Sports
Michael Soroka's strong outing gets Diamondbacks past Braves
Apr 4, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Michael Soroka (34) on the mound during the second inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images Michael Soroka threw five strong innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks scored a pair of unearned runs to earn a 2-1 victory over the visiting Atlanta Braves on Saturday.
Soroka (2-0) allowed one run on four hits, striking out three and walking three for Arizona, which had dropped the first two games of the series. Soroka posted his first win against his former club, following 44 appearances with Atlanta from 2018-23. The Diamondbacks’ pitching staff retired the final 14 Atlanta batters of the game.
Bryce Elder (1-1) lost despite throwing seven innings of two-run (zero earned) ball. Elder gave up four hits, striking out eight and walking one for the Braves, who saw their three-game winning streak snapped.
Atlanta struck first in the top of the second, as Mike Yazstremski’s leadoff walk was followed with Dominic Smith’s two-out RBI single.
After Gabriel Moreno and Nolan Arenado singled in the bottom of the second, Jose Fernandez laid down a bunt and Elder’s errant throw sailed into right field, allowing both runners to score.
Moreno had half of Arizona’s four hits as he went 2-for-3 with two singles.
Soroka was relieved in the sixth by Taylor Clarke, who threw a perfect frame. Jonathan Loaisiga retired the side for Arizona in the seventh.
Matt Olson was 1 of 3 on the day and this inning double was the only extra-base hit of the day.
Elder got through another clean inning in the bottom of the seventh, before Juan Morillo pitched a perfect top of the eighth to preserve Arizona’s one-run edge.
Tyler Kinley came in for Elder after 89 pitches, needing just seven pitches to ease through the bottom of the eighth. Paul Sewald sat down each of three batters he faced in the ninth, posting his third save in as many opportunities.
Atlanta will look to clinch its third straight series to begin the season on Sunday.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Nets sign C Moritz Wagner to multi-year contract
May 3, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Orlando Magic forward Moritz Wagner (21) celebrates a three point basket in the first half against the Detroit Pistons during game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images The Brooklyn Nets signed veteran center Moritz Wagner to a multi-year contract on Friday.
Terms were not released, but ESPN reported the deal was for two years and $19 million.
Wagner, 29, spent the past five-plus seasons with the Orlando Magic. The Nets are his fifth NBA team.
The 6-foot-11 Germany native averaged 6.9 points and 3.2 rebounds in 36 games off the Magic bench in 2025-26.
Wagner has career averages of 9.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 16.2 minutes in 399 games (57 starts) with the Los Angeles Lakers (2018-19), Washington Wizards (2019-21), Boston Celtics (2021) and Magic (2021-26).
He has shot 51.8% from the field and 80.8% from the free-throw line since being drafted by the Lakers in the first round (25th overall) out of Michigan in 2018.
Younger brother Franz Wagner has been with the Magic since they selected him with the No. 8 overall draft pick in 2021.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Sam Leavitt Faces Massive Expectations at LSU
Last season was a disaster in Baton Rouge. LSU took a risk by poaching Brian Kelly from Notre Dame in 2021, but he was unable to replicate the success Ed Orgeron had achieved as head coach. It wasn’t all low lights for Kelly, as he did have multiple 10-win seasons and Bowl wins over his Tigers’ career.
Unfortunately, 10 win seasons and bowl game victories don’t do much for the LSU faithful. The Tigers went big game hunting and landed the most coveted coach in the cycle, Lane Kiffin. Whether you love or hate Kiffin, he’s firmly established himself as one of the better coaches and recruiters in the sport — and he was going to need to overhaul what was a very flawed LSU roster.
Kiffin’s biggest move this offseason was bringing in Sam Leavitt, a redshirt junior transfer from Arizona State. Leavitt was the number-one player in the portal this offseason and reportedly signed a $6 million deal to move to Louisiana.
Injuries derailed portions of Leavitt’s 2025 season, and that may have led to some regression last season, but I’m not entirely sure he’s going to be worth the massive deal he signed this offseason.
Leavitt was dealing with foot issues even when he was on the field last year, but I never came away super impressed with him. During his surprise playoff run during the 2024-25 season, it always felt like Cam Skatteboo’s team, not his. When given full control of the Sun Devil’s offense, he struggled at points, like his 10/22, 82-yard, two-interception performance against 5-7 Mississippi State.
The SEC will be a massive step up in talent for Leavitt, but also a massive step up in responsibility. Kiffin’s offenses will heavily rely on Leavitt to be the engineer on offense, and I’m just not sure that’s in his wheelhouse.
I personally see Leavitt as more of a game manager and not a game changer, and I don’t even think a QB whisperer as great as Kiffin can fix that. Most importantly, how healthy is Leavitt going to be heading into the season?
He missed all of the winter and spring recovering from his Lisfranc fracture and is only now getting up to speed. I don’t love my starting quarterback missing that much time, especially when he has to learn a new offense and build chemistry with a brand-new group of receivers.
The SEC doesn’t have the same level of depth as in previous years, but there’s still enough talent at the top to cause issues in year one under Kiffin. I would be shocked to see LSU as a playoff contender right away. I think it’s far more likely that Kiffin’s ex at Ole Miss will be playing in January.
Sports
Pens sign F Tommy Novak to 3-year, $13.95M extension
Mar 8, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Tommy Novak (18) reacts after scoring the game winning goal in overtime against Boston Bruins at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The Pittsburgh Penguins signed forward Tommy Novak to a three-year, $13.95 million contract extension on Friday.
Novak, 29, posted 42 points (16 goals, 26 assists) in 82 games in his first full season with the Penguins in 2025-26.
Acquired in a trade with Nashville in March 2025, Novak has 159 points (65 goals, 94 assists) in 285 career games.
The Predators drafted the St. Paul, Minn., native in the third round in 2015 and he made his NHL debut in 2021.
Novak, who would have been a free agent after the 2026-27 season, will earn an average annual salary of $4.65 million. The extension will run through the 2029-30 season.
–Field Level Media
Nets sign C Moritz Wagner to multi-year contract
Sam Leavitt Faces Massive Expectations at LSU
