DENVER, CO - APRIL 3 : Colorado Rockies Michael Lorenzen (24) pitched against Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado on Friday, April 3, 2026. Philadelphia won 10-1. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post) | Denver Post via Getty Images
Get your brooms out, friends, because the Colorado Rockies are looking to sweep the Houston Astros at Coors Field! Extraordinary pitching and timely hitting have nabbed the first two games of the series for the Rockies, who are now a surprising 5-6 on the young season and aim for a .500 record for the first time since they were 1-1 on the second day of the 2025 season.
Michael Lorenzen (0-1, 14.73 ERA) is looking to make amends after a rough outing in the home opener, where he allowed nine runs on 12 hits over three innings of work. The veteran right-hander looks to adjust his plan of attack, mainly wanting to command his pitches better to attack the strike zone and get ahead of opposing batters. In his career, he has a 6.86 ERA in 21 innings against the Astros. Starting pitching has been solid through the home stand and hopefully Lorenzen can end it on a high note.
Cristian Javier (0-1, 12.96 ERA) has also had a rough start to the year for the Astros. He has allowed six runs in each of his first two starts, allowing a total of 12 runs in 8 1/3 innings. Walks have been his main issue as he has issued nine free passes against just three walks. The Rockies have needed to show more patience, and today might be a good opportunity to do so.
The Denver Nuggets are gunning for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference and host the struggling Memphis Grizzlies in NBA action tonight.
My Grizzlies vs. Nuggets predictions are backing superstar center Nikola Jokic to dominate Memphis inside.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this clash on Wednesday, April 8.
Grizzlies vs Nuggets prediction
Grizzlies vs Nuggets best bet: Nikola Jokic Over 12.5 rebounds (-130)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic leads the NBA with 12.9 rebounds per game and has snagged 14+ boards in seven of his last eight contests.
He has an extremely favorable matchup tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies, who are tanking. Memphis is especially weak inside after trading away Jaren Jackson Jr. and shutting down Zach Edey and Santi Aldama.
The Griz are 26th in the NBA in rebounding rate (48.1%), with that number falling to just 43.4% since the start of March. That, combined with their fast tempo, has resulted in them allowing a league-worst 50.9 rebounds per game over the last 15.
Grizzlies vs Nuggets same-game parlay
The Griz clearly care more about getting a better lottery pick than being competitive in a rebuilding season. They aren't even trying on defense anymore, surrendering 129.8 points per game over their last 10.
That should lead to plenty of points for Denver, which means lots of assists for Jokic. Joker has dropped at least 12 dimes in seven of his last eight games.
One guy who will benefit from those passes is Aaron Gordon. Gordon has cleared 15.5 points in three of his last five contests, and he's fresh off a 23-point performance against Portland.
Grizzlies vs Nuggets SGP
Nikola Jokic Over 12.5 rebounds
Nikola Jokic Over 10.5 assists
Aaron Gordon Over 15.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Joker's Wild
Jokic has also scored more than 30 points in three of his last five games. With Jokic stuffing the stat sheet, there's a good chance Denver can cover this massive first-half spread.
After all, Memphis has an average first-half margin of -11.0 in its last 10 games, and the Nuggets could be extra motivated after losing as big favorites in Memphis last month.
Grizzlies vs Nuggets SGP
Nikola Jokic Over 23.5 points
Nikola Jokic Over 12.5 rebounds
Nikola Jokic Over 10.5 assists
1H Nuggets -13.5
Grizzlies vs Nuggets odds
Spread: Grizzlies +23 (-110) | Nuggets -23 (-110)
Moneyline: Grizzlies +1600 | Nuggets -5000
Over/Under: Over 244.5 (-110) | Under 244.5 (-110)
Grizzlies vs Nuggets betting trend to know
The Nuggets have covered the second-quarter spread in 14 of their last 20 games at home (+7.10 Units / 31% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Grizzlies vs. Nuggets.
How to watch Grizzlies vs Nuggets
Location
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN SE-Memphis, ALT
Grizzlies vs Nuggets latest injuries
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 06: Brady House #12 of the Washington Nationals hits a two-run home run in the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park on April 06, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One storyline that came out of Spring Training was that the Nats offense was a work in progress and the pitching staff could be a pleasant surprise. Just about every Nationals pitcher looked great this spring, while the offense was feeble outside of Brady House. However, when the real games started, the script totally flipped.
We have talked about the Nats pitching staff, so I wanted to give the offense some love. Right now, they are in the top three in most major categories, including OPS, batting average, runs and home runs. Blake Butera is getting productive at bats from guys up and down the lineup, and it has been a joy to watch.
While the Nats offense is unlikely to stay this hot, there are positive trends that I think will stick. The overall approach of most Nats hitters is a lot better. That is not just from the big names at the top of the order. Players like Jorbit Vivas and Curtis Mead have consistently put together quality at bats. The biggest thing I have noticed is that the Nats are making pitchers earn the outs they get.
Being hard to kill is a great way to make a starting pitcher’s pitch count climb. A good way to have a quality offense is to make the starters pitch count climb and get into the underbelly of a bullpen. That is what the Nats have been doing so far. I have also loved all the damage they are doing with two outs. They are not just packing it in when there is nobody on and two outs. Nats hitters are always applying pressure and being the aggressor.
I am really impressed with the work that new hitting coach Matt Borgschulte has done so far. He is helping Nats hitters be aggressive yet also patient. That is a tough gap to bridge, but so far Nats hitters are doing that.
We are seeing Nats hitters work the count more and take walks. Paul highlighted this in his story yesterday. CJ Abrams and Brady House are two players who are showing much better approaches. Abrams’ chase rate is actually not that different from last year, but he is still finding a way to walk at a 13% clip so far this season. That walk rate will come down, but if Abrams can walk closer to 10% of the time instead of 5%, that would help him a ton as a hitter.
The player who has transformed his offensive game the most though is Brady House. Last year, he did not seem to have much of a plan up there. He was just reacting and swinging at just about everything. However, we saw a different looking hitter in Spring Training and that has carried over into the regular season.
House is hitting .317 with a .915 OPS. It is not just about the numbers though. His plan at the plate looks much improved. House is learning to sit on pitches and wait for a certain pitch in a certain spot early in the count. He is also learning that it is okay to take strikes if they are not your pitch to hit.
The perfect example of House sitting on a pitch was his homer on a breaking ball the other night. Right as he hammered a sweeper into the red seats, Ryan Zimmerman could instantly tell he was sitting on first pitch breaking ball. I am not sure if House would have had that defined plan last season. It was an example of a 22 year old hitter figuring things out in the big leagues.
We have also seen adjustments from struggling hitters like James Wood. To begin the season, Wood was getting in trouble by being too passive. However, he has been using more calculated aggression lately, and the results are coming. We did not see those kinds of adjustments in the past, and if we did, it would have come after weeks and weeks of struggling.
Nats fans were hard on Darnell Coles, and so far they have been proved right. This offense looks so much smarter and better prepared. It is still early, but this offense is truly explosive. We have not seen an offense like this since that Kyle Schwarber led bonanza in 2021. You have to give the Nats hitting coaches a lot of credit for this.
The players themselves also deserve credit for buying in and accepting their roles. It would have been easy for CJ Abrams to pout about being moved from the leadoff spot to the 5 or 6 hole. However, that move has turned out to be a blessing for him. He is evolving into a true run producer and is leading the league in RBI’s.
It is a small sample, and I would be surprised if the Nats offense finished the year with a batting average over .275 and an OPS over .800. However, the Nats talented young core of hitters seems to finally be putting it together. Whether it is due to approach changes, swing changes or just being hot, just about every Nats hitter is seeing it well right now.
This will be something we follow throughout the season. Sure, the pitching staff has been a disaster, but this offense deserves some serious props. This is the area where we are seeing the impact of the new coaching staff. However, Matt Borgschulte will face his biggest test in the second half. Wood and Abrams have histories of fading down the stretch. Now we will find out if that was a coaching problem, or part of their games. I am going to just sit back and enjoy the Nats offensive explosion while it lasts.
Before you jump all over me for even thinking this, please know that this article is tongue in cheek.
Mostly.
Cade Horton is now the latest in a long sequence of Cubs players to wear No. 22 who have had their MLB time either interrupted by injury or affected by other things where they wound up with lesser careers than they might have.
No one of significance wore the number before the late 1960s, when popular backup infielder Paul Popovich wore it for three Cub stints, in 1964, 1966-67 and again from 1969-73. Nothing unusual happened to him in his eight Cubs seasons, though he wasn’t much of a hitter (.237/.293/.308 in 436 games and 1,259 plate appearances). Back then, backup middle infielders weren’t expected to hit, and in fact, Popovich was a capable defender.
Since then, though?
Bill Buckner wore No. 22 for eight years from 1977-84. He hit well enough, .300/.332/.439 in 974 games and 4,043 PA. In fact, Buckner is one of just seven Cubs to have a .300 BA in at least 4,000 PA with the team (also Cap Anson, Jimmy Ryan, Billy Herman, Kiki Cuyler, Stan Hack and Mark Grace). But injuries limited Buckner, who played 150+ games only twice in those eight Cubs seasons.
Mike Harkey, the Cubs’ No 1 pick (fourth overall) out of Cal State-Fullerton in 1987, was expected to be the Cubs’ next big star pitcher. He had a nice first full year in 1990 (12-6, 3.26 ERA, 4.6 bWAR, fifth in Rookie of the Year voting), but injuries then ruined his career and he was done after 1997. He served as the Yankees’ bullpen coach for many years, but was not renewed for this year.
Rondell White wore No. 22 for the Cubs in 2000 and 2001. White had also been a first-round pick (24th overall) of the Expos in 1990, but after a number of injuries he was traded to the Cubs in July 2000 for Scott Downs. After 114 injury-plagued games for the Cubs he left as a free agent. The DH in the NL might have helped him, as he had a couple of decent DH years for the Tigers after leaving the Cubs.
The next No. 22 for the Cubs was Mark Prior, and I don’t think I need to tell you about his potential and the injuries that destroyed his career. Prior has done well as the Dodgers’ pitching coach for the last seven years.
A few guys wore No. 22 after Prior for a season or two, including Addison Russell, who wore it in 2015. Let’s not belabor Russell’s troubles.
Jason Heyward, who had worn No. 22 his entire career to honor a high school friend who died in a car accident, asked Russell to switch so he could have it when he signed with the Cubs. You all know about Heyward’s offensive struggles in Chicago, though he did win two Gold Gloves and made an important speech in Cleveland. If you don’t think that speech mattered, just ask the 2016 World Series champion players — they all thought it did. Heyward is a good dude who is running a baseball academy in Chicago for underprivileged kids. But his Cubs career on the field was underwhelming.
Luis Torrens? Thirteen games as a Cub, going 5-for-20.
Matt Mervis? People were buying his No. 22 jersey before he even played in a single game for the Cubs — I took this photo in the Wrigley Field bleachers on May 5, 2023, just before that day’s game when Mervis made his MLB debut (and no, those are not his parents, who you can see here in an interview done that day):
Mervis went 1-for-4 that day, but overall he didn’t hit and the Cubs eventually traded him to the Marlins for Vidal Bruján. Miami let him go as well, and Mervis was released by the Nationals after Spring Training this year.
Here are some other Cubs who wore No. 22 since Paul Popovich… most of whom you’ve probably forgotten, or never heard of in the first place: Vic LaRose, Ron Dunn, Wayne Tyrone, Eddie Zambrano, Tarrik Brock, Kevin Hart, Tom Gorzelanny, Logan Watkins and Felix Doubront.
And now, Cade Horton. Who, after just 25 games wearing No. 22, already ranks eighth in Cubs history in bWAR (2.2) among players who wore that number (ahead of him: Prior 15,7, Heyward 9.1, Buckner 8.6, Harkey 4.5, Dizzy Dean 3.8, Matt Garza 3.1 and White 2.6).
Maybe it’s not the uniform number. Probably it’s not the uniform number.
But when Horton returns sometime in 2027, just in case… maybe he should pick a new number. No. 22 for the Cubs just doesn’t seem lucky.
ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 06: Atlanta Braves right fielder Mike Yastrzemski (18) hits a single during an MLB baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels played on April 6, 2026 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Is Eli White okay? I haven’t seen anything indicating he is, but that makes this particular Braves arrangement a bit of a headscratcher:
A lot of this is what we’ve seen be the Braves’ usual fare against lefties this season. But Mike Yastrzemski is hanging out there, left-on-left, in the seventh spot in the lineup. White hit sixth against the first three southpaws the Braves faced this year, and then dropped to seventh last night. So, who knows. A bit odd, that.
The Anaheim lineup is all familiar faces at this point. It’s actually the same lineup as yesterday, except that Jorge Soler and Jo Adell swap right field/DH duties, and Logan O’Hoppe, who started on Monday, replaces Travis d’Arnaud at catcher. The Angels will be playing their 13th game, and they will have used this lineup in seven of them — they haven’t repeated any other lineup yet.
Alright, let’s get to the matchups. Everyone in the Braves’ lineup has faced Reid Detmers at least once, save for Ozzie Albies. Jonah Heim has a .319 xwOBA / .294 wOBA in 18 PAs; Mauricio Dubon has a .337 xwOBA / .596 wqOBA in 12 PAs (with a homer). Everyone else has only a pittance of experience, though Matt Olson has also taken Detmers deep. Collectively, it’s a .357 xwOBA / .375 wOBA in 47 PAs.
For the Angels, all but Oswald Peraza and Yoan Moncada have faced Holmes, but we’re talking PA ranges of 1-4 for each player. Collectively, it’s a 20-PA sample with a .223 xwOBA / .149 wOBA that does not include any extra-base hits — remember that Holmes struck out ten Angels in six innings last year in a scoreless effort that turned into a 4-0 Braves loss late.
Today, the Mariners will attempt to avoid a sweep in this year’s first iteration of breakfast baseball. Yes, anything in the morning is considered “breakfast baseball”. No, I will not comment on whether I am actually eating breakfast at 11:35 in the morning.
Coming off of four straight one-run losses, they’ll ask Bryan Woo to play the role of stopper. Woo, who last year was Seattle’s best starter, has again looked brilliant this year. Were it not for his seven scoreless innings last Friday against Anaheim, the Mariners would likely be looking at 3-9, which for some reason feels much worse than 4-8.
Unfortunately, the Mariners woke up to some early bad news: Victor Robles has been placed on the 10-day IL, retroactive to yesterday, with a right pectoral strain. Per Ryan Divish, Robles suffered the injury during pre-game warmups yesterday. In a corresponding move, the Mariners called up veteran utility man Connor Joe from Tacoma. Joe has bounced around for years, endearing himself to various fan bases with a hot streak here and there. We’ll see if he can sustain a red-hot Spring Training in which he hit .362.
This will also be the Mariners’ last game in the state of Texas for over a month, so be sure to savor Jay Buhner while you can.
Lineups
Joe immediately gets the call at first base with the Mariners facing off against southpaw Mackenzie Gore. The matinee fortuitously aligns with a matchup against the aforementioned lefty, allowing Cal to get a pseudo-day-off with Garver slotting in at catcher. In other news, the Rob Refsnyder Leadoff Experiment continues. The Mariners had better hope their platoon advantages carry them early in this one.
Not much to say here. This is one of those lineups that doesn’t feel like it should be good, but keeps scoring just enough runs, so who am I to say?
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 29: Brad Stevens, president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics, smiles during 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
Ahead of Tuesday’s game between the Celtics and the Hornets, Brad Stevens sat down with Celtics media to discuss a slew of topics.
Here’s everything that he had to say, and what I made of it.
On Jayson Tatum’s return from Achilles:
Stevens stood by what the Celtics have always said about Jayson Tatum’s recovery timeline — he wasn’t going to come back until he was ready. And, Tatum has looked more than ready since his return: in 15 games back, he’s averaged 21.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.1 assists.
“Until he was 110% at every threshold, had fully reconditioned, and he felt good, we weren’t even going to entertain the thought of him coming back,” Stevens said. “But it became clear, probably around the trade deadline, that early February time, that he was in a pretty good spot physically and from the standpoint of strength. And then it’s just a matter of reconditioning and getting your confidence back in a lot of ways, and playing and being back on the court.”
“And we did a lot of small games, and we had the Maine team down and got a chance to play a little bit live on the start of the post All-Star trip. And you could see that not only was he going to come along pretty quickly, but you could also see that he was getting more eager to play. So it was a really well-thought-out process by Dr. O’Malley, and Nick Sang, and Phil Coles, and followed strictly by Jayson, and everybody involved with that gets a lot of credit because of the amount of work that everybody put into it. It was nobody more than Jayson, with a close, close second by Nick. It was pretty incredible to watch up close. I got a front row seat for the whole thing. So I wasn’t sitting on the edge of my seat like others were the first time they saw him run up and down the court playing 5-on-5.”
What I took away: Brad Stevens confirms here that Tatum had been practicing since mid-February, and that he had looked good in those games (we kind of already knew that, but it sounds like these games started prior to when things were reported). Also of note — the Celtics knew that he would return when they chose to trade Anfernee Simons for Nikola Vucevic, which makes sense. Simons became more duplicative with Tatum back in the lineup, and Vucevic provides needed frontcourt depth ahead of a playoff run.
On whether the team has a ceiling:
In July, Brad Stevens made clear he wasn’t going to put a ceiling on the Celtics’ potential: “I said this when I was coaching all the time. I’d never put a ceiling on my team.”
Nine months later, he laughed when the concept of putting a ceiling on the roster was brought up: “You think now would be a good time?”
Brad Stevens still wont put a ceiling on this Celtics team:
“I don’t really change. I feel the exact same as I did at the beginning. And I really feel that way normally. We’re playing today, we’ll put our best foot forward to be as good as we can be, and after tonight, we’ll be one game better or worse. And then we’ll try again tomorrow. When we get into the playoffs, it’ll be the same thing. It’s one game at a time. I don’t think in terms of the big picture as far as this individual team. I just think – I know that we can play. I’ve seen us rise and meet challenges, and I know that this team is looking forward to the next one. As you get into this time of year and get into the playoffs, everything’s hard, and the other teams are really good, and we’ll see where it all stacks out. But I’m going to continue to not put a ceiling on us.”
What I took away: When Stevens said that he didn’t want to put a ceiling on the team in the offseason, it felt like he was just saying the right thing — why would any general manager go out and put a cap on what he thought his team could achieve? But, now, with the Celtics holding a 54-25 record and on the cusp of securing the East’s No. 2 seed, that statement just hits different. The Celtics are undoubtedly championship contenders. At the same time, he also made sure to note that nothing at all is guaranteed.
On navigating the young guys playing in the playoffs:
Stevens was asked about the margins of error being slim in the playoffs and how they would go about utilizing players like Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman, who don’t have postseason experience. Gonzalez (14.5 minutes per game), Walsh (17.5 minutes per game), and Scheierman (18 minutes per game) have all played significant roles this season, but those roles have also fluctuated significantly as the year has gone on.
“That’s the coaching staff’s job: to navigate and manage the challenges that come with the games, and challenges that come with navigating the playoffs and being the lead communicators for that,” Stevens said. “Our job as a front office is to support them in any way that we can. And so, we’ll follow their lead on what they feel like the team needs and how we can best support, but we won’t overstep our roles, and I think that’s really important. The margin is small as the playoffs start, as you get into this time of year, the distractions rise, the burdens rise, the praise rises, all that stuff, right? And the reality is, you just have to stay in the moment, be as good as you can today, and the teams that have the stamina to do that can usually play longer. Doesn’t mean you’ll win. I mean, teams that we’re competing against are all going to be good. But I do think this team, and the group led by Joe, understands the path ahead and how to navigate it, and can help the guys without as much experience.”
What I took away: The biggest thing here? Stevens fully empowers Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics coaching staff to do their job well. That’s part of what’s made the Celtics organization work as well as it has. Stevens doesn’t know which of Gonzalez, Scheierman, or Walsh will lace up in the playoffs, and he’s not going to overstep in that regard.
On his name continuing to come up when head coach vacancies in college open up:
Brad Stevens’ name recently surfaced when the men’s basketball head coaching position at the University of North Carolina opened up (the position has since been filled by former Nuggets head coach Mike Malone). There’s long been speculation that Stevens will eventually return to coaching, and he was asked directly on Tuesday about whether he’s annoyed or flattered by that speculation.
“It’s always flattering,” Stevens said. “And listen, I’m talking to people all year long, all around the game. Because one of the joys of my job now is watching, whether it be in current front office roles, people leave and get promoted, a la Austin [Ainge]. Or when I was coaching, or a part of the coaching staff, watching those guys get jobs.”
#Celtics President of Basketball Ops Brad Stevens reacts to receiving outside interest for College and GM Jobs:
"It's always flattering … I'm not motivated to do anything but what I'm doing is the bottom line. And I'm really happy with the people we're around and everything… pic.twitter.com/rW1rQE3S0D
“So I’m on the phone with a lot of those people all the way through the year that are in those decision-making processes. And so it’s always flattering, right, when you’re hearing that. But, the whole idea of the coaching carousel being news is a little bit tiresome. But I get why, in this day and age, why people want to talk about it. As you know from being around me, I’m not quick to make decisions where I’m all over the place. I like being here. They’ve been great to me, and I haven’t been seeking anything else.“
“And I don’t have an agent. So I guess my circle is pretty small, although I do – Tracy still kind of helps me out. But I know that she’s pretty reliable and confidential. But, one of these days, you know, I don’t see myself… like I’m not motivated to do anything but what I’m doing is the bottom line. And I’m really happy with the people who are around and everything else. And that’s been the best part about being here and really, as you get to this age and stage, I think that’s the motivator for me. I don’t really have any other motivation than being around people that I want to be around.”
What I took away: Stevens said a lot here, but two things really stuck out. The first is that he’s really happy in Boston and fulfilled by the team around him. The second is that he’s not unequivocally ruling out eventually returning to coaching. I don’t view that as an indication that he’s likely to leave the Celtics anytime soon — I think he just picks his words carefully and doesn’t want to say anything he’s not 100% certain about.
On integrating Nikola Vucevic:
Nikola Vucevic was acquired in mid-February, played 12 games, and then was sidelined with a fractured ring finger for a month. He’s been back for two games now, with three games left to play in the regular season. In that span, Vucevic has averaged 9.4 points and 6.9 rebounds in 21.1 minutes of action, while shooting 41.6% from the field and 29.5% from three.
Stevens acknowledged Vucevic is still getting accclimated, but said he’ll be valuable down the road:
“It’s going to be a work in progress anytime you get a guy that comes into trade,” he said. “But Vooch is a pro, and I think that he immediately recognized that he’s got to do his best to find where he can help fit and where he can help impact the team. We haven’t played a ton of teams that have switched everything, like in the first game against Miami, where he really got some post-up opportunities, and that type of stuff. But I do think that he can bring an element to this group that will be really valuable down the line. I think that it’s good that he gets at least a week here to work on it with the guys. And the other thing is, we’ve been really lucky that we haven’t been in the Play-In in a while. I think we were in the one year, my last year as a coach. That turnaround, you don’t have time to work on your team as you get ready for a playoff series. Having that week in between is going to be really good, and even though we won’t have games to necessarily play with Vooch, we only have a couple left, just those practices are probably more valuable than even these next four games.”
What I took away: Vucevic has struggled a bit since lacing up for the Celtics, but that doesn’t mean he won’t eventually be very important to the Celtics. In the playoffs, if the Celtics face a team that switches everything, Vucevic will be a particularly powerful weapon. Stevens also stressed that, though there are only a few regular-season games left, the week of practice will be really helpful. That’s a good reminder for fans, too: teams hardly ever get to play.
On what he looks for in a player:
Stevens was asked about the kind of player he’s looked to bring to Boston: this past year, the Celtics added Hugo Gonzalez via the draft and Luka Garza via free agency, among others.
“Everything is information, right? And so, there’s a there’s an analytical side of it where, maybe the numbers are popping for a guy in low minutes, like they would have with Luka, because some people value possessions more than they value some of the perceived weaknesses of a player, or whatever the case may be. We do tend to look at the fact that, if you have the right competitive character and you’re more about the team, those are huge qualities.”
“Everybody’s in the NBA for a reason, and if we can figure out how to maximize the reason they’re here and not focus on the things that people see as a detriment, then we can build a team — as long as you have the cornerstones. And we’ve got the cornerstones, and that’s a huge part of it. So, I’d say that, when you talk about a guy like Luka Garza, a good example is the competitive character where team matters, you’re growth-oriented, you come to work every day, and your ambition doesn’t necessarily exceed your self-awareness. And I know that’s not always easy to find, but we watch these guys for a long time at a lot of different levels, and a guy like Luka came extremely highly recommended as a person, and we knew that he had competitive character.”
What I took away: The Celtics have done a really good job of maximizing players’ strengths, but they’ve been able to do that because they have legitimate franchise players (or, as Stevens calls them, cornerstones). I’d consider Mazzulla a cornerstone here, too. Luka Garza is often a guy the front office has pointed to, because he’s obviously extremely talented offensively (former Naismith Player of the Year!), but hasn’t found a way to be an impactful rotation player. And, a big reason why the Celtics signed him is because of his character — I’ve talked to plenty of people around the league, and few are as highly regarded as Luka.
On the job the coaching staff has done:
Stevens was asked about the work that Joe Mazzulla and the coaching staff have done this season, and nodded profusely.
“Tremendous. People talk about team chemistry a lot, and it gets overevaluated. A player’s reaction to another player, a player’s body language. But people don’t see a coach’s meeting, and when a staff doesn’t fit or work well together. And staff chemistry can kill team chemistry fast. And so, to have a staff that’s been together, that knows how they want to accomplish what they can and want to accomplish, that isn’t tied to a singular way of playing on offense or defense necessarily, because they have to wait and see what their roster is going to look like, and then can adjust to that.”
“To have the ability to say, ‘Yeah, these guys may have some things they haven’t done as well or are unproven, but they’re here for a reason. Let’s find those and soar with those, and then piece a team together.’ I think you’re going to have the best chance to maximize yourself, and this particular staff, I think, is excellent. And listen, we’ve been really lucky around here to have several people now coaching in the NBA at different stops, including both guys on the sideline today, and we’ve got more of them. And so, that’s going to be pretty cool to watch all these guys take the next step, because they truly know how to get the most out of the group. And they also know kind of how to navigate the season with the group. So, they’ve done a great job. The players have done a great job of embracing being coached, embracing those roles, and it’s all been pieced together to have a nice regular season. And they all — the players, coaches, and everybody else [that is] up for all these awards, whether they want them or not — they certainly all deserve them.”
What I took away: Brad Stevens knows he has the best coaching staff in the NBA. And, he was happy to be asked about them.
MESA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Jack Perkins #50 of the Athletics pitches during a spring training game against the Texas Rangers at HoHoKam Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Without question the bullpen is the true dark underbelly of the A’s 2026 roster. The offense sputtered out of the gate but is widely regarded by pundits as having a “top 5 in MLB” ceiling with scoring runs being among the team’s lesser concerns overall.
The rotation is certainly questionable but outside of a shaky start when he was pitching sick, Luis Severino has looked great, Jeffrey Springs is throwing harder and pitching well, Aaron Civale has been solid in his 2 starts, and Jacob Lopez is still recovering from a shortened spring training — with Gage Jump and Kade Morris on the way, there is enough to like about the rotation to think it can hang in there with a good offense behind it.
And then there’s the bullpen, which has already lost the A’s 2 games out of 10. But for a Michael Kelly hanging slider to Alejandro Kirk in the 9th and a Mark Leiter Jr. hanging splitter to cap a 4-run meltdown in the 8th, the A’s could be sitting at an even .500 right now, 5-5 and just 1/2 game out of 1st place in the AL West.
It’s nothing that couldn’t be foreseen, either. The A’s opened the season with 8 relievers none of which you would really want to put into a game in the 8th or 9th inning with a small lead. The only 2 free agent signings, Leiter Jr. and Scott Barlow, are at best solid “medium leverage” relievers suited to handling the 7th inning of a game you’re down 1. The same is true of Kelly and Justin Sterner. Hogan Harris and Elvis Alvarado have troubling avoiding walks, Luis Medina is wilder than them both and has trouble missing bats, and JT Ginn struggles to contain LH batters with a strong tendency to cough up the long ball.
A fair question is “How the heck did the A’s front office conclude this was going to work?” But today’s question is more practical: what could the A’s do, before they get buried in the standings, to improve the bullpen going forward. Remember that after last May’s 1-20 debacle, A’s GM David Forst admitted that the team was probably too slow to react to the bullpen’s repeated breakdowns and should have acted quicker.
Well, David, here’s your mulligan.
Solution #1: Roll with Jack Perkins
Jack Perkins is far from a sure thing, as evidenced by the fact that he suddenly walked 5 in his first appearance at AAA this season. But here’s the rebuttal: to the extent that Perkins does not reliably throw enough strikes, he is merely on par with 3 of the current relievers (Harris, Alvarado, Medina), only he has tremendous upside and he is really hard to hit.
You’re already rolling with relievers who need to throw more strikes. Perkins is, arguably, a better version who when throwing just enough strikes is legitimately a guy you want to see in a save situation. He may be a bit of a Billy Koch type of closer, but even Koch was able to notch 144 saves over a 4 year period from 1999-2002 while causing roughly the number of heart attacks.
Corresponding Move: Option Alvarado, simply because it’s redundant to carry 4 pitchers whose main vice is wildness. Alvarado can benefit from refining his mechanics, consistency, and poor results facing LH batters (.257/.382/.473) and can be called up again later.
Solution #2: “True LH specialist” in Brady Basso
The A’s didn’t sign or trade for a lefty who can neutralize tough LH batters and as a result the organization has precious few options. One of them is Brady Basso who looked shaky enough, I guess, in spring training that he was a surprisingly early cut.
Basso started the season no better coughing up 5 runs in 0.2 IP in his second appearance. However, in his two outings since then he has been great: 2.2 IP, 0 hits, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K. More importantly he has proven himself, albeit still in a small sample, as someone capable of dominating LH batters at the big league level.
Basso has faced 42 LH batters in the big leagues and they have hit .158/.214/.158 against him. That’s 0 extra base hits in a 6 for 38 showing (and only 3 BB). He needs to be in the A’s bullpen so that Hogan Harris, who has actually struggled against LH batters (.269/.378/.415), isn’t the only lefty available.
Corresponding Move: DFA Scott Barlow for reasons outlined next.
Solution #3: DFA Scott Barlow
It’s nothing against Barlow personally, nor a knee-jerk reaction to one terrible appearance in which he faced 4 batters, served up a HR and a double, and issued two 4-pitch walks in between.
The issue with Barlow is that whether the A’s failed to do their due diligence, or something happened between the signing and spring training, Barlow showed up to camp with velocity well below his career norms. If that’s injury related, of course, the A’s could use the IL instead of cutting ties with him entirely, but it’s also possible the decline is age related.
In 2021 Barlow was terrific for the Royals, accumulating 2.2 fWAR while averaging 95.3 MPH on his fastball. That velocity allowed his slider to really play up as he struck out 91 in just 74.1 IP and put up a 2.42 ERA.
In 2022 his fastball velocity dipped to 93.7 MPH but was still plenty good to serve as a quality reliever worth 0.9 WAR, 24 saves and a sterling 2.18 ERA.
In 2023 his velocity dipped again but only slightly, to 93.2 MPH. He managed good K rates (79 in 68 IP) but also walked 34 (one batter every other inning) and saw his ERA double to 4.37.
Then in 2024 his velocity continued to drop, this time down to 91.6 MPH. His BB rate spiked to 5.07/9 IP.
2025 was more of the same. Barlow’s velocity came in at 92.2 MPH but his BB rate jumped to 5.93/9 IP. Clearly he was not the same pitcher throwing around 91-92 MPH rather than around 94-95 MPH.
Here’s the big problem. Barlow is not even throwing 91-92 MPH in 2026. His fastball velocity is averaging all of 89.6 MPH, as it did in spring training, and this “new normal” is not conducive to getting big league hitters out. In other words there’s no reason to think it’s going to get better unless he figures out a way to add 4 MPH to his fastball. And that probably requires a time machine.
Corresponding move: Not directly related to the bullpen, but a DFA of Barlow opens up a spot on the 40 man for the A’s to call up Kade Morris, who has looked terrific both in ST and at AAA. Note that if Morris is capable of giving the A’s 6 inning starts, even if they are not all brilliant that length helps the bullpen. (Further note: Morris is listed as tonight’s SP for the Aviators so it appears he is not getting the call Friday to face the Mets.)
Solution #3: Play the “hot hand” with Wander Suero
Wander Suero is no lock down reliever. If he were, most likely he would not be a AAA journeyman at age 34. But relievers are famously volatile, unpredictable, subject to random good seasons and random bad seasons and Suero offers a glimmer of hope that he could Jeff Tam his way to a quality season or two on his way to obscurity.
First off, he actually looked quite good in spring training with his Luis Tiant-lite motion hiding the ball and his arm slot creating some deception. He got a lot of funky swings and weak contact and commanded his pitches well.
Secondly, Suero has picked up where he left off in the Cactus League opening the season strong at AAA Las Vegas. The underlying numbers don’t look terrific, but the sample is tiny. Probably more telling is that he is pitching in a hitter’s paradise and holding his own.
Suero has only made 3 appearances but so far: 3.2 IP, 2 hit, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K. For a bullpen sorely lacking in deception, whose status quo is clearly a dud, it’s a worthwhile shot in the dark to see if 2026 might be Suero’s year. If not he can always be optioned or released.
Corresponding move: DFA Michael Kelly, whom the A’s have overrated and who will very likely go unclaimed and land back at AAA.
What does this leave you with? It’s not exactly a sure-fire lights out pen, that’s for sure. But it feels to me like at least potentially a meaningful upgrade:
Closer: Perkins Set up: Harris, Ginn Key Lefty: Basso Medium leverage: Leiter Jr., Sterner Lower leverage (at least initially): Suero Long Man: Medina
The Chicago Cubs’ rotation has already been beaten up this season, which means they’re handing the ball to journeyman pitcher Colin Rea for his first start of the year in the rubber match of this series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Tampa counters with Joe Boyle, who is hoping to be the Rays' latest reclamation pitching project.
My Cubs vs. Rays predictions and MLB picks break down this interleague matchup with the first pitch scheduled for 6:40 pm ET at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, April 8.
Who will win Cubs vs Rays today: Rays (-110)
The Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays enter this rubber match with matching 5-6 records, but I like the home team to improve its record tonight.
The Rays' lineup, led by Junior Caminero and Jonathan Aranda, is off to a great start. Tampa Bay ranks sixth in OPS and fifth in wRC+ and gets a solid matchup against the Cubs’ Colin Rea.
The veteran right-hander has pitched to a 4.26 ERA in two relief appearances this season. And if Rea can’t go deep into the game, he hands the ball to a bullpen that ranks next-to-last in xERA.
COVERS INTEL: Current Rays hitters have combined for a .356 xAVG and a .609 xSLG vs. Rea.
Cubs vs Rays Over/Under pick: Under 8 (-110)
Joe Boyle spent the better part of the last three seasons toiling away with the Athletics, but the Rays saw something in the 26-year-old right-hander, and the early results have been impressive.
Boyle has allowed four earned runs on eight hits while striking out 16 over his first two starts with Tampa.
The Cubs' bats have been a little slow to get going, ranking 22nd in batting average and 16th in wRC+.
Even though I like the Rays to do some scoring, the Cubs won't do enough to send this one Over the total.
Andrew Caley's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 3-2, +0.7 units
Over/Under bets: 3-2, +0.8 units
Cubs vs Rays odds
Moneyline: Cubs -110 | Rays -110
Run line: Cubs -1.5 (+155) | Rays +1.5 (-185)
Over/Under: Over 8.0 | Under 8.0
Cubs vs Rays trend
The Cubs have only covered the Run Line in 16 of their last 45 away games for -17.00 Units and a -30% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Rays.
How to watch Cubs vs Rays and game info
Location
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Date
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
First pitch
6:40 p.m. ET
TV
Marquee, RAYS
Cubs starting pitcher
Colin Rea (0-0, 4.26 ERA)
Rays starting pitcher
Joe Boyle (0-0, 3.18 ERA)
Cubs vs Rays latest injuries
Cubs vs Rays weather
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.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza provided some updates prior to Wednesday’s game with the Diamondbacks…
On the plans for the rotation
Mendoza previously indicated that the team may consider turning to a six-man rotation as they work through a long stretch of games without an off-day in the early-going, but that will not be the case.
The skipper indicated that they could still go that route at some point down the line, but they will continue to lean on their current five starters this next turn through.
“We just want to keep guys with their routines,” he said. “If we need to go that route we will, but as I’m sitting here we’re not planning on going to a six-man, just keeping everyone on their normal routines and in a good place.
“It’s still early, but we don’t see it as a necessity right now to go that way.”
The Mets’ current group certainly has performed well early on, entering this week with the third-best ERA in the National League (3.13) through two turns in the rotation.
That means that Sean Manaea will remain in his role working out of the bullpen for now.
"Nothing changes there," the skipper said. "Ideally use all of his pitches when we need to, but if we need to use him for 35 or 40 we will do it, too, because if he went the way he threw 70+ pitches the last time it wouldn’t affect him short-term."
Carson Benge’s at-bats
The youngster was on fire during spring training to land a spot on the team, but he’s struggled thus far to carry that success over to the regular season.
With another hitless effort on Tuesday, Benge is now stuck in an 0-for-19 stretch over his past six games.
Despite the quiet showing, Mendoza was encouraged by his at-bats in the victory.
“Even though he didn’t get the results, he had better at-bats,” he said. “A couple of balls that he hit hard -- one up the middle and one in the gap that they made a good play on. It’s just for a young player going through stretches like this when you first get to the big leagues it isn’t easy, but I thought he’s handling it very professionally.
"It goes to show you the type of person and type of player he is. Even when he’s 0-for-whatever, in his mind it’s what can I do today to help the team win? That’s been the message -- get good pitches, hit the ball hard, don’t chase results. The way you play defense, every time you get on base you’re impacting, you’re helping us, and he's gotta keep going."
Winners of the first two games in this four-game series, the Minnesota Twins (5-6) take the field against the Detroit Tigers (4-7) in a key early-season battle between the American League Central rivals.
The Minnesota Twins beat the Detroit Tigers 4–2 on Tuesday night at Target Field, riding a decisive fifth inning and another dominant start from Taj Bradley. After being held scoreless through four innings, the Twins broke through against Tigers’ ace Tarik Skubal, pushing across all four of their runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Bradley allowed one run on six hits while striking out 10 over 6⅓ innings on the way to improving to 2–0. Skubal, the two‑time reigning AL Cy Young winner, struggled surrendering four runs on eight hits in just 4⅔ innings. Ryan Jeffers delivered the biggest swing of the game with a two‑run double, while Josh Bell added an RBI double. Detroit chipped away late, getting RBI hits from Kevin McGonigle in both the seventh and ninth innings, but the rally fizzled before Detroit could complete the comeback.
Tonight, Detroit sends Framber Valdez to the mound while the Twins hand the ball to Bailey Ober. Valdez is at his best when he’s commanding the bottom of the zone, forcing quick contact and limiting damage. It is imperative that the Twins stay patient at the plate and work the count against the former Houston ace. Minnesota counters with Bailey Ober, whose success hinges on strike‑throwing and extension from his 6’9” frame. Ober’s ability to change eye levels and stay ahead in counts will be tested by a Detroit lineup that prefers to hunt pitches early.
Offensively, the Twins will try to generate traffic for middle‑order hitters and avoid chasing Valdez’s sinker below the zone, while the Tigers aim to stay patient against Ober and capitalize on mistakes up in the strike zone.
Lets dive into this afternoon’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game Details and How to Watch: Tigers vs. Twins
Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Time: 7:40PM EST
Site: Target Field
City: Minneapolis, MN
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Fox Sports 1, Tigers.TV, Twins.TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Tigers vs. Twins
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Twins: Bailey Ober Season Totals: 8.0 IP, 0-0, 6.75 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 5K, 3 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Tigers vs. Twins
Gleyber Torres is 1-12 over his last 3 games
Spencer Torkelson has at least one hit in 3 of his last 4 games (4-10)
Riley Greene is 1-13 over his last 4 games
Minnesota is hitting .211 as a team
Byron Buxton is 2-8 over his last 2 games after going hitless in his previous 18 ABs
Royce Lewis is 3-17 (.176) in April
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Tigers vs. Twins
The Tigers are 4-7 on the Run Line this season
The Twins are 6-5 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 5 times in the Tigers’ 11 games this season (5-5-1)
The OVER has cashed 4 times in the Twins’ 11 games (4-6-1)
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions: Tigers vs. Twins
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s game between the Tigers and the Twins:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Tigers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Tigers on the Run Line.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total UNDER 8.0.
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The 2018-19 NBA season was a tough one for the Boston Celtics. They went into that campaign with championship expectations, but for many reasons, that goal wasn’t achieved.
The C’s playoff run ended in a five-game loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. A few months later, Kyrie Irving and Al Horford left in free agency.
It was also a difficult season for Jaylen Brown. He took a huge step in his development during the 2017-18 season, especially in the playoffs when he played a prominent role with Irving and Gordon Hayward sidelined due to injuries. The Celtics advanced all the way to Game 7 of the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals.
Brown saw his playing time and many of his stats decrease in 2018-19. He also went from making 70 starts in 2017-18 to just 25 in 2018-19.
During that offseason, Brown reached out to NBA legend and friend Tracy McGrady and asked for his advice on the situation. McGrady helped convince Brown to stay in Boston. T-Mac saw the potential Brown and Jayson Tatum had as an elite duo.
“It’s fascinating,” McGrady said. “He’s very intelligent and a guy you suspect (would) have all the answers because he’s a student of the game and he wants all the information. For him to reach out to me to just come sit down and have a conversation, because it was heavy on his heart and his mind, and what he wanted to do.
“For me, it was just (being) the voice of reason because I’m not emotionally connected to Boston. I’m not emotionally connected to anything with Boston. My connection is with him and trying to give him the best advice as possible.
“I saw it was an opportunity — you’ve got another player with you in Jayson Tatum, and the dynamic that you guys have created could be very dangerous, and given the organization and their winning ways, and them putting the necessary pieces around you guys — you’ve always been close when you’ve been together.
“It was just a matter of them figuring it out and working together and how they were going to pull everybody else up to get over that hump and win a championship. It ultimately happened, and he was the MVP of (that series). And now these guys have another opportunity to do that.”
Brown staying in Boston worked out perfectly. He has become an All-NBA player, and this season he is a legitimate MVP candidate. Brown and Tatum led the Celtics to their long-awaited Banner 18 with an NBA Finals triumph over the Dallas Mavericks in 2024. Brown also was voted Finals MVP.
With the 2026 playoffs on the horizon, Brown and Tatum have a chance to win their second title together over the next few months. The C’s are the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, and a lot of experts consider Boston to be the favorite to win the Eastern Conference.
Also in this episode:
Who would win in their prime? T-Mac or JB?
Where Brown fits in the MVP race
The relationship the two have built over the years, including career guidance in 2019
His thoughts on Jayson Tatum’s remarkable return
Who are the biggest threats in the East?
The impact Tatum has made to the roster, rebounding, defensively
A look at who could come out of the play-in round to face the Celtics as the 7th seed
Garrett Wilson didn’t give up on the NHL as he went nearly seven straight years playing in the minors.
And he certainly didn’t give up on his teammates, most of them prospects and vying for the next level.
Wilson looked after them.
“I just wanted to take care of the younger guys,” he said three and a half weeks ago, “because I got taken care of when I was younger.”
The 35-year-old winger was rewarded last month with an NHL contract and his first game since the 2018-19 season. His blend of selflessness and stick-to-itiveness has made him the Flyers’ nominee for the 2025-26 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
The nomination was voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association’s Philadelphia chapter. The Masterton Trophy is an NHL award given annually to “the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey.”
“I am very proud to see Garrett recognized as a nominee for the NHL Masterton Trophy,” general manager Danny Briere said in a statement released by the team Wednesday. “Garrett’s commitment to the Flyers organization and journey in hockey is a true testament to his dedication and pure love of the game. He helped establish a level of professionalism and has made a profound impact with the young players in our system for the last six years. His return to the NHL this season speaks volumes about his character and he has earned everything that’s come his way.”
Wilson has been a part of AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley’s leadership group over the last six seasons. The Flyers have seen a lot of their key young pieces come through the Phantoms. Wilson has been teammates with guys like Tyson Foerster, Cam York, Emil Andrae, Alex Bump, Denver Barkey and Nikita Grebenkin, among others.
“I knew my role, I’ve been there six years,” Wilson said. “The rebuild and the new prospects coming in, I really wanted to make sure to take care of them. Because when I was a young guy, I had lot of good leaders taking care of me. So kind of pass down that to them. Just teach the guys how to be pro every day, how to act around the rink, how to take care of the trainers and the staff. I just try to lead by example.”
Wilson has done so as a tough, hard-nosed player who stands up for his teammates. He’s now with the Flyers for their playoff push and has appeared in two games. Prior to this season, Wilson’s last NHL game was April 16, 2019, in the playoffs with the Penguins.
As time went on in the minors, he wasn’t sure if he’d ever play in the NHL again.
“There was definitely a bit of doubts,” Wilson said last Thursday. “Once you sign the AHL deal, you’re kind of restricted to just playing in the AHL. I got the chance to come to training camp, had [professional tryout offers] and that. I just tried to stay positive, go down there, I liked the role I had down there of taking care of the younger guys and showing them the pro game. A lot of the guys, they’ve graduated to here.”
And now Wilson has had the chance to be their teammate again.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are effectively locked into the No. 6 seed out West, so they will trot out a lineup tonight that looks nothing like what will be seen in the playoffs.
The Orlando Magic are the lucky beneficiaries. Apologies to all fans of the Hornets, 76ers and Raptors.
My Timberwolves vs. Magic predictions and NBA picks expect exactly one key piece of Minnesota’s rotation to shine on Wednesday, April 8, and that's Rudy Gobert.
Timberwolves vs Magic prediction
Timberwolves vs Magic best bet: Rudy Gobert Over 11.5 points (-115)
This spread has moved a bucket today, because it is more and more clear that Minnesota may coast the rest of the week.
Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels are both recovering from knee worries. The Timberwolves have declared Mike Conely out for rest, Ayo Dosunmu out to tend to a right calf injury, and Julius Randle out amid “right hand soreness.”
Gobert is listed as questionable, “rest.” Expect him to play.
Why? Because he should rest the final two games of the regular season. One more flagrant foul from Gobert elicits a two-game suspension that would roll over into the postseason. Minnesota should not risk that in either of its last two games. So given Gobert is likely to rest to close the week, expect him to play tonight and to play genuine minutes.
With so much other production removed from the Timberwolves’ lineup, genuine minutes from Gobert should result in more field-goal attempts than usual.
Timberwolves vs Magic same-game parlay
Get ready to learn about Zyon Pullin, NBA bettors. He played three minutes in last night’s Timberwolves’ win at Indiana. The second-year guard has not played even five minutes in a game this season, but it is distinctly possible he plays 10+ minutes tonight.
Perhaps Pullin does not see such action, but that mere possibility should underscore how unseriously Minnesota is taking this game.
Timberwolves vs Magic SGP
Magic -5 1H
Magic -9.5
Under 228.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Sit Suggs
The Timberwolves not worrying about tonight should lead to the Magic easing up in certain areas, and no piece of the Orlando rotation needs rest more than Jalen Suggs does. He is clearly playing through injury, if not injuries, as the Magic try to claw their way out of the Play-In Tournament.
Timberwolves vs Magic SGP
Magic -5 1H
Magic -9.5
Under 228.5
Jalen Suggs Under 13.5 points
Timberwolves vs Magic odds
Spread: Timberwolves +9.5 | Magic -9.5
Moneyline: Timberwolves +300 | Magic -380
Over/Under: Over 228.5 | Under 228.5
Timberwolves vs Magic betting trend to know
Orlando has won three straight games outright, each of them vital as the Magic sit tied for No. 7 in the East with life ahead of the Play-In Tournament only a game away. Find more NBA betting trends for Timberwolves vs. Magic.
How to watch Timberwolves vs Magic
Location
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Date
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN North, FDSN Florida
Timberwolves vs Magic latest injuries
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CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 17: Sean Murphy #12 of the Atlanta Braves looks on during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on August 17, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Last night, Walt Weiss told the assorted Braves media that catcher Sean Murphy would be heading on a rehab assignment as soon as Friday. While we knew that Friday would be the day, we didn’t know which of the four Braves minor league teams that Murphy would be playing for as he makes his final preparations to return to Atlanta’s squad following offseason hip labrum surgery.
We now have an answer to that. Per a press release from the Braves and the Gwinnett Stripers, Sean Murphy will be playing at Gwinnett Field this Friday as the Stripers take on the Nashville Sounds from the Milwaukee Brewers organization.
Return of the Murph‼️
2023 All-Star and #Braves catcher Sean Murphy is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment in Gwinnett THIS FRIDAY, April 10th, presented by @NorthsideHosp.
Here’s an excerpt from the Stripers’ press relase on the matter:
Murphy, on Atlanta’s 10-day injured list (right hip labrum repair), is scheduled to play in Gwinnett’s 7:05 p.m. game that night vs. Nashville at Gwinnett Field.
The 31-year-old Murphy will begin his third career rehab assignment with the Stripers. He played in four games with the club in 2024 while out with a strained left oblique, and three games in 2025 while working his way back from a left ribcage fracture. In seven career games with Gwinnett, he’s batting .250 (7-for-28) with one double, three home runs, six RBIs, and an .883 OPS.
In case you’re interested in watching or keeping track with the game, you can watch on Bally Sports Live (link here) and you can listen on My Country 993 WCON-FM (link here). We still don’t know the exact date of Sean Murphy’s return to the Braves but as long as this is happening, a return is certainly imminent. We’ll see what happens.
COVERS INTEL: Current Rays hitters have combined for a .356 xAVG and a .609 xSLG vs. Rea.