All-Star center fielder Jackson Merrill landed on the injured list Tuesday, a week after finalizing a $135 million, nine-year deal with the San Diego Padres.

He's out with a right hamstring strain in a huge blow for the NL West leaders.

Merrill was off to a sizzling start, hitting safely in his first eight games. He is batting .378 (14 for 37) with three homers and 10 RBIs. Before getting injured, he had helped the Padres to the first 6-0 start in their 57-season history.

Merrill, who turns 22 on April 19, was moved from shortstop to center field in spring training last year when the Padres had only two outfielders on their roster. He made the Opening Day roster and hit .292 with 24 homers, 90 RBIs and 16 stolen bases and finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting behind Pittsburgh pitcher Paul Skenes.

Merrill made it clear after his rookie season that he wanted to stay with the Padres long term, and the team announced last Wednesday that it had signed him to a nine-year deal with an option for a 10th season.

The 2021 first-round draft pick, who would have been eligible for arbitration after the 2026 season and for free agency after the 2029 World Series, becomes the latest Padre to sign a nine-figure contract, joining Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts and Yu Darvish.

The Padres recalled outfielder Oscar Gonzalez from Triple-A El Paso.

Chaz Lucius, a former first-round pick for the Winnipeg Jets, announced his retirement on Tuesday due to a hereditary tissue disorder.

The 21-year-old center played for the Manitoba Moose this season, the AHL affiliate of the Jets.

Lucius said he was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which affects the connective tissue that stabilizes and supports the joints and organs in the body. He had struggled with joint injuries over the last several years, both in sustaining them and recovering from them.

"I thought I was just unlucky. With this diagnosis of EDS, I now realize that my body could not handle the physical nature of playing hockey," he said in a statement through Newport Sports, which represented him. "Given this condition, my injury history, and he physical nature of hockey, I have been medically advised not to continue to play."

Lucius is a native of Lawrence, Kansas. He was a product of the U.S. National Team Development Program and later attended the University of Minnesota (2021-22). The Jets selected him 18th overall in the 2021 draft.

He played for the Moose for the last three seasons, missing time due to injury. He had 9 points in 25 games this season but hadn't been in the lineup since early February. Head coach Mark Morrison said at the time that Lucius "has a medical condition that needs a little bit further evaluation."

The Jets said in a statement on Tuesday: "After much discussion and consultation with Chaz, his representatives, and medical professionals, the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club fully supports his difficult decision to retire. Chaz's condition and struggles with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) put him at risk of injury if he continues to play at the professional level, so we understand his choice. We wish Chaz all the best in his efforts to be an advocate for those dealing with EDS and hope for a bright future in front of him."

Lucius thanked the Jets organization for its support "through a very challenging time," singling out Mike Keane from the team's player development staff for "caring for me as a person as well as a player."

He also thanked all of his current and former coaches and teammates. "I feel blessed to have experienced all that hockey gave me over the years even though I am crushed that I cannot continue to pursue my dream of playing in the NHL," he said.

Lucius said he plans on being an advocate for those with EDS.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said he "takes responsibility" for Declan Rice's stunning opening free kick goal in Real Madrid's 3-0 Champions League quarterfinal first leg defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday.

Rice had never scored from a direct free kick, but netted twice in the second half at the Emirates -- before Mikel Merino added a late third goal -- to see Arsenal take a commanding lead in the tie.

Madrid have a history of dramatic European comebacks, and will need to repeat that at the Santiago Bernabéu on April 16 if they're to reach the semifinals.

"I thought I'd positioned the wall well," Courtois told Movistar. "I usually put an extra man in. I take responsibility for that, I could have put an extra man in, but I thought [Rice] wouldn't get as much curl on it. And the second goal is a great goal.

"They were unnecessary fouls, when there was no danger. Perhaps we shouldn't make those fouls."

Madrid -- who are second in LaLiga and have reached the Copa del Rey final, but have frequently underwhelmed this season -- have won the European Cup a record 15 times, while Arsenal are yet to triumph in the competition.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted his side now have a "small possibility" of progressing to the next round.

LONDON -- Declan Rice said his free kick "magic" against Real Madrid left him speechless but insisted Arsenal are targeting Champions League glory after taking control of their quarterfinal tie with the holders.

Arsenal stunned Madrid with a 3-0 win in Tuesday's first leg at Emirates Stadium as Rice scored the first direct free kicks of his 339-game club career to stun Carlo Ancelotti's side.

After a goalless first half in which Kylian Mbappé wasted Madrid's best chances, Rice curled home a 58th-minute free kick before producing an even better effort 12 minutes later, finally beating Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who had earlier made a string of fine saves.

Mikel Merino added a third five minutes later before Eduardo Camavinga was sent off in stoppage time after picking up a second yellow card for dissent.

"To score my first free kick in a game is a special one. And then when I got the second one. I just had the confidence. I'm speechless, really," Rice told Amazon Prime.

"To beat Real Madrid in this competition. It's a big night for us. When you score a goal, it's the best feeling in the world. It didn't make sense from that angle to cross the ball. It would have to be a delicate pass. And when I saw the wall, it didn't make sense to cross. You know what, I'm happy I took it because it was magic.

"I don't think it's going to hit me what I've done tonight. It's a historical night, and to score two goals against Real Madrid. We want to win this competition. But we have to take it one game at a time."

Arteta revealed his players and staff had discussed the last time they scored from a direct free kick -- coming almost four years ago.

"[Rice] has been very determined [to take them] because we have talked in the last few months, we haven't scored a direct free kick since September 2021, Burnley away, Martin Ødegaard," Arteta said.

"So it's been a long time, and to score two goals in 12 minutes of that magnitude of that quality from the same player, a player that has never scored a free kick before in his career, I mean, what are the odds?

"Tonight we have one step in the right direction for sure. And now we have to go to the Bernabéu. We're going to have to elevate the level again to be the team that we want to be there and to prepare the game to win it."

MILWAUKEE -- Giannis Antetokounmpo was back in action Tuesday after sitting out one game because of tendinopathy in his left shoulder.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers said at his pregame media session that the two-time MVP would be available for Tuesday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Antetokounmpo had been listed on the injury report as probable after sitting out a 111-107 victory at New Orleans on Sunday.

Antetokounmpo, 30, ranks second in the NBA in scoring (30.5) and sixth in rebounding (11.9).

The game also marks Bucks forward Bobby Portis' return from a 25-game suspension. Portis had been suspended after testing positive for the painkiller tramadol.

WASHINGTON -- Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says has not detected anxiety or frustration from Shohei Ohtani as the two-way star goes through the rehabilitation process as a pitcher from his second elbow operation.

Ohtani said after Monday's 6-4 loss to Washington that he has been limited to throwing fastballs during the two bullpen sessions since resuming his ramp up. Roberts said Ohtani would have his entire pitch mix available before he faced hitters.

"I think he's actually in a good place," Roberts said. "He's still playing. It was a collective decision. I think that he understands the goal is to make sure that he is firing on all cylinders toward the end of the season through October. We're in lockstep."

Ohtani has not pitched since Aug. 23, 2023, for the Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani had Tommy John surgery on Oct. 1, 2018, and is recovering from right elbow surgery on Sept. 19, 2023. He paused his pitching work after a mound session on Feb. 25 to prepare for Opening Day as a hitter, then threw bullpens on March 29 and Saturday.

Used exclusively as a designated hitter last season, Ohtani won his third MVP award while batting .310 with 54 home runs, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases. He entered Tuesday with a .311 average, four homers and five RBIs.

"Certainly after No. 2, I think it makes you feel a little more human and also appreciate the longer term and knowing he wants to pitch for a long time," Roberts said. "To get the foundation right and strong and to feel good about it coming off the second one I think is important to him as well."

Roberts said left-hander Blake Snell (shoulder inflammation) will rest until Monday. Roberts also said right-hander Tony Gonsolin (back) is scheduled to throw Tuesday and is a few weeks away from returning.

The Premier League will have five teams in the Champions League next season after it secured one of the extra places for performance by clubs across the three European competitions.

Two leagues will be rewarded with a European Performance Spot (EPS), which was introduced in last season as part of a revamp to expand the Champions League to a 36-team competition.

England has been well out in front at the top of the table for most of the season, and the extra place was all but confirmed by a catalogue of poor results for Italian clubs in the knockout playoff round and the round of 16.

That left the Premier League needing only one win, or two draws, from the remaining fixtures and that was sealed on Tuesday when Arsenal won 3-0 at home to Real Madrid.

Fifth place in England will now qualify for the Champions League. Chelsea (53 points) sit fourth with Newcastle United (53) in fifth (and the Magpies have a crucial game in hand.) But a host of clubs are battling for the top five, including Manchester City (52), Aston Villa (51), Fulham (48) and Brighton & Hove Albion (47).

If Aston Villa win the Champions League (they play Paris Saint-Germain in the quarterfinals) and finish fifth then six teams qualify for the Champions League -- the top four, the Champions League titleholders and the EPS, which drops to sixth place.

The maximum number of places in the Champions League could be seven: the top four, the EPS, plus Villa and Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur as winners of the Champions League and Europa League.

Inter Milan scored an 88th minute winner through Davide Frattesi to snatch a 2-1 victory over hosts Bayern Munich in their Champions League quarterfinal first leg on Tuesday.

Lautaro Martínez scored in the first half, shortly after Harry Kane had hit the woodwork for Bayern in an uncharacteristic miss that had the England forward clutching his face in disbelief.

Substitute Thomas Müller, who announced on Saturday that he was leaving the German club at the end of the season, appeared to have rescued a 1-1 draw for Bayern with the equalizer five minutes from time, but Frattesi scored the winner three minutes later.

The result ended Bayern's 22-match unbeaten home run in Europe and kept up Inter's hopes of returning to the same stadium for the Champions League final on May 31.

But first up it has to face Bayern in the return leg next Wednesday at San Siro, with the winner playing either Barcelona or Borussia Dortmund in the semifinals.

"Tonight wasn't a walk in the park and we were not expecting one," said Muller. "The chances converted were the key.

"We had a fair few chances, but unfortunately the last counter makes it 2-1. Otherwise it would be 1-1, a good fightback and the Muller story would have played out."

Arsenal stunned Real Madrid 3-0 in Tuesday's other game, leaving the English team on the verge of a semifinal matchup against either Aston Villa or Paris Saint-Germain.

Inter had lost its last two meetings with Bayern 2-0 in the Champions League group stage in 2022-23 -- the season the Italian team went on to reach the final.

However, it had beaten Bayern in the 2010 final to clinch a treble of the Champions League, Serie A and Italian Cup -- something the Nerazzurri are looking to repeat this year.

Bayern was decimated by injuries, including to attacking midfielder Jamal Musiala after the Germany star tore a hamstring last weekend. Inter also had several players out.

Kane was looking to add to his tally of 10 Champions League goals this season and he should have done better in the 14th minute but his weak header was comfortably plucked out of the air by Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

Kane had an even better opportunity in the 26th minute and the Bayern fans were practically already celebrating when the ball came to him on the left side of the area, completely unmarked. But he instead curled onto the outside of the far post.

Kane fell to his knees with hands on his face in disbelief.

While Bayern's star forward missed, there was to be no such mistake from Inter's 10 minutes later in a move started and finished by Lautaro.

The Argentina World Cup winner gathered the ball in the center circle and sent Carlos Augusto down the left. The Brazilian defender then crossed for Marcus Thuram to flick it backwards to an onrushing Lautaro, who smashed it into the roof of the net.

It was Lautaro's sixth goal in his past four Champions League matches.

Both teams had chances in the second half but Bayern began to up the pressure as the game went on and its siege eventually paid off with a cross to the back post for Konrad Laimer, who put it back over the defenders for Müller to prod home from three yards out.

Bayern began to believe in the winner but that left gaps at the back and Nicolò Barella spotted the run of Carlos Augusto, who then sped into the box and rolled across for substitute Frattesi to redirect the ball into the net.

