The Braves try to win another series, and avoid their first series loss of the season, in a rubber game with the Marlins.
Atlanta Braves vs Miami Marlins Game Thread: April 15
GameThread: Tigers vs. Royals, 6:40 p.m.
Detroit Tigers (8-9) vs. Kansas City Royals (7-10)
Time/Place: 6:40 p.m., Comerica Park
SB Nation Site: Royals Review
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Jack Flaherty (0-1, 5.14 ERA) vs. RHP Seth Lugo (1-1, 1.53 ERA)
| Player | G | IP | K% | BB% | GB% | FIP | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flaherty | 3 | 14.0 | 21.2 | 16.7 | 32.4 | 5.07 | 0.1 |
| Lugo | 3 | 17.2 | 20.3 | 8.7 | 43.8 | 2.57 | 0.5 |
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NYY vs. LAA: Luis Gil vs. Jack Kochanowicz
A pitching staff off to a marvelous start in 2026, the Yankees have had more than their fair share of issues against the Angels in this four-game set at home. It’ll be up to Luis Gil to right the ship. The right-hander missed out on a spot in the Opening Day rotation as the Yanks had the luxury of rolling with a four-man staff for the early portion of the season. Now, he’ll make his first home start, looking to cement his place in a group that has accustomed Yankee fans to an extremely high level of pitching, at least outside of these last two games.
It was the home run ball that hurt Gil in his season debut, as Yandy Díaz quickly welcomed him back to the bigs with a two-run shot in the first. Facing the Angels, Gil’s No. 1 mission—and a tough one at that—is to keep the ball in the yard against a team that had five different hitters going deep on Tuesday. One of those five hitters won’t take the field tonight, as Jorge Soler will begin serving a four-game suspension for the April 7th brawl in a game between the Braves and Angels.
The Yankees’ lineup will be glad to see anybody not named Reid Detmers taking the ball, even if Jack Kochanowicz has had decent success early in the season. The easiest path to success for New York lies in the patience to make Kochanowicz throw strikes consistently, as walks have been a major issue for him through his first three starts, conceding 11 of them in 16.2 innings.
How to watch
Location: Yankee Stadium — Bronx, NY
First pitch: 7:05 pm ET
TV broadcast: Amazon Prime Video | FanDuel Sports Network West
Radio broadcast: KLAA 830, WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280
Online stream: MLB.tv
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Top-5 Moves That Shaped Penguins' Successful 2025-26 Season
The 2025-26 regular season was a magical one for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who concluded their 82-game schedule on Tuesday in St. Louis and are now fully focused on the task of facing the Philadelphia Flyers in Round One of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
And, man, it's crazy how they got here.
Seven months ago, no one on the outside was talking about the Penguins securing the second seed in the Metropolitan Division four games prior to the conclusion of the NHL regular season. Many had them as a bottom-five lottery team, and even if folks didn't have them finishing that low - including us here at THN - Pittsburgh Penguins - outside expectations were overwhelmingly predicting that this wasn't a playoff team.
2025-26 Season Predictions: THN Penguins' EditionIt’s a new NHL season, and that means it’s time for a new <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">THN - Pittsburgh Penguins</a> season prediction piece!
Well, as the Penguins have been marketing since they clinched against the New Jersey Devils on Apr. 9, this team "flipped the script." They were not only one of the league's deepest and highest-scoring teams - they had 12 players finish with 13 or more goals and 10 players finish with 15 or more, both league-highs - they were a legitimately good five-on-five team with top-10 special teams units on both ends, and they won more in regulation than all but seven teams and lost less in regulation than all but six teams.
The belief in the Penguins' locker room was contagious and genuine, and the family-like, tight-knit atmosphere of that locker room has been palpable as ever all season long.
And it all started with a few savvy moves from general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas over the summer as well as during the season.
While there were a whole lot of moves that defined the 2025-26 season, some made a pretty sizable impact on the team - and some outright fueled their turnaround and led to their first postseason berth in four years.
BREAKING: Pittsburgh Penguins To Face Philadelphia Flyers In First Round Of Stanley Cup PlayoffsThe Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia will meet in the Battle of Pennsylvania during the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, setting the stage for an exciting series. Honorable mention: The trade for Stuart Skinner
The move that sent goaltender Tristan Jarry and his entire $5.175 million AAV salary for three more seasons to the Edmonton Oilers for Stuart Skinner, Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round pick may go down in franchise history as both one of the best and one of the most baffling trades.
The fact that Dubas managed to deal a goaltender with term who was on waivers just 11 months prior for a similar-caliber goaltender on an expiring contract - in addition to a typically reliable top-four defenseman on a down year and also an expiring contract, plus a second - is just bonkers. And he also flipped Kulak for another second-rounder and Sam Girard, who has played well recently for the Penguins and is younger.
No notes on that trade. It may not have had as gigantic an impact on their season as some of the other moves - as goaltending is still an issue - but it was such a clean piece of business by Dubas. Plus, Skinner provides a kind of endearing and genuine personality to the locker room that is always good for team chemistry - especially during a playoff run.
'I Feel Like It's Going To Get Better And Better': Girard Hitting Stride With Penguins Ahead Of PlayoffsPittsburgh Penguins' defenseman Sam Girard had to make some big adjustments upon his arrival in Pittsburgh, but his game is coming around - and he and defense partner Kris Letang are helping the team win.5. The decision to keep Ben Kindel
This one may fly under-the-radar a bit in terms of "big moves," but boy, was it a big one. And this is one of the few predictions I got right this season.
When both Kindel and young blueliner Harrison Brunicke both made the Penguins' roster out of training camp - with a combination of injuries as well as their stellar camp performances opening spots for them - many thought they saw where things were going: "Here are two teenagers making the team, but once the team gets healthy, they'll be sent back to junior hockey to avoid burning a year of their entry-level contracts (ELC), and the Pens will still favor the veterans."
Well, for Brunicke, that was more or less true, even if the path to junior for him this season had a lot of stops along the way before the final destination. Of the two, it was widely believed that Brunicke, 19, would remain the entire season, while Kindel, 18, would get his taste of the NHL and be returned to the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL.
8 Bold Penguins' Predictions For The 2025-26 SeasonIn case you haven't heard, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> play hockey Tuesday night against the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers">New York Rangers</a>.
But Kindel was simply too good to send back. He proved he belonged in the NHL, and instead of making the easy, less risky choice, Dubas elected to allow Kindel to not only stick around past the 10-game mark (where his ELC kicked in), but also past the 40-game mark, where the Penguins lost a year of team control.
And that decision impacted the roster profoundly. Kindel has been their everyday third-line center and performing well in that role on both sides of the puck, giving the Penguins far more center depth than they would have had otherwise and giving them more dangerous options at wing in their top-nine.
This decision altered the course of the Penguins' season, and, perhaps, the outlook for the future as well, as the sooner-than-expected emergence of Kindel - who put up 17 goals and 35 points in 77 games - gave this team's depth the boost it needed to roll four lines successfully all season long.
18-YEAR-OLD BEN KINDEL WITH THE SHOOTOUT WINNER FOR PITTSBURGH! 🟡⚫ pic.twitter.com/CtsWGuq8An
— NHL (@NHL) March 27, 2026
BREAKING: Penguins Clinch First Playoff Berth Since 2022 With Win Over New Jersey DevilsDespite outside noise, Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins have clinched a berth in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.4. The signing of Parker Wotherspoon
Honestly, it was tough not to place this one higher, as probably no one - not even Dubas himself - expected the degree of breakout for Wotherspoon as a legitimate shutdown top-pairing defenseman.
As for Wotherspoon himself, this is a guy who never played in more than 55 games during his first three NHL seasons with the Boston Bruins. And, when he did, the 28-year-old was relegated to bottom-pairing minutes, some AHL time, and a system that may not have been maximizing his potential.
Dubas took a chance on Wotherspoon - already known as a physical, reliable defenseman within his role during his time in Boston - by signing him to a two-year, $2 million contract. And he made the most of that opportunity, eating heavy minutes in 80 games on Pittsburgh's top pairing, providing some much-needed grit and toughness on the blue line, and shattering previous career-highs with three goals and 30 points to go along with a plus-17.
Penguins Found A Hidden Gem In This DefensemanThe Penguins undoubtedly made a great move signing this defenseman. And his emergence also aided in elevating his defense partner and the most crucial player on the Penguins' blue line.
Erik Karlsson also broke out in a huge way for the Penguins in 2025-26, putting up 15 goals and 66 points in 75 games and becoming the Norris-caliber version of himself in all three zones and in all situations, especially during the stretch run of the season. Karlsson's all-time offensive talents mixed well with Wotherspoon's shutdown ability, mobility, and strength in breaking the puck out of his own zone.
They were a legitimate tandem pairing for the Penguins this season, and they made each other better. The emergence of Wotherspoon and Karlsson as a formidable and elite top pairing for the Penguins changed the entire shape of their blue line - which is something the Penguins desperately needed in order to be successful this season.
Erik Karlsson Named Penguins' MVP For 2025-26 SeasonErik Karlsson has been named the Pittsburgh Penguins' MVP. 3. The signing of Anthony Mantha
You want to talk about a veteran player having a breakout? What a season it was for the 31-year-old Mantha.
He played in only 13 games for the Calgary Flames last season before sustaining a season-ending ACL injury. Dubas took a chance in free agency on Mantha on a one-year, $2.5 million deal, more than likely hoping that Mantha could perform well enough to flip for more assets at the trade deadline.
As it turns out, he did perform well enough - so well, in fact, that he was a primary catalyst in getting this team to the postseason.
Mantha led all Penguins' players in goals this season with 33, and his 33 tallies and 64 points obliterated previous career-highs of 25 and 48 set with the Detroit Red Wings in 2018-19. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound winger was able to use his size, hands, and reach to his advantage around the net-front area, and he was almost a sure thing on breakaways, too.
That's 22 goals this season for Anthony Mantha 😤 pic.twitter.com/Yx4Vy2xpTi
— x - Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 8, 2026
What's most impressive about Mantha's season, however, is that only seven of his goals came on the power play - as he was largely deployed on the second unit - and that he spent a great deal of time in a third-line role this season.
It's not often that a team's leading goal-scorer is primarily deployed on the third line, but here we are. Mantha has earned himself some shiny dollars this summer - whether from the Penguins or from someone else - and he was the primary figure in the Penguins' impressive goals-for number of 293 this season, which still ranks third only to the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes.
It suffices to say that $2.5 million for one year is not going to cut it this offseason.
Takeaways: Penguins Fall To Blues In Game 82 Ahead Of Stanley Cup PlayoffsThe Pittsburgh Penguins lost to the St. Louis Blues to end the regular season on Tuesday night. 2. The trade for Egor Chinakhov
Even if Mantha led this team in scoring and was the Penguins' most crucial free agent signing, the one move in terms of player personnel that made more of an impact on this team than any other was the trade that brought sniping winger Egor Chinakhov to the Penguins from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 29.
Prior to the Chinakhov acquisition, the Penguins were in a December funk - an eight-game losing streak - that nearly cost them their season. They had won two out of three in the games leading up to the trade, which involved Dubas sending Danton Heinen, a 2026 second-round pick, and a 2027 third-round pick to Columbus.
The Penguins knew they were getting a sniper in Chinakhov, even if he had just three goals and six points in 29 games for Columbus, where he had fallen out of favor and had a tension-ridden relationship with then-coach Dean Evason and management.
What they may not have known is that they found themselves a star winger that has much more to offer than his blistering shot.
Just some great display of speed and skill here from Egor Chinakhov 🙌 pic.twitter.com/wHqC8eGZO0
— NHL (@NHL) February 27, 2026
Yes, Chinakhov can sling 90-plus mph wristers, and his shot is the standout element in his repertoire as well as one of the league's very best. But he also skates with 98th-percentile speed, plays responsibly in all three zones, backchecks, has an outstanding hockey IQ, meshes well with anyone, and possesses a serious playmaking acumen.
Oh, and his shot - however it finds its way to the net, whether a one-timer, heavy wrister, or backhand - is devastatingly lethal.
Whatever happened in Columbus isn't happening in Pittsburgh, and this move singlehandedly changed the entire complexion of the Penguins' top-six and its roster. He registered 18 goals and 36 points in 43 games with the Penguins, which translates to a 34-goal, 69-point pace - and which gives the Penguins three legitimate 30-goal options on the wing in Chinakhov, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell. And that's not counting Mantha, too.
The crazy thing is that it feels like there is even more left to untap in Chinakhov, and he keeps raising the ceiling each and every game. He's been a revelation for the Penguins' present and future, and the team wouldn't be where it is without him in the mix.
Do The Penguins Have A Star Player In Egor Chinakhov?The Pittsburgh Penguins may have landed a star winger in Egor Chinakhov, who they acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 29.1. The hiring of Dan Muse
We could discuss the significant player moves that Dubas made in the summer and during the season all day long, and nearly all of them have positively impacted the Penguins and their push to the playoffs this season.
But none of those moves may have meant anything had it not been for the move behind the bench prior to the start of the season.
After the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, Dubas made the difficult decision to part ways with longtime head coach Mike Sullivan, who had won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the team in 2016 and 2017 and was beloved by the veterans in the locker room. The mutual breakup between the Penguins and Sullivan felt written on the wall for a long while, and the clean slate provided an opportunity for a new voice in the room who was aligned with Dubas's vision to prioritize both the now and the future simultaneously.
Golden Knights And Islanders' Coaching Changes Do Not Surprise Mike Sullivan The NHL world has been rocked by the two recent coaching changes.
Muse, a relative unknown in terms of candidates prior to his hiring in May of 2025, put together a coaching staff with a unique mix - some more experienced in Todd Nelson and Mike Stothers and some fresher faces in Nick Bonino and Rich Clune - to complement his development-focused approach to every player, whether a 15-year veteran or a doe-eyed newcomer to the league or the organization.
And it was the perfect mix. The entire staff put forth a team effort to make sure they were able to maximize each and every player's potential and implement a system that worked for those players, allowing them to make some mistakes but play to their biggest strengths all while remaining in structure. It worked wonders, and then some.
The culture shifted. The air of staleness was replaced with a fresh, renewed sense of purpose and togetherness, and it all started with Muse from the first whistle at training camp.
Simply put, this probably isn't a playoff team without him and his new staff. And that hire by Dubas was the singular most consequential factor in the Penguins' success this season.
'I Believe In Communication And Us All Working Together': Mutual Trust A Defining Aspect Of 2025-26 PenguinsWhen speaking with <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' defenseman Ryan Shea last week, he discussed how some tweaks to the Penguins' system have allowed him to unlock the more offensive side of this game.
NHL Rebuild Review: What Kyle Dubas Has Done For The Penguins Is IncredibleKyle Dubas left the Toronto Maple Leafs and took on a complex challenge with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Over the past three years, he's restocked the prospect pool and succeeded with reclamation projects. Check out this deep dive for more.Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
Deandre Ayton knows the Lakers need him to be his best in the playoffs
The last time Deandre Ayton appeared in the playoffs was in 2023, when he was a member of the Phoenix Suns and viewed in NBA circles as having the potential to be a force as a center in the league.
A lot has changed since then.
He’s on his second team since those days in Phoenix, playing two years for the Portland Trail Blazers and now the Lakers. He has been viewed by many as an inconsistent player who hasn’t reached his full potential.
Ayton has a chance to prove his worth, to show his critics he has the ability to be elite in the postseason when the Lakers open the first-round of the Western Conference playoffs Saturday against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena.
“I love playing this game and I take great passion of playing on both ends of the floor,,” Ayton said after practice Wednesday. "I still believe just being a two-way player in this league, that's truly my second nature, and that's how I want to be noted as in this league. It's just being an all-around, two-way superstar. Just taking passion on both ends of the floor.
"I can play hard on offense. I can play hard on defense. So, that's just really my goal — running the floor always and closing out possessions with rebounds and protecting the rim. So, just trying to enhance everything I can coming into the playoffs.”
Read more:Lakers prepare for Rockets playoff series with emphasis on rebounding
Ayton averaged career lows in points (12.5), rebounds (8.0) and minutes (27.2) this season. But he did play a career-high 72 games and shot a career-best 67.1% from the field.
In the three seasons Ayton reached the playoffs with the Suns, he was a double-double machine, averaging 15.9 points and 10.5 rebounds in 45 postseason games.
The Lakers will need that version of Ayton, especially with star guards Luka Doncic (hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (oblique strain) out indefinitely.
“I've shown it,” Ayton said. “So, it's just me accepting the role I'm in and playing hard as hell in that role. That's about it. Every night.”
In seven seasons before he arrived in Los Angeles, Ayton averaged a double-double. When the Lakers signed him to a two-year, $16-million deal with a player option, they hoped to get that Ayton.
“The whole season for him has been about finding consistency,” coach JJ Redick said. “When he's at his best, we're an elite basketball team. That's just the reality. He raises our ceiling so much — and it's on both sides of the ball. It's not him being able to score 24 points, although when he scores and shoots, we typically win. ... He's just a really good basketball player and we're very happy with where he's at."
Ayton was asked to evaluate his season.
“I was challenged a lot this season and I feel like I embraced everything that was thrown at me,” he said. “It took some time, but I eventually got control of everything. And I think I got a hang of it and I like it. I got the guys on the team that helped me embrace everything that's going on.
"And just things we have going, with the dilemmas and the injuries, I feel like we've been through this the whole year. Just guys going out and guys having big games. And we're the team where you don't know who's gonna have the 30 points, or this or that. We're just going to play hard and just play together.”
Ayton will have his hands full with Rockets All-Star center Alperen Sengun, who averages 20.4 points and 8.9 rebounds.
“It's the postseason, you know?” Ayton said. “It's called mano y mano and it's not always Xs, and O's. You got to stop the man and guard your yard.”
Read more:LeBron James takes the reins for Lakers entering playoffs
When the Suns reached the 2021 Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks, there were times when Ayton was considered the second-best player on his team. Over six games he averaged 14.7 points and 12 rebounds and shot 53.1% from the field.
Game 1 of the best-of-seven series for the Lakers is on the horizon, and Ayton is excited to show what he has to offer now that he’s back in the playoffs.
“Almost speechless, especially being on this side of town now, you know, playing in L.A. when I was on the other side,” he said. “This place can get pretty loud. And I'm still trying to just go home and embrace everything. I know we haven't ramped up yet, but coming out of these practices, JJ gives you so much. And you have to dissect it sometimes, and you're thinking about the environment, you think about the fans, thinking about the first game as a Laker in the playoffs.
"So, I just try to find some time to catch myself and gather and just just relax. I've been here before, but I am truly excited. I want to do backflips. I'm in the purple and gold, and I just want to really just play hard as hell to contribute to wins.”
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Game 18: Reds vs. Giants (6:40 PM ET) – Lowder vs. Mahle
Today is the 79th anniversary of the day Jack Robinson made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers and broke MLB’s longstanding color barrier. To honor that feat and his legacy, all MLB players will don jerseys with #42 on them today.
In Cincinnati, the Reds will play host to the San Francisco Giants. Rhett Lowder and old friend Tyler Mahle will get the starting nods.
Lineups for the two clubs are listed below, with first pitch set for 6:40 PM ET.
Why Shohei Ohtani won’t be Dodgers’ DH in pitching start against Mets
In hindsight, Dave Roberts dropped the hint Tuesday night.
When asked about Shohei Ohtani’s plan for Wednesday’s series finale against the Mets, the manager said then that Ohtani is “going to be our starting pitcher tomorrow.”
What he neglected to mention: That pitching would be the only thing Ohtani does in the game.
For the first time since May 2021, Ohtani was in the lineup as a pitcher only for Wednesday’s contest, dropped from the batting order –– and his typical leadoff spot as the team’s designated hitter –– because of lingering soreness in the back of his right pitching shoulder after being hit by a pitch there earlier this week.
“If he wouldn’t have gotten hit, he would’ve DH’d today,” Roberts said. “So I just think in this one game, it just makes more sense to give him the best chance to kind of manage the shoulder and the back.”
The hit-by-pitch in question happened in Ohtani’s first at-bat Monday night, when David Peterson plunked him with a 94 mph sinker that sent the four-time MVP reeling in pain.
Ohtani stayed in that night’s game, and DH’d again Tuesday. But he’s gone 0-for-7 since, only reaching base once in that span via an intentional walk.
“There’s still some soreness in there,” Roberts said.
Thus, the Dodgers decided it’d be best to have him only pitch Wednesday, in what will be his third outing on the mound this season. Dalton Rushing will serve as DH in Ohtani’s place.
Shohei Ohtani is the Dodgers' starting pitcher only tonight
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) April 15, 2026
He will not DH pic.twitter.com/O0NpDBi93e
“[It was] just feeling what gives him the best chance to stay loose during the outing, feel good,” Roberts said. “When he’s hitting, there’s a component that he’s in the cage getting ready to hit. And if we can take that off his plate and just focus on one thing tonight, we felt — training staff, pitching coaches, myself — we just felt it was the best thing for him.”
Roberts said he expects Ohtani to resume two-way duties the next time his spot in the rotation comes up.
He added that Ohtani “completely understood” the reasoning for Wednesday’s decision.
In case you were wondering, Ohtani will not be an option to pinch-hit later in Wednesday’s game, either. While, during his normal two-way starts, he is able to remain in the game as a hitter after his pitching start ends, the same flexibility does not apply if he is not in the starting lineup as the DH.
Because of that, Ohtani’s 48-game on-base streak also won’t be threatened. On-base streaks aren’t snapped if a player does not get a plate appearance in a game (even if they pitch, pinch-run or play defense).
Mr. Whammy: Would be an honor to rep team at Lottery
With the NBA Draft Lottery about three weeks away, fans are talking about two big mysteries: where the team will pick on May 10 and who will rep Brooklyn on the dias in Chicago that night. Last year, when the Nets dropped from the sixth seed to the eighth, it was Jordi Fernandez, the head coach, looking ashen as the bad news was delivered.
Who will be sitting proudly in front of the Nets logo this season? The possibilities include Fernandez; the owners Joe or Clara Wu Tsai: last year’s lottery pick, Egor Demin: or a former star. Julius Erving for example. The 50th anniversary of the New York Nets final ABA championship is that week.
How about a fan, like Bruce Reznick, aka Mr. Whammy, the Nets 90-year-old superfan and grand master of the hex. It’s been true for a while that said hexes work. Opposing teams shoot worse at Barclays with the distraction of Mr. Whammy and the spirit of his late wife. There’s already a petition circulating to get Bruce to Chicago, although he notes that since he doesn’t fly anymore, he’d had to get their by train. The petition already has nearly 500 signatures as of 6:00 p.m. ET Wednesday.
Doug Bearak of the Brooklyn Brigade, a superfan in his own right, interviewed the retired Brooklyn lawyer this week about the petition. Bruce won’t deny interest, not at all. He in fact repeatedly noted how grateful he’d be if chosen, and when asked if he hex other team reps at the event, his response was simple, “Of course!” (Now there’s an image!)
He spoke as well about how his late wife, Judy, would join him on the dias in spirit if chosen, adding she still sends messages to him about the team.
There’s no public deadline for teams to select their representation for either the dias or the back room where the actual drawing takes place. Nets capologist Makar Gevorkian had that honor last year. Indeed, the choice may or may not be decided yet. Fernandez told the media back on April 25 of last year that he’d be in Chicago for the lottery which was no surprise since the NBA Draft Combine is the same week. But his role as team rep on the dias wasn’t revealed until three days before the ping pong balls began to rattle through the hopper at NBA Studios.
Here’s the transcript of the interview, edited for length and clarity.
Doug Bearak:
So, first off, how does it feel that fans wanted to have a petition created to have you be the representative for the NBA lottery in Chicago? How do you feel about fans wanting you to be the representative for the NBA lottery.
Bruce S. Reznick
I’m deeply full gratitude for all our friends, whether they get involved with this or not … the NBA fans are wonderful, and they treat Mr .and Mrs. Whammy, a wonderful, regardless of the jersey that they’re wearing, and the color of the jersey. A fan recognizes another fan. And he doesn’t have to have the same jersey.
DB:
So if you were at the Lottery, on the stand representing the stand that represents the team out of Chicago, what would be your, you know, your method behind the madness to ensure that the nets get a high pick in this lottery? If you were in the room with all the draftees?
BR:
I’d be very grateful, proud, I’d be very, I’d be very proud, if we got a, a, a, a great pick or pick. I will, I will do whatever I can. Just try to make that happen.
DB:
Well, as of now, we only own one lottery pick, meaning we have the possibility of just one slot within, I believe the top, seven, is our floor. But our goal, you know, we have flattened odds where we can get as high as No. 1, even though the Wizards, you know, landed ahead of us. So what would be your tactic to kind of bring that opportunity to fans to bring that, you know, potential franchise changing player to Brooklyn by giving us the opportunity to pick first, second, third, fourth, whatever it may be?
BR:
We would have somebody working for us. Two hands. Mrs. Whammy. We have Mrs. Whammy up in heaven, and she watches over the Nets families, all the players, all the fans, and her family and Mr. Whammy, so let’s see, what Mrs. Whammy can pull off.
DB:
So you won’t be hexing your peers on stage? The representatives of the other teams?!?
BR:
Oh, I’ll be. Of course, I only know to hex.
DB:
Okay, so while duty brings in the gold, You’ll be bringing in the hexing.
BR:
I just use my [powers] — and just to refresh everybody’s memory — when it was last year in Brooklyn. I had my wife and my picture hanging. I went to hit the number. The picture fell off the wall. So my wife spoke from heaven last year, and hopefully she’ll do the same this year, and bring more greatness to the beloved Nets. And whatever I should do. My pleasure, and I hope we’re successful.
DB:
Well, if you got to pitch this idea to anyone, what would be your pitch be? What would be your pitch to the people above us (ownership and the front office) to have that opportunity. Well, I’m talking about getting you on stage getting you to the draft lottery. What would be your message to them to make these fans’ dreams come true of having you be the representative this year?
BR:
If I could be of any help … That it would be my blessing.
DB:
Well, first, you know, hope to see you there. If not, hope to see you in Brooklyn with the other fans. Appreciate you taking the time. Hope to, you know, hope to celebrate with you soon.
BR:
Hey. Anything I should do to help my next, our next, I should say, our next. It’s, it’s, it’s my pleasure. To be there. I support. The commissioner, everybody involved with the NBA and all the players. Every time I need a player, I say to him. I wish a good luck and no injuries. And that’s a blessing that I get from upstairs, and hopefully, it works.
BR:
Oh, I don’t fly, so if I’m invited. I’m taking the train.
So, we wait the word.
Observations after Sixers earn tough play-in win, advance to series vs. Celtics
Observations after Sixers earn tough play-in win, advance to series vs. Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Sixers pulled out a tough play-in tournament victory Wednesday night and earned a trip back to the postseason in the process.
They notched a 109-97 victory over the Magic at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Next up for the Sixers is a first-round playoff series against the No. 2 seed Celtics. Game 1 is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET in Boston.
The Sixers had five double-figure scorers. Tyrese Maxey posted 31 points and six assists. VJ Edgecombe had a double-double in his first career postseason game with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Desmond Bane starred for the Magic, scoring 34 points on 10-for-16 shooting. Paolo Banchero had 18 points.
Joel Embiid (appendectomy recovery) watched Wednesday’s game from the Sixers’ bench. He remains out indefinitely.
Here are observations on the Sixers’ playoff-clinching win:
Oubre fires away in first
Adem Bona got the start for the Sixers at center and knocked down a pair of free throws to kick off the scoring.
Kelly Oubre Jr. was in the middle of much of the early action. He drained two three-pointers in under two and a half minutes.
Oubre was also active defensively in his opening stint against Franz Wagner. He brought the necessary off-ball physicality and didn’t let the 6-foot-10 Wagner capitalize on his height advantage.
With 8:30 left in the first quarter, Oubre committed an obvious offensive foul when his screen knocked Wagner to the floor. The teams exchanged some unfriendly words after the whistle and both Oubre and Banchero were assessed technicals.
Oubre capped the first quarter in sweet fashion for the Sixers, swishing a corner three with 1.8 seconds left to give his team a 28-24 edge.
This season Oubre shot a career-best 36 percent beyond the arc, an improvement he credited largely to gaining flexibility in his left wrist and hand through offseason therapy following years of issues. He carried over that confidence in his jumper to the postseason. Oubre shot 5 for 10 from three-point Wednesday in his 19-point performance.
Maxey takes balanced approach
Maxey made a concerted effort in the first quarter to drive hard, reach the paint regularly and invite contact.
He drew the second foul on Banchero with 7:06 left in the first. Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley let Banchero play through his foul trouble and Orlando’s star forward avoided any more problems on that front.
Paul George was scoreless in the first quarter, but he hit a couple of jumpers in Maxey-less minutes to begin the second period. Quentin Grimes’ and-one layup put the Sixers up 39-33.
Grimes, Andre Drummond and Dominick Barlow were the only three bench players in the Sixers’ rotation. Drummond had a strong first half. He registered a highlight assist when he short rolled, took Maxey’s pocket pass and fired the ball to a cutting Barlow for a dunk. Drummond’s first quarter also included a put-back slam and two blocks.
While Maxey mostly kept his foot on the gas offensively, he also recognized when he’d attracted extra defenders and could find open teammates.
With the second quarter winding down, Maxey tossed a one-handed skip pass to Drummond in the corner. The veteran big man drilled his jumper and the Sixers entered halftime with a four-point lead.
Sixers strong in the clutch
Bane converted a mid-range, and-one jumper on Edgecombe 18 seconds into the third quarter. He made his free throw, which was already his 10th attempt of the game.
The Magic had a hard time building any serious momentum because of their poor outside shooting.
Orlando was fourth-worst in the NBA this season in three-point percentage (34.3 percent) and did not transform into a sharpshooting squad Wednesday. The team finished 7 for 27 (25.9 percent) from three-point range.
Bona stepped up for the Sixers in the third quarter, swatting three shots and providing ample energy. Edgecombe also picked up steam in the third. His fast-break layup extended the Sixers’ lead to 73-62.
There was an altercation under the basket after Edgecombe’s hoop. The home crowd enjoyed the chaotic scene and Oubre spurred them on, asking for more noise. However, the fans were not happy with the conclusion of the officials’ review. Edgecombe got a taunting technical foul for his dust-up with Jalen Suggs.
Maxey missed several open jumpers in the third quarter and the Sixers couldn’t grow their advantage. The Magic hung around and Orlando cut its deficit to 87-86 on an Anthony Black three early in the fourth quarter.
Maxey had a superstar’s stretch with the game up for grabs. He first made a driving layup. Edgecombe then ripped the ball from Banchero, leading to a Maxey triple on the other end. A Maxey floater built the Sixers’ lead back to eight points.
The game was destined to come down to the final few minutes.
The Sixers had a good night overall on the glass, but Wagner got a put-back layup to trim the Sixers’ lead to 99-95 with 3:25 left, prompting head coach Nick Nurse to call timeout.
Just as he did in the regular season, Edgecombe looked very comfortable in the clutch. He made a difficult layup and hit two foul shots to restore a seven-point lead.
Soon, “We want Boston!” chants rang out from the stands and a Drummond corner three was a joyous way for the Sixers to truly ice the game.
The Celtics series won’t be easy at all, but the Sixers deserve their chance to face the East’s No. 2 seed and try to spring an upset.
How to watch San Francisco Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds
The San Francisco Giants continue their three-game road series against the Cincinnati Reds this afternoon.
Taking the mound for the Giants will be right-hander Tyler Mahle, who enters today’s game with a 4.30 ERA, 4.32 FIP, with 15 strikeouts to seven walks in 14.2 innings pitched. His last start was in the Giants’ 5-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies last Wednesday, in which he allowed just three hits and four walks with six strikeouts in five and two thirds innings.
He’ll be facing off against Reds right-hander Rhett Lowder, who enters today’s game with a 3.31 ERA, 3.71 FIP, with 11 strikeouts to six walks in 16.1 innings pitched. His last start was in the Reds’ 8-1 loss to the Miami Marlins last Thursday, in which he allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts and two walks in five and a third innings.
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Game #18
Who: San Francisco Giants (6-11) vs. Cincinnati Reds (10-7)
Where: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
When: 3:40 p.m. PT
Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area
National broadcast: n/a
Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM
Game Thread #17: Milwaukee Brewers (8-8) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (7-9)
Folks, the vibes are bad. The Brewers, after a wonderful start, have lost six in a row. The bullpen, an expected strength, is hanging on by a thread, and there are urgent questions about the closer’s role. Three of the team’s five best hitters are on the shelf, with no returns expected for at least a couple of weeks. It’s not great! (Good vibes around Jackie Robinson, though—it’s Jackie Robinson day today, so raise your glass to one of the great heroes of 20th century America.)
There is one thing that would cure the panic that is beginning to seep into parts of the fanbase: a few wins. Milwaukee will look to end their brutal losing streak tonight (and to keep their record from going under .500), but it’s not going to be a cakewalk. In the second game of their three-game set with the reigning American League champs, the Brewers will send Chad Patrick to the mound to face off with one of the highest paid pitchers in the league, Dylan Cease.
Cease, who signed a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Blue Jays as a free agent this offseason, has had an enigmatic career. At his best, he’s been one of the very best pitchers alive, as evidenced by his 2022 season, when as a member of the White Sox he pitched to a 2.20 ERA, led the American League in bWAR, and finished second in Cy Young voting. But Cease has also had some clunkers; over the past four seasons, his ERA+ has been 180, 97, 118, and 94.
There is no question about Cease’s ability, though. He’s led his league in strikeouts per nine innings twice in the last five years, and at 11.0 per nine for his career, he is third among 47 active pitchers with at least 1,000 innings pitched in career K/9, behind only two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell and future Hall of Famer Chris Sale. Cease is off to an excellent star: in three appearances spanning 14 2/3 innings, he has a 2.45 ERA and 1.66 FIP, and while his walks are up, he’s also struck out 26 batters in 14.2 innings, a Mason-Miller-esque rate of 16 per nine innings.
The Brewers will counter with Chad Patrick. He’s got a shiny 0.73 ERA of his own, but he’s definitely been fortunate—the sequencing coach is earning his pay, you might say, as it relates to Patrick. Patrick’s strikeouts are way down (he has only seven in 12 1/3 innings) and his walks are up (3.6 per nine, compared to 3.0 last season), giving him a 1950s-esque 1.40 K:BB ratio. Brewers fans will be pleased as long as the results are there, but the difference between Patrick’s ERA and FIP is higher than Freddy Peralta’s career ERA, so it would be nice to see some encouraging signs under the hood, so to speak.
Milwaukee will field a similar lineup to last night, with the exception of Brandon Lockridge (who finished last night’s game but didn’t start it), who is in for Luis Matos in left field. Gary Sánchez will also do the catching tonight, swapping roles with William Contreras, who will be the DH.
First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. on Brewers TV and the Brewers Radio Network.
Celtics vs. 76ers first-round playoff preview, odds and prediction
Celtics vs. 76ers first-round playoff preview, odds and prediction originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
For the 24th time in NBA history and the sixth time this century, the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers will meet in the playoffs.
The storied rivals will face off in the first round, marking the first Boston-Philly playoff matchup since the 2023 Eastern Conference semifinals when the C’s defeated the Sixers in seven games. This year, the Celtics earned the No. 2 seed with a 56-26 record, while the Sixers secured the No. 7 seed with a 45-37 record and a win over the Orlando Magic in the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in tournament matchup on Wednesday night.
Boston and Philadelphia played four times in the regular season, splitting their series 2-2. The C’s were without Jayson Tatum for all four matchups due to his Achilles injury, but the superstar is healthy and looking like himself just in time for the postseason.
As for the Sixers, star big man Joel Embiid’s status remains up in the air after he underwent an emergency appendectomy. If he’s out, Philly will lean heavily on Tyrese Maxey and Paul George to carry the load.
The Celtics have won five of their last six first-round series in a sweep or just five games. The 76ers have their work cut out for them as they look to ruin that trend.
Check out our full Celtics-76ers preview below:
Series schedule
- Game 1: 76ers vs. Celtics; Sunday, April 19 (1 p.m. ET, ABC)
- Game 2: 76ers vs. Celtics; Tuesday, April 21 (7 p.m. ET, Peacock)
- Game 3: Celtics at 76ers; Friday, April 24 (7 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime)
- Game 4: Celtics at 76ers; Sunday, April 26 (7 p.m. ET, NBC)
- Game 5: 76ers vs. Celtics; Tuesday, April 28 (TBD)*
- Game 6: Celtics at 76ers; Thursday, April 30 (TBD)*
- Game 7: 76ers vs. Celtics; Saturday, May 2 (TBD)*
*If necessary
Regular season head-to-head
Oct. 22 at Boston: 76ers 117, Celtics 116
Oct. 31 at Philadelphia: Celtics 109, 76ers 108
Nov. 11 at Philadelphia: 76ers 102, Celtics 100
March 1 at Boston: Celtics 114, 76ers 98
Celtics vs. 76ers stats comparison
Here’s a breakdown of Boston and Philadelphia’s season stats and NBA rankings from the 2025-26 season. The Celtics have the advantage in every category except points per game.
The Celtics will win the series if…
The Jays are the Jays.
It’s simple: If Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are themselves, the Celtics win this series handily.
As good as Tyrese Maxey is, the Sixers don’t have the firepower to keep up when the Jays are on their game. Philly’s two wins against Boston came by one and two points, and Tatum missed both matchups. With him back in the lineup and looking like his superstar self, the Sixers will need Maxey, Paul George and rookie V.J. Edgecombe to play to their ceilings to have a chance (assuming Embiid misses most or all of the series).
Maxey could take over a game or two and make things interesting, but vintage performances from Brown and Tatum will be almost impossible to overcome for a team that’s middle-of-the-road on both ends of the floor.
The 76ers will win the series if…
They keep it close.
The Celtics should dominate this series. They’re superior in virtually every category (except points per game, oddly enough), and they’ll have Jayson Tatum back after missing him for all four matchups against the Sixers during the regular season.
But if their usually stout defense allows the Maxey/George/Edgecombe trio to get hot and Philadelphia finds a way to keep it close in the fourth quarter, they could be in trouble.
As our Chris Forsberg noted, the Sixers owned the best clutch-time defense in the NBA, holding opponents to a defensive rating of 98.6 in 174 minutes of clutch play. Both of their regular-season wins against the Celtics were clutch-time wins decided by one or two points.
The C’s must keep their foot on the gas and prevent the 76ers from hanging around late in games. If they can accomplish that, they should cruise into the East semifinals.
Odds
The Celtics are heavy favorites vs. the 76ers and have opened as 10.5-point favorites to win Game 1 on Sunday. Here are the full series odds (via DraftKings).
- Celtics to win the series: -900
- 76ers to win the series: +600
Prediction
Celtics in five.
We’ll give the Sixers one game in Philly, because Tyrese Maxey or Paul George will take over on an off night for Boston, or perhaps Edgecombe will catch fire like when he dropped 30 against the Celtics on Opening Night. Otherwise, it’ll be another thorough first-round beatdown by the C’s.
We mentioned the Jays as an obvious advantage for Boston, but big man Neemias Queta is a sneaky X-factor. He has been a revelation all season, and he could give the Celtics another advantage at the rim, especially if Embiid is out. Even if Embiid is active, Queta has shown in previous matchups that he can hang with the seven-time All-Star.
There’s no need to complicate this. The Celtics are the better team in almost every metric, and that will be evident in this first-round clash.
Gamethread 18: Royals at Tigers
If you read the little text under this article, I dubbed this a must win game for the Royals. While this is just game 18 on the season, this game tonight is huge for the vibes and direction of the team.
The Royals are 7-10 on the season, mostly because of inept offense, they’ve scored 2 runs or less in 10 of their first 17 games and in 6 of their last 7 games. When they hold a lead late, like last night, it’s a lot of pressure on the bullpen to be perfect, with no cushion, and it’s a blown lead late again, similar to Sunday.
If the Royals go out there and lose another game scoring 2 runs or less, it starts to build even more frustration offensively and then the pitching can’t continue to be as excellent as they have been, because they are under constant stress to be perfect, because of the poor offense.
Outside of the team, fans, especially the casual ones will keep losing interest in the ballclub, and April isn’t even over yet. The NFL Draft is next week, and we live in Chiefs country, so you know the casual fan will be tuned out quickly if things don’t turn around soon.
Good thing is, like me, most of you are diehard fans and we are in it until game 162 concludes or further beyond that. Tonight the Royals are sending Seth Lugo to the mound, he has been phenomenal all season long. The veteran right-hander has churned out good start after good start this season. If he does that again tonight, the Royals are in business to even this series up.
Here is the starting lineup behind Lugo.
As for the Tigers, they got off to an abysmal start, 4-9, including being swept in a four-game series by the Twins, who are winning the division… what??? Since then, they’ve won four straight games after sweeping the Marlins at home and rallying last night to beat Kansas City. They are 6-1 at home this season.
Right hander Jack Flaherty starts for Detroit. After two rough starts, his last outing in Minnesota was a good one, allowing just one run over 5.2 innings.
Here is the starting lineup behind Flaherty.
Also, today is Jackie Robinson Day, so everyone will be donned with 42 as their number. It’s a very special and historic day in baseball history, hopefully the Royals can break out tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 5:40 p.m. CT, the game can be streamed on Royals.TV.
Washington Nationals vs Pittsburgh Pirates Game Thread
After getting blown out on Monday, the Nats responded nicely, grinding out a 5-4 victory yesterday. That evened the series and put the Nationals one game below .500. They will look to get to .500 tonight against the Pirates in the third game of a four game set. This also a special day around the league, as MLB celebrates Jackie Robinson Day.
The Nats have a bit of a unique lineup tonight, and it is designed to counter the Pirates pitching strategy. Pittsburgh has a lefty opener, so Curtis Mead will hit second and play first base. To avoid the lefty, the Nats have Luis Garcia Jr. in the 9 spot. Joey Wiemer is also in the lineup, and he will hit sixth. Brady House is back at third base, which means Jorbit Vivas will slide over to second and Nasim Nunez will get the day off. Jake Irvin will be on the bump for the Nats.
The Pirates made some changes to the bottom of their order. Teenaged sensation Konnor Griffin will get the night off. That means Nick Gonzales will play shortstop and Nick Yorke will play third. Henry Davis will be back behind the plate as the Pirates alternate catchers. The Bucs will open with flame throwing lefty Mason Montgomery. Right hander Carmen Mlodzinski will follow him and pitch in a bulk role.
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Game Info:
Stadium: PNC Park
Time: 6:40 PM EST
TV: Nationals.TV
Radio: 106.7 The Fan
The Nats have already secured a winning road trip, but they are looking for more. Splitting this four game set would satisfy me, but imagine if they can win the next two. That would really give the Nats momentum. The offense is red hot and makes this group very fun to watch. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats.
Nick Pivetta’s elbow stiffness adds to Padres SP woes
The San Diego Padres are on a roll, as they have won nine of their last 11 games. They sit comfortably in second place in the National League West. But the momentum may turn for the worse after Nick Pivetta left his last start with right elbow stiffness. The injury has forced the Padres to place the right-hander on the injured list.
The Friars cannot afford another significant blow to their starting rotation. Joe Musgrove is still recovering from elbow surgery, and losing another key contributor like Pivetta has placed the rotation in a period of uncertainty.
Add the poor showing from German Marquez in his first three starts with the Padres. Suddenly, the team’s starting pitching depth has been challenged. Marquez has a 5.54 ERA with a 1.69 WHIP over 13 innings pitched. With the recent rash of injuries and bad outings at the beginning of the season, the Friars need to identify reliable starters who can throw quality innings.
Waldron has embraced becoming a knuckleball pitcher
Matt Waldron has been trying to perfect the knuckleball, so it becomes the main weapon in his pitching arsenal. He aims to throw his knuckleball at least 75% of the pitches thrown in every start. It would be a significant increase from previous seasons, which were approximately 38%.
He is looking to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season. An oblique injury hampered Waldron and limited him to one start last summer. It was a late June start against the Philadelphia Phillies, as the right-hander struggled with his control. He walked six batters in a 4-0 defeat.
Give Waldron credit for trying to reinvent himself on the mound. He needed to learn to trust the knuckleball. Waldron came to Peoria with newfound confidence, as he threw the knuckleball in the 75-80 MPH range this spring. The velocity will remind older baseball fans of former major leaguer Tom Candiotti.
The hope is to combine the knuckler with his fastball to keep opposing hitters baffled inside the batter’s box. Waldron wants to disrupt their timing with the knuckler’s movement toward home plate.
Hart might be too valuable to take out of ‘pen
Kyle Hart opened the 2026 campaign as the long man in the bullpen. In six appearances, Hart has pitched 11 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits. His control has been up and down with five walks and only six strikeouts this season.
Part of Hart’s struggles stems from lowering his arm slot during his delivery toward home plate. It has been a struggle to maximize movement on his sweeper and sinker. When he has been successful in games, he induces batters to hit groundballs at a 57.6% rate. His delivery forces hitters to begin their swing early and make weak contact.
The left-hander has 30 major league appearances, including nine career starts. It would be tough to transition back into being a starting pitcher, as Hart needs to stretch his arm out to go more than a couple of innings of work.
Having an experienced pitcher filling the long man’s role in the bullpen is a luxury. Hart might be a better asset to keep a game close after a poor start than to replace Marquez in the starting rotation.
The Friars will have Waldron take over Pivetta’s spot in the starting rotation. He is ready for the challenge.
Waldron may not be the ideal foundation piece for the rotation, but he is ready to change the Friar Faithful’s opinion of him on the mound.