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Red Sox News & Links: Did the Sox put too much pressure on Roman Anthony?

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 14: Roman Anthony #19 of the Boston Red Sox looks on prior to the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Turner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Red Sox are officially “not worried” about Garrett Crochet after the worst start of his career earlier this week. “The greatest pitchers in baseball have tough days, and that’s OK,” said pitching coach Andrew Bailey. “I think we have to recognize, too, that these guys are human, and sometimes baseball is baseball. It’s a tough little go. So I’m not worried about it.” But if he’s going to get back on track, he needs to regain control of the strike zone, as he’s hit four batters so far this season. (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)

Unlike Crochet, Roman Anthony is not yet one of the greatest players in baseball. But the 2026 Red Sox roster was essentially constructed in a way that he has to become one soon if they’re going to win anything. In light of that, it’s reasonable to wonder whether the pressure is getting to him. “He’s got the weight of this organization — they’ve put the weight of the world on him,” said Jarren Duran. “I think he’s doing a great job managing it. … [And] it is one of those markets where media is a big presence. As a 21-year-old, that can be tough, but he handles it like he’s a 10-year vet.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)

And while Anthony is not yet an established big leaguer, there is already another prospect in the system who, like Anthony and Marcelo Mayer before him, is receiving every increasing amounts of hype. Twenty-year-old infielder Franklin Arias is off to a scorching start in AA Portland, where he is the youngest position player in the league. “He’s a stud, which we already knew,” said Red Sox director of hitting Jason Orchart. “He’s always had a high floor, and now his ceiling is starting to climb.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)

But the here and now is more important than Arias’s prospect development. And in the here and now, the Red Sox are struggling to win baseball games. But here are some numbers that indicate that better days may be ahead. (Travis Shawchik, MLB.com)

We’ll probably know we’re in those hypothetical better days when we’re not reading stories about Red Sox players flipping the bird to fans in the stands. But in light of the fact that Jarren Duran claims he made the gesture only after a Minnesota Twins fan told him to kill himself, the Red Sox are giving Duran his full support. (Meghan Ottolini, WEEI)

But there is something to keep an eye on regarding the latest Duran incident: while the Twins have started a full investigation into the incident, they have yet to corroborate Duran’s version of events. “One person with knowledge of the event said fans were bragging afterward that Duran had raised his middle finger at them after they had mocked his swing…. In spite of the subdued crowd noise, field and television microphones didn’t pick up fans yelling for Duran to harm himself or mocking his swing. Additional audio or video of the incident has yet to surface on social media or in the public sphere.” (Jen McCaffrey and Dan Hayes, The Athletic)



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The bottom of the Yankees lineup needs to find its footing

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 09: Ryan McMahon #19 of the New York Yankees bats during the game against the Athletics at Yankee Stadium on April 09, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images

As the ball flew and dunked into the left-center field grass, a sense of disbelief washed over me. What I thought was going to be another out in a long list of them became a game-winning double, as Jazz Chisholm Jr. tied the game for the Yankees and Austin Wells snuck his foot under the tag at home plate to seal the victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday.

Jose Caballero was 0-for-2 before coming up to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning with two runners on in the third game of the four-game set against the Angels. Through the series, including those at-bats, he was 2-for-10 with two RBI, with both of those hits coming in the thrilling 11-10 extra innings victory. And a .200 batting average is better than where he (or any of the five players who have graced the bottom-half of the Yankees lineup) sits at the present moment.

Since the beginning of the season, the Yankees have struggled at the plate outside of a couple of consistent names like Ben Rice and Aaron Judge. Leadoff man Trent Grisham is batting .164, and while Cody Bellinger is hitting .242, his .693 OPS is much lower than desired out of the cleanup spot in the order. And while Giancarlo Stanton is racking up the hits (maybe with not as much power), the issues in the order then begin to make themselves apparent.

The final four hitters in the Yankees lineup are all hitting below the Mendoza line.

Chisholm is hitting .185, Austin Wells is batting .191, and Caballero sits at .186 with Ryan McMahon at a paltry .119. Oh, and Randal Grichuk, who has stepped into the lineup at times through this early part of the 2026 season, is hitting .063. And it’s not as if any of them are getting on base at a high rate to make up for not making much happen with the bat. The only player of those five with an OBP over .300 is Wells. All of this leads to the conclusion for Yankees fans that if the bottom of the order is up in a tight situation, you can more than likely consider the game over. What happened against the Angels in walk-off fashion is more of a miracle at this stage than anything that can be expected on even a semi-regular basis.

For example, when the Yankees were trying to avoid being swept by the Tampa Bay Rays for the first time since 2019, the bottom of the order was up to bat following Aaron Judge’s home run to bring the game within one. Bellinger struck out, and another out was earned by Rays closer Mason Englert before Wells stepped up to the plate. Following a missed pitch by Englert, Wells was intentionally walked, putting the tying run on base. But it was McMahon who stepped into the batter’s box, and what was expected by everyone came to fruition.

While there are certainly areas of the game in which the Yankees’ bottom half of the order is helpful (Caballero’s speed, McMahon’s defense, Jazz’s bat and speed when he’s playing at his best), there’s simply no excuse for a team trying to win a World Series to have players performing this poorly consistently in their lineup. And it’s not as if the potential replacements are any good either. The only one offering any hope of consistency is Anthony Volpe, but he’s still a couple of weeks away, and even his bat can be extremely iffy at times (although it’s well-known that his defense is important during crunch time). Outside of Volpe, though, the bench is grim, as Paul Goldschmidt and Grichuk are not suitable, higher-than-replacement-level players to help aid any of these positions. Amed Rosario has been helpful, but the chances of that being consistent over an extended period of time don’t fall in line with his overall career numbers and trends.

The Yankees are in desperate need of someone in the bottom of the order to step up at this point of the season. While it’s still very early into the 162-game slate, even slight improvements from a couple of players would benefit the entire Yankees squad.

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Report: San Diego Padres are nearing a whopping sale

The family of late San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler is nearing a sale of the team, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Padres aren’t commenting publicly on the process.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the imminent deal with private equity billionaire Jose E. Feliciano and his wife, Kwanza Jones. The team is expected to be sold for $3.9 billion in a record deal for a Major League Baseball team, easily topping the approximately $2.4 billion paid by Steven Cohen for the New York Mets in 2020.

The 53-year-old Feliciano is the co-founder and managing partner of Clearlake Capital, a private equity firm based in Santa Monica, California. The firm was part of an investment group that purchased Premier League club Chelsea in 2022, with Los Angeles Dodgers minority owner Todd Boehly becoming the Blues’ chairman.

Seidler’s family began to explore a sale of the Padres last November, two years after the death of the popular Peter Seidler. His brother, John Seidler, has served as the Padres’ chairman since then.

Peter Seidler was part of a group that bought the Padres in 2012, and he became the team’s primary owner in 2020. He enthralled San Diego’s baseball fans with his free-spending eagerness to win the Padres’ first World Series, and general manager A.J. Preller built a series of exciting teams that have reached the MLB playoffs in four of the last six seasons — a first in team history.

The Padres’ potential sale price reflects their value as San Diego’s only franchise in North America’s four traditional major sports leagues, leading to a passionate fan base in their attractive home at downtown Petco Park. The team has set attendance records in each of the past three seasons, capped last season by drawing a whopping 3,437,201 fans — the second-most in the majors to the Dodgers, who play in their much larger stadium in Chavez Ravine.

Feliciano was born and raised in Puerto Rico before attending Princeton and Stanford. He co-founded Clearlake Capital two decades ago.

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Two-start pitchers: Nolan McLean fronts a list of viable options for the fourth week of the 2026 season

Hello and welcome to the fourth installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2026 MLB season.

I will be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week providing my insights and recommendations on which options should be started or benched.

It’s wild that we’re already a month into the 2026 MLB season. Now that we’ve seen each of these pitchers make several starts, we should have a better feel for how they’re going to perform for the upcoming week, rather than blindly trusting what we saw from them during the spring.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.

⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week:

The Diamondbacks only play five games next week, so unless they skip someone in their rotation, no one is going to make two starts. Merrill Kelly will start on Tuesday, so he’s the only one who would have a shot at doing so (at White Sox, vs. Padres) if the D’Backs wanted to switch things up or push someone back.

The Padres also play just five games next week, so none of their starters will line up for two starts. It’s not like you would want to start them even if they were though, as they’ll take on the Rockies at Coors Field to start the week before finishing up with a two-game set against the Diamondbacks in the high elevation and extreme run-scoring environment that is Mexico City. There’s a chance that the Padres could opt to skip Matt Waldron next week if he struggles on Friday night, in which case Randy Vasquez could end up toeing the slab twice. If that happens, I would advise against using him, as those two environments could lead to absolute ratio disaster.

It’s possible that someone could make two starts for the Rays this week (vs. Reds, vs. Twins), but as of now we aren’t sure who will be replacing the injured Joe Boyle in their rotation. They went with a bullpen game in his spot last time with Jesse Scholtens working five innings in a bulk role. If that’s the case again, Scholtens could be worth a look as a streaming option in deeper leagues. We’ll monitor the situation throughout the weekend and update here if anything changes.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of April 17 and are subject to change.

American League

▶ Strong Plays

Dylan Cease, Blue Jays, RHP (at Angels, vs. Guardians)

Through his first four starts with the Blue Jays, Cease has been everything that they were hoping for when signing him to a seven-year, $175 million contract over the winter. He has compiled a terrific 1.74 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over 20 2/3 innings while racking up 32 strikeouts. Unfortunately poor run support and bullpen work has left him still searching for his first victory in a Jay’s uniform. I’d bet that will come this week with a pair of good matchups on tap against the Angels and Guardians. He should be started in all leagues every week regardless of matchups, you just get the added bonus of the extra volume and premium matchups this week. He’s one of the top overall options on the board.

Seth Lugo, Royals, RHP (vs. Orioles, vs. Angels)

Lugo has been exceptional through his first four starts of the 2026 season, posting a minuscule 1.48 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and a 21/6 K/BB ratio over 24 1/3 innings. Is he going to continue performing like a fantasy ace for the duration of the season? Absolutely not. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t ride the hot hand right now. The Orioles and Angels both rank in the middle of the pack against right-handed pitching and both starts come in the pitcher-friendly confines of Kauffmann Stadium. Lugo should be started in all leagues this week.

Mick Abel, Twins, RHP (at Mets, at Rays)

After his strong showing in spring training, it’s possible that some fantasy managers may have panicked and cut Abel after he struggled out of the bullpen in his first appearance and was hit hard by the Rays during his first start. If so, those managers missed out on 13 scoreless innings with a brilliant 16/3 K/BB ratio over his last two starts. Those that held onto him – or picked him up amidst the frustration – should continue to reap the benefits this week. He starts with a matchup against the Mets, a team that ranks 28th in baseball against right-handed pitching with an OPS of .609. He finishes up with a middling matchup against the Rays in Tampa Bay. I buy into what I saw during the spring and what Abel has shown during his last two starts. That’s enough for me to roll with him in all league sizes.

Kyle Bradish, Orioles, RHP (at Royals, vs. Red Sox)

Throughout his career, whenever Kyle Bradish has been healthy enough to take the mound, he has delivered strong results for fantasy managers. At least until this year. Through his first four starts he has struggled to a 5.49 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and a 21/10 K/BB ratio over 19 2/3 innings. That’s partly due to an inflated BABIP (.375) and a strand rate that’s unsustainably low (58.8%). I think he’s much closer to what the ERA estimators are showing with a 3.09 xERA and a 3.82 xFIP. The matchups, especially against the Royals in Kansas City to start the week, are solid and the strikeouts should be there regardless. Look for Bradish to correct some of the ratio damage that he has caused for fantasy managers this week. Stay the course, he should be started in all formats.

Connelly Early, Red Sox, LHP (vs. Yankees, at Orioles)

So far, so good for Early through his first four starts. He holds an impressive 2.29 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and a 20/10 K/BB ratio across 19 2/3 innings. On paper, you’d think that a matchup against the Yankees’ offense should be scary, but they currently rank 28th in the league with a miserable .535 OPS against left-handed pitching. While we can’t bank on that continuing this week, when combined with how well Early has pitched through his first four starts, it’s surely enough for me to roll the dice. He’s an easy start in 15-teamers and I’d lean towards using him in 12’s also.

Emerson Hancock, Mariners, RHP (vs. Athletics, at Cardinals)

Hancock has seized the opportunity to shine in the Mariners’ rotation with Bryce Miller sidelined, registering an outstanding 2.28 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and a 25/4 K/BB ratio over his first 23 2/3 innings. Now he gets to take on a middling A’s offense that is significantly worse away from West Sacramento and a Cardinals squad that has been brutal against right-handed pitching all season. Look for the good times to continue for Hancock this week. He’s an easy start in all leagues.

▶ Decent Plays

Sonny Gray, Red Sox, RHP (vs. Tigers, at Orioles)

Normally Sonny Gray would be firmly in the must start category, but he hasn’t looked like himself through his first four starts this season. The 36-year-old right-hander even admitted as much after his last start, saying that he just doesn’t feel like himself right now. Maybe it all comes together and he rounds back into form this week, but until we see it, there’s going to be increased ratio risk. The Tigers’ offense has been rolling recently and that looks like a tough matchup on Patriot’s Day. The Orioles aren’t a cake walk either. You probably have to use him if you have him in most leagues, just understand that the ratio risk is higher than you would normally anticipate from a two-start week from Gray.

Kumar Rocker, Rangers, RHP (vs. Pirates, vs. Athletics)

Rocker has delivered pretty mediocre results through his first three starts on the season with a 4.30 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and a 14/7 K/BB ratio over 14 2/3 innings. If there’s ever a spot for him to be successful though, it’s this week. He draws two strong matchups, getting to take on the Pirates and the Athletics with both starts coming at home. Provided he makes both of those starts, he looks like a terrific streaming option in any leagues where he may be available. It’s possible the Rangers could use Monday’s off-day to keep Jack Leiter on normal rest and move Rocker back a day, in which case it would be Leiter making the two starts and Rocker’s double getting pushed back until next week. I’d expect we would hear about that before the weekend is through if that’s something the Rangers are considering though.

Sean Burke, White Sox, RHP (at Diamondbacks, vs. Nationals)

This one is intriguing to me as a streaming play. While he has yet to win a game, Burke has looked surprisingly competent through his first four outings (three starts) this season, posting a 4.43 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and a 17/6 K/BB ratio over his first 20 1/3 innings of work. The Diamondbacks rank in the bottom five offenses in the league against right-handers with a .660 OPS so that’s not a matchup to worry about and getting to battle the Nationals at home to finish the week should at least afford Burke the opportunity to earn a victory. I think that he can get around 10 strikeouts on the week with minimal ratio risk and a shot at a win, and we all know that makes him an easy start in 15-teamers and worth a look in 12’s as well.

Keider Montero, Tigers, RHP (vs. Brewers, at Reds)

Montero has done a nice job holding down the fort in the rotation while Justin Verlander (hip) has been sidelined. He boasts a terrific 3.31 ERA and 0.86 WHIP across 16 1/3 innings in his three starts and has even chipped in 15 strikeouts. The Brewers are one of the best teams in baseball against right-handed pitching, but their lineup has been decimated by injuries and he gets to make that start in cavernous Comerica Park. The script is then flipped, facing a Reds’ offense that struggles against right-handers in a hitter’s haven. Given how well he has been pitching and how the Tigers are playing at the moment, I’d probably use Montero in both 15 and 12-team formats for the upcoming week.

J.T. Ginn, Athletics, RHP (at Mariners, at Rangers)

It’s a very limited sample, but I like what we have seen from Ginn so far this season. He has registered a 3.31 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and an 11/7 K/BB ratio over 16 1/3 innings through his first five appearances (two starts). I also like the fact that both of these starts will be on the road and away from Sutter Health Park. The pitching matchups line up decently as well, taking on Emerson Hancock and Kumar Rocker. He should be able to provide some strikeouts and a shot at a victory and I don’t feel like he’s a major risk to blow up your ratios in these specific matchups. For sure I’d be looking to stream him in 15-team formats and if I was feeling frisky and didn’t like my alternative options I could probably be talked into it in 12-team leagues as well.

Jack Flaherty, Tigers, RHP (at Red Sox, at Reds)

The range out outcomes on this two-start week may be as wide as anyone on the entire board. Flaherty has struggled this season, he’s winless through his first four starts with a 4.05 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over 20 innings. He’s still striking guys out though, with 21 punchouts on the season. He draws two offenses that rank in the bottom third of the league in OPS against right-handed pitching, which in theory should help him out. Both starts are in extreme hitters parks though and with his tendency to give up the long ball, that could spell disaster. I think the strikeouts will be there for sure, everything else is completely up in the air. He could spin a couple of gems or get bombed for eight runs in both starts. Whether or not you choose to roll with him depends entirely on your risk tolerance.

▶ At Your Own Risk

Luis Gil, Yankees, RHP (at Red Sox, at Astros)

Gil hasn’t looked like himself through his first two starts with the Yankees this season, giving up seven runs in his first nine innings of work (7.00 ERA) while serving up four home runs. He looked great through the first four innings of his last start though and it could be just an issue of needing to get fully stretched out again and rounding back into shape. Under normal circumstances, I’d be willing to look past the early-season struggles and think about streaming him for a two-start week. These aren’t exactly normal circumstances though. He draws a pair of very tough matchups, with both of them coming in pitcher’s parks with extremely short fences in left field which could amplify his issues giving up the long ball. If you’re desperate for volume to keep pace in wins and strikeouts, he could be worth a look in deeper leagues. There’s more ratio risk here though than I’m willing to absorb in most situations.

Slade Cecconi, Guardians, RHP (vs. Astros, at Blue Jays)

It has been a rough go for Cecconi through his first four starts of the season, posting an underwhelming 5.03 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP to go with an 18/10 K/BB ratio over 19 2/3 innings. The assignment won’t get any easier this week, having to battle an Astros’ squad that ranks in the top five in baseball against right-handed pitching before batting the defending American League Champs in Toronto. If you feel like you’re already behind in wins and strikeouts and need the volume to try to keep him, you can look Cecconi’s way. If you’re trying to protect ratios though, you may want to look elsewhere.

Jack Kochanowicz, Angels, RHP (vs. Blue Jays, at Royals)

If you haven’t been paying attention to the Angels this season, you may have missed the fact that Kochanowicz has actually looked like a decent pitcher through his first four starts on the season. He sits at 2-0 with a 3.47 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and an 18/15 K/BB ratio across 23 1/3 innings of work. The ERA estimators point in a different direction though, showing that he’s the same Kochanowicz of old with a 5.12 xERA and a 4.79 xFIP. If you think he can hold off the ratio correction for another week and want to chance using him for two starts against a pair of struggling offenses, you could roll the dice. It’s not the worst idea for 15-teamers. Aside from that though, I would stay away.

Colton Gordon, Astros, RHP (at Guardians, vs. Yankees)

Gordon has made just one start for the injury-ravaged Astros this season, getting trounced for four runs on eight hits in just 3 2/3 innings (9.82 ERA, 2.18 WHIP). It’s not even a guarantee that he’ll stick around in the rotation to make a second start during the week, as if he struggles during that start against the Guardians it’s likely the Astros will find an alternative option. Regardless, he shouldn’t be anywhere near fantasy rosters.

National League

▶ Strong Plays

Nolan McLean, Mets, RHP (vs. Twins, vs. Rockies)

McLean has looked like the dominant force that fantasy managers were hoping that he would be, compiling a 2.28 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and a 28/8 K/BB ratio over 23 2/3 innings through his first four starts. Now he gets to make a pair of starts at home, one of them against one of the worst offenses in baseball. The Twins have been crushing everyone as of late, but I still like McLean’s chances of earning a victory in that one as well. He should obviously be started in all leagues every week, and this strong two-step is no exception. The only thing that can hold him back this week is the continued lack of run support from the Mets’ offense.

Shota Imanaga, Cubs, LHP (vs. Phillies, at Dodgers)

Imanaga is throwing the ball as well as anyone in the league right now, with a 2.45 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and a 31/5 K/BB ratio across 22 innings through his first four starts. The Phillies’ offense has started to show signs of life – against right-handed pitching – they still rank among the four worst teams in baseball with a .560 OPS against left-handers. The Dodgers are at the other end of the spectrum, with the best offense against southpaws right now (.870 OPS). Despite the tough second matchup, you simply can’t sit Imanaga for a two-start week with the way he’s pitching right now, especially with the strong matchup against the Phillies to start the week. It’s also possible, depending on when Matthew Boyd slides back into the rotation, that Imanaga winds up getting pushed back from that second start and avoids the Dodgers entirely. He should be started with confidence in all leagues.

Bryce Elder, Braves, RHP (at Nationals, vs. Phillies)

We all know that a correction is coming at some point, but it’s hard to argue against what Elder has been able to do through his first four starts. He holds an outstanding 0.77 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and a 23/7 K/BB ratio over 23 1/3 innings of work. The increase in strikeouts is particularly intriguing and most of the metrics under the hood support his strong start. If you have him rostered, you have to use him for this two-start week with how well he’s throwing the ball right now. Just understand that a ratio correction will be coming at some point – and that could be over the weekend against the Phillies.

Chad Patrick, Brewers, RHP (at Tigers, vs. Pirates)

Patrick has pitched well in four appearances (three starts) this season, posting a 0.95 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and a 9/7 K/BB ratio over 19 innings. I’m not concerned about the lack of strikeouts as he punched out better than a batter per inning during the 2025 campaign. He’s coming off of his best and longest start of the season, firing 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball against the Blue Jays. The matchups look to be in his favor as well this week. There’s really no reason that Patrick should be sitting on benches or languishing on the waiver wire, even in the most shallow of formats. He should be started in 100% of leagues this week.

Michael McGreevy, Cardinals, RHP (at Marlins, vs. Mariners)

The only thing that has been lacking for McGreevy through his first four starts has been strikeouts, with just 12 punchouts in 21 2/3 innings. He has posted a scintillating 2.49 ERA and 0.83 WHIP and looks like an emerging ace for a Cardinals’ staff that desperately needs it. The matchups this week both look great on paper, taking on the Marlins in Miami before finishing up with the Mariners at home. Wins are always going to be tough to come by with the Cardinals’ offense backing him, but make no mistake, McGreevy is legitimately a strong option in all formats this week.

▶ Decent Plays

Max Meyer, Marlins, RHP (vs. Cardinals, at Giants)

So far, so good for Meyer through his first four starts – registering a 4.12 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and a 20/9 K/BB ratio across 19 2/3 innings. While that’s probably not good enough for weekly use during single start weeks, it absolutely puts him in play when he’s scheduled to start twice. Fortunately for the upcoming week, he does so and gets a pair of terrific matchups to boot. Expect double-digit strikeouts and a decent shot at a victory with minimal risk to your ratios. Meyer should be started in all leagues this week.

Jesus Luzardo, Phillies, LHP (at Cubs, at Braves)

To say that Luzardo has been a disaster through the first month of the season would be a massive understatement. The 28-year-old southpaw was drafted by most fantasy managers to be an ace or an SP2 and instead he has stumbled to a cringe-inducing 7.94 ERA and 1.46 WHIP over 22 2/3 innings while losing three of his first four starts. The strikeouts have still been there, with 30 already on the season, but everything else has been terrible. The assignment this week won’t get any easier, as the Braves and Cubs rank fourth and sixth in baseball respectively against southpaws this season. At this point, if you’re relying on Luzardo, you have to trust the process and continue to roll him out there. The worst thing that you can do is sit him for a two-start week and miss out on a ratio correction and a large pile of strikeouts. The hope is that everything evens out by season’s end and he gives you something close to what you were looking for.

