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Kirk Cousins has followed the same playbook all three times he’s been a free agent. However, before he signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, the veteran quarterback’s free-agency game plan called for something different: a FaceTime call with Tom Brady. A few days after Cousins officially signed with Las Vegas, he shared that he spoke with Brady, a minority owner of the Raiders, in an unusual setting before making his free-agent decision. “You know me, I’m going to do my homework before I sign somewhere. So, I had a lot of conversations with people here and there with the Raiders’ organization,” Cousins told NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football.” “One of those conversations was with Tom. I texted him and asked him to call me when he could. He actually FaceTimed me. I was at youth baseball practice. So, I stepped away and just FaceTimed with Tom for a little bit, just to get on the same page and the vision for the organization and kind of what he saw ahead and if I would be a good fit for it or not.” That call gave Cousins the clarification he needed on whether to sign with the Raiders. “I got off the call, and I called my wife and I said, ‘That was a really life-giving call with Tom,'” Cousins said. “He gets it. He’s been where I’ve been, and then some. I think he understands what it needs to look like and what it will look like. I really felt a shot in the arm after talking with him and I felt that was a big nudge for me to come to Vegas. Cousins signed relatively late in the free agency process, picking Las Vegas as his new home nearly a month after he was released by the Atlanta Falcons. He reportedly agreed to a five-year deal worth up to $172 million in total money. However, only $20 million of the contract is guaranteed, giving the Raiders a potential out after the 2026 season. Putting the money aside, Cousins will likely serve as a mentor to quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who the Raiders are highly expected to take with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. In fact, Cousins seemed to spoil the Raiders’ draft plans in the interview with “Good Morning Football,” saying “Fernando is going to be a great addition to our team.” Some also presumed that the 37-year-old Cousins might have received a guarantee to be the Raiders’ Week 1 starter when he signed with Las Vegas. But he told “Good Morning Football” that “I honestly don’t want to start unless I’m the best option,” adding that he’s relayed that message to first-year Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak. While Cousins will be relied on to help mentor and develop Mendoza, he shared that he’s looking forward to the opportunity to learn from Brady, who Cousins said was at the Raiders’ facility for the first day of organized team activities. “Didn’t expect that, but he stopped by the quarterback room and I was able to catch up with him in the cafeteria,” Cousins said. “He just wants to be a resource. I don’t know if he’s going to be around all the time, but he’s always a phone call or text away, and I think to have a guy who has won seven Super Bowls a phone call or text away that’s embedded into your organization, that’s gotta be a positive.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Barber Motorsports Park is a punishing track for any driver. It’s physical, daunting and full of surprises, and Scott McLaughlin got a recent painful reminder of that. The Team Penske driver made headlines for a less-than-ideal reason after he spun and slid backward through the catchfence at Barber course in Alabama. McLaughlin was thankfully OK, and the crash looked worse than it was, he said afterward. But the challenges of recovering from that wreck, switching to a backup car and still trying to compete in the fastest racing series in the world are gigantic. And they were highlighted in the third episode of “All In,” a real-time docuseries from FOX Sports, INDYCAR and Shadow Lion. “As soon as I got out of the car, my first thought was my daughter and my wife,” McLaughlin said in the latest “All In” episode titled, “Every Second Counts.” “Thank god I was OK. As much as that was theatrical — and going through a fence, it was pretty legit — but it wasn’t the hardest hit I’ve had.” The crash was during practice, just hours before qualifying, meaning not only was the car wrecked but also that McLaughlin and his Team Penske crew had to rush to get the backup car ready to qualify well and salvage the weekend. That takes more effort and people than you might expect, especially in a short time frame. INDYCAR racing is a team sport, like all motorsports, and no one is like the Team Penske organization with historically dominant