RALEIGH, N.C. — The Islanders have four days now to figure this thing out, four days they must take advantage of before getting back into action Thursday at home against the Maple Leafs.
The extended break is something of a makeup after a schedule that has been condensed all year, and will allow other teams to make up games in hand. That means by Thursday, there is a very good chance the Islanders — currently third in the Metro despite their 4-3 loss to Carolina on Saturday night — will be out of a playoff spot.
After losing four straight games, a season high, and looking completely overwhelmed by the Hurricanes on Saturday, the break is at least coming at a decent time.
The Hurricanes’ Sebastian Aho (20) scores against the Islanders on April 4, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images
A mental reset certainly seems to be something this team needs right now. So does some practice time.
“We have some time off, the holiday. See family, spend some time,” Scott Mayfield said. “We’ll think about this one on the way home, wash it. It’s all about the next game. We gotta start getting some points to stay in our position.
“I don’t know what the other scores are but you can’t drop games like this. We haven’t done four in a row I think all season. It’s not a good week to do that but you can’t change that now.”
Matthew Schaefer’s late assist on Anders Lee’s goal gave him the record for most points ever by an 18-year-old defenseman, passing Phil Housley’s 57.
Roy’s move to insert Max Shabanov into the lineup for just his third game since the Olympic break paid off when Shabanov scored for the first time since Dec. 27.
Isaiah George also drew in for the Islanders, with Adam Boqvist and Kyle MacLean coming out as healthy scratches.
Perhaps the only good news for the Islanders on Saturday came on the out-of-town scoreboard. The Red Wings, Senators and Blue Jackets all lost, though the Capitals did climb into the outer fringe of the playoff race with a win and the Penguins now seem out of reach after their victory over Florida.
The bad news is that the Islanders still do not control their own destiny, leading Detroit, Columbus, Ottawa and Philadelphia all by a point with one extra game played.
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 3: Julian Reese #15 of the Washington Wizards and Angel Reese pose for a photo after the game against the Orlando Magic on March 3, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Time keeps on ticking, ticking, into the future. The Brooklyn Nets are speeding towards the end of the season and the start of their real season. With that in mind, they opened the month of April with a 34-point loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
The opponent tonight is focusing on the Draft as well. The Washington Wizards are winding their season down and were in Florida to face the Miami Heat yesterday. As expected, the Wizards lost.
At the moment, the Wizards hold the top lottery odds, a half-game ahead of the Nets and Pacers who are tied for second. Brooklyn has a growing if not yet comfortable lead over fourth place Utah. The Jazz are 2.5 games back of the Nets with five to go. Should teams tie, the lottery odds would be divided equally between or among the bottom teams.
Where to follow the game
YES Network on TV. Gotham Sports on streaming. WFAN on radio.
Injuries
The following are out:
Michael Porter Jr
Egor Demin
Ziaire Williams
Day’ron Sharpe
Danny Wolf
Nic Claxton
Noah Clowney is questionable and Terance Mann is probable. Malachi Smith will be celebrating his new, two year (non-guaranteed) deal and the three two-ways will be available from here on out, with the Long Island Nets season over.
The following are out:
Trae Young
Anthony Davis
Cam Whitmore
Tristan Vukcevic
Alex Sarr
D’Angelo Russell
Kyshawn George
This is night two of a back-to-back for the Capital city crew so don’t be surprised if we see some more additions prior to gametime.
The game
Brooklyn won the first and third meetings while the Wizards took the second.
The Hall of Fame class of 2026, and Washington Mystics legend Elena Delle Donne is one of this year’s inductees! Salute to her.
This one has a lot of stakes attached to it. These teams are at the top of the Tankathon standings and a win for the Wizards would tie the season series and tie their records at 18-60.
Even in a lost season, young players have plenty to play for. They’re playing for their current jobs, next destinations, and professional pride. There’s always something to play for when you’re trying to prove yourself, and every game is an opportunity to get better. For the Wizards, Jamir Watkins might be someone they think about keeping on the team next season. From Harrison Hamm at Bullets Forever:
Like most rookies, he has areas where his feel will improve and he can match his boundless athleticism with technique. He has an inclination toward gambling. Sometimes, he relies a little too much on his own athleticism — letting guys drive, then trusting himself to make an unlikely recovery. His off-ball recognition will get better with experience.
I’m most intrigued by his rim protection upside. As good as he is at blowing plays up and forcing turnovers, he can get better at understanding when guys like to get their shots off, and how he can generate a quality contest.
Gotta keep making the most of your time.
Speaking of making the most of your time, Malachi Smith shined in his 17 minutes. The rookie guard scored 15 points off the bench and has likely earned himself a bigger role over the next few games. He’s got a new contract and some much needed security going forward. When you push yourself and work hard, good things happen.
This one could get a bit sloppy. Both of these teams are in the bottom third of the league in turnover rate and with the Wizards on night two of a back-to-back and playing a day game, they won’t be at full strength. It won’t be a pretty watch so hopefully these teams exceed everyone’s minimal expectations.
Player to watch: Julian Reese
Like we mentioned earlier, the end of the season can be an opportunity for a young player to find themselves. Similar to his sister Angel, Julian Reese has been a rebounding machine since joining the Wizards. He’s impressed teammates and given the fans something fun to watch as we wind down the season. Reese’s friendships with members of the team go back some years and there’s a belief in him and what he can do.
“We already kind of click well — I think it’s just the single fact, no one else on this team kind of knew Ju’s strengths like I did because I’ve seen it before,” Bub Carrington said. “He’s been showing that he’s a league big. He’s proof that it don’t matter how long you played in college. If you’re good at basketball, you prove it every night.”
Whoever controls the boards will likely win this one. Both of these teams are bottom of the league in rebounds so whoever completes possessions will be in position to walk away with the win. With the Nets frontcourt as decimated as it is, it’s going to take a team effort on the boards to compete.
We had a great day Saturday with our MLB player props, as we climbed a strikeout ladder with Jesus Luzardo for a hefty profit.
The Easter Sunday slate brings even more opportunities, and we turn back to Yordan Alvarez after he also came through for us yesterday.
Here are my favorite MLB picks for Sunday, April 5.
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Yordan Alvarez
Over 0.5 RBI
+125
Kyle Schwarber
Over 0.5 RBI
-120
Cody Bellinger
Over 0.5 runs
-105
Yordan Alvarez Over 0.5 RBI
Yes, it’s a repeat from yesterday. Except it’s at even better odds, and I’m not turning that down.
Not against a pitcher in Jacob Lopez, who ranked in the Bottom 5th percentile last season in chase rate, whiff rate, strikeout rate, and walk rate. In his first start this season, he walked five batters in four innings, which set up Atlanta’s hitters with run-scoring opportunities.
He’s now facing a Houston Astros team that has already drawn 50 walks this season. Alvarez drew four of them himself yesterday — and still managed to drive in a run in his only registered at-bat.
Alvarez is fourth in the bigs with a .462 ISO in the early season. Split against LHP, that number jumps to .571 in 18 plate appearances.
Plus-odds for an RBI from the guy sitting second in wRC+ and leading the league with a .604 xwOBA is a gift, and one I’ll happily accept.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Space City Home Network, NBCS-California
Kyle Schwarber Over 0.5 RBI
In just 20 plate appearances vs. RHP this season, Kyle Schwarber’s already crushed three bombs, driven in five runs, and drawn five walks.
He’s expected to have a strong day — so much so that three H/R/R carries -145 juice. That’s why I love getting his RBI prop at -120, especially in the thin air at Coors Field.
Against RHP so far this season, Schwarber is rocking a whopping .714 ISOand a 288 wRC+. His counterpart on Sunday, Tomoyuki Sugano, often pitches to contact and allowed 1.93 HR/9 last season.
While he looked decent in his opening start, he couldn’t get through five innings and still coughed up a dinger. He also posted an ERA that was half of his xERA and xFIP metrics.
This matchup sets up very well for Schwarber to drive in a run for the fifth straight game.
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCS-Philadelphia, Rockies.TV
Cody Bellinger Over 0.5 runs
Cody Bellinger has crossed the plate in six of his eight games this season, in large part because he’s drawing walks at a rate of over 17% and posting a .361 xwOBA. Getting on base in front of Ben Rice and Giancarlo Stanton just raises the odds of coming around the bases.
The New York Yankees are facing RHP Chris Paddack, who primarily throws only a fastball and changeup to LHB. He got rocked in his first start this season, allowing eight earned and two HR in just 4 IP.
That won’t get the job done against the likes of Rice, whose ISO of .476 vs. RHP this season sits fifth in the majors. He and Stanton both rank in the Top 15 this season in wRC+ vs. RHP as well.
If Bellinger gets on base, one of them will bring him home—if he doesn’t go deep himself.
Time: 1:35 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Marlins. TV, YES
Jason Ence's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 3-3, -0.27 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Tony Vitello era is off to an inauspicious start as the San Francisco Giants are 3-6 with a National League-worst -22 run differential.
Logan Webb takes the bump on Sunday, however, and the ace hopes to turn the tide against the New York Mets.
See why I’m backing the home team with my Mets vs. Giants predictions and MLB picks for the series finale on Sunday, April 5.
Who will win Mets vs Giants today: Giants (-113)
Logan Webb is a beast at Oracle Park, sporting a career 2.92 ERA and 2.71 FIP across a massive sample size of 552 ⅓ IP.
