Deadspin | Phillies’ Zack Wheeler returns to rotation to face hot Braves Aug 10, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Philadelphia ace Zack Wheeler will make his first start since last August when the Phillies bid to snap a 10-game losing streak on Saturday night against the host Atlanta Braves. The Braves have won nine of their last 10 games and beat the Phillies 5-3 on Friday to open the three-game set between the teams with the best and worst record, respectively, in the majors. The losing streak is the longest for Philadelphia since it dropped 11 in a row in 1999. Wheeler will oppose Atlanta’s Bryce Elder (3-1, 1.50 ERA) in a battle of right-handers. “Having Zack Wheeler on your 26-man roster makes you a better roster no matter what,” Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said. “Because when he’s healthy and pitching, he’s one of the best, if not the best, pitcher in the National League.” Wheeler had a rib removed during vascular thoracic outlet decompression surgery in September after it was discovered he had a blood clot in his right shoulder. Wheeler made five rehab starts this spring before being activated, posting a 5.85 ERA. He struck out 23 and walked only five in 20 innings. He is expected to be on a pitch count when he makes his season debut. “I think he’s basically at the end of spring training,” Thomson said. “The fastball velocity has gone up. It’s not where it’s going to be, I don’t believe. The command has been some days good, some days not as good. But I’m expecting on a normal day, weather wise, that he’s going to have his command.” Wheeler has been one of the best pitchers in the National League and finished second to Atlanta’s Chris Sale for the 2024 NL Cy Young Award after going 16-7 with a 2.57 ERA. He has double-digit wins in each of the last seven full seasons. Wheeler has fared well against the Braves, going 13-9 with a 3.29 ERA in 32 career starts. Elder will make his sixth start of the season. In his last outing, against Washington on Monday, he worked 6 2/3 innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on three hits and two walks while striking out six in a 9-4 victory. Elder is 0-1 with a 6.41 ERA in four career starts against Philadelphia. The Braves will continue to be cautious with center fielder Michael Harris II. He was a late scratch on Friday with a tight left quad but entered the game as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning and produced a game-winning, two-run double. Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said there’s no guarantee that Harris will be in the lineup on Saturday. Harris could be the DH, with Mauricio Dubon going to center field. “We’ll put him through the test again (Saturday),” Weiss said. “We’re going to be cautious here. The soft-tissue stuff can be tricky, you know, so we want to use good judgment. We’ve got an off day coming up (Monday), but I’m hoping he can play (Saturday) for sure.” Over his last seven games, Harris is hitting .550 with 10 RBIs. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Phillies #Zack #Wheeler #returns #rotation #face #hot #Braves

Deadspin | Phillies’ Zack Wheeler returns to rotation to face hot Braves
Aug 10, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Philadelphia ace Zack Wheeler will make his first start since last August when the Phillies bid to snap a 10-game losing streak on Saturday night against the host Atlanta Braves.

The Braves have won nine of their last 10 games and beat the Phillies 5-3 on Friday to open the three-game set between the teams with the best and worst record, respectively, in the majors.

The losing streak is the longest for Philadelphia since it dropped 11 in a row in 1999.

Wheeler will oppose Atlanta’s Bryce Elder (3-1, 1.50 ERA) in a battle of right-handers.

“Having Zack Wheeler on your 26-man roster makes you a better roster no matter what,” Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said. “Because when he’s healthy and pitching, he’s one of the best, if not the best, pitcher in the National League.”

Wheeler had a rib removed during vascular thoracic outlet decompression surgery in September after it was discovered he had a blood clot in his right shoulder.

Wheeler made five rehab starts this spring before being activated, posting a 5.85 ERA. He struck out 23 and walked only five in 20 innings. He is expected to be on a pitch count when he makes his season debut.

“I think he’s basically at the end of spring training,” Thomson said. “The fastball velocity has gone up. It’s not where it’s going to be, I don’t believe. The command has been some days good, some days not as good. But I’m expecting on a normal day, weather wise, that he’s going to have his command.”

Wheeler has been one of the best pitchers in the National League and finished second to Atlanta’s Chris Sale for the 2024 NL Cy Young Award after going 16-7 with a 2.57 ERA. He has double-digit wins in each of the last seven full seasons.

