Sports
Red-hot but inexperienced Tigers prepare for veteran Astros
Sep 24, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images HOUSTON — The Astros had to rebound from a miserable start to the season to win their fourth straight American League West title. Now they carry an overwhelming advantage in postseason experience into their matchup vs. the Detroit Tigers in the American League wild-card series, which begins Tuesday.
Game 1 of the best-of-three series will be a battle of left-handed aces: Tarik Skubal of Detroit (18-4, 2.39 ERA, 228 strikeouts in 192 innings) against Framber Valdez of Houston (15-7, 2.91 ERA).
Skubal claimed the AL pitching triple crown this season and this will mark his first postseason appearance, with Skubal representing a Tigers organization that last qualified for the postseason in 2014.
The Astros, on the other hand, are postseason participants for the ninth time during that 10-year span with two World Series titles, four AL pennants and seven consecutive ALCS appearances on their ledger.
Coincidentally, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch was at the helm for the first half of the Astros’ current run of success. He will try to impart his vast playoff experience on a club sorely lacking it.
“It’s super important as a manager to have postseason experience, not as important for the players to have played in the postseason,” Hinch said, tongue in cheek. “I can’t lay it out any simpler than that.
“Obviously you cannot replace experience. We’ve got guys that have never played in Houston let alone played in a playoff atmosphere, so we’re going to learn on the fly. We’ve done that. We’ve gone to a couple of pretty rowdy places in September and our guys got to play playoff baseball for the better part of two months just to be a part of the playoffs. Come (Tuesday) afternoon, we’re going to be a playoff-experienced team.”
While Hinch touted the Tigers’ status as underdogs, both Detroit and Houston arrived in the postseason via a similar trajectory. The Astros were 10 games behind the Seattle Mariners in the AL West on June 18 before mounting their rally.
The Tigers were sellers at the trade deadline but took full advantage of the collapsing Minnesota Twins down the stretch of the regular season. Detroit won 18 of 26 games to claim their postseason bid, and the Astros are acutely aware that the squad they’ll meet in this best-of-three series barely resembles the team they last faced in mid-June.
“If you really watch their games, they have matured a lot as a club,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “Making fewer mistakes than you probably saw earlier in the season. They’re playing good baseball so there’s that emotional aspect as a team when they start believing in themselves. That’s what you’ve seen with this Tigers team. I’m expecting a pretty good series and we’ll be ready for them.”
As for Houston, Valdez’s volatility on the mound has been well documented, and his postseason history is checkered.
He did exceptional work during the Astros’ championship run in 2022, finishing finished 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA in four starts, including a stellar effort in Game 6 of the World Series. Then came his struggles in 2023, when he finished 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA in three starts, punctuated by his collapse in Game 2 of the AL Championship Series, when he allowed five runs on seven hits and lasted just 2 2/3 innings.
Valdez will likely garner some top-five votes for the AL Cy Young Award on the strength of a brilliant second half, when he went 7-2 with a 1.96 ERA across a dozen starts. Should that version of Valdez arrive at the ballpark Tuesday, the Astros will feel emboldened going against the presumptive Cy Young Award favorite in Skubal.
Houston needs the best iteration of Valdez — and for Valdez to forget how much he labored during their repeat bid.
“He has left that in the past,” Espada said. “I expect Framber to go out there and perform the way Framber has performed this entire second half as one of the best pitchers in the league. He wants the ball, and I expect him to go out there and give us a great start.”
–MK Bower, Field Level Media
Sports
Phillies' Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott deliver win over Yankees
Jul 26, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (28) throws to first base during the fifth inning against the New York Yankees at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Bryson Stott and Alec Bohm combined for nine RBIs as the Philadelphia Phillies throttled the visiting New York Yankees 11-4 on Sunday night to avoid a three-game sweep.
Cristopher Sanchez (13-4) allowed three runs in six innings for Philadelphia, which had lost six of eight to open the second half of the season. The All-Star left-hander gave up six hits and three walks while striking out six.
Stott finished 3-for-4 with five RBIs, while Bohm drove in four runs and scored twice. Trea Turner chipped in with two hits and two runs scored for the Phillies.
