Yankees muster just one hit in 1-0 loss to Athletics

The Yankees fell to the Athletics by a score of 1-0 on Thursday afternoon, dropping the rubber match of the three-game series.

Here are the takeaways...

-- With lefty Jeffrey Springs on the mound, Aaron Boone changed things up with the lineup. Amed Rosario led off, playing second base, and Randal Grichuk got the start in left. Of note, Paul Goldschmidt did not get the start at first base against the lefty, with Ben Rice getting the nod. Boone said before the game that with the Yanks facing lefties in three of their next four games, Goldschmidt will see plenty of playing time.

But the Yankees had no answers for Springs. The former Ray held them hitless through the first five innings, allowing just one walk and striking out four during that span. 

Finally, after 6.1 innings of no-hit ball, Ben Rice came through with a single through the right side, which followed a Giancarlo Stanton walk to put a couple of runners on base. The A's got out of it, though, as Austin Wells flew out with a pair of runners in scoring position to end the threat.

Springs went 7.0 shutout innings, allowing just one hit while striking out six and walking a pair. He lowered his season ERA to 1.47.

--The A’s lineup suffered a blow early, as right fielder Brent Rooker appeared to tweak something in either his back or side when swinging at a pitch in the first inning. Rooker, the three-hole hitter, had to be removed from the game and replaced by Lawrence Butler.

--Ryan Weathers, who has gotten off to an inconsistent start to his Yankees career, looked sharp early. The lefty started the game with three scoreless innings, striking out three while allowing just two hits. 

Weathers and Springs traded zeros through the first six innings, but Weathers allowed a leadoff triple to Max Muncy to start the seventh. Tyler Soderstrom cashed in with an RBI single, putting the first run on the board for either team.

Weathers turned in what was easily his best start as a Yankee, going 8.0 innings while allowing just one earned run on seven hits with seven strikeouts and no walks.

-- The Yankees finished with just one hit, and have just two hits total since the first inning of Wednesday's game.

Highlights

Upcoming Schedule

The Yankees head to Tampa for three games against the Rays, beginning on Friday at 7:10 p.m.

Luis Gil faces Steven Matz in the series-opener.

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar says forward Nazem Kadri will miss ‘some games’ with finger injury

Nazeem Kadri

Mar 24, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri (91) warms up against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Charles LeClaire/Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

DENVER — Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri will miss “some games” because of a finger injury, Colorado coach Jared Bednar said.

Bednar added the Avalanche hope to work him back into the lineup before the playoffs. The Avalanche have five games remaining.

Colorado already has clinched the Central Division and the top seed in the Western Conference. A win over Calgary wraps up the Presidents’ Trophy, which goes to the squad with the best NHL record.

Kadri was hurt in a 3-1 win over the Blues in St. Louis. He has four goals and five assists in 16 games since being acquired by Colorado as part of a trade deadline deal with the Flames on March 6.

The 35-year-old Kadri helped Colorado to a Stanley Cup title in 2022.

In addition to Kadri, the Avalanche are without defenseman Cale Makar because of an upper-body injury. Makar skated with the team in a red, non-contact sweater. Makar is set to miss his fifth straight game.

Boston Celtics Daily Links 4/9/26

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 7: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on April 7, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

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Lineup Notes: Tolopilo Starts In Third-Consecutive Game As Canucks Take On The Kings

The Vancouver Canucks will take on the Los Angeles Kings for the second-last time this season tonight. Vancouver last faced Los Angeles on March 26, during which the Canucks lost by a score of 4-0. The Canucks will play the Kings one more time this season after tonight on April 14 at home. Here are the lineup notes for April 9, 2026. 

Vancouver is not expected to change their lineups too much today, meaning that Ty Mueller will sit out of his second-straight game. The forward was called up last Wednesday and played in two games before being healthy-scratched on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. 

Nikita Tolopilo will start in net for the Canucks tonight, with this being the goaltender's third consecutive start since Kevin Lankinen was held out of the lineup on a day-to-day basis. In his last start, Tolopilo stopped 27 of 29 shots faced for a .931 SV%. 

Projected Lineup: 

O’Connor-Pettersson-DeBrusk

Öhgren-Rossi-Boeser

Sasson-Blueger-Karlsson

Höglander-Räty-Douglas

Buium-Hronek

M. Pettersson-Willander

E. Pettersson-Mancini

Tolopilo

Patera 

Game Information: 

Start time: 7:30 pm PT 

Venue: Crypto.com Arena 

Television: Sportsnet 

Radio: Sportsnet 650 

Apr 7, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo (60) in the net against the Vegas Golden Knights in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Apr 7, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo (60) in the net against the Vegas Golden Knights in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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NBA fines Magic $25,000 for listing Anthony Black as out before he played in win over Pistons

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The NBA fined the Orlando Magic $25,000 on Thursday for violating league injury reporting rules before Monday night's home game against the Detroit Pistons.

The Magic reported point guard Anthony Black as out on its initial injury report. After missing 15 games with an abdominal strain, Black returned and scored 14 points with two assists and two steals in 15 minutes for Orlando in its 123-107 win over Detroit.

In announcing the fine, the NBA said the Magic failed to accurately disclose Black's game availability status.

Black, a third-year player from Arkansas, is averaging 15.1 points and 3.8 assists in 62 games, including 40 starts.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Royals shuffle bullpen, add Eli Morgan and Mitch Spence

Apr 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Eli Morgan (34) on the mound during the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images | William Purnell-Imagn Images

The Royals continued to shuffle their bullpen Thursday, adding relievers Eli Morgan and Mitch Spence from Triple-A Omaha, while sending Luinder Avila and Steven Cruz down. Avila and Cruz each pitched extensively in Wednesday’s loss to Cleveland. Morgan was up last Saturday as the 27th man for the doubleheader against Milwaukee, pitching three scoreless innings with five strikeouts.

Morgan has pitched parts of five seasons with the Guardians and Cubs before this season, posting a 4.15 ERA in 275.2 innings, mostly as a reliever. His best year came in 2024 when he posted a 1.93 ERA, although he pitched in just 32 games. He pitched in just seven games last year before he injured his elbow in April and missed the rest of the season. The Royals signed the 29-year-old as a minor league free agent this past winter.

Spence was acquired from the Athletics in a trade for minor league reliever A.J. Causey. He has pitched parts of the last two seasons with the Athletics, mostly as a starter, with a 4.77 ERA in 236 innings. Last year he made 24 relief appearances and 8 starts, with a 5.10 ERA in 84.2 innings. He gave up just one unearned run over five innings in his only start for Omaha this year.

Avila has given up 14 hits, 4 walks and six runs in six innings with the Royals. He is ranked as the #9 prospect in the farm system and the team considers him a future top-of-the-rotation starter. Cruz has given up eight runs in five innings for a 14.40 ERA, with four home runs allowed, tied for the most in the league.

What's really behind Phillies' recent offensive drought

What's really behind Phillies' recent offensive drought originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The four-run seventh inning of Monday’s game at Oracle Park feels like forever ago.

That’s because the Phillies have not scored a run since then — 20 consecutive scoreless innings without one.

“Has it been that long?” Bryce Harper asked reporters after yet another shutout loss in San Francisco, sounding genuinely thrown by the number.

When the Phillies embarked on this West Coast trip after last Thursday’s electrifying comeback win, capped by Justin Crawford’s walk-off hit against the Nationals, it felt like the offense had some life again.

When they got to Colorado, they wasted no time carrying that momentum with them. They hung a statement seven-run first inning on the Rockies. Eleven batters came to the plate. They saw 44 pitches. It was an offensive clinic.

And yet, from that point on, the lineup has looked like a different group.

The Phillies did win the series in Colorado, but after that first inning, they scored only six runs over the final 26 innings against one of baseball’s weakest pitching staffs. Then they went farther west and into San Francisco, where they fell behind 4-0 through four innings in the opener before clawing all the way back behind six unanswered runs.

That game, more than anything, now looks like the exception.

Since that first inning in Denver, the Phillies have scored just 12 runs in 53 innings. That is the fewest in baseball over that span. They are batting .199 with a .574 OPS in the stretch, the third-lowest OPS in the sport.

So where is the real problem?

Recently, it has not been the top of the order.

That group was the main topic through the first six games of the season, all played at home. Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper finished that first week slashing .164/.256/.315, a .571 OPS.

Over the last six games on the road, that same trio has slashed .302/.436/.508, a .944 OPS.

That is a massive swing, and it’s key, because the easiest storyline early on was that the stars at the top had not started hitting. Right now, that is not where the offense is breaking down. And it is hard to pin it on the bottom, either.

The Phillies have gotten quality at-bats from the last two spots in the order, mostly J.T. Realmuto and Crawford. Those lineup spots have combined for the second-highest on-base percentage in baseball at .362, trailing only the Dodgers.

That leaves the middle. More specifically, it leaves the fourth through seventh spots.

On the season, those spots are slashing .199/.256/.306, almost identical to what the offense has looked like during this recent dry spell. And when you split it apart further, the picture gets clearer.

Adolis García, who has spent time in that section of the lineup, has not been the issue. Neither has Brandon Marsh. García owns a .738 OPS. Marsh is at .727. Both have looked like contributors.

The bigger issue has been Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott, who have primarily occupied the cleanup and fifth spots. Bohm is hitting .186 with a .550 OPS. Stott is hitting .167 with a .405 OPS, the fourth-lowest mark among qualified National League hitters.

That is where the offense has bogged down. Oddly enough, though, there is a caveat.

One issue that has been there since day one is the Phillies’ inability to hit with runners in scoring position. The club is batting .200 in those spots, second-worst in the league.

But the team’s two best hitters in those situations so far, even in a small sample, are Bohm and Stott.

Bohm is hitting .333 with runners in scoring position. Stott is at .250.

So the criticism of that four-five pocket is fair, but it is not as simple as saying those two have been the reason the Phillies have not scored. In the spots that matter most, they have actually been among the better producers.

The issue is that the lineup has not clicked in order. Too often, when one section has gotten going, another has stalled. That is why Rob Thomson’s postgame comments Wednesday were worth paying attention to. He did not sound like someone ready to overreact. But he also did not sound like someone ruling out a tweak.

When asked if he might shake up the lineup after the off day, he said, “Yeah, a little bit. I might.”

That is important because the likely changes are not hard to see.

García can move into the cleanup spot. Marsh, against right-handed pitching, can slide into the fifth spot. Bohm and Stott can each move down a couple of slots.

And if García and Marsh keep getting on, that could put Bohm and Stott in the exact situations where they have actually had success so far — with traffic on the bases and less pressure to be the engines of the offense.

A major topic all offseason was how to give Harper more right-handed protection in the middle of the order. Dave Dombrowski’s answer was García on a one-year prove-it deal worth $10 million.

Thomson, though, has long preferred a contact-oriented run producer like Bohm in the four-hole. That is understandable. It is also why this part of the season is magnified. It is where roles start to sort themselves out.

García’s biggest problem over the last two seasons has not been bat speed or power. It has been patience and pitch selection. His average chase rate over that stretch was 34.7 percent. His swing rate sat at 52.1 percent. His in-zone contact rate was 78.5 percent.

This year, in a smaller sample, the changes are real. He is chasing at just a 29.8 percent clip, swinging 48.2 percent of the time and making contact on in-zone pitches at an 87.5 percent rate. Those improvements mirror the progress he made in spring training, when he walked eight times and struck out only five.

If García can maintain that, and if Marsh continues doing what he has always done against right-handers, the middle of the order could start to look a lot more functional.

But that is the point. “Could.”

