CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 26: Matt McLain #9 and TJ Friedl #29 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrate after scoring runs in the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Great American Ball Park on July 26, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesThe offense of the Cincinnati Reds has been simply abysmal so far in 2026, ranking dead last in both runs and wRC+ through the seasons first 13 games.Of particular concern, though, is just how poor the output has been from the leadoff position. So far this year, Reds leadoff hitters have collectively put together just a 46 wRC+, a mark thats been worsted by only the Miami Marlins (34) and San Diego Padres (17). Reds leadoff men sport an impossible .000 ISO (last, obviously) and .189 slugging percentage (2nd worst), their only saving grace being a .295 OBP that ranks 23rd.Reds fans know good and well that its been TJ Friedl doing most of the lifting at leadoff this year, as hes been in that spot for the Reds for several seasons now. And, in many of those years, hes been quite competent at the job including the 2025 season where he posted a stellar .364 OBP and plenty good enough 102 OPS+. The problem, though, is that Friedl looks like a shell of himself at the moment, and theres only so much time you can give him to work it out while still manning one of the most important spots in the lineup every day.Thing is, the other guy whos gotten some time at leadoff is the guy who normally hits 2nd all year, and thats Matt McLain. And in this case, simply sliding him up and bumping TJ to somewhere else in the order wouldnt appear to solve the worlds problems. Cincinnatis #2 spot hitters have posted just a .582 OPS so far this season (23rd overall), .260 slugging percentage (25th overall), and .060 ISO (28th overall) numbers that are nearly as poor as what theyve received from the leadoff spot.I posed the question to you all earlier in the week about what the Reds should do at the leadoff position. With this context, I probably should not have been surprised that you pretty clearly favor anyone other than Friedl or McLain for the job.How that would all shake out is a bit of a tangled mess, however. Elly De La Cruz has all the tools in the world to be a potentially elite leadoff man even though hes entrenched as part of the heart of the order under Terry Francona. Free him up from driving in runs and he just might steal every base himself Ronald Acua, for instance, hits leadoff for Atlanta with much the same goal.Will Benson, when in the lineup, could be a guy whod do OK there. When at his best he sees a ton of pitches and can take a walk, though like most of the rest of the lineup right now hes struggled out of the gate. Thats kind of the rub here, though, as he, Noelvi Marte, Friedl, McLain, KeBryan Hayes, and Spencer Steer are all guys who have some of the skills needed to hit atop the order yet havent put them on display at all at the plate so far in 2026.What is clear, though, is that something is going to have to change with this lineup at some point soon, whether its a complete revival of the parties involved or a major shakeup to get it going.MLB Reacts are brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook.

Miami guard Terry Rozier, who has been on leave since October amid a sports gambling probe, has been waived by the Heat.

The Scottish FA have appointed experienced FIFA match commissioner Mark Blackbourne to oversee their review of crowd disorder at last month's Scottish Cup semi-final at Ibrox

