Pre-match postbag. “In the city of light and all things artistic (some might say pretentious), it’s tres jolie to see your photographer going all avant garde with that image of what, in two hours time will be a very smelly (malodorous if you’re being pretentious) room (salon). Gives your buildup a certain je ne sais pas atmosphere. And…in the hometown of Les Miserables, pity the poor sod in the stands who finds himself sat next to Vincent Kompany. But they say Kompany loves misery, or something like that” – Justin Kavanagh
“Obviously the neutrals will and should be cheering on PSG. The essence of the Champions League is to help oligarchs, kleptocracies and unelected dictators gloss their tatty reputations, and I am sickened by the idea of some fan-owned Teutonic meritocracy - ugh - getting their unsullied hands on the trophy. I can’t wait for General Zod or Lord Vader to swoop down and buy a club. Or Satan” – Paul Griffin
Apr 27, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) and Philadelphia Flyers left wing Noah Cates (27) take a third period face-off in game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Charles LeClaire/Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Pittsburgh Penguins are halfway to history.
Sidney Crosby and the Penguins are aiming to become just the fifth team in NHL history to win a series after trailing 3-0. They’ve won two straight games to force Game 6 in Philadelphia.
“It’s quite clear the situation for us is win or go home,” said Crosby, who had two assists in a 3-2 win in Game 5. “I think that urgency, that desperation, whatever you want to call it, I think has brought (out) some of our best hockey because of it. So, we just gotta keep going here.”
The Flyers are among the four teams that have rallied to win a series after losing the first three games. They did it against Boston in the second round in 2010. Philadelphia ended up reaching the Stanley Cup Final that season, losing to Chicago.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” Flyers forward Owen Tippett said. “We knew we weren’t going to win every game. Reset and get back at it.”
While Philadelphia aims to advance to the second round for the first time since 2020, there are two Game 5s featuring series locked in a 2-2 tie.
The Tampa Bay Lightning rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Canadiens 3-2 in Montreal in Game 4, tying the series and regaining home-ice advantage.
The Vegas Golden Knights squandered a three-goal lead but came back to defeat the Utah Mammoth 5-4 on Shea Theodore’s goal with 51.5 seconds left in overtime to even their series.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers
When/Where to Watch: Game 6, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT (TNT).
Series: Flyers lead 3-2.
Philadelphia’s seemingly comfortable 3-0 series lead doesn’t feel quite so comfortable anymore, not after consecutive victories by the Penguins in which Pittsburgh captain Crosby has been at his brilliant best.
Crosby had a goal and an assist in Game 4, then backed it up with perhaps an even better performance in Game 5, dishing out a pair of helpers, the second of which set up Kris Letang’s game-winning goal just moments after Crosby took a slapshot to his left knee and limped to the training room.
While the Flyers still are in a solid position to do what all but four teams in NHL history have done — winning a series after taking the first three games — for a youth-laden club in its first playoff series in six years, the fourth win is proving to be the hardest.
“Even though 3-0 sounded nice, we knew it wasn’t going to be over,” Philadelphia goaltender Dan Vladar said.
It’s not. The Penguins steadily have regained the form that made them one of the league’s biggest surprises during the regular season. They received secondary scoring in Game 5— third-liner Elmer Soderblom scored his first of the playoffs and fourth-liner Connor Dewar notched his second — and then clamped down during the third period to extend their season.
A chance to shift all of the pressure on the Flyers awaits if Pittsburgh can find a way to force a Game 7.
“I think the last couple games we found our stride a bit,” said Crosby, who now has 100 wins in the playoffs. “We should feel good about that. ... We’re playing good hockey and we’ve got to go in there and find a way to win again.”
Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning
When/Where to Watch: Game 5, Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDT (ESPN).
Series: Tied 2-2.
After three overtime games, one finally was decided in regulation when Brandon Hagel scored two goals to lift the Lightning to a 3-2 win. Hagel has six goals in the series.
“He’s definitely become the straw that stirs our drink,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “Even when we went down 2-0, he stood up and looked both ways and, literally I think, captivated the bench with what he was saying and the message he was delivering.”
Hagel’s words motivated his teammates and Max Crozier inspired them with his actions.
The Lightning were down 2-0 in the second period when Crozier flattened Montreal’s Juraj Slafkovsky with a hard hit in the middle of the ice. The legal check energized Tampa Bay and changed the momentum of the game.
“The hit obviously got our bench out of their seats,” Cooper said. “But you still have to take advantage of that. We score in the last minute of the second, and in the first minute of the third, and all of a sudden the game’s completely changed. It helped take the crowd out of it.”
The Canadiens have to rebound after wasting a two-goal lead at home and missing an opportunity to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. They can’t dwell on Game 4.
“That’s a veteran team. They’re very good at drawing penalties. They got talented players,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “They’re a tough team and we knew it was going to be a tough series. We’re right in it. We’re in a battle. It’s a fine line between winning and losing in these games, but we’re battling.”
Utah Mammoth at Vegas Golden Knights
When/Where to Watch: Game 5, Wednesday, 10 p.m. EDT (TNT, truTV HBO Max).
Series: Tied 2-2.
This opening-round series has a sense of deja vu for the Golden Knights, and Vegas hopes that’s a good sign of what’s to come.
The Golden Knights opened last year’s playoffs by prevailing in six games over the Wild. Vegas split the first two games at home, was blown out in Game 3 at Minnesota and won in overtime in Game 4 before going on to take the next two games and the series.
And the series with the Mammoth?
The almost exact beginning.
But financial advisers often warn that past performances aren’t necessarily indicative of future results, and the Golden Knights know they have a fight on their hands if they are to advance to the second round.
“I really like our squad,” coach John Tortorella said. “The most important thing for our team is to know who we are, know who you are as a club, and we are a really good hockey club. No matter what happens, we move forward with the highs and lows of a series.”
There was plenty of both for both teams in a 5-4 Vegas overtime victory at Salt Lake City.
The Golden Knights went up 3-0, Utah roared back with four unanswered goals and Vegas forced overtime in the third period. Then the Golden Knights thought they won in OT before an offside review wiped out Pavel Dorofeyev’s goal, and then actually won it on Jack Eichel’s sensational pass to Shea Theodore in the high slot for the winner with less than a minute left in overtime.
“There is plenty of hockey left in this series; a tied series going back,” Mammoth defenseman Ian Cole said. “It’s a three-game series. (We’re) focusing on what we can control and where we stand right now. I think that will do us well.”
San Jose Sharks forward Pavol Regenda is not going to Switzerland to represent Slovakia at this year's IIHF World Championship, according to local reports.
The 26-year-old forward struggled to find a spot in the Sharks lineup for much of the season despite scoring at a high rate and having very favorable analytics. In 24 games at the NHL level, he scored nine goals and recorded a single assist.
Regenda's goal-scoring likely wasn't sustainable over the course of a full season considering, according to MoneyPuck.com, he had a higher goals per sixty minutes rate than Macklin Celebrini and his shooting percentage was 21.7%, but it was still impressive given his limited opportunities in the NHL.
Regenda has been a mainstay for the Slovak National Team over the past half-decade, but this year, it appears he's opting to focus on his dream of remaining in the NHL.
"Pavol and I talked on the phone a few times, there were some health issues, but first and foremost he feels he has one last chance to stay in America and fight for the NHL," Slovak head coach Vladimír Országh said to Slovakia's SME Sportsnet.
As an unrestricted free agent, Regenda has no guarantees regarding his NHL future. Given his usage late in the season, it seems likely that his future won't be in San Jose though.
Regenda has previously talked about the importance of international tournaments to Slovakia and its people, meaning this probably wasn't a decision he made lightly.
"He needs a good summer preparation [to try to stay in the NHL]," Országh added. "Since he has been regularly going to the World Championships in recent years, he feels that the time has come when he needs to rest and prepare for the next season"
While Regenda's NHL future is up in the air, it seems he's going to do whatever it takes to try to keep it going.
There’s a point in every playoff series where conviction meets friction.
For the Philadelphia Flyers, friction is a very kind way to describe what this series against the Pittsburgh Penguins has brought them. Through the first three games against the Penguins, their lineup had been untouchable—not out of pure stubbornness, but simply because there was no evidence to justify change. The structure held. The results followed.
Game 4 didn’t dismantle that belief, but it reminded the Flyers that, as much as it may have seemed like it in the first three outings, their lineup wasn't bulletproof.
Rick Tocchet’s first significant move came in Game 5, inserting Alex Bump for Matvei Michkov. This was a decision that invited debate the moment it was made. The rationale was clear, even if the optics were complicated: a shift toward directness, toward immediacy, toward a player who would simplify decisions and engage the game early.
Whether or not Michkov should have been the player to make room is a story for another day, but the result of the swap was undeniable. Bump delivered.
The 22-year-old scored an important goal, yes—but more importantly, a series of shifts that aligned with what the Flyers needed. He brought quick releases and purposeful routes. He made plays that didn’t linger longer than they should. It didn’t settle the debate around Michkov, nor should it, but it validated Tocchet’s willingness to adjust. And now, as the series moves to Game 6, that willingness appears to be expanding—this time, on the back end.
The door has opened, however slightly, for Oliver Bonk.
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Oliver Bonk (59). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
Why Now?
Defensive pairings, perhaps more than any other part of a lineup, are built on trust. Not just in ability, but in predictability—knowing where your partner will be, how a sequence will unfold, how a retrieval will turn into an exit.
That’s why coaches resist change there unless they have to.
