Sadio Mane has lifted the lid on his fractious relationship with Mo Salah and revealed what really happened during the public falling out with his former Liverpool team-mate during the 3-0 win at Burnley in August 2019. Mane has also named the player who he feels he's had the best playing relationship throughout his trophy-laden career.

Showdown at Turf Moor

The Senegal international, who was unmarked in the box, was visibly furious with the Egyptian icon for not passing him the ball for a goal-scoring opportunity, Salah chose to shoot and was crowded out by defenders. Moments later, when Mane was substituted, he had an animated outburst on the bench, gesticulating angrily in Salah's direction and had to be calmed down by team-mate James Milner. The incident, though quickly resolved in a private conversation the next day, became an iconic moment highlighting the healthy but intense competitive streak between the two world-class forwards during their time at Liverpool. Mane has now spoken at length on the strained relationship between the pair and events on the day at Turf Moor. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMane: 'You can pass to me more'

Mane said: "Everybody says the same (that there was a rivalry), but I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I’m someone who is quiet, but I’m friendly with everybody in the team. I think Mo is also a very nice guy. I think though, on the pitch, you saw – sometimes he would pass to me, sometimes he wouldn’t pass to me; sometimes he would pass to me, sometimes he wouldn’t pass to me. Only Bobby (Roberto Firmino) was there to share the ball.

"And I still remember one game (against Burnley) when I was really, really angry because he didn’t pass to me when he should have. I was really angry after the game. The next day he came up to me. He wanted to talk to me, but he didn’t know how to say it. He still thought I was angry at him because we hadn’t seen each other (the night before), we just went home.

"He said, 'Can we talk?' I said, 'OK, no problem, we go'. And he said, 'You think I didn’t want to pass to you? I didn't score. Bobby scored. But even when I got the ball, I wasn’t thinking or see you to pass. I just got the ball and I wanted to shoot. But I have nothing against you. And honestly, if I can pass to you and if I see you, I will do'.

"I said, 'No, don’t worry. It passed, it passed. I was angry because I think you can pass to me more with your quality'. I think since that day we became even closer. And sometimes it happens. For me, it wasn’t personal. He just wants to score, score, score. And then I said to him: 'Mo, I can help you a lot because I know you want to be a top scorer. I can help you because I don’t have this problem. I’ll help you more'."

Major move to Saudi Arabia

After six successful years at Liverpool, Mane joined Bayern in June 2022, but only spent a single season with the Bavarian giants. In that one year he helped the team win the German Super Cup on his debut and, despite an injury that ruled him out of the 2022 World Cup, secured the Bundesliga title. In August 2023, Mane moved to Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr, where he plays alongside global football icon Cristiano Ronaldo. With Al-Nassr, he has won the Arab Club Champions Cup and he was also crowned African Footballer of the Year for the second time in 2022, shortly after his move to Germany. 

And despite the illustrious list of team-mates he’s played with, Mane has revealed the one star who he believes he had the best partnership with.

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Getty Images SportMane reveals favourite playing partner

Mane said: "People usually talk about the front three – me, Bobby, Mo – but if you see (Andy) Robertson, you see the overlapping and this desire to win every single ball. It’s just amazing. I think it my best partnership in all my career because we knew each other. It was just natural. I helped him, he helped me. When I had the ball, if we played against one winger which was really tough for him, in the next day in training, we’d say: ‘Hey, help me, I help you’. It’s what he said. I said: 'Don’t worry, me, I will be here. I will be here for you. Don’t worry. We’ll catch him, we'll put him in the pocket'. It was teamwork."

Manchester United have now reportedly made contact to sign 18-year-old Salvador Blopa from Sporting CP in an attempt to jump ahead of Real Madrid in the race for his signature.

Those at Old Trafford have kept an eye on the transfer market ever since the summer window slammed shut and with things looking up on the pitch, they could be well-placed to welcome a number of upgrades in 2026.

