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Falcons hire Ian Cunningham as general manager

NFL: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans SaintsNov 10, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Detailed view of the Atlanta Falcons helmet against the New Orleans Saints during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Falcons hired Chicago Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham as their next GM on Thursday.

The decision came not long after the team announced it had completed second interviews with Cunningham and Houston Texans assistant GM James Liipfert for the position.

Cunningham, 40, spent four seasons (2022-25) in his role in Chicago. Before that, he worked for the Philadelphia Eagles for five seasons, holding various roles such as director of college scouting, assistant director of player personnel and director of player personnel.

The University of Virginia alumnus began his NFL front office career with the Baltimore Ravens in 2008 as a player personnel assistant. After five seasons in that role, he worked in the Ravens’ scouting department from 2013-16.

Cunningham will report to Matt Ryan, the former MVP quarterback serving in Atlanta’s newly created president of football role.

The hiring completes the Falcons’ revamp of their leadership roles. They fired head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot after an 8-9 season in 2025. Kevin Stefanski was named the new head coach on Jan. 17.

“It was evident through our rigorous interview process Ian was the right choice for our general manager position,” Ryan said in a statement. “His vision for our team and organization aligned exactly with the type of leader we were seeking to help take the Falcons to the next level.

“Throughout Ian’s career, including Super Bowl championships in Baltimore and Philadelphia, Ian has demonstrated the drive and focus it takes to build championship contenders and put them in the position to win games.

“We love his broad and deep experience across every aspect of talent evaluation and know he’s learned from some of the best in the league. Pairing him with Coach Stefanski is exciting for us, and we can’t wait to see them bring our shared vision to life in everything we do starting right now.”

Cunningham and Liipfert were the only GM candidates to receive a second interview in Atlanta.

Liipfert, a Georgia native, also served in the Texans organization from 2018-24 in various roles, including director of college scouting and executive director of player personnel. He spent nine seasons in the New England Patriots’ scouting department (2009-17).

The Falcons also interviewed Pittsburgh Steelers assistant GM Andy Weidl, San Francisco 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams, Kansas City Chiefs assistant GM Mike Bradway and Eagles senior personnel director Joe Douglas.

–Field Level Media

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Garrett Mitchell providing spark as Brewers eye sweep of Marlins

MLB: Milwaukee Brewers at Miami MarlinsApr 18, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell (5) celebrates after scoring against the Miami Marlins during the sixth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Garrett Mitchell has often been on the injured list since his major league debut in August 2022, but he has been healthy this season as he and the Milwaukee Brewers go for a three-game sweep of the host Miami Marlins on Sunday.

“I’m just happy with the way he’s staying healthy,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said of Mitchell, who drew three walks, stole one base and scored one run on Saturday in Milwaukee’s season-high fourth straight win. “He’s responding after bad results.

“Garrett gives you tough at-bats. He sees a lot of pitches.”

Mitchell, a 27-year-old Californian with elite tools, was Milwaukee’s first-round pick (No. 20 overall) in 2020. In 18 games this year, he has an .877 OPS, which is on pace to exceed his career high of .832 from 2022. He’s getting regular playing time in part because center fielder Jackson Chourio and DH/outfielder Christian Yelich are on the injured list.

As for Sunday’s pitching matchup, it will be a battle of two tall right-handers with triple-digit fastballs: Miami’s Eury Perez (1-1, 5.40 ERA) against Jacob Misiorowski (1-1, 3.32).

Perez, listed at 6-foot-8 and 220 pounds, is 0-1 with a 3.72 ERA in two career starts against the Brewers.

The Marlins are 3-1 this season when starting Perez, although he has pitched past the fifth inning just once. Perez has elite extension and easy velocity, topping out between 98 and 101 mph. He also has a deadly slider, and his confidence in his other secondary pitches appears to be growing.

Misiorowski, listed at 6-foot-7 and 201 pounds, has never faced Miami.

The Brewers are 2-2 this season when pitching Misiorowski, who has lasted at least five innings in all four of his starts.

Misiorowski, who reaches 100 mph with his fastball, was Milwaukee’s second-round pick in 2022. He made his major league debut last year, going 5-3 with a 4.36 ERA in 15 games, including 14 starts, and being selected for the All-Star Game. He struck out 87 in 66 innings, showing off some of the most electrifying stuff in MLB.

This season, he has 33 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings.

On Sunday, he will be facing a Marlins squad that has lost seven of their past eight, including a season-high four in a row.

In Saturday’s 5-2 loss to Milwaukee, the Marlins had eight hits — all singles — and five came after the seventh inning.

“I wish I had the magic pill to determine which innings we’re going to do it,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. “I think it’s just the ebb and flow of games.

“You will see times when we cash in with runners in scoring position. And you will see games when we get opportunities, and we just don’t come through.”

–Field Level Media

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Robbie Ray, Giants go for sweep of mistake-prone Nationals

MLB: San Francisco Giants at Cincinnati RedsApr 14, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Robbie Ray (38) throws against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

The San Francisco Giants will try to accomplish a couple of firsts for this season in the series finale at the Washington Nationals on Sunday.

The Giants will look to win four consecutive games for the first time and will also try to complete their initial three-game series sweep.

Both are possible because the Giants outlasted the Nationals 7-6 in 12 innings after watching the Nationals tie it in the ninth on Saturday.