New York starter Will Warren (7-5) surrendered six runs and six hits in three frames. All-Star Ben Rice doubled, homered and scored twice for the Yankees, who had been 5-1 in their previous six games.
After Philadelphia took an early 1-0 lead, Stott doubled the advantage when he slugged a solo shot against Warren in the second inning.
Bohm delivered a three-run double in the third to make it 5-0 before Stott followed with a single to tack on an additional run.
New York chipped away with three runs in the fifth, capped by Anthony Volpe’s RBI double that got the visitors within 6-3. Sanchez allowed three hits, walked a batter, committed an error and uncorked a wild pitch in the frame.
After escaping the fifth inning, Sanchez needed only 10 pitches to get through the sixth.
That set the stage for the Philadelphia offense to create some separation in the sixth against lefty Ryan Yarbrough. The Phillies opened the inning with four consecutive soft hits, including Turner’s RBI single to left.
With two outs and the bases loaded, Yarbrough hit Bohm with a pitch to force in a run. Stott followed with a three-run double to create an 11-3 advantage.
Rice homered in the seventh against southpaw Tim Mayza to complete the scoring.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Series vs. D-backs may tell Pirates if they are playoff contenders
Jul 9, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller (23) delivers a pitch against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The Pittsburgh Pirates envision themselves as contenders for a playoff spot with the trade deadline on the horizon.
Sitting one game out of a wild-card spot in the National League, the Pirates will look to improve their standing at the expense of the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday in the opener of a three-game series.
Arizona has lost two in a row and is the team holding that final wild-card spot in front of Pittsburgh. Four other teams are within three games of the Diamondbacks as the major league trade deadline looms on Aug. 3.
“We have the resources to win games and be playing baseball in October,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said. “We have to go do our jobs, and I don’t think anything’s changed. We believe this team is capable of doing that. We gotta continue to do the work to actually make that a reality.”
Ryan O’Hearn did his part on Sunday, celebrating his 33rd birthday by belting a grand slam in an 8-7 victory over the visiting Chicago Cubs.
Esmerlyn Valdez launched his 14th homer in 37 games and Shawn Ross also went deep for the first time while playing in his second career game.
“Amazing, especially with my family here, my mom and dad,” said Ross, who is from Puerto Rico. “They come to the States (to see my play) once, I was really happy for that. Really emotional.”
Brandon Lowe collected three hits and scored two runs in the win. He went 5-for-9 with two solo homers to help Pittsburgh win two of the three meetings against Arizona in early May.
The Pirates will send Mitch Keller (6-7, 4.90 ERA) to the mound on Monday against the Diamondbacks’ Merrill Kelly (8-8, 5.12) in a battle of right-handers.
Keller struggled in his first two starts in July before scattering three hits over five scoreless innings on Wednesday, albeit in a no-decision against the New York Yankees.
“I’m trending in the right direction,” Keller said. “I don’t think I have it all figured out yet but a lot of positives, for sure.”
Keller, 30, picked up the win in his last encounter against Arizona, yielding two runs on four hits in six innings of a 4-2 win on May 7. He is 2-0 with a 2.29 ERA in six career appearances (all starts) versus the Diamondbacks.
Kelly answered a five-start losing streak in June by going 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA thus far in July. He permitted two runs on five hits in five innings of a 15-5 victory over the Athletics on Wednesday.
“Hopefully, we can take the momentum of the baseball we’ve been playing at home and take it on the road and squeak out some wins,” Kelly said. “That way we can put ourselves in a good place to be on the right side of the ball for the deadline.”
Kelly, 37, is 3-1 with a 3.14 ERA in five career appearances (all starts) against the Pirates.
Geraldo Perdomo and Ketel Marte each belted a solo homer and Gabriel Moreno drove in a pair of runs in Arizona’s 10-7 setback to the Washington Nationals on Sunday.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cooper Lutkenhaus, 17, captures 800 meters at USATF Outdoor Championships
Jul 26, 2026; New York, NY, USA; Cooper Lutkenhaus wins the 800m in 1:43.48 during the USATF Championships at Icahn Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Cooper Lutkenhaus, at 17 the youngest competitor by four years, became one of the youngest USATF outdoor champions when he captured the 800 meters in a time of 1 minute, 43.48 seconds.
