Sports
Twins, Royals on differing trajectories ahead of AL Central series
Jul 26, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins right fielder Kody Clemens (2) reacts after hitting a triple during the seventh inning against the Athletics at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images With a week until the trade deadline, the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins find themselves with different priorities ahead of the series opener of a three-game set on Tuesday in Minneapolis.
Entering Monday’s games, Minnesota sits a game behind the Cleveland Guardians for the third and final American League wild-card spot. The Twins, who have won four of their last five, also trail the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox by 3 1/2 games.
Minnesota is the first of six teams within 5 1/2 games of a wild-card position.
Hoping to bolster the Twins’ postseason chances, Taj Bradley (9-4, 3.69 ERA) will look to stamp a solid July. The 25-year-old is 3-1 with a 2.90 ERA in his last five starts.
Bradley threw seven innings of one-run, two-hit ball, striking out five and walking three on Thursday in a no-decision against Cleveland. The Twins won 3-1 in 12 innings.
Bradley has allowed two runs or fewer in 14 of his 20 starts this season, including six of his last seven. The right-hander is 2-1 with an 0.73 ERA in four career starts against the Royals. He faced them on April 2 and tossed six scoreless innings, allowing five hits while striking out three and walking one in a 5-1 win.
Offensively, Minnesota is coming off a much-needed scoring outburst. The highest-scoring team in the American League (511 runs) had scored three runs or fewer in three straight games before posting an 11-8 victory over the Athletics on Sunday.
Kody Clemens tripled twice in a three-hit effort for the Twins, who saw a seven-run lead reduced to two before holding on for their first series win of the second half of the regular season.
“Collectively as a group, we don’t panic,” Clemens said. “We don’t feel any panic there. It’s just how baseball goes. You’re not going to win them all. Sometimes, the losses come together, and that’s just how the game is. It’s a long season. You just have to keep going game by game.”
Kansas City, meanwhile, is sure to be a seller before Monday’s deadline. The Royals are 17 games below .500 and nine games out of the postseason picture.
In two post-All-Star break starts, Seth Lugo (4-6, 4.36 ERA) has made himself into an interesting trade candidate. The veteran right-hander allowed four combined earned runs in 13 innings in those two starts. Lugo allowed three runs on three hits across seven innings, striking out five and walking two in a 5-4 win over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.
Lugo is one of several pieces that could be moved for a Kansas City team that’s on pace for its first losing season since 2023.
“We’ve got the deadline looming. There’s always talk about that, and it’s always kind of a thorn in the side this time of year,” Royals catcher Luke Maile said. “But guys want to show up and play for each other every day, and I think that’s the most important.”
Lugo, 36, is 1-3 with a 5.24 ERA in 10 career appearances (eight starts) against the Twins. He surrendered five runs on six hits in five innings in a no-decision against Minnesota on June 4. Kansas City won 8-6.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reds place Spencer Steer (wrist) on 10-day IL
Jul 26, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Cincinnati Reds second baseman Spencer Steer (7) is checked on by Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona (77) and training staff during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals in the fifth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images The Cincinnati Reds placed versatile infielder/outfielder Spencer Steer on the 10-day injured list Monday due to a right wrist sprain.
Steer was injured while making an awkward swing on Sunday when facing St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Kyle Leahy in the fifth inning. He fouled off the pitch and began shaking the hand.
A trainer and Reds manager Terry Francona had a conversation with Steer before the decision was made to have Edwin Arroyo finish the at-bat. Arroyo lined out and replaced Steer in the field at second base.
Steer, 28, is batting .238 with 16 homers and 40 RBIs in 98 games. He has started 27 games at first base, 26 in left field, 23 in right field, 14 at second base and two in center field.
Steer is in his fifth season with the Reds. He has 82 homers, 301 RBIs and a .242/.327/.739 slash line in 586 career games.
Steer has been rumored to be a possible trade candidate ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline.
Cincinnati recalled infielder/outfielder Ivan Johnson from Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move. He went 0-for-5 in four games with the Reds earlier this season.
