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Verstappen takes pole position at F1 Australian Grand Prix

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:21 GMT

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Max Verstappen will have his best chance of claiming an inaugural Australian Grand Prix title after taking pole position in his Red Bull for Sunday’s third race of the Formula One season on the Albert Park circuit.Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is among rivals sharing renewed hope after the dominance Red Bull has had over its rivals was diminished during Saturday’s qualifying session.Verstappen, a two-time world champion, was not pleased with the performance of his RB19 despite setting a track record around the circuit on Saturday.After setting a lap record during practice earlier on Saturday, the drivers’ championship leader set a benchmark of 1 minute, 16:732 seconds in the final session of qualifying.“I have been on the podium once, but I want to be on a different step this time,” Verstappen said after claiming his first pole position in Australia.His teammate Sergio Perez, who sits just one point behind the Dutch driver in the championship, ...

NBA and National Basketball Players Association announce new tentative seven-year collective bargaining agreement

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:21 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — NBA and National Basketball Players Association announce new tentative seven-year collective bargaining agreement.Source

Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers meet in game 2 of series

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:21 GMT

Milwaukee Brewers (0-1) vs. Chicago Cubs (1-0)Chicago; Saturday, 2:20 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Brewers: Brandon Woodruff (0-0); Cubs: Justin Steele (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Brewers -124, Cubs +105; over/under is 6 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs lead 1-0 in a three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers.Chicago had a 74-88 record overall and a 37-44 record in home games last season. The Cubs pitching staff had a collective 4.01 ERA last season while averaging 8.6 strikeouts and 3.4 walks per nine innings.Milwaukee had an 86-76 record overall and a 40-41 record in road games last season. The Brewers pitching staff had a collective 3.85 ERA last season while averaging 9.5 strikeouts and 3.2 walks per nine innings.INJURIES: Cubs: Brandon Hughes: 15-Day IL (knee), Kyle Hendricks: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Seiya Suzuki: 10-Day IL (oblique), Codi Heuer: 60-Day IL (elbow), Ethan Roberts: 60-Day IL (elbow)Brewers: Aaron Ashby: 15-Day IL (labrum), Justin Wilson: 15-Day IL (elbo...

Pirates meet the Reds with 1-0 series lead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:21 GMT

Pittsburgh Pirates (1-0) vs. Cincinnati Reds (0-1)Cincinnati; Saturday, 4:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Rich Hill (0-0); Reds: Nick Lodolo (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Reds -148, Pirates +127; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Pirates meet the Cincinnati Reds with a 1-0 series lead.Cincinnati had a 62-100 record overall and a 33-48 record in home games last season. The Reds slugged .372 as a team last season with 2.5 extra base hits per game.Pittsburgh had a 62-100 record overall and a 28-53 record on the road last season. The Pirates averaged 2.5 extra base hits per game, including 1.0 home run.INJURIES: Reds: Joey Votto: 10-Day IL (bicep/shoulder), Nick Senzel: 10-Day IL (toe), Tony Santillan: 15-Day IL (back), Justin Dunn: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tejay Antone: 60-Day IL (elbow), Lucas Sims: 15-Day IL (back), Luke Weaver: 15-Day IL (forearm), Vladimir Gutierrez: 60-Day IL (elbow)Pirates: JT Brubaker: 15-Day IL (elbow), Robert Stephenson: 15-Day IL (e...

Braves play the Nationals after d’Arnaud’s 4-hit game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:21 GMT

Atlanta Braves (1-0) vs. Washington Nationals (0-1)Washington; Saturday, 4:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Braves: Spencer Strider (0-0); Nationals: Josiah Gray (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -260, Nationals +214; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Braves take on the Washington Nationals after Travis d’Arnaud’s four-hit game on Thursday.Washington went 55-107 overall and 26-55 in home games last season. The Nationals scored 3.7 runs per game while giving up 5.3 in the 2022 season.Atlanta had a 101-61 record overall and a 46-35 record on the road last season. The Braves averaged 8.6 hits per game last season while batting a collective .253.INJURIES: Nationals: Israel Pineda: 10-Day IL (finger), Stephen Strasburg: 60-Day IL (ribs/shoulder), Tanner Rainey: 60-Day IL (elbow), Victor Arano: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Cade Cavalli: 60-Day IL (elbow), Carter Kieboom: 10-Day IL (finger)Braves: Max Fried: day-to-day (hamstring), Huascar Ynoa: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kolb...

