The 35-32-12 Winnipeg Jets are in Vegas for a test against the 37-26-17 Golden Knights on Monday night.
Now, more than ever, the Jets will need losses across the board.
Photo by James Carey Lauder/USA Today
A.) for the Jets' hockey club itself, to maintain a better position in the draft lottery for the NHL Draft this June.
B.) in case the Jets are able to win out the remaining three games of their schedule, they would need all of Los Angeles, Nashville and San Jose to also lose each of their remaining games, to allow Winnipeg a chance at the final wild card playoff spot.
There will be a number of changes to the Jets' lineup on Monday.
Nikita Chibrikov will return to Winnipeg's roster for the game since being sent down following injury recalls in the earlier stages of the season. While Brayden Yager will make his long awaited NHL debut - skating with Chibrikov and Nino Niederreiter.
Neal Pionk, Alex Iafallo and Vlad Namestnikov will all sit out due to injury - likely for the rest of the season, pending a miracle.
Connor Hellebuyck will get the start in goal for the first test of the back-to-back.
Winnipeg Jets' expected line combinations for Monday, April 13 at Vegas:
SCORING BY INNING: The Cubs scored in five innings yesterday, their second-highest count of the season. They scored in six at Tampa last Tuesday. They scored twice in two innings yesterday, raising their total to 24 innings with a pair of runs. They have tallied more than two in 13 innings, but in only one of their last 88, five runs in the fifth inning at Tampa last Wednesday. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
RUN DIFFERENTIAL: The Cubs’ run differential is +10 going into tonight’s action. Believe it or not, only five other teams currently have better run differentials (Braves, +46; Dodgers, +35; Yankees, +21; Brewers, +16; Padres, +14). The Cubs are tied with the Tigers at +10.
THE NICO FILES: Nico Hoerner has a 14-game on-base streak in which he is batting .340/.446/.528 (18-for-53) with seven doubles, a home run, 10 RBI and nine walks. Thus he has reached base in every game this year except for Opening Day.
WHAT A RELIEF: Cubs relievers did not allow an earned run in the last two games against the Pirates (one unearned run in extra innings Saturday), totaling nine innings over those two contests, with five hits and four walks allowed (1.000 WHIP) and 11 strikeouts.
Javier Assad stepped up when Cade Horton hit the injured list, and his first start, last Tuesday against the Rays, was outstanding: 5.2 shutout innings, allowing one hit and two walks.
Assad has been remarkably consistent through his 79 games (55 starts) as a Cub. No season ERA lower than 3.03, none higher than 3.73. FIP figures a bit higher, but also consistent. He will keep the team in the game and give innings.
His last start against the Phillies, Sept. 25, 2024 in Philadelphia, wasn’t very good. Don’t click on that boxscore link. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I suspect we’ll get a better one tonight.
Cristopher Sánchez had a breakout season in 2025, posting 8.0 bWAR and finishing second in NL Cy Young voting. He’s continued that so far this year in three starts, with a 1.65 ERA, 23 strikeouts in 16.1 innings with just four walks and no home runs allowed.
He has not faced the Cubs since that same 2024 game where Assad got hit pretty hard. He allowed three runs (one earned) in 4.2 innings that night. Nico Hoerner homered off him, for whatever that’s worth.
Cubs hitters will have a tough assignment tonight.
Please visit our SB Nation Phillies site The Good Phight. If you do go there to interact with Phillies fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
On the other side of the playoff bracket, the top-seeded Detroit Pistons (60-22) have been one of the East's biggest success stories, improving their win total by an astounding 16 games from last season.
Jonathan Quick, who announced his retirement on Monday, will be most remembered for the 16 years he spent with the Kings. He’ll be remembered for the two Stanley Cups he helped bring to Los Angeles, and for the Conn Smythe he won in 2012. He’ll be remembered for signing with his boyhood team, for being part of the group that won the fourth Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history, and for retiring as a New York Ranger. He’ll be remembered for becoming the winningest American-born goaltender of all time, and for the sheer longevity of his career.
The cup of coffee Quick had in Sin City will be little more than a footnote in his story. But during his brief tenure with the Vegas Golden Knights, he made his presence felt, leaving his mark on both his teammates and on the Stanley Cup.
“[Quick was] one of the best guys ever, in my short time [as his teammate],” said Keegan Kolesar. “Just such a giving guy. I’ve got nothing bad to say. I don’t think anyone can ever say anything average about the guy– he’s just such an above-average human being… It’s hard for me to muster up the words to describe how great a person he is, ‘cause like, I could go on and on.”
The Kings dealt Quick, their all-time leader in wins, to the Columbus Blue Jackets ahead of the 2023 Trade Deadline. As the Blue Jackets weren’t on track to make the postseason, they flipped Quick to the Vegas Golden Knights the very next day.
Despite having his world flipped upside down, Quick was a pro’s pro in Vegas. He played just 10 games in a Golden Knights sweater, but his teammates complimented his presence both in the locker room and on the ice.
“He was quiet,” Kolesar remembered. “He had a calm demeanor, but he was so funny. He would say things at the perfect time, where I would just be giggling to myself the whole time. There were a lot of funny instances that I can’t even talk about when we were partying that I’ll always remember.”
Brayden McNabb, who played with Quick both with the Kings and the Golden Knights, also raved about his former teammate.
“Oh, he’s the best,” said McNabb. “I was lucky, I had him for three years in LA and got to know him. When I heard he was coming here, I knew he would be perfect for this team, for the locker room.
“And I mean, that’s just talking about his character; his on-ice play speaks for itself,” McNabb continued. “I got to see him in LA, and it was pretty remarkable, some of the things he was able to do. And good for him, playing at… 40? As a goalie, that’s super impressive. So, super happy for him, and congratulations to him.”
Quick didn’t play during the Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup run, dressing as the backup goaltender in 15 of the 22 postseason games. But it was Quick’s character and wisdom that most impacted his teammates, who still speak highly of him to this day.
Congratulations to Jonathan Quick on his retirement!! What an incredible career and we are honored to be a part of it!! 🏆🏆🏆 #VegasBornpic.twitter.com/CEkEIBTDct
— x - Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 13, 2026
“He was great,” said McNabb. “He worked hard, worked so hard. In the room, he was always positive. He always knew what to say. He wasn’t super loud, but he could understand when something needed to be said, and he was very good with that– he knew how to handle it and deal with it. And his presence was huge, and a big, important reason for us winning.”
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 12: The sneakers worn by Dalano Banton #45 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Orlando Magic on April 12, 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
A former division rival of the Vancouver Canucks has announced his retirement. After 19 seasons, goaltender Jonathan Quick will be hanging up his pads, as he is set to make his final start on Monday. Quick spent the majority of his NHL career with the Los Angeles Kings and has been a thorn in the Canucks side for the last two decades.
Of Quick's 828 regular-season games, 46 came against Vancouver. The Stanley Cup champion posted a record of 21-21-4 with a save percentage of .924. Quick also recorded six shutouts against the Canucks, which is tied with the Arizona Coyotes for the most against a single franchise during his career.
Quick also had success against Vancouver in the playoffs. He backstopped Los Angeles to a massive upset in 2012, as the eight-seeded Kings defeated the Presidents' Trophy-winning Canucks in five games. During that five-game series, Quick was virtually unbeatable, allowing only eight goals and finishing with a .953 save percentage.
As mentioned, Quick's final scheduled start will come on Monday when the New York Rangers battle the Florida Panthers. The 40-year-old enters his final game with a 410-306-90 regular-season record, which includes 65 shutouts. Quick ranks first all-time in wins by an American goaltender and will most likely be elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the future.
Nov 18, 2022; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Los Angeles Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson (44) looks on as Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser (6) scores on goalie Jonathan Quick (32) in the second 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.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 7: Starter Mike Burrows #50 of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 7, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Astros (6-10) will look stop a seven-game losing streak this afternoon as they look to salvage the series finale in the final game of a 10-game road trip against the Seattle Mariners (7-9).
RHP Mike Burrows (1-2, 5.63 ERA) will be on the mound for the Astros, opposite RHP George Kirby (1-2, 3.60 ERA) and the Mariners.
TODAY’S ASTROS STARTER: RHP Mike Burrows is set to make his fourth start of the season. In his last start on Tuesday, April 7 at COL, he allowed three runs on eight hits and one walk with three strikeouts in 5.1 innings.
ROAD TRIP: Today is the final game of a 10-game road trip for the Astros. The Astros are 1-8 so far on this road trip. Houston went 41-40 on the road last season.
