DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 17: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates on second base after hitting a double against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning at Coors Field on April 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The temperature in Denver was a frigid 35 degrees at first pitch, but the bats of the Dodgers stayed red hot. Max Muncy led the Los Angeles Dodgers’ offense with two solo home runs in their 7–1 victory over the Colorado Rockies on a snowy Friday night at Coors Field.
Baseball was ready to be played at Coors Field after five hours of snow removal and field preparation by the impressive Rockies grounds crew before first pitch.
The cold never bothered Max Muncy anyway.
The Dodgers slugger went 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double, two runs, and three RBI. Every hitter in the lineup sans Teoscar Hernandez had a base hit on the night.
After a day off at the plate, but not the mound, Shohei Ohtani collected his first base hit since Sunday to extend his on-base streak to 49 games. The lead-off double was scorched down the right field line on two strikes.
The Dodgers got on the board first thanks to a Will Smith sac fly.
Muncy, bundled up under his jersey for warmth, doubled the score in the next inning with a huge home run 435-feet over the center field wall.
The hit parade continued as Andy Pages and Hyeseong Kim both singled. Pages scored on a Freeland sac fly which looked like it should have been an out for anyone but the Rockies.
Hernandez was the only one without a hit in the Dodgers lineup. Hernandez struck out to end the sixth and break the string of five straight innings of runs scored. He ended up going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.
Jake Dreyer pitched two scoreless innings out of the Dodgers bullpen and struck out three to shut the door on the Rockies for the series opener win.
Notes: Hyeseong Kim stole multiple bases (2) for the first time this season. Max Muncy has second multi-homer game of the season.
Up next
Emmet Sheehan (2-0, 6.60 ERA, 1.47 WHIP) looks for his third straight win for the Dodgers when he starts Saturday night (5:10 p.m.; SportsNet LA). Ryan Feltner (1-1, 7.30 ERA, 1.70 WHIP) takes the ball for the Rockies.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The Orlando Magic found their winning formula. Desperation works.
Works wonders, actually.
Facing elimination and clearly wanting no part of it, the Magic might have put together one of their best performances of the season Friday night. They rolled past the Charlotte Hornets 121-90 in an Eastern Conference play-in game, moving into the playoffs for the third straight season and getting a matchup with top-seeded Detroit as their reward.
“When you play with a sense of desperation and urgency, when you know you’re either going home or extending your season, that’s what it looks like,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “There (are) no second chances.”
Mosley is the first coach to lead the Magic to three consecutive playoff appearances since Stan Van Gundy took Orlando there in five straight years. Van Gundy was at Friday's game as an analyst for Amazon Prime Video.
“I've got to be honest. Charlotte is shrinking from the competition,” Van Gundy said on the broadcast, as the Magic were running away in the second quarter — building what became a 35-point lead shortly before halftime. “They look like they don't want any part of this.”
That's exactly how Orlando wanted it. It was bully ball, and it worked.
“We’re going to need more of that in the playoffs,” Magic forward Franz Wagner said.
Added Magic forward Paolo Banchero: “We were just relentless with that tonight. ... It was just a complete effort from the whole team.”
Charlotte coach Charles Lee, who has engineered quite a turnaround over his first two seasons with the Hornets, said he hopes his team doesn't forget the lessons that Orlando taught them in this one.
“I hope that this fuels us this offseason, because we’ve done a ton of really good things and gave ourselves an opportunity,” Lee said. “You’re one step away from being in the playoffs. I don’t want to discredit that. But this has got to hurt a little bit.”
Orlando dealt with injuries all season, and going 2-8 in a 10-game stretch late in the regular season could have absolutely sunk any postseason hopes. But the Magic — even with a loss in Wednesday's play-in opener at Philadelphia — have now won six of their last eight, heading into a no-pressure matchup against heavily favored Detroit.
“We did what we were supposed to do,” Mosley said. “There’s a reason we can be happy tonight. But at the end of the day, we still have more work to do.”
Apr 17, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Coleman Crow (57) celebrates with teammates after exiting the game against the Miami Marlins during the sixth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The much anticipated MLB debut of pitching prospect Coleman Crow resulted in a Milwaukee Brewers victory to extend the winning now to three games. An immediate course correction following a six game losing streak in the preceding games.
Coleman Crow, the Crew’s 23rd ranked prospect, showed off his impressive arsenal of five pitches against the Marlins, highlighted by a curveball that averaged 3,022 RPMs and 18 inches of horizontal break with 66 inches of drop. All of that equals pure filth.
