in Page 89 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Freshmen take center stage when Illinois meets Houston in Sweet 16
HOUSTON -- Both Illinois and Houston have been forged by tradition and buoyed by veterans. Yet the Illini and Cougars owe a noteworthy measure of their success this season to freshmen.,Guards Keaton Wagler of Illinois and Kingston Flemings of Houston will serve as the showcase young stars for the th...

Bruins rally in third, upend Sabres in OT for pivotal win
David Pastrnak opened the scoring, then recorded his second assist on Pavel Zacha's overtime goal as the visiting Boston Bruins rallied to cool off the Buffalo Sabres with a 4-3 victory.,On the rush, Pastrnak pulled back then sent a pass to Zacha, who beat Buffalo goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (27...

Senators keep surging through injuries with Penguins up next
Despite a slew of injuries to defensemen, the Ottawa Senators prepare to host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night on a four-game winning streak.,The Senators have also won six of their last seven. Those runs have propelled Ottawa (38-24-9, 85 points) into the second and final wild-card spot in...

Kraken trying to end skid, face smooth-running Lightning
If there was a game that encapsulated the Seattle Kraken's season, it might have come Tuesday night.,Playing against the injury-riddled Florida Panthers, the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, the Kraken rallied from a three-goal deficit in the final six minutes of regulation only to lose 5-4...

Magic hope to shake slump and beat up on woeful Kings again
With key games against the Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks looming, the Orlando Magic hope to gain some momentum at the expense of the visiting Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.,The Magic (38-34) find themselves in the thick of a six-team battle for the final two guaranteed playoff positions in ...

Elena Rybakina takes down Jessica Pegula to reach Miami Open semis
Third-seeded Elena Rybakina delivered 15 aces and saved 8 of 10 break points while ousting fifth-seeded Jessica Pegula 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday to reach the semifinals of the Miami Open in Miami Gardens, Fla.,Rybakina overcame a shaky start to defeat Pegula for the fifth time in seven months, incl...

Mariners place SS J.P. Crawford (shoulder) on IL to start season
The Seattle Mariners will open the season with shortstop J.P. Crawford on the 10-day injured list because of right shoulder inflammation.,Crawford, 31, played in seven games this spring, batting .125 with a stolen base and three RBIs. The injury is not believed to be serious, with Leo Rivas expected...

Reds place LHP Nick Lodolo (blister) on IL to begin season
Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo will open the season in the injured list because of a blister issue, while right-hander Jose Franco was recalled Wednesday after he had been optioned to Triple-A.,Lodolo, 28, had been dealing with a blister on his left index finger after he delivered a 7.24 ER...

Lightning captain Victor Hedman taking leave of absence
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman is taking a temporary leave of absence for personal reasons, the team announced on Wednesday.,Hedman, a defenseman, logged just 4:44 of ice time before exiting Tampa Bay's 6-2 victory versus the Vancouver Canucks last Thursday due to an illness. He has sat o...

Mariners, Guardians return from playoff seasons to meet in opener
The Seattle Mariners will set sail on their 50th season Thursday.,It is a voyage they hope will take them to the World Series for the first time and it begins with a visit from the Cleveland Guardians.,The Mariners came as close as they ever have to reaching that destination last season, losing to t...

Cards to open season with OF Lars Nootbaar on 60-day IL
The St. Louis Cardinals will be without outfielder Lars Nootbaar at least through the first two months of the season after he was placed on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.,Nootbaar underwent surgery in October for bone spurs in both heels that affected the Achilles tendon. His recovery timetable ...

Embracing youth movement, Cardinals set for opener vs. Rays
The St. Louis Cardinals will look a lot younger when they host the Tampa Bay Rays on Opening Day on Thursday afternoon.,The Cardinals traded veterans Nolan Arenado (Arizona Diamondbacks), Willson Contreras (Boston Red Sox) and Brendan Donovan (Seattle Mariners) for prospects during the offseason, le...

Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers massive MVP, World Series favorites
The Los Angeles Dodgers hit Opening Day 2026 as massive favorites to accomplish a feat not seen in Major League Baseball in more than a quarter century.,The two-time defending world champions are attempting to become the first team to three-peat since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees. Ironically, it's...

Twins place RHPs Travis Adams, David Festa on IL
The Minnesota Twins placed right-handers Travis Adams and David Festa on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.,The team also selected the contract of right-hander Cody Laweryson and designated catcher Alex Jackson for release or assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.,Adams, 26, has a right trice...

Minneapolis submits bid to host 2028 NFL Draft
Minneapolis has submitted a formal bid to host the 2028 NFL Draft at U.S. Bank Stadium.,Wendy Blackshaw, president and CEO of the Minnesota Sports and Events Commission, confirmed the bid to ESPN on Wednesday.,The draft is taking place in Pittsburgh next month and in Washington, D.C., in 2027.,The N...

Orioles, Twins hope new managers lead to contending seasons
There'll be a double dose of managerial debuts when the Minnesota Twins visit the Baltimore Orioles for Thursday's opener.,Derek Shelton will be in his first game in charge of the Twins. New Orioles skipper Craig Albernaz is in his first managerial role.,Shelton was fired by Pittsburgh last May and ...

Mikaela Shiffrin wins record-tying 6th WC skiing title
Mikaela Shiffrin won a record-tying sixth World Cup season title on Wednesday in Hafjell, Norway.,Heading into the giant slalom, the final race of the season, Shiffrin had an 85-point lead over Emma Aicher of Germany. A finish no lower than 15th place would result in claiming the title. Aicher could...
Best NBA Bets Today: Wednesday Predictions and Player Props
NBA betting picks for Wednesday, including Celtics vs Thunder, Hawks vs Pistons, and Bucks vs Blazers with spreads and props....
How MLB Is Getting Opening Day Wrong in a Crucial 2026 Season
MLB Opening Day draws criticism over streaming decisions and scheduling issues, leaving fans frustrated in a crucial season for baseball....
MLB Opening Day Wednesday Pick: Yankees vs. Giants Best Bets
MLB Opening Day preview: Why Max Fried and the Yankees have the edge over Logan Webb and the Giants in this betting breakdown....