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Cubs BCB After Dark: Should Ballesteros keep catching?

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 27: Moisés Ballesteros #25 of the Chicago Cubs looks on after connecting for a grandslam during the third inning of a gameagainst the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on April 27, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s another night here at BCB After Dark: the grooviest dive for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in and sit with us for a while. There’s no cover charge. The dress code is casual. We still have a few good tables. 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 if the Cubs should sign catcher Carson Kelly to a two-year extension. The slight majority of you thought it was a good idea, as 51 percent of you said yes. Thirty-one percent were against it and the rest of you were “If he’ll sign for cheap,”

On Tuesdays I don’t do movie stuff, but I’m sure I can find some music in here somewhere.

International Jazz Day is April 30 and it’s almost here. As mentioned before, Chicago is the host city of this day that we all celebrate the most American of art forms. Here’s a piece from International Jazz Day in 2023 featuring pianist Emmet Cohen and vocalist Cyrille Aimée. Joining them are Philip Norris on bass and John Lumpkin. This is Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner jazz standard “Almost Like Being in Love.”

Feel free to sing along if you want.

Welcome back to those who skip all that jazz.

Last night we got to see Moisés Ballesteros start behind the plate for the first time this year. At the plate, he was great with his first career grand slam. Defensively, I thought he looked shaky. So did Al in his recap, noting that he had a passed ball, let Ty France steal a base on him and made a bad ABS challenge. I’m going to let the ABS challenge slide a little bit since I thought the pitch was close enough to challenge. The only problem was that Matthew Boyd had made an ill-advised challenge earlier in the game and that meant the Cubs were out of challenges. So I guess Ballesteros should have known that the Cubs were down to one challenge. Also, Matthew Boyd shouldn’t be allowed to challenge pitches anymore.

Of course, those two bad ABS challenges came back to bite the Cubs when Ben Brown had clearly struck out Ty France with two out in the fifth inning, only for home plate umpire Dan Merzel badly blow the call. That’s exactly what the ABS system was designed to fix, but the Cubs couldn’t use it. France ended up walking and the Padres ended up scoring two runs in the inning. The Padres beat the Cubs by two runs.

But that’s an aside. What I want to ask you is do you think Moisés Ballesteros should keep catching? The scouting report on Ballesteros throughout the minor leagues was that he was a great hitter but that he really wasn’t good enough behind the plate to catch. So far in his major league career, he’s lived up to his scouting report. He looks like an elite hitter but a poor catcher.

Is it worth it to try to keep Mo Baller behind the plate? Or would you rather he just concentrate on hitting and maybe getting an occasional start at first base? If Ballesteros is as good a hitter as he’s shown us so far, he’s definitely a good enough hitter to stick at DH. Might he be even better if he didn’t have to work on improving his defense behind the plate. Maybe! It’s certainly no guarantee because he’s already pretty darn great, but I’ve always believed (and many scouts agree with me) that hitting skills of catchers develop late because they spend so much time working on their defensive responsibilities. Maybe that’s what happened to Carson Kelly.

The other reason to make him a full-time DH is that catchers get hurt. It’s a brutal life back behind the plate from foul balls and whatnot. Not only that, but constantly getting up and down out of a crouch can damage the knees.

On the other hand, if Ballesteros can manage to be even a below-average defensive catcher, that makes him a lot more valuable than if he were just a full-time DH. Also, as far as I know, Mo Baller still wants to catch. There’s something to be said for letting a young star do what he wants.

The Cubs faced this same dilemma with Kyle Schwarber a little over a decade ago. Eventually, the Cubs tried to play him in left field. That worked for a while, but he was certainly well below-average out there. Nowadays, Schwarber just serves as the DH almost exclusively and no one is second-guessing that choice.

(Before anyone suggests it, I believe that Ballesteros would be much worse than Schwarber ever was in left field. He can play first base and not be terrible, but with both Busch and Ballesteros being left-handed hitters, that doesn’t work well for the Cubs.)

I’m also going to give you the option of trading Mo Baller and making this issue someone else’s problem. I don’t think many of you will vote for it, but I’ll throw it out there for anyone who wants to bring it up.

Thanks for stopping by tonight. We’ve enjoyed having you. Please get home safely. Call a ride if you need to. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow night for more BCB After Dark.

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Blue Jays 3, Red Sox 0: The offense no shows again

Apr 28, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Red Sox centre fielder Jarren Duran (16) hits a broken bat ground out against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Every once in a while, you get a picture (like that one up there of Jarren Duran) that so perfectly encapsulates how the night went for the offense, you just have to use it.

But tonight, we got two:

After a three game winning streak that included several signs of life from the lineup, they regressed right back into the puddle of ineptitude at the plate we’ve seen far to often this year. Their best chance to score came in the first inning when Willson Contreras hit a one out double, but after failing to get that run home, they had only one at bat with a runner in scoring position the rest of the night. That’s pretty much all you need to know.

If you’re feeling generous, you can say they were facing Trey Yesavage, who’s an excellent young pitcher and will be a thorn in the side of AL East opponents for years to come. But on the other hand, he was making his first big league start of the year coming back from injury and looked hittable early on before getting stronger as his outing progressed. At the very least, the bats should have made him work harder and generated some chances. While nobody expects this offense to be good, there’s been far too many nights this season where they’ve resembled a corpse.

Going into the game, the story was Payton Tolle, and specifically if he could back up his outing against the Yankees from last time out. The answer to that was a resounding “no,” as unlike Yesavage, he got worse as his outing progressed. Tolle lasted just 4.2 innings and walked four on his way to giving up three hits and three runs.

He also looked like a guy running out of gas, which is notable because he lasted just 68 pitches, had his velocity dipping before Chad Tracy yanked him mid inning, and mentioned that he needed to be quote “better about my recovery, and get better sleep” in the postgame show. Unfortunately, there was no follow up question, because I’d love to know specifically what he was talking about there.

Three Studs

Willson Contreras: His first inning double was the only extra base hit of the night. Normally a 1-4 effort won’t land you here, but the pickings are slim.

Marcelo Mayer: He went 1-3 at the plate, but that single extended his hitting streak to seven games, and he’s batting .391 over that stretch.

Ryan Watson: Mopped up the last five outs of the game and prevented any other relievers from being used after him. This puts the Red Sox in better position going into the rubber game of the series tomorrow.

Three Duds

Jarren Duran: 0-4 from the top of the lineup. He’s now batting .172 with a .487 OPS.

Carlos Narvaez: 0-3 with a strike out, and two of the fruitless at bats came with a man on base.

Payton Tolle: Unfortunately, he has to end up here given the short nature of his outing and the large step back he took from the Yankee game.

Play of the game:

Here’s something crazy: I think you can make a solid argument that the best play of the game for both teams may have actually been the same play. (I can’t ever remember thinking that in a game before.) For the Blue Jays, the reasons it’s Kazuma Okamoto’s two-run single are obvious. But for the Red Sox, Roman Anthony made a beautiful throw and nailed a runner at second base on a ball hit over his head. Given what’s been happening with some of his throws this year, this is no small thing, and on a night where literally everything else was underwhelming and forgettable, Anthony’s arm looking like it did a year ago should give fans a reason to smile.

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Yankees hold on in Texas behind Cam Schlittler and a showcase on defense

Apr 28, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) throws during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

So far this year the Yankees have regularly teetered on a knife’s edge from game to game. They typically do enough to win a game but routinely give themselves enough opportunities to give it away. The late innings following a quotidian quality start from Cam Schlittler were typically dicey for the Yankee bullpen, but a couple heroic plays allowed them to stay a whisker’s length ahead of the Rangers. Schlittler outdueled the legendary Jacob deGrom to earn the win, and big insurance home runs from Austin Wells and Aaron Judge proved essential to give New York a series victory.

The Bomber bats arrived to the ballpark early in an opening half-inning which, but for a difference of a few feet, could have plated three runs but scored only one. A two-out walk to Aaron Judge (not so easy to get away with these days!) set the table for a wall-scraping double by Cody Bellinger which missed clearing the right center fence by a few feet. Judge still scored without a play from first base. Jazz Chisholm Jr. followed with a deep drive to center, but a stupendous play from Evan Carter saved extra bases and ended the inning.

The Yankees’ gloves proved similarly available from the jump. Bellinger flagged down a tricky fly ball from leadoff man Brandon Nimmo, and Trent Grisham then somersaulted forward to take a base hit from Josh Jung. Schlittler allowed a third hard-hit ball, this time a double to Corey Seager, before wriggling free on a strikeout.

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The tone was set for excellent defense early, and both teams added to their own highlight reels. Texas’ Josh Smith sprawled out at second base to cut down a hustling Ryan McMahon to finish the second, and in the third, left fielder Alejandro Osuna snagged a well-struck liner from Grisham. The center fielder himself got back in the act in the home fourth, covering a ton of ground to catch a hard-hit Pederson smash off a hanging curveball from Schlittler.

The veteran deGrom settled into the contest after that iffy first inning, improving as the game went along. After retiring the heart of the Yankee lineup in order to close out the sixth inning, he received congratulatory handshakes from his teammates, but departed on the hook for the loss thanks to Schlittler’s brilliance. Cam issued a rare walk before closing out the fifth, then allowed a pair of runners to reach to start the sixth—including a second base on balls. That set the stage for his finest work of the night.

Schlittler started with a strikeout of the threatening Seager with a 98-mph fastball. Two pitches later, he induced an infield fly from Joc Pederson. Finally, he faced Jake Burger. Austin Wells successfully challenged a called ball, bringing the count from 2-0 to 1-1. That excellent challenge lowered the pressure on Schlittler, who needed just one more pitch to send Burger out for delivery on a pop to right.

That closed the line on yet another stellar performance from Schlittler, who picked up eight total strikeouts, scattering three hits and two walks. He threw 91 pitches in the effort and now has a 1.51 ERA. Folks, he is simply sensational.

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His catcher isn’t half bad either. After making that great call to overturn a ball and help out his pitcher, he provided further aid by taking lefty reliever Jalen Beeks to the skies. Wells cranked a fastball out to right field for his third homer of the year, providing a crucial insurance run in the seventh inning.

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The Rangers threatened again in the bottom half, but once again were turned away emptyhanded. Brent Headrick worked around a leadoff single and a dreaded-two out walk to the number-nine hitter, striking out Nimmo to strand a pair.

Texas came back in the bottom of the eighth with pitchforks in hand. Fernando Cruz allowed the first two men to reach in front of Pederson, who bucked his usual convention as a power hitter by dropping down a bunt. Cruz fielded the bunt before tumbling to the turf, then regained his bearings and fired a bouncing throw to McMahon at third, who fielded the peg for an absolutely stunning first out. What could have—and maybe should have—been a cataclysmic blunder was instead turned into a highlight-reel play.

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Cruz sensed his moment from there, striking out Burger on a succession of nasty splitters. He then worked ahead of pinch-hitter Ezequiel Duran, and shut out his lights with one last split-finger to quell another Ranger rally.

In a game like this, one more run from the Bombers threatened to be backbreaking for Texas. What better to get it than with a comet from the captain? Judge greeted Cole Winn with a 112.7 mph, 424-foot home run to the second deck in left for his 12th home run of the season, giving the Yankees a 3-0 mandate. That final tack-on run would, perhaps unsurprisingly, prove indispensable in short order.

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No one ever promised that the bottom of the ninth inning would be easy. David Bednar took over for the save, but an errant throw from McMahon immediately told the viewing audience that this frame would be a struggle. Habitual Yankee nuisance Danny Jansen made the error sting with a triple to belatedly put Texas on the scoreboard. Grisham landed awkwardly on his leg during the play, but stayed in the game after getting a look from the training staff.

After a line shot from Jung sailed into left to score Jansen, the Yankee lead was suddenly whittled down to a single tally. The tying run was in scoring position and the winning run was also aboard. Disaster once again loomed with Bednar on the mound. Needing to induce a roller, he delivered a 1-0 splitter to Seager. The two-time World Series MVP pounded it on the ground to Chisholm, who initiated the 4-6-3 double play that, at last, ended the night.

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Everybody has permission to breathe again. The Yankees are 20-10 on the season, ranking as the first American League team to reach 20 wins this year.

Tomorrow promises to be a very exciting afternoon for the Yanks, as they go for the sweep deep in the heart of Texas. Top prospect Elmer Rodriguez is slated to make his MLB debut against veteran Nathan Eovaldi. First pitch for this circle-the-calendar affair comes at 2:35 PM on YES.

Box Score

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Knicks use vintage Jalen Brunson performance to blow out Hawks 126-97 and take 3-2 series lead

On Tuesday night, the Knicks and Hawks returned to Madison Square Garden for the first time since Atlanta’s stunning comeback win in Game 2 of the series. This time, it seemed like the Knicks had learned from their previous mistakes. Riding a strong defensive performance, a tremendous all-around game from Karl Anthony Towns, and a vintage Jalen Brunson shooting game, the Knicks controlled Game 5 from start to finish, winning 126-97 and taking a 3-2 series lead back to Atlanta.

Saying the Knicks controlled this game from start to finish may actually be an understatement. Atlanta's last lead of the game was at 4-2, and the last time they had the game within single digits, the score was 29-20. The Hawks were able to cut it to 10 points a couple of times in the first half, but that was it, and then both teams emptied the benches with four minutes left in the game.

Much like in the last game in New York, the Knicks came out with obvious defensive intensity. They were flying to their closeouts, rotating on their help assignments, and making it hard for the Hawks to get off clean looks. In the first quarter, the Knicks forced four turnovers and blocked two shots, while scoring four points off those turnovers and taking a 35-22 lead.

A key tactical change on defense was the way in which the Knicks forced the ball out of CJ McCollum’s hands. While Brunson still guarded McCollum when he was in the game, the Knicks were more aggressive in helping off the other Hawks players. Towns or Mitchell Robinson were almost always lurking in the paint, and then the Knicks had the nearest help defender shading more intentionally towards McCollum. If McCollum tried to drive or had a step on Brunson, the help defender was there to cut off the lane and force McCollum to give up the ball. When he did, the Knicks were flying to close out on the perimeter and forcing the Hawks to swing the ball multiple times to find the open man.

Oftentimes, that open man was Dyson Daniels, who it seemed like the Knicks were intentionally forcing the ball to. Daniels shot 51.7% from the field in the regular season, but he only attempted 10.2 shots per game and is not the main point of attack for Atlanta’s offense. The Knicks made him one often on Tuesday, and he scored 17 points on 7-of-11 from the field despite not playing much in the second half.

Even though he shot the ball well, that took the ball out of McCollum and Jalen Johnson’s hands more than Atlanta would have liked. Johnson did lead the Hawks with 18 points, while adding 10 rebounds and six assists, but he took just nine shots in the first half when the game was still in any kind of doubt. McCollum was held to just six points on 3-of-10 from the field. Five other Hawks players took as many shots as he did, and he failed to knock down a single three-point shot in the game.

The Knicks also boxed on much better in Game 5, holding Atlanta to just five offensive rebounds. That helped to keep Atlanta out of fast break situations, and they had just four fastbreak points.

Another adjustment the Knicks made was with their rotations.

These adjustments started over the last two games in Atlanta, but were an even more stark contrast now that the teams were back on the Garden floor. In Game 2, after the Knicks were up 32-23 at the end of the first quarter, head coach Mike Brown started the second quarter with a lineup of one starter, OG Anunoby, and four bench players: Jordan Clarkson, Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet, and Miles McBride. The Knicks' offense lacked rhythm and a floor general and were outscored 13-3 to give the Hawks a one-point lead.

On Tuesday, the Knicks had a commanding lead at the end of the first quarter, but, unlike in Game 2, the Knicks came out with a lineup that featured three starters - Towns, Anunoby, and Mikail Bridges - with Jose Alvarado at the point. That lineup outscored Atlanta 8-5 before subs came in. In fact, there were no minutes in the game (until the final four) without either Brunson or Towns on the floor, and Brown did a good job of staggering minutes for both of them, allowing both players turns as the hub of the offense.

Early in the game, it seemed that Brown was trying to take some pressure off Brunson since the Knicks’ captain is playing through a foot injury. The All-Star guard had not been himself for much of the series. Coming into tonight's game, he was averaging 25.5 points on 41.6% shooting with 5.3 assists and 3.5 turnovers. In the regular season, he averaged 26 points, but that came on 46.7% shooting with 6.8 assists and just 2.4 turnovers per game. There were times in the series, specifically near the end of each of the Knicks' losses, where Brunson's decision-making was questionable at best.

None of that was the case tonight. After a modest eight points in the first quarter, Brunson stayed on the bench for a bit longer than usual, not checking into the game in the second quarter until six minutes remained. When he did come back in, Brunson was more assertive, attacking the basket on the fast break and finishing through contact. He had nine points in the quarter and then took another extended rest in the middle of the third quarter, scoring just five points in the period.

With Towns on the bench to start the fourth quarter, Brunson took the opportunity to unleash a vintage performance. The diminutive guard attacked the basket without hesitation and had Hawks defenders off-balance with jab steps and unusual attack angles. If defenders fell off of him around the perimeter, he pulled up from three. By the end, he scored 17 points in the quarter and finished with 39 points on 15-of-23 from the field with eight assists, three rebounds, and just one turnover.

Up until that fourth-quarter barrage, Towns had really been the engine driving the Knicks. Much like they did in Game 4, the Knicks continued to run a lot of offense through the big man. Much of it came from the perimeter with Towns driving when guys like Tony Bradley guarded him, kicking to players curling off pin screens from the opposite corner, and pulling up from three when he had the open look. Towns seemed to play with supreme confidence and energy all night, including on the defensive end. He finished with 16 points on 5-of-7 from the field, with 14 rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and two steals.

The Knicks also got great work off the bench from Jose Alvarado, who had 12 points in 12 minutes, and Jordan Clarkson, who had nine points in 16 minutes and was a +14 on the day. In total, the Knicks' bench outscored the Hawks’ bench 38-24, with Jonathan Kuminga being the only real contributor off the bench for Atlanta.

At the end of the day, it was another emphatic win for the Knicks, who have positioned themselves as the better team despite leading the series just 3-2. After tonight, the Knicks' three wins have been by a combined 56 points. The Hawks’ two wins have been by a combined two points.

While that may give the Knicks confidence heading into the final two games of the series, it hardly means things are finished. It only takes outscoring your opponent by one to win a basketball game, and the Hawks have shown they aren’t going to back down from the fight.

The series will resume with Game 6 on Thursday night in Atlanta, with a potential Game 7 taking place on Saturday in New York.

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Hawks fall well short in 126-97 Game 5 loss

Apr 28, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) takes a shot against Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) during the third quarter of game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Hawks squared off against the New York Knicks in a pivotal Game 5 of their first round playoff matchup on Tuesday night — with the series tied at two games apiece.

It was a scrappy start to the game, with both teams playing physical defense. The big takeaway from the opening was Atlanta shuffling their matchups, with Dyson Daniels picking up Karl-Anthony Towns, Nickeil Alexander-Walker shifting over to guard Jalen Brunson, and Onyeka Okongwu taking the OG Anunoby assignment.

Daniels drew first blood, going right at Jalen Brunson for the spin and score on Atlanta’s first possession — part of an aggressive start for the Aussie who scored six of the Hawks first eight points.

Midway through the first, Jalen Johnson scored his first points of the contest with a pretty and-one on Towns, cutting New York’s lead to one.

Unfortunately for the Hawks, their defense wilted as soon as Daniels went to the bench. Towns looked far more comfortable going up against Jonathan Kuminga, scoring seven points in the blink of an eye.

A couple of ferocious transition slams from Kuminga and Johnson brought the Hawks to within three with 3:23 to go in the quarter, before a 12-2 Knicks run to close the quarter put Atlanta in a 35-22 hole at the end of the opening frame. Atlanta shot just 10-for-22 (45.5%) from the floor (including a 1-for-8 mark from three) and 1-for-2 at the free-throw line, while the Knicks went 13-for-20 (65%) from the floor and 7-for-11 at the line in the first quarter.

Down 13 to begin the second, Alexander-Walker tried to turn Atlanta’s three-point shooting woes around, splashing a late shot clock corner three to open the quarter.

The good vibes were short lived however, as CJ McCollum had a shot blocked and committed two turnovers on Atlanta’s next three possessions, slowing Atlanta’s momentum. Kuminga tried to get Atlanta back on track with a nifty finish in transition, but then a couple of baskets from Jose Alvarado and Towns extended New York’s lead to 16, prompting Quin Snyder to call for time just three minutes into the period.

The two sides traded baskets out of the timeout before a rare Dyson Daniels three-pointer cut the deficit to 14 with 5:29 to go. However the Knicks responded with a Brunson-led 10-2 run to take a 59-37 lead at the 3:08 mark, and it was beginning to look like this one was going to get out of hand.

That said, true to how they’ve played this season, Atlanta continued to fight. They leaned into Dyson Daniels as a roll man a bit more over the rest of the half, which seemed to give their offense a lift. They trailed 64-48 at the break.

Atlanta’s inability to come up with stops was the story of the first 24 minutes, as New York shot a scorching 24-for-41 (58.5%) from the field, with most of their damage coming on the interior as they finished the first half with eight three-point attempts, 18 free-throw attempts and a 33% offensive rebounding percentage.

Additionally, the Hawks poor shooting from Game 4 appeared to follow them to New York, as they finished the half with a dismal 51.5% true shooting clip, with CJ McCollum and Jonathan Kuminga held to a combined 10 points on 5-for-14 shooting (0-for-4 from three).

Atlanta continued to stay within arms length to open the second half, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker in particular playing with a fire in his belly, scoring 10 out of Atlanta’s first 17 points of the third quarter.

Dyson Daniels got an easy two out of the pick-and-roll with Johnson.

However Atlanta’s inability to come up with stops negated any progress they made on the offensive end, and the Hawks still found themselves down by 18 heading into the final frame. Atlanta went just 2-for-7 at the free-throw line in the third, with CJ McCollum and Tony Bradley each missing a pair. New York also had a 6-0 advantage in second chance points, with the Hawks failing to grab a single offensive rebound in the period.

Trailing 90-72, Atlanta had their work cut out for them in the fourth quarter.

Alexander-Walker and Okongwu connected on a lob to get them on the board, and they trailed by 16 with 10:13 left to play.

Then Jalen Brunson took over. The Knicks captain was utterly unguardable at the start of the fourth, scoring 10 straight points as part of a 12-4 New York run that felt like the knockout punch, giving the home team a 106-82 lead with just over six minutes remaining.

New York extended their lead to as many as 28 before both teams emptied their benches with 4:00 to go, and ultimately, the Knicks took home a 126-97 victory. Now, the series shifts back to Atlanta with the Hawks needing to win two straight to keep their season alive.

Final Numbers

Jalen Johnson led the way in scoring for Atlanta, finishing with 18 points (7-for-15 shooting, 1-for-5 from three) to go alongside 10 rebounds and six assists. Dyson Daniels scored 17 points (7-for-11 shooting, 2-for-4 from three) and added five assists. Onyeka Okongwu and Nickeil Alexander-Walker chipped in with 16 points apiece.

For New York, it was a dominant showing for Jalen Brunson, who exploded for 39 points (15-for-23 shooting, 3-for-5 from three) and eight assists. Karl-Anthony Towns was effective, finishing with 16 points, 14 rebounds and six assists. OG Anunoby put up a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Overall, a disappointing outcome in a pivotal game for Atlanta. They’ll need to keep their heads high and come out laser focused for Thursday night’s Game 6.

Until next time.

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Sixers Bell Ringer: Sixers stave off elimination, score massive road win in Boston

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 28: Quentin Grimes #5 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game Five of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoff at TD Garden on April 28, 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sixers Bell Ringer Season Standings:

Tyrese Maxey – 23.5
VJ Edgecombe – 16
Joel Embiid – 12.5
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

The Sixers traveled to Boston for a do-or-die Game 5 at TD Garden, staring at a 3-1 series deficit. All hands-on deck for the Sixers as they were trying to keep their season alive.

Cold shooting from both teams was the theme of the first quarter in this one. Both teams struggled to find the range. Two Paul George threes early helped the Sixers race out to an 8-2 advantage, but they could not capitalize on the cold Boston start and extend that lead. The Celtics led 23-21 after the first period.

The Sixers and Celtics traded runs throughout the second quarter. Embiid led the Sixers with 15 points on 5-for-12 shooting but went 0-for-5 from three. Tyrese Maxey put in 13 points of his own to help keep the Sixers within striking distance. Boston, paced by 14 points from Jayson Tatum, took a 57-50 lead into the half.

The Celtics led by as many as 13 points early in the third quarter. The Sixers used seven made three-pointers and a dominant quarter from Embiid to make this anyone’s ball game headed to the fourth. Embiid made a concerted effort to dominate in the low post and attack around the rim where the Celtics have no answer. A Boston run late in the quarter stretched the lead to eight points and it looked like they might run away with it. The Sixers swung back, knocking down multiple timely shots to make a run of their own and make it an 86-85 score after three.

The Sixers kept it rolling early in the fourth quarter, taking a two-point lead on the first possession of the fourth quarter. A huge fourth quarter from Quentin Grimes, Embiid and Maxey, and a locked-in effort defensively and on the glass, carried the Sixers to another day. The Sixers blew the Celtics out in the fourth to take a 113-97 victory on the road. LET’S GO HOME!

Joel Embiid: 33 points, 8 assists, 2 blocks, 12-for-23 from the field, 39 minutes

What more is there to say about Joel Embiid? The Sixers’ franchise star turned in a massive performance in this one. Embiid struggled to find his range early in the game, going 0-for-5 from the three in the first half. He didn’t let that deter his confidence as he dominated in the post and mid-range all night long. The Celtics had no answers for the Sixers big man as he dominated single coverage and punished doubles with kickouts for open looks. Embiid’s defense down the stretch was dynamite as well, playing up to the line of the screen, containing drives on switches, and contesting shots at the rim. As he has so often over the last decade, the Sixers’ Superman put on his cape once again to keep the Sixers’ season alive.

Quentin Grimes: 18 points, 5-for-8 from the field, 4-for-7 from three

THE QUENTIN GRIMES GAME. Welcome to the 2026 postseason, Quentin Grimes. Grimes, who has been quiet this entire series, made his presence felt in Game 5 to the tune of a huge 18 points off the bench. Grimes’ quick trigger from three was a welcomed sight compared to the hesitancy and lack of efficiency on open threes from Oubre throughout this series. The Sixers likely had no chance in this series without getting something from Grimes off the bench and he stepped up huge tonight on both ends. Grimes late-game defense on Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum was outstanding as he made life difficult for the Celtics stars — and did so without fouling.

Tyrese Maxey: 25 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 10-for-18 from the field

There’s probably nobody as happy about Joel Embiid’s return as Tyrese Maxey. Maxey got cleaner looks than he’s had all series tonight from both three and mid-range and he made the most of them, turning in his most efficient game of the series. The Embiid and Maxey two-man game was operating on all cylinders as Embiid was dialed in from mid-range and Maxey picked his spots to hunt his own shots. If the Sixers can get this Maxey going forward in this series, they have a good chance of getting back to Boston for a Game 7.

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14-16 – Rangers saddle deGrom with 3-2 loss to Yankees

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 28: Brandon Nimmo #24 of the Texas Rangers gets a broken-bat single against the New York Yankees during the third inning at Globe Life Field on April 28, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Texas Rangers scored two runs but the New York Yankees scored three runs.

The Yankees got the customary two-out first inning run that the generous Rangers hand out every game. With some excellent starting pitching and some highlight-reel defense from both teams, score stays there.

Sixth inning, 1-0 game. The Rangers get the first two runners on against Cam Schlittler. 3-4-5 hitters coming up. Here’s their chance. Except, inning over in eight pitches without even advancing the runners.

Immediately after Jacob deGrom exited in a 1-0 game through six innings, Jalen Beeks gives up a home run. 2-0, a troubling deficit.

Eighth inning, 2-0 game. The Rangers get the first two runners on. Schlitter has hit the showers. 4-5-6 hitters coming up. Another chance. It’s not yet May and the Rangers ask Joc Pederson to sac bunt. Joc Pederson fails to bunt the runners over. The next two hitters K on a total of seven pitches.

The next half inning, Aaron Judge homers off Cole Winn. It’s 3-0. Lax Yankees defense helps the Rangers get a rally going. Texas gets their customary ninth inning runs to make it close. Lose on double play with tying run at second base.

1-for-10 with RISP overall. Ten left of base. Rangers lose. Series loss. Losing homestand.

See ya tomorrow!

Player of the Game: deGrom lowered his ERA to 2.01 on the year as he tied his longest outing of the season with six innings of one-run ball. It’s too bad he wasn’t perfect, I suppose.

Up Next: The Rangers and Yankees close out this series with Texas finishing up their homestand. RHP Nathan Eovaldi is set to pitch for Texas in the finale opposite right-handed top prospect Elmer Rodriguez who will be making his MLB debut for New York.

The Wednesday afternoon first pitch from The Shed is scheduled for 1:35 pm CDT and your eyeballs can view it via the Rangers Sports Network if you’re so inclined.

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Another Early Season Clunker: Dbacks 2, Brewers 13

Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) reacts after a run by the Milwaukee Brewers during the sixth inning of their game Thursday, April 28, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Brewers scored eight runs in the inning. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The D-backs opened their series in Milwaukee with a real clunker on Tuesday night. The pitching wasn’t sharp, the defense botched some routine plays, and the offense was held hitless into the fifth inning. The recent decline in pitching has become a troubling theme over the past week, with command issues putting increasing strain on the bullpen.

Adding insult to injury, the pitcher who no-hit the D-backs through five innings was former Arizona fourth-round pick Chad Patrick. Traded during the 2023 season for Jace Peterson—who provided virtually nothing—this is starting to look like one of the roughest deals of the Hazen era. That’s especially true when you consider the Brewers have Patrick under team control through 2028, and his cutter already looks like an elite offering.

Merrill Kelly got the start and was largely ineffective, struggling to command his signature changeup. The walks piled up early, driving up his pitch count. He finished with five walks and five runs allowed over five innings—far from what the team needed from a veteran brought back to stabilize the rotation. It’s fair to wonder whether Kelly may have been rushed back too quickly from his spring training injury.

Things went from bad to worse in the sixth, when Andrew Hoffmann entered in relief and was immediately overwhelmed. The young right-hander recorded just one out while allowing eight runs to score. Some of the damage came on tough-luck contact and shaky defense against the Brewers’ small-ball approach, but the D-backs desperately needed length in that spot, and Hoffmann couldn’t provide it. A roster move wouldn’t be surprising, with Hoffmann potentially heading to Reno for a fresh arm. Notably, Yilber Diaz pitched today while Kade Strowd did not.

Offensively, Arizona managed just three hits and looked out of sync at the plate. They showed some patience early, drawing five walks, but couldn’t capitalize and frequently expanded the zone in key moments.

The lone bright spot came from Ildemaro “Bonds”… I mean, Vargas, who extended his hitting streak to 24 games—21 of those to open the season.

In an odd statistical quirk, former D-backs closer Jake Woodford was credited with a save in a 13–2 game—an unusual application of the rule, to say the least.

Arizona will try to even the series tomorrow, with Eduardo Rodriguez taking the mound in hopes of providing much-needed length and stability. They’ll need a sharper effort, though—because if there’s one thing you can count on, it’s that the Brewers will be ready to play.

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Cam Schlittler outduels Jacob deGrom in Yankees' 3-2 win over Rangers

Cam Schlittler and Jacob deGrom went blow for blow, but the Yankees came out on top in their 3-2 win over the Rangers on Tuesday night.

With the win, the Yankees (20-10) stay 1.5 games ahead of the Rays for first place in the AL East. 

Here are the takeaways...

-Going up against deGrom, the Yankees used some two-out magic in the first. Aaron Judge singled up the middle and Cody Bellinger turned on a pitch and hit a double off the top of the wall -- narrowly missing a two-run shot -- to score Judge from first. Jazz Chisholm Jr. followed with a liner that looked destined to split the outfielders, but Evan Carter caught it on the run to end the inning.

-On the other end, the Yankees defense helped out Schlittler. Bellinger ran down a liner moving away from him in left and then Trent Grisham made a diving catch to set the first two batters down. 

-After that eventful first inning, both starters would settle in, getting through five innings with just one run allowed between them. However, Schlittler would get into trouble in the sixth. 

Brandon Nimmo led off with a single, his second of the game. Schlittler would walk the next batter for Seager. Schlittler would get Seager to strike out swinging on three pitches. He'd get the next two batters to pop out to get out of the inning. 

Schlittler pitched six scoreless innings (92 pitches/64 strikes), allowing three hits and two walks while striking out eight. He lowered his ERA to 1.51. 

DeGrom was just as nasty against the Yankees. The two-time Cy Young winner allowed just one run in his six innings (93 pitches/56 strikes) on three hits and striking out five.

-With Tuesday's starters out, it was an adventure for both bullpens. Austin Wells launched his third homer of the season in the seventh to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead. While the Yankees relievers had to work out of trouble in the seventh and eighth innings. Brent Headrick worked around the two batters getting on base to escape the seventh, while Fernando Cruz allowed the first two hitters in the eighth to reach. A sac bunt attempt by Joc Pederson was perfectly placed, but Cruz slid to get the ball and threw to Ryan McMahon at third while falling to get the force. He struck out Jake Burger and Ezequiel Duran to escape the inning. 

With a three-run lead, David Bednar came in for the save. Andrew McCutchen reached on an error by McMahon with one out and then Danny Jansen lined a triple to push across the Rangers' first run. On the play, Grisham tried to get the ball but was out of reach and he tripped in the warning track. The veteran outfielder stayed on the ground for a bit, but stayed in the game. Bednar hits Nimmo to bring up the winning run in Josh Jung. Jung hits a single to make the score 3-2 before getting Corey Seager to ground into a game-ending doubleplay. 

-Judge would launch his 12th home run of the season to lead off the ninth, a 424-foot bomb to put the Yankees up 3-0. He's now tied for the AL lead.

McMahon started at third and finished 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. His five-game hitting streak was snapped. 

Jasson Dominguez went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. In his first two games this season, the young outfielder -- who started at DH -- is now 1-for-8 with two strikeouts.

Game MVP: Cam Schlittler

Schlittler was dominant but also showed his resolve, getting out of jams when needed.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees and Rangers conclude their three-game set with an afternoon game on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 2:35 p.m.

Elmer Rodriguez will make his major league debut against Nathan Eovaldi (2-4, 5.79 ERA). 

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Knicks establish early lead, never look back in 126-97 Game 5 win over Hawks

The Knicks defeated the Hawks 126-97 in Game 5 of their first round matchup on Tuesday night at MSG.

New York reestablishes a 3-2 series advantage. 

Here are some takeaways...

- Mike Brown gave Karl-Anthony Towns credit pregame for the work he's put in on both ends of the floor over the first four games of the series, and the big man responded by putting together as strong of a first quarter he's had. Towns took advantage of his mismatch with Jonathan Kuminga, knocking down his first three shots. 

- Brown elected to turn to the two big-look early on, subbing Mitchell Robinson in with Towns also on the floor, and things worked in the Knicks' favor as they pushed the lead out to double-digits at the end of one (13). Robinson had three points, three boards, and a block over his first four minutes. 

- OG Anunoby pulled in seven rebounds in the first, which is the most he's recorded in a quarter since 2020. 

- Robinson wasn't the only member of New York's bench feeling it early, as Jordan Clarkson chipped in five points as part of a 12-2 late first quarter run and Jose Alvarado knocked down three buckets in the opening minutes of the second to help push the lead out even further. 

- Towns also continued getting whatever he wanted, picking up five more points early in the second. 

- New York's red-hot shooting continued the rest of the of the first half as they stretched the lead out to as many as 22 points, but Atlanta found their groove in the closing minutes to get it back down to 16. The road squad made just six of their 20 threes in the first half, while the home team shot 59 percent from the field. 

- Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 17 points, followed closely by Towns' 14 and eight boards.  

- The teams traded baskets coming out of the locker room, which New York certainly took as they hung onto the big double-digit advantage. OG Anunoby began to find his scoring touch after putting up just seven points in the first half, doubling that total with three buckets during the third quarter. 

- The Anunoby, Towns, Clarkson, Alvarado, and Miles McBride unit helped close the third up 18.

- Even with the big advantage Brown had Brunson on the floor to begin the final frame, and the captain was feeling it. He put together one of his signature barrages with a stretch of 12 straight points, stretching the lead back beyond 20 and putting any doubts about this one to bed for good.

- Brunson led the way in the scoring department (39 points) while Towns (14) and Anunoby (10) dominated the glass, finishing with a combined 24 rebounds, which was just three less than Atlanta had as a team. 

- New York held Atlanta under 100 points for the second consecutive game. 

Game MVP: Jalen Brunson

The captain put together his best scoring performance of the series, to this point. 

Highlights

What's next

New York will have a chance to close the series on the road in Game 6 on Thursday night. 

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Mariners 7, Twins 1: Bullpen implodes, hitting disappears

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 28: Josh Naylor #12 of the Seattle Mariners hits an RBI single against the Minnesota Twins in the sixth inning at Target Field on April 28, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In a pitching duel between Joe Ryan and Logan Gilbert it was the Twins who were the first to break through. In the 5th, Byron Buxton hit a misplaced Gilbert fastball out of the park to left for his 7th home run of the year. It was a good result, but felt somewhat lacking as, in the 4th, they had stranded the bases loaded with Tristan Gray and Royce Lewis unable to get a hit.

That lack of run support hurt, as in the 6th Joe Ryan allowed a 2-out double to Julio Rodriguez, then Josh Naylor singled to left, tying the game. In the 7th, a lead off double by Randy Arozarena spelled the end of Ryan’s night, with Kody Funderburk entering. Kody got the next two Mariners out, but Cole Young slapped a single to left to give them a 2-1 lead.

The Twins batters were unable to get anything done against Eduard Bazardo in the 6th, and Gabe Speier in the 7th. The Twins bullpen was not so lucky in the 8th. Funderburk walked J.P. Crawford, then Cole Sands entered and gave up a double to Rodriguez, followed by a 3-run homer by Josh Naylor to break the game open, 5-1.

In the 9th, Rodriguez would double in 2 more Mariners to push this once close game to 7-1. That’s your final score.

I also wanted to mention that Randy Arozarena went 2-3 with a double tonight, continuing his dominance against Twins pitchers, as he had an OPS of 1.025 against them entering the game today.

Studs:

Byron Buxton: 2-5, HR, SB

Joe Ryan: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, BB, 6 K

Duds:

Cole Sands: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, K, HR

Luis Garcia: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER

The team with runners in scoring position: 0-10

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Lakers vs. Rockets Game 5 Preview: Will Austin Reaves return?

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 23: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on March 23, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The series between the Lakers and Rockets shifts back to LA for Game 5 on Wednesday. The Lakers will once again look to eliminate Houston from the playoffs.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets

When: 7 p.m. PT, Apr. 29

Where: Crypto.com Arena

Watch: ESPN

The Lakers suffered their first postseason loss last Sunday, and it wasn’t all that surprising. Being on the road on the verge of sweeping a fifth-seeded opponent, it was expected that the Rockets would show some pride and play their best game yet — and they did.

Houston clamped down on Los Angeles and forced them into a series-high 23 turnovers. It also didn’t help that the Lakers had their worst shooting performance yet, going 5-22 from the field. It was very much a one-sided event.

That’s why in Game 5, the Lakers will be ready to execute some adjustments. One of which is the potential return of Austin Reaves, who will suit up for the first time since his injury in early April. Reaves is considered a game-time decision for this one, but it sure sounds like he’s determined to get out there.

Besides Reaves’ return, there’s certainly going to be motivation for the purple and gold to close this one out, not only because the series has gotten more physical and chippy, but they also know that the Oklahoma City Thunder are waiting for them in the second round.

A better performance from everyone across the board, especially LeBron James, Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart, would put them in a position to win this one.

The Lakers have to find ways to control Alperen Şengün and make sure the Rockets don’t shoot 40% from the 3-point line again. It’ll help that Kevin Durant is officially ruled out for this one, so this game will pretty much be about defense for the purple and gold.

Perhaps the Lakers have also taken notice of how the Rockets have been talking as of late, and that might just be the extra motivation they need.

On Wednesday, we’ll see which team is better, and hopefully it’ll be the Lakers who come out on top.

Notes and Updates

  • The Lakers’ injury report lists Austin Reaves (left oblique strain) as questionable, while Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain) remains out.
  • As for the Rockets, Fred VanVleet (ACL surgery), Kevin Durant (left ankle sprain) and Steven Adams (left ankle surgery) are noted as out.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.

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Lakers could sit Austin Reaves to reduce risk. Why it's a bad idea.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves was transparent about his intentions.

“I want to get back out there as fast as I can,” Reaves told reporters Tuesday, April 28 at the Lakers’ training facility.

Increasingly, it sounds like Reaves is returning to action after missing the past nine games with a strained oblique muscle.

But is that a bad idea?

Would the Lakers be better off sitting Reaves again when they play the Houston Rockets Wednesday, April 29 in Los Angeles? Would it make sense to remove the risk of reinjury as they take a 3-1 lead into Game 5 with a chance to close out the first-round playoff series?

Presumably. the extra rest could further heal the oblique muscle Reaves strained April 2 before missing nine straight games recovering from the injury.

Something else to keep in mind: Reaves, the Lakers’ second-leading scorer in the regular season, could help the Lakers clinch the series and kill any hope of a historic Rockets rally. (No NBA team ever won a playoff series after being down 3-0, and the Rockets avoided a sweep by winning Game 4 in Houston.)

NBA PLAYOFFS: Who have been the 10 best players in first round so far?

But that’s missing the more important point if Reaves is ready to play, according to Mychael Thompson, who won NBA championships as a member of the Lakers in 1987 and 1988 and is a broadcaster for the Laker games.

“Needs a tuneup game before the OKC series,’’ Thompson told USA TODAY Sports of Reaves.

When they Lakers end this series, they’ll be facing the reigning champions and top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. And they’ll need Reaves in as close to top form as possible. That’ll be even more true with Luka Dončić out indefinitely with a hamstring injury.

As of Wednesday, Reaves will have gone 26 days without playing in a game. It’s hard to imagine he’ll be in top form for the Oklahoma City Thunder after one game against the Rockets. Of course, the series could extend another three games. Regardless, the faster Reaves gets back into game action, the faster he’ll regain the form during which he averaged 23.3 points per game this season and a career-high 51 points against the Sacramento Kings Oct. 26.

The Lakers will need that explosive guard to have any shot of beating the Thunder.

Concerns about the Lakers pushing Reaves back too quickly are unfounded. Before each of the past two games, Reaves was listed as questionable and ended up sitting out.

There’s no rush.

But if he’s ready, and he’s suggested he is – “I feel good,’’ he told reporters. “Trending in the right direction’’ – it’s time to get him back on the court.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Should Lakers play it safe and hold out Austin Reaves vs. Rockets?

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15-16: Chart

Apr 28, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert (36) delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images | Nick Wosika-Imagn Images

Mariners 7, Twins 1

Good: Josh Naylor, .25 WPA

Bad: Cal Raleigh, -.16 WPA

Game thread comment of the day

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Blake Snell strikes out 6 in 3 scoreless innings in 2nd rehab start

Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell pitches in a minor league rehab start for Class-A Ontario Tower Buzzers against the Lake Elsinore Storm on April 28, 2026 at ONT Field in Ontario, California.
Screenshot

Blake Snell had his way with Class-A hitters in his second minor league rehab start on Tuesday night. The Dodgers left-hander struck out six in three scoreless innings for Ontario against the Lake Elsinore Storm, a San Diego Padres affiliate.

Snell struck out all three batters he faced in the first inning, then allowed a leadoff double in the second but struck out the next three batters to escape that frame unscathed. He needed only five pitches to complete a perfect third inning with a flyout and two groundouts.

In all, Snell threw 39 pitches on Tuesday, 29 for strikes. He induced 11 swinging strikes, and retired nine of his 10 batters faced.

This was the second rehab start with Ontario for Snell, who started the season on the injured list with shoulder fatigue. Last Wednesday with the Tower Buzzers in San Jose, Snell pitched one-plus inning and threw 32 pitches, and allowed two runs, one earned, with one walk and no strikeouts.

“The first two starts are like — for me, I’m very patient. I just want to see how I feel, how I respond, what’s working, what’s not working. If offspeed is really good, if the fastball is really good, I want to learn how they’re playing,” Snell told reporters last week in San Francisco after his first rehab start. “After those first two starts, that’s when you get more aggressive, like okay now we need to make it happen.”