Information from The Associated Press and Reuters was used in this story.

Arsenal delivered one of the most stunning European displays in their history on Tuesday to beat ten-man Real Madrid 3-0 at Emirates Stadium and take firm control of this Champions League quarterfinal tie.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois produced a string of magical saves but could do nothing as Declan Rice scored two devastating second-half free-kicks before Mikel Merino added a third.

Rice had never scored a direct free-kick in his career but after a goalless first half, he did so here twice in the space of 12 minutes as Madrid were made to pay for wasting a series of earlier openings with Kylian Mbappé the biggest culprit.

Rice's 58th-minute opener from 31.9 yards out beat Real's four-man wall before his second found the top corner with unerring accuracy. Merino's smart first-time finish five minutes later put the home side in dreamland and Real were unable to muster a response.

A wretched evening for Madrid got even worse in stoppage-time as Eduardo Camavinga was sent off after picking up a second yellow card for dissent.

The Gunners have not reached the Champions League semifinals since 2009 but Real Madrid -- the defending champions -- now face a mammoth task to overturn this deficit in next Wednesday's second leg after a night that will live long in the memory for those in the red half of north London. -- James Olley

Arsenal nab historic Champions League win to be remembered

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta challenged his team to "build our own story" when confronted with the imbalance in Champions League historic pedigree compared to Real Madrid. And they certainly did just that on a remarkable evening.

Real Madrid, 15-time winners and littered with superstars, were the favourites to progress, but Arsenal defied the absence of several key players through injury to produce a result that will go down as one of the finest in their history. They have never won Europe's premier club competition, coming closest in 2006 when losing the final to Barcelona.

Just where this victory will rank of course depends on the outcome of next week's second leg. But few thought the Gunners capable of such an emphatic victory over European heavyweights Madrid.

After fading behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race, a result like this will renew hope Arsenal could yet still end this season with silverware to show for their progress under Arteta. Whatever happens, this was an evening which everyone of an Arsenal persuasion will boast "I was there" for years to come. -- Olley

Mbappé, Vinícius fail to capitalise on Real Madrid's chances

Madrid's two attacking stars, Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior, both shone in the last round of the Champions League against Manchester City. Vinicius dominated the first leg in Manchester, and Mbappé finished the job with a hat trick at the Bernabéu.

Here at the Emirates, both players had moments -- especially in the first half -- when they might have helped dictate the outcome too. But they didn't make the most of them and ultimately let Real Madrid down.

Mbappé had three shots. So did Vinicius. None of them really tested David Raya in the Arsenal goal, either flying well off target, or falling too close, and too comfortably, for the goalkeeper.

Real Madrid aren't a team that need to dominate possession. With two of the game's fastest players in Mbappé and Vinicius, they're often even happier to give up the ball, knowing that when they subsequently win it back, they'll be in a position to release one or both of their speedy front two into space.

And in the first half, several times, that's exactly what happened. Arsenal gave up the ball cheaply, Madrid picked the right pass, and suddenly, Mbappé and Vini were away. Mbappé's chance after half an hour, free in the inside-left channel -- what Arsenal fans might call the "Thierry Henry position" -- should have led to the game's opening goal. Instead, Mbappé's effort was tame.

The relative ease with which Madrid were able to find Mbappé in such dangerous positions was something they can look to do -- this time with some added end product -- at the Bernabéu. But the contrast between a subdued Vinicius and a sparkling Bukayo Saka on the wing for Arsenal was striking. -- Alex Kirkland

Rice enjoys a breakout performance at the right time

When Declan Rice started taking corners last season, it was an innovation that added a fresh dimension to his play. He can now add free-kick specialist to an ever-expanding resume after a quite incredible intervention, not once, but twice.

Rice had never scored from a direct free-kick in his career and then, out of nowhere, he did so twice in 12 minutes. And neither was a fluke. Both were curled with such astonishing precision that Courtois -- who had up until then looked almost unbeatable -- was left grasping at thin air.

