#Deadspin #Phillies #place #RHP #Zach #Pop #calf #injured #list">Deadspin | Phillies place RHP Zach Pop (calf) on injured list
Apr 12, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Zach Pop (56) throws a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
The Phillies placed right-hander Zach Pop on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a right calf strain.
The move is retroactive to Monday for the 29-year-old reliever, who has no decisions and a 3.68 ERA through seven appearances this season.
Pop is 8-6 with a 4.83 ERA in 170 career games (one start) with the Miami Marlins (2021-22), Toronto Blue Jays (2022-24), Seattle Mariners (2025), New York Mets (2025) and Phillies.
Philadelphia recalled left-hander Kyle Backhus from Triple-A Lehigh Valley in a corresponding move ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Chicago Cubs.
Backhus, 28, has appeared in four games this season for the Phillies, giving up three runs on four hits in three innings of work.
But he has struggled for form and fitness this year and is still without an ATP title since 2022.
Musetti had lost in his opening matches at both Indian Wells and the Monte Carlo Masters, after being forced to retire injured from his Australian Open quarterfinal against Novak Djokovic in January.
But after beating Martin Landaluce for his first win since Melbourne on Tuesday, he was in fine fettle against Moutet and much too strong for his 31st-ranked opponent.
Earlier on Thursday, Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev saw off Lorenzo Sonego 6-2, 6-3 to set up a quarterfinal meeting with Tomas Machac, the beneficiary of Alcaraz’s withdrawal.
But he has struggled for form and fitness this year and is still without an ATP title since 2022.
Musetti had lost in his opening matches at both Indian Wells and the Monte Carlo Masters, after being forced to retire injured from his Australian Open quarterfinal against Novak Djokovic in January.
But after beating Martin Landaluce for his first win since Melbourne on Tuesday, he was in fine fettle against Moutet and much too strong for his 31st-ranked opponent.
Earlier on Thursday, Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev saw off Lorenzo Sonego 6-2, 6-3 to set up a quarterfinal meeting with Tomas Machac, the beneficiary of Alcaraz’s withdrawal.
Published on Apr 16, 2026
#Barcelona #Open #Musetti #enters #quarterfinals #beating #Moutet">Barcelona Open 2026: Musetti enters quarterfinals after beating Moutet
Italian second seed Lorenzo Musetti eased into the quarterfinals of the Barcelona Open on Thursday with a straight-sets victory over Frenchman Corentin Moutet.
The world number nine will face either Arthur Fils or Brandon Nakashima after a 6-3, 6-4 win.
He is the highest remaining seed left in Barcelona after Carlos Alcaraz pulled out of the tournament on Wednesday with a wrist injury.
Musetti impressed on clay last season, reaching at least the semifinals in the ATP 1000 events in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome, as well as at the French Open.
But he has struggled for form and fitness this year and is still without an ATP title since 2022.
Musetti had lost in his opening matches at both Indian Wells and the Monte Carlo Masters, after being forced to retire injured from his Australian Open quarterfinal against Novak Djokovic in January.
But after beating Martin Landaluce for his first win since Melbourne on Tuesday, he was in fine fettle against Moutet and much too strong for his 31st-ranked opponent.
Earlier on Thursday, Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev saw off Lorenzo Sonego 6-2, 6-3 to set up a quarterfinal meeting with Tomas Machac, the beneficiary of Alcaraz’s withdrawal.
#Deadspin #Aja #Wilson #Aces #history #reported #supermax #contract">Deadspin | A’ja Wilson, Aces make history with reported supermax contract
Oct 17, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A’Ja Wilson (22) celebrates during the 2025 WNBA Championship parade at Toshiba Plaza. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson reportedly made history on Wednesday, and she didn’t even step on the court.
Wilson re-signed with the Las Vegas Aces on Wednesday.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed by the Aces. However, ESPN reported it was a three-year, $5 million supermax contract that is fully guaranteed and is the largest in WNBA history.
“A’ja is truly one of one, who has led this franchise to where it is today,” Aces president and general manager Vikki Fargas said. “Not only has she catapulted into the history books and surpassed almost every record in existence, but she does so with the utmost confidence, authenticity and grace. We look forward to continuing to see her thrive in an Aces uniform.”
Wilson, 29, has been with the Aces since they drafted her with the No. 1 overall pick in 2018. The seven-time All-Star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year guided Las Vegas to its third title in four seasons in 2025.
Wilson averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.3 blocks and 1.6 steals in 40 games last season, earning her fourth MVP trophy.
She has career averages of 21.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.3 steals in 267 games (266 starts).
#Doncic #Cunningham #eligible #MVP #award #NBA #confirms">Doncic, Cunningham eligible for MVP award, NBA confirms
Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham have been ruled eligible for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player race despite not meeting the 65-game minimum to enter the running for the honour, the league said Thursday.
Los Angeles Lakers star Doncic and Detroit Pistons ace Cunningham both fell just short of playing in the required number of games to be eligible for the NBA’s end-of-season awards, with Cunningham playing in 63 games and Doncic in 64.
But the duo will be part of the NBA’s tightly-contested MVP race after the league and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) ruled there were “extraordinary circumstances” surrounding each player.
Cunningham’s regular season games tally was abbreviated after he suffered a collapsed lung in March which led to him missing 12 games. Doncic, who was sidelined for several games following a hamstring injury earlier this month after inspiring Lakers to a late-season resurgence, also missed two games to attend the birth of his daughter in Slovenia.
“The NBA and NBPA agreed that, taking into account the totality of the circumstances for Cunningham and Doncic, each player qualified for awards under the extraordinary circumstances provision in the CBA (collective bargaining agreement),” the NBA said in a statement.
However, the league turned down a request from Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards to be included in the awards picture. Edwards played in 60 games and filed a bid for inclusion under the same “extraordinary circumstances” rules.
“Edwards’ challenge was denied and, as a result, he is not eligible for annual awards for the 2025-26 NBA regular season,” the NBA said.
This season’s MVP race is regarded as one of the closest in years, with Doncic and Cunningham now amongst a pool of contenders led by Oklahoma City Thunder’s reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama and the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic.
#Deadspin #Texas #Arch #Manning #percent #foot #surgery">Deadspin | Texas QB Arch Manning ‘100 percent’ after foot surgery
Dec 31, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) runs with the ball against the Michigan Wolverines during the first half at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Arch Manning will not participate in the open scrimmage for Texas fans on Saturday but head coach Steve Sarkisian likes the Longhorns’ chances of getting their QB1 back with no limitations following offseason foot surgery.
Manning played through foot pain in 2025 and underwent a “minor” procedure that limited him in spring practices. Manning participated in select 7-on-7 sessions and position workouts but was not fully available.
“I feel 100% right now. We’re kind of taking it slow. But if we had a game today, I’d be playing,” Manning said Wednesday.
Sarkisian said Manning is “ready to rock and roll” when June training sessions begin. Manning said he’ll plan to host his receivers and other skill players in New Orleans for workouts and “good food, maybe go fishing.”
One newcomer is transfer wide receiver Cam Coleman, a transfer from Auburn who has 93 career catches and 13 touchdowns. He sent Manning a text when he made the decision to team up at Texas.
“I was pretty fired up and let out some loud screams,” Manning said.
Coleman has not played against Texas in two SEC seasons, but he was well known to fans in Austin before he became one of the top five players in the transfer portal in the offseason.
One of Coleman’s marquee games to date came as a freshman on Nov. 23, 2024, in Auburn’s four-OT win against Texas A&M. Coleman had seven receptions for 128 yards and two TDs.
Manning replaced Quinn Ewers as the Texas starter in 2025 and had 3,163 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Apr 12, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Zach Pop (56) throws a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images 