INDYCAR and NASCAR teams. The latest “All In” episode also revisits the 2025 INDYCAR season, which was filled with drama around the team, from McLaughlin’s heartbreaking crash during the warm-up laps for the 2025 Indianapolis 500 to Team Penske receiving notable penalties for illegal car modifications. The latter led to multiple executive firings, including Tim Cindric, previously the team president. “I was really sad for him, sad for me because I knew I probably wouldn’t get the opportunity to work with him again,” McLaughlin says in “All In.” “It was controversy, it’s quite distracting, but I think it lit a fire under everyone’s belly to keep going.” Then the unexpected happened when Cindric returned to Team Penske this season, now as a race strategist for McLaughlin and his No. 3 Chevrolet team. “Scott’s done a very good job of positioning himself to try to be the benefactor in all this,” INDYCAR on FOX broadcaster James Hinchcliffe says in the latest episode. “But Tim Cindric returning is something that I don’t think a lot of people saw coming.” As McLaughlin explains, some people might laugh or smirk, but the driver from New Zealand doesn’t care because he believes Cindric is the best at what he does. “If I had to choose one word to describe last season, it’s just a bad dream,” Cindric says in “All In.” McLaughlin said he’s thankful to have a second chance to work with Cindric, as they push to rebound this season but specifically contend for the 2026 Indy 500 crown on May 24 on FOX. Featuring INDYCAR drivers and insiders — along with INDYCAR on FOX’s Hinchcliffe, Townsend Bell and Will Buxton — “All In” examines the biggest challenges, the pressure points and the high-speed competition of racing in the series. Each episode features its own focus on a driver, team or series storyline. And the latest one dives deep into McLaughlin and Team Penske’s challenging past year, as they now eye 2026 victories. Watch “All In” on the INDYCAR On FOX YouTube page, FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App, FOX One, as well as INDYCAR and INDYCAR on FOX social channels.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Jackson Shelstad could have a huge bounce-back season. Shelstad sustained a season-ending hand injury in December during his third year at Oregon, and entered the transfer portal when it opened on Tuesday after playing in just 12 games for the Ducks this past season. He averaged 15.6 points and 4.9 assists per game in those dozen games he played before the injury. He’s an offensive engine who can create for himself, score at all three levels and set up his teammates. He makes up for his stature — 6-foot-1, 170-pounds — with blinding speed, precise change-of-direction and a quick release on his shot. Here are the three best fits for Shelstad, who could have two years of NCAA eligibility remaining. Arizona The Wildcats made their first Final Four since 2001, before getting blown out by eventual-champion Michigan. Arizona will lose both starting members of their backcourt as Jaden Bradley is graduating and Brayden Burries is a potential top-10 NBA Draft pick, so Shelstad would help replace their production. He is a West Coast kid, originally from Oregon and attending college there, too, so this move wouldn’t be far for him. The fit itself would be interesting as the Wildcats, by design, don’t attempt a ton of 3-point shots and are big on size; Shelstad hoisted 8.8 per game this past season, and, again, he’s 6-1. Louisville The Cardinals won their first NCAA Tournament game since 2017, but flamed out in the next round. In his two seasons at Louisville, head coach Pat Kelsey has shown an affinity for, and success in, coaching high-usage guards, including Mikel Brown Jr., Ryan Conwell, Terrence Edwards Jr. and Chucky Hepburn; Shelstad would be the next in line. He will reportedly toured the school, per The Field of 68, so the interest in this move is there from both sides. The Cardinals’ system is the antithesis of Arizona’s, as Kelsey allows his guards to play freely and take difficult shots, rather than the Wildcats’ outside-in structure. Shelstad could adapt to either, so it’s down to his preference. Gonzaga The Bulldogs failed to make the Sweet 16 for a second consecutive season, losing to No. 11 seed Texas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Gonzaga didn’t have an elite guard on its roster this season, but has a history of sending ball-handlers to the NBA, such as Ryan Nembhard, Malachi Smith, Julian Strawther and Jalen Suggs. So, Shelstad would fill a gaping hole on the Bulldogs’ roster, and play for a program that has developed guards with NBA aspirations. An obstacle here is that Gonzaga is not in a Power Four (or even Five) conference, although it is moving to the new-age Pac-12 from its longtime home of the West Coast Conference. Mid-major status has never deterred it under coach Mark Few, but the NIL era is a different animal, and Gonzaga might struggle to meet Shelstad’s market and desired platform.