MLB – Major League Baseball
Last Night
Chicago Cubs 3, Detroit Tigers 1
San Francisco Giants 4, Chicago White Sox 1
Cubs 3, Tigers 1 – Bellinger has 2-run double and Swanson homers to lift the Cubs over the Tigers 3-1
Cody Bellinger hit a two-run double and Dansby Swanson homered to lift the Cubs over the Tigers 3-1 on Tuesday night. Bellinger went 2 for 4 to lead Chicago. Javier Assad pitched 5 2/3 innings for the Cubs, allowing just one run on six hits and striking out seven. Tyson Miller, Drew Smyly and Porter Hodge threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings, each allowing a hit, to close the game. Hodge earned his second save. Detroit fell despite strong performances at the plate by Dillon Dingler and Spencer Torkelson. Dingler hit in the Tigers’ lone run with an RBI single and added a triple. Torkelson was 4-for-4. Tigers reliever Bryan Sammons took the loss with three runs scored on four hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Giants 4, White Sox 1 – Robbie Ray strikes out 9 as the Giants beat the White Sox 4-1
Robbie Ray matched his season high with nine strikeouts and the San Francisco Giants beat the Chicago White Sox 4-1. After failing to get out of the first inning in his last start against the Braves, Ray limited Chicago to one run and three hits in 6 2/3 innings. Heliot Ramos drove in two runs as the Giants won their third straight game to remain 3 1/2 games behind Atlanta for the final NL wild-card spot. The White Sox lost their fourth in a row and clinched a 14th consecutive series defeat, falling to 3-30 in their last 33 games. Ryan Walker struck out the side in the ninth for his second save.
Today
Chicago White Sox (Crochet 6-9) at San Francisco (Webb 11-8), 3:45 p.m.
Detroit (TBD) at Chicago Cubs (Taillon 8-7), 8:05 p.m. News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 7:40
MLB – Tigers SS Javier Báez receives a warm reception in his return to Wrigley Field
Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez has received a warm welcome in his return to Wrigley Field. Detroit’s series opener at Chicago was Báez’s first game at Wrigley since he was traded by the Cubs to the New York Mets in July 2021. The 31-year-old Báez spent his first 7 1/2 seasons in the majors with Chicago, helping the franchise to a historic World Series championship in 2016. The Cubs paid tribute to Báez with a pregame highlight video. Before his first at-bat in the second inning, the crowd erupted with applause and chants of “Ja-vy!” in addition to a standing ovation. Báez took a moment to raise his batting helmet in response before stepping up to the plate.
MLB – Braves sign IF Gio Urshela after Austin Riley goes on IL with broken hand
The Atlanta Braves have signed infielder Gio Urshela after placing third baseman Austin Riley on the injured list with a broken hand. The 32-year-old Urshela batted .243 with five homers and 37 RBIs for the Detroit Tigers before he was released this past weekend. The Braves quickly scooped him up Tuesday, deciding he was the best available option for a lineup that has been decimated by injuries. Riley is expected to miss at least the rest of the regular season after being struck in the right hand by a pitch. The Braves are Urshela’s seventh team over a nine-year career.
NFL – Roster spots on Lions still up for grabs going into preseason finale
The Detroit Lions go into their final preseason game with some decisions to make at quarterback and receiver while fourth-round draft pick Sione Vaki looks as if he has done enough to earn a roster spot. Coach Dan Campbell said there are still five or six roster positions up for grabs before Aug. 27 when rosters must be cut to 53. The Lions play their final preseason game against Pittsburgh on Saturday. The quarterback competition for the No. 2 spot between Nate Sudfeld and Hendon Hooker has not been settled. Sudfeld started the first two preseason games while Campbell expects Hooker to start on Saturday. Hooker took the No. 2 reps in Tuesday’s practice.
WNBA – WNBA players would like more time off before league resumes after Olympic break
WNBA players would like more of a break after the All-Star Game and Olympics before league play resumes. Here was a quick turnaround this year after the Paris Games. It could be a major topic of discussion when negotiations begin for the next collective bargaining agreement. The current CBA ends next year. Phoenix, Chicago and Los Angeles all played three games in a four-day span to resume the the regular season. Fortunately, from the Olympics standpoint, the next Games are in Los Angeles, so travel will be less of an issue for the players.
