Sports
White Sox carry hot home form into series vs. slumping Tigers
May 28, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox designated hitter Randal Grichuk (34) celebrates after hitting a three-run double against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Winning five straight home series takes communication, cohesiveness and versatility.
The Chicago White Sox, who are on a home heater ahead of a three-game series against the visiting Detroit Tigers that starts Friday, aren’t shy about touting their success.
“It’s huge,” outfielder Randal Grichuk said. “It’s one of those things where you know you don’t have to be the guy every night. … We have a few guys that can drive the ball out of the ballpark, but we also have some guys that can scrap out at-bats, steal some bags and drive in guys. We win in different facets, and it’s been awesome to be a part of.”
While the White Sox just won three of four against the visiting Minnesota Twins, the Tigers lost two of three to the visiting Los Angeles Angels for their seventh straight series defeat.
Wenceel Perez homered and doubled on Thursday, but the rest of the Tigers managed just one hit in a 7-1 loss.
Detroit manager A.J. Hinch admits the team is feeling down, though not debilitated.
“I think confidence is a funny thing,” Hinch said. “You try not to let it waver every day based on past performance just because this is a grind of a season and on top of that, we’re frustrated because we’ve put so much work in. We’re putting so much attention into things and we’re not coming up with results.
“So, yeah, I clearly see a team that’s beat up a little bit, but the league doesn’t care and your next opponent doesn’t care. The character of this team is great. The want-to, the push, is good. You’ve got to get back up and compete.”
Chicago is coming off a 6-2 victory against Minnesota on Thursday. Grichuk provided a bases-clearing double in the third inning. Tristan Peters added a career-high-tying three hits and an RBI, and Colson Montgomery had two hits and an RBI.
Slugging first baseman Munetaka Murakami contributed five hits and five RBIs in the series. He homered Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, pushing his season total to 20, tied for the American League lead.
Right-hander Erick Fedde is set to start for the White Sox. Fedde (0-5, 5.47 ERA) has scuffled over four May starts, pitching to a 10.13 ERA in 16 innings. He yielded on eight runs on 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings during a road loss to the San Francisco Giants on Saturday.
Fedde is 0-1 with a 4.32 ERA in three career starts against Detroit.
Tigers right-hander Troy Melton will try to build on his strong season debut in a road victory against Baltimore on Sunday. Melton (1-0, 1.59 ERA) limited the Orioles to one run and two hits in 5 2/3 innings with three walks and three strikeouts.
Melton threw 79 pitches as he ramps up following a minor league rehab assignment. The Tigers shut Melton down in spring training after he experienced inflammation in his throwing elbow.
“Definitely some things to clean up,” Melton said. “Obviously, can’t be too mad at the result.”
Melton faced the White Sox twice as a rookie last season, including one start. He went 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA and seven strikeouts in seven innings during those outings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Arizona F Koa Peat remains in draft as 38 early entrants withdraw
Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Koa Peat (10) is defended by Michigan Wolverines guard Nimari Burnett (4) and Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) in the second half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images Forward Koa Peat, a projected first-round pick, will remain in the 2026 NBA Draft and will not return to Arizona for his sophomore season.
Peat’s decision was one of the handful still unknown before the NBA on Thursday released a list of 38 early-entry candidates who withdrew from the draft pool.
The 6-foot-8 Peat, who admitted he struggled at the NBA Draft Combine, averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists while helping to lead the Wildcats to the Big 12 regular-season and conference titles.
The Arizona native raised his game during the NCAA Tournament, averaging 17.2 points and 7.6 boards in five games as the Wildcats advanced to the Final Four before falling to Michigan.
While Peat heads to the pros, many of the early-entry candidates that withdrew will change uniforms in the college ranks as they entered the transfer portal at the same time as testing the draft waters.
Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic may be the single most sought-after player in the group, with recent reports naming Arizona, Kentucky, Louisville and St. John’s as his suitors. Ex-Kansas big man Flory Bidunga is already committed to Louisville, as is Southern California 7-foot-5 center Gabe Dynes.
Earlier this week, Billy Richmond III reportedly changed course at the last minute and chose to return for another year at Arkansas.
And most recently, Baylor guard Tounde Yessoufou withdrew from the draft Thursday and announced his commitment to St. John’s. A five-star recruit last year, Yessoufou averaged 17.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game for the Bears as a freshman.
The list included three international players taking their names out of consideration: Bassala Bagayoko (Bilbao, Spain), Marc-Owen Fodzo Dada (Nancy, France) and Alexandros Samodurov (Panathinaikos, Greece). North Carolina is reported to have interest in Samodurov, a power forward.
Players withdrawing from draft (with 2025-26 school):
Matt Able, North Carolina State
Amari Allen, Alabama
Alijah Arenas, USC
Flory Bidunga, Kansas
Finley Bizjack, Butler
John Blackwell, Wisconsin
Shane Blakeney, Drexel
Anton Bonke, Charlotte
Rowan Brumbaugh, Tulane
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan
Rueben Chinyelu, Florida
Jacob Cofie, USC
Cruz Davis, Hofstra
Kennard Davis Jr., BYU
Keanu Dawes, Utah
Gabe Dynes, USC
Eian Elmer, Miami (Ohio)
Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
Colby Garland, San Jose State
Juke Harris, Wake Forest
Isiah Harwell, Houston
Lou Hutchinson, Alabama A&M
Acaden Lewis, Villanova
John Mobley Jr., Ohio State
Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State
Malachi Moreno, Kentucky
Paulius Murauskas, Saint Mary’s
Dennis Parker Jr., Radford
Sebastian Rancik, Colorado
Billy Richmond III, Arkansas
Andrej Stojakovic, Illinois
Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt
Aiden Tobiason, Temple
LeJuan Watts, Texas Tech
Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor
–Field Level Media
Sports
Ian Happ, Cubs down Paul Skenes, Pirates for series split
May 28, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe (right) tags Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) out at second base attempting to stretch a single during the third inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Ian Happ continued to shine in his hometown, collecting three hits, including a two-run homer, as the Chicago Cubs beat the host Pittsburgh Pirates 7-2 on Thursday to split a four-game series.
Happ, a Pittsburgh native who grew up in the suburbs, reached base for the 41st consecutive game at Pittsburgh. In final two games of the series, he homered in each contest and drove in eight runs.
Happ’s 12th long ball of the season highlighted Chicago’s three-run eighth inning. Seiya Suzuki had two hits and two RBIs for the Cubs, who have won back-to-back games after losing 10 in a row.
Chicago starter Colin Rea (5-3) pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts.
It was a frustrating night for Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes (6-5), who lost his third consecutive start, the first time that has happened in his career.
Skenes struck out 10 and induced 20 swing-and-misses in 5 1/3 innings. However, some defensive miscues, including one of his own, contributed to the three runs the Cubs scored against him. Skenes was charged with only one earned run. He walked three and allowed four hits.
Skenes tried to make a defensive play that ended up costing him in the fourth inning. With a runner on first and two outs, he attempted to barehand a grounder up the middle by Happ and couldn’t come up with it in time to throw to first. Suzuki then hit a flare into short left-center for a single to score Michael Busch, who reached on a walk, giving the Cubs a 1-0 lead.
Two errors led to Skenes’ exit in the sixth. With one out and Busch on first following another walk, Skenes induced a grounder to third by Alex Bregman. Tyler Callihan one-hopped the throw to first, allowing Bregman to reach. Callihan, who was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, replaced Nick Gonzales at third base in the third inning after Gonzales came out because of left knee discomfort.
Happ then hit a chopper near second base. Shortstop Jared Triolo fielded the ball and bounced his throw past first base, allowing Busch to score. Mason Montgomery took over on the mound, and the Cubs added a third run on a fielder’s-choice grounder by Suzuki.
Bryan Reynolds smacked his fifth home run of the season and led the Pirates with two hits. Pittsburgh has lost two in a row after winning three straight.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Baylor's Tounde Yessoufou withdraws from draft, heads to St. John's
Mar 7, 2026; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears guard Tounde Yessoufou (24) scores a layup against Utah Utes forward James Okonkwo (32) during the first half at Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images St. John’s landed a commitment from Baylor transfer Tounde Yessoufou on Thursday, a day after he removed his name from NBA draft consideration ahead of Wednesday’s 11:59 p.m. deadline.
Yessoufou was immediately impactful as a freshman for the Bears, finishing second on the team with 17.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He averaged a team-high 2.0 steals per game, which ranked third in the Big 12.
It’s a major boost for St. John’s entering Rick Pitino’s fourth season as head coach. The Red Storm are coming off a Sweet 16 appearance this past season, the program’s first since the 1999 NCAA Tournament.
“Super excited for the addition of Tounde,” Pitino said on his X account. “We will add one more scholarship player in the next 24 hours and (our) roster will be complete. Couldn’t be more fired up for this upcoming season!”
One potential player Pitino could be alluding to is Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic. St. John’s is one of four reported finalists to land his commitment after he shot a nation-leading 48.7% from 3-point range last season and also withdrew from the NBA draft this week.
–Field Level Media
Arizona F Koa Peat remains in draft as 38 early entrants withdraw
Ian Happ, Cubs down Paul Skenes, Pirates for series split
