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RR vs DC, IPL 2026: Starc returns as Delhi Capitals looks to rescue season against Rajasthan Royals  About 300 kilometres separate Delhi and Jaipur. The difference in quality of the cricket played by the franchises from the two northern Indian cities has been greater in IPL 2026.While Rajasthan Royals is well placed to claim a berth in the playoffs, Delhi Capitals is lying in the bottom half of the table. And after a nightmare of a match at home against Royal Challengers Bengaluru earlier this week, Axar Patel’s men have to come up with a much better effort against Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Friday.Lightning usually doesn’t strike twice, and Capitals’ batting lineup is strong enough not to collapse for another score like 75. In just the previous match, K.L. Rahul alone had made more than double that total. Capitals made in excess of 260 against Punjab Kings but still lost.When you cannot defend that big a score in one game and then get bowled out for an embarrassingly low total in the next, you certainly have to do something. And time is running out.WATCH: VIDEO | ‘T20 cricket today is driven by entertainment,’ says SRH spin-bowling coach MuralitharanDelhi should be hoping for another major innings from Rahul, and from Nitish Rana, too. The two men had destroyed the PBKS bowling in some style.On the bowling front, there is some good news. Mitchell Starc is available for the first time this season. The left-arm quick from Down Under will no doubt bolster the attack that received a setback through Lungi Ngdi’s fall during the match against Punjab.How Vaibhav Suryanvashi greets Starc is definitely worth looking forward to. The prodigy’s fearless batting has perhaps been the highlight of this IPL. Into just his second season, he already has two hundreds. His opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel also ensure runs at the top of the order.As for bowling, you cannot hope for many better men than Jofra Archer to lead.Published on Apr 30, 2026  #IPL #Starc #returns #Delhi #Capitals #rescue #season #Rajasthan #Royals

RR vs DC, IPL 2026: Starc returns as Delhi Capitals looks to rescue season against Rajasthan Royals

About 300 kilometres separate Delhi and Jaipur. The difference in quality of the cricket played by the franchises from the two northern Indian cities has been greater in IPL 2026.

While Rajasthan Royals is well placed to claim a berth in the playoffs, Delhi Capitals is lying in the bottom half of the table. And after a nightmare of a match at home against Royal Challengers Bengaluru earlier this week, Axar Patel’s men have to come up with a much better effort against Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Friday.

Lightning usually doesn’t strike twice, and Capitals’ batting lineup is strong enough not to collapse for another score like 75. In just the previous match, K.L. Rahul alone had made more than double that total. Capitals made in excess of 260 against Punjab Kings but still lost.

When you cannot defend that big a score in one game and then get bowled out for an embarrassingly low total in the next, you certainly have to do something. And time is running out.

WATCH: VIDEO | ‘T20 cricket today is driven by entertainment,’ says SRH spin-bowling coach Muralitharan

Delhi should be hoping for another major innings from Rahul, and from Nitish Rana, too. The two men had destroyed the PBKS bowling in some style.

On the bowling front, there is some good news. Mitchell Starc is available for the first time this season. The left-arm quick from Down Under will no doubt bolster the attack that received a setback through Lungi Ngdi’s fall during the match against Punjab.

How Vaibhav Suryanvashi greets Starc is definitely worth looking forward to. The prodigy’s fearless batting has perhaps been the highlight of this IPL. Into just his second season, he already has two hundreds. His opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel also ensure runs at the top of the order.

As for bowling, you cannot hope for many better men than Jofra Archer to lead.

Published on Apr 30, 2026

#IPL #Starc #returns #Delhi #Capitals #rescue #season #Rajasthan #Royals

About 300 kilometres separate Delhi and Jaipur. The difference in quality of the cricket played by the franchises from the two northern Indian cities has been greater in IPL 2026.

While Rajasthan Royals is well placed to claim a berth in the playoffs, Delhi Capitals is lying in the bottom half of the table. And after a nightmare of a match at home against Royal Challengers Bengaluru earlier this week, Axar Patel’s men have to come up with a much better effort against Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Friday.

Lightning usually doesn’t strike twice, and Capitals’ batting lineup is strong enough not to collapse for another score like 75. In just the previous match, K.L. Rahul alone had made more than double that total. Capitals made in excess of 260 against Punjab Kings but still lost.

When you cannot defend that big a score in one game and then get bowled out for an embarrassingly low total in the next, you certainly have to do something. And time is running out.

