There is no indication Steph Curry is about to retire, but each postseason that passes lessens his chances of another dramatic playoff run, the kind every basketball fan should hope for.
The Golden State Warriors know those are the stakes, hence emphasizing veterans, unlike the Los Angeles Clippers, who are trying to thread the needle of reinvention while starring Kawhi Leonard.
These Warriors vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks default to trusting Golden State’s veterans on Wednesday, April 15.
Our best Warriors vs Clippers SGP for April 15
Steph Curry has been shooting well since he returned from a knee injury, hitting 41.7% of his shots from beyond the arc in four games back in the lineup. And he has been shooting often, taking nine 3-pointers per game.
He has not been setting up his teammates that often, however. That is, to some degree, a negative reflection of this Golden State roster. How often is Curry going to look for Brandin Podziemski and Gui Santos?
He's averaged only 3.5 assists in his return, down from an already pedestrian 4.8 on the season before his knee injury.
Instead, Draymond Green is moving the ball. Of course he is. The last few years of Green’s play have hinged entirely on Curry’s availability. With Steph in the lineup, Draymond has hinted at his past excellence.
He has thus averaged 8.3 assists in the three games he and Curry have overlapped in the last week. Setting up Curry may be the last thing Draymond Green is genuinely good for.
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.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker (23) and New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) look on during the MLB game between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 13, 2026 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
“I think he’s probably trying a little bit hard,” hitting coach Aaron Bates told The Athletic. “He’s just getting settled in a little bit. Everyone’s always trying hard, so I don’t want to say it that way, but it’s more so (that he’s) trying to force it, maybe force hits.”
Roki Sasaki hasn’t been effective in his three starts so far this season, including Sunday’s loss, but the Dodgers plan to keep starting him in the major league rotation for the time being.
He’s starting the year back in California, likely to spare him the brutal Michigan spring, but Morales will soon be making his debut at Great Lakes, and I look forward to seeing him compete against the advanced pitching that the Midwest League will offer,“ Nathan Graham wrote of the 19-year-old. ”The Dodgers are loaded with high-upside positional prospects, but with Morales a potential power-hitting shortstop, he might have the highest ceiling of them all.
NORTH PORT, FL - MARCH 09: Atlanta Braves pitcher Hayden Harris (79) throws a pitch against the Minnesota Twins on March 9, 2026, at CoolToday Park at North Port, Florida. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves are officially doing the bullpen shuffle. It’s not nearly as glamorous as the Super Bowl Shuffle (kids, YouTube is free) but it’s the type of thing that has to happen in order to keep a season going sometimes. This time, the focus is on two pitchers: Rolddy Muñoz is going down and now Hayden Harris is coming up.
The #Braves today recalled LHP Hayden Harris to Atlanta after optioning RHP Rolddy Muñoz to Triple-A Gwinnett following last night’s game. Additionally, C Sean Murphy tonight begins a rehabilitation assignment with High-A Rome.
Muñoz’s return to the big leagues went about as well as his initial stint did, which is to say that it didn’t exactly go well. Muñoz got two innings under his belt and struck out three batters but gave up three runs in the process — his very first pitch got absolutely crushed right after the Braves had cut their deficit to two runs, which was the ultimate sign that the pitching staff probably didn’t have it on this particular night.
Now, it’ll be Hayden Harris’ turn to see if he can improve upon his initial stint in the big leagues. Harris made three appearances last season and while his ERA numbers looked perfectly fine during that stint, he had a wild xERA of 11.21 and a FIP of 5.39. He’ll be coming up with an ERA of 4.76 and a FIP of 4.63 through 5.2 innings of work at the Triple-A level so far. He had an instance where he walked four batters against the Round Rock Express back on April 1 and three of those runners scored. As long as he can stay out of trouble on the basepaths then things’ll be fine. Hopefully Harris will be able to make the best out of this opportunity going forward.
We also got word that Sean Murphy’s rehab assignment is officially official. He’s going to Rome, y’all. Grab your tickets if you’re up there.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 13: Garrett Crochet #35 of the Boston Red Sox walks back to the dugout prior to the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Monday, April 13, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Andrew Ritter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
How many pitches into the game last night did you start worrying about Garrett Crochet’s health? Such is life as a baseball fan in the 21st century. But, for now at least, Crochet says there’s nothing to worry about. He and the Sox brass all confirmed he felt healthy last night, and Crochet downplayed the dip in velocity. “In the second inning, I felt like I was throwing the ball better and the results were worse. I don’t really have one thing to point to. I just feel like they had a good approach. It was all pitch types that I felt like they were absolutely smothering — and laying off the sweeper. (Christopher Smith, MassLive)
Unfortunately, the worst start of Crochet’s career came at a bad time for the Red Sox. Not only had they won two series in a row, but the entire rotation was pretty solid in the third time through. Sox starters posted a 1.52 ERA over 29 2/3 innings and were finally looking like the elite rotation we thought we were getting heading into the season. (Thomas Harrigan, MLB.com)
Elite is probably too strong a word to use for Masataka Yoshida’s start, but he has been very good, particularly at controlling the strike zone, as he’s started the season with an .868 OPS. But due to the Red Sox poor roster construction, the Sox are struggling to find a spot for him in the lineup. “In these situations, you have to be realistic. He wants to play,” Alex Cora said. “He’s in a good spot, physically, mentally obviously, communication. We have to talk. And everybody knew coming into the situation that somebody was going to have to sit.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
The awkward roster and poor start has some writers wondering whether the Red Sox goal in the offseason was to merely build a team that was a little better than last year, rather than a team that can chase a championship. (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)
But no one can complain much about the offseason addition of Willson Contreras. “He brings an intensity and some leadership, too,” Trevor Story said. “We love that, and that’s what we need. We do have a younger group. He has done a great job of blending and making it all work. He has been a great addition and he’s playing well.” (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
Nevertheless, the Sox slow start already has some people thinking about a possible in-season trade for Isaac Parades, Brady House, or Royce Lewis to bolster the lineup. (Jim Bowden, The Athletic)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 13: George Kirby #68 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the first inning against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park on April 13, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Maddy Grassy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Tuesday! The Mariners secured an emphatic four-game sweep of the Houston Astros behind another vintage George Kirby outing of 7 2/3 innings with two runs allowed and six strikeouts. Five of the Mariners’ six runs in their 6-2 win were brought home by Josh Naylor, who hit two home runs in back-to-back at-bats to break out of his hitting slump. Bryan Woo will take the mound in San Diego tonight against the Padres at 6:40 PM.
If you’re looking for a place to watch the last game of the Padres series on April 16th, join us at The Rebel in Wallingford for our first Lookout Landing watch party of the year! Don’t miss out on food and drink specials, exciting raffle prizes, and more.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 08: Merrill Kelly #29 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches in the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on July 08, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Diamondbacks took the field at Oriole Park at Camden Yards for only the 13th time in club history on Monday night. Ketel Marte and Nolan Arenadoprobably wish they’d visit a lot more often.
Marte and Arenado each homered twice against the Orioles in the opener of the third and final series of Arizona’s nine-game East Coast swing, one that eventually ended in a 9-7 loss after the D-backs’ bullpen yielded a big lead.
The pair has now connected on 12 combined Camden Yards home runs, in only 27 career games between them.
In Monday’s game, the Diamondbacks built a six-run lead, only to lose it on an Orioles rally capped by one mighty swing from slugger Pete Alonso.
Another home run, a grand slam, was the big blow in the Orioles’ comeback, as Baltimore scored five runs in the sixth inning, two in the seventh and another in the eighth against the Diamondbacks’ bullpen to turn a 7-1 deficit into a frustrating Diamondbacks loss.
“We’ve got to be better, that’s really what it comes down to,” Lovullo said.
Ketel Marte will be etched into Oriole Park at Camden Yards lore by smashing a home run onto Baltimore’s famed Eutaw Street during the Diamondbacks’ game against the Orioles on Monday.
Marte crushed the first pitch of the game 443 feet to right field off Baltimore right-hander Dean Kremer, clearing the seats in right field for his 15th lead-off home run.
The decision was a tough one, but the D-backs appear to have made the right one, barring ugly results. Pfaadt had been struggling with single-instance blowup innings in the middle of his start, furthering the trend of struggles as he faced opposing orders the second and third times through.
Soroka had been the more obvious candidate to leave for the bullpen when Kelly was activated, but he allowed just one run in his first 10 innings. He was hit for four runs in the first inning of his third start, but settled in to throw 5.2 scoreless frames with 10 punchouts.
Blaze Alexander, who spent parts of his development within the Diamondbacks system and at the major league level before his trade to Baltimore in the offseason, acknowledged the emotional weight of competing against teammates and coaches. The former D-Backs infielder expects a mix of familiarity and competitiveness facing those he once shared a locker room with.
“Those are my best friends,” he said pregame, according to Arizona Central Sports’ José M. Romero. “I came up with a lot of those guys, and even the coaching staff… It’s my guys. I’m always going to root for them except for today, but I’m a fan of all of them.”
The battle it turned out to be was a bit more fun for Yankees fans than Angels fans, as seven-time All-Star Aaron Judge and 11-time All-Star Mike Trout both homered twice but it was New York that came out with a thrilling 11-10 walk-off win on a wild pitch. Trent Grisham also went deep twice, including hitting a game-tying two-run blast in the ninth inning off closer Jordan Romano.
It was a wild one, as it was just the second time in MLB history where two three-time MVPs each hit multiple home runs in the same game. The first was way back on June 21, 1956, when Hall of Famers Stan Musial and Roy Campanella each hit two homers.
Orioles manager Craig Albernaz was struck in the face by a line drive, then returned after receiving treatment to embrace the guy who sent the baseball whistling into the dugout.
That’s because Orioles second baseman Jeremiah Jackson did more than just injure his manager. He also hit a grand slam that helped Baltimore erase a six-run deficit in a 9-7 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night.
Turns out, Albernaz wasn’t seriously hurt by the liner that struck him in the left cheek. But he was immediately taken into the tunnel and treated by the team’s medical staff.
“He’s doing good. Just as a precaution, he’s going to get it scanned,” said bench coach Donnie Ecker, who pinch hit for Albernaz at the postgame news conference.
LMy puny mortal brain is having trouble making sense of the numbers coming out of San Diego right now. It’s an uncanny valley thing. Mason Miller’s statistics just don’t quite seem like they’re numbers that you can put up in the majors. Oh, they’re all in the right columns. They’re not impossible or anything. It’s just that no one else has numbers that look quite like this, and even more so than that, if you think about what they all mean together, it doesn’t seem like the performance they describe can possibly be real.
Let’s start with the most striking statistic: 19 strikeouts in 24 batters faced. That 79.2% strikeout rate is obviously technically feasible, but I keep saying it in my head and it keeps not making sense. I look at strikeout rates a lot, particularly early in the season. But even for very good pitchers, they tend to top out around 40%, maybe 50% if they’re performing especially well. I can fit those numbers into my head. That means that about half the batters they face are going to strike out – easy enough. Face four batters in an inning? Two punchouts.
Every year, teams that are widely expected to succeed at the outset of the season stumble due to injury woes. Teams that look strong on paper can often perform much less impressively if even one or two key players are removed from the mix, and even the very best teams can look vulnerable with a long enough string of tough-luck injuries. 2026 has been no exception to this so far, with several teams facing substantially tougher roads in the months ahead thanks to an early injury or three putting them on the back foot. Which team has it worst when it comes to the injury bug?
{Ed. Note: The options in the poll are the Braves, Orioles, Cubs, Astros, Blue Jays, Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Brewers, Reds}
SURPRISE, AZ - MARCH 20: Kendry Chourio #33 of the Kansas City Royals pitches during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium on Friday, March 20, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
This Week in the Minors is our weekly look at notable performances from all over the system, from big-name prospects and less-heralded guys alike. The mission is to answer this simple question: “Who had a good week?”
Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers (7-7, 3.5 games back)
The Storm Chasers took 3 of 5 from the Iowa Cubs, with the Sunday finale being rained out. In the first game of the series, Ryan Bergert went 2.1 innings, giving up just a solo homer before exiting the game with an injury. He was placed on the injured list, with right elbow discomfort, the Royals #10 prospect, Ben Kudrna is on the AAA IL with the same injury. Right-handed pitcher Ben Sears got called up from AA to replace Bergert.
John Rave and Kameron Misner each had a good week, both mashing a couple of homers. Eric Cerantola, who was the spotlight in last week’s report, was great again. He threw two innings, in game one of a Friday doubleheader, striking out five batters. Cerantola is on the 40-man roster, and with some guys in the Royals bullpen struggling currently, looking at you Alex Lange and John Schreiber, he could get the call to help out.
— Omaha Storm Chasers (@OMAStormChasers) April 8, 2026
Stephen Kolek was supposed to make his first rehab start on Sunday, so that was unfortunately wiped away due to the rain out. I assume that he’ll now start on Tuesday against the Indianapolis Indians at Werner Park. The Storm Chasers play them Tuesday through Sunday in Omaha.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals (6-3, 1 game back)
The Naturals took 4 of 6 from the Amarillo Sod Poodles this past week. Drew Beam started the first game of the series, after getting promoted from Quad Cities, where I mentioned he was someone to keep an eye on. He went 5 innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 run, and walking 1 while striking out 2. He also started the last game of the series, and the Sod Poodles saw him better this time around. Beam only went 3.1 innings, allowing 3 hits, 4 runs, walking 3 and striking out 2. He allowed 3 homers in the game as well.
Henry Williams went 5.2 innings, allowing 7 hits, 1 run and striking out 4 in a Naturals 4-1 victory. At the plate, outfielder Carson Roccaforte had a good series. The 24-year-old was 8-for-22 with three doubles, three homers, while walking six times and striking out eight times.
— Northwest Arkansas Naturals (@nwanaturals) April 11, 2026
Dustin Dickerson hit a walk off single as well. The Naturals hit the road and will take on the Corpus Christi Hooks this week. The series runs Tuesday through Sunday.
Quad Cities River Bandits (2-4, 2 games back)
After having their whole opening weekend rained out, the River Bandits lost 4 of 6 at home to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. 19-year-old lefty David Shields struggled in both his starts. The Royals second-round pick in 2024 gave up 10 hits and 6 runs in the 6 innings he pitched. He did strike out seven batters though. In general, it was a tough series for the pitching staff overall.
At the plate, catcher Blake Mitchell was 4-for-19 with a pair of homers. Other fellow catcher, Ramon Ramirez went 5-for-19 with a homer. Ramirez did get the walk-off single to win the final game of the series as well. But overall, it was a tough series at the plate as well for the River Bandit hitters.
— Quad Cities River Bandits (@QCRiverBandits) April 12, 2026
Quad Cities hits the road for a Tuesday-Sunday sereis against the Cedar Rapids Kernels.
Columbia Fireflies (5-4, 2 games back)
The Columbia Fireflies took 4 of 6 from the Myrtle Beach Pelicans at home this past week. 18-year-old Kendry Chourio has been a hot prospect name, in his start this week, he went 4.2 perfect innings, striking out six batters. A game the Fireflies threw a combined one-hitter, winning 1-0. Josh Hammond went 4-for-4 in Friday’s contest, with two doubles, a triple and a home run.
2 doubles Triple Home run
19-year-old Josh Hammond tonight became the first full-season #RaisingRoyals👑 player 21 or younger to collect 4 extra-base hits in a game since at least 2008! pic.twitter.com/m7L6e86Iln
Outfielder Roni Cabrera also smashed a grand slam during the series. Sean Gamble was 3-19 in the series against the Pelicans. The Royals first overall pick last draft is off to a rough start in A ball.
The Fireflies are back in action, traveling to take on the Charleston RiverDogs, Tuesday through Sunday.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 1: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket as Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic defends in the second quarter at the Kia Center on March 1, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. 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 Peter Joneleit/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons won 60 games for the third time in team history. That was good enough to lock up the top seed in the East.
That means that play-in tournament results will shape the beginning of the Pistons’ playoff journey. Detroit has not reached these heights in a while, and they did it in the best Eastern Conference play-in bracket to date.
With the season Detroit put up, “fear” is not in their vocabulary. The Pistons would happily take on any of these four teams and aim to destroy them with relentless pressure and a togetherness that has dominated the NBA.
While it is true Detroit will sign up to play anybody and be favored against them in round one, some teams play a more favorable style that Detroit can take advantage of.
Who is the most dangerous potential Pistons first-round matchup?
8 seed Orlando Magic, 45-37
The Orlando Magic were supposed to be one of the top teams in the East after their offseason. The Desmond Bane trade was massive, and Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner were supposed to take leaps. Yet here they are in the play-in for the second straight year. Injuries, tour date shooting, and a backsliding defense put the Magic in this position.
Orlando is supposed to be a gritty team like Detroit, but their defense fell off. The Magic had the 3rd best defense last year. They had solid rim protection, positional size, and a togetherness that held teams in check.
Now the Magic are the 13th-ranked defense. They have lost that elite identity overall, but Orlando is heading into the postseason playing good ball defensively. They have the seventh-best defense over the last two weeks, removing garbage time. Orlando has the second best defensive pedigree among these four teams.
They have not lived up to expectations, but the Magic could put a dent in the questionable Pistons halfcourt offense. When healthy and available, Jalen Suggs is the type of defender that would get under Cade and stay on his hip.
But the Magic offense? That is still a struggle fest.
The addition of Bane has not paid top-tier dividends yet. He played all 82 and shot it efficiently, but the offensive woes in Orlando remain. Banchero has not been able to put it together for long stretches. He has been up and down. His shot selection is still puzzling.
Sometimes I watch and wonder whether he settles so much because he cannot get past defenders consistently. Then he will have a night where the shots are falling, and it’s like, yeah, that is why he keeps shooting (Banchero taking 2s works in Detroit’s favor, hot or not).
To his credit, Banchero has been a playoff riser, and he has shot the ball at an inferno level in the high-stakes game. Teams will still prefer him shooting jumpers over attacking the paint.
Overall, Banchero is much more dangerous when putting his shoulder down and attacking defenders. He is one of the best foul drawers in the league. That chink in his armor is one thing Detroit should be concerned about in this potential matchup.
Franz Wagner is arguably the Magic’s most impactful player, and he is back in the lineup. Wagner has a more free-flowing game than Banchero. Wagner is a more plug-and-play player. He does not need the ball to be impactful; he is a connective passer and a decisive cutter. Wagner has had low moments in the playoffs, but his usual steady play is something to account for. Wagner gets to the line too, so Detroit must be disciplined.
The Pistons destroy teams in the paint on both ends, they get out in transition after forcing turnovers, smother teams defensively, and they foul. They foul a lot.
With Detroit leading the league with 22 personal fouls per game, Banchero and Wagner will look to initiate contact and sit Pistons defenders down. Banchero and Wagner are in the 96th and 95th percentile on shot attempts they were fouled on.
Banchero can be 4-16 from the field but best believe he will shoot at least 10 free throws to bring up his point total. He is a handful when he is not forcing jumpers.
Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Paul Reed, Javonte Green, and probably even Cade Cunningham would see some Banchero minutes, and they would need to stay focused on cutting off driving lanes so Banchero can settle for tough pull-up 2s.
Banchero is very willing to settle, but if you do not cut him off, he will get you in foul trouble. If Detroit stays disciplined, it could be the first team to make Banchero look like his regular-season self in the playoffs.
Tristan Da Silva is one of Orlando’s better shooters who will be on top of the shooters’ scouting report, along with Bane. Orlando has talent in their big 3, but they have not been able to put it together all year. It is tough to imagine they flip the script against a Pistons squad that has been on a string since November. The Pistons’ halfcourt concerns should not show its head as much against an up-and-down Magic defense.
Orlando sells out to protect the 3-point line rather than holding down the paint. The points in the paint leaders in Detroit are licking their chops seeing that type of philosophy.
On the danger scale, Orlando gets a 4/10. You cannot be arrogant, thinking this time will bend the knee because Detroit won 60 games. Banchero has shown up in the playoffs, and Wagner and Bane are great players. That said, this special defense and deep unit in Motown would be too much for Orlando.
7 seed Philadelphia 76ers, 45-37
Philly was the most dangerous team when I initially started this process. Joel Embiid has not broken through in the playoffs, but he is so much to deal with. He is not a player you willingly sign up to play, even with his checkered playoff history. Healthy Embiid with a 28-PPG scorer and Paul George by his side makes Philly a top-heavy unit. Embiid is not healthy again, though.
Embiid just had surgery for appendicitis. There is no timetable for his return. It sucks that a talented big like him cannot stay healthy for an extended period of time. It is difficult to be confident in the 76ers when their best player is a question mark.
For pockets of this season, Tyrese Maxey emerged as the guy. His play (28 PPG – #5) was so strong that it would make one think maybe Philly will be okay without Embiid. Time will tell if that is true, but that would not be the case against the Pistons.
Detroit smothers anyone, but small guards get it worse. Without the Embiid safety valve, Maxey would constantly see a crowd of junkyard defenders.
There is talent around Maxey, though it is a far cry from being next to Embiid. Paul George is playing his best ball in years after returning from a 25-game suspension. George looks rejuvenated. His 39-point effort on April 1 looked like the old PG. Detroit has matchups for him as well. Ron Holland, Green, and others can all make George struggle. Those same defenders will make it hard on VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes.
Grimes and Edgecombe are Philly’s microwave guys. They go through ebbs and flows but can torch you randomly. Grimes is a solid finisher, while Edgecombe has made five or more 3s seven times this year. The wings in Detroit will not allow it to be easy for those two.
Philly does not turn the ball over often. They rank sixth in turnover percentage. That is against everybody, though. Everybody is not Detroit. Philly was not as safe with the rock on the April 4 loss to Detroit.
That was just one game, but the Pistons do that to everybody. Philly does not have the manpower to handle that pressure, even with a healthy Embiid. He has battled with turnovers his whole playoff career.
Nick Nurse is a championship-winning coach. Some question if he is still operating at that level. He does not maximize movement shooters (see Jared McCain). But Nurse was seen as an in-game adjustment wizard in Toronto. That was a while ago.
The culture and buy-in JB Bickerstaff has established in Detroit makes it hard to easily give Nurse the coaching advantage due to playoff success from the late 2010s. Bickerstaff has outcoached Nurse this season.
With Embiid’s health in the air, who is going to contain Duren? Duren would be a lot for Embiid himself. Adem Bona has put together a good year, but he will be in for a rude awakening if he is the one guarding Duren in round one. Andre Drummond would not fare much better.
The 76ers would have the top-end talent advantage if Embiid were 100 percent. He is not. Philly is not better offensively or defensively. They do not have a deeper bench. One could argue that Detroit has the better coach.
There is not much working in Philly’s favor in a potential match-up with the Pistons. Philly gets to the line a lot. With how handsy and active Detroit is, foul trouble is a potential problem against most teams. It pays that the Pistons are deep.
Philly and Orlando face off in the seven/eight play-in game. The winner clinches the seventh seed and takes on the Boston Celtics in round one. Interestingly, the more dangerous teams are the lower seeds in the play-in tournament. Detroit would be favored against Miami or Charlotte, but they bring some clear advantages.
10 seed Miami Heat, 43-39
Erik Spoelstra has turned water into wine a few times. The Miami Heat overachieved in 2020 and 2023. Granted, Jimmy Butler turned into a top-five player, and random role players popped off during these runs. One could argue that it is elite coaching that empowered those players to have career moments. Spo has proven he can make in-game and series adjustments.
Miami’s advantages over Detroit come down to coaching and experience. JB Bickerstaff should win Coach of the Year (Joe Mazulla is great, but this is JB’s), but he is not a proven playoff coach like Spo. Cade and company have not won a playoff series yet, either, while Bam Adebayo was the No. 2 option on those overachieving Heat squads. Experience and coaching will always be relevant, but Detroit has the talent on its side. On both sides of the ball.
The Heat does not have an elite playmaker who sets the table for himself and others, but that has not stopped them from having the 11th-ranked half-court offense. Tyler Herro and Norman Powell are snipers. Davion Mitchell and Kel’el Ware shot the rock with confidence all year.
