Star outfielder Juan Soto will return to the New York Mets lineup on Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins after recovering from a right calf strain.
The high-profile hitter has been sidelined since April 3, when he sustained the injury during a commanding 10-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
That initial win sparked a four-game streak of victories for the franchise, but their fortunes have plummeted significantly in his absence.
Offensive struggles compound losing streak
Without their veteran slugger, the Mets have plunged into a dismal 11-game losing run, representing their longest barren spell since 2004.
The team has managed an MLB-worst 72 runs this season, scoring two or fewer runs in nine of the matches during their current slide.
During this 11-game period, the Queens-based outfit has been heavily outscored 62-19 and is batting a mere .145 with runners in scoring position.
“We haven’t hit,” manager Carlos Mendoza said last week.
“When you don’t hit, you can look stagnant. I don’t think we’re stagnant. I think we’re playing hard.”
A much-needed boost for New York
The returning star provides an immediate upgrade to a batting order currently ranking 29th in OPS and 28th in wRC+ across baseball.
Prior to his enforced break, the former San Diego Padres outfielder was batting an impressive .355 with one home run and five runs batted in across eight appearances.
He is currently in the second year of a landmark 15-year contract worth $765m.
Historical precedent offers a slight glimmer of hope for New York, as four teams have previously reached the postseason following a double-digit losing streak.
Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer will miss this evening’s crucial Premier League fixture against Brighton at the Amex Stadium due to a minor hamstring injury.
The absence of the 23-year-old serves as a significant blow to Liam Rosenior’s side as they desperately chase fading Champions League qualification hopes.
The west Londoners currently sit seven points adrift of Liverpool following a damaging weekend that included a narrow defeat to Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
Injury setback for key attacker
The attacking talisman has not travelled to the south coast and will undergo assessment ahead of an upcoming FA Cup semi-final encounter against Leeds United.
This latest fitness issue compounds a frustrating campaign for the highly-rated forward, who has managed 10 goals across all competitions while battling a persistent groin problem.
Before this fresh setback, the Blues manager had expressed optimism regarding his player’s physical condition after a difficult period of rehabilitation.
“Cole, as I’ve said many times before, is a top player who’s gone through a really difficult period in terms of injury.”
Liam Rosenior
“What I’m seeing in Cole now is a brightness, a freshness, and hopefully he can maintain that between now and the end of the season.”
Defensive reshuffle amid qualification fight
The visitors also remain without Joao Pedro, as the striker continues to recover from a thigh issue that sidelined him during Saturday’s loss.
In response to the mounting absences, the away side are expected to deploy a defensive back three featuring Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, and Jorrel Hato.
Romeo Lavia earns a recall to the starting lineup, while Pedro Neto is poised to operate behind striker Liam Delap in attack.
Addressing the club’s precarious league position, the head coach delivered a remarkably honest assessment of their top-five aspirations.
“We’ve made it very difficult for ourselves. We have to be honest and realistic with that, but what we can’t do is give up.”
Liam Rosenior
“We have to make sure we go to Brighton with similar attributes to what I saw against Manchester United in terms of our energy, intensity and engagement to the game.”
England captain Harry Kane has spoken with international team-mate Anthony Gordon about a potential summer move to Bayern Munich, as the German giants explore a £55m deal for the Newcastle United winger.
The 25-year-old is reportedly keen to explore his options away from St James’ Park when the transfer window opens in two months.
Newcastle are aiming to balance their books to comply with the Premier League’s impending Squad Cost Ratio financial regulations.
The Magpies could be forced to sell high-profile players to ease their financial obligations ahead of the new campaign.
Premier League rivals monitor situation
Liverpool and Arsenal have previously registered strong interest in the former Everton forward.
The Merseyside club came close to securing his signature during the 2024 summer window.
That proposed move ultimately collapsed when Newcastle opted to cash in on Elliot Anderson instead.
