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Deadspin | Yordan Alvarez, Astros strive to do damage against Yankees’ stellar pitching staff Apr 18, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) runs towards home plate after a home run to center field against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images The New York Yankees experienced a four-game blip with their pitching last week when they were unable to consistently record outs against the Los Angeles Angels. The pitching has corrected itself during sweeps of the Kansas City Royals and Boston Red Sox, and the Yankees are on a six-game winning streak as their pitchers will attempt to keep MLB home run leader Yordan Alvarez’s bat quiet in Friday night’s opener of a three-game series in Houston. The Yankees enter with an MLB-best 3.07 ERA. Since allowing 32 runs and settling for a four-game split against the Angels, the Yankees are pitching to a 1.17 ERA in their current winning streak. New York followed its sweep of the visiting Royals last weekend by allowing three runs in a three-game sweep at Boston. The Yankees secured a 4-2 victory on Thursday when Cody Bellinger delivered a pinch-hit, two-run single in the seventh inning after the lineup struck out 11 times in the first six innings against Boston rookie Payton Tolle. “Wins are precious any time of year, especially within the division,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. Bellinger is batting .325 (13-for-40) over his past 11 games, and his hit on Thursday occurred on a night when Cam Schlittler was efficient in getting through eight innings after Max Fried pitched eight innings on Wednesday. The Yankees also had Luis Gil pitch 6 1/3 innings on Tuesday and Ryan Weathers 7 1/3 innings on Sunday. Houston owns the AL’s third-worst record behind the Royals and Red Sox, but not because of Alvarez. He leads the majors with a .347 batting average, 11 homers, 26 RBIs and an OPS of 1.245. The Astros won two of three games on the road against the Cleveland Guardians after dropping 12 of 14 contests as Alvarez drove in five runs in the series. After Houston blew a late lead on Tuesday in an 8-5 loss, Alvarez hit a two-run homer in the first inning of a 2-0 victory on Wednesday. “To be honest, 2026 Yordan is the closest I’ve seen to Barry Bonds,” Houston shortstop Carlos Correa said. “Definitely, this version of him is the best. I haven’t missed one swing of his all year because he’s must-watch. “It’s almost like you expect him to make an out at some point because this game is so hard, but he just keeps raking.” After the deep outings by Fried and Schlittler at Boston, Yankees right-hander Will Warren (2-0, 2.49 ERA) will open the series in Houston and is coming off one of the best outings of his career. Warren last pitched Saturday in a 13-4 win over Kansas City and allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings. He also tied a career high by getting 11 strikeouts and notched double-digit strikeouts for the third time in his career. Warren’s only career start against the Astros occurred on Sept. 3, 2025, in Houston when he allowed two runs on five hits in five innings of a no-decision in New York’s 8-7 loss. Houston’s 5.81 ERA is the worst in the majors, and Lance McCullers Jr. (1-1, 6.20) will open the series. McCullers has allowed 10 runs in 9 1/3 innings during his past two starts and took the loss Saturday when he allowed four runs on five hits in five innings of a 7-5 defeat to the visiting St. Louis Cardinals. McCullers is 2-0 with a 2.97 ERA in five regular-season starts against the Yankees. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Yordan #Alvarez #Astros #strive #damage #Yankees #stellar #pitching #staff

Deadspin | Yordan Alvarez, Astros strive to do damage against Yankees’ stellar pitching staff
Deadspin | Yordan Alvarez, Astros strive to do damage against Yankees’ stellar pitching staff Apr 18, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) runs towards home plate after a home run to center field against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images The New York Yankees experienced a four-game blip with their pitching last week when they were unable to consistently record outs against the Los Angeles Angels. The pitching has corrected itself during sweeps of the Kansas City Royals and Boston Red Sox, and the Yankees are on a six-game winning streak as their pitchers will attempt to keep MLB home run leader Yordan Alvarez’s bat quiet in Friday night’s opener of a three-game series in Houston. The Yankees enter with an MLB-best 3.07 ERA. Since allowing 32 runs and settling for a four-game split against the Angels, the Yankees are pitching to a 1.17 ERA in their current winning streak. New York followed its sweep of the visiting Royals last weekend by allowing three runs in a three-game sweep at Boston. The Yankees secured a 4-2 victory on Thursday when Cody Bellinger delivered a pinch-hit, two-run single in the seventh inning after the lineup struck out 11 times in the first six innings against Boston rookie Payton Tolle. “Wins are precious any time of year, especially within the division,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. Bellinger is batting .325 (13-for-40) over his past 11 games, and his hit on Thursday occurred on a night when Cam Schlittler was efficient in getting through eight innings after Max Fried pitched eight innings on Wednesday. The Yankees also had Luis Gil pitch 6 1/3 innings on Tuesday and Ryan Weathers 7 1/3 innings on Sunday. Houston owns the AL’s third-worst record behind the Royals and Red Sox, but not because of Alvarez. He leads the majors with a .347 batting average, 11 homers, 26 RBIs and an OPS of 1.245. The Astros won two of three games on the road against the Cleveland Guardians after dropping 12 of 14 contests as Alvarez drove in five runs in the series. After Houston blew a late lead on Tuesday in an 8-5 loss, Alvarez hit a two-run homer in the first inning of a 2-0 victory on Wednesday. “To be honest, 2026 Yordan is the closest I’ve seen to Barry Bonds,” Houston shortstop Carlos Correa said. “Definitely, this version of him is the best. I haven’t missed one swing of his all year because he’s must-watch. “It’s almost like you expect him to make an out at some point because this game is so hard, but he just keeps raking.” After the deep outings by Fried and Schlittler at Boston, Yankees right-hander Will Warren (2-0, 2.49 ERA) will open the series in Houston and is coming off one of the best outings of his career. Warren last pitched Saturday in a 13-4 win over Kansas City and allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings. He also tied a career high by getting 11 strikeouts and notched double-digit strikeouts for the third time in his career. Warren’s only career start against the Astros occurred on Sept. 3, 2025, in Houston when he allowed two runs on five hits in five innings of a no-decision in New York’s 8-7 loss. Houston’s 5.81 ERA is the worst in the majors, and Lance McCullers Jr. (1-1, 6.20) will open the series. McCullers has allowed 10 runs in 9 1/3 innings during his past two starts and took the loss Saturday when he allowed four runs on five hits in five innings of a 7-5 defeat to the visiting St. Louis Cardinals. McCullers is 2-0 with a 2.97 ERA in five regular-season starts against the Yankees. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Yordan #Alvarez #Astros #strive #damage #Yankees #stellar #pitching #staffApr 18, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) runs towards home plate after a home run to center field against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images

The New York Yankees experienced a four-game blip with their pitching last week when they were unable to consistently record outs against the Los Angeles Angels.

The pitching has corrected itself during sweeps of the Kansas City Royals and Boston Red Sox, and the Yankees are on a six-game winning streak as their pitchers will attempt to keep MLB home run leader Yordan Alvarez’s bat quiet in Friday night’s opener of a three-game series in Houston.

The Yankees enter with an MLB-best 3.07 ERA. Since allowing 32 runs and settling for a four-game split against the Angels, the Yankees are pitching to a 1.17 ERA in their current winning streak.

New York followed its sweep of the visiting Royals last weekend by allowing three runs in a three-game sweep at Boston. The Yankees secured a 4-2 victory on Thursday when Cody Bellinger delivered a pinch-hit, two-run single in the seventh inning after the lineup struck out 11 times in the first six innings against Boston rookie Payton Tolle.

“Wins are precious any time of year, especially within the division,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

Bellinger is batting .325 (13-for-40) over his past 11 games, and his hit on Thursday occurred on a night when Cam Schlittler was efficient in getting through eight innings after Max Fried pitched eight innings on Wednesday. The Yankees also had Luis Gil pitch 6 1/3 innings on Tuesday and Ryan Weathers 7 1/3 innings on Sunday.

Houston owns the AL’s third-worst record behind the Royals and Red Sox, but not because of Alvarez. He leads the majors with a .347 batting average, 11 homers, 26 RBIs and an OPS of 1.245.


The Astros won two of three games on the road against the Cleveland Guardians after dropping 12 of 14 contests as Alvarez drove in five runs in the series. After Houston blew a late lead on Tuesday in an 8-5 loss, Alvarez hit a two-run homer in the first inning of a 2-0 victory on Wednesday.

“To be honest, 2026 Yordan is the closest I’ve seen to Barry Bonds,” Houston shortstop Carlos Correa said. “Definitely, this version of him is the best. I haven’t missed one swing of his all year because he’s must-watch.

“It’s almost like you expect him to make an out at some point because this game is so hard, but he just keeps raking.”