Miami Marlins play the New York Mets Saturday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:21 GMT

New York Mets (1-1) vs. Miami Marlins (1-1)Miami; Saturday, 4:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Mets: Tylor Megill (0-0); Marlins: Edward Cabrera (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Mets -128, Marlins +108; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Miami Marlins host the New York Mets on Saturday.Miami went 69-93 overall and 34-47 in home games a season ago. The Marlins slugged .363 with a .294 on-base percentage as a team in the 2022 season.New York had a 101-61 record overall and a 47-34 record in road games last season. The Mets averaged 8.8 hits per game last season and totaled 171 home runs.INJURIES: Marlins: Max Meyer: 60-Day IL (elbow), Nic Enright: 15-Day IL (illness), Steven Okert: 15-Day IL (adductor), Tommy Nance: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Anthony Bender: 60-Day IL (elbow)Mets: Justin Verlander: 15-Day IL (teres major), Stephen Ridings: 15-Day IL (lat), Edwin Diaz: 60-Day IL (knee), Elieser Hernandez: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Jose Quintana: 15-Day IL (rib), Bryce Montes de Oca: 15-Day IL ...

Rockies bring 2-0 series advantage over Padres into game 3

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:21 GMT

Colorado Rockies (2-0) vs. San Diego Padres (0-2)San Diego; Saturday, 8:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Rockies: Jose Urena (0-0); Padres: Michael Wacha (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Padres -228, Rockies +188; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Rockies lead 2-0 in a four-game series with the San Diego Padres.San Diego had an 89-73 record overall and a 44-37 record at home last season. The Padres batted .241 as a team in the 2022 season with a .700 OPS.Colorado had a 68-94 record overall and a 27-54 record on the road last season. The Rockies slugged .397 as a team last season with 2.9 extra base hits per game.INJURIES: Padres: Joe Musgrove: 15-Day IL (toe), Robert Suarez: 15-Day IL (elbow), Adam Engel: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Adrian Morejon: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jose Castillo: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Drew Pomeranz: 15-Day IL (elbow/flexor), Eguy Rosario: 60-Day IL (ankle)Rockies: Daniel Bard: 15-Day IL (anxiety), Randal Grichuk: 10-Day IL (hernia), Antonio Senzatela: 15...

AP source: NBA, players reach deal on new seven-year collective bargaining agreement

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:21 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — AP source: NBA, players reach deal on new seven-year collective bargaining agreement.Source

Pope Francis leaves hospital after bronchitis treatment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:21 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has been discharged from the Rome hospital where he was treated for bronchitis. The 86-year-old Francis was hospitalized on Wednesday at Gemelli Polyclinic where he received antibiotics intravenously. He left the hospital three days after he was admitted. Francis sat in the front seat of a white Fiat 500 car, waving to a group of journalists outside of Gemelli Polyclinic on Saturday morning.The Vatican has said the pope will be St. Peter’s Square for Palm Sunday Mass to mark the start of Holy Week, which culminates on Easter, April 9. Frances D’emilio, The Associated Press

Kenyan opposition leader to sue over alleged attempt on life

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:21 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga has denounced the point-blank firing of a tear gas canister at local journalists during his latest anti-government protest as a “primitive act of intolerance,” and he vows to go to court over what he called an attempt on his own life.In an interview with The Associated Press on Friday, the 78-year-old longtime candidate for president spoke more about his grievances over last year’s election — a loss upheld by Kenya’s top court — than the rising prices or other painful economic issues affecting Kenyans at large.Known for his prominent role in the fight for multi-party democracy decades ago, Odinga on Friday warned against attempts by President William Ruto’s administration to declare the current protests illegal.“It’s a violation of a fundamental right to demonstrate,” said Odinga, who vowed to continue the twice-weekly protests in the capital, Nairobi, and elsewhere that began last week and have been marked at times by viol...