The Mets were hoping to extend their winning streak to three games on Friday, especially with their ace Freddy Peralta on the mound against the Rockies.
Unfortunately for the Mets, their high-profile trade acquisition was good but not great and, more importantly, could not go deep into the game again as New York fell, 4-3.
Peralta, who suffered his third consecutive loss, allowed just two runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out eight batters. However, he only pitched 5.2 innings and gave way to a beleaguered Mets bullpen, which would not keep the Rockies lineup off the scoreboard.
After Friday's loss, Peralta's ERA is at a respectable -- for this time of year -- 3.90, but the right-hander's inability to work deep into games this season may be concerning.
He's pitched a complete six innings just once to this point and has not recorded an out in the seventh at all with the Mets. Look even further back and Peralta hasn't recorded an out in the seventh since July 13, 2025.
"He’ll get there, he’s an ace," manager Carlos Mendoza said of Peralta after the loss. "I’m not worried about that. I trust him and I know that he’s more than capable of going long in the game."
So, is there a reason during his starts this season that haven't allowed Peralta to pitch deep? The Mets skipper doesn't believe there's any one thing, but every start has been different.
"I thought today, stuff-wise, was good," he said. "That swinging bunt [by Ezequial Tovar in the sixth] changes the whole thing... In general, every case has been different. I thought today, it was that one pitch the lefty [Jake McCarthy] was very aggressive. A walk here and there, trying to be too perfect…in general, he’s been pretty solid."
That last part from Mendoza, Peralta actually agreed with.
"I think mentally, I have to allow myself to keep trusting in the process because I feel amazing. I feel very good," Peralta said of what's holding him back. "Everything’s been great, the work I put in every day. It just, whenever I get to the mound, I finish it, that’s it. I know a lot of those are going to come soon.
"Sometimes [wanting to go deep into games] comes to my mind, I got to finish this. I think I put pressure on myself just thinking about it."
Peralta said that mentality has forced him to be too fine with his pitches sometimes, and that has led to walks and hits.
Friday, Peralta's seven hits allowed were a season high, and he has now issued three walks in three of his last four starts.
"[This has] happened in the past, and then everything’s fine again and I’ve been working on it," Peralta said. "It’s only six games into the season and I’ve been fine. The most important thing is that I’m feeling good... Everything. Pitching arsenal, body, how I feel, my arm. Everything is feeling very good."
It's a very tall mountain for the Penguins to climb, and getting themselves back into this series won't be easy. Teams down 3-0 in a series are 4-209 all-time in NHL history, so comebacks of this nature almost never happen.
So, if the Penguins have any hope to be the fifth, they are going to need to make some adjustments.
Much of what has been giving the Penguins headaches throughout this series so far has been the Flyers' stacking the blue line and playing a neutral zone trap that they can't seem to solve, forcing them to play dump-and-chase hockey that they aren't built for. While there's only so much they can do to counteract that issue, there are some adjustments they can make - lineup or otherwise - to give themselves better opportunities to score and lessen their chances of giving up prime scoring opportunities against.
Here are three adjustments the Penguins should consider making prior to Game 4:
During the stretch run of the regular season, the pairing of Kris Letang and Sam Girard actually started to gain some traction and improve alongside one another.
But, in the playoffs, a reversion has happened.
According to Moneypuck, the pairing of Girard and Letang has a measly 42.9 percent expected goals share. And, even if plus/minus is, generally, a pretty arbitrary stat, Letang is a minus-5 and Girard a minus-3 in this series - which are significant numbers across only three games and are the worst marks among Penguins' defensemen.
It appears that Penguins' head coach Dan Muse is going back to this pairing in Game 4, even if Connor Clifton looks like he has been swapped out for Ilya Solovyov on the bottom pairing - another change that needed to happen. However, if things start off on the wrong foot yet again for Girard and Letang, Muse should have a short leash.
Even if the pairing wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire earlier in the season, reuniting Letang with a more familiar partner in Ryan Shea might not be the worst thing. It also gives the Penguins a puck-moving defenseman on each pairing as well as a more traditional stay-at-home partner on each.
Again, if things look bleak early, this should be a default move for Muse.
Putting Chinakhov on the first PP unit, out in six-on-five
Everyone knows by now just how lethal a shot Egor Chinakhov possesses. He may not be playing his best hockey in this series, and he has missed the net with a glaring frequency in these first three games.
But, at the end of the day, he shoots the puck. And he's got a talent for it, too. In a series and in situations where goals are absolutely necessary, why isnt' he on the ice?
Chinakhov being on the first power play unit is something that should have happened ages ago. He has enough defensive awareness to cover up high and man the left point on the power play, and he - obviously - has a weapon as a shoot-first type from that spot.
But, even more so than the first power play unit, the fact that he is not deployed in six-on-five situations is simply mind-boggling.
In the game's most desperate few minutes, teams should be deploying the players on the ice that give them the best chance to put the puck in the net. Chinakhov scored at a 34-goal pace with the Penguins during the regular season, and - again - his devastating shot and reputation as a shoot-first player are huge reasons why.
With a weapon like that at your disposal, why not use him? Again, with the awareness he's shown, there's no harm, no foul in having him out in these situations. And, when your team needs a goal most, perhaps it makes sense to have arguably your best goal-scorer on the ice.
The truth of the matter is that the Penguins cannot continue to attack the Flyers the same way they have been in the first three games and expect different results. They need to use the middle of the ice more, play more of a dump-and-chase style when necessary, and use energy and offensive zone pressure to overwhelm the Flyers in their own zone.
And this is why having a good forechecker on each line is going to be key for the Penguins.
To be honest, I do think a guy like Avery Hayes in this series could have made a great deal of difference on the third line. This is the exact style that suits a player like him. But, without him as an option, the Penguins have Bryan Rust on the first line (as well as Rickard Rakell, who also excels at certain aspects of the forecheck), Tommy Novak on the second, Elmer Soderblom on the third, and, well, pretty much all three of those types on the fourth line.
The Penguins will need to play some "get-your-hands-dirty" hockey in order to win this game and have a shot at coming back in this series. They need to generate more around the net-front and more second-chance opportunities, but it all starts with deploying players who can win footraces to pucks, win puck battles, win physical battles, and get the cycle going.
Hopefully, the lineup deployment in this game will help lend to doing that. Good forechecking will be essential for the Penguins.
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are bringing in some reinforcements for the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs.
They have officially signed forwards Kale Dach, Jordan Charron, and Travis Hayes to amateur tryout agreements. The news was released on Thursday.
Dach was picked by the Penguins in the seventh round of the 2025 NHL Draft and just wrapped up a great season with the WHL's Calgary Hitmen, finishing with 34 goals and 75 points in 63 games. He also compiled three goals and seven points in seven playoff games.
The Penguins have signed Kale Dach, Jordan Charron and Travis Hayes to amateur tryout agreements. All three forwards were drafted by Pittsburgh in this past summer's 2025 NHL Entry Draft.https://t.co/YjWqK3T59Bpic.twitter.com/D4fFtEnqYC
— x - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) April 23, 2026
It will go down as his only season in the WHL since he's committed to Penn State for the 2026-27 season.
Charron was selected by the Penguins in the fifth round of the 2025 NHL Draft and just played his second season with the OHL's Soo Greyhounds. He finished with 25 goals and 47 points in 66 games before compiling three goals and four points in 10 playoff games.
Hayes was a fourth-round pick by the Penguins in last year's draft and has been Charron's teammate for the last two years. He finished the 2025-26 season with 16 goals and 40 points in 63 games and had one goal and three points in 10 playoff games. He's also the younger brother of Avery Hayes.
WBS is still waiting to learn who it will face in the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 24: Makai Lemon rings the bell before the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics during Round 1 Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Eagles were busy handling business on Friday night as they navigated Day 2 of the NFL Draft, but the real action was at the Sixers game.
Not only was first-round pick Makai Lemon inaugurated into Philly sports culture by ringing the bell ahead of the Sixers-Celtics game, but he took in the game court-side next to DeVonta Smith. Tank Bigsby was also in attendance, and later in the night, after the Eagles officially traded for Jonathan Greenard, it turns out the former Vikings edge rusher was in the building for the Sixers’ game, too.
John Clark tracked down Jonathan Greenard in record time 😂
Greenard spoke to John Clark about the environment from Philly fans was exactly what he was expecting, and while he doesn’t quite know how he’ll fit into Vic Fangio’s scheme, he called the DC a genius and said they’ll figure it out.
It’s always cool to see the connection between the Philly sports teams, and there’s nothing like a handful of Eagles — new and old — taking in some playoff basketball together, surrounded by the same fans who will be cheering for them in a few months.
MONTREAL — Lane Hutson scored on a slap shot at 2:09 of overtime and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round series that has opened with three extra-time thrillers.
Hutson fired a shot from the top of right circle that went through traffic and found the top left corner behind goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy on the only shot on goal in overtime.
Kirby Dach tied it for Montreal with 7:17 left in the second period. He fired a snap shot through traffic from the top of the right circle that beat Vasilevskiy on the short side.
Game 4 is Sunday night in Montreal. The Canadiens took the opener 4-3 on Sunday and the Lightning countered 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Dach assisted on Alexandre Texier’s opening goal at 4:53 of the first period. Jakub Dobes stopped 15 shots,
Brayden Point and Brandon Hagel scored for Tampa Bay, and Vasilevskiy made 26 saves. In the third, Vasilevskiy stymied Cole Caufield and Josh Anderson on breakaways.
Point tied it on a power play at 7:42 of the first. After Dobes was penalized for tripping Yanni Gourde, Point took Jake Guentzel’s centering pass and ripped a shot past Dobes’ blocker from the high slot.
Hagel gave Tampa Bay the lead at 4:47 of the second with his fourth goal of the series. After a Montreal turnover at its own the blue line, Hagel beat Dobes with a snap shot to the short side from the top of the left circle.
Nov 9, 2025; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs catcher Owen Ayers during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Other than the ones involving the major league team which we’ve covered elsewhere:
Right-hander Jace Beck was promoted from Double-A Knoxville to Triple-A Iowa.
Right-hander Ben Johnson was promoted to Knoxville from Low-A Myrtle Beach.
Trent Thornton was activated off the injured list and made his season and Iowa debut tonight. He pitched two scoreless innings, allowing just two hits. Thornton struck out two and walked one.
The I-Cubs went into the ninth with a 3-1 lead, but Ryan Jensen couldn’t hold it. Jensen allowed two runs on three hits and four walks over 1.2 innings. Jensen struck out two.
With Iowa out of pitchers, Casey Opitz had to pitch the tenth and eleventh innings. He acquitted himself well, allowing only the automatic runner to score in both innings. But Iowa was unable to score the tying run in the eleventh when automatic runner Kevin Alcántara was thrown out at the plate on a single. So Opitz got the loss.
First baseman Jonathon Long was 4 for 5 with a double and a game-tying RBI single in the tenth. Long scored once.
Jake Knapp pitched the first 2.1 innings and allowed three runs, two earned, on two hits. However, Knapp walked six batters and struck out just two.
Ben Johnson gave up three runs in his Double-A debut, but he ended up getting the win anyways. Johnson’s final line was three runs on three hits over three innings. All three of the runs came on a home run in the eighth inning. Johnson struck out five and walked just one.
First baseman Ethan Hearn hit a two-run home run in the second inning, his first of the season. He was 1 for 4.
Catcher Owen Ayers hit his first Double-A home run in the third inning with the bases empty. Ayers was a perfect 2 for 2 with a double, the home run and three walks. He scored twice.
Later in the third inning, center fielder Alex Ramírez hit a two-run home run, his first on the year. Ramírez went 1 for 5.
The Smokies saved the best for last as their fourth and final home run was a grand slam by right fielder Andy Garriola. It was his fourth of the year and third in two games. Garriola was 1 for 2 with three walks and two runs scored.
Left fielder Carter Trice was 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored.
Here’s Ayers’ home run.
After rough couple of games, Owen Ayers is beginning to find his footing in Double-A.
He’s 2-for-2 with a HR, a 2B, and a BB tonight and is now batting .308 since his promotion. pic.twitter.com/WtQq1Non68
Koen Moreno started and took the loss after he allowed five runs, three earned, on four hits over three innings. Moreno had trouble finding the plate as he walked five and struck out just one.
Left fielder Kane Kepley was 1 for 2 with a double and a walk. He scored twice.
Center fielder Kade Snell was 1 for 3 with an RBI double and a walk. He scored one run.
DH Cameron Sisneros was 1 for 1 with a double, a walk and a sacrifice fly. He drove in two and scored once.
Here are Snell and Sisneros’ doubles, which both came in the third inning.
Victor Zarraga started and took the loss. Zarraga gave up two runs on three hits over 2.1 innings. He walked four and struck out three.
Edwardo Melendez relieved Zarraga and gave up one run on two hits over 3.2 innings. But most impressively, Melendez struck out eight and walked no one.
The Pelicans only had three hits tonight and their two runs were both scored by Jose Escobar on a passed ball and a wild pitch. Escobar was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Right fielder Eli Lovich was 1 for 1 with three walks.
The Penguins are down 3-0 in their first-round series against the Flyers and will be eliminated from the playoffs with one more loss. Now, if they win, they'd send the series back to Pittsburgh for a Game 5.
However, there's still a chance that Saturday's game could be Evgeni Malkin's final game as a Penguin since he's set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer. He spoke to the media about it on Friday and, once again, confirmed that he wants to be back with the Penguins next year and retire a Penguin.
“I hope it’s not over," Malkin said, via King Jemison of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I hope we’re still fighting. And my future again, I say the same thing. I want to be here. I want to be part of a team next year, too, and I want to be retired in Pittsburgh. But it’s not my choice. It’s Kyle’s decision. New owners, probably, too."
Evgeni Malkin on his future: “I hope it’s not over. I hope we’re still fighting. And my future, again … I want to be here. I want to be part of a team next year, too, and I want to be retired in Pittsburgh. But it’s not my choice. It’s Kyle’s decision. New owners probably, too.” pic.twitter.com/VZ6fHYAstT
Malkin has been one of the Penguins' best players in this series, compiling two goals and three points in three games. He also finished the regular season with 19 goals and 61 points in 56 games.
He has shown that he can still play at a strong level in the NHL, but it'll be up to general manager/president Kyle Dubas if he returns.
Puck drop for Game 4 on Saturday is set for 8 p.m. ET on TBS, truTV, HBO Max, and SportsNet Pittsburgh.
HOUSTON — LeBron James scored 29 points, including a tying 3-pointer with 13 seconds left in regulation, Marcus Smart had eight points in overtime and the Los Angeles Lakers took advantage of a Houston Rockets team missing Kevin Durant for a 112-108 win Friday night to take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference first-round series.
The Lakers rallied from a six-point deficit with under 30 seconds remaining and can sweep the series Sunday night in Houston.
Los Angeles opened overtime with a 6-2 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Smart to take a 107-103 lead. Alperen Sengun made a basket for Houston before Smart made two free throws to push the lead to 109-105 with 52 seconds left.
Smart made two free throws with 35.5 seconds to go to make it 111-105. Reed Sheppard made a 3-pointer to get Houston within three with less than 30 seconds left in overtime, but Smart made 1 of 2 free throws to push the lead to 112-108.
Smart added 21 points and 10 assists, and Rui Hachimura added 22 points for the Lakers.
Even with Durant out for a second game in this series — this time with a sprained ankle after missing Game 1 with a knee injury — the Rockets were in position to close out the game after James had consecutive turnovers that Houston turned into a 101-95 lead.
Sengun led the Rockets with 33 points and 16 rebounds. Amen Thompson added 26 points and 11 rebounds.
The Lakers led by as many as 15 early, but were down six in the fourth before Smart was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 25.4 seconds to go after a Houston turnover and made all three free throws to get the Lakers within three.
James, who had 13 rebounds, then stole the ball from Sheppard and his 3-pointer tied it at 101-all with 13.1 seconds to go in the fourth.
The Rockets had a chance to take the lead after that, but Sengun’s 7-footer was off. James grabbed the rebound and called a timeout. He grabbed the inbounds pass and had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but his 3-point attempt bounced off the rim to send it to OT.
Two of the Islanders’ biggest holes should fill themselves this offseason.
The Isles struggled all year to adequately replace Kyle Palmieri’s production after he tore his ACL, and ended up trading a third-round pick to the Rangers for Carson Soucy in an attempt to fill the hole left by Alexander Romanov’s shoulder injury.
Both players are expected to be back without any limitations on day one of training camp which does, at least, change some of the contours of the offseason, even if their returns will come too late to save the Islanders from missing the playoffs.
“Disgusting. Terrible,” Romanov said of how it felt to miss all but 15 games this year. “It’s really tough to just watch hockey all season long and just practicing and rehabbing. That’s what I was dealing with.”
Had the Islanders made the playoffs, Romanov would likely be in the lineup right now. When the season ended, he had rejoined practices and was getting close to playing in games. His summer should be close to normal, albeit with a little extra work on his shoulder.
The same doesn’t necessarily hold true for Palmieri. While he may have attempted a comeback had the Islanders made a deep run, he said on breakup day that he’s “got a couple more months here of the day to day of the rehab stuff.”
The history of players returning from ACL injuries also shows that it usually takes some time to play at the same level as before; Anders Lee, for example, has talked before about not feeling like himself for much of his first season back after suffering the same injury.
New York Islanders center Kyle Palmieri (21) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in Elmont, N.Y. Noah K. Murray-NY Post
The speed at which Palmieri recovers, and the role Romanov ends up playing, are both massive questions for the Islanders’ 2026-27 hopes.
The Islanders were depending on Palmieri to score 25-30 goals and finish with around 50 points when they signed him to a two-year extension last summer, and after his injury, that production was never really replaced. In a free agency class that’s not highly regarded by general manager Mathieu Darche, it’s doubtful there’s an easy option available on the open market for the Islanders to plug into their top six either.
So there’s a strong possibility that a lot hinges on their hope that Palmieri can recover his game quickly.
“I’m a little over four months post-op. It’s feeling really good on the ice,” said Palmieri, who had begun skating on his own before the season ended. “I’m looking forward to putting this behind me and having a pretty normal summer as far as training and getting ready for the season.”
Alexander Romanov #28 of the New York Islanders moves the puck down ice during the second period at UBS Arena, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Elmont, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
As for Romanov, his reentry into the fold presents Darche with an interesting dilemma on the left side of the blue line.
After Matthew Schaefer’s ascendence into superstardom came so quickly, Romanov — who the Islanders signed to an eight-year deal at $6.25 million annually last summer — suddenly looks like the third-pair defenseman, behind both Schaefer and Adam Pelech.
That trio also means there’s no obvious spot for Isaiah George, another lefty, to play after a season in which injuries meant George never really got his chance while the Islanders were searching for call-ups to replace Romanov.
Do the Islanders move someone to their off-side, given their depth chart is much thinner on the right? Or do they explore moving one of Pelech, who has a 16-team no-trade clause, or George? That could be one route to improving the forward group, but it would amount to another major bet on Romanov, who’s coming off a serious injury and who struggled through the first 15 games of this season before getting hurt.
How that situation sorts itself out is a question for Darche to grapple with throughout the offseason.
HOUSTON (AP) — Jazz Chisholm Jr., Ryan McMahon, Ben Rice and José Caballero homered, and the New York Yankees extended their winning streak to seven games with a 12-4 win over the Houston Astros on Friday night.
Chisholm, who had four RBI and scored three runs, hit a two-run single to cap a three-run first inning and added his second homer of the season in the fourth. He had an RBI single in the seventh.
McMahon hit a solo home run in the second, and Rice, who had two RBIs and scored three runs, added a solo shot, his ninth of the season, in the seventh. Caballero, who had an RBI single in the sixth, hit a solo homer in the four-run seventh.
