Apr 4, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II (23) at bat during the ninth inning of a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images | Allan Henry-Imagn Images
The situation for the Phillies has gotten beyond the level of ugliness. It’s so dire that I was actually encouraged by them getting to extra innings before losing on Thursday.
On the other hand, the Phillies’ opponents this weekend have had just about everything go right this season. Is it possible that the Braves somehow stole the Phillies’ mojo like Dr. Evil did in the second Austin Powers movie? At this point, I’m not ruling anything out.
As for things that are going right for the Braves, outfielder Michael Harris II is near the top of the list. In 2022, Harris displayed superb defense in centerfield and recorded an OPS of .853 to earn the National League’s Rookie of the Year award. He pretty much matched those numbers the following season, but his performance at the plate dipped the past two years. He was still good on defense – he’s certainly made his share of highlight plays against the Phillies – but his on-base percentage fell to .268 in 2025, and he had become an offensive liability.
Harris certainly seems to have his mojo back this season, putting up a slash line of .316/.356./.565. He’s still only 25 years of age, and player development is often non-linear. It’s possible that Harris simply needed to re-adjust to how pitchers were attacking him in recent years, and he will be a positive at the plate going forward.
Trivia
By popular demand, trivia has returned! I think I may reserve the song battles for the weekday series and trivia for the weekends.
Remember how it works: Answer in the comments, don’t confirm answers, and try not to look it up.
Who was the first Phillies to hit a home run at Truist Park (opened in 2017)?
Non-Phillies thought
It’s nice to see that the Flyers have broken the brains of Penguins fans.
Also, everybody watching the game can agree on one thing.
Vlader faking two injuries and stopping play with the penguins in prime scoring opportunities is wild. Never have seen that let alone in a Stanley Cup playoff game. Absolute disgrace. Is he gonna dive and fake injuries on…
Sometimes I wish I could be as blissfully un-self-aware as a guy calling himself “Penguins Jesus” calling anything cringy and weird.
Additional thought about the series
I’m at a loss here. I thought the Phillies would take a small step back from last year, and I know several fans thought the step back would be considerable. But I don’t think anyone could have predicted the team look like one of the worst – if not the absolute worst – in baseball.
Say what you will about the offseason, but this group is mostly the same one that won the division with ease in 2025. I never would have suspected that Nick Castellanos, Ranger Suarez, and Matt Strahm were the glue holding it all together. Obviously losing Zack Wheeler has hurt, but the Phillies did go 35-19 in August and September last year when he was either injured or showing reduced effectiveness.
I’m somewhat reminded of the 2023 Eagles where they had a load of talent on the roster, but the situation had gotten so bad by the end of the season that they looked incapable of winning a game.
At this point, I’m not sure if it’s good news or bad news that it’s still only April. Sure, there’s lots of time left to dig out of this hole, but if the team really is as bad as they’ve looked, then we have a lot more bad baseball left to endure.
I’d say it would be great for the Phillies to get their act together and win this series. But Truist Field hasn’t been all that hospitable for the Phillies even when they were playing well. At this point, I think it would be a real accomplishment if they can find a way to win a single game this weekend.
"It just feels disrespectful. I know I haven't won a championship in this league, but I have been in it for 11 years now. So to get to this point to be treated like that, for me to even be saying something out loud, it's bad... This is my first time (criticizing the officiating) in 11 years, but it's needed. Whatever I get fined for it, everybody can pull the clips and see where the frustration is from."
Booker got his wish, the league fined him $35,000 for "public criticism of the officiating." In its release announcing the league added this little dig: "Following an investigation including multiple interviews and video review, the league found no basis to any claim of bias or misconduct by game officials."
Booker also picked up a technical foul in Game 2 for trying to save with a behind-the-back pass of a ball going out of bounds. Notice Caruso lobbies for the technical and gets it.
"I heard Caruso tell him to call the tech and he ended up doing it," Booker said. "In my 11 years, I haven't called a ref out by name, but James (Williams) was terrible tonight, through and through. It's bad for the sport, bad for the integrity of the sport. People are going to start viewing this as a WWE if they're not held responsible."
The real question is, will this work for the Suns?
Publicly calling out the officiating and taking the fine for it, trying to plant a seed in the referees' minds for the next game, is a tried-and-true playoff tactic. Phil Jackson did it. Pat Riley did it. That trend has continued to the modern era, with mostly coaches but some players willing to see if it works.
Will the Suns get a whistle they like better at home in Game 3 on Friday night? They need it and every other break they can get in a series where they are down 0-2 to the defending champions.
The New York Yankees open a three-game series against the Houston Astros. The New York Yankees are favored with a -145 moneyline compared to the Houston Astros' +120. Starting pitchers are Will Warren for the Yankees, with a 2.49 ERA, and Lance McCullers Jr. for the Astros, with a 6.20 ERA.
The Chicago Cubs are the hottest team in baseball, and they’ll head west to visit the Los Angeles Dodgers in a tape-measuring series beginning tonight.
My Cubs vs. Dodgers predictions and MLB picks call for Chicago to stay hot and outscore Los Angeles in the series opener on Friday, April 24.
Who will win Cubs vs Dodgers tonight: Cubs moneyline (+140)
The Chicago Cubs have averaged 6.5 runs per game while pacing the majors in wOBA during their 12-3 heater, and the Los Angeles Dodgers check in at 4.6 runs per game with a 12th-ranked wOBA over the same stretch.
Chicago right-hander Jameson Taillon has posted a rock-solid 3.48 ERA since the beginning of the 2024 campaign, so he should hold the Dodgers in check just enough for the Cubbies to eke out the win.
Don’t overlook Los Angeles’ promising youngster Emmet Sheehan either, who enters tonight with an underwhelming 5.85 ERA and 4.01 xFIP.
