Posts

Posted on

Twins 4, Tigers 2: Taj fans 10, bats knock out Skubal

Apr 7, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers (27) hits a two RBI double during the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images | Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images

Taj Bradley and Tarik Skubal traded scoreless innings tonight, until the Twins broke through in the 5th. After a pair of 1-out walks by Byron Buxton and Austin Martin, Luke Keaschall singled up the middle for the first run. Then, Ryan Jeffers doubled down the right field line, scoring 2 more runs. Two batters later, Josh Bell doubled to left for the 4th run of the inning, knocking the Tigers ace out of the game.

Taj Bradley kept the Tigers off the scoreboard through 6 innings, working his way out of a bases loaded jam in the 2nd, and stranding baserunners in various others, picking up 9 strikeouts. In the 7th, with the pitch count approaching 100, Derek Shelton left him in the game. After Spencer Torkelson and Parker Meadows singled, Taj picked up strikeout number 10 against Jávier Baez. Taylor Rogers entered in relief, getting Jahmai Jones to fly out before Kevin McGonigle singled to score Torkelson. He ended the inning by striking out Gleyber Torres looking.

In the top of the 8th, Rogers got Riley Greene to strike out before giving way to Cole Sands. After a line out, Sands gave up two walks. Eric Orze entered, and got Kerry Carpenter, the tying run, to strikeout to end the threat.

The Twins made some more noise with the bats in the 8th, but left the bases loaded, taking their 3 run lead to the 9th. Orze gave up a double to Baez and a double to McGonigle to make it a 4-2 game, with Justin Topa coming in for the save. He got Torres to ground out, and, after a Greene walk, Dillon Dingler grounded out to end the game.

Studs:

Taj Bradley: 6.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 10 K

Josh Bell: 3-4, 2B, RBI

Ryan Jeffers: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI

Duds:

NO DUDS TWINS WIN!!

Posted on

Bulls pounded NBA-worst Wizards ending 7-game skid in first game since front-office shake-up

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rob Dillingham scored a career-high 26 points and the Chicago Bulls ended a seven-game skid, pounding the NBA-worst Washington Wizards 129-98 on Tuesday night in the opener of a two-game set.

In the first game since they fired their top two basketball executives, the Bulls were in firm control by the end of the first quarter, leading 38-18 against a Washington team that’s seeking to maximize its odds of landing a top draft pick.

Chicago extended its lead to 66-37 by halftime and 100-63 by the end of the third against a Wizards team that appeared disinterested on defense. Patrick Williams added a season-high 20 points and Tre Jones had 20 points and nine assists for the Bulls, who play at Washington again on Thursday night.

TIMBERWOLVES 124, PACERS 104

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu scored 24 points and Julius Randle and Bones Hyland each added 19 as Minnesota picked up a critical victory over Indiana.

Hyland also had seven assists and Rudy Gobert finished with 12 rebounds. Minnesota is on the cusp of clinching a top six seed and avoiding the Western Conference’s play-in tournament. It could happen later Tuesday — if Houston beats Phoenix. For the Timberwolves, it was a much-needed turnaround. They snapped a three-game losing streak and won for just the second time in six games as they try to build postseason momentum.

The Timberwolves also won despite the absences of All-Star guard Anthony Edwards and Jayden McDaniels. Edwards has missed nine of Minnesota’s last 11 games with a bad right knee, this time on the front end of a back-to-back and against a Pacers squad missing a large group of injured players. McDaniels missed his sixth straight game with an injured left knee.

Ethan Thompson scored 17 points to lead Indiana, and Obi Toppin and Jalen Slawson each had 14 points. The league’s second-worst team lost its third straight and fell to 4-22 in its last 26 games. Indiana still needs two wins to avoid posting the lowest single season victory total in the franchise’s NBA history.

NETS 96, BUCKS 90

NEW YORK (AP) — E.J. Liddell scored a career-high 21 points to lead Brooklyn to a victory over Milwaukee.

Ben Saraf added 19, while Drake Powell and Malachi Smith each had 11 for the Nets (20-59), who have won two straight and three of their last five.

AJ Green scored 20 points for Milwaukee, which dropped to 31-48. Taurean Prince added 16 points, Cormac Ryan chipped in with 14 and Jericho Sims had 12.

Five years after the Bucks edged the Nets in Game 7 of a thrilling second-round series on their way to the NBA championship, both teams are out of the playoff race and Milwaukee’s Doc Rivers indicated before the game he might not coach much longer.

RAPTORS 121, HEAT 95

TORONTO (AP) — Scottie Barnes scored 25 points, Brandon Ingram finished with 23 and Toronto beat Miami, an outcome that locked the Heat into the play-in tournament for a fourth consecutive season.

Jakob Poeltl scored 17 points for the Raptors (44-35), who moved within a game of idle Atlanta for the No. 5 spot in the Eastern Conference playoff chase. Toronto is aiming for its first playoff trip since 2022 and leads Philadelphia (43-36) by one game in the race for the sixth and final guaranteed berth in the East.

RJ Barrett scored 16 and Jamal Shead had 11 assists off the bench for Toronto.

