The Mets are in the midst of a lengthy losing streak that has seen some of the best hitters in the league go cold, and starters and relievers implode in various ways.
On Tuesday night, it was Devin Williams' turn. After blowing his first save as a Met on Sunday, Williams was called upon to keep the team's series-opener against the Twins tied at three in the ninth. Williams, however, just could not control his signature changeup and allowed two runs on a hit and three walks in the team's 5-3 loss at Citi Field.
"Felt a little out of sync, mechanically," Williams said of his outing after the game. "Couldn’t really land my changeup for strikes. It was tough to beat guys with just the fastball."
“Today, the command. Getting behind hitters, not able to execute," manager Carlos Mendoza said of his closer. "Once you start walking people, you’re in dangerous territory there. He’s gotta come back in the zone, and when he’s getting behind, good hitters are going to make him pay. Overall, the walks kinda hurt him there."
Williams has thrown his changeup 48 percent of the time this season, but he just couldn't rely on it on Tuesday. Of the 21 pitches he threw, Williams only tossed eight to the five Twins hitters he faced; only one was thrown for a strike.
For a two-pitch pitcher, their job is much harder when one of those pitches is taken away from them. But is it the reason for Williams' recent struggles? After allowing four runs in 0.1 innings against the Dodgers on April 15, Williams allowed a run in the aforementioned blown save in Chicago before Tuesday's performance.
Those seven earned runs have ballooned his ERA to 9.95.
But Williams and Mendoza said today's outing was the result of bad command. Williams, who inked a three-year, $51 million deal with the Mets this offseason, was asked if the team's now 12-game losing streak is adding more pressure on him to perform. The right-hander, who is in his eighth season, didn't agree but can't pinpoint anything specific for his recent tough stretch.
"Obviously, you want to do well," Williams said of pitching during the losing streak. "We’re in a tough stretch here. It’s the same as any other game."
He added, "All three outings were something different. Today, I didn’t have command. Couldn’t throw my changeup for a strike. It’s tough to be one-dimensional."
Although he doesn't place blame on the added pressures of the Mets' losing streak for his recent performances, he acknowledges that it hasn't been easy.
"It’s tough, man. I’ve never been a part of something like this," he said of the streak. "I think we just need to get the one win out of the way and I think everything else will take care of itself. It’s proving pretty difficult right now... Every day is a new day. We have a chance to win a new game every day. Everyone knows the situation; it’s just stacking on top of each other."
Sean Marks may have been the GM of the Brooklyn Nets for a decade, but his roots lie elsewhere.
The native of Auckland, New Zealand, is part of the first generation of international NBA players, as he said among the first 40 or 50. He became the first player from his home country to play in the NBA, staying for 11 seasons, nine teams. For a year, he played in the Polish league and won a championship before joining the international basketball corps that became the San Antonio Spurs with Tim Duncan (U.S. Virgin Islands), Manu Ginobili (Argentina), Tony Parker (France), Rasho Nesterović (Slovenia), etc., etc., winning two championships, one as a player, one as an assistant.
Now he works in Brooklyn for a Chinese owner, his second international boss, something no other GM has done. He’s hired the first Spanish (and Catalan) head coach in the league, and he’s drafted four players with foreign passports last June, another first. He regularly goes on international scouting trips.
So his international basketball cred is active and this week he went on Fullcourt Passport, a podcast focused on the NBA’s wider world, taking questions from Boki Nachbar, the former Net and Euroleague player, and veteran NBA writer Ric Bucher. His big take: the globalization of NBA has dramatically changed the sport from scouting to ownership.
“You and I were playing, there were 40, 50 maybe foreign players. And now you look around and I think a quarter of the league is foreign,” he told Nachbar.“ (It’s actually more, about a third.) Of course, it’s not just about percentages. The league, Marks said, is changing in a lot of ways, particularly in places like teams’ scouting departments. coaching offices and development systems.
“The NBA has completely embraced that,” Marks said, noting that the league cannot ignore any possibility, not when four international players have won the last seven MVP Awards. “The game has become so global and worldly. It is a copycat league, right? We are all trying to copy off who is doing something different and who has got the next greatest thing.”
Among the changes Marks has seen among the current crop of international players is their skill and confidence levels.
“Initially, it was hard to potentially find a foreign player who could come in and contribute right away. Maybe they were lacking a little bit of physicality, athleticism, what have you, but now, these guys are more than ready to step right in. We’ve seen that.”
That, he noted, has changed NBA scouting. No one wants to miss a diamond in the rough.
“I think scouting departments have grown exponentially, You have scouts all over the world. You have scouting services all over the world” said Marks explaining that there’s no escaping the international culture of basketball. “I go into Jordi’s office, speaking of foreign staff and more often than not, I don’t find a Nets game on. I find a game he’s watching — Barcelona or a second division in Spain! He’s thirsty for the knowledge, picking up traits and things from his counterparts in Europe. The game has completely changed.”
There are other more subtle changes like teams bringing in “guest coaches” from Euroleague teams and even the Basketball Africa League to serve as Summer League assistants in Las Vegas. The exchange, he said, is not one-way. NBA coaches like Fernandez get insights as well.
The Nets GM also agreed with Nachbar on the changing mentality of international players now that there are so many of them in the league. Players are more confident and are less likely to be affected by the cultural clash on arriving in North America.
“It’s not that big of a step,” said Marks, noting the international aspect of the league has given younger prospects their own heroes from their home countries. “They’re so much more locked in and closer to their own counterparts that are now playing in Europe. They’ve got their own role models whether they’re in Croatia or Spain or France.”
Marks was also asked about working for two owners — Mikhail Prokhorov and Joe Tsai — who have world views. (He also hinted on who has the final say.)
“Having two different owners in my time in Brooklyn, obviously from my current owner, Joe Tsai, to our previous Russian owner (Mikhail Prokhorov),” said Marks. “I always ask those guys their advice, their help. I mean these guys are doing multi-billion dollars deals and I’m doing trades with guys who will a half million bucks or three million dollars or five million dollars.
“It’s still their baby and I want to make sure … how they can influence me in my negotiating skills or what have you. I’d be a fool not to involve them. They’ve come from a completely different backgrounds but also to empower them to understand why we’re doing to these deals and what it means down the road. I’m very fortunate in that regard.”
Marks did not discuss current prospects in his talk, but back in January, he flew 11,000 miles to Perth, Australia, to scout Karim Lopez, perhaps the top international in this year’s draft, and Dash Daniels, a defensive-oriented wing. His international scouting director, Simone Casali, has a rep as one of the top overseas scouts.
In addition to the changes brought on by the game’s growing globalization, Marks talked with Nachbar and Bucher about the effect of NILs on evaluating players in an environment where college players hop from school to school, seeking more NIL money.
“It is a little bit of the wild wild west,” he said. “These guys are coming in ready,” but he also argued that increased money and movement can alter early career decisions for younger players.
He said that environment is reshaping how teams evaluate prospects. “We want players that want to win,” Marks said. “So you sit there and go, why did you move? Did you just move purely for the money or was it a role or was it the coach?”
TAMPA, FL - APRIL 21: Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates his goal with teammates Darren Raddysh #43, Anthony Cirelli #71, J.J. Moser #90, and Brandon Hagel #38 against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Two of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Benchmark International Arena on April 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images)
NHLI via Getty Images
TAMPA, Fla. — J.J. Moser scored 12:48 into overtime to give the Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night, tying the first-round playoff series at 1-1.
The series shifts to Montreal for two games, with Game 3 set for Friday night. Game 4 is Sunday.
Brandon Hagel had a Gordie Howe hat trick with a goal, assist and a fight, and teammate Nikita Kucherov also scored for Tampa Bay. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 25 shots.
The Lightning had lost four consecutive home playoff games and 10 of the past 11, dating to Game 4 against Colorado in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.
Lane Hutson and Josh Anderson scored for the Canadiens. Jakub Dobes finished with 31 saves.
Kucherov forced overtime at 12:33 of the third period, collecting a deflected puck off the stick of Hagel and scoring on a wrap-around. The goal was the first playoff goal for Kucherov since April 19, 2023, a span of 17 postseason games.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — J.J. Moser scored 12:48 into overtime to give the Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night, tying the first-round playoff series at 1-1.
The series shifts to Montreal for two games, with Game 3 set for Friday night. Game 4 is Sunday.
Brandon Hagel had a Gordie Howe hat trick with a goal, assist and a fight, and teammate Nikita Kucherov also scored for Tampa Bay. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 25 shots.
The Lightning had lost four consecutive home playoff games and 10 of the past 11, dating to Game 4 against Colorado in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.
Lane Hutson and Josh Anderson scored for the Canadiens. Jakub Dobes finished with 31 saves.
BRUINS 4, SABRES 2
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Morgan Geekie bounced in a shot from beyond center as part of Boston’s three-goal second-period surge and the Bruins beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-2 to even their first-round playoff series at 1 on Tuesday night.
Viktor Arvidsson scored twice and Pavel Zacha also scored. David Pastrnak had two assists to give him five points in the series and tie Bobby Orr for eighth on the Bruins career playoff list with 92 points.
Jeremy Swayman stopped 32 shots, and this time Boston managed to not blow a multigoal third-period lead.
Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs scored 1:14 apart to cut Boston’s lead to 4-2 with 4:52 remaining in regulation before being stymied by Swayman, who stopped the final eight shots he faced.
The series shifts to Boston for Game 3 on Thursday night.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 21: Maikel Garcia #11 of the Kansas City Royals scores against Adley Rutscman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles in the fifth inning at Kauffman Stadium on April 21, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Orioles coughed up two different leads on Tuesday night as starter Shane Baz was, yet again, inconsistent, and the team’s bullpen had a rare stumble. All of it led to a frustrating 6-5 loss to the Royals, evening up the series at one game apiece.
The Orioles’ half of the second inning felt like a game-changer in the moment. They made Royals starter Kris Bubic throw a ton of pitches. Jeremiah Jackson saw five pitches before singling, Weston Wilson walked after nine pitches, and Leody Taveras lined out on the seventh pitch of his at-bat.
That all happened before Coby Mayo gave the O’s an early lead with his first home run of the season, a 114-mph bomb that went 439 feet down the left field line. Swings like that are why the organization continues to believe in Mayo.
Normally, when someone throws 38 pitches in one inning, they aren’t in for a long night at the office. Bubic would prove otherwise. The southpaw rebounded from the nightmarish second frame and then delivered four consecutive scoreless innings to protect the Royals bullpen for as long as possible. That is both an indictment of the Orioles’ offensive showing for much of this game, but also an impressive bit of veteran moxie from the 28-year-old Bubic.
Orioles starter Shane Baz had himself yet another uneven outing in the black and orange. Over 6.1 innings, the righty allowed four runs on eight hits, two walks, and four strikeouts.
Kansas City’s first run of the day came in the bottom of the second. Carter Jensen doubled with one out, moved to third base on a wild pitch, and then trotted home on a Michael Massey sac fly to right field. That made it a 3-1 Orioles advantage.
Baz worked out of trouble in both the third and fourth inning. The third saw him get a big groundout of Vinnie Pasquantino with two outs and two runners in scoring position. In the fourth, he again stranded runners at second and third by getting a strikeout followed by a pop out.
That luck would run out in the fifth inning, when the Royals would tie the score up at 3-3. Kyle Isbel opened the frame with a double, and then moseyed home on a single by Maikel Garcia. The speedy Garcia then scooted to second base on a ground out before stealing third base. That then put him in position to cross the plate on a Pasquantino sac fly to knot things back up.
