Padres star had surprising take after Dodgers let Kike Hernandez pitch
Kike Hernandez’s versatility as a utility man truly knows no bounds.
The Los Angeles Dodgers were getting blown out by the San Diego Padres 9-0 in the 6th inning of Tuesday’s game at Petco Park in San Diego, Calif. With a comeback unlikely, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts decided to have Hernandez eat some innings.
Hernandez actually did a decent job during his time on the mound, limiting the Padres to just a single earned run with two walks across 2.1 innings pitched. San Diego won 11-1.
People are going to clown Kike Hernandez for pitching with a pitcher’s helmet, but there’s really no reason against it. It’s smart.
— Calico Joe (@CalicoJoeMLB) June 11, 2025
The only embarassing thing about the scenario is the fact the Padres only got 1 ER vs him after 2.1 IP. pic.twitter.com/a2v4BpU9NK
Padres slugger Jackson Merrill sounded impressed with Hernandez as he spoke to reporters after the game.
“That was the nastiest cutter I’ve ever seen,” Merrill said of Hernandez’s pitching.
“He would literally step out of the batter’s eye, and [the ball] would go across the whole other batter’s box and the plate, and land in the zone. It was nasty. Shoutout to Kike.”
"That was the nastiest cutter I've ever seen."
— Marty Caswell (@MartyCaswell) June 11, 2025
Jackson Merrill on Kiké Hernández@SportingTrib pic.twitter.com/4q6tTpbedl
Reporters had to clarify if Merrill was being sarcastic. The 22-year-old All-Star assured them he was dead serious. He added that he probably would not get a hit off Hernandez if they faced each other again.
Hernandez got Merrill to ground out in three pitches. The Puerto Rican’s three pitches to Jackson all hovered around 50 mph.
Tuesday’s game was the third time Hernandez pitched for the Dodgers this season. He entered the game with no runs allowed across 2.0 innings.
With a 2.08 ERA through three games as a pitcher, Kike may be angling to follow in Shohei Ohtani’s footsteps as a two-way player.
Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon explains why she wears headsets during games
Indianapolis Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon recently spoke out on her habit of putting on a headset during games.
Irsay-Gordon took over as the CEO and principal owner of the Colts last month after the death of her father, Jim Irsay. But the 44-year-old is no stranger to the team’s front office.
Carlie has been immersed in the business of running a football team since Jim started bringing her to owners’ meetings in the early 2000s. She had become a visible front office figure even before Irsay died.
The most striking images of Carlie over the years are of her wearing a headset during Colts games. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Irsay-Gordon explained that doing so helps her assess players, coaches, and personnel better.
“I need to be able to say, ‘Is this person full of BS? Do they even know what they’re talking about?” Irsay-Gordon said, via The Athletic’s Stephen Holder.
“It is such a complex organism, a football team and how it operates…You could say, ‘Oh, that person ran that route wrong.’ Then you learn, ‘Oh, someone tagged the wrong WR and it wasn’t really the player’s fault, it was the person that called it.’”
Irsay-Gordon also suggested that other owners pick up the practice to get a field-level understanding of how well their coaches run things. She claimed it would help other owners “make a less expensive mistake” down the line.
Colts fans can expect the headset to stay on for years to come.
Kyrie Irving fires stern message at fans making fun of Karl-Anthony Towns
Kyrie Irving has had enough of all the online mockery received by Karl-Anthony Towns on a daily basis.
The New York Knicks center has been ridiculed on social media for his ever-changing voice and what fans describe as a “zesty” personality. Despite a fantastic first season with the Knicks, Towns still got clowned by opposing fans during the postseason. Even Knicks fans themselves were in on it.
New York Knicks fans do their best Karl-Anthony Towns impression 🤣pic.twitter.com/5jcsjWbd8U
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) May 28, 2025
Irving addressed the issue during a recent livestream on Twitch. The Dallas Mavericks guard made a plea to his viewers to “stop making fun” of Towns.
“Y’all gotta stop making fun of my brother KAT,” said Irving. “I’m done with y’all. It’s over now. It’s a f—ing wrap. Repost that s–t again and meme him up, I’m attacking you. Not like that, physically … But, I’m attacking you.
