and Englishman Justin Rose.
Another low round was in the works, as Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland had six birdies and one bogey through 15 holes to tie the 36-hole leaders at 4 under par.
After two days of conversation about untenable pin locations and surprisingly challenging conditions, Aronimink Golf Club was open for business on a sunny Saturday afternoon in the Philadelphia suburbs.
Kirk, in fact, was one birdie away from shooting the sixth round of 62 in major championship history. After leaving his approach at No. 18 short of the green, though, he took out his putter and sent his ball 8 1/2 feet past the pin. He failed to save par, then his short comebacker hit the lip and a gasp ran through the crowd as Kirk carded his double-bogey 6.
“When I’m not playing particularly well, I tend to play more conservative. When I’m having a nice day and making putts, I’m going to try to keep the pedal down as long as I can,” Kirk said. “I was trying to make that putt from the front fringe on 18. It just doesn’t always work out that way.”
You’d forgive him for being aggressive. Kirk, Reitan and Rose each started the day 3 over par for the championship, inside the cut line by one stroke. They needed to put the “move” in “moving day.”
“I’m hoping the lead doesn’t stretch more than 6 or 7 (under),” Rose said. “That’s kind of what I’m kind of sitting here hoping. I think, if you don’t get off to a fast start, then you’re going to kind of get to, let’s say, the seventh hole, eighth hole, and you’re going to be like, geez, you know the easy holes are running out.”
To wit, Kirk and Rose did most of their damage on the front nine. Rose went out in 5-under 30 with birdies at Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9. Kirk had five birdies in a six-hole stretch before bogeying the tough par-3 eighth.
Reitan got to 65 another way — he eagled the par-4 13th and par-5 16th holes. The PGA of America moved up the tee at No. 13 Saturday, making it a drivable 292 yards; Reitan’s tee shot hit the pin with some momentum before settling to 6 feet for an easy eagle.
The 28-year-old Norwegian just won last week’s Truist Championship for his first PGA Tour title. He, Rose and Kirk agreed on the two main factors making Aronimink scorable today: pin positions that are less diabolical, and warmer weather with less wind than Thursday and Friday.
“I think they’re probably halfway responsible, both of those two factors,” Reitan said, before warning that the weather may not stay that way all afternoon.
“I don’t know how it’s going to look like this afternoon, but happy to get out early and try to take — or take advantage of the early morning conditions.”
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler called the PGA of America’s pin locations “absurd” Friday, adding that he felt they are the toughest he’s seen since turning pro. Some were positioned on small shelves within a green or on a tricky slope.
“Pin locations is a big difference, for sure,” Kirk said Saturday. “There’s a handful of really tough ones out there still, but for the most part, they’re much, much more accessible than they have been the last few days.
“It is warming up, and I think that makes a big difference,” Rose added. “Suddenly the ball is going a bit further. I think players feel a little bit better in T-shirts, and the body works a bit better, people start hitting the ball a little bit further.”
Second-round leaders Maverick McNealy and Alex Smalley are scheduled to tee off at 2:40 p.m. local time. Others making a move up the leaderboard in the meantime were Xander Schauffele (4 under for his round, 3 under for tournament) and Spaniard Jon Rahm (-3, -2).
–Adam Zielonka, Field Level Media
Sports
Nashville SC surging ahead of visit from fading LAFC
Apr 18, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Nashville SC forward Hany Mukhtar (10) kicks the ball to a teammate during the game against the Atlanta United during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images Nashville SC will be out to build on their Eastern Conference lead when they play host to Los Angeles FC on Sunday night.
Nashville SC (8-1-3, 27 points) entered the weekend atop the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of Inter Miami. One of the stingiest sides around, the club has conceded only eight goals, tied with Seattle for fewest in MLS at the start of Saturday’s play.
Like elite teams do, Nashville is getting contributions from everywhere. With central midfielders Eddi Tagseth and Patrick Yazbek sidelined due to injury Wednesday at New England, replacement Bryan Acosta stepped in and delivered two goals during a 3-0 victory.
Both goals Acosta were assisted by Cristian Espinoza, whose acquisition from the San Jose Earthquakes in the offseason provided another dangerous player to go along with Sam Surridge, Hany Mukhtar and Warren Madrigal. The foursome has combined for 20 goals and 15 assists.
Nashville SC coach B.J. Callaghan said Mukhtar, who’s been with the club since its first match in 2020, continues to lead the way.
“He’s just been so selfless in doing a lot of work to open up the opportunities for other guys,” Callaghan said.
LAFC (6-4-3, 21 points) fell 2-1 at St. Louis City SC on Wednesday for their first loss to the four-year old franchise. LAFC owned an 18-7 advantage in shots but got only four toward net and marked poorly in key situations, allowing defenders to log both St. Louis City goals.
First-year LAFC coach Marc Dos Santos said his team is worn down physically from playing twice a week since the season started in late February because of CONCACAF Champions Cup commitments.
“None of our players right now are at 100% and it’s just a reality that we’re facing,” said Dos Santos, whose team is winless over its last four matches across all competitions. “Sometimes, there are moments that are just difficult for a team and don’t go your way. Right now, we’re in a moment like that.”
LAFC forward Hueng-Min Son remains without a goal in 11 league matches (10 starts) this season but does have eight assists.
–Field Level Media
