Elsewhere in international action, Ivory Coast cruised past South Korea 4-0 in England, while Belgium impressed with a 5-2 win over the United States in Atlanta. France are back in action on Sunday against Colombia, three days after a statement 2-1 victory over Brazil, with heavy squad rotation expected.
In Spain, Barcelona have been dealt a major blow: Raphinha is set to miss five weeks and will notably be sidelined for the Champions League quarter-final against Atlético Madrid.
In figure skating, Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry were crowned world champions in ice dance in Prague, continuing a remarkable partnership already crowned with Olympic gold last month in Milan.
And in the NBA, San Antonio’s hot streak rolls on. The Spurs secured an eighth straight win with a dominant 127-95 victory over Milwaukee, powered by an all-around performance from Victor Wembanyama and a triple-double from Stephon Castle.
There was one particular name who was constantly in doubt for WWE Clash in Italy 2026 despite being officially booked on the card. The former Champion was spotted in the opening of the PLE, being spotted for the first time since the injury.
That name is the former NXT North American Women’s Champion and ex-Speed Champion Sol Ruca. The 26-year-old star was in doubt for WWE Clash in Italy 2026. She faced Becky Lynch in a non-title match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. However, the match controversially ended in a few minutes after Becky Lynch stopped the Sol Snatcher by shoving Ruca’s legs into referee Jessika Carr (with whom she has had long-standing issues). Almost immediately after that, in a backstage segment, Nick Aldis announced on RAW General Manager Adam Pearce’s behalf, telling Becky Lynch that she would be defending the Women’s Intercontinental Championship at Clash in Italy a week later.
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WWE usually starts its shows with the big superstars arriving at the arena. During the opening moments of Clash in Italy 2026, Sol Ruca was finally spotted, putting to rest any rumors about the injury keeping her out. She addressed this on the pre-show by revealing that she was medically cleared. It doesn’t necessarily mean that she isn’t dealing with a nagging injury, as wrestlers competing through injuries have and still remain commonplace.
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Either way, it was good to see Sol Ruca appearing healthy upon her arrival at the stadium in Turin. Ironically, her DQ win over Becky Lynch marked her first victory on the main roster. She notably faced Iyo Sky before this and fell short in an incredible match.
Ruca, despite only having a few years in the wrestling business, has surpassed several early expectations, becoming one of the most prominent stars in a stacked NXT roster that included names like Oba Femi, Je’Von Evans, and the entire Women’s division, which was arguably the best in all of wrestling during Ruca’s stint on the developmental brand.
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They say irony is hard to define but you know it when you see it. After hearing the lousy news that Sports Illustrated was taking a machete to its excellent golf coverage, I did a quick Google search on this latest act of newsroom barbarism.
This was the first headline that popped up, from a May 29 posting from Front Office Sports:
“Several Longtime Writers Laid Off at Sports Illustrated.”
“PGA Tour Lays Off 4% of Staff As Part of Restructuring.”
It’s no surprise that the second story was written by Bob Harig, the veteran Sports Ilustrated golf writer. Bob, as tireless, connected and fair-minded as any reporter could be, was one of the dozen or so writers and editors pushed out by SI in this latest effort to kill good journalism in the ruthless search to make more money.
Just to cite, and far too briefly, some of the other talented, golf-leaning SI staffers who have just lost their publishing home (where I spent 22 years of my own career on the masthead), I raise a flag to half-mast in the name of Jeff Ritter and John Schwarb, two affable and longtime editors steeped in golf; the columnist Michael Rosenberg, who writes with humor, indignation and insight, as his theme-of-the-day requires; and Stephanie Apstein, who wrote-up golf’s winners and as often its also-rans when she was taking a slide from her main beat, covering the pastime.
Part of what makes this news so painful to hear is that SI has a singular place in the history of modern American golf coverage. If you care at all about the game’s written tradition, you know these names and their good works: Herbert Warren Wind, Dan Jenkins, Rick Reilly, to start with the Big Three, but also Jaime Diaz, John Garrity, Gary Van Sickle, Alan Shipnuck, Tim Rosaforte, among others. There were more than a few world-class editors behind these writers as well, but for now I’ll offer just two: Mark Mulvoy and Jim Herre. Then there were the brilliant SI writers who dipped into golf now and again, including Gary Smith and Steve Rushin. Much of what I know about this game came from reading the writers cited here, and many others with the SI stamp on their work. The photography that accompanied all of these stories was often artful and unique. This was all expensive to produce. People were willing to pay for quality, and you could always go to your library, too. Some of you will remember libraries.
