Chris Sale takes the mound for the Braves against the Angels

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 01: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the second inning during the game against the Athletics at Truist Park on April 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Atlanta Braves are coming off a disappointing series against the Arizona Diamondbacks and will stay out west to face the Angels. Chris Sale will be taking the mound facing off against José Soriano, who has firmly cemented himself as the best pitcher in the Angels’ rotation.

Soriano has started the season of in incredible fashion. He has made two starts and pitched a total of 12.0 innings and has only given up four hits. He has yet to give up a single earned run this season. His only blemish is that he has walked four hitters to striking out eleven. Hitters so far have a .105 average against him, and he is inducing ground outs at twice the rate of outs in the air.

With Soriano spending his entire career so far with the Angels, the players on the Braves’ roster have not seen him much. Jonah Heim has twelve at-bats against him, but those were not in a Braves uniform. Outside of Heim, no other player on the roster has seen Soriano more than six at-bats.

Even though Heim has seen him the most, it has not helped. He has a .083 average in his limited action. Acuña, Albies, Farmer, and Harris are all hitless against Soriano, although it is hard to make any type of conclusion after only seeing him a few times.

The player with the most success against Soriano is Matt Olson with a .333 average and 1.000 OPS, but that is in only three at-bats. On paper the Braves’ offense does not have an upper hand in this matchup. The only area that sticks out in terms of hope for a fun night offensively is that there is a large gap in Soriano’s wOBA against him versus his xwOBA. His wOBA against of .175 is in the best 9.0 percent in MLB, but his xwOBA against is much higher at .266. An xwOBA against of .266 is still very good. For reference the league average over the past four seasons is .315.

Chris Sale is taking the mound with a pristine ERA of 0.75 after two starts and 12.0 innings pitched. His strikeout rate so far this season of 21.4 percent is well below his career average of 32.3, and his walk rate of 7.1 percent is the highest of his career, so both of those are concerning.

There is a bright spot to his metrics outside of the obvious ERA. He is inducing ground balls at a 48.3 percent clip. That number is 12.0 percent better than league average and is well above his career rate of 42.3 percent. We also need to consider that in his last game he was battling flu symptoms. If last game he was actually feeling poor and he is inducing a ton of grounders, it is a good sign of things to come this evening.

Most players on the Angels have faced Sale before, but only two have faced him fourteen times or more. 2021 World Series hero Jorge Soler has fourteen at-bats against Sale but has struggled with a .143 average and .536 OPS. Mike Trout has twenty at-bats with a HR, .300 average, and .940 OPS. However, Trout is day-to-day, so we don’t know for sure if he will play or not.

We can hope that the Braves offense can kick it into gear again tonight, but Soriano has been on fire. It looks like we may be in store for a fun night filled with great pitching.

First pitch is at 9:38 PM EDT

Game Info

Game Time: Monday, April 6th, 9:38 pm EDT

Location: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA

Watch: BravesVision

Radio/Audio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan

Chris Sale takes the mound for the Braves against the Angels

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 01: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the second inning during the game against the Athletics at Truist Park on April 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Atlanta Braves are coming off a disappointing series against the Arizona Diamondbacks and will stay out west to face the Angels. Chris Sale will be taking the mound facing off against José Soriano, who has firmly cemented himself as the best pitcher in the Angels’ rotation.

Soriano has started the season of in incredible fashion. He has made two starts and pitched a total of 12.0 innings and has only given up four hits. He has yet to give up a single earned run this season. His only blemish is that he has walked four hitters to striking out eleven. Hitters so far have a .105 average against him, and he is inducing ground outs at twice the rate of outs in the air.

With Soriano spending his entire career so far with the Angels, the players on the Braves’ roster have not seen him much. Jonah Heim has twelve at-bats against him, but those were not in a Braves uniform. Outside of Heim, no other player on the roster has seen Soriano more than six at-bats.

Even though Heim has seen him the most, it has not helped. He has a .083 average in his limited action. Acuña, Albies, Farmer, and Harris are all hitless against Soriano, although it is hard to make any type of conclusion after only seeing him a few times.

The player with the most success against Soriano is Matt Olson with a .333 average and 1.000 OPS, but that is in only three at-bats. On paper the Braves’ offense does not have an upper hand in this matchup. The only area that sticks out in terms of hope for a fun night offensively is that there is a large gap in Soriano’s wOBA against him versus his xwOBA. His wOBA against of .175 is in the best 9.0 percent in MLB, but his xwOBA against is much higher at .266. An xwOBA against of .266 is still very good. For reference the league average over the past four seasons is .315.

Chris Sale is taking the mound with a pristine ERA of 0.75 after two starts and 12.0 innings pitched. His strikeout rate so far this season of 21.4 percent is well below his career average of 32.3, and his walk rate of 7.1 percent is the highest of his career, so both of those are concerning.

There is a bright spot to his metrics outside of the obvious ERA. He is inducing ground balls at a 48.3 percent clip. That number is 12.0 percent better than league average and is well above his career rate of 42.3 percent. We also need to consider that in his last game he was battling flu symptoms. If last game he was actually feeling poor and he is inducing a ton of grounders, it is a good sign of things to come this evening.

Most players on the Angels have faced Sale before, but only two have faced him fourteen times or more. 2021 World Series hero Jorge Soler has fourteen at-bats against Sale but has struggled with a .143 average and .536 OPS. Mike Trout has twenty at-bats with a HR, .300 average, and .940 OPS. However, Trout is day-to-day, so we don’t know for sure if he will play or not.

We can hope that the Braves offense can kick it into gear again tonight, but Soriano has been on fire. It looks like we may be in store for a fun night filled with great pitching.

First pitch is at 9:38 PM EDT

Game Info

Game Time: Monday, April 6th, 9:38 pm EDT

Location: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA

Watch: BravesVision

Radio/Audio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan

Mets place Juan Soto on IL with right calf strain

Apr 2, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (22) reacts after scoring a run on an RBI double hit by infielder Bo Bichette (19) against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images | Robert Edwards-Imagn Images

The Mets have officially placed Juan Soto on the 10-day IL, retroactive to April 4, with a right calf strain, and have recalled Ronny Mauricio to take his place on the roster. The Mets stated that a typical return to play is two to three weeks, which puts him on pace to return some time during the team’s nine-game homestand later this month.

The Mets and Soto were hoping to avoid an IL stint after the star outfielder injured his calf running first to third on a single during the team’s Friday night win against the Giants. However, that was not to be, as Soto will now sit on the sidelines for the time being. Soto sat out on Saturday and Sunday, and the club wanted to see how he felt before making any final decisions. This is Soto’s first trip to the injured list since April 2021, as he has proved to be one of MLB’s most durable players—he has appeared in at least 150 games during each full season played between 2019 and 2025.

The offense performed well in his absence, winning all three games he missed—we’ll count Friday, since he left in the first inning. The offense erupted for a combined 24 runs across the three wins, which is a good sign, and they’re going to need that to continue for at least a couple more weeks. Still, missing 2-3 weeks, especially in April, is a better outcome than was reasonable at the time of Soto’s exit.

For the time being, the Mets will continue to use a number of players to fill the void. Jared Young, for example, started in left on Sunday and went 3-for-3. Brett Baty will also see time in left, while continuing to move around the field and play some right and first. Tyrone Taylor, who played right field on Sunday (with Carson Benge in center) could also appear in left if needed. All that is to say that the club will look to make due, and if you’re going to lose a player of Soto’s caliber at any point in the season, April is preferable to the summer months.

Mets place Juan Soto on IL with right calf strain

Apr 2, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (22) reacts after scoring a run on an RBI double hit by infielder Bo Bichette (19) against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images | Robert Edwards-Imagn Images

The Mets have officially placed Juan Soto on the 10-day IL, retroactive to April 4, with a right calf strain, and have recalled Ronny Mauricio to take his place on the roster. The Mets stated that a typical return to play is two to three weeks, which puts him on pace to return some time during the team’s nine-game homestand later this month.

The Mets and Soto were hoping to avoid an IL stint after the star outfielder injured his calf running first to third on a single during the team’s Friday night win against the Giants. However, that was not to be, as Soto will now sit on the sidelines for the time being. Soto sat out on Saturday and Sunday, and the club wanted to see how he felt before making any final decisions. This is Soto’s first trip to the injured list since April 2021, as he has proved to be one of MLB’s most durable players—he has appeared in at least 150 games during each full season played between 2019 and 2025.

The offense performed well in his absence, winning all three games he missed—we’ll count Friday, since he left in the first inning. The offense erupted for a combined 24 runs across the three wins, which is a good sign, and they’re going to need that to continue for at least a couple more weeks. Still, missing 2-3 weeks, especially in April, is a better outcome than was reasonable at the time of Soto’s exit.

For the time being, the Mets will continue to use a number of players to fill the void. Jared Young, for example, started in left on Sunday and went 3-for-3. Brett Baty will also see time in left, while continuing to move around the field and play some right and first. Tyrone Taylor, who played right field on Sunday (with Carson Benge in center) could also appear in left if needed. All that is to say that the club will look to make due, and if you’re going to lose a player of Soto’s caliber at any point in the season, April is preferable to the summer months.

John Blackwell announces he won't be returning to Wisconsin on eve of transfer portal opening

John Blackwell is leaving Wisconsin after scoring 19.1 points per game for the Badgers this season.

Blackwell issued an Instagram post Monday saying he won’t return to Wisconsin next season and is instead going through the NBA draft process while also entering his name in the transfer portal. The transfer portal for basketball officially opens Tuesday. He credited coach Greg Gard for helping him grow as a player.

“That growth is exactly what’s driving this decision," Blackwell wrote on Instagram. I believe I owe it to myself and my family to chase the highest level I can reach, and this is the right time to take that step and leap of faith.”

A pair of Tennessee players announced intentions to enter the portal Monday after helping the Volunteers (25-12) to the Elite Eight. J.P. Estrella, a 6-foot-11 forward, averaged 10 points and 5.4 rebounds, while guard Bishop Boswell started 33 of 34 games this season.

The 6-4 Blackwell had 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for Wisconsin as a junior while helping the Badgers go 24-11. He made 2.8 3-pointers per game and shot 38.9% from beyond the arc.

He played particularly well late in the year. Blackwell scored 24 points as Wisconsin beat Purdue in its regular-season finale. He averaged 26 points in three Big Ten Tournament games, including 34 against Washington and 31 in an overtime victory over Illinois.

Blackwell scored 22 points in Wisconsin’s 83-82 NCAA Tournament first-round loss to High Point.

He earned third-team all-Big Ten honors from the league’s coaches and media. Blackwell didn’t make the Associated Press all-Big Ten team, which includes only a first team and second team.

Blackwell had 15.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game as a sophomore in 2024-25.

“My time in Madison has truly changed my life,” Blackwell said. “Through every high and every tough loss, Badger Nation showed up with unwavering support. I’m beyond grateful — and I’ll carry that with me always. My prayer is that you understand my decision. Madison will always be second home to me for the rest of my life. This place and this community will always be part of who I am.”

___

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

Panthers Assistant GMs Reportedly Garnering Plenty Of Interest Around The NHL

Florida Panthers assistant GMs Brett Peterson and Sunny Mehta are reportedly drawing interest around the NHL for several available GM jobs. 

The Panthers are considered the model of success at the moment. With three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearances, including two wins, the Panthers’ style of play and operations have received plenty of praise.  The Panthers have been able to acquire high-end players and sign them afterwards. 

So it’s no surprise that teams are interested in bringing Peterson and Mehta into their organizations as general managers.

On Saturday, Sportsnet’s NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that Peterson has garnered interest from the Nashville Predators, and Mehta has been discussed for the Toronto Maple Leafs’ vacant role.

Barry Trotz, the current Predators GM, will step down once he finds a suitable candidate. The Predators have reportedly begun interviewing several candidates from around the NHL. 

Peterson is expected to be a strong candidate to land the Predators’ job, and even if he doesn’t, he will likely see interest from other teams.

Predators Ask For Hurricanes GM Tulsky, In-Person Interviews Held For Other CandidatesPredators Ask For Hurricanes GM Tulsky, In-Person Interviews Held For Other CandidatesThe Nashville Predators are one of the more intriguing teams to watch heading into the off-season. A recent report from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman indicates that they were denied permission to speak with Carolina Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky, but find out who else is on their radar.

Peterson is set to manage Team USA’s Men’s World Championship roster in 2026. If the Americans perform well and the roster he builds succeeds, his chances of landing a GM role will increase drastically.

As for Mehta and the Maple Leafs, the fit makes a lot of sense, and Friedman believes Mehta will be a factor in the process. 

“He’s been kind of discussed this week, Sunny Mehta, one of the assistant general managers of the Florida Panthers,” mentioned Friedman. “I do think he’s going to be a factor.”

Major Changes Reportedly Expected For Maple Leafs; Doug Armstrong Likely Unavailable For GM RoleMajor Changes Reportedly Expected For Maple Leafs; Doug Armstrong Likely Unavailable For GM RoleThe Toronto Maple Leafs made headlines when firing GM Brad Treliving, but the organization isn’t expected to stop there, as Sportsnet’s insider Elliotte Friedman expects major changes.

Friedman had previously discussed the firing of Brad Treliving and the opinions of MLSE CEO Keith Pelley. Pelley believes the Maple Leafs aren’t using all their resources to the best of their ability.

The Maple Leafs have one of, if not the biggest, analytics departments in the NHL, but under Treliving, Pelley believes they were underutilized. 

This is where Mehta would likely come in. Mehta began working as an analyst for the New Jersey Devils in 2014, before joining the Panthers in 2021. After two seasons, Mehta was promoted to assistant GM and director of analytics. 

With the Panthers success under Mehta and his impact on the analytics department, it’s easy to see why the Maple Leafs would be interested in Mehta’s services.

Panthers GM Bill Zito has built a strong relationship with Mehta and Peterson, but the pair of assistant GMs would likely love the opportunity to run their own NHL front offices. 


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Mets placing Juan Soto on IL due to calf injury

The Mets have placed outfielder Juan Soto on the 10-day IL due to the minor calf strain he suffered against the Giants on Friday in San Francisco.

The move is retroactive to Saturday.

In the press release announcing the IL stint, the Mets noted that "a typical return to play for this type of injury is approximately 2-3 weeks."

In a corresponding move, the Mets called infielder Ronny Mauricio up from Triple-A Syracuse. 

On Saturday, manager Carlos Mendoza said Soto "was in a really good place," adding that the plan was to give Soto 48-72 hours to see how he progresses before determining next steps.

Playing all but one inning of the final three games against the Giants without Soto, the Mets scored 24 runs as they won all three.

Soto had been on fire to start the season, slashing .355/.412/.516.

With Soto out, Jared Young has excelled, reaching base in four of his five plate appearances.

On Sunday, Young went 3-for-3 with a double and played stellar defense in left field. 

Mets placing Juan Soto on IL due to calf injury

The Mets have placed outfielder Juan Soto on the 10-day IL due to the minor calf strain he suffered against the Giants on Friday in San Francisco.

The move is retroactive to Saturday.

In the press release announcing the IL stint, the Mets noted that "a typical return to play for this type of injury is approximately 2-3 weeks."

In a corresponding move, the Mets called infielder Ronny Mauricio up from Triple-A Syracuse. 

On Saturday, manager Carlos Mendoza said Soto "was in a really good place," adding that the plan was to give Soto 48-72 hours to see how he progresses before determining next steps.

Playing all but one inning of the final three games against the Giants without Soto, the Mets scored 24 runs as they won all three.

Soto had been on fire to start the season, slashing .355/.412/.516.

With Soto out, Jared Young has excelled, reaching base in four of his five plate appearances.

On Sunday, Young went 3-for-3 with a double and played stellar defense in left field. 

Series Preview: Brewers at Red Sox

(080211, Boston, MA) fans take cover under anything handy, like pizza boxes and trash bags as the Red Sox take on the Indians at Fenway Park. Tuesday, August 02, 2011. (Staff photo by Stuart Cahill) (Photo by Stuart Cahill/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Ok. The Red Sox are now 2-7 on the season after three series. They were meh against the Reds. Then bad against the Astros. And actually played the Padres pretty hard, more or less, but came away 1-2.

The absence of Garrett Whitlock — who, to be clear, 100% should be allowed the time off for paternity leave and isn’t at fault — really hurt them on Saturday and Sunday, especially with Oviedo looking not great in his first appearance and then hitting the IL. They only need to go, uh, 87-68 the rest of the year to finish with the same record as 2025.

The Brewers are having the opposite start to the season: they’re rolling. Milwaukee will come to Boston sitting on a 6-1 record.

Remember Brandon Woodruff? He was pretty big for Milwaukee through 2022. Then he had injury-shortened seasons in 2023 and 2025 surrounding an entirely lost 2024 campaign on the shelf. But he’s back now. In his first start of 2026 he tossed five innings of two-run ball against the Tampa Bay Rays. He’s going up against Brayan Bello, who’s looking to bounce back from his start against the Astros. The goal this spring was to give him more swing-and-miss in his game and that part of his last outing was a success. Hopefully there is more to come.

Tuesday is Jacob Misiorowski, aka The Miz vs. Garrett Crochet. The pitching phenom against The Pig. Misiorowski, a 24-year-old righty, enters the day with a 2.45 ERA / 3.91 FIP. To watch for: 18 strikeouts in his first 11 innings against the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. Glass half full or half empty, this could be a rough night for the Sox hitters. Crochet will need to be fully in control and bring at least his B game. In their meeting last year, Crochet struck out 11 Brewers in 6.2 innings as the Red Sox lost 3-2. Maybe bring the A game to be safe.

Wednesday is a getaway day before an off-day to travel and, maybe, reset. Chad Patrick will take the ball for the Brewers. In two starts he has an ERA of 0.96 (FIP 4.36) after allowing just one runs over two starts totaling 9.1 innings. Again, it’s the White Sox and Royals, so not the greatest accomplishments, but also not nothing. That’s three more righties for the Boston lefty hitters to feast on. Platoon advantage doesn’t guarantee results but it’s nice to have all the same. Sonny Gray will make his third start in a Boston uniform and we’ll all hope it goes more like his second. Two runs in six innings when your team can give you five is good enough for a win.

William Contreras, brother of Willson, will be in town. He’s off to a .259/.375/.481 start with a homer.

Christian Yelich is hitting .353/.389/.529 with a homer and is as hot at the plate as he could be.

Old friend David Hamilton has stolen four bases for the Brewers.

The good news? After the Brewers series the Sox go on the road for six games against the rebuilding Cardinals (4-4 ahead of Sunday Night Baseball) and Twins (3-6). And then another potentially brutal stretch facing the Tigers and Yankees. But good teams win against good teams so we’ll see what happens.

Probable Pitching Matchups

Monday, April 6: Brandon Woodruff (3.60 ERA / 5.98 FIP) vs. Brayan Bello (9.64 ERA / 7.04 FIP)

Tuesday, April 7: Jacob Misiorowski (2.45 ERA / 3.91 FIP) vs. Garrett Crochet (3.27 ERA / 2.73 FIP)

Wednesday, April 8: Chad Patrick (0.96 ERA / 4.36 FIP) vs. Sonny Gray (4.50 ERA / 3.18 FIP)

When/Where to Watch

Monday, April 6 at 6:45 PM ET on NESN

Tuesday, April 7: 6:45 PM ET on NESN

Wednesday, April 8: 1:35 PM ET on NESN

Series Preview: Brewers at Red Sox

(080211, Boston, MA) fans take cover under anything handy, like pizza boxes and trash bags as the Red Sox take on the Indians at Fenway Park. Tuesday, August 02, 2011. (Staff photo by Stuart Cahill) (Photo by Stuart Cahill/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Ok. The Red Sox are now 2-7 on the season after three series. They were meh against the Reds. Then bad against the Astros. And actually played the Padres pretty hard, more or less, but came away 1-2.

The absence of Garrett Whitlock — who, to be clear, 100% should be allowed the time off for paternity leave and isn’t at fault — really hurt them on Saturday and Sunday, especially with Oviedo looking not great in his first appearance and then hitting the IL. They only need to go, uh, 87-68 the rest of the year to finish with the same record as 2025.

The Brewers are having the opposite start to the season: they’re rolling. Milwaukee will come to Boston sitting on a 6-1 record.

Remember Brandon Woodruff? He was pretty big for Milwaukee through 2022. Then he had injury-shortened seasons in 2023 and 2025 surrounding an entirely lost 2024 campaign on the shelf. But he’s back now. In his first start of 2026 he tossed five innings of two-run ball against the Tampa Bay Rays. He’s going up against Brayan Bello, who’s looking to bounce back from his start against the Astros. The goal this spring was to give him more swing-and-miss in his game and that part of his last outing was a success. Hopefully there is more to come.

Tuesday is Jacob Misiorowski, aka The Miz vs. Garrett Crochet. The pitching phenom against The Pig. Misiorowski, a 24-year-old righty, enters the day with a 2.45 ERA / 3.91 FIP. To watch for: 18 strikeouts in his first 11 innings against the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. Glass half full or half empty, this could be a rough night for the Sox hitters. Crochet will need to be fully in control and bring at least his B game. In their meeting last year, Crochet struck out 11 Brewers in 6.2 innings as the Red Sox lost 3-2. Maybe bring the A game to be safe.

Wednesday is a getaway day before an off-day to travel and, maybe, reset. Chad Patrick will take the ball for the Brewers. In two starts he has an ERA of 0.96 (FIP 4.36) after allowing just one runs over two starts totaling 9.1 innings. Again, it’s the White Sox and Royals, so not the greatest accomplishments, but also not nothing. That’s three more righties for the Boston lefty hitters to feast on. Platoon advantage doesn’t guarantee results but it’s nice to have all the same. Sonny Gray will make his third start in a Boston uniform and we’ll all hope it goes more like his second. Two runs in six innings when your team can give you five is good enough for a win.

William Contreras, brother of Willson, will be in town. He’s off to a .259/.375/.481 start with a homer.

Christian Yelich is hitting .353/.389/.529 with a homer and is as hot at the plate as he could be.

Old friend David Hamilton has stolen four bases for the Brewers.

The good news? After the Brewers series the Sox go on the road for six games against the rebuilding Cardinals (4-4 ahead of Sunday Night Baseball) and Twins (3-6). And then another potentially brutal stretch facing the Tigers and Yankees. But good teams win against good teams so we’ll see what happens.

Probable Pitching Matchups

Monday, April 6: Brandon Woodruff (3.60 ERA / 5.98 FIP) vs. Brayan Bello (9.64 ERA / 7.04 FIP)

Tuesday, April 7: Jacob Misiorowski (2.45 ERA / 3.91 FIP) vs. Garrett Crochet (3.27 ERA / 2.73 FIP)

Wednesday, April 8: Chad Patrick (0.96 ERA / 4.36 FIP) vs. Sonny Gray (4.50 ERA / 3.18 FIP)

When/Where to Watch

Monday, April 6 at 6:45 PM ET on NESN

Tuesday, April 7: 6:45 PM ET on NESN

Wednesday, April 8: 1:35 PM ET on NESN

Cubs roster move: Matthew Boyd to injured list, Javier Assad recalled

The Cubs have not started out the season well, and now have lost a second starting pitcher to injury:

Boyd had a rough outing on Opening Day, but recovered and threw very well last Wednesday against the Angels, striking out 10.

Let’s hope this turns out to be correct:

Javier Assad has made two starts for Triple-A Iowa this year. He threw three shutout innings against Columbus, then got hit pretty hard by Louisville. Assad is pretty much a known quantity; his MLB seasons have all been quite similar. I wouldn’t expect him to give the value Boyd does, but he will eat up some innings and probably throw reasonably well. He threw 75 pitches against Louisville last Thursday, so he should be ready to go tomorrow and perhaps throw up to 90 pitches or so.

This obviously isn’t the way any of us wanted the season to begin. Fortunately for the Cubs, they do have some starting pitcher depth. Let’s hope it doesn’t get tested any further.

Cubs roster move: Matthew Boyd to injured list, Javier Assad recalled

The Cubs have not started out the season well, and now have lost a second starting pitcher to injury:

Boyd had a rough outing on Opening Day, but recovered and threw very well last Wednesday against the Angels, striking out 10.

Let’s hope this turns out to be correct:

Javier Assad has made two starts for Triple-A Iowa this year. He threw three shutout innings against Columbus, then got hit pretty hard by Louisville. Assad is pretty much a known quantity; his MLB seasons have all been quite similar. I wouldn’t expect him to give the value Boyd does, but he will eat up some innings and probably throw reasonably well. He threw 75 pitches against Louisville last Thursday, so he should be ready to go tomorrow and perhaps throw up to 90 pitches or so.

This obviously isn’t the way any of us wanted the season to begin. Fortunately for the Cubs, they do have some starting pitcher depth. Let’s hope it doesn’t get tested any further.

MLB Player Props & Best Bets for Today, April 6

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The bases are juiced as we open another week of MLB action, and I’m ready to drive in some MLB player props winners. 

My best bets today include Ernie Clement doing his best to exact some revenge in the Blue Jays World Series rematch against the Dodgers, and Logan Gilbert racking up the Ks in a matchup vs. the Rangers.

Those and more MLB picks for Monday, April 6 below.

Best MLB player props today

Player PickOdds
Padres German MarquezUnder 14.5 Outs+122
Blue Jays Ernie ClementOver 1.5 Total Bases+105
Mariners Logan GilbertOver 6.5 Strikeouts+102

German Marquez Under 14.5 Outs Recorded (+122)

Konnor Griffin is getting all the headlines for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but the Buccos as a whole have begun 2026 with a bang.

The Pirates have rattled off five straight wins, plating 32 runs, and enter tonight’s game against the San Diego Padres ranked ninth in wRC+ and seventh in OPS.

That’s not great for Padres starter German Marquez. It appears that pitching in Colorado wasn’t the only issue for the veteran right-hander. He was tagged for four runs on eight hits in his first start with the Friars. That included two home runs in just three innings of work against a relatively light-hitting San Francisco Giants squad.

The Pirates have chased the opposing starter before completing five innings three times during this five-game winning streak. I’m betting it happens again tonight. 

  • Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Padres.TV, SNP

Ernie Clement Over 1.5 Total Bases (+105)

It’s fun that we get a rematch of one of the most exciting World Series so early in the season. But while the Los Angeles Dodgers have rolled into 2026, it’s been a bit of a rough start for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Toronto enters at 4-5, thanks to some poor fundamentals, ineffective relief pitching, and a lack of clutch hits.

Luckily, they can still rely on the guy who holds the record for most hits in a single postseason: Ernie Clement

The Blue Jays' second baseman is one of the few guys giving them good at-bats right now, hitting .297 with 11 hits over nine games. Clement was also a monster vs. left-handed pitching last season, hitting .326 with a .900 OPS.

He faces lefty Justin Wrobleski, who allowed three runs on four hits in his first start against the Cleveland Guardians. 

I love Ernie to set the tone in this World Series rematch and go Over 1.5 total bases.

  • Time: 7:07 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: FS1

Logan Gilbert Over 6.5 Strikeouts (+102)

It hasn’t been the smoothest of starts to the season for the Seattle Mariners, and that includes starter Logan Gilbert.

The 2025 All-Star has surrendered eight runs over his first two starts, but the one positive is that he’s still getting a lot of swings and misses, resulting in strikeouts. He’s punched out 13 batters in 10 2/3 innings over his first two starts.

And now he gets a great matchup to keep that going when he takes the ball against the Texas Rangers.

Gilbert has been a problem for the Rangers for a while. Current Texas batters have combined for a .202 expected batting average and a 26.8% strikeout rate. The Rangers also enter this game with the 10th-highest K-rate in baseball.

If Gilbert can be a little more efficient, he is a great bet to go Over his strikeout prop tonight. 

  • Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Mariners.TV, RSN
Andrew Caley's 2026 Transparency Record
  • Prop picks: 9-9, -0.09 units

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

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.

MLB Player Props & Best Bets for Today, April 6

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The bases are juiced as we open another week of MLB action, and I’m ready to drive in some MLB player props winners. 

My best bets today include Ernie Clement doing his best to exact some revenge in the Blue Jays World Series rematch against the Dodgers, and Logan Gilbert racking up the Ks in a matchup vs. the Rangers.

Those and more MLB picks for Monday, April 6 below.

Best MLB player props today

Player PickOdds
Padres German MarquezUnder 14.5 Outs+122
Blue Jays Ernie ClementOver 1.5 Total Bases+105
Mariners Logan GilbertOver 6.5 Strikeouts+102

German Marquez Under 14.5 Outs Recorded (+122)

Konnor Griffin is getting all the headlines for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but the Buccos as a whole have begun 2026 with a bang.

The Pirates have rattled off five straight wins, plating 32 runs, and enter tonight’s game against the San Diego Padres ranked ninth in wRC+ and seventh in OPS.

That’s not great for Padres starter German Marquez. It appears that pitching in Colorado wasn’t the only issue for the veteran right-hander. He was tagged for four runs on eight hits in his first start with the Friars. That included two home runs in just three innings of work against a relatively light-hitting San Francisco Giants squad.

The Pirates have chased the opposing starter before completing five innings three times during this five-game winning streak. I’m betting it happens again tonight. 

  • Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Padres.TV, SNP

Ernie Clement Over 1.5 Total Bases (+105)

It’s fun that we get a rematch of one of the most exciting World Series so early in the season. But while the Los Angeles Dodgers have rolled into 2026, it’s been a bit of a rough start for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Toronto enters at 4-5, thanks to some poor fundamentals, ineffective relief pitching, and a lack of clutch hits.

Luckily, they can still rely on the guy who holds the record for most hits in a single postseason: Ernie Clement

The Blue Jays' second baseman is one of the few guys giving them good at-bats right now, hitting .297 with 11 hits over nine games. Clement was also a monster vs. left-handed pitching last season, hitting .326 with a .900 OPS.

He faces lefty Justin Wrobleski, who allowed three runs on four hits in his first start against the Cleveland Guardians. 

I love Ernie to set the tone in this World Series rematch and go Over 1.5 total bases.

  • Time: 7:07 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: FS1

Logan Gilbert Over 6.5 Strikeouts (+102)

It hasn’t been the smoothest of starts to the season for the Seattle Mariners, and that includes starter Logan Gilbert.

The 2025 All-Star has surrendered eight runs over his first two starts, but the one positive is that he’s still getting a lot of swings and misses, resulting in strikeouts. He’s punched out 13 batters in 10 2/3 innings over his first two starts.

And now he gets a great matchup to keep that going when he takes the ball against the Texas Rangers.

Gilbert has been a problem for the Rangers for a while. Current Texas batters have combined for a .202 expected batting average and a 26.8% strikeout rate. The Rangers also enter this game with the 10th-highest K-rate in baseball.

If Gilbert can be a little more efficient, he is a great bet to go Over his strikeout prop tonight. 

  • Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Mariners.TV, RSN
Andrew Caley's 2026 Transparency Record
  • Prop picks: 9-9, -0.09 units

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

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.

Phillies vs. Giants prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for April 6

The Philadelphia Phillies (5-4) open a three-game series tonight against the struggling San Francisco Giants (3-7) at Oracle Park. Philadelphia hands the ball to Andrew Painter (1-0, 1.69 ERA) while the Giants turn to Adrian Houser (0-1, 1.69 ERA).

The Giants’ offense has been nonexistent to date this season. San Francisco scored a total of five runs over their last three games. They rank last in the majors with a .561 OPS and currently hold an MLB-worst -25 run differential through just 10 games. Winners of four of their last five, the Phillies are surviving offensively but not thriving. Bryce Harper and co. are hitting .227 as a team. They wrapped up their weekend series in Denver against the Rockies scoring three runs over the final two games.

As noted earlier, top prospect Andrew Painter is expected to start for Philadelphia tonight. The rookie dominated in his MLB debut with eight strikeouts over 5.1 innings in a 3-2 win over the Nationals on March 31. Veteran Adrian Houser lost in his season debut but was sharp allowing but one run over 5.1 innings against the Padres.

Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and the opener 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: Phillies vs. Giants

  • Date: Monday, April 6, 2026
  • Time: 9:45PM EST
  • Site: Oracle Park
  • City: San Francisco, CA
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus

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: Phillies vs. Giants

The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of FanDuel:

  • Moneyline: Philadelphia Phillies (-120), San Francisco Giants (+100)
  • Spread: Phillies -1.5 (+139) / Giants +1.5 (-168)
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable Starting Pitchers: Phillies vs. Giants

Pitching matchup for April 6:

  • Phillies: Andrew Painter
    Season Totals: 5.1 IP, 1-0, 1.69 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 8K, 1 BB
  • Giants: Adrian Hauser
  • Season Totals: 5.1 IP, 0-1, 1.69 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 4K, 1 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Phillies vs. Giants

  • Trea Turner has hit in 6 straight games and is 9-25 over that span with 4 doubles
  • Bryce Harper is hitting just .139 for the season (5-36)
  • Alec Bohm has one extra base hit on the season in 34 ABs
  • Rafael Devers is 8-38 on the season (.211) with 2 extra base hits
  • Harrison Bader is 1 for his last 15 and 4-34 on the season (.118)

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: Phillies vs. Giants

  • The Giants are 2-8 on the Run Line this season
  • Philadelphia is 2-7 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 5 times in the Phils’ 9 games this season (5-3-1)
  • The OVER has cashed 4 times in the Giants’ first 10 games (4-3-3)

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: Phillies vs. Giants

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s game between Philadelphia and San Francisco:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Phillies on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Phillies on the Run Line.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 8.0.

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