Restrictions have been in place since 2022 invasion
Ukrainian athlete says move will spread propaganda
Swimming has agreed to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete without restrictions under their own flag and anthem for the first time since 2022, prompting joy in Russia and outrage in Ukraine.
The decision by World Aquatics, which also oversees diving and water polo, adds further momentum to Russia’s bid to be allowed back for the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028 following judo’s decision to do the same last year.
For the most part, they’ve lit him up, too. That shouldn’t be much of a surprise, either.
Kikuchi's Bottom 8th-percentile fastball run value means his primary pitch is getting crushed, and the Yankees rank among the league's best in chase rate suppression, meaning they will lay off the off-speed stuff and sit on the heater.
Hard-hit numbers that have generally hung in the Bottom 30% of the league aren’t good issues to have against the Bronx Bombers either. Give me the Yankees to snap a losing streak in convincing fashion.
COVERS INTEL: Ben Rice has posted a .476 xwOBA with a 75% hard-hit rate across 35 plate appearances vs. Kikuchi.
Angels vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Over 9.5 (-105)
I’ve already lamented this season why I’m more down on Will Warren than the market seems to be. I also believe there’s a decent chance that Kikuchi not only struggles tonight, but is crushed. Either way, the convergence of angles makes me lean towards the Over.
Warren’s Bottom 7th-percentile chase rate means the Angels will sit in the zone and make contact. They struggle against great chase-inducing pitchers, but when they can avoid them, the underrated power of the lineup shows up.
The Yankees have more paths to scoring, but the Angels should do their part, too. I’d play this up to 10.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 5-4, +0.92 units
Over/Under bets: 6-4, +1.95 units
Angels vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: Angels +165 | Yankees -190
Run line: Angels +1.5 | Yankees -1.5
Over/Under: Over 9 | Under 9
Angels vs Yankees trend
The Yankees have hit the F5 moneyline in 22 of their last 35 games at home (+9.20 Units / 14% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Angels vs. Yankees.
How to watch Angels vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Monday, April 13, 2026
First pitch
7:05 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN West, YES
Angels starting pitcher
Yusei Kikuchi (0-2, 6.75 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Will Warren (1-0, 3.07 ERA)
Angels vs Yankees latest injuries
Angels vs Yankees 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.
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 11: Oneil Cruz #15 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates a win after the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by George Gaza/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Pittsburgh Pirates’ centerfielder Oneil Cruz had a massive series against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Sunday afternoon’s game started with a leadoff home run by Cruz to begin, a game that ended in a 7-6 Pittsburgh loss. The 422-foot blast extended his hitting streak to 11 games, which ties his career high which happened in 2024.
Cruz also collected four hits, stole three bases, drew a walk and scored a run in Saturday’s 4-3 win. In the series opener on Friday, he singled, walked and stole a base.
The results have been so far so good for the 27-year-old, as his homer off of former Pirate Jameson Taillon on Sunday was his fifth of the season. His career high in home runs (21) came in 2024. His five home runs are tied for the most on the team with Brandon Lowe who hit two in the same game Sunday afternoon.
There has been a lot of talk about Cruz defensively and how he might be a liability but there is no question that the lefty is one of the best hitters on the team. He leads the team with 20 hits and leads the team with 13 RBIs.
The last two games the center fielder was at the leadoff spot in the batting lineup and I think that is exactly where he should be. There were a handful of games this season where he batted at the six spot or elsewhere in the lineup but I think having that extra pop at the top of the order is a good thing for the lineup.
Cruz’s hot streak is a very positive sign for the Bucs, as the 27-year-old struggled at the plate in 2025. If he can maintain this level of production, it could be a major boost for the team as they look to improve on their 2025 campaign.
The Pirates start a three-game series back at home against the Washington national Monday night with Paul Skenes on the mound.
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 24: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles the ball as Ja'Kobe Walter #14 of the Toronto Raptors defends during second half action at Scotiabank Arena on November 24, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors might look like one of the worst matchups for the Cleveland Cavaliers based on the sweep they conducted, but there are a lot of asterisks at play.
For one, the starting lineups they used in those games aren’t exactly the ones we’ll be seeing when the series starts next week.