But Game 4 revealed something subtle in the Flyers’ defensive game. The Flyers have admitted that figuring out their defensive pairings has been a bit of a challenge—finding pairs that complement the varying sizes and offensive vs. defensive propensities of their blue line is a puzzle they're still figuring out. Pittsburgh’s ability to stretch the ice and sustain pressure didn’t overwhelm Philadelphia’s structure as much as it tested its elasticity. It forced longer defensive sequences, more second touches, more decisions under pressure.
That’s where fresh variables begin to matter. And that’s where Bonk becomes relevant.
What Bonk Actually Brings
At a glance, the case for Bonk starts with the obvious: size, reach, and a calmness with the puck that doesn’t feel rushed. But reducing him to those traits misses the more important layer: He processes the game efficiently.
Coaches have lauded Bonk's intelligence and maturity since he was first drafted to the Flyers in 2023, and there has always been the utmost confidence in the young defenseman that he has all the tools to seamlessly adapt to the NHL.
“For defensemen, it’s a big jump,” Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach John Snowden said of Bonk back during the Flyers' 2025 rookie camp. “The strength, the skill, the speed, the gaps you have to have…He knows what he has to do. I think he’s putting himself in a really good spot. I like where his body’s at right now. I like his mindset.”
For a defenseman, especially a 21-year-old one stepping into a playoff environment, that’s everything. It’s not about making spectacular plays, but about making the correct play, quickly enough that pressure doesn’t have time to develop.
Bonk’s offensive instincts also offer something the Flyers could use more of right now: controlled activation. Not reckless pinches or forced shots, but the ability to extend possession—walking the line, shifting angles, getting pucks through traffic without overhandling.
But perhaps Bonk's biggest contribution to the lineup could come in the form of his potential power play usage. If there is a single, clean argument for inserting Bonk into Game 6, it lives there.
Philadelphia’s power play has had moments in this series, but it hasn’t consistently dictated terms. Entries have been uneven. Zone time has been there, but not always converted into high-quality looks. A defenseman who can hold the line, manipulate lanes, and deliver pucks with purpose changes the geometry of those sequences.
Bonk can do that. Maybe not as a finished product, but as a player whose instincts align with what the Flyers are trying to create.
The Risk And the Reality of It
For all of his fantastic qualities, there’s no avoiding the obvious.
Bonk has one NHL game. (And two NHL points—a goal and an assist.)
Game 6 of a playoff series—potentially a closeout game—is not a gentle introduction. It’s a compressed, high-stakes environment where every mistake is amplified and every hesitation is exposed, especially against a team like Pittsburgh that is mounting a dangerous comeback attempt and is desperate to complete it.
But that risk has to be contextualized. The Flyers have already shown a willingness to trust young players in meaningful roles. They have not insulated them from pressure; they’ve integrated them into it. The expectation isn’t that they will be flawless. It’s that they will be aligned.
Bonk won't be expected to completely transform the outcome of Game 6. They just need him to fit into its existing structure. That means clean first passes, controlled retrievals, smart decisions at the offensive blue line. If he does those things, the rest of his game—his size, his shot, his ability to extend plays—becomes additive rather than essential.
There is a through line between Bump’s insertion in Game 5 and the possibility of Bonk in Game 6, and that is that Tocchet is not chasing change for its own sake. He is recognizing and targeting specific gaps.
Interesting for Rick Tocchet to say in his media availability today that “it’s in the discussion to maybe put [Oliver Bonk] in” tomorrow. #Flyers had largely stuck with the same lineup before Game 5, but after Alex Bump’s standout game, looks like they’re open to more changes.
With Bump, it was about early engagement—simplifying the Flyers’ offensive rhythm, ensuring that their first touches carried intent. With Bonk, it would be about sustaining possession from the back end, adding a layer of composure and offensive threat that can turn defensive stability into attacking continuity.
Different positions. Same philosophy to adjust where the game has shifted.
What This Says About the Flyers
More than anything, this moment reflects a team that understands where it is.
The Flyers are not searching for identity. They’ve established it. They know how they want to and how they now have to play to control games, and how they want to respond to pressure.
What they’re doing now is refining that identity under playoff conditions—Game 4 showed them where the edges were, Game 5 showed that they’re willing to act on it, and Game 6 may extend that further.
The Decision Ahead
Tocchet hasn’t committed publicly. He rarely does, especially with lineup decisions now that playoffs are in full swing. But the fact that Bonk is explicitly part of the conversation matters. It signals that no position is immune to evaluation—not even one as structurally sensitive as defense.
It also reinforces something the Flyers have quietly demonstrated throughout this series: Continuity is a strength, but adaptability is what sustains it. If Bonk plays, it won’t be because the Flyers are scrambling for solutions. It will be because they’ve identified something specific and believe he can provide it.
Both Mats Zuccarello and Yakov Trenin took the ice on Monday at practice and Tuesday at morning skate.
“I think it’s a good sign," Wild head coach John Hynes said on Monday about Zuccarello practicing. "We’ll see how he felt and what his response is from that. But it is definitely a step in the right direction.”
Hynes said that the two will be questionable to play in Game 5 on Monday and now they are game-time decisions.
He also said they were in Game 3 and both missed. Hynes also said Zuccarello would be a game-time decision in Game 4 and he did not play either.
Zuccarello, 38, had three assists in Game 1 and plays a huge factor on the Wild's top line with Ryan Hartman and Kirill Kaprizov.
He has two goals and eight points in seven career playoff games against the Stars. In 103 career playoff games, Zuccarello has 19 goals, 42 assists and 61 points in 103 career playoff games.
Trenin, 29, has 1,359 career hits in 457 NHL games. In 28 career playoff games, Trenin has 115 hits, including 50 hits in eight career playoff games with Minnesota.
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Macklin Celebrini's spectacular sophomore season has him in the running with established veterans for what NHL players consider the top regular season award.
The San Jose Sharks' young star is a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award for most outstanding player. It's voted on fellow members of the NHL Players' Association. Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid and Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov are the other finalists.
The winner will be announced later.
The NHLPA award finalists are the first to be announced. The NHL will roll out the finalists for other awards over the next few weeks.
Here's what to know about the Ted Lindsay Award finalists and the announcement schedule for the other awards:
Ted Lindsay Award finalists
Players listed in alphabetical order Voting is by fellow players
Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks: The 19-year-old finished fourth in the NHL with 115 points (45 goals, 70 assists) and broke the Sharks' franchise single-season scoring record held by Hall of Famer Joe Thornton. He won a silver medal with Canada at the Winter Olympics. He's a first-time finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award.
Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning: Kucherov finished second in the league with 130 points. He scored his 1,000th career point during the season. He is a two-time winner of the Ted Lindsay Award.
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers: McDavid won the NHL's scoring title for the sixth time with 138 points and led the league with 90 assists. He won a silver medal with Canada and was named MVP of the Olympic men's hockey tournament. He is a four-time Ted Lindsay Award winner.
NHL awards finalists announcement schedule
Tuesday, April 28: Ted Lindsay Award (most outstanding player): Macklin Celebrini, Nikita Kucherov, Connor McDavid.
Wednesday, April 29: Vezina Trophy (goaltender)
Thursday, April 30: Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship)
Friday, May 1: Jack Adams Award (coach)
Monday, May 4: Masterton Trophy (perseverance)
Tuesday, May 5: Calder Trophy (rookie)
Wednesday, May 6: Selke Trophy (defensive forward)
Thursday, May 7: Norris Trophy (defenseman)
Friday, May 8: Hart Trophy (MVP)
Monday, May 11: Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award (impact on community, culture or society)
LOS ANGELES — Kyle Tucker got his first walk-off hit since signing a blockbuster deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The right fielder’s game-ending single scored the tying and winning runs in a 5-4 victory over the Miami Marlins after he was hitless in his first four at-bats, including a strikeout. It was his first walk-off hit since May 15, 2023, with Houston.
“It was great. He needed it,” manager Dave Roberts said. “He’s been grinding and trying to find some success and some good fortune. Big spot right there, walk-off at home, so that was great.”
Last week, Tucker was dropped to the cleanup spot from the No. 2 hole in an effort to get the slugger going.
“I’ve had some good contact with not a whole lot to show,” he said. “It’s tough sometimes just because you don’t see the results right away, but you’ve got to stick to it and just try to make as much quality contact as you can.”
The change in the order will be the plan going forward.
“Moving him down allowed the game to come to him a little bit slower and I think that has been a benefit,” Roberts said.
Tucker signed a four-year, $240 million contract with the Dodgers in January. He had yet to break out at the plate despite batting behind leadoff hitter Shohei Ohtani until swapping places with Freddie Freeman in the order.
Joining a star-laden clubhouse as a big-time free agent can unsettle some players.
“The transition certainly is unpredictable,” Roberts said. “He’s very consistent in how he approaches each day. He is traditionally a slow starter as I understand. He’s a pro and he wants to be out there and still plays good defense. I do think that a moment like this, even for a player that’s been around a long time, can kind of inspire more confidence in him.”
Tucker prefers to let his performance speak for itself. Playing alongside Ohtani, Freeman and Mookie Betts, he no longer has to carry a team or be its face the way he did with the Chicago Cubs.
Roberts said he’s given up trying to read Tucker’s poker face.
“That’s just who he is. It’s not personal to anybody,” the manager said. “Just doesn’t give anyone a whole lot.”
Instead of shaking Tucker’s hand after his game-winning hit, Roberts pushed him in the chest, which provoked a smile.
