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Deadspin | Carson Hocevar avoids Big One at Talladega, nabs 1st Cup Series win  Mar 29, 2026; Martinsville, Virginia, USA; Spire Motorsports driver Carson Hocevar (77) during practice at Martinsville Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images   Carson Hocevar told his fans on Instagram during the week he would win at Talladega Superspeedway.   He finally did his part to perfection on Sunday.  The Spire Motorsport driver recorded his first NASCAR Cup Series win, pulling away from Chris Buescher off the final turn in a three-lap shootout to win the wreck-ridden Jack Link’s 500 in Talladega, Ala.  The high-speed, 188-lap drafting race was interrupted by a chaotic accident on Lap 115 in Stage 2 that eliminated many competitors, but the two drivers ran side-by-side until Erik Jones, running third, wrecked with seven laps left.  Hocevar’s No. 77 Chevrolet then beat Buescher’s No. 17 Ford by 0.114 seconds for his first Cup win in his 91st start, becoming the 13th driver to notch his first-ever victory at the Alabama track.  As cars wrecked coming to the final flag, Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott and Zane Smith navigated their way to finish third through fifth, respectively.  Hocevar celebrated by sitting on his Chevy’s door, with his body halfway hanging out, and waved to the fans as he slowly drove by the flagstand then pointed the car nose-first against the wall and did a celebratory burnout.   But it took a moment or two to get it right.  “I’ve had this thought up for a while and I’ve messed it up every which way not to do it,” said Hocevar, who led Chevy to its fifth win in the past nine starts at Talladega and second overall in 2026. “I didn’t care if it took me 20 minutes or whatever, I was going to figure out how to do it.”   The 23-year-old Portage, Mich., native took to the social media platform this week and told his fans a win was in store.  “I knew we were going to win, and we did,” he said.   In typical Talladega fashion, the 2.66-mile superspeedway produced several different leaders moving back and forth, including Chad Finchum, making his second start in 2026, coming from the back in his No. 66 Ford along with Cody Ware and leading his first NASCAR laps as the race became 10 circuits old.  Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs led after the field pitted in three different large groups — a wild session full of mistakes, which featured JGR teammates Denny Hamlin cited for speeding and Chase Briscoe for a safety violation as he roared the pits.  After the varying pit strategies and infractions played out in Stage 1, Ryan Preece’s No. 60 took the checkers for the top points as RFK Racing led the charge. Teammates Brad Keselowski and Buescher were second and fourth, respectively, while Joey Logano was third, Ryan Blaney fifth and Josh Berry sixth — all in Fords.  The Big One, Talladega’s massive crash, occurred on Lap 115 in Stage 2 as the front of the pack got together when second-place Ross Chastain turned leader Bubba Wallace to start the season’s biggest track mayhem by far.  While the front four cars of Chastain, Preece, Buescher and Christopher Bell all drove away unscathed as bedlam unfolded behind them, 26 cars were sent spinning and sliding in a wreck that forced a red-flag condition of nearly 10 minutes.  In hard two-wide racing to end Stage 2, Chastain held off Bell while Buescher, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Todd Gilliland rounded out the first five under the checkers.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Carson #Hocevar #avoids #Big #Talladega #nabs #1st #Cup #Series #win

