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Red Sox & Guardians: Let’s Play Two?

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CLEVELAND – Following a successful series against the leaders of the American League East, the Cleveland Guardians will take aim at the other storied franchise in that division. After rain postponed their series opener on Friday, the Guardians and visiting Boston Red Sox will play a split doubleheader today.

Cleveland extended its winning streak to five games by winning the first two contests of its series against the New York Yankees before falling 5-1 on Wednesday.

“Obviously, we want to win every single day,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said.

Cleveland is 11-4 after losing six of its first nine games of the season. The Guardians have won seven of the last nine meetings against the Red Sox.

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However, Boston’s scheduled Game 1 starter, right-hander Tanner Houck (0-2, 7.66 ERA), is 1-2 with a 2.37 ERA in nine career appearances (four starts) versus Cleveland.

Guardians star Jose Ramirez is 14-for-30 with five homers and 11 RBIs in his last seven home games against Boston. He is 2-for-13 against Houck, but one of those hits left the park.

After being roughed up for 12 runs (11 earned) and 10 hits over 2 1/3 innings at Tampa Bay on April 14, Houck yielded only a two-run homer in the first inning, two other hits with two walks and seven strikeouts over six frames of Boston’s 8-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

“Slowly just working your way through it and showing up each and every day with a good attitude, chipping away at it, is kind of the recipe for success,” Houck said.

The veteran will try to help Boston get back on track from dropping the final two contests of a three-game home set versus Seattle. Alex Bregman homered with two RBIs and had half of the team’s four hits in Thursday’s 4-3 loss.

Bregman is 7-for-14 with five RBIs in the last four games. He is batting .320 this season.

“He’s in a good spot. A great start,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said.

In the nightcap on Saturday, the Red Sox will turn to Walker Buehler (3-1, 4.23 ERA), who allowed nine runs and 14 hits — including three homers — over 9 1/3 innings while splitting his first two starts as a member of the Red Sox. But he’s 2-0 with a 1.96 ERA in three starts since that rough opening.

The right-hander gave up three walks for a second straight start Monday against the Chicago White Sox on Patriots’ Day, but he permitted only four hits and a run while striking out nine in a season-high seven innings of a 4-2 victory.

Buehler has never faced the Guardians, who will start Ben Lively (1-2, 3.86 ERA) in Game 1. The right-hander yielded four hits and a walk through 5 1/3 innings of last Saturday’s 3-0 victory at Pittsburgh.

“That was Ben at his best,” Vogt said.

Lively usually has been at his best versus Boston, going 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in four career starts.

Boston star Rafael Devers is 0-for-15 over the last five games overall and 0-for-5 with two strikeouts versus Lively.

Touted prospect Doug Nikhazy is slated to make his major league debut while starting Game 2 for Cleveland. A second-round pick in 2021, the left-hander was 1-0 with a 3.44 ERA and fanned 22 in four 2025 starts for Triple-A Columbus.

 

NFL Draft: Sanders Remains Undrafted

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GREEN BAY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – After two days, three rounds and 102 selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders is still waiting to hear his name called. One must wonder, “who will be drafted first, Sanders or Cooper Flagg?”

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The highly hyped Colorado quarterback, who stunningly fell out of the first round on Thursday night, was not among the 70 players selected in the second and third rounds on Friday.

Three more quarterbacks were taken on Friday after two were called in the first round at the draft held in Green Bay, Wis. However, none of them was the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame member Deion Sanders, Shedeur’s head coach at Colorado.

The first quarterback off the board Friday came eight picks in, as the New Orleans Saints selected Tyler Shough with the eighth choice in the second round. Shough actually played in seven different seasons in college, starting at Oregon in 2018 before transferring to Texas Tech for the 2021 season and then Louisville for 2024.

The next two quarterbacks went late in the third round, with the Seattle Seahawks taking Alabama’s Jalen Milroe with the 92nd overall pick and the Cleveland Browns taking Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel two picks later.

