Aug 13, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Braxton Ashcraft (35) throws against the Miami Marlins in the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Braxton Ashcraft pitched a complete game and struck out 10 batters as the Pirates ended Miami’s four-game winning streak by defeating the host Marlins 13-1 on Thursday afternoon.
Owen Caissie spoiled Ashcraft’s attempt at a shutout by homering to lead off the ninth inning.
Still, other than the homer, Ashcraft (12-5) did not allow a runner past first base. He surrendered just three hits and one walk and was aided by his defense, as the Pirates turned three double plays and threw out a runner attempting to steal second base.
It was the longest — and likely the best — outing of Ashcraft’s career, who is in his second year in the majors and his first as a full-time starter.
Pittsburgh’s offense was led by Jared Triolo, Jake Mangum, Rafael Flores Jr. and Jacob Gonzalez.
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Triolo went 3-for-4 with a homer, a walk, three RBIs and three runs scored. Mangum went 3-for-4 with a single, double and triple. He also drove in a run with a hit-by-pitch and scored three times, including once on a balk. Flores slugged a pair of three-run homers, including one off Marlins infielder Javier Sanoja. Gonzalez also homered off Sanoja.
Marlins starter Tyler Phillips (3-6) took the loss despite striking out six batters in 5 1/3 innings. However, he allowed six hits, one walk and four runs.
Pittsburgh opened the scoring in the fifth inning as Mangum got a first-pitch sweeper and drove it 354 feet to right-center. Right fielder Caissie made a diving attempt but came up empty as Mangum earned a triple. Mangum then scored on a balk.
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The next batter, Triolo, got a 1-0 sinker and belted it 395 feet for a homer … but only after it bounced off the glove of center fielder Jakob Marsee for a 2-0 lead.
In the sixth, the Pirates loaded the bases with one out on two singles and a walk. The Pirates then cashed in when Mangum was hit by a pitch on his left foot for an RBI and Triolo made it 5-0 with a two-run ground-ball single through the left side of the infield.
Pittsburgh put the game away in the eighth as Mangum doubled, Triolo walked and Flores hit his first three-run homer.
Javelin ace Neeraj Chopra and badminton great Pullela Gopichand on Thursday launched the Indian School of Coaching Excellence, an initiative aimed at strengthening India’s coaching landscape and sports ecosystem.
ISCE will focus on developing world-class coaches through multidisciplinary coach-development programmes. The programmes will integrate areas such as physical literacy, sports science, sports education, technology, and career development, equipping coaches with the knowledge and skills needed to meet the evolving demands of high-performance sport.
“It (ISCE) will serve as a collaborative knowledge-sharing platform, working closely with government bodies, SAI, sports federations, associations, high-performance centres, academic institutions, and the private sector to advance coaching excellence across India,” said a release.
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Chopra, who recently won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, said coaches play an integral role in every athlete’s journey and stressed the need for a robust ecosystem to develop and nurture quality coaches in the country.
“I firmly believe that every athlete’s journey is shaped by the guidance and nurturing of his/her coach, not only as a sportsperson but also as an individual. Hence, in order to create the next generation of sports heroes in India, it is extremely important that our coaches have access to world-class education, mentorship, and the latest knowledge in sports science and athlete development.
“Through the Indian School of Coaching Excellence, the Neeraj Chopra Foundation hopes to create an environment where coaches continue to learn, evolve, and inspire generations of athletes to realise their full potential,” said Chopra.
Gopichand, a Dronacharya awardee and recipient of the International Olympic Committee citation for coaching excellence, said ISCE will bring global expertise to help Indian coaches improve their skills.
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“The future of Indian sport will be defined by the ecosystem we build. Coaches are at the heart of that ecosystem. ISCE is our effort to create a platform that combines global best practices with Indian experience, enabling coaches to continuously upskill, collaborate, and lead with confidence.
