Mar 27, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) poses with first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) and shortstop Mookie Betts (50) during the World Series ring ceremony before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Dodgers shattered a league record by spending more than half a billion dollars in 2025, according to a report Thursday from The Associated Press.
The World Series champions’ total of nearly $515 million eclipsed the previous Major League Baseball high of $430.4 million by the New York Mets in 2024.
The total includes a payroll of $345.3 million and a record luxury tax bill of $169.4 million.
The Dodgers’ payroll was seven times higher than that of the Miami Marlins, the league’s lowest-spending team at $68.7 million. Los Angeles spent more than the bottom six teams combined.
The Mets ranked second in total spending in 2025 at $433.7 million, including a payroll of $342.1 million.
The Dodgers finished 93-69 in the regular season and defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games for their second straight World Series championship. The Mets finished 83-79 and missed the playoffs.
The New York Yankees had the third-highest payroll last season at $301.5 million, followed by the Philadelphia Phillies ($291.1 million), Blue Jays ($253.1 million) and Houston Astros ($236.4 million).
–Field Level Media
#Deadspin #Dodgers #spent #recordshattering #515M
Mar 27, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17)…
#PBKS #Arshdeep #Singh #completes #wickets #IPL">MI vs PBKS: Arshdeep Singh completes 100 wickets in IPL
Punjab Kings and India left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh became the 31st player to take 100 wickets in IPL during the match against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.
Arshdeep reached the landmark with the wicket of Ryan Rickelton.
He has made all 87 of his IPL appearances for Punjab Kings and its previous iteration Kings XI Punjab and is its leading wicket-taker.
He is also India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is, with 127 wickets in 84 matches, and was a member of its T20 World Cup-winning squad earlier this year.
Bowlers with 100+ wickets for a franchise in IPL:
1) Sunil Narine – 195 wickets for Kolkata Knight Riders
2) Jasprit Bumrah – 183 wickets for Mumbai Indians
3) Lasith Malinga – 170 wickets for Mumbai Indians
4) Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 157 wickets for Sunrisers Hyderabad
5) Ravindra Jadeja – 143 wickets for Chennai Super Kings
6) Dwayne Bravo – 140 wickets for Chennai Super Kings
7) Yuzvendra Chahal – 139 wickets Royal Challengers Bengaluru
8) Harbhajan Singh – 127 wickets for Mumbai Indians
9) Arshdeep Singh – 101 wickets for Punjab Kings
Published on Apr 16, 2026
#PBKS #Arshdeep #Singh #completes #wickets #IPL
Punjab Kings and India left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh became the 31st player to take 100…
#Deadspin #Surging #Braves #set #open #series #grinding #Phillies">Deadspin | Surging Braves set to open series against ‘grinding’ Phillies
Apr 15, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson (28) hits a home run against the Miami Marlins during the seventh inning at Truist Park. All players are wearing number 42 today in honor of Jackie Robinson. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies are trending in opposite directions heading into their first matchup of the season Friday.
The visiting Braves have won three series in a row, taking two of three from the Los Angeles Angels, Cleveland Guardians and Miami Marlins over the last two weeks. Most recently, Atlanta won its final two against Miami, including a 6-3 victory Wednesday.
“When you start to win games and you start to win series, you start to believe,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “I go back to the stuff I was saying in spring training and at the end of camp. It’s just a really good vibe and the guys have a really good look in their eyes. They’re playing that way.”
Bryce Elder pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings Wednesday to lower his ERA to 0.77, while Matt Olson, Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies all hit home runs for Atlanta.
“It’s good offense,” said Weiss, whose team is the only one with a winning record in the National League East. “Especially when we get everyone rolling, it’s going to be a really good offense.”
Philadelphia has lost three series in a row, dropping two of three against the San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs. The Phillies were pounded 11-2 by the Cubs on Wednesday as Jesus Luzardo gave up nine runs (eight earned) on 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings.
“You’ve got to keep grinding,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “We’re going through a tough time right now in all phases of the game. I don’t think that’s any secret, but we’re going to get better. We’re a good club.”
Trea Turner and Bryce Harper hit solo home runs for Philadelphia, while Adolis Garcia notched two hits. Still, the Phillies lost their third home series of the season — as many as they lost at home all of last year.