Deadspin | Carson Hocevar avoids Big One at Talladega, nabs 1st Cup Series win
Deadspin | Carson Hocevar avoids Big One at Talladega, nabs 1st Cup Series win  Mar 29, 2026; Martinsville, Virginia, USA; Spire Motorsports driver Carson Hocevar (77) during practice at Martinsville Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images   Carson Hocevar told his fans on Instagram during the week he would win at Talladega Superspeedway.   He finally did his part to perfection on Sunday.  The Spire Motorsport driver recorded his first NASCAR Cup Series win, pulling away from Chris Buescher off the final turn in a three-lap shootout to win the wreck-ridden Jack Link’s 500 in Talladega, Ala.  The high-speed, 188-lap drafting race was interrupted by a chaotic accident on Lap 115 in Stage 2 that eliminated many competitors, but the two drivers ran side-by-side until Erik Jones, running third, wrecked with seven laps left.  Hocevar’s No. 77 Chevrolet then beat Buescher’s No. 17 Ford by 0.114 seconds for his first Cup win in his 91st start, becoming the 13th driver to notch his first-ever victory at the Alabama track.  As cars wrecked coming to the final flag, Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott and Zane Smith navigated their way to finish third through fifth, respectively.  Hocevar celebrated by sitting on his Chevy’s door, with his body halfway hanging out, and waved to the fans as he slowly drove by the flagstand then pointed the car nose-first against the wall and did a celebratory burnout.   But it took a moment or two to get it right.  “I’ve had this thought up for a while and I’ve messed it up every which way not to do it,” said Hocevar, who led Chevy to its fifth win in the past nine starts at Talladega and second overall in 2026. “I didn’t care if it took me 20 minutes or whatever, I was going to figure out how to do it.”   The 23-year-old Portage, Mich., native took to the social media platform this week and told his fans a win was in store.  “I knew we were going to win, and we did,” he said.   In typical Talladega fashion, the 2.66-mile superspeedway produced several different leaders moving back and forth, including Chad Finchum, making his second start in 2026, coming from the back in his No. 66 Ford along with Cody Ware and leading his first NASCAR laps as the race became 10 circuits old.  Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs led after the field pitted in three different large groups — a wild session full of mistakes, which featured JGR teammates Denny Hamlin cited for speeding and Chase Briscoe for a safety violation as he roared the pits.  After the varying pit strategies and infractions played out in Stage 1, Ryan Preece’s No. 60 took the checkers for the top points as RFK Racing led the charge. Teammates Brad Keselowski and Buescher were second and fourth, respectively, while Joey Logano was third, Ryan Blaney fifth and Josh Berry sixth — all in Fords.  The Big One, Talladega’s massive crash, occurred on Lap 115 in Stage 2 as the front of the pack got together when second-place Ross Chastain turned leader Bubba Wallace to start the season’s biggest track mayhem by far.  While the front four cars of Chastain, Preece, Buescher and Christopher Bell all drove away unscathed as bedlam unfolded behind them, 26 cars were sent spinning and sliding in a wreck that forced a red-flag condition of nearly 10 minutes.  In hard two-wide racing to end Stage 2, Chastain held off Bell while Buescher, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Todd Gilliland rounded out the first five under the checkers.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Carson #Hocevar #avoids #Big #Talladega #nabs #1st #Cup #Series #winMar 29, 2026; Martinsville, Virginia, USA; Spire Motorsports driver Carson Hocevar (77) during practice at Martinsville Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Carson Hocevar told his fans on Instagram during the week he would win at Talladega Superspeedway.

He finally did his part to perfection on Sunday.

The Spire Motorsport driver recorded his first NASCAR Cup Series win, pulling away from Chris Buescher off the final turn in a three-lap shootout to win the wreck-ridden Jack Link’s 500 in Talladega, Ala.

The high-speed, 188-lap drafting race was interrupted by a chaotic accident on Lap 115 in Stage 2 that eliminated many competitors, but the two drivers ran side-by-side until Erik Jones, running third, wrecked with seven laps left.

Hocevar’s No. 77 Chevrolet then beat Buescher’s No. 17 Ford by 0.114 seconds for his first Cup win in his 91st start, becoming the 13th driver to notch his first-ever victory at the Alabama track.

As cars wrecked coming to the final flag, Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott and Zane Smith navigated their way to finish third through fifth, respectively.

Hocevar celebrated by sitting on his Chevy’s door, with his body halfway hanging out, and waved to the fans as he slowly drove by the flagstand then pointed the car nose-first against the wall and did a celebratory burnout.

But it took a moment or two to get it right.


“I’ve had this thought up for a while and I’ve messed it up every which way not to do it,” said Hocevar, who led Chevy to its fifth win in the past nine starts at Talladega and second overall in 2026. “I didn’t care if it took me 20 minutes or whatever, I was going to figure out how to do it.”

The 23-year-old Portage, Mich., native took to the social media platform this week and told his fans a win was in store.

“I knew we were going to win, and we did,” he said.

In typical Talladega fashion, the 2.66-mile superspeedway produced several different leaders moving back and forth, including Chad Finchum, making his second start in 2026, coming from the back in his No. 66 Ford along with Cody Ware and leading his first NASCAR laps as the race became 10 circuits old.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs led after the field pitted in three different large groups — a wild session full of mistakes, which featured JGR teammates Denny Hamlin cited for speeding and Chase Briscoe for a safety violation as he roared the pits.

