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Home Blog Page 59

MMA News: Aljamain Sterling calls for title shot after UFC Vegas 116 decision win


After nearly two full slow-paced rounds in the UFC Vegas 116 main event from the Meta APEX Saturday night, former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling found an opening with under a minute left in Round 2 against Youssef Zalal. But it was only the beginning of Sterling’s relentless pace.

Several submission attempts, including a fourth-round rear-naked choke opportunity in the closing minutes from Sterling, led to a unanimous decision win across 25 minutes, 49-45, 49-45, 49-45. Sterling (26-5 MMA, 18-5 UFC) was comfortable in all areas against his former training partner, but his objective for the rest of his career is simple.

“(Alexander) Volkanovski, you know I’m coming for that ass,” Sterling said, calling for a featherweight title shot.

Zalal (18-6-1 MMA, 8-4-1 UFC) was classy in defeat.

“I’ve come back before and I’ll come back again,” Zalal said, crediting Sterling’s efforts.

Sterling snapped Zalal’s eight-fight unbeaten streak, predicting that with a bit more five-round experience, the Moroccan competitor will find himself fighting for a championship.

The co-main event saw UFC women’s bantamweight contender Joselyne Edwards of Panama move a step closer to a title shot with a unanimous decision victory over Brazil’s Norma Dumont, sweeping the scorecards 29-28, 29-28, 30-27. Edwards (18-6 MMA, 9-4 UFC) had little trouble with Dumont (13-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC), extending her win streak to five. Dumont fell just short of a four-year unbeaten run, having won her previous six outings before taking her first loss since May 7, 2022.

In the lightweight division, Rafa Garcia of Mexico halted Alexander Hernandez’s four-fight winning streak, earning a unanimous decision 29-28, 29-28, 30-27. Garcia (19-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) has won three in a row, keeping the fight on the feet, taking Hernandez’s best punches while giving back his own at a much higher rate. Hernandez (18-9 MMA, 10-8 UFC) had not lost since April 6, 2024.

Bantamweight Davey Grant of England earned a unanimous decision against UFC debutant Adrian Luna Martinetti, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, in an entertaining all-around affair. Grant (18-8 MMA, 9-7 UFC) has won five of his last seven fights, while Luna Martinetti (17-2 MMA), who hails from Ecuador, had not lost since Sept. 20, 2017.

At bantamweight, Brazil’s Raoni Barcelos squeaked out a split-decision win against Montel Jackson, taking two of the three judges’ scorecards, 29-28, 28-29, 29-28. Barcelos (22-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC) extended his winning streak to five, dating back to Feb. 24, 2024. On the other side, Jackson (15-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) has lost back-to-back fights since his six-fight winning streak which spanned March of 2021 until last October.

Heavyweight Ryan Spann delivered a blitzing right hand to send Brazilian Marcus Buchecha to the canvas, finishing the fight by KO at 2:10 of Round 2 to open the UFC Vegas 116 six-fight main card with what became the only finish. Spann (24-11 MMA, 10-6 UFC) has won back-to-back fights and three of his last four. Buchecha (5-3-1 MMA, 0-2-1 UFC), a seasoned grappler, remains winless in the promotion.

-Field Level Media

Kentucky Derby favorite Renegade draws the dreaded rail

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Early favorite Renegade was picked to start on the rail for the 152nd Kentucky Derby during the official draw on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Renegade, the Arkansas Derby winner owned by American billionaire Mike Repole, opened at 4-1 as the 20-horse field became official for the Run for the Roses on Saturday, May 2, in Louisville, Ky.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has raced Renegade just twice as a 3-year-old, but he has come through both times. He came from well back to capture the Sam F. Davis Stakes on Feb. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs, then he pulled away to win the Arkansas Derby by four lengths on March 28 at Oaklawn Park.

Renegade’s jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr., has not won a Derby in nine tries, but he has raced to victory in two Belmont Stakes (2016, 2022).

Renegade’s assignment to the first gate will have it fighting against history along with the other 19 horses. Ferdinand, the Derby champion in 1986, was the last horse to win from the rail. Seven other horses have won from Gate No. 1, but most were long ago when Derby fields were smaller.