Tucker barely reacted as Ohtani and Dalton Rushing scored the tying and winning runs.
“I hit it and started going to first and it wasn’t quite loud yet until we actually ended up winning the game,” Tucker said, “so it was like, did I get the score wrong? But afterwards I saw everyone running out and it got loud, so I was like, ‘Sweet, this is sick.’”
That qualified as a big reaction from Tucker.
“Guys are working on him. I think he’ll loosen up,” Roberts said. “I think even Shohei when he first got here was a little bit more reserved compared to where he is now.”
Tucker said the players and coaching staff have made him feel at home.
“Anytime I can contribute to the win I’m happy,” he said. “It’s been nice being over here.”
Apr 27, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27) celebrates with teammates after scoring the game winning goal against the Utah Mammoth during overtime in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Rob Gray/Rob Gray-Imagn Images
SALT LAKE CITY — Shea Theodore scored on a snap shot from the high slot with 51.5 seconds left in overtime and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Utah Mammoth 5-4 after squandering a three-goal lead, tying their first-round playoff series at two games apiece.
“We just didn’t quit,” Theodore said.
Game 5 in the best-of-seven series is in Las Vegas.
The Golden Knights appeared to have won the game earlier in OT when Pavel Dorofeyev tapped in a loose puck with 9:41 left, but the apparent score was waved off when it was determined Vegas was offside.
“It was good we never stopped,” Theodore said. “It sucks that one got called back, but it was good to get it done.”
Vegas’ Brett Howden scored his second goal of the game on a tip-in with 9:35 remaining in the third period, and that forced overtime after Utah had stormed back with four straight goals.
“I liked the way we responded in the third after they scored,” Howden said. “We stuck with it.”
The Golden Knights raced out to a 3-0 lead with two goals in the first and one early in the second by Dorofeyev, Howden and Cole Smith.
Utah countered with four straight scores, capped by Clayton Keller’s wrist shot off a deflection for a 4-3 lead at the 5:10 mark of the third period.
“I’m proud of the way our guys responded to adversity,” Utah coach Andre Tourigny said. “It was a hard-fought game. We know how good they can be and I think we responded well in the second half of the game.”
Utah’s Karel Vejmelka stopped 31 shots. Carter Hart made 29 saves for Vegas.
Facing a three-goal deficit, Utah’s Nick Schmaltz and Ian Cole scored 29 seconds apart in the second period to set the Mammoth’s comeback in motion. Schmaltz got Utah on the board at the 8:04 mark, and Cole followed with a 50-foot slap shot at 8:33 of the second.
Michael Carcone tied it on another slap shot at 1:44 of the third.
Dorofeyev flicked home a wrist shot to put the Golden Knights in front just 72 seconds into the first. Howden then threaded another wrist shot past Vejmelka’s skate for a short-handed goal with 1:22 left in the period.
Smith’s tip-in at 3:27 of the second gave the Golden Knights their third goal.
“We started really well, lost ourselves for a bit,” Vegas coach John Tortorella said. “Momentum swung to their side, but we hung in there.”
Utah fell behind early after struggling to create scoring chances during the first period. The Mammoth tallied three shots on goal over the first 20 minutes. Only one came outside of a power play.
Vegas allowed 30 shots on goal over the final two regulation periods and overtime.
The Miami Heat did not survive the play-in tournament this season and did not make the playoffs. They did get out of it the past two seasons, only to be bounced in the first round. The Heat have looked like one of those teams stuck in the middle and trying to get out of a rut.
That stagnation has led to some speculation that there could be a change at the top, with Pat Riley stepping aside as the team president. In his annual postseason press conference, Riley shot that down. Emphatically.
Pat Riley: “I'm not going to retire. I'm not going to resign. I'm not going to step aside. When I came here almost 31 years ago, I have the same attitude as I had in that press conference, period. I want another parade down Biscayne Boulevard. It may come. It may not.” pic.twitter.com/MJwvKZNT6h
"I'm not going to retire. I'm not going to resign. I'm not going to step aside. When I came here almost 31 years ago, I have the same attitude as I had in that press conference, period. I want another parade down Biscayne Boulevard."
Riley, 81, went on to admit that he will not be able to do this forever, but that right now he plans to keep going. Riley's quote is via Ira Winderman at the Sun-Sentinel:
"I love this franchise, period. I mean, I love what we've built here over 30 years. You know, one day it will happen. Don't think that I have thought about it. I've thought about it. I'm aging up, OK. I'm 81 years old now. That's aging up. I think Micky and Nick (Arison, the Miami Heat owners) will decide whether or not I age out."
Riley and the Heat are expected to be big game hunters this summer, trying to get back in the mix for Giannis Antetokounmpo as well as any other free agents who become available and can turn the Heat back into contenders. However, do not expect any trade for a star to be centered around Bam Adebayo.