WATCH: VIDEO | ‘T20 cricket today is driven by entertainment,’ says SRH spin-bowling coach Muralitharan

Delhi should be hoping for another major innings from Rahul, and from Nitish Rana, too. The two men had destroyed the PBKS bowling in some style.

On the bowling front, there is some good news. Mitchell Starc is available for the first time this season. The left-arm quick from Down Under will no doubt bolster the attack that received a setback through Lungi Ngdi’s fall during the match against Punjab.

How Vaibhav Suryanvashi greets Starc is definitely worth looking forward to. The prodigy’s fearless batting has perhaps been the highlight of this IPL. Into just his second season, he already has two hundreds. His opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel also ensure runs at the top of the order.

As for bowling, you cannot hope for many better men than Jofra Archer to lead.

Published on Apr 30, 2026

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#IPL #Starc #returns #Delhi #Capitals #rescue #season #Rajasthan #Royals

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Deadspin | Reports: LIV Golf players in scramble mode with PIF funding to expire <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/25827245.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/25827245.jpg" alt="Syndication: Palm Beach Post" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">From left front, Joaquin Niemann, Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed, Bryson Dechambeau, Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia, Charl Schwartzel, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Cam Smith and Tyrell Hatton at media day ahead of LIV Golf Miami at Trump National Doral Miami on April 2, 2025.<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>If LIV Golf cannot come up with funding to sustain all elements of operation beyond 2026, the obvious question becomes where do the likes of Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Talor Gooch tee it up in 2027?</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>According to multiple reports, the PGA Tour and DP World Tour are “listening” to players who reach out about shifting circuits. The PGA Tour already has welcomed back Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed with tour-mandated stipulations accepted by both players as terms of their return. </p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Golf Digest reported several LIV player reps have been in contact with PGA Tour officials with their future clouded by the financial impact of the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund divesting in the breakaway league at the end of the season.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil said during the Mexico City event there is urgency in restructuring a sustainable model to move forward.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>“The reality is you’re funded through the season and then you work like crazy as a business to create a business and a business plan to keep us going,” O’Neil said. “But that’s not different from any other private equity-funded business in the history of man.”</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>If initial efforts stall or fail, the queue out of LIV Golf could form quickly, presuming the prized golfers on the circuit find a suitable landing spot. </p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and DeChambeau were among early defectors away from the PGA Tour to LIV. Rahm, openly anti-LIV initially, would later join the circuit on a massive payday. </p> </section><br/><section id="section-8"> <p>DeChambeau, Cameron Smith and Rahm reportedly turned down the opportunity to return to the PGA Tour earlier this year. </p> </section> <section id="section-9"> <p>But the majority of the funding came from PIF, and that well is being turned off at the end of the current season. </p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>The PIF provided LIV a $5 billion bankroll, but the league has reportedly lost millions of dollars every year. Earlier this month, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, PIF’s governor and LIV’s main financial backer, shared a plan for the kingdom to cut back on international investments and focus on more domestic projects. Al-Rumayyan is expected to make his resignation as LIV chairman official as soon as Thursday.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>According to MSN.com, some LIV players have reached out to the DP World Tour.</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>“At the moment, we’re in the mode of just listening because we don’t know any more than anyone else does”, DP World Tour chief executive Guy Kinnings told MSN. “But we’ll listen and we’ll make sure that we’re fully informed before we make the decisions that we need to do. But for sure, there are people who are concerned and we will be having conversations with them at the right time.”</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp established a short-term option for players to rejoin the tour. The “Returning Member Program” was created as a pathway for players who had been away from the tour for at least two years and who had won either the Players Championship or any of the four major championships from 2022 to 2025. Players had until Feb. 2 to accept the offer. </p> </section><section id="section-14"> <p>The terms of rejoining the Tour likely are to be heavily tilted to the PGA’s favor for anyone associated with the antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour. DeChambeau was a prominent and vocal part of the suit. </p> </section><section id="section-15"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #Reports #LIV #Golf #players #scramble #mode #PIF #funding #expire

The FIFA Congress opened on Thursday without Iran, its delegation’s absence underscoring ​the geopolitical tensions and logistical fault lines hanging over the ‌upcoming World Cup.

Iranian football federation officials, including president ​Mehdi Taj, were due to attend the ⁠gathering but turned back at Toronto airport after what Tehran described as “unacceptable behaviour” by Canadian immigration authorities, despite travelling with valid ‌visas.

A source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters two members of the delegation could ‌have attended the FIFA congress but chose not ‌to ⁠after one of their delegation was denied ⁠entry into Canada.

READ | Canadian official backs up report that Iranian football chiefs were denied entry for FIFA event

No seats were set up for Iran at the Vancouver Convention Centre, a Reuters reporter witnessed, as 210 of the 211 ​member associations were shown ‌as present.

Canadian officials said entry decisions were made on a case-by-case basis and reiterated that individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Ottawa designates as ‌a terrorist organisation, are inadmissible.

Taj is a former ​member of the IRGC.

The incident leaves one of the most politically sensitive delegations absent from ⁠FIFA’s annual gathering, depriving the congress of direct representation from a country whose presence at the 2026 World Cup ‌is already shaping behind-the-scenes discussions.

The issue is particularly acute given the tournament’s cross-border nature.

The expanded 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico, will require teams, officials and support staff to move repeatedly between jurisdictions, raising the prospect that visa restrictions or diplomatic ‌frictions could complicate planning for certain nations.

Iran has already qualified for ​the tournament, but its participation has been fraught, with Tehran requesting alternative venues for matches ⁠on U.S. soil.

FIFA has rejected the request, insisting the schedule ⁠would stand.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week Washington had no objections to Iranian ‌players participating in the World Cup but added that the players would not be allowed to bring with ​them people with ties to the IRGC. 

Published on Apr 30, 2026

#Iran #delegation #attended #FIFA #congress #chose #source">Two of Iran delegation could have attended FIFA congress but chose not to, source says  The FIFA Congress opened on Thursday without Iran, its delegation’s absence underscoring ​the geopolitical tensions and logistical fault lines hanging over the ‌upcoming World Cup.Iranian football federation officials, including president ​Mehdi Taj, were due to attend the ⁠gathering but turned back at Toronto airport after what Tehran described as “unacceptable behaviour” by Canadian immigration authorities, despite travelling with valid ‌visas.A source with direct knowledge of the matter told        Reuters two members of the delegation could ‌have attended the FIFA congress but chose not ‌to ⁠after one of their delegation was denied ⁠entry into Canada.READ  |         Canadian official backs up report that Iranian football chiefs were denied entry for FIFA eventNo seats were set up for Iran at the Vancouver Convention Centre, a        Reuters reporter witnessed, as 210 of the 211 ​member associations were shown ‌as present.Canadian officials said entry decisions were made on a case-by-case basis and reiterated that individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Ottawa designates as ‌a terrorist organisation, are inadmissible.Taj is a former ​member of the IRGC.The incident leaves one of the most politically sensitive delegations absent from ⁠FIFA’s annual gathering, depriving the congress of direct representation from a country whose presence at the 2026 World Cup ‌is already shaping behind-the-scenes discussions.The issue is particularly acute given the tournament’s cross-border nature.The expanded 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico, will require teams, officials and support staff to move repeatedly between jurisdictions, raising the prospect that visa restrictions or diplomatic ‌frictions could complicate planning for certain nations.Iran has already qualified for ​the tournament, but its participation has been fraught, with Tehran requesting alternative venues for matches ⁠on U.S. soil.FIFA has rejected the request, insisting the schedule ⁠would stand.U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week Washington had no objections to Iranian ‌players participating in the World Cup but added that the players would not be allowed to bring with ​them people with ties to the IRGC. Published on Apr 30, 2026  #Iran #delegation #attended #FIFA #congress #chose #source

Canadian official backs up report that Iranian football chiefs were denied entry for FIFA event

No seats were set up for Iran at the Vancouver Convention Centre, a Reuters reporter witnessed, as 210 of the 211 ​member associations were shown ‌as present.

Canadian officials said entry decisions were made on a case-by-case basis and reiterated that individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Ottawa designates as ‌a terrorist organisation, are inadmissible.

Taj is a former ​member of the IRGC.

The incident leaves one of the most politically sensitive delegations absent from ⁠FIFA’s annual gathering, depriving the congress of direct representation from a country whose presence at the 2026 World Cup ‌is already shaping behind-the-scenes discussions.

The issue is particularly acute given the tournament’s cross-border nature.

The expanded 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico, will require teams, officials and support staff to move repeatedly between jurisdictions, raising the prospect that visa restrictions or diplomatic ‌frictions could complicate planning for certain nations.

