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Watch Angels-Braves fight: Two ejected after inciting benches-clearing brawl

There was some serious angst in Anaheim as benches cleared during the Angels' game against the Atlanta Braves on April 7.

The baseball brouhaha broke out in the bottom of the fifth inning when Angels hitter Jorge Soler did not appreciate Braves pitcher Reynaldo López throwing some high heat. Soler — perhaps not noticing that López had a baseball in his hand — ran out to the mound and the two started throwing punches, though neither appeared to connect with López throwing hands while still holding the baseball. Angels and Braves players ran onto the field and the mayhem moved toward the first base line before the brawl was broken up.

Watch as Soler and López exchange unpleasantries before throwing haymakers.

The groundwork for the benches-clearing brawl was laid earlier in the game. Soler homered in his first at-bat off López, a two-run shot that also scored Mike Trout. In the third inning, López plunked Soler. Two innings later, the two met again and the kerfuffle ensued. Both López and Soler were ejected by first base umpire Vic Carapazza.

The high pitch that angered Soler went over catcher Jonah Heim, and Nolan Schanuel — who had walked prior to Soler's at-bat — advanced to second base. Schanuel advanced to third base on a wild pitch by López's replacement, Tyler Kinley. However, Soler's replacement — Jeimer Candelario — struck out to end the threat.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Angels Braves fight: Reynaldo Lopez and Jorge Soler incite brawl video

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Blue Jays sell over 100,000 hot dogs during 77-cent promotion night

hot dog
hot dog

Blue Jays fans scarfed down an insane amount of hot dogs on Tuesday night while their team got beaten by the Dodgers, 4-1. 

The Jays sold hot dogs for 77 cents in honor of their inaugural season in 1977, which resulted in fans grabbing more than 100,000 hot dogs during the nine-inning game. 

The final total was reported as 100,204 by Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times and 100,202 by the Toronto Star. 

The jumbotron is pictured during a media tour of Rogers Centre showing changes made to the stadium celebrating the Blue Jays 50th anniversary in Toronto. Toronto Star via Getty Images

Tuesdays are traditionally dubbed “Loonie Dog Night” when the hot dogs are sold for $1, but they cost even less this time due to the special occasion. 

“Back by popular demand, Loonie Dogs Night presented by Schneiders returns to Rogers Centre for every Tuesday home game of the 2026 season,” the Blue Jays website read. “On Loonie Dogs Night presented by Schneiders, fans will have the opportunity to purchase $1 hot dogs from various concession stands around the ballpark. Don’t miss out on this hot dog of a deal!”

Blue Jays fans seem to love their Loonie Dogs and set a record in 2025 of consuming 826,308, toppling the previous record (727,819) set the year prior. 

Tuesday’s game was also the second game of a three-game set between the Dodgers and Blue Jays, a rematch of last year’s World Series. 

The Blue Jays dropped their sixth straight game and fell to a 4-7 record to start the season. 

The Blue Jays had a 77-cent promotion for hot dogs. Emily – stock.adobe.com

Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched six innings for the Dodgers, giving up one run on five hits and striking out six. 

Shohei Ohtani hit an RBI single in the third inning to drive in the first run of the game, and Will Smith was able to bring in a second run later that inning. 

Alex Freeland and Kyle Tucker hit RBIs in the fifth and ninth innings, respectively. George Springer drove in the only Blue Jays run in the sixth.

In the middle of the loss, Toronto skipper John Schneider was ejected from the game for arguing a balk call.

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Avalanche clinch top spot in Western Conference and shift focus to bigger goals

NHL: Utah Mammoth at Colorado Avalanche

Oct 9, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar talks to center Martin Necas (88) in the third period against the Utah Mammoth at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

ST. LOUIS — Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar isn’t ready to plan any parades just yet.

Moments after the Avalanche beat the St. Louis Blues 3-1 on Tuesday night to clinch Central Division and top seed in the Western Conference, Bednar was already focusing on the next step toward the ultimate goal of a Stanley Cup.

“We’re not all the way there yet,” Bednar said. “You know, like the goal for us started with winning the division, the conference, we still need another win to get first overall. Like, we’d be crazy not to chase that at this point, right? It’s important, if you get to where you want to go, you might as well try and get your home ice, especially after a season like this.”

