Latest news with #wildcard
Reuters
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Logan Allen, Guardians pursue sweep of struggling Orioles
July 24 - A make-or-break homestand for the Guardians has been the former, allowing Cleveland to claw its way back into the American League wild-card hunt. Cleveland won two of three against the Athletics last weekend and is now looking for a four-game series sweep of the Baltimore Orioles in the Thursday finale. Guardians left-hander Logan Allen (6-8, 4.06 ERA) will take on Orioles right-hander Charlie Morton (5-8, 5.58) in an afternoon contest. Temperatures in the mid-90s and a heat index of 100 degrees or higher are expected. "You don't want to jinx it, of course, but yeah, we've been playing some good baseball," Cleveland left fielder Steven Kwan said. "I know the day's going to be real hot and things will be real tough, but if we just rely on each other, we'll be in a good spot." The Guardians have won 11 of 13 contests since July 7, when they beat the Houston Astros to snap a 10-game losing streak. They are within 2 1/2 games of both the Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox for the final two wild-card berths. Emmanuel Clase has three saves during the homestand, including a perfect ninth inning Wednesday in Cleveland's 3-2 win. Orioles reliever Colin Selby gave up a RBI single to Kwan with two outs in the eighth, plating Bo Naylor with the decisive run. "When (Clase) walks onto the field, you know we're going to win the game," Guardians pitcher Slade Cecconi said. "He's the most dominant closer in the big leagues. It's scary." Clase, a three-time All-Star, was temporarily replaced in the role by Cade Smith in April, when his struggles carried over from the 2024 AL Championship Series against the New York Yankees. The right-handed fireballer resumed closing duties on April 30 and has since registered 18 saves in 20 chances with a 1.38 ERA in 32 games. Overall, Clase is 5-2 with 23 saves and a 2.74 ERA for the season, and he owns a major-league-high 156 saves since the start of 2022. "I do not want to be a hitter in the box with a guy like that on the mound," Cecconi said, chuckling. "He's a man on a mission, so it's awesome to have a guy like that on your team." The Orioles went 6-1 from July 4-11 but have since lost seven of eight since to tumble into 13th place in the 15-team AL. It's not a matter of if but when their front office will begin trading veterans to playoff contenders in advance of the July 31 deadline. Zach Eflin is almost certain to be one of the players on the move. The veteran right-hander tossed five quality innings and allowing two runs Wednesday in his return from lower back soreness. Eflin had given up 17 runs and 27 hits in a nine-inning span before being hurt on June 28 against the Tampa Bay Rays. "Being on the injured list is never fun and nobody wants to do it," said Eflin, who is 6-5 with a 5.78 ERA in 13 starts. "It feels like you're separated from the team. But I felt healthy and executed some pitches (on Wednesday)." Jackson Holliday homered off Cecconi in the sixth inning, extending his hitting streak against the Guardians to eight games. He is batting .414 with three home runs and nine RBIs in that period, and he is undoubtedly one of the talents Baltimore is building around. "I think this experience will be an incredible acceleration of maturity for our young players," Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said. "It's not easy when you're going through it, though." Allen enters his Thursday start with a 1-4 record in his past five starts despite pitching to a 3.72 ERA in that span. In three career starts against the Orioles, Allen is 2-0 with a 3.45 ERA. He earned a win at Baltimore on April 15, when he threw 5 2/3 shutout innings. Morton had won five consecutive decisions before struggling in a loss at Tampa Bay on Friday. The Rays bashed him for seven runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. Morton lost to Allen and the Guardians on April 15, when he permitted five runs on seven hits in five-plus innings. He owns a career 4-3 mark with a 3.21 ERA in eight starts against Cleveland. --Field Level Media
Reuters
a day ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Venus Williams granted Cincinnati wild card after age-defying return to court
NEW YORK, July 23 (Reuters) - Venus Williams has received a wild card main draw entry into the Cincinnati Open, the tournament said on Wednesday, as the 45-year-old American enjoys an age-defying return to the spotlight. The seven-times Grand Slam singles champion became the oldest player to win a WTA singles match since 2004 when she beat world number 35 Peyton Stearns at the Washington Open on Tuesday, after a 16-month absence from the game. Williams, who will play Polish fifth seed Magdalena Frech in the next round in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, previously declined a wild card entry invite for Indian Wells earlier this year. The Cincinnati Open also offered a wild card invite to hometown talent Caty McNally, who recently returned to action after undergoing elbow surgery last year. The main draw of the Cincinnati Open begins on August 7.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
The Ryder Cup dilemma 'helping' Open contender Bradley
