Posts

Posted on

James Tarkowski should have been sent off against Liverpool, admits PGMOL

  • Everton defender booked for challenge on Mac Allister
  • VAR should have recommended review of tackle

The referees’ body, Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL), has acknowledged that Everton’s James Tarkowski should have been sent off in defeat at Liverpool on Wednesday. The defender was only cautioned for an early reckless challenge on Alexis Mac Allister, described as a “Merseyside derby tackle of old”.

The referee, Sam Barrott, gave Tarkowski a yellow card and David Moyes conceded the defender was fortunate to stay on the pitch. PGMOL believes the video assistant referee, Paul Tierney, should have recommended a review.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Report: Morant, Hield issued warnings for ‘inappropriate' gestures

Report: Morant, Hield issued warnings for ‘inappropriate' gestures originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The NBA concluded its investigation of the viral antics at the end of the Golden State Warriors’ win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.

After the league reportedly looked into Grizzlies star Ja Morant and Warriors guard Buddy Hield appearing to use finger gun gestures toward each other in the final seconds of Golden State’s 134-125 win, the NBA deemed the actions were not intended to be violent in nature, but were inappropriate and issued warnings to both players and their respective teams, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday, citing sources.

Things got chippy between the two teams with 20 seconds remaining in the game, as both Morant and Hield were issued double-technical fouls after the Warriors guard appeared to make the gesture first.

Morant previously was suspended twice for flashing a gun on Instagram live videos in 2023, with the first being an eight-game suspension for having a gun at a Denver nightclub. The second video happened over the summer, when he flashed what appeared to be a gun in a car and had to serve a 25-game suspension.

And while the NBA doesn’t believe the gestures were violent in nature, it still took action in the form of warnings.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Why Kerr believes Steph earns fewer foul calls than other NBA stars

Why Kerr believes Steph earns fewer foul calls than other NBA stars originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors coach Steve Kerr has a theory about why superstar Steph Curry doesn’t receive the same amount of foul calls as other NBA stars.

In speaking to 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs” on Wednesday, Kerr detailed how he believes Curry’s style of play is hard to officiate for league refs.

“Trust me, it does not, because I’ve been trying that for 10 years,” Kerr told Willard and Dibley about Curry pleading for foul calls not being a successful tactic. “It has not helped at all. I just think Steph is a very different player than all the other stars in the league. He’s the only star who plays off the ball as much as he does. 

“And he’s the only guy who faces the kind of face-guarding – we call it top-locking defense – and I think what happens sometimes is the officials just aren’t used to making that call, where he’s being held and grabbed away from the basket; to me, those should be automatic fouls.”

Curry has averaged 3.9 free-throw attempts throughout his 16-year career and 4.0 over 63 games during the 2024-25 NBA season. 

As Kerr – and Dub Nation – know all too well, Curry doesn’t get the same whistles as the league’s other top names.

For example, Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a leading candidate for his first NBA MVP award, has averaged 8.1 free throws over 72 games; and that’s not even his highest figure, as he averaged 9.8 in 2022-23. Similarly, Los Angeles Clippers star and known charity-stripe connoisseur James Harden is averaging 7.3 this season, but that’s low compared to his 11.8 in 2019-2020.

Kerr has done years of complaining on Curry’s behalf. But the coach just doesn’t believe the refs give Curry the same credit they do other stars because of his unique, off-ball style.

“The league makes a point of talking about freedom of movement, but let’s face it, most of the league plays pick-and-roll,” Kerr told Willard and Dibley. “And so they’re used to calling pick-and-roll fouls and seeing that kind of action. 

“I don’t think our officials are as used to seeing off-ball stuff; honestly, that’s my biggest complaint when I’m talking to the refs or send clips to the league; it’s almost always about off-ball holding of Steph because that’s supposed to be a foul.”

Defenders often hold onto Curry’s jersey and body for dear life when guarding the four-time NBA champion on the perimeter. But perhaps officiating crews are focused on other things.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Cincinnati meets UCF in CBC

The Bearcats are 8-14 against Big 12 opponents and 11-1 in non-conference play. Cincinnati scores 70.9 points and has outscored opponents by 5.3 points per game. The Knights are 8-14 in Big 12 play.

Posted on

New Warriors face legit NBA playoff audition against new Lakers

New Warriors face legit NBA playoff audition against new Lakers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The last time Stephen Curry saw the Los Angeles Lakers, he jacked up 35 shots. Not because he wanted to but because he justifiably felt his scoring gave the Warriors their best chance of winning. His solo errand ended in defeat.           

The first time Curry faced the Lakers this season, on Christmas Day, he scored 38 points, 13 in the final three minutes, including a game-tying 3-pointer with 7.6 seconds left. Six seconds later, Lakers guard Austin Reaves slashed in for the game-winning layup.

Those were the Warriors of another era. Or so it seems. The arrival of Jimmy Butler III has added dimension and altered their outlook. Golden State, 0-3 against LA this season, has an opportunity to validate its resurgence Thursday, when they face the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.

“Completely different team,” coach Steve Kerr told reporters Tuesday night in Memphis. “Jimmy saved our season. The trade saved our season.”

Curry has averaged 31.8 points over his last 10 regular-season games against LA, and the Warriors won only three of those games. Butler during that time was with the Miami Heat. He’s a Warrior now, and Curry has his most complete offensive sidekick since June 2019.

