Dodgers star Bellinger has hairline fracture in left leg
SAN DIEGO — Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Cody Bellinger has a hairline fracture in his left fibula, manager Dave Roberts said Friday before the defending World Series champions opened a highly anticipated threegame series against the Padres.
Roberts said Bellinger had a scan Thursday that showed the hairline fracture. The manager said there is no timetable for his return.
“At least we know what Cody’s dealing with,” Roberts said. “Certain players heal differently, so I just don’t know where Cody is going to be at. ... I can say comfortably that it’s not a day-to-day thing, so we can kind of just put it on the back burner and let Cody do his rehab and join us hopefully soon.”
Bellinger, the 2019 NL MVP, was injured on April 5 when he was cleated by Athletics pitcher Reymin Guduan on a close play at first base. He was placed on the 10-day injured list the next day and was eligible to be activated on Friday.
Roberts said Bellinger is still taking swings and was going through a workout in Los Angeles earlier Friday.
The Dodgers swept the Padres in the NL Division Series in October, ending San Diego’s first postseason run in 14 seasons.
San Diego Padres star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. was activated from the 10-day injured list Friday in time for the opener of a highly anticipated series against the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Tatis had been out since suffering a partially dislocated left shoulder while taking a violent swing on April 6.
Tatis was in the starting lineup and batting second for the Padres, whose first playoff run in 14 seasons ended when they were swept by the Dodgers in the NL Division Series in October.
While Tatis’ injury startled the Padres and their fans, team officials said doctors assured them the electrifying 22-year-old couldn’t do any further damage to the shoulder if he continued playing this season.
Tatis has been dealing with left shoulder discomfort since his minor league days and came out of a game in spring training after making a backhanded play and throwing to first. He was back two days later.
NBA
PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid had 36 points and 14 rebounds and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Clippers 106-103, snapping Los Angeles’ seven-game winning streak.
Furkan Korkmaz added 18 points and Ben Simmons had 12 points and nine rebounds for the Eastern Conference-leading Sixers, who have won four in a row.
“I don’t think teams really know what to do when guarding him,” Simmons said of Embiid. “I think he’s clearly the MVP this season. He’s been so dominant. I don’t know how to stop him.”
Paul George had 37 points and nine rebounds for the Clippers, who last lost on April 1. Patrick Patterson added a season-high 18 points and Marcus Morris scored 15 for Los Angeles.
Kawhi Leonard missed his fourth straight game for the Clippers with a sore right foot.
Evan Mobley is leaving USC after one season to enter the NBA draft.
The 7-footer revealed his long-expected decision in a unique way. He posted a 21-second NFT (nonfungible token) on Twitter that he autographed and is auctioning on a blockchain-based marketplace.
“I’m headed to the league,” it said. “This has always been my dream and, through this NFT, I’m making my announcement
that I’ll officially be turning pro. This right here is the new “rookie card” - and it’s 1-of-1.”
Mobley went on to say the auction winner will receive signed jerseys from USC and his first NBA team as well as two tickets to one of his rookie games and a meet-and-greet.
He averaged 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 2.4 assists for the Trojans, who advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before losing to then-undefeated Gonzaga. Mobley was named the Pac-12’s player of the year, defensive player and freshman, the first in league history to sweep all three individual awards.
Dwyane Wade is an NBA owner.
The Utah Jazz announced that the 13-time NBA All-Star will join the youngest ownership group in the league.
The group is headed by technology entrepreneur Ryan Smith, who along with his wife, Ashley, acquired majority interest in the Jazz in late 2020.
Wade and Smith have known each other for several years and had discussed working with each other in various capacities.
TRACK
The man who had been expected to succeed Usain Bolt as Olympic champion will miss the Tokyo Games after failing Friday in an appeal to overturn his ban for missed doping tests.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport cut current 100-meter world champion Christian Coleman’s ban from two years to 18 months, but it won’t expire until November, three months after the Olympics.