Apr 19, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos (27) breaks his bat after popping up against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Meet the Mets
You bolt awake in the mountains of Carthage. You are not watching the Mets. It is 217 BC. You are the general Hannibal, and you have changed your mind. The future cannot come to pass. Rome must burn.
FanDuel is giving its customers the option to protect against injury-induced losses throughout NBA playoff games.
Bet Protect+ is a new optional feature that will either give customers refunds for straight bets or remove parlay legs if a player leaves the game at any point due to injury.
Key Takeaways
Users must apply Bet Protect+ to wagers before they are submitted.
Bet Protect+ costs 3% of a user’s stake per wager.
Affected bets will be refunded or have an affected leg removed from a parlay.
Bet Protect was first introduced to FanDuel Sportsbook users in September, ahead of the new NFL season. The NBA playoffs began this past weekend and customers can now enjoy full-game injury protection on the hardwood.
All customers have the option to trigger Bet Protect+ before placing their favorite wagers. Anyone who wants to add it will pay an additional flat 3% fee to the total stake of the selected wager.
Full-game player prop bets placed before a playoff game begins will be eligible for Bet Protect+, as indicated by a toggle box in users’ bet slips. Bonus bets cannot be used to cover the 3% fee, which will be charged when wagers are submitted. However, bonus bets can be used for the stake itself.
In the event that a player leaves a game with an injury and a user protected a bet involving that player, they will trigger one of two possibilities:
Refunds for straight bets (stake only)
Removing the affected leg from a parlay, which is then recalculated as if the affected leg was never there
Live betting odds cannot be protected, although FanDuel is working on adding that feature.
"The challenge is that even with the most well-planned bet, the most comprehensive research, the best hunch – it can all get squashed by an unexpected injury. We want to allow our customers to regain that loss of control," said Jon Sadow, FanDuel's sportsbook product vice president, in a release.
Rules and requirements
Players are accustomed to playing heavy minutes during the playoffs as they battle to climb NBA Finals odds and eventually compete for the championship.
The heavy strain can lead to an unfortunate increase in injuries, as seen with several star players going down during last year’s postseason. With Bet Protect+, bettors won’t have to couple the feelings of losing the best player on their favorite team with losing their favorite bet.
Bet Protect+ only applies to injuries that knock a player out for the rest of the game. Situations in which players are ejected, foul out, get themselves into foul troubles, or are benched will not be covered. A bet on a player who plays, leaves with an injury, and then returns also will not be protected.
Customers also cannot protect bets in other sports, or parlays that include legs from the NBA and other sports or leagues. Only NBA straight bets and parlay legs will be eligible.
Rewards tokens, such as profit boosts, can be applied in combination with Bet Protect+ to eligible wagers.
FanDuel’s NBA playoff odds
Heading into the first round of the NBA Playoffs, FanDuel had the Oklahoma City Thunder as a +100 favorite to repeat as league champions.
The San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics led the chase pack at +550 each, before a sizable drop-off to the next competitors. The Denver Nuggets (+1,200), Cleveland Cavaliers (+1,300), and Detroit Pistons (+1,800) were the only other teams with odds shorter than +2,000.
6 Oct 1999: Head coach Larry Dierker #49 of the Houston Astros meets with his players on the mound during the National League Division Series game against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves defeated the Astros 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport | Getty Images
Larry Dierker as a player and manager guided the Astros franchise to a combined 574 wins. His number 49 is rightfully retired, and he joins us as our Legends Series continues with our sixth entry.
Let’s start at the beginning. You struck out Willie Mays in your first ever start. Incredible. What do you most remember about that?
I was in Cocoa Florida, and I had been averaging almost two strike outs per inning because the general manager Paul Richards taught me how to throw a sinker and a slider which I didn’t know how to throw. If all you have is a fastball, you’re not going to last very long.
I was confident, but they didn’t exactly put me out there against an easy team, they had Harvey Kuenn, McCovey, Cepeda and of course, Willie. I had one strike in the count, and I threw him a change up, and he hit it about 450 feet, but it went 10-foot foul, and that was strike two. So, then I threw him a slider that started inside, and the ball broke over the inside corner. It’s now called a backdoor slider of course, and I kind of threw it by accident and it really worked.
It’s coming up on 50 years since you threw your no-hitter in July of 1976. Did you know you had it going that day?
I was at the end of my career. We were way out of the race. They had brought up a bunch of younger guys, so it was clear that the team was looking to rebuild.
On that day, I decided to just mix it up, and not try to impress anyone that I still knew how to throw. I was cruising along and then once it got into the 8th inning, I decided that I was just going to throw fast balls because we had a 6-0 lead in the dome, and I didn’t have to give in to anybody.
My fastball was awesome that day. In 1969, I had a possible no-hitter in Atlanta with two outs when Felix Millan got an infield hit. I wasn’t going to let that happen again, so I’m in the dome, there’s these fences to protect me, my ball had pop on it.
It was kind of like the game when Lance McCullers threw the Yankees 23 straight curve balls. I just kept throwing fastballs and they couldn’t hit them, and I had a no hitter.
I often wonder about what would’ve happened if you had gotten to the series and faced the Yankees in 1998. How good was that Astros team in 1998?
The Padres were a really good team. Give them credit. Kevin Brown outpitched Randy. Remember, Bob Gibson one year had an ERA of 1.12 and lost a game to me. If your team doesn’t score any runs, you can’t win.
I’m not sure if that was the best team that the Astros ever had in their history, but it was the best team I personally ever had as a manager. When we got Randy and he went 10-1 that summer, he was just overpowering, and the months of August and September were so exciting. I really thought we were going to the World Series.
Do you have any innings left in that arm of yours? The Astros staff has been compromised to say the least.
I think the problem with the Astros pitchers and pitchers all throughout baseball is not necessarily the pitchers themselves or the coaches, it’s the doctors.
If a guy has a little thing in his shoulder, they’ll poke around and find something. In my day, we put hot patches on it, took some painkillers, and went out there. All they could do back then was take X-rays and that only showed inflammation or tendons or anything else.
We couldn’t afford not to pitch because everyone mostly had one-year contracts and you were only paid the next season based upon what you did the season before. Guys didn’t want to miss a start.
You look at some of those guys in the Hall Of Fame who threw 4000 or 5000 innings, are you going to tell me that those guys didn’t have tweaks in their arms, that things didn’t hurt? I took so many cortisone shots, sometimes even from the opposing team doctors from the other club. I was always focused on the next start. That’s just the way it was back then.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 19: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs didn’t return to the playoffs. The playoffs returned to San Antonio. Accordingly, these modern San Antonio Spurs didn’t win their first playoff game. Their first playoff game won the San Antonio Spurs, or whatever Kirk Lazarus aka Lincoln Osiris might have said. Everyone’s geeked out once in a while, especially come playoff time. It’s Hollywood—I mean, Fiesta.
And party time never looked so good: Victor Wembanyama had a game-high 35 points scored while De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle had 17 points apiece. The Spurs as a a team went 15 -33 from downtown, good for 45% in their game 1 win.
The national media and social media made a big hullabaloo about the decked out Fiesta colors in the arena and the soft peer pressuring of fellow fans into wearing their (free!) designated t-shirts (looking at you, Tim Duncan) to capture the spirit of Fiesta, and for this time of year, basically a common law marriage with the Spurs also in the playoffs. I’m a little biased, rightfully so, but the Spurs should get some love and attention for a great season and launching of a hopefully even better postseason.
Wemby's first playoff game. Spurs’ first home playoff game in six years.
Victor Wembanyama got lower than a pair of apple bottom jeans (boots with the fur) to drive his way past two defenders to earn a tough bucket. We can all breathe a sigh of relief that the team notched game 1, but it does feel like this team also has the “appropriate fear” and respect for the Portland Trailblazers because it will be a long series.
As a not-so-side note, it’s also easy to root for interim Trail Blazers head coach and former Spur Tiago Splitter. He’s done a fantastic job leading his team to the playoffs after an atypical start to the season where head coach Chauncey Billups was arrested as part of a wide FBI gambling investigation. Regardless of what happens this offseason, Splitter should find himself as a top candidate for head coaching gigs whether in Portland or elsewhere.
