Deadspin | Spring training roundup: Chris Sale completes 6 innings as Braves rout Rays

Deadspin | Spring training roundup: Chris Sale completes 6 innings as Braves rout Rays

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Mar 5, 2026; North Port, Florida, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale (51) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during spring training at CoolToday Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images

Chris Sale pounded the strike zone and completed six innings as the host Atlanta Braves routed the Tampa Bay Rays, 11-2, on Monday in North Port, Fla.

The rangy southpaw, who just signed a contract extension through 2027, allowed five hits, did not walk a batter and fanned three. Sale threw 53 of his 75 pitches for strikes and only permitted one run, a homer by Nick Fortes with one out in the sixth.

The Braves scored four runs in the second and led 8-0 after five innings. Eli White, who hit a career-best 10 home runs in 2025, connected for a two-run blast in the fourth after singling in the second. He is hitting .414 this spring. Mike Yastrzemski went 3-for-4 with two runs and raised his batting average to .448, while Drake Baldwin slugged a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth.

Rays starting pitcher Nick Martinez, who was signed to a one-year, $13 million deal last month, was hit hard, allowing seven runs and 10 hits in four innings. The versatile 35-year old now has a 9.90 ERA this spring.

Blue Jays 5, Marlins 4 (6 innings)

George Springer led off the game with a home run and Toronto tacked on four runs in the third inning to edge host Miami in a rain-shortened game called in the bottom of the sixth in Jupiter, Fla.

Daulton Varsho keyed the four-run outburst with a two-run double down the right-field line. It was the fifth double of the spring for the veteran outfielder, who is hitting .432 in Florida.

Two Marlins went deep — Otto Lopez hit a solo homer in the first and Daniel Johnson connected for a solo shot in the fifth. Janson Junk, who emerged as a reliable starter for Miami in 2025, allowed four runs on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts in two innings.

Twins 5, Pirates 1

In only his second start of the spring, likely Opening Day starter Joe Ryan completed four innings as Minnesota defeated Pittsburgh in Fort Myers, Fla.

Ryan gave up one run on five hits and one walk, but fanned six Pirates in a 68-pitch effort. Luke Keaschall broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run home run in the third inning and, two batters later, Victor Caratini blasted a solo shot.

Pirates starter Noah Davis, who pitched four games with Boston in 2025, allowed all five Twins’ runs in four innings. Henry Davis contributed a run-scoring single in the top of the third for Pittsburgh.

Tigers 13, Phillies 6

Top prospect Kevin McGonigle blasted a three-run home run to highlight a seven-run Detroit first inning and the hosts cruised to victory over Philadelphia in Lakeland, Fla.

Spencer Torkelson hit a solo shot in the second inning and Jahmai Jones (2-for-4, 5 RBIs) added a bases-clearing double in the third. Starter Jack Flaherty allowed five runs and five hits in five innings.

Phillies’ minor leaguer Charles King was touched up for 10 earned runs in 1 2/3 innings. Felix Reyes and Otto Kemp hit three-run homers for all of the Philadelphia offense.

Red Sox, Orioles, cancelled

The scheduled evening game between Boston and Baltimore was cancelled due to impending weather in Sarasota, Fla. There will be no make-up date.

Padres 3, Giants 1

A pair of veteran starters wearing new uniforms this spring excelled as San Diego edged San Francisco in Peoria, Ariz.

Two-time All-Star Walker Buehler blanked the Giants for five innings, fanning seven and allowing three hits and two walks for the Padres. San Francisco newcomer Tyler Mahle continued his string of scoreless baseball, blanking the Padres on just one hit through four innings while striking out six.

San Diego broke a scoreless tie with a three-run sixth. Ty France capped the rally with an RBI single. Journeyman Buddy Kennedy and minor leaguer Jesus Rodriguez each had two hits for the Giants.

Athletics 3, Angels 0

Jeffrey Springs worked around six baserunners on and blanked Los Angeles for 4 2/3 innings as the Athletics prevailed in Mesa, Ariz.

Springs, who allowed six runs in 2 2/3 innings vs. the Chicago White Sox six days ago, walked three and permitted three hits, but fanned four and lowered his ERA to 7.94. Max Muncy belted his fourth home run of the spring in the fourth inning.

