Red Sox Giving Marcelo Mayer ‘Chances’ In Key Spots originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Marcelo Mayer is expected to be a key part of the Boston Red Sox for years to come, so interim manager Chad Tracy wants to see how he fares against lefties.

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Mayer is a left-handed batter who hasn’t gotten many chances to face left-handed pitching. Yet, Tracy is giving him those chances, and the Red Sox’s interim manager has been impressed with how he’s fared.

“He looks confident,” Tracy said of Mayer, via MLB.com. “We’re giving him a couple chances here and there against lefties in spots where maybe you move and pick the right spots. Doesn’t mean it’s always going to happen, but he looks confident.

“He’s swinging the bat well. He’s taking good bats. He’s mostly staying off stuff out of the zone. He’s ready to hit fastballs when they’re in the zone. It’s been a little bit better part of the week now. The at-bats have really improved. So hopefully, keep him moving in the right direction.”

Mayer is hitting .286 in seven at-bats vs. left-handed pitchers with one home run and three RBIs, as he’s showing he can be an everyday player for the Red Sox.

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If Mayer can continue to hit lefties well, it will be hard for Tracy to keep him out of the Red Sox’s lineup on a daily basis.

Boston will conclude its three-game series against the Houston Astros on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. ET as the Red Sox look for the series win.

More MLB: Red Sox Insider Reveals Strange New Clubhouse Vibe Without Alex Cora

The Fighting Nerds have been one of the most notable and popular things about the world of MMA in the last few years. That team has made its name thanks to the success of a number of its fighters in the UFC.

Of the bunch, perhaps the most successful and notable of the Fighting Nerds team so far is Carlos Prates. And Prates put an exclamation mark on that claim with a major win this weekend at UFC Perth, stopping Jack Della Maddalena.

It was a beating. Prates pressured JDM early, and then landed 41 significant strikes on the former champion. Prates also battered Della Maddalena’s leg with kicks, scoring knockdowns of JDM in the second and third rounds. That second knockdown would lead to Prates landing follow-up shots and scoring the TKO.

This now marks two consecutive bouts where Prates has defeated a former UFC welterweight champion. This past November at UFC 322, he put a beating on Leon Edwards, knocking him out cold in the second round.

But let’s just take a look at the picture of Prates’ overall UFC tenure thus far – and just see how much he’s accomplished.

Prates earned a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023, finishing a then-undefeated Mitch Ramirez.

Prates then fought four times in 2024, competing against Trevin Giles, Charles Radtke, Li Jingliang, and Neil Magny. Four wins, four finishes (all KO/TKOs), four post-fight bonuses. That is a first-year stretch that practically screams Rookie of the Year.

Prates’ sole blemish in the UFC came at UFC Kansas City in April 2025, when he took on Ian Machado Garry in a title eliminator. Prates did not seem like himself, unable to figure Garry out. Prates put a beating on Garry in the fifth, but he was unable to get a comeback finish in time.

It was a disappointing loss for Prates and the people that follow him. He’d need a big-time rebound performance next time out to ensure he’s still in the title picture.

So what does he do? Land a spinning back elbow on Geoff Neal at UFC 319 – one of the top knockouts of 2025. And now he’s followed that up with wins over a pair of former welterweight champions.

Prates has now won seven UFC bouts since 2024. He’s earned finishes in all of those fights. He’s earned performance bonuses in all of those fights. The win over JDM is the only time a fight he’s won has gone past round two.

And the only guy he’s lost to in the Octagon? That man won another title eliminator against Belal Muhammad this past November. Now, Garry is being targeted to challenge Islam Makhachev for the welterweight title in the main event of UFC 330 this coming August in Philadelphia.

That’s far from a terrible loss.

Prates may not get the next immediate welterweight title shot. But if he takes on another former champion or rising star in the welterweight ranks – for example, respectively, Muhammad or Michael Morales – and he gets another highlight finish (let alone another win) – then Prates can’t be denied a title shot any further.

Three or so months ago, there was some concern Jannik Sinner was losing ground in his rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz after losses in the Australian Open and Doha.

Things have changed a bit there.

The world No. 1 defeated Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2 in the final of the Madrid Open on Sunday, making him the first player in history to win five straight ATP Masters 1000 titles. He was previously in a tie with Novak Djokovic (who won four straight 1000 titles three different times) and Rafael Nadal (once).

GAA Fixtures 2026 – We have the start times for Dublin, Cork, Galway etc in the Connacht, Leinster, Munster, and Ulster Gaelic Football & Hurling

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Saturday 2 May

Ulster SFC semi-final
Derry v Monaghan, Box-It Athletic Grounds, 5pm – GAA+

Leinster SFC semi-final
Louth v Dublin, Laois Hire O’Moore Park, 7pm – GAA+

Ulster MFC Round 2
Monaghan v Tyrone, Páirc Grattan, Inniskeen, 12pm
Derry v Cavan, Find Insurance Owenbeg, 12pm

Ulster MFC Qualifiers Round 2
Armagh v Fermanagh, Crossmaglen, 12pm
Donegal v Down, Donegal CoE, 12pm

Leinster MHC – Phase 2 Round 3
Laois v Westmeath, Laois Hire O’Moore Park, 12pm
Wexford v Kilkenny, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 2pm
Dublin v Wexford, Parnell Park, 2pm

Sunday 3 May

Leinster SFC semi-final
Kildare v Westmeath, Glenisk O’Connor Park, 2pm – GAA+

Munster SHC Round 3
Clare v Limerick, Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, 2pm – RTE

Ulster SFC semi-final
Armagh v Down, Clones, 4pm – RTE

Ladies Connacht SFC final
Galway v Mayo, Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, 3pm – TG4

Ladies Leinster SFC
Dublin v Kildare, Parnell Park, 2pm

Ladies Munster SFC
Cork v Waterford, Páirc Ui Rinn, 2pm
Tipperary v Kerry, Clonmel Sportsfield, 2pm

Ladies Ulster SFC
Donegal v Tyrone, Lifford, 2pm – TG4

Monday 4 May

Munster MFC Phase 2 round 2
Kerry v Cork, Austin Stack Park, 7pm
Waterford v Clare, Lemybrien, 7pm

Leinster U20HC quarter-finals
Laois v Wexford, Laois Hire O’Moore Park, 2pm
Kilkenny v Offaly, UPMC Nowlan Park, 2pm
Tuesday 5 May

Leinster MFC quarter-finals
Westmeath v Kildare, TEG Cusack Park, 6.30pm
Offaly v Meath, Glenisk O’Connor Park, 6.30pm

Wednesday 6 May

Leinster U20FC final
Louth v Kildare, Parnell Park, 7.30pm

Munster U20HC semi-final
Cork v Clare, SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 7.35pm

Friday 8 May

Munster MHC Round 5
Cork v Limerick, Pairc Ui Rinn, 7pm
Waterford v Tipperary, Fraher Field, 7pm

Connacht MFC final
Galway v Roscommon, Tuam, 7pm

Saturday 9 May

Munster SHC Round 3
Waterford v Cork, Azzurri Walsh Park, 6pm

Leinster SHC Round 3
Kildare v Galway, Cedral St Conleth’s Park, 3.30pm
Wexford v Dublin, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 4pm – RTE

Tailteann Cup Round 1
Clare v Offaly, Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chísóg, 4pm
Wexford v Limerick, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 6pm

Joe McDonagh Cup
Down v Carlow, McKenna Park, 1pm
Westmeath v Laois, TEG Cusack Park, 5pm

Christy Ring Cup
Donegal v Roscommon, O’Donnell Park, 7pm
Meath v Derry, Trim, 1pm
Kerry v Wicklow, Austin Stack Park, Tralee, 1pm

Nickey Rackard Cup
Armagh v Louth, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, 2pm
Tyrone v Fermanagh, Tyrone CoE, 2pm
Mayo v Sligo, Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, 2pm

Lory Meagher Cup
Monaghan v Lancashire, Páirc Grattan, Inniskeen, 1pm
Cavan v Longford, Kingspan Breffni, 2pm
Leitrim v Warwickshire, Páirc Seán MacDiarmada, 2pm

All-Ireland U20FC semi-finals (played 9/10 May)
Roscommon v Kerry, TBC, TBC
Tyrone v Louth or Kildare, TBC, TBC

Ulster MFC quarter-finals
Sunday 10 May

Munster SFC final
Kerry v Cork, Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, 1.45pm – RTE

Connacht SFC final
Roscommon v Galway, Dr Hyde Park, 4.15pm – RTE

Leinster SHC Round 3
Offaly v Kilkenny, Glenisk O’Connor Park, 3pm

Tailteann Cup Round 1
Sligo v Tipperary, Markievicz Park, 12.45pm
Carlow v Antrim, Netwatch Cullen Park, 1.30pm
Laois v Wicklow, Laois Hire O’Moore Park, 2pm – GAA+
Waterford v London, Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field, 2pm
Fermanagh v Longford, Brewster Park, 3pm

Joe McDonagh Cup
London v Antrim, McGovern Park, Ruislip, 1pm
Monday 11 May

Munster MFC Phase 2 round 3
Cork v Waterford, Pairc Ui Rinn, 7pm
Kerry v Clare, Austin Stack Park, 7pm
Tuesday 12 May

