Sports
Thumbs up: Max Scherzer set to make Jays debut vs. Orioles
Mar 2, 2025; Dunedin, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies in the second inning during spring training at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Toronto’s Max Scherzer was given the thumbs up to start Saturday afternoon against the visiting Baltimore Orioles. Now the Blue Jays hope his thumb holds up.
Scherzer’s thumb was an issue during spring training, but it passed the test against the Minnesota Twins last Saturday at Fort Myers, Fla.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner was deemed fit enough to start Saturday in the third contest of a four-game set against the American League East-rival Orioles.
The teams have split the first two games, with Baltimore winning 12-2 on Thursday and Toronto recording an 8-2 decision on Friday.
Signed to a one-year, $15.5 million contract in February, Scherzer, a right-hander, was limited to nine starts with the Texas Rangers in 2024 because of various ailments. He was 2-4 with a 3.95 ERA.
But he was sharp in Toronto’s 2-1 spring training win over Minnesota. He struck out four in four scoreless innings.
The thumb remains a concern, however.
“It’s a little thing that’s a big thing,” said Scherzer, 40. “I’m not going to lie, it’s frustrating. Because I know I can pitch at this level. I know I can still pitch at a very high level as well. I know I have the pitches that I can execute and I can locate. But right now, it’s a thumb issue, and I’m going to be battling it until I’m fully built up.”
Scherzer made 62 pitches against Minnesota and is expected to be ready to reach 75-80 on Saturday. And then he will wait until Sunday to see the effect on his thumb.
“When I’m out there, it heats up and it goes away and I’m fine,” Scherzer said. “It’s kind of like tendinitis in a way. Once it gets hot. … then I don’t feel it and I can pitch the way I’ve always pitched. I’m not worried about my stuff; I’m worried about how I recover — because this can blow up fast and lead to a lot of other things.”
Scherzer had problems with the Orioles last season, going 0-2 with a 7.36 ERA against them in two starts. He is 7-4 with a 3.46 ERA in 16 career starts against Baltimore.
Dean Kremer, who went 8-10 with a 4.10 ERA last season, will start for Baltimore on Saturday. The right-hander was 0-1 with a 10.38 ERA in one start vs. the Blue Jays in 2024 and is 3-4 with a 4.82 ERA in 11 career outings (10 starts) against them.
Neither team has used its closer because the first two games were blowouts.
Toronto’s Jeff Hoffman, signed as a free agent in the offseason, warmed up Friday but was not needed.
The return of Baltimore closer Felix Bautista from elbow surgery means manager Brandon Hyde will use him carefully, particularly in the first half of the season.
The manager said Bautista will be restricted to one inning and will not be used on back-to-back days. And if he warms up, Hyde would like to use him and not sit him if the game situation changes.
“When I get him up, I’d love to be able to get him in the game,” Hyde said. “A lot of times, closers or high-leverage guys, that’s not the case. … I’m just trying to handle Felix as well as I possibly can.”
“That’s the plan we discussed, to find a way to have me stay ready and stay healthy throughout the entire season,” Bautista said. “Have that continue going through the playoffs, hopefully.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Ty France hits 2 homers as Padres rally past D-backs in Mexico City
Apr 12, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Ty France (25) hits a solo home run during the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images Ty France hit two bases-empty homers, Mason Miller recorded his major league-leading 10th save, and the San Diego Padres beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-4 in the Mexico City Series at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu in Mexico City on Saturday.
Miller has not allowed a run in 14 1/3 innings this season, and he extended his scoreless streak to a franchise-record 34 2/3 innings.
France hit his second and third homers of the season and Gavin Sheets had a two-run single in a four-run seventh for the Padres, who overcame an early 4-0 deficit. They have won 13 of 15.
Alec Thomas homered in a four-run second, his second homer in three games, and Nolan Arenado and Jose Fernandez had two hits for the D-Backs, who are the designated home team in the two-game series. They have lost three of four.
Arizona infielder Ildemaro Vargas extended his season-opening hitting streak to 19 games, the longest active streak in the majors and the second-longest since Pablo Sandoval’s 20-gamer in 2012. Vargas has a 22-game hitting streak dating to 2025.
Padres right-hander German Marquez (3-1) gave up four runs on six hits in six innings, with two strikeouts and one walk.
Jackson Merrill and Xander Bogaerts walked around a single by Manny Machado to open the Padres’ seventh before Taylor Clarke entered to replace Brandon Pfaadt.
Sheets hit a two-run single and shortstop Gerardo Perdomo’s fielding error re-loaded the bases. Freddy Fermin and Ramon Laureano followed with sacrifice flies for a 5-4 lead. Perdomo suffered a left ankle sprain on his error and left the game.
Pfaadt replaced Arizona starter Zac Gallen in the fourth inning. Gallen suffered a right shoulder contusion when was struck by a Fermin’s 92 mph line drive with one out in the third inning. Fermin reached on a single and Gallen got the final two outs of the inning before leaving.
Clarke (1-1) allowed all three inherited runners to score and they were charged to Pfaadt, who allowed four runs on two hits and three walks, while fanning five in three innings. The run charged to Clarke was unearned.
Vargas and Arenado singled with two outs in the second inning before Fernandez lined a double to left-center to drive in two. Thomas followed with his 400-foot homer to right, extending his hitting streak to six games.
France hit his first homer of the game in the fifth to put Arizona on the board.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jayson Tatum's improvement bodes well for Celtics in Game 4 vs. 76ers
Apr 24, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) celebrates his three point basket against the Philadelphia 76ers late in the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Jayson Tatum has only been back on the court for seven-plus weeks but the Boston Celtics star is making a stellar impact.
While putting last May’s devastating ruptured right Achilles tendon further in the rearview mirror, Tatum’s comeback story is reading superbly. He will look to help Boston take a 3-1 series lead when it visits the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night in Eastern Conference first-round play.
Tatum drained five 3-pointers and recorded 25 points, seven assists and five rebounds as the Celtics notched a 108-100 road win on Friday. It was his second 25-point outing of the series.
Tatum didn’t make his season debut until March 6 but quickly displayed he would be an asset in the playoffs.
He finished the regular season with seven straight appearances of 23 or more points. He delivered one triple-double and four other double-doubles during the stretch to establish he would be a difference-maker in the postseason.
Also Friday, Tatum became the fourth player in Celtics history to top 3,000 career postseason points. Tatum (3,005) trails three legends — Kevin McHale (3,182), John Havlicek (3,776) and leader Larry Bird (3,897).
“I can’t stress it enough that the fact that I get to put my uniform on and run out with the team, it’s a win for me,” Tatum said. “Obviously, I’m not 100% yet and will not be, but expectations of what people want me to do is the last thing that has crossed my mind.
“The amount of joy I have been able to find just being back out there and being out there with my teammates is all I could think about.”
Co-star Jaylen Brown, who carried the team while Tatum was sidelined, is impressed with Tatum’s progress.
“He’s been incrementally getting better and stronger and getting more physical,” said Brown, who also scored 25 points in Game 3. “You can see he’s getting downhill at a higher level than he did when he started. But we do it as a team. We win as a team and lose as a team. So in those moments, I got nothing but trust for Jayson Tatum.”
Sunday’s contest is a big one for the 76ers as a split through four games would be significantly better than facing a possible Game 5 elimination game in Boston.
What would really help is if star center Joel Embiid is available, but the team listed the former MVP as doubtful on their Saturday injury report.
Embiid underwent an appendectomy on April 9. He was also listed as doubtful for Friday’s game before being ruled out.
Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse said that Embiid did on-court work Saturday and will be evaluated after Sunday’s shootaround.
Forward Kelly Oubre Jr. (right adductor) is questionable.
Philadelphia star guard Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points in the Game 3 setback and made five 3-pointers for the second straight game. He felt the game got away from his squad.
“We always focus on what you could do better,” Maxey said. “… Got to get one (Sunday), got to protect home court and even the series.”
Maxey is averaging 27.0 points and 7.7 assists in the series.
The 76ers allowed more 3-pointers (20) than 2-point baskets (16) in Game 3, and Nurse said his team needs to make things tougher for Boston from outside the arc.
“They had five made off offensive rebounds and that’s not good, right?” Nurse said. “They made a lot of tough ones. … We’re going to have to be a lot better. It has to start with pressure.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Donte DiVincenzo (leg) ruled out for T-Wolves after non-contact injury
Apr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) celebrates after a three-pointer during the second half against the Denver Nuggets in game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo was ruled out after injuring his lower right leg in the first quarter of Saturday’s game against the Denver Nuggets.
DiVincenzo sustained the injury on a non-contact play. He planted his foot to go toward a loose ball, and he quickly went down as he grabbed toward the back of his right leg.
The team ruled out DiVincenzo before the end of the first quarter.
DiVincenzo averaged 12.2 points per game and shot 37.9% from 3-point range during the regular season. He averaged 14.3 points in the first three games of the playoff series against the Nuggets.
-Field Level Media
Ty France hits 2 homers as Padres rally past D-backs in Mexico City
Jayson Tatum's improvement bodes well for Celtics in Game 4 vs. 76ers