#Cavs starting lineups in their matchups vs. TOR Oct. 31 – Evan Mobley, De'Andre Hunter, Dean Wade, Jaylon Tyson & Lonzo Ball Nov. 13 – Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merill, Hunter, Mobley & Jarrett Allen (5th game in 7 nights) Nov. 24 – Mitchell, Ball, Tyson, Mobley & Larry Nance Jr.
The main talking point is that the Cavaliers were sending out makeshift lineups against Toronto. However, something that is not attached to this sentiment, as far as I have seen, is that this was going to be brought up no matter who Cleveland’s first-round opponent was.
The Cavaliers have donned 41 unique lineups in 82 games this season. These changes weren’t inspired by testing out different methodology. The Cavaliers have been snake bitten by the injury bug for the entirety of the regular season. Even on the opening tip in October, they started the season without Darius Garland and Max Strus.
The wave of injuries continued throughout the whole season. Mitchell is the Cavaliers’ so-called “iron man” with 70 games played. The fluctuation has impacted this roster from top to bottom.
The greater point is less about the Cavaliers against the Raptors individually as there is no basis to go off of, and more so how that the Cavaliers are arguably the biggest question mark of any team in the postseason.
It is hard to figure out what a fully healthy version of the Cavaliers looks like. Especially one that has undergone the personnel changes the Cavaliers did at the deadline. Whether it’s swapping James Harden in for Garland, Dennis Schroeder and Keon Ellis for Lonzo Ball and De’Andre Hunter, or even Jaylon Tyson or Max Strus at the three, the Cavaliers have a ton of open-ended questions that were never cemented in certainty.
The postseason is usually when a team commits to what has worked and sticks true to this identity made over 82 games. The Cavs don’t have that luxury.
The Cavaliers had just two five-man lineups that played at least 80 minutes together. One of them involves two players not currently with the team. Even the most used lineup isn’t available for the playoffs.
It makes the Cavaliers a blank canvas, unlike anything we’ve seen in recent years. Usually, it is that a team is hampered by injuries by the time the postseason rolls around. Look at the Lakers, they are starting a series possibly without two of their best three players on the team in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. The Cavaliers are actually at their healthiest at the most optimal time; we just don’t know how good they can be.
We’ll soon find out whether they can reach their ceiling as title contenders or if their lack of continuity will cause them to falter.
The Flyers can it do it outright, setting up a first-round matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Kings and idle Ducks will need help. The Ducks and Flyers have been out of the playoffs a combined 12 seasons.
Also Monday, the Carolina Hurricanes can wrap up the Eastern Conference title and the Buffalo Sabres can clinch the Atlantic Division title. The Pacific Division lead and the Western Conference's second wild card seed could change hands.
Here's what to know about the NHL standings, including the latest playoff bracket, Monday's clinching scenarios and the tiebreaker procedures for the 2025-26 season before the postseason begins on April 18:
Who's in the 2026 NHL playoffs?
Eastern Conference: Carolina, Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Ottawa, Boston
Western Conference: Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Utah, Edmonton, Vegas
Who could clinch an NHL playoff berth today?
The Flyers will clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Hurricanes. If they do, they will open the first round in Pittsburgh.
The idle Ducks will clinch a playoff berth if the Predators lose to the Sharks.
The Los Angeles Kings will clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Kraken and the Nashville Predators lose in regulation.
The Hurricanes will clinch the Eastern Conference title if they get at least one point against the Flyers or if the Sabres lose to the Blackhawks.
The Sabres will clinch the Atlantic Division title if they beat the Chicago Blackhawks in regulation and the Tampa Bay Lightning do anything but beat the Detroit Red Wings in regulation.
NHL games today (Monday, April 13)
Detroit at Tampa Bay, 7
N.Y. Rangers at Florida, 7
Carolina at Philadelphia, 7
Dallas at Toronto, 7:30
Minnesota at St. Louis, 8
San Jose at Nashville, 8
Buffalo at Chicago, 8:30
Colorado at Edmonton, 9:30
Los Angeles at Seattle, 9:30, ESPN
Winnipeg at Vegas, 10
NHL playoff standings
NHL Eastern Conference standings 2025-26
After April 12 games. x-clinched playoff spot. y-clinched division. z-eliminated.
