Sports
Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs ride hot stretch into finale vs. Orioles
Jul 8, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4), left celebrates with outfielder Michael Conforto (20) after defeating the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images It doesn’t matter where the production is coming from for the Chicago Cubs, as long as it keeps coming.
The lineup has been stout at times, particularly this week in a pair of road victories against the Baltimore Orioles.
The Cubs will vie for a sweep of the three-game series on Thursday afternoon; they’ve won 12 of their last 15 games overall.
The Orioles have a three-game losing streak for the third time in less than a month. Even a victory Thursday won’t prevent Baltimore’s fourth consecutive series loss at home.
Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has 14 home runs since June 3 after going deep twice Wednesday night as part of Chicago’s five-homer outburst in a 9-7 victory over the Orioles.
In the two games in Baltimore, seven different Cubs have driven in at least one run. Chicago has had production at the bottom of the batting order and the top.
“Getting contributions at different places of the lineup is something that is going to make us consistent, and that’s important,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.
The Orioles hit four home runs Wednesday, including two from pinch hitters.
“That’s what I love about the guys that, they’re not in the lineup, they know their name could be called and they’re ready for it,” Baltimore manager Craig Albernaz said. “And our guys did a good job of fighting back.”
The starting time of the series finale has been moved up five hours to 1:35 p.m. ET because of weather concerns.
The Orioles will have left-hander Trevor Rogers (6-7, 4.70 ERA) as their starting pitcher. He has had four strong outings in a row, giving up a total of three runs across 24 innings while going 3-1.
Rogers avoided giving up a run in five innings Friday in a 3-0 victory at Cincinnati despite issuing a season-high five walks.
He has faced the Cubs once in his career, going 0-1 despite giving up one run in eight innings and striking out eight last August.
The Cubs will turn to a left-handed starter for the second time in the series, with David Peterson (4-7, 6.75 ERA) getting the nod. He has won once since May 21 and will try to make amends from his last performance, when St. Louis racked up 10 runs in 3 2/3 innings against him on Friday in the Cardinals’ 17-1 victory.
Peterson is 1-1 with a 2.66 ERA in five all-time outings covering 23 2/3 innings against Baltimore.
The Orioles didn’t score in six innings Tuesday against Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, adding to what has been a troublesome trend for Baltimore’s offense against left-handers.
The Cubs might have other pitching options this week.
Right-hander Jameson Taillon, who has been on the injured list, is with the team in Baltimore after working a brief rehabilitation outing Sunday for High-A South Bend. He’s not scheduled to pitch right away, but if the rotation is altered, “then he would be available on a limited basis,” Counsell told the Chicago Tribune.
One thing that has been clear to Counsell is that the Orioles will alter their lineup with in-game strategy, so that will factor into making moves to the Chicago bullpen. Baltimore had pinch-hit home runs from Tyler O’Neill and Coby Mayo on Wednesday.
“Knowing they’re going to unload benches at times,” Counsell said.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Spurs make savvy offseason moves to build around Victor Wembanyama
Certain as his native France is a front-runner among a dwindling World Cup field, Victor Wembanyama vaulted the San Antonio Spurs to the NBA Finals last month behind durability and dependability.
Despite the prevailing notion that the Spurs can return to the Finals – and ideally win them – simply by employing their 7-foot-4 center, San Antonio has just as surely strengthened its bid through early free-agency savvy.
Signing veteran Tobias Harris to a two-year contract and adding Billy Donovan as coach Mitch Johnson’s lead assistant should go a long way toward fortifying San Antonio.
Harris recently agreed to terms with the Spurs after bringing grit and glue to another young franchise on the rise. The power forward averaged 13.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and one steal in 136 regular-season games with the Detroit Pistons over the past two seasons.
More importantly, Harris elevated his game in the playoffs, providing consistency as Detroit’s second-leading scorer at 18.1 points a game this spring. While his rebounding average (7.2) was up from his regular-season output and his assists (1.5) were on par, Harris differentiated himself as a sure hand in crunch time.
Beginning with Game 3 of the Pistons’ first-round series against Orlando, Harris scored 20-plus points in eight straight playoff games.
Considering San Antonio’s much-publicized struggles down the stretch in the Finals, having another reliable option late in games will be a boon.
How many times was San Antonio left searching for someone as cold-blooded as Knicks point guard and Finals MVP Jalen Brunson to put things away in the final five minutes?
Harris can help lead his younger counterparts to that point through example and experience even among a group that exceeded expectations without him last season.
Donovan figures to provide tutelage all his own. Counting his time as Rick Pitino’s Kentucky assistant before 21 seasons as a collegiate head coach and 11 leading teams in the NBA, Donovan has been coaching for nearly as long as Johnson, 39, has been alive.
After stepping down as Chicago Bulls coach after six seasons to seemingly pursue another head job in the NBA or college, Donovan, 61, found the Spurs to be a fine fit. Johnson’s previous lead assistant, Sean Sweeney, departed to take over as Orlando head coach.
