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What we learned as Sharks' playoff hopes dwindle after shootout loss to Canucks

What we learned as Sharks' playoff hopes dwindle after shootout loss to Canucks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN JOSE – Depending on how things unfold over the next week, the Sharks almost certainly have played their final game of the 2025-26 NHL season at SAP Center.

A 4-3 shootout loss to the struggling Vancouver Canucks on Saturday was the final nail in San Jose’s season at the Tank, one that was noticeably better than a year ago but not enough to send the sold-out crowd home happy.

Star Macklin Celebrini added to his outstanding season with a shootout goal and two assists, giving him 110 points for the season — fourth overall in the NHL.

Igor Chernshov had two goals and Tyler Toffoli also scored for the Sharks, while Yaroslav Askarov had 38 saves before allowing the game-winner in the sixth round of the shootout.

There’s a chance, slim as it may be, that the Sharks could be back in town to host a playoff game, but that will be determined over the next few days.

It was a strange night in many ways.

Vancouver scored its first goal by Marco Rossi in the second period. As Rossi pushed the puck toward the net, Askarov pulled the entire goal setup down and over the puck. After a short discussion by referees, the goal was upheld.

Shortly afterward, Toffoli put the Sharks back in front with his 19th goal of the season from just inside the left circle.

Vancouver didn’t go quietly, despite trailing three different times.

The Canucks made a surge and peppered Askarov with multiple shots before Jake DeBrusk fired the puck past San Jose’s goalie to tie it with 2:23 left in the second period.

Vancouver then forced overtime after scoring with one second left on the power play and three minutes remaining in the third period.

Here are the takeaways from Saturday:

So you’re saying there’s a chance

Despite their recent stumbles that pushed them to the brink of being eliminated from postseason contention, the Sharks head into their final three games still with a chance at getting into the Stanley Cup playoffs.

It certainly won’t be easy. The Los Angeles Kings currently hold the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference with 87 points, with the Nashville Predators (86) and Winnipeg Jets (82) next in line.

The Sharks have 82. San Jose would have to make a clean sweep of their three remaining games against Nashville, Chicago and Winnipeg, and hope the Kings lose out.

Better start sets the tone

In each of their last two games, the Sharks came out flat, fell behind and never recovered. The slow starts were critical in losses to the Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks.

Against a Canucks team that isn’t on the same level as the Oilers and Ducks, San Jose looked much more crisp offensively during the opening 20 minutes, although Celebrini missed a breakaway attempt midway through the period.

The Sharks missed a few other close scoring opportunities before Igor Chernyshov wrapped the puck around the right side of Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen to get the crowd inside SAP Center really vibing.

San Jose wound up with 11 shots on goal in the first period.

Sharks shows some fight, literally

The Sharks may not make it to the postseason, but they’re not just rolling over, either.

Late in the first period after Celebrini absorbed a hard hit from the Canucks, Chernyshov and Vancouver defenseman Filip Hronek got into a heated tussle, although it didn’t appear that many punches were thrown.

Dmitry Orlov later got penalized for a hard hip check in the second period.

It’s not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, but for a team that simply could have shut it down for the final week, it’s good to see there’s still some fight – and pride – left in Team Teal.

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Braves vs. Guardians Game Thread: April 11

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 10: Mauricio Dubón #14 of the Atlanta Braves stands in the dugout during the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Truist Park on April 10, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Martín Pérez will lead the Braves against Parker Messick and the Guardians in the first City Connect Saturday of 2026.

Side note, this picture seems to be from the elaborate light show we now deploy when the opposing team makes a pitching change. They are definitely making use of those state-of-the-art lights and projections… thoughts?

First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 pm ET. 

Game Notes

Pitching matchup

Lineups

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4/11 Gamethread: Giants @ Orioles

Side view of Logan Webb reaching back while throwing a pitch.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 31: Logan Webb #62 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Petco Park on March 31, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After a spirited victory in the series opener, the San Francisco Giants will look to win their series against the Baltimore Orioles today, in the second game of their nine-game road trip.

