Mets' Joe Torre slides under Dodger catcher Ellie Rodriguez as he scores on a single by Jerry Grote. Umpire Andy Olson makes the all as the Mets take an eight inning 4-1 lead. The Dodgers came back in the ninth inning to score four runs and beat the Mets 6-5. (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)
Ellie Rodríguez, the Puerto Rican catcher who played nine major league seasons died on Thursday at age 79.
Rodríguez only played the one season for the Dodgers, but he held a notable place in local baseball lore. The Dodgers acquired Rodríguez at the end of spring training in 1976 from the Angels for backup outfielder Orlando Álvarez. That was the only trade involving multiple major league players between the Dodgers and Angels from 1976 for nearly four decades, a streak that was only snapped at the 2014 winter meetings when intermittent Dodger Andrew Heaney was sent to Anaheim for Howie Kendrick.
In his one season for the Dodgers, Rodríguez played 33 games behind the plate, with 21 starts, batted a total of 90 times and had no extra-base hits. But he walked 19 times and was hit by three pitches, giving him the wonderful .212/.400/.212 batting line. The .400 on-base percentage was rare among Dodgers catchers in franchise history.
Dodgers catchers with a .400+ OBP in 90+ PA
Babe Phelps (1935) .408
Babe Phelps (1936) .421
Ellie Rodríguez (1976) .400
Mike Scioscia (1985) .407
Mike Piazza (.400) 1995
Mike Piazza (.422) 1996
Mike Piazza (.431) 1997
Chad Kreuter (.416) 2000
Austin Barnes (.408) 2017
Will Smith (.401) 2020
Will Smith (.404) 2025
Rodríguez played nine years in the majors, and hit .245/.356/.308 with 76 doubles and 16 home runs in 775 games with the New York Yankees, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Angels, and Dodgers. He was the first All-Star in Royals history, in 1969, and also was an All-Star with the Brewers in 1972. Rodríguez caught Nolan Ryan’s fourth no-hitter with the Angels in 1975.
For 15 years (1998-2012), Rodríguez was the Latin American coordinator and player development consultant for the Atlantic League and also managed in the league.
“Ellie was an integral part of the foundation and growth of the Atlantic League with his ties to baseball throughout the world,” Atlantic League president Rick White said in a statement. “He was a dear friend who helped create many opportunities for players throughout Latin America, both in the Atlantic League and in Major League baseball. We owe him a debt of gratitude for his outstanding work in helping the league grow both in the U.S. and internationally.”
The Montreal Canadiens have announced that they have assigned defenseman David Reinbacher to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket.
Reinbacher had been with the NHL club but did not make an appearance during their ongoing first-round playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He did play in his first two NHL regular-season games to round off the campaign, though, where he had one assist.
Down in the AHL this regular season, Reinbacher had five goals, 19 assists, 24 points, 56 penalty minutes, and a plus-18 rating. It was the most amount of games Reinbacher has played since starting his AHL career in 2023-24, which was certainly good to see.
Reinbacher will now be looking to make a big impact for the Laval Rocket during their playoff run. The 2023 fifth-overall pick is a huge part of the Canadiens' prospect pool, and he should get more chances at the NHL level next season with the Habs.
SARASOTA, FL - FEBRUARY 18: Bullpen catcher Silas Ardoin #77 of the Baltimore Orioles poses for a photo during the Baltimore Orioles photo day at Ed Smith Stadium on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
A rough way to close out the series at Harbor Park. The story of the afternoon was a scary moment in the third inning when starter Trey Gibson took a comebacker off his left leg and had to exit the game. He’d allowed five runs (four unearned) on three hits over his 2.2 innings before leaving. Gibson had been the Tides’ most reliable starter this season, so any injury concern around him is worth watching closely.
So many unearned runs—nine of Memphis’s 14 runs—speaks to lots of errors. There were four, in fact: one apiece by Willy Vasquez, José Barrero, Bryan Ramos and Jud Fabian. It was the kind of day where the final score doesn’t reflect the full picture, but that picture still wasn’t pretty. A rehabbing Dietrich Enns also allowed a home run.
The runs were too few and came too late to matter, but the bright spot on offense was catcher Silas Ardoin, who homered and drove in three runs. Willy Vasquez, Jhonkensy Noel, Bryan Ramos and Fernando Peguero each had a hit from the bottom of the lineup.
More rough pitching, but it wasn’t starter Trace Bright’s fault. The righty threw four one-run innings and struck out eight. But he ran into trouble in the fifth and the bullpen couldn’t stem the tide. Carlos Tavera allowed two runs, Tyson Neighbors four, and Daniel Lloyd three more.
The Baysox had been up 4-0 before that. They scored one quick run on a Brandon Butterworth homer in the first. In the third, Anderson De Los Santos hit a bases-clearing double to put Chesapeake up 4-0. They’d get one back on an eighth-inning sac fly by Tavian Josenberger.
High-A: Wilmington Blue Rocks (WAS) 5, Frederick Keys 2
The Keys dropped the finale of this series against Wilmington, all with one bad inning. Starter Carson Dorsey, a seventh-rounder in 2024, had thrown three scoreless but he allowed the first three hitters to reach in the fourth, then got pulled for Ryan Cabarcas. It didn’t go any better for Cabarcas, who allowed the score to balloon to 5-0.
The Keys got two back, one on a sac fly that scored Nate George, the other on an RBI groundout—Nate George scored again here, too. The O’s high-ranking prospect reached base three times on Sunday, in fact. Wehiwa Aloy and Victor Figueroa each had a hit, but that was it as the Keys only racked up three base knocks on the day.
Unfortunately, one major story from this game was Vance Honeycutt, who was removed during the game with left thumb discomfort. Honeycutt is the organization’s top 2024 draft pick and has been a key piece of the Frederick lineup. No diagnosis has been reported yet, but it’s the kind of thing that will be worth monitoring closely over the next few days.
Low-A: Wilson Warbirds (MIL) 6, Delmarva Shorebirds 3
The Warbirds built a 5-1 lead with four runs on four hits off starter Kiefer Lord, a third-rounder in 2023. The loss put Lord at 0-3 for a 3.98 ERA on the season thus far. After him, Kenny Leiner, Keegan Gillies, Riley Cooper and Brandon Downer combined for 4.2 two-run innings.
