Here are the NBA Playoff games for today, Apr. 22:
- Orlando Magic at Detroit Pistons — 7 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
- Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder — 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Enjoy the games!
NBA Playoff Wednesday discussion
LHP Enmanuel de Jesus optioned to Toledo, RHP Burch Smith called up to the Tigers
In the wake of his disastrous performance in Tuesday night’s loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, left-hander Enmanuel de Jesus has been optioned to Triple-A Toledo. RHP Burch Smith has been recalled. To open a spot for Smith on the 40-man roster, LHP Bailey Horn has been transferred to the 60-day injured list. Horn had arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow over the offseason, and has dealt with some inflammation this spring. A brief rehab assignment in Lakeland was cut short after the inflammation returned, and he’ll be re-evaluated and won’t be eligible to return to action until late May.
As for de Jesus, he was the darling of spring camp, showing off a solid pitch mix and excellent command both in Grapefruit League action and in the World Baseball Classic for Team Venezuela. The Tigers selected his contract late in spring training as de Jesus had an opt-out clause looming and other teams were starting to inquire on him.
However, that command has been lacking since the season began. The strikeouts were plentiful and he still hasn’t allowed a home run yet, so the potential for him as he transitions from a starter in South Korea’s KBO to a major league reliever is pretty obvious. That potential ran off the road on Tuesday night in Detroit.
De Jesus entered the game with two outs in the sixth inning in relief of Keider Montero. He promptly carved up Garrett Mitchell with a pair of well located fastballs for strikes, and then a nasty cutter that got the swinging strikeout. However, in the seventh inning, de Jesus had a thorough and comprehensive meltdown.
After two fairly loud outs to start the inning, David Hamilton singled, and de Jesus followed that by walking Blake Perkins. Unfortunately, after picking off Hamilton at second, de Jesus started to do the right thing and charge the baserunner, but then hastily threw to shortstop Kevin McGonigle and sailed the throw into the outfield. A pair of singles followed, knocking in two runs, and de Jesus was visibly frustrated with himself through the rest of the inning, which ended on a ground out.
De Jesus is a 29-year-old pitcher who has played around the world. He knows how to field his position, and he should know how to settle himself down after a mistake. Instead, he came back out in the eighth, gave up back-to-back triples and then failed to break for first on a grounder to Spencer Torkelson that would have really helped the cause had de Jesus been on time to first base. He was not, and the inning spiraled into a seven-run debacle that saw Connor Seabold enter in a bases loaded situation and struggle as well.
Obviously, the key issue with de Jesus has been command. He and fellow KBO import Drew Anderson have both struggled to get ahead of hitters and spot their full pitch mix. There’s reason to understand that, as neither are particularly used to relief work, and the KBO ball is made to have some tackiness to the cover and has slightly higher seams. They aren’t the first pitchers to need some time to adapt. However, they were both in spring camp since mid-February, if not sooner, and you can only have so much time to get comfortable with the change. Pitchers who followed this route like Miles Mikolas or Erick Fedde, had some issues but they didn’t extend much into the regular season.
But the real issue, and what got de Jesus optioned, I suspect, was the mental error of letting the issues pile up on his mind, affecting his awareness and performance. That just can’t happen to this degree. De Jesus has never really had any control issues, and while no one expects him to be a closer tier reliever, his stuff is plenty good enough to keep major league hitters in check. The fact that his command disappeared and the metrics on his stuff even took a hit after the mistake in the seventh, speaks to the fact that he boiled over internally. Now he’ll get some time in Toledo to think about things and try to settle back in.
In his place I tended to expect RHP Ricky Nolasco, who has been outstanding for the Toledo Mud Hens early on. On the other hand, the 33-year-old Smith has likewise been nearly unhittable and hasn’t walked a batter in 10 innings of work. He also offers a little more of a unique look to hitters than Nolasco provides in comparison to the rest of the Tigers’ bullpen. Smith also has 247 1/3 innings of maajor league experience, which Nolasco definitely does not.
The Tigers still have Tyler Holton and Brant Hurter in their bullpen, so they’re fine in terms of left-handers. Hopefully Smith can add some quality length to the bullpen and help the Tigers out in the middle innings. They certainly could use some assistance in that regard.
Mariners’ Logan Gilbert catches 108 mph liner with his jersey — here’s why it was a ruled a hit
Logan Gilbert is probably thanking his lucky stars he’s OK after a 108 mph screamer came right at him on the mound.
But he might be bummed that the comebacker that got stuck in his jersey was ruled a hit.
Gilbert, starting for the Mariners on Wednesday afternoon, saw a first-inning line drive — officially clocked at 107.8 mph — off the bat of the A’s Carlos Cortes slip in between the buttons of his jersey and get stuck inside his top.
#Mariners Logan Gilbert "caught" a 107.8 mph comebacker with his jersey. That's a first.
— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) April 22, 2026
It is ruled a base hit. pic.twitter.com/iTsWOgvqtp
The right-hander tried to locate the ball but had trouble finding it before realizing it was stuck in the confines of his white Mariners home uniform.
He was checked out on the mound by manager Dan Wilson and trainer Kyle Torgerson before he remained in the game.
However, per Major League Baseball rules, a catch must be made with a glove or bare hand “providing he does not use his cap, protector, pocket or any other part of his uniform in getting possession.”
In this case, the jersey helped him gain possession of the ball, so Cortes was credited with a single, while Shea Langaliers, the runner at first, was placed at second, while Nick Kurtz, who was at third, remained there — due to an umpire crew judgement call — to load the bases.
With the bases loaded and one out, Tyler Soderstrom brought in the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly before Jeff McNeil brought in another with an RBI single.
Gilbert, a 2024 American League All-Star, lasted four innings, yielding three runs on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts. His ERA stands at 4.36 for the season.
Kenny Atkinson predicts Cavs role player to breakout against Raptors
INDEPENDENCE — The Cleveland Cavaliers have taken a comfortable 2-0 lead in their first-round series against the Toronto Raptors despite not getting consistent help outside of their star players.
Max Strus’s 24 points in Game 1 account for nearly half of the team’s bench points through the first two games of the series. In Game 2, Cleveland’s bench was outscored 45-19 by the Raptors’ reserves.
The lack of bench production hasn’t hurt the Cavaliers so far this series. But according to head coach Kenny Atkinson, he believes that one player will help turn this around: Jaylon Tyson.
“I told him today he’s next up,” Atkinson said after practice on Wednesday. “Max had that big game, core four had their big games. [Next] it’s going to be Jaylon Tyson. I can almost guarantee that he’s going to have one of those games where he’s converting that offensive rebound, he’s getting into the half roll because they’re playing smaller.”
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Tyson has been the Cavs’ most pleasant surprise this series. The improvements he’s made as a three-point shooter and defender have allowed him to become a mainstay in the rotation. However, a toe injury at the end of the regular season took him out of the rhythm he was in. That’s difficult for someone heading into their first real postseason action.
The stats haven’t been impressive through two games this series. Tyson has just five points on 1-8 shooting in 26 total minutes. That hasn’t stopped his head coach from praising what he’s seen so far.
“I’d give him a B, B+ in what we’re asking him to do,” Atkinson said. “He’s got all this stuff he could do, and now you have to reduce your package, and then you have to be aware of who I’m on the court with. There’s another level of sacrifice, and he’s getting that.”
Games 3 and 4 will be challenges. Toronto is a tough environment to play in. The margins for Cleveland will be much smaller in the next two games than they were in the first two. They’ll need some of their role players to step up and make positive contributions. Atkinson is sure Tyson will answer the call.
“He’ll have a big game,” Atkinson said. “It’s just a matter of time. It’s really talking to these guys individually about the patience needed until we get there. But I’m loving what I’m seeing from him right now.”
"The Transition Was Pretty Smooth: Justin Faulk Opens Up About Trade To Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings had put themselves in a prime position to be buyers at the NHL Trade Deadline this past March for the first time in a decade.
Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman did just that, bringing back veteran forward David Perron from the Ottawa Senators, while also acquiring right-handed defenseman Justin Faulk from the St. Louis Blues.
In return for Faulk, the Red Wing sent defenseman Justin Holl, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2026 third-round pick, and forward prospect Dmitri Buchelnikov back to the Blues.
Faulk fit in nicely with the Red Wings, forming a defensive pair with Ben Chiarot, and scored five goals with three assists in the 16 games he appeared in following the trade.
Unfortunately, the Red Wings were in the early stages of unraveling yet again in March, at the time of Faulk's acquisition, and they ultimately finished on the outside looking in at the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 10th straight season.
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"Ultimately, there's a lot of frustration with not getting in," Faulk said of how things finished for Detroit. "It's hard, it's hard to get in the playoffs, and it's a hard stretch to go through. Mentally, like I said, it's frustrating right now. It's something that's a goal along the way, I think the ultimate goal is to try and win a Stanley Cup."
"There's a lot of processing and steps before that, but you have to get in the playoffs to give yourself a chance," Faulk continued. "I think we all know in this League that if anyone gets in, there's a chance. There are upsets every year, teams go on runs. You've gotta get your foot in the door, but where we're sitting, it's not a great feeling."
As for his transition to the Red Wings, Faulk had already heard plenty about the organization from players who experienced both sides of what was once a heated Western Conference rivalry. It also helped that his former Blues teammate, David Perron, was back in the fold to make the adjustment smoother.
"Yeah, ultimately, I thought it went pretty well," Faulk said of the transition to Detroit from St. Louis. "I've said this a little bit I think, but I played with David Perron in St. Louis, and I had some other guys that we made a few trades over the years back and forth. We got Nick Leddy, I think (Ville) Husso ended up here, and Oskar Sundqvist and whatnot. So, I've known plenty of guys who have had a lot of familiarity with this organization, so nothing was really too unknown to me."
"Obviously, there's a lot of getting to know people and feeling it out, but the organization as a whole, those guys have filled me in, and David Perron made life a lot easier for me," Faulk continued. "Showed me how to get around town, all the little things outside the rink that get unnoticed, and you get into a flow when you're in a situation for a while.
The transition was pretty smooth."
Faulk, who has tallied a total of 146 goals with 352 assists across 1,058 career games played with the Carolina Hurricanes, Blues, and Red Wings, is signed through the end of next season.
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Where to watch San Diego Padres vs. Colorado Rockies: Live stream, TV channel, odds for Wednesday, April 22
The San Diego Padres (16-7) meet the Colorado Rockies (9-15) in the second game of their series. The Padres won the opener 1-0 on Tuesday. Starting pitchers are Walker Buehler for San Diego, with a 4.58 ERA, and Tomoyuki Sugano for Colorado, with a 3.92 ERA.
How to watch San Diego Padres vs. Colorado Rockies
Date: Wednesday, April 22
Time: 8:40 p.m. ET / 5:40 p.m. PT
Where: Coors Field, Denver, CO
TV Channels: Rockies.TV, Padres.TV Presented by UC San Diego Health
Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports
Team records
San Diego Padres: 16-7 (No. 2 in NL West)
Colorado Rockies: 9-15 (No. 5 in NL West)
Odds
Spread: Colorado Rockies +1.5
Moneyline: Colorado Rockies +135 (40.9%) / San Diego Padres -160 (59.1%)
Over/Under: 11.5
Starting pitchers
San Diego Padres: Walker Buehler (1-1, ERA: 4.58, K: 18, WHIP: 1.25)
Colorado Rockies: Tomoyuki Sugano (1-1, ERA: 3.92, K: 15, WHIP: 1.16)
Weather: 78°F at first pitch
Ballpark: Capacity: 50,144 | Roof: Open | Surface: Grass
GameThread: Tigers vs. Brewers, 6:40 p.m.
Detroit Tigers (12-12) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (13-9)
Time/Place: 6:40 p.m., Comerica Park
SB Nation Site: Brew Crew Ball
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: Game 25: RHP Casey Mize (1-1, 2.78 ERA) vs. RHP Chad Patrick (1-0, 0.95 ERA)
| Player | G | IP | K% | BB% | GB% | FIP | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mize | 4 | 22.2 | 26.6 | 7.4 | 34.4 | 3.13 | 0.6 |
| Patrick | 4 | 19.0 | 12.0 | 9.3 | 37.3 | 3.97 | 0.2 |
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Gamethread 4/22: Phillies at Cubs
Here are the lineups. For the Phillies:
For the Cubs:
Let’s talk about it.
Jays can’t complete the sweep in 7-3 loss to Angels
Blue Jays 3 at Angels 7
You didn’t really think they were going to get a sweep, right?
The Jays were in tough against Jose Soriano, off to the kind of start that only a handful of pitchers have in the last century. And it was easy to see why he’s yet to allow more than an earned run in a start with Soriano featuring a sinker that waffled in ways that a baseball thrown in the upper-90s has no business doing, a splitter that fell off the table the way a baseball thrown in the low-90s has no business doing, and for good measure a knucklecurve with a sharp downward finish. In other words, good luck to hitters.
In that light, the Jays managed a couple of remarkable feats. First, they managed to get to Soriano for seven hits over five innings. Few of them were really well hit, but they found some holes with decent contact. But second, even with all traffic, not only were they shut out, but they didn’t even manage to get a runner to second. All were singles, and the two innings with two hits had them separated by a caught stealing and double play.
So they were winning battles, losing campaigns, but arguably didn’t lose the war as they battled Soriano enough to run up his pitch count and get him out of the game after just 5 (shutout) innings, giving themselves a shot at a soft(er) underbelly of an Angels pen which would have to bridge 4 innings.
For his part, Eric Lauer worked two very quick and efficient innings, needing just 16 pitches to work around a double on his first pitch and induce three cans of corn in the second. The rest of the outing was rockier, as Lauer’s third inning was far more laborious. Logan O’Hoppe opened with a bloop hit, with light hitting #9 Bryce Teodosio wisely opting to bunt behind him. He laid one down so well he beat it out, After striking out Zach neto he was very carful with Mike Trout and walked him to load the bases, then went 3-0 to Jo Adell before coming back to get him to fly out. It did open the scoring, but also opened a base for Jorge Soler whom he was struggled to hit the corners.
The rest of the damage consisted of a pair of solo home runs over the next two innings. Nolan Schmanuel (close enough) flined one just over the right field wall in the 4th, and Mike Trout slammed a moonshot in the 5th. That made it 3-0 entering a battle of the bullpens in the 6th.
Ryan Zeferjahn dispatched the first four batters he faced (including totally undressing Jesus Sanchez), but walked Kaz Okamoto before yielding a bloop double to Andres Gimenez to finally move a runner past first base. That brought in Chase Silseth, who got Tyler Heineman but yielded a two out smash into the right field corner from Nathan Lukes to break the goose egg and put the Jays within one. Ernie Clement grounded his third hit of the day to cash Lukes, and it was a brand new game.
Briefly, anyway. Seemingly mirroring the Angels, Tommy Nance worked a clean 6th, got the first out of the 7th, then walked Trout. Adell singled to put the go ahead run on third, so it was Fisher time. Unfortunately, he didn’t really have it, striking out Soler but then walking Soler to load the bases for Schmanuel (close enough). This time he didn’t hit it nearly as hard, but lofted a shallow double to clear the bases. Vaughn Grissom in turn flared a ball just past Clement’s grasp for another another run, and 7-3 was the eventual margin.
Jays of the Day: Clement (+0.16 WPA), Gimenez (+0.10). Lukes ended up at just 0.01 despite two hits of which one was critical.
Boo Jays: Fisher (-0.26), Vladdy (-0.12 with the 0fer), Nance (-0.10). A couple of near misses in the battery, with Heineman and Lauer at -0.09 apiece.
With the matinee today followed by the off-day, the Jays are off for the next 48 hours as they return home to take on Cleveland with Gavin Williams scheduled against Max Scherzer on Friday t the usual 7:07 EDT start.
Where to watch Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants: Live stream, TV channel, odds for Wednesday, April 22
The Los Angeles Dodgers (16-7) face the rival San Francisco Giants (10-13). The Giants won the series’ first game 3-1 on Tuesday. Starting pitchers are Shohei Ohtani for the Dodgers, with a 0.50 ERA, and Tyler Mahle for the Giants, with a 7.23 ERA.
How to watch Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants
Date: Wednesday, April 22
Time: 9:45 p.m. ET / 6:45 p.m. PT
Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA
TV Channels: NBCS BA, SportsNet LA
Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports
Team records
Los Angeles Dodgers: 16-7 (No. 1 in NL West)
San Francisco Giants: 10-13 (No. 4 in NL West)
Odds
Spread: San Francisco Giants +1.5
Moneyline: San Francisco Giants +165 (36.1%) / Los Angeles Dodgers -200 (63.9%)
Over/Under: 7.5
Starting pitchers
Los Angeles Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani (2-0, ERA: 0.50, K: 18, WHIP: 0.72)
San Francisco Giants: Tyler Mahle (0-3, ERA: 7.23, K: 21, WHIP: 1.93)
Weather: 62°F at first pitch
Ballpark: Capacity: 41,915 | Roof: Open | Surface: Grass
MLB's 'Ohtani Rules' benefit more than Dodgers despite complaints
No reason to end the griping, sniping and debating over the so-called "Ohtani Rules."
Not until there’s time to better understand the issue, which bubbled to the surface this week after Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell made remarks that triggered a question laced with conspiracy.
If and why are Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers getting preferential treatment from Major League Baseball?
“First of all, Ohtani is a treasure, right?" Dan Duquette, former general manager of the Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles, told USA TODAY Sports.
No debate there, and here’s what you need to know about the rules:
MLB teams are allowed to carry only 13 pitchers on their active 26-man roster, with one exception. Teams can carry 14 pitchers if one of them qualifies as a two-way player. Ohtani, 31, is the only player in the major leagues who qualifies as a two-way player under MLB criteria (more on that later). That means the Dodgers are currently the only team eligible for the exception
With 14 pitchers on their roster, the Dodgers get an extra arm that rivals don't have the luxury of having.
Another rule introduced since Ohtani came to America allows a two-way player who has finished pitching to remain in the game as a designated hitter rather than require him to play in the field.
Duquette suggests the "Ohtani Rules" are in baseball’s best interest.
“He is the most marketable player in the game around the world," Duquette said. “So any discussion about how he is employed on the field needs to be thoughtful and take into account the workload.’’
Ohtani, who is a left-handed hitter and right-handed pitcher, has undergone two elbow reconstruction surgeries on his right arm – in 2018 and 2023. As a result, he did not pitch in 2019 or 2024.
MLB two-way player rules
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has responded to Counsell’s insinuation that Ohtani and the Dodgers are getting preferential treatment.
"We're more than willing to have other teams go out and find a player that can do both (pitching and hitting)," Roberts said. “He's an exception because he's an exceptional player."
It’s more complicated.
One reason the Dodgers have Ohtani is they’re a big-market franchise that had the means to sign the Japanese superstar to a 10-year, $700 million contract in 2023. They’ve also spent massive amounts to money to surround Ohtani with enough talent to win two straight World Series titles and be favored to win a third in a row.
Other teams have tried to develop two-way stars through the draft. But Rick Hahn, former general manager of the Chicago White Sox, said there’s an inherent challenge.
“The challenge is that those two skills (pitching and hitting), when you're talking about an 18- or a 21-year-old and continuing that development in the minors, those two skills can very much develop at different paces,’’ Hahn told USA TODAY Sports. “The player probably wants to be in the big leagues. The team certainly wants to get the benefit of the drafted player in the big leagues.’’
The likely outcome: the player is called up to the major leagues before he has adequate time in the minor leagues to develop as a two-way player.
There was no such conundrum with Ohtani, who developed his two-way skills playing professional baseball in Japan before making his major league debut in 2018 with the Los Angeles Angels.
Not to mention Ohtani is a baseball unicorn.
Shohei Ohtani pitching rules explained
A player qualifies as a "Two-Way Player" only if he accrues at least 20 Major League innings pitched and at least 20 Major League games started as a position player or designated hitter (with at least three plate appearances in each of those games) in either the 162-game season or the prior 162-game season.
John Coppolella, former manager of the Atlanta Braves, echoes a point made by Roberts, the Dodgers manager.
“The rule is not specific to the Dodgers," Coppolella told USA TODAY Sports. “All teams are eligible to carry a 14th pitcher if the player is classified as a two-way player. If Ohtani signed with the Yankees or the Braves, they would be treated the same way.’’
So why all the fuss?
Dave Stewart, a retired pitcher who won a World Series ring with the Dodgers in 1981, said he thinks people are piling on because the Dodgers' immense payrolls and success. That includes three World Series titles in the past six years.
“Anything that is in favor of the Dodgers, then everybody's got a complaint about it or they see something wrong with it,’’ Stewart told USA TODAY Sports. “But the truth is, if other teams had the ability to do what they're doing, they would do it.”
Stewart also suggested the absence of "Ohtani Rules" would create more harm than the current rules create benefit for the Dodgers superstar.
“If you got a two-way player that's capable of doing it… then you have to create a special rule, a special situation for that type of player," Stewart said. “You can't punish the player because he's capable of doing two things."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shohei Ohtani pitching rules for Dodgers benefit baseball
Keldon Johnson wins Sixth Man of the Year
The San Antonio Spurs are collecting the hardware after their strong 2025-26 regular season. On Wednesday, Keldon Johnson was named the Sixth Man of the Year.
This was Johnson’s second full season coming off the bench. He played all 82 games, averaging 23.3 minutes, 13.2 points, and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 51.9% from the field and 36.3% from three. He beat out Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Tim Hardaway Jr. to win his first-ever Sixth Man of the Year award.
Johnson was the first-ever Spur to score at least 1,000 points off the bench in a single season. He scored 1,081 points off the bench this year, the second most in the NBA. He is the first Spur to win the award since Manu Ginobili did so in the 2007-08 season. He is the second Spur to win the award.
Johnson became the heart and soul of the team off the bench. He wrote an excellent piece in the Players’ Tribune about coming off the bench before the end of the season. He accepted the role with grace and has now been rewarded for it.
The now-Sixth Man of the Year will be needed more than ever as the Spurs are likely to be without Victor Wembanyama in Game Three against the Portland Trail Blazers, with the series tied 1-1.
Where to watch New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox: Live stream, TV channel, odds for Wednesday, April 22
The New York Yankees (14-9) take on the Boston Red Sox (9-14). The Yankees shut out the Red Sox 4-0 in the series’ opener on Tuesday. Starting pitchers are Max Fried for the Yankees, with a 2.97 ERA, and Ranger Suarez for the Red Sox, with a 3.22 ERA.
How to watch New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox
Date: Wednesday, April 22
Time: 6:45 p.m. ET / 3:45 p.m. PT
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, MA
TV Channels: MLB Network, NESN, Amazon Prime Video
Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports
Team records
New York Yankees: 14-9 (No. 1 in AL East)
Boston Red Sox: 9-14 (No. 5 in AL East)
Odds
Spread: Boston Red Sox +1.5
Moneyline: Boston Red Sox +115 (44.4%) / New York Yankees -140 (55.6%)
Over/Under: 7.5
Starting pitchers
New York Yankees: Max Fried (2-1, ERA: 2.97, K: 23, WHIP: 0.81)
Boston Red Sox: Ranger Suarez (1-1, ERA: 3.22, K: 15, WHIP: 1.07)
Weather: 46°F at first pitch
Ballpark: Capacity: 37,755 | Roof: Open | Surface: Grass
Game Thread #23: Milwaukee Brewers (13-9) @ Detroit Tigers (12-12)
After one of their best games on offense last night, the Brewers are back for game two of their series against the Tigers this evening.
Though Chad Patrick was announced as the original starter, the Brewers have decided to go with DL Hall as an opener tonight. Hall will likely pitch an inning or two, then give way to Patrick for the bulk work. Hall has a 6.75 ERA in two previous appearances against the Tigers, but hasn’t pitched against them since 2023. Meanwhile, Patrick is making his first career appearance against the Tigers. He is coming off of a strong start against the Blue Jays, where he pitched 6 2/3 innings and allowed just one run. This is also the second time the Brewers are using an opener in front of him.
For the Tigers, Casey Mize makes his fifth start of the season. Through his first four games, he has a 2.78 ERA and 3.14 FIP, with 25 strikeouts compared to seven walks. He has allowed zero or one runs in three of his four starts, including a scoreless 6 2/3 innings against the Red Sox in his last start. The Brewers last faced him in 2024 and scored five runs (three earned) in 5 1/3 innings.
Before the game, the Brewers provided a couple of injury updates. Quinn Priester was assigned to Triple-A Nashville to begin a rehab assignment and is pitching tonight. He is scheduled for three innings and 45-50 pitches, but it could be a while before he’s ready. Also, Jackson Chourio took swings on the field today and it went well.
After a 12-run outburst yesterday, the Brewers will use the same lineup with just a couple of changes. Branon Lockridge will play in left field over Blake Perkins, and Joey Ortiz starts at shortstop with David Hamilton moving over to third base. Lockridge will bat sixth and Ortiz is in his usual ninth spot.
First pitch is at 5:40 p.m. The game will be on Brewers.TV and the Brewers Radio Network.
New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox: Max Fried vs. Ranger Suarez
The Yankees have epitomized what it means to go through the ebbs and flows of a baseball season, even if we’re not even four weeks into the 2026 season. They started 7-1, lost 8 of their next 11, which included a five-game losing streak, and have now rebounded to win four in a row heading into the middle game of a rare weekday April series at Fenway Park against the rival Red Sox. With their two best pitchers going the next two days, they’re in prime position to not only win the series, but push for a sweep.
The Yankees will give the ball to their ace, Max Fried, to make his sixth start of the season on Wednesday night. After being untouchable in his first two starts of the season, Fried has allowed three runs in each of his last three starts, and while he’s been able to eat innings despite not having the same dominance, his ERA is up to 2.97 (145 ERA+) with a 3.07 FIP, which is somehow third in the Yankees’ rotation. In his first year as a Yankee, he made four starts against Boston (postseason included), pitching to a 1.46 ERA in 24.2 innings.
Former Phillies All-Star Ranger Suarez will make his first appearance in baseball’s greatest rivalry, as he’s on the mound for Boston in his fifth start of the year. His first two starts were rough, allowing eight runs in 8.1 innings, but the soft-tossing lefty has thrown 14 shutout innings over his last two starts against the Cardinals and Tigers and has provided both length and stability to a struggling Red Sox rotation over the first 23 games.
Suarez has always gotten by with a deep pitch mix that keeps hitters off balance and sensational command of his pitches that prevents his slower fastballs from ending up in dangerous spots. Yet, even with his two consecutive strong outings, his peripherals look quite regressed from last season. The 30-year-old, who’s never thrived on getting whiffs and strikeouts, is getting even less of those now, and he’s gone from being one of the best starters in baseball at limiting hard contact and keeping the ball on the ground to being about average at both.
Suarez offers a six-pitch mix that includes three different fastballs, all sitting between 88 and 92 mph, which have historically induced soft contact. He continues to get a lot of whiffs out of his changeup and curveball and will also figure to mix some more sliders in against the Yankees’ lefties. He’s been getting very lucky on all of his fastballs, so the Yanks will have a chance to do some damage on pitches that are not being located as well as they usually are. In his lone career start against the Yankees last July, he allowed one run in 5.2 innings.
Paul Goldschmidt is back in the lineup and leading off as he looks to set the table for Aaron Judge against the lefty. That also means that Ben Rice, who’s seen lefties very well to start the year, will start the day on the bench. Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton follow, while Amed Rosario and Randal Grichuk continue their platoon work in third base and left field. Jazz Chisholm Jr. will look to build on yesterday’s two-hit night, followed by José Caballero and Austin Wells.
Boston’s lineup is a doozy. Ceddanne Rafaela is leading off and Roman Anthony is on the bench with a balky back. Willson Contreras, Wilyer Abreu, and Trevor Story follow in the heart of the order. Four of the bottom five batters in the order started last night on the bench, with the exception of former Yankee farmhand Caleb Durbin. That means Andruw Monasterio, Jarren Duran, Connor Wong, and old friend Isiah Kiner-Falefa will round out the lineup.
How to watch
Location: Fenway Park — Boston, MA
First pitch: 6:45 pm ET
TV broadcast: NESN, MLB Network
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY), WEEI 93.7 (BOS)
Online stream: Amazon Prime Video, MLB.tv (out-of-market only)
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