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Mets could be without Juan Soto as series continues with Giants

MLB: New York Mets at San Francisco GiantsApr 3, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) reacts on a call strike against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images

The New York Mets once again will attempt to show off the depth of their new-look lineup when they take the field against the host San Francisco Giants on Saturday night.

The Mets lost the opener of the four-game series on Thursday but won 10-3 on Friday night, largely without the services of star outfielder Juan Soto. He contributed a single during a two-run first inning before calling it a night due to tightness in his right calf after being forced out at home.

The nine-year veteran has been an ironman in his career, never playing in fewer than 150 games — except for his rookie season and the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. He appeared in all but two games last season and is listed as day-to-day.

The Mets inserted Tyrone Taylor into Soto’s spot in left field on Friday. He went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.

Having imported Luis Robert Jr. to play center field and promoted Carson Benge to man right this season, the Mets have another outfield option in Brett Baty, who started the Friday game at first base.

For one night, the Mets didn’t miss Soto’s power, with Francisco Alvarez launching two home runs and Marcus Semien one in a 15-hit attack. Newcomers Robert, Semien and Bo Bichette combined for seven hits, four runs and five RBIs.

They’re scheduled to take their cracks Saturday against Giants right-hander Landen Roupp (1-0, 0.00), who was solid in his season debut Monday on the road. He allowed the San Diego Padres just two hits and struck out seven in six innings to get the 3-2 road win.

The 27-year-old faced the Mets just once in the first two years of his career, a relief outing on April 24, 2024, in which he served up three runs in 1 1/3 innings. He did not figure into the decision of the 8-2 loss.

The Mets weren’t the only ones scrambling for a healthy body Friday. During pregame batting practice, it was announced that Giants first baseman Casey Schmitt would be unable to go because of back issues, so the call went out to outfielder Jerar Encarnacion to grab a first baseman’s glove and be ready to go.

Batting ninth, he went 1-for-3 with a double, but Giants manager Tony Vitello was most impressed by Encarnacion’s flawless effort in the field in just his fourth big-league game at the position.

“I thought he looked outstanding,” the rookie manager told reporters after the game. “There’s a lot of little things that pop up at that spot. You’re touching the ball a lot with a lot of quirky things around the bag. He was involved in some defensive plays and he handled them well.”

The Mets are expected to counter with right-hander Clay Holmes (1-0, 3.18), who limited the St. Louis Cardinals to two runs and four hits over 5 2/3 innings in a 4-2 road win on Monday.

The 33-year-old has gone 1-1 with a 5.29 ERA in 10 career appearances (two starts) against the Giants.

Holmes was happy with his first appearance of the season. He got nine ground-ball outs, despite a small case of the jitters.

“There was a little bit of excitement early on, it was the first game of the year,” Holmes said. “Some sinkers were a little bit up and I got in some longer counts there and kind of drove my pitch count up early, and I was able to just settle in.”

– Field Level Media

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Stewart Cink wins Regions Tradition to clinch back-to-back majors

Syndication: Desert SunStewart Cink hits his driver on the first tee during the first round of The Galleri Classic at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., Friday, March 28, 2025.

Less than a month ago, Stewart Cink had never won a PGA Tour Champions major.

Now he has won two.

Cink shot a 3-under-par 69 on Sunday at the Regions Tradition in Birmingham, Ala., taking home the title by three strokes over nearest competitor Scott Hend of Australia in breezy conditions.

“It wasn’t easy,” Cink said. “But I was pretty resilient and I trusted what I had and our game plan was good. You know, I wasn’t perfect by any stretch, but I played good golf under the circumstances.”

The Florence, Ala. native had his own cheering section at Greystone Golf and Country Club on Sunday, as Cink carded five birdies against two bogeys to earn his second straight major after winning the Senior PGA Championship in Bradenton, Fla. two weeks ago.

“This is where I cut my teeth in golf,” Cink said. “The fans out here were awesome, I saw a lot of familiar faces. Everybody’s put on the years, but some people from junior golf that I played with and against and their families. A lot of my friends and family have been out here all week anyway that I knew they were coming. It’s just been great.”

The eight-time PGA Champions tourney winner cited the importance of keeping his focus on the present for his recent hot streak, which has included four wins overall in 2026. He has yet to finish lower than sixth this calendar year.

“One of the things I’m doing a pretty good job of is just kind of staying in the moment,” he said. “It feels good to get back in the winner’s circle again, of course. I hope there’s a lot more times coming.”

