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A’s Snap Streaks, End Sox Win Streak

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FENWAY – (Wire Service Report) – Gage Jump allowed two runs and struck out 11 over six innings, while Tyler Soderstrom and Henry Bolte homered as the Athletics 7-3 defeated the host Boston Red Sox on Saturday.

Jump (5-7) gave up six hits and walked two for the Athletics, who snapped a nine-game losing streak and won for only the second time in 14 games. Jonah Heim and Donovan Walton had two RBIs each, while Jacob Wilson went 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

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Andruw Monasterio drove in two runs for the Red Sox, who had their nine-game winning streak halted. It was just their fourth loss in 31 games.

Red Sox starter Jake Bennett (7-5) gave up four runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings with three walks and five strikeouts.

Caleb Durbin singled in a run in the ninth for the Red Sox, who loaded the bases with two out against Hogan Harris. But Harris induced Eli White to line out to center and picked up his 10th save.

The Athletics took a 3-2 lead in the fifth on Heim’s two-run single off the green monster in left field.

Walton’s pinch-hit two-run ground-rule double in the sixth extended the lead to 5-2.

The Red Sox had runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the sixth but Jump fanned Jarren Duran and Connor Wong.

Soderstrom’s solo homer in the seventh made it 6-2. His 19th home run of the season came on a drive into the right-field stands, estimated at 413 feet, off of reliever Raymond Burgos.

Bolte hit his fifth home run to center in the ninth, also off of Burgos.

Boston took a 2-0 lead in the first on Monasterio’s two-out, two-run single. It stretched his hitting streak to 10 games and on-base stretch to 20 games. The Red Sox stole three bases in the inning, two by Jahmai Jones and one by Durbin.

The Athletics got on the board to make it 2-1 in the fourth on Brian Serven’s soft infield RBI single in front of the plate with two out. The tapper scored Wilson — who led off the inning with a double — from third base.

The Red Sox outhit the Athletics, 10-8. Jones went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, while Nick Sogard went 3-for-4.

Boston left a dozen men on base and went 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox “Woo” Adley

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WORCESTER – (Wire Service Report) – The Boston Red Sox sent recently acquired catcher Adley Rutschman on a rehab assignment to Triple-A Worcester, moving him closer to his debut with his new club.

Rutschman, 28, was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles on Monday along with fellow catcher Jake Rodgers and cash for Carlos Narvaez, three minor leaguers and a player to be named.

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A left wrist injury forced Rutschman to the injured list on July 20. An All-Star this season, Rutschman was batting .251 with eight home runs and 47 RBIs in 67 games for Baltimore. The three-time All-Star is a career .254 hitter with 69 home runs and 277 RBIs in five seasons and 572 games for the Orioles.

The Red Sox have stormed back into playoff contention by going 32-5 since June 25.

Rutschman was in the leadoff spot for Worcester on Saturday and expected to catch five innings.

–Field Level Media

Streaking Sox Take on Losing A’s

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FENWAY – (Wire Service Report) – The Boston Red Sox can do no wrong these days. At least that’s the way it seems.

The Red Sox will enter their Saturday matchup against the visiting Athletics on a nine-game winning streak after recording a 13-1 victory on Friday in the opening contest of a three-game series.

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Boston has won 11 of its last 12 games, 27 of its past 30 and 32 of its past 37 — the best streak in franchise history. The Friday victory was the Red Sox’s 12th in their past 14 home games and improved the team’s record to 29-29 at Fenway Park.

Boston has scored 25 runs in the past two games.

“It’s absolutely amazing,” left fielder Jarren Duran told WEEI following the latest triumph. “I remember at the beginning of the season the feeling was, ‘I hope we score.’ Now it’s gotten to the point of it’s just a matter of when we score and how much are we going to score.”

Catcher Jake Rogers and reliever Raymond Burgos, two players who may not be with the Red Sox for very long, made significant contributions on Friday.

Boston acquired Rogers when it traded for Adley Rutschman because the Red Sox needed a backup catcher until Rutschman is cleared to play after missing time due to left wrist inflammation. Rogers doubled in each of his first two at-bats on Friday. He also walked once, drove in a run and scored three times.

