Sports
Tigers' Jack Flaherty looks to maintain momentum vs. Rangers
Jun 28, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Jack Flaherty (9) pitches in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Following a short stint on the injured list, Detroit Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty didn’t allow a run in his return.
He’ll look to build off that outing when his team plays the middle contest of a three-game series against Texas on Saturday afternoon in Arlington, Texas.
Flaherty recorded nine strikeouts in his five-inning start against the visiting Houston Astros on Sunday. The only negative was that Flaherty required 94 pitches to get that far. The Tigers wound up losing 7-5 in 10 innings.
“Still needed a better job to find a way to get some quick outs. Some quick outs, quicker ABs,” said Flaherty, who was on the injured list due to a left peroneal strain, a tendon injury along his lower leg. “They did a good job of getting the two strikes, and fouling some pitches off and making at-bats go a little bit longer.”
It was just the second time this season Flaherty (1-8, 4.97 ERA) had gone at least five innings without giving up a run. He started against the Rangers on May 1 and was pulled after 3 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits while issuing three walks.
In five career starts against Texas, Flaherty is 1-1 with a 4.18 ERA.
After starting their road trip with a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees, the Tigers lost the opener of this series, 10-4, on Thursday. The teams didn’t meet on Friday due to the Australia-Egypt World Cup match played at nearby AT&T Stadium.
Detroit trailed 5-0 before fifth-inning homers by Colt Keith and Hao-Yu Lee cut the deficit to two runs. The Tigers’ bullpen failed to keep them within striking range.
“We’re chasing it from behind. That’s a tough recipe, but we did give ourselves a chance,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “They were able to get out of it and then tack on runs.”
The Rangers’ victory was their seventh in the last eight games and gave them at least a share of the AL West lead for the fifth straight day. Their run total on Thursday matched their season high.
“At the end of the day, everybody in here wants to win,” said Texas outfielder Evan Carter, who went 2-for-2 with a homer off the bench. “I think everybody’s showing up in the field every single day, everybody’s got their own unique skill sets, and we go out there trying to compete and grind and do whatever we can to help the team win every single day. I think that’s a collective thing that everybody here feels. Nobody here is playing for themselves, and I think that shows on the field.”
Texas pounded out 17 hits despite not having Corey Seager, Wyatt Langford or Brandon Nimmo due to injuries. The Rangers are hopeful Nimmo can play this weekend. He sprained his AC joint when he slammed into a wall while making a catch on Sunday.
Cal Quantrill (3-0, 3.31) will start Saturday for the Rangers, who pushed fellow right-hander Kumar Rocker’s scheduled start to Sunday.
Quantrill is making his third straight start after pitching out of the bullpen for most of the season. He allowed two hits and two walks in three scoreless innings of relief in a 5-1 loss at Detroit on May 2. Quantrill is 4-2 with a 3.11 ERA in 11 games (seven starts) in his career against the Tigers.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Celtics' Neemias Queta agrees to 4-year, $56M extension
Apr 21, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88) controls the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first half of a game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images The Boston Celtics are picking up their team option on Neemias Queta for next season and will sign the 7-foot center to a fully guaranteed four-year, $56 million contract extension.
Queta’s agent, Bill Duffy of WME Basketball, told ESPN of the deal on Friday morning that locks in his client through the 2030-31 season. The Celtics exercised Queta’s $2.67 million team option for the 2026-27 season, with the new contract starting with the 2027-28 campaign.
Queta averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots in 76 games (75 starts) this past season. He shot 65.3% from the field en route to finishing fourth in the NBA’s Most Improved Player voting.
He has averages of 7.0 points and 5.6 rebounds in 186 career games (81 starts) with the Sacramento Kings and Celtics. He was selected by the Kings in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft.
Queta will turn 27 on July 13.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: G Kyle Lowry to sign 1-day contract with Raptors, then retire
Mar 19, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Kyle Lowry (7) runs up the court during the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images Kyle Lowry, a veteran of 20 NBA seasons, intends to sign a one-day contract with the Toronto Raptos and retire with the franchise for which his name is synonymous, Sportsnet reported Friday.
