Sports
Orioles take on visiting Phillies, aiming for third straight victory
Jul 31, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) hits a two RBI triple during the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images The Baltimore Orioles have found enough ways to stay in the chase for an American League wild card. The recent formula has come in the form of comebacks this week.
“I feel like we showed that we can come back all year,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “Like we’ve had some chances and shots that we’ve scratched and clawed to come back.”
The Orioles will look to get it done again Saturday night regardless of how the script plays out when they meet the visiting Philadelphia Phillies in the middle game of a three-game series.
Baltimore is looking for its second three-game winning streak since the All-Star break.
“There are obviously a couple games where we kind of shot ourselves in the foot,” shortstop Gunnar Henderson said. “But overall, I feel like we played better baseball and there’s still, obviously, a lot more room for improvement, but I felt like we started to get back to where we are and trending in the right direction.”
The Phillies have lost eight of their last nine games after falling 6-4 in Friday night’s meeting. They were undone by the Orioles’ four-run seventh inning.
“It feels different to me,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said. “I think early (in the season) when it’s snowballing, it’s a lot easier to go ‘we’re going to be fine,’ I think now it will be a little bit more sense of urgency where we’re at.”
Shortstop Trea Turner had half of Philadelphia’s six hits, including a home run, in the series opener.
Henderson had only one RBI for Baltimore across a nine-game stretch prior to his go-ahead, two-run triple in Friday’s seventh inning.
“It was big for Gunnar, big for us,” Albernaz said. “But big for Gunnar just because, I mean, the standards are high for Gunnar in his eyes and to come through like that for us was huge.”
The Phillies look to starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez (13-4, 2.73 ERA), a left-hander, to launch a turnaround of the team’s fortunes. He’ll be looking for a victory in his fourth consecutive start.
Sanchez was a bit erratic during Sunday night’s six-inning effort in defeating the visiting New York Yankees, giving up three runs and handing out three walks – the most he had issued in a game since April.
Five of Sanchez’s victories this year have come against American League teams. He has faced Baltimore only once, going without a decision while giving up two runs in seven innings in a July 2023 meeting.
The Orioles send right-hander Shane Baz (4-9, 3.98 ERA) to the mound searching for his first victory since June 12. He hasn’t reached the five-inning mark in two of his last three starts.
Baz’s control has improved because in July he issued five walks and struck out 20 batters in 21 innings. In his career, he has made two starts vs. the Phillies, going 0-1 with an 8.31 ERA across 8 2/3 innings.
Baz could be throwing to a Baltimore newcomer after the Orioles acquired catcher Jake Rogers from the Detroit Tigers. He made his debut with the Orioles as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning Friday.
“The intangibles jump off, like great teammate, everything we’ve heard about him,” Albernaz said. “So he’ll fit in nicely with us.”
-Field Level Media
Sports
Pirates acquire veteran RHP Camilo Doval from Yankees
May 27, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Camilo Doval (75) delivers a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the ninth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired right-handed reliever Camilo Doval from the New York Yankees on Saturday in exchange for two prospects.
Doval, 29, is 3-1 with one save and a 4.54 ERA in 44 appearances out of the New York bullpen this season. The Pirates were seeking late-game relief help.
The Yankees received catcher Omar Alfonzo and outfielder Luis Cruz in the deal. New York also included cash as part of the trade.
New York acquired Doval, a former All-Star closer, in a deal with the San Francisco Giants at last year’s trade deadline.
Doval is 29-20 with 109 saves and a 3.53 ERA in 341 career relief outings with the Giants (2021-25) and Yankees. He tied for the National League lead with 39 saves in 2023 when he made the NL All-Star team.
Alfonzo, 22, was batting .238 with nine homers and 35 RBIs in 62 games this season, including 60 for Double-A Altoona.
Cruz, 18, was batting .300 with eight RBIs and eight steals in 19 games for the Pirates’ Dominican Summer League affiliate.
The MLB trade deadline is Monday at 6 p.m. ET.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Blazers sign F Jeremy Sochan to one-year contract
Mar 22, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Jeremy Sochan (20) runs up court after a basket during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Portland Trail Blazers forward Jeremy Sochan agreed to a one-year deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, per ESPN.
Sochan was the ninth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs.
Across three-plus seasons with the Spurs, he averaged 10.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 212 games (149 starts). He shot 46.8% from the field and 28.7% from 3-point range.
He was waived by the Spurs in February. He then signed with the New York Knicks.
The 23-year-old only appeared in 16 regular season games for the Knicks, averaging a meager 6.9 minutes per game. In that limited run, he averaged 2.8 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.8 assists, while shooting 56.7% from the field.
During the postseason, he appeared in eight games during the team’s championship run, playing 26 total minutes and averaging 2.5 points.
Now, the former lottery pick will look to earn a bigger role on a revamped Blazers squad. Portland has a loaded backcourt with Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Jrue Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson. The 6-foot-8 Sochan will give them frontcourt depth behind Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Athletics select LHP Ben Bowden, demote RHP Luis Morales
Jul 27, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Athletics relief pitcher Ben Bowden (62) delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros during the ninth inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images The Athletics selected left-hander Ben Bowden from Triple-A Las Vegas prior to Saturday’s game against the Detroit Tigers.
The 31-year-old was a second-round pick by the Colorado Rockies back in 2016, but has not had much production at the major league level.
Bowden was 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 32 relief appearances for Las Vegas this season.
In 2021, he made his MLB debut for the Rockies, going 3-2 and posting a 6.56 ERA, 1.82 WHIP and 42 strikeouts across 35 2/3 innings.
He returned to the big leagues in 2025, away from hitter-friendly Coors Field, as a member of the Athletics. He had a 4.22 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and seven strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings.
Right-hander Luis Morales was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. He was 0-2 and had a 14.06 ERA across 16 innings over five appearances (two starts) this season.
Morales was 1-3 with a 7.18 ERA in 19 appearances (nine starts) for Las Vegas earlier this season.
–Field Level Media
Pirates acquire veteran RHP Camilo Doval from Yankees
Report: Blazers sign F Jeremy Sochan to one-year contract