Giancarlo Stanton had an RBI single in the sixth before exiting three batters later with right lower leg tightness after being unable to score from second on a J.C. Escarra single to the left field wall. After being checked out by a trainer, Stanton left and was replaced by Randal Grichuk.
Aaron Judge went 0 for 2 with three walks for the Yankees.
Will Warren (3-0) allowed two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts in six innings. Warren has allowed two runs or fewer in five of his six starts this season.
Lance McCullers Jr. (1-2) allowed seven runs — five earned — on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts in five innings. McCullers has yielded at least four runs in each of his last three starts.
Yainer Diaz had an RBI single and a solo home run, and Braden Shewmake hit a solo shot for the Astros, who lost their fifth straight at home. Yordan Alvarez had two singles to extend his hitting streak to 10 games.
Up next
Yankees LHP Ryan Weathers (1-2, 3.18 ERA) will start opposite Astros RHP Mike Burrows (1-3, 6.75) in the second game of the three-game set on Saturday night.
Behind a relentless offensive attack that crushed four home runs, the Yankees cruised to their seventh straight win, 12-4 over the Astros at Daikin Park.
The good vibes were tempered, though, after Giancarlo Stanton left the game in the sixth inning with right calf tightness, threatening to end the Yankees’ run of good health to start the season. The Yankees expected to know more Saturday about their veteran DH, who was not scheduled for any tests as of Friday night.
Otherwise, the Yankees (17-9) put on a hit parade — 13 in total — against Astros pitching to extend their winning streak.
Each member of the starting infield homered — Jazz Chisholm Jr., Ryan McMahon, Ben Rice and José Caballero — Chisholm as part of a season-high three-hit night as he finally begins to break out of the rut he was in to start the season.
“We always say hitting is contagious, so when everybody’s doing it, you just can’t get enough of it,” Chisholm said.
Rice, Caballero and birthday boy J.C. Escarra all had multi-hit nights as every member of the starting lineup reached base at least once.
Ben Rice of the New York Yankees is congratulated by Randal Grichuk after a home run in the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on April 24, 2026 in Houston, Texas. Getty Images
Chisholm, who has homered in back-to-back games after going his first 23 games without one, finished the night 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a walk. He made an adjustment in Thursday’s win over the Red Sox to back off the plate and slightly close his stance, which has paid major and immediate dividends.
“I feel like me again,” said Chisholm, whose only negative of the night was a brutal automated ball-strike system challenge in the ninth inning on a pitch that was not close to being a ball, for which he said he would be paying a $1,000 fine.
The Yankees traveled nearly 2,000 miles overnight Thursday and in doing so took a step up in weight class to challenge their red-hot rotation — the Astros (10-17) boasting a much more potent offense than the Red Sox or Royals, their last two opponents.
But Will Warren proved to be up to the task, working around traffic for most of the night to toss six innings of two-run ball. The right-hander — who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his six starts — scattered seven hits and one walk while striking out six, attacking the Astros while his offense gave him plenty of support.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the New York Yankees reacts after hitting a home run in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on April 24, 2026 in Houston, Texas. Getty Images
“Absolutely no fear when they put up runs like that,” said Warren, who picked off a runner for the second straight game to squash a potential rally in the third inning. “I think you go out there and, ‘Here it is,’ and let them play behind you.”
Over their last 35 ²/₃ innings, the Yankees rotation has allowed just four runs (three earned), providing the backbone for this winning streak.
Before Warren even took the mound, he was treated to a 3-0 lead courtesy of his offense — which took advantage of a José Altuve throwing error that wiped out a potential double play and scored the first run before Chisholm’s two-run single off Lance McCullers Jr.
McMahon, who did not start any of the three games against the Red Sox as the Yankees faced three straight lefties, was back in the lineup Friday and made it count. The scuffling third baseman led off the second inning with his second home run of the year, going the other way to poke one into the Crawford Boxes to make it 4-0.
It was later a 5-2 game after five innings before the Yankees blew it open in the sixth and seventh innings against lefty reliever Colton Gordon, exploding for a 12-2 lead.
New York Yankees starting pitcher Will Warren (29) throws a pitch during in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
“I thought they were patient,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Really made McCullers work, were able to just string together a lot of really good threats all night and then able to break through there a couple of those times in a big way. Just a lot of really good at-bats up and down the lineup, lot of contributions. So, a good night.”
HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 24: Ryan McMahon #19 of the New York Yankees congratulates Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 after a home run in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on April 24, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yanks entered Friday night fresh off a sweep of mortal enemy Boston, getting this road trip off to a heck of a start. They turned to Will Warren, coming off one of the finest outings of his career, to keep the momentum going. But the Astros offense is different than Kansas City’s. Yordan Alvarez is terrifying, veterans Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve can still rake, and Christian Walker has rediscovered his stroke at the plate.
