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Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is set to make his season debut Friday night against the Oakland Athletics after the team activated him from the injured list.
He had surgery in March after breaking his right thumb during the World Baseball Classic.
At the time of the injury on March 22, it was expected Altuve would miss eight weeks of the regular season.
And eight weeks and a few days later, he’s back, with the Astros announcing his return Friday with a video posted to Twitter.
Altuve, 33, is in his 13th season with Houston. He batted .300 with 28 homers, 57 RBIs and 18 steals in 141 games last season.
The three-time batting champion has a .307 career mark to go with 192 homers, 696 RBIs and 279 steals. He has helped the Astros win two World Series, including a title in six games over the Philadelphia Phillies last season.
He is an eight-time All-Star and was named American League MVP in 2017.
Without Altuve in his customary leadoff spot, the Astros have struggled to score this season. They have just 191 runs through 43 games, tied for 15th in the major leagues. Still, minus their sparkplug, they are 24-19 and in second place in the American League West, two games back of the Texas Rangers.
Altuve completed a minor-league rehab assignment and was just 2-for-22 with four strikeouts in five games.
The Atlanta Braves recalled Charlie Culberson from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday and transferred fellow infielder Ehire Adrianza to the 60-day injured list with a left shoulder strain.
Culberson, 34, is batting .204 with one homer and 10 RBIs in 98 at-bats this season with the Stripers.
He is a career .248 hitter with 30 homers and 145 RBIs in 585 games with the San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers and Braves.
Adrianza, 33, went 0-for-10 with four strikeouts in five games earlier this season with Atlanta.
He is a career .238 hitter with 21 homers and 149 RBIs in 616 games with the Giants, Minnesota Twins, Washington Nationals and Braves.
The Houston Astros seemed an unlikely bet to claim their second series sweep of the season when they entered the bottom of the eighth inning on Wednesday while facing a five-run deficit.
But in what might have been the clearest sign that things are taking a turn for the better, the Astros scored two runs in the eighth before a four-run rally in the ninth inning capped their 7-6 interleague victory over the Chicago Cubs.
Houston extended its winning streak to four games and moved a season-best five games over .500 in advance of a three-game home series against the Oakland Athletics starting Friday.
“I think it just shows the character of these guys, never stopping and continuing to fight,” said Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, who finished 3-for-4 and scored the game-winning run on a two-run single by Kyle Tucker. “The offense just continued to battle.
“Experience helps. This team has come from behind before in games. You lean on that energy.”
And the Astros are getting a big jolt of experience and energy with the return of second baseman Jose Altuve, their sparkplug. Houston activated him from the injured list on Friday, and he’s ready to make his season debut. He had been sidelined since March 22 when he broke his right thumb while playing in the World Baseball Classic.
Right-hander Brandon Bielak (0-1, 3.29 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Astros on Friday. He did not factor into the decision of the Astros’ 3-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox on May 13 after allowing one run on eight hits with four strikeouts over five innings, marking the first time Bielak logged five innings since Aug. 17, 2020, against the Colorado Rockies.
Bielak will make his fifth career appearance (second start) versus Oakland, against whom he is 1-1 with a 4.66 ERA. He last faced the A’s on Sept. 24, 2021, when he allowed three runs on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts over three innings in a 14-2 road loss.
Rookie left-hander Ken Waldichuk (1-2, 7.02 ERA) will start the series opener for the A’s. After taking the loss in each of his first two starts while allowing 14 runs on 17 hits over 8 2/3 innings, he is 1-0 with a 5.01 ERA over his six subsequent starts.
Waldichuk has been the starting pitcher in five of the Oakland’s 10 wins this season and is 1-1 with a 9.15 ERA in four road starts. He had a no-decision in Oakland’s 9-7 win on May 12 after allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and five walks with five strikeouts over five innings.
Waldichuk is 0-1 with a 16.88 ERA in one road start against the Astros after allowing five runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 2 2/3 innings of an 11-2 loss last Sept. 18.
The A’s dropped the deciding game of their three-game interleague series with the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3 on Wednesday, resulting in their third consecutive series loss. Oakland is 1-13 in series play this season.
One positive development from the loss to Arizona was the performance of rookie right-hander Luis Medina, who allowed three runs on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts in six innings in what was his second consecutive quality start since his recall from Triple-A Las Vegas. Medina was roughed up by the Los Angeles Angels in his major league debut on April 26 but has since shown signs of his potential as a starter despite questions about his rotation fit.