Angels minor leaguer George Klassen got the start and allowed three runs in 3 2/3 innings. Jo Adell went 2-for-3, but Los Angeles stranded 12 baserunners.

Diamondbacks 11, Reds 6

James McCann doubled, homered and drove in three runs as Arizona outslugged Cincinnati in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Reds starter Andrew Abbott (13.85 ERA this spring) did not retire a batter in either the Diamondbacks’ five-run third or four-run fourth. He pitched to four batters before being replaced in the third, then re-entered in the fourth, only to come out again after the first three hitters reached base in the fourth. He was charged with eight earned runs in two innings.

Gino Groover also went deep for Arizona, tagging a three-run shot in the fourth that made it 10-1. JJ Bleday, Nathaniel Lowe, Garrett Hampson and Rece Hinds all homered for Cincinnati.

Brewers 24, Dodgers 9

Milwaukee scored 10 times in the fifth inning and added nine more runs in the seventh, pummeling Los Angeles in Phoenix.

Brandon Lockridge singled and scored early in the fifth, then blasted a grand slam to center field to cap the first deluge. Lockridge went 3-for-5 and Brady Ebel added a late home run, while Jett Williams, Luis Rengifo and Luis Lara each delivered two hits. Starter Chad Patrick struggled, allowing six Dodger runs, including a pair of home runs in 3 1/3 innings.

Max Muncy and Teoscar Hernandez both hit their third home runs of the spring for Los Angeles. Hernandez’s blast came with two on in the third inning. Pitchers Tyler Glasnow (three runs), Jerming Rosario (five) and Blake Treinen (two) all worked in the Brewers’ fifth inning.

Nationals 12, Mets 6

Joey Weimer kicked off a six-run ninth inning with an RBI double and a run on a wild pitch, and Washington defeated host New York in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Viandel Pena contributed a two-run single to the late uprising and James Wood hit his first homer of the spring earlier on for the Nationals.

Cristian Pache and Christian Arroyo went yard for the Mets, with Arroyo’s two-run shot in the eighth tying the game at 6. David Peterson scattered four runs in a four-inning start.

Rangers 3, White Sox 2

Danny Jansen drove in all of host Texas’ runs with two doubles in a victory over Chicago at Surprise, Ariz.

Jansen’s second-inning hit drove in Josh Jung to open the scoring, and his eighth-inning drive knocked in Alejandro Osuna and Cooper Johnson. MacKenzie Gore threw 4 1/3 shutout innings for the Rangers.

Oliver Dunn hit a two-run homer for the White Sox in the ninth, but Chicago managed just four hits. Sean Burke permitted one run in 4 2/3 innings.

Cubs 5, Guardians 2

Cade Horton fanned 10 in five innings of one-run ball as Chicago downed host Cleveland in Goodyear, Ariz.

Scott Kingery’s two-run, second-inning homer put the Cubs on top for good. Matt Shaw added two hits and an RBI for Chicago, and Colin Rea got a four-inning save, yielding one run.

Guardians starter Gavin Williams struck out seven in 4 2/3 innings, but he was tagged for five runs. Juan Benjamin hit a solo homer.

Red Sox-Orioles (canceled)

The game between Boston and host Baltimore in Sarasota, Fla., was canceled due to inclement weather.

–Field Level Media

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The Boston Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora this past week, and the Philadelphia Phillies did likewise with Rob Thomson, not even bothering to wait for May flowers to bloom. Your team’s manager might be next. At least five other Major League Baseball teams have managerial situations ripe for change.

The manager of the team with the worst record in the league has been on most short lists for the next manager to be canned, but it didn’t happen Friday. Instead, New York Mets president David Stearns gave manager Carlos Mendoza what some cynics call the “dreaded vote of confidence.”

Sometimes when a team struggles, the front office makes a point to express confidence in the manager’s job security. Reporters long ago identified such talk as the “dreaded vote of confidence,” because the struggling team frequently would fire the manager anyway. Maybe not that day or that week, but relatively soon.

Stearns told MLB.com as the Mets had approximately 99 things wrong with them, but Mendoza was not the one at fault.

“We don’t view this as a manager problem,” Stearns said.

OK.

“And we don’t intend to make a change,” he added.

Oof, there it is. The Mets don’t intend to make a change. Intentions are about as stable as momentum, which in baseball is only as good as your next starting pitching performance or horrendous injury. Stearns’ intentions are liable to flip 180 degrees if the Mets have one too many arduous nights at the ballpark.