Commandment, which will start from the No. 6 gate, and Further Ado, which will come from the outside at No. 18, both opened at 6-1. They are trained by Brad Cox.

Bob Baffert, the legendary trainer who returned to the Kentucky Derby last May after serving a three-year suspension, has two horses in the field: Potente and Litmus Test

Here’s the entire field with their opening odds:
1) Renegade 4-1
2) Albus 30-1
3) Intrepido 50-1
4) Litmus Test 30-1
5) Right To Party 30-1
6) Commandment 6-1
7) Danon Bourbon 20-1
8) So Happy 15-1
9) The Puma 10-1
10) Wonder Dean 30-1
11) Incredibolt 20-1
12) Chief Wallabee 8-1
13) Silent Tactic 20-1
14) Potente 20-1
15) Emerging Market 15-1
16) Pavlovian 30-1
17) Six Speed 50-1
18) Further Ado 6-1
19) Golden Tempo 30-1
20) Fulleffort 20-1

–Field Level Media

MLB News: Rockies-Mets to play Sunday doubleheader after postponement


The Saturday scheduled game between the Mets and the Colorado Rockies in New York has been postponed due to rain in the forecast.

The game is scheduled to be made up as part of a single-admission doubleheader at 1:40 p.m. ET on Sunday. The second contest will begin approximately 30 to 45 minutes after the end of the first game.

Kodai Senga (0-3, 8.83 ERA) is scheduled to start the first game for the Mets, while fellow right-hander Nolan McLean (1-1, 2.67) is slated to get the nod in the nightcap.

Former Mets left-hander Jose Quintana (0-2, 6.23) was slated to start Saturday’s contest for the Rockies. Colorado has yet to announce its starting pitchers for the Sunday doubleheader.

–Field Level Media

MLB News: Phillies’ Zack Wheeler returns to rotation to face hot Braves


Philadelphia ace Zack Wheeler will make his first start since last August when the Phillies bid to snap a 10-game losing streak on Saturday night against the host Atlanta Braves.

The Braves have won nine of their last 10 games and beat the Phillies 5-3 on Friday to open the three-game set between the teams with the best and worst record, respectively, in the majors.

The losing streak is the longest for Philadelphia since it dropped 11 in a row in 1999.

Wheeler will oppose Atlanta’s Bryce Elder (3-1, 1.50 ERA) in a battle of right-handers.

“Having Zack Wheeler on your 26-man roster makes you a better roster no matter what,” Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said. “Because when he’s healthy and pitching, he’s one of the best, if not the best, pitcher in the National League.”

Wheeler had a rib removed during vascular thoracic outlet decompression surgery in September after it was discovered he had a blood clot in his right shoulder.

Wheeler made five rehab starts this spring before being activated, posting a 5.85 ERA. He struck out 23 and walked only five in 20 innings. He is expected to be on a pitch count when he makes his season debut.

“I think he’s basically at the end of spring training,” Thomson said. “The fastball velocity has gone up. It’s not where it’s going to be, I don’t believe. The command has been some days good, some days not as good. But I’m expecting on a normal day, weather wise, that he’s going to have his command.”

Wheeler has been one of the best pitchers in the National League and finished second to Atlanta’s Chris Sale for the 2024 NL Cy Young Award after going 16-7 with a 2.57 ERA. He has double-digit wins in each of the last seven full seasons.

Wheeler has fared well against the Braves, going 13-9 with a 3.29 ERA in 32 career starts.

Elder will make his sixth start of the season.

In his last outing, against Washington on Monday, he worked 6 2/3 innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on three hits and two walks while striking out six in a 9-4 victory. Elder is 0-1 with a 6.41 ERA in four career starts against Philadelphia.

The Braves will continue to be cautious with center fielder Michael Harris II. He was a late scratch on Friday with a tight left quad but entered the game as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning and produced a game-winning, two-run double.

Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said there’s no guarantee that Harris will be in the lineup on Saturday. Harris could be the DH, with Mauricio Dubon going to center field.

“We’ll put him through the test again (Saturday),” Weiss said. “We’re going to be cautious here. The soft-tissue stuff can be tricky, you know, so we want to use good judgment. We’ve got an off day coming up (Monday), but I’m hoping he can play (Saturday) for sure.”

Over his last seven games, Harris is hitting .550 with 10 RBIs.

