MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 5: Richie Palacios #1 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates a go-ahead two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins during the tenth inning at Target Field on April 5, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Rays beat the Twins today 4-1, and won their first series of the season.
This was a quintessential pitcher’s duel, with both starters pitching at least six strong innings. Nick Martinez, making his second start as a Ray, was especially impressive. He gave up one hit – of course it happened to be a booming home run to Matt Wallner — and walked just one batter. He struck out four, relying on weak contact to get his outs.
So it was fortunate that today was also a day when the Rays infield avoided costly errors, and in fact I’d say they looked pretty sharp. Junior Caminero, whose fielding has been atrocious over these first 10 days, made all his routine plays and even a few tough ones. (He and Chandler Simpson did nearly collide while letting a foul ball drop in the tenth inning, but fortunately it did not lead to damage.)
The Rays had their opportunities through the first nine innings, but were not able to deliver. Their only run during regulation also came on a solo shot, Junior’s first home run and shockingly first RBI of the season.
With Griffin Jax and Bryan Baker keeping holding the Twins scoreless in relief of Martinez, the game headed into the 10th inning. Ben Williamson was the — do we still call them ghost runners? — well the guy on second to start the inning, and Richie Palacios came to bat.
Richie has missed a lot of time the last two seasons with injuries, and was a bit of a forgotten man coming into this season, what a great pick-me-up for him and for the Rays, then, for him to take a 1-0 pitch well over the right field fence to give the Rays a 3-1 lead.
The Rays continued to apply pressure, as Nick Fortes singled and both Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda drew walks to load the bases. Junior Caminero came up with two outs, and patiently took his walk as well, to drive in the fourth run.
Before we could even remember how terrible the Rays bullpen has been in most of this season’s games, Kevin Kelly had retired the Twins to earn himself a save and the team a victory.
We hate to over-extrapolate from very small samples, but Nick Martinez and Steve Matz are looking very good. Ben Williamson has also impressed with his versatility, sharp fielding and reliable bat. Chandler Simpson is on a tear, and perhaps less surprisingly Yandy Diaz has been unstoppable. So, Rays fans have reason to feel optimistic.
It’s great that the team returns, victorious, to re-open Tropicana Field tomorrow.
Former Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy was dismissed by the New York Islanders on Sunday, a decision that, while not entirely unexpected, still arrives at a striking point late in the season with only four games remaining.
A Sudden Ending In Long Island
Roy’s departure follows a difficult stretch for the Islanders, who have gone 3–7–0 in their last 10 games and are currently clinging to playoff positioning. A four-game losing streak appears to have accelerated the organization’s decision-making process, ultimately leading to the mid-April coaching change.
While the timing of the move is notable, speculation surrounding Roy’s future had been building for some time. Even early in the season, questions persisted about his long-term fit with the club. Despite that, the Islanders entered the year with Roy behind the bench, and at one point appeared positioned to return to the postseason.
Roy initially helped stabilize the franchise after taking over midway through the 2023–24 campaign, guiding the Islanders to an unexpected playoff berth. That success, however, was followed by a disappointing 2024–25 season, which placed him firmly on the hot seat entering this year. Although the Islanders showed stretches of improved play during the current campaign, inconsistency in the second half ultimately proved costly.
Roy’s Avalanche Tenure And Coaching Arc
Roy’s firing in New York also brings renewed attention to his earlier coaching tenure with the Colorado Avalanche, where he made a significant impact both on and off the ice.
Hired in 2013, Roy immediately turned the Avalanche into one of the league’s most competitive teams, earning the Jack Adams Award in his first season as head coach. Under his leadership, Colorado captured the Central Division title and posted a 52-win season in 2013–14, a dramatic turnaround from the year prior.
Roy as head coach of the Colorado Avalanche.
However, his time with the Avalanche came to an abrupt and unexpected end in 2016 when Roy resigned from his position, citing differences in organizational philosophy and a lack of input on personnel decisions. At the time, his departure caught the hockey world off guard, as detailed in reporting from ESPN, which noted Roy’s desire for a greater role in hockey operations alongside coaching responsibilities.
Roy’s resignation marked the end of a highly visible and at times volatile tenure in Colorado, where his intense coaching style and strong opinions on roster construction were both assets and sources of internal tension.
New Leadership In New York
In the wake of Roy’s dismissal, the Islanders moved quickly to appoint Peter DeBoer as his replacement. DeBoer, most recently the head coach of the Dallas Stars, brings extensive NHL experience and a track record of postseason success.
DeBoer is also familiar to Avalanche fans, having led the Stars to a seven-game victory over Colorado in a hard-fought first-round playoff series last season. He was also behind the bench when the Vegas Golden Knights eliminated the Avalanche in the second round in 2021. His arrival in New York sets the stage for a new direction behind the Islanders’ bench, particularly as the franchise looks to stabilize its late-season performance and secure a playoff berth.
With the Islanders’ playoff hopes still alive, the organization is hoping the coaching change provides a late boost in performance. For Roy, the dismissal adds another chapter to a coaching career that has been marked by both early success and abrupt transitions.
As the offseason approaches, Roy’s name is likely to surface in connection with future NHL coaching vacancies, though it remains to be seen where his next opportunity will come.
