Sports
Astros look to wake up bats going into home series vs. Mariners
May 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes (15) talks with manager Joe Espada (19) and a trainer after an apparent injury during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images After recording at least 10 hits in seven consecutive road games through the series opener against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday, the Houston Astros followed a four-hit performance on Saturday by scratching out only three singles to drop the series rubber match 5-0 on Sunday.
The Astros will open a seven-game homestand on Monday against the Seattle Mariners in the first of a four-game series. They’ll look to get their offense, which leads the American League in batting average (.258), total bases (598) and on-base percentage (.333, tied with the New York Yankees), back on track.
“We’ve got to get back to doing what we do best,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “We’ve got to make (opposing pitchers) work. We’ve got to control the at-bats. We’ve got to pass the baton. The last few days, that was not the offense that we’ve been able to deploy early in the season. We’ve got to turn this one behind us; we’ve got an important series ahead of us.
“It’s a quick fix,” Espada added. “I’ve seen our offense do a good job fixing those things and getting locked in again.”
Right-hander Peter Lambert (2-2, 2.42 ERA) is scheduled to start the series opener for the Astros. He produced the best start of his career on May 5 against the Los Angeles Dodgers when he twirled seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits and four walks with four strikeouts in a 2-1 victory.
Lambert tossed a career-high 104 pitches in the win while matching his career best for innings pitched. He has alternated wins and losses in four starts this season.
He has faced the Mariners once previously. He allowed six runs on six hits with five strikeouts across three innings in a 10-2 loss while playing for the Colorado Rockies on April 21, 2024.
Right-hander George Kirby (4-2, 2.94) has the starting assignment for the Mariners. He did not factor into the decision in a 3-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves on May 5 after allowing two runs on five hits and one walk with five strikeouts over seven innings.
Kirby has surrendered two earned runs or fewer in five consecutive starts, and he is 3-0 with a 2.53 ERA during that stretch.
He has dominated the Astros throughout his career, going 4-1 with a 2.17 ERA in 10 starts. He was the winning pitcher in the Mariners’ 6-2 home victory over Houston on April 13 after allowing two runs on seven hits and one walk with six strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings.
Kirby has 25 wins against the AL West since 2022, the most among all pitchers in the majors.
The Mariners dropped the finale of their three-game road series with the Chicago White Sox 2-1 on Sunday, falling to 3-3 in rubber matches this season. Seattle wasted a stellar performance from starter Logan Gilbert, who allowed one hit and struck out nine over six scoreless innings.
The Mariners will utilize a six-man rotation starting on Wednesday against the Astros to accommodate the return of right-hander Bryce Miller, who will be reinstated from the injured list to make his season debut. Miller landed on the 15-day IL with a left oblique strain on March 22.
Miller will follow Kirby and right-hander Bryan Woo in the rotation and precede right-hander Luis Castillo, who is scheduled to start the series finale on Thursday.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Defender Chris Richards returns to USMNT practice
June 8, 2026; Irvine, California, U.S.; Chris Richards of the U.S. signs an autograph for a fan during training. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Defender Chris Richards is back on the field with the United States Men’s National Team on Monday and appears to be on track for the World Cup opener against Paraguay this week.
“We will see … first time with the team,” coach Mauricio Pochettino said Monday. “Nearly everyone ready to be selected for the game.”
Richards sustained an ankle injury last month and is viewed as a vital defender in the center of the backline.
Miles Robinson and Mark McKenzie filled in for Richards on Saturday in the final World Cup tuneup against Germany in Chicago.
At Monday’s practice in Irvine, Calif., Tyler Adams was not on the field. He worked in the gym for load management purposes, Pochettino said.
Richards, 26, suffered a pair of torn ligaments in his left ankle on May 17 as his Crystal Palace team played Brentford in a Premier League match. He did complete the match but limped off the field and has not competed since.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Kings to hire Peter Laviolette as head coach
Mar 29, 2025; San Jose, California, USA; New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette instructs his team as left wings Artemi Panarin (10), Chris Kreider (20) and Brennan Othmann (78) look on against the San Jose Sharks during the third period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Kings are set to hire Peter Laviolette to a three-year deal as their next head coach, Sportsnet and ESPN reported Monday.
Laviolette had been in talks to become the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs as recently as last week, according to multiple reports, and the Edmonton Oilers had also reportedly looked at him as a candidate to fill their head coaching vacancy.
Laviolette, 61, has been an NHL head coach for 23 seasons.
He won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006. He also reached the Stanley Cup Final as coach of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010 and the Nashville Predators in 2017.
He most recently coached the New York Rangers from 2023-25. The Rangers went 55-23-4 (114 points) in Laviolette’s first season and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals, where they were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in a six-game series. New York went 39-36-7 (85 points) the following season to finish six points out of a playoff spot, leading to Laviolette’s dismissal in April 2025.
He owns an 846-562-161 record (25 ties) as head coach with the New York Islanders (2001-03), Hurricanes (2003-09), Flyers (2009-14), Predators (2014-20), Washington Capitals (2020-23) and Rangers.
His 846 regular-season wins are the most among United States-born coaches in NHL history and seventh all-time.
Laviolette appeared in 12 NHL games during his playing career as a defenseman, all during the 1988-89 season with the Rangers.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Top 2 seeds ousted in chaotic opening day at Libema Open
Aug 27, 2025; Flushing, NY, USA; Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia serves against Wang Xinyu of China in the second round of the women’s singles at the US Open at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds each fell in straight sets on a chaotic first day of women’s competition in the Libema Open at ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands on Monday.
No. 1 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia — a two-time winner at the event in 2022 and ‘23 — fell 6-4, 7-6 (5) to Hungary’s Panna Udvardy, who ranks nearly 50 spots lower (65th to 17th). In a match that was statistically even in a number of spots, the difference may have been Udvardy’s one more converted break (3 of 6) in an equal number of chances.
Second-seeded Clara Tauson of Denmark lost 6-4, 6-4 to Slovakia’s Mia Pohankova, a 17-year-old who won the final five games of the match to secure her first career top-30 win. No. 3 seed Belgian Elise Mertens avoided the same fate with a thorough 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Canada’s Bianca Andreescu.
In other Monday action, Poland’s Magda Linette rallied for a 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over Australian Kimberly Birrell, Robin Montgomery pulled out a 5-7, 6-0, 6-4 victory against Daria Kasatkina of Australia and Ukraine’s Daria Snigur swept Spain’s Paula Badosa 6-1, 7-6 (2).
HSBC Championships
Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic rallied for a 6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-3 defeat of McCartney Kessler in first-round action at London.
Pliskova was sloppy on her serve with three aces and 11 double faults but made up for it by winning 51% of her return points and converting 8 of 11 break-point opportunities.
In the only two other matches completed on Monday, when multiple matches were delayed or postponed by rain, Great Britain’s Harriet Dart beat Liudmila Samsonova of Russia 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, while Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian swept Qinwen Zheng 6-4, 7-6 (4).
The final match of the day, which pitted No. 8 seed Leylah Fernandez of Canada against Great Britain’s Katie Boulter, was suspended due to darkness with Fernandez up a set and the second set level at 3 games apiece.
–Field Level Media
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