Sports
Tigers' Jack Flaherty, facing Angels, searches for first win of season
May 22, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Jack Flaherty (9) pitches in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images The Detroit Tigers have been wallowing around the bottom of the American League. A big part of that has been the continued struggles for Jack Flaherty.
The veteran right-hander, who will start the series finale against the visiting Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, hasn’t recorded a victory this year. Detroit lost the last seven games that Flaherty has started, most recently when he survived just 3 1/3 innings at Baltimore on Friday.
Flaherty (0-6, 5.94 ERA) gave up six runs and eight hits on that dreary night, though only half of the runs were earned. Pete Alonso and Jackson Holliday homered off him.
“There’s a handful of fastballs that are probably over the middle of the plate that when I go back and look at it, (I) will see that,” Flaherty said.
Over his past six starts, Flaherty has surrendered 22 earned runs in 23 2/3 innings (8.37 ERA) while losing five times.
“Jack is always a competitor and he’s always trying to find a way,” Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said. “Obviously, he’s searching for the consistency that he’s had before in his career and will have again.
“This is taking a toll on him. It’s taking a toll on all of us. Not just Jack’s performance, just the overall way things have gone. But we’ll get back to work and Jack will get back to work to find solutions.”
The Angels have traditionally been rough on Flaherty as well. He has lost all three career starts against them while giving up 20 runs, 19 earned, in 13 2/3 innings (12.51 ERA).
Flaherty’s mound opponent, Los Angeles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, has made two starts since recovering from right shoulder inflammation that kept him out for the season’s first seven weeks. Rodriguez (1-1, 10.61 ERA) gave up seven runs and seven hits while walking four in 3 2/3 innings in his Angels debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 17.
He allowed four runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings against the Texas Rangers on Friday and picked up the victory as the Angels prevailed 9-6.
“Definitely took a step in the right direction,” Rodriguez said. “Still a lot of things to work on, though. Felt like I was fighting my delivery at times.”
Rodriguez cut down his walk total to two free passes.
“I don’t even want to look at the first-pitch strikes,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t even want to look at that stat. I know that needs to be better, but we’re headed in the right direction.”
Rodriguez was acquired from Baltimore in a November deal that sent outfielder Taylor Ward to the Orioles. The Angels are hoping that Rodriguez will emerge as one of their top starters. He has pitched 10 scoreless innings and struck out 15 while going 1-0 in two career starts against the Tigers.
Detroit got a much-needed 4-0 victory in the middle game of the three-game series on Wednesday, but it came with a cost.
Starting pitcher Casey Mize was removed after the fourth inning due to right groin tightness. Closer Kenley Jansen couldn’t finish the game after an awkward landing while delivering a pitch. Both sustained right groin injuries, but the extent of both was unclear right after the game, Hinch said.
The Tigers won for just the second time in 11 games, while the Angels had their season-best four-game winning streak snapped.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dodgers OF Teoscar Hernandez exits vs. Rockies with hamstring strain
May 23, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernandez (37) hits an RBI single during the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernandez left Wednesday’s game against the Colorado Rockies after the second inning with a left hamstring strain.
Hernandez hit a ground ball to shortstop in his first at-bat and had a pronounced limp after running through the first-base bag. He grabbed at his left hamstring after reaching the dugout.
Hyeseong Kim replaced Hernandez in left field to start the third inning, his first appearance in left during two seasons in the major leagues.
In 51 games this season, Hernandez is batting .276 with seven home runs and 31 RBIs. After some early-season struggles, Hernandez entered Wednesday’s game batting .370 with three home runs over his previous 15 contests.
A veteran of 11 seasons, Hernandez is a career .261 hitter with 224 home runs and 692 RBIs in 1,149 games with the Houston Astros (2016-17), Toronto Blue Jays (2017-22), Seattle Mariners (2023) and Dodgers (2024-26).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Milan Momcilovic returning to college after NBA flirtations
Mar 11, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) shoots the ball during the first half against the Arizona State Sun Devils at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images Milan Momcilovic, the No. 1 overall player in this year’s transfer portal class per ESPN, is returning to college basketball for the 2026-27 after NBA flirtations, according to multiple media reports.
The reports emerged Wednesday night, mere hours before the 11:59 p.m. deadline by which players had to remove their name from NBA draft consideration in order to maintain their eligibility.
Where Momcilovic will play next after spending the last three seasons at Iowa State remains to be seen. He entered the transfer portal and declared for the NBA draft on April 12, and multiple media outlets reported that Arizona, Kentucky, Louisville and St. John’s are the primary schools involved in his recruitment.
Whichever school he chooses will be landing one of college basketball’s premier sharpshooters. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 16.9 points and shot a nation-best 48.7% from 3-point range last season. He left Iowa State tied with Naz Mitrou-Long (2012-17) for second in school history in career 3-pointers made with 260, 10 behind leader Jake Sullivan (2000-04).
He backed that up at this month’s NBA Scouting Combine in Chicago, making almost 69% of his shots in the four shooting drills.
The number of power programs involved in Momcilovic’s recruitment could drive up the price tag to land him. CBS Sports reported that he might make more than $7 million for the upcoming college season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Lynx pull away in third quarter, power past Dream
May 27, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles (5) flexes after making a shot against the Atlanta Dream in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images Courtney Williams scored 25 points on 10-for-15 shooting, and the Minnesota Lynx pulled away for a 96-81 win over the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday in Minneapolis.
Natasha Howard finished with 22 points and eight rebounds for Minnesota (5-2), which avenged a season-opening loss against the Dream. Olivia Miles finished with 16 points and eight assists, Nia Coffey scored 14 points and Kayla McBride chipped in 12.
Allisha Gray scored 21 points on 7-for-11 shooting to lead Atlanta (4-2). Naz Hillmon finished with 15 points, and Angel Reese recorded 10 points and eight rebounds.
A 13-0 run helped the Lynx take a commanding lead in the third quarter.
The Dream trailed 44-40 after Gray made a 3-pointer off an assist from Reese with 8:56 left in the third.
Williams answered with a 3-pointer that started Minnesota’s big run. McBride added a layup, Williams made two free throws and Howard sank three consecutive layups to put the Lynx on top 57-40 with 5:28 left in the quarter.
By the start of the fourth, Minnesota led 70-56.
The Dream trailed by double digits the rest of the way.
Minnesota led 23-14 at the end of the first quarter.
The Lynx set the tone by scoring the first seven points of the game. Coffey made a 3-pointer and followed up with a turnaround jump shot, and Williams added a pull-up jump shot to finish the 7-0 run.
Minnesota pushed its lead to 20-7 later in the first quarter on a layup by McBride.
The Dream scored the final five points of the first quarter on a 3-pointer by Rhyne Howard and a running layup by Sika Kone.
In the second quarter, Atlanta outscored Minnesota 23-19 to further trim the Lynx’s lead. Gray and Jordin Canada drained back-to-back 3-pointers to open the period, and Gray and Kone buried back-to-back 3-pointers less than three minutes later to tie the score 26-26.
However, the Lynx regrouped and led 42-37 entering halftime.
–Field Level Media
Dodgers OF Teoscar Hernandez exits vs. Rockies with hamstring strain
Reports: Milan Momcilovic returning to college after NBA flirtations
