The one thing that people can be proud of is that the Columbus Blue Jackets always put fans in the stands. We can argue about whether or not they deserve it, but that's an argument for another day.
Let's take a look at the attendance numbers for this past season.
Total Nationwide Arena Capacity: 18,500 - 14th highest in the NHL.
Total Fans For Season: 691,996 total fans came out to games - 24th in the NHL.
Average Attendance: 16,878 - 26th in the NHL.
Capacity % - 91.2% - 30th in the NHL
Sellouts - 16 - Most since the 2003-04 season (16).
Home Record - 20-13-8
Per NHL PR, the National Hockey League set a total attendance record for the 4th straight year, with a total of 23,158,522 fans passing through NHL doors. NHL teams played in front of an average of 17,651 fans, which comes out to 97.5% capacity.
Despite the CBJ not making the playoffs for the 6th straight year, attendance remains strong. Some fans see that as a bad thing and would like attendance to drop to get the owner's attention, whiles most choose to support the team no matter what.
No matter where you sit on the issue, there is no right or wrong answer. Support the team how you'd like, but more fans in seats means more money to spend on free agents and young future stars like Adam Fantilli, Denton Mateychuk, and Jet Greaves.
The fans of the Columbus Blue Jackets are loyal, loud, and love showing up at Nationwide Arena to watch their team play NHL Hockey.
With the excitement of the CBJ re-signing Head Coach Rick Bowness to a one-year contract, many fans said they'd come out to support the team next year, even after the epic collapse that cost them the playoffs. It's hard to imagine fans being excited about a head coach, but here we are.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft Lottery on May 5, 2025, where the CBJ will most likely pick 14 or 15.
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DENVER, CO - AUGUST 15: Second baseman Tyler Freeman #2 of the Colorado Rockies flips the baseball to first with his glove but is unable to get the runner in the fourth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on August 15, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Rockies love versatility.
They collect it. They prioritize it. They build around it — players who can move, adjust, and fill gaps across the roster.
Under the current front office, that emphasis has been explicit.
In theory, it works. But, like any philosophy, it only works if you know when to stop applying it.
The Rockies didn’t invent the experiment — but they’ve kept it going
Freeman wasn’t developed as a utility player.
In the minors, he was overwhelmingly an infielder — developed at shortstop with the expectation he’d eventually slide to second base as his long-term home.
Cleveland began expanding that role late, even moving him into center field in 2024 and asking him to learn a new position on the fly. By the time Colorado acquired him, the flexibility was already part of his profile.
The Rockies didn’t create that version of Freeman. They chose to keep going.
The Rockies saw a problem — and chose more flexibility
In 2025, Freeman hit .281, posted a .354 OBP, and still finished with negative bWAR
Because, as Joelle Milholm wrote here on the Row — he “raked at the plate, tanked in the field.”
The Rockies have a real reason to hesitate here. Freeman struggled defensively across positions, including second base.
And in 2026, they’ve already leaned on players like Willi Castro and Edouard Julien to cover those innings. That approach isn’t irrational, but the response has been more movement for Freeman.
And defense, especially in the infield, is built on repetition.
Freeman hasn’t gotten that.
The profile has never really changed
For years, the reports have been consistent:
Elite bat-to-ball skill
Advanced feel for contact
Modest but developing gap power
A likely defensive home at second base
Statcast tells a similar story now:
This isn’t a star profile. But it is: An everyday, contact-oriented profile the Rockies haven’t fully defined
So what’s missing?
The last step.
Freeman makes contact as well as almost anyone. But he hasn’t consistently turned that into damage.
And development like that doesn’t happen in abstraction — it happens in routine.
It’s the same glove. The same angles. The same pre-pitch rhythm. The feel of the dirt under your cleats, every inning.
Freeman hasn’t had that.
Instead, it’s been different gloves, different sightlines, different responsibilities. One night he’s reading hops on the infield dirt, the next he’s standing in the outfield grass, waiting instead of reacting.
That instability matters — even if the exact effects are hard to isolate.
Sports psychology research consistently shows that role clarity can influence confidence, decision-making, and perceived effectiveness. Baseball-specific evidence is more limited, but the general principle holds: players tend to perform best when expectations are stable.
And when things aren’t stable, hitters often get more conservative.
They shorten up. They put the ball in play. They avoid risk.
So a player with developing pop can become: a contact hitter who never fully taps into it
That’s not proven cause and effect, but it’s a pattern worth considering.
What happens if they choose a lane?
Make Freeman the everyday second baseman.
Not because it’s guaranteed to work, but because it hasn’t really been given a chance to.
Once that decision is made, the rest of the roster starts to organize itself.
Ryan Ritter isn’t part of the current roster, but that actually reinforces the point. His path isn’t as a primary second baseman — it’s as a true super-utility player. When he’s up, his value comes from moving between the infield and outfield, not competing for a single position. Castro already fills a version of that role at the major-league level, rotating through shortstop, second, and third base in a way that makes the roster more flexible without blurring development.
The real redundancy is elsewhere.
Freeman and Julien share a similar offensive identity — contact-driven, bat-first players whose value comes from what they do at the plate. Both have been moved around defensively. Both have below-average defensive track records. But they’re not interchangeable.
Freeman brings more athleticism. He was developed as an infielder. His profile — contact, speed, and just enough developing pop (maybe) — fits more cleanly at second base if given the chance to settle there.
Julien’s path is narrower. His value likely comes as a bat-first option moving between second, first, and DH. And if that role overlaps too heavily with Freeman’s, the Rockies eventually have to decide whether carrying both actually creates value — or just duplicates it.
Just as importantly, the outfield stops being a catch-all.
Instead of absorbing infield uncertainty, it can stabilize around players like Brenton Doyle, Mickey Moniak, Jordan Beck, Troy Johnston, and Jake McCarthy — players who are actually being evaluated as outfielders, not filling gaps created elsewhere.
That clarity extends beyond the active roster.
With Freeman anchored at second, the path for the next wave — Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP), Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP), Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP) — becomes easier to see. Not guaranteed, not blocked, but defined. They’re no longer competing against positional drift; they’re competing within structure.
And that’s the real point. Choosing a lane for Freeman doesn’t just answer one question.
It forces the Rockies to decide which overlapping skill sets they actually believe in — and which ones they don’t.
The clock is ticking
Freeman is 26 and under club control through the 2028 season.
That gives the Rockies a limited window to define him, develop him, or extract value.
Right now, they’re still figuring out what he is.
Let him be the exception
Purple Row has already documented the Rockies’ embrace of optionality. The front office has been clear about valuing adaptability.
That philosophy has value, but it still requires decisions.
Tyler Freeman doesn’t need more positions. He needs a clearer role.
