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Deadspin | Plagued by bullpen woes, Giants hope veteran Robbie Ray can silence Phillies Apr 6, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Ryan Borucki (47) is relieved by San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello during the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images The San Francisco Giants continue to struggle in the bullpen and will keep looking for answers when they host the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night in the middle game of a three-game series. The Phillies rallied for a 6-4 win on Monday after reliever Ryan Borucki couldn’t hold the 4-2 lead that starter Adrian Houser handed to the bullpen in the seventh with two runners on base and no one out. Borucki allowed the inherited runners to score, then gave up two more runs in the loss. He started his appearance by walking Kyle Schwarber. “I’ve been preparing for that moment the last two days,” the left-hander said. “You can’t start by walking Schwarber on four pitches.” With Schwarber aboard and the bases loaded with no one out, Bryce Harper singled to right to score Justin Crawford and Trea Turner. Alec Bohm’s double to right scored Schwarber. “We should have won that game, and I didn’t do my part to get the job done,” Borucki said. San Francisco is ranked 21st in the majors with a bullpen ERA of 4.93 and an 0-2 record. The Phillies, on the other hand, saw five scoreless innings from their bullpen in relief of rookie Andrew Painter. The Phillies rank 15th in reliever ERA at 4.17 and have a 2-1 bullpen record. Tim Mayza, Jonathan Bowlan, Jose Alvarado, Brad Keller and Jhoan Duran surrendered just two hits to close the game. Philadelphia is expected to add a valuable arm to the roster Tuesday when Orion Kerkering, last seen on blooper reels for his throwing error that ended the Phillies’ 2025 season at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the postseason, returns from the injured list. The 25-year-old has been rehabbing a strained hamstring in the minors to start the season, which has given him time to work on a new pitch — a splitter. “It’s been really good,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson told the media over the weekend after getting a report from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. “It gives the hitter a different look and gets them off the slider a little bit, but it’s got a lot of bottom to it.” Two veteran lefties will get starting assignments on Tuesday, with the goal of taking as much heat as possible off the bullpen. The Phillies’ Cristopher Sanchez (1-0, 0.79 ERA) will go against the Giants’ Robbie Ray (1-1, 3.38). Sanchez has pitched in two Philadelphia wins — March 26 over the Texas Rangers, 5-3, and a 6-5 Wednesday against the Washington Nationals, in which he didn’t get a decision. Over the two games, Sanchez allowed just one run and seven hits in 11 nnings with 17 strikeouts. The 29-year-old has never lost to the Giants, going 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA in five career head-to-heads, including three starts. Ray will make his 11th career start against Philadelphia, having compiled a 4-2 record and a 5.20 ERA. The 34-year-old has allowed eight hits, including two home runs, in 10 2/3 innings to open the 2026 season. He lost 3-0 to the New York Yankees on March 27 and followed with a 7-2 win against the Mets last Thursday. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Plagued #bullpen #woes #Giants #hope #veteran #Robbie #Ray #silence #Phillies

Deadspin | Plagued by bullpen woes, Giants hope veteran Robbie Ray can silence Phillies
Deadspin | Plagued by bullpen woes, Giants hope veteran Robbie Ray can silence Phillies Apr 6, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Ryan Borucki (47) is relieved by San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello during the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images The San Francisco Giants continue to struggle in the bullpen and will keep looking for answers when they host the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night in the middle game of a three-game series. The Phillies rallied for a 6-4 win on Monday after reliever Ryan Borucki couldn’t hold the 4-2 lead that starter Adrian Houser handed to the bullpen in the seventh with two runners on base and no one out. Borucki allowed the inherited runners to score, then gave up two more runs in the loss. He started his appearance by walking Kyle Schwarber. “I’ve been preparing for that moment the last two days,” the left-hander said. “You can’t start by walking Schwarber on four pitches.” With Schwarber aboard and the bases loaded with no one out, Bryce Harper singled to right to score Justin Crawford and Trea Turner. Alec Bohm’s double to right scored Schwarber. “We should have won that game, and I didn’t do my part to get the job done,” Borucki said. San Francisco is ranked 21st in the majors with a bullpen ERA of 4.93 and an 0-2 record. The Phillies, on the other hand, saw five scoreless innings from their bullpen in relief of rookie Andrew Painter. The Phillies rank 15th in reliever ERA at 4.17 and have a 2-1 bullpen record. Tim Mayza, Jonathan Bowlan, Jose Alvarado, Brad Keller and Jhoan Duran surrendered just two hits to close the game. Philadelphia is expected to add a valuable arm to the roster Tuesday when Orion Kerkering, last seen on blooper reels for his throwing error that ended the Phillies’ 2025 season at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the postseason, returns from the injured list. The 25-year-old has been rehabbing a strained hamstring in the minors to start the season, which has given him time to work on a new pitch — a splitter. “It’s been really good,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson told the media over the weekend after getting a report from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. “It gives the hitter a different look and gets them off the slider a little bit, but it’s got a lot of bottom to it.” Two veteran lefties will get starting assignments on Tuesday, with the goal of taking as much heat as possible off the bullpen. The Phillies’ Cristopher Sanchez (1-0, 0.79 ERA) will go against the Giants’ Robbie Ray (1-1, 3.38). Sanchez has pitched in two Philadelphia wins — March 26 over the Texas Rangers, 5-3, and a 6-5 Wednesday against the Washington Nationals, in which he didn’t get a decision. Over the two games, Sanchez allowed just one run and seven hits in 11 nnings with 17 strikeouts. The 29-year-old has never lost to the Giants, going 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA in five career head-to-heads, including three starts. Ray will make his 11th career start against Philadelphia, having compiled a 4-2 record and a 5.20 ERA. The 34-year-old has allowed eight hits, including two home runs, in 10 2/3 innings to open the 2026 season. He lost 3-0 to the New York Yankees on March 27 and followed with a 7-2 win against the Mets last Thursday. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Plagued #bullpen #woes #Giants #hope #veteran #Robbie #Ray #silence #PhilliesApr 6, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Ryan Borucki (47) is relieved by San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello during the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images

The San Francisco Giants continue to struggle in the bullpen and will keep looking for answers when they host the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night in the middle game of a three-game series.

