Apr 15, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder Wenceel Pérez celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run against the City Royals in the eighth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (9-9) vs. Kansas City Royals (7-11)
Time/Place: 1:10 p.m., Comerica Park SB Nation Site: Royals Review Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Keider Montero (1-1, 1.74 ERA) vs. LHP Kris Bubic (2-1, 2.50 ERA)
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - APRIL 14: JJ Wetherholt #26 of the St. Louis Cardinals rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians at Busch Stadium on April 14, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been an up and down season so far for the St. Louis Cardinals. It’s entirely reasonable to expect that it will be an up and down season from here on out. We’re all hoping for an outcome that’s special and unexpected, but the likelihood is that we’ll have to live through growing pains. In some ways, JJ Wetherholt’s (very, very) early season results are a microcosm for the roller coaster nature of this team as a whole. This is fitting in a lot of ways, as we all hope JJ Wetherholt will be in St. Louis for a very long time. (Unless you’re somehow anti-Wetherholt?! Please, go ahead and identify yourself so we can turn up our noses at you and cross the street to the other side. Thanks!)
Wetherholt, of course, is an uber prospect. Everybody who ranks prospects (including your pet dog), had Wetherholt as a consensus top prospect in all of the minor leagues. This designation is a bit of a catch-22 for Cardinals prospects. Wetherholt descends from a shaky Cardinals prospect tree that includes names like Carlson, Reyes, Taveras (RIP – a true sliding doors moment for the franchise), and Walker (WOW JORDAN WALKER SO FAR). I’m fine staking my non-existent Cardinals reputation on the fact that Wetherholt is absolutely not going to be a failure. While I’m here giving takes, let me just bring up the spice level. I’d happily bet money that Wetherholt will be in a red jacket someday. How’s that for confidence?
In our last episode of Redbird Rundown, we ranked the top three most untradeable major leaguers on the Cardinals roster and despite Jordan Walker’s thermonuclear start (let’s do it again – WOW JORDAN WALKER SO FAR), Wetherholt remains the top of the heap for me. You may disagree, and that’s part of being an observer! Check out that list and so much more if you’re into audio content – Apple and Spotify!
If you’ve watched any of the games thus far, you’ve seen why I have such confidence in Wetherholt. The guy is a quintessential high-floor player. His approach is elite – maybe even beyond elite? Wetherholt is a one man wrecking crew for opposing hurler’s pitch counts. As such, he’s running a walk rate that is in the 76th percentile. While spitting on balls outside the zone, Wetherholt is hacking at pitches in the zone. In the very early going (Yes, I’m still aware it’s early. Thanks for checking.), Wetherholt is displaying an aggressiveness that he’s never shown as a professional. As of this writing, he’s swinging at 5% more pitches in the zone and 3% more pitches outside the zone.
This newfound aggressiveness, while probably explained by a little rookie pressing to produce at the big league level, does not appear to be serving him well. His bat speed is exactly league average, so to leverage the surprising power he showed last year at Memphis, he’s going to have to swing at exactly the right pitches. Naturally, Wetherholt just had a two homer game two days ago, so there’s all the proof any of us need.
For the season though, his batted ball data is strikingly average. He’s the Michael McGreevy of batted balls so far? Not sure. May need to workshop that. He’s almost exactly 50th percentile in barrel %, hard hit %, average exit velo, and squared up %. All of these numbers last year were much closer to the top of the MiLB system. Obviously, MLB hitters on average are better than MiLB hitters, but this suggests to me that Wetherholt is making contact with pitches he just can’t do as much with. In short, he’s swinging too much right now.
The biggest plague on Wetherholt’s offensive production so far is the sharply hit ball to second base. Now, before you get visions of Victor Scott II dancing in your head, don’t. In general, just don’t do that to yourself. But, Wetherholt is pulling so many more balls than last year. It’s shocking really. Last year he pulled 42.5% of his batted ball events in the minors, this year it’s up to 53.8%. What gives? His opposite field contact has fallen a full 14%. The best version of Wetherholt anyone has ever seen in his very short career (Wetherholt himself is a bit of a short king, no?) has a spray chart that looks like a shotgun blast. It’s all over the field. Right now, he’s pulling far more pitches and suffering from a .245 BABIP. Many of these hard grounders are right at the first and second basemen.
What’s the upshot? JJ Wetherholt is running a 109 wRC+ being a substandard version of his best offensive self. I’m going to chalk it up to rookie pressing. He also has an interesting habit of going through an adjustment period at each new level and then his baseball AI brain recalibrates and he dominates. I’m not sure we’ll see the lofty 154 wRC+ he ran last year in the minors, but I expect him to improve. It’s been an impressive start, even as it’s substandard for him. If that even makes sense.
As you watch him in the coming weeks, pay attention to how aggressive he is in the box. My hope is that he edges down towards his college and minor league seasons when it comes to swing rates. The track record of this more patient player is beyond impressive. I suspect that the Cardinals have a top of the order hitter that will be there for a long time just starting his adjustment period to major league pitching. We’ll see what the future brings.
As always, thanks for reading! It’s been a great experience at VEB so far. Thanks for that! You can usually find me during games hanging out on twitter @mksmith86. I honestly tweet more from our podcast handle @redbirdrundown2. Drop by and say hey!
Whether you’re saddling up at the urinal, putting on a one-man show, or making your NBA postseason debut, stage fright can get the best of us.
Just ask Charlotte Hornets rookie sensation Kon Knueppel, who suddenly forgot how to shoot in Tuesday’s Play-In Tournament win after a record-setting first season in the pros.
Knueppel came out ice cold from beyond the arc and couldn’t find his way in the offense, eventually getting the hook late in the game.
Our Hornets vs. Magic predictions won’t discount the Duke product too much in Friday’s Play-In finale but my NBA picks take a different way to wager on Knueppel’s contributions.
UPDATE: Added prediction for who will win.
Hornets vs Magic prediction
Who will win Hornets vs Magic?
Hornets: Oddsmakers call for a close contest but how much more can the Magic endure? Orlando botched the season finale to fall to No. 8, have locker room rumors swirling about its head coach, and watched its star player shit the bed in the Play-In.
The Hornets, on the other hand, continue to play at a high level and have been one of the best two-way teams since the break. Plus, Charlotte has won three of four matchups with the Magic this season.
Hornets vs Magic best bet: Kon Knueppel Over 2.5 Assists (-115)
The Charlotte Hornets’ star rookie had a rotten postseason debut, finishing 2-for-12 from the field, including a goose egg on six attempts beyond the arc.
What’s more disappointing is that Kon Knueppel couldn’t find other ways to contribute and found himself on the bench in crunch time. He logged just six minutes in the fourth quarter — and an extra frame — on Tuesday.
While all eyes go to his chilly shooting performance, Knueppel also recorded just one assist in the OT win over the Miami Heat and generated only two potential assists over his 34 minutes.
On the season, Knueppel has averaged almost 3.5 assists on 6.3 potential dimes per game. Before the Play-In, he had dished out three or more assists in four of the final five games of the schedule, including two five-dime showings.
The Hornets need more from Knueppel than long-range chucks if they’re going to punch their ticket to the playoffs Friday. In the two most recent matchups with the Orlando Magic, Knueppel dished out four assists in each outing – both one-sided wins for Charlotte.
With the Magic boasting one of the tighter perimeter defenses (33.8% - third lowest since the break) and the fourth lowest 3-point attempts against, Knueppel will find himself making the extra pass rather than letting it fly from deep.
His player projections for Friday’s win-and-in contest sit north of three assists, and this total of 2.5 O/U is just the fourth time in the past 11 games that his assist prop has been this low.
Hornets vs Magic same-game parlay
The Hornets are on the road but have the rest and prep edge due to the East Play-In schedule getting flipped in Philadelphia. Charlotte showed an ability to adapt to off-games from its stars and never stopped fighting in the win over Miami.
If Knueppel isn’t getting his looks from long range, Brandon Miller picks up the slack. He’s been electric for the Hornets and is forecasted for as many as 22.5 points on Friday. Miller has scored 25 and 20 in his last two matchups with the Magic.
Hornets vs Magic SGP
Hornets moneyline
Kon Knueppel Over 2.5 assists
Brandon Miller Over 19.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Wrath of Kon
The rookie has something to prove after laying an egg in his first taste of tournament action and must find other ways to impact the game beyond 3-pointers.
