President of baseball operations Scott Harris has built the Detroit Tigers' top-heavy farm system around a few position player prospects. The group is headlined by American League Rookie of the Year favorite Kevin McGonigle, though he wasn't always the top-ranked prospect.
It used to be Clark.
While McGonigle is thriving with the Tigers, Clark – selected 34 picks before him in the 2023 draft, at No. 3 overall – has been continuing his development in Triple-A Toledo. He still seems projected for his MLB debut in 2026, but the Tigers aren't making any promises.
"We're not ready to bring him up right now," Harris said Tuesday, April 28, during an MLB Network interview with studio host Brian Kenny. "He's a really important part of our future. We took him first in my first draft, and then we took Kevin right behind him. Those remain two really important pieces for us moving forward."
"This group has learned through experience how to manage the highs and lows that our game has to offer."
Tigers President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris joins @MLBNetwork to talk McGonigle extension, ABS challenge philosophy and more. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/Y9SS480WTg
Clark, a left-handed hitter, has a .305 batting average with one home run, 13 walks and 14 strikeouts in 24 games at the Triple-A level, registering an .834 OPS. He has logged all 198⅓ innings in center field, where he has called home for his entire career in the minor leagues.
He hit .377 with a 1.010 OPS in his first 17 games.
Since then?
He is hitting .115 with a .361 OPS in his past seven games.
"His ceiling is one that can put pressure on the opposing team in all phases of the game," Harris said. "He's certainly performing well offensively – that's a really big part. I think he's going to hit for more power as he gets more comfortable with his swing and his strike-zone decision-making.
"We also want to see him continue to develop the other areas of his game. He can be an elite center fielder. We're really focused on his jumps, his reads and getting off the ball quickly in center field. We also think he can put a lot of pressure on the opposing teams on the bases. We think there's more he can get there, and we're trying to stay focused on his leads, his fundamentals and his ability to read different types of pitchers and get a good jump."
Clark advanced from High-A West Michigan to Double-A Erie in July 2025.
In 2026, Clark has found success and failure upon joining Triple-A Toledo coming out of his first MLB spring training. He struggled in Grapefruit League play during camp, going 0-for-13 at the plate in his final eight games and making multiple defensive miscues in left and center field.
"We're focused on all those fundamentals and all phases of the game with Max," Harris said. "He's progressing really nicely, and we think he's going to really help us."
Max Clark crushes this ball for his first Triple-A homer. Left his bat at 108.4 MPH and went an estimated 414 feet. He’s 4-for-4 tonight, and Toledo leads 5-1. pic.twitter.com/Lv5FxpiQ0Z
"I think there's a really good chance that he ends up helping us, but it's premature to actually forecast when that's going to happen," Harris said. "We just want to keep him focused where his feet are – and that's in Toledo right now. We've got to keep getting better before we can have that conversation."
"My theory is his title — should this happen, and they're trying to make it happen — is going to be vice president of hockey operations, that's my theory," Friedman reported. "It took some time, and it took some convincing, but I think they're now actually negotiating with him to do it."
Sundin has been around the Maple Leafs more often over the last few years, ever since the club went to Stockholm, Sweden, for the NHL's Global Series in Nov. 2023. The 55-year-old was a guest at Maple Leafs training camp in the fall of 2024 and returned to Toronto when Auston Matthews broke his franchise goals record in January.
According to Friedman, Sundin wasn't brought in through the search firm, which the Maple Leafs hired for the head of hockey operations search. Potential candidates were also reportedly asked about the potential of working with Sundin, Friedman said.
The Maple Leafs began the search for a new head of hockey ops after firing general manager Brad Treliving on Mar. 30. MLSE (Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment) president and CEO Keith Pelley said the next hire would have to be data-centric.
Pelley and co. have been going through the interview process over the last few weeks, and by the sounds of it, if Sundin takes a role within the club, there's only one person fit to become Toronto's next GM.
"I think that's come down to John Chayka and Scott White," said Friedman, "and if Sundin does take the job, I think it's going to be Chayka (as the GM of the Maple Leafs). If something happens here, and it doesn't occur, I don't know where this is all going to go. I don't know what the backup plan is.
"But as it stands right now, I'm under the impression that it's going to be Sundin and Chayka, and they just have to close the deal. Nothing is done until it's done. But that's what I believe is going on."
Friedman added that bringing Sundin in will also help restore what it means to wear the Maple Leafs' crest. He said that many in the organization felt "that the pride in wearing the jersey had fallen."
The Maple Leafs finished second-last in the Eastern Conference and fifth-last in the NHL, missing the postseason for the first time since 2016. Because of where they finished in the standings, though, they could have a shot at a top-five draft pick.
The NHL Draft Lottery goes down on May 5, and the Maple Leafs have an 8.5 percent chance of landing the first overall pick. Let's see if Toronto makes any management hires before then.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the biggest surprises of the NBA postseason. Despite the absence of two of their biggest stars in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the Lakers got out to a 3-0 series lead over the Houston Rockets in the opening playoff round.
The team leaned on Herculean efforts from LeBron James, Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart to secure those wins, bringing LA to the brink of advancing to the second round. After all, no team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 deficit.
While the Lakers lost Game 4, preventing a sweep, the team still has three opportunities to put Houston away. And those opportunities might get easier if either Reaves or Doncic can return.
With Game 5 scheduled for Wednesday night, here is the latest injury information on Doncic and Reaves.
Austin Reaves injury info
Austin Reaves is hopeful to play in Game 5. Per ESPN, Reaves is "optimistic" about his return.
That said, Reaves has been a game-time decision for three straight contests now and failed to participate in Games 3 or 4. Though the outlook seems bright for Reaves' return, the team could still decide it's best he remains sidelined for Wednesday's contest.
Luka Doncic injury info
Doncic has been out since the six-time All-Star hurt his hamstring on April 2. Although he is nearing a return, and has been seen performing shooting drills at Lakers practice, head coach JJ Redick has maintained that Doncic is "out indefinitely."
On Tuesday, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Doncic is expected to miss the second round of the playoffs as well, indicating that there is still no timetable for his return.
"It is a slow-path on the recovery front for Luka. The expectation is if the Lakers are able to beat Houston and advance Luka Dončić will be out for the next series. There's still no time table for him as of right now. He's starting to do more court movement as JJ Redick said the… pic.twitter.com/ayA0zuKreU
Should the Lakers defeat the Rockets, they will face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the conference semifinals. The Thunder won all four games they played against the Lakers this season, meaning Los Angeles will need all the help it can get if it wants to win the series.
TORONTO, ON - April 28 Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage (39) gives a tip of his cap to the fans as he leaves the game in the 6th inning.The Toronto Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 3-0 at the Rogers Centre in MLB baseball actionApril 28 2026 Richard Lautens/Toronto Star (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
Tenacious pitching was the star of the show last night in Arlington, with a great deal of excellent defense from both sides, as well. Oh, and Lady Luck too. Plenty of plays come down to skill, but sometimes, fortune just has to favor you, too. To wit, Fernando Cruz could practice this throw all day long and still chuck into left field about half the time at the very least. I couldn’t believe that Ryan McMahon was actually able to make something from it. So factor his skill into the equation! Great win for the Bombers. Now, to see what young gun Elmer Rodríguez has to offer against Nathan Eovaldi in his MLB debut.
Here’s what else was going on among notable teams around the Junior Circuit.
Toronto Blue Jays (13-16) 3, Boston Red Sox (12-18) 0
The mini-three-game winning streak that actually began just before Alex Cora was fired has come to a close, and it was at the hands of one of the most anticipated pitchers of the season. Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage was one of the stories of their memorable 2025 World Series run, dominating the Yankees, Mariners, and Dodgers at different points that postseason despite having just three career starts to his name before October. So he’s actually still Rookie of the Year-eligible entering 2026, though he’ll have to overcome the obstacle of shoulder inflammation that put him on the shelf in the season’s first calendar month. (The incredible Kevin McGonigle will also be a massive hurdle until [if??] he slumps.)
The pressure is on Yesavage to not only look sharp but also get the pitching-ravaged Jays back on track amid a subpar beginning to 2026. He got off on the right foot on Wednesday, firing shutout ball at Rogers Centre, allowing four hits and striking out three, fanning Willson Contreras to end his night. Yesavage could no doubt have lasted longer than 5.1 innings, but the Jays cut his outing at 74 pitches since they’re still building him back up.
On the other side, fellow rookie Payton Tolle wasn’t as sharp as he was last time out against the Yankees. The Jays plated two in the third on a Kazuma Okamoto single that scored Andrés Giménez and the doubling Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The three hits that Tolle surrendered in that inning were the only ones he allowed, but his bad control burned him in the fifth. With two down, he walked Myles Straw and Ernie Clement on a combined 10 pitches, moving his free pass total to four on the night.
Interim skipper Chad Tracy gave Tolle the hook with Guerrero due up. Zack Kelly offered no relief, as Guerrero singled in an insurance run. Boston failed to muster a hit against the Toronto bullpen, which saw Jeff Hoffman throw an encouraging perfect seventh and Louie Varland tighten his newly-found grasp on the closer’s job by striking out Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, and Trevor Story in order in the ninth.
Tampa Bay Rays (18-11) 1, Cleveland Guardians (15-16) 0: The other notable debut from Wednesday was the first career game for top Guardians prospect Travis Bazzana, the No. 1 pick of the 2024 MLB Draft. He went hitless with a pair of walks, but his Cleveland teammates only mustered four knocks combined against a tough Nick Martinez and Tampa Bay bullpen. Martinez kept them off the board to lower his season ERA to a surprising 1.70, and though Tanner Bibee was only burned by an RBI single from Jonathan Aranda, that was enough to beat the punchless Guardians. The Rays quietly have the second-best record in the American League behind the Yankees.
Baltimore Orioles (14-15) 5, Houston Astros (11-19) 3: Taiwanese righty Kai-Wei Teng’s first start for the Astros had an inauspicious beginning, as Gunnar Henderson and Samuel Basallo both doubled in a two-run first for Baltimore. Houston got one back on a solo shot from Brice Matthews, but Pete Alonso countered with a two-run blast off Ryan Weiss and Adley Rutschman added insurance later with his second RBI single of the ballgame. Shane Baz threw 5.1 innings of one-run ball for the win and Ryan Helsley was perfect in the ninth.
Detroit Tigers (15-15) 2, Atlanta Braves (21-9) 5: The Braves continued their torrid start to 2026, gradually jumping out to a 5-0 lead against Detroit on the strength of a Ronald Acuña Jr. run-scoring double, an RBI knock from Mike Yastrzemski, and a two-run homer by Ozzie Albies against Tyler Holton. Veteran Martín Pérez’s inexplicably good run continued with five innings of zeroes before giving way to the Atlanta bullpen. The Tigers’ only damage was a two-run dinger in the ninth by Wenceel Pérez. Aaron Bummer recovered to get the final two outs to secure the victory.
Seattle Mariners (15-16) 7, Minnesota Twins (13-17) 1: The magic pixie dust from Minnesota’s unexpected 11-7 start has just about worn off, as they lost their 10th game in their last 12. Byron Buxton’s fifth-inning solo shot off Logan Gilbert was their only scoring, and after five scoreless innings, ace Joe Ryan faltered late on RBI singles from Josh Naylor and Cole Young. Naylor removed any doubt from the outcome of this matchup with a three-run blast in the eighth, and the M’s cruised.
The New York Yankees are re-arranging their rotation after optioning the struggling Luis Gil, pushing Will Warren back to later in the week and calling up Elmer Rodríguez to make his MLB debut against the Texas Rangers this afternoon. Rodríguez is a consensus top 100 prospect in the league and a top-three prospect in the organization. After landing in New York during the 2024-25 offseason in an unheralded win/win trade with Yankees catching farmhand Carlos Narváez heading to the Red Sox, Rodríguez has done nothing but grow as a pitcher, improving his stuff and showing excellent control and command.
The 22-year-old right-hander has an incredible 1.27 ERA through four Triple-A starts this year, rightfully earning a promotion to the best and toughest league in the world. As you can expect, it will be a huge challenge, but Elmer has the tools to be a successful starter now and in the future.
In his 21.1 innings with Scranton this year, Rodríguez has seven walks, 20 strikeouts, and an excellent 56.3 percent groundball rate. Rodríguez has a deep repertoire consisting of six pitches: a four-seamer, a sinker, a slider that is often classified as a sweeper, a cutter, a curveball, and a changeup. He uses all of them to keep hitters off balance.
Rodríguez is not a huge, overpowering swing-and-miss guy, but he had a solid 29 percent strikeout rate last year when he posted a 2.58 ERA across three levels in 150 innings, and is at 25.6 percent this year in Triple-A. In his most recent outing in Scranton, his fastball sat in the 94-95 mph range, but it has been known to be a bit harder on occasion. The pitch has some bat-missing carry and armside run. A rival scout told Yankees insider Erik Boland that the pitch is “a legit 70 (on the 20-80 scouting scale) that he can locate to both sides.” It may not have triple-digit velocity, but its movement profile and Rodríguez’s command of the pitch give it a promising future. The slider has considerable horizontal and vertical movement and is one of his preferred pitches against right-handers.
He uses the sinker as a weapon to induce weak contact on the ground, and it usually works. Rodríguez is smart on the mound and knows how to use each pitch to achieve his objective. In that Triple-A start last week, Rodríguez tried to establish his fastball early, and by the end of the outing, he was prioritizing his breaking and offspeed stuff: the slider, the curveball, and the changeup. It worked, as he pitched 5.2 innings of one run ball, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out seven.
Those who watched the World Baseball Classic also saw Elmer dominate Cuba in pool play, pitching three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit on behalf of Team Puerto Rico. He did walk three, but fanned three to get the win.
The Yankees feel it’s the right time to bring Rodríguez up and let him show what he can do. According to Boland, New York “had Elmer Rodríguez slightly ahead of Carlos Lagrange in terms of closest to being big-league ready as a starter,” so he is the first one of the two getting a shot. Rodríguez can consistently repeat his delivery, which results in good control and command. He is also sneaky athletic and gets excellent extension towards the plate, increasing the effectiveness of his pitches. The overall package falls short of ace status, but if everything works out as expected, Rodríguez can be a solid mid-rotation arm for the Yankees for years to come. He represents yet another weapon for a rotation that has plenty of them.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Joseph Sullivan #19 of the Houston Astros bats during the sixth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (16-12) won 7-4 (BOX SCORE)
Sugar Land got on the board in the 4th inning on a 2 run HR from Winkler. They got another run in the 5th on an Unroe solo home run. Ullola got the start and was solid allowing 2 runs, 1 earned, over 5.1 innings of work. The pen allowed a run as the Aces tied it. The game would end up in extra innings and in the 10th, the Sugar Land offense scored 4 runs on a Winkler RBI single, Salazar 2 run double and Strahm sac fly. The Aces got one run back but that was it as Sugar Land held on for the 7-4 win.
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (10-12) lost 10-8 (BOX SCORE)
Imai made a rehab start for the Hooks but struggled allowing 4 runs over 2 innings. The offense got on the board in the 2nd inning scoring 3 runs on a Garcia sac fly and Dezenzo 2 run single. Frisco scored 2 more runs in the 3rd but the offense got 2 back in the bottom of the inning on a Sullivan solo HR and Encarnacion sac fly. In the 5th, Sullivan connected on another solo home run. The Hooks took the lead in the 6th inning on a Janek 2 run double. Nezuh pitched in relief and was dominant striking out 7 over 5.1 scoreless innings. Ramsey came on in the 9th but allowed 2 runs as Frisco tied it. In the 10th, Frisco picked up 2 runs and the Hooks offense was unable to comeback as they well 10-8.
Jackson Nezuh, RHP: 5.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
Ramsey David, RHP: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
Derek True, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
A+: Asheville Tourists (5-17) lost 10-2 (BOX SCORE)
Asheville got on the board in the 3rd inning on a Nunez sac fly. They got another run in the 4th inning on an error. Rodriguez got the start and was solid allowing 2 runs over 4.2 innings while striking out 6. He was relieved by Cruz who struggled allowing 8 runs over 3.1 innings. The offense was quiet the rest of the way as Asheville fell 10-2.
Anthony Cruz, RHP: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 6 BB, 4 K
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (9-13) lost 4-3 (BOX SCORE)
The Woodpeckers got on the board early scoring 2 runs in the 2nd inning on a Monistere RBI single and Flores RBI single. Beck got the start and went 4 innings allowing 2 runs. Fayetteville took the lead in the 6th scoring a run on an error. Verdugo pitched in relief and tossed 5 no-hit innings, though he did allow one unearned run and walked 5. The game would go to extra innings and in the 10th, the RiverDogs walked it off as the Woodpeckers fell 4-3.
Apr 28, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly (29) takes a moment before taking the mound in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Diamondbacks News
Kelly, Hoffman Swatted by Brewers While Vargas Keeps Streak Alive While it is still too early to panic about Merrill Kelly, the veteran righty is looking more and more like the pitcher the Rangers acquired at the deadline last year and less and less like Merrill the Mainstay that the Diamondbacks hoped they were signing this last winter. Andrew Hoffman allowing eight runs while only recording one out in relief was more than Arizona could survive.
Brewers Pound Arizona Pitching Lopsided losses like the one last night are why the Diamondbacks have such a negative run differential despite their winning record.
Revisiting the Blaze Alexander Trade After Andrew Hoffman was slapped around last night, there is a very strong chance that the return from the Blaze Alexander trade, Kade Strowd, will be getting a call-up today or tomorrow.
Other MLB News
Phillies Fire Rob Thomson After losing 11 of 12, the Phillies’ front office parted ways with Manager Rob Thomson. They then attempted to hire Alex Cora before being rebuffed and settling for Don MAttingly.