A pair of veterans match up in the finale when San Francisco left-hander Robbie Ray (2-2, 2.42 ERA) opposes right-hander Miles Mikolas (0-3, 11.49).

Ray has given up two earned runs or fewer in each of his four starts. On Tuesday, he allowed two runs on two hits and four walks in a loss to the Cincinnati Reds.

“I felt good,” Ray said. “I felt like the fastball and the changeup were working good. Slider was playing really well. Struggled a little bit with the curveball … that’s something I’m going to work on a little bit going into my next outing.”

He is 3-5 with a 5.21 ERA in nine starts against the Nationals.

Mikolas has struggled, allowing 20 earned runs in 15 2/3 innings. On Tuesday, he gave up three runs on three hits in 3 1/3 innings working behind an opener.

He is 5-1 with a 3.20 ERA in 10 games (six starts) versus the Giants.

The Giants rallied from a 5-1 deficit on Saturday, took the lead in the seventh, surrendered it in the ninth and won it in the 12th.

“That was one where the baseball gods didn’t feel like they were going to let us lose today,” manager Tony Vitello said. “There were several moments where we could have lost that game. I’m sure they could say the same in the other locker room. That’s what made it a great, March Madness, playoff-type game.”

Heliot Ramos had three hits, including his second home run in two games. Five players provided two hits each as part of a 16-hit attack.

Ryan Walker surrendered the lead in the ninth but pitched out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the 10th before Caleb Kilian pitched two innings for the win.

“That was super exciting,” Killian said of earning his first major league win in his 18th career appearance. “Probably long overdue.”

For the Nationals, Saturday’s loss was a mistake-filled effort. Miscues in the field and on the basepaths contributed to losing the early lead and later failing to pull the game out. Washington ranks near the bottom of MLB defensively with 18 errors.

“Every day we meet as a team and go through plays from the day before, plays that we did well, plays that we didn’t do well, and then how we want to execute them as a team,” manager Blake Butera said. “I think (Sunday’s) meeting will just be a good bit longer than usual.”

James Wood hit his seventh home run for Washington, which fell to 1-7 at home. He has reached base safely in 12 of his last 13 games since April 5, batting .360 with nine extra-base hits (three doubles, six homers).

–Field Level Media

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Orioles contact-less lineup tries for better results vs. Guardians

MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks at Baltimore OriolesApr 14, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser (17) reacts to an inside pitch during the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

There was a glaring lack of contact from Baltimore Orioles’ hitters on Saturday.

The Orioles had four hits — two of them homers — while striking out a stunning 16 times.

Baltimore will look to have their bats smack the ball more often in Sunday’s finale of a four-game series against the host Cleveland Guardians.

The Guardians have won two of the first three games, including Saturday’s 4-2 victory when right-hander Gavin Williams dominated the Orioles.

Williams struck out 11 in seven innings and allowed one run, three hits and one walk. He leads the majors with 40 strikeouts.

“That’s not the biggest goal for me,” Williams said of the strikeouts. “I’m just trying to help the team win games. It’s cool, but I don’t think it’s necessary to have to punch that many people out. I’m just trying to win games.”

Meanwhile, Baltimore’s Pete Alonso and Colton Cowser struck out in all four at-bats and Dylan Beavers fanned three times on Saturday.

That breeze inside the ballpark wasn’t necessarily coming from the nearby lake.

Orioles manager Craig Albernaz pointed to Williams’ dominance as the reason for Alonso and Cowser’s difficulties.

“They couldn’t see the breaking ball early enough to either make an adjustment or hold off on it,” Albernaz said.

Alonzo was the club’s marquee offseason acquisition and signed a five-year, $155 million contract. But so far, he has fizzled with a .208 average, two homers and eight RBIs to go with 26 strikeouts in 78 at-bats.

Cowser has yet to go deep and is batting .178 with 16 strikeouts in 45 at-bats. The fifth overall pick in the 2021 draft continues to struggle with big-league pitching.

“Colton, he’s our guy, and he has to figure it out how he wants to approach guys and what he’s trying to feel,” Albernaz said. “But with Colton at the plate, he’s dangerous. He’s a guy where, if he’s not feeling great, he can still get one pitch and do damage on, and that’s something where we feel very confident in.”

Leody Taveras and Gunnar Henderson hit the homers for Baltimore’s runs.

All of Cleveland’s runs also came on homers on Saturday. Brayan Rocchio smacked a three-run homer and Bo Naylor hit a solo blast.

Rocchio said a more patient approach is paying off for him. He has three homers in 63 at-bats after having five in 344 at-bats in 2025.

“That’s impressive for me, too,” Rocchio said. “Last year, I was struggling at hitting. Now I’m able to help the team with my at-bats and to see more pitches is pretty cool.”

Left-hander Joey Cantillo (1-0, 2.61 ERA) will start the finale for the Guardians.

Cantillo, 26, received a no-decision against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday when he gave up two runs and five hits over six innings. Both runs came on solo homers.

Cantillo is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in four appearances (two starts) against Baltimore. Cowser is 2-for-4 with one strikeout against Cantillo.

Left-hander Trevor Rogers (2-1, 3.04) will take the mound for Baltimore.

Rogers, 28, was roughed up by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday and took the loss. He gave up four runs and nine hits over 4 2/3 innings.

Rogers is 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA in two career starts against the Guardians. Rhys Hoskins is 9-for-21 (.429) with four homers off Rogers while David Fry (1-for-4) also has taken him deep.

–Field Level Media

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