Iranian’s 10-3 win sets up match against world No 1 Trump
Former champion Neil Robertson beats Pang Janxu 10-6
Hossein Vafaei has claimed the Crucible must be respected and called it snooker’s answer to Wimbledon two years on from his scathing criticism of the world championship venue.
In 2024 the Iranian described the Crucible as “smelly” and compared the practice facilities to “like playing in a garage”. But after last month’s announcement that snooker’s showpiece will remain in Sheffield until at least 2045, Vafaei highlighted the importance of the Crucible to the sport.
The Colorado Avalanche have a chance to take a firm grasp on their first-round series against the team from the city of fallen angels.
Some would argue the Kings have been surprisingly good so far this series, but tonight they hope to walk away with something to show for their efforts.
The Avalanche won both games at home, but it took some doing, and the victories came on contributions from (mainly) the depth pieces of their lineup.
Is tonight the night the Avalanche stunts their star power, or will the LA Kings make good on an upset where the ocean meets the sand?
Colorado Avalanche: 2-0
The Opponent: Los Angeles Kings (0-2)
Time: 8:00 p.m. MT
Watch: Altitude, Altitude+, TNT
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio, 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
A lot has been made of the Avalanche “playing the Kings game” in games one and two, but it should come as no surprise that this Avalanche team is committed to stout support and defensive structure.
The Avalanche is perfectly fine with playing low-scoring, tight-checking games. Nathan MacKinnon said so much after the game one victory, stating, “We pride ourselves on our defensive ability. I know that might surprise some people.”
Nonetheless, it’s possible to stay committed defensively and achieve more goals.
I have three keys to a Colorado Avalanche victory:
Score first.
Martin Necas must ‘shoot-first.’
Stay out of the penalty box.
The sit-back-and-wait approach only works against the Avalanche when they don’t have a lead, especially in a game where LA should be more desperate than in games one and two.
Martin Necas’ pass to Gabe Landeskog on Colorado’s tying goal in game two was a thing of beauty, but I want him to log a minimum of 3 SOG in the first period.
He has turned down too many great looks, given his shooting ability.
The Avalanche have a large share of the expected goals in this series, and that advantage is amplified in 5-on-5 situations.
LA has two goals in the series, both from Artemi Panarin and both on the power play.
Stay out of the box, and LA might stay off the scoresheet.
The Kings have satisfied key number one in both games this series, but haven’t secured number two.
If they had, we’d be having a much different conversation ahead of game three.
Both goalies have arguably been the best players on their sides, and if LA wants to win this game or a series, they will have to humanize Scott Wedgewood, who is on fire to start the playoffs.
PHOENIX — Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami tied a Major League Baseball rookie record by homering in his fifth straight game, crushing a 451-foot shot to right-center field against the Arizona Diamondbacks for his 10th homer of the season.
“I’ve run out of things to say,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “Obviously, he continues to put himself in a really good spot to take good swings on good pitches. He’s making great swing decisions, making a ton of contact and when he hits it, he hits it really hard.”
He added: “Even the singles he’s hitting are hard. The damage is incredible and it’s impressive to watch.”
He is the 13th rookie in big-league history to go deep in five straight, according to MLB.com. The Japanese first baseman also tied the team’s franchise record, a mark shared by A.J. Pierzynski (2012), Paul Konerko (2011), Carlos Lee (2003), Frank Thomas (twice in 1994), Ron Kittle (1983) and Greg Luzinski (1983).
Murakami’s two-run homer came off Diamondbacks reliever Ryan Thompson in the seventh, cutting Arizona’s lead to 10-7. His 10 homers are second in the big leagues behind Houston’s Yordan Alvarez, who has 11.
Murakami’s 10 homers, eight coming on the road, are the most in MLB history by a Japanese-born player in his first 24 career games.
Nearly two months ago, four of the Nashville Predators' depth pieces were dealt off at the NHL trade deadline for little to nothing.
Michael McCarron (Minnesota), Michael Bunting (Dallas), Cole Smith (Vegas) and Nick Blankenburg (Colorado) were all traded in March for a collective four draft picks and defenseman Christoffer Sedoff.
While Nashville narrowly missed the playoffs, all four players who were traded are part of squads playing in the postseason.
However, not all playoff teams are created equal.