First baseman Jordan Sanchez had four hits, including a homer and a double, in what was ultimately a losing cause for the Shorebirds. Sanchez’s huge individual performance gave him half of his team’s total hits. Luis Almeyda, Braylon Whitaker, and Johnny Tincher accounted for the others, Whitaker’s a double.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 05: A detailed view of the cap and Rawling baseball glove belonging to Willy Adames #2 of the San Francisco Giants sitting in the dugout in the bottom of the second inning of a major league baseball game at Oracle Park on April 05, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
It’s a new week of San Francisco Giants baseball, so let’s see what’s on deck.
The Giants continue their recent trend of having a day off today, before they hit the road again and head for the East Coast. First up will be a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies, before they head to Florida for a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
I’m going to go ahead and pick the Phillies series as the one I’m most interested in this weekend. Nothing against the Rays, they’re actually the more competitive team at the moment (at second place in the AL East, compared to the last-place Phillies). I just have more interest in National League teams, I guess.
Which series are you most interested in this week?
Apr 26, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Kyle Harrison (52) reacts after pitching six scoreless innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Results
Monday: Off Day
Tuesday: Brewers 12, Tigers 4
Wednesday: Tigers 5, Brewers 2
Thursday: Tigers 5, Brewers 4
Friday: Pirates 6, Brewers 0
Saturday: Pirates 6, Brewers 3
Sunday: Brewers 5, Pirates 0
Division Standings
Reds: 18-10
Cubs: 17-11
Pirates: 16-12
Brewers: 14-13
Cardinals: 14-13
Last Week
Reds: 4-2
Cubs: 5-2
Pirates: 3-3
Brewers: 2-4
Cardinals: 1-5
Top Pitching Performance of the Week
This is an easy one. Harrison’s start on Sunday versus the Pirates was probably the Brewers’ best of the season. In Sunday’s win, which busted a four-game losing streak, Harrison went six shutout innings, allowed only one hit and one walk, and struck out 12. On top of that, Harrison was the starter in Milwaukee’s only other win this week, on Tuesday versus the Tigers. He wasn’t nearly as sharp in that game and needed 72 pitches to record just nine outs, but he only allowed one run and thus went nine innings with a 1.00 ERA and 15 strikeouts this week.
Shoutout to two bullpen arms, Aaron Ashby and Trevor Megill, who went a combined seven appearances without allowing a run this week.
Top Hitting Performance of the Week
Unfortunately, it wasn’t a great week for the Brewer bats, but somebody needs to be the batter of the week, and that person is going to be Jake Bauers. Bauers played five games this week and went 8-for-21 (.381) with a trio of doubles (two of which came in Sunday’s win) and a couple of RBIs.
Jake Bauers' double leads to an RBI from Gary Sánchez
The only real viable alternative here is David Hamilton, who was 7-for-19 (.368), knocked in a couple runs, had four hits in Tuesday’s win, and who had his first extra-base hit of the season on Sunday, leaving Joey Ortiz as the only player in the league with at least 45 plate appearances and no extra-base hits.
Injury Notes & Roster Moves
Thankfully, it was a quiet week on the injury front and the news there was mostly good. Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn are both getting closer to returns, with Chourio seemingly in line to get some game action pretty soon. Quinn Priester also started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville and pitched twice this week.
On the minor league front, Craig Yoho was activated from the IL and could be an option at some point for the beleaguered Brewer bullpen.
Tyler Black, who came off the minor league IL last week, played just three games with Nashville before being brought up to the big-league club for his first MLB action of the season. He started on Friday and Saturday and picked up a couple of hits in the latter game. To make room on the active roster for Black, Luis Matos was designated for assignment.
Shane Drohan was also summoned back to the big leagues in place of Carlos Rodriguez, who was optioned back to Nashville. Drohan pitched four innings in relief in Milwaukee’s loss on Friday.
Down in the minors, there was a scary situation with Milwaukee’s No. 2 prospect Luis Peña on Wednesday. Thankfully, Peña seems to be okay based on what we’ve been told, but he hasn’t gotten back into game action yet and it’s not clear when he will.
Feb 22, 2026; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora (13) looks on during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at JetBlue Park at Fenway South. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Happy Monday, everyone. The big news from over this weekend, of course, was the firing of Red Sox manager Alex Cora. The Red Sox are among the teams that have been struggling to start the season, but they are the first to take such drastic action. Alongside Cora, the team fired five additional coaches in a sweeping attempt to course-correct that many critics think is the wrong decision. But it’s more than just critics who are speaking out against the team; it’s the club’s own players. And nowhere to be found in all the fray is Red Sox owner John Henry, making many suggest it might be time for Henry to sell the club.
We’ve got lots more on the Cora firing below, as well as more little tidbits from around baseball.
The Orioles actually ran out of home run fireworks, they hit so many…
The Orioles hit so many home runs off the Red Sox tonight that they ran out of fireworks in Baltimore. This is a real tweet. pic.twitter.com/InqKWcZtZv
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 22: Chris Roycroft #58 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws a pitch during a spring training game against the Houston Astros at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 22, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There’s been a strategy in baseball of cycling through bullpen arms to get maximum freshness from your fringier relievers. The Cardinals utilized this to some extent last year, but they’ve mostly abandoned it this year. I’ve seen some complaints about it. We are in late April and there’s really only one instance of using a bullpen shuttle to get a fresh arm and I don’t even really think it applies.
They’ve made minimal bullpen moves in general. Matt Pushard required an IL trip a week into the season, and Gordon Graceffo took his place. About a week after that, the highly ineffective Chris Roycroft was sent down and Jared Shuster took his place. Shuster didn’t pitch for another six days, so I don’t think this counts. After he pitched back-to-back days, they called up Ryan Fernandez. Really the only instance of them cycling through bullpen arms.
When I posited this question to Tom Ackerman on the podcast, one of his explanations for why this might be the case was essentially there’s nothing to cycle through. Which is mostly true. The only reliever on the 40 man right now is Roycroft, and I don’t think people are clamoring for him to come back. But I kind of wanted to see for myself. What are the options? Do they really have nobody they could call up? So, let’s look at the options: the candidates who could be mixed in at times when the bullpen needs some fresh innings. And then we can decide for ourselves whether or not one or more of these pitchers could be incorporated into more of a bullpen shuttle throughout the season.
Pushard will be back… and judging by how his rehab appearances are going, he’ll use all 30 days of his rehab. He’s only been down for 12 days so far. He has slowly improved. He got his first strikeout on April 21st, his third rehab appearance, and yesterday he threw a perfect inning with a strikeout. But due to the nature of this season and frankly, the lack of bullpen depth in general, he’ll be back. (His FIP and xFIP are not updated for last night, so both will improve)
Whenever they do call him up, the three pitchers with options are Gordon Graceffo, Matt Svanson, and Ryan Fernandez. Given the pecking order, the assumption is Fernandez goes down certainly, but he’s barely used and if you really want to use a bullpen shuttle as intended, you send down someone who has pitched a bunch recently. Both Svanson and Graceffo are used all the time, so odds are good one of them will have pitched 3 of the last 4 days or something when they are cool with Pushard coming up. Unless Oli trusts Fernandez a whole lot more in the next 20 days or circumstances dictate heavy Fernandez usage in a short span.
I’m not falling for this again. The term Quad A player typically refers to hitters who can dominate in AAA but then can’t make contact at the MLB level. You don’t see this as much with pitchers. Well, Roycroft is my new go-to example of a AAAA pitcher. Granted, he is pitching quite a bit better in AAA than he did last year, so there is that. And just by the nature of this season, he should get another crack at it. But yeah, he has reached “do not trust his AAA stats” for me.
I’ll be honest. I had kind of taken it for granted that Gastelum would be good in AAA. He hasn’t been good at all. Yes, I know his ERA is good. For literally the first time in his pro career, he’s getting batted ball luck, which is something I guess. He’d been running .340 or greater BABIPs up to this point, so in that light, I suppose it makes sense he’d eventually get lucky. But yeah he pitched yesterday too and walked a guy and didn’t strike anybody out, so his advanced stats will get even worse.
He’s not particularly close to getting promoted in my opinion, especially because he’s more of a long-term play.
Woof. Okay. I think I would probably have to argue with a few people that Gastelum isn’t actually pitching well because of his good ERA. No issues on this one. This is awful. He’s getting groundballs, so there’s one positive. He’s pretty far away from getting the call-up.
Blewett has relatively strong K/BB numbers, but allowing a ton of homers and a high BABIP isn’t exactly the kind of thing you want to see from a guy with unimpressive MLB stats for his career. He doesn’t have options, so he would not be a very good shuttle guy anyway. And though he has 5 years of team control, he’s not really a future guy either. He’s more Jared Shuster than someone to help keep the bullpen fresh.
Going to need to recalibrate here, because I am extremely thrown off by the seemingly not great xFIP despite not walking anybody and having a semi-respectable K rate. Due to a .407 BABIP and bad sequencing, he has a bad ERA, but I am surprised the advanced stats aren’t better. And it’s because he’s actually hit two guys. Okay, that makes more sense. That’s basically a walk. A 5.1 BB/HBP% is still good, but with an average K rate and not many groundballs in a hitter friendly league, the xFIP certainly makes more sense. He’s still “this is an emergency and we need 3 innings in a blowout” which again due to the no options, not ideal for a bullpen shuttle.
I have good news, sort of. Hence struck out two batters yesterday with no walks. He also allowed a run. This is good news, because I imagine his FIP and xFIP will see a nice boost, though they will still not be good at all. He’s going through something right now. I imagine they were hoping Hence could be a part of the bullpen shuttle, but that has not worked out even slightly so far. I really hope Hence can get some MLB innings in before the year is over.
I’m not entirely sure what they’re doing with Rincon to be honest, a guy I thought was a starting pitching prospect. And to be fair, he is pitching more than a relief prospect. Those are okay numbers. Certainly make me think he can be a bullpen threat at some point, if not right now. I kind of wonder if they’re waiting for a spot to open up in the rotation because he’s a lower priority starting pitching prospect. And since Dobbins will be getting the call-up, there is a spot opening up. I can see why they wouldn’t want to add him to the 40 yet. Those 13 innings are his only AAA innings.
Another uncertain role guy, but in Rajcic’s case, I kind of understand if they’ve given up on him as a starter already. I’d say this is a pretty promising start to the season. I can see why they might want more of a sample, because he was really quite bad in his 11 starts last year at AAA. And if you make his K% a little worse and his BB% a little worse, which usually happens when you get promoted to the big leagues, that’s definitely a bad reliever. So I’m not sure his stats are good enough yet either.
My official pitch to have Zimmermann replace Justin Bruhl begins here. I don’t know how much more of a sample of games we need from Bruhl, but he’s been about as bad as possible. Not really sure that experiment is worth continuing. Zimmerman, in the rotation in AAA, has struck out a third of batters. He’s left-handed by the way, if you’ve never heard of this guy.
He did pitch in relief in 7 games in 2023, and he struck out 23% of batters and didn’t walk a batter in 13.1 IP. His ERA was 4.73, but his xFIP was 3.39, his xERA was 3.71, and his SIERA was 2.99. That was his only experience as a reliever, he’s otherwise been a starter at the MLB level. He has a career 5.2 BB% as a starting pitcher in the majors. Even though he was bad, like bare minimum this guy probably isn’t walking guys. Unless there’s some potential in Bruhl that I’m not seeing, can you just give me a lefty that won’t walk guys instead?
Yes, I know he’s currently starting in Memphis and I’m pretty sure he’s this year’s version of Curtis Taylor, but surely Zimmerman will not get called up ahead of Quinn Mathews if another starter is needed? I’d much rather Rincon start than Zimmermann and I’d much rather Zimmermann be in St. Louis than Bruhl at this point. If for some reason, we need Zimmermann to start, we’ll just have a couple awkward games of getting him up to speed.
Winquest has actually hit 3 batters somehow in his 3 innings pitched, which is why his stats are so bad. Yeah apparently, I need to check the HBP stat when looking at pitchers more often, because this is the second pitcher whose K/BB ratio makes them look better than they’ve actually pitched. Reminder that Winquest started 8 games in AA last year, and that’s literally his only experience at AA or above, so he might not be ready for a minute. Just because the Yankees selected him in the Rule 5 did not make him MLB ready.
I’m just going to beat this drum again. Why is he not in Memphis???
Not an option because they are starting
Quinn Mathews
Pete Hansen
Brycen Mautz
Starting pitching prospects are not automatically disqualified from being considered bullpen help, but I think these three qualify. For Mautz and Hansen, it’s simply too early. They literally just got to Memphis. Certainly getting innings in the bullpen at the MLB level can be the next step for a prospect even if you intend for them to start, but I don’t think you do that for pitchers who are a month into AAA.
Not an option because they’re injured
Cooper Hjerpe
Tekoah Roby
Ixan Henderson
Sem Robberse
Zack Thompson
Packy Naughton
Victor Santos
Richard Fitts
Believe it or not Victor Santos was one of the players in the Tyler O’Neill trade. He’s basically been injured since. Packy unfortunately probably had a season-ending injury. Roby is probably hurt for the year. If healthy, Robberse almost certainly would integrate into the bullpen like Graceffo has, with maybe a hope for the rotation in the future. We know Fitts is done for the year, it seems like Henderson might be too, though there’s been no word. In any case, Henderson fits into the too early group, having not yet pitched at Memphis.
We’re probably going to see Hjerpe in relief whenever he comes back. He had Tommy John surgery early last season, so it seems like he should be able to return at some point this year. If he picks up where he left off, it certainly seems like he could get MLB hitters out in relief immediately. Obviously, he’ll need all 30 days of rehab first. I don’t know what happened to Zack Thompson.
Not an option because they pitched poorly
Gerson Moreno
Ian Bedell
Covering my bases since I did actually share quite a few players who have bad stats, but those players had what we call expectations and I don’t think Moreno or Bedell really have that. Bedell has a 10.80 ERA with just about as bad of advanced stats, so as much as I’m rooting for the Mizzou grad, I kind of don’t think he’ll be here in a month.
Apr 26, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals center fielder Lane Thomas (15) celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off home run during the tenth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Kansas City Royals outfielder Isaac Collins knows when he is going well. There is usually a glaring sign.
“Just my swing decisions,” he said. “You know, if I’m taking those balls on the edge and executing pitches over the plate, that’s when I’m at my best.”
“I think it just kind of speaks for the team as a whole,” Caglianone said. “Doesn’t matter the situation, I think we are just going to be fighting for each other.”
It was clear early that Ragans was working with good stuff when he struck out the side in the top of the first. All three came on fastballs 98-plus mph, including the 99.2 mph heater Jo Adell swung through to end the frame. That was Ragans’ hardest pitch of the night, but he averaged 96.5 with his fastball, 2.3 mph above what his season average had been so far.
Ragans filled up the zone with a 71% strike percentage and recorded whiffs (47%) and chase (40%). The Angels could not keep up with his fastball, and he was fearless with it, throwing it 51% of the time. Ten of his 11 strikeouts came on the pitch.
“Mechanics have a lot to do with the heater,” Ragans said. “If my mechanics are in line, it’s probably going to be good. Everything else feeds off it. It’s just about commanding the fastball, getting ahead and letting everything else play.”
He did a similar pregame routine Sunday with throwing, which is the main aspect that is affected. Garcia has been available off the bench for pinch-hit opportunities and was again Sunday.
“We’re just being cautious,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “He’s too valuable for us to have something happen. We have [Nick] Loftin at third, we feel good about that, but with the day off tomorrow, just wanted to be cautious.
Among the issues with the five-acre site were the minimal flexibility to develop around it, negotiations with the railroad to build over the existing tracks and even how the stadium itself would fit.
“You said, ‘It won’t be symmetrical,’” Hall reminded Sherman.
Sensing Sherman was struggling with those options, Hall suddenly was moved to broach something he said he hadn’t thought about much before that moment. He’d had no previous notion of moving Hallmark headquarters, he said, and certainly had never seen it as a potential site for baseball. It wasn’t really a consideration, he added, “until I said it out loud.”
Thinking out loud, really, with someone he could trust to kick around such ideas.
“‘What if we thought about this differently?’” Hall recalled saying to Sherman.
DENVER, COLORADO - AUGUST 19, 2022: Carlos Estevez #54 and Elehuris Montero #44 of the Colorado Rockies following the game against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field on August 19, 2022 in Denver, Colorado.(Photo by Harrison Barden/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last week, I gave you some background on the Rockies’ Cultural Education & Development Program. This week, I’m going to follow up by providing some insight into the curriculum. Specifically, I will detail the program in the Dominican Academy and the Dominican Summer League since those are the most intensive programs.
The focus is on helping players from Latin America gain skills that will allow them to be successful in the US on and off the field.
Basic Structure
Classes run for 20 weeks, which is a little longer than a traditional high school or college semester (those are 15-16 weeks). It is broken down into six different units that are taught by Angel Amparo, Julio Medina, or a combination of the two:
Weeks 3 & 4: Introduction to Computers, Dawere Accelerated High School Program & Classroom Assignments
Weeks 5-9: English 101, Intermediate & Advanced ESL
Weeks 10-14: Cultural Development 101
Weeks 15-17: Critical Thinking 101
Weeks 18-20: Math 101 & Off-Season Planning
“We have classes Monday through Friday from 4-7,” Angel Ampardo explained. “We do smaller groups, no more than 15 players, just to have better control. And we have office hours so they can come and see us for one-on-one attention.
“(The syllabus) shows you what we’re going to do, what’s required, a brief description of what we do and the goals and just the basic English structure,” he continued. “But then here, you see things like learning leadership, planning self-discipline skills and some of the resources and websites that we use. We have a classroom and a computer lab area, too. We also grade them.”
Players are graded on the following:
Journals (10%)
Completion and Effective Demonstration of Personal Improvement Plan (45%)
Based on Rockies Evaluation Matrix
Quizzes, Tests and Projects (30%)
Homework (10%)
Punctual Attendance (5%)
In addition to formal classroom lessons, the players also participate in other educational opportunities.
“I throw in professional development workshops,” Amparo said. “(Last) week, we had a workshop about interview processes and how to handle the press. That (was) on Monday, and the following Wednesday, we have a financial planning workshop. I throw in a lot of personal workshops. I have facilitators that I’ve worked with for years that are good at what they do that I get in contact with and have them come in to do specialized workshops and trainings with the players. We also have several community outreach programs and projects that we do throughout the season.”
And at the end of the season, the Rockies conduct exit interviews with the players.
“We tell them what their offseason plan is and what we want them to work on during the offseason,” Amparo said. “We get their feedback, too. We do anonymous surveys. What did you like about this season? What classes were good? What didn’t you like? What do you want to add? Because we want this to be interactive.
“We want to add stuff that they like,” he continued, “hence why chess came into it, then a video game tournament came into it and a domino tournament. So we get their feedback, and then we review it during the offseason, and then we modify the syllabus based on what we think would benefit them.”
No Offseason
During the offseason, the Rockies also keep tabs on the players.
“In the offseason, players are home, so if I’m not in Arizona or Denver, we do home visits as well for the players,” Amparo said. “We visit them, we talk to their parents and loved ones, just to let them know how they’re progressing. It helps them put a face to a name to tell them what our role is and just to let parents know that there’s a more personal connection.”
Amparo stressed that this comes from the Rockies’ emphasis on getting to know the players as individuals.
“I’ll never forget what I was told by my boss during my interview. He was like, ‘Look, focus on creating genuine and authentic relationships with the players. If you put the players’ needs first, always, you’ll do a good job. I guarantee it,’” he said. “He said it’s a lot of work – ‘I’m not going to lie to you, you’ve got to dive in head first. But it’ll be the most rewarding work that you’ll do.’ And I’ve never forgotten that interview. So I like the fact that players can come to me with their personal problems or something like that. I enjoy that role, if I can provide some sort of guidance or direction.”
A Work in Progress
This program has been in place for 14 years, and has evolved with changing needs.
“I remember my first day of work,” Amparo said. “I went with a suit and tie with a briefcase, and I had this plan of what I wanted to do because I’ve taught before at a university level and in high schools. But when I got there on my first day, I was like ‘Oh no, this is not going to work.’
“So I did a lot of observing in that first season at all levels,” he continued. “And after all of the observing and the feedback that I received, I said ‘Okay, let’s build a syllabus, a curriculum and lessons based on these pillars here that we feel are important.’ And it’s been going like that for years.”
Every year, the Rockies modify their lessons based on feedback from players as to what was most beneficial to them as well as adjusting the projects and activities to accommodate the world landscape.
“It’s changed so much now,” Amparo said.
“I was told ‘You probably won’t see the fruits of your success for about six or seven years.’ And since I’ve been here so long, I find players who have made it – who signed with us and couldn’t speak a lick of English – who are now playing at the major-league level. But even the ones who didn’t make the majors, but had this good work ethic and are now working as international crosscheckers or hitting coordinators or scouts or pitching coordinators… Those are success stories to me because these are all the kids who came through our program here. They played baseball for a few years and didn’t make it to the majors, but they’re still involved with the sport that they love.
“And those are the ones I can use with new players,” he continued. “I can show you [Ezequiel] Tovar’s first interview with us here in the DSL and look where he is now. He’s been in the league for eight years now, and now I can show tangible proof that this works if you put in the effort. Obviously, I don’t want to discourage them and say, ‘Even if you don’t make it to the majors…’ I never say that to them, but they know if they don’t make it to the majors, they can still have a career and a life in baseball. So this is tangible proof that I can show them.”
Amparo also likes to call players back who have graduated from the program to talk to the players currently in the program. He’s brought back Tovar, Carlos Estévez, and others to be interviewed and share their stories about how they signed and their career trajectories. He likes to implement tangible interactions to motivate the students, and that’s the biggest way that things have evolved and continue to evolve.
Coming Up Next
Next week, I will share the stories of some players who spent time in the program in various stages. Stay tuned!
In a back-and-forth affair, the Isotopes ended up topping the River Cats 8-6. The Topes jumped out to an early 4-0 lead on a homer by Sterlin Thompson (No. 13 PuRP) in the second, followed by a double from Nic Kent, single from Drew Avans and sac fly from Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) in the third. However, they then gave up three runs in the third and fourth. They gave up another in the sixth on a ground-rule double to tie the game. In the ninth, though, they scored four more runs to put themselves up 8-4. They bent to give up two more runs in the bottom on a two-run shot by Bryce Eldridge, but still came out victorious. Welinton Herrera (No. 17 PuRP) ended up getting the win, as he pitched two scoreless innings with two hits, one walk and three strikeouts.
The Isotopes return home to face the El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres) next.
While the Yard Goats scored two runs, they did not record a single hit against the Red Sox Double-A team. Both runs were scored in the third inning, where Jose Torres led off with a walk. Zach Kokoska and GJ Hill popped and lined out, and then Torres stole second. Dyan Jorge walked, and Torres stole third. Then, Andy Perez reached on a fielding error to score both Torres and Jorge, but Braylen Wimmer struck out on a foul tip to end the inning. In total, the Yard Goats ended up walking five times and striking out 12.
On the pitching side, it was Cade Denton who blew the save by giving up a two-run homer to Nate Baez in the the sixth to tie the game. The third run was scored in the eighth, though, after Carlos Torres recorded back-to-back strikeouts of Max Ferguson and Nate Baez to lead the inning off. But then Brooks Bannon walked and stole second, but then Ronald Rosario singled to score Bannon before Nelly Taylor struck out looking to end the inning.
The Yard Goats return home to play the Reading Fightin’ Phils (Phillies) again. They went 2-4 in their last series in Reading three weeks ago.
The Indians got the scoring going early and never looked back. Tevin Tucker led off the ballgame with a double and then stole third base, which allowed him to score on a wild pitch. Jocob Hinderleider struck out swinging, but then back-to-back baserunners set up Kelvin Hidalgo for a three-run homer to put the Indians up 4-0 in the first inning.
In the fourth, Roynier Hernandez hit his own solo shot to put them up 5-0. The AquaSox finally struck back in the bottom of the inning, as Luis Suisbel and Axel Sanchez led off with back-to-back hits off Yujanyer Herrera. Anthony Donofrio singled to score Suisbel and make the score 5-1. The AquaSox scored two more runs in the sixth and one more in the seventh to make it a one-run game. But the Indians gave themselves some insurance with a Robert Calaz triple to score Kelvin Hidalgo, who reahced on a fielding error right before him.
The AquaSox scored another run in the eighth and tied it in the ninth on a lead-off Brandon Eike homer, but Tommy Hopfe doubled in the tenth to snatch the victory for the Indians. In total, the Indians walked four times and struck out nine; the AquaSox walked 11 times and struck out 15.
The Indians have two off days, and will head to Eugene to play the Emeralds (Giants) starting on Wednesday. To fit in a full six-game series, they are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday.
Like their major league brethren, the Fresno Grizzlies played a doubleheader today. Unfortunately, they were on the losing end of a sweep.
Their first game was a make-up of a suspended game from Saturday, where they ultimately lost 7-2. They got the scoring going early when Cameron Nelson led off with a solo home run. But the Quakes singled, reached on an error and walked to set up a two-RBI single by Marlon Quintero in the second. Two batters later, Hayden Alvarez singled to score two more Quakes and three batters after that, Lucas Ramirez singled to score two more and drive up the score 6-1. That’s when things were suspended on Saturday night. When the game resumed, it was a pretty uneventful game. In the bottom of the fourth, Derek Bernard homered to tack on another Grizzlies’ run. The final run was scored in eighth, when Anyelo Marquez hit a homer of his own.
