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Player Grades: Cavs vs Hawks – Evan Mobley crushes Atlanta

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 08: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks for a pass during the third quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Rocket Arena on April 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Hawks 122-116. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers won a statement game against the Atlanta Hawks.

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Donovan Mitchell

31 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block

This was a team effort, but Mitchell truly stole the show. His isolation scoring is on par with just about anyone in the NBA. I have to imagine it’s a hopeless feeling for the defense whenever Mitchell windmills the ball over their head. He had Corey Kispert begging for mercy — and none of the other Hawks had any better luck.

Grade: A+

James Harden

21 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals

Harden struggled to score early despite generating some clean looks. He also had a grating turnover in closing time, where he handed the ball straight to NAW. Harden finished the game shooting 6-23.

Other than that, Harden provided a huge surge of scoring in the third quarter and was the orchestrator of Cleveland’s late-game offense. He helped them earn multiple trips to the free-throw line, closing the deal with his surgical decision-making.

Grade: B–

Jarrett Allen

16 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals

Allen looks like he’s in pain. That hasn’t stopped him from burrowing into the paint and leaving defenders with no choice other than to bear hug him. The Cavs are showing they can work around Allen’s tendinitis — but I hope that other options emerge as the playoffs approach.

Ideally, we want February Allen back in the building.

Grade: B

Evan Mobley

22 points, 19 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks

Talk about dominant.

Mobley showed fans what they’ve been dreaming about. He eviscerated any defender the Hawks put in front of him. And, made it a non-contest any time the ball was up for grabs. This monster double-double is the type of stuff that will get Mobley, and his team, to the next level.

Grade: A+

Keon Ellis

5 points, 1 assist, 1 rebound, 1 block

I can see Ellis being a great option to slow down players like CJ McCollum, Nickeil Alexandar-Walker, and Gabe Vincent. He has the physical tools to match any of them.

The goal, however, is actually getting him into those matchups. Ellis wasn’t properly utilized in any lineup that featured him alongside Dennis Schroder, Max Strus, and Sam Merrill. The Cavs simply aren’t big enough to get away with stuff like that.

Hopefully, Kenny Atkinson adjusts the rotation and better uses Ellis for his point-of-attack defense.

Grade: C–

Max Strus

8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists

Strus came off the bench as Cleveland opted for Dean Wade in the starting lineup. That worked great for Wade, and not as well for Strus.

I actually thought Strus played a fine game. But similar to Ellis, I’m not sure if the logjam of backcourt players makes for the most ideal second units. Strus is being stretched thin in some of these lineups.

Grade: C+

Sam Merrill

6 points, 3 assists, 1 steal

You can copy and paste most of what I said for Ellis and Strus here. Merrill isn’t benefiting from being in lineups that only feature one player above 6’5”.

Merrill shot 2-3 from downtown tonight.

Grade: C+

Dean Wade

8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block

Wade returned to the floor and joined the starters tonight. That dynamic worked to perfection. His size and athleticism made him a versatile defensive weapon to pair with the bigs. He also nailed consecutive three-pointers to start the game and spaced the floor well throughout the night.

Grade: A-

Dennis Schroder

5 points, 3 assists, 1 rebound

Not the best. Schroder is most impacted by some of these small-ball lineups. But, he also isn’t a great fit next to either Mitchell or Harden. He was a staggering minus-22 in 15 minutes. As a reminder, the Cavs won this game by six.

Grade: F

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A’s Win Late Over Yankees 3-2

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 07: Jeff McNeil #22 of the Athletics scores on a double from teammate Nick Kurtz in the third inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 07, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The A’s and Yankees had a duel on Wednesday evening in the Bronx. One day after dropping a close game in the late innings, it was the Athletics’ turn as they beat the Yankees thanks to a top of the ninth RBI to win 3-2. Close but we’ll take it.

Right-hander Luis Severino was on the mound for the A’s facing his longtime former team. He entered tonight’s game with two horrible starts against the pinstripes in his career (both last season) so he was looking for a bit of revenge tonight.

Well it looked like early on that things wouldn’t go his way. New York put up two quick runs against the expensive righty, opening up with three straight hits. Sevy buckled down and got two much-needed strikeouts but then a bases-loaded walk brought in New York’s second run. He’d get another punchout to get out of the jam, doing a good job of limiting the damage against him.

The Yankees meanwhile sent fellow righty Will Warren to the bump to take on the A’s lineup. The bats haven’t quite gotten started yet as the A’s currently rank just 22nd in the entire league with a .654 OPS. Not the start A’s fans were hoping for but there’s signs things are heading in the right direction on offense.

The bats were quiet the first time through the order, with only a couple singles and a walk against the New York right-hander. That changed in the fourth though. After the first two batters of the inning went down outfielder Lawrence Butler, manning center tonight, began the rally with a single. Max Muncy followed him with his own hit, followed by the third in a row from Jeff McNeil, this one bringing in the Athletics’ first run of the evening:

He finished the day 2-for-4 with that RBI knock being his second in an Athletics uniform. Would be nice to get him going.

That wasn’t the end of the rally. Carlos Cortes, in the starting lineup in place of Denzel Clarke, worked a two-out walk to load the bases. Then the A’s got a little help from Warren as he uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Muncy to cross home plate and tie this game up at 2 apiece:

Sadly Nick Kurtz struck out to end the rally but at least the A’s had knotted things up.

Back to Severino, after that first inning the righty settled in. Over the next four innings Sevy only allowed one more hit with a couple walks sprinkled in there. He also racked up four more strikeouts as well, getting up to 7 on the evening. He was able to finish the fifth off the hook for a loss, but also without a chance for his first win of the season.

  • Luis Severino: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 7 K, 100 pitches

Not a bad start from the 32-year-old. Considering his horrible appearances against his former team last year there was some apprehension of him going into New York but he held his own against a tough lineup. Next up for him will likely be the Texas Rangers at home next week.