After the varying pit strategies and infractions played out in Stage 1, Ryan Preece’s No. 60 took the checkers for the top points as RFK Racing led the charge. Teammates Brad Keselowski and Buescher were second and fourth, respectively, while Joey Logano was third, Ryan Blaney fifth and Josh Berry sixth — all in Fords.

The Big One, Talladega’s massive crash, occurred on Lap 115 in Stage 2 as the front of the pack got together when second-place Ross Chastain turned leader Bubba Wallace to start the season’s biggest track mayhem by far.

While the front four cars of Chastain, Preece, Buescher and Christopher Bell all drove away unscathed as bedlam unfolded behind them, 26 cars were sent spinning and sliding in a wreck that forced a red-flag condition of nearly 10 minutes.

In hard two-wide racing to end Stage 2, Chastain held off Bell while Buescher, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Todd Gilliland rounded out the first five under the checkers.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Carson #Hocevar #avoids #Big #Talladega #nabs #1st #Cup #Series #win

Mar 29, 2026; Martinsville, Virginia, USA; Spire Motorsports driver Carson Hocevar (77) during practice at Martinsville Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Carson Hocevar told his fans on Instagram during the week he would win at Talladega Superspeedway.

He finally did his part to perfection on Sunday.

The Spire Motorsport driver recorded his first NASCAR Cup Series win, pulling away from Chris Buescher off the final turn in a three-lap shootout to win the wreck-ridden Jack Link’s 500 in Talladega, Ala.

The high-speed, 188-lap drafting race was interrupted by a chaotic accident on Lap 115 in Stage 2 that eliminated many competitors, but the two drivers ran side-by-side until Erik Jones, running third, wrecked with seven laps left.

Hocevar’s No. 77 Chevrolet then beat Buescher’s No. 17 Ford by 0.114 seconds for his first Cup win in his 91st start, becoming the 13th driver to notch his first-ever victory at the Alabama track.

As cars wrecked coming to the final flag, Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott and Zane Smith navigated their way to finish third through fifth, respectively.

Hocevar celebrated by sitting on his Chevy’s door, with his body halfway hanging out, and waved to the fans as he slowly drove by the flagstand then pointed the car nose-first against the wall and did a celebratory burnout.

But it took a moment or two to get it right.

“I’ve had this thought up for a while and I’ve messed it up every which way not to do it,” said Hocevar, who led Chevy to its fifth win in the past nine starts at Talladega and second overall in 2026. “I didn’t care if it took me 20 minutes or whatever, I was going to figure out how to do it.”

The 23-year-old Portage, Mich., native took to the social media platform this week and told his fans a win was in store.

“I knew we were going to win, and we did,” he said.

In typical Talladega fashion, the 2.66-mile superspeedway produced several different leaders moving back and forth, including Chad Finchum, making his second start in 2026, coming from the back in his No. 66 Ford along with Cody Ware and leading his first NASCAR laps as the race became 10 circuits old.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs led after the field pitted in three different large groups — a wild session full of mistakes, which featured JGR teammates Denny Hamlin cited for speeding and Chase Briscoe for a safety violation as he roared the pits.

After the varying pit strategies and infractions played out in Stage 1, Ryan Preece’s No. 60 took the checkers for the top points as RFK Racing led the charge. Teammates Brad Keselowski and Buescher were second and fourth, respectively, while Joey Logano was third, Ryan Blaney fifth and Josh Berry sixth — all in Fords.

The Big One, Talladega’s massive crash, occurred on Lap 115 in Stage 2 as the front of the pack got together when second-place Ross Chastain turned leader Bubba Wallace to start the season’s biggest track mayhem by far.

While the front four cars of Chastain, Preece, Buescher and Christopher Bell all drove away unscathed as bedlam unfolded behind them, 26 cars were sent spinning and sliding in a wreck that forced a red-flag condition of nearly 10 minutes.

In hard two-wide racing to end Stage 2, Chastain held off Bell while Buescher, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Todd Gilliland rounded out the first five under the checkers.

