Sports
After Opening Day comeback, Marlins seek to defeat Pirates again
Mar 27, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins left fielder Kyle Stowers (28) celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off single against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the ninth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images With four starting pitchers on the injured list, the Miami Marlins will turn to rookie right-hander Connor Gillispie on Friday night as they again host the Pittsburgh Pirates.
On Opening Day for both teams on Thursday, Miami earned a 5-4 walk-off win.
It will be the first major league start for Gillispie, 27.
After playing at VCU, he was Baltimore’s ninth-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft. The Cleveland Guardians claimed him in December 2023 via the Rule 5 draft, and he went 0-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three MLB relief outings in 2024. He struck out eight and walked five in eight innings.
The Marlins signed him two months ago, and now he will get his big chance with Eury Perez, Edward Cabrera, Ryan Weathers and Braxton Garrett on the injured list. This will be his first appearance against the Pirates.
Weathers and Cabrera should return in April. Perez is expected back in mid-July, and Garrett is out for the year.
The Marlins also are missing two starting position players as right fielder Jesus Sanchez and third baseman Connor Norby likely are out about a month, as is right-handed reliever Declan Cronin. Lefty reliever Andrew Nardi landed on the 60-day IL on March 15.
But even with those eight players on the injured list and the lowest payroll in the majors at $67.9 million, the Marlins are off to a good start.
The Marlins trailed 4-2 in the eighth inning on Thursday before rallying. In the ninth, Nick Fortes tripled off the wall, and left fielder Kyle Stowers lined a walk-off single to give Miami manager Clayton McCullough his first MLB win.
“We’re a bunch of fighters,” Fortes said. “I know a lot of people have written our team off, but we don’t believe that. We know we have a lot talent, and we’re going to play hard every night.”
Stowers made his first Opening Day start.
“To battle like we did and come up with a win was fun,” he said.
The Pirates will start right-hander Mitch Keller on Friday, a day after young star Paul Skenes left his start in the sixth inning with a two-run lead that the bullpen — and the defense — couldn’t hold.
Keller, who will turn 29 next week, has spent his entire six-year career with the Pirates. In 133 games, including 131 starts, he is 36-50 with a 4.59 ERA. Last season, he started 31 games and finished 11-12 with a 4.25 ERA.
He has made six career starts against the Marlins, going 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA.
The Pirates hope to give Keller better support than what they showed on Thursday. Even though all five runs allowed by the Pirates were earned, catcher Joey Bart was charged with two passed balls, including one that allowed a run to score.
In addition, Pirates first baseman Endy Rodriguez was charged with a fielding error. Worse yet, center fielder Oneil Cruz — who played shortstop until making the switch late last season — made a couple of costly miscues.
In the eighth inning, he threw home, allowing a runner to advance to second base. That runner then scored as Miami tied Pittsburgh 4-4.
One inning later, Cruz misplayed Fortes’ shot to the wall into a triple, and that led to Stowers’ game-winning single.
“We didn’t play good enough defense,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “We had a lead late in the game, and we didn’t close it down.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Feb 22, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) looks on from inside the dugout against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol received a two-year contract extension through the 2028 season, the team announced Sunday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, which holds an option for the 2029 season.
“As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows what has made the Cardinals special over time — and who understands that for us to get where we need to go, we must compete relentlessly to set new standards in everything that we do,” president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said.
“He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow. I am energized to continue working with him towards the on-field success that we expect and that our fans deserve.”
Marmol, 39, has guided the Cardinals to a 325-323 record during his four seasons as the skipper. He led St. Louis to the National League Central title in 2022 before the team fell in the wild-card series to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Last season, the Cardinals posted a 78-84 record to finish in fourth place in the NL Central.
Marmol was a coach with St. Louis from 2017-21 under previous managers Mike Shildt and Mike Matheny.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
Oct 31, 2025; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Truck Series driver Tyler Reif (41) during the NASCAR Truck Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Tyler Reif was treated for heat exhaustion after Saturday night’s street race in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Reif, 18, was transported to an area medical facility after finishing 16th in the race in the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet. He was later released.
“Tyler and his family would like to express their gratitude to the NASCAR officials, track medical workers and the local medical facility staff for their care,” Niece Motorsports said in a release.
Reif made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series in 2025. Saturday’s race was just his third on the circuit, including a 17th-place finish at Atlanta on Feb. 21.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: RB David Montgomery 'wants out' of Detroit
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) looks on before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images Lions running back David Montgomery “wants out” of Detroit after three seasons, ESPN reported on Sunday.
Montgomery, however, immediately appeared to refute the report on X, posting: “Damn, Dmo told you that?”
The ESPN report claims the Lions would want “a decent Day 3 pick (possibly a fifth-rounder)” in the 2026 NFL Draft in return for Montgomery, who turns 29 in June and is owed $6 million next season.
The report follows general manager Brad Holmes’ remarks after the season about Montgomery being unhappy with his playing time in 2025. Sharing a backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery rushed for a career-low 716 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games (no starts).
“Those are conversations that we’re going to have to have because I’ve got a lot of respect for that player,” Holmes said of Montgomery in January. “He deserves to be in a situation where his skillset can be utilized, and so yeah would love for it to be here, but if it can’t be here then you’d just love to see where could work out best for him.”
At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Holmes said the situation with Montgomery is “fluid.” He signed a two-year extension during the 2024 season that runs through the end of the 2027 campaign.
“Yeah, I have been in touch with David’s agent, and his representation,” Holmes revealed. “Obviously, we love David, he’s a great player, we love to have him, you know, kind of want to put last year in the rear view, and just move forward. But, obviously, a player has to want to be at a certain place as well. The conversations are still fluid, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Montgomery has rushed for 2,506 yards and 33 touchdowns in 45 games (28 starts) in three seasons with Detroit (2023-25). He has 76 catches for 650 yards in that span.
He began his career with the NFC North rival Chicago Bears, who drafted him in the third round in 2019. Montgomery rushed for 3,609 yards and 26 scores in 60 games (51 starts) with the Bears (2019-22).
–Field Level Media
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