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Let me pause here in the name of Harig. Harig knows more about Tiger Woods’s complicated medical journey than Tiger Woods. He knows more about the balancing act of creating a PGA Tour schedule than Brian Rolapp. When rules debacles flair, Harig is (I won’t say was) forever finding out what happened and why.
From its gaudy start, Harig gave LIV Golf the coverage it deserved, given that some of the biggest names in golf were leaving their longtime professional homes to join it in the name of money, money, money. LIV Golf was creating news and Bob’s professional MO is to cover news, without judgment.
Bob’s most recent book, Tiger v. Jack, gives you everything you need to know to settle that debate for yourself. That’s how Bob rolls. That’s what it means to be a true reporter. He’s 62, got his start in golf as a caddie and his start as a reporter at newspapers. He has 67,000 followers on X and knows all of Scottie Scheffler’s favorite Chipotle locations. It takes years to become Bob Harig.
The starting point behind these SI cuts is (this is painfully obvious) that the owners of the monthly magazine, and the 24-7 website, are trying to make money. The magazine and website are owned by Authentic Brands Group and are managed by an outfit called Minute Media. It’s a telling name. Attention spans have never been shorter. Both outfits are going to find out that less is less, and that cheaper is cheaper, in every way. SI should (somebody get me off this pulpit!) take its lead from the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker. Those publications, and their websites, are thriving under the theory that more is more, and that serious people want serious news sources.
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Part of what is going on here is generational, the seismic shift in reading habits. Reading on a screen is a completely different reading experience than reading ink on paper. Its wild inefficiency is entwined with its greatness. Reading on a screen is a minute-by-minute proposition. Send me an email if you have already quit reading this one. There is surely a “metric” for that. There’s always some next thing popping up and in, grabbing your attention and providing some kind of dopamine hit that often has no more value than a roll of Smarties and about the same staying power.
What Herb Wind wrote about (and with) Ben Hogan will have be on shelves forever. Dan Jenkins on Jack Nicklaus, the same. Gary Smith on David Duval, ditto. Part of what made their work possible is that their subjects actually valued the written word, in all its permanence. Yes, David Duval. Maybe Colin Morikawa is as interesting as David Duval, but he has to be willing to open the door for us to find out. In the meantime, we have all manner of Strokes Gained stats in all their glory. Fascinating.
This website, and by any means necessary (video and audio and typed copy), is committed to celebrating the game, with a mix of features and profiles, commentary, travel coverage, instruction — and news and news analysis when it rises to a we-need-to-know level. Competing with SI only made us better. SI did the news of golf at an exceptional level. (I nod here to Golfweek and Doug Ferguson of the AP, too.) I hope this is not true but it is hard to imagine that the future of golf’s news coverage will be better than its past. Golf will suffer as a result, and so will golf fans.
I can offer no solution here because I don’t know of one. Shifting habits are shifting habits. The profit incentive is the profit incentive. I do know I’d be lost in my life without the Journal, the Times, The New Yorker. SI is no longer on that list.
NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi may not have featured in the IPL 2026 final, but the 15-year-old ended the season as one of its undisputed stars.As Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets in Ahmedabad on Sunday to defend their title, Sooryavanshi dominated the post-match awards ceremony, collecting a host of individual honours after a record-breaking campaign.However, it was his candid admission on stage that stole the spotlight.After being named the Most Valuable Player of IPL 2026, the teenage opener admitted he was feeling nervous while speaking at the presentation ceremony.“It feels good but I feel a bit under pressure having to give the interview,” Sooryavanshi said, drawing smiles from the audience.A season to rememberThe youngster enjoyed a phenomenal breakthrough campaign, scoring 776 runs in 16 innings at a staggering strike rate of 237.30.His fearless batting transformed Rajasthan Royals’ fortunes and made him one of the most talked-about players of the tournament.The numbers were equally impressive. Sooryavanshi finished as the highest run-scorer of the season to claim the Orange Cap, comfortably staying ahead of Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill and teammate Sai Sudharsan.He also shattered bowling attacks throughout the tournament, smashing 72 sixes and consistently scoring at a breathtaking pace.Reflecting on his rapid rise, the youngster showed maturity beyond his years.“How to play each game, you can’t play every game the same way. If I have to stay injury free I have to work on my fitness. Everyone is very supportive. All senior players, support staff, everyone backs me and it’s a good atmosphere,” he said.Awards galore for RR wonderkidThe MVP award was only one of several honours collected by Sooryavanshi on the final night of the season.In addition to the Orange Cap, he was named Emerging Player of the Season, Super Striker of the Season for his astonishing strike rate of 237.3, and Super Sixes of the Season after clearing the ropes 72 times.Although Rajasthan Royals fell short of reaching the final after losing to Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2, Sooryavanshi’s performances ensured the franchise remained in contention until the final week of the tournament.For a player who is only 15, IPL 2026 was a season of records, awards and unforgettable innings. Yet amid all the accolades, it was his honest confession about feeling nervous during the interview that perhaps revealed the teenager behind the superstar.