–Field Level Media

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Indian sports wrap, April 27: Rugby Premier League to have women’s franchises; S8UL to represent India at Worlds <div id="content-body-70911219" itemprop="articleBody"><h4 class="sub_head">RUGBY</h4><p><b>Rugby Premier League Season 2 introduces women’s franchises</b></p><p>The second edition of the Rugby Premier League will introduce women’s franchises, building on the success of the men’s league in the 2025 season.</p><p>Four of the existing six men’s teams—Chennai Bulls (owned by Avid Sys Sports), Delhi Redz (owned by RMZ Corp), Mumbai Dreamers (owned by Dream Sports), and Kolkata Banga Tigers (owned by Hunch Ventures), formerly Kalinga Black Tigers and now relocated from Bhubaneswar to Kolkata—will also field women’s teams.</p><p>“It has always been our dream at Rugby India to have an RPL Women’s edition. This year, that dream comes to fruition,” Rahul Bose, President, Rugby India, said.</p><p>The 2026 edition of the Rugby Premier League is scheduled to be held from June 16–28 at Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad. The player draft and auction for the four women’s teams and six men’s teams, including Hyderabad Heroes and Bengaluru Bravehearts, will take place in Hyderabad on April 30.</p><p>Sujoy Ganguly, CMO, GMR Sports, added, “At GMR Sports, we have always believed in building platforms that drive meaningful change in Indian sport. The inclusion of women’s teams in the Rugby Premier League is a natural and important progression for the league.”</p><h4 class="sub_head">ESPORTS</h4><p><b>S8UL wins national qualifier to seal spot in Pokémon UNITE World Championship</b></p><p>S8UL won the India Qualifier of the Pokémon UNITE World Championship Series 2026, and will now represent the country at the Worlds in San Francisco between August 28 and 30.</p><p>The tournament will feature a prize pool of USD 500,000 (~INR 4.7 crore).</p><p>The India Qualifier featured a double-elimination format, with all matches played as best-of-three series except the grand finals, which were contested in a best-of-five showdown.</p><p>Led by Captain Manmohan Singh (All Might), the S8UL roster comprising Anklesh Satelkar (Novaa), Darshan Nate (Kai), Naitik Jain (Wolf), and Md Sarim Hasan (Qing) delivered a commanding performance throughout the tournament.</p><p>With the win in the qualifier, S8UL claimed USD 15,000 (~INR 14.1 lakh) from the tournament’s overall USD 25,000 (~INR 23.5 lakh) prize pool.</p><p>“For us, the focus was on staying disciplined, communicating clearly, and adapting quickly in every match. I’m proud of the way everyone on the team stepped up when it mattered most,” Manmohan Singh, aka All Might, Captain of S8UL’s Pokémon UNITE team, said.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 27, 2026</p></div> #Indian #sports #wrap #April #Rugby #Premier #League #womens #franchises #S8UL #represent #India #Worlds

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Wild Karen Cuts The Lines Of A Boom Lift While The Worker Was Elevated Because They Were Working Outside Her Home

Police said on Monday they are investigating the death of South Africa FIFA World Cup player Jayden Adams, after his body was discovered this weekend at a property in the city of Cape Town.

The 25-year-old Adams died two weeks after helping South Africa reach the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time.

Authorities have not released a cause of death.

“Cape Town central police registered an inquest for investigation following the discovery of the body of a 25-year-old male on Saturday,” police said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. “Circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation.”

Police said the body was discovered at a property in the Cape Town neighborhood of Schotsche Kloof at around 11 a.m. on Saturday, but gave no more details.

Adams’ father, Juanito Adams, told South African TV news station eNCA on Sunday that the family was waiting for the results of an autopsy and had not yet made any funeral plans.

“As you all know, it was an untimely death. The family is struggling to process it,” Juanito Adams said. “It won’t be easy to carry on. People say it will become easier, but it won’t. You just learn to live with it.”

Adams played in all three of South Africa’s group games as it produced its best performance at the World Cup. He did not feature in the 0-1 loss to Canada in the round of 32 on June 28.

South Africa Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie said Adams had played in his team’s group game against Czech Republic hours after learning that his grandmother had died. McKenzie asked the public and media to “exercise restraint and compassion” and not speculate on the cause of Adams’ death while authorities conduct an investigation.

There were moments of silence and tributes for Adams at the England vs. Norway and Argentina vs. Switzerland World Cup quarterfinal games on Saturday.