McCarron, who was acquired for his size and presence in the bottom six, has been a massive piece to the Wild's playoff plan. He has averaged 15:24 minutes of ice time over three games and scored his first career playoff goal in Game 3 on Wednesday.
Smith has had a similar experience in Vegas, averaging 11:07 minutes of ice time over two games and recording his first career playoff point, via a primary assist on a Colton Sissions goal, in Game 2.
Their impact on their new teams is almost expected, as it's identical to what it was in Nashville. Both are giving their new teams a boost in the bottom six and are built for a more aggressive and intense pace in the playoffs.
The pair may have earned themselves extensions as both will be unrestricted free agents this summer. McCarron is wrapping up a 2-year, $1.8 million contract and Smith is at the end of a 2-year, $2 million contract.
The same cannot be said for the other two.
At the end of March, Bunting suffered an upper-body injury, missing six straight games before playing the Stars' final two games of the regular season. Despite his return, Bunting has been scratched for all three of Dallas' playoff games.
Mar 29, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Stars left wing Michael Bunting (58) battles for position against Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim (6) in the first period at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
In Nashville, Bunting was a major boost on the third line, recording 31 points in 61 games. His production has slowed immensely since joining the Stars, logging just two points in 13 games.
Blankenburg has been in a similar position, scratched from Games 1 and 2 of the Colorado Avalanche's series against the Los Angeles Kings.
He played in 12 of Colorado's 18 remaining regular-season games, healthy-scratched in six games. Logging 21 points in 49 games with the Predators this season, Blankenburg has just three points in 12 games.
It's likely the pair will be going into the free agency market this summer. Bunting is at the end of a 3-year, $13.5 million contract and Blankenburg is finishing a 2-year, $1.55 million contract.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 17: Taijuan Walker #99 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in the first inning during a game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on April 17, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Philadelphia Phillies have released starting pitcher Taijuan Walker, per multiple reports.
In the 2022-23 offseason, the Phillies signed Walker to a four year, $72 million deal that even at the time looked…aggressive. Fangraphs, in their free agent projections for that offseason, had Walker at around 3 years, $42 million. Dave Dombrowski has a history of being willing to overpay, whether in prospects or dollars, for a player he wants, and he apparently really wanted Walker, who had just put up a 3.49 ERA in 29 starts for the New York Mets in 2022.
Walker’s ability had long been tantalizing — a supplemental first round pick of the Seattle Mariners in 2010*, he was a top 10-20 prospect each year from 2012-14, and made his debut in his age 20 season for Seattle in 2013. He struggled to turn promise into results, however, and was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks after the 2016 season, along with Ketel Marte, in a five player deal that saw Mitch Haniger, Jean Segura and Zac Curtis go the M’s.
* Walker was selected one pick before the Tigers took Nick Castellanos, two picks before the Rangers picked Luke Jackson, and six picks before the Rangers picked Mike Olt.
A solid 2017 season was followed by a two year stretch where he appeared in just four major league games due to Tommy John surgery. Walker signed a one year deal to return to Seattle for the 2020 season, was traded to Toronto at the deadline, and his 2.70 ERA in 11 starts was enough to garner a two year deal from the Mets. Walker was not good in 2021, but his solid 2022 season meant he hit the market as one of the attractive mid-level free agent starters on the market.
The Phillies got a middling season from Walker in 2023, as he put up a 4.38 ERA and 4.53 FIP in 172 innings over 31 starts (though B-R credits him with a 2.6 bWAR season, largely due to the porous defense behind him). Walker put up a 7.10 ERA in fifteen starts and four relief appearances in 2024, then a 4.08 ERA in 2025, when he was dropped from the rotation in August. This season, in four starts and, in his most recent appearance, a pseudo-start where the Phillies used an opener, Walker has a 9.13 ERA and 7.82 FIP, and has allowed the most earned runs in the majors.
Walker is just 33, and so I imagine he’ll have an opportunity to sign a minor league deal with a club and try to get his career back on track in AAA. Whether he pitches in the majors again, though, remains to be seen.
Apr 22, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston (53) celebrates his game winning goal during the second overtime period in game three of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Minnesota Wild at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Matt Krohn/Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Wyatt Johnston scored on a power-play deflection at 12:10 of the second overtime to give the Dallas Stars a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild for a 2-1 lead in the first-round series.
Matt Duchene tied it for Dallas on a power play midway through the third period, seconds after his backcheck on Matt Boldy averted a short-handed goal that would’ve put Minnesota up by two.
