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Vegas Golden Knights Set Standard For Border Rival Utah Mammoth

As the Golden Knights approach their 10th anniversary in the NHL, they've gone from an upstart franchise looking at others for a standard to follow, to the one setting a standard for the two newest franchises that have entered the league since, league commissioner Gary Bettman and Utah Mammoth owner Ryan Smith both agreed, speaking before Game 3 in Salt Lake City on Friday night.

"You start from an expansion standpoint, Vegas and Seattle did it right, although slightly different circumstances, to here in Utah," Bettman said. "Starting with how well George McPhee managed the expansion draft, the fact that they reinvented what pregame shows are made in quintessential Vegas. It's been very gratifying to see that a market that some were skeptical about when we announced expansion, to now see that every other sport thinks they invented, it has been a little gratifying."

That owner Bill Foley and Bettman saw something before the WNBA, NFL, MLB and NBA did, in a town long known for being an adult Disneyland with its 24-hour gambling, burlesque shows and late-night steak specials, is something nobody will take away from them.

What followed after the announcement that there would be ice hockey in the desert was something nobody would predict, with one of the greatest professional sports franchise debuts in 2017-18, when the Knights made it to the Stanley Cup Final, and then hoisting the Cup in 2023. The franchise has been in the postseason in all but one season since its inception, with this year's opening round becoming special with the close ties between Utah and Nevada.

"I think the national landscape doesn't understand the proximity in so many different ways, of Utah and Las Vegas," Smith said. "Growing up in Las Vegas, it's where kids went for youth sports, it's where we went on the weekends. We're just close."

Smith, who also owns the NBA's Utah Jazz, earned the NHL's newest franchise on April 18, 2024, when the league's Board of Governors granted him an expansion franchise.

In lieu of an expansion draft to stock the new team, Smith acquired the hockey assets of the Arizona Coyotes, which suspended hockey operations at the same time, as players, coaches and draft picks simply shifted to Utah.

The team is now in its second season, and has established as fervent a fanbase as the Knights have in Vegas.

And even though the Knights were a true expansion team, and the Mammoth were a relocation project from Phoenix, it was the standard that left Smith optimistic for the future.

The ties between St. George, Utah and Southern Nevada run deeper than most people might realize, as legendary basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian once held his basketball camp at Dixie College, now known as Utah Tech, in the late 1970s.

Before CSN established an athletics department, Dixie became the go-to school for Southern Nevada athletes needing a start-up vehicle before landing their dream car, er, college of choice.

So, naturally, despite the teams being in different divisions - the Mammoth in the Central and Knights in the Pacific - an opening-round series is the perfect setting for a border rivalry.

The Mammoth fired up the rivalry even more before Game 3, when the organization offered a jersey exchange in front of the Delta Center, offering Utah residents to swap their fandom from the Knights to their new team. It worked, too, as hundreds of fans lined up to swap jerseys hours before puck drop.

"As much as everyone thinks I'm just trolling (the Knights), no, it's 50 percent," Smith joked. "I think it's way more of a respect for how they've grown. And I think that's part of the responsibilities. Kind of slide over and let the new group come in, in a weird way, similar to the way that someone slid over for them to come in. And so nothing but respect."

Respect is all Smith has for Foley, McPhee and general manager Kelly McCrimmon, and everything Vegas has built the past nine seasons.

"I understand the soul that hockey has brought to Vegas in a really creative way," Smith added. "Watching it succeed there gave me a ton of confidence that it would work here. Given my background and the landscape and the way I think culturally, we're way more similar than different, and that's the part that most people don't understand."

What's clearly understood, even with the NBA and MLB arriving in the next two years, is that in helping Las Vegas establish an identity beyond the Strip, the Knights have a firm fanbase that started from day one and helped set the standard for professional sports in a town that's gone from the Entertainment Capital of the World to one of the most sought after cities for professional sports franchises and all sporting events.