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Sandy Alcántara is back. After missing the 2024 MLB season due to Tommy John surgery and struggling for the better part of 2025, the Miami Marlins’ ace has been exceptional out of the gate this season. Boasting an 0.74 ERA, 0.58 WHIP, a 528 ERA+ and 1.1 wins above replacement through his first three starts and 24.1 innings pitched, Alcántara is performing once again like the pitcher who won the 2022 National Cy Young Award. With that in mind, while Miami is coming off a competitive 2025 campaign (79-83) and has a chance to be in the NL wild-card mix this season, the reality is teams are going to make compelling trade offers for Alcántara, who has a team option for 2027. Here are the three best trade fits for the right-hander. San Diego Padres Michael King is an ace, and Randy Vasquez is coming into his own. At the same time, San Diego could use another impactful starter, and Alcántara would cement their status as an NL contender. Prior to his electric start to this season, Alcántara found himself down the stretch of 2025, recording a 3.13 ERA across his last 12 starts after sporting a 7.22 ERA at the MLB All-Star break. Alcántara — who finds success by consistently throwing four pitches (changeup, four-seamer, sinker and slider), while mixing in a cutter and sweeper — keeps runners off the basepath and pitches deep into games. In fact, he has led the NL in complete games three times (2019, 2022 and 2023), including throwing six complete games in 2022. This season, San Diego’s rotation is 22nd in MLB in opponent batting average (.252) and 20th in WHIP (1.40). Granted, the Padres have played just 12 games. Relying on Joe Musgrove’s return from Tommy John surgery and one of Walker Buehler and German Marquez having a bounce-back year is risky. Bringing in Alcántara would remove the reliance on the aforementioned scenarios, making San Diego’s rotation a front-line staff again. The Padres could base an Alcántara trade package around former first-round left-handers Kruz Schoolcraft and Kash Mayfield, among other pitching prospects in a pitching-heavy offer. All that said, the Padres may feel they have to draw the line in the sand with gutting their farm system in trades (e.g., pulling off blockbuster trades for Blake Snell, Josh Hader, Juan Soto and Mason Miller), instead preserving their young prospect capital, while feeling that their rotation has the upside to turn a corner (King being healthy and Nick Pivetta building on a 2025 campaign that saw him post a career-best 2.87 ERA). Athletics You have to start somewhere, and the Athletics need long-term answers in their starting rotation. Enter Alcántara. The A’s have struggled mightily to develop pitching from within of late. To date, the 2026 season has been a continuation of last season for the A’s starting rotation. Coming off a 2025 campaign that saw their starting staff finish 27th in ERA (4.85), 25th in opponent batting average (.257) and tied for 23rd in WHIP (1.34), the Athletics are last in WHIP (1.71) and 29th in ERA (5.36) this season. Trading for Alcántara would allow the A’s to bypass waiting for a young pitcher to develop into a star, providing them with the anchor their pitching staff doesn’t possess and an accomplished veteran mentor for younger pitchers like Jacob Lopez and Luis Morales; Jeffrey Springs and Luis Severino haven’t been veteran pillars since their acquisitions in the 2024-25 offseason. Yes, the A’s enter April 9 with an underwhelming .226/.296/.355 team slash line. At the same time, this is an Athletics’ nucleus that, talent-wise, is arguably the best young positional core in the sport. Highlighted by Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, Tyler Soderstrom and Shea Langeliers, they have a lineup of future perennial All-Stars and one that was fifth in hits (1,403), batting average (.253) and slugging percentage (.431) and seventh in home runs (219) last season. With a mere middle-of-the-pack rotation, the A’s have a fighting chance at being a playoff team this year. Acquiring Alcántara would be a tangible step toward accomplishing that feat. They could base a trade package for Alcántara around infielder Leo De Vries — who MLB Pipeline regards as the No. 4 prospect in the sport — and two of pitching prospects Jamie Arnold, Gage Jump, Braden Nett and Wei-En Lin. The only factor that could halt an Alcántara trade for the Athletics is them potentially feeling it’s more prudent to sign a premier starter to improve that aspect of their team before