Sports
Chris Sale, Braves look to take down two-time champion Dodgers
Apr 26, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale (51) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The team with the best record in the major leagues will match up with the two-time defending champions this weekend as the Atlanta Braves and host Los Angeles Dodgers each have something to prove.
The Braves arrive from Seattle after their first series loss of the season in 12 tries, while the Dodgers return home following a lackluster 3-3 road trip to St. Louis and Houston.
Friday’s series opener will match Braves left-hander Chris Sale (6-1, 2.14 ERA) against Dodgers right-hander Emmet Sheehan (2-1, 5.23).
Sale has allowed one run or fewer in six of his seven starts this season, including Saturday at Colorado when he allowed one run on three hits over seven innings and finished with a season-high 11 strikeouts.
Over his last four starts, Sale is 4-0 with a 1.04 ERA and has 33 strikeouts with seven walks over 26 innings pitched.
“He’s a freak,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said of the nine-time All-Star and 2024 National League Cy Young Award winner. “He’s a Hall of Famer, and those guys are just different. That’s what he’s been doing pretty much his whole major league career.”
Sale is 1-2 with a 6.65 ERA in five appearances (four starts) lifetime against the Dodgers. He has two career starts against them at Los Angeles and is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA.
On offense, the Braves lead the National League with 55 home runs, 13 of which have been supplied by Matt Olson, who entered Thursday’s MLB play second in the NL with a 1.059 OPS.
The Dodgers were tied for second in the NL with 50 home runs heading into Thursday’s play, although run production has been something of a struggle at times.
The Dodgers are 7-8 since April 21 and averaged 1.6 runs in those eight defeats. The run-scoring potential does remain high, though, and they showed it Wednesday when Andy Pages hit three home runs in a 12-2 victory at Houston.
Thursday was a well-timed off day for Los Angeles, after its bullpen had to absorb eight innings when right-hander Tyler Glasnow departed after the opening frame because of lower back tightness.
Sheehan enters after matching a season high with four runs allowed in a loss to the Cardinals last Friday. He allowed eight hits over 4 2/3 innings with no walks and eight strikeouts.
Sheehan had been one of a trio of Dodgers starters in danger of losing his rotation spot with the impending return of left-hander Blake Snell from the injured list. Glasnow’s situation, though, could buy the threesome a little more time.
Sheehan has shown reduced fastball velocity this season, including a season-low average of 93.4 mph during his start at St. Louis.
“There’s nothing I can point to and say, ‘Hey, this is the reason,'” Sheehan said. “We’re working really hard on it, and we’re going to continue working really hard on it. That’s all we can do.”
Sheehan has one career start against the Braves, allowing one run on three hits over four innings of a 2023 no-decision.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, who was replaced by Olson in the Braves lineup in 2022, has just three home runs with 19 RBIs this season. He did emerge from some late-April struggles by batting .375 on the just-concluded road trip, with three doubles.
The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani ended an 0-for-18 slide Wednesday with an RBI single to go along with a double, walk and two runs scored.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Norris Trophy finalists: Cale Makar, Rasmus Dahlin, Zach Werenski
Apr 16, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) during the first period against the Seattle Kraken at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar was named a Norris Trophy finalist for the sixth consecutive season on Thursday.
A two-time winner of the award (2021-22, 2024-25), Makar is joined by Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin and Columbus Blue Jackets star Zach Werenski as finalists.
The award is presented annually to the defenseman voted the best at his position by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. A winner will be announced at a later date.
Makar, 27, totaled 79 points (20 goals, 59 assists) and a plus-32 rating in 75 games this season.
Dahlin, 26, recorded a career-high 74 points (19 goals, 55 assists) and a plus-18 rating in 77 games this season. He is a first-time finalist and would be the first member of the Sabres to win the award.
Werenski, 28, is a Norris Trophy finalist for the second straight season. He had 81 points (22 goals, 59 assists) in 75 games in 2025-26.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Vikings request interviews for GM candidates
Aug 26, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler reacts during the game against the New England Patriots at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Minnesota Vikings reportedly have identified at least two external candidates for their general manager vacancy.
NFL Network reported that the team has requested interviews with assistant general managers Dave Ziegler of the Tennessee Titans and Terrance Gray of the Buffalo Bills.
Vikings vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski has served as the interim GM since the team fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah after four years on the job.
Ziegler joined the Titans in 2025. He was the general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders from 2022-23 and worked in New England’s front office from 2013-21, winning three Super Bowls with the Patriots.
Gray has been with the Bills since 2017 and was promoted to assistant GM in May 2025. He worked as a college scout for the Vikings from 2006-16, overlapping with Brzezinski.
–Field Level Media
Sports
IOC lifts restrictions on athletes from Belarus
Jan 19, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; The Olympic rings flag at Centennial Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Athletes from Belarus have been reinstated by the International Olympic Committee Executive board after they were banned from competing under the country’s flag following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The decision, which was announced by the IOC on Thursday, does not pertain to athletes from Russia.
Belarus was suspended by the IOC from sending athletes into international competitions after the country was used as a staging ground for Russian troops before the war against Ukraine began.
“(The IOC) must uphold its mission to preserve a values-based and truly global sporting platform that provides hope to the world,” the organization said in a statement Thursday. “… The IOC reaffirms that athletes’ participation in international competition should not be limited by the actions of their governments, including involvement in a war or conflict.”
Belarus was not allowed to have an official Olympic contingent at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
In addition to Olympic competitions, Belarus athletes had been forced to participate as individual neutral athletes at various other international competitions.
The IOC also is expected to come to a decision soon on either ending or extending Russia’s suspension.
“Belarus is in good standing and complies with the Olympic Charter,” the IOC said. “Whilst (Russia) has held constructive exchanges with the IOC on its suspension, it remains suspended while the IOC Legal Affairs Commission continues to review the matter.”
–Field Level Media
Norris Trophy finalists: Cale Makar, Rasmus Dahlin, Zach Werenski
Report: Vikings request interviews for GM candidates
