The New York Mets will likely be without pitcher Sean Manaea to start the season as he's dealing with a right oblique strain, the team's manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters on Monday.
Mendoza shared that Manaea will be "shut down" for a couple of weeks, and it's likely the starting pitcher will begin the 2025 season on the injured list. There is no clear timeline for when he's expected to make his season debut.
In his first year with the Mets last season, Manaea started 32 games, posting a 12-6 record and a 3.47 ERA—the lowest in his career when he's started in over 25 games. He struck out 184 batters and walked 63 over his career-high 181 2/3 innings pitched. Manaea made four postseason starts in the Mets' run to the National League Championship Series, posting a 2-1 record with a 4.74 ERA and 19 strikeouts.
The Mets were clearly impressed with Manaea's season with them as they signed him to a three-year, $75 million contract in December.
Sri Lanka struggled to get breakthroughs with the ball and endured a collapse of 4 for 8 in their chase
Shashank Kishore16-Sep-20252:13
Maharoof: Sri Lanka played with a ‘fear of failure’ mentality
Two weeks ago, Sri Lanka were stretched into a decider by a spirited Zimbabwe side. On Monday, they nearly stumbled against Asia Cup’s lowest-ranked team, Hong Kong, but eventually pulled through, courtesy Pathum Nissanka’s 68 in their chase of 150.What ought to have been a cruise – Sri Lanka needed 32 off 30 with eight wickets in hand – turned into a mini-collapse. Nissanka was run-out at the start of the 16th over while chancing a second that didn’t seem on, and Kusal Perera fell off the very next delivery when he was lbw attempting a slog sweep.Six balls later, it was the captain’s turn to be dismissed as Charith Asalanka sliced a fullish delivery to short third. And when Kamindu Mendis slogged one straight to deep midwicket, attempting a release shot, Sri Lanka had lost 4 for 8, needing another 23 off 17 balls.Related
Nissanka helps Sri Lanka edge sloppy Hong Kong in a thriller
“In that moment, I think our heart was in our mouths,” Asalanka said. “There are a few areas I am really disappointed about. First three overs when we were bowling and then the 16th over, we lost a couple of wickets and then lost my wicket.”In the shorter format, these things can happen but it cannot keep happening consistently. We have to analyse it and improve ourselves.”It wasn’t just the middle-order batting Asalanka was critical about. He wasn’t happy with the way they started with the new ball, with Hong Kong racing to 38 without loss in four overs, after Anshy Rath and Zeeshan Ali took on the new-ball bowlers.In the sixth over, Sri Lanka missed a DRS appeal for lbw with replays confirming all three reds, reprieving the experienced Babar Hayat. After his dismissal, Rath and Nizakat Khan put on 61 to shore up Hong Kong to 149 for 4.”We felt confident of chasing it because the pitch was looking good,” Asalanka said. “Credit goes to them (Hong Kong), they batted really well and we bowled badly in the first three overs.Wanindu Hasaranga’s nine-ball 20 not out saw Sri Lanka through•Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images”This is not the way we wanted to play. When we are playing these sides, there is always pressure. But we are professionals and as professionals, we have to do much better than this.”It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Sri Lanka. Nissanka rallied their chase with a patient innings, his second straight half-century. The ball wasn’t coming on, and Hong Kong’s seasoned spinners – Ehsan Khan and Yasim Murtaza – had Sri Lanka in a stranglehold.Yet, at no point did Nissanka look like a batter desperate for a release shot, fully knowing the target was always within touching distance. He brought up a half-century off 35 balls, and it wasn’t until the asking rate jumped past eight an over, with eight overs left that Nissanka decided to shift gears.And when he did so, it was exhilarating to see him beat two deep fielders on the leg side with precision with two pull shots off two different deliveries – first off a slower bouncer that needed him to hold his shape, and the next off a hard-length delivery dug into the pitch.”Over the last two years, I’ve worked on my strike rates,” Nissanka said at the post-match press conference. “I started off as a red-ball batter, but I’ve worked on becoming consistent across all formats. The coach [Sanath Jayasuriya] has always given me the confidence to play my game, that really is a boost.”After starting the tournament with two wins, Sri Lanka will automatically progress to the Super Fours if Afghanistan beat Bangladesh on Tuesday. A Bangladesh win will leave the two spots to be decided on Thursday, when Sri Lanka play Afghanistan. That said, it’s Bangladesh who have all the catching up to do on the net run rate front.
