Sports
Justin Wrobleski moves to 4-0 as Dodgers blank Cubs
Apr 26, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski (70) pitches against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images Shohei Ohtani hit his first home run in 13 games and Justin Wrobleski continued his strong start to the season with six scoreless innings as the Los Angeles Dodgers finished off a 6-0 victory over the visiting Chicago Cubs on Sunday.
Miguel Rojas hit a two-run double in the first inning and Dalton Rushing had a two-run single in the sixth as the Dodgers won two of three against the Cubs and took a home series for the fourth time in five tries.
Wrobleski (4-0) gave up four hits with six strikeouts, but matched a season-high with four walks. The left-hander lowered his ERA to 1.50 in 30 innings over five appearances and four consecutive starts.
Shota Imanaga (2-2) gave up a season-high five runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings with three walks and six strikeouts. Imanaga allowed more runs than his last four starts combined (three).
Chicago’s offense was held to four hits and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Michael Busch delivered the only extra-base hit, a double to lead off the second inning.
The Cubs lost their second consecutive game following a 10-game winning streak.
Andy Pages delivered a sacrifice fly to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the opening inning and Rojas added his two-run double two batters later.
Wrobleski worked through early trouble, leaving two Cubs runners aboard in the first inning and the bases loaded in the second. He put the leadoff batter on base in four of his six innings.
Rushing gave the Dodgers a 5-0 lead with his two-run single in the sixth and Ohtani hit a solo home run to left-center in the seventh inning, his sixth of the season. The blast ended Ohtani’s longest stretch without a home run since joining Los Angeles for the 2024 season.
Ohtani was the lone player to produce multiple hits, as he went 3-for-3 with a walk, two runs and an RBI.
Edgardo Henriquez, Jack Dreyer and Kyle Hurt each pitched a scoreless inning without allowing a hit as the Dodgers earned their third shutout victory of 2026 and the second in the past four games.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mets deal reliever A.J. Minter to Twins
Jun 7, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher A.J. Minter (33) throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images The New York Mets have begun their expected sell-off of veterans before the trade deadline, with the first deal bringing a familiar last name back to Queens.
The last-place Mets traded left-handed reliever A.J. Minter to the Minnesota Twins on Friday in exchange for minor league infielders Bruin Agbayani and Billy Amick.
Agbayani, 19, is the son of former Mets outfielder Benny Agbayani, a fan favorite in his playing days.
Minter, 32, is set to become a free agent after the season. He is 1-1 with a 2.35 ERA and 20 strikeouts and just two walks across 23 innings in 23 appearances this season, his second in New York after eight seasons with Atlanta. He is 25-30 with 36 saves and a 3.18 ERA and 456 strikeouts over 382 2/3 innings in 420 games in his career.
Minter suffered a lat muscle tear last season that delayed his 2026 debut to late May, which could help explain his dip in velocity.
Agbayani was the Twins’ sixth-round draft pick last year out of Saint Louis School in Honolulu. He played 10 games for Class-A Fort Myers this season, batting .268 with no homers and six RBIs, before being sidelined since mid-May due to a right shoulder ailment.
Amick, 23, was Minnesota’s second-round draft choice in 2024 out of the University of Tennessee. He hit .217 with 23 homers and 72 RBIs in 86 games for Double-A Wichita this season.
The Twins enter Friday three games behind the Chicago White Sox for the American League Central lead and one game back of fellow Central foe Cleveland for the final AL wild-card spot.
The Mets, in the cellar in the National League East, hold the second-worst record (47-63) in the NL behind only the Colorado Rockies (42-67).
Among the players they are expected to try to move are relievers Luke Weaver and Brooks Raley as well as starters Freddy Peralta and Clay Holmes.
The trade deadline is 6 p.m. ET on Monday.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Karl Ravech not quite finished at ESPN
Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; ESPN commentator Karl Ravech before the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Longtime anchor and play-by-play announcer Karl Ravech, laid off 10 days ago by ESPN, is not quite finished with the network.
Viewers of ESPN’s coverage of the game between the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals on Thursday night heard Ravech on the call. And The Athletic reported that Ravech still has a few more baseball tasks for the network.
He served as ESPN’s lead MLB announcer and the network’s voice of the College World Series before being laid off.
Per the report, Ravech will be in the booth when the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners meet on Aug. 12. He will follow that by calling some games in the Little League World Series, one of the events closely associated with Ravech through the years.
The LLWS will be held Aug. 19-30 in Williamsport, Pa.
Ravech, 61, began work at ESPN in 1993 and anchored “SportsCenter” and hosted “Baseball Tonight”. He also called college basketball games.
ESPN parted with several employees who work both in front of the camera and behind the scenes in its latest round of layoffs. NFL analyst Ryan Clark and NFL insider Tom Pelissero were among the most prominent cuts.
These layoffs were linked to ESPN’s acquisition of NFL Network, according to an internal memo from ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro that multiple media outlets obtained.
The Athletic said it is expected that Ravech’s time on air at ESPN will conclude with the end of his baseball assignments.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Whitecaps acquire Canadian F Kwasi Poku
May 22, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Forge FC Hamilton midfielder Kwasi Poku (20) celebrates after scoring a goal against the CF Montreal during the first half at Stade Saputo. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images The Vancouver Whitecaps acquired Canadian striker Kwasi Poku from Belgium’s RWDM Brussels.
Poku, 23, agreed to a contract through 2027-28 with a club option for the 2028-29 MLS campaign.
He recorded six goals in 31 appearances with the Belgian side from 2024-26.
“We are excited to welcome Kwasi to our group,” Vancouver sporting director Axel Schuster said in announcing the deal on Thursday. “Kwasi is a young, talented Canadian international who brings pace, intelligent movement, and finishing ability to our attack. He has the qualities and mindset to continue his development, and we are excited to help him take the next step in his career while strengthening our team.”
Poku previously played three seasons with Forge FC in the Canadian Premier League, posting 13 goals and four assists in 70 appearances (47 starts) from 2022-24.
“I’m very excited to be joining Whitecaps FC, for me, it feels like a fresh start and it’s great to be back in my home country,” said Poku, who is from Ontario. “I can’t wait to make my debut at BC Place and meet all of you. I understand this is a winning team, and I want to continue that legacy and make even more history.”
Poku earned his first senior cap for the Canadian national team on Oct. 15, 2024, coming off the bench in a 2-1 win in a friendly against Panama.
–Field Level Media
Mets deal reliever A.J. Minter to Twins
Report: Karl Ravech not quite finished at ESPN
