Sports
Fire, Cincinnati bring unbeaten streaks into rematch of draw
Apr 18, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Chicago Fire FC forward Hugo Cuypers (9) scores a goal during the first half of an MLS match against FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-Imagn Images Two weeks after playing to a draw, the Chicago Fire and visiting FC Cincinnati battle again on Saturday.
The 3-3 draw in Cincinnati on April 18 contributed to both teams’ ongoing unbeaten streaks in MLS play. FC Cincinnati (3-4-3, 12 points) are 1-0-3 in their last four regular-season matches, while the Fire are 4-0-1 in their last five.
Chicago (5-2-2, 17 points) did suffer a 2-1 home loss on Wednesday, when St. Louis City SC eliminated the Fire in the U.S. Open Cup’s Round of 16.
The Fire held leads in all three of their losses in all competitions this season, and also led 3-1 through 78 minutes against Cincinnati before settling for the draw.
Midfielder Anton Saletros told On Tap Sports Net on Wednesday that the Fire are “very, very hungry” for Saturday’s rematch.
“We had the three points against Cincinnati and they slipped through our fingers. We are very eager to play at home again and to keep pushing,” Saletros said.
In regular-season play, the Fire have outscored opponents 11-2 at home while posting a 4-1-0 record. FC Cincinnati are winless on the road this season (0-3-2), but unbeaten (4-0-1) in their last five matches in Chicago.
Cincinnati is tied for fifth in the league with 19 goals, but the team’s 23 goals allowed are the fourth-highest total in MLS. Chicago is tied for 10th in goals scored (17) while allowing the sixth-fewest goals (eight) in the league.
The April 18 result gives FC Cincinnati confidence that they can handle the well-rounded Fire.
“It’s … looking at how do they gain advantages to put this really strong attacking group in positions to make plays, and that’s what our focus is,” Cincinnati coach Pat Noonan said. “Hopefully our attack continues and hopefully our defending improves to limit their strengths.”
Nick Hagglund and Matt Miazga were in full training this week, and Noonan said the defenders could return from leg injuries Saturday.
Hugo Cuypers leads Chicago with eight goals and Kevin Denkey leads Cincinnati with six. Both strikers have scored a brace in each of their last two regular-season matches.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Lamenting lack of rest, LAFC face slumping San Diego FC
Apr 25, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Los Angeles Football Club forward Denis Bouanga (99) shoots during the second half against Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images Los Angeles FC have experienced dominating results on the field this season but coach Marc Dos Santos is not too happy with the MLS schedule-makers entering Saturday night’s road match at San Diego FC.
LAFC are coming off a big 2-1 victory over visiting Toluca FC in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals on Wednesday night. Los Angeles doesn’t have much time to prepare before it visits a rival that didn’t play a midweek match.
Dos Santos isn’t just fretting about this weekend assignment. He pointed out he has been frustrated with the schedule since late March.
LAFC played eight matches in April between MLS and Champions Cup play and has five more coming in the first 17 days of May.
“The schedule is a scandal. It’s a scandal,” Dos Santos told reporters. “I don’t understand why MLS … who is the genius in the meeting that says, ‘I have a good idea?’ At some point, it’s enough. Saturday we have to go to San Diego.”
Regardless, LAFC (6-2-2, 20 points) have been thriving and have outscored MLS opponents 17-6. In Champions Cup play, LAFC have outscored their foes 16-5 and are 5-0-2 entering the second semifinal leg at Toluca on May 6.
LAFC also get star forward Denis Bouanga back from a suspension for yellow-card accumulation. He has four goals and four assists in MLS play.
Last season, San Diego went 2-0 against LAFC during its stellar expansion campaign when it won the Western Conference.
Things are much different for San Diego FC (3-5-2, 11 points) this season. The club has lost five straight matches, is winless in its last seven MLS games (0-5-2) and eight overall, counting a loss to Toluca in the Champions Cup Round of 16.
Nobody associated with San Diego was expecting to be sitting in 11th place entering May.
“It’s been a tough period for San Diego FC, five losses in a row,” said San Diego star forward Anders Dreyer, who has five goals and four assists in MLS play. “It’s not what we wanted, but that’s the reality. That’s how it is and we can’t run from that.”
Last weekend, San Diego lost 2-1 to visiting Portland when the Timbers scored the decisive goal in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time.