Rutschman hasn’t played since July 18, but following the Friday game, Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said the three-time All-Star is scheduled to catch five innings for Triple-A Worcester on Saturday.

Burgos was called up from Worcester on Friday to fortify a depleted bullpen after Boston played a 13-inning game against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. He made his second major league appearance Friday night and tossed three scoreless innings to earn his first save. He retired each of the nine batters he faced.

The Athletics were limited to two hits in the defeat, which extended their losing streak to nine games. The A’s also parted ways with general manager David Forst on Friday. Forst had been with the organization for 27 seasons.

“For me, (Forst) gave me this opportunity to manage this club,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “We’ve faced our certain circumstances, challenges, together. That’s what’s tough about it. Not being able to see it through with him.

“My ask of (the players) is that they go out and win as many games as possible from this point forward.”

The Athletics will be hoping for a repeat performance when they send rookie Gage Jump (4-7, 4.59 ERA) to the mound on Saturday. The left-hander was the winning pitcher when the Athletics beat the Red Sox 4-3 on July 28 — Boston’s last loss. He tossed six scoreless innings and struck out seven in that win, which is his only career appearance against the Red Sox.

Peyton Tolle Fans 14 in Win

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FENWAY – (Wire Service Report) – Payton Tolle recorded a career-high 14 strikeouts and Jarren Duran homered to help the Boston Red Sox extend their winning streak to nine games by beating the visiting Athletics 13-1 Friday night.

Duran’s home run, his 16th of the season, came against starting pitcher Jack Perkins and ignited a five-run second inning. It was his third home run in the last five games.

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Tolle (7-6) didn’t allow a baserunner until Tyler Soderstrom led off the fifth with a home run. It was his 18th homer of the season and cut Boston’s lead to 9-1.

Tolle was pulled after six innings. He allowed one run on two hits and didn’t walk a batter. Raymond Burgos picked up the save by pitching three innings of hitless relief.

Perkins (2-8) gave up five runs on five hits in three innings. He walked three and struck out three. The Athletics have lost their last nine games.

In addition to Duran’s home run, Boston’s five-run second featured back-to-back doubles from Anthony Seigler and Jake Rogers that increased the lead to 3-0 and a two-run double from Wilyer Abreu that drove in Rogers and Nick Sogard to make it 5-0. Abreu collected two of Boston’s 15 hits and drove in three runs. Boston added four runs in the fourth. After Rogers scored on an errant pickoff throw by Hayden Juenger, the Red Sox received an RBI single from Abreu, an RBI double from Masataka Yoshida and an RBI single by Andruw Monasterio.

Sacrifice flies from Caleb Durbin and Yoshida increased Boston’s lead to 11-1 in the sixth.

It was 12-1 after Rogers scored from second on Ceddanne Rafaela’s infield single in the seventh. Rafaela stretched the lead to 13-1 when he scored on Durbin’s double later in the inning.

The Athletics were limited to two hits in the loss. In addition to Soderstrom’s home run, Max Muncy had an infield single in the sixth.

–Field Level Media

Sox Rally 5 Times, Win in 13th

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FENWAY – (Wire Service Report) – Caleb Durbin’s RBI single up the middle in the 13th inning lifted Boston to a wild 12-11 win over the visiting Chicago White Sox on Thursday, the Red Sox’s eighth consecutive victory. Durbin capped a truly miraculous, come-from-behind Boston victory.

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After Wilyer Abreu was intentionally walked with one out, Durbin (3-for-6) plated automatic runner Nick Sogard from second base to end a 4-hour, 23-minute marathon in which the teams combined for 29 total hits and nine runs in extra innings.

Boston overcame five deficits to sweep the three-game series and win for the 31st time in 36 games.

The Red Sox rallied from 4-0 and 5-2 deficits to tie the game at 5-5 in the fourth and trailed 7-6 before Abreu knocked a two-out, two-strike single in the ninth to force extras. Both teams scored twice in the 10th and once in both the 11th and 12th before Durbin came through in the clutch.

Brayan Bello (4-6) finally posted a zero in the top of the 13th as Boston’s eighth reliever behind starter Ranger Suarez, who worked just three innings.