Metropolitan Division
y-Carolina Hurricanes (110)
x-Pittsburgh Penguins (98)
Philadelphia Flyers (94)
Atlantic Division
x-Buffalo Sabres (106)
x-Montreal Canadiens (106)
x-Tampa Bay Lightning (104)
Wild card
x-Boston Bruins (98)
x-Ottawa Senators (97)
Sitting out of playoff position: Washington Capitals (93), Columbus Blue Jackets (92), z-Detroit Red Wings (91), z-New York Islanders (91), z-New Jersey Devils (87), z-Florida Panthers (80), z-Toronto Maple Leafs (78), z-New York Rangers (75)
NHL Western Conference standings 2025-26
After April 12 games. x-clinched playoff spot. y-clinched division. z-eliminated.
Sitting out of playoff position: Nashville Predators (86), Winnipeg Jets (82), San Jose Sharks (82), z-St. Louis Blues (80), z-Seattle Kraken (79), z-Calgary Flames (75), z-Chicago Blackhawks (70), z-Vancouver Canucks (56)
NHL playoffs if they started today
NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket
Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on April 12:
Carolina (M1) vs. Ottawa (WC2)
Pittsburgh (M2) vs. Philadelphia (M3)
Buffalo (A1) vs. Boston (WC1)
Montreal (A2) vs. Tampa Bay (A3)
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: M - Metropolitan Division. A - Atlantic Division. WC - wild card
NHL Western Conference playoff bracket
Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on April 12.
Colorado (C1) vs. Los Angeles (WC2)
Dallas (C2) vs. Minnesota (C3). This series is set
Vegas (P1) vs. Utah (WC1)
Edmonton (P2) vs. Anaheim (P3)
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: C - Central Division P - Pacific Division. WC - wild card
NHL tiebreakers: What is the first tiebreaker in NHL standings?
If two teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers:
Regulation wins
Regulation and overtime wins (ROW)
Total wins
Most points earned in head-to-head competition: If teams had an uneven number of meetings, the first game played in the city that has the extra game is excluded. When more than two clubs are tied, the percentage of available points earned in games among each other (and not including any odd games) shall be used to determine standings.
Goal differential
Total goals
When does the NHL regular season end?
The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 16, with six games.
When do the NHL playoffs start?
The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 18.
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 12: Tristan Gray #4 of the Minnesota Twins hits a three-run home run in the second inning of their MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on April 12, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The “American League-leading” Minnesota Twins are 9-7 after two straight series wins over the Tigers and the Blue Jays. It’s been certainly impressive to see the team fight back after three straight series losses, and doing so without needing the heroics of Byron Buxton or Luke Keaschall. Instead, infielder Tristan Gray has been a solid contributor. After hitting his first career grand slam against the Rays last week, he had another nice game yesterday against the Blue Jays, with a three-run homer. However, it can’t be all sunshine and daisies, as Royce Lewis has now hit the 10-day IL with a left knee sprain. The Red Sox and the Reds are coming to Target Field this week, and the Twins will hope to continue the good vibes at home.
The Past Week on Twinkie Town:
Check out The Feed, where you can add your discussions about the Twins!
We’re starting a new segment called Daily Questions! Provide your opinion on the Twins and debate with the community!
Game threads and recaps are back! Commiserate with your fellow fans as we experience the season together.
As mentioned earlier, the Twins are leading the AL with a 9-7 record, tied with the Cleveland Guardians. The A’s, Orioles, Rangers, Rays, and Yankees are all right behind at 8-7, reminding us not to get THAT excited. The gap between first and last is just three games.
The National League has a bit of a bigger gap between teams, with the Dodgers (who else?) atop the league at 11-4 and the Braves, Padres right behind at 10-6. Probably the most surprising news is seeing the Pirates at 9-6.
Will Leitch at MLB.com provides his new power rankings. You might need to scroll down a bit before you see the Twins though.
The Rangers goalie said Monday morning that his start Monday night against the Panthers will be his final NHL game, capping an illustrious 19-year career.
The 40-year-old, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Kings and 2012 Conn Smythe award winner, will be looking for the 411th win of his career against Florida.
Jonathan Quick is retiring at the end of this season. NHLI via Getty ImagesJonathan Quick spent the final three seasons of his 19-year NHL career with the Rangers. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
Quick is 12th all-time in goalie wins, 15th in games played and 17th in shutouts.
