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With his future secure, Diamondbacks' Brandon Pfaadt takes on Cubs

Syndication: Arizona RepublicArizona Diamondbacks right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (32) pitches against the San Diego Padres at Chase Field in Phoenix on Sept. 29, 2024.

Arizona right-hander Brandon Pfaadt will make his first start of the 2025 season with the security of a new multi-year contract when the Diamondbacks host the Chicago Cubs on Saturday in Phoenix.

Pfaadt signed a five-year, $45 million contract Friday, again signaling the Diamondbacks’ commitment to their young core.

“Brandon falls very much in the group of players that we feel like getting some certainty around,” Arizona general manager Mike Hazen said. “What the future is going to look like is very important in terms of building a roster and keeping this team together for as long as we can. We feel like these things are important for us.”

Pfaadt is scheduled to oppose Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga in the third game of the four-game set. The teams have split the first two.

Arizona third baseman Eugenio Suarez is off to a hot start, similar to the way he finished the 2024 season, when he had 24 of his 30 homers after July 1. In the first two games, he has three home runs and five RBIs.

Suarez hit a pair of two-run homers in the D-Backs’ 8-1 victory Friday, and with his solo homer Thursday tied Luis Gonzalez’s franchise record for homers in the first two games of a season.

“Geno was clearly the highlight,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “Just a special day. Those are the ones you dream about from a player’s standpoint, where you go out there and clip a couple of baseballs and do your job and help your team with a baseball game.”

Pfaadt was 11-10 with a 4.71 ERA in his first full season in the majors in 2024 after thriving in the Diamondbacks’ run to the 2023 World Series. He made 32 starts and threw 181 2/3 innings last season, both team highs.

“He’s done a great job over the last couple of years,” Hazen said. “There have been some really big highlights for sure. The consistency that he brings to the table, from the worth ethic and the makeup and innings eating even at a young age, is something that we value tremendously.”

Pfaadt appears to have a favorable matchup Saturday. He is 1-1 with a 2.13 ERA in four previous appearances, three starts, against the Cubs.

Imanaga (0-0, 0.00 ERA) enters after a strong performance in his season opener, a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Tokyo on March 18 in which he did not factor in the decision.

Imanaga, the subject of much attention in a return to this home country, did not give up a hit in four innings against the Dodgers, walking four and striking out two.

“As much as anything, we were impressed in how he handled just a challenging week in what was asked of him,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “He continues to perform and entertain. He does all of it. It is fun to watch.”

Imanaga pitches primarily off a 92 mph four-seam fastball and an 82 mph splitter, and he increased his slider usage against the Dodgers in his first outing. He struck out 10 in seven innings in his one start against Arizona last season, taking a no-decision in a 2-1 extra-inning victory.

Imanaga debuted in the majors last season after eight seasons in Japan. He was 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 29 starts and made the National League All-Star team.

–Field Level Media

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Lionel Messi's brace helps Inter Miami slay Rapids in front of huge crowd

MLS: Inter Miami CF at Colorado RapidsApr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) kicks and scores a penalty kick in the first half against the Colorado Rapids at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Lionel Messi recorded a brace and German Berterame added a tally on a header as Inter Miami earned a 3-2 win over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday in Denver.

Messi scored the go ahead goal in the 79th minute. He started a run just inside midfield and went unchallenged until the box where he blasted a shot into the upper part of the left corner for a 3-2 lead.

Rafael Navarro and Darren Yapi each scored a goal for Colorado (4-4-0, 12 points) in a contest played in front of 75,824, the second-largest crowd in MLS history.

Miami (4-1-3, 15 points) took a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute after Colorado goalkeeper Zack Steffen’s pass was intercepted by Yannick Bright. Josh Atencio offered a hard challenge and drew a yellow card after video review.

Messi took the resulting penalty kick and rolled a shot straight down the middle as Miami took a 1-0 lead.

Colorado had a solid look at the goal when midfielder Wayne Frederick attempted a one-touch lob shot. Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair sprinted well beyond the penalty arc to head away a loose ball, but Frederick’s attempt sailed over the open net.

In the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, Miami extended its lead to 2-0 as it connected on a series of passes deep in their attacking third. Messi got the run of play started with a tight touch pass to Rodrigo De Paul.

De Paul sent Mateo Silvetti on a run to the boundary line. His inward-spinning cross floated to the front of the goal where Berterame rose above the Colorado defense and tucked a header under the cross bar.

Navarro’s goal cut the Miami lead to 2-1. He started a run at midfield and used a step-over move to get an open shot a few steps into the box that tucked inside the left post past a diving St. Clair in the 58th minute.

In the 62nd minute, second-half substitute Yapi settled on a direct pass from Lucas Herrington and sizzled a shot past St. Clair for the equalizer.

Miami closed the win playing a man down as Bright was sent off with a red card in the 87th minute.

–Field Level Media

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Brice Turang and Brandon Woodruff lead Brewers past Marlins

MLB: Milwaukee Brewers at Miami MarlinsApr 18, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang (2) celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home against the Miami Marlins during the fifth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Brice Turang slugged a go-ahead, two-run homer, and Brandon Woodruff pitched seven brilliant innings as the Brewers beat the host Miami Marlins 5-2 on Saturday afternoon.

