MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 10: James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals hits an RBI double in the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on April 10, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ladies and gentleman, James Wood is all the way back. After a rough second half and a concerning first couple series, the big fella is back to absolutely destroying baseball. I have to say, I’ve got to eat some crow on this. I said the Nats had a James Wood problem, and it turns out the other 29 teams are the ones with a James Wood problem.
Anyone saying the James Wood problem isn't real is lying to themselves
In my defense, I was not the only one concerned. After a rough finish to last season, which saw him strike out nearly 40% of the time in the second half, there was reason to be concerned. However, at the end of the day, raw talent usually wins out. Everyone knew the talent level of Wood, it was just frustrating to see him not put it together after his amazing first half.
So what has gotten Wood back on track? The biggest thing I have seen is that Wood is hunting mistakes. For a while, Wood was simply too passive at the plate. He was letting too many meatballs just whiz by him into the strikezone. Right now though, you cannot sneak a heater by this guy.
Wood has clearly been in the lab with Matt Borgschulte working on his approach at the plate. During Blake Butera’s press conferences when Wood was struggling, he kept mentioning how Wood told him his swing was feeling great. That felt odd to me at the time, but now it makes sense. Wood did not have a swing problem, he had an approach problem.
He and Borgschulte have figured out the right balance between patience and aggression. Right now, Wood is just hunting fastballs and spitting on the breaking stuff. He is also hammering balls to center and left center, which is what Wood does when he is at his best.
The Nats have had a lot of great hitters over the years, but I am not sure any of them have quite the same amount of raw horsepower that Wood does. Last night, he hit two balls over 115 MPH. In the first inning, he hit an absolute laser on a line that almost carried out of the deepest part of American Family Field.
This kind of power is why he was a part of the Home Run Derby last year. Ironically, that event seemed to mess with his swing, so I don’t think he will be going back anytime soon. Wood being slightly hot and cold makes sense given his size and age. He is a massive dude who has plenty of moving parts to his swing.
That makes it frustrating when he is not on his game. However, when all those parts are moving well, it is like watching a beautiful symphony of destruction. Right now, his mishits are going about 100 MPH off the bat.
Seeing Wood when he is locked in makes his struggles even more frustrating. He is such a talented player, who has bat to ball skills when he is on his game. Wood has just three strikeouts compared to four walks in his last five games. This is not a Joey Gallo type that just misses at an insane clip. He works deep counts and can be passive when he is off, which can lead to strikeouts.
There is some pure hitting ability here though. His quality of contact and line drive approach means his average will never get that low either. Even after his disastrous second half, Wood still had a respectable .256 average. When he is right, Wood is not just a one dimensional slugger.
This heater is insane to watch. The big fella has four straight multi-hit games. He is also the only player with multiple batted balls over 116 mph so far this season. His 24.3% barrel rate and 59.5% hard hit rate are absolutely bonkers.
James Wood has 4 hits tonight.
⚾️ 9 for his last 17 at plate ⚾️ AVG up to .268 ⚾️ OPS is up to .930 ⚾️ Now has 11 RBI in just 13 games ⚾️ Only player in MLB with two balls hit 116 MPH
After his strikeout heavy start to the season, Wood has managed to get his strikeout rate below 30%. That 30% mark feels like a magic number for him. With how big he is, there will always be strikeouts and that is fine. However, he can still be an elite hitter with a k% in the high 20’s. Once it gets to 30%, things start to get dicey for him. Right now, he is not even in the top 10 for number of strikeouts.
It is great to see that number get under control because we all know what Wood does when he makes contact with the ball. I would argue that Wood has the best opposite field power in baseball. He makes ballparks look small and hits balls out at crazy low trajectories.
For a lot of players, they need to tap into their pull side to hit for power. However, that is not the case for Wood. He is at his best when he is thinking about going the other way. Wood is such a physical freak that he can hit balls out to left field like a right handed pull hitter. His air pull percentage is 2.7%, and do you know what, that is fine by me.
When you have outlier power like Wood does, just do what makes you comfortable. For Wood to take the next step and become a 50 home run guy like Aaron Judge, he may need to pull it more, but he is 23, there is plenty of time for that.
For now, it is great to see Wood exhibiting a confident approach at the plate. At the end of last year and the beginning of this year, he was constantly on the defensive. Now, he is taking the initiative and putting pitchers on the back foot. When James Wood is doing that, he is one of the best hitters in baseball.
Controversial penalty sparks 2-0 Ipswich win at Norwich
Bottom-side Wednesday draw 0-0 at leaders Coventry
Ipswich gave their hopes of automatic promotion a massive boost by recording a hard-fought 2-0 win over Norwich at Carrow Road, while Coventry must wait for another day after being held 0-0 at home by Sheffield Wednesday.
Ipswich moved into the top two, with at least a game in hand on their nearest rivals, as first-half goals from Jaden Philogene, with a harsh penalty, and George Hirst completed a long overdue double over their East Anglian rivals.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 19: Aaron Holiday #0 of the Houston Rockets shoots against Craig Porter Jr. #9 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half at Rocket Arena on November 19, 2025 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. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Rockets defeated the Philadelphia Seventy Sixers 114-104 on Thursday night at Toyota Center in Houston. However, after a near collapse in the fourth quarter, Houston needed offensive production, and they found it from none other than guard Aaron Holiday. In his 14 minutes of action, Aaron Holiday was 3-of-5 and scored seven vital points, but what’s most important is his role during the fourth quarter.
Houston was leading 96-73 going into the fourth. Other Rockets fans and I were feeling alright, but just like during the Sun’s game Tuesday, the tables quickly turned. It looked like the game was going to get out of control as the momentum was shifting fast, and Houston was unable to rely on its young players during this stretch, so they turned to the veterans. In the last quarter of the game, the Sixers scored 29 points while the Rockets made only 5 of 20 shots. However, the shots that were made were timely. The Rockets’ ability to make timely shots was crucial. Ime Udoka called a timeout right away after Philly trimmed the margin to 101-94 with almost four minutes remaining in the game. The Rockets would score two consecutive corner threes: one from Kevin Durant after Aaron Holiday drove to the basket, and another from Aaron Holiday after Kevin Durant assisted. This means that during both key possessions, Aaron Holiday found a way to get involved.
Holiday’s production wasn’t only against Philadelphia as he saw an increased run in games versus Utah, Golden State, and Phoenix, scoring six points versus both Utah and Golden State, and 12 points versus Phoenix. Aaron Holiday is the quintessential backup guard who perfectly embodies the next man up mentality. The Rockets are going to need some production from him heading ito this year’s NBA Playoffs.
The Rockets will end their season Sunday night at home versus the Memphis Grizzlies at 7:00. As always, be sure to check back here at The DreamShake for pre- and postgame content.
The Dallas Mavericks (25-56) took on the San Antonio Spurs (62-19) Friday night in their penultimate game of the 2025-2026 season, which ended in a 139-120 loss. Dallas rolled in with a lengthy injury list that included the usual suspects this year, along with P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall and Klay Thompson.
The game started off closer than expected under the circumstances, but the Spurs pulled ahead by 11 points by the end of the first frame. Victor Wembanyama was expected to play around 20 minutes in order to meet qualifications for league honors, and clearly wanted to make the most of his time. He was red hot throughout the night (which ended with him playing 26 minutes) and was a big reason the Spurs jumped out to an early lead.
In the second quarter, the Mavs flipped the script and dropped in 39 points to cut the deficit to three points at the half. Cooper Flagg had a massive game of his own, nearly matching Wembanyama. The Mavs carried their momentum into the third quarter, taking the lead on multiple occasions before the wheels came off. The Spurs scored on nine-straight possessions and almost instantly put the Mavs in a hole they were unable to climb out of.
The fourth quarter basically amount to garbage time, but it was nice to see the Mavs come close to holding steady (getting outscored in the quarter 31-27) despite AJ Johnson, Tyler Smitth and John Poulakidas leading the charge in the late going. When all was said and done, the Mavs had a solid offensive performance but had no answer for Wembanyama and ultimately got blasted heading into their final game of the season.
The Mavs won the turnover battle
The Mavs won the turnover battle
Dallas has had some awful game in terms of turnovers, occasionally with one or more players tallying five or more each. Tonight was an entirely different story. Both teams took care of the ball, but the Mavs had only seven turnovers against a very good team. Oddly, Dwight Powell accounted for three of them, which itself is an anomaly. In the end, it wasn’t enough to save the Mavs from a lopsided loss, but seeing them take care of the ball against a team that could have made them look silly was a decent consolation prize.
Cooper Flagg’s Rookie of the Year push
Over the past few games, Flagg is clearly being featured even moreso than usual in a final effort to win Rookie of the Year honors. After an 11-point outing last game against the Phoenix Suns, Flagg was back to his old self, pouring in 33 points on 52% shooting on 25 shots; nearly double the next closest Mav (Ryan Nembhard with 13 attempts). Throughout it all, Flagg continues to play within himself and the team’s gameplan. Nothing he did on Friday night felt forced and he even dished out five assists. It’s insane to me to think Flagg has a chance at missing out on ROY, and if nothing else, this burst over the past week will at least make for an eternal argument in the annals of NBA history if he doesn’t win the award.
Max Christie finding his shot
Mette Robertson recently covered a podcast that Cooper Flagg partook in. With him was Max Christie, who spoke about what he is learning from Klay Thompson. Particularly, Christie commented on getting his shot off quicker, a sentiment he reiterated in his postgame interview. Christie was 4-for-7 from beyond the arc, and 5-for-12 overall in Friday’s game. His shot looked good and was noticeably quicker. He even got one off from the corner with Wembanyama closing out on it, hitting nothing but net. That Christie is willing to learn and has one of the greatest shooters to learn from, is a positive sign going forward. The Mavs are at the bottom of the league in everything three-point related, and will need Christie to help reverse that trend next year and beyond.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 10: Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas #5 celebrates in the dugout during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 10th, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
Diamondbacks Mount Four-Run Comeback to Take Game One in Philly Michael Soroka had his first clunker of the year, but he still managed to limit the damage after a four-run first inning to keep the team in the game. Then, the Diamondbacks went to work on Philadelphia’s bullpen.
Diamondbacks Five-Run Fifth Powers Comeback Victory Michael Soroka gave up four runs in the first inning while battling control issues. Then, Gabriel Moreno was lifted in the third inning for a mysterious injury. Fans of the team would be forgiven if they decided to tune out and go watch something else. But then, the Diamondbacks shut down Philadelphia for eight innings and threw up a big inning of their own in the fifth.
What the Mets Series Win Says About the Snakes Eduardo Rodriguez and Jose Fernandez are making lots of noise and the Snakes are finding ways to win even with an ice-cold Marte and without Corbin Carroll.
Top-Five Up-the-Middle Defenses in MLB With honourable mentions, the list extends to seven teams and yet, somehow Arizona still doesn’t make the cut. Seems a bit suspect to me.
The Ottawa Senators visit the New York Islanders this afternoon in a crucial battle for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Jake Sanderson has been a huge addition to the Sens lineup since returning from injury, and I’ll be looking for the blueliner to contribute offensively again in my Senators vs. Islanders predictions and NHL picks for Saturday, April 11.
Senators vs Islanders prediction
Senators vs Islanders best bet: Jake Sanderson Over 0.5 points (-135)
Jake Sanderson returned to the Ottawa Senators lineup last weekend after missing 13 games with a shoulder injury, and the defenseman has made an immediate impact.
Sanderson has logged five points in his past three games, finding the score sheet each time while recording two points in his last two outings.
The blueliner has given Ottawa an offensive boost, as the Sens enter Saturday on a three-game win streak with at least five goals in each victory.
Ottawa’s offense will come through again in a crucial matchup against the New York Islanders, and Sanderson will factor on at least one goal.
Senators vs Islanders same-game parlay
Brady Tkachuk leads the Senators in scoring this month with eight points in five games, finding the score sheet in three straight and seven of his last nine contests.
Ottawa has won four of its last five games, while New York has just one win in its last five outings.
Senators vs Islanders SGP
Jake Sanderson Over 0.5 points
Brady Tkachuk Over 0.5 points
Senators moneyline
Senators vs Islanders odds
Moneyline: Senators -137 | Islanders +114
Puck Line: Senators -1.5 | Islanders +1.5
Over/Under: Over 6 | Under 6
Senators vs Islanders trend
The Senators have covered the Puck Line in 15 of their last 25 away games (+9.35 Units / 27% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Islanders.
How to watch Senators vs Islanders
Location
UBS Arena, Elmont, NY
Date
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Puck drop
1:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN5
Senators vs Islanders latest injuries
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.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Head coach Brian Keefe of the Washington Wizards talks with Bub Carrington #7 against the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter at Chase Center on March 27, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yesterday, the Washington Wizards lost to the Miami Heat, giving them a nine game losing streak. They are 17-64 with one more game left to go. The Indiana Pacers have 19 wins, so that makes them officially … the worst team in the 2025-26 NBA season.
The Wizards will officially finish the 2025-26 season with the NBA’s worst record. pic.twitter.com/nqJi1XPsKX
With the acquisitions of Trae Young and Anthony Davis before the trade deadline, it appears that Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger and General Manager Will Dawkins are ready to turn the page on another sub-20 win season. Hopefully this past season is the last time when we are quietly wondering whether losing is actually winning, if you know what I mean.
The Mets are calling up veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel, as first reported by The New York Post's Jon Heyman.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said on Friday that there wasn't a timeline for the right-hander to join the Mets or if he had any opt-outs in his deal, but calling him up was a possibility.
"We continue to believe he can help us this year; he wants to help us," Stearns said. "We have a stable pen so far. We haven’t made a move, but eventually we will. He’s certainly a candidate when we have an opportunity."
The Mets signed the veteran to a minor league deal with an MLB camp invite in late January. He made six appearances during the spring, allowing three runs on four hits (two home runs) over six innings. The 37-year-old issued five walks with five strikeouts.
After breaking camp, Kimbrel pitched a 1-2-3 inning at Single-A St. Lucie with a strikeout on Thursday.
"Craig threw the ball well yesterday. That was very good to see," Stearns said.
This season for Kimbrel will be his 17th season in professional baseball. He appeared in just 14 big league games last year, allowing four runs (three earned) on 10 hits in 12 innings pitched, after signing a minor league deal and spending the majority of his time at Triple-A. The right-hander did strike out 17 of the 49 batters he faced with seven walks while pitching for Atlanta (once) and Houston (13 times).
He pitched to a 3.00 ERA and 1.051 WHIP across 39 innings over 42 minor league appearances last season. He tallied 51 strikeouts to 21 walks.
