Tribunal verdict upheld that St Kilda player guilty of conduct unbecoming
Reduced four-week suspension comes with two weeks suspended
St Kilda forward Lance Collard will serve a two-week suspension over his latest homophobic slur after having his ban reduced by the AFL appeal board.
Collard was initially banned for seven weeks, with a further two weeks suspended, after being found guilty of calling a VFL opponent a “fucking faggot” last month. He denied the allegation.
Continue reading...Spurs face must-win game at Wolves, Arsenal fight to keep title hopes alive and Chelsea step into a post-Rosenior world
Maybe it is a case of fourth time lucky for Nottingham Forest. Certainly Vítor Pereira – manager No 4 in the most chaotic of seasons – is doing something right. The Europa League semi-finalists are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games and will arrive at the Stadium of Light knowing victory would move them within touching distance of safety. Their visit should provide an interesting tactical challenge for Sunderland. Régis Le Bris’ side often excel on the counterattack but Forest are likely to sit deep and invite their hosts to unpick their packed defence while hoping to hurt them on the break. Le Bris will surely need Nordi Mukiele to advance with typical verve from right-back, while, in midfield, Noah Sadiki and Enzo Le Fée will be required to demonstrate precisely why they are being watched by several leading clubs. This Sunderland team often plays with real and refreshing personality. Can Forest subdue it? Louise Taylor
Sunderland v Nottingham Forest, Premier League, Friday 8pm (all times BST)
Fulham v Aston Villa, Premier League, Saturday 12.30pm
West Ham v Everton, Premier League, Saturday 3pm
Wolves v Tottenham, Premier League, Saturday 3pm
Continue reading...The Denver Nuggets face the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. The teams split the first two games in Denver and the series’ next two games will be in Minneapolis. Nuggets starting forward Aaron Gordon will miss the game with a calf strain.
Date: Thursday, April 23
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT
Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
TV Channels: Amaz
Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports
Spread: Minnesota Timberwolves +2.5
Moneyline: Minnesota Timberwolves +115 (44.4%) / Denver Nuggets -140 (55.6%)
Over/Under: 234.5Series schedule
Game 1:Nuggets 116, Timberwolves 105
Game 2:Timberwolves 119, Nuggets 114
Game 3: Thu., April 23, at Minnesota (9:30 p.m., Prime Video)
Game 4: Sat., April 25, at Minnesota (8:30 p.m., ABC)
*Game 5: Mon., April 27, at Denver (TBD)
*Game 6: Thu., April 30, at Minnesota (TBD)
*Game 7: Sat., May 2, at Denver (TBD)
*if necessary
The Denver Nuggets are facing an injury issue to one of their key players.
Power forward Aaron Gordon, a versatile playmaker and defender, appeared on the injury report with left calf tightness.
It’s yet another injury Gordon is having to contend with this season, after he sat most of the year with hamstring and calf issues. Either way, Gordon is a crucial part of Denver’s offense, as a ball-handling big who can create for others, as a spot-up 3-point shooter, and as a lob threat from the dunker’s spot.
Gordon is also a steady defensive presence down low who offers some rim protection capability. Against an aggressive Timberwolves team that likes to drive the ball and get to the paint with Anthony Edwards, any Gordon absence would come as a blow to the Nuggets, who lost Game 2 on Monday, April 20, leaving the series tied at one game apiece.
Here’s everything you need to know about Aaron Gordon’s status for Game 3.
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, Gordon will not play Thursday, April 23 in Game 3 of Denver’s first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. On the latest injury report, however, Gordon was still listed as questionable.
In 36 games this season, Gordon averaged 16.2 points on 49.7% shooting, 5.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He also shot 38.9% from 3-point range.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aaron Gordon injury update: Will Nuggets star play vs Timberwolves?
The Philadelphia Flyers, for now, appear to have avoided an injury scare with goalie Dan Vladar as they look to finish off the Pittsburgh Penguins in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Vladar, 28, has been the Flyers' MVP so far, posting a perfect 3-0-0 record with a .946 save percentage, 1.33 GAA, and one shutout.
As of now, the Flyers and head coach Rick Tocchet don't appear to be too concerned about their starting goalie's injury and subsequent absence from practice, and he was going to be kept off the ice anyway.
"It's more of a maintenance day. He was probably going to be off anyways, but he's a little banged up," Tocchet said to reporters after Thursday's practice. "Feels better today. That's all the information I really have."
Vladar suffered the apparent injury when a Penguins player landed on him in the crease, pulling the blocker off his hand in the process.
Unsung Hero Noah Juulsen Giving Flyers Tough MinutesThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> only turned to Noah Juulsen due to injury, but the veteran journeyman has responded in an encouraging way despite coming into a tough spot cold.
After a brief hold-your-breath moment with trainer Tommy Alva, Vladar ultimately carried on and finished Game 3, though he wasn't made available to speak with the media after the game.
Fortunately, the Flyers won't play again until Saturday night, so the Czech netminder will be afforded one more day of rest and recovery before it's showtime again.
If Vladar cannot play, the Flyers will presumably turn to Sam Ersson, who would be backed up by No. 3 goalie Aleksei Kolosov.
Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.
The next time the sports betting gods deal out a bad beat, just think of those who backed Kevin Durant to clear his points prop in Game 2 of this opening-round series.
Durant came out hot, dropping 20 points in the first half with the Over 23.5 looking well within reach before managing just three more the rest of the way.
It was a rough night for the “it’s rigged” crowd, and the backlash was swift, with criticism pouring in over his second-half fade and growing doubts about Houston’s chances after falling behind 0-2.
Our Lakers vs. Rockets predictions know all too well that Durant is fueled by drama and my NBA picks are buying low on one of the great postseason performers in NBA history for Friday, April 24.
Kevin Durant started Game 2 hitting 6-of-7 from the field and cashing in all seven of his free throws. After the halftime break, he was 1-for-5 shooting and went 1-of-2 from the charity stripe, drawing aggressive attention from the Los Angeles Lakers’ defense.
Afterwards, as reporters gushed over the Lakers’ defensive game plan, LeBron James was hesitant to celebrate the success on KD, knowing what was coming.
“That just makes him even madder going into Game 3,” James warned the media.
Forgotten in all the shit talk directed at Durant is that he was a game-time decision for Tuesday’s tilt after sitting out Game 1 with a knee contusion and playing his first contest since April 10.
Now, with the series swinging to Houston, Durant has extra days to strengthen that knee as well as drink in all the hate from the mainstream media. And when asked about how he should have dealt with the constant double teams from Los Angeles, Durant’s solution was to attack.
“I’m trying to make passes… But I feel like I’ve got to shoot more of those and put my teammates in better positions,” Durant told reporters.
That was his plan before the playoffs, when he exploded for more than 27 points on 54.4% shooting over his final 13 outings, leading the Houston Rockets to a 10-3 SU mark in those games. He topped 23.5 points in all but two of those showings.
The 12 FGAs in Game 2 tied his lowest shot total during that run and if Durant is a man of his word, he’ll get up at least his usual 17 attempts in Game 3. Projections sit as high as 28 points for a guy who’s averaged more than 29 points in the playoffs throughout his career.
The Rockets may win this one but the spread seems out of whack considering how well the Lakers are playing right now. I expect some offensive adjustments from Houston but don’t have it winning by 10 points.
The Lakers have gotten some great performances from their role players and Rui Hachimura has been quietly consistent through two games. He’s shooting a collective 11-for-20 from the field (5-for-10 on 3-pointers), doesn’t shrink on the road, and is projected for as many as 15 points in Game 3.
LeBron knows what’s coming from KD in Game 3. This could be the GOAT on GOAT battle we’ve been waiting for in this series. The Lakers keep it closer than oddsmakers expect, while the Rockets’ offense will finally find its way and top this ultra-low total.
NBA playoff totals of 206 points or lower have produced a 21-14 Over/Under record the past three postseasons (60% Overs). Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Rockets.
| Location | Toyota Center, Houston, TX |
| Date | Friday, April 24, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | Prime Video |
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.
It's often said that in a best-of-seven series, you're never really in trouble until you lose a game at home. But it can also be said that if you're down 0-2, it forces you to go 4-1 in the final five games.
That second statement sounds a lot like trouble.
But if there's a team this season that's shown the resilience needed to pull that off, it's the Ottawa Senators.
The series shifts to Ottawa for Game 3 on Thursday night, where the crowd will be loud, and their All Heart, AllIn rally towels will be waving.
The Senators announced at their game day skate that they've swapped out a pair of their depth defensemen for Game 3.
Tyler Kleven is well enough to play after taking an early-April puck to the face in a game against the Buffalo Sabres. After skating for almost a week now, he'll take Dennis Gilbert's spot while Ottawa native Cam Crotty plays in his first NHL playoff game, subbing in for Lassi Thomson.
