Sports
Sizzling Red Sox enjoying turnaround that hasn't come for skidding A's
Jul 26, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Jarren Duran (16) high-fives shortstop Andruw Monasterio (32) after a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images The Athletics’ season has been in a free fall in recent weeks and there is likely no recovering from the latest blow.
The Athletics could learn Monday that All-Star catcher Shea Langeliers requires season-ending knee surgery before they later take the field against the Boston Red Sox at West Sacramento, Calif.
Langeliers reportedly sustained a torn meniscus in his right knee during Friday’s game against the Minnesota Twins and was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday.
“We’re looking at the situation and making sure that he gets the best advice, the best care and, hopefully, the quickest recovery,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said after Sunday’s 11-8 road loss to the Twins.
Langeliers started for the American League in the recent All-Star Game and leads AL catchers in homers (23) and hits (99). This is the fourth straight season in which he has smacked more than 20 homers.
His loss comes at a time in which the A’s have lost 23 of their past 29 games. The Athletics were at .500 on June 19 but now sit 17 games below the mark entering the four-game set against the lava-hot Red Sox.
Boston has won 17 of its last 19 games after Sunday’s 6-1 victory over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays.
The once-floundering team is now in the thick of the AL wild-card chase. The Red Sox are in second place in a race in which only one team below them — the third-place Cleveland Guardians — are above .500.
Jarren Duran helped fuel Sunday’s victory with three singles, two RBIs and one steal.
“I think we’re just settling into ourselves,” Duran told reporters. “Early on, we were still trying to find our identity. I feel like we’re just now coming into what we knew we could be. It’s showing and the boys have bought in since Day One.
“It’s just baseball and we were going through that grind and we’re starting to roll and it’s awesome to see.”
Jahmai Jones contributed a pinch-hit, two-run double as Boston scored at least five runs for the eighth time during an 8-2 homestand.
“We had some really good performances across the board,” Jones said. “I felt like it was a really good team day.”
Boston sends left-hander Payton Tolle (5-6, 3.31 ERA) to the mound in the opener.
Tolle, 23, received a no-decision against the Baltimore Orioles on July 20 when he gave up four runs and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings in a 6-5 A’s win.
Tolle went 0-0 with a 3.60 ERA in two appearances (one start) against the A’s last season.
He served up a homer to Nick Kurtz, who just returned to the A’s lineup on Saturday after a right thumb injury.
On Sunday, in his second game, All-Star first baseman Kurtz drilled a three-run homer against the Twins. He had been in a 0-for-25 funk before the blast, which was his 21st of the season.
Right-hander Jack Perkins (2-5, 6.75) will start for the Athletics for the eighth time this season.
He took a no-decision against the host Arizona Diamondbacks last Tuesday when he gave up three runs and five hits over five innings.
In his previous two turns, Perkins gave up a combined 10 runs and nine hits — including four homers — in just 6 2/3 innings. He lost both outings.
Perkins, 26, has never faced the Red Sox.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Freddy Peralta says Sunday was 'probably' his final Mets start
Jul 20, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; New York Mets pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images Freddy Peralta believes he may have made his final start for the New York Mets on Sunday, with the struggling club expected to trade the right-hander before the Aug. 3 deadline.
Peralta conceded the likelihood of a move after allowing three runs — two earned — on six hits and two walks over four innings in an 8-3 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He needed 93 pitches to record 12 outs and finished with three strikeouts.
“I know it probably is,” Peralta said when asked whether he believes that was his last time pitching for the Mets.
Peralta is currently scheduled to start Friday against the Miami Marlins, but New York has little incentive to retain an impending free agent after falling well outside the National League playoff picture.
The Mets acquired Peralta from the Milwaukee Brewers during the offseason with the expectation that he would lead their rotation. Instead, the two-time All-Star has gone 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA through 22 starts, going at least six innings only six times.
His struggles have become more pronounced of late. Peralta has not recorded a quality start since June 3 and has posted a 7.34 ERA since that outing.
“I know so far I’ve let them down,” Peralta said. “I haven’t done what I was supposed to do.”
The 30-year-old entered the season coming off a career-best season going 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA and 204 strikeouts over 176 2/3 innings with Milwaukee. That track record, along with the demand for starting pitching among contenders, should keep him among New York’s most marketable deadline pieces despite his recent results.
Peralta said he remains confident he can rediscover his previous form, whether that opportunity comes with the Mets or another organization.
“We haven’t done what we expected to do, in general, but especially myself,” Peralta said. “I know I can be way better than this. I still believe in myself. I was born to be a winner and not a loser. I think I have a lot in me, a lot to show. I know it can change because I still have time to make a change.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Stephen Curry's Future With the Warriors Suddenly Feels Less Certain
You can add the Golden State Warriors to your list of teams that missed out on LeBron James this summer.
The Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat are all probably a little miffed about LeBron’s drawn out decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency.
But as Golden State appears stuck in the middle of a loaded Western Conference, reports are circulating that superstar guard Stephen Curry might no longer be on the same page as the front office.
“I think he’s probably tired of the star chasing,” The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II reported.
After Kevin Durant’s departure, the Warriors won the 2022 NBA Championship by defeating the Boston Celtics. That was Steph’s first championship, and Curry won his first career Finals MVP.
But the Warriors have failed to reach the mountaintop since that last title six years ago. Curry is older. Draymond Green is older. Klay Thompson left Golden State in 2024 to join the Dallas Mavericks.
Curry is eligible for an extension at the end of August, and it’ll be very fascinating to see what the 38-year-old decides to do. If he decides to wait on a contract extension, Curry will be an unrestricted free agent in 2027. Even at 39, he would have no shortage of suitors if he decides to keep playing.
It’s so hard to imagine Curry in anything but a Warriors jersey. Right now, he’s faced with an interesting dilemma. He can become one of the rare NBA stars to play their entire career with the same team. It helps his case to be mentioned in the same breath as what Kobe Bryant meant to the Los Angeles Lakers and what Tim Duncan meant to the San Antonio Spurs.
On popular prediction markets, like Kalshi, that allow users to buy and sell contracts of real-world outcomes, Curry certainly has a chance to be moved. Kalshi has a market for Stephen Curry’s next team – if the future Hall of Famer is moved ahead of October 21, 2026.
It would be a blockbuster surprise if Curry were to be traded months before the deadline. But as of July 26, over $135,000 in volume has been traded on Curry’s next team.
On Kalshi, the overwhelmingly most likely outcome is for Curry to remain with the Warriors or retire by October 21st, an implied 87% chance of happening. They give the Spurs a 13% chance, the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks both have an 11% chance and Curry’s hometown Charlotte Hornets have a 9% chance. These odds will fluctuate by the minute.
Don’t expect the Warriors to trade Curry before the calendar flips to 2027. It would be a huge surprise if they did. But this report of a slight rift is something that bears monitoring.
Curry is still one of the great guards in this sport. He has a legacy to think about. And he just watched his buddy LeBron leave a pretty comfortable situation with the Lakers to gamble on bringing a championship to his fourth franchise.
Winning is what makes these greats happy. They want to contend for championships. The Warriors are planning for their future, so of course Curry doesn’t like that.
Sports
White Sox acquire RHP Jose Urquidy in trade with Pirates
Mar 9, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jose Urquidy (65) throws a pitch against the New York Yankees in the third inning during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images The Chicago White Sox acquired right-hander Jose Urquidy from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday in exchange for minor league pitcher Felix Doroteo.
Pittsburgh designated Urquidy for assignment Friday after he struggled during a brief five-game stint with the Pirates. The 31-year-old went 0-1 with an 8.53 ERA and six strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings out of the bullpen.
Urquidy spent most of the year with Triple-A Indianapolis, posting a 5-4 record and 3.66 ERA across 17 starts. He struck out 73 batters over 83 2/3 innings.
The former Houston Astros starter owns a 27-17 record and 4.07 ERA in 86 major league appearances, including 70 starts, over seven seasons with the Astros, Detroit Tigers and Pirates.
Urquidy underwent his second Tommy John surgery in 2024 before returning with Detroit last season.
Pittsburgh receives Doroteo, a 21-year-old right-hander in his first professional season. He went 3-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 18 innings across 16 appearances for the Arizona Complex League White Sox.
–Field Level Media
Freddy Peralta says Sunday was 'probably' his final Mets start
Stephen Curry's Future With the Warriors Suddenly Feels Less Certain