Iran has already qualified for ​the tournament, but its participation has been fraught, with Tehran requesting alternative venues for matches ⁠on U.S. soil.

FIFA has rejected the request, insisting the schedule ⁠would stand.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week Washington had no objections to Iranian ‌players participating in the World Cup but added that the players would not be allowed to bring with ​them people with ties to the IRGC. 

Published on Apr 30, 2026

#Iran #delegation #attended #FIFA #congress #chose #source">Two of Iran delegation could have attended FIFA congress but chose not to, source says

The FIFA Congress opened on Thursday without Iran, its delegation’s absence underscoring ​the geopolitical tensions and logistical fault lines hanging over the ‌upcoming World Cup.

Iranian football federation officials, including president ​Mehdi Taj, were due to attend the ⁠gathering but turned back at Toronto airport after what Tehran described as “unacceptable behaviour” by Canadian immigration authorities, despite travelling with valid ‌visas.

A source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters two members of the delegation could ‌have attended the FIFA congress but chose not ‌to ⁠after one of their delegation was denied ⁠entry into Canada.

READ | Canadian official backs up report that Iranian football chiefs were denied entry for FIFA event

No seats were set up for Iran at the Vancouver Convention Centre, a Reuters reporter witnessed, as 210 of the 211 ​member associations were shown ‌as present.

Canadian officials said entry decisions were made on a case-by-case basis and reiterated that individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Ottawa designates as ‌a terrorist organisation, are inadmissible.

Taj is a former ​member of the IRGC.

The incident leaves one of the most politically sensitive delegations absent from ⁠FIFA’s annual gathering, depriving the congress of direct representation from a country whose presence at the 2026 World Cup ‌is already shaping behind-the-scenes discussions.

The issue is particularly acute given the tournament’s cross-border nature.

The expanded 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico, will require teams, officials and support staff to move repeatedly between jurisdictions, raising the prospect that visa restrictions or diplomatic ‌frictions could complicate planning for certain nations.

Iran has already qualified for ​the tournament, but its participation has been fraught, with Tehran requesting alternative venues for matches ⁠on U.S. soil.

FIFA has rejected the request, insisting the schedule ⁠would stand.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week Washington had no objections to Iranian ‌players participating in the World Cup but added that the players would not be allowed to bring with ​them people with ties to the IRGC. 

Published on Apr 30, 2026

#Iran #delegation #attended #FIFA #congress #chose #source
Deadspin | A’s Lawrence Butler eager to heat up as finale vs. Royals approaches  Apr 29, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler (4) reacts after hitting a three-run home run against the Kansas City Royals in the fourth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images   Lawrence Butler’s bat has been in a deep slumber, and the 25-year-old outfielder hasn’t resembled the player who topped 20 homers in each of his first two full major league seasons.  Perhaps that’s why Athletics manager Mark Kotsay was so excited to see the “Law Dog” deliver a pivotal three-run homer in Wednesday’s 5-2 triumph over the Kansas City Royals.  Now Butler and the A’s will look to beat the Royals again on Thursday afternoon in the finale of a three-game series at West Sacramento, Calif.  Butler broke a 1-1 tie with his three-run homer, in the fourth inning, to help propel the Athletics on Wednesday.  “It’s nice to see the results and the joy,” Kotsay said of Butler. “It’s always great to see the Law Dog smiling, for sure.”  The left-handed-hitting Butler had just two homers and nine RBIs entering the contest. He hit 22 homers in 2024 and 21 last season.  Butler is batting just .187 this season after going 1-for-4 on Wednesday.  Yet his bat barked loudly with that 404-foot blast to right center off Royals right-hander Michael Wacha.  “That felt great. It’s been kind of a slow start for me,” Butler said. “To be able to help the team out offensively, it feels amazing. Each and every one of us, all we want to do is help us get a win.”  Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz had an RBI double in Wednesday’s victory to stretch his on-base streak to 24 games.  Kurtz also drew a walk for the 18th straight game, the third-best streak in American League history. Legendary Ted Williams walked in 19 straight games for the Boston Red Sox in 1941, and Roy Cullenbine of the Detroit Tigers set an AL and major league record by drawing one in 22 games in a row in 1947.  The Royals won the opening game of the series on Tuesday when Bobby Witt Jr. slammed a three-run homer in the top of the 10th during a 4-1 victory.   Witt went 2-for-4 and scored twice on Wednesday to stretch his hitting streak to 10 games. He has five two-hit outings during the streak while raising his batting average 34 points to .297.  But Kansas City couldn’t land the big hit on Wednesday and had just two official at-bats with runners in scoring position. Three batters came up in that situation in the ninth, and it resulted in Michael Massey’s RBI sacrifice fly, Isaac Collins’ walk and Jac Caglianone’s game-ending strikeout.  “They were grinding out those at-bats,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “They battled and we got the tying run to the plate in the ninth. Very competitive at-bats.”  Kansas City first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (lower back) sat out Wednesday after being injured during the series opener.  Left-hander Jeffrey Springs (3-2, 3.79 ERA) will take the mound for the Athletics in the finale. Springs, 33, has served up five homers while losing his last two starts after giving up none while going 3-0 over his first four outings.  He gave up four homers against the Chicago White Sox on April 19 and gave up another last Saturday when he lost to the Texas Rangers 4-3. He surrendered four runs and five hits over six innings against Texas.  Springs is 0-0 with a 3.07 ERA in six career appearances (two starts) against Kansas City. Witt is 3-for-4 with two RBIs against Springs.  Left-hander Noah Cameron (2-1, 5.13 ERA) will start for the Royals on Thursday, and he defeated the Los Angeles Angels 6-3 last Friday in his most recent start. Cameron gave up three runs and eight hits over 6 1/3 innings.  Cameron, 26, has no-decisions in both career starts against the A’s. He has struck out 13 over 9 2/3 innings.  Brent Rooker is 2-for-3 with two walks against Cameron.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Lawrence #Butler #eager #heat #finale #Royals #approachesApr 29, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler (4) reacts after hitting a three-run home run against the Kansas City Royals in the fourth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Lawrence Butler’s bat has been in a deep slumber, and the 25-year-old outfielder hasn’t resembled the player who topped 20 homers in each of his first two full major league seasons.