“Obviously, we want to win,” Harper said. “It’s the main goal of why we’re here. You never want to lose games. Obviously, it’s early in the season, but I don’t like that notion because I like to win games in April as much as I like to win games in September.”
Harper will face Atlanta left-hander Martin Perez (0-1, 3.14 ERA), who was designated for assignment on Sunday but brought back after he passed through waivers and elected free agency. The 35-year-old allowed one run and two hits in five innings against Cleveland on Saturday.
Perez has made 10 appearances (nine starts) against Philadelphia, going 4-1 with a 3.78 ERA.
The Phillies will give the nod to right-hander Taijuan Walker (1-2, 7.36), who has given up nine first-inning runs in his three starts, but just four runs outside of the first. He allowed two runs in the first inning against the Diamondbacks on Saturday before following that up with four scoreless frames in a 4-3 triumph.
“Yeah, we’ve been trying a few things — we’re trying to figure it out, just haven’t gotten it yet,” Walker said. “I feel like after the first inning, everything is good, I get in a little groove. So, just got to figure out that first inning.”
In 11 career appearances (10 starts) against Atlanta, Walker is 3-2 with a 4.63 ERA.
#Ayush #Shetty #Asian #Championship #run #confidence #maintain #level #longer #period">Ayush Shetty: Asian Championship run gives me confidence that I can maintain level for longer period
Last month, when India’s squad for the Thomas & Uber Cup was announced, Ayush Shetty was a young-and-upcoming 20-year-old who was getting his maiden call up.
When India takes to the court in Denmark from April 24, he will be its most in-form player, having made a stirring run to the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) final in China last week.
He has broken into the world’s top-20 and there will be expectations galore. But he is confidence personified, despite 2026 being only his second full year on the senior circuit.
“My expectations [from myself] are always high, and I take people’s expectations as a challenge,” Ayush said at the Centre for Badminton Excellence here on Thursday.
“When I won the Super 300 [U.S. Open in 2025], I did not see it as a surprise. Even when I got a confirmed medal at the Asian Championship, I believed that I could win the tournament,” the World No. 18 added.
This confidence manifested in three straight victories over top-10 players at BAC – the then World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn, No. 4 Jonatan Christie and No. 7 Li Shi Feng.
“I had never beaten three top-10 players,” stated Ayush, who was No. 25 then. “It has always been like one victory [over an elite player] and then a loss. This run gives me the confidence that I can maintain my level for a longer period. Even my second round opponent Chi Yu Jen (No. 20) was a very tricky player.
“Going into the All England [in early March], I felt that I was at my 100%. But the results were different (first round defeat). That is why BAC was important – to keep my confidence and belief high.”
The one dull moment in an otherwise golden few days for Ayush was the retirement on Tuesday of double Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen, whom he idolises and has even trained with in Dubai.
“It’s a bit sad. I always wanted him to retire on the court. He deserved it,” said Ayush about the great Dane who last played competitively in October 2025.
“I had told him in 2024 that we will play [competitively] soon. He said ‘sure, I have a couple of more years’. I will always have the regret that I could never play him.”
#Deadspin #French #Open #purse #climbs #72.1M">Deadspin | French Open purse climbs nearly 10% to $72.1M
Jun 7, 2025; Paris, FR; Coco Gauff of the United States poses with the trophy after winning the womenís singles final against Aryna Sabalenka on day 14 at Roland Garros Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images
The total prize money for next month’s French Open is climbing nearly 10 percent to $72.1 million, tournament organizers announced on Thursday.
The men’s and women’s champions for the May 24-June 7 clay-court grand slam at Roland Garros will each pocket $3.25 million, with the runners-up in Paris each taking home $1.6 million. Losers of first-round matches will earn $100,000.
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, 22, is the two-time defending men’s champion and will be looking for his eighth grand slam title.
Coco Gauff, 22, is the reigning women’s champion and will be seeking her third grand slam trophy.
Men’s and women’s doubles winners will earn $700,000, with $140,000 going to the mixed-doubles champions.
The purse for this year’s first Grand Slam, the Australian Open, was $75 million, a 16% increase from the previous year.
