Diamondbacks host the Reds, aim to extend home win streak

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:44:28 GMT

Diamondbacks host the Reds, aim to extend home win streak Cincinnati Reds (67-62, third in the NL Central) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (67-61, second in the NL West)Phoenix; Friday, 9:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Reds: Hunter Greene (2-5, 4.72 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 104 strikeouts); Diamondbacks: Brandon Pfaadt (0-6, 6.13 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 55 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Diamondbacks -159, Reds +134; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Arizona Diamondbacks, on a five-game home winning streak, host the Cincinnati Reds.Arizona has gone 33-31 in home games and 67-61 overall. The Diamondbacks have the seventh-ranked team on-base percentage in the NL at .324.Cincinnati has gone 36-28 on the road and 67-62 overall. The Reds are eighth in the NL with 149 total home runs, averaging 1.2 per game.Friday’s game is the fifth time these teams match up this season. The Reds are ahead 3-1 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Christian Walker leads the Diamondbacks with 62 extra base hits (34 doubles and 28 home runs). Tommy Pham is 12-for-43 with...

Giants take on the Braves in first of 3-game series

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:44:28 GMT

Giants take on the Braves in first of 3-game series Atlanta Braves (82-44, first in the NL East) vs. San Francisco Giants (66-61, third in the NL West)San Francisco; Friday, 10:15 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Braves: Spencer Strider (14-4, 3.63 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 227 strikeouts); Giants: Logan Webb (9-9, 3.51 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 162 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -156, Giants +133; over/under is 7 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The San Francisco Giants host the Atlanta Braves on Friday to start a three-game series.San Francisco has gone 35-28 in home games and 66-61 overall. The Giants are 34-11 in games when they did not give up a home run.Atlanta is 82-44 overall and 38-22 on the road. Braves pitchers have a collective 3.82 ERA, which leads the NL.The teams square off Friday for the fourth time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Wilmer Flores has 19 doubles, 18 home runs and 46 RBI for the Giants. LaMonte Wade Jr is 5-for-35 with two home runs and three RBI over the last 10 games.Ronald Acuna Jr. has 30 doubles, two triples and 28 home runs...

Phillies begin 3-game series at home against the Cardinals

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:44:28 GMT

Phillies begin 3-game series at home against the Cardinals St. Louis Cardinals (56-72, fifth in the NL Central) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (69-58, second in the NL East)Philadelphia; Friday, 7:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Cardinals: Miles Mikolas (6-9, 4.55 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 107 strikeouts); Phillies: Cristopher Sanchez (1-3, 3.36 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 58 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Phillies -144, Cardinals +122; over/under is 9 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Phillies host the St. Louis Cardinals to begin a three-game series.Philadelphia has a 69-58 record overall and a 36-25 record at home. The Phillies have gone 43-11 in games when they scored at least five runs.St. Louis is 56-72 overall and 28-35 on the road. The Cardinals are 36-14 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.The matchup Friday is the first meeting this season between the two teams.TOP PERFORMERS: Bryson Stott has 12 home runs, 32 walks and 51 RBI while hitting .297 for the Phillies. Bryce Harper is 13-for-37 with two doubles, five home runs and n...

Cubs bring 1-0 series advantage over Pirates into game 2

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:44:28 GMT

Cubs bring 1-0 series advantage over Pirates into game 2 Chicago Cubs (67-60, second in the NL Central) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (57-71, fourth in the NL Central)Pittsburgh; Friday, 7:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Kyle Hendricks (5-6, 4.01 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 64 strikeouts); Pirates: Mitch Keller (10-8, 4.22 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 173 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Cubs -117, Pirates -102; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs lead 1-0 in a four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.Pittsburgh has a 31-34 record at home and a 57-71 record overall. The Pirates are 41-5 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.Chicago is 67-60 overall and 32-30 in road games. The Cubs are 32-18 in games when they did not allow a home run.The teams meet Friday for the eighth time this season. The Cubs are up 7-0 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Bryan Reynolds has a .264 batting average to lead the Pirates, and has 26 doubles, four triples and 18 home runs. Connor Joe is 12-for-32 with five RBI over the last 10 games.Nico...

Peabody police officer fatally shoots dog that attacked owner, her boyfriend

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:44:28 GMT

Peabody police officer fatally shoots dog that attacked owner, her boyfriend A Peabody police officer was forced to fatally shoot a dog that went on the attack Thursday night and left its owner and her boyfriend hospitalized.Officers responding to a reported active dog attack in the area of 22 Endicott St. learned a dog had escaped when it chased the family cat outside and when its owners tried to stop it, it started to attack them, according to police.The owner and her boyfriend climbed a car to stay away from the animal until police arrived.But when officers arrived, they climbed down, and that’s when the dog grabbed the woman by the head and refused to let go.After the dog was shot, the woman and her boyfriend were taken to Salem Hospital to be treated for their injuries.No additional information was immediately available.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Analysis: Shohei Ohtani has a UCL tear; Red Sox should go for him this offseason anyway

