NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 08: Ryan McMahon #19 of the New York Yankees looks on from the on deck circle during the game against the Athletics at Yankee Stadium on April 8, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
jmack175 asks:Is there a scenario where McMahon would be released at the deadline if a stronger option presented itself? Or will his remaining year and salary, or Cashman’s narcissism prevent that?
There’s a non-zero chance of it occurring, but I wouldn’t bet on it just off of a couple of bad weeks. The Yankees are highly hesitant to cut bait with anyone they’ve invested into, and it would take a longer prolonged struggle to produce much of anything to get to the point of dumping off McMahon. DJ LeMahieu got to that point only after several seasons of injury-plagued ineffectiveness, and he was also prohibiting Jazz Chisholm Jr. from playing his more natural position. The Yankees acquired McMahon for his defense first, and while he’s had some mishaps in the early going our own John Griffin went over the topic recently to showcase how a couple unlucky breaks can cause some statistical noise before things stabilize over the long run. The bat, of course, has to be better than a .319 OPS, but it wouldn’t take much to jump back to respectable numbers — if even a couple singles find their way through the infield, it’d sure make the bottom of the lineup look a little less dead.
qmerkel asks: Why not just have Domínguez take all at bats from the left side of the plate? The results can’t really be any worse than they currently are from the right.
Because switch-hitting is a skill that they believe Domínguez can develop, and a valuable one at that. The signs were there in spring training that Domínguez has worked hard to improve from the right-handed batter’s box, and he while he hasn’t had many opportunities to display them in the minors yet he’s already gotten on the board with a homer from that side in four at-bats. The bigger concern is his defense, which hasn’t looked promising down on the farm, but the talent has always been there with the bat and I think it can carve a path for Domínguez eventually — and being able to become a more-versatile threat in the lineup will only help.
OLDY MOLDY asks:Do we really know Winquest exists?
We do now! Only because of a roster cut though, unfortunately. Estevão touched on the inevitability of Winquest getting cut for Luis Gil’s callup the other day, and sure enough that was the result of his Rule 5 selection — never getting into a game with the Yankees before getting designated for assignment. Whether another team will pick him up under those same Rule 5 restrictions or he’ll return to the Cardinals remains to be seen, but in the end it wasn’t like rostering Winquest came with much opportunity cost: the team took a flyer on a player that could’ve been helpful if they needed it. Is it a little strange that there were zero scenarios that Aaron Boone ended up utilizing him? Sure, but it’s also not entirely shocking that they didn’t end up using a pitcher that hadn’t been above Double-A in his career. They paid a small pittance to get him into their building and see if they like his stuff, and maybe down the line he becomes a regular member of the bullpen without the requirement of rostering him through a full season. Now that the portion of the year with built-in off days is through, the trial period is over and the extra roster spot becomes too valuable to pass up on, but there were merits to the choice of going with Winquest.
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 31: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 31, 2025 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
New Orleans Pelicans (26-54) at Boston Celtics (54-25) Friday, April 10, 2026 7::30 PM ET Regular Season Game #81 Home Game #40 TV: NBCSB, GCSEN, NBA- LP Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub , WWL 870 AM, Sirius XM TD Garden
The Celtics host the New Orleans Pelicans as the season winds down. This is the 2nd, and final, game between these two teams this season. The Celtics won the first game 122-90 in New Orleans on October 27. The Celtics are 29-21 overall all time against the Pelicans and they are 16-8 in games played in Boston. The Celtics won the series 2-0 last season.
The Pelicans last played on Tuesday while the Celtics are playing in the second of back to back games. The Celtics are 7-5 in games played on the second night of back to back games. Both teams have one more game to finish the season. The Pelicans will play at Minnesota while the Celtics will host the Orlando Magic.
The Pelicans made a minor deal at the trade deadline. They traded Jose Alvarado to the New York Knicks for Dalen Terry, 2 second round picks and cash considerations. They then waived Terry. They also converted two way player Bryce McGowans to a contract with the Pelicans main team. They then signed Josh Oduro to a 2-Way contract.
The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 4 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 2 games ahead of 3rd place New York, 3 games ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 9 games ahead of 5th place Toronto and 6th place Atlanta and 10 games ahead of 7th place Orlando. The Celtics are 19-10 against Western Conference opponents. They are 28-11 at home and 7-3 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a loss in their last game.
The Pelicans are 11th in the West, 15 games behind the 8th place Clippers, 14 games behind 9th place Portland, and 11.5 games behind Golden State. They are 1 game ahead of 12th place Memphis, and 13th place Dallas and 5 games ahead of 14th place Sacramento. They are 9-21 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 9-30 on the road and 2-8 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a win in their last game.
It’s hard to say who will actually play in this game. The Celtics listed Derrick White (knee), Neemias Queta (toe), and Sam Hauser (back) as questionable for Thursday’s game. Hauser, White and Queta played while Brown was out. White, Hauser and Queta are listed as probable for this game. Jaylen Brown (Achilles) is listed as questionable. Jayson Tatum played on Thursday and is out for this game since it is back to back.
The Pelicans have 8 players out. Yves Missi (hand), Zion Williamson (knee), Dejounte Murray (hand), Bryce McGowans (toe), and Trey Murphy III (ankle), Herb Jones (rest), Saddiq Bey (rest), and Karlo Matkovic (back)are all listed as out. It doesn’t seem to me that players who haven’t played since Tuesday and won’t play beyond the end of the season really need rest. But, that’s just me. I just guessed at their starters.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Jeremiah Fears
Derrick White | Getty ImagesJeremiah Fears | NBAE via Getty Images
SG: Jaylen Brown vs Jordan Poole
Jaylen Brown | Getty ImagesJordan Poole | NBAE via Getty Images
SF: Sam Hauser vs Micah Peavy
Sam Hauser | NBAE via Getty ImagesMicah Peavy | Getty Images
PF: Jordan Walsh vs Derik Queen
Jordan Walsh | NBAE via Getty ImagesDerik Queen | Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Payton Pritchard Hugo Gonzalez Luka Garza Amare Williams Baylor Scheierman Max Shulga Nikola Vucevic Ron Harper, Jr
2-Way Players None
Injuries/Out Derrick White (knee) probable Neemias Queta (toe) probable Sam Hauser (back) probable Jaylen Brown (Achilles) questionable Jayson Tatum (injury management) out Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Pelicans Reserves Jordan Hawkins DeAndre Jordan
2-Way Players Trey Alexander Hunter Dickenson Josh Oduro
Injuries/Out Zion Williamson (knee) out Dejounte Murray (hand) out Bryce McGowans (toe) out Trey Murphy III (ankle) out Yves Missi (hand) out Herb Jones (rest) out Karlo Matkovic (back) out Saddiq Bey (rest) out
Head Coach James Borrego (interim)
Key Matchups Jaylen Brown vs Jordan Poole Poole is averaging 13.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists while shooting 37.3% from the field and 33.2% from the field. In the first game against the Celtics he finished with 22 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal while shooting 35.7% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc. It will be crucial for the Celtics to defend him well and keep him from having a big game.
Derrick White vs Jeremiah Fears Fears is averaging 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He is shooting 43.4% from the field and 33.7% from beyond the arc. In the first game against the Celtics, he finished with 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal while shooting 9.1% from the field with no threes. Fears is coming off a game against the Jazz where he finished with 40 points, 6 assists and 3 steals. The Celtics need to defend him as he is capable of a big game.
Honorable Mention Jordan Walsh vs Derik Queen Queen is averaging 11.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1 steal per game. He is shooting 47.3% from the field and 26.2% from beyond the arc. In the first game against the Celtics, he finished with 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal while shooting 42.9% from the field with no 3 pointers.
Keys to the Game Defense – Defense will always be the key to winning. The Pelicans have an offensive rating of 113.2 (20th) while the Celtics have an offensive rating of 119.9 (2nd). The Celtics are 4th in the league with a defensive rating of 111.7. The Pelicans are 22nd with a defensive rating of 117.3 (22nd). The Celtics allowed the Knicks to shoot 53.8% from the field and 42.9% from beyond the arc. They were lax on defense and that cost them the game. They have to play tough lock down defense for all 48 minutes if they want to win this, or any other, game. The Celtics need to especially guard the paint since the Pelicans are 2nd in the league with 57.6 points in the paint per game.
Rebound – The Celtics have to crash the boards as a team. Rebounding takes effort and when they put that extra effort out to dominate the boards, it often translates to all other areas of the game as well. The Pelicans are averaging 43.8 rebounds (14th) and the Celtics are averaging 46.5 rebounds per game (4th). The Celtics need the ball to score and the best way to get the ball is to grab rebounds on both ends of the court.
Move the Ball Carefully– The Celtics are tough to beat when they keep the ball moving and find the open man but when one player over dribbles and lapses into hero ball, they falter. The Celtics are 33-0 when they have more assists than their opponent but just 19-24 when they have fewer assists than their opponent. Keep the ball moving and don’t lapse into hero ball, whether in the first quarter or the 4th quarter. They have to make careful passes and not turn the ball over because the Pelicans average 18.0 points off turnovers per game. Don’t Underestimate – After a tough game against the Knicks, it would be easy for the Celtics to expect an easy game against the Pelicans, who have nothing to play for except a lottery pick. NBA players have pride and are going to play hard and try to win, even if their leadership may want to tank. The Celtics have to play hard and be aggressive and not let up. The last team can easily beat the top team if that top team is not giving their full effort. The Celtics have to give their full effort from start to finish.
X-Factors Back to Back at Home – The Celtics are at home after playing on the road the night before. The Pelicans haven’t played since Tuesday and should be rested. The Pelicans have struggled on the road this season with an 9-30 record away from home. Hopefully the Celtics will come out ready to play and get some motivation from the home crowd. Protect home court.
Who’s Playing? – It’s fairly certain that Jayson Tatum will be out but as of now, I’m not sure who else will be out for the Celtics. They may decide to rest some players and that means that those who play will have to play even harder. The Pelicans have at least 5 players out and possibly as many as 8 out. Sometimes very short handed teams are like a wounded animal and play even harder.
Officiating – Officiating always has the possibility to be an x-factor. Every crew calls the game differently. Some call every bit of contact while some let them play. Some favor the home team and some call it evenly and some are just bad. Hopefully the Celtics get a crew that calls it even and lets both teams play. However the game is called, they need to focus on the game and not allow bad or no calls to take that focus away.
This will be the last post in this brief series and with all the players left having less than 25 plate appearances I have decided to look at the Jays team underlying data to see how that compares to last years version.
2025 Blue Jays
Last season the Jays as a team hit 265/333/427 with 191 HRs which added up to a 112 WRC+ and 4.9 runs per game.
The 2025 Jays walked 8.4% of the time and struck out in 17.8% of their at bats for a bb/K of 0.47.
They chased 29.2% of pitches out of the zone and swung at 67.8% of the pitches in the zone and made contact on 64.6% of their chase swings and 88.1% of their in zone swings for an overall contact rate of 80.1%.
Their average EV was 89.3 MPH with a LA of 13.2 degrees, a barrel rate of 8.1% and a hard hit rate of 41.1%
All of this lead to expected stats of xBA of 260, xSLG of 429 and xwOBA of 331 which lead to a final line of a 330 wOBA so their final line stats very closely matched their expected stats.
Now I know a lot of people are not a fan of expected stats and I understand the reluctance but generally over a large enough MLB sample they do tend to come out as fairly in line with the final stats.
For example the Jays as a team expected stats compared to their final stats per season since 2019
2019 xwOBA 313 – Actual wOBA 310
2020 xwOBA332 – Actual wOBA 329
2021 xwOBA 338 – Actual wOBA 340
2022 xwOBA 329 – Actual wOBA 331
2023 xwOBA 324 – Actual wOBA 324
2024 xwOBA 307 – Actual wOBA 314
2025 xwOBA 331 – Actual wOBA 330
Total years combined xwOBA 325 and actual wOBA 324
2026 Blue Jays
So far this season the Jays as a team are hitting 228/309/341 with 10 HRs which has added up to a 94 WRC+ and 3.42 runs per game.
The 2026 Jays have walked 9.8% of the time and struck out in 18.7% of their at bats for a BB/K of 0.52.
They have chased 33% of pitches out of the zone and swung at 67.4% of the pitches in the zone and made contact on 65.4% of their chase swings and 86.9% of their in zone swings for an overall contact rate of 80.5%.
Their average EV is 87.6 MPH with a LA of 13.2 degrees, a barrel rate of 5.9% and a hard hit rate of 36.7%
All of this has lead to an expected stats of xBA of 256, xSLG of 383 and xwOBA of 318 which lead to a final line of a 299 wOBA so while they have fallen off a bit from last years team so far one of their biggest issue is in how much they are underperforming their expected stats.
By xwOBA the Jays have been the 11th best offense in MLB not great but not awful but by actual wOBA they rank 22nd.
The other biggest issue for the Jays so far in 2026 as everyone knows is their hitting with runners in scoring position where they rank.
25th batting average 215
21st OBP 323
29th SLG 280
26th WRC+ 81
Now hitting with RISP is a stat that fluctuates wildly and we can look at previous Jays seasons to show this.
During the 2025 season the Jays lead MLB in batting average with RISP, they were 2nd in OBP and 3rd in SLG which lead to ranking 2nd in WRC+.
When you look at team stats for RISP last season separated by month it gives you 180 monthly samples where the Jays ranking by WRC+ were…..
3rd August 179 WRC+
13th June 141 WRC+
32nd Sept/Oct 128 WRC+
44th July 123 WRC+
55th May 115 WRC+
Annnnnnnnnnd all the way down in 165th with a 236/307/307 and 70 WRC+ the March/April 2025 Jays
Some of the Jays hitters and their batting lines with RISP last March/April and from May 1st on.
March/April RISP
Springer 306/406/482 – 148 WRC+
Guerrero 268/362/402 – 116 WRC+
Bichette 295/328/364 – 93 WRC+
Lukes 222/326/333 – 90 WRC+
Kirk 239/269/341 – 68 WRC+
Clement 239/276/282 – 56 WRC+
Gimenez 165/258/284 – 55 WRC+
Schneider 067/333/067 -51 WRC+
Barger 185/214/296 – 38 WRC+
May 1st thru the end of the 2025 season RISP
Springer 310/397/476 – 170 WRC+
Guerrero 298/385/482 – 142 WRC+
Bichette 316/365/517 145 WRC+
Lukes 259-322/415 – 105 WRC+
Kirk 292/366/441 – 126 WRC+
Clement 283/319/416 – 104 WRC+
Gimenez 232/299/327 – 78 WRC+
Schneider 249/364//468 – 135 WRC+
Barger 247/307/464 – 111 WRC+
Of course none of this guarantees anything but I guess my point is that the Jays offense is not likely as bad as they have looked and that a 12 game sample is not big enough for me to change my expectations from the starts of the season.
I still very much believe the bats will get going and if the Jays batters can stay healthy I fully expect them to be a well above average hitting team in MLB this season.
Let me know in the comments what you think has the start to this season changed your opinion about the Jays lineup or maybe did you always think they were going to struggle to score this year.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 04: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves walks in the dugout during the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on April 04, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As the Braves kick off their homestand against the Guardians, you can read about the pitching matchup between Bryce Elder and Slade Cecconi in the game preview here.
Michael Harris returns to his spot in centerfield and at the bottom of the lineup, as the Braves hope he can get better results, as he has been hitting the ball well so far this season. Mike Yastrzemski gets the start against the righty Cecconi and Dominic Smith gets the start at DH, batting seventh.
The Guardians have a solid top 3 in their lineup, with contact savant Steven Kwan leading off, hot-hitting top prospect Chase DeLauter batting second, and perennial MVP candidate Jose Ramirez batting third. Things are much less impressive behind that trio, however, so the top 3 will deserve our focus as observers, and Bryce Elder.
The Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs face off for the fourth and final time, and the home team will look to complete the season sweep in the “Battle of Texas” at Frost Bank Center.
Both teams are playing at less than 100%, and my Mavericks vs. Spurs predictions expect points to come at a premium tonight.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this Southwest Division showdown on Friday, April 10.
Mavericks vs Spurs prediction
Mavericks vs Spurs best bet: Under 237 (-110)
With just two games remaining, the San Antonio Spurs have locked up the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. With no chance of its status changing, San Antonio will have no motivation to play its starters for big minutes. Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama are banged up and questionable.
For the Dallas Mavericks, it’s Cooper Flagg or bust - more so than it has been for most of the season. The Mavs will be without most of their frontcourt rotation and several key starters and reserves. Dallas was eliminated from playoff contention weeks ago, so the team’s energy may be low.
Dallas’ offensive rating of 109.9 ranks 28th on the season, and San Antonio sports a top-5 defense. The potential absence of Wemby could make it easier for the Mavs to score, but with so few available players, Dallas is going to struggle.
The Spurs are 16-22 to the Under at home, while the Mavericks are 13-26 to the Under on the road. San Antonio has hit the Under in three straight home games, and Dallas has done so in four straight road games.
With both teams dealing with injuries and neither playing for much of anything tonight, I expect the offenses to stall out, leading to a low-scoring contest. Mavericks vs Spurs same-game parlay
Mavericks vs Spurs same-game parlay
With nothing to play for, it’s going to be tough to keep the Spurs engaged as they look ahead to the playoffs. The Mavericks are a healthy 11-5 ATS as 10-point dogs, and I like them to keep this one competitive as they try to avoid a season sweep by their in-state rivals.
The Mavericks might struggle to score, but Cooper Flagg will have to be the one to do it. He’s reached the 25-point threshold in three of his last four and five of his last nine games while averaging 27.2 points. The Spurs’ defense will be solid tonight, but Flagg has been on a tear and should be taking a lot of shots.
Mavericks vs Spurs SGP
Under 237
Mavericks +18.5
Cooper Flagg Over 24.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Flagg Day!
Dallas is running on empty to close out the season, but the Rookie of the Year favorite is still going strong. Over his last 10 games, Flagg has averaged 7.3 rebounds and five assists.
He’s grabbed 7+ rebounds six times and handed out 5+ assists five times in that span. I expect another strong showing tonight against a Spurs team with nothing to gain.
Mavericks vs Spurs SGP
Mavericks +18.5
Cooper Flagg Over 24.5 points
Cooper Flagg Over 6.5 rebounds
Cooper Flagg Over 4.5 assists
Mavericks vs Spurs odds
Spread: Mavericks +18.5 | Spurs -18.5
Moneyline: Mavericks +1100 | Spurs -2200
Over/Under: Over 237.5 | Under 237.5
Mavericks vs Spurs betting trend to know
The Dallas Mavericks have hit the Game Total Under in 18 of their last 24 away games (+11.40 Units / 43% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Mavericks vs. Spurs.
How to watch Mavericks vs Spurs
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Friday, April 10, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
MavsTV, KENS 5
Mavericks vs Spurs latest injuries
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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 05: Parker Meadows #22 of the Detroit Tigers takes the field prior to playing the Seattle Mariners in game two of the Division Series at T-Mobile Park on October 05, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This is of course no surprise after the ugly collision between Riley Greene and center fielder Parker Meadows in Thursday’s loss to the Minnesota Twins. Meadows and Greene appeared to clip heads as the latter settled under a Josh Bell fly ball at Target Field in the 8th inning. Greene was able to protect himself but as Meadows tried to get out of the way at the last second, his jaw slammed into the back of Greene’s head. The initial blow left Meadows defenseless as he went to the ground, and he not only fell awkwardly on his left arm, but slammed his head pretty violently into the turf.
It was a scary one, and the results were confirmed this afternoon as Meadows went on the 10-day IL with a concussion, but also with a fracture in the radius bone of his left arm. That is rough. We can only speculate, but most likely that keeps Meadows out through May at a minimum, and it could be much longer. More important is a full recovery from the concussion, but that’s really tough luck coming after a 2025 season in which he suffered a strange nerve injury in his right arm that effectively ruined his season as he was never able to get it going offensively upon his return.
Outfielder Wenceel Pérez has been recalled from Triple-A Toledo in Meadows’ stead. Pérez had a slow spring and lost out on a close competition for one of the outfield spots coming into Opening Day. However, he’s swung the bat well with the Mud Hens, posting a .250/.353/.455 slash with two homes and strikeout and walk rates of 13.7 percent each.
Pérez has had starts in center field and left field in Toledo, but has mainly played right field with top prospect, or soon to be once Kevin McGonigle officially graduates prospect status, Max Clark handling center field most days. Clark himself has handled the leap to Triple-A extremely well so far. He’s hitting .405 currently with only three strikeouts in 52 plate appearances for the Hens. This after just 43 games at the Double-A level last summer. Clark already has eight doubles and five stolen bases and is walking at a 15.4 percent clip so far.
Were it not for McGonigle successfully skipping Triple-A entirely, we’d be marveling at how quickly Clark has adapted. The only marginal criticism right now is that Clark hasn’t actually driven the ball that much to the outfield. He’s sprayed a few doubles on a line shots down the foul lines, but most of them have come on a soft shots into the outfield in which Clark used his speed to turn singles into doubles.
There’s nothing wrong with those either of course, but a sign that he’s really conquered the level already will be seeing him drive the ball to the pull field a little more. We’ve seen him starting to get the ball off the ground, including a deep drive for a sacrifice fly on Thursday, so that final piece of the puzzle probably won’t be long in coming. The Tigers will just want to see that Clark’s batspeed upgrades this offseason, which has produced several balls over 110 mph off the bat early on, are translating fully to his hit tool. Pull power will be the sign that he’s about as ready as he’s going to get to make his major league debut. That probably won’t take too long at this rate, but the Tigers will want him as prepared as possible as they’d also prefer not to burn a full year of Clark’s service time unless he forces their hand early on.
Clark is coming, and on his current pace it probably won’t be more than a month or two, but for now expect Pérez, Matt Vierling, and Javier Báez to share time in center field. Hopefully Pérez, who typically keeps his strikeouts under control, can add a little more timely punch to an offense that has so far failed to capitalize enough with men in scoring position, at least until games were already starting to get out of reach.
Best wishes from BYB to Parker Meadows. Hopefully he can put this injury behind him. The arm injury is tough, but concussion trauma is obviously the scarier long-term concern.
Parker Meadows was diagnosed with a concussion, had 5 stitches in his cheek, and broke a bone in his left arm. Really tough news for Parker. He’s traveling back to Detroit and will be further evaluated. Wenceel Perez gets the call up. #DNMW
The Atlanta Hawks will look to solidify their playoff position as they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.
Cleveland is resting a couple of its key players to prepare for the postseason, and I’m expecting Atlanta to take full advantage at home in my Cavaliers vs. Hawks predictions.
Read on to see why I like the Hawks to cover in my free NBA picks for Friday, April 10.
Cavaliers vs Hawks prediction
Cavaliers vs Hawks best bet: Hawks -7.5 (-110)
The Cleveland Cavaliers delivered an impressive statement win against the Atlanta Hawks at home on Wednesday. But with the action now shifting to Atlanta, the Cleveland lineup has changed significantly, and the rematch will be a very different game.
With the Cavs having little to play for over their last two games, they’re planning to sit some of their stars to ensure they’re healthy for the postseason. Most significantly, both Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen are out of the lineup tonight, with Thomas Bryant and Sam Merrill also ruled out for this game.
Normally, I might still worry about Cleveland putting out a competitive lineup. James Harden is still in the game and is capable of taking over on any given night, while Evan Mobley presents a difficult matchup for Atlanta, given that Jock Landale is out with an ankle sprain, leaving the Hawks thin at center.
But there’s no guarantee that Cleveland will even play Mobley or Harden as normal. Both may well be limited in the number of minutes they’re on the court to give head coach Kenny Atkinson a better look at his other rotational options heading into the postseason.
Atlanta has been outstanding in the second half of the season, with the Hawks winning 18 of their last 22 games. Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker have been outstanding, and this is a talented team that has blown out plenty of less talented teams.
They should have no trouble covering tonight against a depleted Cavaliers lineup.
Cavaliers vs Hawks same-game parlay
Jalen Johnson has been the difference-maker for the Hawks all season long. To go along with taking Atlanta to cover, I like Johnson to pick out a double-double for the seventh straight game.
Let’s also place a bet on Nickeil Alexander-Walker to score Over 21.5 points, as he’s been scoring in bunches lately, averaging 28.5 ppg over four games in the month on April.
Cavaliers vs Hawks SGP
Hawks -7.5
Jalen Johnson double-double
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 21.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: TRIPLE-DOUBLE
It’s been a while since Jalen Johnson has added to his triple-double total – he has 13 on the season – but this is as good a night as any to bet on him to get there again against a weakened Cleveland lineup.
I’m also taking Dyson Daniels to make at least one three-pointer, something he’s done in five straight games. I also like Alexander-Walker to hit the Over on his threes prop at 3.5 makes from beyond the arc, as he’s exceeded that total in each of his last four games.
Cavaliers vs Hawks SGP
Jalen Johnson triple-double
Dyson Daniels Over 0.5 made threes
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 3.5 made threes
Cavaliers vs Hawks odds
Spread: Cavaliers +7.5 (-105) | Hawks -7.5 (-115)
Moneyline: Cavaliers +275 | Hawks -350
Over/Under: Over 233.5 | Under 233.5
Cavaliers vs Hawks betting trend to know
The home team is 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings between Cleveland and Atlanta. Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Hawks.
How to watch Cavaliers vs Hawks
Location
State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Date
Friday, April 10, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Cavaliers vs Hawks latest injuries
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HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 16: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers defends Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on March 16, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the Western Conference a tight-knit race yet again this season, this series will look at the standings and games to watch across the league as the Lakers look to secure home court and move up the standings.
The Western Conference playoff race is beginning to look clear. The Thunder have secured the top seed, the Spurs are second and the Wolves will be sixth. After that, it’s a log-jam featuring the Lakers, Nuggets and Rockets all battling for the third, fourth and fifth seed.
Here’s a look at the current playoff standings in the middle of the conference: 3. Nuggets — 52-28, 12 GB 4. Lakers — 51-29, 13 GB 5. Rockets — 51-29, 13 GB
The Nuggets have been far and away the best team from this trio. They have won 10 straight games and remain ahead of their competition.
Still, if the Lakers win the rest of their games and Denver loses just once, then LA can finish as the third seed.
This is possible because the Lakers own the tiebreaker over the Rockets and Nuggets, so if they take care of business and the right teams lose, they will be, at worst, a top-four seed in the West.
That would be remarkable and is something even head coach JJ Redick had stopped believing was an option.
On Saturday, after Luka Doncic’s diagnosis, but before the extent of Austin Reaves’ oblique injury was known, JJ Redick said that the Lakers’ focus was to finish as the No. 3 seed. Tonight, after Reaves’ Grade 2 status and the Dallas loss, Redick said “seeding is out the window.”
Let’s take a look at the big games to watch around the league for the next couple of days and who Lakers fans should be rooting for.
Friday
Thunder at Nuggets — Typically, this would be a good scenario for the Lakers. They need Denver to lose, and OKC is the best team in the NBA.
But the Thunder are locked in as the No. 1 seed, so they have nothing to play for. OKC is a deep team, so maybe the players who suit up can shock everyone and pull off an upset, but that’s unlikely.
Wolves at Rockets — This is a similar situation to the Nuggets-Thunder game. The Lakers need a Wolves win, but they have nothing to play for. If Houston comes out on top, that’ll put pressure on the Lakers to keep winning so they don’t drop to the fifth seed.
Sunday
Nuggets at Spurs — This is a game that the Nuggets could lose. Victor Wembanyama is an MVP candidate and needs to play 65 games to be eligible for end-of-season awards. He must play in both remaining Spurs contests to qualify.
Assuming Wemby plays, even at a limited capacity, San Antonio will have a good chance of beating Denver and helping Los Angeles.
Grizzlies at Rockets — Memphis is tanking and has lost six straight games. They have zero incentive to compete, so if Houston wants the win, it’s theirs.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 25: Dalen Terry #14 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 25, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With Joel Embiid’s appendicitis has sidelined the star center for the foreseeable future, effectively killing off any optimism surrounding how this season could end for the Philadelphia 76ers. Yet, there are still at least a handful of games to be played, and moves to be made, one of which the Sixers’ front office conducted today, per Tony Jones of The Athletic.
The Philadelphia 76ers are converting two-way forward Dalen Terry to a standard NBA deal, League Sources tell The Athletic. That includes a team option for next season
To make room, the Sixers are waiving guard Cam Payne, according to sources
With the Sixers on the second leg of a back-to-back tonight against Indiana, they’ll need plenty of fresh bodies. Per Adam Aaronson’s tracking, Terry only had one game of two-way availability remaining.
Sixers two-way statuses tonight @ Houston, I am told:
ACTIVE: Tyrese Martin, MarJon Beauchamp
INACTIVE: Dalen Terry
Sixers have 0 games of two-way availability left while under 15 players. Terry has 1 game left, Martin has 2 games left and Beauchamp has 8 games left.
Converting him to a standard deal will allow head coach Nick Nurse to have Terry available both tonight and in the regular season finale against Milwaukee, should he so choose. The 23-year-old, 6-foot-6 Terry has already appeared in 13 games for the Sixers this season while under a two-way contract, averaging 4.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists across 13.0 minutes. He appeared in 34 games for Chicago this season before joining the Sixers.
Meanwhile, Cam Payne recently suffered a hamstring injury that had him sidelined for the rest of the season, unless the Sixers made a significant playoff run (something that appears increasingly unlikely given recent events). Payne made for a fun story in his return to Philadelphia, particularly his 32-point performance against Memphis when he went 8-of-8 from three. Sadly, given the injury and the state of the team at the moment, using his roster spot to get an extended look at Terry these last couple games makes sense.
The Sixers will be back on the court in Indianapolis tonight at 7:30pm ET.
Mar 30, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Bryce Elder (55) pitches against the Athletics during the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images | Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images
You have spoken and honestly, your reaction was a little surprising. Given the negativity generated by much of the fan base around Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Bryce Elder coming into the regular season, only 12-percent were not-at-all sold on Elder’s strong beginning to the 2026 season.
That’s not to say most of you are convinced, with more than half of the survey respondents still having decent dose of skepticism towards Elder. But, given how much he struggled in 2024 and 2025, that is a bit more leeway than one might have assumed after only two starts regardless of how good they were.
We won’t have to wait long to see how Elder’s next start goes as he’s scheduled to take the mound tonight against the Cleveland Guardians – a team who, like the Braves, have yet to lose a series this year.
Thanks to FanDuel for sponsoring this SB Nation Reacts survey and please be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the next one!
Shams Charania isn’t filling the boots left behind by Adrian Wojnarowski, according to Doc Rivers.
The Bucks’ coach wasn’t too keen on ESPN’s NBA insider’s latest reporting about his struggling Milwaukee squad, which is embroiled in controversy over the status of star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and how his coach has handled things.
Charania reported that Rivers gave a lengthy speech to the team after a March 1 blowout loss to the Bulls, where the coach was quoted as saying he knows “everything that goes on in this building.”
“Either you’re with us or against us,” ESPN reported Rivers saying. “If you’re not playing hard, we’re not playing you anymore.”
Rivers called Charania’s “so inaccurate that I don’t even have enough time to go into it” in a recent television appearance on “Run it Back.”
“The first thing I thought of was, ‘Where’s Woj?’ I miss Woj so much,” Rivers continued while laughing. “Yeah, we had a tough locker room day. We lost to the Chicago Bulls with a 20-point lead. I showed clips the next day of guys who were screwing up. That’s what happens in a locker room.”
Rivers did say that he and Antetokounmpo have a great relationship and there’s no strife between them.
Doc Rivers is not happy happy with Shams Charania. NBAE via Getty Images
The same cannot be said for Antetokounmpo and the front office, who are at odds over why he is not playing in the team’s final games when the team is not in contention to make the playoffs.
Charania and Rivers have feuded throughout the year, with Rivers joking that Charania was going to be traded by Antetokounmpo from the NBA Celebrity All-Star team.
Shams Charania took over at ESPN for Adrian Wojnarowski. Getty Images
Antetokounmpo served as the team’s coach, and Rivers also pointed out that his comments upset Charania to the extent that he complained to multiple individuals.
Rivers also said he’s heard that Charania has him in his crosshairs.
“Shams took that so personal that he actually called the Bucks and yelled at them to take that down,” Rivers said. “Then the NBA called the Bucks, it was a mess, ‘Shams wants us to tell you this, but we really don’t care.’ And then NBA posted it. I’ve heard from 10 different people that said, ‘Oh, Shams is going to do a revenge article on you guys and you. And I was like, ‘OK, I don’t care.’ “
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 22: Jesus Rodriguez #55 of the Sacramento River Cats looks on during the fourth inning of an exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants at Sutter Health Park on March 22, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After two straight perfect days, the San Francisco Giants finally saw one of their Minor League Baseball affiliates lose on Thursday….and then another one, too. But it was still a very nice day on the farm. So let’s talk about it.
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
AAA Sacramento (8-4)
Sacramento River Cats beat the Las Vegas Aviators (A’s) 9-0 Box score
Winning is not the most important thing in the Minor Leagues, but it sure doesn’t hurt to stack up some Ws. And that’s doubly true in AAA, where you want to see the players you’re likely to rely on during the year outclassing their competition. So it’s gotta put a smile on the face of many in the organization that the River Cats are off to such a hot start, and have now won 5 straight games.
Despite the shutout — a very impressive thing in the Pacific Coast League — it wasn’t a very notable starting pitching performance. LHP Carson Whisenhunt (No. 8 CPL) took the bump, and had the same issue he’s been having for a while: an inability to fool hitters in the zone, which leads to pitching them overly carefully, which leads to missing the zone entirely.
Whisenhunt threw 3 innings and struck out 4 (good) while allowing no runs (great), but he gave up 4 hits (not good) and walked 4 (quite bad). He needed 87 pitches to get through those 3+ innings (he started the 4th, but got no outs), and his ERA could have been a lot uglier, as he left the mound with 2 on and 0 out. That’s been the season for Whisenhunt, who has a tidy 3.86 ERA through 3 starts, and a delightful 16 strikeouts in 11.2 innings …. but with 9 walks.
In encouraging news, while Whisenhunt’s velocity has not maintained the highs he showed early in Spring Training, it is still notably improved over last year. In 2025 his 4-seam fastball had an average velocity of 92.3 mph, while this year it’s 94.0. Hopefully that can hold — or grow — throughout the year.
While Whisenhunt was so-so at best, the bullpen was nearly perfect. RHP Braxton Roxby had the unenviable task of taking over the mess that Whiz created in the 4th, and immediately worked a double play. Roxby would hit a batter, but otherwise wouldn’t allow a baserunner in 2 innings, with a strikeout. Roxby earned a promotion to AAA at midseason last year, and it didn’t go well. His start to the season didn’t go well either, for that matter. So nice to see him have such a strong game.
The same can be said of funky LHP Nick Zwack, who needed 15 pitches for a scoreless 7th inning, with a walk and a strikeout. A 27-year old taken in the 17th-round of the 2021 draft by the Mets, Zwack — who lost all of 2024 to injury — had given up 10 earned runs in 3.1 innings coming into this game. So a good game was a great sight.
But the best relief appearances came from a pair of arms on the 40-man roster: RHP Joel Peguero made his 2nd rehab appearance and pitched a perfect frame with a strikeout, while RHP Dylan Smith made his 2nd appearance since being traded to the Giants, and struck out 1 batter while perfectly handling the 8th and 9th innings.
While the bullpen was majestic, the 2 biggest stars in this game were in the batter’s box, with a pair of hitters who we all expect to see in San Francisco before terribly long. Catcher Jesús Rodríguez had the biggest day, as he hit a blistering 4-5 with a home run and a double, as he continues his absolute tear. Rodríguez, who has overcome a slow start to post a .941 OPS and a 153 wRC+, has an 8-game hitting streak, and over his last 4 games is 10-18 with 2 home runs, 2 doubles, and 2 walks.
Have I mentioned that he’s still a few weeks away from turning 24? Or that he plays catcher and second base, and can hold his own at every position other than center field and shortstop? Yeah, I think he’s gonna wear a Giants jersey plenty of times this year.
That’s not a very hot take, but it’s an extremely not-hot take to say that about first baseman Bryce Eldridge (No. 1 CPL), who factors into the team’s plans in a big way this year. And Thursday was a reminder as to why, as the tall lefty hit 3-4 with a double and a walk, raising his OPS to .933 and his wRC+ to 164.
While the hits were awesome, the lack of strikeouts is arguably the best thing that Eldridge did on Thursday, as his 31.0% K rate is fairly concerning. But it sure is great seeing his hard hits returning: his double was 109.4 mph, and one of his singles left the bat at 102.2.
Right fielder Will Brennan had an awesome day, as he hit 4-5 and knocked 2 runs in, raising his OPS to .889 and his wRC+ to 136. He’s certainly someone the Giants will be comfortable using if they have a hole on the roster that needs filling.
And shortstop Thomas Gavello, who has had to play out of position quite a bit given Osleivis Basabe’s injury and Tyler Fitzgerald’s departure, only hit 1-4 with a strikeout, but smashed his 2nd home run of the year.
Gavello, who is the perfect type of gritty utility player to have in AAA, has just a .614 OPS and a 42 wRC+, despite having a share of the team lead in home runs.
Not to be outdone by their big brothers on the opposite coast, the Flying Squirrels also ran their winning streak to 5 games. And they did it in mildly dramatic fashion, with a 2-run comeback rally in the 8th inning, thanks to a bases-loaded single by first baseman Sabin Ceballos (No. 43 CPL), who hit 1-4 with a strikeout.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 10, 2026
A very nice pitching performance for Richmond, with began with a 2nd nice start for LHP Greg Farone. A 7th-round pick out of Alabama in 2024, Farone is fronting a fairly uninspiring Richmond rotation despite mediocre results in High-A Eugene last year.
So far he looks right at home. Farone wasn’t quite as dynamic as on Opening Day, when he struck out 8 batters in 4.2 innings, but he was damn good. He tossed 4.1 frames, gave up just 3 hits (all singles) and 2 walks, struck out 5, and allowed just 1 run.
The strikeout stuff is definitely worth keeping an eye on for Farone, who turns 24 next month. He got a lot of Ks in the 1st half of last year, with 13 strikeouts per 9 innings with Low-A San Jose. But that number dropped to just 7.9 following his midseason promotion. Last year was his debut season, so the hope is always that he simply faded as he wore down following a big workload (he pitched 105.2 innings); but the fear, of course, is that his stuff just doesn’t play at higher levels.
We need a larger sample before making any grand proclamations, but so far in the Eastern League he has 13 strikeouts in 9 innings, and that’s fantastic.
Following Farone was a great story: RHP Mitch White. No, White is not the same Mitch White as previously played in the Giants system … this Mitch White is a 26-year old who was signed over the winter out of indy league ball, and is playing affiliated baseball for the 1st time in his life. I love those stories, and the Giants have a fair amount of them (including his Richmond teammate on the other side of the ball, Dayson Croes).
White made his pro debut in the season opener, and this was his 3rd game. It was also his best, as he threw 2.2 innings with 3 hits, 0 walks, and 1 run allowed, while striking out 4. Hopefully that’s the start of him finding his rhythm, and showing what he’s capable of in AA.
Rounding out the strong pitching day was RHP Cameron Pferrer, who was dynamic, pitching 2 no-hit innings with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts. Pferrer, a 27-year old who was an undrafted free agent in 2024, has yet to allow a hit through a pair of appearances this year.
The hitting was more mild-mannered, with no huge games. Right fielder Turner Hill had the best game, hitting 1-3 with a double, a walk, and a strikeout. It’s been a great start to the year for Hill, who turned 27 a few days ago. The 2023 undrafted free agent isn’t known for his bat, but he’s up to an .870 OPS and a 123 wRC+ on the year. Hill has a profile very similar to Jared Oliva: strong defense across the outfield, some burners for the basepaths, and just enough hitting to survive. And speaking of those types of players, center fielder Jonah Cox stole his 6th base of the year in as many games. Gotta love that!
High-A Eugene (5-1)
Eugene Emeralds lost to the Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays) 14-5 Box score
Well, they can’t all be winners. While Sacramento and Richmond were achieving 5-game winning streaks, Eugene saw theirs come to an end. It was bound to happen eventually … it never seemed likely that they’d go undefeated this year, after all.
The star — if losses are allowed to have stars (I think so, especially in the Minors) — was someone who has spent the entirety of his brief Minor League career making the Giants look very smart: right fielder Trevor Cohen (No. 15 CPL).
San Francisco drafted Cohen in the 3rd round in July, and it raised a few eyebrows because he wasn’t on many people’s radars. Most notably, despite being picked 85th overall, he wasn’t on the top 500 draft prospect lists at Baseball America or Fangraphs.
But listening to people who specialized in Cohen’s region (he played collegiately at Rutgers), it became clear that he was being overlooked, and fairly dramatically. His post-draft performance at Low-A San Jose supported that, as he posted an .840 OPS and a 139 wRC+ in 28 games, with just an 11.5% strikeout rate.
San Francisco rewarded him with an opening assignment in High-A, and after a slow start, he’s starting to turn things on in a big way. Thursday was one of his best days as a pro, as he hit 3-5 with all 3 of his hits being doubles. The 22-year old lefty also drew a walk, though he had a strikeout and an error as well.
With that, Cohen is up to a .767 OPS and a 110 wRC+, while still sporting a remarkably low strikeout rate of just 13.3% (he also has 4 stolen bases). I don’t think anyone can question that draft pick anymore!
A nice day for first baseman Robert Hipwell, who was in dire need of one. Hipwell hit 2-3 with a double, 2 walks, and a strikeout, which came after starting the season 0-10 with 6 strikeouts.
Strikeouts are the big thing for the left-handed Hipwell to work on. After a glimpse of Low-A in 2024 following his 6th-round draft selection, the recently-turned 23-year old spent all of 2025 at that level, where he had nice numbers (.824 OPS, 125 wRC+), but struck out a ton (31.2%). That will be the biggest thing to watch in High-A, as he’ll need to cut back on the Ks in order to advance to the upper Minors.
Also a good day for second baseman Zane Zielinski, who hit 2-4 with a double and a hit by pitch. The 2024 9th-round pick is repeating the level after skipping Low-A and spending his entire debut season with Eugene. His numbers weren’t great (hence the repeat), but he’s been hot to start this year.
The pitching was an absolute mess. It started at the top, as RHP Niko Mazza got rocked for the 2nd straight game, ceding 4 hits and 4 walks in just 3 innings, which tagged him for 3 runs (he did have 5 strikeouts, though). Mazza, an 8th-round pick in 2024, really just could not find the strike zone, as he threw just 31 of his 66 pitches for strikes. Mazza’s debut season in Low-A last year was a success, as he had a 2.22 ERA in 21 starts. But there were some worrying signs, as he had just a 4.36 FIP, thanks in large part to walking 5 batters per 9 innings. So far this year that has remained an issue, as he has 7 walks in just 5.1 innings (and also 7 hits and 7 earned runs).
Unfortunately, the pitcher who followed him was even worse, as RHP Cole Hillier gave up 3 hits, 3 walks, and a hit batter in just 1.1 innings, while allowing 3 runs.
But unfortunately, neither Mazza nor Hillier could compete with the disaster that took place on the mound for RHP Liam Simon. Here’s how his game went:
Single Walk Hit batter Walk Double Single Fielder’s choice with his own error
In all, Simon recorded no outs, and had 5 earned runs tagged to his name. Unfortunately the issues that plagued him in his return from injury a year ago — an inability to find the strike zone — are still there for the 2022 5th-round pick. After walking 38 batters in 26.2 innings in High-A a year ago, the 25-year old has issued 5 walks in just 1 inning in 2026.
If you like pain, I’ll keep going. Simon was replaced by RHP Austin Strickland, who gave up more baserunners (5) than outs recorded (4). In all, Strickland hit a better, walked 3, and ceded a double, while getting hit with 3 earned runs. Ouch.
But hey, it’s not all bad! RHP Ryan Vanderhei gave up just 1 hit in 1.2 scoreless innings, with 4 strikeouts! A great game for the 2023 10th-rounder, who has 7 strikeouts (and no walks!) in just 3.2 shutout frames this year.
Low-A San Jose (4-2)
San Jose Giants lost to the Visalia Rawhide (D-Backs) 9-7 Box score
If you had any question as to whether shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL) was going to slow down, I have a very happy answer for you: no. No he is not going to, it seems.
Thursday was yet another dynamic game for Level, who seems intent on transcending from breakout prospect into star. It was just another day at the office for Level against Visalia, as he hit 2-4 with a double, a walk, and a strikeout. Over the last 4 games, Level is hitting an unthinkable 11-19 with 7 extra-base hits, 2 walks, and just 2 strikeouts. Yes, I think a 1.493 OPS and a 258 wRC+ will play, personally. And yes, I think he should keep hitting like that. That would be a very nice thing.
One other note on Level: while there is a question as to whether he’ll be able to stay at shortstop or move to second base down the road, he’s getting all the reps in San Jose, while the defensively-excellent Lorenzo Meola (No. 23 CPL) is mostly playing second base. Level split time in the middle infield last year during his short stint of being teammates with Gavin Kilen (No. 7 CPL), but has not played second base this year (though he has 1 start at designated hitter, at which point Meola did get to slide over to short).
First baseman Jeremiah Jenkins had a fantastic day, hitting 2-5 and smashing his 1st home run of the year, while also striking out. A 22-year old lefty taken in the 14th round of the 2024 draft, Jenkins has only played 3 times this season, but has made the most of his opportunities, hitting 5-12 with 2 extra-base hits and 2 walks. That’s a nice sight, after he struggled with the level last year.
JEREMIAH JENKINS. His first home run of the season puts the Giants up 3-0 early in this one! pic.twitter.com/ofOcowDtdt
Mostly a bad pitching day. LHP Jordan Gottesman made the 2nd start of his young career, and there was a lot to like even though it didn’t go particularly well. The 2025 6th-round pick out of Northeastern did a great job staying in the strike zone, with 46 of his 68 pitches going for strikes, and 6 strikeouts with 0 walks in 3.2 innings. But he did hit a batter and give up 3 hits, which included a home run, and that resulted in a 3-run outing. It hasn’t been a superstar showing in his 1st week as a pro, but it’s been very, very solid.
Jordan Gottesman had another solid start for the Giants, with 3.2 innings of three-run ball, striking out six batters in the process. Could have been just two runs if not for the bullpen struggling.
RHP Alix Hernandez had a phenomenal game, pitching 2 perfect innings with 3 strikeouts. A 21-year old from Venezuela, Hernandez has some truly nasty stuff (for his career he has 164 strikeouts in 118.1 innings), but was limited to just 14.1 Complex League innings last year. Walks have really been the only thing that have plagued him in his career, and so far, so good: he hasn’t issued any in 3 innings of work this season.
Sacramento: 6:45 p.m. PT vs. Las Vegas (SP: Carson Seymour) Richmond: 4:05 p.m. PT vs. Altoona (SP: Joe Whitman) Eugene: 1:05 p.m. PT at Vancouver (SP: Hunter Dryden) San Jose: 7:00 p.m. PT vs. Visalia (SP: Argenis Cayama)
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Jeremy Fears, who led Michigan State in scoring and the nation in assists per game, will declare for the NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility, he announced on Instagram on Friday.
Fears was an Associated Press All-Big Ten first-team selection and an AP All-America second-team pick after averaging 15 points and 9.4 assists per game in his third season with the Spartans.
“This is an important step in my journey and I'm looking forward to learning, growing and competing against the best as I continue to develop my game,” he wrote. “I'm grateful for Coach (Tom) Izzo, the Michigan State staff, my teammates and my family for their continued support and belief in me.”
Underclassmen can maintain their eligibility by applying to the NBA's undergraduate advisory committee by Thursday at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. The committee provides feedback on players' draft prospects to help them decide whether to remain in the draft. Players who choose to return to school must withdraw from the draft by May 27 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
A player would lose his eligibility if he hires an NCAA-certified agent before applying to the advisory committee or at any point if he hires an uncertified agent.
With a slight turnaround from the debacle of a season start the White Sox went through — namely, sweeping the defending AL champs — it seemed like the right time to spin things a bit more positively. So the question this week prodded you to pick an aspect of White Sox baseball that has most improved in 2026.
By almost two-thirds, you chose the bats:
It’s early, and a lot depends on whether you ignore the improvement on offense in the second half (roughly, post-Colson Montgomery arrival). Undoubtedly this is a better team on offense than the start of 2025; better than the end of last year? We’ll see.
Still, it’s hard to image what to choose otherwise, with the rotation, bullpen and defense all sketchy.
The national questions this week involved picking the winners of each division. Let’s just roll them all out at once:
The Mariners being the biggest runaway in the American League, more so than the Tigers, is interesting. Still, those two popular favorites, along with the Red Sox, are all struggling early.
You can tell this survey was taken after Opening Day, because suddenly everyone is all up in the Brewers’ bandwagon.
Did you miss out on this round of questions? No worry, sign up here to participate in our weekly emailed surveys, and have your White Sox voice be heard!
