Sports
Padres go for sweep against struggling Pirates
May 3, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) celebrates after hitting a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter (6) during the seventh inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images The San Diego Padres have adjusted their rotation and tabbed right-hander Stephen Kolek to make his first major league start Sunday when they attempt to sweep a three-game series against the host Pittsburgh Pirates.
Kolek, who will make his 2025 season debut, will oppose Pirates lefty Andrew Heaney (2-2, 2.50 ERA) as San Diego aims to win its fifth consecutive game and beat Pittsburgh for the ninth consecutive time dating back to last season. The Pirates have lost three in a row and six of their past seven games.
Kolek’s turn allows the Padres, who shifted to a four-man rotation a week ago thanks to a pair of off days this past week, to shift back to five starters and save their top arms for an upcoming series next week against the New York Yankees.
Kolek will pitch in Nick Pivetta’s turn as the latter will open a series against the Yankees in New York on Monday. Every Padres starter has been able to pitch on four days of rest just once thanks to San Diego’s early-season schedule, which included six consecutive Thursdays off.
“We have been really intentional about the days off,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said Saturday. “It’s that balancing act of making sure we’re competing, which we clearly are, and making sure we recognize it’s a long year for all the guys.”
Kolek appeared in 42 games as a reliever during his rookie season for the Padres and compiled a 3-0 record with a 5.21 ERA in 46 2/3 innings. He struck out 39 and walked 12 during that span. But Kolek, an 11th-round pick of the L.A. Dodgers in 2018, was a starter in the minors until the 2022 season and has made five starts at Triple-A El Paso this year.
Kolek will be backed by a Padres lineup that is starting to regain its form in recent games, although it was held to two runs and three hits Saturday. On the positive side, Fernando Tatis Jr. did not miss any games after being hit by a pitch on his left forearm Friday, causing a contusion. Tatis Jr. scored the eventual winning run in the ninth inning Saturday when he raced home on a wild pitch shortly after hitting a double and stealing third to set up the play.
Until his most recent outing, Heaney had put together one of the best starts to this season by a left-handed starter.
Heaney had compiled a 1.72 ERA over his first five starts, which ranked second among all lefty qualifying pitchers and had a 20 1/3-scoreless-inning streak snapped in his most recent outing Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs.
After retiring the first 11 batters he faced, Heaney lasted just 4 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on five hits and three walks and leaving the start without recording a strikeout in a 9-0 Pirates loss.
Heaney’s overall strong start coupled with the Pirates’ poor start to the season has already made the 34-year-old a subject of trade rumors despite it still being early May.
“We had some good defense the first three innings, but you can’t defend homers or walks, so I have to do a better job of keeping the ball in play and letting the guys make plays for me,” Heaney said after his last start. “I’m not happy about it, but it’s part of the game. You win some, lose some and it’s not going to change what I do.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Nationals place LHP PJ Poulin (flexor) on 15-day injured list
Jul 10, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher PJ Poulin (50) throws to the New York Yankees during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images The Washington Nationals placed left-hander PJ Poulin on the 15-day injured list on Sunday because of a left flexor strain.
The move was retroactive to Thursday. In a corresponding move, the Nationals signed free agent lefty Matt Krook. Washington transferred lefty Richard Lovelady (left triceps strain) from the 15- to 60-day IL to make room for Krook on the 40-man roster.
Poulin, who turns 30 on July 25, last pitched on July 11, allowing one hit and one walk with three strikeouts in 1 2/3 scoreless innings as the opener in a 4-2 home loss to the New York Yankees.
Poulin is 3-0 with three saves, a 2.70 ERA, 21 walks and 25 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings over 35 games (11 starts) this season. Since making his major league debut last season, Poulin is 5-1 with four saves, a 3.08 ERA, 34 walks and 52 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings over 63 games (11 starts).
The Nationals selected Krook, 31, off waivers from the Athletics on July 4 and designated him for assignment on July 12. He was granted free agency last Tuesday.
Krook was 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA, two walks and two strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings across three relief appearances for the Nationals. He was 0-0 with a 14.73 ERA in 3 2/3 innings for the Athletics earlier this season.
