Sports News Today: Bregman Goes Deep, Field of Dreams Returns, NFL Preseason Heats Up
August 13, 2026 | Sports News Roundup
From a monster three-home-run performance in Major League Baseball to the return of the Field of Dreams game, a full night of NFL preseason football and a wild WNBA comeback attempt, Thursday's sports calendar is loaded.
Here are the biggest stories, plus all of Wednesday's MLB and WNBA final scores.
Alex Bregman Blasts Three Homers as Cubs Keep Rolling
Alex Bregman delivered one of the biggest individual performances of the MLB season Wednesday, hitting three home runs and driving in seven runs as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Washington Nationals 12-6. Both totals were career highs.
Dansby Swanson also homered and doubled for Chicago, which has now won eight of its last nine games.
Elsewhere, the Yankees erased a three-run deficit and beat Seattle 10-5 behind two Trent Grisham home runs, San Diego completed a sweep of Milwaukee with a 4-3 walk-off win in 11 innings, and the Dodgers completed their sweep of Kansas City with a 4-2 victory highlighted by a Shohei Ohtani two-run homer.
Field of Dreams Returns Tonight: Phillies vs. Twins
One of baseball's most visually unique showcases returns tonight when the Philadelphia Phillies face the Minnesota Twins at the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Eastern / 6:30 p.m. Central.
Aaron Nola is scheduled to start for Philadelphia against Minnesota's Taj Bradley.
The game marks MLB's third major-league event at the Iowa location connected to the 1989 film Field of Dreams. The Yankees and White Sox played there in 2021, followed by the Cubs and Reds in 2022.
With the cornfield setting, nostalgia and national spotlight, this is easily one of Thursday night's headline events.
Questions Grow Around Paul Skenes' Velocity
Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes is also drawing attention after another noticeable decline in fastball velocity.
Skenes was removed after only 65 pitches during his latest start against Miami. His fastball averaged roughly 95.7 mph, well below the 98-plus mph velocity associated with his earlier dominance.
The Pirates have cited both workload and command as considerations. The velocity trend has now persisted across several starts, making Skenes' health and effectiveness something worth watching during the final stretch of the season.
NFL Preseason Takes Center Stage Thursday Night
Football season is starting to creep through the door. Six NFL preseason games are scheduled Thursday.
Tonight's NFL preseason schedule:
- Detroit Lions at Cincinnati Bengals
- Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers
- Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots
- Arizona Cardinals at Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Texans
- Tennessee Titans at San Francisco 49ers
Green Bay will be without running back Josh Jacobs, who is sidelined with a groin injury. Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Jacobs would be out at least this week, giving MarShawn Lloyd additional opportunities with the first-team offense. Jordan Love is expected to see preseason action.
Cleveland's quarterback situation is another preseason storyline. Browns coach Todd Monken said Deshaun Watson will start Saturday's preseason opener against Chicago and play the first half, while Shedeur Sanders is expected to handle the second half.
WNBA: Lynx Survive Huge Portland Comeback
Minnesota nearly watched a massive lead disappear Wednesday night.
The WNBA-leading Lynx built a 29-point advantage against Portland before the Fire stormed back and cut the deficit to a single point late in the fourth quarter. Minnesota eventually held on for an 85-81 victory. Napheesa Collier finished with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Kayla McBride scored 19.
Golden State had a much easier night.
Tiffany Hayes scored a season-high 22 points off the bench as the Valkyries defeated the Chicago Sky 91-71, giving Golden State its fifth consecutive victory.
In Dallas, Paige Bueckers scored all 22 of her points in the second half as the Wings defeated the Toronto Tempo 94-88. Toronto has now lost 10 consecutive games.
PGA Tour Playoffs Begin in Memphis
The FedExCup Playoffs begin Thursday with the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis.
The 70-player field includes FedExCup leader Scottie Scheffler along with Rory McIlroy, defending champion Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Xander Schauffele and other leading players.
McIlroy is back for the playoff opener after skipping the event last season. He enters the postseason ranked 12th in the FedExCup standings and said the importance of top players supporting the tour helped influence his decision to compete this year.
Wednesday, August 12 Final Scores
MLB
Wednesday delivered a full 15-game Major League Baseball slate.