Ruben Amorim’s side entered the November international break without a defeat in five games, having drawn twice and won three to move up to seventh in the Premier League.

Whilst their wait for five wins in a row is ongoing, there’s no doubt that the Red Devils have taken a significant step. Whether that continues after the international break is the big question.

Man United will play host to Everton in what should be seen as a winnable game at Old Trafford against former manager David Moyes. They then face struggling sides West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers in two of their next five games in a run that should see them push on even further.

Amorim’s not getting ahead of himself, however. After rescuing a late draw against Tottenham last time out, he told reporters that his side still have plenty of problems to solve.

It’s a sign of the high standards that the Man United boss holds and INEOS could yet help him to meet those standards by turning to the transfer market once again in 2026.

Man Utd have 'held conversations' to sign Blopa

As relayed by TeamTalk, Man United have now ‘held conversations’ to sign Blopa from Sporting CP and jump ahead of Real Madrid in the transfer race in the process. The 18-year-old can play right midfield, right-back and left midfield as one of the most versatile players that Sporting have to offer.

Out of all those positions, he’d likely solve Amorim’s right wing-back problem. As things stand, it’s Amad Diallo or Noussair Mazraoui in the role, but Blopa’s emergence could quickly cause United a much-welcomed selection headache down that side.

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The interest from Real Madrid and those at Old Trafford in Blopa should also come as little surprise. The teenager scored twice on his Sporting debut and earned praise from current manager Rui Borges, who told reporters: “Tactically he gave us what we wanted.

“In the B team he sometimes plays on the right and other times on the left, sometimes higher and sometimes lower. He’s a kid with very unique characteristics, athletic, and physically he’s going to grow immensely more.”

The Red Devils have built a reputation of turning Sporting’s stars into world stars and the versatile defender could be next.

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Leeds United are interested in signing of AZ Alkmaar striker Troy Parrott in January, following his stunning performance for the Republic of Ireland.

Parrott wrote his name into Ireland folklore on Sunday afternoon, scoring a hat-trick in his country’s 3-2 win away to Hungary and booking a place in the 2026 World Cup playoffs in the process.

The 23-year-old netted the winner deep into stoppage time, leading to scenes of unrivalled joy among the visiting players, staff and supporters, and even Roy Keane had words of praise for both the Alkmaar ace and Ireland.

“Fantastic, amazing. When you think the way they started the campaign, a draw and a defeat. To win today on the back of the Portugal result, fantastic.

“Great boost for the country and the team. The manager was heavily criticised but they’ve bounced back and got some momentum now. Parrott got a hat-trick. There was always talk about Parrott over the last few years, but he has stepped up in the last few days. Great achievement. Fingers crossed now for when they go to the play-offs.”

In terms of Leeds, they are on the lookout for a new attacker to bolster their firepower, and it looks as though Parrott could be a contender to come in.

Leeds eyeing move for Troy Parrott

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds are among the clubs who are “interested” in signing Parrott in January, having pursued him during the summer transfer window.

The Whites and the 49ers Enterprises want to bring in a new striker when the winter window rolls around, with transfer insider Dean Jones claiming as much to TEAMtalk recently.

“It sounds to me like the club know they have let him down a bit by leaving him short of goal power. Leeds have been competitive in most games but it has been clear they lack a cutting edge and they know they should have signed another forward. It is something they need to do in January and they just hope they can reach that stage of the season and still be in a relatively good position to stay in the division.”

Parrott would be a strong addition for Leeds, with his stock never higher than it is currently, following his heroics for Ireland over the weekend.

He has impressed with Alkmaar in the Netherlands, scoring 33 goals in just 61 appearances, and he could add that extra bit of quality that Daniel Farke craves, as the Whites look to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

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Parrott has two appearances in the English top flight from his time at Tottenham, and the fact that he has been on Leeds’ radar for a while suggests they really like him, rather than it being a knee-jerk decision after his Ireland brilliance.