Wheeler has fared well against the Braves, going 13-9 with a 3.29 ERA in 32 career starts.

Elder will make his sixth start of the season.

In his last outing, against Washington on Monday, he worked 6 2/3 innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on three hits and two walks while striking out six in a 9-4 victory. Elder is 0-1 with a 6.41 ERA in four career starts against Philadelphia.

The Braves will continue to be cautious with center fielder Michael Harris II. He was a late scratch on Friday with a tight left quad but entered the game as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning and produced a game-winning, two-run double.

Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said there’s no guarantee that Harris will be in the lineup on Saturday. Harris could be the DH, with Mauricio Dubon going to center field.

“We’ll put him through the test again (Saturday),” Weiss said. “We’re going to be cautious here. The soft-tissue stuff can be tricky, you know, so we want to use good judgment. We’ve got an off day coming up (Monday), but I’m hoping he can play (Saturday) for sure.”

Over his last seven games, Harris is hitting .550 with 10 RBIs.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Phillies #Zack #Wheeler #returns #rotation #face #hot #Braves

Sports news April 25, 2026

Aug 10, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Philadelphia ace Zack Wheeler will make his first start since last August when the Phillies bid to snap a 10-game losing streak on Saturday night against the host Atlanta Braves.

The Braves have won nine of their last 10 games and beat the Phillies 5-3 on Friday to open the three-game set between the teams with the best and worst record, respectively, in the majors.

The losing streak is the longest for Philadelphia since it dropped 11 in a row in 1999.

Wheeler will oppose Atlanta’s Bryce Elder (3-1, 1.50 ERA) in a battle of right-handers.

“Having Zack Wheeler on your 26-man roster makes you a better roster no matter what,” Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said. “Because when he’s healthy and pitching, he’s one of the best, if not the best, pitcher in the National League.”

Wheeler had a rib removed during vascular thoracic outlet decompression surgery in September after it was discovered he had a blood clot in his right shoulder.

Wheeler made five rehab starts this spring before being activated, posting a 5.85 ERA. He struck out 23 and walked only five in 20 innings. He is expected to be on a pitch count when he makes his season debut.

“I think he’s basically at the end of spring training,” Thomson said. “The fastball velocity has gone up. It’s not where it’s going to be, I don’t believe. The command has been some days good, some days not as good. But I’m expecting on a normal day, weather wise, that he’s going to have his command.”

Wheeler has been one of the best pitchers in the National League and finished second to Atlanta’s Chris Sale for the 2024 NL Cy Young Award after going 16-7 with a 2.57 ERA. He has double-digit wins in each of the last seven full seasons.

Wheeler has fared well against the Braves, going 13-9 with a 3.29 ERA in 32 career starts.

Elder will make his sixth start of the season.

In his last outing, against Washington on Monday, he worked 6 2/3 innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on three hits and two walks while striking out six in a 9-4 victory. Elder is 0-1 with a 6.41 ERA in four career starts against Philadelphia.

The Braves will continue to be cautious with center fielder Michael Harris II. He was a late scratch on Friday with a tight left quad but entered the game as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning and produced a game-winning, two-run double.

Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said there’s no guarantee that Harris will be in the lineup on Saturday. Harris could be the DH, with Mauricio Dubon going to center field.

“We’ll put him through the test again (Saturday),” Weiss said. “We’re going to be cautious here. The soft-tissue stuff can be tricky, you know, so we want to use good judgment. We’ve got an off day coming up (Monday), but I’m hoping he can play (Saturday) for sure.”

Over his last seven games, Harris is hitting .550 with 10 RBIs.