At the end of the day, Crow went 5.1 IP, scattering four hits, allowing two earned runs, with one walk and four strikeouts. He threw 77 pitches, so he remained fairly efficient and put the Brewers in an excellent spot to win.
DL Hall came on in reliever of Crow in the 6th and was charged with his first earned run of the season when he gave up a homer to Otto Lopez. He was the last remaining pitcher on the Brewers staff to have not given up a run this season.
Meanwhile, on the offensive end, the Brewers were Brewers-ing again. Garrett Mitchell’s infield single with the bases loaded gave the Crew their first run of the game. Then Greg Jones followed with an RBI groundout. Jones promptly stole second base and Agustin Ramirez’s throw went into the outfield, allowing a third run to score.
The Brewers added some insurance in the 6th inning when Luis Rengifo doubled home Jake Bauers. Rengifo was in the midst of an 0-for-20 stretch coming into this game, but he had a huge night to break out of that going 2-for-4 with a run and RBI.
It was a 4-3 game in the 8th inning when Angel Zerpa came out of the Brewers bullpen and gave up an RBI double to Agustin Ramirez. That tied the game at 4 and gave the Marlins huge momentum. But Abner Uribe got the job done in the 9th to send the game to extras.
In extras, the Brewers took advantage of mistakes yet again. With the bases loaded, Luis Rengifo went first pitch swinging and hit a grounder to second. Xavier Edwards’ throw home was wide, allowing Brice Turang to score. Then it was Garrett Mitchell’s turn and he ripped a double to the opposite field to bring home two more and make it a 7-4 Brewers lead.
That’s what they handed to Trevor Megill, who was placed back in a save situation, and although he allowed the Manfred Man on 2nd to come around to score, he got the job done and secured a 7-5 Brewers victory.
Next up for the Crew will be a battle of the grizzled veteran aces with Brandon Woodruff and Sandy Alcantara.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 17: Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suárez (28) throws to first base to get out Minnesota Twins second baseman Luke Keaschall (15) during the seventh inning of an MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Minnesota Twins on April 17th, 2026, at Target Field in Minneapolis, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Eugenio Suárez knew the Cincinnati Reds had just gone out and traded for Ke’Bryan Hayes last summer when he chose to sign with his old club again this winter. Geno surely knew of Hayes’ chops defensively as well as his contract – one that could run all the way through 2030 if the Reds so choose.
Geno inked his one-year deal to return under the premise that he’d get some time at 1B, perhaps. Sal Stewart, though, has looked the part as one of the best hitters in the game already while manning that spot. That meant DH was very much in the cards for Geno, even though he knew that he’d get a start here or there at his old home at the hot corner from time to time.
One of those here-theres came on Friday night in Minneapolis as the Reds began their road trip. It also just happened to be on a vintage April night in Minnesota, a night that had wind chills in the 20s and the ball played about as dead as it could.
No problem for Geno, though. Cincinnati’s old 3B turned tonight’s 3B put in a defensive performance for the books, making a trio of vital plays with the glove at the hot corner in a 2-1 Reds win where just about every batted ball could have otherwise determined the game. Oh, and he also went 2 for 4 with a 2-run double that was the single biggest hit of the low-scoring affair, a performance that was 100% good enough to earn tonight’s Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game.
Other Notes
Brandon Williamson, a native of central Minnesota and one-time gigantic Twins fan, got the start in Minneapolis tonight. He had literally hundreds of friends and family in the stand to watch, and he turned in a rock solid outing. He fired 5.1 IP of 1 ER ball, scattering a trio of hits and fanning a pair. He seemed to get squeezed just a bit on the top and bottom of the zone on the night – he did walk 4 guys – but many of the pitches that didn’t go his way were pretty textbook execution while missing by hairs. The Twins hitters just simply didn’t bite despite the placement.
Graham Ashcraft, Tony Santillan, and Emilio Pagan – who returned from his tight hammy – looked brilliant again down in the ‘pen. Cincinnati is now what, 10-0 in games decided by two runs or less this season? That’s the mark of a bullpen that’s completely locked-in.
The Reds have a 3B who hits and, when he gets the chance, can make plays like he did tonight. I think that’s the guy they should be playing at 3B everyday, personally.
It was cooold, and balls died left and right all night. Nate Lowe, who got the start at DH, tanked a 105.4 mph laser to CF in the Top of the 7th at 24 degrees off the bat only for it to die casually at the warning track 402 feet away. On a decent day in GABP, that would’ve hit the batter’s eye.
Geno’s pair of RBI gave him 960 for his career, to date. That ties him with Hall of Famer Barry Larkin on the career ribbie list.
