review Page 42 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
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 ...
Big Ten's Nebraska, Iowa play again, with South Region final on line
HOUSTON -- For Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg, there was ample familiarity in reviewing how the fourth-seeded Cornhuskers' next opponent, Iowa, dispatched both Clemson and Florida en route to the South Region semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.,For the ninth-seeded Hawkeyes (23-12), imposing their will ...
Sizzling Hornets, Knicks still have work to do for playoff seeding
Ahead of their meeting on Thursday night, the Charlotte Hornets and visiting New York Knicks are playing as well as any teams in the Eastern Conference. Still, both sides have ground to make up in the congested playoff picture.,Charlotte (38-34) has continued its remarkable run as the league's bigge...
Chris Gotterup, with 2 wins already this year, one to watch at Houston Open
The PGA Tour shifts to Texas for two weeks before the Masters arrives, though Scottie Scheffler will not be joining the field that tees up for the Texas Children's Houston Open on Thursday.,Scheffler withdrew early this week citing family reasons. He and his wife Meredith are expecting their second ...
Injury-ridden Panthers, with playoffs unlikely, welcome Wild
The Florida Panthers, who have won the past two Stanley Cup titles, never thought they'd be in their current predicament.,But largely due to a multitude of injuries, the Panthers (35-32-3, 73 points) are on the brink of playoff elimination with a dozen games remaining in the regular season. They are...
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...
Phillies' Cristopher Sanchez gets Opening Day nod vs. Rangers
The Philadelphia Phillies showed their faith in Cristopher Sanchez last weekend by signing the left-hander to a six-year, $107 million contract extension.,While that deal officially begins in 2027, Sanchez will likely have a bounce in his step on Thursday afternoon when he takes the mound as the Phi...
Star turn: 10 MLB players poised for '26 breakout
If you like to watch rookies and other young players on the verge of breaking out in Major League Baseball, it's a good time to be a fan. ,With Opening Day upon us, let's take a quick look at 10 players (rookies and others) who are on the verge of making a big name for themselves in MLB.,RHP Shane B...
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, champion Dodgers take aim at D-backs
The Los Angeles Dodgers will start the defense of their second consecutive championship the same way they ended an electric World Series in November, with right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound.,Attempting to become the first three-peat World Series champion since the New York Yankees from 199...
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...
Eugenio Suarez begins second stint with Reds vs. Red Sox
Two of the most historically rich teams in professional baseball will open the 2026 season Thursday as the Cincinnati Reds host the Boston Red Sox.,Both teams have loftier goals in 2026 after being eliminated in the wild-card round of the playoffs last season.,The Reds, who were swept by the eventua...
Tarik Skubal, confident Tigers set sights on Padres
Opening Day usually is about beginnings, hopes and dreams.,But for the Detroit Tigers in general and left-hander Tarik Skubal in particular, Thursday's season opener at the San Diego Padres might be about the beginning of the end as much as the start of a new season.,Unless Detroit breaks the bank a...
Astros carry high expectations into opener vs. Angels
The Houston Astros missed the playoffs last season for the first time in nine years, something with which the Los Angeles Angels have become familiar over the past 11 seasons.,Both teams will try to get the 2026 season off to a good start on Thursday when the Astros host the Angels in the opener of ...
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 ...
Cubs embrace expectations as Nationals visit for Opening Day
After ending a four-year playoff drought last season, the Chicago Cubs enter 2026 with added expectations.,In manager Craig Counsell's mind, that also should increase the clubhouse's penchant for staying in the moment.,"It's not easy to get to a place like this. It's not easy to get to a roster like...
Brewers, White Sox entrust Opening Day to young All-Star flamethrowers
The Milwaukee Brewers will turn to hard-throwing right-hander Jacob Misiorowski when they open defense of their National League Central Division title against the visiting Chicago White Sox on Thursday afternoon.,Misiorowski (5-3, 4.36 ERA in 2025), an All-Star selection last season as a rookie afte...
Freddy Peralta vs. Paul Skenes headlines Mets-Pirates opener
The New York Mets were expected to overhaul their roster following a disappointing 2025.,The Pittsburgh Pirates responding to their latest sub-.500 finish in similar fashion qualified as a far bigger surprise.,A pair of retooled teams will open the season Thursday afternoon when the Mets host the Pi...
Spiraling Mavericks face tall order vs. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
The Dallas Mavericks have fallen on tough times, and their season likely won't get any easier when they visit the surging Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.,Dallas (23-49) has lost four games in a row and 23 of its last 27 to plummet firmly into a lottery position with three weeks left in the season...
Called out for leaky defense, Cavaliers take aim at Heat
The Cleveland Cavaliers have won four games in a row and sit in firm possession of fourth place in the Eastern Conference.,Still, Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson was in a foul mood Tuesday following the team's 136-131 victory over the Orlando Magic.,Cleveland will attempt to extend its winning streak...
Shot-starved Rangers search for offense vs. Maple Leafs
The New York Rangers know they need to take more shots on goal Wednesday night when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs.,The Rangers (28-34-9, 65 points) managed only 10 shots on goal Monday in a 2-1 home loss to the Ottawa Senators.,They will catch the Maple Leafs (30-29-13, 73 points) on the second...