The Connecticut native spent the final three seasons of his career with the Rangers as Igor Shesterkin’s backup.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 25: Vj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to Joel Embiid #21 against the Chicago Bulls at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 25, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Daryl Morey and the rest of the Philadelphia front office are going to have challenges in upcoming summers. Thanks to the term left on the max contracts to Joel Embiid and Paul George, constructing future rosters will prove difficult. Perhaps there’s a world in which Morey can get off of George’s deal as the wing has shown signs of life since returning from his suspension and his contract has two years remaining on it compared to Embiid’s three.
But as the Sixers prepare to participate in the NBA’s play-in tournament for the second time in three seasons, we are yet again preparing for another postseason, should Philly get out of the play-in tournament, without Embiid for at least part of it. If we’re being completely honest, it’s probably going to be all of the postseason. Who in their right mind is going to pick them to beat Boston in the first round if they get a victory on Wednesday night against Orlando?
However, the 2025-26 Philadelphia 76ers season was never one that anyone expected to come with a deep playoff run. Fans were either checked out after an abysmal 2024-25 or ready to turn the page and see how quickly VJ Edgecombe could adapt to life in the NBA and what kind of backcourt tandem he could make with Tyrese Maxey. At best, it felt like fans were in wait-and-see mode as Embiid and George returned from respective knee procedures.
During the regular season, Embiid showed signs of his old self, particularly offensively. But unfortunately, it was only glimpses of the player he once was and he only played in 38 games. Despite the fact that Embiid is likely to be a Sixer for each of the next three seasons, this season was always a transitional one for the franchise. It was more about what kind of future the franchise could carve out for itself rather than doing all it could to make one last run with Embiid.
It is for that very reason that while Embiid’s recent appendicitis diagnosis is a tough blow for a future Hall of Famer who can never seem to catch a break, that the franchise could benefit from whatever the rest of April brings. Without Embiid, the organization will potentially get a look at how close they are to Boston, the franchise that seemingly everyone in the East has been competing to dethrone for the majority of the 2020s. Should the Sixers indeed square off with the Celtics in the first round, that series should give Morey the ability to make some more informed decisions about the team heading into the offseason. However cold this may sound, the reality is that all of those decisions about future roster construction should be made without Embiid being considered at all.
Anything Embiid contributes for the remaining three years on his contract should be viewed as a bonus. Frankly, anything the Sixers do in the playoffs should be viewed as a bonus as well. This season was always about figuring out what the franchise’s future is and how it can build a contender around players that aren’t Joel Embiid. Would a win against Orlando and then a six or seven-game series loss to Boston have Morey feeling more optimistic about a roster built around Maxey and Edgecombe? Of course, building that roster will require Morey to be creative due to the presence of Embiid and George’s hefty salaries for the next few seasons.
But we can all probably safely assume Embiid will play less than 50 regular season games a year for the rest of his career, so it just makes sense to continue to make decisions as if Embiid wasn’t around anymore. Perhaps a strong offseason from Morey maximizes Maxey and Edgecombe next season and Philly has a top four seed in the 2027 NBA Playoffs. Let’s not forget all the years the Sixers were dysfunctional around Embiid and Embiid was practically the sole reason they were a top four seed in the East. If there’s a world in which the Sixers can get back to that point with Embiid being used in a much lesser role, I’d say they’d finally be returning the favor for their former MVP.
Because we're in an era where people tend to treat each one of the 162 regular season games like a regular season NFL game, the level of panic surrounding the Mets (and other teams that are struggling early this season) is unhealthily high.
The Mets sit at 7-9 entering play Monday, and are on a five-game losing streak that came at Citi Field against the Diamondbacks and Athletics.
Teams, especially ones that are struggling offensively, will often look listless. Players aren't going to be pumped up about 78 mph grounders and pop-ups, and it's impossible to make things happen on the bases when they're usually empty.
With the Mets' five-game losing streak have come accusations that the team has no heart or doesn't care. Of course, there is no reason to believe that's the case.
The many mental mistakes by Francisco Lindorearly this seasonand a recent string of misplays/not being able to make tough plays by others on defense are likely anomalies.
