Sports
Royals aim to extend record of success vs. Tigers ace Tarik Skubal
Jul 18, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) throws against the Los Angeles Angels during the third inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Fresh off his best performance since undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies from his pitching elbow, Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal will try to keep his team on a roll against the visiting Kansas City Royals on Friday evening.
The Tigers won the opener of the four-game series 4-3 on Thursday, their fifth victory in seven games coming out of the All-Star break.
Skubal (6-5, 2.83 ERA) fired seven shutout innings in a 7-0 win against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday, his seventh start since missing six weeks following the surgery. He is 3-3 with a 2.97 ERA in that seven-start stretch.
The two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner allowed five hits to the Angels, all singles. He struck out nine and didn’t issue a walk on a tidy 87 pitches.
“I’m not going to change who I am on the mound, but I don’t think I’ve held up my side of the deal lately in the last couple of starts,” Skubal said. “It’s just frustrating. The way to fix that is to get ahead with first-pitch strikes and put guys away in three or four pitches.”
Skubal threw first-pitch strikes to 14 of the 24 batters he faced in Anaheim, Calif.
“The more you’re in the zone, the more they start swinging, and that allows you to pitch deeper,” said Skubal, a potential target for contenders ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline. “I’ve been frustrated, for sure, but I can’t let that impact my start. (Saturday) was much better.”
The Royals are one of the few teams Skubal has struggled against during his career. He owns a 4-9 record and 4.06 ERA in 18 appearances vs. Kansas City, including 16 starts.
The Tigers will go up against a left-hander as well, with Noah Cameron set to be the bulk reliever after right-hander Beck Way (1-0, 3.22 ERA) starts on Friday.
Way, a 26-year-old rookie, will be making his first career start after 18 relief appearances. He was pitching well until his latest outing, when he yielded four runs (one earned) in 1 2/3 innings against the San Diego Padres on Sunday.
Cameron (5-8, 5.27 ERA) surrendered five runs and five hits in seven innings during a 6-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on July 11, then took a further step back coming out of the All-Star break. He gave up seven runs and nine hits in five innings in a 19-2 loss to the Padres on Sunday.
“I feel like I let the team down a lot,” Cameron said. “Obviously, coming into (Sunday), trying to get a sweep. Come out, that first inning is good, but after that, things kind of went downhill.”
Cameron has a 7.97 ERA in his past seven starts, and he has surrendered at least five runs in four of his past five appearances.
“He’s also had some really good stretches in games where he’s shown that he can eat innings and he can be really effective,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “We want him to pitch. He’s good, and he’s had a couple of tough games, but we need him.”
Cameron reached triple digits in innings during his latest start (100 2/3) and is creeping up on the 138 1/3 innings he tossed last season as a rookie.
“Obviously, I’m throwing a lot of stressful innings,” Cameron said. “It’s been tough, but realistically, I just have to stay healthy and keep throwing innings, and hopefully things will decrease numbers-wise and I can have some good outings. Try to stay healthy as much as we can. We obviously need it.”
Cameron made his only career start against the Tigers on May 10 and did not receive a decision after allowing three runs and four hits in four-plus innings.
The Royals had won five of their six games since the All-Star break before dropping the series opener to the Tigers.
Quatraro was absent from the Thursday game due to a personal matter, with bench coach Paul Hoover filling in as manager. The Royals announced that Quatraro’s absence isn’t expected to last long.
–Field Level Media
Sports
NYCFC focusing on Fire, not player's demand, fan reaction
Sep 20, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC midfielder a(7) brings the ball up the pitch against Charlotte FC during the second half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Their leading goal scorer wants out of town and their goalkeeper is public enemy No. 1 after a costly gaffe during the World Cup played a key role in the United States losing to Belgium in the round of 16.
But New York City FC is still relying on Nicolas Fernandez Mercau and Matt Freese for big contributions Saturday night when the Chicago Fire invade Yankee Stadium.
Fernandez Mercau scored his 11th goal on a penalty kick Wednesday night during a 2-1 win at Columbus that got NYCFC (6-6-4, 22 points) to .500. It came one day after reports that the club rejected an $18 million offer for his services, leading to his demand that the team transfer him.
“You see a player that is performing for and with his team with a lot of energy,” head coach Pascal Jansen said of Fernandez Mercau. “That’s what he’s supposed to do.”
Freese, whose whiffed clearing attempt led to a third goal for Belgium in a 4-1 win on July 6, was booed on every touch Wednesday. Despite the jeers, he made three saves in the team’s first fixture after the World Cup break.
Meanwhile, Chicago (8-5-2, 26 points) sits third in the East table despite a 3-2 loss Wednesday night at Inter Miami. The result snapped the Fire’s three-match winning streak.
Chicago opted not to stand pat during the summer transfer window, adding Robert Lewandowski from Barcelona on a two-year deal. The 37-year-old Lewandowski, the captain of Poland’s national team, started at Miami and played 63 minutes.
“After just two days with my new team, I didn’t expect everything to work perfectly in my first game,” Lewandowski said.
Lewandowski’s signing led to the departure of star striker Hugo Cuypers. The Fire sold him to LIGA MX’s Monterrey for a reported $7.5 million after he scored 40 goals in 75 league matches over the past 2 1/2 seasons. Cuypers scored 13 goals in 11 matches this season, tying Dallas’ Petar Musa for the league lead.
NYCFC is 3-0-2 in its last five matches against Chicago.