After the deep outings by Fried and Schlittler at Boston, Yankees right-hander Will Warren (2-0, 2.49 ERA) will open the series in Houston and is coming off one of the best outings of his career.

Warren last pitched Saturday in a 13-4 win over Kansas City and allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings. He also tied a career high by getting 11 strikeouts and notched double-digit strikeouts for the third time in his career.

Warren’s only career start against the Astros occurred on Sept. 3, 2025, in Houston when he allowed two runs on five hits in five innings of a no-decision in New York’s 8-7 loss.

Houston’s 5.81 ERA is the worst in the majors, and Lance McCullers Jr. (1-1, 6.20) will open the series. McCullers has allowed 10 runs in 9 1/3 innings during his past two starts and took the loss Saturday when he allowed four runs on five hits in five innings of a 7-5 defeat to the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.

McCullers is 2-0 with a 2.97 ERA in five regular-season starts against the Yankees.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Yordan #Alvarez #Astros #strive #damage #Yankees #stellar #pitching #staff

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Apr 18, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) runs towards home plate after a home run to center field against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images

The New York Yankees experienced a four-game blip with their pitching last week when they were unable to consistently record outs against the Los Angeles Angels.

The pitching has corrected itself during sweeps of the Kansas City Royals and Boston Red Sox, and the Yankees are on a six-game winning streak as their pitchers will attempt to keep MLB home run leader Yordan Alvarez’s bat quiet in Friday night’s opener of a three-game series in Houston.

The Yankees enter with an MLB-best 3.07 ERA. Since allowing 32 runs and settling for a four-game split against the Angels, the Yankees are pitching to a 1.17 ERA in their current winning streak.

New York followed its sweep of the visiting Royals last weekend by allowing three runs in a three-game sweep at Boston. The Yankees secured a 4-2 victory on Thursday when Cody Bellinger delivered a pinch-hit, two-run single in the seventh inning after the lineup struck out 11 times in the first six innings against Boston rookie Payton Tolle.

“Wins are precious any time of year, especially within the division,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

Bellinger is batting .325 (13-for-40) over his past 11 games, and his hit on Thursday occurred on a night when Cam Schlittler was efficient in getting through eight innings after Max Fried pitched eight innings on Wednesday. The Yankees also had Luis Gil pitch 6 1/3 innings on Tuesday and Ryan Weathers 7 1/3 innings on Sunday.

Houston owns the AL’s third-worst record behind the Royals and Red Sox, but not because of Alvarez. He leads the majors with a .347 batting average, 11 homers, 26 RBIs and an OPS of 1.245.

The Astros won two of three games on the road against the Cleveland Guardians after dropping 12 of 14 contests as Alvarez drove in five runs in the series. After Houston blew a late lead on Tuesday in an 8-5 loss, Alvarez hit a two-run homer in the first inning of a 2-0 victory on Wednesday.

“To be honest, 2026 Yordan is the closest I’ve seen to Barry Bonds,” Houston shortstop Carlos Correa said. “Definitely, this version of him is the best. I haven’t missed one swing of his all year because he’s must-watch.

“It’s almost like you expect him to make an out at some point because this game is so hard, but he just keeps raking.”

After the deep outings by Fried and Schlittler at Boston, Yankees right-hander Will Warren (2-0, 2.49 ERA) will open the series in Houston and is coming off one of the best outings of his career.

Warren last pitched Saturday in a 13-4 win over Kansas City and allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings. He also tied a career high by getting 11 strikeouts and notched double-digit strikeouts for the third time in his career.

Warren’s only career start against the Astros occurred on Sept. 3, 2025, in Houston when he allowed two runs on five hits in five innings of a no-decision in New York’s 8-7 loss.

Houston’s 5.81 ERA is the worst in the majors, and Lance McCullers Jr. (1-1, 6.20) will open the series. McCullers has allowed 10 runs in 9 1/3 innings during his past two starts and took the loss Saturday when he allowed four runs on five hits in five innings of a 7-5 defeat to the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.

McCullers is 2-0 with a 2.97 ERA in five regular-season starts against the Yankees.

