Dodgers vs. Blue Jays prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for April 8

The Dodgers (9-2) take the field at Rogers Centre this afternoon looking for the three-game sweep of the Blue Jays (4-7). Winners of six straight, LA sends Shohei Ohtani to the mound on getaway day. Still without a win in April, Toronto sends Dylan Cease to the bump.

While the Dodgers offense has carried them for the past week, last night it was their pitching that propelled them to a 4-1 win. Yoshinobu Yamamoto was elite allowing just one run on five hits while striking out six in six inningsto earn his second win of the season. Edwin Diaz pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his fourth save. Ohtani, Kyle Tucker, Will Smith, and Alex Freeland each drove in a run for the Dodgers. Andres Gimenez picked up a couple hits for the Jays in the loss.

With the win, the Dodgers’ lead in the American League West is now four games while the Blue Jays’ loss kept them from gaining ground on the Yankees in the American League East. They remain 4.5 games behind them.

Lets dive into this afternoon’s matchup and the finale of this three-game series and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game Details and How to Watch: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays

  • Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026
  • Time: 3:07PM EST
  • Site: Rogers Centre
  • City: Toronto, Ontario
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Sportsnet, Sportsnet Los Angeles

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: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays

The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Dodgers (-175), Blue Jays (+144)
  • Spread: Dodgers -1.5 (-108) / Blue Jays +1.5 (-112)
  • Total: 7.5 runs

Probable Starting Pitchers: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays

Pitching matchup for April 8:

  • Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani
    Season Totals: 6.0 IP, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 6K, 3 BB
  • Blue Jays: Dylan Cease
    Season Totals: 9.2 IP, 1-1, 2.79 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 18K, 5 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Dodgers vs. Blue Jays

  • Shohei Ohtani has hit safely in 5 straight games (9-24) and 7 of last 8 (11-34)
  • Kyle Tucker has driven in at least 1 run in 5 straight games
  • Will Smith is just 5-23 over his last 7 games and 6-30 over his last 9
  • George Springer is 3-22 in April (6 games)
  • Vlad Guerrero Jr. is also 3-22 in April (6 games)
  • Ernie Clement has hit safely in 3 straight games (4-11)

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: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays

  • The Dodgers are 7-4 on the Run Line this season
  • The Blue Jays are an MLB-worst 2-9 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 6 times in the Dodgers’ 11 games this season (6-5)
  • The OVER has cashed 5 times in Toronto’s first 11 games (5-6)

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: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays

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 Wednesday’s game between the Dodgers and the Blue Jays:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Dodgers on the Run Line.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total UNDER 8.0.

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Brewers vs Red Sox Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The Milwaukee Brewers and Boston Red Sox wrap up a three-game set at Fenway Park on Wednesday afternoon.

Boston evened the series by winning 3-2 last night, and my Brewers vs. Red Sox predictions are backing the home side to win again. 

Here are my best free MLB picks for this interleague showdown on April 8.

Who will win Brewers vs Red Sox today: Boston moneyline (-121)

Sonny Gray was roughed up in his Boston Red Sox debut but bounced back with a solid start last week. Gray had a 4.28 ERA last year but his FIP was much better at 3.39.

I trust him more than southpaw Shane Drohan, who makes his MLB debut for the Milwaukee Brewers. Drohan has good swing-and-miss stuff but struggles with command.

Boston has struggled with strikeouts this season but is hitting well against lefties (.256 BA). The Red Sox are also 10th in the majors in barrel rate and sixth in exit velocity, indicating positive regression.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Sonny Gray had a 3.29 SIERA and a 26.7% strikeout rate in 2025 — both numbers ranking sixth in the majors among qualifying starters.

Brewers vs Red Sox Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-101)

Drohan has potential as a back-of-the-rotation starter, but there's a reason Boston traded him away in the offseason. He was also just the No. 25-ranked prospect in the Brewers system on MLB pipeline. 

Meanwhile, Gray has been inconsistent dating back to the midway point of last season. The Brewers are fourth in the majors in OPS (.782) and third in runs per game (6.36). They are also familiar with Gray's stuff since he spent most of his career in the NL Central.

There's simply too many question marks for both starters for the total to be this low.

Rohit Ponnaiya's 2026 MLB Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 3-3, -0.7 units
  • Over/Under bets: 2-0, +2 units

Brewers vs Red Sox odds

  • Moneyline: Brewers +117 | Red Sox -122
  • Run line: Brewers +1.5 (-178) | Red Sox -1.5 (+170)
  • Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+100) | Under 7.5 (-104)

Brewers vs Red Sox trend

The Red Sox have won 31 of their last 50 games at home (+6.20 Units / 8% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Brewers vs. Red Sox.

How to watch Brewers vs Red Sox and game info

LocationFenway Park, Boston, MA
DateWednesday, April 8, 2026
First pitch1:35 p.m. ET
TVBREW, NESN
Brewers starting pitcherShane Drohan
(MLB debut)
Red Sox starting pitcherSonny Gray
(1-0, 4.50 ERA)

Brewers vs Red Sox latest injuries

Brewers vs Red Sox weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Padres at Pirates Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for April 8

The San Diego Padres (5-6) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (7-4) link up on MLB TV for the third and final meeting of a three-game series. San Diego won the first 5-0 and Pittsburgh, 7-1 on Tuesday.

Pittsburgh started the season hot, winning six of the first nine games and was the only starting pitching rotation in the MLB to not allow a home run. The Pirates are 7th in ERA at 3.27 and 10 in OBA (.217). On offense, Pittsburgh is hitting .249 (9th) with 12 home runs (T-6th) after finishing last year with the fewest homers in the league.

San Diego will attempt to reach .500 today with the series finale. The Padres rotation has a 3.99 ERA (16th), .248 OBA (21st), and rank 17th in WHIP (1.32). San Diego has the second-fewest homers in the MLB with six through 11 games and is hitting .205 (25th).

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Padres at Pirates

  • Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026
  • Time: 12:35 PM EST
  • Site: PNC Park
  • City: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Network/Streaming: MLB TV

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Padres at the Pirates
The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: San Diego Padres (-110), Pittsburgh Pirates (-110)
  • Spread: Padres -1.5 (+151), Pirates +1.5 (-184)
  • Total: 7.0

Probable starting pitchers for Padres at Pirates

  • Wednesday's pitching matchup (April 8): Michael King vs. Mitch Keller
  • Padres: Michael King

2026 stats: 10.2 IP, 0-1, 3.38 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 11 Ks, 5 BB

  • Pirates: Mitch Keller

2026 Stats: 12.0 IP, 1-0, 1.50 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 7 Ks, 4 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not!

  • The Padres’ Miguel Andujar is hitting .280 with seven hits, two runs scored, and two RBI in 25 at-bats
  • The Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. is hitting .195 with 13 strikeouts and 8 hits over 41 at-bats
  • The Pirates’ Oneil Cruz is hitting .295 with a team-high four home runs
  • The Pirates’ Marcell Ozuna is hitting .060 with  two hits and one run scored in 31 at-bats

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Padres at Pirates

  • The Padres are 6-5 ATS this season
  • The Pirates are 7-4 ATS this season
  • The Padres are 6-4-1 to the Under this season
  • The Pirates are 6-5 to the Over this season

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Padres and the Pirates

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Braves and the Diamondbacks:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Pirates on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Pirates at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 7.0

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Wednesday Morning Links

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 06: Corey Seager #5 of the Texas Rangers hits an RBI single in the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field on April 06, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Morning, all!

