Sports
Anthony Rizzo's playoff status unclear as Yanks, Pirates close regular season
Sep 28, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (48) reacts after being hit by a pitch during the seventh inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images The New York Yankees received an unwanted reminder Saturday afternoon of how seemingly meaningless late-season games can suddenly become important for all the wrong reasons.
The Yankees will be without first baseman Anthony Rizzo on Sunday afternoon, when they finish tuning up for the playoffs by hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates in the regular-season finale for both clubs.
Right-hander Clarke Schmidt (5-5, 2.55 ERA) is slated to start for the Yankees against Pirates left-hander Bailey Falter (8-9, 4.26).
The Pirates locked up a series win Saturday afternoon, when they hit five homers in a 9-4 victory.
Despite the defeat, the American League East-winning Yankees (93-68) clinched the AL’s top overall seed hours later, when the AL Central champion Cleveland Guardians fell to the AL West champion Houston Astros 4-3.
But the Yankees likely weren’t in a celebratory mood due to the uncertainty surrounding Rizzo, who suffered fractures of the fourth and fifth fingers on his right hand when he was hit on the right hand in the seventh inning by Ryan Borucki’s 88-mph slider.
Rizzo initially remained in the game but was replaced at first base by Oswaldo Cabrera in the top of the eighth before X-rays revealed the fractures.
Manager Aaron Boone said it was too early to know if Rizzo could play in the postseason for the Yankees, who are scheduled to begin AL Division Series play on Oct. 5.
“We’ll see as the days unfold here what we have,” Boone said.
The injury continued a trying season for Rizzo, who will set full-season career-lows for homers (eight), RBIs (35) and OPS (.633). The Yankees went 29-33 without Rizzo from June 18-Aug. 31, when the four-time Gold Glove winner was sidelined with a broken right forearm.
Rookie Ben Rice and DJ LeMahieu got most of the starts at first base in Rizzo’s absence, but Rice was optioned to Triple-A on Sept. 1 and LeMahieu is on the injured list with a right hip impingement.
The victory continued an encouraging final weekend filled with potential glimpses at an intriguing future for the Pirates (76-85), who received a combined 9 2/3 solid innings from rookies Jared Jones, Paul Skenes and Mike Burrows in winning the first two games of the series.
Skenes, an NL Rookie of the Year contender, ended his season with two perfect innings before Burrows made his big league debut and earned the win after allowing two runs (one earned) over 3 1/3 innings. Burrows returned from Tommy John surgery this season and posted a 4.06 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings for Triple-A Indianapolis.
“A lot of people talk about our pitching and the depth and at times they forget to mention him,” manager Derek Shelton said of Burrows. “We feel that he’s still a big part of this.”
Schmidt took the loss in his most recent start Tuesday night, when he gave up three runs over 5 1/3 innings as the Yankees fell to the Baltimore Orioles 5-3. He has never opposed the Pirates.
Falter also took the defeat Tuesday after allowing four runs over five innings in the Pirates’ 7-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. He has never faced the Yankees.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Phillies snap 10-game skid with extra-inning defeat of Braves
Apr 25, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Adolis Garcia (53) runs to third on an RBI triple against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Bryce Harper’s bases-loaded single in the 10th inning drove in two runs and sparked the visiting Philadelphia Phillies to an 8-5 win over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday to end their 10-game losing streak.
After Tyler Kinley (3-1) started the inning with a walk and left-hander Jose Suarez walked the first batter he faced, Harper, who was 2-for-3 with four RBIs, lined a sinker into left to drive in automatic runner Garrett Stubbs and Trea Turner. Brandon Marsh followed with a two-run single to widen the lead and help the Phillies win their first game since April 13.
Brady Keller (1-0) retired all four batters he faced, and Kyle Backhus pitched the 10th, allowing one run on two hits.
Philadelphia right-hander Zack Wheeler made his first appearance since August 15 of last year after missing time due to undergoing surgery to treat thoracic outlet syndrome. He pitched five innings and allowed two runs on three hits and three walks, striking out six. He left after throwing 84 pitches.
Atlanta right-hander Bryce Elder pitched seven innings, matching his season high, and allowed three runs on six hits and one walk, striking out two.
The Phillies scored a run in the first inning when Harper walked with two outs and scored when Adolis Garcia lined a ball to left field that Mike Yastrzemski missed on a dive for an RBI triple.
Philadelphia scored another run in the fourth inning when Bryson Stott smacked a triple off the right-field brick wall to score Brandon Marsh.