Leeds have an amazing Okafor rival who once scored 10 goals in 1 game

South Australia paceman credits off-season hobby for marked increase in bowling speed and stamina

Alex Malcolm23-Mar-2025Brendan Doggett is slightly torn about his upcoming stint with Durham in the County Championship.On the one hand, the 30-year-old is excited about a great opportunity to continue playing after a season in which he got himself back into Australia’s Test squad following an outstanding performance for Australia A, and has helped South Australia reach the Sheffield Shield final.On the other hand, he misses out on doing something that he has loved over the past few Australian winters, something he believes has helped his cricket career immensely, and that is compete in the Port Macquarie and Cairns Half Ironman triathlon events.”It’s bit of a left-field one to be honest,” Doggett told ESPNcricinfo. “I did two last off-season, one the off-season before.”But I just think running and riding and swimming, most of it’s low impact besides the running.Related

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“I start seasons fit and fresh. I feel like that’s been a little bit of success to my injury woes. It’s just helped me stay fit and strong and healthy, and then, the mental side of it too is sort of taking me away from cricket, and allowed me to dive into something else that’s physically demanding in a way, but it’s allowed me to have a little hobby outside of the game.”Peter Siddle, who has just retired aged 40 after an extraordinary 20-year first-class career that included 67 Tests, got heavily into road cycling in the latter part of his career to help maintain an incredible fitness base whilst not overloading his body.But Half Ironman’s are another step up altogether. The triathlon includes a 1.9km swim, 90km ride and 21.1km run.While most professional fast bowlers opt to lower their golf handicaps during their time off, Doggett has been spending his off-season weeks riding 250-300kms, running 30-35kms and swimming 6-10kms in preparation.There were no concerns in terms of the impact that type of training would have on his cricket as South Australia’s sports science staff saw nothing but upside. Swimming was great for his shoulder mobility and his back and core strength. The only issue they saw was road running and hence his weekly running loads were capped compared to what an elite triathlete might do. He does not do any triathlon training during the season.He got into the sport via his brother Samuel, who also competes. But Doggett hasn’t just been making up the numbers in the races either.Doggett claimed a career-best 6 for 15 against India A in Mackay•Getty ImagesDoggett competed in two last winter prior to his domestic pre-season starting with South Australia. In May 2024, he completed the Port Macquarie course in 4 hours, 30 minutes and three seconds (4:30:03) to finish 47th out of 1104 competitors and 10th of 152 in his age group. Less than six weeks later, he completed the Cairns race in 4:17:23 to finish 37th overall. He finished less than 17 minutes behind race winner Sam Musgrove, who went on to finish top five in his age group at the World Championship in Hawaii later in the year.”I felt like I was more nervous at the start line of a Half Ironman than taking the new ball for a Big Bash game or a Shield final,” Doggett said.The benefits have been enormous on his game. His last two Australian summers have been his best in first-class cricket. He’s taken 65 wickets at 22.55 across two seasons, including a career-best 6 for 15 for Australia A against India A in Mackay. He also has bowled 236.4 overs this summer in eight games, the most overs and appearances he has ever made in an Australian first-class season since his debut summer of 2017-18.”I don’t know whether that’s part of it, or if it’s just getting older, the body’s maturing and learning how to bowl long spells,” Doggett said.All that propelled him back into the Test squad as cover for the Adelaide and Brisbane Tests against India after Josh Hazlewood suffered a side strain. It was the first time Doggett had been in a Test squad since he was a shock inclusion on the 2018 tour of the UAE for a two-Test series against Pakistan.”It was nice to be in and around that environment again after quite a long break,” Doggett said. “But I guess for me and my journey in cricket, I was fairly injury-ridden there for probably five or six years and just never felt like I was ever going to get to that place again.Brendan Doggett has been part of a formidable South Australia attack•Getty Images”Last year and this year have been game-changers for me with my body. I’ve held out throughout the seasons. My perspective on the game has changed a lot. I’m here to enjoy it and make sure that I’m always having fun. That comes with being a new dad, I’ve got a two-year-old now so the game looks very different.”I think that’s been a big change, just the attitude and not too much pressure on. It’s helped me succeed, I guess, and play with a bit more freedom and bowl how I want to bowl and walk off the field feeling satisfied and happy.”Australia’s selectors are big fans of Doggett’s skill-set. He can sustain higher speeds than most in Australian domestic cricket throughout long spells and is a weapon on flatter surfaces with his ability to keep the stumps in play. He could be considered for an Australia A tour of India that is likely to take place in either August or September this year.He will get another opportunity to impress for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield final at Karen Rolton Oval this week. He has already won two Shield titles with Queensland and performed well in both his previous finals, taking bags of 5 for 101 from 31 overs against Tasmania in the 2017-18 final and 3 for 37 against New South Wales in the 2020-21 decider.”I was trying to sit back and reflect on how I felt leading into both my previous Shield finals, I was probably a bit naive to be honest,” Doggett said. “I was the younger squad member, so I sort of had people to lean on. But it’s a bit of a different situation for me now, a bit more of a senior figure in our squad, and especially in our bowling attack.”Thereafter he is set to play four games at Durham, linking up with two former Australian players in coach Ryan Campbell and director of cricket Marcus North.”My body is feeling good so it’s a good stage of my career to go over there and play some more cricket,” Doggett said.

