Mike McClure's computer model reveals its surprising picks and NASCAR Kansas props for the AdventHealth 400 2026 on Sunday

Athletics' Jacob Wilson problem might not go away anytime soon originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Athletics have made a lot of investments in their lineup for the long haul in recent years. One of the players they've recently locked in long-term is Jacob Wilson.The son of Jack Wilson, Jacob was coming off an All-Star rookie campaign in 2025 with some incredible production that gave the A's confidence to hand him a $70 million, seven-year deal.However, as Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter highlighted among five "overhyped" star players this season, Wilson's start to 2026 has been far from ideal. And, unfortunately, this might not go away anytime soon.Athletics' Jacob Wilson's struggles might not go away for a while"The risk with a high-contact hitter is that not all contact is created equally," Reuter writes. "A weak batted-ball profile is catching up to Wilson this season."So far in 2026, Wilson has just a .275 batting average on balls in play, down from his .317 last season. Along with just one walk in 81 plate appearances, it's hardly a surprise that Wilson is struggling this season.Rueter called out how "with so much value tied to his batting average," Wilson's failure to get hits like he has this year is a major issue for the Athletics.If the A's shortstop cannot hit better than he is right now, with a .250 batting average compared to a .311 last season, he's in store for a long year.His strikeout rate is up from a 7.3% last season to a 12.3% this year, and his walk rate has dropped significantly from a 5.2% to a brutal 1.2% this season.More:Red Sox never close on Astros Isaac Paredes tradeEven though he is hitting the ball harder more often this season, the contact he is getting isn't resulting in hits. And with his profile revolving around batting average more so than plate discipline and power, this is becoming a very real problem.It's still early in the season, and entirely possible he turns things around. But, as things currently stand, the A's shortstop struggling this much at the one thing that made him a star last season is something to be worried about.Wilson's approach at the plate can work only if his batting average is high. But, with his average lower, and the underlying metrics not looking good, these Wilson issues for the Athletics might not go away for some time this season.More MLB news:Braves predicted to trade Bryce Elder for Lars NootbaarJacob DeGrom is only 149 strikeouts from 2,000 for his careerThree ways Pirates' Paul Skenes could lose NL Cy Young AwardMets didnt want to trade Brett Baty while White Sox didnt want Mark Vientos in Luis Robert Jr. tradeShohei Ohtani deemed more valuable than Aaron Judge in recent ESPN discussion piece

Here's what you need to know about safety Caleb Downs' college career at Alabama and Ohio State.

Mets designated hitter Jorge Polanco was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right wrist contusion.

There has been nothing Amazin' about the New York Mets' start to the 2026 MLB season. Not only are the Mets in last place in the National League East, they've lost nine consecutive games, falling to 7-13 (35.0% winning percentage) and now tied for the worst record in the sport. Here's New York's nine-game losing streak by the numbers (Apr. 8-17): 0: The Mets have been shut out in three of the nine games during this losing streak. 1: Over the last seven days, they've hit one home run. 2: New York has lost two games with its opponents scoring no more than two runs. 5A: The first five losses in the skid came at home. 5B: Those initial five losses came against two teams that missed the playoffs last season: Arizona Diamondbacks and Athletics. 6A: The Mets haven't led at any point in six of the nine losses. 6B: Luke Weaver, whom the Mets signed to a two-year, $22 million deal in the offseason, has given up six runs over his last two appearances (1 innings). 6.2: Opponents have scored a combined 56 runs against the Mets over this span (6.2 runs per game). 7: The Mets have scored a combined seven runs and drawn just six walks over their last five games, with both totals the worst mark in MLB over the last seven days. 13: Right-hander Kodai Senga has been unable to escape the fourth inning in each of his last two starts, surrendering a combined 13 earned runs, 19 baserunners (14 hits and five walks) and four home runs across 5 innings. 16: New York has scored just 16 runs during this losing streak. 20: Brett Baty is 0 for his last 20. 22: The Mets' nine-game losing streak is their worst run in 22 years, with New York losing 11 consecutive games in 2004; they finished 71-91 and were managed by Art Howe in 2004. 045: First baseman Mark Vientos is batting just .045 since New York's last win (1 for 22). 167: Luis Robert is hitting .167. 810: Left-hander David Peterson owns a combined 8.10 ERA over his last two starts and, stretching beyond the Mets' nine-game losing streak, has given up at least four runs in each of his last three starts.

Miles away from home, four young footballers from Assam are scripting a powerful story of ambition, courage, and success with the Hindustan Zinc's Zinc Football Academy (ZFA).

SportsLine's model reveals its Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks predictions for their NBA playoffs Game 1 matchup on Saturday

Dozens of former professional football players turned out for a health screening on Saturday, encouraging others to get regular doctor checkups and to stay active.Troy Davis is 35 and spent two years in the National Football League playing for the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys.Were used to seeing doctors annually, sometimes quarterly, whereas when we stop, we may not go to the doctor as regularly, he said. As you age, health things start to pop up.The Living Heart Foundation began these free screenings more than 20 years ago, targeting cities with large numbers of NFL alumni. Atlanta has the second-largest community of NFL retirees in the country. Saturdays screening in Buckhead, hosted by Wellstar Health System, marked the seventh screening in Atlanta since 2006, drawing 36 ex-players and their wives.The screenings encourage aging athletes not to let their health and fitness go to the sidelines.TRENDING STORIES:Pregnant mom of 2 shot, killed on I-75 in rush hour traffic4 Georgia State Patrol troopers fired for trying to get paid for injuries during chasesEx-husband of Steve Harvey Morning Show co-host indicted under RICO Act faces additional chargesSomething happens to players at the end of their career, said Andre Collins of the National Football League Players Association, which funds the screenings. Collins played for the then-Redskins in their 1992 Super Bowl victory. Even though they are world-class athletes, they just shut down on the physical activities, Collins said.The screenings are comprehensive. They include blood work, EKGs, carotid ultrasounds, echocardiograms, and orthopedic evaluations. If the screening unveils concerns, the players and their spouses are referred to a medical specialist at Wellstar.Philip McKinnely is 72 and played for the Atlanta Falcons from 1976 to 1981 during his seven years in the NFL. He said he keeps healthy by working out every day and prioritizing health checkups.Its just important to stay healthy, its just that simple, he said. And sometimes a lot of guys will not follow up on their health issues until something major happens to them.Collins said this screening should encourage everybody, especially men, not to ignore health matters and to stay active. The most important thing anyone could ever do for themselves is exercise, he said. Its the most important thing.These screenings take place in four cities across the country every year.We just never know whats going on inside our bodies, whats building up, whats slowing down, he said. You want those warning signs to give yourself time to do something about it. And thats key.

Here's what you need to know about safety Dillon Thieneman's college career at Purdue and Oregon.

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