Andrew Abbott gets the start on Saturday and it’s an afternoon affair. Taj Bradley will go for the Twins (a righty), with first pitch set for 4:10 PM ET.
Anderson played 17 MLB seasons, most of them in Anaheim from 1994 to 2008, before playing for the Braves and Dodgers for one season, each. He was a three-time All-Star and named All-Star Game MVP in 2003. He was named a Silver Slugger Award-winner in 2002 and 2003. Anderson helped the Angels win the World Series in 2002.
He was named to the Angels Hall of Fame and the ballclub honored him during their Friday game against the San Diego Padres.
"The Angels organization is mourning the loss of one of our franchise’s most beloved icons," said Angels owner Arte Moreno in a statement. “Garret was a cornerstone of our organization throughout his 15 seasons and his stoic presence in the outfield and our clubhouse elevated the Angels into an era of continued success.
"Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class, and loyalty throughout his career and beyond. His admiration and respect for the game was immeasurable. We extend our deepest condolences to Garret’s wife Teresa, daughters Brianne and Bailey, son Garret ‘Trey’ Anderson III, and his entire family.”
Angels pay tribute to Garret Anderson
Angel Stadium was rocked with emotion as the major league club in Anaheim soaked in the loss of Anderson. To pay tribute to the Angels' former left fielder, Anderson's initials were cut into the outfield at the ballpark.
The Angels didn't stop there in memorializing one of their greats. A three-minute tribute video was played honoring Anderson and his accomplishments with the Angels throughout his MLB career.
Anderson became only the second player in baseball history in 2000 to hit more home runs (35) than walks (24). He finished fourth in the AL MVP race in 2002 when the Angels won the World Series. He hit .306 with 29 homers and 123 RBIs, while scoring a career-high 93 runs that season.
The Angels outfielder finished his career with 2,529 hits and a career .293 batting average.
Anderson was raised in Granada Hills, Los Angeles, where he starred as a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and baseball. He had a scholarship to play at Fresno State but instead opted for MLB after being selected in the fourth round by the Angels in the 1990 MLB Draft.
Anderson's debut came in 1994 against the Oakland Athletics. He had two hits in four at-bats, including his first career hit on a single to right field off A's pitcher Ron Darling.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - APRIL 14: JJ Wetherholt #26 (R) celebrates with Iván Herrera #48 of the St. Louis Cardinals after hitting a solo home run against the Cleveland Guardians in the third inning at Busch Stadium on April 14, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
To kick off tonight’s game, JJ Wetherholt singled on a ground ball to third baseman Carlos Correa. Iván Herrera flew out to center fielder Taylor Trammell for the first out of the game.
Alec Burleson singled on a line drive to center fielder Taylor Trammell. JJ Wetherholt advanced to 3rd.
Jordan Walker singled on a sharp line drive to center fielder Taylor Trammell. JJ Wetherholt scored. Alec Burleson ran over to 3rd. It was 1-0 Cardinals!
Leahy looked good in the first inning. The Cardinals were up again and Church singled, and was then erased by a Pedro Pages ground into double play. Victor Scott II grounded out. 1-0 Cards still.
The top of the 3rd began with both Wetherholt and Herrera getting hit by a pitch. Neither were hurt. Alec Burleson walked to load the bases, but then Jordan Walker struck out. And then Nolan Gorman struck out. Right when it seemed like we would have another LOBster fest, Masyn Winn hit a seeing eye single between the 3rd baseman and shortstop! This would score two runs, Herrera and Burly. Nathan Church logged the third strikeout of the inning, but it was now 3-0 Cardinals!
After striking out multiple batters and looking like a good starting pitcher to begin the game, Kyle Leahy gave up solo home runs to Christian Vazquez and Yordan Alvarez! 3-2 Cardinals. It can never be easy, can it? Leahy has been good in innings 1 & 2, but once the third inning comes around, his effectiveness falls off a cliff so far this season.
In a hilarious beginning to the 4th inning, Pedro Pages hit a screaming double towards the left field line but still well fair, and Astros left fielder Joey Loperfido threw the ball directly into the ground. Even though the Astros stadium had a roof, the field looked wet and even sloshy, but not super obvious. I am not sure if the ball stuck to his hand somehow or what but it was awkward. Pedro Pages advanced to third on the throwing error.
Victor Scott II struck out, then JJ Wetherholt grounded out… Pedro Pages hit was not wasted though, Ivan Herrera singled sharply to center, scoring Pages!
To end the inning for the Cardinals, Alec Burleson struck out.
The Cardinals were up 4-2 and Kyle Leahy was still in the game. Could he keep it at just 2 runs?