There are scant scenarios where debate would swirl about a Ryder Cup captain picking one of the world's most in-form players as a it's a no-brainer. But Keegan Bradley finds himself right in the middle of a rare conundrum with the biennial contest between the United States and Europe an outstanding run of form, the US captain has played himself into contention for the 12-strong team to compete at Bethpage Black, New York in late has not been a playing captain at the Ryder Cup since Arnold Palmer led the US team in 1963, at a time when the event was not the global behemoth it has become a strong start at this week's Open Championship has further underlined 39-year-old Bradley's credentials."I've been playing some pretty good golf - but so have a lot of other Americans," Bradley said in an interview published on the Ryder Cup website this week., external"If I was sitting here without being captain then making this team would be my number one goal - that doesn't change with me being captain."I would be sitting here thinking 'I'm right there and have a great chance of making the team'."The world number seven is clearly feeling uneasy about the situation and has been eager to avoid discussing the hypothetical at Royal Portrush. The awkwardness of picking himself as a wildcard in New York might end up being redundant. Bradley still could qualify automatically as one of the six leading Americans - especially if he earns a high finish in the final major of the year which is weighted to carry more ranking winning the Travelers Championship on the PGA Tour last month, Bradley moved up to ninth in the US Ryder Cup qualification standings. The top six will automatically go into Bradley's team, with another half-dozen players picked by the captain."Nothing about picking whoever it is is going to be easy," said Bradley, whose sole major victory came when he won the 2011 US PGA Championship."If I get to that position [of finishing outside the top six] and I feel like I'm going to help the team, then I'll consider playing. "But I get asked that question 10 times a day and I don't really have an answer." Based on his results this year, it is hard to dispute Bradley should not be selected. Over the past seven months Bradley has earned five top-10 finishes on PGA Tour, including his one-shot triumph over England's Tommy Fleetwood at the clamour for Bradley to emulate Palmer - who was 34 when led the US team to victory in Georgia - has continued to both roles has benefitted Bradley in what he calls his "day job". He has been playing more freely on the course - shown in his accurate driving and precise putting at Portrush - and the commitment to his "other job" means he has not been overanalysing his performances."Being inside the ropes is almost like a sanctuary," Bradley said."One of the things of being a captain is when I get inside the ropes I can really focus on just playing. "Normally when I leave the tournament I'm still hyper-focused on what I did that day, what's coming up or what swing thought I'm working on."Now I leave just focused on the Ryder Cup. Worrying about my own game has been taken over and I think that helps."A strong display at Royal Portrush has further demonstrated why he deserves a place in the missed the cut at his past five Opens, he shot a three-under 68 on Friday to propel himself into Claret Jug contention at the halfway stage."It is the best round I've played at The Open in a very long time," Bradley told BBC Sport."I'm focused on being the captain. Whether I play or don't play, I just want the best for the team." Bradley's appointment makes little sense - analysis Iain Carter, BBC golf correspondentEverything about this American Ryder Cup set-up looks completely muddled to me - right down to the appointment of Keegan Bradley when it was made a year made no sense then and it is making even less sense now, if you look at it dispassionately. Bradley still doesn't know if they will start with foursomes or fourballs. [European captain] Luke Donald would have this all nailed down already, having his stats team looking at everything and getting combinations groundwork which the European captaincy regime puts in compared to what we see among the Americans - the chasm is have to wonder if [appointing Bradley] is going to will work. I've never felt more confident of a European victory on American soil given the way this has built up from their point of view.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Identifying 4 Best Eugenio Suarez Trade Destinations Amid MLB Rumors
The Arizona Diamondbacks entered the All-Star Break more than 5 games out from the final wild card spot in the National League. It comes at a time when MLB trade rumors are swirling regarding interest in the likes of Eugenio Suarez, Josh Naylor, Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly. A complete firesale is unlikely. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that Arizona is expected to make Naylor and Suarez available. Both hitters are on expiring contracts and provide premium production in a trade market that doesn't offer a lot of options this summer. Related: With plenty of buyers around the league, let's examine the best landing spots for Suarez within the context of the latest MLB rumors. New York Yankees One of the biggest holes in the New York Yankees' lineup this season has been at second base. That's why the club designated DJ LeMahieu for assignment and moved Jazz Chisholm Jr. over to second. Now, Brian Cashman needs to find someone to fill the void at the hot corner. It's certainly not Oswald Peraza, who posted a .456 OPS in his first 148 at-bats this season. Nightengale reported on July 6 that the Yankees 'would love to acquire' Suárez, and there's mutual interest from the All-Star third baseman. The 33-year-old is also well regarded as a great clubhouse presence, which