The Isotopes (10-9) fall just short to the Comets (10-9) in a scoring bonanza. Charlie Condon led the way, going 3-for-5 with three RBI, while Cole Carrigg drew two walks and Chad Stevens stayed hot with a 2-for-5 performance. On the mound, Luis Peralta took the loss as pitching struggled to contain the Comets’ offense. Welinton Herrera was a bright spot, tossing two scoreless innings to open the game.
The Yard Goats (5-8) fell to the Flying Squirrels (11-2) in a hard-fought game. Aidan Longwell led the way on offense, going 3-for-5 with a home run, while Andy Perez added three hits of his own. Pitching proved to be the difference, as every arm allowed at least one run, with starter Alberto Pacheco taking the loss after giving up three earned runs in 2.1 innings.
The Indians (6-7) walked it off in the 10th inning, edging the Canadians (4-9) after a scoreless battle through nine. Robert Calaz delivered the game-winning single in extras to seal the win. On the mound, Jordy Vargas and Fisher Jameson were outstanding, combining for a shutout. It was a tightly played game throughout, with pitching dominating until the final swing.
The Grizzlies (9-4) edged the Tower Buzzers (6-6) in a close contest, scoring five runs on just five hits despite striking out 11 times. Wilder Dalis provided the biggest swing of the night, going 1-for-3 with a crucial three-run homer in the seventh. On the mound, Austin Newton delivered a strong start, allowing one run while striking out six over 5.2 innings. It was a gritty win, with Fresno making the most of limited opportunities.
In this piece by Thomas Harding on MLB.com, Ezequiel Tovar is off to a slow start, but underlying metrics suggest better results could be on the way. The Rockies remain encouraged, as he looks to turn those signs into production while aiming to reach a higher level this season.
Snow blanketed Coors Field before the Dodgers-Rockies game, where Emmet Sheehan even paused to admire a snowman near the field. Crews cleared it in time, but the scene added a perfect “only in Colorado” twist to an April night at the ballpark.
Renee Dechert of Purple Row takes a fun look at the Albuquerque Isotopes’ 2026 walk-up songs, highlighting the mix of personality and culture throughout the roster. From hip-hop and reggaeton to rock and country, the playlist reflects each player’s style and adds a behind-the-scenes feel to the team’s at-bats.
At the moment, I’m not on the IL. I am, however, perpetually listed day-to-day.
When it rains it pours: The Cubs placed closer Daniel Palencia on the 15 day IL with a left oblique strain. He joins Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey and Porter Hodge (out for the season) as relievers who are down.
Matt Sullivan (Sporting News): Who is Cubs’ new closer? Chicago has replacement plan for injured Daniel Palencia. “Caleb Thielbar, the 39-year-old lefty veteran who has some closing experience in his career, is an option. Hoby Milner, another veteran lefty, doesn’t have much closing experience, but it’s not completely foreign. Jacob Webb? Ben Brown?”
Matt Sullivan (Sporting News): Cubs reveal 2027 timeline for Cade Horton after Tommy John surgery. “”Cubs Cade Horton had his elbow surgery,” Rogers reports. “Looking at a 15-16 month recovery, per Craig Counsell. Horton being out 15-16 months means that, beyond simply missing the rest of the 2026 MLB season, he’s also going to miss the first few months of the 2027 season.”
Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Cubs Could Be Only Option for Giolito, Who Might Settle for Discounted One-Year Deal. ““The two teams linked are the Padres and the Cubs,” Jon Heyman told 104.3 The Score on Thursday. “Now, the Padres are creative, but they have zero money. So it’s not gonna be easy to sign a free agent of that ilk with zero money. So, of the two teams linked, [the Cubs]’re the only one who has a dime, so they probably have a shot at Giolito.”
Brian Kelder (North Side Baseball): Just How Good is Michael Busch? “He’s off to a rough start, but do the Cubs have a star at first base?”
Field Level Media (Deadspin): Cubs LHP Matthew Boyd (biceps) begins rehab assignment. “Boyd gave up three runs on four hits over 3 2/3 innings for Triple-A Iowa, while throwing 64 pitches (46 for strikes) at Columbus. He had one walk and six strikeouts. Boyd could return to the Cubs’ rotation as early as next week, according to manager Craig Counsell, with Chicago set to face the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers.”
Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib): Jed Hoyer addresses the elephant in the room talking about rash of Cubs injuries. “Regardless of the cause, the fact (the injuries) are happening with such regularity, paired with the Cubs having not yet proven they can consistently develop long-term pitching solutions, is a major long-term concern..”
Tony Andracki (Bleacher Nation): Is the Cubs Offense … Back? “The Cubs scored 28 runs in three games in Philadelphia, including blowout wins Tuesday and Wednesday. For perspective, the Cubs scored only 29 runs in the previous six games.”
Aldo Soto (Sports Mockery): Chicago Cubs Fans Need to Slow Their Roll on Kevin Alcántara. “This week is the perfect example of the boom-or-bust nature of Alcantara’s season so far. In two games this week, he’s 2-for-10 with 2 HRs with six strikeouts. Out of 225 qualified hitters in triple-A, Alcantara’s 38.1% ranks ninth-highest.”
“Every page these days has some form of advertising. {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.“
Food For Thought:
D Man is the driving force behind D Man & The Alley Hounds, a prominent blues-rock outfit based in Louisville, Kentucky. D Man is recognized for his “High Energy Blues & Rock ‘n’ Roll Show,” often interacting closely with the audience. His performances are characterized by soulful vocals and a repertoire that honors legends like Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf while keeping a modern edge.
An Arkansas athlete donned 55 T-shirts and ran a half marathon
Most Unique Places to Visit in the USA | Hidden Gems Travel Guide
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
Dylan File put together a nice start and Max Clark had a big night as the Hens took down the Bats and evened the series 2-2.
Clark singled but was picked off in the first inning, but in the top of the second, Eduardo Valencia led off with a single. Jace Jung followed with a single and Corey Julks reached on an error. After a Tyler Gentry strikeout, Ben Malgeri lifted a deep enough fly ball to get the run in, but that was all they’d get from the inning. 1-0 Hens.
File cruised through four innings without much trouble in the meantime, although he certainly wasn’t racking up the whiffs. He allowed two hits and two walks, and then watched his team add on a run in the top of the fifth. Trei Cruz led off with a single and Clark lined another single to right field. Gage Workman doubled in Cruz, but Clark was thrown out trying to score on a Valencia ground ball, and the Bats escaped the inning with the Hens leading 2-0.
Max Clark with his third single of the day, and just like that he’s hitting .333 against lefties on the season. pic.twitter.com/ffIe0BlbI2
File allowed a run in the bottom half, but escaped a minor jam on a Blake Dunn double play ball and wrapped up a pretty good outing overall.
