Paul Skenes might still be relatively new in the major leagues, but the Pittsburgh Pirates star isn't new to baseball and he won't be sweating a shaky start Tuesday night in which he gave up a career-worst five runs to the St. Louis Cardinals.

The 22-year-old has been pitching for a while. He knows that some days -- hopefully most of them -- he's going to have dominant stuff that bends pitches to his will and leaves bats flailing in pursuit.

PHOENIX -- Baltimore Orioles starter Zach Eflin will be placed on the injured list and shut down for at least a week with a low-grade lat strain, manager Brandon Hyde said after his club's 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night.

The decision comes a day after Eflin left his start, a win in the opening game of this series on Monday night. He received an MRI on Tuesday, and though the team was optimistic about the injury, before Tuesday's loss, the Orioles still decided to give the veteran some rest.

In fact, the right-hander woke up feeling good Tuesday, a day after leaving the series opener because of shoulder fatigue.

"Really encouraging news that he felt really good waking up this morning," Hyde said before the loss. "Didn't feel the soreness as bad, and those are positive signs there. ... We're keeping our fingers crossed."

Eflin gave up only one run and four hits over six innings but his velocity dipped in the sixth. The 30-year-old mentioned the fatigue to Hyde between innings, which was enough to shut him down for the night.

The Orioles defeated the Diamondbacks 5-1 that night, and Eflin threw 73 pitches. He is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA through three starts this season.

After the win Monday, Eflin said he was "pretty optimistic" the issue wouldn't be a long-term setback, adding that his exit, he thought, was "precautionary."

Baltimore already has lost key reliever Albert Suarez for a couple of months after the right-hander was moved to the 60-day injured list Monday because of a shoulder injury.

Eflin was 5-2 with a 2.60 ERA over nine starts for the Orioles last season after being acquired at the trade deadline in a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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.