Sports
Mike Trout Is Making Adjustments in His Latest Comeback Bid With Los Angeles Angels
Known for Hall of Fame-level offensive production, perhaps the most iconic image of Mike Trout came on defense, back when he was a rookie, with much of his upper torso above the center-field wall as if taking flight.
It was only fitting that a catch that would come to define Trout’s determination was made up against an advertisement for a major airline.
Takeoff. Flight. A perfect landing.
That was way back in 2012, at Baltimore’s Camden Yards, when Trout was sharing center-field duties and headed toward the American League Rookie of the Year Award. A home run-robbing catch of a drive from J.J. Hardy was a taste of what was to come.
Two seasons later, Trout would turn his all-around game into the first of three AL MVP Awards.
The first teammate to slap gloves in celebration with Trout after his memorable catch was then-right fielder Torii Hunter, a once-dynamic, home run-robbing center fielder himself, who had moved to right field to limit wear and tear in his later years.
This season, at age 33 and following a string of injuries that have limited him to no more than 82 games in three of the past four full seasons, Trout is the one moving to right field in the hope that his star can shine for an extended period once more.
Trout’s first game in right since 2012 came in a spring training game Monday that was uneventful, aside from a walk and a run scored at the plate. In three innings, Trout did not have a chance to make a play, but the short appearance served its purpose.
“It felt good,” Trout said afterward. “Just different angles, things you work on in BP. Just getting comfortable (and) trying to get a fly ball.”
The comfort level increased immediately with Trout hitting a home run in his second spring game Wednesday against the Cincinnati Reds. The 11-time All-Star said he made adjustments between his games Monday and Wednesday.
His first adjustment of 2025, he said, is to remember who he has been in the past and not chase pitches. Hammer the strikes and let the walks come if pitchers want to avoid the plate.
At 33, Trout is on the back nine of his career, but that doesn’t mean production has to wane. In his one month of action last season, Trout had an MLB-best 10 home runs over his first 29 games.
He is just 22 home runs from 400 in his career and 46 RBIs away from 1,000. He has a career .299 batting average and a .991 OPS that he built in 1,518 career games over 14 seasons.
A .410 career on-base percentage speaks to Trout’s desire to reach first by any means necessary.
If moving Trout to right field can help him get anywhere close to his elite-level offensive production, then everything will feel right again. Time is running out to savor Trout’s greatness, and the Angels’ lack of playoff appearances has kept him off baseball’s biggest stage since 2014.
Trout said he had found a mechanical adjustment to get his swing on track last season, and the adjustment will be put into play again this season. It’s a promising sign that he can look something like his MVP self, ideally for long stretches.
Trout also won’t take his move to right field for granted, saying he wants to work on getting reads off the bat. He will have less ground to cover in right, which will help put less stress on his legs, and there will be days when he serves as the designated hitter, even if the role goes against his desire to be an all-around player. Jorge Soler was brought in to be the primary DH.
Trout was the DH in Wednesday’s spring game and is scheduled to be back in right field Friday.
As Mickey Moniak and Jo Adell share center-field duties for now, Angels manager Ron Washington had one major directive for his younger players, and it is one that everybody can rally around.
“The only thing that I think that we’re concerned about, and we got with everyone, is the communication,” Washington said. “We don’t need nobody running into Mike Trout.”
Sports
Frederik Andersen, Hurricanes look to shut down Senators in Game 2
Apr 18, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) looks against the Ottawa Senators during the third period in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images Finding space on the ice is expected to be an ongoing challenge for the Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes in their Eastern Conference quarterfinals series.
So, finding any small edge will be critical when they meet in Game 2 on Monday night at Raleigh, N.C.
“The first round always has all the energy in the world and that’s what you expect,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said.
Carolina won 2-0 in the first game Saturday behind Frederik Andersen’s 22-save performance.
Both teams had difficulty finding openings and more of that could be in the works.
“I don’t think this series it’s ever going to look like there’s a ton of space out there,” Senators coach Travis Green said. “It’s going to look very similar every night. I think at the end of every game, both teams are going to feel like there wasn’t space on the ice and I don’t see changing.”
So, it came down to what the goalies could do.
“The goalies had to really shine,” Brind’Amour said.
Ottawa’s Linus Ullmark made 27 saves Saturday, but he fell to 5-11 in career playoff games. He was sharp as well, though Andersen stole the spotlight when it wasn’t clear leading up to the series opener if he would be Brind’Amour’s choice.
He had to decide between Andersen and rookie Brandon Bussi. Andersen got the call.
“He was up to the challenge,” Brind’Amour said. “We have good options and both guys have played well. Clearly, experience, I think won out. … Freddy has a track record and we know what he’s capable of.”
Green said to win on the road in the playoffs the goalie has to play well (and he liked Ullmark’s outing) and a power-play goal or two would be a boost.
The teams combined to go 0-for-9 on power plays in Game 1, with the Hurricanes having five chances.