Minnesota Twins 7, Baltimore Orioles 5
St. Louis Cardinals 7, Philadelphia Phillies 1
Tampa Bay Rays 8, Athletics 4
Colorado Rockies 6, Arizona Diamondbacks 4
Houston Astros 2, San Francisco Giants 1
San Diego Padres 4, Milwaukee Brewers 3 — 11 innings
Cleveland Guardians 6, Detroit Tigers 4
Miami Marlins 8, Pittsburgh Pirates 2
Chicago Cubs 12, Washington Nationals 6
New York Yankees 10, Seattle Mariners 5
Toronto Blue Jays 6, Boston Red Sox 4
Atlanta Braves 6, New York Mets 3
Chicago White Sox 5, Cincinnati Reds 0
Los Angeles Angels 5, Texas Rangers 2
Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Kansas City Royals 2
WNBA
Dallas Wings 94, Toronto Tempo 88
Minnesota Lynx 85, Portland Fire 81
Golden State Valkyries 91, Chicago Sky 71
What to Watch Today
Baseball's Field of Dreams game is the signature event on tonight's schedule, but Thursday also provides the first sizable NFL preseason slate of the week.
In MLB, Milwaukee visits the Dodgers, Texas plays the Angels, Seattle faces the Yankees and the Cubs continue their series in Washington.
On the golf course, the FedExCup postseason begins in Memphis, while the Cincinnati Open also gets underway with both Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz absent because of injuries.
It's one of those August sports days where baseball still owns summer, football is knocking loudly on the window, and basketball refuses to leave the party. 🏈⚾🏀⛳
Sources and Full Links
Reuters – MLB roundup: Alex Bregman blasts three homers as Cubs crush Nationals
https://www.reuters.com/sports/mlb-roundup-alex-bregman-blasts-3-homers-cubs-crush-nationals--flm-2026-08-13/
Associated Press – Twins face Phillies at the Field of Dreams
https://apnews.com/article/philadelphia-phillies-baseball-aaron-nola-minnesota-twins-illinois-bff252f66b504136a101e1e046b2a18a
Associated Press – Field of Dreams history and upcoming events
https://apnews.com/article/iowa-kansas-baseball-71315ca673dcc45b7ec3c75749c74210
Reuters – Paul Skenes velocity and workload concerns
https://www.reuters.com/sports/velo-workload-concerns-add-up-pirates-pull-paul-skenes-after-65-pitches--flm-2026-08-12/
Reuters – Packers RB Josh Jacobs injury update
https://www.reuters.com/sports/matt-lafleur-packers-rb-josh-jacobs-out-at-least-this-week--flm-2026-08-11/
Reuters – Browns to start Deshaun Watson in preseason opener
https://www.reuters.com/sports/browns-will-start-qb-deshaun-watson-preseason-opener-vs-bears--flm-2026-08-12/
Associated Press – Lynx 85, Fire 81
https://apnews.com/article/lynx-fire-score-3dc8950596282658f4bd7790a0ed9acd
WNBA – Minnesota Lynx vs. Portland Fire official game page
https://www.wnba.com/game/min-vs-pdx-1022600250
Associated Press – Valkyries 91, Sky 71
https://apnews.com/article/sky-valkyries-score-03860d5bc119b4c16c1cf342935023ed
WNBA – Dallas Wings 94, Toronto Tempo 88 recap
https://www.wnba.com/watch/video/game-recap-dallas-wings-94-toronto-tempo-88-08-12-2026
ESPN – Dallas Wings vs. Toronto Tempo final score
https://www.espn.com/wnba/game/_/gameId/401857137/tempo-wings
Reuters – Rory McIlroy returns for FedExCup playoff opener
https://www.reuters.com/sports/golf/change-heart-has-rory-mcilroy-back-playoff-opener--flm-2026-08-12/
Associated Press – FedExCup Playoffs and U.S. Amateur preview
https://apnews.com/article/fedex-cup-playoffs-pga-tour-lpga-portland-f0b3b5a1634d69ca81ad1396fdac777a
Reuters – Jannik Sinner withdraws from Cincinnati Open
https://www.reuters.com/sports/tennis/sinner-withdraws-cincinnati-open-with-knee-injury-ahead-us-open-2026-08-09/
Reuters – Carlos Alcaraz withdraws from Cincinnati Open
https://www.reuters.com/sports/tennis/defending-champion-alcaraz-withdraws-cincinnati-open-2026-08-04/