Acquiring Butler not only pumped life into a fading season, but it also instilled within Curry a renewed faith in the team. And, therefore, his mission.

“He has a presence about him,” Curry said of Butler after the Warriors’ 134-125 win over the Grizzlies. “He’s always under control, making the right play, [exploiting] advantages when he gets in the paint, getting to the line, finishing at the rim. … He just always makes the right play.

“And when I’m off the court, he’s lifting the level of guys around him. He’s a gamer.”

Butler fills many of the gaps that previously had the Warriors handcuffed to mediocrity. They’ve gone from climbing on Curry’s back and hoping it would be enough to succeed to hitching themselves to both stars and believing they’re supposed to win.

“That’s why the trade makes so much sense for us, and why the results have been there ever since,” Curry said. “It’s a great tandem in terms of two different styles.”

Golden State’s collective certitude was visible Tuesday in Memphis. The Warriors built a 17-point lead in the first quarter, lost all of it by the third quarter – before coming back, surviving 10 fourth-quarter lead changes, and closing out the win with a 13-3 run over the final 2:24.

Butler scored six of those 13 points, all on free throws. Curry accounted for two points, also on free throws. The only field goals were a tip-in by Brandin Podziemski and a corner 3-ball by Moses Moody that put the Grizzlies to sleep.

“The roster makes sense,” Kerr said, citing Butler as the missing piece. “We’ve got guys who are competitive and tough and smart. As Steph talked about, he wanted to play meaningful basketball again. He’s getting to do that. We’re all getting to do that, and it’s a lot of fun.”

Those field goals by Podziemski and Moody were consequential and, perhaps offered a glimpse of what is possible in games to come, beginning Thursday night in LA. The win at Memphis served as an audition for the high-stakes expectations for Podziemski and Moody and the under-25 members of the Warriors.

This was two teams with their hearts on display, dueling for NBA playoff positioning, with a frenzied pace and consistent intensity. Curry was at his best, scoring 52 points, but this game sought to answer another question:

Who, besides Draymond Green (a triple-double) and Butler (27 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals), would ensure Curry’s brilliance would be rewarded?

Podziemski and Moody provided an answer. Unproductive on offense most of the night, they made gigantic plays over the final 71 seconds. They showed up at winning time.

“We love playing meaningful games,” Curry said. “Coach said it before the game, that this is a meaningful game. All the rest of them down the regular season are going to be like this. So, for us to be able to step up the way we did [was a] total team effort.

“But I like me and Jimmy leading it.”

Curry and Green would not have been able to will Golden State’s youngsters into and through the postseason. The kids are still struggling in their efforts to trying to decipher the code that maximizes Curry.

Green knows it. Butler solved it in in two weeks. Are those two enough against premier competition? Can the youngsters, with the guidance of the vets, provide adequate support?

The outcome against the Lakers, revived with Luka Doncić joining forces with LeBron James, should provide a hint.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Carl Hooper’s life in sport: from West Indies to Australia via county cricket

The West Indies batter on his effortless style, playing with his idols and how leadership brought out the best in him

By Wisden Cricket Monthly

Born in Georgetown, Guyana, Carl Hooper, 58, played 102 Test matches for the West Indies between 1987 and 2003, scoring nearly 6,000 runs, taking 114 wickets with his wily off-spin and captaining the side in 22 of those appearances. Known as one of the most stylish, if not necessarily most consistent, batters of the era, he also played 227 ODIs and had five prolific seasons with Kent, making 22 first-class centuries in 85 matches for the club.

Hooper returned to the county game with Lancashire in 2003 and is one of only three players to have scored a first-class century against all 18 first-class counties. “He was so talented, yet he didn’t understand just how good he was,” wrote Brian Lara of his former teammate. “People would ask why he didn’t do full justice to his brilliance, and you know what, there is no clear reason for it.”

Continue reading...
Posted on

Plaschke: Who says the Dodgers can't go 162-0? Dramatic win over Braves extends a perfect start

Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani celebrates as he approaches home plate after hitting a walk-off home run.
Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani celebrates as he approaches home plate after hitting a walk-off home run against the Atlanta Braves Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

162-0?

Why not?

Shohei Ohtani is rounding the bases with his right fist in the air and Dodger Stadium is shaking with its roar filling the sky and anything is possible.

162-0?

Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani points and celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a walk off home run.
Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani points and celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a walk off home run against the Atlanta Braves Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

It could never happen. But after Wednesday night, are you willing to say it can’t happen?

The Dodgers were seemingly destroying their season-opening, seven-game win streak with their worst game in several seasons, stumbling to a 5-0 deficit against the Atlanta Braves and apparently ready to pack it in until …

Until Tommy Edman homered in the second inning.

Until Michael Conforto homered in the fourth.

Until Max Muncy clawed back from two errors to blast a game-tying two-run double in the eighth.

Until Ohtani celebrated his bobblehead night with a walk-off home run in the ninth.

Anything is possible? Everything is possible.

Read more:Shohei Ohtani hits walk-off homer on his bobblehead night to keep Dodgers undefeated

In less than three hours, the Dodgers went from nightmare to history, from tainted to unblemished, from questionable to undeniable, all part of a thrill ride that symbolized the unbelievable start by baseball’s greatest team

162-Oh my Lord.

The Dodgers dramatically showed that the heady beginning of their 2025 season is about more than muscle, there’s also magic. It’s the only explanation for what happened in a 6-5 victory over the Braves that pushed their record to 8-0, the best unbeaten start by a defending champion in baseball history.