The Phillies rallied for a 6-4 win on Monday after reliever Ryan Borucki couldn’t hold the 4-2 lead that starter Adrian Houser handed to the bullpen in the seventh with two runners on base and no one out.

Borucki allowed the inherited runners to score, then gave up two more runs in the loss. He started his appearance by walking Kyle Schwarber.

“I’ve been preparing for that moment the last two days,” the left-hander said. “You can’t start by walking Schwarber on four pitches.”

With Schwarber aboard and the bases loaded with no one out, Bryce Harper singled to right to score Justin Crawford and Trea Turner. Alec Bohm’s double to right scored Schwarber.

“We should have won that game, and I didn’t do my part to get the job done,” Borucki said.

San Francisco is ranked 21st in the majors with a bullpen ERA of 4.93 and an 0-2 record.

The Phillies, on the other hand, saw five scoreless innings from their bullpen in relief of rookie Andrew Painter. The Phillies rank 15th in reliever ERA at 4.17 and have a 2-1 bullpen record.


Tim Mayza, Jonathan Bowlan, Jose Alvarado, Brad Keller and Jhoan Duran surrendered just two hits to close the game.

Philadelphia is expected to add a valuable arm to the roster Tuesday when Orion Kerkering, last seen on blooper reels for his throwing error that ended the Phillies’ 2025 season at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the postseason, returns from the injured list.

The 25-year-old has been rehabbing a strained hamstring in the minors to start the season, which has given him time to work on a new pitch — a splitter.

“It’s been really good,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson told the media over the weekend after getting a report from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. “It gives the hitter a different look and gets them off the slider a little bit, but it’s got a lot of bottom to it.”

Two veteran lefties will get starting assignments on Tuesday, with the goal of taking as much heat as possible off the bullpen. The Phillies’ Cristopher Sanchez (1-0, 0.79 ERA) will go against the Giants’ Robbie Ray (1-1, 3.38).

Sanchez has pitched in two Philadelphia wins — March 26 over the Texas Rangers, 5-3, and a 6-5 Wednesday against the Washington Nationals, in which he didn’t get a decision.

Over the two games, Sanchez allowed just one run and seven hits in 11 nnings with 17 strikeouts. The 29-year-old has never lost to the Giants, going 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA in five career head-to-heads, including three starts.

Ray will make his 11th career start against Philadelphia, having compiled a 4-2 record and a 5.20 ERA.

The 34-year-old has allowed eight hits, including two home runs, in 10 2/3 innings to open the 2026 season. He lost 3-0 to the New York Yankees on March 27 and followed with a 7-2 win against the Mets last Thursday.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Plagued #bullpen #woes #Giants #hope #veteran #Robbie #Ray #silence #Phillies

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Apr 6, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Ryan Borucki (47) is relieved by San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello during the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images

The San Francisco Giants continue to struggle in the bullpen and will keep looking for answers when they host the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night in the middle game of a three-game series.

The Phillies rallied for a 6-4 win on Monday after reliever Ryan Borucki couldn’t hold the 4-2 lead that starter Adrian Houser handed to the bullpen in the seventh with two runners on base and no one out.

Borucki allowed the inherited runners to score, then gave up two more runs in the loss. He started his appearance by walking Kyle Schwarber.

“I’ve been preparing for that moment the last two days,” the left-hander said. “You can’t start by walking Schwarber on four pitches.”

With Schwarber aboard and the bases loaded with no one out, Bryce Harper singled to right to score Justin Crawford and Trea Turner. Alec Bohm’s double to right scored Schwarber.

“We should have won that game, and I didn’t do my part to get the job done,” Borucki said.

San Francisco is ranked 21st in the majors with a bullpen ERA of 4.93 and an 0-2 record.

The Phillies, on the other hand, saw five scoreless innings from their bullpen in relief of rookie Andrew Painter. The Phillies rank 15th in reliever ERA at 4.17 and have a 2-1 bullpen record.

Tim Mayza, Jonathan Bowlan, Jose Alvarado, Brad Keller and Jhoan Duran surrendered just two hits to close the game.

Philadelphia is expected to add a valuable arm to the roster Tuesday when Orion Kerkering, last seen on blooper reels for his throwing error that ended the Phillies’ 2025 season at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the postseason, returns from the injured list.

The 25-year-old has been rehabbing a strained hamstring in the minors to start the season, which has given him time to work on a new pitch — a splitter.

“It’s been really good,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson told the media over the weekend after getting a report from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. “It gives the hitter a different look and gets them off the slider a little bit, but it’s got a lot of bottom to it.”

Two veteran lefties will get starting assignments on Tuesday, with the goal of taking as much heat as possible off the bullpen. The Phillies’ Cristopher Sanchez (1-0, 0.79 ERA) will go against the Giants’ Robbie Ray (1-1, 3.38).

Sanchez has pitched in two Philadelphia wins — March 26 over the Texas Rangers, 5-3, and a 6-5 Wednesday against the Washington Nationals, in which he didn’t get a decision.

Over the two games, Sanchez allowed just one run and seven hits in 11 nnings with 17 strikeouts. The 29-year-old has never lost to the Giants, going 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA in five career head-to-heads, including three starts.

Ray will make his 11th career start against Philadelphia, having compiled a 4-2 record and a 5.20 ERA.

The 34-year-old has allowed eight hits, including two home runs, in 10 2/3 innings to open the 2026 season. He lost 3-0 to the New York Yankees on March 27 and followed with a 7-2 win against the Mets last Thursday.

–Field Level Media

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Asian Boxing Championships 2026: Eight Indians in gold-medal bouts <div id="content-body-70834795" itemprop="articleBody"><p>India continued its impressive campaign at the Asian Boxing Championships 2026, with a total of eight boxers, six women and two men, storming into the finals. Minakshi and Jaismine Lamboria led the charge in the women’s semifinals on Tuesday, while Vishvanath Suresh and Sachin added to the tally with strong performances in the men’s category.</p><p>In the women’s 48kg semifinal, Minakshi registered a confident 4-1 victory over Thailand’s Thipsatcha Yodwaree to seal her spot in the gold-medal bout. Joining her in the finals, Jaismine edged past Uzbekistan’s Nigina Uktamova in a closely contested 3-2 decision in the women’s 57kg category.</p><p>In the men’s division, Vishvanath Suresh (50kg) delivered a dominant performance, outclassing Jordan’s Huthaifa Eshish with a unanimous 5-0 win to advance to the final. Sachin (60kg) also impressed with a solid 4-1 victory over Thailand’s Sakda Ruamtham in his semifinal clash.</p><p>In other results, Akash lost 1-4 to Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Abdurakhimov. Lokesh went down 0-5 against Jasurbek Yuldoshev of Uzbekistan. Narender suffered a 1-4 defeat to China’s Bayikewuzi Danabieke, with the bout being stopped in the first round due to a cut. Harsh Choudhary also lost 1-4 to Tajikistan’s Parviz Karimov.</p><p>India will now look to convert these strong performances into gold as several boxers gear up for the finals. In the women’s 48kg final, Minakshi will face Mongolia’s Nomundari Enkh-Amgalan. Jaismine is set to take on Thailand’s Punrawee Ruenros in the 57kg title clash.</p><p>In other bouts featuring Indian boxers, Preeti Pawar (54kg) will go up against Chinese Taipei’s Huang Hsiao-wen, while Priya (60kg) faces North Korea’s Un Gyong Won. Arundhati Choudhary (70kg) is set to meet Kazakhstan’s Bakyt Seidish in her gold-medal bout.</p><div class="fact-box"><h5 class="main-title"> The results (semifinals): </h5><p> Men: 50kg: Vishvanath Suresh bt Huthaifa Eshish (Jor) 5-0; 60kg: Sachin Siwach bt Sakda Ruamtham (Tha) 4-1; 75kg: Javokhir Abdurakhimov (Uzb) bt Akash 4-1; 85kg: Jasurbek Yuldoshev (Uzb) bt Lokesh 5-0; 90kg: Parviz Karimov (Taj) bt Harsh Choudhary 4-1; +90kg: Nayikewuzi Danabieke (Chn) bt Narender 4-1. </p><p> Women: 48kg: Minakshi Hooda bt Thipsatcha Yodwaree (Tha) 4-1; 57kg: Jaismine Lamboria bt Nigina Uktamova (Uzb) 3-2. </p></div><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 07, 2026</p></div> #Asian #Boxing #Championships #Indians #goldmedal #bouts

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Deadspin | Rockies strive to do the difficult: Stop Reds’ Elly De La Cruz Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz (44) follows through on a two-run home run in the eighth inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. The Reds won the opening game of the series, 7-2. Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz will look to continue his historic start to the season when the Reds host the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night in the second game of a three-game series. The star shortstop had a pair of clutch defensive plays to go with his 3-for-4 night at the plate on Monday. De La Cruz homered and drove in four runs in Cincinnati’s 7-2 victory. The homer was the 10th for De La Cruz, who became the first major leaguer since 1900 with at least 10 home runs and at least eight stolen bases before May. De La Cruz has stolen his eight bases in 10 attempts. His 10 homers are tied for most by any major league switch-hitter before May since 1900, as he joined Seattle’s Cal Raleigh (2025), Oakland’s Nick Swisher (2006), and Houston’s Lance Berkman in 2002 and 2006. Defensively, De La Cruz made a spectacular throw across his body from deep in the hole to throw out Kyle Karros by a half-step in the second inning Tuesday and started a key double play on a bad-hop grounder hit by Hunter Goodman to end the seventh inning. “The win. That’s the best part. That’s the best part,” De La Cruz said after the game. “You play to win. We come with the same mentality every day. We’re just trying to win.” The Reds have won eight of their past 10 games to remain in first place in the National League Central. Cincinnati will send left-hander Brandon Williamson (2-2, 5.40 ERA) to the mound on Wednesday. He has struggled with command recently, issuing 14 walks in 20 1/3 innings in April. Williamson often has labored to put batters away and failed to pitch deep into games. He has not exceeded 5 1/3 innings in four of his five starts. Williamson will try to improve on his most recent outing, when he allowed five runs on seven hits last Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays in a 6-1 loss. Williamson’s spot in the rotation could be in jeopardy as another left-hander, Nick Lodolo, prepares to make his 2026 season debut. Lodolo has been sidelined since beginning the season with a blister on his left index finger. He has started twice against the Rockies in his career and has a 3.38 ERA and 11 strikeouts with no decisions. Colorado will counter with right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (2-1, 3.42 ERA), making his sixth start of the season, third on the road and first career start against Cincinnati. Sugano has allowed two or fewer runs in four of his five starts. In his most recent outing against the San Diego Padres last Wednesday, Sugano earned the win after allowing just one run over 5 2/3 innings in an 8-3 victory, marking the first time this season he did not surrender a home run. With Kyle Freeland coming off the injured list and starting on Tuesday, Sugano is pitching on a full week of rest. The Rockies squandered several scoring opportunities on Tuesday, stranding 10 runners and going just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position as their three-game winning streak ended. “Bunch of runners on base. Situational baseball not good,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer lamented. “Runner on third base, less than two outs, 0-for-3. Plenty of chances, boys kept going, but just didn’t get the job done when it was needed.” Mickey Moniak leads the Rockies with eight home runs and is slugging .655, while Edouard Julien was 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs in Tuesday’s loss. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Rockies #strive #difficult #Stop #Reds #Elly #CruzCincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz (44) follows through on a two-run home run in the eighth inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. The Reds won the opening game of the series, 7-2.

Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz will look to continue his historic start to the season when the Reds host the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night in the second game of a three-game series.

The star shortstop had a pair of clutch defensive plays to go with his 3-for-4 night at the plate on Monday. De La Cruz homered and drove in four runs in Cincinnati’s 7-2 victory.

The homer was the 10th for De La Cruz, who became the first major leaguer since 1900 with at least 10 home runs and at least eight stolen bases before May.

De La Cruz has stolen his eight bases in 10 attempts. His 10 homers are tied for most by any major league switch-hitter before May since 1900, as he joined Seattle’s Cal Raleigh (2025), Oakland’s Nick Swisher (2006), and Houston’s Lance Berkman in 2002 and 2006.

Defensively, De La Cruz made a spectacular throw across his body from deep in the hole to throw out Kyle Karros by a half-step in the second inning Tuesday and started a key double play on a bad-hop grounder hit by Hunter Goodman to end the seventh inning.

“The win. That’s the best part. That’s the best part,” De La Cruz said after the game. “You play to win. We come with the same mentality every day. We’re just trying to win.”

The Reds have won eight of their past 10 games to remain in first place in the National League Central.

Cincinnati will send left-hander Brandon Williamson (2-2, 5.40 ERA) to the mound on Wednesday. He has struggled with command recently, issuing 14 walks in 20 1/3 innings in April.


Williamson often has labored to put batters away and failed to pitch deep into games. He has not exceeded 5 1/3 innings in four of his five starts. Williamson will try to improve on his most recent outing, when he allowed five runs on seven hits last Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays in a 6-1 loss.

Williamson’s spot in the rotation could be in jeopardy as another left-hander, Nick Lodolo, prepares to make his 2026 season debut. Lodolo has been sidelined since beginning the season with a blister on his left index finger.

He has started twice against the Rockies in his career and has a 3.38 ERA and 11 strikeouts with no decisions.

Colorado will counter with right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (2-1, 3.42 ERA), making his sixth start of the season, third on the road and first career start against Cincinnati. Sugano has allowed two or fewer runs in four of his five starts.

In his most recent outing against the San Diego Padres last Wednesday, Sugano earned the win after allowing just one run over 5 2/3 innings in an 8-3 victory, marking the first time this season he did not surrender a home run. With Kyle Freeland coming off the injured list and starting on Tuesday, Sugano is pitching on a full week of rest.

The Rockies squandered several scoring opportunities on Tuesday, stranding 10 runners and going just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position as their three-game winning streak ended.

“Bunch of runners on base. Situational baseball not good,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer lamented. “Runner on third base, less than two outs, 0-for-3. Plenty of chances, boys kept going, but just didn’t get the job done when it was needed.”

