SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 26: Ryan Borucki #47 and Erik Miller #68 of the San Francisco Giants prepares for the game at Oracle Park on April 26, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last season, I revived the wonderful groug’s Bullpen Trust Power Ranking bit to… mixed results. This year, I thought I’d try something different and simply review it every month. It’s not yet the end of April, but it’s been over a month since the season started, so now is a great time to check in. My one sentence review:
It has been way better than three NRIs in a trench coat.
When the season started, the bullpen seemed like an experiment being conducted by Buster Posey and Zack Minasian to see just how anonymous they could make the group. The Giants obviously believe that spending lots of money on pitching is one of the deadliest things a team can do and so they look to cut corners there wherever they can. And, perhaps, Buster Posey’s memory of being a player might have him thinking about the “guy off the street” feeling the bullpens had during the championship era and letting that inform his decision-making. I am a big believer in the whole “relievers are fungible” philosophy. It feels like the Giants have taken it to an extreme.
That might have more to do with Posey being a Hall of Fame catcher than a sophomore exec, though, and after hiring a guy with a staff well-versed in coaching up and optimizing pitchers, it all makes a lot of sense. Our general unfamiliarity with it is less important than the results on the field. Which, as you’ll recall, weren’t great in the first week or so.
This morning, Alex Pavlovic pointed out in a post that the Giants’ bullpen looks incredible — a 1.51 ERA! — if you pick things up starting April 7th. That leads the sport. Their 2.73 xERA is 2nd overall and leads the NL, too, in this same span. Of course, overall, the bullpen has been good from an ERA standpoint (2.93 — 3rd in MLB), but this micro-split, timed with the Giants turning things around overall (10-7 from April 7th on), feels appropriate.
We’re in the small sample size fun zone of the early season for sure, but the improvised, figure it out as they go bullpen is being figured out before our very eyes. One important-ish stat I talked about two and a half weeks ago was the average fastball velocity, which at the time — in, again, what was a very small sample — was 10th in MLB at 94.7 mph. But with lots more Erik Miller, Keaton Winn, Caleb Kilian, and now Blade Tidwell contributing to the sample, they’ve sped up to 4th overall in MLB (95.7 mph) which is a big part of why the team is #7 in MLB in bullpen strikeout rate (24.8%). This is the really good stuff.
Where the bullpen remains troubling is in the other two outcomes: an 11.9% walk rate that’s 23rd in MLB. They’re hanging around middle of the pack when it comes to home runs on flyballs, too. These are all “for the season” results, so let’s hop back to that “since April 7th” cutoff that Pavlovic provided this morning.
Individually, while there’s a lot of JT Brubaker in the sample, his lesser stuff is balanced out by a bracing shot of Blade Tidwell, who probably didn’t think he would be destined for a bullpen role when the Giants traded for him, but he’s been really effective there. Another see-saw of talent is groundball rates. Keaton Winn and Matt Gage are closer to 40%, and along with JT Brubaker this trio represents the flyball sector of the bullpen. Brubaker is skating by on cunning and guile in that regard, but Gage’s 92.5 mph average velocity and 6.13 FIP on a .188 BAbip are yellowish-red flags for that pair. Meanwhile, Keaton Winn’s 1.23 FIP is the other side of those concerns. He’s just been that good. Even Ryan Borucki has been solid (1.93 ERA in last 5 appearances) and Ryan Walker has been good — nowhere close to the half-season disaster of 2025.
Another “since April 7th” stat: every reliever has helped the Giants win. They all have positive Win Probability Added. Click the link and check it out right now! We might never see that again. Sure, it might seem like cheating to toss out a handful of games to make the picture look better, but it’s such a stark difference and the eye test from this recent run of games only supports it that I declare it’s not bad or illogical to do that. The Giants left Arizona knowing they had to figure some things out.
So, the great bullpen experiment of 2026 has worked out positively so far, perhaps even sooner than expected. It’s a bullpen that features different looks. Not just from arm angles, but also velocity and general stuff. It’s funky and it’s working well.
The New York Yankees (19-10) continue their Texas road trip tonight as they take on the Rangers (14-15) in Game 2 of their series at Globe Life Field. Ben Rice (10), Aaron Judge (11), and Jazz Chisholm Jr. (3) each went yard last night to lead the Yankees to a 4-2 win over Jack Leiter and co. Max Fried was brilliant again, allowing just four singles over six shutout innings to earn his fourth win of the season.
Tonight’s contest features a stellar pitching matchup between two arms in different stages of their careers but both dominating early in the 2026 season. The Yankees will start young right-hander Cam Schlittler (3-1, 1.77 ERA), who has allowed one earned run or less in four of his six starts, looking to stifle a Rangers’ offense that is hitting only .216 at home. Texas counters with their veteran ace, Jacob deGrom (2-0, 2.13 ERA), who has pitched like, well, …Jacob deGrom.
Jasson Dominguez has been recalled to the big club as a result of Giancarlo Stanton being placed on the 10-day disabled list due to a right calf strain. Expect Dominguez to start as the Yankees rarely sit youngsters who have been recalled. Aaron Judge’s bat is beginning to heat up. The reigning MVP and favorite to repeat as MVP enters the game on a two-game homer streak.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Yankees vs. Rangers
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Time: 8:05PM EST
Site: Globe Life Field
City: Arlington, TX
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Prime Video, Rangers Sports Network
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The Latest Odds: Yankees vs. Rangers
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: New York Yankees (-122), Texas Rangers (+102)
Rangers: Jacob deGrom Season Totals: 25.1 IP, 2-0, 2.13 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 35K, 7 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Yankees vs. Rangers
Andrew McCutcheon is just 3-28 (.107) in April / All 3 hits are singles
Corey Seagar struck out 3 times last night
Jazz Chisholm Jr. is 8-20 with 7 RBIs in his last 5 games
Jose Caballero has hit safely in 8 of his last 9 games (13-34)
Trent Grisham is 3-19 over his last 6 games
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Top Betting Trends & Insights: Yankees vs. Rangers
The Rangers are 8-7 at home this season
The Yankees are 6-7 on the road this season
The Yankees are 18-11 on the Run Line this season
The Rangers are 16-13 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 3 times in Texas’ last 10 games this season (3-7)
The OVER has cashed 4 times in the Yankees’ 10 games this season (4-6)
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Expert picks & predictions: Yankees vs. Rangers
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BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 29: Brad Stevens, president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics, leaves a press conference at Boston Celtics media day at the Auerbach Center on September 29, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON – Before the season began, Jayson Tatum scoffed at the notion that the Celtics were going to tank the season.
“It’s the way our organization is ran,” Tatum told ESPN’s Malika Andrews. “It’s the culture that we set, it’s the standard that we have — regardless of who is on our team.”
Six months later, and Tatum’s comments seem awfully prescient. The Celtics are fresh off a 56-win season and have a 3-1 lead over the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs.
And on Tuesday, Brad Stevens was (unsurprisingly) named the league’s Executive of the Year, earning 11 first-place votes (and 69 total points), beating out Atlanta Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh, who came in second place.
It’s Stevens’ second such honor in three seasons, his first coming in 2024, after the championship season.
The voting panel for the 2025-26 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award consisted of basketball executives from NBA teams.
I talked to a front office executive earlier this month who told me he continues to be baffled about why teams are willing to even pick up the phone when Stevens calls, considering how many trades he’s won in recent years. (He said the same of Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti).
But what actually makes Brad Stevens so good at the job?
Few can answer that question better than Rich Gotham, the Celtics’ longtime team president. Gotham joined the Celtics as a marketing executive in 2003 and replaced Red Auerbach as team president in 2007.
So, when I got the chance to sit down with him a few weeks ago, the first thing I wanted to discuss was this elusive notion of “Celtics culture.”
It hasn’t always really been there during Gotham’s tenure, but it’s been on full display for years now. And the Brad Stevens era — which began 13 years ago — has embodied it.
“Early on, we were, candidly, bringing players through the organization so quickly, so many moving parts to build the team that became the ‘07, ‘08 champs,” Gotham said. “Culture? It wasn’t the same. You had pride in being part of the Celtics and what that means. But when you’ve got players coming in and out, you don’t really have a chance to cement it.”
Things began to change in 2007; that was the year the Celtics traded for Kevin Garnett.
“He was a culture-maker,” Gotham said. “Suddenly, you got a player who’s a superstar, who’s coachable, who outworks everyone, who holds everyone to the highest standard, and people just sort of like – if he’s in the layup line, I’m on point. If he’s not, if he’s hurt, if he’s out, it’s a little looser.”
Garnett served as a model for younger players like Kendrick Perkins and Leon Powe, and also influenced his co-stars, like Paul Pierce. The result was the franchise’s first championship in 22 years. And Garnett’s tenure in Boston served as a cultural reset.
“When he came here, we as an organization got our swag back,” Gotham said.
Then came Brad Stevens
The next most critical part of that culture-building was Brad Stevens, who took over as head coach of the Celtics in 2013.
Stevens had already emerged as one of the best young coaches in the game; few could draw up an ATO quite like the Indiana native. But Stevens’ defining characteristic may have been his ability to cultivate culture.
“Brad is a believer in culture, and he brought a good, strong sense of what he felt constituted being a good teammate,” Gotham said. “And when Brad got here, we were in transition. His years as a coach helped build culture, and then when he moved into the position where he’s the one acquiring the talent, that sort of played over there.”
Stevens has served as the Celtics’ general manager since 2021, meaning that he wasn’t the man responsible for bringing in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown (shoutout Danny Ainge).
But, he was the driver behind the trades that brought players like Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Al Horford to Boston – players who epitimized the team-first, Celtics mindset the organization wanted to embody.
“Brad really looks at [talent acquisition] from a team standpoint,” Gotham said. “And, a lot of it is sort of the unselfishness that you really need to make it work for an NBA team. If you look for that in players, the rest of it kind of follows.”
For Joe Mazzulla, Stevens’ talent acquisition philosophy has made life a whole lot easier. Countless times this season, he’s deflected questions about his own coaching and deferred to the players in the locker room.
“The greatest gift you can have as a coach is to have players that have a high, competitive character, care about winning, and want to get better,” Mazzulla said a few weeks ago.
Who signs those players?
Brad Stevens, whom Mazzulla coached under from 2019 to 2021. That synergy has made the whole operation run a lot more seamlessly.
“We have a unique relationship because I worked for him, and there aren’t many of those former coaches in the GM role, who can see from a GM perspective and a coach perspective,” Mazzulla said. “And I know how he thinks and the language that he speaks and how he sees the game because I worked for him, and he knows how I look at it — because we had that.”
Craig Luschenat, the Celtics’ head of player development, told me that the front office is a major reason for the program’s success. Neemias Queta, Sam Hauser, Jordan Walsh, and Baylor Scheierman all got their start with the Maine Celtics — and all four are now hugely important to the Celtics’ success.
“They only bring in guys that are, first of all, great people and hard workers,” Luschenat said. “And so, we’re very fortunate that we don’t have to deal with guys who are lazy or don’t love basketball. We don’t have to deal with any of the off-court stuff, so when they get to the building, they’re ready to work. And that’s a huge advantage.”
The Celtics head of player development Craig Luschenat leads the usual player development work ahead of Game 4
And, it goes beyond just being a hard worker: basketball IQ is something that Stevens and the front office prioritize.
“You could look at a lot of players that have been here previously, that now aren’t with us, or just guys around the league that are super athletic… if you just watch them in a workout, one-on-one, you’d be like, ‘Oh my gosh, this guy’s a freak, right?’” Luschenat said. “But as soon as you put 9 other players on the floor, they can’t think the game, or they can’t make high-level decisions, and aren’t competitive. And so, our front office does an amazing job of bringing guys that can think, compete at a high level, and work hard, and if you have that as a foundation, it makes our jobs as coaches so much easier.”
Luka Garza epitomizes what’s made Brad Stevens so effective
I’ve talked to many people around the league this season, and they all affirmed one thing: Luka Garza is widely considered to be one of the best locker room guys in the NBA.
So, when he was set to become a free agent, he was one of Stevens’ first calls.
“There are no secrets in the NBA,” Gotham said. “You generally have a good understanding of players who are really good culture contributors. And Brad definitely puts an emphasis on that aspect of the whole player.”
The backup center’s play became key to the Celtics’ on-court success this season; he’s averaged 8.1 points in 16.2 minutes per game, while shooting a team-best 43.3% from three.
But, equally pivotal to the Celtics’ success has been his mindset.
Some nights, Garza has eclipsed 25 minutes of action, and other nights he’s ridden the bench. Garza fell out of the rotation for two distinct stretches – in December and in February. Still, his attitude never wavered.
“Luka Garza is such a great example of a player who’s got that – no matter what role he’s playing,” Gotham said. “If he plays two minutes, or if he plays 20 minutes, if he’s not playing for a couple of games, he’s the same person coming to work every day, giving you everything he has. He has just a great attitude, just a great positive vibe to him. And that really does contribute to the team. And when players get a chance, who’ve put in the work, and then they start to thrive – I just think the team feeds off it.”
That culture is why Hugo Gonzalez goes berserk when Baylor Scheierman draws a charge, or why Ron Harper Jr. jumps up and down on the sidelines when it’s Gonzalez’s turn and he gets a defensive stop.
“You’ve seen this team this year – how happy they are for each other on the bench, how happy everyone’s been to see Jordan have success, Hugo have success, Baylor have success, Neemi have success, Ron Harper have success,” Gotham said. “It feeds itself.”
Stevens didn’t win the award exclusively because he knows how to cultivate culture — he, alongside a team of assistants that includes Mike Zarren, Dave Lewin, and Buddy Scott, also managed to get the team under the luxury tax line ahead of the trade deadline.
Payton Pritchard, the NBA’s third-most efficient isolation scorer in the NBA and the Celtics’ third-leading scorer, is making less than $8 million this season.
Neemias Queta, a 2021 second-round pick who was waived by the Sacramento Kings three years ago, established himself as the team’s front-court anchor while playing on a minimum contract.
Jordan Walsh has been locking up Tyrese Maxey on a second-round rookie deal. Sam Hauser, who went undrafted, was a perennial starter this season. Hugo Gonzalez quickly established himself as one of the most impactful rookies despite being picked No. 28 overall. And Baylor Scheierman turned into a legit rotation player in just his second year in the league.
Walsh, Gonzalez, Scheierman, Queta, and Garza are each making less than $3 million.
The result?
While shedding hundreds of millions of dollars in payroll, the Celtics survived Jayson Tatum’s 62-game sidelining en route to a 56-win season, good for second-best in the East.
And, after many expected them to head toward the lottery, the Celtics are back in familiar territory: eyeing an NBA title.
Record: 14-13 (5th in NL Central) Run Differential: +19 Pythagorean Record: 15-12 (-1)
The Brewers entered the season having put together a good run atop the NL Central, finishing first four of the last five seasons and finishing second in 2022. Coming into this season, the division went through quite the overhaul, however, the Brewers were still expected to compete for the division crown. As of the writing of this preview, things have not gone according to plan, with the Brewers currently residing dead last in the division, 3.5 games out of first, despite having a winning record.
Game 1 (April 28, 4:40 p.m. MST)
Merrill Kelly RHP (1-1, 9.31 ERA) vs. Chad Patrick RHP (1-1, 2.35 ERA)
Kelly is coming off an outing he likely wishes he could forget. This will be his third start since coming off the IL to open the season. So far, Kelly’s trademark command has yet to show itself. The last outing is hard to judge Kelly by, as suspect defense and a terrible mis-call in the field by the umpiring crew negatively impacted pretty much everything Kelly was trying to accomplish. This is a big outing for Kelly, as the team needs Kelly the Mainstay to help stabilize the rotation, which has started to show some cracks. This would be the perfect time for Kelly to throw his first quality start of the season.
Patrick took the loss last Wednesday against the Tigers, allowing four runs on six hits and one walk in four innings. He struck out two. Following opener DL Hall, Patrick struggled to contain the Detroit bats. Half of his hits allowed went for extra bases, and the right-hander gave up more than one run in an outing for the first time all season. While Patrick still holds a strong 2.35 ERA and 1.26 WHIP on the campaign so far, his 11:8 K:BB through 23 innings is an alarming ratio for someone known to have above average control.
Rodriguez has finally had the sort of success the Diamondbacks were hoping for when they signed him a few years ago. It helps that he has been able to be mostly injury free for a spell now. Rodriguez had one of his rougher outings last time out, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four over five innings to earn the win over the White Sox on Wednesday. Rodriguez threw 61 of 96 pitches for strikes, but it wasn’t a particularly convincing performance. He gave up a pair of solo home runs in this outing, putting him at four homers allowed over five starts this season. Rodriguez is at a 2.89 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 18:12 K:BB through 28 innings, but he’s given up eight runs over his last two starts, so his early luck may be fading fast.
Sproat did not factor into the decision last Thursday against the Tigers, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out four. Sproat gave up a two-run homer to Riley Greene with two outs in the first inning, but he settled down from there and kept Detroit off the board until the sixth inning, when they tacked on another run. The 25-year-old Sproat had given up two runs over 10.1 innings in his previous two outings and came close to delivering a second straight quality start Thursday.
Game 3 (April 30, 10:40 a.m. MST)
Michael Soroka RHP (4-0, 2.60 ERA) vs. Brandon Woodruff RHP (2-1, 3.77 ERA)
Michael Soroka has been a breath of fresh air for the Diamondbacks. For a team currently undergoing a minor injury crisis with the pitching staff, the oft-injured Soroka has bucked the trend. Not only has Soroka stayed healthy, but he has seemingly turned back the clock to the days when he first debuted., pitching not only as Arizona’s best starter of the season thus far, but one of the better starters in the entire National League. Soroka took a no-decision Thursday against the White Sox, allowing one run on seven hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out six. With a favorable home matchup versus the lowly White Sox, Soroka built on his excellent start to the season, continuing to bully hitters with his heavy mid-90s fastball. Soroka has now worked at least five innings while giving up two runs or fewer in all but one of his first five outings.
Woodruff took the loss last Friday against the surprising Pirates, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks over five innings while striking out three. The veteran right-hander started strong with two scoreless frames but allowed single tallies in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings. Woodruff delivered quality starts in his previous two outings but didn’t come back out for the sixth inning Friday to end that streak. He’s gone at least five frames in each of his five starts this year.
Players to Watch
Ildemaro Vargas: Vargas’ hit-streak to open the season remains in-tact at 20 games this season and 23 overall dating back to last year. Vargas is coming off of a NL Player of the Week performance in which he hit .364 with 4 home runs and 12 runs batted in. He has already tied his career season-high for home runs with six on the season. Vargas would currently lead the league in hitting if he were qualified. He should be qualified after his next game and, if he keeps the hit streak alive, will likely lead all of the NL in hitting.
Nolan Arenado: After getting off to a slow start to the season at the plate, the veteran third baseman has quietly turned things around and is now among the league leaders in batting average at .286, good for 20th in the league. In his career against the Brewers, Arenado sports a .928 OPS with 24 homers and 77 RBI.
Notable Injuries
Arizona Geraldo Perdomo: Perdomo suffered an ankle sprain in the first game in Mexico City. He was given a precautionary day off on Sunday. He is expected to be available for the first game against the Brewers, but that has not yet been confirmed. It would not be surprising to see him ride the bench for another game as a potential pinch-hitter to give the ankle more time to shore itself up again.
Gabriel Moreno: Moreno was initially expected to be back in time for this series against the Brewers. A delay in his rehab has now pushed that expectation back to this weekend’s series against the Cubs.
Carlos Santana: Santana continues to nurse a groin injury that has had him on the IL since 6 April. He is not expected back for this series.
Adrian Del Castillo: Del Castillo dislocated the tip of his left ring finger while trying to frame a pitch that was fouled off his hand in Sunday’s game against the San Diego Padres and is considered day-to-day. Del Castillo exited the game immediately after the injury, but the medical staff was able to pop his finger back into place. He is not expected to require a stint on the injured list and is considered day-to-day.
WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - APRIL 22, 2026: Martin Perez #33 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch during the fourth inning of a game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 22, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. The Braves beat the Nationals, 8-6. (Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves will be taking on the Detroit Tigers as two first place teams will clash. The Braves’ offense, who currently lead MLB in runs scored per game, is going to have arguably their toughest test yet as they will be facing a Tigers’ rotation that has been one of the best in MLB thus far.
This evening the Braves will be bringing Martin Pérez to the mound to face the Tigers’ offense that currently sits right in the middle of the pack at fifteenth in MLB in runs scored per game. Pérez has had an interesting run with the Braves, having signed a minors deal before making the squad originally, and then was DFA’d and re-signed already. The interesting part is that even though he has taken that journey, his on-field ERA shows he has been successful. In his 23.1 innings pitched, he holds an ERA of 2.70.
The issue with Pérez has not been with his actual run prevention, but that his underlying metrics show that at some point his is going to have serious regression to the mean with an expected ERA (xERA) of 4.60. Of course, the Braves last year would have loved a fifth starter with a 4.60 ERA compared to what they had, but still, it is not ideal.
Pérez has been fortunate in his left on base percentage this season. League average typically sits around 70.0 to 74.0 percent. He has had a strand rate of 85.9, which is well above the league average and his career average. Odds are he won’t be able to sustain that. He also has been extremely lucky in terms of BABIP. His career average is .305 BABIP against him and this season he is sitting at .197. Factor in the strand rate as well and it is a recipe for his ERA to balloon at some point soon. Hopefully, it will hold off tonight. Even better if it holds off until his injured rotation mates can heal up.
With Pérez spending time in the AL Central, some of the current Tigers players have faced him quite a bit. Javy Báez has twenty at-bats but has been limited to an OPS of .588. Spencer Torkelson has a .606 OPS in twenty-one at-bats, and Matt Vierling has a paltry .343 OPS in fourteen at-bats. The player to be worried about is Gleyber Torres. He leads the team with twenty-two at-bats and has hit three HRs in the time, leading to an OPS of 1.087. No other player has faced Pérez more than nine at-bats.
Former first overall pick out of Auburn University Casey Mize will take the mound for the Tigers. It took Mize awhile to get his footing in MLB, but he is on pace to have his best season since his 2020 debut. He currently has a 2.51 ERA, 2.95 FIP, 1.151 WHIP, and is striking out 10.0 batters per nine innings to only 3.1 walks. Like Pérez, his underlying metrics show that he has had some fortune go his way, but his xERA of 3.22 suggests that odds are that he will continue to be very good if he can continue to pitch like he currently is.
With Mize spending his entire career with the Tigers, none of the Braves have faced him much. Olson leads the team with six at-bats. Olson has made good in those at-bats with a .500 average, one HR, and a 1.625 OPS, but it is a small sample. Maybe this evening is when Mike Yastrzemski can get things going since he is two for three against Mize in his career.
The key to this game will likely be if the Braves can break through to the Tigers’ bullpen early. With an ERA of 4.36, there are only ten teams with a worse bullpen ERA than Detroit.
Apr 27, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Ranger Suarez (55) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Boston Red Sox pitcher Ranger Suarez was well on his way to throwing a no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday.
I, for one, am glad that he couldn’t get the job done.
If you aren’t aware of the circumstances, let me paint the picture for you. Suarez allowed just one hit across eight innings of work in what would eventually become a 5-0 victory at Roger’s Centre — turning in his best performance since joining the organization this offseason while striking out 10 batters for the first time since Sept. 9, 2025.
Good!
If he had completed the no-no?
Bad!
I don’t have a problem with Ranger — other than the fact that he makes way more money than me and seems to be the coolest dresser around town, he seems to be a swell guy. I just don’t think we were all prepared for what could have come from a no-hitter under such odd circumstances.
Alex Cora — alongside hitting coach Pete Fatse, third-base coach Kyle Hudson, bench coach Ramón Vázquez, assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson, hitting and strategy coach Joe Cronin, and game planning and run prevention coach Jason Varitek — was shown the door over the weekend in one of the more shocking personnel moves we’ve seen around here in *checks notes* like nine months. The Red Sox have since held press conferences, hired ironically named charter services, gutted their minor league coaching staffs in order to backfill the positions, started the process of deflecting blame, alienated veteran players, and… won two in a row…
I won’t be the guy to say that winning is bad, but the old saying that it “cures all” isn’t exactly accurate in this context— it’s just serving as a distraction. If the dude threw a no-no, that distraction would have turned into a full-blown detour down a path of disingenuous takes that place blame for everything that happened over the weekend on the shoulders of one side in particular. The take machine wold have fired up and gone into overdrive.
It’s not that simple…
Cora didn’t exactly do himself any favors, as it has become clear in recent days that he was overly loyal to his coaching staff and pushed back on some of the requests made by the front office. Craig Breslow — and in turn, John Henry, Tom Werner, and Sam Kennedy — put together an extremely flawed roster and tried to overstep their bounds. I’ve only listed the quick and obvious examples, too. If you wanted to dive deep into this thing, it would take far more words than you’re willing to actually read.
Everyone in this situation deserves a piece of the blame, and until the people who are still around actually take accountability for their part in the split, history is bound to repeat itself. A no-hitter last night wouldn’t have changed that.
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 24: Luis García Jr. #2 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring in the fifth inning during the game between the Washington Nationals and the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Friday, April 24, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Lawrence Brown/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Nats grinded out a series win against the Chicago White Sox over the weekend, taking the last 2 games of the series to bring themselves back to just 3 games under .500.
A game-tying solo home run in the top of the 8th inning of Game 1 was quickly neutralized by a game-winning Sam Antonacci sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning, leading to a 5-4 White Sox win. A passed ball, a walk, and a 2-run Nasim Nunez single in the 10th inning of Saturday’s game propelled the Nats to a 6-3 victory, and 7 scoreless innings from Foster Griffin in Game 3 were elevated by a CJ Abrams sac fly and a Jose Tena solo shot in the 10th for their second consecutive extra innings win.
The Mets’ sky-high preseason expectations have been followed up by a swift disappointment to begin the season, as they sit 10 games under .500 at just 9-19. Starting their 3rd straight series at home, with a 2-4 record on their home stand so far, the Nats will attempt to further distance themselves from the NL East basement.
Tuesday – 7:10 PM EST
WSH: RHP Zack Littell (0-3, 7.56 ERA)
NYM: RHP Clay Holmes (2-2, 2.10 ERA)
Littell’s 2026 ERA is nearly double the 3.81 mark he posted in 2025, and not much has gone right for the 30-year-old. He’s given up 14 runs in his last 10.0 innings, and desperately needs to put together a solid start to give Washington some stability in their rotation. His arsenal has looked much flatter than it has in recent seasons, and he will be tasked with figuring it out on Tuesday night as the Nats push for a 3rd straight win.
Holmes has been as steady as ever through 5 starts, and he’s coming off a 7.0-inning, 2-run start against the Minnesota Twins. He hasn’t had putaway stuff so far in 2026, but has rarely been hit hard and keeps the ball in the yard at a high rate. The Washington offense has to find some success against him early in the game, especially with Littell on the mound and continued bullpen volatility.
Wednesday – 7:10 PM EST
WSH: RHP Cade Cavalli (0-1, 4.01 ERA)
NYM: TBD
Cavalli’s 2026 campaign has been nothing short of inconsistent. The flashes have been more than evident, including 10 strikeouts in his most recent start against the Atlanta Braves, but he has had severe issues with finishing innings. Building on his strong appearance against Atlanta could be in the cards against a scuffling Mets lineup, and I’m sure the Washington coaching staff will be looking to continue to push the 27-year-old to reach the very visible potential he possesses.
Currently, the Mets don’t have a starter listed, but many are assuming that it could come down to one of David Peterson, Tobias Myers, or a full-on bullpen game. Back-to-back Myers and Peterson could emerge as an option, something they did on April 19th against the Cubs. Both pitchers haven’t thrown since April 23rd, which would give him a full 5 days of rest. Myers has looked good, whereas Peterson has struggled, but the pair, if they were to go on Wednesday, would be a righty/lefty puzzle for the Nats’ hitters to solve.
Thursday – 1:10 PM EST
WSH: RHP Miles Mikolas (0-3, 8.49 ERA)
NYM: RHP Freddy Peralta (1-3, 3.90 ERA)
Another lopsided pitching matchup for the Nats, Mikolas’ time in the rotation seemed to have come to an end after his 3rd outing, but is slated to start in the series finale following 3 straight bulk relief appearances. His last 2 times out there have been a mixed bag, going 4.0 scoreless innings against the San Francisco Giants on April 19th before surrendering 2 runs in 3.2 innings against the Chicago White Sox on April 24th. The Mets’ offense has been kept at bay, and maybe the veteran could sneak out another decent start at the back end of the series.
The Mets’ blockbuster trade addition has racked up the strikeout numbers, but hasn’t fully looked like the dominant pitcher of years past. He’s yet to have a truly “bad” outing, but has given up 3-4 runs in 3 of his 6 starts. His last outing against the Colorado Rockies was more dominant, going 5.2 innings of 2-run ball with 8 punch outs. The stuff still looks good, and the Nats will rely on their left-handed hitters to jump on the proven righty.
Finish the month on a high note
Entering their last series of the first full month of the MLB season, the Nats sit at a 10-14 record in the month of April. They won’t be able to even up their month-specific record, but ending up close to .500 would certainly be a move in the right direction. The Mets offer a fantastic chance to work up to 16-16 on the season, and flip the calendar to May with the wind at their back
Camara has eclipsed this line just once in the series but has finished at exactly eight twice. The volume will be there; he just needs to make them.
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Scoot Henderson Over 2.5 assists (-115)
Projection: 4.11 assists
Our second five-star play focuses on Scoot Henderson, who is coming off a rough outing. Henderson had a donut in the points column but still collected two assists.
The Blazers shot terribly as a whole, but with this being a kitchen-sink game, they'll step up on offense. That will lead to more dimes for Scoot.
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Robert Williams III Over 6.5 points (-130)
Projection: 8.58 points
Robert Williams III is a steady force off the Portland bench, seeing 23+ minutes in every game this series. Game 4 was the first time he failed to reach this posted points total, but as mentioned, everyone was off for the Blazers.
RW3 will get back on track, scoring easy buckets down low.
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Spurs Game 5 computer picks
De'Aaron Fox Over 17.5 points (-110)
Projection: 20.20 points
De'Aaron Fox has been superb for the San Antonio Spurs this season, and his best performance came over the weekend when he scored 28 points on 11-for-17 shooting.
Portland has its hands full again with Wemby, which allows Fox to go to work.
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Dylan Harper Over 9.5 points (-130)
Projection: 11.50 points
Before a stinker in Game 4, Dylan Harper scored double-digit points in back-to-back games. Harper is trusted to lead San Antonio's bench unit, and he'll find his rhythm when he returns home.
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Devin Vassell Over 12.5 points (-115)
Projection: 13.80 points
Devin Vassell has been steady for the Spurs this series, clearing this line in 2 of 4 games while finishing with 11 in two others. When Portland collapses down low to stop Wemby, Vassell will be available for wide-open looks on the wing.
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How to watch Trail Blazers vs Spurs Game 5
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
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.
Former NBA player and coach Damon Jones plead guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, the first person to change their plea to guilty in the sweeping federal indictments unsealed last year that led to more than 30 arrests.
That came a day after prosecutors said another player named in those indictments, former Miami player Terry Rozier, faces additional charges, including that he "solicited and accepted a bribe," reports Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic.
In a pre-written statement read at his plea change hearing, Jones admitted he used "insider information that I obtained as a result of my relationships as a former player," saying the goal of the wide-ranging conspiracy was to use this information to profit on bets made at sports books.
"I would like to sincerely apologize to the court, my family, my peers and also the National Basketball Association," Jones said, according to the Associated Press.
Traditionally, a change in plea like this — usually accompanied by a request by the prosecutor for a reduced sentence — comes after the defendant cooperates with investigators and prosecutors. Jones is set to be sentenced next January, and the sentencing guidelines for conspiracy to commit wire fraud call for 21-27 months in prison (about two years).
Jones was arrested and charged in both prongs of the federal probe, one about using insider information to place bets, and one about mafia-sponsored, rigged poker games. Jones pled guilty to charges in both cases on Tuesday.
Rozier was arrested as part of the insider information indictments, while former Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was arrested as part of the alleged poker scam. Both men have pled not guilty and have not changed their pleas.
San Jose Sharks forward Pavol Regenda is not going to Switzerland to represent Slovakia at this year's IIHF World Championship, according to local reports.
The 26-year-old forward struggled to find a spot in the Sharks lineup for much of the season despite scoring at a high rate and having very favorable analytics. In 24 games at the NHL level, he scored nine goals and recorded a single assist.
Regenda's goal-scoring likely wasn't sustainable over the course of a full season considering, according to MoneyPuck.com, he had a higher goals per sixty minutes rate than Macklin Celebrini and his shooting percentage was 21.7%, but it was still impressive given his limited opportunities in the NHL.
Regenda has been a mainstay for the Slovak National Team over the past half-decade, but this year, it appears he's opting to focus on his dream of remaining in the NHL.
"Pavol and I talked on the phone a few times, there were some health issues, but first and foremost he feels he has one last chance to stay in America and fight for the NHL," Slovak head coach Vladimír Országh said to Slovakia's SME Sportsnet.
As an unrestricted free agent, Regenda has no guarantees regarding his NHL future. Given his usage late in the season, it seems likely that his future won't be in San Jose though.
Regenda has previously talked about the importance of international tournaments to Slovakia and its people, meaning this probably wasn't a decision he made lightly.
"He needs a good summer preparation [to try to stay in the NHL]," Országh added. "Since he has been regularly going to the World Championships in recent years, he feels that the time has come when he needs to rest and prepare for the next season"
While Regenda's NHL future is up in the air, it seems he's going to do whatever it takes to try to keep it going.
Because of the internet and being prisoners of the moment, last night's Detroit Pistons-Orlando Magic playoff game had fans losing their minds, pretending they had never seen anyone get dunked on.
While Jamal Cain's posterization of Jalen Duren earned a spot in this list's best playoff dunks, more importantly, it put the Pistons, the top seed in the Eastern Conference, on the brink of an embarrassing elimination.
There are many criteria for the best playoff dunks, including style, degree of difficulty and the hint of embarrassment it must conjure for those who end up on an endless loop of highlights, and for some, their own claim to fame.
Duran's dunk makes this list, and here is the rest of ordinary players and Hall of Famers alike (in no particular order) getting yammed on during playoff time.
Kobe Bryant's windmill over Timberwolves
Kevin Garnett now has nightmares about this spectacular throwdown in the 2003 Western Conference quarterfinals by Bryant, who went baseline, not caring who was in his way. Any lesser player would have separated his shoulder on the dunk. However, Bryant's flush over Steve Nash in the 2006 playoffs deserves some run and is criminally underrated.
Tracy McGrady dunks on Shawn Bradley
McGrady, not generally known for his emotion, was understanding hyped after climbing the ladder on the 7-6 Bradley in the Mavericks-Rockets 2005 playoffs first round. McGrady's Rockets ended up losing the series, which included a 40-point rout in Game 7.
John Starks lefty over MJ
The 1990s playoff battles between the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls were must-see TV, and when Starks went baseline on their entire defense late in the fourth quarter of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals, he sealed the victory and gave the Knicks a 2-0 series lead, which they would eventually lose.
While Jordan has received his fair share of scorn, Horace Grant and his googles no doubt need some shame in this scenario.
'Ja breaker' over Malik Beasley
These days, Ja Morant's tenure with the Memphis Grizzlies could be considered a disappointment, thanks to his gun-toting celebration antics and multiple suspensions.
Timberwolves guard Malik Beasley was the unfortunate recipient of this nasty jam in the 2022 playoffs, sending Morant into playoff dunk lore.
Michael Jordan baseline treat
Knicks fans would swear up and down that Jordan carried the ball on his way to the baseline and into the face of Patrick Ewing. But the Knicks tried to press, and MJ easily slipped a double team and went way above the rim to put Ewing on growing list of posters he received throughout his Hall of Fame career.
'The Lister Blister'
Shawn Kemp was as talented a forward as there was in the Western Conference during his heyday, and his wild tomahawk slam over Alton Lister of the Golden State Warriors backed up that claim, as he cradled the ball on his way to rising way above the rim.
Kemp pointing at Lister while he is still on the ground fueling Liston's embarrassment probably would have gotten him tossed in today's referee-sensitive NBA.
We believe in Baron Davis
The No. 8 seed "We Believe" 2007 Warriors, fresh off their dispatching of top-seed Dallas in the first round, rode that momentum in the next round against the Utah Jazz. Baron Davis, who later showed fancy footwork on "Dancing with the Stars," got the frenzied Oracle Arena crowd with a ferocious slam against Andrei Kirilenko in Golden State's only win in the series.
Scottie Pippen dunks on Patrick Ewing
Unfortunately, Ewing makes his second appearance on this list courtesy of Pippen, who proceeded to serve up a facial on Ewing and push him down to the ground and step over him for good measure. Equally as pleasant is Pippen telling noted Knicks superfan and general pest Spike Lee to shut up and sit back down in his expensive United Center courtside seats.
Less than 24 hours after Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby checked into a residential treatment program for a gambling addiction — casting his future eligibility with the Red Raiders into doubt — the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions released violations and updates on two separate sports betting violation investigations.
Two athletes involved across the two investigations did not cooperate with the NCAA's investigations, the organization revealed, resulting in Level I violations.
Both Gray and Richardson are connected with a February 2024 game in which a bettor placed a $10,000 wager. In the NCAA's release, Gray admitted in an interview that he exchanged messages with one of the known bettors, and that he and Richardson participated in a call with the bettor and a former NBA player who was involved in the scheme. Gray said both players agreed to lose the game in exchange for $10,000-$15,000 in payments each.
The NCAA's release said Gray told the organization he ultimately reversed course and "said he played with his normal effort" in that game. He finished with three points on 1-of-4 shooting for Fordham, which was a 3.5-point underdog. Gray told the NCAA the bettor called after the game to express disappointment, at which point Gray cut off communication with him. Gray also said he didn't receive any payment from the bettor.
He also acknowledged violating ethical conduct rules by providing information to a known bettor, and "expressed remorse for his actions."
Gray said the former NBA player continued to communicate with Richardson, who denied his partaking in the scheme and failed to cooperate "with the investigation by knowingly providing false information during an interview and failing to preserve the integrity of the investigation."
Cottle was indicted by the United States Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in January for wire fraud and bribery charges surrounding Kennesaw State's game versus Queens (New York) on March 1, 2024. Similar to Richardson, Cottle, who was suspended from the Owls, did not cooperate with the NCAA's investigation.
Texas Tech announced on Monday that Sorsby was leaving the program to check into a residential treatment program for gambling addiction.
Sorsby, who transferred from Cincinnati this past offseason, is under NCAA investigation after reportedly making "thousands" of online bets on a variety of sports via a gambling app, which includes bets on Indiana during his true freshman season as a Hoosier in 2022.
USA TODAY Sports' Matt Hayes reported Monday through two people with direct knowledge of the situation that the Cincinnati athletic department was alerted in August that Sorsby was gambling before the start of the 2025 season. The Bearcats had "no comment at this time" when reached out by USA TODAY Sports, and Sorsby has made "mostly small, $1 bets" on various sports at various times.
The NCAA prohibits student-athletes and athletics department staff members from making bets and/or sharing information with bettors on college sports.
USA TODAY Sports' Matt Hayes contributed to this story.
There’s a point in every playoff series where conviction meets friction.
For the Philadelphia Flyers, friction is a very kind way to describe what this series against the Pittsburgh Penguins has brought them. Through the first three games against the Penguins, their lineup had been untouchable—not out of pure stubbornness, but simply because there was no evidence to justify change. The structure held. The results followed.
Game 4 didn’t dismantle that belief, but it reminded the Flyers that, as much as it may have seemed like it in the first three outings, their lineup wasn't bulletproof.
Rick Tocchet’s first significant move came in Game 5, inserting Alex Bump for Matvei Michkov. This was a decision that invited debate the moment it was made. The rationale was clear, even if the optics were complicated: a shift toward directness, toward immediacy, toward a player who would simplify decisions and engage the game early.
Whether or not Michkov should have been the player to make room is a story for another day, but the result of the swap was undeniable. Bump delivered.
The 22-year-old scored an important goal, yes—but more importantly, a series of shifts that aligned with what the Flyers needed. He brought quick releases and purposeful routes. He made plays that didn’t linger longer than they should. It didn’t settle the debate around Michkov, nor should it, but it validated Tocchet’s willingness to adjust. And now, as the series moves to Game 6, that willingness appears to be expanding—this time, on the back end.
The door has opened, however slightly, for Oliver Bonk.
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Oliver Bonk (59). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
Why Now?
Defensive pairings, perhaps more than any other part of a lineup, are built on trust. Not just in ability, but in predictability—knowing where your partner will be, how a sequence will unfold, how a retrieval will turn into an exit.
That’s why coaches resist change there unless they have to.
But Game 4 revealed something subtle in the Flyers’ defensive game. The Flyers have admitted that figuring out their defensive pairings has been a bit of a challenge—finding pairs that complement the varying sizes and offensive vs. defensive propensities of their blue line is a puzzle they're still figuring out. Pittsburgh’s ability to stretch the ice and sustain pressure didn’t overwhelm Philadelphia’s structure as much as it tested its elasticity. It forced longer defensive sequences, more second touches, more decisions under pressure.
That’s where fresh variables begin to matter. And that’s where Bonk becomes relevant.
What Bonk Actually Brings
At a glance, the case for Bonk starts with the obvious: size, reach, and a calmness with the puck that doesn’t feel rushed. But reducing him to those traits misses the more important layer: He processes the game efficiently.
Coaches have lauded Bonk's intelligence and maturity since he was first drafted to the Flyers in 2023, and there has always been the utmost confidence in the young defenseman that he has all the tools to seamlessly adapt to the NHL.
“For defensemen, it’s a big jump,” Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach John Snowden said of Bonk back during the Flyers' 2025 rookie camp. “The strength, the skill, the speed, the gaps you have to have…He knows what he has to do. I think he’s putting himself in a really good spot. I like where his body’s at right now. I like his mindset.”
For a defenseman, especially a 21-year-old one stepping into a playoff environment, that’s everything. It’s not about making spectacular plays, but about making the correct play, quickly enough that pressure doesn’t have time to develop.
Bonk’s offensive instincts also offer something the Flyers could use more of right now: controlled activation. Not reckless pinches or forced shots, but the ability to extend possession—walking the line, shifting angles, getting pucks through traffic without overhandling.
But perhaps Bonk's biggest contribution to the lineup could come in the form of his potential power play usage. If there is a single, clean argument for inserting Bonk into Game 6, it lives there.
Philadelphia’s power play has had moments in this series, but it hasn’t consistently dictated terms. Entries have been uneven. Zone time has been there, but not always converted into high-quality looks. A defenseman who can hold the line, manipulate lanes, and deliver pucks with purpose changes the geometry of those sequences.
Bonk can do that. Maybe not as a finished product, but as a player whose instincts align with what the Flyers are trying to create.
The Risk And the Reality of It
For all of his fantastic qualities, there’s no avoiding the obvious.
Bonk has one NHL game. (And two NHL points—a goal and an assist.)
Game 6 of a playoff series—potentially a closeout game—is not a gentle introduction. It’s a compressed, high-stakes environment where every mistake is amplified and every hesitation is exposed, especially against a team like Pittsburgh that is mounting a dangerous comeback attempt and is desperate to complete it.
But that risk has to be contextualized. The Flyers have already shown a willingness to trust young players in meaningful roles. They have not insulated them from pressure; they’ve integrated them into it. The expectation isn’t that they will be flawless. It’s that they will be aligned.
Bonk won't be expected to completely transform the outcome of Game 6. They just need him to fit into its existing structure. That means clean first passes, controlled retrievals, smart decisions at the offensive blue line. If he does those things, the rest of his game—his size, his shot, his ability to extend plays—becomes additive rather than essential.
There is a through line between Bump’s insertion in Game 5 and the possibility of Bonk in Game 6, and that is that Tocchet is not chasing change for its own sake. He is recognizing and targeting specific gaps.
Interesting for Rick Tocchet to say in his media availability today that “it’s in the discussion to maybe put [Oliver Bonk] in” tomorrow. #Flyers had largely stuck with the same lineup before Game 5, but after Alex Bump’s standout game, looks like they’re open to more changes.
With Bump, it was about early engagement—simplifying the Flyers’ offensive rhythm, ensuring that their first touches carried intent. With Bonk, it would be about sustaining possession from the back end, adding a layer of composure and offensive threat that can turn defensive stability into attacking continuity.
Different positions. Same philosophy to adjust where the game has shifted.
What This Says About the Flyers
More than anything, this moment reflects a team that understands where it is.
The Flyers are not searching for identity. They’ve established it. They know how they want to and how they now have to play to control games, and how they want to respond to pressure.
What they’re doing now is refining that identity under playoff conditions—Game 4 showed them where the edges were, Game 5 showed that they’re willing to act on it, and Game 6 may extend that further.
The Decision Ahead
Tocchet hasn’t committed publicly. He rarely does, especially with lineup decisions now that playoffs are in full swing. But the fact that Bonk is explicitly part of the conversation matters. It signals that no position is immune to evaluation—not even one as structurally sensitive as defense.
It also reinforces something the Flyers have quietly demonstrated throughout this series: Continuity is a strength, but adaptability is what sustains it. If Bonk plays, it won’t be because the Flyers are scrambling for solutions. It will be because they’ve identified something specific and believe he can provide it.
Both Mats Zuccarello and Yakov Trenin took the ice on Monday at practice and Tuesday at morning skate.
“I think it’s a good sign," Wild head coach John Hynes said on Monday about Zuccarello practicing. "We’ll see how he felt and what his response is from that. But it is definitely a step in the right direction.”
Hynes said that the two will be questionable to play in Game 5 on Monday and now they are game-time decisions.
He also said they were in Game 3 and both missed. Hynes also said Zuccarello would be a game-time decision in Game 4 and he did not play either.
Zuccarello, 38, had three assists in Game 1 and plays a huge factor on the Wild's top line with Ryan Hartman and Kirill Kaprizov.
He has two goals and eight points in seven career playoff games against the Stars. In 103 career playoff games, Zuccarello has 19 goals, 42 assists and 61 points in 103 career playoff games.
Trenin, 29, has 1,359 career hits in 457 NHL games. In 28 career playoff games, Trenin has 115 hits, including 50 hits in eight career playoff games with Minnesota.
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Macklin Celebrini's spectacular sophomore season has him in the running with established veterans for what NHL players consider the top regular season award.
The San Jose Sharks' young star is a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award for most outstanding player. It's voted on fellow members of the NHL Players' Association. Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid and Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov are the other finalists.
The winner will be announced later.
The NHLPA award finalists are the first to be announced. The NHL will roll out the finalists for other awards over the next few weeks.
Here's what to know about the Ted Lindsay Award finalists and the announcement schedule for the other awards:
Ted Lindsay Award finalists
Players listed in alphabetical order Voting is by fellow players
Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks: The 19-year-old finished fourth in the NHL with 115 points (45 goals, 70 assists) and broke the Sharks' franchise single-season scoring record held by Hall of Famer Joe Thornton. He won a silver medal with Canada at the Winter Olympics. He's a first-time finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award.
Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning: Kucherov finished second in the league with 130 points. He scored his 1,000th career point during the season. He is a two-time winner of the Ted Lindsay Award.
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers: McDavid won the NHL's scoring title for the sixth time with 138 points and led the league with 90 assists. He won a silver medal with Canada and was named MVP of the Olympic men's hockey tournament. He is a four-time Ted Lindsay Award winner.
NHL awards finalists announcement schedule
Tuesday, April 28: Ted Lindsay Award (most outstanding player): Macklin Celebrini, Nikita Kucherov, Connor McDavid.
Wednesday, April 29: Vezina Trophy (goaltender)
Thursday, April 30: Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship)
Friday, May 1: Jack Adams Award (coach)
Monday, May 4: Masterton Trophy (perseverance)
Tuesday, May 5: Calder Trophy (rookie)
Wednesday, May 6: Selke Trophy (defensive forward)
Thursday, May 7: Norris Trophy (defenseman)
Friday, May 8: Hart Trophy (MVP)
Monday, May 11: Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award (impact on community, culture or society)
Trail Blazers
Spurs