Josh Jung has continued to make sad choices at the plate, opening the door for Ezequiel Duran.

Jacob deGrom had an MRI on his knee but there’s no structural damage.

Have the Rangers found a new bullpen duo?

Kyle Higashioka helped the Rangers finally overcome George Kirby, who had been undefeated in his 10 previous starts against the Rangers.

Nathan Eovaldi threw his 1,500th strikeout Tuesday, which was also his first quality start of the year.

Joc Pederson may finally be turning things around after an 0 for 16 start to the season. Then again, he may not be.

Defensive mistakes prove costly, Padres head to rubber match

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 07: Nick Pivetta #27 of the San Diego Padres pitches in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 7, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Last night started off great.

It was a pitcher’s duel for five innings (and a no-hitter duel for 3 2/3 before a Gavin Sheets miscue). Heading into the eighth inning with the Pittsburgh Pirates leading the San Diego Padres 2-1, it felt like the Friars had a shot.

Adrian Morejon was coming in to pitch and it seemed like San Diego might see Mason Miller in the bottom of the ninth. Those hopes were dashed rather quickly.

After a quick first out, Morejon gave up two singles before a soft grounder to Xander Bogaerts. The shortstop dropped what would have been an inning-ending double play, and the bases became loaded.

What followed was a slaughterhouse, with the Bucs scored five runs on three straight singles before Morejon was finally lifted for Ron Marinaccio. The bleeding stopped there, but the damage was done and San Diego lost the game, 7-1.

Today they’ll face the Pirates in their second straight rubber match. Hopefully they can take the series and end this road trip at .500 before heading home for tomorrow’s series opener against the Colorado Rockies.

Taking the mound

Mitch Keller (PIT) v. Michael King (SD)

Keller has gotten off to a fantastic start in 2026, with only two runs allowed across 12 innings pitched. But, in his last start against the Baltimore Orioles, he struggled to limit the walks (4 BBs).

If San Diego can capitalize on those command issues, the Padres will have a shot at getting Keller out of the game early.

King has also been solid in his first two starts. His first start was a vintage five-inning performance in which he limited the Detroit Tigers to one hit.

But he struggled in his last outing, giving up four runs on seven hits against the Boston Red Sox. That was mostly due to one bad inning, so if King can miss bats like he did in his first start, the Friars should be alright.

Batter up!

Facing the righty Keller will allow manager Craig Stammen to use mostly the same lineup as yesterday’s game. That could change somewhat, with Nick Castellanos either replacing Miguel Andujar at DH or Gavin Sheets at first base:

  1. Ramón Laureano, LF
  2. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
  3. Jackson Merrill, CF
  4. Manny Machado, 3B
  5. Xander Bogaerts, SS
  6. Gavin Sheets, DH
  7. Nick Castellanos, 1B
  8. Jake Cronenworth, 2B
  9. Luis Campusano, C

After yesterday’s lack of hitting against ace Paul Skenes, San Diego will need to turn it around on Keller. They certainly have done that historically, with those who have faced him having a combined .288 batting average against the righty.

Chief among those is Machado who has a .294 average in 17 at-bats.

What to look out for: Merrill is 3-for-6 in his career against Keller. His bat has been relatively cold to start the year so it would be nice to see him breakout today.

Relief corps

Pivetta was quite sharp through five innings (including four one-hit innings) apart from an Oneil Cruz two-run double that ended his night. His five innings allowed San Diego to be relatively lax in its bullpen usage.

The Padres ended up using Bradgley Rodriguez, Wandy Peralta, Morejon, and Marinaccio. Those four covered the remaining three innings well — apart from Morejon’s blowup.

That leaves multi-inning options like Kyle Hart and David Morgan. Behind those two are high-leverage relievers Jeremiah Estrada and closer Mason Miller.

Miller’s been dominant thus far this season, but San Diego has only used him in save situations. If the Friar Faithful hope to see him today, the Padres’ offense will have to bounce back after yesterday’s one-run performance.

Yankees Rivalry Roundup: Jays drop another to Dodgers in World Series rematch

TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 7: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches in the first inning of their MLB against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on April 7, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It took a while to overcome the cold, but the bats heated up in the eighth inning for the Yankees to manage the Athletics in the opener of their latest series. Amed Rosario was the clear MVP of the night, smashing a pair of home runs including the go-ahead three-run jack that won them the ballgame. The Yankees’ continued success puts the pressure on the rest of their rivals to keep pace or fall into a widening early-season gap, so let’s see who managed to pull even on the day and who fell a little further behind.

Los Angeles Dodgers (9-2) 4, Toronto Blue Jays (4-7) 1

The Dodgers continue to haunt the Jays, returning from their victory in last year’s World Series just to stick it to them again on their home turf. It wasn’t the absolute beatdown that they gave them on Monday, but the Dodgers ran out Yoshinobu Yamamoto and watched him carve up the Blue Jays’ bats for six innings. He allowed just the one run, an RBI double from George Springer in the sixth inning that briefly threatened to cause a rally for Toronto. Yamamoto allowed a walk to put the tying run on base at the time, but buckled down and got the next two outs on grounders to end his night.

Meanwhile, Kevin Gausman wasn’t quite as effective against LA’s lineup. He lasted 5.1 innings, giving up a pair of runs in the third when Hyeseong Kim led off with a double, got moved to third on a bunt single and scored on a Shohei Ohtani single, and then Will Smith hit into a force out. Later, in the fifth, Kim led off again and worked a walk, and then moved to second on a balk that drew Toronto manager John Schneider’s ire and led to him getting ejected. Alex Freeland slapped a single to right to score him, making it 3-0 Dodgers. They tacked on an insurance run in the ninth inning, but it was hardly necessary as the Blue Jays managed just one hit in three innings against the Dodger ‘pen.

Boston Red Sox (3-8) 3, Milwaukee Brewers (8-3) 2

Boston’s been in a major skid to start the year, going 1-8 after Opening Day to put themselves squarely in last place in the AL East entering play on Tuesday. They faced a tough challenge in avoiding a ninth loss with Jacob Misiorowski on the mound for Milwaukee, but Garrett Crochet was going for Boston and rebounded from his previous poor start against Houston quite nicely.

Misiorowski gave the Sox plenty of trouble out of the gate, striking out the side in the first inning and following that up by striking out the first two batters in the second. Ceddanne Rafaela worked a leadoff walk in the third for the first Boston baserunner, but he was erased on a double play after yet another strikeout victim. Willson Contreras picked up the first base hit for the Sox in the fourth, but two more batters K’d including an ABS-confirmed punchout to end the frame, and the fifth saw a runner reach scoring position after a single and hit by pitch but nothing else.

Things changed in the sixth inning, however. Misiorowski struck out his 10th batter of the night in Roman Anthony to lead off, but then issued three straight walks to load the bases before getting lifted for a reliever in DL Hall. Trevor Story greeted him with a two-run double to break the scoreless tie, and a grounder to second brought in a third run.