Hend surged up the leaderboard to apply some pressure as most other golfers struggled to match Cink’s strong day. Hend did Cink four better with a 7-under 65, but he ultimately had too much ground to make up coming into the day. Still, a day with six birdies, a bogey and an eagle on the par-5 No. 13 left much to be proud of.

Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie shot a 1-under 71 which left him in third place at 13 under once the dust settled, while Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen took fourth with a 3-under 69 that put him at 12 under.

Three golfers rounded out the top five in a tie for fifth: South Korea’s Charlie Wi (68), Germany’s Alex Cejka (70) and Doug Barron (71).

–Field Level Media

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Missing Game 7 a tough pill to swallow for Jayson Tatum

NBA: Playoffs-Philadelphia 76ers at Boston CelticsMay 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) and the rest of the Celtics bench react to a three point basket against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter of game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

It was going well until it wasn’t.

The second-seeded Boston Celtics took a 3-1 series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Eastern Conference quarterfinals. Six-time All-Star forward Jayson Tatum, who came back from Achilles tendon surgery much faster than anyone expected, was averaging 24.8 points through the first four games of the series.

But then the Sixers routed the host Celtics in Game 5 and Tatum hobbled off the court in the second half of Game 6, another Philadelphia triumph.

It was not apparent whether Boston coach Joe Mazzulla did not re-insert Tatum into Game 6 due to an injury or the fact that his team trailed by 23 points in the fourth quarter.

But Tatum’s status for Sunday’s Game 7 continued to downgrade and two hours before tipoff, he was ruled out for Boston’s do-or-die contest.

Hence, the four-time All-NBA first-teamer sat on the bench in street clothes as the Sixers completed the comeback, ousting Boston 109-100.

Tatum addressed the media on Sunday, reflecting on his satisfaction on returning to the court and his frustration about the last few days.

“My recovery and comeback (from the Achilles injury) were going so well that how it ended, I didn’t think it was going to end that way,” said Tatum. “It was just unfortunate.

“I worked really, really, really, really hard to come back in the fashion that I did and play at the level I was playing at. So for it to end the way it did was a tough pill to swallow.”

Tatum explained that, since he was still in the return-to-play window, NBA protocols had to be followed pertaining to his left knee stiffness. The Celtics’ medical team and Tatum’s trainer, Nick Sang, agreed that he would not be able to compete on Saturday.

Tatum admitted on Sunday that he was not playing at full capacity since his return to the court on March 6 vs. Dallas. He rated himself at about 80-85% and relayed that his right leg is still shorter than his left.

The Boston star averaged 31.0 minutes per game in 11 March games and 36.2 minutes in five regular-season contests in April. His scoring (21.8) and shooting splits (41.1% FG, 32.9% 3FG) were a little below his career marks, but he rebounded at a career-best 10.0 per game heading into the playoffs.

But Tatum has no regrets about pushing himself to return in a 10-month window and help this year’s team.

“I’m happy and proud of the fact that I was able to do that,” Tatum said. “And, unfortunately, if somebody else has to deal with this, they can look at what I was able to do and have some hope and inspiration that it’s not what people used to think it was. And you can come back from this and be who you were and hopefully be better.”

–Field Level Media

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Kentucky Derby sets several TV ratings records

Syndication: The Indianapolis StarGolden Tempo reached to nip the lead as Cherie DeVaux takes him out of his stall after winning the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Sunday, May 3, 2026.

An estimated record 24.4 million people watched Golden Tempo’s historic comeback win on Saturday at the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby.

NBC released that figure based on preliminary data collected from Nielsen and Adobe Analytics on Sunday.

The previous peak audience had been 21.8 million the year prior, meaning the 2026 running, in which jockey Jose Ortiz guided Golden Tempo from last place around the final turn all the way into first, was up 12% over the previous most-watched Derby.

Cherie DeVaux, the horse’s trainer, became the first woman trainer to win the Kentucky Derby in the event’s history Saturday.

NBC’s presentation also delivered the event’s highest average audience at 19.6 million, once again topping the previous year’s 17.7 million by roughly 11%.

The streaming numbers, mostly directed through Peacock, represented yet another record, with an average minute audience (AMA) of 1.3 million viewers, clearing 2025’s figure of 959,000.

Friday night’s Kentucky Oaks, contested for the first time in the television primetime window, likewise set viewership records. Always A Runner’s comfortable win averaged 2.4 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, a number that was four times higher than any previous viewership for the event (593,000 in 1997 on ESPN).

–Field Level Media

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