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Deadspin | Victor Wembanyama sustains concussion in Spurs’ Game 2 loss  Apr 21, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images   San Antonio star center Victor Wembanyama was concussed during Game 2 of the Spurs’ first-round playoff series with the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, his coach confirmed following the contest.  “I just know he has a concussion and he’s in the protocol and we’ll obviously take the proper and appropriate steps,” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said. “You know, it’s tough. That protocol is the protocol, so we’ll just follow it, as everyone else does, and plan accordingly.”  Wembanyama was forced from Game 2 after hitting his face on the floor early in the second quarter. The Spurs later announced that Wembanyama had entered concussion protocol and would not return to the game before it was confirmed after the contest — a 106-103 Blazers win that leveled the series — that a concussion had been sustained.  Wembanyama hit his face on the floor at near-full speed after being knocked off his feet during a drive to the basket at the 8:57 mark of the second period, with the contact leaving him dazed enough to struggle standing up before jogging off the floor to the locker room.  San Antonio trailed 34-32 at the time, and Wembanyama had amassed five points, four rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot in 11:41 of court time when he was injured. The game was tied 57-57 by halftime.   The Spurs have had plenty of success without their star this season. Wembanyama missed 18 games this season with various injuries, with San Antonio going 12-6 in those games.  However, Wembanyama’s absence for Game 3 and potentially beyond would loom large in a series that suddenly swung to Portland’s advantage after the Blazers wrested away the home-court edge on Tuesday.  Wembanyama is scheduled to receive further testing on Wednesday but must remain inactive for a minimum of 24 hours and can’t resume full participation before 48 hours, per NBA concussion guidelines.  The teams won’t play again until Friday, when Game 3 will be contested in Portland.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Victor #Wembanyama #sustains #concussion #Spurs #Game #loss

Deadspin | Victor Wembanyama sustains concussion in Spurs’ Game 2 loss
Deadspin | Victor Wembanyama sustains concussion in Spurs’ Game 2 loss  Apr 21, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images   San Antonio star center Victor Wembanyama was concussed during Game 2 of the Spurs’ first-round playoff series with the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, his coach confirmed following the contest.  “I just know he has a concussion and he’s in the protocol and we’ll obviously take the proper and appropriate steps,” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said. “You know, it’s tough. That protocol is the protocol, so we’ll just follow it, as everyone else does, and plan accordingly.”  Wembanyama was forced from Game 2 after hitting his face on the floor early in the second quarter. The Spurs later announced that Wembanyama had entered concussion protocol and would not return to the game before it was confirmed after the contest — a 106-103 Blazers win that leveled the series — that a concussion had been sustained.  Wembanyama hit his face on the floor at near-full speed after being knocked off his feet during a drive to the basket at the 8:57 mark of the second period, with the contact leaving him dazed enough to struggle standing up before jogging off the floor to the locker room.  San Antonio trailed 34-32 at the time, and Wembanyama had amassed five points, four rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot in 11:41 of court time when he was injured. The game was tied 57-57 by halftime.   The Spurs have had plenty of success without their star this season. Wembanyama missed 18 games this season with various injuries, with San Antonio going 12-6 in those games.  However, Wembanyama’s absence for Game 3 and potentially beyond would loom large in a series that suddenly swung to Portland’s advantage after the Blazers wrested away the home-court edge on Tuesday.  Wembanyama is scheduled to receive further testing on Wednesday but must remain inactive for a minimum of 24 hours and can’t resume full participation before 48 hours, per NBA concussion guidelines.  The teams won’t play again until Friday, when Game 3 will be contested in Portland.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Victor #Wembanyama #sustains #concussion #Spurs #Game #lossApr 21, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

San Antonio star center Victor Wembanyama was concussed during Game 2 of the Spurs’ first-round playoff series with the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, his coach confirmed following the contest.

“I just know he has a concussion and he’s in the protocol and we’ll obviously take the proper and appropriate steps,” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said. “You know, it’s tough. That protocol is the protocol, so we’ll just follow it, as everyone else does, and plan accordingly.”

Wembanyama was forced from Game 2 after hitting his face on the floor early in the second quarter. The Spurs later announced that Wembanyama had entered concussion protocol and would not return to the game before it was confirmed after the contest — a 106-103 Blazers win that leveled the series — that a concussion had been sustained.