Chase Meidroth hit a pair of two-run home runs and finished 3-for-5 to lead Chicago. Erick Fedde (6-7) took the loss.

In the ninth, Boston’s Connor Wong clanked a leadoff double off the Green Monster. Sogard’s sacrifice moved pinch runner Eli White to third, and White scored on Abreu’s knock two batters later.

Meidroth tagged Boston closer Aroldis Chapman for his second homer, giving Chicago a 9-7 edge in the 10th, but the hosts responded again. Andruw Monasterio plated Abreu on his second double of the game high off the left field wall. After Jarren Duran was intentionally walked to load the bases, Anthony Seigler’s sacrifice fly made it 9-9.

Chicago’s Colson Montgomery and Abreu traded sac flies in the 11th, but the Red Sox squandered a bases-loaded, one-out opportunity.

In the 12th, the White Sox’s Sam Antonacci knocked a go-ahead single over shortstop. Meidroth followed with a single to left, and Duran cut down a potential insurance run with his throw to the plate.

Jake Rogers followed with a sac fly in the bottom half.

Ceddanne Rafaela, Masataka Yoshida, Monasterio, Seigler and Wong each had two hits for Boston. Montgomery had two hits and two RBIs for the White Sox.

–Field Level Media

PGA Tour Winds Down at Wyndham

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

GREENSBORO – The 2025 Wyndham Championship is the 34th and final event of the 34 scheduled events for the PGA Tour’s 2026 FedEx Cup regular season. Since the inception of the FedExCup in 2007, the Wyndham Championship has played host to the FedEx Cup regular season finale (since 2008 at Sedgefield Country Club).

This year marks the 87th annual Wyndham Championship, having been included on the PGA TOUR schedule since 1938 (the seventh-longest running TOUR event excluding the majors).

Following the Wyndham Championship, the Top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings will advance to the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

Shane Lowry (No. 60) is the only player ranked from Nos. 60-80 in the FedEx Cup standings who is not in the field. In 2025, Chris Kirk (T5) was the only player to move inside the Top 70 following the Wyndham Championship.

Jason Day (No. 75) and Keegan Bradley (No. 72) both sit outside the Top 70 and are seeking to extend their streak of consecutive Playoffs appearances, with Day going for his 19th (since 2008) while Bradley seeks his 16th (since 2011).

The Wyndham Championship winner will receive 500 FedEx Cup points, a two-year exemption on the PGA TOUR and $1,530,000; the winner will also be exempt for THE PLAYERS Championship, Masters Tournament and PGA Championship in 2027.

Tournament Notes

Following next week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship, the 70 players are cut to the Top 50 players in the FedEx Cup standings and they’ll qualify for the BMW Championship (Aug. 20-23). After the BMW Championship, the Top 30 players in the standings advance to the TOUR Championship (Aug. 27-30) in Atlanta.

  • Scottie Scheffler (4,123) holds a 794-point lead in the FedExCup standings over Matt Fitzpatrick (3,329).
  • Matt Fitzpatrick and Chris Gotterup lead the TOUR with three victories each this season; Wyndham Clark and Cameron Young are the only other players with multiple wins this season (two each).
  • There have been eight first-time winners in the first 33 events on TOUR this season: Jacob Bridgeman (The Genesis Invitational), Ricky Castillo (Puerto Rico Open), Alex Fitzpatrick (Zurich Classic of New Orleans), Kristoffer Reitan (Truist Championship), Bud Cauley (RBC Canadian Open), Stefano Mazzoli (Corales Puntacana Championship), Jackson Koivun (3M Open), Michael Thorbjornsen (Rocket Classic).

Please check PGATourCom for updated info.

Wyndham Championship | Tournament Facts

COURSE: Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, North Carolina

YARDS/PAR: 7,131 yards/Par 70

ARCHITECT: Donald Ross

PRIZE Money/Winner’s Share – Purse: $8,500,000/$1,530,000

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Cameron Young

OVERVIEW: (link)

PAST RESULTS: (link)

FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 500

TOURNAMENT SITE: (link)

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @WyndhamChamp

Red Sox Acquire Adley Rutschman

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Red Sox acquired catcher Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles, along with catcher Jake Rogers and cash considerations, in exchange for catcher Carlos Narváez, minor league right-handed pitchers Anthony Eyanson and Kyson Witherspoon, minor league outfielder Enddy Azocar, and a player to be named later or cash considerations.