making a seismic trade for another pitcher, a move which is usually made with the expectation of being a playoff team. Baltimore Orioles The Orioles have the talent to make the playoffs, but they reside in arguably the best division in the sport (AL East). To break through, their starting rotation can’t just be improved: It has to be both a plausible and reliable unit. Acquiring Alcántara would provide them with that needed sense of security. Yes, Baltimore made multiple moves for its rotation in the offseason, acquiring Shane Baz and signing Chris Bassitt, among other moves. Still, that unit is just 26th in opponent batting (.262) and 24th in WHIP (1.45) this season. Moreover, Baltimore’s rotation was 26th in opponent batting average (.265), 24th in ERA (4.65) and 21st in WHIP (1.32) in 2025. Since Corbin Burnes’ 2024 free-agent departure, the Orioles have been seeking their bona fide ace. Alcántara, who threw a complete-game shutout on April 1 and has pitched through seven innings in each of his three starts this season, would become that pitcher for Baltimore. Put Alcántara next to Trevor Rogers, who has pitched at a Cy Young-caliber level since July of last season and was previously teammates with the right-hander in Miami, and the Orioles would have an elite one-two rotation punch. With Alcántara in the fold, Baltimore also wouldn’t be reliant on Baz taking the next step or Kyle Bradish staying healthy. Rather, it would be a bonus if these situations unfolded. What’s more, right-hander Zach Eflin underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss the rest of the season; Baltimore could use another starter, anyway. The Orioles could send outfielder and former first-round pick Colton Cowser, infielder Coby Mayo, right-hander Brandon Young and pitching prospect Trey Gibson, who’s in Triple-A, to Miami to acquire Alcántara.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Alex Bowman, who has missed the last four NASCAR Cup Series races because of vertigo, will return to the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 car this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. Bowman spent Tuesday in a street car turning laps on the Ten Tenths road course that is next to Charlotte Motor Speedway. He participated in pit-stop practice and did laps in a simulator Wednesday and was medically cleared to race. “I’m grateful for the support I’ve had from Hendrick Motorsports, my sponsor Ally, our fans and the medical team throughout this process,” Bowman said in a news release. “It’s been tough being out of the car, but we all wanted to make sure I was 100 percent ready before returning. I feel really good, and I’m excited about being at the track with my team and getting back to racing.” Bowman, who couldn’t complete the race at Circuit of the Americas because of the onset of vertigo, had a rough start in his first three races. He is 144 points out of 16th in the standings so it is unlikely he could rally over the next 19 races to qualify for the Chase. He would need a waiver to be eligible for the title because of the rule requiring a driver to compete in all races. He is expected to receive one. Bowman was replaced by Anthony Alfredo for Phoenix and then Justin Allgaier for the last three races. “We’re proud of Alex and the way he’s handled this situation,” said HMS President Jeff Andrews said in a news release. “He’s put a lot of work into his recovery and followed the medical team’s plan every step of the way. “From the outset, our goal was to prioritize his health and have him return when he was fully recovered and medically cleared. We’re looking forward to seeing Alex back in his race car this weekend.” Bowman is used to dealing with injury. He missed five races in 2022 because of a concussion and three races in 2023 because of a broken back suffered in a sprint-car accident.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Flory Bidunga could anchor the next championship defense. After playing two seasons at Kansas, Bidunga entered the transfer portal, and will look for another suitor for his junior season. At 6-foot-9, 220-pounds, Bidunga’s a versatile forward who can switch out onto the perimeter and protect the paint. He averaged a Big 12-best 2.6 blocks last season, while improving his offensive game as well. Here are the three best transfer portal fits for Bidunga, who has two years of NCAA eligibility remaining and will at least explore the NBA Draft, per ESPN. St. John’s The Red Storm fell to Duke in the Sweet 16, a season-ending loss that was star center Zuby Ejiofor’s final college game. With Ejiofor graduating, there’s a gaping hole in the center of St. John’s team on both sides of the ball. With his endless motor, Bidunga would bring a similar energy to Ejiofor, and could