San Diego coach Mikey Varas is hoping the turnaround begins Saturday.
“It’s a tremendous opportunity for us to take the next step and get back on track,” Varas said. “We know we’re in a tough moment and haven’t been at our best. But we’re working very hard and doing everything possible to get back to it.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Alejandro Osuna hits go-ahead double to lift Rangers over Tigers
May 1, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Danny Jansen (9) receives congratulations from left fielder Alejandro Osuna (19) after he hits a home run in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Alejandro Osuna hit a go-ahead RBI double in the eighth inning as the visiting Texas Rangers opened a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers with a 5-4 win Friday.
Danny Jansen slugged a solo homer and Josh Jung had two hits and two RBIs for Texas, which moved ahead on back-to-back doubles by Jake Burger and Osuna with one out in the eighth against Burch Smith (0-1).
Tyler Alexander (1-0), one of five Texas relievers, pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the win. Jacob Latz retired the Tigers in order in the ninth for his third save.
Riley Greene had two hits and an RBI for Detroit, which has lost three of its last four. Wenceel Perez added a two-run single.
Texas claimed a 1-0 run in the first inning against Jack Flaherty when Brandon Nimmo singled to begin the game and scored from second on Jung’s two-out single to left field.
The Rangers tacked on three runs in the third. Jansen began the inning by depositing a 2-1 slider into the left field seats for his second homer of the season.
Flaherty issued three straight walks to Nimmo, Evan Carter and Corey Seager before the Rangers scored twice on Jung’s single and Joc Pederson’s sacrifice fly.
Nimmo singled in the fourth inning before exiting the game with right hamstring tightness.
Flaherty gave up four runs on five hits over 3 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out four.
Detroit cut into the deficit with three runs in the bottom of the fourth against Texas starter MacKenzie Gore.
Spencer Torkelson drew a two-out walk to load the bases before Perez singled in two runs and Hao-Yu Lee delivered an RBI single.
With runners on the corners, Cole Winn replaced Gore and struck out Gleyber Torres to end the inning.
Gore allowed three runs on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings.
The Tigers pulled even with a run in the fifth. Detroit put runners on the corners with one out before Jalen Beeks replaced Winn and allowed a run on Greene’s forceout.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Ben Rice (3-run HR) backs Will Warren as Yankees beat O's
May 1, 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 Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Ben Rice continued his torrid start by hitting a three-run homer in the second inning Friday night and the host New York Yankees recorded a 7-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
The Yankees won for the 11th time in their past 13 games in their return from a 7-2 road trip against the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers.
Jose Caballero also homered and Cody Bellinger hit an RBI double as the Yankees rebounded from getting blanked for the second time this season. Aaron Judge added an RBI single in the eighth, reached base four times and scored on Bellinger’s double and Amed Rosario’s single in the seventh.
New York’s Will Warren (4-0) allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in 6 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out nine, walked one and won his third consecutive start.
Pete Alonso hit a tying homer in his first at-bat in New York since joining the Orioles on a five-year, $155 million contract after he was not offered a contract by the New York Mets in the offseason.
Baltimore’s Cade Povich (1-1) was tagged for five runs on seven hits in four innings. The left-hander struck out four and walked two.
In the first of seven meetings with the Yankees over the next two weeks, the Orioles were held to three hits and lost for the 10th time in 15 games. Earlier in the day, Baltimore put closer Ryan Helsley on the injured list with elbow inflammation.
Alonso forged a 1-1 tie by hitting a 1-1 sinker into the second deck in right field but the Yankees answered with a four-run second.
Caballero homered down the left field line by hitting Povich’s first-pitch fastball. Following a two-out double by Trent Grisham and a walk by Paul Goldschmidt, Rice hammered a 1-0 slider into the right field seats.
It was Rice’s 11th homer, one behind Judge for the team lead. It also was the first baseman’s seventh in the past 14 games and fifth off a left-handed pitcher this season.
Warren retired 12 straight until Alonso walked with one out in the seventh. After Samuel Bassallo singled and took second on Grisham’s error in center field, Fernando Cruz came in and allowed a run-scoring groundout to Dylan Beavers before finishing the inning.
Camilo Doval and Jake Bird pitched an inning apiece to close out the win.
–Field Level Media
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Lamenting lack of rest, LAFC face slumping San Diego FC