AGAINST THE MARINERS: The Astros and Mariners face each other today for the fourth of 13 scheduled matchups in 2026.
The Astros went 5-8 against the Mariners in 2025, including 2-4 record at T-Mobile Park. Houston owns a 132-100 all-time regular season record against Seattle.
The Mariners will travel to Daikin Park for the first of two road trips to Houston from May 11-14 for a four-game series.
BOLTON INJURY: Astros RHP Cody Bolton left yesterday’s game at Seattle due to mid-back tightness.
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVES: The Houston Astros have made the following roster moves: placed IF Jeremy Peña on the 10-day IL due to a grade one hamstring strain (retro 4/12) and placed RHP Tatsuya Imai on the 15-day IL due to right arm fatigue (retro 4/12).
The Astros also optioned RHP Jayden Murray to Triple A Sugar Land following yesterday’s game. To take their places on the active roster, the Astros have recalled RHP J.P. France, LHP Colton Gordon and IF Shay Whitcomb from Triple A Sugar Land.
TUVE VS. THE MARINERS: 2B Jose Altuve has hit .313 (246×787) with 49 doubles, 21 homers, 96 RBI and a .832 OPS in 193 career games against the Mariners. He already ranks third all-time in hits vs. SEA, trailing only Cal Ripken Jr. (261) and Michael Young (259), and ranks eighth all-time in games played vs. the Mariners.
AIR YORDAN: This season, LF Yordan Alvarez is batting .340 (18×53) with 12 runs, four doubles, six home runs, 14 RBI, 15 walks, and a 1.255 OPS (.500 OBP/.755 SLG).
In the Majors, he ranks tied for first in OBP, tied for first in walks, second in OPS, second in SLG, second in home runs and tied for fifth in RBI.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Monday, April 13, 3:10 p.m. CST
Location: T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
Apr 1, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) talks with guard Gary Payton II (0) during a timeout against the San Antonio Spurs in...
Steph Curry only logged minutes in 43 games for the Warriors this season, but the lack of playing time has not impacted his popularity one bit.
The NBA announced on Monday that the Warriors star’s jersey was the league’s top-selling one for the 2025-26 regular season.
The league said the results were based on sales from NBAStore.com, Fanatics.com and other Fanatics partner sites.
Luka Doncic’s No. 77 Lakers threads came in second place, and jerseys belonging to Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, Spurs center Victor Wembanyama and Lakers forward LeBron James rounded out the top five.
Despite playing in just 43 games for the Warriors this season, Steph Curry’s jersey was the NBA’s top seller. Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Other notables in the top 15 included Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Pistons guard Cade Cunningham and Hornets guard LaMelo Ball.
Mavericks star Cooper Flagg, who came in at No. 9, was the only rookie to secure a spot on the list.
Cooper Flagg’s Mavericks jersey came in at No. 9 on the NBA’s list of top sellers in 2025-26. NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA also revealed on Monday which teams’ merchandise was the best-selling during this past regular season, and the Knicks landed the No. 1 spot there.
The Lakers, Celtics, Warriors, Spurs, 76ers, Bulls, Thunder, Timberwolves and Nuggets made up the rest of the top 10.
The NBA’s regular season officially concluded on Sunday. The postseason is scheduled to begin on Tuesday with the play-in tournament.
Crawford fined after Omaha traffic stop at gunpoint
Boxer ordered to pay $75 plus $49 in court costs
Police review found officers acted lawfully
Terence Crawford was found guilty of careless driving Monday and ordered to pay a $75 fine stemming from a traffic stop last year during which police ordered the world champion boxer and passengers out of his vehicle at gunpoint.
Oh, how different a week can make you feel. The Yankees’ fast start climbing to the top of the league with a 7-1 record has flipped on its head just as quick, as a five-game losing streak has torpedoed them down towards the rest of the pack in a hurry. While the team certainly was flawed during their winning streak, their flaws have been their outright downfall as they’ve lost one-run game after one-run game. The lineup at large has been dormant, and the few moments that a spark has sprung have been quickly put down by a bullpen that is struggling to match the success of their starting counterparts.
