Sports
Skidding Reds get back Nick Lodolo for start against Astros
Mar 12, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The Cincinnati Reds were probably hoping to ease Nick Lodolo back into action after the left-hander missed the start of the season with a blister on his left index finger.
Instead, Lodolo will be asked to help snap Cincinnati’s seven-game losing streak when he takes the mound against the visiting Houston Astros on Friday.
The Reds are limping into the three-game series after being swept in four games by the Chicago Cubs. Cincinnati has lost eight of its past nine games to fall into last place in the National League Central.
“It’s a long season, and I know a lot of people say that,” Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson said. “And sometimes when things aren’t going well, it seems like nothing goes well during those stretches. But we’ve got to just regroup. We’ve just got to continue to battle and do what we do.”
Houston had an off day on Thursday after losing two of three at home to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Reds are hoping Lodolo can provide a boost to an injury-plagued rotation. Rhett Lowder exited Cincinnati’s 8-3 loss on Thursday due to right shoulder discomfort, and he could join Hunter Greene (bone chips in right elbow) and Brandon Williamson (left shoulder fatigue) on the injured list.
Lodolo, 28, is making his season debut after going 9-8 with a 3.33 ERA last season in 29 games (28 starts). He is making his first career appearance against Houston.
“I’m really excited,” Lodolo said. “I’ve just been kind of sitting here, trying to truck along slowly. I’m excited to get back in, get out there and compete and just be a part of it with the boys.”
The Astros will counter with right-hander Mike Burrows (1-4, 5.97 ERA), who allowed three runs over six innings in a 3-1 road loss to the Boston Red Sox on May 1.
Burrows, 26, has given up three runs or fewer in four of his first seven outings, but the Astros have gone 1-6 in his starts.
“It’s a humbling game,” Burrows said. “You can do everything right and still, stuff happens.”
Burrows is set to make his second career start against Cincinnati. He allowed four runs over five innings as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates in a no-decision vs. the Reds on Aug. 10, 2025.
The Astros are still processing the news that infielder Carlos Correa will have season-ending surgery to repair a tendon in his left ankle. He sustained the injury in the batting cage on Tuesday.
“Pretty devastating,” Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. said. “Such a big part of our clubhouse, team leader, such a great player. All the stuff he went through early in his career with the other ankle and just the way he’s been able to continue to fight back and these last few years really post and be healthy — he’s a special, special talent, and I feel awful for him.”
Isaac Paredes will receive regular playing time at third base with Correa sidelined, and shortstop Jeremy Pena (hamstring) is set to rejoin the lineup next week.
Paredes has hit safely in 13 of his past 16 games dating back to April 19, a span in which he is batting .345 (20-for-58) with three homers and nine RBIs. He has reached base safely in 11 consecutive games.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Veteran QB Taylor Heinicke announces retirement
Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) throws the football during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images Veteran quarterback Taylor Heinicke, who went from undrafted to a playoff starter in the NFL, announced his retirement on Thursday.
“For 25 years, I had the pleasure to play this great sport of football,” Heinicke wrote in an Instagram post. “It has taught me a lot, not only about myself but about life as well. Many ups and downs throughout the years, but the ups outweigh the downs tenfold. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would’ve been able to live this life.
“Thank you to all who have supported me in this journey. Thank you all who have believed in me. And thank you to those who gave me the opportunity to live out my childhood dream. Excited for this next chapter of my life!”
Heinicke, 33, signed with the then-Washington Football Team in 2020 after appearing in seven games (one start) over the 2017 and 2018 seasons with the Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers, respectively.
A month after signing to the practice squad, he started Washington’s wild-card playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Jan. 9, 2021, completing 26 of 44 passes for 306 yards, a touchdown and an interception in a 31-23 loss.
That performance led Washington to sign Heinicke to a two-year contract. He made 15 of his 29 career starts in 2021 for Washington, completing 65% of his passes for 3,419 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He also ran for 313 yards in 2021, finishing with a 7-8 record as a starter.