“Leave KAT alone, okay? Because y’all don’t know what it’s like growing up in Jersey and have all of these cultures that you’re a part of. Trust me on that.”
Kyrie: "Y'all gotta stop making fun of my brother KAT…Repost that sh*t again…I'm attacking you…Y'all don't know what it's like growing up in Jersey…all these cultures…I don't agree all the time when he be changin up his tone😆but…he's a man, he's my brother & I protect him" pic.twitter.com/njDJS5tWhl
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 11, 2025
Irving explained that Towns’ multi-cultural upbringing in the Garden State heavily influenced the man he grew up to be. While Irving was born in Melbourne, Australia, his family later moved to New Jersey. Kyrie’s hometown of West Orange is just a 30-minute drive away from KAT’s hometown of Edison.
Towns has more to deal with than just haters online. Despite KAT posting a productive season by the numbers, the Knicks were said to have grown “frustrated” with Towns as the season went by.
DeMarcus Cousins gets significant punishment for fan incident in Puerto Rico
The Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) league in Puerto Rico is coming down hard on DeMarcus Cousins.
BSN announced on Tuesday that the former NBA All-Star big man Cousins has been suspended for the remainder of the league season over his ugly fan incident during a game earlier this week vs. the Bayamon Cowboys. Cousins is also getting fined $4,750 for “a disqualifying foul, a technical foul, and acts that incite violence or provocation.” Additionally, Cousins will have to show cause for why he should not be fined another $5,750 (for a total possible fine of $10,000) given the seriousness of the incident.
During the game on Monday, Cousins, who now plays for the Guaynabo Mets, grabbed his crotch and exchanged middle fingers with a fan who was sitting courtside, eventually making physical contact with the fan. Then after Cousins was ejected for the incident, he exchanged more middle fingers with fans who were sitting by the tunnel, resulting in Cousins being pelted with drinks and trying to physically retaliate against the fans (before ultimately being held back).
You can see the full videos of the ugly episode here.
The BSN release also stated that the Bayamon fans who made inappropriate gestures and threw liquids have been ordered to be identified by name and suspended for the remainder of the season as well. Additionally, the league has warned Bayamon that another such incident where a fan attacks an opponent may result in their home arena getting closed and their home games being relocated to another venue.
Guaynabo has seven games remaining this regular season, so Cousins will miss all of those contests. The BSN release did not specify whether Cousins’ suspension would extend into the playoffs as well. However, Guaynabo is just 9-18 this season, so a playoff trip is very unlikely for them.
The four-time NBA All-Star Cousins, still only 34 years old, is in his second season playing in Puerto Rico after last appearing in an NBA game in 2022. Cousins had a long history of hotheaded behavior during his time in the NBA, and apparently not much has changed now that he is playing overseas.
More footage emerges of Victor Wembanyama during his monk retreat
Victor Wembanyama continues to immerse himself in the way of the monk.
The San Antonio Spurs superstar’s spiritual retreat halfway across the world has become a fascinating secondary storyline with the NBA Finals ongoing. Last week, photos of Wembanyama with a shaved head in monk garb at a Shaolin temple spread across social media.
Wembanyama is “deeply interested” in Shaolin culture and is undergoing a 10-day retreat, per FOX San Antonio reporter Dusty Garza.
However, Wemby has not forgotten about staying in shape ahead of another NBA season. On Tuesday, the towering 21-year-old was seen going for a jog during the said retreat.
Wemby 8 feet tall and outside just casually jogging with a bunch of Shaolin monks 😭 pic.twitter.com/2wejhE5Igw
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) June 10, 2025
Some fairly questioned the authenticity of the initial photos of a bald-headed Wembanyama. But it’s hard to mistake Wemby for anybody else in the video of him jogging above.
Wembanyama may be clearing his head from distractions ahead of what’s expected to be a breakout season for the Frenchman. With two years of NBA experience under his belt, Wemby’s next target is making the playoffs for the first time in his career.
The Spurs already traded for All-Star De’Aaron Fox last season to give Wembanyama a co-star. San Antonio may be looking to bring in one more star to form a Big 3 next to Fox and Wemby.
Trae Young linked to surprising trade suitor
Trae Young might end up with a team that is an even more confusing situation than his current one.
The Atlanta Hawks have recently had trade talks with the Sacramento Kings regarding the four-time All-Star guard Young, Grant Afseth of RG reported on Tuesday. Afseth further notes that rival teams around the league are closely monitoring the outcome of Young’s contract discussions with the Hawks.
Still only 26 years old, Young is under contract for $46 million next season with a $49 million player option for 2026-27. Young is eligible this summer for a four-year, $229 million max extension, but the Hawks may not ultimately give it to him.
As for the Kings, they have a need at point guard after trading away De’Aaron Fox at the deadline last February. Sacramento also has some trade history with Atlanta, most recently having linked up with them on the 2022 Kevin Huerter trade.
But the Kings are in a bizarre position right now after going 40-42 and losing in the play-in tournament. They still have win-now pieces around such as Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan. But the Kings would likely have to part ways with at least one of those guys in order to make the salaries match for Young (who might not even be all that much of a ceiling-raiser himself).
Meanwhile, the Hawks were also a play-in loser this season at 40-42, marking their third consecutive non-winning season with Young at the helm. Rather than extending Young for another four years, it would probably indeed be smarter for the Hawks to explore ways to cash out on him (as has been rumored for several months now).
Knicks denied their requests to interview 2 current NBA head coaches
The New York Knicks have hit some speed bumps in their quest to fill their head coaching vacancy.
The Knicks requested permission to interview Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch as well as Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Tuesday. However, the Knicks ultimately had both of those requests denied by the two respective teams, Charania adds.
Finch and Udoka had both been linked to the Knicks opening for the last several days now. But with the latter winning 52 games and a division title this season and the former having made back-to-back appearances in the Western Conference Finals, they were always going to be extremely tough gets. Now this latest news effectively confirms that Finch and Udoka will be staying put in their respective posts.
The Knicks, who made it to the conference finals themselves this year for the first time since 2000, are looking for a new head coach after stunningly deciding earlier this month to fire Tom Thibodeau. Some new details have since emerged on why exactly Thibodeau was let go.
Charania notes that the Knicks can still request permission to interview other currently employed NBA head coaches. However, if the Knicks do go that route and successfully make a hire, they will be required to provide compensation to the employed head coach’s existing team.
Being denied permission to interview Finch and Udoka ultimately might not be the worst outcome for the Knicks. In fact, a report broke earlier this week claiming that the Knicks have a different preferred candidate in mind.
Rams player boycotting Madden 26 over his embarrassing cameo in game’s trailer
Los Angeles Rams safety Kamren Curl is understandably not a fan of the latest installment of the Madden video game franchise.
Last week, EA Sports uploaded a trailer for Madden NFL 26, which is set for release in August. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, the cover athlete for this year’s game, was the star of the sneak peek.
Fans were thrown into a snowy showdown between Barkley’s Eagles and Curl’s Rams. Virtual Barkley got the ball in the backfield and executed a wicked inside-out move that had Curl slipping in the snow.
This new #Madden26 trailer did Kam Curl dirty… pic.twitter.com/Iq57hP7qDX
— Rams Bros. (@RamsBrothers) June 4, 2025
Curl caught wind of his hilarious cameo. The 26-year-old posted on X that he was boycotting the game this year.
“Lmao I ain’t playing Madden this year,” Curl wrote.
“Been playing all my life and this how my first time being on the trailer gone [sic] be,” the Rams defender added in response to Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quandre Diggs.
Lmao I ain’t playing madden this year 🖕🏾
— Kam Curl (@KCurl_2) June 4, 2025
The trailer’s goal was obviously to make Barkley look good while showing off the game’s slick mechanics on the field. Someone has to be on the wrong end of the highlight. Unfortunately for Curl, he played the role of the Washington Generals to Barkley’s Harlem Globetrotters.
But in all fairness to the Madden PR team, the trailer was just a recreation of an actual play Barkley pulled off during his first season with the Eagles. Barkley really did have Curl slipping in the snow during the Eagles-Rams Divisional Round matchup in January.
Is that you on the ground Dawg ?
— M_Cip (@TheCip41) June 5, 2025
🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅 pic.twitter.com/CMsQ6hLH5M
Madden NFL 26 stuck to the source material for this one. At least the game didn’t botch Curl’s face like they did Marvin Harrison Jr. for Madden NFL 25.
