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Deadspin | Cardinals complete comeback vs. Guardians in extra-inning thriller  Apr 14, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Iván Herrera (48) tags out Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo (9) during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images   Nathan Church brought home Thomas Saggese with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning as the host St. Louis Cardinals came from behind to beat the Cleveland Guardians 6-5 on Tuesday.  Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt hit a pair of home runs and drove in three runs to set up the rubber game of the series on Wednesday.  After the Cardinals tied the game in the bottom of the eighth with an unearned run, Saggese was the free runner at second to start the 10th.  He went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Church’s drive to right, beating Angel Martinez’s throw to the plate.  Riley O’Brien (2-0, 0.00 ERA) picked up the win after throwing a scoreless 10th.  Tim Herrin (0-1, 0.00 ERA) took the loss for Cleveland.  The Guardians broke the game open in the top of the eighth with four straight hits to bring home three runs.  After Jojo Romero retired Chase DeLauter, Ryne Stanek came on to face Jose Ramirez.  Ramirez and Kyle Manzardo promptly singled to put runners at first and third.  George Valera brought Ramirez home with a double and Angel Martinez brought in Manzardo and pinch-runner Juan Brito with a double to right to give Cleveland a three-run lead.  Wetherholt helped the Cardinals climb back in the game when he hit his second home run, a two-run opposite-field shot to left, in the bottom of the inning.   The Cardinals tied it in the ninth when Masyn Winn’s two-out grounder went through Brito’s legs.  Winn went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Yohel Pozo.  Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy went five innings, giving up four hits and two earned runs.  The right-hander walked one and struck out two on 87 pitches.  Guardians starter Joey Cantillo went six innings. The southpaw gave up five hits and two earned runs.  He walked two and struck out four on 82 pitches.  The teams traded solo home runs in the early innings.  Ramirez hit one with two outs in the first and Daniel Schneemann hit one with two outs in the second.  The Cardinals matched them with Ivan Herrera hitting one in the first and Wetherholt hitting a two-out shot in the third.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Cardinals #complete #comeback #Guardians #extrainning #thriller

Deadspin | Cardinals complete comeback vs. Guardians in extra-inning thriller
Deadspin | Cardinals complete comeback vs. Guardians in extra-inning thriller  Apr 14, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Iván Herrera (48) tags out Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo (9) during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images   Nathan Church brought home Thomas Saggese with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning as the host St. Louis Cardinals came from behind to beat the Cleveland Guardians 6-5 on Tuesday.  Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt hit a pair of home runs and drove in three runs to set up the rubber game of the series on Wednesday.  After the Cardinals tied the game in the bottom of the eighth with an unearned run, Saggese was the free runner at second to start the 10th.  He went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Church’s drive to right, beating Angel Martinez’s throw to the plate.  Riley O’Brien (2-0, 0.00 ERA) picked up the win after throwing a scoreless 10th.  Tim Herrin (0-1, 0.00 ERA) took the loss for Cleveland.  The Guardians broke the game open in the top of the eighth with four straight hits to bring home three runs.  After Jojo Romero retired Chase DeLauter, Ryne Stanek came on to face Jose Ramirez.  Ramirez and Kyle Manzardo promptly singled to put runners at first and third.  George Valera brought Ramirez home with a double and Angel Martinez brought in Manzardo and pinch-runner Juan Brito with a double to right to give Cleveland a three-run lead.  Wetherholt helped the Cardinals climb back in the game when he hit his second home run, a two-run opposite-field shot to left, in the bottom of the inning.   The Cardinals tied it in the ninth when Masyn Winn’s two-out grounder went through Brito’s legs.  Winn went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Yohel Pozo.  Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy went five innings, giving up four hits and two earned runs.  The right-hander walked one and struck out two on 87 pitches.  Guardians starter Joey Cantillo went six innings. The southpaw gave up five hits and two earned runs.  He walked two and struck out four on 82 pitches.  The teams traded solo home runs in the early innings.  Ramirez hit one with two outs in the first and Daniel Schneemann hit one with two outs in the second.  The Cardinals matched them with Ivan Herrera hitting one in the first and Wetherholt hitting a two-out shot in the third.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Cardinals #complete #comeback #Guardians #extrainning #thrillerApr 14, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Iván Herrera (48) tags out Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo (9) during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Nathan Church brought home Thomas Saggese with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning as the host St. Louis Cardinals came from behind to beat the Cleveland Guardians 6-5 on Tuesday.

Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt hit a pair of home runs and drove in three runs to set up the rubber game of the series on Wednesday.

After the Cardinals tied the game in the bottom of the eighth with an unearned run, Saggese was the free runner at second to start the 10th.

He went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Church’s drive to right, beating Angel Martinez’s throw to the plate.

Riley O’Brien (2-0, 0.00 ERA) picked up the win after throwing a scoreless 10th.

Tim Herrin (0-1, 0.00 ERA) took the loss for Cleveland.

The Guardians broke the game open in the top of the eighth with four straight hits to bring home three runs.

After Jojo Romero retired Chase DeLauter, Ryne Stanek came on to face Jose Ramirez.

Ramirez and Kyle Manzardo promptly singled to put runners at first and third.

George Valera brought Ramirez home with a double and Angel Martinez brought in Manzardo and pinch-runner Juan Brito with a double to right to give Cleveland a three-run lead.


Wetherholt helped the Cardinals climb back in the game when he hit his second home run, a two-run opposite-field shot to left, in the bottom of the inning.

The Cardinals tied it in the ninth when Masyn Winn’s two-out grounder went through Brito’s legs.

Winn went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Yohel Pozo.

Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy went five innings, giving up four hits and two earned runs.

The right-hander walked one and struck out two on 87 pitches.

Guardians starter Joey Cantillo went six innings. The southpaw gave up five hits and two earned runs.

He walked two and struck out four on 82 pitches.

The teams traded solo home runs in the early innings.

Ramirez hit one with two outs in the first and Daniel Schneemann hit one with two outs in the second.

The Cardinals matched them with Ivan Herrera hitting one in the first and Wetherholt hitting a two-out shot in the third.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Cardinals #complete #comeback #Guardians #extrainning #thriller

Apr 14, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Iván Herrera (48) tags out Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo (9) during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Nathan Church brought home Thomas Saggese with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning as the host St. Louis Cardinals came from behind to beat the Cleveland Guardians 6-5 on Tuesday.

Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt hit a pair of home runs and drove in three runs to set up the rubber game of the series on Wednesday.

After the Cardinals tied the game in the bottom of the eighth with an unearned run, Saggese was the free runner at second to start the 10th.

He went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Church’s drive to right, beating Angel Martinez’s throw to the plate.

Riley O’Brien (2-0, 0.00 ERA) picked up the win after throwing a scoreless 10th.

Tim Herrin (0-1, 0.00 ERA) took the loss for Cleveland.

The Guardians broke the game open in the top of the eighth with four straight hits to bring home three runs.

After Jojo Romero retired Chase DeLauter, Ryne Stanek came on to face Jose Ramirez.

Ramirez and Kyle Manzardo promptly singled to put runners at first and third.

George Valera brought Ramirez home with a double and Angel Martinez brought in Manzardo and pinch-runner Juan Brito with a double to right to give Cleveland a three-run lead.

Wetherholt helped the Cardinals climb back in the game when he hit his second home run, a two-run opposite-field shot to left, in the bottom of the inning.

The Cardinals tied it in the ninth when Masyn Winn’s two-out grounder went through Brito’s legs.

Winn went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Yohel Pozo.

Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy went five innings, giving up four hits and two earned runs.

The right-hander walked one and struck out two on 87 pitches.

Guardians starter Joey Cantillo went six innings. The southpaw gave up five hits and two earned runs.

He walked two and struck out four on 82 pitches.

