PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 31: Spencer Torkelson #20 of the Detroit Tigers reacts after a strike out against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the ninth inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on March 31, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Tigers 7-5. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals and Tigers were projected by many models to be the top two teams in the division, but both have stumbled out of the game to a sub-.500 record. The Tigers perhaps hit rock bottom after suffering a four-game sweep at the hands of the Twins, but righted the ship last weekend with a sweep of the Marlins.
Kansas City Royals (7-9) vs. Detroit Tigers (7-9) at Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Only two teams have hit fewer home runs than the Tigers, and only one team has stolen fewer bases. Top rookie Kevin McGonigle has been as advertised, with hits in 12 of his 15 starts, with four multi-hit games. Catcher Dillon Dingler came on at the end of last year, hitting .296/.355/.441 in the second half. Colt Keith hit .163/.217/.186 against left-handers last year. Zack McKinstry was an All-Star last year, hitting .323/.397/.594 at home.
Kerry Carpenter is a career .219/.284/.313 in 37 games against the Royals. Spencer Torkelson is 0-for-8 with four strikeouts in his career against Cole Ragans. Gleyber Torres is 0-for-9 with four strikeouts against Kris Bubic.
Framber Valdez was the big off-season signing for the Tigers, and the two-time All-Star has the fifth-most fWAR by a starting pitcher since 2022. He throws a sinker half the time, inducing a groundball rate of 59 percent last year. Bobby Witt Jr. is 2-for-20 in his career against Valdez with five strikeouts.
Jack Flaherty had a terrific 2024 with a 3.17 ERA, but regressed last year, tying for the league-lead in losses with a 4.64 ERA. Only five pitchers in baseball have issued more walks than Flaherty this year. He has a 2.78 ERA in six career starts against the Royals.
Keider Montero has been fantastic filling in for an injured Justin Verlander, tossing six shutout innings in a win over the Marlins his last time out. He had a 3.72 ERA in 12 starts last year, but a 5.51 ERA in eight relief appearances. Opponents hit .308 against his slider last year.
Kenley Jansen has 478 career saves, although he is just two-for-three in save opportunities this year. The 38-year-old finished strong last year with a 1.48 ERA in the second half. Will Vest had a 58 percent groundball rate last year, ninth-highest among relievers. Drew Anderson had a 2.27 ERA as a starter last year in the Korean Baseball Organization. The Tigers re-signed Kyle Finnegan after he posted a 1.50 ERA in 16 games following a trade from the Nationals at the deadline last summer.
Fangraphs still has the Tigers with a 34 percent chance of winning the division, with the Royals at 22 percent, and the Twins (23 percent) and Guardians (19 percent) very much in the conversation. This could be a very competitive division, but to stay in it, the Royal will need to better against the Tigers than last year, when they dropped 9 of 13 in head-to-head matchups.
Ketel Marte hit a walk off RBI double to win a 1-run game on 5 April. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Which teams had the most 1-run games?
Frequent 1-Run Games. In games through 8 April, the Rockies and the Diamondbacks were tied for the most 1-run games in the Majors. On 10 April, the changed standings showed the Diamondbacks in the lead with seven 1-run games, the Mariners in second place with six 1-run games, and five(!) teams tied with five 1-run games.
Win-Loss Record. In games through 10 April, looking seven teams with at least five 1-run games, the Diamondbacks had the most(!) wins. Their win-loss record in 1-run games was 4 wins and 3 losses.
Other teams with positive win-loss records were Blue Jays, Phillies, and Rangers (each with 3-2 records).
Characteristic of 1-Run Games. Observations:
In three 1-run games, the Diamondbacks’ opponents never held the lead during the game. The Diamondbacks prevented their opponents from taking the lead. None of these were come-from-behind wins.
In one 1-run game, the Diamondbacks took a 1-run lead in the top of the fifth inning, and after that the opponent was unable to score any runs. After the fifth inning, the Diamondbacks prevented their opponents from taking the lead.
In 3 of the 7 1-run games, in the eighth inning the Diamondbacks opponents either tied the game or took the lead. The Diamondbacks allowed their opponents to get back in the game in the eighth inning.
Addendum: After completing this article about the first 14 games, the next two games were 1-run games.
In game 15 the Diamondbacks lost a 1-run game; thereby increasing their total to eight 1-run games. This loss was unique because the opponents scored the winning runs in the third inning instead of the eighth inning.
In game 16 the Diamondbacks won a 1-run game; thereby increasing their total to nine 1-run games. This win was unique because it was the Diamondbacks’ first come-from-behind win in a 1-run game.
Why did the Diamondbacks have relative success among the three teams with the most 1-run games?
Scrappy Underdogs Fighting to the Last Out. Although my immediate answer was that the Diamondbacks are the scrappy underdogs that keep fighting to the last out. But is that correct? What does the data show? Most innings with runs scored happened early in the game.
The following table shows the average percentage of innings with at least one run (through 10 April). Data from FanGraphs.
The data are inconsistent with fighting just as hard to the last out. Scrappy underdogs fighting was not the reason.
Quality-Start Rotation. Another answer is the rotation. In the preseason, I wrote that if the rotation, despite my expectation of being average, could achieve quality starts in half their games, that would give the Diamondbacks significant chances to reach the playoffs. In the first 14 games, only three were quality starts. In another five games, the starter only allowed one run or less; thereby they kept the Diamondbacks in the game.
The starters fell short of 50% quality starts. A quality-start rotation was not the reason.
Bullpen Shutdowns. Another answer is that the Diamondbacks bullpen makes a difference. Thru 10 April, the Diamondbacks and the Pirates were tied for second best in the Majors with 22 shutdown performances by bullpen pitchers. The Pirates are renown for their excellent pitching, so that is great company.
On the other hand, the Diamondbacks are in a 4-way tie for second most meltdowns (11 meltdowns).
The Diamondbacks ratio of 2.o shutdowns per meltdown is above average. Although I can confidently state bullpen pitchers made an impact, perhaps that impact was positive in only about two thirds of their appearances.
My conclusion is that so far, the bullpen was a more likely reason for the relative success in 1-run games.
Summary.
After 14 games, the Diamondbacks led the Majors with seven 1-run games, the Mariners were in second place with six 1-run games, and five(!) teams were tied with five 1-run games. Addendum: After 16 games, they continued to lead the Majors with nine 1-run games.
Characteristics of 1-run games:
When the Diamondbacks won 1-run games, they prevented their opponenets from taking the lead from the fifth inning forward.