So, it was fair to wonder if Warren would have similar success. He was more than up to the challenge, pitching deep into the game for a second consecutive start. Meanwhile, facing Houston pitching can fix what ails you, apparently. Jazz Chisholm Jr., Ryan McMahon, and José Caballero all entered Friday’s game scuffling at the plate. All three went yard. Ben Rice, who struggled against Boston, did so as well, and the Yankees won, 12-4. You love to see it.
The only thing that really went wrong tonight was losing Giancarlo Stanton to “right lower leg tightness” while running the bases. Hopefully we see the big slugger back from this calf injury sooner rather than later.
I mentioned in the preview for today’s game that Astros’ starter Lance McCullers Jr. has struggled with command this season. That immediately reared up as he gave free passes to Trent Grishm and Aaron Judge. One Cody Bellinger single later and the bases were full of Yankees before you had time to grab a beverage and get to your seat.
McCullers induced a tailor-made double play ball from Rice but Altuve threw the ball away. A run scored and the bases remained loaded. McCullers then made a nice defensive play on a 111.8-mph comebacker off Stanton’s bat, throwing home. With Big G running, the Astros easily turned the 1-2-3 double play and it looked like he might escape with minimal damage. Thankfully, Chisholm is heating up and came through. His single scored two more, making it 3-0 Yankees before McCullers escaped the frame.
Another Yankee who’s been struggling kept the pressure on Houston in the second when McMahon took McCullers yard to the opposite field. A 336-foot fly ball, Daikin Park is the only stadium in the majors where it would have been a home run. But it still counts in the run column.
The top of the Astros order went down quietly in the first against Waren. But the middle and bottom of the lineup scraped a run across in the second. An Altuve infield single and a walk put two men on. Warren managed to get two outs but Yainer Diaz singled to right and Judge’s throw was just up the third base line, allowing Altuve to score.
Chisholm continued his resurgence in the fourth. After slapping the tag on Yordan Alvarez on a pickoff play at second to end the home third, Jazz took McCullers deep leading off, extending the Yankee lead to 5-1.
Altuve continued to torment Warren and the Yankees, leading off the home fourth with a double to the deepest part of the park. A Christian Walker single followed, putting runners on the corners with none out and seemingly setting the Astros up for a big inning. To Warren’s credit, he buckled down. Though Altuve scored on a groundout to short, Warren avoided the disaster inning.
The Yankee offense kept on keepin’ on in the sixth. After Ben Rice led off the inning with a double to left center, Stanton singled off the glove of Carlos Correa. The ball trickled into center, Rice scored easily, and the Yankees’ sixth run of the night ended McCullers’. Every Astros fan’s worst nightmare… their bullpen, was now in play.
With lefties looming, the Astros turned to southpaw Colton Gordon, who immediately walked Jazz then gave up a single off the left field wall to Escarra, celebrating his 31st birthday. But it was not all good news. Stanton looked extremely slow lumbering into third and left the game, replaced by pinch-runner Randal Grichuk. After McMahon lined out, Caballero singled and Grisham hit a sacrifice fly, putting two more in the run column, giving the Yanks an 8-2 lead.
Warren finished his night with a clean sixth, whiffing Cam Smith for his sixth punchout of the evening. For as bad as Houston’s pitching has been, this is a team that can hit, led by Alvarez, perhaps the most terrifying hitter in baseball right now. Warren was more than up to the task. I suspect every Yankee fan on the planet would have signed up for six innings of two-run ball from Warren tonight.
Rice continued his strong night in the seventh. He entered tonight 1 for his last 9 with seven strikeouts, including a golden sombrero in Boston. But he followed his double by turning on an inside sweeper from Gordon, who was taking one for the team, and sending it deep into right field for his ninth dinger of the season. Grichuk then doubled and Chisholm drove him in with his third hit and fourth RBI of the night. Chisholm came around to score on a double play and Caballero got in on the action, hitting his second home run of the season. That officially put the Yankee lead in double digits at 12-2 and unofficially moved the game into “laugher” territory.
Fernando Cruz came in to relieve Warren and had an off night, giving up solo home runs to Diaz and Braden Shewmake, who pinch-hit for Correa, as the Astros began pulling some of their regulars. From there, New York handed the ball to Ryan Yarbrough, who recorded the final six outs with no drama, locking down the Yankees’ seventh consecutive win.
Join us tomorrow night as the Yanks try to win another series and continue their excellent road trip. Portside slinger Ryan Weathers makes the start for New York, while Mike Burrows will start for Houston. First pitch is at 7:10 pm EDT.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 24: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics controls the ball against Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the fourth quarter during game three of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 108-100. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings: Tyrese Maxey – 22.5 VJ Edgecombe – 16 Joel Embiid – 11.5 Paul George – 8 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 5 Justin Edwards – 4 Andre Drummond – 3 Quentin Grimes – 3 Jared McCain :’( – 3 Dominick Barlow – 2 MarJon Beauchamp – 2 Adem Bona – 1 Porter Martone – 1 Cam Payne – 1 Jabari Walker – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
The Sixers welcomed the Celtics to Xfinity Mobile Arena on Friday night for a massive Game 3 in South Philly. The teams came in dead locked at a 1-1 series tie after the Sixers stole Tuesday night’s Game 2 in Boston.