Rew, Thomas impress with bat as Tom Abell sits out for mandatory concussion protocol

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay24-Sep-2025

Somerset 339 for 6 (Thomas 86, Rew 74, Lammonby 47, Porter 3-45) vs Essex Josh Thomas and James Rew, two young left-handers born on the same day a year apart, were instrumental in helping Somerset build a commanding platform in their Rothesay County Championship match against Essex at Chelmsford.Thomas, the younger of the pair, was making his first-class debut but showed no sign of nerves or inexperience in making a confident 86. Rew, already with 11 centuries to his name at just 21, took up the cudgels when Thomas was out to record his eighth score of fifty-plus this season before falling to the new-ball on 74.The 20-year-old Thomas had stepped in as a concussion substitute for Tom Abell last week against Hampshire and retained his spot as the former Somerset captain sat out the mandatory one-match period. The rookie’s 127-ball innings started at pace and did not slow down until he had accumulated a run-a-ball fifty. With 14 fours and a six, he dominated a 121-run stand for the second wicket with Tom Lammonby that laid the foundations for Somerset’s 339-6Rew, at the crease for 115 balls, was not as outwardly flamboyant as Thomas but eked out a 90-run partnership in 29 overs with Lewis Goldsworthy for the fifth wicket. Jamie Porter and Doug Bracewell extracted liveliness and bounce from a green-tinged wicket that had encouraged Somerset to bat after winning the toss. Porter finished the day with 3 for 45 from 21 overs.Otherwise, it was an exasperating day for Essex, who still need a smattering of points to be certain of playing Division One cricket next season.Thomas lost his more experienced opening partner, Archie Vaughan, early on when the 19-year-old mistimed a drive off Porter and edged to third slip.The loss did not deter Thomas. He had got off the mark to his first ball faced, turning Bracewell off his hip for two, and then twice drove the New Zealander impressively straight for boundaries. It set the tone for his innings. An eighth four, hammered through the covers from Charlie Bennett’s own first ball in first-class cricket, brought up Somerset’s fifty, of which the dominant Thomas had contributed 41.Bennett, who was Essex’s top wicket-taker in the Metro Bank Cup, frequently strayed down legside to the left-hander, but when he bowled a straighter delivery, Thomas pulled it effortlessly for six. Thomas’s half-century came from just 51 balls when he turned a ninth boundary down to third man. However, he was given a life on 55 when dropped at first slip by Dean Elgar off Noah Thain.The let-off seemed to inhibit Thomas and his rate of scoring dipped noticeably once he had passed that milestone, though he still made nearly two-thirds of the first hundred in the stand with Lammonby. The pair had been together for 34 overs when Porter’s pace beat the outside of Thomas’s bat and thudded into his off-stump.Lammonby scratched around for 129 balls in all in making 47 with just three fours before he was lbw to one from Bennett that looked as if it might have missed leg-stump.Tom Kohler-Cadmore lasted just eight balls before he tried to charge Bracewell and ended up nicking to substitute wicketkeeper Simon Fernandes, fielding post-lunch in place of Michael Pepper, who required treatment to an injured thumb.Rew and Goldsworthy picked up Thomas’s good work, piecing together a watchful partnership during which Rew reached his own half-century from 89 balls. His sixth boundary, through the covers off Matt Critchley, gave Somerset their first batting point. But with the new-ball just eight deliveries old Bracewell had Rew caught behind.With the shine still on the ball, Porter had a third victim when Kasey Aldridge edged a misdrive low to Fernandes. But Goldsworthy, operating below the radar, reached a second half-century in three innings this season while putting on fifty for the seventh wicket with Craig Overton.