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Yordan #Alvarez #Astros #strive #damage #Yankees #stellar #pitching #staff

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NBA officiating is in crisis mode, and the players have a point <div id="zephr-anchor"><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The NBA may or may not have an officiating crisis. But it definitely has a crisis of confidence, which is the only kind that matters.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Even in the age of big data and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGbIrmC-L9o">AI-generated LeBron songs</a>, we still do not have a reliable way to track if an NBA game was officiated well. This isn’t automatic balls and strikes; we’re talking about whether Giannis Antetokounmpo’s elbow intentionally struck Al Horford in the head during that poster dunk, if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander initiated contact when his defender stupidly jumped at a pump fake for the 19th time, whether Jaden McDaniels gave Jamal Murray adequate landing space on his shot despite every player jumping different distances when they shoot and McDaniels understandably is not staring at Murray’s feet when he’s shooting a three. That kind of stuff.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">So people<a href="https://x.com/c2_cooper/status/2047296371800092675?s=46"> clamor for accountability</a>. Players freak out, including Devin Booker saying in a press conference that Alex Caruso asked the ref to call a technical on Booker <a href="https://x.com/mrbuckbucknba/status/2047160072631984471?s=46"><em>and he just did for some reason? </em></a>Fans of teams that feel they got jobbed lose it, demanding changes (what changes?), oversight (how?) and to please please <em>please </em>stop allowing Gilgeous-Alexander to magnet-pull himself to a defender and get two free throws!</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">But refereeing is such a stupid concept that there is no possibility to improve, only to complicate. Sure, we have <a href="https://official.nba.com/2025-26-nba-officiating-last-two-minute-reports/">Last Two Minutes reports</a>, but those are simply compiled by other referees offering a different interpretation with the assistance of slow-motion replay — or as I like to call them, <em>completely useless </em>since no referee could ever review every single call of the last two minutes in slow-mo in real time lest they want to make the game completely unwatchable.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Refereeing basketball games is not an exact science; in fact, it’s probably not a science at all. When you consider all the contact, all the dust-ups, all <a href="https://x.com/clutchpoints/status/2047155473775030295?s=46">the arm-flailing</a>, all <a href="https://x.com/BrickCenter_/status/2047154558439502244?s=20">the pump-fake magnetism</a> and <a href="https://x.com/protectedpick/status/2047135133086716249?s=46">all the floppity flops</a>, officiating this environment is far closer to oil painting than it is mathematical proofs. Fouls are interpretations of a fluid game in which contact is legal, and referees must use words like “wind-up,” “follow-through,” “incidental,” and “reckless” (what does any of that mean?) to determine if something is a foul, a flagrant, a technical or nothing at all.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">In short, there is really no way to officiate a sport where contact is <em>kind of </em>legal<em>. </em>It’s not like football and hockey (which have plenty of officiating problems), where contact is <em>mostly </em>legal and something has to be fairly heinous to result in a foul for being <em>too </em>physical; basketball allows contact <em>to a certain extent. </em>What that extent is has evolved over time, such as throwing elbows, hand checking, the block-charge and more fun stuff we all complain about. All NBA refs are really doing is trying to keep the game safe and reasonably fair; an impossible task, but one they are heroically trusted with anyway.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The NBA has thus complicated officiating to no end, only watering the roots of an issue that have continued to grow. A blatantly incorrect reading of this situation is that the Oklahoma City Thunder foul-bait more than any other team — <a href="https://www.teamrankings.com/nba/stat/free-throws-attempted-per-game">they were 17th in free throw attempts per game this season</a>. Nor is it statistically provable to say that teams foul-bait more than ever, as team <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_stats_per_game.html">fouls-per-game has gone down sharply in recent NBA history. </a></p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">But teams have exploited the infinite complication of officiating to great effect, notably how pace, size and explosive super-athletes can create impossibly subjective interactions. Gilgeous-Alexander bears the brunt of this criticism, given that <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/1110576/nba-awards-picks-mvp-rookie-coach-of-the-year-roy-dpoy-all-nbateams">he’s likely about to be the league’s back-to-back MVP winner</a>, but he wasn’t even first in free-throw attempts this season. Everyone does it, and I think we really peaked with 2022 Giannis Antetokounmpo, who, for two playoff rounds, barreled into Nikola Vucevic and Grant Williams and whoever else dared to oppose him with impossible speed, power and extreme arm-angles that were <em>always </em>some kind of foul. On who? On Giannis? Who knew.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The root problem is that a shooting foul is the most valuable offensive action in basketball. With league-average shooting percentages, two free throws have an expected point-value of 1.57, while a three-pointer is worth 1.08 points and an at-rim look worth 1.20 points (<a href="https://fansided.com/author/ianlevy/">shoutout to Ian Levy</a> for pointing this out to me; it changed my life). If you can get your free-throw percentage up above average (>78 percent), now we’re really cooking something spicy. Gilgeous-Alexander shoots 88 percent from the line, so <em>by far </em>his best option on every possession is to get to the line.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Like with tanking and the draft lottery, if the NBA’s rules provide a clear best option to succeed, smart players and teams will always figure out how to maximize their return. It’s like when the MLB figured out walks were actually good — whatever macho man mentality (and steroids) sustained the “always swing and swing for power” world died in the darkness wrought by sabermetrics and taking a 3-1 fastball that’s a little high.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The NBA public freaking out about officiating these playoffs doesn’t actually want fewer fouls, they just want fouls to feel <em>like fouls </em>— you know, things that aren’t allowed, rather than the calculated, orchestrated manipulations of a subjective rule set and mathematical reality that they have become. A fix would be a point of emphasis from officials that <em>radically </em>expands the scope of “who initiated contact” and categorically refuse to call fouls when the offensive player visually initiates the interaction.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">But we all know how that would end: teams and players would reset, take some time to analyze the situation and then find whatever the new best way to get to the free-throw line is. Short of a literal <em>free-throw quota</em>, an insane idea that would turn the game into gladiatorial combat, teams will figure out how to foul-bait even if foul-baiting is outlawed. But an emphasis against offensive player-initiated defensive fouls would be a good start, given that this is all a visual question anyway — as said before, the total number of fouls has decreased in recent years. We’re solving a crisis of <em>confidence, </em>not an actual crisis.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Sports have their own built-in honor codes that are unique and deeply personal, but not flopping is generally agreed upon as lame by the people of the world. And those same people will shed blood, sweat and tearful Tweets when they believe the sanctity of the game they love is under assault. Maybe it isn’t, but it looks like it is. And keeping up appearances is key.</p></div></div> #NBA #officiating #crisis #mode #players #point

