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Diamondbacks play the Cubs leading series 1-0

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:44:51 GMT

Arizona Diamondbacks (73-68, second in the NL West) vs. Chicago Cubs (76-65, second in the NL Central)Chicago; Friday, 2:20 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Diamondbacks: Zac Gallen (14-7, 3.48 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 186 strikeouts); Cubs: Jameson Taillon (7-9, 5.73 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 113 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Diamondbacks -117, Cubs -102; over/under is 7 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Arizona Diamondbacks meet the Chicago Cubs with a 1-0 series lead.Chicago is 76-65 overall and 40-32 at home. The Cubs have gone 52-15 in games when they scored five or more runs.Arizona has a 35-33 record in road games and a 73-68 record overall. The Diamondbacks have the fifth-ranked team slugging percentage in the NL at .420.Friday’s game is the second time these teams match up this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Cody Bellinger has 24 doubles, a triple and 24 home runs for the Cubs. Seiya Suzuki is 14-for-39 with five doubles, a triple and three home runs over the past 10 games.Corbin Carroll has a .283 bat...

Braves start 3-game series with the Pirates

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:44:51 GMT

Pittsburgh Pirates (65-75, fourth in the NL Central) vs. Atlanta Braves (91-48, first in the NL East)Atlanta; Friday, 7:20 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Mitch Keller (11-8, 3.93 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 187 strikeouts); Braves: Bryce Elder (11-4, 3.42 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 111 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -207, Pirates +172; over/under is 9 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Braves host the Pittsburgh Pirates to start a three-game series.Atlanta has a 91-48 record overall and a 45-24 record at home. The Braves have the highest team on-base percentage in the majors at .345.Pittsburgh has a 65-75 record overall and a 31-38 record in road games. The Pirates have a 41-10 record in games when they scored five or more runs.The matchup Friday is the fifth time these teams meet this season. The season series is tied 2-2.TOP PERFORMERS: Ronald Acuna Jr. has 32 doubles, three triples and 34 home runs while hitting .331 for the Braves. Marcell Ozuna is 14-for-38 with four doubles and f...

Giants look to break slide in matchup with the Rockies

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:44:51 GMT

Colorado Rockies (51-88, fifth in the NL West) vs. San Francisco Giants (70-70, third in the NL West)San Francisco; Friday, 10:15 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Rockies: Ty Blach (2-1, 4.33 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 28 strikeouts); Giants: Kyle Harrison (1-1, 4.70 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 21 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Giants -204, Rockies +170; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The San Francisco Giants aim to break their six-game losing streak when they take on the Colorado Rockies.San Francisco is 70-70 overall and 38-31 at home. The Giants have a 37-11 record in games when they did not allow a home run.Colorado has a 22-50 record in road games and a 51-88 record overall. The Rockies are 23-11 in games when they did not allow a home run.The matchup Friday is the seventh time these teams match up this season. The Giants hold a 5-1 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Wilmer Flores has 21 home runs, 33 walks and 51 RBI while hitting .284 for the Giants. Thairo Estrada is 11-for-4...

Reds play the Cardinals in first of 3-game series

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:44:51 GMT

St. Louis Cardinals (61-79, fifth in the NL Central) vs. Cincinnati Reds (73-69, third in the NL Central)Cincinnati; Friday, 6:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Cardinals: Drew Rom (0-2, 7.24 ERA, 1.90 WHIP, 11 strikeouts); Reds: Andrew Abbott (8-4, 3.22 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 104 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Reds -128, Cardinals +109; over/under is 10 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Cincinnati Reds host the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday to open a three-game series.Cincinnati has a 35-37 record in home games and a 73-69 record overall. The Reds have gone 26-12 in games when they hit at least two home runs.St. Louis has gone 30-39 in road games and 61-79 overall. The Cardinals have the fourth-ranked team slugging percentage in the NL at .429.Friday’s game is the eighth time these teams square off this season. The Reds are ahead 4-3 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Spencer Steer leads the Reds with 53 extra base hits (31 doubles, two triples and 20 home runs). Christian Encarnacio...