The Giants are sending their ace to the mound, as right-hander Logan Webb will make his fourth start of the year. On the year, the 29-year old is 1-1 with a 5.00 ERA, a 2.65 FIP, and 15 strikeouts against just six walks in 18 innings. His last start was his best, as he held the New York Mets to one run in seven innings.

He’s up against the veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt, who makes his third start for the Orioles, his fifth MLB team. It’s been a tough start for the 37-year old, who is 0-2 with a 14.21 ERA, an 8.52 FIP, and just three strikeouts against six walks in 6.1 innings.

Enjoy the game, everyone! Go Giants!

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Game #15

Who: San Francisco Giants (6-8) vs. Baltimore Orioles (6-7)

Where: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland

When: 4:15 p.m. PT

Regional broadcast: n/a

National broadcast: FOX

Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM

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Preview: Wizards head to Cleveland for game 82

Apr 9, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards forward Leaky Black (14) shoots the ball as Chicago Bulls center Lachlan Olbrich (47) looks on in the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The Washington Wizards are wrapping up their 2026 season in Cleveland tomorrow. Here is the preview:

Game info

When: 6 p.m. EST on Sunday, Apr. 12

Where: Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio

How to watch: Monumental Sports Network

Injuries

Wizards — Justin Champagnie (knee) is listed as DAY-TO-DAY

Cavs — Donovan Mitchell (ankle), Sam Merrill (hamstring) and Jarrett Allen (knee) are all listed as DAY-TO-DAY

Game notes and more

  • Game 82 of the NBA season is a who’s who of “who is that?” Huge props to anyone who sits down and watches this game.
  • The Wizards have won fewer than 20 games for a third consecutive season and failed to improve upon last season’s 18 wins. Next year it’s time to start stringing together some wins.
  • The Cavs might look very different next season if they’re not able to put together a strong playoff run. They are the team to watch in the offseason if they bow out of the postseason early.

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Spurs vs. Mavericks player grades: Wembanyama drops 40 in return

SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks against the Dallas Mavericks in the first half at Frost Bank Center on April 10, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Victor Wembanyama needed to play one more game to qualify for end-of-season awards. After a rib injury, many people suggested he could do 20 minutes of cardio to meet the minimum requirements. Doing the minimum is not in Wembanyama’s nature. He exploded for 40 points in 26 minutes as the Spurs handled the Dallas Mavericks 139-120.

Wembanyama will lead the player grades for the second-to-last regular-season game. As a quick reminder, these grades are based on each player’s on-court performance, going beyond just the stat sheet. A “B” grade represents the average performance for an individual. If a player logs fewer than 5 minutes or plays only in garbage time, their grade will be incomplete.

Victor Wembanyama

26 minutes, 40 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 14-for-23 shooting, 2-for-7 threes, +10

It wasn’t just the stats Wembanyama put up, but the way he achieved them. He looked smooth on the perimeter, handling the ball and knocking down two three-pointers. He took bumps inside and still finished over the top of opposing defenders. It didn’t look like the rib injury was holding him back at all.

With 65 games in the can, Wembanyama is a lock to take home multiple awards. The Spurs’ big man is -20000 to win Defensive Player of the Year on FanDuel.

Grade: A

De’Aaron Fox

28 minutes, 18 points, 1 rebound, 1o assists, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, 7-for-14 shooting, 2-for-4 threes, +11

San Antonio needed a 40-28 third-quarter run to pull away from Dallas. That effort was led mostly by Fox, who had 14 of his 18 points in the third frame. Fox was a maestro with the rock while having an efficient shooting night. He also had some of the most explosive dunks we’ve seen from him in his time with the Spurs. It was a fun performance to watch, and without him, the Spurs may not have come away with the win.

Grade: A-

Dylan Harper

26 minutes, 13 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, 4-for-9 shooting, 0-for-1 threes, +15

Harper got exposed by Cooper Flagg a bit. Flagg went to work whenever Harper was guarding him on the perimeter. The rookie didn’t let it get to him. He fought back on the other end by getting to the basket, scoring at an efficient rate. This was one of Harper’s better passing games with six assists.