Mickey Moniak leads the Rockies with eight home runs and is slugging .655, while Edouard Julien was 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs in Tuesday’s loss.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Rockies #strive #difficult #Stop #Reds #Elly #Cruz">Deadspin | Rockies strive to do the difficult: Stop Reds’ Elly De La Cruz Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz (44) follows through on a two-run home run in the eighth inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. The Reds won the opening game of the series, 7-2. Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz will look to continue his historic start to the season when the Reds host the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night in the second game of a three-game series. The star shortstop had a pair of clutch defensive plays to go with his 3-for-4 night at the plate on Monday. De La Cruz homered and drove in four runs in Cincinnati’s 7-2 victory. The homer was the 10th for De La Cruz, who became the first major leaguer since 1900 with at least 10 home runs and at least eight stolen bases before May. De La Cruz has stolen his eight bases in 10 attempts. His 10 homers are tied for most by any major league switch-hitter before May since 1900, as he joined Seattle’s Cal Raleigh (2025), Oakland’s Nick Swisher (2006), and Houston’s Lance Berkman in 2002 and 2006. Defensively, De La Cruz made a spectacular throw across his body from deep in the hole to throw out Kyle Karros by a half-step in the second inning Tuesday and started a key double play on a bad-hop grounder hit by Hunter Goodman to end the seventh inning. “The win. That’s the best part. That’s the best part,” De La Cruz said after the game. “You play to win. We come with the same mentality every day. We’re just trying to win.” The Reds have won eight of their past 10 games to remain in first place in the National League Central. Cincinnati will send left-hander Brandon Williamson (2-2, 5.40 ERA) to the mound on Wednesday. He has struggled with command recently, issuing 14 walks in 20 1/3 innings in April. Williamson often has labored to put batters away and failed to pitch deep into games. He has not exceeded 5 1/3 innings in four of his five starts. Williamson will try to improve on his most recent outing, when he allowed five runs on seven hits last Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays in a 6-1 loss. Williamson’s spot in the rotation could be in jeopardy as another left-hander, Nick Lodolo, prepares to make his 2026 season debut. Lodolo has been sidelined since beginning the season with a blister on his left index finger. He has started twice against the Rockies in his career and has a 3.38 ERA and 11 strikeouts with no decisions. Colorado will counter with right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (2-1, 3.42 ERA), making his sixth start of the season, third on the road and first career start against Cincinnati. Sugano has allowed two or fewer runs in four of his five starts. In his most recent outing against the San Diego Padres last Wednesday, Sugano earned the win after allowing just one run over 5 2/3 innings in an 8-3 victory, marking the first time this season he did not surrender a home run. With Kyle Freeland coming off the injured list and starting on Tuesday, Sugano is pitching on a full week of rest. The Rockies squandered several scoring opportunities on Tuesday, stranding 10 runners and going just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position as their three-game winning streak ended. “Bunch of runners on base. Situational baseball not good,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer lamented. “Runner on third base, less than two outs, 0-for-3. Plenty of chances, boys kept going, but just didn’t get the job done when it was needed.” Mickey Moniak leads the Rockies with eight home runs and is slugging .655, while Edouard Julien was 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs in Tuesday’s loss. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Rockies #strive #difficult #Stop #Reds #Elly #Cruz

With the NFL Draft behind us, it’s time to start getting excited about some of the rookies set to hit the league, and a huge part of their success will be based on fit. Time and time again, we’ve seen elite talent fail to reach their ceiling because they landed in a bad situation, while players who flew under the radar in the pre-draft process become superstars due to finding an ideal home for their talents.

In this 2026 draft class there were a handful of early picks that are truly eye-catching when it comes to their potential to be a serious factor as soon as they hit the league.

Arvell Reese, LB, New York Giants — 1st round, 5th overall

It might seem like a copout to throw the top player on our big board on this list, but it really can’t be overstated how perfect a fit Reese will be on the Giants. The best trait Reese brings to the pros is his unbelievable scheme flexibility, which translates to chaos in the NFL. Essentially he’s a player that can be moved all around the formation into basically any position in the front seven and find a way to make an impact.

The only thing that can hamper a player like this is a lack of talent around them. If a chaotic linebacker like this finds himself being the only threat on the field then it becomes easy for a team to bracket them and neutralize that ability. This simply is not possible when it comes to the New York Giants. Opposing offenses have to account for Brian Burns on every down, then worry about a rotation of Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux coming off the edge. With two solid pass rushers in on snaps it creates the ultimate canvas for Reese to wreak havoc.

Sprinkle in the fact that you have John Harbaugh running the show, and we could see a new-generation version of Terrell Suggs — or something even more effective that we can’t even fully comprehend.

Makai Lemon, WR, USC, Philadelphia Eagles — 1st round, 20th overall

When the dust settles, I think the Dallas Cowboys are going to seriously regret getting two fourth-round picks in exchange for giving the Eagles their future top weapon in Makai Lemon.

Obviously, the writing is on the wall for A.J. Brown’s time in Philly, but this is an extremely rare case where I look at this team and think they’re going to be absolutely fine — potentially even scarier when Lemon gets up to NFL speed. That’s not a knock on Brown, but more a realization that a change in receiver skillsets can be additive to the Eagles’ passing offense.

It goes without saying that DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown have been great, but it’s been more duplicative than anything. Both have similar skill sets, with crisp route running and amazing hands, but neither is really a YAC beast. Smith and Brown averaged around 3.0 yards after the catch last season, which is fine when you’re consistent — but Lemon is an absolute YAC MONSTER. He is going to be able to line up in the slot, split out wide, or operate out of trips and give this team another level to its passing offense.

What we’re going to see is another layer of the Eagles’ passing game get opened up because of Lemon, and I think he’s landing in the perfect spot to really make noise.

Peter Woods, DT, Clemson — Kansas City Chiefs, 1st round, 25th overall

This is just an absolutely filthy fit, which could give us a defensive front unlike anything else in the NFL. The biggest reason Woods went from being a Top 10 prospect when the college season began, to falling to 25th was due to questions about his individual motor and the ability to be the centerpiece of a defensive line — a necessity when you’re a top pick in the draft.

Now he lands on a Steve Spagnuolo defense where Chris Jones will be lined up next to him where the All Pro DT will be eating those doubles and be the focal point, so Woods is in a position to get downfield and penetrate. That’s a ludicrous boon to a young defensive player, and it’s my expectation that he will benefit the same way George Karlaftis did off the edge.

Perhaps more importantly, the fit gives Woods a veteran in Jones who can help mold his game. Both have that sudden “quick win” element to their play, with a violent first step — and while Woods’ arms don’t meet the NFL ideal on length, that can be helped if he’s a sponge and learns technique from Jones next to him.

Ultimately, I think the defensive front with two sudden defensive tackles operating out of a 4-3 front might be something we haven’t seen in the NFL since the early 2000s with Pat and Kevin Williams on the Minnesota Vikings.

Aveion Terrell, CB, Clemson — Atlanta Falcons, 2nd round, 48th overall

It’s rare to find an example where a player both slides in the NFL Draft and finds their perfect fit. Aveion Terrell was tailor-made for the Falcons’ defense, and he has the absolute best person to nurture him in the league: His brother.

