Apr 12, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brayan Bello (66) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
The Red Sox have only six wins this season. We’re not dealing with a large sample size. Still, today felt like the “easiest” win of the season. The offense jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a home run off the bat of Willson Contreras and never looked back. They were up 3-0 when Jordan Walker hit his seventh home run of the season to get a run for the Cardinals, but the Red Sox added four more in the fourth inning, and two more in the ninth. They didn’t need innings from Garrett Whitlock or Aroldis Chapman in a win for only the second time this season.
Brayan Bello also had his best game of the season, throwing 6 2/3 innings while allowing two runs. It was a different game plan from the righty, who went with a sinker-heavy approach. He kept the ball down frequently, moved it from side to side, and got six outs on balls in play with the pitch. As a result of the high-sinker use, he hardly spun the ball at all. He threw nine sweepers and six curveballs. He didn’t have a feel for either pitch at the beginning of the game, but when he located them near the zone, the results were positive. He’s been through so many iterations of his breaking pitches that I’m not confident he’ll ever consistently locate them, and strikeouts will be hard to find without spin, but on his day, he can be effective. It was a great building block for Bello, who will get the Tigers in his next start. They handed the ball to Danny Coulombe and Zack Kelly in relief of Bello, who held the Cardinals to one run, giving the Red Sox a 9-3 victory.
If the Red Sox win every series for the rest of the season, they’ll win the World Series. The record still doesn’t look great at 6-8, but stacking series wins will slowly get them back over 0.500. They’ve won two in a row now and head to Minnesota to face the Twins, who don’t have their best starters lined up. Just keep winning series, mix in a sweep now and again, and you’ll look up one day with the standings much easier to stomach.
Three Studs
Willson Contreras (4-5, 3 RBI)
Contreras’ two-run home run opened the scoring. He added a single in the fourth inning for another RBI. He also played fantastic defense at first base all afternoon, when he was busy thanks to a groundball-heavy day from the pitching staff.
Trevor Story (4-5, 2 RBI)
A ninth-inning double gave the Red Sox some breathing room. When Story gets hot, he gets red hot. Hopefully, it continues into Minnesota and beyond.
Brayan Bello
See above
Three Duds
Roman Anthony (0-5)
An 0 for day for Anthony, who’s now 1 for his last 16. Just growing pains, nothing to see here.
Technology
It was a rough day for NESN and NESN360 customers. I’ll leave it at that.
My MLB App
It’s telling me the Yankees have lost five straight. That can’t be right. Right?
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 08: Ryan Mountcastle #6 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Rate Field on April 08, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jayden Mack/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One way that the 2026 Orioles season continues to emulate the 2025 one is the way that injury news is a daily feature. Following Sunday’s 6-2 win over the Giants, O’s manager Craig Albernaz provided updates on three players who have recently had issues pop up: Ryan Mountcastle, Tyler O’Neill, and Adley Rutschman.
O’Neill was the surprise addition to the list of injured on Sunday when the team placed him on the concussion injured list, which has only a 7-day minimum stay instead of the usual 10. The Orioles had been saying O’Neill was out of the lineup for previous games due to an illness.
Albernaz said that due to O’Neill’s illness, he got dehydrated and fainted on Thursday, hitting his head on the fall and apparently suffering a concussion in the process. O’Neill’s roster spot was, at least temporarily, taken by Johnathan Rodriguez, acquired from the Guardians in a minor transaction back on March 29.
The team had also been awaiting MRI results for Mountcastle and Rutschman. Albernaz did not give the exact diagnosis on Rutschman’s left ankle inflammation, just calling the results “encouraging” and indicating that Rutschman’s stay on the injured list may be a short one. This is a story that I’ve heard before and the first injury update does not always prove to be the final situation, so we’ll see how that plays out. Rutschman was placed on the 10-day injured list yesterday. He’s got a little more time to wait. If he does have a short IL stint, the team may not have him do a rehab assignment.
For Mountcastle, the diagnosis is a broken fourth metatarsal on his left foot. This was apparently suffered during his run on the bases in Saturday’s game. At this moment, he’s not on the injured list and Albernaz didn’t say whether Mountcastle would be placed on the IL. They might see how he responds to “try to play through it after a little rest,” or they might take an easy excuse to place him on the IL. It’s not like there are a ton of good options to replace him at Norfolk.
The Orioles now have 12 players on the injured list and if Mountcastle goes on too, that’ll make 13. It’s a lot of injuries. Despite all of this, the team is in a three-way tie atop the AL East with its 8-7 record. The daily injury updates may be familiar from 2025, but the team managing to stay afloat while absorbing all of the injuries? That’s something new. Hopefully they can keep that going.
The Flyers have a clearer picture of how they can clinch their first playoff berth since the 2019-20 season.
With the Blue Jackets’ 3-2 regulation loss Sunday night to the Bruins, the Flyers can punch their ticket to the postseason if they win one of their final two games. Their magic number is two points, so a pair of overtime/shootout losses would also do the trick.
Their first chance will come Monday when they host Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP). They then welcome the Canadiens on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).
The Flyers can also make the playoffs if they pick up one point over their last two games and the Blue Jackets beat the Capitals on Tuesday night. But their easiest way to get in is to win one more game.
The Flyers (41-27-12) hold the final playoff spot (third place) in the Metropolitan Division with 94 points. Two points in some fashion over the next two days would put them at 96, a total the Capitals, Blue Jackets and Islanders can’t reach.
The Capitals (42-30-9) have 93 points and can finish with a max of 95. They blanked the Penguins, 3-0, Sunday afternoon.
The Blue Jackets (40-29-12) have 92 points and can finish with a max of 94. They host the Capitals in the regular-season finale for both clubs.
The Islanders (43-33-5) were eliminated from the race Sunday with a 4-1 loss to the Canadiens.
Apr 12, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Geraldo Perdomo (2) breaks his bat against the Philadelphia Phillies in the third inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
After a mostly ugly series at San Francisco, a return home to play the Arizona Diamondbacks should have helped get the Phillies back on track. But the ugly play largely continued against Arizona, and a slew of self-imposed mistakes caused the Phillies to lose the game – and the series – on Sunday by a score of 4-3.
The game had a strange vibe from the start when Andrew Painter was scratched from the start by a migraine. Zach Pop got the start in his place, and gave up one run in two innings, partly due to a throwing error by Brandon Marsh.
The Phillies’ offense didn’t do much early on in the game against veteran righthander Zac Gallen. Bryce Harper hit into a double play in the first, and Rafael Marchan flew out with two on, two out in the second. In the fourth, Harper led off with a single but was thrown out at second on an ill-advised attempt to make it a double.
The Phillies got a lift when Painter’s headache cleared up and he was able to enter the game in the third inning. He gave them five strong innings, giving up just one run in five innings. And that one run was partly due to Adolis Garcia playing a single into a double, and Trea Turner unable to catch up to a blooper past the infield.
The Phillies have done this “fun” bit this series where they only score in one inning of each game. And apparently, they chose the sixth on Sunday. Justin Crawford led off with a double, and then Turner hit a shot to right that replay showed just cleared the fence for a two-run home run.
When Marsh’s ensuing single gave the Phillies runners at the corners with nobody out, and it looked like they were on the verge of a big inning.
In came reliever Jonathan Loaisiga, and that pitching change served to kill the Phillies’ momentum. With the infield in, Harper went on contact on Brandon Marsh’s ground ball to second base (why?) and was easily cut down. Garcia then popped up, and then Alec Bohm lined out to end the threat.
The Phillies called upon Jose Alvarado for the eighth. Most of the focus has been on how bad some of the Phillies’ hitters have been, but Alvarado has been pretty shaky in his own right. He gave up a leadoff single, and after a strong play by Marchan got the runner for a fielder’s choice at second, a stolen base and single by Jose Fernandez tied the game up.
Jonathan Bowlan relieved Alvarado and was not any better. He walked the first batter he faced and then surrendered a go-ahead single to Adrian Del Castillo.
The Phillies looked like they might respond by actually scoring in a second inning of the game. Harper led off the eighth with a walk, and Marsh singled to put runners on the corners with nobody out. But Diamondbacks reliever Kevin Ginkel overpowered Stott for a strikeout, and then the Phillies showed exactly what it looks like when a team is playing poorly.
Marsh attempted to steal second and didn’t seem to realize that Garcia (0-10 in the series) had popped the ball up. He was easily doubled off first base to end the threat.
That probably didn’t matter because Alec Bohm was the next batter, and I’m not sure if he could hit the ball off a tee at the moment. (Hitless in his last 17 at bats.) He struck out to start the ninth, Marchan followed with a pop up, and Justin Crawford ended things with an ABS-reviewed strike three on the very edge of the zone.
The Phillies are clearly not playing well right now. Maybe they’re all trying too hard, or maybe this is just one of those “we can’t get out of our own way” funks that teams go through during a long season. The homestand will continue on Monday against the Cubs, and hopefully the Phillies will get their act together and start playing winning baseball.
DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 17: Ausar Thompson #9 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket during the game against the Indiana Pacers on January 17, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
From 68 losses to 60 wins in two years. That is what is on the line tonight for the Detroit Pistons in their regular-season finale against the Indiana Pacers. Detroit could become just the third team in franchise history to reach 60 wins, and one of just three this season, joining the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.
Standing in their way, hypothetically, will be the Indiana Pacers. But not the actual Indiana Pacers. The JV Indiana Pacers. You see, the Pacers have zero interest in winning this meaningless game that will formally conclude their gap year without injured star Tyrese Haliburton. A win puts them in a tie with the Brooklyn Nets, with a coin flip deciding both teams’ fates in the all-important NBA Draft Lottery. The Pacers are going to be sure it doesn’t come to that.
The following players will not be suiting up for the Pacers tonight:
Johnny Furphy
Tyrese Haliburton
TJ McConnell
Andrew Nembhard
Aaron Nesmith
Ben Sheppard
Pascal Siakam
Jarace Walker
Ivica Zubac
The projected opening lineup for the Pacers has started 67 total games. In their careers. That is fewer games than Duncan Robinson and Ausar Thompson have started this season. It’s also fewer than Jalen Duren has started this season, but Detroit’s big man is taking this game off to rest.
Game Vitals
When: 6 p.m. ET Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana Watch: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit (RIP) Odds: Pistons -14
Projected Lineups
Detroit Pistons (59-22)
Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Paul Reed
Indiana Pacers (19-62)
Quentin Jackson, Ethan Thompson, Jalen Slawson, Kobe Brown, Micah Potter
Apr 12, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Gary Sanchez (99) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Brewers found themselves on the wrong side of a few late-inning rallies by the Nationals on Sunday afternoon, as Washington put up six runs against Milwaukee’s bullpen to pick up a sweep and extend the Brewer losing streak to five.
Brandon Woodruff started the afternoon out looking fantastic, setting the top of the Washington lineup down in order with a pair of strikeouts. Brice Turang started the bottom of the inning with a single, but would be wiped out on a force out from Christian Yelich, who just beat out the throw to first upon review. The lead baserunner would go for naught, though, as Garrett Mitchell followed with a three-pitch strikeout to end the inning.
Both teams then traded 1-2-3 innings until Turang slugged a two-out homer into Milwaukee’s bullpen in the bottom of the third to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead after three.
James Wood responded right away in the top of the fourth, hitting a solo shot of his own for the Nationals’ first hit and first run. The Nats wouldn’t stop there, though as Luis García Jr. reached on a fielding error by Jake Bauers at first before moving to third on a Daylen Lile double and scoring on a CJ Abrams sac fly, putting Washington up 2-1.
The Brewers knotted it back up in the bottom of the inning with another solo shot, this time from Jake Bauers. Woodruff worked around a single and a walk in the fifth to keep the game even at 2-2, and Turang would give Milwaukee the lead right back in the bottom of the inning with his second solo homer of the day, this time to right-center.
Two batters later, though, Gary Sánchez entered as a pinch-hitter for Yelich in an unexpected move. He would pop up, and it was reported by Sophia Minnaert just an inning later that Yelich exited with left hamstring tightness. We’ll keep you posted as we learn more, but hopefully it was just a precautionary move.
After the two teams traded scoreless half-innings in the sixth, things quickly went awry when Abner Uribe took over for Woodruff in the seventh.
Jacob Young started things off with a double into the gap, and after a misplay by Mitchell off the wall, Young coasted into third. Uribe was able to get the next hitter to pop out, but pinch-hitter José Tena got a single through the pulled-in infield to tie it up at 3-3 with still just one out.
Uribe got the next batter, Nasim Nuñez, to line out, and Pat Murphy opted to replace Uribe with lefty Angel Zerpa with the lefty Wood at the plate. After a wild pitch moved Tena up to second, Wood would reach on a walk. Another pinch-hitter, Curtis Mead, entered to face Zerpa, and he dumped a single into center to score the go-ahead run and put runners at the corners with two outs.
Now at 4-3, the Nationals looked to extend the lead with a delayed steal of home, as Mead took off for second and Wood went home on the throw. The throw home was late, but home plate umpire Carlos Torres inexplicably called Wood out. Upon review, it was very clear that Wood beat the throw, and the call was overturned to give Washington a 5-3 lead. Brady House followed with another RBI single to make it 6-3 before the inning was all said and done, and Milwaukee’s offense would have to dig itself out of a hole in the final three frames.
Ken Waldichuk, who had already pitched a scoreless sixth, came back out and got two quick outs. During Turang’s plate appearance, however, Waldichuk fell into a 2-0 hole and, on the second ball, he came up grimacing and clenching his throwing arm. Not a good sign.
Waldichuk was immediately removed, and his replacement, Cole Henry, proceeded to walk Turang, walk Contreras, and fall into another 2-0 hole against Sánchez, the second ball of which was overturned upon a Sánchez-initated review. The next pitch, a cutter near the bottom of the zone, promptly found a home in the left-field bleachers as Sánchez gave the Crew some life and tied the game at 6-6.
PJ Poulin took over for Henry and gave up a single to Mitchell before retiring Bauers to end the inning. It was a long, high-scoring inning, as the Nationals put up four runs before Milwaukee’s three runs to tie it — brand-new ballgame with just two innings left in regulation.
Zerpa remained in for the eighth, but he continued to struggle, giving up back-to-back singles to Abrams and Young to put runners at the corners with one out. Jorbit Vivas followed with a sac bunt that moved Young to second but didn’t score Abrams from third, as Zerpa was pulled in favor of Aaron Ashby.
Ashby got Keibert Ruiz into a 1-1 count before Ruiz was able to fight off a pitch below the zone for a single up the middle, scoring both runners and allowing Ruiz to move to second on the throw. Ashby was able to set the next two hitters down, but the damage was done with Washington now ahead 8-6.
The Brewers went down in order in the bottom of the inning, and Jake Woodford worked around a pair of singles in the ninth to keep the deficit at two.
Former Brewer Gus Varland came on for his first career save opportunity with the Nats up by two, and he made quick work of Joey Ortiz, Turang, and Contreras with a strikeout, groundout, and flyout, respectively, locking up the game and series sweep for Washington.
Woodruff got a quality start with six innings of work, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk while striking out six. Uribe and Zerpa both got roughed up, as Uribe allowed two runs and Zerpa gave up four. Ashby and Woodford both had scoreless afternoons for the bullpen.
Offensively, the Brewers once again got all of their runs via the long ball, with Turang slugging a pair of solo shots, Bauers adding a solo homer, and Sánchez hitting the big game-tying three-run shot that gave Milwaukee some late life. Turang led the squad with three hits and a walk today, while Bauers was the only other player with multiple hits.
It was another rough series for the Brewers after they lost two of three in Boston to begin the week, and they’re now in the midst of a five-game skid. They’ll get another off day on Monday to try to shake off the boogeyman before welcoming the reigning AL Champion Toronto Blue Jays to town for three games beginning on Tuesday night. First pitch in that one is set for 6:40 p.m., with Jacob Misiorowski slated to face Kevin Gausman.
The fate of the Detroit Red Wings was sealed on Saturday evening with their regulation loss to the New Jersey Devils, confirming that they would miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a 10th consecutive season.
However, there are still two games left on their regular season schedule before they break for the offseason, starting with a tilt against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday evening, followed by their finale against the Florida Panthers, both on the road.
Before those matchups take place, the Red Wings have announced an emergency call-up from the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, who initially made the roster out of Training Camp, has been called up.
UPDATE: The #RedWings have recalled Michael Brandsegg-Nygard from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins under emergency conditions. pic.twitter.com/80HStaHnQf
Brandsegg-Nygård, whom the Red Wings selected in the first round (14th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft, played in 12 games in the NHL this season, registering an assist.
He's been a key contributor to the Griffins this season, who became the first AHL club in decades to clinch a playoff spot in February.
In 58 games played with the Griffins, he's tallied 20 goals with 24 assists, and also has posted an impressive plus-19 rating.
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BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 12: Samuel Basallo #29 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with Pete Alonso #25 bases after hitting a two run home run against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 12, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A stellar start by Cade Povich, supported by key contributions at the plate from the previously slumping Pete Alonso and Samuel Basallo, led the Orioles to a 6-2 win at Camden Yards on Sunday afternoon. They have now won five of six and are tied for first place in the AL East.
This was the peak version of Povich. The lefty pounded the strike zone, mixed pitches, and limited damage. That combination allowed him to put together one of the best outings of his big league career. Over 6.2 innings, Povich allowed just one run on five hits, no walks, and five strikeouts. Not a bad way to celebrate your 26th birthday.
That one run came in the fifth inning. Casey Schmitt opened the frame with a single, moved to second on a ground out, and then eventually scored on a two-out single. But credit to Povich for keeping things right there. He got Jerar Encarnacion to fly out and conclude the inning. That’s all they would manage against the starter.
Most would have expected O’s manager Craig Albernaz to pull Povich after that. He had gone through the order twice, was in the position to get a win, and he was exiting on a relative high. Instead, Albernaz stuck with him through the sixth inning. Then, he let him start the seventh, and even stayed with him after a lead-off single. Povich rewarded him with a double play before a double from Heliot Ramos pushed Albernaz to finally make a change. He went with Anthony Nunez, who made quick work of Daniel Susace to wrap up the inning.
This felt like a significant performance from Povich. There is pressure on him to perform and become the preferred rotation understudy, in front of guys like Brandon Young, Albert Suárez, or even Trey Gibson this year. There is more work to be done before the lefty can actually cement himself into that role, but his first 12.1 innings of the year are good steps in that direction.
What helped Albernaz make the decision to stick with Povich as long as he did was an Orioles offense that felt more threatening today.
The scoring for the O’s started early. After Pete Alonso worked a two-out walk in the bottom of the first inning, Samuel Basallo gave the good guys a 2-0 lead with a line drive home run to left-center field, his second long ball of the season.
It took until the fifth inning for the Baltimore bats to come back alive. Gunnar Henderson got the two-out rally going with a single into right field. Taylor Ward did the same, scooting Henderson over to third base in the process. Then it was Alonso that broke his cold streak, yanking a two-bagger down the third base line to drive in both runners and make it 4-1 Orioles.
They added on to that lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Leody Taveras set the table with an inning-opening double to right field. He then sprinted home on a Coby Mayo flare into shallow center, giving the Birds a 5-1 advantage.
The Orioles’ final run of the day came home in the seventh inning. Back-to-back singles from Ward and Alonso got the inning going. A one-out walk for the newly promoted Johnathan Rodríguez loaded the bases. Following a strikeout by Taveras, Colton Cowser knocked in Ward with a bouncer that got past the pitcher and became an infield hit.
This was a complete performance from the Orioles lineup. They collected 11 hits, walked five times, and struck out seven times. All but one starter had a hit. Key contributions from Alonso and Basallo in the middle of the lineup made a world of difference. That duo was responsible for four of the six RBI on the day.
Because Povich tossed 6.2 big innings, the bullpen only had to record seven outs. Nunez got the first one, and then Tyler Wells handled the final six. Wells did give up a solo homer to Casey Schmitt, who had three of San Francisco’s seven hits, but the reliever was otherwise fine. Most crucially, the Orioles didn’t have to use any of Rico Garcia, Grant Wolfram, or Ryan Helsley, who seem to be becoming the squad’s high-leverage arms of the moment. That’s important during this stretch without an off day.
The American League is a jumble of mediocre teams right now, and the Orioles are included. Their win today, paired with a Yankees loss to the Rays, means that those three are tied for first in the East at 8-7. Not bad for a team that seemed to be falling apart in Pittsburgh last weekend. Baseball is funny like that.
The O’s will welcome the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Yard for a three-game set beginning on Monday. First pitch is set for 6:35, though we do not yet know who will be throwing that pitch for the O’s. Speculation suggests that it will be Dean Kremer. We shall see.
Most Birdland Player – April 12, 2026
Leave a comment down below with your vote for the “Most Birdland Player” in the Orioles 6-2 win. You can pick whomever you would like, but here are a few worthy nominees:
Cade Povich (win, 6.2 innings, one run, five hits, no walks, five strikeouts)
Pete Alonso (2-for-4, double, two RBI, walk, breaking out of his slump)
Samuel Basallo (1-for-3, two-run homer, walk, breaking out of HIS slump)
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - APRIL 12: Jordan Walker #18 of the St. Louis Cardinals hits a solo home run against the Boston Red Sox in the second inning at Busch Stadium on April 12, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jordan Walker continued his torrid start to the 2026 season, but Andre Pallante had a disappointing start while Brayan Bello was impressive as the Boston Red Sox clobbered the St. Louis Cardinals 9-3 Sunday afternoon.
The Red Sox didn’t wait long to get on the board as former Cardinal Willson Contreras hit a two-run homer to deep right-center field making it 2-0 Red Sox.
The Red Sox would add to their lead in the 2nd inning as Trevor Story singled followed by Mayer. One out later, Rafaela was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Story would score on a groundout by Roman Anthony making it 3-0.
Jordan Walker would get the Cardinals on the board in the bottom of the 3rd inning when he waited on a pitch and drove it to deep left centerfield for his 7th home run of the season. Jordan Walker has accounted for 31.3% of the runs produced by the Cardinals this season.
Andre Pallante allowed the Red Sox to load the bases in the top of the 4th inning which set the stage for Duran to double in everyone scoring Durbin, Wong and Rafaela making it 6-1 Red Sox. Willson Contreras stayed hot singling in Duran to make it 7-1 Red Sox. Pallante was able to finish 5 innings, but gave up 10 hits and 7 earned runs with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts. Brayan Bello, on the other hand, impressed going 6 2/3 innings only giving up 2 earned runs on 6 hits.
The Cardinals would show signs of life in the bottom of the 6th inning when Ivan Herrera walked, Alec Burleson singled to right followed by and laser single by Jordan Walker into centerfield. Herrera would score on a sacrifice fly by Nolan Gorman to deep right-center making it 7-2 Red Sox.
Alec Burleson would add one more tally in the bottom of the 8th inning when he hit a no-doubt home run to deep center field making it 7-3 Red Sox.
Trevor Story added a two-run RBI single in the 9th inning off reliever Jared Shuster making it 9-3 Red Sox which ended up being the final score.
Sunday’s loss brings the Cardinals to 8-7 on the season. According to MLB.com, Matthew Liberatore will start Monday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians at Busch Stadium. Game time is 6:45pm central time.
Apr 11, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Martin Perez (33) throws against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
News out of the Atlanta Braves clubhouse this afternoon is that starting pitcher Martin Pérez has been designated for assignment and left-handed reliever Dylan Dodd has been recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett.
Pérez, who the team brought in as a minor league free agent, didn’t make the Opening Day roster but was brought-up to the big leagues shortly-there-after and has appeared in three games – starting twice, including last night’s loss to the Guardians.
Dodd, who had minor league options remaining, was a it of an odd-man out for the Opening Day roster. He will give the team another left-handed option in the bullpen.
Pérez, a 16-year veteran, could get claimed given his effectiveness with Atlanta – 14.1 innings pitched with a 0.907 WHIP, despite only striking out six batters. If he does make it through waivers, the Braves would likley try to stash him with the Stripers as depth.
Dodd pitched in 28 games out of Atlanta’s bullpen last season.
Because of scheduled off-days, the Braves don’t need a fifth starter for another 10 days, at which time they will need to make a move given they currently only have four starters. Along with Pérez, if he stays in the organization, it is possible starter Spencer Strider may be activated from the IL by that time.
Didier Fuentes, who was excellent in his lone appearance with Atlanta earlier this year, could be another option.
The Sixers handled their side of the equation Sunday but didn’t receive the needed (and improbable) help required to steer clear of the NBA’s play-in tournament.
They notched a 126-106 win over the Bucks at Xfinity Mobile Arena to end the season at 45-37. The heavily shortanded Bucks finished their season at 32-50.
To avoid the play-in, the Sixers had to get both a Magic loss to the Celtics and a Raptors defeat to the Nets. Boston earned a surprising win over Orlando, but Toronto beat Brooklyn.
Those results mean the Sixers will host the Magic the No. 7 vs. No. 8 playoff matchup.
Tyrese Maxey scored 21 points in the finale. Quentin Grimes posted 20 and Justin Edwards added 17.
Here are observations on the Sixers’ victory in game No. 82:
George keeps starting hot
The Sixers’ offense had a cold start, opening 1 for 6 from the floor. A sweet Paul George fadeaway jumper was their only bucket in the first three minutes.
Milwaukee also didn’t have much early success offensively. After a George driving layup, Kelly Oubre Jr. nabbed a backcourt steal and threw down a dunk to put the Sixers up 11-7.
In the majority of the games since his suspension, George has been aggressive and productive in the first quarter. Following an eight-point first period Friday in the Sixers’ win over the Pacers, George scored 11 on 4-for-5 shooting vs. the Bucks.
Milwaukee sharpshooter AJ Green set a new franchise record with his third three-ball of the first quarter. Green’s three was his 230th of the season, the most in Bucks history. He ended the year at 232.
Sixers’ six-man bench
The Sixers used six players off the bench before garbage time Sunday, adding Jabari Walker and Trendon Watford back into their rotation.
Andre Drummond faced a small-ball center in 6-foot-7 Thanasis Antetokounmpo for a good chunk of the first quarter. Drummond knocked down a three with 5.2 seconds left in the first to give the Sixers a 29-26 edge.
For the third straight game since Joel Embiid underwent an appendectomy, Drummond played more center minutes than Adem Bona. Drummond started the third quarter instead of Bona, logged 22 minutes, and posted 12 points and 13 rebounds. Bona had four points and two boards in his 17 minutes. Walker got a stint at center against Antetokounmpo late in the second quarter, too.
The Sixers’ bench was a bright spot in the first half, racking up 32 points. Grimes posted nine points, three assists and three steals in the first half. Edwards drilled a pair of three-pointers against the Bucks’ zone defense in the second quarter and sunk three more triples in the third.
As for Embiid, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said pregame that he had no significant updates on the star big man’s status. Nurse said his understanding is that Embiid has been recovering well in Philadelphia following surgery.
Third-quarter high note
Despite being sorely shorthanded and having nothing to play for, Milwaukee stayed close and then some in the first half. Cormac Ryan’s three in the final minute of the second quarter gave the Bucks a 62-58 lead.
The Sixers made a decisive run early in the third quarter. Oubre turned a steal into a fast-break slam that pulled the Sixers in front.
Maxey had an excellent third quarter of zooming into the paint and converting tricky shots inside. He also nailed two threes in the third and the Sixers’ advantage swelled as high as 20 points.
The Sixers were the NBA’s worst third-quarter team this season — they entered Sunday with a minus-11.8 net rating in the third — but they at least concluded the season on a very positive note.
With their spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs all locked up, the Senators now begin the process of deciding how to approach their final two games of the regular season. No matter what, the Sens will finish with one of the two wild-card spots.
"Sticking to the process" will most assuredly remain Travis Green's message to his team. With the playoffs less than a week out, the last thing he wants is for bad habits to creep out.
But he's also in a position to rest some of his players, the ones who really need it.
The Sens Nation Podcast discusses the rise of defenseman Jordan Spence and what he'll cost the Senators this summer as an RFA.
As for wins, losses, and playoff positioning, they no longer matter very much. Since the Senators have no control over what's going on at the top of the Eastern Conference, there's really no advantage to busting their tails to maintain the top wild-card spot.
The top spot in the Eastern Conference is still up for grabs, as is first place in the Atlantic Division. So if the Senators happened to have a preferred opponent (which is unlikely), there's nothing they can do on Sunday, good or bad, that would help guarantee that matchup.
So as they prepare for Sunday's game with the New Jersey Devils (7 pm), it's a good bet that some of their regulars will get the night off to heal up or rest.
On Sunday morning, the Senators called Belleville for reinforcements, but only asked for one name: rugged forward Hayden Hodgson. AHL goal-scoring leader Arthur Kaliyev must be wondering what he has to do to get a call-up around here. As an RFA, it's hard to believe Kaliyev will be back with the organization this fall.
Hodgson, a 221-pound forward, will join the team in New Jersey ahead of the final road game of the regular season. Exclusively a fourth-line option, his recall would suggest that at least one of the fourth-line regulars may get a day of rest on Sunday.
The Senators could also turn to their healthy scratches from Saturday. Enforcer Kurtis MacDermid has been a healthy scratch for all but one game in 2026, and he'd probably like a shot against his former team.
Forward Stephen Halliday would also like to knock off some rust. He hasn't played since the trade deadline. And Ottawa native Cam Crotty might see some action too, along with backup goalie James Reimer.
Hodgson played nine games with the Sens between November 9 and December 6, 2025. He's on track to complete his second season with Belleville, which will miss the AHL playoffs this season.
Like MacDermid, he also doesn't mind the odd tussle, so the presence of both men may be welcome on Wednesday in the season finale when the Toronto Maple Leafs visit.
The Leafs have nothing to lose, so if players like Michael Pezzetta or Max Domi try to leave a mark and run around before their terrible season officially ends, the Sens will have an answer.
Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 12: Tristan Gray #4 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates at the plate with Matt Wallner #38 after hitting a three-run home run in the second inning of their MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on April 12, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As the game thread intro indicated today, the Minnesota Twins historically do not fare well against the previous year’s American League champions. Fortunately, they were able to flip the script this afternoon against veteran starter Max Scherzer and take the rubber match in Toronto against the Blue Jays.
Twins SP Taj Bradley was extremely shaky in the first inning—unable to find his command and leaving numerous pitches in the fat part of the plate. Fortunately, a successful challenge from his C Victor Caratini and a DP turned behind him let him hop off the mound only surrendering one Blue Jays run (a Daulton Varsho single scoring Ernie Clement).
The offense put traffic on the base paths (Josh Bell BB, Matt Wallner HBP) immediately in T2, then Tristan Gray allowed them to jog home after crushing a 396-foot dong off Scherzer!! For some fun context, Gray was 12 years old when Scherzer was debuting in MLB.
Kody Clemens was also 12 years of age when Mad Max hit the scene—and he also homered off the old man in T3! Not content to only let the unexpected young guys contribute, a Wallner RBI single and a Caratini sac fly chased Scherzer to the showers before he could complete the third inning.
Max’s replacement Joe Mantiply fared similarly—plunking Gray and then seeing Brooks Lee crank a 2-run double down the LF line. Add all this up and the visitors finished T3 up 8-1 over the defending champs!
Bradley wasn’t sharp this afternoon—not locating his breaking pitches anywhere near the strike zone. But staked to the large early lead, he generated enough swings and misses (7 K) to toss five innings of one-run ball.
A great moment in B6: with his parents cheering (and crying) from the Rogers Centre seats, Andrew Morris made his Twins debut. He’d cover three innings and allow one run.
Justin Topa would close it out for Minnesota.
Your Final: Minnesota Twins 8, Toronto Blue Jays 2
After sweeping the Detroit Tigers at Target Field earlier in the week, the Twins take two-of-three from the Blue Jays and are a Cleveland Guardians loss away from an early share of first place in the AL Central!
Zach’s Zealot
Of all the folks I would have never expected to do the infamous Morgan Wallen concert walk-out (he played U.S. Bank Stadium this weekend), Joe Mauer topped that list (hahaha).
Zach’s Zombie
James Outman: 0-4, 2 K, yet to collect a hit on the ‘26 season
Doug Christie will reportedly be retained as the Kings head coach.
The Sacramento Kings are retaining head coach Doug Christie after a brutal first full season in charge, according to reports.
Christie took over for the Kings on an interim basis in December 2024 following the firing of Mike Brown – putting together a respectable 27-24 finish – but fared far worse this year with Sacramento set to finish the season in the cellar of the Western Conference.
Entering Sunday’s season finale against the Blazers, the Kings are 22-59, which is tied with the similarly tanking Utah Jazz for the fourth-worst mark in the league and the worst mark in the West.
Doug Christie will reportedly be retained as the Kings’ head coach. NBAE via Getty Images
However, The Athletic was first to report the news that the Kings would be keeping Christie, who got just 19 games from Domantas Sabonis and 39 from Zach LaVine this season.
Christie, who was given the job on a full-time basis last offseason, did lead Sacramento to a more competitive finish down the stretch as the Kings have gone 8-12 over their last 20 games.
However, he and the franchise were still investigated by the league following a curious late-game decision this past week.
The Kings were INTENTIONALLY fouling Seth Curry in crunch time to lose the game…
With the Kings leading the Warriors by one point with 3:15 left on Tuesday, Doug McDermott intentionally fouled Golden State’s Seth Curry – a career 86.4 free throw shooter – putting the guard at the line for two shots.
Many saw the play as an egregious tanking offense, as the Kings have been jostling with the likes of the Jazz, Pacers, Nets and Wizards for draft lottery odds,
However, an NBA investigation later cleared Christie and the Kings, explaining that the coach instructed his team to foul because he mistakenly thought his team had a foul to give, and wanted to get in one of his ‘use it or lose it’ timeouts.
Sacramento ultimately fell 110-105 in that contest.
Christie said after a win over the Jazz last month that “tanking is the last thing” he’d do, and he has played veteran scorer DeMar DeRozan heavy minutes for much of the season.
Regardless, the Kings will learn their NBA draft fate when the lottery is held on May 10.
Apr 12, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (16) gestures after hitting a solo home run in the third inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Yesterday’s loss—the Mets’ fourth in a row—sucked. No doubt about it. But we could at least comfort ourselves with the knowledge that the bats momentarily came alive, hitting three homers after falling behind early in the game. “Maybe,” we told ourselves with all the optimism that April carries, “this will be the turning point for the bats.”
Well, maybe that turning point is still to come, but it sure as hell didn’t happen today. Instead, the Mets squandered two very strong pitching performances and were held scoreless by the Athletics pitching staff, getting just four measly singles in the process. In a homestand filled with lackluster offense, today’s 1-0 loss to give the Athletics the series sweep might well have been the worst of them all.
Freddy Peralta took the mound for his fourth start as a Met, and his new team desperately needed him to be the stopper they acquired him to be. We saw some of the same inefficiency issues that are fairly commonplace for Peralta early on today, as a lengthy second inning in which he gave up a leadoff single and a two-out walk quickly ballooned his pitch count. He managed to get out of that inning unscathed, but the Athletics got on the board in the following inning when reigning Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz deposited an 0-2 curveball into the right field stands for a solo shot, giving them the 1-0 lead that they would hold for the rest of the afternoon.
Another laborious inning followed in the fourth, when a one-out walk and a double by Jeff McNeil (who has feasted on his former team this weekend) put runners on second and third with one out. The Mets were once again able to escape the damage, however—with the assistance of Carson Benge, who made a sparkling diving catch in center field with two outs to end the frame and save two runs. And to his credit, Peralta ultimately managed to bounce back from his early struggles and have one of his better outings of the season. He made it through six innings for the first time as a Met (and finished strong, with his final inning being his first 1-2-3 frame of the afternoon). He surrendered just the one run, walking three but striking out six. All things considered, the Mets would have happily signed up for this outing coming into the day.
But alas, the offense did not support him. Aaron Civale took the mound for the Athletics, and the Mets had no answer for him all afternoon. Following two singles in the first inning (one of which was erased on a strike him out, throw him out double play), Civale subsequently held the Amazins without a baserunner for the next four innings. They were finally able to get a real threat going in the sixth inning, when Civale surrendered singles to Luis Torrens and Lindor to put runners on first and second with one out. After inducing a fielder’s choice groundout to Jorge Polanco, Athletics manager Mark Kotsay went to his bullpen and brought in lefty Hogan Harris with Jared Young on-deck. Carlos Mendoza chose to respond by sending Mark Vientos to pinch-hit (despite his recent struggles following some BABIP-fueled success in the early goings of the season), and Vientos rewarded his manager for his faith by meagerly flying out to right field to end the threat and keep the Mets scoreless.
Sean Manaea took the mound after Peralta exited, and here we reach another of the silver linings from today, as it was probably the best outing of the season for the veteran lefty. He tossed three innings and retired every single batter he faced—four via strikeout—to keep the Mets in the game. But just like with Peralta before him, the offense did nothing to back up the pitching performance which gave them a chance. A combination of Harris, Scott Barlow, Elvis Alvarado, and Joel Kuhnel shut the Mets out for the final three innings of the afternoon, with just one runner reaching base (on a two-out walk in the eighth). For his part, Kuhnel required just four pitches to earn the save in the bottom of the ninth inning, as Polanco, Vientos, and Bo Bichette all weakly grounded out in their at-bats. Not exactly showing a lot of fight at the end there.
The Mets thus end the homestand at 7-9, and now they have to venture into Los Angeles to face the Dodgers. Not exactly a comforting thought right about now. We could tell you that it’s still early (and well, it is) and that Juan Soto will be back before too long, but you probably don’t want to hear it. At least many of us will be asleep for the 10:10 start times the next three days.
Big Mets winner: Freddy Peralta, +17% WPA Big Mets loser: Jorge Polanco, -25% WPA Mets pitchers: +31% WPA Mets hitters: -81% WPA Teh aw3s0mest play: Luis Torrens leadoff single in the sixth, +6.5% WPA Teh sux0rest play: Nick Kurtz solo homer in the third, -12.3% WPA