Crochet had been matching zeroes on the scoreboard up until this point, but he found his limit in the top of the seventh. Joey Ortiz led off with a single, and two batters later Sal Frelick singled to put runners on with one out. A walk then loaded the bases, and Crochet made a rare error in hitting David Hamilton to force in a run. That would be it for Crochet, who handed the baton over to Zack Kelly and watched as he allowed one of his baserunners to score on a grounder but managed to preserve the lead by getting a second groundout. Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman locked down the eighth and ninth innings, securing Boston’s third win of the year.

Minnesota Twins (5-6) 4, Detroit Tigers (4-7) 2

The Tigers had to feel confident entering this matchup, running Tarik Skubal against Taj Bradley. Their ace wasn’t on top form, however, while the Twins’ starter twirled a gem leading them to victory and overtaking Detroit in the early standings.

The game was scoreless through four, but the Twins jumped on Skubal in the fifth starting with a pair of one-out walks. Luke Keaschall, Ryan Jeffers, and Josh Bell all ripped RBI hits to push four runs across the plate, the last of which drove Skubal from the game after 4.2 innings. The reigning two-time Cy Young Award winner struck out seven in this outing, but he couldn’t avoid contact as he allowed eight hits on the afternoon, and both of his walks came to hurt him.

Bradley, on the other hand, was masterful against Detroit’s lineup. He went 6.1 innings, striking out 10 batters and scattering six hits throughout. Two of those came in the seventh inning, leading to his removal after recording his final punchout of the outing. Taylor Rogers came in and got them out of the inning with just one of those runners scoring, and after wasting a pair of walks in the eighth the Tigers hit two doubles in the ninth to drive in a second run. The tying run made it to the plate following a two-out walk, but Dillon Dingler grounded out to end it.

Colorado Rockies (5-6) 5, Houston Astros (6-6) 1

Raise your hand if you had the Rockies taking back-to-back wins against the Astros in this matchup — no, put your hands back down, we’re not buying it. In all seriousness though, Colorado had a far easier time on Tuesday as Kyle Freeland tossed 6.1 innings of one-run ball, getting beat just once in the second inning for a Christian Walker solo shot. That briefly gave Houston the lead, but they gave it up in the bottom half as the first three Rockies all reached base. Colorado took their own lead in the fourth on a Willi Castro two-run shot, and tacked on two more when Mickey Moniak launched a two-run blast of his own.

Texas Rangers (6-5) 3, Seattle Mariners (4-8) 2

Brendan Donovan owns an OPS over 1.100 in the early going, and he got the M’s off to an excellent start with a leadoff homer. Unfortunately, the rest of the Mariners’ lineup has been rather ice-cold, and they struggled to do much else in support of George Kirby on the mound. Cal Raleigh managed to knock in a run with two outs in the fifth, but the offense couldn’t muster up much else around those two instances. And while Kirby managed to go the distance in this game, it was only an eight-inning effort as he fell behind in the fifth — back-to-back singles set up our old friend Kyle Higashioka for a go-ahead home run.

Braves Minor League Recap: David McCabe homers

Glendale Desert Dogs v. Peoria Javelinas

It was a strong set of games on Tuesday for the Atlanta Braves system, with three of four teams winning and Columbus only losing to some late pitching struggles. The position player depth at the lower levels was at full display with some important performances down in Augusta and Rome, especially the games from Alex Lodise and Conor Essenburg. The top pitching performance of the day came from the top prospect. JR Ritchie took a no hitter in the sixth inning, striking out seven batters over one inning of work and only allowing one run.

(6-4) Gwinnett Stripers 4, (5-4) Nashville Sounds 1

Box Score

Statcast

  • Jim Jarvis, SS: 2-3, BB, 4 SB, RBI, .368/.478/.474
  • Rowdy Tellez, 1B: 0-2, BB, RBI, .200/.286/.467
  • JR Ritchie, SP: 7 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 1.72 ERA

The scorching start to the month of April gave the Stripers another win, with JR Ritchie’s dominant performance leading the way in their series-opener with Nashville. For the first five innings Ritchie was unhittable, mowing through the Sounds order with no hard-hit balls allowed despite some on-and-off command issues. Ritchie mostly kept the ball in the edges of the zone, and his tendency to not make mistakes over the middle did help in him going five hitless innings, but he had a few cases of nasty misses on his fastball. While a line of seven innings, one walk, and seven strikeouts looks incredible, adding in the three batters he plunked sort of dims the final line and shows where he was getting himself into trouble. The final of those hit batters led directly to the only run Ritchie allowed, as a stolen base and a single plated the lone Nashville score for this contest. Ritchie finished off with another hitless inning in the seventh, though, and wrapped a promising start. He held his velocity well throughout the game and was terrific with his curveball, keeping the pitch down and just below the zone consistently to force strikeouts. Six of his seven strikeouts came on that pitch and he got five whiffs on seven swings, and that deeper breaking ball has been the more consistent pitch to both handed batters over the past season.

Gwinnett jumped on Nashville starter Carlos Rodriguez in the early part of the game, taking advantage of Rodriguez’s wildness to put up four runs which they rode to the win despite struggling against the Sounds bullpen. The Stripers just ran all over the Sounds with 10 stolen bases in the game — seven with Rodriguez on the mound. Jim Jarvis alone had four stolen bases, and the pressure he put on Rodriguez offensively helped contribute to three of the Stripers runs. Jarvis’s single and two stolen bases in the first inning didn’t amount to anything, but in the second inning he came up with a two-out walk with a runner on third base. Jarvis broke for second drawing a throw, and on the double steal DaShawn Keirsey Jr. took home and pushed the Stripers lead to 2-0. Two innings later Jarvis reached yet again on a base hit, driving in another run, and after stealing third base he was able to score Gwinnett’s final run on a sacrifice fly. While the sample size is exceedingly small and batted ball luck has a major influence, Jarvis has really shined since coming over to Atlanta last season. In 34 combined games between Columbus and Gwinnett Jarvis has put up a .389 on base percentage, and the Braves have kept him aggressive stealing bases. Jarvis is a perfect 14-14 on stolen bases in those 34 games after only stealing eight bases in 77 Double-A games with the Tigers. The lack of power potential that limits his ceiling hasn’t made any shifts, but if Jarvis can add more value on the basepaths and draw more walks (which he has done in a very small sample this season) it would really help him in trying to carve out a bench role at the next level.