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People Just Keep Watching ‘The Acolyte’<img src="https://gizmodo.com/app/uploads/2026/04/the-acolyte-mae-1280x853.jpg" /><br><div> <p>It’s been almost two years since Disney and Lucasfilm <a href="https://gizmodo.com/the-acolyte-season-2-canceled-star-wars-disney-plus-2000488830">canceled <em>The Acolyte</em></a>, and pretty much everything we’ve heard about the show since has seemed to <a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-wars-acolyte-lee-jung-jae-racism-backlash-lucasfilm-2000533436">refute the backlash</a>—with Disney <a href="https://gizmodo.com/disney-acolyte-cancelation-costs-lucasfilm-star-wars-2000541990">citing cost concerns</a> rather than issues of quality, to the show itself ending up being Disney+’s <a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-wars-the-acolyte-was-the-second-most-watched-show-on-disney-last-year-2000555281">second biggest show</a> of 2024. Now, even with plenty more new <em>Star Wars</em> to watch since, it looks like the show’s still proving there was a demand for its ideas beneath the noise.</p> <p>This week <a href="https://flixpatrol.com/top10/disney/united-states/2026-04-23/">Flix Patro</a>l reported that <em>The Acolyte</em> returned to the top 10 streamed shows on Disney+ in the United States this week. On the one hand, it’s not too surprising—more new <em>Star Wars</em> typically leads to people watching old <em>Star Wars</em> as well, and the current number one show on the list is <a href="https://gizmodo.com/maul-shadow-lord-recap-episodes-5-6-empire-2000748520"><em>Maul: Shadow Lord</em></a>. Given the two shows’ parallels of <a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-wars-acolyte-manny-jacinto-interview-plagueis-stranger-2000476398">examining the dark side</a>, there’s certainly some crossover audience there, but it’s still interesting that it was <em>Acolyte</em> that pulled ahead more so than any other <em>Star Wars</em> show if <em>Maul</em> was the proverbial rising tide.</p> <p>Maybe the show is helped by being so far removed from the elevated controversy over it<em>—</em>the grifters who declared it the worst thing in the world have moved on <a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-trek-starfleet-academy-glasses-stephen-miller-william-shatner-2000712197">to other cycles</a> and suddenly no longer fervently care about the <a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-wars-the-acolyte-ki-adi-mundi-episode-4-cameo-1851547533">age of Ki-Adi-Mundi</a>, that’s for certain. Maybe, really, part of the fact that it’s a one-and-done thing people can check out as a “complete” story makes it easier to jump into.</p> <p>But without the noise <a href="https://gizmodo.com/leslye-headland-acolyte-cancelation-star-wars-2000689473">that dogged <em>Acolyte</em></a> throughout its broadcast—noise Disney rarely, if ever, did much to <a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-wars-acolyte-harassment-jodie-turner-smith-lucasfilm-2000508059">try and abate</a>—maybe people can just start seeing <em>The Acolyte</em> for what it was: a messy show with <a href="https://gizmodo.com/acolyte-episode-8-recap-osha-mae-yoda-plagueis-2000475769">interesting ideas</a> that deserved time to forge those ideas into something even bigger. Alas, we’ll have to make do with people seeing what it was all about in hindsight.</p> <blockquote><p>Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest <a href="https://gizmodo.com/marvel-release-dates-when-to-see-upcoming-mcu-movies-1848196856">Marvel</a>, <a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-wars-movies-tv-shows-release-dates-disney-1848494806">Star Wars</a>, and <a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-trek-release-dates-where-to-stream-picard-discover-1848839650">Star Trek</a> releases, what’s next for the <a href="https://gizmodo.com/warner-bros-dc-release-dates-hbo-max-cast-details-1848354161">DC Universe on film and TV</a>, and everything you need to know about the future of <a href="https://gizmodo.com/doctor-who-release-dates-streaming-ncuti-gatwa-rtd-1849745140">Doctor Who</a>.</p></blockquote> </div>#People #Watching #AcolyteLUCASFILM,Star Wars,The Acolyte

