Sports
Blake Dunn looks to give Reds a spark vs. Pirates
Jun 5, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Cincinnati Reds outfielder Blake Dunn (76) runs the bases during the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-Imagn Images Rookie Blake Dunn will try to keep giving the Reds a reason to show up to the ballpark when Cincinnati opens a three-game series with the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.
The Reds (74-80) were officially eliminated from postseason contention on Wednesday after falling 7-1 to the Atlanta Braves. Things then took a turn for the worse a day later, as Cincinnati served up six homers while getting blasted 15-3 by Atlanta.
But Dunn was one of the few bright spots for the Reds in the latter setback, clubbing his first career big-league home run as part of a 2-for-3 performance. He walked once, scored three times and stole two bases.
Cincinnati manager David Bell is hoping Dunn can help give the Reds a morale boost down the stretch.
“He was doing well (in the minors at Triple-A Louisville) before he came back to us,” Bell said. “There hadn’t been a lot of playing time. He (and) the other guys that aren’t playing are doing a great job of staying ready. … We like Blake Dunn a lot, so it’s nice to get him into the action.”
Right-hander Nick Martinez (9-6, 3.37 ERA) will be getting some action on Friday, as he is set to make his 41st appearance (15th start) of the season for the Reds.
Martinez, 34, has earned a win in each of his past three starts, most recently holding the Minnesota Twins to one run on three hits in six innings last Saturday.
In five career appearances (one start) against Pittsburgh, Martinez is 0-1 with an 11.12 ERA.
The Pirates (72-81) plan to counter with righty Mitch Keller (11-10, 3.87), who has dropped three straight decisions.
Last time out, on Saturday, Keller was tagged for four runs (three earned) and four hits in six innings to take a loss against the Kansas City Royals. Keller, 28, is 3-4 with a 5.40 ERA in 16 career starts against Cincinnati.
Much like the Reds, Pittsburgh is trying to carry some good mojo into the offseason. The Pirates’ 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday should help do the trick, as the Pirates tied the game at 2-2 in the seventh before Nick Gonzales hit a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth.
Gonzales went 5-for-12 (.417) with two doubles, one triple, two runs and an RBI in the four-game set with St. Louis. He played in three of those games.
“It’s good to finish strong,” Gonzales said. “I just want to hit on all cylinders. Throughout the year, you’re going to have ups and downs. I’m trying to minimize as much as I can. Try to stay locked in as much as I can.”
Infielder Jared Triolo also has been on a roll for Pittsburgh, logging hits in eight of his past 10 games. He has gone 11-for-34 (.324) with one homer, one RBI and five runs during that span.
Friday marks the 11th meeting of the year between the teams; with a 7-3 edge, the Pirates already have taken the season series from Cincinnati.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Aces, Mercury open schedules in rematch of WNBA Finals
Oct 10, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) shoots against the Phoenix Mercury during the first half of game four of the 2025 WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images In a rematch of last season’s WNBA Finals, the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces play host to the Phoenix Mercury in a matinee Saturday to open the season for both teams.
Las Vegas heads into the 2026 campaign fresh off its third WNBA championship in four seasons led by A’ja Wilson, who is coming off her fourth Most Valuable Player campaign.
Wilson surpassed Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes and Lauren Jackson for the most MVPs in league history with last season’s selection. In 2026, Wilson can become the first player ever to win the award in three consecutive seasons.
In a league flush with new, young stars, Wilson enters her ninth campaign aiming to remain the WNBA’s standard-bearer, as she told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
“I like proving people wrong,” Wilson said. “I like to let people just burn because me and my team are doing great, or they never could have imagined it could have been me in this situation or my team in this situation.”
Wilson averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and matched her career-best with 3.1 assists in 2025. She claimed WNBA Finals MVP at the culmination of a postseason run when she averaged 26.8 points — her most in seven career postseason appearances — 10 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.5 blocks and 2.1 steals.
Wilson closed out the Aces’ four-game Finals sweep of Phoenix with consecutive games of 34 and 31 points, ending the surprise playoff run of the Mercury, who will lean into its veteran roster this season.
Phoenix reached the Finals as the No. 4 seed in the playoffs, taking down the No.1-seed Minnesota Lynx in a 3-1 semifinal series. Kahleah Copper, a 10-year veteran, averaged 17.8 points through the playoffs.