It is the third time in five seasons, and first since 2023, that the Avalanche finished as the top team in the conference. The team lost in the first round of the playoffs that season, but won the organization’s third Stanley Cup after finishing first in the Western Conference in 2022.

The Avalanche (51-16-10, 112 points) actually have a better record on the road with a 27-7-5 mark compared to a 24-9-5 record at Ball Arena. But goalie Scott Wedgewood said home ice in the playoffs is a big advantage.

“Just atmosphere, altitude … you’re in your own bed the night before,” Wedgewood said. “You know, you still got to perform. It doesn’t mean you win because you’re at home, but like I said in between rounds, you’re able to knock a team out in five or six, you’re home for that many more days.”

The Avalanche are also on the cusp of clinching the President’s Trophy, awarded to the team with the best regular-season record, which would give them home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

“Then obviously the fans, you get them going with a couple of hits, playoff hockey’s intense, and it’ll pay in your favor,” Wedgewood said.

Bednar would like to see consistency from the team through the final five games, noting that the Avalanche have been up and down over the last few games.

“We’ve proven that we can do it when we want to set our minds to it, which is really important,” Bednar said. “I don’t have to see it for 60 minutes for every game the rest of the way, but we need to see it enough to secure our goal and making sure everyone’s confident in the way we play.”

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Recap: Avs clinch Central Division title behind Nichushkin’s two-goal night

Jared Bednar and Colorado were unable to clinch the division on home ice against the Blues on Easter Sunday, but they would get another crack at it tonight in St. Louis.

Their second meeting in three days fit the season of rematches and revenge, with Colorado finishing with two points this time around.

Valeri Nichushkin would score twice, including a shorthanded goal, with Martin Necas netting the other for the Avalanche, and Scott Wedgewood collecting 19/20 saves and his 29th win of the season.

The Game

Val Nichushkin had one goal in his last twelve games before tonight’s game, but he picked a great night to get out of his skid and started the scoring with a wonderful re-direct.

Sam Malinski made a nice pass along the blue line that found Devon Toews’ stick. His point blast was deflected past Hofer, who didn’t stand a chance behind Nichkuskin’s large frame.

Colorado took the 1-0 lead with 3:29 left in the first frame.

Just when it looked like we’d head to the intermission, a one-goal game, Colorado’s top line and D pair pinned the Blues in their own end in patented Avalanche fashion.

MacKinnon was strong on the puck in the corner, which, when supported by a pinch from Devon Toews, turned dangerous.

Once the puck landed on Artturi Lehkonen’s stick, he sent it right back to MacKinnon, who attacked the net and made a quick tap pass to Martin Necas.

Marty would tuck the puck over the shoulder of Hofer and give Colorado a 2-0 lead after one period of play.

Colorado’s third and final goal of the evening would come just 1 minute and 40 seconds into the second frame. That means the Avalanche scored all their goals in 5:09 of game time.

This shorthanded exclamation point once again came from Val Nichushkin, and of the between-the-legs variety.

We’ve seen Nichushkin attempt this shot a few times without success, but this one trickled just enough to light the lamp.

Nothing like a late goal of the year candidate to make it 3-0 Avalanche.

Robert Thomas had a hat trick on Sunday, but his one tally late in the second is all the Blues would do to muster up a fight, leaving a final score of 3-1 Avalanche and crowning the boys in Burgundy and Blue for the lucky 13th time in franchise history.

Takeaways

The Avalanche could have clinched the Presidents Trophy and home ice throughout the playoffs if Boston had also bested Carolina in regulation this evening. Still, they fell to the Canes in OT.

No worries, Colorado will clinch as soon as Carolina loses another in regulation, or Colorado collects another 2 points.

Valeri Nichushkin had just three goals shy of the 20-goal mark this season, and his 17 (this season) ranks 5th highest of his 11-year career.

Val seemed to fight his game a bit on the scoring side this year compared to years past, but is still plenty productive in what feels like a “down-year” after his 28-goal performance in 2023-24.

Scott Wedgewood’s back collided with the post, and he went down, clearly in discomfort. Following the game, he said he just lost his breath and felt fine after getting it back and moving around a bit.

Although it explains why he didn’t leave the game tonight, it’s something to keep an eye on, given that Wedgewood has dealt with tightness in his back earlier in the season.

Speaking of scares, Nazem Kadri did, in fact, miss shifts before not returning for the third period entirely tonight. Jared Bednar didn’t give a clear update in the post-game presser, mentioning his playing or not playing in the next contest could depend on pain tolerance.