Knueppel’s projections call for as many as six rebounds and four assists in the Play-In finale, which could turn into a low-scoring slog. A slower pace of play and a lack of perimeter points will keep this final below the total.
Hornets vs Magic SGP
Hornets -3.5
Under 218.5
Kon Knueppel Over 2.5 assists
Kon Knueppel Over 5.5 rebounds
Hornets vs Magic odds
Spread: Charlotte -3.5 | Orlando +3.5
Moneyline: Charlotte -170 | Orlando +145
Over/Under: Over 218.5 | Under 218.5
Hornets vs Magic betting trend to know
The Hornets are 13-3 SU and 9-7 ATS as road favorites this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Magic.
How to watch Hornets vs Magic
Location
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Date
Friday, April 17, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Hornets vs Magic latest injuries
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After an unusually long wait, the Philadelphia Flyers have their date and start time for Game 1 of Round 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
On Thursday afternoon, the Flyers announced that they will play the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh at 8 p.m. Saturday night, with ESPN carrying the national game coverage.
As for local coverage, NBC Sports Philadelphia and 97.5 The Fanatic will have Flyers fans covered for Game 1.
Here's how the Flyers lined up for their first practice ahead of Saturday's spite match with the Penguins:
Tyson Foerster - Trevor Zegras - Alex Bump/Owen Tippett
Luke Glendening - Sean Couturier - Garnet Hathaway
Travis Sanheim - Rasmus Ristolainen
Cam York - Jamie Drysdale
Nick Seeler - Emil Andrae
Goalie prospect Carson Bjarnason was called up by the Flyers on Thursday morning to help out with practice; if Dan Vladar or Sam Ersson were injured, they'd have gone with a more experienced option like Aleksei Kolosov.
The Flyers split the season series 2-2 with the Penguins, taking both of their wins in the shootout.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 15: Vj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers goes in for a layup during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament game against the Orlando Magic at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 15, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
VJ Edgecombe never truly hit the proverbial rookie wall. Sure, he had ups and downs like any first-year player, but it was less peaks and valleys and more open road with a few speed bumps.
But his most important test came Wednesday night as the seventh-seeded Sixers hosted the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic in the NBA’s Play-In Tournament. He was up for it, stuffing the stat sheet and flying around the floor in the Sixers’ 109-97 win at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
In case you couldn’t tell, Edgecombe was a bit excited for his first taste of postseason basketball.
“I was tweaking a little bit tonight,” he said postgame. “But I was able to settle in a little bit, calm down.”
Generally, a young player will either not be aggressive enough and need a push or be overaggressive and need to be reined in. Most coaches will tell you they prefer the latter.
“I thought he made some … a little bit off-the-script decisions tonight with the ball,” Nick Nurse said postgame, “but didn’t matter the rest of the game. He was flying for rebounds, he was guarding really hard.”
Edgecombe chuckled when asked about his head coach’s analysis.
“I guess it happens when you let a kid play in such a high-intensity game, but I was out there having fun,” he said. “If I gotta play wild for us to win, I’ll play wild.”
It wasn’t the most efficient night as Edgecombe went 7-of-16 from the field and 1-of-5 from three. He also had four turnovers, perhaps the excitement leading to overzealousness.
But it’s impossible to deny the impact he made. He scored 19 points, but maybe his most important stat of the night was his 11 rebounds, all on the defensive end. The Magic finished 12th in the NBA in offensive rebounding percentage during the regular season. You will not be surprised to learn, dear reader, that the Sixers were 26th in the NBA in defensive rebounding percentage.
Much was made about Orlando’s size and physicality entering this game, but it felt like the Sixers were the aggressors all night.
Early on, Kelly Oubre Jr. delivered an obvious illegal screen to Franz Wagner. Oubre then proceeded to get into a verbal fracas with Paolo Banchero, resulting in double technicals. The message seemed clear: the Sixers were not going to be bullied.
Edgecombe was right in the thick of it all.
The Sixers were on Banchero’s hip all night, forcing six turnovers on him alone. In the middle of the third, Paul George, who was excellent defensively, picked Banchero’s pocket. He then flipped a pass ahead to Edgcombe with just the feisty Jalen Suggs in his path. Edgecombe went right at him, with All-Defensive Team pick just sort of helplessly retreating. It was a pretty finish for the rookie and the bucket extended the lead to 11.