When the Diamondback lost 1-run games, their opponents either tied the game or took the lead in the eighth inning.
The most likely of three reasons for their relative success (4-3) in 1-run games was their 22 shutdown performances by bullpen pitchers. The rejected reasons were quality starts by the rotation, and that the Diamondbacks were scrappy underdogs fighting to the last out.
Although the Diamondbacks experienced relative success in 1-run games compared to other teams with frequent 1-run games, they were not at their best.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 10: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to the media after the game against the Indiana Pacers on April 10, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A sentiment I’ve seen expressed towards Philadelphia’s participation in the NBA Play-In Tournament, both in person and online, is apathy.
The line of thinking goes that the Sixers aren’t at all likely to win the title this year, so why worry if the season ends this week or if it is prolonged until after a probable first-round series loss to Boston or Detroit. And I understand that ‘championship or bust’ mentality. The Sixers haven’t won a championship in my lifetime. I’ve seen the Phillies win one (in person) and watched the Eagles hoist the Lombardi trophy twice. There’s no greater feeling as a sports fan and seeing the Sixers do it is the last item on my Philadelphia sports bucket list. (I’m not a hockey guy, but good luck to everyone getting Flyer’d up starting this weekend, seems like a fun squad.)
Still, on average, your team is going to win a title once every 30 years. So the three-decade intervals in between are just passing the time and chock full of disappointment? No. I mean, yes, we’ve had plenty of disappointment. More than most in Philadelphia, I’d wager. But sports are great not only because of the big moments, but the small ones too. In the Play-In Tournament, we have two decent enough teams equally motivated to give it their all with the entire season on the line. (In the case of the 7-vs-8 game, the loser gets one mulligan, but you get my point.) Isn’t seeing that sort of game what we’re always looking to watch in sports? It’s why we tune into early round NCAA tournament games, even if it’s two middling SEC and Big 12 teams who we know aren’t getting out of the Sweet 16.
If Wednesday’s game against the Magic was the final regular season game, with a playoff berth hanging in the balance, I bet the anticipation would be a lot greater. But because the Play-In Tournament creates this sort of ‘not quite playoffs’ event as a waypoint between the two seasons, it seems to dull the excitement. But no more!
Think of where this Sixers group was one year ago. They won just 24 games. It was their worst season in over a decade. Now, they’re not a true championship contender, and Joel Embiid’s appendicitis takes a lot of the wind out of our sails, but there’s still a lot to root for here. Don’t you want to see Tyrese Maxey have some more playoff moments like the Knicks series a couple years back? Or have VJ Edgecombe get his first taste of NBA playoff basketball? Or see Paul George in a Sixers uniform in the postseason? Those would be cool things. And all we have to do to get to see them is have the Sixers beat Orlando (or subsequently, the winner of Charlotte and Miami).
So let’s toss aside our inner pragmatists and just be fans in the truest sense of the world. Offseason roster-building discussions are the time to debate the franchise’s ceiling and getting off the treadmill of mediocrity. But when the local basketball team is taking the court in a (kinda) win-or-go-home scenario, let’s get amped up and appreciate what could be a really fun moment for the team and us as fans at home.
Joel Embiid (appendectomy recovery) and Johni Broome (right knee surgery recovery) were the two Sixers listed as out Tuesday night on the team’s injury report. Trendon Watford was listed as probable with an illness.
Orlando’s Jonathan Isaac (left knee sprain) and Jett Howard (left ankle sprain) were both questionable.
The Sixers played their final three games of the regular season without Embiid after he was diagnosed with appendicitis and underwent surgery in Houston. They’ll move forward with Andre Drummond and Adem Bona as their two primary centers.
“He hasn’t been around the team at all,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said Tuesday of Embiid after his team’s practice. “He’s still in recovery. Spirits are pretty good. I think they’re pretty good.”
Broome has made steady progress since suffering a right knee lateral meniscus tear in late February while playing in the G League. He was a full practice participant, according to a Sixers official. The rookie big man also took part in a post-practice 3-on-3 session, joined by two-way contract players Tyrese Martin and MarJon Beauchamp and Sixers player development coaches.
Like the Sixers, the Magic had multiple significant injuries pop up during their season.
Banchero has played every game since he came back in early December. The first overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft requires a detailed personal game plan.
“He is physical,” Nurse said. “He gets a lot done with his strength and size, just carving space, attacking with his shoulder hits and things like that. You’ve got to stand in there and be able to use your own physicality. We’ve got to have multiple coverages ready for him. I think showing him multiple bodies, especially in certain matchups, will be important for us. And even going as far as having three or different schemes and three or four different guys that’ll guard him.
“I think trying to keep him off balance with some of that stuff is important, too. But a lot of it’s just going to come down to somebody standing in there and using their force against his.”
Maxey appeared to aggravate his injury several times when he absorbed in-game knocks to the pinky. The All-Star guard’s three-point numbers were also down a bit, dropping to 31.6 percent on 6.3 attempts per game during that nine-game stretch. Maxey’s still poised to play many minutes Wednesday and isn’t inclined to dwell on anything related to health these days.
“All the excuses are off the table, man,” Maxey said Tuesday. “If you’re going to be out there, you’re going to be out there. I’m just ready to hoop.”
The Winnipeg Jets may be out of the playoffs, but the final stretch of the season is still offering reasons for optimism. One of the biggest storylines came Monday night, when top prospect Brayden Yager made his long-awaited NHL debut against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Yager’s arrival has been anticipated since August 2024, when Winnipeg acquired him in a deal that sent Rutger McGroarty to the Pittsburgh Penguins. While McGroarty has yet to make a significant impact at the NHL level, the Jets are hoping Yager can develop into a key piece of their future.
The debut itself came in a difficult matchup as Vegas entered the game on a strong run of form and controlled play throughout the night, skating away with a 6-2 victory. Despite the lopsided scoreline, Yager’s performance offered a glimpse of his potential.
The 21-year-old Saskatoon native centered Winnipeg’s third line, playing alongside veteran Nino Niederreiter and fellow young forward Nikita Chibrikov. Yager logged 17 shifts, just one fewer than Cole Perfetti and Gabe Vilardi, though his limited 10:17 of ice time.
He finished the night with one shot on goal and was on the ice for one of Vegas’ six tallies, a point shot from Rasmus Andersson that found its way through traffic. Still, Yager did not look out of place against a surging opponent and handled his assignments without major issues.