After the Wild failed to convert two overtime power plays, finishing 1 for 7 with the man advantage, the Stars took advantage of their opportunity after Danila Yurov’s delay-of-game penalty. Miro Heiskanen’s shot was knocked in by Johnston for his third goal in three games — and his sixth winning goal in four career postseasons.
“It’s kind of a little blurry, but just trying to get to the net and just trying to get my stick on the puck,” said Johnston, who had a career-high 45 goals during the regular season.
The game ended at 12:54 a.m.
Radek Faksa had a close-range chance in the second overtime he poked behind Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt, but the puck skidded straight across the crease.
Wallstedt polished off the first Stars’ power play by snapping his glove around Mikko Rantanen’s shot and smothering Esa Lindell’s bad-angle attempt. Johnston then spoiled a brilliant 32-save performance by Wallstedt with his deflection.
“We definitely played well enough to win,” Wallstedt said. “It’s small margins. It’s a ‘D’ shot that double tips and hits twice and goes over my shoulder. Yeah, it’s bounces, but that’s what it is.”
Seconds after the audible thump from Stars goalie Jake Oettinger’s blocker save on Brock Faber’s slap shot, the Wild had another prime opportunity to win it in the first overtime when Quinn Hughes drew a tripping penalty on Sam Steel. But even with Faksa playing most of that penalty kill without a stick, the Wild failed to generate much pressure. Jamie Benn’s holding penalty on Nick Foligno gave them another try to crack Oettinger, who finished with 28 saves.
“I had my head down, looking out of one eye, just like, ’Good Lord, get through this,’” Duchene said.
The Wild killed four penalties between Rantanen’s power play tip-in just 1:25 into the game and Duchene’s crowd-quieting snap shot that slipped between defenseman Jared Spurgeon and the near post. That included 40 seconds of a 5-on-3 after Boldy’s delay-of-game penalty late in the second period.
As soon as he left the box, Spurgeon saw an opening to start a rush that Michael McCarron finished with his first goal in the NHL playoffs to give the Wild a 3-2 lead.
Jason Robertson scored after a slick stretch pass by Duchene to put the Stars up 2-0 in the first period.
Marcus Johansson scored on a power play to start the rally less than five minutes later, and Joel Eriksson Ek had the tying goal in the second after a brilliant setup by Boldy. The U.S. Olympian, who had a career-high 42 goals during the regular season, weaved through four Stars skaters and drew a crowd behind the net before zipping the puck back into the slot for Eriksson Ek to knock in.
Entering these playoffs, the winner of Game 3 after a split of the first two games in a best-of-seven went on to win the series nearly two-thirds of the time (245 of 369) in NHL history.
The Wild, who have not advanced in the postseason since 2015, fell on the flip side of that ratio in each of their last three appearances. They won Game 3 to go up 2-1 on Vegas last year, on Dallas in 2023 and on St. Louis in 2022, before being eliminated with three straight losses every time.
This was the third time in Wild history they reached double overtime, including a 3-2 win at Dallas in Game 1 of their first-round series with the Stars in 2023.
The Wild, who have a 4-14 series record in their underwhelming playoff history, have lost 17 of their last 23 postseason home games.
“Whether we won tonight or lost tonight, this series isn’t over,” Hughes said. “It’s a really good hockey game. We had our looks. They had their looks. Just leave it at that.”
With recent reports indicating the Florida Panthers and Sergei Bobrovsky are far off in contract negotiations and that the relationship between the two parties is “pretty bad,” it’s as good a time as any to begin looking at who the Panthers could target.
The UFA market isn’t boasting a ton of No. 1 options, but there are some viable options.
If the Panthers want to find someone to truly replace Bobrovsky, their best option might be through the trade market. One goaltender expected to be made available for a trade who fits what the Panthers are looking for is Jordan Binnington.
The 32-year-old is coming off his worst season with the St. Louis Blues, posting an .873 save percentage and a 3.33 goals-against average, but he was the starter for Team Canada at the Olympics and showed that in high-leverage situations, he thrives.
There’s no other way to look at it; his 2025-26 NHL season was even worse than Bobrovsky’s, but Binnington is five years younger than Bobrovsky, which gives him a better opportunity to bounce back.
Bobrovsky has a lot of miles on him. At 37, he’s played 806 regular-season games, as well as 117 playoff games. Compared to Binnington, who’s played 377 regular-season games and 48 playoff games, there’s more reason to believe that Binnington’s struggles were likely mental, and Bobrovsky’s were physical.
The Panthers are a physical team that don’t back down from anything. Binnington has had his fair share of run-ins with players around the NHL, and he is willing to wear his heart on his sleeve.
The Panthers have also built a reputation for never giving in and for an uncanny ability to rebound from tough losses or poor stretches. Throughout his career, Binnington has had the confidence and attitude to deliver in the big moments.
There is, without a doubt, plenty of risk that comes with trading for Binnington. He’ll be 33 years old when the 2026-27 campaign begins, and he has just one year remaining on his $6 million cap hit.
The Panthers may have to pay a decent price to acquire a goaltender coming off an awful season, who could walk away for free after one year.
But it could also pay off greatly. There is a chance Binnington finds his game again with better defense in front of him, steps up in the playoffs as he has before, and delivers a cup to Florida before signing an extension.
With all that being said, the Panthers might have to be creative to replace Bobrovsky, if he indeed leaves, and adding a Stanley Cup-winning goaltender with Binnington's pedigree could be the solution.
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The Cleveland Cavaliers head into Game 3 with a 2-0 lead over the Toronto Raptors as the series shifts to Toronto. The pressure is on the Raptors now, and that usually leads to changes in minutes, shot volume, and who actually has the ball.
This is usually the point in a series where roles start to shift, and if you nail your Cavaliers vs. Raptors predictions, there’s value before the market fully adjusts.
Cavaliers vs Raptors computer picks for Game 3
Cavaliers
Raptors
Mitchell u27.5 points -110
Barrett o3.5 assists +131
Allen o7.5 rebounds +110
Barnes o17.5 points -105
Mobley o15.5 points -125
Quickley o11.5 points -105
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Cavaliers Game 3 computer picks
Donovan Mitchell Under 27.5 points (-110)
Projection: 24.02 points
Donovan Mitchell has carried the scoring load through two games, but this is a different spot on the road. If Toronto tightens up defensively and forces the ball out of his hands more, this number starts to look a bit high.
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Jarrett Allen Over 7.5 rebounds (+110)
Projection: 8.51 rebounds
Jarrett Allen has been active on the glass all series, and the minutes are there for him to clear this number. At plus money, you’re getting a strong role with a favorable matchup.
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Even Mobley Over 15.5 points (-125)
Projection: 17.83 points
Evan Mobley is starting to find his spots offensively, and Cleveland has leaned on him more as the series has gone on. If that continues, this number is a little short.
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Raptors Game 3 computer picks
RJ Barrett Over 3.5 assists (+131)
Projection: 3.95 assists
RJ Barrett is going to have the ball a lot more with Toronto trying to settle into a better offense at home. Cleveland has been comfortable loading up on drives, which opens up kick-out chances if Barrett makes the right reads. He does not need a huge jump here, just a few more possessions running through him.
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Scottie Barnes Over 17.5 points (-105)
Projection: 20.04 points
Scottie Barnes is the one guy Toronto can lean on to create his own offense, and in a 2-0 hole, that usually means more shots and more touches. He has been involved across the board, but this feels like a spot where he looks to score first. If the game stays competitive, the volume should be there.
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Immanuel Quickley Over 11.5 points (-105)
Projection: 12.46 points
Immanuel Quickley is one of the few Raptors who can generate points without the offense needing to be perfect. He is not shy about getting shots up, especially from deep, and Toronto needs that right now. If his minutes stay steady, he has a clear path to get into the mid-teens.
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How to watch Cavaliers vs Raptors Game 3
Location
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Date
Friday, April 23, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
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The National farm system is flush with hitting talent, especially in the middle infield. Names like Ronny Cruz, Yeremy Cabrera, and Devin Fitz-Gerald have gotten off to hot starts to begin the 2026 campaign, making pushes to be on top 100 prospect lists soon. One area that the Nationals’ farm system is lacking, however, is on the pitching side, as with their top 2 arms, Jarlin Susana and Travis Sykora, injured, there is no real firepower on the way to help rescue a Nationals pitching staff that is currently getting hammered at the big league level.