Shohei Ohtani’s pitching return date is taking shape
Shohei Ohtani is getting closer to the finish line when it comes to his rehab as a pitcher.
The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Ohtani is expected to join the rotation at some point in July, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN reported on Tuesday. Furthermore, there is a “slight chance” that Ohtani could make his pitching debut for the Dodgers before the All-Star break, Gonzalez adds.
This latest development comes with Ohtani having just completed three simulated innings of pitching (totaling 44 pitches) on Tuesday afternoon. Ohtani has been facing live hitters since the end of May and has now taken another big step towards his return as a pitcher.
About to turn 31 years old, Ohtani has not pitched since undergoing UCL surgery on his right elbow in Sept. 2023 (when he was still a member of the Los Angeles Angels). That marked Ohtani’s second major surgery on his pitching elbow after a Tommy John procedure in 2018.
With the Dodgers set to play their final game of the All-Star break on July 13, it is possible that Ohtani could finally be pitching for them within a month’s time. He has also recently looked good on video while throwing live batting practice.
As for the Dodgers as a team, they are an NL West-leading 40-28 this season, but that marks “only” the fifth-best record in baseball right now. While the Dodgers have another absurd amount of pitching injuries they are dealing with at the moment, it looks like they will only have to wait a little bit longer to finally see the reigning NL MVP Ohtani take the mound for them.
Scottie Scheffler reveals angry sports bettors forced him to delete his Venmo account
Not even Scottie Scheffler is spared from those pesky sports bettors.
The No. 1 golfer in the world talked to reporters Tuesday ahead of the 2025 US Open at the Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa. Scheffler spoke about his less-than-savory interactions with fans, particularly the ones upset at him for losing them a bet.
Scheffler revealed that he has since deleted his Venmo account because too many fans had been requesting money from him.
“I think everyone hears from fans, whether they have a financial benefit or anything in their outcome,” Scheffler said. “That’s why I had to get rid of my Venmo, because I was either getting paid by people or people were requesting me a bunch of money when I didn’t win. It wasn’t a good feeling.”
Scottie Scheffler had to delete his Venmo after fans requested money. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/7yDCxjGP6S
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) June 10, 2025
Scheffler was asked about the fans who sent him money after he won tournaments, particularly about the biggest donation he had ever received. The 28-year-old said that he only ever got “a couple bucks” and that it “didn’t happen nearly as much as they requested.”
Given his immense success on the fairway, Scheffler has made fans much more money than he has lost if they just bet on him consistently. Since 2023, betting on Scheffler each tournament would have actually earned someone more money than investing in the S&P 500.
For all you golf degens out there:
— Silent Stackers (@Silent_stackers) June 6, 2025
Scottie Scheffler has outperformed the S&P 500 over the last 3.5 years.
The man’s not just winning tournaments, he’s beating the market. pic.twitter.com/039Pgd9eYI
How strangers got hold of Scheffler’s Venmo account number remains unclear. But Scheffler’s experience is far from an isolated case, with several athletes across different sports sharing similar experiences. Last month, an MLB All-Star received death threats against him and his children from a disgruntled overseas bettor.
Report: Kevin Durant now has 1 clear trade preference
Kevin Durant appears to be zeroing in on a new target.
The former NBA MVP Durant prefers a trade to the San Antonio Spurs, Ashish Mathur of Hoops Wire reported on Tuesday. Mathur further adds that Durant and the Spurs had mutual interest at the trade deadline last February and notes that Durant played his college ball at the University of Texas.
The information aligns with other recent reporting linking Durant to the Spurs. For one, Bill Simmons of The Ringer suggested on the latest episode of his podcast that a San Antonio trade for Durant may be “done already.”
Bill Simmons thinks Kevin Durant to the Spurs could be done
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) June 9, 2025
“I wouldn't be surprised if KD to the Spurs is done already… like they’ve agreed on the specifics and they’ll just announce it the week of the draft.”
(Via @rBillSimmonsPod) pic.twitter.com/tgtz9u8uzm
Durant, now 36, is entering the final year of his contract next season at $54.7 million. He is widely expected to be traded away in the coming weeks by the Phoenix Suns (whom Durant has spent the last two-and-a-half seasons with, including a miserable 36-46 finish this season).
