Sports
Royals look to extend record scoreless streak vs. punchless Nats
Sep 20, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha (52) pitches during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images The Kansas City Royals, with their pitching staff on a record run, will shoot for a three-game series sweep when they visit the Washington Nationals on Thursday.
The Royals blanked the Nationals 3-0 on Wednesday for their second straight win after seven losses. Kansas City (84-74) remains tied with the Detroit Tigers (84-74) for the second and third American League wild-card spots, two games ahead of the Minnesota Twins (82-76) and 2 1/2 games up on the Seattle Mariners (82-77).
A pair of veterans will face off in the finale as 33-year-old Kansas City right-hander Michael Wacha (13-8, 3.28 ERA) opposes 35-year-old left-hander Patrick Corbin (6-13, 5.58).
On Wednesday night, the Royals shut out the Nationals for the second straight game. Kansas City pitchers have tossed 26 consecutive scoreless innings, topping the previous franchise mark of 24 set in June 1976 and matched in May 2015.
“That’s remarkable, regardless of the time of year, but especially in September, when these guys are all running on fumes,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.
Kansas City’s Michael Lorenzen, making his first start after missing a month due to a hamstring issue, left in the third inning on Wednesday, but five relievers finished the two-hitter.
“Everybody wants to try to match the energy of whoever threw a zero or whoever is coming in after,” reliever Angel Zerpa said through an interpreter after contributing a scoreless inning.
Lorenzen said postgame that he came out merely due to leg fatigue, expressing optimism the problem was minor.
The Nationals (69-89) have gone 31 innings without a run. Washington has lost eight of nine, having scored one run or none in seven of those games.
“I think they’re pressing, for sure,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said of his hitters. “We’ve just got to go out there relaxed (Thursday). Just get a good pitch to hit.”
Wacha has allowed two or fewer runs in four straight starts, pitching to a 1.99 ERA in that stretch. Last time out, he allowed two runs and six hits over 5 2/3 innings against the San Francisco Giants on Friday.
Wacha is 4-2 with a 2.74 ERA in seven games (six starts) vs. Washington.
Corbin will make his 170th start as a National on Thursday, and it might be his last for the team.
He signed a six-year, $140 million free agent contract with Washington in December 2018 and paid immediate dividends. Corbin went 14-7 with a 3.25 ERA in 2019 and was 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA in three World Series appearances, including earning the win in relief as Washington beat Houston 6-2 in Game 7.
Since that game, Corbin is 33-70 with a 5.61 ERA. He led the National League in losses each of the past three seasons and is on pace to do so again. Valued for eating innings while the Nationals groom their next generation of starters, Corbin has worked between 150-180 innings in each of the past four seasons.
“He was a key component of a world championship, the first one in D.C. in forever,” general manager Mike Rizzo told the Washington Post. “And then we go into a rebuild, and he didn’t have nearly the success in wins and losses and ERA. But he (pitched) every fifth day. That’s huge.”
After winning three consecutive starts from Aug. 22-Sept. 3, Corbin has been up down over his past three. Last time out, he gave up five runs on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings of a no-decision against the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 19.
Corbin is 1-0 record with a 3.38 ERA in three games (two starts) against the Royals.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy's wife shot at home
Nov 7, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy looks on during the second half against the Green Bay Packers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s wife is hospitalized in stable condition in Virginia following a shooting in their home on Sunday night, ESPN reported.
A woman identified by the outlet’s sources as Mia Bieniemy, 57, was being treated for “serious injuries” in Loudoun County, where a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office said police responded to a call at 7:32 p.m. ET Sunday in Ashburn, Va.
The Chiefs said they are aware of the incident involving the “family” of their 56-year-old assistant coach, who was with the club for training camp Sunday in St. Joseph, Mo. No further details were provided.
Bieniemy rejoined head coach Andy Reid’s staff in January after previous stints with Kansas City as the running backs coach (2013-17) and offensive coordinator (2018-22). He helped the Chiefs win Super Bowls LIV and LVII.
He coached the Chicago Bears’ running backs in 2025 and previously served as the OC for UCLA (2024), the Washington Commanders (2023) and his alma mater Colorado (2011-12).
–Field Level Media
Sports
North Carolina places top Bill Belichick aide on leave
UNC football general manager Michael Lombardi North Carolina placed football general manager Michael Lombardi, one of head coach Bill Belichick’s top aides, on paid administrative leave.
The school announced Monday that the move is effective immediately but declined to provide further details. The Tar Heels open their second season under the legendary coach on Aug. 29 against TCU in Dublin, Ireland.
“As is standard procedure with personnel matters, leadership, staff, and student-athletes are prohibited from addressing this topic further, and has no reflection on the merits,” UNC said in a statement.
ESPN reported that a former front office employee at the university filed a human resources complaint against Lombardi and there is a pending investigation into the situation.
Lombardi, 67, joined Belichick in Chapel Hill in December 2024. He previously worked with the six-time Super Bowl-winning coach in New England, serving as an assistant to the coaching staff from 2014-16.
Lombardi was the general manager and vice president of the Cleveland Browns in 2013 and previously worked in the front offices of the Denver Broncos, then-Oakland Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles.
North Carolina was 4-8 in Belichick’s debut season in 2025.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Browns' Jerry Jeudy: Clip didn't indicate his preferred QB1
Jun 11, 2026; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) catches a pass during minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy insists he wasn’t weighing in on Cleveland’s starting quarterback battle during a livestream clip that quickly went viral.
Jeudy flashes four fingers in the TikTok video, taken by many to indicate his support for the player who wears that jersey number, Deshaun Watson.
“Yall cut the clip perfectly for that narrative,” Jeudy posted Sunday on X, referencing the apparent skip in the clip between when the question is posed and when Jeudy holds up his fingers.
Jeudy, 27, who is entering his third season with the Browns, said he will not weigh in as new head coach Todd Monken and his staff evaluate the training camp competition between Watson and Shedeur Sanders.
“I don’t speak on decisions that aren’t mine to make. I support my teammates/Brothers, I do my job, and control what I can control,” Jeudy posted on X. “Let’s stop creating narrative that aren’t there for likes and clicks. I bet this won’t go viral because it’s too positive/real for y’all.”
Jeudy caught 50 passes for 602 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games (16 starts) in 2025, when Watson missed the entire season with a torn Achilles. Jeudy made the Pro Bowl in his first season with Cleveland in 2024, setting career highs in catches (90) and receiving yards (1,229).
–Field Level Media
Report: Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy's wife shot at home
North Carolina places top Bill Belichick aide on leave
