Texas Rangers @ Seattle Mariners
Saturday, April 18, 2026, 6:15 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / FOX)
T-Mobile Park
RHP Nathan Eovaldi vs. RHP George Kirby
Go Rangers!
Game 21 Game Day Thread – Texas Rangers @ Seattle Mariners
Braves vs Phillies Game Thread: 4/18/2026
We are treated to one of the better pitching matchups we will see all year between Chris Sale and Cristopher Sanchez tonight, as the Braves go for another series win, this time in Philadelphia.
Join us and discuss the game in the comments below!
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Saturday, April 18, 7:15 p.m. EDT
Location: Citizens Bank Ballpark, Philadelphia, PA
TV: FOX
Streaming: MLB.tv
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan
Magic vs Pistons Same-Game Parlay for Sunday's NBA Playoffs Game 1
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Fresh off a blowout win over the Charlotte Hornets, the Orlando Magic find themselves in a 1 vs. 8 matchup with the Detroit Pistons.
Unfortunately for Orlando, what’s been a breakout year for the Pistons will have Little Caesars Arena rocking on Sunday, and I expect Detroit to defend home court following a lengthy postseason drought.
Here are my Magic vs. Pistons predictions and NBA picks for Game 1 on April 19.
Our best Magic vs Pistons SGP for Game 1
Finishing the regular season with averages of 9.9 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game, and 3.1 assists per game, Ausar Thompson is already on pace to hit this combo Over as one of the Detroit Pistons’ key engines.
He’s gone past this number in five of his past eight contests — and, if anything, Thompson's minutes should climb in more meaningful games, with Detroit relying on his grit to combat an Orlando Magic team that can do damage on the glass.
With Thompson making an impact all over the box score, I expect the Pistons to have a clear edge. The Magic’s 19-21 road record doesn’t inspire much confidence in halting Detroit’s four-game home winning streak.
Cade Cunningham has looked steady since returning from a collapsed lung, and a double-double is my favorite Cade prop on the board. He’s had 10+ assists in eight of his last 12 contests, and I’m not worried about his scoring after a season where he averaged 23.9 ppg.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.
Francisco Lindor, New York Mets lose their 10th straight game, fall 4-2 to Clubs
CHICAGO — Pinch-hitter Carson Kelly connected for a tiebreaking three-run homer in the sixth inning, and the Chicago Cubs handed the New York Mets their 10th consecutive loss with a 4-2 victory on Saturday.
Ian Happ also homered for Chicago in its fourth consecutive win. Jameson Taillon (1-1) pitched six crisp innings.
It’s the longest losing streak for New York since it dropped 11 in a row from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8 in 2004. It has been outscored 60-18 during the slide.
The game was tied at 1 when Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta (1-2) issued two consecutive walks with two down in the sixth. Peralta then was replaced by left-hander Brooks Raley, and Kelly was sent up to hit for Moisés Ballesteros, a rookie who bats from the left side.
Kelly drove Raley’s first pitch into the bleachers in left-center for his second homer of the season, sending a charge through the crowd of 36,189. It was Kelly’s second career pinch-hit drive.
It also was the first homer allowed by Raley since Aug. 13, 2023, stopping a streak of 53 2/3 innings.
Mark Vientos homered for New York. Francisco Lindor and Luis Robert Jr. each had two hits.
The Mets scored an unearned run on second baseman Nico Hoerner’s throwing error in the eighth, but Ben Brown escaped the jam when Vientos grounded out.
Caleb Thielbar handled the ninth for his first save of the season. Daniel Palencia, Chicago’s usual closer, was placed on the 15-day injured list on Friday with a left oblique strain.
New York jumped in front on Vientos’ 434-foot drive to left-center in the second. He went 1 for 25 with eight strikeouts and no walks in his previous eight games.
Happ responded with a leadoff shot in the bottom half, a 431-foot drive to center. Happ also went deep during Chicago’s 12-4 victory in the series opener.
Up next
Left-hander David Peterson (0-3, 6.41 ERA) starts the series finale for New York, and right-hander Javier Assad (1-1, 8.10 ERA) pitches for Chicago on Sunday.
Magic vs Pistons Prediction, Picks & Best Bets for Today's NBA Playoffs Game 1
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The Orlando Magic survived the play-in gauntlet, but there are bigger battles ahead as they start their first-round series against the relentless Detroit Pistons tonight.
Orlando is back in action less than 48 hours after clinching the No. 8 seed, and my Magic vs. Pistons predictions and NBA picks favor a fresher Detroit squad, led by Ausar Thompson, who’s built for do-it-all playoff performances.
- UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
Magic vs Pistons prediction
Who will win Magic vs Pistons Game 1?
Pistons: When you pair Detroit’s 31-9 home record with Orlando’s draining week of Play-In peril, it’s easy to make the case for Cade Cunningham and Co here. Though the Magic have the personnel for a physical series, they face an uphill task in Game 1, with the Pistons poised for a fast start at Little Caesars Arena.
Magic vs Pistons best bet: Ausar Thompson Over 17.5 points + rebounds + assists (-105)
Ausar Thompson’s stock went up in the 2025 postseason after a feisty effort guarding Jalen Brunson, and he could hit new heights in these playoffs, especially in an opening matchup that plays to his strengths.
With averages of 9.9 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 3.1 APG this year, Thompson is already on pace to hit this combo Over as one of the Detroit Pistons’ key engines. He’s gone past this number in five of his past eight contests – and, if anything, his minutes should climb in more meaningful games, with Detroit relying on his grit to combat a Magic team that can do damage on the glass.
Thompson is capable of the occasional scoring outburst — he poured in 39 points across the last two games of last year’s series against the Knicks — and he finished this regular season with 10+ points in three of his final five games.
We’ve also seen more of the third-year wing in a playmaking role lately, and he’s dished 5+ dimes in five of his last eight outings. That could be a secret weapon for the hosts here if the Orlando Magic throw extra defenders at Cade Cunningham on the perimeter.
Thompson posted a 9-11-3 line against Orlando in March, and that feels repeatable in this clash. Don’t be surprised if he has his fingerprints all over Game 1.
Magic vs Pistons same-game parlay
With Thompson making an impact all over the box score, I expect the Pistons to have a clear edge. The Magic’s 19-21 road record doesn’t inspire much confidence that they can halt Detroit’s four-game home winning streak.
Cade Cunningham has looked steady since returning from a collapsed lung, and a double-double is my favorite Cade prop on the board. He’s had 10+ assists in eight of his last 12 contests, and I’m not worried about his scoring after a season where he averaged 23.9 PPG.
Magic vs Pistons SGP
- Ausar Thompson Over 17.5 points + rebounds + assists
- Pistons moneyline
- Cade Cunningham double-double
Our "from downtown" SGP: Rock Fight!
Although this series could be a rock fight at times, that won’t bother defense-first ballplayers like Thompson and Jalen Suggs.
This SGP taps into their contributions at that end of the floor, with Suggs grabbing 17 boards across his last three games and Thompson recording 1+ blocks in six straight contests.
Magic vs Pistons SGP
- Ausar Thompson Over 5.5 rebounds
- Jalen Suggs Over 3.5 rebounds
- Ausar Thompson Over 0.5 blocks
- Pistons -8.5
Magic vs Pistons odds for Game 1
- Spread: Magic +8.5 (-110) | Pistons -8.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Magic +300 | Pistons -380
- Over/Under: Over 219.5 (-110) | Under 219.5 (-110)
Magic vs Pistons betting trend to know
The Magic were 7-14 SU as road underdogs during the regular season. Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Pistons.
How to watch Magic vs Pistons Game 1
| Location | Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI |
| Date | Sunday, April 19, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 6:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | NBC |
Magic vs Pistons latest injuries
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Felix Reyes' ‘shot of energy' not enough as Phillies' lefty woes continue
Felix Reyes' ‘shot of energy' not enough as Phillies' lefty woes continue originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
When the Phillies called up Felix Reyes on Saturday afternoon, manager Rob Thomson called him a “shot of energy” for the club.
And when the rookie, making his debut, dug into the batter’s box for the first time at Citizens Bank Park, he delivered a shot in more ways than one.
A shot into the right-field seats off nine-time All-Star and former Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale.
A shot on the third pitch he ever saw in the Major Leagues.
But with the way this season has started for the Phillies, it may be easy to understand why that shot was not enough in their 3-1 loss to the Braves.
It is hard to wash away the moment, though.
It was an electric sequence at the yard. Reyes got a huge cheer from a sold-out Saturday crowd as he rounded the bases, another when he neared the Phillies’ dugout and then a standing ovation — plus a tip of the cap — when he jogged back out to left field. He even lost his helmet celebrating between first and second.
Reyes said the whole thing still did not feel real.
“I still feel like I’m sleeping,” he said. “It’s a dream come true.”
He was hunting for a fastball in a 2-0 count and got one in a spot he could handle.
“At that point, 2-0, I’m looking for a fastball,” Reyes said. “Luckily he got it in a spot where I could do some damage with it.”
And the fact that it came against Sale only added to it.
“We all know who he is,” Reyes said. “Hall of Fame, for sure.”
And still, Atlanta found a way to spoil the moment. And in doing so, it continued a theme the Phillies have run into over and over again to begin the season:
Struggles against left-handed starters.
The Phillies ran into a tough customer in Sale. He is once again looking like himself, even at 37 years old. In his 16th big league season, the southpaw still has his upper-90s fastball and his wipeout slider.
At this point, it is as advertised.
Outside of Reyes, Phillies hitters had very little to show for the night. They put only six baserunners aboard against Sale, who dazzled over seven innings of one-run ball on 101 pitches.
The likely future Hall of Famer only added emphasis to what the Phillies have — or have not — done against left-handed pitching in April.
Sale was the seventh left-handed starter the Phillies have faced in 2026. They are now slashing .155/.236/.254 in those games. They have totaled just six runs on 22 hits across 40 innings and have lost all seven of those contests.
It has become a concerning and repetitive theme for Thomson’s club.
And this was another one of those nights.
“It’s tough to tell off Sale,” Thomson said. “Sale is a tough at-bat, and you’ve got to fight.”
Last season, the Phillies’ success against left-handers — the sixth-best OPS in MLB — was helped by Kyle Schwarber’s dominance. He slugged 23 home runs against lefties and posted a .964 OPS against southpaws. The Phillies also had four other hitters with an OPS above .800 in those matchups: Edmundo Sosa, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper and Alec Bohm.
This season, despite the much smaller sample, Harper is the only Phillies hitter with at least 10 at-bats against lefties who has posted an OPS above .800. Adolis García is next at .760.
The next highest after that?
Trea Turner at .554.
Even Schwarber has not found much success, posting a 42.5 percent strikeout rate, a .421 OPS and no home runs in 35 at-bats.
The Phillies were not able to capitalize on the jolt from Reyes, just as they could not capitalize on Brandon Marsh’s first-inning home run robbery and, more importantly, Cristopher Sánchez’s solid six-inning outing. The left-hander allowed no earned runs and struck out eight.
At times this year, Sánchez has not been quite as sharp, throwing more pitches per inning at 16.4, his highest rate since 2022. But in his sixth start of the season, he got Atlanta to swing and miss at a 38 percent clip. His changeup alone generated a 54 percent whiff rate on Saturday.
Thomson loved what he got from his starter.
“He was great,” Thomson said. “Fastball command was great. The changeup was swing-and-miss.”
But the Braves took advantage in the third inning.
After Sánchez recorded two strikeouts to open the frame, Drake Baldwin lined a single. Ozzie Albies then reached on a fielder’s choice that was extended by a mishandle from Sosa. A walk followed. Then came a soft infield single, another single and suddenly the Braves were ahead 3-1.
Sánchez kept his composure through the inning, even with the Braves using ABS challenges and finding soft contact.
“That’s part of the game now,” he said. “You’ve got to embrace it.”
And with the way the Phillies’ offense is going right now, that was too big a hole to climb out of.
As for Reyes, his first night in the big leagues still gave the Phillies a moment worth remembering, even in defeat. Thomson was right about the energy.
“Whenever you see a kid come up for the first time and get a home run in his first at-bat, there’s a lot of energy in the dugout for sure,” he said.
Philadelphia just could not do enough with it.
REALMUTO EXITS, AGAIN
The Phillies took another hit in the seventh inning, when J.T. Realmuto left the game with lower back tightness. It was the second time in the first month of the season that he exited early.
Thomson made clear that the club’s backstop began to feel the back tighten on Friday.
“It happened last night when he made the play at the plate,” Thomson said. “The throw from García kind of jammed him.”
Thomson also mentioned Realmuto is unlikely to be available for Sunday’s series finale.
If it were to keep him out of games, that would be another big blow after the Phillies lost Jhoan Duran earlier in the afternoon. Realmuto has been exceptional behind the plate, especially with the new ABS system, and he has also been one of their most consistent hitters at .280 with a .748 OPS.
A further update is expected Sunday.
Ha-Seong Kim injury update
Prior to tonight’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss told reporters that injured shortstop Ha-Seong Kim is likely to participate in a simulated game on Thursday and has been taking batting practice. He is recovering from a broken wrist suffered after falling on ice prior to Spring Training.
Kim, who the Braves claimed off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays last September, opted to become a free agent but re-signed with Atlanta in December 2025 on a one-year, $20M deal. Atlanta had acquired Mauricio Dubón from the Houston Astros in a trade for infielder Nick Allen prior to Kim re-joining the organization.
Dubón, who is a two-time American League Gold Glove winner as a utility player, has seen most of the action for Atlanta at shortstop this season although free agent signee Jorge Mateo has also gotten spot duty when Dubón has appear around the diamond.
Both have excelled in the early-going, but Kim’s return would add additional depth to the team’s infield when he does return. According to Weiss, Kim could go on a rehabilitation assignment within one to two weeks. He will then have 20 days to stay on the assignment, if needed.
Based on that timeline, Kim could re-join Atlanta in mid- to late-May.
GAME THREAD: Orioles at Guardians, game 22 of 162
Here’s the Orioles lineup:
Here’s the Guardians lineup:
Let’s go, Guardians!
As NBA playoffs tip off, these are the 10 best players ready to define the postseason
The 2026 NBA playoffs have officially tipped off.
The best NBA players showcase their skills and talent through an 82-game regular season, but the playoffs are where legacies are made – or tainted. The postseason is where performance determines who is the star of stars; who will rise to the occasion and who shrinks when the lights are brightest.
With 16 teams left competing for the coveted Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy to be crowned NBA champion, someone will ascend themselves above the rest during the biggest moments with everything on the line.
Here's a ranking of the 10 best available players in these NBA playoffs. The list does not include players who have been considered out for the first round, including Los Angeles Lakers guards Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves.
Best players in 2026 NBA playoffs
Here are the top 10 best players competing during the NBA Playoffs.
10. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
The Suns guard plays both sides of the ball, can score with the best of them, and don't sleep on his playmaking ability and willing to defer to the hot hand. You saw that in the Suns' play-in game for the No. 8 seed against the Golden State Warriors.
Booker averaged 26.1 points on 45.6% field-goal shooting, 33% from 3-point distance and 87% free throw shooting. He pulled in 3.9 rebounds and 6 assists per game.
9. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Brunson has been the franchise leader the Knicks have been searching for. Brunson averaged 26 points on 46.7%/36.9%/84.1% shooting splits during the 2025-26 regular season.
He's deadly in the midrange and crafty at getting to the basket, but he will torch defenses with a step-back 3. Brunson led the Knicks to the No. 3 seed in the NBA playoffs as New York aims for its first NBA championship since 1973.
8. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Donovan Mitchell hasn't been past the second round during his career, but after the addition of James Harden there's hope that could change this season.
Mitchell is a dynamic scorer that score at three levels: inside, midrange and from deep. He's a slasher that will finish an acrobatic layup but also he might punch one on your big man's head. Mitchell scored 32 points in a Game 1 win against the Toronto Raptors, and the Cavs will go as far as he leads them.
Mitchell averaged 27.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.5 steals. His shooting splits are 48.3% field goals, 36.4 3-point shooting and 86.5% from the charity stripe.
HEEEEEER'S DONNY. @spidadmitchell | #LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/LAOELsoXME
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) April 18, 2026
7. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Brown has carried the Celtics for much of the regular season, leading them to the No. 2 seed in the playoffs with co-star Jayson Tatum sidelined for most of the year due to an Achilles injury he suffered in the 2025 NBA playoffs.
Brown led Boston to a 56-26 record, which is one of the reasons he's been considered a 2026 MVP candidate. He averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists, while shooting 47.7% on field goals. He also added a steal per game.
6. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Edwards is one of the best players in the league, and his star-like aura is reminiscent of the greatest the game's seen. But it's his game that backs up that nostalgia.
During the 2025-26 season, Edwards posted 28.8 points, five rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. His efficiency wasn't too shabby either, connecting on 48.9% field goals including 39.9% 3-pointers and 79.6% free throws. Edwards will look to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Denver Nuggets. Edwards led the Wolves to defeat the Nuggets in seven games during the 2024 playoffs. They hope to emulate that outcome.
Candace Parker couldn't believe this move and finish by Anthony Edwards 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/InBHvRb1eG
— NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) April 18, 2026
5. Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets
Kevin Durant, although listed questionable for Game 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers, is expected to have a major impact in the Rockets first-round matchup. After 17 seasons, Durant is still one of the premier players in the postseason and his team will depend on him to be the player he's been since 2007.
Durant has averaged an efficient 26 points on 52% field goals, 41% 3-pointers and 87% free throws. He's added 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists. Defensively, he's just under a block and steal per game, at 0.9 and 0.8, respectively.
4. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
Yes, LeBron at 41 years old, and now the focal point of the offense with injuries to Doncic and Reaves keeping them out of the first round indefinitely, is still one of the best players in the NBA postseason. We have never seen a player be this good for this long. You have to honor and respect that aspect when making these lists. Not only that, James' numbers have showcased that when he's locked in, he remains one of the best players.
James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks. Shooting-wise, he was 51.5% from the field, 31.7% from 3-point and 73.7% free throws. But don't focus so much on the 2025-26 season stats, as he had to share the floor, and ball, with Doncic and Reaves. James was relegated to the third scoring option to preserve these latter years of his career. Now he's back to the No. 1 option, it can be assumed the James of old – dominating the playoffs – is here again.
3. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Jokic averaged a triple-double during the 2025-26 season, posting 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game. Not only did he stuff that stat sheet, he did it in an efficient manner. Jokic's shooting splits were 56.9%/38%/83.1% during the regular season.
The reality is Jokic's supporting cast will have to show up in order for him to truly be a threat. The Joker is at his best when his passing is a threat, leaving players to forget that he can score with the best of them.
Jok with the catch & shoot pic.twitter.com/p86K1NHIZc
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) April 18, 2026
2. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Wemby being so high is based on his dominant regular season. He controls the game on both sides of the ball, which makes him one of the best players in this postseason.
The Alien averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists. Defensively, he averaged a steal and three blocks per game. He gave a taste of his inside game and shooting capability by making 51.2% of his field goals, 34.9% of his 3-pointer and 82.7% of his free throws.
This is Wembanyama's first taste of the playoff experience in the NBA, but he will be just fine if plays anything like he did during the regular season, which garnered MVP whispers.
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Giving respect where its due is why SGA is the top player coming into the playoffs. The reigning league MVP, NBA champion and Finals MVP has led OKC to the best record in the league for a second consecutive season.
During the 2025-26 season, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.6 assists on 55.3% field goal shooting, 38.6% 3-pointers and 87.9% free throws. Although not recognized as a lockdown defender, Gilgeous-Alexander grabbed 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks per game.
Honorable mentions
There's so much talent in the postseason, it wasn't easy to choose only 10 players. Some player rankings can be mixed-and-swapped for other players, while others are more concrete belonging in the top 10 recognition.
Here are honorable mentioned players that could be considered a top-10 player in the postseason:
- James Harden, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
- Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
- Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
- Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
- Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
- De'Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs
- Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
X-factors
In most cases, these players are one of the top three on their team, or just a huge spark and difference maker for their club. Don't sleep on these dudes. They can fill it up with the best of them and contend with any of the best players in the league. Consistency can be questioned, but the talent is a no-brainer. These players are the X-factors for their teams during the postseason.
- Alperen Şengün, Houston Rockets
- Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets
- Julius Randle, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
- Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
- Desmond Bane, Orlando Magic
- Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers
- Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Jalen Green, Phoenix Suns
- Brandon Ingram, Toronto Raptors
- RJ Barrett, Toronto Raptors
- Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
- Derrick White, Boston Celtics
- Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ranking the 10 best players heading into 2026 NBA playoffs
First Blood: Senators Fall To Carolina 2-0 In Stanley Cup Playoff Opener
Frederik Andersen made 22 saves as the Carolina Hurricanes opened the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 2–0 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Logan Stankoven, who was under the weather the last few days, was obviously feeling much better on Saturday afternoon, leading the way with a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes.
The game started with some early excitement, as for the third time in less than a month, Senators captain Brady Tkachuk squared off in a fight before the opening faceoff against the opposing captain.
After brawling with Anders Lee in a pair of games against the Islanders down the stretch, Tkachuk and Jordan Staal went at it to try and set the tone.
After a tight, defensive struggle in a scoreless first period, Stankoven opened the scoring on what seemed like a harmless shot from the slot that was partially blocked by the stick of Shane Pinto. The deflection slowly dribbled through Linus Ullmark’s legs for the game’s opening goal.
The Senators appeared to tie the game when Andersen made a glove save, and it looked like his trapper may have gone into his own net with the puck. However, replays showed that was not the case.
Carolina got another break on their second goal, credited to Taylor Hall. A shot from the point deflected over top of Ullmark, landing near his skate while he was on his knees, and Hall jammed in the loose puck to make it 2–0.
The Senators caught a break with about 2:30 left in the game. With their goalie pulled, Jalen Chatfield was called for delay of game after sending the puck over the glass, setting up a 6 on 4. The Sens unleashed plenty of shots, but Carolina's D held strong to preserve the win.
"We had a couple of close ones that almost went in and Ully played great," Sens winger Drake Batherson said. "Obviously, anytime you give a team two 5-on-3's you've got to make some saves. Yeah, I just thought we didn't get any breaks, but I thought we played pretty well."
Both teams played well defensively and shorthanded, combining to go 9-0 on the penalty kill.
"I didn't mind our game," head coach Travis Green said. "Pretty tight-checking game. Not a lot of space really for either team. Probably if you look at the numbers, I haven't seen them yet, but they probably deserved to win analytically, and they did."
The style of game and the tight checking was no surprise to Canes coach Rod Brind'Amour.
"Everybody out there was giving it all they had," Brind'Amour said. "And that was what you saw. You explained it perfectly. I mean, there was not a lot of room and everybody was fighting for everything."
Meanwhile, there seems to be no end to the injury troubles on Ottawa's blue line. After a big hit on Seth Jarvis, Artem Zub left the game and did not return. Prior to that, Dennis Gilbert suffered what appeared to be a left shoulder injury after a hit from behind but gutted it out and stayed in the game.
So Carolina leads the best-of-seven 1-0, with Game 2 is Monday night in Raleigh.
Steve Warne
The Hockey News
This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:
The Farm System Everyone Doubted Helped Save The Senators Season
Rick Bowness Clarifies That Only Some Of His Players "Don't Care"
Rod Brind'Amour Describes Senators As 'A Huge Challenge' In Round One
Through All The Noise, The Playoff-Bound Senators Held Their Ground
Brady Tkachuk Describes Brief Vision Loss During Game As 'Weird And Scary'
Cubs 4, Mets 2: Carson Kelly’s pinch home run wins the game
It’s a strategy familiar to anyone who follows baseball.
Middle innings, team rallying, left-handed hitter comes up. The team on defense sends in a left-handed reliever. The batting team counters with a right-handed pinch-hitter.
That was the scenario in the bottom of the sixth on a sunny, but chilly Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field. The Cubs had two runners on with two out and Moisés Ballesteros due up. The Mets sent in left-hander Brooks Raley. Craig Counsell sent Carson Kelly up to bat for Ballesteros… and Kelly deposited Raley’s first pitch into the left-field bleachers for a three-run homer, which was the difference in the Cubs’ fourth win in a row, 4-2 over the Mets, also the Mets’ 10th straight defeat.
Let’s rewind to the beginning. Jameson Taillon threw a lot of pitches in the first inning (including 10 to leadoff batter Carson Benge, who struck out). Then he served up a solo homer to Mark Vientos in the second, giving the Mets a 1-0 lead.
The Cubs matched that in the bottom of the inning, on Ian Happ’s sixth homer of the year [VIDEO].
Happ didn’t hit his sixth homer last year until June 10, the Cubs’ 58th game. He could be on target for a career high (currently: 25).
That’s where the game stayed, a 1-1 tie and pretty good pitchers’ battle between Taillon and Freddy Peralta, until the sixth. Taillon settled down after Vientos’ homer and allowed just five more baserunners, only one of whom reached second base. Another, Luis Robert Jr., was thrown out trying to steal by Miguel Amaya [VIDEO].
Overall, I thought it was a good outing by Taillon, who threw 100 pitches (61 strikes). Here’s more on Jamo’s afternoon [VIDEO].
More on Taillon’s day from BCB’s JohnW53:
This was Taillon’s 40th quality start among 84 total starts as a Cub. It was the 15th QS in which he gave up one run and the seventh of those in which the run came on a home run. He did it three times each in 2024 and 2025.
Say what you want about Taillon, but he has been a perfectly good starter almost all the time he’s been a Cub, and he’s off to a good start in 2026.
Peralta also settled down after Happ’s homer, until he retired the first two batters in the sixth. Then he walked Happ, followed by a walk to Seiya Suzuki — who got ball 4 challenged by the Mets, but the call was confirmed [VIDEO].
That turned out to be very important. After the walk, Peralta was relieved by Raley, and Kelly batted for Ballesteros.
About Kelly’s homer, from John:
According to my research, Carson Kelly’s pinch-hit homer was the Cubs’ 359th of the kind since 1901. They have been hit by 228 batters. Kelly is the 82nd to hit more than one.
The Cubs’ previous three-run pinch homer had been by Miguel Amaya, on Aug. 1, 2023, at home against the Reds. The Cubs led at the time, 17-5.
The last that broke a tie was by Geovany Soto, a walk-off in the 13th inning on June 30, 2011 vs. the Giants.
They had hit six more three-run pinch homers since then before Kelly’s today.
Ben Brown threw a scoreless seventh and then allowed an unearned run to the Mets in the eighth in a very weird inning in which he got five ground balls that all could have been outs. First, a comebacker by Bo Bichette that went off Brown’s leg for a hit. Then Francisco Lindor hit a ball that Dansby Swanson couldn’t quite corral. A grounder by Robert resulted in a force play, and Brown struck out MJ Melendez for the second out.
That was a rare, rushed, bad throw from Nico Hoerner that pulled Michael Busch off first base. Francisco Alvarez was called out, but clearly, Busch’s foot was not on the base and the call was overturned. That resulted in a run scoring to make it 4-2. Brown then got another ground ball, handled smoothly by Alex Bregman, to end the inning.
The Cubs didn’t score in the eighth and Caleb Thielbar was given the save opportunity. He struck out the first two batters he faced, at times hitting 96 on the Wrigley pitch speed meter, and got a little popup to end the game [VIDEO].
Thielbar’s veteran presence made that one seem easy, and even though typically left-handers aren’t used in the closing role, perhaps he can handle it while Daniel Palencia is out.
Here are some postgame comments from Kelly [VIDEO].
The Cubs’ streaks of scoring 10+ runs (three games) and seven+ runs (five games) thus ended, but I’m sure you don’t mind that as long as the “W” flag flies from the Wrigley Field scoreboard. That’s four straight for the Cubs and the first time in 2026 that they have won the first two games of a series. They will go for the sweep Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Javier Assad will start for the Cubs and David Peterson goes for the Mets. Game time is again 1:20 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.
Big budget Mets losing streak hits 10 games following loss to Chicago Cubs
The struggles and losses are mounting for the New York Mets.
Following a 4-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday, April 18, the Mets' losing streak rose to 10 straight games. The 10th consecutive loss dropped them to 7-14 on the season and tied for the worst record in the MLB just over midway through April. The Kansas City Royals also own a 7-14 record as of Saturday.
The 10-game losing skid is the longest for the franchise since it lost 11 in a row from Aug. 28-Sept. 8, 2004. New York is just 4-8 away from Citi Field so far this season.
Third baseman Mark Vientos gave the Mets a 1-0 lead on a solo home run in the top of the second inning. However, the Cubs responded with a run in the bottom of the inning, on a leadoff home run from Ian Happ.
The game remained tied until the sixth inning, when pinch-hitter Carson Kelly made Freddy Peralta pay for two walks earlier in the inning with a three-run home run. The Mets added a run in the top of the eighth inning, but never drew closer.
The struggles for New York persist despite an MLB-high payroll of $357,626,125 for the 2026 season, entering Opening Day. The Mets handed Bo Bichette a three-year, $126 million contract this past offseason. However, he has hit for a .227 average so far this season, along with a .564 OPS.
At 7-14, the Mets have the worst record in the National League through 21 games and are in last place in the NL East. It also marks their worst start since 1983, when they started 6-15. The Mets finished 68-94 that season.
New York started the 2025 season with a 45-24 record, but finished 38-55 the rest of the way.
Mets losing streak by the numbers
Here's a look at the Mets losing streak, by the numbers:
- 2: The Mets have two home runs during the losing streak. Vientos hit the second on Saturday.
- 3: Marks the number of times New York has been shutout during its 10-game losing skid.
- 15: The Mets have had two 15-game losing streaks in franchise history, with the last coming in 1983.
- 17: The longest losing streak for New York came in its inaugural season; it lost 17 straight between May 21 and June 6, 1962.
- 18: Represents the number of runs the Mets have scored during the losing streak. They have scored more than four runs once during that period.
Longest Mets losing streaks
The Mets are back in action on Sunday, April 18, against the Cubs, looking to avoid a sweep. Another loss would tie the franchise record for the seventh-longest losing streak in franchise history.
New York also has losing streaks of 12, 13, 15 and 17 games in its history:
- 17 Games: May 21 – June 6, 1962
- 15 Games: May 15 – June 1, 1963; Aug 16 – Aug 30, 1982
- 13 Games: May 19 – May 31, 1962; July 30 – Aug 12, 1980
- 12 Games: July 23 – Aug 5, 2002
- 11 Games: Five times (1962, 1963, 1965, 1991, and Aug 28-Sept 8, 2004)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mets' miserable start continues, losing streak rises to 10 games
Saturday night Orioles game thread, at Guardians, 6:10 pm
So… that was fun! The Orioles got shut out for seven innings, gave up a grand slam, and still won. The bottom of the lineup was pivotal in that monster eighth inning: Leody Taveras had a big walk in a key situation, outfielder Weston Wilson doubled with the bases lodaed, and Jeremiah Jackson hit the game-winning Earl Weaver Special. Now hitting .317 with a .923 OPS, Jackson is making it hard to move on from him, even when the regular guys come back from the injured list.
It was a great win, although it would be awesome, I admit, if the offense could show up a little earlier (they were no-hit through eight the night before). The Orioles will have to push their runs across Gavin Williams, a 26-year-old righty who’s 2-1 so far with a 2.38 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and a 29:16 strikeout-to-walk ratio in four starts. At 6’6, 250 lbs, the 2021 first-rounder is big, throws hard, and has command of multiple pitches. And he’s been even better his last three starts, with just one earned run over 17.2 innings. This is a tough test for the O’s lineup, no doubt.
Kremer comes in at 0-0 with a 3.60 ERA and 9 strikeouts, having just been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk in time to slot back into the rotation. I will say I am happy to have him back. Despite his reputation for bad Aprils, his recent Norfolk stints showed him getting sharper, and while proving extremely homer-prone (3 HR allowed in five IP) he looked more like himself in his most recent outing against the Diamondbacks: the nine strikeouts were nice.
This looks to be a tough matchup, but if Kremer can keep the ball in the yard and the offense can work some walks and get Jackson or Gunnar to time up a fastball, they could scratch out a win. Crazier things have happened—and just this week!
Orioles lineup
- Gunnar Henderson SS
- Taylor Ward LF
- Pete Alonso 1B
- Dylan Beavers RF
- Colton Cowser DH
- Leody Taveras CF
- Samuel Basallo C
- Coby Mayo 3B
- Jeremiah Jackson 2B
Dean Kremer RHP
Guardians lineup
- Steven Kwan CF
- Chase DeLauter RF
- José Ramírez 3B
- Kyle Manzardo DH
- George Valera LF
- Rhys Hoskins DH
- Daniel Schneeman 2B
- Bo Naylor C
- Brayan Rocchio SS
Gavin Williams RHP
Jenner and Larocque lead the way as Charge beat Sirens 5-1 in PWHL matinee
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Brianne Jenner had a goal and two assists and Jocelyne Larocque had goal and an assist to lead the Ottawa Charge past the New York Sirens 5-1 on Saturday.
Ronja Savolainen, Peyton Hemp and Rebecca Leslie also scored and Gwyneth Phillips stopped 23 shots for the Charge (8-7-1-12). They took a five-point lead on the Sirens and Toronto Sceptres for the fourth and final playoff spot with two games remaining.
Paetyn Levis scored for the Sirens (9-2-3-1) and Kayle Osborne made 24 saves.
New York, which is 0-0-1-7 in its last eight road games, opened the scoring with a power-play goal midway through the first period when Levis took a pass in the slot and beat Philips on the stick side.
With 61 seconds remaining in the period, Jenner attempted to find Leslie in front, but the puck was redirected and went in off Leslie’s shoulder. The play underwent a lengthy review before the call was upheld.
The Charge took the lead at 7:54 of the second period.
Larocque blocked a shot to spark a short-handed rush as Jenner picked up the puck and broke in on Osborne. She gave up a big rebound that Larocque buried for her first of the season.
Just over six minutes later, Hemp won a race for the puck and knocked it free. That allowed Alexa Vasko to take possession and she sent it back to Hemp, who gave the Charge a 3-1 lead.
Ottawa scored a pair of goals in the third to put the game out of reach.
Savolainen scored from just inside the blue line through traffic. Larocque had a shot ring off the crossbar and Jenner buried the rebound.
Up next
Charge: Ottawa visits Boston on Wednesday.
Sirens: New York plays Toronto on Tuesday.
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AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey
Yankees’ Ben Rice continues to solidify himself as 'one of the outstanding hitters in the league'
Lefty? Righty? Ben Rice does not care.
The Yankees said over the offseason that they wanted to give Rice more exposure to lefties this year, and he took full advantage of his first start in such situation on Sunday.
The 27-year-old was right back in the lineup against tough Royals southpaw Noah Cameron, and he had no issue crushing a solo shot as part of a five-run bottom of the third.
Rice lifted a 3-1 fastball up in the zone 398 feet to the second-deck in right, giving him homers in three straight games and a total of seven on the season.
He grounded out in his only other at-bat against Cameron, but is now hitting an impressive .313 with a pair of homers and a 1.041 OPS against lefties on the season.
“He’s made a lot of progress,” Aaron Boone said. “He handled his own against [lefties] last year and then some, so Benny’s just continuing to solidify himself as one of the outstanding hitters in the league no matter what hand you throw with.”
The numbers certainly show that to be true.
Even with the homer being his lone knock in the win, Rice is hitting .339 through 42 at-bats.
He’s racked up 13 XBH's, has driven in 17 runs, is getting on-base at a .468 clip, and is slugging .774 which adds up to a 1.224 OPS -- all of which are among the league’s best.
Rice’s early-season prowess has him drawing praise from his teammates.
“Ever since I saw him last spring he’s been hitting the ball hard,” Cody Bellinger said. “He’s got a really good idea of what he wants to do up there -- just a really good plan, really good approach, it’s fun to watch.”
“I don’t think I’ve seen anyone be so consistent impacting the ball the way he’s been doing so far this year,” Amed Rosario added via a translator. “It feels great to see that from him, just really great work.”
Boone plans on having Rice and Paul Goldschmidt in the lineup against lefty Cole Ragans as the Yanks look for the series sweep in Sunday’s finale.