Set-piece coach Nicolas Jover -- who already has a mural in London for his impact on the team -- was seen on replays appearing to tell Rice to try curling his first effort around the wall. Whatever the instruction, it required a technique and placement of the highest order and Rice delivered just that.

Rice's move to Arsenal from West Ham in 2023 cost 105m, and in these parts the fans sing "we got him half price." On occasions like this, it is hard to disagree. -- Olley

Courtois the one bright spot for Real Madrid

Real Madrid conceded three goals tonight, but none of them were goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois' fault. In fact, without the return to the team of Madrid's -- and perhaps Europe's -- No. 1 goalkeeper, how much worse could this have been?

Madrid took their time bringing Courtois back from injury, to make sure he was fit and available for this game at the Emirates. With back-up goalkeeper Andriy Lunin also unavailable, that even meant youngster Fran González making his debut in LaLiga at the weekend. But Madrid didn't mind that. The Arsenal game was the only priority. And tonight, we saw why.

Real Madrid with Courtois in goal are a different proposition, especially in the Champions League. The Belgian has delivered so many masterclasses in this competition -- remember those nine saves against Liverpool in 2022 -- and tonight was another reminder that his value can't be overstated.

His double save from Rice and Gabriel Martinelli might have been the first half's defining moment. When, in the second half, the goals came, Courtois was blameless. Maybe he could have positioned the Madrid wall a little better for Rice's first. But still, the curl the midfielder got on the ball made it near unsaveable.

Then, there were two more saves, from Martinelli and Merino, before Rice's second. Again, Courtois couldn't get near it. No goalkeeper could. If Madrid are still in this tie at all -- and that's debatable, given this performance -- it's because of Courtois. -- Kirkland

Arsenal's makeshift backline holds firm

Gabriel Magalhães's season-ending hamstring injury broke up his stoic centre-back partnership with William Saliba, and there were justified concerns over whether Jakob Kiwior would prove an able deputy. A mistake inside the opening 40 seconds against Real Madrid multiplied those concerns as his miskick enabled Mbappe to register the game's first shot on target.

Indeed, there were several nervous moments but Kiwior grew in confidence as the game wore on, and Arsenal got the balance right in protecting him. For example, it was noticeable how infrequently right-back Jurriën Timber went forward. That caution was understandable given his responsibility in guarding against Vinicius Junior's pace on the counter-attack but it did also rob Arsenal of the Martin Odegaard-Saka-Timber overload on the right-hand side which the Gunners so often use to break opponents down.

However, Saka gave David Alaba a torrid time all on his own, winning the free-kick which led to Rice's 58th-minute opener. Ultimately, Arteta could have tried to rush back Ben White -- only recently returned from injury -- but he trusted Kiwior to do the job and that call was vindicated. -- Olley

Real Madrid need another big Bernabéu comeback

Real Madrid have been here before. The last decade is littered with dramatic, second leg comebacks at the Santiago Bernabéu, building on the club's long history -- sometimes overplayed -- of European drama.

In 2016, they lost 2-0 at Wolfsburg in the Champions League quarterfinals. They won the second leg 3-0 at the Bernabéu. In the 2022 knockout stage, on their most famous run yet, they lost 1-0 at Paris Saint-Germain, only to win the second leg 3-1. They later lost 4-3 at Manchester City, and went on to go through 6-5 on aggregate.

But none of those first-leg defeats felt quite like this. Overturning a 3-0 deficit is another order of magnitude entirely. And this was no freak result: Madrid, barring the Man City playoff, have not been playing well all season.

In big games they have struggled, humbled twice by Barcelona in El Clásico, and again tonight. Can they do it? At the Bernabéu, you'd never rule anything out. An early Madrid goal in the second leg could rattle an Arsenal who are inexperienced at this level, and with the crowd behind Madrid, and so much star power in the forward line, you never know.

But there is now no margin for error. "At the Bernabéu, anything can happen," Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said last week after a 4-4 draw with Real Sociedad put Madrid into the cup final. If Madrid are to reach the Champions League semis, that statement will be tested to the limit. -- Kirkland