The Heat’s no-pick-and-roll offense resulted in more success than last year’s offense. Jamie Jaquez Jr. has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of this new offense. He thrives driving to the paint and has more space now. Ball movement can open up lanes when teams cannot fly around with precision (Detroit can).
Though Miami has had some success relative to where they were last year, it is difficult to visualize a team having playoff success running virtually zero PnRs when the game slows down in the playoffs.
The Heat also play with the fastest pace, which contributes to their 120 points per game. But again, things slow down in the playoffs. We will see if Miami tinkers with its playstyle. First, they must win two straight on the road to even make the playoffs.
Miami banks on ball movement and attacking closeouts. The Pistons have the defensive personnel to stick with the Heat. That could limit the Heat’s offense. If the Heat cannot get a team in scramble mode, it is tough for them to attack in space.
On the other side, the Heat have a battle tested defense that would probably have the best scheme for Detroit. We have seen teams push the “put two on Cade and live with the results” button. New York did some of that in the playoffs last year. The Heat have the personnel to do this as well. Andrew Wiggins is rangy, Pelle Larsson is in the NBA to defend and bring energy, Dru Smith and Davion Mitchell are constant pests, and Adebayo covers the whole thing. This team has the best shot of “exposing” the Pistons halfcourt concerns.
The half court offense concerns have been there all year for Detroit. As of late, the team has improved from there and the shooting is making a difference. Detroit has a top 10 halfcourt offense since April 1. Some of those games came without Cade. This is a team with insane depth.
If the Pistons shooters continue to make shots, doubling Cade becomes less effective because he make any pass in the book.
Putting two on Cade also opens up Duren who would have an opportunity to outplay one of the best defensive bigs in the league should Detroit face Miami.
Cade and this version of Duren are potentially the best players in a series with the Heat. Adebayo is one of the best defenders in the game. He is versatile and should at least make second-team All Defense this season.
On offense, Adebayo has the shot diet of a wing. His shots from the rim have steadily dropped over the years. That is killing Adebayo’s efficiency. Cade is a no-brainer, but Duren has clearly been better than Adebayo this season. Duren outplaying Adebayo in the playoffs would be massive.
Miami has the coaching advantage, but that has not always been enough to make up for the talent gap (see 2021 round one vs Milwaukee).
Miami’s danger scale rating would be a 5/10. They do not have the offensive firepower to shoot through Detroit. Defensively, Miami will be prepared, but Detroit loves those ugly, drawn-out defensive battles. The Pistons live for that. Spo would have the Heat ready to play, but the Pistons are deep and well-coached. They would be ready too.
9 seed Charlotte Hornets, 44-38
If the season started in January, these Hornets would have home court in the playoffs. The Hornets are 33-16 since the new year. For the full season, they are fifth in offense and seventh in point differential.
All in all, the Hornets are an elite offensive unit that is a lot better than their record suggests. Their turnovers could be their death sentence against a pick-6 Pistons team, but the Hornets are the goods.
LaMelo Ball leads the top-flight offense. Throughout Ball’s career, He has been singled out due to questionable pass and shot selection. Some thought he was too fancy, but there was always magic in his madness. It is on full display now that he is healthy and playing alongside teammates who attract attention.
Kon Knueppel Bball-Index’s 3PT shot quality is a D. The lower the grade, the less open the shot is. Knueppel is a rookie every team in the league glues to because he led the league in 3-point makes, shooting a staggering 42.5 percent from deep. He was first in 3s, and Ball was second. Ball spreading it around, and the Hornets’ accuracy from deep makes them a legit threat for anybody.
The Hornets have the second-highest 3-point rate with garbage time removed, only trailing the Golden State Warriors. 45 percent of Charlotte’s shots come from 3. Unlike GSW, the Hornets are one of the most accurate teams from distance.
Knueppel, Ball, Brandon Miller, Grant Williams, and Coby White all garner attention from 3 and can all attack closeouts. If Detroit did not have multiple defenders who could switch screens and chase without a hiccup, the Hornets would shoot right through them.
The paint battle is a non-negotiable for Detroit in a potential Charlotte matchup. The Pistons are third in offensive rebound percentage, while the Hornets do not give up many offensive rebounds. It would be a battle between the melee participants from earlier this season.
Moussa Diabaté is arguably the best pound-for-pound offensive rebounder in the league. He loves snagging boards and kicking it out for Hornets trey balls.
Duren and Isaiah Stewart have to take that edge away from Diabaté. The Hornets’ offense is too explosive to give them multiple opportunities to succeed. Miles Bridges is in the front court with Diabaté. He is not a premier offensive rebounder, but he is a big body you have to box out.
Grant Williams is one of the Hornets’ backup bigs, and he can play. We have seen him drill seven 3s in a Game 7 (2022 Celtics vs Bucks). That is another gritty shooter Detroit will not leave open.
You cannot leave many Hornets players open, but they are not a lockdown team with brilliant individual defenders. Charles Lee has had his guys on a string, but we will see how his guys handle being hunted in the playoffs. Can Ball hold up with constant planned attacks? What about Knueppel? He has been good, but the playoffs and regular season could not be more different.
The Cade and Duren PNR could have a ton of success against this Hornets team. Those beeline drives off Duren screens and the lob to Duren on the roll could be Detroit’s bread and butter.
Charlotte’s defense has been solid, but they still give up more shots at the rim than average. Detroit lives in the paint and could beat Charlotte up inside.
3 is worth more than 2, and this series could paint that picture very clearly, but Detroit has a special defense that could make the Hornets play their style of play. Neither team is crazy experienced, but this Detroit group did go through trials and tribulations last year together.
The Hornets have a superior offense, while Detroit has more than enough scrappers to chase and hound Hornets creators/shooters. This would be a competitive series and could go the ugly way if Charlotte went berserk from deep. The Hornets have some Jameis Winston in them. They can throw for 5,000 yards but also lead the league in picks.
Ball is solid with the rock, as his turnover percentage is in the 63rd percentile among point guards. Charlotte as a whole turns it over like you get points for it. Every starter would be liable to give it to the Pistons besides Ball and Bridges.
Being turnover-prone against these Pistons is like a nail in the coffin because they force turnovers with the best of them. Ausar led the league in steals, Holland and Green were some of the best bench thieves, and Reed’s hands are super sticky. Even Kevin Huerter is in on the action so far in Detroit. The inexperienced Hornets already turn it over a lot, and Detroit would look to intensify that.
The Hornets have a superior offense, but I would predict that the Pistons’ defense could contain the Hornets. Detroit’s paint presence on both sides of the ball could wear down the thin Hornets. Detroit has the best player in the series by a good margin, so that always helps. Cade will be on a mission to earn those playoff stripes.
Charlotte is the most dangerous of the four play-in teams. Detroit sent a message to the Hornets during the last week of the regular season. The Hornets have been a great team in the second half of the year, but the Pistons are still a step above. This potential first-round series would be a hard-fought 6-game series if I were a betting man. The Pistons’ defense, paint presence, and relentless pressure could crack the volatile Hornets.
Stats via Cleaning The Glass, Bball-Index, PivotFade, NBA.com, and Basketball-Reference
The Washington Nationals (7-9) travel to PNC Park to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates (10-6) in the second of a four-game series. Pittsburgh won yesterday's matchup, 16-5.
Pittsburgh is 9-2 in the last 11 games as the offense is rolling. The Pirates had one of the worst offenses in the MLB last year, but rank seventh in batting average (.250), ninth in home runs (18), and eighth in walks (70) this season.
Washington's three game winning streak was snapped yesterday in a 11-run loss. The Nationals allowed a 10-run inning in the loss and look to bounce back on the road. In losses, Washington has been outscored by 41 runs this season and that was the fourth game losing by at least five runs.
Lets dive into the 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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Game details & how to watch Nationals at Pirates
Date: Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Time: 6:40 PM EST
Site: PNC Park
City: Pittsburgh, PA
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Nationals at the Pirates
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Washington Nationals (+153), Pittsburgh Pirates (-186)
The Nationals’ James Wood is hitting .277 with 18 hits, 39 total bases, and five home runs over 65 at-bats
The Nationals’ Nasim Nunez is hitting .204 with 10 hits and 12 strikeouts over 49 at-bats
The Pirates’ Oneil Cruz is hitting .355 with 22 hits, 40 total bases, and seven stolen bases over 62 at-bats
The Pirates’ Marcell Ozuna is hitting .070 with three hits, 12 strikeouts, and five walks over 43 at-bats
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 to know ahead of Nationals at Pirates
The Nationals 10-6 ATS this season
The Pirates are 11-5 ATS this season
The Nationals are 12-4 to the Over this season
The Pirates are 10-6 to the Over this season
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 for tonight’s game between the Nationals and the Pirates
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 Nationals and the Pirates.
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Pirates on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Pirates at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 7.5
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The drama in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament should be at a fever pitch, with Steve Ballmer’s arena going against Steph Curry.
There may be other names involved when the Golden State Warriors face the Los Angeles Clippers tonight, but all eyes will be on the Dubs' superstar point guard.
My Warriors vs. Clippers predictions and these NBA picks trust Curry on Wednesday, April 15.
Tip-off is set for 10:00 p.m. ET from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, with the game airing on Prime Video.
Warriors vs Clippers prediction
Who will win Warriors vs Clippers?
Warriors:I won’t do it. I will not bet against Steph Curry when his season is on the line. No one expects Golden State to go on some magical run this postseason, but a win or two to spark the NBA’s interest this week? That is reasonable.
More sincerely, the Clippers backed into the postseason in a worrying way. Twice in the last two weeks, they had clear chances to hold onto a spot in the preferred half of the Play-In Tournament, instead losing twice outright to Portland.
Win either of those games, both obvious opportunities, and the Clippers’ postseason hopes look much brighter. Dropping the ball then inspires no faith now.
Warriors vs Clippers best bet: Steph Curry Over 4.5 threes (+125)
Do you really want to bet against Steph Curry in a single-elimination moment? Sure, some of you are too young to remember the Davidson run in March of 2008, but everyone saw the 2024 Olympics gold medal game against France, right?
You want to bet against that?
Obviously, sportsbooks have raised this 3-pointer prop because they recognize just how lethal Curry can be, but that now means we get plus-money odds on the Golden State Warriors’ superstar doing what he does best.
Worry not that he has been back for only four games since his knee injury. Curry shot 5-for-10 from deep in his first game back, part of shooting 15-for-36 (41.7%) from beyond the arc in those four games.
And the Los Angeles Clippers are only middling defending against 3-pointers, ranking No. 16 in both opponent 3-pointer frequency and percentage made since James Harden left the rotation. Recognize, No. 16 in the NBA at this point of the season is actually a massive worry.
This may be the end of the Warriors’ relevancy in the Curry era, ending not with a “Bang!” but with a whimper, but rest assured, Curry will go down firing.
Warriors vs Clippers same-game parlay
Curry’s ball movement has been a bit slow since his return. Then again, this roster never really allowed Curry to move the ball much, averaging just 4.8 assists before he missed two months with a knee injury. Dropping to 3.5 assists per game in the last four is not terribly glaring in that context.
Draymond Green has been moving the ball, however. He's played in three of Curry’s four games back, averaging 8.3 assists in those three games. There may be a sample size worry in that thought, but if anyone is going to excel with Curry’s return, it is Green.
Warriors vs Clippers SGP
Steph Curry Over 4.5 threes
Steph Curry Under 4.5 assists
Draymond Green Over 5.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: One last ride!
For one more night, perhaps one last night, two of the three key pieces to this Warriors dynasty can rekindle those memories. No “Wall” will bother Curry or Green.
They have faced Kawhi Leonard countless times before, and with veterans like Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis now their running mates, Golden State as a whole should embrace this road atmosphere.
Warriors vs Clippers SGP
Steph Curry Over 4.5 threes
Steph Curry Under 4.5 assists
Draymond Green Over 5.5 assists
Warriors moneyline
Warriors vs Clippers odds
Spread: Warriors +5 (-110) | Clippers -5 (-110)
Moneyline: Warriors +165 | Clippers -200
Over/Under: Over 220.5 (-110) | Under 220.5 (-110)
Warriors vs Clippers betting trend to know
All four matchups between these two teams went Under their totals this season and by an average of 17.25 points per game. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Clippers.
