Category: Sports News

Worldwide Sports News

Posted on

Phillies ace Zack Wheeler praises Yankees top prospect George Lombard Jr. after facing off in Double-A

Yankees top prospect George Lombard Jr. has been spectacular to start the Double-A season, and on Tuesday night he continued that success against one of baseball's best. 

Lombard enjoyed himself a 2-for-4 showing in Somerset’s win over Reading, with one of those knocks being a well-struck RBI double off Phillies ace Zack Wheeler.

Wheeler, of course, was making his fourth rehab appearance with the Fightin Phils as he continues recovering from surgeries for a blood clot and thoracic outlet syndrome. 

He got the best of Lombard in his first two at-bats, though, striking him out and getting him to fly out to center before giving up the first-pitch double in the sixth.

Afterwards, the three-time All-Star spoke highly of the young sluggers potential. 

“I thought he was taking good swings all night,” Wheeler told reporters. “You can tell he’s a good, strong kid and he has a good bat path -- he’s going to be a good player, so I hope I don’t have to face him too much.”

Lombard's glove has been his calling card to this point, but so far this season his offense has followed suit. 

The 21-year-old is now hitting .429 with a stellar 1.372 OPS though eight games. 

He’s racked up four multi-hit showings, six extra base-hits, and has stuck out just five times over that span. 

Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe, who was with Somerset to kick off his rehab assignment, also had nothing but good things to say about the organization's top young talent. 

“I thought he looked great out there,” Volpe said. “He made great plays in the field, put together good at-bats, smoked the ball to right -- he’s a really hard worker and a really good kid, so it’s going to be exciting.”

With Volpe in the lineup, Lombard got his first start of the season at third base, giving the Yankees a glimpse of their potential left-side of the infield down the line. 

And the youngster was sure to put on a show defensively as well, taking care of all of his opportunities, including a pair of slick plays to rob the Fightin Phils of hits. 

If Lombard can keep this up, perhaps he'll receive the call to Triple-A before long. 

Posted on

Astros Injury Updates 4/15/2026

MIAMI, FLORIDA - AUGUST 5: Josh Hader #71 of the Houston Astros throws a pitch in the ninth inning during a game against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on August 5, 2025 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Today, the Houston Astros released updates on many of the 13 players they have on the Injured List:

• RHP Cody Bolton (right mid-back inflammation) was placed on the IL today and is currently not throwing.

• RHP Hunter Brown (right shoulder sprain), RHP Tatsuya Imai (right arm fatigue) and RHP Cristian Javier (right shoulder strain) are rehabbing in Houston, but currently not throwing.

• LHP Josh Hader (left biceps tendinitis) tossed a 19-pitch live BP yesterday in Houston.

• RHP Nate Pearson (right elbow surgery) threw 2.0 innings in an extended Spring Training game on Saturday (April 11).

• LHP Bennett Sousa (left oblique strain) is out on a minor league rehab assignment now. He pitched last night for Double A Corpus Christi, working 1.0 scoreless inning on eight pitches (seven strikes).

• OF Zach Dezenzo (right elbow sprain) is rehabbing in Florida. He has progressed to a position specific throwing program while continuing normal hitting.

• OF Jake Meyers (right oblique strain) and SS Jeremy Peña (right hamstring strain) are rehabbing in Houston, focusing on rehabilitation exercises.

Posted on

On This Day: Teemu Selanne Scores 76th Goal Of Record-Breaking Rookie Season

On this day in 1993, Teemu Selänne scored his 76th goal of the season, setting an NHL rookie record that still stands as one of the most remarkable single-season achievements in league history.

The goal capped off a dazzling debut campaign with the Winnipeg Jets and cemented Selänne’s arrival as one of hockey’s brightest young stars.

Selänne’s 1992 to 93 rookie season was nothing short of extraordinary. He finished with 76 goals and 132 points in 84 games, shattering the previous rookie goal record of 53 set by Mike Bossy.