Apparently not wanting to risk telling a lie to the New York media, Stearns couldn’t even bring himself to say: “We won’t make a change.” Instead, he should have phrased it: “We’re not considering making a change.” After all, nobody can publish what Stearns was considering unless he confirms it.

Regardless, a vote of confidence gives Mendoza more time. Only, more time for what? Juan Soto is back in the lineup and raking, but Francisco Lindor remains out because of a calf strain, and Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. also remain sidelined. Mendoza won’t have a full complement of players for weeks. In the meantime, the Mets lineup and bullpen remain full of holes, no matter if it’s because of injuries or not.

The Mets, heading west on a road trip to Anaheim and Denver, probably banked on getting healthy against weaker opponents. They got the upper hand in the series opener against the Los Angeles Angels after falling behind by three runs early. Showed some grit and gumption. A good show for the perception of Mendoza’s motivational profile.

But the Mets remain 11 1/2 games out of first place in the NL East already. It’s possible Mendoza gets a full season to get the Mets back to the playoffs. But it’s more likely Stearns schedules another Mendoza vote in about a week, and he’s the next manager to go.

#York #Mets #Manager #Carlos #Mendoza #Officially #Hot #Seat #Deadspin.com">New York Mets Manager Carlos Mendoza Officially on Hot Seat | Deadspin.com The Boston Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora this past week, and the Philadelphia Phillies did likewise with Rob Thomson, not even bothering to wait for May flowers to bloom. Your team’s manager might be next. At least five other Major League Baseball teams have managerial situations ripe for change.The manager of the team with the worst record in the league has been on most short lists for the next manager to be canned, but it didn’t happen Friday. Instead, New York Mets president David Stearns gave manager Carlos Mendoza what some cynics call the “dreaded vote of confidence.”Sometimes when a team struggles, the front office makes a point to express confidence in the manager’s job security. Reporters long ago identified such talk as the “dreaded vote of confidence,” because the struggling team frequently would fire the manager anyway. Maybe not that day or that week, but relatively soon.Stearns told MLB.com as the Mets had approximately 99 things wrong with them, but Mendoza was not the one at fault.“We don’t view this as a manager problem,” Stearns said.OK.“And we don’t intend to make a change,” he added.Oof, there it is. The Mets don’t intend to make a change. Intentions are about as stable as momentum, which in baseball is only as good as your next starting pitching performance or horrendous injury. Stearns’ intentions are liable to flip 180 degrees if the Mets have one too many arduous nights at the ballpark.Apparently not wanting to risk telling a lie to the New York media, Stearns couldn’t even bring himself to say: “We won’t make a change.” Instead, he should have phrased it: “We’re not considering making a change.” After all, nobody can publish what Stearns was considering unless he confirms it.Regardless, a vote of confidence gives Mendoza more time. Only, more time for what? Juan Soto is back in the lineup and raking, but Francisco Lindor remains out because of a calf strain, and Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. also remain sidelined. Mendoza won’t have a full complement of players for weeks. In the meantime, the Mets lineup and bullpen remain full of holes, no matter if it’s because of injuries or not.The Mets, heading west on a road trip to Anaheim and Denver, probably banked on getting healthy against weaker opponents. They got the upper hand in the series opener against the Los Angeles Angels after falling behind by three runs early. Showed some grit and gumption. A good show for the perception of Mendoza’s motivational profile.But the Mets remain 11 1/2 games out of first place in the NL East already. It’s possible Mendoza gets a full season to get the Mets back to the playoffs. But it’s more likely Stearns schedules another Mendoza vote in about a week, and he’s the next manager to go. #York #Mets #Manager #Carlos #Mendoza #Officially #Hot #Seat #Deadspin.com

fired manager Alex Cora this past week, and the Philadelphia Phillies did likewise with Rob Thomson, not even bothering to wait for May flowers to bloom. Your team’s manager might be next. At least five other Major League Baseball teams have managerial situations ripe for change.

The manager of the team with the worst record in the league has been on most short lists for the next manager to be canned, but it didn’t happen Friday. Instead, New York Mets president David Stearns gave manager Carlos Mendoza what some cynics call the “dreaded vote of confidence.”