Cardinals challenged the play at 1st, the call on the field was upheld: Christian Walker reached on a fielding error by first baseman Alec Burleson. Loperfido grounded out. Christian Walker was at second. Catcher interference was called on Pedro Pages. Runners at first and second, 1 out. Taylor Trammell singled on a hit that was batted down by an awesome play by JJ Wetherholt, who almost had it in his glove. This ended up preventing a run because Kyle Leahy was able to strike out Christian Vasquez and Isaac Paredes, ending the inning!
He could hold it to two runs even with the bases loaded! This would be his 6th strikeout of the game!
The new guard of Cardinals could not do anything this inning, Walker and Gorman both struck out, then Winn grounded out.
Leahy was out again to pitch the 5th, and gave up another solo shot to Altuve! 4-3 Cardinals.
Despite a Church walk to begin the 6th inning, Pages, Scott and Wetherholt all failed to do anything about it.
Much to the cringe of some, Justin Bruihl relieved Kyle Leahy for the 6th inning. Justin Bruihl danced through the inning, unscathed. Loperfido, Smith, Trammell, 1-2-3.
The 7th inning was the Cardinals inning to break out. After Herrera flew out, Burleson almost hit a home run! It was a double off the wall towards left center. Then Jordan Walker got on base with a walk. After Gorman had looked kind of dejected most of the night, he clobbered one over the left field wall, a moon shot! This three run home run put the Cardinals up 7-3 and took the edge off this game, big time!
JoJo Romero made short order of the Houston lineup. We are blessed to have him on the team. I will enjoy it while I can, surely he will be good trade bait and we will not compete this season.
The Cardinals offense would not be done for the night. The 8th inning brought more rewards. While the inning began without promise, Pages and Scott ground out and strike out, respectively, the never give up attitude of the Cardinals offense was on display with a JJ Wetherholt walk, an excellent at bat… which set up #2 hitter Ivan Herrera, who was due! Herrera launched one in Houston, off the left field terrace wall (is that what it is called?). 9-3 Cardinals!!!
Ryne Stanek was into the game to pitch the 8th. Stanek toyed with Cardinals fans with a juggling feat involving high WHIP and a near disaster, but he also struck out the side and only gave up a run. What a miracle!
The Cardinals didn’t do anything in the 9th so it was up to George Soriano to finish it off, and he did! Altuve, Alvarez, and Carlos Correa all put down by big George.
Wetherholt on base 2 out of 5 times in the leadoff spot, a hit and a walk
Herrera hit his 2nd home run of the year and it was a 3 RBI shot!
Burly was the WPA player of the game, narrowly edging out Herrera because he was on base 3 times tonight
Walker extended his hitting streak to 12 games early in the game tonight!
Masyn Winn had a key hit and was also a WPA player of the game along with Herrera and Burleson… Winn had 2 RBI on the night from that 1 hit
Gorman matched Herrera’s three run home run with one of his own!
Church and Pages actually contributed tonight but VSii was 0-4
Astros starter Peter Lambert was bad enough tonight to have the worst WPA effect on the game…
Except for bullpen arm Bryan Abreu who was even worse! 2 hits, 3 ER, a HR, in 6 batters faced
The Astros don’t seem to be the level of quality team we are used to, at least after watching this one game.
Next game is 6:10 CDT in Houston! Cardinals win 9-4 tonight, perhaps their most solid win of the season, even though Kyle Leahy was a bit shaky and the bullpen a little bit iffy.
Miles McBride and Landry Shamet share so much in common.
They are two of the Knicks’ three most important bench players, with Mitchell Robinson being the other. They are two of the Knicks’ best 3-point shooters and point-of-attack defenders.
Both, though it’s not their natural position, can handle point-guard duties when needed.
And each had similar struggles down the stretch of the regular season.
They endured shooting slumps from 3-point range.
Shamet, from the start of March to the end of the season, shot just 30.4 percent from deep in 16 games. He also missed five games due to a knee injury.
McBride, after missing 28 games for sports hernia surgery, shot 35.7 percent from deep in the six games he played after returning. He was 6-for-21 before going 4-for-7 in the regular-season finale. That was well below their season-long marks — McBride finished at 41.3 percent and Shamet at 39.2 percent.
Landry Shamet puts up a shot as guard Josh Giddey of the Chicago Bulls defends during the first half at Madison Square Garden, Friday April 3, 2026, in New York, NY. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
“It’s just a matter of them getting into the flow,” coach Mike Brown said after practice Friday. “Their last games, they shot better than what they had been doing, so we want them to let it fly because we whole-heartedly believe in them as shooters, just like they believe in themselves.”