How to watch Warriors vs Clippers
Location
Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
Date
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Warriors vs Clippers latest injuries
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Hronek is on the PP1, and the Canucks' top pairing. He’ll have his opportunities to get pucks on goal.
Kings vs Canucks same-game parlay
Brock Boeser is coming off a two-point game against the Ducks. He’s hit this Over in three of his last five, and Boeser did register a helper last week against the Kings.
Marco Rossi played the hero against Anaheim, scoring with just seconds left in regulation to force OT. He’s notched 21 points in 31 games since coming to Vancouver in the Quinn Hughes trade.
Kings vs Canucks SGP
Filip Hronek Over 2.5 shots on goal
Brock Boeser Over 0.5 points
Marco Rossi Over 0.5 points
Kings vs Canucks odds
Moneyline: Kings -160 | Canucks +130
Puck Line: Kings -1.5 | Canucks +1.5
Over/Under: Over 6 | Under 6
Kings vs Canucks trend
The Canucks have hit the Over in 15 of their last 25 games (+6.15 Units / 22% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Kings vs. Canucks.
How to watch Kings vs Canucks
Location
Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC
Date
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-SC, SN360
Kings vs Canucks latest injuries
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.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 12: Vj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers is introduced before a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The shirt was white, the sweater blue and the tie spiffy. Diamond studs sparkled in both of VJ Edgecombe’s earlobes, and he wore Gucci sunglasses. Indoors. At night.
Impressive as the ensemble was, Tyrese Maxey was thinking more about the calendar than he was clothing as his backcourt partner strutted across the Sixers’ locker room Sunday night, after they beat Milwaukee in the final game of Edgecombe’s first NBA regular season.
Rather, Maxey was mulling what lies ahead – play-in purgatory against Orlando on Wednesday night. And, possibly, the playoffs beyond.
He was thinking, too, about the season Edgecombe has fashioned. How he unveiled a 34-point effort in his very first game, in Boston, and from that point on tailored his game to fit the team’s needs.
Defense and athleticism? Sure, everybody knew the Bimini native would provide those things when the Sixers made him the third overall pick last June. But ball-handling and shot creation? They were a bonus. And clutch scoring? From a guy who doesn’t turn 21 until July? Double bonus.
So as Edgecombe neared the pack of reporters that had gathered at the far side of the room, Maxey made an announcement.
“He ain’t a rookie no more,” he hollered.
Not that he ever looked like one, no matter his attire. As veteran center Andre Drummond said, Edgecombe’s belief in himself was evident from the “first game, first practice, the day he walked in.”
“He walked in like, ‘I’m here,’” Drummond added.
And he never wavered. He finished with averages of exactly 16 points a game, as well as just under six rebounds and just over four assists. His shooting numbers – .438/.354/.818 – were acceptable, and figure to get better in the years ahead.
Edgecombe won’t win Rookie of the Year – that honor will surely go to one of two Dookies, the Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg or the Hornets’ Kon Knueppel – but there’s little doubt he will be a big part of the team’s future.
“It’s amazing what VJ has done this past season,” Drummond said, and again he mentioned the rookie’s self-assurance.
“Maybe it’s just the generation of kids that are coming up now,” the 32-year-old said, “because I could say that for all the guys in the draft. They just have this confidence and swag that they play with.”
Kids these days, amirite?
Drummond broke in at age 19 with the Pistons, in 2012-13. Though he averaged nearly eight points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes a night that season, he remembers being “timid” – that he was “trying to figure out how to fit in and how to make it work.”
“And then with these guys now it’s just like, ‘It’s my show’ – like, ‘I’m here to take over,’” Drummond said. “And it’s pretty dope to see what VJ has done this year, and the games he’s won for us and just his confidence, man. I’ve got to speak on the confidence. It’s insane, and I love that for him. It was there right away.”
Nick Nurse clearly believed in Edgecombe as well, seeing as he used him 35 minutes a night over the 75 games the rookie was available, equaling the league’s 10th-highest rate. (Maxey led the NBA at 38 minutes a game.)
And hey, that was fine with Edgecombe.
“Not one complaint,” he said. “Sometimes I used to get mad when I had to come off the court, but now I realize it’s for the best.”
He made the most of his time, improving so much as a ball-handler that he now jokes he is “PG1” – i.e., the team’s No. 1 point guard, ahead of Maxey. He also shone in clutch situations, shooting 58.7 percent when the spread was five points or fewer in the final five minutes of regulation or overtime.
That came as a surprise to Nurse, as did Edgecombe’s “ability to go get a basket with the shot clock winding down, or just when we need a bucket to keep the scoreboard moving, or make one in the fourth quarter.”
“I think he had all the other stuff kind of coming out of the gates … the defense, the rebounding, the shot-blocking, all those kinds of things,” the coach added.
While it was not readily apparent, Edgecombe did say there was something of an adjustment period, that it took until midseason for the game to slow down for him.
“I ain’t gonna sit and act like it took me two games,” he said. “Nah, it took (until) about halfway through. I mean, even now, it’s still kind of slowing down.”
But he never did. The Bucks’ coaches showed video clips of each of the Sixers in their locker room before Sunday’s game, and the captions under Edgecombe’s highlights were reflective of his nature: “Sprinting in transition. … Aggressive in transition. …. DHO (i.e., dribble handoff) attack – trying to get downhill. … Physical finisher. … ISO (i.e., isolation) – physical. … Crashing the glass.”
He shot a tepid 4-for-11 from the floor while scoring nine points in the 126-106 victory, but handed out 11 assists while turning the ball over just once. And his overall late-season production has been impressive. He was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month after averaging 18.9 points a game in March, including his two biggest scoring games of the season, a 38-pointer against Sacramento on March 19 and a 35-pointer against Oklahoma City four days later.
All of which made him wonder about the commonly held notion that rookies hit the so-called wall at this time of year.
“I’m not too sure where the rookie wall is,” he said. “Maybe someone can explain it to me. Obviously the season had its ups and downs. I’ve had my ups and downs. We’re human. I just try to keep building daily, just to make sure I’m bringing my best foot forward every night.”
No doubt he has some fine shoes to wear while doing so. Because it seems abundantly clear that VJ Edgecombe is all dressed up and has someplace to go. Someplace that nobody else might have envisioned, but a place he sees very clearly through those Gucci sunglasses.
