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Four Events That Might Be Axed in PGA Tour Shakeup | Deadspin.com   Golf’s schedule shakeup has begun.The PGA Tour this week confirmed that it would not return to Hawaii, where it’s traditionally opened the season with consecutive tournaments on Maui and in Honolulu.The long-rumored move is undoubtedly the first of several to come as PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp preaches scarcity and tries to contract the schedule. If you’re just catching up, the tour’s current preference is to create a top tier of 21-26 tournaments and a second track for lower-ranked players to earn opportunities for promotion.The elevated track would include the four majors, The Players Championship and the FedEx Cup playoffs. You figure the eight “signature events” that already exist maintain that status. That leaves five to 10 standard tournaments to select — and a bunch of regular-season tournaments that won’t make the cut.Now that’s much more interesting to me. Who gets the axe? I’ve got four suggestions for a shortlist of tournaments to either chop completely or demote to the second tier.There are plenty of reasons to cut a tournament, from lack of fan interest to an expiring sponsor to even the environment on Maui, which has dealt with wildfires and drought alike. (It’s worth remembering the tour also made several missteps pre-LIV Golf, dropping popular annual stops in Boston, New York, Washington and Chicago and cold-shouldering millions of golf fans in those areas. Rolapp rightly wants to claw some of those back.)I considered five criteria to determine which ones wouldn’t be missed: TV ratings (2025 numbers compiled by Sports Business Journal), estimated attendance (tracked by the fellow behind this website), relative strength of field (measured by Datagolf.com), consensus about the golf course and location.As luck would have it, we’ll start with the team event that begins Thursday:Zurich Classic of New OrleansMost elite players, including past champion Rory McIlroy, are taking the week off because the Zurich comes at an odd time in the jam-packed schedule. A sampling of players who are in the field this week: Martin Couvra, Pontus Nyholm, Chandler Blanchet, Trace Crowe. Casual fans, are you excited yet? A shrinking New Orleans market and bottom-five TV ratings (among standard tour events) don’t help, but above all, it feels cheap for a pairs tournament to be doling out FedEx Cup points when it’s an individual sport the rest of the season.CJ Cup Byron NelsonI’d delete this from the calendar for the abominable name alone. That aside, TPC Craig Ranch is the real problem here. Dallas native Scottie Scheffler played the tourney last year and embarrassed the course by going 31 under par for four days. That prompted a revamp, and headlines promising the course is no longer a pushover are never a good sign. The field is weak, attendance is low and Dallas-Fort Worth doesn’t need to hog two tournaments when there’s more history at Colonial Country Club.Rocket ClassicIn 2019 the PGA Tour introduced both their Minnesota and Detroit events, the 3M Open and the Rocket Classic. The Upper Midwest is a good home for some July golf, but neither of these have any juice. I was torn between the two and nearly picked the 3M due to worse TV ratings, but I came back to Detroit Golf Club, which is flat and straight-ahead and usually quite soft due to summer rain. It’s boringly easy, with more birdies made there than any other course on tour in 2025. They left the D.C. area for this.Wyndham ChampionshipThe attendance is relatively low, the TV ratings aren’t better, but more than anything this choice comes down to philosophical fit. Right now the Wyndham serves as the final regular-season event for players to squeak into the playoffs. Top players never come here because they never have to. In the PGA Tour’s New World Order, it works better as a late-season tournament for the rookies and journeymen to scrap for promotion to the top track next year.   #Events #Axed #PGA #Tour #Shakeup #Deadspin.com

Four Events That Might Be Axed in PGA Tour Shakeup | Deadspin.com

Golf’s schedule shakeup has begun.

The PGA Tour this week confirmed that it would not return to Hawaii, where it’s traditionally opened the season with consecutive tournaments on Maui and in Honolulu.

The long-rumored move is undoubtedly the first of several to come as PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp preaches scarcity and tries to contract the schedule. If you’re just catching up, the tour’s current preference is to create a top tier of 21-26 tournaments and a second track for lower-ranked players to earn opportunities for promotion.

The elevated track would include the four majors, The Players Championship and the FedEx Cup playoffs. You figure the eight “signature events” that already exist maintain that status. That leaves five to 10 standard tournaments to select — and a bunch of regular-season tournaments that won’t make the cut.

Now that’s much more interesting to me. Who gets the axe? I’ve got four suggestions for a shortlist of tournaments to either chop completely or demote to the second tier.

There are plenty of reasons to cut a tournament, from lack of fan interest to an expiring sponsor to even the environment on Maui, which has dealt with wildfires and drought alike. (It’s worth remembering the tour also made several missteps pre-LIV Golf, dropping popular annual stops in Boston, New York, Washington and Chicago and cold-shouldering millions of golf fans in those areas. Rolapp rightly wants to claw some of those back.)

I considered five criteria to determine which ones wouldn’t be missed: TV ratings (2025 numbers compiled by Sports Business Journal), estimated attendance (tracked by the fellow behind this website), relative strength of field (measured by Datagolf.com), consensus about the golf course and location.

As luck would have it, we’ll start with the team event that begins Thursday:

Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Most elite players, including past champion Rory McIlroy, are taking the week off because the Zurich comes at an odd time in the jam-packed schedule. A sampling of players who are in the field this week: Martin Couvra, Pontus Nyholm, Chandler Blanchet, Trace Crowe. Casual fans, are you excited yet? A shrinking New Orleans market and bottom-five TV ratings (among standard tour events) don’t help, but above all, it feels cheap for a pairs tournament to be doling out FedEx Cup points when it’s an individual sport the rest of the season.

CJ Cup Byron Nelson

I’d delete this from the calendar for the abominable name alone. That aside, TPC Craig Ranch is the real problem here. Dallas native Scottie Scheffler played the tourney last year and embarrassed the course by going 31 under par for four days. That prompted a revamp, and headlines promising the course is no longer a pushover are never a good sign. The field is weak, attendance is low and Dallas-Fort Worth doesn’t need to hog two tournaments when there’s more history at Colonial Country Club.

Rocket Classic

In 2019 the PGA Tour introduced both their Minnesota and Detroit events, the 3M Open and the Rocket Classic. The Upper Midwest is a good home for some July golf, but neither of these have any juice. I was torn between the two and nearly picked the 3M due to worse TV ratings, but I came back to Detroit Golf Club, which is flat and straight-ahead and usually quite soft due to summer rain. It’s boringly easy, with more birdies made there than any other course on tour in 2025. They left the D.C. area for this.

Wyndham Championship

The attendance is relatively low, the TV ratings aren’t better, but more than anything this choice comes down to philosophical fit. Right now the Wyndham serves as the final regular-season event for players to squeak into the playoffs. Top players never come here because they never have to. In the PGA Tour’s New World Order, it works better as a late-season tournament for the rookies and journeymen to scrap for promotion to the top track next year.

#Events #Axed #PGA #Tour #Shakeup #Deadspin.com

Golf’s schedule shakeup has begun.

The PGA Tour this week confirmed that it would not return to Hawaii, where it’s traditionally opened the season with consecutive tournaments on Maui and in Honolulu.

The long-rumored move is undoubtedly the first of several to come as PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp preaches scarcity and tries to contract the schedule. If you’re just catching up, the tour’s current preference is to create a top tier of 21-26 tournaments and a second track for lower-ranked players to earn opportunities for promotion.

The elevated track would include the four majors, The Players Championship and the FedEx Cup playoffs. You figure the eight “signature events” that already exist maintain that status. That leaves five to 10 standard tournaments to select — and a bunch of regular-season tournaments that won’t make the cut.

Now that’s much more interesting to me. Who gets the axe? I’ve got four suggestions for a shortlist of tournaments to either chop completely or demote to the second tier.

There are plenty of reasons to cut a tournament, from lack of fan interest to an expiring sponsor to even the environment on Maui, which has dealt with wildfires and drought alike. (It’s worth remembering the tour also made several missteps pre-LIV Golf, dropping popular annual stops in Boston, New York, Washington and Chicago and cold-shouldering millions of golf fans in those areas. Rolapp rightly wants to claw some of those back.)

I considered five criteria to determine which ones wouldn’t be missed: TV ratings (2025 numbers compiled by Sports Business Journal), estimated attendance (tracked by the fellow behind this website), relative strength of field (measured by Datagolf.com), consensus about the golf course and location.

As luck would have it, we’ll start with the team event that begins Thursday:

Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Most elite players, including past champion Rory McIlroy, are taking the week off because the Zurich comes at an odd time in the jam-packed schedule. A sampling of players who are in the field this week: Martin Couvra, Pontus Nyholm, Chandler Blanchet, Trace Crowe. Casual fans, are you excited yet? A shrinking New Orleans market and bottom-five TV ratings (among standard tour events) don’t help, but above all, it feels cheap for a pairs tournament to be doling out FedEx Cup points when it’s an individual sport the rest of the season.

CJ Cup Byron Nelson

I’d delete this from the calendar for the abominable name alone. That aside, TPC Craig Ranch is the real problem here. Dallas native Scottie Scheffler played the tourney last year and embarrassed the course by going 31 under par for four days. That prompted a revamp, and headlines promising the course is no longer a pushover are never a good sign. The field is weak, attendance is low and Dallas-Fort Worth doesn’t need to hog two tournaments when there’s more history at Colonial Country Club.

Rocket Classic

In 2019 the PGA Tour introduced both their Minnesota and Detroit events, the 3M Open and the Rocket Classic. The Upper Midwest is a good home for some July golf, but neither of these have any juice. I was torn between the two and nearly picked the 3M due to worse TV ratings, but I came back to Detroit Golf Club, which is flat and straight-ahead and usually quite soft due to summer rain. It’s boringly easy, with more birdies made there than any other course on tour in 2025. They left the D.C. area for this.

Wyndham Championship

The attendance is relatively low, the TV ratings aren’t better, but more than anything this choice comes down to philosophical fit. Right now the Wyndham serves as the final regular-season event for players to squeak into the playoffs. Top players never come here because they never have to. In the PGA Tour’s New World Order, it works better as a late-season tournament for the rookies and journeymen to scrap for promotion to the top track next year.

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IPL 2026: GT’s top-heavy method to face full-throttle RCB test <div id="content-body-70898031" itemprop="articleBody"><p>In a way, Gujarat Titans is a throwback to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru of yesteryear.</p><p>Back then, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle used to do the bulk of the scoring and the rest of the batting line-up would be comparatively airy. GT of today is eerily similar, with the troika of Shubman Gill, B. Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler expected to do all the heavy-lifting.</p><p>On Friday at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here, GT’s biggest test against an RCB outfit that operates at full throttle from ball one will be to prove that its methods – even if they seem anachronistic – are effective enough.</p><p>“I don’t think we’ll suddenly change,” said Vikram Solanki, GT’s director of cricket, on match-eve. “We’ll remain consistent in the way we go about our cricket altogether. We trust in a method and formula, and we trust the players that have delivered.”</p><p>Just that, in the most recent match, the players didn’t. GT lost by a crushing 99 runs to Mumbai Indians, a defeat Solanki attributed to “a number of errors”. It is imperative that the middle- and lower-orders contribute, especially Rahul Tewatia and M. Shahrukh Khan who have totalled 84 runs in 10 combined visits to the crease.</p><p>RCB too is coming in following a defeat – to Delhi Capitals at home by six wickets. But that reverse was only its second this season from six matches, and it boasts of such a well-set team that even a generational talent like England’s Jacob Bethell has had to warm the bench.</p><p>Friday will be the last time RCB will play in the Garden City this campaign, and there will be significant attention on a pitch which has not aided free-flowing strokeplay from the get-go. The city is also in the midst of a searing summer, but the RCB faithful will want nothing more than a rain of runs.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 23, 2026</p></div> #IPL #GTs #topheavy #method #face #fullthrottle #RCB #test

Every pacer dreams of scooping up a wicket in the first over they bowl. Few actually get to do it. Fewer still get to do it thrice, and that too on the biggest stage in the format – the Indian Premier League. Vidarbha quick Praful Hinge had a debut to savour with Sunrisers Hyderabad recently, removing the Rajasthan Royals top order in his opening over.

“I played a Under-23 game against Vaibhav Sooryavanshi,” Praful said during a Jiostar Press Room interaction on Thursday. “I got him out on the same bouncer. I thought that if I bowl the same ball, he would hit it, because he was hitting everyone on the first ball.”

The 15-year-old, we now know, took the bait.

Praful has an envious battalion of big hitters to train with in the nets, so Sooryavanshi was not entirely out of syllabus.

“Their style of playing is like that. They hit every ball. Their approach in the nets is like that (too). When we bowl to them, we think of it as a match.”

Funnily, the 24-year-old relies on a tried and tested red-ball approach to succeed in the fast-paced life in T20s.

ALSO READ | From MRF Pace Foundation to IPL spotlight—Charting Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain’s meteoric rise

“With the new ball, we should test the batters as much as possible. We play red ball cricket with patience. We should follow that. And we did that with success.”

Praful’s ambitions were born from the hard work of his father, Prakash, who was employed by the Maharashtra State Electricity Board in Nagpur. He also credits his elder sister as his inspiration.

“My father used to leave the house at 8am, and my sister would study well into the night. I would wake up at 4am, and she was still up. I, too, wanted to achieve something and make my family feel good. They are huge sources of motivation for me.

“I trained as a 13-year-old with my father. He would get tired, but I’d still want to keep going. I was stubborn. At that time, all I knew was I wanted to play for India. I didn’t know what domestic or club cricket was.”

He eventually climbed the ladder of age-group cricket, played the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and got SRH’s attention. That helped him link up with his idol Pat Cummins, who is currently making his way back to the XI after a long injury layoff. Praful was admiringly starstruck, he remembered.

“When I met him for the first time, I told him I am his biggest fan and that I’ve been watching all his bowling videos and following everything he does. He was warm and said he’d be there to help me out.”

Cummins had a simple funda for Praful.

“During training sessions, he would say, ‘Do whatever you’re doing with your heart. Everyone knows T20 is a batter’s game. Enjoy the game, smile and win.’”

Published on Apr 23, 2026

#Cummins #funda #family #support #redball #lessons #Praful #Hinges #rise #SRHs #pace #ace">Cummins’ funda, family support, red-ball lessons: Into Praful Hinge’s rise as SRH’s pace ace  Every pacer dreams of scooping up a wicket in the first over they bowl. Few actually get to do it. Fewer still get to do it thrice, and that too on the biggest stage in the format – the Indian Premier League. Vidarbha quick Praful Hinge had a debut to savour with Sunrisers Hyderabad recently, removing the Rajasthan Royals top order in his opening over.“I played a Under-23 game against Vaibhav Sooryavanshi,” Praful said during a        Jiostar Press Room interaction on Thursday. “I got him out on the same bouncer. I thought that if I bowl the same ball, he would hit it, because he was hitting everyone on the first ball.”The 15-year-old, we now know, took the bait.Praful has an envious battalion of big hitters to train with in the nets, so Sooryavanshi was not entirely out of syllabus.“Their style of playing is like that. They hit every ball. Their approach in the nets is like that (too). When we bowl to them, we think of it as a match.”Funnily, the 24-year-old relies on a tried and tested red-ball approach to succeed in the fast-paced life in T20s.ALSO READ | From MRF Pace Foundation to IPL spotlight—Charting Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain’s meteoric rise“With the new ball, we should test the batters as much as possible. We play red ball cricket with patience. We should follow that. And we did that with success.”Praful’s ambitions were born from the hard work of his father, Prakash, who was employed by the Maharashtra State Electricity Board in Nagpur. He also credits his elder sister as his inspiration.“My father used to leave the house at 8am, and my sister would study well into the night. I would wake up at 4am, and she was still up. I, too, wanted to achieve something and make my family feel good. They are huge sources of motivation for me.“I trained as a 13-year-old with my father. He would get tired, but I’d still want to keep going. I was stubborn. At that time, all I knew was I wanted to play for India. I didn’t know what domestic or club cricket was.”He eventually climbed the ladder of age-group cricket, played the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and got SRH’s attention. That helped him link up with his idol Pat Cummins, who is currently making his way back to the XI after a long injury layoff. Praful was admiringly starstruck, he remembered.“When I met him for the first time, I told him I am his biggest fan and that I’ve been watching all his bowling videos and following everything he does. He was warm and said he’d be there to help me out.”Cummins had a simple        funda for Praful.“During training sessions, he would say, ‘Do whatever you’re doing with your heart. Everyone knows T20 is a batter’s game. Enjoy the game, smile and win.’”Published on Apr 23, 2026  #Cummins #funda #family #support #redball #lessons #Praful #Hinges #rise #SRHs #pace #ace

From MRF Pace Foundation to IPL spotlight—Charting Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain’s meteoric rise

“With the new ball, we should test the batters as much as possible. We play red ball cricket with patience. We should follow that. And we did that with success.”