A 19-2 run by the Raptors in the first half turned a two-point deficit into a 13-point lead, and Toronto maintained the double-digit margin virtually the entire rest of the way.

Andrew Wiggins scored 24 points for Miami (41-38), which now likely needs to win its final three games to have any realistic chance of escaping the No. 10 seed going into the play-in tournament for a second consecutive year.

CELTICS 113, HORNETS 102

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown had 35 points and nine rebounds, and Boston outlasted Charlotte.

Brown has scored 26 or more points in his last 10 games. Jayson Tatum added 23 points and has had at least 20 in each of his last six games. Both played the entire fourth quarter.

With the win, the Celtics inched closer to locking up the No. 2 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. It also gave Boston a 2-1 win in the season series with the Hornets, who could potentially be its first-round opponent.

The Hornets led by 11 in the first half but were outscored 35-26 in the third quarter as Boston took a 90-87 edge into the final period. The Celtics limited the Hornets to 15 points in the fourth, when they built a 13-point lead.

LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 36 points, his second straight 30-point game.

PELICANS 156, JAZZ 137

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jeremiah Fears set a Pelicans rookie record for points in a game with 40, and New Orleans snapped an eight-game losing streak with a victory over Utah, who lost their 10th straight.

Fears, the seventh overall pick in the draft, shot 17 for 29 from the field and 1 for 7 from 3-point distance. Jordan Poole scored 34 points, including 22 in third quarter, when New Orleans set a franchise record for points in a period with 50. The Pelicans also set a franchise record for points in a game, despite playing without usual starters Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones and Saddiq Bey.

While Murphy (right ankle) and Murray (bruised left hand) were injured, Williamson, Jones and Bey were all active, but were left on the bench for New Orleans’ final home game of a second-straight non-playoff season.

Poole, who has spent more than half the season on the bench, shot 7 of 16 from 3-point range in his seventh start for New Orleans.

Rookie Micah Peavy scored a season-high 20 points, 2023 first-round draft choice Jordan Hawkins added 25 points for New Orleans and 2025 first-rounder Derek Queen (13th overall) had 17 points and 12 rebounds as the Pelicans finished with a franchise-record 90 points in the paint.

Posted on

Mets get first taste of mental challenge of new ABS system: 'They got him there'

Huascar Brazobán thought he had just gotten out of a big-time jam in the top half of the fifth inning on Tuesday afternoon at Citi Field. And in all other years of Major League Baseball’s history, the Mets' reliever did just that.

But this season is different from all others before it, and home plate umpire Brian O'Nora’s called strike three was merely an initial ruling and not the final word declaring Adrian Del Castillo guilty of being caught looking at a fastball on the inside corner to leave the bases loaded. 

The Diamondbacks’ DH initiated the appeals process and the ABS challenge system quickly overruled O’Nora’s enthusiastic call as the right-hander’s pitch was 0.3 inches off the plate. 

“It plays a big factor, big role,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of ABS after the game. “It was a really good challenge from [Del Castillo], really close pitch. Gotta give them credit there.”

Brazobán, who celebrated as a reliever is expected to after believing they ended a threat and preserved a 2-0 lead, had to quickly regain his composure for a 2-2 count. But it was Del Castillo who triumphed, driving the very next pitch, a 90 mph changeup that went right over the heart of the plate, into right field for a game-tying single. 

“They got him there,” the manager said.

Mendoza added that the mental side of the new ABS challenge system was something they discussed with the players at the start of spring training.

“That particular spot right there, when there’s traffic, when there’s runners on. And you think you executed a pitch, you get the call, and then the hitter challenges,” Mendoza continued. “And then you gotta get back on the mound. That’s not an easy situation, and it’s new for all of us here.

“You think you’re out of the woods, and before you know it, you gotta get back on the mound.”

Reliever Luke Weaver called the situation the “challenge part” of the new system.

"I think that is the perfect example of what the ABS has for us,” Weaver said. “We want to get things right. We want the hitter obviously wanting to be right, and he was, but it's very close.”

He added that while he hasn’t gotten to experience the emotion of a big overturn going against him, “I just imagine that your body just kind of tends to want to lean towards the celebratory part of it, but you've kind of got to hold yourself.”

“It's kind of like the play in the field when the challenge happens. You see it as an out, and then you start to walk, and the umpire holds you up. There's this weird no man's land feel,” he continued. “I think it's a similar thing with the ABS, and in a crucial moment like that in a big inning, it's just so close.

“It can be disheartening, but I think if you're in a good frame of mind, which it's not always going to happen, I think you've got to fight for that. I think you've got to fight to be prepared for the worst and then be excited when it happens, because it's going to happen your way at some point."

The Diamondbacks took advantage of baseball's new reality by scoring three runs, including an RBI bloop double one batter later, but for Brazobán and the rest of the Mets, the learning experience was served with a side of victory after a walk-off win in the 10th. 

Posted on

Mets get first taste of mental challenge of new ABS system: 'They got him there'

Huascar Brazobán thought he had just gotten out of a big-time jam in the top half of the fifth inning on Tuesday afternoon at Citi Field. And in all other years of Major League Baseball’s history, the Mets' reliever did just that.