–Field Level Media
#Deadspin #French #Open #purse #climbs #72.1M
Jun 7, 2025; Paris, FR; Coco Gauff of the United States poses with the trophy…
Zverev said the clash with fifth seed Cerundolo, who moved past Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-0 earlier in the day, “would be a more exciting match”.
The 28-year-old had struggled past Serb Miomir Kecmanovic in three sets in his opener but had no such difficulties in the Munich sunshine against the world number 37 Diallo.
Diallo seemed to struggle with a back injury and needed treatment on court after the first set.
The victory was Zverev’s 100th clay court win this decade, with only world number two Carlos Alcaraz and Dane Casper Ruud boasting more in that time.
Zverev is the only German remaining after compatriot Daniel Altmaier was defeated 6-4, 7-6 (12/10) earlier on Thursday by Slovak qualifier Alex Molcan.
Zverev said the clash with fifth seed Cerundolo, who moved past Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-0 earlier in the day, “would be a more exciting match”.
The 28-year-old had struggled past Serb Miomir Kecmanovic in three sets in his opener but had no such difficulties in the Munich sunshine against the world number 37 Diallo.
Diallo seemed to struggle with a back injury and needed treatment on court after the first set.
The victory was Zverev’s 100th clay court win this decade, with only world number two Carlos Alcaraz and Dane Casper Ruud boasting more in that time.
Zverev is the only German remaining after compatriot Daniel Altmaier was defeated 6-4, 7-6 (12/10) earlier on Thursday by Slovak qualifier Alex Molcan.
Published on Apr 16, 2026
#Decisive #Zverev #cruises #Munich #quarters">‘Decisive’ Zverev cruises into Munich quarters
German first seed Alexander Zverev is on track to defend his crown at the Munich ATP event after swatting aside Canada’s Gabriel Diallo on Thursday.
The world number three won 6-1, 6-2 in 73 minutes and will face Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo in the quarterfinals.
“I won and I won decisively, that’s pretty good,” Zverev said as he kept his bid for a record fourth Munich title alive.
The Bayern Munich fan, who was in attendance at Wednesday’s dramatic Champions League quarterfinal win over Real Madrid, added: “It wasn’t as exciting as yesterday in the Allianz Arena — that was an experience.”
Zverev said the clash with fifth seed Cerundolo, who moved past Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-0 earlier in the day, “would be a more exciting match”.
The 28-year-old had struggled past Serb Miomir Kecmanovic in three sets in his opener but had no such difficulties in the Munich sunshine against the world number 37 Diallo.
Diallo seemed to struggle with a back injury and needed treatment on court after the first set.
The victory was Zverev’s 100th clay court win this decade, with only world number two Carlos Alcaraz and Dane Casper Ruud boasting more in that time.
Zverev is the only German remaining after compatriot Daniel Altmaier was defeated 6-4, 7-6 (12/10) earlier on Thursday by Slovak qualifier Alex Molcan.
Published on Apr 16, 2026
#Decisive #Zverev #cruises #Munich #quarters
German first seed Alexander Zverev is on track to defend his crown at the Munich…
#Deadspin #Nationals #reacquire #LHP #Richard #Lovelady #Mets">Deadspin | Nationals re-acquire LHP Richard Lovelady from Mets
Mar 29, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Richard Lovelady (55) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the tenth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The Washington Nationals re-acquired left-handed reliever Richard Lovelady from the New York Mets on Thursday in exchange for cash considerations.
Last month, the Mets acquired Lovelady off waivers from the Nationals.
Also on Thursday, Washington transferred left-hander Ken Waldichuk to the 60-day injured list to make room on the roster for Lovelady.
Lovelady, 30, is 1-1 with a 3.68 ERA in six relief appearances this season with New York.
He is 6-14 with a 5.25 ERA and three saves in 124 career relief appearances with six teams since his 2019 debut.
Parks led 6-5 before the 18-year-old Andreeva fought back to win the first set in a tiebreak. The American, who had seven double faults in the match to Andreeva’s two, also went a break up in the second set but was unable to hold onto the lead.