Wembanyama hit his face on the floor at near-full speed after being knocked off his feet during a drive to the basket at the 8:57 mark of the second period, with the contact leaving him dazed enough to struggle standing up before jogging off the floor to the locker room.


San Antonio trailed 34-32 at the time, and Wembanyama had amassed five points, four rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot in 11:41 of court time when he was injured. The game was tied 57-57 by halftime.

The Spurs have had plenty of success without their star this season. Wembanyama missed 18 games this season with various injuries, with San Antonio going 12-6 in those games.

However, Wembanyama’s absence for Game 3 and potentially beyond would loom large in a series that suddenly swung to Portland’s advantage after the Blazers wrested away the home-court edge on Tuesday.

Wembanyama is scheduled to receive further testing on Wednesday but must remain inactive for a minimum of 24 hours and can’t resume full participation before 48 hours, per NBA concussion guidelines.

The teams won’t play again until Friday, when Game 3 will be contested in Portland.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Victor #Wembanyama #sustains #concussion #Spurs #Game #loss

Apr 21, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

San Antonio star center Victor Wembanyama was concussed during Game 2 of the Spurs’ first-round playoff series with the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, his coach confirmed following the contest.

“I just know he has a concussion and he’s in the protocol and we’ll obviously take the proper and appropriate steps,” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said. “You know, it’s tough. That protocol is the protocol, so we’ll just follow it, as everyone else does, and plan accordingly.”

Wembanyama was forced from Game 2 after hitting his face on the floor early in the second quarter. The Spurs later announced that Wembanyama had entered concussion protocol and would not return to the game before it was confirmed after the contest — a 106-103 Blazers win that leveled the series — that a concussion had been sustained.

Wembanyama hit his face on the floor at near-full speed after being knocked off his feet during a drive to the basket at the 8:57 mark of the second period, with the contact leaving him dazed enough to struggle standing up before jogging off the floor to the locker room.

San Antonio trailed 34-32 at the time, and Wembanyama had amassed five points, four rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot in 11:41 of court time when he was injured. The game was tied 57-57 by halftime.

The Spurs have had plenty of success without their star this season. Wembanyama missed 18 games this season with various injuries, with San Antonio going 12-6 in those games.

However, Wembanyama’s absence for Game 3 and potentially beyond would loom large in a series that suddenly swung to Portland’s advantage after the Blazers wrested away the home-court edge on Tuesday.

Wembanyama is scheduled to receive further testing on Wednesday but must remain inactive for a minimum of 24 hours and can’t resume full participation before 48 hours, per NBA concussion guidelines.

The teams won’t play again until Friday, when Game 3 will be contested in Portland.