It’s not just that both A.J. Terrell and Aveion Terrell now play cornerback for the same team, but that they have extremely similar skillsets. Both are very fluid athletes with fantastic technique and outstanding instincts when it comes to tracking and locating receivers. Aveion is slightly smaller than his brother, but makes up for his lack of ability in jump ball situations with being a better open-field tackler, and more aggressive in run support.

This means what we have in Atlanta is a highly skilled rookie corner who now gets to learn about the transition to the pros from a family member with a vested interest in seeing him succeed. There won’t be the concern of one replacing the other, because they are complementary corners where A.J. will be expected to play cover the No. 1, while Aveion has the ability to roam inside out a little more.

It’s just impossible to see how this fit will fail. It’s going to be so much fun to watch.

Lee Hunter, NT, Texas Tech — Carolina Panthers, 2nd round, 49th overall

The Carolina Panthers put mammoth work into overhauling their woeful defense this season with two huge signings in EDGE Jaelan Phillips, and MLB Devin Lloyd. The only missing piece to the puzzle was a stud nose tackle to eat up space, and now the Panthers have their guy.

Hunter is such a good fit in this Panthers defense lining up in their odd front with Derrick Brown. Brown is already one of the most dominant defensive tackles in the NFL, who doesn’t often get his flowers because it was too easy to pull the center over on a double. Hunter will ensure that can’t happen anymore. His ability to dent the pocket with his power and drive the center back into the quarterback’s lap will have a domino effect on the entire Panthers defense. Without that ability to push interior linemen out of the double teams will need to pick whether they need to deal with Phillips off the edge, or Brown off the interior.

It might not stack the stats for Hunter, but he is going to be an absolute difference maker. This applies to clogging running lanes as well, which will then open up Lloyd to get to the point of attack and wrap up plays. This is going to be such a good fit for the Panthers, and one that could pay huge dividends.

Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU — Kansas City Chiefs, 7th round, 249th overall

Closing out our best fits lets talk about the biggest wild card in all this and that’s Garrett Nussmeier. Prior to the draft I said that Nussmeier was going to be one of the best steals in this class, and that was operating under the assumption he was going to be a third round pick — not in the friggin’ seventh.

If you haven’t followed this story, yes, Nussmeier needs back surgery — but it’s to remove a cyst that was pressing on a nerve. It basically killed his year at LSU and led to the collapse in his performance. He will be full healed and ready to go by training camp, which means we all see where this one is headed.

With Patrick Mahomes on the sideline to start the season and only Justin Fields ahead of him on the depth chart there’s a very real chance a healthy Nussmeier could come in and steal the starting job. He’ll be operating in an offense with good weapons and astounding offensive minds to play to his strengths, with a real chance he can shine for a couple of months until Mahomes is back.

Fast-forward to next year, and someone is missing on a QB. Are they going to look to the second or third tier in 2027, or potentially send a decent pick to the Chiefs for Nussmeier on a bargain-basement deal, assuming he proves it in Mahomes’ absence.. Honestly, it’s a better landing spot than any quarterback got outside of the first round, and I think there’s a very real chance we enter next season with Nussmeier starting somewhere in the NFL as a result.