The teams traded solo home runs in the early innings.

Ramirez hit one with two outs in the first and Daniel Schneemann hit one with two outs in the second.

The Cardinals matched them with Ivan Herrera hitting one in the first and Wetherholt hitting a two-out shot in the third.

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Cardinals #complete #comeback #Guardians #extrainning #thriller

Deadspin | CONCACAF Champions Cup: LAFC, Nashville SC reach semis  Apr 7, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; LAFC forward Denis Bouanga (99) battles for the ball with Cruz Azul defender Willer Ditta (4) in the first half of a Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal at BMO Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images   Denis Bouanga’s penalty kick in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time gave Los Angeles FC a 1-1 draw with Cruz Azul on Tuesday in Puebla, Mexico, and LAFC rolled to a 3-1 aggregate victory in a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal series.  Los Angeles, which built a comfortable 3-0 lead in the first leg at home last week, moves on to face either Toluca or the Los Angeles Galaxy in the two-leg semifinals.  Cruz Azul gave themselves a chance to rally when Gabriel Fernandez scored on a penalty kick in the 18th minute.  However, the hosts could get no closer, and Cruz Azul ultimately were reduced to 10 men when Gonzalo Piovi was issued a straight red card for a tackle on Bouanga in the second minute of second-half stoppage time.  Five minutes later, a handball call in the Cruz Azul 18-yard box led to the penalty kick that Bouanga converted.  The main downside of the night for LAFC was that Bouanga received a first-half yellow card, which will lead to him being suspended for the first leg of the semifinal series. Bouanga has five goals through Los Angeles’ first six CONCACAF Champions Cup matches.  Later Tuesday night, Nashville SC were set to conclude their quarterfinal series against Club America at Mexico City. The teams played to a scoreless draw last week in Tennessee.   Nashville SC 1, Club America 0  Hany Mukhtar fired home the lone goal in the 51st minute, and visiting Nashville stunned Club America at Mexico City, advancing to the semifinals with a 1-0 aggregate victory.  The teams played to a scoreless draw last week in Tennessee.  The Boys in Gold will meet either Tigres UANL or the Seattle Sounders in the semifinals.  The decisive moment in the quarterfinal second leg started with Nashville’s Andy Najar delivering a long pass down the right side. Cristian Espinoza’s centering pass split two Club America defenders, and Mukhtar beat goalie Rodolfo Cota with a right-footed shot from 10 yards out.  Nashville, competing in the continental event for the second time, is headed to its first semifinal appearance.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #CONCACAF #Champions #Cup #LAFC #Nashville #reach #semisApr 7, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; LAFC forward Denis Bouanga (99) battles for the ball with Cruz Azul defender Willer Ditta (4) in the first half of a Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal at BMO Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Denis Bouanga’s penalty kick in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time gave Los Angeles FC a 1-1 draw with Cruz Azul on Tuesday in Puebla, Mexico, and LAFC rolled to a 3-1 aggregate victory in a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal series.

Los Angeles, which built a comfortable 3-0 lead in the first leg at home last week, moves on to face either Toluca or the Los Angeles Galaxy in the two-leg semifinals.

Cruz Azul gave themselves a chance to rally when Gabriel Fernandez scored on a penalty kick in the 18th minute.

However, the hosts could get no closer, and Cruz Azul ultimately were reduced to 10 men when Gonzalo Piovi was issued a straight red card for a tackle on Bouanga in the second minute of second-half stoppage time.

Five minutes later, a handball call in the Cruz Azul 18-yard box led to the penalty kick that Bouanga converted.

The main downside of the night for LAFC was that Bouanga received a first-half yellow card, which will lead to him being suspended for the first leg of the semifinal series. Bouanga has five goals through Los Angeles’ first six CONCACAF Champions Cup matches.


Later Tuesday night, Nashville SC were set to conclude their quarterfinal series against Club America at Mexico City. The teams played to a scoreless draw last week in Tennessee.