Published on Jul 13, 2026

#South #Africa #footballer #Jayden #Adams #death #investigated #police">South Africa footballer Jayden Adams’ death to be investigated by police  Police said on Monday they are investigating the death of South Africa FIFA World Cup player Jayden Adams, after his body was discovered this weekend at a property in the city of Cape Town.The 25-year-old Adams died two weeks after helping South Africa reach the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time.Authorities have not released a cause of death.“Cape Town central police registered an inquest for investigation following the discovery of the body of a 25-year-old male on Saturday,” police said in a statement sent to        The Associated Press. “Circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation.”Police said the body was discovered at a property in the Cape Town neighborhood of Schotsche Kloof at around 11 a.m. on Saturday, but gave no more details.Adams’ father, Juanito Adams, told South African TV news station        eNCA on Sunday that the family was waiting for the results of an autopsy and had not yet made any funeral plans.“As you all know, it was an untimely death. The family is struggling to process it,” Juanito Adams said. “It won’t be easy to carry on. People say it will become easier, but it won’t. You just learn to live with it.”Adams played in all three of South Africa’s group games as it produced its best performance at the World Cup. He did not feature in the 0-1 loss to Canada in the round of 32 on June 28.South Africa Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie said Adams had played in his team’s group game against Czech Republic hours after learning that his grandmother had died. McKenzie asked the public and media to “exercise restraint and compassion” and not speculate on the cause of Adams’ death while authorities conduct an investigation.There were moments of silence and tributes for Adams at the England vs. Norway and Argentina vs. Switzerland World Cup quarterfinal games on Saturday.Published on Jul 13, 2026  #South #Africa #footballer #Jayden #Adams #death #investigated #police

Deadspin | Reds place LHP Nick Lodolo (finger blister) on 15-day injured list  Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo (40) pitches in the second inning between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Saturday, July 11, 2026.   The Cincinnati Reds placed starting pitcher Nick Lodolo on the 15-day injured list on Sunday because of a blister on his left index finger.  In a corresponding move, the Reds recalled rookie right-hander Chase Petty from Triple-A Louisville.  Finger blisters have been an issue for Lodolo, who exited Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the visiting Chicago Cubs after allowing Carson Kelly’s leadoff homer in the sixth inning. Lodolo, 28, was making his 12th start since beginning the season on the injured list after a blister on the same finger developed on March 22.  The left-hander allowed two runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts in five-plus innings on Saturday. Lodolo said he felt something while warming up for the sixth but didn’t see anything on the finger until after Kelly’s blast.  Lodolo is 3-2 this season with a 4.60 ERA, 27 walks and 50 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings over the 12 starts.  For his career, Lodolo is 27-24 with one save, a 4.13 ERA, 144 walks and 506 strikeouts in 472 1/3 innings over 88 regular-season games (87 starts) since 2022.  He also went on the injured list because of blisters in 2024 and 2025 and missed time while a minor leaguer in 2021. Cincinnati selected Lodolo in the first round (seventh overall) in the 2019 MLB Draft out of TCU.   Lodolo is looking for answers on how to prevent blisters in the future, and is considering changing the grip on his breaking ball. Reds manager Terry Francona said the club is discussing ideas with him.  “Nick even mentioned it last night talking to him. Saying that, you really got to think it through,” Francona said. “Because for me to sit here in my chair and say, ‘Well, just move your finger over to the side.’  “The kid’s been pitching like this his whole life. I agree the blister is not good. If you hurt your shoulder (changing grips), there’s got to be some pulling back on the reins a little bit and not jumping in until you know something can really help.”  Petty, 23, is 1-2 with one save, a 4.38 ERA, seven walks and 11 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings over 11 games (two starts) for Cincinnati this season.  Minnesota drafted Petty in the first round (26th overall) in 2021. The Twins traded him to the Reds in March 2022 for right-hander Sonny Gray and minor league pitcher Francis Peguero.  Petty is a career 1-5 with one save, a 7.34 ERA, 15 walks and 18 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings over 14 games (four starts) since making his major league debut in 2025.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Reds #place #LHP #Nick #Lodolo #finger #blister #15day #injured #listCincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo (40) pitches in the second inning between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Saturday, July 11, 2026.

The Cincinnati Reds placed starting pitcher Nick Lodolo on the 15-day injured list on Sunday because of a blister on his left index finger.

In a corresponding move, the Reds recalled rookie right-hander Chase Petty from Triple-A Louisville.

Finger blisters have been an issue for Lodolo, who exited Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the visiting Chicago Cubs after allowing Carson Kelly’s leadoff homer in the sixth inning. Lodolo, 28, was making his 12th start since beginning the season on the injured list after a blister on the same finger developed on March 22.

