Australia have completed their warm-up matches ahead of their World Cup opener against Afghanistan on June 1, but how close are they to knowing their best XI? Here are three key questions that remain to be answered.
Khawaja v Marsh
Barring injury, Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh cannot fit in the same XI now that David Warner and Steven Smith are back, so one will be carrying the drinks. Each have strong cases to make the cut, although if the most recent success carries weight then that favours Khawaja, who has scored 769 runs in 13 ODIs this year (more than any other player). He was shuffled around in the warm-up matches - batting in an unaccustomed No. 5 against West Indies then opening against Sri Lanka and making 89 - and has shaken off two injury scares (a blow on the head and the knee) during the preparation. The other debate with Khawaja, if he plays, is where he bats - either opening where he has forged a strong alliance with Aaron Finch or at No. 3 to allow Warner to return at the top. Marsh, meanwhile, could rightly feel hard-done by if he misses out having carried Australia's batting during their one-day struggles with four centuries in eight innings against England, South Africa and India.
One spinner or two
The warm-up matches allowed teams to use more than eleven players so there was a chance for Adam Zampa and Nathan Lyon to get a good amount of work. During the camp in Brisbane, Finch said that Zampa was the No. 1 spinner given he provides an attacking option, but the ball has also been coming out nicely for Lyon since arriving in England. However, it's tough for Australia to balance their side with three frontline quicks and play both frontline spinners - the only way would be to leave out a batsman, play Alex Carey at No. 6 and a collection of bowling allrounders. Glenn Maxwell's bowling is shaping as an important part of the gameplan - good for a full quota if things go well - and he has previously spoken about the value of his stint with Lancashire earlier in the season. It was also interesting to see Smith given a twirl against West Indies and Sri Lanka, clearly Finch is trying to have as many options as he can. And could the captain be one himself? Remember that ODI against Pakistan in March when he took 1 for 41 off his 10 overs?
Who supports Starc and Cummins?
The big two are locked in, but in the absence of Josh Hazlewood and Jhye Richardson there remains a jostling for who the third quick will be between Nathan Coulter-Nile, Kane Richardson and Jason Behrendorff. They all bring something a little different; Coulter-Nile offers more batting, Richardson is known for his skills at the death and Behrendorff can be a threat if the new ball moves. Richardson was given both official warm-up matches although he was expensive against the Sri Lankans, Coulter-Nile took a pasting from Jos Buttler before claiming his wicket and Behrendorff collected 2 for 43 in his outing against England. It is likely that all will be needed at some stage of the tournament but it remains tricky to say who is the frontrunner.
BOSTON -- Boston Bruins veterans know that the Stanley Cup Final will be a physical series, and perhaps nobody set the tone better in Game 1 than 5-foot-9 defenseman Torey Krug.
After tangling with St. Louis Blues forward David Perron by his own net in the third period, Krug lost his helmet and -- in a highlight of the Bruins' 4-2 win over the Blues on Monday night -- skated the length of the ice with his hair flowing. Krug then delivered a huge hit on Blues rookie Robert Thomas. The defenseman soared in the air on his way down, momentarily evoking the iconic image of Bruins legend Bobby Orr, though in a much different context.
"Well, he got a haircut a couple days ago," teammate David Pastrnak said. "So he was looking pretty good."
After the game, Krug said Perron "ripped [the helmet] off my head."
The 28-year-old said he did not hit his head against the ice when he came down from the Thomas hit.
"No, all good," Krug said with a smile.
"Obviously, first and foremost, you want to take care of your head and make sure that you don't put yourself in a vulnerable position," Krug said. "I'm sure my coach and my GM were hoping that I would just get off the ice at that point. But that's hockey. That's all I can really say about that."
Krug later said his wife was probably concerned, which is not ideal considering she is pregnant.
The Bruins looked a bit rusty after a 10-day layoff between games and fell behind 2-0. But by the time of Krug's hit, the Bruins were buzzing thanks to an imposing second period in which they dominated possession and had 29 scoring chances compared to St. Louis' seven.
The Krug hit, however, seemed to put the Bruins in cruise control and rallied the bench. Asked what Krug's hit showed him, Bruins rookie Connor Clifton said: "His courage, and you don't want to mess with that guy. Don't make that guy mad."
Krug, who played collegiately at Michigan State but went undrafted, said he feels like he has been targeted his entire career because of his size. Since Krug debuted in 2011, the NHL has begun favoring speed and skill -- meaning height isn't as important, and there are now more players of Krug's stature.
It wasn't always that way.
"Every game in the NHL, since I've been in the league, [players have tried to get under my skin]," Krug said. "I'm a 5-foot-9 defenseman, I'd probably do the same thing if I was on the opposing teams. I'd probably try to run me straight through the boards. It's no secret a strength of mine is breaking out of the box. Their strength is beating on the forecheck. So they're going to be coming, I know that. They've been coming all playoffs. I welcome the challenge."
Krug and Perron tussled in wrestling-style moves for several seconds in front of Boston's net as an official looked on. Perron explained the scuffle from his point of view.
"I saw the puck going to the point," the Blues forward said. "I was just trying to get body position. You see some shoving. I'm just trying to make as much room for myself but also trying to generate some momentum for my club. Maybe he hit you one time too many and goes to the box. Knowing what the penalties are at, it was close to happening."
After being the most disciplined team through the first three rounds, the Blues took five penalties in Game 1. Game 2 is Wednesday in Boston.
BOSTON -- For 21 minutes of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, the St. Louis Blues looked like the composed, confident team that won the Western Conference. They took a 2-0 lead by forcing turnovers with their punishing forechecks, and rookie goalie Jordan Binnington turned every Boston Bruins chance aside.
But from the moment Bruins defenseman Connor Clifton scored at 2:16 of the second period through Boston's celebration of its 4-2 victory, the Blues weren't the Blues. They were sloppy. They were undisciplined. And, in a rarity over their past several postseason games, they were overmatched.
"They're a good team, and they're going to force us into bad situations and things like that. But we need more than we gave tonight," said Blues coach Craig Berube.
The Bruins had a 33-15 advantage in shot attempts at 5-on-5 through the final two periods. They attacked the Blues' zone in waves. They prevented the Blues from generating anything close to established offensive zone time after Vladimir Tarasenko's goal a minute into the second period, giving Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask an easy night.
"What did we have? Fifteen, 16 shots? That's not enough," said Blues center Brayden Schenn, low-balling the total of 20 shots for St. Louis. "He's a world-class goaltender. We've got to not only shoot more pucks, we didn't get enough traffic around him. Tips, screens, we didn't make it very hard on him tonight."
Part of that struggle was not getting the puck deep enough to generate chances.
"They're a forecheck team. That's how they establish territory," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. "I think we just know how to check. I think we've done it to Carolina, Toronto, Columbus. We know how to play winning hockey when we need to and limit the other team's chances."
But the great undoing for the Blues in Game 1 was their frequent trips to the penalty box: five of them for a total of 9:37 of penalty kill time. They entered the game talking about discipline in light of the Bruins' stellar power play, which clicked at a 34 percent success rate through three rounds, the best since the 1980-81 New York Islanders. They ended up playing with fire and then getting burned by an unassisted power-play goal by Charlie McAvoy in the second period to completely erase their lead.
It wasn't just that the Bruins converted, it's that killing those penalties left the Blues' attack disjointed.
"We went to the box too much. We lost our composure a little bit," said forward David Perron. "When you get into penalty trouble, a lot of guys sit on the bench, and it's tough to get going. That's what happened a little bit."
Meanwhile, the Bruins were the more disciplined team, with just two penalties called on them.
"We stayed out of the box. I think that helps limit the chance attempts. They're spending energy killing penalties, so that takes away some of their offense," said Cassidy.
The silver lining for the Blues is they still have a chance for a split in Wednesday's Game 2, and they've shown a propensity for bouncing back from these kinds of efforts; Binnington, in particular, has led those efforts.
"It's not always going to be perfect," said Binnington, who is 5-2 after losses in the playoffs. "It's Game 1. It's a seven-game series. We're going to regroup and come back at 'em."
After an offseason of trades, free-agent signings and draft picks, each team has plenty of storylines. But let's face it: There are stories, and then there are stories.
We're addressing the latter, as we've enlisted our NFL Nation writers to pick out the top story for each team in 2019. Can the Cleveland Browns' "dream team" reverse a history full of nightmares? Can the quarterbacks from the Class of 2004 adjust to their late-career realities? There are only 101 days until the start of the season, so dive in and familiarize yourself with what's going on throughout the league.
Can quarterback Josh Allen take the next step in his development?
Last season, as a rookie, Allen showed flashes of becoming the long-term answer the franchise has been waiting for since Jim Kelly retired after the 1996 season. Though Allen's talent is evident, he'll need to improve his accuracy and consistency, and help bring the best out of a supporting cast that lacks star power. -- Mike Rodak
The Dolphins are searching for the franchise quarterback to lead their rebuild after seven seasons of mediocrity under Ryan Tannehill. They weren't in love with the options in the draft, but Dolphins general manager Chris Grier pulled off a great deal getting Rosen at a discount value. The 2019 season will be like a tryout for Rosen, who will have to beat out Ryan Fitzpatrick and convince the Dolphins that they don't need to pick a QB in next year's draft. Miami has spent the past 20 years looking for the next Dan Marino, and Rosen is as talented as any option they've brought in to fill the QB role. -- Cameron Wolfe
Can the Patriots become the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champions since they pulled the trick in 2004?
Tom Brady turns 42 in August, Bill Belichick shows no signs of slowing down at 67, and the Patriots are still viewed as a perennial contender. But there's no Gronk, there's significant turnover on the coaching staff, and history isn't on the team's side, as it's proved to be especially difficult to win back-to-back titles. That mix adds a layer of intrigue as the Brady-Belichick pairing enters its 20th season together. -- Mike Reiss
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Wilbon: 'Why would I believe anything' Gase has to say?
Michael Wilbon doesn't believe anything from Adam Gase and will start respecting what he says when the Jets win.
Gase wasn't a popular hire among fans and was later portrayed as the bad guy in a power struggle that resulted in GM Mike Maccagnan's ousting. Gase also might have to repair his relationship with running back Le'Veon Bell, whom Gase reportedly didn't want to sign. His challenge: Fix the dysfunction, turn Sam Darnold into an elite QB and make the Jets a contender. So much for a honeymoon. -- Rich Cimini
He led the Ravens to a 6-1 record and their first AFC North title in six years, but Jackson needs to make strides in his second season -- especially as a passer -- for Baltimore to return to the postseason. The Ravens have done a lot of work this offseason to help Jackson, giving him a new offensive coordinator (Greg Roman), drafting two wide receivers in the first three rounds (Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin) and signing a proven runner and leader (Mark Ingram II). How much Jackson progresses is the key to the Ravens' season. -- Jamison Hensley
Did the Bengals make the right choice in hiring Zac Taylor?
A lot has been made about Taylor's age (35) and relative lack of experience after he was hired away from the Rams (he was the quarterbacks coach in L.A.). It's clear Taylor has a vision in mind, which included the controversial hire of offensive line coach Jim Turner, who was involved in the Dolphins' bullying scandal. But it remains to be seen if that vision will lead to success. The Bengals have a new head coach for the first time since Marvin Lewis was hired in 2003, so this certainly will be a year of scrutiny. -- Katherine Terrell
Can the new Dream Team exorcise its playoff demon?
The Browns' offseason acquisitions are reminiscent of those made by the 2011 Eagles, and the buzz is palpable inside the team facility. The Browns haven't experienced a playoff game since 2002 and believe it's time. Linebacker and tight end might be the only perceived weaknesses on the roster -- on paper. The pieces have to jell, and Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr. have yet to connect on a practice pass. It's on Mayfield to make sure the team responds to adversity if it hits early in the season. -- Jeremy Fowler
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Spears: 'Roethlisberger is a liar'
Marcus Spears calls out Ben Roethlisberger for lying about his relationship with Antonio Brown.
Can Big Ben produce big things for the Steelers as the last Killer B?
The franchise is all-in on Ben Roethlisberger to lead it to one more Super Bowl, and he must do so without 3,500 combined yards of yearly production from Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. Roethlisberger is doing his part, calling his leadership role in 2019 a "refocus" effort to better understand his teammates on and off the field. The Steelers will need one of his best years, but not just statistically -- he'll be charged with getting the offense in the right place and maximizing the run game with pre-snap decision-making. -- Jeremy Fowler
Can Deshaun Watson take the next step to being an elite quarterback?
On paper, the Texans should have one of the best offenses in the NFL, led by Watson, All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins and receiver Will Fuller. But though the offense has shown promise and glimpses of how good it can be in Watson's first two seasons, the Texans could be one of the best teams in the AFC if he becomes more consistent. -- Sarah Barshop
That's coach Frank Reich's goal. Huh? With Andrew Luck as their starting quarterback? It's actually possible when you consider that the Colts return all five starters from one of the league's best offensive lines, the passing game will force defenses to be honest, and there are a number of running backs who present different challenges for the defense. The Rams (third in rushing in 2018), Patriots (fifth) and Saints (sixth) all have very talented passing quarterbacks, so the Colts could achieve that type of success this season. -- Mike Wells
The signing of QB Nick Foles to fix an anemic offense
The Jaguars have one of the NFL's top defenses, but that wasn't enough to overcome the offense's terrible play last season. The defense had no margin for error, and giving up more than 10 points meant the team had little chance of winning. The Jaguars believe that adding Foles changes that. His consistency and accuracy -- the two major issues with former starter Blake Bortles -- means the offense should be able to produce points again, especially if it can run the ball the way it did in 2017. -- Mike DiRocco
Can Marcus Mariota establish himself as the cornerstone of the Titans' offense?
Mariota is surrounded by perhaps the best supporting cast he's had. The Titans bolstered the offensive line, added playmaking wide receivers, and tight end Delanie Walker is returning from injury. If Mariota doesn't prove he can stay healthy and be productive, the Titans might find themselves moving on to a different option under center. -- Turron Davenport
Can the Broncos' offense be the best it's been since Peyton Manning retired?
This question breaks off into some smaller ones. Does quarterback Joe Flacco have plenty left in the tank? Can they protect him? Can they fit the plan to the personnel? Rich Scangarello is the third offensive coordinator in the past three seasons and will try to find a rhythm that's been mostly absent since Manning was the QB. Since winning Super Bowl 50, Denver has had a mishmash of inconsistent line play, hesitant quarterbacks and conservative philosophy. That has to change, or the team will miss the playoffs for a fourth straight season. -- Jeff Legwold
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How will new-look Chiefs defense fare this season?
Louis Riddick speaks on the Chiefs' transition to new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and the key addition of Tyrann Mathieu.
The Chiefs overhauled their defense by changing the coaching staff, installing a 4-3 base system and acquiring as many as seven new starters, including safety Tyrann Mathieu and defensive end Frank Clark. Will this be enough to get the Chiefs to their first Super Bowl in 50 years? -- Adam Teicher
Can the Philip Rivers-led Chargers reach the Super Bowl?
The Bolts finished 12-4 last season and fell two games short of the big game. After adding defensive tackle Jerry Tillery and safety Nasir Adderley through the draft and linebacker Thomas Davis in free agency, the Chargers believe this year's team has the pieces to compete for a Super Bowl crown. The most durable quarterback in the league, Rivers has yet to reach the Super Bowl and still seeks that signature moment to cement his status as a future Hall of Famer. -- Eric D. Williams
Sure, the final season (we think) in Oakland is an overarching theme, as is Carr's perceived vulnerable status as franchise QB, with many analysts thinking the Raiders were ready to move on this offseason. But the polarizing Brown, and how he connects with Carr, will be the main on-field issue. Nothing but positive reviews have surfaced thus far, and the two famously hit it off at the Pro Bowl a few years back. But what happens if the Raiders get off to a slow start and Brown is not getting targeted as often as he'd like? From Oakland's perspective, it's better to wonder how lethal they'll be if everybody's happy. Stay tuned. -- Paul Gutierrez
Only the Lions and Redskins have longer NFC Championship Game droughts than Dallas, which hasn't been to the game since its Super Bowl-winning season of 1995. The Cowboys believe their roster is the deepest it has been in a decade. They rebounded from a 3-5 start to make the playoffs last season and carry that confidence with them. History suggests things will be different this season. The Cowboys haven't made the postseason in back-to-back years since 2006-2007, and there hasn't been a repeat NFC East champ since the 2003-2004 Eagles. If the Cowboys don't progress, then coach Jason Garrett, who is in his contract year, likely will have to find another job in 2020. -- Todd Archer
The Giants invested their future in the quarterback from Duke. The Eli Manning era is about to end. It's inevitable at this point. But when? Midseason? Late in the year? Maybe next offseason or beyond? And, perhaps most important, will Jones be any good? -- Jordan Raanan
The Eagles let Nick Foles walk this offseason and are committed to Wentz for the long term. He has ditched his knee brace and looks as healthy as we've seen him since 2017. If he can shake the injury bug and return to MVP-caliber form, Philly has a real chance of being the best team in the NFL. -- Tim McManus
Can Jay Gruden save his job while starting a rookie quarterback?
The Redskins drafted quarterback Dwayne Haskins at No. 15 overall, and it's just a matter of when, not if, he starts. Of course, if Case Keenum starts strong and the Redskins are winning, they won't need Haskins, but it's hard to imagine him not playing. The pre-draft view was that Haskins had terrific upside but would require patience. So the question becomes: Will owner Dan Snyder have patience with a coach trying to develop a rookie quarterback? Washington has missed three straight postseasons, and doing so again would be bad for Jay Gruden's job security. It would be interesting to see what happens if Haskins develops but the Redskins miss the playoffs. -- John Keim
The Bears appear loaded for a repeat run in the NFC North, but questions about Trubisky persist. The 24-year-old quarterback had a good season in 2018 (95.4 passer rating) but needs to take another step for Chicago to move from playoff qualifier to Super Bowl contender. The Bears assembled a formidable cast of characters around Trubisky, who enters Year 2 in head coach Matt Nagy's innovative offensive scheme. -- Jeff Dickerson
That was a major question last season, and for Detroit to have success, Patricia will need the players to believe in his approach, which is a marked change from that of the past. Almost every move the Lions made this offseason, from free agents signed to players drafted, was done with building the team in his and Bob Quinn's image. Many of those players understand what Patricia is trying to do because of their history in New England. Whether it works likely will define if the 2019 season will lead the Lions in a positive direction -- or doom Patricia to the fate that has come to previous Lions coaches. -- Michael Rothstein
Will Aaron Rodgers and Matt LaFleur clash or thrive?
It wasn't hard to see that something was off with Rodgers last season -- and it wasn't just his banged-up left knee/leg from the season opener. Rodgers no longer seemed to believe in what the Packers were doing, and it cost Mike McCarthy his job after 12-plus seasons as head coach. Enter LaFleur, a 39-year-old first-time head coach with his own ideas about how to run an NFL offense. As Packers president Mark Murphy told ESPN early in the offseason, Rodgers "has to embrace it." How that works out will determine what kind of season the Packers have in 2019. -- Rob Demovsky
Can Kirk Cousins take himself and the team to new heights in Year 2?
The Vikings have done everything imaginable to support their quarterback this offseason, putting together a staff to create a scheme best suited to his strengths, placing an emphasis on fixing the O-line and finding new weapons in the draft. Now it's Cousins' responsibility to improve in areas where he struggled in 2018 and lead this team back to the playoffs. What we'll learn in Cousins' second year in Minnesota is if he can push his ceiling higher. How this season goes will help determine how much longer he'll be the quarterback of the Vikings, given that his deal goes through 2020. -- Courtney Cronin
Can the Falcons remain healthy and become contenders again?
Linebacker De'Vondre Campbell tweeted, "I guess people seem to have forgotten how good we are when we're healthy lol. I can't wait till the season starts." The injury bug hit the Falcons hard last season, with Devonta Freeman, Keanu Neal, Ricardo Allen, Andy Levitre and Brandon Fusco lost to season-ending injuries and star middle linebacker Deion Jones missing significant time. Freeman's return should positively impact an already-potent offense now coordinated by Dirk Koetter, while coach Dan Quinn will be thankful to have Neal and Allen back as he takes over the defensive playcalling. -- Vaughn McClure
Will he be ready, as he's indicated he will be, for the start of the season after a second shoulder surgery in three offseasons? Can he return to the form he was at a year ago in leading a 6-2 start and continue to evolve as an efficient quarterback? Or will the 2015 MVP have another setback and force the Panthers to turn to third-round draft pick Will Grier or one of their other young quarterbacks? The future of coach Ron Rivera and general manager Marty Hurney could depend on these answers after two losing seasons in the past three years. -- David Newton
We know the Saints are talented enough to reach a Super Bowl with the ageless Drew Brees and a deep cast of young stars around him. But they're going to have to show a ton of resilience to climb all the way back up that mountain after getting knocked out of the playoffs by the "No-call" and the "Minneapolis Miracle" the past two years. They bounced back in impressive fashion last season by earning the NFC's No. 1 seed, but they also were fortunate with injuries. Doing that again won't be easy. -- Mike Triplett
Can 'Quarterback Whisperer' Bruce Arians work his magic with Jameis Winston?
Can Arians turn around a franchise that has the second-longest playoff drought in the league (11 seasons) while galvanizing a fan base that has seen the Bucs compile the NFL's third-worst record and seven double-digit loss seasons the past decade? "That 'it' factor that you really can't explain ... anybody that's around Bruce knows that Bruce has 'it,'" general manager Jason Licht said the day Arians' hiring became official. "I've never been around a guy that has such magnetism about him that players and coaches just instantly want to follow him when he comes." -- Jenna Laine
The focus of every offensive play of every Cardinals game will be on Murray, the first overall pick out of Oklahoma. How he's throwing? Is he running? Did he get hit? There'll be a trillion questions about his progress, development, accuracy, health -- everything. There might not be a brighter spotlight and a more intense magnifying glass on a player this season than those on Murray. He's a football enigma. A subplot will be how Kliff Kingsbury's offense will adapt to the NFL, but, again, that'll come back to Murray. Everything about the Cardinals this season will be Murray, Murray, Murray. -- Josh Weinfuss
The Rams must regroup as they go into the 2019 season and put their disappointing 13-3 Super Bowl loss to the Patriots behind them. Their roster had some turnover at key positions, including two spots on the offensive line, but quarterback Jared Goff is more comfortable going into Year 3 of coach Sean McVay's scheme. They also return two-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald and star running back Todd Gurley -- although the extent of Gurley's knee issues remains unknown. -- Lindsey Thiry
Is Jimmy Garoppolo the franchise quarterback the Niners believe he is?
Coming off a torn ACL that limited him to three games in 2018, Garoppolo is still something of an unknown commodity with just 10 NFL starts. The 49ers are paying Garoppolo like the franchise centerpiece but still don't know if he's the guy who can elevate the team back to playoff contention -- and now he's bouncing back from a serious knee injury. The Niners have plenty of question marks on the roster, but how Garoppolo fares in his first full season as a starter is of paramount importance -- now and for the future. -- Nick Wagoner
The Seahawks must be better than the sum of their parts again
It's hard to make a credible argument that they're better on paper this offseason after losing Earl Thomas, Frank Clark and Doug Baldwin. Then again, the same thing seemed true last year, when they parted ways with a handful of the best players in franchise history but improved from 9-7 to 10-6 and earned a wild-card berth. A big reason for that was quarterback Russell Wilson turning in the most efficient -- and perhaps the best -- season of his career. With a defense that has lost serious firepower, the Seahawks might need to put more on Wilson in 2019 to stay in games. -- Brady Henderson
Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert is "awake, responsive and resting comfortably" after suffering a stroke Sunday, according to a Jay Farner, the CEO of Quicken Loans, the company Gilbert founded and chairs.
Farner said in a statement that Gilbert, 57, felt ill on Sunday and a friend took him to a Detroit-area hospital, where he suffered the stroke. Farner said Gilbert was taken in for a catheter-based procedure and was moved to recovery in the ICU.
Monday's update to Gilbert's condition came after a statement Sunday said he had been hospitalized because of "stroke-like symptoms."
"Dan is awake, responsive and resting comfortably. Dan and his family are immensely grateful to the doctors and nurses whose early intervention is already paying dividends toward his recovery," Farner said. "We will update the public as additional details become known."
Gilbert has owned the Cavaliers since March 2005. Under his stewardship, Cleveland has made five NBA Finals and won the title in 2016.
The $300 million infielder was greeted with loud boos and chants of "Over-rated!" on Monday in his first visit to New York since free agency. Machado went 1 for 4 with a too-little, too-late leadoff double in the ninth inning during the Yankees' 5-2 victory over the San Diego Padres, the eighth win in nine games for the AL East leaders.
"You're in New York. I get booed everywhere I go," Machado said. "Great players get booed."