Here's the Senators' projected lineup:
Brady Tkachuk -- Tim Stutzle -- Drake Batherson
Ridly Greig -- Dylan Cozens -- Claude Giroux
Warren Foegele -- Shane Pinto -- Mike Amadio
Nick Cousins -- Lars Eller -- Fabian Zetterlund
Jake Sanderson -- Nikolas Matinpalo
Thomas Chabot -- Jordan Spence
Tyler Kleven -- Cameron Crotty
Linus Ullmark
James Reimer
If Ottawa gets a lead, this alignment probably won't change much. If Carolina gets the lead and the Sens are suddenly staring at the possibility of being down 0-3 in the series, then everything is on the table, including a very short bench.
Because a loss will all but end their season. NHL teams that take a 3-0 series lead have a tidy 209-4 record.
As a sidebar, if you're going to the game, there's a decent chance that Sens veteran Claude Giroux or one of his kids put the towel on your seat.
All hands on deck!
— x - Ottawa Senators (@Senators) April 23, 2026
The Giroux’s and their teammates came out and helped fill the stands with #Sens@FullscriptHQ rally towels for tonight’s game!
Can’t wait to see you soon 👊 https://t.co/hHzutMlT9Opic.twitter.com/g5Z1Umu41a
Steve Warne
The Hockey News
Thomas Haugh was projected as a possible lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. ESPN ranked the 6’9 junior wing at No. 13 overall on its big board, which is historically the best gauge of how NBA executives and scouts are viewing a player in the draft process. SB Nation had Haugh at No. 21 overall in its post-March Madness mock draft, and that might have been his floor. Players this highly regarded are almost always turning pro. NIL has now changed that.
Haugh announced he’s returning to Florida for his senior season on Wednesday. It’s a stunning decision that positions the Gators as the likely preseason No. 1 in the polls and the favorite for the 2027 national championship. Highly-regarded teammate Alex Condon also announced he was returning to school, and fellow Gators big man Rueben Chinyelu is testing the draft process but did not enter the transfer portal. It feels more likely than not that Chinyelu will return to Gainesville alongside Haugh and Condon to reunite a key trio on Florida’s 2024 national championship team.
It’s not unprecedented for a projected lottery pick to return to school even before the NIL era. I remember writing about Miles Bridges and Robert Williams spurning the 2017 NBA Draft to return to Michigan State and Texas A&M respectively. Joakim Noah famously returned to Florida ahead of the 2006 NBA Draft, where he could have been the No. 1 overall pick. We’ve seen in football that NIL dollars are now big enough to keep even potential top-5 prospects in school for another year. Still, Haugh’s decision is a huge surprise. We haven’t had a player this highly touted bypass the NBA for a return to college in almost a decade.
It makes sense that Haugh had to get a huge NIL bag to come back to Florida, and reporter Sam Vecenie of The Athletic confirmed that’s the case:
Haugh is expected to be among the highest earners in college basketball next season, with sources familiar with the decision projecting that he’s in line to make around what he’d earn in his first two NBA seasons combined if he’d been drafted in the top 20 in this year’s draft
NIL payments for college athletes aren’t public, but if you follow these things closely enough the information is usually out there somewhere. AJ Dybantsa’s NIL payment from BYU was reported to be around $7 million. Caitlin Clark reportedly made more than $3 million as a senior at Iowa. No one knows what Cooper Flagg or Cameron Boozer made at Duke, but it was likely a lot of money.
To my knowledge, Dybantsa is the highest paid college basketball player ever, and it’s likely Haugh just surpassed him. CBS insider Matt Norlander speculated that Haugh will make at least $8 million at Florida next season based on Vecenie’s report.
“Florida is going to have the highest-paid player in all of college basketball this season, and rightfully so,” Norlander said.
Haugh is set to turn 23 years old on July 7. He would have been an old NBA rookie even if he entered the 2026 NBA Draft, and he’s going to be even older in 2027. Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg told SB Nation that he returned to college a year ago in part because NBA scouts told him his advanced age didn’t matter. Lendeborg was considered more of a borderline first round pick a year ago, and he definitely improved his stock by winning the national championship with the Wolverines even if he’ll be a 24-year-old rookie. I had Lendeborg in the top-10 of my midseason board where Haugh was unranked. Some older prospects can still be worth a lottery pick, and Haugh’s situation will be fascinating in 2027.