The Texas high school senior was third at the halfway point but ran 25.32 over the final 200 meters to rally for victory.
The victory took place on Sunday, the final day of competition at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships at Ichan Stadium in New York.
“My plan was to move with 200 (meters to go),” Lutkenhaus said after the race. “… I kind of went back to last year, and I was like, 200, 250 out, that’s when we’re going to really push, and that’s what I did today.”
Lutkenhaus is the current U.S. and world champion in the indoor 800 meters.
In the men’s 200 meters, four-time defending world champion Noah Lyles sprinted out to a lead at the halfway point but eased up into the stretch. American indoor record holder Garrett Kaalund earned his first gold, crossing the tape in 20.04.
“I just felt a grabbing sensation. I was like, ‘Yeah, this is the time to stop. There’s no reason to push this,’ ” Lyles told NBC Sports. “It was a somewhat of a cramp. I’m fine. I just need to get stretched out, get some electrolytes in my system, but I’ll be good.”
Vincent Ciattei, who captured silver in the 1,500 meters on Saturday, ran a blistering 54.36 in the final 400 meters to capture the 5,000 title in 13:46.75. Ciattei was seventh with 600 meters remaining, but edged Cooper Teare (13:46.88) at the wire.
Chris Nilsen, the 2021 Olympic silver medalist and American indoor record holder, captured his fourth career USATF outdoor men’s pole vault gold. He cleared 5.82 meters (19 feet, 1 inch) in his first attempt and held on for the victory.
Jordan Geist led after every round and earned gold with a final throw of 22.33 meters (73-2 3/4) in the shot put. Geist earned silver at the 2026 World Indoor Championships.
Christopher Robinson dominated the men’s 400 hurdles, recording a season-best time of 47.61 and winning by nearly one second over James Smith II, who set a personal best with a time of 48.53.
To wrap up the meet, reigning world champion Cordell Tinch edged Bradley Franklin in the 110 hurdles. Tinch outleaned Franklin, beating him by .004 seconds with a 13.00 mark.
On the women’s side, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden cruised past the field in the 200 meters, posting the world’s third-best time in 2026.
Jefferson-Wooden, who won three gold medals (100, 200, 4×100) at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, won by over a half-second, crossing the tape in 21.69. Cambrea Sturgis (22.22) earned silver, while Camryn Dickson (22.58) captured bronze.
Valarie Sion led after every round of the discus competition and topped the field with a throw of 69.54 meters (228-2) in the fourth round to win her eighth consecutive USATF title. Cierra Jackson improved with each round, but her penultimate throw of 67.40 (221-1) was only good enough for second place.
“Every year it has felt like such a different challenge,” Sion said. “I loved it being her in New York, it was a new environment. This field was so competitive, by far the most competitive of I’ve ever been a part of.”
On her final jump, Olympic and world champion Tara Davis-Woodhall appeared to capture the long jump, but her effort of 7.16 meters was taken down due to a protest and ruling of a foul. She finished third with a leap of 6.90 meters (22-7 3/4) in the second round, behind champion Alyssa Jones (6.96; 22-10) and runner-up Monae’ Nichols (6.92; 22-8 1/2).
Emily Mackay, who earned bronze in the 1,500 meters on Saturday night, made a strong late move to win the 5,000 meters. She was nearly even with Shelby Houlihan with 120 meters left, but ended up winning by nearly two seconds (14:55.82).
Nia Akin, who won 800 meter USATF outdoor titles in 2023-24, ran 14.06 over the final 100 meters to capture a third title with a mark of 1:59.25. Akins, who won back-to-back crowns in 2023-24, was near last place at the halfway mark, but nearly broke the one-minute mark in the final 400 meters (1:00.06) to set a season-best time of 1:59.25.
Vashti Cunningham earned her eighth USATF outdoor gold in the women’s high jump, besting Charity Hufnagel. Both competitors cleared 1.92, but Cunningham had fewer misses at lesser heights to triumph.
Anna Cockrell, the 2024 Olympic silver medalist, won her first USATF outdoor title in the 400 hurdles, posting a winning mark of 52.94.
–Field Level Media
Phillies' Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott deliver win over Yankees
NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 28, 2026
