Jan 5, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) drives to the basket betwen Toronto Raptors forwards RJ Barrett (9) and Collin Murray-Boyles (12) in the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
With the playoffs around the corner, questions and hypotheticals surrounding potential matchups have been a hot topic.
While there are still a few potential outcomes, tonight’s matchup between the Knicks and Raptors could end up playing a large role in deciding who New York plays in the first round. So let’s break it down.
If the Knicks win tonight, it would ensure that they are no lower than the third seed, with a potential move up to the second seed being unlikely, but still mathematically possible. A win against the Raptors wouldn’t automatically decide who they play in the opening round, but it would make a Knicks vs. Raptors first-round series more likely.
If the Knicks lose tonight, the Raptors’ road to the fifth seed becomes much clearer, and there’s a very good chance that leads to the Knicks likely facing the Hawks in the first round.
If the Hawks beat the Cavaliers tonight, their hold on the fifth seed will become stronger. That may seem like a tough task, but the Cavaliers are sitting Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen, making their quest a bit easier. If that happens, though, we might have to wait another day to know where all the dominoes fall, depending on the Knicks-Raptors outcome.
If the Hawks lose, though, that would yield a clearer scenario where Atlanta becomes the likely Knicks’ first-round opponent.
So to sum it up:
If you want a Knicks-Raptors first-round matchup, root for the Knicks to win and the Hawks to win.
If you want a Knicks-Hawks first-rounder, root for the Raptors to win and the Hawks to lose.
Remember when a stadium giveaway meant walking away with a scratchy, oversized baseball cap that had a local bank’s logo slapped on the side? Yeah, those days are dead. Today, MLB teams are turning their promotional schedules into full-blown culture drops.
Case in point: The Chicago White Sox are doing a “Pope Hat” night. On August 11, the Sox are handing out mitre-shaped Pope hats to the entire stadium to honor Chicago native Pope Leo XIV. It is wonderfully absurd, instantly viral, and an absolute masterclass in marketing.
But is it the greatest stadium giveaway hat of all time? It has some incredibly weird competition.
From anime crossovers to fast-food condiments to literal fake hair, here are some of the most legendary, bizarre, and expensive promo hats in MLB history.
The “Tee Time” Special: St. Louis Cardinals Golf Hat
Timing is everything. Knowing that half their fanbase is glued to the Masters in early April, the Cardinals dropped a crisp, golf-inspired rope hat as a stadium giveaway today, April 10, 2026. It’s the perfect crossover piece for fans who want to kick off spring in style and rep the birds while teeing off. It’s not incredibly weird, but it is incredibly clean.
The Kawaii Cheat Code: Hello Kitty Hats
Hello Kitty Nights have been taking over MLB parks for a few years now, and the demand is so ferocious that the teams now do multiple of these events every single season. Fans will literally line up hours before the gates open just to secure these drops, here are three of my favorites.
Fast Food Fashion: Texas Rangers Whataburger Condiment Caps
We all know Texans treat Whataburger like a religion. The Rangers tapped into that beautifully back in 2019, teaming up with the burger chain to hand out highly specific condiment hats for fans who snagged special Theme Night tickets. First up was the “Fancy Ketchup” trucker hat, followed later by a “Spicy Ketchup” lid. It’s hyper-regional pandering at its absolute finest.
Farm-to-Diamond: Jason LaRue x John Deere Cap
Before high-end fashion crossovers were cool, the Cincinnati Reds gave us the ultimate farm-meets-baseball hype drop. Handed out as an adjustable stadium giveaway cap, it featured rugged catcher Jason LaRue’s #23 right alongside the iconic green-and-yellow John Deere tractor logo.
The Anime Grail: Dodgers “One Piece” Straw Hat
Take one of the most rabid fanbases in baseball, mash it up with the most popular anime on the planet, and you’ve got viral hit. On July 3, 2025, the Dodgers threw a “One Piece Night” and handed out replica straw hats to the first 40,000 ticketed fans. Modeled after Monkey D. Luffy’s signature headwear, clean versions of this hat are insanely sought-after by both anime geeks and Dodger diehards to this day. It sells consistently for nearly $150 on eBay.
The Cursed Jacob deGrom Hair Hat
On September 17, 2016, the New York Mets honored their ace’s flowing brunette locks by handing out a “Jacob deGrom Hair Hat” with actual fake hair sewn into the back. It was a great idea, that ultimately turned sour. The team had to announce they were shutting deGrom down for the rest of the season with an elbow injury just hours before the gates opened for his own promo night.
Bronson Arroyo Hair Hat
Long before deGrom, the 2007 Cincinnati Reds answered a question absolutely no one asked: How can I replicate the flowing blonde locks of our starting pitcher/acoustic guitarist? The answer was an official team cap with fake blonde hair glued to the back. It’s widely considered one of the most bizarre promos of all time.
Nothing will ever beat this. Back on June 18, 2013, the Angels leaned fully into their superstar’s aquatic namesake and gave fans a literal Mike Trout “Fish Hat.” No subtle logos. No stitched numbers. Just a massive, 3D stuffed trout erupting out of the top of your head. It was outrageous, it was hilarious, and it remains the undisputed gold standard for wonderfully weird stadium giveaways.
Do you have a favorite MLB promo item? Let us know on Mantel.
There are a ton of games on the NBA slate for Friday, but tonight's high-stakes clash between the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers carries the most meaning.
The Trail Blazers are trying to catch the Clippers for the 8-seed to avoid having to win two games in the play-in tournament. Los Angeles only holds a one-game lead, and this is a critical head-to-head matchup. That means we should see elevated minutes for Portland’s starters, which is why I’m building a same-game parlay around Deni Avdija's and Jrue Holiday's points prop.
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The Clippers have several talented defenders, but they don’t match up particularly well with Deni Avdija’s style of play, which is why he's at the center of my NBA picks. Kris Dunn is too small, and while Derrick Jones Jr. has the length, he’s too lean to handle Avdija’s physical, downhill approach.
The decision to back Jrue Holiday’s points prop is tied not only to the elevated minutes in an important game, but also to the matchup with Brook Lopez at center for the Clippers. Lopez prioritizes a deep drop coverage because it’s what allows him to be effective defensively. At this stage of his career, he doesn’t have the mobility to consistently step up and defend on the perimeter—it’s simply not his style. That defensive approach opens up a ton of above-the-break three-point opportunities and mid-range jumpers in pick-and-roll situations for the ball handler.
This is a perfect fit for how Holiday prefers to score. Holiday also knocked down seven three-pointers in their previous meeting a couple of weeks ago, which further highlights the upside in this matchup.
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 06: Zack Littell #18 of the Washington Nationals pitches in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park on April 06, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After starting the season 3-1 with inspiring victories against the Cubs and Phillies, good news has been hard to come by for Nationals fans.
The Nats’ following 8 results have been about as bad as it gets, going on a 5-game losing streak, briefly interrupted by a 9-6 win in the series opener against the Cardinals, and then dropping the last 2 games in the 3-game set. The offense has had its moments, but has struggled to overcome the frequent blown leads by the Washington bullpen.
Decent starts in Game 1 and 2 by Zack Littell and Cade Cavalli were promptly wasted, with the bullpen laboring for 9.1 innings and 9 runs across the two contests. Getting length out of the rotation has been a losing battle for manager Blake Butera, and clawing their way to high-scoring wins is unfortunately not a sustainable strategy.
Going into their next series, the Nationals are at a true “get right” point, but their opponent is far from an easy matchup. The Brewers, returning home after a series loss against the Red Sox, are still sitting pretty with an 8-4 record in early April. A combination of consistent production from their lineup and a handful of stable arms at their disposal, both in the rotation and bullpen, has them looking like the team that won 97 games in 2025.
Friday – 7:40 PM EST
MIL: RHP Chad Patrick (1-0, 0.96 ERA)
WSH: RHP Jake Irvin (1-1, 8.00 ERA)
The 27-year-old Patrick’s early returns have been fantastic for the Brew Crew. He tossed 5 scoreless frames against the Royals in his season debut, and held the White Sox to just 1 run in his following outing. His 5-pitch mix has kept batters off balance but has allowed some hard contact, and should be an interesting test for Nats hitters to jump on his mistakes.
Irvin began his season on a high note against the Cubs, but was roughed up for 6 runs in just 4 innings against the Dodgers in his second start. The veteran righty will be tasked with opening the series for the Nats against one of the strongest offenses in MLB thus far, with the Brewers in the Top 10 for batting average, runs scored, hits, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage.
Saturday – 7:10 PM EST
MIL: LHP Kyle Harrison (1-0, 2.61 ERA)
WSH: LHP Foster Griffin (1-0, 2.70 ERA)
An offseason reclamation project by the Milwaukee front office, Harrison, a once-famed pitching prospect for the Giants, has looked as good as he ever has through 2 starts in 2026. He’s peppering the zone with an impressive fastball and timing his slurve well to generate plenty of whiffs. However, like Patrick, when he does allow contact, it’s barreled at a high rate. If Washington can avoid piling up strikeouts, they can create favorable opportunities against the breakout lefty.
Speaking of breakout lefties, Griffin has been a welcome addition to the Nats’ rotation so far. With 7 total offerings, hitters have struggled to figure him out, allowing just 3 runs in his first 10 MLB innings since 2022. He may be pushed a bit deeper into this start than his 2 previous outings because of the bullpen’s concerning start, giving the veteran a chance to continue to prove himself.
Sunday – 2:10 PM EST
MIL: RHP Brandon Woodruff (1-0, 5.91 ERA)
WSH: RHP Zack Littell (0-1, 3.60 ERA)
It’s been a far-from-ideal start for Woodruff, although a controversial scoring change from his last appearance did raise his ERA by almost 2 full points. His command hasn’t faltered, but he’s had a difficult go of it when trying to miss bats. The Nats need to attack his fastball early and limit the effectiveness of his arsenal, something the Red Sox found to be quite successful when they tacked 5 runs onto his line on April 6.
Littell has already proven to be an analytical outlier, a common pattern throughout his career. Every advanced metric despises him, but he continues to go out there and give teams solid start after solid start. He shut down the Cardinals’ lineup after a decent game against Philadelphia, but will have to hone in his command versus a savvy Brewers offense after already giving up 5 free passes.
A chance to take advantage
Milwaukee jumped out to an 8-4 start to begin their 2026 campaign, with most of their wins coming in offensive explosions. When they aren’t able to put up at least 5 runs, though, they have yet to record a victory. If the Nationals’ starters can hold it down long enough for the offense to take advantage, Washington fans could have lots to celebrate this weekend.
At the splashdown site of NASA's Apollo 13 Command Module (CM), command module pilot Jack Swigert (1931 - 1982) (top) is lifted in a cargo net (to an off-camera helicopter) while an unidentified US Navy underwater demolition team swimmer (in black) waits with mission commander Jim Lovell (1928 - 2025) in a life raft, April 17, 1970. Other Navy swimmers, assisting with the recovery operation, as visible in the water. The splash down, approximately four miles from the recovery ship, the USS Iwo Jima, occurred at 12:07:44 pm CST. (Photo by NASA via CNP/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Later today, the Artemis II crew will splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, marking the end of the first manned mission to the Moon in more than half a century. The baseball world has changed so much between then and now, from the introduction of the designated hitter in the American League in 1973 to the introduction of six franchises in the late 70s, 80s, and 90s. To celebrate today’s accomplishment, I decided to hop into the New York Times archives and see what was happening in the baseball world on December 27, 1968, and April 17, 1970 — the days that Apollo 8, the first manned mission to orbit the Moon, and Apollo 13, whose use of a free return trajectory served as the model for Artemis II’s mission, splashed down. Unfortunately, we have nothing quite as famous or as interesting as Gaylord Perry’s famous home run minutes after Neil Armstrong stepped on the Moon, but it’s still an interesting insight into a long gone era.
December 27, 1968
The holiday season has been, historically, a slow time in the baseball world, and as it turns out, 1968 was no exception. In fact, only one small article in the New York Times had anything to do with baseball — a report from Kansas City that Owen Friend, had been hired by the Royals to serve as a scout in the Midwest and as an infield coach during during spring training. This news was so small that the ProQuest Historical Newspapers archive did not list it independently, but rather attached it to the paper’s “Table for High Tide for Waters Adjacent to New York,” which listed the morning and evening high tides, sunrise and sunset, and moonrise and moonset times.
Rather amusingly, there was one other time in the paper that day in which the word “baseball” appeared: the article reporting the astronauts’ health after splash down, which stated that they wore caps “similar to baseball caps” while on the USS Yorktown.
April 17, 1970
Unsurprisingly, the Times had quite a bit more baseball news when Apollo 13 splashed down. The paper posted recaps of four games. In the paper’s dive into college ball, Columbia University’s 6-3 victory over Providence took center stage, with Fred Armenti’s eight inning, 10-strikeout performance the story of the afternoon. Right underneath that article was a brief account of Navy’s 8-3 shellacking of Army to maintain their perfect season, in which Tom Galloway and Denny Losh were the players of the game. Turning to Major League Baseball, Tom Seaver’s complete game shutout and Bud Harrelson’s first career home run that landed over the fence — the 150-pound shortstop had an inside-the-park homer three years prior — powered the Mets past the Phillies by the score of 6-0. Last, and certainly not least, the Yankees downed the Orioles by the score of 4-1 in 11 innings, ending a three-game losing streak and seeing their early-season record improve to 3-6.
The Yankees’ victory was rather unusual, aided by a strange error in the top of the 11th. With runners on first and second and two out, Pete Ward hit a groundball right at Orioles shortstop Mark Belanger, who turned and threw the ball to second baseman Davey Johnson. Inexplicably, however, Johnson did not cover the bag, and was tagged with an E4 because, as George Vecsey wrote, “being on the base is a rather vital part of a force play.” Danny Cater — who according to the reporter had been dealing with a run of bad luck, having cut his hand on a broken bat, was struck in the ankle by an errant throw, and had barely avoided getting hit in the face during batting practice — followed that up with a triple that cleared the bases and gave the Bombers a 4-1 lead.
Apr 08, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) looks on in the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
In this week’s Tuesday Tracker and SB Nation Reacts poll, we asked you about Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. the Bucks, in the wake of their disagreement about his health and whether or not he should play. Whose side are you on? Are you done with him and want him traded? Here are the highlights:
44% of fans polled have soured on Giannis recently after his comments to the media, which spurred a league investigation.
75% of our respondents think Giannis owes it to the Bucks to sit out if the team believes he isn’t healthy. Similarly, a minority (just 23%) take Giannis’ side in this whole squabble, but the majority (47%) aren’t necessarily on the Bucks’ side.
41% of voters think Giannis is healthy right now, while 46% think he isn’t. 43% believe the Bucks are right not to play him.
A slight majority (53%) have turned enough on Giannis that they’d trade him this offseason, regardless of what he wants.
93% believe that Doc Rivers’ tenure as Milwaukee’s head coach will end after Sunday’s game.
Thanks again for voting! Check back on Tuesday for another slate of questions.
Check out FanDuel, the official sportsbook of SB Nation.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 26: Matt McLain #9 and TJ Friedl #29 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrate after scoring runs in the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Great American Ball Park on July 26, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The offense of the Cincinnati Reds has been simply abysmal so far in 2026, ranking dead last in both runs and wRC+ through the season’s first 13 games.
Of particular concern, though, is just how poor the output has been from the leadoff position. So far this year, Reds leadoff hitters have collectively put together just a 46 wRC+, a mark that’s been worsted by only the Miami Marlins (34) and San Diego Padres (17). Reds leadoff men sport an impossible .000 ISO (last, obviously) and .189 slugging percentage (2nd worst), their only saving grace being a .295 OBP that ranks 23rd.
Reds fans know good and well that it’s been TJ Friedl doing most of the lifting at leadoff this year, as he’s been in that spot for the Reds for several seasons now. And, in many of those years, he’s been quite competent at the job – including the 2025 season where he posted a stellar .364 OBP and plenty good enough 102 OPS+. The problem, though, is that Friedl looks like a shell of himself at the moment, and there’s only so much time you can give him to work it out while still manning one of the most important spots in the lineup every day.
Thing is, the other guy who’s gotten some time at leadoff is the guy who normally hits 2nd all year, and that’s Matt McLain. And in this case, simply sliding him up and bumping TJ to somewhere else in the order wouldn’t appear to solve the world’s problems. Cincinnati’s #2 spot hitters have posted just a .582 OPS so far this season (23rd overall), .260 slugging percentage (25th overall), and .060 ISO (28th overall) – numbers that are nearly as poor as what they’ve received from the leadoff spot.
I posed the question to you all earlier in the week about what the Reds should do at the leadoff position. With this context, I probably should not have been surprised that you pretty clearly favor anyone other than Friedl or McLain for the job.
How that would all shake out is a bit of a tangled mess, however.
Elly De La Cruz has all the tools in the world to be a potentially elite leadoff man even though he’s entrenched as part of the heart of the order under Terry Francona. Free him up from driving in runs and he just might steal every base himself – Ronald Acuña, for instance, hits leadoff for Atlanta with much the same goal.
Will Benson, when in the lineup, could be a guy who’d do OK there. When at his best he sees a ton of pitches and can take a walk, though like most of the rest of the lineup right now he’s struggled out of the gate. That’s kind of the rub here, though, as he, Noelvi Marte, Friedl, McLain, Ke’Bryan Hayes, and Spencer Steer are all guys who have some of the skills needed to hit atop the order yet haven’t put them on display at all at the plate so far in 2026.
What is clear, though, is that something is going to have to change with this lineup at some point soon, whether it’s a complete revival of the parties involved or a major shakeup to get it going.
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball said Friday the percentage of Black players on opening day rosters increased in consecutive years for the first time in at least two decades.
MLB said that 6.8% of players on opening day rosters, injured lists and the restricted list were Black, up from 6.2% at the start of the 2025 season and 6.0% at the beginning of 2024.
This year’s 0.6% increase was the most in a season since a 0.7% rise from 2017 to 2018.
The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at Central Florida issued annual studies that showed the percentage was 18% when its reports started in 1991.
Twenty of the 64 Black players had been in programs such as the MLB Youth Academy, Breakthrough Series, DREAM Series, Nike RBI and the Hank Aaron Invitational.
MLB said the total includes 22 players 25 or younger and eight older than 32. The average age of Black players was 27.8 and the overall average 29.25.
In addition, 17 Black players assigned to the minor leagues were on opening day 40-man rosters, including seven from MLB development programs. That group included Milwaukee outfielder Blake Perkins, who was brought up to the Brewers on March 26.
CHICAGO — Seiya Suzuki has rejoined the Chicago Cubs after missing the start of the season with a sprained right knee.
Suzuki was activated from the 10-day injured list before Friday’s game against Pittsburgh. The slugger was in the starting lineup in right field and batting fifth for the opener of the weekend series at Wrigley Field.
Outfielder Dylan Carlson was designated for assignment to make room for Suzuki on the roster. The Cubs also placed reliever Phil Maton on the 15-day IL and recalled right-hander Ethan Roberts from Triple-A Iowa.
Suzuki was one of Chicago’s most productive hitters last year, helping the Cubs reach the playoffs for the first time since 2020. He hit .245 with a career-high 32 homers and 103 RBIs in 151 games.
The Cubs began the day with a 6-6 record after splitting a six-game road trip to Cleveland and Tampa Bay. They managed a total of 11 runs over the first four games before outscoring the Rays 15-4 in a pair of wins.
Suzuki, who is in the final season of an $85 million, five-year contract, got hurt while playing for Japan in the World Baseball Classic. He sprained the posterior cruciate ligament in his knee on a steal attempt on March 14.
The 31-year-old Suzuki hit .429 (6 for 14) with two doubles in five games in a rehab stint with Double-A Knoxville. He is a .269 hitter with 87 homers and 296 RBIs in 532 career major league games — all with the Cubs.
Maton is dealing with some right knee tendinitis. He is 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA in five appearances after signing a $14.5 million, two-year contract with the Cubs in free agency.
ESPN announcer Mark Jones talks on the air prior to calling a game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Dallas Mavericks on March 4, 2020. (Michael Ainsworth / Associated Press)
Mark Jones has been an on-air staple on ESPN since the first Bush administration — as in George H.W. Bush, who served from 1989 to 1992.
So, yeah, it's been a long time.
And now, Jones says, "it's time to move on."
Jones' final ESPN broadcast will be Sunday, when he will serve as the play-by-play announcer for the Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics game on the final day of the NBA's regular season. It could very well be the last time the phrase "hotter than fish grease" is uttered on the network.
"It's been a memorable journey these decades with the ABC/ESPN family, but I have decided that it's time to move on," Jones wrote in a statement posted Friday on Instagram. "From the day Dennis Swanson hired me in 1990 and working with the best producer in the business, Kim Belton, until today I will forever be grateful for the many friends and colleagues along the way."
Jones, 64, started at ESPN in 1990. As a play-by-play announcer, he is best known for calling NBA games but he has also covered college football, men’s and women’s college basketball, the WNBA and UFL. On June 2, 2022, Jones, Mark Jackson and Lisa Salters were the first all-Black crew to call an NBA Finals game on TV.
In addition, Jones has hosted the "NBA Today" studio show and been an anchor and reporter on "SportsCenter."
"Mark has made an enduring impact at ESPN since 1990, serving as a signature voice primarily within our NBA and college football coverage and across nearly all of our platforms," ESPN said in a statement. "We’re grateful for Mark's countless contributions and we wish him continued success."
Separate from his work at ESPN, Jones has also been the primary TV play-by-play announcer for the Sacramento Kings since 2020.
Jones hasn't indicated what he'll be doing next, but he ended his announcement with a big prediction for the future — and threw in his signature phrase for good measure.
"As I move on to my next chapter I believe my best work is yet to come," he wrote. "I'll be out there cookin' hotter than fish grease!"
With his team’s run-scoring drought sitting at 20 innings, Phillies manager Rob Thomson tweaked the middle of his lineup for Friday night’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park.
Thomson kept the top three spots in the order – Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper — the same as they had been in the first 12 games of the season, but moved Brandon Marsh up to the cleanup spot while dropping Alec Bohm, who had batted cleanup in the first 12 games, to seventh.
Using Marsh in the cleanup spot behind Schwarber and Harper and ahead of No. 5 hitter Bryson Stott gave the Phillies four left-handed bats in a row, a rare construction that Thomson was willing to deploy because the Diamondbacks do not have a left-hander in their bullpen and were starting a right-hander, Michael Soroka.
The Diamondbacks project to start three right-handers in the series, so Thomson could stick with the lefty-heavy middle of the order through the weekend.
“They don’t have a lefty in their ‘pen so we just stacked our lefties all together at the top,” Thomson said.
Marsh had 54 previous plate appearances and a .901 OPS in the four-hole in his career. He has been one of the Phillies’ most consistent hitters for almost a year. He entered Friday night’s game hitting .300 with an .825 OPS in 127 games since May 1. In 12 games this season, he was hitting .275 with a .727 OPS. He had three doubles, a homer and six RBIs.
Bohm belted a three-run home run on opening day but has otherwise struggled in the young season. He entered Friday night hitting .186 (8 for 43) with just two extra-base hits.
Without big power, Bohm is more suited to hit around sixth or seventh in a lineup. Preferring to use Schwarber and Harper near the top of the lineup leaves Thomson without a traditional cleanup option. Bohm often gets the call because of his ability to make contact. Thomson hopes the lineup move will get Bohm untracked.
“I just want him to be himself and use the whole field,” Thomson said.
That goes for the whole team.
“Guys are trying to do too much, swinging early in the count,” Thomson said. “We want them to work counts, work over pitches, chew up pitches, use the whole field, just keep moving the line.”
WHEELER’S TIMETABLE
Zack Wheeler will make his fourth minor-league rehab start Tuesday night for Double A Reading at Somerset.
He could make a fifth rehab start on Sunday April 19, if need be.
“He doesn’t have to have (the fifth start),” Thomson said. “But he’ll have time on the clock so we might take advantage of it if we can.”
Thomson added, “We’ll look at his stuff, his velocity, see how he feels. We’ll look at the command, all that stuff,” in determining if Wheeler will make one or two more minor-league starts.
Either way, the right-hander is nearing his return to the big-league rotation. Sometime during the Phils’ trip to Chicago and Atlanta (April 20-26) seems likely, unless Sunday April 19 comes into play at home.
Wheeler pitched 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball for Lehigh Valley on Wednesday night. He scattered three hits, walked one and struck out six.
“He touched 94 (mph) a few times, which is good,” Thomson said. “I think that’s pretty much normal for him this time of spring training. I’m not really concerned about (the velocity). I think it’s still going to go up. Adrenaline will kick in when he gets here and that will help. He’s still building some arm strength.”
Dallas, Florida and Tampa Bay: Three Rangers' road stops ahead and then the misery will be over.
And the re-something will begin.
So far "Retool" has had a few hundred different meanings but what it comes down to is this: The ability of Chris Drury to make a major deal – or even a minor one – is slimmer than Brennan Othmann – remember him?
But as it takes two to tango it takes one GM – initials C.D. – to make it work and when all's said and done, he has maybe one iffy-quality player to offer to the crowd.
His face-saving backup plan is to toss all the young'ins into the 2026-27 lineup and hope for the best.
But, as superscout Jess Rubenstein wisely notes, nobody but Gabe Perreault has shown to be capable of a first line role.
A year ago, per data viewed by USA TODAY Sports, 2,754 men’s Division I basketball players entered the portal for the 2024-25 year.
On Jan. 14, 2026, the NCAA’s Division I Cabinet adopted the following protocols for both the men’s and women’s basketball transfer portal:
“At the recommendation of the Men's and Women's Basketball Oversight Committees, the transfer windows in men's and women's basketball will open for a 15-day period the day after the championship game for the respective NCAA tournament. The changes are effective immediately.
When a head coaching change occurs, a 15-day period will open five days after the new head coach is hired or publicly announced. If a new head coach is not announced within 30 days of the previous head coach's departure — and the 31st day after the head coach's departure is after the championship game — a 15-day window will open. The additional head coach departure window is available only after the basketball transfer window opens through Jan. 2.
In basketball, midyear transfers are not eligible to compete at a second school if they enrolled at an NCAA school during the first academic term, regardless of whether they competed there.”
While mid-major basketball conferences are particularly being ravaged in this portal cycle – the Southern Conference, for instance, has 69 current portal entries from its 10-team membership, including seven of the 10 first- and second-team all-conference selections – the power conferences are not immune from departures.
The ACC, with 97 current entries among its 18 schools, tops among the Power Four with the quartet collectively has 322 players in the portal. The men’s total across NCAA Divisions I, II and III was 4,115.
Multiple ACC programs were ransacked. Boston College and Georgia Tech, both of which had head coaching changes, have seen 11 and nine portal entries, respectively; Notre Dame, a 13-18 season its third losing campaign in as many years under Micah Shrewsberry, also has seen seven players declare their intent to leave.
Oregon, after a 12-20 season, has nine players entered into the portal -- most in the Big Ten.
On the women’s side of things, 1,416 Division I players had entered their names by midday Friday; across all NCAA divisions, 2,352 players gained entry this week into the women’s transfer portal.
Just as in the men’s game, the women’s Power Four leagues also are absorbing massive turnover with 309 entrants from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and Southeastern conferences.
Mississippi State (six) and Tennessee (eight) are among the hardest-hit women’s programs in power conferences.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 09: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors shakes hands with LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers after their game at Chase Center on April 09, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Grizzlies play Jazz on Friday night in what ESPN’s Brian Windhorst calls the “Tanking Super Bowl.”
For over a decade, the Golden State Warriors vs. LeBron James has been an NBA staple. Which is why, for a rivalry that has helped define an era of basketball, Steph Curry’s absence during Thursday night’s 119–103 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers was impossible to ignore.
The game marked the final regular-season meeting between the two teams, but with Curry sidelined as a precaution while ramping up from a knee injury, the latest chapter of his head-to-head history with James never came.
From James’ perspective, the realization didn’t hit until the day of the game — and even then, it caught him off guard.
"We both didn't even realize it until today." 😂
LeBron on if he was disappointed to not compete against Steph this season:
"We don't know if we'll get the opportunity to play against each other [again]… it's always a pleasure and it's always an honor to be in his presence." pic.twitter.com/HNgipdYKjG
With both teams shorthanded — the Lakers without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, and the Warriors missing Curry, Kristaps Porzingis, and several other key contributors — it was James who took center stage. The 22-time All-Star delivered a vintage performance, finishing with a near triple-double of 26 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds to secure Los Angeles’ 51st win of the season.
Still, the bigger takeaway went beyond the box score.
For most of their careers, Curry and James have been intertwined from four consecutive NBA Finals matchups to countless regular-season battles. Now, deep into their careers, that connection remains built on respect as much as competition.
And as James alluded to, with both superstars in the later stages of their careers, nothing is guaranteed — which is what made this missed opportunity feel a little more significant, but cherished by both stars, nonetheless.
"It's been 18 years of us just being on a wavelength."
LeBron James on how much he cherishes his relationship with Steph Curry and what they've been through together.
"Just mutual respect and one of the most competitive guys I've ever played against." pic.twitter.com/saUClHoXAC
Respect has been earned and admired by Curry and James. An all-time rivalry comes with the territory of greatness.
“I think rivalries in general are defined by playoff matchups,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “That’s kind of the history of the way we look at Wilt [Chamberlain] vs. Bill Russell, Bird-Magic. I think they had three Finals confrontations. What would some of the other ones be? I don’t know. Steph and LeBron has to be up there.”
Can Stephen Curry power Golden State to two road wins?
Bontemps: The immediate answer from league insiders I spoke to was “no.” Obviously, it’s been a brutal season for Golden State from an injury perspective, including losing both Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody for the season, plus the Jonathan Kuminga drama over the first half of the season and Kristaps Porzingis and Curry missing large chunks of the second half.
“I’m not sure they even win the 9-10 game, let alone both,” a West scout said. “It’s one thing when Steph gets it going at home and he’s got that crowd roaring behind him. That’s a real thing.
“It’s different when they’re on the road and he’s doing it somewhere else. That same factor just isn’t there.”
Why he ranks No. 1: Murray has been good at shooting 3s for years, but this year he is great. Per Genius IQ, he’s shooting 46% on 3s off the catch, 2% better than his previous high. He’s shooting 42% off the dribble, equaling his career high, but on an extra 1.5 attempts per game. Defending players who can create 3s off the dribble is hard, especially with guys such as Murray, who can also get by you with a dribble. That’s why his shooting has led to his best overall offensive season.
Look at what we missed. During their long rivalry they’ve traded highlights and crazy box scores. Per Basketball Reference, in the regular season head-to-head data LeBron is averaging 30.2 points on 20.9 field goal attempts across 27 games. Steph is answering with 24.9 points and 6.5 assists across those same 27 matchups. That’s two legends still going to work every single time they see each other. And this season, we didn’t get one chapter of it.
Six years ago, Jim Benning and the Vancouver Canucks used the 10th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft to select Vasily Podkolzin. The Russian winger was playing for Neva St. Petersburg and was the second-ranked International Skater heading into the draft. While hindsight is 20/20, even at the time, there were debates about whether the Canucks selected the right prospect.
Fast forward to today, and the decision to draft Podkolzin remains a haunting moment for the organization. Not only has Podkolzin been traded, but two of the players who were drafted in close proximity to him are thriving in the NHL. Those players are Matthew Boldy and Cole Caufield, who both have hit the 85-point mark this season.
Starting with Boldy, he is the type of winger that Vancouver hoped Podkolzin would develop into. Listed at 6'2", 201 lbs, the 25-year-old has become a force in the offensive zone and this season, has added penalty killing to his tool kit. Drafted two spots behind Podkolzin, Boldy ranks third in goals and assists as well as second in the draft class for points.
As for Caufield, he has developed into one of the best scoring wingers in the NHL. Listed at 5'8", 175 lbs, the 25-year-old is enjoying his first 50-goal campaign and recently surpassed the 300-point mark for his career. Drafted five spots after Podkolzin, Caufield is a great example of why teams should not overlook smaller players, as he ranks first in goals and third in points among 2019 draft picks.
Boldy and Caufield are just two examples in a long list of draft misses for the Canucks from the last decade. While it is not a guarantee that these two players would have vaulted Vancouver into contender status, it is hard to imagine the Canucks being in a similar position as they are now if either were currently on the active roster. With potentially five picks in the top 100 of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, Vancouver has the chance to select prospects who will one day hopefully impact the Canucks, just like Boldy and Caufield have for the Minnesota Wild and Montréal Canadiens.
Apr 9, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield (13) celebrates after scoring his fiftieth goal of the season during the second period against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
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