But this season is different from all others before it, and home plate umpire Brian O'Nora’s called strike three was merely an initial ruling and not the final word declaring Adrian Del Castillo guilty of being caught looking at a fastball on the inside corner to leave the bases loaded. 

The Diamondbacks’ DH initiated the appeals process and the ABS challenge system quickly overruled O’Nora’s enthusiastic call as the right-hander’s pitch was 0.3 inches off the plate. 

“It plays a big factor, big role,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of ABS after the game. “It was a really good challenge from [Del Castillo], really close pitch. Gotta give them credit there.”

Brazobán, who celebrated as a reliever is expected to after believing they ended a threat and preserved a 2-0 lead, had to quickly regain his composure for a 2-2 count. But it was Del Castillo who triumphed, driving the very next pitch, a 90 mph changeup that went right over the heart of the plate, into right field for a game-tying single. 

“They got him there,” the manager said.

Mendoza added that the mental side of the new ABS challenge system was something they discussed with the players at the start of spring training.

“That particular spot right there, when there’s traffic, when there’s runners on. And you think you executed a pitch, you get the call, and then the hitter challenges,” Mendoza continued. “And then you gotta get back on the mound. That’s not an easy situation, and it’s new for all of us here.

“You think you’re out of the woods, and before you know it, you gotta get back on the mound.”

Reliever Luke Weaver called the situation the “challenge part” of the new system.

"I think that is the perfect example of what the ABS has for us,” Weaver said. “We want to get things right. We want the hitter obviously wanting to be right, and he was, but it's very close.”

He added that while he hasn’t gotten to experience the emotion of a big overturn going against him, “I just imagine that your body just kind of tends to want to lean towards the celebratory part of it, but you've kind of got to hold yourself.”

“It's kind of like the play in the field when the challenge happens. You see it as an out, and then you start to walk, and the umpire holds you up. There's this weird no man's land feel,” he continued. “I think it's a similar thing with the ABS, and in a crucial moment like that in a big inning, it's just so close.

“It can be disheartening, but I think if you're in a good frame of mind, which it's not always going to happen, I think you've got to fight for that. I think you've got to fight to be prepared for the worst and then be excited when it happens, because it's going to happen your way at some point."

The Diamondbacks took advantage of baseball's new reality by scoring three runs, including an RBI bloop double one batter later, but for Brazobán and the rest of the Mets, the learning experience was served with a side of victory after a walk-off win in the 10th. 

Posted on

Mets get first taste of mental challenge of new ABS system: 'They got him there'

Huascar Brazobán thought he had just gotten out of a big-time jam in the top half of the fifth inning on Tuesday afternoon at Citi Field. And in all other years of Major League Baseball’s history, the Mets' reliever did just that.

But this season is different from all others before it, and home plate umpire Brian O'Nora’s called strike three was merely an initial ruling and not the final word declaring Adrian Del Castillo guilty of being caught looking at a fastball on the inside corner to leave the bases loaded. 

The Diamondbacks’ DH initiated the appeals process and the ABS challenge system quickly overruled O’Nora’s enthusiastic call as the right-hander’s pitch was 0.3 inches off the plate. 

“It plays a big factor, big role,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of ABS after the game. “It was a really good challenge from [Del Castillo], really close pitch. Gotta give them credit there.”

Brazobán, who celebrated as a reliever is expected to after believing they ended a threat and preserved a 2-0 lead, had to quickly regain his composure for a 2-2 count. But it was Del Castillo who triumphed, driving the very next pitch, a 90 mph changeup that went right over the heart of the plate, into right field for a game-tying single. 

“They got him there,” the manager said.

Mendoza added that the mental side of the new ABS challenge system was something they discussed with the players at the start of spring training.

“That particular spot right there, when there’s traffic, when there’s runners on. And you think you executed a pitch, you get the call, and then the hitter challenges,” Mendoza continued. “And then you gotta get back on the mound. That’s not an easy situation, and it’s new for all of us here.

“You think you’re out of the woods, and before you know it, you gotta get back on the mound.”

Reliever Luke Weaver called the situation the “challenge part” of the new system.

"I think that is the perfect example of what the ABS has for us,” Weaver said. “We want to get things right. We want the hitter obviously wanting to be right, and he was, but it's very close.”

He added that while he hasn’t gotten to experience the emotion of a big overturn going against him, “I just imagine that your body just kind of tends to want to lean towards the celebratory part of it, but you've kind of got to hold yourself.”

“It's kind of like the play in the field when the challenge happens. You see it as an out, and then you start to walk, and the umpire holds you up. There's this weird no man's land feel,” he continued. “I think it's a similar thing with the ABS, and in a crucial moment like that in a big inning, it's just so close.

“It can be disheartening, but I think if you're in a good frame of mind, which it's not always going to happen, I think you've got to fight for that. I think you've got to fight to be prepared for the worst and then be excited when it happens, because it's going to happen your way at some point."

The Diamondbacks took advantage of baseball's new reality by scoring three runs, including an RBI bloop double one batter later, but for Brazobán and the rest of the Mets, the learning experience was served with a side of victory after a walk-off win in the 10th. 

