Deadspin | Rays ready for return to Tropicana Field in home opener vs. Cubs Mar 31, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Shane McClanahan (18) delivers a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images For the Tampa Bay Rays, Monday afternoon’s home opener against the Chicago Cubs will be “Dome sweet home.” The Rays open a six-game homestand this week, and the buzz around the bay is all about returning to the ballpark the club has called home for its entire existence except for last season. All of that was because of Hurricane Milton, which ravaged Tropicana Field on Oct. 9, 2024 — 18 1/2 months ago. However, the renovations are completed, including a new roof last August, and the contest already is a sellout as regular-season baseball comes back to St. Petersburg. “I briefly walked through there, couldn’t be more impressed with the way it looks, and excited to see our fans,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said about coming home. “I think our guys are going to appreciate just having our fans in the building, cheering us on for our opening day.” Reliever Griffin Jax joined the team last July and said playing across the bay in Tampa at the spring training home of the Yankees was not the best experience. “It was difficult,” Jax said about playing at Steinbrenner Field. “I don’t think anybody expects to play in a situation like that. … The situation isn’t great. The environment wasn’t awesome, but it’s still baseball. You just have to roll with it. “It’ll be cool to see all the new renovations and upgrades they made along the way. … It’ll be good to be back in our home.” The Rays, who return home having won two of three at the Minnesota Twins, will start Shane McClanahan (0-1, 3.86 ERA), who lost against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 4 2/3-inning start. The lefty is 0-1 with a 2.31 ERA in two career starts against the Cubs. Perhaps a little weary, Chicago arrives as the first opponent in the refurbished stadium after a long weekend in Cleveland that concluded with Sunday’s doubleheader against the Guardians following Saturday’s rainout. In the opener, Edward Cabrera and three relievers blanked Cleveland on one hit in a 1-0 win. In the nightcap, Dansby Swanson, Matt Shaw and Ian Happ all homered, but the Guardians rallied from a 3-0 deficit in a 6-5 split of the twin-bill. Cubs manager Craig Counsell had an update on Seiya Suzuki, who injured his right knee in the World Baseball Classic. “He’ll stay on rehab and play in Knoxville on Tuesday and Wednesday then rejoin us on Friday in Chicago,” said Counsell of Suzuki, who went 1-for-2 with a run and a walk playing right field Sunday for the Knoxville Smokies. There has been a little concern on the North Side staff’s behalf regarding the health of Monday’s starter Jameson Taillon (0-0, 0.00), who tossed four innings and received no decision after his scoreless start Tuesday in a 2-0 home loss against the Los Angeles Angels. The right-hander, who was born in Lakeland, Fla., an hour from the Rays’ domed park, had a terrible spring and has been noticeably lacking velocity. “Hopefully as the weather warms up and we keep working, (velocity will) come,” said Taillon, 34. “But I just needed to get back to executing and finding a way to get big-league hitters out.” Against Tampa Bay, Taillon is 3-2 with a 2.21 ERA in seven starts. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Rays #ready #return #Tropicana #Field #home #opener #Cubs