Grade: B

Julian Champagnie

27 minutes, 14 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2 fouls, 5-for-8 shooting, 1-for-3 threes, +15

I’ve been loving Champagnie’s attacking mentality lately. As teams close out hard on him, respecting his jump shot, he’s been going right around them to get to the basket. His finishing around the basket has improved greatly from last season. He’s a real threat to score at the rim now. He’s been playing some solid off-ball defense lately, too, which will be important for the Spurs as teams try to find ways to score around Wembanyama in the playoffs.

Grade: B+

Luke Kornet

18 minutes, 2 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 1-for-2 shooting, +10

Kornet went from dominating the Trail Blazers to playing a more subdued role against Dallas. He was still solid defensively in 18 minutes, walling up in the paint and breaking up passes near the rim. Seven boards in just 18 minutes is nothing to sniff at, either. Kornet’s performance against the Mavs was pretty typical: solid.

Grade: B

Devin Vassell

27 minutes, 5 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 2-for-7 shooting, 1-for-4 threes, +3

Vassell didn’t make much of an impact in his 27 minutes. He was cold when shooting the ball from deep, missing some open shots. He didn’t actively hurt the Spurs either. His defense remains solid, as he’s been able to accumulate some steals on the wing. He and Champagnie have been getting better and better at taking advantage of the defensive opportunities presented to them as teams look to avoid Wembanyama.

Grade:B-

Harrison Barnes

28 minutes, 15 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 6-for-9 shooting, 2-for-4 threes, +13

Unc was cooking on Friday! Barnes had 15 points, giving the Spurs an edge off the bench. Now Barnes needs to score 17 points or more in his final game of the season to give the Spurs their eighth player averaging double-digit points.

Grade: B+

Keldon Johnson

24 minutes, 17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 foul, 6-for-13 shooting, 1-for-5 threes, +8

Johnson did what he does best against Dallas, getting to the rim and fighting on the boards. KJ grabbed 2 offensive boards on Friday. His impact on all aspects of the game has made him the leading candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.

Grade: B

Carter Bryant

25 minutes, 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, 4-for-5 shooting, 3-for-3 threes, +14

Bryant continues to play great down the stretch. He’s been a sharpshooter from three in the last two games, as he’s starting to shoot them with a lot of confidence. On the other end, he continues to compete. He had an awesome block on Flagg that showed why so many believe he can develop into a real defensive stopper on the wing.

Grade: B+

Jordan McLaughlin

6 minutes, 3 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1-for-2 shooting, 1-for-1 threes, -2

J-Mac played in garbage time, knocking down a three and grabbing a steal.

Grade: B

Harrison Ingram

6 minutes, 0 points, -2

Ingram got his cardio in on Friday. He played six minutes without logging a single stat.

Grade: B

Inactives: Stephon Castle, David Jones-Garcia, Emanuel Miller

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Twins 7, Blue Jays 4: Just Score Seven Runs at Once

Apr 11, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Minnesota Twins left fielder Trevor Larnach (9) celebrates hitting a three run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

The Twins bounced back in decisive fashion on Saturday afternoon, riding a wonderful start from Joe Ryan and an early crooked number to best the Toronto Blue Jays by a 7-4 final, and even the series at a game apiece.

Early momentum was not in Minnesota’s favor; after allowing 10 unanswered runs in the series opener, the Jays jumped on Joe Ryan early, with a two-run homer off the bat of Daulton Varsho making it a 2-0 Toronto lead before Ryan had recorded an out.

But from that point on, Ryan was nails. The Varsho homer was one of only two hits Ryan would surrender in a robust seven-inning start, the other a fourth-inning Vladdy Jr. single. Minnesota’s number-one starter retired the final 12 hitters he faced from then on, providing the bullpen with a much-needed respite in the midst of a remarkably long early-season stretch of games without a day off.

Meanwhile, the lineup consolidated all their momentum into a single inning. Facing an oft-troubling lefty, this time in the personage of Eric Lauer, the Twins were held off the board in every single frame of the game except the third. In that third, Brooks Lee kept his turnaround narrative hot with a leadoff blast to left to cut the Jays’ lead in half. Call-up Ryan Kreidler would ground out, but then it was off to the races.