The New York Mets have the better lineup, but the gap closes with Juan Soto likely out of the lineup after receiving an MRI on Saturday.
It’s been a slow start offensively for the San Francisco Giants, but things will pick up sooner or later, as 1–7 in the lineup is certainly league-caliber.
Kodai Senga has never figured out his walk problem (11.1% career walk rate) and is a beatable opponent.
COVERS INTEL:Senga’s issues have been exacerbated on the road, where he has a career 1.33 WHIP and 4.17 FIP. His K-BB% drops down to 11.6%.
Mets vs Giants Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-117)
Webb’s strong performance at home, combined with a likely Soto-less Mets lineup, means New York likely won’t have another offensive outburst after plating 19 runs in the last two games.
San Francisco has been the worst team in the league against RHP (44 wRC+) and has scored three or fewer runs in seven of their nine contests this season.
Each of the first three games of this series cashed the Over 7.5, but here’s betting on an Under in the finale. The Mets have hit the Under in 28 of their last 45 away games, and Oracle’s Park is a pitcher’s best friend.
JD Yonke's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 2-0, +2.0 units
Over/Under bets: 1-2, -1.09 units
Mets vs Giants odds
Moneyline: New York +113 | San Francisco -124
Run line: New York +1.5 (-215) | San Francisco -1.5 (+183)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-105) | Under 7.5 (-115)
Mets vs Giants trend
Logan Webb has had a winning record at home in each of the last five seasons. Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Giants.
How to watch Mets vs Giants and game info
Location
Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA
Date
Sunday, April 5, 2026
First pitch
4:05 p.m. ET
TV
SNY, NBC Sports Bay Area
Mets starting pitcher
Kodai Senga (0-1, 3.00 ERA)
Giants starting pitcher
Logan Webb (1-1, 7.36 ERA)
Mets vs Giants latest injuries
Mets vs Giants weather
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.
Happy Easter! Happy Spring! Corona Easter Eggs Bunnies Kjc | Kelly-Jane Cotter, Asbury Park Press via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Team News
Michael Soroka gives Diamondbacks another strong impression in win over Braves
“I think we fell behind a little more than we would have liked, but (catcher Gabriel Moreno) and I made some good decisions with some pitches late in counts, good pitches with guys in scoring position, let the defense work and got the win,” Soroka said. “I’ve competed as well as I could have hoped. I think that’s the big thing. You’re not going to have everything working on every day, and obviously the finish on pitches was a little bit better last time out.”
Sewald flushes loss with dinner and a movie, then earns clutch save for Soroka
“I went in the training room and did the exact same stuff,” Sewald said. “If I had struck out the side, I would have done the same thing. And so, you just go home and I had dinner and watched a movie, and then we came back today, and, like I said, the easiest way to flush it is just to pitch right away.” https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/michael-soroka-throwing-error-help-d-backs-beat-braves
Torey Lovullo says Diamondbacks need to stop chasing pitches out of strike zone
“Our chase rate is extremely high right now,” Lovullo said. “If we zone in, try not to do too much, wait for our pitch, it‘s the art of hitting and the beauty of baseball. When you do it, it’s sweet music. When you chase, you get yourself into bad counts. Pitchers have nasty stuff. You’ve got to slow the game down, swing at strikes, see the baseball, understand what the at-bat is asking for. That’s the simplicity of hitting for me. We’re a little bit anxious trying to do too much, in my opinion.”
D-backs’ Lawlar expected to miss 6-8 weeks with fractured wrist “It’s frustrating,” Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen said. “I’m sure he’s frustrated more than we are. He looked great. He was doing a really good job in the outfield, and he was having great at-bats. We’re going to miss him, but we’ll keep the train going until he comes back.”
The 22 stars represent the twenty-two actors and actresses that were originally contracted to work for the studio in the year 1916. However, 24 actors were contracted, but only 22 were honored.
Only 2 animals enjoy spicy food.
Humans and tree shrews are the only known species to seek out spice. Next time you chicken out of those extra hot wings, you can be assured there’s nothing wrong with you.
Originally, tennis was played with bare hands.
During the 12th century, Tennis was first played in France. The game was played by using your palm to hit the ball back to your opponent.
The Florida Panthers are officially not going to three-peat.
When the dust settled on Saturday’s NHL games, including the Panthers’ rough 9-4 defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida found itself with an unwanted addition to their label in the standings.
The “e” next to Florida’s name stands for “Eliminated,” meaning there is nothing they can do with their remaining six games that will get them into the postseason.
As a result, Florida’s six-year playoff streak, the longest in franchise history by a wide margin, will come to an end.
There won’t be a fourth straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
Florida’s players will not have to play the hardest hockey there is (Stanley Cup Playoff hockey) well into the month of June.