Machado struck out, popped out and hit into a double-play grounder in his first three at-bats, pleasing the Bleacher Creatures. He wouldn't judge whether the salutation was louder than elsewhere.
"How can you compare? A boo's a boo," he said during a sometimes terse 3 1/2-minute postgame media session.
A four-time All-Star with division rival Baltimore before he was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers last summer, Machado was interested in playing for the Bronx Bombers after becoming a free agent last fall and dined with Yankees officials in December in hopes of becoming their third baseman. New York did not bite, and Machado signed a $300 million, 10-year contract with the Padres in late February.
New York's third basemen have 30 RBI this year, four more than Machado. Yankees manager Aaron Boone thought the reception was predictable.
"More a tribute to what a good player Manny is," he said.
San Diego became the last opposing team to play at new Yankee Stadium, which opened in 2009, and quickly gained firsthand knowledge of its homer-friendly dimensions
Matt Strahm (2-4) struck out a career-high 10 in six innings but wasted a 2-0 lead in the Yankees' three-run second.
Frazier tied it with his 10th homer, a no-doubt drive over the left-field scoreboard. Gio Urshela walked and Gardner hit a 352-foot fly over the right field short porch, leading Strahm to slam his glove against a thigh in anger. Sanchez added his 16th homer off Craig Stammen in a two-run eighth, an opposite-field shot measured at 353 foot over the short porch.
"I think everybody kind of knows Yankee Stadium, how short right field is," Machado said. "You definitely saw that today with Gary. That was what, 300 feet?"
Short on starting pitching with Luis Severino, James Paxton and CC Sabathia on the injured list, New York used Chad Green as an opener for the third time, and he struck out the side in a perfect first as Machado swung under a slider.
"That's overpowering, dominating Greeny when he's at his best," Boone said. "He set the tone."
David Hale (1-0) allowed RBI doubles by Josh Naylor and Austin Hedges in the second, then started pitching more quickly and retired his last 10 batters for his first win since September 2015 with Colorado.
"It's borderline textbook, six, seven, eight, nine, what they're going to," Padres manager Andy Green said.
San Diego lost its second straight following a five-game winning streak. At 27 the oldest starter in a young rotation, Strahm entered with eight straight outings allowing two runs or fewer. He gave up four hits and three walks.
"I didn't have my changeup but I made the adjustment and finished strong," Strahm said.
SLUGGING
Frazier has four homers and 10 RBI in seven games after getting one RBI in his first 10 games following a sprained ankle. He made a mechanical adjustment after seeing a fan video posted on Instagram by koid24 on Instagram of an at-bat against Boston's Heath Hembree on April 17, even though Frazier took a called third strike.
"Just the swivel of my hand, If you see the circular movement that I'm repeating in the box. I'm trying to have that as done as early as I can before the pitcher comes at me. It helps my pitch recognition somehow," he said. "Kind of just like a `dig-me' video that I saw."
STREAKING
New York is trying to win nine straight series for the first time since 1998. San Diego has lost six straight games in the Bronx dating to 2004.
SEATS
A crowd of 46,254 was just New York's second home sellout.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: INF Fernando Tatis Jr. (strained left hamstring) is hitting at extended spring training, and San Diego will decide in the next few days whether he needs a minor league rehab assignment. ... RF Franmil Reyes returned after missing two games with an injured shoulder sustained on a checked swing Friday. He allowed Cameron Maybin's eighth-inning single to skip off his glove for an error as Gleyber Torres scored.
Yankees: After going 2 for 7 with a home run in two games for Class A Tampa, SS Didi Gregorius is set to move to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday as he nears a return from Tommy John surgery. ... Paxton (left knee inflammation) was cleared to pitch and could start Wednesday or Thursday in his first appearance since May 3. ... Sabathia (fluid drained from right knee) could start Sunday's series finale against Boston. ... Severino (right rotator cuff inflammation, strained lat muscle) planned to throw off flat ground Tuesday for the first time since April 6. ... RHP Dellin Betances (right shoulder impingement) threw off a mound for the first time since March 17, a 20-fastball bullpen session.
UP NEXT
RHP Masahiro Tanaka (3-3) has allowed one run or none in three straight starts going into Tuesday's outing for the Yankees against San Diego LHP Eric Lauer (3-4).
LOS ANGELES -- Dave Roberts was asked if he had ever experienced anything resembling the day-to-day, all-encompassing dominance that Cody Bellinger has exhibited through these first couple of months and started searching. He's in his fourth season as the Los Angeles Dodgers' manager and his ninth overall as a coach, following a well-traveled, 10-year career as a player.
But Roberts couldn't find any comps from personal experience. He instead looked to the team that plays 30 miles down the road and summoned Mike Trout, and all that represents.
"You have to be careful when you're talking about Mike Trout, because that's longevity too," Roberts said after the Dodgers' Bellinger-inspired 9-5 victory over the New York Mets on Memorial Day. "But for a two-month span, that's kind of what you're talking about."
Bellinger recorded two outfield assists and homered in what became the Dodgers' fourth consecutive victory, coming about as close as one can in this sport to singlehandedly affecting the outcome of a game.