You know when the washing machine is unbalanced so it makes that loud noise during the spin cycle? There was nothing unbalanced about this spin move Wembanyama put on the defense as he cleared his own path for a clean bucket. Overall, Wembanyama seemed as poised, collected, and in control as any 22-year-old basketball star might be in their first playoff game.
This clip below doesn’t do proper justice to the tremendous end-of-the-quarter sequence by the Spurs where De’Aaron Fox pushed the ball in transition full court knowing full well he was going to laser a perfect pass to Keldon Johnson for the three. Fox drove just far enough toward the basket to draw in the defense and then immediately pivoted toward a trailing Johnson for the open look.
My wife, who hasn’t watched a minute of any Spurs game this season (she’s a busy woman), looked up right when Dylan Harper threw this perfect lob to Wembanyama and said, “Man, that was easy. How do you stop that?” Me, being my usual obnoxious self, tried to mansplain that well actually any lob thrown at Wemby looks perfect because he has an 8-foot wingspan, which makes his catch radius really insanely wide.
She didn’t respond because she was already looking back down at her laptop for work, immune to my long-winded rants.
You have to wonder, though, if any Joe could step on a court and throw a lob to Wembanyama over other professional basketball players and it would look as cool and on the dot as these alley oops.
I know the Chris Paul/Blake Griffin era Los Angeles Clippers own the Lob City moniker, but can we borrow it just for a moment? Paul is a former Spur (once a Spur . . . always a Spur) and Griffin is busy making funny commercials with the great Luis Guzmán—I’m sure they won’t mind.
Stephon Castle on this play looked like he forgot how low the basket is when he jumps that high because it looked like he was at the apex of his hop when he realized that the rim was a full half foot lower than he expected. Castle and Fox, for their part, kept the Spurs offense moving on Sunday night, and we should fully expect them to rack up even more assists between the two of them as the series progress.
Considering how young these Spurs are, Devin Vassell is the wily vet making his own playoff debut. He did not disappoint as he played the most minutes, was impactful on both sides of the ball (2 blocks for good measure), and drained four 3-pointers. On a balanced team of unselfish players, being the fourth highest scorer is a luxury the Spurs will appreciate and use to their advantage.
Notice how he was the last one in his section to put on the shirt. It’s like that time Kramer wouldn’t wear the ribbon. Oh Timmay, you’re still my favorite player of all time.
OK but David Robinson looks younger than Duncan in this clip. You’d think Number 21 would remember The Admiral’s advice to use Edge shave gel, not just any ol’ shaving cream.
(note: Edge shave gel is not a sponsor of Pounding the Rock. I just like their old commercial featuring Robinson and Duncan. But, if they do want to sponsor us, I will accept H-E-B bucks and garden gnomes as payment.)
David Robinson and Tim Duncan having a great time watching Wemby and the Spurs beat the Blazers! 🔥 Go Spurs Go! #Spurspic.twitter.com/AIEGgONTZB
If you missed the game because you were too busy with wild horses dragging you away from your television, iPad (tablet), or iPhone (smartphone) (seriously, it’s the playoffs!) (but fellow Spurs fans understand . . . sort of), here are the full-game highlights:
Next up, the Spurs hope to hold home court as they take on the Portland Trailblazers in game 2 on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
It seems the secret to Sunday success for the Braves is to play Sunday Night Baseball. For the second straight week, the Braves were successful via the new version of Sunday Night Baseball on Peacock. They come from behind to beat the Phillies 4-2 and completed a splendid weekend sweep of their division rival. After dropping the first game of the week to the Marlins, the Braves have now won five straight games. They also continue to strengthen their lead in the NL East with a 5 game lead overall.
With another week of facing NL East opponents ahead, the Braves are playing of their best baseball in recent memory.
Braves News
The big off the field news of the Day for the Braves organization was Didier Fuentes being a late scratch for Gwinnett. Fortunately, it was not health related, as Mark Bowman of MLB.com speculates the Braves are keeping Fuentes fresh to be available if needed this week with the big league club.
There’s a certain kind of honesty that only arrives with the benefit of time. Former Los Angeles Lakers’ center Vlade Divac delivered that honesty recently when he said:
“When I became a GM, I would trade myself for Kobe Bryant.”
He said it with a grin in Amazon Prime’s new documentary Jerry West: The Logo, and the line lands like a punchline wrapped around two decades of basketball truth.
Back in 1996, Divac was a beloved center for the Lakers. But general manager Jerry West saw something in a skinny, unproven, and fearless 17-year-old kid from Philadelphia named Kobe Bryant.
West famously worked Bryant out in Los Angeles against Michael Cooper and he walked out of the gym that day convinced he’d seen the future face of the NBA.
That’s why on Draft Day he decided to ship out Divac to the Charlotte Hornets for the teenager who hadn’t played a single professional minute of basketball yet.
“Jerry saw it, I didn’t,” said former Lakers’ athletic trainer Gary Vitti in the documentary. “I saw a 17-year-old kid trying to imitate Michael Jordan. But he wasn’t Michael Jordan.”
Divac didn’t want to go to Charlotte and he fought it. He felt blindsided by the trade and had every right.
“If you’re going to make a trade like that, you better be right,” said former Lakers guard and coach Byron Scott in the documentary.
Divac, years later as general manager of the Sacramento Kings, now sees it clearly. The irony isn’t lost on him.
“Back then I was upset and I didn’t like it,” said Divac in the doc. “Bu I trusted Jerry that he saw something nobody had seen before. He did a good decision.”
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Less than 24 hours after the Golden State Warriors saw their season collapse in a 111-96 loss to the Phoenix Suns in the play-in game, Steph Curry traded out the basketball court for echoes of bass lines underneath the Indio night sky at the Coachella Music Festival.
Curry, alongside his brother Seth Curry, and their wives, were spotted on Saturday night weaving through the festival grounds, part of a celebrity-laced audience watching Justin Bieber headline in the desert.
Just hours earlier, Curry had 17 points in the Warriors’ final game of the season, as Golden State lost out on the eight-seed in the Western Conference and a first round date with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Seth logged one minute in the loss and did not attempt a shot.
Ayesha Curry offered a glimpse into the family’s pivot to Coachella, posting on her Instagram story of the couple smiling in front of the stage.
Back in Phoenix, Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr wrapped his arms around Steph and Draymond Green at the end of the game, delivering something closer to a farewell than a timeout speech.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen next,” Kerr told them. “But I love you guys to death. Thank you.”
Kerr’s future with the Warriors is uncertain, but one thing is for sure. Now that their season is over, they will all have plenty of time for concerts, vacations, and tee times on the golf course.
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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 18: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets looks on before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 18, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Houston Rockets were without star forward and leading scorer Kevin Durant in Game 1 versus the L.A. Lakers due to a knee bruise he suffered in practice last week. According to Ime Udoka, it was a mobility issue for KD and not a pain one. Whether that’s just the coach covering for his player or not, who knows? But latest reports are suggesting that KD should be back for Game 2. According to USA Today, Durant has a “good chance” of returning in Game 2.
“KD, from what I’ve heard, there’s a good chance he could return in Game 2. “There’s hope that Kevin Durant can return by Game 2, which is on Tuesday night.”
You haven’t been around here long if you don’t already know my feelings on Kevin Durant. Generational scorer, terrible leader and personality (cough, cough burners), and maybe even a little bit soft. I certainly don’t have him in my top 10 or even my top 15 of all-time like many do, though he can be considered one of the better gun-for-hire types the NBA has seen. No loyalty to team or teammates, but if you pay him enough and have enough pieces already in place, he may grace you with his presence. I honestly feel that the Kevin Durant trade completely ruined Houston’s athletic, running, in-your-face defense mentality in favor of a let’s all stand around and admire KD approach. KD basically does that to every location he goes to that didn’t already have a generational superstar heirarchy in place (Golden State, but he even wore out his welcome there), but that’s a story for another day.
Are the Rockets good enough to win without KD? It doesn’t appear so now that the team has lost its indentity. Are they good enough to win WITH KD? I’m not even sure of that right now, to be honest. A team without an identity is not going far in the NBA Playoffs, and that’s Houston’s biggest problem right now. Jalen Green, Dillion Brooks, Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams were tone setters with physicality and athleticism. This is KD’s team right now, for better or worse, and it’s mostly been worse.
That being said, let’s see how the Rockets look if/when KD is back. They’re already in a hole. Whether he plays or doesn’t play, going down 2-0 to the hobbled Lakers is a place no good team should be. And if a series loss happens, honestly someone should lose their job. I doubt they will, but Houston should be embarrased by their Game 1 performance. It’s gut check time whether Get-off-my-injured-list-erson (or whatever his new burner name is) plays or not.
That sounded like closure, but now the language has shifted subtly.
Curry can clearly still play at an elite level. Last Wednesday in the Warriors play-in game victory over the Clippers, Curry scored 35 points, 27 in the second half as he rallied his team back from a 13-point fourth quarter deficit.
Curry will be 40 years old in 2028, and the question won’t be whether or not he can still shoot. That part is certain. The real question will be if he’s healthy and wants to compete.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 19: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics shows off his jersey before Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on April 19, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In Sunday’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics crushed the Philadelphia 76ers, 123-91. Jared McCain and the OKC Thunder took care of the Suns, 119-84. Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic shocked the Detroit Pistons, 112-101. Finally, Mason Plumlee and the San Antonio Spurs hammered the Portland Trail Blazers, 111-98.
Tatum nearly pulled off a triple-double, with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists, and 21 of his points came in the first half.
Out in Oklahoma City, McCain had 5 points in 8 minutes for the Thunder. For Phoenix, Grayson Allen and Mark Williams were both listed as questionable, and neither played. Khaman Maluach got 15 minutes and three rebounds, but did not score.
Paolo Banchero had 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists at Detroit, while Wendell Carter got 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Mason Plumlee, in the twilight of his NBA career, did not play against the Trailblazers.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 10, 2026: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Díaz (3)sits in the dugout after blowing a save giving up three runs to the Texas Rangers in the ninth inning on April 10, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Roki Sasaki struggled through another start on Sunday at Coors Field, allowing three runs in 4 2/3 innings, and in his four starts has a 6.11 ERA and 15.9-percent walk rate in 17 2/3 innings. With River Ryan on the injured list in Triple-A, and Blake Snell not expected back until late May or so, there are no current alternatives for the Dodgers in the rotation, which means Sasaki’s learning curve will have to come in the majors for the time being.
“I’m trying to make adjustments all the time,” Sasaki said through interpreter Kensuke Okudo. “In the long run, I have to do the things I need to work on.”
Edwin Díaz pitched Sunday for the first time in nine days, after being day-to-day with concerns about his velocity. Things did not go well against the Colorado Rockies, allowing three hits and a walk to his four batters faced, and three runs in the eighth inning of a game the Dodgers lost by three.
“Today was a tough evaluation. I mean, it really was,” Roberts said. “Because I know what it’s supposed to look like, and when it doesn’t look like that, it gets a little concerning, really. And so, I’ll have a conversation with him. I know our training staff, and pitching guys will, and make sure that there is nothing to it, because the radar gun has been consistent, and his velocity been consistent in that, and it wasn’t there today.
Jose Feliciano, co-founder and managing partner of Clearlake Capital Group, during the Bloomberg Invest event in New York, US, on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. The conference brings together the most influential voices across asset management, banking, private capital and wealth. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images | Bloomberg via Getty Images
The sale price shatters the previous record of $2.475 billion, which is what Steve Cohen paid for the New York Mets in 2020. The timing of the sale expected to happen this year, before the collective bargaining agreement expires on December 1. The Padres selling for $3.9 billion is going to make it much harder for owners to posture about the health of the sport being imperiled.
“You see there’s owners that want to win and want to put a great product on the field because they’ve seen the benefits of it,” said Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth, who is also a member of the MLB Players Association’s executive subcommittee. “I think today is a perfect example of what the benefit is.”
Okay, one more note within the division, and it’s also Padres-related: Closer Mason Miller has yet to allow a run in his 11 1/3 innings this season, and has struck out an absurd 27 of his 38 batters faced (71.1 percent) this season. Sheesh.
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 19: Scott Wedgewood #41 of the Colorado Avalanche skates in the spotlight ahead of for Game One of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings at Ball Arena on April 19, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ashley Potts/NHLI)
Colorado Avalanche News
Leaders around the NHL reflect on Gabriel Landeskog’s return to the Avalanche lineup. [NHL]
Apr 19, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Kansas City Royals left fielder Starling Marte (0) reacts after being hit by a pitch during the ninth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Right now, it seems Kansas City can’t get out of its own way. It’s playing out on the field and off it. Winning is going to relieve the tightened grip the Royals have on the bats they swing and the pitches they throw.
But they know they’ve got to execute.
“Everybody’s frustrated,” Quatraro said. “Nobody wants to have a start like this. But it is early, mid-April, and we play better baseball, that’s what’s in our control. If we’re able to do that, we’ll dig ourselves out. There’s way too much talent in there. There’s way too many high-character guys in there.”
“Little confused,” Perez said of Quatraro’s pregame comment. “It’s a little confused, you know, not the right communication. … I’m good. My family is good. Everybody is good. I got reached out by a lot of people yesterday after the game. They sent me what Q said. I don’t have any problem with Q. We talked today.
“I know people are surprised I didn’t play yesterday, but everybody has an off day in the big leagues. You know, it’s kind of hard to play 162 games, especially behind the home plate.”
Perez continued: “Everything is fine. He didn’t mean to say that. People understood that in the wrong way. That’s the easy way. Social media, you guys know how it is. It’s kind of crazy sometimes. He didn’t mean to say that I need a mental breather. He knows me, you guys know me. I like to be in the lineup every day. And I like to play and have fun.”
Defensively, the Royals contributed to the Yankees’ fifth-inning rally. Cody Bellinger hit a pop fly to shallow left field that fell between Maikel Garcia and Isaac Collins.
“It was very similar to yesterday,” Quatraro said. “Both called it. They both called it multiple times, and they both kind of scared each other off of it. And, you know, obviously, that’s not acceptable. We know we have to be better than that. And they know that as well. It’s something that we have to tighten up.”
“I actually wasn’t arguing,” Quatraro said. “I was just trying to get some clarification. We’ve been told that if the pitcher is on the rubber, he’s about to start. And then he goes to touch the PitchCom, it should be a balk because it’s essentially starting, stopping twice.”
Quatraro took issue with the non-balk call.
He initially thought Yankees starter Will Warren could’ve balked with Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia on second base.
Apr 19, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; The Milwaukee Brewers meet on the mound against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images | Rhona Wise-Imagn Images
Welcome to week 4 of our 2026 NL Central Power Rankings — let’s rank some teams!
1. Cincinnati Reds (14-8); 5-1 this week; 25.8% chance to make postseason (FanGraphs)
The Reds had a great week against a couple of inferior opponents. They started things by taking two of three against the Giants at home before sweeping the Twins in Minnesota over the weekend.
Sal Stewart led the Reds offense with three homers this week, driving in a team-high eight runs. Eugenio Suárez led the squad with seven hits, including a homer and two doubles, driving in three and scoring four runs.
It wasn’t a crazy outstanding week on the pitching side, as no players finished with more than four strikeouts (though five did have four apiece). Chase Burns had the best start of the week, going six scoreless frames with no runs allowed on two hits and a walk, striking out four. Brandon Williamson allowed one run over 5 1/3 innings with a pair of strikeouts. The bullpen was solid as a group, allowing just four runs (one earned) across 20 1/3 innings.
Cincinnati continues the road trip in Tampa Bay to begin this week, as they’ll take on the Rays for three games. After an off day Thursday, they’ll host the Tigers at home over the weekend.
2. St. Louis Cardinals (13-8); 5-1 this week; 15.8% chance to make postseason
The Cardinals extended their losing streak to three on Monday with a loss to the Guardians, but they haven’t lost since, instead rattling off five straight wins over Cleveland and the Astros over the weekend.
Iván Herrera and JJ Wetherholt each slugged a pair of homers, and five others players added a homer each. Wetherholt had six hits this week, driving in six, scoring seven runs, and swiping a base. Alec Burleson led the offense with nine hits this week, including a homer and three doubles, while Jordan Walker added seven hits and Masyn Winn had eight hits in a great week overall offensively for the Redbirds.
Dustin May and Andre Pallante each picked up a win in their starts this week, as May went six innings with one run allowed and four strikeouts, and Pallante went five innings with one run allowed and five strikeouts. Riley O’Brien collected a pair of wins and a pair of saves in four outings this week, going four scoreless innings with a team-high six strikeouts.
The Cards now hed to Miami to face the Marlins for three games before an off day on Thursday. They then return home for a quick three-game homestand series against the Mariners.
3. Chicago Cubs (12-9); 5-1 this week; 56.9% chance to make postseason
The Cubs had a nearly identical week to the Cards, dropping Monday’s game against the Phillies before picking up five consecutive wins over Philadelphia and the lowly Mets this weekend, extending New York’s losing streak to 11 games.
Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, Carson Kelly, and Dansby Swanson each slugged a pair of homers this week, with Hoerner leading the squad with nine hits. He also drove in 11 and swiped a pair of bases. Alex Bregman added seven hits — all singles — and Matt Shaw had five hits, four of which were doubles.
Shota Imanaga showed out in his start, picking up the win as he went six innings, allowing one run on three hits and a walk, striking out a team-high 11 batters. Caleb Thielbar picked up a win and a save across three scoreless appearances, spanning 2 2/3 innings with five strikeouts. Jameson Taillon also tossed six innings of one-run ball, striking out four as he picked up the win. Corbin Martin, Riley Martin, Hoby Milner, and Ryan Rolison also had scoreless weeks for the ‘pen.
Chicago stays home as they’ll host the Phillies for four games, their second series against them in two weeks. They’ll then head west to face the Dodgers and Padres beginning this weekend.
4. Pittsburgh Pirates (13-9); 4-3 this week; 59.1% chance to make postseason
The Pirates had a slightly down week after starting the month red-hot, as they alternated wins and losses over seven games against the Nationals (2-2) and Rays (2-1) this week.
Spencer Horwtiz, Brandon Lowe, and Marcell Ozuna each had a pair of homers for Pittsburgh this week, with Lowe also driving in a team-high nine runs, adding a pair of doubles and scoring five runs. Ozuna led the team with 10 hits in 26 at-bats (.385 batting average), while Oneil Cruz, Joey Bart, Ryan O’Hearn, and Nick Yorke added a homer each. Konnor Griffin also picked up eight hits, driving in four and swiping three bases.
Paul Skenes turned in a pair of strong starts, spanning 10 innings with one run allowed (a solo homer) and 11 strikeouts. Bubba Chandler picked up a win in his outing, going six innings with one run allowed and three strikeouts. Carmen Mlodzinski went six innings after the opener, allowing no runs and striking out five. Justin Lawrence, Isaac Mattson, Mason Montgomery, and Gregory Soto all had scoreless weeks as well.
The Pirates get the day off today, and they’ll then take a six-game road trip to visit the Rangers and Brewers this week.
5. Milwaukee Brewers (12-9); 4-2 this week; 43.6% chance to make postseason
In pretty much any other division, a 4-2 week and 12-9 overall record would get you at least a top-three, if not top-two spot in the division (and the power rankings). Unfortunately, the Brewers play in the NL Central, where all five teams had a winning week and have a winning record through nearly a month of play. Milwaukee bounced back after a six-game losing streak to win four in a row over the Blue Jays and Marlins before dropping Sunday’s series finale in Miami.
Milwaukee’s home run leaders, Jake Bauers, Gary Sánchez, and Brice Turang, each added a homer to their season totals this week. Turang led the offense, slashing .304/.429/.478 as he extended his on-base streak to 19 games to begin the season. William Contreras added a team-high eight hits, including a pair of doubles.
Jacob Misiorowski had a pair of solid outings but no wins to show for it, as he totaled 10 1/3 innings with five runs allowed (just three earned), striking out 14. Brandon Sproat had his best start as a Brewer, going 6 2/3 innings with one run allowed and six strikeouts, while Brandon Woodruff went seven frames with one run allowed and four strikeouts. Coleman Crow had a successful MLB debut, going 5 1/3 innings with two runs allowed and four strikeouts, and Chad Patrick added a quality start with 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball and a pair of strikeouts. Aaron Ashby added two more wins with two more scoreless appearances, striking out three over 1 1/3 innings, and Carlos Rodriguez tossed two scoreless innings to save the bullpen late on Sunday, striking out three.
The Brewers now head to Detroit, where they’ll enjoy a day off today before a three-game series starts Tuesday. The Crew then heads back home for a homestand that features the Pirates and D-backs.