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Phillies #Zack #Wheeler #returns #rotation #face #hot #Braves

CSK vs GT, IPL 2026: Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans clash in hopes of boosting playoff bid <div id="content-body-70905980" itemprop="articleBody">Former champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT), seven games in, are stuck in the Indian Premier League’s mid-table traffic with identical report cards: three wins, four losses, and six points. A nervous glance upward and one would know Punjab Kings (13 points), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (10), and Rajasthan Royals (10) aren’t courteously waiting around.Chepauk’s afternoon fixture was originally scheduled to be played on May 21. But a swap of the reverse fixture had to be forced in view of the municipal corporation elections in some parts of Gujarat on Sunday. If the Titans could, they would have opted for a swap of the overall Net Run Rate (NRR) as well—CSK’s +0.118 has kept it afloat at fifth; GT is seventh with -0.790.To add to Shubman Gill’s woes, CSK enters the contest with enormous momentum, having dismantled archrival Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. The 103-run margin made it to the record books of both franchises. CSK would remember the game as its biggest victory by runs, while MI would want to forget its heaviest loss ever.The Samson factorSanju Samson, fresh off his second hundred this season, will be especially threatening at the top. His spin-bashing abilities, however, will be put to the test with the sensational Rashid Khan operating during the middle overs of a baking surface at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium.GT, blessed with a sensational bowling lineup, would, however, look to rip through CSK’s top order within the PowerPlay itself with Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj sharing the new ball. The duo has a combined tally of 17 wickets. Moreover, in the first six overs, the Titans have conceded only 9.23 runs every six balls. The said rate is only higher than that of Lucknow Super Giants (7.85) and RR (8.35).ALSO READ | <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/ipl/csk-vs-gt-dhoni-updates-ipl-2026-chennai-super-kings-gujarat-titans-ayush-mhatre-gaikwad-cricket-news/article70905563.ece" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dhoni ‘on the road to recovery’; no urgency to have replacement for Mhatre at No. 3, says CSK coach Fleming</a>If the ploy works out, Prasidh Krishna, GT’s highest wicket-taker thus far with 12, will be delighted to hit the deck against the likes of Sarfaraz Khan and Dewald Brevis, who have failed to convert their promising starts into big scores, in the middle overs.“Nothing wrong with Brevis,” CSK head coach Stephen Fleming said on the eve of the game, before adding, “It’s obviously a more aggressive game that everyone is playing, so you’re going to get times where there are going to be starts, and then you get out. The role of the finisher is still important, but it’s not the traditional model that you build up to 16 (overs), and then you have someone like MS (Dhoni) come in and blaze it.”Incidentally, Dhoni, out with a calf strain, faced throwdowns once again on Saturday, albeit in short bursts of about five minutes each.Middle-order woesGT’s middle-order, in the meantime, has caused its management a persistent headache. In fact, if batting positions between five and eight are considered, the 2022 winner has the second-worst average runs per wicket (19.18).With CSK’s bowling attack, featuring Purple Cap holder Anshul Kamboj (14 wickets at an average of 15.78), having impressed of late, GT’s top three—Gill, B. Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler—would be under immense pressure to face a substantial amount of deliveries.The track, predominantly black-soil, will be expected to grip and turn as the game wears on. With dew not playing a part, the team winning the toss should look to defend its total.Published on Apr 25, 2026</div> #CSK #IPL #Chennai #Super #Kings #Gujarat #Titans #clash #hopes #boosting #playoff #bid

Deadspin | TJ Rumfield drives in four to lift Rockies past Reds Jun 30, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies first baseman TJ Rumfield (7) hits a double in the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images TJ Rumfield went 4-for-5 with a two-run homer and four RBIs, as the Colorado Rockies beat the Cincinnati Reds 10-3 on Saturday in Denver. Jake McCarthy and Mickey Moniak each had two hits and two RBIs for Colorado, which recorded 14 hits and snapped a three-game losing skid. Cole Carrigg added two hits with an RBI and three runs scored. Tomoyuki Sugano (9-4) won his fifth straight decision, allowing three runs on six hits with no walks and three strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. Jose Trevino hit a pair of solo homers among his three hits for Cincinnati, which trailed 8-1 after three innings and lost for the third time in its last four games. Colorado set the tone with two runs in the first inning against Rhett Lowder (3-7). McCarthy hit a leadoff double and scored on Carrigg’s one-out double before Rumfield delivered a run-scoring single. The Rockies tacked on four more runs in the second inning. Brett Sullivan tripled to begin the rally and scored on McCarthy’s two-out single. After stealing second base, McCarthy scored on Moniak’s single to center. Rumfield and Willi Castro followed with back-to-back RBI singles. The Reds got on the board on Trevino’s one-out solo homer in the third before Colorado scored two more runs in the bottom half of the inning. With runners on the corners and one out, Julian Garcia replaced Lowder and allowed a run to score on McCarthy’s groundout. Another run scored when Moniak followed with an RBI single. Lowder yielded eight runs on 11 hits over 2 1/3 innings. He issued zero walks with two strikeouts. Trevino homered again with one out in the fifth inning before the Rockies extended their lead with two runs in the sixth. After Carrigg drew a two-out walk, Rumfield hit his 13th homer of the season to put Colorado ahead 10-2. Cincinnati, which had won its last seven meetings against the Rockies at Coors Field, scored a run in the seventh after Juan Mejia replaced Sugano with a runner at second and one out. With runners on the corners and two outs, Nathaniel Lowe lined a pinch-hit single into center field to score Noelvi Marte from third. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Rumfield #drives #lift #Rockies #Reds