Polish third seed Swiatek, who is this year aiming for a fifth French Open title, began her clay season with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Laura Siegemund in the last 16 on Wednesday.
Australian Open champion and top seed Elena Rybakina faces Diana Shnaider later on Thursday, while second seed Coco Gauff takes on Liudmila Samsonova.
Parks led 6-5 before the 18-year-old Andreeva fought back to win the first set in a tiebreak. The American, who had seven double faults in the match to Andreeva’s two, also went a break up in the second set but was unable to hold onto the lead.
Polish third seed Swiatek, who is this year aiming for a fifth French Open title, began her clay season with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Laura Siegemund in the last 16 on Wednesday.
Australian Open champion and top seed Elena Rybakina faces Diana Shnaider later on Thursday, while second seed Coco Gauff takes on Liudmila Samsonova.
Published on Apr 16, 2026
#Stuttgart #Open #Andreeva #meet #Swiatek #quarterfinals">Stuttgart Open 2026: Andreeva to meet Swiatek in quarterfinals
Sixth-seed Mirra Andreeva downed Alycia Parks 7-6[3], 6-3 at the Stuttgart Open on Thursday to set up a quarterfinal clash with Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek.
Russian world number nine Andreeva, who won the Linz Open at the weekend before knocking out the Stuttgart Open defending champion Jelena Ostapenko on Wednesday, has now won all six of her claycourt matches so far this year.
Parks led 6-5 before the 18-year-old Andreeva fought back to win the first set in a tiebreak. The American, who had seven double faults in the match to Andreeva’s two, also went a break up in the second set but was unable to hold onto the lead.
Polish third seed Swiatek, who is this year aiming for a fifth French Open title, began her clay season with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Laura Siegemund in the last 16 on Wednesday.
Australian Open champion and top seed Elena Rybakina faces Diana Shnaider later on Thursday, while second seed Coco Gauff takes on Liudmila Samsonova.
Mar 27, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) poses with first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) and shortstop Mookie Betts (50) during the World Series ring ceremony before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images 
![Ayush Shetty: Asian Championship run gives me confidence that I can maintain level for longer period Last month, when India’s squad for the Thomas & Uber Cup was announced, Ayush Shetty was a young-and-upcoming 20-year-old who was getting his maiden call up.When India takes to the court in Denmark from April 24, he will be its most in-form player, having made a stirring run to the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) final in China last week.He has broken into the world’s top-20 and there will be expectations galore. But he is confidence personified, despite 2026 being only his second full year on the senior circuit.“My expectations [from myself] are always high, and I take people’s expectations as a challenge,” Ayush said at the Centre for Badminton Excellence here on Thursday.“When I won the Super 300 [U.S. Open in 2025], I did not see it as a surprise. Even when I got a confirmed medal at the Asian Championship, I believed that I could win the tournament,” the World No. 18 added.This confidence manifested in three straight victories over top-10 players at BAC – the then World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn, No. 4 Jonatan Christie and No. 7 Li Shi Feng.“I had never beaten three top-10 players,” stated Ayush, who was No. 25 then. “It has always been like one victory [over an elite player] and then a loss. This run gives me the confidence that I can maintain my level for a longer period. Even my second round opponent Chi Yu Jen (No. 20) was a very tricky player.“Going into the All England [in early March], I felt that I was at my 100%. But the results were different (first round defeat). That is why BAC was important – to keep my confidence and belief high.”The one dull moment in an otherwise golden few days for Ayush was the retirement on Tuesday of double Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen, whom he idolises and has even trained with in Dubai.“It’s a bit sad. I always wanted him to retire on the court. He deserved it,” said Ayush about the great Dane who last played competitively in October 2025.