Sports
Top 25 roundup: K-State takes down No. 16 Cincinnati
Dec 30, 2024; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats guard Coleman Hawkins (33) and guard Dug McDaniel (0) celebrate during the first half against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Bramlage Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images Coleman Hawkins had 20 points and 10 rebounds as Kansas State knocked off No. 16 Cincinnati 70-67 on Monday night in Manhattan, Kan., in the Big 12 opener for both teams.
The Wildcats (7-5, 1-0 Big 12) also got 17 points from Dug McDaniel and 13 from David N’Guessan.
Dan Skillings Jr., who was 3-for-15 from 3-point range entering Monday, was 4-for-8 from deep to lead the Bearcats with 18 points. Dillon Mitchell had 15 points and 11 boards.
After Cincinnati (10-2, 0-1) tied the score at 31 early in the second half, McDaniel scored six straight points for the Wildcats. Kansas State soon extended the lead to nine points before the Bearcats tied it again at 56-56. N’Guessan then scored a three-point play to give Kansas State a 59-56 lead and the Wildcats never trailed again.
No. 2 Auburn 87, Monmouth 58
Johni Broome and Dylan Cardwell each recorded double-doubles to lead the host Tigers past the stubborn Hawks in Auburn, Ala.
Broome led all Auburn scorers with 14 points and collected 11 rebounds, while Cardwell finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds as Auburn (12-1) picked up its fifth consecutive win. Monmouth (2-11) lost for the third time in its past four games.
The Hawks remained competitive with one of the nation’s best for more than 13 minutes of the first half before the Tigers, playing for the first time since Dec. 21, broke a 28-28 tie with an 18-0 run to close out the first half.
No. 3 Iowa State 79, Colorado 69
Curtis Jones scored 20 points, Keshon Gilbert added 14 points and the Cyclones held on for a win over the Buffaloes in Boulder, Colo., in the Big 12 opener for both teams.
Joshua Jefferson finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and eight steals for Iowa State (11-1, 1-0 Big 12), which won its eighth game in a row.
Julian Hammond III scored 21 points on 9-of-17 shooting to lead Colorado (9-3, 0-1). RJ Smith finished with 14 points and Javon Ruffin scored nine as the Buffaloes fell to 8-1 at home.
No. 14 Houston 60, Oklahoma State 47
J’Wan Roberts scored a season-high 20 points and recorded his first double-double of the campaign as the Cougars beat the Cowboys in Stillwater, Okla., to open conference play.
Roberts corralled 11 rebounds to lead the Cougars (9-3, 1-0 Big 12) to their fifth consecutive victory. Houston seized control with a 17-1 run that closed the first half and yielded a 28-18 lead at the intermission.
Brandon Newman scored 12 points for Oklahoma State (8-4, 0-1) and Robert Jennings had 10. Marchelus Avery, the Cowboys’ leading scorer on the season, scored just five points on 2-for-8 shooting.
No. 17 Mississippi State 87, Bethune-Cookman 73
Riley Kugel scored 22 points off the bench and the Bulldogs used improved defense in the second half to pull away from the Wildcats in Starkville, Miss.
Josh Hubbard scored 16 and RJ Melendez and Claudell Harris Jr. had 12 each as the Bulldogs (12-1) held the Wildcats (3-10) to 28 points in the second half after allowing 45 in the first half. Mississippi State forced a total of 17 turnovers, leading to 24 points.
Trey Thomas and Brayon Freeman scored 21 each to lead Bethune-Cookman, which received just 15 points from its bench compared to 34 for the Mississippi State reserves.
No. 18 Michigan State 80, Western Michigan 62
Jaden Akins had 18 points as the Spartans extended their winning streak to six games by defeating the Broncos in East Lansing, Mich.
Carson Cooper had 13 points and six rebounds for Michigan State (11-2) in the nonconference game. The Spartans wound up with a 20-7 edge in points scored at the foul line.
Chansey Willis Jr.’s 12 points topped Western Michigan (3-9), which has lost five straight. Max Burton added 10 points.
No. 19 Gonzaga 89, Pepperdine 82
Khalif Battle scored 21 points as the Bulldogs held off a furious second-half rally to win their 29th consecutive West Coast Conference opener, defeating the host Waves in Malibu, Calif.
Gonzaga defeated Pepperdine for the 48th time in a row, a streak dating to 2002. Gonzaga’s Braden Huff scored 19 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the field for the Bulldogs (10-4, 1-0 WCC).
Jaxon Olvera led the Waves (6-9, 0-2) with a game-high 27 points and Moe Odum scored all 24 of his points in the second half. Pepperdine outscored Gonzaga 50-39 in the second half, getting as close as four with little more than two minutes remaining, but could not pull off the comeback.