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:44:28 GMT

Analysis: Shohei Ohtani has a UCL tear; Red Sox should go for him this offseason anyway Every human body is a marvel, an intricate machine working tirelessly to keep us going.More often than not, we take for granted everything a healthy body enables us to do, until ability is taken away from us.Clearly, Shohei Ohtani doesn’t have the body of a mere mortal. Like Red Sox-era Babe Ruth and Yankees-era Babe Ruth rolled into one, Ohtani is the greatest, only true two-way player in Major League Baseball history. He’s broken the baseball mold, and the rest of us can only give thanks that we’re alive to bear witness.That’s also why it’s so stunning and heartbreaking when he gets hurt.It’s difficult to comprehend that the very body that’s made Ohtani an unparalleled talent can break down like anyone else’s, but even the greatest warriors aren’t invincible. Superman had Kryptonite. Achilles, a heel. For Ohtani, it’s an elbow.Late Wednesday night, Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian announced that Ohtani suffered a tear in his right elbow’s ulnar c...

Search underway for person reportedly swept into storm drain in Earl Bales Park

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:44:28 GMT

Search underway for person reportedly swept into storm drain in Earl Bales Park Emergency crews are looking for a person believed to have been swept into a storm drain in Earl Bales Park.Fire crews and paramedics were called to area near Sheppard Avenue West and Bathurst Street just before 1:30 a.m. on Friday.Toronto Fire Services say they responded to the scene for reports of someone who got swept into a river at the park.Paramedics say the two people were in storm drain tunnels. It is not yet clear how or why they got swept away.One person managed to get out on their own and was taken to hospital with minor injuries, but they were with a friend who also got swept away.Crews are still searching for the friend.The ages and genders of the two people are not known.Developing story. More to come.

Weekend need to know: Fan Expo, Yorkville Murals, Jays vs. Guardians

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:44:28 GMT

Weekend need to know: Fan Expo, Yorkville Murals, Jays vs. Guardians Expect to see a lot of cosplay in the downtown core as Fan Expo Canada returns to Metro Toronto Convention Centre.Other events are taking place this weekend including the annual Yorkville Murals festival, festivals celebrating Trinidad and Tobago as well as Filipino culture, and a market for Black-owned businesses.Plus the Blue Jays are up against the Guardians at Rogers Centre.There are no scheduled subway closures this weekend, but there is a late subway opening planned for Line 2. The TTC has also officially announced that service on Scarborough’s Line 3 will not resume following last month’s derailment.Road closures also continue in and around the city. Scroll below for more details.Here’s what to do this weekend:Top eventsFan Expo Canada All comic, horror, anime, and sci-fi fans are uniting this weekend at Metro Toronto Convention Centre for the annual Fan Expo Canada event.The convention kicked off on Thursday and runs until Sunday, and features a long lineup of special ...

UK: Russian mercenary chief’s likely death could destabilize his private army

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:44:28 GMT

UK: Russian mercenary chief’s likely death could destabilize his private army Britain’s defense ministry said Friday that the presumed death of Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash could destabilize the Wagner Group, whose brutal fighters were feared in Ukraine, Africa and Syria and conducted a brief but shocking mutiny in Russia.Prigozhin, who was listed among those on board, was eulogized Thursday by Russian President Vladimir Putin, even as suspicions grew that Putin was behind a Wednesday crash that many saw as an assassination.Russian authorities have not yet confirmed Prigozhin’s death. The British ministry wrote that “It is highly likely that he is indeed dead.” However, it noted that “he is known to exercise exceptional security measures.” “The demise of Prigozhin almost certainly would have a deeply destabilizing effect on the Wagner Group. His personal attributes of hyperactivity, exceptional audacity, a drive for results and extreme brutality permeated Wagner and are unlikely to be matched by any successor,” the ministr...

Norway to spend $6 million a year stock-piling grain, citing pandemic, war and climate change

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:44:28 GMT

Norway to spend $6 million a year stock-piling grain, citing pandemic, war and climate change COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Norway will spend 63 million kroner ($6 million) per year until the end of the decade stocking up on grain as the COVID-19 pandemic, a war in Europe and climate change have made it necessary, the government said Friday.Starting next year, Norway will start storing 15,000 tons of grain and do so yearly until 2028 or 2029, according to Norway’s minister for agriculture and food, Geir Pollestad, who said the aim is to always have a three-month worth of consumption in storage.Toward the end of the decade, 82,500 tons of grain should be in stock. Pollestad didn’t elaborate on the type of grain to be stored.Pollestad told the Norwegian news agency NTB that they must take into consideration “the unthinkable” happening. “In a situation with extreme prices on the world market, it will still be possible to buy grain, but if we have done our job, we will not be so dependent on the highest bidder at auction. We can help keep prices down.”Norwegian Finance ...