–Field Level Media

MLB News: Surging Cubs count on bullpen ahead of rematch vs. Dodgers


Even with new pitchers in the Chicago Cubs’ injury-plagued bullpen, the results remained the same.

The Cubs rallied for a 6-4 win on Friday, with their bullpen covering four scoreless innings and holding the Los Angeles Dodgers to two hits.

Chicago takes a 10-game winning streak into the middle game of a three-game road series against the Dodgers on Saturday. It’s the longest winning streak since the 2016 World Series champion Cubs reeled off 11 straight victories that August.

“Nothing is really long-term (with our bullpen injuries),” Chicago manager Craig Counsell said. “Which we think is a positive in all this. But injuries add up, and we’ve lost a lot of bodies. When that happens, it gets hard to replace them with the same quality. But our guys have done a great job, a heck of a job. It’s one of the reasons why we’ve been able to put together this nice run.”

On Friday, Caleb Thielbar became the latest to join the list of sidelined Cubs’ pitchers when a left hamstring strain landed him on the 15-day injured list. Right-hander Vince Velasquez was called up from Triple-A Iowa. Thielbar is at least the sixth Cubs reliever to land on the IL this season.

“Right now we think it’s on the mild side,” Counsell said about Thielbar’s injury. “He’s had this injury before in 2022, and he thinks this is a less severe version of that. We’ll know more as we get through the week but hope he can (miss) close to the minimum here.”

In a string of moves, infielder Scott Kingery was designated for assignment and third baseman Nicky Lopez rejoined the club after he was acquired from the Colorado Rockies for cash on Thursday. Lopez played in 14 games for the Cubs last season and had one hit in 18 at-bats.

“Nicky has familiarity with the group,” Counsell said. “Familiarity with us. We think that’s helpful.”

Colin Rea (3-0, 3.00 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Cubs on Saturday. In his most recent outing on Monday, the right-hander was credited with the win. He gave up six hits, one run and struck out five in 6 2/3 innings in a 5-1 home victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. The 35-year-old has eight career appearances (five starts) against the Dodgers, going 1-1 with a 5.94 ERA.

The Dodgers are expected to start Roki Sasaki (0-2, 6.11 ERA). In four starts, the right-hander has thrown five innings just once.

On Sunday, Sasaki wasn’t part of the decision but gave up seven hits, three runs, walked two and struck out two in 4 2/3 innings in a 9-6 loss at the Colorado Rockies.

“In the long run, I know the things I need to work on,” Sasaki said. “But at the same time, I need to keep making adjustments for the long term. … If I am able to go deeper in games, maybe it will be better.”

After the Dodgers built a 4-0 lead on Friday, starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan left the game after 6 1/3 innings. He allowed one run on four hits and a walk and struck out 10, but the Dodgers’ bullpen could not hold the lead.

In 2 2/3 innings, four Dodgers relievers gave up five runs on seven hits, including a solo home run by Alex Bregman in the eighth and a two-run blast from Dansby Swanson in the ninth.

Los Angeles lost for the fifth time in its last seven games, but manager Dave Roberts downplayed his bullpen’s struggles.

“I don’t concern myself too much about it, ” he said. “These are the guys we have, and they’ve pitched well. They have to continue to go out there and pitch well.”

–Field Level Media

MLB News: Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers bid to halt slide in clash vs. Pirates


The Milwaukee Brewers will turn to hard-throwing Jacob Misiorowski as they look to snap a three-game skid when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night.

Misiorowski (1-2, 3.04 ERA) will oppose fellow right-hander Mitch Keller (2-1, 2.79).

Paul Skenes and two relievers combined on a one-hitter to pace the Pirates to a 6-0 victory in the series opener Friday. Skenes, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, took a perfect game into seventh inning before allowing a two-out single to Jake Bauers.

Konnor Griffin celebrated his 20th birthday with his first career homer, two singles and three RBIs as Pittsburgh snapped an eight-game losing streak to Milwaukee.

Misiorowski struck out nine in five innings his last time out but took the loss in a 5-3 defeat at Miami on Sunday. He allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits with three walks.

Misiorowski has 42 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings this season, and opponents are batting just .177 against him. He is 2-0 with an 0.75 ERA in two career starts against the Pirates, allowing just one run in 12 innings with 16 strikeouts.