Leinster MFC semi-finals
Louth v TBC, TBC, 7.30pm
Dublin v TBC, TBC, 7.30pm
Wednesday 13 May

Munster U20HC final
Tipperary v Cork or Clare, TBC, 7.35pm
Friday 15 May

Munster MHC final
Tipperary v TBC, TBC, TBC

Saturday 16 May

Munster SHC Round 4
Tipperary v Clare, FBD Semple Stadium, 7pm

Leinster SHC Round 4
Galway v Dublin, Pearse Stadium, 4.30pm
Kilkenny v Kildare, UPMC Nowlan Park, 6pm
Offaly v Wexford, Glenisk O’Connor Park, 6pm

Tailteann Cup Round 1
Westmeath/Down/Cavan v Leitrim, TBC

Joe McDonagh Cup
Carlow v London, Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow, 1pm
Antrim v Westmeath, Corrigan Park (TBC), TBC
Laois v Down, Laois Hire O’Moore Park, TBC

Christy Ring Cup
Derry v Kerry, Find Insurance Celtic Park, Derry, TBC
Donegal v Meath, O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny, TBC
Wicklow v Roscommon, Echelon Park, Aughrim, TBC

Nickey Rackard Cup
Louth v Mayo, GAA Training Centre, Darver, TBC
Sligo v Fermanagh, Markievicz Park, TBC
Tyrone v Armagh, Tyrone CoE, Garvaghey, TBC

Lory Meagher Cup
Lancashire v Warwickshire, Páirc na hÉireann, Birmingham, TBC
Longford v Monaghan, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, TBC
Leitrim v Cavan, Páirc Seán MacDiarmada, TBC

All-Ireland U20FC final (played between 16/17 May)
Sunday 17 May

Ulster SFC final
Derry or Monaghan v Armagh or Down, Clones, 4.15pm – RTE

Leinster SFC final
Dublin or Louth v Kildare or Westmeath, Páirc an Chrócaigh, 2pm – RTE

Munster SHC Round 4
Limerick v Waterford, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 3pm
Monday 18 May

Munster MFC final
Friday 22 May

Leinster MFC final
TBC v TBC, TBC, 7.30pm

Saturday 23 May

Sam Maguire Cup Round 1

Tailteann Cup Round 2A & 2B

Sunday 24 May

Munster SHC Round 5
Cork v Clare, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4pm
Limerick v Tipperary, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 4pm

Leinster SHC Round 5
Dublin v Kilkenny, Parnell Park, 2pm
Kildare v Offaly, Cedral St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge, 2pm
Wexford v Galway, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 2pm

Joe McDonagh Cup
Antrim v Carlow, Corrigan Park (TBC), 1pm
Down v Westmeath, McKenna Park, Ballycran, 1pm
London v Laois, McGovern Park, Ruislip, 1pm

Saturday 30 May

Sam Maguire Cup Round 1

All-Ireland U20HC final
Saturday 6th June

Leinster SHC final

Joe McDonagh Cup final

Tailteann Cup Round 3

Sunday 7 June

Munster SHC final
Munster Senior Hurling Final, Venue TBC, 2pm

Saturday 13th-Sunday 14th

Sam Maguire Cup Round 2A & 2B

All-Ireland SHC preliminary quarter-final

Tailteann Cup quarter-finals

Saturday 20th-Sunday 21st

Sam Maguire Cup Round 3

Tailteann Cup semi-finals

All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals

Saturday 27th-Sunday 28th

All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals

July

Saturday 4th: All-Ireland SHC semi-final (Leinster winner v quarter-final winner)

Sunday 5th: All-Ireland SHC semi-final (Munster winner v quarter-final winner)

Saturday 11th-Sunday 12th: All-Ireland SFC semi-finals; Tailteann Cup final (Saturday)

Sunday 19th: All-Ireland SHC final

Sunday 26th: All-Ireland SFC final

August

Saturday 1st: All-Ireland SHC final replay date

Saturday 8th: All-Ireland SFC final replay

Bruno Fernandes is attempting to equal the Premier League assist record held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne but the Manchester United captain was not credited for setting up Benjamin Sesko’s goal against rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Fernandes, who is on 19 assists and is one behind Henry and De Bruyne’s single-season record of 20, headed back across goal before Liverpool goalkeeper Freddie Woodman punched the ball onto striker Sesko and the deflection took it over the line.

Fernandes was given the assist on the Premier League’s Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game, as he had the final attacking touch before Sesko put the ball in, even though Woodman had attempted to make the save in between.

But the definition of an assist in FPL, which is played by millions of fans around the world, and official Premier League records is different, and there was a change to FPL rules that meant an assist could still be awarded if there is only one defensive touch before the ball reaches the goalscorer.

For now, therefore, Fernandes will have one more Premier League assist in his FPL tally, but will remain behind Henry and De Bruyne as the Premier League officially does not award assists when there is a touch from a defending player.

Meanwhile, the Premier League has sought to explain why Sekso’s goal stood following a VAR check on a possible handball. The VAR Stuart Attwell checked whether the ball brushed off Sesko’s hand before crossing the line.

An update from the Premier League Match Centre confirmed: “The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed there was no conclusive evidence that Sesko handled the ball before scoring.”

Just as the Atlanta Braves welcome Spencer Strider back to their roster, Ronald Acuña Jr. is going on the injured list. The team announced the move on Sunday morning.

Acuña strained his left hamstring during Saturday’s 9-1 win over the Colorado Rockies, apparently sustaining the injury while running out a ground ball to second base. He grabbed at the back of his leg quickly after dashing from the batter’s box.

This story will be updated with more information.

Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, the WWE tag team known as the New Day, reportedly departed the company on Saturday as part of the latest string of releases.

Kingston and Woods became fan favorites as they formed New Day with fellow superstar Big E. But after Big E was sidelined with a serious injury, the two continued their tag team prowess in the ring. Kingston and Woods were four-time tag team champions as a duo and held the belts eight times when they were with Big E.

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Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston attend Netflix Tudum 2025: The Live Event at The Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif., on May 31, 2025. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Fightful Select and BodySlam both reported the departures of Kingston and Woods. The two were moved to the alumni section of the WWE website.

Kingston had a ton of success as a singles competitor. He captured the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35 over Daniel Bryan as part of the “Kofi-Mania” era where he received a ton of fan support on his way to his first title. He was also an intercontinental champion four times and a United States champion three times.

Woods joined WWE in 2010 after stints at Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Woods won the King of the Ring tournament in 2021.

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Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston of the New Day celebrate their win during WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 19, 2025. (Craig Melvin/WWE)

As a tag team, the two were considered to be one of the best in WWE’s history. They captured their last titles at WrestleMania 41 and turned heel soon after that. The two lost their tag titles in June and Woods was injured during the year. Kingston formed an alliance with Grayson Waller in the interim before the departure.

Elsewhere, Tonga Loa and JC Mateo reportedly departed the company as well.

Loa first appeared in WWE in 2009 before departed in 2014. He re-appeared most recently in 2024, joining forces with Solo Sikoa and the newly formed MFT faction.

MFT’s JC Mateo, Talla Tonga, Solo Sikoa and Tonga Loa face off with Jimmy Uso during Saturday Night’s Main Event at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga., on July 12, 2025. (Georgiana Dallas/WWE)

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Mateo joined WWE in 2025, also backing up Sikoa in the faction. He was also a tag team champion with Tama Tonga before eventually dropping the belts to Damian Priest and R-Truth in March.

Carl Froch has considered Moses Itauma’s chances against Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois, as either man could soon be ordered to face the rising star.

Before anything else, Wardley must first defend his WBO world title against Dubois on May 9, headlining a Queensberry show at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena.

The 31-year-old was elevated from ‘interim’ to full heavyweight champion following his victory over Joseph Parker, which resulted in a stunning 11th-round finish last October.

Dubois, meanwhile, has not fought since his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in July, back when he was relieved of his IBF title via an emphatic fifth-round stoppage.

As for Itauma, it is likely he will be named as the WBO mandatory challenger, putting him in line to face the winner of Wardley-Dubois.

The 21-year-old comes off a dominant fifth-round finish over Jermaine Franklin, who was dropped and stopped for the first time in his career.

While having not yet established himself at world level, his performance in March nonetheless suggests that Itauma is capable of competing with the likes of Wardley and Dubois.

In fact, Hall of Famer Froch has opined on his YouTube channel, Froch On Fighting, that the hard-hitting prodigy is more than ready for such a challenge.

“I think Moses beats both of them. Obviously Daniel Dubois’ got that punch that could catch him, as has Fabio Wardley, but I just don’t think they’re good enough [to beat him].

“When you look at Itauma and his speed – his footwork, his combination punching… the power – he’s just very, very good.”

Itauma is set to return to action on July 25, meaning his maiden world title shot – should it arrive as early as this – is unlikely to involve the WBO belt.

It is worth noting, too, that Itauma trains at the same gym as Wardley, which represents a clear stumbling block in the way of their potential fight.