When the Mets were pounding Clayton Kershaw in the first inning, he thwarted a rally by throwing Michael Conforto out at home plate. And when the Mets were threatening late -- loading the bases with out in the eighth, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate and forcing Kenley Jansen to attempt his first five-out save of the season -- Bellinger gunned Carlos Gomez down at third base with an on-line bullet that never hit the ground.
"If the throw isn't perfect and the ball hits me, the game's going to be 8-7 with a runner on second," Gomez said. "For me, if I'm on second again, I go to third -- a hundred times."
Bellinger's solo home run in the third -- a 440-foot, 111.6-mph drive to right field -- gave him 19 for the season, second only to Christian Yelich's 21. His two outfield assists gave him seven, more than any other player in the National League. The Dodgers have played exactly one third of the season, and Bellinger has already produced a major league-best 4.3 FanGraphs wins above replacement, a total that only 31 position players reached through the entirety of 2018.
Then there's this, from the Elias Sports Bureau: Bellinger is the third player in major league history to accumulate 19 home runs and seven outfield assists through his first 52 games of a season, joining Babe Ruth (1932) and Chuck Klein (1930).
"Superlatives are becoming tough to come by," Roberts said of Bellinger, who easily leads the majors in batting average (.383) and OPS (1.229).
A Dodger Stadium crowd of 47,816 serenaded Bellinger with "MVP" chants when he came to bat in the bottom half of the eighth.
"It was cool," Bellinger said. "I stepped out for a second because it got in my head a little bit."
Bellinger, 23, always projected as a high-average hitter. He had an innate feel for the strike zone, an easy swing, and eventually, evaluators believed, the power would emerge. His athleticism was too obvious to ignore.
But few could have predicted that he would turn into an elite outfielder so quickly. Bellinger had barely played center field when the 2018 season began, but he moved there on a part-time basis to free up at-bats for Max Muncy and quickly became the team's best defensive option at the position. Muncy's excellence and A.J. Pollock's arrival in 2019 prompted Bellinger to take over as the everyday right fielder, a position he hardly knew.
But Bellinger expressed confidence early on that the experience gained from spring training would quickly make him comfortable. He became excited about the possibility of locking down his own position and was intrigued by the thought of playing in a spot where he could show off his underrated arm strength.
On Monday, in a seesaw game that was quickly starting to slip away, Bellinger did so emphatically.
The first came after Kershaw had allowed three of the first four batters to reach. Todd Frazier snuck a slow roller through the right side in the top of the first that Conforto tried to score on from second base. Bellinger charged it calmly, gathered himself, and threw to the left of Dodgers catcher Russell Martin, who did a nice job of applying the tag to record the second out. The Mets didn't score again that inning.
After the second, off a fly ball from J.D. Davis, Bellinger became incredulous -- eyes wide, mouth agape, arms stretched out as he looked towards center fielder Alex Verdugo and jogged to his dugout. The final out of the eighth, confirmed by replay, occurred a split-second before the Mets' sixth run could score and ultimately altered the course of an entire game.
"The mentality was just throw it as hard as I could," Bellinger said. "I didn't think I had a chance at home, so I just set my sights to third and just tried to throw it accurate."
Statcast metrics were unavailable on Monday, but Roberts estimated that Bellinger's throw traveled at least 300 feet through the air.
"I don't know if they give out Gold Gloves in May," Roberts said, "but it's hard to see it play out any other way."
After the win, which improved the Dodgers' record to 36-18, Kershaw thought of other Dodgers position players who have dominated in similar fashion. He brought up Manny Ramirez's scorching run down the stretch in 2008, Matt Kemp's near-MVP season in 2011 and some impressive showings by Andre Ethier along the way.
"But this is really special," Kershaw said. "And he's doing everything."
Serena Williams survived a scare as she fought back to beat Russian world number 83 Vitalia Diatchenko in the French Open first round.
American Williams, who has been battling injury, showed rustiness in a poor first set filled with loose shots.
But the 23-time Grand Slam champion found her rhythm to claim 12 of the final 13 games and win 2-6 6-1 6-0 at Roland Garros in Paris.
Williams, 37, faces Japan's Kurumi Nara or Slovenian Dalila Jakupovic next.
"There is always a lot of fear for a first-round match," Williams said.
"I made lots of mistakes in the first set and I just said 'good luck, Serena'.
"I was strong after that. Now I feel like I need to go and practise."
From screams of frustration to a milestone
The women's draw at Roland Garros had already lost Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber and former world number ones Caroline Wozniacki and Venus Williams to first-round defeats, while sixth seed Petra Kvitova pulled out injured.
It started to look like Williams' name would be added to the list of casualties.
Her season has been disrupted by a persistent knee injury and she was even pictured sat in a wheelchair - seemingly as a protective measure - on a trip to Disneyland Paris with her daughter Olympia last week.
The injury forced her to pull out of the Italian Open two weeks ago, meaning she had played only once on clay since last year's Roland Garros.
Since losing to Karolina Pliskova in the Australian Open quarter-finals in January, Williams has played in only three tournaments - Indian Wells, Miami and Rome - and has withdrawn from all of them.
So it was unsurprising to see the 10th seed make 14 unforced errors in the opening set against 28-year-old Diatchenko.
Loud screams of frustration at the start of the second set seemed to have a cathartic effect, with Williams finding her stride soon after.
The three-time French Open champion, who is aiming to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles, hit 20 winners in the final two sets as she increased the intensity against a rapidly wilting Diatchenko.
In the end it was a procession to an 800th victory in the main draw of a tournament as Williams became the first woman to reach the milestone.
The catsuit was banned - so what did she wear?
Williams was banned from wearing the black catsuit outfit she donned at last year's French Open, with the tournament introducing a stricter dress code.
She said the outfit made her feel like a "superhero" and that it helped with the issue of blood clots, which she said almost cost her her life giving birth.
She answered the 'what will she wear?' question when she arrived on Philippe Chatrier wearing a black and white striped cape emblazoned with the words 'mother, champion, queen, goddess'.
"It was just to remind everyone that they can be champions and are queens. So I love that about it," she said.
"It is a lot to carry, but so is being Serena Williams."
That was just for the warm-up, after which she revealed an abstract outfit in the same colours, which looked like floating shorts and a crop top but which also had a mesh panel around the torso.
Even then she was not finished with the outfit changes, later pulling on a - remarkably plain - long-sleeved top.
British number one Kyle Edmund's French Open first-round match with Frenchman Jeremy Chardy was suspended deep in the final set because of bad light.
The match was halted with the score at 7-6 (7-1) 5-7 6-4 4-6 5-5 after four hours of play at Roland Garros in Paris.
There were boos from the crowd when the decision was made to resume on Tuesday.
Edmund, 24, was a set and a break up before he was pegged back by the world number 41.
Edmund has reached the second round in each of his past four appearances at the French Open.
Compatriots Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans will play their first-round matches on Tuesday.
Earlier on Monday, British women's number one Johanna Konta beat German world number 147 Antonia Lottner 6-4 6-4 to reach the second round for the first time in her career.
JOLIET, Ill. – Terry McMillen sees his recent struggles at the past two NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series races as a minor roadblock for what he believes will be another productive season.
He also thinks his team is due for its first win of the season and nothing would make the fan-favorite driver happier than to see it come at the 22nd annual Route 66 NHRA Nationals, which takes place May 30-June 2 at state-of-the-art Route 66 Raceway.
The Chicago-area native always has this race circled on his calendar, hoping to put together his third career victory and first at Route 66 Raceway in his 10,000-horsepower AMALIE Motor Oil XTERMIGATOR dragster. After a strong start to open his season, a win would also put McMillen and his team back on a good track heading to a rigorous four-race stretch.
“I still believe we are a win waiting to happen,” McMillen said. “It would be nice to get it where I grew up. I’m not going to lie, getting a win anywhere would be awesome, but Chicago is special. It’s a great facility and I’ve always had great times there. I’m pretty confident going into Chicago, but you could have a 16-car field with everyone in the 3.70s real easily. I think we’re in good shape and I’m hoping we move up in points. While the quality of Top Fuel cars is awesome and you look how close everybody is, we have a car with a lot of potential and can win on raceday.”
Clay Millican (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event. It is the ninth of 24 events during the NHRA season and with the opening day of the race starting with an exciting Friday Night On Fire, McMillen knows he’ll have to be in top form immediately.
Friday’s nitro sessions start at 9 p.m., which gives the standouts in Top Fuel and Funny Car a chance to perform under the lights. That means a field filled with quick runs, but McMillen and his team, led by crew chief Rob Wendland, feel like they have things in order after failing to qualify in Atlanta and falling in the first round on Sunday in Richmond. But McMillen is confident his team made significant progress over the weekend, which should pay dividends in Chicago.
“We want to have success right away in Chicago and that means rolling the car off the trailer and going down the track on the first pass,” McMillen said. “That sets the tone for the entire weekend and when we do those things, we get stronger. One thing I’ve always said is the more opportunities you give Rob Wendland to go down the racetrack, he’s going to figure it out and get down the track. Moving forward, we know what we need to do. Going into Chicago, I feel real confident that all the right parts and pieces are in place, and it’s just a matter of getting that first run in.”
Up to Atlanta, McMillen had performed well, advancing to a final round and a semifinal in the first six races. He believes those type of performances are about to return, even as McMillen, who is ninth in Top Fuel points, will face off with the likes of Millican, defending world champion Steve Torrence, who has won three straight races, Antron Brown, Richie Crampton, Doug Kalitta, Brittany Force and Leah Pritchett. His team has shown impressive resolve through this two-race hiccup, giving McMillen all the indication he needs to see when it comes to turning things around.
“What’s really exceptional with our team is, when there’s adversity, they work twice as hard,” McMillen said. “They’re doing their due diligence. I don’t think we really did bad (in Virginia). We know the changes we’ll make going forward. We haven’t seen the track temperatures in this car we saw in Virginia, so it’s just a matter of keep doing what we’re doing and it will turn around. We’re picking away at each area and it’s just a matter of getting to know our car a little better.”
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