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Rutschman, 28, has been selected as an American League All-Star in three of the last four seasons (2023-24, 2026), while winning a Silver Slugger Award and being selected to the All-MLB First Team in 2023. The switch-hitter has played in 67 games for Baltimore this season, batting .251 (62-for-247) with a .331 on-base percentage, .764 OPS, 30 runs scored, 19 doubles, one triple, eight home runs, and 47 RBI while making 49 starts as the catcher and 16 as the designated hitter. He has thrown out 14 of 34 runners attempting to steal (41%), tied for the most in the Majors this season, while ranking fifth among catchers in FanGraphs’ WAR (2.3) and strikeout rate (14.1%, minimum 200 plate appearances). He was placed on the 10-Day Injured List with left wrist inflammation on July 20.

Selected by the Orioles with the first overall pick in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, the Oregon native has hit .254 (540-for-2,126) with 289 runs scored, 122 doubles, six triples, 69 home runs, and 277 RBI in 572 career Major League games, all with Baltimore (2022-26). Since his Major League debut on May 21, 2022, he ranks second among catchers in doubles, third in hits and FanGraphs’ WAR (17.3), fourth in runs scored, and seventh in RBI.

Rogers, 31, was traded from the Detroit Tigers to the Orioles on July 30. The right-handed hitter has played in 39 games this season for Detroit (36 games) and Baltimore (three games), making 33 starts as the catcher and batting .163 (16-for-98) with 11 runs scored, two doubles, one triple, three home runs, and nine RBI. Against left-handed pitchers, he has batted .273 (6-for-22) with an .815 OPS. Selected by the Houston Astros in the third round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft, the Texas native has played in 370 career Major League games with the Tigers (2019-26) and Orioles (2026).

Narváez, 27, has played in 62 games this season, making 56 starts as the catcher while batting .187 (32-for-171) with six doubles and three home runs. Originally signed as an international free agent by the New York Yankees in July 2015, the Venezuela native has hit .225 (132-for-587) in 186 career Major League games with the Yankees (2024) and Red Sox (2025-26).

Eyanson, 21, is ranked by Baseball America as the Red Sox’ No. 2 prospect and top pitching prospect, as well as baseball’s No. 33 overall prospect. The right-hander has pitched in 16 games (15 starts) for High-A Greenville (five starts) and Double-A Portland (11 games, 10 starts) in his first professional season, going 4-0 with a 1.32 ERA (10 ER/68.1 IP) and 94 strikeouts. Selected by Boston in the third round of the 2025 First-Year Player Draft, the California native represented the American League at the 2026 All-Star Futures Game on July 12.

Witherspoon, 21, is ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 3 prospect, as well as baseball’s No. 97 overall prospect. The right-hander has made 17 starts for High-A Greenville in his first professional season, going 3-5 with a 4.78 ERA (40 ER/75.1 IP) and 78 strikeouts. The Missouri native was selected by Boston in the first round (No. 15 overall) of the 2025 First-Year Player Draft.

Azocar, 19, is ranked by Baseball America as the Red Sox’ No. 5 prospect. In 85 games this season between Single-A Salem (39 games) and High-A Greenville (46 games), the right-handed hitter has batted .286 (105-for-367) with a .341 on-base percentage, .881 OPS, 76 runs scored, 27 doubles, six triples, 18 home runs, and 63 RBI while making 70 starts in center field, 13 as the designated hitter, one in left field, and one in right field. Signed by Boston as an international free agent in January 2024, the Venezuela native has hit .262 (202-for-771) with 133 runs scored and 105 RBI in 201 career minor league games, all in the Red Sox organization.

Sox Acquire Reliever But Part With Highly Touted Marcelo Mayer

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Red Sox acquired left-handed pitcher Erik Miller and minor league outfielder Carlos Gutierrez from the San Francisco Giants, in exchange for infielder Marcelo Mayer.