"I want to build this around Bam. I think Micky wants the same thing… I'm going to give you a flat-out no, I wouldn't (trade Adebayo). Unless somebody gave me 8 picks and Wembanyama."
Adebayo averaged 20.1 points and 10 rebounds a game this season while playing All Defensive Team-level defense. More than that, for the Heat, he is the veteran embodiment of the culture they have built and try to instill in young players entering their system. Adebayo is a pillar of "Heat Culture," and that is incredibly highly valued in the Heat's organization.
Riley also discussed the federal gambling indictments, which hit the Heat hard this season with the arrest of Terry Rozier, who was not with the team all season.
"It's probably the most stupid thing that a player could do... But when you get in bed with gambling sites as a league and they advertise on your network, it seems like everything's okay. To me that's a contradiction of what we're trying to do from a purity standpoint."
The Heat want to put that indictment and this season behind them and look to the future. Whatever changes are coming to Miami next season — and there could be massive ones — Riley and Adebayo will be back. Count on it.
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani will be held out of the lineup when he starts on the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Miami Marlins.
It’ll be the second time this season Ohtani pitches but does not hit. He’ll be throwing on five days’ rest.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced the plan for Ohtani after a 5-4 win in the series opener.
The first time Ohtani pitched for the Dodgers but didn’t hit occurred April 15, when he struck out 10 in an 8-2 victory over the New York Mets. He was held out of the batting order after being struck in the back of his right shoulder by a pitch earlier that week.
The previous time Ohtani was not in the lineup as the designated hitter during a start on the mound was May 28, 2021, with the Los Angeles Angels.
The Dodgers will miss his bat. He has a 10-game hitting streak against the Marlins dating to September 2024.
Ohtani had his second consecutive three-hit game, finishing 3 for 5 with a ground-rule double, two singles, two runs and an RBI.
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 26: (L-R) Daniel Schneemann #10, Rhys Hoskins #8, Brayan Rocchio #4 and Juan Brito #34 of the Cleveland Guardians look on during a pitching change in the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre on April 26, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tara Walton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Guardians’ fans saw the team lost a frustrating game but got the news the organization would call up Travis Bazzana today last night – the rare Lose-Win situation.
I was busy covering the Bazzana call-up so I neglected to write a game recap. Here goes: Parker Messick was very good again, so was Colin Holderman who looks like the pitching factory has ironed out his wrinkles. But, Hunter Gaddis had the rare implosion at the worst possible time and coughed up the lead. Unfortunately, there is no room for error because the Guardians’ offense is mired in a slump. Daniel Schneemann’s two-run home run was all they could muster, as they could not touch a bad Rays’ bullpen. Rays’ closer Bryan Baker tried his darndest to give up the lead in the ninth. Kyle Manzardo got a single with one out. Now, sitting at home, I wondered why manager Stephen Vogt did not pinch-run Juan Brito for Manzardo at this point. Manzardo has 7th percentile sprint speed. Juan Brito has 35th percentile sprint speed. Brito WAS in the dugout, not on his way to Columbus. Would that have been enough of a difference to allow Brito to score on the ensuing Chase DeLauter double? I think there’s a decent chance it would have. But, hey, it’s probably a reminder that having Bazzana’s speed in the lineup should help. Anyway, George Valera swung at two pitches nowhere near the strike zone and made the second out and Schneemann had offered enough heroics for the night and ended the game with his own punchout.
The Tampa pitching matchups do NOT get any easier today as the Guardians look to snap a three-game losing streak, so the Guardians’ hitters need to figure some stuff out quickly.
But, hey, Travis Bazzana is on his way! Presumably, he will fill out the 40th roster spot which is currently open and result in Juan Brito’s brief time here mercifully coming to an end for the time period. Will Brito be the most I have ever been wrong on a prospect? Very possibly. But, let’s hope he can get back to recognizing that being a disciplined hitter and pulling fly balls is his path to success.
AROUND MLB: The Twins and White Sox won, while the Tigers and Royals were idle. I will note that the Red Sox shutout the Blue Jays. Perhaps the thing that most concerns me about the Guardians at the moment is that they were not able to take that series against a struggling Toronto team… time to get things turned around, boys.
NEW YORK, NY - 1956: Pitching coach Jim Turner #31 (right) of the New York Yankees looks out from the dugout while standing on the steps of the dugout and holding a fungo bat prior to a game in 1956 at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York. Pitcher Tom Sturdivant (left) sits against the dugout wall. (Photo by: Diamond Images/Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The late 1950s were among the best of times in the rich history of the New York Yankees. While the likes of Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, and Whitey Ford made the headlines, those years featured deep rosters for the Bombers, including exemplary depth and talent on the mound. Among that unsung crowd during that time, the Yankees enjoyed the early years of Tom Sturdivent’s career.