–Field Level Media

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FIFA World Cup 2026 not available to fans in India yet — What’s going wrong? <div id="content-body-70891836" itemprop="articleBody"><p>The FIFA World Cup, nearly a century since its inception, has remained the crown jewel of international men’s football.</p><p>Despite India never playing in the tournament, the spectacle has always taken centre stage among football fans. But 2026 carries a different writing on the wall.</p><p>The quadrennial carnival does not have a broadcaster. No TV channel, no streaming company has put its foot forward to take it up. Why is that so?</p><p>“Football viewership in India has been on the decline for some time now. If you look at the Premier League, its valuation has fallen from $145 million in 2013-14 to $60 million in the latest deal,” an industry expert tells  <i>Sportstar</i>.</p><p>Sony Sports acquired the commercial rights for the FIFA World Cup 2014, 2018, and Euro 2016 for around $90 million in 2013, which would be almost double the value today, adjusted for inflation.</p><p>Eight years later, Reliance picked up the 2022 World Cup rights for $60 million.</p><p>FIFA had offered rights for the next two World Cups as a package to the Indian market for $100 million last year. However, a lack of interest saw the global football body reconsider the valuation to $35 million.</p><p>Even then, interest did not emerge, exposing the broken economics of World Cup broadcasting in this part of the world.</p><p>“In India, the picture appears more nuanced than a simple lack of takers. Broadcasters are likely weighing a combination of structural and commercial considerations,” says Rohit Potphode, Managing Partner – Sports, Gaming, eSports & Live Experiences, Dentsu India.</p><div class="article-picture left-img verticle"><img src-template="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/1iu1jw/article70876982.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/Rohit%20Potphode%20Managing%20Partner%20-%20Sports%20Gaming%20eSports%20%20Live%20Experiences%20dentsu%20India.jpg" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/1iu1jw/article70876982.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/Rohit%20Potphode%20Managing%20Partner%20-%20Sports%20Gaming%20eSports%20%20Live%20Experiences%20dentsu%20India.jpg" alt="Rohit Potphode discussed why the company went for broadcasting rights in Japan for FIFA World Cup 2026 and not in India." title="Rohit Potphode discussed why the company went for broadcasting rights in Japan for FIFA World Cup 2026 and not in India." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p> Rohit Potphode discussed why the company went for broadcasting rights in Japan for FIFA World Cup 2026 and not in India. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"> Rohit Potphode discussed why the company went for broadcasting rights in Japan for FIFA World Cup 2026 and not in India. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement </p></div><p>Dentsu is the commercial partner for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Japan, which was also among the top viewers of the tournament in 2022.</p><p>“Japan is significantly different from India in terms of audience appetite, advertisers, and overall media ecosystem.”</p><p>“One significant factor is match timing; fixtures scheduled at late-night or early-morning hours for Indian audiences can materially impact viewership peaks, which in turn affects advertising inventory and revenue potential. Even marquee events can struggle to deliver optimal returns when they fall outside prime viewing windows,” he adds.</p><p>The FIFA World Cup 2026 is being played in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico, placing most matches outside prime Indian viewing hours.</p><p>Of the 104 games in the World Cup this time, only 14 begin before midnight. In comparison, Qatar 2022 had 44 of its 64 matches before midnight, while Russia 2018 had 63.</p><div class=" article-picture center"><img src-template="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/fvlshw/article70876984.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/Midnight%20Madness%20-%20Final.jpg" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/fvlshw/article70876984.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/Midnight%20Madness%20-%20Final.jpg" alt="" class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/></div><h4 class="sub_head">Profitability the only priority</h4><p>“The business scenario in sports in India has shifted primarily to profitability,” a source from one of the broadcasters says.</p><p>“Subscription is a limited option in this country, despite the appetite being there. In the West, football is mostly behind paywalls. You cannot do that in India.”</p><p>Sky Sports charges a subscription fee of about £22 per month to show the Premier League in the UK, while FOX Sports, the World Cup broadcaster in the US, sells its FOX One + ESPN Bundle for $40 per month.</p><div class="inline_embed article-block-item"><div class="flourish-embed flourish-chart" data-src="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/why-fifa-world-cup-2026-not-available-in-india-no-broadcaster-tv-channel-streaming-rights-explained/visualisation/28604812"><img src="https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/28604812/thumbnail" width="100%" alt="visualization"/></div></div><p>The FIFA World Cup 2022 was streamed on JioCinema and Sports18HD, with the former offering it for free and the latter charging Rs. 12 for the channel.</p><p>The result: India saw one of the steepest individual market drops, losing 87 million linear viewers in four years. The audience moved to digital, which was free, not away from football. Meanwhile, JioStar reportedly lost millions with the free-to-air service.</p><p>In general, though, football viewership in the country has declined. The Indian Super League, the top flight of men’s football, has seen its broadcast rights valuation fall by 97 per cent in the last year.</p><p>World Cup football has followed the same trend: The 2022 edition had every match worth Rs. 6.94 crore. Four years later, that value has fallen to Rs. 1.56 crore per match — a 77.5 per cent drop.</p><div class=" article-picture center"><img src-template="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/vchx4/article70876980.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/GettyImages-1593650683.jpg" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/vchx4/article70876980.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/GettyImages-1593650683.jpg" alt="Most fans in India watched the FIFA World Cup 2022 free of cost on JioCinema, not on linear television." title="Most fans in India watched the FIFA World Cup 2022 free of cost on JioCinema, not on linear television." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p> Most fans in India watched the FIFA World Cup 2022 free of cost on JioCinema, not on linear television. | Photo Credit: Getty Images </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"> Most fans in India watched the FIFA World Cup 2022 free of cost on JioCinema, not on linear television. | Photo Credit: Getty Images </p></div><p>“The lack of advertising opportunities in football is another issue. While commercial partners can have ad slots after every over or dismissal in cricket, or maybe every set in tennis, in football, it’s largely restricted to pre-match, half-time and full-time, with limited additional breaks,” another individual from an Indian broadcaster says.</p><p>Potphode adds further insight. “The advertising market remains highly value-conscious, with brands increasingly seeking measurable and consistent returns across both television and digital platforms.</p><p>“With a crowded sports calendar and the continued rise of on-demand consumption, rights holders and broadcasters may be taking a more calibrated approach, evaluating not just scale, but the quality and timing of audience engagement.”</p><h4 class="sub_head">Will there be a solution?</h4><p>FIFA is expected to hold negotiations with leading Indian broadcasters — JioStar, FanCode, Sony Sports and ZEE Entertainment — in search of a last-ditch solution. It is unlikely for DAZN to enter the conversation, while Netflix and YouTube have chosen not to comment.</p><p>If all options fail, the World Cup could return to Doordarshan, India’s public broadcaster, after 28 years. Under the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, sporting events of national importance must be shared with the broadcaster.</p><div class=" article-picture center"><img src-template="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/7l0dep/article70876979.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/zidane-carlos98.jpg" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/7l0dep/article70876979.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/zidane-carlos98.jpg" alt="Prasar Bharati, Doordarshan’s parent company, had made a profit of Rs. 3.5 crore from the 1998 rights." title="Prasar Bharati, Doordarshan’s parent company, had made a profit of Rs. 3.5 crore from the 1998 rights." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p> Prasar Bharati, Doordarshan’s parent company, had made a profit of Rs. 3.5 crore from the 1998 rights. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Photo Library </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"> Prasar Bharati, Doordarshan’s parent company, had made a profit of Rs. 3.5 crore from the 1998 rights. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Photo Library </p></div><p>That could offer a lifeline, with marquee matches — likely the knockouts and the final — broadcast on Doordarshan irrespective of the primary rights holder.</p><p>Prasar Bharati, Doordarshan’s parent company, had made a profit of Rs. 3.5 crore from the 1998 rights. A return to public broadcasting could yet make the World Cup viable again in India.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 22, 2026</p></div> #FIFA #World #Cup #fans #India #Whats #wrong