Back-to-back singles from Byron Buxton and Austin Martin put set up a walk of Luke Keaschall to load the bases, and then a walk to tie the game when Ryan Jeffers drew a free pass on four straight out of the zone. Varsho’s name would come up again when a questionable read on a towering fly to center wound up going as a Josh Bell two-run single. With a 4-2 Twins lead and two outs later in the inning, Trevor Larnach homered against a left-handed pitcher, a three-run jack into right field that marked his jusf fifth career bomb off any southpaw.

Unfortunately, that was almost literally it for the Twins offense. Brooks Lee singled in the visiting sixth, the only remaining hit for Minnesota.

And while Ryan was great, Kody Funderburk had to tiptoe out of danger in the eighth inning, letting his first two assignments reach base and only just managing to record a shutout inning. Cole Sands was not so lucky; tasked again with the ninth, he gave Toronto two back when Jesus Sanchez launched a two-run shot for his second homer of the year.

The loss wasn’t the worst news of the night for the Jays, either; already absolutely beleaguered by injuries, George Springer suffered a toe fracture after fouling a pitch off his foot. He finished his at-bat, but was pulled for the rest of the game in the DH slot.

And so, with the highlights consolidated into one starting pitcher and one offensive inning, and the usual weaknesses (streaky offense + poor bullpen performance) rearing their heads, it is a somewhat incomplete victory that evens this series, but a victory nevertheless.

The rubber match is tomorrow, and the Twins have a lot to play for — a four-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers followed by a road victory against the reigning American League champions would do a lot to alter perceptions of this team in the early goings.

See you there!

STUDS:

SP Joe Ryan (7 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, BB, 5 K, HR, W)

RF Austin Martin (1-for-2, R, 2 BB)

LF Trevor Larnach (1-for-3, R, 3 RBI, BB, HR)

SS Brooks Lee (2-for-4, R, RBI, HR)

DUDS:

NO DUDS! TWINS WIN! TWINS WIN!

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Game 14: Red Sox @ Cardinals — Suárez vs Leahy

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - APRIL 10: Trevor Story #10 of the Boston Red Sox bats in a run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth inning at Busch Stadium on April 10, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images

A Saturday national game, is this the pressure the Red Sox need right now? We at least see a little more normal of a lineup with Roman back in—maybe being the DH will let him focus on one thing at a time and his bat is more important right now. Can the Red Sox stop seeing red and pull out a victory or will Ranger Suárez keep getting pecked by the Redbirds?

⚾️ First Pitch: 7:15pm ET — Busch Stadium, St Louis, MO

📺 TV: FOX

📻 Radio: WEEI

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Why Lakers coach JJ Redick said ‘everybody wants to play us,’ and he’s not wrong

The Lakers are wounded. 

They’re ravaged by injuries and playing without their top two scorers. They’re weak and vulnerable as they limp toward the finish line of the regular season. 

And now, the rest of the Western Conference smells blood in the water. 

When Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters that “everybody wants to play us,” he wasn’t posturing or trying to light a fire under his team.

When Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters that “everybody wants to play us,” he wasn’t posturing. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

He was stating out loud what everyone from the outside could clearly see. The Lakers, a rising force in the standings just a few weeks ago, have now become an exposed nerve. 

“Let’s get that out there, like, everybody wants to play us,” Redick said Friday. “There’s probably teams in positions that can start looking forward to potential second-round matchups as well. You’ve seen some of those teams rest their entire lineups basically. We can’t be concerned with all that.” 

After a dominant March, the Lakers looked like the team in the West that nobody wanted to face. Led by Luka Doncic playing at an MVP level, and Austin Reaves thriving as the secondary scoring option, the Lakers were firing on all cylinders.

They had rhythm, balance and multiple ways to beat you. They weren’t just beating teams, they were dictating everything. 

Now, they’re asking LeBron James, at 41 years old, to rewind time and become the engine, the initiator and the closer for the Lakers Getty Images

Then everything unraveled. 

During a blowout loss in Oklahoma City, Doncic suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain and Reaves a Grade 2 oblique tear. With the snap of Thanos’ fingers, nearly 60 points per night disappeared from the Lakers’ rotation. 

Now, they’re asking LeBron James, at 41 years old, to rewind time and become the engine, the initiator and the closer for the Lakers. To carry the team on his back as they drag toward the checkered flag. 