But it has been ugly, with New York mustering just nine runs during its five-game losing streak, which included being shut out by the A's twice.
For the Mets, what has hurt them the most is an offense that -- withoutJuan Soto for the last 10 days -- features just two regular players who have an OPS above .690.
Apr 5, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; The New York Mets infield celebrates their 5-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. / D. Ross Cameron - Imagn Images
A deeper look at the numbers tells a fuller story, though the sample size remains small.
Lindor has a .572 OPS, but his strikeout rate is a tick down and his walk rate is way up -- at 13.3 percent, which is the best of his career. His line drive percentage (29.4) is also better than his career average and the best it's been as a Met. So he is clearly not lost at the plate.
One thing that is a bit low is his fly ball rate (21.6 percent), which is notably down. Coming off hamate surgery, there was a possibility that Lindor's power would suffer for a bit, as sports surgeon Deepak Chona explained to SNY in February.
"The amount of time varies," Chona said about the power aspect, "but generally projects to six weeks after returning."
Francisco Alvarez, who had the same surgery as Lindor last season, struggled over his first 20 games post-surgery, slashing just .232/.321/.304 with one home run, two doubles, and a .625 OPS. But from May 26 through the end of the season, Alvarez excelled, hitting .266/.347/.503 (.850 OPS) with 10 homers, 10 doubles, and one triple in 56 games. And Alvarez's season OPS of .787 was the best of his young career.
It has also been a bit of a struggle for Bo Bichette, but he has been very good since the calendar flipped to April, slashing .304/.360/.413 in 50 plate appearances.
The main area for concern with Bichette would be the strikeouts piling up. He has fanned 19 times already in 16 games after striking out just 91 times in 139 games in 2025. Given how Bichette's career has gone to this point and his admission that he was pressing a bit early on, it's fair to believe he'll get he strikeouts under control once he stops expanding the zone as much.
Then there's Jorge Polanco, who usually sprays line drives all over the field, but has been very pull-happy to start the season. Polanco, who has been limited by an Achilles issue that seems to be resolving, has also hit into tough luck, with his .205 BABIP being the worst of his career and nearly 100 points lower than his career BABIP of .295.
If there's one key cog whose struggles can't be explained away, it's Marcus Semien, who has just two hits in his last 23 at-bats and an OPS+ of 52 in 64 plate appearances this season.
New York Mets infielder Marcus Semien (10) looks on while batting against the San Francisco Giants during the fourth inning at Oracle Park / Robert Edwards - Imagn Images
Semien, whose biggest contribution is likely to come with the glove at second base and who will ordinarily hit near the bottom of the lineup, doesn't need to be a star again. But his early difficulties at the plate are alarming.
The 35-year-old's bat speed is continuing to tick down, and is in the 6th percentile. Meanwhile, Semien's xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, and barrel percentage are all well below average, and worse than they were last season. His walk rate, which was 9.4 percent and in the 63rd percentile in 2025, is 6.3 percent and in the 23rd percentile in 2026.
Elsewhere on the roster, there shouldn't be much cause for concern.
Despite a clunker by Kodai Senga on Saturday, which included being let down by his defense, a rotation fronted by Nolan McLean, Freddy Peralta, and Clay Holmes -- with Christian Scott and Jonah Tong as depth options -- should be just fine.
The same goes for a bullpen that might be one late-inning arm short at the moment, but got strong starts to the season from Devin Williams, Brooks Raley, Huascar Brazoban, Tobias Myers, and Luke Weaver (before a few tough outings for Weaver during the aforementioned homestand).
The relief unit should get a big boost with the return of A.J. Minter (perhaps in a few weeks), and could be jolted by someone like prospect Ryan Lambert a bit further down the line.
That takes us back to the offense, which could get Soto back at some point in the next 10 days or so.
Should there be some concern? Yes, especially when it comes to a player like Semien. But there's no reason to believe that run production will be much of an issue for this team, especially when Soto returns. And the advanced numbers bear that out.
It's possible it takes a bit longer for things to stabilize, with the Soto-less Mets facing Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Tuesday and Shohei Ohtani on Wednesday, but there is no reason to panic.
