Sports
Cubs take on Pirates in battle between stellar and subpar offenses
Apr 29, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker (right) congratulates designated hitter Seiya Suzuki (27) after his two-run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the seventh inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Veteran left-hander Matthew Boyd was delighted to join a Cubs team that had potential for offensive firepower and a strong defense when he signed with Chicago in the offseason.
And the Cubs, leading the National League in batting average and runs — and sitting second in home runs — have not been disappointing.
They showed that scoring ability Tuesday night with a 9-0 win over the Pirates, and Boyd will hope for the same run support when he faces host Pittsburgh in the second game of a three-game series on Wednesday night.
In the first game of the series, all nine batters in the Cubs’ lineup recorded at least one hit, and none struck out, marking the first time that’s happened since July 3, 2013. Seiya Suzuki blasted one of four home runs for Chicago and came within a single of hitting for the cycle.
Said Boyd: “It’s the reason I signed here and why we all believe to dream big. We want to be a team that’s playing at the end of October, but there’s a lot to do until then.”
In five starts this season, Boyd (2-2, 2.54 ERA) has been the beneficiary of seven runs in each of his two wins and a combined two runs in his two losses. In his most recent outing, a 7-6 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 23, he gave up double-digit hits (10) for the first time this season, allowing six runs (three earned). He surrendered two home runs as he walked one and struck out four.
The 34-year-old Boyd, who is with his fifth major league club, is 0-3 with a 7.11 ERA in five career starts against the Pirates. His most recent start against them was his most successful, even though he took a 3-0 loss. Pitching for the Cleveland Guardians last Aug. 31, he gave up one run on four hits in six innings.
On Wednesday, he will face a Pittsburgh lineup that continues to struggle, after being shut out for the fifth time this season. The Pirates are next to last in batting in the National League — .224 compared with the Cubs’ .263.
Multiple injuries to projected starters prompted the Pirates to move their Wednesday starter, Carmen Mlodzinski (1-3, 6.95 ERA), from the bullpen to the rotation. But the 26-year-old has struggled overall, especially when he faces a lineup for the second and third time in a game.
His most recent start last Thursday produced slightly better results than his prior two outings, as he allowed three runs on five hits, including a home run, struck out four and walked one in his team’s 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.
The Pirates took a 3-0 lead into the fourth inning before Mlodzinski gave up three runs in the inning.
After the game, he dissected his performance.
“The consistent things I’m noticing are my fastballs are being driven down in the zone, especially when I start to fatigue,” Mlodzinski said. “I thought (Thursday) I did a better job of that, getting my fastball up in the zone later in the game, but it’s not necessarily my fastball getting damaged. It’s more the tight slider, and I’m not creating the space I need to create in the zone for guys to respect the top of the zone with the hard stuff so the slider can play better.”
Although Pittsburgh starters Jared Jones and Johan Oviedo are not ready to make their season debuts as they recover from injuries, Mlodzinski’s struggles have prompted many to question whether the Pirates should promote one of their top pitching prospects from the minor leagues and move Mlodzinski back into the bullpen.
Mlodzinski has never started against the Cubs but has a 2.45 ERA in 7 1/3 career relief innings against them.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Orlando City want attack to catch up to defense vs. Charlotte
Mar 14, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City midfielder Martin Ojeda (10) shoots on goal during the second half against the CF Montreal at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images Orlando City will be hoping for a much-needed attacking breakthrough on Wednesday night when they host a Charlotte FC side in search of a second consecutive away victory.
Orlando (1-6-1, 4 points) has been one of Major League Soccer’s most disappointing teams this season, costing former manager Oscar Pareja his job last month.
But there is some evidence that maybe the Lions have at least righted the ship defensively. After conceding 23 times in their first six games, interim manager Martin Perelman’s group has allowed only two goals in the last three fixtures across all competitions.
“I think we organize the team. It never is enough, always (important) to improve things,” Perelman said. “We are in that part. Last details. But yes, the structure is there. In the offensive side as well, we are working. Hopefully we can get the shape we want, that we are used to. Because in this club we have been scoring a lot for the last two years.”
So far, though, the attacking end remains pretty dire. After Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic combined for 28 MLS goals a season ago, they only have two apiece for a team with six goals total.
Pasalic also missed last week’s 1-0 home loss to Houston on Saturday night with a leg injury.
Charlotte (4-2-2, 14 points) makes the journey south following a 2-1 victory at New York City FC on Saturday, one that came despite holding a season-low 36% possession.
Defender Tim Ream exited that match at halftime and will miss roughly a week with an adductor strain, Charlotte manager Dean Smith said.