The Spurs obviously have plenty of intrigue with all-world seven-footer Victor Wembanyama, 21, and former All-NBA point guard De’Aaron Fox, 27, to build around. San Antonio also holds a lot of superb trade assets to offer to Phoenix, including reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, 20, and the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft.
Granted, the Spurs finished this season with an even worse record (34-48) than Durant’s Suns had, and there are multiple teams way closer to championship contention who are also pursuing Durant. But armed with the leverage of a walk year, it looks like Durant is ready to steer his way to the Lone Star State and attempt to join San Antonio.
Craig Kimbrel quickly lands with new team
Craig Kimbrel has officially landed with his ninth different MLB team.
The veteran reliever Kimbrel has agreed to a deal with the Texas Rangers, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported on Tuesday. Kimbrel and the Rangers have come to terms on a minor-league contract, Rosenthal adds.
Now 37 years old, Kimbrel is one of baseball’s most decorated relievers as a nine-time All-Star and a four-time NL saves leader. Kimbrel is also one of only eight members of the 400-save club and won a World Series as a member of the Boston Red Sox in 2018.
Earlier this week, Kimbrel was involved in a bizarre saga with the Atlanta Braves, the team whom he first began his MLB career with. Kimbrel reunited with the Braves on a minor-league deal over the offseason and looked excellent in Double-A and Triple-A action this year, posting a 2.00 ERA over 18 combined appearances.
The right-hander Kimbrel was ultimately called up to the major league roster by the Braves for their game on June 6 (during which Kimbrel threw a scoreless seventh inning). But then the very next day, Atlanta bafflingly decided to designate Kimbrel for assignment. He then elected free agency after getting DFA’d.
As for the Rangers, they are a very underwhelming 31-35 this season and have not gotten much out of their bullpen (especially with fellow righty Josh Sborz still on IL recovering from offseason shoulder surgery). While Kimbrel was largely awful during his last full season of MLB work with the Baltimore Orioles in 2024, he should get a chance to be a part of the big-league roster in Texas before long.
Shedeur Sanders shuts down question about his father
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders was not interested in answering questions about his father’s health when they came up on Tuesday.
Deion Sanders is away from the Colorado football team due to an unspecified health issue. When asked about it Tuesday, his son suggested he did not even know much about the issue, and shut down further questions about it.
“I don’t know what’s going on,” Shedeur Sanders told reporters. “I’m here not to talk about pops. I’m here for the quarterback of the Cleveland Browns.”
🔥 Shedeur Sanders. Ridiculous Question. A Perfect Answer
— JaKi 🇺🇸 (@JaKiTruth) June 10, 2025
"I'm not here to talk about pops. I'm here to talk about the QB of the Cleveland Browns"
📽️ @Browns https://t.co/enEGHKG3vl pic.twitter.com/VAcAA4Unkf
Deion Sanders’ health issue was initially divulged by his oldest son Deion Jr., who said his father is feeling well but is not yet back on campus. Sanders Jr. added that Deion would discuss the issue on his own terms, and Shedeur is backing that up.
Shedeur will inevitably be asked about anything relating to his father, especially if it sounds like it could be significant news. He certainly has no obligation to answer, as was the case here.
Right now, Shedeur is focused on proving himself to the Browns after his big fall in the NFL Draft. Early reports out of the team’s camp have been pretty positive, at least so far.
Josh Naylor was so ticked off after his walk-off grand slam
Josh Naylor delivered a walk-off grand slam for his Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night, but you wouldn’t know it based on his reaction in a postgame interview.
Naylor’s Diamondbacks beat the visiting Seattle Mariners 8-4 in 11 innings at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. Naylor was facing Carlos Vargas with the bases loaded and one out, and he smashed a 1-2 pitch into right-center field for a grand slam to end the game. Naylor took his sweet time going around the bases before making it home for the win.
JOSH NAYLOR WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM pic.twitter.com/RNqCW8nK8i
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 10, 2025
After the game, Naylor was interviewed by the Diamondbacks’ TV partner after the game. Teammate Geraldo Perdomo dumped some water on him during the interview, and Naylor did not look peased at all.