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A scintillating century by Sai Sudharsan was not enough as half centuries from Virat Kohli (81 off 44 balls) and Devdutt Padikkal (55 off 27 balls) helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeat Gujarat Titans by five wickets at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday night.

Batting first, GT posted 205 thanks to Sudharsan’s innings (100 of 58 balls), his third century overall in the IPL. GT looked well set to amass 230 at the halfway stage of the first innings.

But some tight bowling by the RCB bowlers in the back end of the innings, not conceding a single boundary in the last four, helped the home side pull things back.

The second innings would have panned out very differently had Washington Sundar held onto a simple catch when Kohli was batting at 0, but as it happened, the opening batter made the visitor pay for the costly drop.

Chasing totals is Kohli’s bread and butter and it was just not Kohli, but also Padikkal from the other end who managed the pace of the chase to perfection, unleashing the big shots at regular intervals to leave the middle order with very little to do.

GT staged a brief fightback in the back end of the innings by dismissing Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma in quick succession, but Krunal Pandya and Tim David took RCB home.

Published on Apr 24, 2026

#RCB #IPL #Kohli #Padikkal #fifties #trump #Sudharsan #century #Royal #Challengers #Bengaluru #wins">RCB vs GT IPL 2026: Kohli, Padikkal fifties trump Sudharsan century as Royal Challengers Bengaluru wins again A scintillating century by Sai Sudharsan was not enough as half centuries from Virat Kohli (81 off 44 balls) and Devdutt Padikkal (55 off 27 balls) helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeat Gujarat Titans by five wickets at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday night.Batting first, GT posted 205 thanks to Sudharsan’s innings (100 of 58 balls), his third century overall in the IPL. GT looked well set to amass 230 at the halfway stage of the first innings.But some tight bowling by the RCB bowlers in the back end of the innings, not conceding a single boundary in the last four, helped the home side pull things back.The second innings would have panned out very differently had Washington Sundar held onto a simple catch when Kohli was batting at 0, but as it happened, the opening batter made the visitor pay for the costly drop.Chasing totals is Kohli’s bread and butter and it was just not Kohli, but also Padikkal from the other end who managed the pace of the chase to perfection, unleashing the big shots at regular intervals to leave the middle order with very little to do.GT staged a brief fightback in the back end of the innings by dismissing Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma in quick succession, but Krunal Pandya and Tim David took RCB home.Published on Apr 24, 2026 #RCB #IPL #Kohli #Padikkal #fifties #trump #Sudharsan #century #Royal #Challengers #Bengaluru #wins