Kimbrel's last full major league season came in 2024 with Baltimore, and it did not go well for him as he was designated for assignment in late September after losing his spot as the closer. In 57 appearances with the Orioles, he pitched to a 5.33 ERA and 1.357 WHIP over 52.1 innings with 73 strikeouts to 31 walks. He had 23 saves in 29 opportunities.
When the Cubs decided to largely run it back with a team that pushed the Brewers to their limits before falling just short of the NLCS, one might have hoped it would have been relatively smooth sailing for this team in 2026. This looked, on paper, to be a top 10 team in baseball. I had them pegged a clear cut below the best teams, but comfortably in the second tier of teams. Nothing has been easy and they have not, in any way, appeared to be a top 10 team.
In reality, this team has looked decidedly middle of the pack. Or perhaps a bit below. Of their six opportunities to date to be .500, they have been .500 five times. On Saturday, they’ll have their seventh opportunity to be at .500. Hopefully, they succeed again. A 50/50 record, in this instance, is better than the alternative.
So far, this team is hit or miss. The team has scored 39 runs in their six wins (6.5 runs/game). They have just 17 runs in their seven losses (2.43 runs/game). This team has already been shut out twice and scored only one run twice (winning one). They were shut out 10 times all of last year and held under two a total of 28 times. The results have been stratified and there has been very little offensive consistency, Hopefully, the return of Seiya Suzuki will give them a boost.
This one was all the more unfortunate because Shōta Imanaga was lights out. He faced 19 batters and struck out nine of them. He allowed no hits and just a single walk. You might recall that once before Imanaga started a game where the Pirates got no hits against Cubs pitching. I remember that one as I was driving home from a Rays game and listened to the last few outs of that game. It isn’t often that you can go into a game with a split of 0.35 ERA (career against the Pirates) and actually lower that number. It was that kind of day for him.
Unfortunately, the bats let him down and he has nothing to show for it.
Three Positives:
Arguably Imanaga was so positive that all of the other performances pale in comparison.
Ian Happ had a pair of singles and drew a walk.
Carson Kelly had three walks and a single. The Cubs actually had six hits and drew seven walks and were held scoreless.
Honorable mention to Ethan Roberts (4 batters faced, 4 outs recorded) and Riley Martin (3 batters faced, 3 outs). They gave the Cubs every opportunity to come from behind.
Game 13, April 10: Pirates 2, Cubs 0 (6-7)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
Billy Goat: Caleb Thielbar (-.307). 0.2 IP, 5 BF, 3 H, 0 BB, 2 ER, 0 K (L 1-1)
Goat: Pete Crow-Armstong (-.214). 0-4, DP
Kid: Matt Shaw (-.185). 0-2
WPA Play of the Game: Bryan Reynolds batted with a runner on first and no outs in the seventh. He homered, breaking a scoreless tie. (.264)
*Cubs Play of the Game: Ian Happ batted with a runner on first and no outs in the sixth. He singled, setting up a golden opportunity. (.075)
Cubs Player of the Game: Imanaga, Kelly, Happ, other
Game 12 winner: Nico Hoerner 105-86 over Colin Rea (219 total votes)
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 3/Bottom 3)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Edward Cabrera +6
Nico Hoerner/Ian Happ (+1 today)/Carson Kelly (+2) : +5
Phil Maton/Pete Crow-Armstrong (-2): -6
Matt Shaw -7 (-1)
Alex Bregman -7 (-3)
Up Next: Game two of the three game series. Edward Cabrera (1-0, 0.00, 11.2 IP) gets his third Cub start. He’s been superb so far. 26-year-old right-handed pitcher Braxton Ashcraft (1-1, 2.25, 12 IP) also makes his third start. His two previous starts were at home. In 2025, he was better away (2.45 ERA) than at home (3.00). But he only had a total of 69.2 big league innings last year. In 11 innings across three appearances last year, he allowed four runs (three in one 9/15 outing).
Let’s hope Cabrera is able to continue his dominance and the Cub bats break through.
FYI: I am on vacation for the next week. Heroes and Goats will continue to run, but you can expect me to be a bit more brief and the timing could be a little different. I appreciate your patience with us in advance.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 10: Gavin Sheets #30 of the San Diego Padres celebrates after hitting a walk-off 3-run home run in the ninth inning during the game against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park on April 10, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Walker Buehler has had an uneven start to his tenure with the San Diego Padres. After two starts Buehler had only accumulated 6.2 innings pitched with seven runs allowed on eight hits with five walks and seven strikeouts. With Griffin Canning and Matt Waldron building up in an effort to return to the MLB roster after their respective rehab assignments, Buehler and German Marquez could be playing for respective spots in the San Diego rotation. Buehler pitched that way against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park on Friday night.
Buehler had his best performance since he joined the Padres on a minor-league deal in the offseason. He completed six innings and allowed just three hits. He did not allow a run or a walk and recorded four strikeouts. Buehler walked off the mound with a 2-0 lead and was in line for his first win with San Diego, but reliever Adrian Morejon gave up two runs, and the game was tied 2-2 when the Padres came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Gavin Sheets hit a one-out three-run home run that won the game for San Diego and extended their most recent win streak to three games. The start by Buehler was critical in providing the Padres bullpen some respite after the 12-inning game the night before. The home run by Sheets, his second of the night, ensured San Diego did not have to play extra innings on back-to-back nights.