Bednar, although pleased with the outcome, was very clear in his messaging that they are not remotely close to the finish line or to realizing their goals this season.

Upcoming

The Calgary Flames will visit Ball Arena for another date with the Avalanche on Tuesday.

Let us know what you thought of this contest in the comments!

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Braves and Angels throw punches in wild benches-clearing brawl

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Angels' Jorge Soler (12) and Atlanta Braves' Reynaldo López (40) fight during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif, Image 2 shows Benches clear as pitcher Reynaldo López #40 of the Atlanta Braves and right fielder Jorge Soler #12 of the Los Angeles Angels fight on the field during the fifth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 7, 2026, Image 3 shows Baseball players from two teams fighting on the field, with an umpire attempting to intervene
angels brawl

The Braves and Angels went from zero to 100 real quick on Tuesday night.

And it wasn’t exactly heavenly in Anaheim.

The teams got into a chaotic benches-clearing brawl during Atlanta’s 7-2 win that even saw Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler and Braves starter Reynaldo Lopez throw punches at each other.

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Soler took a pitch up-and-in that went to the backstop, which allowed Nolan Schanuel to go from first to second base.

Jorge Soler (12) and Atlanta’s Reynaldo López (40) fight during the fifth inning of a the Angels-Braves game on April 7, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. AP
Benches clear as Atlanta pitcher Reynaldo López (40) and Los Angeles right fielder Jorge Soler (12) fight on the field during the fifth inning of the Angels-Braves game. Getty Images

But things only escalated from there. Soler appeared to take exception to the pitch and stared down Lopez as he got a new ball for the next pitch. The starter held out both of his arms, seemingly in disbelief at the reaction. But before long, Soler dropped his bat and the two both threw punches as the dugouts emptied.

As the action veered toward the first base line, a few Braves players tackled Soler to the ground before he could inflict any real damage on Lopez. Angels star Mike Trout and Braves first base coach Antoan Richardson pushed Lopez back to keep him out of the fray as the rest of the teams converged around Soler.

Jorge Soler (12) and Atlanta’s Reynaldo López (40) fight during the fifth inning of the Angels-Braves game. AP

Once the brouhaha was completely quelled, Soler and Lopez walked off and were done for the night, getting ejected from the ballgame. No other players were tossed.

Soler hit a two-run homer in the first inning, the only two runs Lopez allowed in his abbreviated outing.

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Cubs ace Cade Horton headed for elbow surgery, will miss the rest of the 2026 season

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Chicago Cubs pitcher Cade Horton will miss the rest of the 2026 season after an MRI revealed UCL damage in his right elbow, Chicago manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday.

“Cade is gonna have surgery,” Counsell said before the Cubs game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. “He’s gonna miss the rest of the year.”

The exact procedure, whether it will be a full Tommy John reconstruction or an internal brace repair, won’t be determined until surgeons go into the elbow. Horton visited renowned elbow specialist Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday.

No surgery date has been set.

The announcement confirms what Cubs fans feared when Horton walked off the mound in Cleveland on April 3, after just 17 pitches. His velocity had dropped from 96 mph in the first inning to 93.8 mph on his final pitch before he waved toward the dugout.

It will be the 24-year-old right-hander’s second elbow reconstruction surgery. He had Tommy John surgery as a freshman at Oklahoma in 2021. He was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 draft and broke through in the majors last season with an 11-4 record and a 2.67 ERA in 118 innings. He finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting. In his 2026 debut, Horton held Washington to two runs in 6 1/3 innings just one week before the injury.

The blow is particularly tough because the Cubs are already without ace Justin Steele, who is recovering from his own UCL surgery and is not expected back until late May at the earliest. With Matthew Boyd also on the injured list, the Cubs will lean on Colin Rea and Javier Assad in the rotation. Rea stepped up in a similar role last season, posting a 3.95 ERA across 27 starts after Steele went down.

“Colin’s going to be asked to pitch more innings out of the bullpen, and then somebody’s going to take Colin’s bullpen innings,” Counsell said. “That’s how it’s going to be addressed on paper. But it’s not all on Colin. ... We all have to just do our part.”