The good news is that there is no reason to worry that the Panthers won’t get right back to competing for the Stanley Cup next season.
Florida’s biggest issue this season was that there were so many key players who missed extended time with injury, including superstars Sasha Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk.
Barring any unforeseen offseason injuries, the Panthers will arrive for training camp in September with a championship-caliber roster and a decent-sized chip on their shoulder.
Remember, the majority of Florida’s roster is locked up with long-term deals.
Barkov, Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, Brad Marchand, Gus Forsling, Seth Jones, Anton Lundell and Niko Mikkola are all signed through at least the end of the decade.
Additionally, Evan Rodrigues, Eetu Luostarinen, Cole Reinhardt and Jesper Boqvist will each have one year left on their respective deals while Jonah Gadjovich, Uvis Balinskis and Dmitry Kulikov are all signed through the summer of 2028.
Now you may have noticed that among all those players’ names you just went through, there weren’t any goaltenders included.
Both of Florida’s netminders from this season, Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov, are set to become unrestricted free agents when July 1 arrives.
The Panthers and Bobrovsky have already been discussing a contract extension, and the expectation is that the veteran puck-stopper will remain with Florida for what could end up being the rest of his career.
Bobrovsky is currently wrapping up his 16th NHL season and will be 38 years old when Opening Night arrives in October.
It’s also worth noting that since its inception, Florida’s Goaltending Excellence Department has consistently targeted goalies who have performed well under Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice and within his defensive systems.
According to PuckPedia, the Panthers are expected to have just over $15.5 million in salary cap space to work with, thanks in-part to the cap rising from $95.5 million this year to $104 million next season.
Considering the stacked roster that Panthers General Manager Bill Zito will only be adding to this summer, it seems reasonable to expect that Florida will be able to re-take their place among the NHL’s top squads.
There is also one other element that hasn’t been mentioned yet in this story that could play a big part in Florida being a better squad when next season arrives.
In addition to the cash Zito has to work with this summer, he may also have a previously-traded first-round pick to play with at this Jume’s NHL Draft.
The first-round pick that Florida sent to Chicago in the Trade Deadline deal that brought Seth Jones to the Panthers is top-10 protected. That means if the Panthers finish low enough in the standings that they receive a selection anywhere in the top 10, they would keep this year’s pick and instead send their 2027 first rounder to the Blackhawks.
Depending how high that pick ends up – the top of this year’s draft has some serious talent to offer – it will be interesting to see what Zito and his colleagues ultimately decide to do with that selection.
A team as in win-now mode as the Panthers are might be wise to flip that pick ahead of the draft for someone at the NHL level who can join what Florida has going on in the present.
We’ll see how things play out in the coming weeks and months, but the bottom line is that despite the frustrating season, there are still plenty of things to be excited about in Pantherland.
Photo caption: Mar 28, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice coaches against the New York Islanders during the first period at UBS Arena. (Brad Penner-Imagn Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 04: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres is greeted in the dugout after scoring off a single hit by Ramón Laureano #5 (not pictured) in the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on April 04, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yesterday’s game saw this San Diego Padres club do something it hasn’t shown yet this season: fight.
After having a 2-1 lead over the Boston Red Sox for most of the game (in large part due to Randy Vásquez’s sheer force of will), Adrian Morejon came in to pitch the eighth inning. He had hoped to put his struggles from Wednesday’s outing behind him (he did not).
His command struggled, and he gave up back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners. He got a big strikeout against Trevor Story before getting Andruw Monasterio to ground out.
Unfortunately, what would have been an inning-ending double play got botched on a low throw from Morejon to Jake Cronenworth. Luckily, the bleeding stopped there, with Morejon able to strike out Willson Contreras to get into the ninth.
But then there’s a problem. San Diego still had to face one of the most dominant relievers in baseball in Aroldis Chapman.
Chapman got two quick outs before Fernando Tatis Jr. redeemed his day (four strikeouts) with a double to center field. That set the table for the red-hot bat of Ramón Laureano to bring him around on a single to left.
That gave the Friars a one-run lead. It was all they would need.
Mason Miller came in to slam the door and did so exceptionally — flirting with an immaculate inning before throwing the first pitch to his third batter for ball one. He still struck out all three to cap off the win for San Diego.
Taking the mound
Ranger Suarez (BOS) v. Walker Buehler (SD)
Despite their incredibly different offseasons, Buehler and Suarez had incredibly similar debuts with their new clubs.
Suarez got off to a rough start after inking a five-year, $130 million deal with Boston this offseason. He was a quick pivot after the club failed to re-sign free agent Alex Bregman.
He figured to be a valuable No. 2 behind Garrett Crochet but started the season in the fourth slot of the rotation.
His performance against the Houston Astros Monday night didn’t help his case to be moved up.
