Sports
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani strives to continue stellar pitching in clash vs. Marlins
Apr 22, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) pitches during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Dodgers are tightening Shohei Ohtani’s pitching schedule as the right-hander prepares to take the mound Tuesday night against the visiting Miami Marlins.
The outing means that Ohtani (2-0, 0.38 ERA) will pitch on five days of rest for just the third time in 19 career starts for the Dodgers. He has pitched on at least six days’ rest in each of his four starts this season.
“We talked to Shohei, (and) he feels good about going on Tuesday,” said Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts, who will move right-hander Tyler Glasnow back a day after he threw eight shutout innings last Thursday in a 3-0 victory over San Francisco.
Ohtani is 1-0 with an 0.69 ERA in two career starts against the Marlins but has not pitched against them as a member of the Dodgers.
Ohtani has allowed just one earned run over 24 innings this season. But his increased focus on pitching had come at a cost before a recent offensive surge.
He was batting .240 before collecting three hits in each of his last two games. His RBI double in the ninth inning on Monday set the stage for Kyle Tucker’s game-winning, two-run single as the Dodgers rallied for a 5-4 victory over Miami in the series opener.
Even with his star’s recent success at the plate, Roberts will use Ohtani only as a pitcher on Tuesday. It will be the second time this season Ohtani will pitch and not hit in the same game.
“Hopefully he doesn’t put too much weight into it,” Roberts said about an ongoing debate that Ohtani should focus on a single discipline during his pitching days. “I don’t talk to him too much about it, to be quite honest. But he is well aware of what’s being said about him.”
The Marlins will send right-hander Janson Junk (1-2, 3.67 ERA) to the mound on Tuesday in the middle contest of the three-game series.
Junk is coming off his best outing of the season when he gave up one hit over five scoreless innings in a 4-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.
Marlins manager Clayton McCullough pulled Junk from the outing after just 56 pitches as the Cardinals were set to go through the lineup for a third time.
“Being a competitor, I’m frustrated, but overall, as a team, where we were, where we are, it’s like, ‘All right, I’m OK with getting a win,'” said Junk, who has never faced the Dodgers.
“At the end of the day, that’s the only thing that’s important to me.”
The Dodgers rallied for the victory on Monday against Marlins right-handed closer Pete Fairbanks, who departed in the ninth inning with numbness in his right hand. He was charged with three runs in one-third of an inning, took the loss, and reportedly is day-to-day because of the issue.
The Marlins activated infielder/outfielder Christopher Morel from the injured list. He did not play in the series opener.
Morel, who signed with Miami as a free agent in the offseason, suffered an oblique injury during batting practice before the opening game of the season.
“I just have to focus on the present, forget what happened,” Morel said through an interpreter. “Past is the past. Just continue helping the team any way we can and just focus on winning games.”
Morel is expected to see most of his playing time at first base, a position he did not play until this spring.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Streaking Quakes may be without key player at Toronto
Apr 25, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; San Jose Earthquakes forward Timo Werner (11) celebrates after scoring against St. Louis CITY SC in the second half at Energizer Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images The league-leading San Jose Earthquakes may not be at full strength Saturday afternoon as they look to continue the best run in franchise history at Toronto FC.
The Earthquakes (9-1-0, 27 points) extended their club-record winning streak to eight matches in all competitions when they eliminated Minnesota United FC in the Round of 16 at the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup by a score of 4-2 on Tuesday. Jack Skahan, Beau Leroux and Niko Tsakiris each scored in a seven-minute stretch to rally the Quakes from a 2-1 deficit.
It wasn’t all good news for head coach Bruce Arena’s side. April’s MLS Player of the Month Timo Werner, who had played the full 90 minutes three days earlier against St. Louis, was forced off in the 34th minute with a hamstring injury and may not feature in the matinee at Toronto.
“We’re somewhat limited. It’s not like you take Timo off and the next guy can fill that void,” Arena admitted after match vs. Minnesota. “And how we manage it, it’s never perfect, and we try our best, but the part that you manage is how you work every day with the players and you give them the confidence to know that when their numbers fall, they’re ready to play.”
Toronto FC (3-3-4, 13 points) are dealing with their own injury problems in the midst of a four-match winless run.
Center-back Benjamin Kuscevic and midfielder Jose Cifuentes made for two more additions to TFC’s lengthy injury list in their 2-1 defeat to Atlanta United last Saturday. Designated players Djordje Mihailovic and Richie Laryea were among those absent. Deandre Kerr and Walker Zimmerman, who was away for the birth of his daughter, are slated to return.
“I feel like we just have to put our heads down and work and the guys who are available have to step up,” head coach Robin Fraser said on Thursday.
The fixture will mark the two teams’ first encounter in more than three years. Four of their last five clashes have ended in draws, dating back to August of 2018.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jack Adams Award finalists: Jon Cooper, Dan Muse, Lindy Ruff
Jan 24, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff coaches against the New York Islanders during the first period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper, Pittsburgh’s Dan Muse and Buffalo’s Lindy Ruff are the three finalists for the 2026 Jack Adams Award, the league announced Friday.
The award, which is presented annually to the top coach in the NHL as voted on by the National Broadcasters’ Association, will be announced at a later date.
Cooper, 58, guided the Lightning to a 50-26-6 record this season and a ninth consecutive playoff appearance.
A two-time Stanley Cup champion, Cooper has been a finalist for this award on two occasions (2013-14, 2018-19) — however he has yet to win it.
Muse, 43, succeeded in his first season as head coach of the Penguins, leading the club to a second-place finish in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins posted a 41-25-16 record (98 points), which represented an 18-point increase from the previous season.
Ruff, 66, helped the Sabres halt a 14-year playoff drought by guiding the club to a first-place finish in the Atlantic Division with a 50-23-9 record. He previously won the Jack Adams Award in 2005-06, during his first stint with the Sabres.
Spencer Carbery of the Washington Capitals won the award last season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cowboys sign 1st-rounder Caleb Downs, five other picks
Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Caleb Downs is selected by the Dallas Cowboys as the number eleven pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Dallas Cowboys signed six of their seven picks from the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday, including first-round selection Caleb Downs to his four-year rookie deal.
Downs, the 11th overall pick of the draft, will receive $28.95 million in fully guaranteed money that includes a $17.5 million signing bonus. The deal also includes a fifth-year team option.
The Cowboys traded up one spot with the Miami Dolphins to acquire Downs, a safety. Dallas has yet to sign its other first-round pick, edge rusher Malachi Lawrence, who was selected with the 23rd overall pick.
Downs, a two-time consensus All-American, was named the 2025 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Ohio State and took home the Jim Thorpe Award and Lott Trophy.
His career totals include 164 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, six interceptions and three forced fumbles in 44 games for Alabama (2023) and Ohio State (2024-25).
In addition to Downs, the Cowboys signed third-round linebacker Jaishawn Barham, fourth-round tackle Drew Shelton, fourth-round cornerback Devin Moore, fourth-round edge rusher LT Overton and seventh-round wide receiver Anthony Smith.
–Field Level Media
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