Posted on

Twins 4, Tigers 2: Skubal human after all

Apr 7, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers (27) reacts to hitting a two RBI double during the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images | Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images

After a pair of disappointing losses, the Tigers looked to right the ship on another chilly evening in Minneapolis. Despite having their ace on the mound, and the Twins putting together a far-from-fearsome lineup these days, those bats did enough to knock our starter around and secure a 4-2 victory for the Minnesotans.

Tarik Skubal made his third start of the season, and he’s been doing Skubally things so far. Coming into tonight he’d struck out nine and walked exactly zero in thirteen innings. Would tonight be the night he’d walk a guy?

Making his third start of the year for the Twins was Taj Bradley. After two seasons in the Rays’ rotation, he was traded to Minnesota at the trade deadline for Griffin Jax. Remember last year when the Twins had a little fire-sale? I sure do. They managed to procure a pair of good young starters in Bradley and Mick Abel, who will no doubt be a pain for the Tigers.

With one out in the second, Zach McKinstry doubled to right field, and Spencer Torkelson hit a single to put runners at the corners. Parker Meadows then struck out on a nasty splitter for the second out, and Javier Báez got plunked to load the bases, but Colt Keith promptly grounded out to second and that was that.

Skubal found himself in a mini-jam of his own in the bottom of the inning, after a one-out double by Victor Caratini and a single by Josh Bell to put runners on the corners. But then Skubal bore down and got a strikeout and a flyout to get out of it.

The bottom of the next inning saw the Twins get two singles to lead off, and Austin Martin hit into a double play, putting the lead runner on third with two outs. But then a soft comebacker to Skubal got him out of the inning.

A similar thing happened in the next inning: a Kevin McGonigle throwing error and a single to centre put two runners on with two out, and Royce Lewis lofted a fly ball towards the left-field fence, but Riley Greene hauled it in for the third out. But you can only play with fire long enough before it singes your fingertips.

The bottom of the fifth featured Skubal’s first walk of the year, to Byron Buxton (check your Bingo cards, everyone). And then he went and walked the next hitter, Martin, to put another two runners on. Since you can only play with fire for so long before getting burned, Luke Keaschall singled to centre to score Buxton and open the scoring. Ryan Jeffers followed with a two-run double to right to score both Martin and Keaschall; he was 1-for-25 before this plate appearance off Skubal in his career. After a strikeout, Bell blasted a double to make it 4-0 and end Skubal’s day. Tyler Holton came in and got a sharp grounder to second for the third out, but the damage had been done.

In the top of the seventh, and with Bradley still on the mound, the Tigers got a pair of singles from Torkelson and Meadows. Báez struck out, Bradley left in favour of Taylor Rogers, and Keith was replaced by Jahmai Jones, who flew out to right and pushed Torkelson to third. McGonigle singled to left, scoring Torkelson and making the score 4-1. But Gleyber Torres struck out and the inning ended.

View Link

Connor Seabold replaced Holton to start the seventh, and he threw a pleasantly boring inning.

With two out in the top of the eighth, Cole Sands walked McKinstry and Torkelson, and Kerry Carpenter, who hadn’t started the past two days due to an illness, came on to pinch-hit for Meadows. Eric Orze replaced Sands to face Carpenter, but alas, he struck out and the threat was extinguished.

Seabold carried on into the bottom of the eighth, and perhaps he shouldn’t have, allowing a pair of singles to start the inning. After a strikeout and a walk, the bases were loaded with one out. Seabold then struck out Brooks Lee looking, surprising him with a low fastball, to bring up Buxton… who fouled-out to Torkelson for the third out.

The Tigers had some signs of life in the ninth: Báez doubled to lead off the ninth, but Jones struck out for the first out. McGonigle followed, and of course he came through, anticipating a splitter down and scraping it almost off the firt for a sharp double down the right field line. That knocked Báez in for a 4-2 score. Justin Topa replaced Orze, Torres grounded out for the second out, pushing McGonigle up to third; Greene walked to put runners at the corners. Alas, Dillon Dingler grounded out softly to shortstop and the game was over.

Kinda fun at the end, but ultimately… blehagain.

Final score: Twins 4, Tigers 2

Numbers and Things

  • Coming into tonight’s game, the Tigers were tied for last (with the Orioles) in the American League with seven home runs.
  • The Astros have the most homers with fifteen, but what jumps out the most with me for Houston is the number of doubles they’ve hit: they have 34, and the second-place team, Boston, has 19. Wow! (The Tigers are in third place with 18, so there’s your extra-base power, I guess.)
  • On this day in 1795, France officially adopted the kilogram as its unit of mass. I’m a giant fan of the metric system, and the kilogram is the basic unit of mass around which lots of other units are built (the newton, the joule, the watt, and others). Ounces, pounds, bushels, hogsheads, fathoms, acres? Get outta here with that hot nonsense, buddy! Keep it metric!
Posted on

Twins 4, Tigers 2: Skubal human after all

Apr 7, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers (27) reacts to hitting a two RBI double during the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images | Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images

After a pair of disappointing losses, the Tigers looked to right the ship on another chilly evening in Minneapolis. Despite having their ace on the mound, and the Twins putting together a far-from-fearsome lineup these days, those bats did enough to knock our starter around and secure a 4-2 victory for the Minnesotans.

