Two seasons after losing 110 games, the Arizona Diamondbacks played in the World Series last season. The stunning accomplishment makes the Diamondbacks an intriguing club as they open the 2024 season against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday night at Phoenix. Arizona (84-78) squeaked into the playoffs by landing the third and final National League wild-card berth. What followed was a magical playoff run that ended with a five-game loss to the Texas Rangers in the World Series. This time around, the Diamondbacks are facing big expectations. "It's uncharted territory for us, so it's like, how are we going to respond? How is it going to affect us?" Arizona ace right-hander Zac Gallen said. "If we get off to a slow start in the first month, how are we going to handle it?" The playoff berth was the first for Arizona since 2017. The Diamondbacks experienced three straight losing seasons before last year's sudden turnaround. "I feel like people still don't respect us," Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas said. "They probably think it's a fluke or a ‘Cinderella' story-type deal." Colorado (59-103) is coming off a disastrous campaign in which it set a franchise mark for losses and finished with a losing record for the fifth straight season. The Rockies finished more than 40 games out of first place in the NL West for the second straight season. Colorado faces long odds of competing for a wild-card spot, but a return to form by veterans Charlie Blackmon and Kris Bryant would at least make the Rockies more competitive. Blackmon, who is entering his 14th season, all with Colorado, hit 29 or more homers in four straight seasons from 2016-19. He hasn't hit more than 16 (in 2022) since, and smacked just eight last season. "I certainly felt I was capable of hitting for more power than last year," the 37-year-old Blackmon said. "I did hit a lot of doubles, but I like to do everything right, which means when you get a good pitch to hit and you are on time, you can hit that for extra bases. Home runs are better than doubles." Bryant, 32, has struggled through two injury-plagued seasons since signing a seven-year, $182 million deal with the Rockies prior to the 2022 season. The 2016 NL MVP with the Chicago Cubs has just 15 homers and 45 RBIs in 122 games with Colorado. Gallen (17-9, 3.47 ERA last season) is making his second straight Opening Day start for Arizona. Gallen finished third in NL Cy Young balloting last season when he struck out a career-best 220 in 210 innings. He placed second in the majors in victories behind Spencer Strider (20) of the Atlanta Braves. The 28-year-old has experienced few struggles against the Rockies. He is 6-1 with a 2.45 ERA in 13 career starts against Colorado. Blackmon is batting .303 (10-of-33) with 12 strikeouts against Gallen. Bryant has a homer while going 3-for-12. Left-hander Kyle Freeland will make this third Opening Day start for the Rockies. Freeland (6-14, 5.03) continues to be an enigma for Colorado. He went 17-7 with a 2.85 ERA and finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting in 2018, but he has since gone 27-47 over the past five seasons. Last season, he allowed career worsts in homers (29) and batting average (.300). "I definitely had a handful of changes this offseason," Freeland, who turns 31 in May, told reporters. "It all started with trying to get my velocity back to where I want it to be." Freeland traditionally struggles against Arizona. He is 4-8 with a 5.35 ERA in 20 career starts against the Diamondbacks. Postseason star Ketel Marte is batting .349 (15-for-43) with three homers against Freeland. Christian Walker (9-for-31) has gone deep twice against him. Arizona went 10-3 against The Rockies last season. —Field Level Media Relatedfootball oddsnew nfl betting sitesncaa bettingtop nba betting sitesmlb online betting sitesbetting sites for nhlall ufc betting sitessoccer betstop betting sites for copa america
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While the 2022 Qatar World Cup might be just around the corner, it will be Europe s elite that takes center stage once again this weekend. On that note, we have found a handful of helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for if you re looking to place a Saturday acca.
Saturday October 22nd
BST 15:00 Morecambe vs Barnsley
While Barnsley might have once again lost their Championship status last season, Saturday s guests have their sights firmly set on an immediate second-tier return. Despite being last seen playing out a 0-0 stalemate away at Bolton, Michael Duff s men should find the mood in their camp at a real high. Opening this weekend s fixtures battling it out in the play-off places, the Yorkshire-based outfit should be smelling the chance to lay down a mar…
Best odds: 6/5
Bookmaker:
AS Monaco will play host to Bayer Leverkusen at the Stade Louis II on Thursday, in the second leg of their meeting in the knockout stage play-offs in the Europa League. The French team won the first leg in Germany by 2-3 as the contest saw the scoreline turned over twice.
It was an own-goal by goalkeeper Lukasz Hradecky that gave Monaco a lead in the ninth minute, but his teammates Moussa Diaby (48 ) and Florian Wirtz (59 ) made it 2-1. Still, goals from Krepin Diatta (74 ) and Axel Disasi (90 +2) meant that Monaco went home with an advantage.
AS Monaco
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The German Football Association (DFB) has announced it will not support Gianni Infantino s re-election as FIFA president.
Infantino is set to be re-elected at the 73rd FIFA Congress in Rwandan capital Kigali on Thursday after no challengers came forward to stand against him in the leadership race.
However, despite Infantino having a clear run at another term in charge, Germany have joined a select few nations to publicly declare they do not back the decision.
The DFB added in a statement on Wednesday that it has contacted FIFA in recent weeks on a matter of issues but has received no reply or only insufficient information.
DFB president Bernd Neuendorf said: The DFB will not support the re-election of FIFA president Gianni Infantino in Kigali.
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Erik ten Hag is confident incoming minority owners INEOS want to work with him despite admitting he has yet to speak to Manchester United’s new head of football operations.
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Sir Dave Brailsford, INEOS’ director of sport, was at Old Trafford on Boxing Day for the stunning 3-2 turnaround against Aston Villa, and Ten Hag says he will be speaking to the new minority owners soon.
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´One-in-a-million´ Pedri becoming more than Iniesta´s heir at Barca after snow interrupted Real Madr
The snowfall that hit Madrid in February 2018 initially appeared worse than it was, with the seas of white that engulfed fields, pitches and gardens in Spain s capital clearing quicker than one might have expected.
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Best Odds: 4/9
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Two European icons who will be looking to punch their Nations League final ticket on Thursday night, Spain will meet Italy at FC Twente’s De Grolsch Veste.
Spain
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Best Odds: 20/21
Bookmaker:
Seeking a Bundesliga boost on Friday night, Wolfsburg will make the trip to the Veltins-Arena when they meet Schalke.
Schalke
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Lionel Messi admitted he is concerned about the coronavirus situation as the superstar captain targets a long-awaited title with Argentina at the Copa America.
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Tottenham defender Ryan Sessegnon has been backed to bounce back from his latest hamstring surgery by a medical expert.
Sessegnon had an operation on his right hamstring on Monday after the 23-year-old suffered a muscle injury in action for Spurs’ Under-21s on February 17.
It was the second time Sessegnon has been operated on during the past 12 months, but significantly the previous surgery in July was on his left hamstring.
Ryan Sessegnon has undergone surgery to his right hamstring following an injury during an Under-21s match.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial)
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