Sports
New surface, new layout and new driver await field in Austin
Feb 15, 2025; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Connor Zilisch (88) during qualifying for the United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images NASCAR’s former two-race road course schedule is all grown up and has reached six.
Sunday’s Cup Series race at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) will be the first of a half-dozen twisting layouts, a demanding, complex track in the wonderfully weird Texas capital of Austin.
A new racing surface, Goodyear tires and course design — shorter without a long straightaway — await the drivers. Using the “National” course for the first time, NASCAR will run the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon.
At 2.3 miles in length, the newer layout for the Cup drivers will have its race extended to 95 laps. Previously on the 3.41-mile design, the race went 68 circuits.
In the first four stops at the serpentine track, NASCAR has seen Chase Elliott, Ross Chastain, Tyler Reddick and William Byron be first to the checkers.
Another new driver, short on experience but not talent or confidence, may be at the front Sunday as Trackhouse Racing’s 18-year-old Connor Zilisch will make his Cup debut in the No. 87 Chevrolet.
A winner in Xfinity and ARCA plus the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring in the LMP2 class, the Charlotte, N.C., native has lofty expectations in the Lone Star State in his first time in the sport’s top series.
While Shane van Gisbergen (+550) and Tyler Reddick (+750) are 1-2 with oddsmakers, Zilisch checks in with the third-best odds (+800).
“I want to try and become the youngest Cup Series winner,” Zilisch said Tuesday. “I don’t feel like there’s anything that tells me that I’m not ready to race on a road course on Sunday.”
Before leaving the first two races completely in the dust, the consensus is that the racing last week at Atlanta Motor Speedway far exceeded that of the kind witnessed in the Daytona 500, a fuel-conservation-oriented Great American Race that got messy as the laps wound down.
On his podcast this week Dale Earnhardt Jr. said the glaring difference in the racing shows that improvements need to be made at sister superspeedways Daytona and Talladega before the series returns to either.
“Watching (the 500) from the drivers’ standpoint, I was thinking, ‘We can do better,'” he said. “We went to Atlanta, and I thought what it could be — what Daytona, what Talladega could be. I don’t love the term ‘drafting tracks,’ … but we don’t run restrictor-plates anymore.”
A four-time Daytona winner including the 2004 and 2014 Daytona 500s, Earnhardt said Adam Stevens, crew chief for Atlanta winner Christopher Bell, had a great idea for preventing a fuel-strategy race.
“He had a great idea on how to get us (to better Daytona racing), which was to get it where they don’t need fuel during the stages — shorten the stage to the length of how far you can go on a tank of gas,” Earnhardt said. “I was wondering if another route for specifically Daytona and Talladega might be to get rid of the cautions at the stage breaks.
“What we saw at Atlanta was as good as it gets. … From the moment they dropped the green flag on the truck race to the (final) caution, it was edge of your seat.”
With Talladega not appearing until late April, NASCAR has some time to get off its seat and figure it out.
–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
Sports
Best Value Betting Picks Ahead of 2026 NFL Draft
It’s hard to believe that the 2026 NFL Draft is already almost here. It’s the perfect time to cash in on some draft betting picks.
Over the last few months, countless NFL mock drafters have taken stabs at where these top prospects could be selected.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best value on the board, utilizing FanDuel Sportsbook odds. Remember, this doesn’t mean that we’re predicting these players will be drafted in these spots.
Rather, we’re going to try to cash in on some valuable plus money opportunities for the NFL Draft, an event that is always capable of a few surprises.
No. 3 Overall: Francis Mauigoa (+650)
The Arizona Cardinals have the No. 3 overall pick – and they have needs all over their roster.
David Bailey (+110) and Arvell Reese (+260) are the betting favorite to come off of the board in this spot. But what if the Cardinals want to hook up new offensive minded head coach Mike LaFleur with a player to help fix his offense?
That could lead the Cardinals to Mauigoa, who was a standout right tackle for the Miami Hurricanes. 31-year-old veteran Elijah Wilkinson is expected to start at right tackle for the Cardinals.
They’ll probably take an edge rusher. But if they don’t Mauigoa would be the play at +650.
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No. 6 Overall: Caleb Downs (+1200)
The Cleveland Browns don’t need a defensive player. But Browns general manager Andrew Berry continues to float the idea of the team trading down. It’s a safe bet to expect the Browns to try and trade back.
Who would be worth another organization deciding to trade up for? Ohio State star safety Caleb Downs, who should still be on the board if the New York Giants select his Buckeyes teammate, Sonny Styles, at No. 5 overall.
Obviously, a lot has to go right for this selection to cash. But Downs is one of the best players in the draft. If he’s still available outside of the top five selections, he won’t last much longer.
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No. 10 Overall: Jordyn Tyson (+440)
Tyson is the one player in this class that could cause a major shakeup inside the top 10 picks.
According to reports, 20 teams attended the Arizona State star’s private workout, where the consensus seemed that most teams were comfortable with his medical situation.
The Giants just acquired the No. 10 selection from the Cincinnati Bengals. The NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that Giants GM Joe Schoen had dinner with Tyson the night before the private workout.
If Tyson is still available at No. 10 overall, the Giants could load up on offense for Jaxson Dart.
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