The Sunday baseball card often looks packed. Every team plays almost every Sunday, so you have a lot of games to choose from. As a sports bettor, that’s a good thing because you have opportunities for the books to make mistakes. However, it also takes longer for you to evaluate each game. Let me do the work for you and give you a risky, but fun, look at a game between the Braves and the Rockies.

The Braves come into the game with a strong record for the year, and the start that everyone hoped they would get off to after the rough last season. It is amazing what can happen when you don’t have constant injuries to your team. In fairness, there are still some missing pieces, but Atlanta has been able to navigate those better than it did last year. It is only the start of May, and the NL East looks like theirs to lose.

Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Atlanta on April 5, 2024. (John Bazemore/AP)

To make matters worse for the teams chasing them, they are sending out a great starter to the mound, Spencer Strider. This will be the season debut for Strider, and I have to expect that the Braves will be rather cautious with him. Last season, he turned in 23 starts and accumulated 125.1 innings over the season. He didn’t have a great year, going 7-14 with a 4.45 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. The good news for him is that he gets to come back against a soft-hitting Rockies team. However, they are 8-for-32 overall against him, but only have two RBIs and 14 strikeouts.

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The Colorado Rockies were expected to be the worst team in baseball by most analysts. That hasn’t proven to be the case, as it seems like they have some fight in them this year. Before we start printing playoff tickets, the team is still under .500 and won’t sniff the postseason. However, for a team that won 43 games last year and didn’t have 15 wins until June 16th, they are at least ahead of that pace.

Colorado Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Coors Field. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)

There are a number of reasons the team is performing better — pride, better hitting and better pitching, etc. To me, one guy specifically stands out who has had a good start to the season, and that is today’s starter, Kyle Freeland. For the year, Freeland is 1-2 with a 3.48 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. I’ve been a Freeland fan for many years and think he has been buried a bit with the Rockies. He was never likely to be an Ace with a club, but he probably could’ve been a reliable arm and even a postseason starter. He only has one start at home this year, but it was a very good one, going 6.1 innings and allowing just one run on three hits.

The bad news for the Rockies and Freeland is that the club has feasted on his pitching over the years. Collectively, the Braves are 45-for-137 against him, leading to a .328 average. Ozzie Albies is the guy I’m locked in on for 3+ total bases and may even do 4+ and 5+ as he is hitting 11-for-24 with four extra-base hits against Freeland.

Atlanta Braves’ Ozzie Albies and Eli White celebrate after scoring on a double by Matt Olson during the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles on April 2, 2025. (Kevork Djansezian/AP)

Another one worth playing is Mauricio Dubon, who is 7-for-19 with four extra-base hits off of Freeland. Albies will be an official play, but I’m going to do a Same Game Parlay for a bit of Sunday fun with 2+ total bases from Albies (3+), Dubon, Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Rile. That pays out at 12:1.

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File image of Lille players© AFP

Peter Snowden’s remarkable association with the Hawkesbury stand-alone card persists, with the Gold Rush now joining his roster of prominent victories delivered by the skilled sprinter Zealously.

Snowden has championed the meeting right from its launch, accumulating seven Hawkesbury Crown (1300m) wins and five Guineas (1400m) triumphs en route to 18 total successes in the key events of the day.

In Saturday’s $200,000 Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m), $4 market leader Zealously commanded from the front and repelled allcomers to prevail by 1-1/2 lengths over $10 shot Bev’s Nine, ahead of third-placed Monte Supreme ($7), as those from further back couldn’t advance notably.

Snowden expressed joy at the four-year-old achieving stakes level success, having felt uneasy when the going looked “doughy” initially, as the horse performs best on firmer turf.

“I was a little bit worried when I saw the track today. You wouldn’t want it any wetter for him,” Snowden said.

“But I thought he’d be able to control the speed and when he got a soft sectional between the 400 and the corner, he was going to be hard to beat.”

Zealously is set to skip the Scone carnival in favour of winter targets in Brisbane.

Several races await the sprinter in Queensland, contingent on dry surfaces.

“I think we will look at Brisbane with him now,” he said.

“I’ve got Fire Star and King Of Sparta for Scone, so I’m just trying to spread them around.”

Tom Sherry partnered Zealously and observed the horse’s increased maturity this time in and improved race relaxation.

“Once he can control a race like that, he’s always going to be very competitive,” Sherry said.

“I feel as though he’s relaxing a lot better this preparation than in his previous ones, which will stand him in good stead going forward.”

For the Hawkesbury Gold Rush and similar events, punters can find excellent options at trusted betting sites.

Not a $1 million Group 1 by any means, but Jordan Childs was content to extend his fine run from the previous weekend via another feature conquest at Bendigo on Saturday.

The jockey riding with flair won the lead Black Type affair at Bendigo’s Golden Mile fixture when aligning with Danny O’Brien’s filly Gold Coast Belle for a tenacious score in the $200,000 Listed Bendigo Guineas (1400m).

It built directly on his shock win in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes from the Saturday before riding Geegees Mistruth – ending an eight-year wait for Group 1 glory – with Childs eager to keep the good times flowing.

“Last week was great and I’ve continued to ride winners since then, so we’re in a bit of form at the moment and very happy,” Childs said.

“I feel like I’ve been riding well for a while, I’ve been very consistent in my riding the last few seasons and I’ve always been around the mark.

“Not riding Group 1 winners, but riding Group 2 and Group 3 and feature races, so to knock over that second Group 1, hopefully I can build a bit of momentum off that going into the Brisbane Carnival and then into spring.”

Childs’ self-belief prevented any early concern as the pace-setter Gold Coast Belle endured a wide trip for significant portions of the race, but they summoned a powerful finish in the straight for the gritty victory.

As the $2.70 top pick, she held off Bel Mezyaan ($8.50), surging inside, by a neck and was a half-head superior to Sulek ($31) in third.

“It was a really good effort from her and all credit to the horse,” Childs said.

“The race probably didn’t work out how we would have liked but good horses overcome that.”

The Bendigo Guineas result elevated Gold Coast Belle to four wins in six career starts, with the daughter of So You Think placing second in each of her other two efforts.

Childs ventures interstate again next weekend to the Gold Coast, partnering She’s A Hustler in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes.

Discover competitive betting sites offering strong racing odds for the Bendigo Guineas type of feature races.

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

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).

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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.