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To his credit, James has been brilliant the last two games, but brilliance from just one man won’t be enough once the postseason starts. 

Not in a loaded Western Conference with the Thunder and Spurs separating themselves from the rest of the league. Not against the Nuggets, who casually rested most of their starters including Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray on Friday like they were already thinking a round ahead. 

The Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic sat out Friday night to rest for the NBA playoffs. NBAE via Getty Images

Around the league, other teams see the same thing. A team missing its top two scorers. A roster asking role players to stretch into something they’re not comfortable or familiar with. A system that is trying to find “nine players to be fully all in.” 

One of those players is Luke Kennard. For most of his nine-year career, he’s been a 3-point specialist off the bench. Now he’s trying to be one of the Lakers’ primary ball handlers and playmakers. 

“You understand why teams want to play us. We’re missing 60 points a game,” said Kennard when asked about Redick’s comments on Friday and if it can be a rallying cry for the team. “But we also have him [James] and the way he’s playing and leading us. We’re going to need him to continue to do that.”

James can’t do it by himself, but to Kennard’s point, there is something dangerous about dismissing a team completely with one of the greatest players of all time still on it. 

Even undermanned, the Lakers have won two straight games against teams that will be in the play-in tournament. That’s a faint pulse, not a flatline. It speaks to this team’s resilience and ability to overcome adversity all season. 

James can’t do it by himself, but to Kennard’s point, there is something dangerous about dismissing a team completely with one of the greatest players of all time still on it.  NBAE via Getty Images

“None of you guys had us in the top four to start the season. Most people had us as a play-in team or even worse,” said Redick of preseason predictions for the Lakers. “We’ve had to manage the expectations of the Lakers and the negativity that surrounds every loss, and I think our group has managed that well.”

By virtue of the Lakers’ victory over the Suns on Friday night, they secured a top-four seed and homecourt advantage in the first round. With a win in the final regular-season game Sunday against the Jazz and a Nuggets loss to the Spurs, they will finish third and face the Timberwolves for the second straight postseason. With a loss or Denver win, they will host the Rockets in the first round. 

Regardless of their first-round opponent, without Doncic and Reaves, the Lakers will be underdogs. Both teams will try to stop James by throwing double- and triple-teams at him, forcing the Lakers’ secondary players to make decisions and beat them. And now, there’s not enough evidence to prove they can. 

Unfortunately, this is the reality in Los Angeles now. The Lakers are vulnerable. Capable but compromised. They will have to punch above their weight to win a playoff series without two of their stars. 

So, yes — everybody wants to play them and rightfully so.

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Portal roundup: PJ Haggerty chooses Texas A&M and Isaiah Johnson selects Texas

PJ Haggerty is heading to Texas A&M and Isaiah Johnson is joining Texas as the Lone Star state’s two Southeastern Conference programs have landed former Big 12 stars in the transfer portal.

Each player announced his decision in an Instagram post.

Haggerty scored 23.4 points per game for Kansas State this season to rank fourth among all Division I players. Johnson is coming off a freshman season in which he averaged 16.9 points for Colorado.

Haggerty will be playing for his fifth different school. The 6-foot-4 guard was at TCU in 2022-23, Tulsa in 2023-24 and Memphis in 2024-25.

Haggerty has averaged at least 21.2 points each of his last three seasons. He was an Associated Press All-America second-team pick with Memphis last season and received honorable mention on this year’s AP All-America team. Haggerty also was an AP second-team all-Big 12 selection this season.

Johnson is a 6-1 guard who had three assists and 2.9 rebounds per game this season to go along with his 16.9 points per game.

___

AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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Ottawa 3 Islanders 0: Tkachuk Suffers Mysterious Injury As Senators Move Closer To Playoff Spot

Linus Ullmark made 23 saves for his 15th career shutout as the Ottawa Senators defeated the New York Islanders 3-0 at UBS Arena on Saturday afternoon. Ridly Greig and Michael Amadio led the way offensively, each putting up a goal and an assist for the Senators. Despite managing only 16 shots in the game, the Sens are now one point away from punching their ticket to the playoffs.