#NFL #Draft #team #fits #good #rookies #instant #stars">6 NFL Draft team fits that are so good, rookies can become instant stars With the NFL Draft behind us, it’s time to start getting excited about some of the rookies set to hit the league, and a huge part of their success will be based on fit. Time and time again, we’ve seen elite talent fail to reach their ceiling because they landed in a bad situation, while players who flew under the radar in the pre-draft process become superstars due to finding an ideal home for their talents.In this 2026 draft class there were a handful of early picks that are truly eye-catching when it comes to their potential to be a serious factor as soon as they hit the league.Arvell Reese, LB, New York Giants — 1st round, 5th overallIt might seem like a copout to throw the top player on our big board on this list, but it really can’t be overstated how perfect a fit Reese will be on the Giants. The best trait Reese brings to the pros is his unbelievable scheme flexibility, which translates to chaos in the NFL. Essentially he’s a player that can be moved all around the formation into basically any position in the front seven and find a way to make an impact.The only thing that can hamper a player like this is a lack of talent around them. If a chaotic linebacker like this finds himself being the only threat on the field then it becomes easy for a team to bracket them and neutralize that ability. This simply is not possible when it comes to the New York Giants. Opposing offenses have to account for Brian Burns on every down, then worry about a rotation of Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux coming off the edge. With two solid pass rushers in on snaps it creates the ultimate canvas for Reese to wreak havoc.Sprinkle in the fact that you have John Harbaugh running the show, and we could see a new-generation version of Terrell Suggs — or something even more effective that we can’t even fully comprehend.Makai Lemon, WR, USC, Philadelphia Eagles — 1st round, 20th overallWhen the dust settles, I think the Dallas Cowboys are going to seriously regret getting two fourth-round picks in exchange for giving the Eagles their future top weapon in Makai Lemon.Obviously, the writing is on the wall for A.J. Brown’s time in Philly, but this is an extremely rare case where I look at this team and think they’re going to be absolutely fine — potentially even scarier when Lemon gets up to NFL speed. That’s not a knock on Brown, but more a realization that a change in receiver skillsets can be additive to the Eagles’ passing offense.It goes without saying that DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown have been great, but it’s been more duplicative than anything. Both have similar skill sets, with crisp route running and amazing hands, but neither is really a YAC beast. Smith and Brown averaged around 3.0 yards after the catch last season, which is fine when you’re consistent — but Lemon is an absolute YAC MONSTER. He is going to be able to line up in the slot, split out wide, or operate out of trips and give this team another level to its passing offense.What we’re going to see is another layer of the Eagles’ passing game get opened up because of Lemon, and I think he’s landing in the perfect spot to really make noise.Peter Woods, DT, Clemson — Kansas City Chiefs, 1st round, 25th overallThis is just an absolutely filthy fit, which could give us a defensive front unlike anything else in the NFL. The biggest reason Woods went from being a Top 10 prospect when the college season began, to falling to 25th was due to questions about his individual motor and the ability to be the centerpiece of a defensive line — a necessity when you’re a top pick in the draft.Now he lands on a Steve Spagnuolo defense where Chris Jones will be lined up next to him where the All Pro DT will be eating those doubles and be the focal point, so Woods is in a position to get downfield and penetrate. That’s a ludicrous boon to a young defensive player, and it’s my expectation that he will benefit the same way George Karlaftis did off the edge.Perhaps more importantly, the fit gives Woods a veteran in Jones who can help mold his game. Both have that sudden “quick win” element to their play, with a violent first step — and while Woods’ arms don’t meet the NFL ideal on length, that can be helped if he’s a sponge and learns technique from Jones next to him.Ultimately, I think the defensive front with two sudden defensive tackles operating out of a 4-3 front might be something we haven’t seen in the NFL since the early 2000s with Pat and Kevin Williams on the Minnesota Vikings.Aveion Terrell, CB, Clemson — Atlanta Falcons, 2nd round, 48th overallIt’s rare to find an example where a player both slides in the NFL Draft and finds their perfect fit. Aveion Terrell was tailor-made for the Falcons’ defense, and he has the absolute best person to nurture him in the league: His brother.It’s not just that both A.J. Terrell and Aveion Terrell now play cornerback for the same team, but that they have extremely similar skillsets. Both are very fluid athletes with fantastic technique and outstanding instincts when it comes to tracking and locating receivers. Aveion is slightly smaller than his brother, but makes up for his lack of ability in jump ball situations with being a better open-field tackler, and more aggressive in run support.This means what we have in Atlanta is a highly skilled rookie corner who now gets to learn about the transition to the pros from a family member with a vested interest in seeing him succeed. There won’t be the concern of one replacing the other, because they are complementary corners where A.J. will be expected to play cover the No. 1, while Aveion has the ability to roam inside out a little more.It’s just impossible to see how this fit will fail. It’s going to be so much fun to watch.Lee Hunter, NT, Texas Tech — Carolina Panthers, 2nd round, 49th overallThe Carolina Panthers put mammoth work into overhauling their woeful defense this season with two huge signings in EDGE Jaelan Phillips, and MLB Devin Lloyd. The only missing piece to the puzzle was a stud nose tackle to eat up space, and now the Panthers have their guy.Hunter is such a good fit in this Panthers defense lining up in their odd front with Derrick Brown. Brown is already one of the most dominant defensive tackles in the NFL, who doesn’t often get his flowers because it was too easy to pull the center over on a double. Hunter will ensure that can’t happen anymore. His ability to dent the pocket with his power and drive the center back into the quarterback’s lap will have a domino effect on the entire Panthers defense. Without that ability to push interior linemen out of the double teams will need to pick whether they need to deal with Phillips off the edge, or Brown off the interior.It might not stack the stats for Hunter, but he is going to be an absolute difference maker. This applies to clogging running lanes as well, which will then open up Lloyd to get to the point of attack and wrap up plays. This is going to be such a good fit for the Panthers, and one that could pay huge dividends.Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU — Kansas City Chiefs, 7th round, 249th overallClosing out our best fits lets talk about the biggest wild card in all this and that’s Garrett Nussmeier. Prior to the draft I said that Nussmeier was going to be one of the best steals in this class, and that was operating under the assumption he was going to be a third round pick — not in the friggin’ seventh.If you haven’t followed this story, yes, Nussmeier needs back surgery — but it’s to remove a cyst that was pressing on a nerve. It basically killed his year at LSU and led to the collapse in his performance. He will be full healed and ready to go by training camp, which means we all see where this one is headed.With Patrick Mahomes on the sideline to start the season and only Justin Fields ahead of him on the depth chart there’s a very real chance a healthy Nussmeier could come in and steal the starting job. He’ll be operating in an offense with good weapons and astounding offensive minds to play to his strengths, with a real chance he can shine for a couple of months until Mahomes is back.Fast-forward to next year, and someone is missing on a QB. Are they going to look to the second or third tier in 2027, or potentially send a decent pick to the Chiefs for Nussmeier on a bargain-basement deal, assuming he proves it in Mahomes’ absence.. Honestly, it’s a better landing spot than any quarterback got outside of the first round, and I think there’s a very real chance we enter next season with Nussmeier starting somewhere in the NFL as a result. #NFL #Draft #team #fits #good #rookies #instant #stars

India’s women’s table tennis team rose to the occasion in a high-stakes group match, edging Ukraine 3-2 in a pulsating contest to keep its ITTF World Team Championships Finals qualification hopes on track on Wednesday.

The win also placed India in a strong position to top Group 6.

The tie began tensely, with World No. 49 Manika Batra put under pressure by the experienced Tetyana Bilenko. After dropping the second game, Manika showed her composure to win 11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5 and give India an early lead.