But Edgecombe again got a little wild, getting right in Suggs’ face on the landing. The officials, who really officiated the hell out of this one (derogatory), reviewed the play and hit Edgecombe with a technical for taunting.
“It got a little chippy early,” he said. “We’re out there hooping, I just thought my momentum took me all the way there. … That’s what I was telling (crew chief) Tony (Brothers), but he wasn’t buying it. … I don’t know, man. I wasn’t a fan of it, but it’s cool.”
With the Sixers clinging to a five-point lead late in the fourth, they really needed a good possession. They got one as Andre Drummond, who was fantastic Wednesday, hit Edgecombe with a nice pass on a cut. Edgecombe met Wendell Carter Jr. at the rim and completed a tough, physical finish.
In his excitement, the 20-year-old flexed his muscles.
“You like that?” Edgecombe asked the reporter with a laugh. “I just tried to muscle my way through and finish. And obviously, they have a good rim protector, so just try to go through his chest, make a good finish and then flex on them a little bit, ya know?”
Tyrese Maxey, who led the Sixers with 31 points, wasn’t amused in the moment, but could laugh postgame at his rook’s exuberance.
“He made a layup today and he was screaming and I was like, ‘please, get back.’” Maxey said. “But VJ is great. He’s gonna be perfectly fine. His demeanor is great. His work ethic is great. … The winning basketball plays he makes, that’s what’s special about him.”
Edgecombe spoke to reporters with the energy of a child recapping all the cool gifts he got for Christmas. His desire to compete is so obvious.
Coming out of the draft, Edgecombe got some Jimmy Butler comparisons. You could sort of see it with Edgecombe’s athleticism, frame and two-way play.
But the biggest takeaway about Edgecombe Wednesday is that, like Butler, he is a dog.
“He always just seems to make winning basketball plays,” said George. “He just has so many intangibles that contributes to winning. He’s built for the playoffs. The teams that succeed are full of those kind of guys. Once everything else starts to click, man — he’s continuing to prove that he’s special.”
As the Sixers embark on a series with the Boston Celtics, a team chock full of winning players, Edgecombe’s value only becomes more apparent. He had to contend with jumbo-sized playmakers in Banchero and Wagner. The job doesn’t get any easier with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum looming in the first round.
Edgecombe knows what to expect.
“They’re just going to try and bully. That’s all,” he said. “They’re going to put their head down, so I just try to beat them to the spot. The ball gotta touch the floor, so as soon as the ball touch the floor, I try to poke at it. … Obviously, [Banchero and Wagner are] like 6-10, but I ain’t scared of nobody. … Regardless of who you is, I’m gonna try and I ain’t scared. I ain’t gonna back up if you’re running at me. You just gotta run me over.“
Who knows how Edgecombe will fare in his first NBA Playoff series, but, much like his performance in Boston on opening night, you know he’ll be ready.
“I love Philly fans,” he said. “They were loud. the intensity, the physicality — it was great. That’s the type of game I live for.”
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 5: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 5, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, 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 (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Monday, the NBA released the top-selling jerseys from the 2025-26 regular season. While the list of course features many mainstays, popular players like Steph Curry and LeBron James, Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg appeared on the list with the ninth-best-selling jersey.
This news came as a bit of a surprise to me, at least. Last year was a chaotic and challenging year for many Maverick fans, with some swearing off the franchise entirely. An injection of hope came in the form of the Mavericks moving up in the NBA Lottery for the first time in their history, where they later selected Cooper Flagg as the clear number one choice in the draft.
But the Mavericks got off to a slow start, with Flagg in an undefined role, trying to fit in with Anthony Davis and a cast of other veteran players. As the season rolled on, it quickly became clear Dallas had a future superstar on their hands; the game that sticks in my mind is a 116-114 loss to the Bucks where Flagg went off in clutch time. The NBA had Dallas in numerous national television slots in the first half of the season and fans were clearly exposed to his intense brand of basketball. That clearly translated to jersey sales, both in Dallas and around the league.
The list as a whole is pretty fun, given the range. Steph Curry is coming in at number one despite playing in the same place for 17 seasons. LeBron James, of course, still on the list after a million years in the NBA. Jayson Tatum’s still the man in Boston despite missing most of the season working on a return from an Achilles tear.