The Phillies are 6-6. They are playing .500 baseball. They are only 1.5 games out of first in the NL East. This is not a crisis piece. It should not be one. They’re just 12 games in.

Harper, looking at the bigger picture, put it plainly after Wednesday’s shutout loss in San Francisco.

“We have to be that team,” he said. “Because if we’re not, then we’re not going to be where we want to be at the end.”

That is probably the right way to read this. And a slump like this did happen last year.

The last time the Phillies were shut out for more than 20 straight innings was last June, when they went 26 innings without scoring against the Mets and Astros. Their next game, they scored 13 runs in Atlanta.

The Phillies and Thomson could certainly use one of those nights when they get back to home and face the Diamondbacks on Friday night. And if the skipper does make a tweak, it will not be because the lineup is broken.

It will be because right now, it just is not clicking in the right order.

Colorado Rockies 2026 walk-up songs

DENVER, CO - APRIL 7: Colorado Rockies outfielder Mickey Moniak (22) celebrates in the dugout wearing a faux purple fur coat after his seventh inning two-run home run during a game between the Houston Astros and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 7, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

If you’ve ever been to a game at Coors Field and wondered what that’s song, say, Willi Castro is walking up to, and the clip is too short to Shazam, Reader, I am here to answer your questions.

Below are (most of) the 2026 music selections of the Colorado Rockies.

Zach Agnos — Jacob Banks’ “Chainsmoking” (from the beginning)

Jordan Beck — A$AP Rocky’s “Everyday” (:16-:32)

Willi CastroCrazy DesignRD’s “Porón Pompón” (:04)

Chase Dollander — Kai Uriah’s “Bound 2 Be” (from the beginning)

Brenton Doyle — Bad Wolves’ “Zombie Bad Wolves” (1:03)

Tyler Freeman — Cody Johnson’s “Dear Rodeo” (:52)

Hunter Goodman — Cody Johnson’s “Til You Can’t” (0:59)

Jimmy Herget — BigXThaPlug’s “Back on my BS” (from the beginning)

Jaden Hill — YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s “Bruce Wayne” (Best Clean Version from YouTube) (1:02)

Troy Johnston — Lou Bega’s “Mambo No. 5” (0:03)

Edouard Julien — GIMS and Le Mano 1.9’s “Parisienne” (0:30)

Kyle Karros — Toro & Moi’s “The Difference Flume” (0:36)

Michael Lorenzen — KB’s “10k” (from the beginning)

Jake McCarthy — Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” (6:40)

Juan MejiaJuan Luis Guerra’s “Soldado” (from the beginning)

Mickey Moniak — Eddy Grant’s “Electric Avenue” (from the beginning)

José Quintana — La Moral’s “Criss 7 Ronny, lil Silvo” (from the beginning)

T.J. Rumfield — Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s “Fishin’ in the Dark” (0:41)

Tomoyuki Sugano — HUNTR/X’s “Golden” (0:55)

Brett Sullivan — Big X Tha Plug’s “Holy Ground” (0:26)

Ezequiel Tovar — Rawayana’s “Inglés en Miami” (0:37)

Victor Vodnik — 2Pac’s “Ambitionz AZ A Riddah” (from the beginning)

We’ll try to keep this list updated throughout the season.

Let us know your favorites (or musical suggestions!) in the comments.


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Pitch-clock caveat helping Shohei Ohtani

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani on the mound, Image 2 shows A baseball player in a gray uniform with

Welcome to The California Post’s weekly Dodgers main recap, where baseball writers Dylan Hernández and Jack Harris review the week that was –– publishing every Thursday.

TORONTO –– What became a controversial subplot in Game 7 of the World Series last fall has reemerged as a recurring storyline in this season’s early weeks.

For virtually every other pitcher in Major League Baseball, the rules about warming up for an inning are simple: A two-minute timer begins with the conclusion of the previous half-inning. If they’re not ready to face the leadoff batter by then, they risk incurring an automatic ball via pitch-clock violation.

Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani is able to exploit a loophole as a two-way player. AP

For Shohei Ohtani, however, there is one loophole only he can really exploit.

As stated on the league’s website: “If the pitcher is on base, on deck or at-bat when the (previous) inning ends, the timer begins when the pitcher leaves the dugout for the mound.”

That modification, of course, wasn’t created explicitly for the Dodgers’ two-way star. In rare situations, a handful of pitchers still get at-bats each season.

Still, given there’s only one pitcher who hits full time in the majors anymore, it might as well be called the Ohtani Caveat.

“If you’re on the other side, you’re trying to rush him as much as possible and treat him like any other pitcher,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “But the truth is, he’s different.”

Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani is granted more leeway getting to the mound between innings. AP

Thus, don’t expect his routine to change soon.

Just like in Game 7 last year –– when he took his sweet time getting to the mound between innings, frustrating Blue Jays players and coaches wondering why he was granted so much leeway –– Ohtani has capitalized upon the carve-out during his first two pitching starts this season.

If he was at-bat, on base or on deck the previous half-inning, the clock has automatically been reset to two minutes once he reemerges from the dugout. Even if it takes most of the original two minutes for him to get out there.

On both occasions, the dynamic did not seem to go unnoticed by Dodgers opponents. Last week, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt came out to talk to an umpire the first time the clock was reset for Ohtani. On Wednesday, in Ohtani’s return to Rogers Centre to face the Blue Jays, it was veteran slugger George Springer who seemed to check with the crew about Ohtani’s added warm-up time.

When asked about it postgame, Roberts said he could “understand their gripe.” However, he countered by referencing Ohtani’s unique two-way job title, arguing that “there’s got to be some grace, which I think the umpires are giving him.”

How much it really helps Ohtani is another question altogether. On the one hand, he’s only really getting an extra minute or two per start (time that is mostly spent in the dugout changing out of his batting gear anyway). On the other, any extra breather might make a difference for the 31-year-old right-hander, who said Wednesday he was battling some fatigue at the end of a long road trip.

Either way, MLB’s rules are clear –– which means the Dodgers won’t apologize even if it’s disproportionately helping their four-time MVP.

As Roberts said, Ohtani is different, right down to the way in which the rulebook applies to him.


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The Saga Of Two Divergent Teams: Rangers Vs. Sabres

 Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
 Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

With only three more games on the Blueshirts slate – all away – it's time now to compare two of the NHL's most contrasting teams and understand which went up and which went down. 

And more importantly why the Blueshirts are a sorrowful mess while the Sabres could win The Stanley Cup.

RELATIVE VALUE: The Rangers are valued at $4.5 BILLION. Sabres at $1.5 Billion.  Blueshirts have a $3.0 Billion lead and look how it "helped" them. (DIDN'T!)

OCTOBER 2025: At the start of the season, The Hockey News Yearbook picked the Rangers to finish fourth in the Metropolitan Division. Buffalo was picked seventh in the  Atlantic. Blueshirts are in the non-playoff pits -- again. The Sabres are now among the NHL's elite.

STARS: The Rangers have one – Igor Shesterkin – who is supposed to "carry" the team. Here are just a few aces who've carried the Sabres to the top: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch. 

GM: Chris Drury it is to laugh; Jarmo Kekalainen merely turned the Sabres into winners.

Coach: Mike Sullivan is hell bent to miss the playoffs for the fourth straight year; Lindy Ruff is in the process of pulling off one of the miracle bench jobs in NHL history.

Anyone who doubts the above should merely check the standings.

Flyers Depth Chart: Jack Berglund Signing Provides Massive Boost… Literally

After signing top center prospect Jack Berglund, the Philadelphia Flyers received quite a big organizational boost at the forward position, aiding them both now and in the future.

Berglund, 19, signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Flyers on Thursday morning, which will take effect starting with the 2026-27 season.

For now, the 6-foot-4 Swede will join the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms for their Calder Cup playoff push, and he should be able to immediately establish himself as a top-nine forward on the team in the absences of Denver Barkey and Alex Bump, who are now full-time NHL players.

