It’s been exactly a week since the Florida Panthers played their final game of the 2025-26 season.
Florida capped off their frustrating, injury-filled campaign with an 8-1 trouncing of the Detroit Red Wings last Wednesday night at Amerant Bank Arena.
The Panthers actually won each of their final three games despite knowing that their 2026 first-round pick, one the Cats initially traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2025 Trade Deadline deal for Seth Jones, was top-10 protected. That means if Florida finished in a position that laded them a selection in the first 10 of this year’s NHL Draft, the Panthers would keep their pick.
Well, you can thank the hockey gods or just simple good karma, but despite the wins, Florida ended up finishing eighth-worst, guaranteeing them a pick in the top-10 regardless of what happens at next month’s NHL Draft Lottery.
Getting back to the point of this post, the Panthers season is over and their home arena no longer needs to house and maintain an NHL-quality sheet of ice.
With that being the case, earlier this week the arena’s excellent ice and maintenance crew undertook the process of removing the ice.
You can check out a video of the process below:
Generally, that process begins with turning off the building’s floor cooling system before spraying hot water on top of the ice so it can start to break down and lose its strength and durability.
Crew members than take large hammer-mallet-like tools and walk across the surface, cracking the ice by slamming the tool into the ground over and over.
Once the ice is all broken up into smaller chunks, it’s removed from the floor into drainage pits while the logos and advertisements are peeled away and disposed of.
After that, crews make sure the arena’s floor surface is properly cleaned, and then the remaining boards are removed.
That’s it, no more ice rink until September.
Amerant Bank Arena will host several events in the coming weeks and months, including concerts for Bruce Springsteen and Ariana Grande, Professional Bull Riding and Monster Jam.
As for the Panthers, they’ll get an extended summer break for the first time in several years.
Expect them to be back in the playoff mix at this time next year, though.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 09: Tyrese Maxey #0 and Vj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on against the Orlando Magic during the third quarter at Kia Center on January 09, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. 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 Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Sixers beat the Celtics at TD Garden on opening night — a game which took place in October, though it feels like a lifetime ago.
On that night, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe were magnificent. The veteran guard dropped 40 while the rookie poured in 34. With Joel Embiid struggling mightily and Paul George shelved, the backcourt of the future made its presence felt in the present. The Sixers’ season was a roller coaster the rest of the way.
So after they were blown out by Boston in Game 1 Sunday, it was only fitting for the VJ-Maxx backcourt to lead them to a stunning upset in Game 2. Like they’ve done all season, Maxey and Edgecombe flushed what happened and willed their team to a win.
That win in the opener was part of a 4-0 start. Then the Sixers struggled as Embiid and George weren’t consistently in the lineup and had not returned to form when available. As the veterans began looking like themselves, the team was showing real signs of life — until George was slapped with a 25-game suspension. Then Embiid battled a stress reaction in his right leg, followed by a right oblique strain. Then Maxey hurt his pinky.
That felt like the end. Even if everyone could get back, there’s no way they could make it work. A win over the then-surging Charlotte Hornets with a full squad had folks giddy. One appendectomy later, it felt like all hope was lost. Salvaging a home play-in game — a win over the Orlando Magic — provided a brief moment of joy, followed quickly by the grim reality of facing the hated Celtics.
And Game 1 felt like an inevitability.
Embiid isn’t coming back. Sweep incoming. Fire Daryl Morey. Fire Nick Nurse. Salary dump PG.
OK, there are likely many of you who still agree with a couple of those, but there will be no sweep.
And maybe, just maybe, Embiid can make a heroic return. That would sure make things interesting.
But we’re not even having this conversation if not for the dynamic play of Maxey and Edgecombe.
Edgecombe looked a bit like a rookie in Game 1. It’s understandable. The Sixers have asked so much of the 20-year-old, it’s only fair to allow him a few growing pains. He got over those — and some physical pains after a nasty fall in the first quarter — rather quickly.
In Game 2, Edgecombe was arguably the best player on the court. Think about how remarkable that is for a second when the court featured Maxey, George, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown (who was also quite brilliant for Boston Tuesday). He dropped 30 points, the first Sixers rookie to do so since Andrew Toney (against the Celtics, of course) back in 1981. He also had 10 rebounds, making him the youngest player in NBA postseason history to go for 30 points and 10 rebounds and the first rookie to do it since Tim Duncan in 1998.
Much like opening night, Edgecombe’s historical performance overshadowed Maxey’s work. It wasn’t the most efficient evening for the All-Star guard, but he came alive when it mattered most, scoring 12 of his 29 points in the fourth. Boston was able to whittle the Sixers’ lead down to two with under six minutes to go. Maxey, sensing the game slipping away from his team, pulled up and knocked down a three. After a stop on the other end, he buried another.
That quickly, the Celtics went from being down a bucket to trailing by three possessions. After another big three from Edgecombe to push the lead to 13, Maxey got downhill and finished off a beautiful up-and-under layup. Tatum fouled him for an and-one. The TD Garden crowd was silenced, but you could hear Maxey giving the Celtics’ bench and crowd the business.
The Sixers tied the series up 1-1 heading back to South Philly for Game 3 Friday night. It’s what Maxey and Edgecombe have done all season long. Even if Boston rips off the next three games, this was just another example of the grit this team has shown all season, led by its electric backcourt.
And though it seems like they’ve been playing together forever, their partnership is only just beginning.
The New York Knicks should have taken a 2-0 series south to face the Atlanta Hawks in Game 3 tonight, but it’s the Knicks we’re talking about here.
Blowing a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter of Game 2 wasn’t the only bad beat for New York fans. Anyone who had OG Anunoby to top his point prop had salt thrown in the wound.
My Knicks vs. Hawks predictions and NBA picks for Thursday, April 23 will bank on a bounce-back performance for Anunoby in Game 3, with tip-off set for 7:00 on Amazon Prime.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
Knicks vs Hawks prediction
Who will win Knicks vs Hawks Game 3?
Knicks: After watching the Knicks piss away a would-be win in Game 2, it’s tough to trust this team as the series swings south. Using the term “must win” in the playoffs is dumb, but if there ever was a game New York must win, it’s this one. You can’t afford to give this plucky Hawks team momentum.
Knicks vs Hawks best bet: OG Anunoby Over 15.5 points (-112)
Peace and love to anyone who bet on OG Anunoby to top his scoring prop of 16.5 points in Game 2.
The New York Knicks’ forward finished 4-for-8 from the free-throw line Monday and scored only 14 points in the loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Rough stuff.
Anunoby did enter Game 2 with a bum wheel after injuring his ankle in the series opener. He shot 4-for-9 from the floor after connecting on 6-of-9 FGAs along with all four of his free throws for 18 points in Game 1. However, he was still aggressively going after the Hawks defense in Game 2 and made two triples for the second straight outing.
Anunoby is putting in work, with 38 minutes in each of the first two games, but his usage has dropped to open this series. He’s normally shooting around 12 shots per outing but is taking a step back with defensive assignments a priority.
Considering how poorly Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges shot in Game 2 (a collective 13 for 36), OG needs to pull double duty as the series swings to Atlanta Thursday night. And while some of his teammates struggle outside of MSG, Anunoby actually averages almost two points more in the role of visitor.
He’s put up more than 16 points in three of five meetings with Atlanta overall, including 22 points in his most recent trip to State Farm Arena. Player projections sit between 16.4 and 17.1 points in Game 3.
Knicks vs Hawks same-game parlay
New York let Game 2 get away with turnovers and missed free throws sparking Atlanta’s rally from 12 points down entering the fourth quarter. The Knicks can’t give the Hawks hope. They’ve done a good job checking Atlanta’s top scorers and clean up their mess in Game 3.
Josh Hart is built for postseason play. He’s averaged 19.0 rebounding chances through the first two games of this series, hauling in 13 and 14 boards in those outings. His projections call for another double-digit night on the glass in Game 3.
Knicks vs Hawks SGP
Knicks moneyline
OG Anunoby Over 15.5 points
Josh Hart Over 7.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Original Gangster
Anunoby’s two-way play is vital to the Knicks stealing a win in Atlanta. His projections sit as high as 17+ points and he’s snatched eight boards in each of the first two games. As for defense, the athletic forward swatted a shot in Game 2 and averages around a block per outing on the season.
Knicks vs Hawks SGP
Knicks moneyline
OG Anunoby Over 15.5 points
OG Anunoby Over 5.5 rebounds
OG Anunoby Over 0.5 blocks
Knicks vs Hawks odds for Game 3
Spread: New York -1.5 (-105) | Atlanta +1.5 (-115)
Moneyline: New York -120 | Atlanta +100
Over/Under: Over 214.5 (-110) | Under 214.5 (-110)
Knicks vs Hawks betting trend to know
The Knicks have stayed Under the total in 30 of their last 45 games (+13.50 Units / 27% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Hawks.
How to watch Knicks vs Hawks Game 3
Location
State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Date
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Knicks vs Hawks latest injuries
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Golden's name was linked to the Warriors on Monday, April 20 by Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor, who reported that if Steve Kerr decides to leave the NBA franchise after 13 seasons, the Warriors would pursue Golden. However, based on Golden's response in a media availability on Wednesday, it appears that he has his eyes set on the sidelines in Gainesville and the SEC for the 2026-27 season.
"I’m definitely planning on coaching the Gators," Golden said on Wednesday during a media availability.
Kerr spoke at length about his future with the Warriors following the team's loss in the NBA play-in tournament, including an embrace with Draymond Green and Steph Curry on the court, where he acknowledged it could be his final game as the Warriors' coach.
O’Connor also mentioned that Golden's relationship with the Lacob family — who are the majority owners of the Warriors — was a reason he was being linked to Golden State.
"If Steve Kerr leaves, the Warriors will pursue Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden, according to my league sources," said O’Connor on his podcast on Monday. "Golden is the coach that they’re targeting, that’s in part because the Lacob family has a relationship with him.
"Golden was the head coach of the San Francisco Dons for three years before he went to Florida and won a national title there. They’ve been together, they’ve had lunches together, those guys know each other and Golden is a very, very talented young head coach. And so I think for the Warriors, Golden would be near the top of their list, if not at the top of the list."
Should Golden change his stance and consider a job in the NBA this cycle, his buyout for an NBA job would be $2 million, according to his contract with Florida, which was obtained by the USA TODAY Sports network.
Golden, 40, has quickly risen to being one of the top college basketball coaches in the country after just four seasons at Florida. He's returned the program to its national prominence, highlighted by its national championship run in 2025 that featured the No. 2 adjusted offensive efficiency and No. 6 adjusted defensive efficiency on KenPom.
Florida is 103-41 combined under Golden, who spent the first three years of his head coaching career in the West Coast Conference at San Francisco.
The Gators, who saw a first-weekend exit from the Men's NCAA Tournament this year after earning a No. 1 seed, are expected to have one of the top rosters in the country next season. Thomas Haugh announced his return to the Gators on Tuesday and picked up Denzel Aberdeen in the transfer portal to go along with returnees Alex Condon and Boogie Fland.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 17: Matt Waldron #61 of the San Diego Padres delivers a pitch to the plate during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 17, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Right-handed starter Matt Waldron began the 2026 season on the injured list, recovering from surgery that was needed in the spring. He had begun throwing again before Spring Training ended but needed to build up from being out of action for a few weeks.
He entered the El Paso Chihuahuas rotation and worked up his innings and pitch count over three starts and 12 innings pitched. He was then called into action when Padres ace Nick Pivetta went on the injured list himself with a flexor tendon strain suffered on April 12.
Waldron would ideally have had more of a buildup if they were trying to copy a normal Spring Training with his time in Triple-A. At least two more starts in El Paso would have been ideal. That was not going to happen after Pivetta’s injury. Neither of the other two pitchers in El Paso were better options. Although both are major league pitchers, Griffin Canning is being built up and is not ready. JP Sears has been largely ineffective in his appearances so far this season.
Waldron gets hit hard
It should not be surprising, nor should everyone panic, that his first outing did not impress. His 12 innings in Triple-A were great, no runs allowed and only one walk with 12 strikeouts. But there remains a big difference between Triple-A hitters and the big-league level.
Waldron’s command was not sharp on top of the fact that he wasn’t getting his usual movement on his fastball. He only lasted 3.2 innings and allowed eight hits and six earned runs, walking one and striking out four. With his velocity, he has to have command and be efficient in order to be successful. He was both of those things in 2024, when he was the most effective pitcher on the San Diego Padres roster for at least half the season. In that season, he used the knuckleball the same amount as he did in his unsuccessful start for the Padres on April 17.
Velocity increased
The biggest difference, other than the result, between this version of Waldron and the one we have seen in the past is that he is slimmer and stronger. Devoting his offseason to getting in better shape, Waldron has added a significant uptick in velocity on all his pitches.
Fastball velocity now averages 92.5 mph (tops at 94-95), up from 90.1 from 2025. His cutter now sits 88.8 average, up from 87. His sinker is averaging 91.9, up from 89.8 last year. His slider is now 81.8, up from 81 last season. His knuckle ball averages 80.9 and was 79.4 last season.
Using a five-pitch mix, Waldron now throws his fastball, slider and knuckleball most frequently. In his one start with the Padres, he still threw the knuckler more than any other pitch, but his fastball usage was about 20% and his knuckler at 37%.
The sinker and cutter are both under 10% of his offerings and the slider was thrown 25% of the time. Unfortunately, the fastball was left over the plate too often and he did not have the best feel for his knuckle ball during his outing.
Stuff is improved
Despite the lack of command and execution last Friday, his stuff is rated higher this season than in years past. According to FanGraphs, his Stuff+ has taken a jump on all of his pitches. With 100 being the average quality of a pitch for a starter in MLB, Waldron has a 98 rating on his pitches, a 111 rating on his Location+ and a 108 on his Pitching+ rating.
Pitching+ is Stuff and Location combined to rate the overall quality of a pitcher’s offerings. There is no other season in his career where his stuff is rated this highly.
Hope for rapid improvement
After rushing Waldron into the rotation in order to not use the bullpen excessively, the Padres were probably not expecting a stellar performance. In his start, Waldron was also up against one of the best pitchers in baseball in Jose Soriano of the Los Angeles Angels. The hitters were shut out in that game so the number of runs allowed wouldn’t have mattered in any way.
At least one to two more starts need to be used to get Waldron tuned up before anyone makes any real assessment of who he will be as a starter this year. It would not be fair to make any decisions on a pitcher while he is still in his Spring Training buildup. He will also be working with Ruben Niebla and his staff to refine his stuff while building up.
The Padres starters have all had at least one rocky start so far this season, it is up to the offense and the bullpen to support Waldron until he is built up to at least the beginning point of the other starters.
The days where Waldron starts will be a challenge for the coaching staff to make a pitching plan that allows the team a chance to win if he is not executing well. Otherwise, bullpen games are the only option until Canning is ready or another pitcher is found.
Everyone should be rooting for Waldron to improve as rapidly as possible and hope his best is good enough to hold down his spot in the rotation.
Who would have thought we would be at must-win game territory in the 1 vs 8 matchup for the Pistons, but we have pretty much reached that point. The series obviously isn’t over if the Pistons go down 0-2, but losing both home games and still having the home playoff losing streak hanging over your head will make it very difficult to pull out a win in this series, even if the Magic are the 8 seed.
Everything went wrong for the Pistons in Game 1, which if you are looking for any positives, means that things probably can’t go much worse in game 2. The Pistons looked like a team that had a week off from playing while the Orlando Magic looked like a well-oiled machine that has already played two playoff-level games.
Obviously, the number one seed has the advantage being a better team, but I can’t help but think a long layoff while the team you are facing plays a couple of games is all that helpful for hitting the ground running. But, the Thunder, Spurs, and Celtics all had easy wins in game 1, so that is probably just an excuse.
Whatever the case is, the Pistons have no excuse but to win this game and head to Orlando tied 1-1.
Game Vitals
Where: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI When: Wednesday, April 22 at 7 pm EST Watch: ESPN Odds: Pistons (-9.5)
Analysis
Many fans are ready to hit the panic button after game 1. The national media has had all of their concerns about the Pistons confirmed. There is absolutely no way they win this series.
We have heard it all at this point and after the Pistons’ performance in Game 1 it is hard to say it isn’t justified. But, I will attempt to not be all doom-and-gloom about that performance.
For starters, I think the Pistons probably played one of their worst games of the season. They have games where shots aren’t falling or the other team has a hot hand, but Sunday’s game was the perfect storm of bad play all-around. The Orlando Magic were ready for the challenge and punched the Pistons in the mouth.
They dominated the glass, won the turnover battle, shut down their fast break game, outscored the Pistons inside, and shot 9% better from the field. When they needed to hit big shots in the 4th quarter, the Magic made every single one. Many of the things the Magic beat the Pistons in during Game 1 are things that the Pistons have dominated during the regular season.
The Orlando Magic are uniquely built to be able to compete with the Pistons in those categories, but to win every single one is something I cannot foresee happening again. The Magic won the game by only 11 points despite dominating in every aspect that matters to the Pistons. They didn’t outshoot the Pistons from beyond the arc, they just outhustled the Pistons.
If the Pistons get back to their bread-and-butter, they can still take control of this series.
If there is something to be concerned about, it is the play of Jalen Duren. So much of the Pistons ability to dominate inside is because Jalen Duren is a physical presence that can outmuscle even the strongest centers. He only took 4 shots in game 1 as the Magic packed the paint and forced the Pistons to beat them outside. The Magic basically let Cade Cunningham get whatever he wanted to shutdown Duren and leave the unreliable outside shooters open. It worked in Game 1, but I think it could be playing with fire if that is their gameplan for the whole series.
Duren also looked lost on defense and was put in bad spots trying to cover for blow-bys allowed by the Point of Attack defense.
If the Pistons POA defense improves, Jalen Duren is able to stay at the basket more and that hopefully helps with some of the easy baskets Orlando got from the Pistons’ being out-of-place on defense. The Pistons defense looked nothing like it has all season. It has been a well-oiled machine that is elite at generating turnovers that lead to offense and both of those elements were not there on Sunday. Whether it be due to the layoff or just a bad game, the Pistons will need to get back to both in Game 2.
No more zone, no more players being out-of-place, and do a better job on the fast break whenever you do generate turnovers. That was a pretty glaring weakness in Game 1. Normally, the Pistons are unselfish on the fast break and score a lot of points because of it, but too many players tried to do it all themselves on the few fast breaks they got.
This series could very well come down to who can make more outside shots given how evenly matched these two teams are at scoring and physicality. But, if the Pistons can get back to their usual fast break offense off of turnovers, that can give them enough of an advantage to win the series.
As I said, so much went wrong on Sunday that I am not even sure you can properly analyze whether Orlando is just a better team built to match every advantage the Pistons have or if it was just an absolutely poor showing by a team ill-prepared for Game 1.
Whatever the case is, Game 2 needs to be much better by everybody on the team outside of Cade Cunningham. He did his job by scoring 39 points and keeping the offense afloat in the 4th quarter, but he also missed some reads he normally doesn’t miss and had assists taken off the board by the failure to hit outside shots.
If the Pistons fail to adjust to the physicality of the Magic and continue to miss the open shots they are allowing, Game 2 could go the same way as Game 1. If the Pistons head back to Orlando down 0-2, the 1st round upset of the Pistons that everybody was predicted would be done by the Charlotte Hornets, may actually be done by the Orlando Magic.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are looking to go up 2-0 in their first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns. The Thunder routed the Suns 119-94 in Game 1. Oklahoma City is heavily favored at -17.5 with an over/under of 215.5.
How to watch Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Game 1:Thunder 119, Suns 94 Game 2: Wed., April 22 at Oklahoma City (9:30 p.m., ESPN) Game 3: Sat., April 25 at Phoenix (3:30 p.m., NBC) Game 4: Mon., April 27 at Phoenix (TBD) *Game 5: Wed., April 29 at Oklahoma City (TBD) *Game 6: Fri., May 1 at Phoenix (TBD) *Game 7: Sun., May 3 at Oklahoma City (TBD)
Less than three minutes into Game 1, Adam Henrique got tangled up in front of the net with one of his own teammates, went down, and didn't come back. The Edmonton Oilers won 4-3, and Dickinson and Kapanen were the story of the night.
After the game, Kris Knoblauch wasn't giving much away, but the tone said enough.
"It's going to be a big hole missing Rico," he said. "He's been so good on our special teams, and we're going to have to have some other guys step up if we are to lose him."
A big hole instead of day-to-day or a few games. For a player whose contract expires at the end of this playoff run, that's slightly concerning.
Henrique turns 36 in August. He signed a two-year, $6 million deal, $3 million annually, to stay in Edmonton after last season. That deal is now done, and depending on what the diagnostic news looks like, there's a real question about whether he plays another NHL game.
It's not just this injury; Henrique was already having a career-low season offensively, 15 points in 65 games before a two-month IR stint in January. Now this. He logged two minutes and 56 seconds in Game 1 before his night was over.
Nobody was expecting Henrique to score. His value has always been harder to measure. He's a faceoff guy, a penalty killer, and he brings the experience of countless playoff seasons under his belt. He was the only player in this series who played in the 2018 playoffs for Anaheim, the last time the Ducks were a playoff team. That's the kind of guy he is. He's been around, he knows the game, and he was ready for this.
His body just might not be anymore.
And that's not a knock on him, it's just the reality of what the game does to players over time. The cracks get wider, recoveries get longer, and at 36, with no offensive numbers to put in front of a team in free agency, Henrique's path back to the NHL runs almost entirely through how serious this injury turns out to be.
The market for a 36-year-old fourth-line centre who's spent two seasons bouncing on and off the IR list is a tough one, even under good circumstances.
Maybe he comes back in this series. Maybe the Oilers bring him back next year on another modest deal. None of that is off the table. But watching him leave the ice three minutes into Game 1, it was hard not to wonder if that was the last time we see him in an NHL playoff game.
A long, understated career that did a lot of the right things, and might have just reached its end.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 17: Kyle Leahy #62 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Houston Astros during the first inning at Daikin Park on April 17, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals wrap up their road trip Wednesday against the Miami Marlins. Kyle Leahy (2-2 with a 5.21 ERA) is scheduled to make the start for the Cardinals while Janson Junk (0-2 with a 4.50 ERA) will take the mound for the Marlins. First pitch scheduled for 11:10am.
The Detroit Tigers will be looking to bounce back from a series opener loss to the Milwaukee Brewers as the two teams meet again tonight.
Behind Casey Mize, I’m eyeing Detroit to snatch the second game of this series in my Brewers vs. Tigers predictions.
Read more for my MLB picks for Wednesday, April 22.
Who will win Brewers vs Tigers today: Tigers moneyline (-130)
The Detroit Tigers were blown out 12-4 on Tuesday, dropping a rare home game. When playing at Comerica Park this season, the Tigers have compiled an 8-2 record at home this season. To put that dominance into perspective, they’re 12-12 overall.
AJ Hinch sends Casey Mize to the mound tonight, who has pitched to a 2.78 ERA. He’s only made one start at home, but it was impressive, allowing one earned run across 5.2 innings. The Brew Crew has faced him before, but they’ve only had 24 at-bats throughout the lineup.
On the other side, Chad Patrick takes the hill. Detroit has never faced him, but Patrick’s 0.95 ERA is a bit misleading. Firstly, he hasn’t faced a ton of difficult lineups so far, and Patrick relies heavily on contact, striking out just nine hitters in 19 innings. He also has a 3.93 FIP.
The Tigers are scoring over five runs per game at home as well.
COVERS INTEL:Mize has struck out 25 hitters in 22.2 innings of work, and he owns an impressive 1.19 WHIP. Milwaukee is 14th in the Majors in strikeouts.
Brewers vs Tigers Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 runs (-120)
While I do expect both pitchers to throw the ball well, there’s reason to believe we could see a decent amount of runs, even if they come later in the game. Patrick will come down to earth, and Detroit will respond with a win. However, the trends point to runs.
The Brew Crew has cashed the Over in three of their last four. The Tigers have also hit the Over in runs in three straight. Both of these bullpens also have ERAs over four, so once the starters have departed, there’s lots of opportunity for runs.
Plus, the Milwaukee Brewers are fourth in runs scored, and Detroit is 15th. As previously mentioned, they swing it better at Comerica, too.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets:6-4, -1.71 units
Over/Under bets:7-3, +3.19 units
Brewers vs Tigers odds
Moneyline: Milwaukee +119 | Detroit -131
Run line: Milwaukee +1.5 (-183) | Detroit -1.5 (+158)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-121) | Under 7.5 (+105)
Brewers vs Tigers trend
The Detroit Tigers have hit the Game Total Over in 28 of their last 45 games at home (+13.70 Units / 28% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Brewers vs. Tigers.
How to watch Brewers vs Tigers and game info
Location
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Date
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
First pitch
6:40 p.m. ET
TV
Brewers.TV, DSN
Brewers starting pitcher
Chad Patrick (1-0, 0.95 ERA)
Tigers starting pitcher
Casey Mize (1-1, 2.78 ERA)
Brewers vs Tigers latest injuries
Brewers vs Tigers weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Longtime Los Angeles King, Trevor Lewis, has officially announced his retirement on Wednesday.
Lewis played 17 NHL seasons, beginning in 2008-09, and his final campaign came last year. Along the way, 14 of those seasons were played for the Kings, with three other years between the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets.
He played a total of 1,034 regular-season contests and recorded 104 goals and 133 assists for 243 career points. Lewis won two Stanley Cups with the Kings in 2012 and 2014.
"As a kid growing up in Utah, I could have never imagined this journey," Lewis said in a statement through the NHLPA. "Playing over 1,000 games and winning two Stanley Cups. Those milestones aren't just numbers to me, they represent years of sacrifice, perseverance, and a deep love for the game."
Los Angeles drafted Lewis in the first round of the 2006 draft and selected 17th overall, just one year after the Kings drafted Anze Kopitar.
After getting drafted, Lewis won the Clark Cup with the Des Moines Buccaneers as the USHL champion. He was also named the USHL player of the year following that 2005-06 championship campaign.
Later, before he would make his NHL debut with Los Angeles, Lewis featured for the OHL's Owen Sound Attack in 2006-07, followed by parts of three straight seasons in the AHL with the Manchester Monarchs.
Eventually, he would make his first full appearance wearing the Kings' jersey in 2010-11, and the rest is history.
"I want to especially thank the Los Angeles Kings organization for believing in me from day one," Lewis said. "You gave me an opportunity to chase this dream, and together we built something I will carry with me for the rest of my life."
After 14 straight seasons in the Kings' organization, 12 of which featured for Los Angeles, Lewis became a UFA and signed a one-year deal with the Jets ahead of the 2020-21 campaign. Following one season in Winnipeg, he signed another contract, this time a two-year agreement with the Flames.
With a three-year stint in Canada, the Kings brought him back on two one-year contracts.
Trevor Lewis (Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images)
"Hockey has given me more than I could ever ask for - brothers in the locker room, lessons that shaped me as a man, and memories that will last forever," he said. "To everyone who was part of this journey - including the Jets, Flames, teammates, coaches, GMs, trainers, fans and beyond, thank you!"
In his final NHL season, Lewis made 60 appearances for the Kings, registering six goals and six assists for 12 points and averaging 10:13 of ice time. He didn't represent any NHL franchise for the 2025-26 campaign, and as of Wednesday, he's officially called it quits as a player.
"To my family, you were the foundation through it all," Lewis said. "Your sacrifices, your belief, and your unwavering support made this career possible. I share every moment with you.
"I leave this game with nothing but gratitude and pride. Hockey has given me everything and I'm excited to see what comes next."
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Former NHL forward Trevor Lewis officially announced his retirement on Wednesday, bringing an end to a steady and respected 17-year career defined by reliability, versatility, and championship pedigree.
Lewis, 39, spent the majority of his career with the Los Angeles Kings, where he became a trusted depth forward over 14 seasons. The Salt Lake City native finishes his NHL career with 1,034 NHL games under his belt and totaling 104 goals and 133 assists for 237 points.
While never known for high offensive totals, his consistency and defensive responsibility made him an important part of the Kings’ success, particularly during their Stanley Cup-winning seasons in 2012 and 2014.
During the Kings’ 2012 championship run, Lewis recorded nine points in 20 playoff games and followed that performance with five points in 26 games during the 2014 postseason. He played a key supporting role in both title runs as Los Angeles captured its second championship in three years. Though not a headline star, Lewis earned recognition as one of the most effective depth players on those teams.
Trevor Lewis has officially announced his retirement following 1,034 NHL games – wishing all the best to the 2x Stanley Cup champion in his retirement 👏 pic.twitter.com/FwJIrITP2f
Over his NHL career, Lewis played more than 800 games with the Kings, recording 84 goals and 107 assists for 191 points. His role was not centered on offense but on providing stability throughout the lineup, a responsibility he handled consistently.
Lewis also had a brief stint with the Winnipeg Jets during the 2020-2021 season. In 56 games with Winnipeg, he recorded five goals and five assists for 10 points while continuing to contribute in a bottom-six role. Later in his career, he spent time with the Calgary Flames before returning to Los Angeles and ultimately retiring as a member of the Kings.
Statistically, Lewis was typically a 15 to 25 point player, reaching a career high in the 2017 to 2018 season when he recorded 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points in 68 games. While his name may not top scoring lists, Lewis leaves behind a legacy that highlights the importance of role players in championship success.
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NEW YORK — The flailing Mets returned home Tuesday to a quieter reception than manager Carlos Mendoza and his players anticipated with the club trying to snap an 11-game losing streak.
The tone changed once it became clear the skid was going to last at least another night.
Embattled closer Devin Williams allowed a tiebreaking RBI single to Luke Keaschall in the ninth inning and New York lost its 12th straight, falling 5-3 to the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.
With an opening-day payroll of $352.2 million that tops the majors, the Mets have baseball’s worst record at 7-16. The skid is their longest since they dropped 12 straight from Aug. 10-23, 2002. No team has made the playoffs after a season in which it lost 12 in a row.
New York is hitting .194 during the losing streak while being outscored 67-22. The Mets didn’t have slugger Juan Soto for any of that stretch, but he is expected to come off the injured list Wednesday after missing the last 16 games with a strained right calf.
“I’ve never been a part of something like this,” Williams said. “I think we just need to get the one win out of the way and I think everything else will take care of itself. But it’s obviously proving pretty difficult right now.”
Williams, who failed to record an out, was booed off the mound by what was left of the announced crowd of 32,798. The actual crowd appeared far smaller on a night when the temperature at first pitch was 46 degrees Fahrenheit (8 Celsius).
At least a few spectators showed their displeasure with the time-honored tradition of wearing paper bags over their heads.
Fans began chanting “Fire Mendy!” as Williams loaded the bases. Austin Warren relieved Williams and received an ovation when he struck out Royce Lewis. The crowd then chanted his name after he struck out the next two batters, Brooks Lee and Byron Buxton.
The mood was far lighter a few hours earlier.
Patrick Heaney, the only person in section 524 at Citi Field shortly before the start of the game, grinned as he gazed at a sea of empty seats.
“You wouldn’t be here tonight if you weren’t a Met fan,” Heaney said.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor said following Sunday’s 2-1, 10-inning loss to the Chicago Cubs that he expected it to “get very loud” Tuesday night. But the fans didn’t make much noise until the third inning, when Lindor hit a three-run homer to open the scoring and give the Mets their biggest lead since a 5-2 win over the San Francisco Giants on April 5.
“I think if they can get it going today, I think the fans will rally around them,” said Josh Hudson, a Tennessee resident in town for business who was sitting in section 509 with a $15 ticket he bought on the secondary market.
Heaney, a resident of Malverne on Long Island who wore a Mets hat and 2022 playoff sweatshirt, grinned as he recalled how he ended up buying a $12 ticket and heading to the game alone.
“I couldn’t get my wife to come,” Heaney said. “I couldn’t get my kids to come. I couldn’t get my friends to come. I bought one ticket, the cheapest one I could find, and I’m going to see if I can help them turn it around.”
Mendoza, in his third season as manager after six seasons on the Yankees’ coaching staff, said before the game he wouldn’t mind a frosty reception because he knows how fans will react if the team fares better.
“They’re also going to be right behind you when we flip it around,” Mendoza said. “We’ve seen that before, too, so it’s nothing new for us that have been here. We expect those guys to continue to support us, but we’ve got to do better for them, too.
“It’s all part of it. It comes with the territory. Wouldn’t want it any other way.”
In the Montreal Canadiens’ 4-3 overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of their first-round matchup, former first overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky stole the show, scoring three goals on the power play.
Despite the Habs having 117 years of history, that puts the 22-year-old in a good position to break a franchise record. Jacques Lemaire holds the distinction of having scored the most power-play goals in a playoff year with six goals. Four players have scored five: Marcel Bonin, Vincent Damphousse, Jean Beliveau and Bobby Smith, while 13 players have netted four.
With his three goals, Slafkovsky is 19th in Canadiens history for the most power-play goals in a single year, but there are still a lot of games left to be played in this series, at the very least three. And should the Canadiens win the next three games and make it to the second round, that would add even more games to the power forward’s postseason.
Of his 30 goals in the regular season, 15 came on the man-advantage. That’s three times as many power play goals as he scored last season, and it’s not down to luck. The hulking forward now knows how to use his big frame to his advantage on the ice. On the forecheck, with a lot of speed, he’s a menace, and on the power play, parked in the bumper spot, he’s quite a challenge to move.
Seeing his performance in the regular season was a great surprise for fans and media alike. His season of awakening came quicker than most expected, but it’s even better to see him elevate his game in the postseason when it truly counts. The Slafkovsky we saw Sunday in the first game of the series looked like the one that led Slovakia to a medal game at the Olympics, a leader who wants to be the man when his team needs him the most.
It will be interesting to see how many power play goals he has to his name by the end of the playoffs…
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 20, 2026: Charles Davalan #88 of the Los Angeles Dodgers runs out a foul ball during the sixth inning of a spring training game against the San Diego Padres at Camelback Ranch on March 20, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
With Tulsa’s game getting postponed in Frisco, the Oklahoma City Comets were left to salvage the day across the Dodgers minor league system, even though certain individuals performed at a very high level elsewhere.
Player of the day
The Great Lakes Loons’ loss against the Beloit Sky Carp didn’t result from a lack of offensive firepower, primarily led by the efforts of Charles Davalan and Jose Meza, both homering twice for the first time this season. In fact, Meza, who was the Loons DH on the evening, had only one home run the whole year prior to this game.
Meza’s performance was more boom or bust, with him striking out the other three times he didn’t homer, going two for five. Meanwhile, Davalan added another hit on top of his two long balls and continues to impress since being selected with the 41st pick of last year’s Draft.
Playing in High-A for the first time in his career, Davalan has a .321 batting average in 56 at-bats with eight extra-base hits, one of the standout performers for the Great Lakes Loons.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
A strong offensive performance in the first inning turned out to be nearly all the Comets needed to beat the Reiniers at home and give Ryder Ryan his second win of the season, moving to a 2-0 record despite having an ERA slightly above 5.00.
James Tibbs III and Jack Suwinski got the scoring started for the Comets, both with RBI doubles in the first, but it was Austin Gathier who headlined this win. The veteran second baseman hit a two-run homer to complete the crooked number in the first and added an RBI single in the third, driving in Tibbs III.
Ryan’s start wasn’t smooth, with nine baserunners in just five innings, but he kept the Comets in control of the game, allowing just three runs, and ultimately that was all that mattered. Sent to OKC after a couple of scoreless outings with the Tower Buzzers, Brock Stewart secured a hold in this game with a pair of strikeouts in a clean inning.
Double-A Tulsa
Tulsa’s game was postponed, which means a doubleheader today against Frisco.
High-A Great Lakes
Twice, both in the fifth and seventh innings, the Loons had a four-run lead thanks to out-homering the Sky Carp five to one. That wasn’t enough to secure the win as their bullpen completely imploded to allow six runs in the seventh, culminating in a 10-8 defeat.
The first reliever out of the bullpen in the sixth, Joseilyn González got through his opening frame without a problem, but he allowed the first three hitters he faced in the seventh to reach safely—it was a mess that not only Justin Chambers was unable to clean, but significantly worsened, leaving the game with three earned runs and without recording a single out.
This blown save squandered a rare game with not one but two different hitters going deep twice for the Loons in Davalan and Meza. The offense had a chance to get back into it late, trailing 9-8 at the top of the eighth, but Nico Pérez got picked off attempting to swipe second base with two outs and Meza at the plate, thus ending the threat.
Class-A Ontario
If the bullpen was to blame for the Loons’ particularly frustrating defeat, the relievers contributed heavily to a blowout loss against the San José Giants, who now moved to a 12-4 record after beating the Towe Buzzers 12-2.
Starter Brady Smith wasn’t really on his game, but the right-hander just allowed one unearned run in three innings of work. Three of the four relievers to come out of Ontario’s bullpen allowed at least three earned runs, and at the end of nine, the Tower Buzzers pitchers had more walks (9) than strikeouts (8).
The offense had no answer against Keyner Martíinez, who struck out seven on his way to five clean innings. Much like it was used to describe the struggles of Ontario’s pitching, the strikeout-to-walk ratio serves to highlight the Giants’ dominance, punching out 15 and walking just two.
Transactions
The Tulsa Drillers placed catcher Yeiner Fernandez and left-hander Luke Fox on the 7-day injured list. The Dodgers optioned outfielder Ryan Ward to the Comets and also sent righty Brock Stewart to a rehab assignment with OKC. Lastly, the Comets activated Chuckie Robinson from the injured list.
Tuesday’s scores
Oklahoma City 5, Tacoma 4
Double-A game postponed
Beloit 10, Great Lakes 8
San José 12, Ontario 2
Wednesday’s schedule
9:10 a.m. PT: Great Lakes (Jakob Wright) at Beloit (TBD)
2:30 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Adam Serwinowski) at Frisco (Josh Trentadue)
Game 2: Tulsa (Roque Gutierrez) at Frisco (Blake Townsend)
4:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Christian Romero) vs. Tacoma (Dane Dunning)
6:00 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) at San Jose (Jordan Gottesman)
COVERS INTEL:
