Sports
Stars Bobby Witt Jr., Tarik Skubal collide as Royals clash with Tigers
Sep 17, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a run during the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images The Kansas City Royals look to their “special” talent — Bobby Witt Jr. — as they hope to avoid a sweep by the visiting Detroit Tigers.
The Royals (82-70) are clinging to the second wild card in the American League. The Tigers (79-73) trail Kansas City by three games and the Minnesota Twins by 1 1/2 for the final wild-card spot.
During his strong season, Witt’s baserunning is sometimes overlooked. While he leads the majors with a .331 average and ranks among the leaders in home runs (32), extra-base hits (86), runs (123) and RBIs (108), he also ranks high in stolen bases (30).
“Just trying to get an extra 90 feet,” Witt said. “I want to get into better scoring position for the guys behind me. Just trying to get to the next base, trying to score, by whatever way.”
Witt stole his 30th base of the season in the first inning on Tuesday, becoming the first shortstop in major league history with two seasons of 30 homers and 30 steals. He hit 30 home runs and stole 49 bases last year.
“He’s the best player in baseball,” left-hander Cole Ragans said of Witt. “He’s incredible, a special talent, a special human being. It’s a joy to get to watch every single day.”
Following Tuesday’s 3-1 loss, a somber Witt acknowledged the milestone but was ready to move on.
“It’s pretty special anytime you get to be the first, but that’s over now,” he said. “On to tomorrow. Anytime you lose it’s frustrating. We didn’t come this far just to come this far.”
“Anytime you’re doing something in the history of the game for the first time ever, is remarkable,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “I would guarantee he would trade that 30-30 for a win tonight and that’s another reason he’s so special.”
The Royals got some good news ahead of Tuesday’s 3-1 loss in 10 innings regarding right-handers James McArthur and Michael Lorenzen.
McArthur suffered a right elbow sprain in Monday’s 7-6 setback to Detroit, exiting in the middle of a seventh-inning at-bat.
“He’s got a grade one UCL sprain, which is probably the best news we could have hoped for,” Quatraro said. “We’re going to shut him down five to seven days, just depending on how he feels. We’re very hopeful that it’s not a season-ending injury.”
Lorenzen, who has been sidelined with a left hamstring strain, had a throwing session Tuesday.
“Assuming everything goes smoothly today with him playing catch, we have him scheduled for a live BP on Saturday,” Quatraro said.
Kansas City right-hander Alec Marsh (8-8, 4.52 ERA) will oppose Detroit lefty Tarik Skubal (16-4, 2.50) in Wednesday’s series finale.
Marsh won his only previous start against Detroit, allowing three runs on five hits in six innings on May 21.
AL Cy Young candidate Skubal is 2-9 with a 5.05 ERA in 14 appearances (12 starts) against Kansas City. His latest loss of the season came at the hands of the Royals on Aug. 2, allowing five runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Detroit’s bullpen was stellar in the two series wins, shutting out Kansas City after the fifth inning on Monday and holding the Royals hitless after Tommy Pham’s one-out single in the fifth.
Pitching in his third straight game, Jason Foley recorded his 25th save Tuesday. He has converted 10 straight save opportunities.
“Everyone’s done a hell of a job lately, especially with how much (everyone is) having to throw,” Foley said. “They’ve relied on us a lot. We’ve done a great job.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Wave sign Spanish GK Sandra Panos to 3-year deal
Sep 4, 2024; Portland, OR, USA; Club America goalkeeper Sandra Panos (1) looks on before the match against Portland Thorns FC at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images The San Diego Wave announced the signing Wednesday of decorated Spanish goalkeeper Sandra Panos.
Panos, 33, arrives from Liga MX Femenil side Club America on a three-year deal through the 2028 NWSL season.
She previously starred at FC Barcelona as a three-time Champions League winner and five-time Liga F champion.
