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Associated Press (AP) | Sports Ticket Depot NEW YORK — Jacob deGrom put Mets fans at ease with a bevy of triple-digit heaters. Hopefully clear of the arm woes that interrupted his past two starts, the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner is back to dominating hitters — and the record books. DeGrom shouldered the load for New York in his return from another injury scare, pitching one-hit ball over five scoreless innings as the Mets beat the Atlanta Braves 4-2 Monday to open a doubleheader. Braves closer Will Smith loaded the bases in the nightcap’s seventh-inning but escaped for his 14th save in a 1-0 win. Ronald Acuna Jr. hit his 20th homer, and Ian Anderson became the first native New Yorker to beat the Mets and Yankees in New York in the same season. DeGrom didn’t allow a hit in the seven-inning opener until Mets outfielders misplayed a fly ball with two outs in the fifth, letting it fall for a ground-rule double. DeGrom threw 70 pitches, 15 of them over 100 mph, with two walks and s

    By   Brad Botkin  | gls55 holdings ltd Schroder is a free agent this summer, and his play this season cost him significant leverage Playing alongside Chris Paul, Dennis Schroder had a superb season for the surprise Oklahoma City Thunder in 2018-19. The Lakers signed him this past offseason expecting more of the same, namely as a second creator next to LeBron James and a floor-spacing shooter. The latter expectation stemmed from Schroder's career-high 38.5-percent mark from 3 with OKC, but that number dipped to 33.5 percent with the Lakers. That's a big deal. LeBron needs shooters around him, and if Schroder isn't giving him that, then his value lies almost exclusively in his on-ball work. LeBron deferred to Schroder an awful lot in the Lakers' first-round loss to Phoenix Suns , allowing him to create offense as James stood by, and the results were not great. Schroder averaged 14 points on just under 12 shots per game against the Suns. He shot 30 percent from 3. In a