After dodging Domo with the cooler, Naylor looks ecstatic to get water bottles dumped on him ☠️ pic.twitter.com/FV3WryVOUM
— Mack⚾️🏒 (@dbackmack) June 10, 2025
What’s Naylor’s deal? Does he just not like getting water dumped on him? He had a similar reaction when a teammate did that to him in Cleveland.
Don't overthink the video below. That's just Josh Naylor's personality. No issue here—he might just be a serious guy or simply doesn't like water dumped on him. https://t.co/SHjUm5WxWF pic.twitter.com/EDR8hzfwMB
— 🌵 Mr. Az (@MrAzSports) June 10, 2025
That’s no fun. Bring back the maniac!
Marvin Harrison Jr. is looking huge in new photo
Marvin Harrison Jr. has been putting in some time in the weight room.
The Arizona Cardinals on Monday shared a photo of Harrison via social media. People could not believe just how big he looked and how much muscle he had put on.
Year 2 Marv. pic.twitter.com/dDMhw6EMrX
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) June 9, 2025
Was the photo enhanced or altered in some way? Did he just come from a bodybuilding competition? How in the world did he get so huge?
It’s not like he didn’t have muscles last year, but the definition and veins are extreme now.
Marvin Harrison Jr. year 1 vs year 2 🤯 pic.twitter.com/aiKR8aCVWF
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) June 10, 2025
Harrison was the No. 4 overall pick by the Cardinals last year out of Ohio State. The 22-year-old had 62 catches for 885 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2024. By the looks of things, Harrison is hunting his first 100-catch, 1,000-yard, 10-touchdown season in the NFL. He might have some competition from teammate Trey McBride in that category, but he looks primed for a big season. David Boston would be proud.
College basketball is adopting a controversial NBA rule
The NCAA is introducing a new rule to college basketball that the NBA is already familiar with.
NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Tuesday approved the addition of coach’s challenges for the 2025-26 season, according to Jeff Borzello of ESPN. Coaches will be allowed to challenge out-of-bounds calls, basket interference or goaltending, and whether a secondary defender was in the restricted area.
Similar to the NBA, coaches will only be allowed to challenge plays if they have at least one timeout remaining. A successful challenge will entitle a coach to a second challenge, but an unsuccessful one means the team will be out of challenges for the rest of the game.
It was perhaps inevitable that something like this would make its way to the NCAA after being introduced in the NBA in 2019. Challenges have been successfully used in some pivotal moments, and a well-timed challenge can certainly impact a game. Similarly, poor use of a challenge can cost a team a timeout and leave them with no recourse against a bad call later in the game.
There have been some unpopular side effects of the challenge rule in the NBA, and critics argue that they also slow down games. College coaches will have to make some adjustments to get the best out of the system, just as their NBA counterparts had to do.
Phillies suffer another major injury blow
The struggling Philadelphia Phillies absorbed another major injury blow to a star player on Tuesday.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson revealed that an MRI showed a stress reaction in pitcher Aaron Nola’s rib cage. Nola will be shut down for at least two weeks, and may be out until after the All-Star break in July.
An MRI showed a stress reaction in Aaron Nola’s right rib cage, Rob Thomson said. Nola will not throw for at least two weeks. A rather significant setback that probably means he doesn’t return until after All-Star break.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) June 10, 2025
Nola has been on the injured list for the last month due to an ankle injury, and he has not pitched since May 14. The fact that this new problem does not appear related to that is definitely a major concern, and it means Nola is looking at a spell on the sidelines that may ultimately exceed two months.
Nola had been struggling even before his injury, with an uncharacteristically high 6.16 ERA in his first nine starts of the 2025 season.
The Phillies are dealing with significant attrition right now even beyond Nola. Bryce Harper is also out for the foreseeable future due to a lingering wrist injury that also appears to be cause for concern.
This latest setback comes amid a stretch that had seen the Phillies lose nine of their last ten games prior to a walk-off win over the Chicago Cubs on Monday. They sit at 38-28 entering play Tuesday, four games back of the New York Mets in the National League East.
The Phillies have enough talent to absorb two big losses like this, but they will not want to be without Harper or Nola for too long. Unfortunately, it looks like they will be without both for at least a week, if not more.
Mike Tomlin has 1-word answer about TJ Watt’s status
Star edge rusher TJ Watt was a no-show for the first day of mandatory minicamp with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the organization does not sound too concerned.