Outside of the trade deadline, where we can expect Paul Toboni to be shopping a multitude of Nationals players for prospect packages, the quickest way to restock the farm system with quality arms is the MLB Draft, where the Nats will have the 11th overall pick and $12.3 million in bonus pool money to work with. Let’s take a look at some of the pitching options they have in the first few rounds to add to their system and, hopefully, work their way through the minors quickly.
Flukey is making his return from injury this weekend for the Chanticleers, his first since week one back in February. Flukey was extremely efficient in 2025 thanks to his strong fastball-slider combination, with a blossoming curveball as well. How he looks down the stretch will determine if teams are comfortable taking him in the top end of the first round, but I firmly believe Flukey could be at least the Nationals two-starter one day with proper development.
Carlon joined the Sun Devils rotation in 2026, and his stuff looks sharper than ever, walking 3% less hitters and striking out 1% more than as a reliever in 2025. The heater usually sits mid-to-high 90s, but has been up to triple digits this season, pairing well with his elite slider, plus curveball, and good changeup. If the velocity holds as a starter, Carlon could be in play as an underslot pick for the Nationals who still has the potential to be a two-starter or higher in the big leagues eventually.
The stuff is explosive, and he’s finally broken through on the results side, with a mid-3s ERA and FIP under 3. The walks are still a problem, but he’s showing the ability to succeed despite them. The fastball sits mid-90s, running up to 99 MPH, and his mid-80s slider is as sharp as they come. If the Nationals coaching staff could help him control his stuff, he could be one of the top right-handed pitching prospects in all of baseball.
Riojas’ strikeout stuff has exploded in his junior season at Texas, raising his strikerout rate by 18% from 2025 to 2026. He throws a mid-90s fastball which generates plenty of swing-and-miss, and he has 5 secondary offerings he’ll mix in as well, with the curveball and changeup being the ones which stand out the most. Riojas doesn’t have the “stuff” of some of the other arms in this range, but his wide pitch mix and control make him a solid bet to be a solid big league pitcher one day.
Kuhns has all the traits of a future top-of-the-line arm, but hasn’t quite put them all together at Tennessee just yet. Throws a mid-90s fastball with unique flat movement, a sharp slider, and a changeup that generates plenty of swing-and-miss. Under the old Nationals regime, Kuhns would’ve been a player who never put it all together, but under the new coaching staff, Kuhns is the kind of pitcher they can turn into something special.
Dietz is a 6’6 lefty who has been a weapon for the Razorbacks in 2026, throwing mid-90s with his fastball and working a low-80s slider off it. 2026 is his only full collegiate season, so the sample size is small, but if the Nationals believe in the stuff, he could immediately become one of the nastier arms in the Nationals farm system.
Mendes has mowed down ACC lineups this season with his strong 3-pitch mix of a fastball, slider, and changeup. He sits in the low-90s with the heater, but has gotten it up to 96, suggesting there is a chance for a velocity jump in pro ball. Mendes knows how to pitch, and could be a solid backend starter in the big leagues, with a chance for more if he gains velocity or more pitches.
Dudan made his collegiate debut as a starter in 2026 and has been very successful for the Wolfpack, thanks to his heater, which has been up to 99 MPH, and a devastating slider. He has also added a sinker to his arsenal to keep hitters off his fastball, and a cutter which offers another look from the slider. Dudan’s combination of stuff and performance make him as good a bet as you can find in the third round, with his limited track record being the only thing preventing him from going higher.
Sdao’s stuff hasn’t translated to SEC success quite yet, but it’s a strong bet to translate to pro ball with proper development. He can hold mid-90s on his fastball deep into outings, and has a mid-80s sweeping slider that generates plenty of chase. At 6’3” 170, there is room to grow into his frame and add more velocity to his game as well. Sdao has first or second round grade stuff, but could be a steal for a team like the Nats at the beginning of the third round due to his performance struggles.
Apr 22, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Taijuan Walker (99) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the second inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images | Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
Prior to Thursday’s game against the Cubs, the Phillies announced that Taijuan Walker was released.
Prior to today’s game against the Chicago Cubs, the Phillies recalled RHP Nolan Hoffman from triple-A Lehigh Valley. To make room on the 26-man roster, RHP Alan Rangel was optioned to Lehigh Valley following last night’s game. Additionally, RHP Taijuan Walker was released.
Walker pitched Wednesday night’s game behind Kyle Backhus, allowing five runs, four of them earned, in only four innings. It was not all of his fault; Justin Crawford dropped a shallow flyball that eventually led to a run. But it was clear the Phillies could no longer justify keeping Taijuan Walker on the roster in any capacity.