COVERS INTEL: The Chicago Cubs own the second-lowest strikeout rate in the majors during their 12-3 hot streak.
Cubs vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-140)
With the wind forecasted to be blowing out modestly at Dodger Stadium, I expect both the Cubs and Dodgers to have success at the dish.
In addition to Sheehan's noted early-season struggles, the Cubs have eclipsed their team total in 12 of the past 15 games (+9.10 Units / 52% ROI), and the full game Over has hit in 12 of Chicago's last 17 contests (+7.60 Units / 40% ROI).
Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 9-7, +2.64 units
Over/Under bets: 4-5, -1.64 units
Cubs vs Dodgers odds
Moneyline: Cubs +140 | Dodgers -170
Run line: Cubs +1.5 (-150) | Dodgers -1.5 (+125)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-140) | Under 8.5 (+120)
Cubs vs Dodgers trend
Chicago has won its last nine games (+9.40 Units / 83% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Dodgers.
How to watch Cubs vs Dodgers and game info
Location
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Friday, April 24, 2026
First pitch
10:15 p.m. ET
TV
Apple TV+
Cubs starting pitcher
Jameson Taillon (1-1, 3.97 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcher
Emmet Sheehan (2-0, 5.85 ERA)
Cubs vs Dodgers latest injuries
Cubs vs Dodgers 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.
It was reported on Friday that North Carolina center Henri Veesaar is departing the program and intends to stay in the NBA Draft. CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander had the report.
Shortly after, Norlander reported a bombshell. Prior to Veesaar’s decision to enter the NBA Draft, multiple schools tried to lure the Second Team All-ACC selection into the Transfer Portal. He was offered at least $6 million, although Carolina’s NIL negotiations never came close to that number. North Carolina‘s brass could have offered Veesaar in the ballpark of $4 million to stay, but he instead wishes to begin his professional basketball journey.
This news comes after Norlander reported that Florida star forward Thomas Haugh, who spurned the NBA Draft lottery to return to college, could make more than $10 million in NIL for the 2026-27 season. College basketball is bigger than ever, and programs are dishing out more money than ever.
By the way, multiple schools tried to lure Henri Veesaar into the portal in the past few weeks by offering him at least $6 million, per multiple sources. UNC's NIL negotiations never approached that range, but the Heels definitely could've cleared $4 million had he opted to stay. https://t.co/WwZMcrEdEy
More on Henri Veesaar’s decision to enter, stay in 2026 NBA Draft
Following the firing of Hubert Davis and shocking hire of former Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone, it remained unclear in the immediate aftermath what Veesaar planned on doing. If he returned to Carolina, there’s no doubt he’d be the Preseason ACC Player of the Year. If he entered the Portal, he likely would have been the No. 1 player available.
However, he is heading to the NBA, and will surpass a massive NIL payday from a potential National Championship contender. Veesaar is projected to be the No. 29 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft (Cleveland), in Yahoo Sports‘ Kevin O’Connor‘s latest Mock Draft.
In his lone season at North Carolina, Veesaar emerged as one of the most dominant players in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tallin, Estonia native averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 31 games for the Tar Heels.
His career began at Arizona, where he averaged 6.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 66 games. Veesaar’s best game at North Carolina came in an 80-79 loss to Clemson on March 12, in which he scored a career-high 28 points. He also grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds in the game.
The prized center heads to the NBA as North Carolina basketball heads into a new era. After five seasons at the helm, head coach Hubert Davis and the program parted ways after the Tar Heels fell in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season. Carolina hired former Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone to fill the opening, although that was not enough to entice the 7’0″ center to return to Chapel Hill.
The Atlanta Braves return home to open a series against the Philadelphia Phillies in a series that matches the teams with the best and worst run differentials in baseball.
Philadelphia has lost nine straight, its longest slump in eight years. The Braves have won eight of their last nine and have a 5.5 game advantage in what was supposed to be a competitive division.
Our Phillies vs. Braves predictions and MLB picks look for the teams to continue on their current trajectories as Atlanta wins.
Who will win Phillies vs Braves today: Braves run line -1.5 (+144)
The Atlanta Braves swept three from the Philadelphia Phillies on the road last week.Atlanta has covered the run line in each of their last seven wins.The Braves’ run differential is seven better than the Dodgers. Their run line record is 17-9, just one worse than their straight-up mark.
The Phillies could finish Friday with their first double-digit losing streak of the 21stcentury. Their run differential is 16 runs worse than the team directly ahead of them, and their record is tied for worst in MLB.
Philly has covered just four games all season and none against the NL East.
COVERS INTEL:Michael Harris has an RBI in five straight games and is hitting .565 with four homers over the last seven. He’s expected to play after leaving with quad tightness Thursday.
Phillies vs Braves Over/Under pick: Over 9.5 (-101)
The Braves saw rookie Andrew Painter five days ago, when Philly got a look at Grant Holmes. The familiarity should lead to offense from two pitchers that combined to give up six runs in half of Sunday’s game.
The bullpens aren’t likely to shut things down like they did Sunday. Four Philadelphia relievers have thrown more than 20 pitches in the last three games, and three are over 30. The Braves have three relievers at 19 or more.
The Braves have had a game total of 10+ runs in three of the last four—and the fourth had a total of nine.
Shawn Krest's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets:7-8 ,-1.38 units
Over/Under bets:9-10, -1.31 units
Phillies vs Braves odds
Moneyline: Philadelphia +133 | Atlanta -138
Run line: Philadelphia +1.5 (-156) | Atlanta -1.5 (+144)
Over/Under: Over 9.5 (+108) | Under 9.5 (-113)
Phillies vs Braves trend
The Philadelphia Phillies have only covered the Run Line in 3 of their last 24 games (-20.45 Units / -75% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Braves.
