CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 23: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies is seen in the dugout prior to the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Thursday, April 23, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by George Gaza/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Each day I drive to work, it’s a decent drive. 35 minutes one way doesn’t sound like much until you actually have to do it each time. During those drives, I listen to a lot of podcasts and yesterday, I caught the latest episode of “Phillies Therapy”. If you’ve listened to it, you know that Matt Gelb and former TGPer Paul Boye are two of the best to talk about the team (shoutout to John Stolnis as well!). On the episode, Gelb talked about the possibility that the team has already lost the division and April isn’t over.
That brings us to our question of the day: have the Phillies already lost the division before May has even begun? As Gelb reminded us, the old adage about how a division can’t be won in April, but it can sure be lost seems to be able to be applied here. The losing streak has plunged them into a hole that they may not be able to get out of, either for the division or a playoff spot.
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
Heading into Friday’s game, the Cardinals’ record stood at 14-10. Extrapolate that winning percentage over a full season, and we are looking at a 95-win pace! The Cardinals are back, let the good times roll! OK, a 95-win pace might be a little optimistic… Over at FanGraphs, their projection system actually likes the Cardinals LESS than when the season started and is projecting them to win only 45.6% of their remaining games (down from 46.4% on Opening Day). Maybe we shouldn’t start planning a parade just yet. I will fully admit that we still do not really know who these 2026 Cardinals are, but as they continue to bank wins, Chaim Bloom has to be considering the possibility of a more complicated trade deadline than originally anticipated. Since we do not know if the Cardinals are real, the only reasonable solution I can think of is to flip a coin (or a few million) and try to predict if Chaim Bloom will get to take a summer vacation or will be glued to the phone lines come August 3rd.
Before we start flipping coins, let’s set the stage. The Cardinals have played 24 games and have 89 more to go until the trade deadline. The NL Central is shaping up to be an absolute dogfight with all five teams currently over the .500 mark, but with the advent of the third wild card in 2022, there are an increasingly large number of teams that remain in contention later into the summer. So, with 14 wins in the bank, how many of the 89 games remaining until the deadline would the Cardinals need to win to be considered a proper contender and perhaps force Chaim to hang onto his expiring contracts or even consider adding players? To answer this question, I went back and looked at all teams with a record better than .500 on August 3rd of the last four seasons and averaged their odds of making the playoffs at that point in time.
This does not come close to capturing all the context of team quality, strength of schedule, and divisional situation, but it gives a directional reference point as to what kind of a record is needed to be considered “in contention” at the trade deadline. Nine of the ten teams between 7-9 games over .500 at the last four deadlines have had playoff odds greater than 50%, so that seems like as good a place as any to draw the contention line.
Using a random number generator, I simulated 100,000 sets of the 89 individual games remaining until the deadline to see how often the Cardinals landed at a 60-53 record or better by August 3rd. For the first run, I slightly weighted the coin to give the Cardinals a 45.6% chance to win each game to reflect their current rest-of-year projected winning percentage. Here are the results:
So if we assume the projection systems nailed the Cardinals’ team quality and the first 24 games were just lucky, the hot streak has given them a 15% chance to be squarely in contention with another 19% chance of being over .500 but more on the fringes of the race. This raises the question, what were the chances going into the season that the Cardinals would be in contention at the deadline, if we assume the projected 45.6% winning percentage is accurate? I re-ran the simulation for the full pre-deadline 113-game sample size without giving the computer knowledge of the first 24 games. Out of 100,000 runs, only 6.5% of the stretches ended with a record of 60-53 or better, less than half of what the simulation spits out now.
Now, what if you are on the more optimistic end of the spectrum and the first 24 games have convinced you that the Cardinals are a true-talent .500 ballclub and have roughly even odds in each game? Once again, I ran 100,000 sets of the remaining 89 pre-deadline games and saw a dramatic increase in complicated trade deadline scenarios. The results:
There you have it: if you accept the premise that 7 games over .500 at the trade deadline is fully “in contention” AND you believe the Cardinals are a .500 talent team, there is a 42% chance of a trade deadline that will have Chaim tossing and turning.
The real question I was trying to answer with this article was how impactful early-season wins can be in setting the stage for one of the largest front-office decision-making points each season. Obviously, the front office will have a more robust algorithm than “7 games over .500 we buy or hold, anything worse, we sell.” The standings at that point in time will be a real factor, as will the internal assessment on how “real” the team’s record is. Still, this framing does give a directional sense of what it means to bank early-season wins. If the Cardinals continue at this pace for another month, or stumble into a seven-game winning streak, the team’s position could force Chaim into making an uncomfortable decision.
What would the Cardinals’ record need to be for you to support the unthinkable, adding at the deadline? Should Bloom continue to stay the course of deferred gratification and trade all the expiring contracts no matter what? I am not sure how I would answer either of these questions, but I would love to wrestle with them for another couple of months, if the Redbirds want to keep on winning for a bit.
Saturday is littered with Major League Baseball, with 15 games on tap.
That means plenty of MLB player props to choose from, including a hot-hitting Randy Arozarena looking to do some damage against lefty Matthew Liberatore in St Louis.
Read below for the rest of my favorite MLB picks for Saturday, April 25
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Randy Arozarena
Over 1.5 Hits
+210
Kevin Gausman
Over 5.5 strikeouts
+126
Ronald Acuna Jr.
2+ Total Bases
+105
Randy Arozarena Over 1.5 hits (+210)
Randy Arozarena doubled and scored a run in Friday’s 3-2 series opening win over the St. Louis Cardinals, which gives him hits in 10 of his last 13 games.