As some Spurs fans still stew over various late-game Finals decisions (see especially Harper, Dylan), there should be solace in knowing Donovan will be closest to Johnson’s ear.
Not only is Donovan a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, he arguably brings a unique tough love to the huddle if Johnson needs guidance in the clutch or elsewhere. In 2017, Johnson coached alongside Donovan’s son, Billy III, for the Austin Toros, the Spurs’ affiliate in the G League.
Advice from a friend’s dad sometimes just hits harder.
Of course, Donovan won’t simply be advising his boss. Wembanyama and the rest of the team are ripe for the teaching, and Wemby’s financial acumen could ensure the team’s young core is around for a long time.
On Friday, Wembanyama and the Spurs agreed to a five-year, $252 million rookie extension that reportedly could have been even larger.
However, Wembanyama chose to leave money on the table as Stephon Castle and Harper approach extension eligibility in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
“Vic never comes in and has an ego. He’s always worried about the team first and us getting wins,” Devin Vassell said last season of his towering teammate.
So is the Spurs’ front office, as landing Harris and Donovan suggest.
Sports
Belgium captain Youri Tielemans out with injury vs. Spain
July 6, 2026; Seattle, Washington, U.S.; Belgium’s Youri Tielemans celebrates after the match. Mandatory Credit: Blake Dahlin-Imagn Images Belgium captain Youri Tielemans sustained an undisclosed injury while warming up and was scratched from the starting lineup, adding to the Red Devils’ woes in the midfield before facing Spain in a quarterfinal match of the World Cup at Inglewood, Calif., on Friday.
The midfielder had played in all five of Belgium’s World Cup games, scoring twice in a 3-2 win over Senegal in the round of 32.
Hans Vanaken replaced Tielemans on the field, and Kevin De Bruyne was named captain.
The injury comes after midfielder Amadou Onana went down with an anterior cruciate ligament injury early vs. the United States on Monday, ending his World Cup.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rory McIlroy in three-way tie at Scottish Open; Scottie Scheffler misses cut
(File photo) Rory McIlroy pictured at the 153rd Open Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images Rory McIlroy shot 66 in the second round to keep pace with co-leaders Tom Kim of South Korea and PGA Tour rookie Jordan Smith at 9-under at the Scottish Open in North Berwick, Scotland.
Smith’s eight birdies propelled him to the round of the day on Friday with a 63. McIlroy remained a co-leader after his first-round 65 on the strength of four birdies on the front nine on Friday.
“I thought I played well again,” McIlroy said. “It would have been nice to be a couple better. But you know, it’s obviously another good day and in good position.”
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is accustomed to separating from the pack, but not typically in this fashion. He finished even par through 36 holes and missed the cut for the first time since 2022.
Kim has matched McIlroy from the start of the tournament with equal rounds of 65-66.
“I stayed really patient out there, just tried to position myself,” Kim said. “The wind got tricky a little bit as it started to pick up, and of obviously completely different wind than yesterday. So I think my experience over here the last few years has helped. I’ve played in both wind directions.”
Local favorite Robert MacIntyre is two shots off the lead as is defending champion Chris Gotterup. Gotterup was one shot better than McIlroy on Friday. His 65 was nearly a 64 until he wrapped up Friday’s 18 with a bogey.
The wind shifted in the afternoon and pristine playing conditions were closer to the expected Scottish Open or Open Championship weather. For McIlroy, MacIntyre and Gotterup, the back nine played extremely long due to the wind. McIlroy went light instead of trying to hit the green on No. 14, a par-4, because of the unpredictable gusts.
He recognized the game had gone from target practice aiming for pins to grabbing hold with both hands and hoping for the best.
“Once we turned for home the wind got its strongest for the day and it was hard to hit it close,” McIlroy said. “Felt like I did well to hang on. Maybe could have been one or two better but overall it was a good day.”
Matt Fitzpatrick and Min Woo Lee are tied one off the lead at 8-under.
Scheffler had made the cut in 78 consecutive events. He’ll have a few unplanned days off this weekend before the Open Championship kicks off Thursday at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. And it’s a safe assumption he’ll be spending the extra time working on tee shots. Scheffler hit only 11 of 26 fairways at the Scottish Open.
“I got off to a tough start,” Scheffler said of Friday’s round. “And then on the back nine I didn’t feel like I was hitting it close enough to give myself enough opportunities. I think that’s what it really comes down to. I got off to a poor start and didn’t really hit it close enough to give myself a bunch of looks, and that’s how you shoot over par.”
Germany’s Nicolai Von Dellingshausen, Victor Perez of France and 24-year-old Australian Karl Vilips had rounds of 64 on Friday and are among the more than two dozen players in the field within three shots of the lead entering the weekend. None of the trio walked onto the opening tee Thursday at the Scottish Open with a world ranking above 175.
–Field Level Media
Phia accused of ‘cookie stuffing,’ taking affiliate credit on purchases it didn’t earn
Spurs make savvy offseason moves to build around Victor Wembanyama
