TORONTO, ONTARIO - NOVEMBER 02: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in game seven of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Center on November 02, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays are back at it on Tuesday night for the middle game of their series at Rogers Centre.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto starts on the mound on Tuesday, looking for his fourth win in as many career games in Toronto. The other three just happened to be in the 2025 World Series, winning starts in Games 2 and 6 last October and, famously, getting the final eight outs of Game 7 to close out the championship.
Right-hander Kevin Gausman is off to a fantastic start to his season for the Blue Jays, with 21 strikeouts and zero walks in his 12 innings, with just one run allowed in his first two starts.
Two young Grizzlies fans were asked over the weekend by a local news station for their opinion of James after the Lakers superstar was heard railing against Memphis in a YouTube video, and the duo pulled no punches.
One thing about the M, if you dish it out, you'd better be able to take it.. Plenty of Memphians had time for LeBron today!pic.twitter.com/C2pUrKV70X
“I hate LeBron James after that,” one said. “He cannot disrespect Memphis.”
“This Unc cannot be talking, bro,” the other, wearing a blue Grizzlies shirt, added. “Maybe he was good in his prime. But can we get this Unc into retirement now? We need to get him out of here.”
Two young Memphis fans blasted LeBron James over the weekend for his recent comments about the Grizzlies’ host city. NBAE via Getty Images
James, while filming a golf vid with the with the “Bob Does Sports” crew, called Memphis one of his least favorite cities to visit in the NBA and admitted he’s actually urged the franchise to move to Nashville.
LeBron James made some unflattering remarks recently about Memphis that were widely criticized. NBAE via Getty Images
“The crazy thing is, is that he (LeBron) doesn’t care,” said Owens, who went to college in Tennessee at UT Chattanooga. “As you can see, he and his supporters feel as though he can say whatever he wants with no regard just like our cornball ssa president.”
"Did I say I don't like Black people?…I'm 41 years old. There's two cities I do not like playing in. That's Milwaukee and that's Memphis. I don't like going home, either. S–t, and I'm from here." – LeBron James when asked if he wanted to clarify the comments he made on Bob… pic.twitter.com/St9X9ebyTM
“I’m not talking about the city, like, the people in Memphis,” he said. “I don’t like staying at the Hyatt Centric. What’s wrong with that? Nothing. What are we talking about? What are we talking about? People need to chill the hell out.”
Apr 4, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; New York Mets pinch hitter Tyrone Taylor (center) celebrates his three-run home run against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images | D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
It’s that time of year, folks. The flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping, baseball is back, and so are our meters, which provide the community with a nice little snapshot of how each player is performing. To be transparent right from the jump, this year I am doing something new with the meters: instead of weekly, they will be posted biweekly (as in, every other week, not twice a week). This cadence is much more manageable with my schedule and I also think a two-week sample size is more meaningful to look at than a one-week sample. In the case of this first set of meters, because the first week of the season was not a complete one, these numbers cover the first ten games of the season. Hereafter, meters will appear on the site every other week on Mondays—maybe occasionally on Tuesday if your imperfect Mets Meter Maid (that’s me) is having a bad week.
As is tradition, we will start with the position player group first and the pitchers will go up later. On Opening Day, the Mets erupted for 11 runs right out of the gate en route to their usual Opening Day victory. But the bats went silent for a little while after that, prompting some agita about the offense. However, the Mets have bounced back to win their last three straight and the offense was looking pretty potent again, particularly on Friday and Saturday. This weekend’s games saved a couple of players from the dreaded “poop emoji in your very first meter” fate; Bo Bichette, Tyrone Taylor, and Marcus Semien in particular have turned things around of late. The first ten games have proven a bit of a renaissance for Mark Vientos, who has been the Mets’ hottest hitter in 2026 despite a dismal 2025 season. Juan Soto has been Juan Soto, but he has just hit the injured list and the lineup will definitely lack a certain je ne sais quoi without him in it.
Player
This week
Francisco Alvarez, C
Brett Baty, UTIL
Carson Benge, OF
Bo Bichette, 3B
Francisco Lindor, SS
Jorge Polanco, 1B/DH
Luis Robert Jr., OF
Marcus Semien, 2B
Juan Soto, OF
Tyrone Taylor, OF
Luis Torrens, C
Mark Vientos, 1B/3B
Jared Young, 1B/OF
We’ll start with Mark Vientos since he has been the Mets’ best hitter so far this season. Over the first ten games of the season, Vientos has put up a blistering 254 wRC+ in 23 plate appearances, which leads the team. He didn’t see a lot of playing time in the early going, but has gotten more starts lately—and why not? He has earned them. Vientos’ ten hits are tied for the second-most on the team thus far. “I feel like myself,” Vientos said after Saturday’s game. Something closer to the 2024 version of Mark Vientos over the course of a full season would be massive for the 2026 Mets.
The team leader in hits over the first ten games is Juan Soto, whose emoji I had to change to a red cross in the middle of writing this, as he was just officially placed on the IL with a mild calf strain. It is a huge bummer to lose the lineup’s most potent threat so early in the season, especially when Soto has been so durable over the course of his career, but hopefully this will be a relatively brief absence. Over 34 plate appearances before the injury, Soto scored three runs, drove in five runs, went deep once, and walked three times, posting a 164 wRC+.
Somehow, even with the new ABS challenge system, Soto does not lead the team in walks. That would be Francisco Lindor batting in front of him with ten walks, which is a good recipe for success to do in front of Soto. However, the walk is just about the only way Lindor is getting on base right now. Lindor had a couple of triples early in the season, which is already more than he had all of last year and an encouraging sign for those concerned that his hamate surgery may have zapped his power, but he has just five hits overall in 48 plate appearances, which is not good. However, he has seven runs scored to lead the team, so he is often being driven in when he does get on base. His 86 wRC+ over these first ten games should improve with time.
Speaking of improvement, one of the most prominent new faces on the position player side Bo Bichette was barreling toward poop emoji territory before he saved himself at the 11th hour with a strong performance over the weekend. He had a multi-hit game on both Friday and Saturday, raising his hit total to nine—a much more respectable number—with six RBIs, which is tied for the team lead. Still, Bichette holds an ugly 38 wRC+ over his first 48 plate appearances with a team-leading 12 strikeouts.
The story with fellow new Met Marcus Semien is quite similar. Outside of an RBI knock on Opening Day that was aided by the sun in Oneil Cruz’s eyes, Semien didn’t hit a lick in the early going until the past few games saw him raise his wRC+ from the doldrums all the way up to 117 in 41 plate appearances. Semien matches Bichette’s six RBIs for the season and has scored two runs—one of those coming on his first home run in a Mets uniform. Semien has also played strong defense at second base, as expected.
The new Met that has made the greatest impact so far has been Luis Robert Jr., who has been excellent with the bat to the tune of a 173 wRC+ in his first 38 Mets plate appearances. He matches Mark Vientos ten hits for the second-most on the team. One of those ten hits was a home run—his only extra-base hit so far. He is the third Met along with Bichette and Semien with a team-leading six RBIs. He has also scored six runs—second only to Lindor for the team lead. Perhaps the biggest pleasant surprise about Robert’s performance so far is that his eight walks are also second only to Lindor for the team lead. Robert is not particularly known for being patient at the plate, but he has exhibited uncharacteristic patience so far this season and it has paid off. Even when they were struggling to score runs, the Mets have demonstrated early on that they are capable of seeing a lot of pitches and and working deep counts as a collective.
Rounding out the new look Mets is Jorge Polanco, whose first couple of weeks as a Met have been okay-not-great. He’s struck the ball well on many occasions and not had much to show for it; the ball that was caught on the warning track that would have been the Mets’ second walk-off homer in as many days comes to mind. Polanco has amassed six hits—three singles and three doubles—and five walks in 37 plate appearances, good for a 76 wRC+. Polanco is still adjusting to first base and sharing time there with both Vientos and at times Brett Baty and Jared Young. Baty has been a jack of all trades, getting at-bats in both the infield and outfield. Baty posted a 71 wRC+ over his first 33 plate appearances, but his six runs scored match Robert for the second-most on the team. Baty has racked up eight hits, but unlike a lot of his teammates, he isn’t walking much. In fact, he hasn’t drawn a single walk this year and has struck out ten times—a troubling ratio to perhaps keep an eye on. Meanwhile, Young has made the most of his playing time, which will probably increase in Juan Soto’s absence. In addition to drawing two walks, Young has five hits in his first 15 plate appearances this season. He has scored two runs and driven in one run.
