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Pirates square off against the Dodgers with series tied 1-1

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:02:00 GMT

Los Angeles Dodgers (13-12, second in the NL West) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (17-8, first in the NL Central)Pittsburgh; Thursday, 12:35 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Dodgers: Julio Urias (3-2, 3.33 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 30 strikeouts); Pirates: Mitch Keller (2-0, 3.64 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 30 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Dodgers -168, Pirates +143; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: Both the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Los Angeles Dodgers are looking for a series win with a victory on Thursday.Pittsburgh has a 17-8 record overall and an 8-4 record at home. The Pirates have gone 11-4 in games when they record eight or more hits.Los Angeles is 13-12 overall and 7-6 on the road. The Dodgers have the second-ranked team slugging percentage in the NL at .451.The matchup Thursday is the third time these teams meet this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Bryan Reynolds has five doubles, a triple and five home runs for the Pirates. Jack Suwinski is 11-for-27 with four doubles, four home runs and eight RBI over t...

Braves host the Marlins on 3-game home win streak

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:02:00 GMT

Miami Marlins (12-13, third in the NL East) vs. Atlanta Braves (17-8, first in the NL East)Atlanta; Thursday, 12:20 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Marlins: Braxton Garrett (1-0, 2.84 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 16 strikeouts); Braves: Kyle Wright (0-1, 5.93 ERA, 1.68 WHIP, 11 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -192, Marlins +162; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Braves host the Miami Marlins looking to continue a three-game home winning streak.Atlanta has a 7-6 record at home and a 17-8 record overall. The Braves have a 15-2 record in games when they record eight or more hits.Miami has a 5-7 record in road games and a 12-13 record overall. The Marlins have a 3-12 record in games when they have given up at least one home run.The matchup Thursday is the fourth time these teams meet this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Ronald Acuna Jr. has nine doubles and four home runs while hitting .363 for the Braves. Ozzie Albies is 11-for-36 with two doubles, a triple and five home runs over ...

Mets take 4-game losing streak into matchup with the Nationals

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:02:00 GMT

Washington Nationals (9-14, fifth in the NL East) vs. New York Mets (14-11, second in the NL East)New York; Thursday, 7:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Nationals: Trevor Williams (1-1, 3.38 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 13 strikeouts); Mets: Joey Lucchesi (1-0, .00 ERA, .86 WHIP, nine strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Mets -235, Nationals +194; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The New York Mets look to end a four-game slide when they take on the Washington Nationals.New York has gone 4-4 at home and 14-11 overall. The Mets have hit 26 total home runs to rank 10th in the NL.Washington is 9-14 overall and 7-5 in road games. The Nationals have a 3-5 record in games decided by one run.The teams meet Thursday for the third time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Brandon Nimmo leads the Mets with a .337 batting average, and has six doubles, two home runs, 17 walks and 13 RBI. Jeff McNeil is 15-for-36 with a home run and three RBI over the past 10 games.Jeimer Candelario has four home runs, five walks and...

Cubs and Padres play with series tied 1-1

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:02:00 GMT

San Diego Padres (13-13, third in the NL West) vs. Chicago Cubs (13-10, third in the NL Central)Chicago; Thursday, 2:20 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Padres: Seth Lugo (2-1, 2.78 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 23 strikeouts); Cubs: Hayden Wesneski (1-1, 4.67 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 12 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Padres -142, Cubs +120BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres play on Thursday with the three-game series tied 1-1.Chicago has gone 7-8 in home games and 13-10 overall. The Cubs have the fourth-ranked team slugging percentage in the NL at .443.San Diego has an 8-5 record on the road and a 13-13 record overall. The Padres have an 8-2 record in games when they out-hit their opponents.The matchup Thursday is the third meeting between these teams this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Patrick Wisdom leads the Cubs with nine home runs while slugging .639. Nico Hoerner is 17-for-47 with two doubles, a triple, two home runs and 12 RBI over the past 10 games.Xander Bogaerts is third on the Padre...

Brian Walshe due back in court, accused of murdering his wife Ana Walshe. But the whereabouts of her body remain a mystery

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:02:00 GMT

(CNN) — A Massachusetts father accused of killing and dismembering his wife is expected to appear in court Thursday, almost five months after the disappearance of Ana Walshe.Brian Walshe, 48, of Cohasset was indicted by a grand jury last month on charges of murder, misleading a police investigation/obstruction of justice, and improper conveyance of a human body, Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey said.“Brian Walshe entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of murder at his Quincy District Court arraignment in January,” Morrissey said in March. “This indictment moves the case to the Norfolk Superior Court, where it will be arraigned.”Prosecutors have not said whether Ana Walshe’s body or remains have been found.The suspect’s defense attorney, Tracy Miner, has suggested the prosecutors’ case was not strong and accused them of leaking evidence to the media before making it available to her.“In my exp...