Nashville SC 1, Club America 0

Hany Mukhtar fired home the lone goal in the 51st minute, and visiting Nashville stunned Club America at Mexico City, advancing to the semifinals with a 1-0 aggregate victory.

The teams played to a scoreless draw last week in Tennessee.

The Boys in Gold will meet either Tigres UANL or the Seattle Sounders in the semifinals.

The decisive moment in the quarterfinal second leg started with Nashville’s Andy Najar delivering a long pass down the right side. Cristian Espinoza’s centering pass split two Club America defenders, and Mukhtar beat goalie Rodolfo Cota with a right-footed shot from 10 yards out.

Nashville, competing in the continental event for the second time, is headed to its first semifinal appearance.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #CONCACAF #Champions #Cup #LAFC #Nashville #reach #semis">Deadspin | CONCACAF Champions Cup: LAFC, Nashville SC reach semis  Apr 7, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; LAFC forward Denis Bouanga (99) battles for the ball with Cruz Azul defender Willer Ditta (4) in the first half of a Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal at BMO Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images   Denis Bouanga’s penalty kick in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time gave Los Angeles FC a 1-1 draw with Cruz Azul on Tuesday in Puebla, Mexico, and LAFC rolled to a 3-1 aggregate victory in a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal series.  Los Angeles, which built a comfortable 3-0 lead in the first leg at home last week, moves on to face either Toluca or the Los Angeles Galaxy in the two-leg semifinals.  Cruz Azul gave themselves a chance to rally when Gabriel Fernandez scored on a penalty kick in the 18th minute.  However, the hosts could get no closer, and Cruz Azul ultimately were reduced to 10 men when Gonzalo Piovi was issued a straight red card for a tackle on Bouanga in the second minute of second-half stoppage time.  Five minutes later, a handball call in the Cruz Azul 18-yard box led to the penalty kick that Bouanga converted.  The main downside of the night for LAFC was that Bouanga received a first-half yellow card, which will lead to him being suspended for the first leg of the semifinal series. Bouanga has five goals through Los Angeles’ first six CONCACAF Champions Cup matches.  Later Tuesday night, Nashville SC were set to conclude their quarterfinal series against Club America at Mexico City. The teams played to a scoreless draw last week in Tennessee.   Nashville SC 1, Club America 0  Hany Mukhtar fired home the lone goal in the 51st minute, and visiting Nashville stunned Club America at Mexico City, advancing to the semifinals with a 1-0 aggregate victory.  The teams played to a scoreless draw last week in Tennessee.  The Boys in Gold will meet either Tigres UANL or the Seattle Sounders in the semifinals.  The decisive moment in the quarterfinal second leg started with Nashville’s Andy Najar delivering a long pass down the right side. Cristian Espinoza’s centering pass split two Club America defenders, and Mukhtar beat goalie Rodolfo Cota with a right-footed shot from 10 yards out.  Nashville, competing in the continental event for the second time, is headed to its first semifinal appearance.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #CONCACAF #Champions #Cup #LAFC #Nashville #reach #semis

After an underwhelming start to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has steadied itself, registering back-to-back wins for the first time since 2024.

That upturn has coincided with a sense of continuity. The clash against Kolkata Knight Riders marked the first time this season that CSK fielded an unchanged playing XII, retaining the same combination that faced Delhi Capitals in the previous game. Four pacers and two frontline spinners, with West Indian Akeal Hosein slotted in as the Impact Player, has given the five-time champion balance.

But that balance may not last.

The imminent return of former skipper M.S. Dhoni, currently recovering from a calf strain and expected to be available for the April 18 fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad, complicates the equation.

One option is to deploy Dhoni as an Impact Player. That, however, would likely come at the cost of a pacer, potentially Gurjapneet Singh. The knock-on effect is significant: Shivam Dube, who has bowled just 42 balls in the IPL since 2022, would effectively become the sixth bowling option.