San Diego and Colorado will meet in Game 3 of their series at Petco Park, today at 5:40 p.m.
It was a busy week on the road for the Padres as they left Petco Park for the hostile crowds of Fenway Park in Boston and PNC Park in Pittsburgh. San Diego showed its resolve, finning four of the six games before returning to Petco Park to host Colorado.
Padres closer Mason Miller refuses to give up runs, in fact he does not give up hits either. The right-hander struck out all three batters he faced en route to the win over the Rockies on Friday night.
Former Padres farmhand Brandon Valenzuela hit his first MLB home run as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Four UCLA pitchers combined for 30 strikeouts against Rutgers. The UCLA starter, Logan Reddemann, accounted for 18 of the 30 strikeouts int the contest.
Brandon Pfaadt gets the ball for Arizona, and he’s compiled a 6.75 ERA so far. The righty allowed a run in the first inning in his last start vs. Atlanta, and while the Phillies lost 5-4 on Friday, they scored all four runs in the first.
As for the D-Backs, they’re up against Taijuan Walker, and he has an ERA over 9.00 so far. He’s given up seven first-inning runs across his first two starts, allowing three to the Rockies and four to the Nationals.
Time: 1:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FS1
Marlins at Tigers: NRFI (-135)
The Miami Marlins send Janson Junk to the mound today, and he’s looked solid so far. The righty has a 3.09 ERA and a perfect 2-0 NRFI record.
Junk has come out and found a rhythm early, and that will be key against a Detroit Tigers team that has scored six times in the first this season.
As for the Tigers, Casey Mize takes the hill, and he also has a 2-0 NRFI record through two outings. It’s important to note that Miami’s lineup has never faced Mize outside of Otto Lopez, and they’ve only scored once in the first inning in this young 2026 season.
Time: 1:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Marlins.TV, DSN
White Sox at Royals: NRFI (-120)
We’re looking at two teams who have struggled immensely at the dish in the first.
The Chicago White Sox are hitting just .140 in the opening inning, and they’ve had five NRFI. They’re also up against Michael Wacha, who has a 0.69 ERA so far, and has yet to allow a run in the first.
As for the Kansas City Royals, they have 14 NRFI this year and are struggling to get it going offensively out of the gates. White Sox starter Erick Fedde also owns a 1-0 NRFI record.
Both of these clubs are towards the bottom of the majors in overall runs scored as well.
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CHSN+, Royals.TV
What is a NRFI bet?
NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) bets add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI bet is a wager that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're betting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.
A YRFI bet is the exact opposite. You're betting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.
NRFI and YRFI bets add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for bettors looking for a quick resolution.
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.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 10: A.J. Green #20 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates after making a three point basket against the Brooklyn Nets during the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum on April 10, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cormac Ryan electrified the crowd in the opening minutes of his first-ever start, and AJ Green later brought the house down with an all-time display of marksmanship, leading to an emphatic 125-108 win by the Milwaukee Bucks over the Brooklyn Nets. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Green closed a somewhat up-and-down season with a virtuoso sendoff. Yes, he made franchise history with 11 made triples, and moved into second all-time for three-pointers made in a season. Those things got everyone riled up, with the crowd chanting his name (and nickname). Even better, though, he played a complete game, complementing his shooting theatrics with solid playmaking, above-average rebounding, and alert D. Hard to find anything not to love about his statement game.
In his first-ever start, Ryan came out firing—and rarely missed in the first quarter. He looked like anything but a newbie, playing under control and never seeming out of sorts on offense or defense. His breakout game would be THE story on any other night. Alas, Dairy Bird outshone him, a tough task when Ryan was such an electrifying player all game long.
Prince showed out, displaying the big impact on both ends that the team missed out on during his extended absence due to neck surgery. A sequence in the third quarter—he made a high degree-of-difficulty corner triple, then stole the ball on D and raced down court to drain another three—was a crescendo moment that had fans going berserk, and wishing they’d seen more of Prince throughout the season.
Dieng played the kind of solid all-around game that has become his hallmark. On a night when so many teammates were on fire shooting, it was Dieng who most consistently found them for open looks. His own poor shooting was more than made up for by those dozen helpers and six boards.
Sims followed his career-first triple-double with a double-double in Friday’s tilt. What stood out was his rebounding, as he kept many possessions alive with five offensive boards. He scored at his usual hyper-efficient rate. The plus-minus number seems misleading, as the eye test showed Sims making winning plays on both ends.
Turner was a force of nature on both ends. He swatted away five Nets’ shots and altered plenty more. He started the game with a triple to get the crowd revved up, and kept bringing the cheers with thunder dunks and more long bombs in the second half. Those flourishes came between periods where he seemed quiet, but his +26 tells the story of an overwhelmingly positive impact.