SURPRISE, AZ - MARCH 20: Texas Rangers shortstop Yolfran Castillo (49) throws the ball to first base against the Kansas City Royals during a Spring Breakout game on March 20, 2026, at Surprise Stadium at Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Fangraphs has released their list of the top 38 prospects in the Texas Rangers’ farm system for 2026.
The Rangers’ minor league system is not a strength right now, but the folks at Fangraphs do see some things to feel good about. In particular, they are more bullish than most, I think, on Yolfran Castillo, who they have second in the system currently, and Paxton Kling, who they identify as a dark horse top 100 candidate for next year.
Overall, the system is heavy on arms and light on impact position players (outside of Sebastian Walcott, of course).
And speaking of prospects, Thomas Nestico has his updated top 100 prospect list out. Both Walcott and Caden Scarborough make the cut, although Walcott drops in this update due to the elbow injury that is costing him most of the 2026 season.
Apr 12, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) salutes the fans after being named number one star of the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Capitals’ season home finale at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Geoff Burke/Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
WASHINGTON — If it was indeed the final home game of Alex Ovechkin’s sensational NHL career, the Washington Capitals star collected enough memories to take him deep into retirement.
From the opening faceoff to the celebratory post-game skate in which he waved gratefully to the adoring fans, Ovechkin enjoyed one heck of a day, Best of all, the Capitals won to remain in the playoff hunt.
Playing in front of an appreciative sellout crowd, the Capitals beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0. Ovechkin will wait until the offseason to decide whether to retire or return for a 22nd NHL season, but the fans weighed in early in the game by chanting, “One more year!”
Afterward, surrounded by his two young sons, Ovechkin had this response to that request: “I’ll think about it,” he said with a wry smile.
Ovechkin turns 41 in September, but the league’s all-time leading goal scorer with 929 isn’t exactly limping to the end of his brilliant career. He leads the Capitals with 32 goals and 63 points, and he received an assist on the empty-net goal that clinched the pivotal win.
“It’s a big moment for us right now,” he said. “Everybody was dialed in.”
The Capitals must win their regular-season finale in Columbus and hope Philadelphia fails to win either of its remaining two games. No matter how it plays out, and regardless of whether he decides to come back or not, Ovechkin always will have the day to savor.
“I’ll remember this moment, the atmosphere that was tonight,” he said.
It was no ordinary afternoon, and the Capitals knew it.
“You could tell, the game felt different and the night felt different,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. “A lot of great moments.”
It was an unusual game right from the start, when Ovechkin joined Pittsburgh great Sidney Crosby at center ice for the opening faceoff.
“The opening draw, I got a kick out of that,” Carbery said, before adding,. “I just caught myself watching in certain moments, taking it all in.”
It was the 100th meeting between Crosby and Ovechkin. Crosby and the Penguins have won more times than not, but Ovi has certainly made an impression on Sid the Kid.
“He came in with such high expectations, and he passed them,” Crosby said. “To be the greatest goal scorer of all time and to do what he’s done, its impressive.”
Carbery hopes that Ovechkin will add to his lofty goal total in 2026-27, but regardless, the coach is thankful to have been associated with The Great 8.
“If it is the end of his career, I smile thinking of those moments because been blessed to be his coach when he broke the all-time goals record and I was the coach that was with him at the end,” Carbery said. “I don’t take that for granted one minute.”
The 40-year-old netminder is in his 19th NHL season and will mark his 829th appearance in Florida to sign off on his illustrious career, and as one of the best American-born goaltenders in history.
Quick holds the record for most wins among American goaltenders with 410, and is second in that group in games played with 828. Only John Vanbiesbrouck has played more games among U.S.-born goalies, with 882.
The veteran netminder will always be remembered for his time with the Los Angeles Kings. He played 16 seasons with the Kings, recording 370 wins and averaging a .911 save percentage across 743 games with the team that selected him 72nd overall in the 2005 NHL draft.
Not only was he a superstar for Los Angeles in the regular season, but he was also a monster during the team's runs to the Stanley Cup.
That includes his Conn Smythe Trophy-winning campaign in 2011-2012 when he put up a .946 SP in 20 post-season appearances.
He backstopped the Kings to two Stanley Cups and won another with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2022-23.
In addition to his Cup rings and Conn Smythe Trophy, Quick also picked up a pair of William M. Jennings Trophies, which are awarded to the goalie or tandem "having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it" in the regular season.