Watt is seeking a new contract from the Steelers and is skipping minicamp until he gets one. Coach Mike Tomlin said Watt’s absence was not a surprise, and that the two sides are working to get something done.
When asked if he was concerned about Watt’s future with the Steelers, Tomlin offered a simple one-word answer: “No.”
Mike Tomlin was asked if there's concern about T.J. Watt's future with the Steelers, and said simply: "No." https://t.co/No7q2ChL6W
— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) June 10, 2025
Watt has been hinting for a while at unhappiness over his contract. He is entering the final year of a four-year, $112 million extension he signed in September 2021, and has made it clear that he wants to remain with the team, but also wants to be fairly compensated. At least publicly, the Steelers are acknowledging that demand and seem willing to work with Watt to address the situation.
The situation is serious enough that there has been trade speculation, but that does not appear to be something the Steelers are entertaining at this time.
Watt collected 11.5 sacks for Pittsburgh last season and was selected to his seventh Pro Bowl. The 30-year-old should post big numbers again in 2025 provided his contract situation is worked out.
Fans all said the same thing about Aaron Rodgers getting married
Aaron Rodgers has finally put an end to the speculation about the ring he has been wearing on his left hand, and many fans had the same reaction to the big news.
Rodgers has been spotted on more than one occasion this offseason wearing what looked like a wedding band. In his first media availability as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday, the star quarterback confirmed that he is married.
Almost nothing is known about Rodgers’ new wife. The 41-year-old would likely say that is because he wants privacy with his personal life, but a lot of people are not buying it.
After Rodgers confirmed that he is married, many fans said the same thing about how much the four-time NFL MVP loves attention.
This dude LOVES attention.
— David Hookstead (@dhookstead) June 10, 2025
Absolute king of doing things "not for attention" for attention
— RushingBaseball (@RushingBaseball) June 10, 2025
This guy man… always has to be the center of attention.
— Unbiased Colts Fan (@UnbiasedColtFan) June 10, 2025
For the guy who hates media attention, he sure does add a lot too it.
— Roll Coverage Pod (@RollCoveragePod) June 10, 2025
Bro tries so hard to be mysterious
— Max Hooper (@maxhoopr) June 10, 2025
Rodgers revealed in an interview with “The Pat McAfee Show” last December that he had a girlfriend named Brittani. We are unsure of the exact spelling of the woman’s name, but Rodgers specified that she was “Brittani with an ‘I’” when he brought it up. It is also unclear if that is the woman Rodgers ended up marrying.
Though he insists he prefers to keep his private life under wraps, Rodgers’ dating resume includes a NASCAR driver (Danica Patrick) and two well-known actresses (Shailene Woodley and Olivia Munn).
You could make the argument that Rodgers wearing a wedding band around while revealing nothing about his new wife adds to the intrigue. Some are convinced that Rodgers relishes that.
Tyrese Haliburton addresses his notable limp after Game 2
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton sparked concerns when he visibly limped away from the podium following the team’s Game 2 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Ok. On Tuesday, Haliburton addressed whether that limp is anything to worry about.
Video from Sunday showed Haliburton moving gingerly as he left the podium following his postgame media availability. That led some to wonder if the star guard is dealing with a physical issue that is hindering him during games.
Tyrese Haliburton with a noticeable, slight limp arriving and leaving his press conference. pic.twitter.com/nJkqxwPBoj
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) June 9, 2025
Haliburton downplayed any issues when speaking to the media on Tuesday. He said he was dealing with a “lower leg thing,” but that he feels “fine” and will be available for Wednesday’s Game 3.
Tyrese Haliburton on his noticeable limp after G2: “I'm fine. Really just a lower leg thing. I'll leave it at that. I don't think there's anything more to elaborate. I feel fine and I'll be ready to go for Game 3.”
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) June 10, 2025
Haliburton probably will not be opening up about any big health problems as long as he is able to play, which it seems he is. However, some might link this to his somewhat underwhelming start to the NBA Finals. He has scored 31 total points in two games, though he did hit the game-winning shot in the series opener.
Some have urged Haliburton to be more aggressive early in games to prevent the Pacers from falling so far behind. It will be interesting to see how he comes out in Game 3 with this physical issue as the backdrop.