It’s Getting Late Early for the Mets Twenty-nine games in, the team from Queens is tied with division rival Philadelphia for the worst record in all of baseball and sit 10.5 games out of first
Cristopher Sanchez has pitched extremely well out of the gate, allowing more than two runs only once through six starts.
My Giants vs. Phillies predictions expect him to lead the home team to victory against a struggling San Francisco offense.
Let’s take a closer look at my MLB picks on Wednesday, April 29.
Who will win Giants vs Phillies today: Phillies moneyline (-150)
The Philadelphia Phillies have not had a strong offensive season, but they’ve quietly been potent at home, at least against right-handed pitching. They sit sixth in SLG, ninth in OPS, and 10th in wOBA vs. righties.
That could be trouble for San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb, who has allowed at least three earned runs in five of six starts and has yet to find his footing.
The lone exception came against the Mets, who rank in the Bottom 3 in runs, SLG, and OPS.
Philadelphia is in a good spot to produce, and with Cristopher Sanchez on the mound, it won't take much to get a win.
COVERS INTEL: The Phillies trail only the Dodgers, Braves, and Rangers in hard-hit rate against righties at home.
Giants vs Phillies Over/Under pick: Under 7 (-105)
Sanchez has allowed two runs or fewer in five of six starts, including against the Giants in early April.
He has been flat-out dominant at home, allowing two or fewer in 18 consecutive starts. The last time he allowed more than a couple of runs at home was April 6 of 2025, against the powerhouse Dodgers.
He is well-positioned to neuter a Giants offense that ranks dead last in runs, homers, and stolen bases.
While the Phillies should have some success against Webb, the Giants have a strong bullpen that can help limit the damage and keep this game relatively low-scoring.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 7-3, +3.18 units
Over/Under bets: 3-7, -4.72 units
Giants vs Phillies odds
Moneyline: Giants +120 | Phillies -140
Run line: Giants +1.5 (-175) | Phillies -1.5 (+150)
Over/Under: Over 7 (-110) | Under 7 (-110)
Giants vs Phillies trend
The Giants have only hit the Team Total Over in 7 of their last 22 away games (-10.50 Units / -41% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Giants vs. Phillies.
How to watch Giants vs Phillies and game info
Location
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
First pitch
6:40 p.m. ET
TV
NBCS-Bay Area, NBCS-Philadelphia
Giants starting pitcher
Logan Webb (2-3, 4.86 ERA)
Phillies starting pitcher
Cristopher Sanchez (2-2, 2.94 ERA)
Giants vs Phillies latest injuries
Giants vs Phillies 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.
While a match-up between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain would almost certainly be most neutrals’ Bigger Cup final of choice, the major benefit of these two European heavyweights meeting in the semi-finals is that we get to watch them do it all again next week. While Football Daily has occasionally felt first-world resentment at being forced to sit through no end of turgid footballing dross masquerading as top-tier, top-flight entertainment this season, last night we felt genuinely sorry for any football fans who couldn’t enjoy the otherworldly treat served up in Paris. For many in the UK, the cost of watching Europe’s elite is an unaffordable luxury when they’re already struggling to put light in the bulb and food on the table. And while Pep Guardiola’s budget almost certainly stretches to an Amazon Prime subscription, last night the Manchester City boss took an ill-advised punt on Stockport County and Port Vale providing more bang for his buck at Edgeley Park.
Looking at that photo of Messi from 2005 (yesterday’s Quote of the Day), I had no idea before seeing his T-shirt that he was so left wing. We all know he did his best work off the right” – Andy McGregor.
A mention in Football Daily of Nike ‘Phantom Elite’ boots made me realise I may have missed some stages in the overdramatisation of product names in football. In my day we used to just call them Pumas, or Umbros or (quietly) Golas. Now it seems we’re just a few seasons away from kids clamouring for the new Nike Mega Eagle Missile Ghost Boss boots (as worn by Emil Krafth)” – Andrew Boulton.
What an absurd, breathless, brilliant game that was between PSG and Bayern last night. It was so end to end that, every time the camera panned to either end of the ground, I was surprised to see the keeper stood in a proper football goal, rather than between two piles of jumpers. I was also fully expecting the match to be brought to an end by a teacher marching onto the pitch ringing a brass handbell” – Phil Taverner.
Q: Would you like some goals?
A: Nine. Danke!
Q: Bayern’s second goal was scored in what part of Paris?
A: Champs-Olise’s.
Q: Do you think four goals are enough to get a result at PSG?
A: Cinq again!
Q: What time is it?
A: Five past Neuer.
Q: What now for PSG?
A: Oui go again next week!” – Peter Oh.
Wasn’t that a magnificent display of everything that’s good about football these days? No, not that trivial nine-goal kickabout in Paris. I’m referring to the wholly integrated approach to The Great Game yesterday evening in which the Hearts youth team won the Scottish Youth Cup final 4-0, and the Hearts Women’s team, already league leaders, won 3-0 to stretch their lead to five points with three games to go. What a season this could be for all things maroon” – Ken Muir.
Despite being native Baltimorean – yes, a Baltimoron if you must – I had to search for the meaning of recent allusions to Jimmy McNulty (Football Daily passim). Call me chauvinistic, but you see I’ve made it a point of never watching ‘The Wire’. When I need dramatic representation of harrowing, Sisyphean struggle on the one hand and ghastly, inexorable decline on the other, I simply turn to north London’s two (at least for now) Premier League flag-bearers” – Clinton Macsherry.
Apr 28, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (3) fights for a loose ball against New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Jose Alvarado (5) during the second quarter of game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Hawks dropped a pivotal Game 5 as they fell to a convincing 126-97 defeat to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. Jalen Johnson led the Hawks in scoring with 18 points, while Dyson Daniels added 17 points. For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson scored 39 points with OG Anunoby adding 17 points.
The Hawks — having come off of a heavy home loss in Game 4 — needed to begin Game 5 with intent, to let the Knicks know that Game 5 was not going to be a repeat of Game 4. Atlanta brought physicality in the opening stint, pressing up to the ball and getting physical, with Daniels in particular getting involved on both ends.
The Knicks also brought their defensive intensity; they just made the Hawks work so hard on offense so often of the time in the first half, which was really the defining element of this game when viewed from afar.
On a drive near the end of the shot clock, Daniels is contested well at the rim as he tries to get to a spin and layup:
Here, Johnson sees an extra body on the ball, is forced to give the ball up to Daniels, who finds Okongwu, who has to go to a spin and hook move as the clock begins to wind down:
Contrast this to the Knicks, who enjoyed some very easy baskets in comparison in the first half.
At the end of the first quarter, the Hawks double Brunson out front but half-commit to it, and when Brunson slips the pass in between Daniels and McCollum to the cutting Jordan Clarkson, he’s so wide open he almost has too much time to think before getting into his floater:
These particular lapses are regular season blunders; they’re just unacceptable baskets to allow in Game 5 of a playoff series tied 2-2. While they are the greatest offenders, they weren’t the only easy baskets the Knicks scored.
Brunson torched the Hawks all night long and the Hawks certainly helped him at times. Here in transition, Brunson bursts in transition but poor help defense from Jonathan Kuminga allows Brunson to get all the way to the rim for the basket:
Towns himself finished with 16 points but only took seven shots, most of which came in the first half where he, too, had an easy time of scoring, particularly against Kuminga, both in terms of just shooting over him:
The Knicks ran out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter, scoring 35 points 65% shooting while the Hawks shot 1-of-8 from three — a consistent struggle all night long from behind the arc. While the Knicks only outscored the Hawks by three points in the second quarter, the Hawks, I thought, did not take this second quarter seriously enough from a rotation point of view.
The lineup to start the second half was poor, and the Knicks’ second unit completely outplayed the Hawks’. While the final scoring margin of the benches was 38-24 in favor of the Knicks, it sure felt like the Knicks’ advantage was much wider than that, as Jose Alvarado, Mitchell Robinson, and Jordan Clarkson outplayed Atlanta’s bench. Kuminga, in particular, was bad: bad shot-making, bad shot selection, and consistent foul-baiting that is just not likely to get called on the road.
The Knicks ran their lead to 20 in the second quarter and, really, never looked back from here. Never again did the lead drop below double-digits, nor were the Knicks particularly threatened at any point in the second half as Brunson took over, scoring 22 of his 39 points. It really was as easy as that for the New Yorks, who take a 3-2 series lead with the Hawks’ season now on the line, facing elimination in Game 6 in Atlanta.
Postgame, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder directed attention to the Knicks’ defense limiting the Hawks while acknowledging the Hawks needed to do more to overcome the Knicks’ defense, believing the Hawks didn’t play to the level they needed to.
“They did what they were supposed to do, protect at home court,” began Snyder postgame. “Their defense never really let us establish consistently how we need to play to beat them. It’s really like imposing your will on the offensive end, really moving and passing. You can feel possessions where that occurs, and that’s when we’re efficient or have success. We had some shots that didn’t go in, that’s always in play. For us, I think we need to execute on who we are and what we’ve done to be a good team. That’s hard when you play against a team of their caliber, but that level for us, we didn’t hit it. They had a lot to do with that, but that can’t be where it stops. We’ve got to be more committed to that and to playing the way that we know we need to play to be successful, and we get a chance to go home and do that.”
The Hawks were asked about the Knicks’ physicality, and similarly acknowledged that they needed to find a way to get around this.
“We got smashed tonight, but we still got a chance,” said Dyson Daniels. “It’s 3-2, we’re going home to protect our home court. We’ve got to be better, we got to come out, we got to be more physical, we got to play harder. They came in and just manhandled us, so we’re going to have to really, change some things around if we want to, you know, get Game 6.”
“We just got to play through it,” added Onyeka Okongwu of playing through physicality. “We can’t let their physicality take us out of what we want to do. We’ve just got to move the ball more. We’re not really playing like ourselves, we’re not running, we’re not moving the ball, we’re not spacing. The things that we did to get us to this point of the year we’re not doing well enough. We have to do that on Thursday, or our season will be over.”
“I don’t think we played anywhere near our best basketball at all this series,” said Daniels. “…We want to play fast, but you can’t play fast when we put them on the free throw line and we’re not getting stops. We’ve got to be better at getting stops, keeping them off the free throw line, and then we just got to have the mindset to run. Everyone’s got to run. If you have four guys running and one guy doesn’t, that hurts you as well. So, five guys got to run, got to space. Like I said, we haven’t played to our strengths this series, and I don’t think we’ve had a game where we’ve had a good fastbreak, got a lot of fastbreak points. So, credit to them as well, they’ve taken that away from us, but it’s something that we need to do.”
The Hawks finished fifth in the NBA in three-point percentage, but shot just 13-of-42 from three in Game 5. There were plenty of very makable shots the Hawks missed from distance, but on a night where the Hawks weren’t succeeding in getting out in transition for threes, where the Knicks limited their turnovers to also prevent fastbreak scoring, and a lack of free throw shooting (shooting 10-of-17 from the line), the Hawks paid a dear price for missing their threes.
Looking across the roster, CJ McCollum retuned to Earth with six points on 3-of-10 shooting, and while he has been the star for the Hawks in this series, their success in this series is dependent on the scoring success of Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Johnson led the Hawks in scoring with 18 points, but really struggled to get going offensively in the half-court, and shot 1-of-5 from three. Alexander-Walker had a good third quarter and shot good percentages (6-of-11 from the field, 4-of-9 from three). It just wasn’t enough. That’s the sentiment I think actually applies across the board here, because the percentages for the starters, minus McCollum, are actually solid — there just wasn’t enough of it.
“I think for us, we can get kind of caught up in individual performances,” said Snyder when asked about other stepping up as McCollum returns to Earth. “You always need those, but we need to look at kind of our collective, look at it collectively. Everybody needs to make plays for each other. When we’re playing well, that’s what it looks like. CJ’s a competitor, but it’s us, and our guys have embraced that throughout the course of the year. When you play a really good team, they have an impact on your ability to do that. Whether last game it was us turning the ball over, tonight our ability to space and make an extra pass, and those things that generate better shots.”
From the Knicks’ side, it was a familiar story: 60 points in the paint, 20 second chance points, and big free throw disparity, shooting 25-of-34 from the line.
“Their size and athleticism, when they get the ball in there it’s difficult defensively to have an impact,” said Snyder of the Knicks’ paint scoring. “We just need to build a better perimeter, if that makes sense. Whether it’s double teaming a certain situation, where there’s a mismatch or a size mismatch, but the physicality that we have to play with defensively, really as much as anything, on the glass. We got to dig and scratch and claw and be better.”
The Hawks have done well to make this series and take the 2-1 lead, but this game was a microcosm for everything the Hawks should have feared heading into this series.
Jalen Brunson dominated, scoring 39 points on 15-of-23 from the field, absolutely dominating his matchups with Alexander-Walker and Daniels. There was nothing any of them could do. Brunson was getting to the rim, getting into his pull-up — everything that he did so well in the regular season series. Massive volume, massive efficiency, and just no answers for the Hawks. McCollum is the reason the Hawks even have two wins in this series, and for that he deserves a lot of credit, but this type of disparity between he and Brunson was what concerned me heading into the series.
Towns took seven shots in this game — it blows my mind how little either the Knicks don’t go to him more given his mismatches/advantages, or how Towns himself doesn’t just demand the ball and just shoot over Daniels, or put him in the spin cycle going to the rim. Towns still finished with 16 points and was dominant in that first quarter where the Knicks broke away whilst also grabbing 14 rebounds.
The Knicks’ bench completely outplayed the Hawks’ bench as referenced earlier. Guys like Alvarado, Robinson, and Clarkson comprehensively outperformed Atlanta’s bench.
This was a bad Kuminga game, and we talked about it heading into the series. He had to be the swing guy off the bench in this series for the Hawks to have success. In the two wins for the Hawks in this series, Kuminga has averaged 20 points on 61% shooting from the field and 37% from three on over four attempts. In the three losses, Kuminga has averaged 10 points per game on 37% shooting from the field and 7% from three on over four attempts per game. His performances are really important for the Hawks, and last night was not a good one. Not that he was helped by his bench compatriots: Vincent struggled to hit shots, Corey Kispert missed all four of his shots, and Tony Bradley is left even further alone than the Knicks left Dyson Daniels.
Speaking of, the Knicks were happy to let Daniels handle as much as possible. While Daniels scored 17 points on 7-of-11 from the field and 2-of-4 from three, it’s hard to escape the thought that that’s exactly what the Knicks wanted. The same issues still exist: Daniels is still played off of, left alone from three, allows Towns to guard Daniels and hover around the rim.
And there’s nothing the Hawks can really do about it, and what Daniels did is an improvement from earlier in the series where he wasn’t scoring and just handing the ball off and screening — it’s just a fundamental aspect baked into this series that the Knicks can take advantage of every game. More Daniels means less Johnson and less Alexander-Walker, and that’s just fine with the Knicks.
Other issues that I was concerned about heading into this series: transition offense. Teams just tend not to turn the ball over as much in the postseason, and I was concerned that this would limit the Hawks’ fastbreak opportunities, but I didn’t think it would be as low as four points in Game 5. Transition is the Hawks’ bread-and-butter: get out, run, get to the rim or kick out to a shooter for a made three — none of these things happened for the Hawks consistently in this game.
Offensive rebounds and second chance scoring…we’ve been over this issue enough — it’s just another aspect that’s baked into this series that there are no adjustments for: it’s just going to happen and all you can do is limit it. The Hawks really struggled with this, with the Knicks converting eight offensive rebounds into 20 points. From a volume standpoint, the Hawks actually did a great job to limit to just eight offensive rebounds — they just couldn’t get any stops from them.
In short, all the things the Hawks should have been worried about heading into the series all transpired — almost every single one of them. So, perhaps from that perspective the series was due a game like this, and it’s hard for all those things to occur at once, which should give the Hawks some optimism heading back home for Game 6
Game 6 is do-or-die; win or go home. The nature of these last two games should give the Hawks cause for concern, and if there’s anything in this series for Jalen Johnson or Nickeil Alexander-Walker, or any more heroics from CJ McCollum, or impactful games from Jonathan Kuminga, there is no more time remaining.
Game 6 takes place on Thursday night back at State Farm Arena.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 19: Egor Demin #8 and Drake Powell #4 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrate during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on February 19, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Brooklyn Nets made an early entry into the offseason. We knew it would be this way for several weeks, but it’s still a bit striking to see a bushel of teams duking it out on national television every night, and our guys cosplaying as Arthur Morgan or sitting court side with Ice Spice.
Yes, Brooklyn players did both of those things last week. The guys are already making the most of their time off, and frankly, they should be. Once the playoffs roll through, we’ll be about two weeks away from the draft and less than a month away from the start of Summer League. Time indeed flies when you’re having fun.
To at least keep tabs on everyone, we’ve put together another social media roundup, the first of this offeason. Several players took time over the past few weeks for some season recap posts. And, as mentioned, others went straight into vacation mode. Here’s what we have for you.
From Brooklyn to…
Brooklyn’s top pick in last year’s draft wasted little time getting out of Brooklyn. He’s certainly had the look of a highway man as well, recently venturing out west for some horseback riding.
Not long before that, Dëmin also went golfing with creator Noah Schone. He also visited his alma mater, where he caught ball game and appeared to get a workout in. I don’t want to make a mountain out of a molehill, but the latter has to be a good sign in terms of his left plantar fascia injury management.
However, Dëmin isn’t the only rookie on the road right now. Earlier this week, Drake Powell got out to Iceland (the thinking man’s Cancun?) Ziaire Williams asked why Powell had gloves on in the comments, where Tyrese Martin replied “knowing him prolly out there Rock climbing and shi.”
Several Nets also posted slideshows over the past two weeks bidding farewell to the 2025-26 season. Believe it or not, it’s already been three years in the NBA for Jalen Wilson…
The Nets have a club option on Malachi Smith’s contract for next year. His post reminded us how many big moments he had after getting the call up at the end of the season.
In his end-of-season post, Day’Ron Sharpe wrote “Peace and blessings. Until next time.” Brooklyn has a team option on his contract this summer as well. After a career season from the now five-year NBA vet, I’m pretty confident “next time” will be back in Brooklyn.
Noah Clowney captioned his post in a similar fashion. This past year was his third in the league, and his best statistically in terms of scoring, passing, and rebounding.
Our last end-of-season reel belongs to Josh Minott. Much of it was made out of clips from his coming out game vs the New York Knicks. Next year, let’s hope he gets that sought after win against them.
Two-ways Tyson Etienne, Chaney Johnson, and E.J. Liddell all dropped end-of-season posts as well. Liddell shouted out both the Brooklyn and Long Island staff for their work with him over the course of the campaign.
“Thank you Brooklyn & Long Island for another year in this league,” he wrote. “It’s been a year full of growth & lessons that I will carry for the rest of my life. One thing I can say I learned is that through habits & discipline you forge a character rich with courage and peace.”
The New York Yankees and Texas Rangers meet this afternoon in a matchup that couldn't be more different on the mound, with a 36-year-old veteran on one side and a 22-year-old making his major-league debut on the other.
The Yankees have won nine of their last ten games, and my Yankees vs. Rangers predictions don't expect them to slow down here.
Read all about it in my MLB picks for Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
Who will win Yankees vs Rangers today: Yankees moneyline (-113)
Yes, the New York Yankees will give the ball to Elmer Rodriguez, making his MLB debut on the road.
Yes, he’ll be facing a pitcher who has been around the block a time or two. But it still isn’t enough to nullify the issues facing Texas Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, or the Yankees' bats.
It's the same story that has made the Yankees look more like actual contenders rather than paper tigers: They have the lowest chase rate in the sport at just under 26%.
That likely means Eovaldi is forced to come off his split and throw more fastball stuff. And just as has been the case for the last five years or so, New York is one of the better fastball-hitting teams in the sport, ranking within the Top 3 in barrel and hard-hit rates.
Rodriguez's debut introduces a ton of volatility, but he’s a legitimate prospect who will do enough against a struggling Rangers offense.
COVERS INTEL: If the season ended today, Eovaldi would finish with the highest hard-hit rate of his career at 49%.
Yankees vs Rangers Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-115)
Two factors push this toward the Over.
Eovaldi's contact profile is one of the worst in baseball right now, at least for a starting pitcher. His hard-hit rate ranks in the Bottom 20%, and his average exit velocity ranks in the Bottom 30%.
Against a disciplined Yankees lineup, he will have a tough afternoon once they get into counts and force him to attack the zone.
On the other side, Rodriguez is making his major-league debut. That’s the analysis. I like his outlook, and this isn’t the worst team to face right now either, but the fastball-heavy stuff makes him very vulnerable to the long ball.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 11-8, +2.67 units
Over/Under bets: 12-8, +3.8 units
Yankees vs Rangers odds
Moneyline: Yankees -120 | Rangers +100
Run line: Yankees -1.5 (+139) | Rangers +1.5 (-168)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-115) | Under 8.5 (-105)
Yankees vs Rangers trend
The New York Yankees have covered the Run Line in 26 of their last 40 away games (+15.35 Units / 35% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Rangers.
How to watch Yankees vs Rangers and game info
Location
Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
Date
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
First pitch
2:35 p.m. ET
TV
YES, RSN
Yankees starting pitcher
Elmer Rodriguez (Triple-A: 1-2, 1.27 ERA)
Rangers starting pitcher
Nathan Eovaldi (2-4, 5.79 ERA)
Yankees vs Rangers latest injuries
Yankees vs Rangers 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.
Apr 9, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Randal Grichuk (34) reacts after striking out against the Athletics during the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images
The Yankees were set for a bit of a roster crunch this week, one that had fans wondering exactly how the club would piece together the puzzle. Well, we have part of the answer now, as this morning the Yankees announced that they had designated outfielder Randal Grichuk for assignment to clear a spot on the active roster for Elmer Rodríguez.
Grichuk signed a minor league deal this offseason with the hope that he’d give Aaron Boone another right-handed option off the bench against left-handed pitchers. The idea was fine enough in theory, but Grichuk hasn’t quite gotten there in practice, slashing .194/.212/.323 this year in limited playing time. Grichuk did make solid contact during his time with the Yankees, posting exit velocity and hard hit rates better than league average, but he also showed ugly plate discipline and was never much of a fielder. His case for remaining on the roster long term was thin unless he provided real thump at the plate.
The 34-year-old will now hit waivers, and if he clears he’ll have the option to elect free agency. For the Yankees, they’ll still have roster decisions later this week to work out, as a corresponding move will be needed once Anthony Volpe is activated (infielder Max Schuemann figures to get a ticket back to Triple-A). But for now, with this bit of roster business sorted out, we can fully turn our attention to today’s main event: Rodríguez’s major league debut this afternoon in Texas.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 16: A detail of a Wilson glove and Los Angeles Dodgers hat in the dugout during a game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on April 16, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was an incredibly satisfying day for the Dodgers minor league affiliates, going four for four with wins of every kind, from dramatic close affairs, as in the one-run victory in Ontario, to a complete blowout with a 10-run lead in Tulsa.
Player of the day
Blake Snell’s rehab outing was the headline of a matchup between the Tower Buzzers and the Storm, but for as important as he was in a 4-3 win for Ontario, none of it would have happened without the heroic efforts of outfielder Ching-Hsien Ko.
The Tower Buzzers first got on the board in the third inning, when Ko hit an RBI double into center field. Trailing 3-2 in the ninth, the home side needed to pull something out of the hat, and they did so in the form of a Ko solo shot, his third of the year in what has been quite a productive campaign. Ontario would go on to win that game in the 10th on a balk, and they ended the game with only a pair of extra-base hits, both coming from Ko.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
A scoring outburst in the opening frame, headlined by a couple of home runs from Ryan Ward and Jack Suwinski, was sufficient for the Comets to secure their 13th win of the season by a score of 7-3. It was a game that could be split into two uneven parts, as nine of the 10 total runs were scored in the first two innings. Gervasse, McDermott, and Rosario combined to throw four scoreless innings for the Comets’ bullpen, allowing just one hit.
Although he didn’t get an RBI, James Tibbs III—to the surprise of absolutely no one—was the Comets’ most productive hitter in the game, finishing it 3 for 4 and as the only hitter to score a run multiple times.
Double-A Tulsa
You get a home run, he gets a home run, everyone gets a home run. That’s what it felt like as six different Driller hitters combined to hit seven long balls in a 17-7 win. The source of the two-homer game was the most unlikely one, in the form of ninth-hole hitter Chris Newell. Zyhir Hope, Josue De Paula, Zack Gelof, Griffin Lockwood-Powell, and Joe Vetrano all went yard once.
Home run derby? Nah… just today’s game 😏
Your Tulsa Drillers hit 7 home runs including a grand slam during today's game! pic.twitter.com/2WhwmZm9vA
Pitching-wise, Adam Serwinowski had a particularly troublesome start, which kept this game relatively close until a seven-run outburst for the Drillers in the eighth. Unlike the Missions, who saw each of their relievers struggle, the Drillers leaned into Myles Caba’s outstanding work. The southpaw even earned the win by striking out five of the seven batters he faced in two scoreless frames.
High-A Great Lakes
In a similar fashion to the blowout win of the Drillers, the Loons took part in a high-scoring game with both starters struggling heavily, but their bullpen was able to stabilize things, whereas their opponent never got into a rhythm. Delivering 5.2 scoreless innings in relief, Cody Morse and Jakob Wright contained a Chiefs offense that had scored a run in four out of the first five frames.
Offensively, the Loons didn’t deliver the home run derby we saw with the Drillers—Logan Wagner was responsible for the team’s only home run in the game—but 18 hits are likely to bring damage in any form they come; Nico Perez and catcher Jesus Galiz were the two that reached base at least four times, with everybody but DH Eduardo Guerrero getting at least one hit.
Class-A Ontario
If you want to read more about it, here is a breakdown of Blake Snell’s second rehab outing in his journey towards a 2026 MLB debut.
The 4-3 win had some quality pitching from both sides behind it, but each offense has plenty of reasons to lament not achieving a better output, as they combined to go 2 for 29 with runners in scoring position. Ko was not only responsible for the Tower Buzzers’ two sole extra-base hits, but he was also the only hitter in the game with multiple hits. It’s no surprise that this game would end in such a unique way, with a walk-off balk for the Tower Buzzers in the 10th.
Because Snell only covered three innings, Ontario needed some length out of its bullpen, and that came in the form of four scoreless from Hyun-Seok Jang, who earned five of the game’s absurd 30 strikeouts, combining both squads.
Transactions
The Oklahoma City Comets placed right-hander Ryder Ryan on the 7-day IL. Another right-handed pitcher, Dave Bautista, was assigned to the DSL.
Tuesday’s scores
Round Rock 3, Oklahoma City 7
Tulsa 17, San Antonio 7
Great Lakes 11, Peoria 4
Ontario 4, Lake Elsinore 3
Wednesday’s schedule
10:05 a.m. PT: Tulsa (Evan Shaw) vs. San Antonio (Victor Lizarraga)
3:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Sean Patick) vs.Peoria (Blake Alta)
4:45 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Logan Allen) at Round Rock (TBD)
5:35 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) VS. Lake Elsinore (TBD)
American baseball player Bob Knepper, a pitcher for the Houston Astros, pictured during training, April 21st 1981. (Photo by UPI/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Our 9th installment of the Legends Series features two-time All-Star Pitcher Bob Knepper. Knepper started 413 games throughout his major league career, spending several seasons as a reliable member of the Astros pitching rotation.
Q: The Dodgers will be coming to town here early next month. You had some amazing battles against L.A. in your day. Were they the biggest team to beat in the old N.L. West?
A: I started battling those guys even before I got to Houston. In 1978, I was facing them as a member of the Giants at Candlestick Park, so I already had that ingrained in me. The Dodgers were always the team to beat.
Q: You started 38 games in 1986. How special was that group?
A: We had a bunch of great guys, some amazing personalities, and a lot of the guys were having career years. Hal Lanier did a great job managing our club that year and it was a lot of fun.
Q: You made two All-Star appearances. Which was more special, 1981 or 1988?
A: I don’t know if one was more special than the other. You know in 1986, I thought Art Howe should’ve made the team, he was putting up some impressive numbers that season. Those appearances were a real privilege and honor. It’s a fun event.
Q: When you pitched, pitch counts weren’t a big thing. Could you do what you did in today’s game?
A: It’s certainly different. The entire culture of baseball has changed.
When I played, there was an expectation that you could go 9 innings. It’s a different world now.
Look at even the high school ranks, kids are playing baseball year-round. I honestly believe you only have so many pitches in your arm, why would you waste them in high school?
I think pitchers are being overworked early on in their careers, and the philosophy has just changed so much.
Q: How much did you want the challenge of taking the ball in the 9th inning?
A: I always enjoyed pitching in the 9th inning. I enjoyed facing adversity when I’d be a little tired or worn out and my stuff wasn’t as sharp. I’d take on that challenge head on because that’s what I was paid to do.
Q: Toughest hitters you ever faced?
A: You know, I’m not sure I ever struck out Pete Rose, and trust me, I tried. There were so many guys. Tony Gwynn and Mike Schmidt, Andre Dawson, they were all great hitters. Even when Jack Clark came back to the National League, it was such an enjoyable thing to try and strike him out. Dale Murphy was also a real challenge and when you recorded an out against that caliber of players, it warranted a fist pump.
COVERS INTEL: The Phillies trail only the Dodgers, Braves, and Rangers in hard-hit rate against righties at home.
