HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 01: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Toyota Center on May 01, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the final seconds of overtime in Toronto, RJ Barrett channeled his inner Tyrese Haliburton and connected on a three to force a Game 7 against the Cavaliers.
RJ BARRETT WHEN TORONTO NEEDED HIM MOST đ„
The hometown hero drains the game-winning bucket in overtime to force Game 7 đ„¶ pic.twitter.com/D2AJbSiA5M
For a variety of reasons likely involving broadcasting rights and money, the start date of the Lakers-Thunder series was tied to whether Saturdayâs two Eastern Conference series. If only one of them ended, then LA and Oklahoma City would play on Sunday.
However, if both of them ended or both of them went seven games, then the purple and gold would be off until Tuesday.
With those stakes in mind and given what played out in Houston with the Lakers routing the Rockets, Barrettâs incredible game-winning shot carried a bit of extra weight. Instead of LA being one of the two Sunday games, there will instead be two Game 7s while LA will get a couple of days of rest.
And for that, LeBron James was thankful.
Lebron thanks RJ for the game winner lol
"Haven't seen a shot in Toronto like that since Kawhi. Something about those rims. I'm happy" pic.twitter.com/kacCAKxJVl
Now, you might wonder, what would LeBron do with that extra rest? Is it watch more game film? Sit back and enjoy Game 7? Well, if youâve been paying attention to him this year, there was an obvious answer when he was asked if the extra rest helped him.
âFor me? Yeah,â LeBron said. âWe donât play until Tuesday now. Yeah. Hell yeah. I can go on the golf course now. Thatâs what Iâm thinking about.â
I wish a time machine existed and we could go back and tell 2016 LeBron that he would be excited about getting an extra day between rounds of the playoffs to golf 18 holes. Itâs definitely a different mindset than he had when he was younger and focused on repeated trips to the Finals.
However, given how he played against the Rockets over the course of the series, and particularly in the closeout Game 6, itâs hard to be too upset with him. Let him go golf and then get locked back in on the Thunder.
ST. LOUIS â You wonât find anyone with the Dodgers who thinks Dalton Rushing is a bad guy.
But that doesnât mean the second-year slugger wants to be saddled publicly with a bad rap.
Throughout his career, Rushing has always tried to play with a smoldering competitive fire. He has never shied away from the fact he carries a competitive edge.
The Dodgersâ Dalton Rushing has produced on the field, but some of his heated in-game interactions have rubbed some the wrong way. AP
âI played football half my life,â the Dodgersâ backup catcher said. âSo I compete a little differently, I click a little differently.â
Lately, however, a string of heated in-game interactions that have gone viral on social media â and, in one instance, drawn public criticism from an opposing player â have forced the 25-year-old to take a step back and make a renewed effort to keep his emotions in check.
âYou never want to be viewed as a guy like that from opposing teams,â Rushing told The California Post on Saturday. âYou want guys to hate playing against you because of the player that you are and how great you are on a baseball field. Not because of the verbalized things you say.â
âYou never want to be viewed as a guy like that from opposing teams,â Rushing told The California Post on Saturday. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Then came last weekendâs series against the Cubs, when Rushing was captured dropping another seemingly disparaging expletive in reference to Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya.
This time, it wasnât only lip-reading internet sleuths who called Rushing out but also Cubs veteran Nico Hoerner, who was standing in the box when Rushing made his alleged âfat fâkâ comment as Amaya advanced to second base on a wild pitch last Saturday.
âI wish that I had confronted him a little more directly, to be honest,â Hoerner said during a radio interview this week. âIt was just kind of a strange thing to experience. So, yeah, I felt a little weird about that.â
Turns out, Rushing did, too.
Rushing and Hoerner are represented by the same agency, Apex Baseball. So this week, Rushing said he reached out to Hoerner through his agents âto clear the airâ about what happened.
âI respect his point of view of it, from the looks and the sound of it,â Rushing said. âAnd I respect him sticking up for his players. I would do the same thing for any of these guys.â
Rushing has had run-ins so far in series against the Rockies, Giants and Cubs this season. AP
Asked if he thought Hoerner (or, for that matter, the online lip readers) had understood him correctly, Rushing said he didnât think so â though stopped short of recounting his exact dialogue from the moment in question.