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Nets haven’t given up on trying to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Giannis Antetokounmpo, who did not play, looks on during the Nets' 96-90 win over the Bucks on April 7, 2026 at Barclays Center, Image 2 shows Nets general manager Sean Marks has had interest in Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo for awhile

The Nets didn’t face Giannis Antetokounmpo in their 96-90 win over the Bucks on Tuesday night at Barclays Center, and it’s unclear if they’ll see him Friday when they travel to Milwaukee.

But it’s almost a fait accompli that they’ll call the Bucks about their want-away superstar this summer.

“They’ll make calls,” a source told The Post. “They’ve made calls in the past.”

Antetokounmpo has been Brooklyn’s proverbial white whale going as far back as 2023, with general manager Sean Marks hoarding draft capital to make a bid for the two-time MVP.

But Antetokounmpo has spent so long dropping bread crumbs about a potential exit but never pulling the trigger that the Nets’ timing has gone from terrific to terrible to…whatever it is now.

“If you’re going after max-level talent, they have to automatically and absolutely change the trajectory of your team,” Marks said at this point last year. “This can’t be like, ‘Let’s go get this [guy] and lock ourselves into being a six or seven seed.’ When we go all in, you’re going in to compete at the highest level and contend.”

The Nets never viewed Mikal Bridges as Superman, but as the perfect Robin to team up with a potential Batman like Antetokounmpo. And sources told The Post that Brooklyn’s hope had been to lure the Greek star back in 2023-24.

But when Antetokounmpo opted to stay put in Milwaukee, Marks pivoted and traded Bridges to the Knicks that June for a record-setting haul of five first-round picks and a swap. They picked a lane, and that lane was headed toward a rebuild with no exit ramp.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, who did not play, looks on during the Nets’ 96-90 win over the Bucks on April 7, 2026 at Barclays Center. John Jones-Imagn Images

There was irony in the fact that when Antetokounmpo finally met with Milwaukee general manager Jon Horst last July in his native Greece and expressed a willingness to leave the Bucks, it was only for the Knicks.

The hard bargain that Marks had driven a year earlier had hamstrung the Knicks and left them without enough draft capital to make a viable play for the superstar.

According to an ESPN report, Horst and Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers pitched Antetokounmpo and Bucks ownership on contending in the Eastern Conference after waiving and stretching veteran guard Damian Lillard. But a horrible start to the season saw Antetokounmpo and agent Alex Saratsis reiterate a desire to leave.

“With the whole Giannis thing, it made everything problematic for us,” Rivers said Tuesday night of Antetokounmpo’s injuries and lack of availability.

Nets general manager Sean Marks has had interest in Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo for awhile. Jason Szenes for New York Post

“It’s been a tough year. I have not had a lot of these in my career, and this was not one that I thought we’d have one. On the injuries, we knew that our roster construction was tough. We were going to come into the season with quite a lot of young guys, a lot of minimum salary guys; but we thought it’d work. We thought Giannis would be available for 65 to 70 games. We did know that if we had injuries, it’s going to be a tough year.”

What has been a tough year for Milwaukee is about to get terrible.

Nets fans can sympathize, watching the Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden break up without even getting the title that the Bucks did.

To be clear, with teams like the Heat, Warriors and Knicks perceived as likelier landing spots, it’s a long shot Antetokounmpo will end up in Brooklyn.

The odds are just better than the microscopic near-zero they were in February.

The Bucks reportedly rejected offers of four first-round picks from Golden State, and Tyler Herro and Kel’el Ware plus assets from Miami.

Despite a Bleacher Report story that claimed Brooklyn had called the Bucks about Antetokounmpo, sources told The Post that the Nets never did. Having paid Houston dearly to reacquire their natural 2025 and ’26 first-round picks — and now committed to building with those lottery picks — it was the worst possible timing.

But this coming summer will surely be better.

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Sandy Alcantara throws shade for getting pulled before Marlins blow game: ‘Make sure to ask me’

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins delivers during the seventh inning against the Cincinnati Reds at loanDepot park on April 07, 2026 in Miami, Florida, Image 2 shows Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins walks to the dugout following the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at loanDepot park on April 07, 2026 in Miami, Florida
Miami Sandy Alcantara

Entering the ninth inning on Tuesday, Sandy Alcantara hadn’t allowed a single run this season.

And after recording the first out, he was two outs away from his second straight shutout.