Dodgers visit the Nationals to begin 3-game series

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:44:51 GMT

Los Angeles Dodgers (85-54, first in the NL West) vs. Washington Nationals (63-77, fifth in the NL East)Washington; Friday, 7:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Dodgers: Emmet Sheehan (3-1, 5.31 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 36 strikeouts); Nationals: MacKenzie Gore (7-10, 4.28 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 147 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Dodgers -167, Nationals +141; over/under is 9 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Washington Nationals open a three-game series at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.Washington has a 63-77 record overall and a 30-41 record at home. The Nationals are 46-15 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.Los Angeles has a 38-30 record on the road and an 85-54 record overall. The Dodgers have gone 68-18 in games when they scored five or more runs.The teams meet Friday for the fourth time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: C.J. Abrams has 22 doubles, four triples, 15 home runs and 52 RBI for the Nationals. Lane Thomas is 10-for-37 with a double, a triple and three home r...

Board of Governors for Florida’s public universities expected to approve new college entrance exam

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:44:51 GMT

(CNN) — In Florida’s latest attempt to change its education system, the governing body for the state’s public universities is expected to vote Friday on whether college applicants can submit results from an alternative test to the SAT and ACT.The Classic Learning Test, or CLT, is a college entrance exam popular among Christian schools and conservative political groups. First launched in December 2015, the test is currently accepted by more than 250 colleges and universities across the United States, according to its website.If board approved, Florida would become the first state university system to accept the CLT, the New York Times reported.The three-section, two-hour exam tests students on verbal reasoning, grammar and writing as well as quantitative reasoning, and allows students to access scores the same day of their test, the CLT’s website states.The ACT lasts just under three hours and the SAT takes around three hours, by comparison.The CLT’s creators say it “draws on sources...

Fierce falcon photo takes top prize in bird photography contest

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:44:51 GMT

(CNN) — A breathtaking image of a peregrine falcon attacking an enormous pelican with its bright orange talons won top prize in this year’s Bird Photographer of the Year competition.The contest, in its eighth edition, celebrates the beauty of birds while also raising awareness of the mounting pressures they face. Photographers from all over the world entered more than 20,000 images into the competition, all vying for the £5,000 ($6,280) grand prize.US photographer Jack Zhi, who took the winning image in southern California, says he had waited for four years to capture the rare moment when a female falcon pounced on a brown pelican more than double its size.“During breeding season, a female peregrine falcon fiercely protects her young, attacking anything that comes near the nest,” he explained in a press release. “The high-speed chase made it challenging to capture a close-up shot with a long lens.”But finally, he succeeded. “The action was fast, and over in the blink of an eye. But ...

Cuba arrests 17 for luring young men to fight for Russia

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:44:51 GMT

Cuban authorities said they arrested 17 people in connection to a human-trafficking ring that allegedly coaxed young Cuban men to fight for Russia against Ukraine.Earlier this week, the Cuban foreign ministry exposed a Russian trafficking operation used to entice Cubans into the Kremlin’s war against Ukraine. Cuba condemned the recruitment racket and the interior ministry said authorities were working to “neutralize and dismantle” the network.On Thursday evening, César Rodríguez,  a colonel with Cuba’s interior ministry, said 17 people had been arrested, including the “internal organizer” of the ring, reported Reuters.Rodriguez said the group leader relied on two people living on the island to recruit Cubans to fight for hire on behalf of Russia, but did not name any of the suspects. Those involved in the network risk up to 30 years in prison, a life sentence or the death penalty, according to prosecutor Jose Luis Reyes, depending on the severity of the crimes.Russia and...

Rishi Sunak in India for G20 summit with post-Brexit trade deal in sight

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:44:51 GMT

LONDON — Rishi Sunak arrived in New Delhi for the G20 leaders’ summit Friday hoping to finalize a slimmed-down trade deal with India for signoff next month.A free-trade agreement between the U.K. and India — one of the most coveted prizes of Brexit — will not be done and dusted this weekend, but both sides are hopeful a deal can be reached before the end of the year.Such an outcome hinges in part on face-to-face talks between Sunak and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, scheduled for Saturday in New Delhi. No. 10 Downing Street is keen to make much of Sunak’s trip, with his spokesperson telling reporters this week: “As the first British prime minister of Indian descent, his visit will be an historic moment.”Sunak now faces “a political decision” on whether to press ahead with a slimmed-down trade deal, one senior business representative told POLITICO, as Modi works to “bounce” him into a rapid agreement ahead of next year’s Indian election.“Modi...

Water main break buckles stretch of Broadway in Revere

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:44:51 GMT

Road crews were called to a water main break in Revere overnight that left a section of Broadway damaged.Water could be seen rushing through cracks in the street as crews shut down the roadway to motorists.The cause of the break remains under investigation.No additional information was immediately available.