Sports
Braves, after clinching at last chance, open playoffs in San Diego
Sep 30, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson (28) hits a single against the New York Mets in the seventh inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Michael King was one of the assets the San Diego Padres obtained when they traded Juan Soto to the New York Yankees in December, and there was uncertainty regarding the role he would fill.
King made 49 appearances for New York in 2023, and only nine were starts. However, San Diego badly needed a starter after seeing Blake Snell (the 2023 National League Cy Young Award winner), Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha all depart as free agents.
Nearly 10 months later, there is no debate about King’s role. The 29-year-old right-hander will start Game 1 of the best-of-three NL wild-card series when the fourth-seeded Padres host the fifth-seeded Atlanta Braves on Tuesday evening.
Atlanta had uncertain pitching plans after squeezing into the postseason at the last opportunity on Monday.
King went 13-9 in 31 appearances (30 starts) during the regular season and ranked fourth in the NL in ERA (2.95) and fifth in strikeouts (201). He gave up two or fewer earned runs in 23 of his 30 starts.
“He’s pitched exceptionally well,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said Monday. “He’s up there in ERA … and he’s able to navigate both sides of the plate with his arsenal. Michael is really nasty and he’s competed very well.”
Shildt said he informed King on Saturday that he would be the Game 1 starter. Joe Musgrove will start Game 2 on Wednesday and fellow right-hander Dylan Cease will pitch Game 3, if necessary, on Thursday.
Tuesday will mark King’s second career postseason appearance. He pitched two perfect innings of relief for the Yankees in Game 3 of the 2020 American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
That series was played in San Diego during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ballpark was empty. Now Petco Park is considered to have one of the top environments in the majors, and King is looking forward to the atmosphere.
“It’s incredibly uncomfortable for a team to come into,” King said of the raucous environment. “It’s going to be a very tough time for our opponent. I can’t wait to turn up my PitchCom (device) and make sure I can hear everything. It’s going to be a fun time (Tuesday night).”
King has faced Atlanta just once in his career, and that occurred last season with the Yankees. He pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief and gave up one hit.
The Braves clinched a playoff berth for the seventh consecutive season by splitting a doubleheader with the New York Mets on Monday. Atlanta blew a ninth-inning lead in the first game and lost 8-7 before wrapping up the postseason bid with a 3-0 victory in the second game.
Ace Atlanta left-hander Chris Sale (18-3, 2.38 ERA) was unavailable for the doubleheader due to back spasms that affected him in his previous start on Sept. 19 against the Cincinnati Reds. Braves manager Brian Snitker said he doesn’t expect Sale to pitch in the series against San Diego.
The Braves boarded their long flight from Atlanta to San Diego on Monday night without declaring who would start Game 1. Promoting a pitcher from Triple-A Gwinnett is one of the options.
Star first baseman Matt Olson wasn’t overly concerned about the situation his club is facing, as the Braves were injury-riddled all year.
The biggest offensive loss was 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr., who sustained a season-ending knee injury in May. Slugger Austin Riley (broken hand) also is done for the year, while three-time All-Star second baseman Ozzie Albies recently returned from a fractured wrist.
Among the pitching losses was standout right-hander Spencer Strider, who made two starts at the outset of the season before undergoing season-ending elbow surgery.
“Everybody battles through injuries throughout the year,” Olson said Monday. “You get hyper-focused on it when it’s yourself. … Nobody on the outside cares. We never used it as an excuse. Those are obviously some big names in the game and guys with some stats on their baseball cards. But we never let it faze us and we continued to grind.”
The Padres went 4-3 against the Braves this season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cardinals agree to sweetened $15.5M deal with QB Jacoby Brissett
Jul 23, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) during training camp at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett agreed to a reworked deal that will guarantee him $15.5 million plus incentives, according to multiple reports on Sunday.
Brissett could earn $21 million this season if he meets all incentives. He is slated to become a free agent following the season.
Brissett has been unhappy with his contract all offseason after starting 12 games in 2025 and being projected as Arizona’s starting quarterback again this season.
The 33-year-old Brissett didn’t do on-field work during the team’s mandatory minicamp as he expressed his disdain for his deal due to pay $4.88 million in 2026 with just $1.5 million guaranteed.
However, he participated in Thursday’s first training camp workout with Arizona.
Brissett replaced injured Kyler Murray as the starter last season and completed 64.9% of his passes for career highs of 3,366 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also tossed a career-worst eight interceptions in 485 attempts.
Still, the Cardinals went 1-11 in Brissett’s 12 starts. In the offseason, Arizona hired a new coach in Mike LaFleur and drafted quarterback Carson Beck in the third round of the 2026 draft.
Overall, Brissett is 20-45 as a starter while playing for six teams. He made 30 of his starts for the Indianapolis Colts (2016-19) with 15 coming in 2017 when Andrew Luck was injured. He made 15 more in 2019 after Luck unexpectedly retired shortly before the start of the season.
Brissett has passed for 14,766 yards, 76 touchdowns and 32 interceptions in 101 games. Brissett and Aaron Rodgers both have 1.4 interception rates that are the lowest in NFL history.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: A's sign LHP Dallas Keuchel to minor league deal
Jul 7, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) throws during the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images The Athletics signed former American League Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel to a minor league contract, ESPN reported Saturday.