Praful’s ambitions were born from the hard work of his father, Prakash, who was employed by the Maharashtra State Electricity Board in Nagpur. He also credits his elder sister as his inspiration.

“My father used to leave the house at 8am, and my sister would study well into the night. I would wake up at 4am, and she was still up. I, too, wanted to achieve something and make my family feel good. They are huge sources of motivation for me.

“I trained as a 13-year-old with my father. He would get tired, but I’d still want to keep going. I was stubborn. At that time, all I knew was I wanted to play for India. I didn’t know what domestic or club cricket was.”

He eventually climbed the ladder of age-group cricket, played the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and got SRH’s attention. That helped him link up with his idol Pat Cummins, who is currently making his way back to the XI after a long injury layoff. Praful was admiringly starstruck, he remembered.

“When I met him for the first time, I told him I am his biggest fan and that I’ve been watching all his bowling videos and following everything he does. He was warm and said he’d be there to help me out.”

Cummins had a simple funda for Praful.

“During training sessions, he would say, ‘Do whatever you’re doing with your heart. Everyone knows T20 is a batter’s game. Enjoy the game, smile and win.’”

Published on Apr 23, 2026

#Cummins #funda #family #support #redball #lessons #Praful #Hinges #rise #SRHs #pace #ace">Cummins’ funda, family support, red-ball lessons: Into Praful Hinge’s rise as SRH’s pace ace

Every pacer dreams of scooping up a wicket in the first over they bowl. Few actually get to do it. Fewer still get to do it thrice, and that too on the biggest stage in the format – the Indian Premier League. Vidarbha quick Praful Hinge had a debut to savour with Sunrisers Hyderabad recently, removing the Rajasthan Royals top order in his opening over.

“I played a Under-23 game against Vaibhav Sooryavanshi,” Praful said during a Jiostar Press Room interaction on Thursday. “I got him out on the same bouncer. I thought that if I bowl the same ball, he would hit it, because he was hitting everyone on the first ball.”

The 15-year-old, we now know, took the bait.

Praful has an envious battalion of big hitters to train with in the nets, so Sooryavanshi was not entirely out of syllabus.

“Their style of playing is like that. They hit every ball. Their approach in the nets is like that (too). When we bowl to them, we think of it as a match.”

Funnily, the 24-year-old relies on a tried and tested red-ball approach to succeed in the fast-paced life in T20s.

ALSO READ | From MRF Pace Foundation to IPL spotlight—Charting Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain’s meteoric rise

“With the new ball, we should test the batters as much as possible. We play red ball cricket with patience. We should follow that. And we did that with success.”

Praful’s ambitions were born from the hard work of his father, Prakash, who was employed by the Maharashtra State Electricity Board in Nagpur. He also credits his elder sister as his inspiration.

“My father used to leave the house at 8am, and my sister would study well into the night. I would wake up at 4am, and she was still up. I, too, wanted to achieve something and make my family feel good. They are huge sources of motivation for me.

“I trained as a 13-year-old with my father. He would get tired, but I’d still want to keep going. I was stubborn. At that time, all I knew was I wanted to play for India. I didn’t know what domestic or club cricket was.”

He eventually climbed the ladder of age-group cricket, played the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and got SRH’s attention. That helped him link up with his idol Pat Cummins, who is currently making his way back to the XI after a long injury layoff. Praful was admiringly starstruck, he remembered.

“When I met him for the first time, I told him I am his biggest fan and that I’ve been watching all his bowling videos and following everything he does. He was warm and said he’d be there to help me out.”

Cummins had a simple funda for Praful.

“During training sessions, he would say, ‘Do whatever you’re doing with your heart. Everyone knows T20 is a batter’s game. Enjoy the game, smile and win.’”

