GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 21, 2026: Alejandro Osuna #19 of the Texas Rangers bats during the fourth inning of a spring training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 21, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford has been placed on the 10 day injured list, the team announced today. To take his place on the active roster, the Rangers have recalled outfielder Alejandro Osuna from AAA Round Rock. In addition, the team announced that pitcher Marc Church, who was designated for assignment last week, has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Round Rock.
Langford left yesterday’s game after two at bats due to soreness in his right forearm. After an MRI today, he has been diagnosed with a grade one flexor strain. Per the beats, Langford was optimistic that he will be able to return after the 10 day minimum.
This is the third year in a row Langford has landed on the injured list early in the season. In 2024, he went on the i.l. in early May due to a hamstring strain, and in 2025, he went on the injured list in early April due to an oblique strain.
Osuna, 23, had 63 games in the majors for the Rangers in 2025, slashing .212/.313/.278. He has gotten off to a slow start at AAA this year, slashing .262/.355/.354 in 17 games. Ezequiel Duran, who has played well of late, would seem likely to get the bulk of the playing time in left field while Langford is sidelined, though the Rangers could opt to sit Josh Smith some and put Duran at second to get Osuna some playing time.
As for Church, his star has fallen significantly since thirteen months ago, when he broke camp with the Rangers. One would think that someone would have put in a claim on him, but apparently not. He will remain in Round Rock for the time being.
Despite icing a roster rich with talent, the Vegas Golden Knights often find themselves in an offensive rut. Their season has been defined by highs and lows, all dictated by game-to-game shooting percentages and a sporadic inability to finish.
Struggling to score isn’t a new issue for the Golden Knights— this has been a problem for a few years now. This struggle is, of course, most evident in the playoffs because of how little time and space they have. Everyone always says that it’s harder to score in the postseason. And for the third year in a row, an inability to solve that particular problem might send the Golden Knights to an early vacation.
The Golden Knights have scored just three goals at 5-on-5 over the first two games of this series against the Utah Mammoth. Two of those three goals came in Game 1, and they both came from the fourth line composed of Cole Smith, Nic Dowd, and Colton Sissons. That’s been their best line at 5-on-5, which simply can’t continue.
In a seven-game series, it’s important not to get too high or too low. It’s not yet time to hit the panic button. But alarms have to be flashing as a familiar demon rears its ugly head once more.
Their saving grace has been their power play, which helped them win Game 1 and kept them in Game 2. But even if the Golden Knights boasted a power play to rival the one that the Edmonton Oilers had in 2023, that’s not a long-term recipe for success.
The Mammoth seemed to break through at 5-on-5 in Game 2, and it’s up to the Golden Knights to respond on Friday.
Utah’s brightest stars are showing up, and the Golden Knights can’t say the same. They also haven’t found an answer for Kailer Yamamoto, Logan Cooley, and Dylan Guenther. In 17:19 TOI, that line outshot their opponents 13-5 and outscored them 2-0. And it’s not a fluke— they’ve generated five high-danger scoring chances while limiting their opponents to one.
And just think: for the next two games, the Mammoth have the last change.
Quite frankly, if the Golden Knights didn’t have such a strong penalty kill, they would likely be on their way to Salt Lake City down 2-0 in the series. Their penalty kill, which was tied for 6th in the league during the regular season, remains one of their greatest strengths. That success when down a man has carried over into the playoffs, and the Mammoth are 0-fer on five power play chances.
But the Mammoth are probably going to score a power play goal eventually. And when that happens, the Golden Knights will need to respond by breaking through at 5-on-5 unless they want to see their season abruptly end.
If anyone thought the rivalry between the Flyers and Penguins had lost its luster, they can think again.
The dislike between these two teams was alive and well Wednesday night as this best-of-seven first-round playoff series shifted to Philadelphia for Game 3.
The Flyers fueled off the intensity of the game and their rabid crowd to notch a 5-2 win over Pittsburgh at Xfinity Mobile Arena, which featured a sea of orange in the stands.
The victory handed Rick Tocchet’s club a commanding 3-0 series lead.
Trevor Zegras, Rasmus Ristolainen and Nick Seeler ripped off three goals in a feisty and decisive second period.
Noah Cates provided crucial insurance with a power play goal in the third period after Pittsburgh cut the Flyers’ deficit to one.
Owen Tippett iced the game with an empty-netter.
The Flyers enjoyed their first home playoff game in exactly eight years (the 2020 postseason was in the bubble). The last time the fan base saw playoff action in Philadelphia was April 22, 2018, when the Flyers lost a first-round Game 6 to the Penguins.
Michal Neuvirth was in net for the Flyers. The team’s defense featured Shayne Gostisbehere, Ivan Provorov, Radko Gudas, Andrew MacDonald, Brandon Manning and Robert Hagg. Porter Martone was just 11 years old.
In this series, the Flyers have outscored Pittsburgh 11-4 through three games. They’re one win away from advancing to the second round.
Flyers’ introduction and starters as playoff hockey returns to Philly for first time since 2018. pic.twitter.com/cpABa7UsMG
• The game went completely upside down just 4:33 minutes into the second period.
Travis Konecny, the Flyers’ emotional leader, was pinned to the ice by Bryan Rust behind the Penguins’ net. Konecny’s helmet was knocked off as Rust gave him some shots.
The Flyers, along with Konecny, became incensed. And the chaos loaded up the penalty boxes.
When the dust finally settled, the Flyers were awarded a power play. The Flyers and Pittsburgh each had five players whistled for roughing, but Rust received four minutes.
The Flyers took advantage of the power play when Zegras tied the game at 1-1 on a slap shot from the circle. At that point, Xfinity Mobile Arena had turned into a madhouse.
The Flyers made it a game-changing second period. They built on the energy as Ristolainen scored his first career playoff goal in his 13th NHL season before Seeler joined the fun with a blast from the blue line.
The three goals came in the span of six minutes. The Flyers went into second intermission with a 3-1 lead and all of the momentum.
Flyers fans went bonkers when the fifth Penguin took his place in the penalty box. pic.twitter.com/deefvWtOdL
The 28-year-old continued to be the Flyers’ all-important piece.
Vladar appeared to survive an injury scare in the third period. He was shaking his right blocker hand after Rust tried to make a play around the crease on a Pittsburgh power play.
After an injury stoppage, Vladar was able to stay in the game. Fans chanted his nickname of “Vladdy.”
The Flyers avoided damange on that Penguins power play. However, Matvei Michkov then committed an ill-timed roughing penalty. Pittsburgh capitalized as Erik Karlsson trimmed the Flyers’ lead to 3-2 a little under midway through the final stanza.
But Cates responded.
Penguins netminder Stuart Skinner stopped 24 of 28 shots.
As the Flyers surged ahead, 2-1, in the span of just 3:48 minutes, fans started to chant Skinner’s last name. Seeler then zipped a long-distance shot past Skinner’s glove to pad the Flyers’ lead and elicit more chants.
• After the Flyers held Sidney Crosby scoreless over the first two games of the series, the three-time Stanley Cup champion picked up an assist just 4:18 minutes into Game 3.
Pittsburgh’s power play struck for the first time in the series after Sean Couturier was whistled for tripping. Evgeni Malkin finished off a tic-tac-toe sequence to give the Penguins a 1-0 edge, their first lead of the series.
Some theatrics ensued late in the first period with Crosby and Garnet Hathaway. The Flyers’ winger clipped Crosby in the face with his stick as Pittsburgh’s center was preparing to take a faceoff.
Hathaway was whistled for high-sticking, but he was also visibly adamant that Crosby took a dive. After consultation, the officials hit Crosby with an embellishment penalty, evening out the infractions.
• The Flyers and Penguins have two days before the series resumes Saturday with Game 4 at Xfinity Mobile Arena (8 p.m. ET/NBCSP).
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 19: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons drives past Desmond Bane #3 of the Orlando Magic in the second half during game one of the first round of the eastern conference playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on April 19, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Of all the superlatives that one can bestow on the Detroit Pistons this season, one of the most significant is the team’s resilience. The 60-win Pistons have experienced multiple-game losing streaks three times this season. When the team dropped four in a row in early March, you would have thought the roof was caving in on their season.
When a bunch of starters were out at the beginning of the season, the team stepped up. Whenever they would lose, they bounced back. When Cade Cunningham went down with a collapsed lung the team banded together. It’s just what these Pistons do. We shouldn’t expect anything different tonight in what is effectively a must-win game against the Orlando Magic.
Detroit is down 0-1 in the best-of-seven series, and doesn’t want to fly to Orlando facing a giant two-game deficit. We know Cade will step up. He tried to will his team to victory in Game 1, scoring 39 points while the rest of the team seemingly short-circuited. We need Jalen Duren to step up, one game after one of his worst showings of the season. We need JB Bickerstaff to step up and find the lineup combinations and matchups that unlock the offense and slow down Orlando, no offensive juggernaut.
The Pistons are looking to break an 11-game losing streak at home, the longest in the NBA. They have spent the entire season brushing aside old, embarrassing records. Tonight shouldn’t be any different. It can’t be.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan Watch: ESPN Odds: Pistons -9.5
This announcement was not a surprise, Acuff is expected to be a top-10 pick in this June's draft. In most mock drafts, he is projected as either the No. 5 or No. 6 pick, near the top of a group of point guards expected to be taken between fifth and eighth.
Acuff led the SEC, averaging 23.5 points per game, shooting 44% from 3-point range, while dishing out 6.4 assists per game. He is a high-motor player with a good shot and a high basketball IQ — qualities that will have coaches enamored with him. Acuff has shown he can play on or off the ball, but maybe his greatest asset is his ability to be a great floor general who can also get a team a bucket.
That said, scouts and front offices have some concerns. Acuff is listed at 6'3", but many scouts expect him to measure shorter at the NBA Draft Combine (he measured 6'1" barefoot at the 2023 Nike Elite 100). He also is likely the worst defender to be taken in the lottery in this draft. The recent history in the NBA of smaller guards who don't defend well is not good.
Acuff's dynamic offensive game may cover over those concerns, he's a player with All-Star potential. Which is why he is wisely entering the draft — he's ready, and it's the smart financial move.
The clock is ticking for potential 2026 NBA draft prospects. The early entry deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft is Friday, April 24 and the draft lottery to determine the exact order of picks is less than a month away.
Most of the top players have already made their decisions known, although several have elected to enter college basketball's transfer portal and test the NBA draft waters to keep their options open within the NIL landscape. But artificial intelligence, like the various mock draft experts around the country, can already predict how the first round of this loaded draft class stacks up.
USA TODAY Sports once again queried the Microsoft Copilot chatbot for its version of a 2026 NBA mock draft based on information and analysis currently available on the internet, and it continued to have BYU's AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson of Kansas and Duke's Cameron Boozer as the top-three picks. But the order was slightly different than the most recent USA TODAY Sports NBA mock draft, and selections varied even more further down the draft order.
How the order settles is likely to depend on the pre-draft process if the current variety in mock drafts are to be believed. Here's Microsoft Copilot's latest 2026 NBA mock draft, as curated by USA TODAY Sports:
USA TODAY Sports asked Microsoft Copilot AI to generate a mock draft for the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft featuring only players who could be eligible this year, with an additional prompt to include players that had either already declared for the NBA draft or not announced a return to college.
Microsoft Copilot assigned the draft order based on regular-season NBA records and recent draft lottery tiebreakers, with the worst record getting the No. 1 pick and the best record getting the No. 30 pick. It used current mock drafts from reputable websites, as well as team needs, prospect analysis and potential pick swaps/protections, to determine the first-round selections for each team in this exercise.
AI models still have issues with accuracy as seen in the mock draft below. Of particular note, Microsoft Copilot had several picks inaccurately assigned to teams based on previous trades and pick swaps.
Here's a 2026 NBA first-round mock draft, according to Microsoft Copilot AI, as of April 22.
7. Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans): Kingston Flemings, Houston
Note: The Hawks receive the better pick between the New Orleans Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks through a trade during the 2025 NBA draft. The Bucks get the lesser of the two selections.
Apr 22, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Coby Mayo (16) is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a three run home run against the Kansas City Royals during the sixth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Well, the Orioles did what they needed to do and won their series against the worst team in the American League. But it sure as heck wasn’t easy.
The O’s took the rubber game in Kansas City, 8-6, behind a six-run explosion in the top of the sixth, then held on for dear life to fend off the Royals’ late comeback attempt. The offense got contributions from up and down the lineup, including much-maligned underperformers like Colton Cowser (two hits) and Coby Mayo (a massive three-run homer), and Anthony Nunez filled in as closer for the day and notched his first major league save. The victory completes a 3-4 road trip for the Orioles, who bring a 12-13 record into their first off day in two weeks.
The Orioles offense faced a tough assignment in Michael Wacha, the veteran Royals right-hander who entered the game with a microscopic 1.00 ERA in his first four starts. But Wacha was a bit rough out of the gate. After a leadoff strikeout, the next three Orioles hitters — Taylor Ward, Dylan Beavers, and Pete Alonso — each mashed deep fly balls. Ward’s slammed off the wall for a double. Beavers’ was knocked down by the wind and caught on the warning track. But nobody was catching Alonso’s. The Polar Bear lofted a 410-foot, opposite-field blast over the wall in right, giving the Orioles a 2-0 lead. That’s the kind of easy power we’d like to see more of from the Birds’ shiny new slugger.
Despite the early O’s advantage, the vibes quickly turned sour. While Wacha settled into a groove and threw four straight scoreless innings, Orioles starter Chris Bassitt frittered away the lead. Vinnie Pasquantino provided the first Royals run with a solo homer in the first, snapping an 0-for-16 drought and giving the Royals just their second run in the first inning all season. Bassitt got through the second and third unscathed before the Royals flipped the lead in the fourth.
Pasquantino started the rally with a double, and two batters later — just as the MASN announcers were mentioning that the Royals are the worst hitting team in MLB with runners in scoring position — Carter Jensen delivered one such hit, a single up the middle to plate Pasquantino with the tying run. Later in the inning — just as the MASN announcers were mentioning that Lane Thomas was 0-for-8 in his career against Bassitt — the aforementioned Lane Thomas socked an RBI single to give the Royals a 3-2 lead. Just stop mentioning things, MASN announcers! Only silence from now on.
Staring down a deficit in the top of the sixth against a cruising Wacha, things looked bleak for the Orioles. And then: something amazing happened. The O’s scored six runs. Seriously! Not only that, but it was one of the most un-Orioles type of offensive rallies you’ll ever see. They hit the ball to all fields. They shortened their swings with two strikes, putting the ball in play however they could. It was a nearly unrecognizable Orioles attack, and it was delightful.
It all started innocently enough, when Alonso drew a four-pitch walk and Samuel Basallo doinked a changeup into right for a single. That brought up the Orioles’ dynamic duo of Leody Taveras and Jeremiah Jackson — two of the best hitters on the team, as we all predicted in spring training — and both of them delivered again. On a 2-2 curve from Wacha, Taveras flicked the ball into right field, bringing home Alonso to knot the score at three. Basallo aggressively ran to third base on the play, and Taveras alertly advanced to second on the throw to third.
Up next was Jackson, who dunked a single into left-center field, driving in two more runs and putting the Birds back on top, 5-3. There we go! Where would the Orioles be without Jeremiah this season? Not bad for a guy who might not have even made the team if Luis Vázquez weren’t hurt. The Orioles, improbably, had knocked Wacha out of the game. They hung six earned runs on a pitcher who’d allowed only three runs in his first four starts combined. Not too shabby!
But the Orioles had saved the best for last. Against reliever Eli Morgan, Colton Cowser singled on an 0-2 changeup — his second hit of the game — to bring up Coby Mayo. It’s no secret that Coby has struggled mightily this season, but when he’s on, he’s capable of hitting massive, jaw-dropping, moon-shot dingers. Eli Morgan got a first-hand look at that when Mayo jumped on his hanging slider and crushed it OVER THE FOUNTAINS AT KAUFFMAN STADIUM, a prodigious blast measured at 452 feet. Wowza. An Orioles fan in the second deck, who probably never thought in her wildest dreams that she was in home run territory, ended up with the ball. It was the Orioles’ longest home run since July 5 of last year, when Jordan Westburg crushed a 461-foot blast in Atlanta.
The Earl Weaver special gave the Orioles an 8-3 lead, and against a lousy offense like the Royals, you’d think that would be plenty. You’d think. But just as the MASN announcers mentioned how important it was for Bassitt to pitch a shutdown inning, you’ll never guess what happened. He almost immediately gave back a chunk of it. Jensen led off the bottom of the sixth with a homer, followed by a Michael Massey double. Bassitt got just one out in the sixth before Craig Albernaz went to the bullpen.
The good news, I suppose, is that Bassitt’s 5.1-inning performance was his longest of the season. But he still wasn’t good. Against a bad offense, he gave up eight hits and five runs, with his inherited runner scoring on Kyle Isbel’s two-run homer off Yennier Cano. With Cade Povich and Brandon Young pitching well at Triple-A, I’m wondering how long the O’s will persist with Bassitt in the rotation.
The Royals’ sixth-inning rally made it an 8-6 game, and the Orioles squandered numerous opportunities to add insurance runs. Beavers doubled to lead off the seventh but never advanced. In the ninth, Ward was thrown out at the plate on another Beavers double. Eight runs would have to do.
Fortunately, it did. Tyler Wells had his best high-leverage outing of the year, working 1.2 scoreless innings, and Anthony Nunez entered the ninth for his first career save opportunity (closer Ryan Helsley went on the bereavement list earlier in the day). Nunez retired the first two batters before the third baseman Mayo, on what should’ve been the final out, spiked a routine throw to first to bring Bobby Witt Jr. to the plate as the tying run. Oh boy. Here we go.
No worries. Nunez racked up a clutch strikeout of Witt, nailing down the win and earning his first save. Congrats to the rookie, who has been a great addition to the O’s bullpen (again, not bad for a guy who almost didn’t make the Opening Day roster).
That’s an Orioles victory. Who is your Most Birdland Player, Camden Chatters? Coby Mayo for his breathtaking three-run homer? Alonso for his dinger? Taveras or Jackson for their clutch hits? Wells or Nunez for their relief work? There are no wrong answers. Except Chris Bassitt.
STREAKING: The Cubs’ seven-game winning streak is their 107th since 1901 of at least seven games. It is their longest since they won eight in a row July 2-192, 2023. Their last that ended after seven games was Aug. 31-Sept. 6, 2021. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
PITCHING: Cubs pitchers have allowed exactly six hits in each of the last three games. They have allowed no more than six in 11 games this season. The Cubs have won nine of them. Last year, they were 46-13 in such games, a winning percentage of .780. When they gave up seven or more, they were 46-57, .447. The Cubs rank third among all 30 teams in fewest hits per nine innings (7.3), fewest walks per nine (3.0) and fewest hit plus walks per nine (1.146). (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
DANSBY, HEATING UP: Dansby Swanson, last 13 games since April 7: .233/.393/.535 (10-for-43) with a double, four home runs, 10 RBI, 12 walks and 16 runs scored.
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Jason Heyward’s 10th inning walk-off single scored Javier Báez to give the Cubs a 4-3 win over the Mets. It happened five years ago today, Thursday, April 22, 2021.
The Cubs lineup was not available at posting time. Please check BCB social media for the Cubs lineup.
Matthew Boyd returns tonight from an injured list stint for a bicep issue.
His first start this year on Opening Day wasn’t good; his second was excellent, with 10 strikeouts in 5.2 innings. Overall Boyd has 17 strikeouts in 9.1 innings this year (struck out 17 of 37 batters faced). In his rehab start last Thursday for Triple-A Iowa, Boyd struck out six of 16 batters faced.
Boyd made one start vs. the Phillies last year, June 9 in Philadelphia, and the difference in the game was, in part, Boyd’s own throwing error on a pickoff that led to an unearned run. No current Phillie has more than six career AB vs. Boyd.
Kyle Backhus is opening tonight’s game, and likely throws only one or two innings. The most pitches he’s thrown in any game this year is 41, last Wednesday against the Cubs in Philadelphia. Dansby Swanson homered off him. He also threw to five batters in Monday’s game at Wrigley Field.
Taijuan Walker was supposed to get the start tonight, and he’s likely the “bulk guy” in this game.
Walker’s 2026 season has been pretty awful. He’s made four starts, has a 9.16 ERA (yikes!) and has allowed six home runs in just 18.1 innings (double yikes!). He had one decent start (April 11 vs. the D-backs) where he allowed two runs in five innings, the other three were .. yikes.
Perhaps Alex Bregman will break out tonight. He’s 6-for-11 (.545) lifetime vs. Walker.
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The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
Mar 30, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Detroit Tigers second baseman Colt Keith (33) gets ready to hit against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers infielder Colt Keith is rolling in the early going of the 2026 season, and after two years of incredibly slow starts to seasons, that’s a positive development. On the other hand, Keith’s hot hand early on has led to a lot of frustration in the fanbase with the fact that manager AJ Hinch still chooses to keep him in reserve when an opposing team has a left-handed starter on the mound. Don’t be deceived. There are certainly some positive hints of a breakout for the 24-year-old, but so far this season he’s done nothing new to warrant playing everyday.
As we covered after the first series of the season in San Diego, Keith does show some underlying improvements that point to an impending breakout. He’s swinging the bat faster than ever, and he’s hitting the ball harder. His new upright stance, combined with the breathwork he started this offseason to help his body to stay more relaxed in the batter’s box, certainly have him looking more comfortable and much less tense than in his first two seasons. No one would argue that those aren’t positive developments, but they still have to translate to upgraded production before we can really say that Keith is unlocking a new level in his offensive game.
Really this is all pretty simple in terms of what a real, sustainable breakout from Keith would look like. For all the angst about him being platooned to hit right-handed pitching only, we have to recognize that Colt Keith is still only a modestly above average hitter against right-handed pitching. Until that changes and he becomes a force, he’s not going to get that many chances to hit left-handed pitching as well. That’s not a slight on Keith as much as it is important to get your right-handed hitters into the lineup because they’re generally going to outhit Keith by a significant margin in the proper matchups against lefties.
So, if you’re wondering how Keith is supposed to get better at hitting lefties when he rarely faces them, the answer is that he’ll earn those chances by hitting right-handed pitching better than he has in the early stages of his major league career. He’d also have a lot easier time if he played plus defense somewhere or was a big basestealing threat, something else to augment the bat.
Right now, Keith holds a 112 wRC+ after two previous seasons in which he posted a 95 mark, and then a 109 mark in 2025. If you prefer OPS+ that’s fine, but they’re generally not much different, and those two metrics are the best “one stop shop” to get an idea of a hitter’s overall contribution to run production. They’re reset each year so that 100 represents league average. So far, Colt is 12 percent better at doing the things that produce runs than the average major league hitter. That’s reasonably good, but considering he’s generally protected from tough lefties, it’s not really great in the sense of an everyday, full-time player.
Yes, Keith is hitting .309, but batting average is more of a descriptive statistic than one that tells you anything about how productive a hitter actually is. The simplest way to frame this, is that offense is all about collecting bases. Two singles or two walks equals one double in the simplest calculation. Sure, with runners on base, a single is better than a walk because said runners can often advance two bases, but without runners on base, a walk is better because it costs the opposing more pitches typically, and because walking has more of a psychological effect on a pitcher than giving up a ground ball that happens to get through the infield or a routine liner into the outfield for a single. But again, the goal is to collect bases, and move your teammates ahead of you around said bases, and using wRC+ or OPS+ gives you the best idea how well a hitter is succeeding.
Keith is hitting .309, but his batting average on balls in play is a whopping .396. Keith’s average BABIP mark is .307, meaning that a bit over 30 percent of his balls in play are going for hits. This year so far, he’s close to 40 percent, and that just isn’t sustainable. A higher batting average, without significant improvements in walk rate, strikeout rate, and power production, is the definition of fool’s gold in baseball. Keith is hitting the ball harder, and so a higher BABIP is appropriate, but something closer to a .310-.320 batting average on balls in play is probably the high water mark here and with enough time his numbers are going to settle at or below that level. Only 26 qualified hitters topped that mark in 2025. Riley Greene’s .323 mark made him the only Tiger to do it.
Incidentally, Kevin McGonigle will be one of those elite guys who consistently runs a high BABIP too. No worries there, although like Keith, it’s just about impossible to be a top shelf hitter without plenty of home runs and extra base hits.
At the moment, Keith has zero home runs. His strikeout rate is at 21.1 percent, which is essentially his career average. After posting a 10.3 percent walk rate last year, this season he’s at 4.2 percent. No doubt the walks will show up. Keith has swung a little more aggressively early on this year, and it’s largely paid off, but he’s always been a pretty disciplined hitter, and the walks will show up as the season progresses. He’s actually chasing pitches out of the zone 5.4 percent less than last year, showing increasing strike zone judgement that could be sustainable. I’m not concerned at all about the low walk rate. Keith is getting pitches to hit and he’s successfully taking his hacks. Until he starts doing damage, pitchers are going to continue pitching him aggressively.
The positive signs of a breakout developing are still in place. Keith is swinging the bat faster, and he’s hitting the ball hard more often. Per Statcast, his hard hit rate is 58.5 percent. Last year it was 43.7 percent. His current mark is 11th best among all qualified hitters so far, and this is the really positive development that has many of us expecting the awaited Keith breakout.
The issue? So he’s actually hit nine percent more ground balls than he did last year, and most of that eight percent comes from his fly ball rate dropping from 38.6 percent last year, which still isn’t that great, to 30.2 percent so far this season. That is not the direction we want to see his batted ball profile move. Yes, hitting the ball harder overall is good, and may be sustainable. That will keep his batting average a little higher potentially, but that’s not really going to make him a much more productive hitter. What needs to happen is for Keith to start collecting a lot more total bases, and the only way those are going to compound is two and four at a time.
Colt Keith has hit 13 home runs in each of his first two big league seasons, while getting roughly 4/5ths of a full season of plate appearances compared to a full-time MLB regular. This is the same guy who hit 27 total home runs in just 577 plate appearances split between the Double and Triple-A levels in 2023. The raw power isn’t in question. We’ve seen him destroy the upper levels of the minor leagues and hit many epic tape measure shots. Keith is 6’2” and probably 220 pounds, built like an undersized linebacker in incredible shape. He’s hitting the heck out of the baseball this season. And he has zero home runs.
This is where the breakout has to show up if it’s coming. It’s great to hit the ball really hard, but it doesn’t really convert to much more run production unless you’re pumping line drives to the wall and tons of fly balls over the wall. A 110 mph ground ball is a single unless it’s right down the lines. A 100 mph fly ball to the pull field is generally a home run is hit between 25-35 degrees of launch angle.
So, we have positive signs from Keith but no actual results. He’s a productive, above average hitter who has some of the underlying metrics of a young player about to break out. But he has to actually break out before any of this really matters much. Before people get to fretting over his ability to hit left-handed pitching, he’s got to become more of a force against right-handed pitching. Start there.
Keith is a talented, still young hitter who runs the bases well, has some speed, and is a useful but still somewhat below average infielder. That basically adds up to an average major leaguer. The ticket to an upgraded profile is still tied up in the need for more fly balls to the pull field. When we see him catching more balls out front and doing big time damage, then his role can expand. I’ve been a big Colt believer since he was in A-ball, and have confidence he’s going to figure that last part out, but until he does his role is going to remain the same. Hopefully the Tigers can get him more starts at first base to develop his defensive profile and give them more options beyond Spencer Torkelson, but the ticket to more playing time is still more power.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 21: Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers hits an RBI double in the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Globe Life Field on April 21, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for April 22, 2026 against the Pittsburgh Pirates: starting pitchers are Jack Leiter for the Rangers and Braxton Ashcraft for the Pirates.
The Rangers play game two of their series against the Pirates this evening. Wyatt Langford is out of the lineup, and per the beats, he’s apparently going on the i.l. with a flexor strain.
The lineup:
Nimmo — RF
Seager — SS
Burger — 1B
Pederson — DH
Jung — 3B
Carter — CF
Higashioka — C
Smith — 2B
Duran — LF
7:05 p.m. Central start time. The game is a pick ‘em.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 21: Relief pitcher Randy Vasquez #98 of the San Diego Padres delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 21, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sometimes one run is all it takes.
That was the case for the San Diego Padres yesterday in their win over the Colorado Rockies. It was, by far, the lowest scoring game at Coors Field ever, with only one run being tallied in the hitter-friendly park.
Both starters had it working, but it was Randy Vásquez who won out. He pitched seven shutout innings against the Rox. Although Colorado starter Chase Dollander looked just as good (if not better) for six innings, he gave up one run to the Friars on a bases-loaded walk to Manny Machado. That was all the Padres would need.
Tonight, they’ll hope to win their fourth straight, and take their sixth consecutive series, with one more win over Colorado.
Taking the mound
Tomoyuki Sugano (COL) v. Walker Buehler (SD)
Sugano has had a mostly-solid start to the year. He’s pitching to a 3.92 ERA with his new ball club, and limiting batters to a .241 average. Those are markedly better numbers than last year’s marks (4.64 ERA, .276 BA).
But in his last start he gave up five runs to the rival Los Angeles Dodgers, only getting through four frames in the outing. If the Padres can get to him similarly, they’ll have no trouble tonight.
Buehler has had a similar turnaround. After allowing seven runs between his first two outings, he’s only allowed two since (11.0 IP). That includes a six-inning shutout of Colorado a week ago in Petco Park that started the bounce back campaign for the right-hander.
If Buehler can keep the good times rolling, it would signify a clear shift from his start to the season. It would also keep the streak of scoreless outings from San Diego starters moving. The last three (Germán Márquez, Michael King and Randy Vásquez) have combined for 17 2/3 scoreless innings.
Batter up!
With the lack of thump yesterday, the Padres will hope that their lineup can deliver against Sugano. That being said, not many have great track records against the righty. The club is 4-for-25 against him, with two of those being home runs (Luis Campusano and Gavin Sheets).
But against the righty, manager Craig Stammen seems pretty set with his lineup:
Ramón Laureano, LF
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jackson Merrill, CF
Manny Machado, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Gavin Sheets, DH
Ty France, 1B
Luis Campusano, C
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
It’s worth wondering when Machado might come out of the cleanup spot. He’s been off to an incredibly cold start to the year, batting just .178 so far. If he can turn that around in this series, it would go a long way toward assuaging any concerns about his bat.
But, more than that, if the Friars can’t figure things out tonight against Sugano, they’ll have as tough a time as they did yesterday against Dollander.
Relief corps
With Vásquez having his longest start of the year of seven innings, the Friars only needed to use Jason Adam and Adrian Morejon to get the job done. The two will likely be unavailable today, though Morejon managed to finish the ninth on only eight pitches so don’t be too surprised if he trots out of the ‘pen in a high-leverage spot.
That leaves San Diego with a plethora of options in Kyle Hart, Ron Marinaccio, David Morgan, Wandy Peralta, Bradgley Rodriguez and closer Mason Miller.
Miller remained in reserve despite a narrow lead going into the ninth. With the off day Monday, it was surprising to see him on the bench, but Stammen has his reasons. That being said, Miller will be on the mound tonight if the Padres take a lead to the ninth.
The Yankees’ uniforms come in two varieties: home whites with pinstripes and the iconic NY logo over the left side of the chest, and gray away ones with “New York” written across the chest. With each, there’s a number on the back and no name. That’s the tradition.
According to a report in The Athletic, players recently pitched club higher-ups about wearing an alternate road jersey for the first time in the history of the franchise.
And later on Wednesday, MLB.com's Bryan Hoch reported the Yankees' navy blue batting practice jerseys have been added as an official uniform set approved to be worn in games by the league.
The Yanks, one of only two MLB clubs without a City Connect uniform (the other being the stateless Athletics), new alternate won't be a loud pattern like other teams, but is similar to the ones worn during spring training that have "New York" across the chest in gray letters and numbers with white trim on the back.
“I think we'll always wear the pinstripes at home. I don't think that'll change,” Aaron Judge said before Wednesday’s game in Boston, via Hoch. “We’ve changed our road jersey other years. So I guess if we wear the blues, we’ll wear the blues on the road.”
Judge added, “I’m all about tradition, but we’ve got a [Starr Insurance] patch on our sleeves,” referencing the sponsorship patch added to both the team’s jerseys in 2023 in a deal that reportedly nets the club $25 million a season.
The players did not propose any changes to the home uniforms or to the regular road jerseys, per The Athletic report, which noted the Yanks are also the lone big league team without any alternate jersey.
Giancarlo Stanton called the current uniforms “iconic” when speaking with reporters Wednesday, but indicated that a change would be something that “a lot of people would be ok with.”
Stanton also expressed interest in a City Connect option.
“I think we should do that, too," he said, via Hoch. "There’s a lot of tradition here. The most iconic jersey there is in sports, pretty much. But that doesn’t mean that every once in a while you can’t change something up.”
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 19: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Who: Phoenix Suns @ Oklahoma City Thunder
When: 6:30pm Arizona Time
Where: Paycom Center — Oklahoma City, OK
Watch: ESPN
Listen: KMVP 98.7
Series Status: Thunder up 1-0
OKLAHOMA CITY — Game One for the Phoenix Suns in their first round matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder was rough, to say the least. At the very, very beginning of the game, Phoenix showed a bit of hope, getting up 12-9, just for the Thunder to go on a 110-72 run the rest of the game. You read that right.
The Thunder completely shut down the Suns, forcing them to shoot a horrid 35% from the field and take 10 fewer shots than Oklahoma City, thanks to the Thunder’s offensive rebounding efforts. Dillon Brooks, Devin Booker, and Jalen Green took 66% of the team’s field goals and were inefficient in their efforts. Collin Gillespie was the only other Sun who took at least six shots. The likely MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, didn’t even have a great game for the Thunder. While he got to the line 17 times and hit 15 of his foul shots, he shot 28% from the field on 18 shots. Don’t count on the Finals MVP doing the same again in Game 2.
It’s going to take more than just the Suns shooting better from the field to even up the series tonight. The team is going to have to move the ball better. In Game 1, Phoenix had just 16 assists. Every game the team had 16 or fewer dimes this season, they lost.
Devin Booker and the team’s top scorers are not only going to need to have a herculean offensive performance to stop the defending champs from taking a 2-0 series lead, but the team also needs to play with connectivity. Bright Side is in Oklahoma to give you live coverage that you can find on X at @HoldenSherman1 and @BrightSideSun with exclusive media for tonight’s game.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
Grayson Allen — QUESTIONABLE (Left Hamstring Strain)
Jordan Goodwin — QUESTIONABLE (Left Calf Soreness)
Mark Williams — QUESTIONABLE (Left Foot Stress Reaction)
Thunder
Thomas Sorber — OUT (Torn Right ACL)
What to Watch For
Can the Suns play better on offense?
Phoenix had just three games this year in which they scored fewer than 85 points, and they lost all of them. Unsurprisingly, they got walloped when they did that in Game 1. The team plays best when they’re moving the ball and knocking down their threes. They did neither on Sunday.
Limiting turnoversand creating moreof them
Oklahoma City forced Phoenix into 17 turnovers in Game 1 and allowed just six. At one point, they went 19:14 of gameplay without committing a single one. OKC scored 34 points off turnovers while the Suns scored just two. Phoenix had just three steals in Game 1 after averaging nearly 10 a game in the regular season. Will the Suns be able to cause more raucous than they did on Sunday and manage the tenacious Oklahoma City defense?
Does Mark Williams make an impact if he returns?
Williams was out for game one after re-injuring the left foot that kept him out nearly a month at the end of the regular season. While he didn’t play a huge part in the team’s win over OKC in January, he had a 13-point, 14-rebound game against them back in November’s close loss and is the team’s best rebounder. How could his impact help the Suns on the glass?
Key to a Suns Win
Devin Booker
Plain and simple. It starts with him. For the Suns to have a chance to win games in the series, the five-time All-Star has to have performances reminiscent of his 2023 playoffs, where he averaged 34 points on 59% shooting from the field and 51% shooting from three in 11 games. If that doesn’t happen, the team has no shot to compete with the defending champs. The team with the best player usually wins playoff games, and Booker needs to severely outplay the Thunder’s best players because of the depth advantage OKC has.
If Booker has a strong game, he’ll need the rest of the team to help him space the floor and make his life easier to operate on offense, while forcing the Thunder into more turnovers.
Prediction
Look for the Suns to come out with a better performance than they did in Game 1. They were playing on short rest and now have had a legitimate break between games after being in two play-in games. That said, Oklahoma City’s defensive discipline and depth have given the Suns problems all year because of Phoenix’s lack of elite ball handlers and a paint presence. Give me the Thunder in a moderately close game that they start taking over in the second half.
Will the move to Crypto.com Arena be enough for the Los Angeles Kings to top the Colorado Avalanche tonight?
My top Avalanche vs. Kings predictions and NHL picks think otherwise.
The Avs have dominated the play throughout the first two games of the series, and I’m anticipating the Colorado offense to fill the net on Thursday, April 23.
Puck drop is set for 10:00 p.m. ET in L.A., with the game airing on TNT.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
Avalanche vs Kings Game 3 prediction
Who will win Avalanche vs Kings Game 3?
Colorado Avalanche: The Kings have yet to score a five-on-five goal while losing the possession battle with a 43.8 Corsi For percentage and generating just 40.7% of the expected goals during the series.
It’s a matter of when and not if the Avs fill the net against goaltender Anton Forsberg, whose .939 save percentage and 3.45 goals saved above expected through two games are screaming for statistical correction.
Avalanche vs Kings best bet: Avalanche moneyline (-155)
Hats off to the Los Angeles Kings for holding the Colorado Avalanche largely in check through the first two games of the series, but the levee breaks in Game 3.
Colorado has driven the play and been the more dangerous team with a 56.2 CF% and 59.3 xGF% at five-on-five, and the Avs have limited the Kings to just two goals, 5.69 expected goals, and 20 high-danger scoring chances through two games.
Additionally, as noted, I’m anticipating the Colorado offense to solve Los Angeles goalie Anton Forsberg in Game 3. His .901 save percentage across 124 games the past four years is solid, but unspectacular, and it’s also far more reflective of the skillset than his .939 mark in Round 1.
Avalanche vs Kings Game 3 same-game parlay
While I’m anticipating the statistical correction ahead of Forsberg to be a driving force in this Game 3 total going Over the number, Avs starter Scott Wedgewood isn’t going to maintain his own high level of play through the entire series. He’s sporting an equally unsustainable .960 SV% with 3.69 goals saved above expected through two games.
Colorado winger Martin Necas rounds out the same-game parlay, and he’s been held to a single assist despite being on the ice for 4.93 expected goals through two games. So, after hitting 100 points during the regular season, I’m expecting the Czech star to mark the scoresheet on Thursday.
Avalanche vs Kings SGP
Avalanche -1.5
Over 5.5
Martin Necas Over 0.5 points
Avalanche vs Kings Game 3 goal scorer pick
Martin Necas (+195)
Sticking with Colorado winger Martin Necas, he's paced the club in individual expected goals during the series (1.22), and he’s also failed to find the back of the net in five consecutive games dating back to the regular season despite recording 17 shots and eight high-danger scoring chances.
After scoring 38 times during the regular season, Necas breaks through and finds the back of the net in Game 3.
Colorado has won 14 of its last 15 road games (+12.20 Units / 49% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Kings.
How to watch Avalanche vs Kings Game 3
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
TNT
Avalanche vs Kings latest injuries
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