protect the rim at the same – or even better – level. Following in Ejiofor’s footsteps would be very fitting as he transferred to St. John’s from Kansas back in 2023, before Red Storm head coach Rick Pitino helped develop him into a two-way star. Bidunga has the defensive side of the ball down, and Pitino has proven he can improve a big man’s offensive game. Bidunga is one of the top players in the portal and will be looking for a place where he is featured. St. John’s offers the platform, coach and has a need at its position. The Red Storm are also reportedly one of Bidunga’s final choices, per The Field of 68. Michigan Another one of the programs Bidunga is considering is the defending national champions. The Wolverines will likely lose all three starting frontcourt members — Aday Mara, Morez Johnson Jr. and Yaxel Lendeborg — to the NBA Draft. Bidunga would be one of the replacements for those departures, and help Michigan recreate the No. 1 rated defense in KenPom’s rankings. He would also be a great lob partner for point guard Elliot Cadeau, who is entering his senior year. Head coach Dusty May has a history of winning with elite big men, but Bidunga doesn’t match the build of players May has coached. Mara and former Wolverines’ center Vladislav Goldin are both taller than 7 feet, while Bidunga is more of an undersized athletic freak. That said, there’s no reason to doubt May’s ability to adapt and build a defense around a forward who, despite his differing stature, is as capable of a rim-protector – if not a better one – than Mara and Goldin. Duke The Blue Devils are also a top choice that Bidunga is weighing. Duke offered Bidunga a scholarship during the summer of 2022 before he chose Kansas, so there was prior interest. The Blue Devils will likely lose forwards Patrick Ngongba, Cameron Boozer and Maliq Brown to the NBA Draft, so Bidunga would be a solid and necessary replacement. Duke, however, did not have a transfer on their roster last season, and only had one in reserve forward Mason Gillis, last year. Maybe it’s against coach Jon Scheyer’s best interest to follow his peers and dip into the portal. But after a second consecutive season enduring a devastating tournament-ending loss, will Scheyer snap his trend in sight of a breakthrough? It seems that could be the case as the Blue Devils were also a reported finalist for Bidunga according to The Field of 68.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Mexico’s all-time leading scorer is joining FOX Sports for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Javier Hernández, who scored a record 52 goals in 109 appearances for Mexico, will make his broadcast debut with FOX Sports this summer as his beloved El Tri co-hosts the World Cup with Canada and the United States. “When the opportunity came to join a great company like FOX Sports and cover the FIFA World Cup this summer, it was a no-brainer,” Hernández said. “I’m a rookie, so I expect to have fun as an analyst and learn, but really I just want to share my perspective on how I see the beautiful game and sport that I’ve been playing my entire life with fans watching at home.” Hernández played in three World Cups during his legendary 10-year international career. He made his World Cup debut in 2010, less than a year after his senior national team debut, and notably scored goals against France in the group stage and Argentina in the Round of 16. He ended his World Cup career with four goals in three editions of the tournament, which is tied for Mexico’s all-time record. Hernández was also a global phenomenon at the club level, securing a groundbreaking transfer from Chivas de Guadalajara to Manchester United in 2010. He went on to score 37 goals in 103 appearances for United and lifted the Premier League title twice with the Red Devils. His career in Europe came to an end in 2020, when he joined Major League Soccer and signed with the LA Galaxy. Hernández will be the latest soccer great to join FOX Sports for the World Cup. In March, global icon Zlatan Ibrahimović announced he will join as an analyst for the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer. France legend and World Cup winner Thierry Henry, who made his FOX Sports debut at the FIFA World Cup draw in December, will also be part of the network’s broadcast crew this summer. Award-winning presenter and celebrated broadcaster Rebecca Lowe will make her FOX Sports debut this summer as one of the network’s hosts for FIFA World Cup. 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch From June 11 through July 19, 2026, FOX Sports presents its largest World Cup production and broadcast slate to date featuring all 104 matches live across FOX (69) and FS1 (35) with every match live-streaming on FOX One and the FOX Sports App. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The more, the merrier! The United Football League announced on Thursday morning that it’s expanding to 10 teams in 2028, including the addition of a team in Oklahoma City. “Oklahoma lives and breathes football, so bringing the UFL to Oklahoma City was an easy decision,” UFL Co-Owner Mike Repole said in a statement about the inclusion of Oklahoma City. “This is a state that shows up, cares deeply, and truly understands the game. From college powerhouses to Friday night lights, football runs deep here. We’re committed to building a franchise in OKC that the entire state can rally behind.” Oklahoma City’s UFL team doesn’t have a nickname yet, but it will play its home games at MAPS 4 Multipurpose Stadium, which is under construction. The location of the other expansion team isn’t known, either. “Oklahoma City has long been one of the most glaring vacancies on the professional football map,” UFL President & CEO Russ Brandon said in a statement. “The combination of a new stadium, deep-rooted football culture, and a city that has proven its ability to support major league sports makes this an easy decision. We are thrilled to bring the UFL’s brand of high-octane spring football to the passionate fans of Oklahoma.” The lone major professional sports team in Oklahoma City is the Thunder, who just won their first NBA championship in franchise history last season. Elsewhere, the Oklahoma Sooners (college) are located roughly 25 minutes south of Oklahoma City, while the Oklahoma State Cowboys (college) are located roughly 70 minutes north of Oklahoma City. As for this season, which is two weeks young, the UFL has three new teams: the Columbus Aviators, Louisville Kings and Orlando Storm.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Edwin Díaz hasn’t been a starter since he was in Double-A a decade ago, so the three-time All-Star closer doesn’t know exactly how exhausting it must be for a starting pitcher to have to navigate the Dodgers’ daunting lineup multiple times on a single night. He can commiserate with opposing starters, though, as they attempt to deal with a Dodgers’ offense that is starting to look like the inexorable machine their fans envisioned and their foes feared. “You don’t have any place to breathe,” Diaz told me last week. “Good luck to the opposing team.” The way the Dodgers’ offense is now firing, crossing fingers and hoping for the best might be an opponent’s only hope. After a slow start to the year for the Dodgers’ top sluggers, they’ve found their form away from home. The Dodgers were averaging more than nine runs per game in a 5-0 start to their road trip before dropping Wednesday’s series finale to Toronto in which two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani gave up just one run in six innings. When the Dodgers’ offense is clicking the way it can at full strength, it can wear an opponent down with patience and strike with power. Even if a pitcher emerges unscathed against Ohtani and four-time All-Star Kyle Tucker atop the star-studded lineup, eight-time All-Star Mookie Betts, nine-time All-Star Freddie Freeman, three-time All-Star Will Smith, two-time All-Stars Max Muncy and Teoscar Hernández and reigning National League Player of the Week Andy Pages are then waiting to pounce. “It certainly has to be taxing when you’re facing our guys, and when you feel like you have to be perfect,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “Just to continue to keep executing and executing, it’s tough mentally, physically.” It looked that way Friday for Miles Mikolas, who became the first pitcher in Nationals history to surrender 11 earned runs in a game. Betts went deep in that 13-6 win before hurting his oblique the following day, but the injury hasn’t stopped the Dodgers’ unrelenting attack. After pulverizing Mikolas, the Dodgers proceeded to pummel Nationals starter Jake Irvin for six runs in four innings on Saturday before tagging Washington’s bullpen for seven runs in the final four innings Sunday to finish off a sweep. They then traveled north of the border for a highly-anticipated World Series rematch that figured to present more of a challenge. Instead, the first two games were a one-sided onslaught in favor of the back-to-back champs, who won the series and outscored the Blue Jays by 14 runs over the three games. The last time Miguel Rojas was in Toronto, the veteran infielder’s ninth-inning heroics at the plate made him a Game 7 World Series hero. Five months later, his next game against the Blue Jays ended with him on the mound in the ninth inning Monday night finishing off a 14-2 drubbing that included five Dodgers home runs. “We’re feeding off each other,” Freddie Freeman told reporters after Monday’s rout in Toronto. “Everyone’s