They will eventually lose … right? These breaks will surely turn against them one day … yes?

Maybe. Who knows? For now, they look flat-out unbeatable.

“I think each night we’re unbeatable, and we’ll see how that works out,” said manager Dave Roberts afterward with an amazed smile.

Dodgers third base Max Muncy hits a two-run double in the eighth inning to tie the Atlanta Braves 5-5 Wednesday night.
Dodgers third base Max Muncy hits a two-run double in the eighth inning to tie the Atlanta Braves 5-5 Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Working out pretty good so far. It’s not just that the Dodgers are winning games. As Wednesday showed, it’s how they’re winning games, this time triumphing despite three errors and two base-running blunders and one misplayed fly balls.

“Tonight I was a little dumbfounded,” said Roberts. “I was dumbfounded with the way we were playing. I didn’t recognize that club in the first couple innings. And then just dumbfounded we found a way to win that game. We had no business winning that game. But to our guys’ credit, we just kept fighting.”

Presumptive ace Blake Snell is shaky for a second consecutive start, allowing five unearned runs fueled by four walks, and what happens? He is rescued by a scoreless five innings pieced together by relievers named Ben Casparius, Kirby Yates and Jack Dreyer.

Will somebody please explain just who is Jack Dreyer?

Read more:Plaschke: If Dodgers want to be a dynasty, they must win the World Series again

“Tonight, obviously, was the worst game we’ve played,” said Roberts. “But the ‘pen has been fantastic.”

Then there was Muncy, after two throwing errors and three lousy plate appearances in a season full of them, ditching his new torpedo bat for his old faithful and tying the game with one of his trademark big swings in the eighth.

“It’s been fun … it feels like this clubhouse is carrying a little bit of the attitude we had last year that we’re never out of a game and we’re resilient, and we’ve been carrying it into this season,” Muncy said, later adding, “The guys don’t give up. Bad things have happened, and no one’s really been down or out on themselves. Everyone’s just all right, here we go, next inning, let’s get after it.”

Don’t forget Michael Conforto, running into an out and killing a rally, but still having the composure to set up Muncy’s big hit with a leadoff single in the eighth.

"Every game, every at-bat matters, every play … the focus doesn't waiver, the compete,” said Roberts.

Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández congratulates teammate Michael Conforto after he hit a fourth inning home run.
Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández congratulates teammate Michael Conforto after he hit a fourth inning home run against the Braves Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Finally, of course, there is Ohtani, and there’s only one way to describe a guy who rewarded those fans who lined up five hours before the game for his bobblehead doll with a real live neck- turner.

“Shohei being Shohei at the end,” Roberts said for the umpteenth time.

So when are they going to lose? You tell me, when are they going to lose?

An obvious spot would be in two games, on Saturday in Philadelphia, when Phillies’ veteran Aaron Nola stares down struggling kid Roki Sasaki. But Nola was hammered by the Washington Nationals in his first game this year and the Dodgers offense has already saved Sasaki once.

After the Phillies’ weekend series the Dodgers play three games against the wretched Nationals and three against the Chicago Cubs, who they’ve already beaten twice in two attempts.

After the Cubs series, they play 20 games against the sorry likes of Colorado, Texas, the Cubs again, Pittsburgh, Miami, Atlanta and Miami again.

That brings them to a four-game series in Arizona in early May. OK, with the intense history between the two, the Dodgers could lose there.

At that point, they would be 36-0, and would that really shock you?

This is all hyperbole, of course. Two days from now they could already be 8-1 and nobody would blink.

But the point is, they’re good enough to warrant such fantasies. Think about it. They’ve beaten two Cy Young award winners. They’ve won amid the distraction of two opening days. They’ve won with ailing Mookie Betts and injured Freddie Freeman having played together in just two of the eight games. They’ve won with shutout starting pitching. They’ve won with anonymous relievers.

And now they’ve pulled off a big-time comeback win on a night they mostly looked like Little Leaguers.

“We knew going in we were talented. ... I actually like it in the sense that no one’s too high right now,” said Roberts "The pitching has been very good, the defense has been solid but up and down our lineup there’s only a couple guys who are really swinging the bats the way we’re capable, ... outside of that …guys are really thinking about how they could get better right now ... which is a pretty scary thought for the rest of the league."

Scary enough that before the game, I actually asked Roberts if they feel unbeatable.

“I guess if you say that if every single night we take the field do I feel like we’re going to win?” he said. “Yeah.”

He added, “I know that the math says that we’re not going to go 162-0, but each night we take the field I feel like we’re going to win, so, whatever that means.”

Right now, it means he’s been right eight times in eight games, a perfect record, a perfect start, only the beginning.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Posted on

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Bub Carrington, Tristan Vukcevic shine for Wizards

While some other lottery-bound teams have not been transparent about how they'll handle their rosters the rest of the season, there have been few secrets in the nation's capital. It's been established that the team's younger players will get all the minutes they can handle, give or take a few if some of the Wizards' vets are available. But fantasy managers know they'll see the youngster playing rotation minutes. As a result, some players have begun to provide tangible fantasy value during the stretch run.

Washington's win over Sacramento was spearheaded by some of the team's younger options, including PG/SG Bub Carrington (14%), C Tristan Vukcevic (9%) and SG AJ Johnson (2%). Carrington and Johnson scored 19 points apiece and provided solid overall stat lines, while Vukcevic chipped in with 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists, one block and two three-pointers off the bench.