Deadspin | Injury-depleted Timberwolves seek to eliminate Nuggets in Game 5 Apr 25, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu (13) celebrates with fans after making a three-point shot against the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images The Denver Nuggets entered this postseason with hopes of a deep run. Instead, they are in danger of bowing out in five games. The Minnesota Timberwolves overcame two significant injuries to win Game 4, 112-96, on Saturday night and can close out the series in Denver on Monday night. The Nuggets are on the brink of a first-round exit for the first time since 2022 when they were swept by Golden State. Minnesota prevailed in Game 4 despite losing two key players to injuries. Starter Donte DiVincenzo to a torn Achilles just 79 seconds into the win. Then, All-Star Anthony Edwards suffered a bone bruise and a hyperextended left knee late in the second quarter and didn’t return. ESPN reported Sunday that Edwards will miss multiple weeks. Without DiVincenzo and Edwards, the Timberwolves had enough to overcome Denver in the second half Saturday night, led by Ayo Dosunmu’s unexpected 43-point performance. “I saw some guys get sad seeing both of those guys go down,” Dosunmu said. “I just wanted to help bring us together.” Dosunmu will get many more opportunities to shine in Game 5. So will Jaden McDaniels, whose meaningless layup in the final seconds of Game 4 drew the wrath of Denver’s Nikola Jokic. The three-time MVP confronted McDaniels in front of the Minnesota bench, gave him a shove and McDaniels grabbed Jokic’s jersey. “Clock still be running,” McDaniels said after the game. “So, I’m going to go score.” It sparked a few more shoves, led to ejections for Jokic and Julius Randle and added more fuel to an already heated playoff rivalry. “I don’t regret it, because he scored after everybody stopped playing,” Jokic said of his reaction to the layup. The Nuggets will need that fire to stay alive in Game 5. Denver has been out of sync since the Timberwolves rallied from down 19 early in Game 2 to even the series. The Nuggets are also dealing with significant injuries to Peyton Watson, who has yet to play in the series, and Aaron Gordon. Gordon missed Game 3 with a calf injury and was limited to 23 minutes Saturday night. He was lacking explosiveness and was clearly compromised. “It was unfair for me to keep him out there,” Denver coach David Adelman said of Gordon. “I felt like he was really laboring in the first half. We’re going to have to decide (on his status) for Game 5.” Gordon played through a hamstring injury that affected him in last year’s playoffs, but the Nuggets were able to extend eventual champion Oklahoma City to Game 7 in the second round. Denver has a deeper roster this year but is facing extinction in a year it felt could end with a second title in four seasons. “We have got to show some fight in Game 5,” Christian Braun said. “And I know we will. We are going to show up. We are going to play well. We are going to guard. We are going to be physical. We are going to rebound. It’s not over.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Injurydepleted #Timberwolves #seek #eliminate #Nuggets #Game

#Deadspin #Injurydepleted #Timberwolves #seek #eliminate #Nuggets #Game">

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Apr 25, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu (13) celebrates with fans after making a three-point shot against the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

The Denver Nuggets entered this postseason with hopes of a deep run. Instead, they are in danger of bowing out in five games.

The Minnesota Timberwolves overcame two significant injuries to win Game 4, 112-96, on Saturday night and can close out the series in Denver on Monday night. The Nuggets are on the brink of a first-round exit for the first time since 2022 when they were swept by Golden State.

Minnesota prevailed in Game 4 despite losing two key players to injuries. Starter Donte DiVincenzo to a torn Achilles just 79 seconds into the win. Then, All-Star Anthony Edwards suffered a bone bruise and a hyperextended left knee late in the second quarter and didn’t return. ESPN reported Sunday that Edwards will miss multiple weeks.

Without DiVincenzo and Edwards, the Timberwolves had enough to overcome Denver in the second half Saturday night, led by Ayo Dosunmu’s unexpected 43-point performance.

“I saw some guys get sad seeing both of those guys go down,” Dosunmu said. “I just wanted to help bring us together.”

Dosunmu will get many more opportunities to shine in Game 5. So will Jaden McDaniels, whose meaningless layup in the final seconds of Game 4 drew the wrath of Denver’s Nikola Jokic. The three-time MVP confronted McDaniels in front of the Minnesota bench, gave him a shove and McDaniels grabbed Jokic’s jersey.

“Clock still be running,” McDaniels said after the game. “So, I’m going to go score.”

It sparked a few more shoves, led to ejections for Jokic and Julius Randle and added more fuel to an already heated playoff rivalry.

“I don’t regret it, because he scored after everybody stopped playing,” Jokic said of his reaction to the layup.