Walked signed with the Phillies back in December of 2022 for four years, $ 72 million. In that span, he made 89 appearances, 71 of them as a starter, and had an ERA of 5.12 in 402.2 innings with 1.1 fWAR.
Also, welcome back, Nolan Hoffman. Does anyone remember him striking out Cal Raleigh last year?
Nearly 5,000 men's college basketball players entered the transfer portal this window (4,949 to be exact).
Believe it or not, that's actually down from last season's number of 5,428, which was a five-year high from all three NCAA levels — Division I, II, III.
Per transfer portal data reviewed by USA TODAY Sports this week after the women's and men's windows closed, April 20 and 21, respectively, the overall number of transfers is down, but movement in Power Four conferences increased.
A year after 477 players entered the men’s basketball portal from P-4 programs, that figured climbed this week to 480; the women’s P-4 numbers jumped 10% from 305 to 336.
The ACC led the way in men's and women's basketball with 232 entrants, with the Big 12 close behind at 213.
Among the Power conferences on the men’s side, the numbers were the following:
The women’s side saw total portal entrants down, year over year, from 2,801 to 2,570.
Here's the P-4 breakdown for the women this year:
ACC: 94
Big 12: 86
SEC: 80
Big Ten: 76
No league appeared to be hit any harder, per team, than men’s basketball in the Southern Conference. The 10-team league saw a total of 82 men’s portal entrants this month. It had 76 one year ago.
Broken down further, SoCon teams like The Citadel had 19 players combined enter into the past two basketball portal cycles, while VMI added 18.
Here’s a look at total portal entrants across the past five seasons for both men’s and women’s college basketball:
How many men's college basketball players entered transfer portal? NCAA portal numbers:
2025-26: 4,939 (2,605 D-I)
2024-25: 5,438 (2,754 D-I)
2023-24: 4,343 (2,146 D-I)
2022-23: 3,663 (1,843 D-I)
2021-22: 3,355 (1,788 D-I)
How many women's college basketball players entered transfer portal? NCAA portal numbers:
The electric Manchester City forward on his dribbling skills, who is City’s quickest player and the potential for a domestic treble
Pace, aggression and quicksilver trickery: Jérémy Doku is the nightmare for opposition defences who breaks games open for Manchester City. In Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, Southampton’s task will be to try to contain the Belgium winger who has raised his game this season.
The Liverpool head coach, Arne Slot, believes that Doku can be “unstoppable” and Arsenal’s Cristhian Mosquera discovered precisely this in City’s seismic 2-1 win in the Premier League on Sunday, the right-back booked for persistently fouling him at the Etihad Stadium. Yet the 23-year-old is not content. The ambition is to add goals to the sparkling skill set he believes will elevate him above Vinícius Júnior as the world’s best wide forward.
The Philadelphia Phillies have had the most disappointing start to a season this side of Queens, and somebody was going to pay the price.
First up: Starting pitcher Taijuan Walker.
The Phillies released Walker on Thursday, April 23 and will eat the remainder of his $18 million salary this season, a logical move given his 9.13 ERA in five appearances and the impending return of ace Zack Wheeler.
Walker, 33, signed a four-year, $72 million contract before the 2023 season and had flashes of decent perforance over his four very inconsistent seasons in Philly. In his four starts this season, he gave up seven runs twice and four runs on another occasion, and was already slotted to be the long man in the bullpen.
Now, with Wheeler set to make his season debut Saturday after an extended recovery from August thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, there was no room at all for Walker.
The club recalled right-handed pitcher Nolan Hoffman to add to the back of the bullpen.
The Phillies are off to an 8-16 start, now tied with the New York Mets at the bottom of the NL East. The club has suffered from lack of production from the bottom half of its lineup, and jettisoning Walker won't solve the pitching woes: Jesus Luzardo, signed to a five-year, $135 million extension last month, has a 6.91 ERA in five starts, the Phillies losing four of them.
SAN FRANCISCO — Shohei Ohtani’s career-best 53-game on-base streak ended on a night he pitched six scoreless innings.
It’s something only Ohtani could achieve, but the two-way superstar could be having games like that a little bit less often.
“I’m focused, as a leadoff hitter, to get on base. As long as I feel good overall, the result will follow,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “It hasn’t been the case (lately).”
