The playoffs are what the Knicks have been waiting for. In a season where the Knicks won their most regular season games in 13 years, much of it will be forgotten if the club flames out in the postseason.
The first test is the Atlanta Hawks, who are the antithesis of the Knicks in style of play. The Hawks are a mostly young team, they like to play fast, and they have a very small roster.
Here’s five key factors to watch for in New York’s opening round matchup.
The kryptonite to New York’s offense over the past two seasons has been opponents defending Karl-Anthony Towns with a wing player. When the Knicks All-Star center is guarded by a traditional five, he usually feasts.
The Hawks have defended Towns this season primarily with center Onyeka Okongwu, and Towns has been comfortable against the 240-pound center. In two games against the Hawks, he has averaged 28.5 points on 63 percent from the field and 13.5 rebounds.
Would the Hawks put star forward Jalen Johnson or one of their wings on Towns so Okongwu can play center field and muck up the paint?
Either way, Towns should have a matchup advantage and his ability to score either on the perimeter or in the paint should prove to be a regular theme in this series.
Swing shooter
In New York’s 108-105 win against the Hawks last week, the Knicks hid Towns on guard Dyson Daniels for much of the night. Daniels had a rough season from deep. After making 34 percent of his threes last season, the former Most Improved Player of the Year shot just 18.8 percent from deep on 117 attempts.
That creates a dilemma for the Hawks. The club needs Daniels on the floor. He has the toughest defensive assignment, guarding Knicks star Jalen Brunson. But his inept shooting could throw a wrench in Atlanta’s offensive gameplan.
Daniels ended the season shooting the ball better, going 10-for-24 (41.7 percent) from three over his last 10 games. How he starts the series from long distance could swing the series in either team’s favor.
Apr 6, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) dribbles against Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) during the first half at State Farm Arena. / Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Guarding the three-ball
All season long, New York’s three-point defense has been a talking point. The Knicks gave up the fifth most three-point attempts to opponents per 100 possessions. They were also 20th in opponent three-point percentage.
New York’s three-point defense will face its first test against the Hawks. Atlanta was fifth in three-point shooting percentage (37.1 percent) in the NBA this season.
Though Daniels has been a suspect shooter, Atlanta has several dangerous perimeter options on the roster. Nickeil Alexander-Walker was fourth in the NBA with 251 three-pointers made. Okongwu connected on 37.6 percent of his 383 three-point attempts. Veteran C.J. McCollum (35.7 percent) is capable as well. Corey Kispert and Buddy Hield also offer three-point shooting from the fringes of Atlanta’s rotation.
Slowing down Jalen Johnson
A central reason for Atlanta’s hot finish to the season was the emergence of Johnson. The 24-year old All-Star was a stat-stuffer as he led the club in scoring (22.5 points), rebounding (10.3) and assists (7.9).
Johnson thrives in the open court. When Atlanta gets in transition, Johnson can run the floor, or set up his teammates with open looks. He will also likely hunt some of New York’s smaller guards like Brunson, Miles McBride, and Landry Shamet in inverted pick-and-roll situations.
Josh Hart guarded Johnson for much of last week’s win against the Hawks. But expect New York’s other wings Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby to guard Johnson. Not an elite shooter (35.2 percent on 341 three-point attempts), the Knicks can slow down the forward by keeping the game in the half court and preventing easy drives.
Controlling the glass and tempo
One of New York’s advantages against almost every opponent is Mitchell Robinson. New York’s reserve 7-footer is arguably the best offensive rebounder in the NBA, and he has a significant physical advantage in this series.
The Hawks are a small team. Okongwu is 6-10 but just 240 lbs. Johnson is listed at 210 lbs. Off the bench, the Hawks have lithe 6-11 forward Mouhamed Gueye and 6-11 center Jock Landale who can mix it up in the paint, but his status for the series will be up in the air after he suffered a high ankle sprain earlier in April.
That leaves a major opportunity for Robinson to dominate in the paint either against smaller players or limited reserves like recent Hawks free agent signing Tony Bradley. As mentioned before, the Hawks were fifth in pace. But if they can’t secure rebounds, it will be hard to push the ball, which will benefit the Knicks.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - APRIL 11: Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after getting hit by a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals in the second inning at Busch Stadium on April 11, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When Mick Abel hit Willson Contreras, the first baseman joined Yandy Diaz, Dillon Dingler, Connor Nordy, and Isaac Paredes to lead all of MLB with four hit by pitches. So far in the season, Contreras has been hit once each by the Reds, Brewers, Cardinals, and Twins.
Contreras has had a mixed bag with HBPs. In his first season with the Cubs he was hit 4 times in 283 plate appearances (76 games) Then 3 times in 428 plate appearances (117 games). Nothing too interesting.
In 2018 he recorded his highest playing time total until the 2025 season: 544 plate appearances (138 games). And he’s up to 13 HBP.
Drops down to 9 the next season in 409 PAs (105 games).
And that’s where the story starts to get interesting.
In 2020, in 225 plate appearances (57 games in the short season) he was hit 14 times!
Then he was hit another 14 times in 2021 in 483 plate appearances (128 games). More than double the games but the same number of times hit.
You can watch these over and over and over. He’s taking pitches off that front arm. Is he leaning into it? I mean, maybe? He does often turn the shoulder but that’s also what you see guys evading the ball do.
We’ll keep going.
In 2022, his final season in Chicago, Contreras was his 24 times. Not leading the league but adding 10 to his previous personal…best. The Brewers hit him 3 times that year. As did the Reds, Pirates, and Cardinals (two in one game!). The only AL team to hit him? The Yankees.
He decides to replace Yadier Molina in St. Louis and spare himself a few HBPs. And he drops to 13 (495 PAs, 125 games) and 12 (358 PSs, 84 games) in his first two years in Missouri. With one season injury-shortened though, you can guess what is coming next. 23 HBP! In 2025, his final season in St. Louis, we see the future Red Sox first baseman take 23 pitches off his body. 563 PAs, 135 games.
Interestingly, in 2025 the Red Sox hit him twice. And he was then traded there. So that at least follows his own choice to sign in St. Louis after taking a few off the “chin.”
Red Sox fans have gotten to see some of the classics too. The teams that hit him a lot — which is partially due to playing time because they’re NL Central teams and his career was spent in the NL Central until 2026. But also The Brewers hit him 4 times last year.
In the opening series there’s a very typical shoulder move.
Then there was a but of an incident with the Brewers. He really thinks that one was on purpose. Right? He looks mad. And this one is more of the scraper type of HBP than his classic shoulder bruise. This is grazing the hand. Was this avoidable, or at least moreso than others?
In his return to St. Louis it’s a quick reception and then a pretty solid plunking. And remember he played with Kyle Leahy. This is a former teammate. Famously, the pitcher of St. Louis didn’t care for Contreras as a catcher. But this is a pretty standard (for him) pitch to the arm. He wears an elbow guard. He’s ready for these.
Right now, depending on playing time, Contreras could be heading for a new HBP record. But he’s quickly running out of NL Central games and opponents. The teams that know him. The teams that might really dislike him. So maybe it’ll turn out that his shoulder was a nice target for guys who wanted to settle a grudge. Or is it his OBP secret sauce?
Apr 14, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Luis Curvelo (57) is removed from the game after suffering an injury against the Athletics during the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images | Dennis Lee-Imagn Images
A’s 2, Rangers 1
One step forward, one step back for the Ranger offense.
On the heels of an eight run outburst against the hated A’s on Monday, the Rangers followed that up with one run and four hits on Tuesday.
But first things first. The pitching.
MacKenzie Gore’s fourth outing for the Texas Rangers was a reminder as to why he was able to be acquired for a quantity-over-quality prospect package. The broadcast has touted Gore as a legitimate top of the rotation starter — Dave Raymond referred to him early in this game as “an ace on a team with two veteran #1s” — and the potential is definitely there.
But Gore’s inconsistency and spates of wildness have held him back during his career, and we saw that on Tuesday.
Things started calmly enough. Gore started things off with a three pitch strikeout of Shea Langeliers as part of a 1-2-3 first. A leadoff walk in the second to Tyler Soderstrom was erased by a Max Muncy GIDP, and after retiring the first two batters in the third, Gore had faced the minimum and just needed to retired ninth place hitter Denzel Clarke for another 1-2-3 inning.
Things went sideways from there, though. Clarke doubled, and then a four pitch walk to Langeliers was followed by a five pitch walk to Nick Kurtz, loading the bases. A line drive single by Jacob Wilson brought home two A’s runs before Gore got out of the inning by getting Soderstrom to ground out on the seventh pitch of that at bat.
Though that Wilson single plated the only two A’s runs in the game, Gore never really got back on track after that. He got himself in trouble to start the fourth with a five pitch walk to Muncy and a four pitch walk to Austin Wynns. A sac bunt, a 6-2 out at home, and a Clarke K got him out of the inning unscathed. Gore couldn’t make it out of the fifth, however, as a K-single-K sequence was followed up by an eight pitch walk to Soderstrom, ending Gore’s day
Gore only allowed three hits, but he issued six walks, tying his career high for walks in a game. He also needed 94 pitches to get through just 22 batters while getting just seven swings and misses.
To his credit, Gore did a good job minimizing damage, and put the Rangers in a position where they could have won the game had the offense not taken a powder. But this is the sort of performance that has me thinking we should tap the brakes on anointing Gore as an ace.
The good news from the pitching front was that Robert Garcia gave the Rangers 1.2 scoreless innings, with three Ks and a walk, and Tyler Alexander struck out two in getting the final four outs of the game.
The bad news from the pitching front is that two Rangers pitchers left the game due to physical issues. Chris Martin came in in relief of Gore in the fifth, got Muncy to strike out, but then didn’t come out for the sixth due to arm soreness. Luis Curvelo, meanwhile, had to come out after two pitches, the second of which was way wild and was followed by him throwing his glove and grabbing his right arm. It looked serious, and post-game it was reported it was a biceps issue, though Skip Schumaker said Curvelo felt fine after the game.
So we are in wait and see mode in regards to 25% of the Ranger bullpen. The Curvelo ailment could just have been a cramp or something similar that turns out to be a non-issue going forward, or it could not be.
As for Martin, the Rangers have used him judiciously of late — he hasn’t pitched in back-to-back games since games 2 and 3 of the season, and he was making his third straight appearance when he was working on two days rest. The injury issues Martin dealt with last year make you concerned about how much he can be relied upon in 2026. Between the arm soreness and the rough start to the season, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Rangers erred on the side of caution and put Martin on the 15 day injured list.
As for the offense, they were once more stymied by a lefthanded starter. The Rangers scored a run in the first on a Brandon Nimmo leadoff double and a Jake Burger single. They got just two more hits the rest of the game — a Danny Jansen leadoff single in the fifth, and a Josh Jung one out double in the seventh.
In fairness, Andrew McCutchen was robbed of a homer in the fourth, with Denzel Clarke making a leaping grab at the wall to save what would have been a game-tying bomb.
So far this season, the Rangers are slashing .250/.323/.422 against righthanded pitchers and .185/.243/.280 against lefties.
MacKenzie Gore’s fastball reached 97.6 mph, averaging 95.8 mph. Chris Martin threw one fastball, at 95.7 mph. Robert Garcia’s fastball touched 96.2 mph. Tyler Alexander hit 93.3 mph with his fastball.
Brandon Nimmo’s first inning double was 106.4 mph. Jake Burger had a 101.1 mph line out. The should’ve been home run stolen from Andrew McCutchen was 100.9 mph.
The Toronto Maple Leafs sent the Ottawa Senators packing last spring in the first round of the playoffs, and now Toronto will call it a season following its game against Ottawa at the Canadian Tire Centre on Wednesday, April 15.
Here are my top Maple Leafs vs. Senators predictions and NHL picks for their season finale tonight.
Maple Leafs vs Senators prediction
Maple Leafs vs Senators best bet: Senators -1.5 (+135)
The Ottawa Senators rested regulars during Sunday’s overtime loss, so I’m anticipating Wednesday’s tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs to serve as a postseason tune-up.
Ottawa No. 1 goaltender Linus Ullmark has been solid down the stretch with seven wins, a .909 save percentage, and 7.21 goals saved above expected across his past 10 starts, and the Sens have beaten the Maple Leafs 5-2 in both prior meetings this season.
Toronto has also dropped six straight and has only covered the puck line in 11 of its past 25 games (-10.75 Units / -27% ROI).
Maple Leafs vs Senators same-game parlay
Ullmark’s highlighted strong stretch includes going 5-1-1 at home with a 2.26 GAA, and the Sens have also allowed the fewest expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 at the Canadian Tire Centre.
As a result, I’m anticipating Ottawa to batten down the defensive hatches again to do the heavy lifting in keeping this total Under the number.
Turning to the final leg of this same-game parlay, Toronto winger William Nylander has recorded three or more shots in five of his past seven games, for 25 on 51 attempts while logging a monster 21:32 of ice time per night.
Maple Leafs vs Senators SGP
Senators -1.5
Under 6.5
William Nylander Over 2.5 shots
Maple Leafs vs Senators odds
Moneyline: Maple Leafs +155 | Senators -180
Puck Line: Maple Leafs +1.5 (-155) | Senators -1.5 (+135)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-105) | Under 6.5 (-115)
Maple Leafs vs Senators trend
The Toronto Maple Leafs have only covered the puck line in 11 of their last 25 games (-10.75 Units / -27% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Maple Leafs vs. Senators.
How to watch Maple Leafs vs Senators
Location
Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON
Date
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Puck drop
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet
Maple Leafs vs Senators latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran made an obscene gesture to a fan during the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday, April 14, flipping off a fan as he jogged back to the dugout at Target Field.
Duran said the fan made a comment that crossed the line.
"Somebody just told me to kill myself," Duran told reporters after the game. "I'm used to it at this point, you know? I mean, I'm going to flip somebody off if they say something to me, but it is what it is. I shouldn't react like that, but that kind of stuff is still kind of triggering."
Duran has been candid about his mental health struggles, revealing in a 2025 Netflix documentary about the Red Sox that his on-field difficulties during the 2021 and 2022 seasons led him to a dark place where he contemplated and attempted suicide.
The incident on Tuesday is not the first time Duran has had a run-in with a fan over the subject. Earlier this season, a Cleveland fan made an inappropriate comment referencing his mental health struggles in the middle of the seventh inning and was ejected from the game.
"Honestly, it's my fault for talking about my mental health because I kind of brought in the haters. So I've just got to get used to it," Duran said. "I was just trying to hold it in and not really bring that up to the team. I mean, we're trying to win a game. I shouldn't even bring that up to anybody. It just happens."
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said he had not seen the gesture or any video of it. Duran finished hitless in four at-bats against the Twins and the Red Sox fell to 6-11 on the season with the loss.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 21: Head Coach Rick Tocchet of the Philadelphia Flyers talks on the bench during the second period of their game against the Utah Mammoth at the Delta Center on January 21, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Flyers ended a full-season six-year playoff drought and will play in the playoffs for the first time since 2018, where they lost to the Penguins in the first round. Simply getting back to the postseason is quite the accomplishment based on the past month when Philadelphia was sitting in sixth place in the division behind Washington, Columbus and the NYI Islanders on March 10th and well behind the playoff line.
The Flyers made the playoffs after sitting nine points out of the second Wild Card spot on March 10. Per NHLStats, Philadelphia became the first team in NHL history to make the playoffs after facing that large of a point deficit through 60 or more games played in a season. pic.twitter.com/Ln429yNLqX
— Flyers Media Information (@FlyersMediaInfo) April 14, 2026
Here’s a little more under the hood for the team from Hockeystats.com:
The biggest change from this season compared to last year is that the Flyers are out-scoring the opposition 163-149 at 5v5 in 2025-26. Last year that was at an ugly 166-195 deficit. That’s visible as the white bar in the top-right portion of the above graphic taking a dramatic turn upwards in the last season.
In that way, the two PA teams are alike in that new coaches helped change things up and spur improvement at 5v5. The Penguins were down at a 157-195 combined 5v5 score in 2024-25 that improved all the way up to 196-168 this season prior to last night’s game.
For the Flyers, defense has been the name of the game – doing well to limit expected and actual goals against at 5v5. Curiously that hasn’t applied to special teams where their PK is below average (and the power play is dreadful). Their overall goalie rating has been brought down by backup Samuel Ersson having one of the worst seasons at his position in the league this year, starter Dan Vladar has played to a much higher level, as profiled yesterday.
One of the Flyers’ best attributes which helped them get to the playoffs but won’t be of any use now was the ability to extend games to overtime. Philadelphia went 6-8 in games decided in 3v3 OT sessions and then did even better with a 10-4 record in games decided by the shootout gimmick to award an extra point. Part of Philly’s success (which, hey, credit to them for doing it) was simply having 28 out of the 82 games (34% of the season) go into gimmicky 3v3/penalty shot hockey, where they took an overall 14-12 record to find enough points to qualify for the playoffs despite having only 26 regulation wins — the third fewest RW in the 16-team Eastern Conference. The Flyers are just 27-27 in games decided in regulation, which might key some into the low win total but it’s also important to note it’s been difficult to put Philadelphia down within 60 minutes.
While the Flyers won’t get the benefit of having a shootout decide the outcome of an NHL playoff game to pad win totals, one area to consider as a potential positive is that the frequency of games played shows this team is used to being in closely contested games. They’re used to the pressure of playing in games where the score is tied and mistakes are heightened and probably won’t be panicking if the games don’t start out well. That should be second nature for them by now, given that they only rank 22nd in time spent ahead in games.
NHL teams with the most time spent leading a game this season:
1. Colorado 2. Carolina 3. Pittsburgh 4. Buffalo 5. Columbus 6. Minnesota 7. Ottawa 8. Tampa Bay 9. Dallas 10. Boston 11. Utah 12. Washington 13. Montreal 14. Edmonton 15. Winnipeg 16. Calgary 17. NY Islanders 18.…
The Flyers aren’t usually a ‘take the lead, ride to a win’ type of team. They often have to claw back, in games as they did in the season in general from being in sixth place on March 10th. The Flyers have only scored the first goal in 32 games this season (tied for lowest in the NHL prior to yesterday). Falling in a hole by giving up the first goal hasn’t made a major difference, Philadelphia still has a .400 winning% (6th best in league) and 20-22-8 record when they fall behind in games 1-0. On contrast, the Penguins only have a .286 w% with a 10-18-7 record when they give up the first goal in a game this season. The Flyers are certainly a scrappy team that is used to not holding leads and having to keep working to try and make sure the score is at least tied up at the end of 60 minutes, which could present an interesting and unique challenge for a Pittsburgh team that has had many troubles this season converting leads into wins at times.
As of today, the Flyers aren’t a great team. There’s a reasonable case that they are at the bottom of the playoff teams in the East as far as strength goes. They didn’t win a lot in regulation. All of those items are true but that doesn’t necessarily mean an easy series is ahead for the Penguins. Philadelphia has been a strong team over the last month, building in confidence as they go. The Pennsylvania rivalry always brings out heated emotions and is prone to huge swings of games rocking from big leads by one team turned into a furious comeback by the other. On paper, you’d probably have to like the Pens chances, but their opponent is coming into this series with nothing to lose and a lot to prove. That should make for another worthy chapter to the storied history of the Penguin/Flyer rivalry.
As he's done so many times before, Kenley Jansen preserved a one-run lead in the ninth Tuesday night to nail down a save.
With the potential tying run at second base, the Detroit Tigers closer induced an easy fly ball to center field to complete a 2-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on April 14 for save No. 479 of his career, moving him into third place on the all-time list.
Only Hall of Famers Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman have recorded more.
"It's awesome," Jansen told reporters afterward. "It tells me that no matter the adversity you go through in life, in your baseball career, at some point, you think you're done, but you always have that fight in you. You just have to keep believing in yourself, even if you don't that day."
The milestone was so important to Jansen that he addressed the team during its postgame celebration.
"The speech he gave to the team after, it was really cool to listen," said rookie shortstop Kevin McGonigle, who scored the go-ahead run in the eighth that gave Jansen the opportunity. "He talked about his career, and how it was a grind. It’s easy to quit, but never give up. Guys like that, you’ve got to listen, anytime they talk."
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 08: Will Warren #29 of the New York Yankees looks on during the game against the Athletics at Yankee Stadium on April 8, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Recency bias can be a heck of a thing, and a concept that may not serve Yankees righty Will Warren all that well. In his most recent outing on Monday against a forgettable Angels lineup, Warren failed to escape the fourth inning, and although they were all unearned, Los Angeles plated four runs under his watch. Although he was not on the hook for any earned runs, it was not a pretty start, but it would be hard to deny the good things in there.
On the whole, that is often the case with Warren. He does not pitch deep into games, and may not always produce the most eye-popping lines, but there is plenty of value in what he brings to the Yankees. Although his role is not set in stone in the future, from the beginning of the 2025 season until now it has been vital to the Yankees. Although that start against the Angels was brief, it was productive in a lot of ways, as he struck out six and walked just one, while technically being off the hook for any of the Halos’ four runs. In fact, a lot of his starts have looked like this, as he’s reached a maximum of 5.2 innings in a start this season, with that being the only time he’s pitched beyond the fifth. It may not be the most satisfying baseball, but it certainly isn’t bad.
On the season (four starts), Warren has posted a 2.45 ERA and a 3.57 FIP, while striking out more than a batter per inning. The six walks he’s allowed would also suggest an improved rate, though it is obviously very early. Either way, the likely outcome is that the Yankees simply get a Will Warren similar to the one they saw in 2025. There is a valid argument that this would be just fine.
Perhaps Warren’s most valuable asset in 2025 was the fact that has was able to start 33 games for the Yankees, one of just eight big league pitchers to do so. Beyond just simple dependability, which has become an overlooked skill, Warren was a solid major league arm through it all. The now 26-year-old managed a 4.07 FIP in his 162.1 innings of work, and although he completed seven innings in just one of those 33 starts, the Yankees could at least count on trotting him out there every fifth day without needing to worry.
That season was his only real full-time big league work to this point, and at his age, a breakout to some degree would not be the most surprising thing in the world. Given his deep pitching repertoire, highlighted by good off-speed stuff, and a four-seam/sinker combo that can get him by, Warren has a reasonable ceiling, with a floor that is sturdy thanks to his proven durability. Even if huge steps are never really taken, a mid-to-end-rotation arm who can rack up some strikeouts and generally stay out of major trouble can be hugely valuable. For the Yankees, in their current situation, they can see exactly why. With both Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón on the shelf early in 2026, Warren’s presence, whatever it may be, is proving valuable.
Whenever those two All-Star level pitchers return, Warren’s role could change as the 2026 season progresses. But they say you can never have enough pitching, and if Warren can remain healthy and continue to make regular starts for New York, he’ll keep doing his thing as a quietly valuable part of this roster.
Will Warren’s time on the mound may not always be lengthy or particularly flashy, but its value comes from dependability. It’s been only a year-plus of time, but if Warren can maintain his league-average or better production as someone who can consistently trot out every fifth day, the floor is high for a righty that’s proving quite valuable to the Yankees.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 13: Zack Gelof #20 of the Athletics strikes out in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers at Sutter Health Park on April 13, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Wednesday, A’s fans. Today, the Athletics—and every other MLB team—will wear No. 42 in honor of the legendary Jackie Robinson.
After beginning the season 1-5, the Athletics responded with a five-game winning streak to finish their challenging opening 15-game stretch at an even 8-8. That streak came to an end Monday in the opener of the team’s second home series against the Texas Rangers. Having spent the majority of the season on the road, this weeklong home stand offers a chance to settle in and pick up some wins at Sutter Health Park.
With Brent Rooker on the injured list due to an oblique strain, the A’s have already tapped into their organizational depth. Zack Gelof earned a promotion from the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators after batting .366 with four home runs and 10 RBIs. Primarily a second baseman, Gelof also received playing time in the outfield in Triple-A. He made his first MLB start in right field yesterday in the A’s 2-1 bounce-back victory over the Texas Rangers. Gelof did not make a catch; the only ball hit his way was Rangers right fielder Brandon Nimmo’s double. At the plate, he struck out twice, with a sacrifice bunt in between.
Gelof may not be the last call-up from Las Vegas. Outfielder Colby Thomas and catcher Brian Serven are also hitting well and both could be in line for opportunities this season.
On the pitching side, reliever Joel Kuhnel has impressed with two saves in two opportunities, while fellow call-up Jack Perkins has also helped stabilize the bullpen. Notably, the A’s have yet to place a pitcher on the injured list this season. When that changes, pitching prospects Kade Morris and Gage Jump could be candidates for their MLB debuts.
At Double-A Midland, top prospect Leo De Vries grabbed headlines Sunday with his first two home runs of the season. He will likely be promoted to Las Vegas at some point this year, and if he continues to play well, a jump to the majors is not out of the question. Third baseman Tommy White and left-handed pitchers Jamie Arnold and Wei-en Lin are also worth monitoring.
Further down the system, High-A Lansing pitchers Zane Taylor and Steven Echavarria stand out, along with outfielder Devin Taylor, the A’s second-round selection in the 2025 MLB Draft. In Low-A Stockton, 18-year-old Venezuelan outfielder Breyson Guedez is trending up after an impressive spring. Following his 450-foot home run off San Diego Padres starter Michael King during Cactus League play, Guedez has carried that momentum into the season, tallying 12 hits in his first 41 at-bats.
Overall, the Athletics possess promising talent at every level of the organization, a positive sign as the franchise prepares for its move to Las Vegas in 2028.
How often do you expect the A’s to rely on minor league reinforcements this season? And which prospect do you think will make the biggest impact?
Left-handed pitcher Jeffrey Springs continued his early-season dominance last night. It seems like the A’s have a strong chance to win every time he takes the mound.
19-year-old elite shortstop prospect Leo De Vries is heating up at Double-A. He had two more hits last night. How long should the Athletics keep him on the Midland Rockhounds before promoting him to Triple-A?
Today is a special day in baseball, as the sport honors the man who heroically broke MLB’s color line. However, more work still needs to be done, as A’s right fielder Lawrence Butler is among the small percentage—about 6.8%—of African American players in Major League Baseball
DYK: Ken Griffey Jr. switched from No. 24 to No. 42 on the inaugural Jackie Robinson Day, April 15, 1997.
Ten years later, he asked for permission to wear the number again.
That led to a Jackie Robinson Day tradition since 2009 – every Major Leaguer wears No. 42 on that day.… pic.twitter.com/aZ5BzjnUrN
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 14: New York Mets outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) reacts to striking out with two runners in scoring position in the 8th inning of the MLB game between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 14, 2026 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets lost their seventh game in as many days, falling to the Dodgers 2-1 in a true pitcher’s duel. Francisco Lindor provided the team’s sole run, hitting his first home run of the season to lead off the game, recording his first RBI of the season in the process. Nolan McLean had a transcendent start, pitching seven innings of one-run baseball, striking out eight and allowing just two hits and two walks. His sole run was given up in the first, when a Freddie Freeman dribbler up the first base line allowed Kyle Tucker to score from third. But Yoshinobu Yamamoto was just as fantastic, going 7.2 innings, allowing four hits and striking out seven. Brooks Raley took the loss, allowing a run in one inning of work, where one hit made the difference after two walks.
Nolan McLean’s pitch mix is quite unique, as is his ability to create spin when he throws.
The Mets’ current offensive rut can’t be placed solely on the absence of Juan Soto, and in fact goes much deeper than that.
Prior to last night’s game, the Mets called up Austin Warren and placed newly called up reliever Joey Gerber on the 15-day injured list with a right finger blister.
Jared Young has been dealing with some left knee discomfort, and is awaiting the results of some testing to determine a possible injured list stint.
Around the National League East
The Phillies traded former top pitching prospect Griff McGarry to the Dodgers.
The Nationals beat the Pirates 5-4, with CJ Abrams getting three hits—including a home run—and driving in two runs.
The Phillies were handed a smackdown by the Cubs in a 10-4 loss, with Tim Mayza taking the loss after giving up four runs (only three earned) while only recording a single out.
The Braves eked out a 6-5 win against the Marlins, with Dominic Smith driving in three runs in the bottom of the eighth to put the Braves ahead in the eleventh hour.
Around Major League Baseball
The key to a great pinch-hitter may come down to the length of the batter’s swing, at least according to Rangers manager Skip Schumaker.
The Milwaukee Brewers have taken a big hit to their lineup with Christian Yelich now expected to be out until at least the middle of May, if not longer.
Mayor Ken Sim has called for a bid for an expansion team to be given to the city of Vancouver.
Lucas Giolito is still on the free agent market, but he might not be for much longer with multiple teams in desparate need of pitching.
Orioles’ manager Craig Albernaz may be bruised and have several broken bones, but he’s already back after taking a foul ball to the face and a trip to the hospital.
Tatsuya Imai has admitted to having some trouble adjusting to an American lifestyle, both within and outside of the world of baseball.
Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
Steve Sypa is up to his third Mets Minor Leaguers of the Week roundup.
Today in the Feed
This Date in Mets History
29 years ago today, MLB held the first ever Jackie Robinson Day at Shea Stadium, with several big names in attendance including President Bill Clinton and Robinson’s widow Rachel Robinson.
Mets star Juan Soto took a big step on his road back from a calf strain, beginning a running program on Tuesday.
SNY broadcaster Gary Cohen first made note of the progress during Tuesday night's game, then team owner Steve Cohen later confirmed the news on social media.
This is certainly very encouraging progress for all sides.
Soto has been participating in baseball activities such as hitting and playing catch since days after suffering the injury, but he hadn’t resumed running up until this point.
New York, of course, won't activate the star outfielder until he is back to 100 percent.
Carlos Mendoza did note earlier this week that they still expect him to be able to meet the two-to-three week threshold they put out upon placing him on the 15-day IL on April 6.
If he continues to follow that timeline, it'd put him on track to return at some point next week.
When asked about the possibility of a rehab assignment, the skipper said that the team could get creative with Soto, which could mean bringing minor league pitchers to Citi Field to throw live ABs.
Either way, the Mets' offense could certainly use him back sooner rather than later.
After falling to the Dodgers 2-1 on Tuesday, they've now scored just once over their last three games and 10 times over the course of their seven-game losing streak.
With 83-degree heat and wind blowing out, this is prime carry weather. The San Francisco Giants starter has already allowed 16 hits in 14 2/3 innings, basically a hit per frame.
De La Cruz has cleared his total bases prop in three of his previous four games, and needs just one gap shot or one big swing to cash this plus-money prop.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBC Sports Bay Area, Reds.TV
Oneil Cruz Over 1.5 total bases (-115)
Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Oneil Cruz is on an absolute tear, slashing .328/.400/.597/.997 with elite barrel rates and exit velocity that shows he crushes mistakes. Tonight, Cruz gets Washington Nationals pitching at PNC Park, where Jake Irvin brings a 7.07 ERA and serious hard contact issues. It does not get better after that, as the Nats' bullpen has been the worst in baseball.
Cruz projects to cruise well past this prop number for our MLB picks, with nine innings of hittable pitching from first pitch to last out.
New York Mets starter Clay Holmes leans heavily on his sinker, and Tucker has feasted on right-handed pitching throughout his career, posting an .871 OPS with serious power, and the winds are blowing out tonight.
He has already taken Holmes deep before and knows the look. One sinker left up, and the Dodgers slugger can leave the yard in a hurry.
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ESPN
Phil Naessens' 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 1-1, +0.20 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 14: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates in the dugout after leaving in the eighth inning of play against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium on April 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the best pitching duel the Dodgers have seen so far this season, Yoshinobu Yamamoto went toe-to-toe with New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean and continued the trend of starting pitching giving Mets hitters headaches.
Yamamoto got ambushed immediately by Francisco Lindor, allowing a leadoff home run on his third pitch of the game, but he retired 20 hitters in a row and went on to toss 7 2/3 innings while allowing just four hits and one walk, striking out seven. His outing continues a dominant display from the Dodgers rotation against New York, as he and Justin Wrobleski have limited a Mets team now in the midst of a seven-game losing streak to just six hits and one run over 15 2/3 innings.
Yamamoto spoke with Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA following the Dodgers’ 2-1 victory over the Mets on Tuesday, where the right-hander spoke about dueling McLean and bouncing back after allowing the leadoff home run.
“Every outing, I’m starting to feel better and better. Today, the home run was really regrettable,” Yamamoto told Watson. “In terms of the pitching sequence, I communicate with the coaches in between innings, because sometimes I feel like my stuff coming out of my hand feels different. I make the adjustments as the game moves along.”
Links
As for Wrobleski, he has performed marvelously in his two starts this season, with the latter being an eight inning gem against the Mets where he faced one batter over the minimum in a 4-0 shutout win.
The difference to where Wrobleski was last year around this time compared to this year is night and day, and Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times writes about the adjustments the left-hander made to be more effective pitching at the big league level both out of the bullpen and in the rotation.
“He was at a crossroads and chose a hard path to go down there and self reflect and gain some confidence and bring it back here,” Roberts said. “There is talent but there is also what’s practical, what plays at the big league level, and that is strike-throwing, being able to sequence, miss barrels, put it on the ground, create soft contact, work with efficiency. Those are things that help a championship team win games. And he has a really good grasp of that.”
Edwin Díaz was not brought on for the ninth inning in Tuesday’s win over his old team, as Alex Vesia came in to record the save. Dave Roberts spoke with Watson about Díaz’s condition, noting that he is fine health-wise and that his availability for Wednesday’s series finale will be determined on how his bullpen session goes. Díaz had previously been listed as day-to-day due to a decline in his velocity.
“Talking to the training staff and pitching staff, they want to see [Díaz] throw a bullpen… We didn’t go to him in the ninth tonight, but tomorrow, if he comes in after this bullpen, then he’ll be ready to go.”
Welcome to this edition of the Vancouver Canucks post-game analytics report. This recurring deep dive breaks down the analytics behind each Canucks game as recorded by Natural Stat Trick. In this article, we look back on Vancouver’s most recent 4–3 overtime win against the Los Angeles Kings.
The Kings were by far the better team from an analytics perspective. Los Angeles finished the night with a 30-18 even-strength scoring chances advantage while also winning the even-strength high-danger scoring chances battle 15-5. If not for Kevin Lankinen, this game could have been a blowout for the Kings.
As for the heatmap, it shows that good things come when teams crash the net. Five of the goals scored on Tuesday were from right outside the crease, including Jake DeBrusk's overtime winner. More traffic in front of the net should be a focus for the Canucks next season, as it has been a problem area for the organization at times.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Los Angeles Kings, April 14, 2026, Natural Stat Trick.
To wrap the final home game of 2025-26 up, Nils Höglander led all of Vancouver's skaters with an even-strength xGF% of 46.37. Ultimately, Tuesday may have been Höglander's best game of the season as he also picked up an assist. While it has been a tough season for Höglander, it was a positive to see him put forth a strong effort on Tuesday night.
Apr 14, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Los Angeles Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper (35) and forward Trevor Moore (12) react as Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson (40) and forward Jake DeBrusk (74) celebrate DeBrusk’s game winning overtime goal in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
The Canucks will wrap up their season on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers. This season, Vancouver has beaten Edmonton just once in three attempts. Game time is scheduled for 6:00 pm PT.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 24: Sportscaster Bob Uecker (R) and manager Phil Garner #4 of the Milwaukee Brewers talk before a baseball game against the Texas Rangers on April 24, 1993 at Milwaukee County Stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Rangers won 15-4. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Phil Garner, a baseball lifer who was for a time the all-time winningest manager in Brewers history, died over the weekend at age 76.
Brewers fans will remember Garner as the team’s manager for most of the 1990s. He became the franchise’s all-time leader in wins when he passed Tom Trebelhorn during the 1997 season and remained in that spot until he was passed by Craig Counsell in 2022, just over 50 years after the team was founded. Garner’s 563 wins remain second in franchise history, more than 100 more than third-place Ned Yost.
Early Career
Before he managed, though, Garner had a long, notable career as a player, and given who he played for in the early stages of his career, it’s not a surprise that Garner went on to success in a leadership role. The 24-year-old Garner appeared in his first major league games in the midst of a dynasty: he made nine appearances late in the 1973 season for the Oakland Athletics, who were in year two of a back-to-back-to-back World Series run. Garner went 0-for-5 and mostly just played as a defensive substitute in those nine games, but he’d gotten that first game out of the way.
Garner appeared again in a (very) limited role for the Athletics in 1974, playing in 30 games mostly in the last two months of the season, but he was not included on the postseason roster that won Oakland’s third straight World Series. In 1975, though, Garner — who was already 26 — got his first regular job in the big leagues after the dynasty’s second baseman, Dick Green, was released and chose to retire. Garner jumped right into Green’s role and started 160 games as Oakland’s second baseman. He didn’t hit a whole lot, but played good defense, and got his first taste of the postseason (though Oakland was swept in the ALCS by the Red Sox).
Garner’s offense improved considerably in 1976 — he hit .261/.307/.400, had 29 doubles, 12 triples, and eight homers, and stole 35 bases, and earned an All-Star appearance. He also increased his trade value enough that the A’s included him in the type of wild trade that happened somewhat frequently in the 1970s: Oakland sent Garner, along with pitching prospect Chris Batton and veteran infielder Tommy Helms (the uncle of former Brewer Wes!) to Pittsburgh for six players, most notably outfielder Tony Armas (who’d played only four major league games at that point), former All-Star Dave Giusti, and outfielder Mitchell Page, who’d finish second in Rookie of the Year voting for the A’s in 1977.
Pittsburgh Years
It’s debatable whether the Pirates won that trade — Helms and Batton were basically zeroes, and the Athletics got good value from several of the players they’d received — but they did solidify the infield on what was an up-and-coming team. Garner played mostly third base in his first three seasons in Pittsburgh, and he played quite well: three of the four seasons between 1977 and 1980 were Garner’s best by WAR. The 1977 Pirates went 96-66, led by 26-year-old phenom Dave Parker, 23-year-old John Candelaria, and closer Goose Gossage, who had an absurdly good season out of the bullpen. But 96 wins wasn’t enough to get them into the postseason, as they finished second to the 101-win Phillies.
The Pirates were second again in 1978 at 88-73, even as Parker won the MVP award. But the team finally had its breakthrough in 1979: behind the veteran leadership of 39-year-old Willie “Pops” Stargell, who hit 32 homers and was voted as co-MVP in the National League. (This award does not hold up to any sort of modern statistical analysis — Parker was, again, the team’s clear best player, and Stargell was worth only 2.5 WAR via Baseball Reference — but the vibes of the “We Are Family” Pirates were immaculate, and Stargell was an old legend having a good season who was right in the middle of it all. I don’t mind it.)
Garner was central to that team. With Bill Madlock at third and Rennie Stennett often manning second base, Garner played a super utility role on the 1979 team, appearing almost equally split between second and third and occasionally at shortstop. He had what was his best offensive season to that point in his career: .293/.359/.441 with 32 doubles, eight triples, and 11 homers, and combined with his solid defense all over the infield, he had what is now viewed by WAR as his best season at 4.1.
In the postseason, Garner was absolutely on fire. In a three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds, Garner went 5-for-12 (.417) with a triple and a homer. In a classic seven-game World Series against the Baltimore Orioles, Garner hit .500 (12-for-24) with four doubles and five RBIs. In the top of the ninth of the decisive Game 7, Garner led off with a double, moved to third when Pirates closer Kent Tekulve bunted him over (imagine a reliever taking an at-bat in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the World Series), and he crossed the plate on an Omar Moreno single to increase Pittsburgh’s lead to 3-1. They scored another in the inning, and Tekulve came back out to finish Baltimore off in the bottom of the inning.
Later Playing Career
Garner made back-to-back All-Star Games in 1980 and 1981, though he may have been coasting a bit on reputation at this point; he took a significant step back offensively, though his defense was viewed as some of the best of his career in 1980. During the strike-shortened 1981 season, the Pirates were struggling, and at the trade deadline they sent Garner to Houston for second baseman Johnny Ray, who ended up having several good seasons for Pittsburgh.
Garner was 32 when he first played with Houston, and it would’ve been reasonable to think he was almost finished as a player. But he was not. Garner’s offense bounced back in a big way in 1982, and in the five full seasons Garner played with the Astros (1982-86) he hit .263/.326/.397 (106 OPS+) and averaged 2.3 WAR per season. Not bad for an infielder in his mid-to-late 30s.
Houston, who wasn’t very good in the ‘80s, traded Garner to the Dodgers 43 games in to the 1987 season, and he played 70 games with Los Angeles down the stretch. But Garner’s offense had almost complete dried up by this point, and while he could still work the glove a bit, the writing was on the wall. Garner played 15 games for the Giants in 1988 but retired at age 39 after the season.
Garner was never a superstar. He did make three All-Star Games, but he never earned more than 4.1 WAR in a season. He was, however, able to stretch his ability into a long, effective career — he played in parts 16 major league seasons, and had at least one WAR (a low bar, but a sign of being a contributor) in 11 of them. That added up: Garner earned 29.7 WAR over his career. He had a career 99 OPS+ and collected 1,594 hits, 299 doubles, 82 triples, 109 homers, and 225 stolen bases, and our best modern estimates see him as a solid defensive player.
Manager of the Brewers
After the 1991 season, three years after Garner’s last game as a player, Brewers general manager Sal Bando — who’d been Garner’s teammate in Oakland — hired him to succeed Tom Trebelhorn as manager of the Brewers.
Garner had immediate success. The 1992 Brewers were one of the more surprising teams in the league (and in the history of the franchise), and that was at least partly due to the aggressive baserunning style that Garner encouraged in his team. Ten Brewers players stole at least 11 bases in 1992, including 54 for Rookie of the Year Pat Listach and 41 (in just 128 games) for outfielder Darryl Hamilton. Their 256 steals as a team were 48 more, or 23% more, than any other team in the majors. The 1992 Brewers also benefitted from the shockingly good arrival of rookie pitcher Cal Eldred and a renaissance season at age 35 from designated hitter Paul Molitor (in what would be, unfortunately, his final season as a Brewer), and they won 92 games and finished second in the AL East.
Unfortunately, that was Garner’s high-water mark with the Brewers, and it was indeed the highest win total that the team would have between 1982 and 2011. While a lot of things went right for the ’92 Brewers, those things went wrong in 1993. Garner had the Brewers back up near .500 in 1996 and 1997, but after 1992 he never again fielded a Brewers team that won more than 80 games. Garner spent seven-plus years at the helm, though, and as mentioned at the start, he passed his predecessor, Trebelhorn, as the franchise’s all-time leader in wins in 1997.
One of the more notable moments of Garner’s later Brewer tenure was not exactly a bright one. In a 1995 game against the White Sox, Garner and Chicago manager Terry Bevington exchanged blows during a bench-clearing brawl, quite a rarity for managers. Both men were suspended four games. Check out the tape for some vintage Jim Paschke and Bill Schroeder.
Garner was let go when the Brewers were 52-60 in the 1999 season, his seventh straight losing season in Milwaukee. He finished his Brewers career with a record of 563-617, and only Counsell has managed more games in franchise history than his 1,180.
Later Managerial Career
Garner didn’t have to wait long to get another job. After less than a season out of work, he was hired to manage the Detroit Tigers in 2000. They were OK in his first season, but after they went 66-96 in 2001 and then started the 2002 season 0-6, Garner was fired. It turns out there’s not much anyone could’ve done with that Tigers team: they finished 55-106 in 2002, and then lost 119 games the following season, which at the time was the second-most losses by any team after 1900.
Garner sat out the 2003 season and was then hired by his former team, the Astros, in 2004. Garner engineered a dramatic turnaround for the Astros that year: they fired Jimy Williams when they were 44-44, and Garner went 48-26 down the stretch and earned the team a Wild Card spot. The Astros then upset the Atlanta Braves in a five-game NLDS victory before losing to the Cardinals in a classic NLCS.
Garner led the Astros to 89 wins and another Wild Card berth in 2005. Houston beat the Braves again in the NLDS, and in an NLCS rematch, they got revenge on the Cardinals — though Albert Pujols hit a home run off of Houston closer Brad Lidge so massive that it seemed to break him. That homer seemed to reverberate into the World Series, where a shellshocked Lidge struggled, the Astros’ bats went quiet, and Houston was swept by the White Sox. Lidge didn’t really recover from that homer until he left Houston two years later.
Garner’s Astros went 82-80 in 2006, and when they struggled in 2007, Garner was let go when he had a record of 58-73. He never managed in the majors again, and instead spent a little bit of time managing in college and with the Canadian national team. His last official work in baseball came as a special adviser in the Athletics’ front office, and he retired in 2012.
Coda
Garner’s career was long and varied. He appeared in his first games as a minor leaguer in 1971 and didn’t finish his pro baseball career until 2012, over 50 years later. He was a very good player who played on two of the most legendary teams of the second half of the 20th century. As the Brewers’ manager, he was tasked with overseeing what was ultimately the beginning of a dark period in the team’s history but also led the 1992 Brewers to one of the better and more surprising seasons the franchise has ever had.
He never won the big one as a manager, but Garner played on three World Series winners as a player, managed in the World Series, and finished his managerial career with 985 wins, which stands at 70th all time.
Elly Da La Cruz
Oneil Cruz
Kyle Tucker