Warren couldn’t finish the fifth as the A’s chased him with another scoring opportunity, one they wouldn’t be able to cash in on. It was now a bullpen game and whoever blinked first would likely lose.

Neither team bent during the later innings. Scott Barlow, Hogan Harris, and Elvis Alvarado all made appearances after Severino’s departure and did their jobs with scoreless outings, getting us to the ninth inning still tied up at 2.

Not looking to go into extra innings the A’s bats got to work. Going up against New York’s closer in David Bednar, Nick Kurtz started things off with a single, his second hit of the night. Catcher Shea Langeliers followed him up with a double to left field that put two runners in scoring position for the Athletics. After Tyler Soderstrom struck out there was fear that the A’s would waste this golden scoring opportunity but Brent Rooker stepped to the plate and came through with a productive out, a sac fly that brought Kurtz home and gave the A’s the late lead:

Now with a save situation to preserve, manager Mark Kotsay turned to the newest member of his bullpen in Joel Kuhnel. A strong start to his season in Triple-A earned him the first promotion of the year and he was thrown right into the fire tonight. Facing the bottom third of the lineup Kuhnel sat down every Yankee he faced, ending the game by getting Ryan McMahon to strike out swinging for his first save of the year and second of his career.

That was a bit stressful. The A’s turned the tables on the Yankees though and they were the team that had the late-game rally to steal the win. Sevy started a bit shaky but settled in and pitched well for the most part. The bats came through in big spots and the bullpen did it’s job with four scoreless innings of work. A well-rounded win if there ever was one.

The club is now 4-7 with the finale set for tomorrow morning. It’ll be a lefty-on-lefty starting matchup as Jeffrey Springs gets the ball for his third start of the year. He’s been the team’s best starter in this early going so the club will be hoping for that to continue. New York counters Springs with Ryan Weathers, their offseason acquisition who is off to a so-so start to his campaign. Will the A’s win their second series of the year and first on the road? Only one way to find out and that’s to tune in tomorrow bright and early for more A’s baseball!

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Cavs withstand Hawks comeback in 122-116 win

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 8: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots a three point basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on April 8, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points, Evan Mobley had 22 points and 19 rebounds, and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Atlanta Hawks 122-116 in a wild contest that saw both teams carry double-digit leads. The Cavs led by as many as 18 points, but nearly collapsed in the fourth quarter before getting some defensive stops in critical moments. If tonight’s game is an indication of how things would look in a playoff series between these two teams, buckle up. 

Atlanta has been inarguably the hottest team in the NBA over the last month, and they showed it down the stretch. Their two best players, Jalen Johnson (12 points, 11 rebounds) and Dyson Daniels (12 points, six assists), both fouled out late in the fourth quarter, making things slightly easier for the Cavs. Nickeil Alexander-Walker finished with 25 points, hitting some very tough shots along the way. 

It was a back-and-forth affair from Rocket Arena, with both teams exchanging blows throughout. Atlanta outscored Cleveland by 11 in the second quarter, taking a seven-point lead into the half. The Cavs countered with a haymaker, posting 44 points and giving themselves a 17-point lead going into the fourth. Expectedly, the Hawks mounted an extraordinary comeback in the final frame to nearly complete the effort. 

Mitchell was excellent all night and started his takeover in the third quarter, scoring 13 of his 31 in that frame. James Harden (21 points, five rebounds) also caught a little fire in that period, drilling back-to-back threes midway through the quarter to force an Atlanta timeout. The backcourt led the way in the third and propelled the Cavs to perhaps their best quarter of the season. 

While he has been the recipient of fan ire all season, Mobley played exceptionally tonight. The defending Defensive Player of the Year finished with 22 points, 19 rebounds (tied for a career-high), and three blocks on 8-15 shooting. Cleveland was a +20 in Mobley’s minutes, and that certainly passes the eye test. He had a game-changing effort that the Cavs will need in the postseason if they hope to make some noise. 

It was a trying night for Jarrett Allen, even if his stat line looks respectable. Half of his points came from the free-throw line, and he finished with three turnovers — and it could have been more. He lost several entry passes that simply bounced off his hands, or he allowed defenders to dislodge him too easily. It seems Allen isn’t going to be 100% for the playoffs, but they will need a better effort from him than what we saw tonight. 

Speaking of poor performances, Dennis Schroder continues to be a very uneven player. The Cavs were a -22 in his 15 minutes, and that also passes the eye test. Craig Porter Jr. was not utilized in this game, perhaps an indication of how things would look in a playoff setting. This game certainly had a postseason vibe to it, and the rotations reflected that. The Cavs rolled out their usual starters and Dean Wade, and that generally worked out. But the bench was exceptionally poor aside from Sam Merrill. Keon Ellis, Max Strus, and Schroder were all negatives in plus/minus.

This was a roller coaster of a game from tip-off to final buzzer. The Cavs looked alright in the first quarter, terrible in the second, tremendous in the third, and then nearly lost it in the fourth. In fact, they only scored 18 points in the final quarter, most of which came off free throws. The last field goal they made, an Allen dunk, came at the 7:05 mark. It is a borderline miracle that they won this game, especially given the team’s history of falling apart at the seams when things start to go wrong. 

Tonight, they looked like a team that was able to withstand a little adversity. Now, if only they didn’t put themselves in that position in the first place.

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Rangers falter late to fall to Sabres to end good homestand on sour note

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Jason Zucker (center) celebrates his third-period goal with Ryan McLeod as a dejected Will Borgen looks on during the Rangers' 5-3 loss to the Sabres on April 8, 2026 at the Garden

The Rangers successfully limited their opponent’s offense, fostered chemistry and closed out games during this lengthy homestand that concluded Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

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When push came to shove against a hungry Buffalo team, however, the Blueshirts reverted to their old ways on home ice.

They didn’t just allow three unanswered goals — including an empty-netter — in the third period to fall 5-3 to the playoff-bound Sabres.

The Rangers were held without a single shot on goal for over 18 of the final 20 minutes.

“I don’t know if we sat back a little too much with the lead, but we had a couple good shifts to start the period, didn’t get anything on net, and they kind of controlled the play there through the middle part,” captain J.T. Miller said. “And then we pushed again at the end. That’s obviously not good enough. I look at it as a bigger sample size over the last little while. We’ve played a lot of good hockey and we know we want to end the season strong. So we’re excited to get back on the road, spent a lot of time at home. I have a lot of faith we’re going to end the season in a good way and feel good.”

Finishing their season at the Garden with a 14-20-7 record, the Rangers capped an otherwise tumultuous campaign on home ice with an encouraging 5-2 stretch.

Scoring goals was no longer the bane of their existence. Stacking wins lightened a beat-up locker room.

It’s breathed a competitive life back into the Rangers that hasn’t been there since the 2024 playoffs.

Alexis Lafrenière scored his first of two goals by redirecting an Adam Fox shot from the point, notching his 23rd goal of the season and his career-high 13th point on the power play.

Jason Zucker (center) celebrates his third-period goal with Ryan McLeod as a dejected Will Borgen looks on during the Rangers’ 5-3 loss to the Sabres on April 8, 2026 at the Garden. NHLI via Getty Images

With 39 seconds left in the first period, the goal cut the Sabres’ lead in half, 2-1, going into the first intermission.

The net-front role has been a revelation for Lafrenière, whose 22 points since March 1 rank third on the Rangers. 

Sniping one past Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen early in the second period, Lafrenière tied the game 2-2 for the Rangers as part of his third multi-goal game of the 2025-26 season.

The home team then earned its first lead of the night off its second power-play goal.

Igor Shesterkin makes a save on Jason Zucker during the second period of the Rangers’ loss to the Sabres. Bill Kostroun for New York Post

Fox cashed in from the slot and pulled within one of his career-high six power-play goals, which begs the question of what the 28-year-old could have accomplished if he hadn’t missed 27 total games due to injuries.

The goal extended Fox’s point streak to eight games, over which he has collected four goals and 11 assists.

“Obviously it was a struggle for us to win games early on,” head coach Mike Sullivan said. “You look at the first 20 games of the season, there were a lot of games that we felt pretty good about our overall game from a process standpoint, and we struggled to score goals for whatever reason, in particular at home. … Our guys care deeply about playing in front of the home crowd and the people that support us. We have a sincere appreciation for that. And so sometimes that becomes a challenge in and of itself, because you’re trying so hard to try to win at home, sometimes it gets in the way of your instincts …

Alexis Lafrenière (13) celebrates with Adam Folx after scoring a power player goal in the first period of the Rangers’ loss to the Sabres. Bill Kostroun for New York Post

“I feel this second half, it started to go in the net for us. Most recently, we’re scoring a fair amount of goals. It’s not like we changed our game plan. We’ve got back to a pretty consistent team game.”

Matthew Robertson was named as the Rangers nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is given to the player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.”

The nomination is decided by members of the Rangers chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The winner is selected by a poll of the PHWA as a whole.

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Game Preview: Knicks vs Celtics, April 9, 2026

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 8: Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks is introduced before the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 8, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Tomorrow night, the Knicks (51*-28) host the Celtics (54-25) at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks sit third in the Eastern Conference, riding a three-game win streak and going 7-3 in their last 10. New York has been solid on their home court (28-9) and will look to leverage that MSG advantage against a Celtics team that has also been playing well, winning four straight and eight of their last 10. While it’s not impossible for the Knicks to steal the second seed from the Celts, they’d have to win out their final three games (starting tonight), while the Beantown Bums would have to lose to the Knicks, Pelicans, and Magic.

The Knicks lead the season series 2-1. The teams last met on February 8 in Boston, where New York pulled out a 111-89 victory. The Knicks led for most of the game, Jalen Brunson topped the scoresheet with 31 points, and Boston shot an awful 7-of-41 (17%) from the perimeter. Oh, what a glorious day that was.

Beyond shots, what else was Boston missing in that February 8 game? Jayson Tatum. In fact, their star power forward has missed all three games against the Knicks this season, having ruptured his achilles in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semis against New York and only returning to action on March 6, 2026. Tatum’s shooting (a career-low 50% eFG) and scoring (21 PPG) have yet to return to pre-injury form, but he’s still a force to be reckoned with.

The Celtics have been one of the more consistent teams, with elite offensive (2nd of 30) and defensive (4th of 30) metrics. They score around 114.6 points per game (21st in the NBA) while allowing just 106.9, which is best in the league.

Tatum and Jaylen Brown (28.8 PPG, 7 RPG, 5.2 APG) will lead their starters, with Derrick White (16.7 PPG, 5.4 APG), Sam Hauser (9.1 PPG, 39% 3P%), and Neemias Queta (10.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG) rounding out the first five. We’ll see who actually plays. Their injury report lists four players—Queta (toe), Hauser (back), White (knee), and Brown (Achilles)—all as game-time decisions. For the Knicks, Tyler Kolek is a GTD with an oblique issue.

Prediction

ESPN.com gives the home team a 56% chance tomorrow. That makes sense. Coach Joe Mazzulla, coach-of-the-year candidate and general weirdo, could rest his ailing Celtics, since they can wrap up the second-seed in one of the next two outings. But who knows what Joe will hear when he stares into the abyss over his morning cornflakes? The Knicks will be ready for whatever, however. In their last game, they rocked Atlanta, taking everything the red hot team threw at them and giving it straight back. Just in time, the Knickerbockers look ready for the playoffs. More of the same tomorrow, we bet. Knicks by 4.

Game Details

Who: New York Knicks (51*-28) vs Boston Celtics (54-25)
Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Place: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
TV: Prime Video / MSG
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

* Should be one more, but the NBA Cup wins live in a Fortress of Solitude.

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Yankees can’t put Athletics away early, lose late

Apr 8, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Athletics starting pitcher Luis Severino (40) reacts after almost getting hit by the ball in the third inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Enough of the new season smell has worn off that we can all say this game was a bit miserable. The Yankees had a golden opportunity to blow the contest open in the first inning, and after the first three Yanks all reached base, barely a soul managed to do so for the rest of the game. David Bednar couldn’t hold serve in the ninth inning, getting himself into an immediate jam, and a solid Athletics lineup made him pay. New York dropped the second game of this three-game set, 3-2 your final.

The Yankees jumped on Luis Severino early, with both Trent Grisham and Aaron Judge starting the first inning with sharp singles. Cody Bellinger was up next and put his club ahead before an out had been recorded:

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Sevy then had a hell of a back and forth with the strike zone, getting whiffs of Ben Rice and Giancarlo Stanton, before back-to-back four-pitch walks to Jazz Chisholm Jr. and J.C. Escarra, the second of those bringing in Judge from third base. Amed Rosario was also set down swinging to end the threat, and while the Yankees were up 2-0 by the end of the first, it felt like they could have gotten more out of it.

That somewhat-missed opportunity loomed large in the fourth, after Will Warren cruised through the first three innings. The Yankee right-hander began to bleed baserunners, with three-straight singles—all with two outs—bringing in the first run of the game forth the A’s. Warren would walk the bases loaded and then spike a ball that Escarra couldn’t corral, The Other Max Muncy broke for the plate, and the game was tied.

Warren doesn’t have the natural stuff that Cam Schlittler has, and he’s always going to be a little more of a project pitcher. He might even be pretty good — although he didn’t end up getting out of the fifth today. The problem is for me, he’s kinda good and an absolute slog to watch pitch:

When you don’t sit 98, you have to find strikes around the edges of the strike zone, and Warren just doesn’t have the command for that. Instead you get a lot of easy takes and it feels like he ends up spotting every single hitter one more pitch than he needs to. So he throws more pitches, they’re not very good pitches, and he forces us to watch while he does it.

Thankfully Tim Hill was somewhat more expeditious, needing just one pitch to finish the fifth, and working a sixth inning that saw an Athletics’ single and a real nice grab from Jazz:

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Still, that first inning continued to cast a shadow, since after Severino threw 32 pitches in the frame, he actually settled down well to complete five innings on exactly 100 pitches. Luis Severino’s 2017 Cy Young finalist year is one of the single player campaigns I’ve most enjoyed covering while at PSA, and while he never was that good again I also couldn’t help but enjoy seeing him continue to pitch well enough — even if he could have left a cement mixer or two out.

The team continued to be flummoxed by a pretty paltry As pitching staff, especially when Mark Leiter Jr. wasn’t brought out. Trent Grisham did manage a two-out walk in the seventh inning against the lefty Hogan Harris, setting up a platoon-advantaged matchup against Judge, but he was swiftly walked. Cody Bellinger went down on strikes to continue the offensive futility.

Bednar was tasked with keeping the game tied in the ninth, and immediately allowed a single and double to the top of the Athletics order. The Yankee closer was able to get Tyler Soderstrom swinging for one out, but Brent Rooker’s sac fly brought in Nick Kurtz, and that would be all the A’s needed. The bottom of the Yankee order went down quietly in the ninth.

This has been a pretty blergh series, where outside of Amed Rosario’s heroics on Tuesday the Yankee offense has been awful quiet against a team not known for its pitching prowess. I think the hitters are largely too passive at the plate right now, taking a lot of strikes in hitters’ counts for no reason that I can see. A little more controlled aggression from the lineup would help them win this series tomorrow, where Ryan Weathers will start the finale against fellow southpaw Jeffrey Springs. First pitch will be at 1:35pm Eastern.

Box Score

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Yankees score early, but bats go quiet in 3-2 loss to Athletics

The Yankees' bats went quiet after a strong first inning as they fell to the Athletics, 3-2.

Here are the takeaways....

-- The Yanks got on the board quickly with three straight singles in the bottom of the first inning as Cody Bellinger's bloop to right field scored Trent Grisham from second base. After former Yankee Luis Severino struck out two straight, New York found a way to tack on another run. Jazz ChisholmJr. walked to load the bases and J.C. Escarra followed with another walk to pickup the RBI, pushing the lead to 2-0.

-- Will Warren cruised through the first three innings before running into some trouble in the fourth. The right-hander let up three consecutive singles as Jeff McNeil singled to left field and Lawrence Butler beat Bellinger's throw home, making it a 2-1 game. Warren then issued a walk to load the bases and threw a wild pitch, scoring Max Muncy as the Athletics tied it up at 2-2.

Warren recorded two outs in the fifth inning, but with two runners on base and the lefty Butler coming up to bat, Tim Hill entered for the lefty vs. lefty matchup. His day ended after 4.2 IP and 85 pitches (48 strikes), allowing two runs on five hits with five strikeouts and three walks. Luckily, Hill needed just one pitch to get out of the jam and avoided adding on to Warren's line.

-- Starting at shortstop for the first time in the majors, Ryan McMahon got tested at the end of the first inning. He made a nice back-hand stop and got a little help from Ben Rice on the scoop at first base for the third out. McMahon looked more comfortable on his next three plays in the second and third innings, getting the runner at first each time. 

While McMahon was solid at short, Rice had some troubles at first base throughout the game, including a fielding error on a ball that bounced off his glove into foul territory. Rice also struggled at the plate, going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts.

-- Pitching coach Matt Blake was ejected by home plate umpire Carlos Torres for arguing balls and strikes in the top of the third inning. Nick Kurtz ended up singling later in the at-bat.

-- Hill, Camilo Doval, and Brent Headrick tossed 3.1 combined scoreless innings of relief to keep the score knotted at 2-2 through the eighth. However, David Bednar got into trouble in the ninth inning, allowing a single to Kurtz and a double to Shea Langeliers. Bednar struck out Tyler Soderstrom, but then gave up a sac fly to Brent Rooker as the Athletics took a 3-2 lead. The veteran managed to strike out Jacob Wilson to avoid further damage.

The Yanks went down in order in the bottom of the ninth, finishing with just four hits after having three in the first inning. Their last hit came in the fourth inning.

Game MVP: Luis Severino

Severino reminded Yankees fans that he's still got it, striking out seven over 5.0 IP. The right-hander allowed two runs on four hits and five walks, with both runs and three of the hits coming in the first inning.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees wrap up their three-game series with the Athletics on Thursday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:35 p.m.

Ryan Weathers (0-0, 4.50 ERA) will take the mound against LHP Jeffrey Springs(1-0, 2.38 ERA).

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Sean Manaea left as Mets odd man out in pitching rotation

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Sean Manaea heads back to the dugout after getting out of the seventh inning during Mets' 7-2 loss to the Diamondbacks on April 8, 2026 at Citi Field

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Barring an injury to a starting pitcher, it doesn’t appear as if Sean Manaea will be joining the Mets rotation anytime soon.

Despite this stretch of nine straight days with a scheduled game for his team, manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesday that he’s sticking with a five-man rotation. In spring training, Mendoza had indicated a six-man rotation was a possibility once the Mets got beyond their early off days in the schedule.

“We’re just going to keep guys with their routines,” Mendoza said before the Mets lost 7-2 to the Diamondbacks at Citi Field. “If we need to go that route, we will. But as I am sitting here, we are not planning on going to a six-man.”

Sean Manaea heads back to the dugout after getting out of the seventh inning during Mets’ 7-2 loss to the Diamondbacks on April 8, 2026 at Citi Field. Corey Sipkin for New York Post

With David Peterson removed after the fifth inning, Manaea was utilized in a second straight extended relief appearance.

He allowed two earned runs on five hits and two walks over four innings (70 pitches).

“Each day we’re turning in the right direction,” said Manaea, who was squeezed from the rotation at the end of spring training.

Manaea’s lagging velocity has been part of the issue.

On this day he averaged 88.4 mph on his four-seam fastball. It was a dip from his previous appearance — he averaged 89.9 mph with that pitch last Thursday.

Manaea was asked for his reaction to hearing he won’t be joining the rotation as a sixth starter.

“No disappointment,” Manaea said. “I am here to help this team win in any way that I can. And right now this is my job to do what I have been doing and I’m very happy doing that.”

Mendoza said the manner in which his starting pitchers have recovered between starts is the biggest factor in wanting to stick with the five-man set.

“We wanted to be flexible and leave it open just in case somebody comes in and says maybe they can use an extra day, then you can always make that adjustment,” Mendoza said. “That was the idea coming out of camp, but here we are now.”

Carson Benge snapped an 0-for-24 with a ninth-inning single.

The hit was Benge’s first in April.

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Alexis Lafreniere scores twice but Rangers lose home finale to Sabres, 5-3

NEW YORK (AP) — Jason Zucker scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 17 saves, and the Buffalo Sabres rallied to beat the New York Rangers 5-3 on Wednesday night.

Zucker slid his 24th goal past Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin at 7:14 after teammate Alex Tuch had tied the contest with his 31st at 5:50 of the third.

Zach Benson scored twice and Ryan McLeod added a goal for the Sabres, who will participate in the postseason for the first time since 2010-11.

The Sabres won their 48th game in a dramatic turnaround from last year, when they had 79 points and missed the playoffs for a 14th straight season. Buffalo is 22-6-3 in its last 31 games, including a league-best 16 wins and 34 points since the Olympic break.

Alexis Lafreniere scored twice and Adam Fox also scored for the Rangers in their home finale. Shesterkin had 22 saves.

New York finished with five wins in a seven-game homestand but just 14 wins in 41 home games overall.

McLeod opened the scoring at 4:40 of the first. Benson then beat Shesterkin at 8:58.

Lafreniere answered on the power play at 19:21, then scored his second of the night and 24th this season at 2:57 of the middle period.

Fox put the Rangers ahead at 14:44 of the second before the Sabres rallied.

Benson completed the scoring with his 12th goal into an empty net at 18:44.

The Rangers will miss the playoffs for a second straight season after winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2023-24 when they had 114 points and 55 wins, including 30 at home.

Buffalo, under Lindy Ruff who also coached the team when they reached the Stanley Cup Final in 1999, has 104 points — two more than Tampa Bay and Montreal in the Atlantic Division.

Up Next

Rangers: Visiting Dallas Stars on Saturday to start season-ending three-game trip.

Sabres: Hosting Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.

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Penguins Found A Hidden Gem In This Defenseman

During this past off-season, the Pittsburgh Penguins signed defenseman Parker Wotherspoon to a two-year, $2 million contract. This was after the left-shot defenseman had one goal, seven points, and a minus-10 rating in 55 games with the Boston Bruins during the 2024-25 season.

When the Penguins signed Wotherspoon, the expectation was that he would be a depth defenseman for them. Instead, the 6-foot-1 blueliner has been having a breakout year with the Penguins and has emerged as one of their most important defenseman in the process. 

Wotherspoon has been excellent for the Penguins this season, and the truth is in his stats. In 78 games this season with Pittsburgh, he has set new career highs with three goals, 26 assists, 29 points, and 160 blocks. With numbers like these, he has been a major pickup for the Penguins. 

Due to how well he has played, Wotherspoon has found a home on the Penguins' top pairing with Erik Karlsson this season. He has also become a key part of their penalty kill. 

With all of this, there is no question that Wotherspoon has turned out to be quite the gem for the Penguins and has been a notable reason for their major turnaround this season. 

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Winners and Losers: Cavs vs Hawks – Donovan Mitchell erupts for 31 points

Apr 8, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates in the third quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers took down the Atlanta Hawks in a potential playoff preview. Let’s go over today’s winners and losers.

WINNER – Cross-Matching

The Cavs started this game by throwing a wicked curveball at the Hawks. Rather than matching up by position, Cleveland elected to stick James Harden on Atlanta’s center, Onyeka Okongwu.

What does this do?

Well, it allows Jarrett Allen to bump down and defend Dyson Daniels, a non-shooting threat who the Cavs are willing to ignore on the perimeter. That makes it possible for Allen to patrol the paint, while Harden just has to use his bulky, 6’5” frame to avoid being dog food.

Okongwu scored 18 points, but wasn’t able to take advantage of Harden defending him. Harden more than held his own in those individual minutes, and Okongwu isn’t a skilled enough scorer to justify the offense catering to him any more than it did tonight.

We’ve seen other teams implement this same strategy. The New York Knicks love to use Josh Hart in this role. Similarly, the Oklahoma City Thunder do the same with Lu Dort or Alex Caruso. Now… it goes without saying that James Harden is nowhere near as good a defender as any of those guys. But the game plan is implemented all the same.

Playing 5-on-4 defensively is a huge advantage. Allen was able to ignore Daniels and contain nearly all drives to the basket. That led to a ton of short-mid-range shots from Atlanta. That’s the type of stuff Cleveland will be glad to concede in the playoffs. It helped make the difference in closing time when the Hawks settled for tough middies.

All that’s left is to make sure you don’t get burned on the perimeter. Outside of a brutal second quarter, I thought the Cavs did a good job of running Atlanta off the line and funneling them to the bigs.

WINNER – Donovan Mitchell

You can trust Donovan Mitchell to show up on the big stage. This wasn’t a playoff game, but it’s clear that Mitchell understood the possible implications.

Mitchell was on fire from the start. He made quick work of the Hawks’ defense, especially when drawing a favorable matchup, like when CJ McCollum or Corey Kispert had the unfortunate fate of defending him. Mitchell’s on-ball brilliance was on full display, with some ridiculously difficult shots appearing routine for him.

We’ve seen heroic performances from Mitchell before. But it’s worth noting that he scored in bunches tonight without ever makign it feel like it was him versus the world. Cleveland still took a balanced approach to their offense, with Mitchell expertly filling in when the time called for it.

By the end of the night, Mitchell had 31 points on 12-19 shooting. That’s elite.

LOSER – One Big Lineups

The Hawks are rolling. And should they draw the Cavs in round one, they’d be a formidable opponent capable of doing serious damage.

Tonight, their biggest advantage came in the second unit.

Atlanta’s bench outscored Cleveland 37-28. Most of that happened in the first half, with the Hawks’ bench shooting 11-13 from the floor while the Cavs shot just 3-10.

Jonathan Kuminga was largely responsible for this disparity. He scored 24 points all on his own, putting the Hawks in front with his huge second quarter. The results were diminishing, as Cleveland’s defensive game plan of leaving non-shooters open and packing the paint eventually won out.

Kuminga is a good barometer for this matchup. The Cavs have tipped their hand and shown that they’ll live with him trying to win games in the mid-range. If he can keep scoring in bunches like he did tonight, then he’ll pose a real problem to Cleveland.

I wouldn’t be overly concerned.

What I would worry about is Cleveland’s defensive integrity when only one big man is on the floor, specifically, when Mobley or Allen are anchoring any lineup that doesn’t also feature Dean Wade. The Cavs’ lack of size was truly exposed in those minutes.

This is where their second unit is most vulnerable. Especially when the Cavs are frequently running lineups of four guards and just one big. I don’t foresee them fixing this issue; rather, it’s a weakness that they simply have to overcome.

WINNER – Double Big Lineups (Plus Dean Wade)

The Cavs bench might be undersized. But let me tell you, the frontcourt featuring Wade, Mobley, and Allen dominated this game.

Atlanta has plenty of length on the wing. Much more than Cleveland. However, wings and one undersized center in Okongwu are all the Hawks have in their frontcourt. That should be BBQ chicken for Mobley and Allen. On Wednesday night, it was exactly that.

Mobley was immediately impactful. He bruised the Hawks in the paint all night, finishing with 22 points and 19 rebounds while no one from Atlanta had enough size to bother him. If Mobley plays with this much aggression — you can expect a quick series for the Hawks.

Allen wasn’t as overbearing. He’s still working through some knee discomfort that will likely linger into the postseason. Yet, Allen posed enough of a threat to earn 11 free throw attempts. Atlanta was forced to foul him multiple times after Allen used his size for deep-seals in the paint. The healthier Allen gets, the more of an issue this will be for the Hawks.

To tie this into our previous section, the only concern is what happens when Allen and Mobley are not on the court together. Cleveland only outscored the Hawks 52-50 in the paint. They also barely edged them out 47-43 in the rebounding category. The bulk of that happened when only one big was on the floor. Again, it’s an uphill battle they’ll just have to fight.

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And Look At Us, We’re a Disaster: Cubs 6, Rays 2

Apr 8, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Joe Boyle (36) throws a pitch against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Through four innings, this was an enjoyable game.

Joe Boyle and Colin Rea took two different approaches attacking hitters as each limited the other side to just one run. Boyle made an early mistake missing his location on a putaway sweeper that Nico Hoerner converted into a leadoff home run, but then Boyle quickly rebounded to retire the next batter and then execute that first sequence to Alex Bregman. Boyle did not miss that time and got the well-disciplined veteran on a check swing to strike out. Boyle, for the next three innings, went on to show more growth as he looked to distance himself from his days of wildness mixing in his new sinker and improved sweeper while aggressively attacking the strike zone.

Then, the 5th inning happened and the rather enjoyable game evolved into another cavalcade of self-inflicted problems to completely change the tone of the game.

The fifth inning opened with Boyle being a bit wild inside with his first two pitches before finding the zone again until Carson Kelly tried to pull a Derek Jeter and milk a hit-by-pitch on a ball which clearly hit the knob of the bat. The Rays successfully challenged the play, but Kelly took what felt like a commercial break to redress with his acoutrements. The long delay between pitches may have gotten to Boyle as he missed high on the next pitch and then hung another slider which resulted in a leadoff double to Kelly. The next at bat was a five-pitch walk to Ballesteros with only one of the pitches in the zone which was followed by a similar at bat to Dansby Swanson that loaded the bases with no outs. Those three runners would quickly come around to score on the next pitch that Michael Conforto drove off the centerfield fence with some extra help from the Rays poor defensive execution:

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The Rays were charged with two throwing errors on the play, but charging Fraley with a throwing error was questionable in the moment and I’m still not sure how that is an error on him as Taylor Walls did not exactly make himself big for a cutoff throw and the throw scooted by him. The throw at least ended up close to second base, but then Jonathan Aranda doubled down on the miscue throwing wildly by Hunter Feduccia at home in an attempt to nab Dansby Swanson trying to score. Boyle would be allowed to stay in and he retired Matt Shaw in an eight-pitch at bat before Nico Hoerner took a 99-mph fastball off the outer half the other way down the line for a double. Five pitches later, an infield dribbler by Michael Busch was thrown down into the Rays’ bullpen by Feduccia for the third throwing error of the contest leading to the fifth run of the inning and Boyle’s departure after 34 pitches that frame.

Jesse Scholtens would come in to finish the contest and looked as good as Boyle did the first four innings. The Rays offense disappeared in the middle of the game as Colin Rea, Hoby Milner, and Ben Brown retired 12 straight until an 8th inning single by Aranda, a wild pitch by Brown, and a single by Fraley brough in a late run in the 8th. Chandler Simpson got on in the 9th and promptly stole second, but inexplicably tried stealing third with no outs and was thrown out on a perfect peg and tag by the duo of Kelly and Bregman.

Tonight was the third time this month the Rays have committed at least three errors in a contest and the 5th time in their past 25 contests dating back to the late September weekend when they did so in consecutive games against Boston. That is simply unacceptable for any team, let alone one who plans on relying upon pitching and defense to keep them in games.

Losses heading into an off-day always feel doubly painful, and things do not get easier this weekend with the Yankees coming to town with the front of their rotation ready for battle.

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Mavericks vs Suns Preview and Injury Update: Last late game of the year

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 10: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns defends Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 10, 2026 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.  (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks (25-54) stay on the road on Wednesday night, this time playing the Phoenix Suns (43-36). Dallas played Tuesday night against the Clippers and couldn’t rally back after getting down huge early in the contest. The Suns enter the game having lost last night to the Houston Rockets.

Here are the main things you need to know:

  • WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Phoenix Suns
  • WHAT: Second night of a back-to-back
  • WHERE: Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, Arizona
  • WHEN: 9:00 pm CST
  • HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass

The injury report for the Mavericks reads like the end of a back trip playing Oregon Trail. Let’s start with who’s on the report but going to play: Moussa Cisse, Cooper Flagg, Tyler Smith, and John Poulakidas. Up next, since it’s so close to game time, we know who all is out: Daniel Gafford, Naji Marshall, Caleb Martin, Klay Thompson, PJ Washington, and Brandon Williams. That’s rough.

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The Suns will be without Grayson Allen, Haywood Highsmith, and Mark Williams, all due to injury management

While the Suns are fairly locked in to the 7th spot in the West and the top of the play-in tournament bracket, a win tonight would lock them in heading into the final games of the regular season. After getting whupped by the Rockets last night, they might be playing for a bit of pride.

Be sure to chime in with your predictions in the comments!

Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!

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Davey Lopes remembered by Dodgers infield teammates: ‘He was the catalyst’

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Ron Cey, Bill Russell, Davey Lopes and Steve Garvey prior to a baseball game between the Brewers and the Dodgers, Image 2 shows Former Dodgers star Davey Lopes

It was one of the best games Ron Cey ever played in his MLB career.

And looking back more than 50 years later, he had Davey Lopes partially to thank.

Entering Game 2 of the 1974 National League Championship Series, Cey can still remember struggling to find a feel for his swing.

Former Dodgers (from left) Ron Cey, Bill Russell, Davey Lopes and Steve Garvey formed one of MLB’s best infields. MediaNews Group via Getty Images

“I was kinda sluggish and just felt like I didn’t have a lot of energy,” Cey recalled in a phone conversation with The California Post. “I mentioned to Davey, ‘I just don’t feel quick. I don’t feel like I’m getting to the zone very well with bat speed and everything.’”

So, his longtime Dodgers teammate offered a suggestion.

“Back then, I had like a 34/35-ounce Louisville Slugger (bat) I was swinging,” Cey said. “So he reaches over and gives me one of his bats, which were a lot smaller. It felt like a toothpick.”

At first, Cey was hesitant.

“Well, this is almost too small,” the eventual six-time All-Star slugger told his speedy, contact-hitting, four-time All-Star teammate.

Lopes, however, was persistent.

“Just try it out,” he countered. “I’m pretty sure you’ll see a difference.”

Lo and behold, Cey proceeded to go 4 for 5 with two doubles and a homer –– keying an NLCS victory that helped those ‘74 Dodgers reach the World Series.

“I should have done that long before, but I was too stubborn,” said Cey, who switched to a lighter bat model for the rest of his career. “And he changed my mind.”

That was one of the many memories that came flooding back for Cey on Wednesday, after learning Lopes had died at the age of 80 following several years of declining health.

To the rest of the baseball world, Lopes will be remembered for his lengthy list of accomplishments: 1,671 hits, 614 RBI and (most notably) 557 steals over a 16-year playing career that also included one Gold Glove at second base and a 1981 World Series title.

But to those who played with him during a storied decade-long run with the Dodgers, Lopes’ legacy will transcend just his stats.

“He was the catalyst,” Steve Garvey, the 10-time All-Star and 1974 MVP winner, told The California Post in the wake of Lopes’ death. “He was a quiet leader.”

Former Dodgers second baseman Davey Lopes, who died Wednesday, was part of one of MLB’s greatest infields. Getty Images

Lopes, Cey, Garvey and Bill Russell, of course, will forever share the closest historical link –– serving as the Dodgers’ starting infield for an MLB-record 8 ½ consecutive seasons from 1973 to their World Series title in 1981.

“When it’s all said and done,” Garvey said, “you could argue it’s the greatest infield in history.”

And it wouldn’t have been the same without Lopes, the undersized second baseman who set the table as the team’s leadoff hitter and menaced opposing teams with his speed on the basepaths.

“He controlled the game at times with his base-stealing capabilities,” Cey said. “He wreaked havoc on defenses … His contributions were immense.”

For all of Lopes’ on-field accolades, however, Cey spent just as much time Wednesday reminiscing on their lifelong friendship away from it.  

Lopes racked up 1,671 hits, 614 RBI and 557 steals over a 16-year playing career that also included one Gold Glove at second base and a 1981 World Series title. MediaNews Group via Getty Images

They originally met during spring training in 1969, as just a couple young prospects playing a game of pool at the team’s old Vero Beach, Florida, training facility. They remained close for more than half a century to follow, seeing each other in recent years at alumni camps and autograph signings.

As teammates with the Dodgers, Cey joked how “you’d see more of them guys than you do your own family.”

During the 8 ½ years the infield quartet was together, they took pride in a longevity that still hasn’t been matched.

“I think we probably made Tommy Lasorda’s and Walter Alston’s days a lot easier as manager,” Cey said. “Because we played every single day … We were the glue.”

During that time, they helped the Dodgers win four NL pennants, nearly 800 regular-season games and a long-sought championship in 1981.

But while triumphs will long be remembered, so too will the little moments like before that NLCS game in 1974.

“It was real special for all of us to be a part of that, to carve out our own little history and tradition,” Cey said. “We have a unique spot in Dodger history.”

As well as in each others’ lives.

California Post baseball columnist Dylan Hernandez contributed to this report.

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Senators Notebook: Yakemchuk Sent Down; Belleville Signs Brandon Wheat Kings Star; More Good News For Chabot?

The Senators made an interesting move on Wednesday morning, sending defenseman Carter Yakemchuk down to the minors.

Yakemchuk, Ottawa’s seventh overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, was up with the big club for four games before suffering an apparent concussion last Tuesday against the Florida Panthers. In his NHL debut on March 24, Yakemchuk made an immediate impression, recording a goal and an assist in a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

The call-up was never really part of the original plan for this season. It was born out of necessity, if not emergency, with Ottawa’s blue line decimated by injuries.

Now, with Jake Sanderson back and Dennis Gilbert nearing a return, the Senators needed to create roster space. Yakemchuk becomes the odd man out.

It’s certainly a defensible decision. The last thing Ottawa wants is for its top prospect to be dropped right into the middle of a ferocious playoff race where every mistake is magnified ten times over.

But he is a seventh overall pick who's now in his second season since being drafted. It would be one thing if he were losing his spot to established NHL players. But the Sens are content to roll with Cam Crotty and Lassi Thomson, who have 31 career NHL games between them. Those players don't have Yakemchuk's skill, but they do play it safe, which is all Travis Green wants out of his 5-6-7 guys right now.

Now cleared after his concussion, Yakemchuk can be assigned to Belleville, where he’ll help the B-Sens close out their final five games of the season. Belleville sits eight points out of a playoff spot with five to play, so this will be more about development than helping in a late push.

His time is coming. It's just not now.

Thomas on Track: Chabot’s Return Gaining Steam

Meanwhile, Thomas Chabot took another step toward returning to the lineup.

The injured left-shot defenceman surprised many by skating Tuesday for the first time since suffering a forearm injury just over two weeks ago. He wore a non-contact jersey at that session, but on Wednesday morning, he was in a regular white jersey during an optional skate.

If you didn’t know any better, you wouldn’t have guessed he was coming off an injury. Chabot was moving well, handling the puck cleanly, making crisp passes, and even getting involved in some net-front battle work.

The next key step will be Thursday’s game-day skate ahead of Ottawa’s matchup with Florida. If he’s a full participant there, his return could be right around the corner.

Belleville Signs Wheat Kings Star

Down in Belleville, the B-Sens have signed forward Luke Mistelbacher to an amateur tryout for the remainder of the AHL season.

The 20-year-old put up a team-leading 88 points this season with the Brandon Wheat Kings and added four points in four playoff games. Prior to that, he spent three seasons with the Swift Current Broncos, where he totalled 205 points in 257 games.

With Belleville’s playoff hopes all but gone, it's a chance to give a fine junior player a quick audition at the pro level and see what they might have.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:  

Ullmark Describes Masterton Trophy Nomination As Bittersweet
Sens Explode For Five Third-Period Goals In 6-2 Win Over Tampa Bay
'A Superstar Moment:' The Senators Goal Everyone Is Talking About
Sens Sign Two Of Their Drafted NCAA Prospect
20 Goals: Former Senator Now Exceeding All Expectations