Tarik Skubal made his third start of the season, and he’s been doing Skubally things so far. Coming into tonight he’d struck out nine and walked exactly zero in thirteen innings. Would tonight be the night he’d walk a guy?

Making his third start of the year for the Twins was Taj Bradley. After two seasons in the Rays’ rotation, he was traded to Minnesota at the trade deadline for Griffin Jax. Remember last year when the Twins had a little fire-sale? I sure do. They managed to procure a pair of good young starters in Bradley and Mick Abel, who will no doubt be a pain for the Tigers.

With one out in the second, Zach McKinstry doubled to right field, and Spencer Torkelson hit a single to put runners at the corners. Parker Meadows then struck out on a nasty splitter for the second out, and Javier Báez got plunked to load the bases, but Colt Keith promptly grounded out to second and that was that.

Skubal found himself in a mini-jam of his own in the bottom of the inning, after a one-out double by Victor Caratini and a single by Josh Bell to put runners on the corners. But then Skubal bore down and got a strikeout and a flyout to get out of it.

The bottom of the next inning saw the Twins get two singles to lead off, and Austin Martin hit into a double play, putting the lead runner on third with two outs. But then a soft comebacker to Skubal got him out of the inning.

A similar thing happened in the next inning: a Kevin McGonigle throwing error and a single to centre put two runners on with two out, and Royce Lewis lofted a fly ball towards the left-field fence, but Riley Greene hauled it in for the third out. But you can only play with fire long enough before it singes your fingertips.

The bottom of the fifth featured Skubal’s first walk of the year, to Byron Buxton (check your Bingo cards, everyone). And then he went and walked the next hitter, Martin, to put another two runners on. Since you can only play with fire for so long before getting burned, Luke Keaschall singled to centre to score Buxton and open the scoring. Ryan Jeffers followed with a two-run double to right to score both Martin and Keaschall; he was 1-for-25 before this plate appearance off Skubal in his career. After a strikeout, Bell blasted a double to make it 4-0 and end Skubal’s day. Tyler Holton came in and got a sharp grounder to second for the third out, but the damage had been done.

In the top of the seventh, and with Bradley still on the mound, the Tigers got a pair of singles from Torkelson and Meadows. Báez struck out, Bradley left in favour of Taylor Rogers, and Keith was replaced by Jahmai Jones, who flew out to right and pushed Torkelson to third. McGonigle singled to left, scoring Torkelson and making the score 4-1. But Gleyber Torres struck out and the inning ended.

View Link

Connor Seabold replaced Holton to start the seventh, and he threw a pleasantly boring inning.

With two out in the top of the eighth, Cole Sands walked McKinstry and Torkelson, and Kerry Carpenter, who hadn’t started the past two days due to an illness, came on to pinch-hit for Meadows. Eric Orze replaced Sands to face Carpenter, but alas, he struck out and the threat was extinguished.

Seabold carried on into the bottom of the eighth, and perhaps he shouldn’t have, allowing a pair of singles to start the inning. After a strikeout and a walk, the bases were loaded with one out. Seabold then struck out Brooks Lee looking, surprising him with a low fastball, to bring up Buxton… who fouled-out to Torkelson for the third out.

The Tigers had some signs of life in the ninth: Báez doubled to lead off the ninth, but Jones struck out for the first out. McGonigle followed, and of course he came through, anticipating a splitter down and scraping it almost off the firt for a sharp double down the right field line. That knocked Báez in for a 4-2 score. Justin Topa replaced Orze, Torres grounded out for the second out, pushing McGonigle up to third; Greene walked to put runners at the corners. Alas, Dillon Dingler grounded out softly to shortstop and the game was over.

Kinda fun at the end, but ultimately… blehagain.

Final score: Twins 4, Tigers 2

Numbers and Things

  • Coming into tonight’s game, the Tigers were tied for last (with the Orioles) in the American League with seven home runs.
  • The Astros have the most homers with fifteen, but what jumps out the most with me for Houston is the number of doubles they’ve hit: they have 34, and the second-place team, Boston, has 19. Wow! (The Tigers are in third place with 18, so there’s your extra-base power, I guess.)
  • On this day in 1795, France officially adopted the kilogram as its unit of mass. I’m a giant fan of the metric system, and the kilogram is the basic unit of mass around which lots of other units are built (the newton, the joule, the watt, and others). Ounces, pounds, bushels, hogsheads, fathoms, acres? Get outta here with that hot nonsense, buddy! Keep it metric!
Posted on

Twins 4, Tigers 2: Skubal human after all

Apr 7, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers (27) reacts to hitting a two RBI double during the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images | Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images

After a pair of disappointing losses, the Tigers looked to right the ship on another chilly evening in Minneapolis. Despite having their ace on the mound, and the Twins putting together a far-from-fearsome lineup these days, those bats did enough to knock our starter around and secure a 4-2 victory for the Minnesotans.

Tarik Skubal made his third start of the season, and he’s been doing Skubally things so far. Coming into tonight he’d struck out nine and walked exactly zero in thirteen innings. Would tonight be the night he’d walk a guy?

Making his third start of the year for the Twins was Taj Bradley. After two seasons in the Rays’ rotation, he was traded to Minnesota at the trade deadline for Griffin Jax. Remember last year when the Twins had a little fire-sale? I sure do. They managed to procure a pair of good young starters in Bradley and Mick Abel, who will no doubt be a pain for the Tigers.

With one out in the second, Zach McKinstry doubled to right field, and Spencer Torkelson hit a single to put runners at the corners. Parker Meadows then struck out on a nasty splitter for the second out, and Javier Báez got plunked to load the bases, but Colt Keith promptly grounded out to second and that was that.

Skubal found himself in a mini-jam of his own in the bottom of the inning, after a one-out double by Victor Caratini and a single by Josh Bell to put runners on the corners. But then Skubal bore down and got a strikeout and a flyout to get out of it.

The bottom of the next inning saw the Twins get two singles to lead off, and Austin Martin hit into a double play, putting the lead runner on third with two outs. But then a soft comebacker to Skubal got him out of the inning.

A similar thing happened in the next inning: a Kevin McGonigle throwing error and a single to centre put two runners on with two out, and Royce Lewis lofted a fly ball towards the left-field fence, but Riley Greene hauled it in for the third out. But you can only play with fire long enough before it singes your fingertips.

The bottom of the fifth featured Skubal’s first walk of the year, to Byron Buxton (check your Bingo cards, everyone). And then he went and walked the next hitter, Martin, to put another two runners on. Since you can only play with fire for so long before getting burned, Luke Keaschall singled to centre to score Buxton and open the scoring. Ryan Jeffers followed with a two-run double to right to score both Martin and Keaschall; he was 1-for-25 before this plate appearance off Skubal in his career. After a strikeout, Bell blasted a double to make it 4-0 and end Skubal’s day. Tyler Holton came in and got a sharp grounder to second for the third out, but the damage had been done.

In the top of the seventh, and with Bradley still on the mound, the Tigers got a pair of singles from Torkelson and Meadows. Báez struck out, Bradley left in favour of Taylor Rogers, and Keith was replaced by Jahmai Jones, who flew out to right and pushed Torkelson to third. McGonigle singled to left, scoring Torkelson and making the score 4-1. But Gleyber Torres struck out and the inning ended.

View Link

Connor Seabold replaced Holton to start the seventh, and he threw a pleasantly boring inning.

With two out in the top of the eighth, Cole Sands walked McKinstry and Torkelson, and Kerry Carpenter, who hadn’t started the past two days due to an illness, came on to pinch-hit for Meadows. Eric Orze replaced Sands to face Carpenter, but alas, he struck out and the threat was extinguished.

Seabold carried on into the bottom of the eighth, and perhaps he shouldn’t have, allowing a pair of singles to start the inning. After a strikeout and a walk, the bases were loaded with one out. Seabold then struck out Brooks Lee looking, surprising him with a low fastball, to bring up Buxton… who fouled-out to Torkelson for the third out.

The Tigers had some signs of life in the ninth: Báez doubled to lead off the ninth, but Jones struck out for the first out. McGonigle followed, and of course he came through, anticipating a splitter down and scraping it almost off the firt for a sharp double down the right field line. That knocked Báez in for a 4-2 score. Justin Topa replaced Orze, Torres grounded out for the second out, pushing McGonigle up to third; Greene walked to put runners at the corners. Alas, Dillon Dingler grounded out softly to shortstop and the game was over.

Kinda fun at the end, but ultimately… blehagain.

Final score: Twins 4, Tigers 2

Numbers and Things

  • Coming into tonight’s game, the Tigers were tied for last (with the Orioles) in the American League with seven home runs.
  • The Astros have the most homers with fifteen, but what jumps out the most with me for Houston is the number of doubles they’ve hit: they have 34, and the second-place team, Boston, has 19. Wow! (The Tigers are in third place with 18, so there’s your extra-base power, I guess.)
  • On this day in 1795, France officially adopted the kilogram as its unit of mass. I’m a giant fan of the metric system, and the kilogram is the basic unit of mass around which lots of other units are built (the newton, the joule, the watt, and others). Ounces, pounds, bushels, hogsheads, fathoms, acres? Get outta here with that hot nonsense, buddy! Keep it metric!
Posted on

Utah Jazz vs New Orleans Pelicans Player Grades

NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 7: Bez Mbeng #21 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 7, 2026 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Jazz lose. Nets win. You can’t ask for a more successful night at this point in the season. Hopefully the Kings can win tonight to complete a perfect night for the Jazz.

Cody Williams – C

Cody had a pair of airballs tonight, and also went 0-5 from deep, but his midrange shot continues to look pretty nice. He also had some impressive passes in transition.

Brice Sensabaugh – C

Tough night for Brice, who went 2-8 from deep. He also couldn’t get a call to go his way either which didn’t help. He has looked better on defense and has made some strides as a passer.

Kyle Filipowski – B

Flip’s minutes suffered tonight because he’s another guy that is too good for the tank. In his 19 minutes he was solid, putting up 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. The reigning Summer League MVP will have his minutes return to normal when the season mercifully ends, and the Jazz are playing meaningful basketball again.

Kennedy Chandler –A

Forgive me Kennedy Chandler I was unfamiliar with your game! I remember when the Jazz first signed him to a 10 day contract I looked up his stats, and when I saw that he was listed at 5’11 and shot 13% from deep I thought that he would be back in the G league or playing overseas when his 10 day expired. I am so glad I was wrong, as Chandler has been really solid in the few games he has played with the Jazz so far. Tonight was his best game by a mile, he logged a career high in points, with 31, and rebounds with 7. He also had 8 assists. The Jazz would be wise to see what they have in Chandler and keep him around for Summer League.

John Konchar –A

Thurl Bailey’s favorite Jazz man secured himself his second career triple double. Konchar continues to be a calm and reliable presence on the court. He also was very kind and passed on a freebie layup to give Brice (who had a frustrating game) a bucket. A very classy move from the veteran.

Bez Mbeng – A

Bez had his best game as a Jazzman as well tonight. He had 26 points on efficient shooting and had 5 steals. There’s no question about his defensive ability, it’s just a matter of developing his shot from deep. Luckily for him he’s got two more seasons to work on it with the Jazz.

Oscar Tshiebwe –C

Tshiebwe shot efficiently tonight, and nabbed 7 rebounds. He’s just not the most impactful player, and I doubt he will be on the squad next year, but I will forever be an Oscar Tshiebwe fan.

Blake Hinson –B+

Blake is such a good shooter that the Jazz couldn’t risk him getting too much playing time tonight. He played 5 minutes before he was pulled, and he wouldn’t return until the game was safely out of reach. When he returned he secured the triple double for Konchar, and immediately followed it up with a steal, and a 3 ball. 10 points in 11 minutes, with 3 assists is awesome. What a great pickup Hinson has been for the Jazz.

Jordan Poole/Jeremiah Fears – A+

Poole, and Fears saved this game for the Pelicans, who found themselves down by double digits at the end of the first quarter. That’s when Poole, and Fears locked in and dropped 34, and 40 respectively. Jazz nation is forever in their debt!

Posted on

4-8: Chart

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 7: Brendan Donovan #33 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo home run against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Globe Life Field on April 7, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Rangers 3, Mariners 2

Something that is good or, sometimes, less bad: J.P. Crawford, +.016 WPA
Something that is less good or, sometimes, bad: Dominic Canzone -.270 WPA

Game Thread Comment of the Day

Posted on

4-8: Chart

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 7: Brendan Donovan #33 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo home run against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Globe Life Field on April 7, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Rangers 3, Mariners 2

Something that is good or, sometimes, less bad: J.P. Crawford, +.016 WPA
Something that is less good or, sometimes, bad: Dominic Canzone -.270 WPA

Game Thread Comment of the Day

Posted on

4-8: Chart

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 7: Brendan Donovan #33 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo home run against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Globe Life Field on April 7, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Rangers 3, Mariners 2

Something that is good or, sometimes, less bad: J.P. Crawford, +.016 WPA
Something that is less good or, sometimes, bad: Dominic Canzone -.270 WPA

Game Thread Comment of the Day

Posted on

E.J. Liddell scores career-high 21 points to lead Nets past Bucks, 96-90

NEW YORK (AP) — E.J. Liddell scored a career-high 21 points to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 96-90 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night.

Ben Saraf added 19, while DrakePowell and Malachi Smith each had 11 for the Nets (20-59), who have won two straight and three of their last five.

AJ Green scored 20 points for Milwaukee, which dropped to 31-48. Taurean Prince added 16 points, Cormac Ryan chipped in with 14 and Jericho Sims had 12.

Five years after the Bucks edged the Nets in Game 7 of a thrilling second-round series on their way to the NBA championship, both teams are out of the playoff race and Milwaukee's Doc Rivers indicated before the game he might not coach much longer.

Liddell, who came off a 15-point, five-rebound, two blocked shots effort in Brooklyn’s 121-115 win over Washington on Sunday, scored 17 points in the first half. But he was the only Nets player to score in double figures in the opening 24 minutes and Brooklyn only led 49-43 at halftime.

The game remained close throughout the third quarter, with the Nets holding a 70-62 advantage.

Brooklyn extended its lead to 83-72 in the first five minutes of the fourth. Saraf converted a one-legged fadeaway and had a breakaway dunk in consecutive possessions.

Milwaukee cut the deficit to 88-87 on Prince’s corner 3 with 2:28 left. But that was as close as the Bucks would come.

Up next

Bucks: Visit Central Division rival Detroit on Wednesday.

Nets: Conclude the home portion of their 2025-26 season against Indiana on Thursday.

Posted on

Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns find elusive Knicks harmony in key moment

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Jalen Brunson celebrates after hitting a shot during the Knicks' win over the Hawks on April 7, 2026 in Atlanta, Image 2 shows Karl-Anthony Towns celebrates during the Knicks' win over the Hawks on April 6, 2026 in Atlanta

ATLANTA — There were only about 3 ¹/₂ minutes remaining in a game that the Knicks felt they had to win to build momentum and confidence.