Drastic measures are hardly the right call three weeks into a 162-game season, but some adjustments are clearly necessary. The Yankees may not want to mess up the development of Jasson Domínguez, but they’ve yet to get a single hit from Randal Grichuk and the team is floundering from the lack of production from the supporting cast as a whole. Should they cut bait with the journeyman backup and promote Domínguez? Can the bullpen turn it around or will they need to remodel again? If you have questions like these, or anything else on your mind, send ‘em in for a chance to be featured in our Yankees mailbag.
Answers will run on Friday afternoon. All questions received by the night of April 16th will be considered. You can leave your submissions in the comment section below or by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
The Boston Celtics’ 2025-26 regular season has come to an end. But before we turn our attention to the team’s quest for Banner 19, it’s time to recognize the C’s who played key roles en route to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
From MVP (an obvious choice) to the biggest surprise (a toss-up), we handed out superlatives and awards for a team that smashed preseason expectations. Here’s who’s taking home the fake hardware:
Most Valuable Player: Jaylen Brown
No need to spend much time on this no-brainer. Jaylen Brown was counted on to step up as the Celtics’ No. 1 option with Jayson Tatum out, and he exceeded even the loftiest expectations.
In what many believed would be a “gap year” for the C’s, Brown averaged career highs in points (28.7), rebounds (6.9), and assists (5.1) per game while leading Boston to a 56-26 record and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Brown notched three triple-doubles and 14 double-doubles during the 2025-26 campaign. He tied his career high with 50 points in a January win over the Los Angeles Clippers and had six other games with at least 40 points.
Not only was Brown the Celtics’ MVP, but he also earned some NBA MVP consideration for his spectacular season as Boston’s go-to option.
Most Improved Player: Neemias Queta
Queta took his game to another level as the Celtics’ starting center. The 26-year-old averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game — all career highs and double his 2024-25 numbers — as Boston’s top big man without Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet. He recorded 17 double-doubles.
Queta is a long shot to win the award, but that doesn’t take anything away from his breakout season. He added a new dimension to a C’s offense that has been largely dependent on the 3-ball, all while being exceptional on the defensive end.
Defensive Player of the Year: Derrick White
D-White went through his fair share of offensive slumps, yet he still averaged a career-high 16.5 points per game. On the defensive end, he was even better than usual.
White came two blocks shy of becoming the first player in NBA history to make 200 3-pointers and record 100 blocks in a season. The best shot-blocking guard in the league averaged 1.3 per game, and on Dec. 30 vs. the Utah Jazz, he tied C’s great Dennis Johnson for the most blocks by a guard in a single game with seven swats.
White also averaged a career-high 1.1 steals per game. He should be a lock for his first career First-Team All-Defense nod.
Biggest surprise: Luka Garza
The Celtics’ depth at center became a concern after they traded Kristaps Porzingis and lost Al Horford and Luke Kornet in free agency. Luka Garza was the only big man they added to the roster, and entering the season with him as the top center off the bench was a head-scratcher.
Garza was a two-way player for the Minnesota Timberwolves until he signed a standard deal at the end of the 2023-24 season. The former Iowa standout was never anything more than a depth piece for Minnesota, but he carved out a critical role in Boston.
In 69 games, Garza averaged 8.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 16.1 minutes per game while shooting 43.3 percent from 3-point range. He delivered several memorable performances, including a 22-point, seven-rebound game in Memphis and a 27-point, 12-rebound outburst in the season finale vs. Orlando.
Garza has made the case to be the Celtics’ go-to big man off the bench in the playoffs over trade deadline acquisition Nikola Vucevic. That probably won’t be the case to start the postseason, but Garza has earned Joe Mazzulla’s trust if Vucevic struggles.
Baylor Scheierman gets an honorable mention as a surprising force off the Celtics’ bench.
Rookie of the Year: Hugo Gonzalez
Gonzalez didn’t have much competition for this one. Amari Williams was the only other rookie on the roster, and he appeared in only 22 games with Boston.
Still, Gonzalez’s rookie season should be celebrated. The 20-year-old was a spark plug off the Celtics’ bench, showing tremendous hustle each time he stepped onto the court.
Gonzalez’s biggest game of his rookie season came on March 2, when he logged 18 points and 16 rebounds in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks. He also had several noteworthy performances on the defensive end and was often tasked with guarding the opponent’s top option.
It’s scary to think about how good Gonzalez could become on both ends of the floor if his development continues on its current trajectory.