The question I have is how high can Cooper rise? He’s not passing a Luka Doncic or an Anthony Edwards, I don’t think at least. But Flagg being this popular this soon is very interesting!
Although the 25-26 season came to a disappointing end, the Columbus Blue Jackets, they actually had some team stats that were impressive. They also had some that were not so impressive.
Let's take a look at the team stats for the 2025-26 CBJ.
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
Columbus finished the 2025-26 season with a 40-30-12 record, notching 40 wins for the second-straight season and in consecutive campaigns for the first time since 2017-18 (45-30-7) and 2018-19 (47-31-4).
The club has posted a winning season for consecutive campaigns (40-33-9, 89 pts. in 2024-25) for the first time since the four-straight from 2016-20.
The club’s 92 points this season are the fifth-highest point total in club history and the first time the team has topped 90 points and not made the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Blue Jackets ended the campaign with a 20-13-8 record at Nationwide Arena, posting 20 wins on home ice for the 13th time in franchise history and for consecutive seasons.
It is also only the fourth time in franchise history the club finished with 20 or more wins both at home and away in a season in franchise history (2013-14, 2016-17, 2018-19).
Head Coach Rick Bowness posted a 20-10-5 record behind the bench for the Blue Jackets after being hired on Jan. 12 and tied the NHL record for fewest games to 10 wins with a franchise (11 games – 7th time, MR: Scott Arniel, Winnipeg in 2024-25).
The Jackets scored the first goal of the game for the 50th time this season (32-11-7), tying Washington for the most instances in 2025-26. It was also tied for the most in a single season in franchise history (2013-14 & 2016-17).
The club scored first 29 times at Nationwide Arena (18-8-3) this season, setting a new franchise record (27 in 2024-25).
Goals For - 246 - 18th in the NHL - They had 267 in 24-25
Goals Allowed - 251 - 19th in the NHL - They had 267 in 24-25
Goals For Per Game - 3.00 - 19th in the NHL - They had 3.26 in 24-25
Goals Allowed Per Game - 3.06 - 17th in the NHL - They had 3.26 in 24-25
Power Play % - 18.9% - 22nd in NHL - 19.5% in 24-25
Penalty Kill % - 76.0% - 28th in NHL - 77% in 24-25
Shots Taken Per Game - 29.4 - 6th in NHL - 29.0 in 24-25
Shots Allowed Per Game - 28.8 - 11th Most in NHL - 29.9 in 24-25
Faceoff Win % - 50.6 - 13th in NHL - 47.8 in 24-25
Goaltending Team Save % - .899 - 12th in NHL - 20th in 24-25 at .896
Shutouts For - 3 - 15th
Expected Goals Against Per 60 - 2.42 - 13th fewest
Expected Goals For Per 60 - 2.62 - 10th most in NHL
Quality Starts Per HockeyReference.com - 48
Jet Greaves - 35
Elvis Merzlikins - 13
Really Bad StartsPer HockeyReference.com (Starts with a SV% under 85%) - 17
Elvis Merzlikins - 9
Jet Greaves - 8
Shutouts Against - 4
Penalty Minutes Take Per Game - 7.9 - 14th fewest
Penalty Minutes Drawn Per Game - 7.42 - 5th fewest
High Danger Shots For - 192 - 3rd most in NHL
High Danger Shots Against - 163 - 16th Fewest in NHL
Takeaways From Other Team - 352 - 2nd Most in NHL
Giveaways To Other Team - 1135 - 11th Most in NHL
Defensive Zone Giveaways - 556 - 8th Most in NHL
Blocked Shots - 1104 - 10th Most in NHL
Hits Given - 1505 - 12th fewest in NHL
Hits Taken - 1412 - 3rd fewest in NHL
As you can see, the stats are all over the board. Despite missing the playoffs, the team had a decent year and finished ahead of last season, though only by a few points.
The "What-ifs?" of this season will linger for a long while. What if the Jackets had not blown all those third period leads early in the season? Had they not, they wouldn't have Rick Bowness, that's for sure. His future has seemingly been decided, as reports are out that he has signed with Columbus.
Next Up For Columbus: Don Waddell and Rick Bowness will talk to the media on Thursday.
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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 30: A high view as Kris Bubic #50 of the Kansas City Royals pitches in the fourth inning of the Royals home opener against the Minnesota Twins on March 30, 2026 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Royals will look to avoid a sweep and try to get the offense going. They’ve score more than two runs in a game just once in their last eight contests.
Kris Bubic goes for the Royals, after seven shutout innings and a career-high 11 strikeouts his last time out. He’ll have to pitch around Riley Greene, who is 4-for-9 (.444) with a double and triple in their career matchups.
It was a great day for the Clippers offense, we saw contributions from a lot of prospects. Kahlil Watson went 3-3 with a HR and continues to prove that he is very close to deserving a call up to the big leagues. He has destroyed AA/AAA pitching for over a year now, his OPS is up to .944 on the season. Travis Bazzana also seems to be getting comfortable, he went 2-4 with a strikeout and a walk. Stuart Fairchild went 3-4, and Milan Tolentino went 2-4 with two HRs of his own.
Logan Allen allowed 4 runs on 7 hits but did also have 7 strikeouts in the 4 innings he pitched. His ERA is up to 5.93 on the season. Collin Holderman, Tanner Burns, and Jake Miller combined for 5 scoreless innings of relief.
The story of this game was how well top pitching prospect Khal Stephen looked. Despite walking 5 batters, he was absolutely dominant while striking out 6 and not allowing a single hit. His ERA is down to 0.71 on the season and we could be having a conversation very soon about him starting some games in Cleveland this summer. Magnus Ellerts and Carter Rustad had two scoreless innings of relief.
Angel Genao continues his hot start with a 2-3 and a BB performance today. He is looking more and more like the player we thought he was after the 2024 season before playing with an injury in 2025. He’s up to a .314 average and a .986 OPS on the season.
Juneiker Caceres appears to be heating up after a somewhat slow start in Single A. He went 2-5 today with two doubles and his OPS is up to .717 on the season, I fully expect that to continue to climb. Robert Arias went 3-4 with two RBIs and is now hitting .273 with a .703 OPS on the season.
Nelson Keljo had another awesome start, striking out 7 batters in just 3.2 innings and allowing two runs. His ERA is at 2.35 on the season. Zane Petty, Keegan Zinn, and Angel Perez combined for 5.1 innings of relief and allowed just one run.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 14: Andrew McCutchen #4 of the Texas Rangers bats against the Athletics in the top of the second inning of a major league baseball game at Sutter Health Park on April 14, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for April 16, 2026 against the A’s: starting pitchers are Jack Leiter for the Rangers and Jacob Lopez for the A’s.
Texas will be looking to split the series finale today. The A’s have a lefty starting, so Evan Carter and Joc Pederson are sitting, and Corey Seager is also getting the day off.
The lineup:
Nimmo — RF
Haggerty — LF
Langford — CF
Burger — 1B
Jung — 3B
Higashioka — C
McCutchen — DH
Smith — 2B
Duran — SS
2:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -120 favorites.
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 5: Keon Ellis #14 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers high five during the game against the Indiana Pacers on April 5, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The final weeks of the regular season are when the top teams visibly turn their attention to the postseason. They know who they are and what their identity will be in the playoffs. Unless the team is vying for a higher seeding, you will see a visible dip in play for the final weeks.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of those teams that could not adopt this mentality. The team underwent a constant need for change due to injuries, transactions, and troubleshooting.
Now, this in itself isn’t the reason to discount this team from true championship contention. It takes a deeper look, looking past just wins and losses, and more so, the manner in which this team wins its games. Is there something that is a viable blueprint for the intensive style that the playoffs demand?
I know the comment section is going to be riddled with “the team won 50+ games despite all hurdles in their way.” I think this line of thinking is setting fans up to believe that there is another gear left in this team. The Cavaliers have shown us who they are, even without all personnel being healthy. I don’t think this team’s faults are going to be all fixed with a healthy roster.
The Cavaliers’ biggest issue is that their effort hasn’t been there all season. Now, in the regular season, they can coast by due to their massive talent advantage on most nights. Look closely at wins and how those came to be for the Cavaliers. Very rarely, if ever, did the Cavaliers rise to the challenge and shut off the opponent’s water. Instead, this team lives and dies by outscoring opponents, even as those opponents move the ball and score with relative ease.
How many times have we had the players, coaches, or even the media call out the effort, or lack thereof, from this team? More than any supposed championship caliber team should. The lack of meeting the call to action is another problem.
For all of the great work head coach Kenny Atkinson has done this year with putting together a puzzle with different pieces night after night, the one problem he hasn’t been able to solve is the Cavaliers’ willingness to compete on the defensive end.
Defense in the NBA is inseparable from effort because it requires constant physical and mental engagement on every possession. This is dialed up to an eleven in the postseason. Each possession feels almost like a game within itself. Unlike offense, where players can rely on skill or pick their moments, defense demands sustained intensity whether its staying in front of opponents, fighting through screens, rotating on time, and contesting shots all hinge on how hard a player is willing to work.
Since the beginning of March, the Cavaliers have gone 15-6. While that would lead one to the inclination that the team found some level of consistency on the defensive end. It becomes less reassuring that, in that stretch, only four of those teams were top-six playoff seeds (Celtics, Lakers, Hawks twice, and Pistons). Not only can you question the caliber of the opponent, but also whether defense was played at all. In those games, the Cavs surrendered 110 points or more regularly to the likes of the Memphis Grizzlies (126), Miami Heat (128 and 120), Orlando Magic (131 and 128), and the Dallas Mavericks (130).
Due to the areas in which the Toronto Raptors excel, fastbreaks and driving to the basket, it feels like the team will be a good stress test for the Cavaliers. The Raptors, if they were to give the Cavaliers a hard time, would be winning games from the extra effort they exert on every possession. The Cavaliers will have to match that energy with the pace of play the Raptors will try to instill. While the talent gap may be able to cover some effort deficiencies in round 1, the Pistons, Knicks, or Celtics will not grant those same luxuries. You would rather they buy into sustained effort early so they don’t get sucker punched in round 2 and onward.
This feels far from a flip-the-switch scenario. Effort isn’t something you can turn on and off; it’s a standard you establish, and the Cavaliers haven’t consistently shown that standard on defense. Their defensive inconsistencies aren’t just schematic; they stem from a recurring lack of effort, which has shown up too often to ignore.
When a team spends the regular season coasting defensively and relying on talent to outscore opponents, it’s difficult to suddenly manufacture the discipline, urgency, and cohesion required in a playoff environment. If the mentalities nurtured and ingrained from playing the Wizards and Grizzlies of the world seep into their postseason play, the Cavaliers’ season will be over sooner rather than later.
Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham are about to be All-NBA players and land on a lot of MVP ballots.
The NBA and NBPA (the players' union) together agreed that "taking into account the totality of the circumstances for Cunningham and Dončić, each player qualified for awards under the extraordinary circumstances provision in the CBA." While both men were set to file an extraordinary circumstance challenge, neither had to because the league and union agreed they met the criteria.
That means both men will be postseason award-eligible despite falling short of the league's 65-game threshold to qualify for awards.
Doncic played in 64 games before an untimely hamstring injury prematurely ended his season (and likely has him out for the first round of the playoffs). His challenge was based on the fact that he missed two games in December for the birth of his daughter, and that qualified as an "extraordinary circumstance." The league and union agreed. Cunningham played in 63 qualifying games this season (64 total), but missed a dozen games near the end of the season due to a collapsed lung (which happened on a flukey play diving for a loose ball). Again, the league agreed that this qualified as an extraordinary circumstance.
Minnesota's Anthony Edwards did file an extraordinary circumstances challenge, but an arbitrator denied it. Edwards played in 60 games this season, averaging 28.8 points, 5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
Cunningham, the focal point of the No. 1-seed Pistons' offense, averaged 23.9 points, 9.9 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game and is the primary reason they are the No. 1 seed in the East. Doncic led the NBA in scoring at 33.5 points a game, adding 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds a night for the No. 4 seed Lakers.
Apr 10, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Luis Gil (81) throws a pitch during the first inning against Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Pablo Robles-Imagn Images | Pablo Robles-Imagn Images
Last week, Yankees right-hander Luis Gil made his season debut against the Tampa Bay Rays, allowing three runs in four innings, with three hits, three walks, and just two strikeouts. He was undoubtedly shaky despite limiting the damage somewhat. On Wednesday, he made his second start, and even though there were some improvements, the results were similar in the run-prevention department.
Gil was able to pitch five innings, but conceded three home runs and four runs in total. The Angels had five hits and worked two walks against the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year Award winner, who struck out five.