Perhaps that’s why Athletics manager Mark Kotsay was so excited to see the “Law Dog” deliver a pivotal three-run homer in Wednesday’s 5-2 triumph over the Kansas City Royals.

Now Butler and the A’s will look to beat the Royals again on Thursday afternoon in the finale of a three-game series at West Sacramento, Calif.

Butler broke a 1-1 tie with his three-run homer, in the fourth inning, to help propel the Athletics on Wednesday.

“It’s nice to see the results and the joy,” Kotsay said of Butler. “It’s always great to see the Law Dog smiling, for sure.”

The left-handed-hitting Butler had just two homers and nine RBIs entering the contest. He hit 22 homers in 2024 and 21 last season.

Butler is batting just .187 this season after going 1-for-4 on Wednesday.

Yet his bat barked loudly with that 404-foot blast to right center off Royals right-hander Michael Wacha.

“That felt great. It’s been kind of a slow start for me,” Butler said. “To be able to help the team out offensively, it feels amazing. Each and every one of us, all we want to do is help us get a win.”

Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz had an RBI double in Wednesday’s victory to stretch his on-base streak to 24 games.

Kurtz also drew a walk for the 18th straight game, the third-best streak in American League history. Legendary Ted Williams walked in 19 straight games for the Boston Red Sox in 1941, and Roy Cullenbine of the Detroit Tigers set an AL and major league record by drawing one in 22 games in a row in 1947.


The Royals won the opening game of the series on Tuesday when Bobby Witt Jr. slammed a three-run homer in the top of the 10th during a 4-1 victory.

Witt went 2-for-4 and scored twice on Wednesday to stretch his hitting streak to 10 games. He has five two-hit outings during the streak while raising his batting average 34 points to .297.

But Kansas City couldn’t land the big hit on Wednesday and had just two official at-bats with runners in scoring position. Three batters came up in that situation in the ninth, and it resulted in Michael Massey’s RBI sacrifice fly, Isaac Collins’ walk and Jac Caglianone’s game-ending strikeout.

“They were grinding out those at-bats,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “They battled and we got the tying run to the plate in the ninth. Very competitive at-bats.”

Kansas City first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (lower back) sat out Wednesday after being injured during the series opener.

Left-hander Jeffrey Springs (3-2, 3.79 ERA) will take the mound for the Athletics in the finale. Springs, 33, has served up five homers while losing his last two starts after giving up none while going 3-0 over his first four outings.