Sixth Man of the Year: Baylor Scheierman
Payton Pritchard doesn’t qualify for this honor as he started in 50 of his 79 games played. Therefore, second-year sharpshooter Baylor Scheierman is the clear choice.
Scheierman delivered a jolt off the C’s bench with impressive 3-point shooting and outstanding hustle on both ends. He finished the season with four double-doubles despite his limited minutes.
In Thursday’s win over the New York Knicks, Scheierman tallied a career-high 20 points with six 3-pointers. He followed that up in the regular-season finale vs. the Magic with a career-high 30 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and six 3s.
These performances show what Scheierman is capable of with more playing time in the coming years.
Tatum’s 10-month absence ended on March 6 against the Dallas Mavericks. He made his long-awaited return to the parquet to loud cheers from the TD Garden crowd.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 18: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on March 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas. 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. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Luka Dončić’s trip to Spain has brought with it a lack of clarity. With no real precedent of a player going there during the season and no firm idea on a timetable for a return, there isn’t much known about what’s going on and when he could be back.
It shouldn’t be a surprise, then, that there were some conflicting reports initially on Monday about him coming back to America. According to longtime NBA reporter — and someone who is well-connected with Luka and his camp — Marc Stein, Luka is expected back in LA on Friday, a day before the Lakers open the playoffs at home against the Rockets.
That report was later backed up by Dan Woike of The Athletic.
The Lakers’ Luka Dončić, I’m told, is scheduled to rejoin the team in Los Angeles on Friday in advance of the Lakers’ first-round series against Houston after his recent trip to Madrid for treatment of his Grade 2 hamstring strain.
This came after Shams Charania of ESPN provided a bit more insight into what Luka has been doing in Europe, but also initially reported he would be back on Tuesday. Later in the day, he said he would be back on Friday, which seems to be the consensus at this point.
Shams on Luka:
"He spent the last week in Spain from my understanding, the majority of time in Spain, he underwent multiple injection treatments in that hamstring. My understanding is he'll be back in the states on Tuesday and they're gonna reevaluate him"
The “majority of his time in Spain” line does stick out, but it’s because Luka was allowed to travel back to Slovenia while in Europe to see his kids. According to the Slovenian outlet Ekipa, after completing his first set of injections, Luka traveled to Slovenia with the Lakers’ approval.
Here is a section of the article, translated from Slovenian:
It is clear that Dončić also received the blessing of the Los Angeles Lakers, who of course support Luka in every decision he makes. From going to Madrid for treatment, to traveling to Slovenia for a short time in between two series of therapies.
The Lakers are aware that the mental well-being of their first star is just as important as the physical. And it is clear that Dončić’s association with his two children will fill his soul and heart and have a beneficial effect on his mental state.
After the brief trip to Slovenia, Luka returned to Madrid for a second set of injections and will now head back to Los Angeles this week.
Austin Reaves is not close to return
In the initial Shams tweet above during his appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” he also provided an update on Austin Reaves, and not really an encouraging one.
Austin Reaves, he’s out for [the] majority of this first round series. Most likely, probably, the earliest for him is going to be the first week of May.
This doesn’t rule him out entirely for the first round necessarily, but it leaves a pretty tight window that he could return. Looking back on previous first round series for the Lakers, last year’s Game 1 against the Wolves came on April 19 and the series ended on April 30. In 2023-24, Game 1 against the Nuggets was on April 20 and Game 5 was on April 29.
This year, Game 1 against the Rockets will be on April 18. While the full schedule is not yet out, to even give Austin a shot of returning for the first round, the Lakers will need to go at least six games and even then, that’s would only be the very beginning of the first week of May.
Realistically, Austin’s only chance of returning this year is if the Lakers make the second round, which would be a tall task.
SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann will miss the team's final three regular-season games with a lower-body injury.
The Kraken (34-34-11) were already eliminated from playoff contention ahead of Saturday's 4-1 win against the Calgary Flames. McCann can now get a head start on preparing for the 2026-27 season.
McCann, 29, has appeared in 52 games and scored 20 goals, tied with Matty Beniers for second-most on the team. The regular in Seattle's top six has scored at least 20 goals in each of his five seasons with the Kraken, who acquired McCann in the 2021 NHL expansion draft when Seattle started as a franchise.
