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Luis Robert Jr. delivered a milestone moment on Friday night, launching his 500th career hit over the right-center field wall to fuel the White Sox to a 7-3 win over the Houston Astros at Guaranteed Rate Field. The fifth-inning solo blast, Robert’s fifth homer of the season, extended Chicago’s lead to 3-1 and marked a special chapter in the 26-year-old’s career. It also helped the struggling White Sox notch back-to-back home wins for just the second time this season.
“He’s been locked in,” White Sox manager Will Venable said of Robert. “To see him reach 500 hits in that fashion, in a big moment, was just awesome. That’s what he’s capable of doing every time he steps in the box.”
Robert wasn’t the only standout in a strong team performance. Rookie catcher Edgar Quero contributed two hits and two RBIs, while infielder Chase Meidroth sparked early offense with a first-inning single and an RBI knock in the second. Quero doubled home Meidroth in the first to give Chicago a 1-0 lead, and Meidroth added an RBI single the following inning to make it 2-0.
White Sox rally passed Astros on Friday
On the mound, Jonathan Cannon turned in one of the better starts of his young career. The right-hander allowed two runs on nine hits over six innings, striking out five and stranding the bases loaded in the second inning after two errors and a single gave Houston a prime scoring chance.
“That was a gutsy effort,” Venable said. “They had a shot to flip the game early, and Jonathan just stayed composed and got us through it.”
After Robert’s milestone homer made it 3-1, Quero added an RBI single later in the fifth to push the lead to 4-1. Houston chipped away with runs in the sixth and eighth — including Yainer Diaz’s solo shot off the foul pole — but Chicago broke the game open with a three-run eighth, capitalizing on shaky relief work by Tayler Scott and Bennett Sousa.
JJ Bleday and Bobby Dalbec both reached to start the inning before Quero and Meidroth added insurance with RBI hits. Framber Valdez (1-4) took the loss for Houston, surrendering four runs on seven hits across five innings while walking two and striking out six.
The White Sox are now 1-0 in their bold new City Connect uniforms, which were designed in collaboration with the NBA’s Chicago Bulls. The crossover jersey, the first of its kind, made its debut Friday.
“They’re awesome,” Venable said. “It’s different, and anytime you get to rep the city in a unique way, especially with that Bulls connection, it’s special. Growing up a [Michael] Jordan fan, it definitely hits home.”
Now 9-23 on the season, the Sox will look to win their first home series of 2025 on Saturday behind Davis Martin, who squares off against Houston’s Hunter Brown (4-1, 1.22 ERA).
More must-reads:
- New Angels pitcher Grayson Rodriguez reveals interesting health update after Orioles trade
- Raisel Iglesias spurned Dodgers to remain with Braves
- The 'NFL single-game completions leaders' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
What Prospect Nick Morabito Can Bring to the Mets
Prior to the annual Rule 5 MLB Draft on Tuesday, the New York Mets added 22-year-old outfielder Nick Morabito to their 40-man roster. Morabito is the club’s No. 16 prospect and a breakout player. Before the 6 PM deadline, teams are able to protect players from exposure to the Draft. Players with between four and five years of minor league service time must join the 40-man roster or become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft – and with a prospect of Morabito’s caliber, the Mets simply couldn’t risk losing him. Nick Morabito Added to Mets 40-Man Roster A second-round pick back in 2022, Morabito is most known for his speed, having stolen 108 bases across the last two seasons. He also swiped 16 bags in just 17 Arizona Fall League games. Overall in the AFL, he posted a .362/.450/.464 slash line with an impressive .914 OPS. He added a home run, a triple, and two doubles, ultimately earning himself a spot on the league’s All-Star team. Morabito’s future will mostly hinge on his ability to reach base. This year at Double-A Binghamton, he produced a .348 OBP, but with little power, hitting just six home runs in 492 appearances. His defense is a very valuable part of his game; the former shortstop turned outfielder has seemingly adjusted quite well and can play all three outfield positions at a high clip. A Potential Challenge Morabito will have a chance to make the team’s 2026 Opening Day roster, as any player who is on a team’s 40-man squad is given a guaranteed invitation to major league spring training. But as always, that comes with challenges along the way. During the General Manager Meetings last week, Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns said that fellow 22-year-old outfielder Carson Benge – the team’s 2024 first-round pick and No. 2-ranked prospect – will also have a chance to make the team come Opening Day. Benge is way more favored, having skyrocketed through the Mets’ system in just one full year. Morabito’s Potential Role Still, whether he makes the team or not, Morabito could perhaps serve a role with the Mets as a potential fourth outfielder. Stearns values defense and “run prevention,” as he has said many times, most notably during the POBO’s end-of-season press conference, where he talked of run prevention numerous times. Morabito was the Mets’ lone roster addition ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. Other candidates included 2022 first-round pick Kevin Parada and fifth-rounder D’Andre Smith, both of whom are coming off improved seasons at Binghamton. If any team selects them in the Rule 5 Draft, that club must keep them on its active roster for the entire season – or release them. Either way, Morabito enters 2025 as one of the more intriguing developmental bats in the Mets’ system.
