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IPL 2026: Jasprit Bumrah a ‘fighter’, have no doubts about him — Paras Mhambrey  It has been quite a dismal IPL 2026 season for Jasprit Bumrah so far. The Mumbai Indians pace spearhead has not only gone wicketless in all five games, but he also conceded runs at 10.25 per over in the previous outing against Punjab Kings, raising concerns.However, Mumbai Indians bowling coach Paras Mhambrey backed the under-fire fast bowler, calling him a ‘fighter’. “I don’t think it’s a challenging situation. Booms is a fighter. He is fighting his way through. Everything can’t be related to just the wickets,” Mhambrey said.“He bowls at different stages of the game. Many a times, he comes in at different roles for us, in terms of finishing the Powerplays. For me, the most important bit is how he turns up for practice every session,” he added.Preview | In hope of stars to turn up, Mumbai Indians visits in-form Gujarat Titans“At the nets yesterday, he came in with the same intensity, did the stuff that is expected out of him. I have no doubt about him. I’m sure others in the team as well – the captain, the coach and all the management – have no doubt in terms of his performance, and all that effort will translate into wickets in future games,” the bowling coach said.In the tournament so far, Bumrah has conceded 164 runs in five matches without a wicket, an unusual stretch for a bowler of his calibre. The last time he endured a similar phase was back in 2014, when he went four matches without a breakthrough.Meanwhile, Will Jacks is yet to join the team.Published on Apr 19, 2026  #IPL #Jasprit #Bumrah #fighter #doubts #Paras #Mhambrey

IPL 2026: Jasprit Bumrah a ‘fighter’, have no doubts about him — Paras Mhambrey

It has been quite a dismal IPL 2026 season for Jasprit Bumrah so far. The Mumbai Indians pace spearhead has not only gone wicketless in all five games, but he also conceded runs at 10.25 per over in the previous outing against Punjab Kings, raising concerns.

However, Mumbai Indians bowling coach Paras Mhambrey backed the under-fire fast bowler, calling him a ‘fighter’. “I don’t think it’s a challenging situation. Booms is a fighter. He is fighting his way through. Everything can’t be related to just the wickets,” Mhambrey said.

“He bowls at different stages of the game. Many a times, he comes in at different roles for us, in terms of finishing the Powerplays. For me, the most important bit is how he turns up for practice every session,” he added.

Preview | In hope of stars to turn up, Mumbai Indians visits in-form Gujarat Titans

“At the nets yesterday, he came in with the same intensity, did the stuff that is expected out of him. I have no doubt about him. I’m sure others in the team as well – the captain, the coach and all the management – have no doubt in terms of his performance, and all that effort will translate into wickets in future games,” the bowling coach said.

In the tournament so far, Bumrah has conceded 164 runs in five matches without a wicket, an unusual stretch for a bowler of his calibre. The last time he endured a similar phase was back in 2014, when he went four matches without a breakthrough.

Meanwhile, Will Jacks is yet to join the team.

Published on Apr 19, 2026

#IPL #Jasprit #Bumrah #fighter #doubts #Paras #Mhambrey

It has been quite a dismal IPL 2026 season for Jasprit Bumrah so far. The Mumbai Indians pace spearhead has not only gone wicketless in all five games, but he also conceded runs at 10.25 per over in the previous outing against Punjab Kings, raising concerns.

However, Mumbai Indians bowling coach Paras Mhambrey backed the under-fire fast bowler, calling him a ‘fighter’. “I don’t think it’s a challenging situation. Booms is a fighter. He is fighting his way through. Everything can’t be related to just the wickets,” Mhambrey said.

“He bowls at different stages of the game. Many a times, he comes in at different roles for us, in terms of finishing the Powerplays. For me, the most important bit is how he turns up for practice every session,” he added.

Preview | In hope of stars to turn up, Mumbai Indians visits in-form Gujarat Titans

“At the nets yesterday, he came in with the same intensity, did the stuff that is expected out of him. I have no doubt about him. I’m sure others in the team as well – the captain, the coach and all the management – have no doubt in terms of his performance, and all that effort will translate into wickets in future games,” the bowling coach said.