Carrington, who has been close to a top-75 player over the past week, supplemented his 19 points with two rebounds, seven assists and five three-pointers, with the five triples matching his season-high. Johnson added two rebounds, six asists, one steal and two three-pointers to his 19 points before fouling out. Carrington has been the most valuable of the three, and one can also throw Justin Champagnie (13 percent rostered, Yahoo!) into the mix. But all will continue to have their chances to produce, and the Wizards play games on Thursday and Sunday to end Week 22.

Let's look at a few other low-rostered standouts from Wednesday's slate:

SF/PF Tari Eason (47%), Houston Rockets

The Rockets played Wednesday's game against the Jazz without Fred VanVleet, who sat out due to soreness in the same ankle he injured earlier this season. That opened up a spot in the lineup for Eason, who finished the blowout win over Utah with a solid line of 15 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals, two blocks and one three-pointer in 24 minutes. Also of note was Dillon Brooks picking up his 16th technical foul of the season, which triggers an automatic one-game suspension. Even if VanVleet can play in Friday's game against the Thunder, Eason may stay in the starting lineup due to Brooks' suspension.

PG/SG Isaiah Collier (26%), Utah Jazz

Sure, the Jazz were beaten by a 143-105 final score. But that should not take away from Collier's stat line, which was one of the best of his rookie campaign. The first-round pick shot 7-of-11 from the field and 6-of-8 from the foul line, scoring 22 points with five rebounds, 10 assists, one block, two three-pointers and zero turnovers. The ride hasn't always been smooth, but Collier has done enough to hold onto the starting point guard role since late-January, while 2023 first-round pick Keyonte George continues to come off the bench.

PG Jose Alvarado (18%), New Orleans Pelicans

Alvarado's fantasy value over the past two weeks hasn't been much to write home about, as he's been a 12th-round player in eight-cat formats. However, with CJ McCollum done for the season, there's reason to roll the dice on "Grand Theft Alvarado." And he rewarded deep-league managers on Wednesday, finishing the Pelicans' loss to the Clippers with 17 points, two rebounds, 10 assists and one steal in 27 minutes. A 0-of-5 night from three isn't good, but Alvarado was 7-of-11 from two.

PG/SG Davion Mitchell (15%) and SG Pelle Larsson (9%), Miami Heat

Mitchell gave the Heat good minutes off the bench in their 21-point win over Boston, tallying 13 points, four rebounds, seven assists, three steals and three three-pointers in 34 minutes. He has been a top 100 player over the past two weeks. As for Larsson, he made his third consecutive start, finishing with 16 points, four rebounds, four assists, one steal and two three-pointers in 30 minutes. The second-round pick out of Arizona has scored in double figures in three straight games and should have added value as long as Andrew Wiggins and Duncan Robinson remain out.

SG/SF Tim Hardaway Jr. (8%), Detroit Pistons

Before Sunday's loss to the Timberwolves, Hardaway had not scored 20 points or more in consecutive games this season. He's now met or exceeded that number in three straight, most recently finishing Wednesday's loss to the Thunder with 23 points, three rebounds, three assists and five three-pointers. Hardaway's lackluster defensive stats make him a tough sell in most fantasy leagues. Still, his ceiling has been raised due to the continued absence of Cade Cunningham, and Tobias Harris exiting Wednesday's game with a case of Achilles tendinopathy.

C DeAndre Jordan (2%), Denver Nuggets

None of the Nuggets' usual starters were available for Wednesday's game, resulting in multiple players not usually in the rotation logging significant minutes. Jordan was one of those replacements, and he finished the loss to the Spurs with 10 points, 17 rebounds, one assist, one steal and one blocked shot in 36 minutes. Streaming him paid dividends for the few who took the plunge, especially if they needed rebounding production. Also, Jalen Pickett (zero percent) recorded his first triple-double, finishing with 17 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, one steal and three three-pointers. Neither Pickett nor Jordan is worth holding onto, as the Nuggets should be much closer to full strength when they visit the Warriors on Saturday.

Posted on

Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Pirates option David Bednar; Rangers going with Luke Jackson

David Bednar

David Bednar

Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

In this week's closer report, the Pirates made a surprising move, sending David Bednar to the minors amid his struggles on the mound. Mason Miller's strikeouts propel him to the top spot in the rankings. And the Rangers go with Luke Jackson in the ninth-inning role. All that and more as we look at the closer landscape after the first week of baseball.

Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings

Tier 1: At the Top

Mason Miller - Athletics
Emmanuel Clase - Cleveland Guardians
Devin Williams - New York Yankees
Josh Hader - Houston Astros

Miller takes over the top spot with an electric first showing as he struck out the side in his one appearance for his first save against the Mariners. He then got some work in on Wednesday with the Athletics down against the Cubs, striking out two more in a scoreless inning. The 26-year-old right-hander has the best all-around skillset at the closer position. It's only a matter of how many save chances the Athletics can get him.

Clase did nothing to alleviate any concerns following his postseason performance. He gave up a run on three hits to blow a save his first time out. He bounced back his next time out with a scoreless frame, striking out one batter in a non-save situation. Despite the blown save, it's too early to warrant any legitimate concern.

Williams was also shaky in his first outing, giving up a run on two hits and a walk before holding on for his first save with the Yankees. He's absent from the team for a couple days while on the paternity list. Luke Weaver remains next in line to step in for saves.