Cole Anthony thrived in new role for Magic ahead of important summer

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:02:00 GMT

Cole Anthony knew changes were needed going into his third season with the Orlando Magic.He knew he’d have to become stronger and more efficient as a scorer and shooter offensively — which he kept in mind for his offseason work leading into 2022-23.Anthony knew his role with the team would be different compared to 2021-22, when he led Orlando in scoring, assists and usage rate.The Magic’s personnel changed with Markelle Fultz retaking a starting spot in the backcourt after two injury-impacted seasons, Orlando drafting the eventual Rookie of the Year in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner being expected to carry a more significant offensive load as a second-year player.Anthony embraced and adapted to the changes, including playing as a reserve after starting in 99 of 112 games in his first two seasons.He thrived coming off the bench, putting together his most efficient season.“I work my tail off every day. I try to do what I can for this team,” Anthony said....

NFL Draft prospects for Gators, Knights, Seminoles

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:02:00 GMT

FloridaQB Anthony Richardson, 6-4, 244Prediction: Round 1Buzz: Blessed with singular physical tools but saddled with an inconsistent track ultimate, Richardson is the draft’s ultimate risk-reward pick at the toughest position in sports. A team is sure to take chance, perhaps even with the No. 1 pick, to find out how good the 20-year-old can become.G O’Cyrus Torrence 6-5, 330Prediction: Rounds 1-2Buzz: A textbook road grader in the run game who also did not yield a sack during 3,048 snaps in 48 games, 47 of them starts. Experienced, agile and tenacious, Torrence could be the first guard selected.DL Gervon Dexter 6-6, 318Prediction: Rounds 2-3Buzz: Given his size, speed (4.88 in 40) and versatility, teams will choose potential over production (10.5 tackles for loss in three seasons). UF’s lack of interior depth forced Dexter to average more than 60 snaps in 2022, but a sluggish first step and tendency to play high are areas to improve.WR Justin Shorter, 6-4, 229Predi...

Guregian: Pitching a first-round draft plan for the Patriots

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:02:00 GMT

Aaron Rodgers is officially a member of the Jets. The Bills are still the Bills. And the Dolphins have the Patriots number.Needless to say, the Patriots, now considered the cellar-dwellers in the AFC East, need help.The NFL draft is one place to find it.How chief decision-maker Bill Belichick and personnel head Matt Groh ultimately handle the first round and beyond will go a long way toward rising up from the basement.Focusing on the first round, the Patriots have choices to make, sitting just outside the top 10.Basically, there’s three scenarios that could play out Thursday night.Stand pat at No. 14 with the hope a stud will still be there when they’re on the clock. Move up to assure getting the sure-fire blue chip prospect they most desire. Or move down the board, trading with another team to collect an additional pick closer to the sweet spot in the draft.The most likely scenario for the Patriots?That’s easy. Trade down. When it comes to the first round, Belichick has rarely met ...

How a ‘unique’ toe tap unlocked Jorge Mateo’s swing and turned the Orioles’ speedster into a valuable slugger

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:02:00 GMT

One of the best games of Jorge Mateo’s career is what, ironically, led him to change his swing.In August, Mateo recorded the first five-hit game of his career, but it was his final at-bat against the Tampa Bay Rays that later piqued the interest of Baltimore’s hitting coaches.Facing a position player who was pitching in a blowout, Mateo instinctively incorporated a toe tap into his swing as infielder Yu Chang lobbed a 40.4 mph pitch into the zone. Almost like a slow-pitch softball hitter, Mateo waited as the pitch floated in the air, tapped his toe as he loaded and lined a single into left-center field.No one knew it at the time, but that single — and the toe tap that preceded it — was the origin for a swing that has, so far this season, transformed Mateo into an impact bat in the Orioles’ lineup.“He’s always believed that he has the skills and has the tools, and I think we all have as well,” Orioles co-hitting coach Matt Borgschulte s...

2023 NFL mock draft (Version 3.0): 4 trades, 5 QBs and one last projection for first round

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:02:00 GMT

It’s finally draft day.After months of scouting and speculation, the first round will begin Thursday night in Kansas City when the Carolina Panthers make the first overall selection. While a clear betting favorite has emerged to go No. 1, there’s no consensus on the 30 picks that will follow before the night is over. That makes for an interesting draft.Here are The Baltimore Sun’s projections for the first round, including three mock trades (Note: The Miami Dolphins were stripped of their first-round pick after a league investigation for tampering):1. Carolina Panthers (via Chicago): Bryce Young, QB, AlabamaAll signs point to Young being the pick for Carolina, which is betting he can overcome his 5-foot-10, 204-pound frame and become a franchise cornerstone. Young’s size is an outlier among first-round quarterbacks, but he showed an incredible feel for eluding pressure and hitting open targets that’s drawn comparisons to Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burr...