Before the loss to San Francisco, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made it clear he’s committed to Ohtani’s health and keeping him fresh to perform both on the mound and at the plate for the long haul.
And that may look different by the day or week, depending how Ohtani is feeling.
“I’ll always let the manager make that final decision and I’m always going to be prepared when I’m starting that I’m hitting,” Ohtani said. “But if it makes sense as a team to occasionally put a guy in as a DH or hit later that’s fine as well. I wouldn’t want to same more aside from that.”
For some games, that could mean Ohtani pitches but doesn’t bat as the designated hitter — and Roberts plans to keep his options open.
Ohtani was solid on the mound again for the Dodgers in a 3-0 loss to the Giants, allowing no earned runs for the third time in four starts this season. A week earlier, Ohtani was held out of the lineup while pitching for the first time since 2021 because he was still sore from getting hit by a pitch.
Ohtani batted in his customary leadoff spot and went 0 for 4 with a strikeout, hitting a fly ball to left in his last at-bat. That ended an on-base streak that matched Shawn Green for the second-longest in Dodgers history. Duke Snider owns the team record at 58 games from May 13-July 11, 1954. Ohtani’s streak was the longest in the majors since Orlando Cabrera reached base in 63 straight from April 25-July 6, 2006.
“The season’s not over, and I could start another streak and that would be great,” Ohtani said. “We’ll see how it goes.”
The 31-year-old Ohtani saw his batting average drop from .271 to .258. He has allowed one earned run over 24 innings for an ERA of 0.38 and a 2-0 record, surrendering 15 hits with 25 strikeouts and six walks.
“I think if you look at the overall numbers it’s certainly something. I still feel really good about putting his name in the lineup,” Roberts said. “I know the last start I chose not to have him hit and just pitch. I am open to it. We’ll see. It’s something that we’ve certainly flagged, and also you have to look at what’s the option. In years past or last year, you’ve got to kind of weigh, who’s a different option?”
Catcher Dalton Rushing has become a capable fill-in at DH. He’s hitting .414 with seven homers and 13 RBIs.
The two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers have dropped four of five. They lost 3-1 in the series opener at rival San Francisco.
Roberts had yet to decide whether Ohtani would play the series finale. He said beforehand he had no qualms about giving Ohtani five at-bats on a day he’s pitching but would consider moving him down in the batting order if that makes sense.
“I think everything should be on the table,” Roberts said.
The NHL playoffs have been better than advertised, and I’ve got a trio of NHL player props to cover all three games on the ice for Thursday, April 23.
My favorite NHL picks for tonight are the saves props for Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman and Carolina Hurricanes starter Frederik Andersen.
Best NHL player prop bets today
Player
Swayman Over 25.5 saves
-130
Andersen Over 22.5 saves
-130
Laferriere Under 0.5 points
-115
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Our best NHL player props for Thursday, April 23
Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.
Prop #1: Jeremy Swayman Over 25.5 saves
-130 at BET99
The move to TD Garden won’t be enough to prevent the Buffalo Sabres from piling up shots again in Game 3. Buffalo has recorded a postseason-high 36.5 shots per 60 minutes with a rock-solid 55.2% Corsi For percentage (CF%) at 5-on-5.
Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman has been up to the task, too. He’s posted a .931 SV% with 2.03 goals saved above expected (GSAx) in Round 1, and the strong play has legs, with Swayman also posting a .920 SV% with 14.21 GSAx across his final 16 regular-season starts.
Ottawa averaged 2.4 more shots per game at the Canadian Tire Centre, and the Sens climbed to a third-ranked 53.9% CF% at 5-on-5 on home ice compared to a 51.7% mark on the highway.
Of course, Andersen has been excellent between the pipes with a .967 SV% and 5.87 GSAx during the series. Best of all, there’s enough room for Andersen’s numbers to take a hit in Game 3 without threatening this Over.
He’s been primarily matched up against Colorado Avalanche stars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar at 5-on-5, and when he’s not jumping the boards against them, it’s against Colorado's No. 2 line and defense pair.
Simply put, Laferriere is a supporting scorer tasked with the toughest defensive assignments, as evidenced by his 39.5% CF% and 39.0% expected goals percentage (xG%) at 5-on-5 to start the series.
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Cavaliers
Raptors
Swayman Over 25.5 saves
Andersen Over 22.5 saves
Laferriere Under 0.5 points