With two games remaining in the season, the Jets are expected to give Yager more opportunities to showcase his skill set. While his debut came under challenging circumstances, it marked an important first step in what the organization hopes will be a promising NHL career.
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Most MLB teams, including the Cubs, have gone to all-digital ticketing. You can get a paper Cubs ticket… sometimes… depending on the circumstances.
This began after the pandemic shut ballparks to fans in 2020. The last year the Cubs issued paper season tickets to fans was 2019, and Wrigley Field — plus most other MLB parks — went cashless in 2021 when parks re-opened to fans.
This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Cashless was better for teams, who didn’t have to handle cash (and anecdotally, I heard reports that some rogue employees were stealing cash), and for fans, as long as you have your phone, you can’t forget your ticket.
There have been some glitches. Last September, as I reported here, the MLB Ballpark app got hacked and quite a number of fans, including Cubs fans, lost tickets as a result. Most, though not all, of those tickets were recovered, but as I suggested in that September 2025 article, MLB revamped the Ballpark app and began 2-factor authentication. That’s a must when you have apps with payment information and potentially thousands of dollars worth of tickets stored (as a season ticket holder would).
But here’s the thing. A game ticket isn’t just something that admits you to a stadium. It’s a tangible souvenir of your visit to the ballpark. I have literally thousands of game ticket stubs (and beginning in 2005, when the Cubs put barcodes on the tickets, full tickets) which create memories. Many Cubs season tickets over the years had really nice artistic designs, such as these from the Wrigley Field centennial year in 2014. Those are art, and well worth keeping.
Instead, your digital ticket disappears from the app after the game, so all you have is a record within the Ballpark app that you attended the game. True, you can put photos in the app for each game, but to me at least, a digital record isn’t quite the same as having an actual piece of paper, issued by the team, that you can keep in a scrapbook (people still do those, right?) or elsewhere. I actually had someone suggest that I “print a screenshot” of my digital ticket and… well, no, that’s not the same thing at all.
I bring all this up because of this article on this topic in The Athletic today. The article cites Montreal Expos fan Josée Tellier, who has kept binders of tickets from Expos games she attended, many from decades ago. One of them is from her first game, signed by Andre Dawson:
“Today, when people go to shows or games or whatever, they use their phones to take pictures and to get a memory of that moment, but at the time, who is going to the stadium with that camera? It wasn’t something we were doing at the time,” Tellier said. “So the ticket was the proof that you were there, that you felt the moment, that you saw that magic play.”
That 1986 ticket is her most cherished — not because it was from a championship or record-breaking game, but because it was her first. In 2022, she met Dawson, who signed the card.
“At the time, we didn’t have any money, and this ticket was proof that we were there,” Tellier said. “This little booklet with the ticket inside and my mom’s picture is my most prized possession.”
That’s exactly what I am talking about. These aren’t just pieces of paper that get you into a game, they create memories that can last a lifetime.
The Cubs will sell you a commemorative paper “ticket” for any game you want for $9, which is not unreasonable. I bought one for the combined no-hitter thrown by Shōta Imanaga, Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge in 2024. Here’s what that looks like:
It’s a tangible souvenir, but not quite the same thing as if I had an actual paper ticket that I had used to get into the game.
I was also fortunate enough to get a printed ticket at the Tokyo Dome last year. This one is for the exhibition game the Cubs played against the Yomiuri Giants. (There are two times listed — one is for the gates opening, the other for the start of the game.) This is a great souvenir of my trip to Japan last year.
Teams are getting really stingy about printing souvenir tickets for games now. I did manage to get one in Milwaukee for Game 5 of the Division Series last year — the Brewers will do it for $10.
Errol Segal, who’s been a Dodger fan for 50 years, said he received a notice before the season began that he can no longer get printed tickets.
Segal, 81, owns a recycling center in South LA and said he’ll likely be spending more time there now that the Dodgers have gone fully digital.
“I enjoy working,” Segal said. “I don’t feel my age.”
He said he went to Dodger Stadium Thursday and was able to buy paper tickets, but the team won’t let him get them for the entire season.
“If I had the tickets one year, five years, 10 years, that’s another story,” Segal said. “50 years I’ve had these tickets. They threw me under the bus.”
Segal doesn’t use a smartphone, and I would think you wouldn’t have to buy a smartphone just to go to a sporting event. Apparently the Dodgers disagree.
I get why teams want to do this. Saves printing costs. Makes it easy to have tickets in one place. Oh, and by putting them in the Ballpark app, where you have to log in, teams now know exactly who is using every ticket to every game — data that is useful to them when (for example) setting dynamic pricing.
Incidentally, there is one way for you to create memories for yourself within the Ballpark app, if you don’t mind those memories being digital. The app has a database of games going back to 1901. To find this, click on “Profile” at the bottom of the app, it should show “My History,” all the games you have checked into via the app. Click on the arrow at the right, it will take you to a page showing all your games. Hit the + and you’ll see a screen where you can “Add Past Games.” It took me a while, but I got all my past games in there. Fun and interesting… but still not quite the same as having a paper ticket.
As for Josée Tellier?
In Montreal, with no Expos tickets, print or digital, Tellier goes to Montreal Canadiens games, QR code in hand.
“I really wish we would go back to paper tickets,” she said. Tellier recalled how once, she asked a stadium for the printed version.
They gave her an 8 x 11 printed sheet of paper of her digital ticket.
Like I said… that’s not quite the same. How do you feel about all-electronic ticketing?
Despite injury concerns to two starters, the Los Angeles Lakers have quickly become an incredibly popular bet to win the NBA championship.
Key Takeaways
The Lakers are the most-bet team to win the NBA title at FanDuel over the last 24 hours.
The online operator has shortened L.A.’s odds during that period.
The Lakers are currently without stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Heading into this week’s playoffs, FanDuel reported on Tuesday that the LeBron James-led Western Conference four seed has received the most wagers over the last 24 hours to capture the league title.
The most bet team to win the NBA Finals over the last 24 hours:
FanDuel has since shortened L.A.’s odds from +25000 to +15000. Still, the Lakers have the 12th-shortest odds on FanDuel’s NBA champion market, right behind the Atlanta Hawks at +10000.
Five teams in the West, including first-round opponent and five-seed Houston (+5500), are listed ahead of the Lakers. Oklahoma City is a +115 favorite at FanDuel to win back-to-back championships, followed by the San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics at +550 each.
The Lakers are +10000 to win the West and make the best-of-seven Finals.
Injury issues
Los Angeles heads into the series with an unknown status on star Luka Doncic and without guard Austin Reaves until May. Doncic left the team last week to receive treatment on a hamstring strain in Spain.
He’s set to return to the Lakers on Friday, but when he’ll return to the court is uncertain. The team has not announced Doncic’s timeline.
Reaves suffered an oblique strain that will sideline him for multiple weeks, but none of that is stopping bettors, who are backing James to keep the team afloat until everyone is healthy.
Big liability
BetMGM reported this week that, at +25000 to win it all, the Lakers have received 7.9% of the championship market’s tickets and 7.4% of the handle. That’s enough, combined with the massive odds, to make L.A. the operator’s biggest liability entering the NBA postseason.
BetMGM lists the Lakers at +500 to win the series against the Rockets, who are -700 to advance.
Meanwhile, the Spurs lead all teams in the NBA championship market with 11.9% of the bets and over 20% of the handle. The Thunder are second with 15.3% of the money, but with the shortest odds, that’s the team BetMGM is rooting for in the playoffs.
“Among the true contenders, OKC is the best result on the futures market,” BetMGM sports trader Anthony Parenti said.
“The sportsbook is in the enviable position of getting to cheer for the favorite to win it all.”
I bet the Orlando Magic wish the “Back to the Future” ride was still running at Universal Studios.
That would be their best chance to reverse time and erase the embarrassment of last Sunday, while avoiding this road matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Orlando was the laughingstock of the league in the season finale. It botched a scheduling layup as 13-point favorites to a makeshift Boston squad and faceplanted to the No. 8 seed in the East.
Our Magic vs. 76ers predictions feel the pressure on Paolo Banchero to pick up the pieces in Philly and my NBA picks are taking Orlando's star to top his points prop.
Magic vs 76ers prediction
Magic vs 76ers best bet: Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points (-120)
Paolo Banchero was one of the best scorers in the NBA for most of March but seemed to hit a wall in the home stretch.
After tallying 105 points in a span of three games, his usage went from season rate of 27.8% to 24.9% over the final nine contest. Banchero averaged less than 18 points per game in that period and attempted less than 16 field goals in seven of those outings.
That dip in production did coincide with Franz Wagner’s return to the lineup, taking touches away from Banchero. However, we saw an aggressive approach in Sunday’s finale, with Paolo taking 22 shots – tying his second highest FGA mark of the season.
Banchero made just 7 of those 22 attempts, including whiffing on all five 3-pointers, yet was able to go 9 for 11 from the foul line and salvaged a 23-point performance in the loss.
Banchero took the blame for the flop in the finale, despite finishing with a triple-double in the loss. The versatile 6-foot-10 forward has a great opportunity to exploit Embiid’s absence against a smaller Philadelphia 76ers lineup.
Banchero’s two meetings with Philadelphia tell the story: With Embiid in, he finished with 14 points on 6-of-18 shooting and scored only two FTMs. Without him, Banchero hung 32 points (10 for 18) with 11 of those coming from the stripe.
Player projections for Wednesday sit between 23.3 and 25 points from Banchero. I’m leaning toward the high end of those forecasts, as Philadelphia doesn’t have anyone who can handle his combo of speed and size.
Magic vs 76ers same-game parlay
The Sixers are a tough challenge at home and even with Embiid out, this defense can still pack the paint due to the Orlando Magic’s awful 3-point shooting. Philadelphia is 19-8 SU as home chalk this season.
While Banchero headlines the Magic attack, Tyrese Maxey takes center stage for the 76ers. The kinetic guard is an inside-out threat, with projections calling for 3+ makes from beyond the arc. Maxey made three or more triples in two of his three matchups with Orlando this year.
Magic vs 76ers SGP
76ers Moneyline
Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points
Tyrese Maxey Over 2.5 3-pointers
Our "from downtown" SGP: Florida Man
Banchero stuffed the stat sheet Sunday and still fell short, taking responsibility for the Magic’s egg in the season finale. Projections are all very positive for the superstar, who should also do some damage on defense against a smaller 76ers lineup.
Magic vs 76ers SGP
Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points
Paolo Banchero Over 8.5 rebounds
Paolo Banchero Over 5.5 assists
Paolo Banchero Over 0.5 blocks
Magic vs 76ers odds
Spread: Orlando +2 | Philadelphia -2
Moneyline: Orlando +110 | Philadelphia -130
Over/Under: Over 222 | Under 222
Magic vs 76ers betting trend to know
Play-In favorites of three points or less are 8-3 SU and ATS since the league introduced the current tournament format in 2021. Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. 76ers.
How to watch Magic vs 76ers
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Magic vs 76ers latest injuries
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 13: Garrett Crochet #35 of the Boston Red Sox looks on against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Target Field on April 13, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet is the true definition of an ace: dependable, dominant, and downright terrifying to step into the box against.
So… what the hell is going on?
Crochet has been unusually shaky to kickstart the season, allowing nearly as many runs (18) as strikeouts recorded (22) — with those aggressively poor numbers being fueled by an all-time poor outing against the Minnesota Twins on Monday.
Crochet got absolutely rocked by one of the least intimidating yet surprisingly productive lineups in baseball, allowing 11 runs in only 1 2/3 innings pitched at Target Field. The Red Sox — who have been around for as long as crayons, airplanes, cellophane, and Australia — have never had someone give up as many runs in so few innings.
It’s not like he’s going to ever be this bad again, but check out his pitching summaries on the season:
March 26 @ CIN 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 R, 8 K April 1 @ HOU 5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 5 R, 7 K April 7 vs. MIL 6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 R, 7 K April 13 @ MIN 1.2 IP, 9 H, 10 ER, 11 R, 0 K
Good. Eh. Good. Nuked.
So… back to our original question. What the hell is going on?
I’ve decided to look at this start through two lenses, which will hopefully tell us whether or not we should be freaking out.
“It’s just a bad start, man. Paul Skenes biffed one a couple of weeks ago!”
Paul Skenes did, indeed, biff one a couple of weeks back, allowing five earned runs in 2/3 inning back on Opening Day against the New York Mets. Randy Johnson gave up 11 in 2 1/3 back in 1994. Greg Maddux allowed eight in the same amount of time in 1988. Roger Clemens allowed eight in 1 1/3 in 1995.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora came out after the game and shut down the idea that his ace was injured:
“He’s healthy, and that’s the most important thing,” he said, as seen on NESN.
