Sports
Streaking Astros eager to continue winning ways vs. Rangers
Jul 31, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Bryan King (74) celebrates with catcher Yainer Diaz (21) after the game against the Texas Rangers at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images While 51 games remain on their schedule, the Houston Astros reached a milestone of sorts on Friday when they defeated the visiting Texas Rangers 11-2 in the opener of a three-game series.
The Astros, after all, reclaimed first place in the American League West for the first time since April 6. They’ll look to bolster their standing on Saturday when they continue their series versus the Rangers.
Houston won for the ninth time in 10 games and moved a half-game ahead of the Rangers atop the division. The Astros were 11 games under .500 on May 20 and six games back in the AL West as recently as June 2.
“Still baseball to be played, but I think it’s important to recognize those guys in there (and) how they worked really, really hard to get to this point,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “We have battled injuries, some ups and downs, and they come to work every day with the right attitude and the right mindset. They’re very tough, they stay together, and I’m just proud of our effort.
“There’s still baseball, but we’re pausing them and reminding them that we’ve worked really hard to get to this point. But we’ve got to come back out here (Saturday) and do it again. But how far we’ve come, I’m extremely proud of our team.”
Right-hander Ronel Blanco (0-1, 8.10 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Astros on Saturday.
In his second start back after returning from Tommy John surgery, Blanco allowed five runs on four hits and three walks over 5 1/3 innings in a 12-3 road loss to the Chicago White Sox last Sunday. Blanco has surrendered two home runs in both of his starts this season.
Blanco is 2-2 with a 3.34 ERA in eight career appearances (five starts) against the Rangers. In his previous start against Texas, Blanco allowed three runs on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts over six innings in a 5-1 road loss on May 17, 2025. That was his final start before he underwent season-ending elbow surgery.
Right-hander Jacob deGrom (7-6, 3.67 ERA) has the starting assignment for the Rangers.
He did not factor into the decision of a 6-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners last Sunday after allowing one run on seven hits with four strikeouts over five innings. deGrom ranks fourth in the AL, averaging 10.77 strikeouts per nine innings, and is fifth in opponent on-base percentage at .265.
deGrom is 1-3 with a 3.96 ERA over six career starts against the Astros. The Rangers have lost his last five starts against the Astros, including both starts this season. deGrom is 0-2 with a 5.82 ERA in three career starts in Houston.
Rangers shortstop Corey Seager returned from a 23-game stint on the injured list and finished 2-for-3 with a run scored. Seager, sidelined with back inflammation, played in his 52nd game this season. A two-time World Series MVP, Seager has logged three stints on the IL in 2026.
“I think they’re really excited that Corey is back, that’s for sure,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “I think there are guys that are capable of carrying teams, and Corey Seager is absolutely one of those.
“He makes everybody better around him. You circle guys that you don’t want to beat you that series. When you have multiple guys that you have to circle, that makes it really challenging. And I feel that we’ve been missing Corey, and there is no question about that.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Angels scratch RHP Jose Soriano from Saturday start vs. Brewers
Jun 30, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jose Soriano (59) pitches to the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Angels scratched right-hander Jose Soriano from his scheduled start against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.
Baseball Operations Consultant John Mozeliak released a statement on the decision:
“Today, Jose Soriano will not make his scheduled start. With the trade deadline on Monday and the uncertainty of the next 48 hours, we decided to take a prudent approach and see where these next few days lead us.”
Soriano, 27, has posted a career-low 3.29 ERA this season through 22 starts.
For his career, he has a 3.72 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 432 strikeouts in 113 games (73 starts).
The right-hander is under contact through 2028 and carries a salary of $2.9 million this season. So, he should be an appealing trade option for many teams at the deadline.
The Angels already made a move as “sellers” by shipping right-hander Chase Silseth and catcher Logan O’Hoppe to the Texas Rangers for minor league infielder Angel Arredondo.
–Field Level Media
Sports
UFC Belgrade: Uros Medic enjoys perfect Serbia homecoming with TKO
Jul 31, 2026; Belgrade, Serbia; Uros Medic during weigh ins for UFC Fight Night at Belgrade Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-Imagn Images UFC Belgrade: Uros Medic has perfect Serbia homecoming at UFC Fight Night
Serbian native Uroš Medic survived an early knockdown before rallying to stop Daniel Rodriguez via TKO just 30 seconds into the opening round of Saturday’s five-round, non-title UFC Fight Night welterweight main event at Belgrade Arena, electrifying his home crowd while tying the longest active knockout streak in the UFC at four fights.
After absorbing an initial knockdown, Medic (14-3 MMA) countered with a crisp left-hook, right-hand combination, sending Rodriguez (20-6 MMA) to the canvas while connecting with a kick to the gut before closing the deal with strikes to secure a dramatic victory on home soil.
An emotional Medic, who returned to Serbia for the first time in a decade, broke down in tears post-fight as the Belgrade crowd chanted his name.
“We got it done. Now I just want to cry. I missed home so much,” Medic said. “…I have so many words, but I don’t think we have enough time tonight. I’m gonna cook the rest of this division. With you guys by my side, we’re gonna bring the belt back to Serbia.
“I love you everybody. This was an amazing night. I’m finally home.”
Following the victory, Medic called out Carlos Prates and former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards for potential future matchups.
Saturday’s event also made UFC history, breaking an all-time organization record with 10 finishes across the card, surpassing the previous record of nine.
Undefeated light heavyweight Navajo Stirling (11-0 MMA) earned the biggest victory of his career on Saturday, stepping in on short notice to stop former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz (29-12-2 MMA) via first-round TKO in the co-main event.
Stirling-who took the fight after original opponent Bogdan Guskov stepped up to face Magomed Ankalaev last week in Abu Dhabi – connected with a crisp left hook before establishing dominant ground-and-pound on the mat to force the stoppage at the 2:56 mark of the opening frame.
Austrian former light heavyweight Aleksandar Rakic (15-6 MMA) successfully made his heavyweight debut, keeping the fight mostly on the feet and keeping Poland’s Marcin Tybura (27-12 MMA) off-balance en route to a unanimous decision. All three judges scored the bout 30-27 for Rakic, who snapped a four-fight losing streak to secure his first victory since March 2021.
Swiss middleweight Robert Valentin (13-6 MMA) weathered a wild, wrestling-heavy opening frame before locking in a guillotine choke to submit local favorite Duško Todorovic (13-7 MMA) at the 4:14 mark of the opening round.
Gilbert Urbina (8-5 MMA), an American middleweight, stunned the Belgrade Arena crowd on Saturday, overwhelming Slovakia-based Vlasto Cepo (14-4 MMA) with an explosive display of volume striking in their middleweight bout. Urbina wasted no time establishing his offense, overwhelming Cepo early and forcing a TKO stoppage due to strikes at the 1:01 mark of the opening round to secure a statement victory on foreign soil.
French promotional newcomer Noah Gugnon (10-2 MMA) made a definitive statement to kick off the main card at the Belgrade Arena, making quick work of Montenegrin lightweight Miloš Janicic (19-4 MMA) on Saturday. Gugnon immediately targeted
Janicic’s lead leg with brutal low kicks, destabilizing his opponent before seamlessly transitioning the action to the canvas. Once on the floor, Gugnon locked in a tight rear-naked choke, forcing the tap at the 1:21 mark of the opening round. The victory extends Gugnon’s professional winning streak to six fights, with all six coming by way of finish, while successfully launching his career inside the Octagon.
The UFC returns to Las Vegas for a Fight Night event next Saturday from the META Apex. It continues a stretch of events through Oct. 24 with UFC 333, including a return to Los Angeles for the first time since 2018 with UFC 331 on Sept. 19.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Wings look to solve end-game issues as they host slumping Sun
Jul 2, 2026; Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Connecticut Sun guard Kennedy Burke (25) drive the ball against Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd (35) in the second half at PeoplesBank Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images The Dallas Wings hope to solve their end-game issues and bounce back from a pair of close losses when they square off against the slumping Connecticut Sun on Sunday in Arlington, Texas.
The Wings (18-11) return home after an 81-75 loss in Washington D.C. to the Mystics on Friday in a game Dallas came back from 10 points down in the first half to tie it at 71 with two and a half minutes to play.
But, similar to a stunning loss at home to Atlanta on Wednesday, the Wings were outplayed in the final minutes and fell for the third time in their past four outings.
Paige Bueckers amassed 17 of her 23 points in the second half of Friday’s loss. Arike Ogunbowale added 20 points, and Alanna Smith had 11 points in 18 minutes for the Wings.
Dallas finished the month of July with seven wins in 10 games; the three losses were by a combined eight points and in each game, the Wings either led or were tied down the stretch.
“Teams just play really aggressive in the last three minutes, blitzing, trapping, being more aggressive that way, trying to get us out of our actions, playing to our personnel,” Bueckers said about Dallas’s recent struggle to finish games. “And (we need) to be aggressive, put in some new sets, execute better. I think that is the key.
“Some nights it doesn’t go your way, but we’ve got to force it to go our way, and also play better the first 35 minutes so it doesn’t come down to the last five every single game.”
The Sun (7-22) have dropped four straight games, most recently a 94-88 decision in Chicago on Thursday. All five starters scored in double figures for Connecticut in the loss and the Sun outrebounded Chicago by six but could not withstand a second half swoon that erased a nine-point halftime lead.
“The effort has to come from everyone on this team,” Connecticut coach Rachid Meziane said. “At the same time, we are very young and at times it’s hard for us to stay composed and try to stick to our game plan.”
Aneesah Morrow matched her career high with 21 points for Connecticut in defeat, while Olivia Nelson-Ododa posted a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds. Diamond Miller added 14 points for the Sun, Leila Lacan had 12 and Charlisse Leger-Walker finished with 10 points.
On Friday, Morrow was traded to Toronto for the rights to forward Maria Kliundikova and the Tempo’s 2028 second round pick.
Connecticut is expected to play without veteran center Brittney Griner, out for the fourth consecutive game as she continues to recover from a left knee injury.
Sunday’s game is the last of a six-game road trip for Connecticut that started with a win in Phoenix on July 17. The Sun are 3-7 over their last 10 contests and lost at home to Dallas 86-83 in the teams’ first meeting this year on July 2.
–Field Level Media
Angels scratch RHP Jose Soriano from Saturday start vs. Brewers
UFC Belgrade: Uros Medic enjoys perfect Serbia homecoming with TKO
