Michael Malone contract, buyout: New North Carolina coach salary

North Carolina basketball introduced new coach Michael Malone on Tuesday, April 7, and it paid the former NBA champion a pretty penny to join the program.

Malone, the former Denver Nuggets coach that won the NBA Finals in 2022-23, agreed to a six-year deal with the Tar Heels to replace Hubert Davis, a former assistant coach and player. Malone is the first North Carolina coach since 1952 to not have prior experience as an assistant coach or player.

Malone has 510 career NBA wins as a head coach across stints with the Nuggets and Sacramento Kings. He was fired prior to Denver's playoff run last season, and has since been an NBA analyst for ESPN.

He'll be tasked with revitalizing a program that has failed to meet North Carolina's sky-high standards in recent years, as the Tar Heels are coming off back-to-back first-round NCAA Tournament exits. UNC blew an 18-point lead against No. 11 seed VCU in this year's March Madness.

Here's a look at Malone's contract with North Carolina, which makes him among the highest-paid coaches in college basketball:

Michael Malone contract, salary

Malone agreed to a six-year contract worth $50 million, which makes him believed to be the second highest-paid coach at a public university behind Kansas' Bill Self, according to the Fayetteville Observer. The deal runs through 2032.

He'll make $7.5 million in 2026-27, with his salary raising to $8 million in 2027-28 and $8.5 million for the three following years. Malone will also have an assistant coaches salary pool of $4 million.

Malone's contract also includes $1.475 million in single-season, incentive-based bonuses. Here's a look:

  • ACC Coach of the Year: $50,000
  • National Coach of the Year: $100,000
  • Academic Progress Rate >975: $75,000
  • ACC Regular-Season Championship: $100,000
  • ACC Tournament Championship: $100,000
  • NCAA Sweet 16 Participation: $150,000
  • NCAA Elite Eight Participation: $200,000
  • NCAA Final Four Participation: $200,000
  • NCAA Tournament Championship: $500,000

Michael Malone buyout

Malone's buyout is set at $8 million, should he leave North Carolina or have his contract terminated before April 1, 2027. That number drops to $6.5 million in 2028, $5 million in 2029, $3.5 million in 2030, $2 million in 2031 and $500,000 in 2032, the final year of his current contract.

He will also receiver 80% of the total remaining amount of his contract if terminated without cause before April 1, 2032.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michael Malone contract, buyout: New North Carolina coach's salary

Blackhawks Must Avoid Making This Big Mistake

The Chicago Blackhawks traded away multiple of their former pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) this season. Nick Foligno (Minnesota Wild), Connor Murphy (Edmonton Oilers), and Jason Dickinson (Oilers) were all dealt by Chicago ahead of the deadline. With the Blackhawks being out of a playoff spot and still rebuilding, it made sense that they moved on from these veterans. 

However, the Blackhawks did not trade pending UFA forward Ilya Mikheyev at the deadline. When noting that the 31-year-old forward has been having another solid season for the Blackhawks, he certainly could have been a nice player for a contender to add to their roster. Yet, the Blackhawks kept him, and now they have a clear move to make with him. 

With Mikheyev finishing the season with the Blackhawks, they absolutely should not let him leave for nothing through free agency this summer. He has been such a key piece of the Blackhawks' penalty kill and forward group this campaign. Thus, if they can keep him around on a short-term extension, that would be great news for the Blackhawks. 

In 73 games this season with the Blackhawks, Mikheyev has recorded 16 goals, 17 assists, and 33 points. This is after he had 20 goals and a career-high 34 points in 80 games for Chicago this past season. With this, he has been a valuable piece of the Blackhawks' roster, and it would sting to lose him this off-season. 

The Spurs’ preferred playoff matchups

DENVER, CO - APRIL 4: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks to pass while being defended by Aaron Gordon #32 of the Denver Nuggets as Nikola Jokic #15 looks on during the fourth quarter at Ball Arena on April 4, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. 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. The Nuggets won the game 136-134 in overtime. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The San Antonio Spurs will play their first playoff game in seven seasons in two weeks. The team has blown out all of their expectations on their way to home-court advantage through two rounds of the playoffs. As the season comes to an end, it seems unlikely the Spurs will catch the Oklahoma City Thunder for first place, but they will still be standing watching to see who they may face in the playoffs.

San Antonio will likely play the winner of the first Play-In game. The Phoenix Suns are likely to host the game, while the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers are battling it out for eighth place. Of all those teams, the Spurs have had the most success against the Clippers, going 3-0 in their matchup this season. San Antonio is 2-2 against the Suns and 1-1 against the Blazers, with their final matchup coming on Wednesday night.

The Spurs are likely to face some stout competition in the second round, if they advance. With the Lakers in free fall following injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the Denver Nuggets have grabbed the three seed, and they seem to be a lock to hold onto it. Denver just defeated the Spurs in overtime and holds a 2-1 record against San Antonio this year. The Spurs will play the Nuggets in game 82, looking to even the series. If Denver loses in the first round, the Spurs will face the Minnesota Timberwolves, whom San Antonio went 1-2 against this season.

The Spurs have some potentially tough matchups coming up this postseason. Which team would you most like to see them face in each round? What is your best, realistic path for the Spurs to win a championship? Vote in the poll, and we will be back with the results later this week.

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

Miguel Rojas scratched from Dodgers lineup because of ‘family matter’

TORONTO –– Miguel Rojas was a late scratch from the Dodgers’ lineup Tuesday night to “tend to a family matter,” the team announced.

Manager Dave Roberts said postgame he was unsure how long Rojas would be out for the club.

Rojas had been scheduled to play shortstop and bat eighth in the second game of the club’s three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Miguel Rojas high-fives teammates in the dugout after scoring a run. Getty Images
Los Angeles Dodgers players Miguel Rojas and Dalton Rushing celebrate on the field. Getty Images
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas (72) throws a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Instead, Hyeseong Kim replaced him in the lineup.

Roberts said Rojas was still in Toronto as of Tuesday night, but was unsure about his next steps.

“It’s a family situation that obviously was enough to not have him play in the game,” Roberts said. “Certainly it’s his story to tell. I’m not sure if he’s going to stick around or get on a plane. We’ll see if he shows up tomorrow and I’ll get word.”

Rojas had been in line for increased playing time this week, in the wake of Mookie Betts’ oblique strain that landed him on the injured list over the weekend. The 37-year-old veteran –– who saved the Dodgers season with his game-tying, ninth-inning home run in Game 7 of last year’s World Series against the Blue Jays –– was batting .263 with an RBI to begin this year.

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas reacting after a win. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas fields a baseball with his glove. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post

Rojas was seen on the field pregame Tuesday, going through defensive drills and taking batting practice.

However, his scratch was announced less than 30 minutes before first pitch, leaving the Dodgers playing a man short in their eventual 4-1 win.

Roberts said they will play short again in Wednesday’s series finale, rather than rushing someone else up from the minor leagues for the final game of their road trip. The team is off on Thursday, and will wait and see where Rojas is at before making a decision ahead of Friday’s series-opener against the Texas Rangers back in Los Angeles.


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Miguel Rojas scratched from Dodgers lineup because of ‘family matter’

TORONTO –– Miguel Rojas was a late scratch from the Dodgers’ lineup Tuesday night to “tend to a family matter,” the team announced.

Manager Dave Roberts said postgame he was unsure how long Rojas would be out for the club.

Rojas had been scheduled to play shortstop and bat eighth in the second game of the club’s three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Miguel Rojas high-fives teammates in the dugout after scoring a run. Getty Images
Los Angeles Dodgers players Miguel Rojas and Dalton Rushing celebrate on the field. Getty Images
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas (72) throws a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Instead, Hyeseong Kim replaced him in the lineup.

Roberts said Rojas was still in Toronto as of Tuesday night, but was unsure about his next steps.

“It’s a family situation that obviously was enough to not have him play in the game,” Roberts said. “Certainly it’s his story to tell. I’m not sure if he’s going to stick around or get on a plane. We’ll see if he shows up tomorrow and I’ll get word.”

Rojas had been in line for increased playing time this week, in the wake of Mookie Betts’ oblique strain that landed him on the injured list over the weekend. The 37-year-old veteran –– who saved the Dodgers season with his game-tying, ninth-inning home run in Game 7 of last year’s World Series against the Blue Jays –– was batting .263 with an RBI to begin this year.

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas reacting after a win. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas fields a baseball with his glove. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post

Rojas was seen on the field pregame Tuesday, going through defensive drills and taking batting practice.

However, his scratch was announced less than 30 minutes before first pitch, leaving the Dodgers playing a man short in their eventual 4-1 win.

Roberts said they will play short again in Wednesday’s series finale, rather than rushing someone else up from the minor leagues for the final game of their road trip. The team is off on Thursday, and will wait and see where Rojas is at before making a decision ahead of Friday’s series-opener against the Texas Rangers back in Los Angeles.


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Home delivery: Sign up here!Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!


Miguel Rojas scratched from Dodgers lineup because of ‘family matter’

TORONTO –– Miguel Rojas was a late scratch from the Dodgers’ lineup Tuesday night to “tend to a family matter,” the team announced.

Manager Dave Roberts said postgame he was unsure how long Rojas would be out for the club.

Rojas had been scheduled to play shortstop and bat eighth in the second game of the club’s three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Miguel Rojas high-fives teammates in the dugout after scoring a run. Getty Images
Los Angeles Dodgers players Miguel Rojas and Dalton Rushing celebrate on the field. Getty Images
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas (72) throws a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Instead, Hyeseong Kim replaced him in the lineup.

Roberts said Rojas was still in Toronto as of Tuesday night, but was unsure about his next steps.

“It’s a family situation that obviously was enough to not have him play in the game,” Roberts said. “Certainly it’s his story to tell. I’m not sure if he’s going to stick around or get on a plane. We’ll see if he shows up tomorrow and I’ll get word.”

Rojas had been in line for increased playing time this week, in the wake of Mookie Betts’ oblique strain that landed him on the injured list over the weekend. The 37-year-old veteran –– who saved the Dodgers season with his game-tying, ninth-inning home run in Game 7 of last year’s World Series against the Blue Jays –– was batting .263 with an RBI to begin this year.

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas reacting after a win. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas fields a baseball with his glove. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post

Rojas was seen on the field pregame Tuesday, going through defensive drills and taking batting practice.

However, his scratch was announced less than 30 minutes before first pitch, leaving the Dodgers playing a man short in their eventual 4-1 win.

Roberts said they will play short again in Wednesday’s series finale, rather than rushing someone else up from the minor leagues for the final game of their road trip. The team is off on Thursday, and will wait and see where Rojas is at before making a decision ahead of Friday’s series-opener against the Texas Rangers back in Los Angeles.


Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

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California Post Opinion
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!
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Home delivery: Sign up here!Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!


Yankees have already run out of viral ‘chicken’ ice cream bucket

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Fans outside Yankee Stadium, Image 2 shows Two pieces of fried chicken in a New York Yankees branded cup

For the time being, Yankees fans will be stuck with having to get an actual fried chicken at Yankee Stadium. 

The viral  Mini Dessert “Chicken” Bucket — ice cream shaped like a fried chicken drumstick with a chocolate-covered pretzel bone and candied cornflakes and white chocolate — has sold out, The Athletic reported

MLB

The dessert item was a smash hit on social media after the Yanks previewed their new food offerings for home games this season, and received universal praise from the media and influencers who were invited to Yankee Stadium ahead of the home opener. 

“Given how well-received the item was on media day, interest from fans was tremendous, and we sold out of the item by the first inning of Saturday’s game,” Yankees senior director of communications Michael Margolis told The Athletic in an email. 

The Yankees are selling the treat, which also comes with a mini bucket, for $10.99. 

When the Yankees began their six-game homestand in The Bronx, they thought they had enough of the mini dessert chicken bucket, but by Saturday, they had run out. 

The Bronx Bombers said the club would let everyone know when they were back in stock. 

Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay reviewed the treat on his Instagram account, where he rates chicken tenders at the ballparks he visits while calling games. 

“Look at it, it looks like chicken. It’s amazing!” Kay said in his review before taking a bite. “Really good” 

“It can’t be better,” Kay added after giving it a 10 rating. “That’s why it’s sold out.”

Fans are seen outside Yankee Stadium before the game between the New York Yankees and the Miami Marlins. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The Yankees hosted the Marlins during the first set of games at Yankee Stadium in 2026 and opened a three-game set with the A’s on Tuesday night. 

They play a three-game road trip in Tampa before returning to Yankee Stadium next week.

Yankees have already run out of viral ‘chicken’ ice cream bucket

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Fans outside Yankee Stadium, Image 2 shows Two pieces of fried chicken in a New York Yankees branded cup

For the time being, Yankees fans will be stuck with having to get an actual fried chicken at Yankee Stadium. 

The viral  Mini Dessert “Chicken” Bucket — ice cream shaped like a fried chicken drumstick with a chocolate-covered pretzel bone and candied cornflakes and white chocolate — has sold out, The Athletic reported

MLB

The dessert item was a smash hit on social media after the Yanks previewed their new food offerings for home games this season, and received universal praise from the media and influencers who were invited to Yankee Stadium ahead of the home opener. 

“Given how well-received the item was on media day, interest from fans was tremendous, and we sold out of the item by the first inning of Saturday’s game,” Yankees senior director of communications Michael Margolis told The Athletic in an email. 

The Yankees are selling the treat, which also comes with a mini bucket, for $10.99. 

When the Yankees began their six-game homestand in The Bronx, they thought they had enough of the mini dessert chicken bucket, but by Saturday, they had run out. 

The Bronx Bombers said the club would let everyone know when they were back in stock. 

Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay reviewed the treat on his Instagram account, where he rates chicken tenders at the ballparks he visits while calling games. 

“Look at it, it looks like chicken. It’s amazing!” Kay said in his review before taking a bite. “Really good” 

“It can’t be better,” Kay added after giving it a 10 rating. “That’s why it’s sold out.”

Fans are seen outside Yankee Stadium before the game between the New York Yankees and the Miami Marlins. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The Yankees hosted the Marlins during the first set of games at Yankee Stadium in 2026 and opened a three-game set with the A’s on Tuesday night. 

They play a three-game road trip in Tampa before returning to Yankee Stadium next week.

Yankees have already run out of viral ‘chicken’ ice cream bucket

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Fans outside Yankee Stadium, Image 2 shows Two pieces of fried chicken in a New York Yankees branded cup

For the time being, Yankees fans will be stuck with having to get an actual fried chicken at Yankee Stadium. 

The viral  Mini Dessert “Chicken” Bucket — ice cream shaped like a fried chicken drumstick with a chocolate-covered pretzel bone and candied cornflakes and white chocolate — has sold out, The Athletic reported

MLB

The dessert item was a smash hit on social media after the Yanks previewed their new food offerings for home games this season, and received universal praise from the media and influencers who were invited to Yankee Stadium ahead of the home opener. 

“Given how well-received the item was on media day, interest from fans was tremendous, and we sold out of the item by the first inning of Saturday’s game,” Yankees senior director of communications Michael Margolis told The Athletic in an email. 

The Yankees are selling the treat, which also comes with a mini bucket, for $10.99. 

When the Yankees began their six-game homestand in The Bronx, they thought they had enough of the mini dessert chicken bucket, but by Saturday, they had run out. 

The Bronx Bombers said the club would let everyone know when they were back in stock. 

Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay reviewed the treat on his Instagram account, where he rates chicken tenders at the ballparks he visits while calling games. 

“Look at it, it looks like chicken. It’s amazing!” Kay said in his review before taking a bite. “Really good” 

“It can’t be better,” Kay added after giving it a 10 rating. “That’s why it’s sold out.”

Fans are seen outside Yankee Stadium before the game between the New York Yankees and the Miami Marlins. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The Yankees hosted the Marlins during the first set of games at Yankee Stadium in 2026 and opened a three-game set with the A’s on Tuesday night. 

They play a three-game road trip in Tampa before returning to Yankee Stadium next week.

Ronny Mauricio's walk-off hit gives Mets' fourth straight win after 4-3 defeat of Diamondbacks

Ronny Mauricio ripped a single to right field to score Francisco Lindor in the bottom of the 10th to give the Mets a 4-3 walk-off win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday afternoon at Citi Field. 

Mauricio, in his first at-bat of the season after being added to the roster with Juan Soto on the IL, fell behind 0-2 on two high fastballs from ex-Met Paul Sewald, before ripping a third that was right in the heart of the plate, 107.1 mph off the bat. He improved to 5-for-9 as a pinch-hitter with the first walk-off hit of his career. 

On a cold and blustery afternoon, New York won its fourth straight game, improving to 3-1 in Queens and 7-4 overall. Arizona fell to 5-6 on the year and is now winless in four games away from home.

- Freddy Peralta allowed a leadoff single to Ketel Marte, after getting squeezed on a 2-2 pitch at the knees, and a two-out walk, but got through with no damage on 22 pitches in the first. He was in a spot of bother with one out in the second after a Lindor error and a walk put two men aboard. But the righty got out of things thanks to a curious Jorge Barrosa sac bunt and Marte going down swinging on the changeup. After an 11-pitch, 1-2-3 third, Peralta got around a two-out bunt single for a 20-pitch fourth.

Peralta, who pitched in numerous deep counts, got back-to-back strikeouts to start the fifth before allowing a third single of the game to send pitching coach JustinWillard out for a visit. After issuing a walk on a 3-2 count, Peralta lobbied to get one more batter. He couldn't make it count as he lost control of a 1-2 curveball and plunked Gabriel Moreno to load the bases to end his afternoon.

Huascar Brazobán thought he got Adrian Del Castillo looking at a 1-2 changeup to end the threat, but an ABS challenge said otherwise. The very next pitch floated over the plate and was lined into right for a two-run single. Nolan Arenado followed with a broken-bat bloop double into center to plate another run before Brazobán finally ended the inning with the visitors ahead 3-2.

That closed the book on Peralta: 4.2 innings, three runs, three hits, three walks, one hit batter, and five strikeouts on 101 pitches (62 strikes).

- The Mets had the chance for a big inning in the first as Lindor and Bo Bichette singled through the right side of the infield and Jorge Polanco notched an infield hit to load the bases against Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen. But after Luis Robert Jr. went down swinging, Brett Baty’s sac fly to center was all the Mets could muster. Gallen settled in and got through five innings, allowing one earned run on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts.

- Lindor doubled the Mets’ lead with two down in the second when he got help from the wind on a drive to right that fooled Corbin Carroll for a double over his head. Francisco Alvarez, who walked with two outs, managed to score from first on a poor relay throw from the right fielder. 

Lindor, who was hitless in his last 10 at-bats entering the game, got a chance with two on and two down in the fourth, but popped out in foul ground on the first pitch from Gallen as he’s still looking for his first RBI of the year and finished 2-for-5 with a strikeout swinging.

- With the Mets down a run and one out in the eighth, Jared Young entered as a pinch-hitter with runners on the corners and got the job done with a sac fly to right.

- Polanco cracked a single to start the home half of the eighth inning and was lifted for pinch-runner Tyrone Taylor, sporting the No. 28 for the first time. Polanco finished 2-for-4 with a strikeout swinging.

- After his RBI sac fly, Baty bounced into a 3-6 double play to end the third and struck out looking at three straight after getting ahead 3-0 to end the fifth, before grounding a single up the middle to cover the corners with one out in the eighth.

- Robert, after striking out swinging in the first, had a patient day, walking the next two times he was up, but went down looking in the eighth, looking at three straight after getting ahead 3-0. He finished 0-for-2.

- Alvarez, after a 4-for-11 series in San Fran, hustled out a broken-bat two-out single in the fourth and finished 1-for-3 with a walk. 

- Carson Benge, who entered hitless in his last 18 at-bats, worked a two-out walk in the fourth, and after a pair of ground outs, drove a ball to the warning track to start the ninth, but it went for an out as Barrosa made a sliding catch in right-center, 387-feet from the plate. He finished 0-for-3. 

- Bichette finished the day 1-for-5 with a strikeout swinging.

- Mark Vientos went 0-for-3 with a strikeout looking before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the eighth. 

- Marcus Semien went hitless in four at-bats.

- Luis Garcia, after an eight-pitch, 1-2-3 sixth, got past a two-out double for a 15-pitch, scoreless seventh. The right-hander stayed in the game after taking a hard shot off his left forearm on a liner, 94.3 mph off Geraldo Perdomo's bat, when getting the second out.

Brooks Raley got the eighth and worked around a leadoff single from Arenado with two strikeouts. Devin Williams kept the score tied in the ninth despite allowing a pair of singles as he tallied two more strikeouts.

Luke Weaver, pitching with the free runner at second, fell behind 3-0 with two outs, but blew three straight fastballs past Tim Tawa for a 1-2-3 10th.

Combined: 5.0 scoreless innings, surrendering just four hits and no walks wth five strikeouts.

The two teams are back in action tomorrow afternoon with a 4:10 p.m. first pitch. 

David Peterson (4.66 ERA in 9.2 innings) gets the ball against right-hander Ryne Nelson (5.79 ERA in 9.1 innings).

Ronny Mauricio's walk-off hit gives Mets' fourth straight win after 4-3 defeat of Diamondbacks

Ronny Mauricio ripped a single to right field to score Francisco Lindor in the bottom of the 10th to give the Mets a 4-3 walk-off win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday afternoon at Citi Field. 

Mauricio, in his first at-bat of the season after being added to the roster with Juan Soto on the IL, fell behind 0-2 on two high fastballs from ex-Met Paul Sewald, before ripping a third that was right in the heart of the plate, 107.1 mph off the bat. He improved to 5-for-9 as a pinch-hitter with the first walk-off hit of his career. 

On a cold and blustery afternoon, New York won its fourth straight game, improving to 3-1 in Queens and 7-4 overall. Arizona fell to 5-6 on the year and is now winless in four games away from home.

- Freddy Peralta allowed a leadoff single to Ketel Marte, after getting squeezed on a 2-2 pitch at the knees, and a two-out walk, but got through with no damage on 22 pitches in the first. He was in a spot of bother with one out in the second after a Lindor error and a walk put two men aboard. But the righty got out of things thanks to a curious Jorge Barrosa sac bunt and Marte going down swinging on the changeup. After an 11-pitch, 1-2-3 third, Peralta got around a two-out bunt single for a 20-pitch fourth.

Peralta, who pitched in numerous deep counts, got back-to-back strikeouts to start the fifth before allowing a third single of the game to send pitching coach JustinWillard out for a visit. After issuing a walk on a 3-2 count, Peralta lobbied to get one more batter. He couldn't make it count as he lost control of a 1-2 curveball and plunked Gabriel Moreno to load the bases to end his afternoon.

Huascar Brazobán thought he got Adrian Del Castillo looking at a 1-2 changeup to end the threat, but an ABS challenge said otherwise. The very next pitch floated over the plate and was lined into right for a two-run single. Nolan Arenado followed with a broken-bat bloop double into center to plate another run before Brazobán finally ended the inning with the visitors ahead 3-2.

That closed the book on Peralta: 4.2 innings, three runs, three hits, three walks, one hit batter, and five strikeouts on 101 pitches (62 strikes).

- The Mets had the chance for a big inning in the first as Lindor and Bo Bichette singled through the right side of the infield and Jorge Polanco notched an infield hit to load the bases against Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen. But after Luis Robert Jr. went down swinging, Brett Baty’s sac fly to center was all the Mets could muster. Gallen settled in and got through five innings, allowing one earned run on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts.

- Lindor doubled the Mets’ lead with two down in the second when he got help from the wind on a drive to right that fooled Corbin Carroll for a double over his head. Francisco Alvarez, who walked with two outs, managed to score from first on a poor relay throw from the right fielder. 

Lindor, who was hitless in his last 10 at-bats entering the game, got a chance with two on and two down in the fourth, but popped out in foul ground on the first pitch from Gallen as he’s still looking for his first RBI of the year and finished 2-for-5 with a strikeout swinging.

- With the Mets down a run and one out in the eighth, Jared Young entered as a pinch-hitter with runners on the corners and got the job done with a sac fly to right.

- Polanco cracked a single to start the home half of the eighth inning and was lifted for pinch-runner Tyrone Taylor, sporting the No. 28 for the first time. Polanco finished 2-for-4 with a strikeout swinging.

- After his RBI sac fly, Baty bounced into a 3-6 double play to end the third and struck out looking at three straight after getting ahead 3-0 to end the fifth, before grounding a single up the middle to cover the corners with one out in the eighth.

- Robert, after striking out swinging in the first, had a patient day, walking the next two times he was up, but went down looking in the eighth, looking at three straight after getting ahead 3-0. He finished 0-for-2.

- Alvarez, after a 4-for-11 series in San Fran, hustled out a broken-bat two-out single in the fourth and finished 1-for-3 with a walk. 

- Carson Benge, who entered hitless in his last 18 at-bats, worked a two-out walk in the fourth, and after a pair of ground outs, drove a ball to the warning track to start the ninth, but it went for an out as Barrosa made a sliding catch in right-center, 387-feet from the plate. He finished 0-for-3. 

- Bichette finished the day 1-for-5 with a strikeout swinging.

- Mark Vientos went 0-for-3 with a strikeout looking before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the eighth. 

- Marcus Semien went hitless in four at-bats.

- Luis Garcia, after an eight-pitch, 1-2-3 sixth, got past a two-out double for a 15-pitch, scoreless seventh. The right-hander stayed in the game after taking a hard shot off his left forearm on a liner, 94.3 mph off Geraldo Perdomo's bat, when getting the second out.

Brooks Raley got the eighth and worked around a leadoff single from Arenado with two strikeouts. Devin Williams kept the score tied in the ninth despite allowing a pair of singles as he tallied two more strikeouts.

Luke Weaver, pitching with the free runner at second, fell behind 3-0 with two outs, but blew three straight fastballs past Tim Tawa for a 1-2-3 10th.

Combined: 5.0 scoreless innings, surrendering just four hits and no walks wth five strikeouts.

The two teams are back in action tomorrow afternoon with a 4:10 p.m. first pitch. 

David Peterson (4.66 ERA in 9.2 innings) gets the ball against right-hander Ryne Nelson (5.79 ERA in 9.1 innings).

Ronny Mauricio's walk-off hit gives Mets' fourth straight win after 4-3 defeat of Diamondbacks

Ronny Mauricio ripped a single to right field to score Francisco Lindor in the bottom of the 10th to give the Mets a 4-3 walk-off win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday afternoon at Citi Field. 

Mauricio, in his first at-bat of the season after being added to the roster with Juan Soto on the IL, fell behind 0-2 on two high fastballs from ex-Met Paul Sewald, before ripping a third that was right in the heart of the plate, 107.1 mph off the bat. He improved to 5-for-9 as a pinch-hitter with the first walk-off hit of his career. 

On a cold and blustery afternoon, New York won its fourth straight game, improving to 3-1 in Queens and 7-4 overall. Arizona fell to 5-6 on the year and is now winless in four games away from home.

- Freddy Peralta allowed a leadoff single to Ketel Marte, after getting squeezed on a 2-2 pitch at the knees, and a two-out walk, but got through with no damage on 22 pitches in the first. He was in a spot of bother with one out in the second after a Lindor error and a walk put two men aboard. But the righty got out of things thanks to a curious Jorge Barrosa sac bunt and Marte going down swinging on the changeup. After an 11-pitch, 1-2-3 third, Peralta got around a two-out bunt single for a 20-pitch fourth.

Peralta, who pitched in numerous deep counts, got back-to-back strikeouts to start the fifth before allowing a third single of the game to send pitching coach JustinWillard out for a visit. After issuing a walk on a 3-2 count, Peralta lobbied to get one more batter. He couldn't make it count as he lost control of a 1-2 curveball and plunked Gabriel Moreno to load the bases to end his afternoon.

Huascar Brazobán thought he got Adrian Del Castillo looking at a 1-2 changeup to end the threat, but an ABS challenge said otherwise. The very next pitch floated over the plate and was lined into right for a two-run single. Nolan Arenado followed with a broken-bat bloop double into center to plate another run before Brazobán finally ended the inning with the visitors ahead 3-2.

That closed the book on Peralta: 4.2 innings, three runs, three hits, three walks, one hit batter, and five strikeouts on 101 pitches (62 strikes).

- The Mets had the chance for a big inning in the first as Lindor and Bo Bichette singled through the right side of the infield and Jorge Polanco notched an infield hit to load the bases against Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen. But after Luis Robert Jr. went down swinging, Brett Baty’s sac fly to center was all the Mets could muster. Gallen settled in and got through five innings, allowing one earned run on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts.

- Lindor doubled the Mets’ lead with two down in the second when he got help from the wind on a drive to right that fooled Corbin Carroll for a double over his head. Francisco Alvarez, who walked with two outs, managed to score from first on a poor relay throw from the right fielder. 

Lindor, who was hitless in his last 10 at-bats entering the game, got a chance with two on and two down in the fourth, but popped out in foul ground on the first pitch from Gallen as he’s still looking for his first RBI of the year and finished 2-for-5 with a strikeout swinging.

- With the Mets down a run and one out in the eighth, Jared Young entered as a pinch-hitter with runners on the corners and got the job done with a sac fly to right.

- Polanco cracked a single to start the home half of the eighth inning and was lifted for pinch-runner Tyrone Taylor, sporting the No. 28 for the first time. Polanco finished 2-for-4 with a strikeout swinging.

- After his RBI sac fly, Baty bounced into a 3-6 double play to end the third and struck out looking at three straight after getting ahead 3-0 to end the fifth, before grounding a single up the middle to cover the corners with one out in the eighth.

- Robert, after striking out swinging in the first, had a patient day, walking the next two times he was up, but went down looking in the eighth, looking at three straight after getting ahead 3-0. He finished 0-for-2.

- Alvarez, after a 4-for-11 series in San Fran, hustled out a broken-bat two-out single in the fourth and finished 1-for-3 with a walk. 

- Carson Benge, who entered hitless in his last 18 at-bats, worked a two-out walk in the fourth, and after a pair of ground outs, drove a ball to the warning track to start the ninth, but it went for an out as Barrosa made a sliding catch in right-center, 387-feet from the plate. He finished 0-for-3. 

- Bichette finished the day 1-for-5 with a strikeout swinging.

- Mark Vientos went 0-for-3 with a strikeout looking before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the eighth. 

- Marcus Semien went hitless in four at-bats.

- Luis Garcia, after an eight-pitch, 1-2-3 sixth, got past a two-out double for a 15-pitch, scoreless seventh. The right-hander stayed in the game after taking a hard shot off his left forearm on a liner, 94.3 mph off Geraldo Perdomo's bat, when getting the second out.

Brooks Raley got the eighth and worked around a leadoff single from Arenado with two strikeouts. Devin Williams kept the score tied in the ninth despite allowing a pair of singles as he tallied two more strikeouts.

Luke Weaver, pitching with the free runner at second, fell behind 3-0 with two outs, but blew three straight fastballs past Tim Tawa for a 1-2-3 10th.

Combined: 5.0 scoreless innings, surrendering just four hits and no walks wth five strikeouts.

The two teams are back in action tomorrow afternoon with a 4:10 p.m. first pitch. 

David Peterson (4.66 ERA in 9.2 innings) gets the ball against right-hander Ryne Nelson (5.79 ERA in 9.1 innings).

Avalanche Clinch Central Division With 3–1 Win Over Blues, Lock Up No. 1 Seed in West

The Colorado Avalanche exacted revenge on the St. Louis Blues Tuesday night at Enterprise Center, securing a 3–1 win that clinched the Central Division title and locked them in as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

With the playoffs set to begin on April 18, the Avalanche will face the lowest-ranked wild card team in the opening round. If the standings hold, Colorado would square off against the Los Angeles Kings.

Valeri Nichushkin led the way with a two-goal performance in his return from injury, bringing his season totals to 16 and 17. Martin Necas added his 37th of the year as his breakout campaign continues, while Scott Wedgewood turned aside 18 shots and battled through a frightening collision with Philip Broberg in the third period to help secure the win.

However, the Avalanche did not escape completely unscathed as Nazem Kadri suffered an injury in the second period after taking a shot in the left hand/wrist area. It was announced in the third period that he would not return to the game due to an "upper-body injury."

Robert Thomas, who had scored a hat trick against Colorado in their previous meeting and accounted for all three Blues goals on Sunday, netted St. Louis’ lone tally in this one. Joel Hofer, coming off a strong outing in that earlier win, was given another start by head coach Jim Montgomery but took the loss despite making 34 saves.

First Period

Just shy of the six-minute mark, Nazem Kadri and Sam Malinski helped generate sustained pressure on Hofer. Malinski found Kadri with a backdoor feed, but the timing was off by a split second, and the chance slid wide.

On the ensuing sequence, Brock Nelson nearly opened the scoring with a highlight-reel effort, toe-dragging around Colton Parayko before firing a wrist shot through his legs. Hofer, however, tracked the play well and snagged it with the glove.

The breakthrough came late in the frame when Nichushkin redirected a Devon Toews point shot off the post and in, giving Colorado a 1–0 lead with 3:49 remaining.

Necas then doubled the advantage with 28 seconds left, finishing a feed from Nathan MacKinnon in the slot and wiring a shot over Hofer’s glove to make it 2–0.

Toews was assessed a tripping penalty late in the period, but Colorado still carried a 2–0 lead into the intermission while outshooting St. Louis 17–2.

Second Period

Nichushkin struck again just 1:40 into the period, scoring shorthanded with a between-the-legs finish that completely fooled Hofer and extended the lead to 3–0.

Moments later, he broke in alone on a breakaway in search of a hat trick, but Hofer came up with the stop. Still, Colorado dictated play, hemming St. Louis in and maintaining relentless offensive zone pressure while the Blues struggled to find their footing.

The Avalanche continued to tilt the ice as the period wore on, holding a commanding 27–7 edge in shots with six minutes remaining in the frame.

St. Louis eventually responded when Jimmy Snuggerud set up Thomas in the slot. His initial attempt was denied, but he pounced on the rebound and beat Wedgewood to cut the deficit to 3–1.

Colorado went to the power play late in the period after Logan Mailloux was called for tripping Nichushkin on a partial break. No penalty shot was awarded on the play. The man advantage, however, was cut short when Gabriel Landeskog was whistled for tripping Pavel Buchnevich with 10 seconds left in the period.

Third Period

St. Louis, still fighting for playoff positioning, continued to push. Holloway created a quality look after slipping past Toews, but Wedgewood held his ground and made the save.

Midway through the period, a concerning sequence unfolded when Malinski’s trip on Broberg sent the Blues forward crashing into Wedgewood. The goaltender went down awkwardly and remained down for several moments before being tended to by the training staff. After some time to recover, he stayed in the game. Colorado’s penalty kill—best in the league entering the night—rose to the occasion and successfully killed off the ensuing minor.

With just over four minutes remaining, the Blues pulled Hofer for an extra attacker, but neither side could generate a decisive push in the closing stretch.

From there, Colorado managed the game effectively down the final minutes, closing out a 3–1 victory that not only avenged their previous loss to St. Louis but also secured their place atop the Western Conference. The Avalanche now turn their attention to Thursday’s matchup against the Calgary Flames at Ball Arena, where they’ll look to carry this form into the final stretch of the regular season.

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Gunnar’s two-run bomb caps late comeback over the White Sox, 4-2

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 6: Gunnar Henderson #2 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates a home run in the sixth inning of a game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on April 6, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Two in a row. Write it down somewhere. Frame it, even! The 2026 Orioles, playing a 3:10 afternoon matinee in the cold because apparently, temperate weather is too much to ask of Chicago even in late April, have won consecutive games for the first time this season. They did so courtesy of a 4-2 Tuesday afternoon win led by six strong innings from Trevor Rogers, three perfect innings from the bullpen, and a late rally kickstarted by new guys Blaze Alexander and Taylor Ward and capped off by Gunnar Henderson’s two-run bomb in the eighth.

It could have been easier—I certainly wish, against the lowly White Sox, that it had been. Entering the eighth, Baltimore was down 2-1, a frustrating lack of production given they’d already posted five hits and been walked seven times by what cannot exactly be a great Chicago pitching staff. Nonetheless, the eighth inning turned the tables. With one out, the new guys set to work. Blaze Alexander started the rally with a double to right. Taylor Ward followed him with a game-tying double into the right field corner, easily scoring the runner, who came home with blazing speed. (Sorry.) The White Sox changed relievers to challenge Gunnar with a lefty. Right decision, but bad result: Gunnar hammered a high sinker into the bleachers, and this was a 4-2 game.

Prior to that there wasn’t a ton of offense to report, although the hitters were not so much inept against Chicago’s Shane Smith (in the sense that many Orioles reached base) as inconsistent (in the sense that they didn’t score). Smith kept walking people—to wit, two in the first inning, two more in the second, plus a HBP of Blaze Alexander, and one in the fourth—but got enough strikeouts in key spots that he kept the O’s off the board. If I were Chicago’s manager, I’d say that five walks in 3.2 innings from my starting pitcher is not great, but Smith did allow zero runs and strike out eighth.

On that last, it feels like the Orioles’ team approach is partly to blame. When the starter is wild, it makes sense to take the walks. But it’s hard to deny, on a day the Birds struck out 13 times, that the approach is still frustratingly aggressive. In fact, every hitter in the starting lineup struck out at least once, except Alexander.

The one Orioles run prior to the eighth inning came thanks to yet another leadoff walk from Chicago. After Samuel Basallo took a free base, Tyler O’Neill was brought in to pinch-hit against lefty Sean Newcomb, and he delivered, with a well-timed single to advance Basallo to second. A groundout moved Basallo over, and Ryan Mountcastle plated the O’s first run with an RBI groundout off a big Newcomb curveball. Productive Outs for Orioles.

As for Orioles pitching, Trevor Rogers was very good today, which we’ve come to expect from our No. 1 starter, if not the rest of the rotation in April. The lefty went six innings, gave up two runs on six hits, struck out six, and walked none.

After a perfect two innings, he ran into some trouble in the third with two outs. With a runner on first, Rogers heaved a ball down the middle, and infielder Chase Meidroth served it into left field to put the White Sox up 1-0. A Lenyn Sosa single made it 2-0 immediately thereafter. This was a good piece of hitting where Sosa connected on a pitch maybe six inches off the dirt and golfed it into center field. I wouldn’t lay that one at Rogers’ feet. A popout ended the damage, and Rogers got through the fifth and sixth innings without great difficulty.

It wasn’t his prettiest start, given that Rogers needed 101 pitches to go six innings, but it’s a total luxury to have an ace who can pitch deep into games, especially given how unreliable the bullpen has been. Happily, that wasn’t the case today. Yennier Cano tossed a perfect seventh, including with one swinging strikeout. Grant Wolfram struck out two in the eight, but was lifted for Anthony Nunez after a HBP. Nunez threw a wild pitch, bringing up the faintest prospect of a blown inning, but with the count 3-2 against catcher Edgar Quero, he got a huge swinging strike three.

Closer Ryan Helsley then struck fear in our hearts with a leadoff walk in the ninth—apparently that’s just his thing now, as he’s walked a batter or more in his last three appearances. But that’s as nerve-inducing as things got: the O’s closer struck out Tristan Peters with 99 at the bottom of the zone, made slugger Munetaka Murakami swing through 100 at the corner, and got Derek Hill to fly out to the end the game. When Helsley is on, it’s simply beautiful stuff. Save No. 4, O’s win. Now everybody go party.

The Orioles are 5-6. This may not inspire visions of a ticker-tape parade come October, but they are, however improbably, sitting pretty in third in the AL East, just a game back of Tampa Bay at the time of this writing. It’s April, after all, and anything can still happen.

Who is your vote for Most Birdland Player today? Gunnar Henderson, who went 2-for-4 with the big bomb in the eighth? Blaze Alexander, who took one for the team, stole a base, started the rally in the eighth, and is hitting .320 in the nine spot? Your team ace, Trevor Rogers, who gave six good innings even on what was not his best day? Let us know in the comments.

Game 11 Game Day Thread – Seattle Mariners @ Texas Rangers

Apr 1, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (left) has his glove checked by umpire Scott Barry at the end of the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images | Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

Seattle Mariners @ Texas Rangers

Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 7:05 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / RSN, Victory+)

The Shed

RHP George Kirby vs. RHP Nathan Eovaldi

Today’s Lineups

MARINERSRANGERS
Brendan Donovan – 3BBrandon Nimmo – RF
Cal Raleigh – CWyatt Langford – LF
Julio Rodriguez – CFCorey Seager – SS
Josh Naylor – 1BJake Burger – 1B
Randy Arozarena – LFJoc Pederson – DH
Luke Raley – RFEvan Carter – CF
J.P. Crawford – SSKyle Higashioka – C
Dominic Canzone – DHJosh Smith – 2B
Cole Young – 2BEzequiel Duran – 3B
George Kirby – RHPNathan Eovaldi – RHP

Go Rangers!