Apr 6, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Tigers third baseman Colt Keith (33) looks on after challenging a called strike against the Minnesota Twins in the fifth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images | Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (4-7) vs. Minnesota Twins (5-6)
Time/Place: 7:40 p.m., Target Field SB Nation Site: Twinkie Town Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: LHP Framber Valdez (1-0, 0.75 ERA) vs. RHP Bailey Ober (0-0, 6.75 ERA)
Apr 7, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker (18) hits the ball into play against the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images | Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images
At what point do we switch from saying “it is still early?” to “this is legit”? That is what we tried to figure out with Kevin Wheeler from KMOX on Cardinals on My Time this week with the Redbird Rundown crew.
Wheeler is one of our all-time favorites and oh man, did he have a bunch to say about the progression we are seeing from multiple Cardinals’ players so far in the 2026 season. The main talking point, of course, was outfielder Jordan Walker. Now in his fourth big league season, what we are seeing from Walker is one of the most incredible bounce back stories for a guy who was written off by a large amount of the fanbase. Amazing what a little patience can do, right Mo?
Beyond Walker, we talked Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages behind the dish, Michael McGreevy’s velocity, Victor Scott’s outfield matched with his inability to hit, and much more! This was a super fun one and we are excited to hear what you think. What is real and what is a mirage thus far in the 2026 season?
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 9: Anthony Davis #3 of the Dallas Mavericks greetes Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers before the game on April 9, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
While this deal is far from ancient history, enough time has passed that more people are willing to talk about one of the biggest trades to ever happen in sports.
In a recent episode of “The Draymond Green Show,” Davis shared his side of the story, going into detail on the call he had with his agent, Rich Paul, regarding his trade from LA to Dallas.
“So when he [Rich Paul] said ‘traded to Dallas’, I was like, ‘Get the f—out of here.’ And I said, ‘Who the f— they going to trade me for Luka?’ Who else can you trade me for on that team? Mind you, they just went to the Finals.
“And there was never no discussion about ‘man we might get AD out of here’, it was nothing. He was like, ‘They traded you for Luka.’ I’m like, ‘Rich, shut the h–l up. Like what do you want?’ I’m really thinking he’s playing. I’m really thinking he’s just playing. And he was like, ‘Man, I swear.'”
As AD explained, what made the Luka trade so shocking is that the Mavs would even do it. Dončić was coming off an NBA Finals appearance and while they lost that series, most people left that season feeling pretty good about Dallas’ future.
Trading away a generational talent entering their prime without them asking to be moved is essentially unheard of. So, when AD received this news, even the credibility of his own agent wasn’t enough to convince him. Like most basketball aficionados, Davis turned to Shams Charania of ESPN for confirmation.
“I go on X, go straight to Shams’ [Charania] page. Nothing. Go up the stairs, Joel Embiid calls me. Somebody else called me, another player and I’m like wait, hold on. So I go back to Shams’ page and then there it is.”
It took his agent, other players, Pelinka and Shams telling Davis he was no longer a Laker and had been dealt to the Mavs for him to believe it was real.
This trade and all the details about how it came to be will be told for years to come, and thanks to AD sharing his side of the story, another piece to this shocking tale has been told.
Now, AD is a Wizard, Mavs general manager Nico Harrison has been relieved of his duties, Luka will be a Laker for years to come and the course of both franchises has been changed forever.
On a chilly afternoon at Citi Field — even with first pitch moved up three hours for a second straight day because of the numbing forecast — Peterson’s performance quickly transformed the ballpark from refrigerator to freezer.
Buried in a five-run hole early, the Mets never recovered in a 7-2 loss to the Diamondbacks that snapped their four-game winning streak.
Mr. Freeze, whether played by Otto Preminger, George Sanders or Eli Wallach, was Peterson’s equal on this day.
The only redeeming quality of the left-hander’s second straight clunker was he persevered and lasted through the fifth. Overall, he allowed five earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
“A lot of it comes down to leaving balls up and away,” Peterson said.
Manager Carlos Mendoza said he isn’t concerned about Peterson, who struggled against the Giants last week.
“If he’s healthy, which he is, there is no concern,” Mendoza said. “He’s too good of a pitcher, he’s been our guy. We have just got to make a couple of adjustments.”
Sean Manaea, who before the game Mendoza said would remain in the bullpen rather than pitch as part of a six-man rotation, was utilized for an extended relief appearance in a second straight Peterson start.
Manaea threw 70 pitches over four innings on this day to not only save the bullpen for the second time in less than a week, but remain stretched out should the need eventually arise for him to enter the rotation.
David Peterson wears a frustrated expression on the mound during the second inning of the Mets’ 7-2 loss to the Diamondbacks on April 8, 2026 at Citi Field. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Offensively, the Mets mustered only a 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position, in their first loss since Juan Soto departed last Friday’s game.
Soto has since been placed on the injured list with a right calf strain.
Corbin Carroll’s double in the first inning led to the D’backs initial run. Geraldo Perdomo singled and Gabriel Moreno’s sacrifice fly brought in Carroll.
Ketel Marte stroked a bases-loaded RBI single in the second that extended the Mets’ deficit to 2-0.
Mark Vientos walks back to the dugout after striking out during the sixth inning of the Mets’ loss to the Diamondbacks. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Carroll’s ensuing two-run double further buried Peterson, and before the inning was complete, Perdomo’s sacrifice fly gave the D’backs a 5-0 lead. Peterson’s trouble in the inning started with the successive singles he allowed to Ildemaro Vargas and Jose Fernandez.
“Not only are teams super aggressive against him, especially early in counts, but [Peterson] is having a hard time executing pitches glove side, meaning inside to righties and there’s a lot of pitches out over the plate and there’s hard contact there,” Mendoza said. “I thought he made some good adjustments after they got him there in the second inning, but I think it’s just the execution part, for the last couple of turns you have seen that.”
In a moment of levity Mark Vientos signaled the crowd to increase the applause after a mock cheer as he caught Vargas’ pop-up in the third inning. Moments earlier Vientos had misplayed a Vargas pop up in foul territory, extending the at-bat.
Brett Baty’s RBI single in the sixth pulled the Mets to within 5-1. Bo Bichette and Luis Robert Jr. each singled in the inning before Baty delivered his sixth RBI of the season, tying him for the team lead.
Jorge Barrosa’s two-run double (a ball that should have been caught) off Robert’s glove in the eighth inning widened the Mets’ deficit to 7-1. Manaea loaded the bases in the inning by allowing two singles and a walk.
Vientos’ sacrifice fly in the eighth recovered a run after Robert and Baty reached on a single and double, respectively.
Peterson could take a measure of satisfaction in his performance after his rocky two-inning stretch at the start.
“I think the third through the fifth [innings] we did a lot better job,” Peterson said. “I felt a little off mechanically the first two innings. I was able to clean that up and get to where I wanted to be.”
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 7: De'Anthony Melton #8 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball during the game against the Sacramento Kings on April 7, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors beat the Sacramento Kings 110-105 on Tuesday night, in a battle between deeply injured teams. Only one team was actively trying to win, though, and that team did, indeed, win.
It wasn’t pretty, though it was for a little while. The Warriors blew a 16-point lead, but recovered to pull off a win, and put a halt to their four-game losing skid.
So let’s grade the players who handled business on Tuesday. As always, grades are based on my expectations for each player, with a “B” grade representing the average performance for that player.
Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. League-average TS is 58.1%.
Spencer didn’t have a particularly good game, but there’s still so much value that he provides. The Warriors only used nine players, which included a player on a two-way contract who is fighting through an injury, a player who was healthy for just the eighth time this season, and a player being carefully worked back into the fold after two months on the sidelines.
So while it wasn’t great basketball that Spencer played, it was extremely valuable for Steve Kerr to know he could trust the guard to play 40+ minutes and not make any huge mistakes along the way. And that’s exactly what happened. Spencer ran the offense well, competed on defense, and made a few buckets. His efficiency wasn’t quite as bad as it looks, since he had a few bail-out attempts.
Leons didn’t play well. There’s no sugarcoating that. He’s also been gutting his way through a nasty wrist injury because the Warriors are shy on bodies, and he deserves a whole lot of credit for that.
Grade: A for the toughness Post-game bonus: Worst plus/minus on the team
A lot of good, and a lot of bad for Draymond. The primary takeaway is that it was a strong reminder as to how well he plays with Steph Curry. Steve Kerr synced their minutes up, and it’s just stunning how much chemistry and intelligence they have. It’s just a joy to watch.
But Green also did a lot of things that were not a joy to watch. Some of the turnovers really made you shake your head, and he was a complete non-factor scoring the ball. I also thought his defense wasn’t particularly good, at least by his standards (it’s always good relative to league average).
Grade: C Post-game bonus: Led the team in assists.
Melton had been in a bit of a rut for a while, but he broke out in a massive way in this game. In a game featuring not one, but two players with the surname “Curry” (curname? surryname?), Melton was the best perimeter scorer. His jump shot was buttery, and he was able to get whatever he wanted across the court. And when Sacramento tightened up on him? He found the open teammate for an easy bucket.
Not to be outdone, Podziemski was every bit as valuable a part of Golden State’s starting backcourt as Melton was. This was an exceptionally crafty game for the third-year guard, who not only repeatedly got good looks — either from the field, or by forcing his way to the line — but seemed to do so at the biggest moments. He’s really developing a reputation for stepping up when the team needs him the most, and making shots that shift the momentum in Golden State’s favor.
I especially enjoyed watching Podz use his patented deceleration in this game. Against a Sacramento team that is young, inexperienced, and highly athletic, he was able to get over-eager defenders in the air all night long. It was quite crafty.
No Al Horford? No problem. No Kristaps Porziņģis? No problem. No Quinten Post? No problem.
Bassey played in his second game since joining the organization, and was everything the Dubs needed at the center position. Against a Kings team that was athletic but not very refined, he was able to feast in the paint, rejecting defenders left and right, and hauling in crafty boards. And against a Sacramento squad that is rangy but not strong, he was a downright bully, pushing bodies aside for boards and buckets.
If he can repeat this performance, I’m going to have a lot of crow to eat as I pushed back a bit when fans were clamoring to add him to the roster while he was performing well in Santa Cruz. Hopefully that’s the case,because the Warriors don’t win this game without him.
Grade: A+ Post-game bonus: Led the team in rebounds.
Steve Kerr had the Curry brothers share the court for most of Seth’s minutes, and it was more than a feel-good story. It was a reminder that the Warriors system works so much better when there are two dead-eye shooters in it. A system designed for Steph Curry and Klay Thompson isn’t quite the same when you swap out Mychal Thompson’s son for Dell Curry’s youngest, but it certainly was beautiful.
Seth got a lot of open looks thanks to Steph, and he’s going to make them at a high clip. Don’t let the constant injuries or bench role fool you: he’s still one of the game’s elite shooters.
Grade: A Post-game bonus: Best plus/minus on the team.
A very solid GPII game. His offense has really been so good lately — the timing on his cuts is impeccable, and he’s greatly improved his finishing at the rim, as well as his passing. It wasn’t a good defensive game for the Warriors, but Payton was the exception there, as he had a very strong game.
Curry wasn’t quite as dynamic in this game as he was in his return to action on Sunday. Perhaps that was due to a little soreness after his first game in two months, or maybe it was just because Golden State didn’t need him to play as big of a hero role to win the game. He mostly lived on the perimeter, and didn’t attack the rim very much at all, with just one shot inside the arc, and no free throws earned inside it (his three trips to the charity line were a couple of four-point plays and a technical free throw).
Still, his shooting was dynamic, he got in on the action rebounding, and he had a few nice defensive plays. Given that he’s still playing his way back into shape, it was a strong game.
Grade: B
Doug Christie
The Kings are eliminated, and to attempt to work around the league’s new anti-tanking rules, Kings coach Doug Christie tried something new: intentionally fouling Seth Curry late in the game, sending a career 86.4% free throw shooter to the line under the guise of trying to win.
I get that draft picks are more valuable than winning meaningless April games, and I understand that coaches are under pressure from front offices to find creative ways to lose, and sure, it helped the Warriors. But please, have a little respect for the game. That was just pathetic.
Grade: F
Tuesday’s incatives: Jimmy Butler III, LJ Cryer, Al Horford, Moses Moody, Kristaps Porziņģis, Quinten Post, Will Richard, Gui Santos, Nate Williams
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 28: Nickeil Alexander-Walker #7 of the Atlanta Hawks moves the ball as Dean Wade #32 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers attempt to steal in the first quarter during the 2025-26 Emirates Cup at State Farm Arena on November 28, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are starting their preferred starting five of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. This should be a good test against the Atlanta Hawks.
Share your thoughts as the game unfolds. If you aren’t a member of the community, sign up so you can talk to your fellow Cavalier fans and make your voice heard!
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 08: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after hitting a double against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 08, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Okay, so technically relentless would be scoring in every inning, and the Braves only scored in five of the nine frames available to them, but hey — it worked just fine. The offense started early and didn’t stop until well past clobberin’ time, leading to an 8-2 victory over the Angels. Meanwhile, Grant Holmes did what the team needed him to do despite an ugly second inning, pitching nearly seven frames and letting the Braves avoid using any of their key bullpen arms heading into tomorrow’s off-day. With the victory, the Braves move to 8-5, and have yet to lose a series all season.
The scoring started early. Ronald Acuña Jr. led off with a bloop double behind third base, and then moved around the bases on a couple of outs to score the game’s first run. In the second, Austin Riley drew a leadoff walk, stole second with two outs, and then scored on Jonah Heim’s semi-bizarre ground rule double, which was simultaneously a barrel but also kind of a hanging-up-forever fly ball into the right-field corner.
This portended a cruising-ish game for the Braves, but Holmes had a lot of trouble in the second. For a second there, it looked like the Braves might suffer a disappointing loss due to Holmes’ struggles. The frame started with Holmes hanging a slider to Braves hero and noted pugilist Jorge Soler, cutting the lead in half. Holmes then totally fell apart mechanics-wise (his first was rough but not this rough despite being a 1-2-3 frame), with three walks and a single sandwiched in there to tie the game. The game-tying base on balls was actually initially ruled a strikeout, but ABS is a thing, and it was a facile overturn into an RBI for Logan O’Hoppe.
After that, though, Holmes locked in. He blew Oswald Peraza away on three pitches, and then lucked out when Zach Neto A) randomly tried to bunt with the bases loaded and then B) popped up a down-the-pipe fastball to shallow right. Mike Trout was up next, and Holmes served him a hanging slider on 1-2, but Trout just bounced it weakly back up the middle to Ozzie Albies to keep the game tied.
And then, it was all Braves. Angels starter Reid Detmers grazed Drake Baldwin on 0-2 with one out, and Matt Olson bashed a low liner (so low it wasn’t even a barrel!) over the yellow line in right-center for a two-run homer. Riley followed with a hustle double, and then Mauricio Dubon hit a routine grounder that Neto airmailed, giving the Braves a fifth run. The hits just kept on coming, too. In the fifth, after Detmers departed, Dubon yanked a two-run double. In the sixth, Baldwin dunked a ball into center to score Michael Harris II, who had drawn a leadoff walk and stolen second earlier in the inning.
Meanwhile, Holmes rolled along after his second inning hiccup. The Angels made some pretty good contact here and there, but the Braves’ defense was solid. From the third through the sixth, the Angels got just one baserunner. Holmes struck out the first two he faced in the seventh, but Peraza hooked a well-placed curve for a double, and Neto beat out a slow roller. The Braves swapped Holmes for Joel Payamps to face Mike Trout, and Payamps came through by getting Trout to swing through high heat. Jose Suarez finished the game with two frames, striking out the side in the first and getting a double play in the second. Harris snagged a Peraza liner in center to end the game.
The Braves’ side of the box score looked quite delicious in this one, with five doubles, a homer, six walks, and a hit by pitch. Detmers was overwhelmed (4/2 K/BB ratio, the Olson homer, in 4 1/3); Holmes ended up with a decent line overall (6/3 K/BB ratio, the Soler homer, in 6 2/3) but would’ve been nearly pristine if you removed that second inning from consideration.
The Braves now embark on what is a happier flight home than if this game had gone sideways in the second, and get a well-deserved day of rest after 13 straight games to begin the season. They will open up a homestand with a set against the Guardians on Friday night.
HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 11: JD Davidson #4 of the Houston Rockets arrives to the arena before the game against the LA Clippers on February 11, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Tuesday, the Houston Rockets converted JD Davison’s two-way deal to a traditional NBA contract, theoretically helping the Rockets’ ongoing need at the point guard position.
The Houston Rockets are signing two-way guard JD Davison on a new two-year deal, filling their open roster spot heading into the playoffs, agent Corey Marcum of EZ Sports Group tells ESPN.
Davison has been with the team mostly all season, although he hasn’t spent much time on the floor. As a two-way signee, Davison was limited to just 50 NBA games, although it’s not limited to whether or not he actively plays in the games.
Even if he was made active but never actually logged game minutes, that counted towards his count. The Rockets rank the risk of Davison not being eligible for the postseason, absent a standard NBA deal.
Davison reached his 50th game on Sunday, when the Rockets beat the Golden State Warriors in Stephen Curry’s return from a two-month absence.
As for the deal itself, it’s a two-year contract with a team option in the second year. Davison, the G-League MVP of the 2024-25 season, rose to prominence in Rockets circles during the preseason.
At that point in time, the Rockets were still dealing with the news of Fred VanVleet’s torn ACL and season-long absence. Making matters worse, Houston didn’t technically have any other point guards on the roster, either.
Aaron Holiday and Reed Sheppard had been utilized more as scoring guards upto that point. And still have, although we’ve seen Rockets coach Ime Udoka give Sheppard more on-ball reps in recent months.
During the preseason, Davison made 47.1 percent of his three-pointers, proving capable of providing theoretical value in that realm for a Rockets team lacking outside shooting specialists. Davison also averaged 10.5 points.
On the season, Davison’s counting stats aren’t exactly eye-popping, as he’s averaged 2.2 points, 1 assist and .9 rebounds, while shooting 40 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from three, which translates to 11.3 points, 5.2 assists and 4.5 rebounds per 36 minutes.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 05: Jake Meyers #6 of the Houston Astros bats against the Athletics during the second inning at Sutter Health Park on April 05, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
An awful road trip got even worse as the Astros were swept by the Colorado Rockies, falling under .500.
You know those days where nothing goes right straight from the jump? The Astros do too. Today was one of those days.
Looking to salvage the finale of a 3 game series against the Rockies in Colorado, the wheels came off very fast for Houston in a 9-1 drubbing that sent them to their fourth straight loss and a game under .500 at 6-7. The Astros are now 1-5 on the current 10 game road trip.
Cristian Javier continued to struggle with his velocity, bouncing between 91-93 MPH with his fastball, and that was the lesser of his issues today.
Javier had to leave the game after just 1 inning due to shoulder pain. Trainers checked on him before the start of the second inning, and the Astros had to remove him.
A.J. Blubaugh was summoned in relief in an unusual spot – needing to get ready very quickly.
Blubaugh never looked comfortable today and it manifested in a 5-run second inning from which the Rockies never looked back.
Houston was held to just 1 run for the second consecutive game. They did manage 8 hits and 2 walks, but went 1-for-7 with RISP and left 9 men on base.
Complicating matters for the Astros, they also lost centerfielder Jake Meyers in the game. Meyers was injured on a check swing in the top of the 2nd, clutching at his side.
Jake Meyers immediately grabbed his oblique after this check swung. He’s leaving this game. pic.twitter.com/7H6D3qhC3G
Abreu’s struggles and inconsistencies are still a mystery to the team and Abreu, who is struggling mightily to regain his usual elite form.
The Astros have an off day Thursday before beginning a 4-game series in Seattle against the Mariners. They are expected to go to a 6-man rotation beginning with that series as they will play 13 straight days.
Instead of showing any urgency, though, Bradish casually started walking after the ball. Chase Meidroth, advancing to third on the walk, alertly picked up on the scenario and scampered home. Bradish finally quickened his step before throwing wildly to the plate, and Meidroth scored with ease to give Chicago a 3-2 advantage.
And with the throw reaching the backstop, Montgomery rounded first and reached second when Rutschman double-clutched and did not make the throw in time.
In all, Bradish was chargeed with two errors on the play, one for the missed catch and one for the ugly throw home.
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Kyle Bradish (38) wipes his face after Chicago White Sox shortstop Chase Meidroth (10) scores during the fifth inning at Rate Field on April 8, 2026. Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Bradish struck out Andrew Benintendi to limit the damage, and the Orioles took the lead in the top of the sixth, giving the right-hander the win, his first of the year after two straight defeats to start the season.
The starter admitted after the game that he exhibited “childish behavior” in the moment and will make sure not to do something like that again. Bradish added he talked with manager Craig Albernaz immediately after the incident and made clear he was mad at himself for the “mental error.”
“Yeah, just frustration came out,” Bradish said. “It’s unacceptable, it’s childish behavior and that will not happen again.”
The win gave the Orioles a series sweep and improved their record to 6-6.
The Cardinals open up by leaving the bases loaded in the top of the first, but struck for two runs in the second, keyed by a 2-RBI Burleson single. McGreevy came out and worked in his normal workmanlike manner, which was welcome against this line-up, which has really been scoring runs. The Nats got to him for 1 run in the third on some small ball. Jordan Walker launched a 3-2 pitch for a solo HR to extend the Cardinal lead in the fifth. Pozo added a late 2-RBI single to extend the lead.
McGreevy’s final line of 6 IP, 1 R, 4 K, 0 BB, 4 hits was very solid. The bullpen was unscored upon for the final three innings to close things out without any drama.
Line-up (and roster) machinations
McGreevy starts for the Cardinals. The Nats send out old friend Miles Mikolas.
A mostly stock “Herrera at the C” line-up for today, except Scott II gets the day off, Church to CF and Sags to LF. Urias at third, Gorman at DH.
Walker and Gorman remain 4-5 in the line-up, after recent adjustments. Who had this in their pre-season predictions?
It’s been a fascinating series. Arguably, the Cardinals lost a game they should have won, and then won a game they should have lost. What will the rubber game reveal?
The Game Details
A view from the box score, for those who want a deeper sense of the game.
T1 – Wetherholt grounds out, but Herrera follows with a solid single. Burleson with an infield single. Walker K’s (to Mikolas of all people!). Gorman walks, but Winn grounds out to end the threat.
B1 – The first two batters reach against McGreevy with singles, but a 1-6 force, F8 and 6-3 puts a quick end to the traffic jam.
T2 – Urias 4-3. Sags singles. Church with a solid smash pushing Sags along. A handy passed ball moved the runners up to 2nd and 3rd. Wetherholt with the backwards K. Situational hitting continues to be problematic. Mikolas gives Herrera the open base, but Burleson burns him with a 2-run single. Walker grounds out to end the inning. 2-0 Cardinals.
B2 – K. F7. F9. Quick inning.
T3 – Gorman walks again. Winn grounds into a force. Urias with the backwards K. Sags lines out.
B3 – Single. Another single makes it first and third. Boy, they’ve had trouble getting Wood out. So do a lot of people. An infield out scores a run. GIDP ends the threat. Now 2-1 Cardinals.
T4 – Lord in for Mikolas, who gives way after a short start (3 IP). Lord K’s Church. Weird. Wetherholt 5-3. Herrera 4-3.
B4 – L6. F7. 4-3 on a really nice play by Wetherholt ends the inning.
T5 – Burleson F8. Jordan with a solo HR. Gorman out 3u. Winn backwards K. Been a few of those today. Cards now up 3-1.
T7 – Perez relieves Lord. Wetherholt leads off with a walk. See the Cardinals relievers aren’t the only ones with the obligatory lead-off walk syndrome. Herrera follows with his own walk. Burleson singles in another run. Walker K’s. Pozo pinch hits for Gorman. Odd. Pozo GIDP to kill the rally. Now 4-1 Cardinals.
B7 – Svanson in for McGreevy. He issues the obligatory walk. 6-3. L6. Backwards K. Svanson pitching very tentative. He is working his way down the trust chart.
B8 – 5-3. 5-3. Svanson out, Bruihl in. He gets Wood out.
T9 – Church backwards K. Wetherholt F8. Herrera HBP. Burleson walks. Poulin replaces Henry on the mound. Walker walks. Pozo with a 2-RBI single to extend the lead. Winn P6. Cardinals now up 6-1.
B9 – O’Brien in for Bruihl. 5-3. 1-3. 3-1. No sweat. Cardinals win.
Post-Game Notes
Solid starting pitching following by scoreless bullpen work is a good combination.
The Cardinals finish the road trip with an overall 7-5 record on the season.
Many fans wondered if Jordan Goodwin would even make the opening day roster when the team claimed him off waivers after being released by the Los Angeles Lakers. With him returning to the Valley, many speculated about how much of a difference-maker he would truly be. Well, Goodwin saw all of that and proved it where it mattered this season, on the court.
This year, he was recognized for winning the Dan Majerle Hustle award. This is given to a player every year, to recognize their heart, grit, and hard work in getting them to where they are in the rotation. Something that Suns legend and Ring of Honor member Dan Majerle always represented in Phoenix.
Goodwin is very deserving of this crown, as I mentioned, many did not know what he could be for the Suns this year. He was competing with Jared Butler for the final roster spot, and even though Goodwin earned it, there was no set spot in the rotation for him. He had to earn those minutes, and he did that, proving to the fanbase that the return of Goody was going to be a revival.
Jordan Goodwin would make an All NBA 1st Effort Team if there was one of those
Man is just relentless on both ends trying to create opportunities for his team
The guard this season is putting up some nice numbers, averaging 8.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 37% from three. His ability to showcase his defense prowess and be an effective ball stopper is what makes him highly praised in the valley. This is what made him stand out and get the playing time he sees now.
Jordan Goodwin this season:
• Leads the Suns in deflections, 8th overall in the NBA • Leads the Suns in steals • 36 games with multiple steals, the 5th most in the NBA • 136 offensive rebounds, 3rd among all guards https://t.co/RHXU9DiK68
Goodwin always has that fight in him and never gives up. The hustle this man shows when he touches the court is infectious, and it plays off to the rest of the team. He is always fighting for loose balls, trying to generate a steal, and on some nights, he can get it going from three-point land. This year, Goodwin had a career-high 8 threes against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the one time they beat the team this season.
Jordan Goodwin full highlights vs. Oklahoma City Thunder last night (108-105 W):
A career-high 26 points on 9/16 FG (56.3%), a career-high 8 threes on 8/13 3PT (61.5%), 4 Rebounds, 1 TOV, 1 PF, and a +/- of +8 in 30:47 minutes played off the bench.
This type of heart and effort is hard to find in the NBA, and for the Suns, it was vacant from previous teams. Now with Jordan Ott at the helm, things have shaped up differently for the Suns and in a lot better light. A majority of that on the defensive end starts with Goodwin and also ends with him. That is why he is recognized for receiving an award he most certainly deserves. The next on the agenda for Goodwin is a well-deserved long-term contract to stay in the Valley.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 07: Will Riley #27 of the Washington Wizards brings the ball up court against Collin Sexton #2 of the Chicago Bulls during the first half at Capital One Arena on April 7, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls square off again Thursday for Round 2 at Capital One Arena.
Game info
When: Wednesday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass
Injuries: For the Wizards, Tre Johnson (foot) and Jaden Hardy (back) are questionable, while Alex Sarr (toe), Trae Young (quad), Kyshawn George (elbow), Anthony Davis (hand), Tristan Vukcevic (knee), Cam Whitmore (shoulder), and D’Angelo Russell (not with team) are out.
For the Bulls, Josh Giddey (hamstring), Matas Buzelis (illness), and Isaac Okoro (quad) are questionable, while Nick Richards (elbow), Anfernee Simons (wrist), Jalen Smith (calf), Zach Collins (toe), and Noa Essengue (shoulder) are out.
What to watch for
The Wizards are coming off an absolute shellacking at the hands of the Bulls on Tuesday in a matchup that ended 129-98. Washington fell behind by 20 points in the first quarter and never mounted anything remotely resembling a comeback.
One difference coming into the rematch is that the Wiz have since ensured that the team will keep its 2026 first-round pick. There’s a chance Washington will look to pick up one more victory, knowing that the team enters Thursday with a 2.5-game cushion over the Brooklyn Nets and a full game over the Indiana Pacers in the race to the bottom. Perhaps the Wizards will try to appease the basketball gods with a final win.
Will Riley also gets another crack at the Bulls after posting arguably the worst game of his career against Chicago. Washington’s second-half breakout rookie finished with just two points on 1-of-13 shooting. Riley had just come off back-to-back 30-point games.
One bad inning cost David Peterson and the Mets' cold bats returned in their 7-2 loss to the Diamondbacks.
The Mets had eight hits and walked just once as they dropped the middle game of their series against Arizona, and snapped their four-game winning streak.
Here are the takeaways....
-Peterson was a bit unlucky in the first inning of this one, allowing a run after a Corbin Carroll double, a Geraldo Perdomo infield single -- more of a swinging bunt -- and a sac fly from Gabriel Moreno. But the opposite happened in the second. The Diamondbacks jumped all over the southpaw, scoring four runs in the second frame, with the big hit coming from another Carroll double that cleared the bases. The Carroll double came on a first-pitch down-and-away curve that came off the bat at 103.8 mph.
The Mets left-hander would settle down, retiring 11 of his last 12 batters to get through five innings, but it wasn't good enough to keep the game within reach, especially with the team's offensive struggles.
He finished allowing five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six across his five innings (85 pitches/53 strikes).
Peterson's last outing saw him allow six runs (five earned) in 4.1 innings pitched against the Giants. After pitching 5.1 scoreless innings in his first start (March 28 vs. Pirates), Peterson has now allowed 10 earned runs in 9.1 innings.
-D-backs starter Ryne Nelson no-hit the Mets until the fourth when Bo Bichette led off with a single. Bichette would finally get things started in the sixth inning when he hit a one-out single. Back-to-back singles from Luis Robert Jr. and Brett Baty pushed across the Mets' first run of the day. After Mark Vientos struck out swinging, Nelson was pulled. Marcus Semien flew out to end the Mets' threat.
The Mets would push across their second run in the eighth after a Baty double put runners on first and second with one out, and a Mark Vientos sac fly put the score to 7-2.
-Sean Manaea was tasked with finishing the game after Peterson and was effective until the eighth inning. Ildemaro Vargas hit a one-out single to Robert Jr., who looked to have caught it, but was called a trap. After a single and a walk loaded the bases, Jorge Barrosa lined a pitch to Robert Jr. in center. The Mets outfielder went a long way to catch up to the ball, but the ball bounced out of his glove for a double.
Manaea saved the bullpen again, going four innings while allowing two runs on five hits and two walks. He struck out two batters. In three appearances, he's allowed three runs in 9.0 IP this season.
-Carson Benge was 0-for-24 before finally breaking that streak with a ninth-inning single through the right side. He did have a hit stolen from him by Barrosa earlier in the game.
Game MVP: Corbin Carroll
The Arizona outfielder went 3-for-5 with three extra-base hits while driving in two runs.
Apr 8, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Adolis García (53) walks off the field after lining out to San Francisco Giants left fielder Harrison Bader (9) in the to pot the eighth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Justine Willard-Imagn Images | Justine Willard-Imagn Images
The Phillies got their obligatory series loss in San Francisco out of the way early this year, going out with a whimper in the rubber match of the series thanks to a silent offense and a back-breaking home run allowed by Aaron Nola. They have still not won a series in San Francisco since 2013 and are 9-29 at Oracle Park since. The last run the Phillies offense scored in this series was Brandon Marsh’s sacrifice fly in the seventh inning of their comeback win on Monday. They have not scored in the ensuing 20 innings since and have totaled only eight hits over that span.
It looked like maybe today would be different though when Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper both singled in the first to put two runners on with one out, but Alec Bohm lined out on three pitches and Bryson Stott struck out on six pitches against Giants’ starter Tyler Mahle. It was one of six strikeouts for Mahle in 5.2 innings, five of which came on his splitter.
Schwarber and Harper yet again got on base in the third inning, this time with a pair of two-out walks and advancing to third and second respectively on a wild pitch. But yet again, Bohm failed to make the Giants pay, as he softly grounded out to third on a pitch on the outside corner of the zone despite being ahead in the count 3-1.
That would be the Phillies last real scoring chance until the seventh, when pinch hitter Otto Kemp singled, only the team’s second hit since the first inning, with one out and Trea Turner drew a walk. The previous script was flipped this time however, as it was Schwarber and Harper’s turn to not come through with runners on. Schwarber swung over a curveball in the dirt for a punchout and Harper grounded out to first on a slider well below the zone to end the threat and strand two more runners. The Phillies wouldn’t get another baserunner and in total stranded nine total runners and went 0-5 with runners in scoring position.
Aaron Nola meanwhile was excellent through five innings, allowing just three hits and no walks. He escaped a one out triple from Luis Arraez in the first with back-to-back strikeouts of Matt Chapman and Rafael Devers. Danger reared its head again in the fourth when Arraez and Chapman led off the inning with a pair of singles, but Nola was able to get Devers to ground into a double play and induced a fly ball to Jung Hoo-Lee to escape damage once again.
Nola had two runners on again in the sixth following a Willy Adames double and an Arraez walk, but this time he was not able to navigate his way out of trouble. He struck out Chapman after an ABS challenge overturned a call on the field for the second out, but the first pitch Nola threw to Devers was deposited into center field for a three-run home run.
Nola then finished the sixth and ended his day with those three runs allowed on five hits and one walk with three strikeouts in six innings. Not a bad day, but with how the offense played in this series, it was insurmountable. José Alvarado allowed two more runs to come across for the Giants in the eighth thanks to some singles and his own throwing error as the final humiliation before the Phillies offense went down 1-2-3 in the ninth.
Next matchup
The Phillies will have off tomorrow before opening a three-game series at home with the Diamondbacks on Friday. Jesús Luzardo (1-1, 4.97) is scheduled to take the ball for Philadelphia. Arizona has of this writing not yet announced a starter.
