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‘Celtic fans will fall in love’ – Kasper Hogh makes his mark

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Hogh had drawn some criticism for failing to show a finishing touch against Dundee in Celtic’s Premiership opener, but he didn’t take long to put that experience behind him when he rose to nod in Arne Engels’ cross from close range while some fans were still taking their seats at Rugby Park.

The goal impressed BBC pundit Pat Nevin, who noted it as “an easy goal, but a good goal and that’s where strikers want to live”.

The former Scotland winger watched Hogh find space to add two more and believes there’s already evidence that the defending champions have a real talent on their hands.

“Hogh is a new star,” Nevin said. “And the Celtic fans have got someone they are going to fall in love with because he looks to me like a total and utter natural goalscorer, as well as a good technical player as well.

“Celtic loved Daizen Maeda with his workrate, and before that Kyogo Furuhashi, but this guy looks like he can fill those shoes with some ease.

“I can remember watched Kyogo in his first game and thinking ‘Oh, my word, you could be the new Larsson’ because of his movement and he’s that good.

“After 45 minutes, I’m looking at Hogh and thinking this isn’t a fluke. Some players can come in and get a hat-trick and it’s a bit lucky because you find yourself in the right position.

“No, this is a player, this is a striker who knows where the goal is, knows where to go, has intelligent movement and there’s his link-up play as well.”

BBC Scotland’s chief sportswriter, Tom English, was equally impressed and saw a striker who can “tear up this league”.

“Hogh is looking more ruthless than he did on Monday, when he had chances and didn’t take them,” he said.

“In my opinion, he is the most proven goalscorer that Celtic have signed since Chris Sutton. I’m talking about pedigree, who has done it before he got to Celtic.

“Look at the goals he’s scored in the Champions League against Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, Inter Milan and for Bodo/Glimt against Sporting, Olympiacos and Porto.

“I think it’s £11m very well spent and this guy is going to get buckets of goals this season. He’s a six-yard-box striker, not exclusively, but he gets a lot of his goals there and in this league against the defenders he’s coming up against, he’s going to tear up this league.”

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How to watch Reds vs. Nationals: TV channel and streaming options for August 9

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Eugenio Suarez rides a two-game homer streak into the Cincinnati Reds’ game versus the Washington Nationals at 12:15 p.m. ET on Sunday, at Nationals Park. Brad Lord (5-2, 3.81 ERA) gets the start for the Nationals, who are 58-61 this season and fourth in the NL East. Brady Singer (5-10, 4.67 ERA) is the expected starter for the Reds, who are 56-60 and fifth in the NL Central.

How to watch Cincinnati Reds vs. Washington Nationals

Reds vs. Nationals odds

  • Favorite Moneyline: Nationals -118
  • Underdog Moneyline: Reds -102
  • Total: 9
  • Total Over Odds: -118
  • Total Under Odds: -102

Injury reports

Nationals

James Wood: 10 Day IL (Oblique), Drew Millas: 10 Day IL (Finger), Connelly Early: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Josiah Gray: 60 Day IL (Elbow), DJ Herz: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Ken Waldichuk: 60 Day IL (Forearm), Richard Lovelady: 60 Day IL (Tricep), Mitchell Parker: 60 Day IL (Elbow), PJ Poulin: 60 Day IL (Flexor)

Reds

Spencer Steer: 10 Day IL (Wrist), Hunter Greene: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Tony Santillan: 15 Day IL (Oblique), Nick Lodolo: 15 Day IL (Finger), Graham Ashcraft: 60 Day IL (Forearm), Brandon Williamson: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Blake Dunn: 60 Day IL (Elbow)

Stats to know

  • Washington’s CJ Abrams is slashing .288/.361/.548 this season with 28 home runs (8th in MLB), 89 RBIs (1st in MLB) and an OPS of .909 (7th in MLB). He has a 22.9% strikeout rate and an 8.5% walk rate in 493 plate appearances, and he has scored 73 total runs. Abrams has recorded 21 steals on 26 attempts.
  • In 484 plate appearances, Daylen Lile has hit 15 long balls, tallied 60 RBIs and scored 60 runs. He is batting .244/.295/.419 and has posted a 19% strikeout rate and a 5.8% walk rate. Lile has recorded 11 steals on 16 attempts.
  • Cincinnati’s Sal Stewart is slashing .255/.333/.477 this season with 25 home runs (13th in MLB), 86 RBIs (2nd in MLB) and an OPS of .810. He has a 21.9% strikeout rate and a 10.4% walk rate in 502 plate appearances, and he has scored 64 total runs. Stewart has recorded 12 steals on 16 attempts.
  • In 435 plate appearances, Elly De La Cruz has posted a 26.7% strikeout rate and an 11% walk rate while slashing .274/.356/.504 with 20 home runs, 54 RBIs and 66 runs scored. He has stolen 21 bases on 27 attempts.

This watch guide was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.

Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.

Photo: Jamie Squire, Ishika Samant, Scott Taetsch, Alika Jenner / Getty Images

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San Diego Padres sign OF Austin Hays to a major-league deal

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Austin Hays takes an at-bat during a game against the Padres.

Austin Hays is a nine-year veteran and one-time All-Star. Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images

In need of an offensive spark and veteran outfield experience, the San Diego Padres are signing Austin Hays to a major-league deal, a league source told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal on Sunday. With Samad Taylor still on the IL, Ramón Laureano likely out for the year, and Jase Bowen struggling against big-league pitching, the Padres found themselves in need of a temporary solution.

After a solid season with the Cincinnati Reds last year, Hays signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Chicago White Sox this past offseason. But injuries have dogged the 31-year-old veteran all year long, limiting him to just 12 games (44 plate appearances). He was designated for assignment Wednesday and released Friday.

When he has been on the field this summer, Hays has struggled to perform. But when he’s healthy and at his best, Hays is a quality right-handed bat, particularly facing lefties. Last season, Hays had a 155 wRC+ against lefties, and for his career he’s at 123. Hays primarily plays left field now, but can also handle right field if needed.

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Livingstone and Brevis take apart Phoenix at Lord's

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A partnership of 103 between Liam Livingstone and Dewald Brevis, including some huge sixes, sees London Spirit coast to victory over Birmingham Phoenix.

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