Rangers 5, Mariners 0
The miracle of pasteurization: Josh Naylor, +0.11 WPA
A jar full of farts: Randy Arozarena, -0.16 WPA
Game Thread Comment of the Day
8-13: Chart
Steph Curry, Warriors season ends with a whimper, falling to Jalen Green, Suns 111-96
The Phoenix Suns ended the Golden State Warriors season on Friday night, defeating the Dubs 111-96. The Suns victory secured the eighth seed in the Western Conference, and sets them up for a first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Warriors, on the other hand, will begin their offseason. The loss will put the Warriors in the lottery, where they will have the 11th-best odds of winning a top-four pick.
For the second consecutive game, the Warriors got off to an ugly start and quickly gave up control of the game. The Suns jumped out to a 12-2 lead and continued taking advantage of nine turnovers by the Dubs in the quarter. Defensively, Phoenix successfully forced Golden State off the three-point line, as well.
At the end of the first quarter, the Warriors were trailing 33-15 and shooting just 6-for-20 from the field (1-for-9 from three). Steph Curry’s gravity helped the Dubs offense go on its first run to start the second quarter, cutting the lead to single digits on a 12-2 run. However, Suns guard Jalen Green caught fire to cut the momentum, a sign of things to come.
Golden State was finally able to cut the deficit to two points in the final minute of the first half, but Green answered with an incredibly difficult three to send the Suns into the half with a 50-45 lead. Phoenix had seemed to firmly control the game to that point, but was unable to pull away.
Neither team’s offensive nucleus (Devin Booker & Curry) found any rhythm in the first half, forcing both offenses into an ugly slog. Green had bailed Phoenix out while the Warriors had gotten the most on hustle plays and cuts from Brandin Podziemski.
The third quarter was more of the same. In fact, Curry looked hobbled, clearly in pain and barely running off ball. His gravity created some spacing for others, but the Dubs remained stagnant. Any momentum they built was killed by another offensive moment from Green, a turnover, or a whistle.
The game was far from over heading into the fourth, with Phoenix ahead just 78-69. But expecting the elderly (in NBA terms) Warriors — particularly a clearly compromised Steph — to withstand a similar beating and comeback was just asking too much.
Green single-handedly had an 8-0 run to give the Suns a 14-point lead with seven minutes left in regulation. Al Horford made a three and Curry drew a foul on a three-pointer of his own, but the last gasps of Golden State hope seemed to go out with about 5:30 left.
Podziemski caught a swing pass on the right wing and drove inside instead of hitting an open Steph in the corner. He turned the ball over and Booker knocked down a shot to push the Suns lead back up to 15.
Jalen Green was the difference in the game. He was the only offensive player on either team that was able to consistently score all game. He recorded 36 points on 14-for-20 shooting from the field (8-for-14 from three) alongside 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 steals.
Booker finished with a game-best +25 plus/minus despite being relatively quiet offensively. He scored 20 points and added 8 assists and 6 rebounds with just 1 turnover.
Curry could ultimately not find his magic for a second game in a row. Instead, he finished with 16 points on an ugly 4-for-16 shooting from the field (3-for-10 from three) with 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 4 turnovers.
Podziemski was the Warriors most consistent performer on the night, leading the team with 23 points and 10 rebounds. It was far from a perfect outing, highlighted by his 5 turnovers, but it was commendable given he played 40 minutes for the second consecutive game (after playing all 82 games in the regular season). De’Anthony Melton had a solid all-around game, and scored 16 points that kept the Suns from pulling away when Curry went to the bench in the third quarter. Still, it was far from enough to match Green.
There’s a reason the Warriors were so celebratory after defeating the Clippers on Wednesday. They knew this season would not be lasting much longer. Sure, they hoped they could do it again, but they ran out of gas.
Now all attention goes to the offseason for Dub Nation. Will general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. build a legitimate contender? We’ll see.
Cubs Minor League Wrap: Grant Kipp shines in Smokies shutout
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs were scuttled by the Columbus Clippers (Guardians), 5-3.
Vince Velasquez gave the I-Cubs a solid start as he allowed just one run on five hits over 4.2 innings. Velasquez walked four and struck out seven.
Yacksel Rios pitched the bottom of the ninth, gave up a two-run home run and got the loss. Rios allowed one hit, one walk and struck out one in the one inning of work.
First baseman BJ Murray went 2 for 4 with an RBI single in the sixth inning. Murray also scored on an Owen Miller sacrifice fly in the second inning. He was 0 for 3.
A great defensive play by shortstop Ben Cowles.
Knoxville Smokies
The Knoxville Smokies made the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Marlins) blue, 3-0.
Grant Kipp and Luis Martinez-Gomez combined on the shutout. Kipp was terrific, allowing just one walk over five innings. He struck out seven and walked no one,
Martinez-Gomez got the four-inning save after allowing four hits but walking no one and striking out four.
Right fielder Alex Ramírez was 2 for 4 with an RBI single in the second inning. He also stole two bases, including stealing home in the first inning as part of a double steal of second and home.
Left fielder Jordan Nwogu was 1 for 3 with two walks and an RBI single in the second inning.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs crashed out against the Beloit Sky Carp (Marlins), 6-5.
Starter Cole Reynolds gave up two runs on just one hit over four innings. Reynolds walked three and struck out three.
Kenton Egbert pitched the next three innings and took the loss. He surrendered two runs on two hits and a walk. Egbert struck out four.
South Bend trailed the Sky Carp 6-2 heading to the bottom of the ninth. They scored three times but were unable to get the fourth run home from second base when center fielder Kane Kepley grounded out. But Kepley scored the first run of the game when he walked to lead off the bottom of the first, stole second, stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly. Kepley went 0 for 3 with two walks and the two steals.
Third baseman Reginald Preciado was 2 for 4 with an RBI single in the fourth. Preciado also scored a run in the ninth on an error.
Here’s Kepley getting his uniform dirty in the first inning.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were shot down by the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (White Sox), 5-2 in ten innings.
The Birds got three strong innings from starter Edwardo Melendez, who allowed only one hit. Unfortunately, it was a solo home run to lead off the second inning. But the only other baserunner Melendez allowed was a hit batsman and he immediately removed that baserunner with a 4-6-3 double play. Melendez struck out five.
Jordan Henriquez pitched the top of the tenth and took the loss. Henriquez gave up three runs, two earned, on two hits. He struck out one and did not walk anyone.
