Category: Sports News

Worldwide Sports News

Posted on

Observations after Sixers get smoked from the jump, lose Game 1 to Celtics in blowout

Observations after Sixers get smoked from the jump, lose Game 1 to Celtics in blowout originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

BOSTON — The Sixers never even sniffed a Game 1 upset Sunday afternoon at TD Garden.

They began their first-round playoff series against the Celtics in nightmarish fashion, falling to a 123-91 loss. The second-seeded Celtics never trailed the seventh-seeded Sixers.

Celtics star Jaylen Brown scored 26 points. Jayson Tatum posted 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.

The Sixers’ leading scorers were Tyrese Maxey with 21 points and Paul George with 17.

The only player sidelined on either side was Joel Embiid. He’s out indefinitely after undergoing an appendectomy last week. 

Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is set for Tuesday night in Boston. Here are observations on the Sixers’ blowout Game 1 defeat: 

Celtics land big first blow 

The Sixers had two players start in their playoff debuts with rookie VJ Edgecombe and second-year big man Adem Bona.

The day did not begin according to plan for Bona. He was whistled for his second foul at the 10:23 mark of the first quarter when he rumbled down the floor on a fast break and charged into Sam Hauser. Andre Drummond subbed in. Less than two minutes later, Maxey drove to the rim and drew the second foul on Celtics center Neemias Queta. 

Boston dealt with the frenetic energy of the early action much better than the Sixers. 

George threw a poor cross-court pass that wound up as the Sixers’ fourth turnover in the first five minutes. Brown snagged the steal and Tatum sprinted the other way for a fast-break layup. Following a Sixers timeout, Tatum canned a mid-range jumper to give Boston a double-digit advantage. The Celtics built their lead to 33-18 on a Jordan Walsh layup with 1.1 seconds left in the first quarter. 

The Sixers’ cause was not helped by the fact that they missed several good long-range looks. The team shot just 6 for 21 from the floor and 1 for 9 from three-point territory in the opening period. Their shooting numbers were similar all day long.

Sixers’ backcourt struggles at the start

The Sixers played a nine-man rotation and Justin Edwards was an unsurprising addition. The lefty wing played 17 minutes and tallied seven points on 3-for-9 shooting and six rebounds. 

Nothing the Sixers tried early in the second quarter turned the tide, including zone defense. 

The players’ body language grew increasingly frustrated and out of sync. Drummond goaltended a baseline Queta push shot and was then assessed a technical foul. Payton Pritchard made the ensuing free throw to bump Boston’s lead up to 49-29. The Sixers’ deficit swelled as high as 23 points in the second quarter. 

Almost every area of the game was problematic. One major issue for most of the first half was the inefficiency of the Maxey-Edgecombe backcourt. Edgecombe started 1 for 7 from the field, Maxey 4 for 13. The duo combined for a single made three-pointer on eight attempts in the first half. 

The Sixers need plenty of variables to click into place to beat the Celtics. Maxey and Edgecombe being great is a core part of the equation. 

Adjustments time …  

Both Edgecombe and Maxey saw shots drop late in the second quarter. Among Edgecombe’s highlights were a soft floater and a turnaround jumper.

The Sixers still trailed by 18 points at intermission. Drummond started the third quarter instead of Bona. 

The team tightened up its defense in the first few minutes of the third and Kelly Oubre Jr. laid in his own miss to cut the Celtics’ advantage to 73-58. However, the Sixers continued to misfire on jumpers and couldn’t sustain momentum. With three-pointers from Brown and Nikola Vucevic, Boston’s lead was back over 20 points. 

From there, the Sixers didn’t show anything that suggested they might have a giant comeback in store. 

“Adjustments” is always a buzzword before Game 2 of a playoff series. The Sixers do have many possibilities under that umbrella. Head coach Nick Nurse could alter the rotation, perhaps throwing in Jabari Walker or Trendon Watford. He could place a greater emphasis on screening for Maxey and seeking out desirable switches. The Sixers could tweak their defensive approach, shading harder help toward Tatum and Brown.

Just about everything’s worth considering. Still, the heart of the matter is the Sixers appeared to be the less talented team by a wide margin in Game 1 and also had a brutal day with the factors under their control. 

Posted on

The AL has opened itself up for the Yankees to take control

An empty Yankee Stadium for the home opener against the Boston Red Sox on Friday, July 31, 2020, in New York. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, no fans will be allowed at major league baseball games this season. Yanks Home Opener

Entering play on Sunday, April 19th, the American League only has five of its 15 teams with a positive run differential. Normally, a small number like that means there’s a great likelihood of it being a top-heavy league, but that’s not necessarily the case. In fact, for all the potential flaws that the Yankees have displayed so far, the teams predicted to be their main rivals for American League supremacy have struggled far more, seemingly opening a path for the Yankees to not only take control of the American League East, but the AL as a whole.

Not simply due to the fact that they faced off in last year’s ALCS, but for everything they did on the path to it and afterwards, the Blue Jays and Mariners opened the season as the two strongest adversaries the Yankees could face. Through these first 20+ games, both of these teams have encountered more than their fair share of issues, some far more concerning than anything the Yankees have had to deal with.

Starting off with the Mariners, you have key players struggling for different reasons, everything from the continuance of Luis Castillo’s steady decline over the past few seasons to core hitters unable to match last year’s career-high numbers. While it’s too early to pass judgment on the numbers of Cal Raleigh, Josh Naylor, and Julio Rodríguez, the former two, particularly Raleigh, went out of their way to carry the load for this lineup last season. Just how much of those 2025 numbers they can replicate remains to be seen. Furthermore, the M’s were only a 90-72 team last year with a healthy number of breaks going their way — it’s reasonable to ponder if too much time was spent projecting potential marginal improvements and not enough on the steps back that were just as likely.

Moving over to a more well-known rival and the responsible party for the Yankees’ demise last season, the Jays have been the biggest disappointment of the AL and maybe all of baseball early on — even managing to get swept by the White Sox at one point. The Blue Jays had a better season than the M’s last year, winning 94 games, but they both shared the same Pythagorean win-loss record of 88-74. Assessing how the Jays got to that win total, there are some warning signs, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. may be the star, but who unequivocally ran the show last year was George Springer, a 36-year-old who experienced a resurgent and surprisingly healthy season. He is currently sidelined with an injury, and it’s unrealistic to expect something close to those numbers he put up in 2025, especially playing as many as 140 games. The impact of losing Bo Bichette and indirectly replacing him with Kazuma Okamoto, with some infield shuffling, is going to be felt throughout the whole campaign. Current injuries to Addison Barger and Alejandro Kirk also lower this offense’s floor, but even at full strength, it may not be quite as imposing as it was a year ago.

The boost of adding Dylan Cease has been nullified early on by the absence of the injured Trey Yesavage. Speaking of injured players, as much as that quote-unquote excuse can be used to address some of the struggles the Jays have had early on, if you look at a team like the Yankees, there is a clear pathway of improvement from that department.

If you look at the Yankees’ Opening Day payroll, a healthy chunk of that is tied up with Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole, by all accounts two-thirds of the top three in this rotation. Yes, he was out last year, but even counting on Cole’s imminent return in 2026 — something that was factored into how they built their staff — the Yankees had a very real excuse for a bit of a slow start pitching-wise, and yet, they’ve flourished in that department.

The smart money is on both the Jays and Mariners finding their stride as the year moves forward, but whether they figure out their problems or not the Yankees can gaze at the American League picture right now and foresee a path for dominance.

Posted on

Breaking T drops new Nobody Beats the Miz shirt

We’re back with another shirt from our partners at Breaking T, and this one features Milwaukee’s young pitching phenom.

Jacob Misiorowski, slated to start later today against the Marlins, just turned 24 but is already one of the most exciting arms in the league. Through four stars, we’ve seen both sides of Miz — he has a 3.32 ERA and 4.04 FIP with 33 strikeouts but nine walks and two hit batters in 21 2/3 innings.

The good news?

Misiorowski’s last start against the Blue Jays featured zero walks. While the Brewers ultimately lost in extra innings, Miz went 5 1/3 innings in that one, allowing two runs (both solo homers), five hits, and no walks with five strikeouts. Let’s hope he can repeat that performance against Miami.

In honor of the Brewers new City Connect uniforms — which, I’m slightly upset to admit, are beginning to grow on me — Breaking T created a new Nobody Beats the Miz shirt in those colors.

Nobody beats Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski, because he’s The Miz!

  • Officially licensed by MLB Players, Inc.
  • Super-soft, durable t-shirts and hoodies
  • Designed and printed in the USA
  • Free returns and exchanges

Click here to get a Nobody Beats the Miz shirt from Breaking T. And be sure to check out their full line of Brewers’ merchandise here.

Posted on

Actor Wyatt Russell makes good on Sabres bet, plunges into Lake Erie

Count actor Wyatt Russell among the many Buffalo Sabres fans who were skeptical this year's team would be the one to end the franchise's 15-year NHL playoff drought.

Back before the season started, the Marvel movie star vowed he'd jump into Lake Erie come playoff time if the Sabres made it. Sure enough, the Sabres not only made the playoffs, they gained the Eastern Conference's No. 2 seed with 109 points.

So on the eve of Buffalo's playoff opener, it was time for Russell to make good.

Braving 40-degree temperatures − along with colleagues from Lake Hour, the canned cocktail company he founded − Russell took a big chug and then took the plunge.

His father and fellow actor Kurt Russell (who has a hockey connection of his own after starring in the movie "Miracle") offered his congratulations.

"I like an underdog story always, first of all, number one," Russell told Buffalo TV station WIVB. "Number two, the Sabres right now this year have represented like what hockey is to me, which is like hard work, nose to the grindstone, don’t give up when everybody’s doubting you."

Hmmm. Sounds a lot like the plot to "Miracle." And we all know how that turned out at the 1980 Olympics in nearby (well, 300 miles or so ...) Lake Placid, New York.

Buffalo hosts the Boston Bruins on Sunday, April 19 in the first game of their best-of-seven series.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wyatt Russell, Buffalo Sabres fan, plunges into Lake Erie for bet

Posted on

Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal: Premier League – as it happened

Erling Haaland settled a pulsating clash at the Etihad to leave Arsenal ruing a series of near misses

When Pep Guardiola was preparing for the challenge of taking on Jürgen Klopp’s peak Liverpool team at Anfield in February 2021, training that week at Manchester City was a little different, according to Oleksandr Zinchenko. Guardiola’s instructions seemed counterintuitive. “Guys, let’s start from the goal-kick, I want you to make at least three or four touches on the ball,” the manager told them. “Most of the teams come to Anfield and shit themselves. They want to play one touch, two touch. ‘Oh, don’t give me the ball! Oh you take it!’ But you have to play with big balls at Anfield! Big balls! ‘Give me the ball!’ Demand it! If you need to dribble past two or three players, do it. But play football. I want you to play football.”

Zinchenko recalls that Guardiola made the same speech before they walked out at Anfield. “Teams coming here are scared. They play one or two touches, and that’s what Liverpool like, because they get the ball back so quickly. I want you to be brave. Play your football!” as Zinchenko puts it in his autobiography, Believe. Admittedly that game came in the midst of City’s record-breaking 21-game winning run that season but was also Guardiola’s first win at Anfield, so not dissimilar to the title showdown at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday with Arsenal.

Aston Villa 4-3 Sunderland

Everton 1-2 Liverpool

Nottingham Forest 4-1 Burnley

Continue reading...
Posted on

Everton 1-2 Liverpool: Premier League – as it happened

Virgil van Dijk’s added-time winner gave Liverpool a crucial victory in the first derby at Everton’s new home

Otherwise, Florian Wirtz is again given a chance to assert and establish – the numbers and profiles behind him, more defensively minded, offer him yet some ballast, but does he have the necessary speed of thought and play, along with the required combativeness, to make a difference?

The problem he has is that he replaced two full-backs who were better in attack than defence, with … two full-backs who are better in attack than defence. Essentially, he doesn’t have a combination that works, so has prioritised solidity and experience here, the new lads excluded. That means Dominic Szoboszlai again plays at the back, which means Liverpool must do without their best midfielder in the centre of the pitch; I guess the plan might be for him to invert, but otherwise Slot will hope that the ball-carrying and tenacity of Curtis Jones compensate.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Discord in the clubhouse? Salvador Perez contradicts manager over day off

Salvador Perez stands in his gear and sunglasses with a neutral expression on his face
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 02: Catcher Salvador Perez #13 of the Kansas City Royals in action during the game against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium on April 02, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images

On Saturday, manager Matt Quatraro gave Salvador Perez a day off for the first time since August of last year, when the team captain missed two games due to illness. Other than that, his most recent day off without an injury or illness concern was June 21, 2025. Perez has struggled to start the year, hitting just .160/.210/.307 in 20 games. Quatraro said the day off was to give him a “little mental breather.”

Salvy is famous not just in Kansas City, but around the league as a guy who doesn’t want to sit. Up until now, everyone has taken it in stride as a fun thing to make jokes about.

That perhaps is in a new context now. Salvy contradicted Quatraro, posting on social media, “I don’t need a mental breather.”

He even went posted on Instagram, calling the idea he needed a break as “FAKE.”

Sal DOES need time off

Most of the Royals’ blogosphere spent the entire offseason pontificating that the team needed to play him less or at least shift him from behind the plate into a designated hitter role more often. Over at Inside the Crown, David Lesky noted that Salvy hit much better in 2025 on the days after he hadn’t caught the day before. It seemed to be fine for him to DH, play first, or sit entirely, but it was clear he needed less time behind the plate. When the Royals signed Perez to another extension, guaranteeing he’d be under contract through 2027, almost everyone hoped it came with an explanation to the captain that he wasn’t going to be able to catch every game.

And yet, as the Royals have played 21 games this season, Salvy has now played in 20 of them and caught 14 of them. That would be considered the maximum catching load for anyone but Sal. And Sal hasn’t exactly been lighting the world on fire this season.

Batting averages have been down across baseball for a while now, but batting under .200 is still very bad. Having an OBP nearing that line would be enough to get most players benched. It’s not just those numbers that look bad, either.

Salvador Perez’s 2026 Baseball Savant bar lines, featuring a ton of blue

His bat speed and hard-hit rates are down. He’s always been known for chasing, but his chase rate is as high as its been since 2022 and 2023, when his numbers cratered for a while. Last year, it was often noted that while he was not an amazing hitter, his expected stats all suggested he was fairly unlucky. But this year, they paint a picture of a guy who would be a liability at the plate even if he was reaching them.

So, yeah, he probably deserved/needed a day off. But what the heck is going on?

In Salvy’s defense

Salvador Perez is a guy who allegedly offered to accept a trade in 2023 while the team struggled if the Royals could get significantly better by dealing him. He won the Roberto Clemente Award for exhibiting extraordinary character. He’s been the face of the franchise for more than a decade with his big smile and positive attitude. What do you have to do to upset a guy like that this much?

He’s obviously earned a lot of respect, not just in the Royals clubhouse, but around the entire league. And I just wrote last week about the importance of showing loyalty to veteran players. If he were given a day off without any discussion, that certainly would seem to be a poor choice.

In Q’s defense

When Quatraro told Anne Rogers that Sal was struggling, that was simply and obviously factually correct. When he said that he was giving Sal a mental break, that was extremely standard and boilerplate language to describe giving a struggling guy a day off. If Sal took exception to it, it seems like the best way to handle that would have been in a private discussion, not a public argument. The only way in which Sal’s reaction to getting a single day off seems reasonable to me is if Quatraro has had a much worse handle on the clubhouse culture than we’ve been given any reason to believe. This is the first time there’s ever been any kind of public rumbling of discontent, and Quatraro just received a lengthy extension as a show of faith from the front office and ownership.

It does lead me to wonder if the reason Sal continues to bat fourth even as it’s obvious to just about anyone that the team would be best served by him batting lower in the order is less about Quatraro being unwilling to make the move, as perhaps he has been afraid to upset the captain with such a demotion. But that would be an indictment of everyone involved.

Adding an extra wrinkle to all of this is the addition of Elias Díaz to the active roster, a transaction that was announced today.

The Royals were very clear entering the season that they didn’t think they needed a third catcher on the roster. Now, a day after giving Salvador Perez a day off, they add that third catcher? It could be a belief that Carter Jensen needs to play less often – he’s out of the lineup in favor of Díaz – but the timing is unfortunate, if so.

There is absolutely no way to know who is at fault in this situation, or if anyone is at fault, or if it is some combination of faults. But it’s an unfortunate distraction at a time when the team can seemingly least afford them as they try to find their way out of an early-season swoon that is rapidly exiting the realm of something that can be easily shaken off. Hopefully, everything is resolved quickly and amicably and the team can get back to winning, or we could all be in for a very, very long 2026 season.

Posted on

Aston Villa’s Tammy Abraham grabs dramatic victory after Sunderland rally

The finish was chaotic but, when the dust settles, this perhaps was the afternoon when Aston Villa made a decisive spurt for the finish line to claim Champions League qualication. As Tammy Abraham touched in the winner three minutes into injury-time, Unai Emery ran onto the pitch in celebration. Yet just a minute earlier Habib Diarra had been set clean through with a chance of his own to win it. Emi Martínez, though, stretched up to save his dink, and the road was cleared for the Villa winner.

It was a game played amid a strange spirit of relaxation, with both sides having effectively achieved their ambitions for the season before kick-off: for Sunderland, avoiding the drop, and for Villa qualifying for the Champions League; Unai Emery’s fifth Europa League success, itself a potential route into the premier competition, may still come as a bonus. This was just Villa’s fifth win in 15 league games since their run of eight league wins in a row came to an end in late December, and as a result they now have a 10-point lead over Chelsea in sixth with five games remaining.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Lakers’ LeBron James calls playing with Bronny in playoffs ‘craziest thing’

Making NBA history isn’t anything new for the James family.

They did it when LeBron James and Bronny James became the first father-son duo to play in an NBA game together during a Lakers preseason game on Oct. 6, 2024, before it was officially in the record books when they were on the floor together a couple of weeks later for the Lakers’ regular-season-opening win over the Timberwolves on Oct. 22, 2024.

They connected on the first father-son assist in league history a few weeks ago, when the elder James passed to the younger James for a 3-pointer during the second quarter of the March 27 win over the Nets.

Los Angeles Lakers’ Bronny James, dribbles as his dad, forward LeBron James, puts up a screen during the playoffs game against the Houston Rockets, April 18. AP

Another historic moment happened Saturday night, with LeBron and Bronny becoming the first father and son to play in a playoff game together during the Lakers’ Game 1 victory over the Rockets at Crypto.com Arena to kick off the best-of-seven first-round series. 

The Lakers James duo connected on the first father-son assist in league history a few weeks ago. AP

“There’s a lot of crazy things that have been going on this year for me,” LeBron James said. “I mean, s–t, I was on the floor with my son in a playoff game. That’s probably the craziest thing that’s ever happened to me in my career. It’s just so cool to be out there with him — and his brother and his sister and his mom in the building. And his grandmom. Like, that’s just insane. My mom gets to watch her son and her grandson during the playoffs. Now, that’s crazy.”

Bronny made his playoff debut last year, playing four minutes across two games (in garbage time) during the Lakers’ five-game first-round series loss to the Timberwolves. 

With the Lakers without their star guards in Luka Dončić, Bronny was in the Lakers’ first-half rotation on Saturday night. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

But with the Lakers without their star guards in Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (left oblique strain), Bronny was in the Lakers’ first-half rotation Saturday night, starting the second quarter alongside his dad, Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaxson Hayes. 

He had two fouls and recorded a turnover in four second-quarter minutes, with the Lakers playing an eight-man rotation in the second half.

While Saturday was Bronny’s third career NBA playoff game, and his first playing meaningful minutes, it was LeBron’s record-extending 293rd career playoff game. 

LeBron James had 19 points, 13 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and a blocked shot in 38 minutes against the Rockets.  AP

LeBron had 19 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot in 38 minutes against the Rockets. 

“No, I mean, we all prepared this week, including Bronny,” LeBron replied when asked if he gave Bronny advice. “But s–t, it’s just like, everybody in their first playoff game, you’re going to be nervous. You can try to prepare for it, you can try to sleep as much as you can the night before. You can do all the things that you do. You can do the same routine and everything, when you step on that floor.

“I remember my first — what was it, 2006, going against Washington, our first home game. Being back in the playoffs in a minute, in a long time, with the Cavs and just nervous as hell. As soon as I got on the floor, I was just super nervous. But once you get the jitters out, you get the first game under your belt, and now you know what to expect. So he’ll be better going into the next time he gets his number called.”

Game 2 for Lakers-Rockets is scheduled for Tuesday night in Los Angeles. 

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Post SportsFacebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X
California Post Opinion
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!
California Post App: Download here!
Home delivery: Sign up here!Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!

Posted on

Blue Jays vs Diamondbacks Prediction, Odds & Home Run Pick for Today's MLB Game

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Arizona Diamondbacks struggle against the splitter, which should play into the hands of Toronto Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman this afternoon.

Read on to see why in my Blue Jays vs. Diamondbacks predictions and MLB picks for today's game. 

Blue Jays vs Diamondbacks predictions

Blue Jays vs Diamondbacks best bet: Kevin Gausman Over 5.5 strikeouts (+105)

When Kevin Gausman’s splitter is dancing, he’s one of the most lethal pitchers in the majors, which makes his 5.5-strikeout total at plus-money an attractive price.

The Toronto Blue Jays ace has been racking up the Ks, averaging 7.75 strikeouts this season, which ranks in the 94th percentile in K%, while using the splitter as the put-away pitch, garnering a 44.2% whiff rate and a strikeout rate of 42.9%

The split-fastball has given this Arizona Diamondbacks lineup fits this season, with the third-highest strikeout rate in the majors, with a 42.4% whiff rate against the pitch.

Additionally, Gausman owns a .164 opponent batting average against this lineup. 

Covers COVERS INTEL: The Diamondbacks rank 29th in the majors with a .294 OBP.

Blue Jays vs Diamondbacks same-game parlay (SGP)

I’ll continue to bet on Gausman and take the Under on his hits prop set at 5.5, a total he’s stayed Under on in three of his four starts this season. Additionally, the Arizona lineup is just 12-for-73 against Gausman through his career, with a .447 OPS

Lastly, I’ll take Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to go Over 0.5 strikeouts tonight. He’s 0-for-2 with a pair of strikeouts against Gausman throughout his career.

Blue Jays vs Diamondbacks SGP

  • Kevin Gausman Over 5.5 strikeouts
  • Kevin Gausman Under 5.5 hits 
  • Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Over 0.5 strikeouts
img loading="lazy" width="100%" height="null" src="https://img.covers.com/editorial/2026/jaysmlcbp.jpg" alt="Canada’s best price for Jays"
Get the best Jays ML odds at BET99 — every game.

Blue Jays vs Diamondbacks home run pick: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+500)

I’ll make this a half-unit wager. Ryne Nelson has been hit hard this season, ranking in the 10th percentile in hard-hit rate. This has resulted in four home runs allowed this year, all against his four-seamer.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. crushes the baseball and has a .417 average against the four-seamer, with a .500 slug rate against the pitch. He's 2-for-8 against Nelson, with one of those hits being a home run. 

2026 Transparency record
  • Best bets: 5-14, -6.35 units
  • SGPs: 2-17, -9.5 units
  • HR picks: 3-16, -1.6 units

Blue Jays vs Diamondbacks odds

  • Moneyline: Toronto -110 | Arizona -110
  • Run line: Toronto -1.5 (+155) | Arizona +1.5 (-185)
  • Over/Under: Over 8 | Under 8

Blue Jays vs Diamondbacks trend

The Blue Jays have cashed the first five innings team total Under in six of their last seven games for +5.75 units and a 74% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Diamondbacks.

How to watch Blue Jays vs Diamondbacks and game info

LocationChase Field, Phoenix, AZ
DateSunday, April 19, 2026
First pitch4:10 p.m. ET
TVSportsnet, Dbacks.TV
Blue Jays starting pitcherKevin Gausman
(0-1, 2.42 ERA)
Diamondbacks starting pitcherRyne Nelson
(1-1, 3.54 ERA)

Blue Jays vs Diamondbacks latest injuries

Blue Jays vs Diamondbacks weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Posted on

Braves vs Phillies Prop Picks for Sunday Night Baseball

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Atlanta Braves go for the road sweep against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday Night Baseball, closing out a key NL matchup.

Here are my favorite Braves vs. Phillies predictions and MLB picks, with a focus on Ronald Acuña Jr., Grant Holmes, and Bryce Harper.

Braves vs Phillies props for April 19

PickOdds
Dodgers Acuna Jr. o1.5 total bases-110
Dodgers Holmes o5.5 strikeouts+130
Dodgers Harper o1.5 total bases+110

Braves vs Phillies player prop picks

Ronald Acuna Jr. Over 1.5 total bases (-110)

Ronald Acuna’s surface-level statistics (.247.347/.370) may not show it, but he’s performing at an elite level. Placing above the 90th percentile in xwOBA, xSLG, and bat speed, the production should come along shortly. 

With hits in nine of his last 10 games, Acuna is starting to find his form. A matchup against Andrew Painter and his reverse splits isn’t a turn-off. 

Painter has faced 22 right-handed batters this season, and eight of them have collected hits (.421 AVG). Sure, that’s a small sample size, but the rookie hasn’t proven capable of getting out Big League-caliber righties, let alone one of the very best.

Painter pitches to contact (4.9% walk rate), and Acuna has mostly limited his strikeouts (18.9% K rate). Making contact here should result in an opportunity to accumulate total bases.

Grant Holmes Over 5.5 strikeouts (+130)

The plus-money is appealing here, especially for a pitcher who has a massive 14.1% swinging strike rate in his career. I’ll bite. 

Grant Holmes’ K rate has cratered from 25% to 19.3% despite his swinging strike rate actually jumping a half tick (from 13% to 13.5%). With a whiff rate in the 81st percentile, the Ks should come eventually. 

The veteran’s go-to pitch, his slider, has generated a .196 xBA and 53.3% whiff rate. That’ll play against a Phillies lineup that has struggled against the pitch, posting -4.7 runs against average. 

Philadelphia’s projected lineup has faced Holmes 16 times, and eight of those have resulted in strikeouts. A 50% K rate against the opposing lineup will certainly play, especially when plus money is offered on the Over. 

Bryce Harper over 1.5 total bases (+110)

After facing southpaws in each of the first two games of this series, the Phillies will be glad to face the right-handed Holmes on Sunday. They’ve struggled mightily against LHP (58 wRC+), but could break out a bit after plating a single run in the first 18 innings of the series. 

Bryce Harper has hit the cover off the ball in April, slashing .333/.419/.685 with as many extra-base-hits (10) as strikeouts. He’s still going strong at age 33, posting a 94th percentile xwOBA and 96th percentile xSLG. 

What makes this an appetizing matchup is that he’s demolished four-seamers (.811 xSLG)  and sliders (1.170). Holmes throws those 78% of the time against lefties, so Harper will have a great opportunity to stay hot.

How to watch Braves vs Phillies and game info

LocationCitizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
DateSunday, April 19, 2026
First pitch7:20 p.m. ET
TVPeacock

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Posted on

How was Elijah Hollands allowed to keep playing during a ‘mental health episode’? | Jonathan Horn

Leadership, on and off the field, was lacking at the MCG and any investigation must ascertain whether Carlton fulfilled its duty of care

The weekend of football threw up great dollops of drama and pathos. One of the tallest and most talented players in the sport buckled like a stricken baby giraffe. Arguably the best footballer in Australia was blanketed by an Irishman. The heart and soul of his club copped a knee to the head that may spell the end of his career. In Adelaide, 46,000 people stood to acknowledge a family that had lost a brother and a son.

We see variations of that every weekend. We see knee injuries and head knocks. We see teams squander winning leads. We see coaches fighting for their jobs. We see the brilliance of players like Nick Daicos, Nick Watson and Jeremy Cameron. It’s all neatly packaged, all easily explained, and all what keeps drawing us back. What we almost never see, and what’s harder to manage, to diagnose and to articulate, is what took place at the MCG on Thursday night. It didn’t come through the filtered lens of the host broadcasters or the curated feeds of the club itself, but through grainy footage from high in the stands.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Astros Prospect Report: April 18th

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Walker Janek #6 of the Houston Astros hits a single during the fourth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

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

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (12-8) 

Game One – won 2-1 (BOX SCORE)

Hendrickson got the start for Sugar Land in game one and pitched well tossing 5 scoreless innings. The offense got on the board in the 4th inning on a Biggers 2 run double. Munoz allowed a run but Santa tossed a scoreless 7th inning as he closed out the 2-1 win.

Note: Santa has a 1.29 ERA this season.

Game Two – lost 8-3 (BOX SCORE)

Nelson gave Sugar Land a quick lead with a leadoff home run in the first inning. Alexander started for Sugar Land in game two of the double header but struggled allowing 4 runs over 4.2 innings. Sugar Land picked up 2 runs in the 6th on a Nelson RBI single and a run scoring on a wild pitch. The Bees put the game out of reach scoring 4 runs in the 6th as Sugar Land dropped game two, 8-3.

Note: Nelson is hitting .370 in Triple-A.

AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (8-6) won 9-5 (BOX SCORE)

The Hooks jumped out to an early lead thanks to a Guillemette grand slam in the first inning. Gillis got the start and went 4.2 innings allowing 4 runs, all on a grand slam in the 2nd inning, while striking out 4. The Hooks retook the lead in the 4th on a Sacco RBI double. In the 7th, Janek connected on a grand slam, his first home run of the season. The pen was solid allowing 1 run as they closed out the 9-5 win.

Note: Spence has a .382 OBP this season.

A+: Asheville Tourists (4-10) lost 7-6 (BOX SCORE)

Howard started for Asheville but struggled allowing 5 runs over 4 innings. The offense got on the board in the 2nd inning on a Holy RBI single. They got 3 more in the 3rd inning on a Nunez solo HR and Schiavone 2 run HR. Langford went 2 innings in relief allowing 1 run but Asheville got one back in the 7th on a Frey RBI groundout. In the 9th, the Tourists tied it on a Nunez single. Unfortunately the Dash walked it off in the bottom of the 9th as Asheville fell 7-6.

Note: Schiavone has 5 home runs this season.

A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (3-11) lost 14-2 (BOX SCORE)

Forcucci started for the Woodpeckers but failed to make it out of the first inning allowing 2 runs. He was relieved by Carreras who allowed 2 runs over 5.1 innings while striking out 4. The offense got on the board in the 7th scoring 2 runs on an Ochoa single and error. The rest of the bullpen struggled allowing 10 runs as the Woodpeckers fell 14-2.

Note: Monister has 8 SB this season.

Today’s minor league starters:

SL: Brandon Bielak – 3:05 CT

CC: Trey Dombroski – 2:05 CT

AV: TBD – 1:00 CT

FV: TBD – 1:05 CT

Posted on

Game Preview: Suns vs. Thunder. Round One, Game One

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - NOVEMBER 28: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder brings the ball up court around Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Paycom Center on November 28, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 William Purnell/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Who: Phoenix Suns @ Oklahoma City Thunder

When: 12:30 pm Arizona Time

Where: Paycom Center — Oklahoma City, OK

Watch: ABC

Listen: KMVP 98.7

The Phoenix Suns are officially in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. They clawed their way through the Play-In Tournament to secure the 8th seed, and their reward is a date with the juggernaut Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC finished the season with the best record in the Western Conference and a terrifying +11.1 net rating.

The Thunder have been patiently waiting for their opponent, with their last game coming exactly a week ago against this same Suns team.

For Phoenix, this is about proving that their veteran experience, chaos, and high-end scoring can disrupt the rhythm of the league’s most efficient young core. We’re playing with house money here.

OKC won the season series 3-2. There were a few thrillers and a couple of blowouts. But ultimately, it’s all meaningless, as the new season begins. The postseason.

  • Nov 28 (NBA Cup): OKC 123, PHX 119
  • Dec 10 (NBA Cup): OKC 138, PHX 89
  • Jan 4: PHX 108, OKC 105
  • Feb 11: OKC 136, PHX 109
  • April 12: PHX 135, OKC 103

This iconic shot on January 4th was an unforgettable moment.

Probable Starters

Injury Report

Suns

  • Grayson Allen — QUESTIONABLE (Left Hamstring Soreness)
  • Mark Williams — QUESTIONABLE (Left Foot Soreness)

Thunder

  • Thomas Sorber — OUT (ACL)

What to Watch For

It starts with the stars. This series features two of the premier guards in the world, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Devin Booker. They each have a sidekick named Jalen who can take over at any time as well.

Devin Booker (PHX): 26.1 PPG, 6.0 APG, 3.9 RPG. Booker has been the engine for Phoenix all season, carrying the load through various rotations. During the Play-In games, it was a different story as Jalen Green led the way.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC): 31.1 PPG, 6.6 APG, 4.3 RPG. SGA missed the final two games of the regular season with an oblique injury but has been cleared for Game 1. Likely just maintenance for the playoffs, same with Booker.

Devin Booker will need to elevate his game to superstar status in order for them to have any realistic shot at taking this Thunder team down. Can he match Shai shot-for-shot? If he plays anything as he has in the last two, the odds aren’t great. We need a vintage Book desperately.

Key to a Suns Win

Control your emotions, first and foremost. Don’t let the refs get in your head. When that happens, the Suns get out of whack, and it disrupts the game flow.

Control the Paint and the Glass

OKC lacks traditional bulk, but they have Chet Holmgren (1.9 BPG, 8.9 RPG). Phoenix needs Mark Williams and Oso Ighodaro to capitalize on their size. The Suns cannot allow second-chance points to a team that already shoots nearly 50% from the floor. Mark Williams’ absence will be felt if he is unable to go. Hartenstein and Chet will likely feast inside if the Suns are going with a constant small(er) lineup out there.

Size and athleticism will be massive factors this entire series. OKC has the depth to wear the Suns (and any team for that matter) down over the course of a 7-game series. That is why they are the favorites, after all.

Limit the Turnovers

The Thunder lead the league in points off turnovers. Both teams rank in the top 5 in the league in steals per game, with OKC averaging 9.7 (3rd) and Phoenix averaging 9.5 (4th). Oklahoma City takes care of the ball better than most, ranking second in the league in turnovers per game at just 12.6 compared to Phoenix’s 14.5 (t-15th).

With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cason Wallace (1.9 SPG) prowling the passing lanes, the Suns’ backcourt of Booker and Jalen Green must be meticulous. They will face waves of pressure and physicality from the Thunder defense all game long.

Phoenix averaged 13.5 turnovers per game this season; that number needs to stay under 10 for them to steal Game 1.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 11: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns goes to the basket against Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 11, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Bench “X-Factor”

In the Suns’ recent Play-In loss to the Blazers, the bench size was underutilized. Against a long OKC team, expect Jordan Ott to look toward Ryan Dunn, and possibly Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach to provide athletic resistance against OKC’s drives.

Jordan Goodwin has been a blessing for this Suns team. They’re going to need plenty more havoc from him as he will likely be tasked with tracking SGA all series long. Royce O’Neale needs to knock down shots. Ryan Dunn must defend and make plays. Collin Gillespie needs to shoot with confidence. It will take everyone.

Will we get another Jalen Green game? He is coming off consecutive strong showings with his back against the wall. If the Suns have any shot at upsetting OKC, Jalen Green will play a huge part in it.

Prediction

It’s going to be a dogfight. The oddsmakers aren’t giving the Suns much of a chance, but 14 points is a massive spread for a playoff opener. Phoenix has enough firepower to keep this close if they can slow the pace and knock down shots. However, OKC’s home-court advantage and depth will be too much to overcome. I hope I’m wrong, but I just don’t see it today.

Thunder 114, Suns 106

Posted on

Mets vs Cubs Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The New York Mets will look for some way to finally pick up a win as they wrap up their series against the Chicago Cubs this afternoon.

New York is now riding a 10-game losing streak, and I like Chicago to win again in my Mets vs. Cubs predictions. Keep reading to see why and get all my free MLB picks for Sunday, April 19.

Who will win Mets vs Cubs today: Cubs (-121)

The New York Mets are shaking things up this afternoon by starting Tobias Myers (0-1, 3.46 ERA). Myers has been capable as a starter in the past, but hasn’t thrown more than three innings in a game this season, so New York will need to dip deep into its bullpen this afternoon.

That’s a tough recipe for success against the Chicago Cubs right now. They've averaged 8.5 runs per game over their last six contests, and I don’t see Myers or the rest of the Mets staff shutting them down completely.

With the New York offense floundering right now, I like Chicago to find a way to win this game at home.

Covers COVERS INTEL: The Mets bullpen has a solid 3.96 ERA this season, with Huascar Brazoban and Craig Kimbrel each yet to allow an earned run on the year.

Mets vs Cubs Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-130)

To say the Mets are struggling to score runs is a massive understatement. New York has put up a total of 18 runs in its 10-game losing streak, getting shut out three times in that span.

That means it’ll be up to the Cubs to try to carry this total. And as we saw yesterday, these Mets pitchers are doing their part to keep the team in games, even if it hasn’t been enough to get wins.

New York has hit the Under in four of its last six games, and I’m expecting another low-scoring affair that plays out like yesterday’s game.

Ed Scimia's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 4-5, -1.15 units
  • Over/Under bets: 2-5, -3.08 units

Mets vs Cubs odds

  • Moneyline: Mets +115 | Cubs -135
  • Run line: Mets +1.5 (-235) | Cubs -1.5 (+175)
  • Over/Under: Over 8 | Under 8

Mets vs Cubs trend

The Cubs have won five of their last six games. Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Cubs.

How to watch Mets vs Cubs and game info

LocationWrigley Field, Chicago, IL
DateSunday, April 19, 2026
First pitch2:20 p.m. ET
TVSNY, Marquee
Mets starting pitcherDavid Peterson
(0-3, 6.41 ERA)
Cubs starting pitcherJavier Assad
(1-1, 8.10 ERA)

Mets vs Cubs latest injuries

Mets vs Cubs weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.