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With Manny Machado in question, Padres take aim at Cubs

MLB: Chicago Cubs at San Diego PadresApr 27, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) hits a single during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Manny Machado might not be available for the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night when they vie for a series win against the visiting Chicago Cubs.

The All-Star third baseman left San Diego’s 9-7 victory on Monday with a left calf injury. Machado, who was 3-for-4 with two doubles and three runs, was seen on Padres TV getting his calf rubbed by the team’s training staff.

San Diego manager Craig Stammen said Machado exited the game as a precaution after Stammen saw how he came out of the batter’s box on a groundout to end the sixth inning.

“Manny is fine,” Stammen said. “He came out of the box a little awkwardly. We’ll talk to him tomorrow and see how he feels, and we’ll go from there.”

If Machado does have to sit out, the Padres at least have the depth to make up for his absence in the short term. Ty France drove in four runs Monday night with a two-run double and two-run triple, while Nick Castellanos added a two-run single that put San Diego ahead to stay in the bottom of the fifth.

Padres general manager A.J. Preller didn’t make many moves until February, but the additions of France, Castellanos and Miguel Andujar have bolstered the team’s depth and lengthened a lineup that at times last year had too many holes.

“There’s an unbelievable amount of talent in the lineup,” France said, “so if everyone plays their game, we’ll come out on top.”

Right-hander Walker Buehler (1-2, 5.75 ERA) will try to bounce back from his shaky start on Wednesday night in Colorado. He absorbed an 8-3 loss, permitting four runs on eight hits over 2 2/3 innings, with three walks.

Buehler is 1-3 with a 4.54 ERA in seven career outings (six starts) against Chicago.

The Cubs will counter with right-hander Edward Cabrera (2-0, 2.73), who’s coming off a no-decision during his team’s 8-7, 10-inning win Thursday against Philadelphia. He pitched seven innings, yielding five runs (three earned) on six hits.

Cabrera has dominated San Diego in three career starts, going 1-0 with an 0.54 ERA.

Chicago could use another good performance from Cabrera for multiple reasons. The team has lost three games in a row following a 10-game winning streak, and its bullpen is experiencing issues. Three relievers gave up four runs in the last four innings on Monday night, enabling the Padres to rally from a 5-3 deficit.

Phil Maton gave up two runs in the seventh inning in his first outing since April 7 in Tampa Bay. Right knee tendinitis, which contributed to a drop in his velocity, kept him out for nearly three weeks.

“I’m kind of hoping we addressed it now and we can focus on getting guys out for the rest of the year,” Maton said.

The good news for the Cubs is their high-scoring offense was back in form Monday, getting a grand slam from Moises Ballesteros and becoming the first team to score off San Diego closer Mason Miller this season when they touched him for two runs in the ninth.

It was the first career slam for Ballesteros, who’s hitting .387 with five homers and 16 RBI.

“I was really excited when I was rounding first,” he said.

–Field Level Media

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Nets sign C Moritz Wagner to multi-year contract

May 3, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Orlando Magic forward Moritz Wagner (21) celebrates a three point basket in the first half against the Detroit Pistons during game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn ImagesMay 3, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Orlando Magic forward Moritz Wagner (21) celebrates a three point basket in the first half against the Detroit Pistons during game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

The Brooklyn Nets signed veteran center Moritz Wagner to a multi-year contract on Friday.

Terms were not released, but ESPN reported the deal was for two years and $19 million.

Wagner, 29, spent the past five-plus seasons with the Orlando Magic. The Nets are his fifth NBA team.

The 6-foot-11 Germany native averaged 6.9 points and 3.2 rebounds in 36 games off the Magic bench in 2025-26.

Wagner has career averages of 9.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 16.2 minutes in 399 games (57 starts) with the Los Angeles Lakers (2018-19), Washington Wizards (2019-21), Boston Celtics (2021) and Magic (2021-26).

He has shot 51.8% from the field and 80.8% from the free-throw line since being drafted by the Lakers in the first round (25th overall) out of Michigan in 2018.

Younger brother Franz Wagner has been with the Magic since they selected him with the No. 8 overall draft pick in 2021.

–Field Level Media

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Sam Leavitt Faces Massive Expectations at LSU

Last season was a disaster in Baton Rouge. LSU took a risk by poaching Brian Kelly from Notre Dame in 2021, but he was unable to replicate the success Ed Orgeron had achieved as head coach. It wasn’t all low lights for Kelly, as he did have multiple 10-win seasons and Bowl wins over his Tigers’ career.

Unfortunately, 10 win seasons and bowl game victories don’t do much for the LSU faithful. The Tigers went big game hunting and landed the most coveted coach in the cycle, Lane Kiffin. Whether you love or hate Kiffin, he’s firmly established himself as one of the better coaches and recruiters in the sport — and he was going to need to overhaul what was a very flawed LSU roster.

Kiffin’s biggest move this offseason was bringing in Sam Leavitt, a redshirt junior transfer from Arizona State. Leavitt was the number-one player in the portal this offseason and reportedly signed a $6 million deal to move to Louisiana.

Injuries derailed portions of Leavitt’s 2025 season, and that may have led to some regression last season, but I’m not entirely sure he’s going to be worth the massive deal he signed this offseason.

Leavitt was dealing with foot issues even when he was on the field last year, but I never came away super impressed with him. During his surprise playoff run during the 2024-25 season, it always felt like Cam Skatteboo’s team, not his. When given full control of the Sun Devil’s offense, he struggled at points, like his 10/22, 82-yard, two-interception performance against 5-7 Mississippi State.

The SEC will be a massive step up in talent for Leavitt, but also a massive step up in responsibility. Kiffin’s offenses will heavily rely on Leavitt to be the engineer on offense, and I’m just not sure that’s in his wheelhouse.

I personally see Leavitt as more of a game manager and not a game changer, and I don’t even think a QB whisperer as great as Kiffin can fix that. Most importantly, how healthy is Leavitt going to be heading into the season?

He missed all of the winter and spring recovering from his Lisfranc fracture and is only now getting up to speed. I don’t love my starting quarterback missing that much time, especially when he has to learn a new offense and build chemistry with a brand-new group of receivers.

The SEC doesn’t have the same level of depth as in previous years, but there’s still enough talent at the top to cause issues in year one under Kiffin. I would be shocked to see LSU as a playoff contender right away. I think it’s far more likely that Kiffin’s ex at Ole Miss will be playing in January.

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Pens sign F Tommy Novak to 3-year, $13.95M extension

Mar 8, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  Pittsburgh Penguins center Tommy Novak (18) reacts after scoring the game winning goal in overtime against Boston Bruins at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesMar 8, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Tommy Novak (18) reacts after scoring the game winning goal in overtime against Boston Bruins at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins signed forward Tommy Novak to a three-year, $13.95 million contract extension on Friday.

Novak, 29, posted 42 points (16 goals, 26 assists) in 82 games in his first full season with the Penguins in 2025-26.

Acquired in a trade with Nashville in March 2025, Novak has 159 points (65 goals, 94 assists) in 285 career games.

The Predators drafted the St. Paul, Minn., native in the third round in 2015 and he made his NHL debut in 2021.

Novak, who would have been a free agent after the 2026-27 season, will earn an average annual salary of $4.65 million. The extension will run through the 2029-30 season.

–Field Level Media

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