However, hopes of keeping the lightning-fast attacker in England face a significant threat from Bavaria.
Bayern prepare opening bid
The Bundesliga heavyweights are preparing an initial £55m approach, though this remains well adrift of Newcastle’s valuation.
It is understood the North East club would demand a fee closer to £80m for one of their most prized attacking assets.
Discussions regarding a switch to the Allianz Arena have already taken place between Gordon and the former Tottenham striker.
Their conversations represent a massive boost for the German club as they attempt to fend off domestic Premier League competition.
Wider Newcastle exodus expected
The winger is not the only key figure linked with a departure from Tyneside this summer.
Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Tino Livramento have all been touted for potential exits.
Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that early negotiations for the winger are already under way.
Several clubs are involved in the first round of discussions.
Former world number one Venus Williams has suffered her 10th consecutive singles defeat after losing 6-2 6-4 to Kaitlin Quevedo at the Madrid Open.
The 45-year-old is the first former top-ranked player to endure such a losing streak since the WTA rankings were established in 1975.
The veteran American last secured a victory in July when she defeated compatriot Peyton Stearns at the Washington Open.
Her latest opponent in the Spanish capital, a 20-year-old wildcard, was making her debut appearance in a WTA 1000 level match.
Record-breaking career overshadowed by recent struggles
Quevedo, ranked 140th in the world, mounted an impressive comeback from 3-0 down in the second set to secure the biggest win of her young career.
The young Spaniard was not even born when the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion had already claimed six of her major titles.
Despite her current difficult run of form, the tennis icon holds the all-time record for Grand Slam appearances with 95 tournament entries.
Questions surround the Williams sisters’ tennis futures
The five-time Wimbledon winner has shown incredible longevity in the sport, but this unprecedented milestone will inevitably raise questions about potential retirement.
Meanwhile, her younger sister Serena has not competed since the 2022 US Open despite remaining unofficially active.
The 23-time major winner recently re-entered the out-of-competition drug testing pool, although no official comeback plans have been announced.
Mexican football fans have resumed using a discriminatory homophobic slur in domestic stadiums in recent weeks, raising concerns over potential Fifa sanctions ahead of the co-hosted 2026 World Cup.
The offensive Spanish term, traditionally aimed at opposing goalkeepers during goal kicks, has returned strongly after months of only sporadic use.
Its re-emergence represents a significant issue for global football’s governing body as the North American nation prepares to jointly host the sport’s biggest tournament.
Persistent use of the slur over the past two decades has already drawn widespread condemnation and severe disciplinary action.
History of disciplinary measures
The chant gained international notoriety during Brazil 2014 and was subsequently heard at tournaments in Russia and Qatar.
Repeated offences during the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign led to the national side being forced to play behind closed doors at the iconic Azteca Stadium.
Despite those historic stadium closures and heavy financial penalties, supporters of El Tri continued to use the slur during group-stage matches against Poland and Saudi Arabia in 2022.
Ongoing efforts and appeals
The Mexican football federation initially defended the practice by arguing it held different cultural connotations and was not directed at the gay community.
Officials have since changed their stance, launching unsuccessful social media campaigns and urging spectators over public address systems to stop the abuse.
The national team currently has an active appeal pending before the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding punishments handed down following a 2024 fixture against the United States.
Governing bodies demand change
Fifa has now partnered with the Fare Network to deploy anti-discrimination observers to all upcoming tournament matches.
These specialists are explicitly tasked with identifying abusive language and offensive banners across diverse cultural contexts.
Liga MX continues to rely heavily on pre-match announcements and an advertising campaign titled “We Are Mexico” to encourage positive spectator behaviour.
Ivar Sisniega, president of the Mexican Federation, acknowledged the ongoing struggle to eliminate the controversial tradition.
“Sustained efforts have been made for years to eradicate this type of expression, with awareness campaigns and measures in stadiums, and while there has been progress, we are aware that isolated incidents still persist.”