April 5 Place OF Everson Pereira on 10-day IL (left ankle sprain), retroactive to April 2; promote SS Tanner Murray from Charlotte
April 4 Designate Rule 5 pick RHRP Jedixson Páez for assignment, return to Boston Red Sox. The 40-player roster is now at 39
April 1 Promote RHRP Lucas Sims from Charlotte Knights. The 40-player roster is now at 40
March 28 Trade INF Curtis Mead to Washington Nationals for C Boston Smith
C Korey Lee clears waivers, demoted to Charlotte Knights
March 27 Demote LHRP Tyler Gilbert to Charlotte Knights, claim LHRP Bryan Hudson off waivers from New York Mets. The 40-player roster is now at 39
Sign free agent LHP Chase Watkins to minor league contract
March 26 C Edgar Quero changes number to 26
March 25 Designate C Korey Lee and INF Curtis Mead for assignment. The 40-player roster is now at 38
RHSP Drew Thorpe (Tommy John surgery recovery), RHRP Prelander Berroa (Tommy John surgery recovery) and RHRP Mike Vasil (Tommy John surgery) placed on 15-day IL; LF Brooks Baldwin (right elbow sprain) and C Kyle Teel (right hamstring strain) placed on 10-day IL
Sign free agent 1B LaMonte Wade Jr. to minor league contract, assign to Charlotte Knights
March 23 Sign free agent RHRP Lucas Sims for one year, $1.5 million
March 22 Sign free agent C Reese McGuire for one year, $1.2 million. The 40-player roster is now at 40
Demote LHRP Brandon Eisert to Charlotte Knights
Assign SS Matthew Boughton to White Sox
March 21 Release RHRP Lucas Sims
March 20 3B Alec Makarewicz assigned to White Sox
March 19 Designate Rule 5 pick RHRP Alexander Alberto for assignment, return to Tampa Bay Rays. The 40-player roster is now at 39
RHP Seth Keener assigned to White Sox
March 17 Demote RHSP Jonathan Cannon to Charlotte Knights
Assign C Jorge Corona to White Sox
March 14 Assign RHRP Jarold Rosado, OF Nathan Archer, RHRP Aric McAtee and RHP Morris Austin to White Sox
March 10 Assign RF Drake Logan and IF Bryce Eblin to White Sox
March 9 Demote 2B Tanner Murray, RHSP David Sandlin, and RHRP Wikelman González to Charlotte Knights
Assign INF Jason Matthews to White Sox
March 7 Demote RHSP Tanner McDougal to Charlotte Knights
March 6 Demote RHSP Duncan Davitt to Charlotte Knights
Assign SS Billy Carlson to White Sox
March 5 Assign C Juan Gonzalez to White Sox
March 3 Assign C Grant Magill to White Sox
March 1 Assign OF Ely Brown to White Sox
February 27 Assign C Adam Hackenberg, SS Kyle Lodise, OF Jaden Fauske, C Jackson Appel, CF Samuel Zavala and 3B Anthony DiPino to White Sox
February 26 Assign LHP Tommy Vail, 2B Andy Weber and C Calvin Harris to White Sox
February 26 Assign INF Jeral Pérez to White Sox
February 23 Sign free agent RHP Alexander De Los Santos to minor league contract
Assign RHRP Mark McLaughlin to White Sox
February 22 Assign SS Ryan Burrowes, RHP Luke Bell, SS Colby Shelton, RHP Jonathan Clark and OF George Wolkow to White Sox
February 21 Assign SS Caleb Bonemer, RHRP Nick Altermatt, RHRP Eric Adler, RHP Chase Plymell, 2B Javier Mogollón, 2B Mario Camilletti, RHP Jake Bockenstedt and LHP Jake Palisch to White Sox
February 20 Assign LHRP Garrett Schoenle, SS Jordan Sprinkle, LHP Frankeli Arias, RHP Jackson Kelley, 1B Caden Connor, RHSP Riley Gowens, RHRP Jared Kelley, 2B Darren Baker, 1B Ryan Galanie, RF Rikuu Nishida, CF Matt Hogan and CF Jacob Burke to White Sox
February 13 INF Curtis Mead changes number to 17
February 11 Invite non-roster RHP Jairo Iriarte to Spring Training
February 10 Sign RHSP Erick Fedde to a one-year, $1.5 million contract; place LHSP Ky Bush on 60-day IL
Sold LHP Bryan Hudson to New York Mets
February 6 C Drew Romo and RHP Jairo Iriarte cleared waivers, assigned to Charlotte Knights
February 4 Sign Austin Hays to one-year, $5 million contract; designate LHP Bryan Hudson for assignment
February 1 Trade RHSP Gage Ziehl and a player to be named later for RHRP Jordan Hicks, RHSP David Sandlin, two players to be named later and cash; designate C Drew Romo and RHP Jairo Iriarte for assignment
Sell 3B Bryan Ramos to Baltimore Orioles
January 30 Sign RHRP Lucas Sims to minor league contract
January 29 Invite non-roster LHSP Shane Murphy, INF Sam Antonacci, C Michael Turner, LHSP Hagen Smith, LHSP Noah Schultz, INF William Bergolla Jr., LHP Tyler Schweitzer, RHRP Tyler Davis, RHRP Adisyn Coffey, RHSP Ben Peoples, RHRP Zach Franklin, OF Braden Montgomery, CF Dru Baker, INF Jacob Gonzalez and RHSP Mason Adams to Spring Training
Sign free agent RHRP Seranthony Domínguez to a two-year, $20 million contract; designate 3B Bryan Ramos for assignment
Sign free agent 1B LaMonte Wade Jr. to a minor league contract and invite him to Spring Training
January 26 RHP Ryan Borucki assigned to Chicago White Sox
January 20 Trade CF Luis Robert Jr. to New York Mets for IF-OF Luisangel Acuña and RHRP Truman Pauley
January 15 Chicago Cubs claim INF Ben Cowles off of waivers
January 8 Claim C Drew Romo off of waivers from New York Mets; designate INF Ben Cowles for assignment.
January 7 Chicago Cubs claim LHP Ryan Rolison off of waivers
While NHL conversations often center around iconic offensive pairings like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, or Nikita Kucherov alongside Brayden Point, one of the league’s most productive duos continues to operate with far less attention in Winnipeg.
For much of the season, the offensive chemistry between Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor has quietly matched, and in some cases surpassed, the headline combinations that dominate league-wide discussion. Yet outside of Winnipeg, the pairing still rarely receives the same spotlight.
That lack of recognition persisted even after the Winnipeg Jets delivered the best regular season in franchise history, capturing their first-ever Presidents’ Trophy after finishing atop the NHL standings.
Winnipeg’s consistency throughout the year made them one of the league’s most complete teams, but much of the attention still landed elsewhere.
Now, Scheifele and Connor are once again making a strong case for greater recognition. The longtime linemates have factored in on 60 goals together this season, the highest total by any duo in the NHL.
That number reflects not only individual talent, but also a connection built through years of playing together and understanding each other’s tendencies in all areas of the offensive zone.
Their chemistry has become one of Winnipeg’s defining strengths. Connor remains one of the NHL’s most reliable finishers, while Scheifele continues to drive play with his vision and ability to create scoring chances under pressure. When one produces, the other is often directly involved, a pattern that has become familiar for Jets fans over several seasons.
Even with that production, Winnipeg often remains overlooked in league-wide conversations, particularly when compared with larger markets or teams built around more publicly celebrated stars.
Jets fans, however, have long recognized that Scheifele and Connor belong in any serious discussion of the NHL’s elite offensive tandems.
If hockey fans did not fully notice them during a Presidents’ Trophy season, they may not be able to ignore them much longer.
As another strong campaign continues, Winnipeg’s top duo is once again proving that one of the league’s very best partnerships plays in Manitoba, even if the rest of the hockey world is slow to admit it.
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Apr 5, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora (13) walks to the pitcher's mound during the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images
It’s important to remember that baseball is a marathon, not a sprint. As a one-time marathon runner (no big deal), starting out too fast is a real concern. Just ask one-time marathon runner Jacob Roy, who went out too fast and ran the final six miles at about 10 minutes per mile after running the first 20 at a sub-seven pace. At the same time, if you start too slow, you get stuck behind slow runners and expend more energy passing people and weaving through traffic. On Sunday, Alex Cora was caught between the two.
Following the 2-6 start, the Red Sox can’t afford to punt wins. They needed to use the whole bullpen to secure the victory on Friday, and went to their high-leverage arms again on Saturday in a tight game. On Sunday, after the Red Sox jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third, Ranger Suarez gave three runs back in the fourth. After he allowed a lead-off single in the fifth, Cora turned to his bullpen to hold the lead. Weissert gave up the lead, and Cora had to take his foot off the gas by giving the ball to Tyler Uberstine. The rookie did a good job keeping the team in the game in his debut, holding the Padres scoreless over his first two innings.
In the seventh, the Red Sox rallied behind Wilyer Abreu and Masataka Yoshida, tying the game at six. That’s where Cora got caught in between. Going to Justin Slaten or Aroldis Chapman would have been like sprinting the tenth mile of a marathon. Cora stuck with Uberstine, electing not to push it and keep some gas in the tank. Uberstine gave up a home run to Jackson Merrill, and the Padres had the lead back.
With the Red Sox trailing, the Padres went to Jeremiah Estrada and Mason Miller. The two relievers were untouchable, and the Padres held on to win 8-6.
Congratulations to Garrett Whitlock on the birth of his child, but it came at an inconvenient time (I hope the whole family is happy and healthy).
Three Studs
Wilyer Abreu
Abreu was a home run away from the cycle and continues to put the lineup on his back.
Masataka Yoshida
Yoshida was 3-4, including two doubles off of lefties. The guy can hit if he gets the opportunity.
Tyler Uberstine
I’m a sucker for MLB debuts, and Uberstine is a cool story. It’s a miracle he’s in the major leagues at all, let alone getting Fernando Tatis Jr. out. Jackson Merrill’s home run was a damper on the outing, but he’s a stud nonetheless.
Three Duds
Greg Weissert
Weissert took over for Suarez with a runner on in the fifth. He struck out the first two hitters he faced, but Jackson Merrill singled on a first-pitch changeup. Manny Machado then took a changeup way off the plate over the Green Monster to give the Padres the lead. Look how far off the plate this is.
That’s the problem with same-handed changeups. While they can be effective in catching a hitter out in front, they’re slow and tend to run right to an area where hitters can drop the barrel and get around the ball for hard contact. That’s what happened here, and Weissert paid the price.
Ranger Suarez
Suarez did a great job getting his cutter in on righties in his first start. Today, he didn’t do that at all. He also still doesn’t have a feel for his changeup, which is typically his best pitch. His two-strike changeups, in particular, were well below the zone and didn’t generate a whiff. Suarez had an unusual spring training with the World Baseball Classic, and the pitch is also showing more depth than last season. Hopefully, as a veteran, he’s able to make the adjustment and execute with the pitch.
Roman Anthony
Anthony came up to the plate with two runners on base in the sixth and struck out. He drew a walk in the third and scored, but hasn’t hit with runners in scoring position so far this season. The expectations for Anthony might be unfair to him, but the Red Sox need him to hit if they’re going to win games.
Apr 5, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox shortstop Tanner Murphy throws a double play after forcing out Toronto Blue Jays right fielder George Springer (4) during the fifth inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
This series has been pretty grim. The pitching hasn’t been awful, one significant meltdown notwithstanding, but the offence largely hasn’t shown up against a pretty bad pitching staff, and now the Jays find themselves on a 1-5 skid and below .500 for the season.
In case the results weren’t enough, Addison Barger had to leave the game in the sixth, a couple of innings after appearing to hurt himself stretching for first trying to beat out a throw. The issue was described on the broadcast as “bilateral ankle discomfort.” We’ll have to wait and see what that actually means, and whether it causes him to miss time. Hopefully not, as the injuries are piling up at a concerning rate early this season.
Davis Martin. Vladimir Guerrero jr. lined a single in the first, the only Jay to reach through two. In the third, Andres Gimenez worked a lead-off walk. Brandon Valenzuela, in his first MLB at bat, lined a sharp single to right. Two outs later, Vlad walked to load the bases. Addison Barger grounded one over second base, for what looked likely to be a hit, but shortstop Tanner Murray made a great play getting to the ball and throwing him out at first. An Ernie Clement line single was all they managed in the fourth.
The White Sox got on the board against Eric Lauer in the first, although it wasn’t all his fault. His velocity was down, and he was scattering the ball in a way that isn’t like him. It seems like the illness that got his start pushed back from yesterday was sticking with him. Chase Meidroth lead off with a double on a soft grounder hooked into left field. Lauer rallied to get the next two, but then Daulton Varsho misplayed a soft liner by Miguel Vargas, turning a short single that might not have scored the runner into a standup triple. Lauer walked Edgar Quero, but a long Lenyn Sosa fly ball was caught by the track for the third out. It took 28 pitches to get through the inning, and Pete Walker had relivers warming up before the third out was recorded. He gritted his way through the second, working around a single and a walk, then walked Murakami to begin the third. That was the end of his afternoon. The freshly called up Austin Voth took over, allowing the inherited runner to score on a Sosa double but limiting the damage there.
In the bottom of the fourth, Luisangel Acuna lined a single, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on an Austin Hays single, increasing Chicago’s margin to three.
George Springer lined a single in the top of the fifth, but it was erased by a double play. Voth got two outs in the bottom half and issued a walk before being lifted for Joe Mantiply, the other pitcher called up for today’s game, who struck out his man to end the inning.
Martin set the Jays down in order in the sixth. Mantiply returned the trick in the home half, adding a pair of strikeouts.
The Jays had just a little more luck off reliever Bryan Hudson in the seventh. Varsho and Clement lined singles to bring the tying run up. He got the next two outs, though, before giving way to Jordan Leasure. Leasure struck out Springer to end the inning. Spencer Miles worked a smooth 1-2-3 inning, picking up a strikeout. Leasure returned for a clean eighth. Miles gave up a couple of singles in his second inning of work, but got out of it without allowing any runs.
Down to their final three outs, the Jays faced Crhis Murphy. Kazuma Okamoto walked, but that was all they’d manage.
Jays of the Day: Nobody qualifies.
Less so: Springer (-0.10), Lukes (-0.13), and Barger (-0.12) qualify, but really the whole offence can share the credit.
Mercifully, they’re done with the White Sox. Things will undoubtedly get easier as they go home to face… *checks notes* … the Los Angeles Dodgers. Justin Wrobleski (0-0, 6.75) will start game one for the visitors, while Max Scherzer (1-0, 1.50) represents the home team. First pitch is set for 7:07pm ET tomorrow night.
It’s because Connecticut is about to face the “Monstars.”
The Final Four magic Hurley has crafted — 5-0 in his career — will face its toughest challenge yet with the vaunted No. 1 seed Michigan awaiting the Huskies in Lucas Oil Stadium, playing like it gained some basketball superpower to make them supersized and on a warpath to make UConn its final victim to punctuate a dominant season.
“Their size kind of do remind you of the Monstars,” said UConn guard Silas Demary Jr.
Monstrous would be one way to describe Michigan’s performance against Arizona. A game billed as the true national championship between the two heavyweights of the season looked like a buy game in December, with the Wolverines overwhelming the Wildcats from the start for their fifth straight tournament win by double-digits.
UConn staff and players made sure to watch the game following their win over Illinois, and it was just as much of a shock to them.
“I kind of didn't see that happening,” Demary said. “Everybody was just hitting shots… They pretty much kind of dominated the game throughout the whole game.”
Whether it’s knocking down 3-pointers, turning the game into a dunk contest or leaving opposing offenses helpless, Michigan is “scary,” Hurley said, adding “you've got to have a plan A, a plan B and a plan C” against it.
Michigan is the first team to score at least 90 points in five straight March Madness games.
UConn has built a reputation on succeeding on the biggest stage, one win away from its third national title in four years. However, that run didn’t come with a whole bunch of struggle.
The best seed the Huskies saw in the 2023 title run was a No. 3, and the 2024 championship team was so talented, not even the Zach Edey-led Purdue team stood much of a chance. UConn came close to beating eventual champion Florida in the second round last season, but it’s not farfetched to say the Wolverines are the best team Hurley will have ever faced in the tournament.
Everything (including the 7.5-point spread) screams Michigan running away with this one to cement one of the most impressive seasons, especially with fresh UConn's injury issues. But if there is one team to spoil it all, it would be UConn.
After all, remember how they got here?
“We shot 1-for-18 vs. Duke, down 19. Nobody in the country, in the whole wide world, thought we were going to win that game,” said UConn center Tarris Reed Jr.. “The second half, we promised each other we're gonna go out with fighting honor, no matter what the result is. We knew there was going to be a slight chance that Duke will slip up, we're going to have a small window for us to really win this game, and we have to take advantage
“We kept fighting, kept running through the fences, and we ended up winning that game,” he added.
The Huskies may in fact be the perfect team to spoil Michigan’s title hopes. While Michigan is capable of delivering a knockout blow like Mike Tyson, UConn is able to make it an extremely ugly — perhaps boring — bout that can frustrate the other side.
That’s why even though they’re the clear underdog, Hurley actually sees advantages on his side.
“Every team has some vulnerabilities. No teams are perfect,” he said. “We're going to do things to make our opponents move defensively maybe more than they are accustomed to, and then hopefully that has a compounding effect for us during the course of the game where it could just wear an opponent down a little bit, just having to run around and chase people and off-ball movement more than they're accustomed to.”
The evidence supports it. Illinois came into the Final Four the top offensive efficiency team in the country, and the Huskies' defense made it uncomfortable to grind out the win. Even with UConn’s own middling offensive showing, the Fighting Illini shot 33.9% from the field and scored 62 points, its worst performance since — playing UConn in November, when it shot a season-low 31.7% and scored 61.
That 90-point benchmark Michigan has reached, UConn has only allowed twice this season, and one of those games ended in overtime.
Plus, you have to account UConn has been here before. Hurley is undefeated in the Final Four and has guys who have won titles with him. In a tournament that has proven how valuable experience is, it doesn’t get better than championship expertise.
That’s why May isn’t counting on his team to coast to the title.
“We never ride momentum. It's ‘What do we need to do to prepare to play well against UConn?’ They have championship DNA. They're conditioned to win. This run they're on is one of the best — probably the best since John Wooden,” May said. “If we think any momentum or wave, riding in on a wave is going to take care of UConn, then we're going to be very disappointed at about 11 p.m. (Monday) night.”
Remember why we love March Madness? A whole season gets thrown out the window the moment the ball tips. Who is more talented doesn’t matter. It’s all about being the better team for 40 minutes, surviving and advancing. Hurley and May reminded everyone this isn’t a seven-game series where the best team typically wins.
It will be a de facto Game 7, and anything can happen in the final 40 minutes of the college basketball season — like UConn shocking the college basketball world.
After all, the "Monstars" did end up losing.
“There's been plenty of times in the history of this tournament where the best team hasn't won it,” Hurley said. “You've just got to be better for one night.”
DETROIT (AP) — Kirill Kaprizov completed the sixth hat trick of his NHL career on the power play with 1:51 remaining to lead the Minnesota Wild to a 5-4 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.
The Wild led 4-1 before allowing Detroit to score three times in the third period and tie it. A penalty on Patrick Kane paved the way for Kaprizov to score his third goal of the game.
The Red Wings led the Atlantic Division and were tied for the most points in the Eastern Conference the morning of Jan. 25, with a 12-point playoff cushion. They've lost 12 of 20 games since to fall out of a spot with five left to play.
Matt Boldy and Mats Zuccarello each had an assist on the go-ahead goal. Vladimir Tarasenko and Boldy each scored for the Wild after Albert Johansson had a goal in the first.
J.T. Compher, Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Kane scored on Filip Gustavsson to rally back. Gustavsson finished with 18 saves, while Detroit's Cam Talbot allowed five goals on 20 shots.
Up next
Wild: Host the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night.
Red Wings: Host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.
Apr 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz (55) argues with home plate umpire James Jean (61) after being ejected from the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the third inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
If someone could kindly inform the Orioles that the 2026 season began a couple of weeks ago, I’d greatly appreciate it.
The O’s continued to stumble out of the gate in the new season, putting themselves hopelessly behind after two innings en route to an 8-2 loss and a series sweep by the Pirates. Chris Bassitt had another horrendous performance, the offense again failed to show up, and the Orioles limped out of Pittsburgh as a 3-6 team with a lot of questions and very few answers.
With the Orioles heavily using their relievers in the first two games of the series and likely to use a bullpen game tomorrow, Chris Bassitt came into this contest with two main tasks. #1: Eat up a bunch of innings, and #2: Keep the Orioles in the game. I regret to inform you that he failed spectacularly at both tasks.
Bassitt’s second Orioles start was even more miserable than his rough debut last week, and by the second inning the Pirates were well on their way to the sweep. Right from the get-go, the control-challenged Bassitt seemed to have no idea where the ball was going. He set an ignominious tone by plunking leadoff man Oneil Cruz on an 0-2 pitch. Despite catching a lucky break on a scalded Brandon Lowe liner to first that became a double play, Bassitt failed to take advantage. He walked Bryan Reynolds on four pitches, then threw three straight balls to Ryan O’Hearn.
With the count 3-0, MASN analyst Ben McDonald commented, “I would be real careful right here.” Alas, Bassitt failed to heed Big Ben’s advice and instead grooved a 91-mph fastball right down the middle to O’Hearn, who blasted it 402 feet to dead center for a two-run dinger. It was the first Pirates HR for the former Oriole O’Hearn, who is off to a scalding start for his new club. I miss him. I’m glad he’s getting to play for a more competent team, which is a weird thing to be saying about the Pirates, but here we are.
Bassitt ended up throwing 28 pitches just to finish the first inning, and things only got worse in the second. Facing the bottom of the Pirates lineup — which, as McDonald pointed out, is full of sub-.200 hitters that any pitcher should easily attack — the veteran righty melted down. All nine Pittsburgh batters came to the plate before all was said and done. The inning began with another four-pitch walk, followed by a pair of singles. The second of those came on a bunt, when second baseman Jeremiah Jackson (covering first on the play) failed to put his foot on the bag when receiving the throw. There’s that Orioles defense, baby. Can’t get enough.
With the bases loaded, Cruz scalded a line drive that deflected off the back of Bassitt’s leg for an RBI infield single. The trainers checked on Bassitt, who deemed himself ready to continue. Health-wise, maybe he was. Performance-wise, not so much. With one out, Reynolds lofted a sac fly to the wall in right, making it 4-0, and O’Hearn ripped a double to left-center that brought home two more. Bassitt added a HBP to his ugly afternoon before finishing the inning. He didn’t return for the third.
Bassitt’s final pitching line: 2 IP, 6 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 1 HBP. He threw just 32 of his 62 pitches for strikes and didn’t strike out anyone. He has a 14.21 ERA through two starts. It might technically be too early to throw him into the Charlie Morton/Kyle Gibson category of “ancient free agent SPs who turned into duds the second they joined the Orioles,” but it doesn’t feel too early.
Down 6-0 after two, all hope was pretty much gone for the Orioles, and it doesn’t help that their offense put up the kind of phoning-it-in performance that’s become all too familiar. They allowed Pirates starter Braxton Ashcraft to set a career best in strikeouts with eight, and didn’t manage their first baserunner until a Taylor Ward double to lead off the fourth. Pete Alonso’s RBI double that inning was the only run that Ashcraft allowed. Jeremiah Jackson added an RBI single off reliever Mason Montgomery in the seventh, but that was all the O’s offense scraped across on this day.
Manager Craig Albernaz didn’t stick around long in this game, getting ejected for the first time in his career in the top of the third. Albernaz barked at home plate umpire James Jean after the ump didn’t grant Blaze Alexander a timeout on the first pitch. Seems like a trivial thing to argue about, but maybe Alby was looking for an excuse to leave early. Who can blame him?
If there’s one positive takeaway from this game, it’s Cade Povich, who ate up 5.2 innings of long relief. He didn’t look great, walking three and coughing up a Cruz two-run homer, but he managed to save the bullpen ahead of the Orioles’ series opener against the White Sox tomorrow. Albert Suárez figures to start that game but the O’s will probably need to go through a lot of arms.
There you have it. The Orioles are 3-6 and just got swept by the Pirates. Any hopes of the O’s bursting out to a hot start in 2026 have evaporated, and now they’re going to have to play catch-up, something they were utterly incapable of doing last season. It’s not great.
Apr 5, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; A general stadium view during a rain delayed start of the game between the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images
The Yankees are off to a sterling 7-1 start to the 2026 season and have already guaranteed themselves a third consecutive series victory. After sweeping the Giants and taking two out of three from the Mariners in Seattle, they’ve won the first two games of their first homestand of the campaign, beating the Marlins on Friday, 8-2, and then 9-7 last night. They’re eyeing another dusting today with Opening Day starter Max Fried on the mound, as he has yet to allow a run through two starts.
The Marlins aren’t a pushover, but Fried’s toughest opponent today might actually be the weather. It’s lousy today in the tri-state area and the Double-A Somerset Patriots have already postponedtheir series finale in Bridgewater against the Portland Sea Dogs (the High-A Hudson Valley Renegades have since done the same). Similarly, the tarp is on the field in the Bronx, and the Yankees have announced a delay to Sunday’s matinee.
Major League Baseball, however, is going to do everything it can to get this game in against the Marlins because it’s difficult to reschedule interleague series postponements. This is the only Yankees/Marlins series of the year and while the Fish will return to the area for series against the Mets, it would be very annoying to find an offday where they could theoretically play the Yankees.
MLB has time to wait this out until later, as the forecast says it will indeed stop raining before nightfall. At the very least, this isn’t starting until 3pm ET, and later is more likely.
As of 2:35 PM, we are continuing to monitor the weather forecast and will provide updates as soon as there is more information to share. https://t.co/yEL8QEd9TC
Hang in there with us, put on some music or something, and we’ll tune into the series finale together when it actually starts!
Update
This is not a rain-related update, but it is an interesting wrinkle: The Marlins will no longer be starting Chris Paddack as initially expected. Closer Pete Fairbanks’ wife is pregnant and will be induced tomorrow morning, so he will instead start this game with Paddack following.
Pete Fairbanks will go on the Paternity List tomorrow as his wife is set to be induced in the morning.
The #Marlins are having him start today so he can get to his family sooner. Chris Paddack will still throw today
Columbus Clippers Travis Bazzana (12) throws the ball to first base during home opener at Huntington Park on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. | Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
I think George Valera might be ready to be activated. The left-handed hitting slugger was perfect at the plate on Saturday, going 3-for-3 with a double and a walk to lead the Clippers offense.
Other standouts included Cooper Ingle, who went 2-for-3 with an impressive opposite field home run and Stuart Fairchild, who went 2-for-3. Nolan Jones went 1-for-2 with a walk and Petey Halpin went 1-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base.
Starting pitcher Ryan Webb was tagged for four runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings. He walked three and struck out four.
Tommy Mace provided some solid long relief, allowing one run on four hits in 2.2 innings to earn the win. The game was ended during the seventh inning with the Clippers leading by two runs due to poor weather.
Akron’s pitching was the story of this game as the RubberDucks utilized five pitchers to shut out Reading.
Caden Favors led the way, tossing 4.0 shutout frames on just two hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
Magnus Ellerts followed Favors with 1.2 scoreless innings of one-hit ball with two strikeouts and two walks. Jack Jasiak retired the lone batter he faced while Hunter Stanley pitched 2.0 perfect innings with three strikeouts and Matt Jachec finished off the shutout with a scoreless ninth inning and a pair of whiffs.
On the offensive side of the equation, three different RubberDucks blasted home runs. Angel Genao went 2-for-4 with a three-run bomb.
Esteban Gonzalez had the other multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a home run and a double while Bennett Thompson impressively homered and walked three times.
Jaison Chourio doubled and walked while Nolan Schubart doubled.
Top draft pick Jace LaViolette’s struggled are ongoing as he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. He still is seeking his first hit of the young season and has struck out in seven of his first eight plate appearances.
Starting pitcher Braylon Doughty was spectacular, tossing 3.0 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit, striking out two and walking zero.
I’m trying to think of a good adjective to describe this game. Debacle, fiasco, catastrophe, apocalypse? I’m not sure any of them fit. This game was so bad that I’m not sure the word that fittingly describes it has been invented yet.
Prep pitching prospect Chase Mobley was the starting pitcher and he got absolutely annihilated for six runs in 0.1 innings. He only allowed one hit, but he walked three and hit two more.
Eudry Alcantara relieved Mobley and he didn’t fare any better, allowing two inherited runners to score and then giving up six runs of his own in just 0.1 innings. Alcantara was tagged for five hits, two of them home runs and he walked two.
Both Mobley and Alcantara are beginning the year with ERAs of 162.00. It can only get better from there (hopefully).
Offensively, no one had an extra base hit and no one reached base twice. If you watched this game, perhaps you can pray a Men in Black-esque memory wipe device gets invented soon.
Stuck in their first four-game losing streak of the season at a critical point in an unexpected playoff chase, the New York Islanders fired Patrick Roy as head coach and replaced him with Pete DeBoer.
It was shocking in that it came on Easter Sunday, and amid their first sustained struggle in a season where external (if not internal) expectations were limited, and DeBoer now has just six games in this regular season to make some sort of impact.
But with the way the Islanders had played lately, and the degree to which they’ve relied on superlative performances by rookie Calder favorite Matthew Schaefer and Vezina contender Ilya Sorokin, it was common to wonder how long into this summer or next season Mathieu Darche would stick with Roy. The Islanders just began a rare four-day break in their game schedule, so if Darche was thinking of a late-season change for a while, this was the window.
DeBoer, of course, has a long track record of regular season success and long post-season runs, including an odds-defying 9-0 in Games 7. But he’s also had a short, burn-hot-and-fast shelf life in several of his previous stops. His last firing, by the Dallas Stars, came after mounting tension between him and players, including the goalie he threw under the bus after a playoff elimination.
DeBoer is 662-447-152 in 1,261 regular-season games for the Florida Panthers, Devils, San Jose Sharks, Golden Knights and Stars, and 97-82 in 179 Stanley Cup Playoff games while also guiding San Jose to the 2016 Final, a six-game loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. His teams have advanced to at least the third round of the playoffs each of his past six seasons qualifying for the postseason, and in eight of his 10 overall.
Roy finishes his Islanders tenure with a record of 97-78-22 in 197 games. His lone playoff appearance was when he. replaced Lane Lambert on their way to a traditional five-game loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. His press conferences and media scrums, if not his on-ice structure, will be missed.
The Charlotte Hornets need a flawless finish to avoid the Play-In tournament, and they can help their chances tonight against the faltering Minnesota Timberwolves.
Minnesota has dropped three of its last four games and will be without Anthony Edwards, but my Hornets vs. Timberwolves predictions trust Rudy Gobert to hold down the paint at Target Center.