Both have the potential to provide the Knicks an edge over the Hawks in bench production. But if their struggles bleed into the postseason, it could certainly be to the Hawks’ advantage.
McBride in particular is out for a bit of redemption.
He struggled in the conference finals last year, as the Knicks were eliminated by the Pacers in six games — he went just 5-for-16 (31.3 percent) from 3-point range in the series.
Shamet, after barely being used in the first two rounds, actually had a strong conference finals, shooting 7-for-13 (53.8 percent) from deep in the series.
Miles McBride slams the ball over Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel at Madison Square Garden. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
“This is my fourth year [in the playoffs],” McBride said Friday, “but this feels like it’s time to get it done and finish it out the right way.
“I’d say any year you don’t win a championship, you should have an ambitious summer to finish off one of these seasons right with a championship. For me, it’s any year we didn’t win it, I’m thinking, I’m pulling from my second year, my third year — I want to win a championship. Not just selfishly, but for this city, for the guys I fight with, the staff that’s helped us all year and the people behind the scenes.”
McBride and Shamet have been so important to the Knicks’ success this year. They need those versions to reemerge.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero scored 25 points and the Orlando Magic built a 35-point lead in the first half on the way to a 121-90 rout of Charlotte Hornets in a play-in tournament game on Friday night and advanced to a first-round playoff matchup against the Detroit Pistons.
The Magic earned the No. 8 seed in playoffs and will start their best-of-seven series at Detroit on Sunday.
LaMelo Ball scored 21 of his 23 points in the third quarter for Charlotte.
Banchero had 12 points and Wendell Carter Jr. added 10 as the Hornets shot 5 for 20 with six turnovers in the first quarter and fell behind 38-16.
Ball was scoreless with two turnovers when he went to the bench with three fouls with 7:10 left in the first half. He did not score until Orlando’s lead had reached 35 points in the final seconds of the half.
The Magic were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in each of the last two postseasons and have not won a playoff round since 2010.
The Hornets, who beat the Magic in their last three regular-season games, have not been in rhe playoffs since 2016.
One of these guys had a good night and the other didn’t. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Joe Ryan was good enough to win, but the Twins were 0-for-everything with RISP and you don’t win too many games that way. Inning-by-inning notes:
1: Joe Ryan’s Express sends the Reds down on 11 pitches. Brandon Williamson does the same with 14.
Von Ryan’s Express was a late-60s Frank Sinatra movie involving Toughness and Action to prove Sinatra was still a big star. It did make money. This was around the same time Sinatra was hanging around the set of Rosemary’s Baby to make sure his wife Mia Farrow didn’t have any sexy scenes with co-star John Cassavetes. Sinatra was a talented dude but he definitely had… issues.
2: Rookie star Sal Stewart leads off with a single, but doesn’t score, leaving him Only The Lonely at 2B.
Radio Guy Kris Atteberry says that “none other than Pat Reusse told me” Williamson making the majors is the biggest news to hit Sherburn, MN, since some other sports thing that happened in Sherburn. To which my thought was “wait Pat Reusse is still around?” To be fair, when he writes Twins history he generally does a good job. Twins hitters do not do a good job.
3: This game is sure zipping right along, which means the last three innings will have about 50 pitching changes and replay challenges. Byron Buxton makes a nice catch. He is very good at The Routes.
Matt Wallner gets HBP. That’s his third on the season. Backup catcher Victor Caratini has four. Former Twins catcher A.J. Pierzynski always used to get HBP a lot, but it wasn’t because he leaned out over the plate or anything. It’s ‘cause A.J. was a mean little trash-talking pest. On the field, that is. Maybe off the field he rescues lost puppies. And then eats them.
Anyhoo Buxton smacks a two-out single to move Wallner up. Austin Martin gets an eight-pitch walk. Bringing up Luke Keaschall, who is having a hard time getting going so far this year. He’s still having a hard time. He takes Strike Three, challenges the call, loses the challenge. It WAS really, really close, barely nicking the corner.
4: A one-out double by Snoop Dogg’s favorite Red, Elly De La Cruz. Stewart hits one right to Ryan Kreidler and he makes the throwing boo-boo; De La Cruz advances. Stewart steals second. Eugenio Suárez whacks a hanging breaking ball for a double, and Atteberry tells us “that error really hurts the Twins,” which is helpful because otherwise we wouldn’t have known. Ryan does strand Suárez, so the Twins don’t have to give up out of futile despair just yet. Be nice if they hit something against the bottom of the Cincinnati rotation, though. I spelled Cincinnati right on only two tries.
They do not hit anything against the bottom of the Cincinnati rotation. Reds 2-0
5: I put too much mustard on my hot dog and slopped a big amount on my shirt. I’m going to take this as an omen. We’ve piled too many early-season hopes on the Twins and it’s all gonna start oozing away. OR, because it’s a black shirt, the mustard won’t stain, AKA that 2-run-inning won’t stain this game. That’s the fun with omens, you can always read ‘em any way you want to.
Also, IS there such a thing as too much mustard on a hot dog?
Leadoff walk to Wallner. Ryan Kreidler tries bunting for a hit but it goes foul; he ends up taking the walk, though. Then Buxton walks. Austin Martin hits one hard into the alley and Will Benson makes a nice sliding catch to keep it just a sac fly; Wallner scores.
Then still-struggling Luke Keaschall says “the mustard was a BAD omen” and grounds into the inning-ending DP. Redlegs 2-1
6: Atteberry and Dan Gladden are having a fascinating argument about whether a whole bat just flew into the stands or just MOST of the bat because it broke real close to the handle. I am lying about this; it is NOT a fascinating argument. 1-2-3 for Ryan.
The OTHER Ryan, Jeffers, somehow pops up a pitch below the strike zone, and Josh Bell singles. Williamson now gone; Connor Phillips comes in with a 2.38 ERA. The Reds’ pen has been good so far this year. They do have old friend Emilio Pagán on the staff, but he’s got “a tight hammy and probably will be unavailable considering the chilly conditions,” per falcolntimmy. Alas. Bell doesn’t get any further.
7: Justin “On” Topa “Spaghetti” in for the Twins. Suárez greets him with a single. Then Buxton does his Jumpman thing at the wall for a loud first out. Jumpman was a 1983 video game I played on a Commodore 64; I copied it from a friend. On tape. Yes, you could load programs via cassette tapes in those days. I am older than most of you. Topa starts a nice 1-4-3 DP.
Graham Ashcraft (1.80 ERA) in. Gets one out, then Trevor Larnach (pinch-hitting for Kreidler) takes a walk; Tristan Gray (whoooo?) pinch-runs. Austin Martin singles… bringing up Keaschall again. I don’t need to tell you what happens next.
8: Kody FunderburK pitching. Keaschall at least makes a nice fielding play on a bunt.
Tony Santillan (0.00 ERA) in. Jeffers singles; Bell flies out. Caratini moves up Jeffers on a FC; James Outman now running for Jeffers. Matt Wallner (also struggling) on with two outs. Hits it hard (110.3) but it’s still an easy flyout.
9: Cole “Alberta Tar” Sands pitching. De La Cruz takes a one-out walk. Stewart beats out the back end of a DP; the guy can hit dingers (7 so far) and be fast, too. Suárez takes Strike Three for the last out. Atteberry with an actual useful fact; the Reds are 8-0 on games decided by two runs or less. I mean I saw their ERAs on BRef and I knew the bullpen was doing well, so it’s not THAT useful, but it’s not arguing about bat shards.
Guess what! It IS Pagán!
Brooks Lee pops up the first pitch. Gray strikes out. Buxton is fast but not fast enough on a grounder; Twins lose.
Studs: Joe Ryan (6.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 6 K), Minnesota boy Brandon Willamson, and both teams’ bullpens. Duds: Keaschall, Wallner.
COTG go goose for reacting to to the early (incorrect) news that Pagán was unavailable: “Noooooooooooooooo (our one shot at winning!),” SooFoo for the ninth-inning “Can’t believe Pagán is about to ruin another twins game,” and sandwiches for “50 Shades of Tristan Gray”
History COTG to Nagurski for “The reds to me are a kind of mirror of the cowboys in the nfl… both teams become good in the late 60s but are kept from winning the whole enchilada, for the cowboys it was the Packers and colts and the reds were blocked by the pirates, Orioles and the A’s until both broke thru in the 70s. The big red machine was loaded and played in the second best world series ever, the 75 red sox series which was one of the last I remember with Gowdy broadcasting”
See, there’s ONE of you older than me. Thanks to everybody who joined in on the gamethread.
Tomorrow’s game is at 1:10, featuring something called an Andrew Abbott against red-hot Taj Bradley.
When Ryan McMahon stepped to the plate in the eighth inning of a 2-2 game for his first at-bat of the game, the Yankee Stadium crowd showered him with boos.
McMahon had become the embodiment of Yankees fans frustrations in the early weeks of the season, and it's hard to blame them. Entering Friday's game, the third baseman had just five hits, all singles.