Sanders’ statistics suggested he might be more highly prized by NFL teams targeting their next long-term quarterback. During his senior year at Colorado, Sanders led the Big 12 in passing yards (4,134), touchdowns (37) and passer-efficiency rating (168.2). He topped the nation with a 74 percent completion rate.

He led the Buffaloes to a 9-4 record, finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy balloting and earned Associated Press second-team all-American acclaim, with Miami’s Cam Ward receiving the first-team selection. Ward was the first overall pick in the draft Thursday, taken by the Tennessee Titans.

That capped a stellar four-year career playing for his father. In two seasons at Jackson State and two at Colorado, Sanders completed 70.1 percent of his passes for 14,347 yards, 134 touchdowns and just 27 interceptions.

The spotlight followed every move the Sanders family made over the last two years at Colorado, which carried over during the lengthy pre-draft process. Sanders’ potential destination was a hot topic on sports talk shows. Depending on the day, he was viewed as an ideal prospect for the Giants (who held the third overall pick), the Saints (ninth overall pick) and, worst-case scenario, the Pittsburgh Steelers (21st overall pick).

Sanders attended the NFL combine in February and measured in at 6-foot-1 and 212 pounds, but he did not throw for scouts until Colorado’s pro day in early April. On Saturday, the Buffaloes immortalized Sanders (and Heisman Trophy-winning teammate Travis Hunter) by retiring their numbers. There was still no sign that Sanders would be anything but a first-round selection.

But as draft day approached and uncomplimentary reports of Sanders’ interview skills and overly confident demeanor became public, the narrative shifted.

The final day of the draft is Saturday, with the fourth through seventh rounds. Of the teams believed to be most in need of a quarterback entering the draft, only the Steelers have yet to select one.

The Steelers are currently with the 21th pick of the fourth round, No. 123 overall.

–Field Level Media

NCAA Partners with SportsBooks

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INDIANAPOLIS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The NCAA is set to forge a partnership with sportsbooks after an agreement was reached to supply data from its championship events through Genius Sports, multiple outlets reported Friday.

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Because the NCAA is not in charge of the College Football Playoff, the biggest impact from the new deal will come with information supplied through the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. The agreement, which runs through 2032, does not include regular-season games.

While the NCAA has tried to keep its distance from the growing sports betting industry, the partnership with Genius Sports puts it more in line with professional sports leagues that have working relationships with the industry.

With online harassment of student athletes on the rise, NCAA president Charlie Baker spoke at a Senate hearing about the impact of sports betting and college athletics in December. The NCAA’s chief concern is with betting options tied to an individual player.

Genius Sports will now supply sportsbooks with official game data, through an authorized gaming license, while “limiting risky bet types,” and “safeguarding student-athletes,” are listed as primary goals of the London-based company.

“NCAA data will only be available to sportsbooks if they remove risky bets from their platforms and agree to fully cooperate with NCAA investigations and provide key information including geolocation data and device records,” NCAA senior vice president of external affairs Tim Buckley said in a statement, according to ESPN. “The NCAA retains the right to terminate any sportsbook data license if integrity protections are violated — ensuring real accountability.”

NCAA member schools will continue to get live game statistics for free through NCAA LiveStats, ESPN reported.

–Field Level Media

 

Big Winners at 2025 NFL Draft

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GREEN BAY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – One round out of seven is complete at the 2025 NFL Draft, so it’s far too soon to hand out draft grades. There will be steals aplenty on Friday and Saturday, and even more future busts.

That said, Thursday packed plenty of punch in the first 32 picks. Who were the winners and losers of Round 1? Here are three nominees for each:

Winner: The Jaguars (and Trevor Lawrence)

It’s a new day in Duval County. The franchise has been stuck in the mud and is moving on to Lawrence’s third full-time head coach in five years. So new GM James Gladstone sent a big package to Cleveland, moved up three spots to No. 2 and snagged Heisman winner Travis Hunter, who plans to play both wide receiver and cornerback in the pros. (Would Trent Baalke have made that move?) Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr. should make a terrific receiving tandem for Lawrence.