Sometimes when a team struggles, the front office makes a point to express confidence in the manager’s job security. Reporters long ago identified such talk as the “dreaded vote of confidence,” because the struggling team frequently would fire the manager anyway. Maybe not that day or that week, but relatively soon.

Stearns told MLB.com as the Mets had approximately 99 things wrong with them, but Mendoza was not the one at fault.

“We don’t view this as a manager problem,” Stearns said.

OK.

“And we don’t intend to make a change,” he added.

Oof, there it is. The Mets don’t intend to make a change. Intentions are about as stable as momentum, which in baseball is only as good as your next starting pitching performance or horrendous injury. Stearns’ intentions are liable to flip 180 degrees if the Mets have one too many arduous nights at the ballpark.

Apparently not wanting to risk telling a lie to the New York media, Stearns couldn’t even bring himself to say: “We won’t make a change.” Instead, he should have phrased it: “We’re not considering making a change.” After all, nobody can publish what Stearns was considering unless he confirms it.

Regardless, a vote of confidence gives Mendoza more time. Only, more time for what? Juan Soto is back in the lineup and raking, but Francisco Lindor remains out because of a calf strain, and Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. also remain sidelined. Mendoza won’t have a full complement of players for weeks. In the meantime, the Mets lineup and bullpen remain full of holes, no matter if it’s because of injuries or not.

The Mets, heading west on a road trip to Anaheim and Denver, probably banked on getting healthy against weaker opponents. They got the upper hand in the series opener against the Los Angeles Angels after falling behind by three runs early. Showed some grit and gumption. A good show for the perception of Mendoza’s motivational profile.

But the Mets remain 11 1/2 games out of first place in the NL East already. It’s possible Mendoza gets a full season to get the Mets back to the playoffs. But it’s more likely Stearns schedules another Mendoza vote in about a week, and he’s the next manager to go.

#York #Mets #Manager #Carlos #Mendoza #Officially #Hot #Seat #Deadspin.com">New York Mets Manager Carlos Mendoza Officially on Hot Seat | Deadspin.com

The Boston Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora this past week, and the Philadelphia Phillies did likewise with Rob Thomson, not even bothering to wait for May flowers to bloom. Your team’s manager might be next. At least five other Major League Baseball teams have managerial situations ripe for change.

The manager of the team with the worst record in the league has been on most short lists for the next manager to be canned, but it didn’t happen Friday. Instead, New York Mets president David Stearns gave manager Carlos Mendoza what some cynics call the “dreaded vote of confidence.”

Sometimes when a team struggles, the front office makes a point to express confidence in the manager’s job security. Reporters long ago identified such talk as the “dreaded vote of confidence,” because the struggling team frequently would fire the manager anyway. Maybe not that day or that week, but relatively soon.

Stearns told MLB.com as the Mets had approximately 99 things wrong with them, but Mendoza was not the one at fault.

“We don’t view this as a manager problem,” Stearns said.

OK.

“And we don’t intend to make a change,” he added.

Oof, there it is. The Mets don’t intend to make a change. Intentions are about as stable as momentum, which in baseball is only as good as your next starting pitching performance or horrendous injury. Stearns’ intentions are liable to flip 180 degrees if the Mets have one too many arduous nights at the ballpark.

Apparently not wanting to risk telling a lie to the New York media, Stearns couldn’t even bring himself to say: “We won’t make a change.” Instead, he should have phrased it: “We’re not considering making a change.” After all, nobody can publish what Stearns was considering unless he confirms it.

Regardless, a vote of confidence gives Mendoza more time. Only, more time for what? Juan Soto is back in the lineup and raking, but Francisco Lindor remains out because of a calf strain, and Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. also remain sidelined. Mendoza won’t have a full complement of players for weeks. In the meantime, the Mets lineup and bullpen remain full of holes, no matter if it’s because of injuries or not.

The Mets, heading west on a road trip to Anaheim and Denver, probably banked on getting healthy against weaker opponents. They got the upper hand in the series opener against the Los Angeles Angels after falling behind by three runs early. Showed some grit and gumption. A good show for the perception of Mendoza’s motivational profile.

But the Mets remain 11 1/2 games out of first place in the NL East already. It’s possible Mendoza gets a full season to get the Mets back to the playoffs. But it’s more likely Stearns schedules another Mendoza vote in about a week, and he’s the next manager to go.