“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Sandra to San Diego,” sporting director and general manager Camille Ashton said. “She is a world-class goalkeeper with experience and leadership at the highest levels of the game, which will be a tremendous addition to our team. Bringing a player of her caliber to the Wave reflects the ambition of our Club as we continue working toward winning a championship, and we’re thrilled to have her join this team.”
Panos allowed just 13 goals in 72 matches across three seasons at Club America from 2024-26.
She earned 54 caps with the Spanish national team from 2012-22, including four starts at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Giants WR Malik Nabers 'making really good progress'
Sep 21, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) looks on before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh is encouraged by the progress of Malik Nabers as the star wide receiver continues to work his way back from last year’s season-ending knee injury.
“He’s making really good progress right now. I’m very hopeful that he’ll be back soon,” Harbaugh told reporters on Wednesday.
“Also, understand when you come back from a knee, he’ll be back, and he’ll still be building his way back to his ultimate full-strength self.”
After a Pro Bowl campaign as a 2024 rookie, Nabers sustained a torn right anterior cruciate ligament in Week 4 last fall that ended his season.
“He’s probably maybe 70% through. I don’t know, something like that, 80% through,” Harbaugh said of Nabers’ recovery. “He’s still grinding. It’s going to be a grind when he starts playing again, too, to get back right.”
Nabers, 22, was limited to 18 receptions for 271 yards and two TDs last season after a stellar debut campaign in 2024. He had 109 catches for 1,204 yards and seven scores.
The Giants selected Nabers with the sixth overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft out of LSU.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Collin Morikawa returns to action at RBC Canadian Open
May 16, 2026; Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA; Collin Morikawa reacts on the sixth hole during the third round of the PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Collin Morikawa is feeling relaxed — if not exactly well-rested — as he competes at the RBC Canadian Open following a four-week absence from the PGA Tour.
Morikawa, 29, has not played since a T55 finish at the PGA Championship while dealing with a nagging back injury and also becoming a first-time father.
“Just a different perspective on life, I think. I’m just enjoying every day. I can stare at a camera, I can stare at my little one just non-stop and kind of forget about what else is going on,” the World No. 10 told reporters Wednesday at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ontario.
“I know at the same time I still have a job to do when I’m out here and that’s what’s great kind of being back. But at the same time when I’m out there playing you’re kind of playing a little bit differently, your mind’s in a different spot. I think I’m a lot more positive out there and hopefully I can kind of just allow my body to relax and go out and play golf and enjoy it again.”
Morikawa has received “new dad” tips from many of his friends on the PGA Tour but said the “sleep thing” still got to him and his wife, Katherine Zhu.
“That’s a real thing,” he said. “So, I won’t push it on my wife that I’m getting some great sleep out here. But your body gets used to taking 50-minute naps and learning how to run off that.”
Morikawa won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February and has four other top-10 finishes this season, including a T7 at the Masters.
The two-time major winner’s back injury first flared up during a practice swing at The Players Championship in March, which forced him to withdraw.
“I left the PGA Championship uncomfortable in a way,” he said. “I’ve been grinding this kind of back injury since The Players. It still hadn’t felt that comfortable. So it was nice to take a full reset. And just focus on other things going on in life. I think after that I’ve just been able to relax a little bit more.
“There’s still a trust factor that I’m looking for that I’m trying to find this week, I think, going into tomorrow and into next week (the U.S. Open) essentially. But it’s a lot better of a swing than I’ve been putting on and that’s for me a positive thing.
“I think when the body fully is able to kind of have that last little puzzle piece of fully relaxing, I think the game’s going to be exactly how I want. I still feel like I’m hit great shots when I need to. But just the consistency-wise I think if I can build that into this week it will be a great boost into next week.”
Morikawa is competing in the RBC Canadian Open for the first time since making his professional debut at the event in 2019, when he tied for 14th.
–Field Level Media
Wave sign Spanish GK Sandra Panos to 3-year deal
Giants WR Malik Nabers 'making really good progress'