That 132 point total still stands as the highest single season mark by a Jets player in franchise history, showing just how dominant his performance was. His combination of elite speed, a quick release, and natural scoring instincts made him an immediate offensive force and one of the most exciting players in the league.

Beyond the raw numbers, it was the consistency and flair of Selänne’s play that defined the season. He recorded multiple hat tricks, built impressive scoring streaks, and delivered highlight reel goals throughout the year.

His iconic shooting glove celebration became one of the defining images of that NHL season, and his performance earned him the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie.

Over his time with Winnipeg, Selänne played four seasons and recorded 147 goals and 159 assists for 306 points in 231 games. He quickly became the face of the franchise and a fan favorite, bringing excitement and elite scoring to the Jets during the early 1990s.

Selänne went on to build a Hall of Fame career that extended far beyond his early success in Winnipeg. He finished with 684 goals and 1,457 points in 1,451 NHL games, won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007, and earned numerous individual honors. His longevity and scoring ability secured his place as one of the greatest Finnish players and one of the top goal scorers in NHL history.

Looking back, Selänne’s 76 goal rookie season remains one of the most unbreakable records in hockey. Decades later, no rookie has come close to matching it, reinforcing the lasting significance of one of the greatest debut seasons the sport has ever seen.

Image

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Posted on

Youth surge persists: Sam Antonacci gets promoted

PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 21: Sam Antonacci #10 of the Chicago White Sox bats in the second inning during the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Sam Antonacci mashed for all of 2025 and into spring 2026, and is now rewarded with a trip to The Show. | (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

The South Side isn’t messing around with its prospects.

If last year was a youth wave, this year promises to bring a youth tsunami. On Wednesday, Springfield native Sam Antonacci was the third prospect of the 2026 season to be called up from Triple-A, immediately following the long-awaited arrival of Noah Schultz.

Antonacci’s breakout in the minors last year had everyone at SSS hoping and waiting for him to debut for the White Sox, and his time is now. After a brilliant cup of coffee at Low-A Kannapolis after the draft, Antonacci crushed it in his first and only full season of affiliate ball, in 2025. His .291/.433/.409 slash line and 48 stolen bases across Rookie, High-A and Double-A ball won him MiLB’s Southern League Player of the Week in June, a Southern Atlantic League All-Star nod in September and the very coveted SSS’s Minor League Player of the Week in July.

If not for a fella named Caleb Bonemer, Antonacci very like would have been our SSS Player of the Year in the minors.

Still, last year’s stats pale in comparison to his strong Triple-A start in 2026. After impressing in Spring Training and getting some international notice as a member of Italy’s surprising WBC squad, Antonacci reported to Triple-A and mashed: .313 with a towering .500 OBP and 15 walks, and a .341 BABIP — beware, pitchers! The patient Swiss Army knife of a player is also diversifying his glove work from the infield to now leaning heavily in left field, with 11 of his 14 games played coming there. The writing is clearly on the wall for Andrew Benintendi, but Will Venable will have his chance to play musical chairs with the lineup.

To make room for Antonacci, the White Sox designated outfielder Dustin Harris for assignment.

Between Antonacci’s composure at the plate and track record for being one of the most reliable hitters in the minor league system, he should be just the spark plug needed to keep this offense out of long, dry spells.

Posted on

Kenny Atkinson provides update on Cavs health before heading into series vs. Raptors

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 24: Head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with Donovan Mitchell #45 during the first half against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Arena on March 24, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

INDEPENDENCE — The Cleveland Cavaliers have struggled to stay healthy all season. This has led to them having 41 different starting lineup combinations and just three players participating in 65 or more games. For context, a team like the Boston Celtics had 23 different starting lineup combinations and nine players available for 65 or more gams.

Fortunately for the Cavaliers, things are trending in the right direction heading into the start of the playoffs on Saturday. Head coach Kenny Atkinson confirmed that 14 of the team’s 15 players were full participants in what Atkinson described as a “real practice.” That includes Jarrett Allen (knee), Donovan Mitchell (ankle), and Sam Merrill (hamstring), who were on the injury report late in the regular season.

