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Padres set for first-ever look at Pirates ace Paul Skenes

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Syndication: The EnquirerPittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes (30) throws a pitch in the first inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

The San Diego Padres are the lone National League team that Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes has never faced as he eases into his third major league season.

That will change on Tuesday when Skenes (1-1, 9.53 ERA) matches up with the fellow right-hander Nick Pivetta (1-1, 6.75) of the Padres in the second contest of a three-game set in Pittsburgh.

After enduring his shortest and worst career outing on Opening Day against the New York Mets, Skenes rebounded on Wednesday. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner threw five strong innings in an 8-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Skenes gave up a run on three hits and two walks, and he struck out five in a 77-pitch appearance.

“Still a work in progress, but nice to give some volume and be out there for more than two-thirds of an inning,” Skenes said, referring to the length of his March 26 start vs. the Mets in which he yielded five runs on four hits and two walks.

Pivetta, in his most recent start, also put together a major rebound start following a poor Opening Day outing.

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The 33-year-old Canadian gave up only one hit over five shutout innings, struck out eight and walked two to help the Padres beat the San Francisco Giants 7-1 on Wednesday. The performance came six days after Pivetta allowed six runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out three over three innings in an 8-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

“That first game, that was not Pivetta,” Padres catcher Freddy Fermin said after Pivetta’s most recent start. “(Against the Giants), he made adjustments and pitched in the right spots.”

Pivetta is 2-1 with a 2.17 ERA in six career outings (five starts) against the Pirates.

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While Skenes didn’t turn in a completely dominant effort vs. the Reds, the five-inning outing helped quell concerns for Pittsburgh that its ace was experiencing any sort of negative effects from having pitched in the World Baseball Classic.

“Just remembering what’s real and what isn’t real, I guess. Nothing matters except for the play. Nothing matters except for the game,” Skenes said. “I’m pretty insulated from a lot of stuff that’s out there. The stuff that I do see or hear, I don’t really care anyway, because it doesn’t have anything to do with the play. Throughout the week, basically just thinking about getting back to execution and executing my pitches. That’s it.”

Skenes will try to cool off a suddenly energized San Diego lineup, which powered a 5-0 shutout of the Pirates on Monday and has led the Padres to three consecutive wins. The Padres could have made it an even more lopsided result in the series opener had they not left 10 runners on base.

Skenes finally will get to face Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill, who was the runner-up to Skenes for NL Rookie of the Year in 2024. Merrill has been part of San Diego’s offense surge, collecting four hits, three runs, a homer and three RBIs in the past two games.

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“Good arm, good challenge,” Merrill said, according to MLB.com, about facing Skenes on Tuesday. “The Rookie of the Year stuff, that doesn’t matter anymore. But it’s fun for the game of baseball.”

–Field Level Media

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Julio Cesar Chavez sees only one winner in Terence Crawford vs prime Floyd Mayweather fight

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Terence Crawford and Floyd Mayweather both retired undefeated and both are considered to be amongst the standout pound-for-pound greats of the modern era. Now, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr has predicted how a fight between the American duo would play out.

Mayweather went through his whole career without getting hurt more than once or twice, hanging up the gloves with an iconic record of 50-0 – that could soon be put in jeopardy – as one of six five-division world champions in boxing history.

Crawford became the latest man to join that elite unbeaten club, while simultaneously becoming the second fighter to become the undisputed champion in three separate weight-classes, 87 years after Henry Armstrong became the first man to accomplish that feat.

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With no opponent being able to crack their codes and hand them a defeat during their phenomenal careers, it’s tough to envisage how either man could be beaten and which could figure out the puzzle to come out on top if they were to collide in their primes.

However, in an interview with Luis Parra, Chavez Sr revealed that he would fancy Mayweather to win that battle due to the styles of both men, as well as the superior résumé of ‘TBE’.

“I think so, [that Mayweather would have beaten Crawford]. I think that styles make fights, you know. Crawford is a great fighter, but if you look at who he has beaten, he has only beaten Canelo.”

Mayweather could potentially lose his fabled 50-fight unbeaten streak, if a professional rematch between he and Manny Pacquiao goes ahead and the latter is able to avenge his 2015 defeat.