How to watch Phillies vs Braves and game info
Location
Truist Park, Cumberland, GA
Date
Friday, April 24, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
Apple TV+
Phillies starting pitcher
Andrew Painter (1-1, 4.42 ERA)
Braves starting pitcher
Grant Holmes (1-1, 3.42 ERA)
Phillies vs Braves latest injuries
Phillies vs Braves 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.
Peterson, a 6'5" combo guard, is an elite shot creator and finisher who averaged 20.2 points and 4.2 rebounds a game, shooting 32.8% from 3-point range.
That season at Kansas also raised a few eyebrows because of health concerns — Peterson missed 11 games (a sprained ankle and illnesses), but maybe more concerning were the early exits due to cramping. Several times during the season, Peterson checked himself out of games due to cramping. The most notable was against BYU and potential No. 1 pick, AJ Dybantsa — Peterson was dominant in the first half but left early in the third quarter. He has yo-yo'ed in and out of the lineup all season, but he also explained what was behind this in his mind.
Scouts and team officials NBC Sports has spoken with said they are not overly concerned about the health issues, but acknowledge that, for stretches of the season, he has not looked as explosive as he did a year earlier in high school. To a man, they added, "We want to see the medicals," referring to the medical evaluations that will take place at the NBA Draft Combine next month.
Those health concerns were enough to take Peterson from the projected No. 1 pick in the draft to likely No. 2 behind Dybantsa, because Dybantsa is seen as a safer bet.
Peterson entered the season seen as a point guard and a high-level playmaker, but he averaged just 1.6 assists per game with the Jayhawks. Some scouts speaking to NBC Sports wondered how much coach Bill Self's offensive system limited Peterson in that regard. Still, one scout told NBC Sports he may be more of an Anthony Edwards type who needs to play next to a traditional point guard, but what team couldn't use an Anthony Edwards?
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 15: Elly De La Cruz #44 of the Cincinnati Reds rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the ninth inning during the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Sunday, June 15, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Monica Bradburn/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Cincinnati Reds lefty Andrew Abbott went toe to toe with Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet on Opening Day in Great American Ball Park, and did so admirably. Abbott fired 6.0 IP of scoreless ball for the Reds, scattering 7 hits and a walk while striking out 4 in an 83 pitch effort that kept the Reds otherwise inept offense within striking distance of a comeback (even though that didn’t pan out).
In the four starts since then, however, Abbott has looked a shell of his All-Star self. He’s only managed to clear 18.2 IP in that span, and has been tagged with 17 runs (16 earned) with a near equal 11/10 K/BB.
Next up for Abbott is the lineup of the Detroit Tigers, as that’s who is in town this weekend as the Reds celebrate their newest inductees into their team Hall of Fame. Detroit, to date, owns a .308 wOBA and 93 wRC+ against left-handed pitching so far in the early going of 2026, marks that both rank 18th in the league in their respective categories. They have, however, swatted only 3 dingers off southpaws this season, and only two teams can claim fewer homers in said category (the Marlins with 2 and Padres with 0, somehow).
The Reds, for the record, rank 4th in Major League Baseball with 12 homers off LHP – thanks, Elly!
Cincinnati will be up against an All-Star lefty themselves in the series opener on Friday as veteran Framber Valdez gets the start. He was mauled by the Minnesota Twins for 8 ER in 5.0 IP in his start against them on April 8th, yet in his other four starts combined he’s yielded 1 ER or fewer in each (3 ER total in 25.0 IP), so odds are the Reds are going to be up against it a bit.
Fortunately for the Reds, all-world ace Tarik Skubal pitched yesterday in the series finale between the Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers. So, he won’t feature in this particular series.
First pitch on Friday is set for 6:40 PM ET. Brady Singer will toe the rubber on Saturday at 7:15 PM ET (after the team’s big HoF induction ceremony), while Rhett Lowder will start on Sunday in the series finale at 1:40 PM ET.
CORAL GABLES, FL - APRIL 05: Virginia Tech pitcher Luke Craytor (19) pitches in relief in the seventh inning as the Miami Hurricanes faced the Virginia Tech Hokies on April 5, 2026, at Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park in Coral Gables, Florida. (Photo by Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Who’s the Pack playing?
Opponent: Virginia Tech
Mascot: Thanksgiving Dinner | School Location: Metallica, VA | Conference: ACC
John Szefc is a hell of a good coach, but this Virginia Tech job may be getting the better of him. Szefc led Marist to four Regional appearances in seven years during his first go as a head coach from 1996-2002. The Red Foxes have been to just three Regionals since. After a four-year detour to the middle of the country for assistant gigs at both Kansas and Kansas State, he took over as the head man at Maryland and led the Terrapins to three Regionals – advancing to the Super Regionals in two of those – during a five year run there. Prior to Szefc’s arrival in College Park, Maryland hadn’t been to the NCAA postseason since 1971. They’ve made three Regionals in the eight postseasons since Szfec left.
That leads us to Szfec’s current gig, entering his 9th season as the Hokies head man. It started out slow, as you’d expect for a program rebuilding from Pat Mason’s four-year ditch driving run. Year five, though, saw Virginia Tech go 45-14 with a 19-9 ACC mark, hosting a Regional and Super Regional in Blacksburg with a team that had an RPI ranking of 5th in the country. It really looked like Szefc might turn the Hokies into a power, but since then it’s been a program stuck on average. Three winning seasons since, but no winning conference marks, with RPI’s between 49 and 68.
This year’s squad doesn’t look like they’re going to break that trend. The Hokies started off the year 7-1, but that included a 4-0 mark in one-run games. They went 1-8 in their next nine games, although that run included games against Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, and Virginia, all potential NCAA Regional hosts this year. Things got a little better, winning the last game of the Virginia series, topping VCU in a midweek game, and then winning their series over Duke.
Unfortunately, a 4-8 run followed, including midweek losses to East Tennessee State and Liberty, as well as a series loss at home to Stanford. That series with the Cardinal was one the Hokies had to win, but dropped it in an extra-innings loss in the rubber match. NC State will catch the Hokies back on a bit of a heater, winning four of their last five after topping Pittsburgh last weekend.
That early season luck in close games has evened back out, with Virginia Tech going 3-3 in games either decided by a single run or that went extra innings. It’s not hard to find the culprit for the Hokies woes this year: the pitching staff.
Hokies hurlers are sporting a combined 7.21 ERA over 336.0 innings this year, with a walk rate of 12.6% and a strikeout rate of 23.1%. They do have two solid starters in JR RHP Brett Renfrow and rJR RHP Griffin Stieg and that group strikeout rate will play, but once you get past Renfrow and Stieg, only one of the next nine pitchers who have tossed more than 10.0 IP this year have a sub-10.0 walk rate. That’s an issue, and will obviously lead to giving up more runs.
The lineup hasn’t been great, but it hasn’t been bad with a collective .267/.379/.440, 78 2B, 44 HR, 12.6 BB%, 22.6 K%, 43-56 SB. The issue is there’s not a player who does any one thing exceptionally well, so it’s hard to construct an offensive identity. It is a strong defensive team, though, although the lack of errors combined with the high ERA of the pitching staff does make you wonder what kind of range the team has in the field, and some of the advanced metrics tell that story. Only four VT position players have a DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) total over 1.00 this year. Compare that to NC State that has 11 players over that mark.
Barring the Hokies going 6-3 or better down the stretch in ACC play and then making some noise at the ACC Tournament, it’ll be four straight missed Regionals for Virginia Tech.
Pitching Matchups
Friday: TBD vs TBD
Saturday: TBD vs TBD
Sunday: TBD vs TBD
Key Players:
Offense
C Henry Cooke (SR) – .252/.369/.409, 7 2B, 3 HR, 13.4 BB%, 28.2 K%, 3-3 SB. Hitting .361/.467/.623, 5 2B, 3 HR, 17. BB%, 26.7 K%, 1-1 SB in ACC play. Has also thrown out 23.7% of base stealers, with an almost identical 23.1% mark in ACC play. Multiple hits in 4 of his last 7 games.
1B Hudson Lutterman (SO) – .291/.357/.545, 6 2B, 8 HR, 7.0 BB%, 17.1 K%, 0-0 SB. Undersized first baseman (5’10, 180 lbs) is having a big sophomore jump after hitting just .208/.291/.392 over 34 starts in 2025. Hit 2 HR last weekend at Pitt, including a walk-off in the series finale.
SS Ethan Gibson (JR) – .319/.385/.511, 6 2B, 4 HR, 10.9 BB%, 20.9 K%, 1-1 SB. Mostly used as a defensive sub over his first two years with the program, making 28 starts over 73 games across 2024-2025 with just a .193 batting average over that time. Has been fantastic with the glove, committing just 3 errors on the year with a .979 fielding percentage. Current 10-game hitting streak.
2B Ethan Ball (FR) – .299/.387/.565, 13 2B, 8 HR, 7.7 BB%, 33.3 K%, 3-3 SB. Started off his college career with a 10-game hitting streak before being more spotty over the last month. Only has four hits over his last six games, but they’ve all been doubles, including two in VT’s win over VCU on Tuesday.
Pitching
RHP Brett Renfrow (JR) – 2-4, 6.41 ERA, 46.1 IP, 7.8 BB%, 30.1 K%. Two-time 3rd Team All-ACC selection, he was listed by some as a Top 100 prospect entering this year, but has had a rough go of it. The 6’3, 220 lbs righty has some nice tools, with a mid-90’s fastball that will touch 97, a upper-80’s cutter, mid-80’s slider, low-80’s curve, and mid-80’s changeup. It’s a nice arsenal of pitches, and the peripherals show what he’s capable of with them. Got beaten up by GT, UVA, Miami, and BC, but shut down Duke, Stanford, and Pitt, so it’s been a mixed bag.
RHP Griffin Stieg (rJR) – 2-2, 5.87 ERA, 46.0 IP, 8.8 BB%, 17.6 K%. Started 13 games for the Hokies in 2024 (3-2, 4.70 ERA, 51.2 IP, 5.7 BB%, 21.1 K%), but then needed elbow surgery at the end of that year that wiped out his 2025 season. Despite that, was drafted in the 18th round by the Mariners last year, but turned down the Mariners – as well as his transfer portal commitment to Alabama – to return to the Hokies. He’s a low-90’s arm who will touch the mid-90s, adding in a slider and changeup.
RHP Preston Crowl (JR) – 1-2, 4 SV, 6.42 ERA, 33.2 IP, 12.0 BB%, 22.7 K%. Has 55 career appearances with the Hokies. Hasn’t had the success he did last year (2-0, 1 SV, 3.90 ERA, 32.1 IP, 16.3 BB%, 26.9 K%) in terms of ERA or strikeout rate, but his control has been better and he’s been counted on in bigger spots. He’s heavily relied upon, making multiple appearances in a single ACC series three times this year and has topped 30 pitches in each of his last 7 appearances, including a 74-pitch relief outing at Boston College two weekends ago.
LHP Brendan Yagesh (SR) – 2-2, 1 SV, 7.47 ERA, 31.1 IP, 12.7 BB%, 20.4 K%. Former transfer from Mount St. Mary’s, originally hailing from Urbana, Virginia. Started 16 games over two seasons for the Mountaineers, but has mostly been a reliever for the Hokies, although he did start three ACC games earlier this year, including tossing 7.0 shutout innings against Duke (he then gave up 13 ER over 7.0 IP in his next two starts). Outside of those two negative starts and one bad turn at Virginia, he’s been solid.