Kuzma pulled his occasional disappearing act, not making many obviously winning plays—save the electrifying logo triple to close the first half—while playing too fast and coughing up the ball five times. Not a tragic Kuz game, but certainly not much to like here either.
On Redemption Night for many of his teammates, AJax just couldn’t get his act together enough to join the revival. His shot was off, and he didn’t do much else to help the team’s cause. His -11 “led” the team, and felt like an accurate reflection of his overall impact.
Grade: D
Doc Rivers
No Bobby, no Giannis, no KPJ. Yes, the Nets were also depleted and are a horrid team even at full strength. But the Bucks decisively won the battle of lottery squads, with huge performances from a cast of nobodies. The standout performances from Green, Ryan, Dieng, Sims, and Prince showed that the coaching staff did a better-than-average job coaxing development from those players and keeping them engaged in a season where not much went right, and players could be forgiven if they were checked out by now. Friday’s performance suggested they aren’t, and Rivers deserves heavy credit.
Grade: A
DNP-CD: Alex Antetokounmpo, Thanassis Antetokounmpo
Inactive: Bobby Portis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Pete Nance, Gary Trent, Jr., Kevin Porter Jr., Gary Harris, Ryan Rollins
Bonus Bucks Bits
With 227 three-pointers this season, Green is second all-time in Bucks history. He has a great chance of surpassing Ray Allen, currently number one with 229 triples in the 2001-02 campaign.
In scoring 20+ points in three of his first 10 NBA games, Cormac Ryan joins elite company. Others in Bucks’ history who’ve achieved that feat: Kareem, Marques Johnson, Brandon Jennings, and Ray Allen.
Ryan said he and Green engaged in heated games of one-on-one on summer mornings at 5:00 a.m. last offseason: “I felt bad for our trainers; we had to drag them in. They just wanted to sleep.”
Up Next
The Bucks travel to Philly for a Sunday night tilt against the 76ers in the final game of the season. Catch it at 5:00 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.
It became obvious early on that this Dallas Mavericks season wouldn’t be about wins and losses. There would be no playoff push, no late game heroics in the postseason. Not even a solid 41-41 season that might give you some hope for the next year.
So you start thinking about reasons to watch this team. You could settle on a lot of things, but one you could land on is the vibes. You want to have a good time, and maybe the Mavericks can help you with that.
For the most part, they have. Despite having an atrocious record, they’ve been competitive all season. Cooper Flagg has flashed promise of superstardom, having more than a few huge scoring nights, including a 50-point game recently. The two-way guys brought up from the G League have been fun. Inconsistent, but fun.
But mostly when you have a season like this, you just want to have a good hang with the team. You want an interesting and lively group that can find some joy in the long grind that is the NBA regular season.
That’s where Dwight Powell comes in.
A few weeks back, the Mavericks Instagram account posted a video where the players were asked about their favorite restaurants. They mostly name steakhouses near the American Airlines Center, which fine, whatever. I’m not a food critic, and they probably just want a nice meal where they won’t be bothered. NBA players are mostly very tall, and therefore can’t exactly blend in when out in public.
I’m not going to get upset that not one barbecue place was mentioned. And I understand it’s a drive to Arlington, but Smoke’N Ash is there. I’m not going to say they should try Jose on Lovers, a place featured in Netflix’s Taco Chronicles. I don’t know all the good restaurants.
But this isn’t about Dallas restaurants.
This is about Dwight Powell. His aura. The vibe glowing off this man. Look at him.
And of course he chose Uchi as his favorite restaurant. The man knows good food. He knows Dallas. He knows where the good vibes are.
Don’t talk to me about Powell’s plus/minus, or his points per game. I’m not interested in his shooting percentages. Don’t even think about bringing up his DARKO or RAPTOR rating, I don’t even know what that is. All I care about his is POWELL rating, and it’s off the charts.
Powell is here, creating and maintaining vibes you can’t even begin to consider. Whatever he contributes on the court is just extra for the Mavericks.
Toward the end of the video, Klay Thompson calls Powell the mayor of Dallas. It’s just a joke, of course, but Powell has been here in the Metroplex since 2015. He’s the longest tenured player on the Mavericks by far. He’s seen almost everything here in Dallas, except a championship. He got close in 2024.
The mayor in most cities does a lot of ceremonial duties. They cut ribbons, pose for pictures, shake hands. They set the tone, create the culture. That’s what Powell does for the Mavericks. Sure, he’s willing to step in and play some basketball when needed, but mostly, he is focused on his more important job—keeping the good vibes flowing.
MINNEAPOLIS - APRIL 19: Kevin Garnett #21 and Mark Madsen #35 of the Minnesota Timberwolves congratulate each other after their last game of the season against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 19, 2006 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 2006 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Thursday, April 9th, 2026, the NBA released an official statement regarding a bizarre situation in a recent Sacramento Kings versus Golden State Warriors game.
In case you missed it, Sacramento Head Coach Doug Christie instructed his own players to intentionally foul an above average free throw shooter, Seth Curry, despite holding a one-point lead in clutch time. The KANGZ Kings ultimately lost the game in regulation, and considering the tight battle to earn the top lottery odds in a stacked draft, it sparked yet another conversation about “tanking.”