Of those games, six have been multi-hit efforts, and he draws a favorable matchup Saturday against Matthew Liberatore. In just five at-bats, Arozarena has two hits against him, including a homer and four RBI.
The Seattle Mariners’ left fielder is hitting .364 against lefties on the season (8-for-22) with a home run, a double and two RBI.
Time: 2:15 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Mariners.TV,Cardinals.TV
Kevin Gausman Over 5.5 strikeouts (+126)
After back-to-back 10+ strikeout performances to start the season, veteran Toronto Blue Jays righty Kevin Gausman has been Under six strikeouts the next three starts.
But the Cleveland Guardians are a good matchup for him, as this current edition is hitting just .196 in 92 at-bats, with Gausman striking out 25.
In both starts against the Guardians in 2025, he was on point: Gausman pitched six innings of shutout ball allowing just one hit on May 3, striking out nine.
He followed that up on June 26 by going 8.0 scoreless innings, giving up two hits and fanning six.
Time: 3:07 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FS1
Ronald Acuna Jr. 2+ total bases (+105)
Ronald Acuna Jr. is coming off just his second homer of the year in their series opening win over the Philadelphia Phillies, giving him hits in 14 of his last 17, grabbing at least two total bases in seven of them.
He’ll face Zack Wheeler Saturday, and he’s shown some pop against the veteran righty, going 12-for-49 (.245), with four doubles, four home runs and seven RBI.
Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCSP, BravesVision
Eric Rosales' 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 5-9, +1.63 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 23: Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks reacts to referee Nick Buchert #3 against the Atlanta Hawks during the second quarter of game three of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at State Farm Arena on April 23, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Knicks head back to State Farm Arena for Game Four against the Hawks, down 2-1 in their first-round playoff series. New York must find a way to stop the bleeding after dropping two straight one-point losses, including Thursday’s 109-108 bummer in Game Three. The Knicks can still win the series, but you’re forgiven for any loss of confidence as they continue to let go of the rope and then hang themselves with it.
In Game Three, the Hawks edged out the Knicks 109-108 on a late fadeaway jumper from CJ McCollum with 12.5 seconds left. McCollum finished with 23 points, while Jalen Johnson led Atlanta with a 24-point, 10-rebound double-double. For the Knicks, OG Anunoby poured in 29 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns had a 21-17 double-double, but Jalen Brunson can’t find his cape in the series, and Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges combined for two points on 1-of-11 shooting in Game Three. Josh can be forgiven due to the rebounding and various intangibles he delivers, but Bridges looked every bit of his -26 plus-minus, committing four turnovers and taking three shots before getting benched during the second half.
Usually the team that owns the glass with a +14 rebounding edge in the series and leads for a majority of game time would be in the driver’s seat. Yet defensive lapses, curious late-game execution, and missed opportunities at the free-throw line have been self-inflicted gashes. Poor preparation and execution? Sounds like a coaching failure. Mike Brown’s rotations and timeout management have indeed drawn criticism, particularly his failure to keep All-Star players on the floor consistently in crunch time. Integrating Towns more effectively early and attacking Atlanta’s frontcourt weaknesses remains an obvious adjustment, and with more gravity drawn to Towns, Brunson might find a little more spacing in which to conjure his dark arts.
Greater contribution from their bench would be nice, too. Jordan Clarkson has been adequate in his limited role, but Landry Shamet has recorded three points in the series. So much for a flamethrower off the bench. Mitchell Robinson should be the X-Factor against these smaller Birds, but he has played only 44 minutes and grabbed 15 rebounds. Dude should be playing 25-30 minutes and averaging double-digit boards per game. And how about letting Mohamed Diawara play a possession or two, when a tad extra height would give New York an edge around the paint? A smart coach should be able to find 3 minutes for the long rookie in a playoff game, even if just to protect Towns from foul trouble at the end of the third quarter or something.
The keys to victory for New York are unchanged: control the tempo, crash the boards, limit turnovers, and stay locked in on Atlanta’s perimeter threats (McCollum, Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker). The Knicks must also clean up their late-game decision-making and free-throw shooting. Getting Towns involved early and keeping him or Brunson (or both) on the floor at all times in the fourth quarter is essential. The postseason is no time for grab-bag experimentation—unless that means starting Miles McBride over Bridges. That’s a change that much of the fanbase would support at this juncture.
On the injury front, the Knicks are reportedly healthy. OG Anunoby is playing through a minor ankle issue. The Hawks remain without Jock Landale; Onyeka Okongwu is managing knee inflammation but has been available.
ESPN gives the Knicks roughly a 54% win probability on the road. Good deal. This series can still belong to New York if they tighten up the small details and stop letting Atlanta off the hook late. Expect another tight, grind-it-out battle in Atlanta. When the Knicks play their best basketball–disciplined, physical, and relentless on the glass–they’ve shown they’re the better team. Prediction: Knicks by four.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (1-2) at Atlanta Hawks (2-1) Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026 Time: 6:00 PM ET Place: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA TV: Peacock / NBC Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
Apr 24, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets Head Coach Ime Udoka reacts during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers during game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
The Houston Rockets fell into a practically insurmountable hole against the Los Angeles Lakers, falling 112-108 in overtime to a team still missing two of its three best players. The Rockets were also without Kevin Durant, but they had a chance to win the game, but fell apart down the stretch and into overtime, with the Lakers walking away with the 112-108 victory.
Head coach Ime Udoka called out his team after the loss, saying “Horrendous mistakes. “I don’t know if you want to say youth or scared of the moment, or whatever the case.” Just once I’d like to see Ime call out his own horrendous mistakes — and there have been many in the series — but just another moment in a long string of Udoka assigning blame but failing to take any for himself.
Although it certainly wasn’t Ime who turned the ball over to LeBron James in closing moments, leading to a three — that was Reed Sheppard. And it wasn’t Ime who missed a shot down the stretch — that was Alperen Sengun. Jabari Smith Jr. also had an ugly turnover down the stretch. But the Rockets have struggled closing out games even with Kevin Durant this season — and that’s ultimately a failure of coaching as well that a long-standing issue has not been addressed.
In addition, Udoka’s season-long issues with rotation have been well-discussed around here and have reared their ugly head once again in this series, partcularly in Game 2.
Udoka also told his team following this loss to, “Grow up. You’re not that young anymore.” But if it were up to me, the Rockets would be doing some serious introspection following this likely series loss, and moving on from Udoka should be one of the top considerations. This season has been as much about a referendum on Udoka’s coaching inadequacies as much it’s been a referendum on Houston’s mismatched roster.
But in this one, the Rockets were led by Sengun, with 33 points, 16 boards and 6 assists. He was 15-for-27 from the field. Amen Thompson had 26 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals on 8-for-14 shooting, and Jabari Smith had 24 points and 6 boards on 8-for-16 shooting.
Reed Sheppard also pitched in 17 points, but he shot just 6-for-21 from the floor and and had 5 turnovers in 45 minutes played, including a big one down the stretch. Coach, maybe if you didn’t pull Reed all year when he made a mistake, it might have made him more confident in these types of moments — some coaching 101 stuff. Reed did add 7 assists but was also cooked on D.
The Lakers were led by LeBron James with 29, Rui Hachimura with 22 and Marcus Smart with 21, but this game — and series — is less about the Lakers and more about Houstons failures. The Rockets did battle back from an early 15-point deficit in the first half, but couldn’t keep it together to close things out.
Once Houston loses this series, I believe all options should be on the table — including firing Udoka, or trading Kevin Durant or even Alperen Sengun. I don’t know that the Rockets feel the same way, and in fact, I fear that they don’t. This teams needs changes, that’s for sure.
Even with Anthony Edwards not at full strength, the Minnesota Timberwolves are starting to look like a team hitting its playoff groove and they’ve got Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on their heels heading into Game 4.
Sure, the defense grabbed the headlines after holding Denver to just 34% shooting on Friday, but quietly, Minnesota’s offense is beginning to find its rhythm too.
Rather than folding, Minnesota’s supporting cast has stepped up in a big way. Donte DiVincenzo, Jaden McDaniels, and Ayo Dosunmu combined for 60 points in Game 3, showcasing the depth and resilience of this roster.
That same formula will be critical as the Timberwolves look to seize a 3-1 series lead, and it puts a bright spotlight on DiVincenzo. The sharpshooting guard has cleared this scoring line in all three games of the series, riding a red-hot stretch that includes hitting 11 of his 22 attempts from beyond the arc.
The Denver Nuggets have struggled to deal with his quick trigger and off-ball movement, particularly in actions like dribble handoffs and screens. His ability to create space and fire in rhythm has made him a constant threat, especially in transition, where Minnesota dominated with a 21-7 edge in fast-break points last game.
While this total sits close to DiVincenzo’s regular-season average of 12.2 points per game, the Timberwolves will need even more offensive punch from him with Edwards not at full strength. His scoring has become a key component of their attack.
Minnesota has looked like the more physical and assertive team through three games, and DiVincenzo’s perimeter shooting continues to stretch Denver’s defense thin.
Still, don’t expect Nikola Jokic to stay quiet for long. The three-time MVP has built his playoff reputation on consistency, averaging 27.4 points and 12.4 rebounds per game, and is primed for a bounce-back showing in Game 4.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 24: Gavin Williams #32 of the Cleveland Guardians pitches in the first inning during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on April 24, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Guardians had the first bad Gavin Williams start of 2026, took some significant punches from former Guardians Andres Gimenez and Ernie Clement and had Cade Smith allow the first two Blue Jays to reach base in the bottom of the 9th… and still won 8-6.
Jakhob has your recap here. Sorry I posted it late, I fell asleep.
Kyle Manzardo has a wRC+ of 47. We are nearing emergency status with him. Also, basically, Vogt needs to keep Daniel Schneemann and Angel Martinez in the lineup every day (maybe just against RHP for Schnee) until further notice.
AROUND MLB;
The Tigers gave up a big lead to Tito’s 17-9 Reds and lost 9-8, the Twins also lost, but the White Sox and Royals won.
We’ll soon learn if telling your team to “grow up” proves to be a genius motivational tactic.
Rockets coach Ime Udoka viciously ripped his team after one of the most shocking collapses in recent memory in their 112-108 home overtime loss to the Lakers in Game 3 on Friday to fall in a 3-0 series hole.
Houston somehow lost despite having the ball while leading by six points with less than 30 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
Rockets collapse part 1 (start at :25 second mark)
“Grow up, and you’re not that young anymore,” Udoka said of his postgame message to the team. “You’ve been to the playoffs once, and we watched every situation just now.”
You can likely begin prepping the “Gone Fishing” segments for the Rockets’ season after Friday’s choke job, one that certainly raises questions about this group of players and Udoka’s future with the team.
Udoka has come under fire for his team not performing as expected this year, and going out this meekly — albeit without Kevin Durant — is a bad look for the 48-year-old leader.
That he would be so blunt and openly critical of his players is an interesting wrinkle since some coaches would take the blame to avoid making it seem as if they put their talent under the bus.
But Udoka didn’t hold back.