PHOTO CAPTION: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Utah Mammoth owner Ryan Smith speak to the media before game three of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Delta Center.

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Flashback: Nicklas Lidstrom Reverses Red Wings Fortunes With Center-Ice Shot

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There may never be another NHL team assembled like the 2001-02 Detroit Red Wings, who boasted a total of 10 future Hall of Fame players and were led by the legendary Scotty Bowman, the game's greatest coach. 

However, that aura seemed to fade a bit during the opening two games of the 2002 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Red Wings, who were the first overall seed by a wide margin, were matched up against the No. 8 Vancouver Canucks, who stunned them with two straight victories to open the series at Joe Louis Arena. 

Heading into Vancouver for a pivotal Game 3, the Red Wings took a 1-0 first-period lead thanks to a tally from captain Steve Yzerman, who was essentially playing on one leg.

But Vancouver knotted the score at 1-1 midway through the second frame after future Red Wings forward Todd Bertuzzi roofed a backhander past a sprawling Dominik Hasek. 

With time winding down in the second period, both teams appeared as though they would head to their respective dressing rooms to figure out a game plan on how to gain the advantage in the third period. 

However, Nicklas Lidstrom singlehandidly changed the series around with what appeared to be an innocent shot from center ice. 

Lidstrom's shot from almost 100 feet away skipped under the glove of goaltender Dan Cloutier, giving Detroit a stunning 2-1 lead. 

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Brendan Shanahan then added a tally in the third period, during which Hasek shut down Bertuzzi on a penalty shot. 

Remembering the Red Wings’ 2002 Stanley Cup Triumph, 23 Years LaterRemembering the Red Wings’ 2002 Stanley Cup Triumph, 23 Years LaterA look back at the Red Wings’ 2002 Stanley Cup victory on its 23rd anniversary highlighting key moments a star-studded roster and a historic farewell to Scotty Bowman

From that point on, the Red Wings won four straight against the Canucks, rallying from what had the makings of a disastrous first-round exit.

Eventually, they'd raise the Stanley Cup for the 10th time in team history later that spring with a five-game series win over the Carolina Hurricanes. 

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The NHL Winter Classic will be played in Utah on New Year's Eve

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The NHL Winter Classic for the 2026-27 season will be played on New Year’s Eve, league commissioner Gary Bettman announced on Friday.

The Utah Mammoth will host divisional rival Colorado Avalanche at Rice-Eccles Stadium on the University of Utah campus.

Bettman was in Salt Lake City for Game 3 of the first-round series between Utah and the Vegas Golden Knights.

Mammoth owner Ryan Smith said other events will be put together in conjunction with the Winter Classic to run throughout the holiday weekend — highlighted by a postgame concert at the Delta Center on New Year's Eve.

“Our hope is this is a whole weekend that is a version of an all-star game where we can come in and we can program and activate our state and show our state off,” Smith said. “You can expect a weekend of full programming of events, sports, concerts, and activities that will be pretty special.”

___

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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Dodgers on Deck: Saturday, April 25 vs. Cubs

Los Angeles, CA - April 12: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) looks towards the field before heading to pitch before the first inning of an MLB game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Texas Rangers at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, April 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

The Dodgers and Cubs continue their weekend series with another exclusive national broadcast on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday is the Dodgers’ first game on Fox this season, which means no SportsNet LA for the series opener. But they will have Joe Davis on the national call, his first of two consecutive Dodgers Saturday telecasts for Fox.

Roki Sasaki gets the start on his bobblehead night, the third Dodgers player to play in their bobblehead game this season. Will Smith hit a game-winning two-run home run in the eighth inning on March 28, which was also his 31st birthday. Shohei Ohtani had a single and walk in his five plate appearances on April 10.

Right-hander Colin Rea starts for the Cubs.

Saturday game info
  • Teams: Dodgers vs. Cubs
  • Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
  • Time: 4:15 p.m.
  • TV: Fox (Joe Davis, John Smoltz)
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
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Yankees' Carlos Rodon pitches 4.1 scoreless innings in first rehab start

Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón made his first rehab start for High-A Hudson Valley on Friday night as he recovers from left elbow surgery and he hit the ground running by going 4.1 scoreless innings against the Brooklyn Cyclones, the Mets' High-A affiliate.

Rodón allowed a hit, a Mitch Voit leadoff single, a walk and struck out four while throwing 65 pitches (43 strikes). He also hit a batter -- Voit in the third -- but ended his outing without surrendering a run.

At 50 pitches through three innings, Rodón went back out for the fourth inning which took him just nine pitches to complete, ending the frame with a strikeout of Colin Houck. After getting the first out of the fifth, Rodon walked the next batter, on a few questionable calls, and was pulled. He left with a 4-0 lead.

Rory Fox entered in relief and struck out two, stranding Rodón's runner at first base.

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Cubs roster move: Caleb Thielbar to injured list, Vince Velasquez added

Earlier today, I reported on the Cubs roster move replacing Scott Kingery on the active roster with Nicky Lopez.

The Cubs transactions page had noted Kingery was optioned to Triple-A Iowa.

Now, there’s been another move. As you know, Caleb Thielbar left Thursday’s game with a hamstring injury. This is how that happened [VIDEO].

Before Friday’s game at Dodger Stadium, the Cubs placed Thielbar on the 15-day injured list and added right-hander Vince Velasquez to the active roster. To make room for Velasquez on the 40-man roster, Kingery was designated for assignment.

The 33-year-old Velasquez has a 3.71 ERA (7 ER/17.0 IP) and 19 strikeouts in four games (three starts) with Iowa this season. He leads the I-Cubs in innings pitched and is tied for second in strikeouts. The right-hander signed a minor league contract with an invite to major league spring training with the Cubs on February 13, 2026.

In 191 career major league games, including 144 starts, with Houston (2015), Philadelphia (2016-21), San Diego (2021), the White Sox (2022), and Pittsburgh (2023), Velasquez is 38-51 with a 4.88 ERA (414 ER/763.2 IP), 822 strikeouts, 307 walks, and a 1.37 WHIP. He holds a 34-19 record with three saves, a 3.27 ERA (158 ER/434.1 IP), and 513 strikeouts compared to 173 walks in 109 minor league games (82 starts) across parts of 12 seasons.

I would think Velasquez will work long relief for the Cubs, which might free up Javier Assad to close — Assad did a real nice job in the 10th inning Thursday. Or Assad could set up for Ben Brown.

Lopez will wear No. 5 and Velasquez will wear No. 56.

As always, we await developments.

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Giants GM Joe Schoen: Kayvon Thibodeaux trade talk reports "not true"

Giants General Manager Joe Schoen strongly denied a report concerning trade talks involving edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux.

A report shortly before the start of the the second round of the draft indicated that the Giants were talking to the Saints and others about a trade that would move Thibodeaux off of the Giants' roster. Schoen said on Friday night that there was no validity to that report.

"We have not had any conversations about Kayvon Thibodeaux today," Schoen said, via multiple reporters. "That's not true."

Thibodeaux is heading into the final year of his contract and Thursday night's addition of Arvell Reese gives the Giants a lot of options off the edge, so a Thibodeaux trade seemed like a possible way to address other needs. It does not look like such a move is on the horizon, however.