The 2027 NBA Draft is considered much weaker than the 2026 version. That means Haugh shouldn’t fall too far, right? I’m not quite sold yet. Haugh seems to have nothing to gain by returning to Florida, where he’s already won a national championship and proven himself as a decent 3-and-D wing. If NBA scouts already considered him a lottery pick, he probably should have gone to the NBA, because I think it’s highly possible his stock isn’t that high next year even in a worse class.
There were some red flags in Haugh’s draft profile this past season. He posted a 1.8 percent steal rate in back-to-back seasons, which is well below the 2.5 percent threshold scouts like to see as a baseline for athleticism. He wasn’t a particularly strong rebounder on either end, posting a seven percent offensive rebound rate, and a 12.3 percent defensive rebound rate, which are just average numbers. His outside shooting wasn’t that good either with a 32.6 percent stroke from three-point range on 178 attempts. His rim finishing was solid at 62.1 percent with 57.5 percent of those being assisted, but those numbers certainly aren’t spectacular.
Florida is probably going to be really, really good, and Haugh will probably do well in his role. But unless he shows something new in his game like Lendeborg did, it’s possible scouts get another look at his skill set and decide he never should have been a lottery pick in the first place.
The real money in the NBA is in your second contract. If a player is good enough, it makes any NIL money or rookie scale NBA deal look like chump change.
By returning to Florida, Haugh will now be 28 years old by the time he’s ready to sign a second contract after his four-year rookie deal expires. That contract will take Haugh into his early 30s. Compare that with projected top-3 pick Cameron Boozer, who is four years younger than Haugh, and will only be 24 years old when he signs his second deal and really cashes in with huge NBA money. Teams will always think a young player has more upside. By your early 30s, most players are already starting to decline.
Haugh’s decision could work out well. Maybe he shoots it better and improves his rebounding, and maintains his stock as a lottery pick as Florida marches through the bracket for the second time in his college career. Maybe the NBA is underwhelmed by the incoming class of freshmen and decides it is worth it to swing on older players higher in the draft.
Age is the clearest defining line in sports, especially as it relates to upside. To me, Haugh should have turned pro if he was really going to be a top-15 pick. Yes, the NBA will always be there for him, but that doesn’t mean it will definitely value him the same way.
Either way, good for Haugh for following his heart and his bank account by deciding to stay in college. The NBA is an unforgiving league, and next season should feel like a joyride for the Gators based on their talent and experience … at least until the single-elimination postseason starts.
It’s wild to think Thomas Haugh will make $8+ million next year. That’s about what Tre Johnson made as a rookie after being the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. NIL dollars are overpowering NBA money, at least in the short term. Haugh cashed in at a historic level.
Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.
The Utah Mammoth stole home-ice advantage with a Game 2 win, and now they host the Vegas Golden Knights at the Delta Center with a chance to take the series lead on Friday, April 24.
My top Golden Knights vs. Mammoth predictions and NHL picks call for Vegas to foil that plan with a high-scoring road win.
Both the Vegas Golden Knights and Utah Mammoth have mounted dangerous pushes in this series, with 11 goals and 12.39 expected goals through the first two games.
There’s ample scoring punch on both teams, and I’m not confident in the goaltending.
Vegas No. 1 Carter Hart allowed three goals on 29 shots in Game 2, and I’m anticipating him hovering around a .900 SV% through the remainder of the series following an unsustainable stretch where he posted a .932 mark across seven games after returning from injury.
Similarly, Utah starter Karel Vejmelka has allowed three goals or more in six of his past eight starts with an .880 SV% dating back to the regular season.
While there’s a lot to like about Utah evening the series in Game 2, a look at the tape reveals all three goals the Mammoth scored probably shouldn’t have ended up in the back of the net.
Of course, Vegas has also been the better team at 5-on-5 with a 55.5% Corsi For percentage (CF%) and 52.8% expected goals percentage (xG).
Additionally, while I’m not all in on Hart, this is a low saves total after he stopped 57 of 62 shots through the first two games, and the Mammoth ranked fourth in CF% at 5-on-5 on home ice during the regular season.
Golden Knights star Jack Eichel has only found the back of the net three times across his past 11 games, dating back to the regular season, despite racking up an impressive 54 shots, 17 high-danger scoring chances, and 5.97 individual expected goals.