“They’re a quick team,” Green said. “They’re good in this building.”
Carolina’s relentless nature is something the Senators need to be ready for again.
“They’re deep,” Green said. “They’re good. … Carolina does a real good job of playing their game.”
Carolina’s Logan Stankoven supplied a goal and an assist in the series opener, extending a strong stretch. He had an eight-game points streak to end the regular season.
Three of Stankoven’s four multi-point postseason outings have come with the Hurricanes. His line has been rolling up strong numbers for the past few weeks.
“We have a lot of depth,” Stankoven said. “Since the break, our line has been clicking pretty good. We’ve been able to find each other and I think we’re all hungry to track pucks.”
Now the Hurricanes will look for upgrades on power plays.
“If we look at one area we’re not overly happy with is our power-play chances,” Stankoven said. “Every team as a series goes on makes adjustments.”
Carolina improved to 7-0 in its last seven postseason opening games. The Hurricanes put together some quality stretches in the offensive zone.
“They probably deserved to win analytically, and they did,” Green said.
The Hurricanes have won 12 of 18 all-time best-of-seven series when winning Game 1.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Keller directs Pirates over Rays to clinch series win
Apr 19, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (6) tags Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Chandler Simpson (14) out at second base on a steal attempt during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Mitch Keller pitched seven strong innings, allowing two runs to help the host Pittsburgh Pirates score a 6-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday afternoon.
Coming off a 13-inning loss on Saturday where Pittsburgh used six relievers, Keller (2-1) preserved some arms for the Pirates bullpen and helped his team take two of three games against the Rays, who entered the series having won six in a row.
Bryan Reynolds backed up the pitching with two hits and three RBI to lead Pittsburgh’s bats, while Spencer Horwitz and Nick Yorke each hit solo home runs.
Nick Gonzales had two hits and an RBI and Jake Mangum also had two hits. The Pirates did it with the long ball and small ball as they recorded three bunt singles in a game for the first time since 1998.
After picking up his first win in three years in his previous start, Rays starter Shane McClanahan (1-2) was unable to follow up that success, nor spare Tampa Bay’s own taxed bullpen a day after it used seven relievers. He allowed four runs on eight hits and struck out five over 4 1/3 innings on 90 pitches.
Keller picked up his second win in his fifth start of the season after not doing so last season until his 17th start. He struck out five and gave up five hits and did not issue a walk on 89 pitches.
The Rays took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth on a two-run single by Hunter Feduccia off Keller, which was one of Tampa Bay’s six hits overall. Jonny DeLuca followed a Richie Palacios double and then stole second to set up Feduccia’s go-ahead hit.
The Pirates answered immediately when Joey Bart doubled and Billy Cook followed with a bunt single and stole second. Two batters later, Gonzales singled to drive in Bart, and Reynolds followed with a two-run single to put Pittsburgh ahead 4-2.
Right-hander Wilber Dotel was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis and made his major-league debut in the ninth. He allowed a solo home run to Junior Caminero, but then struck out Jonathan Aranda and retired Yandy Diaz on a ground out, and Cedric Mullins on a fly ball to center. The Pirates optioned reliever Cam Sanders to Triple-A Indianapolis.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Curtis Mead, Keibert Ruiz help Nationals tame Giants
Apr 19, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals first baseman Curtis Mead (45) rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Curtis Mead hit a two-run homer, Keibert Ruiz had two hits and the Nationals beat the San Francisco Giants 3-0 in Washington on Sunday to avoid a series sweep.
Andrew Alvarez (1-0), called up earlier in the day from Triple-A Rochester, pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings for the win, allowing three hits and striking out five without a walk.
PJ Poulin opened for Washington and was replaced by Miles Mikolas with two outs and two on in the first. Mikolas, who began the day with an 11.49 ERA, pitched four scoreless innings while allowing four hits in his best outing of the young season.
Rafael Devers and Drew Gilbert had two hits each for the Giants, who had won three straight, but went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
San Francisco’s Robbie Ray (2-3) gave up three runs on seven hits over six innings. He struck out seven and walked one.
The Giants put runner on first and second with two outs in each of the first two innings but did not score.
The Nationals got an infield single and a walk to open the third inning but couldn’t cash in. Curtis Mead hit a blooper to shallow left field that dropped, but Keibert Ruiz briefly broke back towards second and was thrown out at third. Brady House flied to the warning track in center and CJ Abrams flied out.
Washington took a 3-0 lead in the fifth. Nasim Nunez reached on a bunt single and stole second. Ruiz hit shot to left center and Heliot Ramas made a diving effort but couldn’t come up with it. Nunez scored and Mead lined the first pitch he saw from Ray out to left for a two-run homer.
The first two Giants reached base in the eighth inning on an error and a single, but Casey Schmitt grounded into a double play and pinch hitter Jerar Encarnacion struck out.
–Field Level Media
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Frederik Andersen, Hurricanes look to shut down Senators in Game 2
