Sports
Oklahoma State, UCF trying to climb out of bottom of Big 12
Feb 15, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; UCF Knights guard Keyshawn Hall (4) warms up before the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at the CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Oklahoma State and UCF — who entered this week tied for 13th place in the Big 12 standings — open their regular-season series on Wednesday night in Stillwater, Okla.
The rematch is scheduled for March 5 in Orlando, Fla. That leads up to the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City, Mo., where both teams appear headed for one of the four first-round games on March 11.
UCF (13-12, 4-10 Big 12) is mired in a six-game skid that included a double-digit setback to conference cellar-dweller Colorado on Saturday. Oklahoma State (12-13, 4-10) dropped below .500 for the first time this season following Saturday’s 93-55 blowout loss to then-No. 12 Texas Tech.
UCF’s Keyshawn Hall continues to lead the Big 12 in scoring during conference play at 21.1 points per game. But after hitting 14 triples in a four-point loss at Kansas on Jan. 28, the Knights shot just 28.2 percent (33 of 117) as a team from beyond the arc over the next five games.
Moreover, UCF has not outscored an opponent in the second half during its six-game slide. Colorado followed suit with a 38-27 scoring edge after halftime to win 76-63 on Saturday.
“To start the second half, I thought for us, I thought we got some pretty good shots,” UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said. “We didn’t hit them and that helped (the Buffaloes’) run too, so they had some good shots in the second half, and they were able to knock them down. I thought we had some pretty good looks, and we didn’t knock them down, and that’s part of basketball.”
Three days after a buzzer-beating loss at TCU, Oklahoma State struggled badly against Texas Tech for the Cowboys’ largest margin of defeat since 2019, when they lost by 39 at Kansas State.
Marchelus Avery scored a team-high 13 points as Oklahoma State fell to 9-3 at home.
“We’re better than that,” Cowboys coach Steve Lutz said. “We’ve been playing better than that, and for whatever reason (Saturday), we did not compete at the level that we need to compete at in this league in order to be successful.”
Avery scores 12.2 points per game, Abou Ousmane adds 11.8 and Bryce Thompson averages 11.6 for the Cowboys.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Stephen Curry's Future With the Warriors Suddenly Feels Less Certain
You can add the Golden State Warriors to your list of teams that missed out on LeBron James this summer.
The Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat are all probably a little miffed about LeBron’s drawn out decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency.
But as Golden State appears stuck in the middle of a loaded Western Conference, reports are circulating that superstar guard Stephen Curry might no longer be on the same page as the front office.
“I think he’s probably tired of the star chasing,” The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II reported.
After Kevin Durant’s departure, the Warriors won the 2022 NBA Championship by defeating the Boston Celtics. That was Steph’s first championship, and Curry won his first career Finals MVP.
But the Warriors have failed to reach the mountaintop since that last title six years ago. Curry is older. Draymond Green is older. Klay Thompson left Golden State in 2024 to join the Dallas Mavericks.
Curry is eligible for an extension at the end of August, and it’ll be very fascinating to see what the 38-year-old decides to do. If he decides to wait on a contract extension, Curry will be an unrestricted free agent in 2027. Even at 39, he would have no shortage of suitors if he decides to keep playing.
It’s so hard to imagine Curry in anything but a Warriors jersey. Right now, he’s faced with an interesting dilemma. He can become one of the rare NBA stars to play their entire career with the same team. It helps his case to be mentioned in the same breath as what Kobe Bryant meant to the Los Angeles Lakers and what Tim Duncan meant to the San Antonio Spurs.
On popular prediction markets, like Kalshi, that allow users to buy and sell contracts of real-world outcomes, Curry certainly has a chance to be moved. Kalshi has a market for Stephen Curry’s next team – if the future Hall of Famer is moved ahead of October 21, 2026.
It would be a blockbuster surprise if Curry were to be traded months before the deadline. But as of July 26, over $135,000 in volume has been traded on Curry’s next team.
On Kalshi, the overwhelmingly most likely outcome is for Curry to remain with the Warriors or retire by October 21st, an implied 87% chance of happening. They give the Spurs a 13% chance, the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks both have an 11% chance and Curry’s hometown Charlotte Hornets have a 9% chance. These odds will fluctuate by the minute.
Don’t expect the Warriors to trade Curry before the calendar flips to 2027. It would be a huge surprise if they did. But this report of a slight rift is something that bears monitoring.
Curry is still one of the great guards in this sport. He has a legacy to think about. And he just watched his buddy LeBron leave a pretty comfortable situation with the Lakers to gamble on bringing a championship to his fourth franchise.
Winning is what makes these greats happy. They want to contend for championships. The Warriors are planning for their future, so of course Curry doesn’t like that.
Sports
White Sox acquire RHP Jose Urquidy in trade with Pirates
Mar 9, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jose Urquidy (65) throws a pitch against the New York Yankees in the third inning during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images The Chicago White Sox acquired right-hander Jose Urquidy from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday in exchange for minor league pitcher Felix Doroteo.