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Winner: Green Bay

The NFL probably doesn’t need to bring the draft to every city that has a franchise, but Green Bay was a standout choice for the history of the Packers and Lambeau Field. The Packers fans in attendance got to celebrate the unthinkable: their team drafting a wide receiver in the first round. Green Bay hadn’t done so since taking Javon Walker in 2002, mid-Brett Favre era. Speedster Matthew Golden of Texas could be Jordan Love’s No. 1 target this year.

Winner: The SEC

Although just one of the first six selections came from a Southeastern Conference school, it didn’t take long for the floodgates to open. The SEC ended the night with 15 first-round picks, nearly half of the first round, tying its own record set in 2020. Honestly, the 2020 mark was more impressive because the league hadn’t expanded to add Texas and Oklahoma yet. In the most predictable move of the night, the Philadelphia Eagles grabbed Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell at No. 31, adding to a defense that resembles an All-SEC first-team unit.

Loser: Shedeur Sanders

That quote that circulated this week from a veteran NFL assistant coach was an all-timer. “He’s so entitled.” “He blames teammates.” “He’s not that good.” But that quote wasn’t the reason Sanders dropped out of the first round. If anything, it may have been a window into an overall feeling around the league that Sanders wasn’t first-round worthy. The question becomes who will snap up Sanders on Day 2, and whether he stands a chance at a starting job in 2025.

Loser: Cowboys fans

Jerry Jones has a thing for offensive linemen named Tyler. The Cowboys’ owner and self-appointed general manager spent first-round picks on the left side of their offensive line in Tyler Smith (2022) and Tyler Guyton (2024). Now, Alabama’s Tyler Booker is headed to Dallas to play right guard. Most Cowboys fans would have preferred just about anything else with the No. 12 pick, very high for an interior lineman. For context, he’s replacing the retired Zack Martin — picked 16th overall in his draft.

Loser: Tommy DeVito

Wheel another chair into the New York Giants’ quarterback room. After taking edge rusher Abdul Carter third overall, the Giants traded back into the first round for a QB, passing over Sanders to pick Jaxson Dart from Ole Miss. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more confusing quarterback group than Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, Dart and DeVito. Barring injury, the local boy affectionately known as “Tommy Cutlets,” who made eight starts the past two years, doesn’t stand a chance of making the roster now.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Head to Cleveland

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CLEVELAND – (Staff and Wire Service Report0 – Following a successful series against the leaders of the American League East, the Cleveland Guardians take aim at the other storied franchise in that division.

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Yet to lose a series at home, the Guardians open a three-game set Friday night against the visiting Boston Red Sox, who look to avoid their third straight defeat.

Despite losing 5-1 to the first-place New York Yankees on Wednesday, Cleveland took two of three in the home set, and sit 7-2 at home.

“Obviously, we want to win every single day,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said.

Cleveland had won five straight prior to Wednesday, and is 11-4 after losing six of its first nine contests. The Guardians have won seven of their last nine against the Red Sox.

However, scheduled Boston starter Tanner Houck (0-2, 7.66 ERA) has a 1.78 ERA while going 1-1 in four career starts versus Cleveland. The right-hander allowed two runs and eight hits over 15 innings of his two starts against the Guardians in 2024. Overall, Houck is 1-2 with a 2.37 ERA in nine appearances, four starts, against Cleveland.

Cleveland’s Steven Kwan, batting .364 in the last 13 games, is 2-for-7 with a pair of walks versus Hauck. Fellow Guardians star Jose Ramirez, 14-for-30 with five homers and 11 RBIs in his last seven home games versus Boston, is only 2-for-13 all-time against Houck, but one of those hits left the park.

Entering this contest, Houck looks to post back-to-back strong starts for the first time in 2025. After being roughed up for 12 runs — 11 earned — and 10 hits over 2 1/3 innings at Tampa Bay on April 14, Houck yielded only a first-inning, two-run homer to Matt Thaiss, two other hits with two walks and struck out seven over six innings of Boston’s 8-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

“I’ve been scuffling, even in spring training, with delivery stuff and just getting back on track, (but) slowly just working your way through it and showing up each and every day with a good attitude, chipping away at it, is kind of the recipe for success,” Houck said.

The veteran will try to help Boston get back on track after it dropped the final two of a three-game home set versus Seattle after winning six of seven. Alex Bregman homered, drove in a pair and produced half of the Red Sox’s four hits in Thursday’s 4-3 loss to the Mariners.

Bregman is 7-for-14 with five RBIs in the last four games, and batting .320 on the season.

NFL Draft: Day Two Best Available

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GREEN BAY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Cleveland Browns are set to lead off the second round with the 33rd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and general manager Andrew Berry could find a first-round talent or two lingering on Day 2.

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Cleveland also has picks 36, 67 and 94 before the festivities end Friday. The Chicago Bears (39, 41), Houston Texans (34, 58), Seattle Seahawks (50, 52) and Buffalo Bills (56, 62) are set to enter the second round with multiple picks.

Three prospects ranked among Field Level Media’s Top 25 went undrafted on Thursday: Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III, Marshall edge Mike Green and Michigan cornerback Will Johnson.

Here’s a look at the best players available with 32 picks in the books:

CB Will Johnson, Michigan
WR Luther Burden III, Missouri
OLB Mike Green, Marshall
DE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
S Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina
CB Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina
QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
OT Marcus Mbow, Purdue
DT T.J. Sanders, South Carolina
OLB Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama
DE Jordan Burch, Oregon
S Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
OT Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota
CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
OT Emery Jones Jr., LSU
DE JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State
CB Trey Amos, Ole Miss
DE Landon Jackson, Arkansas
CB Jacob Parrish, Kansas State
DT Deone Walker, Kentucky
OT Cameron Williams, Texas
S Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State
WR Isaiah Bond, Texas
CB Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State
WR Kyle Williams, Washington State
DT Alfred Collins, Texas
DE Jared Ivey, Ole Miss
CB Darien Porter, Iowa State
TE Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
DT Joshua Farmer, Florida State
RB Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State

–Field Level Media

Green Bay’s NFL Draft Party

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GREEN BAY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Fans were amazed and appreciative that the NFL’s smallest city could host one of the league’s biggest events, the NFL draft, and their mood was brightened ever more when the hometown Packers selected a wide receiver in the first round on Thursday.

An estimated 125,000 people were gathered outside historic Lambeau Field on Thursday before the start of the draft, per local news reports. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of Green Bay had a population of 105,744 in 2023.

“This is Green Bay’s Super Bowl,” said Donnie Renard Jr., who was part of a three-generation delegation that also included his father, Donnie, and 20-year-old son, Tommy.

Renard made the trip from Wabeno, Wis., about 85 miles north of Green Bay. His son is from Wausau in the center of the state, and his dad — a lifelong Packers fan — still lives in Green Bay.

“My dad’s actually been to a Super Bowl, a Pro Bowl, the Hall of Fame Game and now the draft,” said Renard, adding that they would be back on both Friday and Saturday.

All three of the Renards were pleased with the selection of Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden with the 23rd pick in the first round. The speedy Golden was timed in a blistering 4.29 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.

“I like it,” Tommy Renard said. “We needed a true No. 1, and I think he’s going to be it.”

Golden is the first wide receiver drafted in the first round by the Packers since Javon Walker in 2002. He spent two years at Houston before transferring last season to Texas, where had 58 receptions for 987 yards and nine touchdowns.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to go in the first round,” Golden said. “And to know that they haven’t picked a receiver since 2002, it’s truly a blessing.”

Golden said he is looking forward to playing with Packers quarterback Jordan Love, who passed for 3,389 yards last season despite missing two games, and 4,159 yards in 2023. He threw for a combined 57 touchdowns over those two seasons.