Following his mid-season arrival at Manchester City, Nico Gonzalez went through the strange experience of being hailed as an oven-ready replacement for Rodri during his first week at the Etihad Stadium, only to then be ignored by Pep Guardiola during the most important stretch of the campaign. Any fears, however, that he would become an expensive flop have since disappeared, with Gonzalez having stepped back in to anchor City's resurgence as they emerge as Arsenal’s main rivals in the Premier League title race.

The midfielder, who is known just as Nico to his team-mates even though he has a namesake in the squad in Nico O’Reilly, looked like a luxury signing when he arrived from Porto for £50 million ($65m) on transfer deadline day back in February 3. The son of Deportivo La Coruna legend Fran and a Barcelona academy graduate, Gonzalez arrived as a barely disguised stand-in for Rodri while the Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder continued his recovery from an ACL injury.

Guardiola did not try to hide it, hailing the new signing as ‘Mini-Rodri’ after an excellent Premier League debut against Newcastle in which he towered above everyone else in midfield and laid the platform for fellow January addition Omar Marmoush to shine in a crushing 4-0 win. It has not been an entirely smooth ride since, but in the last couple of months Gonzalez has developed into one of City’s most important players as they prepare to face the Magpies again on Saturday.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Big presence

  Although he was raised in Barcelona’s La Masia academy and raised by one of Spain’s most technical footballers in his father, Guardiola appeared to value Gonzalez’s physical attributes the most when he first watched him up close. 

  "The presence of Nico helped a lot, the 50-50s. If there are 10 balls. he wins seven of them," the coach said after the Spaniard’s impressive debut against Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium. "He's like a mini-Rodri. It's a big compliment. He's miles away from Rodri, he's the best, but we have the feeling he'll help us in the last part of the season with his presence."

  Guardiola started Gonzalez in City's next five league games, although he couldn’t quite build on his exploits against Newcastle, as the dethroned champions lost to Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, leaving them with a fight on their hands to finish in the top five and qualify for the Champions League.

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• Getty
  

  Bottom of the pile

  Yet in the thick of that battle, Guardiola preferred other options. Gonzalez was an unused substitute for the derby at Manchester United in April and for the crunch game with Aston Villa later that month, which was effectively a shootout for a place in the top-five. In the end, he started just three of the eight matches in the Premier League run-in. 

  Gonzalez, meanwhile, played a grand total of 37 minutes in City's run to the FA Cup final, getting one minute in the semi against Forest and none in the defeat to Crystal Palace at Wembley – and that was despite Mateo Kovacic being out injured. Gonzalez’s situation did not improve at the Club World Cup, where he appeared in just one of City’s four games as Rodri returned to the fold.

