Sports
Padres go for sweep against struggling Pirates
May 3, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) celebrates after hitting a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter (6) during the seventh inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images The San Diego Padres have adjusted their rotation and tabbed right-hander Stephen Kolek to make his first major league start Sunday when they attempt to sweep a three-game series against the host Pittsburgh Pirates.
Kolek, who will make his 2025 season debut, will oppose Pirates lefty Andrew Heaney (2-2, 2.50 ERA) as San Diego aims to win its fifth consecutive game and beat Pittsburgh for the ninth consecutive time dating back to last season. The Pirates have lost three in a row and six of their past seven games.
Kolek’s turn allows the Padres, who shifted to a four-man rotation a week ago thanks to a pair of off days this past week, to shift back to five starters and save their top arms for an upcoming series next week against the New York Yankees.
Kolek will pitch in Nick Pivetta’s turn as the latter will open a series against the Yankees in New York on Monday. Every Padres starter has been able to pitch on four days of rest just once thanks to San Diego’s early-season schedule, which included six consecutive Thursdays off.
“We have been really intentional about the days off,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said Saturday. “It’s that balancing act of making sure we’re competing, which we clearly are, and making sure we recognize it’s a long year for all the guys.”
Kolek appeared in 42 games as a reliever during his rookie season for the Padres and compiled a 3-0 record with a 5.21 ERA in 46 2/3 innings. He struck out 39 and walked 12 during that span. But Kolek, an 11th-round pick of the L.A. Dodgers in 2018, was a starter in the minors until the 2022 season and has made five starts at Triple-A El Paso this year.
Kolek will be backed by a Padres lineup that is starting to regain its form in recent games, although it was held to two runs and three hits Saturday. On the positive side, Fernando Tatis Jr. did not miss any games after being hit by a pitch on his left forearm Friday, causing a contusion. Tatis Jr. scored the eventual winning run in the ninth inning Saturday when he raced home on a wild pitch shortly after hitting a double and stealing third to set up the play.
Until his most recent outing, Heaney had put together one of the best starts to this season by a left-handed starter.
Heaney had compiled a 1.72 ERA over his first five starts, which ranked second among all lefty qualifying pitchers and had a 20 1/3-scoreless-inning streak snapped in his most recent outing Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs.
After retiring the first 11 batters he faced, Heaney lasted just 4 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on five hits and three walks and leaving the start without recording a strikeout in a 9-0 Pirates loss.
Heaney’s overall strong start coupled with the Pirates’ poor start to the season has already made the 34-year-old a subject of trade rumors despite it still being early May.
“We had some good defense the first three innings, but you can’t defend homers or walks, so I have to do a better job of keeping the ball in play and letting the guys make plays for me,” Heaney said after his last start. “I’m not happy about it, but it’s part of the game. You win some, lose some and it’s not going to change what I do.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mayar Sherif wins Iasi title after Paula Badosa retires
May 28, 2026; Paris, France; Mayar Sherif of Egypt returns a shot during her match against Coco Gauff of the United States on day five at Stade Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images Egypt’s Mayar Sherif claimed her first title in nearly four years Monday after Spain’s Paula Badosa retired in the final of the Iasi Open in Romania.
In a match carried over from Sunday due to rain, Sherif was up 6-4, 4-0 when Badosa was forced to bow out due to injury after 72 minutes.
Sherif, 30, took control with a service break in the seventh game of the opening set and broke Badosa twice to open the second set.
Sherif claimed her first WTA Tour-level trophy since winning the Parma Open in Italy — also on clay — in October 2022.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Ex-Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell arrested in Canton, Ohio
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell from last January.
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Former Pittsburgh Steelers star running back Le’Veon Bell was arrested over the weekend in Canton, Ohio.
He still was being held Monday in the Stark County jail on a warrant out of Michigan over child support payments, according to multiple reports.
Bell’s attorney, Thomas Shaffer of Uniontown, Pa., told the Canton Repository that his client is “inaccurately” being charged based on the salary he received as an NFL player.
“Six months ago he cashed in an NFL pension to pay $50,000 in child support for that child. His guidelines are still inaccurately being deemed based on his NFL salary and his professional boxing career,” Shaffer said. “This is a revolving door because he pays a number that doesn’t reflect his true income. The issue will never end. The court needs to reflect his true income.”
Bell, 34, was arrested Saturday after an autograph-signing appearance at a mall in Jackson Township, Ohio.
A second-round draft pick by the Steelers out of Michigan State in 2013, Bell played five seasons with the Steelers before sitting out the 2018 season in a contract dispute. He continued his career with the New York Jets (2019-20), Kansas City Chiefs (2020), Baltimore Ravens (2021) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2021).
Bell made three Pro Bowls, earned two All-Pro first-team selections and produced three 1,000-yard seasons with the Steelers.
He retired with 9,843 yards from scrimmage (6,554 rushing and 3,289 receiving) and 51 touchdowns in 96 career games (81 starts).
After football, Bell went 2-1 as a professional boxer from 2022-24.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Athletics vs. Diamondbacks Predictions: Best Bets, Odds and Props for Monday
May 23, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (4) watches after hitting a two run home run against Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen (24) during the fourth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Anna Carrington-Imagn Images The Athletics (42-57) head to Chase Field in Phoenix to battle the Arizona Diamondbacks (51-48) in Game No. 100 for both teams.
The A’s were playing some good ball earlier in the season, but they’ve been in a nosedive for a while now, and the A’s currently sport a minus-114 run differential, worst among all teams in the majors. In fact, with the Kansas City Royals sitting at minus-99, the A’s are the only triple in triple digits in the category.
The A’s hit the road with a 22-27 mark on the road, and they’re just 18-24 in interleague play in 2026.
For the Diamondbacks, they’re just 12-15 in interleague play, but Arizona has a respectable 29-21 mark at home, while it took two of three games over the weekend against the St. Louis Cardinals, including wins in the past two.
While Arizona’s record against the AL leaves a lot to be desired, it will be facing LHP Jeffrey Springs (3-9, 6.08 ERA, 1.42 WHIP). That’s great news for the Diamondbacks, as they’re 15-7 against left-handed starting pitchers, the fewest losses in the majors. In fact, no other team has fewer than 10 losses vs. LHP.
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The Diamondbacks should be able to roll up some huge totals against Springs, who leads the majors with 26 homers allowed in just 97 ⅔ IP across his 19 starts. He also gets himself into a lot of trouble with 37 walks. Springs is a little better on the road, than at home, going 1-3 with a 5.19 ERA and 10 homers allowed in 43 ⅓ IP, but that’s not exactly encouraging.
Arizona counters with Canadian-born LHP Mitch Bratt (0-0, 6.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP). He’ll be making just his third Major League start, and it will be his first showing in front of the home fans. It’s set up to be a very good spot for him to make his home debut, but with a 23-year-old pitcher who doesn’t go deep into games, there is risk.
However, the A’s are 12-22 vs. LHP this season, so the rookie could look a lot better than he actually is.
We’re going to take the DIAMONDBACKS -1.5 (+124) on the run line at plus-money, although if you’re a bit on the conservative side, backing the Snakes (-163) as moderate favorites is perfectly OK.
In addition, we’re going to go OVER 9 (-122), as Springs should give up his fair share of runs, and Bratt might also give up a few. If Springs gets knocked around, there isn’t a lot of help behind him. The A’s rank dead-last in the majors in bullpen ERA (5.51). The Diamondbacks are middle of the road in bullpen ERA (3.95).
And, for an extra bonus, since Springs is so giving, let’s take KETEL MARTE – ANYTIME HOME RUN (+326) for the chance to go more than 3X. Marte is slashing .299/.346/.588 against lefties with seven homers in just 97 at-bats. Let’s roll it up!
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Mayar Sherif wins Iasi title after Paula Badosa retires
Ex-Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell arrested in Canton, Ohio
