Sports
No. 20 Clemson focused on 'daily work,' won't look past Virginia Tech
Feb 4, 2026; Stanford, California, USA; Clemson Tigers guard Ace Buckner (21) smiles after making a free-throw against the Stanford Cardinal during the second half at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images No. 20 Clemson is tied atop the Atlantic Coast Conference standings with No. 4 Duke ahead of their showdown this weekend, but first the Tigers have to get by visiting Virginia Tech on Wednesday night.
The story for Clemson (20-4, 10-1 ACC) has been defense. The Tigers are allowing just 64.1 points per game, 11th in the nation, and have won four in a row. The Tigers’ only ACC loss came to North Carolina State in overtime.
Clemson is coming off a West Coast swing where it knocked off Stanford by two last Wednesday and dominated Cal 77-55 on Saturday. Tigers coach Brad Brownell was asked after the win over the Golden Bears if his team has peaked.
“I don’t think we talk about it,” Brownell replied. “We talk about daily work, daily improvements and focusing on what we can control and our players, but we’re also trying to enjoy the experience. It’s a long, hard season. We want our guys to be energized. We know there is a long way to go in league play.”
Clemson put on a defensive master class, holding the Bears without a field goal for almost 13 minutes in the first half and building a 19-point halftime lead. Brownell called it one of his team’s best performances of the season.
“We don’t have a bunch of guys who are big-time scorers. We have guys that are good players and guys who have bought into their roles,” Brownell said. “There are guys on our team who could play more minutes, but they sacrifice that in order for us to play the best way we think to play, which is playing a lot of guys. It’s something we have been talking about and working on since June. I think we have grown as a team.”
Clemson has a balanced scoring attack with three players averaging in double figures: RJ Godfrey (11.9), Jestin Porter (10.5) and Carter Welling (10.1).
Clemson redshirt freshman Ace Buckner, the son of former Clemson star Greg Buckner, is coming off two strong performances off the bench for the Tigers with 11 points against Stanford and 13 against Cal.
“We’re not surprised,” Brownell said of Buckner. “He’s an extremely hard worker, he’s extremely competitive. He’s had big games on both ends of the floor. I think his maturity level is probably higher than most guys his age. It’s no surprise to our staff.”
Virginia Tech (16-8, 5-6) has lost three of its last four and struggled against NC State in an 82-73 road loss Saturday.
Amani Hansberry leads the Hokies at 15.2 points per game. Neoklis Avdalas, a freshman from Greece, is averaging 12.6 points.
Avdalas had 14 points against NC State and, according to veteran coach Mike Young, was a bright spot in the defeat.
“He was great, he looked a little more like himself. He was (2-for-3) from three, he struggled early,” Young said of a player shooting 29.1% from beyond the arc this year. “If we can get him going along with (Tobi) Lawal, he had 15 rebounds, 17 points. Those are good numbers. We had some positive things we can build on.”
Clemson has won four of the last five meetings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Martin Kaymer (elbow) WDs from LIV Adelaide
Jun 8, 2025; Gainesville, Virginia, USA; Martin Kaymer of team Cleeks Golf Club watches a putt on the fourth hole during the final round of the LIV Golf Virginia golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Cleeks Golf Club captain and two-time major winner Martin Kaymer withdrew from LIV Golf Adelaide on Wednesday due to an elbow injury.
The 41-year-old German is the latest LIV Golf captain to bow out of the event, joining six-time major champion Phil Mickelson (family matter) and Englishman Lee Westwood (wrist).
“I won’t be playing in Adelaide this week due to a minor injury on my left elbow,” Kaymer said in a statement. “Sitting out is never an easy call, especially for an event as special as LIV Golf Adelaide.
“The positive is that recovery is going very well and I’m feeling strong. This is just a short pause with the focus firmly on the long season ahead, and I look forward to returning to competition in Hong Kong.”
LIV Golf reserve John Catlin will step in for Kaymer, who won the 2010 PGA Championship and 2014 U.S. Open.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros closer Josh Hader (biceps) uncertain for Opening Day
Sep 3, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Josh Hader looks on from the dugout before the game against the New York Yankees at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Houston Astros closer Josh Hader’s availability for Opening Day is in doubt because the left-hander is dealing with biceps soreness, manager Joe Espada told reporters Wednesday.
Hader, a six-time All-Star, resumed his throwing program at the team’s first workout with pitchers and catchers Wednesday. Espada revealed Hader had been shut down from throwing for more than a week earlier this winter after imaging on his left arm showed biceps inflammation.
Neither Espada nor Astros general manager Dana Brown could say if the injury would keep Hader off the Opening Day roster.
“I don’t know really the timeline on it,” Brown said Wednesday. “The good thing is he was ramping it up and was on his fourth (bullpen session). The first three were seamless. The good thing is he feels good right now, he’s been feeling good for a few days and he’s going to throw today.”
The injury is not believes to be related to the left shoulder capsule strain that caused Hader to miss Houston’s final 46 games last season, the first time he had been on the IL in nine seasons for anything but an illness. Hader told reporters at a charity event in December he felt “back to normal” from the shoulder capsule injury.
Hader was 6-2 with a 2.05 ERA over 48 appearances with the Astros last season and was 28-for-29 in save opportunities.
The 31-year-old has 227 saves over nine big-league seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers (2017-22), San Diego Padres (2022-23) and Astros (2024-25). He is 34-31 with a 2.64 ERA in 468 career relief appearances.
–Field Level Media
Sports
The Biggest Question Facing Every 2026 MLB Contender
Oct 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage (39) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning during game five of the 2025 MLB World Series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images With major league teams reporting to Spring Training this week, it’s a good time to ask the biggest questions for postseason contenders in 2026.
Toronto Blue Jays
Can Trey Yesavage be that effective again over the entire season?
Yesavage famously shot up the Jays’ minor-league system in 2025, ascending from Class A to the World Series. He had an 11-strikeout and a 12-strikeout performance in the postseason, but he’s still just nine appearances into his major league career.
Toronto has significant question marks across the rest of the pitching staff, but many of them can be papered over if Yesavage delivers a great first full season.
New York Yankees
Will ace Gerrit Cole regain his Cy Young form?
They have one of the deeper starting rotations in the league — one that can override questions about their position players and bullpen.
But the only way they’ll win the World Series for the first time in 17 years is if Cole is pitching like an ace in October at age 35, coming off Tommy John surgery.
Boston Red Sox
Will the offense score enough runs to make this a playoff team?
The front office had a tough offseason, letting go of Alex Bregman and adding more starting pitching when bolstering the lineup seemed prudent.
They will have Roman Anthony for a full season, and Willson Contreras will help. But they’ll also need Trevor Story to repeat his renaissance season and several other hitters to perform at higher percentiles than they did in ’25.
Baltimore Orioles
Did they add enough pitching?
Sep 27, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) celebrates his solo home run against the Miami Marlins in the third inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward can slug, but the O’s had deeper needs on the pitching staff, particularly in the rotation.
They flirted with free-agent left-hander Framber Valdéz but bowed out of the bidding. They did make an intriguing trade for right-hander Shane Baz, though he’s still a reclamation project.
Otherwise, the Orioles are rolling with the starters they had at the end of ’25. It’s all too risky.
Seattle Mariners
Are they still a hitter or two short?
They added Brendan Donovan to play third base (or possibly second), which is fine — but still leaves something to be desired for an offense that finished 10th in runs scored.
The M’s should make the playoffs again if the starting pitchers repeat their ’25 performance, but they won’t make the World Series without better batting.
Detroit Tigers
Was not addressing the lineup an offseason mistake?
They waited out Valdéz and old pal Justin Verlander before making late moves to improve the rotation.
But everyone remembers Detroit’s infuriating inability to score runs in the postseason.
They essentially have the same lineup again.
Chicago Cubs
Who is the real Pete Crow-Armstrong?
Aug 28, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) reacts after striking out during the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images A fantastic breakout season faded late when he hit .216/.262/.372 in the second half, followed by 12 strikeouts in 29 postseason plate appearances.
What if Crow-Armstrong’s fade is a harbinger of bigger struggles?
Los Angeles Dodgers
Can Shohei Ohtani win NL MVP and Cy Young in the same season?
Being the best hitter and pitcher in the league simultaneously is about the only thing Ohtani hasn’t accomplished yet.
He’s far enough removed from Tommy John surgery that he won’t be restricted in his innings.
This may be his best chance to do it.
New York Mets
Even with so many new faces, did they change enough of them?
They have at least five new hitters in the lineup: Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien, Luis Robert and rookie Carson Benge.
Freddy Peralta joins the starting rotation, and Devin Williams plus Luke Weaver headline a revamped bullpen.
But with Alonso gone and Francisco Lindor now dealing with a hamate injury, the Mets don’t feel like locks to make the playoffs coming off 83 wins.
Milwaukee Brewers
How much better can Jackson Chourio get?
They proved they can make the postseason with a deep roster of solid players.
But to become true World Series contenders — assuming that’s ownership’s goal — someone like Chourio needs to make the leap from good to great.
He may have the best chance on the roster to become a postseason difference-maker, along with right-hander Jacob Misiorowski.
Philadelphia Phillies
Will they hit enough after the top of the order?
Jul 30, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) at bat during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images Team president Dave Dombrowski irritated Bryce Harper by implying he was diminished as a hitter — and it wasn’t Harper’s best season.
But he was still one of the three best bats in the lineup, along with Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner.
The real issue was the rest of the lineup, and aside from adding Adolis García, it wasn’t significantly addressed.
San Diego Padres
Are they about to tear up the roster?
Manny Machado’s salary is set to spike, and Fernando Tatís Jr.’s production hasn’t fully rebounded since his PED suspension in ’22.
That’s a lot of resources tied to two players on a roster that may have already peaked.
They’ve also struggled to find managerial stability, and it’s the final season of A.J. Preller’s contract.
Cincinnati Reds
Can Suárez hit 60 home runs playing 81 games in Cincy?
He finished with 49 in ’25 and now returns to one of the most homer-friendly parks in baseball.
Cleveland Guardians
Why does anybody pitch to José Ramírez?
A couple of young hitters appear to be developing, but no one else in the lineup is particularly menacing.
Ramírez produces at an elite level — nearly unprotected — and still finds ways to do damage.
Martin Kaymer (elbow) WDs from LIV Adelaide
CareerSprinter Pro combines résumé and interview tools for $49.99