The left-hander allowed two runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts in five-plus innings on Saturday. Lodolo said he felt something while warming up for the sixth but didn’t see anything on the finger until after Kelly’s blast.

Lodolo is 3-2 this season with a 4.60 ERA, 27 walks and 50 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings over the 12 starts.

For his career, Lodolo is 27-24 with one save, a 4.13 ERA, 144 walks and 506 strikeouts in 472 1/3 innings over 88 regular-season games (87 starts) since 2022.


He also went on the injured list because of blisters in 2024 and 2025 and missed time while a minor leaguer in 2021. Cincinnati selected Lodolo in the first round (seventh overall) in the 2019 MLB Draft out of TCU.

Lodolo is looking for answers on how to prevent blisters in the future, and is considering changing the grip on his breaking ball. Reds manager Terry Francona said the club is discussing ideas with him.

“Nick even mentioned it last night talking to him. Saying that, you really got to think it through,” Francona said. “Because for me to sit here in my chair and say, ‘Well, just move your finger over to the side.’

“The kid’s been pitching like this his whole life. I agree the blister is not good. If you hurt your shoulder (changing grips), there’s got to be some pulling back on the reins a little bit and not jumping in until you know something can really help.”

Petty, 23, is 1-2 with one save, a 4.38 ERA, seven walks and 11 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings over 11 games (two starts) for Cincinnati this season.

Minnesota drafted Petty in the first round (26th overall) in 2021. The Twins traded him to the Reds in March 2022 for right-hander Sonny Gray and minor league pitcher Francis Peguero.

Petty is a career 1-5 with one save, a 7.34 ERA, 15 walks and 18 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings over 14 games (four starts) since making his major league debut in 2025.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Reds #place #LHP #Nick #Lodolo #finger #blister #15day #injured #list">Deadspin | Reds place LHP Nick Lodolo (finger blister) on 15-day injured list  Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo (40) pitches in the second inning between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Saturday, July 11, 2026.   The Cincinnati Reds placed starting pitcher Nick Lodolo on the 15-day injured list on Sunday because of a blister on his left index finger.  In a corresponding move, the Reds recalled rookie right-hander Chase Petty from Triple-A Louisville.  Finger blisters have been an issue for Lodolo, who exited Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the visiting Chicago Cubs after allowing Carson Kelly’s leadoff homer in the sixth inning. Lodolo, 28, was making his 12th start since beginning the season on the injured list after a blister on the same finger developed on March 22.  The left-hander allowed two runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts in five-plus innings on Saturday. Lodolo said he felt something while warming up for the sixth but didn’t see anything on the finger until after Kelly’s blast.  Lodolo is 3-2 this season with a 4.60 ERA, 27 walks and 50 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings over the 12 starts.  For his career, Lodolo is 27-24 with one save, a 4.13 ERA, 144 walks and 506 strikeouts in 472 1/3 innings over 88 regular-season games (87 starts) since 2022.  He also went on the injured list because of blisters in 2024 and 2025 and missed time while a minor leaguer in 2021. Cincinnati selected Lodolo in the first round (seventh overall) in the 2019 MLB Draft out of TCU.   Lodolo is looking for answers on how to prevent blisters in the future, and is considering changing the grip on his breaking ball. Reds manager Terry Francona said the club is discussing ideas with him.  “Nick even mentioned it last night talking to him. Saying that, you really got to think it through,” Francona said. “Because for me to sit here in my chair and say, ‘Well, just move your finger over to the side.’  “The kid’s been pitching like this his whole life. I agree the blister is not good. If you hurt your shoulder (changing grips), there’s got to be some pulling back on the reins a little bit and not jumping in until you know something can really help.”  Petty, 23, is 1-2 with one save, a 4.38 ERA, seven walks and 11 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings over 11 games (two starts) for Cincinnati this season.  Minnesota drafted Petty in the first round (26th overall) in 2021. The Twins traded him to the Reds in March 2022 for right-hander Sonny Gray and minor league pitcher Francis Peguero.  Petty is a career 1-5 with one save, a 7.34 ERA, 15 walks and 18 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings over 14 games (four starts) since making his major league debut in 2025.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Reds #place #LHP #Nick #Lodolo #finger #blister #15day #injured #list

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