NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 31: Jayson Tatum #0 and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics react against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on January 31, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — The Celtics will be without several key players when they face the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night. Jayson Tatum (right Achilles injury management) is sidelined on the second night of a back-to-back, while Jaylen Brown (left Achilles tendinitis) is questionable.
Jayson Tatum is OUT tonight on the second night of a back-to-back
Sam Hauser (back spasm), Derrick White (right knee contusion) and Neemias Queta (toe sprain) are PROBABLE
Jaylen Brown is QUESTIONABLE with left Achilles tendinitis
Tatum is currently not playing back-to-backs as he returns from an Achilles injury, and opted to play on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden in order to overcome that mental hurdle. He finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists in a 112-106 loss to the Knicks.
Brown has missed three games in the past two weeks due to Achilles soreness, but said he was not concerned about the injury long-term.
“Nah, everybody’s dealing with something — just some soreness,” Brown said in Atlanta in late March. “Definitely want to make sure you stay healthy as much as possible & you don’t want to risk anything, but it’ll be fine going forward.”
In addition to Tatum and Brown both potentially being sidelined, Sam Hauser (low back spasm), Derrick White (right knee contusion), and Neemias Queta (toe sprain) are all on the injury report and listed as probable to play. All three players were on the injury report ahead of Thursday’s Celtics-Knicks game, but all ultimately played.
Of note, White is two blocks away from becoming the first player in NBA history to record 200 three-pointers and 100 blocks in a single season — though he hasn’t recorded a block in four straight games for the first time all season.
With the Celtics shorthanded, Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh will likely both continue to see increased run. Scheierman is coming off a career night in which he exploded for 20 points on 7-8 shooting, 18 of which came in the second half. And Walsh has fully returned to the rotation over the past two weeks, starting on Thursday night in place of Jaylen Brown.
The Pelicans are 26-54 and have the 11th-best record in the Western Conference. They’ll be without several key players: Dejounte Murray (left hand contusion), Zion Williamson (right knee injury management), Trey Murphy III (right ankle sprain), Yves Missi (right hand sprain), Bryce McGowens (right small toe fracture), Karlo Matkovic (low back injury management), Herbert Jones (rest), and Saddiq Bey (rest).
Friday’s game actually has seeding implications for the Celtics
The Celtics (54-26) currently have a two-game lead in the standings and need to win one of their next two games to secure the No. 2 seed. They face the Pelicans on Friday, and the Orlando Magic on Sunday.
The Knicks (52-28) face the Toronto Hornets on Friday and the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday. If they drop one of those games, the Celtics will automatically secure the No. 2 seed, regardless of the Celtics’ outcomes over the next two games.
Kurt Helin, NBC Sports Lead NBA Writer: Jalen Duren
No award this season has me flipping my vote back-and-forth between two players like Most Improved, because both Duren and Nickeil Alexander-Walker have great cases. I lean toward Duren because of his significantly improved play on both sides of the ball without some dramatic change of role or situation — he just got better, and the Pistons are not the No. 1 seed in the East without that leap. His handle got better, and that meant not only was he creating his own shot now, but his turnovers fell way down. He's become a paint protector of a high order on defense. Also, Duren showed real leadership, and when Cade Cunningham went out at the end of the season, he had the Pistons going 8-3. All that said, the case for NAW is equally compelling (our other writers will get more into his case).
One pet peeve: The argument that NAW "gets closer to the spirit of the award" — I detest that line of reasoning. For me, the idea that the Most Improved Player award is supposed to highlight a player who wasn't a high pick is crap. This is not the "we thought you were mid/sucked, but you're actually good" award; this is supposed to go to the most improved player. Period. I am considering having Victor Wembanyama on my ballot for that reason.
Jay Coucher, NBC Sports Lead Betting Analyst: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
The odds-on favorite for MIP, NAW has reinvented his game in year 7 on his fourth team. His 9.4 to 20.4 PPG increase, on career-best efficiency and in only 7.9 more minutes per game, is the third-highest scoring increase of the last 25 years.
He remains an elite defender (third in the NBA for turnovers forced) and his offensive evolution is a key reason why Atlanta, the defining play-in tournament team of our generation, will likely finish in the East's top 6.
Raphielle Johnson, NBC Sports Fantasy basketball lead analyst: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Jalen Johnson's continued emergence as a star is the biggest reason the Hawks have improved this season, but Alexander-Walker's growth isn't far behind. He's got nine 30-point games to his credit this season, and he boasts career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals and three-pointers. Alexander-Walker has always been a plus defender; his emergence offensively has changed the equation for the Hawks.
Eric Samulski, MLB/NBA Writer, NBC Sports: Ryan Rollins
I'm not sure anybody can explain the exact criteria for Most Improved Player. Is it Stephon Castle turning into a legit max contract player? Is it Nickeil Alexander-Walker becoming an offensive force for Atlanta? I'm gonna choose to honor Ryan Rollins going from a player who was waived by one of the worst teams in basketball to being a legit starting point guard in the NBA. Rollins went from 6.2 points per game to 17.1 points per game. From 1.9 assists to 5.6 assists. He more than doubled his minutes per game. The was the main offensive weapon for the Bucks for stretches of the season. I'm just not sure anybody improved their overall standing in the NBA more than Rollins this year.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 4: Carmen Mlodzinski #50 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the first inning during 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 on the road today against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field looking to grab a win.
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The Miami Heat waived guard Terry Rozier, who has been on league-mandated leave since October amid a federal illegal sports betting investigation, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Friday.
Key Takeaways
The Heat traded for Rozier about nine-and-a-half months after the incident in question.
The NBA did not find evidence of any wrongdoing by Rozier.
A pro sports bettor won all 30 of their prop bets involving Rozier for more than $13,000.
Rozier, 32, has been away from the Heat since his FBI arrest Oct. 23. He had been under investigation by the NBA from the season’s onset.
The NBA’s investigation concluded without finding evidence that Rozier had violated league rules. However, the league insisted after Rozier’s arrest that it did not “clear” him of wrongdoing.
Rozier’s arrest came as a surprise to the NBA. FBI director Kash Patel, who worked with the U.S. Attorney’s Office from the Eastern District of New York, Homeland Security Investigations, and local New York law enforcement officials, said there were “tens of million of dollars in theft, in fraud, in robbery” between Rozier, former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones, and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, all of whom were arrested on the same day.
Rozier has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He pleaded not guilty in federal court Dec. 8 and was released on $3-million bail.
His attorney, Jim Trusty, also issued a statement to CNN last November, saying his client “looks forward to winning this fight.”
“It is unfortunate that instead of allowing (Rozier) to self surrender they opted for a photo op,” Trusty wrote. “They wanted the misplaced glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a perp walk. That tells you a lot about the motivations in this case. They appear to be taking the word of spectacularly in-credible sources rather than relying on actual evidence of wrongdoing.”
Incident in question
Rozier’s charges stem from a matchup between the Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans on March 23, 2023.
The NBA was alerted to suspicious betting activity related to Rozier’s prop betting lines, or wagers that dealt with his individual performance, but did not directly relate to the outcome of the game.
Sportsbooks mostly set Rozier’s prop odds around 21.5 points, six assists, and four rebounds that night. Rozier removed himself from the game with a foot issue after nine minutes and 36 seconds of playing time, finishing with five points, four rebounds, and two assists.
The incident initially flew under the radar since the Hornets were well out of the playoff picture. Rozier also did not play in another game during the 2022-23 season, making it seem as if Charlotte had shut down the veteran guard for the year.
The incident was seen in a new light in January 2025 when ESPN’s David Purdum reported that a professional sports bettor went 30-for-30 with prop bets exceeding $13,000 in combined value, all of which targeted Rozier. The bets were placed in a 46-minute window at Caesars Sportsbook in Harrah’s Gulf Coast in Biloxi, Mississippi, and resulted in $13,017.70 in winnings.
“It's unfortunate that he's a big name in sports and is having to endure all this,” Trusty said after the report, per ESPN. “My hope and expectation is that at some point that they'll be done with their investigation and will be professional enough to let us know that it's 100% over and that they reached the same conclusion that was reached in 2023.”
Innocent until proven guilty
Rozier's former Louisville head coach and current St. John’s bench boss, Rick Pitino, said he does not believe it is in Rozier’s character to participate in an illegal gambling scheme.
“It’s not like him,” Pitino said on “Dan Dakich Unfiltered” in November. “I love Terry. I texted him: ‘Terry, if I can be of any help. I love you, son. If there’s anything I can do to help you, please get a hold of me.’”
Rozier was traded to the Heat for a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 lottery-protected first-rounder that will convert to an unprotected 2028 first-round selection if it doesn’t convey. He made 95 appearances for the franchise, averaging 12.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists.
Our NBA player prop projections are set for tonight’s last regular season meetup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets, with the model pinpointing several standout opportunities.
By analyzing the data and comparing it to current market lines, we’ve uncovered the bets with the highest value.
For those building their cards, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Friday, April 10.
Thunder vs Nuggets computer picks for April 10
Thunder
Nuggets
Williams o14.5 points -105
Murray u22.5 points -120
McCain o3.5 3-pointers +125
Jokic u13.5 rebounds -110
McCain o19.5 points -120
Gordon o2.5 assists -130
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Thunder computer picks
Kenrich Williams Over 14.5 points (-105)
Projection: 15.1 points
The Oklahoma City Thunder enter this matchup as the league’s second-highest scoring offense over their last 10 games.
They should also benefit from an uptick in pace, drawing the Denver Nuggets, who rank ninth in tempo across the past 25 games.
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Jared McCain Over 3.5 3-pointers (+125)
Projection: 3.7 3-pointers
The Thunder have played as the eighth-most aggressive team from beyond the arc over the past five games, creating a favorable setup for Jared McCain to capitalize from deep.