The Flyers have brought aboard a number of forwards for the Phantoms in recent weeks, with players like Noah Powell, Cole Knuble, and Riley Thompson preceding Berglund's signing.

Berglund's place in the depth chart depends greatly on whether or not the Flyers see him as a center at the NHL level; his development plan will change accordingly.

Flyers Cruising Towards NHL Playoffs on Strength of Young TalentFlyers Cruising Towards NHL Playoffs on Strength of Young TalentNEWARK, N.J. -- Contrary to recent precedent, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> are beginning to prove that teams can compete with a core of elite, talented young wingers. Look at the shell-shocked Prudential Center as proof.

In the future, and accounting only for players under contract or team control, Berglund should slide in comfortably as the sixth center behind draft classmate Jett Luchanko, Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak, Noah Cates, and Sean Couturier.

Veterans like Rodrigo Abols, Jacob Gaucher, Lane Pederson, and Boris Katchouk are all on expiring deals, and RFA Karsen Dorwart has yet to meaningfully insert himself into the NHL conversation.

Berglund, who turns 20 on Friday, will be granted every opportunity to make the Flyers out of training camp in the fall.

If he doesn't, the expectation is that he'll be sent back to Farjestad BK of the SHL on loan, as he has one year remaining on his contract overseas. In that case, Berglund's debut in the Orange and Black will wait until this time next year.

The Flyers' winger logjam is well-documented at this point, Alex Bump, Barkey, and Porter Martone overtaking NHL roles combined with the team already having Matvei Michkov, Owen Tippett, Travis Konecny, Tyson Foerster, and the injured Nikita Grebenkin, who is due for a new contract this summer.

Flyers Linked to 6-foot-3 KHL StarFlyers Linked to 6-foot-3 KHL StarOne area the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> still need to address, regardless of a successful playoff push, is the center position. By the sounds of it, they'll be one of many teams queueing up to sign a burgeoning KHL star.

With that in mind, it is difficult right now to see Berglund with the Flyers as a left wing, unless he does so in a complementary fashion alongside someone like Zegras.

The Karlstad native has produced seven goals, five assists, and 12 points in 40 SHL with Farjestad as a teenager, which ranked fourth amongst all D+2 skaters in Sweden's top hockey league.

Only Lucas Pettersson (20, Anaheim), Valter Lindberg (17, undrafted), and Leo Sahlin Wallenius (13, San Jose) were more productive than Berglund in that aspect.

By next spring, should he not just make the Flyers outright, Berglund will be towards the top of Philadelphia's list of potential call-ups, given his size, skill, and pro experience.

He's well past many of his peers in the organization and will be in the NHL in no time at all.

Christian Scott dominant in five shutout innings for Triple-A Syracuse

Christian Scott's second start of the year for Triple-A Syracuse went a lot better than his first.

The Mets right-hander, who is continuing to stretch out innings-wise after being out since September of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery, fired five scoreless innings while allowing two hits, walking one, and striking out seven.

Scott's four-seam fastball, which he relied on heavily, topped out at 97.2 mph. He also threw plenty of sweepers while mixing in his cutter and split-change.

Four of Scott's strikeouts came when he got batters to chase his sweeper, while one came looking on a slider. The other two came swinging on four-seamers. 

There wasn't much hard contact against Scott, who threw 76 pitches (52 strikes).

The 26-year-old impressed during spring training, when he had his first game action since 2024.

Along with Jonah Tong and Jack Wenninger, Scott is a vital part of the Mets' starting pitching depth, and should impact the major league club at some point this season.

If the Mets have a need and Scott is performing well, it's possible he will be the first pitcher called upon. 

Tong has only made five career starts at Triple-A and is working to refine his secondary pitches, while Wenninger has yet to make his big league debut (and is not on the 40-man roster). 

The Mets, who are not planning to go to a six-man rotation any time soon, are using a five-man rotation that consists of Freddy Peralta, David Peterson, Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, and Kodai Senga.

After tossing 5.1 shutout innings in his first start of the season, Peterson has struggled, allowing 11 runs (six earned) on 15 hits over his last two starts spanning 9.1 innings.

Manager Carlos Mendoza addressed Peterson's difficulties after Wednesday's game, saying the club was not considering a change in the rotation.

Peterson, who has been jumped by hitters early in counts a lot in his last two outings, believes part of his issue has been pitch sequencing.

Pittsburgh Penguins At New Jersey Devils Preview: Lineup Changes, Where To Watch

The Pittsburgh Penguins will play their first game since Sunday on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils.

It's a big game for the Penguins, who have an opportunity to clinch a playoff spot for the first time in four years. A win in any fashion gets them in, but they can also clinch with one point against the Devils and a Columbus Blue Jackets loss to the Buffalo Sabres in any fashion. 

Even if the Penguins lose in regulation, they'd still get in with a Toronto Maple Leafs win over the New York Islanders and a Blue Jackets regulation loss. 

The easiest way to clinch is to win, and they'll have a chance to do that against a team that is already eliminated from playoff contention. The Devils got eliminated on Tuesday following a 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. The loss came one day after general manager Tom Fitzgerald was dismissed. 

Even though it's been a miserable 2025-26 season for the Devils, they still have some players who can score at will. Jack Hughes, who scored the Golden Goal for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics, has 25 goals and 72 points in 57 games this year. He's been on fire as of late, racking up nine points in his last four games.

Jesper Bratt has also been great this year with 20 goals and 68 points in 78 games. Nico Hischier is still a really strong two-way center with 26 goals and 62 points in 78 games. 

Don't forget about Timo Meier, Dawson Mercer, Cody Glass, and Connor Brown, too. They have 24, 18, 18, and 17 goals, respectively, this year.

Jake Allen will start in goal for the Devils. He has a .906 save percentage and a 2.70 goals-against average this year. 

The Penguins are expected to keep their lines the same for this game. Here's a look at the projected lineup:

Forwards

Chinakhov-Crosby-Rust

Novak-Rakell-Malkin

Mantha-Kindel-Brazeau

Soderblom-Dewar-Acciari

Defensive pairs

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Girard-Letang

Shea-Clifton

Stuart Skinner will start in goal for the Penguins after missing Sunday's game with an eye injury. 

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'


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76ers vs Rockets Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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Both the Philadelphia 76ers and the Houston Rockets desperately need a win tonight, but with Joel Embiid sidelined due to illness, Philadelphia faces a stiff test to snap Houston’s seven-game winning streak.

My 76ers vs. Rockets predictions and NBA picks expect Philadelphia’s weaknesses to show early, including star point guard Tyrese Maxey struggling from deep on Thursday, April 9.

76ers vs Rockets prediction

76ers vs Rockets best bet: Tyrese Maxey Under 2.5 threes (+102)

In a week filled with two-way players seeing ample playing time and sportsbooks worrying about over-exposure to Unders on player props, it is a bit refreshing to see a mispriced prop like this.

Tyrese Maxey is a solid shooter. Before his pinkie injury in early March, the Philadelphia 76ers’ guard was shooting 37.3% from deep, making 3.3 per game. 

However, Maxey has not been humming since his return, connecting on just 10-for-32 attempts from deep in his last six contests. Those struggles have been further emphasized when Joel Embiid is sidelined, as Maxey is just 3-for-10 from distance in those two matchups.

Those facts alone would justify this bet, but then realizing Maxey is about to play the Houston Rockets cements this value. 

The Rockets rank No. 7 in the NBA in limiting opponents’ attempts from deep, giving up 3-pointers on just 40% of foes’ shot attempts. Houston is also No. 5 in opponent 3-point percentage, with teams making just 35% of those long-range attempts.

This prop would be too high against just about any opponent; at plus-money, it is aggressively mispriced against the Rockets.