Pittsburgh designated Urquidy for assignment Friday after he struggled during a brief five-game stint with the Pirates. The 31-year-old went 0-1 with an 8.53 ERA and six strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings out of the bullpen.
Urquidy spent most of the year with Triple-A Indianapolis, posting a 5-4 record and 3.66 ERA across 17 starts. He struck out 73 batters over 83 2/3 innings.
The former Houston Astros starter owns a 27-17 record and 4.07 ERA in 86 major league appearances, including 70 starts, over seven seasons with the Astros, Detroit Tigers and Pirates.
Urquidy underwent his second Tommy John surgery in 2024 before returning with Detroit last season.
Pittsburgh receives Doroteo, a 21-year-old right-hander in his first professional season. He went 3-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 18 innings across 16 appearances for the Arizona Complex League White Sox.
–Field Level Media
Sports
MLB roundup: Marlins blow lead to Padres, lose club-record 12th straight
Jul 26, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) celebrates with center fielder Jackson Merrill (3) after hitting a two-run home run against the Miami Marlins during the eighth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill homered in the four-run eighth inning to help the visiting San Diego Padres rally for a 5-3 win on Sunday and extend the Miami Marlins’ losing streak to a franchise-record 12 straight games.
Machado also had an RBI double in the fifth that sparked the comeback after being down 3-0. Jake Cronenworth contributed three hits and scored twice, and Ty France, Luis Rengifo and Merrill had two hits each for San Diego, which swept the three-game series.
Padres starter Walker Buehler surrendered three runs (two earned) and four hits in 5 1/3 innings. The veteran right-hander struck out seven and walked two. Mason Miller pitched the ninth for his 27th save.
Kyle Stowers doubled and homered for the Marlins, who had lost 11 in a row three other times in team history, most recently in June 2011. Miami starter Janson Junk went 4 2/3 innings, allowing one run and scattering seven hits before Lake Bachar (1-2) allowed two homers in the first four at-bats of the eighth.
Rays 1, Guardians 0
Drew Rasmussen allowed one hit over seven shutout innings while Chandler Simpson manufactured the game’s lone run as Tampa Bay completed a three-game sweep of Cleveland in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Rasmussen (9-5) walked one and struck out nine after allowing Steven Kwan’s double to begin the game. Simpson (two hits) led off the Rays’ fifth with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch and then to third on Ben Williamson’s groundout before scoring on Cedric Mullins’ bunt single.
Parker Messick (8-6) was a hard-luck loser for the Guardians after giving up one run on six hits over 7 2/3 innings. He struck out six with zero walks.
Braves 3, Orioles 2 (11 innings)
Austin Riley doubled in the go-ahead run, Tyler Kinley protected the lead and Atlanta beat host Baltimore in the rubber game of the three-game series.
Dominic Smith drove in two runs with a pair of singles and finished with three hits while starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez threw 5 2/3 shutout innings for the Braves, who won for the eighth time in their last 11 games. Kinley delivered 1 1/3 scoreless innings, leaving the bases loaded in both the 10th and 11th innings.
Pete Alonso homered for the Orioles, who tied the game in the bottom of the ninth thanks to a costly Ozzie Albies error but then wasted game-winning opportunities in the next two innings. Andrew Kittredge (1-3) took the loss after Shane Baz allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits over 4 1/3 innings.
Pirates 8, Cubs 7
Ryan O’Hearn celebrated his 33rd birthday by belting his second grand slam of the season and fourth of his career as host Pittsburgh held on to beat Chicago.
The Pirates’ Shawn Ross launched a two-run homer in his second MLB game while rookie Esmerlyn Valdez also went deep and added an RBI single. Brandon Lowe collected three hits and two runs as Pittsburgh snapped a three-game losing streak.
Seiya Suzuki hit a two-run homer in the ninth for the Cubs. Pete Crow-Armstrong ripped an RBI triple and Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner and Pedro Ramirez each added an RBI single.
Nationals 10, Diamondbacks 7
CJ Abrams and James Wood each homered twice as Washington beat visiting Arizona to take the rubber game in the series between National League wild-card contenders.
Abrams finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs to boost his numbers to seven homers and 14 RBIs in his last seven games. Wood became the fifth MLB player to reach the 30-homer mark this season, while Dylan Crews added three hits.
Geraldo Perdomo and Ketel Marte homered for the Diamondbacks and Gabriel Moreno had two doubles and a sacrifice fly.
Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 1
Boston starter Ranger Suarez and four relievers combined to shut down visiting Toronto to clinch the team’s sixth straight series win.
Suarez, pitching for the first time since July 5 due to a groin strain, was taken out after four scoreless innings and 64 pitches, allowing four hits. Jarren Duran and Jahmai Jones each delivered two-run hits to give the Red Sox pitching staff plenty of run support. Boston has won 17 of its last 19 games.
Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman (4-10) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings. Toronto has lost eight straight Gausman starts, and the 35-year-old has not won since May 22. Andres Gimenez prevented the shutout with an RBI single which plated Daulton Varsho with two outs in the ninth.
Royals 5, Tigers 4
Michael Massey hit a two-out, two-run homer in the eighth inning and visiting Kansas City hung on for a win over Detroit.
Massey’s eighth homer made a winner of Nate Pearson (2-0), who was making his Royals debut after being acquired in a trade with Houston. Lane Thomas had a solo homer and Luke Maile added an RBI double as the Royals salvaged a split of the four-game series.
Dillon Dingler had two hits and drove in two runs for the Tigers.
Mets 8, Dodgers 3
Tyrone Taylor’s go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning propelled New York to the victory over visiting Los Angeles.
The veteran outfielder greeted reliever Evan Phillips with a 405-foot blast into the left field seats for his eighth homer of the season and fifth since July 4. Marcus Semien added another three-run shot for the Mets as they snapped a three-game skid.
Freddie Freeman had an RBI while going 2-for-4 for his fourth straight multi-hit game. Tommy Edman and Teoscar Hernandez also went 2-for-4.
White Sox 12, Astros 3
Miguel Vargas hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the sixth inning and Munetaka Murakami added a pair of homers as host Chicago routed Houston to avoid a series sweep.
Murakami went 3-for-5 with a career-high six RBIs. Sean Newcomb (1-2) worked around a hit and walk to get the final two outs in the sixth to notch the victory.
Jeremy Pena cracked solo homers in his first two at-bats and Taylor Trammell added a solo homer for the Astros, whose five-game winning streak came to a close. In his second start since returning from Tommy John surgery, Ronel Blanco (0-1) scattered five runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings with three walks and four strikeouts.
Twins 11, Athletics 8
Ryan Jeffers went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, and Minnesota held on to beat the Athletics in Minneapolis.
Ryan Kreidler finished 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI for the Twins, who won the rubber match of the three-game series. Kody Clemens went 3-for-5 with two triples and an RBI.
Nick Kurtz hit a three-run home run to lead the Athletics. Jeff McNeil was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Brewers 11, Rockies 2
Jacob Misiorowski retired the first 14 batters he faced and finished with 12 strikeouts, Andrew Vaughn homered and host Milwaukee beat Colorado to take the rubber match in the series.
Misiorowski (11-4) struck out seven in a row to start the game and 12 of the first 13 batters he faced with pitches consistently above 100 mph. Cole Carrigg ended the bid for a perfect game with an opposite-field homer to left in the fifth inning.
Carrigg’s home run was his fifth of the season and Willi Castro hit a solo home run in the seventh for the Rockies, who finished with five hits and fanned 15 times.
Reds 5, Cardinals 3 (10 innings)
Cincinnati scored three times in the top of the 10th inning to take the rubber match over host St. Louis.
Nathaniel Lowe went 3-for-5, including a two-run RBI single in the 10th. Elly De La Cruz added a home run for the Reds. Starter Andrew Abbott allowed two runs on three hits and fanned four in six innings. Brock Burke (4-4) retired all four batters he faced in the eighth and ninth, and Julian Garcia picked up his first career save.
Cardinals starter Kyle Leahy struck out a career-high nine batters while holding Cincinnati to two runs on six hits in six innings. Reliever Matt Svanson (2-3) allowed all three runs (two earned) in the 10th. Alec Burleson went 3-for-5 for St. Louis, scoring once and driving in a run.
Mariners 6, Rangers 4
Dominic Canzone and Randy Arozarena hit back-to-back homers in the seventh inning as Seattle rallied to defeat Texas in an American League West showdown at Arlington, Texas.
Reliever Gabe Speier (2-2) pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings with three strikeouts to earn the victory, and Andres Munoz struck out the side in the ninth for his 18th save of the season. The Mariners snapped a four-game skid and moved past Houston to regain second place in the division, 1 1/2 games behind the Rangers.
Ezequiel Duran went deep for Texas, which had won the first two games in the four-game series that concludes Monday.
Angels 4, Giants 3
Jorge Soler and Jo Adell hit fourth-inning home runs, Jose Soriano threw five sharp innings and Los Angeles salvaged one game in their road interleague series against San Francisco.
Mike Trout went 4-for-4 for the Angels, who snapped a three-game losing streak. The four-hit game was Trout’s first since April 2021 and 21st of his career. His other three hits were singles.
Both starters went five innings. Soriano (9-6) allowed just the unearned run and three hits, with three walks and five strikeouts. The Giants’ Carson Whisenhunt (2-1) was charged with all four Los Angeles runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out seven.
–Field Level Media
Stephen Curry's Future With the Warriors Suddenly Feels Less Certain
White Sox acquire RHP Jose Urquidy in trade with Pirates