While leading 1-0 in the third period, the Senators capitalized on some good fortune when the Islanders took back-to-back tripping penalties. Jake Sanderson provided some breathing room, whacking home a rebound on the ensuing 5 on 3 to give the Sens a 2-0 advantage.

But the news wasn't all good.

Steve Warne, Gregg Kennedy and Brad Fritsch discuss the rise of Jordan Spence in Ottawa

Sens captain Brady Tkachuk left the game under mysterious circumstances. While standing in the neutral zone near the Islanders' bench, without seeming to take any contact at all, he appeared woozy as he left the ice surface. 

Sens head coach Travis Green didn't have any update on what happened to Tkachuk and could only report that he didn't feel good.

So that leaves us to speculate.

For the second straight meeting, Tkachuk had squared off with Anders Lee at the opening faceoff, leading to speculation that maybe Tkachuk had been playing while concussed after the fight.

Some have suggested that Pulock struck him on the neck with his stick, which, after multiple views, I'm not seeing at all.

Cervical vertigo might also be a possibility. It can be triggered suddenly by certain neck movements, and you can see Tkachuk do a hard shoulder check, turning his head to his left. He then flinched when he was immediately surprised by Ryan Pulock jumping off the Islanders' bench to his right.

That's when Tkachuk retreated to the bench, suddenly going from looking sharp to wobbly. 

Whatever happened here, the Sens hope to wrap up a playoff spot quickly and give Tkachuk and the rest of their banged-up crew some time off if they need it.

The club has now won four in a row, moving past Boston and into the first Wild Card playoff spot in the East. The two teams have the same record after the Bruins lost in regulation on Saturday, but the Sens are now ahead because they have more regulation wins.

The Detroit Red Wings are now the only team behind the Senators in the standings that can still catch them, but a lot would have to go right. The Wings would have to win their next three games, starting today against New Jersey, while the Senators would have to lose their last two.

Ottawa visits those same Devils on Sunday.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:  

Why Shane Pinto Should Be One Of The Favourites For The Selke Trophy
Chabot Cleared To Play... 17 Days After Breaking His Arm
Ullmark Describes Masterton Trophy Nomination As Bittersweet
'A Superstar Moment:' The Senators Goal Everyone Is Talking About

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Game Thread: The Nick Martinez bait-and-switch

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 5: Nick Martinez #28 of the Tampa Bay Rays gestures towards Ben Williamson #15 during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on April 5, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Go Rays!

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Yankees at Rays: Max Fried vs Nick Martinez

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees pitches during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium on April 05, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Suddenly, the Yankees have dropped three-straight contests after losing two games at home against the Athletics then going down to defeat last night in St. Pete for the series opener. The good news is New York sends its ace to the mound tonight. The bad news is said ace cannot hit.* The worse news is neither can the rest of team, with a couple of exceptions.

*Well, he did win the last NL Silver Slugger for a pitcher, but the Yankees will stick with a DH.

This will be Max Fried’s fourth start of the season. The southpaw is coming off his worst outing thus far, one that was still perfectly cromulent, as Fried allowed three runs over 6.2 innings against Miami in an eventual 7-6 loss. Through 20 innings, Fried is varying his pitches with the effect of minimizing hard contact. He’s thrown each of his four-seamer, sinker, cutter, curve, change, and sweeper between 10 percent and 23 percent of the time. Good luck sitting on any one pitch. Unsurprisingly, opponents’ average exit velocity, barrel percentage, and hard-hit percentage all rest comfortably in the red on Statcast.

Veteran right-hander Nick Martinez gets the start for the Rays, his third this season. Like Fried, he’s thrown six different pitches at least somewhat frequently this season. Also, like Fried, the results have been good. Through 12 innings, Martinez has a 2.25 ERA and his Statcast has a bunch of red. One thing that jumps out: Yankee hitters will need to earn their way on base. Martinez has only issued one free pass so far, though he’s also only struck out seven. We should see balls in play tonight.