Heinicke last played for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024 and was released from the team during preseason ahead of the 2025 season.
He finishes his career with 6,663 yards, 39 touchdowns and 28 interceptions in 42 games for the Texans, Panthers, Washington Commanders (2020-22), Atlanta Falcons (2023) and Chargers. Heinicke went 13-15-1 as an NFL starter.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Vikings agree to 1-year deal with former 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings
Dec 28, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) runs to score a touchdown against the Chicago Bears in the second half at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images The Minnesota Vikings added to their receiver depth by agreeing to deal with former San Francisco 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings on Thursday.
The team didn’t disclose the terms, but The Athletic reported it’s a one-year deal with a base salary of $8 million with incentives which could pay Jennings as much as $13 million.
Jennings, 28, was a seventh-round pick by the 49ers in 2020 but became a critical member of their receiver corps. He broke out with 975 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 77 catches in 2024 and led all of San Francisco’s receivers with 643 yards last season, catching a team- and career-high nine touchdown passes.
Over five seasons of action with the 49ers, Jennings caught 210 passes for 2,581 yards and 22 touchdowns.
San Francisco elected not to re-sign him this offseason, allowing Minnesota to add to one of the better receiver rooms in the league as Jennings joins Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
That’s a strong trio of options for whoever wins the Vikings’ quarterback competition between 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy and free-agent signee Kyler Murray.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dominant Hurricanes blow past Flyers to take 3-0 series lead
May 7, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) celebrates his goal with teammates against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period in game three of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Jordan Staal and Andrei Svechnikov each had a goal and an assist Thursday as the visiting Carolina Hurricanes topped the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven second-round series.
Frederik Andersen made 18 saves and Jalen Chatfield scored the go-ahead goal for Carolina, which improved to 7-0 this postseason. The Hurricanes will go for a sweep when the teams reconvene in Philadelphia for Game 4 on Saturday.
After upsetting the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round, Philadelphia has had its hands full with the Hurricanes. Dan Vladar made 26 saves and Trevor Zegras scored the lone goal for the Flyers, who went 0-for-5 with the man advantage while allowing two power-play goals as well as a shorthanded tally.
With the game tied 1-1 late in the second, Philadelphia began a power play with an offensive zone draw, but it was Carolina that scored 11 seconds later. Jordan Martinook made a diving play to spring a 2-on-1, and Staal fed Chatfield for a one-timer that zipped just under the crossbar.
The Flyers failed to score on that power play, even though they had a two-man advantage for more than a minute of it.
The Hurricanes tacked on a pair of third-period goals – Svechnikov’s one-timer on a 4-on-3 power play and Nikolaj Ehlers’ wrister on a breakaway.
The Flyers pressured Andersen early with a handful of great chances in the first period.
Travis Konecny snuck behind the Carolina defense, only to have his shot skim off the post. Several minutes later, Porter Martone hit the crossbar. Then the rookie winger set up Alex Bump on a great opportunity on a 2-on-0 in front of the net, but Andersen was up to the challenge.
Finally, a shot by Rasmus Ristolainen slipped through Andersen and was about to cross the goal line when Jaccob Slavin swept it away at the last moment.
In the midst of the Flyers’ pressure, the Hurricanes took a 1-0 lead. A shot by Svechnikov hit off the boards and caromed back in front of the crease, where Staal swept the puck off Vladar and into the net.
Carolina led 1-0 after one period, but Philadelphia tied it up 2:31 into the second. A loose puck found its way to Zegras in the right circle, and he elevated a shot past Andersen to forge a 1-1 tie.
Emotions ran high throughout the third period, where 36 of the game’s 58 penalty minutes were given out. That included a game misconduct on Konecny with 2:19 left and 26 penalty minutes in the final three minutes when the game had been effectively decided.
–Field Level Media
Veteran QB Taylor Heinicke announces retirement
Vikings agree to 1-year deal with former 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings
