The Colorado Avalanche enter the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs chasing something the NHL hasn’t seen in over a decade: a Presidents’ Trophy winner finishing the job with a Stanley Cup. The last team to pull it off was the Chicago Blackhawks—and that’s the kind of company this Colorado roster believes it belongs in.
Colorado didn’t just have a great year—they controlled the league. A 121-point campaign was the best in franchise history. That's really all that needs to be said there.
At the center of it all was Nathan MacKinnon, who delivered a defining season. His 53 goals not only led the NHL but earned him his first-ever Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, adding another layer to an already elite résumé. Meanwhile, Cale Makar piled up 79 points while anchoring the blue line. It won't be good enough for a third Norris Trophy, but he's still one of the best players in the world.
And then there’s the difference-maker Colorado hasn’t always had in recent postseasons: stability in net. Scott Wedgewood quietly put together one of the best goaltending seasons in the league, leading the NHL with a 2.02 goals-against average—exactly the kind of reliability that can swing a playoff series.
The First Test: Los Angeles
Standing in the way is the Los Angeles Kings, a team that made the playoffs without much margin for error. Their 90-point season was enough to sneak in, but it came with clear limitations—especially offensively.
Where L.A. hangs its hat is structure. They finished among the league’s better defensive teams, allowing the seventh-fewest goals. But scoring? That’s been the issue all year. Only one player, Adrian Kempe, cracked the 50-point mark.
The Kings will need to lean heavily on Darcy Kuemper, who brings playoff experience—including a Cup run with Colorado—to even the playing field.
If you’re looking for optimism from the Kings’ perspective, the regular-season matchups don’t offer much. Colorado swept all three meetings, outscoring L.A. 13–5 without allowing even an overtime point
Colorado has continuity with Jared Bednar, one of the league’s longest-tenured coaches, guiding a veteran core that knows how to win.
The Kings, meanwhile, are navigating the postseason with interim coach D.J. James, who did stabilize things late (11-6-6 finish), but this is still a team finding its identity under pressure.
Series Odds
Every major sportsbook is leaning heavily in the same direction—but each one prices the series slightly differently.
Across DraftKings, the Avalanche are listed at -450, making them strong favorites, while the Kings sit at +340 as a long-shot underdog.
At FanDuel, Colorado is even more heavily favored at -530, with Los Angeles priced at +390, reflecting a similar expectation that the Avalanche should advance.
Caesars is the most aggressive on Colorado, listing them at -600, the steepest favorite number among the books, while the Kings come in at +450, signaling a major underdog status.
Meanwhile, BetMGM mirrors DraftKings closely, with the Avalanche at -450 and the Kings at +350.
Avalanche "Should" Win
There’s always temptation to chase the underdog in a playoff series—but this one feels different.
Colorado checks every box: elite scoring, suffocating defense, playoff experience, and now, dependable goaltending. The so-called “Presidents’ Trophy curse” lingers, but history suggests if it strikes, it usually doesn’t happen this early.
For Los Angeles to flip this series, they’d need to play near-perfect defensive hockey and get a vintage performance from Kuemper—while somehow manufacturing offense against one of the league’s best defensive teams.
That’s a tall task.
It would seem that the Avalanche are destined to dominate their first round series, but we've seen upsets before. It's up to Colorado to find a way and get overthrow the monarchs.
The Mets suffered their ninth straight loss, falling to the Cubs 12-4 on Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field.
This is New York's longest losing streak since 2004.
Here are some takeaways...
- The Mets' offense finally counterpunched after falling behind early. Kodai Senga spotted the Cubs four runs in the first, but the shaken up lineup was able to string together some second inning hits and struck three times on a Marcus Semien double and Tyrone Taylor two-run single to close the gap.
New York had scored three runs in their previous 39 innings before the big top of the second.
- Unfortunately for the Mets, Senga didn't fare much better the rest of the way. The right-hander gave up a monstrous two-run shot after walking the No. 9 hitter in the bottom of the second, then was able to work out of a two-out jam in the third before being pulled with a man on in the fourth.
Senga lasted just 3.1 innings this time out after going just 2.1 in his last outing.
- Things went from bad to worse after Senga left as some shoddy Mets defense helped the Cubs load the bases against Huascar Brazoban. The big righty appeared to get out of the jam, but Brett Baty booted a routine grounder to first, bringing in Chicago's seventh run of the game.
Senga's ERA is up to 8.83 after allowing seven runs (six earned) on six hits and three walks.
- Sean Manaea put together two scoreless innings of work out the bullpen before running into trouble. The Cubs loaded the bases and tacked on three runs against him in the seventh, then Ian Happ crushed a 411 foot two-run homer to put the finishing touches on this one in the eighth.
- While it was wasted by the poor pitching performance, the Mets' offense did finally enjoy a decent showing. They recorded the eight hardest-hit balls in the game and finished with a total of 14 hits, with nine different players recording one and five of them finishing with two.
New York still couldn't come up with the big knock needed, though, finishing 4-for-11 with RISP.
- Carson Benge put together a nice day in his first big-league appearance in the leadoff spot. The lefty-hitting rookie smacked a 105.2 mph lineout to left in his first at-bat, then laced a single up the middle in his second, giving him hits in three straight and six of his last seven games.
Benge finished 1-for-4, and also made a diving catch in shallow right field.
- MJ Melendez enjoyed his second straight good game after being called up from Syracuse. He's now 4-for-7 to start his Mets tenure after reaching in each of his first three plate appearances with a walk and two hard-hit singles, before striking out in the eighth.
- Francisco Alvarez reached three times with two hits and walk, bringing his OPS to .959 on the season.
Game MVP: Nico Hoerner
Hoerner was tremendous on both sides of the ball, finishing with three hits and flashing the leather at second.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 15: Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Taijuan Walker #99 looks on during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs on April 15th, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Skipper Shubman Gill led the way with 86 off 50 balls as Gujarat Titans beat Kolkata Knight Riders by five wickets in the IPL, consigning the three-time champions to a fifth loss in six games this season.
Detroit Tigers infielder Hao-Yu Lee bats during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
After getting banged up repeatedly in Thursday’s victory, utilityman Zach McKinstry has been placed on the 10-day injured list with left hip/abdominal inflammation. Infielder Hao-Yu Lee has been recalled from Triple-A Toledo to make his major league debut. He’ll wear number 50, and is batting eighth and playing third base on Friday night in Boston.
The Tigers acquired Lee from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen back in 2023. Currently ranked sixth on MLB Pipeline’s ranking of Tigers’ prospect, the right-handed hitting infielder has good power and hit 14 home runs while stealing 22 bases last year in his first full season at the Triple-A level. Lee has solid plate discipline and will take his walks and generally keeps his strikeouts under control. Now 23 years old, Lee was injured this spring with an oblique strain before he got a chance to play for his native Team Chinese Taipei in the World Baseball Classic, and missed most of the rest of spring camp.
As a hitter, Lee likes to go the opposite way and tends to spray a good amount of line drives. He’s much better against left-handed pitching, and that might be the majority of his role in McKinstry’s stead. The main flaw at the plate for Lee is handling good breaking balls. He’s shown some modest signs of improvement in terms of laying off the breaking stuff, but he’ll certainly be tested in the major leagues. If he can take the junk without chasing too much and get himself some fastballs to hit he should do fine, and this will be a good experience for him to take back to Toledo to keep refining his game.
Lee can handle both second and third base, but is generally better at second, while third is still a position he’s learning. He’s an aggressive hard-nosed player all around, running the bases better than his size and speed might suggest, and generally grinding out at-bats.
Congratulations to Hao-Yu Lee on his major league debut.
The Tigers today placed infielder Zach McKinstry on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to April 16) with left hip/abdominal inflammation. Infielder Hao-Yu Lee has been recalled from Triple-A Toledo.
Lee, who will wear uniform number 50, joins the first major league roster of…
The simulation puck has officially dropped—and if this version of reality holds any weight, the Colorado Avalanche aren’t just winning their first-round series… they’re steamrolling it.
The full 2-hour and 45-minute stream can be watched in its entirety here.
Game 1 — Avalanche 3, Kings 2
The opening frame had a little bit of everything—tempo, tension, and an early missed opportunity. Colorado’s first power play came eight minutes in after Cody Ceci cross-checked Nazem Kadri, but the Avs couldn’t cash in.
Still, they struck first.
With under five minutes to play in the period, Nic Roy buried a rebound off a Gabriel Landeskog chance that slipped through Darcy Kuemper. Depth scoring, right on cue.
Colorado carried a 1–0 lead into intermission, narrowly edging Los Angeles 9–8 in shots.
The Kings pushed back in the second. Anze Kopitar—playing what could be his final postseason—redirected a Drew Doughty point shot past Scott Wedgewood to even things up. The period tilted toward Los Angeles, who outshot Colorado 9–4, but the score stayed locked at one.
Then came the chaos.
Just 1:49 into the third, a Colorado turnover sparked a 2-on-1, and Artemi Panarin found Adrian Kempe for a clean finish to give Los Angeles its first lead.
It didn’t last.
Off an offensive-zone draw, Brock Nelson did the dirty work, and Landeskog did the rest—dangling from forehand to backhand and beating Kuemper to tie it. A captain’s answer.
Moments later, Nathan MacKinnon hit another gear, slicing through defenders before setting up Artturi Lehkonen on the doorstep… only for the puck to clang off iron like it owed him money. Full Arnold Schwarzenegger, terminator-level post.
Late-game pressure broke the Kings. With under a minute to go, Nelson retrieved a loose puck behind the net and fed Landeskog in the slot. This time, no mistake—glove side, game over.
Landeskog finished with three points (2G, 1A), Nelson added two, and Roy chipped in with the opener. Wedgewood stopped 21.
Game 2 — Avalanche 3, Kings 2
Colorado controlled the pace early but found themselves trailing after Taylor Ward cleaned up a power play scramble midway through the first.
The response came quickly—and bizarrely.
Kuemper mishandled a routine puck in his crease, chaos followed, and Nelson capitalized with a slick backhand to tie it.
The second period belonged to Colorado. After Brian Dumoulin took a penalty, Martin Necas hammered home a power play goal to make it 2–1. The Avs dominated possession, outshooting the Kings 25–11 through two.
Kuemper, to his credit, kept Los Angeles alive with several massive saves, including a rocket from Cale Makar.
Kopitar tied it again early in the third on a power play one-timer, because of course he did.
But once again, Colorado had the final word.
Ross Colton forced a turnover, Nic Roy picked it up, and Colton spun and fired past Kuemper in one motion. Clinical. Decisive.
Blackwood stopped 18, and the Avalanche took a 2–0 series lead.
Game 3 — Avalanche 2, Kings 1 (OT)
Los Angeles struck first, capitalizing on a 2-on-1 as Kempe set up Brandt Clarke to beat Wedgewood.
From there, it became a goaltending duel.
Colorado dominated stretches of the second, but Kuemper refused to break—until Sam Malinski burst in on a breakaway and slipped a backhand home late in the period to tie it.
The third period? Pure chaos disguised as control. Both goalies traded highlight-reel saves.
Then overtime delivered the madness.
Scott Laughton nearly ended it for L.A., but Wedgewood pulled off a save that defied both physics and basic human expectation.
Moments later, the Kings went on the power play—but it backfired spectacularly.
Cale Makar won a race to the puck, fed Logan O’Connor in the slot, and O’Connor buried the shorthanded winner.
Ballgame. Series stranglehold.
Wedgewood was unreal, stopping 38.
Game 4 — Avalanche 1, Kings 0
This one was tight. Suffocating, even.
Both teams traded chances, but nothing got through—until the final seconds.
With just 21 ticks left, Nelson forced a turnover at center ice and sent Landeskog flying down the wing. One shot. One finish.
That was it.
Four games. Four wins. Series over.
Let’s Be Real
Nathan MacKinnon going an entire series without a goal? Not happening in any known universe. The simulation clearly has a personal vendetta.
But if there’s one takeaway here, it’s this: Colorado’s depth, structure, and late-game execution completely overwhelmed Los Angeles.
The NBA Playoffs have finally arrived, and the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets are set to lock horns inside Ball Arena for Game 1 on Saturday night.
My Timberwolves vs. Nuggets predictions expect both Nikola Jokic and Anthony Edwards to shine, with the latter leading his team to a road cover.
In four regular-season matchups with the Minnesota Timberwolves this season, Nikola Jokic averaged a staggering 35.8 points, 15 rebounds, and 11.3 assists. The Denver Nuggets superstar recorded 52+ PRA in three of those games and finished with 50 in the other.
Anthony Edwards enjoyed the best statistical season of his career behind a 37.4 PRA average and a career-high 28.8 points per game. He’s been excellent against Denver over the last two seasons, posting 37+ points in six of his last seven matchups and 40+ in five of those.
Despite dealing with several key injuries, the Timberwolves finished the season with a 6-4 ATS record over their last 10 games. Minnesota has won or kept things within six points in two of the last three head-to-head matchups with Denver, and I expect another competitive game between these teams.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 19, 2026: Bo Davidson #91 of the San Francisco Giants runs out a ground ball during the first inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Cincinnati Reds at Scottsdale Stadium on March 19, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Thursday was a good day for the San Francisco Giants, as they finally won a game. It wasn’t as good of a day for their Minor League Baseball affiliates, though, who we have grown accustomed to winning, winning, and winning some more this year. They did a little bit of that on Thursday, but there were more losses than usual as well. Still a fun day, so let’s dive on in.
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
News
A few big pieces of news. Most notably, RHP Reid Worley (No. 36 CPL) appeared to announce on his social media that he recently underwent Tommy John surgery. Shoutout to Twitter user @porkblds for catching this.
Worley was the Giants 9th-round pick in July, and signed well overslot, for a signing bonus commensurate with a late 3rd-round pick, as they bought the high schooler out of his commitment to Kennesaw State. He has some outrageous spin metrics, but for now, the focus is simply on getting back on the mound. It’s a long process, and hopefully one that doesn’t take too much of a mental toll on the youngster.
In milder injury news, Jesús Cano reports that shortstop Josuar González (No. 2 CPL) left an extended Spring Training game after falling over while running the basepaths. Cano listed the removal as “precautionary,” but noted that González was feeling some pain.
As long as we’re talking about injuries, AA Richmond second baseman Dayson Croes was placed on the Injured List. Roger Munter had reported that Croes left Wednesday’s game after a collision on the basepaths, while playing defense, and was holding his ankle. He’s replaced on Richmond’s roster by RHP Brad Deppermann, who was activated off the Development List. Deppermann, who is about to turn 30, signed with the Giants as a Minor League free agent this winter.
In happier news, Cano reports that third baseman Parks Harber (No. 17 CPL) is rehabbing in extended, and hit a home run. That means Harber should be back to affiliated ball shortly, and he’ll be ticketed for AA, though the Giants may have him rehab at a few lower levels first.
Sacramento River Cats lost a 7-inning doubleheader to the Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners) 3-1 and 8-1 Game 1 box score Game 2 box score
A very offensively-challenged pair of games for the River Cats, especially in the opener when they were held to just 1 hit. That came on a double by second baseman Nate Furman (No. 39 CPL), who hit 3-7 with 2 doubles and 1 strikeout over the pair of games, which accounted for 100% of Sacramento’s extra-base hits. Given that Furman is a fairly light-hitting lefty, and that the Pacific Coast League is where offense normally goes to blossom, I’d say this is probably the only time this year that Furman will have all of the team’s extra-base knocks over a 2-game stretch. But Furman has been awesome this year, posting a 1.012 OPS and a 182 wRC+ in his debut pass through AAA. The Giants are clearly high on Furman — they gave him a camp invite and a AAA assignment despite just 22 games in AA — and he’s certainly rewarding that faith.
No one had a horrible weekend offensively but, other than Furman there weren’t any standouts, either. So let’s just look at the players on the 40-man roster: first baseman Bryce Eldridge (No. 1 CPL) hit 2-7 with a strikeout, and has a 1.006 OPS and a 176 wRC+; catcher/designated hitter Jesús Rodríguez (No. 16 CPL) went 2-5 with a walk, a sac fly, a strikeout, and 2 errors, moving his OPS to .926 and his wRC+ to 146; and center fielder Grant McCray hit 1-5 with a walk and 3 strikeouts, as he now has a .588 OPS and an 81 wRC+.
The starting pitching was a tale of 2 pitchers in similar situations who had very dissimilar outings. RHP Carson Seymour kicked off the doubleheader and had a so-so game. Seymour pitched 5 innings, which is the longest start that a Sacramento pitcher has had this year and, impressively, didn’t allow a single walk. But he did get hit fairly hard, with 7 hits (which included a home run and 2 doubles), as well as 3 runs, 2 of which were earned. Seymour also hit a batter and, despite the absence of walks, didn’t have a stellar strike-throwing game, with 47 of 73 pitches for strikes, though he did strike out 5 hitters.
While Seymour hasn’t shown off the strikeout stuff we’ve sometimes seen from him in the past, he has done a good job holding batters in check … this was his 4th game of the year, and those were the 1st runs he’s allowed, while his WHIP sits at just 0.83, to go with a 1.15 ERA and a 3.66 FIP. It’s been assumed that LHP Carson Whisenhunt (No. 8 CPL) would be next in line if the Giants need help in the rotation, but I kind of wonder if Seymour might actually be ahead of Whisenhunt due to the vastly better walk numbers. Seymour has just 3 walks in 15.2 innings, while Whisenhunt (who has a 4.11 ERA and a 3.14 FIP) has given up 11 in 15.1 innings (and his WHIP of 1.76 is more than double Seymour’s).
The Game 2 starter was RHP Trevor McDonald (No. 12 CPL) and he had, yet again, a brutal outing. McDonald only gave up 3 hits in 3 innings, but absolutely could not find the strike zone. He managed to throw just 28 strikes out of his 62 pitches, which led to a whopping 7 walks and 4 runs, against just 2 strikeouts. It’s been an absolutely brutal start to the year for McDonald, who has struggled in all 4 of his starts, and has gotten progressively worse in each one. He now has 13 walks — plus 2 hit batters — in just 10 innings this year, and is rocking an 8.10 ERA and a 6.30 FIP. Add in his awful final few spring outings, and he’s quickly gone from looking like he might make the Opening Day roster to being at the very back of the depth chart.
There were a trio of encouraging relief appearances, including from the pair of relievers on the 40-man roster who pitched: RHP Spencer Bivens hit a batter but didn’t allow any hits or walks, while striking out 1 in an inning of work, while RHP Dylan Smith issued a walk in a no-hit inning, with a strikeout. LHP Juan Sánchez (No. 41 CPL) entered at the end of Game 2 to an ugly situation, with runners at the corners and just 1 out, and struck out both batters he faced, stranding the runners. Sánchez now has 7 strikeouts in 3.2 innings and a 0.00 ERA, though he’s walked 4 batters.
AA Richmond (10-2)
Richmond Flying Squirrels lost to the Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies) 6-5 Box score
Richmond’s magical 10-game winning streak finally came to a close, though only barely. The Squirrels trailed 6-2 entering the 8th inning, and gave it a hell of a run as they tried to tie the game.
That rally included a pair of runs in the 8th inning, which came off of a truly majestic swing of the bat, as center fielder Bo Davidson (No. 4 CPL) launched one deep, deep, deep into the night sky.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 17, 2026
Per the great Trey Wilson, who is Richmond’s broadcaster and head of communications, people in Hartford were saying that they’d never seen a ball hit to that part of the stadium before. Which points to just how special Davidson’s power is, and makes it all the more impressive that he displays it while also playing a strong center field (though he had his 1st error of the season in this game).
Davidson finished the day 2-5 and earned a share of the organization’s home run lead, and now has an .889 OPS and a 109 wRC+ (might be the first time I’ve ever seen an OPS that high and a wRC+ that low in the Eastern League, where the average OPS usually starts with a 6). There’s still a bit for Davidson to work on in AA — namely his 5.3% walk rate and 26.3% strikeout rate — but the Giants have to be thrilled with the way the 23-year old has started the season. It’s always exciting when someone looks to build on a breakout, rather than regress from it.
Catcher Adrián Sugastey also went deep, hitting 2-4 with a solo blast and a strikeout.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 17, 2026
Sugastey is on the weak end of a catcher platoon, after getting surpassed on the depth chart by Drew Cavanaugh (No. 19 CPL). He’s back in Richmond for a 3rd season, and while the offensive numbers aren’t very good — .701 OPS, 74 wRC+ — they certainly look better than they did before that game! He’s still just 23 years old with very, very strong defensive chops, so he’s a valuable part of the depth behind the dish.
Also a really nice game for shortstop Aeverson Arteaga, who continues to put his awful 2025 behind him. Arteaga hit 2-3 in this game, while also drawing a walk and hitting a sacrifice fly, and striking out once. Like Sugastey, Arteaga — also a 23-year old with strong defense — has seen his prospect shine decline as he’s been replaced on the depth chart by someone the Giants like more (in Arteaga’s case, Maui Ahuna [No. 33 CPL]).
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 17, 2026
Last year, in Arteaga’s return from injury, he hit a lowly .189, had just a .508 OPS and a 49 wRC+, and struck out 26.2% of the time. This year he’s nearly doubled his batting average to .353, has an .831 OPS and a 137 wRC+, and is only striking out 17.4% of the time. That said, it’s a sample size of just 23 plate appearances … but still. Arteaga didn’t have a single 23-PA sample last year that was good, so this is nice to see.
Speaking of offensive resurgences, right fielder Jonah Cox hit 1-2 and drew 3 walks. After posting a .731 OPS and a 103 wRC+ in High-A Eugene last year, Cox has a mesmerizing .921 OPS and 146 wRC+ in Richmond, with 7 stolen bases in 8 attempts. He’s done a fantastic job cutting back on strikeouts since joining the organization in the Ross Stripling trade 2 years ago, and his outfield defense is still among the best in the organization, even if he rarely plays center these days due to prioritizing Davidson’s development.
LHP Joe Whitman (No. 26 CPL) got the start, and he had an extremely Joe Whitman start, which is to say it wasn’t good but there was also a lot to like. Most notably, Whitman struck out 7 batters in just 5 innings, while throwing 50 of 77 pitches for strikes. He challenged hitters all day long, giving up just 1 walk (though he also hit a batter).
On the less happy side, Whitman’s 4 hits allowed — which included a home run — tagged him for 4 earned runs, running his ERA up to 6.49 (though his FIP is once again lagging well behind, at a still-not-that-good 4.19).
There are some really encouraging signs for Whitman, who was a compensation round selection in 2023, and is repeating AA. Through a trio of starts this year, he’s really improved his strikeout-to-walk ratio … a year after having 9.5 strikeouts and 3.6 walks per 9 innings, Whitman has pushed those numbers in opposite directions, with 12.5 strikeouts and just 2.0 walks per 9. That’s great. Unfortunately, the issue that has plagued him — giving up hits, and loud ones in particular — continues to do so. Through 13.2 innings he’s ceded 13 hits, 5 of which have gone for extra bases, including 2 that have cleared the fence. There’s work to do, but there’s also work being done, it seems!
High-A Eugene (10-2)
Eugene Emeralds beat the Everett AquaSox (Mariners) 3-0 Box score
Just like the Giants, the Emeralds won 3-0 on Thursday. Keep them coming, I say.
When you win a shutout, it’s a sign of a battery performing well. But that understates just how strong Eugene’s battery was. Because not only did catcher Onil Perez help direct a 2-hitter, but he also provided the only 2 hits of the game for the Emeralds, as well! Hard to carry a team much more than catching a shutout on one end and having 100% of the hits on the other.
But that’s what Perez did, going 2-2 on a day when his teammates combined to hit 0-24. But Perez did more than just slap hits, as he smashed a solo home run in the 5th inning, while also drawing a walk and stealing a base. What a day!
Like Sugastey in AA, Perez was once one of the top backstop prospects in the organization, and has since been passed on the depth chart. Despite posting a 122 wRC+ for Eugene last year, the now-23 year old is back in High-A for a 3rd stint, as the team prioritizes Sugastey and Cavanaugh in Richmond. Perez has mostly been the second fiddle to Diego Cartaya in Eugene, though Cartaya’s recent injury — which hopefully is minor — opens the door a bit there.
On Thursday, at least, he ran with it, boosting his OPS to .761 and his wRC+ to 93, while nabbing his 1st stolen base of the year (Perez stole 23 bases in 2023 and 20 in 2024, but just 9 last year). Here’s to more days like that!
As for the players that Perez caught, it was a dynamic game for the starter, RHP Niko Mazza. As has been a theme a bit lately for the Giants prospects, Mazza was effectively wild, as he only threw 42 of 75 pitches for strikes, while walking 2 batters in 4 innings, and hitting another. But he gave up just 1 hit on the day — a single — and he struck out 7 batters. He didn’t give the Everrett batters anything to hit, and more often than not they futilely tried anyway.
It’s still too early to develop strong trend lines, but so far we’re really seeing an uptick in strikeout stuff across the organization. That’s been extremely true for Mazza, an 8th round pick in 2024. The recently-turned 24-year old struck out just 8.7 batters per 9 innings in his debut season with Low-A San Jose last year, but is up to a staggering 14.5 through 3 starts in High-A. But again, it’s a very small sample size — he’s thrown just 9.2 innings — and unfortunately the walks have accompanied the strikeouts.
RHP Cade Vernon, taken 2 rounds after Mazza, had his 2nd straight great outing, with a single being the only baserunner he allowed in 3 innings, while striking out a pair. In his 1st 2 games of the year, Vernon allowed 5 hits, 4 walks, and 4 runs in just 3.1 innings … but in 2 games since, has ceded just 1 hit and 0 walks in 5.2 scoreless frames.
And finally, it was RHP Liam Simon, who again struggled with command but did have his best game of the year. Simon threw just 19 of 39 pitches for strikes — which, admittedly, is a huge improvement — while tossing 2 no-hit innings with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. Simon has turned into an extreme all-or-nothing player as he looks to find his command following a string of severe injuries. Through 4 innings he’s faced 31 batters, and only 12 of those 31 have put the ball in play, as he has 9 walks, 2 hit batters, and 8 strikeouts.
Low-A San Jose (9-3)
San Jose Giants beat the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Angels) 13-3 Box score
You want evidence of an offense that’s rolling? The Baby Giants have played 12 games this year, and they’ve scored double digits in 5 of those games. If you remove the pair of 7-inning doubleheaders, San Jose is hitting 10 runs or more in half of their full games. Remarkable!
And they did it Thursday the way they’ve been doing it: with a lot of hits, a lot of extra-base hits, and a lot of home runs. Specifically, with 15 hits, 10 extra-base knocks, and 4 big flies.
On Wednesday, right fielder Cam Maldonado (No. 34 CPL) hit a home run, his 1st extra-base hit of the season. Here’s what I wrote in yesterday’s roundup:
Maldonado isn’t a huge power guy, but he’s not a stranger to power, either. Not to have a beloved former prospect catch a stray, but he’s no Wade Meckler. You can expect him to hit a few homers here and there. But his real calling card is his all-around game
Apparently Maldonado took great offense to that characterization, because last year’s 7th-round pick exploded on Thursday, hitting 3-5 with not1, but 2 more home runs, and also a double, with 3 total runs knocked in and 1 strikeout. That’ll teach me!
And with that, the right-handed hitter now has an .861 OPS and a 116 wRC+, and suddenly his debut full season is going quite swimmingly indeed.
Also in that article, I wrote the following about shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL):
Level will probably not continue having 1+ extra-base hits per game, which is what he currently has
And apparently he took offense to that characterization as well, because the switch-hitter, playing designated hitter in this game, went 2-6 with both of his hits being doubles, while recording 1 RBI and 1 strikeout.
Through 9 games, the recently-turned 19-year old has a whopping 8 doubles, to go along with 3 home runs, and he looks oh-so-comfortable on both sides of the plate. Level is significantly more than 2 years younger than the average Cal League hitter, yet currently has a 1.327 OPS and a 219 wRC+. If you’re new to stats, those ones are really, really, really, really good.
A pair of late-rounders left the yard as well, as left fielder Damian Bravo and first baseman Jeremiah Jenkins both hit solo shots. Bravo finished 2-5 and also added a double and 2 strikeouts, as he cleared the fences for the 2nd day in a row. The 15th-round pick in July started the year 5-30 with 1 home run and no doubles, and in 4 games since then has hit 6-20 with 2 homers and 3 doubles. Sometimes you just need a week to settle in!
Jenkins, on the other hand, hit 2-4 with a walk and 2 strikeouts, as the strong season continues for the 2024 14th-round pick. After hitting below league average in the Cal League last year, the lefty is mashing to the tune of a 1.221 OPS and a 192 wRC+, though he does have a 32.4% strikeout rate. A year ago, Jenkins had 4 home runs in 50 games with San Jose; this year, he has 3 in just 8 games.
So many hot performances have forced some players to fly under the radar, which is the case with second baseman Isaiah Barkett, last year’s 10th-round selection out of Stetson. The 22-year old righty has been hitting and hitting and hitting some more, and Thursday he went 2-4 with a double, a walk, and a strikeout, raising his OPS to 1.158 and his wRC+ to 184. This is his debut season, and he’s started it with an 8-game hitting streak! That’s quite an introduction!
The pitching was good, with the stars coming in relief. RHP Ubert Mejias, in particular, had a standout day, as he recorded 5 outs, 4 of which came by strikes (though he did allow a hit and a walk in his 1.2 shutout innings). The Cuban has a 1.29 ERA with 8 strikeouts in 7 innings, though he’s also issued 4 walks, and is 25 years old. RHP Garrett Langrell, a 24-year old taken in the 16th round in July, hit a batter in a no-hit, no-walk inning, with 1 strikeout. After ceding 2 runs in his professional debut, Langrell has pitched 3 consecutive scoreless outings, and has 8 strikeouts against just 1 walk in 5 innings this year.
The starter was LHP Jordan Gottesman, last year’s 6th-round selection, and he struggled quite a bit, throwing just 44 of 77 pitches for strikes, while walking 3 batters in 4 innings, and hitting another. The Northeastern southpaw gave up just 3 hits in those 4 innings, but 2 of those hits were home runs, which tagged him for 3 earned runs. He did strike out 5 batters, though. Gottesman is only 3 starts into his career, but he’s showing a lot of electricity, while also showing a good amount of things that he still needs to work on. That’s what the Minors are for!
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 28: George Lombard Jr. of the New York Yankees poses for a photo during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 28, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
Chip23 asks: Is George Lombard Jr. the Yankees’ starting third baseman by the middle of July?
Lombard is certainly carving up minor league pitching down in Double-A right now, fueling hope that he’ll make the jump from top prospect to an impact bat in the lineup this year. Of course, we’re very early in the MiLB season and Lombard has only played 10 games and they’ve been played two levels away from the majors — important things to note.
Last year, Lombard started off on a similar hot streak and earned a promotion from High-A Hudson Valley to Double-A after posting a .329/.495/.488 triple-slash in 24 games, a breakout performance after a down 2024 season that saw him never really figure things out at the plate. However, that step up in competition caused Lombard to struggle again once he started facing Double-A pitchers, as he posted a .695 OPS the rest of the way, nearly 200 points lower than his initial surge. The Yankees would have to see enough out of this start to give him the green light up to Scranton first, a promotion that is probably a good couple of weeks away if he comes close to maintaining the elite 1.186 OPS he currently has, and then also monitor how he handles the jump before making any kind of considerations on how he could impact the big league club.
It’s not out of the question that Lombard could make that happen — the talent is there and is being recognized by plenty of scouts now, as he’s been a fast riser in top 100 lists. The bigger question is how fast and loose will the Yankees play with their best prospect, especially given how they handled the last middle infielder to come up as their top prospect. Anthony Volpe’s development is surely a parallel they’re hoping to avoid — Volpe wowed the crowd in 2021, produced a very solid 2022 that got him a cup of coffee in Triple-A and then went straight to the big leagues with little time to ensure his bat was ready, to underwhelming results offensively thus far. The team is under pressure to compete this year, and they have a glaring need in their infield right now, but patience may outweigh everything else with Lombard’s ETA to try and ensure he can succeed as both an elite defender and hitter. Lombard’s currently covering third base down in Somerset with Volpe rehabbing there, and we may be getting a preview of the Yankee infield down the line, but a lot still has to go right for that to be the infield in 2026.
MSP Giant asks:He may walk a lot but he sure ain’t hitting. What if Grisham reverts to his pre 2025 play and is again, best off the bench. Then what?
Grisham got his get-right game on Monday against the Angels, pinch-hitting for Randal Grichuk and proceeding to go 2-for-3 with a pair of home runs including a two-run shot to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth. Or at least, it would’ve been nice if that breakout performance was his get-right game, because in reality he followed that up with an 0-for-4 night with three strikeouts, getting just a two-run single in the second inning of Wednesday’s win before going 0-for again on Thursday. The results haven’t been there for Grisham, but out of all of the hitters pulling down the lineup, there’s the most to be optimistic with the Yankee center fielder.
Despite posting a paltry .155 batting average, the contact that Grisham is generating has been very good. He’s in the 94th percentile for hard hit percentage at 55.6 and his average exit velocity of 90.9 mph is good for the 71st percentile. His Statcast page doesn’t quite read as unlucky as Ben Rice was looking last year, but it looks clear that the process has been good for Grisham and that he’s just not finding the outfield grass as much as he should be. Couple that with the elite eye for strikes that he’s shown, and there’s good reason that he’s still regularly been the leadoff hitter for New York.
The idiot that said, “Harper is coming” asks:I’m sorry, I have to say this. It is managerial malpractice that Ben Rice, who currently ranks fourth in MLB in batting Average, first in OBP, and first in SLG% ranks 140th in plate appearances. FIVE Yankees have more plate appearances than he does right now. A healthy Ben Rice needs to be in the lineup EVERY single day.
I get the frustration with not seeing Rice in the lineup, and share the sentiment in wanting the team’s best hitter to this point to get in the game as much as possible. Whether or not there’s a platoon being deployed with him and Paul Goldschmidt has been the biggest gripe fans have had with Aaron Boone’s management of the team this year, and you could argue that he’s sat a game or two more than is necessary, but they’re also making sure that their star in the making is going to ramp up to a full season of work and be in it for the long haul. The PSA editors (myself, Jake Devin, and Andrew Mearns) discussed Rice’s torrid start and the conversation around his starts recently, and as Jake noted, Rice is on pace to play in about 150 games and earn 620 plate appearances anyway despite the occasional spot on the bench. That’d also be the most he’s ever played in a single season, and as Andrew pointed out, Rice hasn’t had that full-year volume of games played due to having built-in days off as a catcher and having his college games cut down due to COVID.
Ultimately, I’d like to see the Yankees utilize that catcher flexibility a bit and get him behind the plate occasionally (especially with J.C. Escarra not providing much), and that would help bridge the gap between playing Goldschmidt the proper amount while also getting Rice his at-bats, but I’m not as compelled to raise the alarm over him sitting the occasional game as most are. He’ll get into plenty of games, and as the season goes on I imagine the Yankees will be sitting him less and less whether that’s due to him being built up and ready to roll through longer stretches without off-days or injuries to the rest of the roster forcing him into action elsewhere.
The New York Yankees aren’t looking much like a World Series contender this month, but they’ll have a chance to get back on track tonight at home to the Kansas City Royals.
Though New York spiraled to a heavy loss yesterday with Max Fried on the mound, my Royals vs. Yankees predictions buy into the hosts’ current No. 2 ace and signal a bounce-back effort here.
Get the lowdown on this April 17 matchup with my free MLB picks.
Who will win Royals vs Yankees tonight: Yankees moneyline (-173)
With eight straight wins over the Kansas City Royals, it’s fair to say the New York Yankees have their number. So I’m brushing aside the Bronx Bombers’ 3-7 mark across their past 10 contests, partly because Kansas City has the exact same record in that span.
As well as Michael Wacha has pitched this year, including a 0.43 ERA, the New York lineup has plenty of prior at-bats to lean on against the veteran righty.
In contrast, none of the Royals’ hitters have faced Cam Schlittler before, and the Yankees phenom has racked up 7+ strikeouts in each of his four outings this season.
COVERS INTEL:The underwhelming Kansas City offense has scored two runs or fewer in seven of its last 10 games and ranks in the bottom five in runs, hits, SLG and OPS.
Royals vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Under 8 (-115)
With both of tonight’s starters in a nice rhythm, I’m sticking with the trends that point to the Under, which is 7-2 in the last nine meetings between these teams – and 4-0 in the past four matchups at Yankee Stadium.
The Royals are giving their pitchers minimal run support. They’re averaging just 3.42 RPG, and all three of Wacha’s outings this season have fallen short of this 8.0 O/U mark.
Meanwhile, for all the unquestionable offensive firepower that Aaron Judge and Co. bring to the party, the hosts have only posted a .214 batting average, the fourth-lowest in the majors.
[WRITER NAME]'s 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets:0-3, -3 units
Over/Under bets:2-1, +0.8 units
Royals vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: Kansas City +152 | New York -180
Run line: Kansas City +1.5 (-146) | New York -1.5 (+122)
Over/Under: Over 8 (-102) | Under 8 (-120)
Royals vs Yankees trend
The Under is 7-3 in the Royals’ last 10 games. Find more MLB betting trends for Royals vs. Yankees.
How to watch Royals vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Friday, April 17, 2026
First pitch
7:05 p.m. ET
TV
Royals.TV, YES
Royals starting pitcher
Michael Wacha (2-0, 0.43 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Cam Schlittler (2-1, 2.49 ERA)
Royals vs Yankees latest injuries
Royals vs Yankees weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 08: Jorge Polanco #11 of the New York Mets in action during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field on April 08, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jorge Polanco, already dealing with left Achilles bursitis that has hindered him since the start of the season, is now battling a second injury. His right wrist started bothering him after Tuesday’s loss to the Dodgers, and the issue was bad enough to keep him out of the lineup Friday in Chicago as the Mets look to avoid losing their ninth straight. That would be their longest losing streak since 2004.
Polanco, signed to a 2-year, $40M contract this offseason, has not been off to a particular strong start, batting .179/.246/.286 through 61 PA to this point. Nevertheless, the lineup could definitely use his presence. Brett Baty has posted a 30 wRC+ heading into Friday’s action, even worse than Polanco’s own 57, and Mark Vientos has cooled off dramatically from his early season hot streak. Coupled with Juan Soto’s absence, Francisco Lindor likely not playing at 100%, and Bo Bichette continuing to struggle, Polanco’s absence is definitely problematic.
The Mets have reportedly not received MRI results yet and have not made a decision about placing Polanco on the injured list. That might be the prudent move as he deals with simultaneous injuries, but we’ll see how the team’s thinking develops in the coming days.
MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 3: The sneakers worn by Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 3, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
The first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs tips off as one of the hottest teams in the Association takes on a powerhouse looking to take the next step and maximize its title chances.
The Atlanta Hawks have soared since the All-Star break, and my Hawks vs. Knicks predictions expect them to cover the spread against the New York Knicks on the road.
Here are my best free NBA picks for Saturday, April 18.
Hawks vs Knicks Game 1 prediction
Hawks vs Knicks best bet: Hawks +5.5 (-115)
After another middling start, the Atlanta Hawks have done a complete 180. Moving on from Trae Young and adding veteran leader CJ McCollum were the moves that pulled Atlanta out of the Play-In Tournament and into a favorable playoff position.
Since the All-Star break, only the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder sport better records than the 20-6 Hawks. In that span, the Hawks went a league-best 18-8 ATS, including a 6-4 mark on the road, which ranked fifth.
After the break, the New York Knicks went 13-14 ATS, just 15th in the NBA. The Knicks won the season series with the Hawks two games to one, but Atlanta covered twice in three games.
Atlanta’s ability to knock down three-pointers should give New York fits.
The Knicks have struggled to defend the three-point line this season, allowing the 10th-most three-pointers (13.9) and the 11th-highest three-point percentage (36.2%). Over the last 15 games, New York has given up 14.5 triples at a 38.1% clip.
The Hawks rank in the top-10 in three-point attempts (39.5), three-point makes (14.6), and three-point percentage (37.1%) this season. In three tilts with New York, Atlanta knocked down 37.2% of its 121 triple attempts.
After the break, Atlanta owned the seventh-best offensive rating (119.8), second-best defensive rating (109.5), and third-best net rating (10.3). Given the team’s recent success and advantage from the perimeter, I’ll take the Hawks to cover a modest spread on the road.
Hawks vs Knicks Game 1 same-game parlay
The Knicks closed out the final 10 games of the regular season with the slowest pace in the Association. The Hawks ranked 15th. Both teams finished with top-12 defensive ratings, and neither gave up many points down the final stretch.
This one could get chippy, so I’ll bet on defense and pace dictating the final score here.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker finished with 21+ in 10 of his last 14 games while averaging a team-high 24.6. He lit up New York to the tune of 28 points per game in three matchups, scoring 21+ in each of them. Don’t expect him to regress in the playoffs.
Hawks vs Knicks SGP
Hawks +5.5
Under 216.5
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 20.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Raining Treys!
The Hawks have been hot since the break, and their lethal combination of strong defense and a barrage of three-pointers gives them a puncher’s chance to emerge victorious and complete the upset at Madison Square Garden.
Alexander-Walker knocked down 3.2 triples per game this season, and he nailed 4+ in 29 of 78 games. He ended the season on a high note, hitting that many three-pointers in five of his final seven games while shooting 47.6% from beyond the arc.
CJ McCollum averaged 3.3 triples on 50% shooting over the final four games of the season, knocking down three in his last game against the Knicks.
Jalen Johnson hit a career-high 1.7 triples this season, hitting multiple treys in 37 of 72 appearances, including three against the Knicks on April 6.
Hawks vs Knicks SGP
Hawks moneyline
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 3.5 made threes
CJ McCollum Over 2.5 made threes
Jalen Johnson Over 1.5 made threes
Hawks vs Knicks odds for Game 1
Spread: Hawks +5.5 (-115) | Knicks -5.5 (-105)
Moneyline: Hawks +185 | Knicks -225
Over/Under: Over 216.5 | Under 216.5
Hawks vs Knicks betting trend to know
The Atlanta Hawks have hit the Moneyline in 31 of their last 50 games (+14.55 Units / 12% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Hawks vs. Knicks.
How to watch Hawks vs Knicks Game 1
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Tip-off
6:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video, TSN4
Hawks vs Knicks latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
It's no secret that the Pittsburgh Penguins have a wealth of playoff experience on their roster.
Five of them - Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Bryan Rust, and Sam Girard - have Stanley Cup rings. A few more have gotten a taste of the Stanley Cup Final, only to have fallen just short. Many have limited playoff experience but playoff experience nonetheless.
But there are a handful of players - six of them, to be exact - on the Penguins' active roster who have never been graced with the opportunity to experience the greatest postseason in all of sports. Ben Kindel, Egor Chinakhov, Elmer Soderblom, Ryan Shea, Jack St. Ivany, and Ilya Solovyov will finally, in some capacity, have that opportunity when the Penguins face the Philadelphia Flyers in round one of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, which begins Saturday at 8:00 p.m. ET.
And a player's first time in the NHL playoffs is something that they can only experience once.
"It's, obviously, been a whirlwind of a season, but this has always been the goal since making the team," Kindel said. "Really, really excited to have this opportunity to go into the playoffs with this group of guys and see what we can do."
Kindel, a rookie, made the team out of training camp and was given the chance to stick around through the entirety of the regular season. And some of the other players in a similar situation didn't join the squad until midway through.
Chinakhov is one of those guys, as he was dealt from the Columbus Blue Jackets to Pittsburgh on Dec. 29. He has played in five NHL seasons up to this point, and all have ended in futility.
To come to the Penguins' organization mid-season and be thrust into the Stanley Cup Playoffs has been a whirlwind for him, but he's happy to finally have gotten here.
"I'm excited to play in the playoffs," Chinakhov said. "I played in the KHL [playoffs], and I know it feels different than the regular season. Yeah, just need to prepare and be ready for Game 1."
The same can be said for Soderblom, who joined the team at the NHL Trade Deadline from the Detroit Red Wings on Mar. 7.
"It's going to be fun," Soderblom said. "I think it's going to be something special, and it's going to be exciting to play, for sure. I think we can just learn a lot from the players who have been through it, you know, and won the Cup. So, I think it's a good opportunity to just get better."
The "new guy, new team" situation doesn't apply to everyone in this position, though. Shea and St. Ivany have been with the organization for a few years now, and they have seen the Penguins at the lowest point they've been since Crosby's rookie season.
Shea joined the Penguins in 2023-24 after getting drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks and spending a few years in the Dallas Stars' organization. He's been to the playoffs before, but nothing quite like the NHL playoffs.
“I mean, it’s pretty cool. I’ve played a lot of meaningful hockey in my life, whether it’s playoffs in the AHL or college hockey, but this is obviously the pinnacle," Shea said. "This is what you want to get to.
"I feel like the first two years, we were so close, but always the outside looking in. And this year, we had to learn how to play when we were in a position to make the playoffs, and we did pretty well coming down the stretch with that. But, I’m just super excited. It’s great for the guys."
Of course, there's not really any other way to truly prepare for the NHL playoffs aside from simply getting thrust into it. Crosby knows that feeling all too well, as he remembers his first taste of the playoffs.
But, regardless, he and the other veterans in the room are ready to help those with little to no NHL postseason experience - even if they can only do so much.
"I think you've got to prepare as best you can, but until you've actually experienced it, there's only so much you can do to try to prepare," Crosby said. "But, we'll definitely do that. You can do your best to try to help them out and make sure that [they] prepare, but just getting thrown into it is just sometimes the best. And I think anyone who has played in the playoffs, you remember that first game, that's for sure. You'll remember that first shift, first period... those always tend to stick out."
And Shea - like Soderblom - said that the experience of guys like Crosby and the other veterans in the room will certainly help him and others, especially in terms of regulating emotions.
"I pick up the little things that guys talk about, whether it’s body language, picking up teammates, all that stuff," Shea said. "For me, I’m pretty hard on myself. So, having those guys through this experience and having a guy of that caliber coming up to you and being like, ‘Hey, go get it next shift’ or something like that… that goes a long way. We’re all in this fight together. I think we’ve done a great job this year being a team and keeping the vibes at a high, and I think we need that no matter what, whether we go down 2-0, up 2-0, whatever the case may be.
"We need to control our emotions, and that’s where those guys come in. And, for me, I know I’m going to be overly excited to start the game, but I think, at the end of the day, it’s just another hockey game. My nerves and my excitement will just pull back, and then, you’re pretty much just going about your business.”
KNOXVILLE, TN - MAY 31: Wake Forest Demon Deacons pitcher Chris Levonas (18) pitches during the NCAA Division I Regional Tournament baseball game between the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the Miami (OH) RedHawks on May 31, 2025, at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, TN. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Who’s the Pack playing?
Opponent: Wake Forest
Mascot: Pissed Off Preachers | School Location: NASCAR-Cigarette, NC | Conference: ACC
Wake came out of the gate a-hellin’ this year, losing their opener to Houston in the same Puerto Rico Challenge event that NC State participated in, but then reeling off 15 consecutive wins, including sweeping Stanford in their ACC season opening series. What followed was a fall back to reality, which probably could have been expected in hindsight when you consider that High Point (RPI #60; 7-6 Wake win) was the only team the Deacs played during that 15-game winning streak that currently has an RPI ranking better than 131 (Stanford).
The Demon Deacons lost to Coastal Carolina and then were swept at home by Florida State. They rebounded to go 8-4 over the next stretch, but with all four of those losses coming in conference play. Since then, Wake is just 2-5, but with those losses coming at Pitt, vs Coastal, and at Miami (x2), with the wins coming over Miami and Coastal.
All things considered, Wake has put itself into a nice situation. They still have a road series at Georgia Tech, but they get a home series with a pitching-depleted NC State squad this weekend before that GT series, and their last two ACC series are vs Louisville and at Duke, two teams who have not been very impressive this year. With a solid RPI already in place, a .500 finish to ACC play will have the Deacs in a Regional.
The lineup is an experienced bunch, with only two of their 11 regulars being under 20 years old. That group is hitting a collective .289/.411/.476, 76 2B, 47 HR, 14.6 BB%, 19.4 K%, 50-59 SB. Seven of their starters have OBPs over .400, and they generally handle the bat well with competitive ABs and low strikeout numbers.
As is normal for a Wake pitching staff under Tom Walter, there are some freaks on this staff with alarmingly good stuff. The group has a 4.60 ERA over 317.0 IP with a 11.6 BB% and 31.0 K%. I’m sure Walter and crew would like that walk rate to be a bit lower, but really only one of their top eight arms has a walk rate that would be considered alarming. Plus, when you have a team strikeout rate in the 30’s, you can live with a few extra walks.
This is a group that when they’ve lost, it’s generally been due to the lineup getting shut down (6 or fewer runs in all 13 losses, including 3 or fewer runs in 9 of those games). Unfortunately for an NC State squad that will be without Friday starter Ryan Marohn, that would-be key to victory gets a little more unattainable. The Wolfpack will need to hit in this one; that’s for sure.
Wake is a team with a lot of good pieces and certainly capable of making a run to an ACC Tournament title next month, and a deep run in the NCAAs thereafter.
Pitching Matchups
Friday: RHP Heath Andrews (JR) vs RHP Chris Levonas (SO)
Saturday: LHP Cooper Consiglio (JR) vs RHP Troy Dressler (SO)
Sunday: TBD vs RHP Cam Bagwell (SO)
Key Players:
Offense
CF Javar Williams (JR) – .342/.473/.544, 9 2B, 7 HR, 16.0 BB%, 15.5 K%, 21-24 SB. Highly regarded prospect that in the “wait and see” camp heading into this year after not having the level of breakout year many expected last year. He’s doing that this year and the left-handed-hitting speedster is rocketing up draft boards.
RF Luke Costello (SO) – .324/.474/.735, 6 2B, 12 HR, 13.5 BB%, 15.8 K%, 2-4 SB. Well regarded high school recruit who tore his ACL his senior year in high school, so made it to college. The draft-eligible sophomore should be moving up draft boards with his reduction in strikeouts this year.
3B Dalton Wentz (SO) – .310/.441/.627, 13 2B, 10 HR, 18.6 BB%, 23.2 K%, 1-2 SB. Draft-eligible switch-hitter was a 2025 Freshman All-American. Has the arm to stay on the left side of the infield at the next level and should easily go in the top 3-4 rounds of the draft. Strikeout rate is the biggest red flag in his game, but the power is real.
1B KadeLewis (JR) – .338/.422/.514, 9 2B, 5 HR, 12.7 BB%, 12.7 K%, 6-6 SB. Lefty-hitting leadoff man is a former transfer from Butler where he was a 2nd Team All-Big East selection in 2024. Played mostly 3rd base in 2025 with mixed results. Questions around his defense will limit his draft prospects, but he’s still a Top 75 prospect this year and can handle the bat with the best of them.
Pitching
RHP Chris Levonas (SO) – 7-2, 2.22 ERA, 48.2 IP, 8.3 BB%, 39.4 K%. Selected 67th overall out of high school by the Brewers in the 2024 draft (slot value: $1,230,000), but chose to head to college. Has been clocked over 100 mph on the fastball this year, which is a plus pitch and can be even more devastating when used to setup the slider and curve. Tracking towards being a Top 15 pick in next year’s draft.
RHP Troy Dressler (SO) – 5-1, 4.08 ERA, 35.1 IP, 10.3 BB%, 36.3 K%. Just recently moved into the starting rotation and has looked really good in that role. Can touch 97 with the fastball, sitting mostly in the low-to-mid 90’s with it. Has a nice slider and changeup. Already on draft radars after a strong season in the Cape Cod League last summer, he’s moving up 2027 boards quickly.
RHP Cam Bagwell (SO) – 2-1, 3.67 ERA, 41.2 IP, 6.7 BB%, 18.3 K%. Transfer from UNCW where he was the CAA Rookie-of-the-Year (9-2, 3.07 ERA, 85.0 IP, 4.9 BB%, 17.8 K%). Was Wake’s midweek starter until three weeks ago. Big 6’5, 210 lbs frame with a fastball that has touched 96 in the past, but he’s more of a low-90’s guy. A pair of breaking balls and a really good changeup that induces a lot of ground balls. Top 200 prospect for the 2027 Draft.
RHP Blake Morningstar (JR) – 2-3, 8.72 ERA, 32.0 IP, 10.1 BB%, 23.4 K%. Huge draft prospects heading into the year after earning 1st Team All-ACC honors last year (6-2, 3.87 ERA, 79.0 IP, 9.2 BB%, 26.8 K%), but struggled as a starter despite the impressive stuff and has been bumped from the starting rotation. In consecutive starts against Loyola Marymount and Stanford earlier this year, went a combined 13.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 20 K, 2 HBP, showing what he’s capable of when he’s on.
RHP Evan Jones (FR) – 2-1, 2 SV, 3.13 ERA, 23.0 IP, 11.8 BB%, 34.4 K%. Wake’s top rated freshman arm, he’s been up to 99 mph with the heater that he compliments with a sweeping slider. Outside of an outing at Virginia where he allowed 5 ER in 2.1 IP, he’s only allowed 3 ER over 14 appearances.
RHP Marcelo Harsch (FR) – 1-1, 1 SV, 5.00 ERA, 18.0 IP, 8.1 BB%, 36.0 K%. Wake’s second highest rated freshman arm, he has been up to 99 mph in the past, too, but not yet this year. Despite having not topped 2.2 IP or 44 pitches in any single outing, has recorded 3+ strikeouts in seven of 11 outings.
Quick! Fun Facts!
Luke Costello is not related to Lucas Costello, who played for Wake from 2021-2023 before transferring to Miami for his senior year. He is related to Andrew Costello, his younger brother and a freshman catcher who reclassified from the 2027 freshman class up a year to enroll at Wake for the current spring semester.
An NCAA Regional appearance for Wake this year would be the fifth straight for the Demon Deacons, tying the program record for consecutive Regional appearances (1998-2002).
Six former Wake players have appeared at the MLB level so far in 2026: 1B/RF Gavin Sheets (Padres), LHP Jared Shuster (Cardinals), RHP Rhett Lowder (Reds), RHP Shane Smith (White Sox), 1B Nick Kurtz (Athletics), RHP Chase Burns (Reds). For whatever crossover that exists between Wake Forest and Cincinnati Reds fans, having two former Deacs in the Reds starting rotation has to be pretty amazing.
The Key To A Series Win For State
With Ryan Marohn not available this weekend – and hopefully the reports on his being available again soon are accurate – the lineup is going to need to produce if the Pack are going to pull this one out. It’s that simple: score runs. Score lots of runs.
Prediction
Before the news about Marohn dropped, I was feeling good about State pulling out the series win. Minus him, Wake has the advantage in both the Friday and Sunday pitching matchups.
COVERS INTEL:
