Braves News: Benches clear in Anaheim, Sean Murphy update, and more

The Atlanta Braves evened the series on Tuesday night after a 7-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Reynaldo López got the start. He allowed two runs, walked two, and struck out seven. Things were going relatively well, and then it got a bit punchy (literally). In the bottom of the fifth, benches cleared after López threw a high fastball to former Brave Jorge Soler, who quickly charged the mound.

Though the Atlanta offense tallied 12 hits on the night, Walt Weiss was the real MVP after tackling Soler.

There’s been no word on the status of López and Soler, but a suspension for both of them seems inevitable.

More Braves News:

Sean Murphy is set to return soon and will begin a rehab assignment Friday. Spencer Strider’s next step, on the other hand, is to throw live BP.

We’ve already experienced some hills and valleys early this minor league season. Check out the latest minor league recap to see who’s hot, and who’s not.

MLB News:

Chicago Cubs right-hander Cade Horton will undergo UCL surgery and miss the remainder of the season. It’s not been decided if he will undergo the full Tommy John procedure.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Cody Ponce will undergo knee surgery and will likely miss the remainder of the season. His expected recovery time is six months.

The Chicago White Sox placed outfielder Austin Hays on the 10-day injured list with right hamstring strain. Fortunately, it is a Grade 1 strain.

The Cleveland Guardians placed infielder Gabriel Arias on the 10-day injured list due to a left hamstring strain. To take his roster spot, Juan Brito was recalled to make his big league debut.

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The Braves dropped a few more images of the City Connect jerseys, along with an announcement for a launch party on Thursday.

JR Ritchie was spectacular in Gwinnett Tuesday night, allowing just one hit and one run through seven frames.

Good news for Real Madrid ahead of next Wednesday’s second leg against Bayern Munich. Ferland Mendy has returned to training as normal, working at the same pace as his teammates at Real Madrid City.

Mendy’s presence is vital to the team’s defensive setup, especially with the second leg of the quarter-finals in Munich in mind. His solidity in one-on-one situations will be one of the team’s biggest assets in stopping the Bavarian attack at the Allianz Arena.

However, the coaching staff now face an immediate dilemma. With the league match against Girona on the horizon, the question is whether the defender will get minutes to regain match sharpness or whether extreme caution will be preferred to avoid a setback.

Álvaro Arbeloa, who is looking to keep his side from falling out of the domestic title race for good, will have to decide whether to take a risk with the Frenchman or give him a rest.

Tomorrow’s training session will be key in determining the squad list. What is certain is that the Madrid faithful can breathe a sigh of relief: their “wall” is back for the big European night.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Mike Malone has never been a college head coach and admitted at his introductory press conference Tuesday at North Carolina that he still has “a lot to learn.”

Malone, who reportedly agreed to a 6-year, $50 million deal to take over the Blue Blood program as his first college head coaching job, was asked about his approach to roster-construction in the era of NIL and the transfer portal.

“Obviously there’s a lot to learn and I’m going to surround myself with the best people possible to get a grasp on it so we can attack it,” said the 54-year-old Queens, N.Y. native.

With more than 1,700 players already in the portal as of Tuesday night, Malone and GM Jim Tanner need look no further than newly-minted national champion Michigan as a shining example of what the portal can do for a tradition-rich program.

The Wolverines, after all, won the program’s first NCAA championship since 1989 on Monday night while starting five transfers.

“I think they did a really good job of putting five or four transfers, or five players on the court at all times that are really good at passing the ball,” Michigan point guard Elliot Cadeau, who transferred out of North Carolina last year, said ahead of winning Most Outstanding Player honors at the Final Four. "And I think they knew that when they were recruiting all of us.

“Just having five people on the court that are all playmakers and also great scorers just helps us have connectivity on the court, for sure.”

Cadeau averaged 9.4 points and 6.2 assists, along with 3.1 turnovers, per game at North Carolina, Michigan coach Dusty May was asked what made him take a flyer on Cadeau in the portal last year.

“We felt like we needed a quarterback, a pass-first quarterback on the floor at all times,” May said after his team’s 69-63 victory over UConn Monday night. “I called [North Carolina assistant] Sean [May]and he gave me all of the intel. I just said, “Let me ask you one question. Would 17-18 year-old Sean May want to play with Elliot Cadeau? And he said “Expletive yeah. Absolutely, let’s go.” And I said, that’s all I needed to know because Sean is one of the smartest, best players I’ve ever been around. And so he’s (Elliot) made us better coaches and hopefully, we’ve helped him become a better player.”

Aday Mara, Michigan’s 7-foot-3 big man, also came out of the portal from UCLA, where he felt he “didn’t have the opportunity to show what I was able to do" during his two-year tenure.

All he did at Michigan was put up 26 points and 9 rebounds in the Final Four rout of Arizona before posting 8 points and 4 rebounds in the championship game.

“[The Michigan staff] did a great job putting players that were not selfish,” Mara said. "And I think now in the era we are, with the transfer portal, we've just got to learn and adapt as soon as possible to what we have and the different teams that we play.

“So I think just we've got to change, and we've got to learn every day so we can play together.”

UAB transfer Yaxel Lendeborg, arguably the best player in the Final Four, was yet another transfer who thrived under May at Michigan. He went for 13 points in the championship game despite knee and ankle injuries.

“Man, once we transferred in, I know especially for me, the whole University of Michigan welcomed me with open arms,” he said.

“Once we all got together, [the returning players] were super genuine with us the whole way. They tucked us in under their wing and showed us the Michigan way. They could have easily got hurt or something because the new guys were coming in, stealing their minutes, stealing their points, but they didn't care. All they cared about was winning, and look where it led us.”

That’s exactly the template Malone and his new staff should look at.

And they will need to.

Among 16 players on this year’s North Carolina roster, seven are already in the portal, per ESPN, two are graduating and Caleb Wilson is a projected top-5 NBA Draft pick.

That leaves six returnees, only three of which played more than five games, as of Wednesday morning.

Malone, who won an NBA championship with the Denver Nuggets, is entering college basketball at a time when it more and more resembles the pro game. He won’t have to do much in-person recruiting. He and Tanner and the staff will have to hit the portal hard, talk to agents and players and find those who are the right fit and want to do for North Carolina what the transfers at Michigan did.

“Every time I said no [to North Carolina], I was regretting that,” Malone said. "I think I’m making a mistake. Jobs like North Carolina do not come [often]….

“It’s now or never. I didn’t come here to be second best. I didn’t come here to lose in the first round of the ACC Tournament. I came here to win and and win at a big level and win at a high level.”

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Real Madrid’s transfer strategy this summer is unlikely to be decided until the summer, but the moves of other teams could impact their process. One player with a bright future and little certainty is Como’s Jacobo Ramon, whom Real Madrid still hold control over.

Heading straight from Castilla to Lake Garda, Ramon followed Nico Paz to Como last summer for just €2.5m. Paz is already set to head back to Real Madrid this summer. Following interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Inter, Real Madrid agreed with Paz that he would spend another season in Serie A, before Los Blancos activated his €9m buyback clause to repatriate him. It has left some wondering whether Ramon could follow a similar path.

Arsenal looking to strengthen backline with Jacobo Ramon

However Caught Offside report that Arsenal are hoping to intervene in the matter. They say that in addition to their interest in current Castilla talent Victor Valdepenas, the Gunners are also keen on signing Ramon. Chelsea have also been credited with interest in Ramon, who has become a starter for one of Serie A’s form sides in his first season.

Will Real Madrid use buyback clause?

Real Madrid can re-sign Ramon for just €8m this summer, but even if he completes a move to Arsenal, they have a 50% sell-on fee. The latest coming from the Spanish capital is that they will look to leave Ramon at Como before signing him back.

That said, they are expected to add a central defender to their squad this summer to replace the outgoing David Alaba, and there is no clarity on who that will be. That could speed up their plan to sign Ramon. Equally, a large offer from Arsenal for Ramon might help fund alternative options.

Manchester City lead race for Elliot Anderson amid Premier League interest

Manchester City have positioned themselves strongly in pursuit of Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson with growing confidence inside the club that a deal can be completed early in the summer window, according to the Mirror.

City’s recruitment drive has been deliberate. Anderson has been identified as a priority target, with internal belief that they have “won the race to sign Elliot Anderson.” That confidence is underpinned by strategic timing and a clear understanding of the player’s trajectory.

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Transfer preference shapes negotiations

A key element in City’s favour is the player’s stance. It is reported that “Anderson has let it be known that the Etihad is his preferred choice.” In a market where competition includes Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham, that preference carries significant weight.

The expectation is that Anderson will depart Nottingham Forest regardless of their league status. “The 23-year-old is expected to leave Forest, irrespective of whether the club avoids relegation or not.” That clarity simplifies negotiations, though valuation remains a critical factor.

Valuation reflects rapid development

City are understood to be prepared to meet a £65 million price point. This represents a substantial rise from the £20 million Forest paid Newcastle in 2024, highlighting Anderson’s accelerated development.

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He has become “one of the best young midfielders in the Premier League this season,” a progression reinforced by international recognition. His England debut in a 2-0 win over Andorra signalled his arrival at senior level, and he has since impressed under Thomas Tuchel.

Strategic timing ahead of World Cup

City’s intention to complete the transfer before the World Cup in North America is a calculated move. There is an awareness that a strong tournament could inflate the fee further. Securing the deal early would mitigate that risk and allow integration during pre-season.

“It would avoid the risk of Anderson’s valuation increasing,” a line that reflects City’s pragmatic approach to market dynamics.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

This move aligns closely with the City’s recruitment philosophy. There is a preference for players who combine Premier League readiness with long-term upside. Anderson appears to fit that profile comfortably.

Supporters would likely view this as a proactive step. Strengthening midfield options remains a priority, particularly with the physical and tactical demands of competing across multiple competitions. Adding a player already adapted to the league reduces uncertainty.

There is also confidence in the club’s ability to develop talent further. City don’t just sign players, they refine them. Anderson’s trajectory suggests he could thrive within that environment.

The reported £65 million fee will prompt discussion. Some may question the scale of the investment, though recent performances and international progress provide justification. Market conditions continue to drive prices upwards, especially for English players with Premier League experience.

Ultimately, this feels like a signing designed for both immediate contribution and future evolution. City supporters will expect Anderson to integrate quickly, while also recognising that his peak years are still ahead. If completed, it could prove another example of calculated, forward thinking recruitment.