Across only 4 1/3 innings in Boston’s 8-1 loss, he gave up four runs on seven hits.
But Suarez has historically dominated San Diego, holding the team to a .237/.284/.316 slash line. He could do the same as he looks to bounce back from a less-than-memorable debut.
Buehler similarly struggled, giving up three runs on five hits across four innings pitched.
After a dominant two innings, he gave up a home run to Harrison Bader and couldn’t find the zone after that. He got himself into hitter’s counts seven times across his final 12 batters.
But he was mostly solid. Three runs should not be insurmountable, but, thus far, it has been for this San Diego club.
With Buehler returning to Boston to face the club he spent most of 2025 with, maybe the Friars finally can turn up the offense.
Batter up!
With the Padres facing another lefty in Suarez after rookie Connelly Early yesterday, manager Craig Stammen will probably use the same experimental lineup that he went with.
That being said, Ty France will probably be traded out for Gavin Sheets at first base so the lineup may look more like this:
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Ramón Laureano, LF
Jackson Merrill, CF
Manny Machado, 3B
Miguel Andujar, DH
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Gavin Sheets, 1B
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Luis Campusano, C
It was a surprise to see Sheets out of the lineup after his fantastic performance on Wednesday’s game (2-3, 2 2Bs, RBI, BB) so he’ll likely get the start today.
Andujar hit exceptionally for the first time this season, going 3-for-5. Bryce Johnson took over for Merrill in center field but will defer to the starting center fielder in today’s game.
Despite his bat being quite cold to start the season, Machado took his walks yesterday. He walked in his first three plate appearances, showing discipline against the Red Sox starter.
Relief corps
After Vásquez’s second solid outing, the Friars only had to use three of their relievers. Unfortunately, due to the close game, all three were high-leverage options in Jeremiah Estrada, Morejon, and Miller.
That still leaves solid options with Kyle Hart, Ron Marinaccio, David Morgan, Wandy Peralta, and Bradgley Rodriguez. Of the five, Morgan is the highest leverage choice.
For the ninth, Miller could still come out to pitch in a save situation if the Padres feel it’s needed. But if it’s a rout by either team, he’ll stay in the ‘pen for the upcoming Pittsburgh Pirates series.
Apr 4, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) shoots the ball over San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) in overtime at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
So close! For much of this game, I felt like the Spurs were firmly in control; the point differential never got huge by modern NBA standards, but until the end of the third quarter it always felt like San Antonio was going to have enough to counter what Denver was brining to the table. As things tightened in the final minutes of regulation, both teams put together some impressive play; however, the Spurs made a couple of key errors, and in the end the Nuggets managed to convert small but critical advantages into their 50th win of the season.
From a strategic perspective, this loss likely means that San Antonio’s dreams of the one seed have faded away, unless OKC truly collapses in this final stretch. However, given the sudden injuries to the Lakers’ roster (which, as a diehard fan of the game, I truly hate), being the second seed may actually produce an easier path to the conference finals (conditional on Denver not catching Los Angeles for the three seed). In any case, here are some key highlights from yesterday’s scintillating contest:
This was a very low turnover game, with the Spurs (11) and Nuggets (6) combining for just 17 turnovers. Since the start of 2012-2013, only 2.65% (446 of 16,829) of regular season contests have had a turnover total at least that low. Unfortunately, the differential still strongly favored Denver, in that they had five less. This disadvantage transferred offensive opportunity from San Antonio to the Nuggets, mostly negating the advantage the Spurs built in TRB (+6) and ORB (+4).
Although both teams recorded exactly 22 fouls, the Spurs did a better job managing the type and timing of their fouls, which helped give the Silver and Black a +5 edge in FTA. Furthermore, the Spurs earned a slightly higher FT% (+6.23 percentage points), which translated to a FTM margin of +6 for San Antonio.
Unfortunately for the Spurs, their six-point edge at the charity stripe was not quite enough to overcome Denver’s advantages from the field. Two major factors were at play here: First, the Nuggets had a slightly better FG% than San Antonio (+1.98 percentage points). Typically, a margin this small would not mean much, but because both teams took 101 shots it translated to a +2 FGM margin for Denver.
In addition, the Nuggets had a notably better 3P% (+7.97 percentage points), which allowed them to produce a 3PM margin of +4. The net result of all of this is that Denver outscored San Antonio by eight from the field.
While this isn’t covered in the graded box score, both Wemby and Joker put together insane stat lines yesterday. For example, Victor became just the second player since the start of 1996-1997 to record a line including 34+ points, 18+ rebounds, 7+ assists, and 5+ blocks in the regular season. The first was Karl-Anthony Towns, in a December 30, 2018 game between the Timberwolves and Heat.
Similarly, Jokic became just the second player during the same period to record a regular season box score line including 40+ points, 8+ rebounds, 13+ assists, and 3+ blocks. The other player is LeBron James, who did so in a February 18, 2010 contest between the Cavs and Nuggets.
What are Team Graded Box Scores?
Very briefly, these box scores grade winner-loser differentials for basic box score statistics, with the grade being based on the winning team’s differential relative to other NBA winners during a defined reference period. Think of it like a report card for understanding how a given winner performed relative to other winners. The reference period used runs from the start of the 2012-2013 season to the latest date of play, including only games in the same season category (i.e., regular season and playoff games are not compared to each other).
Data Source: The underlying data used to create these box scores was collected from Basketball Reference. In all cases, the data are collected the morning after the game is played. Although rare, postgame statistical revisions after data collection do occur and may affect the results after the fact.
Riley Martin pitching for the Cubs during Spring Training 2025 | | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Yes, I know that for any Cubs fan, the words “Cade Horton to injured list” in a headline gives feelings of dread.
But here we are. Horton was placed on the injured list today, the move retroactive to Saturday.
For pitchers, the IL is 15 days. The “fortunate” thing, if there is one regarding this stint, is that the Cubs have two off days during that span. Horton will be eligible to return April 19. With those off days, it’s possible Horton, if deemed healthy, could start that day against the Mets, thus missing only two starts.
In any case, we will have to wait until Tuesday, probably, for any updates. After Friday’s game, manager Craig Counsell suggested that Horton would stay with the team Saturday, return to Chicago Sunday and probably have imaging done Monday. Until then, as always, we await developments.
Left-hander Riley Martin was called up from Triple-A Iowa to take Horton’s spot on the 26-man active roster. Martin was the Cubs’ sixth-round pick in 2021 out of Quincy University in western Illinois, and this will be his first call-up to the major leagues at age 28.
Right-hander Ethan Roberts will join the team Sunday as the 27th man for the doubleheader.
Martin has made one appearance for Iowa this year, starting last Tuesday vs. Louisville and throwing 47 pitches over three innings. He allowed three hits and one run and struck out three. This hints that Martin would be stretched out for a long-relief role and one of the two long relievers currently in the Cubs pen, Colin Rea or Ben Brown, would slot into Horton’s rotation spot, which next comes up Wednesday in Tampa.
Welcome Riley Martin to the Cubs, and honestly, how can you not love a success story like this? (Bluesky link)
Today’s doubleheader preview will post at 10 a.m. CT.
Robbing a home run is a special feeling for an outfielder.
Imagine doing it three times in one game, to help your team preserve a 1-0 win?
That is exactly what Los Angeles Angeles outfielder Jo Adell did on Saturday night, pulling back three would-be home runs to help the Angels secure a 1-0 win over the Seattle Mariners.
His thievery began in the top of the first, when he climbed the wall in right field to deny Cal Raleigh of a potential solo shot:
Zach Neto blasted a 443-foot home run in the bottom of the first to stake Los Angeles to an early 1-0 lead, which the Angels held deep into the contest. But that lead was threatened in the top of the eighth inning, when Seattle’s Josh Naylor lofted a drive deep to right field.
Adell was clearly fired up after this catch, clapping and then slapping his chest in celebration.
The celebrations would be even bigger in the top of the ninth.
J.P. Crawford led off the final inning with a blast towards the right-field corner. Adell raced over from his spot in right field and launched himself skyward to track down the fly ball, crashing into the first row of the bleachers.
He then held up his glove — with the ball inside — while still standing among the fans to show his third robbery of the night:
Adell’s defensive performance earned praise from none other than former outfielder Torii Hunter, who works in the Angels’ front office. The former outfielder called Adell’s night “probably the greatest defensive game I’ve seen.
“I’ve never seen three home run robberies in one game, and I’ve never seen a guy on the third one fall into the stands, catch the ball and keep his feet in like he’s a wide receiver,” Hunter added. “I was jumping up and down. I almost passed out.”
Adell, who was a Gold Glove finalist in 2024, talked about the three plays after the game, crediting “grit” for the third.
“After the first one, I was pretty fired up,” Adell said. “When I got to the second one, which looked identical to the first, I thought, ‘Wow, my routes are on point tonight.’ The third one was just grit. Top of the ninth, you have to get it done. It was crazy.
“You just get there, then it’s decision-making. The ball was hit high enough to where I could get there. I watched it (into my glove), fell over and ended up in somebody’s lap. I don’t know who it was, but it was a softer landing than I expected. The fans were as fired up as me.”
According to Sports Info Solutions, a sports data service, Adell is the first player with three home run robberies in a single game since they began tracking that statistic in 2004:
So yes, you can make the case this was the best defensive performance ever.
Brock Nelson has piled up the chances of late, but not necessarily enjoyed the fruits of his labor.
My Blues vs. Avalanche predictions and NHL picks see Nelson’s scoring prowess returning in an advantageous matchup against St. Louis.
Blues vs Avalanche prediction
Blues vs Avalanche best bet: Brock Nelson anytime goalscorer (+185)
Brock Nelson has generated 8.56 expected goals over his past 19 games but scored only three times.
Of the 16 players with 8.5 xG or more in that span, Nelson is the only one with fewer than six goals.
He's converted on just 6.5% of his shots. That’s less than half of his career finishing rate (14.6%), and a little more than a third of his shooting percentage since joining the Colorado Avalanche (18.7%).
The Blues rank 22nd in goals against, 22nd in save percentage, and 28th in PK%, making this a natural regression spot.
Blues vs Avalanche same-game parlay
Sam Malinski has three points and 19 shot attempts over two games without Cale Makar. He appears ready to pop in an expanded role.
Playing big minutes at 5-on-5 and quarterbacking the top power play with Nelson, there's a real correlation between the two players.
We’ll back Colorado on the moneyline to round out the SGP. They’re the league’s best team, and the St. Louis Blues have struggled mightily on the road, winning only 14 times in 38 tries.
Blues vs Avalanche SGP
Brock Nelson anytime goalscorer
Sam Malinski Over 0.5 points
Avalanche moneyline
Blues vs Avalanche odds
Moneyline: Blues +190 | Avalanche -230
Puck Line: Blues +1.5 (-125) | Avalanche -1.5 (+105)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 | Under 6.5
Blues vs Avalanche trend
Brock Nelson has scored in 13 of his last 30 home games. Find more NHL betting trends for Blues vs. Avalanche.
How to watch Blues vs Avalanche
Location
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date
Sunday, April 5, 2026
Puck drop
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Blues vs Avalanche 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.
Lucas Perri saved twice in a penalty shootout s as Leeds reached their first FA Cup semi-final since 1987
1 min West Ham kick off from left to right as we watch. You’ll be pleased to hear that national treasure Danny Dyer is in attendance at the London Stadium.
“If he organisers are trying to recapture some of the long-faded ‘magic of the cup’, they’ll need to turn the pitch at Wembley into a quagmire for any potential meeting of Chelsea and Leeds,” writes Justin Kavanagh. “The 1970 FA Cup final was famously played the day after the Horse of the Year Show, and looked more suited to WWI trench warfare than a football match, even one in the 70s. May I suggest that England’s national stadium offer to host Ireland’s National Ploughing Championships on the same week?”
Boston, MA - March 4: Boston Celtics center Nikola Vucevic and guard Jaylen Brown talk in the third quarter. The Celtics played the Charlotte Hornets at TD Garden on March 4, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
BOSTON — The Celtics could have an additional boost when they face the Toronto Raptors on Sunday afternoon; Nikola Vucevic, who has been sidelined since March 6th with a right ring finger fracture, has been upgraded to questionable for the first time since first suffering the injury.
In Vucevic’s absence, Luka Garza has stepped up, averaging 9.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in 17.2 minutes, while shooting 60.7% from the field and 44.7% from three. He had fallen out of the rotation after the Celtics traded for Vucevic in mid-February; how Joe Mazzulla will divvy up the two players’ minutes remains to be seen.
Mazzulla said this week that Vucevic is important to what the Celtics will do, and praised him for how he handled himself during his recovery.
“He’s a professional. I mean, he hasn’t missed a film session, practice,” Mazzulla said. “Even two days after he had his procedure, he was out working on his cardio.”
The Raptors will be without Chucky Hepburn (right knee surgery recovery) and Immanuel Quickley (right foot plantar fasciitis), but are otherwise healthy.
How the Celtics, Raptors stack up
The Celtics and Raptors have faced off three times this season, and the Celtics have emerged victorious each time, tallying two victories in December and one in January. Now, they meet in a final matchup that could serve as a first-round preview.
The Raptors have been led by Brandon Ingram (21.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists) and Scottie Barnes (18.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists), both of whom were named All-Stars this season. RJ Barrett (19.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists) has also been crucial to the team’s success.
The Celtics (52-25) have all but secured the second-best record in the East, holding a 2.5-game lead over the New York Knicks with five games left to play.
The Raptors (43-34) currently have the 6th-best record in the Eastern Conference and are 0.5 games ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers in the play-in.
Given that the No.2 seed will face the winner of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 playoff game, it’s very plausible that the Celtics will face the Raptors in the first round of the postseason.
The last time Giancarlo Stanton stole a base in a regular-season game, there were no fans in the stands because of the pandemic. The pitch clock was years away, let alone automatic balls and strikes.