Support us and Let ‘Em Know with Homage!

Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the Donovan Mitchell NBA Jam shirt is HERE.

The one player who wasn’t a full participant was Thomas Bryant. He was still able to do some on-court work. Atkinson noted that he was “surprisingly ahead of schedule” with the calf injury he’s been dealing with.

Being healthy has allowed them to focus on one of the most important aspects of succeeding in the playoffs, and one of the things that let them down last postseason: Conditioning.

Conditioning has been an overarching focus of practice this week. The Cavs want to be prepared to take on a Toronto Raptors team that plays at one of the fastest paces in the league. They’ve done circuit training with the VersaClimber to get ready for playoff intensity. However, that preparation didn’t just start this week. It’s been a focus for this group for almost a year.

“It wasn’t just about yesterday’s [circuit training],” Atkinson said. “It’s about June and July. We’ve done a lot of things in the offseason and in-season to be ready for the intensity and physicality. It’s going to be a big part of this series.”

Posted on

Is there any hope for LeBron James and the Lakers?

When the Lakers begin their opening-round playoff series against the Rockets Saturday, they will be without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, both working their way back from injury.

Consequently, DraftKings Sportsbook has the Rockets priced as -600 favorites heading into the first round of the postseason. LeBron James and the Lakers are 90:1 to win the Western Conference and 150:1 to win the NBA Finals as of this writing.

Are the Lakers completely without hope, though? Using FTN’s Stats & Charting, let’s take a look at their roster to see if there is any reason to think they could make some noise during these playoffs.

Can LeBron James turn back the clock?

During the regular season, LeBron James averaged 29.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 10.4 assists per 36 minutes with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves off of the floor. In the past month, James has a +2.6% Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation and has scored +0.7 Points Over Expectation, indicating that he’s still been performing at a high level.

Following the All-Star break, the Lakers were 8.4 points better per 100 possessions with James on the court, compared to when he was on the bench – offering further evidence that he’s still capable of turning back the clock.

What does the supporting cast look like?

In five games following the injury to Luka, the Lakers relied on Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton and Luke Kennard for more contributions on the offensive end of the floor.

The good news for Los Angeles is that those players performed well in an expanded role. Hachimura, who averaged 11.5 points this season, scored 16.6 points per game down the stretch. Notably, he was 7-for-10 from the field against the Thunder and shot 50% from the field against the Suns – two playoff teams. Ayton and Kennard saw similar increases in scoring while maintaining strong efficiency.

During the team’s final 3 regular season contests, Hachimura, James, and Ayton each posted an +8.0% FGOE or better.

Does Houston have a problem?

Houston was 25-15 SU and ranked fourth in the NBA in net rating during their first 40 games this season, but lost Steven Adams to injury Jan. 18. From that point, the Rockets were 27-15 SU, but they ranked only 11th in net rating.

Houston led the NBA in rebound% (55.7%) prior to Adams’ injury, but regressed slightly in that area during the second half of the campaign. They also had the seventh-worst turnover rate in basketball during that span, which diminished the potency of their offense.

The Lakers defensive rating was 1.3 points better with Doncic off of the floor following the All-Star break. It’s not impossible to think that Los Angeles could make life difficult for Houston’s offense in the opening round.

The Takeaway

The Lakers went 10-8 SU in games with Luka Dončić unavailable and 17-14 SU in games with Austin Reaves inactive during the regular season. LeBron James had his workload monitored diligently this year, hoping to keep him fresh for the most important games of the season. The level of difficulty goes up in the playoffs, but his recent production in our Stats & Charting metrics indicate that he has plenty left in the tank. If his supporting cast can continue to knock down some open shots against Houston, there is at least a little bit of hope for Lakers fans – more than the current betting odds suggest.

Posted on

NHL Insider Says Red Wings Aggressively Pursued Vincent Trocheck But Cost Was Too High

The Detroit Red Wings are set to close out their season Tuesday night on the road against the Florida Panthers, a final game that comes with little at stake in the standings but plenty of reflection for an organization once again headed toward an early summer.