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IPL 2026: Australia skipper Marsh seeks redemption with LSG after disappointing T20 World Cup <div id="content-body-70891271" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Mitchell Marsh is trying to put a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign behind him but the Australian ​all-rounder concedes he has yet to hit his stride in the Indian ‌Premier League (IPL) with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in urgent need ​of some inspiration.</p><p>Marsh delivered a stellar performance in the ⁠IPL last year, scoring 627 runs at an average of 48.23, including his highest score in the format with an innings of 117 off 64 ‌balls against Gujarat Titans.</p><p>But he has fallen far short of those lofty levels this year, with the 34-year-old accumulating ‌only 155 runs in the first six matches, averaging 25.83.</p><p>With ‌a ⁠run of three straight defeats leaving LSG ninth of ⁠the IPL’s 10 teams, Marsh knows he needs to find form fast.</p><p>“I probably haven’t got going. I think you can maybe search a little bit too much ​at times,” Marsh told Reuters.</p><p>“I ‌know that I’m probably one or two boundaries away from really getting going and it’s about being consistent with my preparations and knowing that it will come.”</p><p>With only two wins from its first six games, LSG is in danger of missing ​the playoffs for the third year in a row, but Marsh says there is time to turn things around.</p><p>“It’s ⁠a long tournament and we’ve got great belief that we can challenge the best teams in the competition … I think if we can ‌put together a full 40 overs as a unit, we’re going to be very hard to break,” he said.</p><p>Marsh played a key role in helping Perth Scorchers win the Big Bash League in January and was primed to play a big role in Australia’s T20 World Cup in February-March but a groin injury hampered his ‌campaign.</p><p>Defeats to Zimbabwe and co-host Sri Lanka sealed Australia’s first group stage exit ​since 2009.</p><p>“Pretty much every game is a knockout game with the way that it’s structured up … one failure ⁠can cost you a spot in the knockout stage,” said Marsh, who ⁠did not want to discuss how the squad dealt with the early exit.</p><p>“Those conversations have happened behind closed doors,” he ‌added.</p><p>Marsh said his focus was now on helping LSG win its first IPL trophy. “I’ve got great faith in this group … our ​best cricket is ahead of us,” he added.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 22, 2026</p></div> #IPL #Australia #skipper #Marsh #seeks #redemption #LSG #disappointing #T20 #World #Cup