Take a closer look at this marquee showdown on Sunday, April 5, with my free NBA picks and betting angles.
Hornets vs Timberwolves prediction
Hornets vs Timberwolves best bet: Rudy Gobert Over 11.5 rebounds (-115)
The Minnesota Timberwolves offense has been stuck in the mud lately, with 110 or fewer points in six of their last seven games. But Minnesota continues to do a nice job at the other end of the floor, led by Rudy Gobert’s elite rebounding.
Gobert has nailed this Over in seven of his past nine contests, and he’s actually finished with 14+ boards in five of those outings, despite only playing 30+ minutes just once in his last six games.
Make no mistake, the hosts are going to ask even more of Gobert defensively without Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels to take on the perimeter assignments. As long as he can avoid being dragged out to the 3-point line on the Charlotte Hornets' shooters, I expect him to have an edge against Moussa Diabate and Ryan Kalkbrenner.
Gobert dominated the Hornets on the glass earlier this season, on the way to 15 rebounds, and he’s on pace for a career-high with 4.0 offensive rebounds per night.
Charlotte’s style of play helps, too.
The visitors launch the second-most 3-pointers per game (43), and that should create opportunities for long rebounds. Against the Hornets’ smaller lineups, Gobert, Naz Reid, and Julius Randle will all have chances to hit their rebounding Overs, but I’ll stick with the Frenchman as the value pick.
Hornets vs Timberwolves same-game parlay
I’m banking on a fierce battle on the glass tonight, with Gobert coming off a 16-rebound effort on Friday against the 76ers and Diabate hauling in 10+ boards in three of his last four outings. Rudy has the extra size, but Diabate is a relentless pest on the glass.
The Under also offers good value. It’s 1-9 in the T-Wolves’ last 10 games, and Minnesota’s offensive numbers will take a hit again without Ant Man. Plus, six of Charlotte’s past eight contests have cashed the Under.
Hornets vs Timberwolves SGP
Rudy Gobert Over 11.5 rebounds
Moussa Diabate Over 9.5 rebounds
Under 226.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Feel the sting
The Hornets are 8-2 in their last 10 games, and this SGP taps into the visitors’ hot streak, which has kept them in the fight for the No. 6 seed. LaMelo Ball has dished 8+ dimes in four of his past five contests, while Kon Knueppel is fresh off consecutive 20-point games.
Over/Under: Over 226.5 (-110) | Under 226.5 (-110)
Hornets vs Timberwolves betting trend to know
The Under is 48-30 for the Hornets this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Timberwolves.
How to watch Hornets vs Timberwolves
Location
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Date
Sunday, April 5, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Southeast Charlotte, FDSN North
Hornets vs Timberwolves latest injuries
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While Dan Hurley and the Huskies look to make history with their third championship in four seasons, Dusty May will look to help the Wolverines end a 37-year drought with the program's first national title since 1989.
UConn defeated No. 3 seed Illinois 71-62 to advance to the title game, while Michigan torpedoed Arizona 91-73 to win another game by double figures during an impressive NCAA Tournament run.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 men's NCAA national championship game, from the time to the TV channel.
When is March Madness national championship game?
The men's national title game tips off on Monday, April 6, at 8:50 p.m. ET.
Where is March Madness national championship game?
The 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament national championship game will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts.
What channel is March Madness national championship game?
The men's title game will be broadcast nationally on TBS, TNT and truTV, with Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst), Grant Hill (analyst) and Tracy Wolfson (sideline reporter) on the call from the game.
Where to stream March Madness national championship game
The men's NCAA Tournament national championship game can be streamed on NCAA March Madness Live (with a valid cable login), HBO Max, which requires a subscription, and Sling TV , which carries Turner Broadcast stations.
Who won March Madness in 2025?
Last year, Todd Golden and Walter Clayton Jr. led Florida to the program's third national championship with a 65-63 win over Kelvin Sampson and Houston in the title game.
There won't be a back-to-back champion this year after Iowa took down the Gators in the second round of the NCAA Tournament this season.
March Madness champions, by year
Here's a look at the year-by-year NCAA Tournament national champions in men's basketball, since 2006. The full list can be found here:
2025: Florida defeats Houston, 65-63
2024: UConn defeats Purdue, 75-60
2023: UConn defeats San Diego State, 76-59
2022: Kansas defeats North Carolina, 72-69
2021: Baylor defeats Gonzaga, 86-70
2020: Canceled due to COVID-19
2019: Virginia defeats Texas Tech, 85-77, OT
2018: Villanova defeats Michigan, 79-62
2017: North Carolina defeats Gonzaga, 71-65
2016: Villanova defeats North Carolina, 77-74
2015: Duke defeats Wisconsin, 6-63
2014: UConn defeats Kentucky, 60-54
2013: Louisville defeats Michigan, 82-76 *
2012: Kentucky defeats Kansas, 67-59
2011: UConn defeats Butler, 53-41
2010: Duke defeats Butler, 61-59
2009: North Carolina defeats Michigan State, 89-72
Portrait of Luscious "Luke" Easter (1915 - 1979), First Baseman for the Cleveland Indians of the American League during Major League Baseball Spring Training circa March 1949 at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, Arizona, United States. (Photo by Keystone View Company/FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, that wasn’t good. Here’s hoping game 2 is better
