Sports
Lamar Jackson, Ravens brace for challenge from upstart Broncos
Oct 27, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs the ball against the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images The Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos are in a position to make the postseason with a strong finish to the second half of the season.
The Ravens and Broncos are both 5-3 and in second place in the AFC North and AFC West, respectively. The teams will test their mettle against each other on Sunday afternoon in Baltimore.
The Ravens are led by two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is playing at the highest level of his career.
“He’s been playing great and we’ve got a lot of football in front of us here,” Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh said of Jackson, who sat out practice on Wednesday for rest purposes. “We’ve got a game, quick game, another big game coming up. So that was warranted.”
Rookie Bo Nix has given the Broncos hope for the future and has led them to two straight victories. Nix has thrown for 1,530 yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions. He could have success against the Ravens’ pass defense, which is ranked last in the NFL by allowing 291.4 yards per game.
“For a rookie quarterback, I think all of these are steps,” Denver coach Sean Payton said about Nix. “Confidence steps. We’ve seen it. The key is — and I’ve said it — the key is around him. Are we good enough at these other positions around him? That’s what we’re constantly looking (at). We have to paint the picture, and when we do that, we’ll have success. We’ll move the ball.”
The Ravens secondary also isn’t doing itself any favors.
Last week, safety Kyle Hamilton bobbled an easy interception that could have sealed the win against Cleveland. On the very next play, Jameis Winston threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Cedric Tillman to help fuel the Browns to a 29-24 victory. Safety Eddie Jackson, who also dropped two potential interceptions in the game, was beaten badly on the touchdown.
Courtland Sutton leads Denver with 29 receptions for 377 yards with two touchdowns.
“We’ll make those plays, we’ll work hard at it, and we’ll continue to work even harder at it, because it’s something that we want our guys to have confidence in,” Harbaugh said. “We have guys with good hands; they can catch the ball. I’m very confident that we’re going to do it going forward, but I’d like to see it happen really soon.”
The Ravens allow just 69.9 yards rushing per game, tops in the NFL. However, they are dealing with several key injuries.
Defensive end Brent Urban had to leave the game against the Browns with a concussion. Defensive tackle Travis Jones was able to play despite an ankle injury, but he was limited to 15 snaps and did not practice Wednesday. Nose tackle Michael Pierce was placed on injured reserve with a calf injury and will miss at least the next four games.
The Broncos’ rushing game could pose a challenge. Denver averages 121.4 yards rushing per game, led by the duo of Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin.
“Stopping the run this game is going to be really important — it’s going to be huge,” Harbaugh said. “(The Broncos are) a running team, and they run it really well, and they run it a lot, so it’s going to be a big part of the game plan.”
Much of the Ravens’ success has revolved around Jackson and running back Derrick Henry. Baltimore leads the league in total offense (452.1 yards per game) and rushing offense (200 ypg). The Ravens also are second in average points per game (30.3).
Jackson is having another MVP-caliber season, throwing for 2,099 yards with 17 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He also is second on the team with 501 yards rushing.
Henry leads the NFL with 946 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. He also has two scoring receptions. The Broncos defense has been stout and is ranked third in yards (282.6 yards per game) and points (15 points per game).
“This is our toughest challenge by far,” Payton said about the Ravens.
Broncos safety P.J. Locke (thumb) and offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey (knee) did not practice on Wednesday.
–Field Level Media
Sports
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 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
Sports
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. 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
Sports
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 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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