“Talented quarterback, he can get outside the pocket and make plays, and he damn sure can throw the ball,” Golden said. “I’m going to let him know as soon as I see him, ‘Man, you’ve got a reliable target. You can trust me.’ But trust is built over time, so going out there, like I said, and competing, and gaining everyone’s trust, that’s where it first starts.”

Despite being from nearby Kaukauna, about 25 miles south of Green Bay, Adam Schmidt was decked in two Minnesota Vikings jerseys.

“I became a Vikings fan in kindergarten,” said Schmidt, pulling up the outer jersey to reveal an older one underneath. “… It still kind of fits. Randy Moss.”

Schmidt said he thought the first day of the draft was a huge success, despite the size of Green Bay, or maybe because of it.

“I think it was awesome. Not just for Green Bay, but the entire area,” Schmidt said. “It’s tough to host a huge event like this while still having that small-town atmosphere. It feels awesome and I think the whole community is really proud.”

–Jim Hoehn, Field Level Media

Mariners Score Early, Sinks Sox

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Seattle Mariners scored twice in the first two innings and held on to post their second straight win, beating the host Boston Red Sox 4-3 on Thursday afternoon.

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Mitch Garver socked a two-RBI double while Leo Rivas and J.P. Crawford had two hits apiece for the Mariners, supporting a six-inning effort from starter Bryan Woo (3-1). The right-hander struck out eight while allowing just two runs, three hits and one walk.

Alex Bregman went 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs for Boston, which managed just one hit off four Seattle relievers and struck out a total of 12 times. Andres Munoz recorded his ninth save, working around a two-out walk to Triston Casas to strike out two in the ninth.

Boston ace Garrett Crochet (2-2) struck out nine over five innings but was charged with four runs on five hits and issued a career-high five walks. The left-hander threw 110 pitches.

The Mariners scored in the first inning for the fourth straight game as Garver knocked a two-out, two-run double to deep center that Boston’s Kristian Campbell misplayed off the Green Monster.

Bregman got the home team’s offense going with a solo homer out to left-center, making it a 2-1 game after the bottom of the first frame.

Seattle continued to threaten against Crochet in the second, loading the bases on a walk to Rivas sandwiched between hits by Ben Williamson and Crawford — the trio that combined for seven hits in an 8-5 Wednesday win. The next two batters brought home runs, as Dylan Moore hit a sacrifice fly and Julio Rodriguez registered an RBI groundout.

The Red Sox got a run closer when Jarren Duran hit a one-out double and scored on Bregman’s line-drive single into the left-field corner in the third. Woo then struck out two in a 1-2-3 fourth and did not allow a hit across his final three innings.

Crochet did not allow a run after the second, but he labored while stranding multiple runners in the fourth and fifth. Boston relievers Greg Weissert and Liam Hendriks worked around traffic in their innings, with Hendriks striking out Crawford to escape the seventh frame when he walked three — two after inducing a double play — and allowed a hit to Rivas.

After Bregman’s second RBI, the Red Sox were hitless until Carlos Narvaez led off the eighth with a solo homer out past the right-field foul pole — the first run allowed by Mariners reliever Gabe Speier all season.

Trent Thornton followed Speier with two outs, and second baseman Rivas tracked down a Bregman pop fly in shallow center to end the inning.

–Field Level Media

Jaylen Brown Delivers for Celtics

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report by Field Level Media ) – Boston’s Jaylen Brown scored a game-high 36 points and the Boston Celtics overcame the absence of leading scorer Jayson Tatum to beat the visiting Orlando Magic, 109-100, Wednesday in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

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Brown was 12 of 19 from the field — including 5-of-7 from 3-point territory — grabbed 10 rebounds and had five assists. Kristaps Porzingis added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the second-seeded Celtics, who have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Orlando used an 8-0 run to pull within five points early in the fourth quarter, but the Magic never got any closer.

Tatum, who averaged 26.8 points per game during the regular season, didn’t play in Game 2 because of a bone bruise. He was knocked to the floor while driving to the basket in the fourth quarter of Boston’s 103-86 Game 1 win on Sunday. Tatum returned to the game, but was listed as “doubtful” for Game 2 before the team’s final injury report officially ruled him out.