LHP ChaseSwift (SO) – 1-1, 4.00 ERA, 18.0 IP, 9.7 BB%, 45.8 K%. The mustachioed redhead is aptly named for a guy who ranks 12th in the country in whiff rate. Those peripherals say the guy needs more innings. He won’t blow the ball by anybody with a heater that only tops in the low-90’s, but he has a four-pitch mix (cutter, slider, changeup) that generate a lot of swings and misses.
Quick! Fun Facts!
The Hokies have four alums in the MLB this year: 1B T.J. Rumfield (Rockies), LHP Ian Seymour (Rays), OF Kerry Carpenter (Tigers), and LHP Joe Mantiply (Blue Jays). They had three other alums appear at the MLB level in 2025: RHP Nic Enright (Guardians; will miss 2025 with TJS), RHP Zach Brzykcy (Nationals; now with Marlins), RHP Jesse Hahn (Mariners; now with Blue Jays).
The seven former Hokies at the MLB level over the last two years is impressive for the program, given that there were only 11 former Virginia Tech players to make it to that level over the previous 25 seasons.
Virginia Tech doesn’t have a single player from the state of North Carolina. That’s wild.
The Hokies roster isn’t very deep on All-Name Team candidates, but FR INF Willie Hurt (.407/.619/.444, 1 2B, 0 HR, 27.9 BB%, 14.0 K%, 1-3 SB) is a no-doubt 1st Teamer. The lefty swinging DH currently has a 7-game hitting streak.
The Key To A Series Win For State
With Ryan Marohn unavailable for a second straight weekend, the Wolfpack bats are going to have to come alive against this Hokies pitching staff. The Hokies have been one of the best defensive teams in the conference, so State will need to also play clean to support the pitching staff and not supply any extra help to VTs lineup.
Prediction
There’s not a lot of confidence to be had for the Wolfpack after last weekend’s showing in Winston-Salem. With another road trip starting – and doing so without Jacob Dudan and Ryan Marohn – it’s hard to predict an NC State series win. Couple that with the Hokies coming off a series win of their own, it’s easy to see Virginia Tech coming out on top here in what should be a close, high-scoring three-game series.
NEW YORK (AP) — Already struggling to win games, the New York Mets also had difficulty figuring out which pitcher was supposed to be on the mound Thursday night.
Closer Devin Williams headed to the mound from the bullpen to start the ninth inning after Bo Bichette’s go-ahead, three-run double. And Huascar Brazobán walked back to the mound from the dugout.
Because Brazobán crossed the foul line, Williams was prevented from entering.
“Mistranslation there,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said after his team hung to beat Minnesota 10-8 for its second straight win. “The messaging there was if it’s tied, you’re going to go back out. We take the lead, Devin’s in the game. The thing that got stuck to him was ‘I’m going back out.’
“I speak Spanish. So I need to go and tell him to make sure he gets the message there.”
Brazobán gave up a two-out grand slam in the eighth to Ryan Jeffers as the Twins knotted the score at 7 and completed their comeback from a pair of five-run deficits.
In the dugout afterward, Mendoza told Brazobán that he’d only pitch the ninth if the Mets didn’t take the lead — which they did on Bichette’s double.
Yet with the lights dimmed at Citi Field for the bottom of the inning, Williams headed to the mound from the bullpen as called for by Mendoza — as Brazobán simultaneously walked from the dugout back to the mound.
Asked what he thought watching Williams trot in, Brazobán delivered an answer in Spanish — punctuated by a profanity delivered in English with an accompanying a laugh.
“The lights are going off, and I was like ‘Wow,’” Brazobán said through interpreter Alan Suriel “So that’s when I realized.?
Brazobán retired Austin Martin on a groundout and Williams then relieved and struck out Luke Keaschall.
“I was frustrated with myself for the prior inning,” Brazobán said. “They told me clearly if the game was tied, I’d go out. But if they took the lead, Devin would come in. But I kind of stayed on autopilot
“Honestly, it was really my bad.”
Brooks Lee singled and scored on Tristan Gray’s single, and Bryon Buxton’s double put the potential tying run in scoring position. Williams (1-1) then struck out Trevor Larnach — just the sixth out recorded by Williams over the last 20 batters he’s faced, during which his ERA has risen from 0.00 to 10.29.
Williams was awarded the win because Brazobán pitched briefly and ineffectively and surrendered the lead while throwing less than an inning.
The win was the second straight for the Mets after a 12-game losing streak — their longest since 2012. All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor was placed on the injured list prior to the game with a left calf injury suffered in Wednesday’s 3-2 win — when Juan Soto returned from a 15-game absence due to a right calf injury.
“A lot happened there from the very beginning,” Mendoza said. “But I’m glad that we were able to get the job done tonight.”
PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 16: Braxton Ashcraft #35 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action against the Washington Nationals at PNC Park on April 16, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One of the strengths for the Pittsburgh Pirates to start the season has been their starting rotation, and right-handed pitcher Braxton Ashcraft is a big reason because of that.
In his most recent start for the Pirates, he threw seven innings and 94 pitches, both career-highs, while only allowing two earned runs against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on April 22, earning an 8-4 victory.
Ashcraft is in his first full season as a starting pitcher at the major league level and he’s done incredibly well so far for the Bucs.
He has a 1-1 record in five starts, a 2.43 ERA over 29.2 innings pitched, 32 strikeouts to nine walks, a .202 batting average allowed and a 1.01 WHIP.
His strikeouts are tied for 15th in baseball, with his BAA 25th in baseball and his WHIP ranks 33rd as well.
The 26-year-old started the season with a little walk problem after walking four batters in his season debut on March 30th but in his four starts in April he only walked five batters.