With the loss officially marking a 10th consecutive year outside the playoffs, questions have resurfaced around how Detroit approached its roster construction and, in particular, its activity at the trade deadline.

Across the fanbase, within parts of the organization, and among outside observers, there is a growing belief that the team may have needed to take a bigger swing to break through its long postseason drought.

One of the most frequently discussed names in that conversation is New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck, a proven two-way presence who has continued to produce reliably this season.

On Monday’s edition of Sportsnet’s FAN Hockey Show, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman addressed speculation that Detroit had explored acquiring higher-end center help, responding to host Mike Futa, who suggested the Red Wings should have pushed harder for a player of Trocheck’s caliber.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Friedman indicated that Detroit likely did investigate that market, noting succinctly, “I think they did; I heard the ask was really high,” a comment that aligned with broader reporting around the team’s deadline approach. The implication was that while interest may have been real, the acquisition cost ultimately proved prohibitive.

That framing also tracks with comments made by Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman following the trade deadline, when he emphasized that the club evaluated multiple options but ultimately stepped back when prices rose beyond what they were willing to pay. The organization has prioritized preserving its prospect pipeline as part of its longer-term rebuild strategy.

Trocheck, meanwhile, has delivered another strong all-around season, posting 16 goals and 37 assists for 53 points in 66 games while continuing to serve as a dependable two-way center. For a Detroit roster that has searched for stability down the middle, his profile was widely seen as a strong fit for an immediate push.

In hindsight, Detroit’s decision to hold firm at the deadline is likely to remain a point of debate. While the Red Wings preserved future assets, they also fell short of ending their playoff drought. Whether that restraint proves prudent or costly will depend on how the franchise’s younger core develops in the seasons ahead.

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

Image

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Posted on

Here’s how to watch Magic vs. 76ers in the NBA Play-In Tournament for free

New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Paolo Banchero #5 and Desmond Bane #3 of the Orlando Magic, Image 2 shows Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) reacts during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Monday, March 30, 2026, in Miami

The 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament continues today with two more matchups; first up, the Orlando Magic head to Philadelphia to face off with the 76ers.

Both teams finished the season with identical 45-37 records, but Philadelphia finished ahead of Orlando and captured home court advantage in today’s game by winning two out of three meetings against Orlando this season.

The last time the Magic and 76ers shared the court was back in January and ended in a 103-91 Sixers victory.

Magic vs. 76ers: what to know
  • What: NBA Play-In Tournament
  • When: April 15, 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
  • Streaming: Prime Video (try it free)

The winner of tonight’s game will advance directly into the playoff bracket as the No. 7 seed, while the loser will have another shot at the No. 8 seed against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday.

Magic vs. 76ers start time:

Tonight’s (April 15) Magic vs. 76ers game tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET, but pregame coverage on Prime Video will begin at 7 p.m.

How to watch Magic vs. 76ers for free:

The entire NBA Play-In Tournament, including Magic vs. 76ers, is streaming exclusively on Prime Video, so you’ll need an Amazon Prime subscription to watch the game.

If you aren’t a Prime Video subscriber yet, you can get started with a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial, including Prime perks like the Prime Video streaming service, free two-day shipping, exclusive deals, and more. After the free trial, Amazon Prime costs $14.99/month or $139/year.

PRIME VIDEO PRIME FOR YOUNG ADULTS

All 18- to 24-year-olds, regardless of student status, are eligible for a discounted Prime for Young Adults membership as well, with age verification. After a six-month free trial, you’ll pay 50% off the standard Prime monthly price of $14.99/month — just $7.49/month — for up to six yearsand get all the perks.

NBA Playoffs key dates:

  • April 14-17: NBA Play-In Tournament
  • April 18: NBA Playoffs First Round begins
  • June 3: Game 1 of the NBA Finals

Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.