كشف الجهاز الطبي لفريق الكرة بنادي الزمالك، عن نقل نبيل عماد دونجا لاعب الوسط إلى المستشفى، بعد إصابة خلال مباراة زيسكو الزامبي التي أقيمت بينهما ضمن لقاءات الكونفدرالية.
وتمكن الزمالك من الفوز أمام زيسكو الزامبي بهدف دون رد، في المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما على استاد القاهرة الدولي في الجولة الأولى لمباريات دور المجموعات لبطولة كأس الكونفدرالية.
طالع | سيف الجزيري: لم نقدم أداء جيدًا أمام زيسكو.. واعتدنا على صعوبة أجواء إفريقيا
وأكد الجهاز الطبي أنه تم نقل اللاعب لأحد المستشفيات القريبة من استاد القاهرة، للخضوع لمزيد من الفحوصات الطبية، لتحديد حجم الإصابة التي تعرض لها على مستوى الركبة.
وحصد الزمالك أول 3 نقاط له في المجموعة ضمن منافسات الكونفدرالية، محتلًا المركز الثاني خلف المصري المتصدر بنفس الرصيد ولكن بفارق الأهداف.
ويتواجد الزمالك على رأس المجموعة الرابعة ببطولة كأس الكونفدرالية، والتي تضم معه أندية المصري وكايزر تشيفز الجنوب إفريقي وزيسكو يونايتد الزامبي.
Liverpool's star forward Alexander Isak has reportedly splashed out a whopping £30,000 on a guard dog to protect his family after receiving death threats online in the wake of Sweden's dismal World Cup qualifying campaign and his controversial transfer from Newcastle United in the summer. Isak went on strike and forced a move away from St James' Park during the last transfer window after the Reds broke the British transfer record to secure the move.
Isak buys guard dog following death threats
According to , Isak will welcome a highly-trained Doberman to protect him and his family off the pitch as he looks to settle into life in Merseyside following his controversial move from Newcastle. He spent a massive £30,000 on the guard dog after receiving death threats on social media along with the entire Sweden national team. The players have faced abuse after finishing at the bottom of the group in their 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
AdvertisementGetty Images'He wants to get settled off the pitch'
A source told : "Alexander has had a very high profile summer thanks to the drawn-out transfer to Liverpool and the high price the club paid for him. He wants to get settled off the pitch and getting a protection dog is an essential part of that."
The source also described the Doberman as "beautiful inside and out" and a "fabulous beast".
Top Premier League stars worried about security
Isak is not the only Premier League player who is spending heavily to increase security. Earlier this month, it was reported that several Premier League footballers are turning to former MMA fighters to provide security for their homes after a series of robberies in Cheshire’s ‘Golden Triangle’. A number of players and celebrities living in Alderley Edge, Wilmslow and Prestbury have been targets of theft and arson, leading to a number of players seeking greater protection.
Everton defender Jake O'Brien also invested in a protection dog and later explained his decision by saying: "I think as a high-profile person, security is very important. Not just for you but for your family, knowing that if I’m away for whatever reason, my family are safe at home. As we love dogs, it was a no-brainer to get Knox. He’s very loyal and would act as the first line of protection if anything were to happen. I personally chose Chaperone K9 from word of mouth from fellow team-mates. I came across their social media page. Seeing who they’ve provided dogs for, and the professionalism and care they have for their dogs they train made my mind up fast."
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Getty Images SportIsak aims to regain form
Isak's fitness and form have been a concern for Liverpool as the Swedish striker is yet to live up to the hype since his move to Merseyside. The 26-year-old, who played a key role in Newcastle United winning the Carabao Cup last season and finishing fifth in the Premier League to secure a Champions League berth, has scored just one goal at Anfield in eight appearances and has spent a considerable amount of time off the pitch due to injuries.
Isak will now aim to regain his long-lost form soon as Liverpool continue to struggle in the defence of their title campaign. The forward's form is of utmost importance for the Reds to get back to winning ways and remain in the race to successfully defend their title. Arne Slot's side are back in action after the international break on Saturday as they host Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
On Sunday, Danny Röhl’s perfect start to life in the Premiership continued, making it three league wins out of three, with goals from Nicolas Raskin, Mikey Moore and then Djeidi Gassama downing Dundee at Dens.
Despite this, the Gers remain fourth in the table, level on points with Hibs, five points below fierce rivals Celtic and a whopping 12 adrift surprise leaders Hearts.
Goals though remain a problem for this team, having bagged only 15 in 11 Premiership outings to date, netting just 31 times in 24 fixtures across all competitions, with Sunday only the fourth time they’ve scored three or more in a match, despite doing so on 21 occasions last season.
Strikers Danilo, Bojan Miovski and Youssef Chermiti continue to be, at best, inconsistent, but could Rangers’ youngster with “huge potential” solve this attacking issue?
Rangers' recent loan stars
While Rangers’ recent recruit has rightly come under scrutiny, with serious questions being asked of sporting director Kevin Thelwell, the club remain excellent in one particular area; identifying attackers on loan.
Vaclav Cerny
In the last four seasons, Rangers have signed a high-quality attacker on loan each time, as the table below documents.
52
18
9
39
16
2
43
12
5
13
3
Zero
As the table highlights, in each of the last four seasons, Rangers have brought in a high-class attacker on a season-long loan.
Amad is probably the outlier on this list, making little impact during his six months in Glasgow, albeit he’s since become a key figure for Rúben Amorim at Manchester United.
Since, Malik Tillman, Abdallah Sima and Václav Černý have all registered at least 17 combined goals and assists during one season at Ibrox, with the latter the most productive of the lot, starring during a season on loan from Wolfsburg, a major loss having joined Beşiktaş instead of returning this summer.
Now, could a current member of the Rangers squad keep the streak of outstanding attackers on loan going?
Rangers' latest loan star
Of course, the entire Rangers team has improved since Röhl replaced Russell Martin last month, an admittedly low bar, but the player who has thrived the most is Mikey Moore.
The teenager scored his first goal for the club at Dens on Sunday, doubling the Gers lead with this strike which flew into Jon McCracken’s bottom corner.
Even before opening his account, the Englishman had looked sharper since Röhl’s arrival in Glasgow.
Speaking during Sky Sports’ Coverage, Chris Sutton asserted that he is “flourishing” into his full potential under Röhl, while James McFadden notes that he is enjoying a lot more freedom with the German coach at the helm, forecasting that he will only continue to get better in the coming weeks.
When the 18-year-old arrived from Tottenham Hotspur in August, he did so with a massive reputation for someone who had only played 815 minutes at senior level.
Upon joining, then manager Martin praised his “huge potential”, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labelled him “the English Neymar”.
Despite his slow start to life at Ibrox, only two Rangers players, namely Gassama and Thelo Aasgard, have registered more successful dribbles on a per 90 basis in the Premiership, early signs that he is ready to make a significant impact.
As already alluded to, scoring goals is one of this team’s primary issues.
Across all competitions, only captain James Tavernier, Gassama, Danilo and youngster Findlay Curtis have bagged more than two goals thus far, with that strike against Dundee the first of Moore’s campaign.
Thus, there is a spot up for grabs for the 18-year-old to take responsibility and become a truly integral figure in this team’s attack, following in the footsteps of Sima, Tillman and Černý, the other high-class loan attackers who have come before.
Move over Moore: Rangers star proved why he's their "best player" vs Dundee
Rangers demolished Dundee 3-0 at Dens on Sunday and Danny Röhl’s “sensational” star was as key as Mikey Moore in this Scottish Premiership victory.
Manchester United have joined the race to sign Borussia Dortmund centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck, and the Bundesliga club’s stance on cashing-in has now been revealed.
Man United have taken major strides over the past month or so, having taken 11 points from their last five matches, but it would be fair to say their defensive record still needs major improvement.
Ruben Amorim’s side have shipped 18 goals in their opening 11 games, the joint-highest number of any side above 16th in the Premier League table, failing to keep a clean sheet since the 2-0 victory against Sunderland at the beginning of October.
Both Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt have impressed in an attacking sense, with the former scoring the winner at Anfield, while the Dutchman recently received high praise from Rio Ferdinand, who said: “De Ligt’s been our best defender this season”
“I think he’s been outstanding for us. He’s even adding goals like the last-minute equaliser the other day.”
That said, Amorim clearly needs to tighten things up at the back, given the sheer number of goals his side have conceded, and the Red Devils have now set their sights on a new target.
Man Utd join race to sign Nico Schlotterbeck
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Man United have now joined the race to sign Borussia Dortmund’s Schlotterbeck, who is about to enter the last 18 months of his contract with the German club, meaning a bidding war could be on the cards.
Liverpool have also emerged as potential suitors for the centre-back, who has earned comparisons to Virgil van Dijk, in light of his composure under pressure, which has been on display in the Champions League.
Dortmund may need to cash-in due to their financial situation, as they are currently at risk of losing the 25-year-old on a free transfer, and there is no shortage of interest, with Barcelona currently believed to be leading the race for his signature.
The defender’s ball-playing ability, coupled with the fact he is left-footed, is said to make him perfect for Amorim, and the Dortmund star has earned high praise from former Premier League chief scout Mick Brown.
Brown said: “He’s a dominant centre-back, a regular for Germany, and a very defensive option who likes to win tackles, win headers and take charge of the back line.”
Impressively, the German is also very comfortable in possession of the ball, as displayed by his performance across some key passing and dribbling metrics over the past year.
Nico Schlotterbeck’s passing and dribbling statistics
Average per 90
Passes attempted
84.06 (97th percentile)
Progressive passes
7.43 (99th percentile)
Progressive carries
1.29 (89th percentile)
Successful take-ons
0.48 (92nd percentile)
Schlotterbeck is experienced at the top level, having amassed 22 caps for Germany and 35 Champions League appearances, and he could be the ideal option for Amorim at left centre-back.
What Man Utd plan to do to hijack Real Madrid's move for Marc Guehi
What Man Utd are ready to do to hijack Real Madrid's move for Marc Guehi
He has been included in ODI and T20I squads for the Pakistan tour in October
ESPNcricinfo staff22-Sep-2025
Quinton de Kock’s last white-ball game for South Africa was the 2024 T20 World Cup final•ICC/Getty Images
Quinton de Kock has reversed his retirement from ODI cricket and has been included in both ODI and T20I squads for the Pakistan tour in October as well as a one-off T20I in Namibia before that.De Kock had retired from 50-over cricket after the 2023 ODI World Cup, and his last white-ball game for South Africa was the 2024 T20 World Cup final in Barbados. While he never officially retired from T20Is, he was not included in any of South Africa’s squads and former coach Rob Walter was unsure of his long-term plans. In the meantime, he has been active in T20 leagues around the world, including the recently-concluded CPL.Shukri Conrad, the current head coach, has had a discussion with de Kock and said he has committed to the national team again.Related
De Kock is back on his own with 'no strings attached'
Bavuma out of Pakistan Test series with calf strain; Markram to lead
'Strange things happen in life' – de Kock is done with ODIs, or is he?
“Quinton’s return to the white-ball space is a major boost for us,” Conrad said. “When we spoke last month about his future, it was clear that he still has a strong ambition to represent his country. Everyone knows the quality he brings to the side, and having him back can only benefit the team.”At the time of his ODI retirement, de Kock had hinted that he might be convinced to come back, with South Africa’s home World Cup in 2027 on the horizon. “At this point, I don’t foresee it happening. But you never know. Strange things happen in life. It could be a possibility but I don’t think so,” he had said.De Kock has played 155 ODIs, in which he has 6770 runs at an average of 45.74 and a strike rate of 96.64. In 92 T20Is, he has 2584 runs at a strike rate of 138.32. He has played three ODI World Cups – 2015, 2019 and 2023 – and the only ICC tournament he missed after his retirement was the Champions Trophy earlier this year where South Africa were knocked out in the semi-final.
O diretor executivo de futebol do Coritiba, José Domingos Chávare Júnior, morreu na manhã deste domingo (18), aos 57 anos, de infarto agudo do miocárdio. O falecimento foi informado pelo próprio clube.
continua após a publicidade
Segundo a nota, Júnior Chávare, como era conhecido, relatou fortes dores no peito e respiração ofegante no seu apartamento em Curitiba. Ele chegou a ser levado para o Hospital Nossa Senhora das Graças e passou por procedimentos médicos, mas não resistiu.
➡️Siga o Lance! Fora de Campo no WhatsApp e saiba o que rola fora das 4 linhas
Chávare Junior nasceu em Americana, no interior do estado de São Paulo, e estava no Coritiba desde o final de outubro de 2023. Antes, ele era diretor executivo da Ferroviária de Araraquara e também teve passagens por clubes como São Paulo, Grêmio, Atlético-MG e Bahia.
Big picture – Can Sri Lanka continue to play like ‘defending champions’?
Prior to Sri Lanka’s tournament opener against Bangladesh at the Asia Cup, Charith Asalanka had reminded people that his team was, indeed, the defending T20 Asia Cup champions. A fact not strictly inaccurate but one that might have raised a few eyebrows when put in context: Sri Lanka’s form in major tournaments in the three years since that momentous victory has been less than stellar.But for Asalanka, the psychological boost that it had provided was something he was sure would spur his side on. And so it proved to be against Bangladesh on Saturday, when whatever confidence or motivation was being derived was on total display – they dominated a contest that was expected to be much more closely fought, and quite frankly looked every bit the champions.Related
No mystery spinner, no problem for Sri Lanka
How Martin Coetzee fell in love with Hong Kong cricket
Consistency, however, has been Sri Lanka’s Achilles’ heel, and against Hong Kong on Monday, they have a chance to build up a head of steam ahead of their final group game against Afghanistan.As for Hong Kong, two defeats already means they are out of the qualification reckoning, but they will no doubt want to bow out on a high note. And who better against the “defending champions”?While this Sri Lankan side seems to be ironing out weaknesses, their middle order is still on the soft side. Kamil Mishara has added some much-needed aggression, but in general there is still a heavy reliance on the opening pair of Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka. Get them early and who knows what’s possible.Against both Afghanistan and Bangladesh, seamers Ayush Shukla and Ateeq Iqbal showed they can pick up wickets in the powerplay. Where the Hong Kong bowling struggled was in limiting scoring through the middle overs – a period Sri Lanka’s batters have been known to struggle. That heavy collapse against Zimbabwe just three games ago has also served to highlight this Sri Lanka batting line-up’s propensity to unravel, and with the pitch expected to be on the slower side, the stage is as set as can be for a low-scoring contest.But to be clear, Sri Lanka are overwhelming favourites and, considering their clinical performance against Bangladesh, are also right on top of their game. It’s an uphill task for Hong Kong whichever way you slice it, though not impossible.Ayush Shukla has shown he can pick up wickets early on•Getty Images
Form guide
Sri Lanka WWLWL Hong Kong LLLWW
In the spotlight: Ehsan Khan and Wanindu Hasaranga
If Hong Kong are to pull off an upset, their best path will be to limit Sri Lanka’s batting. While there are plenty of dangerous batters in the Sri Lanka line-up, their sometimes brittle middle order has no less than four left-hand batters – Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Asalanka and Kamindu Mendis. With offspinner Ehsan Khan being Hong Kong’s most prolific wicket-taker – 128 wickets in 94 innings at an economy rate of 6.29 – the match-ups are tailor-made.Wanindu Hasaranga didn’t look like he had missed a step on his return to the side against Bangladesh. His googly caused chaos as he ended with figures of 2 for 25, and it might have been more had heavy bails not been used with Jaker Ali surviving one that grazed his off stump. On a surface where spin has been at the forefront, it would take a special effort from Hong Kong to keep Hasaranga from adding to his 133 T20I wickets.Does Maheesh Theekshana fit into Sri Lanka’s “full-strength” side?•Getty Images
Team news: Will Maheesh Theekshana return?
Hong Kong are likely to be unchanged, but with this being their final match of the tournament, it would be unsurprising to see some bench players get a game.Hong Kong (probable): 1 Zeeshan Ali (wk), 2 Anshuman Rath, 3 Babar Hayat, 4 Nizakat Khan, 5 Kalhan Challu, 6 Kinchit Shah, 7 Yasim Murtaza (capt), 8 Aizaz Khan, 9 Ayush Shukla, 10 Ateeq Iqbal, 11 Ehsan KhanSri Lanka have stated that they will go with a full-strength side, which means there are unlikely to be any changes in the batting unit. On the bowling front, there could be a return for Maheesh Theekshana as the pitch is likely to aid spin.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis (wk), 3 Kamil Mishara, 4 Kusal Perera, 5 Charith Asalanka (capt), 6 Kamindu Mendis, 7 Dasun Shanaka, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Dushmantha Chameera, 11 Nuwan Thushara
Pitch and conditions: Spin, what else?
The pitch in Dubai hasn’t necessarily proved conducive to high scores over the past year, with spinners generally finding conditions to their liking. For example, of the 17 wickets to fall in the Oman vs Pakistan game, nine fell to spin, while pace-off deliveries were regularly employed by the seamers.
Stats and trivia
This will be the first match between Sri Lanka and Hong Kong in any format in international cricket.
The side batting first has won seven of the last ten T20Is played in Dubai.
Sri Lanka last played in Dubai in 2022, in the final of the Asia Cup that they won.
Nissanka’s 902 runs are the most by a player from a Full-Member nation in T20Is since the start of 2024.
Quotes
“We don’t want to take any chances. In this format, everybody is tough to beat. We will go with our full-strength side.”
Marcelo Balboa backed Mauricio Pochettino’s recent comments after the United States’ win over Uruguay, saying the coach is setting firm expectations for the squad. Balboa noted that Pochettino wants every player – including those based in Europe – to match the required intensity and compete for their place, adding that club form alone won’t guarantee a spot.
Getty Images Sport
Balboa on Pochettino’s cultural reset
Balboa framed Pochettino’s comments as an intentional cultural reset: the coach isn’t interested in protecting “regulars” or preserving reputations if players aren’t delivering the energy and standards he wants.
“He [Pochettino] is trying to change the culture in this country. He’s saying anytime you represent the U.S. team, that’s the best team we’re gonna put out, that’s the first team. I like that message,” Balboa told CBS Sports. “If I’m a player in Europe, I’m a little worried because I saw the standard of mentality and energy they brought to this game.
"There is a clear message. Like, ‘This is what you have to do. These are the parameters I want you to do it under my tactics.’"
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Uruguay win strengthened the message
Balboa suggested it will make some Europe-based players nervous about their spot if they can’t match the newly demanded work rate.
“And if you can’t do that, there is [Sebastian] Berhalter, there is [Alex] Freeman," Balboa said. "There is [Tanner] Tessmann. There is [Max] Arfsten. There are players that can surprise you. It’s not okay anymore to have eight guys that work their ass off and two guys that relax. It doesn’t work like that anymore in international soccer. I love the message he’s sending. This is the standard of what you need to do here.”
The United States’ emphatic five-goal win over Uruguay gave Pochettino’s message weight, as he dismissed talk of “regular players” and used both the performance and his post-match comments to underscore the standard he expects.
Selection, competition and the evolving USMNT identity
Pochettino appears to be rewarding intensity, pressing, and tactical buy-in as much as name recognition or club pedigree. That raises the stakes for Europe-based Americans who aren’t producing regular minutes for their clubs, and it signals to domestic and fringe players that strong showings at club or in camp can leapfrog reputation.
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Looking ahead
The U.S. wrapped up their 2025 slate with a strong November camp. The team is reportedly set to play Portugal and Belgium in March, but that has yet to be confirmed by U.S. Soccer.