In the tournament so far, Bumrah has conceded 164 runs in five matches without a wicket, an unusual stretch for a bowler of his calibre. The last time he endured a similar phase was back in 2014, when he went four matches without a breakthrough.

Meanwhile, Will Jacks is yet to join the team.

Published on Apr 19, 2026

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#IPL #Jasprit #Bumrah #fighter #doubts #Paras #Mhambrey

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Deadspin | Team Falcons, BetBoom Team start fast at Wallachia Season 8 <div id=""><section id="section-0"> <p>Xtreme Gaming, PARIVISION, Team Falcons and BetBoom Team won in sweeps as the PGL Wallachia Season 8 group stage opened on Saturday in Bucharest, Romania.</p> </section><section id="section-1"> <p>Other winners, by 2-1 scores, were Team Spirit, Team Liquid Aurora Gaming and HEROIC.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>The $1 million Dota 2 tournament began Saturday with the 16-team group stage, which concludes Wednesday. Eight teams advance to the double-elimination playoffs on April 23-26. All matches are best-of-three until the best-of-five grand final.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Xtreme Gaming knocked off Natus Vincere in 44 and 34 minutes, both on green. PARIVISION took down MOUZ in 26 and 43 minutes, both on green.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>BetBoom Team swept Virtus.pro in 34 and 40 minutes, both on green. Team Falcons dispatched Team Yandex in 49 minutes on green and 36 minutes on red.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Team Spirit dropped its opening map on green in 33 minutes to Vici Gaming, then rallied with wins in 58 minutes on red and 38 minutes on green.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>Team Liquid won in 46 minutes, fell to GamerLegion in 39 minutes, then won the deciding map in 48 minutes — all winning teams on red.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>Aurora Gaming took the opener in 41 minutes on red, then South America Rejects drew even with a 24-minute victory on green before Aurora triumphed in 32 minutes on red.</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>HEROIC started fast in 32 minutes on green, then Tundra Esports won a marathon of 65 minutes on green before HEROIC won in 39 minutes on red.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>Sunday’s Round 2 schedule for 1-0 teams:</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>–Xtreme Gaming vs. Aurora Gaming</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>–Team Liquid vs. BetBoom Team</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>–Team Spirit vs. Team Falcons</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>–PARIVISION vs. HEROIC</p> </section><section id="section-14"> <p>Round 2 for 0-1 teams</p> </section><br/><section id="section-15"> <p>–Vici Gaming vs. Natus Vincere</p> </section> <section id="section-16"> <p>–MOUZ vs. GamerLegion</p> </section><section id="section-17"> <p>–Team Yandex vs. South America Rejects</p> </section><section id="section-18"> <p>–Tundra Esports vs. Virtus.pro</p> </section><section id="section-19"> <p>PGL Wallachia Season 8 prize pool:</p> </section><section id="section-20"> <p>1. $300,000 — TBD</p> </section><section id="section-21"> <p>2. $175,000 — TBD</p> </section><section id="section-22"> <p>3. $120,000 — TBD</p> </section><section id="section-23"> <p>4. $80,000 — TBDt</p> </section><section id="section-24"> <p>5-6. $60,000 — TBD</p> </section><section id="section-25"> <p>7-8. $40,000 — TBD</p> </section><section id="section-26"> <p>9-11. $20,000 — TBD</p> </section><section id="section-27"> <p>12-14. $15,000 — TBD</p> </section><section id="section-28"> <p>15-16. $10,000 — TBD</p> </section><section id="section-29"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #Team #Falcons #BetBoom #Team #start #fast #Wallachia #Season