#York #Mets #Manager #Carlos #Mendoza #Officially #Hot #Seat #Deadspin.com

A resurgent Gujarat Titans (GT) will be keen on extending its winning run and solidifying its Playoffs bid when it hosts Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

Two consecutive wins have nudged GT to the brink of top four, and in toppling defending champion Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Thursday, it got the tailwind it needed before facing the table topper.

Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj’s incisive opening burst was vital in sapping the momentum out of RCB’s innings. In fact, the pair has disrupted teams consistently in the early overs. Rabada is the most successful bowler in the PowerPlay this year with 10 wickets. Siraj has six wickets but his economy of 6.95 is the second-best by any bowler (min. 60 balls bowled) in this phase.

Punjab deploys a batting template similar to RCB and can be thrown off track by the pair. Prabhsimran Singh, PBKS’ in-form batter at the top, has been nabbed twice in three innings by Rabada and averages just 10.

That the game will be played on Pitch No. 5, where Rabada had reduced Mumbai Indians to 44 for three in the PowerPlay earlier this season, only adds to the home team’s advantage.

Arshad Khan has pulled his weight in the absence of Prasidh Krishna, and has five wickets from two games. Arshad and Jason Holder shared five wickets between them against RCB. If Rabada accounts for the top-order, this duo will be cherishing the prospect of bowling to a still untested middle-order. Barring Marcus Stoinis’ unbeaten fifty in the last match, the highest a batter outside PBKS’ top-four has scored is 29.

Two wickets for 19 runs in the last match would instil enough confidence in Rashid Khan to take on the daunting task of tying down Shreyas Iyer. The PBKS captain picked 17 runs off Rashid in just nine balls the last time the two faced off at this venue. However, across the IPL, Iyer’s strike rate hovers below 120 against the leg-spinner.

IPL 2026: Gujarat Titans hopes to extend winning runs, faces table topper Punjab Kings A resurgent Gujarat Titans (GT) will be keen on extending its winning run and solidifying its Playoffs bid when it hosts Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.Two consecutive wins have nudged GT to the brink of top four, and in toppling defending champion Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Thursday, it got the tailwind it needed before facing the table topper.Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj’s incisive opening burst was vital in sapping the momentum out of RCB’s innings. In fact, the pair has disrupted teams consistently in the early overs. Rabada is the most successful bowler in the PowerPlay this year with 10 wickets. Siraj has six wickets but his economy of 6.95 is the second-best by any bowler (min. 60 balls bowled) in this phase.Punjab deploys a batting template similar to RCB and can be thrown off track by the pair. Prabhsimran Singh, PBKS’ in-form batter at the top, has been nabbed twice in three innings by Rabada and averages just 10.That the game will be played on Pitch No. 5, where Rabada had reduced Mumbai Indians to 44 for three in the PowerPlay earlier this season, only adds to the home team’s advantage.Arshad Khan has pulled his weight in the absence of Prasidh Krishna, and has five wickets from two games. Arshad and Jason Holder shared five wickets between them against RCB. If Rabada accounts for the top-order, this duo will be cherishing the prospect of bowling to a still untested middle-order. Barring Marcus Stoinis’ unbeaten fifty in the last match, the highest a batter outside PBKS’ top-four has scored is 29.Two wickets for 19 runs in the last match would instil enough confidence in Rashid Khan to take on the daunting task of tying down Shreyas Iyer. The PBKS captain picked 17 runs off Rashid in just nine balls the last time the two faced off at this venue. However, across the IPL, Iyer’s strike rate hovers below 120 against the leg-spinner. Punjab Kings’ batting has been dominant this season. | Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI Punjab Kings’ batting has been dominant this season. | Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI GT’s batting, still unable to find a fix for its long-standing middle-order snag, does not look as well-rounded as its bowling.Last season, the top three of Shubman Gill, B. Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler had contributed more than 70 per cent of the side’s runs. This year, their combined haul is nearly 68 per cent.Four of GT’s five wins have come while chasing, and in three of those one of them had struck a fifty. In the fourth, against RCB, the early ransacking by Gill and Buttler had all but ensured the result in the 156-run chase.The addition of Holder has shored up the order but the middle-order is yet to make a contribution of note.Against PBKS, though, Titans would be more than happy for its top-three to accumulate. The league leader’s batting dominance has veiled its bowling frailties. PBKS concedes at 10.86 during the field restrictions and has just nine wickets in this phase, both among the bottom four in the league.Its showing isn’t great at the death either, with its economy rate of 11.25 being the second-worst among the 10 teams.Conceding totals in excess of 220, like its last two games, is unlikely on Pitch No. 5, and PBKS would hope to put on a better show before its bowling lapses snowball into a bigger crisis.Published on May 02, 2026 #IPL #Gujarat #Titans #hopes #extend #winning #runs #faces #table #topper #Punjab #Kings