Published on Apr 23, 2026

#Cummins #funda #family #support #redball #lessons #Praful #Hinges #rise #SRHs #pace #ace
Deadspin | As Pirates visit Rangers, it’s rookie vs. Cy Young winner on mound  Apr 6, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bubba Chandler (36) delivers a pitch against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images   Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly wants rookie starting pitcher Bubba Chandler to be authentic when he takes the mound against the Texas Rangers on Thursday in Arlington, Texas.   “I want Bubba to be Bubba and sometimes that means him showing emotion,” Kelly said. “I think it’s a fine line for him to learn what that is and how he can control that as he goes through a start.”  After the Pirates rallied for an 8-4 win on Wednesday, highlighted by Oneil Cruz’s prodigious three-run home run off the top of the right field foul pole in the ninth inning, they’ll turn to Chandler in the rubber game of the three-game series.   In his most recent start, Chandler (1-1, 3.15 ERA) earned the 5-1 win against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays last Friday as he gave up one run on three hits and struck out three in six innings.  Opponents are hitting .183 off Chandler in four starts this season. It will mark Chandler’s first career appearance against the Rangers.   As the rookie right-hander works his way through his first full major-league season, Kelly said Chandler will learn how to make in-game adjustments. In Kelly’s nine-year career as a utility man, he made note of the things former teammate Justin Verlander did to get back on track during a game.   “I look at pitchers in general,” Kelly said. “I played behind Verlander. When he would lose his fastball command, it was the curveball he would go to and re-establish his release point. That helped him get his fastball back in the zone.   “I think sometimes throughout a start, if you are feeling off, there may be something you can do. Sometimes that’s with a pitch, sometimes that’s with a slide step to speed yourself up to get back in the zone and find a way to re-establish that release point. Bubba is an extreme athlete and is very competitive.”   Texas is scheduled to start right-hander Jacob deGrom (1-0, 2.29 ERA). In nine career starts against the Pirates, the two-time Cy Young Award winner is 3-3 with a 2.45 ERA and 69 strikeouts.  In his most recent start, deGrom didn’t factor into the decision but pitched four scoreless innings. He racked up 88 pitches, gave up four hits, walked two and struck out three in the Rangers’ 5-0 road win over the Seattle Mariners last Friday.   Josh Jung launched his third home run of the season on Wednesday. The third baseman has three hits, two runs and three RBIs in the series. Jung leads the Rangers in batting average (.303), doubles (eight), slugging percentage (.526) and OPS (.883).    Consistency is what Jung said has allowed him to get into a groove on offense.   “Coming in we create an approach and a plan and stick to it no matter what,” Jung said. “I think that’s what’s helping me right now. Everyday we come in and put a game plan together and execute no matter what.”  The Rangers will be without Wyatt Langford, who was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a Grade 1 flexor strain. In 20 games this season, Langford has a .238 batting average, three doubles, two triples, one home run and four RBIs.   –Field Level Media  -Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Pirates #visit #Rangers #rookie #Young #winner #moundApr 6, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bubba Chandler (36) delivers a pitch against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly wants rookie starting pitcher Bubba Chandler to be authentic when he takes the mound against the Texas Rangers on Thursday in Arlington, Texas.

“I want Bubba to be Bubba and sometimes that means him showing emotion,” Kelly said. “I think it’s a fine line for him to learn what that is and how he can control that as he goes through a start.”

After the Pirates rallied for an 8-4 win on Wednesday, highlighted by Oneil Cruz’s prodigious three-run home run off the top of the right field foul pole in the ninth inning, they’ll turn to Chandler in the rubber game of the three-game series.

In his most recent start, Chandler (1-1, 3.15 ERA) earned the 5-1 win against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays last Friday as he gave up one run on three hits and struck out three in six innings.

Opponents are hitting .183 off Chandler in four starts this season. It will mark Chandler’s first career appearance against the Rangers.

As the rookie right-hander works his way through his first full major-league season, Kelly said Chandler will learn how to make in-game adjustments. In Kelly’s nine-year career as a utility man, he made note of the things former teammate Justin Verlander did to get back on track during a game.

“I look at pitchers in general,” Kelly said. “I played behind Verlander. When he would lose his fastball command, it was the curveball he would go to and re-establish his release point. That helped him get his fastball back in the zone.


