ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 22: Jack Leiter #22 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at Globe Life Field on April 22, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pirates 8, Rangers 4
Well, that was some unpleasantness.
Jack Leiter was really good. Until he wasn’t.
Leiter allowed a first inning run, on a two out Bryan Reynolds double followed by a Marcell Ozuna single, but those were the only two hits he allowed through four innings. He needed just 20 pitches to get through the first nine batters of the game.
Once the Pirates turned the lineup over, though, the at bats started getting longer and longer. Leiter needed 16 pitches to get the final two outs of the third, including an 11 pitch at bat to end the inning when he struck out Brandon Lowe. In the fourth, he needed 19 pitches, including a nine pitch at bat against Bryan Reynolds and a seven pitch walk to Ryan O’Hearn.
Still, things seemed to be going fine, and Leiter seemed to be in position to go six, maybe seven innings.
The Pirates went single-K-walk (on 8 pitches)-K to start the fifth, and retiring Brandon Lowe for the third out would preserve the Rangers’ 2-1 lead.
But no. Lowe singled home a run. Then Bryan Reynolds singled to right, scoring a run, and Brandon Nimmo made a terrible throw back into the infield that Leiter fell and twisted his ankle trying to back up, allowing Lowe to score all the way from first.
Leiter looked like he might be seriously injured on the play, which would have made things catastrophic. Somehow, though, he was well enough to finish the inning, retiring Ozuna on a fly out.
Final line for Leiter was five innings, four runs, three earned, five Ks, 15 whiffs, two walks. He now has a 4.97 ERA on the year.
The surprisingly effective Tyler Alexander gave the Rangers two innings of scoreless relief, followed by a shutout inning from Gavin Collyer. When the Rangers tied the score in the bottom of the eighth, Skip Schumaker turned to Cole Winn to keep the game tied.
Things didn’t work out. A weakly hit single and a hard hit single put runners on the corners with no one out. A strikeout was followed by a weak chopper to third base that Josh Jung made a less than great throw home on, and it was now 5-4 with two on and one out. Jalen Beeks was brought in to face Oneil Cruz, and Cruz crushed a middle-middle cutter that bounced off the top of the right field foul pole.
And that was church.
Offensively, the Rangers got a two run home run by Josh Jung in the bottom of the second, Joc Pederson having walked to lead off the inning, then did a whole bunch of nothing until the eighth inning, when Andrew McCutchen led off with a pinch hit single, Brandon Nimmo doubled, and then Jake Burger singled them home to tie the game at four.
That was exciting, at least, though the excitement was short-lived.
It was a frustrating game. And put the Rangers back at .500, and a half-game back in the A.L. West behind Oakland, even though those shit-ass A’s lost.
Jack Leiter hit 98.5 mph with his fastball, averaging 96.9 mph. Tyler Alexander hit 92.0 mph with his fastball. Gavin Collyer hit 97.5 mph with his fastball. Cole Winn’s fastball topped out at 96.3 mph. Jalen Beeks reached 94.7 mph with his fastball.
Brandon Nimmo had a 108.3 mph double and a 102.9 mph ground out. Evan Carter had a 101.9 mph single.
Texas can still take the series on Thursday. Let’s get that rubber game win.
Apr 17, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Ryan O’Hearn makes the catch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images | Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images
Through the early part of the season the Pittsburgh Pirates have been enjoying a lot of success, with a lot of credit going to their transformed lineup. At 14-10 the Buccos offseason moves are already paying off as they are in the top ten of the latest MLB Power Rankings.
Brandon Lowe was the headliner in the Pirates’ trade with the Tampa Bay Rays in December, and that move was an immediate upgrade for Pittsburgh’s revolving door of temporary second basemen. With Lowe the Pirates got a top ten second baseman in baseball who is a huge power threat. The 31-year-old has consistently been one of the best hitters in baseball since his first major league season in 2018. Aside from his rookie season and his injury shortened 2022 season, Lowe has never hit less than 10 homers in a year. In 2021 Lowe had a career high 39 homers.
Lowe’s start to 2026 has been very productive. He’s currently slashing .267/.375/.600 and already has seven homers. Lowe has been a bright spot in Pittsburgh’s lineup, and “Bam Bam” looks to keep on knocking in runs.
Spotrac projects a 3 year $47 million extension for Brandon Lowe. I would do that deal right now. pic.twitter.com/hBHs5puHYQ
Jake Mangum was another part of the Tampa Bay trade, and while his Major League career is largely just getting started, he has already proven to be a spark plug when he’s on the field. With the Pirates, the 30-year-old outfielder has played primarily in a platoon role, appearing in 18 games so far. 2025 was his first season in the Majors and he showed to be a player with a knack for contact hitting and speed on the base pads, totaling 27 stolen bases and a .296 batting average with the Rays.
This year with the Pirates, Mangum has appeared primarily in left field and has a perfect fielding percentage. In his 18 games Mangum has performed consistently with a .300 batting average, 15 hits and three steals.
For the first time in a decade, the Pirates signed a free-agent to a multi-year contract when they signed Ryan O’Hearn to a two-year $29 million contract. Coming off of his first All-Star season, O’Hearn provides another veteran bat to a lineup that was in desperate need of a makeover. The Sam Houston State product is off to arguably his best start to a season in his career. He is currently ranked in the top ten in the National League for batting average, on base percentage and on base plus slugging percentage.
In the bigger picture of Pittsburgh baseball, O’Hearn represents the fact that the Pirates are making a conscious effort to build a winning team. O’Hearn had multiple suitors in free-agency, but him choosing Pittsburgh signifies the belief he has in the team and the culture that the organization is trying to now build. It’s very possible that this signing proves to be very impactful for the future of the franchise.
Ryan O’Hearn and the “O” stands for “oh yeah I’m gonna drive in this run and hoist that cone” pic.twitter.com/6SobXlV22h
The last big signing that the Pirates made in the winter was the addition of Marcell Ozuna to serve as the team’s primary designated hitter. The 35-year-old DH is a three-time All-Star, a one-time Gold Glove defender and a two-time Silver Slugger. Despite his age Ozuna brought a pedigree to the Pirates that was more impressive than most of their signings in recent history. With that being said, Ozuna has largely looked past his prime. To start the season, he has mostly looked lost at the plate, and has been more of a liability than a point of strength for the team.
Despite the slow start that Ozuna has had, he is starting to turn things around. Ozuna’s first homer with the Pirates was a three-run blast that tied the contest against the Nationals on April 16. Against the Rays on April 18, “The Big Bear” looked like he had come out of hibernation by hammering a two run dinger to extend the Pirates’ lead. Is Ozuna the player that he used to be? Likely no. Father Time makes no exceptions. Is he heating up? He has certainly looked better at the plate, where even his shortcomings are looking productive. Though he’s not the player he used to be, Ozuna can still provide meaningful offense for this Pirates squad.
The Pirates still have a long season ahead of them, but to this point their offseason spending has really worked out as we are seeing the most exciting version of the Buccos in quite some time.
Amen Thompson’s third season was one to remember, as it saw Thompson take on a larger offensive role. ESPN revealed earlier this week that the Houston guard/forward collected a few second-place votes for Defensive Player of the Year, with the San Antonio Spurs Victor Wembenyama winning the award unanimously.
Thompson has received mixed reviews for his offensive development, but has made his mark on the defensive side, even though some numbers show he has slipped this year. Elite, 6-foot-7, nearly 7 feet wide, in pursuit of stopping a tough shot at multiple spots. Whether putting down the fast guards or going up against bigger wingers, Thompson’s level of defensive versatility has evolved to a point where he can guard just about anyone on the court.
What makes him different from most is not just the physical tools on display, but the instincts. Thompson has shown a natural gift for timing passing lane disturbances, rotating as a help defender, and contending with shots without fouling. His anticipation is sometimes such that you get a defensive rebound and a transition opportunity, or that the defense turns into offense in a way that sparks the Rockets.
Houston has an impressive defensive depth when Thompson is on the floor, and his ability to guard one through four has also freed up the coaching staff when it comes to playing matchups. Effort plays — loose balls and chases and late-clock stops — have become part of his nightly contributions.
His defensive stats are a little down overall from last season, even if his steals reached a career-high of 1.5 . Blocks were down to his rookie levels of 0.6, his defensive rating of 114 was the worst of his career, as was his defensive box plus-minus of +1.0. However, his defensive stats being down can be attributed to his increased responsibility on the offensive side of the basketball, and the Amen at point guard “experiment”.
Nonetheless, Thompson is still considered a good defender, and his final tally of 8th place in the voting illustrates that even in a “down year”, Thompson can still perform at a top level.
The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers’ Fan Fest and media day on Wednesday, April 1, 2026,at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute, Wis. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin | Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
As our own Jason Paczkowski indicated early Thursday morning, the Brewers’ High-A Wisconsin affiliate had their game called in the eighth inning on Wednesday night after a player reportedly collapsed in the dugout. While no details have been confirmed to this point, the belief is that the collapsed player is Brewer No. 2 prospect and MLB No. 21 prospect Luis Peña.
The incident occurred while athletic training staff members were checking out Timber Rattlers catcher Marco Dinges after a pitch deflected off his knee. In the video below, you’ll see the Fort Wayne TinCaps third base coach signal for medics after something happened in the Timber Rattlers dugout.
Unconfirmed reports tonight that MLB Pipeline’s #21 ranked prospect Luis Peña collapsed in the dugout with Milwaukee’s High-A affiliate and was rushed to the hospital and spectators have said it was indeed the Brewers’ #2 ranked prospect. Wishing him a speedy recovery pic.twitter.com/Pzq5gnUFJB
While no confirmation has been made about whether it was in fact Peña, unconfirmed reports say he was rushed to the hospital. He was reportedly stable and responsive as of midnight. Regardless of who the player is, we wish them a speedy recovery.
Via that same thread from our trusted source – "I don’t know what happened nor do I have specifics that I can share about his current status, but I have heard from multiple individuals in the Timber Rattlers clubhouse that, as of midnight tonight, Peña is stable and responsive." https://t.co/fx3D0q2kX2
UPDATE: It was reported by Adam McCalvy on Thursday morning that the player was, in fact, Luis Peña. McCalvy added that Brewer GM Matt Arnold indicated it was an overheating issue, and Peña was transferred to the hospital for IV fluids. He’s reportedly doing better. Seems like a best-case scenario, all things considered.
Per Brewers GM Matt Arnold, SS prospect Luis Peña was taken to the hospital after overheating in the dugout during the @TimberRattlers game last night, causing that game to be called in the 8th inning. Peña was administered IV fluids and is doing better. https://t.co/LBgROyjQ1m
If this does mark the end of Kerr's tenure, it would be the first time the Warriors were in search of a head coach since May 2014, when they let go of Mark Jackson three days after losing to the Los Angeles Clippers in seven games in the first round of the playoffs. Kerr was hired eight days after Jackson was fired.
Should Kerr and the Warriors decide to not continue into a 13th season together, Golden State's coaching carousel begins ... and there are a number of ideal candidates.
Here are coaches the Warriors could look at if Kerr isn't brought back:
Potential Warriors coaching candidates
There are a number of coaches whose names will be thrown in the hat if Kerr doesn't return. Here's who could appear in the conversation:
Terry Stotts
Stotts is currently the Warriors' lead assistant coach. He is familiar with the guys, having coached in Golden State since 2024. He finished a Jan. 5 game as head coach against the Clippers after Kerr was ejected. Stotts was last a head coach with the Portland Trail Blazers from 2012 to 2021. They were a perennial playoff team, and made a Western Conference finals appearance in 2019, where they lost to Kerr's Warriors.
Jerry Stackhouse
Stackhouse, another Warriors assistant coach since 2024, would seemingly be a candidate to succeed Kerr as Warriors coach. Stackhouse hasn't been a head coach in the NBA, but was the head coach at Vanderbilt prior to joining Golden State, from 2019 to 2024. Stackhouse was a two-time All-Star in 18 NBA seasons. He can relate to every player, from stars to role players.
Mike Brown
We're not going to fill this list completely with former Warriors assistant coaches. And Brown is currently the head coach of the New York Knicks, who are in a playoff series with the Atlanta Hawks. The Warriors probably aren't thinking about him right now, and Brown definitely isn't thinking of the Warriors. Plus, Brown was hired just last summer on a four-year, $40 million deal. So, you can probably cross Brown's name off the list ... unless he's shockingly fired.
Doc Rivers
Newly elected Hall of Fame coach Doc Rivers recently told Andscape's Marc J. Spears it was his decision to step down from his head coaching position with the Milwaukee Bucks and that he's probably coached his last game. However, the championship-winning, veteran coach's name is always in conversations. If the conversation shifted towards him coaching future Hall of Famers like Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, he'd have to consider, right?
Tiago Splitter
Keep an eye on what Splitter has done with Portland. He was named interim head coach following head coach Chauncey Billups' arrest as part of a federal investigation into an allegedly rigged high-stakes poker scheme. Splitter coached the Trail Blazers to a 42-40 record and they're in a battle with the No. 2-seed San Antonio Spurs, with the series tied at 1. There's been some interesting reporting about Splitter and new Blazers owner Tom Dundon, though.
ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reported that Splitter is "trying to be a pro" even as Dundon is reportedly shopping for head coaches to potentially replace Splitter. Dundon supposedly offered Splitter the Blazers head coaching position, but reportedly lowballed Splitter. Maybe Joe Lacob and Mike Dunleavy can persuade Splitter to join Golden State if Portland doesn't work out.
Tiago Splitter discussed a contract during the season but the salary presented to him to was far below a standard NBA head coaching salary, per @ramonashelburne
The Trail Blazers are now looking for candidates to replace him next season while they are tied 1-1 in the Playoffs pic.twitter.com/G7BACG6iRl
Golden coached at the University of San Francisco for three seasons before leaving for Florida and reportedly has a relationship with Warriors owner Joe Lacob and his family.
Andre Iguodala
Iguodala is a former Warrior who won four championships with the franchise and was named the 2015 Finals MVP. He's been an All-Star and played a veteran role mentoring young guys, especially during the Warriors' 2022 championship run, which birthed an iconic meme during the NBA Finals in a teaching moment with Andrew Wiggins.
Coach Iguodala was not playing with Andrew Wiggins 😅
Although it would be fun and would make a good story, realistically Iguodala isn't high on the list ... or maybe even on the list, according to The SF Standard's Tim Kawakami, who called Iguodala his "outside-the-envelope candidate."
Mark Jackson
Nostalgia alone is enough to keep Jackson's name circulating among Warriors coaching rumors. He helped pioneer the Warriors' run over a decade ago. Now that their run appears to be over, a reunion may seem fitting, but probably won't happen.
Billy Donovan
Donovan is on the market. He's a veteran coach who's worked with stars before and has a history of developing young talent, having won two national championships at Florida in 2006 and 2007. The Chicago Bulls announced on April 21 that Donovan would be stepping down as Bulls coach. What's next? Could it be the Bay Area?
There are now three coaching vacancies in the NBA: Billy Donovan is stepping down from his Bulls post.
Chicago will join Milwaukee and New Orleans in conducting a coaching search.
The Bulls also have one of the league’s two front office vacancies alongside Dallas. pic.twitter.com/pclwydGHqk
Nori is currently a Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach. He has been adorned for how he connects with superstars and his bravado during in-game interviews. In Minnesota, he's connected with Anthony Edwards. In his previous stop, Denver, he was tight with Nikola Jokic. With his ability to connect with others, a first-time head coaching position could be in his future.
Chris Quinn
Quinn is the longest tenured Miami Heat assistant coach. He's been in the role since 2015, where he's helped the Heat form one of the best player development systems. It seems natural Quinn would wait to succeed Erik Spoelstra, but what if that opportunity doesn't come and one does with the Warriors? Why wouldn't Quinn go for his first top job?
Sean Sweeney
Sweeney has developed a repertoire of having success in scouting and developing talent with the San Antonio Spurs. He also brings Finals experience, having been an assistant with the Dallas Mavericks during their run in 2024. A leap from assistant coach to head coach would be daunting for Sweeney, but who wouldn't welcome the challenge?
Johnnie Bryant
Bryant is an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was a candidate for the Cavs coaching job before Kenny Atkinson was hired. He was a candidate for the Phoenix Suns before they opted for Jordan Ott. Bryant has been high on many lists, so if the Warriors are serious about not bringing Kerr back, expect Bryant's name to surface as a candidate.
The Los Angeles Dodgers look to avoid a sweep at the hands of the rival San Francisco Giants in Thursday’s matinee series finale.
It’s a pitcher’s delight with Tyler Glasnow taking the ball for the visitors and Logan Webb getting the call for the home team.
My Dodgers vs. Giants predictions and MLB picks see the Boys in Blue avoiding the sweep this afternoon.
Who will win Dodgers vs Giants today: Dodgers (-154)
We’re getting value on the Los Angeles Dodgers for two reasons: they dropped the first two games of the series and will be facing ace Logan Webb.
The San Francisco Giants have plated a total of six runs in their last three games, however, so it's not like this recent success is very repeatable. Their 76 wRC+ against right-handed pitching is a concern, while L.A. leads the league in that category (130).
Webb (5.40 ERA, 4.42 xERA) is allowing too much hard contact (eighth percentile hard-hit rate) again. Tyler Glasnow, meanwhile, has been deadly (2.62 xERA, 2.58 FIP).
COVERS INTEL: Logan Webb has struggled against the Dodgers, posting a 4.47 ERA and 1.33 WHIP across 108+ innings against his rivals. He's surrendered an .855 OPS to their projected lineup.
Dodgers vs Giants Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-139)
The first two games of this series cruised to the Under with a total of seven runs crossing the plate in 18 innings. With two quality starting pitchers on the bump, here’s betting on another low-scoring contest.
Glasnow ranks in the 80th percentile or above in xERA, strikeout rate, and walk rate. His elite 24.2 K-BB% will play at Oracle Park, a venue where Webb has a career 2.90 ERA and 1.14 WHIP.
The Dodgers have cashed the Under in six of their last eight road games and are playing in a pitcher-friendly park with temperatures in the low-60s.
JD Yonke's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 8-5, +4.94 units
Over/Under bets: 9-5, +3.82 units
Dodgers vs Giants odds
Moneyline: Dodgers -160 | Giants +135
Run line: Dodgers -1.5 (+115) | Giants +1.5 (-135)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5
Dodgers vs Giants trend
The Dodgers are 4-0 in Tyler Glasnow's four starts this season. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Giants.
How to watch Dodgers vs Giants and game info
Location
Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA
Date
Thursday, April 23, 2026
First pitch
3:45 p.m. ET
TV
SportsNet Los Angeles, NBCS-Bay Area
Dodgers starting pitcher
Tyler Glasnow (2-0, 3.24 ERA)
Giants starting pitcher
Logan Webb (2-2, 5.40 ERA)
Dodgers vs Giants latest injuries
Dodgers vs Giants 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.
In June of 2025, the Abbotsford Canucks won their first Calder Cup in franchise history. Nine of the players on this championship roster played for the Vancouver Canucks during the 2025–26 season, with three of them skating in more than 60 games. For many, if not all of these players, the jump from the AHL to the NHL has been in the making for much longer than just one calendar year.
Linus Karlsson is one of these players. Acquired by the Canucks via trade in February 2019, the forward spent three seasons with Abbotsford before finding himself a full-time role at the NHL level this year. He finished the 2025–26 season tied for the fifth-most points on the team with 35 and the fourth-most goals with 15. On April 4 against the Utah Mammoth, Karlsson also played in his 100th career NHL game.
While this season was undoubtedly a breakout year for Karlsson, the forward’s success extends past just the start of this season.
“I’ve been here for four years now, and finally, I took the step to play in the NHL, something I worked hard for,” Karlsson said at the end of the season. “I’m really proud of that.”
Aatu Räty first made his NHL debut with his former team, the New York Islanders, in December of 2022. The 2025–26 season was the first time that Räty did not play in a game with Abbotsford since joining the Canucks in 2022–23, with the forward putting up four goals and 10 assists in 66 games this season. While he has seen NHL time in three of his past four seasons since making his debut, heading into this season, making the full-time jump was a key goal of Räty’s.
“I think going into the year, I really wanted to make myself an NHL player, and I feel like I did accomplish that, being up all year. But I think the next step is just to become a good player.”
Still, Räty recognizes that there are parts of his game that he still wants to work on. Last off-season, the forward missed most of Abbotsford’s Calder Cup run due to a couple of injuries, resulting in him not being entirely healthy through the summer. This off-season, he’s hoping a full slate of time off will help him focus more on his plans for training.
“I feel like the last couple off-seasons, I’ve had a good thing going. I feel like I’ve definitely gotten faster and made my skating better. But obviously now, even just to ramp it up, but going back home and [I’ll] have my skating coach there, and then might have something set up in Sweden hopefully to work out with the skating coach that the Sedins had too. So I think that’d be a good opportunity.”
Apr 1, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Vancouver Canucks center Max Sasson (63) celebrates his goal with center Linus Karlsson (94) during the first period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
For some players, however, the jump from Abbotsford to Vancouver came about rather quickly. Changes in the Canucks’ goaltending department over the off-season and through regular season injuries resulted in Nikita Tolopilo going from Abbotsford’s primary starting goaltender to a 20-game player for Vancouver. The experience is important, but for Tolopilo, taking that step towards the NHL makes the biggest impression on confidence.
“I think I showed people that I could play here. And, of course, there are some more steps to do, like some more progress in my game. But I’ve kind of given me confidence for myself too, that I’ve seen that I can play against top teams, against top players, and I can handle that. So just focus on the next steps, have a great summer, get better and become a full-time NHLer.”
Karlsson, Räty, and Tolopilo are just three of nine other players who won the Calder Cup with Abbotsford and went on to skate in NHL games the season after. Max Sasson, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Arshdeep Bains, Ty Mueller, Victor Mancini, and Kirill Kudryavtsev also played for Vancouver this year, with many of them expected to push for bigger-minute NHL roles in 2026–27. Even players like Tom Willander and Liam Öhgren, who didn’t win the Calder Cup with Abbotsford but still spent a little time in the AHL, ended up in the NHL on a full-time basis this year.
Given the fact that Vancouver is now officially rebuilding, more and more of these younger players will likely see more time in the NHL. Sawyer Mynio had himself a solid rookie season in the AHL, while Riley Patterson scored his first career AHL goal in the four games he spent with the team at the end of this season. The highway-one connection from Abbotsford to Vancouver was prominent this year, though with Vancouver’s emphasis on playing their youth and more young talent on the rise, it’s only bound to get more noticeable.
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Apr 21, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson (49) in the dugout before a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
The Phillies are a mess right now. You know it. I know it. They know it. To paraphrase the great Yogi Berra, it’s getting late early. You cannot win a division or a pennant in April, but you can certainly lose one. And you can do that by doing things like winning two of your last 15 games and losing seven games in a row like the Phillies have done entering play yesterday.
When things are going this poorly, especially early on in the season, the discussion is usually dominated by what needs to be done to try and find a spark. Naturally, the first thing that comes up is a managerial change. Rob Thomson is not at fault for all of the Phillies’ failings, but everything comes into question with a putrid start such as this one. Firing a manager this early into the season rarely if ever works out, but it’s the first lever to pull that gets considered. We of course have the example of Joe Girardi’s firing in recent Phillies history, but that didn’t happen until June 3rd. The 2022 Phillies were 22-29 when Girardi was given the boot. Forty to fifty or so games are usually how long a team waits until making such a move. Firing a manger in April is usually viewed as a panic move and in this case would be a black mark against a front office that just extended their manager four months ago, but all options are on the table.
The other coaching change option that could be considered is hitting coach Kevin Long. Long has been with the team since 2022 and has frequently come under fire from the fanbase due to the offense’s tendency to underperform or fall into a malaise. He’s considered one of the better hitting coaches in the sport and is well respected around the game. He has a definitive track record of helping players, with Kyle Schwarber being his star pupil, but he has helped players such as Brandon Marsh improve their game. However, Long has also overseen an offense that has disappeared in the postseason multiple times and is off to a historically bad start to 2026. It is rarely, if ever, the hitting coach’s fault, as he simply cannot change what a player is at his core, even if he can help with adjustments and tweaks. But the hitting coach is usually the favorite scapegoat for a team whose offense is nonexistent.
There’s much less to be done about the actual players on the roster at this juncture. Rosters across baseball are very inflexible at this point in the season, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t options. The team could release Taijuan Walker to show some sense of urgency, but he is hardly the only problem with the pitching staff. Releasing him now would be easier than in the past as it is the last year of his contract and maybe it would send some kind of message. On the offense side, there’s really not a whole lot that can be done besides benching. Theoretically, maybe a surprise demotion could be on the table for someone like Alec Bohm or Bryson Stott, but they have earned the right to refuse an assignment to the minor leagues thanks to five years of MLB service time, so it’s extremely unlikely. Otherwise, we’ve already seen multiple lineup changes and even a surprise promotion with Felix Reyes, and nothing has worked.
So, is it time for the Phillies to do something drastic? If so, what lever would you pull?
The Cubs have found many different ways to win during their current eight-game winning streak.
Blowouts (three straight games with 10+ runs). Extra-inning thrillers (over the Mets on Sunday). Winning despite leaving 17 on base (Tuesday).
And Wednesday, a home run by a player who’s been struggling at the plate helped galvanize the offense. Michael Busch’s homer gave the Cubs a two-run lead in the third. Seiya Suzuki also homered and the Cubs got solid pitching and defense again and won for the eighth consecutive time, 7-2 over the Phillies, who, not coincidentally, lost their eighth in a row.
Matthew Boyd breezed through the first and then the Cubs got on the board right away in the bottom of the inning. Nico Hoerner led off the game with a single and went to third on a single by Alex Bregman.
Boyd got in trouble in the second. Three Phillies hits gave the visitors a 2-1 lead.
The Cubs got that run right back in the bottom of the inning — and here again, we see the value of defense, or lack thereof. With two out, Miguel Amaya lifted a fly ball to short center. Three Phillies converged on the ball, and it wasn’t real windy so they can’t blame the weather. Phillies center fielder Justin Crawford just dropped it, the ball glancing off his glove. Amaya, hustling, made it to second.
Boyd had an easier third, allowing a baserunner on a rare throwing error by Dansby Swanson. The Cubs then took the lead for good. Alex Bregman hit a ball off the front of the basket in left-center and got to third. A review confirmed that the ball was in play, missing a home run by inches [VIDEO].
That was a long time coming for Busch, who led the Cubs with 34 homers last year (and eight more in eight postseason games). It happened in his 95th plate appearance of the season. Last year Busch hit five home runs in his first 95 PA. Sometimes good hitters go through slumps like this. I think Busch will be just fine; hitting that first long ball often helps hitters break out.
Boyd was removed with two out in the fifth after inducing a double-play ball. He threw 84 pitches (56 strikes), didn’t walk anyone and struck out five. It wasn’t a great outing, but wasn’t a bad one either, considering he was coming off an injury. Same feeling about Boyd as about Busch: He’ll be just fine.
The Cubs then broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth. Bregman singled, his third hit of the game, another guy starting to heat up (last 11 games: .340/.407/.426 with two doubles, a triple and six walks). Bregman was forced at second by Happ, but Suzuki followed with this home run, his second in as many days [VIDEO].