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2026 Kentucky Derby horses, odds, predictions, posts: Expert who hit 12 Derby-Oaks Doubles releases picks

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The fastest two minutes in sports is set for May 2, when the 2026 Kentucky Derby goes to post at Churchill Downs at 6:57 p.m. ET.  A full lineup of 20 horses will compete for the most-prestigious race in the industry. The 2026 Kentucky Derby odds are set, with Renegade currently atop the board at 4-1.

Renegade is just one of four horses with odds at 10-1 or lower for Kentucky Derby 2026. Commandment (6-1), Further Ado (6-1) and Chief Wallabee (8-1) aren’t far behind. Before making any 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, be sure to see the 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions and best bets from SportsLine’s elite horse racing expert Jody Demling.

Bet the Kentucky Derby with the latest TwinSpires offer code CBSSPORTS to receive up to $400 in bonus bets here:

A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling has nailed the Kentucky Oaks-Derby double 12 times in the last 17 years. He also predicted the top three 2025 Kentucky Derby finishers in the correct order and called the exacta in last year’s Preakness. Anyone who has followed him on horse racing betting sites could be way up. 

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Now, with the 2026 Kentucky Derby approaching and horse racing futures odds on the board, Demling is sharing his 2026 Kentucky Derby betting picks and 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions over at SportsLine. Go here to see them.

Top 2026 Kentucky Derby predictions

One of Demling’s surprising 2026 Kentucky Derby picks: He is fading Chief Wallabee (8-1) even though he’s one of the favorites. Chief Wallabee burst onto the scene by winning his first race, a maiden event in which he defeated The Puma, another top contender at Churchill Downs.

Since that January race at Gulfstream Park, Chief Wallabee has taken second and third, and his Speed Rating has dipped in each instance. He also has never raced on any track aside from Gulfstream. Those are enough flags to choose other horses in his Kentucky Derby picks over the entrant by legendary trainer Bill Mott. See who to back at SportsLine.

Another stunner: Demling is high on Fulleffort, even though he’s a longshot at 20-1 and will start from out wide at post No. 20. Sired by Liam’s Map, Fulleffort’s father won multiple G1 races in his thoroughbred career. Fulleffort also has impressive genes on his mom’s side as his damsire, Awesome Again, also won multiple G1 races. Fulleffort has participated in just one graded stakes race, but he won that in his last start at the Jeff Ruby Steaks.

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The horse appears to be following the route that 2022 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike took. Both horses only competed on a synthetic surface in their 3-year-old seasons prior to the Derby, and the two even raced the same three races in the Ruby Steaks, Battaglia Memorial and Leonatus. But while Rich Strike never finished in the top two in any of those, Fulleffort has one victory and two runners-up across them. So, the latter is already ahead of the 2022 Derby champion and shouldn’t be overlooked with your horse racing bets. See which other horses to back at SportsLine, and you can make 2026 Kentucky Derby picks at TwinSpires here with the offer code CBSSPORTS:

How to make 2026 Kentucky Derby picks, bets

Demling is also high on a longshot who “demolished the field” in his last start. Anyone who backs this colt could hit it big. Demling is sharing which horse it is, along with his entire projected 2026 Kentucky Derby leaderboard, over at SportsLine.

Which horse wins the Kentucky Derby 2026, and which longshot is a must-back? Check out the latest 2026 Kentucky Derby odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Demling’s picks for the Kentucky Derby, all from the expert who has nailed 12 Derby-Oaks doubles.

2026 Kentucky Derby odds

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10 Mother’s Day gifts we love for under $50

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As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of female varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everyone on the masthead. She can out-hustle them in the office, too, where she’s primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s inaugural Style Is­sue, which debuted in February 2018. Her origi­nal interview series, “A Round With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in both in the magazine and in video form on GOLF.com.

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Pirates’ Skenes rents bounce house to celebrate Griffin’s 20th birthday

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PITTSBURGH — A bounce house stood in the middle of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ clubhouse before Monday night’s game against St. Louis, courtesy of NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes.

Skenes rented the inflatable kids’ attraction as a part of a belated celebration for rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin, who turned 20 on Friday and celebrated by hitting his first major league home run in a win at Milwaukee.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t get to get in it, but I love it,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said of the bounce house. “Teammates, it’s good camaraderie and I know that Konnor’s a great sport about it. There are not too many guys that get to celebrate their 20th birthday in the big leagues. Really cool.”

