Category: Sports News

Worldwide Sports News

Posted on

Lake Elsinore sweeps 6-game series

The Lake Elsinore Storm became the first minor league affiliate to sweep a series this season and now have a winning record going into a tie for first in their division. The Low-A team, boasting many of the 2025 draftees of the Padres, has had many surprise players surge in the last couple of weeks. Two undrafted free agents join a couple of the top-rated draft prospects to form the nucleus of an offense that has heated up for the Storm.

Both starter Griffin Canning and reliever Yuki Matsui are reaching the ends of their rehab windows and will be joining the San Diego Padres soon. Canning should be fully built up and must be activated by Monday. Matsui has pitched in back-to-back games and has completed a two-inning appearance. He will join the Padres by this weekend.

Sung-Mun Song was the 27th man for the Mexico City Series but returned to El Paso after debuting with the Padres as a pinch runner. A brief glance at his numbers would make many wonder why he has not been brought up to the major league team. A little deeper look shows major concerns with barrel and hard-hit rates. He has almost no slug, has not stolen a base and has an alarming K-rate.

El Paso Chihuahuas (12-15 record with a 4-2 record in their last series, 3rd in Pacific Coast League East)

Outfielder Samad Taylor leads the team with a .325 average; infielder Pablo Reyes has a .438 OBP while outfielder Jase Bowen is tops in both slug .625 and OPS .968 and has seven homers. Infielder Jose Miranda leads with 18 RBI. The depth of the talent sitting in Triple-A is reassuring if reinforcements are needed for the Friars. The only real concern is that Bowen has 28 strikeouts in his 96 at-bats, a 29% K-rate.

RHP Evan Fitterer has started four games out of the six games he has appeared in and has a 1.23 ERA in the 14.2 innings pitched. Reliever Garrett Hawkins, who is on the 40-man roster, has a 2.08 ERA in 8.2 innings pitched. Griffin Canning has had four appearances (fifth should be in the books on Tuesday) with a 5,40 ERA in 10 innings.

San Antonio Missions (5-16 record that makes them last in Texas League South)

The Double-A Missions are having a difficult time so far this season but there is a big bright spot for Padres fans. Catcher Ethan Salas is heating up of late and is leading the team in OPS at .859 and slug at.481 and that includes two homers.

1B/DH Leandro Cedeno has only played in 10 games but is hitting .333 with a .415 OBP. Infielder Carson Tucker continues to hit, batting .317 in 13 games and has four stolen bases without being caught. He has an .806 OPS and .391 OBP.

Starter Miguel Mendez is on the 40-man roster and has started four games with a 3.68 ERA in 14.2 innings but had a rough start his last time out. Reliever Andrew Moore has a 1.29 ERA in five games and 7.2 innings and Eric Yost, who has made one start in his four games, has a 1.32 ERA in 17.2 innings.

Fort Wayne TinCaps (7-14 record, last in Midwest League East)

Outfielder Jake Cunningham, 23, who signed with the Padres as a minor league free agent in February, has had a good start for his new organization and their High-A affiliate. He leads the team with a .321 average, a .607 slug and a .965 OPS. He has hit four homers and has seven RBI. Outfielder Kasen Wells has a team leading .384 OBP with 14 walks and a .266 average. He also leads the team with three stolen bases. Outfielder Alex McCoy is continuing to show he can be an all-around player with a .324 average, four home runs and 12 RBI.

Starter Carson Montgomery has three starts and a 3.00 ERA in 12 innings. Starter Andrew Parra has a 3.12 ERA in four games with 17.1 innings pitched. LHP Kash Mayfield has four starts and a 1.65 ERA in 16 innings pitched with 19 strikeouts and could be pushing the organization into an early promotion.

Reliever Clay Edmondson has a 1.04 ERA in 8.2 innings pitched and two saves.

Both offense and pitching has struggled so far this season for the TinCaps with the above exceptions noted.

Lake Elsinore Storm (12-9 record, swept the Visalia Rawhides 6-0, 1st, in a tie, in California League South)

The Low-A Storm got off to a slow start but several players are surging to push them into their winning ways. Infielder Bradley Frye is hitting .419 with a .621 slug and a 1.083 OPS with 17 RBI. Outfielder Connor Westenburg, the other undrafted free agent with Frye, is hitting .371 with a .935 OPS and has 13 RBI and 13 stolen bases.

Outfielder Ryan Wideman, the Padres No. 9 prospect, will shoot up the prospect rankings if he keeps this up. Wideman is hitting .299/.404/.529 for a .933 OPS. He has seven doubles, two triples, three home runs and 20 RBI with 17 stolen bases in 21 attempts. He also has 11 walks to 18 strikeouts while playing an excellent center field. Coming into the season, the concern was his hitting mechanics and whether he could adapt to higher velocity and spin. He chased out of the zone and there were questions about his ability to be selective. So far, he has altered his mechanics and seems to be adjusting well. He has plus-plus speed and a good arm with good defensive range.

Catcher Victor Duarte leads the team with a .490 OBP, collecting a team high 13 walks. He can also play first base and is in his fourth season with Lake Elsinore but has never played more than 54 games in a season.

Unfortunately, the Storm has lost outfielder Kale Fountain for the season with a shoulder injury requiring season ending surgery. He had a collision with an outfield wall.

Carlos Medina has pitched in six games and has started two games. He has 16 innings with a 2.25 ERA and 16 strikeouts. Winyer Chourio has a 2.25 ERA in four games/three starts over 12 innings pitched and 26 strikeouts. Bryan Balzer has 19 strikeouts over 18 innings pitched and four games started. One difficult outing upped his ERA to 4.50.

Reliever Javier Chacon has a 1.80 ERA in 15 innings with 21 strikeouts. Ethan Long has a 1.35 ERA in six games and 6.2 innings with three saves. Nick Falter has a 1.98 ERA in 13.2 innings in seven appearances with 14 strikeouts.

Jeremiah Estrada made one rehab appearance with Lake Elsinore, pitching one inning with a strikeout. The most encouraging sign was that his pitches were back up to his normal velocity and he allowed no hits. He should resume his rehab with El Paso.