“We believe this initiative can play a meaningful role in shaping the next chapter of Indian sport,” said Gopichand, who has coached the likes of Olympic medallists Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, and former men’s world No.1 Kidambi Srikanth, among others.
“ISCE’s vision is to build a robust coaching ecosystem, which is essential to fuel and sustain India’s long-term success on the world stage. As the country embarks on its journey towards becoming a global sporting superpower, our success shall be defined not only by the champions we produce, but by the ecosystem we create,” the release said.
“The driving force behind ISCE is the belief that every great athlete deserves a great coach, and every great coach deserves access to world-class knowledge, mentorship, and opportunity,” it added.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has spoken about the ongoing legal dispute between his representatives and Louisiana State University over his Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rights.
On Thursday, Daniels shared a statement on Instagram Story as reports surfaced that his representatives had sent LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry a cease-and-desist letter.
Thanks for the submission!
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The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner said he wants the issue to be resolved privately. He also made it clear that his main focus is preparing for the upcoming NFL season.
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“I have been locked in on training camp and that’s been my number one focus,” Jayden Daniels wrote. “I have a lot of gratitude for my time at LSU and I’m proud of what my teammates and I accomplished there. Obviously there are issues to be worked out between my team and LSU and my hope is that it will get done privately. My sole personal focus is on Commanders’ football. I realize the business of football is unique and I trust this can all be resolved.”
Looking to predict NFL playoff Scenarios? Try our NFL Playoff Predictor for real-time simulations and stay ahead of the game!
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Source: (Via Instagram/ @thatkidjayden)
The dispute began after LSU gave the No. 5 jersey to sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett for the upcoming season. Jayden Daniels wore No. 5 during his historic 2023 season, when he won the Heisman Trophy.
LSU has not officially retired the number. However, Daniels’ representatives said he had asked for the number not to be given to another player after he left the school for the NFL.
According to a cease-and-desist letter sent by attorney Adam Kenner, LSU’s contractual permission to use Jayden Daniels’ NIL expired 180 days after his final college game. The letter asked LSU to immediately stop using Daniels’ name, image or likeness for commercial purposes, promotions or publications.
The letter was sent to Ausberry and dated Aug. 5.
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin also spoke about Pickett receiving the No. 5 jersey during a news conference at LSU’s fall training camp on Aug. 5.
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When asked about Pickett wearing the number previously worn by Jayden Daniels, Kiffin said the decision was made before he arrived at LSU. Pickett had reportedly been promised the jersey when he committed to LSU in December 2024 under former coach Brian Kelly.
“I’m not going to judge something [that was done] when I wasn’t here. But when a kid is promised something to come to a school, he should wear it,” Kiffin said. “So at that point, I don’t think that’s really my decision. We should honor what he was told.”
Kiffin was named the head coach at LSU on November 30, 2025. He assumed control of the program for the 2026 season.
Jayden Daniels’ mother Regina Jackson gets dragged in Commanders QB’s legal dispute with LSU
Regina Jackson is not just Jayden Daniels’ parent. She is an NFLPA-certified agent and serves as his primary business manager. When news of the cease-and-desist letter broke,fFormer NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz posted his opinion on X on Aug.13.
“Whoever gave him this advice… (It was probably his mom),” he wrote.
He shared the remark alongside a GIF of television host Jimmy Fallon booing.
A new left-back is believed to be on the list for Michael Carrick, with Lewis Hall being the main name to be linked with the Reds
Newcastle United are making transfer progress with versatile full-back Amar Dedic – and it just might boost Manchester United’s hopes of signing Lewis Hall.
United’s first approach for him was firmly turned down, but the picture has since changed. Dedic’s arrival would boost Carrick’s hopes, as the Benfica ace is more than capable of playing at left-back.
The Athletic understands Dedic looks set to become a Magpie at a hefty cost of around £30m. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international is mainly a right-back but he has plenty of experience at left-back.
Newcastle still have Tino Livramento, another full-back capable of starring on both flanks, to return from injury, which suggests Matthias Jaissle’s side will have options were Hall to depart.
