Sports
Chad Stevens out to please Rockies, grandmother in series vs. Diamondbacks
Mar 6, 2026; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Colorado Rockies shortstop Chad Stevens (39) hits a solo home run against the Athletics in the second inning at Hohokam Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images Chad Stevens hopes to get a second chance to make a good first impression on his new team when the Colorado Rockies continue their four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night in Phoenix.
One of the hottest hitters at the Triple-A level, Stevens owned a 17-game hitting streak when promoted from Colorado’s top minor-league team — Albuquerque — to the big club in time for the series opener on Thursday.
Stevens, a 27-year-old who played in five games for the Los Angeles Angels last season, struck out against Diamondbacks left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez in his first Rockies at-bat on Thursday.
Stevens later grounded out to first before leaving for a pinch hitter in the eighth inning of Colorado’s 2-1 walk-off loss.
The location of the promotion couldn’t have been better for Stevens, whose grandmother lives near Phoenix and attended most of his spring-training games in February and March.
In fact, after being informed that he would be starting at second base in the series opener, Stevens got a text from manager Warren Schaeffer saying: “Is your grandma coming?”
Stevens went just 2-for-13 with the Angels last season, became a free agent in November, and signed a minor-league deal with the Rockies a little more than a month later. He hit just .200 in the spring but drew 13 walks in 22 games, giving him a .429 on-base percentage.
That led to an assignment to Albuquerque, where he reached base at least once in all 39 of his games, getting at least one hit in each of his past 17 contests. He credited Albuquerque manager Matt Snyder for an analytical approach that’s worked.
“I wanted to dig into (analytics). And they were able to match that with biomechanics and sequencing,” Stevens told reporters in Phoenix. “There’s so much feel to hitting, which is great. But if you want to make a change, I feel like I want some data.”
If Stevens gets a second straight start in Friday’s rematch, he would face Diamondbacks right-hander Michael Soroka (6-2, 3.49 ERA).
The 28-year-old faced the Rockies on Sunday in Denver, going the first 5 2/3 innings of an 8-6 win. In beating Colorado for the first time in three career head-to-heads (two starts), he allowed just two runs, improving his career ERA against the National League West rival to 2.87 with a 1-2 record.
The Rockies are scheduled to counter with right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (4-3, 4.02 ERA). He faced the Diamondbacks for the first time in his career last Saturday, getting the win in a 4-2 decision in which he limited Arizona to two runs in five innings.
The Diamondbacks have won five games in a row since losing to Sugano, a stretch that had manager Torey Lovullo was bragging about to the media even before the thriller on Thursday.
“We’re playing good baseball,” he said. “I love where we’re at right now. It’s as good as I’ve seen here in a long time.”
–Field Level Media
– Field Level Media
Sports
Rays OF Jonny DeLuca (hamstring) placed on 10-day IL
May 20, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Jonny DeLuca (21) makes a diving catch against the Baltimore Orioles in the third inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images The Tampa Bay Rays placed outfielder Jonny DeLuca on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to a right hamstring strain.
The move is retroactive to Saturday.
DeLuca felt a tug at his hamstring while legging out an infield single in the seventh inning of Tampa Bay’s 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Friday.
DeLuca is batting .269 with two homers and 19 RBIs in 41 games this season. The 27-year-old is hitting .244 with 10 homers and 60 RBIs in 192 career games with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Rays.
Also on Sunday, the Rays recalled outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. from Triple-A Durham.
Mesa, 24, batted .188 with one homer and six RBIs in 16 games last season with the Miami Marlins. He is hitting .350 with three homers and nine RBIs in 21 games across two levels of minor-league baseball this season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jannik Sinner begins French Open quest as odds-on favorite
Mar 29, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Jannik Sinner of Italy hits a backhand against Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic after beating him in the final of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images The French Open is the lone Grand Slam that has eluded world No. 1 Jannik Sinner to date. Play also began at Roland Garros on Sunday with Sinner as the heaviest pre-tournament favorite since Rafael Nadal in 2009.
That’s in large part due to Nadal’s countryman and two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz being forced to sit out this French Open out due to a wrist injury.
The cards are stacked heavily in Sinner’s favor. The four-time Grand Slam champion entered his opening match against wild-card entry Clement Tabur riding a 29-match winning streak. He also has a 17-0 record on clay in 2026.
The draw also stacks up favorably, with Novak Djokovic on the other side along with two-time French Open finalist Casper Ruud of Norway. One notable potential hurdle is Russian Daniil Medvedev, but Sinner has won 10 of their past 11 meetings.
It all leads to Sinner beginning the tournament as the -325 favorite at BetMGM to win the men’s title. The next-closest competitor is German Alexander Zverev at +900, followed by Djokovic at +1100 and Ruud at +2000.
DraftKings has even shorter odds on Sinner at -340, followed by Zverev (+1100), Djokovic (+1300) and Ruud (+2200).
Nadal entered the 2009 French Open as the -400 favorite. While he had shorter pre-tournament odds, Sinner is the most overwhelming favorite in modern tennis history when compared to his next closest challengers.
Sinner, still only 24 years old, is a two-time Australian Open champion who also won the U.S. Open in 2024. He will be the defending champion at Wimbledon this year.
The women’s draw features far more depth, at least in the eyes of sportsbooks.
Aryna Sabalenka is the +275 title favorite at BetMGM, followed by Elena Rybakina (+300), Iga Swiatek (+400), Coco Gauff (+600) and Amanda Anisimova (+800).
Sabalenka and Swiatek opened play at Roland Garros as the co-+275 favorites at DraftKings. Gauff was next at +600, followed by Rybakina (+650) and Mirra Andreeva (+900). The book had far longer odds on Anisimova at +4000, making her tied for just the 10th-shortest odds.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Thunder vs. Spurs Game 4 Picks: Best Bets for WCF Sunday
May 11, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the second half in game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can steer the defending champions to a commander 3-1 series lead in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals on Sunday night.
SGA was clutch in Friday’s 123-108 win over the Spurs in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals and has left San Antonio confounded over possible solutions to slow him down.
If they send a double team, SGA has consistently found open shooters and points.
With Ajay Mitchell out of the lineup again, he’ll have the ball in his hands constantly. Can the Spurs adjust or is this series all but over?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 7+ assists (-120)
Gilgeous-Alexander has 33 assists with just seven turnovers and he’s getting more out of players the Spurs aren’t necessarily afraid of. Oklahoma City’s bench has outscored San Antonio’s 183-64, with Alex Caruso averaging 21 points and Jared McCain 14.3.
De’Aaron Fox played in Game 3 Friday and Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said Saturday he expected Dylan Harper to play Game 4. But if neither is full strength, the Thunder will find and expose their weaknesses.
Oklahoma City continues to thrive with the ball in SGA’s hands.
Our Current Best Offers
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Over 218.5 total points
The over remains a market lean. DraftKings stuck at 218.5 while FanDuel has vascilllated between 218.5 and 219.5. We like the number anywhere under 220.
All three games in the series have finished above that range despite stretches of uneven shooting. If the pace stays elevated and Oklahoma City’s bench keeps creating transition chances, the total will stay in focus.
Oklahoma City Thunder +2.5
Books are giving the Spurs the edge in San Antonio. The line remains tight enough to watch pregame.
Oklahoma City has won the last two games, owned the bench-production battle and a healthy De’Aaron Fox or Dylan Harper could quickly shift the advantage. But the Thunder proved last postseason the road isn’t a place they fear.
Our Current Best Offers
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Rays OF Jonny DeLuca (hamstring) placed on 10-day IL
Jannik Sinner begins French Open quest as odds-on favorite