But even then, a half-decade ago in August of 2020, he was a few years removed from his last healthy season. Even then, the big-bodied slugger seemed worn enough that his best years were behind him, and that his future would be determined by how much he could produce in the limited duty that body would allow as it aged.
So when Stanton took off for second base in the Yankees’ 9-7 win Saturday night, advanced on a ground ball, then scampered home on a passed ball to provide a much-needed run in the seventh, it highlighted the ways in which he has spent the first week of this season — and really, most of last — defying an aging process that has not always been kind to him.
“The boys were fired up,” Cody Bellinger said. “…he’s just playing really well. It’s really good to see.”
It must be noted that Stanton did steal a base in the 2024 ALDS, but a regular-season base — when the stakes are not as high nor the urgency to win the same — signals something different.
Stanton, now 36, is four seasons removed from his last All-Star appearance, not to mention nearly a decade removed from his only career MVP Award. Focus has always been on his health, most recently elbows, which pushed him to the injured list last year.
But despite his disclosure that those elbows are not well enough to “open a bag of chips,” Stanton spent spring training hitting near home run after near home run while hitting four real ones in 11 games. So far in the regular season, he is hitting .393 with a 1.004 OPS. It was his two-run single in the bottom of the eighth that put the Yankees ahead for good in a back-and-forth game.
“You go back to the end of ‘24 and the playoff run in ‘24 and what he was, then last year, he might have been as good as ever when he came back [from injury],” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said this weekend. “He was such a massive presence in the middle of our order, as he was in ‘24. I feel there was real consistency to what he was doing. Despite being older, man, he’s still so good — and in a lot of ways better.”
Boone was right about Stanton being as good as ever in 2025: In 77 games, Stanton hit .273 with 24 homers for a .944 OPS. Over a full 162, that would project to 50 homers — his second-highest single-season total ever.
Of course, the reason Stanton only has one 50-homer season to his name is health, not talent. And after his stolen base, he would not go so far as to agree with the idea that taking off for second suggests his legs must be healthier than ever.
“I’m out there playing,” Stanton said. “So we’re good.”
Perhaps obviously, Stanton will not play anywhere close to 162 games this year precisely so the Yankees can ensure he is available to reemerge as a postseason buzzsaw when they need him in October.
Still, his resurgence serves as a reminder of how prolific he has been when healthy: For example, coming into Sunday’s series finale, Stanton is 46 home runs away from 500 in his career. He likely will not get enough at-bats to reach that number this season, in part because it is better for the Yankees that he be healthy in October than chase history in September. Still, the way he is hitting in the at-bats he is taking suggests one of the best-ever versions of one of this era’s best pure sluggers might be back.
“I just think he’s gotten great at the preparation game for him personally: What does he need to do mentally, physically to be ready to go up and produce in a game,” Boone said. “He is just so mentally tough and disciplined to what he has to do that you really sense that and feel that being around him the last several years.”
Stanton has always been one of this team’s more respected clubhouse pillars — less publicly-facing than Judge and quieter than the rest, but as perceptive and even-keeled as they come. He did not need to produce like he did in the old days to be crucial to the success of this era of Yankees. But as they boast a team with all the necessary pieces to challenge for a title, it certainly would not hurt.
Mar 26, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners third baseman Brendan Donovan (33) runs the bases after hitting a double against the Cleveland Guardians during the fifth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images | Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Society has advanced past the need for Jo Adell. Happy Sunday everybody!
In Mariners news…
After exiting Friday’s game early, Brendan Donovan was absent from last night’s lineup versus the Angels. Ryan Divish caught up with him before the game and it seems like he is ok and the Mariners are just being cautious.
Should Brendan need to miss an extended period of time, Colt Emerson would presumably be the next man up, so it’s of the utmost important that he stays healthy at all costs.
X-rays came back negative on Colt Emerson's right foot, per Justin Hollander.
All-Star catcher Alejandro Kirk was placed on the 10-day IL with a fracture in his catching thumb. Kirk and the Blue Jays will find out on Monday if surgery is required.
Being born on the same day as your baseball team sounds like the plot to a truly delightful romantic comedy, instead it’s reality for this Nationals fan, who took their ceremonial “first sip” on the field before the start of yesterday’s game in D.C. Worth noting, I’ve seen many people take their first sip of beer. I remember my own first sip of beer. That was not her first sip of beer.
Nick’s pick…
The Masters, one of my personal favorite sporting events of the entire calendar, starts on Thursday. With it comes memories of last year’s incredible tournament that saw Rory McIlroy finally secure the career Grand Slam after eleven years of trying, a moment that was captured beautifully by legendary photographer Ken Griffey Jr.
Yordan Alvarez
Kyle Schwarber
Cody Bellinger
COVERS INTEL:
