In his first season as Head Coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, former Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet has advanced to the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. With their win today, Tocchet, ex-Canucks defenceman Noah Juulsen, and the Flyers have managed to save themselves from a potential series comeback from Artūrs Šilovs and the Pittsbrugh Penguins.
The most notable part of this series was the Penguins’ quick shift in starting goaltenders. Šilovs stepped in for Stuart Skinner in Game 4, winning his first two games and saving Pittsburgh from being swept in the first round. He recorded a SV% of .900 or more during these two games. In Game 6, he stopped all but one of the 31 shots he faced, with Philadelphia ultimately ending the series in overtime by a score of 1–0.
Tocchet spent nearly three seasons as the Canucks’ Head Coach, helping Vancouver to Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals in his first full season behind the bench. During that season, the Canucks registered a record of 50–23–9, winning the Pacific Division at the end of the regular season and earning Tocchet his first Jack Adams Award. He parted ways with the organization at the end of the 2024–25 season, joining the Flyers on a five-year contract.
Also a member of the Flyers is Juulsen, who spent four seasons with the Canucks organization before also heading to Philadelphia during the 2025 off-season. The defenceman has played in six of the Flyers’ games this post-season, putting up two assists in this span of time.
In the Metropolitan Division Final, the Flyers will face another former Canuck in Jalen Chatfield and his team, the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes also swept their first-round series, eliminating former Canucks Head Coach Travis Green and the Ottawa Senators from the post-season.
Apr 20, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) clears the puck past Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Noah Juulsen (47) during the second period in game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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David Stearns | (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)
In the Mets’ loss to the Nationals yesterday, several of the team’s most glaring deficiencies were on full display, but David Peterson and Sean Manaea, the team’s pair of struggling left-handed pitchers, stood out the most. Neither pitcher looks competitive at the moment, and while the team’s lineup might be its downfall anyway, it sure would be nice to see the Mets putting capable pitchers out there on a daily basis.
Across seven appearances, two of which came out of the bullpen, Peterson has thrown 30.1 innings with a 6.53 ERA. Manaea has thrown 22.0 innings with a 6.55 ERA. Combined, they’ve thrown 19.4 percent of the Mets’ innings so far, making their combined contribution to the team’s struggles fairly significant. And the underlying metrics on their Statcast pages don’t look good, even as metrics like FIP and DRA suggest that both pitchers have been better than their ERAs would suggest.
If there’s any hope remaining in the Mets’ season, the team can’t just wait to see if both of these pitchers end up finding better results. But with both pitchers no longer having options thanks to their considerable major league service time, there are only two ways to get them off the active roster: placing them on the injured list, which the team did with Kodai Senga this week, or designating them for assignment and exposing them to waivers. In the latter scenario, they’d have the option of declining an outright assignment to Syracuse even if they were to clear.
Manaea has the remainder of this season and all of next season remaining on his three-year deal with the Mets that pays him $25 million per year. Should the team go the DFA route and lose him, it would be eating even more money than it is on the failed Frankie Montas contract that paid $34 million over the course of last season and this season. Peterson wouldn’t require eating nearly as much money, as he’s earning $8.1 million this year before he’s eligible for free agency following the season.
If the team goes either route to get either pitcher off the active roster, there’s also the issue of replacing them. With Manaea, that’s really not too much of a concern, as he’s essentially been used as a mop-up man, and his diminished stuff has gotten exposed in a big way lately. The Mets might feel like they need to have at least one long reliever in their bullpen, but any potentially useful reliever—Austin Warren is the one who comes to mind at the moment—would be an upgrade.
And if a keeping a long reliever in the mix is a priority, that might mean Tobias Myers is kind of stuck in that role, even if it would be awfully tempting to move him into Peterson’s rotation spot as a full-on starting pitcher rather than having him open for Peterson like he did a couple of times recently.
As for pitching prospects in the upper minors, Jonah Tong doesn’t look quite ready to get another major league look just yet. His strikeout rate remains phenomenal thus far in Triple-A, but he’s still working on walk and home run issues and currently has a 5.68 ERA for Syracuse. Jack Wenninger, who’s slated to start one of Syracuse’s games in a doubleheader today, has a much shinier 2.16 ERA for Syracuse so far this year. But his walk rate is an issue, and his last start saw him lose some velocity in the third inning while totally losing the strike zone. At minimum, you’d think he needs a strong outing today to get considered for a call-up in the near future.
Whatever the case, though, it seems like the Mets really should try doing something. The team’s biggest roster moves thus far have all involved the injured list. At the time of this writing, the organization continues to support manager Carlos Mendoza, even as the Red Sox and Phillies have fired their managers for similarly disappointing starts to the 2026 season.
Exercising patience beats reacting in a knee-jerk fashion, but staying the course with a team that collectively has a broken GPS seems like a bad plan.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 29: Bobby Witt Jr. #7 of the Kansas City Royals slides past Shea Langeliers #23 of the Athletics to score in the first inning at Sutter Health Park on April 29, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Right-handers Ryan Bergert and Ben Kudrna had elbow surgeries on Wednesday, with Bergert undergoing a full ulnar collateral ligament repair (Tommy John) and Kudrna – the Royals’ No. 9 prospect – undergoing an olecranon stress fracture repair on his elbow. Both are expected to miss the rest of the season.
Bergert was expected to be a major contributor for the Royals in ‘26 after they acquired him, along with Stephen Kolek, from the Padres at last year’s Trade Deadline. Bergert opened the season in Triple-A Omaha but was viewed as No. 1 on the depth chart should the Royals need a starter in the big leagues or even a fresh arm in the bullpen.
Kudrna made just one start that lasted two innings in Triple-A this year before he was placed on the IL on April 6. The olecranon is the bony tip of the elbow, and it can fracture due to overuse, typically in throwing athletes. The surgical option typically involves placing screws into the elbow to stabilize the fracture.
If you didn’t stay up late on Tuesday night, the Salvy splash got a little wild.
Columbia Fireflies SS Josh Hammond got a shoutout for being the hottest hitting prospect for the Royals currently.
Taken with the 28th overall pick last year as a North Carolina prepster, Hammond hasn’t needed any time to settle into his first full season with a .316/.398/.526 line through 20 games with Single-A Columbia. His eight doubles are third-most in the Carolina League, while his 11 extra-base hits are tied for fifth-most. The right-handed slugger was considered to have above-average power potential coming out of the Draft, and it may not be long until more of his hard-hit balls leave the yard as he gets even more comfortable this summer.
Royals Keep explained why the Royals are platooning a lot of their hitters.
Kevin O’Brien talked on why the Royals need to improve their road offense, which hasn’t been corrected yet in Sacramento.
Nathan Church of the Cardinals is robbing game winners left and right.
The Braves keep winning, and Kenley Jansen keeps giving up walk-off dingers.
Could Padres closer Mason Miller really win the NL Cy Young award this year?
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 21: Randal Grichuk #34 of the New York Yankees watches his RBI double against the Boston Red Sox during the eighth inning at Fenway Park on April 21, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Arguably the Phillies’ biggest weakness in the start to a season that’s been full of them is left-handed pitching. As a team, they’re dead last in batting average (.180), OPS (.567), and wRC+ (61) against lefties. They have yet to win a game against a non-opener left-handed starting pitcher. Clearly, the Phillies need all the help they can get against lefties.
Could Randal Grichuk be of some assistance? The 34-year-old outfielder was designated for assignment by the New York Yankees yesterday after hitting .194 with a .534 OPS in 16 games played. Grichuk, who signed a one year, $2.5M minor league deal with New York in the offseason, is a right-handed hitting platoon option who has had success against lefties in the past. For his career, Grichuk owns a .268/.318/.498 batting line against left-handed pitching over the course of his 13-year career in the majors.
Grichuk’s most recent success came in 2024 as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played in 106 games for Arizona and hit .291 with an .875 OPS and 12 home runs while being deployed in a platoon. Grichuk particularly mashed lefties, hitting .319 with a .913 OPS across 184 plate appearances. He re-signed with the D-Backs for 2025 but didn’t have the same level of success, hitting .240 with a .734 OPS in 70 games. His numbers against lefties drastically declined, with his average falling to .226 and his OPS dropping to .737. Grichuk was traded at the 2025 deadline to the Royals and cratered while in Kansas City, hitting .206 with a .566 OPS in 43 games. If you look at the sample size that dates back to his arrival in Kansas City and includes his time in New York this season, Grichuk is hitting .200 with a .556 OPS over his last 140 plate appearances with a 22.9% strikeout rate.
But the Phillies don’t currently have definitively better options. The team talked up Otto Kemp for the right-handed platoon role at every given opportunity over the offseason, but he has already been demoted to Triple-A after going 2 for 20 with 9 strikeouts in 10 games while playing brutal defense in the outfield. Felix Reyes is currently occupying Kemp’s role as Brandon Marsh’s platoon partner, but his results have not been much better. The surprising call-up hit a home run off of Chris Sale in his first at-bat, but has since collected just two hits, both of which were singles. Reyes’ tendency from his minor league career of chasing outside of the zone has carried over to the majors, as he’s swung at an alarming 58.1% of pitches thrown outside of the strike zone through his first five games in the big leagues.
So, should the Phillies be interested in Randal Grichuk? Is he worth the flier to see if the Phillies can alleviate some of their struggles against left-handed pitching?
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JULY 27: General manager Dana Brown of the Houston Astros talks to Joe Espada #19 before the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Minute Maid Park on July 27, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
At what point do the Houston Astros decide enough is enough?
This question isn’t just about the players on the field, it extends to leadership at every level, from the manager to the front office. Around Major League Baseball, we’ve already seen organizations take decisive action. The Boston Red Sox recently made sweeping changes, moving on from Alex Cora and much of his coaching staff due to a lack of results. The Philadelphia Phillies have also made headlines with similar decisions.
That raises a pressing question in Houston: will owner Jim Crane follow suit?
A Front Office Under Pressure
Both general manager Dana Brown and manager Joe Espada are in the final year of their contracts. For Brown in particular, the scrutiny has intensified.
Throughout his tenure, there’s been a lingering sense of uncertainty surrounding his decision-making. While there have been occasional successes, the broader question remains: has he consistently done enough to improve the team?
That concern is magnified when looking at the offseason. The Astros’ need for pitching help was clear. With departures like Framber Valdez looming and multiple arms returning from injury, the expectation was that Houston would aggressively reinforce its rotation and bullpen.
Instead, Brown took a different approach, one that is now under heavy criticism.
Pitching Problems Mount
One of the most notable moves was the signing of Tatsuya Imai. So far, that decision has not paid off. His struggles have now extended to his rehab stint last night in Double-A Corpus Christi. He couldn’t even throw 3 innings, gave up 5 runs on 6 hits including a home run and only threw 31 strikes in 59 pitches. His inability to pitch deep into games or maintain control, as well as his documented struggles to adjust to Major League baseball and life in the United States. There is real reason to question whether he can figure things out and contribute at the major league level.
Meanwhile, injuries to key pitchers like Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier have left the rotation in flux. The constant shuffling has placed enormous strain on the bullpen, as they are being pressed into extended action and thus, taxing the arms that have actually been effective. As a whole, the staff has the worst ERA in baseball, allowing nearly six runs per game.
This is particularly troubling given Brown’s offseason confidence in the team’s pitching depth, a belief that now appears misplaced.
Missed Opportunities in the Lineup
Pitching isn’t the only issue. The Astros also entered the season with a clear need for a corner outfielder to balance a roster heavy on infield talent. Despite that, no significant addition was made.
This is where frustration deepens. Across sports, general managers on the hot seat often take bold risks to improve their teams in the short term. In Houston’s case, that urgency has been noticeably absent.
A Team Worth Saving
Ironically, the Astros’ offense has been one of the bright spots. They remain among the more productive lineups in baseball, good enough to keep the team within striking distance in the division. But at a certain point, you have to either go out and get what you need, or press the reset button and start to sell off what you have.
That’s what makes the current situation so frustrating. Even with their struggles, the Astros are still only a few games out of first place. There is time to turn things around, but only if meaningful changes are made.
Is Change Inevitable?
For Dana Brown, the message is clear: act now or risk being shown the door.
Joe Espada’s situation is more nuanced. As manager, he’s working with the roster he’s been given. However, in professional sports, managers often become the scapegoat when teams underperform. With his contract also expiring, he may not be immune to change.
One possible replacement already exists within the organization. Bench coach Omar Lopez, fresh off a World Baseball Classic victory and widely respected in the clubhouse, could be a logical candidate if Crane decides to make a move. Is it fair, no, but life isn’t fair and firing Espada may be Crane’s first move in an attempt to shake things up.
The Clock Is Ticking
Ultimately, the Astros find themselves at a crossroads. Between underperforming acquisitions, a struggling pitching staff, and expiring contracts in leadership, the pressure is building.
With a strong offense keeping them competitive, the opportunity to salvage the season still exists. But time is running out.
If improvements don’t come soon, it may only be a matter of time before Jim Crane makes sweeping changes in an effort to jumpstart the remainder of the 2026 campaign.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 25: Bryce Elder #55 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park on April 25, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last year, the Braves randomly swept the Tigers late in the year, pulling down the relatively competitive team into their own 2025 muck for a bit. This year, the Braves are rocking and rolling and having a great time, and can sweep the Tigers again with a successful performance on Thursday afternoon.
The Braves largely cruised to a 5-2 victory in the series opener, and then won the series when Matt Olson hit a walkoff two-run homer off old pal Kenley Jansen to deliver a victory in a game started by reigning Cy Young awardee Tarik Skubal. Will they have more heroics in store for us today, or will it be another ho-hum, wire-to-wire win? Or, dare they actually lose a game? We’ll see.
On the hill for Atlanta will be Bryce Elder, who comes in with a 47/77/92 line (ERA-/FIP-/xFIP-). That line is surprising in some ways, especially because his fWAR is a top-30 mark among starters in baseball right now due to his teeny-tiny HR/FB rate. Elder really turned heads during his first four starts of the year, where he was stellar in three of them, but he’s been more in line with expectations in the two since. He had a 6/2 K/BB ratio and gave up a homer against the Nationals, and then had a very weird game where he lasted seven frames but managed just a 2/1 K/BB ratio against the Phillies, which was the Braves’ most recent loss.
Opposing Elder and the Braves will be Framber Valdez, who is, in some ways, having a pretty unusual start to his year. Valdez signed a large, $115 million, three-year (ish, it’s a little complicated) deal with the Tigers relatively late in the offseason, after concerns about his personality cooled his market coming off another 4 fWAR year. Before free agency, Valdez was a model of consistency, between 3.7 and 4.4 fWAR over his past four seasons, with FIP- and xFIP- marks all tightly clustered between 75 and 82 in all four seasons. That’s kind of absurd when you think about it.
But, 2026 has been a different story so far as Valdez takes the ball in a uniform other than the one he wore for all eight prior seasons of his career: his strikeouts are down, his walks are up, hitters are finding it easier to elevate against him, and he’s getting by in part because of a low HR/FB. His line is 81/90/104, which vaguely resembles his 79/80/77 line over the past four seasons, but definitely not on the back of his pitching. In his six starts, three have been good, one has been so-so, and two have been problematic — including his most recent, where the Reds thrashed him and chased him after just 13 outs, while he posted a 4/5 K/BB ratio and gave up a homer. Even if the Braves battle Valdez to a relative standstill, they’ll still have a chance against a beleaguered and ineffective Detroit bullpen, so don’t count them out if Elder hangs in there, even if Valdez is lulling them to sleep with his sinker in the middle innings.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Thursday, April 30, 12:15 p.m. EDT
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
TV: BravesVision
Streaming: MLB.tv (and Braves.tv if you’re in-market, etc.)
BERLIN, GERMANY - APRIL 30: A detailed view of a Hankook tyre in the Pitlane during previews ahead of the Berlin E-Prix at Tempelhof Airport Circuit on April 30, 2026 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Simon Galloway/LAT Images)
Hickory starter Aidan Deakins threw 5.1 shutout innings, striking out four and walking four.
Yolfram Castillo and Daniel Flames each had a hit. In 10 innings, the Crawdads hitters struck out 15 times.
Dalton Pence started for Hub City, allowing three runs on three solo homers while striking out six in five innings. Joey Danielson allowed two runs in an inning.
Malcolm Moore was 2 for 4 with a double, a homer and a walk. Maxton Martin had a double. Rafe Perich was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk.
Round Rock starter Josh Stephan struck out five and walked four in 4.1 IP, allowing one run. Emiliano Teodo went 0.2 IP, walking two, striking out one and allowing two runs. Thomas Ireland struck out two in a shutout inning. Alexis Diaz struck out two in a scoreless inning.
Cam Cauley had a double and a walk. Michael Helman was 2 for 5 with a homer and a stolen base. Justin Foscue had a hit and a walk.
Apr 29, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) blocks a shot from Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans (71) in the second period during game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Nathan Ray Seebeck/Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Another home loss in the playoffs has the Tampa Bay Lightning on the brink of an early vacation once again.
Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed a fluke goal on the day he was nominated for the Vezina Trophy, the Lightning struggled to win faceoffs, lucky bounces went the other way and they lost to the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on Wednesday night to fall behind 3-2 in the series.
Game 6 is Friday night in Montreal. The Lightning are trying to avoid a fourth straight first-round elimination since falling two wins short of a Stanley Cup three-peat in 2022.
“We got to drag them back here,” forward Corey Perry said. “You know it’s going to be a hostile environment. It’s loud but block it out and just go play. We found a way last game there. We got to do it again.”
The Lightning won Game 4 in Montreal but have lost 10 of their last 12 home games in the playoffs.
Alexandre Texier scored the winning goal 1:06 into the third period on a slap shot from the left circle that bounced off Vasilevskiy’s glove and trickled behind one of the NHL’s best goaltenders.
Lightning coach Jon Cooper blamed the goal on the defense.
“It stems way before that. It doesn’t stem from when Texier gets down the ice. It stems from the change and how we went about it and the mistakes we made on the way there,” Cooper said. “Forever, all Vasy does is bail us out of those. The rare time sometimes he doesn’t. He should’ve never got that deep into our zone and he got a lot on it. It wasn’t like Vasy got beat. He had it and it took a Montreal bounce, unfortunately for us.
The Canadiens dominated the faceoff circle, winning 66%. In another tight game - all five have been decided by one goal and the first three went to overtime - every puck possession matters.
“Possession is huge,” forward Brayden Point said. “There’s not a lot of room out there. Starting with the puck is massive.”
The Lightning had 40 shots on rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes but only Dominic James and Jake Guentzel could get the puck past him.
They had shots hit the post, crossbar and Nikita Kucherov had the puck bounce over his stick with an open net.
“We need other guys to score and haven’t been able to do it,” Point said. “It is frustrating. Just got to keep doing the right things and keep working hard.”
The Lightning have lost their last two elimination games. If they can win again in Montreal, they’ll host Game 7 on Sunday.
“I understand the next game is a potential elimination game but the last game we played there, we lose that one and we’re down 3-1 (and) you’re really chasing the series,” Cooper said. “They’ve been in that building twice now and have a pretty good feeling of what to expect. How it’s going to go? I can’t say for sure but I’ll bet we play better than we did tonight.
Almost half of the MLB schedule today starts before 1:00 p.m. ET, so we're starting nice and early with our MLB best bets, based on prices available at Polymarket.
Read on to see why our expert MLB picks start by targeting early offense in the first leg of the Astros/Orioles doubleheader, then look at the Reds to roll over a so-so starting pitcher and Arizona to win in a spot it appears mispriced.
UPDATE: Added Jon Metler's MLB best bet for the day.
Sign up now using our exclusive Polymarket promo code 'COVERS' (on your mobile app only) and get a $20 trading bonus after you deposit $20 to trade on any other event contracts — including MLB expert picks!
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The total in Game 1 of today’s doubleheader between the Houston Astros and Baltimore Orioles is 9.5, and the YRFI is trading at just -113 — I’m in. This is the best pitching matchup to target for early offense: Chris Bassitt has had issues with Yordan Alvarez, who has taken him deep five times in 22 at-bats. On the other side, Peter Lambert is likely punching above his weight early, and I’m not buying the turnaround after prior struggles. There are command concerns on both sides that point to traffic on the bases early — this sets up well for runs in the opening frame (and throughout the game).
Jon Metler's expert pick: Athletics moneyline
Price: 55¢ (-122) at Polymarket
The Athletics are trading as a 55-cent favorite, and that number is too low — I make them closer to a 61-cent favorite in this spot. Sutter Health Park is a hitter-friendly ballpark, where the ball really carries, and the A's lineup is built to take advantage of that. That’s a major concern for Noah Cameron, the Kansas City Royals’ starting pitcher, who profiles as an extreme fly-ball pitcher. When you have power right-handed bats in the middle of the lineup (such as Shea Langeliers) who thrive against lefties, allowing that many fly balls becomes a dangerous game, especially with the wind blowing out and conditions sitting at a sunny 74 degrees in Sacramento.
Neil Parker's expert pick: Reds -1.5
Price: 44¢ (+127) at Polymarket
The Colorado Rockies rank 22nd in wOBA with the second-highest strikeout percentage against southpaws — so I’m expecting Cincinnati Reds lefty Andrew Abbott to string together some scoreless innings this afternoon, as he's a better pitcher than his .351 BABIP and 63.9% strand rate indicate. Colorado counters with Michael Lorenzen, a run-of-the-mill righty with a 4.20 ERA across 551 1/3 innings since transitioning to a full-time starter in 2022.
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Diamondbacks ML
Price: 46¢ (+117) at Polymarket
Sign me up for the Arizona Diamondbacks as a small dog when they have a clear edge in both starting pitching and hitting. Mike Soroka is in the midst of a breakout season, after injuries stalled his career, and Arizona is 4-1 in his starts as he has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of them. He's in a great spot to carve up a struggling Milwaukee Brewers lineup that ranks 28th in OPS over the past two weeks. Milwaukee SP Brandon Woodruff has been solid, but Arizona’s offense — fourth in OPS over the past two weeks — can give him trouble.
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.
Apr 28, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) shoots the ball against Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) in the second quarter during game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images
Just when you think the season looks like it’s over, they pull you right back in.
It took until the start of the fourth quarter for the Sixers to take their first lead. There were some cold shooting spells in the first half as well as some fairly flat defense, yet they showed their resolve to keep competing and remain composed. In the second half they ramped up at both ends of the floor, and it was in the fourth quarter with elimination on the line that they executed excellently.
The Sixers dominated the final period 28-11, with the Celtics going an almost unbelievable 3-of-22 from the floor. Meanwhile, Philly shot 9-of-17, took good care of the ball, had key buckets from Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Quentin Grimes when they needed them, and their defense locked in.
Put all that together, and the Sixers fought their way to the largest road playoff win in NBA history by a team that trailed entering the fourth quarter.
Now let’s talk about the man who dominated to turn this series around, and whose return could be enough to take this to seven games.
It was an all-time, character defining playoff performance for Embiid. Far beyond what you should expect from someone who just returned mid series after having an emergency appendectomy only 10 days before the start of the playoffs. As our Paul Hudrick wrote when reflecting on Embiid’s night, Jo’s toughness was certainly on full display.
Embiid finished with 33 points on 12-of-23 shooting in just under 39 minutes, eight assists to three turnovers, and a 9-of-10 mark from the free throw line. After struggling to get his jumpers to fall early on from range, he spent more time inside as the game progressed and put on a clinic in the post. Face-up drives, spins, fadeaway jumpers, nifty fakes under the basket to create easier finishes… You name it, Embiid had everything working against anyone the Celtics threw at him.
Joel Embiid with a VINTAGE performance in game 5 to force the series back to Philly
Clearly the Sixers could use more of the same heading into Game 6. Apart from how Embiid could get his own against the Celtics’ bigs, we also saw yet again how his gravity could open up space for others. When second defenders stunted towards him or he drew double teams, he calmly made extra passes to keep the offense humming and find the likes of Maxey, Paul George and Grimes in space.
How the Celtics approach him in Game 6, how they use double teams and where they send help from will be essential to monitor. Boston doesn’t have anyone who can comfortably handle Embiid one-on-one. And when he isn’t attacking in isolation, he can collapse the defense and generate open looks from three for his teammates or chances for them to attack late closeouts. It worked in Game 5 — the Sixers just need to keep taking those chances to take this series to Game 7.
Embiid’s return also brought back his two-man game with Maxey, which the latter sure could use after the offensive load he’s had to carry so far this series while struggling somewhat with his jumper. Whether it’s their pick-and-roll play, dribble hand-off action, or how Maxey can relocate into space as Embiid pulls in the defense, it’s easier for Maxey to get open.
Another huge difference maker in Game 5 was Grimes. He scored 18 points on only eight field goal attempts to lead the second unit and shot 4-of-7 from three, all while applying fierce pressure with his on-ball defense.
It was easily Grimes’ best game of the series so far, and after showing some improvement already with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting in Game 4 after a quiet first three games, it’ll make a real difference if he can keep this going in Game 6. Beyond how his defense helped contain Jaylen Brown and others, Grimes simply hitting shots makes it much easier for the Sixers’ offense to stay balanced through quieter games from guys like VJ Edgecombe.
Just look at how Grimes smothered Brown on this possession. Grimes forced Brown to essentially waste the whole shot clock with his excellent movement on the ball and physicality.
The Celtics ended up running a lot of isolation possessions in Game 5, and for the most part they had little success. Jayson Tatum was contained well enough with 24 points on 8-of-19 shooting, Brown finished with 22 points on 23 shots, and the Celtics’ cooler 28.2 percent shooting from three cost them as well.
It’ll be interesting to see if the Celtics change up their offensive approach much in Game 6, and if the Sixers can keep defending the perimeter as they did Tuesday. From Grimes’ play to how stellar George has been defensively all series (he also added 16 points, four triples, nine rebounds, seven assists, and two steals in Game 5), there’s plenty of strong play at that end to build on. If the Sixers can remained focused on defense overall and consistently pay attention to the simple details like boxing out (which they haven’t always done yet this series), they’re in good shape.
Maxey made it clear after Game 5 how motivated the Sixers were to recover from the ugliness of Game 4.
“The performance we put on for our fans the last time at home was a disgrace and unacceptable,” he said. “They deserve for us to come back home and play well.”
Now, the Sixers have that chance to go back home and force a Game 7. And if they get this version of Embiid again, they may well do it. When he’s this good, it’s that hard to find an answer for him.
If that kind of Embiid performance remains, the Sixers stay warm enough from three, Maxey builds off his improved 10-of-18 shooting night on Tuesday, George keeps thriving at both ends, and Grimes steps up again, there’s a lot to like about the Sixers’ Game 6 chances.
Game Details
When: Thursday, April 30, 8:00 p.m. ET Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA Watch: Peacock Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 29: Joc Pederson #3 of the Texas Rangers shakes hands with teammates following a victory over the New York Yankees at Globe Life Field on April 29, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rangers 3, Yankees 0
Good Nathan Eovaldi has entered the chat.
Nathan Eovaldi kicked much ass on Wednesday afternoon.
A much needed outing, given the bumpiness of recent performances.
And I mean, really, Nate wasn’t going to let himself get outdueled by some dude named Elmer, right?
Seven Ks, just one walk, seven innings. 20 swinging strikes on 102 pitches.
Eovaldi largely stayed away from his fastball (thrown 10 times out of 102 pitches) and his sinker (5 times), going with a splitter/cutter/curveball mix. 12 of his swings and misses came on the splitter, 6 on the cutter.
Eovaldi’s ERA on the year is now 4.76, with a 4.38 xERA.
Big ups to Jacob Latz for the two inning save. Woo Jakey L!!!!!!!!
This is the third shutout for the Rangers this year, and the first time they’ve shut out a team other than the Mariners.
Offensively, a day after the Rangers were 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position, Texas went 4 for 8 with runners in scoring position. Not surprisingly, that led to more runs.
Only three, which isn’t ideal, but still.
Josh Jung continues to carry the team on his back, as a bases loaded single in the fifth brought home the Rangers’ first two runs, breaking a scoreless tie.
Jung is now slashing .317/.381/.545 on the season.
Brandon Nimmo had an infield single to load the bases right before the Jung single, and ended up leaving the game for Sam Haggerty due to a hamstring issue, so apparently we had to sacrifice Brandon Nimmo to get runs scored.
Nimmo, fortunately, is believed to be day-to-day, so hopefully he’ll be in the lineup at some point this weekend in Detroit.
Haggerty, meanwhile, singled home the third run of the game in the seventh, so good job, Sam!
Ezequiel Duran, getting the rare start against a righthander, was 2 for 2 with a double and a walk, raising his slash line on the season to .288/.354/.424.
Duran has been splitting time in left field with Alejandro Osuna during Wyatt Langford’s absence. Langford is expected to be activated this weekend at some point, however, which will result in Osuna going back to AAA and Langford taking over the left field role.
With Josh Smith’s current struggles, however, Duran could end up getting more playing time at second base.
Nathan Eovaldi topped out at 95.6 mph with his fastball, averaging 94.5 mph. Jacob Latz touched 96.6 mph with his fastball.
Joc Pederson had a 105.1 mph ground out and a 103.9 mph fly out. Corey Seager had a 102.8 mph GIDP. Jake Burger had a 100.8 mph ground out.
Heading into an off day with a victory is always a good thing.
This afternoon is loaded with ball games, and my top MLB player props have you covered for the action Thursday, April 30.
My two favorite MLB picks feature Houston Astros star Yordan Alvarez, and Philadelphia Phillies favorite Bryce Harper in favorable pitching matchups today.
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Yordan Alvarez
Over 1.5 total bases
-102
Bryce Harper
Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI
-105
Andrew Abbott
Over 4.5 strikeouts
-145
Yordan Alvarez Over 1.5 total bases (-102)
It’s been a rough start for Baltimore Orioles righty Chris Bassitt, with his 6.75 ERA reinforced by a 6.25 xFIP, a monster .472 wOBA, and .246 ISO to left-handed hitters. Houston Astros star Yordan Alvarez has posted .463 wOBA and .338 ISO against right-handed arms this season, and he’s teed off on Bassitt for five home runs across 25 at-bats with a monster 1.598 OPS.
Time: 12:35 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MASN, SCHN
Bryce Harper Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI (-105)
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper is heating up to go Over the number in this market in five of his past seven games with six runs, seven hits, and eight RBI, and he’s put up a rock-solid .407 wOBA against righties for the year.
This is also a soft pitching matchup with San Francisco Giants righty Logan Webb searching for answers on the mound. He’s surrendered a beefy 49.1% hard-hit rate, and left-handed hitters have squared off for a .372 wOBA. Harper has also launched a pair of home runs against Webb while going 4-for-8 at the dish.
Time: 12:35 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCSP, NBCSBA
Andrew Abbott Over 4.5 strikeouts (-145)
With the Colorado Rockies sporting a 22nd-ranked wOBA and striking out at the second-highest clip against lefties, this is a solid bounce-back opportunity for Cincinnati Reds southpaw Andrew Abbott.
There’s no sugarcoating Abbott's poor start, but he’s set to improve on his unsustainable .351 BABIP and 63.9% strand rate, and his 8.3 K/9 and 22.2 K% across his first 75 career starts are well above his respective 5.97 and 14.3% marks to start 2026. Simply put, the Reds' lefty has sunnier days ahead.
Time: 12:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CINR, COLR
Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 7-3, +3.65 units
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.
The New York Knicks will be looking to close out the Atlanta Hawks, but they may have to do so without a key player.
Forward Josh Hart left New York’s 126-97Game 5 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, April 28 in the fourth quarter and did not return to the bench.
After the game, Knicks coach Mike Brown did not have any information on Hart’s status, and a team public relations spokesperson indicated that the medical staff had not provided any information about a possible injury.
With the Knicks holding a 3-2 series lead, Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday, April 30 at 7 p.m. ET.
Here’s everything you need to know about the status of Knicks forward Josh Hart ahead of Game 6 against the Hawks:
Is Josh Hart playing tonight vs. Hawks?
It’s still unclear. In their first official injury report issued late Wednesday evening, the Knicks listed Hart as questionable with a lower back contusion. It was the first indication from the team that Hart was dealing with an injury, and the severity of it remains unclear.
Presumably, with a closeout situation at stake, Hart will do everything he can to suit up. But given that it’s still early in the playoffs, New York may also want to be cautious with Hart.
Known for his grit, physical play and toughness, Hart has often played through minor issues, and he has become a key figure in New York’s title hopes. Throughout this series, he has served as a versatile defensive wing, alternating his assignments from game to game.
Even if Hart is forced to miss some time, though, the Knicks still have excellent defensive wings in OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges. In fact, Brown has deployed Hart in a way that allows the Knicks to switch all pick-and-rolls, giving New York excellent matchup versatility on defense.
Josh Hart injury
Hart appeared to suffer a back injury in the first half of Tuesday’s contest, though he remained in the game. Hart was officially subbed out with 6:27 left in Game 5, and he went through the tunnel and didn’t emerge for the rest of the game. The substitution might have been more precautionary, however, as the Knicks were up by 24 points when Hart left the game.
In his 30:14 on the court Tuesday night, Hart scored 9 points on 3-of-8 shooting, adding 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday, April 30 in Atlanta, with the Knicks holding a 3-2 series lead. The Knicks issued their first injury report Wednesday, April 29, during the evening.
How to watch Knicks vs. Hawks
Date: Thursday, April 30
Location: State Farm Arena (Atlanta)
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN
Streaming: Disney+, ESPN
Josh Hart stats
In 66 games this season, Hart averaged 12.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.
With their 1-0 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 6, the Pittsburgh Penguins' off-season is officially here. When noting that the Penguins took a big step in the right direction this season, it would not be surprising if they looked to upgrade some spots on their roster during the summer.
One specific area that the Penguins could look to improve this off-season is the right side of their defense. When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, one player who stands out as an intriguing option is Calgary Flames defenseman Zach Whitecloud.
Whitecloud generated plenty of chatter as a trade candidate leading up to this year's trade deadline, but the Flames held onto him. However, with the Flames rebuilding, it is fair to wonder if Whitecloud will be a player they listen to offers for during the summer.
If the Penguins acquired Whitecloud, he could be a strong fit on their bottom pairing and penalty kill. However, he also could move up their lineup if needed, which adds to his appeal.
Whitecloud also has a $2.75 million cap hit until the end of the 2027-28 season, so he would be more than a rental for the Penguins if acquired.
In 78 games this season split between the Vegas Golden Knights and Flames, Whitecloud had two goals, 15 assists, 17 points, 124 hits, and 140 blocks.
The Montreal Canadiens picked up a massive 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday in Game 5. With this, the Canadiens now have a 3-2 series lead over the Bolts and need only one more win to advance to the second round.
Alexandre Texier was a massive reason for the Canadiens picking up this clutch win. This is because the 26-year-old forward scored the game-winning goal for the Habs at the 1:06 mark of the third period.
With this goal, Texier stepped up in a significant way for the Canadiens in Game 6. He is only continuing to prove to the Habs that they made the right call by signing him after he mutually terminated his contract with the St. Louis Blues earlier this season.
Texier has been red-hot for the Canadiens this series, too, as he has two goals, four points, and a plus-5 rating in five games so far. However, it is also important to note that he has gotten all of his points over his last three games. Thus, he has been playing excellently, and the Canadiens are benefiting from it big time.
The Canadiens will now be hoping for Texier to continue to make an impact for them as the playoffs roll on. In 43 regular-season games with the Canadiens in 2025-26, he had eight goals, 12 assists, 20 points, and a plus-9 rating.
Yordan Alvarez
Bryce Harper
Andrew Abbott