The Brewers, missing much of their power with Jackson Chourio, Andrew Vaughn and Christian Yelich all injured, have just one homer in their last nine games. Milwaukee lost 5-4 on Thursday at Detroit, which started Tarik Skubal before the Brewers faced a Cy Young winner, Skenes, in consecutive games.

“The two guys were really, really top notch, especially when you’ve got a decimated lineup,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Friday. “We’ve got three of our top hitters out. You take three hitters out of any lineup and face those guys, it’ll be tough.”

Milwaukee is playing an NL Central rival for the first time this season. Each team in the division is above .500. Pittsburgh has not lost back-to-back games since falling in the first two games of the season.

“The division is strong,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said after Friday’s win. “Teams are playing really well, and again, we have to continue to do what we do. Come show up every day and compete like that regardless of what happens. We’ll enjoy this one for a little bit tonight, but we’ve got to get ready for tomorrow.”

Keller is coming off a solid outing, allowing two runs on five hits in seven innings of a 6-3 victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday. He has allowed nine runs in 29 innings in his five starts this season, but five runs came in a four-inning outing in a 5-4 loss to Washington on April 14.

Keller has struggled against the Brewers over his career, going 1-7 with a 5.31 ERA in 12 starts against them. He was 0-2 with a 4.96 ERA last season in three starts vs. Milwaukee, allowing nine runs on 20 hits in 16 1/3 innings.

Pittsburgh’s Nick Gonzales had an RBI single Friday to extend his hitting streak to five games, batting .421 (8-for-19) over that span.

Teammate Spencer Horwitz also had an RBI single in the series opener. In 16 career games vs. Milwaukee, he is hitting .311 with five doubles, a homer and seven RBIs.

–Field Level Media

MLB News: Light-hitting Reds chase 4th straight series win in matchup vs. Tigers


The Cincinnati Reds will look to clinch their fourth consecutive series victory Saturday night when they host the Detroit Tigers in the second contest of a three-game set.

The Reds are off to their best start (17-9) in the first 26 games of the season since beginning 18-8 in 2006. Fueled by a balanced lineup, manager Terry Francona’s upstart club has won eight of its past 10 outings.

Cincinnati refused to allow a nearly two-hour rain delay to hinder a five-run rally, fighting back to earn a 9-8 win over Detroit thanks to Nathaniel Lowe’s two-run, walk-off homer on Friday.

Offensively, the National League Central-leading Reds don’t have a player hitting .300. In fact, the Reds have an MLB-worst .210 average. So how are they doing it?

It’s been a group effort, according to Francona.

“I think that’s the team we need to be,” he said. “Sal (Stewart) kind of carried us for a while there, but if we start getting contributions all over the map, that will really help us.”

Stewart is hitting .284, and his eight home runs are tied with Elly De La Cruz for the team lead.

Brady Singer (1-1, 5.32 ERA) will get the ball for the Reds on Saturday, hoping to build off a pair of solid starts. Since allowing five earned runs on 10 hits across just 2 2/3 innings in a loss to the Miami Marlins on April 8, the 29-year-old right-hander has responded with back-to-back quality starts.

Last time out, Singer surrendered three runs across six frames in a no-decision Sunday against the Minnesota Twins. The Reds won 7-4 in 10 innings.

“He hung around for six innings, threw 100 pitches, gave up three (runs) where that could have easily been five or six,” Francona said of Singer’s outing. “He battled his rear-end off.”

A longtime American League Central rival of Detroit as a member of the Kansas City Royals, Singer is 7-1 with a 3.16 ERA in 14 career starts against the Tigers.

Detroit appeared on its way to an 11th win in 14 tries on Friday before squandering a 5-0 advantage. The Tigers hit four home runs in the series opener, including the third in as many games from first baseman Spencer Torkelson.

After a lackluster start to the year, Torkelson has seen his batting average (.210) slowly tick up.

“He just brings a different element to the lineup,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “We can slug. Obviously, we can be streaky, too. … This is a guy that’s moved down in the order, but he just lengthens our lineup and provides a huge threat.”