âRegardless,â Rushing explained, âthere was a word said, whether it was positive or negative or what. And he didnât like it. And I respect that.â
Thus, moving forward, Rushing is trying to be more careful about how his emotions are expressed on the field.
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âObviously, you know what social media can turn you into, [how it can] build an image for yourself both positively and negatively,â the second-year big leaguer said. âSo I think from here on out, itâs just my job to build a positive platform for myself.â
âThereâs things that can change,â he added. âThereâs things Iâm going to change.â
Rushingâs fiery temperament is nothing new. It was part of his persona long before the Dodgers made him a second-round draft pick out of the University of Louisville in 2022. And it was there throughout his rise through the farm system as one of the organizationâs top prospects.
Thus, moving forward, Rushing is trying to be more careful about how his emotions are expressed on the field. AP
For the most part, the Dodgers have appreciated that component of his competitive makeup.
Even after the recent bouts of drama, manager Dave Roberts said the club doesnât âwant to take the fire out of him.â
At the same time, though, Roberts has cautioned Rushing âto be mindfulâ of his outbursts. Others in the clubhouse have reinforced the same message.
âHeâs bringing stuff onto himself he doesnât need to bring on,â Roberts said. âThereâs a responsibility to not be reckless because everything is captured.â
Rushing also cited that âresponsibilityâ during an interview at his locker Saturday, acknowledging how, when âtempers flare,â he sometimes lets âthings take over.â
âI donât want to create an image like that,â he said.
However, Rushing also noted that nothing âIâve said verbally on a field has enhanced my play by any means.â AP
The good news: The newfound scrutiny has been spurred by Rushingâs breakout start to the year. Entering Saturday, he was batting .348 with seven home runs and 17 RBIs despite limited playing time in the seasonâs opening month.
âIt wouldnât matter if I was struggling,â he said. âIt would just be, âOh, this guy is just a bad dude. Bad player. Bad dude.ââ
However, Rushing also noted that nothing âIâve said verbally on a field has enhanced my play by any means.â
So, while he wonât douse his competitive fire anytime soon, he will be trying to limit how often it flares up.
âIâm gonna continue to compete, Iâm gonna continue to play with an edge,â he said. âBut obviously we can hone back a little bit on things that can get you in trouble in this media world.â
It was a historic night for the 76ers at TD Garden, where the 76ers won a series for the first time ever after trailing three games to one and the Celtics lost a series for the first time ever after leading three games to one.
What a game! What a performance! What a series! What a bunch of stats!
The 76ers eliminated the Celtics with a 109-100 win in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference First-Round series.
With able assistance from Stathead, letâs take a look at some of the numbers behind this game and the series!
THEY COULDNâT LOSE IN BOSTON: Before Game 5, the 76ers had won three playoff games in Boston in a 44-year span since 1983. They were 3-17 in 20 road playoff games in Boston since the 1982 Eastern Conference Finals, when they beat the Celtics twice at Boston Garden on the way to winning the series, four games to three. Now theyâve won three games in Boston in the span of 12 days. This is the first time the 76ers have ever won three straight playoff games in Boston. Itâs also the first time theyâve ever won three straight road games in a postseason series.
GAME 7 RARITIES: The 76ers hadnât won a Game 7 anywhere since 2001, when they beat the Bucks 108-91 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals at the First Union Center. They hadnât won a Game 7 on the road in 44 years, since their only previous postseason road Game 7 win â at Boston Garden 120-106 in the 1982 Eastern Conference Finals. They were 1-10 all-time in road Game 7s before Saturday and 6-12 overall.
AND HE JUST HAD SURGERY: A few weeks after undergoing an appendectomy, Joel Embiid had 112 points, 29 assists, 48 rebounds and 7 blocks in the four games he played in the series. Heâs the first 76er in 59 year with at least 112 points, 48 rebounds and 29 assists in any four-game span in the postseason since Wilt Chamberlain in 1967 (112 points, 106 rebounds, 44 assists). Embiid is the first player in NBA history to average 28 points, 12 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 2.0 blocks in an Eastern or Western Conference First-Round series and only the second player with those averages in any series. Giannis Antetokounmpo did it in the Bucksâ 2022 Western Conference Semifinals, also against the Celtics.