In his pregame press conference, Boston coach Joe Mazzulla called Tatum “day-to-day.” The Celtics went 8-2 during the regular season when Tatum didn’t play. Both losses came against Orlando.

The seventh-seeded Magic received 32 points, nine rebounds and seven assists from Paulo Banchero. Franz Wagner finished with 25 points and Wendell Carter had 16.

Derrick White (17), Payton Pritchard (14) and Jrue Holiday (11) also scored in double figures for the Celtics, who won despite shooting 45.0 percent from the field.

The Celtics led 23-21 after one quarter and 50-47 at halftime. Boston had its largest lead of the game when Payton Pritchard connected on a 3-pointer that put the Celtics up 81-66 with 38.1 seconds remaining in the third quarter, but Orlando closed the quarter on a 5-0 spurt and trailed 71-61 entering the fourth.

The series shifts to Orlando for Game 3, which will be played Friday.

Crochet to the Rescue

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Boston Red Sox will turn the ball over to the ace of 2025, starter Garrett Crochet, with another series victory on the line when they meet the visiting Seattle Mariners this afternoon.

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Crochet (2-1, 1.13 ERA) has performed like the top-of-the-line pitcher that Boston envisioned, allowing a total of two earned runs in his past four starts and just two extra-base hits all season.

“When you have guys like that, I’ve been saying all along, they stop losing streaks and they continue the winning streaks,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “That’s what he did (on Saturday).”

In that contest, Crochet pitched the first six innings of a 4-3, 10-inning win for the host Red Sox against his former team, the Chicago White Sox. He struck out seven. It was Boston’s fourth straight win at the time.

Despite his impressive stats, the 25-year-old southpaw has not been fully comfortable.

“It feels good, but I feel like I’m getting away with murder. It’s only a matter of time before I get caught,” Crochet said. “I feel like the way that I’m throwing the ball isn’t up to my (standard). It’s only a matter of time before I get burned, and I’d like to avoid that. This is not the standard that I hold myself to. I expect to have my best stuff every time out.”

Crochet’s two previous career starts against Seattle both came last season, and he went 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA. On June 13, he struck out a career-high 13 but came away with a no-decision. Counting two relief appearances earlier in his career against the Mariners, Crochet is 0-1 with a 3.97 ERA in 11 1/3 innings vs. Seattle.

Crochet looks to get the Red Sox back on the track following an 8-5 loss on Wednesday. Triston Casas hit a three-run home run for the second straight game, but Boston was held to seven hits and committed two more errors, giving the Red Sox a majors-worst 27 for the season.

The Mariners have gone 10-4 since a 3-7 start to the season, including bouncing back from an 8-3 loss in the series opener on Tuesday to force a rubber game. They have yet to lose consecutive games since the rough start.

Seattle’s bottom third of the batting order, Ben Williamson, Leo Rivas and J.P. Crawford, torched Boston for seven hits and five RBIs. Crawford belted a three-run homer that put the Mariners ahead 4-0 in the fourth inning.

Crawford is 9-for-24 over his last six games, with nine of his 10 RBIs for the season coming in that span.

“At-bats up and down the lineup were excellent,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said.

Wilson will give the ball Thursday to Bryan Woo (2-1, 3.12 ERA). The right-hander has put together seven solid innings in back-to-back starts, but he took the loss to the host Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.

Woo, who has not faced Boston previously, gave up seven hits and three runs to the Blue Jays. His best outing of the season came on April 12, when he allowed a run on six hits and struck out seven Texas Rangers in Seattle.

“It seems like both times he’s been able to get through seven is a time when we really needed him to do that, and that’s a huge lift for your bullpen when he’s able to do that,” Wilson said. “He just has that ability with that fastball. He can get some quick innings from contact.”

Woo will also look to follow up a strong Wednesday outing from Emerson Hancock, who struck out seven in six innings of two-run ball.