Deadspin | Reds get first look at Cardinals RHP Dustin May  Jul 18, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Dustin May (3) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images   With both sides attempting to gain ground in the National League wild-card race, the St. Louis Cardinals host the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night.  The Cardinals have dropped five of seven games since the All-Star break and sit 1 1/2 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final NL wild-card spot. St. Louis also is a half-game behind the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are currently the first NL team out of the playoff picture.  Trying to stay afloat in the playoff chase, the Reds enter their third consecutive road set riding a pair of series victories. Cincinnati, which is six games behind the Diamondbacks, took two of three from both the Colorado Rockies and the Seattle Mariners.  Since St. Louis’ Dustin May hurled a one-hit shutout against the San Diego Padres on June 15, little has gone right for the right-hander. In five starts since the gem, May (5-7, 4.78 ERA) is 0-1 with a 9.92 ERA.  May threw five innings for the first time in more than a month on Saturday, but he surrendered five runs on eight hits while striking out six and walking four in a 5-3 loss at Arizona.  Despite May’s rough patch, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol has confidence the 28-year-old can find his rhythm again.  “He’s competed well. He went through a stretch there where he gave us some really good outings,” Marmol said. “After the complete game, there have been some ups and downs, but he’s good enough to get out of this.”  Making the 91st appearance (77th start) of his major league career, May will face Cincinnati for the first time.   Among the Reds getting their first look at May will be All-Star first baseman Sal Stewart. The 22-year-old ranks fourth in the majors with 74 RBIs after knocking in nine runs across the club’s first two series since the midseason break.  “I think there are guys that relish those opportunities,” Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said of Stewart’s success with runners on base. “He’s so strong and he’s got great hitter’s hands. The ball just jumps off his bat.”  Despite the RBI surge, Stewart is batting just .130 (3-for-23) since the break.  On the mound, Rhett Lowder (3-7, 5.75 ERA) will be chasing a bounce-back effort for Cincinnati.  After appearing as a starter for his first 13 outings of the year, Lowder made three appearances out of the bullpen before re-emerging in the rotation after the All-Star break. Last time out, the 24-year-old right-hander lasted just 2 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs on 11 hits in a 10-3 loss to the Rockies on Saturday in Denver. He struck out two and didn’t walk a batter.  “(Colorado) was just being aggressive and I was probably leaving too many thick pitches for them. Balls were just finding holes,” Lowder said of that outing. “It was very frustrating.”  Lowder has thrown eight scoreless innings across a pair of starts against the Cardinals during his career. He faced St. Louis on June 7, allowing just one hit but walking five across three scoreless innings in a no-decision. The Reds lost 5-3.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Reds #Cardinals #RHP #DustinJul 18, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Dustin May (3) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

With both sides attempting to gain ground in the National League wild-card race, the St. Louis Cardinals host the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night.

The Cardinals have dropped five of seven games since the All-Star break and sit 1 1/2 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final NL wild-card spot. St. Louis also is a half-game behind the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are currently the first NL team out of the playoff picture.

Trying to stay afloat in the playoff chase, the Reds enter their third consecutive road set riding a pair of series victories. Cincinnati, which is six games behind the Diamondbacks, took two of three from both the Colorado Rockies and the Seattle Mariners.

Since St. Louis’ Dustin May hurled a one-hit shutout against the San Diego Padres on June 15, little has gone right for the right-hander. In five starts since the gem, May (5-7, 4.78 ERA) is 0-1 with a 9.92 ERA.

May threw five innings for the first time in more than a month on Saturday, but he surrendered five runs on eight hits while striking out six and walking four in a 5-3 loss at Arizona.

Despite May’s rough patch, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol has confidence the 28-year-old can find his rhythm again.