New Padre Lucas Giolito made his first start and went 2.2 innings but was removed after a comebacker hit his pitching hand. He allowed two runs and two hits with three walks and reached 63 pitches. He must be added to the Padres roster by May 16.

Injuries

Miguel Mendez was placed on the IL with a neck strain after his last start. It is not likely to be a long stint. Luis Gutierrez was placed on the 60-day IL with a lat strain. Omar Cruz was sent to San Antonio to fill in for the injured pitchers.

Qrey Lott, an undrafted free agent sign, was added to Lake Elsinore to replace Fountain.

Posted on

Guardians, Do You Want to Field a Snowman?

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 28: Daniel Schneemann #10 of the Cleveland Guardians looks on prior to the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Grace Hoppel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Schneemann means “Snowman” in German and “Making Himself a Must-Play Hitter” in Cleveland Guardian.

Coming into 2026, it would surprise almost no one to hear Daniel Schneemann made the Opening Day roster. Despite entering the season with a career wRC+ of 84, Schnee was a good, if not great, defender at virtually every position on the field. This defensive flexibility more than makes up for the lower than average offensive production and allows him to almost perfectly fill the role of an everyday bottom of the line up utility player. What might be surprising for almost everyone is that through the Guardians first 32 games so far in 2026, Daniel Schneemann has been by a very wide margin the team’s most productive hitter, with a 167 wRC+ so far in 2026. The question we’re going to look at today is whether or not this offensive production is sustainable, or if this is just a blazing start to 2026.

I should start off by saying we are still very early in the season, and we’re going to be analyzing a very small sample size of plate appearances (87 to be exact), but there’s still a lot of data to look at and a lot of conclusions we can draw. The first number to look at is Schnee’s wOBA vs xwOBA, and as it stands currently, he’s outperforming his xwOBA by about .048. This is a pretty big outperformance, and as of writing sits at the 18th “luckiest” hitter per Savant. The positive side is looking strictly at his xwOBA of .369, which is still top ~80th percentile in MLB, ranking him 56 out of 273 qualified MLB hitters. The only two hitters with a better xwOBA on the Guardians are unsurprisingly José Ramírez and Chase DeLauter.

The set of data we want to look at next involves metrics that have high correlation with better quality of contact. If you’ve been listening to player and coach interviews, or the broadcast commentary, you’re probably aware that Schnee spent the offseason trying to build more muscle. Now it’s not wholly a 1 to 1 comparison, as there are a lot of other factors that contribute, but we can see this in the data a little bit, as his average bat speed is up from around 70.8 over his first 2 seasons to 71.5 in 2026, and he’s gotten his average exit velo up from around 88.8 to 90mph in 2026. Schnee has also gotten exceptionally efficient at getting this now harder contact into more optimal launch angles. The overwhelming majority of extra base hits come from batted balls in the 8-32 degree launch angle window. Statcast uses LA SS% (Launch Angle Sweet-Spot %) to denote the percentage of in-play batted balls that fall into this optimal launch angle window. Schnee is hitting this window on a staggering 46.2% of his batted balls. That percentage ranks him 7th out of 273 qualified MLB hitters on Savant. This is exactly what you want to do to be able to more consistently get extra base hits.

A lot of you may be sensing a “but” coming, and unfortunately your instincts are good. While everything we’ve talked about before is incredible, when we want to talk about sustainability, there’s a few big factors we haven’t looked at yet. The biggest one is Chase%. One of the most important aspects of hitting is making good swing decisions. Right now Schnee’s Chase% is up from 25.8 in 2025 to 35.1 in 2026. And his Whiff% is up from 29.6 in 2025 to 36 in 2026. How concerning is this? Well, on the surface the answer would be “Very concerning.” That Whiff% is in the bottom 5 percentile on Savant, and the Chase% is bottom 19 percentile. 

A very high Chase% combined with high Whiff% is a very bad combination for hitters in general, and this is likely where we will get our answer of “is this sustainable for Schnee?” The obvious adjustment from the league is to throw more pitches out of the zone to try to get him to expand his zone and get himself out. The silver lining is that Schnee’s BB% and K% are pretty much in line with his career averages thus far. So it’s not a total panic yet.

If we were to profile 2026 Daniel Schneemann so far, he’d be considered a high risk, high reward, power- driven hitter. If he starts seeing more pitches out of the zone but is able to resist chasing more than he is now, and if we assume some regression to reel back in some of the batted ball luck so far, there’s no reason to think he can’t continue as a very solid 110-120 wRC+ super utility man. The batted ball metrics are great, the plate discipline is concerning – right now they balance out nicely to equal a phenomenal baseball player all around, especially considering above average defensive capabilities at many positions.

It’ll be very exciting to see how the month of May goes for Schnee, as we start to see if the League begins to approach him differently. Let it snow, Daniel, and keep playing your heart out.

Posted on

Weird Islanders: The Podcast! – Episode 86 – Hartford Whalers Special (with guest Aaron Kleinman)

Aaron Kleinman of Heartland Signal tells us about his enduring love of the Hartford Whalers, his home state’s former NHL team, whose final road game was against the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum.

It’s been almost 30 years since the Whalers last took the ice at the Hartford Civic Center, the only rink in NHL history located inside of a shopping mall. While the team had limited success in its time, it cultivated a rabid fanbase that still misses its best players, legendary logo, classic marching band theme song and other quaint charms. But rooting for a goofball team in a very small market feels like you’re getting away with something. And as you try to keep the scam going for as long as possible, the jig always comes up.

As a born and bred son of The Constitution State and a huge sports fan from birth, Aaron lived and died by the Whalers and still carries with him the memories and scars from their eventual move to Raleigh, NC. He tells us about how the team excelled at falling just barely short of the playoffs, what it was like living across the street from Whalers GM Jim Rutherford (and in the same town as tough guy Glen Featherstone) and the particular indignities of having your team bought and moved by a guy sporting a ponytail. Aaron also talks about how the team’s off-ice strife shaped his outlook on the world, even at a very young age.

Of course, we do cover some Weird Islanders here including a legendary tough guy of our own and two defensive defensemen we never thought we’d ever get a chance to cover on the show. Turns out there’s a lot of connective tissue between these two teams aside from one game late in a lost season for both of them.

We can’t thank Aaron enough for his time and sharing his very vivid memories of his favorite team. He’s a great guy to chat with and has been a legendary sports poster for many years. Check out Heartland Signal and his own free newsletter, Radio Free America.

WEIRD BONUS MATERIAL

What makes a “Weird Islander?”

We’re always open to suggestions about other Weird Islanders to discuss. Remember the criteria. Candidates must fulfill one of the two of the following:

  • Played one (1) season or less for the Islanders or very short stints over multiple seasons.
  • Be a veteran NHLer who is not generally associated with his time on Islanders.

Subscribe to our Patreon! Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more.

Visit our friends!

  • Vintage Ice Hockey for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys featuring hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as Islanders Anxiety merch, and our Al Arbour and The Island shirts. Our portion of the sales benefit the Center for Dementia Research. Use the code ANXIETY20 to save 20% off an order of two items.
  • The Pinot Project has Rosé, Pinot Grigio and a Pinot Noir that was named a 2024 Top 100 Best Buy by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. All are under $15 a bottle and are available at local wine shops and at UBS Arena.
  • Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (@FansFirstSN).
  • Theme song: “Knuckles” by Björn Falk. Hear more of his music on Spotify and at Bandcamp.
  • Drum sfx via Zapsplat.com. Jingle bell sfx also via ZapSplat.

Please subscribe, download, rate, review or spread the word about Islanders Anxiety, Weird Islanders: The Podcast! and all of our podcasts any way you can. All of it helps to raise the show’s profile and maybe could get us another fancy sponsor to sell out to in the near future. Leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

All Islanders Anxiety podcasts are available on:

Posted on

Knicks Bulletin: ‘Trying so hard to be calm’

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 30: Spike Lee celebrates during the game between the New York Knicks against the Atlanta Hawks during Round One Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2026 at State Farm Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

I don’t even know why we make any other prediction than Knicks in Six anymore.

It don’t make sense. Don’t make it make sense.

Just keep winning theeem gaaaaaaames!!!

Mike Brown

On Josh Hart’s versatility:

“His versatility is huge whether it’s offensively or defensively. Offensively, he pushes the basketball. He helps us play faster. Defensively, he gives us versatility. You can move him around because of how strong he is and the feel he has on that end of the floor. And then because of his ability to rebound, if you want to cross match and put a smaller guy on him, he can impact the game by hitting the glass.”

On Hart’s physical profile:

“It’s what you look for to have guys that are all 6-8, 6-9, tough and can all bring a lot of things to the table for you. Josh might disagree with his size so he might not be 6-8 or 6-9 but with his strength and toughness, he’s talented physically and he plays the right way, so he gives you those things, even though he is 6-foot-5.”

On OG Anunoby’s consistency:

“It’s huge. Again, he had a double-double (in Game 5), but he impacted the game at such a high level. He impacted it in ways that you can’t even really tell, because it doesn’t show up in the stat sheet. We need him, and he’s definitely been about as consistent as you’d hope and expect. And we need every ounce of his consistency at the highest level.”

On Quin Snyder and the Hawks making the Knicks better:

“I’ve got to give [Hawks head coach] Quin Snyder and his staff a lot of credit. They forced us — when I say us I mean not just our players, our coaches — they forced us to find ways to help the team be better. Sometimes when you win you make adjustments. Sometimes when you lose you make adjustments. You’re always trying to figure out how can we put our team in a better position to help them succeed on the floor. Not to say we have it figured out, but every single time that we step on the floor we’re trying to do that. We’re watching film, going through a million different hypotheticals, which you don’t do during the regular season.”

On the offensive changes after Game 3:

“We had to change (the offense), because every possession was a grind those first three games, especially down the stretch. And so we had to find more ways to put our guys in their strengths while getting to it quickly, while still having options. I’m not a guy that likes to call every play. I want our guys to be able to read where the advantage is quickly throughout the course of the action. And Atlanta forced us to find a way to do that and feel pretty good about where we’re at right now.”

On OG Anunoby’s Game 6:

“OG was phenomenal. He played 27 minutes, had 29 points on 14 field-goal attempts and rebounded his behind off.”

On Mikal Bridges’ Game 6:

“It was great. He just did what he’s capable of doing. Now, is he going to go 10-for-12 every night? No. But he was aggressive and took great shots. And it shouldn’t go unnoticed that his defense was phenomenal. … A big night on both ends of the floor by Mikal.”

On the team connectedness and clicking at the exact best time:

“Our guys, their connectedness right now is off the charts. When you lock into the detail and you’re connected like that, with a group that’s as talented and versatile as that group, you got a chance to do that.”

On the midseason and series adjustments:

“We changed the way we played offensively and defensively about halfway through the season and we changed again after Game 3. [The Hawks] forced us to put our thinking caps on and forced us to play different. Find ways to make the game easier while putting [the players] in their strengths, while trying not to hinder them. We changed what we done offensively, but again that’s because we were pushed to do it. We feel pretty good about what we fell into.”

On the Robinson-Daniels scuffle:

“I haven’t seen the film, and it’s tough because when you’re up that big, stuff happens. And it’s hard. If somebody feels like something that shouldn’t happen happens, it’s hard to keep your composure in that moment. But at the end of the day, that’s what we talked about, and our guys did a good job of that the rest of the game.”

Josh Hart

On playing through injury:

“I’m always questionable depending on how my body feels. It was the back kind of locked up and then it went down to my hip, so that kind of happened the first quarter [of Game 5]. And then I tried to play through it the second quarter, and then at halftime it got a little tighter. I couldn’t really move too much.”

On guarding CJ McCollum:

“I think I had good physicality. I was able to force him into some tough shots. I was just trying to make life hard for him. Obviously, that’s a guy that’s got a lot of buckets in this league. That was something I thought, after Game 1 and Game 2 he kind of went off and kind of took over the game, that’s the matchup that I wanted going into Game 3 and after. I’ve had some conversations with the coaches about not taking me off him and those kinds of things.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns in Game 6:

“I thought KAT was amazing. To start the game blitzing, protecting the rim, he had some big blocks, his energy was huge for us. I just think the physicality, the attention to detail, focus on the gameplan, I think all those are at a very high level.”

On setting the tone in Game 6:

“It was huge for us because, like I said, we feel like we gave two games away. We wanted to come out with a great attention to detail and focus from the jump. I feel like our starts have been pretty good this series, and we wanted to set a tone from the beginning.”

On the blowout win:

“That’s something where it shows what we can do. And now we gotta continue to build off of it. Now we can’t sit there and not do it because we know we have what it takes to do it. It just reinforced the kind of team that we have, the players that we have, the coaches that we have.”

On the meaning of the Game 6 blowout heading into the second round:

“I don’t think it boosts confidence. It just reinforced the kind of team that we have, the players that we have, the coaches that we have. It was huge for us just because we feel like we gave two games away and we wanted to come out here with a great attention to detail, great focus from the jump. I feel like our starts to the game have been pretty good this series. That’s something that we wanted to set the tone with from the beginning.”

OG Anunoby

On his Game 6 performance:

“I don’t know. I work very hard. We have a great team and the team has been finding me and I’m playing with force or whatever.”

On the Knicks’ start to Game 6:

“We just came out with intensity. We were ready to play from the very jump … We know what we’re capable of. We know we’re a great team. We just need to continue to do it.”

On the last time he was part of such a humongous blowout:

“I don’t know. Maybe high school or something.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On Knicks fans in Atlanta:

“That just shows the love that our fans got. They support us around the world. In a playoff series to make us feel at home, in another team’s city, speaks volumes about our fanbase. They’re the best fans in the world.”

On the Knicks’ Game 6 performance:

“We knew we needed to be at our best tonight, and we came close to doing that tonight.”

On not having a preference between Boston and Philly:

“I don’t think it should matter who we play as long as the Knicks play our best version of ourselves. When we do that, we can win every night.”

On adjusting to a new role under Brown and sacrificing for the team:

“I never doubted my ability. I never doubted the work I put in. It’s just – you gotta adjust, you gotta adjust. Especially (with) a lot of new things being thrown at you, you’re being asked to do a lot more things – some things that (haven’t) consistently been asked of me in my career so. It’s one thing anyone who knows me, who’s followed my career, I’m willing to sacrifice and do whatever it takes for the team to win. And I think this year I’ve shown that again. Whatever the team needs me to do, the player the team needs me to be, I’ll step up to the plate, step up to the challenge.”

On answering the call offensively in Game 6:

“I just wanted to answer the call. You ask for the opportunities and they obliged and I got to repay that trust and that opportunity. I just want to impact winning. I got more opportunities to do that and I wanted to make sure not take advantage of the opportunity that I was given. I’m proud that I’ve been able to help us win.”

Jalen Brunson

On staying locked in:

“I think, most importantly, (a performance like this) shows us what we’re capable of defensively. That’s really important. We still have a long road to travel, so staying locked in and knowing what we’re capable of is really important.

“Feel good about it tonight. Tomorrow, we turn the page.”

On the team’s ceiling:

“It’s good to see what we’re capable of when we play like that.”

On the Game 6 defensive dominance:

“We were able to get stops, run in transition, get layups. It really came down to our defense. It allowed us to play fast. Allowed us to play in transition. And we made shots. Most importantly, it shows us what we’re capable of defensively. I think that’s really important.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ first-round series:

“He’s played phenomenal. The way we’ve been able to trust each other, all of us obviously including him, it’s been great.”

On OG Anunoby:

“I think he’s one of a kind and getting to see OG, see his work ethic and see the person he is and what he’s just been able to do with his time as a Knick has been great. I’m so happy to have him and happy I don’t have to see him on that side of the ball. He just creates havoc and I think his game is growing. That’s what happens when you work hard and he’s been doing that day in and day out.”

Mikal Bridges

On OG Anunoby:

“He was just doing everything — scoring, defense, rebounding, making plays. He’s doing everything out there and that’s what we need. And I think he’s gonna continue to do that for us.”

On staying confidence amid endless criticism:

“I feel like I’m always confident. Just happy to go out there and get the win. Just doing whatever it takes to win. That’s pretty much it. Just go do it for those guys.”

Mitchell Robinson

On his mental state following the Game 6 ejection:

“Knew something was gonna happen. My mental just not the same. I’m just lost in the world at the moment. Trying so hard to be calm.”

Jose Alvarado

On the Game 6 summary:

“Belt to ass right there.”

Posted on

NHL Player Props & Best Bets for Today, May 1: Dorofeyev Delivers

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

We have another three playoff games on the schedule tonight, with the Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and Vegas Golden Knights all looking to close things out. 

My NHL player props analysis will highlight Alex Tuch, Nick Suzuki, and Pavel Dorofeyev.

Read more in my NHL picks for Friday, May 1.

Best NHL player prop bets today

PlayerBet99
Sabres Tuch Over 0.5 points-145
Habs Suzuki Over 0.5 assists -160
Knights Dorofeyev anytime goal +170

img alt="Get a first bet encore up to $800 with the BET99 promo code COVERSNHL" width="100%" loading="lazy" src="https://img.covers.com/promo-articles/bet99nhlcreative2526.jpeg"Get a first bet encore up to $800 with BET99 bonus code COVERSNHL.
(not available in Ontario)

Our best NHL player props for Friday, May 1

Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.

Prop #1: Alex Tuch Over 0.5 points

-145 at BET99

Alex Tuch has led the Buffalo Sabres in points in the playoffs, registering six. He has three goals and three assists across five games against the Boston Bruins.

Tuch has hit the Over in points in four of his last five, and he’ll be poised to respond after Buffalo’s 2-1 Game 5 loss. 

Tuch finished the regular season with 66 points, and he’s collected three points in two road games in this series as the Sabres visit the Bruins tonight. He’s also had nine SOG across the last two games, signaling Tuch’s heavy involvement in the offense. 

  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: ESPN

Prop #2: Nick Suzuki Over 0.5 assists

-160 at BET99

Nick Suzuki and the Montreal Canadiens are one win away from moving on, and the captain is producing at a high level in this first round.

Suzuki, who was fifth in the NHL during the regular season with 72 assists, has notched five helpers in the series. He’s cashed the Over in all but one game.

Suzuki has an assist in back-to-back appearances, and he is the Canadiens’ top playmaker. Playing on the top line with Cole Caufield (51 goals this year) and the PP1 with all of Montreal’s top stars, he’ll have lots of chances to grab another apple tonight. 

  • Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: ESPN2

Prop #3: Pavel Dorofeyev anytime goal

+170 at BET99

Pavel Dorofeyev is a huge reason why the Vegas Golden Knights are on the brink of advancing.

The 25-year-old scored once in Game 4 before bagging a hat-trick in Game 3 as Vegas won 5-4. He’s playing with a ton of confidence at the moment, and the opportunities are there. 

He has nine SOG across the last two contests, and Dorofeyev was one of the Golden Knights’ top scorers during the regular season, scoring 37 times.

Given how hot he is over these last two games, you'd best believe Vegas will be getting him involved a ton. Another goal in Game 6 is very realistic.

  • Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: ESPN

These props are available now at BET99, one of our best betting sites.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

MORE NHL FREE PICKS

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Posted on

College basketball transfers outside — or near — top 50 portal players I like most

It's been almost a month since the transfer portal opened in college basketball, and most — if not all — of the big names in the pool of available players have been locked up by new teams.

Several Power Five conference programs — like Louisville, Indiana, Texas and Tennessee — pushed all their chips and resources into the transfer portals to address notable glaring needs on their roster with the hope that their finds — perhaps ones that are seen as "under the radar" — are the missing pieces to go on a deep run in March Madness next season.

That doesn't mean teams are done looking to fill holes in their roster, nor does it mean the pool of talent is all dried up. Teams are still very much active.

Basketball transfer portal: Pickups from mid-majors who will make big impact

But with the dust starting to settle and teams starting to prepare for summer practices, it's gotten to the point of the transfer portal cycle where the review of teams' transfer classes picks up to see how well they did (or are doing), and where some of the best player fits are.

Here's a look at some of the best transfer pickups who ranked near or just outside of the top 50 rankings by Power Five conference programs:

Conferencestrackers: ACC | SEC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Big East

Five best Power Five conference transfer pickups

Nolan Minessale, Marquette

Shaka Smart, coming off his first losing season at Marquette, needed to turn to the transfer portal to patch several notable roster gaps after years of relying solely on high‑school player development. The Golden Eagles coach — perhaps to some surprise — used the portal rather effectively, with one of his pickups being St. Thomas guard and Summit League Player of the Year Nolan Minessale.

Minessale hails from nearby Brookfield, Wisconsin and was a standout player at Marquette High School in Milwaukee. He provides depth in the backcourt for the Golden Eagles, who are bringing back building blocks Nigel James Jr., the Big East Freshman of the Year, and Adrian Stevens as well.

Granted he'll be facing better competition in the Big East than the Summit League, his shooting ability should be a nice welcome to the Golden Eagles, as he shot 56.2% from the field and 31.5% from beyond the arc last season. Marquette finished second-to-last in the Big East with a 31.8% 3-point shooting percentage last season.

Devin Royal, Villanova

Villanova struggled with size and athleticism in its front court last season. The Wildcats resolved that weakness in the portal by landing Ohio State forward Devin Royal — in addition to Kwame Evans Jr., who also transferred to Villanova from a Big Ten program (Oregon) this offseason.

On top of bringing Big Ten starting experience to the Wildcats, Royal will bring a physical presence around the basket with his 6-foot-6, 220-pound frame and the ability to knock down 3-pointers. He boosted his 3‑point accuracy to 31.6% last season, which was up from 27.6% the year before.

He averaged 13.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game last season, and a rather efficient 80.2% mark at the free-throw line.

MORE: Howard taps John Wall to be new president of basketball operations

Elyjah Freeman, Texas

There weren't many bigger transfer portal winners than Texas this cycle. One basket short of extending their impressive March Madness run into the Elite Eight, Sean Miller and the Longhorns landed four players in the portal, one being Elyjah Freeman.

Freeman played a key role in Auburn's NIT championship, averaging 10.0 points and 7.6 rebounds in five NIT games. He finished double figures in five of his final 10 games. It's worth noting — and considering — that the 2025-26 season was Freeman's first at the Division I level after starting his career at the Division II level, so he could be in line for a breakout season in Year 2 in the SEC after averaging just 9.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

He'll provide size and length to the Longhorns at the wing position and will look to find that more consistent success and production than he saw with the Tigers last season. He'll likely fill the role of Dailyn Swain, who declared for the 2026 NBA Draft, in Texas' lineup as well.

Drew Scharnowski, Duke

With Dame Sarr, Cayden Boozer, Caleb Foster and Patrick Ngnonba II all returning to Duke next season — in addition to landing Wisconsin guard John Blackwell — the Blue Devils looked to have eyed in on adding some depth off the bench with their other portal acquisition. They were able to get that with Drew Scharnowski.

Scharnowski, a 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward, was one of the top mid-major players this past season in the Missouri Valley Conference at Belmont. He averaged 10.7 points and 6.0 rebounds, which was good enough to earn All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team, All-Defensive Team and Most Improved Player of the Year honors.

At Duke, Scharnowski will be tasked with providing depth to the Blue Devils front court to go with Ngongba.

MORE: Basketball recruiting 2026 team rankings: Kansas lands top player, but another program is No. 1

Delrecco Gillespie, Houston

If there was a player made in a lab to play for Kelvin Sampson, Delrecco Gillespie would be right up there.

Gillespie's stats jump out on paper, as he averaged 17.7 points and 11.3 rebounds last season at Kent State while shooting 50.8% from the field, but so does his size and length at 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds. He also fills some roster needs for the Cougars with freshman forward Chris Cenac Jr. declaring for the NBA draft, as did team-leading scorer Kingston Flemings.

Where his impact will be greatly felt, however, is his rebounding and ability to dominate the glass, which makes him a perfect fit for Sampson and Houston. He finished fourth in the country in rebounds per game last year. Houston has finished in the top 10 in the Big 12 for rebounding each of the last three seasons, and has had a top 5 unit on KenPom in adjusted defensive efficiency in four of the last five seasons.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Basketball transfer portal best fits of players outside top 50 rankings

Posted on

Washington Nationals sign intriguing former Mets reliever Max Kranick

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 25: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Max Kranick #32 of the New York Mets in action against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field on May 25, 2025 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Dodgers 3-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We may have just written about how the Nats bullpen was turning things around, but Paul Toboni is always on the lookout for new arms. The Nats have reportedly signed Max Kranick to a deal that is pending a physical. Before going down with an injury, Kranick was a solid arm in the Mets bullpen, posting a 3.65 ERA in 37 innings.

After making the Mets out of camp last season, Kranick was a valuable multi-inning reliever for them. He showed off a solid combination of good stuff and great control. Kranick only walked 5 batters in 37 innings last year. He also averaged 95.6 MPH on his fastball. 

However, the 28 year old went down with an elbow injury in mid June. He ended up undergoing Flexor Tendon surgery in July of 2025. Kranick missed the remainder of the 2025 season, and went unsigned after being non-tendered by the Mets this offseason.

Kranick has been throwing for teams though. It seems like he was throwing the ball well enough to catch the Nats eye. We are still not totally sure when Kranick will be ready to pitch in big league games, but presumably it will be at some point this season.

I would assume this is a minor league deal for Kranick where he will get a shot at the big leagues if he looks good in AAA. If Kranick can return to his pre-injury form, he would be a solid piece for this Nats bullpen. 

Kranick has a really good fastball that generated whiffs over 25% of the time last season. He can also spin several breaking balls. Kranick used a slider, a curveball and a sweeper last year, with the slider being his go to breaking pitch.

While Kranick did not strike a ton of guys out last year, he can be pretty electric when he is on his game. The breaking ball is not as good, but the plus fastball does remind me a bit of Gus Varland. Both Varland and Kranick have good, but not elite velocity. However, their heaters play up due to the shape of the pitch.

I am excited to follow Kranick as he builds back up and gets ready for big league action. He is likely to have a ramp up period and then pitch in the minors for a while. However, I think Kranick will have a role to play in this bullpen in the second half of the season. He has some intriguing pitch traits and has the ability to go multiple innings.

Last season, Kranick threw 37 innings in 24 outings. He has the ability to be a one inning guy or a multi-inning arm. The Nats new regime clearly values guys like that, which is why they are picking up Kranick. This could end up being a solid little signing.

Posted on

Astros Prospect Report: April 30th

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR - APRIL 22: Will Bush #13 of the Corpus Christi Hooks bats during the game between the Corpus Christi Hooks and the Arkansas Travelers at Dickey-Stephens Park on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in North Little Rock, Arkansas. (Photo by Braeden Botts/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)

Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (16-14) lost 3-2 (BOX SCORE)

Sugar Land got on the board in the first inning on a Nelson solo HR. France got the start and went 4 innings allowing 3 runs. In the 6th inning, Nelson added another solo home run. The pen was solid tossing 4 scoreless innings but the offense was quiet the rest of the way as Sugar Land fell 3-2.

Note: Nelson is hitting .333 this season.

AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (11-13) won 7-6 (BOX SCORE)

Hicks got the start but struggled a bit allowing 5 runs early. The Hooks offense responded though scoring 4 runs in the first inning on a Sullivan solo home run, Whitaker 2 run double and Guillemette RBI single. In the 6th, Lytle gave the Hooks the lead with a 2 run double. Swanson relieved Hicks and allowed 1 run over 3.2 innings while striking out 4. The game went into the 9th tied and in the bottom of the inning, Bush walked it off with a solo HR as the Hooks won 7-6.

Note: Bush has a .884 OPS this season.

A+: Asheville Tourists (6-18) won 9-3 (BOX SCORE)

Asheville got on the board in the 2nd inning on a Schiavone solo HR and a run scoring on a steal of home. They picked up another run in the third inning on Brutcher RBI groundout. Hertzler got the start and pitched well striking out 6 over 5 scoreless innings. In the 6th, Asheville got a run on a Brutcher RBI double. Rodriguez relieved Hertzler and tossed 3 scoreless innings. The offense added some insurance in the 9th on a Thomas hit by pitch, wild pitch and Schiavone 3 run home run. Guedez allowed a few runs in the 9th but held on for the 9-3 win.

Note: Schiavone has a 1.050 OPS this season.

A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (10-14) lost 8-5 (BOX SCORE)

The Woodpeckers got on the board in the third inning on an Ochoa 2 run double. They picked up another run in the 5th inning on a wild pitch. Perez got the start and was pitching well but ran into some trouble in the 5th allowing 2 runs to score, and then another 2 runs after he was pulled, though only one was earned. Weber continued to struggle in relief allowing another 4 runs. The offense got 2 runs in the 8th on a balk and a groundout but that was it as the Woodpeckers fell 8-5.

Note: Huezo is hitting .280 this season.

Today’s minor league starters:

SL: Ethan Pecko – 8:05 CT

CC: Brandon McPherson – 7:05 CT

AV: TBD – 5:35 CT

FV: TBD – 6:05 CT

Posted on

Where to watch NHL playoffs Vegas Golden Knights vs. Utah Mammoth: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Friday, May 1

The Vegas Golden Knights, ranked first in the Pacific Division with a 39-26 record, face the Utah Mammoth, who are fourth in the Central Division with a 43-33 record. The game is essentially a pick'em, with Utah at -105 and Vegas at -115. Vegas has gone 40-6-11 when scoring at least three goals.

  • Date: Friday, May 1

  • Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

  • Where: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT

  • TV Channels: ESPN, Utah16, SN36, TVAS

  • Live Stream:ESPN+ | Follow on Yahoo Sports

  • Vegas Golden Knights: 39-26 (first in West Pacific)

  • Utah Mammoth: 43-33 (fourth in West Central)

  • Spread: Vegas Golden Knights -1.5

  • Moneyline: Utah Mammoth -105 (48.9%) / Vegas Golden Knights -115 (51.1%)

  • Over/Under: 5.5

Posted on

Where to watch NHL playoffs Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Friday, May 1

The Tampa Bay Lightning, ranked second in the Atlantic Division with a 50-26 record, face the Montreal Canadiens, who are third in the Atlantic Division with a 48-24 record. The game is essentially a pick'em, with Tampa Bay at -115 and Montreal at -105.

  • Date: Friday, May 1

  • Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

  • Where: Bell Centre, Montreal, QC

  • TV Channels: ESPN2, CBC

  • Live Stream:ESPN+ | Follow on Yahoo Sports

  • Tampa Bay Lightning: 50-26 (second in East Atlantic)

  • Montreal Canadiens: 48-24 (third in East Atlantic)

  • Spread: Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5

  • Moneyline: Montreal Canadiens -105 (48.9%) / Tampa Bay Lightning -115 (51.1%)

  • Over/Under: 5.5

Posted on

Hunter Stratton Recalled, Anthony Molina Selected for Atlanta Braves

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 20, 2025: Hunter Stratton #65 of the Atlanta Braves prepares to pitch during the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on September 20, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

The Atlanta Braves lost the series finale yesterday against the Tigers, and although the offense was to blame for only scoring two runs, Joel Payamps was partly to blame as well as he came in and blew a one run lead in the eighth inning, and then to add insult to injury José Suarez came in the game and also gave up two runs.

The Braves’ bullpen has been one of the best in MLB in terms of ERA, but the writing was on the wall for both Payamps and Saurez who were the two odd men out that have struggled more than anyone else. After Payamps’ blown save yesterday, his ERA rose to 8.22 on the season. Suarez is not too far behind him with is ERA raising to 6.61.

It now becomes clear that yesterday was their last chance to prove that they earned another chance to stay on the roster after today the Braves announced that they will both be DFA’d and replaced with Hunter Stratton and Anthony Molina.

We have not seen Anthony Molina yet this season for the Braves. He pitched 94.1 innings for the Rockies over the past two seasons and struggled to a 6.96 ERA, but if we know anything about the Braves’ front office, they love to take struggling relievers from the Rockies and turn their careers around. Molina has pitched 14.0 innings in at Gwinnett this year of 4.50 ERA ball but has had the best WHIP of any minors season of his career of 1.357. He also pitched 2.0 innings for Venezuela in the WBC.

Hunter Stratton was very good in his limited 16.1 innings so far at the MLB level for the Braves last season with a 2.20 ERA and 1.102 WHIP. It was honestly a bit puzzling when he was not part of the plan for the season to begin with.

With this move, the Braves have undoubtably improved their bullpen.

Posted on

Pistons vs Magic – Game 6 NBA Playoffs – predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for May 1

The Pistons won Game 5 in Detroit, 116-109, as they continue to climb back in the series. Orlando leads the series 3-2 and has the chance to close out in Game 6 at home Friday night.

The stars were out on Wednesday night. Paolo Banchero and Cade Cunningham each scored 45 points, while Tobias Harris (23 points) was the only other player to score more than 20 points. Banchero also led the game in assists with seven and Ausar Thompson led everyone with 15 rebounds.

The Magic went 16-of-30 (53%) from the free throw line in the loss and turned the ball over 16 times in the Game 5 loss. Detroit turned the ball over 17 times and held a significant edge from the free throw line going 28-of-35 (80%).

Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content. 

Game Details and How to Watch Live: Magic vs. Pistons

  • Date: Friday, May 1, 2026
  • Time: 7:10 PM EST
  • Site: Kia Center
  • City: Orlando, FL
  • Network/Streaming: Amazon Prime Video

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Game Odds: Magic vs. Pistons

The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Detroit Pistons (-170), Orlando Magic (+142)
  • Spread: Pistons -3.5
  • Total: 210.5 points

This game opened Pistons -3.5 with the Total set at 211.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

Expected Starting Lineups: Magic vs. Pistons

Orlando Magic

  • PG Jalen Suggs
  • SG Desmond Bane
  • SF Franz Wagner
  • PF Paolo Banchero
  • C Wendell Carter Jr.

Detroit Pistons

  • PG Cade Cunningham
  • SG Duncan Robinson
  • SF Ausar Thompson
  • PF Tobias Harris (questionable)
  • C Jalen Duren

Injury Report: Pistons vs. Magic

Orlando Magic

  • Jonathan Issac (knee) is listed as DOUBTFUL for Game 6

Detroit Pistons

  • Kevin Huerter (hip) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for Game 6
  • Tobias Harris (ankle) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for Game 6

Important stats, trends and insights: Pistons vs. Magic

  • Detroit is 45-42 ATS
  • Detroit is 47-39-1 to the Under
  • Detroit is 23-19-1 to the Under as the road team
  • Detroit is 15-18 ATS as a road favorite
  • Orlando is 43-46 ATS and 22-21 ATS at home
  • Orlando is 9-4 ATS as a home underdog
  • Orlando is 7-6 on the ML as a home underdog
  • Orlando is 47-42 to the Over and 23-20 to the Over at home
  • Orlando is 7-6 to the Under as a home underdog

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s Magic and Pistons’ game:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Pistons’ Moneyline
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Pistons -3.5 ATS
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 210.5

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

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)
Posted on

Guardians News and Notes: Evidence Points to Halpin

PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 14: Petey Halpin #0 of the Cleveland Guardians takes the field during a Spring Training game against the San Diego Padres at Peoria Stadium on March 14, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Guardians demoted George Valera to Columbus yesterday, without announcing a corresponding move. However, Petey Halpin was not in the Clippers’ lineup in Columbus last night and Stuart Fairchild was, so internet sleuths suspect that Halpin will join the Guardians in Sacramento today to play the A’s.

Valera was given the chance to earn a starting spot in left field, but was lapped by Angel Martinez and Daniel Schneemann. He will get a chance to get his bearings in Triple-A while Angel and Schnee try to show their work is sustainable.

Speaking of Columbus, I am not sure how long the Guardians can leave Franco Aleman there. He has a 0.00 ERA, a 1.62 FIP and a 13.5/2.7 K/BB/9. Daniel Espino is striking out 10.38 per 9, but his 6 per 9 walk rate is at least justification for leaving him down there, as is his need to get used to a reliever’s schedule. I was told Codi Heuer is doing well, but his 6.55/4.09 K/BB/9 doesn’t inspire. He’s limiting hard contact, but I don’t see anything that makes me think Heuer is a “can’t lose” guy if the team needs a 40-man spot in the future.

Zack Meisel offered a good article on Travis Bazzana and his first few days in the bigs for the Athletic. He followed that up today with a nice piece on the Angel Martinez early season breakout.

Jace LaViolette did a nice little card opening video for the Lake County Captains on Instagram:

AROUND MLB:

The Tigers beat the Braves, the Twins beat the Blue Jays, and the Royals lost to the Athletics

Posted on

Report: Maple Leafs Believed to Have Sought Permission to Speak to Lightning GM Julien Brisebois About GM Vacancy

Barring any last-minute snags in finalizing contracts, it appears as though the Toronto Maple Leafs management is set with Hockey Hall of Famer Mats Sundin taking on a Vice President of Hockey Operations-type role and John Chayka serving as General Manager. However, it looks like the Leafs were aiming to speak with another currently employed GM with another franchise. 

On the latest episode of the ’32 Thoughts’ podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman revealed who he believes the Leafs tried to speak to. “I believe that was Julien Brisebois of the Tampa Bay Lightning,” Friedman said. “I don’t think anyone is shocked here the Lightning would say no.” 

A look at his resume makes it clear to see why the Leafs would be interested in Brisebois. He started with the Lightning in 2010 when he was hired by Steve Yzerman as an Assistant GM and oversaw the AHL team’s hiring of Jon Cooper and subsequent Calder Cup championships. When Yzerman departed to run the Detroit Red Wings, Brisebois was promoted to GM, and the club won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021. 

Brisebois is known for his ability to weaponize the salary cap while being aggressive in making deals to compete in a championship window. An example of that was acquiring David Savard and Barclay Goodrow for first-round picks during that period. He has also been able to effectively sign players to cap-friendly deals, securing stars like Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point to long-term contracts with salary cap hits of $9.5 million. While these were seen as possibly below market value, the take-home pay remains high given Florida is a state with no 

In Toronto, Brisebois wouldn’t necessarily have that specific tax luxury, but he would have had the full resources of MLSE at his disposal. He certainly fits MLSE CEO Keith Pelley’s desire for a data-driven GM, making it easy to see why the Lightning were quick to decline the request. 

The Leafs appear to be in no rush to make a formal announcement on their new management structure as all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed. Beyond the front office shuffle, the team's immediate future hinges on the NHL Draft lottery this Tuesday, May 5. The Leafs currently have the fifth-best chance of moving to the No. 1 spot, but they also face a 58.9 percent chance of losing their pick if they move down in the order. The Leafs lose their pick to the Boston Bruins if it does not land in the top five—a condition of the March 2025 trade that brought veteran defenseman Brandon Carlo to Toronto. 

Posted on

Snakebytes 5/1: Let’s move on, shall we?

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 29: Ildemaro Vargas #6 of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits a single against the Milwaukee Brewers during the second inning at American Family Field on April 29, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Diamondbacks News

(Sporting News) Diamondbacks’ James McCann sets absurd position player pitching record

McCann has set a mark by pitching more times before the end of April as a position player than anyone in MLB history, according to Baseball Reference’s Jessica Brand.

The long-time major league catcher has already thrown in four games, including Thursday’s blowout loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

(MLB.com) Brewers await MRI results after low velocity prompts Woodruff’s early exit

Woodruff’s first pitch of the game was a four-seamer at 84.2 mph, and it didn’t improve as he tried to settle into his outing. He worked around a leadoff walk with a pair of strikeouts in a scoreless first inning, then didn’t touch 85 mph with any of his pitches in the second while retiring a batter and surrendered a single to start the frame.

In hindsight, the first signs that something was amiss may have appeared in Woodruff’s previous outing against the Pirates, when 59 of his 71 pitches were varieties of fastballs. His four-seamer averaged 92.9 mph — which was actually up a tick — but he was part of the decision to come out of the game after only five innings, according to Murphy.

(Clutchpoints) Diamondbacks’ Ildemaro Vargas ties Venezuelan-born history in blowout loss to Brewers

Despite Milwaukee Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff being pulled after just 1.1 innings, they still blew out the Arizona Diamondbacks 13-1 on Thursday. But in the process, Diamondbacks infielder Ildemaro Vargas made Venezuelan history.

Vargas went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles in the loss. He extended his hitting streak to 26, which ties the record for longest by a Venezuelan-born player, originally set by Wilson Ramos in 2019, via independent journalist Francys Romero.

(SI.com) Ildemaro Vargas Is Forcing MLB Fans to Pay Attention

Vargas’ .378 batting average is 20 points higher than Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays, who has the second-best batting average in baseball at .358. Vargas’ .378 batting average is 42 points ahead of Xavier Edwards of the Miami Marlins, who is in second place in the National League in batting average at .336.

MLB News

(Yahoo! Sports) MLB owners, MLBPA reportedly set to begin labor negotiations soon, with salary cap at center of talks

With the 2026 MLB season only a month old, both the players and owners are already looking to the future. The league’s collective-bargaining agreement (CBA) expires at the end of the season, and both sides are expected to engage in multiple contentious rounds of negotiation.

In an effort to get ahead of that, the owners and MLBPA will reportedly start meeting in the coming weeks, per The Athletic. At the center of those talks is a salary cap, which the owners are eager to implement.

[Ed. Note] And so it begins

(CBS Sports) 10 most pleasant MLB surprises after the first month of 2026, from Mike Trout’s renaissance to a Rockies ace

We’re roughly one month into the 2026 Major League Baseball regular season, and that means it’s time for a league-wide check-in. Specifically, we’re going to highlight 10 baseball entities that qualify as “pleasant surprises” thus far. What’s a surprise? Something that’s gone contrary to general expectations. What’s the pleasant part of this? It means the player/team/etc has exceeded expectations in a positive way.

Now let’s look at 10 pleasant baseball surprises that stand out through the first month of the season. We’ll proceed in no particular order, just like time itself …

[Ed. Note] No Ildemaro Vargas. List invalid.

(MLB.com) Phillies the first team in 22 years to walk off twice in a doubleheader

The Phillies swept the Giants in Thursday’s doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park with a 3-2 walk-off victory in Game 1 and a 6-5 walk-off victory in 10 innings in Game 2, leading them to a 3-0 start under interim manager Don Mattingly.

It was the first time the Phillies had two walk-off wins on the same day since July 24, 1998, against the Marlins. The last team to accomplish the feat was the Pirates on May 28, 2004, against the Cubs.