Fifa will release additional tickets for the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday amid growing fan frustration over the introduction of new, more expensive seating categories.
Football’s governing body confirmed extra seats for all 104 matches will go on sale at 16:00 BST.
The latest release includes standard seating alongside a controversial new front category pricing structure.
Backlash over tiered pricing system
Supporters have fiercely criticised the updated categories online.
Fans claim superior seats were deliberately withheld during initial sales phases to force buyers into less desirable locations.
Prices for the global tournament have surged significantly since the first purchasing window opened in December.
The cost of attending the final has climbed from an initial top-tier price of £6,400 to over £8,140 during the April restock.
Lagging sales for United States opener
Despite massive overall demand, reports suggest a slower uptake for certain high-profile fixtures.
Only 40,934 tickets have been sold for the United States’ opening match against Paraguay in California.
The SoFi Stadium in Inglewood is expected to hold approximately 69,650 spectators for the expanded tournament.
Another fixture struggling to reach full capacity is the clash between Iran and New Zealand, which has moved just over 50,000 seats.
Infrastructure costs compound fan misery
The financial frustration surrounding matchday expenses has extended well beyond stadium admissions.
Commuters travelling to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey face steep transport fees to attend fixtures.
A return train fare from central New York to the venue will reportedly cost supporters an additional £111.
Barcelona and Galatasaray are preparing summer transfer bids for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Xavi Simons, whose future may hinge on the club’s Premier League survival.
The Catalan club are exploring a move to re-sign their former youth academy prospect during the upcoming transfer window.
Turkish giants Galatasaray are also closely monitoring the situation as they look to bolster their midfield options.
Any potential departure from north London is heavily dependent on whether Spurs manage to retain their top-flight status this season.
Relegation threat looms over squad
The club are braced for a potential mass exodus of players if they drop down to the Championship.
A lack of European football next season is already confirmed, which could further unsettle established members of the dressing room.
However, it is understood the 23-year-old is likely to remain at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium if his current employers avoid the drop.
A surprise return to Catalonia?
The Dutch international previously spent time developing in Barcelona’s famed youth setup before departing for new opportunities.
Despite being widely described as a phenomenal talent, the attacking midfielder has struggled to consistently meet expectations during his debut campaign in England.
Adapting to the rigorous demands of the Premier League has proven challenging, though he has recently shown promising glimpses of his potential.
Rebuilding around a young core
If top-flight survival is secured, club officials view the versatile playmaker as a crucial building block for the future.
His technical profile aligns perfectly with the tactical demands required to implement a dynamic, possession-based attacking system.
With domestic rivals also reportedly circling, Tottenham face a vital few weeks in their battle to stay up and retain their brightest talents.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin will join NBC’s “Football Night in America” as a studio analyst for the upcoming NFL season after resigning from his position in January.
The 53-year-old steps away from the touchline for the first time in two decades following a legendary 19-season stint in Pennsylvania.
Discussions between the celebrated tactician and the broadcast network accelerated two weeks ago during meetings in Augusta, Georgia.
Following a familiar television path
The Super Bowl XLIII winner is the second consecutive Steelers boss to transition directly into television punditry.
He mirrors the career trajectory of his predecessor, Bill Cowher, who became a CBS analyst in 2007 and never returned to the coaching ranks.
The renowned orator will now bring his unique communication style to the Sunday night pregame show format.
A historic coaching legacy
The veteran leader concluded his remarkable tenure holding the record as the longest-serving head coach of any North American professional sports franchise.
He compiled an extraordinary 193-114-2 regular-season record and famously never suffered a losing campaign.
Becoming a champion at just 36 years old, he was the youngest coach to lift the Lombardi Trophy until Sean McVay achieved the feat in 2022.
However, recent postseason success ultimately proved elusive for the seasoned professional.
His final playoff victory came against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2016, while his last game in charge ended in a heavy wild-card defeat to the Houston Texans.