#Deadspin #Rumfield #drives #lift #Rockies #Reds">

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Jun 30, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies first baseman TJ Rumfield (7) hits a double in the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

TJ Rumfield went 4-for-5 with a two-run homer and four RBIs, as the Colorado Rockies beat the Cincinnati Reds 10-3 on Saturday in Denver.

Jake McCarthy and Mickey Moniak each had two hits and two RBIs for Colorado, which recorded 14 hits and snapped a three-game losing skid. Cole Carrigg added two hits with an RBI and three runs scored.

Tomoyuki Sugano (9-4) won his fifth straight decision, allowing three runs on six hits with no walks and three strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings.

Jose Trevino hit a pair of solo homers among his three hits for Cincinnati, which trailed 8-1 after three innings and lost for the third time in its last four games.

Colorado set the tone with two runs in the first inning against Rhett Lowder (3-7). McCarthy hit a leadoff double and scored on Carrigg’s one-out double before Rumfield delivered a run-scoring single.

The Rockies tacked on four more runs in the second inning. Brett Sullivan tripled to begin the rally and scored on McCarthy’s two-out single. After stealing second base, McCarthy scored on Moniak’s single to center. Rumfield and Willi Castro followed with back-to-back RBI singles.

The Reds got on the board on Trevino’s one-out solo homer in the third before Colorado scored two more runs in the bottom half of the inning.

With runners on the corners and one out, Julian Garcia replaced Lowder and allowed a run to score on McCarthy’s groundout. Another run scored when Moniak followed with an RBI single.

Lowder yielded eight runs on 11 hits over 2 1/3 innings. He issued zero walks with two strikeouts.

Trevino homered again with one out in the fifth inning before the Rockies extended their lead with two runs in the sixth. After Carrigg drew a two-out walk, Rumfield hit his 13th homer of the season to put Colorado ahead 10-2.

Cincinnati, which had won its last seven meetings against the Rockies at Coors Field, scored a run in the seventh after Juan Mejia replaced Sugano with a runner at second and one out.

With runners on the corners and two outs, Nathaniel Lowe lined a pinch-hit single into center field to score Noelvi Marte from third.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Rumfield #drives #lift #Rockies #Reds">Deadspin | TJ Rumfield drives in four to lift Rockies past Reds

Jun 30, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies first baseman TJ Rumfield (7) hits a double in the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

TJ Rumfield went 4-for-5 with a two-run homer and four RBIs, as the Colorado Rockies beat the Cincinnati Reds 10-3 on Saturday in Denver.

Jake McCarthy and Mickey Moniak each had two hits and two RBIs for Colorado, which recorded 14 hits and snapped a three-game losing skid. Cole Carrigg added two hits with an RBI and three runs scored.

Tomoyuki Sugano (9-4) won his fifth straight decision, allowing three runs on six hits with no walks and three strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings.

Jose Trevino hit a pair of solo homers among his three hits for Cincinnati, which trailed 8-1 after three innings and lost for the third time in its last four games.

Colorado set the tone with two runs in the first inning against Rhett Lowder (3-7). McCarthy hit a leadoff double and scored on Carrigg’s one-out double before Rumfield delivered a run-scoring single.