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Miller, 28, has made 38 appearances for the Giants this season, going 2-0 with 10 holds, four saves, a 2.76 ERA (10 ER/32.2 IP), and 45 strikeouts. The left-hander ranks in MLB’s 90th percentile or higher in average exit velocity (99th, 83.1 MPH), expected batting average (98th, .181), hard-hit rate (98th, 27.4%), whiff rate (97th, 34.8%), strikeout rate (95th, 31.7%), and groundball rate (92nd, 53.4%). He has made 14 consecutive scoreless appearances, beginning on June 19, tossing 13.0 innings over that span while recording a 0.85 WHIP and .143 opponent batting average (6-for-42).

Originally selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the fourth round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, the Missouri native owns a 3.05 ERA (44 ER/130.0 IP), a .210 opponent batting average (97-for-461), and 154 strikeouts in 147 career games (10 starts) with the Giants (2024-26). In his career, he has held left-handed hitters to a .189 batting average (35-for-185) and .550 OPS.

Gutierrez, 21, is ranked by Baseball America as the Giants’ No. 24 prospect. The left-handed hitter has played in 83 games for High-A Eugene this season, batting .271 (81-for-299) with an .826 OPS, 18 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 45 RBI, and 26 stolen bases while making 64 starts in left field, 18 as the designated hitter, and one in center field. Signed by San Francisco as an international free agent in January 2023, the Mexico native has hit .314 (200-for-637) with 33 doubles, nine triples, 12 home runs, 85 RBI, 64 stolen bases, and an .866 OPS in 168 career minor league games, all in the Giants’ organization.

Mayer, 23, has played in 70 games for Boston this season, hitting .220 (45-for-205) with 19 runs scored, 10 doubles, three home runs, and 22 RBI while making 39 starts at second base and 20 at shortstop. The left-handed hitter was placed on the 10-Day Injured List on June 26 with a bone stress reaction to the left ulna. Selected by the Red Sox in the first round (No. 4 overall) of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft, the California native has hit .223 (74-for-332) in 114 career Major League games, all with Boston (2025-26).

Kraft Being Krafty

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FOXBOROUGH – (Wire Service Report) – New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said the team offered Christian Gonzalez a contract extension that would make him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.

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Kraft did not reveal the specific terms of the deal on Saturday, the first day of training camp.

“We love Christian Gonzalez,” Kraft said during the team’s Pawtriots pet adoption event, per the Boston Herald. “We love him as a player, as a person. That’s why we’ve made an offer to him that makes him the highest-paid player ever to play that position in the NFL, and coincidentally, it’s the highest contract in the Patriots franchise history.

“So we’re glad we drafted him and we developed here, and we hope he’ll be with us for a long time.”

Gonzalez is eligible for a contract extension for the first time after being selected by the Patriots with the 17th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Kraft did not reveal the specific terms of the deal on Saturday, the first day of training camp.

“We love Christian Gonzalez,” Kraft said during the team’s Pawtriots pet adoption event, per the Boston Herald. “We love him as a player, as a person. That’s why we’ve made an offer to him that makes him the highest-paid player ever to play that position in the NFL, and coincidentally, it’s the highest contract in the Patriots franchise history.

“So we’re glad we drafted him and we developed here, and we hope he’ll be with us for a long time.”

Gonzalez is eligible for a contract extension for the first time after being selected by the Patriots with the 17th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Los Angeles Rams’ Trent McDuffie is currently the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback, pocketing $31 million per season on his four-year, $131 million contract that he signed this offseason.

Gonzalez, 24, made the Pro Bowl last season after posting 69 tackles and 10 passes defensed in 14 starts. He has three interceptions, 24 passes defensed, one fumble recovery, one sack and 145 tackles in 34 career games (all starts).

–Field Level Media

NFL Schedule: Here’s a Top Ten

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LOS ANGELES – (Wire Service Report) – Not only do the Los Angeles Rams have a reasonable shot at becoming the first team to win the Super Bowl on its homefield twice, the NFC West runner-up is by far the easiest team to find on the NFL’s 2026 broadcast schedule.