Third baseman Derniche Valdez hit his first Pelicans home run with the bases empty in the second inning. Valdez went 1 for 4.
The Pelicans had just three hits in this game.
The Valdez home run.
Doc Rivers ready to close book on NBA coaching career after Bucks disaster: ‘I’m done’
Doc Rivers has an NBA Finals win and a Coach of the Year honor on his ledger and is set to join the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this year.
But that sounds like it’ll be where his resume will end as a professional basketball coach.
Rivers, who stepped down from the Bucks after an ugly 32-50 season, told The Ringer founder Bill Simmons on Friday that he is “done” as an NBA coach.
“We met about seven weeks ago, me and ownership. We had a great meeting,” Rivers said on “The Bill Simmons Podcast.”
“They asked me what I wanted to do. One of the owners says one plan is, ‘If we do this, you can hang in there for a year or two.’ I literally said, ‘Oh, no, no, no.’ “I told my coaches, I’m done. I loved coaching. Loved it. I had a lot of success at it, had way more ups than downs. But at the end of the day, I’ve given 47 years or whatever, I don’t even know how old I am … with no off time. I just wanted a break. I want to get away. The grandkids and just life in general, man.
“Right now, I can tell you, Bill, I think it was time, so I’d be surprised if I coached another game, I’ll put it that way.”
The 2025-26 season, his second full campaign with Milwaukee, turned into a disaster thanks to injury and constant trade rumors surrounding superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was limited to 36 games.
The losing record marked Rivers’ first full losing season since 2006-07 with the Celtics.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that there was a “disconnect” between Rivers and the players this season in a length expose on what went wrong with the Bucks this year.
Rivers later called out the story to say it was “so inaccurate that I don’t even have enough time to go into it.”
It remains clear what is next for Rivers. He previously worked as an analyst on ESPN’s top announce team before leaving in January 2024 to join the Bucks’ sideline.
Nebraska Wins a Thriller 8-7 Over USC
Unbelievable!
This Nebraska Cornhusker team has fought and scratched all season when they are down and have treated their fans to some incredible wins, including some walk-off wins that have made the drive home quite a bit happier. None of them compare to what happened tonight!
Total pandemonium broke out in the bottom of the tenth inning when Mac Moyer laid down a picture-perfect bunch that pitcher Sax Matson threw past first baseman Adrian Lopez toward the rightfield corner. Rhett Stokes, who previously, reached on a walk, never slowed down once he saw the bunt down and charged all the way around the bases to score the winning run. Oh, what a ballgame! Nebraska 8, USC 7.
It didn’t start out that way. In fact, casual fans may have left the game before Nebraska got back in the game on this chilly night. Those who have followed the team all season knew they didn’t dare!
Southern Cal’s Mason Edwards is one of the premier pitchers in college baseball this season. He had a 6-0 record and a 1.35 ERA coming into the game. That went along with 95 strikeouts in 53.1 innings pitched. He was every bit as good as advertised tonight against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Fortunately for the boys from Lincoln and their dedicated fans, his night was done after seven innings.
In fairness to the Cornhuskers, they roughed up Edwards more than he had been up to this point in the season. The eight hits they got off him was the most he had given up all season, and they got a couple of runs in the sixth inning when Case Sanderson led off the inning with a single and scored two batters later on a Jett Buck double. Drew Grego also doubled to score Buck and after six innings it was 5-2 SC.
The Trojans grabbed those two runs back quickly as scored twice off Kevin Mannell in the top of the seventh on a two RBI single by Kevin Takeuchi.
Edwards’ night was over after seven complete innings having struck out 12 Cornhuskers and throwing a total of 105 pitches. Down 7-2, there was a window now for the Cornhuskers, but it was pretty narrow as it was just two innings. Fortunately, Nebraska crashed through that window thanks to some timely hitting, some incredible bounces, and USC errors.
After Drew Carey struck out for the third straight time in the game to open the bottom of the eighth, Jett Buck smoked his second double of the game off freshman reliever Gavin Lauridsen. The rookie seemed a little rattled and walked designated hitter Will Jesske. Drew Grego then reached on a fielder’s choice to put two on with two out. Up came a resurgent Joshua Overbeek who smashed a three-run homer to the right-centerfield berm. That cut the lead to 7-5.
Ty Horn came on to pitch the top of the ninth and sat the Trojans down in order with a strikeout and two ground outs to Carey at shortstop. His fire gave the fans, and his teammates hope for a big ninth inning.
Coach Andy Stankiewicz had gone to his closer, Adam Troy, to get the last out of the eighth inning striking out Jeter Worthley. He was set to face the heart of the Nebraska lineup in the ninth, writing the perfect script for the drama that had unfolded.
For Case Sanderson and Drew Carey, it was time for the dudes to be dudes. Both of them were 1-4 on the night and both of them had struck out three times. Both of them are very capable of hitting balls to the gap or over the wall. What happened over the course of the next nine pitches had to be seen to be believed.
Sanderson hit a hard grounder back up the middle that skipped off the mound and then hopped into centerfield as SC’s shortstop tried to field it. He then advanced to second on a wild pitch by Troy. Carey then hit one that the second baseman booted for an error, sending Sanderson to third. They didn’t have big hits, but they put the bat on the ball and Carey represented the tying run.
With runners on the corners and no outs, Jett Buck muscled a fly ball to right field that was deep enough to allow Sanderson to tag and score. 7-6 Trojans.
Preston Freeman came in to hit in Jesske’s spot and walked. Freeman, the winning run, was on first base and Carey stood on third. Troy was definitely feeling the pressure at this point and threw yet another wild pitch. Carey crossed the plate and the game was tied! Freeman hustled all the way to third on the wild pitch and got around the tag to put the winning run 90-feet from the plate.
That brought up Overbeek, who had homered the previous inning, to face Troy. Stankiewicz saw his closer struggling and in the middle of the at-bat, and brought in a lefty to face Overbeek. Overbeek switched to the other batter’s box, but Sax Matson got him looking on two pitches. The damage was done though, and the game was tied 7-7.
In came J’Shawn Unger for the tenth inning. He did not disappoint the raucous crowd as he struck out all three Trojans he faced and let out a roar on the last one to match the crowd!
That set the table for the Stokes walk, Moyer bunt and Matson’s wild throw, resulting in the Nebraska dugout emptying to chase down Stokes and Moyer to celebrate in centerfield. Ball game!