The statement came on Saturday, two days after Claude Lemieux died at age 60. It was released by his daughter Claudia Lemieux Bishop, and it did two things at once: it confirmed the cause of death, which authorities had already reported as suicide, and it announced that the family had donated Lemieux’s brain to the Boston University CTE Center for research into the long-term effects of repetitive brain injuries.
The family also gave the CTE Center permission to publicly share any findings connected to Lemieux’s name. They added one condition: no conclusions should be drawn regarding any diagnosis until the research is complete.
What the Family Said
The statement connected the donation to who Lemieux had become after his playing career ended. He had worked as a player agent, spending his post-hockey years on behalf of the next generation of athletes rather than trading on the reputation of the four Stanley Cups he won.
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“Claude dedicated his post-playing career to helping the next generation,” the family said. “By allowing his name to be connected to this research, we hope his life can contribute to greater understanding, more honest conversations and better protection for athletes and families in the years ahead.”
That framing matters. The donation is not framed as an answer to questions about Lemieux’s death. It is framed as a continuation of the work he had already chosen to do with his life after hockey.
The Broader Context in Hockey
Lemieux played nearly 1,500 NHL games across six teams between 1983 and 2009, in a style built on physical confrontation, big hits, and the kind of play that made him beloved by his own teams and despised by everyone else. The physical toll of that career is the relevant context for the CTE research.
He is not the first hockey player from his era to make this kind of donation. Bobby Hull’s family donated his brain after his death in January 2023, and researchers at the same Boston University CTE Center subsequently confirmed he had Stage 2 CTE at the time of his death. Dennis Hull, Bobby’s younger brother, died just days before this story broke, another reminder of how many players from that generation are now gone.
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The BU CTE Center, led by Dr Ann McKee, operates the largest tissue repository in the world focused on traumatic brain injury and CTE, with over 1,700 brains and more than 800 CTE diagnoses to date. Lemieux’s donation adds to a body of research that is still building the case for what decades of contact sport does to the brain long after the final game.
Collina asked for protocol to be updated so the VAR could step in if a foul occurred before the ball was in play.
There have been several examples, such as a goal scored by England in their 1-1 draw against Uruguay at Wembley in March.
Cole Palmer delivered a corner into the area, but before the ball was kicked Adam Wharton blocked the run of Jose Maria Gimenez.
That allowed the ball to run through to Harvey Barnes, who saw his effort saved by Fernando Muslera, and Ben White tapped in from close range.
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VAR protocol did not previously allow a review for a foul before a corner has been taken, but the Italian asked Ifab for permission to change this.
The Ifab has now accepted the request, and says that any foul before the ball is in play that has a direct impact can be reviewed.
This will apply to a goal, penalty kick or disciplinary sanction which happens on a corner or free-kick
The measure will be applied for the World Cup and reassessed after the tournament.
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It means that for the England goal, the VAR would be able to suggest a retake of the corner because of the foul by Wharton on Gimenez.
“We think this is very unfair, that the goal is given when the defender is prevented from being able to defend,” Collina said.
“A clear, illegal block made by an attacker. The only objective was to prevent the defender from being able to defend on his opponent.
“We are very confident to receive a clarification from the Ifab before the World Cup, saying that the VAR can intervene just before the ball is in play. We are convinced that nobody can object.”
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This will only apply to attacking fouls, and not to defensive fouls for holding or pulling.
Collina also explained the new rule for players who cover their mouth with a hand, arm or shirt in confrontation with an opponent.
This will now be a red card after the controversial incident involving Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr in a Champions League game in February.
“If the conversation is friendly, they can continue to do it without any problem,” Collina said.
“When the conversation is confrontational, covering the mouth means that you are doing something very wrong, potentially, and the sanction is the red card.”
Collina also said his referees would be ready to monitor grappling inside the area, with officials provided with data on the tactical approach of teams.
The PGA Tour returns to one of its longest tenured tournaments at Colonial Country Club
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The PGA Tour is making its second stop on its Texas two-step with the annual visit to Colonial Country Club for the Charles Schwab Challenge — one of the oldest tournaments on the yearly schedule, having first been played 80 years ago in 1946.