“These couple starts that we’ve seen the stuff is there,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “He’s got multiple weapons to pitch with, which is needed as a starter.
“And the mentality is great, the work ethic is there, so obviously from his standpoint, it’s going out there and performing, which he’s done.”
First Mission won’t race in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes, dropping the field to seven horses.
Owner Godolphin announced Friday that it was pulling First Mission from the race after consulting with veterinarians at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore about a left hind issue plaguing the horse.
“We are obviously very disappointed, but the welfare of the horse is our utmost concern, and we are going to take the necessary steps to determine the best course of action to get him back on the track,” said Michael Banahan, Godolphin’s director of bloodstock, in a news release.
The horse will return to Kentucky for further evaluation from Dr. Larry Bramlage at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital.
First Mission was listed at 5-2 before the scratch. Kentucky Derby winner Mage has 8-5 odds in the $1.65 million Grade 1 Preakness Stakes.
First Mission won the Grade 3 Lexington on April 15 at Keeneland and was expected to challenge Mage. at Pimlico First Mission did not run in the Kentucky Derby.
The seven-horse field is the smallest at the Preakness since 1986, when Snow Chief won.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are splitting with general manager Kyle Dubas, the club announced Friday.
Dubas’ contract was set to expire on June 30.
“I would like to thank Kyle for his unwavering dedication over these last nine seasons with the organization, including his last five as general manager,” team president Brendan Shanahan said in a news release. “Kyle fostered a great culture within our dressing room and staff, and consistently pushed to make our team better season over season. We wish Kyle and his family the best moving forward and thank him for his valuable contributions.”
The move comes after the Maple Leafs were eliminated in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Florida Panthers in five games.
Dubas, 37, joined the franchise in 2014 as assistant general manager, and he concurrently served as GM of the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. He was promoted to Maple Leafs GM in 2018.
He hinted Monday in his end-of-season news conference that it might be time for him to take some time off. He had been linked to the general manager opening with the Pittsburgh Penguins but said Monday he wasn’t seeking another franchise.
He said it would be a “family decision” as to whether he returned as GM in Toronto.
“It will either be here, or it will be taking time to recalibrate on the season here,” Dubas told reporters Monday. “You won’t see me next week popping up elsewhere.”
Toronto finished more than 10 games above .500 in each of his campaigns.
They logged 111 points this season, fourth best in the Eastern Conference. The Maple Leafs finally won a playoff series for the first time since 2003-04 by eliminating Tampa Bay before the loss to the Panthers.
Bilibili Gaming recorded a 3-0 sweep of Gen.G Esports on Friday in their lower-bracket semifinal contest of the League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational.
Bilibili Gaming posted a 28-minute win on blue before capturing the final two maps on red to set up a clash against T1 in Saturday’s lower-bracket final. T1 dropped a 3-2 decision to JD Gaming on Thursday in the upper-bracket final.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will meet with Joel Quenneville to review the veteran coach’s status with the league following the Stanley Cup Playoffs, TSN reported Friday.
Quenneville has been out of the NHL since October 2021, when he resigned as head coach of the Florida Panthers. His resignation came after an independent investigation into how the Chicago Blackhawks handled a sexual assault allegation in 2010 implicated Quenneville and other then-Blackhawks leaders for their inaction in the case.
Quenneville was the head coach in Chicago when then-player Kyle Beach said he was sexually assaulted by Brad Aldrich, who was the video coach. The report found that Blackhawks officials didn’t want to take any action against Aldrich at the time because they didn’t want to disrupt the team’s path to the Stanley Cup title.
TSN reported in November that Quenneville — the second-winningest coach in NHL history — wanted to coach again after a year off. Five NHL franchises have openings: the Anaheim Ducks, Washington Capitals, Columbus Blue Jackets, Calgary Flames and New York Rangers.
If any team wants to hire Quenneville, the team will have the get permission from the Panthers to speak with him, and Quenneville must have a bigger conversation wtih Bettman, who must approve his return to the league.
Quenneville, 64, has a career 969-572-150 mark with 77 ties in the regular season with the St. Louis Blues (1994-2004), Colorado Avalanche (2005-08), Blackhawks (2008-19) and Panthers (2019-21).
In the playoffs, his record is 121-104 with three Stanley Cup titles, all with Chicago — 2010, 2013 and 3015..