“I had told him in 2024 that we will play [competitively] soon. He said ‘sure, I have a couple of more years’. I will always have the regret that I could never play him.”Published on Apr 16, 2026 #Ayush #Shetty #Asian #Championship #run #confidence #maintain #level #longer #period](https://i2.wp.com/ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/nuklw5/article70870299.ece/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1200/AFP_A7FV7G8.jpg?ssl=1 "Ayush Shetty: Asian Championship run gives me confidence that I can maintain level for longer period Last month, when India’s squad for the Thomas & Uber Cup was announced, Ayush Shetty was a young-and-upcoming 20-year-old who was getting his maiden call up.When India takes to the court in Denmark from April 24, he will be its most in-form player, having made a stirring run to the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) final in China last week.He has broken into the world’s top-20 and there will be expectations galore. But he is confidence personified, despite 2026 being only his second full year on the senior circuit.“My expectations [from myself] are always high, and I take people’s expectations as a challenge,” Ayush said at the Centre for Badminton Excellence here on Thursday.“When I won the Super 300 [U.S. Open in 2025], I did not see it as a surprise. Even when I got a confirmed medal at the Asian Championship, I believed that I could win the tournament,” the World No. 18 added.This confidence manifested in three straight victories over top-10 players at BAC – the then World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn, No. 4 Jonatan Christie and No. 7 Li Shi Feng.“I had never beaten three top-10 players,” stated Ayush, who was No. 25 then. “It has always been like one victory [over an elite player] and then a loss. This run gives me the confidence that I can maintain my level for a longer period. Even my second round opponent Chi Yu Jen (No. 20) was a very tricky player.“Going into the All England [in early March], I felt that I was at my 100%. But the results were different (first round defeat). That is why BAC was important – to keep my confidence and belief high.”The one dull moment in an otherwise golden few days for Ayush was the retirement on Tuesday of double Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen, whom he idolises and has even trained with in Dubai.“It’s a bit sad. I always wanted him to retire on the court. He deserved it,” said Ayush about the great Dane who last played competitively in October 2025.“I had told him in 2024 that we will play [competitively] soon. He said ‘sure, I have a couple of more years’. I will always have the regret that I could never play him.”Published on Apr 16, 2026 #Ayush #Shetty #Asian #Championship #run #confidence #maintain #level #longer #period")
![Stuttgart Open 2026: Andreeva to meet Swiatek in quarterfinals Sixth-seed Mirra Andreeva downed Alycia Parks 7-6[3], 6-3 at the Stuttgart Open on Thursday to set up a quarterfinal clash with Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek.Russian world number nine Andreeva, who won the Linz Open at the weekend before knocking out the Stuttgart Open defending champion Jelena Ostapenko on Wednesday, has now won all six of her claycourt matches so far this year.ALSO READ | Iga Swiatek returns on clay with a dominant winParks led 6-5 before the 18-year-old Andreeva fought back to win the first set in a tiebreak. The American, who had seven double faults in the match to Andreeva’s two, also went a break up in the second set but was unable to hold onto the lead.Polish third seed Swiatek, who is this year aiming for a fifth French Open title, began her clay season with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Laura Siegemund in the last 16 on Wednesday.Australian Open champion and top seed Elena Rybakina faces Diana Shnaider later on Thursday, while second seed Coco Gauff takes on Liudmila Samsonova.Published on Apr 16, 2026 #Stuttgart #Open #Andreeva #meet #Swiatek #quarterfinals](https://i1.wp.com/ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/jz6gr/article70870559.ece/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1200/GettyImages-2271627555.jpg?ssl=1 "Stuttgart Open 2026: Andreeva to meet Swiatek in quarterfinals Sixth-seed Mirra Andreeva downed Alycia Parks 7-6[3], 6-3 at the Stuttgart Open on Thursday to set up a quarterfinal clash with Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek.Russian world number nine Andreeva, who won the Linz Open at the weekend before knocking out the Stuttgart Open defending champion Jelena Ostapenko on Wednesday, has now won all six of her claycourt matches so far this year.ALSO READ | Iga Swiatek returns on clay with a dominant winParks led 6-5 before the 18-year-old Andreeva fought back to win the first set in a tiebreak. The American, who had seven double faults in the match to Andreeva’s two, also went a break up in the second set but was unable to hold onto the lead.Polish third seed Swiatek, who is this year aiming for a fifth French Open title, began her clay season with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Laura Siegemund in the last 16 on Wednesday.Australian Open champion and top seed Elena Rybakina faces Diana Shnaider later on Thursday, while second seed Coco Gauff takes on Liudmila Samsonova.Published on Apr 16, 2026 #Stuttgart #Open #Andreeva #meet #Swiatek #quarterfinals")