It seemed like O’s manager Craig Albernaz was testing Baz from there. The righty worked a shutout sixth inning, which included two big strikeouts on what felt like a finale to his day. But he had only thrown 85 pitches, and the bullpen was thin after going to extra innings on Monday. So, Albernaz brought the starter back for the seventh. That would prove to be a poor decision.
Isbel doubled yet again to begin the inning. This came right after he had taken a pitch that was called ball two but should have been strike three. The Orioles had a challenge to use, but Rutschman decided against it. After the double, Isbel advanced to third on a wild pitch and was then joined on base by a Garcia walk. Albernaz followed that with a visit to the mound, where it seemed like he was prepared to yank Baz from the game. Instead, they had a quick chat, and he stuck with him for one more batter. That batter was Bobby Witt Jr. It worked out fine, relatively. Witt did drive in Isbel with a sac fly, and Baz was then removed. But Grant Wolfram came in and limited the damage from there, leaving his one inherited runner stranded and keep the game at 4-3 after seven innings.
The Orioles would go back ahead in the eighth inning. Gunnar Henderson led off with a double down the left field line. Then Adley Rutschman, fresh off of his brief IL stint, came up clutch with a two-run homer to left field off of reliever Matt Strahm.
Despite a really rough patch in the game’s middle innings, somhow the Orioles found themselves ahead 5-4 going into the late frames. Considering how good their bullpen has been to this point, it felt like a win was incoming.
Think again.
Rico Garcia was called on for the eighth inning. Prior to today’s game, the righty had basically been perfect this season. He had yet to allow a hit or run on the year. That streak ended with the first batter he faced on Tuesday. Michael Massey led off the eighth inning with a solo homer to give us yet another deadlock, this one at 5-5. Garcia did look really good outside of that at-bat, but the damage had been done.
The Orioles failed to score in their half of the ninth inning, and then they brought on closer Ryan Helsley for the bottom of the frame. He had not control in this one, as he issued walks to both Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr. to begin the inning. A strikeout of Pasquantino didn’t help much because it came on a pitch in the dirt that allowed the two runners to advance anyway. Then, with Salvador Perez at the plate, Helsley spiked another pitch in the dirt. Rutschman blocked it, but it bounced too far away from him in front of the plate, leaving plenty of time for Garcia to sprint home from third as the winning run.
This was one of the rare Orioles losses that can mostly be pinned on the bullpen. That’s not to say that Baz was great, because he wasn’t. But he provided 6.1 innings. And that’s not to say the offense had some incredible performance, because they didn’t. But they scored five runs and produced a lead late. The Orioles need to count of the duo of Garcia and Helsley to lock down those wins. It didn’t happen tonight.
There was good news buried within the loss.
Rutschman’s return was a welcome one. He instantly adds depth and credibility to the lineup. It also freed up Samuel Basallo to be a pinch-hit option late in the game. It turns out that when your best players are healthy, your team is more dangerous. Very interesting discovery, that is.
Mayo’s homer was awesome too. The young slugger still has some runway here while Jackson Holliday is out to figure things out at the plate. Could that dong be the first step? We sure have to hope so. The Orioles, as a team, need to be hitting more home runs. Mayo should be a reliable source of them.
Outside of that, it was just a tough loss to the take. Can’t dwell on it. Just go get the series win tomorow.
Speaking of which, he Orioles will wrap up this series, this roadtrip, and the 13-day run without a day off on Wednesday afternoon in Kansas City. Chris Bassitt (0-2, 6.19 ERA) will be on the bump to face Michael Wacha (2-0, 1.00 ERA). First pitch is set for 2:10 from Kauffman Stadium.
After a 4-3 overtime win in Game 1, the Montreal Canadiens were back at it on Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Martin St-Louis’ men were hoping to win a second game in a row and take a 2-0 lead back to Montreal. Jon Cooper had laid his cards on the table, inserting Scott Sabourin in his lineup, a clear sign that the Bolts were coming in with the intention to create some mayhem.
Meanwhile, Martin St-Louis stuck to his guns, making no changes to his winning lineup. After all, why change a winning formula?
After the first game, Cooper didn’t hesitate to call his players’ play stupid because they took several penalties in the offensive zone, and one has to say they didn’t act any smarter in Game 2. Right from the get-go, Sabourin was running after Josh Anderson, trying to bait him into dropping the gloves. It made sense given how much of an impact the power forward had on proceedings in the first duel, but he just brushed him off, avoiding the trap laid by the Bolts. Needless to say, had they dropped the gloves and been sent to the box for five minutes, the Canadiens would have suffered a much bigger loss.
Later in the first frame, it was Corey Perry who tried to bait Alexandre Carrier into fighting. The Tampa agitator dropped his gloves and tried his hardest to get the Canadiens defenseman to dance, but he wouldn’t, despite mayhem breaking all around them. As a result, the Bolts got an extra penalty, and the Habs were able to tie up the game.
Anderson Comes Up Clutch…Again
Tampa Bay tried to concentrate a bit more on hockey in the second frame and dominated in shots with 11 to the Canadiens’ nine, but St-Louis’ men were the only ones to find the back of the net, through Anderson, who scored for a second game in a row. The Habs patiently played the game in front of them, taking no unnecessary risks and pouncing when the time was right.
After 40 minutes, Anderson had four of the Canadiens 21 shots, more than any other Hab. While much of the chatter ahead of this series was about the Habs being a one-line team, their defence-first and fourth line scored in both games, this time getting the better of the Bolts’ third line featuring Yanni Gourde, Nick Paul and Zemgus Girgensons.
It’s not Juraj Slafkovsky’s job to drop the gloves, but when Brandon Hagel challenged him, he answered the bell. It was obvious that the power forward didn’t have much experience in that department, but he was still able to throw a couple of good hits before Hagel connected with his chin, sending him down to the ice. Still, the former first-overall pick jumped right back up, in time to throw another punch. One could say he took it on the chin literally and moved on.
With just two minutes left on the boards, Cooper sent out Sabourin, who blindsided Anderson with a hit in the lower back. The refs called a five-minute major, then reviewed the play and gave him a two-minute minor. The Canadiens were unable to capitalize on the power play, and the game went to overtime.
They downgraded this to a two, which is probably fair, but what a dirtbag hit by Sabourin.
While the Canadiens had a good game, the overtime belonged to the Bolts. They had nine shots while Montreal had none. Jakub Dobes was making big saves after big saves, but eventually it caught up to them.
The game-winning goal came after Kirby Dach iced the puck unnecessarily, which led to a faceoff right by Dobes, which the Lightning won. Then, as the play unfolded, Dach felt he was being interfered with and raised his arm in protest, rather than focusing on the play. J.J. Moser found the back of the net on Anthony Cirelli's pass. Dach had no shot, no blocked shot, three hits and one giveaway. If St-Louis feels it's time to bring someone else in, Dach might just have volunteered his spot.
The series is now tied 1-1, and it becomes a best-of-five. While a split on the road is still a good result, the way in which they lost Game 2 could be deflating for the young Canadiens. The next game will take place on Friday night, at 7:00 PM in Montreal.
BOSTON (AP) — V.J. Edgecombe had 30 points and 10 rebounds while playing through pain after taking a hard fall early in the game, Tyrese Maxey scored 29 points and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics 111-97 on Tuesday night to tie their playoff series at one game apiece.
Edgecombe connected on six of the 76ers’ 19 3-pointers. Maxey also had nine assists as Philadelphia bounced back after getting blown out 123-91 in Game 1.
The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday.
The Celtics cut a seven-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter to 91-89 before an 11-0 run put the 76ers back in front 102-89 with just over four minutes to play. The Celtics pulled their starters with a little more than a minute remaining.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 36 points. Jayson Tatum added 19 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists.
TRAIL BLAZERS 106, SPURS 102
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Scoot Henderson scored 31 points and Portland took advantage of an injury to Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, rallying for a victory over San Antonio to even their Western Conference playoff series at one game apiece.
Wembanyama tumbled face-first when he was fouled by Jrue Holiday in the second quarter and his jaw slammed into the floor. He entered the NBA’s concussion protocol, which raises the possibility the versatile 7-foot-4 center could miss multiple games.
The second-seeded Spurs looked like they could win without Wemby, building a 14-point lead early in the fourth quarter before their offense stagnated.
Portland held San Antonio without a field goal for the final 3:37 as they closed the game on an 11-2 run. Robert Williams III converted an alley-oop dunk with 12 seconds left for a 104-101 lead after Deni Avdija muscled through the paint and fed him the ball.
Holiday had 16 points and nine assists, Avdija scored 14 and Williams finished with 11.
Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 18 points, De’Aaron Fox scored 17 and Devin Vassell had 16 points and 12 rebounds.
SAN ANTONIO — Scoot Henderson scored 31 points and the Portland Trail Blazers took advantage of an injury to Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, rallying for a 106-103 victory over San Antonio on Tuesday night to even their Western Conference playoff series at one game apiece.
Wembanyama tumbled face-first when he was fouled by Jrue Holiday in the second quarter and his jaw slammed into the floor. He entered the NBA’s concussion protocol, which raises the possibility the versatile 7-foot-4 center could miss multiple games.
The second-seeded Spurs looked like they could win without Wemby, building a 14-point lead early in the fourth quarter before their offense stagnated.
Portland held San Antonio without a field goal for the final 3:37 as they closed the game on an 11-2 run. Robert Williams III converted an alley-oop dunk with 12 seconds left for a 104-101 lead after Deni Avdija muscled through the paint and fed him the ball.
Holiday had 16 points and nine assists, Avdija scored 14 and Williams finished with 11.
Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 18 points, De’Aaron Fox scored 17 and Devin Vassell had 16 points and 12 rebounds.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 08: Moisés Ballesteros #25 of the Chicago Cubs bats against the Tampa Bay Rays during a game at Tropicana Field on April 08, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s another Tuesday evening here at BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents nd Cubs fans abroad. Come on in and sit with us. New friends or old, all are welcome. The dress code is casual. We’ve still got a few tables available. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
Last night I asked you what the Cubs should do with Jordan Wicks after he returns from the injured list. The majority of you said “Leave him in Iowa” as 56 percent voted for that. Another 34 percent thought he should go into the Cubs depleted bullpen.
On Tuesday nights I don’t normally do a movie essay, but I always have time for jazz and that time is now. You can skip ahead if you wish.
Today we’re continuing our series on Chicago jazz in anticipation of International Jazz Day in Chicago on April 30. This is Chicago’s own saxophonists Clifford Jordan and Von Freeman at the Chicago Jazz Festival in 1988. This sax battle features Willie Pickens on piano, Dan Shapera on bass and Robert Shy on drums.
Welcome back to those of you who skip all that jazz.
Since Moisés Ballesteros, also known by the nickname “Mo Baller,” was called up to the majors for good last September, he’s done nothing but hit. So far in his career, he’s hitting .333/.405/,529 with five home runs in 39 games. When you throw out his numbers from his first stint in the majors last May, the numbers are even better.
This year, Mo Baller is hitting .378/.420/.600 with three home runs in just 50 plate appearances. I don’t need to tell you that’s elite production. Those are the kinds of numbers where you don’t care whether or not he ever learns to be a catcher. You just stick him in the lineup at designated hitter and let him do his thing.
The problem with this, of course, is that the Cubs aren’t just sticking him at DH and letting him do his thing. Ballesteros is being strictly platooned, playing only against right-handed pitching. So far, manager Craig Counsell’s strategy has been to start Ballesteros against right-handers and then pull him for a pinch-hitter (usually Matt Shaw or one of the other two catchers) if the other team brings in a left-handed reliever to face Ballesteros. Then Counsel goes to Michael Conforto as the DH if a right-handed pitcher comes in later.
So far, this strategy has worked. Saturday’s game was the best example, and I know some of you grumbled when Counsell pinch hit for Ballesteros in the sixth inning. Of course, everyone who did happily reversed themselves when Carson Kelly hit a pinch-hit three-run home run, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it was the right call in the situation. Sometimes in baseball, the wrong call works out and the right call fails.
So far, Ballesteros is hitting .405 with a .447 on-base percentage against right-handers and .000 with the same on-base percentage against lefties. Of course, that’s only three at-bats against lefties. Counsell has been pretty strict about not letting Mo Baller face a lefty.
Ballesteros has mixed success facing left-handed pitching in the minor league. Last year in Iowa versus left-hnaded pitching, Ballesteros managed to hit just .230/.296/.281 in 152 plate appearances. That would argue that Counsell is doing the right thing by sitting him. But in 2024, between Iowa and Tennessee, Ballesteros was actually better against left-handers than right-handers. He hit .302 with a .356 OBP against lefties in 2024 and “just” .285 with a .354 OBP versus right-handers. So there is some evidence that Ballesteros can hold his own versus left-handed pitching if given the chance.
Should Counsell let Ballesteros face more left-handed pitching? No one is arguing Ballesteros should be starting everyday, against both lefties and righties. At least not at this stage of his career. What I am asking is whether you think that Counsell should be less aggressive in pinch-hitting for Ballesteros mid-game. Letting him get some at-bats against lefties would serve two purposes. The first is that it would give him more experience facing lefties, which he needs if he’s going to be an everyday DH. The second would be that it would leave Ballesteros in the lineup for the late innings if the opposing team goes to an right-handed reliever later on.
Of course, the argument against this is that what Counsell is doing now appears to be working. Having Michael Conforto on the bench lessens the risks of pinch-hitting for Ballesteros.
So what would you do with Mo Baller? Would you let him at least get his feet wet against lefties? Or would you just stick with what Counsell is doing now? Again, we’re not asking if Ballesteros should start every game, just whether or not Counsell should not automatically pinch-hit for him mid game. Maybe get a rare start against a left-handed pitcher.
Thanks for stopping by tonight. We’re always glad to see you stop by. Please get home safely. Don’t forget anything around your table. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow evening for more BCB After Dark.
Apr 21, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Tanner Banks (58) leaves the field after the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
The Phillies have had their share of poorly pitched ballgames this season. While they have had games in which they’ve given up more runs, there’s a case that this was actually their worst pitched game of the season. The Phillies’ pitching staff gave up 12 hits, walked ten batters, and hit two others for good measure. The pitchers and the strike zone were not in sync all night. There were several instances in which pitchers looked either scared to throw a strike or simply had no idea where the strike zone actually was.
The only reason the game wasn’t more of a blowout was because Cubs left a staggering 17 runners on base. But that ultimately didn’t matter as the Cubs still scored enough runs to hand the Phillies a 7-3 defeat, their seventh loss in a row.
Jesus Luzardo got the start for the Phillies, and had a relatively uneventful first inning, giving up a mere single. In the second, he allowed two hits but stranded them both. Because he apparently likes patterns, in the third, Luzardo put three runners on bases thanks to two walks and a hit batter, but he once again was able to strand them all.
After stranding two more in the fourth, Luzardo put two runners aboard in the fifth. Rob Thomson decided that Luzardo had pressed his luck far enough and called upon Orion Kerkering to record the final out of the inning. Kerkering was notoriously bad with inherited runners in 2025, and that was again a problem on Tuesday night. He walked the first two batters he faced to put the Cubs up 1-0.
The Phillies had done little on offense up to that point, but when Kyle Schwarber hit a solo home run in the sixth to make it 1-1, you might have thought it would be deflating for the Cubs.
Any deflation was countered by the ineffectiveness of Tanner Banks in the bottom of the sixth. Banks gave up three hits and walked two batters, and the Cubs went up 3-1.
Tim Mayza followed Banks, while he threw more strikes than the others, two of those strikes went over the fence courtesy of Nico Hoerner and Seiya Suzuki, and the Cubs established a 6-1 lead.
The Phillies got two runs thanks to a Bryce Harper home run in the eighth, but Jose Alvarado handed one of them right back. Alvarado walked a batter, gave up two hits, threw a wild pitch, and then hit a batter before being pulled with what was reported as a back spasm.
The Phillies showed a little bit of life in the ninth. They got a few runners aboard, and Alec Bohm got one home on a sacrifice fly. They actually had the tying run at the plate in the form of Trea Turner. But anyone familiar with Turner’s game knew how that was going to go. Sure enough, Turner weakly popped up to end the game.
They’ll be back in action Wednesday night when Taijuan Walker will get the ball after an opener. While that doesn’t sound promising, the Phillies pitchers on Tuesday set the bar extremely low. Let’s see if Walker and company can clear it.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 21: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on April 21, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 22.5 VJ Edgecombe – 15 Joel Embiid – 11.5 Paul George – 8 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 5 Justin Edwards – 4 Andre Drummond – 3 Quentin Grimes – 3 Jared McCain :’( – 3 Dominick Barlow – 2 MarJon Beauchamp – 2 Adem Bona – 1 Porter Martone – 1 Cam Payne – 1 Jabari Walker – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
TD Garden might have been rocking for Game 1, but it was as silent as a library to close Game 2.
The first-round playoff series between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics is tied 1-1 after the Sixers pulled off a massive 111-97 victory over the hosting Celtics Tuesday night.
Though, for a moment, it looked like this one might have been over as quickly as Game 1 was, with the Sixers going on a scoring drought of over four and a half minutes in the first frame, allowing Boston a 16-0 run. To make matters worse, they were without Edgecombe briefly after the rookie took a hard fall onto his back going for a defensive rebound early in the game.
He returned to the game, thankfully, and went on an absolute tear in the second quarter. That’s where this one changed. The rookie poured in 16 points on stellar 6-for-9 field goal and 4-for-5 long range shooting in the second, leading the Sixers back within reaching grasp of the Celtics and even helping his squad to an eight-point halftime lead, their largest of the game.
The Sixers would never trail again in this one, though it did come close a few times. After an up and down third period within which Boston nearly pulled back even, Philadelphia tightened up a bit towards the end of the frame to carry a seven-point lead into the fourth. After what had been a bit of a quiet Tyrese Maxey performance through three quarters became all about the guard in the final period when he burst for 12 points, including timely triples to pull away from the Celtics for good.
This wasn’t just a win. This was a great win. The Sixers looked strategic and in control, not reactive and desperate the way they did in Game 1. Even when Philly would hit a cold spurt or would let Boston claw back in a bit, they simply rode the waves, tried to minimize the damage and punched back again. That’s how this is going to have to be if the Sixers want to keep battling this tough Celtics squad.
The Sixers bring a 1-1 series tie back home to South Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4, with Game 3 coming up at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Friday evening.
<p>(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
It was looking like VJ Edgecombe’s night might be cut very short when he headed to the locker room briefly in the first period after taking a hard fall going up for a defensive board. Thankfully, he was able to return to the game towards the end of that opening frame. And I mean thankfully, because the rookie went red hot from there.
After a two-bucket, four-point first from Edgecombe, he poured in 16 points in the second period. These weren’t gimmie plays, either. The rookie was using his active defense, rebounding, speed, footwork and smooth jumpers to help the Sixers claw back in to this one after they let Boston on a 16-0 run in the first. Edgecombe shot 6-for-9 from the floor and 4-for-5 from long range in a damn-near heroic second that saw the Sixers take an eight-point lead into the break.
After another brief exit to the locker room and some time on the stationary bike in the third frame, Edgecombe got right back to business again, battling for boards and sinking a timely triple just as the Celtics were back within three points. He ended up tacking on 10 points towards his total in the second half.
This kid is an absolute star in the making — maybe even a bit of a star already. Perhaps his regular season wasn’t always as flashy as Cooper Flagg’s or Kon Knueppel’s, but Edgecombe has proven time and time again that you can count on him in the clutch and that he’s ready to perform in some of the biggest moments this game has to offer. I’ll take that from a 20-year-old rookie any day of the week.
He finished the game with 30 points on 12-for-20 field goal and 6-for-10 long range shooting along with 10 rebounds (four offensive), two assists and two steals. He is the youngest player in NBA history to reach a 30-point, 10-rebound double-double in a playoff game.
Gotta shout out VJ Edgecombe tonight, who looked nothing like a rookie in his second ever playoff game. He's the youngest player in NBA playoff history with a 30-PT, 10-REB game.
<p>(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
It was an up and down night for Tyrese Maxey, with the peaks coming fortunately exactly when they were needed. It felt like the guard was deferring way too much, forcing passes that weren’t always there instead of just taking the shots he should have himself. It led to a quieter (by his standards) first three quarters of basketball, with Maxey putting up 17 points on 7-for-19 field goal shooting in that time.
Things changed quickly when Maxey had an extremely timely scoring burst in the fourth, sinking back-to-back triples. Those six points could not have come at a better time, with the Celtics clawing their way back within just two points of the Sixers with time winding down. The threes were the beginning of the end for Boston, with the Philly lead then expanding to nine points before surging into an insurmountable double-digit deficit they couldn’t come back from.
Maxey ended up with 12 points in a pivotal fourth quarter, including three triples. And he was feeling damn good about how he was closing this one out. Just look at this move, finish and reaction from him.
Maxey finished the game with 29 points, shooting 5-for-12 from long range, with four rebounds, nine assists and two steals. It could be game-changing to have Maxey bring the aggression and attitude he closed Game 2 with back home to South Philadelphia for Game 3.
After a bit of an up-and-down game, Tyrese Maxey absolutely came alive in Q4 to put the Celtics away. 12 massive points from some truly insane buckets from the All-Star.
<p>(Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)</p><br> | Getty Images
Paul George put forth quite a lackluster effort overall in Sunday’s Game 1, but tonight started off much smoother. George went to work in isolation early and hit two quick jumpers in the first few minutes of Game 2. From there, he looked damn solid on both ends of the floor all night minus one little stumble for a few possessions in the third.
This wasn’t a constant domination from PG, but he was ready to fill in the gaps when the Sixers really needed him to. It was a lot of smaller bursts, and they were extremely timely ones. Just when Philadelphia would go a little bit cold or the Celtics would go on a run, it seemed to frequently be George who would bury a bucket to calm the Boston crowd and get Philadelphia back on track. When he wasn’t doing that, he was commanding the offense and setting up other Sixers with solid shot opportunities, waiting for the Celtics’ defense to collapse in on him before kicking out to teammates.
All of that offensive contribution on top of his usual defensive talents went a long way in Game 2, even if it was seemingly in spurts spread throughout.
George finished the night with 19 points on 7-for-13 field goal and 2-for-5 long range shooting. He also had four rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block.
Another video from Sixers-Celtics Game 2, looking at Paul George. In addition to his typical solid defense, PG hit some timely buckets + had a few great assists, taking advantage of the C's def collapsing in on him.