It’s fitting that North Wilkesboro Speedway was the chosen venue for the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race as the sport celebrates its 75th anniversary.
The track last held the event 27 years ago, with Jeff Gordon taking the checkered flag. After moving to Texas and New Hampshire, it returns to North Wilkesboro’s .625-mile short track for the 39th running of the All-Star race.
The 200-lap race is open to all drivers with at least one Cup Series win this year or last year, along with previous All-Star Race winners and former series champions. The top two finishers from the 100-lap All-Star Open, which precedes the main event, will be added to the field along with the winner of the fan vote.
Teams can use four sets of tires, but can only change once after the competition caution at or around lap 100.
All drivers with at least one Cup Series victory in 2022 or 2023 are eligible for the race, along with previous All-Star Race winners and former series champions.
“I’m excited for it, for sure,” said William Byron, who is coming off his series-best third victory of the season last Sunday at Darlington.
“The track looks gorgeous — it just really looks nice. The whole layout of the place has that feel of kind of a Wrigley Field or just a historic place that has a newness to it.”
Our motoracing experts break down the betting action this week and provide their best bets to win and a longshot driver to keep an eye on.
NASCAR All-Star Race
The Place: North Wilkesboro Speedway, N.C.
The Date: May 21, 8 p.m. ET
The Distance: 125 miles (200 laps)
The Purse: $1M
Defending Champion: Ryan Blaney
Cup Series Leader: Ross Chastain
TV: FS1
Radio: SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
FIVE BEST BETS
Kyle Larson (+600 at BetMGM)
Larson has a pair of wins on the season and is second among all drivers this week with 9.8 percent of the total bets backing him to win. The driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet also is tied for second among all drivers with five top-5 this season, although a handful of misfortunes leaves him just ninth in the series standings entering this week.
Kevin Harvick (+800)
Harvick is third in the standings, 29 points behind Chastain and two behind Christopher Bell despite lacking a victory in his final season in 2023. However, he has knocked on the door a few times, including a runner-up finish in Darlington last week. Harvick will switch out his light blue and gray scheme on the No. 4 for a white and red livery on the No. 29 as a throwback to his 2001 season.
William Byron (+900)
No one has more than Byron’s three trips to Victory Lane thus far in 2013 and he also leads the series with six top-5 finishes and 596 total laps led. The only reason he’s not atop the standings already is a 60-point penalty he received at Richmond last month, and Byron already has displayed the ability to win at a wide variety of tracks.
Kyle Busch (+1000)
Busch is BetMGM’s biggest liability this week. After opening at +1400, the two-time series champion’s odds quickly shortened as he leads all drivers with 10.6 percent of the outright winner bets and 13.3 percent of the money backing him. After a win at Talladega, Busch scuffled for a pair of races before working his way to a seventh place at Darlington.
Chase Elliott (+1200)
Elliott needs a good week — and soon — as he sits mired in 28th place. He does have a pair of top-5 in his only seven races due to a broken leg. Elliott opened at +1100 and saw his odds lengthen slightly despite being the sportsbook’s second biggest liability. He is third among all drivers with 8.6 percent of the total bets backing him to win to go long with 8.1 percent of the money.
LONGSHOT PICK
Brad Keselowski (+2200)
Keselowski hasn’t won since moving into the No. 6 Ford full-time last year, but is in the field courtesy of his status as a series champion. He was involved in a crash with Daniel Suarez during Wednesday’s Late Model race, but Keselowski has been in strong form of late. Last week’s fourth-place finish was his third top-eight result in the past four races.
In a shocking turn of events, the defendant in the deadly stabbings of four college students in November was indicted by an Idaho grand jury on Tuesday, clearing the way for his arraignment on murder charges.
Bryan Kohberger, 28, is accused of “wilfully, unlawfully, deliberately, with premeditation and with malice aforethought, kill and murder” the victims Maddie Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20.
Bryan Kohberger, a name that had once been unassuming and ordinary, has now become synonymous with darkness and heinous crimes. This week, the community was left reeling when the news broke of Kohberger’s indictment on charges of murder. As the details of the case unfolded, the true extent of the horrors committed by this individual became painfully clear. This article delves into the chilling tale of Bryan Kohberger’s indictment and the impact it has had on those affected.
Crime Committed as Horrific as They Come.