Since 2024, Dhoni has largely operated in the lower order, batting at No. 7 or 8 with a clear brief to maximise the death overs. In that season, he scored 161 runs in 14 matches, striking at over 220 with an average of 53.67.

But the following season, when he briefly resumed captaincy in Gaikwad’s absence, saw a sharp drop. Both his strike rate and average nearly halved, exposing the risks of relying on him beyond a narrowly defined finishing role.

If Dhoni is to return as an Impact Player, that role clarity becomes crucial. He cannot drift into a situational hitter; he has to be a designated finisher.

The alternative is more direct: bring Dhoni into the XI at the expense of either Dube or Sarfaraz Khan.

On current form, Sarfaraz (122 runs @182) makes the stronger case. He has outscored Dube (102 runs @154) this season while maintaining a better strike rate. But the decision is not purely statistical. Dube’s ability to counter spin offers flexibility, especially against teams that stack their attack with slow bowlers.

Dhoni, meanwhile, has shown vulnerability against spin in recent years. Since 2020, he has averaged 25.6 with a strike rate of 95.88 against it; numbers that sit at odds with the demands of a modern finisher. Opposition teams have increasingly responded by holding back an over or two of spin specifically for his arrival, further narrowing his scoring windows late in the innings.

Which leaves CSK with a familiar dilemma, dressed in a new context. Does it preserve a functioning combination or disrupt it for a specialist role that may no longer be as reliable?

Published on Apr 15, 2026

#IPL #CSK #Sacrifice #Bowler #Fit #Dhoni">IPL 2026: Will CSK Sacrifice a Bowler to Fit Dhoni In?  After an underwhelming start to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has steadied itself, registering back-to-back wins for the first time since 2024.That upturn has coincided with a sense of continuity.  The clash against Kolkata Knight Riders marked the first time this season that CSK fielded an unchanged playing XII, retaining the same combination that faced Delhi Capitals in the previous game. Four pacers and two frontline spinners, with West Indian Akeal Hosein slotted in as the Impact Player, has given the five-time champion balance.But that balance may not last.The imminent return of former skipper M.S. Dhoni, currently recovering from a calf strain and expected to be available for the April 18 fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad, complicates the equation.One option is to deploy Dhoni as an Impact Player. That, however, would likely come at the cost of a pacer, potentially Gurjapneet Singh. The knock-on effect is significant: Shivam Dube, who has bowled just 42 balls in the IPL since 2022, would effectively become the sixth bowling option.Since 2024, Dhoni has largely operated in the lower order, batting at No. 7 or 8 with a clear brief to maximise the death overs. In that season, he scored 161 runs in 14 matches, striking at over 220 with an average of 53.67.But the following season, when he briefly resumed captaincy in Gaikwad’s absence, saw a sharp drop. Both his strike rate and average nearly halved, exposing the risks of relying on him beyond a narrowly defined finishing role.If Dhoni is to return as an Impact Player, that role clarity becomes crucial. He cannot drift into a situational hitter; he has to be a designated finisher.The alternative is more direct: bring Dhoni into the XI at the expense of either Dube or Sarfaraz Khan.On current form, Sarfaraz (122 runs @182) makes the stronger case. He has outscored Dube (102 runs @154) this season while maintaining a better strike rate. But the decision is not purely statistical. Dube’s ability to counter spin offers flexibility, especially against teams that stack their attack with slow bowlers.Dhoni, meanwhile, has shown vulnerability against spin in recent years. Since 2020, he has averaged 25.6 with a strike rate of 95.88 against it; numbers that sit at odds with the demands of a modern finisher. Opposition teams have increasingly responded by holding back an over or two of spin specifically for his arrival, further narrowing his scoring windows late in the innings.Which leaves CSK with a familiar dilemma, dressed in a new context. Does it preserve a functioning combination or disrupt it for a specialist role that may no longer be as reliable?Published on Apr 15, 2026  #IPL #CSK #Sacrifice #Bowler #Fit #Dhoni

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