Seven times the Rams are positioned for a primetime slot — tying a league record — barring a slip from contender status that would prompt networks to invoke the “flex” option and reassign Sean McVay’s team to an afternoon kickoff.

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You’ve got to appreciate McVay’s offensive machine as much as the next NFL fan, but let’s survey the broader landscape for the 10 games we are circling on the 2026 schedule.

1. Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, Friday, Dec. 25
Are the Packers still gutted by two heartbreaking losses to the Bears? They’ll never admit it. The drama on the field and sidelines restored one of the  game’s best rivalries. Chicago’s schedule strength adds a degree of difficulty the Bears didn’t face rising from the bottom of the NFC North to a division title in Ben Johnson’s first season. The Packers had owned this series in recent years and want to pull the pendulum northward.

2. Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys, Thursday, Nov. 26
Thanksgiving Day amplifies whatever the state of the Dallas Cowboys happens to be, and this one should be extra spicy. It hasn’t happened since 2014 and will be the third Turkey Day meeting between the teams. Cowboys fans are crossing their fingers the results will be better than the last time (33-10 loss in ‘14) and 1989, when the Eagles used two Randall Cunningham-to-Cris Carter TDs and Philly’s defense ransacked Troy Aikman at Texas Stadium, 27-0. Philadelphia hosts the first meeting of the 2026 season with Dallas on “Monday Night Football” in October.

3. Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots, Sunday, Dec. 6
Josh Allen ran the AFC East for nearly a decade and Drake Maye was more than the new kid on the block in 2025. He played like an MVP candidate — even winning in Buffalo — and the Patriots went 5-1 in the division. The only loss was a 35-31 barnburner at Gillette Stadium won by the Bills on Dec. 14. It was New England’s only loss between Sept. 28 and the Super Bowl.

4. Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks, Friday, Dec. 25
Fine, we can talk Rams, too Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, the NFL wrapped up a matchup between teams who combined for 26 regular-season wins and took the division duel down to the wire last season. Lumen Field won’t be a present for the Rams, but Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay have usually done just fine in enemy territory. The game falls one week after the one-year anniversary of Seattle’s memorable fourth-quarter rally from 16 down, forced overtime and walked it off with a 38-37 victory over the Rams.

5. Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals, Thursday, Dec. 31
Last season wasn’t a typical set of Bengals-Ravens games. The AFC North rivals split with an average margin of victory of 21 points. Rewind to 2025 and unleashed Lamar Jackson vs. bomb-happy Joe Burrow produced scores of 35-34 and 41-38 (overtime). If we get a New Year’s Eve snow game with division and playoff consequences, even better.

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6. New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks, Wednesday, Sept. 9
A Wednesday night opener ahead of the Thursday Rams-49ers matchup in Australia, we’ll find out if the Patriots are better prepared for a Super Bowl rematch with months to prepare. New England oscillated from disjointed to complete disarray in the February loss to Seattle and didn’t have all oars in the water during an offseason when Mike Vrabel’s off-field, ahem, affairs were a constant talking point.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 8
Baker Mayfield vs. Caleb Williams piques our interest in a midseason “Sunday Night Football” matchup with the undercard of Buccaneers head coach and defensive maestro Todd Bowles against Bears coach and offensive brain Ben Johnson. The Bucs fell short of the postseason in 2025 for the first time since 2019, while the Bears are trending upward after the franchise won a playoff game (well, two of them, actually) in January to snap a 15-year drought dating to 2011.

8. Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks, Monday, Dec. 7
Crossover games with the NFC West add a degree of difficulty to the Dallas schedule this season. While we wait to offer judgment on the revamped defense, the Cowboys are likely to bring all the smoke to test Seattle’s versatile, attacking defense in a game sandwiched between matchups with the Eagles and Rams for Dallas.

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9. Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 20
Some called the Denver AFC West run last season but far fewer anticipated Jacksonville winning 13  games and dealing the Broncos one of the team’s three regular-season losses. First-year head coach Liam Coen reflects many of Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s qualities as a play-caller and designer, adding built-in entertainment value.