A right-handed pitcher who likely started his career at the peak of his abilities before turning in a decade of journeyman work, Sturdivent was an important part of several World Series winning squads. Although his time in New York was relatively brief, he made the most of it with some solid work on the bump, and a couple of rings to add to the trophy case.
Tom Sturdivant Born: April 28, 1930 (Gordon, KS) Died: February 28, 2009 (Oklahoma City, OK) Yankees Tenure: 1955-59
Born in Kansas and signing at the age of 18, Tom Sturdivant spent the first decade of his professional baseball career with the Yankees. Originally an infielder, he turned in middling results with the bat in the minor leagues until 1950, before missing the ‘51 season due to military service. He returned in 1952, this time converting to working full-time on the mound.
After re-routing his baseball career, Sturdivant climbed his way up to the big leagues, making his debut in April of 1955. He appeared in 33 games in his rookie season, primarily out of relief, with only one of those being a start, and he pitched quite well. In 68.1 innings of work, the righty managed a 3.16 ERA. He pitched twice in that season’s losing World Series effort, but struggled to make a mark, allowing a pair of runs across three innings of work.
In 1956, Sturdivant came in with a bigger role in store, and handled the added workload gracefully. Although he pitched in fewer games (32), he more than doubled his innings load, and managed to maintain a remarkably similar 118 ERA+ mark in more than 150 frames. He was efficient and kept himself out of trouble, posting a league-leading 2.12 K/BB. He appeared twice in that season’s Fall Classic and was much more successful, highlighted by a complete game in Game 4 of the series. The Yankees took home the World Series in seven games, thanks in part to Sturdivant’s heroics in the fourth game.
Riding the wave of a championship, Sturdivant would enter the 1957 season on a high note and pitch the best baseball of his career. At the age of 27, the hurler started 28 games, working over 200 innings for the only time in his big league career. In his full-time role, Sturdivant shined with a career-best 2.54 ERA. It turned out to be the finest work he would have with the Yankees, and in his Major League career.
After back-to-back successful 16-win seasons in the Bronx, the downswing of Sturdivant’s career unfortunately began in 1958. He began to experience arm troubles, and would never again reach the quality or volume that he did with the Yankees in the two years prior. In ‘58, the righty was only able to start 10 games for the Yankees, with much diminished returns on the mound. Although he did not pitch in the series, his team did win another World Series that season, adding another ring to his collection.
He began the 1959 season with the Yankees once again, but after continued struggles from the jump, Sturdivant’s time in pinstripes was nearing the end. He was traded to the Athletics in late May, as his days in New York, as well as his best days on the mound, were over.
Although it was a new chapter for Sturdivant, it was not entirely unsuccessful. He pitched 165.2 above-average innings in 1961 between Washington and Pittsburgh, and would top 100 innings of work a couple more times, including another solid season with the Pirates in ‘62.
As far as the terms you could describe Tom Sturdivant’s career, well-travelled is certainly one of them. Beyond the Yankees, Washington, and Pittsburgh, the pitcher also made stops with the Athletics, Tigers, Red Sox, and Mets in his 10 years of big league time. Pitching in over 1,100 innings in the Major Leagues, Sturdivant worked out to a roughly league-average run-preventor, which is a far more valuable thing than it sounds, and the Yankees were able to enjoy the very best of that career.
Born on this day 96 years ago, a pitcher whose peak saw a couple of great seasons and a complete game victory in the World Series, Tom Sturdivant was an unsung hero on the highly talented 1950s Yankees rosters.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Aaron Judge allowed Ben Rice to match his home run total only for a few pitches.
Together, the sluggers now have accomplished something for the New York Yankees with their powerful starts that only Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra had done before them.
Rice went 404 feet the opposite way for a two-run shot to left field in the Yankees’ 4-2 win at Texas, his 10th homer of the season. Judge immediately followed by driving a full-count curveball 414 feet to tie for the MLB lead with his 11th.
“After he hit his, he said, `I’m not going to let Benny catch me,’” Rice said with a smile. “Just trying to keep him honest, keep him motivated.”
They became the second pair of Yankees teammates to each have 10 or more homers in the first 29 games of a season, joining Mantle and Berra in 1956.
“I’m glad that I don’t have to face them, let’s just put it that way,” said Yankees starter Max Fried (4-1), who threw six scoreless innings for New York (19-10).
“Benny’s off to an amazing start. Judgie, ho-hum, 11 homers already,” manager Aaron Boone said. “It’s a pretty good combo there.”
Rice, a 27-year-old first baseman, is hitting .322 with 23 RBIs. Judge is at .252 with 19 RBIs.
“Just consistent at-bat after consistent at-bat. Like it’s must-watch TV at this point,” Judge said of Rice. “He’s going to put something in play hard or he’s going to take his walk and pass the baton. It’s just impressive to watch, and I get a front-row seat. ... And, makes my job easier when he does that.”
Rice deposited a 95 mph first-pitch fastball from Jack Leiter into the Yankees bullpen in left-center field to make it 2-0 with two outs in the third inning. It was Rice’s sixth homer in 11 games.
Judge then homered into the left-field seats, the ball landing not far from the spot he hit his AL season record 62nd homer on Oct. 4, 2022. He also had two doubles and was hit by a pitch in his other plate appearances.
“Maybe his best game of at-bats. ... On all four times, stings two doubles, smokes the homer where he just rides out the curveball,” Boone said.
And it came a day after Judge also went deep on his 34th birthday.
Judge has hit 260 of his 379 career homers since the start of the 2021 season and already has four 50-homer seasons.
Rice has 43 homers in 216 career games since his debut in June 2024.
After their fast starts in 1956, Mantle went on to hit a majors-best 52 homers and Berra finished with 30.
When Rice was asked if he could keep pace with Judge all season, he said he’s relishing the moment now.
“Yeah, I don’t know how long this is going to last, but I’m enjoying it. I’m enjoying it right now being this close,” Rice said before reflecting on the history he now shares with a trio of three-time MVPs: Judge and two Hall of Fame players.
“It’s pretty cool. I definitely would not have anticipated something like that,” he said. “But obviously the three names I’m surrounded with there are pretty big ones, so definitely very humbling.”
ARLINGTON, Texas — New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton will go on the injured list with a low-grade strain of his right calf.
Stanton exited the series opener at Houston after experiencing calf stiffness while running the bases and missed the following three games, including a series-opening 4-2 win over Texas.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone revealed the results of an MRI after the game.
“It doesn’t look too serious, but enough to not want to wait a couple of more days,” Boone said.
Asked if Stanton could return as soon as he’s eligible to come off the 10-day IL, Boone said that’s possible, but he didn’t want to put a timetable on it.
The Yankees recalled outfielder Jasson Domínguez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before the game, and the switch-hitter went 1 for 4 with a strikeout as the designated hitter in his big league debut this season.
They had an open spot on their 26-man roster after right-hander Luis Gil dropped to 1-2 with a 6.05 ERA in four starts and was optioned to Triple-A after a loss to the Astros.
Stanton, a five-time All-Star, is hitting .256 this season with three home runs and 14 RBIs in 24 games.
He has been plagued by injuries and hasn’t played a full season since 2018, his first with the Yankees. He has been out of the lineup due to injuries to his elbows (2025), left hamstring (2020, 2023 and 2024), left quadriceps (2021), and right ankle and left Achilles (2022).
New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton is on the injured list again, and New York is using the roster move to call up one of its top pitching prospects.
Manager Aaron Boone confirmed Monday night that an MRI revealed a low-grade right calf strain, which Stanton suffered Friday while running the bases in Houston. The Yankees held off on the IL move for several days before acting, but Boone said the results left little choice. He added that Stanton could potentially return when first eligible but did not want to set a firm timetable.
The move clears a roster spot for right-hander Elmer Rodríguez, a 22-year-old prospect who turned heads in spring training and at the World Baseball Classic. Boone confirmed on his weekly appearance on the Talkin' Yanks podcast that Rodríguez will start April 29 against the Texas Rangers in his major-league debut. Will Warren, who had been listed as the probable starter, will be pushed back and is expected to start this weekend against the Baltimore Orioles.
Stanton, 36, is hitting .256 with three home runs and 14 RBIs through 24 games. He ranks among the league leaders in bat speed and exit velocity, but staying healthy has been a persistent issue. He has required at least one IL stint every season since 2018 and has not reached 500 plate appearances in a season since 2021. Stanton is under contract through 2027 with a team option for 2028.
Outfielder Jasson Domínguez was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday – initially as the corresponding move for Sunday's optioning of Luis Gil – and went 1 for 4 as the designated hitter in New York's 4-2 win over Texas.
With Stanton sidelined, the Yankees can give Domínguez the DH spot, at least against right-handed pitching. The switch-hitting Domínguez, who spent 2025 in the big leagues but was demoted to Triple-A this spring, has been significantly better batting from the left side in his career.
The roster math only gets trickier from here. Shortstop Anthony Volpe is expected back from the injured list this week, which will force another move. José Caballero has been the interim shortstop but will likely return to the utility role he has filled in the past. A veteran like Randal Grichuk, who is hitting .194 with no home runs in 33 plate appearances, could be in danger of losing his roster spot. Paul Goldschmidt has also gotten off to a slow start, but his track record should give him a longer leash.
Ben Rice, who has not caught this season, has been the primary first baseman and is tied with Aaron Judge for the team lead in home runs with 11. His emergence as a hitter complicates any arrangement that would make him a backup catcher.