<p>(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
This is more of a shoutout than a true Bell Ringer contender, as the other guys’ contributions were just undoubtedly more impactful, but Kelly Oubre Jr. deserves some kudos for Game 2. It wasn’t perfect, but he helped when called upon.
After a quiet first half scoring just two points, Oubre had a little burst of scoring along with some solid defensive pressures that helped keep the Sixers going while Edgecombe was on the sideline and Maxey was still a bit too passive. Like George, Oubre’s contributions were incredibly timely, coming just when Philadelphia needed someone to fill the gap the most. He put up seven points in quick succession in that third period stint, possibly his most crucial buckets as they helped maintain and build on a lead the Celtics were desperately chipping away at. He added one more big bucket in the fourth, a triple with just four minutes remaining that extended the Sixers lead from 10 points to 13, completing an 11-0 run for Philly and pushing Boston to use a timeout to try to stop the bleeding. It didn’t work.
Oubre finished this one with 12 points on 5-for-10 field goal shooting (two triples) with five rebounds.
Victor Wembanyama hit his head hard on the floor after tripping during a drive in the second quarter of the San Antonio Spurs’ Game 2 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Wembanyama exited the game, and it not return. The Spurs superstar is in concussion protocol, and his status for the upcoming games of the series will be in question. Wembanyama was diagnosed with a concussion after the game.
The Trail Blazers beat the Spurs, 106-103, to even the series at 1-1. Wembanyama only played 12 minutes and scored five points before the injury.
Wembanyama suffered the injury while he was driving hard to the rim against Portland’s Jrue Holiday. It looked like Holiday “pulled the chair” — a long-time NBA move where the defender steps back and causes an out-of-control ball handler to fall. Wembanyama has a long way to fall at 7’5 in shoes, and he unfortunately took an awkward tumble that resulted in a major blow to the head. Watch the play here:
Victor Wembanyama hits his head hard on the floor, after the drive and spin move on Jrue Holiday.
He looks dazed and confused, the Spurs take a timeout and he heads to the locker room. With replays. pic.twitter.com/hrEAKkEDMb
A concussion typically keeps an NBA player out for at least 7-10 days, and we know some can last much longer. Head trauma isn’t something anyone should rush back from.
Wembanyama will have to be in recovery for 48 hours. Then, he’ll have to be symptom free, and cleared for a return to play by both team and league doctors, per Shams Charania.
Wembanyama was incredible in his playoff debut in Game 1, popping off for 35 points in 33 minutes while dominating defensively like always. He’s playing as well as anyone in the world right now, and losing him for an extended period would throw a wrench in the Western Conference Playoffs.
The series returns to Portland for Game 3 on Friday. Game 4 will be Sunday in Portland. The series returns to San Antonio for Game 5 the following Tuesday, and then Game 6 is on two nights later, and Game 7 is two nights after that.
This is just awful timing for the Spurs. It’s not the type of injuries that team doctors should allow him to play through. With the series tied 1-1, there will be pressure to get back onto the court, but Wembanyama needs to remember to protect his health.
Apr 21, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (0) shoots over San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) during the first half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Everything was well coming into this game, with the Spurs up 1-0 in the first round against the Portland Trail Blazers and Victor Wembanyama receiving his Defensive Player of the Year trophy. Then, there was the game. After a rough start, the Spurs fought back from a double-digit deficit only to lose Wemby to a possible concussion early in the second quarter. They still fought and gutted it out, and everything seemed to open up in the fourth quarter as they got out to a 14-point lead with under nine minutes to go. Unfortunately, the Blazers got hot from three, and poor free-throw shooting came back to bite the Spurs as they lost 103-106.
De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Caslte and Devin Vassell combined for 51 inefficient points, while Luke Kornet did an admirable job filling in for Wemby with 10 points and 9 rebounds and was very much a case if “box score plus-minus don’t lie”, as he was at +29 before the game-ending Portland run. They were able to hold Deni Avdija relatively in check with 14 points on 5-13 shooting, but Scoot Henderson exploded for 31 points on 11-17 shooting, 5-9 from three.
Observations
Random question: have the Spurs ever had two playoff games in a row in which it was cool outside? For those who haven’t been here, South Texas has very short, mild winters and long, hot summers, with spring and fall being fleeting. While it isn’t typically hot yet in April, it is warm with highs typically in the 80’s (Fahrenheit, of course). Cool fronts do occur, but needing anything beyond short sleeves across two Spurs playoff games is new to me.
The Blazers’ goal coming into this game was to get more players involved on offense, and they did just that with four players scoring as they went on a 13-0 run after the Spurs took an early 4-2, while the Spurs struggled with turnovers and deflections against Portland’s feisty defense. Also, unlike Game 1, the Spurs couldn’t keep Donovan Clingan off the offensive glass, with no one boxing him out when Wemby went for blocks. Fortunately, Castle briefly got going, scoring 7 straight points to cut into what had been a 13-point lead, and the Spurs took advantage of Portland’s starters resting to retake the lead 28-27 with an 18-5 run to close the quarter.
I’ll be honest, I kind of forgot about Scoot Henderson before the last couple of weeks. After all the hype coming into the 2023 Draft that had some (including himself) claiming he had a higher ceiling than Wemby, he had a rough rookie season and has dealt with injuries much of the last two. However, he showed what the hype was about with 13 points on 4-5 shooting in the first quarter, and he stayed hot all night.
Like many teams, Portland’s new plan with Wemby was to put a smaller, stronger player on him, in this case Jrue Holiday. As a result, he was not as loose and free to move around like he did in Game 1. Early in the second quarter, Holiday pulled the chair on him and he fell, stayed down and appeared dazed. Replay showed he smacked his chin the court and may have briefly lost consciousness. He ran back to the locker room and did not return after entering concussion protocol.