I didn’t have the heart to give Carson Benge a poop emoji in his very first meter in his rookie year, but his 27 wRC+ is the worst on the team in these first ten games, despite his thrilling Opening Day home run that represented his first hit in the big leagues. Overall, Benge has three hits and four walks in his first 34 major league plate appearances. He has also struck out eleven times, which is certainly a higher rate than you want. It is clear that Benge struggles against same-sided pitching—an expected growing pain for a young player. Carlos Mendoza has opted to keep him in there against lefties at times, while pinch hitting for him at other times, clearly wanting to strike the right balance between showing confidence in his young player and giving the team the best chance to win. Benge has scored three runs and driven in three runs so far in his rookie campaign.
Tyrone Taylor was another player in the “potential poop emoji” club who saved himself. His pinch hit three-run homer broke Saturday’s game open and represents one of only two hits from him in 15 plate appearances, three of his four RBIs for the season, and one of his two runs scored. Taylor is another player who will likely see more playing time during Soto’s IL stint with the Mets down an outfielder, especially with Mets brass wanting to give Robert regular rest to keep him healthy.
Francisco Alvarez was a big part of the weekend’s offensive breakout with a two home run game on Friday. Overall, he has three home runs and is the only player on the team with multiple long balls to his name. His 203 wRC+ is second only to Vientos for the team lead. Alvarez’s power surge in these first ten games earns him a fireball emoji to open 2026.
Luis Torrens provided the key hit in yesterday’s game—a go-ahead pinch hit RBI double in the eighth inning. It was Torrens’ fourth hit in 12 plate appearances and his first extra-base hit of the season. Torrens has scored two runs and driven in four runs in total.
SAN FRANCISCO — When Christian Koss took the mound to record the final three outs of the Giants’ blowout loss to the Mets on Saturday, it was hardly out of the ordinary.
The utility infielder has been the Giants’ go-to guy when a game has gotten out of hand the past two seasons. The twist is that his first pitching appearance came before he logged an at-bat.
After years of utilizing every spot on the 26-man roster and maximizing platoon advantages by mixing and matching with in-game moves, the Giants haven’t made much use of Koss or the rest of the five reserves on their bench in the early days of Tony Vitello’s managerial tenure.
“I think currently with the set-up we have, those guys are going to have to get used to not getting consistent at-bats,” Vitello said.
San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Not just consistent at-bats: any at all.
Entering their 11th game of the season Monday, the Giants still had two position players yet to step to the plate in Koss and backup outfielder Jared Oliva. Jerar Encarnacion, their biggest bench bat, has been called on to pinch-hit just once.
In fact, Encarnacion’s groundout for Patrick Bailey in the seventh inning of their loss to the Padres on Wednesday was the Giants’ only pinch-hit plate appearance of the season. Just one other team, the Angels, has utilized its bench less than Vitello in the early going.
“I’m ready at any point,” Koss said. “You would like to be in the lineup more often, but that doesn’t dictate whether I’m ready for when my name is called.”
When asked if he has found it difficult to find opportunities to get Koss and the rest of his reserves into games so far, Vitello said, “Yeah, I think so.”
San Francisco Giants infielder Christian Koss pitches against the New York Mets during the ninth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
As he transitions from the University of Tennessee to Major League Baseball, every move the rookie skipper makes — or doesn’t make — will be under the microscope as fans and rival teams alike attempt to determine his managerial tendencies.
“There’s no agenda with the lineup other than trying to win the game,” he said.
It’s not like the regulars have made it hard to take them out of the lineup. Entering Monday, the Giants owned the worst record in the National League, at 3-7. They have scored the fewest runs in the majors — 2.6 per game — and played sloppy defense resulting in the fifth-most errors in MLB.
When the Yankees brought in tough lefty Tim Hill to face Jung Hoo Lee in a leverage moment in the first series of the year, Vitello didn’t bring in any of the five right-handed hitters on his bench.
Lee was called out on strikes to end the eighth inning of a 3-1 loss.
Vitello had his full complement of reserves available, and Lee possesses a .601 career OPS against lefties, but when asked if there was any discussion about subbing in a pinch-hitter, he said, “Not at all. I mean, he’s our guy.”
When hiring the Giants’ next manager, Buster Posey said he wanted someone to “obsess over the details,” but Vitello has gone about showing that in a different way than with every little in-game decision. Gone are the days of winning at the margins by prioritizing platoon matchups.
President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants looks on before the game against the New York Yankees on Opening Day at Oracle Park on March 25, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Getty Images
Giants batters have owned the left-right advantage in only 47.5% of their plate appearances this season, tied for the fourth-lowest mark in the majors. The Guardians lead the league at 78.1%, and San Francisco ranked among the top 10 as recently as 2023 with a rate of 62.4%.
That same season the Giants used 179 pinch-hitters, tied for the most in MLB. Through 10 games this year, they’re on pace for fewer than 20 pinch-hit at-bats over the course of 162.
That is due, at least in part, to roster construction. Whether it be through trade or free agency, the Giants have built their most stable starting lineup in years, and Vitello has mostly rolled with the same group of nine players to start the season.
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Oliva has proven to be an asset on the base paths, with Vitello using the speedy 30-year-old to pinch-run three times. Daniel Susac looks like a capable backup to Bailey. But the remaining combination of Encarnacion, Koss and Casey Schmitt has so far been of little utility.
“We’ll find ways to utilize JO’s speed, and he’s also got other things he can do well,” Vitello said. But, he added, “I think with Jerar and with Koss, we’ve got to get creative.”
New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien tags out San Francisco Giants designated hitter Jerar Encarnacion, who was trying to stretch his single into two bases during the fifth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
All five reserves bat right-handed, but the highest career OPS against left-handed pitching among them belongs to Schmitt, with a mark of .685.
If the hope is for at least eight of their nine regulars to play everyday, and few situations would be suitable for any of their reserves to pinch-hit, then what value are the Giants getting out of the end of their roster? At the end of the day, Vitello can only manage the players he has.
“Jerar has probably been the first guy to show up about everyday since the season has started,” Vitello said. “Koss, he could put on a couple pounds, he doesn’t look like the toughest guy in the world, I can tell you internally, he’s probably as tough as anybody we got. …
“On a personal level, I’d like to see those guys get rewarded for their hard work as much as anything. But also, this isn’t a situation where it’s a ‘Rudy’ deal. These guys can do some things on the field.”
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 03: Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages (44) waves bye after hitting a home run during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals on April 03, 2026 at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. (Photo by Charles Brock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages had five multi-hit games and reached base far more often than not against the Cleveland Guardians and Washington Nationals, and on Monday was rewarded with National League player of the week honors.
Pages last week started with a pair of two-hit games, then three three-hit games in a row, before reaching base twice on Sunday afternoon against the Nationals. In all, he had 14 hits in 24 at-bats, hitting .583/.615/.917 with two home runs, two doubles, two walks, seven runs batted in, and five runs scored.
He led or tied the majors last week in hits, times on base (16), total bases (22), batting average, and on-base percentage, and led the National League in slugging percentage, OPS (1.532), and wRC+ (334).
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 22: Gavin Kilen #5 of the San Francisco Giants waits for the pitch against the Sacramento River Cats during the sixth inning of an exhibition game at Sutter Health Park on March 22, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Fair warning: this is going to be a very long roundup. It was the first weekend of Minor League Baseball, and for the first time in many, many months, the San Francisco Giants had four affiliates in action. There’s a lot to get to. So let’s get to it!
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
News
While a lot happened on the field, not a lot happened off it. AAA Sacramento RHP Trent Harris (No. 29 CPL) was placed on the Development List after a slow start to the season. Sacramento shortstop Osleivis Basabe, who started the year injured, was activated off the 7-Day IL.
AAA Sacramento (5-4)
Friday: Sacramento River Cats lost to the Salt Lake Bees 6-5 [box score] Saturday Game 1: Sacramento River Cats lost to the Salt Lake Bees 5-4 (7 innings) [box score] Saturday Game 2: Sacramento River Cats beat the Salt Lake Bees 7-1 (7 innings) [box score] Sunday: Sacramento River Cats beat the Salt Lake Bees 9-5 [box score]
As if these Friday-Sunday weekend roundups didn’t have enough baseball in them, Sacramento went and had their Thursday game against the Angels’ affiliate postponed, resulting in a Saturday doubleheader. Yeesh!
That said, it was a fairly mild-mannered quartet of games. The biggest boom came from right fielder Victor Bericoto (No. 35 CPL) who, I’m pleased to say, is finding the success in AAA that eluded him a year ago.
In case you forgot about 2025, I’ll get you up to speed: Bericoto, a Venezuelan who was in the same international signing class as Marco Luciano and Luis Matos, started the year in AA, but was quickly promoted to AAA. He hit poorly in 11 games there, with just a .478 OPS and a 16 wRC+ while mostly playing first base due to Sacramento’s bloated outfield, before suffering an injury. By the time he returned from injury, Bryce Eldridge (No. 1 CPL) had been promoted, and was the everyday first baseman, which meant Bericoto headed back to Richmond to play out the year.
Bericoto reached Minor League free agency this past winter, but re-signed, was an NRI, and won the Barney Nugent Award after an exceptional Spring Training. And so far he’s carrying it into 2026. Bericoto ended the weekend with serious momentum, with 2 extra-base hits in each of the final 2 games. Over the course of the 4 games, he hit 6-15 with a home run, a triple, 2 doubles, 3 walks, and 5 strikeouts.
And with that, Bericoto is up to a 1.031 OPS and a 174 wRC+. A much better start this year, and it’s safe to say that if his performance continues and San Francisco’s offensive putridity continues, we’re going to see him in the Majors at some point…
In order to get there, though, Bericoto will need to be added to the 40-man roster. That’s not an issue for left fielder Will Brennan, a rostered outfielder who has MLB experience. Brennan had a fine, if not exciting Spring Training, and a slow start to the AAA season. But he started to find his rhythm over the weekend, hitting 5-12 with a home run, a triple, a double, a walk, and a sacrifice fly.
Brennan’s up to an .874 OPS and a 126 wRC+ on the season, but the Giants are probably as interested — if not more — in his tiny 11.4% strikeout rate (he didn’t strike out over the weekend!) and his solid (or at least passable) defense at all 3 outfield spots.
Speaking of strikeouts, the Giants struggling offense — not to mention their adventures at first base while Rafael Devers was semi-sidelined — have resulted in fans clamoring to see first baseman Bryce Eldridge (No. 1 CPL) get called up. That will obviously happen at some point this year, but Eldridge is going to need to show improvement in the swing-and-miss category before it does. Reading between the lines, it’s not hard to arrive at the conclusion that Eldridge missed out on the Opening Day roster due in large part to his 38.0% strikeout rate in Spring Training.
Unfortunately, Eldridge has been striking out quite a bit to start the year with Sacramento. He did some good things over the weekend, but that hole in his game is still being exposed: over the 4 games, he hit 4-14 with 2 doubles, 4 walks, and 7 strikeouts.
Eldridge RIPS a double down the line to bring home Jesús Rodriguez 😈
Eldridge has 5 multi-strikeout showings in 9 games this year, and so far his rate (29.5%) is only a hair better than what it was in AAA last year (30.8%). He also is still searching for his first home run of the year.
But it ain’t all bad. Despite that high strikeout rate, Eldridge is still sporting a very high batting average, at .281. And he’s been an absolute on-base machine thanks to a 20.5% walk rate. All of that has resulted in an .852 OPS and a 151 wRC+. That will come down when the .474 BABIP invariably drops … but hopefully it will rise with some more power, and fewer strikeouts.
Mild weekends for the other 3 hitters on the 40-man roster: catcher Jesús Rodríguez (No. 16 CPL) only played in 2 games, and hit 3-9 with a strikeout, and now has a .534 OPS and a 42 wRC+ as his season starts slowly; outfielder Grant McCray slowed a little over the weekend while playing all 3 outfield spots, as he went 0-9 with 4 walks, 4 strikeouts, and a sacrifice fly, lowering his OPS to .680 and his wRC+ to 99; and left fielder/center fielder Drew Gilbert hit 5-14 with a double, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts, and a sac fly, moving his OPS to .788 and his wRC+ to 129.
Like the offense, the pitching was so-so. The highlight came at the start of the “weekend,” with Friday’s starter: LHP Carson Whisenhunt (No. 8 CPL).
Whisenhunt is still having some issues with finding the strike zone (he threw 49 of 84 pitches for strikes), and his pitches are still getting hit too hard, but Friday was a reminder that he still can show off some significant strikeout stuff. Against a Salt Lake lineup that is heavy with players with MLB experience, Whisenhunt struck out 8 batters in just 4.2 innings, while allowing 3 hits, 2 walks, and just 1 run.
All signs point to Whisenhunt being the next man up if/when San Francisco needs an additional starter. He was given the Opening Day assignment, and has been allowed to pitch deeper into games that RHPs Trevor McDonald (No. 12 CPL) and Carson Seymour, as well as RHP Blade Tidwell (No. 9 CPL), who was recently called up to be in the Giants’ bullpen. So if the Giants need a fill-in starter, you can assume it will be the reigning Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year, who has a 5.19 ERA but a 2.57 FIP through 2 starts, with 12 strikeouts in 8.2 innings.
Speaking of McDonald and Seymour, they started the Saturday doubleheaders, and Seymour in particular shined, with 4 no-hit innings, which required just 42 pitches out of him. He didn’t have tremendous command — he threw 24 of those 42 pitches for strikes, walked 2 batters, and only struck out 2 — but still. A quartet of no-hit innings is impressive, especially against a lineup with familiar names like Trey Mancini, Chris Taylor, and Vaughn Grissom (plus former Giants Wade Meckler and Donovan Walton).
It’s kind of unclear how Seymour fits into the team’s plans, as the team seems to have a foot in both doors when it comes to developing him as a starter vs. a reliever. He clearly has MLB-level stuff, though, so he’ll be back in the Majors at some point, after making his debut a year ago.
It wasn’t so smooth for McDonald, who pitched Game 1 of the doubleheader and gave up 2 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs in just 2.1 innings of work, with 1 strikeout. Like the others, McDonald struggled with the strike zone, with just 27 of 48 pitches going for strikes. He started the spring so well, but has been struggling for a while now, and like Seymour (and Tidwell), it’s not entirely apparent whether the Giants view him as a starter, a reliever, or an amorphous blob who will fill in depending on what the team needs. Probably that last one.
Some players do have more defined roles as relievers, and unfortunately a pair in Sacramento that are on the 40-man roster did not have good weekends. RHP Spencer Bivens, who was passed over for Tidwell when the Giants needed a José Buttó replacement last week, pitched on Friday and gave up 2 hits and 2 walks in just 1.1 innings, allowing a run in the process. It was the 2nd consecutive rough outing for Bivens, who was optioned to start the year after spending all of 2025 in the Majors. RHP Tristan Beck also pitched once over the weekend, and faced 5 batters. While he didn’t allow any runs (or hits, for that matter), he did walk 3 of those 5 batters.
Bivens and Beck are no longer the only Sacramento relievers on the 40-man, thanks to the recent trade for RHP Dylan Smith. The 2021 3rd-round pick made his organizational debut on Saturday and it went well, as he pitched a scoreless inning with a hit and a walk allowed, but 2 strikeouts. Welcome!
And finally, strong performances from a pair of relievers who I expect to work their way onto the roster this season: RHP Gregory Santos pitched twice, throwing 3 shutout innings while allowing just 1 hit and 2 walks, with 2 strikeouts; and RHP Will Bednar (No. 24 CPL) threw a no-hit inning on Sunday, while walking one and striking out the side. That was his season debut, and it was a lovely one!
AA Richmond (2-1)
Friday: Richmond Flying Squirrels lost to the Erie SeaWolves 7-6 [box score] Saturday: Richmond Flying Squirrels beat the Erie SeaWolves 13-6 [box score] Sunday: Richmond Flying Squirrels beat the Erie SeaWolves 11-9 [box score]
Richmond’s season got underway this weekend, and it came with a whole lot of offense, with 31 runs scored over the 3 games. That’s impressive as is considering the pitcher-friendly environment of the Eastern League, but it’s doubly impressive when you consider that the Squirrels are temporarily playing without their 2 highest-profile bats: outfielder Bo Davidson (No. 4 CPL) who missed opening weekend while on paternity leave (hope all has gone/is going well for him and his family), and third baseman Parks Harber (No. 17 CPL), who is still nursing that hamstring injury he sustained in Spring Training.
Davidson and Harber gained their prospect status largely on the back of breakout 2025s, and there’s another player in Richmond (who is playing right now) who did the same: catcher Drew Cavanaugh (No. 19 CPL). A 17th-round pick in 2023, you can make the case that Cavanaugh had the biggest breakout of any Giants prospect last year. He began the year with Low-A San Jose where he was viewed somewhat as organizational filler/necessary catcher depth. He proceeded to homer at all 4 levels of affiliated ball, and finished the year with a 136 wRC+ across those levels … a very high number for a defensively-solid catcher.
But there were still warning signs. He had a 27.4% strikeout rate, and there were questions as to his surge in power after not showing much early in his career. In his 2 weeks with Richmond last year, he hit below the Mendoza Line, but his numbers held up thanks to an unsustainably-high walk rate.
So, like with Davidson and Harber, we’re going to learn a lot about Cavanaugh this year based on how he handles this upper Minors assignment. And the first test? Passed with flying colors, honors, extra credit, and a few gold stars.
Cavanaugh didn’t play on Opening Day, but made up for it with what he did on Saturday and Sunday, when he hit 5-9 with a home run, 3 doubles, 3 walks, and no strikeouts. My goodness, what a re-introduction! Hopefully that’s a sign of what the rest of the season will look like. And if it is? Well, he probably will be headed back to the West Coast by the summer.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 5, 2026
He wasn’t the only left-handed hitter to get off to a rollicking start, as corner infielder Charlie Szykowny hit very well also. Szykowny, a 25-year old who was a 9th-round pick in that same 2023 draft as Cavanaugh, had a strong 2025, but it was noteworthy that the Giants kept him in High-A for the entirety of the year. But he looks ready for a new challenge: after going 0-5 in the opener on Friday, Szykowny went 4-10 over the actual weekend, with a home run, a double, a walk, a stolen base, and 2 strikeouts.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 4, 2026
It will be interesting to see how playing time shakes out at the corners when Harber returns. Right now, Szykowny is splitting first and third base with Sabin Ceballos (No. 43 CPL), who hit 2-10 with a double, a walk, and 5 strikeouts. Dayson Croes also got some action at third base.
Shortstop Maui Ahuna (No. 33 CPL) was given an aggressive assignment to open the year in AA, despite playing just 11 games in High-A thanks to a career that has been derailed on multiple occasions by injuries. Watching how Ahuna fares in Richmond is one of the biggest storylines of the year, as evaluators are a little split on him, and the organization is quite clearly very high on him. He has had a swing-and-miss issue for his career, but has the type of glove that will take him straight to the Majors if his offensive production can sustain. His debut weekend at the level showed both the good and the bad, as he hit 3-12 with a double, 3 walks, and stolen base, though he was also caught stealing once, and struck out 5 times.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 4, 2026
Speaking of shortstops, Aeverson Arteaga made his season debut in the series finale, and hit 1-3 with a walk, a hit by pitch, and a stolen base. That’s a very tiny thing to hang a hat on, but after his utterly disastrous 2025 — he had a .508 OPS, a 49 wRC+, and a 26.2% strikeout rate — it was good to see him start the year on a positive note. His double play partner last year also began the year well, as second baseman Diego Velasquez (No. 31 CPL) went 2-5 with 3 walks, a hit by pitch, a stolen base, and 2 strikeouts.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 5, 2026
One fun note for the Squirrels: they are running! That shouldn’t be surprising given that the best base-stealer in the organization last year, outfielder Jonah Cox, is on the roster, but it’s fun to see. Richmond stole 9 bases over the weekend, with Cox leading the way with 3 swiped bags (they were also caught stealing 3 times).
It wasn’t a great weekend for the starting pitchers, but opening day went very well for LHP Greg Farone. Richmond is an exciting opening assignment for Farone, who was a 7th-round pick in 2024 out of Alabama. He didn’t debut during his draft year, and split his 2025 evenly between Low-A and High-A. Despite having just a 4.25 ERA and a 4.63 FIP with High-A in 12 starts, Farone — who turns 24 in a month — drew the opening assignment to AA, and the opening day assignment as well.
He rewarded both choices, tossing 4.2 dominant innings against the Tigers affiliate. Farone gave up just 3 hits (though that included a very-early solo home run for the only run he gave up), walked none, and struck out 8 Erie hitters. 8! In 4.2 innings! That was great to see, especially after watching his strikeout stuff really struggle following his midseason promotion last year (he had 13 strikeouts per 9 innings in Low-A, but just 7.9 in High-A). That’s a tremendous introduction to 2026 and to AA for Farone, who is a tall and well-built southpaw.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 3, 2026
Richmond ran another southpaw to the mound to start on Saturday, LHP Joe Whitman (No. 26 CPL). Like Farone, Whitman showed off some delightful strikeout stuff, with 7 Ks in 3.2 innings. The rest of the stuff wasn’t as good, though, as he ceded 4 hits, 1 walk, and 4 runs. That said, Whitman was done in by some unfortunate sequencing. He was perfect in the 1st and 2nd innings, and retired the only 2 batters he faced in the 4th. All of his baserunners came during a 4-run 3rd inning. So while the ERA may be bloated after 1 start, it was still an encouraging showing.
Less so for Sunday’s starter, RHP Trystan Vrieling who, like Whitman, is a reasonably high draft pick repeating the level. Vrieling was a 3rd-round pick in 2022 by the Yankees (he came over in the Camilo Doval trade), but AA has stymied the 25-year old. The lone bright spot of his Sunday start was that he didn’t give up any extra-base hits, but he only pitched 3 innings while allowing 4 hits, 4 walks, and 4 runs, with 1 hit batter and 4 strikeouts. He threw just 34 of 62 pitches for strikes, and is surely eagerly awaiting his next start to course correct a little.
The bullpen was hit-and-miss. RHP Tyler Vogel pitched twice and pitched well, throwing 2 scoreless innings and allowing 2 hits and 1 walk, while striking out 5. The 2022 12th-round pick had a slow start to his career due to both performance and injuries, but really started to show nasty stuff last season, and is picking up where he left off. Given his performance with Richmond last year — a 1.13 ERA, a 2.42 FIP, and 18 strikeouts against 3 walks in 16 innings — I would expect that we see him in Sacramento sooner rather than later.
Tyler Vogel cooked Erie in the ninth on Sunday by striking out the side to secure his first save of the season 😤
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 6, 2026
High-A Eugene (3-0)
Friday: Eugene Emeralds beat the Hillsboro Hops 8-6 [box score] Saturday: Eugene Emeralds beat the Hillsboro Hops 10-4 [box score] Sunday: Eugene Emeralds beat the Hillsboro Hops 6-4 [box score]
If you’re a fan of tracking old friends so you can have confused emotions when they play well, then you’ve probably been keeping an eye on James Tibbs III. The Giants 1st-round pick in 2024 had middling results with the organization, and not much was thought of losing him when the Giants sent him to the Red Sox in the Rafael Devers trade. The Red Sox immediately turned around and sent Tibbs to the Dodgers, and all he’s done to start 2026 with the evil empire is get assigned to AAA and hit 18-38 with 7 home runs, 12 extra-base hits, 5 walks, and a 336 wRC+.
So if that’s depressing you, then have I ever got the antidote: forget about the team’s 2024 1st-round pick, and instead think about their 2025 1st-round pick. Folks, I humbly present to you shortstop Gavin Kilen (No. 7 CPL). After playing just 10 games in his debut season, Kilen was given a High-A assignment to start the year. On the one hand that made perfect sense, as he’s a polished 1st-rounder hitter out of an SEC school (Tony Vitello’s Tennessee). On the other hand it was a little scary, given that he struggled mightily during his debut with Low-A a year ago (though, to be fair, he was playing through an injury).
So does he belong in High-A, or are the Giants moving him too quickly? Well, I think he answered that question during his debut on Friday, when he hit 2-5 with a 3-run home run in the 5th inning … and then a walk-off home run in the 9th. It’s hard to have a more memorable debut than that!
But Kilen wasn’t done. Friday wasn’t a one-off. He followed it up on Saturday by hitting a perfect 3-3 with 2 doubles and 2 walks. He finally came back to earth on Sunday, with just a normal good game, in which he went 1-3 and drew a walk.
Friday: Gavin Kilen hammers two homers — including a walk-off 🚀 Today: Kilen reaches base FIVE times in a three-hit performance 🔥
The Giants aren’t going to be overly aggressive with Kilen — that’s not their style — but he sure spent his 1st week in the Northwest League trying to convince them that maybe he should be fast-tracked. That’s putting the cart well, well ahead of the horse, but it sure was great to see. With Ahuna in AA (and a pair of talented defensive shortstops in Low-A San Jose), Kilen should be getting everyday reps at shortstop in Eugene, which is part of the reason why he’s at that level. It will be interesting to see what the reports are of his time in the infield … he has a lot of skill, though many evaluators have already pegged him for an eventual move to the other side of second base.
Speaking of talented infielders, third baseman Walker Martin also drew a High-A assignment in what feels like a make-or-break season for the recently-turned 22-year old lefty. Martin was a 2nd-round pick in 2023 out of high school, but his highly-touted athleticism never really showed up. He struggled mightily in his 2024 debut between the Complex League and Low-A, where he had a 107 wRC+ but a 41.0% strikeout rate across the 2 levels. He spent all of 2025 in Low-A, where he was moved from shortstop to third base and dramatically cut back on strikeouts, but still sat at a concerning level (28.4%) while posting just a 106 wRC+.
So High-A is a big challenge for him, and so far one that looks good on him: in the 2 games he played, he hit 3-8 with a home run and 2 doubles. There’s the power we’ve been looking for! That said, he also struck out 3 times and committed an error in each game. Baby steps!
Also having a high-impact, high-strikeout weekend in his High-A debut was center fielder Dakota Jordan (No. 5 CPL). As most people know by now, the 2024 4th-round pick has more power than perhaps anyone in the system, but also a huge swing-and-miss issue. His Northwest League debut showcased both, as he hit 3-13 with a home run and 2 doubles, but also struck out 8 times. When he hits the ball he hits it hard and he hits it far … but he needs to hit the ball move.
Sunday was a fun day for a pair of lower-profile Eugene prospects who are trying to have the breakouts that make following the Minors so fun. First baseman Jack Payton and right fielder Ty Hanchey didn’t play at all in the 1st games of the series, but asked for more playing time on Sunday. Payton in particular shined, hitting 3-4 with a pair of solo home runs. Hanchey had a boom-or-bust showing, striking out in 3 of his 4 at-bats, but bashing a 2-run bomb in his other. Both players joined the system in 2023 (Payton as an 11th-round pick; Hanchey as an undrafted free agent) as catchers, and are now utility player depth pieces.
After missing 2025 due to injury, the Emeralds utility man retakes the lead. This bomb to RF is his first HR since 9/7/2024, and the dugout is LOVING it!#RootedHerepic.twitter.com/0SUhP1ZVIL
Speaking of catchers, Eugene is where the Giants assigned Diego Cartaya, the former top-10 prospect who was the star of the Dodgers system, but who has really fallen on hard times in recent years. His strikeout stuff is, unfortunately, still a severe issue, as he went 0-6 with 1 walk and 5 strikeouts.
The pitching wasn’t very good, but there was a standout performance thanks to Saturday’s starter, RHP Hunter Dryden. The 2024 17th-round pick out of tiny Whitworth University in the Pacific Northwest felt right back at home making his Eugene debut, and tossed 4 shutout innings. The soon-to-be 24-year old only allowed 2 hits (both singles) and 1 walk, and struck out 6 batters. Dryden is coming off a decent-but-not-great debut season with Low-A San Jose, which featured a 2.90 ERA but a 3.82 FIP with so-so strikeout and walk numbers (10 K/9 and 4 BB/9). Hopefully Saturday’s start is a sign of a big year ahead for him.
LHP Tyler Switalski was selected 1 round ahead of Dryden in 2024, and he made his season debut on Friday in long relief. It was utterly sensational, as the tall southpaw took down 3.2 shutout innings with a whopping 8 strikeouts, while allowing just 2 hits and a hit batter. Switalski really struggled with Low-A San Jose last year, but still drew a late-season promotion, and really shined in Eugene. Perhaps there’s something in the air, because it’s carrying over into this year!
Also nice scoreless relief appearances from RHPs Ben Peterson (1.1 innings, 0 hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts) and Austin Strickland (2 innings, 1 hit, 0 walks, 4 strikeouts).
Unfortunately, Eugene’s highest-profile pitcher, LHP Luis De La Torre (No. 14 CPL) did not see his 2026 get off to a great start. One of the breakout stars of 2025, De La Torre had a 2.78 ERA and a 2.93 FIP across 18 games in the Complex League and Low-A, with 13.2 strikeouts per 9 innings. But he has some work to do to find that success in High-A ball, as he allowed 2 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs in 2.1 innings on Sunday, with just 1 strikeout. Not exactly a concerning outing, but not a good one.
And finally, RHPs Gerelmi Maldonado (No. 21 CPL) and Liam Simon both continued their struggles with walks. Maldonado, who is perhaps the hardest-throwing pitcher in the organization but who walked 6.7 batters per 9 innings in Low-A last year, faced 4 batters and walked 2 of them, while striking out the other 2. Simon, who, like Maldonado, was recovering from Tommy John last year, walked 12.4 batters per 9 innings (yikes!). He gave up 1 hit, 3 walks, and 3 unearned runs in an inning of work, but, like Maldonado, got all his outs by way of strikes.
Low-A San Jose (2-1)
Friday: San Jose Giants lost to the Stockton Ports 6-2 [box score] Saturday: San Jose Giants beat the Stockton Ports 15-4 [box score]
Just 2 games for the Baby Giants, as their opening 3-game series went Thursday-Saturday instead of Friday-Sunday.
As I mentioned in the Eugene section, Gavin Kilen (No. 7 CPL) is currently getting to be an everyday shortstop in High-A, because the other top shortstops are playing at other levels. But that could change before too terribly long if shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL) keeps this up.
Level, who turned 19 last week, had a breakout in the Complex League last year, and then held his own in Low-A, where he’s back to start 2026. And if he keeps playing like this, he won’t stay long. The switch-hitter had a slow Friday, hitting 0-3 with 2 strikeouts, but drawing a walk and stealing a base. But on Saturday? He went 4-5, finished a triple shy of the cycle, and drew a walk for good measure.
Player of the Game: Jhonny Level had quite the night at the yard.
To my eye, he looks even more athletic than last year, which is saying something. And while 3 games aren’t enough to make any grand proclamations, it sure feels like he’s headed for another great season.
He’ll likely hand off a fair number of days at short to Lorenzo Meola (No. 23 CPL) who played second base on Friday, and took over shortstop on Saturday when Level DH’d. Meola, the team’s 4th-round pick last year who recently turned 22, has a stellar glove and some intrigue with his bat as well. It was a good weekend for him, as he hit 3-8 with 2 doubles, 2 walks, and a strikeout.
The other best hitting performances went to players who had sensational professional debuts on Thursday, as covered in Friday’s roundup: first baseman Hayden Jatczak and catcher Junior Barajas. Jatczak was an on-base machine, hitting just 1-4 with a double, but drawing a whopping 6 walks and stealing a base. The cold water here is that Jatczak is an undrafted free agent who will turn 25 this season, but still. A phenomenal professional debut! As for Barajas, the organization’s 11th-round pick in July’s draft, he sat on Friday but hit 3-6 on Saturday, with 2 doubles, 4 runs batted in, and 1 strikeout. He is sure giving the team a reason to be excited!
Left fielder/center fielder Damian Bravo, who was a 15th-round pick out of Texas Tech last year, only hit 2-10 with 4 strikeouts, but he did smash a home run. That was his 1st career home run, as he was held dingerless in 24 games with High-A last season.
Friday’s game began with a debut on the mound, as LHP Jordan Gottesman made his pro debut, and looked mighty fine doing it. Gottesman, who was the team’s 6th-round pick last year, gave up just 1 hit (a single) in 3 innings, though he also allowed 2 walks and an unearned run. He only threw 37 of 62 pitches for strikes, and subsequently struck out just 2 batters, but still: a debut as a starting pitcher that results in a 0.00 ERA is a delightful thing!
One of the top prospects in the organization (and another 2025 breakout star) also had a start, as RHP Argenis Cayama (No. 13 CPL) took the mound on Saturday. Cayama dominated the Complex League last year but struggled in his brief time with San Jose … understandable, given that he was just 18 at the time. He’s 19 now, though unfortunately the struggles carried over into his 1st start of 2026, as he gave up 8 hits in 3.2 innings, which tattooed him for 4 runs. But on the bright side, he didn’t walk any batters, and he struck out 4. Very excited to see what he does this year … I’m expecting big things.
There were a few dynamic bullpen performances, one of which came in a debut. LHP Braydon Risley, who was taken in the 19th-round last year and only just turned 21 last week, was perfect on Saturday. He retired all 7 batters he faced, including 3 by way of the strikeout. The Junior College southpaw also threw 20 of 32 pitches for strikes.
He was followed up by RHP Melvin Pineda, who is back in San Jose after a brief introduction to the league last year. Pineda, a Venezuelan who turns 22 next month, struck out 5 batters in 2 shutout innings, while giving up 2 hits.
RHP Mauricio Estrella is also a soon-to-turn 22-year-old who got a taste of Low-A last year, and shined in his season debut. On Friday he needed just 20 pitches to retire all 5 batters he faced, with 3 strikeouts.
And that’s your first mega roundup of the season, friends!
As is customary, all of the Giants Minor League affiliates are off today, and all kick off 6-game series on Tuesday. Sacramento will be hosting the Las Vegas Aviators at 6:45 p.m. PT; Richmond hosts the Altoona Curve at 4:05 p.m. PT; Eugene visits the aptly-named Vancouver Canadians at 7:05 p.m. PT; and San Jose hosts the Visalia Rawhide at 6:00 p.m. PT.
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 03: Jacob deGrom #48 of the Texas Rangers takes the field prior to the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Friday, April 3, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for April 6, 2026 against the Seattle Mariners: starting pitchers are Jacob deGrom for the Rangers and Logan Gilbert for the M’s.
Texas looks to break a four game losing streak today. Texas also looks to get their first home win of 2026. Seattle is the opponent.
The lineup:
Nimmo — RF
Langford — LF
Seager — SS
Burger — 1B
Pederson — DH
Carter — CF
Jansen — C
Smith — 2B
Jung — 3B
7:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -118 favorites.
There are games that hinge on moments, and while this game certainly did at the end, it also validated a process.
The Philadelphia Flyers’ 2–1 overtime win over the Boston Bruins was a game that demanded patience, discipline, and emotional control against an opponent built to disrupt all three.
The result secured a 2–1 season series win over Boston. More importantly, it reinforced something more consequential: the Flyers are suddenly no longer chasing an unlikely postseason spot. With these two points, they're putting the Eastern Conference on notice that they control their own destiny, and they're comfortable in the driver's seat.
1. Porter Martone’s Breakthrough Was the Result of Process
For four games, Porter Martone had been building toward something.
Martone’s overtime winner—his first NHL goal—was a milestone and a culmination. It made him the first player in franchise history to score his first NHL goal in overtime, and subsequently blew the roff of Xfinity Mobile Arena, but it was not just a fortunate bounce or an opportunistic finish.
Martone has approached the NHL game with an assertiveness that is difficult to manufacture, especially for a 19-year-old with about a week of NHL experience under his belt. He has not waited for space; he has created it. He has not deferred; he has engaged. And in doing so, he has consistently put himself in positions to influence outcomes.
“It’s awesome, especially for it to come that way in overtime,” Martone said. “An overtime winner as your first NHL goal is pretty special. I think just continue to playing my game; that’s who I am. My linemates have been setting me up great, and it’s nice to see that one go in.”
Philadelphia Flyers winger Porter Martone (94). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
Martone understands what his game is, and more importantly, he is committed to playing it.
Head coach Rick Tocchet sees the same thing.
“You can just tell he’s a hockey player," Tocchet noted postgame. "He loves the game, even on the bench. He’s a very engaged kid. He’s not afraid to say something. He was talking about the power play, saying to some guys, ‘Hey, I’ll be here, you’ll be here.’ I like that.”
That level of engagement—tactically and emotionally—is rare for a player this early in his career.
The goal was the moment, but the process is the story.
2. Game Management Has Become a Defining Strength
In games like this, the difference is obviously in talent, but it is also in timing.
The Flyers managed the game extremely well, understanding when to push, when to absorb pressure, and when to simplify.
“I thought game management was better tonight,” Tocchet said. “There’s a lot of growth… a little bit of a rollercoaster sometimes, but, for the most part, this team has stuck together all year. I’m really proud of them.”
That growth was evident in subtle ways.
The Flyers limited unnecessary risks in transition and avoided overcommitting offensively. They maintained structure even when Boston increased physicality and tempo.
These are not exactly headline-grabbing elements, but they are the foundation of winning tight games.
Earlier in the season, this is the kind of game the Flyers might have lost—not because they were outplayed, but because they lost control of key moments. Against Boston, they stayed within themselves.
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale (9) and forward Luke Glendening (41). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
3. They Matched Boston’s Physical and Emotional Identity Without Losing Theirs
The Bruins' style is physical, emotionally charged, and designed to pull opponents out of structure. Against them, discipline is not optional—it is essential. The Flyers met that challenge directly.
They did not shy away from contact. Instead, they engaged physically, supported one another in scrums, and matched Boston’s intensity shift for shift. But crucially, they did not allow that intensity to dictate their decisions.
It requires a team to be both reactive and controlled—to respond physically without compromising positional structure. The Flyers managed it effectively, and in doing so, prevented the game from becoming chaotic.
4. Christian Dvorak and the Flyers’ Depth Continue to Stabilize the Lineup
While Martone’s goal will define the highlight, the foundation of the win was built earlier.
Christian Dvorak opened the scoring and added an assist, marking his 11th multi-point game of the season and continuing a strong recent stretch.
His impact all season has been less about flash and more about reliability.
Dvorak has become a stabilizing presence—connecting plays, supporting defensively, and contributing offensively without disrupting the team’s structure. In games that require patience and precision, those qualities become magnified.
This is what the Flyers have been building toward: a lineup where contributions are layered, not isolated. It allows them to withstand different types of games—whether high-scoring or tightly contested without needing to alter their identity.
5. Preparation, Not Pressure, Is Driving Their Late-Season Approach
The most revealing insight from this game came before it even began.
“I was a little nervous,” Tocchet admitted postgame. “[But] you don’t want to make people more nervous. I said before the game, you should be stressed if you’re not prepared… I think our team’s prepared to play. Whether we execute and all that stuff, who knows? But, for the most part, we’re prepared to play the game, so why get stressed?”
They are not ignoring the stakes. They understand the standings. They feel the urgency. But they are not allowing that urgency to dictate their approach.
Preparation, in this context, becomes a stabilizer. It allows the Flyers to enter high-pressure games with clarity rather than anxiety—to focus on execution rather than consequence. And in games like this, where one mistake can define the outcome, that mental framework is as important as any tactical adjustment.
They showed that they are learning—not just how to play, but how to win in the kind of playoff-esque, high-pressure games that define seasons.
According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the Edmonton Oilers are among the frontrunners to land 21-year-old German unsigned UFA, Viet Oswald.
Seravalli writes:
Two undrafted free agents generating NHL interest: RW Veit Oswald, 21, Red Bull Munich. The Oilers are the betting favorite, strong handful of teams interested." He adds that center Vitali Pinchuk is also getting interest, but didn't note if the Oilers were among the 15+ or so teams in on him.
Oswald is a German forward playing for EHC Red Bull München in the DEL. A product of Germany’s development system, he broke out in 2023–24, leading all U20 players in scoring and earning Rookie of the Year honors.
He has continued to produce steadily, posting solid numbers in recent seasons while contributing in the playoffs. This season, he's got 12 goals and 26 points in 38 games for
Munich EHC.
Known for his skill, speed, and versatility, Oswald also plays a reliable two-way game. Undrafted in the NHL, he attended the Toronto Maple Leafs development camp in 2024.
Austin Kelly of Dobber Prospects writes, "In the 2024 NHL Draft, Veit Oswald was ranked 114th by Central Scouting for just Europeans. I ranked him 67th (and kept myself from ranking him top-64 because of it). "I may consider my entire ranking to be a failure if Veit Oswald does not play a game in the NHL", I had wrote."
Mar 18, 2026; Dunedin, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Josh Fleming (35) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Blue Jays starting catcher will undergo surgery on his left thumb tomorrow, per John Schneider. Kirk’s thumb was broken and dislocated by a foul tip over the weekend. We had hope that it would be a relatively simple recovery, but the need for surgery would aeem to suggesr a more complex and severe injury and thus probably a longer timeline for rehabilitation.
In other injury news, Addison Barger has not been put on the IL yet, and the team seems hopeful that he can avoid the need. Reports from the clubhouse are that the ankle he jammed yesterday is swollen and causing him to limp, though, which doesn’t portend well. At least we haven’t heard anything about a break or significant sprain, so hopefully if and IL stint is required it’ll be for the minimum. Newly acquired infielder Tyler Fitzgerald is with thr major league club as a taxi squad player, presumably to taoe Bargers roster spot if necessary, but no move has been made.
On the pitching side, Austin Voth has been DFA’d and Josh Fleming called up.. Voth provided 2.2 innings of adequate relief work in yesterday’s game, but they need a fresh arm for tonight and so he becomes a casualty of roster churn. Fleming is an experienced long reliever who’s played in parts of five MLB seasons, mostly with the Rays. He’s an excellent ground ball pitcher but doesn’t record many strikeouts and is too prone to the long ball. Still, he should be able to provide an appearance or two of tolerable relief before some of theor actual pitchers are ready.
Our NBA player prop projections are set for tonight’s Eastern Conference clash between the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks, with the model pinpointing several standout opportunities.
By analyzing the data and comparing it to current market lines, we’ve uncovered the bets with the highest value.
For those building their cards, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Monday, April 6.
Knicks vs Hawks computer picks for April 6
Knicks
Hawks
Brunson u25.5 points -115
Johnson o21.5 points -115
Towns o11.5 rebounds -135
McCollum o2.5 3-pointers +102
Hart u4.5 assists -112
Okongwu o7.5 rebounds +102
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Knicks computer picks
Jalen Brunson Under 25.5 points (-115)
Projection: 25.0 points
Jalen Brunson going Under 25.5 points in four of his last 10 games isn’t just random variance, it lines up with how the New York Knicks have been operating lately.
New York’s slower tempo has naturally limited overall possessions, which cuts into Brunson’s scoring volume. Fewer trips up the floor mean fewer shot attempts, and that’s critical for a player who often needs high usage to clear a number in the mid-20s.
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Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 rebounds (-135)
Projection: 12.3 rebounds
The Knicks rank second in the league with 13.5 offensive rebounds per game over their last 10 outings, and Karl-Anthony Towns is well-positioned to build on that dominance after clearing the 11.5-rebound line in five of his last 10 games.
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Josh Hart Under 4.5 assists (-112)
Projection: 4.2 assists
Josh Hart going Under 4.5 assists in seven of his last 10 games reflects a clear shift in role within the Knicks offense. With primary creation duties centered around Jalen Brunson, Hart has been used more as a connector and secondary option rather than a true facilitator.
Atlanta’s defensive structure tends to allow ball-dominant guards to create while staying home on shooters, which further reduces Hart’s chances of racking up easy assists. Add it all up, and the Under remains a strong angle at this number.
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Hawks computer picks
Jalen Johnson Over 21.5 points (-115)
Projection: 22.1 points
When it comes to scoring, the Atlanta Hawks have been unstoppable at home, averaging 124.5 points per game — the second-highest mark in the NBA over their last 10 contests.
Jalen Johnson has played a key role in that offensive surge, hitting the Over on 21.5 points in five of his last 10 games.
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CJ McCollum Over 2.5 3-pointers (+102)
Projection: 2.7 3-pointers
The Hawks have been deadly from beyond the arc, connecting on 37% of their 3-pointers, good for sixth in the NBA this season.
The matchup against the Knicks is even more favorable, as opposing starting small forwards have hit an impressive 48% from deep on the road against New York, the highest rate in the league this year.
CJ McCollum has hit this Over in four of his last seven overall.
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Onyeka Okongwu Over 7.5 rebounds (+102)
Projection: 7.6 rebounds
Onyeka Okongwu has hit the Over on 7.5 rebounds in four of his last 10 games, and the matchup against the Knicks sets him up well to do it again tonight.
Defensively, Okongwu’s timing and positioning allow him to grab contested boards even against athletic frontcourt players, and with the Knicks’ focus often drawn to Atlanta’s perimeter scorers, he can capitalize on second-chance opportunities.
All signs point to Okongwu continuing his strong rebounding output and clearing the 7.5-rebound line once again.
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How to watch Knicks vs Hawks tonight
Location
State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Date
Monday, April 6, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock, NBCSN
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LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 27: Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) pushes Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) away from the referee during the Brooklyn Nets vs Los Angeles Lakers game on March 27, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Lakers got a double dose of bad news over the weekend as both Luka Dončić (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) are done for the regular season. Their status for the opening round of the playoff remains murky at best as well, although they’re both aiming to return as evidenced by Luka heading to Europe to attempt to expedite his recovery.
In the meantime, some Lakers fans have already begun to wonder whether reinforcements could be on the way until Dončić and Reaves are back. Chris Paul, Lonzo Ball and Cole Anthony are among the playoff-eligible guards on the free-agent market.
The good news is that if the Lakers want to go that route, money should not be an obstacle. Lakers fans shouldn’t start preordering their CP3 jerseys yet, though.
Who would the Lakers waive?
After signing Kobe Bufkin to a two-year, $3.3 million contract following the trade deadline, the Lakers now have 15 players on standard contracts. That means they’d have to waive someone before they sign anyone else to a standard deal.
The Lakers have a $2.5 million team option on Bufkin in 2026-27, so they could waive him without being left with a dead cap hit next season. He’s played only 97 minutes across 14 games with the Lakers this year, so he doesn’t seem likely to factor into their rotation regardless. (He played only three minutes in their Dončić- and Reaves-less loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.)
If the Lakers want to keep Bufkin around in hopes of developing their youth pipeline, veteran big man Maxi Kleber would be the other most logical cut candidate. He’s on an $11 million expiring contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
A back injury sidelined Kleber for all but four games in March, although he’s already played in both of the Lakers’ games in April to date. Still, he’s averaging a career-low 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in 10.7 minutes per game, so the Lakers wouldn’t exactly feel his loss from an on-court perspective. His biggest value to the team might be as a locker room leader, particularly given his relationship with Dončić dating back to their time in Dallas.
Beyond those two, the Lakers don’t have any obvious cut candidates. Jaxson Hayes is also set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, but he’s been the Lakers’ primary backup center behind Deandre Ayton all year. Only $1.25 million of Bronny James’ $2.3 million salary for 2026-27 is guaranteed, although cutting a franchise icon’s son right before the start of the playoffs probably wouldn’t engender much goodwill with him.
Why money isn’t an issue for the Lakers
After signing Bufkin, the Lakers are roughly $630,000 below their first-apron hard cap. That’s well below the full-season price tag of $2.3 million for a veteran-minimum contract.
Luckily, minimum deals begin to prorate downward by roughly $13,000 per day once the regular season begins. Since there’s less than a week left in the season, they’re basically a rounding error at this point of the year. Even if the Lakers signed someone Monday, it would cost them less than $100,000 for this season.
The Lakers technically have enough space under the first apron to sign multiple players to rest-of-season contracts. Again, the issue there is deciding which players to waive to create those roster spots.
If the Lakers do pursue outside help, they can only sign players who were free agents as of March 1. Anyone who got waived after that date — like Cam Thomas with the Bucks — cannot join another team’s playoff roster this season. So, no, the Lakers have no reason to beg the Washington Wizards to waive D’Angelo Russell this week.
In all likelihood, the Lakers will stand pat with their roster as is and pray that Europe has discovered the cure for hamstring strains. (Surely it’s just eating more protein… right?) But if they do want reinforcements until Dončić and/or Reaves return, they have the spending power to sign a free agent, as long as they’re willing to part ways with someone currently under contract.
Astros fans have gone from doom and gloom after two games to euphoria following the next five, and back to doom and gloom after a strange series in West Sacramento that saw the ace of their staff land on the IL. Still, they are 6-4 through 10 games—good enough for first place in the AL West, powered by a hot lineup despite some shaky pitching.
Let’s play a game of Stock Up, Stock Down based on what we’ve seen so far.
Stock up
Yordan Alvarez
Alvarez has been the best hitter in baseball so far this season. After hitting a homer Sunday in West Sacramento, Yordan Alvarez is slashing .400/.578/.900. He leads the league in on-base percentage and slugging percentage, and he’s tied with Jose Altuve for the league lead in walks. His 1.478 OPS is not only the best 10-game start of his career, it’s also the best 10-game start in Astros history. Just as important as the numbers is that he’s been able to play in all 10 games.
Because he missed so much time last season and performed well below his standard when healthy, it’s easy to forget just how much Alvarez, when firing on all cylinders, can carry an entire lineup. He’s not going to finish the season with a 316 OPS+, but this version of him is the kind of ceiling-raiser the Astros need after losing Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman following the 2024 season.
Jose Altuve’s swing decisions
Last season, Jose Altuve swung at 38.3% of the pitches he saw outside the strike zone, his highest chase rate since his rookie season in 2011. That number is down to 19.3% through the first 10 games this season. He hasn’t finished a season with a chase rate below 30% since 2012.
Altuve’s patience has also shown up on pitches inside the strike zone, where his swing rate has dropped to 50.7% from a career average of 65.7%. It’s unusual to see a great player make such a drastic change, but the results speak for themselves: Altuve is slashing .354/.523/.594, and his 12 walks are nearly double his seven strikeouts.
Christian Walker
Walker’s disappointing first season with the Houston Astros stemmed largely from an awful first 50 games, during which he posted an OPS below .600. From that point on, he slashed .258/.313/.465. His final 104 games were more in line with his production in Arizona, but still fell short of expectations given the price tag. Walker’s production has been through the roof so far this season.
Walker has a 1.053 OPS through 10 games this season, his best start over that span since becoming an everyday player seven years ago. He’s also striking out less and walking more, already compiling 0.5 bWAR after posting just 0.2 for the entire 2025 season.
Stock Down
Bryan Abreu
Abreu has appeared in four games and hasn’t looked good in any of them. He’s been scored on in each outing, marking the first time he’s allowed an earned run in four straight appearances, and three of the 16 batters he’s faced have taken him deep. He’s thrown 72 pitches and recorded just eight outs.
He’s still among the league leaders in swinging strikes and strikeouts, but his fastball velocity is down to 95 mph from 97.3 mph last season. Opponents are averaging 103 mph in exit velocity against him, and his chase rate has nearly been cut in half to 17%, per Baseball Savant, among the worst in baseball.
While Josh Hader’s return, possibly before the end of the month, will take some of the ninth-inning pressure off Abreu, the Houston Astros need the 28-year-old, who is scheduled to hit free agency after the season, to return to his dominant form. They don’t have anyone else with his ability to miss bats.
Yainer Diaz
Looking back, the Houston Astros should have kept Victor Caratini and traded Yainer Diaz while his value was higher. At this rate, Diaz could be a non-tender candidate this winter.
Diaz finished 2023 with an .846 OPS, but that number dropped to .766 and .701 over the past two seasons. Through his first eight games of 2026, he has a .570 OPS.
Diaz has improved his chase rate from 44.3% to 38.6%, but that still ranks in the bottom 20% of the league. His other metrics have plummeted, most notably his hard-hit rate (down from 42.2% to 21.4%) and average exit velocity (down from 89.9 mph to 84.4 mph).
Lance McCullers Jr. praised Diaz’s work behind the plate after his strong start against the Red Sox last week, but the metrics suggest Diaz has been one of baseball’s worst catchers over the past two seasons.
It did not take long for the wheels of justice to turn in regard to a hit by a Florida Panthers player over the weekend.
The NHL Department of Player Safety announced on Monday that Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen had been fined $5,000.
Their decision comes less than 24 hours after the play in question, which occurred during Sunday’s game between the Panthers and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
During the second period and with the puck in Florida’s zone, Penguins forward Rickard Rakell skated behind the Panthers’ net, closely followed by Luostarinen.
As Rakell turned to come back above the goal line from the other side of the net, Luostarinen caught Rakell with a high stick across the face while trying to deny his path back toward the front of the net.
Luostarinen was handed a four-minute double-minor penalty on the play.
While Rakell and the Penguins didn’t score on the ensuing power play, the veteran forward finished the game with a pair of goals, including the game-winner in a 5-2 victory over the Panthers.
The $5,000 represents the maximum allowable fine amount under the NHL and NHLPA’s collective bargaining agreement.
Luostarinen and the Panthers will be back in action on Tuesday when their road trip continues against the Canadiens in Montreal.
Photo caption: Jan 8, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen (27) during warm-up before the game against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)
On Sunday, April 5, it was reported that Luka Doncic was heading to Europe to seek specialized treatment for his grade 2 left hamstring strain in an effort to expedite his return. Now, more details have come to light regarding what that treatment actually looks like.
ESPN's Shams Charania gave the latest update on the status of the injured Los Angeles Lakers star with a bit of new information. In a segment on NBA Today, Charania reported that Doncic is currently in Spain to receive "an injection procedure" in his hamstring area to "promote healing" and streamline his recovery process.
"We know a grade 2 hamstring typically falls between 4-6 weeks," Charania said on-air. "He's doing everything he can to see if he can push that timeline up just a little bit. ... That's what he's doing. He's in Spain."
Details on Lakers injured stars Luka Doncic treatment in Spain and Austin Reaves timeline for NBA Today: pic.twitter.com/q0aG2WQrf0
Charania added that there's still a lot of unknowns, such as how the treatment itself actually works, the effectiveness of it, and how much it can possibly speed things up.
Doncic strained his hamstring in the fourth quarter of Thursday's blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder and has been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season and his status for the playoffs is currently uncertain, but a first-round appearance would be surprising given what we know about the usual timeline for grade 2 hamstring strains.
What is a Grade 2 hamstring strain?
A Grade 2 hamstring strain is a “moderate injury that is typically a partial tear in the muscle; patients are likely to limp when walking and will have occasional twinges of pain during activity,” according to Mercy Health.
The injury could take close to a month to heal, but “returning to sports before the injury is fully healed can cause more severe injuries.”
Austin Reaves injury update
Doncic wasn't the only Lakers guard that Charania gave an update on. Austin Reaves -- who has also been ruled out for the final five games of the season with a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury -- is rehabbing in LA and is still expected to miss 4-6 weeks, which would sideline him for most of if not all of the first round.
"The goal is for both of these players to be back," Charania said.
With the Lakers down two of their best players and possible first-round matchups against the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets or Minnesota Timberwolves (or possibly the Phoenix Suns if the Lakers can lock up the No. 3 seed), they might need a vintage LeBron James run just to make it out to the second round.
Knicks
Hawks