Steve Spurrier has two endorsements for next Florida HC
Steve Spurrier is a legend for the Florida Gators. Known as "the head ball coach" down in SEC-land, Spurrier was a star both as a player and as a coach for Florida. Heck, the dang field in Gainesville is named after him. That means what he says about the Florida program carries a lot of weight, and he recently revealed that he believes there are only two people who would live up to the expectations and be a great fit for the Gators as they look to replace fired head coach Billy Napier sooner rather than later. “I know Lane Kiffin and I know Eli Drinkwitz,” Spurrier recently said, according to Daniel Hager of On3. “Obviously, either one of those guys would be super if it works out. But, it’s a long way from whoever we’re going to get as our coach right now.” The Gators are currently making a full-court press for Lane Kiffin, but they're not alone in their pursuit of the Ole Miss head coach. While the Gators reportedly flew members of Kiffin's family down to Gainesville to check things out recently, the LSU Tigers also pulled the same trick — hoping to get Kiffin to ultimately come down to Baton Rouge. LSU is probably Florida's biggest competitor for Kiffin right now, but there's also Ole Miss to consider. It's not like the Rebels are going to let a coach who has led them to a 54-19 record over the past six seasons go without a fight. Kiffin would absolutely be a home-run hire for the Gators, though. He's a high-level recruiter and a high-level offensive mind in the SEC. Those are two things that the Gators desperately need in the wake of the middling Napier era. Not only that, but Kiffin has ties to the state. He was the head coach at Florida Atlantic from 2017-19. Eli Drinkwitz an interesting option for Florida if it can't land Lane Kiffin Drinkwitz is another interesting option, though. You'll also notice that there's a trend here for Florida, and that's going after established SEC head coaches. Napier had come from the Sun Belt conference. Drinkwitz has made Missouri a tough out in the SEC, and he's won a ton of football games. His overall record at Mizzou is 45-27, though his record in big games does leave a little to be desired. He's 7-14 against ranked opponents and 0-7 against top-10 teams. Still, Drinkwitz is a young coach at just 42, so the upside is there. He's a big personality who does well on the recruiting trail, and he could do a lot of good things with the firepower of the Florida Gators behind him. There are other options out there for Florida. Washington head coach Jedd Fisch is a Florida alumnus, for instance. If Spurrier has narrowed it down to Kiffin and Drinkwitz in his mind, though, you can bet those in power at Florida are likely thinking the same thing.