Tennis – Jannik Sinner tested positive for a steroid twice but won’t be suspended
Top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner tested positive twice for an anabolic steroid in March but will not be suspended because the International Tennis Integrity Agency determined the banned performance-enhancer entered his system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist. The agency announced the case’s resolution on Tuesday and said Sinner will lose the $325,000 in prize money and 400 rankings points he earned at the tournament in Indian Wells, California, where his first positive drug test happened. Sinner won the Cincinnati Open on Monday and will be among the favorites at the U.S. Open, which starts in New York next week.
NCAAFB – Can a veteran QB or 1st-year starter break through the transfer trend?
The Heisman Trophy race appears wide open this season. The top five players in last year’s Heisman voting, won by LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, and eight of the top 10 are currently in NFL training camps. Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe is the only player among 2023’s top 10 vote-getters to appear on a long list of players with Heisman odds from BetMGM. Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel and Georgia’s Carson Beck lead that list.
NASCAR – NASCAR regular-season title and playoff spots at stake down the stretch
NASCAR has just two races remaining in the regular season and a pair of competitions are on the line. Tyler Reddick earned his second win of the season Monday at Michigan International Speedway, giving him the points lead in a closely contested, four-driver race for the regular-season championship. Reddick moved past Kyle Larson and his win opened another spot in the playoffs because he was already one of 12 drivers who had an automatic bid with a victory. That leaves four spots available in the 16-car playoffs with races at Daytona on Saturday night and Sept. 1 at Darlington.
NHL – Blues’ land Broberg, Holloway. NHLPA reviewing Flyers’ waiver of Ryan Johansen
The St. Louis Blues have signed defenseman Philip Broberg and forward Dylan Holloway to two-year contracts after the Edmonton Oilers declined to match the offer sheets for the restricted free agents. Broberg signed for a total of $9.16 million and Holloway $4.58 million. The Blues sent second- and third-round picks to Edmonton. In Philadelphia, the NHL Players’ Association is reviewing the Flyers decision to place forward Ryan Johansen on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract due to a material breach that was not disclosed.
MWL – Midwest League Baseball
Last Night
West Michigan 2, Lake County 1
South Bend 3, Beloit 2
Great Lakes 4, Wisconsin 2
Quad Cities 7, Lansing 1
Tonight
Lake County Captains at West Michigan Whitecaps, 6:35 p.m.
Beloit Sky Carp at South Bend Cubs, 7:05 p.m.
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Great lakes Loons, 7:05 p.m.
Lansing Lugnuts at Quad Cities River Bandits, 7:30 p.m.
MHSAA – Michigan High School Athletic Association
Yesterday
Boys Soccer
St. Joseph 0, Edwardsburg 0 – TIE
Bridgman 8, Michigan Lutheran 0
Gull Lake 3, Niles 0
Buchanan 3, Watervliet 2
Mattawan 5, Paw Paw 0
Covert 6, Bloomingdale 1
Byron Center Zion Christian 8, Bangor 0
Portage Central 6, East Kentwood 1
Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 6, Kalamazoo Hackett 0
Allegan 1, GR Covenant Christian 1 – TIE
Saugatuck 1, Kalamazoo Christian 1 – TIE
Today
Boys Soccer
Gull Lake at Hartford, 5:00 p.m.
South Haven at Schoolcraft, 5:00 p.m.
Harper Creek at Kalamazoo Central, 6:30 p.m.
Vicksburg at Battle Creek Pennfield, 6:00 p.m.
Otsego at Delton-Kellogg, 6:00 p.m.
Bloomingdale at Holland Black River, 5:30 p.m.
Girls Volleyball
St. Joseph, Lakeshore, Brandywine, Buchanan, Lawton, Niles at Vicksburg 9:00 a.m.
Our Lady of the Lake at Bangor, 5:30 p.m.
White Pigeon, Coldwater at Sturgis, 5:30 p.m.