The New York Mets (7-10) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (12-4) meet up on MLB TV for the second of a three-game series in Los Angeles. The Dodgers won 4-0 yesterday.
Los Angeles has won eight of the last 10 games and have a chance to win their fourth consecutive series with a win today. Yesterday's win was the Dodgers first shutout victory of the season. The Dodgers' team ERA is down to 3.40 (6th) and they lead the MLB in opponent batting average (.205).
New York has lost six straight games and have been outscored 34-9 over that span. Over the last seven days and seven games, the Mets are hitting .198 (26th) with the third-fewest walks (13), and tied for the fifth-fewest home runs (4).
Lets dive into the 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.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Mets at Dodgers
Date: Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Time: 10:10 PM EST
Site: Dodger Stadium
City: Los Angeles, CA
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Mets at the Dodgers
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers (-219), New York Mets (+179)
Spread: Mets +1.5 (-122), Dodgers -1.5 (+102)
Total: 7.5
Probable starting pitchers for Mets at Dodgers
Monday’s pitching matchup (April 13): Nolan McLean vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto
The Mets’ Luis Robert Jr. is hitting .300 with 15 hits and 21 total bases over 50 at-bats
The Mets’ Francisco Lindor is hitting .176 with 12 hits and 13 strikeouts over 68 at-bats
The Dodgers’ Andy Pages is hitting .417 with 25 hits and 44 total bases over 60 at-bats
The Dodgers’ Alex Freeland is hitting .220 with nine hits and 14 strikeouts over 41 at-bats
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 to know ahead of Mets at Dodgers
The Mets 6-11 ATS this season
The Dodgers are 9-7 ATS this season
The Mets are 7-8-2 to the Over this season
The Dodgers are 8-8 to the Over this season
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 for tonight’s game between the Mets and the Dodgers
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
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 Dodgers and the Mets.
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Dodgers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Dodgers at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Over on the Game Total of 8.5
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ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 13: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves walks off the field in the fifth inning during the game against the Miami Marlins at Truist Park on April 13, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A busy day in the world of the Atlanta Braves culminated with the team getting rocked on the field Monday night by the Miami Marlins. Despite the Marlins having scored three runs total across the entire three-game series in Detroit, they eclipsed that mark in just five innings in Atlanta.
The offense did show signs of life as they plated another four runs but folks, it’s very difficult to win any type of ballgame when you give up ten runs. Eury Pérez also should probably feel fortunate that he got out of there with just three runs allowed as the Braves did have their chances to open it up against him. Instead, Grant Holmes and the rest of Atlanta’s pitching staff took the brunt of the punishment in this contest and the Braves ended up being doomed to defeat in this one and their series-winning streak is now in jeopardy.
Braves News
Dylan Dodd is now with the Gwinnett Stripers and Rolddy Muñoz took his place as a result. We were hoping that things would be better for Muñoz this go-around. The first pitch he threw got hit out. Blah.
Michael Harris II returned to the lineup following the birth of Michael Harris III. As a result, Luke Williams was designated for assignment. We’ll see if he ends up sticking around with the Braves organization.
Grant McAuley gave us all an inside look into the design process of the new City Connect uniforms. He spoke with Braves Creative Director Insung Kim and got all the details behind the design.
Following his actions last week during the donnybrook between the Braves and the Angels, manager Walt Weiss has developed a tough reputation. Bob Nightengale of USA Today went into detail about how unsurprising that was for the people who are around him every day.
MLB News
Aaron Judge and Mike Trout had a kaiju battle in the Bronx on Monday night. The Yankees may have won 11-10 but folks, is Trout finally back?
There’s a fascinating starting pitching matchup in Chavez Ravine on Tuesday as Nolan McLean and the New York Mets face Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
See why I’m backing the underdog and the Under with my Mets vs. Dodgers predictions and MLB picks for Tuesday, April 14.
Who will win Mets vs Dodgers today: Mets (+178)
A team with Nolan McLean as their starting pitcher shouldn’t be priced at +186.
The 24-year-old has a 2.23 ERA across 11 starts in the Big Leagues and has flashed elite stuff this season, ranking above the 90th percentile in xERA, xBA, and average exit velocity.
The New York Mets are off to a disappointing start at the dish, but there’s still plenty of talent up and down the lineup.
They could reasonably plate several runs against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who has yet to ramp up to “elite mode” with a pedestrian 3.62 xERA and 20.9% K rate in three starts.
COVERS INTEL: The Mets have below-average surface-level numbers at the plate (.230 AVG, .341 SLG), but underlying metrics indicate that’s somewhat due to bad luck. Their xBA is 16 points higher (.246), and their xSLG is 51 points higher, so better days are ahead.
Mets vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-107)
The league experienced a rash of high-scoring games on Monday, when nine of the 10 games went Over the total. The lone Under? The series opener between the Mets and Dodgers, a 4-0 victory for L.A.
There was favorable hitting weather in just about every other game, but L.A. was an exception then, and it is again on Tuesday with temps in the high 50s to low 60s.
In a game with two tremendous starting pitchers, I’d rather have the Under. Both bullpens have SIERAs under 3.80 and are well rested after combining for just four innings in the opener.
[WRITER NAME]'s 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 4-4, +0.38 units
Over/Under bets: 4-5, -1.26 units
Mets vs Dodgers odds
Moneyline: Mets XX | Dodgers XX
Run line: Mets XX | Dodgers XX
Over/Under: Over XXX | Under XXX
Mets vs Dodgers trend
The Mets have cashed the moneyline in three of their last five road games for a 15% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Dodgers.
How to watch Mets vs Dodgers and game info
Location
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
First pitch
10:10 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
Mets starting pitcher
Nolan McClean (1-1, 2.70 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcher
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-1, 2.50 ERA)
Mets vs Dodgers latest injuries
Mets vs Dodgers 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.
COVERS INTEL: The Mets have below-average surface-level numbers at the plate (.230 AVG, .341 SLG), but underlying metrics indicate that’s somewhat due to bad luck. Their xBA is 16 points higher (.246), and their xSLG is 51 points higher, so better days are ahead.