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Deadspin | Team Vitality, Team Spirit to clash in IEM Rio grand final <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/15372674.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/15372674.jpg" alt="Syndication: Arizona Republic" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">A backlit keyboard is part of the gear online video game streamer Jordan Woodruff uses in his Gilbert home. Jordan Woodruff<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Team Vitality and Team Spirit advanced to the grand final with semifinal victories Saturday at the $300,000 Intel Extreme Masters Rio event in Brazil.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Vitality blanked FURIA and Spirit did the same to Team Falcons. FURIA and Team Falcons will meet in the third-place match on Sunday before Vitality and Spirit face off in the grand final.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Sixteen Counter-Strike 2 teams have been competing this week for a top prize of $125,000.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>The double-elimination group stage began with two groups of eight teams, with all matches best-of-three. The group winners advanced to the playoff semifinals, with the group runners-up entering the quarterfinals as high seeds and the third-place teams entering the quarterfinals as low seeds.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>In the single-elimination playoffs, all matches have been best-of-three until Sunday’s best-of-five grand final.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>On Saturday, Vitality took out FURIA 13-10 on both Overpass and Ancient. Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut of France paced the winning side with a 49-27 kill-death differential. For FURIA, Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato of Brazil posted a 36-28 K-D differential.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>Spirit cruised past Team Falcons 13-7 on Dust II and 13-4 on Mirage, led by Russian Boris “magixx” Vorobiev’s K-D differential of 31-17. Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov of Russia led Falcons with a 28-27 K-D differential. </p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>Play continues Sunday with the final two matches:</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>–Team Vitality vs. Team Spirit (grand final)</p> </section><br/><section id="section-10"> <p>–FURIA vs. Team Falcons (third-place match)</p> </section> <section id="section-11"> <p>IEM Rio prize pool:</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>1. $125,000</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>2. $50,000</p> </section><section id="section-14"> <p>3. $30,000</p> </section><section id="section-15"> <p>4. $20,000</p> </section><section id="section-16"> <p>5-6. $12,500 — MOUZ, Natus Vincere</p> </section><section id="section-17"> <p>7-8. $7,000 — G2 Esports, Aurora Gaming</p> </section><section id="section-18"> <p>9-12. $5,000 — RED Canids, 3DMAX, B8, HOTU</p> </section><section id="section-19"> <p>13-16. $4,000 — Gentle Mates, Team Liquid, Passion UA, Legacy</p> </section><br/><section id="section-20"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Team #Vitality #Team #Spirit #clash #IEM #Rio #grand #final

Laura Wolvaardt made a free-flowing 54 and Sune Luus complemented her skipper with a well-composed 57 as South Africa crushed India by eight wickets in the second women’s T20I here on Sunday.

The match’s script was written in clear letters once SA bowlers bundled out India for a below-par 147, and it was taken into its logical culmination by Wolvaardt and Luus who added 106 runs for the opening alliance in just 12 overs.

The hosts made 148 for two in 17.1 overs. SA now leads the five-match series 2-0.

Wolvaardt was quite impressive, making runs more through finding gaps rather than going for big hits.

However, the SA skipper freed her hands whenever the opportunity presented, like an inside out six over covers off left-arm spinner Sree Charani.

Wolvaardt soon reached her fifty, 15th in a stellar T20I career so far, off just 30 balls.

At the other end, Luus was more patient, working spinners around for singles and twos with occasional boundaries, such as a maximum off off-spinner Shreyanka Patil.

The Bengaluru cricketer, however, had the last laugh, getting rid of both Wolvaardt and Luus, but the two wickets came too late to alter the course of the match.

Earlier, opener Shafali Verma struck a typically aggressive 57 but rest of the Indian batters struggled against largely accurate South Africa bowlers, settling for a below par 147 all out.

Also read | In hope of stars to turn up, Mumbai Indians visits in-form Gujarat Titans

Shafali was involved in a fine stand of 53 with debutant Anushka Sharma (28) but it was not a smooth stay by any stretch of imagination.

After losing Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues in successive overs of left-arm spinner Chloe Tryon (3/22), India did mount a comeback through Shafali and Anushka.

But taking a cue from their spinners, SA pacers Ayabonga Khaka, Tumi Sekhukhune (3/31) and Nadine de Klerk too mixed cutters and slow balls to keep Indian batters guessing.

The third wicket alliance between Shafali and Anushka, who were given lives respectively on 24 and 11, was a prime example of that.

Shafali, who hammered Sekhukhune for two fours and a six in an over in the PowerPlay, slowed down, whereas Anushka, who began her international career with a four, too found the going tough.