No. 23 Arkansas 92, Oakland 62
Adou Thiero tallied 16 of his 20 points in the first half, Boogie Fland scored 21 of his 24 in the second half, and the Razorbacks routed the Golden Grizzlies in Fayetteville, Ark.
Thiero added six rebounds, six assists and three steals while Karter Knox had 17 points for Arkansas (11-2). The Razorbacks shot 60.3 percent from the field while holding Oakland to 40 percent.
Tuburu Naivalurua recorded 18 points and nine rebounds while Allen Mukeba had 17 points and six boards as Oakland (4-10) lost for the sixth time in seven games.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Yankees confident in closer David Bednar vs. his former Pirates team
Jul 19, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells (28) and relief pitcher David Bednar (53) celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images The New York Yankees would like to be more consistent at the plate but are confident in a tight game when David Bednar is on the mound.
The Yankees certainly felt good about Bednar on Sunday night when they eked out a home win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. They hope there are situations this week to use him against his former team starting Monday in the opener of a three-game series against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.
New York is 2-9 in its 11 home games after getting a tiebreaking homer from Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the eighth inning of a 2-1 victory in the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader against the Dodgers.
“We got to be more consistent offensively, first and foremost,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after his team stranded 11 runners in the win. “That’s been the biggest thing that I think has kind of ailed us through these few weeks.”
The Yankees earned the win thanks to Bednar, who recorded the final five outs.
Entering the series against the team which dealt him to the Yankees at last season’s trade deadline, Bednar is on a career-best 20 2/3 inning scoreless streak in his past 17 outings. During those games, opponents are hitting .103, and it is the longest active streak in the big leagues.
“I faced Bednar a lot in my career before coming over here and I always thought he was a really good pitcher,” Chisholm said. “His stuff is really lights out. Combined with the way that he has just great composure every time he goes out there and trusts his stuff, it’s amazing.”
The Pirates are 8-3 in their past 11 games after Sunday’s 7-1 win at Cleveland. Pittsburgh has scored at least five runs eight times in that span, and is hoping it can do enough at the plate to avoid facing Bednar, who notched 101 saves in five seasons before the trade.
Among the key figures for Pittsburgh’s surge at the plate is rookie Esmeryln Valdez, whose two-run homer in the ninth inning was his 12th in 31 games.
Valdez also has an RBI in seven straight games and 20 RBIs this month.
“It’s the professionalism of the at-bats,” Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly said. “He’s not going up there necessarily trying to hit the home runs. He’s going up there to hit, and he’s got the power to leave anywhere in the yard. It’s been really impressive what he’s been able to do in such a short amount of time.”
The right-handed hitting Valdez is hitting .371 off left-handed pitching. He will face New York southpaw Ryan Weathers (3-7, 4.15 ERA), who is allowing a .234 average to right-handed batters.
Weathers is 0-2 with a 5.73 ERA in his past three outings but allowed one run on six hits in 5 1/3 innings a week ago in Washington, marking the eighth time this season that he allowed one earned run or fewer.
Weathers is 0-2 with a 2.77 ERA in three career appearances (two starts) against Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh’s Braxton Ashcraft (9-3, 3.49) is making his first career start against the Yankees and will attempt to rebound from allowing five runs for the second time in three starts. Ashcraft is 4-0 with a 4.08 ERA in his past five outings and surrendered five runs on five hits in five innings in a no-decision during Pittsburgh’s 7-6 win over Milwaukee on July 11.
–Field Level Media
Sports
White Sox playing hard to beat, face challenge from Rangers
Jul 19, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Chicago White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery (12) reacts after his single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fourth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images Chicago White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery summed up his team’s mentality in one word after their 3-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday: “Relentlessness.”
That attitude is serving the White Sox well, as they are currently one game up on the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the American League Central after winning five of their last six.
They will look to rely on that same mindset as they begin a three-game set against the AL West-leading Texas Rangers on Monday in Arlington, Texas.
Facing someone Montgomery called “a true competitor” in Blue Jays starter Trey Yesavage on Sunday, the White Sox hitters were ready for a battle at the plate.
“We knew we had to be disciplined with our plan,” Montgomery said.
“We just tried to stay positive,” he added. “And I think we just pulled through.”
Montgomery was a vital part of the 3-0 victory, hitting his team-leading 24th home run off Yesavage in the sixth inning.
There’s no secret ingredient to the surprise turnaround by the White Sox, but Montgomery credits the youth of the team for their day-to-day camaraderie.