The Nuggets will need that fire to stay alive in Game 5. Denver has been out of sync since the Timberwolves rallied from down 19 early in Game 2 to even the series. The Nuggets are also dealing with significant injuries to Peyton Watson, who has yet to play in the series, and Aaron Gordon.

Gordon missed Game 3 with a calf injury and was limited to 23 minutes Saturday night. He was lacking explosiveness and was clearly compromised.

“It was unfair for me to keep him out there,” Denver coach David Adelman said of Gordon. “I felt like he was really laboring in the first half. We’re going to have to decide (on his status) for Game 5.”

Gordon played through a hamstring injury that affected him in last year’s playoffs, but the Nuggets were able to extend eventual champion Oklahoma City to Game 7 in the second round. Denver has a deeper roster this year but is facing extinction in a year it felt could end with a second title in four seasons.

“We have got to show some fight in Game 5,” Christian Braun said. “And I know we will. We are going to show up. We are going to play well. We are going to guard. We are going to be physical. We are going to rebound. It’s not over.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Injurydepleted #Timberwolves #seek #eliminate #Nuggets #Game">Deadspin | Injury-depleted Timberwolves seek to eliminate Nuggets in Game 5

Apr 25, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu (13) celebrates with fans after making a three-point shot against the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

The Denver Nuggets entered this postseason with hopes of a deep run. Instead, they are in danger of bowing out in five games.

The Minnesota Timberwolves overcame two significant injuries to win Game 4, 112-96, on Saturday night and can close out the series in Denver on Monday night. The Nuggets are on the brink of a first-round exit for the first time since 2022 when they were swept by Golden State.

Minnesota prevailed in Game 4 despite losing two key players to injuries. Starter Donte DiVincenzo to a torn Achilles just 79 seconds into the win. Then, All-Star Anthony Edwards suffered a bone bruise and a hyperextended left knee late in the second quarter and didn’t return. ESPN reported Sunday that Edwards will miss multiple weeks.

Without DiVincenzo and Edwards, the Timberwolves had enough to overcome Denver in the second half Saturday night, led by Ayo Dosunmu’s unexpected 43-point performance.

“I saw some guys get sad seeing both of those guys go down,” Dosunmu said. “I just wanted to help bring us together.”

Dosunmu will get many more opportunities to shine in Game 5. So will Jaden McDaniels, whose meaningless layup in the final seconds of Game 4 drew the wrath of Denver’s Nikola Jokic. The three-time MVP confronted McDaniels in front of the Minnesota bench, gave him a shove and McDaniels grabbed Jokic’s jersey.

“Clock still be running,” McDaniels said after the game. “So, I’m going to go score.”

It sparked a few more shoves, led to ejections for Jokic and Julius Randle and added more fuel to an already heated playoff rivalry.

“I don’t regret it, because he scored after everybody stopped playing,” Jokic said of his reaction to the layup.

The Nuggets will need that fire to stay alive in Game 5. Denver has been out of sync since the Timberwolves rallied from down 19 early in Game 2 to even the series. The Nuggets are also dealing with significant injuries to Peyton Watson, who has yet to play in the series, and Aaron Gordon.

Gordon missed Game 3 with a calf injury and was limited to 23 minutes Saturday night. He was lacking explosiveness and was clearly compromised.

“It was unfair for me to keep him out there,” Denver coach David Adelman said of Gordon. “I felt like he was really laboring in the first half. We’re going to have to decide (on his status) for Game 5.”

Gordon played through a hamstring injury that affected him in last year’s playoffs, but the Nuggets were able to extend eventual champion Oklahoma City to Game 7 in the second round. Denver has a deeper roster this year but is facing extinction in a year it felt could end with a second title in four seasons.

“We have got to show some fight in Game 5,” Christian Braun said. “And I know we will. We are going to show up. We are going to play well. We are going to guard. We are going to be physical. We are going to rebound. It’s not over.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Injurydepleted #Timberwolves #seek #eliminate #Nuggets #Game

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