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Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers preview, Friday 4/24, 9:15 CT

Today’s roster move: Here

Friday notes…

  • STREAKING: The Cubs’ nine-game winning streak is their longest since they won 11 in a row July 31-Aug. 12, 2016. They had won nine in a row Aug. 6-15, 2015, then lost the 10th game. This is their 35th streak of at least nine games since 1901. They won the 10th in 23 of them. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • WINNING THE ONES YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO WIN: Until tonight, the Cubs have not faced an opponent with a winning record in 11 consecutive games, during which they went 10-1. The Cubs’ last such game was on April 12, when they stormed from behind to walk off the Pirates, 7-6. The Cubs are 3-4 in games this year vs. teams with more wins than losses. The two earlier wins were at home vs. the Nationals, in the second game of the season, and at Cleveland, in their eight game. The losses were to Cleveland, in their seventh and ninth games, and at home vs. the Pirates in their 13th and 14th.
  • WINNING WHEN SCORING LOTS OF RUNS: The Cubs are 14-4 when they have scored at least four runs, including 12-1 with six or more. They are 11-2 when they have allowed three of fewer; 5-7 with at least four.
  • THE BUSCH LEAGUE:Michael Busch, career at Dodger Stadium: .317/.379/.633 (19-for-60) with seven doubles, four home runs and 10 RBI. Busch batted .235/.333/.412, 8-for-34 with three doubles and a home run at Dodger Stadium while with the Dodgers in 2023. As a Cub in L.A.: .423/.444/.923 (11-for-26) with four doubles, three home runs and nine runs scored.

The Cubs lineup was not available at posting time. Please check BCB social media for the Cubs lineup.

Dodgers lineup:

Jameson Taillon, RHP vs. Emmet Sheehan, RHP

Jameson Taillon’s numbers are just about at his career averages. His K rate and BB rate are both up a bit from last year, and he’s already served up six home run balls in just 22.2 innings. His last start, last Saturday against the Mets, was pretty good.

Jamo has not faced the Dodgers in more than three years. The last time was April 15, 2023 at Dodger Stadium, so long ago that Jason Heyward started for L.A. in that game.

Current Dodgers are batting .260 (21-for-79) against Taillon. Kyle Tucker has homered off him and Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez have both gone deep twice. Advice: Keep the ball in the yard tonight please.

This will be Emmet Sheehan’s first full year in the Dodgers rotation, as he missed all of 2024 and part of last year after Tommy John surgery. He got hit pretty hard in his first two starts this year, the last two have been better.

He has never faced the Cubs, and among current Cubs, only Alex Bregman (1-for-4) and Michael Conforto (0-for-3) have faced him.

Here is the weather forecast for the area around Dodger Stadium.

Today’s game is on Apple TV (how to watch). Apple announcers: Wayne Randazzo, Dontrelle Willis and Heidi Watney.

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Dodgers site True Blue LA. If you do go there to interact with Dodgers fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.

You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.

The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.

You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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Mariners Game #27, Preview and Discussion: SEA at STL, 4/24/26

Apr 18, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners starter George Kirby (68) delivers a pitch during the second inning against the Texar Rangers at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images | Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

The Mariners had a fairly underwhelming homestand, going just 3-3 against a pair of division rivals in the Rangers and A’s, but a walkoff from Josh Naylor on Wednesday salvaged much of the vibes. After an off day yesterday, Seattle embarks on its first Midwest road trip of the year, kicking things off with a rare three-game set at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The last time the M’s squared off against the Cardinals on their turf, they took two out of three in September 2024, and I know I would happily take that this time around.

Lineups:

Hotshot prospect JJ Wetherholt will lead things off for the Cards, and Jordan Walker appears to have finally unlocked his full potential with a monster start to 2026. St. Louis will be sending out a ground-ball-happy righty in Andre Pallante, and with a sensational defensive shortstop in Masyn Winn playing behind him, it would be prudent for the Mariners’ lineup to get the ball in the air. George Kirby will look to build off a strong outing against Texas, and Seattle will be rolling out its usual lineup against right-handed pitching, with Leo Rivas once again at the hot corner while Brendan Donovan is on the mend.