Three teams getting too much credit from College Football Playoff committee
The College Football Playoff committee released its latest set of rankings on Tuesday night without too many surprises. Oklahoma was the biggest mover, going up to No. 8 after a road win over Alabama, which dropped to No. 10. The Crimson Tide are effectively holding onto the last playoff spot. Miami, the top-ranked ACC team, is projected to get that league's spot for now, while Tulane would get the last automatic berth, going to the fifth-highest-ranked conference champion. That leaves BYU and Utah on the outside looking in. Vanderbilt, USC, Georgia Tech and Michigan are some other teams looming. USC can make a statement this weekend, with a road win over Oregon. The Ducks are ranked seventh, while USC is 15th. For the Trojans, a win this week likely catapults them into the top 10. It could also expose a top-10 team that doesn't have the resume of a top-10 team. Three teams are being overvalued by the College Football Playoff committee, and the list starts with Oregon. Oregon (No. 7) The Ducks have beaten up on some weak opponents, but their best wins this season were an ugly victory at Iowa and a 20-point road win over Northwestern. They don't have a single win over a currently ranked team. Alabama has beaten two teams in the top 14 and four in the top 25. Oregon passes the eye test. But it feels like the Ducks are getting too much credit for a win at Penn State that's not all that impressive, and a close home loss to Indiana, something the Ducks share with Iowa. Oregon has looked great at times. It also looked unimpressive in a 21-7 win over 3-7 Wisconsin. Saturday's game will answer some questions, yet the Ducks are being overvalued by the committee. Tennessee (No. 20) Strength of schedule should matter, but not when the College Football Playoff committee is artificially pumping up the schedule strength of one conference in particular: the SEC. The five teams in the top 10 are worthy. It's hard to argue against them. But outside of that, the SEC feels propped up. Tennessee, for instance, hasn't beaten a single team with a winning record this season. Losing to Georgia in overtime and to Oklahoma by single digits isn't a good enough reason to be ranked. Missouri (No. 22) Like Tennessee, the best achievement of the Missouri Tigers has been losing to ranked teams. SMU, from the ACC, has a similar record. It has three losses to teams with winning records, plus a win over No. 13 Miami, a better win than Tennessee or Missouri, yet the Mustangs didn't crack the top 25. No. 23 Houston is 8-2. The Cougars lost to fifth-ranked Texas Tech earlier in the season, plus to West Virginia. They also beat 25th-ranked Arizona State on the road, yet are ranked behind two teams that haven't beaten a single team with a winning record. It feels like the College Football Playoff committee continues to favor the SEC, but it's about more than that. Too much is being based on the eye test. That's why Oregon is ranked where it's at and some SEC teams, too. The resume should matter above everything. Performance on the field should be the determining factor, but once again, that doesn't appear to be the case.
4 bright spots (and 3 harsh truths) as Commanders hit critical bye week
It was a season in which the Washington Commanders were expected to challenge for the Super Bowl. Fans were legitimately hopeful for the first time in decades, but it's been an absolute disaster almost from start to finish. One can place plenty of blame on the torrid injury luck. But even if everyone was available, this squad looks a long way off from hoisting the Vince Lombardi trophy right now. With a 3-8 record at the bye week, it's yet another lost season for Washington's football franchise. The finger-pointing began weeks ago. Dan Quinn even made a drastic in-season change, taking over defensive coordinator responsibilities from Joe Whitt Jr. Considering how much the head coach values loyalty, this shift typifies just how poorly things have gone through 11 games. Adam Peters has a lot of hard work and difficult decisions ahead this offseason. The Commanders still have six games to navigate, but the general manager should already be developing a concise plan to hit the ground running when Washington's regular-season engagements conclude. That's for the not-too-distant future, something most fans have already turned their focus towards. Before then, here are four bright spots and three harsh truths for the Commanders to ponder at their Week 12 bye. Bright spots and harsh truths as Commanders hit critical bye week Bright Spot No. 1 Commanders' trade for Laremy Tunsil Adam Peters swung for the fences this offseason. The Washington Commanders were in a position to go bold after reaching the NFC Championship game in Year 1 of this ambitious project. The front office leader was right to get aggressive, even if things didn't work out as anyone had hoped. Amid all the doom and gloom, one constant has emerged. And for all the decisions Peters may have gotten wrong during his second recruitment period at the helm, his decision to trade for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil was a fantastic piece of business. Tunsil's status as one of the league's most prolific blindside protectors is well known. He was clearly stung by being cast aside by the Houston Texans, which gave him the motivation to thrive in Washington. The former Ole Miss standout has been almost flawless, and although the penalty numbers remain a little too high, his pass protection has been nothing short of elite. Whether it's been Jayden Daniels or Marcus Mariota under center, Tunsil's outstanding production has kept them relatively clean. If the Commanders had a better record, he'd be firmly in the All-Pro conversation. Alas, that's not the case. However, it doesn't detract from the significant impact Tunsil has made thus far. Harsh Truth No. 1 Commanders 2024 draft class might not be good Adam Peters struck gold with his first draft pick as general manager by taking quarterback Jayden Daniels. He's the franchise player, but