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The 21-year-old still has three years remaining on his contract following a £28m transfer from Chelsea two years ago, placing the Magpies in a strong negotiating position. They are believed to value the defender at £60m.
Newcastle have generated over £250m from selling Gordon, Tonali and Guimaraes and their hierarchy face pressure to guarantee Eddie Howe’s replacement has a competitive squad by the campaign’s commencement. Consequently, they have thus far been reluctant to entertain Hall’s departure.
What might alter that position is Hall himself, with The Sun claiming this week that Hall is keen to depart for the Reds. Should he push for a transfer, as Alexander Isak famously did last summer to secure his Liverpool move, it could leave Newcastle with limited options.
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The Reds have recruited Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa and Andrey Santos from Chelsea to bolster their midfield, while Karl Darlow has arrived on a free transfer to serve as the backup goalkeeper. However, a left-back and another central midfielder are regarded as essential acquisitions by Carrick.
Should Hall prove out of reach, United will turn their attention to alternative targets. Club Brugge’s Joaquin Seys, valued at £30m, is one possibility as is Jorge Salinas of Racing Santander, who would set them back around £14m.
If a new signing was not able to arrive, Carrick does have the option of deploying Lisandro Martinez at left-back. The United boss will also be boosted by Shaw featuring in all 38 Premier League matches last season.
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Patrick Dorgu may even be called back to his original position when he signed for the club in January 2025. He was initially purchased as a left-back, but thrived when Carrick deployed him as a left-winger.
Jockey Rachel King has noted similarities between herself and the promising, yet-to-be fully tested, filly Blue Door.
The Bjorn Baker-trained three-year-old is scheduled to make her seasonal reappearance in the Listed Rosebud (1100m) this Saturday. She previously defeated the notable colt The Next Episode in her sole outing during the Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) in April.
She is expected to be one of the least experienced and potentially smallest runners in the field.
However, King, whose own compact frame doesn’t diminish her competitive drive on the track, anticipates that Blue Door’s size won’t be a limiting factor. She is optimistic that the filly’s spirited demeanor will enable her to navigate the expected jostling within the full field of 16 competitors.
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“She’s got little horse syndrome a bit,” King said.
“She’s a bit like me. She thinks she’s bigger than what she is, so I think she will stand her ground.
“But you don’t know until you get to race day. Hopefully she’s in the first few anyway and out of trouble.”
Connections opted against pushing Blue Door’s campaign further after her maiden success, instead opting to provide her with time to mature.
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King believes this approach was beneficial, observing that the filly has developed and physically strengthened since her juvenile year.
“She’s done nothing wrong so far and it was probably the right thing to do. Just give her the one run then let her go out for a break, take it all in and mature, which she definitely has,” King said.
“I’ve done all her gallops at home, and she’s fast.
“She’s got that good attitude, and she has definitely strengthened from last preparation. She’s never going to be a big filly, but she has filled out.”
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Since its current format was established in 2011, only two fillies have won the Rosebud: She’s A Fox in 2012 and Tiz Invincible in 2023.
Typically, many trainers target the Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) against their own sex a week later. However, eight fillies were entered for Saturday’s renewal, and Blue Door was priced at $3.90 as the favourite on Thursday.
King is also set to partner Savvy Diamond for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in the benchmark race for three-year-olds. While she wasn’t aboard for its debut win at Goulburn, King did ride the filly in a preceding barrier trial and expects her to be competitive.
“She was good when she trialled, and it was nice to see her go down there and get the win on the board straight away,” King said.
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“Gai and Adrian do it quite a bit, sending them out wide to get them a bit of confidence at their first start before bringing them to town.
“She obviously handled her first run well, came out of it well, and 52 (kilos) on her back helps coming to Saturday grade.”