But a double from Matt McCalin and a walk to Elly De La Cruz put two Reds runners on base, and even with Alcantara at 95 pitches, Miami skipper Clayton McCullough saw enough to bring in reliever Anthony Bender, leading to some boos from the loanDepot park crowd.

Sandy Alcantara throws a pitch during the seventh inning of the Marlins’ 6-3 loss to the Reds in 10 innings on April 7, 2026 in Miami. Getty Images

The decision quickly blew up in Miami’s face. And the Miami ace wasn’t particularly thrilled with the decision-making.

Bender blew the lead, and the Marlins fell to the Reds, 6-3, in 10 innings.

Alcantara, the 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner, said that at his pitch count and a right-handed hitter coming up for the Reds, he felt he could have stayed in for at least another batter.

“I’m just a player,” Alcantara told reporters. “I understand there’s a decision, and you cannot control it. It just happened. It just happened. So I’ll be there with my teammates and my coaches, but I think next time, they have to make sure to ask me before taking me out of the game.”

McCullough said he was ready to go to Bender after the walk to De La Cruz put the potential tying runner on base.

“I know he felt like he had plenty left to go finish that game out,” McCullough said, per the Miami Herald. “Didn’t give him that opportunity.”

Sandy Alcantara walks to the dugout following the eighth inning of the Marlins’ loss to the Reds at loanDepot Park. Getty Images

It’s been a journey for Alcantara after he won the Cy Young, as he struggled in 2023 with an ERA over 4.00 before undergoing Tommy John surgery, forcing him to miss all of ’24.

Last season’s return, while successful in the fact that he was on the field and threw 174 2/3 innings, did not provide great results with his 5.36 ERA and 1.271 WHIP.

All the while, Alcantara faced plenty of speculation and rumors that he would be shipped out of Miami.

This season has been a complete 180, with the two runs that scored in the ninth on Tuesday being the only ones charged on his ledger through 24 1/3 frames. The Marlins are 6-5.

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Mariners lose another one-run game against the Rangers that they should have won

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 7: Josh Naylor #12 of the Seattle Mariners fouls off a pitch against the Texas Rangers during the eighth inning at Globe Life Field on April 7, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There will come a period in this season when time unspools languorously, with the unobtrusive ease of a sport that plays a game nearly every day. The edges will soften, the agonies and exaltations abating in equal measure. You cannot sprint 162 times over.

Now is not that period. Now, time does not unspool. Time is a rusted coil of cables that has adhered to its massive spool on the docks through weather and neglect. It screeches when moved, an outraged howling against itself. Any ecstasy in progress makes the inevitable stoppage even more excruciating. Orange leeches onto hands, smears across wood, stains all it touches, etching its furious reluctance into everything it possibly can.

Eventually, it will not feel like this.

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The Mariners are 12 games into the 2026 season, and…

…they have lost eight of those games.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers.)

…seven of those losses have been by two runs or fewer; five of them by one run.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers.)

…their starting pitching has looked so good.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when George Kirby went eight full innings with just 90 pitches, giving up three runs and no walks. He deserves to be Furious.)

…their defense has looked appalling.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when Brendan Donovan’s throwing error ultimately allowed a run to score. Which is never ideal, but is particularly not ideal when you lose a game by one run.)

…their baserunning has appeared wildly suspect.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when Luke Raley completely missed stepping on first base in the ninth inning and had to double back, which left him out of scoring position when J.P. Crawford singled in the next at-bat.)

…their offense has been putrid.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when they went an anemic 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position. Anyone remember Miles4RISP? Simpler times.)

…there are 150 games left in the regular season.

(Complimentary.) (Derogatory.)

…I have watched a lot of Rockies games.

(Go M’s)

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Mariners lose another one-run game against the Rangers that they should have won

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 7: Josh Naylor #12 of the Seattle Mariners fouls off a pitch against the Texas Rangers during the eighth inning at Globe Life Field on April 7, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There will come a period in this season when time unspools languorously, with the unobtrusive ease of a sport that plays a game nearly every day. The edges will soften, the agonies and exaltations abating in equal measure. You cannot sprint 162 times over.

Now is not that period. Now, time does not unspool. Time is a rusted coil of cables that has adhered to its massive spool on the docks through weather and neglect. It screeches when moved, an outraged howling against itself. Any ecstasy in progress makes the inevitable stoppage even more excruciating. Orange leeches onto hands, smears across wood, stains all it touches, etching its furious reluctance into everything it possibly can.