By now, you must be sick of hearing about this. Adam Silver’s focus on punishing teams for losing instead of much more important matters (sports betting). Nonsensical and complicated draft lottery reforms. Fans criticizing talking heads for even talking about it.
Enough!
Alright, fine. But before we leave this all behind us, can I just give you one more quick story? Please?
Let’s turn back your clocks back to calendar year 2006.
Actually, almost exactly 20 years ago to the day. It’s April 18th, the last day of the regular season. The Minnesota Timberwolves were going to miss the playoffs for the second straight season. An inauspicious 33-48 record put them second to last in the West standings, but tied for the seventh-worst overall record. Not great. However, the silver lining was that they were in line to secure the seventh spot in the 2006 NBA draft lottery.
Here’s where it gets interesting.
There was one team just half a game behind Minnesota in the standings: the Boston Celtics. More importantly, three teams sat just one game ahead of the Wolves in the standings: Seattle SuperSonics, Golden State Warriors, and Houston Rockets. Why does this matter?
Just eight months prior, the Timberwolves traded away their first round pick (along with All-Star Sam Cassell) to the Los Angeles Clippers.
That pick was smartly (?) top 10 protected through 2011. That meant if the Wolves finished with the eighth-worst record or lower, they would not be at risk of losing said pick. With three teams on the Minnesota’s heels, there was potential for shenanigans tomorrow. Let’s game a look at the tip-off times for all of the aforementioned teams:
Heat @ Celtics – 6:30pm CT
Spurs @ Rockets – 7:00pm CT
Grizzlies @ Timberwolves – 7:00pm CT
Warriors @ Jazz – 8:00pm CT
Nuggets @ SuperSonics – 9:30pm CT
Unfortunately for Minnesota, the staggered start times made it impossible for them to know if they need should tank or not.
Let’s jump back to Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Memphis had nothing to play for, as they had all but locked in their spot as the number five seed in the Western Conference playoffs. In fact, a loss could’ve even benefitted them, pitting them against a 44-38 Nuggets team instead of a 60-22 Mavericks team. They rested or limited minutes to their key rotation players such as a young Pau Gasol, Mike Miller, Shane Battier, and Eddie Jones.
The Wolves weren’t to be outdone.
MARLIN LEVISON ¥ mlevison@startribune.com 04/19/06 РAssign#101406- Timberwolves vs. Memphis Рlast game of the season Рa look at a dismal season from players or fans perspective. IN THIS PHOTO:Wolves Marcus Banks, Rashad McCants and Mark Madsen look disinterested as they sit on the bench watching the game proceed without them. (Photo by MARLIN LEVISON/Star Tribune via Getty Images) (Photo by MARLIN LEVISON/Star Tribune via Getty Images) | Star Tribune via Getty Images
Since a loss would secure their lottery pick, they went all out. Kevin Garnett, who had been already been sitting out due to a “right quad injury,” would not be available. Ricky Davis, who had also been out for that same span, was also not active due to a “right knee injury.” They were the Wolves top two scorers by a mile. Not enough? Let’s take starting point guard, Marko Jarić off the table for no real reason.
Things didn’t start great for Minnesota though. Well, they did great if you’re talking about winning a basketball game. They stumbled into a 10-point lead right before halftime. That advantage shrunk to just six at the end of the third quarter, but there was still time.
Mark Madsen time, to be specific.
The 30-year-old, two-time NBA champion, knew what it took to win. And in this case, a win actually meant a loss. He subbed in for starting center Mark “Big Basic” Blount with 3:09 remaining in the third quarter, and never looked back. If you aren’t familiar with other Madsen’s game, he was a classic undersized, hustle-type, frenetic energy big. In today’s game, think Dwight Powell. Madsen only averaged about 10 minutes a game and less than two field goal attempts.
In this specific game, Madsen played 30 minutes and took 15 shots.
After missing his first three shots of the game, he finally made his first (and only) bucket of the game. Madsen’s layup put the Wolves up five with 7:35 remaining. Danger time. Minnesota was up three with 39 seconds left and possession of the ball. They could nearly run out the clock and simply secure a victory. Instead, with 12 ticks still on the shot clock, “Mad Dog” fired a 15-foot jumper that missed.
Why does that seem weird?
That was Madsen’s second shot from outside the paint.
All season.
MINNEAPOLIS – APRIL 19: Mark Madsen #35 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 19, 2006 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Grizzlies won 102-92. NOTICE 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 2006 NBAE (Photo By Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After essentially leading all game, the Grizzlies had somehow managed to drag this clown show into overtime thanks to a Brian Cardinal three-pointer on the following possession. What ensued in the two following five-minute overtime periods would make Adam Silver choke on a slice of tiramisu.
If you thought Mark taking his second ever jump shot of the season at the end of regulation was bad, you hadn’t seen anything yet. Throughout Madsen’s 502 NBA games, including both regular season and the postseason, he had only ever attempted 18 three-point shots. Five of those 18 were halfcourt heaves, so he’s really ever taken 13 honest to god shots from beyond the arc.