  Gonzalez’s lack of playing time led to reports that the player was open to cutting short his stay and leaving in the summer. However, that is understood to not be true, with sources insisting Gonzalez had no interest in leaving. City instead decreased their squad size by offloading Ilkay Gundogan, among others.

• Getty
  

  Seizing his chance

  Gonzalez started the first two games of the new season before retaking his place on the bench at Brighton when Rodri came back in following another injury setback. But with the 29-year-old’s return from knee surgery continuing to be disrupted by a series of niggling issues, Gonzalez got another chance and seized it. 

  He has started nine of City’s last 12 games in all competitions and has arguably been their most important player in the last two months, with the obvious exception of Erling Haaland.

  "It’s not easy sometimes arriving in a new club and playing a different style to maybe playing in the past," Guardiola said of Gonzalez last month. "But we’re really pleased with his behaviour and I’m pretty (sure) he’ll get better and better."

  Gonzalez is far from the first player to need a transition season when getting to grips with Guardiola's methods. Jack Grealish, Josko Gvardiol and even Rodri are just some of the big-money signings who took their time to adapt to City’s way of playing. Gonzalez, though, appears to close to cracking the code within 10 months of first playing under the Catalan coach.

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• Getty
  

  Fundamental

  While Gonzalez fell behind Kovacic, Gundogan and occasionally Bernardo Silva and even Kevin De Bruyne in the holding midfield role last season, he is now only second to Rodri, who last started a game on October 5 and who has only played 60 or more minutes on five occasions this season.

  "Right now, the first option when Rodri cannot play is absolutely Nico Gonzalez," Guardiola said before City’s game against Bournemouth earlier this month. He went on to dominate that match, playing important roles in both of Haaland’s goals by progressing the ball.

  Gonzalez also impressed in City’s 2-0 win over Everton in October and in the Carabao Cup win over Swansea City, brushing off an error that led to the opponents scoring by shepherding City to a comeback win.

  "Now he’s fundamental for us," said Guardiola after City’s win in South Wales. "He’s so young, a lovely guy. I’m really pleased because these types of football players that are incredibly coachable – they deserve the best."

The Yankees made a move to fortify their pitching staff Thursday, signing veteran righty Paul Blackburn to a major league deal, per a team announcement.

Blackburn, 31, was designated for assignment by the Mets earlier this month, and has made seven pitching appearances, including four starts, in 2025. He struggled during his time with the Mets, leading to his release. This season, he owns a 6.85 ERA with 18 strikeouts and 18 earned runs in 23 2/3 innings.

The right-hander was an All-Star as recently as 2022, when he pitched for the Athletics. That year, Blackburn had a 4.28 ERA with 89 strikeouts and 30 walks across 21 outings.

In a corresponding move after signing and activating Blackburn to the active roster, the Yankees optioned right-handed pitcher Allan Winans to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Blackburn is in his ninth MLB season, and the Yankees will be the third team he's played for in his career. He's made a total of 93 appearances and 86 starts in the league, and owns a 4.96 ERA.

Blackburn will likely pitch out of the bullpen in the Bronx, and he'll join a bullpen consisting of Luke Weaver, David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Mark Leiter Jr., Tim Hill and Yerry De los Santos.

وصل حسام حسن المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر الأول، وإبراهيم حسن مدير المنتخب برفقة خالد الدرندلي نائب رئيس اتحاد الكرة ومينا سامح إداري المنتخب لمجمع جون كينيدي للفنون الذي يستضيف قرعة كأس العالم 2026.

ويستعد الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم، فيفا، لإجراء مراسم قرعة بطولة كأس العالم نسخة 2026، والتي ستنطلق الصيف المقبل، وذلك مساء يوم الجمعة في مركز “جون كينيدي”.

طالع|مباشر | قرعة كأس العالم 2026.. بعد قليل

ويترقب جمهور كرة القدم العالمية على وجه العموم والكرة المصرية بصفة خاصة قرعة كأس العالم 2026، التي ستقام في السابعة من مساء اليوم الجمعة، بالولايات المتحدة الأمريكية.