Griffin made his debut on April 3 after being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis. He signed a $140 million, nine-year contract five days later.

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The Minor League Player of the Year last season, Griffin is hitting .224 with one homer and six stolen bases in 22 games. He was the Pirates’ first-round pick in the 2024 amateur draft.

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David Benavidez says world champion is avoiding him after feeling his power in sparring

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David Benavidez believes one of the sport’s flagship champions is actively avoiding him, claiming there have been “multiple opportunities” to make the fight happen.

The WBC light-heavyweight champion is widely considered to be a top 10 pound-for-pound operator, capable of significantly enhancing his legacy over the next few years.

His immediate opportunity to do so will arrive on May 2, when Benavidez bids to become a three-division world champion against WBO and WBA cruiserweight titlist Gilberto Ramirez.

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Irrespective of the result this weekend, the 29-year-old has said he will move back down to 175lbs and pursue an undisputed showdown with Dmitry Bivol.

The unified light-heavyweight champion is gearing up to defend his titles against mandatory challenger Michael Eifert, headlining a card at the UMMC Arena, Russia, on May 30.

This represents his first outing since defeating Artur Beterbiev in their immediate rematch, which saw Bivol exact his revenge with a majority decision victory in February 2025.

Should he wish to become a two-time undisputed king, then the 35-year-old must ultimately face Benavidez, who insists he got the better of their sparring session around eight years ago.

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Back then, the pair had already shared numerous rounds, yet Benavidez has told Ariel Helwani that Bivol came away from their final spar with far less confidence.

“They can say whatever they want… He’s felt my power up close and personal. I felt his power up close and personal, too, but I got the better of that. I got the better of that last sparring session we had.

“I don’t let that get to my head because I know I have to come extremely prepared for him, but I feel like that [sparring session] kind of got stuck in his head.

“We’ve had multiple opportunities to make this fight happen, and it hasn’t happened, so I think that speaks volumes on its own.”

Benavidez was elevated from ‘interim’ to full WBC champion after Bivol vacated the belt last year, but this was largely because the Russian needed to undergo back surgery.

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Allyson Felix says she plans comeback to run at 2028 LA Olympics at 42

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Allyson Felix, the most decorated track and field Olympian of all time, wants one more crack at adding more medals to her illustrious career.

The 40-year-old told Time she will be making a comeback in hopes of running in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, which will be hosted in her home city.  

“So many of us have been told not to do the big, bold thing,” Felix said to the outlet about her comeback. “You know, at this age, I should probably be staying home and taking care of my kids, doing all that. And just, why not? Let’s flip it on its head. Let’s go after the thing. Let’s be vulnerable.”

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Allyson Felix celebrating after 4x400 meter mixed relay race at World Championships

Allyson Felix, multiple sprint world champion, celebrates after the 4×400 meter mixed relay at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on July 16, 2022. The U.S. relay team won bronze in Felix’s final race. (Michael Kappeler/DPA)

Felix will be 42 when the Olympics begin in L.A., but the winner of 11 Olympic medals, including seven golds, across five different Games has seen others past 40 years old do what many consider impossible. Tom Brady, LeBron James and Lindsey Vonn were mentioned by Felix during the interview.

She wants to push past the age barrier, believing she can get one last shot at Olympic glory.

US OLYMPIAN ALYSA LIU WAS ONCE TARGETED BY CHINESE SPIES – HERE’S WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY ABOUT IT

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If Felix were to make the Olympic team at 42, she would be the first American sprinter to ever reach the Games in their 40s. And considering her specialty is sprinting, it will be quite the feat with the talent pool she’d be going up against.

Sha’Carri Richardson, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Gabby Thomas and more will be vying for spots on the Olympic team come 2028. But that’s clearly not going to deter Felix, who many of these women likely looked up to since she burst onto the Olympic scene in Athens in 2004.

Allyson Felix celebrating after 4x400 meter mixed relay race at World Championships

Allyson Felix, multiple sprint world champion, celebrates after the 4×400 meter mixed relay at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on July 16, 2022. The U.S. relay team won bronze in Felix’s final race. (Michael Kappeler/Picture Alliance via Getty Images)

Felix won silver that year in the 200-meter sprint. Then, during the 2008 Games in Beijing, she won gold with the 4×400-meter relay team, while taking home silver in the 200-meter sprint.