“We’re all young, we’re all pretty inexperienced,” he said, “so we’re all just staying together.”
Erick Fedde (5-6, 4.15 ERA) will start for Chicago in Monday’s opener. Fedde’s last appearance came in relief on July 11, but he picked up the win after throwing four shutout innings in a 1-0 win against the visiting Athletics.
Fedde is 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA in three career appearances (two starts) versus the Rangers.
Texas power-hitting outfielder Wyatt Langford, who homered in the team’s 8-5 road loss to Atlanta on Sunday, has been slowed down only by the injury bug in 2026.
Langford has played in only 47 of the Rangers’ 99 games this season due to quad and forearm injuries in April and a hamstring strain in late June, but he’s not allowed the stop-start nature of his availability to throw off his rhythm. Seven of Langford’s 10 homers this season have come in his last 16 games, over which time he’s hitting .368 (25-for-68) with 17 RBIs.
Texas comes home after dropping two of three to the Braves in their first series after the break.
The Rangers will turn to veteran Jacob deGrom (7-5, 3.49) on the mound. The right-hander is coming off a health scare, as he was scratched from his last scheduled start on July 12 with a glute injury. Fortunately for Texas, their ace will avoid a stint on the injured list as he gets ready to face Chicago.
Texas manager Skip Schumaker said he waited to make the decision to start deGrom until he threw a pain-free bullpen session over the weekend, saying, “You want to check every box.”
“His health is good after the break, which is great news,” the manager said.
The last time deGrom took the mound, he had a no-decision in the Rangers’ 8-3 win over the visiting Los Angeles Angels on July 7, giving up two runs and striking out seven in five innings.
The White Sox are one of just five teams that deGrom has not beaten in his 13-year career. A five-time All-Star and two-time winner of the National League Cy Young Award, he has a 0-0 record and 1.80 ERA in three previous starts against Chicago.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reeling Marlins turn to Janson Junk in opener vs. Astros
May 20, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Janson Junk (26) throws in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images The Miami Marlins’ 3-1 walk-off loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday served as a microcosm of their recent performances, with their season-worst six-game skid reflecting their quality of play.
Marlins closer Pete Fairbanks surrendered a three-run homer to the Brewers’ William Contreras while trying to protect a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning. Miami arrives in Houston for Monday’s opener of a three-game series against the Astros not only seeking an end to its losing ways, but a reversal of its current string of poor showings.
“I didn’t think it was a specific (stink); I thought it was an all-encompassing type of (stink),” Fairbanks said following the defeat. “So we’re going to try and rectify that. But for right now, I’m going to be pretty (angry) about it.”
The Marlins’ loss in the series finale followed an 8-6 defeat on Saturday that left Miami manager Clayton McCullough displeased. To make matters worse, the Marlins lost All-Star shortstop Otto Lopez to a right ring finger injury in the middle contest of that three-game set. Lopez did not play on Sunday, and his status against the Astros is unclear.
“There’s still some swelling there in the nail area,” McCullough said. “A day-to-day thing with how he responds over the next few days. Hopefully, some of that soreness gets out of there, and he’s able to ramp up some more baseball activity.”
Right-hander Janson Junk (4-5, 4.57 ERA) has the starting assignment for the Marlins on Monday.
Junk has won consecutive decisions after dropping three straight decisions in May. Junk beat the Seattle Mariners 8-4 on July 9, when he allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and four walks with five strikeouts over five innings. That marked the first start for Junk in six weeks following a stint on the injured list.
Junk is 1-0 with a 6.00 ERA in two career starts against the Astros. In his previous appearance against Houston on Aug. 6, 2025, Junk allowed three runs on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts across five innings in a 6-4 home victory.
Right-hander Ronel Blanco (3-4, 4.10 ERA in 2025) will be reinstated from the 60-day injured list and make his season debut for the Astros on Monday. It will mark the first start for Blanco since May 17, 2025, when he allowed three runs on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts across six innings in a 5-1 loss to the Texas Rangers.
Blanco underwent Tommy John surgery soon thereafter and missed the remainder of the season.
In five rehab appearances (four starts) across three levels this season, Blanco is 1-0 with a 1.06 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 17 innings.
The Astros remain in a desperate search for quality starting pitching and are hopeful that Blanco, who tossed a no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays in his eighth career major league start and first in the 2024 campaign, can provide a boost to their fortunes.
“He feels good,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “His stuff looked really good in his outings. I’m excited to have him back.”
–Field Level Media
Yankees confident in closer David Bednar vs. his former Pirates team
White Sox playing hard to beat, face challenge from Rangers