While this year’s version of the Southern Cal Trojans is not known for its offense, they tried to put the game out of reach early on. With the wind blowing out to leftfield, they took advantage of a struggling Cooper Katskee, making his first Friday appearance of the season. With one out in the top of the first, catcher Isaac Cardena sent a blast over the wall near the party porch to put his team up 1-0.
Even though he’s a slow starter, Katskee was not himself tonight as he missed big and left pitches over the plate where the Trojans put the barrel on the ball. They scored two in the second inning when they started off with three straight hits, a couple of singles wrapped around a double and increased their lead to 3-0 and sending seven batters to the plate.
Edwards used a successful recipe, throwing a first pitch strike and then moving breaking pitches around the strike zone. In one stretch, he struck out six consecutive Cornhuskers, with none of the Cornhuskers taking a swing at the first strike.
He was good, but he didn’t go the distance and Nebraska made the bullpen pay. What’s wild is that those relievers from Southern Cal are very good as well. And, the coaching staff used their three best, so hopefully that bodes well for the Cornhuskers for the remainder of the weekend.
The job done by Jalen Worthley in the middle three innings cannot be lost in everything else that happened tonight. He shut down the Trojan offense facing only ten batters and took the momentum away from the boys from SoCal to give the Cornhuskers a chance to get on course. To see him pitching well in recent weeks is a good sign as the team continues the second half of the season.
It is yet to be seen how the teams will respond to the result tonight, but with the weather improving over the course of the next couple of days, Nebraska fans should pour into Haymarket Park to find out. This is the second heavyweight bout for Nebraska in as many weekends and after tonight, they have picked themselves up off the mat. You can bet that round two will be a battle as well.
Carson Jasa will take the mound for the Big Red at 2:00 tomorrow against Grant Govel. Both pitchers are carrying a 7-0 record and both have a 2.13 ERA. Looks like it will be another good one!
Notes:
- It sounds like Ty Horn will be in the bullpen the rest of the season. He may also be that guy that starts a game in a long tournament run if needed. He has been very effective in this new role the last two games, and having only thrown 11 pitches tonight, he will be available again this weekend.
- Mac Moyer and Jett Buck both had three hits tonight against tough pitching. Moyer’s bunt was a beauty in the tenth inning. Buck also had a pair of doubles and two RBI.
- After getting six hits off Cooper Katskee, USC only got three more hits in the game. Jalen Worthley, Ty Horn, and J’Shawn Unger did not give up a hit.
- While tonight’s win was huge, Nebraska has to win at least one more this weekend to keep hope alive to host a regional. Nearly as important is to stay at toward the top of the conference standings as with a new tournament format there is a huge advantage to finish the season in the top four.
Cubs closer, WBC hero Daniel Palencia lands on IL in team’s latest injury nightmare
The Cubs injury list now includes their closer.
Daniel Palencia was added to the 15-day injured list with an oblique strain on Friday.
Palencia, who wasn’t needed in the Cubs’ 12-4 thrashing of the Mets, aided Venezuela to the World Baseball Classic championship before the regular season, and entered the 2026 campaign riding high.
The 26-year-old now joins a long Cubs IL that includes fellow pitchers Matthew Boyd, Phil Maton, Porter Hodge, Hunter Harvey, Jordan Wicks, Ethan Roberts, Justin Steele, Shelby Miller and Cade Horton, along with first baseman Tyler Austin.
Even the team’s No. 1 prospect, pitcher Jaxon Wiggins, is on the IL with right elbow inflammation.
“I felt something weird there,” Palencia said following a bullpen session early Friday. “It got a little tight. Just trying to be smart. Hopefully, I’ll be ready soon.”
Cubs manager Craig Counsell hinted at further testing to determine the exact seriousness of the injury.
“If it lingers, yes, we will,” Counsell said of potential imaging for Palenica. “The fact that his bullpen went well, gives us some optimism. I don’t think he’d be able to do that with a high-grade strain, but we’ll know more in the coming days.”
Palencia became the team’s closer last season, logging 22 saves with 61 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings with a 2.91 ERA.
He began this season with similar ferocity, having yet to allow a run through five innings, recording one save and five strikeouts against two walks.
During the WBC, Palencia pitched five perfect innings with three saves and nine strikeouts to just one walk.
Diamondbacks capitalize on Blue Jay mistakes, win series opener
Game Summary
After a long and successful road trip, the Diamondbacks kicked off this six game homestand with a nearly drama-free victory over the defending AL Champs. It felt like a downright walk in the park to have a 3-run lead going into the 9th inning. What sorcery is this?! The Snakes didn’t play mistake-free ball, but they didn’t allow the Jays to capitalize on the mistakes they did make and they fully exploited the mistakes made by the opposition. We used to find ourselves on the other side of these; nice to be on the good side for a change!
Michael Soroka made his first start as an official member of the D-backs top-5 rotation after he beat out Brandon Pfaadt for the final slot once Merrill returned and it was good to see the good results didn’t disappear into thin air. Soroka cruised through his 7 innings of work, only allowing multiple baserunners in 1 of those innings. His strikeout numbers weren’t where he had been over the first few starts, but he was dialing up groundballs early in the count which allowed him to complete the 6th inning for the first time this year and then complete the 7th for good measure.
The defense was mostly wonderful, with the highlight being Geraldo Perdomo’s fantastic ‘tip drill’ double play to pour some water on a late Jays’ rally, but there were a couple miscues. Tim Tawa lost a routine fly ball in the open roof sky resulting in a 1-out double (stranded by Soroka), but the most egregious error of the night came by someone not even wearing an MLB jersey. One of the Golden Glovers down the right field line tried to glove a line drive that had just stayed fair, he knocked it down, which may or may not have helped him out as it rolled slowly to the fence. When Corbin made it to the ball, he grabbed and threw directly to the cutoff man Ildemaro who was playing second base on the night and then Vargas turned and threw a perfect strike from short right field to third base to nab Gimenez at third. Alas, it didn’t count due to the interference from the Golden Glover, but it was a great play to know that we’re capable of and it deserves a second look. Soroka once again was able to strand this double, picking up his defense just like his defense has mostly picked him up throughout the year.