The Reds host the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night in the first of a three-game set.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Sixers give 'King James' royal welcome to Philadelphia
Feb 5, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives past Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images After the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated in the second round of the 2026 postseason, superstar LeBron James wrote that he was “done,” but on Monday, the Philadelphia 76ers officially welcomed the four-time MVP and four-time NBA champion into the fold.
James, who turns 42 in December, signed a two-year deal worth $8 million to join a star-studded Sixers roster that includes former MVP Joel Embiid, former NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, All-Star Tyrese Maxey and Rookie of the Year runner-up VJ Edgecombe.
The NBA’s all-time scoring leader, James will enter his 24th season with the goal of helping the Sixers win their first title since 1983. Like the Lakers, the Sixers were bounced in the second round, falling to the eventual champion New York Knicks. Philadelphia has not advanced past the second round since 2001.
“I cannot wait to see LeBron alongside Jaylen Brown, VJ Edgecombe, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and our talented roster as we work to deliver a championship for Philly,” team owner Josh Harris said.
Despite his age, James remains one of the league’s best players, coming off a season when he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds over 60 games. Over his 23 seasons, the 22-time All-Star has averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 1,622 games.
“There is no doubt LeBron is one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball and there are no words to measure the impact he’ll have on this organization,” team president Mike Gansey said.
Among James’ numerous accolades, he is a four-time NBA Finals MVP, a 21-time All-NBA selection, a three-time All-Star Game MVP and a member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team. He is also the first player to earn NBA Finals MVP honors with three teams (Lakers, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers).
Drafted No. 1 overall by the Cavaliers in 2003, James played seven seasons before taking his talents to South Beach with the Heat, winning his first two NBA titles in Miami. He went back home to Cleveland and helped end a 56-year title drought in 2016. In 2018, he joined the Lakers and led them to a championship in 2020.
James and Gansey, who have ties going back to their Ohio high school basketball days in 2001, will reunite in Philadelphia. Gansery took over GM duties after Daryl Morley was fired in May.
Gansey, who starred at Olmsted Falls High School, was runner-up for Ohio’s Mr. Basketball in 2001 to James, who won the award three times at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School before going straight to the NBA in 2003.
“I have had the pleasure of knowing LeBron since high school and have seen the high-level impact he’s produced at every stop of his basketball journey,” Gansey said. “He is a consummate professional, the ultimate competitor and a tireless worker. But he is also an incredible person with natural leadership traits, a family man, and someone who possesses unwavering commitment to community and those around him.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Injured A's prospect Ryan Lasko regaining feeling in legs
Nov 9, 2025; Mesa, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics outfielder Ryan Lasko during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Athletics prospect Ryan Lasko said Monday that he has regained some feeling in his legs nearly four weeks after he broke his back during a scary collision with a teammate during a Double-A game.
Lasko, 24, was playing center field for Midland on June 30 when he dove for a ball and collided with right fielder Devin Taylor, who also dove. Lasko laid motionless on the field for approximately 10 minutes before being carted off.
Lasko underwent spinal surgery later that night at a hospital in Plano, Texas to repair a fractured C6-C7 vertebra. Doctors were hopeful he would regain movement in the lower half of his body and Lasko said Monday that is occurring.
“I’m currently feeling much better,” Lasko wrote on Instagram. “I have sensation from my feet up to my knees, along with a lot of involuntary leg movements. I also have been getting some sensation in the side of my thighs, hamstrings and back. I currently have about 75% usage of my left hand and about 50% in my right.
“I’m very happy with my progress and once again, so very thankful for all the love and support. It has continued to help me get up every day and work my hardest.”
Lasko was a second-round pick out of Rutgers in 2023 and is rated as the Athletics’ No. 27 prospect by MLB Pipeline, dropping from No. 18 the day he was hurt. He is batting .209 with six homers and 34 RBIs in 73 games this season.
–Field Level Media
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Reds place Spencer Steer (wrist) on 10-day IL