Punjab Kings’ batting has been dominant this season. | Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI

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Punjab Kings’ batting has been dominant this season. | Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI

GT’s batting, still unable to find a fix for its long-standing middle-order snag, does not look as well-rounded as its bowling.

Last season, the top three of Shubman Gill, B. Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler had contributed more than 70 per cent of the side’s runs. This year, their combined haul is nearly 68 per cent.

Four of GT’s five wins have come while chasing, and in three of those one of them had struck a fifty. In the fourth, against RCB, the early ransacking by Gill and Buttler had all but ensured the result in the 156-run chase.

The addition of Holder has shored up the order but the middle-order is yet to make a contribution of note.

Against PBKS, though, Titans would be more than happy for its top-three to accumulate. The league leader’s batting dominance has veiled its bowling frailties. PBKS concedes at 10.86 during the field restrictions and has just nine wickets in this phase, both among the bottom four in the league.

Its showing isn’t great at the death either, with its economy rate of 11.25 being the second-worst among the 10 teams.

Conceding totals in excess of 220, like its last two games, is unlikely on Pitch No. 5, and PBKS would hope to put on a better show before its bowling lapses snowball into a bigger crisis.

Published on May 02, 2026

#IPL #Gujarat #Titans #hopes #extend #winning #runs #faces #table #topper #Punjab #Kings">IPL 2026: Gujarat Titans hopes to extend winning runs, faces table topper Punjab Kings A resurgent Gujarat Titans (GT) will be keen on extending its winning run and solidifying its Playoffs bid when it hosts Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.Two consecutive wins have nudged GT to the brink of top four, and in toppling defending champion Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Thursday, it got the tailwind it needed before facing the table topper.Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj’s incisive opening burst was vital in sapping the momentum out of RCB’s innings. In fact, the pair has disrupted teams consistently in the early overs. Rabada is the most successful bowler in the PowerPlay this year with 10 wickets. Siraj has six wickets but his economy of 6.95 is the second-best by any bowler (min. 60 balls bowled) in this phase.Punjab deploys a batting template similar to RCB and can be thrown off track by the pair. Prabhsimran Singh, PBKS’ in-form batter at the top, has been nabbed twice in three innings by Rabada and averages just 10.That the game will be played on Pitch No. 5, where Rabada had reduced Mumbai Indians to 44 for three in the PowerPlay earlier this season, only adds to the home team’s advantage.Arshad Khan has pulled his weight in the absence of Prasidh Krishna, and has five wickets from two games. Arshad and Jason Holder shared five wickets between them against RCB. If Rabada accounts for the top-order, this duo will be cherishing the prospect of bowling to a still untested middle-order. Barring Marcus Stoinis’ unbeaten fifty in the last match, the highest a batter outside PBKS’ top-four has scored is 29.Two wickets for 19 runs in the last match would instil enough confidence in Rashid Khan to take on the daunting task of tying down Shreyas Iyer. The PBKS captain picked 17 runs off Rashid in just nine balls the last time the two faced off at this venue. However, across the IPL, Iyer’s strike rate hovers below 120 against the leg-spinner. Punjab Kings’ batting has been dominant this season. | Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI Punjab Kings’ batting has been dominant this season. | Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI GT’s batting, still unable to find a fix for its long-standing middle-order snag, does not look as well-rounded as its bowling.Last season, the top three of Shubman Gill, B. Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler had contributed more than 70 per cent of the side’s runs. This year, their combined haul is nearly 68 per cent.Four of GT’s five wins have come while chasing, and in three of those one of them had struck a fifty. In the fourth, against RCB, the early ransacking by Gill and Buttler had all but ensured the result in the 156-run chase.The addition of Holder has shored up the order but the middle-order is yet to make a contribution of note.Against PBKS, though, Titans would be more than happy for its top-three to accumulate. The league leader’s batting dominance has veiled its bowling frailties. PBKS concedes at 10.86 during the field restrictions and has just nine wickets in this phase, both among the bottom four in the league.Its showing isn’t great at the death either, with its economy rate of 11.25 being the second-worst among the 10 teams.Conceding totals in excess of 220, like its last two games, is unlikely on Pitch No. 5, and PBKS would hope to put on a better show before its bowling lapses snowball into a bigger crisis.Published on May 02, 2026 #IPL #Gujarat #Titans #hopes #extend #winning #runs #faces #table #topper #Punjab #Kings