is something New York values. The added benefit for New York is that he'd require less prospect capital in a trade since he's on an expiring contract. Eugenio Suarez stats (): .250/.320/.569, .889 OPS, 31 home runs, 18 doubles in 348 ABs Related: Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are well aware of how highly regarded Suárez is in their clubhouse, particularly among the players currently on their roster. He played for Seattle from 2022 to 2023, posting a .751 OPS with 53 home runs and 183 RBIs in 312 games. He has been even better for Arizona. Seattle is in dire need of more run production from its corner infielders. At the All-Star Break, Mariners third basemen ranked 24th in OPS (.613) and 28th in home runs (two) across the league. Suárez told The Seattle Times that 'part of my heart is in Seattle' and Nightengale reported the Mariners want him back. He would be a great middle-of-the-order hitter to add to the Mariners' lineup for the stretch run. Related: Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs gave top prospect Matt Shaw every opportunity to keep the third base job. Unfortunately, the 23-year-old has posted a .556 OPS with more strikeouts (45) than hits (41) across 207 at-bats. It's time for a World Series contender to act like one at the MLB trade deadline. Suárez is an obvious solution for a team that went into the All-Star Break with the lowest OPS (.523) among MLB third basemen this season. Additionally, Suárez would be a short-term fix who wouldn't block Shaw from reclaiming the job in 2026. Acquiring Suárez would give him a chance to play for a contender, and the Cubs' lineup would improve dramatically with his addition. Related: New York Mets The New York Mets have attempted to make it work at third base with their internal options. Thus far, they've been 'rewarded' with a .2348/.288/.388 triple-slash line and a .677 OPS since May 1. That's simply not going to cut it for a team that is already sacrificing run production at catcher and in center field. Suarez is the best hitter available this summer among the Mets' positions of need and it's not particularly close. New York also has the young pitching that Arizona is reportedly looking for. It's a natural match and the added bonus for Steve Cohen would be keeping Suarez away from the Yankees. Related: Related Headlines Five Critical Questions as New York Giants Enter Make-or-Break Training Camp Sauce Gardner Becomes NFL's Highest-Paid Cornerback Detroit Tigers linked to Gold Glove third baseman from Baltimore Could Nick Saban be an Option for New York Giants in 2026 Following Return Rumors?
National Post
17-07-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Toronto Blue Jays can be serious about contending for the first time in a decade
Now that they've proven they can be contenders, it's time for the surprising and entertaining Blue Jays to get serious. Article content Get serious about winning the American League East for the first time in a decade and casting aside the aim-low mindset of 'settling' for the pursuit of a wild-card spot. Article content Article content Get serious about showing that the surge to first place with that 10-game winning streak prior to the break was a truer indication than what they were in the first month of the season. Article content And from the front office, get serious about continuing to operate like the big-market team they are, shredding the perception it might have among some corners of Major League Baseball. Article content In other words, more than any other season in the era of team president Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins, it's go time for the Blue Jays. Article content Think about it, since that front office reign began in earnest in 2016 or 2017, take your pick, this is the closest the team has been to the real deal. Article content Article content The fact that the opportunity has arrived later than expected, given the breakthrough of 2021 when the team was perceived to be one loaded with so much young talent that it would be a contender for years to come, well that only heightens the anticipation of the remaining 66 games — and ideally more. Article content The fact that the AL East specifically and the American League as a whole may be more available for the taking than since the Jose Bautista-Josh Donaldson-John Gibbons era of Blue Jays baseball, it's all the more reason to get excited about what awaits. Article content Article content Though there is still plenty of baseball to be played and the opportunity for a handful of swings, good and bad, between now and October, the demarcation points for manager John Schneider's team will come fast and furious. Article content Article content For the 55-41 Jays, a record good enough to get them a two-game edge on the New York Yankees (and now just three on the surging Boston Red Sox, winners of 10 in a row) the initial reckoning arrives on Friday. Article content The first 10-game stretch out of the break is a whopper for the Jays, a stern test that can give an early indication of how legit their contender credentials might be. It starts with three against the San Francisco Giants (52-45), followed by three against the Yankees (who surely won't roll over as they did earlier in the month during a four-game sweep at the hands of the Jays) and then on to Detroit for four against the AL-leading Tigers. Article content By the time that stretch is done, the Jays will be just four days away from the July 31 trade deadline, with Atkins expected to be one of the most aggressive buyers in the league.