–Field Level Media
Sports
CF Montreal acquire Brayan Ceballos from Revs for up to $850K GAM
Mar 15, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution forward Luca Langoni (41) congratulates defender Brayan Ceballos (3) after he scored his second goal during the first half against the FC Cincinnati at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images The New England Revolution traded defender Brayan Ceballos to CF Montreal on Friday in exchange for up to $850,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM).
The payments were divided into $500,000 in 2026 GAM, $250,000 in 2027 GAM and up to $100,000 in conditional GAM. The Revs also retained a percentage of Ceballos’ sell-on rights should he be transferred again.
“Brayan is a reliable and versatile defender who can play effectively in a variety of systems, making him an important addition to our roster,” Luca Saputo, Montreal’s managing director for recruitment and sporting methodology, said in a statement. “His strengths will complement those already present in our defensive unit. We are confident that he will contribute to our collective objectives as well as the team’s development.”
Ceballos, 25, came to the Revolution from Brazil’s Fortaleza EC in January 2025. He had three goals in 38 career games (37 starts) for the Revs, with two of those goals coming in one game this season, March 15 against Cincinnati.
“We are grateful to Brayan for all his contributions during his time in New England. We wish him all the best in Montreal,” Revolution general manager Chris Tierney said in a statement. “As we look to continue improving the first team, generating this significant amount of allocation money will allow us to continue investing in the roster in the future.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
UFC Abu Dhabi Best Bets: Top Picks for Ankalaev vs. Guskov Fight Night
Mar 28, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; UFC CEO Dana White talks to the press after the fight between Israel Adesanya (red gloves) and Joe Pyfer (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images We’re one day away from the UFC returning to its Fight Island home on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE, for another weekend Fight Night. It’s the first of what is expected to be two occasions this year where the Octagon lands in Abu Dhabi, with the annual late October numbered card in Abu Dhabi expected.
The main event will see former light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev taking on Bogdan Guskov.
This will be Ankalaev’s first fight since dropping the title to Alex Pereira last year at UFC 320. Before that, Ankalaev went on a 14-fight unbeaten streak, culminating with his UFC 313 title win over Pereira.
Guskov takes this fight on short notice, only being announced for this bout on July 13 after an injury to Khalil Rountree Jr. Guskov dropped his UFC debut but then won four straight. He most recently fought at UFC 323, battling former champion Jan Blachowicz to a majority draw.
The co-main event will see former flyweight title challenger Steve Erceg battle Ramazan Temirov. After losing three straight, Erceg enters this bout with back-to-back wins, defeating Ode’ Osbourne last year and Tim Elliott this past May in Perth. Temirov, meanwhile, has won 11 straight, including his first two UFC bouts, finishing CJ Vergara and earning a decision over Charles Johnson.
The rest of the main card will see Islam Dulatov vs. Wellington Turman, Damian Rzepecki vs. Magomed Zaynukov, Rizvan Kuniev vs. Tyrell Fortune, and Abubakar Vagaev vs. Saygid Izagakhmaev.
ISLAM DULATOV VS WELLINGTON TURMAN
Unbeaten since dropping his pro debut, Islam Dulatov is a name the UFC has had its eye on. He’s 11-1, had a strong first-round finish on Dana White’s Contender Series, and quickly finished Adam Fugitt in his UFC debut last year. At 6’3” and with a 75-inch reach, Dulatov is a fairly big man for the welterweight division. Add in his high-volume striking and pressure, and his ability to finish by either KO/TKO or submission, and you can see the danger he presents.
Wellington Turman is an experienced veteran of the Octagon, and he’ll look to trouble Dulatov with his jiu-jitsu work. This will be Turman’s first fight since December 2023, however, and he enters this fight on a three-fight losing skid. Signs point to this being another Dulatov showcase.
BET: Dulatov to win via KO/TKO in Round 1 (FanDuel: -110)
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VALTER WALKER VS THOMAS PETERSEN
How Valter Walker is not on the main card of this event is downright criminal. He might be fighting an unranked fighter and the heavyweight division might be lackluster, but he’s probably this writer’s favorite thing about the division right now. The man gets submissions like crazy, and he’s developing into one of the most talented heavyweights in a UFC division that desperately needs talent.
Petersen has talent, but he’s been up and down since entering the UFC – and I prefer the competition Walker has faced. Point blank, a loss for Walker here would be devastating for not just Walker, but the division as a whole. The challenge for making a play here is that Petersen has a wrestling base and has never been submitted…and yet, the way Walker’s momentum has been, that might not matter.
BET: Walker via submission (DraftKings: +165)
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DUSTIN JACOBY VS MUHAMMAD SAID
Dustin Jacoby might not reach the upper echelon of the UFC light heavyweight rankings, but he’s tough competition for anyone who is put in front of him. The power in his strikes, which stem from his kickboxing days, translated well into the Octagon. Not only are his losses not bad, but he’s riding a three-fight KO/TKO streak entering this bout.
Said is going to have a hometown factor in this one, and he’s a strong striker and finisher in his own right. The question about him is the level of competition. Jacoby is the most experienced guy he’s going to have fought – in his first six fights, he fought fighters who had no more than four fights. He’s faced experienced fighters in his last three, but they didn’t have the greatest of records.
Some have felt this will be a difficult fight to predict, but I’ll trust in both fighters’ finishing abilities.
BET: Fight to end via KO/TKO/DQ (Caesars: -125)
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