Ukraine hit back through World No. 51 Margaryta Pesotska, who beat Yashaswini Ghorpade in a five-game contest. Ghorpade fought back after losing the first two games, including a dominant 11-1 win in the third, but Pesotska held her nerve in the decider to level the tie at 1-1.

India regained control through Diya Chitale, who produced an assured performance against Veronika Matiunina. The young paddler won 11-6, 11-8, 11-6, combining sharp placement with relentless tempo to put India 2-1 ahead.

ALSO READ | Madrid Open: Baptiste stuns World No. 1 Sabalenka, knocks her out in quarterfinal

With the tie hanging in the balance, Pesotska beat Manika 11-9, 5-11, 11-8, 11-6 to force a decisive fifth match.

Ghorpade then showed remarkable resilience under pressure, beating Tetyana 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7 to seal the tie for India.

The win places India in a commanding position in the group. It will take on Rwanda in its last group fixture on Thursday, a match that could confirm its passage into the main draw as group topper.

In the men’s section, India will take on Slovakia later in the day before wrapping up its Group 7 campaign against Guatemala on Thursday.

Published on Apr 29, 2026

#ITTF #World #Team #Championships #Yashaswini #holds #nerve #decider #India #women #beat #Ukraine #Group #thriller">ITTF World Team Championships: Yashaswini holds nerve in decider as India women beat Ukraine in Group 6 thriller India’s women’s table tennis team rose to the occasion in a high-stakes group match, edging Ukraine 3-2 in a pulsating contest to keep its ITTF World Team Championships Finals qualification hopes on track on Wednesday.The win also placed India in a strong position to top Group 6.The tie began tensely, with World No. 49 Manika Batra put under pressure by the experienced Tetyana Bilenko. After dropping the second game, Manika showed her composure to win 11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5 and give India an early lead.Ukraine hit back through World No. 51 Margaryta Pesotska, who beat Yashaswini Ghorpade in a five-game contest. Ghorpade fought back after losing the first two games, including a dominant 11-1 win in the third, but Pesotska held her nerve in the decider to level the tie at 1-1.India regained control through Diya Chitale, who produced an assured performance against Veronika Matiunina. The young paddler won 11-6, 11-8, 11-6, combining sharp placement with relentless tempo to put India 2-1 ahead.ALSO READ | Madrid Open: Baptiste stuns World No. 1 Sabalenka, knocks her out in quarterfinalWith the tie hanging in the balance, Pesotska beat Manika 11-9, 5-11, 11-8, 11-6 to force a decisive fifth match.Ghorpade then showed remarkable resilience under pressure, beating Tetyana 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7 to seal the tie for India.The win places India in a commanding position in the group. It will take on Rwanda in its last group fixture on Thursday, a match that could confirm its passage into the main draw as group topper.In the men’s section, India will take on Slovakia later in the day before wrapping up its Group 7 campaign against Guatemala on Thursday.Published on Apr 29, 2026 #ITTF #World #Team #Championships #Yashaswini #holds #nerve #decider #India #women #beat #Ukraine #Group #thriller

Madrid Open: Baptiste stuns World No. 1 Sabalenka, knocks her out in quarterfinal

With the tie hanging in the balance, Pesotska beat Manika 11-9, 5-11, 11-8, 11-6 to force a decisive fifth match.

Ghorpade then showed remarkable resilience under pressure, beating Tetyana 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7 to seal the tie for India.

The win places India in a commanding position in the group. It will take on Rwanda in its last group fixture on Thursday, a match that could confirm its passage into the main draw as group topper.

In the men’s section, India will take on Slovakia later in the day before wrapping up its Group 7 campaign against Guatemala on Thursday.

Published on Apr 29, 2026

#ITTF #World #Team #Championships #Yashaswini #holds #nerve #decider #India #women #beat #Ukraine #Group #thriller">ITTF World Team Championships: Yashaswini holds nerve in decider as India women beat Ukraine in Group 6 thriller

India’s women’s table tennis team rose to the occasion in a high-stakes group match, edging Ukraine 3-2 in a pulsating contest to keep its ITTF World Team Championships Finals qualification hopes on track on Wednesday.

The win also placed India in a strong position to top Group 6.

The tie began tensely, with World No. 49 Manika Batra put under pressure by the experienced Tetyana Bilenko. After dropping the second game, Manika showed her composure to win 11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5 and give India an early lead.

Ukraine hit back through World No. 51 Margaryta Pesotska, who beat Yashaswini Ghorpade in a five-game contest. Ghorpade fought back after losing the first two games, including a dominant 11-1 win in the third, but Pesotska held her nerve in the decider to level the tie at 1-1.

India regained control through Diya Chitale, who produced an assured performance against Veronika Matiunina. The young paddler won 11-6, 11-8, 11-6, combining sharp placement with relentless tempo to put India 2-1 ahead.

ALSO READ | Madrid Open: Baptiste stuns World No. 1 Sabalenka, knocks her out in quarterfinal

With the tie hanging in the balance, Pesotska beat Manika 11-9, 5-11, 11-8, 11-6 to force a decisive fifth match.

Ghorpade then showed remarkable resilience under pressure, beating Tetyana 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7 to seal the tie for India.

The win places India in a commanding position in the group. It will take on Rwanda in its last group fixture on Thursday, a match that could confirm its passage into the main draw as group topper.

In the men’s section, India will take on Slovakia later in the day before wrapping up its Group 7 campaign against Guatemala on Thursday.

Published on Apr 29, 2026

#ITTF #World #Team #Championships #Yashaswini #holds #nerve #decider #India #women #beat #Ukraine #Group #thriller

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