He also just gave up his first home run of the season against the Rangers, but soon settled in and got some ground balls and went the longest he has in his major league career.
This is massive news for Pittsburgh because of the fact that Ashcraft is the fourth pitcher in their rotation. The fact that the Buccos are getting that contribution from someone pretty far in the depth chart is massive. It shows how deep the Pirates starting rotation actually is, which is important because of the shaky start from the bullpen.
The Pirates have a lot of faith in the young pitcher as well, with no real pitching limits. Ashcraft has had some injury problems in the past dating from his minor league days in triple-A. His 29.2 innings pitched lead the Pirates and are tied for 19th-most in baseball.
Pirates fans knew that Paul Skenes was going to do his thing and that they were going to get solid outings out of Mitch Keller and Bubba Chandler, so the fact they are also getting serious production out of Ashcraft is massive. Ashcraft has been one of the biggest surprises for the Pirates to start the season and if he can continue to pitch like this, the Pittsburgh starting rotation would be in a great place.
The home run vibes are high heading into the Friday slate, with some great spots to look for MLB player props, despite the weather still not in bettors' favor.
I'm going indoors with the Jays back home and some home-run potential on both sides of the field, and taking the easy route with one of the best home-run hitters facing one of the worst pitchers in baseball at +EV prices.
Plus, I'm backing a Cubs bat to keep his recent hot streak going.
These are my favorite HR props for Friday, April 24.
UPDATE: Added another HR pick + parlay.
Best MLB home run props today
Player to hit a HR
Odds
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
+610
Munetaka Murakami
+320
Michael Busch
+520
💲Today's HR parlay
+14581
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+610)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. might not be the home-run hitter he was in 2021, but +610 is a big price for an indoor game with a bland home-run setting on Friday’s board.
His swing speed is still elite, and his Blast Contact numbers are strong — he just needs to improve that launch angle, as he ranks last on the team in Ideal Attack Angle%. He needs to elevate the ball, and there are signs he can against Gavin Williams.
Guerrero has taken Williams deep once in eight career at-bats, and the Cleveland Guardians starter struggled with HR/FB% last year. That number looks even worse early this season, and his ground-ball rate could regress toward his career norms, and his .167 BABIP is unsustainable.
There’s a price point for any Guerrero home run in a favorable setting, and it starts at +600 or better. The fair price on this four-bagger is around +540.
Time: 7:07 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SN1, Guardians.TV
Munetaka Murakami (+320)
Let’s get a taste of the good life with one of the best home-run bats in baseball, at home, facing Miles Mikolas.
Munetaka Murakami just had his five-game homer streak snapped, but this may be the best matchup of that stretch. He’s 12-for-27, and every extra-base hit has left the yard. When he gets the ball in the air, it’s leaving at an incredible 39% clip.
Mikolas has been one of the worst HR/FB pitchers in baseball, and his early-season struggles have pushed that even lower. The only thing that can slow Murakami is swing-and-miss, which isn’t a major concern against Mikolas.
Despite the production, this price still shows value, with a fair line around +260.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Nationals.TV, CHSN
Michael Busch (+520)
It took some time, but Michael Busch has found his power stroke, going deep in back-to-back games. Now he enters a strong matchup tonight at Dodger Stadium.
The No. 2 hitter for the Chicago Cubs still profiles as a 30-HR bat in a favorable hitting environment with winds blowing out to center. Emmet Sheehan is a solid target for home runs, ranking near the bottom of MLB starters in Blast Contact% while allowing plenty of fly balls — with nearly 20% leaving the yard this year.
Chicago enters on a nine-game win streak, gets the full nine innings on the road, and this home run price should be closer to +430.
Time: 10:15 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Apple TV+
Josh Inglis's 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 5-43, -13.4 units
Today’s HR parlay
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Bet Now +14581
Munetaka Murakami
Michael Busch
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The scouting report on the Orlando Magic is no secret. They can’t shoot the 3-ball.
Orlando has done little to disprove that in the opening two games of its Round 1 series with the Detroit Pistons. The Magic, who shoot just 34% from deep on the season, are a collective 18 for 66 from beyond the arc (27%) as the series swings home for Game 3.
With Orlando unable to throw a grape in the ocean, life is easy for Detroit’s defense, which is packing the paint and practically begging Orlando to hit a shot from deep.
Our Pistons vs. Magic predictions don’t discard all of Orlando’s outside threats with my NBA picks seeing solid value in Jalen Suggs to find his form at home Saturday.
Pistons vs Magic prediction
Pistons vs Magic best bet: Jalen Suggs Over 2.5 made threes (+102)
The Detroit Pistons know the Orlando Magic can’t make them pay from the perimeter and have given their first-round foes nothing but clean air on the outside.
Of the 66 3-point attempts taken by the Magic through two games, 62 have come with no Detroit defender within at least four feet, including 29 long-range looks qualifying as “wide open” with no Pistons player within six feet of the shooter. Orlando has made only 16 of those open 3PAs.
Jalen Suggs is the Magic’s most consistent 3-point threat and has gone 3 for 10 from distance in each of the first two playoff contests.Nineteen of his total 20 shots from downtown have been either “open” or “wide open” with Suggs making good on just five of those attempts.
However, with the series swinging to the Kia Center this weekend, Suggs will make the Pistons pay for their passive perimeter patrol.
Alliteration aside, Suggs’ shooting sees a surge at home, with his 3-point success jumping from less than 30% on the road to 37.4% in Orlando. He attempts the same number of 3-pointers at home vs. away (6.3) but makes 2.4 triples inside the Kia Center compared to 1.9 in enemy gyms.
Game 3 projections aren’t bullish on Suggs’ shooting, pegging him for two 3-point makes. But with Detroit keeping its heels below the arc and Suggs shooting almost double his usual 3PAs, the opportunity is there to hit at least three treys – especially when you consider his shooting splits at home and a game script that has Orlando playing from behind.
Pistons vs Magic same-game parlay
The Pistons finally got dialed in on defense in the second half of Game 2, and that travels to Orlando on Saturday. Detroit is one of the best road teams in the NBA, with a 28-13 SU record as a visitor.
Tobias Harris has put up scores of 16 and 17 points in the first two games while shooting a collective 12 for 32, including 1 for 10 from beyond the arc. That catches up with him on the road, with projections short of 16 points in Game 3.
Pistons vs Magic SGP
Pistons Moneyline
Jalen Suggs Over 2.5 made threes
Tobias Harris Under 15.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Raiders of the Lost (3-Point) Arc
In a series featuring physical defense, these 3-point threats get hot and help push the final score past this low total. Duncan Robinson and Suggs have each made three triples in the first two games of this Round 1 series.
Pistons vs Magic SGP
Pistons moneyline
Over 214
Jalen Suggs Over 2.5 made threes
Duncan Robinson Over 2.5 made threes
Pistons vs Magic odds for Game 3
Spread: Pistons -2.5 | Magic +2.5
Moneyline: Pistons -150 | Magic +125
Over/Under: Over 214 | Under 214
Pistons vs Magic betting trend to know
The Detroit Pistons cashed in on the moneyline in 28 of their last 40 away games (+11.50 Units/9% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. Magic.
How to watch Pistons vs Magic Game 3
Location
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Date
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Tip-off
1:00 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
Pistons vs Magic latest injuries
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HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 18: Jordan Walker #18 of the St. Louis Cardinals reacts with teammates after defeating the Houston Astros in the game at Daikin Park on April 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re a week away from the end of the first month of the season, and the Mariners still haven’t found their groove. The walk-off win on Wednesday afternoon was a nice way to escape a sweep at the hands of the A’s, but it wrapped up a disappointing 3-3 homestand against AL West foes. Thankfully, no one else in the division has been running away in the standings. Everyone is still bunched together, which means the projections and playoff odds are largely unchanged from the start of the season. The other bit of optimism comes from Seattle’s underlying performance; the team has underperformed its Pythagorean record by two wins and their base runs record by three wins. They’ve been the “unluckiest” team in the majors by both those measures.
The Cardinals are in the initial stages of a major transition for the organization. Chaim Bloom took over as president of baseball operations this offseason and quickly traded away a bunch of high priced veterans. Gone are Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, and Brendan Donovan. There was already a small core of young players already contributing in the majors, but the seemingly endless pipeline of talent coming through St. Louis’s farm system has dried up over the last few years. A lot of their recent top prospects have failed to make much of an impact in the big leagues, which is one of the root causes of this current rebuilding cycle.
Player
Position
Bats
PA
K%
BB%
ISO
wRC+
JJ Wetherholt (MiLB)
2B
L
496
14.7%
14.5%
0.203
154
Iván Herrera
DH
R
452
18.6%
9.5%
0.180
137
Alec Burleson
1B
L
546
14.5%
7.1%
0.169
124
Jordan Walker
RF
R
396
31.8%
7.3%
0.091
66
Nolan Gorman
3B
L
402
33.8%
11.7%
0.165
88
Masyn Winn
SS
R
537
19.0%
6.3%
0.110
91
Nathan Church
LF
L
65
27.7%
4.6%
0.071
46
Pedro Pagés
C
R
389
27.5%
4.9%
0.133
77
Victor Scott II
CF
L
463
24.0%
9.1%
0.080
76
Most of that young talent still on the Cardinals roster resides in their lineup. JJ Wetherholt, their first round pick in the 2024 draft, made his major league debut on Opening Day and represents a significant piece of the team’s future. The most impactful development has been the early season breakout from Jordan Walker. A former top prospect who has really struggled to establish himself in the big leagues, he’s looking like he’s finally put it all together this year. He’s still swinging and missing a ton, but he’s elevating all of his loud contact and has already blasted eight home runs. Iván Herrera and Alec Burleson are two solid everyday regulars that complete the backbone of the Cardinals lineup. The rest of the group is pretty questionable at the plate, though both Masyn Winn and Victor Scott II are defensive stalwarts.
Andre Pallante is a groundball specialist who has carved out a nice role as an innings-eating back-end starter in St. Louis. He doesn’t strike anyone out, walks a few too many, but gets away with it by inducing a ton of contact on the ground. His four-seam fastball is super weird. He throws from a really high slot and you’d expect a ton of carry from that pitch at the top of the zone. Instead, it’s arrow straight and drops a lot like his sinker. It has the highest groundball rate of any four-seamer in baseball. It’s almost as if he has two versions of his sinker, one that has a bit of armside run (like a traditional sinker) and one that doesn’t (his four-seamer).