the rest of his inaugural class isn't looking too promising right now. Several high selections were expected to make jumps this season. Aside from Luke McCaffrey, who was on a Pro Bowl trajectory as a kick returner before injury, it's been largely underwhelming from others. Mike Sainristil hasn't reached the heights of his rookie year. The Commanders are still trying to work out where he's best suited, and the cornerback's muffed punt return in Week 11 was a microcosm of how things have unfolded for the Michigan product in 2025. Ben Sinnott and Johnny Newton have been non-factors. Jordan Magee has flashed promise but nothing more. Brandon Coleman was benched after two games. Dominique Hampton was cut in the summer, and Javontae Jean-Baptiste got hurt early on. If Peters hadn't hit the jackpot with Daniels, this class would look even worse. Bright Spot No. 2 Commanders still have an elite punter There haven't been many players who have emerged from the campaign with credit so far. However, the Commanders can at least take solace from the fact that they still have an elite punter at their disposal. Tress Way is the team's longest-serving player. Like most of Washington's roster, he's in the twilight of his career. But make no mistake; he is still performing at a high level as all around him seemingly crumbles. The two-time Pro Bowler's 48.5 yards per punt average is his highest since 2019. Way is placing no fewer than 50% of his punts inside the 20-yard line, which is his highest percentage since 2018. Having this reliability was desperately needed, especially considering the offensive struggles on occasion. Even though Way will be 36 years old next season, he has already done more than enough for another one-year commitment from the Commanders. Hopefully, he avoids the temptation to retire and continues his journey in Washington. Harsh Truth No. 2 Commanders' roster gamble backfired badly Adam Peters took a calculated risk this offseason. The Commanders ran it back with the large majority of the squad that reached meteoric heights in 2024. The general manager made two bold trades, one big free-agent splash, and filled out the roster with aging players looking for one last shot at the Super Bowl. Injuries haven't assisted Washington's cause by any stretch of the imagination, but this risky approach from Peters has backfired spectacularly. The NFL's oldest roster looks precisely that, especially on defense. Everything looks like hard work, and opposing teams know full well how to exploit the Commanders' weaknesses. The magic that enveloped the organization last time around is gone, replaced with far more questions than answers. Peters didn't become a bad general manager overnight. He was right to be aggressive, but he should see this changing situation for what it is. The Commanders have to get younger, and it starts during the offseason. Bright Spot No. 3 Dorance Armstrong Jr.'s breakout before injury There were serious concerns about the Washington Commanders' pass rush before the season. Fans didn't believe that general manager Adam Peters did enough to strengthen this unit, and they've been proven right. The Commanders aren't generating consistent pressure. This became more glaring when breakout star Dorance Armstrong Jr. suffered a serious knee injury that ruled him out for the entire campaign. It was a highly disappointing development that Washington's defense couldn't recover from in its current state. Armstrong was a legitimate bright spot before getting hurt. There was explosiveness and urgency in everything he did. His ability to set the edges on running plays improved drastically. He was also among the league's sack leaders before an unfortunate development. Hopefully, Armstrong can make a full recovery in time for the 2026 season. Regardless, Peters cannot neglect the defensive end position this offseason. That would be organizational malpractice with severe ramifications attached. Harsh Truth No. 3 Commanders need a rethink at safety Another gamble from Adam Peters this offseason saw dynamic safety Jeremy Chinn walk for the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. The front-office supermo was counting on young players to progress and free-agent signing Will Harris to fill the void. Neither has happened. At least Harris has an excuse. He got hurt early in the season and is only just nearing a return. The others have nowhere to hide, and their glaring flaws have been exposed almost constantly. The biggest letdown of all is Quan Martin. Washington's fan base and the broader media were anticipating a breakout campaign from the 2023 second-round pick this season. Instead, he's turned into a liability, and head coach Dan Quinn's decision to decrease his reps in Week 11 represents a damning indictment of how his performances are being perceived by those in power. Washington's other options consist of unknowns and special-teams players. If the same trend continues over the remaining six games, bolstering the safety unit will be among Peters' most pressing priorities. Bright Spot No. 4 Commanders' decision to draft Josh Conerly Jr. Trading for Laremy Tunsil did not stop the Commanders from selecting offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. at No. 29 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. Adam Peters considered moving back for more picks, but those plans changed quickly when the Oregon prospect slipped through the cracks and into their laps. Conerly embarked on a position switch from the blindside to right tackle this summer. He got the start in Week 1, but a brutal early gauntlet versus some of the league's most prolific pass-rushers came with inevitable growing pains. That was the baptism of fire Conerly needed. It's taken time, but his performances over the last month have been a massive positive. The edge protector is making the strides required, and he'll only get better with more experience. The first-year pro is not the finished article just yet. But in all honesty, that's what makes Conerly's recent growth so exciting.
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