In the second game, Rancho Cucamongs kicked things off in the first. They jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings, and tacked on three more in the seventh. They completely blanked the Grizzlies, who were held to just three hits — a Clayton Gray double in the first, a Luis Mendez single in the fifth, and an Ethan Holliday (No. 2 PuRP) triple in the sixth.
They will head back on the road to face the Stockton Ports (Athletics) next.
Patrick Saunders wrote a wonderful profile on Mickey Moniak and his grandfather, Bill, who was coached by Ted Williams during his minor league days. Mickey, Bill and Matt (dad) all share stories of how their mutual love of baseball has connected them throughout the years, and how Mickey leaned on them during his early career struggles with the Phillies before having breakout years with the Rockies.
The All-Star Game isn’t for another 2.5 months, but folks are already starting to make way-too-early cases for players. In this case, SI makes the potential cases for eight players who might be deserving after the Rockies have only had one representative in each Midsummer Classic since 2021. How many players will the Rockies send to Philadelphia this year?
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Abner Uribe (45) reacts after a the third out during the ninth inning of their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Saturday, April 25, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Welcome to week 5 of our 2026 NL Central Power Rankings — let’s rank some teams!
1. Chicago Cubs (17-11); 5-2 this week; 73.7% chance to make postseason (FanGraphs)
The top of these rankings remain a tough 1-2 punch, as the Cubs and Reds are both vying for the division lead. Chicago extended their win streak to 10 games with a four-game sweep of the Phillies before a win on Friday against the Dodgers, but they lost the final two games of the set over the weekend as they were outscored 18-4.
Seiya Suzuki slugged four homers this week, and Michael Busch and Dansby Swanson each added a pair of long balls. Suzuki and Busch also tied for the team lead with 10 hits apiece. Alex Bregman homered and totaled nine hits this week, and Nico Hoerner added eight hits, including a homer.
None of Chicago’s starting pitchers had an outstanding week, as the two starters to pick up wins (Shota Imanaga and Colin Rea) also took a loss in their second start of the week. The bullpen, however, was great. Ben Brown, Corbin Martin, Ryan Rolison, Yacksel Ríos, Vince Vealsquez, and Jacob Webb combined for 13 innings with no earned runs, striking out 11 batters.
The Cubs now visit the Padres for three games before returning to Wrigley to host the D-backs and Reds.
2. Cincinnati Reds (18-10); 4-2 this week; 35.0% chance to make postseason
The Reds have continued to win, as they’ve now won four consecutive series after a pair of 2-1 series wins over the Rays and Tigers this week. They remain atop the NL Central standings.
It was a power-heavy week for the Reds, as they totaled 16 homers in their six games this week. Nathaniel Lowe led the way with four homers, and Elly De La Cruz added three homers and five other hits. Sal Stewart hit two more homers, driving in a team-high 10 runs and swiping three bags as he looks like an early-season NL Rookie of the Year frontrunner.
Rhett Lowder made a pair of solid starts, totaling 11 innings with 10 strikeouts and three runs allowed. Chase Burns struck out eight and allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings in his start, and Brady Singer went 5 1/3 innings with one run allowed and three strikeouts. Graham Ashcraft, Brock Burke, and Emilio Pagán all put up scoreless weeks for the bullpen, with Burke leading the way with four scoreless frames and four strikeouts over four appearances.
After an off day on Monday, Cincinnati will host the Rockies for three games before a road trip takes them to the Pirates and Cubs.
3. Pittsburgh Pirates (16-12); 3-3 this week; 62.0% chance to make postseason
The Pirates split their two series with the Rangers and Brewers this week, losing two of three in Texas before taking two of three against Milwaukee over the weekend.
Oneil Cruz led the Pittsburgh offense with a pair of homers, but he had just one other hit and struck out 11 times in 23 at-bats. Nick Gonzales led the team with 10 hits, driving in two and scoring three runs, while Konnor Griffin picked up his first career homer on Friday night in Milwaukee.
Paul Skenes turned in a sterling start against the Brewers on Friday night, allowing just one hit and striking out seven over seven scoreless innings. Braxton Ashcraft went seven innings with two runs allowed and five strikeouts in his start. The bullpen had an all-around solid week as eight arms combined to allow zero runs over 19 innings with 18 strikeouts — in fact, the only reliever to allow any runs this week was Gregory Soto (two runs in two innings).
Pittsburgh heads back home for four games against the Cardinals before hosting the Reds for three games next weekend.
4. Milwaukee Brewers (14-13); 2-4 this week; 35.7% chance to make postseason
The Brewers continue to struggle with consistency on offense, as they scored 17 runs in their two victories this week but just nine runs in their four losses, as they dropped two of three to both Detroit and Pittsburgh.
Milwaukee’s offense failed to pick up a homer this week, but Jake Bauers led the squad with eight hits, including three doubles. David Hamilton finally found a bit of success, going 7-for-19 with a double, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Brice Turang led the team with four RBIs despite only picking up three hits (all singles).
Kyle Harrison turned in arguably the best start of his career on Sunday, striking out 12 over six shutout frames. For the week, he went nine innings with one run allowed and 15 strikeouts. Jacob Misiorowski struck out nine and allowed three runs over six innings in a no-decision, while Aaron Ashby continues to set the pace for the bullpen, as he allowed no runs and struck out eight in 4 1/3 innings this week. DL Hall, Grant Anderson, and Trevor Megill also had scoreless weeks for the ‘pen, allowing just three hits and three walks with seven strikeouts over 7 2/3 total innings.
The Brewers get an off day on Monday before hosting the D-backs to wrap up their homestand. They’ll then head to Washington and St. Louis on a six-day, six-game road trip beginning Friday.
5. St. Louis Cardinals (14-13); 1-5 this week; 9.6% chance to make postseason
The Cardinals finally look like they’re falling back to earth, as they dropped five of six games this week, losing two of three in Miami before being swept by the Mariners in St. Louis.
Nathan Church had a huge week offensively, picking up eight hits, including four homers, to go with seven RBIs. Iván Herrera and JJ Wetherholt each added a pair of homers, and Masyn Winn totaled eight hits and four RBIs.
The pitching staff didn’t have a great week overall, as every player who appeared on the mound allowed at least one run, with the lone exception of Justin Bruihl, who went 3 2/3 scoreless innings over three appearances. Michael McGreevy made a pair of starts, allowing five runs and striking out nine over 11 2/3 innings, while Dustin May picked up the only win this week, going 5 1/3 innings with one run allowed and five strikeouts.
St. Louis now heads to Pittsburgh for a four-game set against the Pirates before a homestand against the Dodgers and Brewers to begin May.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 25: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns attempts a shot against Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 25, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Thunder defeated the Suns 121-109. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns are down 3-0 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. No NBA team has ever come back from losing the first three games of a series, and Phoenix hasn’t played like they’d have a chance to change that record.
With Game 4 tonight, here are the questions we want your thoughts on for Week 27 as the Suns face elimination:
Could the Suns steal Game 4 by getting hot from deep?
Phoenix hasn’t particularly shot the three-ball well this series, hitting just 33% of their triples. One way the undermanned and less talented team can steal a game in the series is by getting hot from deep; it’s how the seven-seeded Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of their series: Philly went 19/39 from three in their win.
With Phoenix missing their starting center for the entirety of the series so far, the team has been forced to play small, opting for more spacing on the floor, including playing forward Haywood Highsmith at the center spot to help with spacing.
Is the key to victory in Game 4 a hot shooting night?
Assessing Devin Booker’s performance
Devin Booker has been limited by the Oklahoma City defense, averaging nearly six points less per game than he did in the regular season, on worse efficiency from three and the field. With lengthy and versatile defenders like Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, and Cason Wallace, the Thunder have made it their mission to make sure that anyone but Booker can beat them, and they’re doing so. Both Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks are averaging more shots per game during the series and are averaging more points per game, consequently.
With Mark Williams out, Phoenix’s inside/out game is not as strong as it was during the season, also prohibiting the team’s top ball handlers’ ability to operate on offense, but being the Suns best player and leader, should more be being asked of Booker?
Would a sweep be a disappointment?
The Suns have been heavy underdogs in every game during their first round series. If they do lose and get swept by the defending champions, does that make the team’s playoff run a disappointing one? Or should this have been expected. The Thunder had the best record in the league, came into the playoffs winning 18 of their last 21 games, while the Suns came into the series with less rest and dealing with multiple injury to key players.
Has this series gone as you expected it to go?
On the Suns’ plate this week
Game 4 is tonight at the Mortgage Matchup Center. If they lose, their season is over, if they win, they’ll head back to OKC for Game 5. If they get to Game 6, it’ll be on Friday, while Game 7 would be Sunday. Tonight’s game is on Peacock and NBC.
DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 12: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts to a play during the first half against the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Center on April 12, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the Dallas Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg last June, the franchise was saved, but there were still questions about Flagg’s upside.
Those questions were answered, as Flagg had one of the best scoring seasons for a teenager ever, and left no doubt about his future.
Season Review
Flagg’s season started off poorly, as he averaged just 15.5 points in the first 15 games. He looked uncomfortable and rushed, with no go-to moves.
These problems were only exacerbated by the truly awful two-big lineups the Mavericks were relying on, with multiple non-shooters always clogging the paint.
But it wouldn’t take long for Flagg to find his rhythm, as after the bad start he proceeded to average 23 points, 5 assists, and 7 rebounds over his last 51 games.
These stats show the biggest reason for optimism regarding Flagg, which is his superhuman ability to improve. At the beginning of his lone college year at Duke Flagg was seen as a mainly defensive prospect with some connective offensive tools. By the end of that season Flagg had become Duke’s de-facto point guard and lead ball handler.
And somehow he kept improving this year, even as the team around him crumbled. It started with his gigantic improvement as a ball-handler, allowing him to get to his spots much easier. But the biggest improvement was his touch around the rim, which was seen as a weakness before the draft. This touch has become his best weapon, as his floaters are already some of the best in the league.
He even found a new level in April, with step-back threes becoming part of his repertoire.
Flagg also rewrote the record books for players his age. Flagg became the youngest player in the league history to score: 30, 40, and 50 points, as well as being the first teenager to have multiple 40 point games.
This type of scoring production
All in all, Flagg showed consistent effort and buy-in all year, with the circumstances of the team never really affecting him, and his winning mentality never wavering.
Best Game
It is very hard to pick Flagg’s best game, with there being multiple generational performances. You could easily make a case for his 51 point explosion against the Magic, or his near 45 point triple double against the Lakers.
But to take a page out of Ryen Rusillo’s book, I’ll zag against the obvious.
My pick for Flagg’s best game was his 33 point, 9 rebound, 9 assist performance against the Denver Nuggets.
This game is far from Flagg’s best statistical outing, but it was maybe his most impactful. Not only did the Mavericks win this game, but it was against a bona-fide contender that was trying to win.
Flagg was amazing all night, with his three ball dropping all game, including a clutch-time three over multiple defenders.
He was also incredibly efficient, nailing 14-21 from the field and only having two turnovers.
This was also one of his best playmaking games of the season, as he consistently leveraged his downhill scoring to create opportunities for others.
My pick for his second best game would have to be his 45 point game against the Lakers.
Contract Status
Flagg will be entering year 2 of his 4 year, $62.7 million contract he signed last year.
Looking towards the future
Now that Flagg’s rookie season is over, what does he have to do to reach the level of a true superstar?
In my opinion, the most important improvement Flagg has to make is his shot selection. Flagg often settled for long mid-range jumpers over three pointers last year, leading to some of his poor efficiency.
Flagg only attempted 3.5 three point shots a game, accounting for just 20% of his total shots on the year. There were many moments throughout the season where defenses simply ignored Flagg from behind-the-arc, which made his paint finishing that much harder.
Shooting more threes, with hopefully more efficiency, should make Flagg nearly ungradable in almost any situation, forcing defenses to bend to his gravity.
Besides shooting, Flagg could also stand to attempt more free throws, as his Free Throw Rate was .29, which is slightly above average. Obviously this isn’t bad, but comparing it to other stars it lags behind. Shooting more free throws would help to ease the difficulty of his shot diet, and get more easy points.
But all of this doesn’t really matter if Mavericks do not build a smarter team around Flagg.
The spacing of last year’s team was a disaster, with Flagg always dealing with stacked paints. Having Kyrie Irving back will help to ease this issue, but it does not solve it. The Mavericks should prioritize adding this offseason, and hopefully give Flagg the space he needs to dominate.
Grade: A+
There’s no other grade that makes sense for Cooper Flagg.
Flagg exceeded any expectations as a scorer and shot creator, while simultaneously showing off incredibly impressive playmaking.
Detractors might point to his below-average efficiency, or disappointing advanced metrics; however, these issues can mostly be explained by the team around him.
Flagg was able to succeed in the most dire possible circumstances, and with the addition of a top 10 pick, Kyrie Irving and a hopefully healthy Dereck Lively II, he should be poised for a historic second season.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - APRIL 26: General view of Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú prior the MLB Mexico City Series game between San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú on April 26, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Divisional battles highlighted the week in the National League West.
The San Francisco Giants took two of three games against at home the Dodgers, a series in which runs were at a premium, with 10 runs total between the two teams and two shutouts, nobody scoring more than three in any contest.
Dalton Rushing was in the middle of things, running through the old baseball cycle of perceived slight, followed by retribution with a hit batter, then a hard slide. That was mostly background noise in a rivalry that still has some juice to it even when one team is competitive and the other isn’t.
San Diego has starters Nick Pivetta, Joe Musgrove, and Griffin Canning all on the injured list, so they signed free agent Lucas Giolito last week to a one-year deal worth $3 million plus a mutual option for 2027. He pitched in a tuneup game Saturday in Class-A Lake Elsinore, and left in the third inning after taking a comebacker off his hand, but after the outing Giolito said he was fine, per Marty Caswell.
Renee Dechert, who writes for Purple Row and her own Rockies Pitch newsletter, offered some perspective after the Rockies’ Friday win over the New York Mets.
Colorado also won the last two games of that series in New York to complete a weekend sweep, and are now 13-16. Still in last place, but no longer hopeless.
Colorado reached its nadir as a franchise in 2025, losing 119 games, and since then they have revamped the front office for the first time in years — including hiring former Dodgers executives Paul DePodesta and Josh Byrnes — and have new partial ownership coming as well. Last season, the Rockies lost 50 games before they won their 10th game.
The Rockies are still not a great team. The offense has a lot of question marks when it comes to their “swing first and ask questions later” approach to hitting and inconsistent ability to win close games. However, most of the games are still close, the pitching has been shockingly solid—dare I say even good—and they’re keeping fans engaged. Our comments sections are proof positive of that!
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 26: Members of the Boston Bruins look on from the bench during the third period of Game Four of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on April 26, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Sabres defeat the Bruins 6-1. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a tightly played Game 3, where the Bruins could point to missed opportunities as the difference between a win and a loss, fans hoped to see a little more jump on offense and a little more finish in Game 4.
Instead, the Bruins turned in one of the more calamitous defensive performances in recent memory and got absolutely pummeled by Buffalo, losing Game 4 by a score of 6-1.
The Bruins were booed off the ice at the end of a first period that saw them allow four goals, including three within a span of less than five minutes.
It was, in a word, an embarrassing effort from just about everyone wearing a Bruins jersey or standing behind the Bruins bench.
The B’s ultimately trailed 6-0, only for Sean Kuraly to score the team’s only goal with 40 seconds left in the third period.
The Bruins melted down further down the stretch, with Nikita Zadorov getting five-and-a-game for cross-checking Rasmus Dahlin, potentially earning himself supplemental discipline in the process.
If you enjoy watching horror movies, here are your highlights:
The B’s will have to win in Buffalo on Tuesday night in order to extend their season, though fans could be forgiven for being hesitant to coming back out after Sunday’s debacle.
Bruins lose, 6-1.
Game notes
This game was a horror show for the Bruins, just about from the opening face-off. They came out flat, with Buffalo outshooting them 3-0 in the first couple minutes of the game, then the wheels fell off. To me, the game was reminiscent of the B’s more recent playoff loss to Florida, where they spent the majority of the series looking like they were playing on half speed and ended up completely overwhelmed.
Perhaps the most frustrating part is that the B’s first period meltdown was almost entirely self-inflicted. The first goal was a calamity of errors: Charlie McAvoy and Jonathan Aspirate couldn’t complete a 15-foot pass. Fraser Minten tried to carry the puck back into the defensive zone instead of just chipping it out. Buffalo scores ten seconds later. They compounded that by taking a too many men on the ice penalty a couple minutes later, then gave up a goal just after that power play expired when Hampus Lindholm failed to clear the zone. It was mistake after mistake after mistake.
To compound matters, the Bruins showed pretty much no push-back the entire game. It wasn’t until just about the end of the second period, when the B’s were given a power play opportunity down 4-0, that they showed a little jump on offense; predictably, it didn’t lead to a goal.
Jeremy Swayman was pulled after allowing six goals, the vast majority of which (if not all) can be placed squarely on the shoulders of the team in front of him. He could be seen barking at the bench on his way down the tunnel as frustration boiled over.
You could make an argument that Swayman should have been mercy-pulled earlier than that, given the way the team was playing, but Marco Sturm failed to really pull any of the right levers yesterday.
Viktor Arvidsson left the game with an upper-body injury after skating just over three minutes. He didn’t return, and his status for Tuesday is in doubt.
I’d imagine Sturm makes another swap on the third line in Game 5, as Lukas Reichel wasn’t the solution. I don’t mean to call him out directly for any real reason, but he ended up with no shots, blocks, hits, etc., so we’ll likely see Mikey Eyssimont or Alex Steeves tomorrow.
Games like this certainly take the proverbial wind out of your sails, but hey, there’s still another game to enjoy!
Game 5 will be back in Buffalo on Tuesday night, with a 7:30 start.
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 26: Brandon Ingram #3 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 26, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In Monday’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, RJ Barrett and Brandon Ingram helped lead Toronto past Cleveland, 93-89. Mason Plumlee and San Antonio took care of Portland, 114-93. Jayson Tatum and Boston smacked Philadelphia around, 128-96. Finally, Luke Kennard and Los Angeles fell to Houston, 115-96.
Ingram had 23 for Toronto, while Barrett finished with 18 points and 8 rebounds. Neither shot well, with Ingram hitting 6-23 while Barrett was slightly better at 8-22.
Rookie Tyrese Proctor got a DNP for the Cavs.
Plumlee got in for 2 minutes for the Spurs but didn’t put anything in the box score.
For his part, Tatum racked up 30 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds to pace the Celtics.
And for JJ Redick’s Lakers, Kennard finished with 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists.
On Monday, we’ll see Paolo Banchero and Orlando take on Detroit, Oklahoma City try to eliminate Phoenix, and Denver and Minnesota in the nightcap.
