Sports
Surging pitchers kick off series as Cubs visit Pirates
Jul 18, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) delivers the ball during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images Matthew Boyd and Jared Jones both look to continue torrid stretches Friday when the visiting Chicago Cubs open a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Boyd (6-1, 4.15 ERA) won his fourth straight start on Saturday after allowing just one solo homer and two other hits over six innings in Chicago’s 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins. The left-hander has a 2.57 ERA in five starts since returning from surgery to repair a meniscus tear sustained while playing with his kids.
“Everything is just moving in the right direction: endurance, how you feel through the outing and afterward. All that’s feeling good,” said Boyd, who came off the injured list on June 25.
An All-Star for Chicago in 2025, Boyd has struggled in his career versus Pittsburgh. He is 1-3 with a 6.18 ERA in eight appearances (all starts) against the Pirates.
Seiya Suzuki also has experienced problems with Pittsburgh this season. He is just 5-for-24 (.208) with eight strikeouts in seven games against the Pirates, who have won four of those games.
Suzuki, however, has heated up this month.
He belted a solo homer in the first inning of Chicago’s 5-1 setback to the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, giving him at least one hit in 10 of his last 11 games. He has gone deep four times during that stretch.
Unfortunately for the Cubs, the team’s bats went silent after Suzuki’s 17th homer of the season.
Like Boyd, Jones (2-1, 4.05) also has pitched well of late for Pittsburgh.
Jones allowed one run on three hits with a season-high nine strikeouts in five innings of a 5-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians last Saturday.
He has yielded just two runs on five hits and fanned 23 batters against just three walks in three starts (15.0 innings) in July. He retired 30 batters in a row before Steven Kwan had a base hit in the third inning on Saturday.
That said, the opposition is batting just .100 (5-for-50) versus Jones during the three-game stretch.
“Giving up a run, I had some choice words for myself. But yeah, just hearing those numbers and sitting back and realizing what I’ve done over the last three games, it’s been pretty cool,” Jones said.
Jones’ impressive three-game stretch came on the heels of a rough six-start beginning to the season. The right-hander had been working out the kinks after missing all of last season after suffering an elbow injury during spring training.
Jones, 24, is 1-2 with a 5.24 ERA in four career starts against the Cubs — all coming during his rookie season in 2024.
The Pirates settled for a split of a doubleheader against the New York Yankees on Wednesday following a 2-0 setback in the nightcap.
Pittsburgh’s Nick Gonzales carries a seven-game hitting streak into Friday’s game. He is 12-for-31 with two homers and five RBIs during that stretch.
Gonzales, however, is 2-for-18 this season against the Cubs.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Richard Carapaz conquers Stage 18 in Tour de France
Richard Carapaz celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win Stage 18 of the Tour de France on Thursday. Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz climbed into the overall top 10 at the Tour de France with his Stage 18 victory in the Alps on Thursday.
Carapaz, 33, finished the mountainous 185.2-kilometer trek from Voiron to Orcieres-Merlette in 4 hours, 26 minutes and 21 seconds. He pulled away on the last ascent of the day and covered the final 3 kilometers solo.
Switzerland’s Mauro Schmid was the runner-up for the second straight day, 45 seconds behind, and American Matteo Jorgenson placed third.
Carapaz moved into 10th place in the overall standings.
Four-time champion Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia still leads the competition by 4 minutes and 32 seconds over Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel. Mexico’s Isaac del Toro is third, followed by 19-year-old Frenchman Paul Seixas and Spain’s Juan Ayuso.
Stage 19 on Friday is a 127.9-kilometer route through the mountains from Gap to Alpe d’Huez. The 113th edition of the Tour de France concludes on Sunday in Paris.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Panthers OLB Nic Scourton (knee) carted off field as training camp opens
Nov 16, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Nic Scourton (11) reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Nic Scourton left the field on a cart after suffering an apparent right knee injury on Thursday, the first day of training camp.
An MRI was scheduled for later in the afternoon to determine the extent of the injury.
Reporters described it as an emotional scene as Scourton, 21, was in tears as the cart pulled away from the field. Before the cart departed, the entire team and head coach Dave Canales had a moment with him.
Practice was halted for the day.
In just his second season, Scourton was penciled in to start on the opposite side of Jaelan Phillips, acquired as a free agent in the offseason. As a rookie, Scourton appeared in 17 games (eight starts) and tallied 47 tackles (seven for loss), five sacks and a forced fumble.
Veteran Patrick Jones II and Princely Umanmielen, in his second season, could see game time in his absence.
The Panthers selected Scourton in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dallas signs Benji Flowers, 15; reportedly reaches deal with Chelsea
Mar 15, 2025; Frisco, Texas, USA; A view of the logo and stadium during the game between FC Dallas and Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images FC Dallas signed 15-year-old U.S. forward Benji Flowers to a first-team deal Thursday and reportedly agreed to a future transfer to Chelsea FC when he turns 18.
Dallas will receive an initial fee of about $3 million from the Premier League side and up to an additional $7 million in performance-based add-ons, according to The Athletic.
Flowers is the youngest player ever to sign a first-team deal with FC Dallas. The homegrown contract runs through 2030-31 and includes an option for 2031-32.
“Benji’s signing is another proud day for FC Dallas and our Academy,” said club president Dan Hunt. “Our commitment has always been to develop young players and provide them with a clear pathway to the professional game. Benji has embraced every step of that journey through hard work, determination and the support of his family.
“His signing is a reflection of the tremendous work being done throughout the FC Dallas Academy and reinforces what is possible for the next generation of players. We are excited to watch him continue his development with FC Dallas and North Texas SC.”
The future is bright ??
Benji Fowers has been named to the MLS NEXT All-Star Game! pic.twitter.com/xk0HuFk16q
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) June 24, 2026
Last month, Flowers was named to the MLS NEXT All-Star Game. The FC Dallas Academy product made his debut with North Texas SC on March 21 at 14 years, 11 months and seven days old, making him the second-youngest player in that club’s history.
“Benji is a special talent, and today is an important milestone for both him and our club,” said Andre Zanotta, FC Dallas chief soccer officer. “He has come through the FC Dallas Academy and has earned this opportunity through his work ethic, commitment and the support of his family.
“Every step of his development has come because he has embraced the process and continued to challenge himself every day. We believe he has a very bright future, but this is only the beginning of his journey as a professional. We’re excited to continue helping him develop here at FC Dallas before the next chapter of his career.”
–Field Level Media
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Richard Carapaz conquers Stage 18 in Tour de France