وتستضيف كل من الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، كندا والمكسيك نهائيات النسخة المقبلة من بطولة كأس العالم، في الفترة بين 11 يونيو و19 يوليو.

ومن المقرر أن تُقام المباراة الافتتاحية في المكسيك يوم 11 يونيو المقبل، ومع وجود منتخب المكسيك في التصنيف الأول، باتت الأنظار تتجه نحو هوية منافسه في اللقاء الافتتاحي.

The Dodgers’ plan to slow play Shohei Ohtani, the pitcher, back to top form is working to perfection. Ohtani looked so good throwing six shutout innings against the Diamondbacks Tuesday night that he is a full-bore Game 1 option for manager Dave Roberts when the National League wild-card series begins Tuesday.

And when Ohtani does make his first career postseason start on the mound while taking his usual spot as the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter, he will replace Babe Ruth as the starting pitcher to hit from the highest spot in the batting order in a postseason game. Ruth hit sixth for the Red Sox in Game 4 of the 1918 World Series.

Three other postseason starting pitchers have batted in a spot other than ninth, all in the eighth spot: Zack Greinke in the 2021 World Series for the Astros and Kyle Hendricks and Jason Hammel twice each in the ‘16 postseason for the Cubs.

In his 14th game on the mound since a second elbow procedure, Ohtani reached season highs against Arizona in innings (six), pitches (91) and batters faced (22). Most impressively, Ohtani pitched off his fastball, which was electric, and held his stuff deep into his start. Here are the key numbers:

Inside Ohtani’s Tuesday start vs. Diamondbacks

Roberts likely won’t announce his Game 1 starter until playoff matchups are set, but Ohtani has made 11 straight starts on at least six days of rest and if (and when) he starts NLWC Game 1 he will have … six days of rest.

The start Tuesday was the 100th pitching appearance for Ohtani in MLB. His 670 strikeouts through 100 games are the 11th most in history.

That’s impressive enough. But know this: that same all-time pitching talent also this year became the first player in history with 50 homers, 100 walks and 19 stolen bases in a season. Amazing.

And one more note about the incredible two-way talent of Ohtani:

The Two-Way Power of Shohei Ohtani in 2025

The Dodgers’ plan to slow-play not just Ohtani but also all their top starters appears to have worked well. Los Angeles pitchers have made only 19 starts this year on four days of rest or fewer, the fewest in MLB (Houston is next at 23) and the seventh fewest in any full season. Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are all throwing well, giving Roberts good choices about how he wants to line up his postseason rotation.

Now he must fix his bullpen, and Roki Sasaki may be the answer. Sasaki, who is expected to be activated Wednesday, hasn’t pitched in MLB since May 9 because of a right shoulder impingement. After making five rehab starts in the minors, Sasaki made his past two appearances out of the bullpen for Oklahoma City. Each time he threw one shutout inning. He hit 100 mph with his fastball.

Roberts is expected to give Sasaki two relief outings this week as further trials for a high-leverage postseason role, which could include anything up to closing games.

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Raniele, Fausto Vera e Rodrigo Garro nao viajaram com o elenco do Corinthians para o Paraguai. Ainda não se sabe se o trio foi preservado ou algum dos jogadores sofreu uma lesão após o empate sem gols com o Fortaleza.

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Por outro lado, Gustavo Henrique, Igor Coronado e Yuri Alberto estão à disposição de António Oliveira para o duelo na Sul-Americana. O meia e o atacante devem retornar ao time titular do Timão, que soma quatro pontos e pode ficar em situação complicada no Grupo F caso não vença a partida.

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Uma provável escalação do Corinthians conta com: Carlos Miguel; Fagner, Félix Torres, Cacá e Hugo; Paulinho, Breno Bidon e Igor Coronado; Wesley, Matheuzinho e Yuri Alberto.

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