When the team got off to an 8-2 start, McMahon's struggles weren't a big deal. A losing streak and inconsistent offense have turned the Yankees' record closer to .500 and every out made by McMahon was magnified.
Heck, the Yankees said before Friday's game that McMahon was benched for the Royals series and probably the upcoming Red Sox series so he can continue to tinker with his swing.
The plan wasn't for McMahon to get an at-bat, let alone a meaningful one. But baseball seems to always find you, and it did on Friday night.
McMahon launched a 2-1 changeup down in the zone over the left field wall for the game-winner of the Yankees' 4-2 victory. Those boos quickly turned to cheers as McMahon rounded the bases with a roar and his teammates waited to celebrate with him.
"You get excited for people and that was a huge at-bat, obviously," manager Aaron Boone said after the game. "I think he was hitting for about the whole game down underneath, so obviously ready for it and put a good swing on it on a crazy night."
"Felt good," McMahon said of the moment. "Just to do something to help the team win. It's no secret. I've been struggling a little bit, so I get that off my chest and feel really good about it.
"God's got a funny way of working, huh? I was excited. Excited for the opportunity. And yeah, just happy to put a good one up."
McMahon was down in the cages for most of the game, practicing his swing in case he was called upon to pinch-hit.
That work is why Boone was encouraged by what he had seen from McMahon. While the results weren't there, the Yankees skipper felt McMahon had "moved the needle" in terms of his at-bats.
McMahon has reached base safely in five of his last six games (since April 11) and is now 4-for-14 (.286) in that span.
SNY's Chelsea Janes reported that during spring training, the organization had been working with McMahon on his swing and mechanics. Even Aaron Judge has had a hand in trying to get his teammate on the right track.
"It's just figuring out how to get off the right way, you know, so I can go put up more productive at-bats," McMahon said of his behind-the-scenes work. "We came up with them together, sat down this offseason and had a nice long meeting about it. So, yeah, it was a group effort."
The Yankees hope Friday's heroics can catapult McMahon to more consistency on the offensive end. They acquired McMahon during the deadline last season for his glove, mostly, but also for that sneaky power that he can deliver.
McMahon has hit at least 20 homers in seven of his last eight non-shortened seasons, including last year.
That's why the Yankees have not lost faith in their third baseman.
"He’s had success in the league for a while, so he knows he’s capable, but when you’re going through it, it can be tough," Boone said. "Just excited for him to come up in such a big spot.
"This game will bring you to your knees, even the best of the best. It’s tough and the good ones handle it and deal with it, but you’re always grinding."
"This game's super humbling. All you can do is just keep working and whatever happens happens," McMahon said. "You go out there, play the game as hard as you can. Try to win and back to the drawing board the next day."
With the Royals deploying two southpaws for the remaining two games of the weekend series, it's unlikely McMahon will start. But if anything, Friday showed that McMahon is capable of delivering whenever he's called upon.
ORLANDO, Fla. — Paolo Banchero scored 25 points and the Orlando Magic rolled to a 35-point first-half lead, taking full control on the way to a 121-90 rout of Charlotte Hornets in a play-in tournament elimination game on Friday night.
The Magic earned the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Their reward is a matchup with top-seeded Detroit, a best-of-seven that begins Sunday on the Pistons’ home floor.
The Magic were physical from the outset, and the Hornets were never in the game. Franz Wagner had 18 points for the Magic, along with seven rebounds and six assists.
Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic dunks the ball against Grant Williams #2 of the Charlotte Hornets during the second quarter of the Play-In Tournament game at Kia Center on April 17, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. Getty Images
Wendell Carter Jr. finished with 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting, while Desmond Bane scored 13 and Jalen Suggs added 12 for the Magic.
Orlando led by 31 at halftime, the biggest midpoint lead in the play-in tournament’s seven-year history. It has been utilized in this format — four teams qualifying from each conference, playing to decide the final two playoff spots on each half of the bracket — since 2021.
LaMelo Ball — who the NBA said should have been ejected from Tuesday’s season-extending win over Miami for an uncalled flagrant foul against Bam Adebayo — led the Hornets with 23 points, 21 of them coming in the third quarter.
But the game was long decided at that point. Orlando raced out to a 27-10 lead, stretched it to 68-33 late in the first half, and the Hornets never even got within 20 points the rest of the way.
Miles Bridges, who has played more games than any other active player without a playoff appearance, scored 15 for the Hornets. Brandon Miller scored 14 and Kon Knueppel added 11.
The Hornets, who have now missed the playoffs in 10 straight seasons, were outrebounded 49-34 and shot only 34%. Orlando shot 50%.
The Magic were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in each of the last two postseasons and have not won a playoff round since 2010. But they went 2-2 against the Pistons this season.
