Sports
No. 22 Arizona braces for 'uncomfortable' greeting vs. No. 9 Iowa State
Feb 26, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Utah Utes forward Ezra Ausar (2) attempts to steal the ball from Arizona Wildcats guard KJ Lewis (5) during the second half at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images No. 22 Arizona knows it will be in for an “uncomfortable” reception when it tips off against No. 9 Iowa State in a Big 12 Conference battle Saturday night in Ames, Iowa.
Wildcats coach Tommy Lloyd would expect nothing less.
“We’re not asking for things to be comfortable, because I know Saturday it’s going to be very uncomfortable,” Lloyd said. “So we better be comfortable in an uncomfortable environment.
“And for the rest of the season, I think that’s just how it’s going to be. I thank the Big 12 for that. I honestly do, in a good way. Not that we didn’t have stressful moments in the Pac-12, but we’ve had a good stretch of them here, and I think we’re going to be better for it in the long run.”
Arizona (19-9, 13-4) is looking to maintain second place in the conference standings. The Wildcats are coming off an 83-66 win against Utah on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, Iowa State (21-7, 11-6) is eager to snap a two-game skid after losses against then-No. 5 Houston on Saturday and Oklahoma State on Tuesday. The Cyclones are 4-5 over their last nine games.
Injuries and illness have played a role in Iowa State’s recent slide. Top scorer Curtis Jones returned against Oklahoma State after an illness, and assists leader Keshon Gilbert has missed the last two games because of a muscle strain.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said Gilbert was making progress.
“We’re optimistic that he’ll be able to return on Saturday, but again, his health and well-being is No. 1,” Otzelberger said. “(He) was able to practice for the first time (in a while), so we’ll see how his body responds to that and where he’s at.”
Arizona is led in scoring by Caleb Love, who is averaging 16.4 points to go with 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Jaden Bradley ranks second with 11.4 points per game, and KJ Lewis rounds out the top three scorers with 10.4 points per contest.
Jones leads Iowa State with an average of 16.9 points per game and is shooting 36.8 percent from beyond the arc. Gilbert (14.1 ppg), Joshua Jefferson (12.6), Milan Momcilovic (10.6) and Tamin Lipsey (10.5) also are scoring in double digits.
Jefferson said he and his teammates needed to play more consistently regardless of whether anyone was out injured.
“It’s frustrating,” Jefferson said. “We’re 18-1 when we’re fully healthy, but it’s not an excuse. We’ve still got to find a way to win those games that we’re supposed to win.
“But now that we’re fully healthy, I think we’ll start to get right back on track moving forward.”
This will be the ninth game all-time between the programs and the second matchup this season. Arizona held on for an 86-75 overtime win on its home court on Jan. 27.
The Wildcats have won four straight games against the Cyclones, including this season’s first contest. Arizona leads the all-time series 5-3.
Iowa State is 14-1 at home this season. Arizona is 6-3 on the road.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves promote RHP Didier Fuentes, shuffle rotation
Mar 29, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Didier Fuentes (72) pitches against the Kansas City Royals during the sixth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The Atlanta Braves promoted right-hander Didier Fuentes from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Wednesday’s road game against the Washington Nationals.
Right-handed reliever Ian Hamilton was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for Fuentes.
The Braves pushed previously announced starter Martin Perez back to Thursday at Washington, giving fellow left-hander Chris Sale an additional day of rest before he takes the mound at home Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Fuentes, who made his major league debut last season, started the season in the Atlanta bullpen before being sent down to Gwinnett to build up as a starter.
He had a 2.25 ERA in four major league innings with four strikeouts and one walk before he was sent down. In three Triple-A starts spanning 16 2/3 innings, he went 1-1 with a 2.16 ERA, 20 strikeouts and six walks.
Fuentes, who debuted three days after his 20th birthday last June, had a 13.85 ERA in four starts and 13 innings in 2025, allowing 20 earned runs on 23 hits. However, his 0.66 ERA, 18 strikeouts and one walk over 13 2/3 innings this spring helped him earn an Opening Day roster spot.
Hamilton, 30, allowed three runs in one inning of his Braves debut in Tuesday’s 11-4 loss to the Nationals. Over seven seasons with the Chicago White Sox (2018, 2020), Minnesota Twins (2022), New York Yankees (2023-25) and Braves, Hamilton is 6-6 with a 3.75 ERA over 151 1/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Padres bolster rotation, sign RHP Lucas Giolito to 1-year deal
Sep 23, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (54) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Right-hander Lucas Giolito signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the Padres, however there is a mutual option for the 2027 season. He’ll begin his major league buildup at Single-A Lake Elsinore, per MLB.com.
The addition of Giolito comes with San Diego nursing injuries to its starting rotation, namely right-hander Nick Pivetta (right flexor strain). Joe Musgrove (recovering from Tommy John surgery) and Griffin Canning (Achilles) have yet to make their respective season debuts, and fellow right-hander Yu Darvish is on the Padres’ restricted list while he recovers from elbow surgery.
Giolito, 31, posted a 10-4 record with a 3.41 ERA in 26 appearances (all starts) last season with the Boston Red Sox.
He is 71-66 with a 4.30 ERA over 206 appearances (204 starts) with the Washington Nationals (2016), Chicago White Sox (2017-23), Los Angeles Angels (2023), Cleveland Guardians (2023) and Red Sox (2025). He was selected by the Nationals with the 16th overall pick in 2012.
San Diego transferred right-hander Bryan Hoeing (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday to make room for Giolito on the 40-man roster.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Germany F Serge Gnabry (thigh) to miss World Cup
Jul 5, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; FC Bayern Munich forward Serge Gnabry (7) warms up before a quarterfinal match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup against Paris Saint-Germain at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Germany forward Serge Gnabry confirmed on Wednesday that he will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to injury.
His pro club Bayern Munich announced on Saturday that Gnabry, 30, had torn the adductor muscle in his right thigh.
“The last few days have been tough to process,” he posted on Instagram. “A Bayern season which still holds much to play for after securing another Bundesliga title on the weekend.
“As for the World Cup dream with Germany … That’s sadly over for me. Like the rest of the country, I’ll be supporting the boys from home. Now it’s time to focus on recovery and getting back for pre-season.”
Gnabry recorded eight goals and six assists this season for the Bundesliga champions in 2025-26, his eighth season with Bayern Munich.
Internationally, Gnabry has scored 26 goals in 59 caps since making his debut for Germany in 2016. He started every World Cup qualifier and two friendlies in March leading up to this summer’s tournament in North America.
Germany is No. 10 in the latest FIFA world rankings. The four-time World Cup champions are in Group E along with Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador. Their opening match is against Curacao on June 14 in Houston.
–Field Level Media
Braves promote RHP Didier Fuentes, shuffle rotation
Padres bolster rotation, sign RHP Lucas Giolito to 1-year deal