For those interested in placing a wager, exploring popular online bookmakers could provide excellent racing odds for the Rosebud.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) reaches for a pass against New York Giants cornerback Cordale Flott (28), Dec. 21, 2025, during the first half at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Addison battled through tight coverage along the sideline as Minnesota’s offense attacked the Giants secondary in a late-season NFC matchup on the road. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images.
We are back. The Minnesota Vikings are back on a football field on Saturday as they head to MetLife Stadium to face the New York Giants in their preseason opener. It’s the first of three Vikings preseason games before we get to the real thing.
What to Look Out for in Vikings Preseason Opener
Minnesota will also travel to Denver to face Sean Payton’s Broncos, while hosting the Baltimore Ravens in between, all before US Bank Stadium plays host to the Green Bay Packers for a big divisional matchup in Week 1. With the preparations for the new season kicking up a gear, here are my things to look out for in the Vikings preseason opener.
How the QB Reps are Shared
Kevin O’Connell’s habit is to use his starters sparingly in the preseason games. They tend to start the first game and then be quickly taken out, and that’s it until the season starts. Kyler Murray has been confirmed as the team’s QB1 but is still settling into the team. Will Murray get some reps in each game? I’d suggest he should. If Murray can get into a rhythm, he can do well in Minnesota. Get him out there for a good chunk of the preseason.
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Oct 10, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) calls a play during the second half against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Coduto-USA TODAY Sports
There should be plenty of reps for JJ McCarthy, which can be good for him as he now looks to rebuild his career after a failed first attempt at being a starting QB. He can play some football without the spotlight shining so brightly and the pressure off. After that, there is Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer to fit in, with Brosmer hoping to do enough to stick around on the practice squad. We know what we are getting from Wentz as a veteran presence, so he probably doesn’t need to see the field too much.
The Rookies
This will of course be the first look we get of the 2025 rookie class as they make their bid to get on the final roster or move up the depth chart. A lot of focus will be on first-round pick Caleb Banks, especially given his injury problems over the last year. Day 2 picks Jake Golday and Domonique Orange also should be striving to show they are ready to get straight into the action when the season starts. Third-round tackle Caleb Tiernan should get plenty of chance to show he can be ready if Minnesota hits injury problems on the OL again this season.
Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks is selected by the Minnesota Vikings as the number 18 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
With the Vikings’ secondary looking to have openings for potential playing time, also look for Jakobe Thomas and Charles Demmings to be staking their claim. Demmings has particularly impressed during training camp. Hopefully we will get an early look at how O’Connell plans to use Max Bredeson as a fullback and Demond Claiborne will be out there trying to stake his claim to be RB3 and perhaps eventually take over from Aaron Jones.
We Have A Punter Battle
Minnesota kept the same special teams unit together for the last couple of seasons and with some success. Will Reichard was the first-team All-Pro kicker last season, while Andrew DePaola has alternated between first and second-team All-Pro longsnapper for the last four seasons. The weaker link was Ryan Wright and the Vikings opted to move on after the end of Wright’s fourth season as the team’s punter.
A Minnesota Vikings special teams unit lines up at the line of scrimmage as long snapper Andrew DePaola (42) delivers the snap, initiating the play with precision and timing Aug 14, 2022, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, during a preseason matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders with execution key to the sequence. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
Minnesota has recruited for his replacement from two opposite ends of the scale. On one side we have the 14-year veteran Johnny Hekker. A Super Bowl winner, six-time All-Pro, and four-time Pro Bowler, Hekker brings with him a wealth of experience and a proven ability to be able to hold for Reichard (an often overlooked part of a punter’s role). Then there is rookie punter Brett Thorson who has been booming huge punts during training camp. He doesn’t have the experience but he would be cheaper and potentially a longer-term solution. It should be an intriguing Vikings preseason battle for one of the few roster spots that are definitely open for the taking.
Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.
He was briefly part of the Toulouse coaching staff from 2020 to 2021.
The FFF also announced several other appointments to the France coaching staff.
Among them are assistant coaches David Bettoni and Hamidou Msaidie, two close associates of Zidane who worked alongside him during his two spells in charge of Real Madrid.