Eventually, it will not feel like this.

View Link

The Mariners are 12 games into the 2026 season, and…

…they have lost eight of those games.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers.)

…seven of those losses have been by two runs or fewer; five of them by one run.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers.)

…their starting pitching has looked so good.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when George Kirby went eight full innings with just 90 pitches, giving up three runs and no walks. He deserves to be Furious.)

…their defense has looked appalling.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when Brendan Donovan’s throwing error ultimately allowed a run to score. Which is never ideal, but is particularly not ideal when you lose a game by one run.)

…their baserunning has appeared wildly suspect.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when Luke Raley completely missed stepping on first base in the ninth inning and had to double back, which left him out of scoring position when J.P. Crawford singled in the next at-bat.)

…their offense has been putrid.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when they went an anemic 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position. Anyone remember Miles4RISP? Simpler times.)

…there are 150 games left in the regular season.

(Complimentary.) (Derogatory.)

…I have watched a lot of Rockies games.

(Go M’s)

Posted on

Mariners lose another one-run game against the Rangers that they should have won

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 7: Josh Naylor #12 of the Seattle Mariners fouls off a pitch against the Texas Rangers during the eighth inning at Globe Life Field on April 7, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There will come a period in this season when time unspools languorously, with the unobtrusive ease of a sport that plays a game nearly every day. The edges will soften, the agonies and exaltations abating in equal measure. You cannot sprint 162 times over.

Now is not that period. Now, time does not unspool. Time is a rusted coil of cables that has adhered to its massive spool on the docks through weather and neglect. It screeches when moved, an outraged howling against itself. Any ecstasy in progress makes the inevitable stoppage even more excruciating. Orange leeches onto hands, smears across wood, stains all it touches, etching its furious reluctance into everything it possibly can.

Eventually, it will not feel like this.

View Link

The Mariners are 12 games into the 2026 season, and…

…they have lost eight of those games.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers.)

…seven of those losses have been by two runs or fewer; five of them by one run.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers.)

…their starting pitching has looked so good.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when George Kirby went eight full innings with just 90 pitches, giving up three runs and no walks. He deserves to be Furious.)

…their defense has looked appalling.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when Brendan Donovan’s throwing error ultimately allowed a run to score. Which is never ideal, but is particularly not ideal when you lose a game by one run.)

…their baserunning has appeared wildly suspect.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when Luke Raley completely missed stepping on first base in the ninth inning and had to double back, which left him out of scoring position when J.P. Crawford singled in the next at-bat.)

…their offense has been putrid.

(including the game tonight, against the Texas Rangers, when they went an anemic 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position. Anyone remember Miles4RISP? Simpler times.)

…there are 150 games left in the regular season.

(Complimentary.) (Derogatory.)

…I have watched a lot of Rockies games.

(Go M’s)

Posted on

Dmitry Kulikov Will Miss Remainder Of Season After Breaking Finger During Panthers Loss In Montreal

An incredibly difficult and painful season for Dmitry Kulikov has come to an end.

After Tuesday’s shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens, Florida Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice told the media that Kulikov suffered a broken finger during the third period.

As a result, Kulikov won’t play in any of Florida’s final four games of the season.

“Dmitry won’t come back from that,” Maurice said.

It’s the third serious injury Kulikov has had to endure this season.

He suffered a shoulder injury two games into the season, missing the next 57 while recovering from surgery.

After finally returning to Florida’s lineup in early March, the veteran defenseman got 15 games under his belt before the next serious injury struck, this time breaking his nose during a 6-3 Panthers win over the Ottawa Senators.

Despite Florida’s season being over in terms of making the playoffs, Kulikov told the coaching staff that he wanted to continue playing and battling with his teammates.

He had to miss two games with the broken nose before he was medically cleared to play, returning to the ice on Sunday in Pittsburgh.

Now, Kulikov is the third player in the past two weeks to be ruled out for the season due to a broken finger, joining Evan Rodrigues and Aaron Ekblad.

Rodrigues was hurt during Florida’s 3-2 loss against Minnesota on March 26 while Ekblad injured his finger in the same game Kulikov broke his nose.

“It’s just the standard injury here now,” Maurice said. “It’s just unbelievable what these guys have been through.”