Gentry and Malgeri immediately got the Hens going in the top of the sixth with back-to-back doubles to make it 3-1. A pair of ground outs followed, but Clark stepped to the dish and crushed a 108.4 mph blast to right field for a two-run shot, his first Triple-A home run. 5-1 Hens.
Max Clark crushes this ball for his first Triple-A homer. Left his bat at 108.4 MPH and went an estimated 414 feet. He’s 4-for-4 tonight, and Toledo leads 5-1. pic.twitter.com/Lv5FxpiQ0Z
Max Burt tripled and scored on a wild pitch in the eighth to make it 6-1. Matt Seelinger allowed a run in the bottom of the ninth, but wrapped this one up without much trouble.
Clark: 4-5, R, 2 RBI, HR
Jung: 2-4, 2B, BB
Julks: 2-5, K
File (W, 1-0): 5.0 IP, ER, 4 H, 2 BB, K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 1:05 p.m. ET start on Saturday.
Knuckleballer Kenny Serwa survived issuing five walks, surrendering just a pair of runs, only one earned, but it was a quiet game from the SeaWolves offense.
Brett Callahan doubled and drew a walk, but Justice Bigbie was the only other player with a hit. Harrisburg right-hander Davian Garcia wasn’t exactly dominant, but he had a solid night and got good defensive work behind him.
Woo-Suk Go did post his second straight outstanding outing, striking out five and giving up one hit in two scoreless innings.
Carlos Pena gave the SeaWolves a good outing, and the bats had enough to take down the Senators on Friday.
The SeaWolves started quickly as Seth Stephenson lead off with an infield single, and Peyton Graham doubled him in. A pair of ground outs got Graham home for a 2-0 lead.
Pena allowed a two-run homer in the top of the second as Harrisburg tied it up, but he shut the Senators down from there, striking out eight without a walk allowed, scattering four hits on the night.
The SeaWolves came right back as Justice Bigbie singled to lead off the game, and E.J. Exposito cracked a two-run homer to re-open a 4-2 lead.
Pena got in a bit of trouble in the fourth after a single allowed, and then a two-out double, but a relay from left fielder Chris Meyers in to Graham and home to Bennett Lee cut down the runner and ended the inning.
The SeaWolves made it 5-2 in the bottom half after Bigbie led off with a single, Exposito walked, and Lee singled in Bigbie.
Peña finished his outing by striking out the side in the fifth. Trevin Michael walked three in two innings of work, but collected the save anyway.
Exposito: 1-2, R, 2 RBI, HR, BB
Stephenson: 2-3, R, K
Bigbie: 2-3, 2 R
Pena (W, 1-1): 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 8 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 1:35 p.m. ET start on Saturday.
West Michigan Whitecaps 6, Lansing Lugnuts 4 (box)(F/7)(Gm1)
The Whitecaps got a good outing from Lucas Ellisalt and just held on against a late charge from Lansing to take Game 1 on Friday.
Elissalt only went four innings in this one, but he blanked the Lugnuts, striking out four. Meanwhile, his teammates gave him an early lead to work with. Patrick Lee and Ricardo Hurtado hit one-out singles in the top of the first, and Garrett Pennington reached on an infield single to load the bases. Andrew Sojka paddled a single through the right side of the infield to plate Lee and Hurtado, though Pennington was thrown out trying to take third base, and Cristian Santana flew out. Still is was a 2-0 lead.
Lee got them started again in the fifth when he hammered a deep drive to center field for a triple. Hurtado walked, and their first baseman, Pennington, did first baseman things by ripping a three-run shot the opposite way to make it 5-0.
Patrick Lee drives a triple to right center to get West Michigan started in the 5th inning. pic.twitter.com/2jNyf1jXUA
Garrett Pennington launches a 3-run homer to the opposite field to put the Whitecaps up 5-0. It’s his 3rd home run of the year. @jgoldstrass on the call. pic.twitter.com/9KKASHSNbQ
Duque Hebbert took over for the ‘Caps after a clean fifth from CJ Weins. Hebbert got knocked around a little for two runs in the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, leading 5-2, Hurtado drew a one-out walk and Pennington singled him to third. A Sojka fly ball was deep enough to get the run in for a 6-2 lead.
Hebbert got into trouble in the bottom of th eseventh, but held on to wrap this one up.
Pennington: 3-4, R, 3 RBI, HR
Hurtado: 2-2, 3 R, 2 BB
Patrick Lee: 2-4, 2 R, 3B, 2 K
Elissalt: 4.0 IP, 0 R, H, 2 BB, 4 K
West Michigan Whitecaps 4, Lansing Lugnuts 1 (box)(F/7)(Gm2)
The Whitecaps swept the Lugnuts despite Lansing outhitting them 11 to 4. That makes it four straight for the Whitecaps in this series, and five straigth overall.
On a bit of a makeshift night from the bullpen, the Whitecaps built a lead right away and managed to hold on despite all the traffic on the bases. The game started with Patrick Lee reaching on an error, and Juan Hernandez, just up from Lakeland, followed with a single. Garrett Pennington stepped in and launched his second three-run bomb on the day, and it was 3-0.
And Garrett Pennington gives West Michigan an early lead with this 3-run blast to left center. It’s his 2nd 3-run shot of the doubleheader, and his 4th home run of the season. @jgoldstrass calls it, and he sees threes everywhere. pic.twitter.com/KXNsjhmMR0
Zack Lee got the start, and he tossed three scoreless innings. Lefty Ethan Sloan handled the fourth, and then Ryan Harvey took over in the fifth. Harvey allowed a pair of singles before getting a strikeout and a pop-up. Another single drove in the Lugnuts only run of the game. One more single to Nolan McCarthy in left, making his High-A debut, saw McCarthy cut down Gunner Gouldsmith trying to score to end the inning.
Nolan McCarthy made a great catch earlier in the game and now he makes a great throw home for an outfield assist to end the inning. pic.twitter.com/vdrUqMXVvT
The Tigers signed RHP Seth Chavez to a minor league deal back on April 8, and he took over for the final two innings. Hunter Dobbins singled in the top of the seventh, advanced to second on a Clayton Campbell soft tapper to the pitcher, advanced to third on a balk, and scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-1, where it ended.
Pennington: 1-3, R, 3 RBI, HR
Patrick Lee: 0-2, R, 2 BB
Lee: 3.0 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, K
Coming Up Next:
Lakeland Flying Tigers 5, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels 2 (box)
Zach MacDonald remains red hot at the plate, and the Flying Tigers got good pitching on a bullpen day to win again on Friday.
The Flying Tigers got out to a quick lead when Jesus Pinto singled and MacDonald walked with one out in the first. Beau Ankeney doubled to left and both runners came around to score.
Charlie Christensen is off to a nice start in his pro career, and he tossed two scoreless to start this one off. Cale Wetwiska had a little more trouble, striking out five, but giving up two solo shots that tied the game in his two innings of work.
In the fifth, MacDonald, playing left field in this one, crushed another hard hit homer at 111.4 mph to make it a 3-2 lead. Wetwiska started the fifth, but came out of the game with an injury, though there was nothing obviously wrong and his velocity had been good all night.
Zach MacDonald with another absolute rocket to left. It’s his 5th home run of the year, and he has gone deep in three straight games. Left his bat at 111.4 MPH and went 396 feet. The Flying Tigers lead 3-2. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/bkJnkU2Mzo
Scott Effross and Eliseo Mota got the Flying Tigers through the fifth, sixth, and seventh without a baserunner, combining for five strikeouts.
In the top of the ninth, Jack Goodman singled, and catcher Sergio Tapia pulled a fly ball to left for a two-run shot to make it 5-2, where it ended. Donye Evans was a little shaky in his two innings of work, but collected the save.
While Zach MacDonald is tearing it up, Bryce Rainer continues to struggle pretty terribly after his long absence. He’s struck out 19 times in 10 games this season and his approach is a mess currently. It’s very early though.
Sergio Tapia launches a 2-run homer to left and Lakeland takes a 5-2 lead in the 9th. pic.twitter.com/hXkg6TOAB2
Just like that, there is no real reason to parse scoring stats for the Cubs anymore. With 33 runs over their last three games and 47 over five, they are now up to 106 runs in 19 games (~5.6/game). Last season, over the whole season, they averaged about 4.9 runs per game. Summer weather and rosters depleted by injuries and/or trades haven’t happened yet.
I know some were worried about the offense after an anemic open to the season, but just like that, the Cubs offense is clicking. To be fair, when they struggled over those early games, I noted that the distressing thing is that they really hadn’t had to go through very many elite pitchers. That was a daunting aside at that point. Now, through this earlier schedule, they’ve produced very well. The wear and tear of a season and those elite arms still lay ahead. But the Cubs offense has shown that they can be dangerous.
There is a lot of baseball to be played. I’m not going to be exuberant about things based off of three straight wins, just like I wasn’t in the doldrums when they had gotten off to a sluggish start. Even the worst teams look good sometimes and even the best teams look lousy sometimes. Through a little less than 15 percent of the season, the team is 10-9. Over 162 games, that would be an 86-win pace. I’m going to bet most of you won’t quibble that this team has felt like about an 86-win team over the course of the season.
The real question from here is does the team stay around that level? Or does this team take off from here? I’ve learned that, despite the marathon nature of baseball, a lot of fans suffer from a lot of recency bias. So this is a weird conversation for me to have with many of you. I thought they were a 90-95 win team before the season. So these three wins feel like some signal that they can be that kind of team. But if you thought they were an 80-85 win team, you are probably looking at the whole 19 and saying this is going to be a bumpy ride.
Either way, enjoy it when things swing up like this.
Three Positives:
Moisés Ballesteros had two hits, one a three-run homer that blew the game open early.
I love Nico Hoerner, he’s my favorite current Cub. That said, if I had to list Cubs who might put up MVP caliber numbers over a 20 game period, he’d be well down the list. I would be highly surprised to see a Hoerner like player do well in the MVP voting, but he’s having that kind of run right now. Three more hits, one more a homer and two more runs driven in. Second in all of baseball in RBI. Largely from the lead-off spot.
Michael Busch had two hits, a walk and scored twice. The numbers are rebounding some and I’m hoping the power numbers start to fall in place next.
Game 19, April 17: Cubs 12, Mets 4 (9-8)
GRAPH
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Moisés Ballesteros (.226). 2-2, HR, 3 RBI, R
Hero: Nico Hoerner (.156). 3-5, HR, 2 RBI, R
Sidekick: Seiya Suzuki (.077). 2-5, 2B, RBI, 2 R
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Carson Kelly (-.044). 1-4, R, DP
Goat: Pete Crow-Armstrong (-.030). 0-3, BB
Kid: Dansby Swanson (-.029). 1-2, BB, 2 R
WPA Play of the Game: Moisés Ballesteros hit a three-run homer with two outs in the first to add to an early 1-0 lead. (.206)
*Mets Play of the Game: Marcus Semien with runners at first and second and no outs in the second, scoring one and decreasing the Cub lead to three. (.122)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 18 Winner: Nico Hoerner received 145 out of 244 votes.
Up Next: Game two of the three-game set. Jameson Taillon (0-1, 4.86, 16.2 IP) makes his fourth start and seeks his first win. Old nemesis Freddy Peralta (1-1, 3.86, 21 IP) makes his first start as a Met against the Cubs. This is his fifth start for the Mets.
I have no objections to a fourth straight win. If the Mets want to implode, I’m definitely here for it.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - APRIL 15: Jung Hoo Lee #51 of the San Francisco Giants is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a run during the second inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on April 15, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
Another week of San Francisco Giants baseball is drawing to a close, which means it’s time to pick our Player of the Week!
They say there’s a song for any and every occasion, and I guess the one for today is “Slim Pickins” by Sabrina Carpenter. Because there was not a lot to cheer for this week. As of the time this is being written, the Giants have lost every game so far this week.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t silver linings, I guess. So I’m going to give the honors to Jung Hoo Lee this week. He has been heating up a bit over the last few games, and even got his first home run of the season in last Friday’s win over the Baltimore Orioles. The last recorded win as of the time this is being written. So that’s something to celebrate.
Who is your pick for Player of the Week?
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants continue their series against the Washington Nationals today at 1:05 p.m. PT.
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 6: Aaron Gordon #32 of the Denver Nuggets reacts after a made three point shot in the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on April 6, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Flip on an NBA Finals game from the past decade, and you’re sure to see the Arizona men’s basketball program represented at the highest level of the sport.
For 11 straight years, a former Arizona player has coached or played in the NBA Finals. Whether that streak continues into 2026 will likely come down to whether the Western Conference Finals is won by the Oklahoma City Thunder or one of their competitors.
Five of the seven former Wildcats in this year’s NBA Playoffs are on Western Conference teams, with three of the top four seeds in the conference featuring an Arizona alum.
And while Arizona’s presence in the postseason isn’t as large as it could have been had the Warriors, Clippers or Heat advanced to out of the Play-In Tournament, the UA still has a respectable contingent.
Here are the former Arizona players in this year’s NBA Playoffs.
Aaron Gordon, Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets have been a mainstay near the top of the Western Conference over the last few years, in large part thanks to Gordon’s contributions. Denver didn’t quite as sharp for parts of this season, and one reason why is Gordon’s limited playing time due to a hamstring injury.
Fortunately for Denver, Gordon appears to be as healthy as he’s been all season. He played a season-high 41 minutes two weeks ago against the Spurs, a team that Denver could run into the Western Conference Semifinals.
Gordon is averaging 16.2 points and 5.8 rebounds this season.
The Nuggets begin their series against the Timberwolves on Saturday.
Deandre Ayton, Los Angeles Lakers
Ayton’s first season playing for the Lakers has been rocky at times, but as the playoffs begin Ayton appears fully locked in.
“I want to do backflips. I’m in the purple and gold, and I just want to really just play hard as hell to contribute to wins,” Ayton said this week.
Ayton, the Lakers’ starting center, has seen his scoring dip every month of the season. He’s averaging 12.5 points and 8 rebounds.
With the Lakers missing Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves to start the playoffs versus a gritty Rockets team, Ayton will need to be at his best for Los Angeles to have a shot at advancing.
The Lakers and Rockets begin their series on Saturday.
Carter Bryant, San Antonio Spurs
Bryant might be Arizona’s best chance of having a former player in the NBA Finals. San Antonio is the two seed in the Western Conference after fighting with OKC for supremacy the last several months.
Bryant has made solid contributions as a rookie reserve, averaging 4.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 11 minutes per game.
Bryant got to see some extra playing time down the stretch of the regular season and made the most of it, scoring in double figures in three straight games.
The Spurs enter the playoffs with the second-best record in the NBA, only behind the Thunder.
The Spurs face the Trail Blazers beginning Sunday.
Zeke Nnaji, Denver Nuggets
Nnaji is competing in his sixth straight postseason with the Nuggets, and much like the last five trips it’s in a limited role.
Nnaji is averaging 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 12 minutes per game. His playing time dropped precipitously in February, and a hip impingement injury in late March slowed him down even more.
While Nnaji did get a start in the Nuggets’ final game of the regular season, don’t expect to see him getting much run these playoffs.
Christian Koloko, Atlanta Hawks
Koloko bounced around multiple teams this season before settling with the Hawks. He has appeared in 13 games with Atlanta since late January.
Koloko, who is averaging 2.7 points and 3 rebounds, is unlikely to see meaningful minutes this postseason.
The Hawks take on the Knicks beginning Saturday.
Caleb Love, Portland Trail Blazers
Love made a big impact early in the year for Portland before getting sent down to the G League in February. Love is back with the Trail Blazers as they make their first playoff appearance since 2020-21.
Love has appeared in four games for Portland since late March, and it’s unlikely he’ll see much playing time in the playoffs.
For the season, he’s averaging 10.4 points and 2.5 assists across 49 games.
Dalen Terry, Philadelphia 76ers
If there’s a player on this list who is just happy to be here, it’s Terry. The reserve guard was sent from Chicago to Philadelphia at the trade deadline. Terry has made 11 appearances with the 76ers but last played significant minutes on March 23.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 17: Daniel Schneemann #10 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam during the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on April 17, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yesterday was bad. The bullpen was bad. The situational hitting was bad.
Today is a new day. Gavin Williams pitches at 6:10PM ET. Let’s get back on track.
BRONX, NY - OCTOBER 7: Garret Anderson of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim bats as John Flaherty of the New York Yankees looks on during Game Three of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 7, 2005 in Bronx, New York. The Angels defeated the Yankees 11-7. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB via Getty Images) | MLB via Getty Images
Yesterday afternoon, the baseball world received stunning news. Former Angels outfielder Garret Anderson, who earned three All-Star nods, won the 2003 Home Run Derby and All-Star Game MVP, had the game-winning hit in 2002 World Series Game 7, and sits atop the Angels franchise leaderboards in several categories, passed away at just 53 years old, having suffered a fatal heart attack. As the Anderson family, not to mention the baseball world at large, let us honor his career in the best way an opposing fanbase can: by remembering the times we cursed his name.
You see, Garret Anderson belongs to a small fraternity of certified Yankees Killers — players who, no matter the situation, always found a way to come up big against the Bombers. His numbers, of course, speak for themselves. Overall, he had a career .293/.324/.461 slash line across his 17-year career — good for a slightly above-average 102 OPS+ despite multiple seasons of sub-100 offensive production at the end of his career dragging it down. Against the Yankees? That line skyrockets to .319/.338/.486 — the fourth-best against teams he played at least 100 games against and honestly pretty close to the .312/.341/.497 he had against Boston, his most victimized foe.
The thing is, though, a lot of players have great numbers against a particular team. What made Anderson a Yankee Killer, though, was the context. It didn’t matter how the Yankees approached him. Send out Andy Pettitte or David Wells as the day’s starter, giving you the platoon advantage against the lefty Anderson? It didn’t matter — in 83 plate appearances against Pettitte, he had three homers and posted a .402/.410/.549 slash line, and in 66 against Wells, he had two homers and posted a .400/.409/.569 slash.
Bring in a top LOOGY like Mike Stanton late in the game in a big spot? He still got on at a .375 clip and walked him off as well. Was future Hall of Famer Mike Mussina starting that day? Moose did a tad better, getting his batting average under .300, but he still posted a .283/.321/.528 slash with three home runs in 53 plate appearances. These were some of the best arms the Yankees had during his career, and Anderson simply pummeled them.
It was characteristic of Anderson’s Angels, who stood alone in their dominance of Joe Torre’s dynastic Yankees. They were the only AL opponent with a winning record against them during Torre’s tenure, going 61-55 from 1996 through 2007. Anderson certainly did his part in twisting the knife.
Furthermore, when the Yankees faced the Angels during the postseason, Anderson went nuclear. During his first career playoff series after nine years in the majors, Anderson went 7-for-18 with a walk, one home run, and five runs scored (good for a 1.088 OPS) against New York in the 2002 ALDS. His leadoff homer off playoff veteran Orlando “El Duque” Hernández in the eighth inning of Game 2, tying the game at five apiece, was arguably the series’ turning point, as it helped prevent the Yankees from jumping out to a 2-0 series lead.
Fellow Halos nemesis Troy Glaus immediately followed with a solo shot of his own, and the eventual champion Angels never looked back in an upset series victory over the four-time defending AL champs.
Three years later, the Yankees and Angels squared off in another Division Series, this time with no one taking Anderson’s club for granted. He didn’t smolder quite as much as he did in 2002 and was held to five hits — and none in three of the five games. But Anderson still managed to muster a .934 OPS because he absolutely made his hits count. At 0-for-8 entering Game 3 at the old Yankee Stadium with no less a lefty-neutralizing demon than Hall of Famer Randy Johnson on the bump, Anderson greeted him in the first with a three-run bomb.
It was the first of four hits on the night (including a triple) for Anderson in an 11-7 win. A split series turned in the Angels’ favor, and Anderson clubbed his second long ball of the series off Mussina in the Game 5 clincher at the Big A. Thankfully, the Yankees never had to face Anderson in the postseason again, as by the time they got their vengeance on the Angels in the 2009 ALCS, he and the club had parted ways, finishing out his career with the Braves and Dodgers.
But there’s one last Anderson/Yankees story to tell. Do you know the answer to the trivia question, “Who has the most runs batted in against the Yankees in a single game?”
By now, you probably have a sneaking suspicion, and it’s correct: Garret Anderson. On August 21, 2007, he laced a two-run double off Mussina in the first, drove in Vladimir Guerrero in the second with another double to right off Moose, drilled a three-run shot off Edwar Ramírez in the third, and deposited a grand slam into the right field seats in the sixth off Sean Henn.
By the time the game had mercifully ended in an 18-9 Angels victory, Anderson had accrued 10 runs batted in — a pretty decent month all in one day! To this day, he is one of just 16 players in MLB history since 1900 with a 10-RBI day, just like 2005 Alex Rodriguez.
When Anderson finally retired ahead of the 2011 season, the Yankees were certainly glad to see one of their greatest pests leave the field for the final time — the ultimate sign of respect you can give an opposing player. He was voted into the Angels Hall of Fame in 2016, and it probably felt fitting that the ceremony took place before a game against those same Yankees.
Rest in peace, Garret; we wish your family the best.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 19: Jack Wenninger #92 of the New York Mets pitches during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Mets at Clover Park on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Ronny Mauricio had himself a day in Buffalo, going 3-4 with a dinger and a stolen base. Jack Wenninger continued to build his case as a future big leaguer, tossing five and a third innings of one-run ball, giving up just three hits and two walks against five strikeouts.
Jacob Reimer and Eli Serrano III both collected big hits as the Rumble Ponies evened the season at 6-6. The Binghamton pitching staff struck out ten while giving up four hits and six walks in the win.
Hoss Brewer gave up two runs in the Cyclones loss to the Grasshoppers. Mitch Voit hit a home run, but the rest of the Brooklyn offense was more or less asleep, with just two hits on the day.
St. Lucie jumped out to an early lead, but had to claw back after Joel Lara gave up three earned runs in the bottom of the third. Conner Ware was the star of the bullpen, tossing five innings of relief while allowing just one run on two hits and four walks, while striking out seven.
The CHL is currently unveiling its list of the top 50 players of the last 50 years, and one former Montreal Canadiens captain has made it to 36th place on the countdown: Shea Weber. In three complete seasons with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL, the hulking defenseman won two league championships and one Memorial Cup. In his last two seasons, he was named to both the WHL and the CHL All-Star Teams and ended his junior career by winning the 2005 playoffs MVP title, thanks to his nine goals from the blueline.
A second-round draft pick of the Nashville Predators at the 2003 draft, the 49th overall pick spent 11 seasons with the Tennessee outfit before being traded to the Canadiens in the much-talked-about trade for fellow blueliner P.K. Subban. The polarizing deal didn’t please everyone, but Weber eventually won most fans over with his physical play and booming shot.
As soon as captain Max Pacioretty was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, the Habs’ brass gave Weber the C. Even though he only spent five seasons with the Canadiens, three of which as a captain, Weber was a game-changer in the Habs’ culture. A true professional, he was a fantastic example for the next generation of Habs players like Nick Suzuki.
The Canadiens made the playoffs in three of his five years with the Canadiens, reaching the Stanley Cup final in his final season, bowing out in five games to the Tampa Bay Lightning. That 2020-2021 Canadiens team didn’t really belong in the Cup final, but it was a tight-knit group that gave its all, inspired by a couple of veterans who were appearing in their final Stanley Cup playoffs, Carey Price and Shea Weber. The rugged blueliner would never play another game in the NHL as his career was cut short by injuries.
In his 275 games with the Canadiens, he put up 146 points, including 58 goals in the regular season and 14 points in 38 playoff games in the Habs’ three appearances. After his retirement and following his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame, Weber was added to the Canadiens' ring of honor in November 2024.
Even though Weber didn’t play a single game under the new Canadiens administration, he still had an important impact. Kent Hughes recently revealed in an interview on The Sick Podcast that Weber had taken it upon himself to tell him that he had a true captain in Nick Suzuki.
Apr 17, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) stands with hands on hips after a pop out to end the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
There really isn’t much good around the Phillies right now. The best thing to say about today is that Cristopher Sanchez gets the start.
JUPITER, FL - MARCH 04: Joshua Baez #22 of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on from the dugout during the game between the Team Nicaragua and the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Dawson Norris/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Today I want to check in on several of Memphis Redbird hitters through the Statcast lens. Fortunately for prospect hounds, the International League is fully wired up with pitch and hit tracking machines so there is a wealth of data available for the prospects at the highest level. The only other minor league team with this data provided publicly is the Single-A Palm Beach Cardinals, so there is a bit of a gap as prospects advance through the middle two levels. The Memphis squad has played 18 games (as of Friday), so while the sample size is relatively small, we are starting to aggregate some real data to break down. Today, I will focus on hitters only, and with apologies to Cesar Prieto and Colton Ledbetter, the players I feel are the four best hitting prospects in Memphis: Joshua Baez, Leo Bernal, Jimmy Crooks, and Blaze Jordan.
Blaze Jordan
Jordan’s 2025 was a mixed bag as he torched Double-A to the tune of a 167 wRC+ for 44 games in the Red Sox system. He was promoted to Triple-A at the beginning of June and held his own until being flipped for Steven Matz at the trade deadline. The narrative behind his breakout season was short-circuited by a dreadful stint in Memphis that led to him being left off the 40-man roster and unprotected in the Rule 5 draft. Jordan has long been considered a plus power bat, but has struggled with plate discipline and elevating the ball, so how has he performed thus far in 2026? Jordan is off to a scalding start with a 179 wRC+ through 58 plate appearances in Memphis and there are certainly some changes to his underlying metrics.
Jordan is still swinging at everything and making good contact. The big jump has come in his exit velocity numbers. His max exit velocity of 113.3 MPH would rank 25th in the MLB just ahead of Jo Adell. His average exit velocity jump of 6 MPH takes him from being well below average to well above-average. Despite a high chase%, Jordan has made an above-average amount of contact thanks to an incredible 94.9% contact rate on pitches inside the strike zone.
Jordan continues to have a fascinating profile. If you had told me he was off to an amazing start, I would have assumed he had cleaned up his plate discipline or started hitting more fly balls… Instead, he has doubled down on the two things he is great at, hitting the ball hard and making a ton of contact. It doesn’t seem like a profile that will play at the major league level where he will be exploited by pitchers with better command, but it is hard to argue with the results thus far. Jordan seems like the perfect candidate to get some at-bats for the Cardinals later this summer to give him a sense of the adjustments needed to hit major league pitching and an offseason to work on improving his approach. Despite the flaws, it has been a very encouraging start to the year, and Jordan’s stock is on the rise.
Jimmy Crooks
Crooks had a solid, if unspectacular, 2025 season in Memphis. His contact rates backed up enough to create some doubt as to whether he could get to his solid power. So far, 2026 has been a mixed bag.
While Crooks is off to a great start from a results perspective having already hit 4 home runs and carrying a 156 wRC+, his contact and chase rates have both moved in the wrong direction. It is too early to worry, but you would feel a little more excited about the fast start if there were underlying changes to support the improved offense. Crooks’ elevated 33.3% strikeout rate is driven by nine strikeouts in 15 at-bats against southpaws. He has a slightly higher hard hit rate and barrel%, but despite the gaudy hitting line, Crooks has been generally the same hitter he was in 2025.
I would really like to see Crooks improve his chase rate moving forward, which should elevate his borderline unplayable contact rate. Only ten major leaguers ran contact rates in the 60s last season and none as low as 65%. There is still plenty of volatility in the data this early, so we are definitely not in the panic zone yet. The average to slightly above-average power is already there, and Crooks has a knack for making high-quality contact when he does connect. Despite his lack of speed, ZiPS projects him to run above-average BABIPs as the foundation of his offensive profile.
Leo Bernal
Unlike Jordan and Crooks, Bernal did not have prior Triple-A experience, so there is much less data in his baseline to compare to.
Bernal is having a little trouble chasing too often, but is making contact at an above-average rate. While his average and 90th percentile exit velocities are not exciting, his max exit velocity is above-average, which is a great sign, especially in such a small sample size. Despite the underwhelming .236/.295/.327 slash line, Bernal’s start from an underlying metrics perspective may be the most encouraging. Unlike Crooks, he is maintaining a solid plate approach and contact rate in his first taste of Triple-A as a 22-year-old. FanGraphs has him rated as having average raw power (50 grade), but his max exit velocity of 112 MPH hints that there could be more in the tank. Switch hitters and catchers have the reputation of taking longer to develop offensively, and Bernal is both of these. He has plenty of time to solidify himself as a core piece of the future, but you would like to see more consistent power as he settles into the Triple-A environment.
Joshua Baez
Baez was the player I was most excited to get data on coming into the year following his epic breakout in 2025. The big question we want to get answered is how his contact rates would hold as he faced more advanced pitching.
Baez is surviving, but he is showing why the Cardinals made the correct decision in letting him start the season in Triple-A despite the torrid Spring Training. His exit velocity numbers are just average so far and his contact rate has backed up significantly from the average rate he carried in 2025. After running a 59% contact rate in big league spring training, the continued low contact rate in Memphis at least warrants an eyebrow raise. We are still early enough to brush this off as an early-season adjustment period, but with Baez’s history, it is absolutely something to keep an eye on to see if he can right the ship. Triple-A pitchers have attacked Baez with over 40% breaking balls thus far (MLB average is roughly 30%) and Baez has only managed a 56% contact rate. He is doing most of his damage on fastballs with an 80% contact rate, and both of his home runs have come on heaters.
I think Baez may be pressing a bit coming off of his electric spring training. He has a reputation for good swing decisions and may just be a tad overly aggressive in the early going. I would like to see if a more disciplined approach could unlock the power he displayed in 2025.
All things considered, my opinion of these four has not changed in a meaningful way based on this small sample size. I am encouraged by Jordan and Bernal’s starts and would like to see some improved discipline from Baez and Crooks. All four could impact the Cardinals in 2026 and their performance has direct implications for the roster going forward. That matters not just for development, but for how the Cardinals approach roster decisions this season. Bernal and Crooks performing well could push one of Pedro Pages or Yohel Pozo out the door. If Baez looks ready, he could get a look in center field or make a Lars Nootbaar trade more attractive even if the Cardinals are in the playoff hunt this summer. Blaze Jordan is still getting reps at first base and third base where the Cardinals lack right-handed power. Whether they make it to St. Louis this year or not, the progress, or lack thereof, of this quartet will have a material impact on the shape of the roster moving forward.
Saturday’s MLB slate is one of the deepest of the week, with a full board and plenty of spots where the market hasn’t fully caught up.
Early in the season, pricing can still lag behind form, pitching matchups, and lineup trends — and that’s where value shows up. Rather than chasing big favorites, we’re targeting moneyline edges where the numbers and game scripts don’t quite align.
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Expert MLB moneyline picks for April 18
Royals vs Yankees: Yankees (-161)
Yankees win probability: 59%
The New York Yankees have the clear edge in both lineup and bullpen, and this is the kind of spot where they usually take care of business at home.
Reds vs Twins: Twins (-143)
Twins win probability: 54%
Minnesota is the more complete team right now, with the better pitching matchup and a lineup that’s been more consistent top to bottom.
Mets vs Cubs: Cubs (-116)
Cubs win probability: 51%
The Cubs are simply playing better baseball (not by much), while the Mets continue to shoot themselves in the foot early in the season.
Giants vs Nationals: Nationals (-103)
Nationals win probability: 48%
Washington has been more competitive than expected, and getting the Nationals at near even money against a shaky Giants team is worth a shot, especially given their edge on offense.
Rays vs Pirates: Pirates (-152)
Pirates win probability: 61%
See Paul Skenes.... bet Paul Skenes... and hope the Pirates bats show up for him.
White Sox vs Athletics: Athletics (-161)
A's win probability: 60%
Neither team provides much confidence, but the White Sox away from home are worse than they are in Chicago.
Tigers vs Red Sox: Tigers (-167)
Tigers win probability: 62%
Detroit has the pitching advantage here, and the Tigers have been far more reliable at preventing runs than Boston.
Brewers vs Marlins: Marlins (-111)
Marlins win probability: 50%
This is a coin-flip type game, but Miami’s pitching gives the home side a slight edge in what should be a low-scoring matchup.
Orioles vs Guardians: Guardians (-132)
Guardians win probability: 54%
Cleveland’s pitching and ability to make hay at home should be enough here, especially against a volatile Orioles staff.
Cardinals vs Astros: Astros (-139)
Astros win probability: 55%
Houston is the more disciplined and explosive team at the plate and typically capitalizes in situations where St. Louis tends to let games slip away.
Rangers vs Mariners: Mariners (-137)
Mariners win probability: 54%
Most of the edge in the batter's box goes to Texas, but the Mariners pitching is top-notch, and I like Kirby a little bit more than Eovaldi in this spot.
Braves vs Phillies: Phillies (-127)
Phillies win probability: 52%
Normally, I'd take the high-powered Braves, but the pitching matchup favors the Phillies, and I expect them to tag Chris Sale early and often.