Veteran right-hander Jack Flaherty (0-1, 3.47 ERA) will make his sixth start of the season for Detroit still in search of his first victory.

Flaherty, 30, is averaging just 4 2/3 innings per start and lasted only 3 1/3 in a no-decision in an 8-6 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Monday. He allowed two unearned runs but walked six batters — his most since walking six against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 7, 2023.

In 11 career starts against the Reds, Flaherty is 3-3 with a 4.53 ERA.

–Field Level Media

MLB News: Streaking Yankees set for Astros, await injury news on Giancarlo Stanton


The New York Yankees did not need to worry about their offense on Friday night, but they now face a concern with Giancarlo Stanton’s lower right leg.

The team will attempt to produce another big night at the plate and hopes to get good news about Stanton before meeting the Astros in Houston on Saturday.

New York will try to produce an eight-game winning streak for the third consecutive season. The seventh straight win came Friday night in a 12-4 victory in the opener of a three-game series with the Astros.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. collected three hits and drove in four runs on a two-run single, a solo homer and an RBI single, and the Yankees reached double-digit runs for the third time this season.

“A lot of really good threats all night, and then able to break through there a couple of times in a big way,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “So, just a lot of good at-bats up and down the lineup.”

Ben Rice, Ryan McMahon and Jose Caballero also homered for the Yankees, who had 13 hits.

Stanton contributed one hit — an RBI single to center in the sixth inning — but left the game after running gingerly between second and third base on that play.

“It’s tightness in his calf,” Boone said. “Hopefully, we got ahead of anything serious, but we’ll just see where he’s at tomorrow.”

The Astros are 4-14 in their past 18 games, though they finished with 11 hits on Friday. Houston finished with double-digit hits for the 11th time this season but is 6-5 in those games because of pitching struggles. The team has surrendered a major-league-worst 156 earned runs this season (5.97 ERA).

The Yankees tagged Houston starter Lance McCullers Jr. for seven runs (five earned) in five innings on Friday night. He missed the 2023 and ’24 seasons due to injuries and threw just 55 1/3 innings last season.

“It’s not a game plan thing, it’s not a health thing,” McCullers said of his outing. “I just got to do a better job controlling the first inning.”

Yainer Diaz homered and drove in two runs, but the Astros went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position and struck out 11 times.

Yordan Alvarez had two hits and is batting .377 over the past 15 games.

New York’s rotation owns an MLB-best 2.61 ERA and is holding hitters to a .199 batting average, even as Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon make minor league rehab starts.

On Saturday, left-hander Ryan Weathers (1-2, 3.18 ERA) will return from the paternity list and will make his first career appearance against Houston. In his most recent outing, he allowed five hits in 7 1/3 innings of a 7-0 win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

Right-hander Mike Burrows (1-3, 6.75 ERA), who is off to a rough start since being acquired in an offseason trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, will go for the Astros.

Burrows took a no-decision on Sunday in a 7-5, 10-inning loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. He allowed four runs on three hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Burrows earned the win in his only career appearance against the Yankees when he relieved Paul Skenes and allowed two runs on two hits in 3 1/3 innings to get the win for Pittsburgh on Sept. 28, 2024, in New York. It was the major league debut for Burrows.

–Field Level Media

MLB News: Royals attempt to build steam vs. Angels


The Kansas City Royals entered Saturday as one of four teams that have yet to reach 10 wins this season.

The Royals, however, have shown signs of turning it around after winning of two of three games following an eight-game losing streak.

Kansas City will aim to continue its recent upturn on Saturday night when it hosts the Los Angeles Angels in the second contest of a three-game series.

After a 6-3 win on Friday night, the Royals hope to get one of their top players, Maikel Garcia, back from right elbow soreness. Garcia didn’t play in the series opener, although he was available off the bench to hit, run or play defense.

Garcia told the Kansas City Star that he hopes to be back in the lineup on Saturday.

The Royals will turn to left-hander Cole Ragans (0-4, 6.00 ERA) against the Angels. Ragans allowed three homers and seven earned runs in 4 1/3 innings in his most recent start, a 7-0 loss to the Yankees in New York on Sunday.

First innings have been a problem for Ragans, who has allowed seven of the 14 earned runs he’s surrendered this season in the opening frame. He also has walked 18 batters in five starts.