Deadspin | White Sox pursue another memorable performance vs. Padres May 1, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images Will Venable made it back to where it all began on Friday night: San Diego. His MLB career started with the Padres in 2008, and he spent 7 1/2 seasons there, then went to the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers before retirement. While he made plenty of memories playing in San Diego, Venable, 43, could start a new scrapbook there as Chicago’s manager. The White Sox won 8-2 against the Padres on Friday, and the teams will meet again on Saturday in the second contest of a three-game serires. The White Sox used their power to blow open Friday’s game early. MLB home run leader Munetaka Murakami blasted his 13th long ball of the season with two men aboard as part of a six-run second inning, and the lead grew to 8-0 before San Diego averted a shutout in the eighth. Venable said his young team has embraced its underdog role as the White Sox seek their fifth straight victory. “Obviously, these guys are getting some great results, and we’re changing that,” he said, “but we are still the underdogs, and that’s something I’m comfortable with, and like being in that role.” Chicago went into Friday ranked ninth in the majors in homers. Most of that power comes from Murakami, Colson Montgomery and Miguel Vargas, who have combined for 28. Montgomery unloaded his ninth of the season in the fifth inning. Lately, the team has gotten solid starting pitching, including six shutout innings from 6-foot-10 rookie left-hander Noah Schultz on Friday night. Right-hander Sean Burke (1-2, 3.21 ERA) will try to keep that run going in the series’ middle game. Burke last worked on Sunday, firing 7 1/3 scoreless innings and allowing just three hits with no walks and four strikeouts in his team’s 2-1, 10-inning defeat to Washington. He’s faced the Padres twice in his career, going 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 10 innings. Opposing Burke will be right-hander Michael King (3-1, 2.41 ERA), who hasn’t lost since April 3 in Boston, 5-2. In his career against the White Sox, King is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in five games, one as a starter. That was Sept. 21, 2025, when he threw five shutout innings and struck out four in a 3-2 win. The Padres would love a good outing from King. Their starters rank 22nd in MLB in ERA at 4.57 — nearly two full runs a game more than their biggest National League West rival, the Dodgers (2.95), But San Diego manager Craig Stammen said he isn’t that concerned about the rotation. “They’re hanging in there,” he said. “Some guys are pitching well and some guys are up and down. They’ve been able to pitch enough innings to keep the bullpen fresh.” Reinforcements are on the way this month. Offseason signee Griffin Canning could join San Diego after one more rehab start in the minors, while former White Sox ace Lucas Giolito likely has two more minor league outings before he joins the rotation. Giolito’s contract stipulates that he has to join the Padres by May 16. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #White #Sox #pursue #memorable #performance #PadresMay 1, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Will Venable made it back to where it all began on Friday night: San Diego.

His MLB career started with the Padres in 2008, and he spent 7 1/2 seasons there, then went to the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers before retirement. While he made plenty of memories playing in San Diego, Venable, 43, could start a new scrapbook there as Chicago’s manager.

The White Sox won 8-2 against the Padres on Friday, and the teams will meet again on Saturday in the second contest of a three-game serires.

The White Sox used their power to blow open Friday’s game early. MLB home run leader Munetaka Murakami blasted his 13th long ball of the season with two men aboard as part of a six-run second inning, and the lead grew to 8-0 before San Diego averted a shutout in the eighth.

Venable said his young team has embraced its underdog role as the White Sox seek their fifth straight victory.

“Obviously, these guys are getting some great results, and we’re changing that,” he said, “but we are still the underdogs, and that’s something I’m comfortable with, and like being in that role.”

Chicago went into Friday ranked ninth in the majors in homers. Most of that power comes from Murakami, Colson Montgomery and Miguel Vargas, who have combined for 28. Montgomery unloaded his ninth of the season in the fifth inning.

Lately, the team has gotten solid starting pitching, including six shutout innings from 6-foot-10 rookie left-hander Noah Schultz on Friday night. Right-hander Sean Burke (1-2, 3.21 ERA) will try to keep that run going in the series’ middle game.


Burke last worked on Sunday, firing 7 1/3 scoreless innings and allowing just three hits with no walks and four strikeouts in his team’s 2-1, 10-inning defeat to Washington. He’s faced the Padres twice in his career, going 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 10 innings.

Opposing Burke will be right-hander Michael King (3-1, 2.41 ERA), who hasn’t lost since April 3 in Boston, 5-2.

In his career against the White Sox, King is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in five games, one as a starter. That was Sept. 21, 2025, when he threw five shutout innings and struck out four in a 3-2 win.

The Padres would love a good outing from King. Their starters rank 22nd in MLB in ERA at 4.57 — nearly two full runs a game more than their biggest National League West rival, the Dodgers (2.95),

But San Diego manager Craig Stammen said he isn’t that concerned about the rotation.

“They’re hanging in there,” he said. “Some guys are pitching well and some guys are up and down. They’ve been able to pitch enough innings to keep the bullpen fresh.”

Reinforcements are on the way this month. Offseason signee Griffin Canning could join San Diego after one more rehab start in the minors, while former White Sox ace Lucas Giolito likely has two more minor league outings before he joins the rotation.

Giolito’s contract stipulates that he has to join the Padres by May 16.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #White #Sox #pursue #memorable #performance #Padres">Deadspin | White Sox pursue another memorable performance vs. Padres May 1, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images Will Venable made it back to where it all began on Friday night: San Diego. His MLB career started with the Padres in 2008, and he spent 7 1/2 seasons there, then went to the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers before retirement. While he made plenty of memories playing in San Diego, Venable, 43, could start a new scrapbook there as Chicago’s manager. The White Sox won 8-2 against the Padres on Friday, and the teams will meet again on Saturday in the second contest of a three-game serires. The White Sox used their power to blow open Friday’s game early. MLB home run leader Munetaka Murakami blasted his 13th long ball of the season with two men aboard as part of a six-run second inning, and the lead grew to 8-0 before San Diego averted a shutout in the eighth. Venable said his young team has embraced its underdog role as the White Sox seek their fifth straight victory. “Obviously, these guys are getting some great results, and we’re changing that,” he said, “but we are still the underdogs, and that’s something I’m comfortable with, and like being in that role.” Chicago went into Friday ranked ninth in the majors in homers. Most of that power comes from Murakami, Colson Montgomery and Miguel Vargas, who have combined for 28. Montgomery unloaded his ninth of the season in the fifth inning. Lately, the team has gotten solid starting pitching, including six shutout innings from 6-foot-10 rookie left-hander Noah Schultz on Friday night. Right-hander Sean Burke (1-2, 3.21 ERA) will try to keep that run going in the series’ middle game. Burke last worked on Sunday, firing 7 1/3 scoreless innings and allowing just three hits with no walks and four strikeouts in his team’s 2-1, 10-inning defeat to Washington. He’s faced the Padres twice in his career, going 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 10 innings. Opposing Burke will be right-hander Michael King (3-1, 2.41 ERA), who hasn’t lost since April 3 in Boston, 5-2. In his career against the White Sox, King is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in five games, one as a starter. That was Sept. 21, 2025, when he threw five shutout innings and struck out four in a 3-2 win. The Padres would love a good outing from King. Their starters rank 22nd in MLB in ERA at 4.57 — nearly two full runs a game more than their biggest National League West rival, the Dodgers (2.95), But San Diego manager Craig Stammen said he isn’t that concerned about the rotation. “They’re hanging in there,” he said. “Some guys are pitching well and some guys are up and down. They’ve been able to pitch enough innings to keep the bullpen fresh.” Reinforcements are on the way this month. Offseason signee Griffin Canning could join San Diego after one more rehab start in the minors, while former White Sox ace Lucas Giolito likely has two more minor league outings before he joins the rotation. Giolito’s contract stipulates that he has to join the Padres by May 16. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #White #Sox #pursue #memorable #performance #Padres

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