Shafali reached her 15th T20I fifty in 31 balls but fell soon, skying Noku Mlaba to De Klerk in the deep.

A little bit earlier, Tryon had ousted Anushka as India slipped to 109 for 4 in the 14th over from a healthier 99 for two in the 12th over.

Thereafter, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma all fell attempting acceleration. Had SA held on to their catches, India would have been bowled out for a much lower total.

In fact, India lost eight wickets for a mere 48 runs in that period of disarray.

Published on Apr 19, 2026

#INDW #Wolvaardt #Luus #fifties #South #Africa #script #8wicket #win #India">IND-W vs SA-W: Wolvaardt, Luus fifties help South Africa script 8-wicket win over India  Laura Wolvaardt made a free-flowing 54 and Sune Luus complemented her skipper with a well-composed 57 as South Africa crushed India by eight wickets in the second women’s T20I here on Sunday.The match’s script was written in clear letters once SA bowlers bundled out India for a below-par 147, and it was taken into its logical culmination by Wolvaardt and Luus who added 106 runs for the opening alliance in just 12 overs.The hosts made 148 for two in 17.1 overs. SA now leads the five-match series 2-0.Wolvaardt was quite impressive, making runs more through finding gaps rather than going for big hits.However, the SA skipper freed her hands whenever the opportunity presented, like an inside out six over covers off left-arm spinner Sree Charani.Wolvaardt soon reached her fifty, 15th in a stellar T20I career so far, off just 30 balls.At the other end, Luus was more patient, working spinners around for singles and twos with occasional boundaries, such as a maximum off off-spinner Shreyanka Patil.The Bengaluru cricketer, however, had the last laugh, getting rid of both Wolvaardt and Luus, but the two wickets came too late to alter the course of the match.Earlier, opener Shafali Verma struck a typically aggressive 57 but rest of the Indian batters struggled against largely accurate South Africa bowlers, settling for a below par 147 all out.Also read | In hope of stars to turn up, Mumbai Indians visits in-form Gujarat TitansShafali was involved in a fine stand of 53 with debutant Anushka Sharma (28) but it was not a smooth stay by any stretch of imagination.After losing Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues in successive overs of left-arm spinner Chloe Tryon (3/22), India did mount a comeback through Shafali and Anushka.But taking a cue from their spinners, SA pacers Ayabonga Khaka, Tumi Sekhukhune (3/31) and Nadine de Klerk too mixed cutters and slow balls to keep Indian batters guessing.The third wicket alliance between Shafali and Anushka, who were given lives respectively on 24 and 11, was a prime example of that.Shafali, who hammered Sekhukhune for two fours and a six in an over in the PowerPlay, slowed down, whereas Anushka, who began her international career with a four, too found the going tough.Shafali reached her 15th T20I fifty in 31 balls but fell soon, skying Noku Mlaba to De Klerk in the deep.A little bit earlier, Tryon had ousted Anushka as India slipped to 109 for 4 in the 14th over from a healthier 99 for two in the 12th over.Thereafter, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma all fell attempting acceleration. Had SA held on to their catches, India would have been bowled out for a much lower total.In fact, India lost eight wickets for a mere 48 runs in that period of disarray.Published on Apr 19, 2026  #INDW #Wolvaardt #Luus #fifties #South #Africa #script #8wicket #win #India

In hope of stars to turn up, Mumbai Indians visits in-form Gujarat Titans

Shafali was involved in a fine stand of 53 with debutant Anushka Sharma (28) but it was not a smooth stay by any stretch of imagination.

After losing Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues in successive overs of left-arm spinner Chloe Tryon (3/22), India did mount a comeback through Shafali and Anushka.

But taking a cue from their spinners, SA pacers Ayabonga Khaka, Tumi Sekhukhune (3/31) and Nadine de Klerk too mixed cutters and slow balls to keep Indian batters guessing.

The third wicket alliance between Shafali and Anushka, who were given lives respectively on 24 and 11, was a prime example of that.

Shafali, who hammered Sekhukhune for two fours and a six in an over in the PowerPlay, slowed down, whereas Anushka, who began her international career with a four, too found the going tough.

Shafali reached her 15th T20I fifty in 31 balls but fell soon, skying Noku Mlaba to De Klerk in the deep.

A little bit earlier, Tryon had ousted Anushka as India slipped to 109 for 4 in the 14th over from a healthier 99 for two in the 12th over.

Thereafter, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma all fell attempting acceleration. Had SA held on to their catches, India would have been bowled out for a much lower total.

In fact, India lost eight wickets for a mere 48 runs in that period of disarray.

Published on Apr 19, 2026

#INDW #Wolvaardt #Luus #fifties #South #Africa #script #8wicket #win #India">IND-W vs SA-W: Wolvaardt, Luus fifties help South Africa script 8-wicket win over India

Laura Wolvaardt made a free-flowing 54 and Sune Luus complemented her skipper with a well-composed 57 as South Africa crushed India by eight wickets in the second women’s T20I here on Sunday.

The match’s script was written in clear letters once SA bowlers bundled out India for a below-par 147, and it was taken into its logical culmination by Wolvaardt and Luus who added 106 runs for the opening alliance in just 12 overs.

The hosts made 148 for two in 17.1 overs. SA now leads the five-match series 2-0.

Wolvaardt was quite impressive, making runs more through finding gaps rather than going for big hits.

However, the SA skipper freed her hands whenever the opportunity presented, like an inside out six over covers off left-arm spinner Sree Charani.

Wolvaardt soon reached her fifty, 15th in a stellar T20I career so far, off just 30 balls.

At the other end, Luus was more patient, working spinners around for singles and twos with occasional boundaries, such as a maximum off off-spinner Shreyanka Patil.

The Bengaluru cricketer, however, had the last laugh, getting rid of both Wolvaardt and Luus, but the two wickets came too late to alter the course of the match.

Earlier, opener Shafali Verma struck a typically aggressive 57 but rest of the Indian batters struggled against largely accurate South Africa bowlers, settling for a below par 147 all out.

Also read | In hope of stars to turn up, Mumbai Indians visits in-form Gujarat Titans

Shafali was involved in a fine stand of 53 with debutant Anushka Sharma (28) but it was not a smooth stay by any stretch of imagination.

After losing Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues in successive overs of left-arm spinner Chloe Tryon (3/22), India did mount a comeback through Shafali and Anushka.

But taking a cue from their spinners, SA pacers Ayabonga Khaka, Tumi Sekhukhune (3/31) and Nadine de Klerk too mixed cutters and slow balls to keep Indian batters guessing.

The third wicket alliance between Shafali and Anushka, who were given lives respectively on 24 and 11, was a prime example of that.

Shafali, who hammered Sekhukhune for two fours and a six in an over in the PowerPlay, slowed down, whereas Anushka, who began her international career with a four, too found the going tough.

Shafali reached her 15th T20I fifty in 31 balls but fell soon, skying Noku Mlaba to De Klerk in the deep.

A little bit earlier, Tryon had ousted Anushka as India slipped to 109 for 4 in the 14th over from a healthier 99 for two in the 12th over.

Thereafter, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma all fell attempting acceleration. Had SA held on to their catches, India would have been bowled out for a much lower total.

In fact, India lost eight wickets for a mere 48 runs in that period of disarray.

