San Diego Padres SP Michael King (Photo by Ryan Sun/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The San Diego Padres’ offense met its match in Orange County this weekend. But the challenge did not seem to affect their starting arms. With a chance to win a road series against the Los Angeles Angels, Michael King had another strong start.
He bolstered his claim to the No. 1 starter role by allowing just one hit over five innings. The lone blemish to his day was issuing four walks. King struggled to throw his sinker for strikes all outing long. He relied on his secondary pitches (changeup/sweeper/four-seam fastball) to record outs. Those pitches accounted for 62 percent of the 105 King threw against the Angels.
He might be on the road to dominance, but the exit is a few miles away.
Consistency has been an issue since Spring Training
Throughout Spring Training, the Padres indicated King was on track for his scheduled Opening Day start. Friars skipper Craig Stammen found King’s side throwing sessions more encouraging than his Cactus League performances.
He began the 2026 campaign with a solid showing against the Detroit Tigers. King stumbled during his second start at Fenway Park but quickly got back on course, delivering strong outings against the Pittsburgh Pirates and Seattle Mariners in his next two starts.
The sinker has abandoned King
Consistency has been missing from his starts this season. His control, which is usually reliable, has betrayed him. King has issued 14 walks in 27.2 innings pitched. He needs to break the pattern by harnessing his tantalizing repertoire to achieve better success.
The right-hander pitches best when he throws like an old-school starter, establishing his sinker by working off the four-seamer. Unfortunately, he is struggling to locate the sinker for strikes in the season’s first month.
Opposing hitters find themselves in hittable situations. Thankfully, they have not been able to make solid contact off him. Despite his control issues, King is 3-1 with a 2.28 ERA, having surrendered eight runs while striking out 26 batters.
Still, more work ahead before his next start. Despite all of the control problems, King is close to solving the location issues with his sinker. He might be a start away from shutting down an opposing lineup.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 7: Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (8) hits a second inning solo home run during a game between the Houston Astros and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 7, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Houston Astros (9-15) and Cleveland Guardians (13-11) will play the 2nd game of this 3-game set tonight at Progressive Field.
RHP Ryan Weiss (0-2) will start for the Astros vs. Guardians LHP Parker Messick (3-0).
TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP Ryan Weiss will make his second start of the season tonight.
Weiss began the 2026 season in the Astros bullpen, making 5 relief appearances before making his first career ML start on April 16 vs. COL (3.2 IP, 2 ER).
About Ryan: Weiss is back pitching in the United States in 2026 after spending the last two seasons in the KBO. He made 46 career starts in Korea for the Hanwha Eagles and posted a 3.16 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP and 305 strikeouts in 270.1 innings over those two seasons.
The Astros signed him to a Major League deal in December.
VS. THE LAND: Tonight is the 2nd game of six scheduled meetings vs. the Guardians in 2026,
After this 3-game set at Progressive Field, the two clubs will play a 3-game series at Daikin Park, June 19-21.
The Astros were 2-4 vs. CLE last season, going 2-1 at Progressive and 0-3 at Daikin Park.
AT PROGRESSIVE: With last night’s victory, the Astros are now 5-1 in their last 6 games at Progressive Field. They were 2-0 here in 2024 and 2-1 in 2025.
UP FOR THE CHALLENGE: Since April 13, C Yainer Diaz has been successful in 9 of his last 10 ABS challenges. In that span, he has been successful twice in the same game 4 different times.
A PERFECT 10:Yordan Alvarez has had a torrid start to the 2026 season as he leads the Majors with 10 HR, which matches the club record through a player’s first 24 games of a season, joining Lance Berkman (2002).
ON THE LEADERBOARD: Alvarez currently leads the AL in WAR (1.6), RBI (21), XBH (17) and TB (65), and is 2nd in SLG (.756), OBP (.459) and OPS (1.215).
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVE: The Astros have placed OF Taylor Trammell on the 10-day IL due to a left groin strain.
To take his place on the active roster, the Astros selected OF Daniel Johnson (#31) to the Major League roster.
To make room for Johnson on the 40-man roster, the Astros designated RHP Christian Roa for assignment.
MR. 2000: 2B Jose Altuve needs to appear in one more game to reach 2,000 for his career, which will make him the 3rd Astros player to reach this milestone.
Hall of Famers Craig Biggio (2,850) and Jeff Bagwell (2,150) also surpassed 2,000 career games (all for HOU).
Only four active players have reached 2,000 career games: Andrew McCutchen (2,276), Carlos Santana (2,212), Freddie Freeman (2,199) and Paul Goldschmidt (2,082).
THE ORDER: The Astros have used 24 different batting orders in their 24 games so far this season. Only LF Yordan Alvarez has started every game in the same spot in the lineup (second).
EXTRA! EXTRA!: 2B Jose Altuve recorded his 750th career extra-base hit on Thursday (4/16 VS. COL) with his 461st career double. He also has 32 triples and 258 home runs, all coming as an Astro.
Only Craig Biggio (1,014) and Jeff Bagwell (969) have more extra-base hits than Altuve in franchise history.
BEHIND THE DISH:C Christian Vázquez is hitting .375 (12×32) with a .444 OBP and a 1.132 OPS.
He has also tallied 10 RBI in just 10 games (8 starts) and has four catcher caught stealings on the season.
HARD TO HIT: Opponents are just 7×48 (.146) vs. RHP Kai-Wei Teng, who is just the 2nd Taiwanese-born player to appear with the Astros in their history.
Among AL relievers, Teng ranks T-2nd in innings (13.2) and T-8th in strikeouts (14).
Sunday was his 4th scoreless appearance of at least 2.0 innings this season, tied for the most among AL relievers.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1999 – In a record-setting 10-3 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Jeff Bagwell goes 3×5 with 3 HR and 6 RBI. Not only does Bagwell tie the franchise record for HR in a game, he also passes Jimmy Wynn to become the club’s all-time career HR leader. Bagwell would have another 3-HR game later that season, also in Chicago on June 9, 1999, homering 3 times at Comiskey Park vs. the ChiSox. He end his career with 449 HR, which still stands as the franchise record.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Tuesday, April 21, 5:10 p.m. CST
Location: Progressive Field, Cleveland OH.
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
The Blue Devils gained a commitment from former Wisconsin guard John Blackwell on Tuesday, April 21, adding one of the top-ranked players in the transfer portal. The 6-foot-4 junior averaged 19.1 points with 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game last season, earning all-Big Ten third-team honors.
"It just felt right," Blackwell told The Field of 68. "It felt right for me from the jump. When I talked to Coach (Jon) Scheyer and Coach (Emanuel) Dildy ... we chatted and it just felt like the right situation for me. Then when I got on campus, it just confirmed everything I was looking for."
Blackwell is ranked No. 7 in USA TODAY's transfer portal rankings, and was the No. 2 guard in the portal behind former Wake Forest star Juke Harris, who's still uncommitted.
The Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, native started 72 games in three seasons with the Badgers, and averaged double figures on Wisconsin's back-to-back NCAA Tournament teams. He's 1-3 in his career in March Madness, including two first-round exit upsets to No. 12 seeds High Point and James Madison in 2026 and 2024, respectively.
Blackwell will likely start in the backcourt alongside returning guard Cayden Boozer and potentially Isaiah Evans, who's still mulling a 2026 NBA Draft decision. Dame Sarr and Caleb Foster could also return to Duke, with incoming Belmont transfer Drew Scharnowski and returning center Patrick Ngongba likely handling frontcourt duties.
Blackwell was huge down the stretch for Wisconsin, scoring 25 points in the Badgers' regular season finale win over Purdue, before dropping 34 against Washington and 31 against Illinois in back-to-back Big Ten tournament games. He also scored 22 points in Wisconsin's NCAA Tournament loss to High Point.
According to manager Carlos Mendoza, the Mets are calling up Christian Scott to start Thursday’s game with the Minnesota Twins. Kodai Senga will remain in the rotation for now, while David Peterson will be in the bullpen for at least this turn through the rotation. Due to that, it is likely that a reliever will be the corresponding move when Scott is called up.
Scott has made three starts for Triple-A Syracuse this year, with one being quite bad and the others being good. In 13 and two-thirds innings, Scott has walked just two and struck out 17. Scott made nine big league starts in 2024 before requiring Tommy John Surgery.
With Nolan McLean already up and Jonah Tong not far behind, the Mets are hoping their young pitching can turn their season around after a series of not great starts from their veterans. However, it is the lack of offense that has really hamstrung the club, and no amount of elite starting pitching can fix that. However, with Juan Soto rejoining the lineup on Wednesday, the Mets are at least have some help on the way and are not stagnantly waiting for their luck to improve.
The Mets, behind McLean, start a homestand tonight against the Twins. Former Met farmhand Simeon Woods-Richardson starts for Minnesota.
The Ottawa Senators have signed another of their top prospects to an entry level contract. They announced on Tuesday that Chicoutimi Saguenéens starting goalie Lucas Beckman has agreed to a three-year, entry-level contract.
The 18-year-old is currently making hay in the QMJHL playoffs, posting a smooth 8-0 record with an outrageous .962 save percentage and a 0.75 goals against. He allowed just one goal in each of his first six games, then two shutouts in the last two outings as the Saguenéens polished off the Québec Remparts in a sweep.
To say that his December trade from Baie-Comeau to Chicoutimi has served Beckman well would be a ridiculous understatement. Since the trade, the Montreal native has lost just one game, going 21-1 in regular season and playoffs combined. Meanwhile, the Drakkar, the team he spent parts of three seasons with, finished dead last in the league.
Beckman was selected in the 4th round (97th overall) by the Senators in the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles. He's likely to get some attention from Hockey Canada's radar for the World Juniors this Christmas.
At the Sens development camp last summer, Beckman was excited to experience the higher level, which he expected would help him this season.
"The shots here are coming a lot quicker, the speed is better, and I think it means that when I go back to junior, it's going to feel a bit more slow motion (by comparison), and I'm going to be able to kind of be ahead of the play more," Beckman said.
Beckman also told The Hockey News that he had a specific goal for this season.
"My personal goal would be to be the best goalie in the Q," Beckman said. "That might sound a little overconfident, but I think I'm able to. We'll see."
So far, so good.
Beckman is the fifth Sens prospect in the past month to sign his ELC. The others are Blake Montgomery (F, Wisconsin), Hoyt Stanley (D, Cornell), Kevin Reidler (G, Penn State, and Gabriel Eliasson (D, Barrie).
Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 12: Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles during the game against the Utah Jazz on April 12, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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
For years, LeBron James and Marcus Smart have shared the court. However, it’s often been on opposing sides.
Smart, a longtime Celtic, faced off against James when he was a Cavalier for countless regular-season games and in the postseason during the 2010s.
Cleveland got the better of Boston during those battles, winning the Eastern Conference four times in the decade.
During the summer, Smart joined the Lakers, and now the two foes have become teammates. They’ve gotten their first taste of playoff glory as members of the purple and gold as they beat the Rockets to win Game 1 of their opening round series.
After the win, Smart spoke about loving playing alongside LeBron James after years on the other side.
“It’s been great,” Smart said. “Being able to see why he’s considered one of the greatest to do it. The way that he prepares for the playoffs, it’s a whole different mentality for him than the regular season. We see it, you guys see it, but as a teammate, to be able to be there watching him get prepared, watching the things he’s doing to get himself ready, I’m glad I’m on his side this time.”
As a 12-year veteran, Smart knows what a winning mentality looks like. He exudes it every day, in every way possible, through his on-court play, practice regimen and media appearances.
Obviously, he understood that LeBron has this too, but now he is seeing it up close, in a way only a teammate can. With Luka and Austin Reaves out, the duo has become two of the most important leaders on the team.
Considering that LeBron is an All-Star in his own right, and Smart is a defensive initiator, this is a great pairing to have as the playoffs begin.
They’ve already proven they can have success together at this level by winning Game 1. They’ll look to continue stacking up victories during the rest of the NBA playoffs, and this time, they’ll do it together.
Because it was Luka Doncic who was the one playfully hitting Hachimura on the back of the head. NBAE via Getty ImagesDoncic (left hamstring), along with fellow star guard Austin Reaves (left oblique), may continue to be sidelined. NBAE via Getty Images
“Hmm…I don’t remember,” Hachimura said. “He always does that stuff. I probably don’t even think about it. I’m used to it, probably. I don’t remember that.”
But the group is benefitting from both of them being around as they work their way back to a hopeful return to the court.
“Obviously, helping out guys on the bench, just watching the game from that view, you can see different things you don’t see when you’re necessarily in the game,” Jaxson Hayes said. “And so they’re able to tell guys that stuff and just help out as much as possible.”
#Lakers forward Rui Hachimura said he does not remember this interaction with Luka Doncic at the end of Game 1 in the first round series between the #Rockets and #LakeShow.
He said it’s probably because Luka does this stuff all the time. He noted it’s fun having him back at… pic.twitter.com/FgZUig4JYg
Reaves has remained with the team since suffering his injury.
Doncic returned to Southern California on Friday after spending the previous two weeks in Europe while receiving special treatment on his hamstring with the hopes it could expedite his healing process and help him return to the court sooner.
He arrived at the Lakers’ home arena on Saturday about 40 minutes before tipoff and was at the Lakers’ practice on Monday.
Doncic and Reaves haven’t spoken with reporters since their injuries.
“It’s been really nice,” coach JJ Redick said on Monday. “[Doncic] definitely rebounded and passed in some shooting drills. Having the group together two out of the last three days has been really nice.”
Doncic returned to Southern California on Friday after spending the previous two weeks in Europe NBAE via Getty Images
Doncic was back at it again on Monday afternoon during the Lakers’ practice ahead of Tuesday’s Game 2 in Los Angeles, this time playing “rock, paper, scissors” with Reaves after Reaves shot free throws with Jarred Vanderbilt and Jake LaRavia.
Reaves won.
Hayes shared that Doncic has been calling him his Slovenian brother after Hayes received his Slovenian passport, which makes him eligible to play on national team with Doncic.
“I think people don’t know how much impact Luka has, not only on the court, but off the court,” Hachimura said. “He’s a guy that always wants to be around. We love him just being around, just hanging out, talking. We’re happy that he’s back finally. He’s [always] doing funny things. We missed him for sure.”
The juxtaposition of Doncic’s light-hearted nature with his fiery on-court persona (which can also turn jovial in certain moments) is a characteristic the Lakers have seen more of this season.
“Just messing around with the coaches and the players and just the normal things you guys see on the camera, probably,” Hachimura said of Doncic’s antics. “It’s just a normal thing for him.”
Doncic and Reaves haven’t spoken with reporters since their injuries. Getty Images
What’ll feel more normal is if/when Doncic is able to get back on the court for the Lakers.
Redick has stated multiple times that their goal is to extend the season long enough for Doncic and Reaves to play at some point during the playoffs.
“We’re gonna try to make this season as long as possible so that we can get those guys back at some point,” Redick said last week. “We don’t know what that is, and that’s just our job. And their job is to do everything they can to be in a position to come back at some point. It may not work, but that’s what we’re trying to do.”
But until that happens, the Lakers are just happy to have Doncic and shenanigans back around the group.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 10: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks sits on the bench before a game against the Brooklyn Nets at Fiserv Forum on April 10, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the Suns in the postseason, overcoming expectations many set, discussions about the team’s offseason plans have already sparked social media chatter. This is all related to a recent post from one of the most cryptic NBA superstars, who is suspected to be on the move this offseason. That player would be Giannis Antetokounmpo, the one who dethroned the Suns in their 2021 Finals run. So why would Suns fans want this, and how does this conversation even take off?
Well, from Antetokounmpo’s post, you can see why it has been such a topic of discussion.
Year 13 ✅📖
This has been one of the toughest seasons of my career, but as they say, like a phoenix from the ashes, I’ll rise.💯
To the city of Milwaukee, MY city, thank you for the unwavering love and support. 🤎 pic.twitter.com/27d6VLLI6o
A lot of Suns fans have specifically picked out the top part as some signal or message about his preferred destination: “Like a phoenix from the ashes, I’ll rise,” says Antetokounmpo, and this is what has everyone asking whether the Suns should pull the trigger.
To that, I say hold your horses for many reasons. One for the fact that the Suns are still currently in the postseason and have had the year they have had. Let’s appreciate the good things and all the great feelings we have had from this season, and not worry about the next. That happens when the Suns are losing, and in a tough spot, and right now, even if they are slated to lose to OKC in the playoffs, it is not a losing season.
Secondly, we are talking about Giannis Antetokounmpo. The same man who, this season, was annoying with his quotes about his situation in Milwaukee, clearly wanting out and not wanting to be the bad guy, put him in situations that led to some hilarious comments all season long. This is not a charade I want going on around the Suns, especially after all that drama last year.
Why are we going to integrate the fanbase into some more toxicity? Plus, who is to say Giannis wants to go to Phoenix, right? This quote says nothing beyond the fact that Giannis might like it. This is not a set-in-stone thing, so fans should not be planning as if it is already going to happen.
Then you can look at how this would get done for Phoenix. Yes, we all know the Bucks were interested in Jalen Green at the trade deadline, but you had to give up more as well. With Phoenix just escaping the apron hell, are you really willing to go back into that? Do the Suns even have the draft capital to get this done? Do they have to move young guys like Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach to sweeten the deal because of their lack of draft capital?
The Bucks would need Phoenix’s young players. Is that worth it for Giannis’ large contract? Trying to get to $58M in salary is going to be tough for Phoenix unless it includes Jalen Green and two of Dillon Brooks, Grayson Allen, or Royce O’Neale with the young guys.
For what? The team to have Devin Booker and Giannis Antetokounmpo, with no one around them. Just like the other star-based teams we have had to watch over the last couple of seasons. I am good.
This new identity of everyone playing team basketball and working as a unit is fun, and I am not sacrificing that for a cool two-way duo. Yes, they would be unstoppable, but with both of them having injury histories and not getting younger, are we sure this is the way the Suns should build? Chasing another championship, and if they come up short, then what? Wait for another rebuild?
There are too many questions and possibilities for me to move forward with this, especially when we still have this season to discuss. Let’s appreciate what we have and worry about the offseason and the future with the young guys we have and the pieces we have grown this season.
DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Stars are still without injured top-line center Roope Hintz, who stayed home Tuesday when the team traveled to Minnesota for Game 3 of its Western Conference first-round playoff series.
Hintz hasn't played since sustaining a lower-body injury on March 6 in a game against Colorado and experiencing an unspecified setback in his recovery.
Stars coach Glen Gulutzan previously said Hintz was unlikely to play in Game 3 on Wednesday night, and it now appears the center's earliest possible return could be Game 5 when the series switches back to Dallas next week.
“He's not traveling. Like I said, Game 3, won't be there. Game 4 (on Saturday), I would say is very doubtful,” Gulutzan said before boarding the team flight. “Hopefully by the time we get back, we're in a good spot, and he's in a good spot.”
Gulutzan had said between Games 1 and 2 that Hintz hadn't even returned to skating on his own.
The 29-year-old Hintz, in his eighth NHL season, played for bronze medal-winning Finland and then missed the Stars' first four games after the Olympic break because of an illness. He got hurt in his only game since, 6 1/2 weeks ago against the Avalanche.
Hintz remained down and reached at the back of his left leg after being engaged with Nathan MacKinnon along the boards in the second period. Hintz put no weight on his leg while being helped off the ice.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 14: Right fielder Ronald Acuna, Jr. (13) of the Atlanta Braves bats during the Tuesday evening MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins on April 14, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
No worries, Ronald Acuña Jr. hasn’t gone anywhere. Also, Eli White returns to the starting lineup in an outfield corner.
Usually, I do a batter-versus-pitcher thing, but there’s not much to do here. Foster Griffin made one MLB appearance in 2020 and six more in 2022, and then went to Japan. No one in this lineup has ever faced him at the major league level.
The Nationals roll out a similar-ish lineup to yesterday. Jorbit Vivas takes over at third for Brady House, and a bunch of spots are correspondingly reshuffled around the 1-2-4 enscocement of James Wood, Luis Garcia Jr., and CJ Abrams. Six of these guys (not Vivas, Daylen Lile, or Nasim Nunez) have actually faced Lopez before, but none have more than seven PAs. Their collective line is a .271 wOBA and .318 xwOBA in 27 PAs, with CJ Abrams once hitting a go-ahead 0-2 homer off Lopez back in 2024.
Here’s a weird thing: this will be the first time Jacob Young has hit third in his career. Also, the Braves have only used 12 different batting orders through 23 games so far, but this will be a new one, as White hasn’t yet hit ninth this season.
The first few days of the NHL playoffs have been outstanding, which will only provide Gary Bettman another bullet for his “best first round in sports” talking point he uses when people complain about the current division-focused playoff structure.
Thus far, we’ve had a double overtime, several one-goal games that went down to the wire, a couple big late comebacks and Pittsburgh losing both opening games at home — each a totally fun thing in its own way!
Tonight there are four games on the schedule AND an Islanders playoff game…AHL Bridgeport Islanders, of course.
Here’s a thread for all the action, including if you’re following along for Bridgeport’s Last Ride. So many years where Hershey was dominant, it’s nice to have Bridgeport with home advantage and a decent chance to win a mini-round in their finale season.
The Detroit Pistons attempt to hold home court in Game 2 after a surprising Game 1 loss to the Orlando Magic, 112-101.
Detroit has now lost 10-straight playoff home games, but are large favorites in Game 2. The Pistons were led by Cade Cunningham's 39 points, but only he and Tobias Harris (17) scored more than eight points for Detroit.
All five starters for Orlando scored 16 or more points with the Magic's bench accumulating 20 total points. The Magic led at the end of each quarter and put up remarkable numbers for a road team in Game 1, except for their three-point shooting (10/34, 29%), which will need to improve as the series goes on.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Magic vs. Pistons
Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Time: 7:10 PM EST
Site: Little Caesars Arena
City: Detroit, MI
Network/Streaming: NBC / Peacock
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Game Odds: Magic vs. Pistons
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Detroit Pistons (-410), Orlando Magic (+320)
Spread: Pistons -8.5
Total: 218.5 points
This game opened Pistons -9.5 with the Total set at 218.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Magic vs. Pistons
Orlando Magic
PG Jalen Suggs
SG Desmond Bane
SF Franz Wagner
PF Paolo Banchero
SF Wendell Carter Jr.
Detroit Pistons
PG Cade Cunningham
SG Duncan Robinson
SF Ausar Thompson
PF Tobias Harris
C Jalen Duren
Injury Report: Pistons vs. Magic
Orlando Magic
Jonathan Issac (knee) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for Game 2
Detroit Pistons
None
Important stats, trends and insights: Pistons vs. Magic
Detroit is 44-39 ATS
Detroit is 21-20 ATS as the home team
Detroit is 44-38-1 to the Under
Detroit is 18-14 to the Under as a home favorite
Detroit is 22-19 to the Under as the home team
Orlando is 40-45 ATS
Orlando is 19-22 ATS as the road team
Orlando is 45-40 to the Over
Orlando is 21-20 to the Under as the road team
Orlando is 12-10 to the Over as the road underdog
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday’s Magic and Pistons’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Pistons’ Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Pistons -8.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 218.5
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Apr 17, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) walks back to the dugout after flying out against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Listen, there is no good introduction to this other than to just give you a trigger warning because if you read on, you will see the worst meter you have ever laid your eyes upon. And once you lay your eyes upon it, you will not be able to unsee it. I can’t.
I don’t need to rehash for you why the meter looks like this. The Mets have lost 11 straight games. They only have one win in the time period encompassed by this meter. They are last in baseball in runs scored. The only two guys in the lineup with a pulse at the moment are Francisco Alvarez and a guy they just brought up six days ago.
So to serve as your buffer and make it so that you have to scroll down a bit to actually see the meter for the sake of your own mental health, I will include this image to serve as the introduction to the meter instead of more developed thoughts.
Okay here’s the actual meter (you were warned).
Player
Last week
This week
Francisco Alvarez, C
Brett Baty, UTIL
Carson Benge, OF
Bo Bichette, 3B
Francisco Lindor, SS
Ronny Mauricio, INF
—
MJ Melendez, OF
—
Tommy Pham, OF
—
Jorge Polanco, 1B/DH
Luis Robert Jr., OF
Marcus Semien, 2B
Tyrone Taylor, OF
Luis Torrens, C
Mark Vientos, 1B/3B
Jared Young, 1B/OF
Before we get into the really ugly, horrible weeds of this, we’ll start out with some logistics. Jared Young, who had actually been doing pretty well with the bat, hit the injured list before the Dodgers series with a torn meniscus, which will unfortunately sideline him for quite some time. After much hemming and hawing, Jorge Polanco was placed on the injured list as well retroactive to April 15 with a right wrist contusion; in theory he will miss less time.
The Mets called up Hayden Senger to take Polanco’s roster spot, but Senger has yet to appear in a game so he does not appear on this meter. Presumably the decision to roster a third catcher—other than the fact that the Mets have very few options right now—is rooted in their desire to be able to DH Francisco Alvarez sometimes, since he is the only regular actually hitting. Alvarez has posted a 120 wRC+ over 39 plate appearances in the past couple of weeks. He leads the team in walks with six. Only one of his eight hits went for extra bases, but that hit was a home run. The Mets have not yet opted to DH Alvarez since Senger was called up and that might partially be because Luis Torrens has just two hits in his last 11 plate appearances.
When Young was placed on the injured list, the Mets recalled outfielder MJ Melendez from Triple-A. Other than Alvarez, Melendez is the only other Mets hitter to receive a positive grade this week. As you may recall, he was a candidate for King of Spring Training this year and he has carried that momentum into the regular season, maybe in part because he does not yet have the stink of the team’s bad vibes on him. He has collected five hits and two walks in 16 plate appearances, including a home run in Sunday’s game which represented the Mets’ only run in their most recent loss.
It’s hard to imagine Melendez losing his spot on the roster when any of the injured Mets return—starting with Juan Soto tomorrow. Senger will likely be the first to be sent down, but it’s hard to imagine Tommy Pham, who was called up on April 13, is long for this roster, even as haggard as it is. Pham is hitless in eight plate appearances so far and struck out in half of them, looking very much like a guy who doesn’t belong in the big leagues right now. Pham replaced Ronny Mauricio on the roster when he was called up. Mauricio was briefly recalled when Juan Soto first hit the injured list, had his one heroic walk-off moment in four plate appearances, and then was sent back down.
Speaking of guys that don’t look like they belong in the big leagues right now, that unfortunately applies to Carson Benge as well. Benge has put up a 38 wRC+ in 36 plate appearances over these last 12 games and looks overmatched. He has six hits over that span—one double and five singles. He has scored two runs and walked three times, but did not drive in any runs and struck out seven times. But to be fair to Benge, he is far from alone in his struggles.
Brett Baty and Mark Vientos join Benge, Pham, and Torrens in the poop emoji brigade and those two are arguably the poopiest of all. Ever since we all wondered if we were perhaps witnessing the resurrection of Mark Vientos, he has put up an almost incomprehensible -50 wRC+ in 34 plate appearances. He hit one very cool moonshot in Chicago that looked like he may be showing signs of life, but that’s one of just two hits he’s had since our last meter and that is not enough to save him from the poop. Baty’s wRC+ in the past two weeks is also a negative number (-2). Baty has five hits—four of them singles—and three RBIs in 35 plate appearances. He has walked just once and struck out a whopping eleven times, which leads the team. Both Baty and Vientos have also had challenges defensively.
Bo Bichette matches Baty’s 11 strikeouts to lead the team, which says something about how things are going for him. Unlike Baty and Vientos, his defense at third base has been much better lately and he’s actually made a few really spectacular plays in the past couple of weeks, but unfortunately his poor hitting is more memorable as part of the Mets’ collective ineptitude at the plate. Bichette’s 73 wRC+ is sadly actually one of the better marks in the regular starting lineup, which demonstrates how bleak things have really been. His 11 hits are second on the team and he’s one of just two Mets with double-digit hits in the past two weeks, which again says more about the lineup that it does about Bichette.
Francisco Lindor is the team leader in hits with 13. Normally being the team leader in hits for a given meter would be close to an automatic positive grade, but even with leading the team in hits, Lindor holds a mediocre 70 wRC+ over the past 12 games (50 plate appearances). Ten of those 13 hits were singles, which is not ideal. Lindor leads the team in runs scored with five (lol) and has recently been dropped to third in the lineup in an attempt to bolster run production, but he has just one RBI over the past 12 games—the result of a solo homer.
Luis Robert Jr. is with Bichette and Lindor in the “mediocre, but not absolutely terrible” category with a 73 wRC+ in 44 plate appearances. Early on, when the Mets were still winning once in awhile, Robert was one of their hottest hitters, but he has cooled off significantly. He has eight hits in the past 12 games—5 singles, two doubles, and a home run. He is still also taking the occasional walk; he has walked four times in those 44 plate appearances. But he also has struck out 11 times to match Bichette and Baty for the team lead.
Marcus Semien is another player whose arrow turns upside down from green to red. After his very slow start, Semien perked up a bit right in time to get a positive grade for his very first meter, but he has not been very productive since. He posted an ugly 41 wRC+ in 45 plate appearances since our last meter. Of his nine hits, just one went for extra bases. He scored a run, drove in two, and walked twice. He also stole a base—something the Mets aren’t doing much because they aren’t getting on base all that much. Lindor, Benge, and Baty each also have one steal since our last meter and no one on the team has more than one.
Juan Soto’s absence has meant more playing time for Tyrone Taylor and he has been…okay. He has four hits—three singles and a double—and a walk in 17 plate appearances, good for an 87 wRC+. He’s scored a run and driven in two runs while playing his usual solid outfield defense.
One of the only good things about watching a tanking team is seeing players develop from definite L’s in the loss column to becoming real assets on a playoff team. The 2025-26 Utah Jazz team had its fair share of young talent improve over the course of 82 games, as well as surprising vets that stepped up big time.
Let’s take a look at the three players that improved the most from last season.
Note: I will only be using players who also played for the Jazz in 2024-25, so while Jusuf Nurkic was somebody that definitely upped his stock, he will not be on this list.
This might come as a shock to some, but in the thick of the Jazz’s (purposeful) worst season in franchise history, Markkanen had a very bad season. I though this year was massive for him to prove that he can be the player on a Jazz playoff team that everybody thought he could one day be.
When Markkanen arrived in Utah, he was this seven-foot beast that could knock down threes, but would also drive and dunk with incredible efficiency. He was an all star starter in year one and was named the league’s most improved player, but by year three it seemed like that version of Lauri might be gone. He averaged six less points a game, shot five percent worse from deep, took more threes and less twos. His game was reduced to catch-and-shoot, which was frustrating knowing that he could be an efficient paint scorer.
But this season, all my faith in Markkanen has been restored. His shot selection was a lot more diverse, taking five more 2-point attempts per game while still being knockdown from 3-point range. There were times this season before the Jazz went full-fledged tank mode, where I looked at the duo of Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George and thought, “Hey, this is something real.” Combine his play with the fact that Utah kept its first round pick, and the decision to not trade Lauri paid off tenfold.
We were in dangerous territory with Cody Williams early in the season. Like maybe “worst player in the league” territory. Maybe, dare I say, “worst Jazz draft pick ever” territory. But patience proved powerful, as Williams now seems like he can be a real player in the NBA, which can’t be said for many of his 2024 draft peers.
His overall season stats don’t jump out, but after New Year’s, he became an impact player in Utah. In 21 starts in March and April he averaged 15.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. Now, you can chalk that up to garbage, late-season stat inflation, but what fun would that be?
Even NBA insider Zach Lowe made it a point to talk about Williams’ play on his podcast.
“I think Cody Williams — who looked like an epic bust of a top-10 pick… has shown enough in the last couple of months that I think there’s a world in which he’s a functional eighth to tenth guy on a good Utah Jazz team. His defense is really improved. He’s a solid defender. He knows how to close out on guys short, he knows how to run guys off the arc, he’s extremely well balanced,“
So while Williams might not be on the same level as the other two players on this list, his improvement from year one to year two should be seen as a resounding success.
Keyonte George was benched for Isaiah Collier last season. Let that sink in.
In the offseason, George was probably the most polarizing player on the Jazz, with (from my perspective) more people being out on the once inefficient point guard from Baylor
In just one year he has made himself a franchise cornerstone, and had it not been for a stacked western conference, he would have made an all star team. No doubt about it. The Jazz do not make the franchise-altering trade for Jaren Jackson Jr. if George had not taken this step in year three.
His shot selection in 2025-26 was drastically better than that of his sophomore campaign. He shot less threes per game, 3.5 more 2-point attempts per game, and got to the line 2.7 more times as well. A big knock on George going into the season was his lack of finishing and his lack of creating contact in the paint, even though he was able to get there with ease. This season, the perceived “fear” he had of the paint greatly diminished.
What I think can best sum up George’s rise in the NBA’s hierarchy this season was his two-game stretch against the Pistons and Spurs in December, a stretch in which the Jazz won both games. In these two games, George averaged 29.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists, and against the Pistons he hit the game-winning floater over the outstretched arms of Jalen Duren. In two games against Cade Cunningham and Victor Wembanyama, it was George who came out on top. It was George who was the best player on the court.
I foresee a Tyrese Maxey level ascension for George in the near future. Maybe it won’t be this very next season, but George is the real deal, and can 100% be an all-NBA guy in his career. That is not something that I thought in September.
Ten years on from lifting the Premier League trophy, Leicester have been relegated to League One after a 2-2 draw with Hull confirmed back-to-back relegations for the club.
The result leaves the Foxes, who were deducted six points in February for a financial rules breach, seven points adrift of fourth-bottom Blackburn with just two games to play and destined for the third tier for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