“Horrendous mistakes,” Udoka said to describe the loss. “I don’t know if you want to say youth or scared of the moment or whatever the case. You have a six-point lead with 30 seconds to go…”
Ime Udoka’s Rockets are one loss from going fishing. AP
Friday’s game unraveled when Jabari Smith Jr. made one of the most mind-boggling turnovers you’ll see with the Rockets ahead, 101-95, and the Lakers not even pressing.
Instead of holding the ball, he attempted to pass in the direction of the one Laker even remotely playing defense in Marcus Smart.
Smart intercepted the ball and Jae’Sean committed what Udoka called a “terrible” foul to bump him while he shot a 3-pointer, resulting in three foul shots that Smart made to slice the deficit to 101-98.
The Rockets still had control of the game, but Reed Sheppard got pick-pocketed on the next possession, resulting in a LeBron James game-tying 3-pointer with 13.6 seconds remaining.
Ime Udoka ripped his team for its Game 3 performance. Getty Images
Udoka said the Rockets then botched their final offensive play.
“We don’t run what was drawn up,” Udoka said.
The Lakers scored first in overtime and never trailed the rest of the way to put the Rockets on the brink of elimination.
A season that began with championship aspirations could instead end in one of the most underwhelming showings in team history and perhaps lead to Udoka being fired.
“It’s obviously a weakness of ours to close out and finish,” Udoka said. “The amount of mistakes or the type of mistakes are egregious, and you can’t have those.
“I talk about age all the time, but I’m not talking about 23, 22, whatever it is. I’m looking at five years, four years, three years in the league and drawing from there and learning from previous experiences.”
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 21: Brent Headrick #47 of the New York Yankees pitches during the game between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Natalie Reid/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Four weeks into the season, the Yankees are riding high with the best record in the American League. Despite several key starters beginning the year on the IL, their rotation has been excellent and, even with a weeklong swoon, New York’s offense has scored the fourth-most runs in the league. The biggest area of concern has been a bullpen that’s ranked middle-of-the-pack and featured some alarming underperformers.
As I do each month in a given season, I’m going to take a look at the Yankees’ relievers to identify how manager Aaron Boone is deploying each and offer a verdict as to how much trust we can place in them moving forward.
Statistics below are as of the morning of April 24th.
The Closer
David Bednar
Recent results: 10.2 IP, 3.38 ERA, 13 SO, 2.11 FIP, 7 Saves (in 8 opportunities)
Bednar has not been the dominant force he was after coming over at last year’s Trade Deadline, a stretch which earned him the Yankees’ closer job. Only 3 of his 11 appearances have been clean outings, as the right-hander—known for his ability to pitch around traffic—has been forced to live up to that reputation. After a rough start, though, he appears to have settled in, rattling off scoreless innings his last four times out.
Confidence Level: High
Bednar’s peripherals, including a 2.50 ERA, suggest he’s pitched into some bad luck. He’s actually allowing much less hard contact than he did last year and, for the first time in his career, inducing opponents to put the ball on the ground at an elite rate. Weakly-hit grounders are surely a formula for success. Expect Bednar to continue to put his early-season blip in the rearview.
The Setup Man
Camilo Doval
Recent results: 10 IP, 7.56 ERA, 8 SO, 4.71 FIP
After doing little to augment their bullpen this offseason, the Yankees were counting on a resurgence from Doval. There was reason to believe — despite struggling in the second half after joining New York last year, the righty looked more like the pitcher who’d saved 107 games for San Francisco during the previous five seasons. The early returns have been abysmal. He’s allowed multiple runs three times this month, the types of showings which swing games in the late innings. Doval has limited walks after free passes plagued him last year but he’s allowing far more hard contact and struggling to induce groundballs (think Bizarro Bednar).
Doval may well have already lost the setup job; he hasn’t pitched since April 17th, which also happens to be the last traditional setup opportunity the Yankees have had. Boone gave his embattled reliever a show of confidence after his last poor outing. “Really, it’s back-to-back outings where I think he’s been really good, really sharp,” the skipper said, somewhat implausibly. “I feel like he’s close to being really dialed in.” Time will tell.
The Middle Relievers
Fernando Cruz
Recent results: 7.1 IP, 2.45 ERA, 10 SO, 3.69 FIP
A late bloomer if ever there was one, a 35-year-old Cruz burst onto the scene in the first half last year, riding a filthy splitter to a 3.00 ERA while punching out 54 in 33 innings. After trailing off in the second half, it was fair to wonder if that run of dominance was a flash in the pan. Cruz’s stuff has looked nasty so far, as he’s posted the lowest hard-hit percentage (13.3) in the league. But only two AL relievers have a higher walk rate, showing the potential for boom-and-bust in his game.
Confidence Level: Medium
Cruz has performed well, but his walk rate is wholly unsustainable. If he can improve his control, he has a potential to be a difference-maker in the back end of the bullpen. If not, his numbers could quickly nosedive.
Brent Headrick
Recent results: 13 IP, 2.08 ERA, 14 SO, 2.15 FIP
After shuttling between the Yankees and their Triple-A affiliate last year, Headrick has been the biggest surprise in the bullpen so far. The southpaw has tied for the most appearances in baseball while riding a dynamic four-seamer — against which opponents have hit .160 — to strong numbers. His splits have been reversed to a startling extent, with righties posting a feeble .429 OPS against him while his fellow lefties have feasted to the tune of a 1.195 mark.
Despite his solid start, the splits and 3.87 expected ERA raise some red flags. In the developing late-inning vacuum created by Doval’s struggled, Headrick will get the chance to show if his newfound dominance is sustainable. We don’t even need to attach a qualifier next to “will,” as Boone has him on pace for a number of appearances that can best be described as “Scott Proctor level.” The Yankees clearly like Headrick, and if anything, they might need to ease up on him — at least a little bit.
Tim Hill
Recent results: 10 IP, 0.90 ERA, 3 SO, 2.55 FIP
In a world in which relievers’ fortunes seemingly change by the week, you can set your watch by Tim Hill. He’s posted a 2.53 ERA in 115 appearances as a Yankee, neutralizing lefties while holding his own against righties. The sinkerballer has been at his extreme best this year — he’s yet to allow a walk or a barrel while posting a ridiculous 80-percent ground-ball rate that easily leads baseball.
Hill’s consistency makes it difficult to find anything new to say about him. As I’ve written in pretty much every instance of this series, the 36-year-old remains one of the biggest bargains in baseball. The Yankees are fortunate to have his steady hand as an anchor of their bullpen.
The Long Relievers
Ryan Yarbrough
Recent results: 8 IP, 5.63 ERA, 4 SO, 5.64 FIP
Yarbrough had a run last year that made him something of a folk hero in the Bronx, going 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA through his first five starts to help stabilize an embattled rotation. That showcase earned him a return engagement on a $2.5 million plus incentives deal. The journeyman’s numbers are inflated by a four-run outing against the Angels on April 16th, and he hasn’t pitched since.
Confidence Index: Low
While his impressive run last year provides a glimmer of hope, the breadth of Yarbrough’s career makes that look like a wonderful outlier. Expect him to remain in a low-leverage, innings-eater role.
Paul Blackburn
Recent results: 8 IP, 4.50 ERA, 5 SO, 3.02 FIP
Despite struggling with both New York teams last year, the Yankees took a flier on Blackburn on a similar deal to Yarbrough’s. He’s performed slightly better so far in a similar role, though there’s little in his profile or peripherals to suggest a breakout on the horizon.
Confidence Level: Low
See above. Blackburn is a righty Yarbrough, serving as a veteran long reliever with little upside.
The Mop-Up Men
Jake Bird
Recent results: 7 IP, 7.71 ERA, 9 SO, 2.43 FIP
A disappointment after joining the Yankees from Colorado last deadline, Bird got a shot at redemption after cracking the team’s roster out of spring. But he allowed six runs in seven innings and it was back down to Triple-A. The righty has allowed far too much hard contact to consistently get outs at the major-league level. Called back up this week as depth with starter Ryan Weathers landing on the paternity list, Bird has yet to be used and is extremely likely to return to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre once Weathers is activated.
Confidence Level: Nonexistent
Bird remains a talented reclamation project, best suited to work through his command issues in the minors.
Angel Chivilli
Recent results: 2.1 IP, 3.86 ERA, 3 SO, 11.29 FIP
Another former Rockie, Chivilli started the year at Triple-A. He was recalled after tossing 8.1 scoreless innings but has yet to see much action with the Yankees. The right-hander features elite fastball velo but has struggled to turn that into commensurate strikeout rates, leading his new team to up his changeup usage.
Confidence Level: Nonexistent
The jury’s still out here. Chivilli has some promise but has not yet been given enough runway to establish any kind of confidence.
The Oklahoma City Thunder seek to take a commanding 3-0 lead in their NBA Western Conference first-round series with the Phoenix Suns, and our NBA player prop projections have been hard at work.
Our model has found six NBA player props with solid edges to exploit for today’s Game 3.
He attempted five shots in Game 2 and made two. The model sees 1.81 tonight, and he’s made at least two triples in five of his previous six contests.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Gilgeous-Alexander Now at bet365!/span
Lu Dort Over 7.5 Points (-120)
Projection: 8.17 points
Lu Dort had eight points in Game 1 and nine in Game 2, hitting threes in bunches both games. The model sees 8.17, and he's been consistent enough to lean on.
The price is a little steep at -120, but the Phoenix Suns defense hasn’t solved the Dort riddle, and he’s a good bet to score at least eight points today.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Dort Now at bet365!/span
Isaiah Hartenstein Over 8.5 Rebounds (-120)
Projection: 9.41 rebounds
Isaiah Hartenstein had eight boards in Game 1 and 10 in Game 2, including six offensive rebounds in the last game alone. He's quietly one of the most active rebounders in this series.
Like most Thunder players, he’s script-reliant, but he’s gotten 20 minutes in both NBA playoff games, and we’ll follow the data to the window.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Hartenstein Now at bet365!/span
Suns Game 3 computer picks
Devin Booker Over 23.5 points (-110)
Projection: 27.79 points
Devin Booker had 23 and 22 in the first two games, so he's averaging just below this number on the series. But the model sees 27.79 tonight, and he’s playing at home.
Booker is getting to the charity stripe, and he’s shooting 48% from the field in this series. Let’s trust the data and bet his Over.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Booker Now at bet365!/span
Dillon Brooks Over 4.5 Rebounds (+115)
Projection: 4.84 rebounds
Dillon Brooks has already grabbed 13 rebounds in this series. He’s been a demon on the boards, and our model expects another solid night on the boards.
He’ll likely see 35 or more minutes today, and if he doesn’t get ejected, he's a good bet to snag at least five rebounds this afternoon.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Brooks Now at bet365!/span
Jalen Green Over 19.5 Points (-110)
Projection: 21.15 points
Jalen Green has scored more than 20 points in three playoff games. He’s coming off a 21-point Game 2 performance, and our model expects another big scoring night from Green.