The 38-year-old left-hander, a two-time All-Star, last pitched in the majors for the Milwaukee Brewers on July 13, 2024.
He has 13 years of major league experience, most prominently with the Houston Astros (2012-18). In 2015, he went 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA and 216 strikeouts, en route to winning the AL Cy Young Award.
The veteran will now attempt another comeback with the Athletics. Per ESPN, he will report to Triple-A Las Vegas.
With the Astros, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins and Brewers, Keuchel is 103-92 with a 4.04 ERA and 1,254 strikeouts in 282 games (267 starts).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Magomed Ankalaev puts away Bogdan Guskov at UFC Abu Dhabi
Oct 4, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, UNITED STATES; Magomed Ankalaev (red gloves) reacts after the fight against Alex Pereira (blue gloves) during UFC 320 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images After a slow-paced, grueling affair that drew boos from the Etihad Arena crowd, No. 1-ranked former UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev finally put away No. 9 Bogdan Guskov with fifth-round ground-and-pound at 2:41 to cap off Saturday’s UFC Fight Night event in Abu Dhabi.
The main event was a slog for the first 15 minutes. The opening frame saw very little action, and the second round was largely uneventful aside from Ankalaev (22-2-1, 1 NC MMA) securing a clinch and landing a few knees. The lack of output continued into the third, prompting the restless Abu Dhabi crowd to loudly voice their frustration and shower both men with boos as they returned to their corners.
Ankalaev shifted gears in the championship rounds, immediately taking Guskov (18-4-1 MMA) to the mat to open the fourth. He worked his way to full mount before settling into half guard, eventually threatening with a rear-naked choke that Guskov managed to defend to survive the frame.
Guskov, who landed just 42 strikes throughout the entire fight, nearly pulled off a miracle head-in-arm choke early in the fifth round. Ankalaev calmly escaped the sudden submission threat and eventually took Guskov’s back. Despite a brief reversal from Guskov in a desperate scramble, Ankalaev regained top position and unleashed a vicious barrage of ground-and-pound to force the stoppage.
The victory gave Ankalaev his 13th UFC win, the most among active light heavyweights.
“I want to say thank you to Bogdan (Guskov) for coming in here and saving the fight,” Ankalaev said. “I feel good. Thank you.”
Watching the grueling affair cageside was reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg, who is currently sidelined recovering from a torn ACL. With the stoppage victory, Ankalaev likely solidified his position as the next challenger for Ulberg once the champion is cleared to return to the Octagon.
Flyweight Ramazan Temirov (20-3 MMA) secured his 12th consecutive victory in spectacular fashion, thoroughly dominating former title challenger Steve Erceg (14-5 MMA) en route to a first-round knockout.
Temirov set the tone early with a spinning back attack to begin the bout. Later in the frame, he unleashed a barrage of punches before putting the finishing touches on the performance. The final sequence began with a right hand before Temirov dropped and flatlined Erceg with a single punch to end things at the 4:21 mark.
Following the spectacular finish, Temirov used his post-fight interview to call out reigning UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van for a future title fight.
“I’m ready for everyone,” Temirov said. “Whoever is champion, I’m ready.”
Lightweight Magomed Zaynukov (9-0 MMA) leaned on highly effective striking and mixed combinations to secure a unanimous decision victory (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) over Damian Rzepecki (10-1 MMA). After a slow-paced opening frame, Zaynukov found his rhythm and dictated the action down the stretch, opening noticeable cuts over Rzepecki’s nose and eyes to cruise to the win.
Heavyweight Rizvan Kuniev (14-3-1 MMA) wore down an incredibly game Tyrell Fortune (18-4 MMA), ultimately securing a TKO victory with a devastating knee to the head at the 1:12 mark of the third round. Kuniev nearly finished the bout in both the first and second frames with a barrage of knees and elbows, but Fortune showed immense toughness, surviving the early onslaught and continuing to fight despite a severely compromised right rib.
In the main card opener, Abubakar Vagaev (25-4 MMA) leaned on a balanced attack of striking and timely takedowns to secure a unanimous decision victory (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) over Saygid Izagakhmaev (22-4 MMA).
Saturday’s main card was unexpectedly reduced from six fights to five just three hours before the event began. The UFC announced that Islam Dulatov was forced to withdraw from his scheduled welterweight bout against Wellington Turman due to an illness, prompting a last-minute cancellation.
Heavyweight Valter Walker (16-1 MMA) made history on Saturday’s preliminary card, securing his fifth consecutive submission victory to tie former middleweight title challenger Demian Maia for the longest submission streak in modern UFC history. Walker finished Thomas Petersen (11-5 MMA) via first-round calf slicer — an incredibly rare finish that marks only the fourth of its kind ever successfully executed inside the Octagon.
Saturday marked the UFC’s 23rd event in Abu Dhabi since 2010. The promotion also announced during the broadcast that it will make its 24th trip to the United Arab Emirates on Oct. 24 for UFC 333.
The UFC returns to action next Saturday, kicking off August with a trip to Serbia for UFC Fight Night.
–Field Level Media
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