just doing their part.” A week into the season, it didn’t look that way. Ohtani, Betts, Tucker and Smith were all hitting .200 or worse to start the season. Freeman wasn’t much better at .208, and Hernandez had yet to record an extra-base hit. The slow starts were clearly the result of a small sample. And, perhaps the scariest part for the rest of the league: when the Dodgers weren’t hitting to their capabilities, they were still winning, a testament to the complete juggernaut they’ve built. Even with Blake Snell sidelined to start the year, Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow give the Dodgers as fearsome a top starting pitching trio as any in baseball. Diaz has helped transform the Dodgers’ shoddy 2025 bullpen into a strength, and 25-year-old outfielder Andy Pages has demonstrated after a forgettable October at the plate that he’s capable of lifting the Dodgers’ offense through rough spells when he’s going right. The Dodgers began the year 4-2 despite hitting below league average as a group at the time. The most obvious tell that Ohtani was searching for his form, beyond his 3-for-15 start, was his presence on the field at Dodger Stadium before the series finale against the Guardians. Ohtani rarely takes batting practice on the field, but he made an exception on April 1. It seems to have worked. Now, Pages is still rolling — he leads MLB in hits (19) and batting average (.452) — while the rest of the lineup is pulling its weight. Ohtani has reached base multiple times in every game on the Dodgers’ road trip and has three homers in his last six games. Freeman’s on a seven-game hitting streak with three home runs and three doubles over that stretch. Tucker has yet to consistently showcase his power, but his average is up to .268. Hernández has seven hits, including three extra-base hits, over his last four games. On Tuesday, Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland, who will get extra playing time in the middle infield while Betts is down, provided the team’s extra-base hits in the fifth straight win. Suddenly, a Dodgers offense that ranked 14th in OPS six games into the season now ranks first. They’re up three games up in the division, they look indomitable, and they should only get better as more reinforcements arrive (Betts, Snell, Tommy Edman, Kike Hernandez, Evan Phillips, Brock Stewart, Brusdar Graterol among them) over the coming weeks and months. The Two-way Ohtani Plan When Ohtani took the mound Wednesday afternoon in Toronto, it was on seven days of rest (as a pitcher) and with the longest active regular-season scoreless inning streak in MLB before the Blue Jays’ third-inning run. This season, Ohtani plans on going wire-to-wire as a starting pitcher for the first time since undergoing his second career elbow procedure in September 2023, but the Dodgers are going to still be mindful about his rest between starts, considering his two-way duties. That will make it tough for Ohtani to win his first Cy Young Award this year — a goal many of his coaches and teammates believe he is striving for — but he could still find a way. If he continues to blank most of his opponents, it may be easier to overlook his lack of volume. “I think if anyone can manage the designated hitter role and be as productive as he’s been and still chase that elusive Cy Young for a Japanese pitcher,” Roberts said, “I think he can do it.” The two-way sensation didn’t pitch during the World Baseball Classic, but he returned to spring training still ready to handle a full workload from the jump. He threw 4.1 scoreless innings against the Giants in Glendale, Arizona, in his first official spring start on March 18, struck out 11 batters in his final spring tune-up against his former team on March 24, then fired six scoreless innings of one-hit ball against the Guardians in his first start of the regular season. “Last year I felt good,” Ohtani said after his 2026 debut, “but this year I do feel a lot more loose and easy pitching overall.” Ohtani featured more of his curveball than usual in his start against Cleveland, and Roberts said he believes Ohtani’s feel for his breaking ball this year is much better. Multiple members of the Dodgers’ staff have expressed a belief that Ohtani will only continue to get more comfortable using his full arsenal — and tweaking it depending on opponent — the more he settles into his full two-way duties again. He entered his start Wednesday with both the longest active scoreless innings streak as a pitcher (22.2) and the longest active on-base streak as a hitter (42 games). He failed to hit in Tuesday’s game, but reached on base via walk to keep his on-base streak to 43 games. For now, the Dodgers plan to keep him in the leadoff spot on days that he starts, though that could be subject to change at some point, depending on how he performs. So far, so good. “I think he’s already proven that he’s the best player, you can argue, that’s ever played the game — best baseball player in totality,” Roberts said. “I do think that he sees himself as a baseball player, yes, but when he’s pitching he sees himself solely as a pitcher, and he wants to be the best pitcher.” Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on X at @RowanKavner.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