Swing and Misses

JR Ritchie – 11

(0-4) Columbus Clingstones 4, (3-0) Montgomery Biscuits 5

Box Score

  • Luke Waddell, SS: 2-4, .250/.357/.250
  • David McCabe, 1B: 1-3, HR, BB, 2 RBI, .400/.571/1.000
  • Drue Hackenberg, SP: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0.00 ERA
  • Luis Vargas, RP: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 2.70 ERA

Behind a less-than-exciting group of position players it’s been a terrible start to this young season for the Clingstones, though in this one it was the late collapse of the bullpen that lead to their fourth straight loss. Columbus went an ugly 0-5 as a team with runners in scoring position, but thanks to the star of this offense they still held the lead for much of this game. With the game still scoreless heading into the third inning Columbus had an opportunity to strike first with the too of the order, and Luke Waddell managed to reach on a squibber up the middle that turned into a tough play for the second baseman. This brought up David McCabe, who has been the most dangerous threat in this lineup by a large margin. McCabe got a breaking ball that hung up in the strike zone on the first pitch, and there was no doubt when it left his bat that he had hit his second home run of the season and given Columbus a 2-0 lead. McCabe would have another opportunity with a runner on base two innings later, but his fly ball died shied of the warning track in left center field for an out. The game remained quiet until the eighth inning, when the Lizandro Espinoza and the wildness of the Montgomery bullpen allowed Columbus to extend their lead. Espinoza chopped a ball down the line that the third baseman was able to make a good snag on, but the third baseman’s backpedal to get there had him off balance and Espinoza was able to beat out the throw. Espinoza then advanced on a wild pitch and a ground out before a wild pitch on a David McCabe walk brought him in to extend the lead. Montgomery would tie it in the bottom of the eighth inning, but the Clingstones struck back in the ninth after Jordan Groshans reached on a strike three passed ball. Adam Zebrowski’s single the other way was the clutch play of the inning, and with a runner on third and just one out Columbus had a chance to put a lot of pressure on Montgomery’s bats. The next two hitters struck out, though a wild pitch was enough to bring home the runner from third and send the game to the bottom of the ninth with Columbus clinging to the narrowest of margins.

The numbers for Drue Hackenberg’s season debut look impressive despite him throwing too many balls, but unfortunately there isn’t a lot that can be gleaned from this start. The five strikeouts and seven whiffs over two innings open eyes, but due to technical difficulties the first three innings of this game are lost to history and we’ll just have to wait another week to see Hackenberg in a Columbus uniform again. The person we can evaluate is Luis Vargas, who has been dominant after injury prematurely ended his 2025 season. We had hoped last season would be his breakout campaign, but he has new life in 2026 and is taking full advantage of it. Vargas was efficient with his fastball in his first inning of work and struck out the side, though the only couple of times the slider came into play it missed badly. He started off the next inning by leaving a slider over the plate that got smacked for a solo home run, after which he settled down and started to make quality pitches with that slider. Still he left one in the zone that got hit for a double in a later at bat, and it was the clear weak point for him in this game. He was pretty much just spamming sliders over and over again in the second inning, a sequence that wouldn’t really be the strategy in a typical scenario, so it appears as if that was a point of emphasis for him to work on this game and it led to some struggles in the second inning. In the eighth inning Columbus turned to Blane Abeyta to protect a two run lead, a decision that last season would have been a great one. Abeyta was strong in 2025, but 2026 didn’t get the best start as he allowed a two run home run that tied up the game. In the ninth inning Blayne Enlow didn’t even record an out. He allowed a leadoff home run that tied the game right back up, then after a walk gave up a double that walked the game off for the Biscuits.

Swing and Misses

Drue Hackenberg – 7

LJ McDonough – 6

Luis Vargas – 6

(3-1) Rome Emperors 6, (2-2) Bowling Green Hot Rods 2

Box Score

  • Isaiah Drake, CF: 1-5, BB, RBI, .294/.400/.647
  • John Gil, SS: 1-4, 2 BB, 3 SB, .286/.444/.500
  • Eric Hartman, CF: 1-4, HR, BB, 2 RBI, .200/.294/.600
  • Colin Daniel, SP: 4 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 4 K, 4.50 ERA
  • Owen Hackman, RP: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0.00 ERA

It was another exciting game for the Rome offense, with every batter in the order recording at least one hit and the team combining for 10 hits and nine walks in their win. The first scoring inning for them kicked off with a defensive miscue, however. Owen Carey led off with a great swing to send the ball hard the other way, but it was within the range of the left fielder. The defender took a terrible route and overran the ball, and was unable to recover with the ball sailing over his head for a leadoff double. Carey would end up scoring on a single from Colby Jones, and after a catcher interference call the lineup flipped and Isaiah Drake came up with a two-out RBI single. It was still a close game later on in the eighth inning, and the top of the lineup was looking for a chance for some key insurance runs. Isaiah Drake led off and drew a walk, but with two outs the chance to score came down to Eric Hartman, who had already struck out three times this game. Hartman fell down 0-1 in the count, then got a slider that stayed up and on the inner half of the plate where he likes pitches. Hartman turned and launched one down the right field line, launching a no-doubter that broke the game open and put Rome up 5-2. Elsewhere John Gil had another great game, extending his opening hitting streak to four games. He had a hard hit line drive single in the first inning and also reached twice with two more walks. So far Gil has stolen eight bases in four games, has more walks than strikeouts, and is hitting the ball much harder than he was last season.

11th round pick Colin Daniel made his debut for Rome, and the Hot Rods struggled to do much with him at the plate. His sinker was forcing the hitters to roll over and make weak contact, and Bowling Green couldn’t plate a single run before Daniel left the game, despite Daniel struggling to command the ball. Daniel was able to hold it together in the early stages of the game, but as his outing went on the walks started to pile up though he also began to miss more bats. As he integrated his sweeper into his approach the second time through the order the Hot Rods began to whiff more and Daniel struck out three batters in the fourth inning. He came out for the fifth inning but walked the first two batters and was immediately yanked in favor of Owen Hackman. Hackman allowed both inherited runners to score before getting out the inning, and that was all that Bowling Green would get in the game. Hackman and Rodriguez both locked down over the final four innings, combining for seven strikeouts and only one more baserunner allowed.

Swing and Misses 

Colin Daniel – 6

David Rodriguez – 5

(1-3) Augusta GreenJackets 10, (1-3) Delmarva Shorebirds 7

Box Score

  • Tate Southisene, 2B: 2-3, BB, .267/.476/.267
  • Conor Essenburg, CF: 3-4, 2B, 2 BB, 2 RBI, .333/.524/.600
  • Alex Lodise, SS: 3-6, 2B, 3 RBI, .421/.450/.526
  • Luis Guanipa, RF: 1-5, RBI, .357/.400/.500
  • Aiven Cabral, SP: 3 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 3.00 ERA

The top of the Augusta lineup went off in this game, combining for eight hits and three walks, finally earning the first win of the season for the GreenJackets. Tate Southisene had trouble in his first series last week, but made a huge impact in this game despite not making solid contact. He struggled with six strikeouts in the three games this week, but made contact and was able to grab two hits and reach base a total of five times. Southisene drew a walk and was also hit by pitches twice, and his three runs scored led the way for Augusta. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Conor Essenburg, who hasn’t slowed down at all this season as he has reached safely multiple times in every single game. On the second pitch he saw in this game he rocketed a grounder down the third base line and cruised in for a double, igniting a scoring chance for the GreenJackets. Alex Lodise followed with a with an inside out line drive that sunk in front of the right fielder, pushing Essenburg 90 feet forward, and Luis Guanipa slapped a line drive the opposite way for an RBI to put Augusta up early. That lead lasted until a four run outburst from Delmarva in the third inning, and Essenburg popped up with another impactful plate appearance. With the bases loaded Essenburg worked a 3-2 count and then got a pitch in the zone, and shot a hard liner through the left sign of the infield to drive in a run and cut a bit into the lead. Lodise followed again with a huge swing, bashing a fastball off of the right field wall for a double, erasing that lead and scoring two runs. Augusta had a huge opportunity to extend the lead with one out and two runners in scoring position, but Luis Guanipa and Nick Montgomery struck out back to back to end the inning.

Delmarva retook the lead in the fifth inning, and once again the top of the order was needed to pull the GreenJackets ahead. Southisene led the inning off with a swinging bunt single, and Essenburg exploded his bat but came through with a soft single, and the middle of the order had no outs and two runners to work with in a hurry. Lodise again came through in a big spot, lacing a single up the middle to score Southisene and tie the game right back up. Caden Merritt would finally let Augusta retake the league, beating out a soft roller down the line with two outs that the third baseman misplayed. The lead did not last. Delmarva scored a run to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh inning the Shorebirds let up four consecutive walks, the final of which was issued to Essenburg and gave Augusta a lead they would not relinquish this time around. Lodise finally failed to come through in the clutch as he struck out swinging, but an error on a Luis Guanipa grounded scored two runs and ballooned the lead to three runs. Merritt once again knocked in a run on a slow grounder over to the third baseman that the defender dropped, accounting for the final run of the game for Augusta.

Swing and Misses

Aiven Cabral – 8

Mathieu Curtis – 6

Lewis Sifontes – 6

Elephant Rumblings: A’s Bullpen Exposed in the Big Apple

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 07: Mark Leiter Jr. #38 of the Athletics walks off the field after he is pulled from the game in the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 07, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Entering the season, the concern among Athletics’ fans and baseball experts was that the team had not done enough to improve their bullpen sans closer Mason Miller. Through ten games, that concern is fully warranted. It is likely that good players with a history of success did not want to sign with the A’s to play at a minor league home field, or the team was unwilling to offer these players the contracts they wanted. As a result, middle relievers Scott Barlow and Leiter Jr. were the best the A’s could do in this past offseason’s free agency relief market.

The A’s have a bunch of iffy relievers, none of whom have extensive closing experience at the MLB level. So then it falls to the team’s manager Mark Kotsay to best position his players for success. Yet, right now it is hard for Kotsay and A’s fans to trust any reliever that enters the game in the seventh inning or later. In Sunday’s series finale against the Astros, Barlow entered with a four-run lead and did not record an out, combining with Leiter to blow that advantage.

Last night, Kotsay thought Leiter’s experience at Yankee Stadium could lead to him getting through the eighth inning, a decision that massively backfired. If Kotsay had switched pitchers after Stanton’s at-bat or before Rosario’s, the game’s outcome might have been different. Yes, two of the first three hits Leiter Jr. gave up were not hit hard, but they still found grass resulting in base runners and runs scored.

Right now, it feels like right-hander Justin Sterner and left-hander Hogan Harris are the A’s two most reliable relievers. Right-hander Elvis Alvarado could join them as he certainly has closer stuff, although his tendency to walk batters remains a problem.

While it’s still early in the season, time remains for the A’s to resolve this bullpen problem as the current mix of guys is not working. Kotsay and the team’s general manager David Forst must make the necessary roster moves or role changes sooner rather than later as this team has too talented of an offense to watch late leads disappear every single game.

What do you think needs to happen for the A’s bullpen to perform better or will this be a problem that lasts the whole season? Is it too early to make wholesale changes? Can they find anyone willing to come who will be any better? Or do we just chalk this up to another rebuilding year?

A’s Coverage:

MLB News and Interest:

Best of X

Starting pitcher Aaron Civale is off to a great start with the Athletics. He has pitched well in two straight starts against tough opponents.


How many blown saves do you think A’s pitchers will have accumulated by the end of the season?

The Athletics need a couple guys to step up and prove they can handle the pressure that comes with pitching in the eighth and ninth innings of MLB games.




Burnt ends: Terrance Gore is honored and ABS is working

Mar 30, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Zane Got (son of former Kansas City Royals player Terrance Gore delivers the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

I’ve watched a lot of baseball in the last 60 years and have rarely been moved like I was on Opening Day when young Zane Gore stepped to the mound and threw a perfect strike to Alex Gordon. I’m not ashamed to admit that it brought me to tears, and judging by social media, many others felt the same. The Royals organization has had a rough ten years, first losing Yordano Ventura and now Terrance Gore. The organization has done a nice job honoring both men.


Speaking of Gore, the last time I saw him play in person was on July 29, 2017. If the date sounds familiar, that’s because it was the first game after the Royals made a much-celebrated “subtraction by addition” trade with the Padres, in which they dealt three perfectly good players to San Diego for a trio of pitchers (Ryan Buchter, Trevor Cahill, and Brandon Maurer). The Royals, gasping for one last playoff run, came into the game on a nine-game winning streak, with three of those coming in walk-off fashion. The conventional wisdom was that the three new arms would put them over the top.

The game itself was exciting. Cahill got the start, and all three former San Diego arms pitched. Ned used seven pitchers that night, as did the Sox, in a game that lasted almost five hours. Joakim Soria, in his second stint with the team, blew a one-run lead in the eighth inning. Salvy led off the ninth with a single, which brought out Terrance Gore to run for him. Everyone in the stadium knew what he was going to do. It was the most exciting and tense inning of the entire game. Sox catcher Sandy León managed to throw out Gore in one of those crazy challenge situations, where Gore came off the bag by a quarter inch. It didn’t matter, as Mike Moustakas and Brandon Moss both went down swinging to end the inning. The Sox manufactured a run in the 10th, and that was that.

Despite the loss, seeing a game at Fenway is always a good time. Sox fans love their baseball and know how to make a party out of it. Plus, there’s something special about singing “Sweet Caroline” with 37,000 other people. The loss sent the Royals into a tailspin. The team won only 26 of its final 61 games as the San Diego curse took hold.


Speaking of former Royals, how about the start that Joey Wiemer is having in Washington? Through 26 plate appearances, he’s slashing a cool .476/.577/.857 with ten hits, including two home runs. It goes without saying that it’s an incredibly small sample size, and he will cool off. It’s also possible that he’s turned the corner in his age-27 season and could become the next Brent Rooker-type castoff. I understand that he didn’t do anything notable in his Kansas City tenure, where he hit just .182 over 72 games, at Omaha, no less. He’s got the physical tools at 6’4″, 226, with good speed. Here’s hoping he’s figured it out.


The Royals stand at 5-6, hoping to get back to .500 today. Saturday’s first game also happened to be the first time this season I’ve seen them play, thanks to some strange television blackout rules. Much like last season, the bats are early-season AWOL. The starting pitching has been mostly great this season—until this game. Luinder Avila, whom many were pining to have on the Opening Day roster after his stellar showing in the WBC, crapped the bed in his 2026 Royals debut. He’s young and has a live arm. He’ll be okay. The bullpen, at times, has been scarier than a gas station bathroom, but the Royals have had a knack for finding capable relievers.

By and large, Royals fans, including me, are a pessimistic and fickle bunch. We’ve endured a lot of losing over the past 30 years, and it’s worn on us. We’re not at the dish-throwing stage yet, but we can get there in a hurry if the boys don’t start hitting and scoring some runs.


Of course, the big change for 2026 has been the introduction of the challenge system. I’ve been calling for it for several seasons, primarily because one missed strike or ball call can change an at-bat, which in turn can change a game. And many times, playoff berths are decided by one game.

Say, for example, there are two outs with men on second and third, and the count on the batter is two balls and one strike. The next pitch is an inch or so out of the strike zone but is called a strike. Last season, that means 2–2, and the pitcher is now in control. He’d most likely throw a slider down and away, looking for the punchout.

If the call is challenged and overturned, the count goes to 3–1, and the batter is in control. A 3–1 count is a prime hitter’s count, and if I were at the plate, I’d be looking for a fastball.

A base hit scores two.

The system has been very popular with the fans, and some umpires (here’s looking at you, C.B. Bucknor) have taken it in the shorts. I feel some sympathy for the umpires. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to try to gauge a ball moving at 95–100 mph with vertical or horizontal movement over a 17-inch target. Some of the overturns have been egregious misses. Others have been on balls that were less than a half inch off the zone. Pull out a tape measure and look at half an inch. Tough job, but it’s what they’ve been trained – and paid – to do.


I was out at what remains of our mall the other day, looking for clothes in Von Maur, and stumbled across a nifty little leather-bound book called The Ballpark Bucket List by James Buckley Jr. Inside are several pages dedicated to each of the majors’ ballparks, where you can take notes on your visit. The book set off an obsessive search of programs and ticket stubs from games I’ve attended at various parks around the country and brought back many terrific memories.

Surprisingly, in 53 years of attending games, I’ve only seen two extra-inning games. I’ve seen Reggie Jackson hit home runs for three franchises: New York, Baltimore, and California.

I’d forgotten that I’d seen Steve Busby pitch several times. It’s a shame that this generation of Royals fans hasn’t been exposed to Busby’s greatness.

Along with Busby, I’ve seen some other great pitchers: Jim Kaat, Bert Blyleven, Randy Johnson, and Nolan Ryan come to mind.

One game program had an autograph from Buck O’Neil. I wish I’d gotten a picture with him.

My brother Shane and I love visiting ballparks and sporting venues. We’ll send each other selfies in front of some sporting palace in a “guess where I am” game. If you’re like me and enjoy documenting your baseball visits, take a look at this cool baseball book.

Mariners News: Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, and Konnor Griffin

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 26: Logan Gilbert #36 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at T-Mobile Park on March 26, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Good day folks!

It’s been a tough stretch for the Mariners, who fell again in a one-run contest to the Rangers to move their season record to 4-8. They’ll look to get back in the win column during a day game today against MacKenzie Gore, with first pitch at 11:35am PT.

For those of you on the west coast, how do you like morning baseball games? It’s been a minute since I got to experience one, but I remember enjoying that I got a baseball game that day and also got to enjoy a rare baseball-free evening.

In Mariners news…

Around the league…

Red Sox Minor Lines: WooSox continue to hit (and Kristian Campbell starts hitting) but still lose

Mar 7, 2026; Houston, TX, United States; Great Britain third baseman Nate Eaton (18) hits a solo home run against the United States during the first inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

The theme of Tuesday’s slate of games was “quite a bit of offense, but not enough.” Starting pitching struggled, and even everyone pitching in at the plate wasn’t enough for Worcester and Portland… but it was plenty for Greenville and Salem, who had the help of solid defense. Let’s get into it.

Worcester: L, 10-14 (BOX SCORE)

It was a good night at the plate for the WooSox. The two-through-five hitters combined to go 9 for 20, with Kristian Campbell chipping in with three hits as his season OPS rises over .700. (He did, however, commit a throwing error in right field.) Even the bottom two hitters in the lineup, Vinny Capra and Matt Thaiss, each got a home run. Note Mikey Romero, who still has a batting average well over .300. And Sogard and Gasper continue to get on base at the top of the lineup.

But the team could not surmount some rough waters churned up by T.J. Sikkemma and Jacob Webb to start the game, as they very quickly found themselves in a 7-2 hole that was impossible to climb back from, especially following Noah Song’s three-run blown save. Columbus (Guardians AAA) had eight hits with runners in scoring position (and twenty-five opportunities to do so) so Tuesday was just a matter of the other team getting on the basepaths earlier in the inning and using their opportunities better.

Portland: L, 7-12(BOX SCORE)

It was opening day in Portland. Great! The Sea Dogs’ Hayden Mullins, Jorge Juan and Cade Feeney gave up ten runs to their neighbors from New Hampshire (Jays AA) in the second inning and saw fourteen batters come to the plate while throwing four wild pitches between the three of them. Definitely not great.

Miguel Bleis did have his first home run of the season, but that only cut the lead to 12-6. Patrick Halligan had seven strikeouts and allowed just one hit and a walk in three innings of relief and Max Carlson struck out five more in his two innings of work, but he was only in the game that long because of the prior pitching meltdown. Still, it is good to see some members of the organization turn early struggles around and remind us all that a small sample size is just that… cough cough… I hope?

Greenville: W, 7-2 (BOX SCORE)

No one went hungry and hitless Tuesday in Hub City (Rangers High-A) as every single member of the Drive chipped in at least one knock even if they struck out fourteen times. It did take until the sixth for the Drive to sling a run on the board, but the offense came in spades when it finally emerged. Shea Sprague left with a 2-0 deficit despite pitching three clean innings following the first, but Jojo Ingrassia had three innings of hitless baseball and Shane Ehrlicher had his first save of the season.

Salem: W, 10-2 (BOX SCORE)

While the Red Sox sweated out a W against the Brewers’ Major League club, the RidgeYaks cruised to a win against their Single-A counterparts thanks to plenty of knocks in the third and fourth frames, putting this one out of doubt pretty quickly behind some solid, if not short, pitching from last year’s sixth-round draft pick Leighton Finley. Catcher Kleighver Salazar had a monster day at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two doubles. It is funny how much getting runners on the basepaths early in the inning and converting those runners when they get into scoring position can affect the outcome of a game … but of course, I’m just speaking out loud here.

Have a pleasant Wednesday!

Game Preview #80 – Timberwolves at Magic

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MARCH 07: Terrence Shannon Jr. #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket against Jett Howard #13 and Jevon Carter #2 of the Orlando Magic in the fourth quarter at Target Center on March 07, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Magic defeated the Timberwolves 119-92. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Minnesota Timberwolves at Orlando Magic
Date: April 8th, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM CDT
Location: Kia Center
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio

There’s a very specific kind of relief that only long-time Timberwolves fans truly understand, the kind where you’re not celebrating something great so much as you’re exhaling because something catastrophic didn’t happen.

That was Tuesday night in Indiana.

Within a span of a few hours, the Wolves handled their business against a decimated Pacers team, the Suns lost to the Rockets, and just like that, Minnesota’s magic number to avoid the play-in dropped to zero. It’s official: the Wolves are in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, and we can all avoid the psychological warfare that would have been a one-and-done play-in scenario for a team that spent parts of this season flirting with the three seed.

Given the franchise’s history, and let’s be honest, we’ve seen enough inexplicable meltdowns to last a lifetime, that alone is worth something.

While we breathe our collective sigh of relief that the Wolves avoided disaster, let’s not forget that they also created the conditions that made disaster possible in the first place. Too many nights where they drifted. Too many games they treated like a Netflix show you half-watch while scrolling your phone. Too many fourth quarters where they convinced themselves they could “flip the switch”, and then discovered, yet again, that the switch doesn’t always work.

So yeah, they’re in.

But they’re also here, staring at what’s almost certainly the six seed, because of all the opportunities they let slip through their fingers over the past six months.


The Standings Reality Check

Let’s talk about the other “magic number” — the one that actually matters now.

Houston’s magic number to lock up the five seed is down to one. They still have Philadelphia on the schedule, which, as Minnesota learned the hard way, is no walk in the park with Joel Embiid back in the lineup. But even if the Rockets stumble there, and the Wolves take them down on Friday, Minnesota would still need Houston to drop the regular-season finale against a Memphis team that’s basically holding open tryouts for lottery odds.

That’s not happening.

The Wolves technically still have a path to five, but we’re now firmly in the Al Michaels, “Do you believe in miracles?” territory. Unless you’re banking on something truly bizarre, the six seed is where this is headed.

Which brings us to the real question:

Do you keep chasing the illusion of five… or do you accept six and start preparing for what’s coming?

Because what’s coming is likely Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.


The Weird Silver Lining

And here’s where things get interesting.

Because as much as slipping to six feels like a missed opportunity, there’s a strange, almost uncomfortable logic to the idea that this might actually help the Wolves, if they handle it correctly.

This team is banged up. Anthony Edwards has been nursing an inflamed knee. Jaden McDaniels decided to build camaraderie with his bestie by taking on a knee injury of his own. Naz Reid is clearly managing that shoulder. And even Rudy Gobert, who has been the defensive backbone all season, has looked like a guy who could use a few days where he’s not wrestling with 270-pound centers.

And if the path is Denver?

Then you don’t need to be 95%. You need to be right.

Because beating Jokic isn’t about effort. It’s about precision, discipline, and having enough in the tank to survive the mental grind of a seven-game chess match.

A tired Gobert is not beating Jokic.

A locked-in, fresh Gobert might.


So… What Do You Do Now?

That’s the tension of this Orlando game.

On paper, it still matters. The five seed is technically alive. You’re not mathematically eliminated. You don’t just wave the white flag.

But in reality? This is where you have to be honest with yourself.

Because there’s a difference between playing to win the game… and playing to win the next two weeks.


Keys to the Game

1. Don’t Get Anyone Hurt. Seriously, That’s the Headline

This isn’t a normal “key to the game.” This is the key.

The Wolves have been one of the healthier teams over the past couple of seasons, especially compared to their own history. The past two Western Conference Finals trips were made possible because they mostly avoided the kind of injuries that derail playoff runs.

That luck is already being tested, and if there’s one thing we know about the NBA, it’s that the worst possible injury always happens when you think you’re just “getting through one more game.”

Chris Finch doesn’t need to treat this like Game 7. He needs to treat it like a controlled scrimmage with stakes.

That doesn’t mean you roll out a G-League lineup and punt the game. But it does mean managed minutes for the Wolves’ core players and absolutely no “play through it” nonsense if something feels off.

Because the only way this game becomes a disaster… is if someone doesn’t make it to Game 1 healthy.


2. Keep the Structure, Even If the Stakes Are Weird

Even if you’re dialing back minutes, you can’t let the habits slip.

This team has spent the last few weeks trying to rediscover its identity after that California trip where everything went sideways. The wins over Boston and Houston showed what it looks like when they’re locked in. The losses showed how quickly it disappears.

So yes, this isn’t a must-win in the traditional sense, but it is a must-maintain. If you let those winning habits slide now, you’re not flipping a switch in Game 1. You’re just hoping it magically reappears.

And we’ve seen how that goes.


3. Let the Role Players Build Rhythm

If there’s a hidden benefit to this stretch, it’s this: The supporting cast has had real reps.

Guys like Bones Highland, Donte DiVincenzo, and Ayo have been asked to do more, and that matters. Because in the playoffs, those are the players who swing games.

This is another opportunity to sharpen that. Let them handle the ball. Let them create. Let them get comfortable in roles they might need to step into if a series tightens or someone tweaks something. Because if this team is going to make a run, it’s not just about Edwards and Randle. It’s about whether the rest of the roster can hold up when defenses start loading up.


4. Don’t Completely Turn Off Competitive Instincts

There’s a danger in “accepting fate” too early. You don’t want to overextend yourself chasing something unrealistic. But you also don’t want to walk into the playoffs having spent a week playing at half-speed.

There’s a balance here.

Compete. Play hard. Execute. Just do it smart.

Because the last thing you want is to show up in Denver and realize you’ve been in cruise control for two weeks while the other team has been sharpening knives.


The Final Thought

The Wolves did their part. They avoided the play-in in this minefield of a Western Conference. Given the way this season twisted and turned, that alone shouldn’t be taken for granted.

But now comes the part that actually defines this team.

Not the standings. Not the seed.

The version of themselves they bring into the postseason.

Because if this team shows up as the group that beat Boston and Houston, connected, physical, disciplined, then nobody is going to be thrilled about seeing them in a 3–6 matchup. If they show up as the team that sleepwalked through chunks of the season, that let leads evaporate, that couldn’t string together 48 minutes? Then it won’t matter who they play.

Maybe the five seed is slipping away. Maybe six is inevitable.

That’s fine.

Because the real question isn’t where the Wolves land.

It’s whether they use these last few games to become the team they’re capable of being, or the one that spent all season convincing us they might never quite get there.

We’re about to find out.

Celtics owner Bill Chisholm reflects on his first year with the team

The Boston Celtics’ newest majority owner, Bill Chisholm, recently took part in a 1-on-1 interview with Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe, and there was plenty for fans to take away from it. The interview covered topics such as his thoughts on and relationship with the team during his first year, the approach in the upcoming offseason, and even thoughts on building a new stadium.

Bill’s first year

Chisholm is a self-proclaimed die-hard Celtics fan, and he can often be spotted on the sidelines of the team’s home games at TD Garden. He’s been extremely present, without being apparently overbearing. He shared how pleased he was to have the opportunity to be the leading governor of the Celtics, while also reflecting on the season so far.

“I’ve been following the Celtics forever, and this is my favorite team,” he said, adding “This is a fun team to root for. They play hard every night, they bring it, they execute, and there’s been a lot of really good leadership.”

He continued by saying that he feels “extremely welcome,” and that he’s trying to “find the right balance of being supportive and visible to them without making them feel like I’m looking over their shoulder.”

Wyc Grousbeck, the previous majority owner of the team, was beloved by fans. Not only did he help return the team to a winning culture which was briefly absent during the late 90’s and early 2000’s, he supported the team enough for them to deliver two championships during his tenure, and he did so while maintaining a fan-like presence.

Based on Chisholm’s answer, he seems to be taking a similar route, relishing in the opportunity to lead his favorite team while doing what he can to put them in the best possible position to succeed. He noted that he’s made an effort to build a relationship with all of the players and Joe Mazzulla, while also mentioning that he and Joe are “on the same page,” and that he’s a huge fan. Bill provided some well-deserved praise to Brad Stevens as well, saying “[Brad] and his team are tremendous.”

Boston, MA – September 25: Bill Chisholm, the new lead owner and governor of the Boston Celtics, listens as Brad Stevens, president of basketball operations, speaks during an introductory press conference at the Auerbach Center on September 25, 2025 in Boston. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

In terms of managing his new ownership duties along with his previously existing business responsibilities, Chisholm credited Grousbeck for making things “seamless” for him, saying that Wyc “did it for over 20 years and done it incredibly well,” while extending similar praise to Brad and the executive team for managing the basketball aspects.

