Sports
Red Sox look to keep slim playoff hopes alive in Toronto
Sep 19, 2024; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello (66) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the second inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images The visiting Boston Red Sox will have another chance to finally break through with at least a run against Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Bowden Francis on Tuesday night.
Francis (8-5, 3.47 ERA) has yet to allow a run in 9 2/3 innings over four career outings, including one start, against the Red Sox. He has faced them twice this season, defeating them in a start on Aug. 29 at Boston when he allowed one hit and no walks while striking out five over seven innings.
Boston is scheduled to start Brayan Bello (14-8, 4.49 ERA). The right-hander is 3-4 with a 5.58 ERA in eight career starts against the Blue Jays. He is 2-1 with a 4.96 ERA in three starts against Toronto this season.
He beat the Blue Jays on Aug. 28, allowing no runs on two hits and a walk with nine strikeouts over eight innings.
The Red Sox (79-78) won the opener of the three-game series 4-1 on Monday, taking advantage of 10 walks issued by the Blue Jays (73-84). Toronto starter Chris Bassitt issued seven free passes in 4 1/3 innings.
It was Toronto’s fourth successive loss and Boston’s third consecutive victory.
The Blue Jays, who were coming off a 1-5 road trip, are finishing their season with a six-game homestand.
Boston is still barely alive in the race for an American League wild-card spot, although manager Alex Cora said he does not know the mathematics. The Red Sox are 3 1/2 games behind both the Kansas City Royals and the Detroit Tigers, who hold the final two postseason positions.
“We’ve got to continue, win (Tuesday) and see where we are and finish strong,” Cora said. “Very slim chance to make it. We just have to continue to play good baseball.”
Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 0-for-4 on Monday to remain six hits short of 200 for the year. He has 30 homers, 100 RBIs and is batting .324.
Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk, after going 1-for-4, extending his hitting streak to 15 games. He is batting .286 (18-for-63) in that span.
He threw out one attempted base-stealer and also picked a runner off on Monday. Boston did steal two bases.
Kirk has thrown out 25 attempted base-stealers this season, the top total by a Toronto catcher since 2015, when Russell Martin threw out 25.
“I think he’s in a good rhythm,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “His exchange in getting rid of the ball has been really, really good and his throws have been really, really accurate. So it’s a pretty good recipe.”
Boston’s Jarren Duran hit his 14th triple of the season in the sixth inning after collecting his 47th double of the season in the fourth. Both figures lead the AL. He was picked off second after his double.
His 14 triples are the most by a Red Sox player since 1978, when Jim Rice had 15. In 11 games against Toronto this season, Duran is batting .327 (16-for-49) with four home runs and seven RBIs.
Boston’s Nick Sogard has a six-game hitting streak after contributing a double on Monday. He is batting .467 (7-for-15) during his streak.
The Red Sox put right-hander Kenley Jansen (right shoulder inflammation) on the injured list on Monday and recalled right-hander Chase Shugart from Triple-A Worcester.
Jansen, 36, finishes the season at 4-2 with a 3.29 ERA with 27 saves in 54 appearances.
“That’s not an easy job (being the closer), especially at his age, and he continues to be a good one,” Cora said.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Minnesota United, FC Dallas put unbeaten streaks on line
Apr 18, 2026; Frisco, Texas, USA; FC Dallas forward Petar Musa (9) scores a goal against the LA Galaxy during the first half at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images Two teams riding extended unbeaten strings meet Wednesday night when Minnesota United visit FC Dallas in Frisco, Texas.
Coming off a 2-0 win Saturday night over the Portland Timbers, Minnesota (4-2-2, 14 points) is 3-0-1 over its last four matches. Its three straight wins constitute its longest winning streak in nearly two calendar years.
Meanwhile, Dallas (3-1-4, 13 points) is 2-0-3 in its last five fixtures, including a 2-2 draw Saturday night with the Los Angeles Galaxy. It could have been a three-point result but Kaick’s goal in the 75th minute was flagged for an offsides violation.
