review Page 80 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

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...

Sabres, trying not to get too excited about playoff prospects, face Bruins
On the verge of ending their NHL-record, 14-season playoff drought, the Buffalo Sabres are staying in the moment.,Meanwhile, the Boston Bruins likely can't afford to give up too many points as they fight for their own playoff positioning.,Back home from another successful road trip, the Sabres aim t...

Wolves, winning without Anthony Edwards, take on Rockets next
Bones Hyland is stepping up at the perfect time for the Minnesota Timberwolves.,Hyland will aim to maintain his hot shooting when Minnesota tips off against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in Minneapolis. The teams are separated by a half-game in the Western Conference standings as the playof...

Blazers' Toumani Camara gushes over career night; Bucks gashed by NBPA for tanking
Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara put on the greatest shooting exhibition in his career Monday night and described it as an out-of-body experience.,"I was feeling like Damian Lillard," Camara said of the injured Portland star known for his long-range shooting.,Only it really was Camara establishi...

Contending Raptors, Clippers out to boost playoff positioning
The Toronto Raptors close out a pivotal, five-game road trip on Wednesday against a Los Angeles Clippers team jockeying for positioning in the Western Conference postseason race. ,Toronto (40-31) can finish on the right side of .500 to conclude its swing, coming into Los Angeles off a 143-127 win on...

Down another regular, Warriors try to extend Nets' skid
The injuries keep piling up for the Golden State Warriors, who will be without yet another regular when they face the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday in San Francisco.,Moses Moody scored a team-high 23 points before sustaining a season-ending torn left patella tendon in Golden State's 137-131 overtime wi...

Auburn eyes trip to Indy as Nevada challenges in NIT third round
Auburn is the last power-conference program standing in the NIT as it prepares to host Nevada in a quarterfinal game Wednesday night.,The No. 1 seed Tigers (19-16) fought off a hard charge by Seattle University Sunday night in a 91-85 victory.,The win kept coach Steven Pearl's squad home for one fin...

Victor Wembanyama, surging Spurs face depleted Grizzlies
The San Antonio Spurs are building momentum as the season winds down, a push that is putting pressure on Western Conference leader Oklahoma City.,San Antonio defeated the Miami Heat 136-111 on Monday for its sixth consecutive victory and 10th in 11 games. The Spurs (54-18) might be able to sneak a s...

Lesser-known players getting chance to impress Jazz, Wizards
For players trying to stick in the NBA, injuries have opened opportunities to make a splash with the Utah Jazz.,Utah has been getting meaningful minutes from players on 10-day contracts heading into Wednesday night's game against the Washington Wizards in Salt Lake City. The Jazz have been able to p...

Stars align as healthier Thunder, Celtics match up
The Oklahoma City Thunder will be seeking their 13th consecutive victory when they visit the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.,Oklahoma City, the defending NBA champion, had a franchise-record 16-game winning streak earlier this season and currently has the best record in the league (57-15).,"We do...