The bullpen did it’s part, taking over a 5-2 advantage and only allowing 1-run. Jonny Lasagna wasn’t quite fully baked, allowing the lone run, but Paul Sewald continues to stack outs, getting a 1-2-3 9th with a strikeout. I’m still fully convinced the wheels will fall of Sewald at some point this year, but I’m really enjoying the display of competence he’s been having currently.
The offense was the final piece of this puzzle tonight and they did a good job capitalizing on opportunities and regularly keeping the pressure on the Jays’ pitchers. The biggest blow came in the 7th when young Jose Fernandez came up with runners at 2nd and 3rd and 2 outs. Fernandez hit a squibber up the first base line and hustled his way to the bag. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. fielded the ball cleanly, but either lost concentration or rushed his toss with Fernandez busting it down the line and lost control of the ball in the transfer. The Jays’ pitcher was hustling over himself and found himself in nearly perfect position to pick up the ball and step directly onto the first base bag, but he, too, rushed the whole thing and swatted the ball with his glove instead of picking it up. Fernandez ended up safe at first and 1 run scored on the play. Then Arenado got another big base hit, on top of the homer he hit earlier in the game, by lining a ball to center to score the runner from third and give the bullpen a 3-run lead to play with, a luxury they aren’t accustomed to.
The Blue Jays are hurting right now with many key players on the injured list (which is the only possible reason Joe Mantiply could be on the Jays’ active roster and multiplying runs for us instead of against us now) and possibly another joining that unit is old friend Daulton Varsho who left the game in the second inning with “knee discomfort”. I hope Varsho gets well soon, but the Diamondbacks capitalized on a team that’s not playing good baseball right now and they need to keep that up the rest of the weekend.
Win Probability and Box Score
Comment of the Game
The GameDay Thread was a little slow to get going, and finished with a total of 143 comments at time of publishing. Tonight’s COTG goes to Snake_Bitten concerning longtime dreams coming true:
Coming Up
The Diamondbacks face the defending AL champions for the second game of this 3-game set tomorrow afternoon with a 5:10pm first pitch. Max Scherzer (1-2, 9.58 ERA) will take the mound for Toronto and Zac Gallen (1-1, 3.60 ERA) takes the ball for the good guys.
Jays Lose 6-3, Varsho Exits With Knee Injury
Stop me if you’ve heard this one: the Jays lost and suffered an injury. Daulton Varsho left the game in the third with what’s being described as knee discomfort. It’s not clear what happened, he hadn’t had any particularly awkward plays in the field and he struck out looking in his one at bat. Vladimir Guerrero jr. also jammed a finger recieving a throw at first and had to call time and speak with the trainers. He stayed in the game but was clearly favouring his glove hand. Other than that things went fine, assuming you also ignore the three fielding errors.
The offence continued to sputter. The first baserunner came on an Ernie Clement double with one out in the third. They got creative to manufacture a run in the fourth inning. Myles Straw and Jesus Sanchez singled to put runners on the corners with one out. John Schneider put on the squeeze play with Lenyn Sosa at the plate. He laid down the bunt perfectly, allowing Straw to score but being thrown out at first. After a 1-2-3 fifth inning they added on a second run the old fashioned way, as Straw wrapped a solo home run around the foul pole in left field. In all, they managed two runs on five hits off Michael Soroka, who went seven innings.
Braydon Fisher did a bit of a high wire act as the opener for Toronto. Geraldo Perdomo hit a two out ground rule double and advanced to third when Fisher botched a pickoff throw. A ground out avoided damage, though.
Eric Lauer looked better tonight, sitting more in the 90-92 zone that’s his norm than the 87-89 we saw the last couple of outings as he dealt with illness. He cruised through his first two innings of work before giving up a solo home run to Nolan Arenado in the fourth. He struggled a bit more in the fifth. A walk and a couple of line singles manufactured a second run for the Diamondbacks, and Jose Fernandez snuck a grounder up the middle for a third, making it 3-1.
Arizona picked up another in the seventh. Spencer Miles struck out his first batter but then gave up a single and a walk. A ground out advanced the runners. Miles go Fernandez to tap to first, but Guerrero fumbled the ball trying to make the toss to Miles at the bag, allowing a run to score and prolonging the inning. Arenado lined a single to plate another, making it 5-2.
The Jays got what looked like a rally going in the top of eight, but some tough luck put a damper on it. Heineman and Lukes lead off with back to back singles. Straw hit a soft grounder to second base that bounced off the heel of second baseman Ildemaro Vargas’ glove but right into shortstop perdomo’s hands, allowing him to turn an error into a double play. Vlad managed a broken bat single that at least plated Heineman to cut the gap to 5-3 before Sanchez struck out to end the inning. Joe Mantiply gave the run buack in the bottom half. James McCann singled on a grounder up the middle, and Tim Tawa lined a double to make it 6-3.
Paul Sewald retired the Jays in order to end the inning.
Jays of the Day: No.
Less so: Lauer (-0.13), Miles (-0.14), Okamoto (-0.13)
Game two is at 8:10pm ET tomorrow evening. Zac Gallen (1-1, 3.60) will go for the Diamondbacks, while Max Scherzer (1-2, 9.58) will try to better his dismal recent efforts as he battles forearm tendinitis.
Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers game preview
This is a lose-lose series for the Houston Rockets.
If the Rockets win the series, then the narrative will be that the Los Angeles Lakers were hurt and of course the Rockets won. If Houston loses the series, they were frauds all along and will need to make wholesale changes this summer to retool around Kevin Durant.
Remember, expectations cost people their jobs. And the expectation for Houston is to win this series handily if Luka Doncic doesn’t make an appearance.
Meanwhile, the Lakers are cruising and playing with house money. LeBron James isn’t expected to carry this team far by himself, so just winning a couple of games would be gravy. They can play with no fear and ride the vibes.
The Lakers are not just LeBron and some scrubs. There’s former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, “Not Clint Capela” Deandre Ayton, Gonzaga standouts Rui Hachimura and Drew Timme, sharpshooter Luke Kennard, defensive stalwart Jarred Vanderbilt, and a really good Jake LaRavia.
This is not going to be an easy series. Don’t expect it to be.
Tip-off
5:30pm CT
How To Watch
ABC
Injury Report
Rockets
Steven Adams: OUT
Fred VanVleet: OUT
Kevin Durant: questionable
Lakers
Luka Doncic: OUT
Austin Reaves: OUT
The Line (as of this post)
Hou -5.5
Check here for updates
Looking ahead because we can
Game 2 on Tuesday in Los Angeles
Dodgers 7, Rockies 1: Relentless L.A.