13 three-point attempts in 502 games. He made one of those.
He shot seven three-point attempts in 10 minutes of overtime play in this game alone.
He made none of those.
Many of these “shots” had no chance of going in. Airballs, backboard rockets, bricks off the side of the rim. You could hear fans in Target Center shouting out “Draft pick!” during this horrid display. Eventually, you see Madsen smiling, might I say winking, at fans during dead ball situations late in the game. The broadcast even cut to replays of both the Minnesota and Memphis benches bursting into laughter as Madsen ran around like Steph Curry, launching jumpers off the catch. The late, great Tom Hanneman and a young Jim Peterson were on the call and were cracking up, even encouraging Madsen to “Let it rain!” live during the game. It ended with Head Coach Dewane Casey drawing up an elevator doors play for Madsen to get off a three-ball despite being down 10.
I am not embellishing.
Feast your eyes on rare footage of this blatant, shameless, and absolutely hilarious tank job by the Timberwolves, commandeered by Mark Madsen:
Victor's coming! Tanking teams need guidance.
Remember the time Mark Madsen went 1-for-15 in the 82nd game? He missed 7 threes in 2 OT's as Minnesota scraped out an L to move up in the draft.
Fans yelling "DRAFT PICK!", visiting Grizzlies in disbelief. An unbelievable game. pic.twitter.com/PnNtE2qXAR
If you think this game came and passed as if no one paid attention, well then you would be wrong. Casey shared his thoughts with reporters after the game.
“The guys were having fun with it. For what we’ve been through this season, I thought the guys deserved it. I hope what we did didn’t make a mockery of the game”
Dewane Casey, 2006
Even Madsen himself recalled the game some eight years later. Like Casey, he laughed it off as harmless fun.
“Imagine being out there, catching the ball at the three-point line and the whole arena is yelling, ‘Shoot.’ It doesn’t make me feel good. So in my mind, I’m like, you know what, I’ve worked hard on my game. I’m going to go out there and knock these down. I think everyone in that building knew the situation. But I go out there and try to make every single shot always.”
Mark Madsen, 2014
You’d imagine that this Timberwolves organization, who just got harshly punished by the NBA for illegal contract negotiations six years ago, would’ve been discouraged from any potential funny business. But this was 2006, where things were still new. There wasn’t easy access to watching or streaming basketball games, nor was there social media to spit out clips and aggregate this travesty.
Glen Taylor’s Timberwolves walked away Scot-free.
SEACUCUS, NJ – MAY 22: Randy Foye of the Minnesota Timberwolves speaks with Brandon Roy of the Portland Trail Blazers prior to the 2007 NBA Draft Lottery on May 22, 2007 at the NBATV Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey. 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 2007 NBAE (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
General Manager, Kevin McHale, ended up with the number six pick in the 2006 NBA draft. He selected multi-time All-Star and All-NBA guard, Brandon Roy. However, on draft night, McHale swapped the draft rights to Roy for future career-journeyman, Randy Foye. So, yeah. The Timberwolves may have pulled off the most blatant greatest tank job ever without direct repercussion, but in some ways, they ultimately punished themselves.
Because sometimes you might think you’re tanking, when in reality, you’re really just a living, breathing, tank.
Let that be a lesson to those of you pissed off at Sacramento.
TAMPA, FL - APRIL 4: Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning splits the defense of Pavel Zacha #18 and Charlie McAvoy #73 of the Boston Bruins to reach for a loose puck during the first period at the Benchmark International Arena on April 4, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to this season’s very last Public Preview®, the combination preview/Public Skate you’ve come to know and love!
Tampa comes into this game with 102 points, good for third place in the Atlantic Division.
Like the Bruins, they have three games left, but find themselves two points behind Montreal for second and four points behind Buffalo for third.
(Montreal also has three games left, while Buffalo has two.)
These two teams last met a week ago in Tampa, a 3-1 win for the Lightning. Tampa has won all three of the season’s match-ups thus far, so the Bruins will be looking to avoid a season sweep.
As you likely know, the Bruins officially clinch a playoff spot with any kind of win today — regulation, OT, or shootout.
They can also clinch with a loss and a series of other results going their way, but it’d but much, much easier to just, you know…win.
James Hagens will not be making his NHL debut today, with Marco Sturm noting that he wants to give the kid more time to get acclimated to the Bruins’ system.
With another game tomorrow evening in Columbus, it may not be too long before we see Hagens, but time will tell.
Those back-to-back games also likely mean that we’ll see both goalies this weekend, so we’ll see who goes first. Jeremy Swayman has started two of the Tampa games this season, with Joonas Korpisalo getting the other start.
As a reminder, today’s other relevant games will be the New York Islanders vs. Ottawa Senators (1 PM) and New Jersey Devils vs. Detroit Red Wings (5 PM).
Depending on how those two games go, the Bruins may end up clinching regardless of their result today.
Tune in at 12:30! Or, since this is ABC, probably closer to 1 PM.
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