First Call: Steelers reportedly make signings on offense; Pirates face top dogs in the NL East

In Monday’s “First Call,” the Steelers have reportedly made two signings on offense. The Pirates are getting ready for some tough competition on their first road trip under Don Kelly as manager. And the Pacers are on the verge of an upset in the NBA’s Eastern Conference playoffs with some help from WPIAL veteran T.J. McConnell.

With love from Lindenwood

Newly inked Steeler Gareth Warren is getting congratulations from his alma mater.

Lindenwood University posted news of his signing after the Steelers went through rookie minicamp, and Warren signed on to the 90-man roster.

Signed ✍️

Following a successful tryout at Pittsburgh Steelers minicamp, Gareth Warren of the @LindenwoodFB ???????? team has officially been signed to their roster!

???? | https://t.co/if5KETvfwL#NewLevel pic.twitter.com/jQCTPUEvk7

— Lindenwood Athletics (@LU_Lions) May 11, 2025

The offensive lineman from Hawaii is 6-foot-5, 328 pounds. Warren was All-Ohio Valley Conference this past season and participated in the East-West Shrine game.

Lindenwood — in St. Charles, Mo. — moved up to Division I in 2022. With the Lions, Warren played both left guard and left tackle. He started 36 of 39 games.

Sir Sermon

According to Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports, the Steelers are also signing Trey Sermon. He’s a former running back of the Indianapolis Colts and got a veteran tryout at the club’s rookie minicamp this past weekend.

Sources: The #Steelers are signing RB Trey Sermon to a 1-year deal.

Sermon spent the past two seasons with the #Colts, totaling 258 yards and 2 TDs last year. pic.twitter.com/p5i3Nsw6HA

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 11, 2025

Sermon has bounced around since entering the NFL from Ohio State. The former Buckeye was a third-round pick by the 49ers in the 2021 NFL Draft. After lasting a year there, he went to Philadelphia for the 2022 season, then he was in Indy for the last two years.

Sermon posted 56 carries for 159 yards for the Colts last year. He had 17 carries and 88 yards against the Steelers in Week 15 of 2023.

Meet the Mets

After taking two of three from the Atlanta Braves over the weekend, the Pirates stay in the National League East for their next series.

They are on the road for six games against the Mets and Phillies in New York and Philadelphia. Those are the two best teams in the division. The Mets lead the East with a 26-15 record. The Phillies are only 1 ½ games back at 24-16.

New York just took two of three against both the Diamondbacks and the Chicago Cubs. The Phillies have won seven of 10. Both teams are excellent when it comes to getting runners on base. The Phillies are third in the NL in team on-base percentage at .336. The Mets are right behind them at .334 in fourth place.

As a pitching staff, the Mets have the best team ERA in Major League baseball (2.88). The Phillies are tops in the Majors in strikeouts with 391.

As of now, Paul Skenes (3-4, 2.77) is supposed to pitch twice on the road trip for Pittsburgh. He’ll open it up Monday night in Queens against David Peterson (2-2, 3.05). He is also slated to wrap up the road trip Sunday in Philly against Christopher Sanchez, who is 4-1 with a 2.89 ERA.

Pacing toward victory

The Indiana Pacers are a win away from getting to the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA playoffs. Chartiers Valley product T.J. McConnell was a big part of that Sunday night.

The former Duquesne Duke came off the bench to post 13 points on 5 of 9 shooting as the Pacers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 129-109. As a result, they lead the best-of-seven series 3-1.

"Look at McConnell, he is picking them apart."

T.J. McConnell has 4 PTS, 5 AST & 1 STL in 9 minutes off the bench ???? pic.twitter.com/WNOaXCnauP

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 12, 2025

McConnell added eight assists, two rebounds and a steal in 18 minutes. He had a dozen points, seven assists and six rebounds in the Game 3 loss as well.

Indiana can eliminate the Cavs on Tuesday night in Cleveland. Boston will try to even up the other Eastern series at 2-2 Monday night in New York.