Sports
Red Sox try to hold on to fading playoff hopes vs. Twins
Sep 13, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Richard Fitts (80) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images In the heat of the American League wild-card race, the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins meet for the first time since May when they begin a three-game weekend series on Friday in Boston.
The Twins (80-73) have lost six of their last 10 games and 20 of 30 after finishing a four-game set at Cleveland with consecutive setbacks, including a 3-2, 10-inning contest on Thursday in which they were held to three hits.
As a result, Minnesota is in a dead-even tie for the final AL playoff spot with Detroit with nine games to play.
“It can be hard. It can be excruciating at times,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “You could make a pretty reasonable statement that we were in a spot to win all four games here. (Winning just one is) not going to be satisfying, there’s no way around that.”
Though their playoff hopes have slipped during the 10-20 run, the Twins can only look forward. Having the likes of shortstop Carlos Correa and center fielder Byron Buxton, who both have an OPS above .850, back from injuries certainly offers a reason for optimism.
A strong finish can bring Minnesota more playoff baseball after winning the AL Central last season, but results will be needed to outpace a Tigers club that is 21-9 over the same span.
“If you’re looking at it from the outside, the odds probably aren’t in our favor just with how they’ve been going and how we’ve been going,” outfielder Matt Wallner said. “So, something’s got to change.”
Wallner went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts on Thursday after a 5-for-7 effort across the two prior games.
Continuing his rookie season, Minnesota righty David Festa (2-6, 5.07 ERA) is slated to make his 12th career start and first against Boston on Friday.
Festa remains in search of his first win since Aug. 5, though he broke a four-start losing streak in his Sunday no-decision against Cincinnati. He allowed two runs on three hits while striking out four over the first 3 2/3 innings of a 9-2 Twins win.
The Red Sox (76-77) are on the wrong end of the playoff cut line, entering their penultimate home series with a sub-.500 record and out of the third wild-card spot by four games.
A 2-0 Thursday loss at Tampa Bay caused that fact, whereas a Red Sox victory would have given them an opportunity to at least tie Minnesota in the standings with a head-to-head sweep this weekend.
In a crucial game with an opportunity to gain ground, Boston batters were held to one hit and struck out 11 times en route to being shut out for the seventh time this season.
“It’s the same thing that’s been happening for a month-and-a-half. We’re not executing,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “At one point, we were the best offense in baseball against righties, but now we’re not producing.”
Like the opposition, the Red Sox will start a rookie of their own in Richard Fitts (0-0, 0.00), who has allowed only two unearned runs through his first 10 2/3 major league innings.
Filling in for Tanner Houck on short notice, Fitts pitched five shutout, two-hit frames against the Yankees last Friday in New York.
“It was a quick turnaround to find out when I was starting, but I welcomed the challenge,” Fitts said. “I’m just super blessed and super thankful to have the opportunity to wear a Red Sox uniform now and hopefully for a long time to come.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Brewers recall RHP Logan Henderson to start vs. Nationals
Apr 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Logan Henderson (43) pitches during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images The Milwaukee Brewers recalled right-handed pitcher Logan Henderson from Triple-A Nashville and announced him as the starter for their Sunday afternoon road game against the Washington Nationals.
Henderson, 24, will be inserted into the lineup immediately, starting on the mound for the Brewers. Milwaukee has won five of its past six games.
Ranked as the No. 6 prospect and the top pitcher in the Brewers’ system by MLB Pipeline, Henderson will be making his second big league start of the season on Sunday.
He is 1-0 with a 9.00 ERA in one appearance. He gave up two runs on three hits in two innings as an opener in an 8-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals on April 4.
Last season, Henderson started five games for the Brewers and was 3-0 with a 1.78 ERA.
In five games (three starts) for Nashville this season, Henderson is 2-0 with a 1.02 ERA. He has struck out 26 batters in 17 2/3 innings.
In a corresponding move, the Brewers sent right-hander Easton McGee, 28, to Nashville. He pitched two innings of relief this season in two games and allowed just one base hit.
Washington left-hander Peter Poulin (2-0, 4.11 ERA) will oppose McGee in the series finale.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Raptors' Brandon Ingram in walking boot ahead of Game 7
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) shoots the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) defends during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram was seen in a walking boot during the team’s shootaround on Sunday morning, several hours before Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the host Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ingram is listed as questionable to play in the game due to right heel inflammation.
An All-Star this season for the second time in his career, Ingram was limited to 11 minutes and scored one point in Toronto’s 125-120 setback to Cleveland in Game 5 on Wednesday. He did not play in Toronto’s 112-110 overtime victory in Game 6 on Friday.
During the regular season, the 28-year-old Ingram averaged a team-high 21.5 points over 77 games. He also averaged 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists and drilled 38.2% of his 3-point attempts.
–Field Level Media
Sports
76ers' Joel Embiid to home fans: 'Don't sell your tickets'
May 2, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) scores a three pointer against the Philadelphia 76ers with 25 seconds to go in game six of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images It’s just a little more than 100 miles from Madison Square Garden in New York to Xfinity Mobile Arena in South Philadelphia — a relatively short car ride or train trip for Knicks fans who wanted to see their team in action against the 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
But 76ers star Joel Embiid, who was the NBA’s Most Valuable Player and a first-team All-Pro selection in the 2022-23 season, wants no part of Knicks fans invading his team’s home arena.
In his postgame interview Saturday night after the Sixers stunned the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of their series to advance, he put 76ers fans on notice.
Don’t sell your playoff tickets — especially not to Knicks fans.
New Yorkers overtook the Philadelphia arena two years ago when the No. 2-seeded Knicks eliminated the No. 7 Sixers in the opening round of the postseason. It has been presumed that Knicks fans bought their tickets from 76ers fans.
“I just have a message for our fans,” Embiid said Saturday night. “Last time we played the Knicks, it felt like [Philadelphia] was Madison Square Garden East. We’re going to need the support.
“Don’t sell your tickets. This is bigger than you. We need you guys.”
Embiid offered a solution, if need be.
“Knicks fans travel — they buy tickets,” he said. “There’s going to be people who will sell the tickets because they need the money. Don’t do it, we need you guys. We need the support, and we need them to be extremely loud. If you need money, I’ve got you.”
The Eastern Conference semifinal between the teams begins Monday in New York, with Game 2 set for Wednesday. The series will move to Philadelphia on Friday for Game 3, followed by Game 4 on Saturday.
The Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks in six games to advance.
–Field Level Media
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Brewers recall RHP Logan Henderson to start vs. Nationals