76ers vs Rockets same-game parlay

Houston is currently riding a seven-game winning streak, which has happened to see six Overs cash.

76ers vs Rockets SGP

  • Tyrese Maxey Under 2.5 threes
  • Over 227
  • Rockets moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: Pack It In Philly

Philadelphia is desperately trying to stay in the preferred Play-In game in the East. It holds the tiebreaker against both Orlando and Charlotte, but it cannot afford to lose more than one of its remaining three games.

Combining the Houston spread with Unders on Maxey’s and VJ Edgecombe’s points props is a correlated thought: if the Rockets build a healthy lead, the 76ers may fold early to better set themselves up for success tomorrow in Indiana and on Sunday against the Bucks.

76ers vs Rockets SGP

  • Tyrese Maxey Under 2.5 threes
  • Over 227
  • Rockets -5.5
  • Tyrese Maxey Under 28.5 points
  • VJ Edgecombe Under 15.5 points

76ers vs Rockets odds

  • Spread: 76ers +5.5 (-110) | Rockets -5.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: 76ers +180 | Rockets -220
  • Over/Under: Over 227 (-110) | Under 227 (-110)

76ers vs Rockets betting trend to know

Houston is 4-2 against the spread in its last six games. Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Rockets.

How to watch 76ers vs Rockets

LocationToyota Center, Houston, TX
DateThursday, April 9, 2026
Tip-off8:00 p.m. ET
TVNBCSP, SCHN

76ers vs Rockets latest injuries

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NBA owners reportedly to vote May 28 on new anti-tanking proposals

This much we know: The NBA owners have scheduled a vote for May 28 on steps to reform the NBA Draft Lottery and install their latest anti-tanking measures, news broken by Shams Charania of ESPN.

What we don't know: What the owners will be voting on.

There is no consensus among owners on which anti-tanking measures the league should use, reports Anthony Slater at ESPN. Last month, the league put forward three concepts for the owners to consider to "fix" tanking, and all of them expanded the lottery to at least 18 teams and flattened the lottery odds.

The trouble for the league is the wide array of opinions on what exactly is the best fix and the fact that many of the favored concepts -- like flipping the benefits for lottery odds from losses to wins midseason -- are extremely difficult to explain simply to the casual consumer.

One idea that reportedly has some momentum gives the 10 teams that do not make the playoffs or play-in an 8% chance at the No. 1 pick, and the remaining odds (20%) get divided among the eight play-in teams.

The disconnect about tanking around the league is more fundamental — tanking has become an intrinsic part of a rebuild, and teams are not eager to do away with a tool they may want to use in the future.

"There is an aspect of team building that is called a genuine rebuild, rebuild with integrity," Silver said recently after the NBA Board of Governors meeting. "The problem we're having these days is it's become almost impossible to distinguish between a tank and a rebuild."

That's because tanking and rebuilding are intertwined: If a team is trying to do a tear-it-down total rebuild, then there will be a couple of seasons of tanking in there to give themselves the best odds of getting the kind of players who can get them wins and change a franchise. Every team tanking — even the ones the league thinks are doing it "unethically" (whatever that means in this case) — is literally doing it to improve their chances of landing a star player that can help turn a franchise around.

Fans are on board with tanking — right now in Utah the fan base is all in on tanking for this season to add another piece of the puzzle that will turn things around next season. That is true in Washington and Sacramento and Indiana and across the league with the nine teams considered to be tanking the final month of the season.

The NBA's problem with this level of tanking is it's a business, and while those fans may want their teams to tank for a season or two, those same fans go to fewer games and watch less of them while it is happening — the NBA tracks attendance and viewership of tanking teams and there is a steep drop off.

The league's other challenge is this: Put more teams in the lottery and flatten the odds and you may remove incentives for a team to tank, but the league also makes it much tougher for bad teams to get the good players they need to turn things around — teams will have to be bad and tank longer to get the players they need.

There is no easy answer here, but Silver said, "We are going to fix it… full stop." So the owners are going to vote on something come May 28.