Deadspin | Alex Smalley, Hayden Springer team up for early lead at Zurich Apr 4, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Alex Smalley watches his shot on the first hole during the third round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer turned in a 14-under-par 58 on the first day of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, earning a one-shot lead at the PGA Tour’s only team event at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La. Smalley’s birdie-eagle-birdie start to the round ignited the pair, and Springer closed the day strong, responsible for birdies at Nos. 15-18. They weren’t the only team to go low, as Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat are on their tails following a 13-under 59. Seventy-four teams entered the unique event, where teams of two play four-ball (best ball) in the first and third rounds and foursomes (alternate shot) in the second and fourth rounds. The top 33 teams and ties will make the cut after 36 holes. Sam Stevens/Zach Bauchou, Nick Dunlap/Gordon Sargent and Eric Cole/Hank Lebioda are tied for third at 12 under. Billy Horschel/Tom Hoge were among a large group tied at 61. Meanwhile, the first-time pairing of Brooks Koepka and Irishman Shane Lowry settled for a 6-under 66, outside the top 50 as play wound down late Thursday. Thompson and Eckroat pulled off a 10-under-par run in a span of nine holes. Eckroat eagled the par-5 seventh, and the duo combined to birdie each of the next eight. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Alex #Smalley #Hayden #Springer #team #early #lead #ZurichApr 4, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Alex Smalley watches his shot on the first hole during the third round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer turned in a 14-under-par 58 on the first day of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, earning a one-shot lead at the PGA Tour’s only team event at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La.

Smalley’s birdie-eagle-birdie start to the round ignited the pair, and Springer closed the day strong, responsible for birdies at Nos. 15-18. They weren’t the only team to go low, as Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat are on their tails following a 13-under 59.


Seventy-four teams entered the unique event, where teams of two play four-ball (best ball) in the first and third rounds and foursomes (alternate shot) in the second and fourth rounds. The top 33 teams and ties will make the cut after 36 holes.

Sam Stevens/Zach Bauchou, Nick Dunlap/Gordon Sargent and Eric Cole/Hank Lebioda are tied for third at 12 under. Billy Horschel/Tom Hoge were among a large group tied at 61. Meanwhile, the first-time pairing of Brooks Koepka and Irishman Shane Lowry settled for a 6-under 66, outside the top 50 as play wound down late Thursday.

Thompson and Eckroat pulled off a 10-under-par run in a span of nine holes. Eckroat eagled the par-5 seventh, and the duo combined to birdie each of the next eight.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Alex #Smalley #Hayden #Springer #team #early #lead #Zurich">Deadspin | Alex Smalley, Hayden Springer team up for early lead at Zurich Apr 4, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Alex Smalley watches his shot on the first hole during the third round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer turned in a 14-under-par 58 on the first day of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, earning a one-shot lead at the PGA Tour’s only team event at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La. Smalley’s birdie-eagle-birdie start to the round ignited the pair, and Springer closed the day strong, responsible for birdies at Nos. 15-18. They weren’t the only team to go low, as Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat are on their tails following a 13-under 59. Seventy-four teams entered the unique event, where teams of two play four-ball (best ball) in the first and third rounds and foursomes (alternate shot) in the second and fourth rounds. The top 33 teams and ties will make the cut after 36 holes. Sam Stevens/Zach Bauchou, Nick Dunlap/Gordon Sargent and Eric Cole/Hank Lebioda are tied for third at 12 under. Billy Horschel/Tom Hoge were among a large group tied at 61. Meanwhile, the first-time pairing of Brooks Koepka and Irishman Shane Lowry settled for a 6-under 66, outside the top 50 as play wound down late Thursday. Thompson and Eckroat pulled off a 10-under-par run in a span of nine holes. Eckroat eagled the par-5 seventh, and the duo combined to birdie each of the next eight. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Alex #Smalley #Hayden #Springer #team #early #lead #Zurich

Two stoppage-time goals in the space of three minutes engineered a late turnaround as Sreenidi Deccan FC snatched a 2-1 win over 10-man Rajasthan United FC in its I-League 2025-26 Championship Phase match at the Namdhari Football Stadium.

The result helped the Deccan Warriors move to second place, while Rajasthan United was left to rue Shafeel PP’s red card that shifted the momentum. It remained fourth with its title hopes dented.

The match began scrappily, with both sides taking time to settle in the heat. Sreenidi Deccan enjoyed more of the early possession, but Rajasthan United gradually found control in midfield after the first quarter.

Rajasthan United took the lead in the 54th minute when Isaac Nortey struck from a free-kick 40 yards out, finding the top corner with a left-footed effort.