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The Boston Red Sox (6-9) kick off a series against the Minnesota Twins (9-7) at Target Field tonight. Boston will send left-hander Garrett Crochet (2-1, 3.12 ERA) to the hill for his fourth start of the season while the Twins will counter with right-hander Bailey Ober (1-0, 5.27 ERA).
The Red Sox appear to have finally found their offensive rhythm, having scored 16 runs over the past couple of games. Yesterday, they smacked the Cardinals, 9-3. The highlights include four-hit games from both Trevor Story and Willson Contreras. In addition, Brayan Bello went 6.2 innings allowing two runs on six hits to earn his first win of the season. With two straight wins, Boston is now within two games of first in the American League East.
The Twins are one of the early season surprises in baseball. They sit tied atop the American League Central with the Guardians. Minnesota has now won six of their last seven games and secured another series win yesterday with a dominant 8-2 victory over the Blue Jays in Toronto yesterday. Tristan Gray cracked his second home run of the season and Taj Bradley secured his third win of the season allowing just one run over five innings.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Red Sox vs. Twins
Date: Monday, April 13, 2026
Time: 7:40PM EST
Site: Target Field
City: Minneapolis, MN
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, NESN, Twins.TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Red Sox vs. Twins
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Red Sox (-171), Twins (+141)
Spread: Red Sox -1.5 (+109), Twins +1.5 (-131)
Total: 7.5 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers: Red Sox vs. Twins
Pitching matchup for April 13:
Red Sox: Garrett Crochet Season Totals: 17.1 IP, 2-1, 3.12 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 22K, 4 BB
Twins: Bailey Ober Season Totals: 13.2 IP, 1-0, 5.27 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 7K, 4 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Red Sox vs. Twins
Luke Keaschall was 3-11 over the weekend against Minnesota
Josh Bell is 1-10 over his last 3 games
Matt Wallner has hit safely in 7 of his last 8 games and 9 of 11 games this month
Roman Anthony is just 1 for his last 16
Willson Contreras was 6-9 with 6 RBIs over the weekend
Jarren Duran was 3-9 with 4 RBIs and 3 runs scored the past 2 games
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Red Sox vs. Twins
The Twins are 10-6 on the Run Line this season
The Red Sox are 5-10 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 8 times in the Twins’ 16 games this season (8-7-1)
The OVER has cashed 8 times in Boston’s 15 games (8-7)
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions: Red Sox vs. Twins
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s game between the Red Sox and the Twins:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on Red Sox on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total OVER 7.5.
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Fans in Edmonton will get one last regular-season glimpse at McDavid vs. MacKinnon tonight at Rogers Place before the NHL playoffs begin this weekend.
Both clubs have secured playoff berths, but the Oilers are on the cusp of winning the pillow fight in the Pacific Division and will be desperate for a victory as they sit just one point (90) behind the Vegas Golden Knights (91), with both teams having two games remaining.
Will Edmonton pass the test and position themselves as home-icers in the first two rounds of the playoffs, or will Colorado play spoiler?
Colorado Avalanche: 52-16-11
The Opponent: Edmonton Oilers (40-30-10)
Time: 7:30 p.m. MT
Watch: Altitude, Altitude+, ESPN+
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio, 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
I’m not sure who spilled the salt at team dinner, but Colorado has been hit with an injury wave that has even extended to their head coach, Jared Bednar.
The puck he took to the face against Vegas has him still recovering from facial fractures and an abrasion in Colorado.
Maybe the view from the vantage of a fan can offer some insight, but I imagine Bedsy has his ways of influencing the group even from afar.
Now, as far as skaters go, I doubt we see Cale Makar, Josh Manson, or Nazem Kadri tonight or for the rest of the regular season.
Josh Manson left the Vegas game with an upper-body injury and did not return.
Josh Manson (upper body) will not return to the game.
The Oilers have been without Leon Draisaitl for quite some time, but still run with McDavid and have been a team that can’t consistently find their stride, but appear and often prove plenty capable.
Do the @EdmontonOilers have some tricks up these sleeves? 🟠🔵
Currently outscoring their opponents 26-10, the Oilers look to extend their alternate uniform win streak to FIVE games tonight‼️ pic.twitter.com/YxR4pjxkTg
Interestingly, if the Oilers and Avalanche meet later in the playoffs as both sides intend, the Oilers will have won two playoff rounds, and any doubts will dissipate, as that would mark their 3rd Western Conference Final in a row.
The question marks in Edmonton still largely revolve around netminding, with the Skinner for Jarry deal not really panning out early on.
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 07: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds the bases during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Colton Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers are going through some things in the early going, including both of their premium free agent acquisitions this winter. Kyle Tucker hasn’t really hit much at all yet, and closer Edwin Díaz struggled and has lost velocity on his fastball to the point that the Dodgers are trying to figure out an issue they insist is not injured-list worthy just yet.
But it’s a testament to the depth that even with the hiccups, the Dodgers keep racking up wins, including winning two series last week, first over the Blue Jays in Toronto in the second-earliest World Series rematch, then against the Rangers at Dodger Stadium.
Batter of the week
Shohei Ohtani broke another Ichiro Suzuki record (see below) and also upped the power, including leadoff home runs in back-to-back games over the weekend against Texas.
Honorable mention goes to Dalton Rushing, who had a four-hit game with two home runs in Toronto and is off to a terrific start; and to Andy Pages, who’s been the Dodgers’ best hitter for the season to date.
Pitcher of the week
Yoshinobu Yamamoto continues to be rock solid, including a win last week over the Blue Jays with a lone run allowed in six innings, with six strikeouts. He’s pitched four times at Rogers Centre in Toronto, and won all four games. You might remember the first three.
Emmet Sheehan and Justin Wrobleski also had their best starts this week, supporting a top three in the rotation that has gone exactly six innings every time out so far this season. The starters have set the pitching staff and team up quite well through the first five series of the season.
“Right now, these guys are allowing us to deploy the bullpen in their rightful spots,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Those guys are all pretty fresh, and we’re going to lean on them at some point, but it’s nice to get our feet underneath us with the starting pitching as the season starts.”
Week 3 results
4-2 record 37 runs scored (6.17 per game) 22 runs allowed (3.67 per game) .721 pythagorean win percentage
Year to date
11-4 record 91 runs scored (6.07 per game) 56 runs allowed (3.73 per game) .709 pythagorean win percentage (11-4)
Miscellany
On the climb: Third baseman Max Muncy on Friday night passed Steve Garvey into sixth place on the Dodgers home run list, now with 213 home runs since coming to Los Angeles. That was part of Muncy’s second career three-homer game, which is tied for most in franchise history, and he’s just the second Dodger to end a game of at least three home runs with a walk-off blast, joining Don Demeter in 1959.
On-base machine: Shohei Ohtani broke another record of Ichiro Suzuki, one of his heroes growing up. Friday was Ohtani’s 44th consecutive regular season game reaching base, passing the Hall of Famer for longest MLB streak by a Japanese player. Ohtani’s streak of 46 straight games and counting is the fifth-longest streak in modern Dodgers history, since 1900. “He’s taking walks, he’s getting hits, and he really hasn’t even gotten going yet,” Roberts said Friday.
Blow out the candles, and the rally: With Díaz on the shelf on Saturday, Alex Vesia was called on to record the last out against the Rangers, and his strikeout both closed out the win and earned a save on the left-hander’s 30th birthday. Vesia is the fifth Dodgers reliever to record a save on his birthday, joining Lerrin LaGrow (1979), Tom Niedenfuer (1986, 1987), Kenley Jansen (2017), and Caleb Ferguson (2018).
Transactions
Saturday: Pitcher Grant Holman’s 10-day stay on the 40-man roster ended when the Tigers claimed off waivers. Holman, who was claimed by the Dodgers from the Diamondbacks on April 1, did not pitch in the minors during his time in the organization.
The Dodgers run the Jay Payton gauntlet this week, hosting the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium (including Jackie Robinson Day on Wednesday, an ESPN-exclusive telecast) before hitting the road to face the Colorado Rockies. The stay at Coors Field extends into Monday, with the first three games of the wraparound series included in Week 4.
COVERS INTEL: Ben Rice has posted a .476 xwOBA with a 75% hard-hit rate across 35 plate appearances vs. Kikuchi.