Another recruit, Grégory Dupont, appointed “Strategy and Performance Adviser” also worked with Zidane at Madrid.
Controversial streamer JustaMinx has streamed more in 2026 (on Twitch) so far than in the entirety of 2025. She’s also been active on social media, and most recently, on August 13, 2026, she spoke about Twitch Ambassador ExtraEmily. For context, Twitch recently named Emily as one of its newest Ambassadors entrusted to represent the platform, foster community engagement, and provide feedback.
JustaMinx suggested that Twitch’s move to make ExtraEmily an ambassador was motivated by fear of Kick’s growth, while also claiming that Emily was paid $450,000 to take up the position:
“twitch is lowkey scared kick are gonna take over lmao. She got paid 450k to be an ambassador btw.”
twitch is lowkey scared kick are gonna take over lmao. She got paid 450k to be an ambassador btw
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Notably, this post was shared about a week after Minx called out One True King (OTK) co-founder TipsOut, threatening to release “behind-the-scenes recordings of him” and his organisation that were supposed to be private.
As of this writing, JustaMinx averages about 300 viewers per stream and is primarily active in the Just Chatting category on Twitch. She also streams on Kick where she has about 6,000 followers.
The announcement has been controversial, and some streamers and viewers criticized the decision because ExtraEmily has received multiple Twitch suspensions in the past, including bans related to distracted-driving incidents during IRL streams.
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Netizens online reacted, with many questioning Twitch’s decisions:
“At least when she hits someone, it’ll be no question if the victim can sue Twitch,” said @decoyposts.
“Twitch picking a creator who literally got banned for distracted driving to represent their global brand is Peak Twitch Management,” said @FOSTER7864.
“I think she’s a great pick! She represents exactly what twitch is perfectly 😂,” said @REALIcePoseidon.
“The streets aren’t safe with her driving around,” said @its_pickletime.
The announcement about ExtraEmily being a Twitch Ambassador was part of a broader rollout introducing several new ambassadors, including GP_TV, Gh0stArcade, blklght, WhiskeyDing0, Bubbell, Moohoodles, and BurtsBeat.
Sophie Becker and Lauren Roy have both advanced to the semi-finals of their respective events at the European Championships in Birmingham.
Sophie Becker qualified for the women’s 400m semi-finals at the Alexander Stadium when she became the first of the Irish athletes in action on Wednesday morning.
Competing in Round 1 Heat 1 of the women’s 400m, the 29-year-old ran a season’s best time of 52.28 seconds in finishing third.
With the 13 fastest qualifiers across all heats progressing to the semi-finals, the European silver medallist from the women’s 4 x 400m relay in Rome in 2024 had to wait until the conclusion of heats to see if she would qualify for Thursday’s semi-finals.
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Sophie Becker wasn’t entirely convinced that her 400m heat time was enough for a semi-final place, but with her spot secure, she’s looking to build on that first performance. pic.twitter.com/60TnJc3mVu
After the second heat, Becker was in seventh place, and following the running of heat three, she was in 13th position, with 13 qualifiers going forward to tomorrow’s semi-finals at 12.45pm.
Lauren Roy, who competed in the 100m heats on Monday, was back in action on Wednesday morning when taking to the start line for heat 1 of the women’s 200m.
Lauren Roy finishes fourth in her 200m heat in a time of 23.20. She’ll have to have to wait and see if that time is good enough to progress to the semi-finals.
Running in lane 9, Roy finished third in a time of 23.20 seconds, outside of her season’s best of 22.79 seconds which she ran in Texas in May.
Lauren Roy has secured her place in the 200m semi-final at the European Championships and she’s looking to improve further on her time when she competes this evening. pic.twitter.com/mPyIpJsDVB
With 12 athletes qualifying from the three heats, Roy finished sixth overall, and will now join Rhasidat Adeleke, who received a bye, in tonight’s semi-finals which will get underway at 8.20pm.