It’s useful to remember that Suzuki missed much of the WBC and Spring Training with the knee injury suffered in a WBC game. He had only 17 PA in his rehab assignment and now has 52 PA in MLB games this year. So up to now, he was still getting the reps he missed in Mesa. This is another really good hitter who’ll be just fine.
It’s now 6-2 Cubs and Ben Brown, who relieved Boyd, threw 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out five. Seems to me Brown has found his role on this team — multi-inning reliever. He now has 20 strikeouts in 19 innings, with just one home run allowed this year. Good stuff from Ben. Corbin Martin threw a 1-2-3 eighth.
The Cubs added one more run in the bottom of the eighth. Moisés Ballesteros led off with a double (and FWIW, this was just the fifth time this year that Ballesteros played the entire game). He went to third on a ground out and scored on this PCA single [VIDEO].
PCA is also heating up. Last eight games: .345/.424/.483 (10-for-29) with two doubles and a triple. This is just in time for the Cubs to go to Dodger Stadium, where PCA is a lifetime .333/.320/.708 hitter (8-for-24 with a double, a triple and two home runs). All together now: “He’ll be just fine.”
Hoby Milner entered the game to finish things off. He allowed a leadoff single but then got the next two hitters. He ran a 1-2 count on Rafael Marchán and then a Milner pitch was called ball two.
And so, we witnessed a first Wednesday at Wrigley — the Cubs’ first-ever ABS walk-off!
The Cubs have outscored their opponents 58-20 during the eight-game winning streak (and conversely, the Phillies have been outscored 56-16 during their eight-game loss streak) and this time, they did get RISP hitting — 3-for-9 — and left just seven on base. The Reds lost Wednesday so the Cubs are alone in second place in the NL Central, half a game out of the top spot. More on the Cubs’ streak from BCB’s JohnW53:
The Cubs have won seven straight home games, beginning with their 7-6 walk-off against the Pirates on April 12. They had not won seven in a row at home since July 26-Aug. 13, 2020. They also had two seven-game streaks in 2018. Their last eight-game streak at home was Sept. 12-30, 2017. Shortly before that, Aug. 18-Sept. 2, they had won nine in a row. … The Cubs have won their last five games vs. the Phillies, their longest such streak since they won six July 22-Sept. 29, 2022. They also won six in 1995 and 1985. They also won five in 1986, 1982 and 1973. Their last streak of more than six was seven, May 1-July 16, 1971.
Lastly on streaks: This is the Cubs’ longest April winning streak since they reeled off 11 in a row from April 14-27, 1970.
The Cubs could move into a first-place tie with a ninth consecutive win Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field. It will not be easy, as the Phillies’ best starter (and one of the league’s best, too) Cristopher Sánchez will start for the visitors. Edward Cabrera, who’s also been very good this year, goes for the Cubs. Game time is 1:20 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.
NORTH PORT, FL- FEBRUARY 22: JR Ritchie #92 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins on February 22, 2026 at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Question is pretty much in the title. How dare they make JR Ritchie’s debut a mid-week day game? Oh, their hand was forced by the Nationals’ nigh-inexorable offense? Well, okay then.
It’s a bit of a double-whammy for me today. You probably don’t know this, but today is St. George’s Day, and I’m personally a big fan of the Catalan version. For the last few years, I’ve been sneaking out to grab books and roses for my wife and kids every April 23. It was easier in past years due to various circumstances, but today there’s a standard slate of work and Ritchie’s debut. Thank St. George for modern technology, where I can just have it on MLB.tv on my phone if I do manage to sneak out, I guess!
(The funny thing is, I’ve doing this for a few years now, and no one seems to remember that it’s every April 23. It’s always a surprise, and I have to explain it each time. Maybe it’s more whimsical that way?)
Anyway, are you celebrating Ritchie’s debut with being less productive? Or is it the grindstone and highlights for you given the awkward timing of today’s 1:05 pm ET start?
The Suns’ star player fumed after being assessed a third-quarter technical foul that confused everyone, including the broadcasters, in Phoenix’s 120-107 Game 2 loss to the Thunder to fall into a 2-0 series hole.
Booker attempted to save the ball from going out of bounds and appeared to be given a technical foul for hitting Oklahoma City’s Jaylin Williams with the ball in the process.
Devin Booker blasted referee James Williams and the NBA league office for poor officating. NBAE via Getty Images
Booker claimed that the Thunder’s Alex Caruso influenced the ref into assessing the technical.
“It’s definitely something that has to be looked at. I heard Caruso tell them to call the tech and he ended up doing it,” Booker told reporters after the game. “In my 11 years, I haven’t called a ref out by name, but James [Williams] was terrible tonight, through and through. It’s bad for the sport, bad for the integrity of the sport. People are going to start viewing this as the WWE if they’re not held responsible.”
Caruso could be seen yelling something toward the referees, while motioning for a technical foul call.
The ESPN broadcast team was baffled by the decision to assess Booker with a technical foul.
“They’re just calling it on that? Booker was trying to save it, and because of how he saved the ball, it hit Jay Williams. They’re calling a technical foul on that? He’s just trying to save the ball,” Dave Pasch said.
“Why is that a tech?” analyst Doris Burke added.
James Williams did a terrible job on Wednesday night, according to Devin Booker. NBAE via Getty Images
“I know I haven’t won a championship in this league, but I have been in it for 11 years now, so to get to this point to be treated like that, for me to even be saying something out loud, it’s bad,” Booker said. “It’s my first time in 11 years but it’s needed. Whatever, I get fined for it, everybody can pull the clips and see where the frustration comes from.”
Teammate Dillon Brooks told reporters “they should be interviewing the officials” and not the players, which reporters are not allowed to do aside from a pool reporter in certain situations.