Idan Toklomati scored early in the second half and Kerwin Vargas added a goal late before NYCFC pulled one back in second-half stoppage time. And Charlotte created a similar number of chances to NYCFC despite having less of the ball.
Smith hopes the performance sets the tone for upcoming travels, with Charlotte to play its next three league games away after five of its first eight came at home.
“There’s not plenty of away games we’ve played so far, such is the fixture list,” Smith said. “We didn’t start on the road well, but we showed loads of characteristics that I liked on Saturday. And we need to continue to do that in the next three away games as well.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Union bring challenged offense north to face streaking Toronto FC
Apr 18, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto FC midfielder Malik Henry (78) attempts to control the ball against Austin FC during the second half at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images Toronto FC will aim to extend their unbeaten streak to seven matches when the Philadelphia Union visit on Wednesday.
Toronto (3-2-3, 12 points) is 3-0-3 in its last six outings. Wednesday marks the sixth date of Toronto FC’s nine-match homestand, and the club is unbeaten (4-0-8) in its last 12 home matches dating back to last season.
Despite the good results, midfielder Malik Henry felt his team left victories on the table.
“Some of the draws we’ve had, we feel like we definitely could have won those games, which makes it a bit more disappointing,” Henry told TFC Republic. “We just have to take the points and then continue to move forward with it.”
Walker Zimmerman is expected to be available Wednesday, in a boost to an injury-depleted back line. Zimmerman missed Toronto’s last two matches with a calf injury.
Toronto FC’s offense has been both varied and efficient. Eight Toronto players have at least one goal this season, and the team’s 51.5% accurate shooting percentage is the best in MLS.
The Union are at the other end of the attacking spectrum, with a 27.1% AS percentage that ranks second-last in the league.
Philadelphia (1-6-1, 4 points) has recorded only six goals in eight regular-season matches, ahead of only four-goal D.C. United in MLS.
The lack of offense contributed to the Union’s season-opening six-game losing streak, and goals remain at a premium even as Philadelphia has gone 1-0-1 in its last two matches. The Union outshot D.C. United 17-6 on Saturday and held D.C. without a shot on target, yet still had to settle for a 0-0 draw.
Philadelphia coach Bradley Carnell felt that returning to the striker pairing of Bruno Damiani and Ezekiel Alladoh can help unlock the Union’s offense.
“We have tried a lot of different combinations (at forward) and now we go back-to-back with the same,” Carnell said. “Every day we get together with Eze and Bruno working together, it’s … one day more advanced and developed.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Richardson Hitchins relinquishing IBF title after signing with Zuffa
May 21, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Richardson Hitchins (gold trunks) and Angel Rodriguez (black trunks) box during a Premier Boxing Champions card at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images Just two weeks after revealing that he was signing with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, IBF super lightweight champion Richardson Hitchins is relinquishing his title to pursue welterweight competition instead, Hitchins announced on social media this week.
“I’ve outgrown 140 and my days at the weight is done,” he wrote on X. “Let’s go!!!”
147 It’s time! i will be 2 division world champ Real Soon , I’ve outgrown 140 and My days at the weight is done Let’s go !!!! ????
— Richardson Hitchins (@HeIsRichardson) April 21, 2026
The IBF confirmed the move via an issued statement on Tuesday.
“On the evening of April 20, 2026, the IBF received notification from Richardson Hitchins that he was relinquishing his IBF Jr. Welterweight World title,” the IBF wrote. “Hitchins expressed his pride in fighting for, winning and holding the title. Likewise, the IBF was proud to have Hitchins as a world champion.
“We recognized his talent, included him in the rankings and he took that path to the championship. The IBF extends its best wishes to Richardson Hitchins for his continued success.”
Hitchins, 28, originally won his title in 2024 after a unanimous decision against Liam Paro in Puerto Rico. The Brooklyn native is 20-0 with eight wins by knockout.
The move now ends the possibility of a reworked bout between Hitchins and Lindolfo Delgado, originally scheduled in replacement of Hitchins’ canceled February fight with Oscar Duarte due to Hitchins’ illness.
Delgado is in line to challenge for the vacated super lightweight title in his next fight. As the highest remaining fighters in the division, Delgado and Duarte would now seem likely opponents for one another, though both are trained by the same individual, Robert Garcia, which could complicate a potential pairing.
Hitchins followed Jai Opetaia in joining Zuffa, with the latter actually being stripped of his IBF cruiserweight title following his victory at the Zuffa World Cruiserweight Championship in March. For Hitchins, reclassifying could be a preemptive move to avoid having his own title stripped.
Hitchins is scheduled to make his Zuffa debut this summer.
–Field Level Media
Orlando City want attack to catch up to defense vs. Charlotte
Union bring challenged offense north to face streaking Toronto FC