Daily Fantasy football players will get to set their first NFL DFS lineups in nearly six months for a multi-game slate when Week 1 of the 2026 NFL preseason kicks off on Thursday at 6 p.m. ET. The preseason brings some notoriously difficult decisions for NFL DFS lineups as teams utilize different strategies in terms of how much they play their stars. Offense can be tough to come by, but every game has an over/under of at least 37.5 total points, with Raiders vs. Cardinals at 40.5 in a matchup featuring No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza making his pro debut. Third rounder, Carson Beck of Arizona, is out with a rib injury.
White is an elite NFL betting handicapper who has cashed huge twice in the world’s most prestigious handicapping tournament, the Westgate Las Vegas SuperContest. He’s also SportsLine’s No. 1 all-time NFL ATS expert. In addition, he serves as CBS’s Fantasy expert, making him the ideal expert to dig deep on these rosters and make NFL DFS picks.
Top 2026 NFL preseason Week 1 DFS picks for Thursday
One of White’s favorite DFS picks for Thursday, where every player on DraftKings is $5,500 and $6,000 on FanDuel, is Lions quarterback Luke Altmyer, an undrafted rookie out of Illinois.
“If you had to guess which QB would lead the day in snaps, my best bet would be Altmyer,” White said. “Teddy Bridgewater abruptly retired in recent days, and while Josh Dobbs was brought in to compete for the backup job behind Jared Goff (who won’t play on Thursday), Altmyer will probably work a majority of the game. Hopefully his roster percentage won’t be too high with more recognizable names on other depth charts among the teams playing Thursday.”
White’s NFL DFS strategy also includes building around Texans running back Noah Whittington. His size (5’8″) was a big factor in him going undrafted, but he led the Big Ten in yards per carry (6.4) last season, and his burst should be extremely beneficial in the preseason setting.
“The Texans have a pair of RBs injured and figure not to play most starters on Thursday, which makes me wonder how much run Woody Marks will get as a key part of the run game as well,” White said. “That could open the door for Whittington to continue to impress as he has in camp.” You can see the rest of White’s NFL DFS picks here.
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How to set NFL preseason Week 1 Thursday NFL DFS lineups
It was the first MLB shutout without a strikeout since former Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello accomplished the feat in 2014. Only nine such games have been recorded since 1995.
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Detroit did not overpower Cleveland. It simply refused to give the Guardians anything useful to hit.
Austin Gomber Detroit Tigers Kash Mayfield injured list James Outman concussion injured list Tigers shutout without a strikeout
Keider Montero Controlled the Game Without Missing Bats
Montero’s final line looked almost contradictory: 6⅓ scoreless innings, three hits, one walk and zero strikeouts across 88 pitches.
Pitchers are usually judged by their ability to miss bats. Montero won by making Cleveland swing.
The right-hander repeatedly worked the Guardians into harmless contact, keeping the ball away from damaging areas and trusting the defense behind him. Cleveland put ball after ball into play, yet rarely produced anything that threatened Detroit’s lead.
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Montero retired 19 of the 23 hitters he faced. He allowed only three hits and did not let a Cleveland runner score despite pitching without the traditional escape hatch of a strikeout.
That is not merely rotation depth. That is a pitcher giving Detroit dependable innings during a season filled with roster upheaval.
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Detroit’s Defense Earned Every Out
A zero-strikeout shutout cannot happen without the defense doing nearly everything right.
Detroit converted 27 balls in play into 27 outs. The infield handled Cleveland’s ground balls, the outfield tracked down contact in the gaps and the Tigers consistently finished plays without handing the Guardians an extra opportunity.
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Kevin McGonigle’s early fielding mistake placed Chase DeLauter at third base in the first inning, but Montero immediately trusted his defense again. Cleveland failed to bring DeLauter home.
That sequence set the tone. Mistakes would not multiply.