Green’s ceiling is huge, and his floor is solid enough to back the data and play the Over on his points scored prop.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Green Now at bet365!/span
How to watch Thunder vs Suns Game 3
Location
Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
Date
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Tip-off
3:30 p.m. ET
TV
NBC, Peacock
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
(Original Caption) April 25, 1976-Los Angeles, California: On a dead run from centerfield, Chicago Cubs Rick Monday reaches to rescue an American flag as two men attempt to set the flag on fire during 4th inning play in Dodgers Stadium. First reports said the men, a father and son, were protesting treatment of American Indians. The flag was wet with lighter fluid but the men were unable to light their matches.
Dodgers broadcaster Rick Monday will be honored at the National Baseball Hall of Fame this summer during induction weekend, part of the 50th anniversary celebration of him stopping an American flag from getting burned on the field at Dodger Stadium on April 25, 1976.
It’s been quite a baseball life for Monday, who was the very first pick in the first-ever MLB Draft in 1965. He played 19 seasons in the majors, eight with the Dodgers, made two All-Star teams, played in three World Series with Los Angeles and won a championship in 1981.
Monday has also been broadcasting for over four decades, and is currently in his 34th consecutive season calling Dodgers games.
The flag Monday rescued in 1976 will be on display at the Hall of Fame beginning Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. From the Hall:
Monday will be honored at the July 25 Awards Presentation at the Alice Busch Opera Theater at the Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown along with Ford C. Frick Award winner Joe Buck, Baseball Writers’ Association of America Career Excellence Award winner Paul Hoynes and Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award winner Bill White.
The Dodgers’ series against the Giants in San Francisco had an old school feel to it, with the Giants taking issue with catcher Dalton Rushing’s apparent comments after a play at the plate involving Jung Hoo Lee, then Rushing getting hit by a Logan Webb pitch on Thursday followed by Rushing sliding hard into second base. Katie Woo and Andrew Baggarly at The Athletic rounded up the reaction from both sides after Thursday’s game.
Mark Washington was drafted by the Dodgers in 2017 in the 25th round, a round that no longer exists, and pitched seven professional seasons in the minors and independent leagues, getting as high as Triple-A. He retired as a pitcher after last season and joined the Dodgers player development as a junior area scout. Washington talked to J.P. Hoornstra about the transition:
“Player evaluation wasn’t something I really thought about,” Washington said in a telephone interview with Dodgers On SI this week. “The Dodgers — I was there for seven years. It’s just awesome, like a full-circle moment, where the team that drafted me, I’m now employed by them.”
I’m willing to do all I can to make things right! I closely read the stories from my usual group of writers. Nothing about the big story of the weekend, if not the week. I even read the national writers, thinking that someone may need one more story for the day. Nada. So I present to you the fans the story that should have been written:
Michael Busch entered Monday’s game having struggled all season (.164, 12-for-73). Then … the Philadelphia Phillies came to Wrigley — and so did George the Goose. Busch was looking for contact, a hit any way. Then *Thunk* — Busch hit a weak, soft single, RIGHT OVER GEORGE, who ended up leaving Wrigley with PTSD.
But on that the night, and through the beginning of the weekend, Busch is back! From this almost tragic Monday through Friday’s game, Busch was 8-for-23 (.348) with 2 HR and 7 RBI. This is the story Mr. Busch deserved, celebrating his breakthrough.
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Thomas Domol (North Side Baseball) – Edward Cabrera’s Cubs Legacy Is Only Getting Started “Edward Cabrera has been the Chicago Cubs’ best starting pitcher in 2026. Can he keep the momentum rolling into the summer? There’s a whole lot of good going on with the Cubs, who walked it off in the 10th inning with an 8-7 win Thursday at Wrigley Field.
Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): The Annual Cubs Bullpen Reckoning is Here: “The good news is, the Cubs didn’t lose a bunch of winnable games en route to their yearly spring bullpen overhaul. The bad news is, they have to improbably nail one again, anyway.”
Evan Altman (Cubs insider): Hodge to 60-Day IL, Lopez Selected, Kingery Optioned” “It’s pretty much a lateral move, with Lopez bringing better defense to the table in what figures to be a very limited role. This will be something like his 43rd stint with the team in the last two years, so he’s very familiar with Craig Counsell and a number of his new/old teammates already do.“
Everyone knows B. B., so I’ll be short with him: Riley B. King was born in Mississippi and became an American blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter known as the “King of the Blues.” In 1946, he followed his cousin Bukka White to Memphis, Tennessee. White took him in for the next ten months. King returned shortly afterward to Mississippi where he better prepared himself for the next visit. Two years later, he returned to West Memphis, Arkansas attracted to music and taught himself to play guitar, beginning his career in juke joints and on local radio. He worked at WDIA as a singer and disc jockey where he was given the nickname “Beale Street Blues Boy”, later shortened to “Blues Boy” and finally to “B. B.” It was there that he first met T-Bone Walker. King said, “Once I’d heard him for the first time, I knew I’d have to have [an electric guitar] myself. ‘Had’ to have one, short of stealing!”
It sounds like B. B. would gladly vouch for T-Bone Walker, who was a pioneer and innovator of the jump blues, West Coast blues, and electric blues sounds. Aaron Thibeaux Walker was born in Linden, Texas. His stepfather, Marco Washington taught him to play the guitar, ukulele, banjo, violin, mandolin, and piano. His stepfather was a musician, and Blind Lemon Jefferson, a family friend, sometimes came over for dinner. Initially, by the time he was 15, he was Jefferson’s protégé and would guide him around Deep Ellum, Dallas for his gigs. By the time he was 25, he working clubs in Los Angeles. In 1942, Charlie Glenn, the owner of the Rhumboogie Café, brought T-Bone Walker to Chicago for long stints in his club. Walker started his recording in 1946-48, and again 1950-1954.