This game was highly contested from start to finish as the Celtics got out to a five-point lead after the first quarter behind an early onslaught from three.
The Celtics continued their hot shooting from three into the second quarter, but the Sixers stellar two-point defense kept them in the ball game despite some struggles of their own offensively. The Celtics took a 54-47 lead to the intermission.
The Sixers won their first quarter of the night in the third 27-25 behind a steady dose of Tyrese Maxey and Paul George. The Celtics held just a five-point advantage going to the fourth.
The Sixers took a brief 85-84 lead early in the final frame and the crowd was as raucous as it’s been in years in hopes that maybe this would be a breakthrough moment in this rivalry that has haunted the Sixers so much over the years. The Sixers trailed by just one with two minutes to go before a Jayson Tatum three coming off a Sixers defensive breakdown gave the Celtics a four-point lead. A George bucket with 1:40 to go cut the lead to two yet again. Another defensive breakdown and Pritchard three stretched the Celtics’ lead to five points. After two Sixers free throws that made it a one-possession game, the Sixers forced a miss but an offensive rebound and kick out that led to a Tatum iso three would be the nail in the coffin.
The Celtics went on to take a 108-100 win and a 2-1 series lead.
Tyrese Maxey: 31 points, 6 assists, 2 blocks, 12-for-31 from the field
Tyrese Maxey went out on his shield in this one firing until the bitter end. Maxey hit multiple big momentum swinging shots to keep the Sixers in it all night and even momentarily give them the lead in the fourth. A couple late misses while Boston hit three consecutive threes ultimately buried the Sixers, but not in fault of the efforts of the star guard.
Paul George: 18 points, 5 assists, 3 steals, 7-for-14 from the field
Paul George is still really good at basketball, even if he’s not the explosive near 30-points-a-night scorer he once was at his peak. The Sixers ran a lot of their late game offense through George who either found space for himself or found his teammates for high percentage shots. George is still far and away the best and most impactful defender on this Sixers team, who struggled to contain the Celtics’ perimeter onslaught when George isn’t directly involved in the action.
Dave Portnoy was not amused by the amount of passion from the Amazon Prime Video broadcast booth during Friday’s NBA playoff game between the Celtics and 76ers.
Portnoy was livid by the announcing crew’s enthusiasm during the first-round Game 3 matchup, posting a video on X captioned, “This may be the worse annoucing (sic) crew I’ve ever heard. They are going bananas every shot.”
The firebrand sports personality eviscerated Eric Collins — who is known for his intense calls as the Hornets play-by-play caller — for being too passionate for a game that was still far from being over.
David Portnoy of Barstool Sports hosts The Pool After Dark at Harrah’s Resort on Saturday May 11, 2019 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Tom Briglia
“Dude what are these announcers doing?” Portnoy said in the video as Collins went wild for a 3-pointer by Sixers big man Andre Drummond with just over three minutes left in the third quarter. “They’re acting like it’s Game 7, final shot. It’s an open three, what are we doing?
“Eric Collins, f–king put your d–k back in your pants there’s three minutes. Every shot he’s acting like it’s Game 7 at the horn to win it. This is unnacceptable announcing.”
Eric Collins speaks during the Dell Curry #30 jersey retirement ceremony during the game between the Orlando Magic and the Charlotte Hornets on March 19, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NBAE via Getty Images
Collins, who has been the voice of the Hornets for over a decade, has established himself as one of the NBA’s premier announcers for his energy he brings to each game, oftentimes loudly screaming during certain stretches of play.
NBA insider Bill Simmons said earlier this month that the Hornets have the best broadcasts in the league because of Collins.
“He really cares,” Simmons said on his self-titled podcast, “and like somebody will make a shot against them, it’d be two minutes left, they’re down one. And then some f–k up, and somebody will hit a three against them, and he’ll just say some crazy sentence like, ‘Oh, isn’t that a chainsaw on the tibia?’
“He just has this endless thing of crazy comments. The Hornets are hanging on like a hat on a screen door. He’s a ten out of ten.”
HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 24: Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round 1 Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A miracle close to regulation saw the Lakers force overtime before controlling the extra session to steal Game 3, 112-108, and take a commanding series lead.
Houston trailed by as many as 15 in the first half but was the aggressor for the entire second half. Up six with just under 30 seconds left, the Rockets capitulated, allowing the Lakers to tie the game and even have a chance to win it before overtime.
LA never trailed in overtime, built a multi-possession lead in the final minutes and knocked down clutch free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
The Lakers’ bench outscored the Rockets 24-3, a huge flip from Game 2. That helped LA overcome allowing 18 offensive rebounds.
It was a 3-pointer party early as both teams drained a pair of long-range efforts each. Rui Hachimura was leading LA with a fast 11 points while LeBron James and Luke Kennard were the only other Lakers to score with three points each. Jabari Smith Jr. had six points for Houston.
At the 6:53 mark, Los Angeles was up by four.
Smith Jr. picked up two fouls and a technical foul, forcing him to the bench. It was an evenly matched affair with neither team able to grab a commanding lead. Jaxson Hayes’s seven points off the bench provided a massive spark that led to an 11-0 scoring run.