TYRESE MAXEY IS INSANE: Maxey became the first 76er ever with back-to-back playoff games against the Celtics with 30 points and five assists and only the sixth player ever with consecutive 30-point, five-assist games in the postseason in Boston, joining some elite company in five current or future Hall of Famers: LeBron James, Giannis, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson.
V.J. EDGECOMBE IS ALSO INSANE: V.J. Edgecombeâs 23 points are the most ever by a player 20 years old or younger in a Game 7 against the Celtics and most by any rookie in 64 years. The previous high by a 20-year-ol was Derrick Roseâs 18 in Game 7 of the Bullsâ 2009 Eastern Conference 1st-round series in Boston. The last rookie with 23 points in a Game 7 in Boston was Tom Meschery of the Philadelphia Warriors in the 1962 Eastern Division finals. Itâs also the most points ever by a 76ers rookie in a Game 7. Maurice Cheeks had 20 in Game 7 of the 76ersâ 1979 Eastern Conference Semifinal series against the Spurs in San Antonio. With 30 points in Game 2 in Boston and 23 Saturday, Edgecombe became the third rookie ever and first in 45 years with two 23-point games in Boston in a playoff series. The last to do it was the 76ersâ Andrew Toney in 1981. Two Philadelphia Warriors also did it â Wilt in 1960 and Meschery in 1962.
ASTONISHING DEFENSE: In the last three games of the series, the 76ers limited the Celtics to 40.4, 41.9 and 39.8 shooting from the field. This is only the second time in Celtics history theyâve shot worse than 42 percent in three straight home playoff games but the first time theyâve ever done it in the same series. In 2018, they did it over two series against the Pacers and Cavs. In the last three games of the series, the 76ers held the Celtics to 28, 29 and 27 percent from 3. This is the first time since a 2015 series against the Cavs that the Celtics have shot below 30 percent from 3 in three straight postseason games.
ITâS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE: The 76ers won the series after losing Game 1 and Game 4 by 32 points. They are the first team in NBA history to win a playoff series after losing two games by at least 32 points. Only six other teams won two games in a series by at least 30 points and they all lost that series.
The Philadelphia Flyers are going to enter Game 1 of Round 2 against the vaunted Carolina Hurricanes without perhaps their most important player for this kind of matchup.
On Saturday night, the Flyers announced that speedster winger Owen Tippett would sit against the Hurricanes with an injury, declaring him day-to-day.
Notably, the Flyers did not disclose the nature of the injury (upper-body, lower-body, etc.).
It was becoming clear towards the end of the Round 1 series with the Pittsburgh Penguins that Tippett, 27, was not quite himself.
The buccaneering winger recorded more than one shot on goal in just two of the six games against the Penguins, which is highly unusual for a volume-shooter like him.
Tippett loves to shoot from everywhere and anywhere, and, obviously, uses his legs and power to create opportunities for himself and teammates.
Neither of those things were happening, and Tippett was increasingly invisible for the Flyers leading up to this point.
The 27-year-old out late for Saturday's practice, which was the first indication that he would be out for Game 1 against the Hurricanes.
In his stead, we can expect that rookie Alex Bump remains in the lineup, Tyson Foerster moves up, and veteran Garnet Hathaway draws back in on the fourth line.
Sean Couturier - Luke Glendening - Garnet Hathaway
Travis Sanheim - Rasmus Ristolainen
Cam York - Jamie Drysdale
Nick Seeler - Noah Juulsen
In the six games leading up to his injury, Tippett recorded one goal (empty-net) and one assist for the Flyers with a +2 rating and nine shots on goal.
Bump, 22, now playing in an expanded role, has one goal in two playoff games for the Flyers with a +1 rating and a hefty six shots on goal.
They were one shot away from sending their first-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers back to Pittsburgh for Game 7, but Cam York had other ideas, beating Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs at the end of the first overtime period. He fired a harmless-looking shot from the point, but it found the back of the net since Silovs was screened.
Penguins rookie forward Ben Kindel was on the ice for the goal after he was guilty of an icing that brought the faceoff back to the defensive zone. He ultimately lost the draw, and the Penguins couldn't clear the puck in time before York scored.
Kindel was asked about those two plays during Friday's locker cleanout day and delivered one heck of an answer.
âStill kind of sick to my stomach when you think about that last shift and how the season ended," Kindel said. "Nothing you can do about it now. Just look to use it as motivation in the future and in future years. And to do whatever you can to not let it end like that again.â
That's a player who is going to be a future leader on this team. It's also big that Kindel got to experience these high-stakes games so he could see what the Stanley Cup Playoffs are all about. Did he go pointless in six games? Yes, but I honestly thought he was getting better as the series went on.
He played well defensively and created some scoring chances as we got deeper into the series, especially in Game 6, when he nearly won it in OT. The series may have ended on a sour note for him and the team, but he's going to be totally fine.
Pittsburgh Penguins center Ben Kindel (81) handles the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae (36) during the second period in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Kindel had a tremendous rookie season, finishing with 17 goals and 35 points in 77 games. He was the third-line center for most of the season and faced every challenge that came his way, passing each one with ease. Kindel really liked how everything went and also told reporters that he loves playing for the Penguins.
âIt was great," Kindel said. "It was a great experience. A lot of fun. I love playing for this team. Great to get a first year under my belt in the NHL and see what it was like. I think I learned a lot.â
Kindel blew past everyone's expectations for him this season. It was widely expected that he would return to the WHL's Calgary Hitmen, but he kept improving throughout training camp and the preseason.
The coaching staff and front office rewarded him for his great September with a spot in the opening night lineup against the New York Rangers, and he impressed right away. Despite only playing in his first game, he looked like a seasoned veteran out there. He made all the right reads, was responsible in his own end, and was around the crease at times.
He built off that performance and scored his first NHL goal on Oct. 11 against that same Rangers team. He then kept getting even better, and the Penguins had no choice but to start his entry-level contract. He played in every situation throughout the season and will now go through his first offseason as an NHL player.
Kindel will undoubtedly be stronger for next season when it gets going in October. The fact that he's already this good and he's still only 19 is also crazy. There's a real chance that he scores 20-25 goals and puts up 60-65 points next season if he keeps developing well.
He's going to be an important player for a long time.
The Cincinnati Reds pitching staff accomplished something Saturday that hadnât been done in more than 40 years.
Two Reds pitchers walked seven consecutive Pittsburgh Pirates hitters in the second inning of a May 2 game at PNC Park, tying an MLB record and turning what was already a rough afternoon into a historically bad day.
Starter Rhett Lowder and reliever Connor Phillips combined to walk seven consecutive Pirates with one out in the second inning. That included issuing the final four walks with the bases loaded. Between them, they threw 42 pitches and only 11 for strikes, according to MLB.com.
Lowder struck out leadoff hitter Oneil Cruz and then it went off the rails from there.
Lowder issued the first three walks before being pulled for Phillips. He came in with the bases loaded and walked four in a row, each one forcing in a run. Reliever Sam Moll finally stopped the bleeding. Entering the game with the bases loaded, he got both catcher Henry Davis and Cruz, batting for the second time that inning, to ground out.
After that inning, the Pirates led 10-3.
The MLB record for consecutive walks had last been set on May 25, 1983, when the Pirates walked seven consecutive Atlanta Braves batters. One of the pitchers that day happened to be named Bob Walk. On April 27, 1994, the Seattle Mariners walked six in a row, hit a batter and then walked the next batter in a 12-2 loss to the Yankees.
The Reds entered play Saturday having walked 11.6% of batters they faced this season, which was the fifth highest in baseball. Saturday, they showed just how much they struggle with the strike zone.
Lowder, 24, came in 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA, which ballooned to 5.09 after that inning. Phillips had been one of the more reliable arms in Cincinnati's bullpen before Saturdayâs outing. He had walked just 15 in 17 appearances before Saturday.
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 02: Nasim Nunez #26 of the Washington Nationals hits a single in the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Nationals Park on May 02, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As a fan of this team, all of the losing at home is getting old. The Nats have been playing a fun and aggressive brand of baseball on the road. However, they have treated their fans to some flat and sloppy baseball. Today was a perfect example of that. This game was there for the taking, but the Nats did not grab it.
They went 1/11 with runners in scoring position and only scored one run despite constantly getting the leadoff man on. It was not a blowout, but I think this was one of the Nats worst overall performances of the season. The pitching kept them in the game, but the bats went quiet and the gloves were mistake prone.
Final â Nationals lose 4-1 to the Brewers and drop to 3-12 at home.
The offense was 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Left-hander Foster Griffin allowed three runs (0 earned) on three hits with four walks and three strikeouts.
It turned out that this game was decided in the first inning. After Foster Griffin got two quick outs, he ran into trouble, giving up one hit and two walks. However, with the bases loaded, he got a ground ball that should have ended the inning. Instead, an indecisive Brady House booted the ball, allowing a run to score and everyone to advance a base. Then Brandon Lockridge drove a single through the hole to score two more runners.
The game was now 3-0, but none of the runs were earned. It has been a really rough start to the season on the defensive side of the ball for Brady House. He looked rock solid last year, but now already has six errors in 2026. Coming into this game, House had posted -2 outs above average, a number that is likely to drop even further. It has been an all around regression on that side of the ball for the 22 year old.
Brady House's defense at third base this season has been flat out bad
â federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) May 2, 2026
It is still early, but you have to wonder if Houseâs job could be in jeopardy. Yohandy Morales has been hitting the cover off the ball in AAA and is deserving of an opportunity before too long. Between his poor defense and his issues with fastballs, House might need a re-set if this continues for much longer.
Outside of their 14 run outburst against the Mets, this offense has really cooled off. That was likely to be inevitable given the talent on the roster. It is still a bummer though. The lack of clutch hitting has been very frustrating lately.
One bright spot for today and the season as a whole is Foster Griffin. While Griffin did not have his best stuff or command, he was able to grind through six innings, and did not allow any earned runs. Griffin did not allow any runs at all after that unfortunate first inning.
Griffin only got two whiffs today, both on curveballs. However, he did a good job keeping the ball off the barrel. There was not a lot of loud contact given up by Griffin after that first inning. He was uncharacteristically wild, walking four batters, but that is an outlier for the normally precise Griffin.
Foster Griffin pitched well enough to get a win, but instead, he tasted defeat for the first time as a National. The disparity between how the Nats play at home compared to how they compete on the road is truly jarring. You would think a team would come out with more juice and energy in front of their home fans, but it has been the opposite for the Nats.
Tomorrow is going to be a really big game for them. They desperately need Zack Littell to step up and be the guy Paul Toboni signed him to be. He had a solid start against the Brewers the last time he pitched against them, so hopefully that can give him some confidence.
Today was yet another disappointing day at the yard for Nats fans. They will look to avoid the sweep tomorrow and avoid falling 10 games under .500 at home. This Nats team has shown some real positive signs, but the home losing is becoming a dark cloud for this group.
DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 01: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates as he crosses home plate after hitting a 2 RBI home run against the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning at Coors Field on May 01, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Letâs beat the Rockies again tonight, but maybe donât go down 5-0 in the first inning this time. Join us and discuss tonightâs game in the comments below!
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Saturday, May 2, 8:10 p.m. EDT
Location: Coors Field, Denver, CO
TV: BravesVision
Streaming: MLB.tv (and Braves.tv if youâre in-market, etc.)
May 2, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto (7) celebrates his solo home run against the Minnesota Twins in the sixth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images | Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
We ought to have a boilerplate template for 2026 Twins recaps, because it feels like every time the Twins lose this season, itâs for exactly the same reasons as I am about to describe. Another encouraging start from a young arm was emphatically erased by possibly the most predictably incompetent bullpen youâve ever seen in your life, rendering any offensive contributions almost entirely meaningless. Sound familiar? Well, these were the same beats that played out in Saturday afternoonâs 11-4 Blue Jays victory, the 20th loss of Minnesotaâs season, and another defeat that transpired for reasons that anyone could have seen coming.
In his third major-league start, Connor Prielipp went another five innings and only allowed three hits, although two were homers (Lenyn Sosa and Myles Straw, both in the second inning.) The Jays generated five hard-hit balls off the young lefty, who walked two and only struck out four in a 91-pitch outing, which is the longest of his professional career.
When he left, Minnesota even had a 4-2 lead. Byron Buxton had started the game with a leadoff bomb to right, his 10th homer of the year, and latest offensive outburst in a scorching-hot stretch that has raised his OPS back up to .857. The Twins added two more in the second, with a pair of runners scoring on a Brooks Lee single + Vladdy Jr. throwing error. Add on an RBI single from Trevor Larnach in the fifth, and Minnesota had pole position going into the later innings.
This has happened before, and it will happen again, and the usual suspects will be involved.
Toronto got one back as soon as the doors to Derekâs Magical Arm Barn opened; the homer-happy Kazuma Okamoto tagged Justin Topa for his 8th of the year with one out in the sixth. Okay, 4-3, you say. Not bad.
Bad!
BAD!!!
It could have been 10-3. It could have been 10-3, brother. And the Twins would have lost this game anyway.
Thatâs because the wheels came off completely in a marathon 8-run 8th inning for the third-place Jays. Itâs an inning that behests bullet-pointing brather than a bregular baragraph. Letâs take a look at the highlights real quick before we get you the heck out of here.
Eighth inning begins. Luis Garcia enters. (Why?!)
Ernie Clement singles
Vladdy Jr. walks
Okamoto ties the game with a shot back up the middle off Luke Keaschall. 4-4.
Lenyn Sosa drops an infield single into the mix and scores Vladdy from third. 5-4.
Anthony Banda comes in. At least we tried, Luis!
Daulton Varsho reaches and everybodyâs safe on a fielderâs choice attempt that ends in an Anthony Banda error.
Myles Straw walks and everybody moves up. 6-4 Jays.
Davis Schneider smacks a two-run double to left. 8-4 Jays. Two runners still in scoring position.
Brandon Valenzuela ropes a three-run homer to center. 11-4 Jays, although at this point, it would be reasonable to assume that nobody is keeping score anymore.
Three quick outs are then recorded. Presumably the Jays got bored.
It may not surprise you to learn that the Twins did not reach base for the rest of the game.
The team is ass.
STUDS:
RP John Klein (IP, 0 R in his major-league debut. For this bullpen, stud-worthy.)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 10: Baylor Scheierman #55 and Luka Garza #52 of the Boston Celtics smiles against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 10, 2026 at TD Garden 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
BOSTON â The Celtics will roll out a completely new starting lineup when they face the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night for Game 7.
Jaylen Brown and Derrick White will start as per usual.
In addition, Baylor Scheierman, Ron Harper Jr., and Luka Garza will start in place of Jayson Tatum, Sam Hauser, and Neemias Queta.
The Celtics are rolling out a stunning starters lineup:
Jaylen Brown Derrick White Baylor Scheierman Ron Harper Jr. Luka Garza
Tatum will miss his first game in these playoffs with what Joe Mazzulla described as âback-of-kneeâ tightness. Tatum is day-to-day after being ruled out two hours before tip-off. Hauser and Queta, meanwhile, will come off the bench.
Garza, Scheierman, and Harper Jr led the Celtics to victory in the final game of the regular season, beating the Orlando Magic. Now, those guys get a chance to save the Celtics season.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 21: Brennan Bernardino #83 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field on April 21, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies had a prime opportunity to steal the series opener at home against the Atlanta Braves. They jumped out to a 6-0 lead but then, they saw the opportunity walk away. Literally.
Crucial walks in the eighth and ninth innings put the Rox in danger and ultimately behind in a game where they cranked their win probability up to 96.0% at one point. Alas, leads can be fleeting at Coors, especially when a team doesnât score again after the second inning.
The Rockies managed a 13-15 record in April, avoiding sustained losing streaks outside of a six-game skid. To get May off on the right foot, theyâll try to nip the losses in the bud and take at least one of the next two against Atlanta.
Unfortunately, on Fourth Wing Night at Coors Field on Saturday, the Rockies hitters encounter a challenge tougher than crossing the parapet: facing Chris Sale. Sale has been stellar this year (5-1 in six games started, 2.31 ERA). Heâs been incredibly efficient in so many metrics, boasting a sub-1.00 WHIP so far â currently holding at 0.914 â along with 38 strikeouts and just nine walks.
Outside of a bumpy outlier game in which he gave up six runs on two dingers to the Los Angeles Angels in early April, Sale has been the epitome of consistency. In the other five games, heâs given up either just one run or none at all. For the cherry on top, heâs sitting on a .185 batting average against. Father Time has not slowed the 16-year veteran down at all, as he continues to be just incredibly stingy. Thatâs historically carried through against the Rockies, where Sale is 1-1 with a 1.48 ERA across five games, including 0-1 with a 1.74 ERA at Coors.
The Rockies will try and counter with a steady presence of their own. Despite Chase Dollander getting his first start in his last outing against the New York Mets, the Rockies will go back to their opener + Dollander approach, with Brennan Bernardino kicking things off tonight. The last time Colorado looked to use Bernardino and Dollander as a dynamic duo (April 4th against the Philadelphia Phillies), it turned into a trio. Bernardino gave up a walk followed by an early run, forcing an appearance from Jimmy Herget to better set up Dollander to enter in the third.
Across the year, Bernardino is 2-0 in 14 games with the one start and a 0.71 ERA over 12.2 IP. Heâs looked sharp and will try to move quickly through a hot top of the order for the Braves.
While it looked like Dollander moved closer to securing a full-time starter role like many hoped, his lone start might have been forced by the doubleheader, as he slots back into his bulk relief role today. For his part, Dollander is 3-2 through seven games, posting a 2.25 ERA over 32.0 IP. Atlanta will be one of his toughest tests so far as he continues to make his case for a spot in the rotation.
The Rockies found a spark and got the bats going early yesterday. Their six runs gave them a chance. That many may be harder to come by given the matchup, but theyâll look to hang around in what should be an intriguing pitching matchup on both sides.
Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (20) reacts after a fly out against Texas Rangers during the eighth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Friday, May 1, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (16-17) vs. Texas Rangers (16-16)
Time/Place: 7:15 p.m., Comerica Park SB Nation Site: Lone Star Ball Media: Detroit Sportsnet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Keider Montero (1-2, 4.00 ERA) vs. RHP Kumar Rocker (1-2, 3.38 ERA)
May 2, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Max Meyer (23) throws against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images | Rhona Wise-Imagn Images
One of the keys to winning baseball games is hitting the ball. While it is possible to achieve victory without recording a base hit, history has shown that getting multiple hits in a ball game is far more conducive to winning. In their game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday, the Phillies did not get multiple hits. They only got one. One lousy hit. And that hit was promptly erased by a double play!
The hitless afternoon resulted in a 4-0 loss that put an end to the teamâs four-game winning streak and was Don Mattinglyâs first loss as Phillies manager.
On the other side of the ball, Andrew Painter got the start for the Phillies, and he gave up several hits. In fact, in the second inning, Painter gave up three times as many hits as Phillies batters did all game. But he was somehow able to keep any of those runners from scoring.
In the top of the third, left fielder (!) Garrett Stubbs recorded the Philliesâ only base knock, only to be doubled up by a ground ball double play off the bat of Felix Reyes. (As you read these names, it starts to become clearer exactly why the Phillies struggled on offense.)
Painter again gave up three hits in the third inning, and this time, due to the fact that he also walked two batters with the bases loaded, the Phillies fell into a 2-0 hole.
Painter settled down a bit, but the Marlins extended their lead to 3-0 courtesy of a Xavier Edwards home run in the fifth.
The Marlins concluded their scoring in the sixth when a double, ground out, and infield single against Tanner Banks made the score 4-0.
This was far too much for the Phillies to overcome. Marlins starter Max Meyer struck out seven in his career-high seven innings and walked only one batter. Things didnât improve after he left the game, as the Phillies went down in order in both the eighth and the ninth.
While the Phillies could be excused because they were missing a couple of starters, it should be noted that their stars didnât exactly have great games either. Kyle Schwarber struck out three times, putting him at 0-8 with eight strikeouts in the series.
Theyâll be back at it on Sunday afternoon. The Marlins will start righthander Chris Paddack who enters the game with a 6.11 ERA. Iâm hoping the Phillies will do a little better against him, because letâs face it, they couldnât do much worse.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MAY 1: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers catches a bounced pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning at Busch Stadium on May 1, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers look to snap their three-game losing streak against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. Roki Sasaki faces Michael McGreevy.
The Kansas City Royals (13-19) face the Seattle Mariners (16-17) in the second game of their series. The Royals won Fridayâs opener 7-6. Starting pitchers are Seth Lugo for Kansas City, with a 2.63 ERA, and Emerson Hancock for Seattle, with a 2.86 ERA.
How to watch Kansas City Royals vs. Seattle Mariners