In terms of challenges, Bill had this to say: “Probably my biggest challenge is to incrementally improve things, but most importantly, ensure the culture stays intact. For me, the thing I’ve probably been most proud of is resisting the temptation of the new owner curse [of making too many changes], because it’s a very good situation and I certainly don’t take that for granted.”

Celtics fans are likely equally grateful of Chisholm for not leaning into that temptation, and can certainly appreciate the transparency. In terms of things that he’s trying to improve, Bill didn’t have anything specific in mind. Instead, he said that he tries to get that pulse from Brad, assistant general manager Mike Zarren, and their team. He noted that Brad emphasizes culture more than anything, so that’s where the focus is currently.

The offseason approach

This upcoming offseason will be Chisholm’s first at the helm. When asked about how involved he intends to be, Bill had a simple message which fans will love: “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Chisholm feels confident that he knows what that entails, mentioning that he’s taken the time to understand the CBA and the salary cap to stay informed, and to empower the team to make better decisions. He did say that “ultimately, I’m looking to Brad and [team president Rich Gotham] and their teams to make the recommendations, and I’m there to support them.”

Bill is cognizant of the fact that fans are afraid of the possibility that new ownership means cost cutting, treating the team as a business venture as opposed to something entwined with the lives of millions. He emphasized that he knows he has to prove himself from now until the time he passes the team along, and is eager to do so.

“We were completely aligned that we’re about winning. We’re going to compete, play hard, develop our talent, find additional talent, and this is not a gap year. We’re just not doing that. I can put my hand on heart saying that. I’ll prove it and I’ll continue to prove it every day, that I just want to win,” he said.

BOSTON, MA – MARCH 18: Head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics aplauds his team along with owner Bill Chisholm during the second half of their win over the Golden State Warriors at TD Garden on March 18, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Reflections on Jayson and Jaylen

When asked about Jayson Tatum’s recovery from the torn Achilles, Bill was clearly amazed, saying “holy cow, he’s throwing up triple-doubles now.” He added that there was never any pressure for Tatum to come back, but they knew it was a possibility, and wanted to prepare the team for either reality.

Chisholm also reflected on how Jaylen Brown stepped up this season: “He’s always been incredible, but to have even another gear in Year 10 is really incredible. I think as a player he upped his game across all dimensions, but as a leader as well.”

Jaylen’s leadership clearly made an impression on Bill, who shared stories of seeing JB coaching and supporting his teammates on the sideline, or taking the game into his hands when the team was struggling. Chisholm added that Jaylen “absolutely should be first-team All-NBA, and for me he’s certainly my personal MVP.”

Thoughts on a new arena

Previously, Bill was asked whether he had any intentions of building a new stadium for the team to play in. At the time, he responded by saying that he believes TD Garden is a good home for the team, but he was curious to hear more from the fans.

The Globe resurfaced the discussion, asking Chisholm if the fans gave him any feedback on the idea, and if he changed his stance at all. Bill’s response was that “it’s pretty much the same as it was at the beginning of the season… The Garden is a great place to play… It’s loud, a lot of energy, and it’s got a storied history.”

Ideally, Bill wants the team to stay where it is. He did note that to make it work, he wants to improve both the fan and player experience. “If we can do those things and remain where we are now, that’s great. And if that doesn’t work there, we’ll think about other places,” he said.

He added that Celtics ownership and Bruins ownership are on the same page about their commitment to staying at TD as of now. “That’s where we want to end up and we’re working on it as we speak,” he said.

Boston and family

Boston, MA – November 26: Bill Chisholm, the new owner of the Boston Celtics, poses with his children Quentin, Aidan, and Will, from left, and his wife, Kimberly Ford Chisholm, at TD Garden before a game against the Detroit Pistons on November 26, 2025. (Photo by Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

Bill currently splits time between Boston and California because of his other business dealings, but feels very warmly about Boston despite the harsh winter: “It’s a fantastic city, and to have the energy of what’s been going on with the Celtics, but also the Patriots’ run, it’s been a magical time for Boston as a city and a sports city. I always say it’s the best sports city in the country, so that’s been special.”

He added that he “grew up in the North Shore, but this is my first time living in the city proper, so there’s a lot of stuff that’s familiar and a lot that’s new as well.” He also mentioned that “it’s a dead heat” for who in his family is the biggest fan of the team between his wife, his three kids, and himself, of course. He called it a “gift” from the Celtics to give him the opportunity to share this experience with his kids, who are in their mid-to-late 20s.

Phillies vs Giants Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The Philadelphia Phillies will be looking to win the rubber match this afternoon against the San Francisco Giants as they send Aaron Nola to the hill. 

My Phillies vs. Giants predictions are targeting Philly to deliver behind a stellar outing from Nola.

Read more for my MLB picks for Wednesday, April 8. 

Who will win Phillies vs Giants today: Phillies moneyline (-133)

The Philadelphia Phillies lost 6-0 on Tuesday, as Robbie Ray dominated.

However, today, they’re up against strugglingSan Francisco Giants right-hander Tyler Mahle, who has allowed seven earned runs over nine innings in two starts. The Phillies’ lineup is also hitting .308 against Mahle across 52 at-bats.

Aaron Nola, meanwhile, has compiled a 3.18 ERA across his two outings, and he’s held this San Francisco lineup to a .178 average across 73 at-bats. The right-hander gave up a mere one earned run in his most recent game against the Rockies at hitter heaven, Coors Field. 

The Phillies are in a great position to take the series finale in the Bay Area.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Mahle has already allowed two home runs, and opponents are hitting .351 against him in two appearances.

Phillies vs Giants Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-108)

Oracle Park is a pitcher-friendly stadium, and I don’t expect Nola to allow many runs. Plus, even when the Giants get to the Philadelphia bullpen, that doesn’t mean they’re going to magically wake up. 

San Francisco is struggling at the dish, ranking 29th in runs scored, 29th in OBP, and 28th in slugging. While I believe the Phillies will do some damage against Mahle, there’s still value in the Under in a ballpark like Oracle, which is huge. 

Two of the last four meetings have cashed the Under as well.

Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 1-0, +0.88 units
  • Over/Under bets: 1-0, +0.87 units

Phillies vs Giants odds

  • Moneyline: Phillies -127 | Giants +122
  • Run line: Phillies -15 (+127) | Giants +1.5 (-138)
  • Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+100) | Under 8.5 (-104)

Phillies vs Giants trend

The Philadelphia Phillies have hit the Moneyline in 27 of their last 45 games (+2.90 Units / 4% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Giants.

How to watch Phillies vs Giants and game info

LocationOracle Park, San Francisco, CA
DateWednesday, April 8, 2026
First pitch3:45 p.m. ET
TVNBC Sports Philadelphia, NBC Sports Bay Area
Phillies starting pitcherAaron Nola
(1-0, 3.18 ERA)
Giants starting pitcherTyler Mahle
(0-2, 7.00 ERA)

Phillies vs Giants latest injuries

Phillies vs Giants weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Timberwolves Reacts Survey

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 3: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves goes to the basket against Joel Embiid #21 and Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 3, 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 Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Wolves fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.