They trailed the Hawks by five. They had just 92 points. They needed offense in a half-court set because the game had slowed down.

Just like the playoffs.

And they found something.

Five times over their next six possessions — interrupted only by a transition bucket off a turnover — the Knicks ran the same play: Brunson brought up the ball and gave it to Karl-Anthony Towns, who was on the wing at the 3-point line with a defender pressuring him.

The same spot every time.

From there, options were abundant and, as it turned out, highly efficient.

Jalen Brunson celebrates after hitting a shot during the Knicks’ win over the Hawks on April 6, 2026 in Atlanta. NBAE via Getty Images

Brunson twice hit runners in the lane off give-and-gos; KAT drew a foul after spinning around his draping defender; Brunson hit an open 3-pointer after a dribble handoff because his defender couldn’t get around Towns.

Half of Towns’ six assists were collected in a 40-second stretch of crunch time. The Knicks went from down five to up two, eventually beating the Hawks 108-105 on Monday night.

It became an example of two gifted offensive players — KAT and Brunson — working in harmony, rather than taking turns as they had for most of this campaign.

“I thought we did a great job [Monday] of utilizing it,” Towns said. “When the game got dicey, the coaching staff and our teammates leaned on us to have that two-man game show up when we needed it the most. And it worked.

Karl-Anthony Towns celebrates during the Knicks’ win over the Hawks on April 6, 2026 in Atlanta. Getty Images

“We have a good rapport where I think that, what you saw at the end of the game with me and J.B., allows him not to have so much pressure on him and allows me to help him out and do what I do best — cause gravity, which allows him to get a step on a defender, and that’s all he needs to score. It gave us a chance for him to play one-on-one and also get a step on the defender and give him some of the best looks of the night.”

Towns was giddy after Monday’s win and clearly excited about the play calling. He and Brunson combined for 51 points and 19 assists, engaging more often with the pick-and-rolls that were always projected as key to producing a powerful offensive duo. It wasn’t just down the stretch Monday.

“It’s huge to know a guy like Jalen can shoot and score the way he does. On top of that, he’s crafty. He’s crafty with the ball, crafty without the ball,” coach Mike Brown said. “Having KAT as a passer [makes it tougher on the opposition]. On top of that, KAT’s a great shooter. So you put those two guys in space in a two-man game, and teams gotta make decisions. Both those guys came through.”

However, the Knicks have gotten away from that two-man game for much of this season. Perhaps not coincidentally, Brunson and Towns both produced down years statistically — especially Towns.

Monday became a reminder of the possibilities with the playoffs around the corner.

“Playoffs are going to come down to a possession game,” Brunson said. “It’s real important for us.”

With the Wizards losing to the Bulls 129-98 on Tuesday night, they will keep their protected first-round pick as they cannot fall past seventh in the draft order (the pick was top-eight protected).

The Knicks will now get Washington’s 2026 and 2027 second-round picks instead.

Posted on

Red Wings Lose Late Third Period Lead, Drop 4-3 Shootout To Blue Jackets

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

The Detroit Red Wings were 16.1 seconds away from a badly-needed regulation victory at Little Caesars Arena, but the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets snatched that victory from the jaws of defeat. 

Former Michigan Wolverines defenseman Adam Fantilli scored the game-tying goal with 16.1 seconds remaining in regulation, and fellow former Wolverine Zach Werenski netted the decisive shootout goal, lifting the Blue Jackets to a 4–3 win over the Red Wings in a critical matchup for both teams.

The Red Wings are now three points behind the Ottawa Senators, who defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning, for the final Wild Card postseason spot with only four games remaining. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets moved to 90 points, one ahead of Detroit. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Image

Things didn't start well for the Red Wings, who surrendered the opening goal to Danton Heinen after a defensive zone turnover at 2:06 of the opening frame. But team captain Dylan Larkin netted his 31st goal of the season midway through the period on the power-play, knotting the score at 1-1. 

Defenseman Justin Faulk, who made his return to the lineup after missing the last few games, scored a beautiful in the second period after cutting through multiple Jackets players and beating goaltender Jet Greaves with a glove-side shot. 

But Columbus made Detroit pay after David Perron was whistled for a minor penalty; Werenski whistled a shot from the high slot past Gibson, tying the score. 

At 15:14 of the third period, Faulk scored his second of the game right off a face-off, taking a pass from Alex DeBrincat and firing a one-timer past Greaves. 

With Greaves on the bench for an extra attacker, Columbus won a critical face-off following an icing call to the Red Wings, setting up Fantilli's game-tying goal. 

Neither team scored in overtime, but both exchanged goals in the ensuing shootout. Detroit got goals from Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat, while the Blue Jackets responded with tallies from Kent Johnson and Charlie Coyle before Zach Werenski delivered the dagger.

Goaltender John Gibson made 32 saves, while Greaves countered with 34 saves. Detroit also lost forward Michael Rasmussen, who recently missed seven games, with an injury after blocking a shot. 

From here on out, the Red Wings are officially in "must-win" mode while also having to hope for outside help. 

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

Image

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.