Crochet backed that statement up:
“I don’t think there’s anything to fret over,” he said.
It’s just something that happens, even to the best of us.
“I don’t care what you say! I just bought a panic button and intend on using it in four days!”
If you take a closer look at the stuff, you would know that everything was down… across the board.
Crochet threw one of the slowest four-seam fastballs of his career (92.7 MPH) and gave up some of the hardest exit velocities of his career (108.9 MPH, 106.5 MPH, 106.0 MPH) — with those three hits coming in the form of two home runs and a terrifying single. Crochet couldn’t even pinpoint exactly why this particular start went so poorly, as he gave away more free passes (four) than whiffs induced (three).
“It’s tough to say,” Crochet said. “I mean, command as a whole has been spotty. I’d gotten away with it a little this early in the year, but tonight they made me pay. It was weak contact, hard contact, walks, hit by pitch, a little bit of everything.”
If he can’t see what went wrong, how is he going to fix it?
We have never seen him pitch this poorly, and with two of his last four starts being among the four worst he has ever had…
Conclusion:
It’s probably fine.
The Red Sox have seen something like this before, with one very important statistic coming from our pal Jake Roy: Crochet threw 102 pitches in his second start of 2025, leading to his average velocity dipping 1.5 mph in his third start. It’s the same thing here, as the velocity drop came after his 107 pitch performance against the Milwaukee Brewers.
If he can’t get the velocity back to normal on regular rest, there’s no reason to think the results won’t follow.
The New York Yankees (9-7) host the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (8-9) in Game 2 of their series tonight in the Bronx.
The stars showed out last night in an 11-10 Yankees’ series-opening win. The teams combined for 26 hits in the game. Mike Trout homered twice as did Aaron Judge as did Trent Grisham. New York jumped out to a 4-0 lead through four innings, but the Angels answered with four of their own in the third inning. Trout’s second homer of the night put the Angels up, 10-8, in the eighth, but Grisham’s second four-bagger with a man on tied it and the winning run scored on a wild pitch by Jordan Romano. The Yankees’ sixth pitcher on the night, Paul Blackburn, picked up the win. There were runs scored in every inning except the third in the game.
The win kept the Yankees in first in the American League East. The Angels remain in third in the American League West following the loss.
Tonight, Ryan Weathers (0-1, 2.81 ERA) takes the ball for the Yankees. He will be opposed by the Halos’ Reid Detmers (0-1, 4.60 ERA).
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, 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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The Latest Odds: Yankees vs. Angels
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Los Angeles Angels (+153), Yankees (-186)
Spread: Yankees -1.5 (+113), Angels +1.5 (-136)
Total: 9.0 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers: Angels vs. Yankees
Pitching matchup for April 14:
Yankees: Ryan Weathers Season Totals: 16.0 IP, 0-1, 2.81 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 18K, 5 BB
Giancarlo Stanton picked up 2 hits last night and is now 3-17 over his last 6 games
Jazz Chisholm Jr. has at least one hit in 3 straight games (3-14)
Cody Bellinger has at least one hit in 3 straight games (3-14)
Ben Rice has hit in 5 straight games (6-14)
Jo Adell has hit in 3 straight (5-13) and in 8 of his last 9 games (14-30)
Mike Trout is 5 for his last 12 and in the process has raised his average from .174-.224.
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Yankees vs. Angels
The Yankees are 8-8 on the Run Line this season
The Angels are 9-8 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 11 times in the Angels’ 17 games this season (11-6)
The OVER has cashed 7 times in Yankees’ 16 games (7-7-2)
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions: Yankees vs. Angels
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection 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 game between the Yankees and the Angels:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Yankees on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 9.0.
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After having their playoff hopes dashed, the Detroit Red Wings returned to action Monday night, in what should have been a low-pressure opportunity to evaluate young talent in a otherwise meaningless game. Instead, some of the lineup decisions sparked frustration among the fanbase during a matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Much of that frustration centered around top prospect Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, who was recently called up after an impressive run with the Grand Rapids Griffins. The 15th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft had been on a tear in the AHL, recording seven points in his final five games, earning what many believed was a deserved opportunity to showcase his offensive momentum at the NHL level.
Instead, Brandsegg-Nygard was deployed in a limited role as he skated on the fourth line alongside Marco Kasper and veteran James van Riemsdyk, a decision that drew immediate criticism from fans who felt the young forward should have been given a more prominent role.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård (1st round’24) GOAL🚨 his third straight game with a goal and an assist #LGRWpic.twitter.com/QWfMj7ZZOV
— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) April 4, 2026
The discontent only grew as veterans David Perron and van Riemsdyk logged more ice time despite both being on expiring contracts and uncertain to return next season.
A popular Red Wings fan account, LGRWProspects, voiced that frustration on social media, calling the usage “such a joke” and suggesting the limited minutes disrupted Brandsegg-Nygard’s rhythm. The comment reflected a broader sentiment that the organization risks hindering the growth of its young players by not putting them in positions to succeed.
Despite the restricted role, Brandsegg-Nygard made an impact in his 11:27 of ice time, the lowest total among Detroit skaters. He finished the game at plus-one and delivered a team-high four hits, showing flashes of the physical and two-way game that made him a first-round pick.
With one game remaining against the Florida Panthers, attention now turns to whether Detroit will adjust its approach. Fans are hoping the final contest provides a clearer look at the team’s future rather than continued reliance on veterans who may not even be apart of the organization moving forward.
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Daulton Varsho is finding a rhythm at the plate, and with a hard-throwing right-hander taking the mound for the Milwaukee Brewers tonight, this is a great matchup for the Toronto Blue Jays outfielder to stay hot.
Read on to see why Varsho is the featured player in my Blue Jays vs. Brewers predictions and MLB picks for Tuesday, April 14.
Blue Jays vs Brewers predictions
Blue Jays vs Brewers best bet: Daulton Varsho Over 0.5 hits (-125)
Despite the early-season struggles, the Toronto Blue Jays have fared well against the fastball and should match up well against the youngster.
Daulton Varsho leads the Blue Jays in hits against the four-seamer with a .365 average and a 60% hard-hit rate.
Varsho has recorded a knock in four straight games while batting .412 over that span.
COVERS INTEL: Jacob Misiorowski gives up a lot of big contact, ranking in the 36th percentile for hard-hit rate against.
Blue Jays vs Brewers same-game parlay (SGP)
Kevin Gausman has had a lot of success against this lineup throughout his career, with the Brewers hitting just .177 with a .505 OPS against him. The last time the right-hander saw Milwaukee, he went seven complete innings, allowing just four hits.
William Contreras is 0-for-6 against Gausman with five strikeouts. The Brewers catcher also has a 40% K-rate against the splitter over the last two seasons.
Blue Jays vs Brewers SGP
Daulton Varsho Over 0.5 hits
Kevin Gausman Under 4.5 hits
William Contreras 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 Brewers home run pick: Daulton Varsho (+425)
Varsho has handled fastballs extremely well to begin the season, and Misiorowski has shown a tendency to give up hard contact when he utilizes the heater.
That could set up the Jays outfielder for his third home run in four games.
2026 Transparency record
Best bets: 4-10, -3.25 units
SGPs: 2-12, -4.50 units
HR picks: 2-12, -1.80 units
Blue Jays vs Brewers odds
Moneyline: Toronto +110 | Milwaukee -130
Run line: Toronto +1.5 (-210) | Milwaukee -1.5 (+170)
Over/Under: Over 7 (-110) | Under 7 (-110)
Blue Jays vs Brewers trend
Toronto has hit the F5 team total Under in 12 of its last 15 games (+8.75 Units / 46% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Brewers.
How to watch Blue Jays vs Brewers and game info
Location
American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
First pitch
7:40 p.m. ET
TV
Brewers.TV, SNO
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Kevin Gausman 0-1, 2.08 ERA)
Brewers starting pitcher
Jacob Misiorowski (1-1, 3.31 ERA)
Blue Jays vs Brewers latest injuries
Blue Jays vs Brewers 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.
The Heat are trading at just 31 cents (+223) to go into Charlotte and leave with a win tonight. The Hornets have been one of the best teams in the NBA since the All-Star break and are trading at 69 cents to win tonight.
Our prediction:Hornets to win
Covers' NBA expert, Jason Logan, keeps it simple: "The Hornets are excellent at home when catching points and come into the Play-In Tournament producing some of the best two-way basketball, boasting a net rating of +11.3 over the final 15 games."
Sign up now using our exclusive Kalshi promo code 'COVERS' and get a $10 trading bonus after you trade $10 on any other event contracts — including Heat/Hornets!
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More Heat vs Hornets prediction markets
You're certainly not limited to the main game outcome for Heat vs. Hornets at Kalshi; you also have options to trade on the spread, total, and more, among other NBA odds markets.
You can buy either side of a market — for example, "Yes" on the Charlotte -6.5 spread means the Hornets will cover, while "No" on Charlotte means the Heat will cover — with each side priced based on the implied probability (which can be converted to American, Decimal, or Fraction odds using theCovers odds converter.)
Result (Price)
Hornets ML (69¢)
Trade atspan /spanstrongKalshi/strong
Hornets -6.5 (49¢)
Trade atspan /spanstrongKalshi/strong
Over 230.5 points (47¢)
Trade atspan /spanstrongKalshi/strong
Heat vs Hornets spread and total at prediction markets
Outcome
Yes
No
Hornets -6.5
49¢ (+104)
53¢ (-113)
Over 230.5 points
49¢ (+104)
53¢ (-113)
Our predictions:Hornets -6.5
The Heat are horrendous on defense. Miami was 28th in defensive rating in the final 15 games while allowing 127.5 points against in that stretch. Foes racked up an average of 30 assists per contest — fifth most.
Charlotte cracked open the Heat’s zone defense like a piñata in that last meeting, thriving with off-ball movement and dribble-kick passing to spot-up shooters.
Other Heat vs Hornets prediction markets available
Kon Knueppel 20+ points (Yes: 49¢)
LaMelo Ball 8+ assists (Yes: 60¢)
Tyler Herro 20+ points (Yes: 59¢)
Bam Adebayo to record a double-double (Yes: 60¢)
What is Kalshi and how does it work?
Kalshi is a federally regulated U.S. exchange where you trade directly on the outcome of real-world future events. Instead of traditional bets, you trade "Event Contracts" which are simple Yes/No questions like "Will the Thunder win tonight?" These events are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, and the prices reflect the market’s estimated probability of that event occurring. For instance, $0.55 equals a 55% chance. If your prediction is correct, the contract pays out exactly $1.00; if not, it settles at $0. Kalshi is essentially a stock market for reality.
How does Kalshi differ from sportsbooks?
In a sportsbook, you bet against the bookmaker, who sets fixed odds and takes a "vig," which is a kind of commission. On Kalshi, you trade against other users. This peer-to-peer model means prices are driven by supply and demand, often resulting in fairer odds. Additionally, because these are financial derivatives, you can exit your position early. If your team takes a 14-point lead, the contract price will rise, allowing you to sell your "Yes" shares for a profit before the final whistle even blows.
Why should I wager on Heat vs Hornets at Kalshi?
Kalshi offers four unique advantages over traditional sportsbooks:
Flexibility: Unlike a "locked-in" bet, you can sell your contract at any time.
Transparency: You trade against other users, which can allow you to find better value.
Federal regulation: As a CFTC-regulated exchange, your funds are held in a secure, transparent environment.
Availability: Kalshi is available in 49 states (excluding Nevada) and D.C., including many regions where traditional sportsbooks aren't yet legal.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 06: Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks is defended by Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during the first quarter at State Farm Arena on April 06, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, here we are.
After a long, 82-game season full of twists and turns, we’ve arrived at the start of a playoff journey. Conventional wisdom said that the Toronto Raptors would be the first-round opponent entering Sunday, but the Orlando Magic somehow lost to the Celtics’ C-team, so here we are. Whatever way you feel about that doesn’t matter now.
It’s the No. 3 seed New York Knicks (53-29) and the No. 6 seed Atlanta Hawks (46-36), reviving a five-year-old rivalry whose main combatants are no longer in town. The fanbases sure as hell still remember, and you’ll be reminded of 2021 pretty much every single game, so we had to mention it.
P&T will have plenty of coverage as we lead up to Saturday’s series-opener at the World’s Most Famous Arena, but use this as a starting point. Here’s everything you need to know about this matchup.
Season Recap
You know how the Knicks’ season has gone. After all, you’re reading this on a Knicks site, but just to sum it up.
After firing Tom Thibodeau, engaging in a long coaching search, and keying in on Mike Brown, the Knicks mostly ran back the same team, albeit with new faces Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele, while drafting Mo Diawara. It was supposed to be a deeper, offensive powerhouse, and, for the most part, it was. The Knicks started 23-9 and even got some hardware along the way, beating the Spurs in the NBA Cup Final in December. Everything was coming up New York as 2025 turned into 2026.
And then everything fell apart. Starting with a New Year’s Eve collapse in San Antonio, the Knicks lost nine of their next 11 games, capped off by a terrible effort on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at MSG against the tanking Mavs. The sky was falling, we had podcasters saying he couldn’t wait to blow up this core, we had loud calls for Mike Brown’s job, the defense was abhorrently bad, and the season was in a tailspin.
Then, they mollywhopped the Nets by 54 and everything calmed down. After going from 23-9 to 25-18, the Knicks won 28 of their final 39 games, powered by the NBA’s second-best defense over the final 2.5 months of the season. They swapped the disappointing Yabusele for Jose Alvarado, who may not be in the rotation, but was an upgrade. Unlike last year, they haven’t looked overmatched against the top dogs (well, except Detroit), and they look poised to make a run.
The Hawks had a surreal season to watch from afar. Entering the season with real expectations of the playoffs after pairing Trae Young and a great collection of wings with former All-Star big man Kristaps Porzingis. The season then started disastrously. The team was playing better when Young was sidelined, Porzingis was still battling his mysterious illness, and the Hawks were struggling to stay in the play-in.
Then reports started to surface that both Young and the Hawks wanted to move on. A complicated contract situation made the former All-Star grow estranged from the team he had emerged under, and it came to a head with a January trade to the Wizards. With Porzingis later traded for Jonathan Kuminga, the Hawks appeared to be content with a play-in berth and regrouping next year with a juicy draft pick from that boneheaded Pelicans trade.
But sometimes, that’s not how sports work. After falling to 27-31 to end February, the Hawks hit a lighter part of their schedule and tore through it. They won 18 of their next 20 games, outlasting the brief win streaks of Orlando and Miami to surpass them and make the playoffs. Nickeil Alexander-Walker was blossoming into a star and was no longer in his cousin’s shadow, Jalen Johnson is likely heading for an All-NBA selection, and the role players were all contributing. They met the expectations they had in October, but did it with an entirely different team.
The season series alone encompasses just how different the Hawks are from where they were a few months ago. The first matchup saw the final installment of the Trae Young/Knicks rivalry end in a whimper, as the flamboyant point guard had just nine points and 10 assists on 2-for-9 shooting and six turnovers in 31 minutes, while being -13 in a three-point loss.
Powered by Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson combining for an efficient 70 points (and Towns shooting a season-high 18 free throws), the Knicks led by as much as 18 before a ferocious Hawks comeback gave them the lead with two minutes left. Kevin McCullar Jr. even had a standout performance with Josh Hart injured!
Of course, Captain Clutch took over and put the Knicks back in front, despite the Hawks’ offense tearing through a then-terrible Knicks defense. With a one-point lead and 10 seconds to go, OG Anunoby picked off a pass from Young (his final installment of this rivalry) and made two free throws. Alexander-Walker bricked his chance to send it to overtime.
The second game was much less competitive. With no Towns or Mitchell Robinson, Onyeka Okongwu feasted on the overmatched center rotation of Ariel Hukporti and Yabusele, as we reached the part of the Stretch of Hell where the offense stopped working. Jalen Johnson recorded a triple-double, and the Hawks led by 26 late in the third quarter. The Knicks pulled to within 11 with four minutes to go, but ran out of gas in an ugly loss that was a sign of things to come.
The finale came after Young was traded (he was on the roster but injured for the January 2 clash) and the keys to the offense were firmly being shared by Johnson and Alexander-Walker, with the latter putting up a performance that made you think his cousin was wearing Hawks colors. With a 13-game home winning streak, the Hawks looked a step quicker than the Knicks all night and, when the game was at their pace, they thrived. A 10-point third-quarter deficit and a struggling Brunson made things look bleak for the Knicks as their grip on the No. 3 seed loosened.
And then, Captain Clutch took over again. Running an excellent two-man game with Towns, Brunson scored 17 points in the fourth quarter and dragged the Knicks back into the game and into the lead, outdueling Alexander-Walker’s 36-point masterpiece. Some late-game shenanigans ensued, as even though the Knicks successfully knocked down all of their free throws, the Hawks somehow came a millisecond away from tying the game on a miracle half-court heave by CJ McCollum, but he fortunately couldn’t get it out of his hands.
Playoff History
(Andrew has a full story on the playoff history here)
Trends: Knicks since 1/20: 118.5 ORtg (6th), 108.2 DRtg (2nd), +10.3 net rating (3rd) Hawks since 3/1: 120.1 ORtg (6th), 109.9 DRtg (3rd), +10.2 net rating (4th)
Coaching Breakdown
Mike Brown (NYK): Season with team: 1st Season as head coach: 12th Career teams coached: CLE, LAL, SAC, NYK Career record: 507-333 (.604) Career playoff record: 50-40 (.556) Best finish: 2007 Cavaliers (Finals appearance)
Mike Brown is entering the postseason as the head coach of a third different team. He’s never won a game past the Eastern Conference Finals, but he’s certainly experienced deep playoff runs as an assistant under Gregg Popovich from 2001-03 and an assistant under Steve Kerr from 2017-22, winning four championships as an assistant coach.
Brown’s philosophy is a stylistic change from former head coach Tom Thibodeau, in that he prioritizes ball movement, spacing, and a drive-and-kick to open shooters (which he calls “sprays”). He was mostly unsuccessful in increasing the Knicks’ pace, showing that the team’s slow play is rooted in the way their captain operates in the offense, rather than the scheme. His biggest success has been increasing three-point attempts, but those have slowly decreased as the season has gone on.
Defensively, Brown has been flexible in his scheme. While Thibodeau always required a true rim protector on the floor, Brown has been more willing to mix up lineups in certain areas. After starting the season with a scheme that funneled the ball towards the middle of the floor into the help, Brown switched the scheme to look to send the ball towards the sidelines after the Knicks endured a month-plus stretch of abhorrent defense, powered by other teams driving and kicking to open shooters.
Quin Snyder (ATL): Season with team: 4th Season as head coach: 12th Career teams coached: UTAH, ATL Career record: 504-399 (.558) Career playoff record: 23-34 (.404) Best finish: 2021 Jazz (Second Round berth)
Snyder has been an active head coach since 2014-15 and is finally back in the playoffs after the Hawks flamed out in the play-in in back-to-back years. His tenure with the Jazz was defined by playoff disappointment, as he never reached the Western Conference Finals in six years. While most of that was because the pairing of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert was the No. 5 seed on five different occasions, the biggest disappointment came in 2020-21, when the Jazz had the No. 1 seed and lost in six games to the Clippers in the second round.
Under Snyder, the Hawks have been about ball movement and pace. That was a key tenet with Young in tow, but they’ve kept it in place despite trading their pass-first point guard. McCollum and Alexander-Walker predominantly run the offense, with Johnson in a point-forward role. They want to grab the ball and run down the floor, and will look to push the pace whenever and however. They have more than enough shooting to be matchup nightmares in transition, and the versatility defensively to match up with everyone.
Projected Rotations
Knicks: Jalen Brunson Mikal Bridges Josh Hart OG Anunoby Karl-Anthony Towns – Deuce McBride Jordan Clarkson Landry Shamet Mitchell Robinson
Situational: Mo Diawara, Jose Alvarado, Tyler Kolek, Ariel Hukporti
Hawks: Nickeil Alexander-Walker CJ McCollum Dyson Daniels Jalen Johnson Onyeka Okongwu – Gabe Vincent Corey Kispert Jonathan Kuminga Tony Bradley/Mo Gueye
For the Knicks, they have a clean bill of health entering the postseason with one major question mark (and, for once, it’s not Mitchell Robinson). It’s OG Anunoby, who left Friday’s win over Toronto with an ankle sprain. All reporting so far makes us believe that it isn’t major and he should be able to heal in the eight-day span between games. It’s something to watch, though.
For the Hawks, it’s also one player: Jock Landale. Their backup center, acquired from Memphis at the trade deadline, has missed the last two weeks with an ankle injury, and he will be re-evaluated before the series begins. It seems like a stretch that he’ll be available for Game 1, but he could return at some point in the series to bolster Atlanta’s center rotation.
Broadcast Schedule
(The full schedule has yet to be released, this will be updated)
Game 1: Sat, April 18, 6 pm (Prime Video) Game 2: TBA Game 3: TBA Game 4: TBA Game 5*: TBA Game 6*: TBA Game 7*: TBA
The Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers collide in a high-stakes Play-In matchup, with both sides now just one win away from locking up the No. 7 seed.
The Suns enter as favorites, but this isn’t a spot where the market is fully aligned — especially when you factor in how each team’s rotation tightens, and stars take on heavier workloads in a win-or-go-home environment (with a safety net).
With prediction markets like Kalshi offering a different lens on the game, we’re breaking down the best Trail Blazers vs. Suns predictions and free NBA Picks for Tuesday, April 14.
The Portland Trail Blazers are in tough on the road tonight, trading at just 42 cents (+144) to win, while the Devin Booker-led Suns are trading at 59 cents (-144) to grab that No. 7 seed.
Our prediction:Suns to win
Covers' NBA expert, Douglas Farmer, keeps it simple: "Phoenix needs either Dillon Brooks or Jalen Green to complement Booker to pull off this upset and avoid the Oklahoma City Thunder. Portland is more likely to let Brooks get an advantage than Green. That is to effectively say, betting on Phoenix’s third option is both the best bet and the Suns’ best approach to winning this game.
Sign up now using our exclusive Kalshi promo code 'COVERS' and get a $10 trading bonus after you trade $10 on any other event contracts — including Trail Blazers/Suns!
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More Trail Blazers vs Suns prediction markets
You're certainly not limited to the main game outcome for Trail Blazers vs Suns at Kalshi; you also have options to trade on the spread, total, and more, among other NBA odds markets.
You can buy either side of a market — for example, "Yes" on the Suns -2.5 spread means the Suns will cover, while "No" on Phoenix means the Trail Blazers will cover — with each side priced based on the implied probability (which can be converted to American, Decimal, or Fraction odds using theCovers odds converter.)
Result (Price)
Suns ML (58¢)
Trade atspan /spanstrongKalshi/strong
Suns -2.5 (53¢)
Trade atspan /spanstrongKalshi/strong
Over 216.5 points (51¢)
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Trail Blazers vs Suns spread and total at prediction markets
Outcome
Yes
No
Suns -2.5
53¢ (-113)
48¢ (+108)
Over 116.5 points
51¢ (-104)
51¢ (-104)
Our predictions:Suns -2.5 and Over 216.5 points — Yes
I expect Phoenix to win this game by multiple buckets, but suppose it comes down to the final minute. Who are you going to side with, the team leaning on Scoot Henderson initiating an offense to feature either Jrue Holiday or Deni Avdija for a needed bucket, or the team with Devin Booker?
Other Trail Blazers vs Suns prediction markets available
Deni Avdija 15+ points (Yes: 64¢)
Toumani Camara 10+ points (Yes: 76¢)
Devin Booker 25+ points (Yes: 60¢)
Dillon Brooks 15+ points (Yes: 70¢)
What is Kalshi and how does it work?
Kalshi is a federally regulated U.S. exchange where you trade directly on the outcome of real-world future events. Instead of traditional bets, you trade "Event Contracts" which are simple Yes/No questions like "Will the Suns win tonight?" These events are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, and the prices reflect the market’s estimated probability of that event occurring. For instance, $0.55 equals a 55% chance. If your prediction is correct, the contract pays out exactly $1.00; if not, it settles at $0. Kalshi is essentially a stock market for reality.
How does Kalshi differ from sportsbooks?
In a sportsbook, you bet against the bookmaker, who sets fixed odds and takes a "vig," which is a kind of commission. On Kalshi, you trade against other users. This peer-to-peer model means prices are driven by supply and demand, often resulting in fairer odds. Additionally, because these are financial derivatives, you can exit your position early. If your team takes a 14-point lead, the contract price will rise, allowing you to sell your "Yes" shares for a profit before the final whistle even blows.
Why should I wager on Trail Blazers vs Suns at Kalshi?
Kalshi offers four unique advantages over traditional sportsbooks:
Flexibility: Unlike a "locked-in" bet, you can sell your contract at any time.
Transparency: You trade against other users, which can allow you to find better value.
Federal regulation: As a CFTC-regulated exchange, your funds are held in a secure, transparent environment.
Availability: Kalshi is available in 49 states (excluding Nevada) and D.C., including many regions where traditional sportsbooks aren't yet legal.
COVERS INTEL: Jacob Misiorowski gives up a lot of big contact, ranking in the 36th percentile for hard-hit rate against. 