The Royals put together a five-run fourth inning on Friday that was the turning point in the series opener.

“Just try to get on, get the guy over, get the guy in,” Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. told the Star. “Whatever we’re doing, try to take unselfish at-bats and just go up there and grind. Just go up there and look for what you are hunting and go out there and just compete.”

The Angels have lost five of their last six games and have scored nine runs total in those five defeats. They hope to turn their fortunes around on Saturday when they send right-hander Walbert Urena (0-2, 2.35) to the mound.

Urena, 22, will make his second start in what will be four appearances this season after moving from the bullpen to the rotation. He pitched well in his first career start on Sunday against the San Diego Padres, when he allowed two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts and two walks over six innings in a 2-1 defeat.

Mike Trout’s eight home runs lead the Angels this season. The veteran set a franchise record for most career games played at any one position with his 1,367th appearance in center field, which moved him past longtime shortstop Jim Fregosi (1,366 games).

Trout, 34, has long been the face of the Angels and is in his 16th season with the team.

“Mike has been in this game a long time, even though he’s still young,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki told MLB.com. “That’s a testament to how special of a talent he is. Anytime you can play this game and surpass milestones, it’s definitely a tribute to the player.”

–Field Level Media

MLB News: Carlos Cortes, A’s work to flex muscles in rematch vs. Rangers


There will need to be a roster move when Athletics slugger Brent Rooker is activated from the injured list, but it’s safe to say that Carlos Cortes isn’t going anywhere.

Cortes, 28, has been a pleasant surprise for the Athletics, who will continue their three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Saturday evening in Arlington, Texas.

Cortes homered twice and drove in four runs in the Athletics’ 8-1 victory on Friday. He is 10-for-21 with three homers in his last five games and is batting .339 with four homers and 11 RBIs for the season.

Nick Kurtz, Cortes and Tyler Soderstrom each hit solo homers in the first inning to set the tone in Friday’s win. Zack Gelof added a two-run shot in the ninth to help the Athletics win for the third time in their last four games and take over first place in the American League West.

Cortes started at designated hitter on Friday, but he’ll likely move to left field when Rooker rejoins the team — perhaps as soon as this weekend. Rooker has been out since April 10 with a right oblique strain and may not need a rehab assignment.

“It’s a shorter time frame than what we expected, for sure,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “He does feel really good with everything he’s done up to this point. That being said, we’ll determine if he needs to go on a rehab or whether he just comes back. For his role as a DH, it’s not as important that he goes out and builds his legs up, as most guys that play the field would need.”

Saturday’s pitching matchup will feature a pair of left-handers in the Rangers’ MacKenzie Gore (2-2, 4.15 ERA) and the Athletics’ Jeffrey Springs (3-1, 3.34).

Gore, 27, allowed five runs over five innings in a 5-2 road loss to the Seattle Mariners last Sunday. He issued one walk after allowing a career-high six free passes over 4 2/3 innings in a 2-1 loss to the Athletics on April 14.

“I think there’s always stuff to work on,” Texas manager Skip Schumaker said. “I think he didn’t walk many guys (Sunday). From last start to this start, we’ll take that. He’ll continue to make the adjustments. He’s one of our better pitchers. I’m sure he’s looking forward to the next one already.”

Jeff McNeil is 8-for-14 (.571) against Gore, who is 1-2 with a 7.11 ERA in three career starts vs. the Athletics.

The A’s will counter on Saturday with Springs, who allowed a total of four runs over his first four starts before yielding seven runs over five frames in a 7-4 home loss to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

“I just didn’t feel like the ball was coming out very good from the get-go,” Springs said. “It just kind of felt like everything was slow, body-wise. It is what it is. Those are going to happen.”

Springs, 33, will face Gore and the Athletics for the second time this month after allowing one run over 6 1/3 innings on April 14.

Texas’ Josh Jung is 4-for-11 (.364) with a home run against Springs, who is 3-1 with a 2.32 ERA in eight career games (five starts) vs. the Rangers.

Jung doubled in a run in Friday’s loss and is batting .379 with three homers and 12 RBIs over his last 19 games.

“I have an understanding of what I’m trying to accomplish in the at-bat,” Jung said, “and what I’m looking for.”

–Field Level Media