With 2:20 left in the quarter, LA was up by 11.
An 11-0 run for the Lakers cam as LeBron got some rest, putting the visitors up 34-23, with Jaxson Hayes making big plays on both sides of the court. His alley-oop finish from Kennard capped the push.
Houston then hit back, cutting the deficit to four. Hachimura responded with one of his signature midrange jumpers. He had 16 points, which was a career high for him in a quarter.
At the end of the first, the purple and gold were up by seven.
Smith Jr. opened the second period with a triple for the Rockets. Jarred Vanderbilt responded with a tip-in off a Jake LaRavia missed shot on the other end. LeBron began taking over, scoring seven points.
LeBron also threw a lob to Bronny James, who had five points off the bench, for a layup that had everyone buzzing.
The Lakers pushed their run to 14-4 and built their biggest lead of the half at 15 points. Amen Thompson tried to stop some of the bleeding with an easy dunk. LA suddenly went cold from the field, missing five shots in a row.
LeBron converted on a pair of free throws and Kennard also converted on a midrange jumper that helped Los Angeles keep a double-digit lead of 11 at halftime.
The Lakers head into halftime with a 63-52 lead, riding 16 points apiece from LeBron and Hachimura, and 18 assists on 23 made FG's, led by 6 from Smart.
Houston is +6 on the O glass, in part because they shot just 37.2% to LA's 57.5%.
Marcus Smart’s layup opened the second half. The Rockets then slowly started chipping into LA’s lead, making it a single-digit deficit. Los Angeles was forced to call a timeout as the lead shrank to six.
Out of the break, Deandre Ayton scored his first points of the night on a layup.
Reed Sheppard completed a three-point play to make it a five-point deficit. Thompson then grabbed an LA turnover and dunked on the other end. Los Angeles’ offense was suddenly completely non-existent.
Kennard scored on a much-needed midrange jumper.
Thompson was the driving force for Houston as his five-point surge cut the deficit to one. Hachimura drained a triple to give the Lakers some cushion, his first points since the first quarter.
Both teams ended the quarter trading buckets with LA holding onto a five-point lead going into the fourth.
Down 2-0 here at home, Houston really picked up its defense in the 3rd Q, holding the Lakers to 12 points until a late 3 from LeBron and a layup from Vanderbilt in the final minute allowed LA an 80-75 lead heading into the 4th.
LeBron converted on a layup off the assist from Vanderbilt to open the final frame. Houston missed their first two shot attempts before Smith Jr. drained two 3-pointers, helping the Rockets inch even closer.
At the 6:50 mark, Los Angeles was up by four.
Thompson then tied the game on back-to-back buckets thanks to Lakers’ turnovers. Smart tried to help LA stay in the lead with a layup, but Sheppard drained a triple that gave the Rockets the lead by one with 4:59 left.
Houston’s lead grew to four with 3:32 left.
Hayes threw down a dunk that made it a two-point deficit for Los Angeles. LA was having the absolute worst time keeping the ball in their hands and couldn’t convert on shots. Alperen Şengün made it a four-point lead for Houston with 49 seconds left.
LeBron turned the ball over, and it led to another two from Şengün. After a rushed 3-pointer from LeBron missed, Smart came away with an improbable steal and was fouled from behind the arc. He converted on all three free throws.
An incredible turn of events, as Houston had the ball, up 6, with 28 seconds left:
– Marcus Smart steal – Smart draws 3-point shooting foul and hits 3 FT’s – LeBron steals the ball from Reed Sheppard – LeBron hits a 3
In the most insane turn of events, LeBron forced a steal on the next possession and drained a triple that tied the game with 13 seconds left. Houston missed their shot attempt, and LeBron caught the ball and called a timeout with 1.2 seconds left.
LeBron had the ball and missed the shot, leading to overtime.
Smart started the scoring in overtime with a corner three. After one free throw from Hachimura, Los Angeles was up four. Şengün scored again, but Hachimura answered on the other end with a layup.
The teams traded baskets with LA’s leading by two with 1:46 left. The game turned scrappy and ugly with multiple jump balls and missed shots but few points. Smart broke the seal with a pair of free throws off an offensive rebound, making it a four-point lead for LA with 46 seconds left.
Smith Jr. took a 3-pointer and missed it. Smart rebounded the ball and was fouled before converting on two more clutch free throws.
With 35 seconds left and Los Angeles up six. Sheppard connected on a triple. The Rockets then fouled Smart again and he split the pair.
Houston missed a series of threes and shots in the final seconds as LA pulled off an improbable win.
Key Player Stats
LeBron finished with 29 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. Hachimura ended with 22 points, shooting 8-14 from the field. Smart logged 21 points with four rebounds, 10 assists, five steals and two blocks.
Kennard had 14 points, six rebounds and six assists. Hayes pitched in with 12 points off the bench. Bronny scored five points in nine minutes of play. Vanderbilt notched five points with six rebounds.
Game 4 will be on Sunday against the Houston Rockets at 6:30 PM PT.