Abner Uribe inherited a bases-loaded, one-out mess in the ninth. However, he got both batters he faced on only four pitches to record his second save.

Turang went 2-for-3 with three RBIs for Milwaukee, which won its season-high fourth consecutive game.

Woodruff (2-0) allowed just three hits — all singles — one walk and one run, lowering his ERA to 3.42. He fanned four Marlins.

Miami has lost four straight and seven of their past eight games.

Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara (2-2) took the loss, allowing five hits and three runs in five innings. He walked a career-high six batters and struck out just one, a career low in a start of at least five innings for the nine-year veteran.

Miami opened the scoring in the second inning as Liam Hicks singled, advanced on a groundout and scored on Connor Norby’s base knock to center.

Milwaukee loaded the bases with one out in the third on three walks, but Alcantara got the slow-footed Gary Sanchez to bounce into a double play.

The Brewers tied the score in the fourth as Luis Rengifo walked and scored on Brandon Lockridge’s two-out single.

Milwaukee grabbed a 3-1 lead in the fifth as William Contreras grounded a hustle double past two middle infielders and scored on Turang’s 402-foot homer to center. He hit a first-pitch slider for his fourth long ball of the year.

The Brewers extended their lead to 5-1 in the sixth. Garrett Mitchell started the rally with a walk. He stole second, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI groundout by Sal Frelick. Mitchell was initially called out, but the Brewers won a challenge.

Turang then hit an RBI single to score Joey Ortiz, who had also walked.

Miami threatened in the eighth on a pair of two-out singles by Jakob Marsee and Xavier Edwards. But reliever Jake Woodford got Agustin Ramirez on a groundout, ending the inning.

In the ninth, the Marlins loaded the bases with one out, banging three singles against Woodford. Uribe got Heiberto Hernandez to ground to third base, plating Otto Lopez, then retired Javier Sanoja on a grounder to second.

Hicks and Norby had two hits apiece for Miami.

–Field Level Media

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Matt Fitzpatrick builds 3-shot lead at RBC Heritage, but Scottie Scheffler lurks

PGA: RBC Heritage - Third RoundApr 18, 2026; Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA; Matt Fitzpatrick and Viktor Hovland at the end of their round during the third round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Another strong finish from England’s Matt Fitzpatrick would put him where he wants to be in the RBC Heritage.

Fitzpatrick turned in a strong stretch on the back nine Saturday to shoot a 3-under-par 68 and keep the lead through three rounds at Hilton Head Island, S.C.

“I felt like I was making good enough swings to make a turnaround on the back nine,” Fitzpatrick said. “Obviously, some nice momentum with the hole-outs on 14 and 15.”

Fitzpatrick moved to 17-under 196 and increased his lead to three shots, but world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler stands as his closest pursuer going into Sunday’s final round.

Fitzpatrick’s eagle 3 on the 15th at Harbour Town Golf Links capped a four-hole stretch that he played at 4 under. He settled down after three bogeys on the front side.

“It’s always satisfying when you can turn it around, particularly if you have not played that well and you are struggling a little bit and not scoring as well as you want,” Fitzpatrick said.

Scheffler shot 64 to climb into second. Brian Harman (63) joined Austria’s Sepp Straka (67) and South Korea’s Si Woo Kim (66) at 13 under.

Fitzpatrick will be aiming for his second victory of the year. He won a month ago at the Valspar Championship, just one week after a runner-up finish at The Players Championship.

Saturday’s turnaround was rewarding.

“I was pleased the way I hit the ball off the tee coming in,” Fitzpatrick said. “Obviously, then just some good putting on that back nine to take advantage of it.”

He rolled in a putt from off the green — 26 feet away — the par-3 14th. On the next hole, he chipped from off the green for the eagle on a shot from just inside 30 feet.

Scheffler sizzled at the start Saturday with birdies on five of the first six holes.

“I was a little bit behind the 8-ball going into today but had a nice round to put myself back in position,” Scheffler said. “… As you start kind of getting back into contention, I think that’s always fun.”

Fitzpatrick said he understands there will be a pro-Scheffler tone in Sunday’s galleries.

“We’re in America, so I wouldn’t expect any different,” Fitzpatrick said. “Yeah, they’ve got to support their guy, and that’s totally fine.”

Harman became the clubhouse leader before the final groups reached the round’s midway mark. Harman began the day in 27th place, but he posted birdies on the final three holes to be the first to finish at 13 under.

“Just tried to keep the pedal down,” Harman said. “It’s going to take a low number to win. The weather is going to turn a little bit (Sunday), so it was nice to get out there with some good conditions.”

Still, Harman said the setup could work to his advantage.

“You really have to think your way around this place,” he said. “It’s not just a bomb-and-gouge. I’m not a bomber.”

The golfers at 12 under are Andrew Novak (65), Gary Woodland (66), Patrick Cantlay (68), Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg (68) and South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter (67).

“I think I kind of got to go in with the same kind of attack mentality as today and get it going, go post a number, and see how guys handle the wind late,” Novak said.

–Field Level Media

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