Game Info:

First Pitch: 5:15pm Pacific

TV: Mariners.tv

Radio: Ol’ reliable

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Game Discussion for St. Louis Cardinals vs Seattle Mariners Friday Night

Apr 12, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante (53) pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

The St. Louis Cardinals return home for a short 3-game homestand as the visiting Seattle Mariners come to town. Unfortunately, former Cardinal Brendan Donovan will not see action as he’s on the injured list. Here’s hoping there will be an opportunity for fans to show their appreciate to Brendan at some point. Andre Pallante is scheduled to get the start for the Cardinals while George Kirby will be on the mound for Seattle. First pitch scheduled for 7:15pm central time.

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Yankees @ Astros: Will Warren vs. Lance McCullers Jr.

HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 03: Will Warren #98 of the New York Yankees pitches during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on September 03, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Fresh off a three-game sweep of Boston at Fenway Park, the Yankees begin the second series of this nine-game road trip. The opponent? Another rival club that is off to a rough start to 2026: the Houston Astros. Devastated by injuries to their pitching staff, the ‘Stros come into the series with a 10-16 record. If you’re wondering how it’s going for Houston on the mound, peep the 5.81 team ERA and collective 1.630 WHIP.

Will Warren takes the ball for New York, coming off one of the finest outings of his career (by Game Score, the second-best) against Kansas City. Warren struck out 11 over seven innings of two-run ball. The 26-year-old is off to a solid start in 2026, with a 2.45 ERA through 25.1 frames. Warren has relied heavily on his heat, throwing his four-seamer and sinker a combined 68 percent of the time. He augments those with his sweeper. And against lefties, he adds a curve and a change into the mix.

Meanwhile, Lance McCullers, Jr., one of the few healthy Astros starting pitchers, makes the start for Houston. One of the scant Astros remaining from the controversial 2017 team that knocked the Yankees out of the ALCS during Aaron Judge’s phenomenal rookie year, McCullers’ career has been absolutely derailed by injury, as he’s missed three entire seasons, including 2023 and 2024. This will be his fifth start of the season. His last two outings have been particularly rough, with McCullers allowing a combined 10 runs in 9.1 innings. Walks have been an issue, with five free passes in those 9.1 innings.

With the Yanks facing a right-handed pitcher for the first time in what seems like months, the lefty boppers are in the lineup. Trent Grisham leads off, and Cody Bellinger and Ben Rice sit behind Judge. Austin Wells gets the night off, so J.C. Escarra dons the tools of ignorance. With all the time McCullers has missed, not many Yankees have experience against him. Judge has faced him 11 times, the most for any Yankee. Giancarlo Stanton is the only Bronx Bomber who’s taken McCullers deep.

Let’s keep this whole “immiserate our enemies” thing going. The Yanks kicked Boston while they were down. Here’s hoping they can do it to the H.

How to Watch:

Location: Daikin Park — Houston, TX

First Pitch: 8:10 pm EDT

TV broadcast: YES / Space City Home Network

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 / KTRH 740 AM/99.1 FM HD-2, KTLN-TUDN 102.9 FM

Online stream: MLB Network (out-of-market-only)

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Astros vs. Yankees Game Thread, Game 27 4/24/26

he Houston Astros (10-16) will play the first of a three-game series with their heated interdivision rival New York Yankkes (16-9), tonight at Daikin Park.

RHP Lance McCullers Jr (1-1, 6.20 ERA) will make his fifth regular season appearance for the Astros tonight opposite the Yankees and starter RHP Will Warren (2-0, 2.49 ERA).

TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP Lance McCullers is making his fifth start of the season as he tries to right the ship after three consecutive lackluster starts.

This season, McCullers opened the season with a brilliant seven inning outing, but has since struggled to get through the fifth inning. He did make it through five innings the last time out, but did give up four tuns in the process taking another loss.

HOME-COOKIN’: Tonight is the first game of a brief three game home stand against the Yankees. Even though the team is 10-16 overall, seven of those wins have come at home this season as the team is a respectable 7-6 at home coming into tonight’s game.