Snow flurries rolled through Coors Field earlier in the day, but once the game began, it was the Los Angeles Dodgers who brought the heat as they defeated the Colorado Rockies 7-1.
First pitch pressure
Shohei Ohtani set the tone immediately with a leadoff double, and from there, the Dodgers settled into a rhythm that never really broke.
They worked counts, didn’t chase out of the zone, and when they got pitches to hit, they did damage — often in the air. It wasn’t one big inning; it was steady, controlled pressure that built throughout the night.
Tomoyuki Sugano spent his outing trying to manage that pressure. He battled early and even flashed some resilience, striking out Teoscar Hernández to escape the first inning with limited damage, but the traffic never stopped. The Dodgers consistently forced him into deep counts and hitter’s counts, and the contact followed.
No wasted at-bats
Max Muncy delivered the loudest swings, turning a misplaced cutter into a home run in the top of the second. But the story wasn’t just Muncy — it was the entire lineup. There were no empty at-bats, no easy outs, and very few mistakes that went unpunished.
Sugano’s final line reflected that grind: 4.0 innings, 9 hits, 5 runs, 5 earned, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, 1 home run. He took the loss, falling to 1–1 with a 3.92 ERA, worn down more than blown up.
One side in control
The contrast was just as clear on the other side.
Tyler Glasnow was in complete control, delivering 7.0 innings of two-hit, one-run baseball with 2 walks and 7 strikeouts. He worked efficiently, stayed ahead, and never allowed the Rockies to build momentum. Even when Colorado made contact, it rarely turned into anything sustained.
The Rockies didn’t strike out excessively, but they were just a bit off — unable to consistently extend counts, unable to string together quality contact, and unable to turn opportunities into runs. Where the Dodgers were deliberate and punishing, Colorado was reactive and scattered.
The Rockies lone run reflected that. Mickey Moniak doubled, advanced on a groundout, and scored on another ground ball from Troy Johnston. It was a manufactured run — clean, efficient, but isolated.
Agnos steadies the game
Zach Agnos provided one of the more important positives for Colorado. Entering after Sugano, Agnos immediately gave up a homer to Muncy — his second of the game.
But ultimately, Agnos settled in and worked 4.0 innings, allowing 3 hits and 2 runs (both earned) with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts, stabilizing a game that had the potential to get out of hand. He attacked the zone, limited traffic, and gave the Rockies length. Agnos didn’t stop the Dodgers, but he did steady the game.
Brennan Bernardino handled the ninth, allowing one hit and striking out a batter. Colorado used just three pitchers on the night — a quiet but meaningful positive given recent bullpen usage. (There was a brief moment in the third inning where I was wondering if we would see a position player on the mound tonight.)
No late rally
The problem was that the gap had already been established.
Jack Dreyer worked the eighth and ninth for Los Angeles, and the Rockies never mounted a serious threat. A leadoff walk in the ninth provided a brief opening, but it quickly disappeared — a force out, a failed ABS challenge, a strikeout, and a flyout to end it.
The 7–1 final score felt less about one moment and more about the accumulation of many, well-executed ones — on one side.
Up Next
The Colorado Rockies will continue their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday at Coors Field.
Right-hander Ryan Feltner (0–2, 5.40 ERA) is expected to take the mound for Colorado, while the Dodgers are slated to counter with right-hander Emmet Sheehan (1–0, 3.27 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. MT. Colorado will look for a better result against a Dodgers team that has shown few weaknesses early this season.
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
- New, improved notifications system!
Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!
Camilo Doval’s latest clunker doesn’t concern Aaron Boone: ‘Close to being dialed in’
Brent Headrick was solid in getting out of a jam he inherited in the seventh and David Bednar picked up his sixth save of the season in a 4-2 win over Kansas City on Friday in The Bronx.
But even on a night when the bullpen was mostly good, Camilo Doval nearly spoiled it for the Yankees.
Access the Yankees beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.
Try it freeThe right-hander gave up a game-tying homer to Kansas City’s Vinnie Pasquantino, the latest chapter in another poor stretch from Doval — who also gave up a home run to Mike Trout in a loss to the Angels in his previous outing Monday.
He’s allowed seven runs in six innings over his last seven appearances.
Aaron Boone said Doval has been “really good, sharp [and] the strike-throwing is there.”
But the manager acknowledged he’s made mistakes to Trout and then to Pasquantino, who got Doval with two out and no one on in a one-run game.
“He missed in the slug zone, but the three outs around that were really good,” Boone said. “I know he’s gotten hurt with a couple of long balls. He’s close to being dialed in.”
Boone and the Yankees have little choice but to keep going to Doval, who was expected to be the setup man.
“He’s gonna be in the fire,” Boone said. “The good thing is he’s got all the equipment to get it done. If he can just get the last layer of consistency, the stuff and way of throwing is there.”
While Anthony Volpe continued his rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on Friday, José Caballero was at shortstop again in The Bronx.
The results continue to be mixed, as Caballero has struggled at times in the field and was woeful at the plate until a recent uptick.
- CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND YANKEES STATS
When the Yankees acquired Caballero last year from Tampa Bay, he was expected to be a utility player with great speed and defensive versatility — and not the everyday shortstop. He appeared in games at short, second and third last year, as well as left and right field.
Caballero said he’s fine returning to that role whenever Volpe gets back to the majors following offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
“I wish him the best,” Caballero said prior to Friday’s game. “I hope he’s healthy as soon as he can be.”
I try to focus on myself and the team and help as much as I can.”
Boone said he spoke to league officials Friday and acknowledged the balk called during Thursday’s loss to the Angels was the right one.
Boone wanted clarity on the play where first base umpire Ryan Additon called left-hander Ryan Yarbrough for a balk when he attempted a pickoff at first with runners on first and second.
On the play, first baseman Ben Rice was away from the bag and the play involved him going over to the base as Yarbrough threw to the bag — which was more of a challenge with Rice being “a moving target.”
Boone said he was told the issue was that Yarbrough’s throw didn’t go directly to first base.
“The reality is you’ve got to get it to the base when it’s unoccupied,” Boone said. “It definitely didn’t get to the base. My contention was intent and vicinity should have mattered. We were trying to throw to first base. It was a little behind and [Rice] had to adjust. So I understand the call. I certainly accept that. We’ve got to do a better job on a play like that.”
He added that despite their problem with the play, the Yankees won’t hesitate to try it again.
The Yankees entered Friday tied for 11th in their success rate for challenging pitches at the plate, according to Statcast.
Cody Bellinger challenged successfully Friday, but they lost both challenges in Thursday’s loss and Boone wasn’t thrilled with either attempt, as Trent Grisham and Jazz Chisholm Jr. missed.
“I thought our two challenges [Thursday] weren’t great,’’ Boone said before Friday’s game.
But he doesn’t want them to stop challenging.
“We’re trying to learn from all of them,’’ Boone said of the ABS system.
Betting the NBA Playoffs: Rotoworld and NBC Sports Best Bets for First Round Series
Welcome to the start of a two-month stretch of the most competitive basketball played at the highest level you will see all year.
The first round of the NBA Playoffs tips off this weekend and there are betting angles at every turn. The experts at NBC Sports and Rotoworld are here to offer their thoughts on the opening round. Each states their case concisely. MIA is the OKC series. At the time of publication, Golden State and Phoenix were playing. While the support for OKC is overwhelming regardless of the winner of the final Play-In game, all deferred because their opponent had not been set and that obviously could affect the length of the series.
Not surprising our experts agree on most series, but the keys in each series differ among the prognosticators.
Eastern Conference Playoffs - Round 1 Playoff Matchups
Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Series Winner: Cavaliers -550 / Raptors +400
Jay Croucher (@croucherJD): Raptors
"At price, the Raptors are the bet for me. There are ongoing concerns about Jarrett Allen’s knee, and the Cavs haven’t shown enough consistency to warrant this aggressive price. "
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports): Cavaliers
"The Cavs went 18-6 with James Harden in the lineup this season and his addition is supposed to keep Cleveland’s championship window open. However, Harden hasn’t made it out of the second round since 2017-18 and with Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland hasn’t made it past the semifinals in the last two seasons. Cleveland advances in the first round either 4-1 or 4-2 but is likely a second round exit again. A 36-year-old Harden won’t change much for Cleveland."
Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper): Cavaliers
"Seemingly every sharp player in the NBA market has lined up to support the Cavs chances to win the East this year but I have serious reservations considering the importance of Donovan Mitchell and his propensity for wearing down in the playoffs. The physical Raptors will test the Cavs ability to take some punishment, and my numbers suggest this will be closer than the market expects. The Raps have elite defense and length but are missing some key pieces that can create offense which suggests we may see some ugly low scoring games that the Cavs survive if they can find their clutch offense. Unders look reasonable until they adjust accordingly and will predict the Cavs to come through 4-2."
New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks
Series Winner: Knicks -275 / Hawks +220
Dalzell: Knicks
"The Atlanta Hawks are playing their best basketball of the season at the right time, which could be bad news for the Knicks. With a 20-6 record over the second half of the season, Atlanta shouldn’t be slept on. Could this team be similar to last year’s Indiana Pacers? I would say the Hawks have the best chance to be the sleeper team in either conference, so I’ll say this could be one of the longer series of the first round."
Dinsick: Knicks
"The recent head-to-head by these teams at full strength convinced the world that the Hawks will play the Knicks close but ultimately wilt in the clutch in the close match ups. Very likely that Mike Brown elects to deploy a double-big lineup for broad stretches to take advantage of the fact that Atlanta is lacking size and has weak backup center options. Fouling trouble for the Hawks, particularly Okongwu, would be a death knell in a given game but the Hawks do have superior transition offense. In the end the transition game may not manifest however because the advantage for NYK on the boards, offensive board especially will carry the day. Knicks advance 4-1 in a series that overs hit, and Hawks are live to cover in their losses."
Croucher: Hawks
"The Knicks series price doesn’t really cohere with their game 1 price - the Hawks are the bet for me here to win the series. The schedule has been kind, but they have played at an excellent level post Trae trade."
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets
Series Winner: Timberwolves +280 / Nuggets -350
Dinsick: Nuggets
"The most exciting series of the first round features familiar foes and superstar firepower. The Wolves have been wildly inconsistent through the year but are relatively healthy. The Nuggets are peaking at the right time and are surely a dark horse to win the title. The game-by-game totals are extremely high based on the elite Denver offense and subpar defense but it will take a heroic effort from Anthony Edwards to win four games and advance Minnesota considering the supporting cast is struggling offensively. The Wolves make things interesting by splitting the first four before succumbing to the relentless offense of the Nuggets who win 4-2."
Croucher: Timberwolves
"At price, the Wolves are live to pull the upset. There are still questions about Denver’s defense and Anthony Edwards has proven capable of exploding Nikola Jokic’s suspect rim protection."
Dalzell: Toss-up
"The problem in thinking Denver rolls Minnesota is the fact the Nuggets have the 21st-ranked defense. That’s hard to trust in the playoffs, even with the No. 1-rated offense. The Timberwolves should be able to score and keep this series close. Minnesota beat Denver in the 2023-24 playoffs 4-3 and I can see this series going 7 games again and being the most competitive first round matchup. At least I hope so for viewing purposes.
Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Series Winner: Rockets -575 / Lakers +400
Dalzell: Rockets
"This series comes down to the availability of Luka Doncic. While a headliner of Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James would be a box office hit 5, 10, and 15 years ago — it’s not nearly as attractive now. If a 41-year-old LeBron James is the main scoring threat and facilitator then the Lakers are cooked. Houston advances 4–1 or 4-2 pending how many games Doncic plays."
Dinsick: Rockets
"Wild matchup that could break any direction depending on the health of Luka Doncic. In the absence of Luka and Reeves, the Lakers offense gets a nuclear downgrade but a small defensive upgrade which will make the match up against the Rockets interesting because of their own deficiencies. First to 100 wins and the Rockets manage to pull ahead four times in a 4-3 series where we don't see Luka."
Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Series Winner: Celtics -900 / 76ers +600
Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick): Celtics
"If only Joel Embiid didn’t have to miss this series due to appendicitis surgery this actually would have been a super compelling matchup. Boston has been a top 5 defense and top 3 offense all year and with the return of Tatum who looks in some ways even better than he was pre injury, it doesn’t seem like Philly has much of a chance to compete in this one."
Dinsick: Celtics
"The major question swirling that will impact this series from a pricing standpoint is the availability of Joel Embiid. His presence at the play-in game would suggest he is close to a return from his Appendectomy and he matters at least 4 points to the spread in these games so it would surely affect the series pricing when he returns even if it just makes the losses for the Sixers closer rather than give them a fighters chance at advancing. Ultimately, the hard charging Celtics will take advantage of the weak perimeter defense by Philly to excel in the clutch and come through in short order. Expecting BOS to win 4-0 in this lopsided affair."
Dalzell: Celtics
"Philly was a fun watch during its play-in win over Orlando, but I don’t see the upside in facing the Celtics over the Pistons. Joe Mazzula doesn’t get enough respect for his 50-33 playoff record, including a 12-4 first round record. In three-straight first round series, Boston has won 4-2, 4-1, and 4-1. I have a hard time seeing the 76ers win more than one game in this series so Under 5.5 Games is the best bet next to Celtics in 4."
Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic
Series Winner: Pistons -500 / Magic +380
Dalzell: Pistons
"Last season was the Pistons first time in the playoffs since 2018-19. Detroit squandered its chances off pushing New York to seven games last year and that is likely fresh in the brain of these players and staff. Detroit owns a top three defense and welcomed back Cade Cunningham who knocked some rust off. Detroit should make quick work of their first round matchup."
San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Series Winner: Spurs -2000 / Trail Blazers +1000
Dinsick: Spurs
"Expectations are sky high for the young and inexperienced Spurs and they draw an opponent in the Blazers who have size and an elite offensive playmaker to give them a true test. Reasonable to expect that the Blazers will exercise some physicality against Wemby and make him prove that he can handle playoff intensity and an advanced minutes/usage load. It is tempting to take a shot on Portland at this huge price and then navigate profit if they can get their foot ahead in this series but ultimately the Spurs will likely get home 4-2."
Krick: Spurs
"Spurs win this in 5, but the key variable is whether Deni Avdija — one of the best foul-drawers in the league — can get Wembanyama in early foul trouble and fundamentally change how this series operates. Beyond that, Portland needs to win the three-point battle: force Castle and Fox to shoot from deep, get stops, and turn this into a track meet. Neither team is elite from three, but that’s exactly the kind of chaotic, pace-driven series that gives the Blazers their best shot."
Dalzell: Spurs
"San Antonio has seven players averaging double digit points per game this season and that will be far too much for Portland. Despite this likely being a quick series, the Trail Blazers will get excellent playoff experience taking on the Spurs. Next year, Portland welcomes Damian Lillard back and will likely add a free agent or two as they have an appealing crew with youngsters Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan. I don’t think the Spurs play with their food in the first round and win this series 4-0, maybe 4-1, but watch out for the Trail Blazers next year."
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
Knicks’ Mike Brown is ready to handle potential ‘Hack-A-Mitch’ tactic
Hack-A-Mitch is probably coming and Mike Brown said he’s prepared.
“We’ve talked about it. We have different things in mind that we’ll do,” the Knicks coach said. “A lot of them will come down to time and score and feel. But we understand that’s what teams may want to do, especially if our offense is clicking at that point in time.”
Fouling Mitchell Robinson on purpose was deployed regularly in last year’s playoffs, with Detroit’s JB Bickerstaff and Boston’s Joe Mazzulla taking it to higher levels to stall the Knicks’ offense. Robinson launched 56 free throws in 18 playoff games — which was more than triple his rate of the regular season.
Robinson also connected on just 39 percent of those attempts, which made him a liability and took him off the court in pivotal moments.
Brown’s answer Friday suggests that subbing out Robinson during “Hack-A-Mitch” will be dependent on several factors.
Against the Hawks, Robinson’s availability is especially important because of the advantage he provides the Knicks. Nobody in Atlanta’s rotation can match his size or rebounding.
“Mitchell Robinson is the key for [the Knicks] off the bench, whatever they do,” Charles Oakley, the Knicks legend, said on “The Bottom Line Sports Show.” “He needs to average 25 minutes, 27 minutes, from the first playoff game until the last one because with the offensive rebounds, nobody can block him out.
- CHECK OUT THE LATEST NBA STANDINGS AND KNICKS STATS
“He’s like a Moses Malone. He gives them second shots. And that’s how the Bulls won championships, with Dennis Rodman getting offensive rebounds, throwing it back out, [John] Paxson or somebody else hitting open 3s. You get an extra three 3s in a game, that’s big.”
The Knicks are still getting their playoff scouting reports and playbooks. But there is a difference in how they’re delivered between Tom Thibodeau and Brown.
“It’s a lot more digital, I’d say,” Miles McBride said.
Thibodeau, who was fired by the Knicks after five seasons (and four postseason appearances), famously handed out thick physical playbooks to his players for every playoff round.
Mikal Bridges didn’t get into the differences in playoff preparation between Brown and Thibodeau.
“I think they both prepare great,” Bridges said. “That’s what I take from it.”
Tyler Glasnow weathers cold, leads Dodgers to win at Colorado
The hottest team in baseball, the coldest game in franchise history.
And a California kid on the mound, battling the inclement elements, this time beating the 35-degree chill.
Last April, a deluge in Philadelphia derailed the Dodgers and Tyler Glasnow in a frustrating defeat against the Phillies.
On Friday, in his first game at Coors Field, the Dodgers’ towering right-hander proved his manager Dave Roberts right: “He’s grown exponentially. I don’t see that these conditions are going to affect him today.”
Indeed not. The former Santa Clarita Hart High standout got the better of the weather and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. And his Dodgers teammates put runs on the board like they were logs in the fireplace, scoring at least one run every inning until the sixth inning en route to a breezy 7-1 victory.
Sparked by Max Muncy’s leadoff home runs in the second and fifth innings, the hot hitters up and down the Dodgers’ lineup sapped the suspense from the first of a four-game wraparound series.
Most of the crowd of 28,783 loved to see it. Thousands of dutifully bundled Dodgers supporters chanted and cheered as their boys in blue notched their 15th victory in 19 games, maintaining momentum in the first game of a 13-consecutive-game stretch.
Colorado right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano took the loss after leaving the game after the fourth inning with the Rockies trailing 5-0, having given up five runs on nine hits and thrown 91 pitches (just 51 of them for strikes).
Conversely, Glasnow (2-0) got the win, going seven innings and yielding just one run and two hits, striking out seven and walking two on 92 pitches. The Rockies (7-13) scored only in the fourth inning, when Troy Johnston’s groundout pushed across Mickey Moniak to make it 5-1.
The Dodgers’ first run came on much more quickly, when Will Smith’s one-out sacrifice fly brought home Shohei Ohtani, who’d led off the game with a double — he went two for three off Sugano on Friday, making the Dodgers’ superstar six for seven all time against his countryman.
Smith’s first RBI was his ninth this season, in his 35th game at the famously hitter-friendly park, though he still had another in him.
Muncy’s 434-foot home run in the second made it 2-0 and his double down the line in the third drove in Smith, who’d reached on a broken-bat single that sent Roberts scurrying in the dugout. That gave the Dodgers their third run before Andy Pages’ sacrifice brought home Freddie Freeman to make it 4-0.
The Dodgers pushed it to 5-0 in the fourth inning when Smith singled to left to score Kyle Tucker, who’d doubled off the center field wall.
And then Muncy led off the fifth with his second solo shot, giving him his 21st career multi-homer game, and his fourth at Coors Field. After Alex Freeland hit a sacrifice fly to left to bring home Pages, the Dodgers led 7-1.
Hyeseong Kim was one of three Dodgers who didn’t score, but the speedy South Korean reached on a single and a walk and twice stole second.
For all the contributors keeping warm up and down the Dodgers’ lineup, the members of the Rockies’ ground crew were the real heroes of Friday’s game. They plowed the outfield grass and shoveled away the couple inches of snow that piled up between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to prepare a playable field by gametime at 6:40 p.m.
In the second game of the four-game series Saturday, Dodgers right-hander Emmet Sheehan (2-0, 6.60) is expected to face the Rockies’ right-hander Ryan Feltner (1-1, 7.30).
Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Dodgers conquer snowy weather (and Rockies) as Max Muncy homers twice
DENVER –– As snow fell from the sky and temperatures plunged into 30s outside, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sat in his office at Coors Field on Friday afternoon and reminisced on the coldest game he ever played.
“I think I recall in Buffalo, I played in April in 2000,” Roberts said, thinking all the way back to his minor-league days. “Snow, wind, cold. I mean, it was in the 20s. Miserable.”
The kind of conditions, he added, that make for a “mindset game.”
The Dodgers’ series-opener against the Colorado Rockies later that night wasn’t quite as bad. The snow let up a few hours before first pitch. The grounds crew was able to clear the field of its thick white coating. And while the 35-degree reading at first pitch was the lowest on record in Dodgers history, it was a “dry cold,” Roberts joked, after the skies finally cleared.
Still, such a setting posed a challenge, almost “testing your soul a little bit,” as Roberts quipped.
Then, during a 7-1 win, his team passed in every phase.
“You can’t complain about it,” third baseman Max Muncy said. “You got to go out there. They have to play through it also.”
In a relentless offensive onslaught, the Dodgers (15-4) scored in each of the first five innings to jump out to a big early lead.
In a seven-inning, one-run gem, Tyler Glasnow preserved the advantage against the Rockies (7-13) and their woeful lineup, striking out seven batters despite the frigid weather.
Muncy led the way at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two home runs and an RBI double after entering the game in a 1-for-17 skid.
Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith also had two hits, while Andy Pages and Hyeseong Kim each reached base twice.
It was everything Roberts was hoping to see pregame, when he challenged his hitters to “overcome the cold.”
“It’s gonna be uncomfortable. Your hands are gonna hurt,” he said. “This is one of those days you’ve just got to kind of hunker down and lock in for three hours and lock in for your four at-bats or five at-bats and give the best effort.”
The same went for Glasnow, who turned in his best start of the season while showing further growth and maturation –– especially compared to this time last year, when he came unglued during another bad weather day in the rain in Philadelphia.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Post SportsFacebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X
California Post Opinion
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!
California Post App: Download here!
Home delivery: Sign up here!Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!
“I think he’s grown exponentially,” Roberts said.
For him and the rest of the team, it was mind over matter.
What it means
The Dodgers just keep on rolling during this opening month.
They’ve now won four in a row, 11 of the last 13 and are the first team in the majors to reach the 15-win mark.
Glasnow’s performance continued a particularly strong run from the starting rotation, marking the third time in this four-game winning streak the Dodgers have gotten at least seven innings from their pitcher.
“I’m usually super hot and sweaty, so it was almost nice,” Glasnow said. “My body temperature is so high to where I went out there and didn’t feel cold, didn’t sweat a ton … I think just feeling good was helpful.”
Who’s hot
Muncy had been in a cold spell following his three-run homer game last week.
All it took was the cold Colorado temps, apparently, to heat his bat back up.
In the second inning, he jumped on a down-the-middle cutter from Tomoyuki Sugano and slugged a 452-foot solo blast deep to center. In the fifth, he turned on an inside cutter from reliever Zach Angos and pulled another solo drive 419 feet.
In between that, Muncy also accomplished a quirky season-first, when he lined an RBI double into the right-field corner to key a two-run rally.
Before that, all five of Muncy’s RBIs on the season had come via solo homers. When Smith crossed the plate on his double, he became the first batter other than Muncy himself that the third baseman had driven in this year.
“I really like the things that I’m working on,” Muncy said, after raising his batting average back up to .254. “I just need to get it to take hold in the game and once that happens, I feel like things are really going to start taking off.”
Who’s not
Sugano.Especially when he faces Ohtani.
Entering Friday, Ohtani had faced his fellow Japanese countryman twice in their careers: Going 2-for-2 in a Nippon Professional Baseball league game in Japan before Ohtani came over to the majors, then going 2-for-2 again with two home runs during Sugano’s debut MLB season with the Baltimore Orioles last year.
Now a member of the Rockies, Sugano didn’t have much better luck when Ohtani and the Dodgers arrived at Coors Field.
Ohtani led the game off with a double, extending his on-base streak to 49 games before scoring on a sacrifice fly from Smith later in the inning. In the second, Ohtani then singled, adding to an eventual total of nine hits that the Dodgers collected off Sugano in his four-inning, five-run, 91-pitch grind of an outing.
The good news for Sugano: He finally retired Ohtani on a ground ball in the fourth.
By then, however, the Dodgers were already putting the game out of reach.
Up next
The Dodgers and Rockies continue their series on Saturday, and this time there’s no snow in the forecast. Emmet Sheehan (2-0, 6.60 ERA) will square off against Ryan Feltner (1-1, 7.30) for the 5:10 p.m. PT first pitch.