Published on Apr 19, 2026

#INDW #Wolvaardt #Luus #fifties #South #Africa #script #8wicket #win #India
Deadspin | Phillies ‘got to keep fighting’ as Braves on verge of sweep    Apr 18, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (27) hits an RBI single against the Philadelphia Phillies during the third inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images   Less than one month into the 2026 season, the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies are two trains speeding in opposite directions.    The Braves have won eight of their past 10 games and will try to complete a three-game sweep in Philadelphia on Sunday night.    The Phillies have lost eight of 10, including 9-0 and 3-1 defeats in the first two games of this weekend set. Philadelphia had no answers for Chris Sale on Saturday, as the veteran left-hander allowed just one run over seven innings.    “My main focus was really just following his lead and just trying to execute good pitches,” Sale said of his rapport with catcher Jonah Heim, adding he wanted to “make good, quality pitches, because that’s a hell of a lineup.”    The Phillies managed only five hits — including four singles — and struck out 10 times against Sale and a pair of relievers. Philadelphia has a total of seven runs during a current four-game slide.    “It’s frustrating, but we’ve got to keep fighting,” said manager Rob Thomson, whose squad allowed three unearned runs on Saturday. “We’ve got to keep fighting. … But we’ve got to play better.”    The lone offensive highlight for Philadelphia was a home run by Felix Reyes off of Sale. The homer came in the first major-league at-bat for the 25-year-old outfielder.    Another promising Phillies rookie will take center stage Sunday as Andrew Painter (1-0, 3.77 ERA) will start following an unconventional appearance last weekend.    The 23-year-old right-hander was supposed to start last Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but a migraine led to a late scratch. However, Painter felt well enough to come on in relief, where he allowed one run over five innings, striking out seven and walking one in his team’s 4-3 loss.     “I didn’t know the extent of how long I was going to be able to go out, how good I was feeling,” Painter said. “But I wanted to go out there and at least get a couple innings to take that (workload) off the bullpen.”  Painter has yet to face the Braves in his young career.    Atlanta will counter with Grant Holmes (1-1, 3.32 ERA), who was pulled after allowing three runs in four innings Monday in his team’s 10-4 loss to the Miami Marlins. Braves manager Walt Weiss later noted that Holmes had thrown 99 pitches in his previous outing and that he was looking out for the right-hander’s long-term health.    Still, Holmes wasn’t pleased with his abbreviated performance.    “I started rushing too much and being too quick down the mound,” he said.    Holmes has made four career appearances (one start) against Philadelphia, posting a 1-1 record with a 1.17 ERA. He certainly doesn’t want to let Bryce Harper get going. The Phillies’ slugger had three hits in the series opener but went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts on Saturday.    Philadelphia likely will be without J.T. Realmuto in the series finale after the veteran catcher felt some back tightness on Saturday.    “We’re checking on him now,” Thomson said after Saturday’s game. “I doubt he’ll play (Sunday).”    For Atlanta, Austin Riley has been a pest over the first two games of the series. He has multiple hits in each contest — a pair of opposite-field home runs and four RBIs on Friday and two singles on Saturday.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Phillies #fighting #Braves #verge #sweepApr 18, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (27) hits an RBI single against the Philadelphia Phillies during the third inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Less than one month into the 2026 season, the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies are two trains speeding in opposite directions.

The Braves have won eight of their past 10 games and will try to complete a three-game sweep in Philadelphia on Sunday night.

The Phillies have lost eight of 10, including 9-0 and 3-1 defeats in the first two games of this weekend set. Philadelphia had no answers for Chris Sale on Saturday, as the veteran left-hander allowed just one run over seven innings.

“My main focus was really just following his lead and just trying to execute good pitches,” Sale said of his rapport with catcher Jonah Heim, adding he wanted to “make good, quality pitches, because that’s a hell of a lineup.”

The Phillies managed only five hits — including four singles — and struck out 10 times against Sale and a pair of relievers. Philadelphia has a total of seven runs during a current four-game slide.

“It’s frustrating, but we’ve got to keep fighting,” said manager Rob Thomson, whose squad allowed three unearned runs on Saturday. “We’ve got to keep fighting. … But we’ve got to play better.”

The lone offensive highlight for Philadelphia was a home run by Felix Reyes off of Sale. The homer came in the first major-league at-bat for the 25-year-old outfielder.

Another promising Phillies rookie will take center stage Sunday as Andrew Painter (1-0, 3.77 ERA) will start following an unconventional appearance last weekend.

The 23-year-old right-hander was supposed to start last Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but a migraine led to a late scratch. However, Painter felt well enough to come on in relief, where he allowed one run over five innings, striking out seven and walking one in his team’s 4-3 loss.


“I didn’t know the extent of how long I was going to be able to go out, how good I was feeling,” Painter said. “But I wanted to go out there and at least get a couple innings to take that (workload) off the bullpen.”

Painter has yet to face the Braves in his young career.

Atlanta will counter with Grant Holmes (1-1, 3.32 ERA), who was pulled after allowing three runs in four innings Monday in his team’s 10-4 loss to the Miami Marlins. Braves manager Walt Weiss later noted that Holmes had thrown 99 pitches in his previous outing and that he was looking out for the right-hander’s long-term health.

Still, Holmes wasn’t pleased with his abbreviated performance.

“I started rushing too much and being too quick down the mound,” he said.

Holmes has made four career appearances (one start) against Philadelphia, posting a 1-1 record with a 1.17 ERA. He certainly doesn’t want to let Bryce Harper get going. The Phillies’ slugger had three hits in the series opener but went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts on Saturday.

Philadelphia likely will be without J.T. Realmuto in the series finale after the veteran catcher felt some back tightness on Saturday.

“We’re checking on him now,” Thomson said after Saturday’s game. “I doubt he’ll play (Sunday).”

For Atlanta, Austin Riley has been a pest over the first two games of the series. He has multiple hits in each contest — a pair of opposite-field home runs and four RBIs on Friday and two singles on Saturday.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Phillies #fighting #Braves #verge #sweep">Deadspin | Phillies ‘got to keep fighting’ as Braves on verge of sweep    Apr 18, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (27) hits an RBI single against the Philadelphia Phillies during the third inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images   Less than one month into the 2026 season, the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies are two trains speeding in opposite directions.    The Braves have won eight of their past 10 games and will try to complete a three-game sweep in Philadelphia on Sunday night.    The Phillies have lost eight of 10, including 9-0 and 3-1 defeats in the first two games of this weekend set. Philadelphia had no answers for Chris Sale on Saturday, as the veteran left-hander allowed just one run over seven innings.    “My main focus was really just following his lead and just trying to execute good pitches,” Sale said of his rapport with catcher Jonah Heim, adding he wanted to “make good, quality pitches, because that’s a hell of a lineup.”    The Phillies managed only five hits — including four singles — and struck out 10 times against Sale and a pair of relievers. Philadelphia has a total of seven runs during a current four-game slide.    “It’s frustrating, but we’ve got to keep fighting,” said manager Rob Thomson, whose squad allowed three unearned runs on Saturday. “We’ve got to keep fighting. … But we’ve got to play better.”    The lone offensive highlight for Philadelphia was a home run by Felix Reyes off of Sale. The homer came in the first major-league at-bat for the 25-year-old outfielder.    Another promising Phillies rookie will take center stage Sunday as Andrew Painter (1-0, 3.77 ERA) will start following an unconventional appearance last weekend.    The 23-year-old right-hander was supposed to start last Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but a migraine led to a late scratch. However, Painter felt well enough to come on in relief, where he allowed one run over five innings, striking out seven and walking one in his team’s 4-3 loss.     “I didn’t know the extent of how long I was going to be able to go out, how good I was feeling,” Painter said. “But I wanted to go out there and at least get a couple innings to take that (workload) off the bullpen.”  Painter has yet to face the Braves in his young career.    Atlanta will counter with Grant Holmes (1-1, 3.32 ERA), who was pulled after allowing three runs in four innings Monday in his team’s 10-4 loss to the Miami Marlins. Braves manager Walt Weiss later noted that Holmes had thrown 99 pitches in his previous outing and that he was looking out for the right-hander’s long-term health.    Still, Holmes wasn’t pleased with his abbreviated performance.    “I started rushing too much and being too quick down the mound,” he said.    Holmes has made four career appearances (one start) against Philadelphia, posting a 1-1 record with a 1.17 ERA. He certainly doesn’t want to let Bryce Harper get going. The Phillies’ slugger had three hits in the series opener but went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts on Saturday.    Philadelphia likely will be without J.T. Realmuto in the series finale after the veteran catcher felt some back tightness on Saturday.    “We’re checking on him now,” Thomson said after Saturday’s game. “I doubt he’ll play (Sunday).”    For Atlanta, Austin Riley has been a pest over the first two games of the series. He has multiple hits in each contest — a pair of opposite-field home runs and four RBIs on Friday and two singles on Saturday.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Phillies #fighting #Braves #verge #sweep

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