VS. THE YANKEES: This series revives a major rivalry between two stalwart American League franchises including three different playoff tilts since 2015. In spite of the dominance in the playoffs, the Yankees hold a 52-36 record all-time. The two teams split the season series last year at three games a piece.

TODAY’S MEDIA AVAILABILITY: The Astros clubhouse will be open to approved media from 3-3:50 p.m….Astros Manager Joe Espada will be available in the Astros dugout at approx. 3:50 p.m.

STALKING THE PUMA: LF Yordan Alvarez has matched the Astros franchise record with 11 home runs in the club’s first 26 games of a season, also reached one other time, by OF Lance Berkman in 2002…should Alvarez homer tonight, he would be the first player in franchise history to hit 12 homers within the club’s first 27 games.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Saturday, April 18, 6:05 p.m. CST

Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX

TV: Space City Home Network

Streaming: SCHN+

Radio: KTRH 740 AM & 99.1 FM HD2; KTRH 740 AM; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)

Astros Lineup

SS Carlos Correa

DH Yordan Alvarez

3B Isaac Paredes

2B Jose Altuve

1B Christian Walker

RF Cam Smith

LF Dustin Harris

C Yainer Diaz

CF Brice Matthews

Yankees Lineup

CF Trent Grisham

RF Aaron Judge

LF Cody Bellinger

1B Ben Rice

DH Giancarlo Stanton

2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.

C J.C. Escarra

3B Ryan McMahon

SS Jose Caballero

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Mets haven’t discussed moving Devin Williams to set-up role amid continued struggles

Devin Williams’ Mets tenure hasn’t quite started as planned. 

The righty has struggled mightily after starting the season with five straight scoreless outings, as he’s been knocked around and has given up runs each of his last four times out. 

The latest came on Thursday, when Williams again ran into trouble, giving up three hits and a run before recording the final two outs in a victory over the Twins. 

His outs were a pair of strikeouts, but not before bringing the go-ahead run to the plate.

The former All-Star closer is now up to an ugly 10.29 ERA and 2.86 WHIP with six walks and 13 strikeouts over his first nine appearances in orange and blue.

David Stearns broke down what he’s seen of late prior to Friday’s series opener with the Rockies. 

“His changeup hasn’t been where he wants it yet -- there hasn’t been that level of consistency he’s used to,” he said. “He’s gone through stretches like this in his career before and we're confident he will get through this.”

One of those stretches came last season when Williams struggled to find his footing for the majority of his lone campaign pitching on the other side of town with the Yankees.  

He did find more success after the team bumped him to a set-up role in front of Luke Weaver, but that isn't something that the Mets have considered with the two to this point. 

“That’s not something [Carlos Mendoza] and I have really talked about,” Stearns said. “I think we’re focused on getting Devin right, regardless of what inning he happens to be pitching in.”

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Where to watch San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers Game 3 NBA playoffs: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Friday, April 24

The San Antonio Spurs and Portland Trail Blazers meet in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. The teams split the first two games with Portland rallying from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win Game 2. Victor Wembanyama left Game 2 in the second quarter with a concussion and is questionable to play in Game 3.

  • Spread: Portland Trail Blazers 2.5

  • Moneyline: Portland Trail Blazers +118 (43.7%) / San Antonio Spurs -145 (56.3%)

  • Over/Under: 220.5

Game 1:Spurs 111, Trail Blazers 98
Game 2:Trail Blazers 106, Spurs 103
Game 3: San Antonio at Portland on Friday, April 24 (10:30 p.m., Prime Video)
Game 4: San Antonio at Portland on Sunday, April 26 (3:30 p.m., ESPN)
*Game 5: Portland at San Antonio on Tuesday, April 28 (time and network TBD)
*Game 6: San Antonio at Portland on Thursday, April 30 (time and network TBD)
*Game 7: Portland at San Antonio on Saturday, May 2 (time and network TBD)

*if necessary