Last year, Ben Griffin won this event for his first individual victory on the PGA Tour amid his ascension into the top 10 in the world. Twelve months later, Eric Cole is atop the Charles Schwab Challenge leaderboard entering the final round seeking his first career PGA Tour win of any kind. He will be challenged down the stretch by the likes of Justin Thomas, Akshay Bhatia, J.J. Spaun, Alex Smalley, Hideki Matsuyama and Gary Woodland, who are all within striking distance as 18 holes remain.
Beyond those bigger names, Colonial has been the site of plenty of surprise winners in the past, and the Charles Schwab Challenge presents a breakthrough opportunity for some of the lesser-known players in the field.
Here’s how you can watch all the action this week at Colonial Country Club.
Oregon defensive back Dillon Thieneman participates in drills during the NFL Scouting Combine on Feb. 27, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Thieneman showcased his athleticism, movement skills, and coverage ability in front of NFL scouts and evaluators as teams gathered information ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft and the pre-draft selection process. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
Heading into every offseason, Minnesota Vikings fans and various media members manufacture some theories that come true — and some that don’t quite pan out. The following chronicles the takes that seemed likely at the time but later felt flat.
For example, during the 2025 offseason, many believe that Minnesota would sign Aaron Rodgers. That didn’t happen. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Here’s the 2026 edition of poorly-aged Vikings theories.
Vikings Rumor Mill Missed on Several Big Names
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning speaks with defensive back Dillon Thieneman during an open practice session before the Orange Bowl. Thieneman entered the season as one of college football’s most recognizable defensive backs after transferring from Purdue and immediately drew attention within Oregon’s revamped secondary. Dec. 27, 2025. Mandatory Credit: Ben Lonergan-Imagn Images.
1. Oregon Safety Dillon Thieneman Was the Obvious Round 1 Draft Choice
For about four to six weeks, every NFL mock draft — like every single one — linked Thieneman to the Vikings. It was almost a variation of The Mandela Effect.
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Despite no Vikings insiders validating the connection, the theory continued all the way up to draft night on April 23rd. With Thieneman indeed on the board, surely Minnesota would select Thieneman and call it good, right? They just had to fulfill the prophecy, correct? Absolutely not. The Vikings picked defensive tackle Caleb Banks, making the long run of Thiemenan-to-Minnesota theories look silly.
Meanwhile, Thieneman, who was drafted by the Chicago Bears, evidently did not run with the first team at OTAs this week. Bear Goggles On‘s Anthony Miller observed, “It’s very early on in the process to prepare for 2026, and there has to be some kind of method to the madness, but it’s interesting to say the least that.”
“Thieneman is not with the starters. Johnson’s decision might come as the team tries to avoid rushing him into the lineup and to let him learn before being thrown into the starting lineup.”
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2. The Vikings Would Draft a Notable RB, WR, and C
Some thought Minnesota would draft a running back like Jonah Coleman or Emmett Johnson before the draft’s late rounds. The Vikings also hosted a litany of prominent mid-round wide receivers before the draft. And at center, Blake Brandel was the only decent option, a guy who started his career as a tackle and later switched to guard.
Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski then selected no players at these positions until Round 6.
Instead, the Vikings will roll with Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason at running back, Jauan Jennings at WR3, and the aforementioned Brandel at center. Fans will hope that Round 6 runner Demond Claiborne is a draft steal.
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3. J.J. McCarthy Would Be Tradebait Because of Kyler Murray’s Arrival
Soon after the Vikings signed Murray in March, the world decided that McCarthy may not be able to coexist with Murray. Some claimed he’d request a trade; some said he was gone via trade during the draft.
None of that happened, and McCarthy is currently locked in a quarterback competition with Murray — just like the Vikings advertised in March.
If McCarthy is traded, it will probably be because he soured on the franchise and wanted a fresh start. That has not happened yet. NFL insider Jason La Canfora wrote this week, “Minnesota would likely not fetch much for McCarthy under these circumstances, and it might require an injury elsewhere to create more demand. If O’Connell couldn’t get much from him and opted to sell low on him, that would resonate around the league.”
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“But it also stands to reason that obvious friction between a new QB you need to win with now, and one who has to quickly come to grips with watching games and not playing them so soon after being drafted that high, is far from ideal.”
4. Aaron Jones and T.J. Hockenson Would Be Cut
When the offseason arrived, many assumed that Minnesota would cut Jones and Hockenson because of their hefty 2026 price tags. It would then have March and April to use free agency and the draft as a blank canvas for new playmakers.
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones carries the football against the Green Bay Packers during an NFC North showdown at Lambeau Field. Jones delivered several productive performances in his first season with Minnesota after spending years as a key offensive contributor for Green Bay. Sept. 29, 2024. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.