Hader followed the trend of turbulent first outings as he surrendered a run before holding on for the save on Opening Day against the Mets. He followed up with his second save in a scoreless appearance against the Mets two days later.

Tier 2: The Elite

Ryan Helsley - St. Louis Cardinals
Edwin Díaz - New York Mets
Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners
Raisel Iglesias - Atlanta Braves

Helsley has been impressive over his first few outings. The 30-year-old right-hander has six strikeouts with two hits and no walks allowed over three scoreless innings with one save so far for the Cardinals. In New York, Díaz struck out one batter in a clean outing for his first save against the Astros, then pitched a scoreless eighth in a tie game against the Marlins. Meanwhile, Muñoz has locked down three saves with five strikeouts over three scoreless frames.

Iglesias is still searching for his first save as the Braves have yet to win a game. He fired a scoreless inning with one strikeout in a non-save situation his first time out, then entered in the eighth against the Dodgers on Wednesday with a two-run lead and blew the save on a two-run double by Max Muncy. Iglesias returned in the bottom of the ninth and surrendered the walk-off homer by Shohei Ohtani.

Tier 3: The Solid Options

Jeff Hoffman - Toronto Blue Jays
Robert Suarez - San Diego Padres
Ryan Walker - San Francisco Giants
Jhoan Duran - Minnesota Twins
Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers
Félix Bautista - Baltimore Orioles

Hoffman looks sharp in the early going after some off-season concerns. The 32-year-old right-hander has been busy, recording three saves with one run allowed and five strikeouts to no walks over four innings of work.

Suarez has been lights out to start the season. He converted his third save with a clean outing against the Guardians on Wednesday. The 34-year-old right-hander has not allowed a hit, walking one batter and striking out four through three innings.

Walker picked up an Opening Day save against the Reds. The 29-year-old right-hander was then held out for the following two days as he was dealing with some back tightness. Camilo Doval stepped in for a clean save in his absence. Walker returned to lock down his second save, striking out two batters against the Astros. With Walker unavailable Wednesday after pitching in back-to-back games, Doval filled in once again for his second save.

Duran had a rough go his first time out, recording one out and giving up one run on two walks and a hit. He bounced back with a scoreless outing against the White Sox in a non-save situation. The 27-year-old right-hander is still searching for his first save chance.

After Scott saw one of the two save chances during the Tokyo Series, it was Blake Treinen who got the first save on the traditional Opening Day. Scott did get the following two save chances, blowing a save against the Tigers before bouncing back with his second save in a clean outing against the Braves. Even if Treinen and Kirby Yates mix in for the occasional save chance, Scott figures to continue getting regular opportunities on a Dodgers team poised to win many games.

Bautista is still finding his footing early on in his return from Tommy John surgery. The 29-year-old right-hander has allowed two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out two over two innings of work. His fastball remains down about two miles per hour from where he was in 2023. With the team likely to take it easy on Bautista to start the season, Seranthony Dominguez could be next in line based on the bullpen usage through the first week.

Tier 4: Only Here for the Saves

Pete Fairbanks - Tampa Bay Rays
Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers
Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Angels
Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox
Justin Martinez/A.J. Puk - Arizona Diamondbacks
Jordan Romano/Jose Alvarado - Philadelphia Phillies
Kyle Finnegan - Washington Nationals
Ryan Pressly - Chicago Cubs
Carlos Estévez - Kansas City Royals
Luke Jackson - Texas Rangers

Fairbanks has gotten his season off to a good start, firing two scoreless innings with four strikeouts while recording one save and a win. The 31-year-old right-hander is looking to bounce back after a down season. Avoiding the injured list will be the biggest factor for Fairbanks.

Megill hasn't seen a save chance yet for the Brewers but has been sharp on the mound in the early going. He's tossed 2 1/3 scoreless frames, striking out five batters with one hit and no walks allowed.

Jansen has gotten the job done for the Angels, picking up two saves with three scoreless innings. Fellow veteran closer Chapman has made one appearance, picking up a win against the Rangers on Opening Day as Justin Slaten recorded the save. Chapman was called on to close out the game against the Orioles on Wednesday. He worked around a walk, striking out one for the save. The 37-year-old left-hander should be in line for most save chances, though he'll be used earlier in the game should the situation call for the hard-throwing left-hander.

The Diamondbacks appear to be going with a matchup-based committee approach to close out games. Martinez pitched the ninth inning down by one on Opening Day. He then pitched the eighth in high-leverage spots in his following two outings. He's struck out five with no walks allowed over 2 2/3 frames. Meanwhile, Puk recorded the team's first save, giving up a solo homer against the Yankees on Tuesday. He then entered with two runners on and one out with a four-run lead on Wednesday and surrendered a three-run homer before locking down a second save.

Romano blew his first save chance with the Phillies, giving up two runs to the Nationals on Opening Day. He bounced back with two strikeouts in a scoreless frame against the Rockies. Alvarado has looked like the best reliever in the bullpen, striking out five over two scoreless innings. He could find himself in line for occasional saves as things stand, with upside for more if Romano struggles or fails to stay healthy.

Finnegan loaded the bases but kept the Phillies off the board in a tie game on Opening Day. He then got the Nationals out of a jam on Sunday, entering with no outs and the bases loaded with a four-run lead. A groundout, strikeout, and lineout ended the game with Finnegan's first save.