“He’s competed well. He went through a stretch there where he gave us some really good outings,” Marmol said. “After the complete game, there have been some ups and downs, but he’s good enough to get out of this.”


Making the 91st appearance (77th start) of his major league career, May will face Cincinnati for the first time.

Among the Reds getting their first look at May will be All-Star first baseman Sal Stewart. The 22-year-old ranks fourth in the majors with 74 RBIs after knocking in nine runs across the club’s first two series since the midseason break.

“I think there are guys that relish those opportunities,” Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said of Stewart’s success with runners on base. “He’s so strong and he’s got great hitter’s hands. The ball just jumps off his bat.”

Despite the RBI surge, Stewart is batting just .130 (3-for-23) since the break.

On the mound, Rhett Lowder (3-7, 5.75 ERA) will be chasing a bounce-back effort for Cincinnati.

After appearing as a starter for his first 13 outings of the year, Lowder made three appearances out of the bullpen before re-emerging in the rotation after the All-Star break. Last time out, the 24-year-old right-hander lasted just 2 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs on 11 hits in a 10-3 loss to the Rockies on Saturday in Denver. He struck out two and didn’t walk a batter.

“(Colorado) was just being aggressive and I was probably leaving too many thick pitches for them. Balls were just finding holes,” Lowder said of that outing. “It was very frustrating.”

Lowder has thrown eight scoreless innings across a pair of starts against the Cardinals during his career. He faced St. Louis on June 7, allowing just one hit but walking five across three scoreless innings in a no-decision. The Reds lost 5-3.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Reds #Cardinals #RHP #Dustin">Deadspin | Reds get first look at Cardinals RHP Dustin May  Jul 18, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Dustin May (3) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images   With both sides attempting to gain ground in the National League wild-card race, the St. Louis Cardinals host the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night.  The Cardinals have dropped five of seven games since the All-Star break and sit 1 1/2 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final NL wild-card spot. St. Louis also is a half-game behind the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are currently the first NL team out of the playoff picture.  Trying to stay afloat in the playoff chase, the Reds enter their third consecutive road set riding a pair of series victories. Cincinnati, which is six games behind the Diamondbacks, took two of three from both the Colorado Rockies and the Seattle Mariners.  Since St. Louis’ Dustin May hurled a one-hit shutout against the San Diego Padres on June 15, little has gone right for the right-hander. In five starts since the gem, May (5-7, 4.78 ERA) is 0-1 with a 9.92 ERA.  May threw five innings for the first time in more than a month on Saturday, but he surrendered five runs on eight hits while striking out six and walking four in a 5-3 loss at Arizona.  Despite May’s rough patch, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol has confidence the 28-year-old can find his rhythm again.  “He’s competed well. He went through a stretch there where he gave us some really good outings,” Marmol said. “After the complete game, there have been some ups and downs, but he’s good enough to get out of this.”  Making the 91st appearance (77th start) of his major league career, May will face Cincinnati for the first time.   Among the Reds getting their first look at May will be All-Star first baseman Sal Stewart. The 22-year-old ranks fourth in the majors with 74 RBIs after knocking in nine runs across the club’s first two series since the midseason break.  “I think there are guys that relish those opportunities,” Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said of Stewart’s success with runners on base. “He’s so strong and he’s got great hitter’s hands. The ball just jumps off his bat.”  Despite the RBI surge, Stewart is batting just .130 (3-for-23) since the break.  On the mound, Rhett Lowder (3-7, 5.75 ERA) will be chasing a bounce-back effort for Cincinnati.  After appearing as a starter for his first 13 outings of the year, Lowder made three appearances out of the bullpen before re-emerging in the rotation after the All-Star break. Last time out, the 24-year-old right-hander lasted just 2 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs on 11 hits in a 10-3 loss to the Rockies on Saturday in Denver. He struck out two and didn’t walk a batter.  “(Colorado) was just being aggressive and I was probably leaving too many thick pitches for them. Balls were just finding holes,” Lowder said of that outing. “It was very frustrating.”  Lowder has thrown eight scoreless innings across a pair of starts against the Cardinals during his career. He faced St. Louis on June 7, allowing just one hit but walking five across three scoreless innings in a no-decision. The Reds lost 5-3.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Reds #Cardinals #RHP #Dustin

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