The Rockies tacked on four more runs in the second inning. Brett Sullivan tripled to begin the rally and scored on McCarthy’s two-out single. After stealing second base, McCarthy scored on Moniak’s single to center. Rumfield and Willi Castro followed with back-to-back RBI singles.

The Reds got on the board on Trevino’s one-out solo homer in the third before Colorado scored two more runs in the bottom half of the inning.

With runners on the corners and one out, Julian Garcia replaced Lowder and allowed a run to score on McCarthy’s groundout. Another run scored when Moniak followed with an RBI single.

Lowder yielded eight runs on 11 hits over 2 1/3 innings. He issued zero walks with two strikeouts.

Trevino homered again with one out in the fifth inning before the Rockies extended their lead with two runs in the sixth. After Carrigg drew a two-out walk, Rumfield hit his 13th homer of the season to put Colorado ahead 10-2.

Cincinnati, which had won its last seven meetings against the Rockies at Coors Field, scored a run in the seventh after Juan Mejia replaced Sugano with a runner at second and one out.

With runners on the corners and two outs, Nathaniel Lowe lined a pinch-hit single into center field to score Noelvi Marte from third.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Rumfield #drives #lift #Rockies #Reds

LeBron James knows what it’s like to have the entire NBA in a chokehold as they wait on his free agent decision. James did it in 2010, 2014, 2018, and somehow he’s doing it again even on the brink of his 42nd birthday. James told the Los Angeles Lakers he would be playing for a new team in the 2026-27 season at the end of June, and after weeks of speculation on the best fits and most likely landing spots, it’s finally time for him to announce his choice.

The expectation is that James will sign in the coming week, and no one really knows where he’s going to land. The Golden State Warriors were a serious contender for a bit, but it seems like they’re out now that they won’t meet the Wizards’ ridiculous asking price for Anthony Davis. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat are also in pursuit of James, and both make a lot of sense given their championship history with LeBron. There’s one more team consistently mentioned in these free agent discussions, and at this point it doesn’t seem like a fluke: the Philadelphia 76ers are lurking as a very real suitor for LeBron, and it’s starting to feel like it could really happen.

The Sixers appear to have piqued LeBron’s interest following the shocking Jaylen Brown trade. ESPN reported that Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid have all been talking to LeBron about joining the Sixers. Maxey is a Klutch client like LeBron, and something like that tends to carry some weight when Rich Paul is running the show.

New Sixers lead executive Mike Gansey is an Ohio native like LeBron, and LeBron actually beat him out for the 2001 Ohio Mr. Basketball award as a sophomore when Gansey was a senior. Gansey came over from the Cavs’ front office, and he was working there at the end of LeBron’s last Cleveland tenure. His brother also tweeted out this photo of Gansey and James together in high school.

It’s understandable if people think LeBron won’t pick the Sixers because it would be weird for him to end his career in Philly. Well, what if this isn’t his last year in the NBA? James pushed back against the idea that aging athletes should retire a Fanatics Fest and cited Bruce Springsteen and the Rolling Stones as an inspiration. I’d also note that LeBron is basically the godfather of “player empowerment” in the NBA at this point, and he’s always marched to the beat of his own drum in free agency, from bolting to the Heat in 2010 to returning to the Cavs in 2014 to choosing the Lakers in 2018.

Fans are reading the tea leaves around the LeBron discussion, and they’re starting to think the Sixers might actually be the pick.

A starting lineup with Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe, Brown, James, and Embiid could be box office, and Philly would still have Dean Wade, Labaron Philon, Anfernee Simons, Dominic Barlow, Justin Edwards, Ariel Hukporti, and Adem Bona off the bench. The center position is definitely a worry given that Embiid misses so much time every season. That’s also a lot of guys who need the ball in their hands without a ton of shooting around them, but there’s no denying the Sixers with LeBron have a stacked roster.

LeBron to the Sixers makes more sense than people want to believe, especially if it’s only for one season before he bounces to Cleveland or Miami a year from now. James has four rings, and he wants one more. Philly might actually give him the best chance to get it.

#LeBron #James #free #agency #frontrunner #76ers">