Pressly has already worked four appearances, converting a pair of saves for the Cubs. He's yet to have a clean outing and has struck out just one batter to four walks and seven hits allowed. It'll be hard for him to sustain any success allowing that many base runners without missing more bats.

Estévez got the first save chance for the Royals, striking out one in a clean inning against the Guardians. With Lucas Erceg pitching the eighth inning against the Brewers on Wednesday, Estévez took the mound with a one-run lead in the tenth and allowed the game-tying run before sending the game to the 11th. The 32-year-old right-hander figures to see most save chances, with Erceg working the occasional opportunity pitching the highest-leverage situations.

Jackson surrendered three runs and took the loss on Opening Day against the Red Sox. He bounced back with a save the following day. After Jackson pitched on back-to-back days, Chris Martin recorded a save before Jackson locked down two more. The 33-year-old right-hander appears to be set as the Rangers' primary closer as long as he can be effective in the role.

Tier 5: Bottom of the Barrel

Dennis Santana - Pittsburgh Pirates
Seth Halvorsen - Colorado Rockies
Beau Brieske/Tommy Kahnle/Tyler Holton - Detroit Tigers
Scott Barlow/Tony Santillan - Cincinnati Reds
Anthony Bender/Calvin Faucher - Miami Marlins
Mike Clevinger/Fraser Ellard/Jordan Leasure - Chicago White Sox

After surrendering runs in each of his three outings, David Bednar was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. There's no telling how long Bednar will remain in the minors and he can be dropped in all seasonal formats. Santana got the team's first save chance without Bednar and worked around a walk to secure the save. He's worth a pickup in all 12-team leagues and deeper where saves are needed. The 28-year-old right-hander is coming off his best season, posting a 3.89 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 69 strikeouts over 71 2/3 innings. While he doesn't have the velocity and bat-missing ability in prototypical closers, Santana did well at limiting walks and hard contact last season and is likely the reliever best suited to close on the Pirates roster.

After an impressive small sample with the Rockies last season, Halvorsen could be zeroing in on the team's closer role. The 25-year-old right-hander locked down a clean four-out save against the Rays on Saturday. Meanwhile, both Victor Vodnik and Tyler Kinley have recorded a blown save.

Brieske got the first save chance for the Tigers against the Dodgers on Friday and failed to secure the win, giving up four runs and recording one out before taking the loss. Kahnle saw the next ninth-inning save chance and tossed a scoreless frame against the Mariners on Tuesday. The team appears set to continue using a closer-by-committee approach.

The Reds' closer situation hasn't provided too much clarity. Ian Gibaut saw the first save chance on Opening Day and surrendered the lead to the Giants. Pagán recorded the team's first save on Saturday, then pitched the ninth down by one run against the Rangers on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Santillan should remain in the mix but is likely to be deployed as the team's highest-leverage reliever.

With Jesus Tinoco on the injured list, Bender has been elevated in the bullpen hierarchy. He recorded the team's first save on Tuesday against the Mets. Faucher pitched the eighth inning with a three-run lead on Wednesday and gave up a game-tying home run to Pete Alonso.

The White Sox have yet to see a save chance, but early usage suggests Clevinger is set to see save chances. However, chasing save chances on this team could be a hopeless effort.

Relievers On The Rise/Stash Candidates

Porter Hodge was expected to enter the season as the Cubs' closer after converting nine saves to end the 2024 season. Ryan Pressly has taken that role after coming over in a trade with the Astros. While Pressly has locked down the first two saves, he's just getting by with one strikeout, four walks, and three runs allowed over four innings. Meanwhile, Hodge has tossed four scoreless frames with five strikeouts. If this trend continues, Pressly won't be long for the ninth inning.

Last week, Jason Adam was mentioned in this section as a next-in-line closer stash. This time, we take a look at another dominant reliever in San Diego. Jeremiah Estrada is developing into one of baseball's best setup men with no doubt he has a future closing games. The 26-year-old right-hander has tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts while giving up one walk and one hit. He makes for an excellent pickup in leagues that count holds.

Posted on

Watch Anthony Davis hit game-winner for Mavericks on night he drops 34 and 15 on Hawks

NBA: Atlanta Hawks at Dallas Mavericks

Apr 2, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) reacts in front of Atlanta Hawks guard Terance Mann (14) during the fourth quarter at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

"We go as he goes. He's obviously our best player," Dallas' Klay Thompson said of Anthony Davis, via the AP.

Wednesday, that best player had his best game since joining the Mavericks — including hitting the game-winner against the Hawks.

"A shot that I've been shooting for a long time," Davis said of the game-winner. "It's a shot I'm very confident in."

The Mavericks are now 4-1 in the games Davis has played. Davis has started to look more comfortable in each of those games, and on Wednesday Davis dropped 34 points on Atlanta, the most Davis has scored as a Maverick.

With the win, the Mavericks move 1.5 games ahead of the slumping Kings for the No. 9 seed in the West (meaning Dallas would host the first-round play-in game). Dallas is 2.5 games up on No. 11 seed Phoenix, which is facing its own challenges with Kevin Durant out.

Posted on

Panthers center Sam Bennett reaches new career high in points

Apr 2, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett (9) skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period at Scotiabank Arena. (John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)

One of the top forwards on the Florida Panthers has hit a significant career milestone.

Center Sam Bennett has reached a new career high in points.

Bennett picked up an assist on Gus Forsling’s goal on Wednesday night in Toronto.

