MLB – Major League Baseball
Last Night
Toronto Blue Jays 11, Detroit Tigers 4
Cubs and White Sox were off
Blue Jays 11, Tigers 4 – Surging Blue Jays beat slumping Tigers in matchup of 1st-place teams in opposite directions
Ernie Clement and Joey Loperfido hit back-to back hit home runs in the fifth inning to help the surging Toronto Blue Jays rout the slumping Detroit Tigers 11-4 in a matchup of first-place teams going in opposite directions. The AL East-leading Blue Jays have won 19 of their last 24 games and the AL Central-leading Tigers have lost 10 of 11. Clement’s three-run home run gave Toronto a 4-1 lead and Loperfido followed with a soaring, solo shot to right field. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a game-tying double to spark the five-run sixth inning.
Tonight
Toronto (Berríos 6-4) at Detroit (Montero 4-2), 7:10 p.m. News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 6:45p
Chicago Cubs (Imanaga 7-3) at Chicago White Sox (Houser 5-2), 7:40 p.m.
MLB – Mariners gets Naylor from Arizona for 2 pitchers as trade deadline deals begin
The Seattle Mariners have acquired first baseman Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks. This move comes as the Mariners aim to strengthen their roster before the July 31 trade deadline. Naylor, 28, is hitting .292 with 11 homers and 59 RBIs this season. The Diamondbacks received left-hander Brandyn Garcia and minor-league lefty Ashton Izzi in return. The Mariners currently hold a 54-48 record, placing them second in the AL West and in the second wild-card spot. The Diamondbacks, with a 50-53 record, are expected to continue trading players before the deadline.
WNBA – Women’s National Basketball Association
Last Night
Indiana Fever 80, Las Vegas Aces 70
Seattle Storm 95, Chicago Sky 57
Fever 80, Aces 70 – Kelsey Mitchell scores 21 points and Fever beat Aces 80-70 without Caitlin Clark
Kelsey Mitchell scored 21 points, Natasha Howard and Aliyah Boston had double-doubles, and the Indiana Fever beat the Las Vegas Aces 80-70. Indiana’s Caitlin Clark remains sidelined with a groin injury, and the Fever said Thursday there was no timetable for her return. No further injuries were discovered during medical tests this week. Howard finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds, and Boston had 13 points and 10 boards. Sophie Cunningham scored 15 points. A’ja Wilson led Las Vegas with 20 points and Jackie Young scored 19.
Storm 95, Sky 57 – Seattle Storm ride 56-point second half to dominate Chicago Sky, 95-57
Skylar Diggins scored 21 points, rookie Dominique Malonga had 14 points and 10 rebounds for her first double-double and the Seattle Storm rode a 56-point second half to a 95-57 rout of the Chicago Sky. Kamilla Cardoso had 13 points and 13 rebounds for Chicago. Erica Wheeler scored 13 points, Lexie Brown 12, and Gabby Williams and Nneka Ogwumike 10 each for Seattle. Seattle led by 39 points twice in the fourth quarter. Angel Reese, who left Tuesday’s game against Minnesota with tightness in her back, did not play for Chicago.
Sunday
Indiana Fever at Chicago Sky, 3:00 p.m. at United Center
WNBA – Clark still has no timetable for return following further medical evaluation
The Indiana Fever say guard Caitlin Clark still has no time table to return. No further injuries were discovered during medical tests this week. Clark has missed three games since injuring her right groin July 15 against the Connecticut Sun. The Fever say Clark is continuing to work with team medical staff on her recovery and rehab. Clark’s current injury is the latest in a string of difficulties for the Fever star, which has included a left groin injury and a left quad strain.
WWE – Hulk Hogan, icon in professional wrestling, dies at age 71
Hulk Hogan, the mustachioed, headscarf-wearing icon in the world of professional wrestling, has died at age 71. Police in Clearwater, Florida, say authorities responded to a call about a cardiac arrest. No foul play is suspected. Hogan’s real name was Terry Bollea, and he was perhaps the biggest star in WWE’s long history. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre the Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even company chairman Vince McMahon. Hogan was also a celebrity outside the wrestling world, appearing in movies and TV shows, including a reality show on VH1, “Hogan Knows Best.”