Atlanta tied the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Michael Harris II hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly and Austin Riley followed with an RBI double, knocking in the 500th run of his career.
The Phillies regained the lead in the fifth. Rafael Marchan singled and came around to score on Harper’s infield single which snapped Philadelphia’s 0-for-18 drought with runners in scoring position against the Braves this season.
The Braves took their first lead in the sixth, scoring twice against reliever Tanner Banks on an RBI double from Ozzie Albies and a run-scoring single from Harris.
The Phillies evened the game 4-4 in the eighth against Dylan Lee. Kyle Schwarber tripled when center fielder Eli White slipped on the wet turf and allowed the ball to get past him. He scored on Harper’s sacrifice fly.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Timberwolves' Donte DiVincenzo (leg), Anthony Edwards (knee) exit early in win over Nuggets
Apr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) celebrates after a three-pointer during the second half against the Denver Nuggets in game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo was ruled out after injuring his lower right leg in the first quarter and was late joined on the sidelines by injured teammate Anthony Edwards in the first half of Saturday’s 112-96 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of their playoff series in Minneapolis.
DiVincenzo sustained the injury on a non-contact play 79 seconds into the game. He planted his foot to go toward a loose ball, and he quickly went down as he grabbed toward the back of his right leg.
The team ruled out DiVincenzo before the end of the first quarter. ESPN reported that DiVincenzo, who left the arena at halftime in a wheelchair, hasa torn right Achilles.
Edwards, a four-time All-Star, appeared to hyperextend his left knee while leaping to defend Nuggets wing Cam Johnson’s drive to the basket with 2:43 remaining in the second quarter. He landed awkwardly and grabbed his left knee. Edwards was helped to the locker room.
Minnesota ruled him out for the rest of the game just after halftime. Edwards, who had five points and three rebounds in 18 minutes, is slated to get an MRI to determine the injury’s severity.
The Timberwolves lead the best-of-seven series 3-1, with Game 5 on Monday in Denver.
DiVincenzo averaged 12.2 points per game and shot 37.9% from 3-point range during the regular season. He averaged 14.3 points in the first three games of the playoff series against the Nuggets.
-Field Level Media
Sports
T-wolves beat Nuggets, lose Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo to injuries
Apr 25, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) defends against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu (13) in the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images Ayo Dosunmu came off the bench to score a career-high 43 points on 13-for-17 shooting, and the short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away for a 112-96 win over the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of their Western Conference quarterfinals series on Saturday night in Minneapolis.
The victory, which gave Minnesota a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, came at a cost to the Timberwolves, who lost two starters due to injury.
Anthony Edwards, a four-time All-Star and the team’s top scorer, left in the second quarter and did not return because of a left knee injury. Edwards leaped to try to block a shot and landed awkwardly on his left leg, and he quickly dropped to the court and clutched his knee.
Team officials helped Edwards to his feet and he placed his arms around their shoulders. He put little weight on his left leg as he hobbled toward the locker room.
Earlier in the first half, Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo headed toward the locker room after he injured his right leg on a non-contact play. DiVincenzo planted his foot to pursue a loose ball and fell to the hardwood, and he grabbed the back of his right leg in pain.
Early reports indicated that DiVincenzo might have ruptured his Achilles tendon on the play.
Naz Reid added 17 points off the bench for Minnesota. Julius Randle finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, and Rudy Gobert grabbed a game-high-tying 15 rebounds to go along with four points.
Jamal Murray scored 30 points on 10-for-25 shooting to lead Denver. Nikola Jokic finished with 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. However, he shot 8-for-22 from the field and missed all three of his 3-point attempts.
The series returns to Denver for Game 5 on Monday night.
Dosunmu took over in his teammates’ absence. He helped Minnesota outscore Denver 62-42 in the second half to take a commanding lead in the series.
The Nuggets led 76-74 late in the third quarter before Dosunmu helped Minnesota take charge. He made a pair of free throws as Minnesota finished the quarter on an 8-2 run to grab an 82-78 lead.
In the fourth quarter, Dosunmu continued to assert himself. He hit a driving layup and a pull-up bank shot to increase the Timberwolves’ lead to 95-82 with 7:53 to go.
Denver struggled to keep pace the rest of the way, and Jokic took exception to a layup by Jaden McDaniels with 2.1 seconds left. Jokic and Randle were ejected in the closing seconds after players from both teams shoved one another near the sidelines.
–Field Level Media