After his exit, the Spurs got down by five a few times but regained their composure, and in ways played much looser on offense since Portland’s defensive plan no longer applied. Kornet stepped up well in Wemby’s absence, and it was a little harder for the Blazers to get offensive rebounds since he was staying down and boxing out Clingan. The game was tied at 57 at the half despite the drama.
I had to watch some on mute in the third quarter. All night it felt like Reggie Miller and Mike Tirico were rooting for Portland, and outside of one instance in the second quarter when Reggie laughing at a weak foul called on Julian Champagnie, asking what happened to playoff basketball, it felt like they were reviewing and critiquing every questionable call against the Blazers but not the Spurs. It was eventually too distracting.
So far, in both games it feels like Portland is getting the benefit of the doubt on loose ball fouls, offensive fouls, and of course Avdija doing his best SGA impression. Mitch Johnson finally had enough and challenged a call that would have been Champagnie’s fifth foul in the third quarter. Shaedon Sharpe had pushed him into Henderson, but they called the foul on Champagnie. It was a successful challenge. (Oh, and I did un-mute for this part, and Reggie somehow didn’t think it would be successful.)
Another spate of injuries hit in the fourth quarter, with Harrison Barnes exiting after hurting his wrist in a collision with Avdija, and a play later, Dylan Harper and Clingan both existed with with thumb injures after getting tangled up (in Harper’s case, the same thumb that was already hurt). Fortunately, Harper soon returned.
The offense opened up for the Spurs in the fourth, and they got the lead up to 14 on a Kornet reverse dunk and-1. Unfortunately, what could have been a run that put things away did not because the Spurs struggled at the line all night. They were 15-22 at that point and finished 2o-28, which gave the Blazers room to come back, and they did on a Holiday put-back with 2 minutes left. The Spurs had several chances to retake the lead after that, but the offense bogged down and they never got another good shot off. Robert Williams stretched the lead to three with 12 sec left on a putback dunk, and Vassell couldn’t hit a desperation three at the buzzer after a round of the foul game to force overtime.
Kade Snell 3 Homerun, LSU Tigers take on Alabama Baseball in Baton Rouge, LA. Thursday, April 17, 2025. | SCOTT CLAUSE / USATODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Pelicans pitcher Mason McGwire was named Minor League Pitcher of the Week. That’s for all the minors.
Catcher Owen Ayers was named Midwest League Player of the Week. He was also promoted to Double-A Knoxville.
For the second-straight week, Smokies right-hander Grant Kipp was named Southern League Pitcher of the week.
Corner infielder Cole Mathis was promoted from Low-A Myrtle Beach to High-A South Bend.
Shortstop Geuri Lubo was promoted to South Bend from rookie ball Mesa Cubs.
Right-handed pitchers Daniel Avitia and Connor Knox were both promoted to South Bend from Mesa.
Catcher Miguel Useche was demoted from Knoxville to South Bend.
South Bend third baseman Brian Kalmer was released.
Starter Paul Campbell took the loss after getting knocked around for seven runs, six earned, on nine hits over 4.2 innings. He struck out two and walked one.
All three I-Cubs runs came on a three-run home run by left fielder Dylan Carlson in the fourth inning. Carlson was 1 for 4.
Third baseman BJ Murray went 3 for 4 with a double.
Right fielder Chas McCormick was 2 for 3 with a double and one run scored.
All four runs in this game scored in the top of the second inning off of Smokies starter Nick Dean. Dean allowed four runs on five hits over three innings. He walked two and struck out three.
Dawson Netz tossed three innings of scoreless relief, giving up just one hit and one walk. Netz struck out four.
DH Andy Garriola went 2 for 4 with a double.
Shortstop Karson Simas was 2 for 4.
Owen Ayers’ Double-A debut was rough. He was 0 for 4 with one strikeout, but the worst part was that he was called for catcher’s interference twice.
Kevin Valdez started and put the Cubs in an early hole by surrendering five runs on eight hits over three innings. He struck out four and walked one.
South Bend fought back and took a 10-6 lead after scoring five runs in the top of the eighth. But Nate Williams came on to pitch the bottom of the eighth and couldn’t retire a batter. So Ethan Bell relieved Williams and allowed two inherited runners to score, which tied the game up 10-10. But Bell got the win after South Bend scored six runs in the top of the ninth.
The final line on Williams was four runs, two earned, on three walks. For Bell, it was no runs on one hit over two innings. He struck out two and walked one.
Shortstop Miguel Olivo hit his first South Bend home run, a solo home run in the third. Olivo went 2 for 3 with two walks. He scored five times and drove in two.
Right fielder Kade Snell was 2 for 4 with a walk and three RBI.
Third baseman Matt Halbach went 2 for 6 with an RBI double and a two-run single in the ninth.
Left fielder Reginald Preciado was 2 for 4 with two walks and two runs scored.
First baseman Cole Mathis was 1 for 6 in his South Bend debut, but he hit a three-run double in the eighth.
Dominick Reid started for the Birds and took the loss after he gave up three runs on five hits over three innings. All three runs came in the second inning. Reid walked two and struck out one.
Right fielder Josiah Hartshorn was 2 for 5 with an RBI single in the seventh inning.
First baseman Michael Carico was 1 for 4 with a hit-by-pitch and a stolen base. He also drove in a run in the seventh with a single.
Canaries coach compares 22-year-old to young Erling Haaland
Australian’s red-hot form is boost for Tony Popovic before World Cup
Australian striker Mo Touré has earned comparisons to a young Erling Haaland, after he bounced back from a missed penalty to continue his sizzling goalscoring run with a ninth goal in just 10 games since joining English Championship side Norwich.
Touré’s fourth goal of the week, following a second hat-trick of his short Norwich career on the weekend, was a rocket that went in off the underside of the bar and set up a 2-1 win over Derby County.