He’s pacing Vegas forwards in ice time during the series, and his 5.6% shooting percentage during the highlighted stretch is miles below the 11.7% mark he posted across his previous 265 regular-season games.
The Utah Mammoth have hit the Over in 10 of their last 14 games (+5.60 Units / 35% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Mammoth.
| Location | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT |
| Date | Friday, April 24, 2026 |
| Puck drop | 9:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | TBS, Sportsnet 360 |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.
The Dodgers tout Yoshinobu Yamamoto as a Cy Young award contender, and every one of his starts has been a quality start, including the one he made here Tuesday.
The Dodgers talk up Shohei Ohtani as a Cy Young award contender, and Ohtani has given up one run all season. He pitched six shutout innings here Wednesday.
But the pitcher who delivered the best start of this series against the San Francisco Giants, and the one that stood tall between the Giants and what would have been a humiliating sweep, was Tyler Glasnow.
Glasnow stopped the Giants cold over eight innings, allowing one hit — a single — and facing one batter over the minimum.
Read more:Shohei Ohtani pitches six shutout innings, but one swing lifts Giants over Dodgers
He has made 133 major league starts and 130 minor league starts, but he never has pitched a complete game. This could have been his chance, but the Dodgers decided a season-high 105 pitches from an oft-injured pitcher was enough for this afternoon.
Tanner Scott got the first save situation since the Dodgers lost closer Edwin Díaz to elbow surgery, and last year’s fallen closer redeemed himself for a day. He worked a perfect ninth inning for the first of what might be quite a few saves this season.
In 10 ⅔ innings this season, Scott has given up one run and one walk, with nine strikeouts. His earned-run average is 0.84.
The Dodgers concluded a 3-4 trip to Colorado and San Francisco, the teams projected to finish in the bottom two spots in the National League West. Up next: the Chicago Cubs, winners of nine consecutive games.
Ohtani went hitless again, but Dalton Rushing singled home one run in the second inning and Hyeseong Kim singled home another in the fourth. The Dodgers also scored on an error in the fourth.
Kyle Tucker, whose average had fallen to .233 entering play Thursday, ignited the two-run rally in the fourth with a double and delivered his first two-hit game in 17 days.
On the day after he said he had no answer to explain Tucker’s struggles, manager Dave Roberts tried a remedy. Roberts flipped Tucker with Freddie Freeman in the batting order, moving Freeman up to second and dropping Tucker to fourth and saying Freeman and Tucker would remain in those spots “for the foreseeable future.”
Said Roberts: “I definitely expect him to come out of it and hit, get on base and do what he's done for many years. I just wanted to change it up, and felt like it was time.”
The Dodgers did not leave town without a hint of bad blood between them and their traditional rivals. On Tuesday, cameras caught Rushing muttering something after looking back at the Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee, who was in discomfort after an awkward slide at home plate. Rushing had tagged out Lee and was headed back to the dugout when he turned back to see Lee on the ground, then kept going.
Read more:Offense takes the night off as Dodgers fall to the Giants
Rushing did not play Wednesday. On Thursday, in his third plate appearance, Rushing was hit by a pitch from San Francisco starter Logan Webb.
Rushing did not appear pleased. When the following batter, Kim, grounded to second base, Rushing threw up his hands and slid away from the base to try and prevent shortstop Willy Adames from completing the double play.
The second-base umpire pointed at Rushing and awarded the Giants with the double play. The first-base umpire ruled the Giants had completed the double play anyway, since Adames’ throw beat Kim to first base.
Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
It took three games for the Dodgers to find any semblance of offense in San Francisco, and they managed to beat the Giants best starter to do it, salvaging a game behind a dominant Tyler Glasnow on getaway day Thursday in a 3-0 win at Oracle Park.
Glasnow allowed only a single and a walk, and another batter reached on an error. Groundball double plays erased two of those runners, which meant Glasnow only faced one over the minimum in his eight scoreless innings. That matched the longest outing of his career, the fourth time he’s done it and first since April 21, 2024 against the New York Mets.
San Francisco only batted twice with a runner in scoring position, both in the first inning after Luis Arráez stole second base with one out. But Glasnow struck out both Matt Chapman and Rafael Devers to end the only real threat against him.
Glasnow, who allowed three hits to the Colorado Rockies and Giants in 15 innings in his two starts on the road trip, struck out nine batters batters on Thursday, lowering his ERA to 2.45 to go with his 31.7-percent strikeout rate and team-leading 38 strikeouts against only seven walks this season.