Posted on

Emilio Pagán is only a little bit hurt

CINCINNATI, OHIO - APRIL 14: Emilio Pagán #15 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Great American Ball Park on April 14, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Cincinnati Reds closer Emilio Pagán picked up his 5th save of the 2026 season on Tuesday night, coaxing a deep fly-out off the bat of San Francisco Giants pinch hitter Daniel Susac to help wrap up a closely fought 2-1 victory.

That was obviously the good news. The bad news – or potentially bad news, at least – was that he clearly seemed to grimace while delivering the pitch. Since it coincided with the end of the game, coverage of said grimace was a bit scant, and we were instead left waiting to find out just exactly what happened.

Was it a knee? Was it something innocuous?

According to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon, it’s a hamstring issue for Pagán, one that comes with a bit of optimism about the recovery time needed.

Sheldon later clarified that it’s his left hamstring, not right.

The Reds have already announced a starting lineup for Wednesday’s game against the Giants, and they’ve made no roster moves in concurrence with said lineup. So, it’s safe to say that Pagán isn’t going to need a trip to the IL to get this right – at least, not yet.

My best guess is that they’ll slow-play this and hope it improves significantly with a day or two of rest, and that he’ll be unavailable to pitch while that’s going on. That would open up potential save opportunities elsewhere in the bullpen, something both Connor Phillips and Brock Burke have taken advantage of already in the early portions of this season.

If things don’t improve quickly, though, we could see a backdated move to the IL for Pagán. The problem there, though, is that there isn’t a clear replacement for his services in AAA. Zach Maxwell has a save and is on the roster, but he’s struggled mightily in his first 7 games of the year. Both Tejay Antone and Lyon Richardson have ample experience and are pitching well, but neither currently holds a spot on the 40-man roster. Luis Mey would probably end up getting the call, as he’s allowed just 2 ER in 6.0 IP with an 8/2 K/BB, though he has also yielded 3 unearned runs to date.

For now, we’ll hedge that Pagán truly did ‘dodge a bullet’ and that this will be a non-story in short order. Of course, it would be nice if the Reds offense would actually score enough runs to make ‘needing a closer in 1-run games every single day’ less of an importance for a change, too.

Posted on

Dodgers look for sweep on Jackie Robinson Day

So far this homestand, the Los Angeles Dodgers have quietly handled the New York Mets, with the pitching staff allowing only one run in 18 innings. The run was a leadoff shot from Francisco Lindor off of Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Tuesday’s game, and otherwise no Met has crossed the plate in L.A.

Wednesday the Dodgers look to finish the sweep by sending Shohei Ohtani to the mound. Ohtani still is in possession of both longest active on-base streak at 48 games, and longest active streak of consecutive innings pitched without an earned run, at 28 2/3. The on-base streak almost ended Tuesday night, but the Mets decided to intentionally walk him in the eighth inning, even though he was 0-3 for the evening.

In each of his last two outings, Ohtani has gone exactly 6.0 innings, allowing a total of five hits and issuing four walks. There was an unearned run in the outing against the Toronto Blue Jays, dropping his longest active pitching streak from scoreless to unearned runs.

This will mark the first time that Ohtani will face the Mets as a pitcher, leaving the Chicago Cubs as the only team he will not have yet faced. As a hitter, his lifetime slash line against them is .294/.417/.603 with five homers and 13 RBI.

The Mets will send right-hander Clay Holmes to the mound, who is 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA. In his last outing, Holmes left the mound in the sixth inning with the team trainer. He was dealing with left hamstring tightness but is still slated to make the start Wednesday evening.

On the offense side, the Mets have only scored 10 runs in their last five games, with the bulk of those coming in a loss to the Athletics in which they scored six runs. They were shutout in three of those games. Tuesday night marked the seventh loss in a row.

Bo Bichette in particular will be looking to continue to assert some dominance over Ohtani. His last plate appearance against Ohtani came in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series produced a three-run homer, which most of Toronto thought would be the death nell for the Dodgers.