McCann was a particularly impactful player for the Kraken in the 2022-23 season, which was the only year Seattle has made the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Kraken advanced to the second round, losing to the Dallas Stars in seven games, and McCann scored a career-high 40 goals during the regular season.
McCann, a first round pick in the 2014 NHL entry draft, is entering the final season of a five-year, $25 million contract.
___
This story corrects the Kraken record to 34-34-11, and the date of the win over the Flames to Saturday.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 10: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves hits a single during the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Truist Park on April 10, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was a win-win for Michael Harris as he was on paternity leave to be with his family, and the Atlanta Braves were able to score a large number of runs while he was out. The Braves’ offense now averages 5.62 runs per game behind only three other teams after the massive 13-1 blowout yesterday.
With the announcement of Harris coming back we could assume already that he would be back in the lineup, which means that Mauricio Dubón’s stint at CF is done for the moment. The Dubón trade may go down as the best offseason addition by Alex Anthopoulos in a landslide not only for the offensive upgrade, but the versatility he has already brought this team.
The 5.62 runs per game has been impressive, especially considering the Braves are down Sean Murphy, and Ha-Seong Kim, plus Ronald Acuña and Austin Riley have had slow starts.
Today the offense will be facing Eury Pérez who is a righty, and Weiss has been pretty consistent in his lineups when facing them, at least in terms of who is drawing the start. No Braves player has faced Pérez in more than six at-bats, but Dominic Smith, who typically only starts against righties is one of two players to do so with Matt Olson being the other. Smith has been successful in those at-bats with an .833 OPS.
Drake Baldwin has two HRs in only four at-bats against Pérez, and Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuña both have a HR against him as well. Considering the Braves are second behind only the mighty Dodgers in HRs this season, we may be in store for a HR happy evening.
In his return, Harris will be batting eighth. Maybe with his time out, his luck has flipped. His BABIP has been terrible at .256 and his xwOBA is on the top 9.0 of MLB. He has a wOBA of .287, yet his xwOBA is .401. He has arguably been the unluckiest hitter in the sport. Dubón will no be back at SS, and batting ninth.
The Miami Marlins only have five players who have faced Grant Holmes before, and three have struggled in limited action. Xavier Edwards has a .393 OPS in seven at-bats, while Connor Norby and Agustín Ramírez are both hitless so far in four and three at-bats respectively. Otto Lopez and Liam Hicks both have a hit in their two at-bats.
Surprisingly, the Marlins offense is scoring 4.38 runs per game which is in the top half of MLB. Grant Holmes is not going to have a walk in the park so to speak as some may assume.
Lamine Yamal is taking inspiration from NBA legend LeBron James ahead of Barcelona's Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Atlético Madrid on Tuesday, April 14.
Yamal changed his Instagram profile picture to James before the match at Camp Nou, which Barcelona must win by at least two goals after dropping the first leg 2-0 in Madrid last week.
The Barcelona star didn't just use any image of James, but a picture of him holding the championship trophy after the 2016 NBA Finals.
In that series, James helped the Cleveland Cavaliers overturn a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors, winning the final three games to be crowned NBA champions.
In a news conference on Monday, April 13, Yamal said he was hoping to emulate the comeback that James and the Cavs pulled off a decade ago.
“[James] is one of my references that can inspire me for tomorrow’s game,” Yamal said. “I’ll think about how he did the comeback [in 2016] and I hope it unfolds the same way for me.
"We have plenty of leaders in the team. I consider myself one of them, but not the only one.”
Lamine Yamal has changed his profile picture to LeBron James holding the NBA championship trophy after making a 3-1 comeback in the finals.
Barca needs to make a 2-0 comeback this week vs. Atlético in the Champions League 👀 pic.twitter.com/m4h7YpVuze
Barcelona fell 2-0 in the first leg, as a first-half red card for defender Pau Cubarsí proved costly. Julián Alvarez and Alexander Sørloth scored on either side of halftime to give Atlético a huge win at home.
Yamal, who has 22 goals and 18 assists this season, said his team would give everything to overturn the deficit against Diego Simeone's team.
“What I can promise for tomorrow is that if we get knocked out, it will be with us fighting until the end,” Yamal said. “We won’t stop running for one minute and give everything for this badge. I think the comeback is possible.”