First, the good: Gil induced 12 swings and misses, improving the 16 percent whiff rate he achieved on his season debut to a much better 34 percent. This time, the Angels swung and missed on three four-seamers, five changeups, and four sliders.
The breaking and offspeed stuff looked better this time around, even if the fastball command doesn’t appear to be there yet. At least Gil was able to miss some bats, sparking some hope about a potential turnaround when the dust settles.
If you were wondering, Gil’s fastball averaged 95.6 mph on the night, slightly up from 95.1 in his season debut. It’s still far from the 96.6 mph he averaged in his award-winning 2024 campaign, but if he’s healthy and remains a part of the Yankees’ rotation, he could potentially get closer to that number.
Now, the bad: Gil didn’t appear to trust the sinker. He only threw the pitch five times according to Statcast data, all vs. right-handed hitters. He earned a called strike with it, but nothing more. It’s unclear if ditching the sinker will be a thing going forward or if it was part of the game plan against the Angels, but he didn’t really use the pitch much on this one.
Another red flag was the low first-pitch strike rate, 50 percent on Wednesday. It was significantly lower than his 56.1 percent career mark, and it’s certainly something to worry about. Falling behind in the count will force Gil to cede control of the at-bat to the hitter, and that’s, well, not ideal.
Lastly, the ugly: three home runs. Wow. Nobody will complain about Gil allowing a home run to Mike Trout, one of the best hitters ever to play the game. Surrendering a home run to Adam Frazier is bad, though. That middle-middle fastball was screaming “hit me”:
The Angels hit Gil hard all night. There were 15 batted ball events against him in the game, and 10 of them were classified as hard-hit balls, which means they traveled at least 95 mph off the bat. In the first inning alone, their exit velocities against the Yankees’ righty were 98.1 mph, 99.7 mph, 97.1 mph, and 104.4 mph. The Angels’ average exit velo was 96.1 mph. Rough.
Gil will need to find a way to increase his fastball velocity or at least sharpen the pitch’s command if he wants to return to 2024 form.
The mediocre outing leaves his ERA at 7.00 in the young season. Again, he still has some time to pull off a comeback and return to form, but Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón will eventually be ready to return from their injuries. Carlos Lagrange and Elmer Rodríguez will eventually put themselves in the MLB picture. And those who don’t keep the team in games won’t get too many chances.
So much for a “gap year.” The Boston Celtics are back in the NBA playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them back in the Finals this June.
The Celtics’ playoff run begins Sunday with Game 1 of the first round against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden. Boston is heavily favored to win the series, but if it does advance, it won’t be an easy road to Banner 19.
Last year, the C’s quest for a repeat ended with a loss to the New York Knicks in the conference semifinals. The archrivals would meet for a rematch if the No. 3 seed Knicks take care of business against the No. 6 Atlanta Hawks.
Will the C’s get over the hump this time, or should we expect another early exit? Our friends at Strat-O-Matic simulated the entire 2025-26 NBA playoff bracket.
First Round: No. 2 Celtics defeat No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers, 4-2
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The Sixers stun the C’s with back-to-back wins to start the series at TD Garden. Boston rebounds with a dominant Game 3 win in Philly, followed by three more victories to close out the first-round clash in six games.
East Semifinals: No. 2 Celtics defeat No. 3 New York Knicks, 4-3
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Strat-O-Matic’s simulation predicts a rematch between the longtime archrivals. It takes all seven games, but the Celtics close out the thrilling series with a nail-biter victory at TD Garden. Five of the seven games are decided by five points or fewer.
East Finals: No. 1 Detroit Pistons defeat No. 2 Celtics, 4-2
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The Celtics steal the first two games on the road to take a commanding 2-0 series lead back to TD Garden, but the Pistons respond by taking both games in Boston to even the series. Detroit stays hot with a win back home and again at TD Garden to win the series in six and advance to the NBA Finals.
Celtics’ top playoff performers
Jaylen Brown continued to lead the Celtics after a spectacular regular season, averaging 26.8 points per game over the three playoff series. Jayson Tatum averaged 22.6 points per game.
Western Conference Playoffs
First Round
No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder defeat No. 8 Golden State Warriors, 4-2
No. 5 Houston Rockets defeat No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers, 4-0