As always, both teams will wear number 42 on their uniforms, in honor of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in 1947.

Wednesday night’s game will be available exclusively on ESPN, the first one of the season for ESPN. Orel Hershiser will join Ron Darling as the respective teams’ color analysts, with Joe Buck the play-by-play guy.

Wednesday game info
  • Teams: Dodgers vs. Mets
  • Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
  • Time: 7:10 p.m.
  • TV: ESPN
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
Posted on

When Will Luka Doncic Return? Latest on Hamstring Injury for Lakers-Rockets Series

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Los Angeles Lakers are set to begin the playoffs on Saturday night against the Houston Rockets, but an early-April injury to Luka Doncic has the superstar point guard expected to miss the entire first round.

I break down the latest Luka Doncic odds and how the injury subsequently affects the Lakers’ NBA odds, which have taken a tumble as a result.

How we got here

Despite the Los Angeles Lakers catching fire following the All-Star break — including a 16-2 run in February and March — things came to a crashing halt on April 2, as Luka Doncic suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain in the third quarter of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Prior to the injury, Doncic was absolutely stuffing the stat sheet, leading the league with 33.5 points per game while averaging 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds per contest.

Treatment plan

Doncic returned from Spain on Tuesday after undergoing regenerative therapy, which reportedly included stem cell injections.

Still, cutting a potential return timeline from 4–6 weeks down to 3–4 weeks would still sideline Doncic for the entire round against Houston, as even if the series went the distance, a potential Game 7 would fall well before that timeframe.

LA, we have a problem

Lakers head coach J.J. Redick addressed the media on Monday, giving the latest update on the injuries to both Doncic and star guard Austin Reaves.

Despite having home-court advantage for Round 1, the Lakers are listed at +450 to win the series against Houston at bet365, and they have fallen all the way to +15000 to win the NBA Finals.

The Luka-less Lakers are currently listed as 5.5-point underdogs ahead of Saturday's Game 1 against Houston.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Posted on

Dylan Garand Set To Start In Rangers' Season Finale

Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Dylan Garand will start in the New York Rangers’ 2025-26 season finale on Wednesday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

Garand was recalled by the Rangers from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League on March 20, as he finally got his first taste of NHL action in Jonathan Quick’s absence due to an upper-body injury.

The 23-year-old goaltender has started in two games since being called up, posting a 1-0-1 record, 1.44 goals against average, and .954 save percentage. 

However, Garand hasn’t started a game since notching his first NHL win on March 27 against the Chicago Blackhawks, but the Rangers have still opted to keep him around despite Quick returning to the lineup. 

Ahead of the Rangers’ Monday night game against the Florida Panthers, Quick announced that he would officially be retiring at the end of the 2025-26 campaign. 

This development opens up the door for Garand to take over the Blueshirts’ backup goaltending role next season behind Igor Shesterkin. 

“We have talked for a few weeks on what we were trying to accomplish with our goalies, and there were multiple objectives involved,” Mike Sullivan said. “Obviously, Shesty is our No. 1 guy, and he's a priority for us. I think how we handled Quickie down the stretch, he is deserving of, and we've spoken at length about that. And Dylan is a guy that's played well in the starts that he's had, and we're excited about where potentially he goes moving forward. 

“So there were multiple objectives involved, and we had a big-picture game plan in mind, and this was part of it. As I always tell you guys, it's always subject to change based on circumstances. You guys know that. But obviously we're trying to accomplish multiple things at the same time, and that was part of it.”

With the Rangers eliminated from playoff contention and without much to play for heading into their season finale, Garand will get another opportunity to further showcase his skills at the NHL level. 

Posted on

NBA awards odds: Latest MVP, DPOY and major award favorites

The NBA's Play-In Tournament might be underway, but the regular season is not a wrap. The end-of-season awards have yet to be handed out, and still there are major questions surrounding more than a few of them.