The Panthers will continue their road trip on Thursday in Ottawa before playing their final road game of the season Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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Photo caption: Apr 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (7) controls the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. (Mark Alberti-Imagn Images)

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Angels' Jorge Soler gets into a benches-clearing fight with Atlanta's Reynaldo López

A fight breaks out during the fifth inning of a baseball game between.
Angels batter Jorge Soler, left, fights Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López as the benches clear in the fifth inning at Angel Stadium on Tuesday night. (Ethan Swope / Associated Press)

Benches cleared between the Angels and Braves at Angel Stadium in the fifth inning Tuesday night after Jorge Soler took exception with a high pitch thrown by Atlanta starter Reynaldo López and charged the mound, with each player throwing punches.

After the pitch, the two players stared at one another briefly before Lopez gestured at Soler, and the Angels batter charged the mound. López was holding a baseball as he threw a punch and made direct contact to the side of Soler's face, with the ball partially hitting Soler's helmet.

Angels batter Jorge Soler, left, fights Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López.
Angels batter Jorge Soler, left, fights Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López in the fifth inning at Angel Stadium on Tuesday night. (Ethan Swope / Associated Press)

The benches quickly cleared and players separated Soler and López after a brief, but intense skirmish that pushed out toward the first-base side of the diamond.

Soler and López were ejected from the game. Major League Baseball likely will suspend both players.

Players on the Angels and Braves rush the field after Jorge Soler and Reynaldo López fight.
Players on the Angels and Braves rush the field after Jorge Soler and Reynaldo López fight at Angel Stadium on Tuesday night. (Ethan Swope / Associated Press)

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Angels' Jorge Soler gets into a benches-clearing fight with Atlanta's Reynaldo López

A fight breaks out during the fifth inning of a baseball game between.
Angels batter Jorge Soler, left, fights Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López as the benches clear in the fifth inning at Angel Stadium on Tuesday night. (Ethan Swope / Associated Press)

Benches cleared between the Angels and Braves at Angel Stadium in the fifth inning Tuesday night after Jorge Soler took exception with a high pitch thrown by Atlanta starter Reynaldo López and charged the mound, with each player throwing punches.

After the pitch, the two players stared at one another briefly before Lopez gestured at Soler, and the Angels batter charged the mound. López was holding a baseball as he threw a punch and made direct contact to the side of Soler's face, with the ball partially hitting Soler's helmet.

Angels batter Jorge Soler, left, fights Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López.
Angels batter Jorge Soler, left, fights Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López in the fifth inning at Angel Stadium on Tuesday night. (Ethan Swope / Associated Press)

The benches quickly cleared and players separated Soler and López after a brief, but intense skirmish that pushed out toward the first-base side of the diamond.

Soler and López were ejected from the game. Major League Baseball likely will suspend both players.

Players on the Angels and Braves rush the field after Jorge Soler and Reynaldo López fight.
Players on the Angels and Braves rush the field after Jorge Soler and Reynaldo López fight at Angel Stadium on Tuesday night. (Ethan Swope / Associated Press)

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Posted on

Angels' Jorge Soler gets into a benches-clearing fight with Atlanta's Reynaldo López

A fight breaks out during the fifth inning of a baseball game between.
Angels batter Jorge Soler, left, fights Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López as the benches clear in the fifth inning at Angel Stadium on Tuesday night. (Ethan Swope / Associated Press)

Benches cleared between the Angels and Braves at Angel Stadium in the fifth inning Tuesday night after Jorge Soler took exception with a high pitch thrown by Atlanta starter Reynaldo López and charged the mound, with each player throwing punches.

After the pitch, the two players stared at one another briefly before Lopez gestured at Soler, and the Angels batter charged the mound. López was holding a baseball as he threw a punch and made direct contact to the side of Soler's face, with the ball partially hitting Soler's helmet.

Angels batter Jorge Soler, left, fights Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López.
Angels batter Jorge Soler, left, fights Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López in the fifth inning at Angel Stadium on Tuesday night. (Ethan Swope / Associated Press)

The benches quickly cleared and players separated Soler and López after a brief, but intense skirmish that pushed out toward the first-base side of the diamond.

Soler and López were ejected from the game. Major League Baseball likely will suspend both players.

Players on the Angels and Braves rush the field after Jorge Soler and Reynaldo López fight.
Players on the Angels and Braves rush the field after Jorge Soler and Reynaldo López fight at Angel Stadium on Tuesday night. (Ethan Swope / Associated Press)

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.