What positives can Oilers build upon for better results in Game 4?

The Chicago Cubs (17-9) came into the series against the Dodgers (17-9) red hot having won nine straight games, their longest winning streak in 10 years. The Cubs couldn’t touch Emmet Sheehan in the series opener Friday at Dodger Stadium, but as soon as he came out Chicago pounced on the L.A. bullpen and scored six unanswered runs for the 6-4 comeback win.

Sheehan’s slider stifled the Chicago batters in the series opener, and he started the night with two perfect innings and four strikeouts. Ultimately, Sheehan wasn’t involved in the decision but struck out 10 in 6 1/3 and on 101 pitches in his most dominant start of the season. chickenroadslot.pro

With two outs in the third, Will Smith powered an opposite field three-run home run off a Taillon four-seam fastball to give the Dodgers the first lead of the game.

The first base hit of the night against Sheehan, a ground-rule double, came off the bat of old friend Michael Busch in the top of the fourth.

Andy Pages continues to impress. Busch tested the arm of Pages for some unknown reason with a three-run deficit. Alex Bregman singled to center, and Pages charged and fired a bullet to cut down Busch at the plate. Smith made a great tag as well to preserve the shutout for Sheehan.

It was the first outfield assist for Pages on the season but likely not the last.

Hyeseong Kim drove in Max Muncy, again with two outs, to tack on a fourth run for the Dodgers in the bottom of the fourth.

The Cubbies had runners at the corners with one out in the sixth looking to battle back. The Chicago batters adjusted, waiting on Sheehan’s slider. Dansby Swanson was hit by a pitch, and Busch singled him to third with his second hit of the game.

Sheehan earned his ninth strike out of the night when Bregman swung through a slider. Whiff No. 10 came from an ABS challenge initiated by Smith. Once again Smith used ABS to snag an extra strike back. Ian Happ went down on strikes, and the Cubs remained off the board through six.

It was the calm before the Chicago storm. After Sheehan was relieved in the seventh the Cubs attacked a shaky Dodgers pen.

Alex Vesia came in to take over for Sheehan with one out, and he was unable to hold off the late-inning Chicago offense. Vesia walked Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Swanson tripled to center field. Pages crashed against the wall, but he was unable to make the catch. Two runs came in to break up the shutout and put the Cubs right back in the game.

Nico Hoerner singled in Swanson, and all of a sudden it was a one-run game. Vesia reared back to strike out Busch and prevent the Cubs from tying the game at least momentarily.

Defense was on display by the Cubs in the home half of the seventh. Pages received a taste of his own medicine when he was thrown out in an attempt to stretch a double into a triple. Hoerner also dazzled with the glove to get the speedy Kim out at first.

Alex Freeland singled with two outs against Ryan Rolison to extend the inning and bring up Ohtani. The arguably slumping slugger struck out for the third time on the night.

Alex Bregman hit a bomb off Blake Treinen in the eighth to tie it 4-4. Happ singled. Moisés Ballesteros doubled but was thrown out at the plate by Kim’s relay from Pages. Another spot-on tag from Smith erased another run at the plate to keep it tied.

Tanner Scott continued to mightily struggle on the mound this year. Swanson completed the onslaught on the L.A. bullpen with a two-run home run to seal the deal on the come-from-behind victory.

The Cubs are going to be a problem.

Friday particulars

Home runs: Will Smith (3), Alex Bregman (3), Dansby Swanson (6)

WP — Ryan Rolison (1-0): 3 IP, 2 hits, no runs, no walks, 1 strikeout (35 pitches)

LP — Tanner Scott (0-1): 2/3 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, no walks, no strikeouts (17 pitches)

Sv — Corbin Martin (1): 1 IP, 1 strikeout

Up next

Roki Sasaki (0-2, 6.11 ERA, 1.87 WHIP) looks for a dominant start after failing to find consistency as a starter thus far this season (4:15 p.m.; FOX). Colin Rea (3-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.04 WHIP) starts for Chicago.

WHEN IS THE MATCH?

Saturday 25th April, 5.30PM BST kick-off, at the Emirates Stadium.

HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE MATCH LIVE?

The match will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports. Supporters in other countries can check their local broadcaster here.

Supporters can also listen to BBC Radio Newcastle commentary across newcastleunited.com and the Official Newcastle United App with a Newcastle United Account.

Our Match Centre will provide minute-by-minute updates, as well as all the key stats. Fans can also chose their Player of the Match at full-time.

Match updates will be provided across the club's social media accounts. Follow them here: X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | TikTok | Threads

WHEN CAN I WATCH HIGHLIGHTS?

Highlights will be available on newcastleunited.com and the Official Newcastle United App two hours after the match, with extended highlights from midnight. A full match replay will be available the following day.

WHAT'S THE NEWCASTLE TEAM NEWS?

Eddie Howe spoke to the media on Friday, revealing Tino Livramento and Anthony Gordon will miss the Emirates clash. You can read the full team news update here.

WHAT'S THE ARSENAL TEAM NEWS?

Arsenal will be without former Newcastle United midfielder Mikel Merino. Meanwhile, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori are doubtful.

WHICH KIT WILL BE WORN?

We will wear our 2025-26 home kit, featuring a black and white striped shirt, black shorts and black socks. You can buy the home kit here.

Aaron Ramsey would have been forgiven for putting his feet up after announcing his retirement earlier this month. His was a long and distinguished career, and one which was scarred by injury too.

But the former Wales captain and Arsenal midfielder has taken a different path. On Sunday, he will be running the London Marathon.

"I'm excited," Ramsey tells BBC Sport Wales. "Training's been difficult, when the rain's coming down and it's wet and windy, and it can be quite a lonely place sometimes.

"But actually, I've enjoyed it in a weird way, being in the trenches a little bit."

There is a reason why Ramsey is putting his body through this ordeal so soon after stepping away from his life as a professional footballer.

The 35-year-old is running the marathon to support It's Never You, a charity founded by his friends, Ceri and Frances Menai-Davis, after their six-year-old son, Hugh, died from a rare cancer.

Ceri is also taking part on Sunday. He will be carrying Hugh's shoes around his neck, while wearing the names of more than 500 children affected by serious illness on his back.

"As a charity, it's really close to my heart," says Ramsey. "I know Ceri and Fran and their family. I knew Hugh very well. My eldest boy, Sonny, is a similar age and they used to play with each other.

"I can't imagine what they went through and what they are going through, but they've been an absolute inspiration to me, my family and many others."

• Wales captain and ex-Arsenal star Ramsey retires
• Beauty forged in pain: Ramsey, Wales' 'best midfielder ever'

Hugh was five years old when he was diagnosed with a high-risk rhabdomyosarcoma in October 2020. Not long after his sixth birthday, he died on 18 September 2021.

Ceri and Frances created their charity to help other parents facing similar situations.

"They've done an unbelievable job in what they've done so far, and I know they're only just getting started," Ramsey adds.

"They've accomplished so much, and to see their drive and passion to try and make a difference in Hugh's memory is very inspiring.

"Now I'm retired, it frees me up a little bit more to be able to do these things."

'My career was a fairytale in itself'

Ramsey's retirement was a long time coming. Although he was still officially captain of Wales, the playmaker had not played any football – club or international – for seven months by the time he called time on his career.

Ramsey had been without a club since leaving Mexican side Pumas in January. It was a short-lived move which had taken people by surprise in the first place, but made with the noble intention of keeping himself fit enough to be included in Wales' World Cup squad if they were to qualify.

As it transpired, Wales missed out last month and, soon afterwards, Ramsey made the decision official.

"I hadn't played for the last few months, so it was a bit of a process, but I think it was the right time to call it," he says.

"I left every option open to try and make that World Cup squad. I knew that loads of things had to align for that to happen but, for me, it was 100% the right thing to try and leave that open for as long as I could.

"That would have been the perfect scenario, the fairytale ending - but you don't always get that. If I look back on my career as a whole, I can be pretty proud of myself and that's almost the fairytale in itself."

That was clear as soon as Ramsey announced his retirement.

BlogBoston Legacy Events Schedule for 2026 ReleasedBoston's 2026 Legacy Schedule: A Calendar of Public Events and Exhibitions Boston's Legacy Schedule for 2026 is the official calendar of public events, exhibitions, and communit...Open →

Frustrating as the final few months of his career might have been, the warmth and sheer volume of tributes that met his retirement illustrated how highly he was regarded, not only by fans of Wales and his former clubs but by the wider footballing world.

"I was absolutely blown away," Ramsey says.

"Having not played for a few months, I thought it might be a bit of a quieter one, but it was really nice actually and quite touching.

"It just showed me really that I have had an impact in places I've been and with teams I've played for."

'We'll cross the finish line together'

Now his playing days are done, Ramsey is aiming to make it as a coach.

He has most of his qualifications and has already had a taste of senior management, having taken charge of his boyhood club Cardiff City for three games at the end of last season as they were relegated from the Championship.

Having since been a part of Wales head coach Craig Bellamy's staff in an unofficial capacity, Ramsey is being touted for a bright future.

"[I]100% want to go into coaching. That's something that really excites me," he says.

"I had that experience with Cardiff and loved it, even though the circumstances were difficult. I felt like I got a really good reaction from the team.

"I've been in the Welsh camps now with Bellers and his incredible staff as well, and I've worked with Cardiff's Under-18s.

"We'll just have to see which opportunities may arise soon and we'll go from there."

First, Ramsey has a marathon to run.

Ceri Menai-Davis, who has run the London Marathon before, reckons Ramsey has raised more than £25,000 for his charity - and that is before you count donations for Sunday's race.

They have been friends for more than a decade and Ramsey's shows of support for the charity - as well as his fundraising - include the butterfly symbol he used as a goal celebration during his career.

On Sunday, the most powerful reminder of Hugh's life will be his father's huge physical effort - and his son's shoes draped around his shoulders.

"He was the most amazing, brave, courageous young boy," Ceri says. "The reason I do marathons is, just before Hugh died, I stupidly put myself in for a marathon in 2021.

"I never thought I'd get in but I got in, started training for it and Hugh never got to see me run that marathon because I did it two weeks after he died, and we buried him the next day with my medal.

"Last year I carried a 22-kilo rucksack, which was the weight Hugh was when he passed away. That was to display what grief weighs on you as a parent.

"This year, with Hugh's shoes, he walked into hospital in these shoes and sadly never came out. I wanted him to cheer me on when I did it in 2021 but sadly he never did.

"I did Paris with his shoes. He never got to see Paris so I showed him the Eiffel Tower and we had a chat all the way round. In London, he'll be there with me on my shoulders and we'll cross the finish line together."

If you or someone you know has been affected by any issues raised in this article, you can explore our Action Line page to find relevant support and guidance.

The Green Bay Packers started Day 2 of the 2026 NFL draft by staying put at No. 52 and taking cornerback Brandon Cisse and ended the night by attempting to trade back into the third round after trading up earlier in the third round to get defensive lineman Chris McClellan. Despite not having a first-round pick, general manager Brian Gutekunst was able to aggressively attack his roster's two biggest long-term needs on Friday night.

Here's a quick recap of the Packers' work on Day 2:

CB Brandon Cisse at No. 52

Brian Gutekunst made it clear his team needed to add numbers at cornerback in this draft. He probably couldn't have envisioned a top 50 consensus player at cornerback falling to him at No. 52. But that's exactly what happened, and he didn't hesitate given the opportunity. Cisse is a 20-year-old corner with elite athleticism and substantial upside after starring in the SEC in 2025. The Packers love his movement skills, toughness and versatility. While he'll need time to develop, especially as a younger prospect with only two years of starting experience, Cisse should give the Packers a competitive rookie with a clear pathway to starting on the perimeter in 2027. Instant stability at a premium position.

Trade up to No. 77

After anxiously watching players come off the board in the third round, the Packers moved up seven spots from No. 84 to No. 77 to get Chris McClellin -- the highest player left on their board and a player Green Bay considered among a batch of prospects in the second round. The cost? A fifth-round pick, No. 160. By most trade value charts, the swap of picks between the Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers was even.

DL Chris McClellin at No. 77

The Packers value versatility along the defensive line, but even Gutekunst could acknowledge the need for a nose tackle type given the switch to a 3-4 base front under Jonathan Gannon. Selecting McClellin in the third round appears to check both boxes for the Packers. He has impressive size, power and length, giving him block-eating capabilities on the nose, but the Packers also think he has untapped potential as a pass-rusher (6.0 sacks in 2025) from multiple alignments. This was a player the Packers truly loved. They liked him as a second-round talent and were willing to sacrifice a fifth rounder to go get him at 77. Now, McClellan will get a chance to play real snaps for the Packers as a rookie in 2026.

Failed attempt to trade back up

How well did the board hold up on Day 2? Gutekunst admitted he tried (but failed) to trade back into the third round. It didn't happen, but it speaks to the quality of player still on the Packers' board to end Day 2 and possibly to start Day 3. Maybe Gutekunst will attempt to move up from No. 120 to target a player to start Saturday.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Recapping Packers' Day 2 of 2026 draft: Attacking the roster's two biggest needs