Does Victor Wembanyama deserve MVP after leading his team to an unexpected No. 2 seed in the Western Conference while playing some of the greatest defense fans have ever seen? Or should that distinction go to the reigning MVP who put together another incredible performance as one of the league's top scorers and clutch performers? Is Nickeil Alexander-Walker a shoo-in for most improved player, or can dark horses such as Deni Avdija or Jalen Duren make a push? Does Chet Holmgren have any shot at defensive player of the year?

These are the questions fans want answered, and we'll get them soon. For now, though, all we can do is look at the odds to try to figure out what will happen. Here are the odds for each of the NBA's major awards. (All odds via BetMGM.)

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at Frost Bank Center.

NBA MVP odds

  1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder (-5000)
  2. Victor Wembanayama, Spurs (+2000)
  3. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets (+6600)

NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds

  1. Victor Wembanyama, Spurs (-10000)
  2. Chet Holmgren, Thunder (+1200)

NBA Most Improved Player odds

  1. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Hawks (-1250)
  2. Jalen Duren, Pistons (+800)
  3. Deni Avdija, Trail Blazers (+6600)
  4. Jalen Johnson, Hawks (+15000)

NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds

  1. Keldon Johnson, Spurs (-833)
  2. Jaime Jaquez Jr., Heat (+500)
  3. Naz Reid, Timberwolves (+10000)
  4. Reed Sheppard, Rockets (+10000)
  5. Tim Hardaway Jr., Nuggets (+10000)
  6. Ajay Mitchell, Thunder (+10000)
  7. Isaiah Stewart, Pistons (+25000)

NBA Coach of the Year odds

  1. Joe Mazzulla, Celtics (-150)
  2. J.B. Bickerstaff, Pistons (+115)
  3. Mitch Johnson, Spurs (+4000)
  4. Charles Lee, Hornets (+25000)
  5. Quin Snyder, Hawks (+50000)

When will NBA awards be announced?

The official timeline for the NBA's end-of-season awards has yet to be announced but should be coming soon. Last year, the first major award was announced April 21, with sixth man of the year going to Boston's Payton Pritchard. The final major award was announced more than a month later (May 22) when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took home the MVP.

The announcements for this year's awards are likely to follow a similar schedule with multiple awards being announced as the playoffs progress.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA awards odds with the latest MVP and DPOY favorites

Posted on

MLB celebrates Jackie Robinson Day as every player wears No. 42 on anniversary of his historic debut

LOS ANGELES — Major League Baseball will honor Jackie Robinson when every player, coach and umpire will wear his No. 42 to mark the 79th anniversary of the infielder breaking the sport’s color barrier.

Robinson debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. He went on to win Rookie of the Year honors, become a six-time All-Star and the 1949 National League MVP. He played in six World Series, and won his only championship in 1955 with the Dodgers.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets will hold a joint reflection ceremony at the centerfield statue of Robinson at Dodger Stadium.

“A special day, especially for me as a Latino. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t because of him,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Talk about dealing with pressure at this level, imagine what he dealt with back in the day.”

Two of Robinson’s granddaughters will join the teams at Dodger Stadium, not far from Robinson’s adopted hometown of Pasadena. He was a four-sport star at Pasadena Junior College before going on to UCLA, where the Georgia native was better known for football than baseball.

Also on hand in Los Angeles will be recipients of scholarships from the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

For the first time in at least two decades, the percentage of Black players on opening day rosters increased this season. Major League Baseball says 6.8% of players on opening day rosters, injured lists and the restricted list were Black, up from 6.2% at the start of the 2025 season and 6.0% at the start of 2024.

Posted on

Arsenal 0-0 Sporting (1-0 on aggregate): Champions League quarter-final, second leg – as it happened

An uncomfortable, awkward, nervy night ended in a goalless draw and Arsenal progressing to the semi-finals

1 min: Peeeeeep! Luis Suarez gets the ball rolling.

The captains exchange pennants. Sporting’s looks rubbish. Not even embroidered. It’s like they forgot their proper pennant and had to buy one from a dodgy bloke outside the ground. It’s less a pennant than an insult.

Continue reading...