NCAA – Trump signs order to clarify college athletes’ employment status amid NIL chaos
President Trump has signed an executive order directing federal authorities to clarify whether college athletes can be considered employees of their schools. The move aims to establish clearer national standards in the NCAA’s name, image, and likeness era. The order seeks to address the chaotic landscape of college sports, where athletes can now earn income from endorsements and schools can pay them directly. Trump’s order also calls for preserving scholarships and roster spots for non-revenue sports and asks the Justice Department to protect athletes’ rights.
NCAAFB – USC-Notre Dame rivalry expires in ’26, with no sure bet it will go beyond that
All the talk about scheduling and playoff formats in college football has placed one of the sport’s best traditions in peril: the USC-Notre Dame game. The contract for a rivalry that dates to 1926 expires in 2026. Both schools have expressed a willingness to lock down more games, but differences over how many appear to be holding up the negotiations. Speaking at Big Ten media days, Trojans coach Lincoln Riley said he was, of course, hopeful that the series will continue but only if it’s in the best interest of his program.
NFL –Lions offensive line is a work in progress a year after being among NFL’s best
The Detroit Lions had one of the NFL’s best offensive lines last season. This year is more of a work in progress. Center Frank Ragnow’s retirement and the loss of right guard Kevin Zeitler in free agency have opened up competition for at least two new starters. Graham Glasgow, who started at left guard last season and has experience at center, along with rookie Tate Ratledge are getting reps at center through four days of training camp. And then there’s the banged-up veteran Taylor Decker at left tackle. Lions coach Dan Campbell had to put an early end to the Lions practice for a second day in a row after players were being too physical and several shoving matches ensued.
NFL – Jets quarterback Justin Fields dislocates toe, team evaluating injury day-to-day
Jets quarterback Justin Fields has a dislocated toe on his right foot and will be evaluated daily by the team. The announcement came after Fields limped off the practice field Thursday morning and was carted into the facility. This eased initial concerns about him missing significant practice time. Fields, in his first season with the Jets, signed a two-year, $40 million contract in March. Coach Aaron Glenn urged fans to remain calm, emphasizing the team’s depth with veteran Tyrod Taylor as backup. The Jets also have Adrian Martinez and rookie Brady Cook on the roster.
NHL – Judge acquits 5 former Canadian junior players in sexual assault case
An Ontario judge has acquitted five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team in their sexual assault case, saying the complainant’s allegations lacked the credibility needed to justify the charges. Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia said Thursday that prosecutors could not meet the onus of proof for the charges against Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote. All five players had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault in the encounter that took place in a London, Ontario, hotel room in the early hours of June 19, 2018.
LLBB – New Jersey Little Leaguer plays after judge lifts his suspension for bat flip
A 12-year-old Little Leaguer who faced suspension from his team’s first state tournament game for flipping his bat after hitting a home run was allowed to play Thursday night. Marco Rocco of Haddonfield, New Jersey, tossed his bat in the air on July 16 after his sixth-inning, two-run homer in the final of the sectional tournament. Marco was ejected and suspended for a game over what his family was told were actions deemed “unsportsmanlike” and “horseplay.” The family sought and received an emergency temporary restraining order that allowed him to play in the New Jersey state tournament.
MWL – Midwest League Baseball
Last Night
Lake County 8, Lansing 2
Dayton 7, South Bend 4
Great Lakes 9, Beloit 2
West Michigan 9, Peoria 5
Tonight
Lansing Lugnuts at Lake County Captains, 7:00 p.m.
South Bend Cubs at Dayton Dragons, 7:05 p.m. Sports Radio WSBT 6:45p
Beloit Sky Carp at Great Lakes Loons, 7:05 p.m.
West Michigan Whitecaps at Peoria Chiefs, 7:35 p.m.