Bryan Kohberger, an ordinary individual living among us, was recently apprehended and charged with the brutal murder of three innocent victims. The murders, which occurred over a span of six months, shocked the community and left investigators grappling for answers. The victims, whose lives were tragically cut short, were found in various locations, each crime scene more haunting than the last.
Law enforcement agencies worked diligently to piece together the evidence that would eventually lead to the indictment of Bryan Kohberger. Tireless efforts by forensic experts, investigators, and community members helped build a case against this cold-blooded murderer. Witnesses, surveillance footage, and forensic evidence were meticulously collected and analyzed, gradually painting a disturbing portrait of Kohberger’s activities.
Kohberger’s arrest sent shockwaves throughout the community. Friends, family, and neighbors who had once seen him as an ordinary person were now grappling with the realization that a killer had lived among them. The sense of betrayal and disbelief has been overwhelming for those who had any connection with Kohberger.
The Trial and Legal Proceedings
Goncalves, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Ethan Chapin, 20, were stabbed to death at a shared student house in Moscow, Idaho
With the indictment, the legal system has set the stage for a trial that will determine Kohberger’s fate. The upcoming court proceedings will provide an opportunity for justice to be served and closure to be sought by the victims’ families and the community at large. The prosecution will present the evidence gathered during the investigation, and the defense will have an opportunity to present their case. The trial will be a significant test for the judicial system as it seeks to ensure a fair trial while addressing the gravity of the crimes committed.
Impact on the Community
The revelation of Bryan Kohberger’s alleged crimes has left the community shaken and traumatized. Neighbors, friends, and acquaintances are struggling to reconcile their memories of an unremarkable man with the realization that he may have been capable of such horrendous acts. The fear and unease that have permeated the community in the aftermath of the indictment will likely take time to subside.
The impact on the victims’ families cannot be understated. They are left to grapple with unimaginable grief, trying to make sense of the senseless and find solace in the midst of tragedy. The trial will undoubtedly be an emotional rollercoaster for them, as they relive the pain of losing their loved ones while seeking justice for the lives that were stolen.
The indictment of Bryan Kohberger has sent shockwaves through the community, leaving a lasting impact on all those affected. The tragic loss of innocent lives and the realization that a murderer had been living among them has left neighbors and acquaintances reeling. As the trial unfolds, the hope for justice and closure grows stronger, while the scars left behind by this chilling tale will serve as a reminder of the fragility of life and the evil that can lurk in unexpected places.
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Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece and Russian Daniil Medvedev both won in straight sets to earn spots in the semifinals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome on Thursday.
The third-seeded Medvedev reached the semis on the clay courts for the first time with a 6-2, 6-2 win over German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann in 1 hour and 20 minutes.
The fifth-seeded Tsitsipas upended No. 15 Borna Coric of Croatia 6-3, 6-4 in a match that lasted just 15 minutes longer than Medvedev’s.
Medvedev and Tsitsipas will meet in the semis. Medvedev leads Tsitsipas 7-4 in career head-to-head.
“He’s been playing well and I’m playing (well) also,” Tsitsipas said about playing Medvedev. “I feel good on court, regardless if it’s a night session or a day session, and I really hope to bring the best out of me against him. I feel like he’s playing better than the years before.”
Tsitsipas improved to 13-3 on clay this season, winning 90 percent of his first serves against Coric. He also saved three of four break points while breaking Coric three out of four times.
“This is clay-court tennis, things escalated quite quickly. And there was a turning point, but accompanied by my great shot making, at the very important moments, I was able to retrieve that and get back and hold,” Tsitsipas said. “(I played) a great service game in the very last game, serving excellently and just feeling the energy point by point.”
Medvedev felt he was in good form before the tournament even began.
“I said before the tournament I was feeling really great in practice,” Medvedev said. “It is always a danger to say this if you lose the first round and you think, ‘Why did I say this?’ But I am feeling great.”
Medvedev peppered Hanfmann with eight aces but also committed seven double faults. But Hanfmann won just 32 percent of his first serves and the Russian took advantage, converting six of 10 break-point opportunities.
“I knew I had to put as many balls into the court as possible because he plays aggressively,” Medvedev said. “There aren’t going to be many points where you dictate, it will be mainly him. But what you have to do is play deep and try and make him miss. Maybe he didn’t play his best match but that is how it works. You can’t play your best match every day, and I am happy I could neutralize his attacking style.”