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Jared McCain Over 19.5 points (-120)
Projection: 20.7 points
McCain is averaging 12.4 points per game across his last 10 road outings (4.3 higher than his overall mark away from home this season) and with an uptick in minutes, he’ll have every chance to elevate his production and rise to the occasion.
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Nuggets computer picks
Jamal Murray Under 22.5 points (-120)
Projection: 21.6 points
The Thunder have operated at the 10th-slowest pace in the league over their last five road games, which should limit overall possessions for the Nuggets and work against Jamal Murray clearing this scoring line, especially after he’s fallen short in five of his last 10 games at a 22.5-point number.
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Nikola Jokic Under 13.5 rebounds (-110)
Projection: 13.2 rebounds
The Nuggets rank as the third-worst offensive rebounding team at home over their last 25 games, putting added pressure on Nikola Jokić to clean up the glass against the Oklahoma City Thunder—but even with that role, he could fall just short of this number after going Under in two of his last 10 games at a 13.5 rebound line.
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Aaron Gordon Over 2.5 assists (-130)
Projection: 2.8 assists
The Nuggets have operated at the ninth-fastest pace in the league over their last 25 games, which should create added playmaking opportunities for Aaron Gordon against a different Thunder rotation.
After clearing this 2.5 assists line in six of his last 10 outings, he’s in a strong spot to get Over once again.
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How to watch Thunder vs Nuggets tonight
Location
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date
Friday, April 10, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Oklahoma, Altitude
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Apr 7, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) hits an rbi single during the fifth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
The Seattle Mariners didn’t need a copy of Cal Raleigh’s MVP-caliber 2025 to repeat as AL West champions this year. What they *will* need is not to repeat his frigid first foray in the big leagues back in 2021. Hard as it may be to remember (or, all too easy after the first two weeks of this season), Raleigh hit a brick wall in his first big league taste. He went .180/.223/.309 in his first 148 plate appearances across 47 games, a grisly 46 wRC+ with an unseemly 35.1% strikeout rate while walking just seven times in the bigs that year. It wasn’t until his 2022 return that Raleigh solidified himself as a star, in Seattle and then across the sport. Now, those expectations loom even larger, with the Big Dumper mucked up and mired in a .143/.236/.245 over his first 55 PAs this year, a 51 wRC+, and a funny-but-not-ha-ha-funny bad 38.2% punchout rate. He’s hit just one round-tripper, for goodness sake.
So what’s eating the Big Dumper?
Home Run Derby hangover delayed by two-thirds a year? Randy Arozarena’s secret hexes? Insufficient gumption?
All good answers, but color me skeptical. Two weeks offers less data than necessary for many statistical stabilizations. But something we can see and quantify is Raleigh’s literal process at the plate – his swing. With advancements in data tracking and cameras, MLB and Baseball Savant can track and publicize the bat tracking data for each pitch and swing. What I’ve seen this spring has gone from troublesome to troubleshooting, and I believe in the near future to be trouble-shedding.
In eliminating culprits, there seems not to be something physically awry for Raleigh. His average bat speed is in keeping with a season ago, give or take a half tick at 74.7 mph. That’s a strong score, on the higher end of the league as befits Raleigh’s strength and emphasis on elevating pitches with damaging intent. So far as we can measure, Raleigh hasn’t massively altered his mechanics or setup pre-pitch, leaving us scrapping for answers. The best indication I’ve found, beyond the sheer variability of an inch different in contact, stems from an overly uppercut swing, an issue so fundamental to his craft that he began addressing it in the time it took me to put together this article.
Statcast measures swings in a few ways. There’s the vertical angle at which the hitter is impacting the ball at contact (e.g. uppercut to flat or even downswing) which Savant calls “Attack Angle.” Correspondingly, there’s the horizontal angle, which determines the direction into the field the ball is hit (e.g. a bloop single against a yanked laser double) which is “Attack Direction.” Combining those and the speed of the swing allows us to measure the angle of the bat’s path relative to the ground, which Savant judges in the final 40 milliseconds before contact/crossing the path of the pitch to determine “Swing Path Tilt.” Their explainer, data, and visuals are quite good in my estimation, for instance allowing Ryan to recently write on bat speed as it relates to variable temperature for FanGraphs.
What I’m going to focus on is Swing Path Tilt, or just “tilt,” as it combines our pertinent measures here. Raleigh has a steeper-than-average tilt to his swing, with around a 33-35 degree tilt over the past two years between his lefty and righty swings. It’s slowly gotten steeper since 2023, when he was around a 31 degree angle. MLB average is 32 degrees, with the lowest end of the spectrum – a.k.a. the flattest swing – being a trio of Rays: C Nick Fortes (19°), 3B/SS Junior Caminero (23°), and Yandy Díaz (24°). On the high end are OF Riley Greene of the Tigers (43°) and Dodgers regulars 1B Freddie Freeman (42°) and OF Andy Pages (41°), noted upper-cutters. Intuitively, these are some good hitters and some middling ones – there’s not one “perfect” swing path for everyone, and these numbers are impacted by the physical traits of each hitter, the location of the pitch, and enough other factors to make this hard to gauge.
At this season’s outset, Cal was employing a steeper, more uppercut swing than ever before. It’s not clear that this was intentional, and we’re talking about a few dozen swings, but through the first week of the season Raleigh was around a 38°-40° tilt. That looks like this:
Here we can observe the obvious: pitch location has a huge role on all these factors. A key component of Cal’s MVP-caliber season in 2025 was his knack for scooping pitches at the bottom of the zone or below with his steep uppercut and elevating them into the outfield grass or bleachers. So teams adjusted. He’s gotten a steady diet of elevated fastballs and cutters+sweepers in on his hands since late last year, putting the ball where an uppercut either means a swing-and-a-miss or a sawed-off handle. The Guardians and Yankees did this quite effectively, and Raleigh’s initial use of a steeper uppercut ran into issues galore.
Here’s an example of Raleigh a year ago, on a near-identical pitch to that Tanner Bibee offering from the first image and link:
This isn’t everything, but it is Raleigh at his most locked in. June of last year, Cal ran a 191 wRC+ and 1.088 OPS, striking out just 18.6% of the time and following his torrid May with more meteoric play. If I could, I would tie a bow here and say that this is the issue. The Big Dumper needs to dip and rip just a skosh less and boom: problem solved. In fact, over the past several games, this is what he’s doing, with Cal already flattening his swing incrementally by Attack Angle and Swing Path Tilt back towards his norms from a year ago. I do think this is the right move, as such a steep uppercut on elevated offerings especially is a recipe for hard times.
But baseball players aren’t just protractors. Raleigh has struggled because he’s been doing several things poorly. He’s chased pitches more than he did a year ago through this tiny, two week sample. On pitches in the zone, he’s whiffed WAY more. He’s made just 67.1% in-zone contact, down from 81.2% last year – and 69.0% vs. 84.9% on pitches over the heart of the plate. It’s not that Raleigh needs to just make more contact of any sort (and there are players for whom that’s a good goal). He needs better contact, better timing, and better pitch selection. Piece of cake, right?
I suspect the shift to recalibrate his swing path back towards where it was in 2025 is part of that wise correction, but this is the difficulty of drawing conclusions and prescribing adjustments off of 13 games. The clip above (from the game on April 7) isn’t Raleigh looking fully Cal-ibrated, but it looks back in the ballpark of the player Seattle expects to be the heartbeat of their offense. To get back to hitting it out of the ballpark, starting in the ballpark is where he’ll need to be.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 08: Taylor Ward #3 and Gunnar Henderson #2 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrate after defeating the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on April 08, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Orioles fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Only a few days ago, the Orioles were limping into a cold road series against the White Sox, looking like they were going to be weighed down by problems they could not solve early in the season the same as last year. What if their woes had continued against the White Sox? What then? With those concerns in mind, in this week’s survey, I asked O’s fans to think about whether the team would be able to get back to .500 this month, something they never did in April 2025 or beyond.
The question was decisively answered before I could even share the results with you since the Orioles went ahead and swept the White Sox in the three-game set played Monday through Wednesday. O’s fans may not have expected it to happen already, but an overwhelming majority expected the team to at least get back to .500 by the end of this month:
Between the time I sent off this question to the survey guy and when I shared it with you, the Orioles had already gotten one of the three needed wins. They picked up the other two on the way to the road sweep.
It must be said that the Orioles did not look particularly good in any of those games and were probably fortunate to get a three-game sweep. There are problems to be solved. At least for now, if they can minimize the damage while they are trying to solve those problems, that should help the team avoid the problem they had last year of falling into an early hole from which there was no chance to recover.
Everybody in the AL East is dealing with problems early on, even the Yankees. Just avoid falling too far behind to catch up. Hopefully the Orioles can continue in the right direction in this weekend’s series against the Giants, who are also scuffling early on.
PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 24: Devin Booker #1, Jalen Green #4 and Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns poses for a portrait during Media Day on September 24, 2025 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The regular season for the Phoenix Suns is all but over. Two games remain on the schedule, but in the grand scheme, they feel meaningless. The Suns have locked up the seventh seed and will host a Play-In Tournament game next Tuesday, with the opponent still to be determined.
There is no real reason to exert unnecessary energy against either the Lakers or the Thunder over these final two games, and the team should avoid putting itself in a position where injury could occur, especially to primary players. Rest over the last few days, prepare for the Play-In, and get ready for the grind that comes with the second season.
When the injury report dropped Thursday evening and stated that Devin Booker would be out with ankle injury management, it did not come as a surprise. After a long, arduous season, any opportunity for rest stands out, and that opportunity presents itself in a game against the Lakers.
Suns injury report at Lakers:
OUT: Devin Booker (right ankle injury management), Jordan Goodwin (left ankle sprain) and Haywood Highsmith (right knee injury management).
I understand the thinking. I do not doubt or criticize the methodology. Well, kind of. But as Randy Travis once said, on the other hand…
This is not an ideal situation for Phoenix as the regular season comes to a close and the team is playing far from its best basketball. The team is 5-5 in their last 10. There is an argument to be made that these final two games could be used to continue finding the chemistry and geometry of a team that has lacked both for the past two months. There is still time to see what certain lineups can do together.
Which lineups am I speaking of? Any that have Devin Booker, Jalen Green, and Dillon Brooks.
Unfortunately, injuries have cost the Phoenix Suns any real opportunity to see what their three highest-paid players can do together on the court. Devin Booker has missed 16 games and is set to miss his 17th tonight against the Lakers. Dillon Brooks has missed 35 games. Jalen Green has missed 48. Finding consistent combinations with all three available has been a challenge due to a lack of availability, and the truth is there simply is not much data on lineups featuring them together.
They have played 10 games alongside each other this season. 133 total minutes. That’s it. They are a +8 in that time. Collectively, the team shot 47.7% from the field in those minutes, 37.5% from deep, and had a 1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio.
When you dig into those lineups, the one with the most run features Booker, Brooks, and Green alongside Jordan Goodwin and Mark Williams. That group has logged 32 minutes, scored 84 points, and sits at a +14. It also shot a mundane 31.8% from beyond the arc and posted a 1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio, so it has not exactly been a dominant or sustainable lineup.
The lineup with the next-best plus-minus swaps Goodwin for Gillespie. We saw it for four minutes at the end of the game against the Bulls, and it was a +7.
The Suns could have used these final two games to learn something, to get a better feel for how lineups around their three highest-paid players function. Instead, it feels like they are heading into the postseason without that clarity. I understand the decision. The NBA season is a grind, and when there is a chance to rest, teams take it.
Still, it would feel different if this team were playing better entering this point of the season. They barely got past the Chicago Bulls. The Dallas Mavericks, who did everything short of waving a white flag late, were not an easy out either. The team feels like it is sputtering.
There is an appreciation for what they have accomplished this season. That part is real. The in-the-moment product feels different. And the rest conversation matters. If you take care of business in the Play-In game, you earn a few extra days. If you enter that game stale, you can forget about rest. You are right back on the floor a couple of nights later.
So I see the strategy. I understand it. It does not fully land with me. I would rather see a team building momentum, using every opportunity to gel, especially one that has dealt with this many injuries and is still searching for its identity. But that is where we are. Limping into the postseason, hoping it clicks when it matters most.
Apr 9, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Ryan Weathers (40) walks to the dugout before the game against the Athletics at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images
After a couple of so-so starts to open his New York Yankees’ career, left-hander Ryan Weathers had his best outing of the young season on Thursday against the Athletics. He completed eight innings, surrendering a single run on seven hits and punching out seven. He didn’t walk anyone, which is particularly encouraging since he entered the game having given away five bases on balls in eight frames.
Now, Weathers’ season ERA stands at a strong 2.81 in 16 innings of work, with five walks and 18 strikeouts. That’ll do.
The Yankees’ offense is not at its finest, but the starting pitching sure is amazing. Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, and Weathers have been excellent on the whole, and we haven’t even seen Luis Gil, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt yet, not to mention top prospects Elmer Rodríguez and Carlos Lagrange, who continue to develop on the farm.
Back to Weathers: we saw him dominate on Thursday despite diminished velocity, at least compared to his previous two games and what he showed in the spring. His four-seamer averaged 95.1 mph, down from 96.6 mph on the season to this point, and touched 97.4 mph. The pitch has flirted with the triple digits at various points this year. Is the decrease something to worry about?
Well, judging by the results and the lack of any post-game comments about his health or any potential issues, it appears to be the pitcher dialing back in an effort to throw more strikes (it also sure was chilly at the stadium on Thursday). And it worked! He peppered the zone with 73 strikes out of his 101 pitches.
According to what he said after the game, Weathers was more relaxed on the mound, and it clearly had a positive effect on the outcome: “Now I know what that feeling is of just being calm on the mound – hopefully I can keep throwing strikes.”
If that was the key, keep the strikes coming! Weathers’ stuff is good enough to trust it to play in the zone. On Thursday, it definitely did, against an Athletics lineup with a number of formidable bats. Weathers earned 12 whiffs, four each with the four-seamer and sweeper, three with the changeup, and one with the sinker. He did allow some hard contact, but never seemed to be overly fazed by the occasion, except for the Max Muncy triple and the subsequent RBI single by Tyler Soderstrom in the seventh.
If we are being fair, that triple he gave up wasn’t a bad pitch location-wise, so credit goes to the batter:
The whiffs were nice to see, but that wasn’t all: Weathers got a healthy amount of called strikes, especially with his sinker (10) and sweeper (eight). He had 19 in total. Additionally, he had first-pitch strikes against 20 of the 30 batters he faced for a solid 67 percent.
Weathers experienced diminished velocity during his outing, toward the late innings. It was likely due to fatigue, as after touching 96.4 mph in the second frame and 97.4 mph in the fourth, he was down to 93.3 mph in the sixth and 93.8 mph in the seventh. By the eighth, he stopped throwing the pitch altogether, dealing with that frame with sweepers and changeups.
After throwing his four-seamer 42.4 percent of the time leading up to Thursday’s start, more than any other offering, Weathers prioritized his sinker (30 percent), sweeper (27 percent), and changeup (25 percent) against the Athletics, with the heater a distant fourth at 18 percent. He earned a lot of strikes with the mix, but it remains to be seen if it will be a permanent shift away from the four-seamer or if it was matchup-based. He even moved away from the fastball as the outing went on, using it 35 percent of the time the first time through the lineup, 16 percent the second time, and eight percent the third time, with the number dropping to zero the fourth time through.
Despite the loss, Weathers did everything in his power to give his team a W. It didn’t happen because the offense didn’t show up to the ballpark, but he pitched a very solid game. He said it himself: throwing strikes appears to be the most important thing for him, and when he trusts his stuff, he will most likely succeed even if he is not hitting 99 mph on the radar gun.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 04: Starter Bryce Elder #55 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning at Chase Field on April 04, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Braves 2-1. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The two teams in MLB that are yet to lose a series will face off in Atlanta this weekend, as the Braves host the Guardians.
Bryce Elder will take the mound in game 1 and the Braves hope he can keep up his hot start to the season. He has been getting the job done to the tune of a 98th percentile pitching run value (in a miniscule sample) with a combination of walk avoidance, ground balls, inducing barrels, and quality strikeout numbers, due in no small part to his elite chase%. He has added a cutter and added substantial depth to his slider, which add some plausible durability to his improved performance, even as it is unlikely that he is suddenly a true talent Cy Young candidate. The Braves will hope he can look like one against this Guardians lineup and contribute to a win in game 1.
On the other side, the Braves’ bats will have to contend with the 33rd pick in the 2020 draft, righty Slade Cecconi. In some ways, Cecconi is similar to Elder, in that he has been sitting in the low-90s with his fastball this season (a tick and a half down from last year) and added a cutter this season. Cecconi has utilized his new cutter much more than Elder though, as it has been his second pitch this season, throwing it 26% of the time. He uses a very slow curve as his breaking ball of choice, but has also swapped his slider for a sweeper this year, which he uses to keep hitters off-balance. Cecconi is not especially good, but gets the job done well enough when he keeps walks down. He doesn’t really miss bats or induce chases though, and he was in the 1st percentile in hard-hit%, 2nd percentile in avg exit velo and 3rd percentile in barrel% in 2025, all with a roughly league average ground ball rate, so to say he can be hit hard would be an understatement. I’ll be looking for the Braves to hammer Cecconi and I’m gonna be bold(ish) and predict that Ronald Acuna finally hits his first homer of the season off of Cecconi.
SURPRISE, AZ- Feb 17: Photo from a Kansas City Royals City Connect Uniform set launch shoot at the team’s Surprise Stadium Complex on Tuesday February 17, 2026, in Surprise, AZ (Photo by Jason Hanna/Kansas City Royals)
The Royals unveiled new City Connect jerseys this week, with mixed reactions from fans. The uniforms, which will be worn Friday evening, include a Royals “R” in a font similar to that used in the city flag with gradient colors celebrates the City of Fountains logo adopted by Kansas City in 1991.
They are one of eight new City Connect jerseys around baseball unveiled this year. The jerseys are an outlet for added creativity, but let’s face it, it’s also a way to move more merch. Here’s a look at some of the other designs.
Atlanta Braves
The Braves have had a number of different jerseys over the years, but they went with a classic baby blue jersey with the 70s era “Atlanta” script across the front.
Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles went with “BMORE” across the chest, with a 1890s Baltimore Baseball Club “B” logo on the cap.
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds really leaned into their name – the jerseys are very, very red. The sleeve graphic features the Tyler Davidson Fountain, a notable landmark in Cincinnati.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brew Crew design features “Wisco” across the chest and “Forward,” Wisconsin’s state motto, sewn into the collar, and a Barrelman sleeve patch and a wheat/barley braid.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Pirates uniforms include a 1997-era Pirate wearing an eyepatch with a red bandana on the left sleeve, along with 1887 split in half by “PGH” in the same font as the front.
San Diego Padres
Padres uniforms are “bone, obsidian, marigold, aqua, fireberry, and Padres gold” with a sleeve patch honoring Dia de los Muertos.
Texas Rangers
The Rangers spell out “Tejas”, a word rooted in the Caddo language, which has historically been spoken by Native American groups across Texas and Oklahoma, and is “Texas” in Spanish.
Of the new City Connect jerseys, which one is your favorite? Least favorite? Which of the past City Connect jerseys is tops in your book?
The news going into the Buffalo Sabres contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets was concerning, as head coach Lindy Ruff indicated that veteran goalie Alex Lyon pulled a muscle in New York City on Wednesday and would be out at least a week with a lower-body injury. The injury meant that rookie Colten Ellis would be making his first start in over two months, but the youngster stepped up with a 37-save performance in a 5-0 victory to earn his first career shutout and the Sabres a key two points in their race to win the Atlantic Division.
"(Ellis is) the ultimate competitor. He's doing all a lot of extra skates with our extra players. Every time he steps in the net in practice, he's trying to make sure he doesn't get scored against," Ruff said after the game. "(He is the) first guy to the rink a lot of times, almost every day. I think that's part of routine that leads a lot of great habits."
The 25-year-old was claimed off of waivers in October and has remained as the third goalie behind Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Lyon all year, but has been needed to step in as both veterans have been injured for stretches this season, and has posted a very respectable 8-4-1 record in 13 starts. Ellis has served as the backup for both veterans on most nights, and did get into a game last weekend after Lyon allowed three goals in less than six minutes.
"When I put him in in Washington, a little bit of a different situation, he didn't feel that comfortable. But I think knowing that he was going to play and preparing to play really helped him out." Ruff said. "Halfway through the first period, it just looked like he just had himself in a great place."
After taking the lead in the first on a Peyton Krebs goal, the Sabres seemed to be holding on for dear life, with Columbus outshooting them 14-4 in the second, but Josh Doan’s first of two goals midway through the third period seemed to open the floodgates, as Buffalo scored four goals to pull away. The win was critical for the Sabres in their quest for home-ice advantage in the first round.
According to Moneypuck.com, after the Montreal Canadiens beat Tampa Bay 2-1 at the Bell Centre on Thursday, Buffalo has a 73.7% chance of winning the division, and a 95.4% chance of having home-ice advantage in the first round. Both the Habs and Lightning have a game in hand, but the Canadiens is two points behind the Sabres, and Tampa Bay is four points back.
Buffalo and the entire NHL have the day off on Friday, but the Sabres next game is not until Monday in Chicago against the Blackhawks and finish the regular season against the Dallas Stars at home next Wednesday.
The Buffalo Sabres 2024 Draft may be the only group that former GM Kevyn Adams selected that will yield NHL prospects outside of the first round. Top pick Konsta Helenius is thriving in his second pro season in Rochester, second-rounder Adam Kleber won with Team USA at the World Junior in 2025 and is a big, righty blueliner, and third-rounder Brodie Ziemer was one of the best scorers in the NCAA last season, netting 23 goals as a sophomore at the University of Minnesota, but two more '24 picks will have a chance to add an NCAA Championship to their resumes.
Fourth-rounder Luke Osburn and seventh-rounder Vasily Zelenov and the Wisconsin Badgers will take on Denver U. in the Final on Saturday. Osburn won the USHL defenseman of the year in 2025 with Youngstown, surprisingly made Team USA's World Junior squad last December, and posted 21 points with Wisconsin as a freshman. Zelenov played his youth hockey in Austria, played one season in Green Bay of the USHL, and had 18 points in his freshman season with the Badgers.
Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser has been selected as his team’s nominee for the 2026 King Clancy Memorial Trophy. The award is given to the player that “best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”
Boeser, who has been with the Canucks since being drafted in 2015, signed a seven-year extension with the team during the 2025 off-season and is one of only four players who have spent more than five seasons with the team. Last night, he took sole possession of eighth all-time in franchise history in points scored by a Canuck with 479.
The award is voted on by a panel featuring NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman as well as former winners of both the King Clancy Trophy and the NHL Foundation Player Award. A $25,000 donation will be given to the winner’s charity of choice.
Throughout history, three members of the Canucks have won this award: Trevor Linden (1997), Henrik Sedin (2016, 2018), and Daniel Sedin (2018.)
Apr 2, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser (6) shoots the puck against the Minnesota Wild during the first period at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
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LeBron James was asked what the Los Angeles Lakers need from him in these final games of the regular season.
His answer was simple: Everything.
With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves injured, James is battling to keep L.A. as the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. And he’s done just that – everything – for the Lakers, totaling 56 points, 26 assists, and 17 rebounds the past two games.
Our Suns vs. Lakers predictions see LeBron’s stat line taking a step back Friday, at least in one category.
My NBA picks are playing it cool with LeBron’s assist total tonight.
Suns vs Lakers prediction
Suns vs Lakers best bet: LeBron James Under 9.5 Assists (-120)
With Luka Doncic down, LeBron James has taken over as the Los Angeles Lakers’ primary ball handler, and that’s pumped up his passing potential, recording 11 and 15 dimes the past two games.
However, while LeBron has been doing it all for L.A., he could get some help in the backcourt.
Veteran guard Marcus Smart is trending toward a return tonight. Smart hasn’t played since March 21 due to an ankle injury, but coach J.J. Redick is “hopeful” to have him back versus the Phoenix Suns.
Smart gives L.A. much-needed backcourt depth and allows James to play his natural position off the ball, making him more of a shooter than a facilitator. Before Luka got hurt, James was averaging around seven assists during the Lakers’ red-hot run through March.
There are a few other factors that could temper his passing prowess versus Phoenix.
James did hurt his hand attempting a block last night, yet stayed in the game. He’s now taking the court for the second of back-to-back outings after logging 32 hard minutes Thursday.
The Suns’ pest will only have eyes for James tonight. Brooks is a premier defender, and while LeBron has had mixed scoring results against him, he’s posted three, four, and six assists in their three head-to-head meeting this season.
Player projections are also cooling on James’ playmaking versus the Suns. His assist forecasts top out at 8.1, with most sitting shy of eight dimes against an inflated assist O/U.
Suns vs Lakers same-game parlay
Los Angeles is pushing for the No. 4 seed and can’t afford a loss. Phoenix has nothing at stake, parked at No. 7, and is playing without its starting backcourt, including Devin Booker.
James sees his 3-point activity spike whenever Austin Reaves is out. He’s attempted 11 triples the past two games, including making three shots from distance in the win over Golden State last night.
Suns vs Lakers SGP
Lakers moneyline
LeBron James Under 9.5 assists
LeBron James Over 1.5 made threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: Hollywood Knight
If Smart returns, LeBron can play an off-ball scoring role and set up his shots. He’s been big on the boards, with eight and nine rebounds the last two games. The Suns run a lot of small ball, so James can body his way on the glass. Projections sit at 7+ rebounds.
Suns vs Lakers SGP
Lakers moneyline
LeBron James Under 9.5 assists
LeBron James Over 1.5 made threes
LeBron James Over 6.5 rebounds
Suns vs Lakers odds
Spread: Suns -2.5 | Lakers +2.5
Moneyline: Suns -120 | Lakers +140
Over/Under: Over 218 | Under 218
Suns vs Lakers betting trend to know
The Lakers are 17-10 SU and ATS in the second game of back-to-back games over the past two seasons, including an 8-5 ATS record in those turnarounds this year. Find more NBA betting trends for Suns vs. Lakers.
How to watch Suns vs Lakers
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Friday, April 10, 2026
Tip-off
10:30 p.m. ET
TV
AZFS, Spectrum SportsNet
Suns vs Lakers latest injuries
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The Mavericks were 1-3 this weekend and remained in 13th place in the West. They lost to Orlando (138-127) and beat the hobbled Lakers (134-128) before heading out West for back-to-back losses to the Clippers (116-103) and Phoenix (112-108). Cooper Flagg led the team in scoring with, and this is not a typo, 33 points per game. Daniel Gafford left the game against the Lakers with a shoulder injury. Naji Marshall, P.J. Washington, and Klay Thompson all missed the game in Phoenix.
Grade: A-
The Mavericks played two incredibly fun games last Friday and Sunday. They earned their first home win since late January after defeating the Lakers, and it felt good. In a season full of losing, the occasional win is a good reminder of better times, and hopefully times to come. They played a pretty uneventful back-to-back against the Clippers and Suns, save for the last five minutes of the game against Phoenix. Cooper Flagg, Max Christie, and Ryan Nembhard were all pulled with 4:37 left, Dallas down seven. The Mavericks lost by just five, and that was only three when the Mavericks had the ball with 44 seconds left. They avoided a hilarious win, but provided entertainment regardless.
Dallas will finish the season at San Antonio Friday and at home against Chicago on Sunday. Then, our focus turns to the ping pong balls.
Straight A’s: Cooper Flagg
There are few new words left to describe Flagg’s rookie season. He now owns the two highest-scoring games for a teenager in NBA history (51, 49), and trails only Luka Doncic (5) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (4) for most 45-point games in the NBA this season (Flagg has three). He scored 96 points in the two games against Orlando and Los Angeles on 33-of-57 (58 percent) shooting. Not only was he efficient from the floor, but he also had 12 assists and just 3 (!) turnovers. And one of the turnovers was an uncalled foul that got Jason Kidd ejected. So, if you’re counting, that is three turnovers to 69 shots and assists.
Flagg is defying what it means to be not only a rookie, but a teenager. At 19, he is doing things that the league’s best are doing, and controlling the game in a way you normally only do after years of experience. He is the best rookie, regardless of what the voters decide. In fact, he is one of the best rookies ever, and we may finish this year with him in some uncomfortable conversations.
Currently Failing: Khris Middleton
It is hard to overstate how bad Middleton has been. He scored less than four points a game in 16.7 minutes a night over the last week. He shot 21 percent from the floor and turned the ball over nearly double the number of times he made a shot. It will all be over soon, Khris.
Extra Credit: Frank Vogel
Vogel was the stand-in coach after Kidd was ejected last Friday. Flagg was at 45 points in a game out of reach, and Vogel put him back in the game to score six points in just over a minute to eclipse the 50-point plateau. Very cool, Frank, very cool.
Thunder
Nuggets