Glasnow matched teammate Justin Wrobleski for the longest start by a Dodger this season. Both Glasnow and Wrobleski faced one batter over the minimum in their gems.
Max Muncy walked in the second inning against Logan Webb, and advanced to second on a groundout. Dalton Rushing, getting his second start behind the plate in the series in a day game following a night contest, singled home Muncy with two outs.
It was the Dodgers’ second run of the series, but their first run-scoring hit, and all it took was 20 innings and 77 plate appearances to get it.
A pair of doubles by Kyle Tucker and Muncy, on the first two pitches of the fourth inning, set the stage for the Dodgers’ first multi-run inning of the series. It was a bit comical though that it took a throwing error by center fielder Drew Gilbert for that second double to score the first. That’s because Muncy tattooed the ball 107.7 mph directly off the wall, and Tucker held up to see if it was caught. Perhaps it was the universe recognizing Muncy’s bizarre eight-homer, nine-RBI stat line this season, and simply wanting those vibes to continue, as Muncy did not get a run batted in on the play.
Glasnow has completed at least six innings in all five of his starts this year. Combined with Yoshinobu Yamamoto (five starts) and Shohei Ohtani (four), the Dodgers’ top three starters have lasted at least six innings in all 14 outings thus far in 2026. That’ll get it done.
Home runs: none
WP — Tyler Glasnow (3-0): 8 IP, 1 hit, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts
LP — Logan Webb (2-3): 7 IP, 7 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts
Sv — Tanner Scott (1): 1 IP, zeroes
The losing road trip now complete, the Dodgers return home to face the Chicago Cubs beginning Friday night (7:15 p.m., Apple TV). Emmet Sheehan starts the opener, with Jameson Taillon on the mound for Chicago.
The Phillies finally showed some signs of life, but nevertheless they still couldn’t manage to finally break their losing streak, which has now extended to nine games. They erased a 6-2 deficit and tied it at 7-7 in the ninth, but ultimately, they couldn’t find a way to win in extras while Dansby Swanson walked it off for the Cubs to win 8-7. Brandon Marsh went 4-5 with two home runs and three RBIs in a losing effort.
Dansby Swanson wins a wild one in #WALKOFF fashion!
— MLB (@MLB) April 23, 2026
The @Cubs have won NINE in a row 🐻 pic.twitter.com/wnvaadOcKr
Marsh’s first homer gave the Phillies the lead in the second inning, but Cristopher Sánchez quickly surrendered the lead in what would become a recurring theme for Phillies pitchers all day. It took the Cubs just three batters to tie the game after a Carson Kelly double, a Michael Bush single, and a Swanson sacrifice fly. It only got worse for Sánchez from there, as the Cubs hammered him for 6 runs and an eye-popping 12 hits in just 5.1 innings, both tying his career worst. Two of those hits were home runs, with the biggest one being a three-run blast from Busch in the third that extended the deficit to 4-1.
Marsh once again came through and singled in a run in the fourth to cut that deficit in half, but Sánchez again immediately gave that run right back on a home run to Ian Happ as the second batter of the bottom of the fourth. Busch would add another RBI in the sixth, this time with a single off of Chase Shugart who was on in relief of Sánchez.
But instead of rolling over, the Phillies showed a spark for the first time in weeks in the seventh, starting when Marsh tallied his second homer to cut the score to 6-3. Bryson Stott and Alec Bohm followed with a single and a double to put two runners on with one out. That’s when Justin Crawford hit a weak grounder to third baseman Alex Bregman, but Bregman launched the throw past Busch at first, allowing Stott to score and Bohm to go to third. Garrett Stubbs then successfully drove in Bohm with a sacrifice fly to draw the Phillies within one before Trea Turner flew out on the first pitch he saw to end the inning.
The eighth inning brought another Phillies rally, this time started by an impressive nine pitch walk by Bryce Harper against Hoby Milner with one out. Felix Reyes then grounded into a force out and was substituted with Dylan Moore who successfully stole second to put the tying run in scoring position. It was now Marsh’s turn to work an impressive at bat against the “nasty” left-hander Milner, fouling off four pitches and heading to first after eight pitches. Right hander Jacob Webb entered to face the pinch-hitting Edmundo Sosa, who lined the first pitch back up the middle to tie the game at 6-6. Bohm picked up the third walk of the inning for the Phillies to load the bases, but Crawford struck out to end the threat.
Once again though, the Phillies pitching failed to get a shutdown inning, as Seiya Suzuki homered on just the second pitch thrown by Brad Keller, a center cut 95 MPH fastball. Keller was then able to retire the next three hitters, but the Phillies once again trailed by one. Except this time, they answered right back as well, as pinch-hitting Adolis Garcia homered to left field off of Cubs acting closer Caleb Thielbar in the ninth, once again tying the score at 7-7.
Turner and Kyle Schwarber followed with walks to put two on with still no outs. Harper hit a ball just off the end of the bat that went for a fly ball that moved Turner to third with one out, but Moore and Marsh were unable to bring the go-ahead run home.
José Alvarado worked around a one out double to Moisés Ballesteros in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extras. With Marsh serving as the ghost runner, Sosa, Bohm, and Crawford failed to get the run home, leaving the game tied. Tanner Banks entered to pitch the bottom of the 10th and intentionally walked Suzuki before allowing a single to Kelly to load the bases. Banks was able to strike out Busch after a challenge but couldn’t finish off Swanson despite being in an 0-2 count, as the Cubs shortstop successfully got the ball to the outfield to win the game and finish off the four game sweep.
The Phillies will once again look to snap their losing streak when they send Andrew Painter (1-1, 4.42) to the mound in Atlanta to face Grant Holmes (1-1, 3.42). First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 pm.
The Yankees have already locked up the series win, but Thursday evening presents a bigger opportunity. New York enters Fenway Park looking for its first three-game sweep there since September 2021, and a chance to keep momentum rolling against their longtime rivals.
The formula through the first two games has been simple and effective: dominant pitching paired with one right-handed bat carrying the offense each night. On Tuesday, Luis Gil led the charge and Giancarlo Stanton powered the attack in a 4-0 victory, going 2-for-4 with a home run, double, three RBIs, and scoring the Yankees’ other run. On Wednesday, Max Fried tossed a gem and Amed Rosario took the baton in a 4-1 win, going 1-for-1 with a homer, a walk, and a sacrifice fly, collectively accounting for all four RBIs.
Now it will be Cam Schlittler’s turn to try to keep the Red Sox run total drier than an unsoaked bean. The Walpole, Massachusetts native gets the start close to home after becoming a postseason breakout story last October with his Wild Card heroics against these very Red Sox. It is another spotlight moment for the young right-hander, this time in front of a friendly local crowd at Fenway.
Plenty has been said about how Boston fans have treated Schlittler and his family this week. Frankly, I am surprised any of them were willing to pipe up after his playoff performance last October. Some still have, though, so here is hoping Schlittler gives them another reason to go quiet tonight.
Schlittler will face a Boston lineup that is still struggling to start the season. The Red Sox rank 26th in runs scored and 23rd in batting average. Schlittler has dazzled through his first five starts of 2026, posting a 2-1 record with a 1.95 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 27.2 innings.
Boston had originally lined up Brayan Bello for this game, but his scheduled start was pushed back a day after Sonny Gray landed on the injured list. That move could open the door for top prospect Payton Tolle to get the ball. Tolle nearly made the rotation out of spring training before losing the final spot to Tuesday’s starter, Connelly Early.
Tolle is an imposing presence at 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds. The big left-hander was selected in the second round out of TCU in 2024. This will be his first MLB appearance of the season. Last year, Tolle got his first taste of the majors, making three starts and appearing in seven games overall as a September call-up.
Tolle was a two-way star in college but has focused solely on pitching as a professional. He features an upper-90s fastball and mixes in a slider, changeup, and cutter. He has overwhelmed minor-league hitters, ranking third in strikeout rate (37 percent) and fourth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.8) among pitchers with at least 90 innings.
The Yankees lineup card has a new look tonight. Cody Bellinger gets the evening off, and with his usual middle-of-the-order presence out of the mix, the batting order takes on a different flow.
Other than perhaps Tim Hill, no offseason addition has outperformed expectations quite like Rosario, and tonight he gets the leadoff assignment. He is followed by Aaron Judge, Ben Rice, Stanton, and Randal Grichuk, giving the Yankees a top half loaded with right-handed thunder while Rice’s left-handed bat breaks it up in the middle.
Call it the Righties and Rice configuration. With Boston turning to a left-hander, the Yankees are leaning into matchup advantages, and the hot hand of Rosario sits right at the top. Who will be the hero tonight?
A series at Fenway is never routine and sweeps there are never easy. If the Yankees can get one more sharp effort on the mound and another timely performance from someone at the plate, they will head to Houston atop the American League East and with a seven-game lead over last-place Boston in the standings.
How to watch
Location: Fenway Park — Boston, MA
First pitch: 6:10 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES, NESN, Fox/FS1
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY), WEEI 93.7 (BOS)
Online stream: MLB.tv (out-of-market only)
For updates, follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.
Sign up for a user account and get:
For the Nats big name players, today was a productive game. However, it did not come in a winning effort, with the Nats dropping this one 7-2. In a surprise to absolutely nobody, the bullpen could not hold down the fort. Cionel Perez and Gus Varland did not have it in a damaging 7th inning for the Nats.
The Nats were facing JR Ritchie, who was making his MLB debut. James Wood gave him quite the rude introduction by sending Ritchie’s first ever MLB pitch over the wall. The wide eyed 22 year old managed to shake that off and cool off this red hot Nats offense though. Ritchie went 7 innings, only allowing two runs in an impressive performance.
This Nats offense has been elite so far, but even the best offenses have off nights. However, when the offense is not firing, they cannot lean on this pitching staff. So far this season, the Nats pitching staff has been disastrous, allowing the most runs in the league. Some games it is the starters, but today it was the bullpen.
The starting pitching was actually excellent today. Cade Cavalli had his best start of the young season, and arguably the best one of his career. While he only went five innings, he struck out a career high 10 hitters and did not walk anybody. It was a huge step forward for the 27 year old who has been up and down to start the season.
In this one it felt like Cavalli was going right after guys from the jump. He leaned heavily on his two fastballs and his curve in this one. It felt like Cavalli was getting back to the basics and pitching to his strengths. His velocity also looked really good, averaging over 97 on the four-seamer and touching 99.
He threw too many pitches over the heart of the plate in the fourth inning, which the Braves punished. Besides that, Cavalli was outstanding. He still needs to give the Nats more length, but a 4.01 ERA is not too shabby. If he throws the ball like he did today on a consistent basis, he will have a lot of success.
Speaking of success, CJ Abrams finally showed up again after a quiet homestand. In the bottom of the 4th, Abrams took young JR Ritchie yard to tie the game. He was in a 2/27 drought, but he responded in a big way today. Abrams can be prone to slumping, but I think this skid has more to do with bad luck than anything else.
Those two homers were all the offense the Nats could muster today though. It was an off game for this usually electric unit. They only had five hits, with four of them coming from Wood, Abrams and Daylen Lile. The supporting cast just did not get anything going today.
That theme also extended to the mound. It was a good start for the bullpen, with Richard Lovelady firing a scoreless inning. However, Cionel Perez and Gus Varland were off their game today for two different reasons.
Perez was not throwing enough strikes, while Varland was throwing pitches over the heart of the plate too often. That combination led to a four run inning for the Braves, which proved decisive. The Nats dropped to 11-15 and 3-10 at home.
They will hit the road to face a rebuilding White Sox team. This will be a good measuring stick series. If they can avoid throwing meatballs to Munetaka Murakami, I like our chances. However, Murakami has been on a roll lately and is a star rookie. The road has treated the Nats well so far this year and hopefully that continues.
Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.
The Philadelphia 76ers have stolen home court advantage from the Boston Celtics as this Round 1 series swings to the City of Brotherly Love for Game 3.
Despite that, Boston is a sizable road favorite, and my Celtics vs. 76ers predictions expect the road team to return serve and get their groove back from beyond the arc.
Here are my best NBA picks for Friday, April 24.
The Boston Celtics are one of the best bounce-back teams in the Association, boasting a 20-6 SU record when coming off a loss this season and a long-term 59-13 SU mark following a defeat over the past three years. That includes a 6-1 SU record after a loss in the NBA Playoffs.
A big part of Boston’s troubles in Game 2 was missed 3-pointers. Derrick White has been chilly from beyond the arc to start this series, shooting just 4-for-17 from distance. However, he’s getting plenty of open looks, and projections lean toward three triples from White in Game 3.
Jaylen Brown dished out six assists in Game 1 but managed only four in Game 2, despite generating 13 potential dimes. With the Celtics shaking off their poor shooting performance, Brown’s passes won’t get wasted, and he’s projected for 5+ assists in Game 3.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.