The Memphis Grizzlies selected Lowry, now 40, with the No. 24 overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft and at the 2009 trade deadline. He was dealt him to the Houston Rockets as part of a three-team deal that returned Adonal Foyle, Mike Wilks and a 2009 first-round draft pick to Memphis from the Orlando Magic.
Before the 2012-13 season, the Rockets traded him to the Raptors for Gary Forbes and a 2013 first-round pick.
It was in Toronto that Lowry became a star, earning six consecutive All-Star selections (2014-20) and winning the 2018-19 NBA title with the Raptors.
He is the franchise’s all-team leader in 3-point field goals (1,518), assists (4,277) and steals (873). He stands second to another Toronto icon, DeMar DeRozan, in minutes played and games played.
A rebuilding Toronto team traded Lowry to the Miami Heat prior to the 2021-22 season, and he later signed with his hometown Philadelphia 76ers in 2014, appearing in just 72 games there over two-plus seasons.
He ends his career with averages of 13.8 points, 6.0 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals over 1,187 career games.
In his 601 games over nine seasons in Toronto, Lowry averaged 17.5 points, 7.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.
He also won a 2016 Olympic gold medal with Team USA.
Sportsnet reported the Raptors have set a news conference for Tuesday, at which time is it expected Lowry will sign the contract and retire.
–Field Level Media
Sports
MLB Best Bets: Friday Picks for Cardinals-Cubs and Red Sox-Angels
Jun 30, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) hits a two-run home run against the San Diego Padres during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images Happy 250th to all! We’ve got a packed weekend of baseball on tap, let’s celebrate the holiday with some winning MLB picks.
Season Record 40-40-2, -2.68 Units
Cardinals at Cubs
Cards F5 (+102 FanDuel)
We get a nice Rivalry Series here with the added twist that these teams are right in the middle of the NL Wild Card chase. That’s kind of surprising as far as the Cardinals are concerned as they sold off all sorts of pieces in the offseason as they looked to open up playing time for their younger players. Well its worked way better than they could have imagined. Jordan Walker has finally lived up to his prospect hype, and then some as he’s slashing 288/.342/.509 with 18 homers and 59 RBI’s in a shade over half a season. Meanwhile JJ Wetherholt is the current NL ROY favorite as he mans 2B and bats leadoff every day and he’s popped 12 homers with 9 steals and a .259 average. He’s got crazy good control of the strike zone for a rookie with a 10.35 BB% vs, a 15.9% K%.
I mostly love the Cards in this spot thanks to the pitching matchup. St Louis starts Andre Pallante, who’s quietly given them a very solid season. He has a 3.83 ERA and 1.23 WHIP while not missing a start and getting decently deep into games. He’s gone at least 6 IP in his last 4 starts and 8 of his last 11. He doesn’t get the whiffs you’d like as he has just an 18.7% K%, but he does limit contact well. His EV against is just 87 and it’s mostly on the ground with a 6.8 LA. That should prove helpful in hot and possibly windy Wrigley.
The Cubs counter with David Peterson, just imported from the reeling Mets. He pitched well in his first start with Chicago (5.2 IP, 2 ER) but it came with only 2 K’s. It’s been an overall forgettable year though with a 5.86 ERA and 1.59 WHIP. Like Palencia, he doesn’t strike out many (19.2%) and keeps in on the ground (7.7 LA). Unlike Pallante, its 90 EV contact. He’ll be better with the Cubs thanks their infield defense, but its a really tough formula for success. Give me the Cards here.
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Red Sox at Angels
Under 8 (-115 bet365)
It’s two pretty weak teams here but we have a nice matchup of lefties at least. Jake Bennett starts for the Red Sox and he has a 3.27 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 6 starts. He’s really been lethal in his last 2 outings, limiting the Rockies (at Coors) and the Yankees to just 1 ER total over 12.1 IP. The Angels start Reid Detmers and he’s a rare bright spot in another dismal season in Anaheim with a 3.88 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 27.8% K%. His xERA of 3.01 suggests he’s been even better than that. The Red Sox have played a bit better recently, but it’s mostly thanks to the their pitching as they still have a lousy lineup. Let’s bank on the arms here.
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Report: Celtics' Neemias Queta agrees to 4-year, $56M extension
Report: G Kyle Lowry to sign 1-day contract with Raptors, then retire
