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
Report: Karl Ravech not quite finished at ESPN
Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; ESPN commentator Karl Ravech before the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Longtime anchor and play-by-play announcer Karl Ravech, laid off 10 days ago by ESPN, is not quite finished with the network.
Viewers of ESPN’s coverage of the game between the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals on Thursday night heard Ravech on the call. And The Athletic reported that Ravech still has a few more baseball tasks for the network.
He served as ESPN’s lead MLB announcer and the network’s voice of the College World Series before being laid off.
Per the report, Ravech will be in the booth when the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners meet on Aug. 12. He will follow that by calling some games in the Little League World Series, one of the events closely associated with Ravech through the years.
The LLWS will be held Aug. 19-30 in Williamsport, Pa.
Ravech, 61, began work at ESPN in 1993 and anchored “SportsCenter” and hosted “Baseball Tonight”. He also called college basketball games.
ESPN parted with several employees who work both in front of the camera and behind the scenes in its latest round of layoffs. NFL analyst Ryan Clark and NFL insider Tom Pelissero were among the most prominent cuts.
These layoffs were linked to ESPN’s acquisition of NFL Network, according to an internal memo from ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro that multiple media outlets obtained.
The Athletic said it is expected that Ravech’s time on air at ESPN will conclude with the end of his baseball assignments.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Whitecaps acquire Canadian F Kwasi Poku
May 22, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Forge FC Hamilton midfielder Kwasi Poku (20) celebrates after scoring a goal against the CF Montreal during the first half at Stade Saputo. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images The Vancouver Whitecaps acquired Canadian striker Kwasi Poku from Belgium’s RWDM Brussels.
Poku, 23, agreed to a contract through 2027-28 with a club option for the 2028-29 MLS campaign.
He recorded six goals in 31 appearances with the Belgian side from 2024-26.
“We are excited to welcome Kwasi to our group,” Vancouver sporting director Axel Schuster said in announcing the deal on Thursday. “Kwasi is a young, talented Canadian international who brings pace, intelligent movement, and finishing ability to our attack. He has the qualities and mindset to continue his development, and we are excited to help him take the next step in his career while strengthening our team.”
Poku previously played three seasons with Forge FC in the Canadian Premier League, posting 13 goals and four assists in 70 appearances (47 starts) from 2022-24.
“I’m very excited to be joining Whitecaps FC, for me, it feels like a fresh start and it’s great to be back in my home country,” said Poku, who is from Ontario. “I can’t wait to make my debut at BC Place and meet all of you. I understand this is a winning team, and I want to continue that legacy and make even more history.”
Poku earned his first senior cap for the Canadian national team on Oct. 15, 2024, coming off the bench in a 2-1 win in a friendly against Panama.
–Field Level Media
Sports
WNBA Picks: Three Best Bets for Friday’s Fever, Wings and Storm Games
Jul 29, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (15) drives to the basket against Dallas Wings forward Awak Kuier (34) during the second half at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images The Indiana Fever are taking advantage of an easy part of the schedule and will look to notch their season-best fifth consecutive victory when they visit the struggling Portland Fire on Friday night. Indiana has beaten the last-place Seattle Storm twice and the next-to-last Connecticut Sun once during the run.
The Fever and Fire split two meetings earlier this season with Indiana winning by 17 at home and losing by 16 in Portland. That gives the Fire hope they can pull out a win after losing 13 of their past 18 contests.
The Dallas Wings will visit the Washington Mystics in what should be a competitive matchup. The woeful Storm visit the Dream and Atlanta should win in convincing fashion.
INDIANA FEVER AT PORTLAND FIRE
Kelsey Mitchell scored 28 points in Tuesday’s 105-95 win in Seattle and has scored 20 or more points in 12 consecutive games. Mitchell has knocked down at least three 3-pointers in all 12 games and her 23.5 scoring average ranks second in the WNBA behind Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson.
Caitlin Clark ranks third at 21.5 points per game and is averaging 30.3 points and 8.8 assists over the past four contests. Clark is listed as probable with a back injury but she played 33 minutes on Tuesday, her most since June 20.
The Fire are beginning a five-game homestand after falling 98-83 to the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday. Megan DiLeo – formerly Gustafson prior to her recent marriage – scored 21 and 20 points over the past two games and has been a bright spot with a career-best 12.8 scoring average to go with solid 55.7% shooting from the floor.
Kelsey Mitchell to score 24-plus points, -108 (DraftKings)
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DALLAS WINGS AT WASHINGTON MYSTICS
The Wings have lost two of their past three games after a season-best six-game winning streak. They also are reeling a bit after blowing a 15-point lead in Wednesday’s 82-81 home loss against Atlanta.
Arike Ogunbowale had a stellar all-around game with 24 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals and she has tallied 20 or more points in five of the past six games. Paige Bueckers has averaged just 14 points the past two games after having more than 20 in nine of her previous 10 games.
The Mystics were routed 92-68 by the visiting Wings on May 18 but are now playing much better with wins in seven of their past 10 games. Sonia Citron had 22 points in Tuesday’s 92-84 home win over the Sun, while Kiki Iriafen (10 rebounds) notched her third straight double-digit outing on the boards.
Mystics plus 3.5 points spread, -115 (DraftKings)
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SEATTLE STORM AT ATLANTA DREAM
The Dream have won four straight games after their rally over the Wings and will also be looking for Allisha Gray to continue her standout campaign. Gray scored 25 points against Dallas and has scored 20 or more in five of the past seven games.
Gray (career-best 19.3 points per game) and fellow guard Rhyne Howard (17.2) are a tough tandem to guard. The Storm, though, pressured Gray into 5-of-16 shooting in a 15-point home win earlier this season. In the rematch, Gray had 22 points in Atlanta’s 11-point home win.
Seattle is just 6-24 and has lost seven straight games and the team is making news for shaky behavior from team leadership. Co-owner Celeste Keaton was suspended from attending the next five home games after using profane language at two teenage girls who had a sign in appreciation of Fever standout Sophie Cunningham’s recent remarks that women’s sports should be solely for women. The sign that irked Keaton said, “Thank you Sophie for speaking up for girls!”
Teams to score over 177.5 points, -112 (DraftKings)
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Report: Karl Ravech not quite finished at ESPN
Whitecaps acquire Canadian F Kwasi Poku