Dodgers vs Rockies: Dodgers (-278)
Dodgers win probability: 71%
The odds speak for themselves.
Blue Jays vs Diamondbacks: Blue Jays (+105)
Blue Jays win probability: 46%
Call this the Mad Max bounce-back game. The Diamondbacks' offense is inconsistent, so I look for the veteran pitcher to come up big.
Padres vs Angels: Angels (-116)
Angels win probability: 50%
The Angels have plenty of power in their lineup, and they are playing at home. German Marquez boasts a 5.54 ERA and 1.69 WHIP. That should be all they need to pick up the win.
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.
Who:Philadelphia Flyers (43-27-12, 98 points, 3rd place Metropolitan Division) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (41-25-16, 98 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division)
When: 8:00 p.m. ET
How to Watch: Local on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and TVAS, national on ESPN, streaming on ESPN+
Pens’ Path Ahead: The series continues Monday with Game 2 at PPG Paints Arena on Monday night. Then the series swings to Philadelphia for road games on Wednesday and Saturday night.
Opponent Track: The Flyers snagged the final playoff spot in the East after finishing the season as one of the hottest teams in the NHL. Since the end of the Olympic break, this team went 18-7-1 to tie the Buffalo Sabres and Colorado Avalanche for the most wins in the league over that stretch. While the Pens were resting their starters, the Flyers finished the season out on a three-game win streak capped off with a back-to-back against the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens.
Season Series: The Pens and Flyers split this series in the regular season, although both of the Flyers’ wins came in extra time. The Flyers bookended the series with shootout wins on Oct. 28 and March 7. The Penguins outscored their in-state rivals by a combined score of 11-4 in wins on Dec. 1 and Jan. 15.
Hiden Stat: This marks the eighth all-time Battle of Pennsylvania, which officially ties the New York Islanders and New York Rangers for the most all-time NHL playoff series between in-state rivals, per NHL Stats.
Hidden Stat II: The Flyers are the first team in NHL history to qualify for the playoffs after facing a point deficit of at least nine points 60 games into the regular season, per NHL Stats.
Getting to know the Flyers
Projected lines (from Friday’s practice)
FORWARDS
Tyson Foerster – Trevor Zegras – Owen Tippett
Travis Konecny – Christian Dvorak – Porter Martone
Denver Barkey – Noah Cates – Matvei Michkov
Luke Glendening – Sean Couturier – Garnet Hathaway
DEFENSEMEN
Travis Sanheim / Rasmus Ristolainen
Cam York / Jamie Drysdale
Nick Seeler / Emil Andrae
Goalies: Dan Vladar, Samuel Ersson
Potential scratches: Garrett Wilson, Carl Grundstrom, Noah Juulsen
The Flyers capped off the regular season by signing their No. 6 pick from the 2025 draft, Porter Martone, to an entry-level contract. Martone responded by putting up 10 points (four goals, six assists) in his first nine NHL games. He could be noticeable during this season for his size— he’s listed by the Flyers at 6-foot-3— and his habit of posting up in front of the net.
Dan Vladar is likely to get the start in net against the Pens. He’s coming off a month of April during which he posted a 5-1-0 record, .921 save percentage and 1.81 goals against average.
There are a few pieces of Flyers history on this stat sheet. Matvei Michkov is the first Flyers player since Simon Gagne in 2001 to start out his Flyers career with consecutive 20-goal seasons, per NHL Stats.
Trevor Zegras also scored 26 goals in his first season with the Flyers, the most by any first-year player with the franchise since Wayne Simmonds in 2012, per NHL Stats.
Take a closer look at the Flyers’ 18-7-1 run since returning from the Olympic break, and there seem to be some clear issues with this team. Here are some stats from the Flyers over that span:
Power play: 14.9 percent (30th in NHL)
Penalty kill: 74.0 percent (26th)
Shots per game: 25.1 (27th)
Goals per game: 3.00 (21st)
But here’s where they excel:
Shots against per game: 25.0 (5th fewest in NHL)
Goals against per game: 2.38 (3rd fewest)
The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz provided a look at some of the Flyers’ midseason defensive changes in early March. As written by Kurz:
“A big part of it is just energy,” said Cam York. “We want to be as aggressive as we can in the (defensive) zone. I think the time off just let us refresh a little bit, mentally and physically. That goes a long way being able to defend hard and close out time and space for the other guys.”
“Captain Sean Couturier said: ‘I think we’re just harder to play against by being more aggressive, taking away time and space.’
“That aggressiveness that York and Couturier mentioned is by design. Tocchet has attempted to simplify the Flyers’ defensive zone structure, even going so far as to move away a bit from the standard zone defense that he’s known for implementing in previous head-coaching stops.”
The Flyers don’t always get a lot of run support, so they’ve relied in large part on this shutdown defense at even strength during their late-season climb into the playoff picture. The Penguins’ ability to solve this could be key to taking control early in the series.
Potential Scratches: Ilya Solovyov, Justin Brazeau, Kevin Hayes
IR: Filip Hallander, Caleb Jones (season-ending shoulder surgery)
Connor Dewar has been back at practice after missing the end of the regular season with a lower-body injury. Getting both him and Blake Lizotte back means that the Penguins will be able to reunite the fourth line of Dewar, Lizotte and Noel Acciari that clicked so well earlier this season.
Connor Dewar (lower body injury) is also back on the ice in a regular jersey. Original 4th line is back with him Lizotte and Acciari @SNPittsburghpic.twitter.com/BggqaZZLFb
Justin Brazeau was the odd man out at practice this week now that Lizotte is back on the fourth line. The Pens also seem to be preparing to try Elmer Soderblom on the third line alongside Ben Kindel.
As of Friday’s practice, the Penguins goaltenders hadn’t been told who will be starting Saturday’s matchup. Stuart Skinner certainly has the edge in experience after back-to-back conference final appearances with the Edmonton Oilers over the last two seasons.
This will mark Erik Karlsson’s first time back in the playoffs since he went to the 2019 Western Conference Finals with the San Jose Sharks. It will also mark Egor Chinakhov’s first postseason action in the league.
#LetsGoPens winger Egor Chinakhov on finally getting an opportunity to compete in the NHL playoffs:
"I'm excited to play in the playoffs. 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."
Both of the NHL’s active leading playoff scorers will be on the ice in Sidney Crosby (201 goals in 180 playoff games) and Evgeni Malkin (180 goals in 177 playoff games). Among active defensemen, only the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Victor Hedman ranks ahead of Kris Letang (90 goals in 149 games).
KC
NYY
CIN
MIN
NYM
CHC
SF
WSH
TB
PIT
CWS
ATH
DET
BOS
MIL
MIA
BAL
CLE
STL
HOU
TEX
SEA
ATL
PHI
LAD
COL
TOR
AZ
SD
LAA