It might not matter how well Fried pitches if the Yankee lineup doesn’t figure it out. The bottom of the order has been a wasteland in the opening weeks. Tonight, Jazz Chisholm Jr. boasts the best OPS among the hitters in those slots, with a putrid .469 mark. Exacerbating the issue is that the top of the lineup is not hitting to the back of their baseball cards either, except for Ben Rice and Giancarlo Stanton, though the latter’s power is absent in the opening weeks of the year. Cody Bellinger, for example, has four hits in his last seven games. Aaron Judge has a singular home run in that stretch. And Trent Grisham has a .237 SLG this season. All told, the Yankees enter tonight with a .199 team batting average through 13 games, and five runs scored in their last three.

Let’s get this turned around. A couple of crooked numbers in the run column tonight for the Yankees would be the bee’s knees.

How to Watch:

Location: Tropicana Field — St. Petersburg, FL

First Pitch: 6:10 pm EDT

TV broadcast: YES/Rays.TV

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 / WDAE 95.7 FM, WQBN/1300AM

Online stream: MLB Network (out-of-market-only)

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Jays Lose 7-4, Springer Injured

Apr 11, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Eric Lauer (56) walks towards the dugout against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Well, yesterday’s good vibes did not long endure.

Something is up with Eric Lauer. He was sitting 90 early and about 87 by the fourth, and struggling to locate in a way that he hasn’t really since becoming a Blue Jay. His five walks were his worst since he was a rookie back in 2018. Perhaps it’s the lingering effects of the stomach flu that wrecked the pitching staff last week. He did throw 95 pitches, without evidence of arm soreness or anything like that. The rotation is already in tatters, so the Jays will have to hope that’s all it is.

In other bad news, Myles Straw came out to pinch hit for George Springer in the fifth inning (though as it happened he didn’t get into the game until the sixth). It turns out he broke his toe by fouling a ball off it.

Things didn’t start too badly for Eric Lauer. He allowed just a walk through the first two innings. Then the wheels came off. Brooks Lee lead off the third with a solo home run. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases, and his third walk of the day forced home a run. The Jays could have limited the damage, but a towering Josh Bell fly fooled Daulton Varsho into going back and dropped for a single, scoring two instead of recording the second out. A batter later, Trevor Larnach hit a missile off the facing of the second deck in right to run the Twins’ total up to seven before Lee popped up to end the inning. It was as bad of a meltdown inning as you’ll see. He stayed in the bullpen, presumably to spare the bullpen given Max Scherzer’s uncertain health for tomorrow, and regained his composure from there. In the fourth, an Austin Martin walk was erased when Brandon Valenzuela gunned him down trying to steal second. In the fifth, he sat the Twins down in order. They tried to get one more, and he retired one batter before giving up a walk and being removed from the game. All told, he went 5.1 innings, allowing 7 earned on 5 hits and 5 walks, striking out three. He didn’t give up a hit outside the nightmare third inning. It was a weird afternoon.

Spencer Miles took over, giving up a single to Lee that moved the lead runner to third before inducing Ryan Kreidler to ground into a double play to end the inning. Back for the seventh, he walked Martin but a fly out and a pair of ground outs got him out of it. In the eighth and ninth he retired the Twins in order, picking up a K in each inning. It was a strong performance that did a lot to help the rest of the team set up for what’ll probably be a quasi-bullpen day tomorrow, and he was getting it up over 96 in this fourth inning of work. Miles is looking like a great rule 5 pick and a key part of the bullpen.

The offence, on the other side, started hot against Joe Ryan before going silent. George Springer lead off the game with a walk, and Daulton Varsho put the Jays in front with a two run homer, his second of the year. From there, though, Ryan gave up only a hit batter among the next nine Blue Jays, and erased that with a double play. Vladimir Guerrero jr. lined a single to right to lead off the fourth, but the next dozen Jays batters went in order. Ryan only struck out five, but outside Varsho’s home run they couldn’t lay a finger on him.

They had marginally better luck with the bullpen. Kody Funderburk pitched the eighth. Ernie Clement singled and Andres Gimenez walked, but the rest of the lineup couldn’t capitalize. Facing Cole Sands in the ninth, Vlad hit a hard ground ball single back over the mound to lead off. Jesus Sanchez crushed one deep to right to bring the Jays within three. That was as close as they’d get, though, as Sands ended the inning there.