Felix reached the height of her running powers during the London Games, notching gold in the 200-meter, the 4×100-meter relay and 4×400-meter relay. She was a part of the team in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo before announcing her retirement following the 2022 track season.

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Since then, Felix was inducted into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2025, while serving as part of the International Olympic Committee’s Athlete’s Commission as well as the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s Board of Directors.

So, while Felix is involved heavily in the Games for the U.S., she wants to be back on the track.

Allyson Felix speaking onstage at the Social Impact Summit in Los Angeles

Allyson Felix speaks onstage during the 2025 Social Impact Summit by The Hollywood Reporter and Social Impact Fund on July 24, 2025, at the DGA in Los Angeles, Calif. (Monica Schipper/The Hollywood Reporter)

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Felix did return to competitive running last year, but she said she will seriously begin training for an Olympic comeback in October.

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If Felix doesn’t make the team in the end, she said she will be present at the 2028 LA Games with her children to cheer on those representing the Stars and Stripes.  

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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Jodar beats Fonseca to reach First Masters Round of 16

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Rafa Jodar defeated João Fonseca 7-6, 4-6, 6-1 in Madrid to reach the round of 16 of a Masters event for the first time.

The match was close early on, with both players sharing the first two sets. Jodar won a close first set, lost the second, and then took over in the final set to seal the win in front of the home crowd.

The 19-year-old continues an impressive run of form. He has now won 11 of his last 12 matches, including his first top-10 win in the previous round.

  • Sinner continues winning run with straight-Sets victory in MadridSinner continues winning run with straight-Sets victory in Madrid

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After the match, Jodar spoke about how tight the contest was and gave credit to his opponent.

“It was very tough. João is always a very tough player. These matches are decided by very small details and very small points. I think I did a great job in those points, trying to play my game.”

He also praised Fonseca’s progress this season.

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“He’s a very young player, a great player. I wish him the best of luck for the rest of the season and his career.”

Jodar also spoke about his own level and what comes next.

“I’m very, very happy with my level. I’ll try to recover well and think about the next match.”

This result marks another step forward for Jodar as he continues his run in Madrid.

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Rhea Ripley Reunites With Popular WWE Star Following SmackDown

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WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley is among the most popular stars on the roster. She reunited with a fellow babyface last week.

The Eradicator spent a lot of time with Damian Priest in The Judgment Day. They were both ousted from the faction at WWE SummerSlam 2024. The two parted ways a couple of months later to focus on their respective singles careers.

Despite The Archer of Infamy’s move to SmackDown in January 2025, The Terror Twins crossed paths on several occasions in the past 12 months. After winning the Women’s Elimination Chamber Match earlier this year, Ripley also joined the blue brand to feud with the then WWE Women’s Champion, Jade Cargill.

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Rhea Ripley recently reunited with Damian Priest backstage. Earlier today, R-Truth posted a picture featuring himself, Priest, and Rhea posing with their respective title belts, recreating an iconic movement from two years ago.

“🙌🏾 Groundhog Day 👀 @RheaRipley_WWE @ArcherOfInfamy,” Truth wrote.

You can check out the tweet below:

While Rhea Ripley defeated Jade Cargill to win the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 42, Damian Priest and R-Truth scored a surprising win over The MFTs’ Tama Tonga and JC Mateo on the March 20 edition of Monday Night RAW to become the new WWE Tag Team Champions.

Popular WWE star hinted at potential match against Rhea Ripley

Former WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton was shockingly left off the WrestleMania 42 card. She addressed her absence from the PLE in a recent interview with Joey Karni.

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The Buff Barbie noted that the surprising WrestleMania absence could set her up for bigger opportunities at SummerSlam, competing for the WWE Women’s Championship or main eventing WrestleMania 43.

“I fully believe everything happens for a reason. Me not being on this year’s Mania is setting me up for something bigger. Whether that’s SummerSlam in Minnesota this year and fighting for the WWE Women’s Championship or main eventing next year’s WrestleMania, I fully believe everything happens for a reason,” Stratton added.

On the latest edition of Friday Night SmackDown, Tiffany Stratton defeated Giulia to become the new WWE Women’s United States Champion. After her win, it is likely that The Buff Barbie will cross paths with The Nightmare anytime soon.