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Matthew Liberatore
151.2
18.8%
6.2%
10.1%
37.4%
4.21
4.03
Bryan Woo
186.2
27.1%
4.9%
12.8%
40.8%
2.94
3.47
2025 stats
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
31.9%
17.0%
93.9
85
57
102
0.370
Sinker
7.5%
27.3%
94.0
95
46
72
0.418
Cutter
11.0%
8.2%
90.2
89
64
112
0.401
Changeup
15.5%
0.0%
88.4
79
57
90
0.344
Curveball
17.4%
9.7%
77.4
121
103
111
0.194
Slider
16.7%
37.8%
86.4
104
96
84
0.296
2025 stats
Once upon a time, Matthew Liberatore was one of the Cardinals’ top pitching prospects. His development stalled out once he reached the big leagues and St. Louis actually tried to use him as a high leverage reliever for a while back in 2024. Back in the rotation last year, he had a great start to the season but wore down during the summer. It was his best showing in the big leagues and a stepping stone to continue growing this year. He has a wide arsenal but his big curveball is the only standout pitch. His command is good enough, and repertoire varied enough, that he can keep opposing batters off balance, but his stuff isn’t dominant enough to rack up a ton of strikeouts.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Michael McGreevy
95.2
14.5%
5.0%
11.5%
47.3%
4.42
4.27
Emerson Hancock
90
16.6%
8.1%
15.2%
43.0%
4.90
5.08
2025 stats
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
19.7%
40.9%
93.0
81
109
73
0.407
Sinker
62.7%
2.8%
91.7
98
53
112
0.275
Cutter
3.5%
18.7%
88.6
80
63
68
0.365
Changeup
1.0%
20.9%
88.0
76
96
110
0.316
Curveball
13.1%
16.7%
79.6
91
54
80
0.358
Sweeper
50.0%
7.7%
83.7
94
79
88
0.314
2025 stats
Michael McGreevy is a throw back to a bygone era. He’s a kitchen sink righty with a fastball that barely touches 91 mph and seven different pitches in his arsenal. He’s got excellent command of his entire repertoire and locates well on both sides of the plate. That makes at-bats against him pretty uncomfortable for opposing batters, though none of his pitches are that dominant individually. Instead, batters are more likely to mishit any contact they make because any given pitch could break in or out, up or down. Like the other two starters previewed above, the Cardinals fantastic defense is capable of turning a lot of that contact into outs, which makes his low strikeout rate less of a liability.
The Big Picture:
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Rangers
13-12
0.520
—
+15
L-L-W-L-W
Athletics
13-12
0.520
—
-15
W-L-W-W-L
Angels
12-14
0.462
1.5
+10
L-L-L-L-W
Mariners
11-15
0.423
2.5
+2
W-W-L-L-W
Astros
10-16
0.385
3.5
-13
L-L-W-L-W
The Rangers and Athletics head into this weekend tied atop the AL West standings, and those two division rivals meet up for a three-game series in Texas this weekend. The Angels have continued to be entertaining to watch, though they’ve slipped down the standings after losing back-to-back series to the Padres and Blue Jays; they’ll play in Kansas City this weekend. The Astros won their series against the Guardians earlier this week but still bring up the rear in the standings. Houston hosts the Yankees this weekend.
Apr 23, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets shortstop Bo Bichette (19) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Your 2026 New York Mets: OK, we won a game yesterday. If we win today, it’s called ‘two in a row.’ And if we win again tomorrow, it’s called a ‘winning streak’… It has happened before!
““He struck him out and the ball game is over! And for the first time in more than two weeks, the Mets can shake hands.” -Gary Cohen [New York Post]
I was dreamin’ when I wrote this
“That insidious 12-game losing streak has finally come to an end. Mets win it 3-2.” -Gary Cohen [New York Post]
Forgive me if it goes astray
“Swung on and missed, strike three! Put it in the books!” -Howie Rose [New York Post]
But when I woke up this morning
“For the first time in 15 days, the New York Mets have won a baseball game. They have ended their 12-game losing streak, and if this crowd is not exactly jubilant, they are more than simply relieved.” -Howie Rose [New York Post]
I coulda sworn it was Judgment Day
“It was good to get some wins [and] remember what that feels like.” -Bo Bichette [New York Post]
The sky was all purple
“It was a crazy game.’’ -Carlos Mendoza [New York Post]
There were people runnin’ everywhere
“Winning games in the big leagues is really hard. Good teams fight, no matter the ebbs and flows.” -Bo Bichette [New York Post]
Tryin’ to run from my destruction
“[Peterson, Manaea, and Myers have] been saving us.’’ -Carlos Mendoza [New York Post]
You know I didn’t even care
“The desire to help a new team and the desire to just perform at the level you know you can perform at — I don’t know if any of that was weighing on me, but I definitely still need to get better. I’ll make adjustments and get to the player I need to be.” -Bo Bichette [MLB]
‘Cause they say
“I think [Bichette’s] been looking for that moment, especially here at home. Meaningful for him to do it in front of our fan base.” -Carlos Mendoza [MLB]
2000, zero, zero, party over
“Today, I felt good but like I said, I’ve got to show up tomorrow and do it again.” -Bo Bichette [MLB]
Oops, out of time
“You’re always worried, but you also trust those guys [in the bullpen]. Once Devin got to the mound, that’s what I told him. He got the job done.” -Carlos Mendoza [The Athletic]
So tonight I’m gonna party like it’s 1999
“Oh, fuck.” -Huascar Brazobán thought [The Athletic]
“The messaging there was: If it’s tied, you go back out. If we take the lead, Devin’s in the game. I speak Spanish. I need to make sure he gets the message.” -Carlos Mendoza [The Athletic]
“They told me clearly. I stayed on autopilot and just went out there. Really, it was my bad.” -Huascar Brazobán [The Athletic]
“I felt bad and a little embarrassed that I didn’t fully pay attention to what was going on. Luckily, I was able to get that out.” -Huascar Brazobán [The Athletic]
“Whenever I have to miss games, it’s super disappointing. It sucks to be on the side, but I’ll be there with them, cheering them on and probably just as nervous as every fan out there as well.” -Francisco Lindor [MLB]
“He’s going to be down quite a bit here. I don’t think we’re anticipating something like we knew right away with Juan that it was kind of like the best-case scenario and it was going to be on the short side of things. I don’t think we’re dealing with the same thing here.” -Carlos Mendoza [MLB]
“This kills me not being on the field, but I trust the trainers and I know they have good care here, and I’ll be back. I’ll be back hopefully sooner rather than later.” -Francisco Lindor [MLB]
COVERS INTEL: The Chicago Cubs own the second-lowest strikeout rate in the majors during their 12-3 hot streak.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Munetaka Murakami
Michael Busch