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Spencer Torkelson supplied several important plays at first base, while Javier Báez helped Detroit control the middle of the infield. Dillon Dingler guided Montero through the afternoon from behind the plate and handled the final innings as Holton and Jansen finished the job.
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There was also some good fortune involved. Every unusual baseball accomplishment needs a little.
A close replay review in the seventh inning upheld an out at first base when Torkelson appeared to flirt with coming off the bag. In the ninth, a foul popup dropped between Dingler and McGonigle, briefly giving Cleveland additional life.
Neither play changed the result.
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Jansen kept the ball in the yard, trusted the fielders behind him and secured his 15th save. The complete game recap confirmed that Detroit became the first team since 2014 to complete a shutout without recording a strikeout.
Tigers shutout without a strikeout
A Familiar Name Owns the Previous Example
The historical connection makes the accomplishment even better for Tigers fans.
Porcello threw a four-hit shutout against the Oakland Athletics on July 1, 2014. He did not record a strikeout or issue a walk, needing just 95 pitches to finish Detroit’s 3-0 victory.
Twelve years later, another Tigers right-hander helped produce the next zero-strikeout shutout in the majors.
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Montero did not complete Thursday’s game himself, so his outing will not be remembered exactly like Porcello’s masterpiece. The shared formula was unmistakable: attack the strike zone, limit hard contact and make the opposition string together hits.
Cleveland never did.
Modern baseball has moved aggressively toward velocity, movement and strikeouts. Pitchers are taught to chase whiffs because balls in play carry risk. Detroit’s performance offered a reminder that run prevention remains the real objective.
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Who cares how the outs arrive when the scoreboard never moves?
Detroit’s Offense Did Just Enough
The Tigers did not provide much room for error.
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Báez doubled to begin the third inning and eventually scored on Dingler’s groundout. Rookie Eduardo Valencia added breathing room in the sixth, driving his fifth home run of the season over the left-field wall.
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Torkelson completed the scoring in the eighth with an RBI single that brought home McGonigle.
Detroit recorded only six hits, but it turned those limited opportunities into three runs. Cleveland finished with four hits and no runs.
That was enough.
Torkelson’s performance carried extra importance with Riley Greene sidelined by a hamstring injury. Detroit needs an established hitter to anchor a lineup featuring McGonigle, Valencia and recently promoted prospect Max Clark.
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The Tigers are also navigating another outfield injury after placing James Outman on the injured list. Winning low-scoring games becomes even more valuable when the lineup is missing regular contributors.
The Tigers Suddenly Have a Real Wild Card Story
Detroit has won nine of its last 12 games and took two of three from Cleveland.
That matters because the Tigers entered the series fighting for their postseason lives. It also matters because the Guardians had spent much of the season tormenting them.
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Detroit’s deadline decisions created plenty of frustration, particularly after the organization reshaped its pitching staff. Jansen recently offered a confident message about the remaining roster, and the Tigers have backed it up by continuing to win. Detroit’s young core has refused to treat the deadline as a surrender.
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Now comes a larger test.
The AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox arrive at Comerica Park on Friday. Detroit will have an opportunity to prove this run is more than a brief response to deadline turbulence.
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The Tigers may not resemble the roster fans expected to watch in August. They remain relevant, and Thursday’s bizarre little piece of baseball history ensured they will not be ignored.
Tigers Logan Henderson trade Casey Mize trade return Detroit Tigers recall Yilber Díaz Kash Mayfield injured list
Bottom Line
Keider Montero did not record a strikeout Thursday. Neither did Tyler Holton. Neither did Kenley Jansen.
The Tigers still produced 27 outs and allowed zero runs.
Detroit’s 3-0 victory over Cleveland was not built on overpowering pitching. It came from command, weak contact, sharp positioning and a defense willing to work for every out. In an era dominated by radar-gun readings and strikeout totals, the Tigers found a different route into the history books.
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More importantly, they won a series and kept their postseason hopes alive.
That is the history Detroit fans should care about most.
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