He didn’t release a record for six years — a collaboration that was widely record during three separate years. Walker rarely recorded through the 60’s, then recorded intently from 1968 until his death in 1975.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - APRIL 24: Dylan Beavers #12 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates after hitting a home run against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 24, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning Birdland,
That felt good! We have been waiting for this Orioles offense, which is loaded with potential, to finally break out and show us their power. They did exactly that on Friday night, blasting six home runs as part of a 10-3 dismantling of the visiting Red Sox. It could not have gone much better than it did.
You can go up and down the box score to find things worth smiling about.
Perhaps the most important nugget is that Adley Rutschman continues to look like his old self, picking up right where he left off before his recent IL stint. He went 3-for-5 with two home runs and six RBI in the win last night, and now has a 1.115 OPS on the season.
Rutschman being back has given the entire lineup better structure. Samuel Basallo has dropped a few spots in the order and looked better for it. The youngster went 4-for-5 on Friday, including his fourth homer of the year.
The hardest hit of the day belonged to Gunnar Henderson. He had a 111.2-mph single in the second inning, not a bad follow-up to the 109.1-mph homer he had to begin the game. Maybe he is coming out of his recent cold spell. The O’s would welcome the boost.
Speaking of which, has Coby Mayo been activated? He hit another homer on Friday, his third of the week. There is still work to be done on his season numbers, but the outcomes have been better recently. The Orioles do not need him to be a star, but they have to hope for more more than a .618 OPS out of the third base position. He has plenty of talent to make that happen.
And don’t forget about the 4-for-4 night from Taylor Ward, or the three hits (including a home run) from Dylan Beavers. Oh, and Tyler O’Neill was activated from the concussion list. Plus, the news was good on Jackson Holliday’s MRI.
The point is that the Orioles depth is (for now) showing itself. That doesn’t mean it will always be apparent, or that other rough patches won’t come. But in this moment, the team is showing what it is capable of against some admittedly struggling opponents. That’s what team’s with playoff aspirations have to do.
Imaging clean on Holliday’s hand/wrist, rehab paused due to ongoing discomfort | Orioles.com Holliday said that “it felt like I broke my hand again” during that painful looking swing earlier this week. Fortunately, after getting imaging done, the Orioles medical staff confirmed that there is no structural damage, only slight inflammation. The infielder will still take some time off to let that inflammation subside. At this rate, it feels unlikely that he is back with the big league club until at least mid-May.
Elias provides injury updates before tonight’s series opener against Red Sox | Roch Kubatko The only “negative” update was on Dean Kremer, who is going to miss “several weeks to say the least” with a quad strain, according to Mike Elias. Holliday is going to take off a week and then get back to work. Jordan Westburg is hitting and throwing down in Sarasota. Heston Kjerstad is doing the same and is close to a rehab assignment. Keegan Akin is expected to be ready soon. Dietrich Enns is right behind him. For one day at least, the Orioles didn’t get bad news about an injury.
Mike Elias is ‘bullish’ this year’s Orioles will avoid last year’s tailspin | The Baltimore Banner This year’s team has already shown they are quite a bit deeper than the 2025 version. That has allowed them to tread water as they get healthy. A 13-13 record isn’t great, but it has them in the thick of the wild card picture, and there is reason to think that the team will improve as the season goes on.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Robert Andino turns 42 today. He played parts of four seasons in Baltimore from 2009 through 2012, with his signature moment coming on the final day of the 2011 season. On that day he (and the rest of the Orioles) eliminated the Red Sox from playoff contention with a walk-off single that was part of a wild day in MLB.
Darren Holmes is 60 years old. The journeyman reliever played for eight teams across 13 major league seasons. In all that time he played in just five games for the O’s, all of which came in 2000. He returned to the organization as major league bullpen coach from 2020-23.
The late Art Schallock (b. 1924, d. 2025) was born on this day. He pitched in 30 games (six starts) for the 1955 Orioles.
This day in O’s history
April 25th has been a slow date in Orioles history, according to Baseball Reference. So here are a few happenings from beyond Birdland:
1953 – Francis Crick and James Watson publish the first article that explains the double helix structure of DNA.
1954 – The first practical solar cell is publicly demonstrated by Bell Telephone Laboratories.
1960 – The USS Triton completes the first submerged circumnavigation of the globe. The journey had started on February 24, taking 60 days and 21 hours.
1961 – Robert Noyce is granted a patent for an integrated circuit, now known widely as a “microchip.”
1983 – Pioneer 10, a NASA space probe that was launched in 1972, travels beyond Pluto’s orbit
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 23: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks reacts after a missed basket in the final seconds of the fourth quarter of game three of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at State Farm Arena on April 23, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA first round is well underway, and while the Mavericks aren’t participating, there are still lessons to be learned.
As the Mavericks approach a pivotal offseason, they should focus on the trends that emerged during the playoffs. Certain types of players thrive within the heightened physicality and focus of the playoffs, while others fail. The Mavericks should try to find the type of players who will succeed in that environment if they hope to contend in the near future.
Small guards are not worth the investment
One of the most evident trends from recent years is that small guards are simply not very useful anymore.
Now, ball-handling is incredibly important, but having it be from small, unathletic, guards is not a good idea. The principal example of this is the Houston Rockets, who are down 0-2 to a Lakers team without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
The Rockets lack any real on-ball creation or shooting outside Kevin Durant, and have struggled mightily offensively. The answer to their problems could be second-year guard Reed Sheppard, who is an elite shooter and ball-handler.
The problem is that he compromises the Rockets’ defense, serving as an entry point for any of the Lakers’ on-ball creators.
Because of this, he only played 11 minutes in Game 2.