Jays of the Day: Varsho (0.13)

Less So: Lauer (-0.50)

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Yankees prospect roundup: George Lombard Jr.'s hot start continues in Double-A, Carlos Lagrange strikes out eight in Triple-A

George Lombard Jr. continues to feel more comfortable in Double-A as his hot start to the minor league season continued on Saturday afternoon.

The Yankees' top prospect went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and two walks in the Somerset Patriots' 7-6 loss to the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. Lombard's season average through the team's first seven games now sits at .464.

Lombard's incredible start also includes two home runs.

It's a promising sign for the Yankees prospect after he struggled when he was promoted to Double-A last year. In 108 games with the Patriots, Lombard slashed .215/.337/.358 with an OPS of .695 and eight home runs. 

The infielder wasn't the only prospect in Saturday's game. Ben Hess, the Yankees' No. 5 overall prospect, started the game, but his day was short. The right-hander tossed 2.2 innings, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out five batters. However, Hess walked five batters, contributing to his 82 pitches (42 strikes). 

Saturday was Hess' second start this season after a strong debut when he allowed two runs on three hits while striking out nine batters across five innings. 

Carlos Lagrange strikes out eight for Triple-A

Up with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, top pitching prospect Lagrange took the mound to start for the RailRiders.

The right-hander only went 3.1 innings, however, allowing two runs on two hits and four walks. He struck out eight batters as he continues to build his case to make the big league club this season.

Saturday's start saw Lagrange's season-high in strikeouts -- his previous two starts saw him strike out five batters combined -- but he allowed his most runs in the early season. Lagrange allowed one run in four innings in his season debut and one run in 3.1 innings in his second start.

Lagrange's ERA stands at 3.38 after three starts and he took his first loss after the RailRiders' 4-2 loss in the first game of their doubleheader. 

Yankees outfield prospect Spencer Jones went 1-for-3 with an RBI single. The slugger has had a slow start to the season. He's batting just .205 with only two home runs in his first 12 games.

Jasson Dominguez, who isn't a prospect anymore but down with Triple-A to get everyday at-bats, continued his strong season by going 0-for-1 with two walks and a run scored. He entered Saturday's game slashing .375/.468/.575 with two home runs.

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George Springer suffers toe fracture in latest Blue Jays injury setback

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows George Springer of the Toronto Blue Jays fouls the ball off his foot in the third inning of a game against the Minnesota Twins at Rogers Centre on April 11, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Springer left the game with a left big toe fracture, Image 2 shows Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer falls to the ground after taking a foul ball off his foot while playing against the Minnesota Twins during third-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Saturday, April 11, 2026
George Springer

The hits just keep on coming for the Blue Jays.

Just not the ones they’d want.

George Springer exited Saturday’s 7-4 loss to the Twins with a left big toe fracture, the team announced.

George Springer of the Toronto Blue Jays fouls the ball off his foot in the third inning of a game against the Minnesota Twins at Rogers Centre on April 11, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Springer left the game with a left big toe fracture. Getty Images

The four-time All-Star, facing Twins starter Joe Ryan in the third inning, fouled a ball off his foot but remained in the at-bat to ground out to first base.

Playing as the designated hitter, Springer was not officially removed from the game until the sixth inning when Myles Straw entered as a pinch hitter.

Springer, a Silver Slugger winner a year ago, is off to a slow start this season, going 10-for-54 (.185 average) with two homers and six RBIs. It’s not yet clear if the fracture will lead to an injured list stint.

Toronto has been badly bitten by the injury bug early this season. Starter Cody Ponce, signed over after a strong stint in the KBO, tore his ACL while trying to field his position and is now out for the year after needing knee surgery.

Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer falls to the ground after taking a foul ball off his foot while playing against the Minnesota Twins during third-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Saturday, April 11, 2026. AP

Catcher Alejandro Kirk took a foul ball off his thumb behind the dish and suffered a fracture, putting him on the shelf. Infielder Addison Barger was also shut down from baseball activities as he deals with ankle woes.

On top of all this, starters Shane Bieber and Jose Berrios — who are both dealing with elbow issues — have not yet pitched this season. The same goes for playoff hero Trey Yesavage, whose shoulder had kept him off the field.

In all, it’s led to a mediocre start for the defending American League champs, who sit at 6-8.