He gave up four homers against the Chicago White Sox on April 19 and gave up another last Saturday when he lost to the Texas Rangers 4-3. He surrendered four runs and five hits over six innings against Texas.

Springs is 0-0 with a 3.07 ERA in six career appearances (two starts) against Kansas City. Witt is 3-for-4 with two RBIs against Springs.

Left-hander Noah Cameron (2-1, 5.13 ERA) will start for the Royals on Thursday, and he defeated the Los Angeles Angels 6-3 last Friday in his most recent start. Cameron gave up three runs and eight hits over 6 1/3 innings.

Cameron, 26, has no-decisions in both career starts against the A’s. He has struck out 13 over 9 2/3 innings.

Brent Rooker is 2-for-3 with two walks against Cameron.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Lawrence #Butler #eager #heat #finale #Royals #approaches">Deadspin | A’s Lawrence Butler eager to heat up as finale vs. Royals approaches  Apr 29, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler (4) reacts after hitting a three-run home run against the Kansas City Royals in the fourth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images   Lawrence Butler’s bat has been in a deep slumber, and the 25-year-old outfielder hasn’t resembled the player who topped 20 homers in each of his first two full major league seasons.  Perhaps that’s why Athletics manager Mark Kotsay was so excited to see the “Law Dog” deliver a pivotal three-run homer in Wednesday’s 5-2 triumph over the Kansas City Royals.  Now Butler and the A’s will look to beat the Royals again on Thursday afternoon in the finale of a three-game series at West Sacramento, Calif.  Butler broke a 1-1 tie with his three-run homer, in the fourth inning, to help propel the Athletics on Wednesday.  “It’s nice to see the results and the joy,” Kotsay said of Butler. “It’s always great to see the Law Dog smiling, for sure.”  The left-handed-hitting Butler had just two homers and nine RBIs entering the contest. He hit 22 homers in 2024 and 21 last season.  Butler is batting just .187 this season after going 1-for-4 on Wednesday.  Yet his bat barked loudly with that 404-foot blast to right center off Royals right-hander Michael Wacha.  “That felt great. It’s been kind of a slow start for me,” Butler said. “To be able to help the team out offensively, it feels amazing. Each and every one of us, all we want to do is help us get a win.”  Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz had an RBI double in Wednesday’s victory to stretch his on-base streak to 24 games.  Kurtz also drew a walk for the 18th straight game, the third-best streak in American League history. Legendary Ted Williams walked in 19 straight games for the Boston Red Sox in 1941, and Roy Cullenbine of the Detroit Tigers set an AL and major league record by drawing one in 22 games in a row in 1947.  The Royals won the opening game of the series on Tuesday when Bobby Witt Jr. slammed a three-run homer in the top of the 10th during a 4-1 victory.   Witt went 2-for-4 and scored twice on Wednesday to stretch his hitting streak to 10 games. He has five two-hit outings during the streak while raising his batting average 34 points to .297.  But Kansas City couldn’t land the big hit on Wednesday and had just two official at-bats with runners in scoring position. Three batters came up in that situation in the ninth, and it resulted in Michael Massey’s RBI sacrifice fly, Isaac Collins’ walk and Jac Caglianone’s game-ending strikeout.  “They were grinding out those at-bats,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “They battled and we got the tying run to the plate in the ninth. Very competitive at-bats.”  Kansas City first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (lower back) sat out Wednesday after being injured during the series opener.  Left-hander Jeffrey Springs (3-2, 3.79 ERA) will take the mound for the Athletics in the finale. Springs, 33, has served up five homers while losing his last two starts after giving up none while going 3-0 over his first four outings.  He gave up four homers against the Chicago White Sox on April 19 and gave up another last Saturday when he lost to the Texas Rangers 4-3. He surrendered four runs and five hits over six innings against Texas.  Springs is 0-0 with a 3.07 ERA in six career appearances (two starts) against Kansas City. Witt is 3-for-4 with two RBIs against Springs.  Left-hander Noah Cameron (2-1, 5.13 ERA) will start for the Royals on Thursday, and he defeated the Los Angeles Angels 6-3 last Friday in his most recent start. Cameron gave up three runs and eight hits over 6 1/3 innings.  Cameron, 26, has no-decisions in both career starts against the A’s. He has struck out 13 over 9 2/3 innings.  Brent Rooker is 2-for-3 with two walks against Cameron.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Lawrence #Butler #eager #heat #finale #Royals #approaches

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