Terry Rozier, who is facing federal charges related to a gambling operation, was waived by the Miami Heat on Friday in an expected and procedural move that allows the team to sign another player to its roster before the postseason.Rozier was with the Heat for one game this season the opener at Orlando on Oct. 22, a contest in which he did not play. He was arrested by federal officials at the team hotel the following morning on charges that he offered information to help people win bets on his stat totals in a 2023 game when was with the Charlotte Hornets.Miami has until Sunday to sign another player. It'll open play in the play-in tournament either Tuesday or Wednesday.Rozier was placed on leave by the NBA shortly after his arrest. He has collected his $26.6 million salary this season; the Heat were first paying it into an interest-bearing account, and an arbitrator later ruled that Rozier should be getting the money despite his legal issues.The Heat traded for Rozier in January 2024, unaware of the gambling probe. Miami sent Kyle Lowry and a 2027 first-round pick to Charlotte in return for Rozier; last month, the Hornets wound up giving Miami a second-round pick in this year's draft, a largely unprecedented move presumably to close the dispute over what wasn't disclosed at the time of the original deal.Miami, like all teams, had until 5 p.m. Friday to waive a player with either an expiring contract or one where the team held an option for next season. The Heat, albeit in name only, have continued listing Rozier on injury reports as not with team all season, and his nameplate has even remained over his stall in the team locker room even after it became obvious that he would not be with the team again.It's not known how much contact Rozier who was in the final year of his four-year, $96.2 million contract has had with the Heat since his arrest. He did reach out to some in the organization via text in celebration of Bam Adebayo's 83-point game against Washington, but hasn't been known to have been around the team in any way since October.The NBA was aware of unusual prop bet activity surrounding Roziers performance in that March 23, 2023, game he played with Charlotte against the New Orleans Pelicans; it was flagged by sportsbooks that afternoon, but a league probe not the federal investigation found no reason at that time to keep him from playing.Rozier was in the starting lineup for Charlotte for that game and played reasonably well in 9 1/2 minutes of action, with five points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal. That remains one of only two times in his career that he had that many points, rebounds and assists in a first quarter.Rozier cited foot pain as his reason for not returning to that game. The Hornets have not said publicly if they were aware of any federal probes into Roziers conduct at that time.Rozier has averaged 13.9 points per game in his career, which includes stops with Charlotte and Boston before coming to Miami. He appeared in 95 games with the Heat.___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Terry Rozier, who is facing federal charges related to a gambling operation, was waived by the Miami Heat on Friday in an expected and procedural move that allows the team to sign another player to its roster before the postseason.Rozier was with the Heat for one game this season the opener at Orlando on Oct. 22, a contest in which he did not play. He was arrested by federal officials at the team hotel the following morning on charges that he offered information to help people win bets on his stat totals in a 2023 game when was with the Charlotte Hornets.Miami has until Sunday to sign another player. It'll open play in the play-in tournament either Tuesday or Wednesday.Rozier was placed on leave by the NBA shortly after his arrest. He has collected his $26.6 million salary this season; the Heat were first paying it into an interest-bearing account, and an arbitrator later ruled that Rozier should be getting the money despite his legal issues.The Heat traded for Rozier in January 2024, unaware of the gambling probe. Miami sent Kyle Lowry and a 2027 first-round pick to Charlotte in return for Rozier; last month, the Hornets wound up giving Miami a second-round pick in this year's draft, a largely unprecedented move presumably to close the dispute over what wasn't disclosed at the time of the original deal.Miami, like all teams, had until 5 p.m. Friday to waive a player with either an expiring contract or one where the team held an option for next season. The Heat, albeit in name only, have continued listing Rozier on injury reports as not with team all season, and his nameplate has even remained over his stall in the team locker room even after it became obvious that he would not be with the team again.It's not known how much contact Rozier who was in the final year of his four-year, $96.2 million contract has had with the Heat since his arrest. He did reach out to some in the organization via text in celebration of Bam Adebayo's 83-point game against Washington, but hasn't been known to have been around the team in any way since October.The NBA was aware of unusual prop bet activity surrounding Roziers performance in that March 23, 2023, game he played with Charlotte against the New Orleans Pelicans; it was flagged by sportsbooks that afternoon, but a league probe not the federal investigation found no reason at that time to keep him from playing.Rozier was in the starting lineup for Charlotte for that game and played reasonably well in 9 1/2 minutes of action, with five points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal. That remains one of only two times in his career that he had that many points, rebounds and assists in a first quarter.Rozier cited foot pain as his reason for not returning to that game. The Hornets have not said publicly if they were aware of any federal probes into Roziers conduct at that time.Rozier has averaged 13.9 points per game in his career, which includes stops with Charlotte and Boston before coming to Miami. He appeared in 95 games with the Heat.___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Rory McIlroy heads into his second round at Augusta National this evening armed with some characteristically blunt wisdom from golfing legend Jack Nicklaus."No effing double bogeys!" the Northern Irishman revealed Nicklaus had told him before Thursday's opening round. "Apparently he thought I made too many last year!"The 36-year-old defending champion clearly took the advice to heart, firing a superb five-under par 67 to share the first-round lead with American Sam Burns.McIlroy's opening effort represents his finest start at Augusta since 2011, marking just the third occasion he has broken 70 on day one.The five-time major winner is now bidding to achieve something only three men have managed in the tournament's storied history.Should McIlroy triumph on Sunday, he would join an elite group comprising Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as the sole players to successfully defend the Green Jacket.Lurking three strokes adrift on two under par are England's Justin Rose and world number one Scottie Scheffler.Rose endured heartbreak at McIlroy's hands last year, losing out in a tense play-off that denied him his maiden Green Jacket.McIlroy tees off at 6.44pm UK time this evening.McIlroy spoke candidly about his growing sense of belonging at Augusta following his breakthrough triumph twelve months ago."As I have played this tournament I have got more and more comfortable with the golf course and now I find myself more and more comfortable with where I sit in the tournament after winning last year," he explained."I feel like I belong a little bit more, I guess, and have that freedom."The Northern Irishman acknowledged Thursday's performance must serve as a foundation for what lies ahead."Yesterday was a great day and I need to continue with it," McIlroy added. "Hopefully drive it a little bit better but play that way and think myself around the course."McIlroy's round featured a cautious beginning before he discovered his rhythm midway through proceedings.Picking up where he left off. Every shot from Rory McIlroy's first round. #themasters pic.twitter.com/y4M2SfkLKH The Masters (@TheMasters) April 10, 2026 The catalyst proved to be a purple patch of five birdies spanning the eighth through fifteenth holes, propelling him up the leaderboard."I think winning a Masters makes it easier to win your second one," McIlroy reflected. "It's easier for me to make those swings and not worry about where it goes when I know that I can go to the champions' locker room and put on my Green Jacket."His expectations, he noted, now centre on process rather than outcome."Did I make good decisions? Was I committed? Was I trusting?" he said.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Lebanon will only take part in talks with Israel if a ceasefire is already in place, a senior official tells the BBC.

Der Karlsruher SC entflieht durch einen Sieg gegen Arminia Bielefeld wohl endgltig dem Abstiegskampf. Die Gste dagegen stecken wieder tiefer drin im Keller.[mehr]

SALEM, Va. - Led by D'Angelo Ortiz's two-hit day and four members of the Salem pitching staff not allowing an earned run, the Salem RidgeYaks (5-1) wo... - CarL Salem RidgeYaks

C'est avec un futur prsident, Stphane Richard, et surtout l'obligation de ragir aprs deux dfaites, que l'OM accueille le FC Metz (21h05), ce vendredi, pour la 29e journe de Ligue 1. Marseille, 4e, peut revenir sur le podium, alors que les Messins, derniers, doivent s'imposer pour encore croire au maintien. suivre en direct comment sur le site et l'application RMC Sport.