For his career, Krook is 0-1 with a 14.11 ERA, 14 walks and 15 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings over 16 games with four teams since 2023.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cardinals scouting director to appeal NFL's gambling suspension
Arizona Cardinals logo at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 6, 2016. Two days after Arizona Cardinals director of college scouting Ryan Gold was suspended indefinitely by the NFL, his attorney responded, calling the allegations “blatantly false” and stating that they would be appealing the ruling.
On Friday, the league took the action after determining that Gold had disclosed confidential draft details and placed wagers involving football games. The NFL did not state to which parties that Gold had provided the information.
The league revealed that Gold disclosed inside information regarding Arizona’s 2026 draft picks prior to their announcement. Additionally, investigators discovered he took part in parlays involving NFL and college football games.
The suspension took effect immediately, but an appeal is permitted.
“Ryan Gold has been an outstanding NFL executive for over a decade,” attorney Mike Caspino said in a statement on Sunday. “The accusations made by the league regarding his participation in prohibited gambling activities are blatantly false. We have demanded an appeal and we look forward to clearing his good name.”
Caspino claimed that Gold’s wife, Jennifer, was making $10 weekly bets with a group of high school friends on parlays and that Gold played no role in that activity.
He added that Gold did not know whom the Cardinals were selecting because only team owner Michael Bidwill and general manager Monti Ossenfort knew and did not share that information.
NFL rules prohibit league and club employees from betting on sports, assisting others with wagers or providing information that is not available to the public.
“Although there is no reason to believe the integrity of any NFL game was affected,” the NFL said in Friday’s statement, “the league takes any violation of the gambling policy with the utmost seriousness.”
The league said its investigation included interviews and a review of electronic records. It found no evidence that any Cardinals player, coach or other employee knew about or participated in Gold’s actions. There was also no indication that a play or game had been compromised.
The Cardinals on Friday issued a statement saying they “fully support the league’s decision in this matter.” They removed Gold’s bio from the team’s official website.
Gold was entering his 13th year with the organization and his second as director of college scouting. He was promoted to the position in June 2025 after three seasons as Arizona’s assistant director of college scouting. He previously spent four years with the organization as a college scouting coordinator.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Thunder deal Luguentz Dort to Hawks in 3-team trade
May 26, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) shoots during the third quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in game five of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images The Atlanta Hawks acquired 2025 All-Defensive wing Luguentz Dort from the Oklahoma City Thunder and Ryan Nembhard from the Dallas Mavericks in a three-team deal on Sunday.
The Hawks sent former No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher and a protected future second-round draft pick to the Mavericks, with two more future second-rounders going to the Thunder. Dallas is shipping one second-rounder to Oklahoma City.
While Dort has been a mainstay in Oklahoma City’s starting lineup for years, the move completed a necessary stretch of offseason deals for the Thunder. They acquired seven second-round picks while going under the second apron with their trades of Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins.
Oklahoma City picked up Dort’s $17.7 million team option, acquired three future assets and created a $17 million trade exception. Dort is now in position to sign a long-term contract in Atlanta that was infeasible with the Thunder.
Dort, 27, joins a young Hawks team led by Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker that won more playoff games against the NBA champion New York Knicks than any other opponent. Atlanta also freed up $40-plus million in cap space next summer.
Dort, who finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2024-25, averaged 8.3 points and 3.6 rebounds in 69 games last season. He averaged 11.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in seven seasons with the Thunder.
In his second NBA season, the 21-year-old Risacher averaged 9.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 67 games. However, he received just 23 minutes during the playoffs. The forward finished second to the Spurs’ Stephon Castle in the NBA’s 2025 Rookie of the Year voting.
Nembhard, 23, played in 60 games for the Mavericks as a rookie guard last season. The undrafted free agent made 27 starts and averaged 6.6 points, 5.3 assists and 2.2 rebounds.
–Field Level Media
Nationals place LHP PJ Poulin (flexor) on 15-day injured list
Cardinals scouting director to appeal NFL's gambling suspension
