Sports
Yankees out to continue offensive onslaught, sweep O's
Apr 17, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images The New York Yankees are experiencing virtually no difficulties making contact and piling up big numbers against the Baltimore Orioles.
After a trio of blowout wins, the Yankees seek another productive showing at the plate Monday night when they host the Orioles in the finale of a four-game series.
The Yankees are 13-2 in their past 15 games after pulling away for an 11-3 rout on Sunday afternoon. New York has outscored the Orioles 27-9 in the series, has won the past eight meetings, is 11-1 over the past 12 encounters, and is attempting to complete a four-game sweep of Baltimore at home for the first time since Sept. 11-13, 2020.
During this series, the Yankees have collected 37 hits, 16 walks and gone 12-for-28 with runners in scoring position. New York blasted three more homers Sunday as Ben Rice homered in the first inning, Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer in the third and Jasson Dominguez started a seven-run eighth with a two-run homer.
Rice exited Sunday’s game with a bruised left hand after fielding a pickoff throw at first base from Max Fried in the third inning. Rice is day-to-day after X-rays were negative, and if he gets the game off, Paul Goldschmidt would start at first base after getting a two-run single in the big inning.
“We still got to finish the job tomorrow,” Rice said. “So, the team’s in a good spot. So, we just got to stay with it. Stay with it, it’s super early but of course we like where we’re at.”
The Orioles are getting outscored 38-14 during a four-game losing streak since hitting two grand slams in a 10-3 win over the Houston Astros in the first game of a doubleheader on Thursday. Baltimore has dropped 12 of its past 18 games after its relievers conceded eight runs on Sunday.
After getting seven hits in the first two games, the Orioles finished with nine Sunday but eight of those hits were singles. Baltimore has 22 hits during its four-game skid while striking out 43 times in that span.
Gunnar Henderson was not in the Orioles’ lineup for the first time this season but is expected to return after being available as a pinch hitter Sunday. Pete Alonso went 2-for-4 on Sunday but Adley Rutschman is hitless in his past 12 at-bats.
“For me it’s at a crucial point where what team do you want to be?” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said. “We can fold up and just think everything will turn around just by itself or we’re going to put the work in and really make this happen. I feel like with those guys in the clubhouse, it’ll be the latter. These guys will put the work in.”
Cam Schlittler (4-1, 1.51 ERA), who is holding hitters to a .168 batting average, closes the series for the Yankees.
Schlittler is attempting to produce consecutive scoreless starts for the second time this season and third time since debuting July 9. Schlittler has allowed one earned run in his past 20 innings over his last three starts since allowing three runs apiece against the A’s and Tampa Bay on April 7 and 12.
Schlittler last pitched Tuesday when he outdueled Jacob deGrom by allowing three hits in six scoreless innings of a 3-2 win at Texas.
The right-hander is 1-0 with a 0.73 ERA in two starts against Baltimore.
Shane Baz (1-2, 4.50) pitches for the Orioles and is coming off his first win for his new team. Baz last pitched in Tuesday’s 5-3 win over the Houston Astros and allowed one run on six hits in 5 2/3 innings after allowing 11 runs over his previous three starts.
Baz is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in six career starts against the Yankees.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Kentucky Derby sets several TV ratings records
Golden Tempo reached to nip the lead as Cherie DeVaux takes him out of his stall after winning the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Sunday, May 3, 2026. An estimated record 24.4 million people watched Golden Tempo’s historic comeback win on Saturday at the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby.
NBC released that figure based on preliminary data collected from Nielsen and Adobe Analytics on Sunday.
The previous peak audience had been 21.8 million the year prior, meaning the 2026 running, in which jockey Jose Ortiz guided Golden Tempo from last place around the final turn all the way into first, was up 12% over the previous most-watched Derby.
Cherie DeVaux, the horse’s trainer, became the first woman trainer to win the Kentucky Derby in the event’s history Saturday.
NBC’s presentation also delivered the event’s highest average audience at 19.6 million, once again topping the previous year’s 17.7 million by roughly 11%.