The point was Bennett’s 50th of the season, surpassing the mark he set during his first full season with the Panthers back in 2021-22.

It was also Bennett’s 25th assist, which also set a new career high.

Not too shabby for the 28-year-old pending unrestricted free agent.

NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) on XNHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) on XFlorida goal! Scored by Gustav Forsling with 18:57 remaining in the 2nd period. Assisted by Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett. Toronto: 0 Florida: 1 #FLAvsTOR #LeafsForever #TimeToHunt

He's also set a new career mark this season with seven power play goals. 

It’s no secret that Bennett has played the best hockey of his professional career since being acquired by Florida at the 2021 NHL Trade Deadline.

The former fourth overall pick has proven to be a crucial member of the Panthers, one that fits the style the team looks to play to a tee.

Bennett and the Panthers are having ongoing talks regarding a contract extension, so we’ll have to wait and see if the two sides can come to an agreement sometime before the offseason.

Stay tuned.

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Reeling Panthers drop third straight game, falling 3-2 in Toronto

Fresh off frustrating loss, Panthers in Toronto for big divisional showdown

Three takeaways: 'Bad break' goal ruins strong outing from Panthers in Montreal

Panthers blow another late lead, fall 3-2 in overtime to Montreal

Fireworks possible in rematch between Panthers and Canadiens that comes with major playoff implications

Posted on

Blackhawks Blow Multi-Goal Lead, Lose To Avalanche In Shootout

Image

The Chicago Blackhawks came into Wednesday's game against the Colorado Avalanche 1-9-0 in their last 10 games. Since the trade deadline, they have been much more worried about developing young players than winning hockey games. 

Most of their roster is 25 years old or younger. They have been playing an exciting brand of hockey lately that revolves around speed and skill, but it hasn't led to winning. That is expected in the early stages of these guys playing together. 

Chicago had a two-goal lead over the Avalanche thanks to goals scored by Ilya Mikheyev and Connor Murphy. The Blackhawks held that lead through the second period. At that point, they had their sights on winning the season series over this elite Avalanche team. 

Cale Makar planted the seed of doubt by scoring his 29th of the season at 9:17 of the third period. No defenseman in the NHL has scored 30 goals since Mike Green did it in 2008-09 with the Washington Capitals, so Makar is closing in on history. 

 It wasn't until 19:49 of the final frame that the Avalanche tied things up. Martin Necas deflected a shot taken by Cale Makar past Spencer Knight. Brock Nelson also tipped it along the way. There was nothing Knight could do other than watch the Avalanche celebrate with 11 seconds left in regulation. 

Despite some great chances at both ends of the ice, overtime didn't do anything for either team as a shootout was required. In the first round, neither Ryan Donato nor Brock Nelson scored. In the second round, Nathan MacKinnon scored but Connor Bedard did not. 

Both Teuvo Teravainen and Arturri Lehkonen scored in the third round, which gave the Avalanche the comeback victory over the Blackhawks. Chicago played hard, but they were unable to close it out despite being 11 seconds away from a series win. Instead, they will settle for 2-1-1 against Colorado in 2024-25.

Spencer Knight played very well for the Blackhawks as he made 29 saves on 31 shots. It took a double deflection for Colorado to get it tied late. After some up-and-down games since being acquired by Chicago, Knight was brilliant in this one. 

Mikheyev's goal was scored shorthanded for Chicago, but they went a lousy 0/3 on the power play. None of their attempts looked particularly good either. Luckily, Colorado's lethal man-advantage went 0/4, or this game could have been ugly. 

The speed at which this Blackhawks team plays keeps them in games against good teams, but it is going to take some time for the group to gel enough to win consistently at this level.  

Next up for the Hawks is a road tilt in the DC against the Washington Capitals. That game against Alexander Ovechkin's team will surely have tons of eyeballs on it as he is closing in on Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal mark.

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

Posted on

Kawhi Leonard leads Clippers to a dominant win over the Pelicans amid playoff push

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard drives past Pelicans forward Keion Brooks Jr. Wednesday at the Intuit Dome.
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard drives past Pelicans forward Keion Brooks Jr. during a win Wednesday night at the Intuit Dome. (William Liang / Associated Press)

The teams the Clippers are chasing for a top-six spot in the Western Conference standings keep winning and that means the Clippers have to continue their pursuit of wins until the final seedings are decided.

His team understands “what’s at stake” and “what’s at risk,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said, and that has kept his group on high alert as it seeks to avoid the NBA’s play-in tournament by earning a top-six seed.

As it stands, even after the Clippersdefeated the depleted New Orleans Pelicans 114-98 on Wednesday night at the Inuit Dome, the Clippers remain a play-in team.

The Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies all have identical 44-32 records, all of them a half-game behind the fifth-seeded Golden State Warriors. If the season ended today, the Timberwolves would get the No. 6 seed, the Clippers the No. 7 seed and the Grizzlies the No. 8 seed based on tiebreakers.

“Everyone is paying attention to the standings,” guard James Harden said. “But I think we control our own destiny, you know what I mean? So, we just want to be playing well, no matter who we’re playing against. Obviously, it’s going to work out how it’s going to work out. But for us it’s just playing well and controlling what we can control.”

With six regular-season games left, Lue said the Clippers want to play their best, hunt for a top-six position and stay healthy.

“Health is important,” Lue said. “But like you said, trying to get the top-six seed is very important as well, because you don’t want to go into the play-in game because in one or two games anything can happen. So that’s been our focus and our mindset and I give our guys credit. They’ve been doing a good job with that.”

The Clippers stayed in contention for a top-six seed because they had a balanced attack with six players scoring in double figures, led by strong performances from Kawhi Leonard and Harden.

Leonard was efficient, scoring 28 points, shooting 11 for 18 from the field and three for five from three-point range.

Read more:Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell lead Clippers to win over Magic

Harden had a double-double with 21 points and 10 assists. He was was seven for 14 from the field and had three blocks. After going one for five from three-point range, Harden has made 404 three-pointers as a Clipper, pushing him past Eric Gordon for sole possession of 10th place on the all-time list.

Ivica Zubac had 17 points, 10 rebounds and six assists and Bogdan Bogdanovic had 16 points off the bench.

The Clippers won for the ninth time in 10 games but it wasn’t easy at times.

New Orleans just shut down Zion Williamson (bone bruise in his back) and CJ McCollum (bone bruise in his right foot), and other players missed the game too. But the Pelicans didn’t just roll over, forcing the Clippers to stay alert.

It took a three-pointer from Bogdanovic, an offensive rebound and put-back along with two free throws from Zubac, and a three pointer from Leonard for the Clippers to open a 20-point lead late in the fourth quarter.

“I think we’re playing the right way,” said Zubac, whom the Clippers are promoting for defensive player of the year, including handing out T-shirts. “We’re building our team defensively. Just the level of how everyone is on a string, everyone is playing together, covering each other on defense. It’s been a higher level than it was earlier in the year. So, everyone has the right mindset. Everybody is focused on us getting wins.”

Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Posted on

Mets Notes: Luis Torrens makes 'unbelievable play' at plate, Hayden Senger's first start

When you watch highlights of the Mets' 6-5 win in extra innings on Wednesday, you'll likely see Pete Alonso's three-run home run to tie the game in the eighth or Huascar Brazoban's dominant outing to pick up his first career save, but one that may be overlooked came from behind the plate.

Luis Torrens has been tasked with leading the Mets' pitching staff and providing defense/offense in the absence of Francisco Alvarez and he did that and then some. And he didn't even start the game.

Coming in as a pinch-hitter for rookie Hayden Senger, Torrens' impact came from his defense in the eighth inning. After Alonso had tied the game, the Mets were in danger of falling behind again. Edwin Diaz allowed a leadoff single to Xavier Edwards who would steal second and advance to third base on a wild pitch. After a Kyle Stowers strikeout, Griffin Conine grounded to Brett Baty at second base. The young infielder, who is a third baseman by trade, was playing in and threw home but the toss was to Torrens' right side, away from home plate. It seemed like a layup for the speedy Edwards to slide in and recapture the lead for the Marlins, but the backstop caught Baty's throw and quickly swiped to his left and -- after a Mets challenge confirmed -- applied the tag in time.

Equally as impressive was two pitches later when Torrens caught Conine trying to steal second to end the frame, and set the Mets up for an eventual win.

"Unbelievable play there on a ball that he has to reach and right away has to apply the tag," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said after the game. "One of the biggest plays of the game. The caught stealing with Diaz there throwing from his knee, pretty impressive too. Credit to him and credit to the bullpen. But that play in particular, not an easy one."

Hayden Senger's first start

With Alvarez out to start the season, Senger won the backup catcher job out of spring and he got his first real opportunity on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old made the most of his first start of his career, going 1-for-2 with a double at the plate, but the team was more impressed with how he handled starter Clay Holmes and the pitching staff.

"He did a really good job," Mendoza said. "On the same page with Clay, called a really good game, his ability to slow the game down when there was traffic early in the game and getting that double out of the way. Proud of him."

"He was great. Very calm and poised guy," Holmes said of Senger. "He’s a smart guy, there’s a lot of trust. I tossed to him a few times this spring. He’s got a fantastic arm. He seemed like himself, which is a hard thing to do as a catcher in his first start… he seems very calm, very present and there’s a lot of trust with him, the way he handles himself and prepares. It’s a lot of fun throwing to him."

Alvarez is not set to return until this month, at the earliest, but until then Senger should receive more opportunities.

Clay Holmes limiting damage

Holmes' second start with the Mets went about as well as his first, but it could have -- and probably should have -- gone longer.

Although the right-hander went just 4.2 innings, it was a 29-pitch third inning that doomed any chance of him going five-plus innings. Mendoza said he went into the game wanting to be "aggressive" with how long Holmes would go but a couple of defensive mishaps extended the inning. The first was a sacrifice fly to Juan Soto who dropped the ball on the transfer, eliminating any chance at a play at the plate. And then a chopper to Mark Vientos at third base who threw home and airmailed the ball, allowing the second run to score.

Mendoza thought Holmes was good, despite that inning, especially in limiting the damage. The former Yankees closer answered that error from Vientos by striking out the next two batters to end the inning.

"Thought it was another good step for sure," Holmes said of his performance. "The sinker felt better than last time, the command of it was pretty good. Never got the changeup going. Felt it got better as the game went on…Had some things that fell [in the third inning] but was proud of just keeping them there with just two runs giving the team a chance there.

"Never want to give up runs but sometimes you have to limit damage." 

Holmes finished allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out six across 4.2 innings. In his first start, he allowed two earned runs in 4.2 innings on five hits and four walks while striking out four.

Improvement from Holmes whose next scheduled start will likely come early next week.