DeWanna Bonner, who is entering her 18th year in the league, posted a pair of double-doubles in the Finals, and 12-year veteran Alyssa Thomas delivered three double-doubles in the Finals and a triple-double in the title-clinching game.
While the returning trio helped guide Phoenix’s run to the Finals, Thomas said at the Mercury’s media day on Wednesday that the playoffs provided the team’s younger players with invaluable lessons.
“We had a lot of people on our team who were … first time going through playoffs,” Thomas said. “I don’t think you can prepare people enough for how hard playoffs is.”
Among its young contributors, Phoenix welcomes back Monique Akoa Makani, a season-long starter as a rookie last year.
Makani is part of a Mercury backcourt tasked Saturday with slowing Las Vegas’ perimeter group of Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd and offseason addition Chennedy Carter.
–Field Level Media
Sports
MLS-best Earthquakes test mettle in rematch vs. Whitecaps
Apr 15, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Earthquakes head coach Bruce Arena watches the game against the Phoenix Rising FC during the second half of the US Open Cup at PayPal Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images The top two teams in the MLS bid to continue their historic starts when the Vancouver Whitecaps visit the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night.
The Earthquakes and Whitecaps are the only teams in MLS history to win eight of their first nine matches, and Vancouver’s plus-20 goal differential (26-6) is the largest in league history through 10 games. The Quakes are plus-19 (26-7) through 11 matches.
San Jose (9-1-1, 28 points) is in first place in the Western Conference thanks to a 1-0 road victory over the Whitecaps (8-1-1, 25 points) on March 21. Beau Leroux scored the lone goal in the second minute of first-half stoppage time.
“It’s two teams having unbelievable first parts of the season,” Whitecaps coach Jesper Sorensen said. “Combined with two losses for the two teams in (21) games and one of them is because we played each other.
“It should be an exciting game for the league. We’ll try to make it as exciting as possible.”
Earthquakes coach Bruce Arena isn’t sure the result of the first match matters when the teams convene on Saturday.
“I’m not sure it applies to this match a whole lot,” Arena said. “We played real well against a good team. We scored a great goal and we hung on for a one-goal victory. What I take away from that is if we have a better feel for their team that we did going into that game but that doesn’t mean we’re going to be better off this time around.”
San Jose had won six straight MLS matches before playing to a 1-1 tie against host Toronto FC last Saturday. Leading goal scorer Preston Judd scored the tying goal in the 13th minute, his seventh of the season.
Judd saw how Vancouver advanced to the MLS Cup final last season before losing to Inter Miami and believes the Earthquakes can make a similar push.
“Yeah, I think at this point in the season, it’s a big game for us,” Judd said. “We’ve shown that we’ve exceeded the expectations others set for us, and this is another opportunity to make a statement and show that we’re a real contender. We’re going to challenge for the Cup this year.”
Vancouver had a four-match MLS winning streak snapped last Saturday when it tied the host Los Angeles Galaxy 1-1. Mathias Laborda scored the equalizer in the 81st minute.
Now comes the rematch against the Earthquakes, with the Whitecaps highly motivated to return serve.
“It’s going to be tough but it’s supposed to be tough,” Sorensen said. “That’s how it is. We’re ready to go there and play the way we always try to play.”
Brian White leads the Whitecaps with eight goals.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reds activate LHP Nick Lodolo ahead of 2026 debut
Mar 12, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The Cincinnati Reds activated left-hander Nick Lodolo off the injured list for the first time this season and he will start in Friday’s home game against the Houston Astros.
In a corresponding move, the Reds optioned right-hander Jose Franco to Triple-A Louisville.
Lodolo, 28, had the start to his season delayed by a blister on his left index finger. His return to the major leagues comes as the Reds are on a seven-game losing streak.
In 29 appearances (28 starts) for Cincinnati last season, Lodolo was 9-8 with a 3.33 ERA and finished the season with two complete games and one shutout. Over four seasons with the Reds, he is 24-22 with a 4.06 ERA in 76 appearances (75 starts). He finished sixth in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2022.
Franco, 25, made his major league debut March 30 and has a 4.30 ERA in eight relief appearances.
–Field Level Media
Aces, Mercury open schedules in rematch of WNBA Finals
MLS-best Earthquakes test mettle in rematch vs. Whitecaps