This might be LIV Golf’s best chance to have one of its players win a green jacket at the Masters. Entering the 2026 Masters at Augusta National in Georgia, there are two LIV players among the top three favorites at most sportsbooks. Both of those players are above even last year’s champion, Rory McIlroy. Here’s a look at players whose form through LIV Golf’s first five events indicates whether they are more or less likely to leave Augusta victorious this weekend. Stock Up: Bryson DeChambeau It seems like a matter of time until DeChambeau has the green jacket put on him. He has had six top-10 finishes at majors over the past two years, including a win at the 2024 U.S. open. In DeChambeau’s last two Masters starts, he’s finished T6 and T5. Last year, he was in the final group with Rory McIlroy before ultimately falling behind the Northern Irishman en route to his win. DeChambeau started the LIV season with a T17 in Riyadh, a third-place finish in Adelaide and a T24 in Hong Kong. Then, he won in Singapore and South Africa. He’s the third betting favorite this week, according to DraftKings, behind Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm. At only 32 years old, DeChambeau is firmly in his prime and clearly steps up at every major. Given his form entering the tournament and his recent results at majors, this could be the year when he gets his jacket. Stock Down: Tyrrell Hatton Hatton has routinely performed well at majors, but his LIV results indicate this might not be the year he dons the green jacket on Sunday night. Hatton has four top-20s and two top-10s at majors over the past two years, including a T9 and T14 in his last two Masters starts. He only has two career top-five finishes at majors in his career, though, although one did come at last year’s U.S. Open. Hatton’s five LIV results this season have been all over the board. He has two top-10s, but his other three finishes are 47, T45 and T38, which don’t inspire confidence. Stock Up: Jon Rahm Rahm, unlike DeChambeau, already has his green jacket, and there are a lot of reasons to believe he’s poised to get another this year. Rahm has finished in the top five of all five LIV events this season, including top-two four times. He also won at LIV Hong Kong. He ranks first in greens in regulation and birdies this year at LIV events, and he’s fourth in driving distance and scrambling. Across the board, Rahm is thriving right now. The one thing he’ll need to be working is his putter. He’s tied for 35th among LIV golfers this season in putting average. He’ll need the flat stick to be on point this weekend to win. Rahm has three top-10s at majors over the past two years and finished T14 last year at Augusta. Last year, he started with a 3-over 75, which kept him from truly contending. Rahm is second on the odds board this week, indicating he might be poised to contend for his second green jacket. Stock Up: Carlos Ortiz Ortiz does not have a lot of experience at major championships. He has only played four majors since the start of 2022, and he’s missed the cut three times. His one result, though, was a T4 at last year’s U.S. Open. In Ortiz’s only start at the Masters, he missed the cut in 2021. After the big two at the top of LIV Golf, Ortiz is next among players who will be at Augusta this weekend in 15th. He has two top-10s in his last three starts and a respectable T21 in Singapore. Ortiz is tied for 10th in birdies among LIV players this season, but the key this weekend for him will be simply finding the fairway and hitting greens. He’s 50th in fairways hit at just 55%, and he’s T33 in making it on the green in regulation on just 71.7% of holes. Stock Down: Bubba Watson Since winning his second green jacket in 2014, Watson has one top-10 finish in 12 starts at Augusta National, including two missed cuts in his last three starts there. This may not be the year the results get better. Through five LIV starts, Watson’s best finish is T28. That’s his only result that is better than T37. Last year at the Masters, Watson ranked first in Strokes Gained: Putting, so the savvy vet still knows how to navigate Augusta well. Whether the 47-year-old can compete over the weekend remains to be seen. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports