Game Discussion for the St. Louis Cardinals vs Washington Nationals

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 03: Michael McGreevy #36 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws a first inning pitch against the Detroit Tigers during the Tigers home opener at Comerica Park on April 03, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The St. Louis Cardinals will wrap up the first road trip of the 2026 season with a Wednesday afternoon contest against an old friend. While the Cardinals have Michael McGreevy scheduled to make the afternoon start, the Washington Nationals will send Ron BurgundyMiles Mikolas to the mound. Miles has had a rough start to the season with an 0-2 record and an ERA of 14.46. Let’s hope the Cardinals increase that number Wednesday afternoon.

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Boston Celtics Daily Links 4/8/26

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 5: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Toronto Raptors on April 5, 2026 at TD Garden 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

HeraldJayson Tatum ‘not thrilled’ to return to site of injury for Celtics-Knicks

Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum power Celtics past Hornets in potential playoff preview

Brad Stevens talks Celtics’ playoff ceiling, Jayson Tatum’s return, college rumors

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Jayson Tatum is ‘not thrilled’ about first trip to Madison Square Garden since injury

Brown scores 35 points as the Celtics beat the Hornets 113-102 to claim the season series

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Jaylen Brown, Celtics close in on No. 2 seed after dispatching Charlotte, another potential playoff opponent

Brad Stevens refuses to put a ceiling on this postseason-bound Celtics team, because he knows the sky’s the limit

Celtics GreenComments from the Other Side – Hornets 4/8/26

CelticsBlogBrad Stevens talked Jayson Tatum, the Celtics ceiling, and more. Here’s everything I took away.

Jordan Walsh embodies the story of the Celtics season

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Jaylen Brown sees shades of Celtics in up-and-coming Hornets ‘ready to play’

Celtics owner Bill Chisholm reflects on his first year with the team

Hornets vs. Celtics player grades: 58 points from the Jays and 2nd half defense takes sting out of Charlotte

Celtics’ strong 4th quarter stings Hornets, 113-102

CLNS MediaDid Celtics Ownership Cut Costs this Season? | The Garden Report

Celtics Beat Hornets in Potential First-Round Preview | You Got Boston

Xavier Tillman: Jayson Tatum Was Dunking in January Scrimmage | Celtics Daily

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Keys to the Game: Celtics 113, Hornets 102

NBC Sports BostonCeltics-Hornets recap: Brown leads way in C’s thrilling comeback win

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Jaylen Brown Praises Potential Playoff Opponent With Flattering Comparison

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Brad Stevens addresses college coaching rumors: ‘I like being here’

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Jaylen Brown is the Celtics ‘Name to Know’ Player of the Game in Tuesday’s win over Hornets

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Celtics WireThink the Celtics are rolling now? Jaylen Brown thinks they can get better

Report: Celtics ‘known to be interested’ in Giannis Antetokounmpo

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Frank Garza on how son Luka remade his game, body to set up Celtics success

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Jaylen Brown hypes up Celtics teammate Jordan Walsh for playoff opportunity

The Athletic OG Anunoby, Derrick White highlight our All-Perimeter Defense First Team

Celtics’ Jayson Tatum on post-Achilles return to MSG: ‘Might as well get it out the way’

Joe Mazzulla appreciates Giannis’ praise but credits players: ‘I think it starts there’

Brad Stevens on NBA solving its tanking problem: ‘I think it’s really important’

Boston Sports JournalSimone: Celtics’ championship identity once again on display in win over Hornets

BSJ Game Report: Celtics 113, Hornets 102 – Boston picks up playoff-level win

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Far-fetched Giannis trade scenario becomes more real for the Celtics

Jayson Tatum opens up about impending hurdle he faces in his journey back

Nikola Vucevic’s injury created more problems for the Celtics than they thought

It took just one play for Jordan Walsh to completely change the game for the Celtics

Celtics proving to be a ‘flip the switch’ team is horrifying for rest of the NBA

Celtics’ wing seems to be improbably hitting his stride at the perfect time

Brad Stevens poetically explains why he has no interest in leaving the Celtics

CLNS Media/YouTube Celtics Make STATEMENT vs Hornets | Garden Report Postgame Show on CLNS

Did Celtics Ownership CUT Costs this Season? | Garden Report

Is Jordan Walsh BACK? Celtics Make Statement vs Hornets | You Got Boston w/ Noa Dalzell

Jayson Tatum on Return to MSG for First Time Since Injury | FULL Postgame Interview

Jaylen Brown on Jayson Tatum Return to MSG: We got his back.” | Celtics Hornets FULL Postgame 4-7

Joe Mazzulla on Celtics Win over Hornets | Postgame Interview

Grant Williams on Jayson Tatum’s Return: “IMPRESSIVE” | Celtics vs Hornets Pregame

Charles Lee on Jayson Tatum: He Scored TOO MUCH vs Hornets | Pregame Interview

Brad Stevens On His Future, Tatum’s Recovery, Tanking, and More | Celtics vs Hornets Pregame

Joe Mazzulla RESPONDS to Giannis Comments | Celtics vs Hornets Pregame

Rockets WireRockets convert JD Davison from two-way deal to standard NBA contract

SI .comJaylen Brown Says He’s Copying Backup Center’s Moves to Impove Finishing at the Rim

Brad Stevens Adds His Voice to NBA Tanking Issue, Hints at Multiple Solutions

A Triggering Experience Awaits Jayson Tatum, and it’s Another Mental Hurdle to Clear

Celtics-Hornets Player Grades: Stars Step Up Late, But Jordan Walsh’s Defense Was Big

Three Takeaways from the Hornets’ 11-Point Loss to the Boston Celtics

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GAME-CHANGER: Jordan Walsh STIFLES LaMelo Ball as Celtics SEIZE Late Momentum In Win

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Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla Issues Response to Giannis Antetokounmpo

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Jaylen Brown Makes Bold Statement On Celtics Chances Against Knicks In The Playoffs

WEEI/YouTubeChris Mannix of Sports Illustrated believes that Joe Mazzulla is the Coach of the Year | Afternoons

Anxiety? Tatum’s 1st Game Back in NY Incoming… Celtics Undefeated in April ||The Greg Hill Show

Jaylen Brown Most Improved Player? Celtics/Knicks ECF Rematch? ||The Greg Hill Show

Athlon SportsJaylen Brown Makes Career Decision Amid Celtics Season

The Sports HubEx-Celtics guard signs two-year deal with Rockets

Brad Stevens not interested in college head coaching jobs

Jayson Tatum ‘not thrilled’ for first game at New York since injury

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Jordan Walsh looks ready for his opportunity

Barstool SportsColin Cowherd Wants So Badly To Be Jayson Tatum’s “Skip Bayless” It’s Getting Beyond Pathetic At This Point

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NBA/YouTubeHORNETS at CELTICS | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | April 7, 2026

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Atlanta Braves at Anaheim Angels Game Thread: April 8

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 7: Josh Lowe #3 of the Los Angeles Angels is tagged out at third by Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves as he was trying to advance on a wild pitch in the sixth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 7, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s time to paste the Statcast graphic into the body of this post because it wasn’t available when I was doing the lineups post, and also, for the Braves to have a successful West Coast-ish road trip and continue to be unbeaten series-wise in 2026, right? Oy.

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Woman gives birth at NHL stadium midgame: ‘Someone’s going to have a great story to tell’

During the second period of Saturday’s game between the Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place, a woman reportedly went into labor and gave birth inside the arena (pictured here in 2021) (Getty Images)

Game. Set. Baby!

A woman went into labor and gave birth inside Rogers Place in Alberta, Canada, last week during the Las Vegas, Knights’ victory over the Edmonton Oilers.

“Breaking news: We have word that someone has gone into labor here tonight,” play-by-play announcer Jack Michaels said during the second period on the Sportsnet broadcast. “There’s a baby being born on the seventh floor at Rogers Place as we speak.”

“So someone’s going to have a great story to tell,” Michaels added, before joking, “It would be nice to have the mother join us on After Hours to describe what’s happened, but that could be asking a bit much.”

The mother, who has yet to be publicly identified, did not appear on the sports network’s post-game show.

“Someone’s going to have a great story to tell,” a play-by-play announcer said (Getty Images)
“Someone’s going to have a great story to tell,” a play-by-play announcer said (Getty Images)

Details about the mother and newborn have not been released, and it remains unclear whether medical personnel assisted with the delivery.

The Independent has contacted Rogers Place for comment.

While details on the birth itself are slim, fans on social media had big reactions to the once-in-a-lifetime event.

“At least someone is delivering, [Connor] McDavid sure ain't,” one X user wrote, referring to the Oilers’ center and captain.

“They better get season tickets for life,” another person suggested.

Others offered up their baby name ideas.

“Did she make it back for the 3rd period? And what's the kid's name? Rogers, Connor, or Seven (any Seinfeld fans?)?” one person asked.

“I think they name the baby Roger. Roger’s Place,” another said.

The Golden Knights defeated the Oilers 5-1, ending Edmonton’s five-game winning streak in a game that also saw a fan struck by a puck and a late on-ice fight, just weeks before the NHL regular season wraps April 16 and the playoffs begin.

Gabe Landeskog nominated for the 2026 Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 30 : Gabe Landeskog, captain of Colorado Avalanche, poses for a portrait at the locker room of Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post) | Denver Post via Getty Images

As we get closer to the NHL Awards season, Colorado’s nominee for the Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy has been revealed, and the captain, Gabe Landeskog, has been nominated by the PHWA Colorado chapter for the 2026 award.

The Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy is one that’s given to an NHL player “best exemplified perserverence, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey”. Landeskog was also the Colorado chapter’s nominee in 2025.

Landeskog’s journey back to the NHL since lifting the Stanley Cup in June of the 2022 season has been well-documented. Initially, he missed time in the 2022-23 season due to a knee injury, but it wasn’t until the playoffs in 2025 that he finally returned to NHL hockey, then resumed regular-season play in 2025-26. Despite the ups and downs of his journey, Landeskog’s resiliency and determination to get back to playing hockey are incredibly impressive, and it’s awesome to see him get recognized for those attributes. Hopefully, he wins the award this year.

Arizona Diamondbacks Gameday Thread, #12: 4/8 @ Mets

A general view of the Brooklyn Bridge is seen in New York City, on November 23, 2023. (Photo by Mairo Cinquetti/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images

Today’s Lineups

DIAMONDBACKSMETS
Ketel Marte – DHFrancisco Lindor – SS
Corbin Carroll – RFBo Bichette – 3B
Geraldo Perdomo – SSJorge Polanco – DH
Gabriel Moreno – CLuis Robert – CF
Nolan Arenado – 3BBrett Baty – RF
Ildemaro Vargas – 2BMark Vientos – 1B
Jose Fernandez – 1BMarcus Semien – 2B
Tim Tawa – LFCarson Benge – LF
Jorge Barrosa – CFFrancisco Alvarez – C
Ryne Nelson – RHPDavid Peterson – LHP

Another underwhelming day for the Diamondbacks offense yesterday. After eleven games, the team is hitting a collective .213, with an OPS of .632. That’s ranked 23rd in the majors, and 59 points below league average. Though it is worth noting that offense generally is down as a whole. The OPS across all of MLB is below .700 at a mere .691, 28 points below the overall figure last year. It’s not just the expected “slow start in cold weather” thing. Through April 7th last year, the MLB OPS was .705, so this season’s figure is below even that. Remember when an OPS starting with a six indicated a hitter was really struggling? So far in 2026, it has been the norm.

That said, the D-backs had posted a .768 OPS through the same date last season, so it’s definitely an issue. Corbin Carroll is continuing to do Corbin Carroll things. But Ketel Marte (OPS+ 70) and Geraldo Perdomo (51), who were expected to power the offense to an equal extent, have got off to a slow start. As we noted on Monday, Marte is hitting the ball hard, but into the ground. His GB/FB rate is 1.60, the highest on the team among regulars. For Perdomo, there is a concerning amount of blue on his Baseball Savant page. Of particular concern, the percentage of time when he’s hitting the ball at the right launch angle (8-32 degrees), which powered his surge last year, is significantly down. He has hit just one “barrel” so far.

All told, there is reason to suggest the offense has been more “responsible” for the issues so far this year than the pitching. By Win Probability on Fangraphs, Arizona’s hitting has been worth -96%, which ranks it 22nd in the majors. The pitching is at +46%, ranked 15th. And this might be a surprise: the D-backs’ bullpen is higher still, a +18% figure which comes in twelfth. Yes, our relievers have been better than average at keeping the team in games. I reckon, as mentioned in the comments on yesterday’s recaps, that they have simply had so little room for error. You might expect each reliever to put up a zero. But when you need five of them to do so in a row…

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Washington Nationals vs St. Louis Cardinals Game Thread

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 07: James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with Curtis Mead #45 after hitting a home run in the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park on April 07, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After the bullpen blew it again, the Nats need to get off the mat. Last night was a really disheartening loss that showed just how bad this bullpen is. The offense continues to get the job done though, which is really exciting for the present and future of the club.

With a righty on the mound, the Nats made a few tweaks to the lineup. Luis Garcia Jr. will be back at first base, and hitting second. Jose Tena and Drew Millas are also back in the lineup. The red hot James Wood remains the leadoff man today and will play right field. Miles Mikolas is on the mound against his old team, and this feels like a crossroads moment for him. If he is not doing well early, Brad Lord is well rested and should be ready to roll.

The Cardinals only made a couple lineup changes. Ramos Urias will be back in the lineup, shifting Nolan Gorman to DH. Nathan Church will be in center field over Victor Scott. Otherwise, it is a familiar crew. Nats pitchers will have to watch out for the red hot Jordan Walker, who looks like a different player this year. Former first rounder Michael McGreevy will be on the mound for the Cards.

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Game Info:

Stadium: Nationals Park

Time: 4:05 PM EST

TV: Nationals.TV

Radio: 106.7 The Fan

If you like runs, the Nats are a team you would love to watch. The offense has been electric and the pitching has been abysmal. With Miles Mikolas on the mound, hopes are not high for the pitching staff. Hopefully the offense can continue to slug. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!

Positive Data Points Jays Batters Part 2

Time for Part 2 of this brief series on early season data points, I was hoping there might be more positives to take away from yesterdays game but alas the beat or baseball season goes on.

Today I will be taking a look at a group of lefty hitters where half of them are off to pretty good starts!! The other two however have been major letdowns.

Andres Gimenez 268/318/463 – 127 WRC+

Gimenez much like the start of last season has started this season hot and he currently leads the Jays in slugging which is good for him but anytime Gimenez leads the team in slugging is likely to bad for the Jays.

For Gimenez the big data point over this small sample is him absolutely crushing right handed pitching, against RHP he is hitting 346/393/654!!!!

Yes unfortunately there is some over performance based on balls in play and quality of contact and he is highly unlikely to maintain this kind of batting line against RHP for the whole season but if you break his splits against RHP by all months where he has seen at least 150 pitches so far this month would rank 2nd in expected batting average, 3rd in expected slugging, 2nd in xWOBA and 2nd in barrel rate.

This month still has lots of time left so not really a fair comparison but so far the first 11 games of the season has been one of the better 11 game hitting stretches against RHP of his career.

Daulton Varsho 171/275/229 47 WRC+

Varsho is clearly off to a rough start especially after being so hot during Spring Training, during the Spring Varsho was doing a great job pairing his new found hard contact from last season with much more contact.

Since the start of the regular season he has so far done a good job maintaining the contact and has raised his contact% all the way up to 82.7% from last seasons 71.7% which has cut his K rate from 28.4% to 15% and he has paired this with a much higher line drive rate of 31% compared to last seasons 16.9%.

Way less Ks and more line drives you would expect this to be a good thing but unfortunately the quality of contact has really fallen off with his hard hit rate dropping from 40.3% to 24.12% and his average exit velocity currently down 7.8 MPH.

It is early but if Varsho can find a happy medium between the all power high K hitter he was last season and the low K line drive guy he has been this season he should be able to help this Jays roster score some runs.

Jesus Sanchez 286/375/429 141 WRC+

I will keep this one pretty short because the Jays have to be happy with what they have received from Sanchez in the batting lineup this season and based on quality of contact he has actually underperformed his expected batted ball stats!!!

A 47.6% hard hit rate, 9.5% barrel rate to go with a 21.9% K rate is a pretty great start to his Blue Jays career.

Addison Barger 053/174/105 – Minus 11 WRC+

Ahhh yeah not a great start to the season for Barger and he is of course now on the IL with an injury.

Even Barger’s 1 hit on the season was a ball that should have been a HR but the RF brought it back and dropped the ball so he was able to get a double but Barger is one dropped HR robbery from still having a 000 batting average.

Digging thru Barger’s data and honestly I don’t have much positives to take away, he is making more contact on both in zone and out of zone pitches so if he gets back to last season’s chase rate he could make some real progress on his K rate

He has still been hitting the ball hard with a 50% hard hit rate so hopefully the IL stint allows him to reset and come back with a better approach and he can combine the new contact rates with his regular quality of contact and get on a roll.

Davey Lopes, basestealing guru and iconic member of 1970s Dodgers, dies at 80

Davey Lopes, one of the greatest basestealers in a go-go era of Major League Baseball and a member of the Los Angeles' Dodgers' iconic infield of the 1970s, died Wednesday, April 8, the Dodgers announced. He was 80.

Lopes, a native of Rhode Island who debuted in 1972, stole 558 bases in his career, ranking 26th all-time, and won National League stolen-base titles in 1975 (77) and 1976 (63). He was the second baseman on a Dodgers infield featuring first baseman Steve Garvey, shortstop Bill Russell and third baseman Ron Cey, a quartet that first played together June 23, 1973, when Garvey supplanted Bill Buckner at first.

Two weeks later, the alignment became permanent, and the quartet became a huge part of Dodgers NL pennants in 1977 and '78, before losing to the New York Yankees in both World Series.

This file photo from 2014 shows Dodgers first base coach Davey Lopes blowing a bubble with his gum against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix.

Yet in 1981, the Dodgers finally broke through to vanquish the Yankees, and the quartet broke up shortly thereafter, with the Dodgers opting for rookie Steve Sax at second, leaving Lopes seeking a team.

He was far from done, stealing 50 bases over two seasons alongside Rickey Henderson in Oakland and then, as a 40-year-old, swiping 47 bags for the 1985 Chicago Cubs.

Lopes' mutton chops and long hair kept a '70s-era ethos in the game well into the next decade, and the hard-nosed and respected player went on to manage the Milwaukee Brewers from 2000-2002 and serve as a coach for the Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, Washington Nationals, Philadelphia Phillies and Dodgers.

A four-time All-Star and Gold Glover, Lopes is survived by his brothers Patrick and John and sisters Jean, Judith, Mary and Nina.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Davey Lopes, Dodgers speedster and longtime MLB coach, dies

How to watch San Francisco Giants vs. Philadelphia Phillies

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 03: Tyler Mahle #54 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the New York Mets in the top of the first inning of a major league baseball game at Oracle Park on April 03, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The San Francisco Giants wrap up this series against the Philadelphia Phillies this afternoon from Oracle Park.

Taking the mound for the Giants will be right-hander Tyler Mahle, who enters today’s game with a 7.00 ERA, 5.04 FIP, with nine strikeouts to three walks in nine innings pitched. His last start was in the Giants’ 10-3 loss to the New York Mets on Friday, in which he allowed five runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks in five innings.

He’ll be facing off against Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola, who enters today’s game with a 3.18 ERA, 3.42 FIP, with 16 strikeouts to three walks in 11.1 innings pitched. His last start was in the Phillies’ 10-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on Friday, in which he allowed one run on five hits with nine strikeouts and a walk in six and a third innings. One run allowed at Coors Field is practically a no-hitter, so that’s pretty impressive.

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Game #13

Who: San Francisco Giants (4-8) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (6-5)

Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, California

When: 12:45 p.m. PT

Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area

National broadcast: n/a

Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM

Thunder vs Clippers Computer Picks: Our Best Player Prop Projections for April 8

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Our NBA player prop projections have been hard at work crunching the numbers for tonight's key Western Conference clash between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Before you finalize your Thunder vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks for Wednesday, April 8, see what our computer has to say about Jalen Williams, Derrick Jones Jr, and more.

Thunder vs Clippers computer picks for April 8

Thunder ThunderClippers Clippers
Williams o15.5 points 
-120
Jones Jr. o7.5 points 
-112
Holmgren o14.5 points
-130
Dunn o5.5 points
-111
SGA o3.5 rebounds 
-150
Leonard u27.5 points 
-120

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Thunder computer picks

Jalen Williams Over 15.5 points (-120)

Projection: 17.4 points

This is our computer's top-rated Oklahoma City Thunder player prop for tonight, clocking in with a 17.9% EV edge.

Jalen Williams has hit 16+ points in five of his last eight overall, and his ability to get to the foul line can help him here.

"This year, opposing starting PFs have attempted 4.1 free throws per game (9th-highest in the NBA) vs. the LA Clippers, succeeding in their efforts to get to the free-throw line."

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Chet Holmgren Over 14.5 points (-130)

Projection: 15.4 points

Chet Holmgren has reached the 15-point plateau in six of his last 10 and 13 of his last 20 overall. He's cleared this line in five of his last six on the road, including a 15-piece vs. the Lakers last night.

The system sees Holmgren hitting the Over once more tonight, with projections at an 11.4% EV edge.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 3.5 rebounds (-150)

Projection: 4.3 rebounds

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is known more for his scoring than his rebounding, but our computer sees SGA pulling in at least four boards tonight, making this a three-star play.

Gilgeous-Alexander takes on a Los Angeles Clippers defense that's allowed the sixth-most rebounds to opposing point guards this season.

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Clippers computer picks

Derrick Jones Jr. Over 7.5 points (-112)

Projection: 9.3 points

Our computer's top pick for tonight with a 22.6% EV edge is Derrick Jones Jr. Over 7.5 points. His scoring projection is 9.3 points, well above his posted line, due to his projected foul shot total.

"This year when [the Clippers] are at home, the opposing team's starting PFs have attempted 4.9 foul shots per game (7th-most in the league) vs. the Thunder, easily managing to get to the foul line."

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Kris Dunn Over 5.5 points (-111)

Projection: 7.0 points

Our system sees Kris Dunn clearing a very low scoring bar tonight, and doing so rather easily. There's a 21% EV edge associated with this prop.

The Clippers are the sixth-highest scoring offense in the league over the last 25 games, and opportunities should be there vs. a traveling Thunder team that just played last night.

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Kawhi Leonard Under 27.5 points (-120)

Projection: 25.5 points

Kawhi Leonard's production is decreasing slightly as the season wears on. He's fallen below 27.5 points in six of his last 10 overall, and our computer believes he'll come up two full points shy tonight, making this a four-star wager.

"Opposing team's starting SFs have averaged 25.5% on threes (2nd-weakest in the NBA) vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder, branding this as a tough matchup. The LA Clippers have played at the 3rd-slowest pace-of-play in the league this year."

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How to watch Thunder vs Clippers tonight

LocationIntuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
DateWednesday, April 8, 2026
Tip-off10:00 p.m. ET
TVFDSN Oklahoma, FDSN Southern California

Not intended for use in MA.
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Davey Lopes, Dodgers legend & World Series champion, dead at 80

Davey Lopes, the second baseman who helped lead the Dodgers to the 1981 World Series, died on Wednesday, the team announced.

“Lopes was a member of the team’s record-setting infield of the 1970s and 1980s and one of the finest basestealers in MLB history,” Los Angeles officials said in a statement just minutes before the Dodgers took the field at Rogers Center in Toronto for a matchup with the Blue Jays.

Davey Lopes died on Wednesday, the Dodgers announced. MLB via Getty Images
Davey Lopes was prolific on the basepaths, stealing 30 or more bags eight times in his 16-year career. Getty Images

“Our condolences go out to his family and friends.”

Lopes was 80 years old.

The Washburn University product was picked by the Giants in the eighth round of the 1967 draft, but he did not sign. He was then taken by the Dodgers in the second round of the 1968 draft, and he went on to have a storied career for the Boys in Blue.

He made his debut in 1972, and he became a regular contributor for the Dodgers in 1973. 

Davey Lopes coached for the Dodgers following his retirement from playing. Getty Images

He was prolific on the basepaths, stealing 30 or more bags eight times in his 16-year career.

In 1978, he made his first-ever All-Star Game, and he went on to be selected to the league’s Midsummer Classic three more times.

In ’81, he was part of the Dodgers team that defeated the Yankees for the World Series crown.

Lopes finished his career with stints in Oakland, Chicago and Houston, officially wrapping his time as an MLB player in 1987. He ended up playing in a total of 1,812 games and recording 557 stolen bases with a .263 batting average.

Lopes went on to coach in retirement, suiting up for the Rangers, Orioles and Padres in the 1990s. In 2000, he was hired as the Brewers’ manager.

He piled up a 144-195 record before he was fired in 2002.

Lopes later had roles on the Nationals’ and Phillies’ staffs before he returned to the Dodgers to be a first base coach.

He ultimately retired from managing following 2017.


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Davey Lopes, longtime Dodgers second baseman and coach, dies at age 80

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 1981: Davey Lopes of the Los Angeles Dodgers slides into third base during the 1981 NLCS playoffs1981 at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Davey Lopes, the best second baseman in Los Angeles Dodgers history, died on Wednesday at age 80, the team announced.

Lopes was the oldest member of the Dodgers’ famed infield — the quartet of Lopes, Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, and Bill Russell were regulars for 8 1/2 years, the longest-running infield in major league history — and the latest of the four to debut, but Lopes remained a force atop the Dodgers lineup and one of the best leadoff men in the sport during the 1970s.

“If we weren’t the best infield of all time, we were the most successful,” Cey wrote in his autobiography ‘Penguin Power,’ written with Ken Gurnick. “Every member was a multi-year All-Star, we appeared in more World Series than any infield, and we won a world championship.”

In Lopes’ first seven seasons, from 1973-79, he ranked sixth in the majors in runs scored (639, averaging 91 per season) and was second in stolen bases (371, only two behind Lou Brock; averaging 53 steals per year). He led the majors with 77 steals in 1975, and paced the National League with 63 steals in 1976.

Lopes even stole 47 bases in 1985 with the Astros in the year he turned 40, still the record for any major league player that old in one season, 10 more than Rickey Henderson. Lopes and Henderson are the only players to steal more than 26 bases in a season at age 40 or older. And when Lopes stole 47 bases in 1985, he was only caught four times.

Efficiency was the name of the game for Lopes, too, stealing bases at an 83-percent clip throughout his career, the 12th-best in MLB history for anyone with at least 200 attempts. His 418 stolen bases with the Dodgers are second only to Maury Wills, and Lopes’ 83.1-percent success rate in tops in franchise history.

“A guy that’s a base stealer, he disrupts the crowd, he disrupts the team that he’s playing against, and he can set the tone for the game,” Lopes said in an interview with MASN Sports in 2017 when he coached for the Nationals. “I studied it, from the standpoint of picking up on idiosyncrasies that the pitcher had when he threw to first compared to when he threw to home. The sooner you can pick that up, the quicker you can get out of the box.

“I always talk about quickness, and as soon as I say that most people think of a body movement, but it’s not. It’s what you can recognize with your eyes. The quicker you can recognize a key, the first key that a pitcher is telling you he’s coming over to first or going home, the bigger the jump you’re going to get.”

That wisdom served Lopes well in his three decades of coaching after his playing career ended in 1987. He managed the Brewers from 2000-02, but was otherwise a first base coach from 1988 through 2017 for the Rangers, Orioles, Padres, Nationals, Phillies, and Dodgers, including multiple stints in San Diego and Washington.

In addition to coaching first base, Lopes would often be in charge of coaching baserunning, as he did with the Dodgers from 2011-15, including tutoring a young Dee Gordon. In his first year back in Los Angeles in 2011, the Dodgers stole bases at a 75.9-percent clip, at the time the second-highest clip in franchise history. Three of Lopes’ five years on the Dodgers coaching staff (2011, 2013-14) produced top-14 stolen base success rates in club history.

Lopes was never shy about speaking his mind, both as a player and coach, sometimes in blunt fashion, and suffered no fools. He is the last Dodger to hold official captain status, doing so in 1978 and into 1979, when he resigned from the position midseason as the two-time-defending pennant winners were mired under .500.

“I felt [resigning as captain] was the best thing for myself and the team,” Lopes told Associated Press in June 1979. “This way, we’re all equal. I have no title. Nothing more will be expected of me than anyone else.”

Lopes in 1979 had his best season at the plate, hitting .265/.372/.464, setting career highs in runs scored (109), runs batted in (73), slugging percentage, OPS (.836), and wRC+ (133). His 28 home runs that season were 11 more than he hit in any other year, and coupled with his 44 stolen bases Lopes delivered the first season in Dodgers history with at least 22 home runs and 22 steals.

Those 28 home runs in 1979 still stand as a record by a Dodgers second baseman in a season, tied with Jeff Kent’s 2005 campaign.

In 10 seasons with the Dodgers, Lopes was a part of four pennant-winning teams, and started at second base and batted leadoff in all 45 postseason games for Los Angeles during that stretch. He hit .242/.332/.393 and scored 28 runs in those 45 games, a 101-run pace over a full year. Lopes’ 19 stolen bases still stand as the Dodgers postseason record.

Lopes made four All-Star teams, the last coming in 1981, when the team finally broke through to beat the Yankees in the World Series. But that was his age-36 season, and with second baseman Steve Sax the most ready among the next crop of Dodgers prospects, Lopes was the first member of The Infield to depart. The Dodgers traded Lopes for 20-year-old minor league infielder Lance Hudson in February 1982.

“I think a lot of individuals would like to get through their whole career and stay with one team,” Lopes said after the trade, per the Los Angeles Times. “But there’ll be a time in their careers when everyone is rejected.”

Three quarters of The Infield started their careers at different positions, including Lopes and Russell in the outfield to start their professional careers. Lopes was part of the Dodgers’ legendary 1968 draft hall, long considered the best draft year by a team in major league history. Lopes was taken in the second round of the January draft, and spent the first three-plus seasons in the minors in the outfield before switching to second base.

His 1,150 games at second base are the most in Dodgers franchise history.

Lopes after leaving the Dodgers found new life as a utility man, mixing in time at all three outfield positions in a addition to third base aside from his duties at second. That allowed him to play through his age-42 season for the A’s, Cubs, and Astros. He posted above-average years offensively in each of his last five seasons, and overall hit .265/.348/.410 with a 112 wRC+ after leaving Los Angeles.

In addition to his 30 years of coaching, Lopes played 16 years in the majors, the first 10 of which were with the Dodgers. He hit .263/.349/.388 with 155 home runs, a 111 wRC+, 557 stolen bases, and scored 1,023 runs.

The Dodgers say Lopes is survived by two brothers, Patrick and John, and four sisters, Jean, Judith, Mary and Nina.

Lakers preparing team for playoffs amidst ‘unique situation,’ not focused on playoff seeding

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 7: Rui Hachimura #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 7, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

In the blink of an eye, the Lakers have gone from one of the hottest teams in basketball to one that’s desperately trying to find a path towards success.

That’s what happens when your two best players get injured in the same game and are out for the rest of the regular season. With no Luka Dončić or Austin Reaves, the Lakers have lost three straight games. They have gone from sole possession of the three seed in the West to tied for fourth in the conference with the Rockets after a blowout loss at home to the No. 1 seed Thunder.

Before their game against OKC, Lakers head coach JJ Redick addressed the realities his team suddenly finds itself in.

“You obviously have to tackle the situation in front of you,” Redick said. “We have a unique situation in front of us and we’ve got to prepare our team, our group that we’re going to have available to play in the playoff series. So that’s how we approach the next four games, how we approach next week, leading into game one. It’s finding who’s going to be able to play in the playoffs for us. So, that all goes into it. The seeding part probably went out the window after the OKC game.”

It’s jarring to see the Lakers going from a team that could potentially win the West to one that can’t win a game.

Besides having Dončić and Reaves out, the Lakers also played the Thunder without LeBron James and Marcus Smart. So, they had to compete against the best team in the league late in the season with two-way big Drew Timme starting and rookie Adou Thiero logging more minutes than he has all season.

Instead of peaking at the right time, the Lakers have had a series of unfortunate events and are now crumbling at the worst moment.

They have three regular-season games left to find something, anything that can help them extend their season beyond the four playoff games they are set to play.

So far, all Lakers fans have is delusional optimism that some medical treatment for Luka in Spain can expedite his return and bring him back just as good as he was before. Because the team, as currently constructed, has no shot at beating any of the competition they will face in a playoff series in the West.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas in lineup, one day after father's death

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas revealed on Instagram that his father, Miguel Rojas Sr., died unexpectedly on Tuesday, April 7.

The Dodgers are currently playing a series against the Toronto Blue Jays, the team they beat in last year's World Series. Rojas played a starring role in the decisive Game 7 by hitting a game-tying home run in the ninth inning.

After missing Tuesday's game, Rojas is back in the lineup for Wednesday's series finale in Toronto, playing shortstop and batting ninth.

“To feel like he can go out there and play in a big league ball game, whether it's a distraction, doing it in honor of his father, whatever reason, I heard that,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters before the game.

Roberts said Rojas would likely take a leave of absence, but he wanted to play today.

Rojas, 37, broke into the majors with the Dodgers in 2014, was traded to the Miami Marlins at the end of the season before returning to L.A. in another trade in 2023. He re-signed with the Dodgers as a free agent this offseason.

Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas (72) reacts after hitting a home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the ninth inning.

Rojas has a career slash line of .260/.313/.362 with 57 home runs and 67 stolen bases in 13 major league seasons.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miguel Rojas in Dodgers lineup, day after father's unexpected death