Apr 8, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Tigers designated hitter Gleyber Torres (25) looks on after striking out during the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images | Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers vs. Boston Red Sox
Time/Place: 1:35 p.m., Fenway Park SB Nation Site: Over the Monster Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: LHP Framber Valdez (1-1, 3.75 ERA) vs. LHP Garrett Crochet (2-2, 7.58 ERA)
The San Antonio Spurs play host to the underdog Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference playoffs, and we're looking at NBA player prop projections ahead of tonight's Game 1 clash.
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Trail Blazers Game 1 computer picks
Scoot Henderson Over 9.5 points (+100)
Projection: 11.39 points
The player prop projected to offer the most EV (23.3%) on the slate is Scoot Henderson to go Over 9.5 points at even money.
This year, opposing starting PGs have averaged 50.2% on shots from the field (best in the league) vs. the San Antonio Spurs, creating a positive matchup.
The Portland Trail Blazers check in as the second-best offensive rebounding team in the league (offensive rebounds maintain possession and may therefore provide added opportunities for scoring and assists).
span style="font-size: 14px;"đ„/span spanBet Henderson Now at bet365!/span
Deni Avdija Under 6.5 assists (-105)
Projection: 5.48 assists
The Blazers have the sixth-most sluggish pace-of-play offense in the NBA over the last five games, and Deni Avdija has only dished out seven-plus assists five times in his last 10.
One of those recent Unders came against the Spurs.
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Jrue Holiday Over 14.5 points (-112)
Projection: 17.45 points
The computer is projecting Jrue Holiday to clear his scoring prop by nearly a full three points, and it expects him to have a strong matchup from beyond the arc.
The matchup against the Spurs is a strong one for 3-point shots; the opposing team's starting SGs have posted the eighth-highest 3-point percentage in the NBA this year (37.5%).
If you like the risk, Over 2.5 made threes is available at +115, but the computer is only projecting 2.74.
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Spurs Game 1 computer picks
Dylan Harper Over 8.5 points (-110)
Projection: 10.55 points
Dylan Harper has scored at least nine points in 12 straight games and in 16 of his last 17.
Offensive rebounds preserve possession and generate additional scoring opportunities, and the Spurs rank sixth-best in the league with 12.4 offensive boards per game over the last 15 games.
span style="font-size: 14px;"đ„/span spanBet Harper Now at bet365!/span
Devin Vassell Over 12.5 points (+100)
Projection: 13.30 points
Devin Vassell has averaged 13.9 points per game this season and has cleared this line in four of his last six games.
span style="font-size: 14px;"đ„/span spanBet Vassell Now at bet365!/span
De'Aaron Fox Over 17.5 points (-105)
Projection: 18.60 points
De'Aaron Fox has averaged 22.5 points per game over the last eight home games, 3.6 points higher than his full-season average at home.
He's also cleared this prop in three straight and in four of six.
span style="font-size: 14px;"đ„/span spanBet fox Now at bet365!/span
How to watch Trail Blazers vs Spurs Game 1
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
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Nov 29, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) dunks the ball over Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) during the third quarter at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Todayâs prompt for the staff was easy: whatâs your favorite moment from the season?
Bryan: December 23, 2025. Denver comes to town on national tv as the Mavs are at the peak of annoying me by going on that brief winning streak earlier in the month, just to go right back to being a dreadful watch soon after. The worries with Cooperâs jumpshot are still a prominent topic of conversation and, and with his brother sitting courtside, Coop delivers maybe his best overall performance of the season against the multiple-time MVP, Nikola Jokic and crew. 33 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, a steal, and a block on 14 of 21 from the field and 4 of 6 for three. He only attempted 1 free throw in that game and had 2 turnovers; it was an offensive clinic by Cooper punctuated by a tomahawk slam right on top of fellow rookie Spencer Jonesâ head midway through the game. They won that game too, but I couldnât bring myself to mind it much.
Tyler: When it ended.
Chris: Iâm sorry, Iâm gonna say it. For me, it has to be when they traded Anthony Davis. That move signaled the official end of the Nico Harrison era, and the Mavs re-shifted the focus to building around Cooper Flagg. The return was never going to be anything close to the true value of Luka Doncic, but Dallas now has a new star and doesnât have to operate on two different timelines. And even if you were in the camp of wanting to keep Davis, the idea of paying a mid to upper 30âs guy, who cannot stay on the court, $70 million a year on an extension is so outrageously insane, my brain cannot process it. Good job Fin-Cardi.
Josh: When it ended.
Damn, Tyler stole my bit or more like I stole Tylerâs bit.
Jordan: November 10 against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Mavs had a predictably rough start to the season. The long-term direction of the team is muddied. Cooper Flagg was thrust into a role no rookie should have been in â especially one whoâd never played the position heâd been asked to play. His answer was an impressive showing against one of the leagueâs superstars. All of that culminated in this moment with less than a minute left, straight up against Giannis Antetokounmpo:
The most electric moment of the season. It said everything about what Flagg was about, and why it mattered that the organization fully embrace a new era. It took time, no doubt. But this was the moment that sealed it. It is likely coincidence that the next morning Patrick Dumont, after sitting courtside for this game, fired the general manager; putting in motion where the team is today. When I think of the very few true bright in-game moments from a dark season, this is the one I automatically remember.
Kirk: Jordan took the moment I wanted. Crap. Hold on. But man, yeah, thatâs a good one.
Brent: The kid in the Luka jersey sitting next to Dumont â because it confirmed the Dallas Mavericks are the ongoing Black Mirror episode of the NBA since the team was sold.
Joe: My favorite Mavs moment was the Dumont-Luka kid thing. Just a bizarre and hilarious way of ending the dumb 10 months that was the Anthony Davis era in Dallas. Obviously, he didnât get traded till later, but that was when it ended.
Michael: Iâm torn between two and will name them both because one is macro and one is micro.
The macro-level moment was the Anthony Davis trade. I have no problem with Davis, didnât blame him for the Doncic trade, etc. â no animosity to the players involved, but that trade so desperately needed to happen. It truly marked the end of the Nico Harrison era, but more importantly, gave the franchise their second dose of real hope since the ill-fated Doncic trade (the #1 pick/Cooper Flagg being the first dose, of course). It often feels as though other teams have gone from second apron team to under the cap through some manner of instant sorcery, so my hope had long been the Mavs could do the same. The fact they managed to move on from the Harrison era, move away from the oft-injured Davis to officially make it Flaggâs team, come off the financial burden of multiple contracts, and give the team off season flexibility for the first time in a long time â all in one fell swoop, and all despite Davis being injured at the time â cannot be overstated enough. It was the first real Mavs-related âthrillâ since lotto/draft night.
The micro-level moment was Flaggâs 51-point game. 19-for-30 overall, 6-for-9 from deep, 7-for-7 from the free throw line, all in 33 minutes of play, was just an outrageous beast-mode moment. It wasnât a farce like some high-scoring games can be, and from relatively early in the game, it grabbed hold of me and had me guessing just how special it would be. Ultimately, it had me shouting ânext point is 50!â to everyone within earshot so they could stop multitasking and focus only on the game to see something amazing.
Both moments ultimately contributed to a feeling of hope for the future that was elusive for large parts of the last 18 months.
Kirk: I think it has to be the Cooper Flagg dunk over Zubac. I knew our guy had hops, by my goodness this is athleticism weâve not seen often while in Dallas.
Sep 28, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Justin Wrobleski (70) reacts in the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
The Dodgers finish off their long weekend series against the Colorado Rockies with one more game on Monday night at Coors Field, the only wraparound series of the season for Los Angeles.
Justin Wrobleski is coming off the best start of his career, on six days rest after throwing eight scoreless innings last Monday against the New York Mets. Heâs done pretty well in his previous three appearances at Coors Field, with a 2.89 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings, but those were all in relief. This will be his first start in Denver.
Left-hander Jose Quintana starts the series finale for the Rockies.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 08: Cole Henry #99 of the Washington Nationals is relieved by manager Blake Butera #10 in the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park on April 08, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As we all know, the Nationals pitching staff has been a major problem. The team ERA is nearing 6, and the Nats have a real shortage of reliable arms. Sometimes stats can get inflated one way or the other in April, but it does not feel like the Nats are suffering from bad luck. The Nats 5.92 team ERA does not seem very inflated.
One way to see if pitchers are getting unlucky is to look at the underlying numbers. Numbers like FIP and xERA are a good way to measure a pitcherâs true skill level. The Nats FIP of 5.75 and xERA of 5.52 are the worst in baseball. While the Astros have a worse team ERA, their FIP is 5.41 and xERA is 4.49. That suggests they should improve a bit. The Nats are not really in line for that improvement.
Another number that is really poor is their fWAR. Nats pitchers have combined for -2.2 fWAR, which is by far the worst in the league. Back in 2022, Nats pitchers had a 0 WAR for the season. That was the worst mark of this decade. Do not be surprised if this group is in the negatives.
When I said the Nationals had "quite possibly the worst pitching staff of the decade", I may have been too nice. They look worse than the Washington's pitching in 2022 that put up 0.0 fWAR
It is tough to blame too much of this on coaching either. The Nats are just at a real talent deficit on the mound. They just do not have many pitchers who are even average big leaguers. The Nats are filled with young guys trying to prove themselves, journeymen trying to find a home in the big leagues, and arms who are over the hill.
For me, the two biggest problems are walks and home runs. Lately, the walks have not been as bad, but the home runs are out of control. Nats pitchers have allowed 39 home runs, which is five more than the next closest team and 12 more than the team in third place. It is tough to be effective as a staff when you are allowing 1.85 home runs per 9 innings.
I don't know the exact number of relievers since 2022 who have either walked or given up a homer to their very first batter faced as a member of the Nationals, but it's high. Very high.
The bullpen has drawn most of the fans ire, but they have been showing more signs of life lately. I think the bullpen is a slightly easier problem to solve. Guys like Cionel Perez, Gus Varland and PJ Poulin have been throwing the ball better lately. We also saw good things from Richard Lovelady last night.
I have a little bit of faith that the Nats can cobble together a bullpen that is not as bad as last year still. In the past couple weeks, the unit has been better. Even though they blew a 5-2 lead, the unit was good besides Mitchell Parker. My bigger concerns are with the starting rotation.
A Nats starter has only gone 6 innings once this season. That was Cade Cavalli against the Phillies a few weeks ago. Length has been a real issue for this staff. They are struggling to even get through five innings. The quality is also poor with a starter ERA over 6.
Outside of Foster Griffin, the whole unit has been really disappointing. Miles Mikolas was supposed to be an innings eater, but he barely even goes three innings anymore. Zack Littell has just been too hittable so far. Jake Irvinâs stuff looks better, and I think he could improve, but his ERA is still over 6.
For me, Cade Cavalli has been the biggest disappointment. He was supposed to be the staff ace, but has only completed five innings once. The stuff is sharp, but his command and pitch selection leaves so much to be desired. He should get the season to try and figure things out, but eventually, he might have to be moved to the bullpen.
Unfortunately, help is not really on the way. Andrew Alvarez is decent, and just got called up. However, he is a 5 and dive guy whoâs pure stuff is not great. Maybe he could be like Foster Griffin, but I am not as high on him as some. Riley Cornelio could be a solution, but he is not very proven. Luis Perales has a lot of pedigree, but I think he is a reliever.
The Nats offense has really been carrying the load right now, yet the team is still 9-12. I worry about what could happen if the offense cools off. Things could get really ugly. This pitching staff has been very bad, and there are not many reasons to believe things will get better. Hopefully this staff can help improve guys, but they do not have a lot to work with.
DENVER , CO - APRIL 18: Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets handles as Rudy Gobert (27) of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets' 116-105 win at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Saturday, April 18, 2026. The Nuggets took a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven series. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) | Denver Post via Getty Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves lost Game 1 of their first-round NBA Playoff series to the Denver Nuggets, 116-105, in a game reminiscent of so many of the Wolvesâ shortcomings.
There were gorgeous stretches of basketball, especially early in the game, but those pockets of solid play did not last. The Wolves consistently reverted back to the team that underachieved during the regular season. The phrase âflip the switchâ had been used to describe the Wolves coming into the playoffs, and at least for one game, that did not occur.
With the game now in the rear-view mirror, letâs take a second look at what went right, and more often what went wrong for the Timberwolves in Game 1 against the Nuggets.
The Good: Rudy Gobert on Offense
The best aspect of the Timberwolvesâ Game 1 came from Rudy Gobert on offense. Gobert struggled mightily on that side of the ball last postseason, but did exactly what the team needed him to do on Saturday afternoon in Denver.
The best offensive action the Timberwolves had all night was the pick-and-rolls with Gobert as the screener. Many ball handlers found Rudy rolling to the rim, with Anthony Edwards specifically finding Gobert early and often with the defense tilted to stop the Wolvesâ superstar guard.
Gobert himself caught each pass thrown his way and either made the correct next pass or made a move to the rim for a bucket.
âBoth ends he did a good job,â Jaden McDaniels said. âHe keep doing that, weâre going to win.â
When asked if this performance is repeatable, Gobert answered, âI think we shall see.â
Rudy Gobert was outstanding on both ends in Game 1. The Offense specifically stood out and I think the Wolves are going to need multiple games like this from Rudy to win the series
Ant and others made the correct pass often and Gobert was great catching and making the next play pic.twitter.com/DQMEBtOPZR
The ball movement that drove the Timberwolves toward a double-digit lead in the first quarter dried up in the second and third quarters. As it so often has this season, the Wolves reverted to isolation basketball and took many ill-advised shots.
One of the main culprits was Edwards, who, after consistently finding Gobert and other teammates in the first quarter, settled for far too many bad shots the rest of the game.
âI donât know,â Edwards said when asked about the lack of ball movement. âYeah, I gotta go watch the film. I donât know. I thought the ball was still kind of moving, but Finchy said the same thing. The ball stopped kind of moving, but I gotta go look at it.â
The ball movement dried up after the first quarter for the Wolves in Game 1. I thought was as big a reason as anyone as to why
The Wolves offense looked great when Ant was making the fight pass to Rudy and others while attacking the rim himself. I thought too often he settled pic.twitter.com/I09vLbWWUV
The player who suffers most due to the lack of ball movement is probably Jaden McDaniels.
In the first quarter and a half of Game 1, the Wolves used the defensive attention toward Edwards with the ball and Gobert rolling to the rim to generate open looks and driving lanes for McDaniels, which led to either open looks at the rim or free throw opportunities with Nikola JokiÄ guarding the rim.
All of that dried up later in the game as the ball got sticky, and isolation possessions were the primary action of the Wolvesâ offense.
The Timberwolves need to get more looks for Jaden McDaniels in the flow of the offense
I think these three plays are a perfect example of how to do that. Use Gobert's roller gravity and the shifted defense toward Edwards to open up driving lanes pic.twitter.com/I1dnJhgPUv
The Timberwolves trailed by as many as 15 points in the third quarter but clawed back into the game. The Denver lead got as small as two points before the Wolvesâ poor late-game execution prevented them from shrinking the deficit any further.
âJust key mistakes,â Randle explained. âJust little things, we put them on the free throw line. A bunch of little things at certain moments. Weâd get it to five, and theyâd go on a 4-0 run, 6-0 run, stuff like that. We just gotta limit our mistakes down the stretch and try not to put ourselves in that position by having a better third quarter.â
Late in the game, Gobert and Julius Randle each had awful turnovers, there were a pair of missed defensive rebounds that led to second-chance points for the Nuggets, and a pair of fouls from Randle that gave Aaron Gordon three free throws before Denver even had to run a play.
âWeâve got to make smarter, more solid plays,â Finch said about the plays late in the game. âWe had two turnovers right in the middle of one run back. One in the paint, which was a tough pass for Rudy to handle, and then Rudy does a wraparound DHO, they poke away, and then we get the away from the play foul, and it just wasnât very smart. Weâve got to be more composed.â
The Wolves kept the game close late, but were unable to execute with a number of mistakes
Turnovers, missed rebounds, and bad fouls all played a role in the 11-point loss pic.twitter.com/18Fx69GPuy
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 4: Konnor Griffin #6 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on during batting practice before the game against the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on April 4, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home today against the Pittsburgh Pirates looking to grab a win against the Tampa Bay Rays.
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We waited all year for this? The 76ers opened their 2026 postseason with one of the ugliest playoff losses in franchise history. The Celtics beat the 76ers 123-91 at TD Garden, a 32-point loss in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference 1st-round series.
In the last 30 years, there have only been two worse losses in Game 1 of an Eastern Conference 1st-round series â the Pistons lost by 35 to the Bucks in 2019 and the Knicks lost by 33 to the Heat in 2012.Â
The good news? Last time the 76ers lost a Game 1 in any playoff series by at least 30 points they came back to win the series.
Feeling optimistic now?
With a hat-tip to Stathead, hereâs our five-best stats off the 76ersâ 2026 playoff opener. Â
HOW BAD WAS IT? The 32-point loss matched the 7th-worst playoff loss in 76ers history. Theyâve lost nine postseason games by 30 or more points and five have been against the Celtics, including the last two. It was the 76ersâ worst Game 1 loss in any playoff series in 44 years, since a 121-81 loss to the Celtics at Boston Garden in 1982 â the so-called Motherâs Day Massacre â in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Finals series. The 76ers came back to win that series before losing to the Lakers in the NBA Finals. The 32-point loss was the 76ersâ 5th-worst this year, including the regular season. The 32-point loss was also the 76ersâ worst ever in their first postseason game of any season. The previous worst was a 25-point loss to Oscar Robertson and the Cincinnati Royals in Game 1 of their 1964 Eastern Division Semifinal series, a 127-102 loss at Cincinnati Gardens. The win was the Celticsâ biggest in 41 years in a Game 1, since they beat the Lakers by 34 (148-114) in Game 1 of the 1985 NBA Finals at Boston Garden.
HEY, THEY JUST MISSED ANOTHER 3: The 76ers shot just 4-for-23 from 3 for 17.4 percent. Thatâs their 2nd-worst ever in a playoff game in which they attempted at least 20 3âs. The only worst performance came in a 111-102 loss to the Nets in 1999 at the Wells Fargo Center, where they were 3-for-25 for 12 percent. This was the first time in 76ers postseason history they made four or fewer 3âs while allowing 16 or more. Itâs only the eighth time in NBA history a team has allowed 16 3âs in a playoff game while making four or fewer. The last five teams that have done that have done it against the Celtics. The 76ers havenât had a regular-season game with four or fewer 3âs while allowing 16 or more in 12 years, since a 114-93 loss to the Trail Blazers at Moda Center in 2014.Â
GRUESOME PLUS-MINUS NUMBERS: For only the second time in franchise history, the 76ers had eight players at minus-10 or worse in a playoff game: Tyrese Maxey (minus-29),        V.J. Edgecombe (minus-26), Justin Edwards (minus-21), Kelly Oubre (minus-21), Andre Drummond (minus-19), Dominick Barlow (minus-15), Quentin Grimes (minus-13) and Paul George (minus-10). They also had eight at minus-10 or worse in that 2023 loss to the Celtics (Joel Embiid, Danny Green, James Harden, Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle and Maxey). Edwards somehow managed to be minus-21 despite playing just 17 minutes. Only four 76ers have had a worse plus-minus in a playoff game in which they played 17 or fewer minutes: Eric Snow was minus-21 in 13 minutes vs. the Bucks in 2001, Elton Brand was minus-23 in 15 minutes vs. the Celtics in 2012, DeAndre Jordan was minus-22 in 17 minutes vs. the Heat in 2022 and Paul Reed was minus-21 in just 11 minutes vs. the Knicks in 2024.
NOT ONE BUT TWO GUYS SHOOTING BLANKS:Â Kelly Oubre and V.J. Edgecombe were both 0-for-5 from 3, making this the first playoff game in 76ers history where two guys took five or more 3âs and didnât make any. They both tied the 6th-most 3-point attempts in a playoff game without a make.Â
IT WAS NEVER CLOSE:Â The 76ersâ 15-point deficit through the first quarter was the 6th-largest in franchise postseason history and largest since an 18-point deficit against the Pistons in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference 1st-round series in 2008. The 18-point halftime deficit was 9th-largest in 76ers postseason history. And the 24-point deficit after the third quarter was 11th-largest.
ITâS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING: With their win yesterday, the Cubs now are exactly .500 â 9,199 wins, 9,199 losses and 81 ties â since Opening Day of 1908! (Courtesy BCBâs JohnW53)
ITâS BEEN A WHILE (NOT AS LONG AS ABOVE, THOUGH): The Cubs have not won five consecutive games since March 31-April 5 of last year. Todayâs game will be their 162nd, a full season, since then. They have won 96 and lost 65. Their current streak is their fifth of four wins since their last five-game streak. (Courtesy BCBâs JohnW53)
AND ABOUT TIME TO DO THIS AGAIN: The Cubs have not swept a series at home against the Mets since they won three games April 20-22, 2021. They had gone 5-8 in four series since then. They swept three at New York in 2022. (Courtesy BCBâs JohnW53)
BEAT THE METS: The Metsâ current 10-game losing streak is the longest April losing streak in their franchise history. (Previous record: They lost the first nine games they played as a franchise in April 1962.)
Javier Assad has made one really good start and one really bad one so far this year.
He has not faced the Mets since April 30, 2024 and a lot of those guys arenât on the Mets anymore.
No current Met has more than seven career at-bats against Assad (Francisco Lindor, 3-for-7, a home run).
Hopefully, this afternoon is a good one for Javier.
Originally, David Peterson was going to make this start for the Mets, but since heâs posted an 8.79 ERA and 1.954 WHIP and allowed eight walks and 14 earned runs in his last 14.1 innings, the Mets decided to pivot to Tobias Myers.
Weâre familiar with Myers from his time with the Brewers. In fact, he came to the Mets in the same deal that brought Freddy Peralta to New York.
Myers is not really stretched out to start and this article from The Athletic says the Mets hope to get around 30 pitches from him and once through the batting order. After that, the article says, Peterson might be available out of the bullpen.
Myers made two relief appearances against the Cubs last year, throwing three scoreless innings.
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The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
Youâll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled âCubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.â It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly âFirst Pitchâ) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 27: Cole Ragans #55 of the Kansas City Royals pitches against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning of the home opener at Truist Park on March 27, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Another afternoon tilt in New York for the Royals today as they try to salvage one win on what has been a truly demoralizing road trip. Two new faces have joined the team for todayâs game. Elias Diaz will be catching; the veteran has been in the big leagues since 2015 but has never played for Kansas City. Joining him will be Mason Black in the bullpen as the team continues to cycle arms through there to see if anyone can stick.
Cole Ragans gets to try and play stopper and will hopefully end the losing streak at six. After the scary exit in the first inning at Cleveland, his start on Tuesday went well, but was uncharacteristic with very few strike outs and several walks. This is a situation for the ace of the staff to show why he gets that moniker.
Opposite Ragans will be Ryan Weathers who is 0-2 with a 4.29 ERA through his first four starts. He has allowed a decent number of base runners so far this season, so the Royals will attempt to take advantage of lefty. Here are the lineups for today:
KANSAS CITY, MO - APRIL 09: Dustin Harris #37 of the Chicago White Sox hits a single in the second inning during the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Thursday, April 9, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Sydney Schneider/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Houston Astros claimed OF Dustin Harris off waivers from the Chicago White Sox.
He has appeared in six major league games for Chicago this season, hitting .250 (3Ă12) with a .438 OBP.
He has joined the Astros and will wear 37.
The Astros also recalled RHP Jayden Murray from Triple-A Sugar Land and have placed OF Joey Loperfido on the 10-day IL with a right quad strain (retro to April 18).
Houston has also acquired IF Braden Shewmake from the New York Yankees in exchange for minor leaguer RHP Wilmy Sanchez.
Shewmake has played his entire 2026 season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the Yankees minor league system.
"That's probably the craziest thing that's ever happened to me in my career."
When one considers the length and breadth of LeBron James' GOAT-level career, that statement says a lot. LeBron has been clear the past couple of years that playing with his son Bronny has been one of the â if not THE â greatest joys of his career.
On Saturday, that duo made history again as LeBron and Bronny became the first-ever father/son duo to play in an NBA game. You could see the joy in LeBron's eyes when he talked about it postgame.
LEBRON JAMES: "I was on the floor with my son. In a playoff game. That's probably the craziest thing that's ever happened to me in my career.
LeBron had a special day beyond playing with his son. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves out, the Lakers needed 41-year-old LeBron to shoulder the burden of being the team's primary shot creator â and he thrived. In seeming constant motion all night, he finished with 19 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds. He was drawing defenders and setting up teammates such as Luke Kennard, who had a team-high 27. The Lakers have a 1-0 series lead heading into Game 2 on Tuesday in Los Angeles, but Houston is expected to have Kevin Durant back for that game.
The Yankees announced a trade prior to Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals.
The club has acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Wilmy Sanchez from the Houston Astros in exchange for minor league infielder Braden Shewmake.
Sanchez, 22, began the season in Double-A ball, pitching to a 1.29 ERA in five games. He has a career 3.80 ERA across five minor league seasons.
Shewmake, 28, was claimed off waivers by the Yankees from the Royals in February. He hit .176 for the Yankees during spring training, but showed off a decent glove.
He slashed .250/.314/.313 with five runs, two doubles, one RBI and one stolen base in 10 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilke-Barre this season.
BUFFALO, N.Y. â The time has arrived as the Buffalo Sabres get set to play in their first playoff games in 15 years. You can immediately feel the vibe as an outsider when you cross the border into the Queen City and see the 'GO SABRES' signs with makeshift Stanley Cups, as the fanbase gets ready to scratch a long-standing playoff itch.
For Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff, the priority is managing emotions for the many players on his roster who have no experience with playoff hockey. While he doesnât want his players doing something reckless that will lead to penalty trouble, he wants them to feed off the local energy.
âI'm hoping that we are amped up because it will be electric,â Ruff said. âIt will be a totally different feeling for sure. I'm looking forward to how our guys are going to react to it. We've talked about the energy we need to bring and how we need to play. I anticipate them being ready to do itâ.
Thereâs immense excitement throughout the city. When the Sabres last went to the postseason, the KeyBank Center was known as the HSBC Arena. Back then, the facility stood among many vacant parking lots that have since been developed. LECOM Harborcenter, the teamâs official practice facility, had not yet been built.
Current owner Terry Pegula had only recently purchased the team at that time, and much of the modern development around the Sabresâ home did not exist. This includes the Canalside area around the building, which is expected to be packed with fans watching the game from outside the arena. The demand for entry is historic; as of Sunday morning, the lowest-priced ticket for Game 1 was $450 USDâby far the most expensive "get-in" price of any opening home game in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
While Ruff was the coach the last time the club made the playoffs, the management structure around him has changed significantly. A mid-season change at general manager from Kevyn Adams to Jarmo KekĂ€lĂ€inen seemingly sparked the clubâs fortune. The team transformed from a struggling 14-14-5 squad tied for last in the Eastern Conference into the winners of the Atlantic Division.
Simply getting to the "dance" is a milestone, but expectations remain high. The Sabres havenât won a playoff round since 2007, and rolling over for their opponent, the Boston Bruins, wonât be accepted by a rabid fanbase eager for a return to glory.
Which Goaltender Will Have The Strongest Post-Season?
AK: Frederik Andersen
IC: Frederik Andersen
Which Former Canuck Will Have The Best Performance?
AK: Jalen Chatfield
IC: Vasily Podkolzin
Jan 3, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) gets the shot away past Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) during the second period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
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