Worldwide Sports News
Game time was moved up due to inclement weather. Can this be the shakeup that begins to turn things around for the Sox? We’ll just have to see how this plays out.
First pitch is at 12:05 PM ET on NESN and WEEI.
Overall, I think Blake Butera has done a solid job in his first few weeks as Nats manager. Sure, there are some bullpen decisions you could question, but he does not have many great options. However, I thought the Nats first year manager showed his inexperience in a big way last night.
Clearly there was a script to use both Miles Mikolas and Riley Cornelio. After opener PJ Poulin surprisingly got five outs, the ball was handed to Mikolas. The veteran right hander was solid, going 3.2 innings, allowing 2 runs. He was not outstanding, but he gave the Nats a chance to win.
When Mikolas ran into trouble in the 6th inning, Butera turned to Richard Lovelady, not the debuting Cornelio. That move made sense as there was a stack of left handed hitters coming up. The Nats got out of that inning only allowing one run, which set up the 7th inning.
With the Nats holding a 3-2 lead, Butera had a choice. He could either stick to the script and use Cornelio, or use more traditional high leverage relievers. Butera turned to Cornelio, which ended up being a mistake. It was just an unfair spot to put the kid into. Cornelio is a starter by trade, and does not really have experience in the bullpen.
He was inevitably over-amped and did not have his command in this outing. After walking the first two batters of his career, Cornelio then made an error on a bunt hit to him. The White Sox ended up taking the lead in that inning. After the Nats tied the game in the top of the 8th, Butera should have turned to another reliever. I get the plan was to use Cornelio for multiple innings, but it was pretty clear the kid did not have it.
Instead, Butera kept Cornelio in the game. Just like his first inning, Cornelio was erratic and allowed the go-ahead run to score. This was a situation where Butera should have used some feel instead of sticking with a script that was not working.
That was not the only mistake Butera made last night either. He tried to run the first and third play again, this time with nobody out. It is pretty clear that teams know the Nats have that play in their back pocket. Butera has lost the element of surprise and probably should not run that play for a while.
He also elected not to pinch hit for Nasim Nunez in the top of the 9th inning in a one run game. I get Joey Wiemer and Curtis Mead are better against lefties, but I have more faith in them to make something happen than Nunez. Overall, it was just a rough night for Butera.
The biggest mistake was that Cornelio move though. It was just unfair to the kid, who was clearly emotional after the game. Putting a debuting starting pitcher in a high leverage relief role is just not a smart idea, and it predictably backfired.
I do not want to rag on Butera too much. I still like Butera as a manager and think he has brought much needed energy to this clubhouse. His youthful enthusiasm is something that has been missing for a couple years now. However, he showed his inexperience last night and hopefully he can learn from his mistake.
Flyers look to do something they haven't done in over 30 years originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Flyers on Saturday night have the chance to sweep a playoff series for the first time since 1995, when they took out the Rangers in the second round.
They’ll try to eliminate the Penguins in Game 4 of their best-of-seven first-round matchup.
The Flyers know Pittsburgh won’t be easy to close out.
“We expect to get their best,” Cam York said Saturday after morning skate. “We’ve kind of had their number there the last three games, but they’re a veteran group that has been in the situation before.”
Rick Tocchet’s club will have an urgency, too. The Flyers know if they can win the series early, the better their chances could be in the second round.
“We want to win just as bad as they do,” York said. “Rest is obviously important in the playoffs. If we win this one tonight, we get a good chunk of time off before the next series starts. It’s definitely something that we’re pushing for.
“We’re not going to change what we’ve done or be overaggressive because we really want to win this game. We’ve got to stick to the game plan and take it one shift at a time.”
Owen Tippett expects the crowd to be fired up at Xfinity Mobile Arena despite the not-so-nice weather in Philadelphia.
“Given that it’s a weekend, later start,” Tippett said. “Not the best day, but it’s always sunny in Philly. It should be a fun game and we’re all looking forward to it.”
Puck drop is scheduled for around 8 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Philadelphia. Coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. ET with Flyers Pregame Live.
Here is some recommended reading.
• Vladar good to go as Flyers’ starter vs. Penguins in Game 4
• Tocchet knows Flyers will have to ‘stick a fork’ in pedigree-laden Penguins
• ‘We had a lot of fun’ — Flyers make a playoff memory in ‘tight’ penalty box
• Playoffs return to Philly with a bang as Flyers take stranglehold of Penguins
• Banged up and bloodied, Tippett gives Flyers tough home run hitter in playoffs
• Flyers rip off two road wins to open playoffs, put Penguins on their heels
• Dvorak ‘fits in everywhere’ with Flyers, a team he believed could make playoffs
• Big third period, strong defensive effort propel Flyers to Game 1 win over Penguins
• Flyers start playoffs with sweet new shirt that ‘says a lot’
• Get Crosby ‘in the ditches,’ Michkov’s role and more Flyers vs. Penguins thoughts
• Outside doubt motivated Flyers, but so did Briere’s undisclosed message
• NHL announces Flyers vs. Penguins playoff schedule for first-round matchup
• Flyers are going back to playoffs in unforgettable fashion
Here are some updates and visuals from Saturday and the last few days.
The latest news on the Houston Astros and from around MLB:
Some injury updates for the Astros:
What’s behind Yordan’s smashing start?
Lance McCullers tried something new to get a better start in the 1st inning. It didn’t work:
How ugly was it for Lance McCullers Jr. vs. Yankees Friday? Only 5 swings and misses.
There’s always a cool down phase after a hot phase. Cam Smith is freezing.
None of these numbers are good:
Why do the Astros never have the roof open?
Jazz Chisholm should be embarrassed.
It’s getting ugly in Philadelphia
Paul Skenes is pretty good. You may have heard:
Has to be the current AL ROY Leader:
It’s pretty hot on the North Side:
Current AL Cy Young leader:
The sudden outrage over the Shohei Rule:
Is it possible a trade for a star player could work out bad for both teams?
Walk it off:
First career HR for the next great young SS:
Well, I am a fan of Dr. Pepper:
Were the Red Sox destined to fail?
With 28 seconds left and the Rockets up six and with the ball, Houston had the game in hand. They just had to take care of the ball and not make any foolish mistakes.
They failed.
"Horrendous mistakes," Rockets coach Ime Udoka said, via the Associated Press. "I don't know if you want to say youth or scared of the moment, or whatever the case. You have a six point lead with 20, or 30 seconds to go, get a rebound, you just have to hold the ball and get fouled."
It all went wrong for Houston when Marcus Smart stole the ball from Jabari Smith Jr., then Jae'Sean Tate fouled Smart on a 3-point attempt. Suddenly, it was a 3-point game. Then, LeBron James knocked the ball away from Reed Sheppard and turned it into a 3-pointer on the other end. Tie game. The Lakers went on to win in overtime.
DOWN 6.
— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2026
UNDER 30 SECONDS.
WITHOUT POSSESSION.
THE LAKERS FOUND A WAY TO WIN AN ABSOLUTE THRILLER LAST NIGHT AND GO UP 3-0 pic.twitter.com/OAqqa6ryZ8
"On the final play, we didn't run what was drawn up," Udoka said of the Rockets' last chance in regulation.
A frustrated Udoka couldn't hide it.
"It's obviously a weakness of ours to close out and finish," Udoka said. "The amount of mistakes or the type of mistakes are egregious and you can't have those...
"Grow up," he said he told his players. "You're not that young anymore."
His players agreed.
"It was a stupid turnover," Sheppard said of his late-game error. “(Alperen Sengun’s) man came up. I should have hit Alpie right over halfcourt and just made the simple play. I tried to split the two defenders."
All those mistakes have left the Rockets down 0-3 to the Lakers and on the brink of an ugly, early playoff elimination. Houston was without Kevin Durant in this game due to a sprained ankle, the second game the future Hall of Famer has missed in this series. His status for Sunday's Game 4 remains unknown.
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The Milwaukee Brewers hope to bounce back on Saturday in the second game of their series against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.
They were nearly the victim of a Paul Skenes perfect game last night, but our MLB odds have them favored to continue Pittsburgh’s 15-game streak of alternating victories with defeats.
Here are my Pirates vs. Brewers predictions and MLB picks for the side and total for Saturday, April 25.
Jacob Misiorowski has shown some nasty stuff to start the season.
He ranks in the 98th percentile in fastball velocity, whiff rate, and strikeout rate.
Add in an extension that sits in the 99th percentile, and it’s problematic for a Pittsburgh Pirates lineup that has the seventh-highest whiff rate in the majors. The Pirates also chase a fair amount, but have the fifth-lowest chase contact rate.
Mitch Keller is outperforming his xERA and xFIP by nearly a full run. He’s facing a serious platoon disadvantage, and his command issues will be exploited by a Milwaukee Brewers lineup ranked second in walk rate.
COVERS INTEL:Jacob Misiorowski has generated a 43.6% whiff rate on his four-seam fastball, up from 32.5% a season ago.
While I expect the Brewers to get to Keller, I am not expecting a high-run output. Milwaukee ranks fourth-worst in both ISO and xwOBA, and third-worst in xwOBAcon.
The Brewers have made up for that by drawing walks and ranking fifth in generating runs on the basepaths. Even so, I can’t see them posting a big number.
Misiorowski’s biggest issue has been home runs, but the Pirates rank just 20th in ISO.
Both bullpens rank in the top half of the league in xFIP and are rested after yesterday’s game. They’ll limit damage in the late innings to push this total Under.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have hit the Game Total Under in 20 of their last 30 away games (+10.25 Units / 31% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Pirates vs. Brewers.
| Location | American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI |
| Date | Saturday, April-25, 2026 |
| First pitch | 7:10 p.m. ET |
| TV | MLB.TV |
| Pirates starting pitcher | Mitch Keller (2-1, 2.79 ERA) |
| Brewers starting pitcher | Jacob Misiorowski (1-3, 3.04 ERA) |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.
Take life a mile at a time. I’m sure I’ve heard or read that somewhere. An ad for a car? The Fast and Furious movies? On those t-shirts they sell at gas stations? It’s something car-related. I haven’t been on a road trip in years, and when I did go on them, I really measured them by rest stops, which isn’t as conducive to pleasant-sounding aphorisms (“take life one visit to an Ohio rest stop at a time” just doesn’t have a good ring to it, even though Ohio has really nice rest stops). Anyway, most baseball players don’t get to take their lives one mile at a time. Their travels occur in big chunks, hopping from one city to the next. The impact of a single mile is hard to see when you’re making multiple journeys by air every month. Alec Bohm and Aaron Nola, though, might be an exception. But not every journey brings you to a happy destination.
Aaron Nola has had it rough for a while now. His 2025 was injury-plagued, injury-shortened, snakebit, whatever terms you prefer. It was to be hoped that an offseason to rest and recover would restore Nola to his previous form —which, yes, could be up and down, but he was highly effective when he was at his best. So far, that hope has been thwarted. Like many of the Phillies’ moundsmen, he’s been a victim of bad luck to some degree, with his xERA (4.67) a little lower than his observed (5.06), and the same for his FIP (4.03 vs. 3.44). A BABIP of .347 explains some of it. But his unspectacular start to the season cannot be blamed entirely on bad luck. In part, it can be blamed on his fastballs.
Nola’s signature has always been the knuckle curve, but he’s made his fastballs—a four seamer, a sinker, and a cutter— do good work for him in the past. But he hasn’t been able to get that same success this season. Even as his curve has returned to form, his fastballs have lagged behind: by fastball run value, he ranks in the 2nd percentile. And yes, it’s still early, and percentiles aren’t so meaningful at this point in the season. But it can be said that very few pitchers are getting less from their fastballs than Nola is right now.
In 2024, Nola’s four-seamer produced a .167 batting average and .316 slugging percentage for hitters. In 2026, it’s .333 and .667. The expected numbers look better (.265, .506), but the regression is still real. He’s allowing a 58.8% hard hit percentage against it too, which would be the highest of his career if it holds. His sinker tells a similar story. His cutter is actually producing results a tad better than in the last two seasons, but on the whole his fastballs have become a problem, fast.
Sometimes the detective work is complicated, requiring judicious, diligent application of the little grey cells. Sometimes the culprit leaves a big, bloody handprint for you. When we look at Nola’s velocity, we see it’s down by about a mile for each of his fastballs, compared to 2024 (and not to 2025, due to the impact of his injury): 91.7 vs. 92.5 for the four-seamer, 86.1 vs. 87.5 for the cutter, 90.8 vs. 91.5 for the sinker. His fastballs were never terribly fast to begin with, and losing an extra mile on them can’t be helping. The movement on his four-seamer and sinker look to be about where they were pre-injury, though the cutter is a different story- at a total of 0.1 inches of horizontal movement , it isn’t really cutting very much, even in the context that his cutters have always had less side to side movement than the average. Given that the performance struggles are centered on the four-seamer and sinker, though the issue here probably isn’t about movement.
It might be about location, though. By the Location+ model, Nola’s location on each of his three fastball types has gone from above average to below average, year over year. If we compare to 2024 instead, since 2025 represented a short, injury-influenced campaign, Nola’s location work has still declined for each of his three fastballs. If we look at Pitching+, a model that takes a more holistic look at a pitch’s characteristics, four-seamer, sinker and cutter have all gone from well above average to just about average, and that’s true whether we compare 2026 to 2025 or 2024. The safest thing to say about Nola’s fastballs is that they’re being hurt by decreased command, and decreased velocity.
And Nola isn’t the only one being hurt by a lost mile. Alec Bohm has struggled mightily to begin the 2026 campaign, slashing a grim .157/.238/.213. His plate discipline is about what it was last season, with his K% and BB% remarkably unchanged. There are some changes under the hood— he’s a lot less likely to swing on the first pitch, and to swing in the zone in general, but those aren’t showing up in the strikeout and walk rates. The more likely explanation for his rough start is what happens when he makes contact. His hard hit rate has dropped by nearly 7.5%. His average exit velocity is down by by nearly 2 MPH. He has barreled the ball just once on 72 batted balls. Why? Again, not a lot of detective work is needed here; let Columbo go take his tousled self elsewhere, let Poirot wax his mustache. Bohm’s average swing speed is down by nearly a mile, from 71.7 MPH to 70.8. Last season, his fast swing rate— the percentage of his swings over 75 MPH— was 18.2%. This season, it’s 12%. Of the Phillies regulars, only Bryson Stott and Justin Crawford are swinging slower, and the two of them take a very different approach at the plate than Bohm does. The lack of power from Bohm’s bat has been an issue in the past, but he was sometimes able to make up for it with good contact. The loss of a mile on his bat speed, however, seems to have put him in a spot where the contact skills can’t quite make up the difference.
It’s still very early, and it would not be surprising in the slightest if Nola and Bohm both improved over the course of the season. Still, the loss of velocity, in pitch or swing, is a worrying sign. The Phillies have promises to keep, and miles to go before they sleep.
It’s actually a pretty unusual season when you don’t have a holy $#@! type of win. 10 game winning streaks? Quite a bit less common. Without doing any research, I’m betting the intersection of those two occurrences? A big comeback during a long streak? Less common. On the road? Against the two-time defending World Champs? We just keep going further into subsets. And with each layer of that, you know that this game was probably a unicorn among unicorns.
If you stayed up and saw the comeback, a hat tip to you. I’m more than a little disappointed that out here on the East Coast, I went to bed after the top of the sixth. I didn’t like the matchup of the Cubs bullpen against the Dodgers relievers with them at home and spotted a four-run lead. My loss. Though I quite enjoyed watching the highlights first thing this morning.
As I’ve said throughout this streak being extended, these longish streaks don’t necessarily make a season a playoff season. The last longish streak like this resulted in an 83-win team. Now that they’ve reached double digits? Now the Cubs are chasing the 2016 team. This team will be done no favors trying to compare to the single most beloved season in basically every living Cub fan’s lives.
I do believe, though, that both of these things can provide a boost to a team. You know there are going to be struggles. There are going to be times when some team that’s going to struggle to win 70 games is going to win a series. When some pitcher who should probably be riding buses in the minors shuts you down. I do believe that it can be a big tool to say hey, we know we can be excellent. We know we won 10 straight games, all against teams that a majority of baseball experts thought were playoff teams. When you are down three or four or five runs in a game. Maybe it’s getting late. But you say hey. We came off the mat and beat the Dodgers in their own park. We’ve been here and we’ve done this.
I’m going to run out of superlatives for what this team is doing. It’s a good problem to have. That the Cubs came back from down four on the road to win against the champs in a game in which their centerfielder had not one but two outfield assists on plays at the plate? That’s insane.
Dansby Swanson and the offense will rightly get all kinds of credit for their six-run outburst (that could so easily have been eight). The defense included one of the more spectacular plays I think I’ve seen by Nico Hoerner. But it can’t be lost that this starts with a guy who I have to admit never entered my Chicago Cubs tunnel vision. Ryan Rolison, who I was completely unfamiliar with previously, threw three scoreless innings allowing just two hits. Part of it is the structure of the game, but I’m going to bet that not too many relievers throw three scoreless innings against the Dodgers this year.
Last note. If you are someone who has ridden Craig Counsell, I’d at least suggest you take a few minutes and reconsider your impression of his abilities. That guy is managing his butt off and he’s killing it. It’s early, but I’ll be surprised when the various outlets that run odds for various things start listing him as one of the favorites for Manager of the Year. Eight Cub pitchers have hit the injured list this month alone. There is no win last night without four scoreless innings from the bullpen. Down four, you were always going to be using the “B” relievers. But after the three-run seventh, you might consider an “A” reliever. After the run in the eighth, you almost certainly go to the main group. And after the two in the ninth, you absolutely run out your best guy to close it. But none of those guys are healthy right now.
Unbelievable. Go Cubs.
Three Positives:
Hat tips to Nico Hoerner, Alex Bregman and Corbin Martin earning his third career save.
Game 26, April 24: Cubs 6, Dodgers 4 (17-9)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
THREE GOATS:
WPA Play of the Game: Dansby Swanson homers with a runner on first and no outs in the ninth to break a 4-4 tie. (.345)
*Dodgers Play of the Game: Will Smith batted with runners on first and second with two outs in the third and hit a three-run homer. (.276)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 25 Winner: A particularly rare occurrence, Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki tied at 92 votes apiece. I have no data for it, but I think unanimous votes happen more than ties.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 3/Bottom 3)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Current Win Pace: 105.9
Up Next: What do you do for an encore after that? This one is played at a much more reasonable hour. Game two in Los Angeles. The Cubs send Colin Rea (3-0, 3.00, 24 IP) for his third start (in addition to one bulk outing). He’s got a 20:5 strikeout to talk ratio, a 1.04 WHIP and a save for good measure. It would be hard to overstate how much he’s meant to this Cub pitching staff in his year plus here.
Roki Sasaki (0-2, 6.11, 17.2 IP) is the rare modern era Dodger signing that hasn’t worked out (yet). This is his fifth start of the year. His best outing was actually his first one of the year against Cleveland when he allowed a run on four hits and two walks over four innings. He does average nearly a strikeout per inning, but also more than a hit per inning and almost a walk per inning. His numbers simply don’t suggest a high probability of success and if the Cubs are patient, I think they’ll put some runs on the board.
Win one for? Uniform No. 11 has been worn by quite a number of people through the years. There are some great names on that list. Ron Cey was my first No. 11 that I remember. A lot of really fun Cub middle infielders have worn the number. Drew Smyly would have been wearing that number the day of his really enjoyable almost no-hitter. But given the oddity in modern baseball of the manager’s jersey being visible, I certainly did not know that Craig Counsell is currently Cub No. 11. As I think he’s as responsible as anyone for this streak, let’s go win another one for Craig.
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
Sugar Land got on the board scoring a run in the 2nd inning on a Strahm RBI single and a run in the 3rd on an Alexander solo HR. Pecko got the start and was great tossing 3 scoreless innings with 6 strikeouts but left after 3 due to possible cramps. In the 5th, Nelson added a solo home run to extend the lead. The offense got some more insurance with 2 runs in the 8th on an error. The pen allowed a couple of runs but held on for the 5-2 win.
Note: Nelson is hitting .326 in Triple-A.
Asheville got on the board in the 3rd inning on a Daudet solo HR. They got 4 more runs in the 4th on a Call walk, Batista RBI single and Nunez 2 run single. Smith started for Asheville and went 5 innings allowing 6 runs, 5 earned. In the 7th, Holy tied the game with a solo HR. The pen allowed 3 runs over the 8th and 9th innings and the offense was quiet the rest of the way as Asheville fell 9-6.
Note: Holy has a .800 OPS this season.
The Woodpeckers got on the board in the 2nd inning on a Ramirez RBI single and a run scoring on a balk. Pentecost got the start and pitched well tossing 5.1 scoreless innings but he left with the trainer mid at-bat. Hopefully nothing too serious. In the 6th, Monistere added an RBI single to extend the lead. After the Pelicans scored one in the 7th, the Woodpeckers responded with 2 runs in the 8th on a Neyens solo home run and Wakefield sac fly. Rosario allowed a run in the 9th inning but held on as the Woodpeckers won 5-2.
Note: Huezo is hitting .310 this season.
Today’s minor league starters:
SL: Josh Hendrickson – 4:35 CT
CC: Brett Gillis – TBD
AV: TBD – 5:05 CT
FV: TBD – 6:05 CT
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The Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles clash at Camden Yards today, with the struggling Garrett Crochet on the hill for the visitors.
That matchup headlines my favorite MLB picks for today in the "no run first inning" and "yes run first inning" markets.
Here are my best free NRFI and YRFI bets for Saturday, April 25.
| Pick | Odds |
|---|---|
 / - YRFI | +118 |
 / - NRFI | -136 |
 / - NRFI | -160 |
The Baltimore Orioles exploded for 10 runs in the series opener on Friday, putting up a four-spot in the bottom of the first inning. They’ve now scored a run in the first in back-to-back contests, and Garrett Crochet has been poor lately.
He’s given up 15 earned runs across his last two outings, and the lefty has allowed at least one run in the first inning in both of those starts. The O’s offense is hot right now, and Crochet is having serious trouble missing bats. Trevor Rogers hasn’t given up a single run in the first this season, so the offensive damage here will come from Baltimore against Crochet.
They will jump on him early.
Bryan Woo takes the mound for the Seattle Mariners today, and he’s compiled a 2.25 ERA. The righty is lights out, and he hasn’t surrendered a single run in the first inning this season. On the other side, Matthew Liberatore is coming off a start where he gave up only one earned run, and none in the first.
The St. Louis Cardinals have NRFI scored in two straight, and for Seattle, they’ve failed to score in the first inning in two of their last three. Both of these offenses are also very average so far, and we have two solid arms on the bump.
It’s Eury Perez vs. Robbie Ray on the mound in Game 2 of this series between the Miami Marlins and San Francisco Giants. Perez has a 3-2 YRFI/NRFI record, and he’s had back-to-back scoreless first innings.
As for Ray, he’s only allowed a run in the first inning once this season in five starts, and that was earlier in the campaign. Although it’s a small sample size, Miami is hitting just .117 against Ray. The Giants’ struggling offense is a clear weakness so far as well, and they’ve failed to score a run in the first in three straight contests.
Don’t expect a lot of offense in this one – especially not early on.
NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) bets add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI bet is a wager that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're betting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.
A YRFI bet is the exact opposite. You're betting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.
NRFI and YRFI bets add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for bettors looking for a quick resolution.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.
Diamondbacks News
Diamondbacks-Padres Mexico City Preview
The altitude is poised to play an important role in this division-rival clash. Mexico City’s Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú sits 7,349 feet above sea level. That substantially higher than even Coors Field, which has an elevation of “only” 5289 feet.
Why Mexico City Series Might Spell Trouble for Zac Gallen
The long-time AZ starter is going to need to keep the ball down and perhaps increase the swing and miss he induces in order to keep the ball in the park in Mexico.
Diamondbacks President Speaks About Mexico City Series
Derrick Hall looks forward to the opportunities the series provides the Diamondbacks.
Other Baseball News
Cubs Resilience Overcomes Dodgers, Runs Win-Streak to 10
On the heels of the Mets finally ending a double-digit losing streak, the Cubs have extended their win streak to double-digits.
Updating the Rookie of the Year Races
Munetaka Murakami is starting to make some noise.
White Sox Have Murakami Decision to Make
Despite being tied for the league lead with 11 home runs, it still seems quite premature to be discussing an extension to keep Murakami around on an affordable salary.
Phillies Jettison Taijuan Walker
Old friend alert. Taijuan Walker has been released by the spiraling Phillies after posting a 9.13 ERA through five abysmal starts.
HOUSTON — The most telling moment of Friday’s Game 3 between the Lakers and Rockets didn’t come in overtime. It came before the ball even went up.
The Toyota Center in downtown Houston sat half-full at tipoff, a quiet indictment of a Rockets team already down 0-2 in the series and playing without superstar Kevin Durant.
The Rockets arena is EMPTY
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) April 25, 2026pic.twitter.com/zoDZuJ427K
Lakers players wondered out loud in the visiting locker room how the arena could be so empty for a playoff game. Maybe some fans chose to watch baseball down the street, where the Yankees were in town. Others simply chose not to believe in their team.
But by the end of the night, belief wasn’t the problem. Loyalty was.
Because what unfolded inside that building wasn’t just a shocking Lakers win in overtime, 112-108, to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. It was a full-scale takeover of an opposing arena.
Purple and gold colors bled through the lower bowl from the opening quarter. LeBron James and Luka Doncic jerseys were scattered like confetti across the crowd. And when Bronny James finished off the first father-to-son alley-oop in NBA playoff history, even the Rockets fans stood and cheered. That’s how undeniable greatness works.
“You could definitely hear all the Lakers fans in here tonight,” Lakers center Jaxson Hayes said afterward. “You could see all the purple and gold jerseys … they drowned out the Houston fans.”
It only got louder.
Hayes detonated a one-handed lob from Luke Kennard. The crowd erupted — not for the home team but for the show. By the fourth quarter, the lines had blurred. By the final minute, they were gone.
Jaxson Hayes catches the Kennard lob and finishes with FEROCITY
— NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) April 25, 2026pic.twitter.com/gxUsf3CliF
Up six with 25 seconds left, Houston had the ball and control of the outcome. Hold the ball and the game would take care of itself. Instead, the Rockets threw an ill-advised pass that turned into three free throws from Marcus Smart. Panic. And then the defining sequence of the game: LeBron stalking rookie Reed Sheppard in the backcourt. He knocked the ball loose, eventually reclaimed possession, and buried the game-tying 3 that sucked the oxygen out of Rockets fans and sent Lakers fans into a frenzy.
LEBRON JAMES TIES THE GAME AT 101
— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2026
13.1 SECONDS TO GO ON PRIME. pic.twitter.com/V5LqcXlt7I
In that moment, the Rockets didn’t just lose the game. They lost the room.
By the time overtime came, the outcome felt inevitable. The Lakers closed out Game 3 with authority, but the damage had already been done. Houston’s crowd had flipped and they all stood in awe of the 41-year-old James, still bending the game to his will in his 23rd season.
The Lakers didn’t just steal a game on the road. It was a full-on heist.
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The Pittsburgh Penguins play Game 4 against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night. This is a must-win game for the Penguins, as a loss to the Flyers would officially end their season.
If the Penguins hope to avoid being swept, they will need these three players to bounce back in a massive Game 4 for the Metropolitan Division club.
Sidney Crosby has had a slow start to the playoffs, posting zero goals, one assist, and a minus-3 rating in three games. Overall, the 38-year-old center has to break the ice offensively for the Penguins this postseason. However, with Crosby still being one of the NHL's best players and a clutch playoff performer, it would not be shocking in the slightest if he has a big Game 4.
After a great regular season that saw him set new career highs with 33 goals, 31 assists, and 64 points in 81 games, Anthony Mantha has gone cold during the playoffs. He has zero points and a minus-4 rating in three playoff games so far. With Mantha being one of Pittsburgh's top wingers, they need him to regain his scoring touch in Game 4.
Egor Chinakhov is another key Penguins forward will be looking to break the ice against the Flyers. He has zero points and a minus-3 rating in three games, but Game 4 offers him the opportunity to bounce back. When noting that he had 18 goals and 36 points in 43 games with the Penguins after being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets, he certainly can be a difference-maker when on his game.
HOUSTON — Through the first three games of the NBA playoff series between the Rockets and the Lakers, someone new in purple and gold has had to walk into the fire of the postseason and refuse to blink.
Without their top scorers in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the Lakers have needed a secondary scoring option behind LeBron James.
In Game 1, that was journeyman Luke Kennard, who scored 27 points and was 5-for-5 from 3. In Game 2, Marcus Smart accepted that role and stuffed the stat sheet with 25 points.
On Friday night in Houston, that someone was Rui Hachimura.
He didn’t just score 22 points, drain four 3-pointers and play 44 minutes, although that workload tells you everything you need to know about how much Lakers coach JJ Redick trusts him. With the Lakers in hostile territory in Houston, they knew they needed a fast start to silence the crowd.
Hachimura imposed himself early, torching the Rockets for 16 points in the first quarter on 6-for-6 shooting, the best scoring quarter of his career.
This Lakers sequence…
— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2026
Jaxson Hayes hustle.
Luke Kennard assist.
Rui Hachimura triple.
Hachimura: 14 PTS, 3-3 3PM, 5-5 FGM pic.twitter.com/E0DYgAcdRG
“It was the matchup. Reed Sheppard was guarding me,” Hachimura said. “It was exactly what we worked on and practiced.”
Hachimura’s preparation coincided with the opportunity perfectly.
Houston adjusted, as it had to. The easy looks disappeared, and James (29 points) once again shouldered the scoring load for the Lakers.
But Hachimura didn’t disappear. He waited.
In overtime, he delivered the sequence that helped define the night and seal the victory.
With the Lakers clinging to a 105-103 lead, James shot and missed a step-back 3 from the left wing. Hachimura caught the rebound in midair along the baseline, and as he fell out of bounds, he flung the ball back into play like a man refusing to let the possession die. Kennard came down with it, and moments later, the ball found its way back to Hachimura — who pump-faked a 3 and then drove and attacked the basket for a layup. The Lakers went up by four and never looked back.
SHARING IS CARING.
— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2026
HACHIMURA PUTS LA AHEAD BY 4.
GET TO PRIME FOR OT ACTION. pic.twitter.com/hdr4HAIiMr
Hachimura’s performance was the kind that forces a front office to revisit every assumption it made last summer.
The 6-foot-8 forward from Japan is playing on an expiring three-year, $51 million deal that was supposed to be movable. Hachimura was expected to be replaced at the February trade deadline, like the Lakers did with Gabe Vincent.
Instead, they kept him.
And now? That decision is aging like something far more expensive than $17 million a year.
Because Hachimura and the rest of the Lakers’ role players aren’t playing like role players.
Rui Hachimura on the Lakers victory in Game 3, his hot start offensively, and the Lakers playing like the more desperate team pic.twitter.com/FH3aMG7pKO
— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) April 25, 2026
In Game 3, Smart became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1991 to finish with 21 points, 10 assists, five steals and two blocks in a postseason game. Talk about elite company.
Now the Lakers have a suffocating 3-0 lead and are one win from slamming the door.
Across from them is a Rockets team unraveling in real time. The heavy favorites to win the series now look like a team searching for answers that are never coming. For evidence, look no further than the mistakes they made with a six-point lead, the ball in their hands and 25 seconds left in the game.
“Horrendous mistakes,” Houston coach Ime Udoka said. “I don’t know if you want to say it’s youth or scared of the moment.”
The only question left now is which Lakers role player will step up in Game 4 on Sunday?
Maybe it’s Deandre Ayton or Jaxson Hayes. Or maybe Reaves returns to fill the void.
The Lakers have many options when they look to close the series and continue to prove that this team doesn’t need injured stars to save the season.
They create new ones every game.
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Rasmus Dahlin is an elite playmaker for the Buffalo Sabres, leading the team in assists with 55.
My Sabres vs. Bruins predictions expect to see the defenseman set up another goal in Game 4 against Boston.
Let’s dive into my NHL picks for Sunday, April 26.
Buffalo: The Buffalo Sabres lead 2-1 despite Jeremy Swayman posting save percentages of .919, .943, and .931. He has given the Boston Bruins elite netminding, and they still trail. If his numbers dip at all, the Sabres will almost certainly head home up 3-1.
The Buffalo Sabres have generated 106 shot attempts, 57 scoring chances, and 6.45 expected goals with Rasmus Dahlin on the ice in this series. That has translated to only three goals.
Dahlin’s on-ice shooting percentage sits at 5.56% – lowest among 13 Sabres with 40+ minutes played – compared to 13.01% in the regular season.
While it’s not abnormal for Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman to shave goals off the expected total, this kind of gap is not sustainable.
Given how many opportunities the Sabres are generating, and how involved Dahlin is in facilitating them, I like his chances of assisting in Game 4.
Jack Quinn is playing a key role for the Sabres, logging more than 37 minutes of ice over the last two games and getting run on PP1.
Fun fact: Quinn has averaged – yes, averaged – 4.1 shots on 7.3 attempts spanning the past 10 games in which he logged 16+ minutes and at least two on the power play. He piled up eight shots on 19 attempts over the last two games.
And who can forget Josh Doan? He recorded multiple shots on goal in all three games this series and six of seven against Boston this season.
Quinn found the back of the net in 32% of his games this season when generating at least six shot attempts, a number he has cleared in back-to-back games. He has an excellent shot and possesses the finishing ability needed to beat someone like Swayman.
Rasmus Dahlin has six assists over his last six away games. Find more NHL betting trends for Sabres vs. Bruins.
| Location | TD Garden, Boston, MA |
| Date | Sunday, April 26, 2026 |
| Puck drop | 2:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | TNT, truTV |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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