Typically, an assessment of the officiating comes out after each game, though one was not available at the time of writing.
Devin Booker receives a technical foul trying to save the ball from going out of bounds.
Social media has been ablaze with controversy regarding the refereeing in the game.
The Thunder — the No. 1 seed in the West and the defending NBA champs — have shot 48 free throws in the series compared to 40 for the Suns.
One social media post called out Chet Holmgren for getting a favorable whistle as he got a Suns defender to jump in the air on a pump fake, though the whistle was arguably unwarranted due to what the user described as Holmgren’s wildly “unnatural shooting motion,” which would negate the defensive foul.
Holmgren induced the foul call, but Booker was not given the same favor earlier in the game.
Ringer founder Bill Simmons previously said the “ludicrous” tactics are “ruining the NBA product” and “not basketball,” a point Celtics star Jaylen Brown recently echoed.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 21: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We’re trying something different on the blog. We’re going to highlight posts on The Feed that we think are worth calling out. Sometimes that will mean that they are well thought out. Sometimes it will just be a topic to discuss (like the one below). This isn’t meant to be a popularity contest, but it does highlight and reward participation on The Feed.
Today’s Feed post of the day focuses on Derrick White.
These, of course, are all valid concerns. If the Celtics’ 3rd most impactful player can’t hit his shots, then defenses are going to start treating him differently, which could gum up the works for the rest of the team in a trickle down sort of way.
In general I trust Derrick White in just about anything. If he never hits another outside shot, he would still be valuable on the court for many reasons. But shooting is a huge part of the modern NBA and this team in particular.
What are your thoughts on this topic? Feel free to respond either on this post or on the original topic. And if you haven’t already, sign up for an account and participate in the conversation!
The dominant Tarik Skubal takes the ball in the rubber match today against the Milwaukee Brewers, as the Detroit Tigers look to win the finale.
Behind Skubal, my Brewers vs. Tigers predictions and MLB picks call for Detroit to walk away with a convincing victory.
Who will win Brewers vs Tigers today: Tigers -1.5 (+100)
Following Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, the Detroit Tigers are now 9-2 at home this season. They’ve covered the run line in eight of those games at Comerica Park. Tarik Skubal takes the hill today, and he’s always lights out.
The lefty has a 2.08 ERA so far, and he’s allowed just two earned across his last two outings. Across 40 at-bats against this Milwaukee lineup, Skubal has held them to a .140 average, while striking out 16.
The Tigers have covered the run line in two of Skubal’s four starts this season. In his only home start, Detroit won 8-2. The hosts are also set to face Brandon Sproat, who has a 6.88 ERA. Although he’s calmed down over his last two appearances, Sproat gave up four earned runs in his last road start.
COVERS INTEL: Tarik Skubal owns an impressive 2.09 FIP this season, and he's also struck out 33 batters in 30 1/3 innings.
Brewers vs Tigers Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-145)
When Skubal is on the bump, it’s almost a foregone conclusion that he won’t be giving up many runs. This Tigers bullpen was also phenomenal on Wednesday after Casey Mize exited, allowing just one run across three innings.
Sprout has surrendered only two runs across his last two starts for Milwaukee. While he’s not as good on the road, the 25-year-old is starting to find some confidence. Detroit has never faced him, but I do expect them to score some runs, as they’re a much better team at home.
However, it won’t be a ton, and Skubal will limit the Brew Crew to crumbs offensively. The Under will cash as these bullpens hold it down late once again.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 7-4, -0.94 units
Over/Under bets: 7-4, +2.19 units
Brewers vs Tigers odds
Moneyline: Brewers +190 | Tigers -210
Run line: Brewers +1.5 (-120) | Tigers -1.5 (+105)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5
Brewers vs Tigers trend
The Tigers have covered the run line in eight of their last 12 home games for +7.1 units and a 53% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Brewers vs. Tigers.
How to watch Brewers vs Tigers and game info
Location
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Date
Thursday, April 23, 2026
First pitch
1:10 p.m. ET
TV
Brewers.TV, DSN
Brewers starting pitcher
Brandon Sproat (0-1, 6.88 ERA)
Tigers starting pitcher
Tarik Skubal (3-2, 2.08 ERA)
Brewers vs Tigers latest injuries
Brewers vs Tigers 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.
Boston, MA - April 8: Boston Red Sox infielders bundle up against the cold during a pitching change on a night when the wind chill was 23 degrees. (Photo by Stan Grossfeld/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Before Tuesday’s game against the Yankees, Sam Kennedy joined Tom Caron on the NESN pregame show and gave us the following answer when asked about the team’s lack of power:
“We gotta start hitting the ball out of the ballpark. I think a lot of guys are gonna start to heat up. I was actually talking to folks from the other side, and they said after this cold weather you’re gonna see a lot more home runs. They hit a lot of home runs last week when it was 80 degrees in New York City. So let’s get a little home cooking, a little warm weather, and hopefully we get going.”
Moments later, the game began with a first pitch temperature of 47 degrees, and in the top of the second inning, Giancarlo Stanton did this:
It’s a good thing it wasn’t 80 degrees, right Sam? Otherwise that ball might have gone 500 feet. Really dodged a bullet on that one!
See, the problem isn’t just that the Red Sox don’t hit the ball out of the park when it’s cold, it’s that they don’t do anything well when it’s cold! If it’s so hard to hit for power when the mercury is low, why is Garrett Crochet giving up bombs to the Tigers? Or going back to the previous homestand, why was the defense throwing the ball all over the place against the Padres in the cold? This isn’t a reflection on the bad weather. It’s a reflection of how the Red Sox play in bad weather.
Here’s the reality: Is it harder to hit home runs in cold weather? Yes. But it’s also harder to pitch, field, grip the ball, maintain focus and get warmed up. The only way it becomes easier to do these things is if your opponent is soft and bothered by these conditions. And guess what? The Red Sox are that opponent.
Over the last three seasons, Boston is now 7-17 in the 24 games they’ve played with a first pitch temperature at 50 degrees or below (with one exception, which we’ll get to in a moment). That’s an abysmal .292 wining percentage, and would extrapolate out to a 47-115 record over a 162 game season.
But the play in cooler conditions isn’t just bad overall, it’s specifically getting worse by the year. So far in 2026, the Sox are sporting a vile 2-8 record in these circumstances. Here’s how it breaks down in detail over the last three seasons:
(Eagle eyed readers might notice I’m actually missing a game from the 2026 sample, and that’s the exception I mentioned above. Technically, the Marathon Monday match up belongs on this list with a first pitch temperature of 47 degrees, but I removed it because with the 11am start time, temperatures were actually rising through the 50s as the game progressed. In other words, it’s not comparable to your 1:30pm afternoon starts where the first pitch temperature will be close to the high for the day; and it’s the exact opposite of your evening April starts where it will keep getting colder as the game goes on. So for the spirit of this exercise, I dropped it from the analysis.)
There are two schools of thought you can take from the tables above: One is it doesn’t really matter as once you get beyond April, you just don’t see many more of these games. (Even October averages a full six degrees warmer than April in Boston.)
The other perspective? The cold weather data provides an early window into the team’s “give a damn” meter. In a sport where everything has to be at least partially tailored to surviving the grueling season, it would be so, so easy for any player to get in these conditions, conclude “yeah, this sucks!” and let go of the rope mentally for the evening knowing they’ve got 150 more games to iron things out.
This is where I’d like to bring everybody’s attention to the April 7th through April 10th games in the 2025 table above. That was a four game series at frigid Fenway against Toronto. And despite coming in as a dome team, the Blue Jays nearly swept the Sox. This is even more impressive when you consider that the Red Sox were really solid at Fenway in 2025, going an imposing 48-33. But it was Toronto who proved better at dealing with adversity from Mother Nature in Boston — and this is of course noteworthy because the Blue Jays ended up going all the way to Game 7 of the World Series. Perhaps that series in Fenway was just a little glimpse into their DNA, and a harbinger of what was to come.
Meanwhile, here was Alex Cora’s quote from the middle of that series explaining why his pitchers didn’t throw well in the first two games.
“I went out to the mound twice and I felt it. It was windy too. In the dugout it was OK, but then you go out there and it’s tough,”
Need more evidence about the barometer that is Fenway Park in April and its relationship to the season as a whole? Let’s look at the Red Sox record through 30 games in their four most recent World Series championship seasons:
2004: 19-11
2007: 20-10
2013: 20-10
2018: 22-8
I won’t overwhelm you with more tables about specific games, but the pattern here is overwhelmingly clear. When the Red Sox win the World Series, they come storming out of the gate despite dealing with the Fenway’s early chill. All four of these teams posted a higher winning percentage in their first 30 games than they did over the 162 game season, and I think that’s at least in part due to the fact that they were just more ready to go than their opponents. So when that hideous east wind kicked up off the Gulf of Maine and made conditions miserable at Fenway, they were more adept to deal with it, and it turned into an advantage.
Lastly, I think it’s worth discussing what makes Fenway’s early season cold unique and why it may provide a better litmus test of which teams have the most moxie compared to pretty much any other location. Sure, it’s a northern city, which is probably the first direction that comes to mind when thinking about cold air, but what really separates Fenway in this conversation from all the other ballparks is that it’s so far to the east. This means it both sticks out into the ocean, and is on the front lines when the wind has any inkling of blowing off it. Just take a look at the temperatures yesterday when the wind was out of the south and notice how New England is the only area in the northeast and Great Lakes that didn’t benefit from that.
But the connections between Fenway, April, and cold ocean water run much deeper than you might ever imagine. The park opened in April of 1912, the same week the Titanic sank in icebergf waters — But perhaps even more amazing; the Titanic wreck site is on a latitude line located slightly SOUTH of Boston (41°43 N compared to Fenway’s 42°34 N).
As it turns out, that same Labrador Current that comes down from the Arctic and sends icebergs along the east side of Canada’s waters ends up turning west before flowing in the Gulf of Maine, where it waits for the chance to blow into Fenway Park before things warm up later in spring.
Even to this day, you can look at a sea surface temperature map and see how this plays out:
The is all a long way of saying that the uniqueness of this phenomenon should be an advantage for the Red Sox! Sam Kennedy spoke about how it was already 80 degrees in New York for the Yankees a few times this season, and that’s just not going to happen very often for the Red Sox in April. Instead, this period should be used each year as an opportunity for the guys to get close, learn to play for each other, and tough it out for the betterment of the group. It’s not going to be pleasant, but that’s the point. If done successfully, it means you have a little something extra inside the walls of the clubhouse for when those warmer and brighter days inevitably do show up and you’re tested in other ways.
Unfortunately, the 2026 Red Sox completely failed this assignment. Now, they’re going to have to buck a 9-15 start, and the weight of history working against them. Unless they’re made of much sterner stuff than they appear, that’s going to be a much more difficult task to play through than the cold air they just endured.
REGISTER NOW – Matt Martin Hockey 
COVERS INTEL: Logan Webb has struggled against the Dodgers, posting a 4.47 ERA and 1.33 WHIP across 108+ innings against his rivals. He's surrendered an .855 OPS to their projected lineup.
