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Knicks Bulletin: ‘We can talk to Brunson, but at the end of the day…’

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 20: CJ McCollum #3 of the Atlanta Hawks drives against Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during game two of the Eastern Conference first round NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 20, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Knicks play the Hawks in Manhatlanta tonight, with flocks of New Yorkers expected to take over.

Don’t get it twisted—Knicks fans in town or not, the folks better get that dub and return home with a 2-2 balance at the very worst, or else.

Here’s the latest from around NYK world.

Mike Brown

On the late-game execution in Game 2:
“We didn’t execute well enough offensively. Starting with me, I didn’t mix it up enough offensively going down the stretch. And then we didn’t mix it up as well as we could have defensively. So there were a few things down the stretch we could’ve done better.”

On the never-ending playoff adjustments:
“First of all, anything’s open to discussion offensively, defensively. Maybe changing this defensively. Maybe changing that offensively. I’m comfortable with all of our guys playing, no matter who the five is out there. But at the end of the day, just like offensively and defensively, I mean we changed both of those things halfway through the year. Anything can happen, and when you’re in the playoffs, everything should be on the table. But I do feel comfortable with what we’ve had.”

On responding to Game 2 on the road:
“They hit us in the mouth the second half [of Game 2], not just the fourth quarter, but the second half, and we have to respond. And like I said, at the end of the day, I don’t know if there are many teams that have gone 16-0 on their run to a championship. So you’ve got to figure out how to win on the road if you expect to be who you want to be anyway.”

On facing adversity:
“I don’t know how much of adversity it is. I guess it’s a little bit when you lose. When you lose, you tend to feel it. Like I said before, that’s why it’s good to go through it during the year so you can continue to have belief in the ability to bounce back because you’ve been there and done it. And it’s a little easier to handle when you lose. … So anytime you struggle, especially if you have a resilient group, it could be a good thing. Our group is resilient.”

On the Game 2 lineup struggles:
“We weren’t good tonight. But we had opportunities where our starters were in and we were up eight to 10, and Atlanta closed it. So I wouldn’t say that specific lineup caused it.”

On officiating and physicality:
“I’m still trying to figure out what’s a bump and what’s not a bump. You see a guy like CJ, he gets a drive and if you chest him, it’s a foul. And I even asked the officials about it — Jalen’s driving and he’s getting the same bump. Now, he’s not as light or as quick as CJ, so the speed might not be the same, but when he’s going, he’s getting hit and he’s getting knocked away from the bucket. So, trying to figure that out a little bit better is something I need to do. But I thought Jalen got to his spots. I thought he could have gotten to the free-throw line a couple more times that sometimes [he didn’t] throughout the course of the game, especially with how aggressive he is. But it is what it is.”

On Game 2 defensive breakdowns:
“You gotta give Atlanta credit. We didn’t execute our defense the way that we could have. Or the way we should have, or the way that we have been doing throughout the first six quarters [of the series].”

On Towns’ aggressiveness:
“KAT’s a great player. He’s got to impose his will on the game. If he was a young guy, I would need to say something to him. But as a veteran guy, I don’t need to tell him to be aggressive.”

Josh Hart

On Brunson’s need to step up his defensive game himself:
“We can talk to him. We can do those kinds of things, let him know where to force the ball. But at the end of the day, he has to take pride in it. Just knowing him, I’m sure watching the film, he was probably frustrated at some of the spots CJ was able to get to. … I know the kind of guy he is, the kind of character he is. He’ll be better defensively for us.”

On the team needing to help Brunson defensively:
“Defensively, we need him to get stops. And we need to make sure we have his back and are talking to him when he’s on those isolations on CJ or whoever it is. We can talk to him. We can do those kinds of things to let him know where to force the ball or those kinds of things. But at the end of the day, he has to take pride in it. I think that’s just knowing him and watching the film, he was frustrated at some of those spots that CJ was able to get to and those kinds of things. I know the kind of guy he is and character he is and he’ll be better defensively for us.”

On the lack of physicality in Game 2:
“I feel like we didn’t have that physicality that we did Game 1 and in the first half [of Game 2]. I think that was the biggest thing. When you lose that physicality, then you allow them to kinda move at their own pace, kinda dictate their offense instead of you dictating it. Just gotta make sure we’re physical, have attention to detail and focus for a full 48.”

On stayed playoff-focused:
“That’s why being focused and having attention to detail is so big in the playoffs, because sometimes, it goes away from plays — and it just goes into schemes, it goes into personnel. You gotta be able to react on the fly. When you’re locked in, you have that attention to detail, you’re able to do that pretty seamlessly.”

Jalen Brunson

On succumbing to CJ McCollum:
“He was in a great rhythm. I’ve got to disrupt it, make him play on his heels, make him react to me defensively. He was just in a rhythm.”

Mikal Bridges

On the need for helping Brunson defensively:
“You’ve got four guys that [are] behind him, that [are] gonna help him. Just know [the] personnel, who we guard and how we guard them, and then do your best to stay in front. You’ve got help behind you.”

CJ McCollum

On whether or not he liked the Brunson matchup:
“What do you think? Yeah.”

On the Garden boos and the villain narrative:
“It’s just fans booing you or cheering you on. It’s really not that serious. I think when you look at it that way, it’s just a game. It’s fun to compete at the highest level. It’s fun to be recognized by people, but I don’t play for Spike Lee’s approval. I don’t play for Knicks fans’ approval. I don’t play for anybody’s approval. I play for my family, myself and God, so it’s just a game, at the end of the day.”

Onyeka Okongwu

On McCollum’s impact in Game 2:
“Happy for him, he shut that Knicks crowd up.”

On what to expect from the Game 3 atmosphere in Atlanta:
“Very, very loud. Obviously, you know, Knicks fans are gonna be there as well, but I know ATL faithful will be there as well. Excited for [Thursday] night.”

Iman Shumpert

On Mike Brown’s future if the Knicks fail in the playoffs:
“It’s over with. I know how that sounds, but I’m just going off of the Knicks organization. It’s been over with for people who have been going in the proper direction all the time. It’s been going great for some players, and they had to leave. I just know that the organization puts pressure on itself every year, and then to be so close and to have a team that we all feel like should be successful in the playoffs, built for success in the playoffs … I could totally see it happening right away.”

Stephon Marbury

On Mike Brown’s adjustments for Game 3:
“It’s gonna come down to strategy with Mike Brown. It’s gonna come down to structure and strategy with Mike Brown — and I believe he’s going to make the adjustments.”

On Atlanta’s screening action:
“You know that they’re running a high pick and roll. It’s really like a brush screen, just so you can switch. And it’s slow. Like, it’s like stand there, touch his body, drag him down. And now you’ve gotta switch. And it’s embarrassing if you don’t switch, ‘cause you on the court, on the island, by yourself in the NBA. So you standing there like, ‘Damn.’ I could literally walk real slow and just grab you like, ‘it’s time,’ and that’s the switch. Now, you’ve gotta stomp your feet, slap the ground, and just get ready every time.”

On defensive coverage adjustments:
“Jalen will have to get over the screen on C.J.’s hip and push him downhill, then whoever’s man is creating the switch, they’ll stay in the help position to make C.J. pass the ball. Then, the wing man will cheat over to the middle, and the [Knicks’] corner man will have two men: [Atlanta’s] wing man and the corner man. If Jalen blitzes the screen, now if C.J. goes to drive and the help defender is in the blue position, Jalen can switch back to his man. He can switch to the other guy. And that’s how you kill it. Now we’re gonna watch, and we’re gonna see if they’re gonna make that adjustment. Because [Atlanta is] gonna run the same play. They’re gonna do it old-school and make us adjust.”

On Brunson’s need for adjustments:
“I feel like Jalen Brunson has to play like Allen Iverson and John Stockton. He has to find the balance. I don’t think it’s a hard transition for him because he’s smart, and he’s astute, and because he’s smart and astute, he’s aware of what happened. Right now, this is the first four years of him being the man where he’s making decisions and he’s going on the court. He’s playing at the highest level and everything is in his hand. And he’s got all of the support. We are going to support him because we believe him and we trust him. We believe that. I believe that.”

On Towns’ need for demanding the ball more:
“KAT’s not going to get plays drawn up in this system with Coach Brown. He has to assert himself. He has to demand — he has to demand the ball come his way, man. It’s different when you demand something. When you command it, now it’s like, ‘OK, that’s what we’re doing. We’re going there.’ When he puts his hand up and demands the ball, everybody knows to throw it.”

On what to expect from Brunson in Game 3:
“What he takes from [Game 2] and how he grows from that night — that’s him. That’s going to be the truth and true honesty in the next game. It’s not about playing harder or scoring more or not missing any shots. That’s not it. It’s evaluating how they play him. How am I going to play defensively? Am I going to submit and say, look, this is where I need help at? Am I thinking about knowing that I have a weakness right now and now everyone sees it? Everybody in the gym knew it. The whole world sees I can’t defend C.J. McCollum, and I’m gonna have to guard him in the next game. How are we gonna prep? And how are you gonna prepare to play against him?”

Patrick Ewing

On believing he’d dominate in the current NBA:
“I try not to compare my era to this era or eras in the past. I know whatever era I played in, I’d be dominant. I was one of the big men who could shoot, but I didn’t shoot a lot of 3s. Michael [Jordan] and I always joke about – He’s like, ‘Man, but you can’t dribble.’ I said – ‘All I need is two dribbles. Two dribbles. That’s it. Two dribbles, I can get from the free-throw line to the hole. So, it doesn’t make a difference what era I’m in. I think I can still dominate.”

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Yankees Birthday of the Day: Andruw Jones

NEW YORK - APRIL 28, 2012: Andruw Jones #25 of the New York Yankees bats during a game against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium on April 28, 2012 in New York, New York. (Photo by SPX/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

The Yankees were a powerhouse team of the late 1990’s and the early 2000s, powered by some of the game’s best players of all time. However, they weren’t the only team consistently vying for a World Series championship. The Atlanta Braves were the National League’s elite squad: from the 1991 season to the 2000 season, they finished with a win total under 90 only once and over 100 four times, including three straight seasons in 1997, ‘98, and ‘99.

New York and Atlanta continuously found themselves in the biggest moments, including seven combined appearances in the World Series in the 1990s. And when the Yankees played them in 1996 and 1999, they would see a name on the roster that would not just end up as one in the Baseball Hall of Fame, but also one that would be familiar way down the road: Andruw Jones.

Andruw Rudolf Jones
Born: April 23, 1977 (Willemstad, Curacao)
Yankees Tenure: 2011-2012

Jones’ first taste of Major League baseball came at a young age. In 1993, at the age of 16, he signed as a free agent with the Braves organization, and in 1995, Jones was named the minor league player of the year. Following an outstanding year at the minor league level, Jones was called up to the major leagues and played 31 games in 1996.

In the postseason, though, Jones made his presence felt. He hit two home runs in his first two at-bats of the 1996 World Series. Jones became the youngest player ever to homer in the World Series at 19-years-old, breaking Mickey Mantle’s record of 20 years, 362 days. Jones joined Gene Tenace as the only other player to hit home runs in his first two World Series at-bats.

Jones finished the 1996 postseason with a slashline of .345/.486/.690 for a wRC+ of 210. And after that performance, he became an everyday outfielder for the club. In 153 games played during his rookie season, Jones posted just-below-average hitting numbers playing in right field, garnering a 3.7 fWAR with a slashline of .231/.329/.416. He ended up finishing fifth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.

In 1997, Jones began his full-fledged tear. He finished his first of multiple 7.0+ fWAR seasons and played full-time in the demanding center field position. With some stellar defense (a major theme in Jones’ entire career), he won his first Gold Glove Award and also had his first season above the average mark of wRC+ and OPS+. And from then on, Jones’ career was truly off and running, establishing himself as one of the premier outfielders in the game for a long time to come.

For the rest of his time in Atlanta (1999-2007), Jones was a key piece in some excellent seasons. He posted a slashline of .265/.346/.502 for an OPS of .848, and he won 10 consecutive Gold Glove Awards for his work in the outfield. He finished in the top 15 of MVP voting in 2000, 2003, 2005, and 2006, with top-10 finishes in 2000 and 2005. That 2005 season was the best year of his tenured career — Jones walked away as the major league leader in home runs with 51, along with being the National League’s RBI leader. He won the Silver Slugger Award for his work at the plate (his only Silver Slugger of his career), and finished second in NL MVP voting, losing a narrow race to then-St. Louis Cardinal Albert Pujols, who finished the year batting .330 with an OPS over 1.000 and sending 41 baseballs over the outfield fences.

Before the 2008 season, the Braves announced that they would not be bringing the 30-year-old Jones back to the team. So, after the news broke, he signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But after Atlanta, the situation was dire, as Jones showed up to his first spring training with Los Angeles not in baseball shape. And in 75 games with the Dodgers, Jones hit .158 with only three home runs and 14 RBI. Jones also dealt with injuries throughout the year, which was a first for his career. And as a result, after the season, Jones, having voiced his opinion that Dodgers fans had not given him a fair chance from the get-go, said he did not want to return and reached an agreement with the club to be released.

Jones signed a one-year minor league deal with the Texas Rangers and was planning to be used sparingly, but an injury to Josh Hamilton put him in many more games than initially expected. In 82 games, he only hit .214, but he hit 17 home runs and registered 43 RBI for a perfectly average 100 OPS+.

After his single season in Texas in 2009, the Chicago White Sox came calling at Jones’ door before the 2010 season. He signed a one-year deal with them as well, and even though it wasn’t the same Andruw Jones everyone knew and loved, he showed up to training camp in shape and ready to roll. He played in the most games since 2007 (107) and smacked 19 home runs with 48 RBI with an OPS of .827 and an OPS+ of 120.

The final two seasons of Jones’ career were spent in The Bronx, signing a one-year deal initially and then re-signing for another season following the 2011 season. He was still a slightly above-average hitter for the Yankees (his most notable moment was likely smacking a home run over the left field wall in his first Yankees at-bat in 2011), and he played more than expected in 2012 due to an injury to then-center fielder Brett Gardner. His final single-season slashline of his major league career was .197/.294/.408 at 35-years-old.

Jones went and played baseball in Japan for two seasons before attempting to make a return to the majors in 2015 and 2016. However, after no team decided to take a flyer on the former elite center fielder, Jones retired from baseball. He has held a few high-profile positions in baseball, including, most recently, managing Team Netherlands for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. And after waiting for nine years on the ballot, Jones was finally elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, receiving 78.4 percent of the vote.

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MLB Home Run Predictions Today: Best HR Prop Bets, Picks, Parlay & Odds for Thursday, April 23

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Thirty-four hitters went deep yesterday, and I couldn't land one.

Today, on the small slate, I'm going square and hitting familiar names. No +1100 dingers with 200 points of expected value for me today. It's Thursday, and I'm just playing the MLB player prop hits.

The Phillies have a great backdrop with winds blowing out at Wrigley, and the Yankees can club a Triple-A call-up at Fenway.

These are my favorite home run props for Thursday, April 23.

Best MLB home run props today

Player to hit a HROdds
Phillies Bryce Harper+370
Yankees Ben Rice+520

Bryce Harper (+370)

Wrigley Field has to be on the HR card today, as it’s easily the best setting for a dinger.

Double-digit winds are blowing out to left field, which should aid hitters going that way, and Edward Cabrera is a fly-ball pitcher who has been lucky so far with zero homers allowed.

On the Philadelphia Phillies side, both Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper have gone deep vs. Cabrera, but I’ll take Harper at a 110-point discount. Adolis García (+410) also projects well, but I’m not getting cute — sticking with the top-end bats.

There are plenty of lefties in the Chicago Cubs bullpen, and Harper has been better vs. lefties this year. His 42% hard-hit rate leads Philly hitters, and I’m rolling with brand-name bats today.

  • Time: 2:20 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Marquee Sports Network, NBCSP

Ben Rice (+520)

The New York Yankees bats have a chance to do damage at Fenway Park today with Payton Tolle starting for the Boston Red Sox.

The lefty is filling in for an injured Sonny Gray, and if his prior MLB numbers are any indication, he’s likely to give up homers.

Tolle allowed five long balls over 16+ innings last year, and Boston could be leaning on its B-bullpen as a decent home dog.

When it comes to Yankees hitters, Ben Rice might not be the obvious top option, but it’s hard not to call him their best bat right now. He’s second on the team in homers and has four over the last seven days. He also leads the club in wRC+, wOBA, and WAR, while slugging .743.

He’s not just hot — he’s been one of the most productive hitters in baseball to start the season. At +520, he’s my favorite look in a strong home-run spot for New York.

  • Time: 6:10 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: NESN+, YES
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  • HR picks: 5-41, -10.4 units

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Mapping out a path for the Sixers to win the Celtics series

Boston, MA - April 21: Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey reacts after drawing a foul in the fourth quarter. The Boston Celtics played the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden in the first round of the NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

Does anyone actually think the Sixers are going to beat the Celtics in this first round series after their Game 2 win in Boston? It’s still a long shot and Philadelphia is still a heavy underdog despite having claimed home-court advantage with its resounding victory in Game 2 on Tuesday night. No one’s arguing with the oddsmakers either in this case. Boston is still undoubtedly the better team and perhaps the Celtics just had a bad night and will win the next three games. But, as of this writing, the Celtics have as many wins as the Sixers do in the series. So, we might as well try to come up with a path for Philly while we can, right?

We already got a VJ Edgecombe game on Tuesday night for the Sixers’ first win in the series. Here’s our best guess as to how the Sixers can stun the sports world and win three more games:

The Tyrese Maxey game

Just because it’s obvious, doesn’t mean it isn’t true. Maxey did have 29 points on Tuesday night, but it was a pretty inefficient 29 points on 11-of-28 shooting despite a good night from the three-point line and some clutch buckets down the stretch. I’m going to define a “Maxey game” as at least 40 points and at least six made three-pointers, two benchmarks he failed to hit on Tuesday night.

To be completely honest, Boston is probably pretty happy with the way it has defended Maxey two games into the series. Maxey’s +/- in Game 2 was a +6. That’s not bad for someone who plays as many minutes as Maxey does, but Philly was also a +8 on Tuesday night in the minutes Maxey didn’t play. The Sixers being slightly better without Maxey on the court is probably a bet Boston is willing to make moving forward. In other words, Maxey needs to find another level, however hard that might be for him to do.

The “role players got hot” game

If it feels like a pipedream that the role players of a seven seed could outplay the role players of a two seed, that’s because it probably is. But Philly needs at least one game where a few of its role players catch lightning in a bottle. The most obvious way for this to happen would be for a big shooting night from Kelly Oubre, Quentin Grimes, Paul George (yes, he’s more of a role player at this point), Andre Drummond or Justin Edwards.

Oubre and Grimes have been mainstays in Philadelphia’s rotation and both have shown the ability to score 20-30 points on certain nights. Could the Sixers get a game in which these two make a combined 10-12 three-pointers and finish with a combined 50 points between the two of them? It’s probably the most plausible path to a victory driven by players not named Edgecombe or Maxey.

As for George, the bulk of his positive contributions would probably have to come with defense on Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown. Maybe there’s a world in which George locks up one of Boston’s elite wings and the Sixers can grind out a 100-98 kind of victory. 

I’ll lump Drummond and Edwards in together as the final two role players that could really make a difference for Philly in this series. Edwards has played about 20 minutes a night off the bench for the Sixers in this series and certainly plays with a lot of effort and can score at all three levels on occasion. Drummond was two rebounds shy of a double-double on Tuesday night and knocked down another triple in the Game 2 victory. Maybe there’s a game in which Drummond can have 13 and 10 and Edwards can score 15 points in a variety of ways and make a more serious impact on the series.

There’s different ingredients to this kind of win, and Philly doesn’t need all of them to come together in order to steal a second win in this series, but could enough of them come to light on one night in order for the Sixers to get closer to the second round?

The Joel Embiid Game

OK, we’re saving the best for last. Spare me from all of the “The Sixers don’t even need Embiid anymore!” takes. Does more greatness from Edgecombe and Maxey mean more than winning the series in a lot of ways even though those two outcomes could be tied together? It certainly does and, yes, the future of the franchise being tied to the two guards is very important. Being able to move forward with such a foundation in place would be quite the narrative shift from where this franchise was one year ago. But why does that suddenly mean ditching Embiid at the same time?

Of course, Embiid’s contract is extremely expensive and even the biggest Embiid fans would probably understand getting off his contract in a future offseason if it is to happen. But what if there’s still a world in which Embiid can be dominant, and it just doesn’t happen every night? Suddenly that would be OK if Maxey and Edgecombe are driving the car most nights. All of a sudden Embiid could be a passenger! Heck, for years it felt like Embiid was driving his own car with no passengers aboard. Shouldn’t we all welcome a world in which Embiid can just show up and be his old self once or twice in a playoff series instead of it needing to happen every night for the Sixers to have a chance?

There are the obvious unknowns about where the big man is in his recovery from an appendectomy, but I don’t think we should be looking to sell every last penny of the Joel Embiid stock that we own either. This doesn’t have to be so black and white. For as long as Embiid is on the Sixers, let’s get behind him and hope for a night in which he can turn back the clock. If he can dress at all in this series and give us one vintage Embiid game, then maybe the Sixers do have a chance to do the unthinkable here. 

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Today in White Sox History: April 23

On this day 87 years ago, Marv Owen tied a White Sox and MLB mark during a rout of the St. Louis Browns.

1919
Perhaps the most talented White Sox team ever opened the season in St. Louis and destroyed the Browns, 13-4. The offense pounded out 21 hits, which remains tied for 40th-most ever by the White Sox in a game. Lefty Williams got the win, throwing a complete game.

Six months later, after winning the American League pennant, the ‘‘Black Sox’’ threw the series and lost to the Cincinnati Reds. Eight players would be banned the following year, including Williams, and the only franchise capable of stopping the emerging New York Yankees juggernaut was decimated. 

1939
Marv Owen rapped out four doubles in a 17-4 rout over the Browns, tying Mike Kreevich’s club record as well as the major league mark. Kreevich’s achievement had come two seasons earlier, on Sept. 4, 1937.

Owen led off for the White Sox in the win, going 4-for-6 and scoring four times — but with zero RBIs! Kreevich was also in the lineup for the game and had a big one, tripling and homering as part of a 2-for-5, four-RBI game. The Sox clubbed seven doubles and 11 XBH of their 19 hits in the game.

Sadly, though, this blowout performance was a rare highlight of 1939 for Owen, as he hit only five other doubles all season (slashing .237/.302/.284) and clocked in with a miserable -0.8 WAR for the season.

1949
White Sox lefthander Billy Pierce won his first major league game. Pierce threw almost four innings in relief of starter Al Gettel and got the decision in a 12-5 win over the Browns at Comiskey Park. 

Billy would win 186 games with the Sox, make the All-Star team seven times, throw four one-hitters and finish with 211 wins overall in his brilliant career.

1955
The White Sox collected 29 hits and hammered the Athletics, 29-6, at Kansas City. Every starter had at least one hit, including starting pitcher Jack Harshman.

The 29 runs were a major league record that stood until 2007, and remains tied with three other teams for second-most ever. The 23-run margin of victory remains the biggest in White Sox history, and the 29 runs and hits both remain team records.

The Sox hit seven home runs that night, which remains tied for the franchise-most in a game. Bob Nieman went 3-for-4 with two homers and seven RBIs. Sherm Lollar and Minnie Miñoso added five RBIs apiece. 

Perhaps most unique of all, with two hits in both the second and sixth innings, Lollar became the only player in MLB history with two hits in two separate innings of a single game.

1981
The White Sox erupted with 21 singles and 26 hits in an 18-5 doubleheader opener win. The Sox scored in every inning but the seventh and eighth, and put up seven-spots in the fourth and sixth. The top of the order (Bill Almon, Tony Bernazard, Carlton Fisk) went 10-for-17 with nine singles. Richard Dotson threw a complete-game win. The White Sox also took the nightcap, 5-3, improving to 7-3 on the season.

The 21 singles and 26 hits remain tied for the second-most in White Sox history. That hit and run total also were the most record in the American League during the 1981 season.

One oddity, this doubleheader was supposed to be on an off-day, but games earlier in the series postponed due to cold and snow forced this busy day.

1990
It was an unusual event, even for an exhibition game. Utility player Steve Lyons played all nine positions for the White Sox during the annual “Crosstown Classic” game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Manager Jeff Torborg moved him all over the field during the contest, won by the Sox, 6-5. It was an incredibly exciting finish, as outfielder Dave Gallagher threw out the potential tying run at home plate to end the game.

1991
A silly citation, perhaps, but when Orioles hurler Dave Johnson hit Carlton Fisk with a pitch leading off the second inning of a 10-4 White Sox win, it was the first hit-by-pitch at new Sox Park.

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Takeaways: Penguins' Strong Start Goes Sideways As Flyers Take Commanding 3-0 Series Lead

For a brief time in Game 3 between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers, it seemed like the Penguins were finally starting to turn a corner. 

Earlier in the day, I published a piece about how the Penguins getting the first goal was vitally important, and they did manage to do that. Evgeni Malkin capitalized on the Penguins' first power play of the hockey game, and the Penguins were asserting their will for most of the opening frame.

But, just as the Flyers are known to do, they began to get under the skin of the Penguins. And it all went downhill from there. 

After some penalty shenanigans early in the second period, Philadelphia got to their game and scored three goals in the middle frame to guide them to an eventual 5-2 victory over Pittsburgh. The loss puts the Penguins in a 3-0 series hole, which is something that they have never recovered from in franchise history and something only four teams have ever come back from.

"You don't really have anything to lose," said goaltender Stuart Skinner, who stopped 24 of 28 Flyers' shots on goal. "We've got the bodies in here. We've got a resilient group. I can say that over and over again, but we've proven it, we've shown it. This is the group that can definitely come back from this deficit. I certainly believe that."

Once the penalty trouble began to occur - and the Penguins got rattled emotionally - they got away from what was working early on, and they find themselves in a very tough spot heading into Game 4, which is Saturday at 8:00 p.m. ET in Philadelphia. 

"It gives us the time to kind of do a bit more soul searching and figure it out," forward Bryan Rust said. "We don't get these opportunities very often to get in the playoffs and do something special. We've got to recognize that."

Again, the Penguins got on the board early in this one, which was, seemingly, a key element on the way to victory. The power play - which had been 0-for-7 coming into Game 3 in this series - converted when Malkin picked up a loose puck at the doorstep and stuffed it past Philly goaltender Dan Vladar to make it 1-0.

Then, in the closing seconds of the first period, Flyers' forward Garnet Hathaway caught Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby in the face with a high-stick prior to a setup for a faceoff, and Crosby fell to the ice. Hathaway was called for high-sticking, but Crosby was also called for embellishment, which led to a four-on-four that carried over to the second period. 

And that's where things fell apart. Four and a half minutes into the middle frame, a brawl broke out around the Penguins' own net front after Flyers' forward Travis Konecny clipped Rust in the face with an elbow. Rust took exception and took Konecny down to the ice, where he continued to throw punches. Multiple scourmishes happened in the peripheral, and there was a point where Rust stopped punching and Konecny attempted to take Rust down by kicking him with his skate blade. 

The situation took a while to sort out, and all 10 skaters ended up going to the box, with Rust getting the double-minor for roughing, which gave the Flyers a power play. Trevor Zegras converted on the ensuing man advantage to tie the game, which completely shifted the momentum.

Rasmus Ristolainen followed up less than four minutes later with a goal of his own that snuck under the right pad of Skinner to give the Flyers the lead. And just two minutes after that, Nick Seeler capitalized to make it 3-1.

GAME BLOG: Pittsburgh Penguins V. Philadelphia Flyers, Game 3GAME BLOG: Pittsburgh Penguins V. Philadelphia Flyers, Game 3Follow along with the THN - Pittsburgh Penguins' LIVE game blog for Round 1, Game 3 against the Philadelphia Flyers

There was some pushback by the Penguins in the third period, however. Erik Karlsson converted on a power play opportunity approaching the midway point of the third to make it 3-2, but shortly after that, Anthony Mantha sent a puck over the glass for a delay of game penalty. Noah Cates scored on the ensuing power play to make it 4-2, and Owen Tippett added the empty-netter near the end to send the Flyers home with the 5-2 victory. 

"An unfortunate penalty and a power play goal against - it hurts," Karlsson said. "Three games in, you can say that they're winning those battles. They're getting the calls with them. That's the way it is sometimes. It's up to us to realize that, hold our composure, and understand that fighting is not always an element that means you're tough. You can do other things as well.

"We haven't done a good enough job of that, in making sure that type of energy also benefits us. That's, obviously, something that we've learned the hard way now."

Young Penguins' Goaltender Recalled From AHL As Emergency Goalie Ahead Of Game 3Young Penguins' Goaltender Recalled From AHL As Emergency Goalie Ahead Of Game 3The Pittsburgh Penguins opted for the convenience factor again in the selection of their emergency goaltender for Game 3 in Philadelphia against the Flyers on Wednesday.

Three Takeaways

- It is absolutely true that the Penguins unravelled after the brawl at the beginning of the second period. Their lack of proper response cost them the game, and they got away from what was working well for them in the first period. 

I said that the Penguins scoring first would throw the Flyers out of structure a bit, and it did for a while. But even as the first period went on, they began to revert to some of the habits that were plaguing them in the first two games, and it came to a head in the second. 

So, no, they didn't play well enough to win this game regardless. That said, officiating did play a major role in this game, and the way the "brawl" was handled completely turned the momentum of the game. 

For starters, Crosby getting an embellishment penalty at the end of the first was questionable at best. It was the first such penalty of his 21-year career, and he was legitimately high-sticked in the face. I get that he went down the way he did, probably to make sure the referee saw it. 

But why are we calling embellishment on a legitimate high-stick and one that was completely unsuspecting on Crosby's part given the fact that he was setting up for a faceoff, not even involved in an active play? 

"We don't have a single embellishment all year. Sidney Crosby doesn't have an embellishment in 21 seasons," head coach Dan Muse said. "So, the stick's in his face. They take both of them. I disagree on that strongly."

Even that aside, though, it was nonsensical how the Penguins ended up shorthanded after the Rust-Konecny ordeal. Konecny committed two dangerous penalties on the play - first, the elbow, and then, the blatant kick/attempted slew foot, which is supposed to be a match penalty. Sure, Rust went a little overboard, too, as he punched Konecny while he was already down, but the fact that things weren't evened up at the very least is abhorrent. 

Not only that, taking every player who was on the ice and throwing them into the penalty box - even if they did nothing - was entirely for show by the officials and was not necessary at all.

"It kind of turned into a bit of a circus there," Crosby said. "Not sure why they decided to put five guys in the box on each end. But, yeah, I felt like that kind of changed the momentum. It took a long time."

I don't have a problem with the Penguins calling out the officials here. They blew both of those calls, and they also blew an embellishment call - clearly an even-up one - on Matvei Michkov later in the period. They weren't blaming their loss on the officiating. But acknowledging that those calls did matter and were very clearly the wrong ones is completely okay, and - in my opinion - should happen more with players and coaches. 

The NHL is the only sports league where the officiating and the game itself completely changes in the playoffs, for better or for worse. I'm not sure it would have made a difference in this game, but it certainly didn't help the Penguins. So, it's okay to acknowledge both poor officiating and a poor response by Pittsburgh in this case.

Key For Penguins In Rest Of Series Against Flyers May Be One Simple ThingKey For Penguins In Rest Of Series Against Flyers May Be One Simple ThingThe situation may look bleak for the Pittsburgh Penguins, as they trail their best-of-seven series to the Philadelphia Flyers, 2-0 - but there is one thing that could, potentially, make all the difference for them the rest of the way.

- This Flyers' team is a completely different one from the team that the Penguins played four times during the regular season, with the latest matchup a 4-3 shootout loss on Mar. 7.

During the regular season, the Penguins went 2-0-2 against them and outscored them 16-8, largely carrying play. In this series, the Penguins have been chasing nearly the entire time, and head coach Rick Tocchet and the Flyers have perfected their game plan. 

The Penguins are a good hockey team. This series doesn't change that or diminish what they accomplished this season, regardless of what happens. But the biggest difference between these two teams is that Philadelphia is adaptable, and the Penguins haven't been. 

The Flyers trail for the first time in the series and can't simply just keep full-blown deploying their neutral zone trap because they have to generate offense, so they switch to Plan B, which was clearly to get under the skin of the Penguins' best players. I'm not saying Hathaway's high-stick was intentional, but I'm not going to say it wasn't, either. Once they got the emotional response they wanted from the Penguins, they evened things back up, and they were able to revert to the same neutral zone antics that had been frustrating the Penguins all series long.

The issue with the Penguins is that they struggle to adapt when the game calls for it. If they're not generating offense with regularity and putting pucks in the net, they tend to overthink and force too many plays, resulting in turnovers and exposing Skinner.

What the Flyers have done is impressive, and it goes back to their coaching. This is a legitimately good hockey team, too. 

Flyers, Veterans Put Penguins in 3-0 Chokehold with Savvy PerformanceFlyers, Veterans Put Penguins in 3-0 Chokehold with Savvy PerformanceThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> are just one win away from sending the arch-rival Pittsburgh Penguins packing from the Stanley Cup playoffs, and they were led by a unit nobody expected to carry the load.

- Heading into Game 4, I'm not even sure there are too many adjustments lineup-wise that would benefit the Penguins enough to help them climb back into this series. 

However, there are some adjustments that need to be made regardless.

For one, I did not like the Justin Brazeau-Elmer Soderblom swap. I do think Brazeau deserved a chance at the lineup, but Soderblom had been one of their better players in this series. I would have considered swapping out Connor Dewar instead, but Dewar played a decent game, so I would go back to Soderblom over Brazeau. 

Anthony Mantha has been one of the players struggling most in this series, and that penalty was the nail in the coffin for the Penguins. You just can't take that delay of game penalty in that situation, especially with the Penguins pushing hard. He isn't doing much at all to generate, he's making a lot of bad decisions with the puck, and he shouldn't be in the top-six right now in place of Egor Chinakhov, who was deployed on the third line. 

And, finally, about Chinakhov: It has been said on here multiple times over that Chinakhov should be on the first power play unit and out for every six-on-five situation. Yet, he's still not out for either. 

The Penguins are passing up far too many opportunities to shoot the puck in this series. Chinakhov, like everyone else, has been missing the net a whole lot, but he and Rickard Rakell are the only true shoot-first players in this lineup. And they also have the two best shots on the team, with Rakell being a distant second to Chinakhov, who has one of the league's best shots, period. 

It's utter malpractice to not deploy a weapon like that in those situations - especially during six-on-five, when a goal is necessary. It's not as if Chinakhov isn't responsible defensively. He's capable of covering high for Karlsson and Malkin when they pinch. And, again, he will get pucks to the net with shots that approach 90 mph regularly. 

Muse hasn't missed a ton as far as coaching decisions and deployment this season, all things considered for a rookie head coach. But this is one that completely baffles me, especially if you're in the position of trying to convince Chinakhov to want to remain in Pittsburgh as a pending-RFA and when your best pure goal-scorer is on the bench in situations where you literally need goals. 

The Penguins need to show trust and belief in a player like this. The team is also just much better off with him out there in "must score" situations. So, his lack of deployment in those two situations needs to change in Game 4 and moving forward.

'We're Going To Get It Right Overwhelmingly': NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman Talks Goaltender Interference Ahead Of Penguins-Flyers Game 2'We're Going To Get It Right Overwhelmingly': NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman Talks Goaltender Interference Ahead Of Penguins-Flyers Game 2NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman took to the podium ahead of Game 2 between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers and spent a good chunk of time talking about the goaltender inteference controversy, reiterating that the league gets the calls right "overwhelmingly."

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Where to watch New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Thursday, April 23

The New York Yankees, ranked first in the AL East with a 15-9 record, face the Boston Red Sox, who are fifth in the AL East with a 9-15 record. The New York Yankees are favored with a -150 moneyline compared to the Boston Red Sox's +125. Starting pitchers are Cam Schlittler for New York and Payton Tolle for Boston.

  • New York Yankees: 15-9 (first in AL East)

  • Boston Red Sox: 9-15 (fifth in AL East)

  • Spread: New York Yankees -1.5

  • Moneyline: Boston Red Sox +125 / New York Yankees -150

  • Over/Under: 8

New York Yankees: Cam Schlittler (2026 stats: 2-1, ERA: 1.95, K: 36, WHIP: 0.76)

Boston Red Sox: Payton Tolle (2025 stats: 0-1, ERA: 6.06, K: 19, WHIP: 1.59)

Series: Game 3 of 3

Weather: 60°F at first pitch

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It's Time To Introduce Kuzmenko To The Kings' Lineup For Game 3 Against Avalanche

The Los Angeles Kings are behind as the Colorado Avalanche holds a 2-0 series lead in the first round of these Stanley Cup Playoffs.

While the Kings have been right there with the Presidents' Trophy winners and star-studded Avs, they can't find a way to win. And in the post-season, that's all that matters.

With that in mind, it may be time for coach D.J. Smith and the Kings to make a change to the lineup.

Los Angeles has put on a defensive clinic against Colorado, limiting superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas to one point each, and defenseman Cale Makar is still looking for his first point of the series. 

Both games finished with a 2-1 score, with Game 2 requiring overtime. 

Though the Kings have been exceptional at keeping the puck out of the net, thanks to team defense and spectacular performances from goaltender Anton Forsberg, they've struggled to create offense.

Kings' star left winger Artemi Panarin has the only goals for Los Angeles this season, with both of them coming on the power play. That means the Kings are still looking for their first goal at 5-on-5, while all of the Avs' goals have come at even strength.

It certainly isn't for a lack of trying, as center Quinton Byfield had a load of quality scoring chances in Game 2 in what was a wild contest.

'No Bicycles On The Highway': Why Game 2 Of The Kings And Avs Was The Wildest Of The Playoffs'No Bicycles On The Highway': Why Game 2 Of The Kings And Avs Was The Wildest Of The PlayoffsTo say Game 2 between the Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche was thrilling or dramatic would be an understatement. Here's what went down on Tuesday night in what was the wildest Stanley Cup playoff game of the year so far.

However, Los Angeles may need to make an alteration in the lineup to change the trajectory of this series. That's when the offense-minded Andrei Kuzmenko comes in.

The Kings have missed his creativity in the offensive zone. And while Kuzmenko drawing into the lineup could swap out someone who has contributed to the team's defense in Games 1 and 2, the truth is, Los Angeles lost both games playing that way.

Kings’ Defensive Gem Wasted As Avalanche Steal Game 2 In OvertimeKings’ Defensive Gem Wasted As Avalanche Steal Game 2 In OvertimeIn a game where their defense did everything right, the Kings’ inability to capitalize on prime scoring chances proved costly, wasting a chance to steal momentum in Denver.

At least introducing Kuzmenko to these playoffs would give the team another dimension and bring them closer to scoring at least one more goal, which is all they needed in Game 2 to tie the series.

Kuzmenko missed over a month of action to end the regular season. He played his last game of the campaign on Feb. 25 before being diagnosed with a knee injury that ended his regular season.

However, the 30-year-old left winger was activated from injured reserve and has been travelling with the team since the post-season began. Therefore, Kuzmenko is available for the Kings if they want to turn to his offensive abilities, and that should really be considered for Game 3 in Los Angeles.

REPORT: Kuzmenko Available For Kings, Will Travel With Team REPORT: Kuzmenko Available For Kings, Will Travel With Team Andre Kuzmenko has been out for over a month and a half due to tearing his meniscus and is now cleared to travel with the team for the upcoming playoff game against the Avalanche.

The Russian has scored 13 goals and 25 points in 52 games this past regular season, and led the Kings in power-play goals with eight.

Also, his playoff campaign last year should catch the attention of the Los Angeles coaching staff, as he recorded a point per game. Against the Edmonton Oilers in last year's first round of the playoffs, Kuzmenko registered three goals and six points in six games.

Playoff series are short, and there won't be much time before a decision like introducing Kuzmenko to the post-season becomes too late.

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Serwinowski is superb in Drillers win

SPRINGFIELD, MO - APRIL 09: Adam Serwinowski #27 of the Tulsa Drillers pitches during the game between the Tulsa Drillers and the Springfield Cardinals at Hammons Field on Thursday, April 9, 2026 in Springfield, Missouri. (Photo by Shanna Stafford/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)

It was an action-packed day in the Dodgers minor league system, with an extra game as the Tulsa Drillers played a doubleheader against Frisco. Blake Snell made a rehab outing and took the loss as Ontario faced San Jose.

Player of the day

For nearly five whole innings, Charles Serwinowski was absolutely flawless against the Roughriders, delivering his finest outing of the year. The left-hander kept the ball in the ground, allowing just two flyouts, and quite often, the RoughRiders didn’t even put the ball in play, striking out eight times and walking none.

Overall, in what turned out to be only a seven-inning affair as the Drillers won comfortably 7-0, nearly half of their outs came by way of the strikeout, with Kelvin Ramirez coming on in the seventh. Serwinowski left the game with a little over 80 pitches, earning his first win of 2026.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

Guess who’s hot again? None other than James Tibbs III, who was one of the protagonists of a high-scoring win for the Comets over the Rainiers. The cleanup hitter, Tibbs III, was responsible for the Comets’ only homer of the game in this 9-7 victory, smashing a three-run shot in the third.

It was a lousy day for pitchers on both sides, with the two offenses combining for 19 walks and only 10 strikeouts. Still, under that context, one is encouraged by the fact that Christian Romero allowed just a pair of runs in his five innings of work, another minor leaguer who earned his first win of 2026.

Leadoff hitter Ryan Fitzgerald also had a fine showing, reaching base in three of his five plate appearances with a couple of knocks and a walk. Fitzgerald is now up to a .373 batting average this season.

Double-A Tulsa

Tulsa hammered Frisco on both legs of this doubleheader, winning by a combined score of 17-6. The first of these games was a quick one, which we already touched on in the Player of the Day section—the RoughRiders had no shot against a dominant Serwinowski, and the five runs were more than plenty from the Drillers’ offense, whose only extra-base hit came from their ninth hitter, Sean McClain, a triple by the way. Josue De Paula was their most prolific hitter, going three for four with a run and one RBI.

The 12-6 score might indicate smooth sailing for the second win, but it was the opposite. Trailing 6-1 by the fourth inning, the Drillers had to mount quite the comeback, overcoming a forgetful effort from starter Roque Gutierrez.

Much like it was the case in game 1 of this doubleheader, the Drillers did all of their scoring without the benefit of long balls. Catcher Nelson Quiroz, who came in for the second of these games, earned four hits in five plate appearances, the most in this game. Scoring half of their 12 runs in an eighth-inning rally to take a commanding lead, the Drillers had a great game with runners in scoring position (6-18).

The bullpen also deserves congratulations for shutting the door on the RoughRiders, covering six scoreless frames after the initial blowup. The veteran Nick Robertson, who covered two of those innings, earned the win, and is now 3-0 on the season.

High-A Great Lakes

The Loons won 9-5, but what to make of a game in which your starter allows seven walks in just 3.1 innings? Well, that’s what happened with the Loons against the Sky Carp, as Jakob Wright seemed to battle himself more than anything else—considering he only allowed one hit and a pair of runs—keeping the Sky Carp from capitalizing on what could’ve been a truly disastrous outing.

Action on the basepaths was behind this win for the Loons, with just second baseman Nico Perez stealing a whopping four bases in the game, finishing 2 for 3 but reaching base four times, also with a pair of walks. Overall, the Loons were outstanding on the basepaths, stealing six bags and not getting caught once.

Responsible for the Loons’ only home run of the evening, designated hitter Mike Sirota reached base safely five times, going three for four and also earning a pair of walks.

Class-A Ontario

The 4-2 defeat by the Tower Buzzers takes a backseat to Blake Snell’s rehab appearances in San Jose, with the left-hander laboring through 32 pitches in what turned out to be just one inning of work since he didn’t retire any hitters in the second before leaving the game.

Outhit 10-4 in a matchup marked by defensive errors on both sides—seven of them total—the Tower Buzzers didn’t score until the eighth inning, and they did so in the most discouraging way if you’re seeking a comeback, on a couple of outs, a sac fly, and a ground out.

Wednesday’s scores

  • Oklahoma City 9, Tacoma 7
  • Frisco 0, Tulsa 5
  • Frisco 6, Tulsa 12
  • Beloit 5, Great Lakes 9
  • San Jose 4, Ontario 2

Thursday’s schedule

  • 9:05 a.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Logan Allen) vs. Tacoma (Randy Dobnak)
  • 4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Sean Patick) at Beloit (TBD)
  • 4:35 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Patrick Copen) at Frisco (Winston Santos)
  • 6:00 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) at San Jose (TBD)
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Where to watch Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Thursday, April 23

The Los Angeles Dodgers, tied for first in the NL West with a 16-8 record, face the San Francisco Giants, who are fourth in the NL West with an 11-13 record. The Los Angeles Dodgers are favored with a -160 moneyline compared to the San Francisco Giants' +135. Starting pitchers are Tyler Glasnow for the Dodgers, with a 3.24 ERA, and Logan Webb for the Giants, with a 5.10 ERA.

  • Date: Thursday, April 23

  • Time: 3:45 p.m. ET / 12:45 p.m. PT

  • Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA

  • TV Channels: NBCS BA, SportsNet LA

  • Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports

  • Los Angeles Dodgers: 16-8 (tied for first in NL West)

  • San Francisco Giants: 11-13 (fourth in NL West)

  • Spread: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5

  • Moneyline: San Francisco Giants +135 (40.9%) / Los Angeles Dodgers -160 (59.1%)

  • Over/Under: 7.5

Los Angeles Dodgers: Tyler Glasnow (2-0, ERA: 3.24, K: 29, WHIP: 0.84)

San Francisco Giants: Logan Webb (2-2, ERA: 5.10, K: 27, WHIP: 1.40)

Weather: 63°F at first pitch

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Shohei Ohtani, intermittent ERA leader

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 22: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after he struck out Casey Schmitt #10 of the San Francisco Giants to end the sixth inning with runners on second and third base at Oracle Park on April 22, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Shohei Ohtani struck out seven in six scoreless innings on Wednesday night against the San Francisco Giants, continuing his strong pitching start to 2026. He’s gone exactly six innings in each of his four starts and has only allowed two runs, one of them earned.

That gives Ohtani a minuscule 0.38 ERA so far this season, currently atop the National League. He doesn’t lead the majors because Angels right-hander José Soriano has been even more stingy, allowing only one run in 37 2/3 innings for a 0.24 ERA.

Ohtani will be on the leaderboard for one day, until Thursday when the Dodgers play their 25th game. Ohtani has 24 innings, and pitchers need at least one inning per team game played to qualify. He has been atop the NL in ERA after each one of his starts, continuing his league leading on an intermittent basis.

Ohtani pitched six scoreless innings on March 31 against the Cleveland Guardians, in the Dodgers’ fifth game of the season. His 0.00 ERA was tied with 17 other qualified National League pitchers at that point.

The Dodgers played their sixth game of the season on April 1, but didn’t play their seventh game until April 3, so Ohtani had two more days still with enough innings to qualify. At the end of the day on April 1, Ohtani was one of eight qualified NL pitchers with a 0.00 ERA, a group that trimmed down to six pitchers on April 2.

Ohtani made his second start on April 8 in Toronto, and pitched six more innings to give him 12 innings through the Dodgers’ 12 games to that point. He allowed one run that night to the Blue Jays but it was unearned, keeping his ERA at 0.00. Through April 12, Ohtani was tied with Eduardo Rodríguez of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Bryce Elder of the Atlanta Braves for the league lead.

The Dodgers were off on April 13, giving Ohtani one more day on the leaderboard, and through that day it was just him and Elder at the top with a 0.00 ERA.

The Dodgers using a six-man rotation meant Ohtani didn’t pitch again until April 15, the team’s 18th game of the season. He pitched exactly six innings again, giving him 18 innings and one more day of qualifying. The New York Mets scored a run off Ohtani, who also struck out 10 that night in the win and led the NL by himself with a 0.50 ERA. A Dodgers off day on April 16 meant another day for Ohtani atop the NL ERA heap.

On Wednesday against the Giants, Ohtani’s six scoreless innings gave him 24 innings through 24 Dodgers games, and one more day atop the NL.

Ohtani will fall off the pitching leaderboard on Thursday, when the Dodgers play their 25th game, and will likely continue most of the season. That’s the nature of being a two-way player and in a six-man rotation. It’s going to be hard for Ohtani to get to 162 innings on the season. In his three best pitching seasons with the Angels (2021-23), Ohtani pitched 130 1/3 innings, 166 innings, and 132 innings. He finished fourth in American League Cy Young Award voting in 2022, the one year he qualified for pitching leaderboards.

Here are the dates Ohtani has led the NL in ERA to date in 2026:

  • March 31: 0.00 ERA (tied with 17 others)
  • April 1: 0.00 ERA (tied with 7 others)
  • April 2: 0.00 ERA (tied with 5 others)
  • April 8: 0.00 ERA (tied with 2 others)
  • April 9: 0.00 ERA (tied with Bryce Elder)
  • April 15: 0.50 ERA
  • April 16: 0.50 ERA
  • April 22: 0.38 ERA
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Drake Baldwin back behind plate for Braves’ series finale at Nationals

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 17: Drake Baldwin #30 of the Atlanta Braves looks on during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 17, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After a two-day hiatus as a designated hitter, Drake Baldwin is back behind the plate and catching the Braves’ series finale at Washington Thursday afternoon.

No doubt it’s smart to sneak in some days off and this stretch of 10 games in as many days certainly takes a toll. But it’s good for the Braves to have Baldwin behind the dish once more as it paves the path for Dominic Smith’s return to the lineup and designated hitter role on Thursday.

Smith, after playing in nine of 10 games earlier this month, has been on the bench in each of the last two. He’s hitting seventh Thursday and will look to continue to add to his gaudy RBIs rate of 17 in 18 games this season.

Michael Harris II remains in the sixth hole for the second straight night after homering twice on Wednesday, and Mike Yastrzemski is all the way down to the nine spot in the order as he looks to break out of his extended slump to begin his Braves tenure.

Yastrzemski is one of only two current Braves who has faced Washington starter Cade Cavalli. He’s 0-for-3 against him with a strikeout. Bench player Kyle Farmer is the other and has had more success, going 2-for-3 with a double against Cavalli, who will be making his first start against Atlanta.

The Nationals shuffled some players and the batting order from Wednesday’s lineup. DH José Tena (0-for-8 with four strikeouts in this series) was moved up from the eighth spot in the lineup to third. Third baseman Brady House is getting an off day, replaced by Jorbit Vivas, who moves over from second base and will hit eighth. Nasim Nuñez (.181 average but 10 stolen bases in 22 games this season) is filling in at second base and hitting seventh.

Considering 22-year-old right-hander JR Ritchie is making his major league debut on the mound for the Braves, no one in the Nationals lineup has ever faced him before at this level. The lineup presents a tougher task for Ritchie that one would think based on recent production in this series.

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What are the possible changes the Phillies could make right now?

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 21: Adolis García #53 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on prior to the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by George Gaza/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The times, they are bad.

The vibes, they are also bad.

Pretty much everything associated with the Phillies right now is bad. Nothing is going right and the product on the field is approaching (if it hasn’t already reached) unwatchable. Change has been demanded by many that follow the team, but realistically, what can they do? What are some of the change

Firing a member of the coaching staff/manager

The one that many seem to want now is for the manager to be fired. Rob Thomson’s seeming complacency with all that is happening around him makes those on the outside feel as though he doesn’t care or is implicit in the team’s demise. To an extent, there is truth there. He has made some baffling decisions in his tenure, but so does any other manager. Ask the Dodgers fanbase what they thought of Dave Roberts prior to their opening up the checkbook even wider and started winning World Series titles.

However, Dave Dombrowski has already come out and said that firing Thomson is not going to happen. That makes sense since a lot of this early season struggle is on the players’ heads instead of the manager’s.

Now, firing a coach, particularly a hitting coach? That is something that may have to be considered. The team’s offense is the largest target of ire and has been for some time (even though they usually are in the top half of the league in runs scored). Yet this stretch that is currently happening, there are many players that just seem broken beyond repair, even for a coach as good as Kevin Long. Maybe a new voice should be heard in the batting cages under the stadium.

Release a player

Maybe the group needs a shakeup.

Maybe they need to see that no one is safe.

Maybe they need to see that when the performance doesn’t match the expectation level given, a change needs to be made.

Now, realistically, we know that a lot of the players will not be straight up released. The dead salary and importance to the roster construction as it currently is means they are sticking around no matter what.

But what exactly is going to happen with Taijuan Walker? Once Zack Wheeler returns, what purpose does he serve? Sure, he could be a long reliever in the bullpen, but wouldn’t simply rotating that roster spot be a better usage of it than whatever it is that Walker is giving them right now? They saw that in Nick Castellanos and did away with his tenure (even though these are way different circumstances outside of the actual performance on field). Does it solve all the problems the team has? No, but maybe simply showing anyone that might be frustrated within the clubhouse that the front office actually cares may be enough. [UPDATE: they did!]

Alter the batting order

Wednesday night’s lineup, where Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner swapped spots was at least a “try something different” moment. Using Felix Reyes as a cleanup hitter is at least something they can try as well.

The lineup hasn’t been good enough that anyone on the team should be considered locked into a spot right now, so maybe a bit more experimentation needs to happen.

Make a permanent lineup change

Alec Bohm needs to be moved out of the lineup at this point. Regardless of what his outside issues are right now, he is unplayable in his current state. For a team that considers itself one able to chase down a World Series trophy, they have dug themselves such a hole that getting out of it is going to mean riding some hot hands whenever they arrive and moving out cold hands if a better option is available. For example, if Harper runs cold, there really isn’t anyone else that can do his job. But with Bohm, they at least have Edmundo Sosa willing and able to play the position and hit in the lineup.

That change should have already happened.

It could be a permanent thing for only a week, giving Bohm time to get his head straight before he returns. It could be something they leave until Sosa himself runs ice cold, something he has been prone to do in the past.

For a team that has lost eight games in a row, it’s something that needs to happen.

Promotion from the minor leagues

Seriously though, who else is left? Is there anyone else at Lehigh Valley that can come up and do a better job? Judging from some of the reports we’ve seen, Reyes was probably the best option and they pulled that lever. Had Aidan Miller been healthy and productive, we might have seen that happen by now, but he’s not.

For better or worse, they’re stuck.

What we’re seeing now is a roster that is ice cold and incredibly unlucky at the moment. That combination usually leads to bad results and it has to the tune of an eight-game losing streak that really doesn’t look like it will end any time soon.

But what else can they actually do that they haven’t already done?

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Padres drop Game 2 as offensive slump starts to show

DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 22: Hunter Goodman #15 of the Colorado Rockies circles the bases after hitting a solo home run against the San Diego Padres in the eighth inning at Coors Field on April 22, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Yesterday was a tough day for the Friar Faithful.

The San Diego Padres broke up a three-game win streak, falling 8-3 to the Colorado Rockies. They’ll now play their second consecutive rubber match today hoping for a series victory.

The problem lately has been scoring runs, and that problem finally reared its ugly head when the Padres’ pitching faltered for the first time in the last three games. It hadn’t been an issue until now.

The Friars managed to barely scratch seven runs across the board before yesterday. But it hadn’t mattered because they limited opponents to two runs in that same time span.

That was not the case on Wednesday night. Walker Buehler gave up four runs in only 2 2/3 innings, and none of the San Diego relievers pitched a scoreless outing.

The one shining star of the night was Luis Campusano. He went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run, notching the only extra-base hits the Friars had on Wednesday’s game.

It’s easy to look at an offensive dry spell like this and fear the worst but, remember, it wasn’t long ago the Padres had an even worse time scoring runs than they do now. And that ended with an eight-game win streak and the second-best record in baseball.

Taking the mound

Ryan Feltner (COL) v. Matt Waldron (SD)

Feltner has had a rough start to 2026. He’s pitched to a 6.00 ERA across 18 innings and his last outing against the Friars didn’t exactly go well.

In the Padres’ 9-5 win over Colorado two weeks ago, Feltner surrendered six runs. He was chased from the game after only four innings and earned the loss after giving up seven hits (two homers) and three walks to the Friars.

He’ll have to look a whole lot better to beat San Diego this time. Padres hitters have a combined .342 batting average 12 RBI against the right-hander.

With San Diego looking to take the rubber match over the Rox today, they’ll need Waldron to look a lot better than he did last week against the Los Angeles Angels. He gave up six runs that night in only 3 2/3 innings pitched.

The good news? Waldron’s knuckleball should work fantastically in the high-altitude environs of Coors Field. Key word: should. If his knuckleball isn’t on point, then Rockies hitters will have a fun time running up the score today.

Batter up!

With everyone hitting pretty good versus Feltner, the starters will likely be in for San Diego. Nick Castellanos (in spite of his defensive miscues at first base yesterday) could start in the DH spot with a career .333 BA (12 AB) against Feltner. But Miguel Andujar (.600 BA, 1.600 OPS) could start there as well.

The rest of the lineup feels pretty solidified:

  1. Ramón Laureano, LF
  2. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
  3. Jackson Merrill, CF
  4. Manny Machado, 3B
  5. Xander Bogaerts, SS
  6. Miguel Andujar, DH
  7. Gavin Sheets, 1B
  8. Luis Campusano, C
  9. Jake Cronenworth, 2B

It’s possible manager Craig Stammen gives one of his top five a day off, possibly slotting in Bryce Johnson in somewhere for one of the starting outfielders (maybe Merrill?). But apart from that, the lineup feels pretty set.

Campusano could potentially get the start over Freddy Fermin despite starting yesterday’s game. He had a great offensive showing in yesterday and has the better career numbers against Feltner. That being said, Stammen could still tab Fermin to maintain an even balance between the two backstops.

Relief corps

Like I said, none of the Padres’ relievers exited Wednesday night unscathed. Kyle Hart, David Morgan and Wandy Peralta combined to allow four runs across 5 1/3 innings. The only good thing about that? There’s plenty of high-leverage options available out of the ‘pen.

Jason Adam, Ron Marinaccio, Adrian Morejon, Bradgley Rodriguez and closer Mason Miller will all be on call for today’s series finale. Marinaccio or Rodriguez will likely be out first, as both are able to cover multiple innings.

Adam and Morejon can cover multiple innings as well, but the Padres have shown a preference for using them as specialty instruments as opposed to blunt-force tools.

Miller is one inning away from tying the franchise record for scoreless innings set by Cla Meredith (33 2/3 IP). He could very well accomplish that feat today. If the Friars have a lead in the ninth, he’ll be the only one heading to the mound.

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Astros Prospect Report: April 22nd

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX - JULY 25: Bryce Mayer #6 of the Corpus Christi Hooks delivers a pitch during the game between the Amarillo Sod Poodles and the Corpus Christi Hooks at Whataburger Field on Friday, July 25, 2025 in Corpus Christi, Texas. (Photo by Vanessa Buentello/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)

Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (12-8) POSTPONED
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (10-7) won 12-1 (BOX SCORE)

The Hooks got on the board first thanks to a Ferreras 2 run HR in the 4th inning. Mayer got the start for the Hooks and pitched well allowing 1 run over 4.1 innings while striking out 8. The Hooks added on getting 2 runs in the 7th on a Baez 2 run double and 2 runs in the 8th on a Guillemette single. The pen was great tossing 4.2 scoreless innings as they closed out the win.

Note: Ferreras has 3 HR, 12 RBI in 15 games this season.

A+: Asheville Tourists (4-13) lost 11-10 (BOX SCORE)

Asheville jumped out to an early lead getting a Frey RBI single in the first, Powell RBI groundout in the second and Holy RBI groundout in the third. In the 4th, the offense added 2 more on Nunez and Frey groundouts. Santos got the start for Asheville and pitched well allowing 2 runs over 5.1 innings. Asheville would get 2 more in the 7th on an error and Rosario single and then 2 more in the 8th on a Call 2 run triple. Serrano pitched in relief but struggled allowing 7 runs, including 5 in the 9th as the Drive tied it. The game went to extra innings and the Drive scored two in the top of the 10th. Asheville got one back in the bottom but that was it as they fell 11-10.

Note: Thomas has a .992 OPS this season.

A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (5-12) won 12-8 (BOX SCORE)

The Woodpeckers got on the board in the first inning on a Neyens RBI single and Huezo sac fly. In the 2nd inning, Cauro added a 2 run home run. The offense rallied for three more runs in the third on a Flores RBI double and Diaz 2 run home run. Potter got the start and went 3 innings allowing 1 run. He was relieved by Oakes who allowed 3 runs over 3.1 innings. The offense blew it open scoring 5 runs on a Sierra RBI single, Alvarez RBI triple, Neyens RBI single, Monistere RBI triple and Huezo RBI single. Baez allowed 4 runs in relief but the pen held on for the 12-8 win.

Note: Diaz has a .967 OPS this season.

Today’s minor league starters:

SL: Jason Alexander – 5:05 CT

CC: James Hicks – 6:35 CT

AV: TBD – 5:35 CT

FV: TBD – 5:35 CT