Aaron Nola, Phillies, RHP (at Cubs, at Braves)

It hasn’t quite been the full resurgence that even year truthers had been hoping for from Nola in 2026, but he has pitched decently overall, compiling a 4.03 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and a 24/6 K/BB ratio over 22 1/3 innings in his first four outings. The Braves have punished right-handed pitching this season to the tune of a .783 OPS – the third best mark in baseball. The Cubs have been middle of the pack, though pitching at Wrigley Field is never an easy task. The strikeouts have always been there for Nola and he shouldn’t have a problem reaching double digits during this two-start week. It’s the ratios that are at risk. I think he has shown enough to be trusted in 15-teamers and I’d probably be using him in most 12’s as well unless I had a cushion in strikeouts and was looking to protect my WHIP already.

Carmen Mlodzinski, Pirates, RHP (at Rangers, at Brewers)

I have been very impressed by what I have seen from Mlodzinski so far this season. In four appearances (three starts), he has registered a 1.77 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and a 20/8 K/BB ratio over 20 1/3 innings of work. The ERA estimators aren’t quite as good, but still show a solid 3.13 xERA and 3.61 xFIP. If he had neutral matchups, I’d be recommending him as a strong start in all leagues for next week. Unfortunately, the matchups aren’y great. Both the Rangers and Brewers rank in the top 6 in OPS against right-handed pitching and both starts will be on the road, where Mlodzinski is likely to be an underdog in each of them. If you’re looking to stream volume, he should be able to pile up some strikeouts and I don’t think he puts your ratios in any extreme amount of danger. His chances of securing a victory aren’t great though. In 15’s he’s still an easy start, in 12’s it would depend on what other options I had available at my disposal.

Reynaldo Lopez, Braves, RHP (at Nationals, vs. Phillies)

Lopez has pitched well through his first four starts for the Braves, compiling a 2.18 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and a 19/8 K/BB ratio through his first 20 2/3 innings. The 3.79 xERA and 4.37 xFIP hint that he’s been a bit fortunate in his run prevention thus far, but at a minimum he should be able to punch out double-digit batters over the course of the week and will have a decent shot at earning a victory in that start against the Nationals. The home start against the Phillies worries me a bit, but it’s not enough for me to sit him. I’d use him for sure in all 15-team formats and would probably go there in most 12’s as well.

Justin Wrobleski, Dodgers, LHP (at Rockies, vs. Cubs)

With the Dodgers currently employing a six-man rotation, the chances of getting a pitcher to have a two-start week at all are few and far between. When it does happen, you have to take advantage, even if it means that the first start has to come against the Rockies at Coors Field. Wrobleski has pitched extremely well through his first two starts, posting elite ratios and a pair of victories despite limited strikeout numbers. I’d be comfortable using him in all league sizes for this two-start week.

Rhett Lowder, Reds, RHP (at Rays, vs. Tigers)

Lowder has done a nice job through his first four starts with the Reds, posting a 3.52 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 15/7 K/BB ratio over 23 frames while picking up a couple of victories. His track record in the minor leagues hints at higher strikeout upside, we just haven’t seen it yet. This week’s matchups are neutral at best, as both the Tigers and Rays rank in the top 12 in OPS against right-handed pitching. He’s certainly worth a look in 15-teamers. In 12’s it would depend on what other options I had available.

Foster Griffin, Nationals, LHP (vs. Braves, at White Sox)

Griffin pitched very well in three tough matchups to start the season, then was working on a gem his last time out against the Pirates before giving up four runs with two outs in the fifth inning. Still, he holds a solid 3.05 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and a 19/7 K/BB ratio over 20 2/3 innings to start the season. The Braves have punished left-handed pitching this season to the tune of a .808 OPS, which is the only reason that I have Griffin listed in the decent options section instead of being a strong one. I do like his chances of earning a victory against the White Sox to finish the week though. I’ll be using him in 15-team formats without question. In 12’s, it depends on what other options I have available.

▶ At Your Own Risk

Chase Dollander, Rockies, RHP (vs. Padres, at Mets)

If you were ever going to try streaming a two-start option from the Rockies, this might be it. Dollander has looked very sharp in a bulk role out of the bullpen, posting a 3.32 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 23/6 K/BB ratio over 19 innings of work. He has even picked up a pair of victories. One of the starts being at Coors isn’t ideal, though the Padres rank just middle of the pack against right-handed pitchers. Working in a bulk role should increase his chances of earning a win and limit the overall ratio risk. That second start against the Mets in New York looks great on paper. I can’t fully endorse going here, but if you’re looking for volume in 15 teamers, you could do a whole lot worse.

Tyler Mahle, Giants, RHP (vs. Dodgers, vs. Marlins)

I’m not quite sure what to make of Tyler Mahle this season. He has always been someone that pitches well when healthy, but breaks down far too often to deliver long-term value for fantasy purposes. The problem is that he has been healthy through four starts this season yet has stumbled to a 7.23 ERA and horrifying 1.93 WHIP over 18 2/3 innings. The strikeout have still been there with 21 so far, but they have come against a league-high 12 walks and six home runs. I still think there’s enough talent here that he can turn things around and become a viable fantasy asset at some point this season, but trusting him to figure it out against the Dodgers seems like wishful thinking at best and gross misconduct at worst. I’d advise holding him and letting him figure it out on your bench, but I wouldn’t be streaming him this week.

Jake Irvin, Nationals, RHP (vs. Braves, at White Sox)

Has Jake Irvin pitched well through his first four starts this season? No. He owns a 6.16 ERA and 1.47 WHIP over his first 19 innings. If there any reason to expect him to pitch well during this two-start week? Also no. His 5.13 xERA and 4.66 xFIP aren’t what we’re looking for and his elevated strikeout rate this season doesn’t appear to be sustainable. If you’re desperate for volume you can go ahead and roll the dice. You and your ratios have been warned though.

Colin Rea, Cubs, RHP (vs. Phillies, at Dodgers)

I like Colin Rea as much as the next person and most weeks I would advise that he’s a viable streaming option. This isn’t most weeks though. The Phillies have been swinging the bats well as of late and no one wants to be rolling out their pitchers against the Dodgers in Los Angeles if they can help it. It’s possible that he dances through raindrops and delivers some value here, but I’d avoid the ratio risk and try alternative options if possible.

Jose Quintana, Rockies, LHP (vs. Dodgers, at Mets)

Our “Never Rockies” rule is in full effect on this one. Quintana holds a miserable 5.63 ERA and 1.88 WHIP through his first two starts for the club and now he has to take on the best offense in baseball at Coors Field to start the week. There’s no reason to try this one in any format, stay far, far away.

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Angels' World Series hero and taciturn slugger Garret Anderson dies at 53

FILE - Former Los Angeles Angels outfielder Garret Anderson throws the ceremonial first pitch after he was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame during ceremonies before a baseball game between the Angels and the New York Yankees in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)
Former Angels outfielder Garret Anderson throws the ceremonial first pitch after he was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame during ceremonies in Anaheim on Aug. 20, 2016. (Reed Saxon/AP)

Garret Anderson, the often misunderstood and always lethal Angels slugger who starred in the 2002 World Series, has died of a heart attack. He was 53.

Anderson's most memorable moment was belting a decisive three-run double in Game 7 of the only World Series ever played by the Angels. Yet consistency over 17 seasons — 15 with the Angels and one each with the Dodgers and Atlanta Braves — was the hallmark of the taciturn left fielder.

“The Angels Organization is mourning the loss of one of our franchise’s most beloved icons, Garret Anderson,” owner Arte Moreno said Friday in a statement. “Garret was a cornerstone of our organization throughout his 15 seasons and his stoic presence in the outfield and our clubhouse elevated the Angels into an era of continued success, highlighted by the 2002 World Series Championship.

"Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class, and loyalty throughout his career and beyond. His admiration and respect for the game was immeasurable."

Nicknamed "G.A.," Anderson is the Angels leader in games (2,013), at-bats (7,989), hits (2,368), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796), doubles (489) and runs batted in (1,292). And he achieved it all without fanfare.

"Garret didn't seek the limelight," said Mike DiGiovanna, The Times' Angels beat writer throughout most of Anderson's career. "A classic lunch-pail guy. He was a superstar, he just didn't act like it."

Fans occasionally booed Anderson for a perceived lack of hustle. He didn't dive for fly balls and on rare occasions failed to run hard when he hit a ground ball.

Read more:Anderson's Even Keel Is Anchor for Angels

His teammates, however, backed him without hesitation, saying he was one of the smartest players in baseball and made the game look easy through hard work.

“He doesn’t dive for balls because he gets there quicker than most guys,” center fielder Darin Erstad said in 2003.

Fans cheered in shock when Anderson made a diving catch against the Minnesota Twins in 2002.

“But, see, that’s what I’m talking about,” he said. “I never should have had to dive for that ball. I got a bad jump. I study hitters. I have an idea of where the ball is going. I don’t dive because I don’t have to.”

Anderson's understated demeanor fit well in an Angels clubhouse stocked with young, rowdy personalities.

“We have so many emotional guys on this team, Garret is a calming force,” teammate Tim Salmon said in 2003. “He’s criticized for a lack of emotion, but I think it’s good.”

For his part, Anderson possessed a wry sense of humor and wasn't above poking fun at himself.

“Interesting,” he told The Times Bill Plaschke with a faint smile. “I used to be called lazy. Now that we win a World Series, I’m called graceful.”

Read more:Davey Lopes, part of Dodgers' historic infield and World Series winner, dies at age 80

After Anderson retired in 2010, he worked as a television analyst for the Angels.

Garret Joseph Anderson was born June 30, 1972, in Los Angeles. He attended Granada Hills Kennedy High, where he starred in baseball and basketball. He remained close to his baseball coach, Manny Alvarado.

“I’ve lost a handful, some of them at a young age, but this one we had a relationship for a long time," Alvarado said Friday. "I have a ton of memories, some of them from day one and some just recently. The one thing that comes to mind he was kind of an old soul. A lot of major leaguers have a lot to learn from him.

"He was very humble and always picked up the phone. He made it to a lot of alumni games, was very generous."

Anderson was drafted in 1990 by the Angels in the fourth round and made his major league debut July 27, 1994. vs. Oakland before going on to become one of the most productive players in franchise history.

Anderson had a stretch of eight consecutive seasons appearing in at least 150 games for the Angels and played in at least 140 games in 11 of his 17 Major League seasons. He was inducted into the Angels' Hall of Fame in 2016.

"Teammates and fans came to appreciate him for his consistency," DiGiovanna said. "He was like a metronome."

Read more:Shaikin: The Angels ran L.A. early this century. The Dodgers do now. Our all quarter-century teams!

In addition to his World Series Game 7 heroics, Anderson batted .300 with four doubles, two home runs and 13 RBIs during the 2002 postseason. He finished fourth in American League Most Valuable Player voting that year.

In 2003, he became the first player since Cal Ripken Jr. to become both the Home Run Derby champion and MVP of the All-Star Game. Anderson batted .293 with 287 home runs in his career.

His final season came with the Dodgers in 2010. At age 38 he batted only .181 but provided a settling influence on young Dodgers stars Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier.

The Angels will honor Anderson by wearing a memorial patch on their jerseys the rest of the season. There will be a moment of silence and a tribute video before Friday's game.

Anderson is survived by his wife, Teresa, daughters Brianne and Bailey and son Garret "Trey" Anderson III.

Times staff writers Eric Sondheimer and Bill Shaikin contributed to this story.
 

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Coventry City chase promotion to Premier League against Blackburn Rovers – live

⚽ Championship updates from the 8pm BST kick-off
⚽ Latest table | Nick Ames on the Championship | Mail John

Blackburn: Toth, Atcheson, McLoughlin (c), Cashin, Alebiosu, Gardner-Hickman, Baradji, Montgomery, Ribeiro, Morishita, Ohashi. Subs: Pears, Pickering, De Neve, Hedges, Afolayan, O’Riordan, Redmond, Forshaw, Jorgensen

Coventry: Rushworth; Latibeaudiere, Thomas, Kitching; Van Ewijk, Onyeka, Grimes, Dasilva; Rudoni, Simms, Mason-Clark. Subs: Wilson, Woolfenden, Bidwell, Kesler-Hayden, Eccles, Thomas-|Asante, Torp, Haji Wright, Esse.

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Yankees series preview: Not a team you want to face during a losing streak

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 16: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees reacts after hitting a home run in the first inning during the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on April 16, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Royals have stumbled out to a 7-12 start and are winless on this road trip as they travel to the Bronx. The Yankees are always expected to be one of the top teams to contend for a title, although a championship has eluded them now for 16 seasons. They got off to a great start this year, but have dropped seven of their last nine, including getting swept by the Rays.

Kansas City Royals (7-12) vs. New York Yankees (10-9) at Yankee Stadium, New York, NY

Royals: 3.42 runs scored/game (26th in MLB), 4.16 runs allowed/game (12th)

Yankees: 4.53 runs scored/game (13th), 4.00 runs allowed/game (8th)

Only four teams have hit more home runs than the Yankees this year, and 15 of their 23 home runs have come at home. They also have the second-highest walk rate in baseball. Aaron Judge is tied for the most home runs in baseball with eight. He’s a .325/.416/.663 with 16 home runs in 43 career games against the Royals. He is hitting just 3-f0r-21 with 11 strikeouts against Michael Wacha though.

Trent Grisham hit just .182/.303/.348 against lefties last year. Austin Wells hit .208/.259/.403 in the second half last year. Shortstop Anthony Volpe is out with a shoulder injury, replaced by José Caballero, who stole 49 bases last year. Giancarlo Stanton is just 4-for-29 (.138) over his last nine games, although he homered yesterday against the Angels.

The Yankees are without Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt, and Gerrit Cole due to injury, and the Royals will miss Max Fried this series. But Cam Schlittler leads all pitchers in fWAR so far this year, tossing 13.2 scoreless innings to start the season. He had made just 18 career MLB starts, but has a 2.85 ERA with 114 strikeouts in 94.2 innings. He throws a 97 mph four-seamer that opponents are hitting just .161 against this year.

Will Warren has only pitched into the fifth inning once in his first four starts. Lefties hit .266/.350/.436 against him last year. He relies a lot on a sinker and sweeper, generating a 56 groundball rate so far this year.

The Yankees acquired lefty Ryan Weathers from the Marlins for four minor leaguers last winter. He has pitched in parts of the last five seasons, but has never made more than 20 starts in a year. Injuries limited him to just eight starts last year, and he posted a 3.99 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 38.1 innings. In his last start against the Angels, nine of the 10 balls in play against were flyballs sent at least 295 feet.

The Yankees’ bullpen has a 4.13 ERA and they have four blown saves already. David Bednar is tied for the AL lead with five saves, but he has given up a run in four of his last six outings. Fernando Cruz had a 36 percent strikeout rate last year, seventh-highest for a pitcher with at least 30 innings. Tim Hill had a 64.8 percent ground ball rate last year.

The Royals are coming off getting swept and are in bad need of some early wins. Yankee Stadium is a tough place for that, but the smaller dimensions of the ballpark may get the bats going. The Royals need to at least grab a win, and maybe two, or else they will return home Monday finding their season in a deep hole.

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The Jumbo Jack and Panda Express Plate promotions have returned

Jack in the Box Mascot at ChainFEST, the world's first gourmet chain food festival on December 1, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images) | Variety via Getty Images

Almost two seasons ago, I was watching a Dodgers telecast where announcer Joe Davis and play-by-play analyst Orel Hershiser commented about one of the two main food promotions associated with the Dodgers: the “free” Jumbo Jack with the purchase of a large drink at participating Jack in the Box restaurants, the day after the Dodgers strike out at least seven batters.

The banter included a call to action for a reporter like Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times to investigate the matter, with the acknowledgment that most serious reporters would not touch this story. I accepted the challenge because doing my own thing is part of my brand here at True Blue LA.

Sometimes we get investigative pieces about the Dodgers Gondola Project, sometimes we get travelogues about Japan, and sometimes we get silly little essays about “free” hamburgers and modestly discounted sugar chicken.

Life is just funny, sometimes.

Speaking of sugar chicken, the other major fast-food promotion is offered when the Dodgers win at home. The following day, at participating Los Angeles-area restaurants, one can purchase a discounted two-entree plate from Panda Express for $7. The cost of this promotion has increased by a dollar each year over the last two years, making it less of a solid deal.

As a fun aside, Panda Express is an offshoot of the Panda Inn, which opened in Pasadena in 1973 and elsewhere in southern California, before eventually spawning the fast-casual chain we all know today. Would I ever want sugar chicken but fancy? Probably not, but to each their own.

This season, I have finally taken measures to keep track, mostly in real time, of the Dodgers’ progress in triggering these promotions. There was an AM/PM promotion for a free hot dog (after the Dodgers steal a base), and there is a McDonald’s promotion for a “free” six-piece chicken McNuggets (with a $2 purchase) after the Dodgers score six runs. But these promotions have largely failed to capture the imagination of the fanbase, mostly because they seemed ill-conceived.

The people are not clamoring for a free gas-station hot dog or a convoluted way to get one of the better things on the McDonald’s menu. (Author’s note: the best thing is the Egg McMuffin — period.)

If anything, these promotions used to work outside of the Los Angeles area, even as far away as Tulare County, three to four hours to the north. Not anymore. Am I to blame for that fact? God, I hope not.

The status of the big two promotions

As you can see, the Dodgers have been humming along, churning out victories, discounted Panda Plates, and “free” Jumbo Jacks with aplomb. Last year, the Dodgers triggered the Jumbo Jack promotion 131 times out of 162 regular season games, which is roughly a 80.9% clip. Last year, the Dodgers won 52 out of 81 home games to trigger the Panda Express promotion, which is about a 64.2% clip.

So far, the Dodgers are at a slightly slower pace with the Jumbo Jacks promotion and a slightly faster pace with the Panda Express promotion, but the season is still less than a full month old.

To refer to Joe Davis’ original request, no one should be eating fast food every single day. If one were forced to, there are ways to make the Panda Express plate tolerable to your health (double teriyaki chicken, no sauce, vegetables — you’re welcome).

With Jack in the Box, it’s much harder to be healthier. Admittedly, you’re at a burger joint; the window for good choices closed as even less bad menu choices are not covered by the promotion, which is the only reason apart from sheer hunger than patrons should go.

Unlike other seasons, I am keeping a daily track to prevent the slog of sifting through box scores for a single statistic, which is anathema to joy. Speaking of anathema, Jack in the Box has gone through tough times like another fast food operators in recent years.

The company has had a colorful history, accidentally serving Australian horse and kangaroo meat in the early 1980s to marketing that was poorly timed with the Oklahoma City bombing in 1994. Does this downturn mean the Jumbo Jack promotion may go the way of Rax and other fast food restaurants swept into the dustbin of history? Who can say.

Still, if one lives in the Los Angeles area and wanted to take “advantage” of these deals, sooner would be better than later. However, given recent history, the Dodgers will likely trigger either or both of these promotions on a regular basis during the rest of the 2026 campaign.

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Martin Perez returns to Braves, opens Phillies series on mound

It’s been quite an eventful week for Martin Perez.

After allowing one run over five innings in the Braves’ 6-0 loss to Cleveland on Saturday, he was designated for assignment but elected free agency when he cleared waivers on Tuesday. However, he rejoined the Braves on a minor league contract Wednesday and was officially brought back to the Atlanta roster Friday morning.

That lands him right back where he was at this time last week, taking the mound the fifth spot in the Braves’ rotation as Atlanta kicks off a three-game road series against the Philadelphia Phillies Friday evening.

Perez, 35, was viewed as more of a depth piece when he signed a minor league contract with the Braves in late January. As the injuries stacked up, though, his case for a roster spot grew and eventually came to fruition.

Now in his 15th major league season, Perez has largely been what Atlanta needed from a fill-in starter. In three games (two starts), he’s allowed five runs over 14 1/3 innings for a 3.14 ERA. He’s never really been a strikeout pitcher and has just six this season, but has managed well with a 0.91 WHIP.

Per Baseball Savant, he’s in the ninth percentile in whiff percentage and third percentile in strikeout percentage. However, he’s in the 87th percentile in barrel percentage and 83rd percentile in hard-hit percentage.

Atlanta will be looking for Perez to set the tone against Philadelphia as it looks to move back atop the NL East this season after a two-year lull. After the Braves had won the regular-season series against the Phillies each of the last four years, Philadelphia claimed the season series for the first time since 2019 last year, winning eight of 13 games against Atlanta on the way to its second straight division title.

The Phillies, though, have not been at their best early this season. They enter this series with an 8-10 record having lost three straight series, most recently losing two of three to Arizona and the Chicago Cubs at home.

They are tied for 10th in the league in home runs (20), but 23rd in batting average (.229), 22nd in on-base percentage (.309) and 18th in slugging percentage (.381).

It hasn’t been much better on the mound for Philadelphia. Without Zach Wheeler early this season as he nears a return from thoracic outlet decompression surgery which included the removal of a rib which he kept, they’re 26th in the league in ERA (4.92) and dead last in opponent’s batting average (.276).

While Cristopher Sánchez has picked up right where he left off (the Braves will see him Saturday against Chris Sale in a battle of the aces), a number of other starters have struggled in the early going. That includes veteran RHP Taijuan Walker (1-2, 7.36 ERA), who the Braves will face in the series opener.

Walker was hit hard in his first two starts of the season, allowing a combined 17 hits and 10 earned runs over 9 2/3 innings in losses against the Nationals and Rockies. But he may have found something last time out against the Diamondbacks, allowing two runs on four hits over five innings with a season-high six strikeouts and two walks.

He did allow one more home run in that win, though, running his season total to four.

Friday’s game will be the only game of the weekend with the local broadcasting crew of Brandon Gaudin and C.J. Nitkowski. Saturday’s game will be broadcast on FOX, and Sunday’s will be back on NBC/Peacock for the second straight week.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Friday, April 17, 6:40 p.m. EDT

Location: Citizens Bank Ballpark, Philadelphia, PA

TV: BravesVision, Gray TV

Streaming: MLB.tv

Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan

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David Stearns talks causes of Mets' struggles: 'Urgency is not the problem here’

It’s been a tough week for the Mets. 

The club's offense has been stuck in a rut, as they’ve found themselves quickly falling to five games under the .500 mark in the midst of their eight-game losing streak. 

New York has been shut out three times, and they’ve scored just 12 runs over that span. 

“We haven’t played good baseball for the last week,” David Stearns said Friday in Chicago. “We’ve had a tough time scoring runs -- it’s a combination of we’re not hitting great and we also ran into some good pitching, and we need to play better.”

While the Mets have looked lifeless at times during this tough stretch, Stearns emphasized that urgency is not the problem. 

The inability to generate scoring chances has often led to them trying to do too much at the plate, which has led to them sitting among the league's worst in chase rate. 

“We’re trying to score runs,” Stearns said. “Sometimes you have to let the pitcher come to you, and that’s really easy for me to say and it’s really easy for me to watch a game and think that -- it’s a heck of a lot tougher when you’re in the box and want to make something happen.

“You guys have asked about urgency -- there’s plenty of urgency, there’s plenty of want -- sometimes that can lead to things like chase rate, unfortunately, but I think that ends with just one bases-clearing double. We’ve all seen that throughout our careers in baseball, and I think once we get that it’ll normalize.”

Even while they wait for that one big knock, Stearns feels good about the team he assembled.

“We believe in our players,” he said. “Fundamentally, we believe that we have good players who are preparing in the best way possible, who are working hard, and in my experience when you have players who care about the right things -- which our players do -- it leads to good results.

“Certainly over the seven-to-10 days we haven’t seen that, but we still have a long season to go and I’m confident that we will see it.”

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Playoff Preview: 3 Keys to Cavs beating Raptors

TORONTO, CANADA - NOVEMBER 24: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers stands for the National Anthem before the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 24, 2025 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers are entering the 2026 NBA Playoffs with a chip on their shoulders. Before they can prove anything of substance and go the distance, they need to take care of business as the heavy favorites in their first-round series with the Toronto Raptors.

Here are three keys to making sure that happens. All stats are via Cleaning the Glass.

1. Control the Pace

The Cavs have a talent advantage in this series. But talent can only get you so far. Winning on the margins is often what determines outcomes. If you lose the mini-battles, you lose the series.

For Cleveland, losing control of the pace would be the quickest path to destruction.

Toronto finished the regular season 3rd in transition frequency. They scored over 20 points per game off fastbreaks. They also generated the fourth most turnovers in the league. These transition opportunities are huge for a team that finished 13th in offensive efficiency.

In short, this series favors the Cavs if they can keep this game in the halfcourt. How do you achieve that?

Taking care of the ball is the first step. Cleveland finished the season 8th in turnover percentage and was even better (6th) in the two months after acquiring James Harden. This will be key as the Cavs ranked 11th in transition defense post All-Star break, but struggled heavily in scenarios created off turnovers, finishing 20th off steals.

Then there’s the double-edged sword of attacking the offensive glass. On one hand, offensive rebounds can wear a team down and slow things significantly. On the other hand, coming up short on an offensive board will leave your transition defense more vulnerable. The Cavs have to play this carefully.

The Raptors finished 1st in transition frequency off live rebounds. However, they ranked 19th in keeping opponents off the offensive glass. Cleveland was 11th in offensive rebounding percentage. There’s an opportunity for the Cavs to burn or get burned here. I’ll be interested to see how they approach this.

Either way, a slower pace benefits Cleveland. Expect the Cavs to make this their top priority in round one.

2. Trust the Math

There isn’t much in the world that everyone can agree on. We can, however, agree that three is greater than two, right?

If my math is correct, then the Cavs once again have an advantage.

The Raptors finished 25th in three-point frequency and 18th in accuracy this season. They are… not a great perimeter team. Aside from scoring in transition, the Raps primarily made up for their lack of shooting by attacking the paint (9th in rim frequency) and mid-range (6th in mid-range frequency).

This is exactly the type of style that Cleveland’s defense prefers to go against.

The Cavs have always worked to run opponents off the line and force them to score from the middle of the floor. Difficult, inefficient two-pointers are preferable to three-point jumpers. This has been the basis of Cleveland being an elite defense in years past. It will be their blueprint for round one, too.

Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes will try their best to beat Cleveland from the mid-range. They’ll likely even have a game or two where they are red-hot from that zone. But this is a gamble the Cavs are willing to accept. The math says that Toronto will have a hard time winning four out of seven games by scoring in the mid-range.

The Cavs will trust that even the most prolific scoring performance from the mid-range will be something they can overcome with their own three-point shooting. Let’s talk more about that in our next section.

3. Score, Score, Score

I can’t blame anyone who might feel hesitant to trust Cleveland’s defense. After all, we spent most of the regular season watching them either be banged up or struggling to play with consistent effort. I’ll grant you that concern.

But this team should pack a strong enough punch offensively to make everything else in this series moot.

Lineups featuring James Harden had an offensive rating of 120.9 (87th percentile). Add Donovan Mitchell next to him, and those lineups had a scorching 125.7 offensive rating (98th percentile). You’re banking on that being enough to overcome anything in this first round, even a top-10 defense.

For reference, the Cavs ranked sixth in offensive rating against top-10 opponents after the All-Star break. The Raps ranked 21st.

The problem-solving capabilities of Harden and Mitchell make this possible. They can punish you in isolation, through their pick-and-roll dynamism with Allen and Mobley, or by spraying the ball to any of Cleveland’s various three-point specialists. They have a solution to anything a defense can throw at them.

And while we know that the guards can fill it up, the potential for either Mobley or Allen to control the paint is just as dangerous. These two hit their stride in the back half of the season and will put a heavy strain on Toronto’s frontcourt to keep them from racking up dunks.

Finally, X-Factors like Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, Keon Ellis, and Max Strus can swing the entire series with their three-point shooting. Either one of them can heat up in a hurry and deliver a game-ending run.

All in all, the Cavalier offense has all of the tools needed to be an extinction-level threat to the Raptors. This is their greatest advantage in round one.

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Tyler Glasnow in Coors for the first time ever

Apr 10, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow (31) throws to the plate during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Going on his third season as a Dodger in 2026, Tyler Glasnow still has a lot of firsts left to accomplish, and one of them will be done this weekend—would you believe that this will be the first time Glasnow starts a game in Coors Field in his career? Scheduling and injuries have prevented the tall right-hander from taking the mound in Colorado before—that’ll change as the Dodgers and Rockies meet for the first time in 2026, both already exactly where they’re expected to be at season’s end, on opposite ends of the NL West standings, Los Angeles in first and Colorado in last place, tied with the Giants.

Early results for Glasnow in 2026 are about as Glasnow-esque as it gets, with his ERA (4.00) not matching the level of dominance he has displayed on the mound, striking out 22 hitters in 18 frames with a sub-1.00 WHP—one couldn’t even tie a home run problem to his high ERA. A three-start sample is just that, but it’s also very like him to deliver these types of numbers.

In a timely fashion, the Dodgers starters kicked things up a notch in the last series against the Mets, which means the bullpen will come in fresh for this series against the Rockies. Relievers only had to cover 6.1 of the 27 innings against the Mets, with Blake Treinen as the only pitcher who appeared twice.

While we’re on the subject of good pitching, the veteran Tomoyuki Suagno, who’ll oppose Glasnow in this Friday’s matchup, is off to quite the start, including six innings of one-run ball against the Phillies in his last home outing. Sugano has had a home run problem, but all four homers he allowed were solo shots, maintaining a low ERA thanks to it. Generating traffic isn’t the biggest of challenges in Coors—if they do it, the home runs have been there against Sugano.

Friday’s game info

  • Teams: Dodgers at Rockies
  • Ballpark: Coors Field, Denver
  • Start time: 5:40 p.m. PT
  • TV: SportsNet LA & Rockies TV
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
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Hornets vs Magic Props & Best Bets for Tonight

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The Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic are in a battle for their NBA playoff lives.

Tonight’s NBA Play-In finale should be absolutely riveting, and my Hornets vs. Magic predictions and NBA props projections have found three potential mismatches to take advantage of.

Read on for my NBA picks for Friday, April 17.

Best Hornets vs Magic props

PlayerPickbet365
MagicWendell Carter Jr.Over 1.5 assists+100
HornetsMiles BridgesOver 1.5 threes +102
Hornets Kon KnueppelOver 2.5 threes-130

Prop #1: Wendell Carter Jr. Over 1.5 assists

+100 at bet365

As the Orlando Magic's starting center, Wendell Carter Jr.regularly serves as the offensive hub, with Orlando guards and wings cutting to the cup off his passes.

Our Covers prop projections have Carter dropping at least two dimes tonight, which is something he has done in three of his previous seven games. 

The Charlotte Hornets rank among the league's worst at defending big man playmakers, making this a prime opportunity for Carter to rack up the dimes.

Prop #2: Miles Bridges Over 1.5 threes

+100 at bet365

Miles Bridges has quietly become one of Charlotte’s most reliable 3-point threats.

With LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller drawing constant defensive attention and creating open looks on the perimeter, Bridges benefits from some of the best kick-out opportunities on the team.

He’s knocked down at least four threes in four of his previous seven games and should get there again against Orlando.

Prop #3: Kon Knueppel Over 2.5 threes 

-130 at bet365

Kon Knueppel has been one of the more impressive shooting revelations for Charlotte this season. He’s drained the fourth-most threes in the NBA this season and is coming off a 0-for-6 stinker against Miami.

Our model expects a bounce-back shooting night, and Knueppel has made at least three threes in four of his previous seven games. 

I expect Orlando's defense to prioritize stopping Ball first, so I’ll back the rookie sharpshooter against the Magic. 

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Warriors vs Suns Win Probability at Prediction Markets Like Kalshi

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The Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns collide in a win-or-go-home showdown, with the winner punching a ticket to the playoffs and the loser sent packing.

The Suns may be priced as favorites, but that number carries less weight in a win-or-go-home spot, where rotations shrink, stars take over, and variance swings harder than the market accounts for.

With prediction markets like Kalshi offering a sharper, real-time read on sentiment, we’re breaking down the latest Warriors vs. Suns predictions and best NBA picks for this high-stakes clash.

Who will win Warriors vs Suns?

Warriors win probability:43% (+133)
Suns win probability:59% (-144)

The Phoenix Suns come in as slight favorites at 59% (-144), while the Golden State Warriors sit at 43% (+133), setting up a tight game that will likely come down to which superstar — Devin Booker or Stephen Curry — takes over when it matters most.

Our prediction:Suns to win

Covers NBA expert Jason Logan says "The Suns are being discounted after running into a hot Portland squad on Tuesday, and the Golden State Warriors will show their age in a tough travel spot Friday."

Read more in Jason Logan's full Warriors vs. Suns predictions.

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Sign up now using our exclusive Kalshi promo code 'COVERS' and get a $10 trading bonus after you trade $10 on any other event contracts — including Warriors/Suns!

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More Warriors vs Suns prediction markets

You're certainly not limited to the main game outcome for Warriors vs. Suns at Kalshi; you also have options to trade on the spread, total, and more, among other NBA odds markets.

You can buy either side of a market — for example, "Yes" on the Suns -2.5 spread means the Suns will cover, while "No" means the Warriors will cover — with each side priced based on the implied probability (which can be converted to American, Decimal, or Fraction odds using the Covers odds converter).

Warriors vs Suns spread and total at prediction markets

OutcomeYesNo
Suns -2.553¢ (-113)48¢ (+108)
Over 218.5 points53¢ (-113)48¢ (+108)

Our predictions:Suns -2.5— Yes and Over 218.5 points — No

That potential for a faceplant isn’t the only reason I’m fading Golden State. The Warriors will now hit the road for the fourth time in eight days, which is a lot of wear and tear on the aging legs of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis.

The Phoenix Suns, on the other hand, get to stay home and enjoy an added day of rest and prep. Phoenix is being discounted after running into a red-hot Portland squad in the Play-In and has shown an ability to bounce back from poor performances, going 22-15 SU and 21-16 ATS when coming off a loss.

Other Warriors vs Suns prediction markets available

  • Devin Booker 25+ points (Yes: 64¢)
  • Steph Curry 25% points (Yes: 70¢)
  • Draymond Green double-double (Yes: 17¢)

What is Kalshi and how does it work?

Kalshi is a federally regulated U.S. exchange where you trade directly on the outcome of real-world future events. Instead of traditional bets, you trade "Event Contracts" which are simple Yes/No questions like "Will the Suns win tonight?" These events are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, and the prices reflect the market’s estimated probability of that event occurring. For instance, $0.55 equals a 55% chance. If your prediction is correct, the contract pays out exactly $1.00; if not, it settles at $0. Kalshi is essentially a stock market for reality.

How does Kalshi differ from sportsbooks?

In a sportsbook, you bet against the bookmaker, who sets fixed odds and takes a "vig," which is a kind of commission. On Kalshi, you trade against other users. This peer-to-peer model means prices are driven by supply and demand, often resulting in fairer odds. Additionally, because these are financial derivatives, you can exit your position early. If your team takes a 14-point lead, the contract price will rise, allowing you to sell your "Yes" shares for a profit before the final whistle even blows.

Why should I wager on Warriors vs Suns at Kalshi?

Kalshi offers four unique advantages over traditional sportsbooks:

  1. Flexibility: Unlike a "locked-in" bet, you can sell your contract at any time.

  2. Transparency: You trade against other users, which can allow you to find better value.

  3. Federal regulation: As a CFTC-regulated exchange, your funds are held in a secure, transparent environment.

  4. Availability: Kalshi is available in 49 states (excluding Nevada) and D.C., including many regions where traditional sportsbooks aren't yet legal.

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Hornets vs Magic Computer Picks: Our Best Player Prop Projections for April 17

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Our NBA player prop projections are set for tonight’s Play-In Tournament finale between the Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic, with the model pinpointing several standout opportunities.

By analyzing the data and comparing it to current market lines, we’ve uncovered the bets with the highest value.

These Hornets vs. Magic predictions aren’t guesswork — they’re driven by the numbers.

For those building their cards, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Friday, April 17.

Hornets vs Magic computer picks for April 17

Hornets HornetsMagic Magic
Ball o23.5 points
-120		Banchero u22.5 points 
-105
Knueppel o2.5 threes
-130		Carter Jr. u7.5 rebounds 
-135
Ball o7.5 assists
+100		Suggs u5.5 assists 
-125

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Hornets computer picks

LaMelo Ball Over 23.5 points (-120)

Projection: 23.6 points

LaMelo Ball has been on a scoring tear lately, putting up 29.4 points per game over his last five outings — a sharp jump of 9.2 points above his season average.

The matchup also works in his favor. When on the road, opposing starting point guards have shot 42.3% from beyond the arc against the Orlando Magic — the sixth-highest mark allowed in the league. That vulnerability from deep sets the stage for Ball to surpass his points prop once again tonight.

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Kon Knueppel Over 2.5 threes (-130)

Projection: 3.1 threes

The Magic have pushed the pace at the third-fastest rate in the league over their last 10 games, creating a boost in possessions for the Charlotte Hornets.

That uptick in tempo opens the door for Kon Knueppel to bounce back from a quiet postseason debut and make his mark from deep, giving Charlotte a much-needed spark as they look to punch their ticket to the playoffs.

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LaMelo Ball Over 7.5 assists (+100)

Projection: 7.9 assists

Ball has cleared the 7.5 assist line in 6 of his last 10 games, and the recent trend points to a player fully in command of his team’s offense at the right time of year.

Orlando’s defensive identity is built on length and help-side pressure, which often forces the ball out of a lead guard’s hands, but that’s exactly where Ball thrives.

If Orlando commits extra attention to slowing his scoring, Ball’s assist upside only grows. With shooters spacing the floor and transition chances likely to increase, the path to 8+ assists is firmly in play once again.

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Magic computer picks

Paolo Banchero Under 22.5 points (-105)

Projection: 21.9 points

The Charlotte Hornets have operated at the slowest pace in the league over their last 10 road games, a trend that should naturally limit possessions for the Orlando Magic.

That kind of environment doesn’t set up well for Paolo Banchero, who has already fallen short of the 22.5-point mark in 6 of his last 10 outings.

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Wendell Carter Jr. Under 7.5 rebounds (-135)

Projection: 7.2 rebounds

The Magic rank as the fourth-worst offensive rebounding team in the league at home over their last 20 games, limiting second-chance opportunities.

That trend hasn’t helped Wendell Carter Jr., who has fallen short of the 7.5 rebound line in 7 of his last 10 outings.

Facing a locked-in Hornets squad, expect them to control the glass and further cap Carter Jr.’s rebounding chances tonight.

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Jalen Suggs Under 5.5 assists (-125)

Projection: 5.4 assists

Fewer trips up the floor means fewer chances for Jalen Suggs to rack up dimes, especially if Orlando prioritizes efficient scoring over ball movement.

There’s also a usage component to consider. In a win-or-go-home setting, the Magic are more likely to lean heavily on their primary creators, leaving Suggs to focus on defense, spot-up shooting, and secondary actions rather than orchestrating the offense.

If his touches remain in that complementary role, reaching 6+ assists becomes a tough ask once again.

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How to watch Hornets vs Magic tonight

LocationKia Center, Orlando, FL
DateFriday, April 17, 2026
Tip-off7:30 p.m. ET
TVPrime Video

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