The streaming numbers, mostly directed through Peacock, represented yet another record, with an average minute audience (AMA) of 1.3 million viewers, clearing 2025’s figure of 959,000.
Friday night’s Kentucky Oaks, contested for the first time in the television primetime window, likewise set viewership records. Always A Runner’s comfortable win averaged 2.4 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, a number that was four times higher than any previous viewership for the event (593,000 in 1997 on ESPN).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Twins ace Joe Ryan has MRI on elbow after early exit
May 3, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan (41) throws to the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images Minnesota Twins ace right-hander Joe Ryan underwent an MRI after exiting with right elbow soreness nine pitches into Sunday’s home start against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Ryan fanned leadoff man Yohendrick Pinango on three pitches, then walked Kazuma Okamoto. After Ryan’s full-count fastball to Okamoto finished above the zone, he waved for manager Derek Shelton and trainer Nick Paparesta to come out to the mound.
After a brief conversation, Ryan headed to the dugout.
“Well, we got imaging,” Shelton told reporters after Minnesota’s 4-3 win. “We’ll kind of evaluate from there. I think, as you guys were told, it was something in the elbow. We’ll evaluate. We have the off day tomorrow, and then we’ll go off that.”
Following the abbreviated outing, the Twins’ Opening Day starter is 2-3 with a 3.72 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 40 strikeouts in 38 2/3 innings over eight starts.
Ryan dealt with lower back issues during spring training, which included the need for an MRI exam, but did not miss any turns this season.
Minnesota already has three starting pitchers on the injured list: Pablo Lopez (elbow), David Festa (shoulder) and Mick Abel (elbow). Lopez tore his ACL during spring training and underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery.
Abel posted a 1-2 record and a 3.98 ERA in four appearances (three starts) before being shelved in mid-April, but he’s expected back relatively soon.
Ryan, who made his major league debut in 2021, has fashioned a 48-39 record and a 3.79 ERA in 123 appearances (122 starts).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Yankees option SS Anthony Volpe to Triple-A after rehab stint
Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe continued his rehab assignment with the Somerset Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, N.J. on April 17, 2026. The New York Yankees reinstated shortstop Anthony Volpe from his rehab assignment but optioned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday.
Volpe played four games at Scranton and eight with Double-A Somerset to start the season as he works his way back from offseason shoulder surgery.
However, with Jose Caballero playing well as New York’s everyday shortstop, the club opted not to rush back the 25-year-old — an apparent change of heart after general manager Brian Cashman insisted “the plan” was for Volpe to return to the starting role.
Volpe made his major league debut in 2023 after spending just 22 games at Triple-A the year prior. He won the starting shortstop job in spring training and posted a 21-home run, Gold Glove rookie season. Volpe played in 159 games, then 160 in 2024 and 153 in 2025.
But his batting average and his fielding dipped in 2025, and it was revealed that the Yankees were playing Volpe despite a partial labrum tear in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. He had surgery in October after the Yankees were eliminated from the playoffs.
In 472 career games, Volpe has batted .222 with 52 homers, 192 RBIs, 82 doubles and 70 stolen bases. Across his 12 minor league rehab games, he batted .275 with one homer and six RBIs.
He also made one error, after he tied the American League lead with 19 errors in 2025.
Caballero, meanwhile, has laid his claim to the everyday job for the AL-leading Yankees (23-11). He has batted .259 with four homers, 12 RBIs and 12 steals through 32 games. He has a fielding percentage of .978.
Before the Yankees opened a series against the Baltimore Orioles Friday, manager Aaron Boone said Caballero’s play “complicates it a little bit, clearly,” when it comes to Volpe’s return.
“Jose’s earned opportunities and been a key part of our club here and a part of the success here to start out the season,” Boone said.
Caballero, 29, was a trade deadline acquisition from the rival Tampa Bay Rays last summer and has also played second base, third base and the outfield.
–Field Level Media
Kentucky Derby sets several TV ratings records
Twins ace Joe Ryan has MRI on elbow after early exit