But the Rockets aren’t the only team with this problem.
The biggest example is the Knicks, who are having a serious Jalen Brunson problem. Now, by no means is Brunson a bad player, nor is it his fault that the Knicks are down 1-2, but his flaws are becoming hard to ignore.
Similarly to Sheppard, Brunson has been relentlessly hunted all series, repeatedly getting beaten by CJ McCollum and Jonathon Kuminga.
This should open the eyes of anyone in the Mavericks front office, as this upcoming draft pick could be a small guard with limited athleticism. These players, even the best ones, can have destructive flaws, ones that cannot be covered up.
The Mavericks are blessed to have a two-way superstar
This take was formed as I was watching the Nuggets vs Timberwolves game on Thursday night, and seeing Nikola Jokic get relentlessly hunted by everyone on the Timberwolves.
No one can deny Jokic’s greatness offensively, but his defense is what holds him back from being one of the 5 best players of all time. This flaw is brought to the forefront when Aaron Gordon doesn’t play, as the Nuggets have no one else to insulate Jokic on the defensive end.
Seeing this makes me excited about the prospect of building around Cooper Flagg, who will never be a player who is hunted by other teams.
This should make team-building easier, as well as giving Flagg an insanely high floor, even when his shot isn’t falling.
Now it may be a while before Flagg plays in these games, but when he does, the Mavericks won’t lose playoff games because of his individual defense.
Shooting is king
This one is obvious, but three-point shooting continues to rule the playoffs. Teams with ample shooting and spacing simply have more avenues to win than teams without it.
The Lakers series is the prime example of this, as the Lakers are shooting 49% from three, while the Rockets are shooting 29% from three. Not only are the Lakers making more threes, but the threat of these shots has opened up the lane for LeBron James and Marcus Smart to score inside.
On the other hand, the Rockets have had truly disastrous spacing, leading to incredibly aggressive defense by the Lakers. This flaw was apparent in game 2, as the Lakers sent hard double teams at Kevin Durant all game, opting to leave players like Tari Eason wide open.
This lack of spacing has also limited the paint opportunities, forcing the Rockets to settle for very difficult shots when they are inside the arc.
These problems are ones that plagued the Mavericks all season and would have been exposed if they had made it this far. To me, this further illustrates the need for a drastic increase in shooting, as no one wants to see Cooper Flagg double-teamed for entire playoff games.
Apr 22, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) run into each other on a drive in the second half during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Who: Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
When: 12:300pm Arizona Time
Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: NBC
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The 2026 postseason rolls on, and for the first time since May 7, 2023, playoff basketball returns to downtown Phoenix as the Suns welcome the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The first two games have been a journey. The top-seeded Thunder have made mincemeat of a depleted Suns team, and while there is an opportunity tonight for Phoenix to grab one at home, nothing about it will come easily. The playoffs bring a different level of basketball. More physical. More intense. Every possession carries weight. Those are the exact reasons the Suns needed to get here, because a team that has turned the cultural corner needs to give its players a chance to feel these moments.
It is unfortunate that the opponent looks like a complete buzz saw, and sure, it feels like Phoenix is fighting with one arm tied behind its back. There is still room to surprise them. There is still room to learn.
That applies to head coach Jordan Ott as well. The Suns have lost the first two games by a combined 48 points, and the reasons why create the opportunity for adjustments. That becomes the main thing to watch tonight. Can the Suns adjust?
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
Grayson Allen — QUESTIONABLE (Left Hamstring Soreness)
Mark Williams — OUT (Left Foot Soreness)
Jordan Goodwin — QUESTIONABLE (Left Calf Soreness)
Thunder
Isaiah Joe — DOUBTFUL (Personal Reasons)
Thomas Sorber — OUT (Right ACL)
Jalen Williams — OUT (Left Hamstring Strain)
Tale of the Tape
All statistics are ranked against all other 16 teams playing this postseason.
SUNS
STAT
THUNDER
0-2
Record
2-0
95.5 (16th)
PPG
119.5 (1st)
34.3% (8th)
3PT%
32.6% (10th)
44.5 (7th)
RPG
47.0 (3rd)
19.5 (15th)
APG
26.0 (4th)
5.0 (15th)
STL
13.5 (1st)
33.0 (16th)
PITP
50.0 (4th)
5.5 (16th)
PTS OFF TO
27.0 (1st)
22.0 (12th)
Bench Scoring
33.5 (2nd)
What to Watch For
Jalen Williams will not play in this one, and that matters. He has been a firecracker through the first two games of the postseason. While Shai Gilgeous Alexander is putting up 31 points on 49/50/79 splits, the support from Williams has helped drive everything. He is averaging 20.5 points, and that includes Game 2 when he tweaked his hamstring.
His absence is worth tracking. It shifts touches, it shifts rhythm, and it opens space for others to step in. Those ancillary pieces tend to rise at home, fed by the crowd and the energy in the building. Can Phoenix take advantage of that opening?
Key to a Suns Win
I laid out a few keys yesterday, and they still hold. Push the pace whenever you can. Catch Oklahoma City before they get set, because once they do, it turns into a problem.
Take care of the ball. The turnover discrepancy, 41-18, has crushed Phoenix through two games, and that cannot continue. And make the threes. The volume will be there. It always is. They have to convert. Get to 18 made threes and you give yourself a real chance to win this game.
Prediction
Maybe it’s optimism. Maybe it leans a little unrealistic. Game 3s have a way of tilting toward the home team, and that belief is hard to shake. Oklahoma City is a giant. No one is denying that. But David still has a couple of rocks in his pocket.
Ronald Acuna Jr.
Thunder
Suns