10. San Francisco 49ers at Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Dec. 27
What will the 49ers have left in the tank? San Francisco is setting a record for miles traveled in a season thanks to international treks to Mexico and Australia and the closing stretch for the 49ers is some kind of minefield from NFL schedulers. Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy are familiar foes but 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan has not beaten Andy Reid as a head coach (0-3). Two of those losses were agonizing Super Bowl defeats (LIV, 2020 and LVIII, 2024). After falling short of historical track and expectations in 2025, is the window closed on one or both of these longtime contenders?

–Field Level Media

Mostly Sonny, 100% Chance of Win

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FENWAY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Wilyer Abreu highlighted a 2-for-3 night with three runs and his 20th home run of the season, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 4-0 win over the visiting Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.

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Sonny Gray (14-2) fired six scoreless innings as Boston won its seventh consecutive game. The right-hander allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out eight.

Tyron Guerrero, Garrett Whitlock and Jovani Moran threw one inning apiece to complete the four-hit shutout. Moran walked the leadoff batter in the ninth, then struck out the next three batters.

Abreu cranked a third-inning solo shot to the right-center-field bullpen to lead the Red Sox, who have won the first two games of the three-game series.

Jarren Duran went 2-for-3 with a double and a run, helping Boston improve to 30-5 since June 25.

Chicago’s Miguel Vargas finished 2-for-3. Massachusetts native Sean Burke (7-6) allowed two runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings. He fanned four and walked two as the White Sox took their third defeat in four games.

The Red Sox jumped out to a first-inning lead for the second straight game. Abreu hit a two-out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Willson Contreras knocked an RBI single into left-center field.

Chicago nearly knotted the score in the third, but Sam Antonacci was tagged out at home on a 5-3-2 putout. Caleb Durbin made a diving stop on Vargas’ infield single. After the third baseman threw across the diamond, Contreras fired a strike to Connor Wong for the inning-ending out.

In Boston’s half of the third, Abreu continued his hot streak with a two-out solo homer. Burke struck out the first two batters of the inning, but the Boston right fielder socked a 3-2 pitch 390 feet to right-center.

Duran manufactured the third Red Sox run in the seventh, hitting a leadoff single, stealing second, reaching third on a throwing error and scoring on Andruw Monasterio’s sacrifice fly.

In the eighth, Abreu drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on Durbin’s two-out hit.

Contreras exited in the fifth inning due to an illness.

–Field Level Media

Pressure Is On: Same As It Ever Was

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief of Digital Sports Desk

FENWAY – In 2023, infielder Kristian Campbell hit .309 for the Sox High-A Greenville ball club. He hit his first MiLB homer that August 27th and things were looking good. In 2024, things looked even brighter. Campbell hit .330 for a combo of Greenville (High-A), Portland (Double-AA) and Worcester (Triple AAA). He was named Baseball America’s and USA Today’s minor league Player of the Year.

On March 27, 2025, Campbell became the first non-Japanese Red Sox player to make his Major League Baseball debut and start on Opening Day in 25 years (Jackie Bradley Jr. in 2000).

Campbell was the first of a “Little Big 3” the Red Sox would be entertaining at the MLB level, with both infielder Marcelo Mayer and outfielder/slugger Roman Anthony, the power and long ball hitter of the bunch, soon to join the show. The future of the Red Sox was right then, the same as it is right now.

It all seemed like a lock, especially when Campbell signed an eight-year, $60 million contract. But, Campbell has toiled in the Sox MiLB system – playing winter ball in Puerto Rico and doing the I90 shuffle out at Polar Park Worcester. He’s played 85 games for the Exit 19s in 2026, and is currently batting .246 (as of August 4) but he leads the team in strike-outs with 107.

All three of the “Little Big 3” have struggled mightily this season. Anthony got off to a very slow start but was batting lead-off for the Red Sox as they broke Spring Training camp. But, he’s been out since May 5, recovering from a partially torn tendon in his right hand and wrist.

Mayer is another story, altogether, as he is gone. He had struggled all season, begging to find some consistency at the plate, but instead, he was traded Monday for Eric Miller, San Francisco’s left-handed closer who will be added to strengthen and deepen the 7-8-9th inning Boston bullpen.

Mayer, 23, played in 70 games for Boston this season, hitting .220 (45-for-205) with 19 runs scored, 10 doubles, three home runs, and 22 RBI while making 39 starts at second base and 20 at shortstop. The left-handed hitter was placed on the 10-Day Injured List on June 26 with a bone stress reaction to the left ulna.

With the trade, Boston’s “Big 3” has become the “One and Done,” sticking with the basketball phraseology. Campbell toils with the WooSox, Mayer heads west as a young man with nothing but potential in his suitcase. Meanwhile, Anthony remains the mystery man, with no timetable for return, if any.

The Red Sox are rounding second and heading for third as post trade deadline day leads to only the true dog days of August, and then the stretch from third to home and a (very) possible postseason berth. All it took was a 15-game winning streak and a sweep of the LA Dodgers with a 6-1 west coast road trip upon return to Fenway Park which still has visions of Phish dancing in our heads.

Boston takes on that stretch with six of their best, whether in the starting lineup or acting as key reserve players either on the injured list or close to it:

  • Newly acquired utility man Curtis Mead on IL (left wrist fracture)
  • Newly acquired all-star level catch Adley Rutschman (left wrist inflammation)
  • Starting pitcher/ace Garrett Crochet (shoulder and lateral issues) has August 25 circled for potential target date for return
  • Shortstop Trevor Story (sports hernia) on the road to recovery
  • Isiah Kiner-Falefa (left forearm) could be back in 10 days
  • Slugger OF Roman Anthony (right ring finger/wrist injury) and has not resumed swinging a bat, but has been working out regularly.
  • Now, it’s left for interim manager Chad Tracy to piece together as he’s done since former manager Alex Cora was fired on April 26th.

The one name that shouldn’t return to Worcester, at any time, is Tracy who squarely deserves a full-time designation instead of interim, a major league level bump in salary and the thanks of a grateful GM, Craig Breslow, as Tracy played a major role in saving both of their jobs.

Six + One + Six + One for Sox

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FENWAY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Boston Red Sox scored six runs in both the first and sixth innings en route to a 14-2 win over the visiting Chicago White Sox to open a three-game series on Tuesday night.

Seven Boston batters logged multi-hit games highlighted by Wilyer Abreu cracking two long homers, Caleb Durbin punctuating the opening frame with a grand slam and Willson Contreras recording RBI singles and scoring in both big innings.

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Jarren Duran also went deep and left-handed starter Patrick Sandoval (1-0) pitched five-plus innings for the Red Sox, who have won six straight and 15 of 18 since the All-Star break. Brayan Bello recorded the final 10 outs for a save.

Boston hit a season-high four homers for the second straight game, including three off Chicago starter Davis Martin (9-6), who allowed a career-high nine runs on 10 hits across five innings.

The Red Sox showed no signs of a hangover from their weekend sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers, sending all nine men to the plate during a six-run first.

Nick Sogard banged a leadoff double off the Green Monster and Ceddanne Rafaela was hit by a pitch. After an Abreu fly ball moved Sogard to third, Contreras’ line-drive single drove in the first run.

Masataka Yoshida continued the line with another base hit before Durbin’s big swing to left center extended the score to 5-0. Duran made it back-to-back jacks with a solo shot over the bullpens.

Chicago got traffic on the basepaths in every inning against Sandoval, but he escaped without any damage done until the fifth. The Boston southpaw stranded the bases loaded after Randal Grichuk’s leadoff double and a two-out single and walk in the fourth.

In the fifth, the White Sox nabbed their first run on a Miguel Vargas sacrifice fly before Sandoval induced an inning-ending double play. Abreu got that run right back for the Red Sox a half-inning later, depositing another solo homer out to deep center with one out.

The White Sox turned consecutive walks into another run on Braden Montgomery’s RBI grounder in the sixth. Reliever Erik Miller, making his Boston debut after being acquired from the San Francisco Giants at Monday’s deadline, entered the game and struck out pinch hitter Tristan Peters to end the threat.

It became a laugher during the six-run sixth that Andruw Monasterio sparked with a two-run single up the middle to score Durbin (walk) and Duran (single). Three batters later, Rafaela’s double drove home two more before a Contreras single and Yoshida double concluded the scoring.

–Field Level Media