ALSO READ: India spots restricted to Asian Champions League 2, despite increase in berths in ACL Elite

The turning point came in the 60th minute when Shafeel PP was sent off for a push on Deepak, leaving Rajasthan United to play with 10 men for the remainder of the match.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Rajasthan United defended deep and held its lead for long periods, but Sreenidi Deccan found the breakthrough in stoppage time.

Habib Idrissou equalised in the second minute of added time, heading in from a long throw-in.

Three minutes later, Castaneda completed the turnaround with a right-footed free-kick from distance, sealing the win.

Published on Apr 24, 2026

#IFL #Sreenidi #strikes #stoppage #time #climb #Rajasthan #remains #fourth">IFL 2025-26: Sreenidi strikes twice in stoppage time to climb second; Rajasthan remains fourth Two stoppage-time goals in the space of three minutes engineered a late turnaround as Sreenidi Deccan FC snatched a 2-1 win over 10-man Rajasthan United FC in its I-League 2025-26 Championship Phase match at the Namdhari Football Stadium.The result helped the Deccan Warriors move to second place, while Rajasthan United was left to rue Shafeel PP’s red card that shifted the momentum. It remained fourth with its title hopes dented.The match began scrappily, with both sides taking time to settle in the heat. Sreenidi Deccan enjoyed more of the early possession, but Rajasthan United gradually found control in midfield after the first quarter.Rajasthan United took the lead in the 54th minute when Isaac Nortey struck from a free-kick 40 yards out, finding the top corner with a left-footed effort.ALSO READ: India spots restricted to Asian Champions League 2, despite increase in berths in ACL EliteThe turning point came in the 60th minute when Shafeel PP was sent off for a push on Deepak, leaving Rajasthan United to play with 10 men for the remainder of the match.Despite the numerical disadvantage, Rajasthan United defended deep and held its lead for long periods, but Sreenidi Deccan found the breakthrough in stoppage time.Habib Idrissou equalised in the second minute of added time, heading in from a long throw-in.Three minutes later, Castaneda completed the turnaround with a right-footed free-kick from distance, sealing the win.Published on Apr 24, 2026 #IFL #Sreenidi #strikes #stoppage #time #climb #Rajasthan #remains #fourth

India spots restricted to Asian Champions League 2, despite increase in berths in ACL Elite

The turning point came in the 60th minute when Shafeel PP was sent off for a push on Deepak, leaving Rajasthan United to play with 10 men for the remainder of the match.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Rajasthan United defended deep and held its lead for long periods, but Sreenidi Deccan found the breakthrough in stoppage time.

Habib Idrissou equalised in the second minute of added time, heading in from a long throw-in.

Three minutes later, Castaneda completed the turnaround with a right-footed free-kick from distance, sealing the win.

Published on Apr 24, 2026

#IFL #Sreenidi #strikes #stoppage #time #climb #Rajasthan #remains #fourth">IFL 2025-26: Sreenidi strikes twice in stoppage time to climb second; Rajasthan remains fourth

Two stoppage-time goals in the space of three minutes engineered a late turnaround as Sreenidi Deccan FC snatched a 2-1 win over 10-man Rajasthan United FC in its I-League 2025-26 Championship Phase match at the Namdhari Football Stadium.

The result helped the Deccan Warriors move to second place, while Rajasthan United was left to rue Shafeel PP’s red card that shifted the momentum. It remained fourth with its title hopes dented.

The match began scrappily, with both sides taking time to settle in the heat. Sreenidi Deccan enjoyed more of the early possession, but Rajasthan United gradually found control in midfield after the first quarter.

Rajasthan United took the lead in the 54th minute when Isaac Nortey struck from a free-kick 40 yards out, finding the top corner with a left-footed effort.

ALSO READ: India spots restricted to Asian Champions League 2, despite increase in berths in ACL Elite

The turning point came in the 60th minute when Shafeel PP was sent off for a push on Deepak, leaving Rajasthan United to play with 10 men for the remainder of the match.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Rajasthan United defended deep and held its lead for long periods, but Sreenidi Deccan found the breakthrough in stoppage time.

Habib Idrissou equalised in the second minute of added time, heading in from a long throw-in.

Three minutes later, Castaneda completed the turnaround with a right-footed free-kick from distance, sealing the win.

Published on Apr 24, 2026

#IFL #Sreenidi #strikes #stoppage #time #climb #Rajasthan #remains #fourth

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