“I think sometimes throughout a start, if you are feeling off, there may be something you can do. Sometimes that’s with a pitch, sometimes that’s with a slide step to speed yourself up to get back in the zone and find a way to re-establish that release point. Bubba is an extreme athlete and is very competitive.”

Texas is scheduled to start right-hander Jacob deGrom (1-0, 2.29 ERA). In nine career starts against the Pirates, the two-time Cy Young Award winner is 3-3 with a 2.45 ERA and 69 strikeouts.

In his most recent start, deGrom didn’t factor into the decision but pitched four scoreless innings. He racked up 88 pitches, gave up four hits, walked two and struck out three in the Rangers’ 5-0 road win over the Seattle Mariners last Friday.

Josh Jung launched his third home run of the season on Wednesday. The third baseman has three hits, two runs and three RBIs in the series. Jung leads the Rangers in batting average (.303), doubles (eight), slugging percentage (.526) and OPS (.883).

Consistency is what Jung said has allowed him to get into a groove on offense.

“Coming in we create an approach and a plan and stick to it no matter what,” Jung said. “I think that’s what’s helping me right now. Everyday we come in and put a game plan together and execute no matter what.”

The Rangers will be without Wyatt Langford, who was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a Grade 1 flexor strain. In 20 games this season, Langford has a .238 batting average, three doubles, two triples, one home run and four RBIs.

–Field Level Media


-Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Pirates #visit #Rangers #rookie #Young #winner #mound">Deadspin | As Pirates visit Rangers, it’s rookie vs. Cy Young winner on mound  Apr 6, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bubba Chandler (36) delivers a pitch against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images   Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly wants rookie starting pitcher Bubba Chandler to be authentic when he takes the mound against the Texas Rangers on Thursday in Arlington, Texas.   “I want Bubba to be Bubba and sometimes that means him showing emotion,” Kelly said. “I think it’s a fine line for him to learn what that is and how he can control that as he goes through a start.”  After the Pirates rallied for an 8-4 win on Wednesday, highlighted by Oneil Cruz’s prodigious three-run home run off the top of the right field foul pole in the ninth inning, they’ll turn to Chandler in the rubber game of the three-game series.   In his most recent start, Chandler (1-1, 3.15 ERA) earned the 5-1 win against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays last Friday as he gave up one run on three hits and struck out three in six innings.  Opponents are hitting .183 off Chandler in four starts this season. It will mark Chandler’s first career appearance against the Rangers.   As the rookie right-hander works his way through his first full major-league season, Kelly said Chandler will learn how to make in-game adjustments. In Kelly’s nine-year career as a utility man, he made note of the things former teammate Justin Verlander did to get back on track during a game.   “I look at pitchers in general,” Kelly said. “I played behind Verlander. When he would lose his fastball command, it was the curveball he would go to and re-establish his release point. That helped him get his fastball back in the zone.   “I think sometimes throughout a start, if you are feeling off, there may be something you can do. Sometimes that’s with a pitch, sometimes that’s with a slide step to speed yourself up to get back in the zone and find a way to re-establish that release point. Bubba is an extreme athlete and is very competitive.”   Texas is scheduled to start right-hander Jacob deGrom (1-0, 2.29 ERA). In nine career starts against the Pirates, the two-time Cy Young Award winner is 3-3 with a 2.45 ERA and 69 strikeouts.  In his most recent start, deGrom didn’t factor into the decision but pitched four scoreless innings. He racked up 88 pitches, gave up four hits, walked two and struck out three in the Rangers’ 5-0 road win over the Seattle Mariners last Friday.   Josh Jung launched his third home run of the season on Wednesday. The third baseman has three hits, two runs and three RBIs in the series. Jung leads the Rangers in batting average (.303), doubles (eight), slugging percentage (.526) and OPS (.883).    Consistency is what Jung said has allowed him to get into a groove on offense.   “Coming in we create an approach and a plan and stick to it no matter what,” Jung said. “I think that’s what’s helping me right now. Everyday we come in and put a game plan together and execute no matter what.”  The Rangers will be without Wyatt Langford, who was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a Grade 1 flexor strain. In 20 games this season, Langford has a .238 batting average, three doubles, two triples, one home run and four RBIs.   –Field Level Media  -Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Pirates #visit #Rangers #rookie #Young #winner #mound

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