The Hornets, who beat the Magic in their last three regular-season games, have not been in the playoffs since 2016. It’s the longest active drought in the NBA.
Before Ryan McMahon's huge home run in the eighth, it was Cam Schlittler who was deserving of all the praise as the right-hander pitched another gem for the Yankees in their 4-2 win over the Royals.
Although he didn't get the win after the bullpen let the tying run to score, Schlittler still turned in a masterful performance, allowing an unearned run on three hits and two walks, and is quickly becoming one of the best young arms in the league.
With just barely over 100 innings in the majors under his belt, the 25-year-old has looked like a veteran on the mound and hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down since he burst onto the scene last season.
In fact, had Schlittler gotten help from his defense in the sixth inning when Trent Grisham dropped a fly ball in center field, he could’ve been in line to secure a much-deserved win. But just like a veteran would do, the youngster brushed it off and was able to pick up his teammate, allowing a run to score on a groundout before getting a strikeout to end the inning.
“Being able to pick [Grisham] up there was a good feeling,” Schlittler said.
It wasn’t until the seventh inning where manager Aaron Boone thought his pitcher started to lose some gas, leading to a leadoff walk followed by a single that ended Schlittler’s night.
While Schlittler said he didn’t feel fatigued at the end there, he did say that he’s still building up and that it was the most pitches (93) that he’s thrown this season so he’s "just trying to get used to the environment."
Regardless, Boone thought Schlittler pitched great and thought that overall "he was on point."
“Business as usual for him,” said Ben Rice. “He was really good, just so aggressive with all of his stuff in the zone.”
A player being forced to take a near three-hour Uber ride between grounds has led to county cricket’s trial of an injury substitute rule facing more scrutiny.
Apr 17, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox pinch hitter Masataka Yoshida (7) celebrates after hitting an RBI during the tenth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images | Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
This is the sixth walk-off in the Fenway Greens in their season+ lifetime and that’s kind of absurd. They must be made of magic. Did the offense look absolutely inept against Casey Mize? Yeah, Mize mowed this lineup down for seven innings. Thankfully, Ranger Suárez was on par if not better, creating one of the better pitching duels of the season thus far.
Aroldis Chapman got into two litttle jams but by the grace of the baseball gods, worked himself out of it with a vintage threw fastball strikeout of Dillon Dingler. 101.3 on the final blow is pretty nice.
Garrett Whitlock did his job, Jarren Duran did Jarren Duran things advancing to third on a wild pitch by Will Vest, and Masataka Yoshida showed up at just the right time.
A six-game win streak for the Tigers snapped by the Green Sox (this may have to stick until they normalize) and kicks off the weekend on a nice note. The next game is tomorrow at 4:10pm back on local TV; you may not want to watch it since it’s Tarik Skubal. Unless you’re a masochist, then fine. Still, you can revel in the win Friday night!
Studs
Ranger Suárez (8.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks)
What an incredible outing for Suárez. Just sheer dominance to muscle through 8 frames on less than 100 pitches. This is the type of workhorse performance that helps save the bullpen for tougher games.
Masataka Yoshida (1-f0r-1, 1 RBI, walk off single)
You gotta be warm when you’re called upon, eh? Yoshida just needed to bounce the ball over the five-infield in and that was the ballgame.
Alex Cora (2 challenges won)
How about two important challenges for Cora and crew? Nabbing Jahmai Jones at second trying to stretch a single into a double, and then catching Javier Báez stealing in the 10th. Both were extremely close calls and absolutely clutch by the video crew to signal it was the right call.
Duds
Most of the offense otherwise (4 total hits)
Play of the Game
How do you not walk-off and give that the play of the game?
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 09: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Jamal Shead #23 of the Toronto Raptors dive for a loose ball during the second quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on January 09, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The wait is finally over. Playoff basketball is here, and it begins with a first-round matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors.
This season has been defined by injury for the Cavs. It started with Darius Garland and Max Strus missing the beginning of the season. Injury concerns for Garland partially led to them trading him for veteran guard James Harden. And injuries have made it difficult for us to get an idea of what this team looks like when they’re fully healthy.
Fortunately for the Cavs, they’re heading into the postseason as healthy as they’ve been all year. For the first time all season, they will have their entire rotation available to them. It only took until game 83 for that to happen.
The Raptors had the Cavs’ number during the regular season. They beat them all three matchups by simply outhustling them in transition and hitting tough mid-range jumpers. All three games came before December, when the Cavs were a much different team than they are now. Saturday afternoon will give us a much better idea of how these teams match up.
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