Apr 29, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Home plate umpire Laz Diaz (63) gestures to the Pittsburgh Pirates dugout against the St. Louis Cardinals during the seventh inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
There is a story in the Wall Street Journal called ‘In Defense of Umpires’ in which the author complains about the ABS Challenge System, which kind of surprised me. Of course, there are people who will complain about anything, but I’ve liked the challenge system. I’ve been surprised at how quick it is, I was worried that it would be a long break in the action, but it fits in an at bat fairly seamlessly. It is a lot quicker than having the manager and pitching coach yelling at the umpire.
And, I think, it has made life better for umpires. As much as we think they should get every pitch right, that’s not possible. But they seem somewhat better at making calls this year and when they get one wrong it can be corrected. No one is going to be perfect, but this allows baseball to fix the very imperfect calls.
But the story in the WSJ starts with “There is nothing good that can’t be ruined by technology.” I don’t know, my baseball fandom has improved with the ability to watch every game, not just one game a week. And that I can share my fandom with others around the country/planet, not just the few friends I have that also are baseball fans (or will pretend to be because I’m going to talk about baseball all the time anyway).
I know I’m supposed to be old and hate everything new and I do have some of that in me. But I’m a fan of the ABS system.
But Jonathan Shapiro says:
ABS, however, stops the game in its tracks and destroys the pace of play. And it does so for the spectacularly uninteresting purpose of conducting a spot audit of the umpire’s competence. This shifts the crowd’s focus away from where it should be, on the contest between hitter and pitcher, and redirects it to an artificial and irrelevant contest between umpire and robot.
I was thinking maybe it might just be me, so I thought I’d put up a poll.
BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 28: Christian Walker #8 of the Houston Astros hits a double in the eighth inning during the game between the Houston Astros and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Alyssa Piazza/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
As a result of last night’s rainout, the Houston Astros (11-19) and Baltimore Orioles (14-15) will play a traditional doubleheader today at Camden Yards.
Game One: RHP Peter Lambert (1-1, 3.27 ERA) will make his 3rd start of the season as he takes on Orioles RHP Chris Bassitt (1-2, 6.75 ERA). Today will be Lambert’s 1st career appearance vs. BAL.
TODAY’S GM 1 STARTER: RHP Peter Lambert will make his 3rd start/app. of the season today.
He was stellar in his last start on 4/22 at CLE, allowing just 3 hits in 6.0 scoreless innings with 8 strikeouts (16 whiffs) in the Astros 2-0 win.
Lambert joined the Astros via free agency this offseason after pitching last year for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the NPB, posting a 3.98 ERA (55ER/124.1IP) with 111 strikeouts in 23 appearances in Japan. He began this season at Triple A Sugar Land (1.84 ERA in 3 app. (2 GS) before being called up for a start on April 17 vs. STL.
A SWING AND A MISS: In his 2 starts this season, RHP Peter Lambert has induced a combined 39 swing-and-misses. The 23 whiffs he induced in his April 17 start vs. STL are the 3rd-highest total by an AL pitcher in 2026 and T-5th highest in the Majors:
Most Whiffs in a Game (2026)
1. 27 –Cole Ragans (4/25)
2. 26 – Shota Imanaga (4/15 at PHI)
3. 25 – Jacob Misiorowski (3/26 vs. CWS)
4. 24 – Dylan Cease (3/28 vs. ATH)
T5. 23 – Peter Lambert(4/17 vs. STL)
T5. 23 – Jesus Luzardo (4/4 at COL)
T5. 23 – Yoshinubu Yamamoto (4/14 vs. NYM)
T5. 23 – Kyle Harrison (4/26)
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVES: The Astros have placed RHP Ryan Weiss on the Paternity List.
To take his place on the active roster, the Astros have reinstated RHP Cody Bolton from the 15-day IL.
The Astros have also added RHP Jason Alexander to the roster as the 27th man for the doubleheader.
VS. THE O’S: Today’s doubleheader will wrap up this 3-game series vs. the Orioles.
The Astros were 4-3 vs. BAL in 2025 with a 3-1 mark here at Camden Yards, Aug. 21-24. The two clubs will next meet for a 3-game set at Daikin Park, July 17-19.
PLAYER OF THE MONTH?:Yordan Alvarez is a strong candidate for the AL Player of the Month Award as he has had a torrid start to his season, hitting .355 with 11 HR and 26 RBI.
Alvarez leads the AL in OPS (1.199), RBI (26), SLG (.736), OBP (.463) and Total Bases (81) while ranking 2nd in batting avg. (.355) and WAR (1.9). Additionally, Alvarez’ current 13-game hitting streak is tied for the longest active streak in the AL (Kevin McGonigle-DET) and matches his career-best, done May 2-16, 2023.
HISTORIC HOMERS: Yordan Alvarez is off to one of the most prolific starts in franchise history. His 11 HR through the club’s first 30 games of the season are the 2nd-most in franchise history. Below is a breakdown:
Most HOU HR Thru 30G:
1:Lance Berkman: 13 (2002)
T2: Yordan Alvarez: 11 (2026)
T2: Lance Berkman: 11 (2006)
Most HOU HR Thru 31G:
1. Lance Berkman: 13 (2002)
T2: Y. Alvarez: 11 (2019, 22)
T2: Jeff Bagwell: 11 (2003)
T2: Lance Berkman: (2006)
ROAD WARRIOR: In 9 road games (6 starts) this season, Brice Matthews is 7×21 (.333) with a HR, 6 RBI and 6 BB, slashing (.333/462/.619) for a 1.081 OPS.
In his young career, Matthews is hitting .289 in 16 road games (12 starts) with 5 HR and 15 RBI with a .396 OBP and a .689 SLG (1.085 OPS).
CAMDEN CRUSHER: Jose Altuve has a .366 (60×164) career avg. at Camden Yards with a 1.029 OPS in 39 games. His .366 avg ranks T-2nd-best all-time, using a minimum of 150 ABs vs. The O’s.
Additionally, Altuve has a .315 career avg. (94×298) vs. the Orioles overall. He has posted a .300+ career batting avg. vs. 15 opposing teams.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS: With 238 career HR, Jose Altuve needs one more to tie Lou Whitaker for 7th place all-time among 2nd basemen.
Altuve also needs 3 RBI to become the 5th player in franchise history to reach 900.
WALKER, TEXAS HAMMER:Christian Walker is hitting .429 (12×28) in his last 7 games (since 4/20) with 3 HR and 7 RBI.
Among The Leaders: For the season, Walker enters today ranked T-3rd in the AL in RBI (23), 4th in SLG (.579), T-6th in TB (62), 5th in OPS (.956) and T-6th in doubles (9).
HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY: To Phil Garner, who would have turned 77 years old today.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1982 – At Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburth, Phil Garner hits a 3-run HR on his 33rd birthday to help defeat the Pirates, 4-3. Garner, who was voted into the Astros Hall of Fame earlier this month, had played for the Pirates (1977-81) prior to being traded to HOU on Aug. 31, 1981.
1979 – At Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Terry Puhl’s 2-run HR in the top of the 9th lifted the Astros to a 6-5, comeback win over the Cardinals. The Astros had entered the 9th, trailing, 4-2. Puhl’s HR capped a dramatic, 4-run 9th-inning rally.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Thursday, April 30, 11:35 a.m. CDT
Location: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
At the end of the season, oftentimes players will be asked if they have been playing through any knocks or injuries in the playoffs or in the season before they get the summer to recover.
The Los Angeles Kings held their end-of-season presser on Wednesday, for the players at least. In this final media availability for the campaign, Kings center Quinton Byfield revealed that he dealt with a pair of serious injuries beyond the halfway mark of the regular season.
After the Olympic break in February, Byfield suffered a torn oblique on his right side, which is a tear in the abdominal muscles, usually caused by sudden twisting motions, among other actions.
Byfield's misfortune didn't end there because once his right-sided oblique tear healed, he received the same injury on his left side.
Multiple sources say that an oblique tear takes weeks to heal, and for athletes to return to action, it could take up to six weeks or more.
However, though Byfield's body has gone through much distress, the 23-year-old only missed three regular-season contests this past season.
In his last 16 games of the regular season, the Newmarket, Ont., native recorded 11 goals and 16 points, leading the Kings in scoring during that span.
Also, in the last 15 games of the year, Byfield had 11 goals, which had him tied for third in the NHL in that stretch. He was scoring at a similar rate to Nikita Kucherov, Macklin Celebrini, Connor McDavid and Cole Caufield at the time.
He went on to reach a new career high in goals, totalling 24 tallies, along with 25 assists for 49 points in 79 appearances. Not to mention, he set a new personal best in average ice time, logging 20:01 per game, reaching the 20-minute mark average for the first time in his young NHL career.
To go through the physical toll and strain of two oblique tears, Byfield's finish to the 2025-26 season was rather impressive.
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In the Montreal Canadiens’ 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Benchmark International Arena, sophomore defenseman Lane Hutson rewrote another page of the storied franchise history book.
With the primary assist on Alexandre Texier's game-winning goal, the 22-year-old blueliner picked up the 10th point of his career in the playoffs in just his 10th career game and became the fastest rearguard in Habs’ history to reach that milestone. The mark previously belonged to Chris Chelios.
Nikita Kucherov whiffs on the puck with a wide open net
- Lane Hutson notices a bad line change by Tampa and wires a great stretch pass
Just two full seasons into his professional career, the blueliner is turning out to be the steal of the 2022 draft. The Canadiens grabbed him with the 62nd overall pick at the tail end of the second round. So far, in the regular season, he has put up 146 points in just 166 games, which works out to 0.88 points per game.
In the Canadiens' all-important Game 5 win, he spent 23:31 on the ice and made quite a few heads-up plays. At one stage, in the first frame, his stick broke in his hands, and he had the presence of mind to change his grip to hold it together, which went unnoticed by the referees. Unfortunately for him, when he played the puck with it, he sent it into the netting and got a delay of game penalty, but he just didn’t want to be out there deep in his territory without a stick against Tampa’s powerful attack.
When he was hit with a high stick by Brayden Point during a collision and slashed for good measure afterwards, he didn’t pout, he didn’t complain, he just kept on playing. Of course, the sequence ended with the Lightning’s first goal of the game on an odd-man rush on which only Hutson was back to defend. While it ended with a goal, he defended it the right way, ensuring Dominic James couldn’t pass the puck.
The poise and the confidence with which he plays are nothing short of extraordinary at such a young age, especially on the blueline. It normally takes a long time for a defenseman to master their craft, but Hutson is already well on his way there, and sooner rather than later, he’ll be in the Norris Trophy conversation.
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ ticket to Round 2 of the NBA Playoffs awaits north of the border when they visit the Toronto Raptors in Game 6.
Cleveland’s inside-out scoring is becoming too much for Toronto, which limps into Friday with serious injuries in the frontcourt. That means Evan Mobley can have his way inside while Donovan Mitchell continues to cash in from long range.
Here are my NBA picks and SGP predictions for Cavaliers vs. Raptors on May 1.
Our best Cavaliers vs Raptors SGP for Game 6
SGP leg #1: Cavaliers moneyline (-170)
The Cleveland Cavaliers are short road favorites for Game 6 and not only have the momentum edge but the health advantage.
The Toronto Raptors, who were already missing their starting point guard, could be down forward Brandon Ingram while star Scottie Barnes is limping through a quads injury. The Cavs just have too many weapons and close out the Raptors on their own turf.
SGP leg #1: Evan Mobley Over 16.5 points (-110)
Evan Mobley was the focus of the Cavs' offense in Game 5, with the team making a focused effort to feed their big man in the second half.
He scored 16 of his final 23 points after the break and with those frontcourt injuries mounting for the Raptors, Cleveland goes right back to Mobley in Game 6. His projections call for 18 points, but I believe his ceiling is much higher.
SGP leg #1: Donovan Mitchell Over 2.5 threes (-140)
Donovan Mitchell is making Toronto pay from the perimeter. He knocked down three treys in Game 5 and has made at least three triples in four of the first five games of this series so far.
Cleveland is working the ball inside to their bigs and running a smaller lineup to promote spacing. Giving Mitchell room outside the arc keeps him hitting from distance Friday.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Cavaliers vs Raptors predictions for Game 6.
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Once you're done here, head over to our full Knicks vs. Hawks predictions for a complete breakdown of tonight's affair.
Knicks vs Hawks computer picks for Game 6
Knicks
Hawks
Towns u3.5 assists +120
McCollum o2.5 threes +160
Brunson u27.5 points -105
Okongwu u13.5 points -110
Clarkson o6.5 points -125
Vincent u4.5 points -112
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Knicks Game 6 computer picks
Karl-Anthony Towns Under 3.5 assists (+120)
Projection: 3.22 assists
The Atlanta Hawks will throw everything they have at the New York Knicks on defense, which will assuredly cut down on their baskets.
Our model believes that it will cut into Karl-Anthony Towns' assist numbers.
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Jalen Brunson Under 27.5 points (-105)
Projection: 25.53 points
Jalen Brunson failed to eclipse this number in both games in Atlanta, and his shooting will take a dip again. Brunson will be the focal point of Atlanta's D, which will lead him to get rid of the ball more rather than jacking up ill-advised shots.
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Jordan Clarkson Over 6.5 points (-125)
Projection: 7.72 points
Jordan Clarkson is a steady hand off the bench and has hit this number in all five games thus far. He'll get 16-20 minutes, which is more than enough time to cash the Over.
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Hawks Game 6 computer picks
CJ McCollum Over 2.5 threes (+160)
Projection: 2.94 threes
This is the first of two five-star plays our projections spit out. CJ McCollum has hit three or more treys in just two of five games this series, but he's due for positive regression after going 0-fer from deep in his last two outings.
The +160 price tag makes this a must bet.
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Onyeka Okongwu Under 13.5 points (-110)
Projection: 11.28 points
Onyeka Okongwu failed to hit this line in either game at home this series, providing more of a spark on the road. Atlanta has plenty of mouths to feed, which will cut into the big man's shot volume.
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Gabe Vincent Under 4.5 points (-112)
Projection: 3.51 points
Gabe Vincent has hit this line in three straight, but he isn't guaranteed as much playing time tonight with the Hawks facing elimination. Lack of floor time will hamper his ability to score.
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How to watch Knicks vs Hawks Game 6
Location
State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Date
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
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John Wall is taking on a college basketball front office job in addition to his gig as a studio analyst on Prime Video's NBA coverage. The former NBA All-Star is the new president of basketball operations for Howard University men's basketball team, according to an ESPN report on Thursday, April 30.
Wall, 35, is returning to Washington, D.C., where he starred with the Wizards over nine seasons after the franchise chose him with the No. 1 overall pick in 2010. The former Kentucky star previously served as a "captain of the day" for a Howard men's basketball game this past season.
Howard athletic department officials did not immediately respond to a USA TODAY Sports request seeking confirmation regarding Wall's role and how the school identified him as a candidate for its newly-created front office position.
ESPN reported that Wall has already taken on an active role within the program working alongside Blakeney and Marks, with roster management, NIL deals, revenue sharing, agent negotiations and player mentorship among the areas in which Wall is involved.
Wall officially retired from the NBA in August 2025, though his last games in the league were played during the 2022-23 season. He's part of a growing trend of current or former NBA players to join college basketball programs in roles with titles that mimic the jobs typically found in the front office of a professional sports organization. The rise is in conjunction with the explosion of money available to college athletes through the transfer portal, NIL deals and revenue sharing in recent years.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 29 : Dennis Cholowski #44 of the New Jersey Devils warms up before the NHL regular season game against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Prudential Center on March 29, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Maclean/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The New Jersey Devils don’t have an extensive list of players set to hit free agency once the playoffs conclude, but there are some minor pieces set to enter unrestricted free agency. Today, we start looking at unrestricted free agent Devils with a pair of depth defenders. Both Dennis Cholowski and Colton White played a decent amount of games in New Jersey this past season, and they’re obviously familiar with the team and their systems. So is it worth bringing one or both of them back next season? Let’s dive in and find out.
Who is Dennis Cholowski and What Has He Done as a Devil?
Much like he was when Chris wrote about him last offseason, Cholowski remains a depth defenseman in the Devils system. He is once again an unrestricted free agent after the Devils gave him a one year league minimum deal. While he only appeared in six contests as a Devil in 2024-25, he did manage 39 NHL games overall between those and 33 with the Islanders. He scored three goals and added seven assists for te points, although none of them came in his time in New Jersey.
Thankfully in 2025-26 he only appeared in 17 games (though sadly all were for the Devils) registering a mere two assists across those appearances. Even in limited appearances and with limited minutes on an underachieving Devils team, Cholowski still managed to look as though he did not belong in the NHL on most nights. While his AHL stats were better (five assists in 13 contests), it was a really low bar to clear. His numbers still are not what one would expect from a player whose main positive attribute is supposed to be his offense. He is what he is at this point, which is an AHL caliber player who you hope doesn’t get called up into NHL duty.
What Will Cholowski Do Going Forward? What is His Value?
While Utica could certainly do worse than Cholowski, I’d stand to say they could probably do better than having him in their ranks as well. New Jersey is absolutely better off without Cholowski than they would be with him. It’s true some defenders blossom later into their careers, but we’re usually talking by their age 26-27 seasons at latest; Cholowski is heading into his age 28-29 season and I just don’t see him suddenly becoming a competent defender over the course of one summer. You’re looking at a guy who probably hangs around the AHL and as spots for veterans get more and more competitive with more players aging up, he might eventually make the leap overseas to finish his career. For now, I think he’s a known commodity and there will be at least a couple of teams who see value enough for him to want to stick around.
Unless he does decide that the grass looks greener overseas, I could see him getting another league minimum contract. I don’t think a 17 game sample size (or 30 if you want to include his AHL appearances) of mediocre to bad play earns a player anything other than the lowest amount the league contractually allows teams to pay. While I do believe he will probably get a couple of offers for league minimum or maybe SLIGHTLY above it, I don’t think a depth defender is going to wind up seeing teams engage in a bidding war over him.
Who is Colton White and What Has He Done as a Devil?
Colton White came back to the Devils in the summer of 2024 on a two year deal after spending a pair of seasons with Anaheim. Originally a 2015 fourth round draft selection of the Devils, White started off with enough promise to earn a few game stints in each of the 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21. He did not show enough promise, however to overtake any of the team’s other defenders at time, and eventually, he wound up being passed on the team’s depth chart by other defenders. That could be part of what led to him leaving for the Ducks, as upon his arrival in Anaheim, he would play 46 games, the most NHL games in one season of his career still to this day.
In his most recent stint, White has spent most of his time in Utica. He had a a great 2024-25 for a poor Utica team with 21 points in 61 appearances. He would split 2025-26 between Utica and New Jersey, making 30 appearances in the AHL and 23 in the NHL. The nicest thing I can say about White’s 23 NHL contests is that he had four assists while playing below average defense. He was last called up in mid-February and sent back down a week and a half later; even with the Devils being down Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce at the end of the season, White’s lackluster play meant he was not brought back up to the NHL.
What Will White Do Going Forward? What is His Value?
Much like Cholowski, I think White is what he is at this point which is a depth defender, especially considering he’s actually slightly older than Cholowski. I see a similar trajectory for the rest of his career: mostly minor league games, maybe a small stint here or there in the NHL as an injury fill-in, possibly finishing up his career overseas depending upon team situations, roster spots, and other unpredictable factors like injuries. As such, White is another league minimum guy.
As I said above for Cholowski, maybe, MAYBE some GM feels generous, or decides they need Colton White in their system and they offer a bit more than league minimum to entice him. I personally don’t see that being the case, and I think White’s path forward might depend upon where he sees a chance for himself to earn more minutes and NHL games. The Devils may not be stacked at left defense, but White is not better than the players they have playing regular NHL minutes. I also think the fact that the Devils seemed to prefer having Cholowski up over White at the end of the season shows where he falls on their depth chart; White’s path forward seems as if it will need another franchise if he wants NHL time.
What I Would Do With Them and What I Think the Devils Will Do
As I mentioned when talk about each player, I could see them each getting another one way deal at league minimum. I could also see them accepting a deal with a two way structure that sees them earn less in the AHL to stay in North America; at the same time, some players reject those deals if they feel they can make more overseas. If I were being asked to make the decision here, I wouldn’t be offering one of those deals to either of those players. If you forced me to choose one, I would pick White, as while I don’t think highly of his defending, I still think he’s better than Cholowski. I think if the Devils are looking for veterans to mentor their younger defenders in the AHL, they can find a player or two with a bit more ability to actually defend.
I think and hope that with new General Manager Sunny Mehta taking over, the organization will try to shed some of their underachievers and that includes at the minor league level. The fact that Utica has started off the last pair of seasons unbelievably poorly means that some of the personnel needs to be changed in order to achieve different results. I think the Devils will pass on bringing back either of these players, but the unpredictability with a new GM and of the NHL free agency period in general means you never know for sure until the contracts are signed.
Your Take
Now I’d like to hear your thoughts as to what the Devils should do with this pair of defenders. Should they offer a contract to bring both back? Just White? Just Cholowski? Do you agree that the team should look elsewhere for depth defense help/AHL defenders? Is there some part of either player’s game that makes you want the Devils to bring them back? Leave any and all comments below and thanks as always for reading!
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 26: Eli White #36 of the Atlanta Braves high fives Jorge Mateo #2 of the Atlanta Braves after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning during the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park on April 26, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Michael Harris II was seen favoring his ailing quad during last night’s win over the Tigers, and as such, it’s not surprising to see him get another breather in a short turnaround matinee game, especially given that Framber Valdez throws with his left hand. The absence of Harris is part of a wholesale rejiggering of the bottom of the order on getaway day: Kyle Farmer starts at DH and hits seventh, Jorge Mateo is in at shortstop and hitting eighth while Mauricio Dubon moves to left field, and Eli White will man center and hopefully not have another nightmarish miscue that directly leads to a loss.
The Tigers are largely starting familiar faces, though the well-hitting Dillon Dingler will get a rest as Jake Rogers takes over with the tools of ignorance. It remains a fairly terrifying top half of the lineup for Detroit that Bryce Elder will have to navigate — Martin Perez and JR Ritchie did okay-ish, so we’ll see if Elder can do his part.
There’s not very much familiarity here between Elder and the Detroit batters. Only five batters in the lineup have faced him, none have more than six PAs, and the collective line is a .224 wOBA and .297 xwOBA in a whopping 17 PAs. Ho-hum.
On the flip side, the Braves have a fair bit of familiarity with Valdez given his veteran status (plus, Mauricio Dubon was his teammate for a while). Matt Olson, White, Mateo, and Ozzie Albies all have double-digit PAs against him — Albies has crushed him with a .553 wOBA / .400 xwOBA. Really, there’s mostly good history here among everyone except Dubon and Drake Baldwin (who haven’t faced Valdez yet), with a collective .344 wOBA and .330 xwOBA in 79 PAs. Austin Riley, Albies, and Farmer have also gotten some key knocks off Valdez in their shared postseason history.
As a bit of personal amusement, this will be Kyle Farmer’s first start of the year. He has 10 PAs so far this season, with a 92 wRC+ that comes from outhitting his xwOBA a bit.
Boston, MA - October 6: Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and President/CEO Sam Kennedy listen to a question during the Red Sox end-of-season press conference with team leadership at Fenway Park on October 6, 2025. (Photo by Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Red Sox Hit Piece Week rolls on, everyone! Today it’s Alex Speier, arguably the current dean of the Red Sox beat, who has a big piece diving into the ways that the relationship between Craig Breslow and Alex Cora slowly fractured over the past few years. The juiciest nugget in this one? “Breslow contemplated significant changes to the coaching staff and especially the hitting group (including Fatse ― beloved by players: ‘Top, top hitting mind and work ethic in the hitting world,’ said one) both during and after the 2025 season… [W]hen Breslow raised the idea of staff change to Cora, the manager made his feelings clear: If Breslow wanted to do so, he’d have to fire Cora.“ (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
And it’s clear that Breslow’s desire to fire the coaching staff last season wasn’t merely a case of a CBO wanting to bring in his own guys — there were meaningful conflicts about how best to do the job: “At one point last year… Breslow asked the Red Sox coaching staff to begin documenting every pregame hitting and defensive drill done by each player, which some coaches found excessive and time consuming, further fueling a perceived lack of trust between the staff and the front office.” Moreover, one unnamed player credits Alex Bregman with, at one point, stepping in to defend the hitting coaches and protect their jobs. (Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic)
Following his dismissal, Cora was given a chance to pen a farewell email to the Red Sox staff. Here it is. (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
Many of the players appear to still be taking the dismissals hard. And that doesn’t just apply to Alex Cora. Connor Wong spoke out about losing Jason Varitek, who he says was “like a dad” to the whole team. (Christopher Smith, MassLive)
Given the age discrepancy, it would be pretty weird if Terry Francona said Varitek or Cora were like dads to him, but he did say that Alex Cora is “one of my favorite people in the world.” (Connor Ryan, Boston.com)
We have no idea how John Henry feels about Alex Cora, because John Henry continues to refuse to acknowledge the general public that funds his baseball team. But Sam Kennedy defended his boss’s silence: “John Henry is deeply engaged with this organization… he doesn’t always do it in the most public-facing way. He’s very selective in terms of how he engages with the media, but that should not ever be confused with a lack of involvement or care.” (Scott McLaughlin, WEEI)
With all of the former Red Sox players speaking out (though anonymously in many cases), you may have thought that Mookie Betts would get involved. But, naturally, Mookie is too smart for that:
Mookie Betts said he hasn’t spoken to Alex Cora:
“That ain’t got nothing to do with me and I stay out of that.”#Dodgers#RedSox
Meanwhile, there is still baseball to be played and the Red Sox didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory up in Toronto this week. That certainly applies to Brayan Bello, who was demonstrably upset about being removed from the game by Chad Tracy yesterday. (Christopher Smith, MassLive)
Besides Tracy, here’s a look at some of the other new faces in the Red Sox dugout (Amin Touri, Boston Globe)
NEW YORK, NY - UNDATED: Mike Schmidt #20 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a home run during a game against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, New York on an unspecified date. (MLB Photos) | MLB via Getty Images
As fans continue to digest the news of Rob Thomson’s dismissal as Phillies manager, at least one legendary member of the franchise isn’t wild about the idea of firing a manager so early in the season.
Speaking to me on Monday, prior to Thomson’s firing, for my Hittin’ Season podcast, powered by WHYY, Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt said, as a player, letting go of the skipper at this juncture of the season is a bad look for the players in the clubhouse.
“I think letting the manager and coaches go is an embarrassing thing to the players,” Schmidt said. “They feel bad enough. And Rob, I think Rob is a fantastic manager.”
Thomson was let go after parts of five seasons as the Phils’ manager, coming off back-to-back NL East championships but also a string of disappointing postseasons and a 9-19 record and the worst run differential in Major League Baseball. Schmidt says the players are acutely aware of their role in this situation.
“They know what’s going on. The media doesn’t need to tell them. They feel awful.”
Schmist says the team is the victim of a small sample size.
“I looked at the box score the other day with the batting averages going up and down the box score, and they were horrendous, actually. That will all change over time. A month and a half from now, that will change. They can’t continue to lose at this rate. They just can’t. They’ll start winning 2 out of 3, 3 out of 4, and the confidence will come back, the players will start to feel it.
You’ve got to get rid of this sense of focusing on how many they’ve lost in a row and start thinking, ‘I hope we don’t lose another one’ and start thinking about having fun. When you start losing like that, it’s not necessarily fun to go out and play. It’s hard to describe. People would say, ‘Well they’re paying you $25 million a year, you ought to have fun, right?‘ It doesn’t work that way. Something will happen to change this, they’re just too good.
Before you know it you find yourself creeping back, creeping back to .500 and then boom, next thing you know you’re two or three games over, and you have a whole new lease on life.”
One thing the Phillies have in their favor is playing in an era in which getting off to a dreadfully slow start is more permissible. With three wild card teams and three division winners, teams can rally after a rough first couple months. Schmidt, who never played during a time when more than two division winners in each league made the postseason, is not a fan of a larger postseason field.
“I wouldn’t want to play the way they have it now. We had four. And we only played two rounds, the NLCS and World Series. I much prefer that, without question. But the way it is right now, the Phillies are still going to have to get to 90 wins. Maybe 88. It depends on the NL East. And they are some really good teams out west. San Diego, L.A. You get too far behind the other teams, then it’s hard to even grab one of those last playoff spots. But you can’t worry about that, you got to just go grind every day.”
Regardless of how the 2026 season ends, it appears inevitable that the sport is headed for a lockout once the final pitch of the World Series is thrown. Owners appear determined to push for a salary cap and floor to combat the disparity between ultra-spending teams like the Dodgers and Mets, and the under-spending teams like the Reds, Pirates, A’s and Rays.
“I’d assume [The Player’s Association] would hold strong [on a salary cap]. We did back in ‘76 when free agency was on the table. Players are entitled to make what they can make in a free market. I’m assuming it’ll be a rough off-season this year, as a former player.”
Schmidt is currently engaged in a campaign aimed at educating youth sports participants about the dangers of not using sunscreen while playing sports. Schmidt talked at length about his battle with melanoma as an adult, diagnosed in 2013 with Stage 3, undergoing surgery, immunotherapy and radiation to treat cancer that had spread to his lymph nodes. His desire is for parents and kids to avoid those kinds of troubles with skin cancer as an adult.
“Once it gets to the point it was with me, you can’t say that it won’t come back. Cancer is an awful thing. So I joined the Richard David Kahn Melanoma Foundation and it gives me a chance for me to tell my story. To give back and talk to kids and adults about the dangers of the sun’s rays. Try to convince kids and adults they need to wear protection. We decided to bring it up to Philadelphia, I started a 501c3, the Mike Schmidt Initiative.
So many great things are happening with us, and I’m getting an opportunity to tell my story and hopefully affect as many people as we can. Our mission is to stop skin cancer. That’s what we’re trying to do.“
If you would like to learn more about Mike Schmidt’s history with melanoma and his work with young athletes to prevent skin cancer, visit MelanomaFoundation.com.
You can watch the full interview on WHYY’s YouTube page here.
Jan 29, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Former Washington Wizards guard John Wall looks on before a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
Former Washington Wizards star John Wall will become the President of Basketball Operations at Howard University in Washington, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
Five-time NBA All-Star John Wall has become the president of basketball operations at Howard University, returning to Washington, D.C. to partner with the top-ranked HBCU in the country, school officials tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/LAdweZx2ct
Wall, who is currently a studio analyst for Amazon Prime Video’s NBA coverage, has expressed interest in being a front office leader later in his career. He has also worked with Howard recently.
In light of John Wall becoming the president of basketball operations at Howard, here's @HUMensBB star Bryce Harris with a cool behind-the-scenes story of how Wall has helped him take the next steps to reach the NBA.
The Toronto Raptors are not only running out of time in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs but also running short on bodies.
Toronto heads back home for Game 6 versus the Cleveland Cavaliers, worse for wear and facing elimination. Forward Brandon Ingram is a question mark for Friday after reinjuring his heel, and star Scottie Barnes is hobbled with bum quads.
Those injuries are like blood in the water for Cleveland’s versatile forward Evan Mobley, who’s a tough matchup even with a healthy lineup.
Mobley was strong in the Game 5 win with a focus on getting him the ball, and our Cavaliers vs. Raptors predictions really like his matchups against a crumbling Toronto frontcourt.
My NBA picks take Mobley to make us money with his points prop on Friday, May 1.
Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, with the game airing on Prime Video and TSN.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
Cavaliers vs Raptors prediction
Who will win Cavaliers vs Raptors Game 6?
Cavaliers: Cleveland comes to Canada as a short road favorite, and that spread could look different depending on the health of Ingram and Barnes.
On top of missing Immanuel Quickley, the Raptors just don’t have the depth to plug those holes, especially when it comes to countering the Cavs’ scoring punch.
Cavaliers vs Raptors best bet: Evan Mobley Over 16.5 points (-110)
Evan Mobley had a tough time in Toronto earlier this series, shooting a combined 8-for-24 from the field for tallies of eight and 15 points in Games 3 and 4.
That output pales in comparison to his postseason work at home, averaging almost 22 points on 71% shooting. However, he catches a break with this next trip to Canada.
The Toronto Raptors’ two best solutions for Mobley’s size and speed are nursing injuries heading into Game 6. Scottie Barnes is limping around with an injured quadriceps, and Brandon Ingram left Game 5 after re-aggravating a heel injury.
That had Toronto’s frontcourt ripe for the picking in the second half of Game 5. The Cleveland Cavaliers came out of the halftime break with a focused effort to feed their bigs, and Mobley, along with center Jarrett Allen, thrived in the closing frames.
Mobley finished with 23 points on 8-for-13 shooting in Game 5, with 16 of those coming on 6-for-8 success in the second half. He also left points on the table with a 4-for-8 finish from the foul line, but still cleared his points prop of 16.5 O/U with ease.
The Cavs went with a smaller rotation in Game 5 to spread the floor and create space. With Ingram questionable, Cleveland can take that approach again on Friday. That allows Mobley to exploit bad matchups, either backing down shorter defenders or facing up bigger ones.
Game models sit between 17.0 and 18 points for the Cavs’ forward. I believe Mobley’s ceiling is much higher, considering Toronto’s injuries and Cleveland’s offense now going through the big man.
Cavaliers vs Raptors same-game parlay
Cleveland has a perfect opportunity to end this series with Toronto hurting coming out of Game 5. This is a quick turnaround with the Raptors’ best player, Scottie Barnes, really limited by a quadriceps injury. The Cavs' inside-out attack drops the dinos in Game 6.
Donovan Mitchell got to put his feet up at the end of Game 5, thanks to Dennis Schroder going off for the Cavs. Mitchell still made three triples in the win and has knocked down at least three 3-pointers in four of the first five games of this series.
Cavaliers vs Raptors SGP
Cavaliers moneyline
Evan Mobley Over 16.5 points
Donovan Mitchell Over 2.5 threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: Notorious B.I.G.'s
The Cavaliers came out feeding their big men in the second half of Game 5. Toronto doesn’t have the bodies to battle that half-court attack, which will slow the pace of this game.
Meanwhile, the Raptors' offense will also be disjointed with Brandon Ingram potentially out and Scottie Barnes limping around the court, unable to create his own shot.
Cavaliers vs Raptors SGP
Cavaliers -4
Under 220
Evan Mobley Over 16.5 points
Jarrett Allen Over 10.5 points
Cavaliers vs Raptors odds for Game 6
Spread: Cleveland -4 (-110) | Toronto +4 (-110)
Moneyline: Cleveland -170 | Toronto +145
Over/Under: Over 220 (-110) | Under 220 (-110)
Cavaliers vs Raptors betting trend to know
Totals of 220 points or higher have produced a 4-8 Over/Under record so far in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Raptors.
How to watch Cavaliers vs Raptors Game 6
Location
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Date
Friday, May 1, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video, TSN
Cavaliers vs Raptors latest injuries
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ST. PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 22: Cincinnati Reds Pitcher Brandon Williamson (55) delivers a pitch to the plate during the regular season game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Tampa Bay Rays on April 22, 2026, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Cincinnati Reds lefty Brandon Williamson exited Wednesday evening’s start against the Colorado Rockies after having thrown just 58 pitches across 3.0 IP. It was the latest in a series of frustrating starts for the 28 year old, who for the season has actually walked more hitters (20) than he’s struck out (19).
After the game, it was announced that he was dealing with ‘shoulder fatigue,’ something that’s 100% within the realm of expectations at this point after he missed all of 2025 while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery (and also dealt with shoulder issues before that). The hope, of course, was that it wouldn’t be serious, though the Reds announced on Thursday that Williamson had been placed on the injured list in the wake.
The #Reds today recalled RHP Zach Maxwell from Triple-A Louisville and placed LHP Brandon Williamson (left shoulder fatigue) on the 15-day injured list.
According to AP reporter Jeff Wallner, Williamson received an MRI and the results showed ‘no structural issues,’ which is obviously a great sign.
Francona said the MRI showed no structural issues with Brandon Williamson's shoulder, which is good news. He received an injection today. Williamson was placed on the 15-day injured list. RHP Zach Maxwell was recalled from Louisville. #Reds
Reliever Zach “Big Sugar” Maxwell was recalled from AAA Louisville to take his place on the active roster, for now.
Maxwell, of course, is a reliever, and he’ll add depth to the relief corps for the next few days alongside the recently recalled Luis Mey for the time being. What the Reds do when Williamson’s spot in the rotation comes back around remains to be seen, however.
Nick Lodolo shined in his first rehab start with the Dayton Dragons in High-A Midwest League action earlier this week, but he’s slated for a second rehab start on Saturday. So, it’s likely that it won’t be him who is called upon to slide into the starting rotation. Chase Petty, however, is on the 40-man roster and already has had his first cup of coffee at the big league level, and he started last night against the Omaha Storm Chasers for AAA Louisville and would be on regular rest to take a turn in the team’s rotation.
Apr 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) reacts after popping out with the bases loaded in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The Mets announced a flurry of roster moves ahead of their 1:10pm series finale with the Nationals this afternoon in Queens. Luis Robert Jr., who has been sidelined with back issues since Monday, was put on the 10-Day Injured List retroactive to Monday with ‘lumbar spine disc herniation.’ In a corresponding move, Eric Wagaman, who the Mets claimed off of waivers on Monday from the Twins, was recalled.
Wagaman has made 603 plate appearances in parts of two seasons with the Angels and Marlins and has appeared at the corner outfield and infield spots.
On the offensive side of the team, Robert joins Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco, and Jared Young on the Injured List.
Carl Edwards Jr, who tossed six solid innings for the Mets in two appearances, was designated for assignment. Austin Warren was recalled to take his spot on the roster.
It is unfortunate to lose Edwards who has been quite good in limited time while the Mets have a number of pitchers on the roster who have not looked nearly as good as Edwards. Because he is out of minor league options, the Mets have to hope that Edwards passes through waivers and does not elect free agency if they want to keep him in the organiation.
Warren has been impressive in his brief major league playing time as well, but the bullpen churn is already becoming an issue when rostering multiple long relievers.
Knicks
Hawks