Minnesota has hit its stride in part because of the recent form of midfielder Tomas Chancalay. The Argentinian has hit the scoresheet in three straight matches, scoring a goal and assisting on the other goal against Portland.
Chancalay has looked a lot like the guy who the New England Revolution spent $3.1 million for three years ago instead of the player they traded to Minnesota after last season for $100,000.
“I am really happy here,” Chancalay said of his new organization. “The team put their confidence in me here in Minnesota. I’m happy to stay here and I want to help the team.”
While Chancalay is playing well, no one in MLS these days is scoring like Dallas’ Petar Musa. His brace in the first half gave Dallas a 2-0 lead but its defense gassed it by conceding twice before halftime.
Musa leads the league with nine goals, two more than Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge. But Dallas’ inability to see a two-goal advantage through over the final 52 minutes was concerning to coach Eric Quill.
“Your mentality has to be disciplined, together and committed on every play,” Quill said. “It was little details that changed the game and we know those moments can’t happen. We need to improve our discipline because I think we’re going to have leads often.”
It marked the second time in this recent unbeaten stretch that Dallas has coughed up a two-goal advantage.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Frustrated San Diego FC vying for better result at Dynamo
Mar 22, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego FC defender Luca Bombino (27) moves the ball during the first half against Real Salt Lake at Snapdragon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chadd Cady-Imagn Images San Diego FC hope to snap out of an extended funk when they travel east to square off against the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday in a Western Conference match.
San Diego (3-3-2, 11 points) hasn’t tasted victory since a 1-0 win at Sporting Kansas City on March 7 and heads to the Bayou City with a five-game winless swoon. The team has dropped its past three matches and has been outscored 9-3 in those games.
The most recent of those setbacks was a 4-2 loss at Real Salt Lake on Saturday in which San Diego conceded two goals in the first six minutes and never recovered. Marcus Ingvartsen and Anders Dreyer found the net for San Diego FC, with the latter a window dressing tally on a penalty kick in the 66th minute after the side trailed by three.
“It’s definitely frustrating because we expect a lot from ourselves,” San Diego defender Luca Bombino said. “Things haven’t necessarily gone our way, but we know that we have all the talent and the hard work within the squad to achieve the things we want to do.”
It’s been feast or famine for Houston (3-4-0, 9 points) this season. A 1-0 win at Orlando City on Saturday showed that things may be turning for the Dynamo after three straight losses in MLS play, which included a 6-2 shellacking on the road against Colorado on April 11.
Hector Herrera’s goal in the 75th minute, his first of the season, was the difference in the win over Orlando as the Dynamo captured both their first road win of the year and their first clean sheet of the season.
“I still think we can be clearer on how to build the game and have longer possessions and make better decisions and not have to defend as much as we’ve had to,” Houston coach Ben Olsen said. “Until we’re well-oiled and we know exactly who we are, we have to have character and personality and resiliency.”
San Diego has just four points from four road games this season, including one win. The Dynamo are 2-2-0 on their home pitch.
The sides played twice in 2025, with each winning on the road.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Victor Wembanyama (concussion) to miss rest of Spurs-Blazers Game 2
Apr 21, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images San Antonio star center Victor Wembanyama was forced from Game 2 of the Spurs’ first-round playoff series with the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday with an apparent concussion after hitting his face on the floor early in the second quarter.
The Spurs later announced that Wembanyama had entered concussion protocol and would not return to the game.
Wembanyama hit his face on in the floor at near-full speed after being knocked off his feet during a drive to the basket at the 8:57 mark of the second period, with the contact leaving him dazed enough to struggle standing up before jogging off the floor to the locker room.
San Antonio trailed 34-32 at the time of Wembanyama’s exit and he had amassed five points, four rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot in 11:41 of court time when he was injured. The game was tied 57-57 by halftime.
The Spurs have had plenty of success without their star this season. Wembanyama missed 18 games this season with various injuries, with San Antonio going 12-6 in those games.
–Field Level Media
Minnesota United, FC Dallas put unbeaten streaks on line
Frustrated San Diego FC vying for better result at Dynamo