Yet, the Vikings proposed paycuts for both, and the pair accepted. Jones and Hockenson took lesser salaries in 2026 and are now slated to be unrestricted free agents in 2027.
The takes about Jones and Hockenson release indeed made sense, but they didn’t play out.
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5. Jonathan Greenard Would Be a Longtime Viking
Danielle Hunter left the Vikings during the 2024 offseason, choosing his hometown team, the Houston Texans, for his career’s second chapter. Minnesota turned around and signed the Texans’ main pass rusher — Greenard — to replace him.
It lasted two years.
Six weeks after signing Greenard, former Vikings boss Kwesi Adofo-Mensah finagled an expensive trade for Dallas Turner during the draft. That was apparently a pick to make Greenard’s stay short in Minnesota because the Vikings traded Greenard during the 2026 NFL Draft.
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Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard poses during NFC practice ahead of the Pro Bowl Games in Orlando. Greenard quickly became one of the Vikings’ most important defensive playmakers after joining the franchise, helping lead Brian Flores’ defense with steady pressure and impact production. Feb. 1, 2025. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
Most playoff-contending football teams don’t trade their best EDGE defender, but Minnesota did precisely that. In fact, when the Greenard trade rumors took hold in March, it just didn’t seem real that the Vikings would trade him.
But they did.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
WWE Clash in Italy is all about grudges. The championship-loaded event features major rematches from WrestleMania 42, Backlash and Saturday Night’s Main Event, and it all goes down Sunday afternoon. Follow WWE Clash in Italy results with live updates and grades throughout the show.
There’s a major upset brewing in the world heavyweight title scene. Roman Reigns barely escaped Backlash with his world title. Three weeks later, “The Samoan Werewolf” Jacob Fatu is back in the hunt. Fatu looked like a legitimate future champion in his first meeting with one of WWE’s most dominant figures. There’s a rising tide of belief that Fatu is ready to sit at the head of the table.
WrestleMania 42, which took place in April, featured two titanic clashes: Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar and Rhea Ripley vs. Jade Cargill. Femi’s win over Lesnar seemed to signal the latter’s retirement. On May 18, Lesnar reneged on the retirement, attacking Femi and setting up the rematch. Ripley makes her first WWE women’s title defense against the woman she beat at WrestleMania in another explosive encounter.
The last of WWE’s four rematches takes place one week after the initial encounter. Becky Lynch snuck out of Saturday Night’s Main Event with the women’s intercontinental title after drawing a disqualification. Sol Ruca left empty-handed, but technically recorded a win over the defending champ. That gave Ruca the ammunition needed to log a quick rematch.
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Clash in Italy’s only fresh encounter is for SmackDown’s top prize. Undisputed WWE champion Cody Rhodes welcomed anyone on the roster to challenge him. Gunther answered the call, leaving Raw for SmackDown in pursuit of the title. Overcoming Royce Keys in a difficult title eliminator cemented Gunther as the rightful challenger. Rhodes and Gunther will wrestle for only the second time. They previously met at the 2024 Crown Jewel event when both were world champions. Rhodes defeated Gunther that night.
Below is how you can catch all the action on Sunday.
Where to watch WWE Clash in Italy
All times Eastern
Date: Sunday, May 31 Location: Inalpi Arena — Turin, Italy Start time: 2 p.m. ET Watch live: ESPN Unlimited
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Watch the Clash in Italy live with Fubo if your subscription includes ESPN to watch the first hour on Saturday. ESPN Unlimited access is free if you log in to the ESPN app with your Fubo credentials.
WWE Clash in Italy match card
Undisputed WWE Championship — Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Gunther
World Heavyweight Championship — Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar
WWE Women’s Championship — Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Jade Cargil
Women’s Intercontinental Championship — Becky Lynch (c) vs. Sol Ruca
Max Scherzer is ramping up for his return to the big club.
The veteran right-hander pitched three scoreless innings at triple-A Buffalo on Sunday, striking out four and walking two on 41 pitches.
It was his first rehab outing since he was placed on the injured list on April 27 with forearm tendinitis and ankle inflammation.
Scherzer struggled to start the season, posting a 9.64 ERA with 10 strikeouts and eight walks in 18.2 innings. He left an April 6 start against the Los Angeles Dodgers after just two frames with forearm tendinitis.
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Fellow injured starter Shane Bieber also had a rehab outing Sunday in Dunedin. He allowed five earned runs in 2.1 innings of work.
He threw 49 pitches — 35 of them for strikes — and did not issue a walk while striking out two.
The Blue Jays currently have five starters on the injured list: Scherzer, Bieber, and Dylan Cease, as well as Jose Berrios and Cody Ponce, both of whom are out for the remainder of the season.
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