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The Washington Nationals pull off another extra inning win led by Foster Griffin and Jose Tena

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 26: Foster Griffin #22 of the Washington Nationals delivers a pitch during the first inning of the game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on April 26, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Zoe Davis/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Right as I hit send on a tweet questioning the logic of Blake Butera pinch hitting Jose Tena for Jacob Young, Tena blasted a solo homer in the 10th, which proved to be the difference in the game. It was a pitchers duel, with no runners scoring for either team in the first nine, but the Nats managed to get two runs across in the 10th to win it.

This game felt very different from most of the 2026 Nationals games we have watched so far. Most Nats games this year have been very high scoring, and even when they are not, teams are threatening. However, both pitching staffs shut down dangerous offenses this afternoon.

It was a true pitchers duel between Foster Griffin and Sean Burke in this one. Despite the White Sox using an opener, Burke still managed to toss 7.1 scoreless innings. Burke befuddled Nats hitters with his rising fastball and big overhand curveball. He looks like a real nice arm that could slot into the middle of the White Sox rotation for years to come.

Foster Griffin was matching Burke pitch for pitch though. This was Griffin’s best outing as a Nat, which is saying something because he has been solid each and every start. The crafty lefty threw 7 shutout innings with 8 strikeouts and just two hits. He was masterfully wielding his seven pitch mix today, with the cutter and sweeper being the stars of the show.

Griffin’s deep bag of pitches makes him so unpredictable. It just felt like White Sox hitters were guessing wrong all afternoon. Griffin’s ERA is down to 2.67 on the season. He is also just so much fun to watch because of how smart he is as a pitcher.

With Burke and Griffin rolling, offense was tough to come by. There were hardly any rallies to speak of. For a while, it just felt like the Nats were speedrunning their at bats. The White Sox made Griffin work a little more, but that was mostly because of how much they were whiffing.

The 9th inning was the first time either team felt like they threatened. In the top of the inning, the Nats had a man on third with one out due to Nasim Nunez getting a single and working his magic on the bases. However, after James Wood was intentionally walked, both Curtis Mead and Daylen Lile popped up to end the inning.

In the bottom half, the White Sox threatened thanks to an Everson Pereira base hit and an error by Richard Lovelady on a pick off attempt. Lovelady got out of the jam by getting two huge strikeouts. He was fired up after getting out of the jam. Lovelady is a real character, and looks to have found a home with the Nats after bouncing around a ton over the past couple years.

It was the 10th inning that proved decisive though. The Nats manufactured the first run. On an 0-2 pitch, Jorbit Vivas did a nice job rolling one over to the first baseman and getting the runner to third. Then CJ Abrams got robbed of a hit, but still got the sac fly. That opened the scoring, but the Nats needed more to feel comfortable.

That was the moment where Blake Butera made the gutsy move to go to Jose Tena. On a 3-1 pitch, Tena unloaded on a fastball that caught the heart of the plate. He knew it was gone and watched his 100th career hit fly. It was an insurance run that was desperately needed.

After being recalled today, Paxton Schultz came on to close the door. While he allowed the Manfred runner to score, he got a pair of massive strikeouts to end the ball game and improve the Nats record to 13-16.

The Nats were playing baseball everyday for a while. They had 17 straight games without an off day. It was a run that the Nats navigated quite well, going 9-8 in that span. That is a great job from the boys, who have a much deserved off day tomorrow.

Now, the Nats will head to New York to try and extend the Mets misery. The Mets snapped their 12 game losing streak a few days ago, but now they just dropped a series to the Rockies. Hopefully the Nats can continue being road warriors and keep the momentum rolling.

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The Timberwolves and Nuggets Showed Exactly Who They Are

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 25: Ayo Dosunmu #13 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates against the Denver Nuggets in the third quarter of Game Four of the First Round of the 2026 NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on April 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-96. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The rivalry between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets gained another chapter Saturday night at Target Center.

Despite losing both Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards to injuries for the rest of the series, the Timberwolves won Game 4 112-96 to take a 3-1 series lead with a performance that spoke volumes about each of the two teams.

In the final seconds of the game, and the Timberwolves up by 14 points, Mike Conley threw a pass up ahead to Jaden McDaniels, who, instead of running out the clock, layed the ball in the basket. Nikola Jokić took exception.

It is an awful look for the 3-time MVP, who seemed more concerned with guarding the unwritten rules of the game than anyone on the opposing team, to start a fight as his team falls down 3-1 to a team missing two of their best players.

If Jokić wanted to avoid getting punked or embarrassed, he should have done so after Game 2 when McDaniels called out Jokić and the entire Nuggets roster as bad defenders. Instead, McDaniels and the Wolves hung 68 points in the paint on the Nuggets’ defense in Game 3 en route to a 113-96 blowout victory.

When asked why he was so upset about the McDaniels layup, Jokić said, “Because he scored and everybody stopped playing.” Jokić was understandably not very interested in breaking down the play further, but he did say he has no regrets.

By his lofty standards, Jokić has had an awful series. His defensive limitations have been on full display, while his offensive game has been completely disrupted by Rudy Gobert. In the last three games, each of which the Nuggets lost, Jokić has shot 23-68 from the floor (33.8 percent). In the fourth quarter, Jokić has made just two of his 16 shot attempts.

As the shooting percentages have gone down, the flopping and gamesmanship with the officials have gone up. Rather than attempting to match the Timberwolves’ level of play or competitiveness, Jokić has far too often focused his attention elsewhere.

“I thought we were very competitive tonight,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said about his team’s performance. “The competitive spirit question bothers me because I thought we were extremely competitive tonight at the start of the game. I thought we got into them. It was a game I thought we had control of, and in the third quarter, we just could not make a run.”

While the Nuggets may have been competitive to begin the game, the rest of the contest tells a different story. The Nuggets got outscored 62-42 in the second half with two of the Wolves’ offensive engines, DiVicenzo and Edwards, out of the game.

The Nuggets’ two best players, Jokić and Jamal Murray, shot a combined 6-24 from the field, including nine straight misses from Jokić to close the game as Gobert and Murray locked them down for the third consecutive game.

Adelman, like Jokić, took exception to the layup by McDaniels at the end of the game.

One thing Adelman is correct about: Game 4 and this entire series is precisely who Jaden McDaniels is.

McDaniels knew exactly what he was doing by putting the ball in the basket at the end of the game, just like he knew what he was saying after Game 2. He knew the reaction both would likely generate and was unafraid the Nuggets would do anything about it. When confronted, McDaniels, with a smile on his face, grabbed the jersey of Jokić and pushed him out of the way.

McDaniels does not care if he gives another team bulletin board material. He does not care about any unwritten rules, and he certainly does not care about what anyone thinks of him or his teammates. He just wants to play basketball.

“I said what I said,” McDaniels explained. “And then after that, just come to hoop every night.” When asked if Jokić said anything to him, McDaniels replied, “I don’t know what he said to be honest. I just seen someone that was big as hell.”

The only surprise was that McDaniels took it easy on the Nuggets by laying the ball in instead of breaking out his signature dunk, which has come to be known as the Slim McNasty, as he did in Game 7 of the 2024 series between these two teams.

For much of the night, Target Center felt like a balloon that someone had let all the air out of. They lost, in many ways, their heart and soul, DiVincenzo to a catastrophic Achilles injury, and the franchise superstar Edwards to a hyperextended knee.

The Timberwolves could have let their emotions get the best of them. They could have let the game go before halftime and tried to regroup before Game 5 with the series still tied.

Instead, they decided to battle back.

“That might be the most proud of our team I’ve been all season,” Timberwolves Head Coach Chris Finch said after the game. “Losing those two guys was really tough, tough emotionally for the guys. We regrouped well. I thought the key was just hanging in there until we get to halftime, kind of reset things, figure out what we have and who we have going forward.”

“Really proud of the guys,” Gobert stated. “You know, we lose two of our main guys early in the game, kept competing, had a lot of adversity, a lot of things didn’t go our way, kept competing no matter what, kept playing together. Every single guy that came in the game brought something and able to close out at the end, so really proud of the guys.”

The biggest bright spot on the night was the 43-point performance from Ayo Dosunmu, who saw an increased role with DiVincenzo and Edwards both out. The scoring total was a career-high for Dosunmu and a Timberwolves playoff record for scoring off the bench, a mark Dosunmu set just a game earlier with 25 points in Game 3.

“I didn’t know he was that damn good, I ain’t gonna lie to you.” Julius Randle said of Dosunmu’s Game 4 performance. “But, damn, I’m glad we got him.”

Dosunmu said the key to his performance was “just being aggressive.” He continued. “Just staying true to my technique and my routine. I think that’s very important having a very strict routine off the court. I think that plays a huge part into your performance on the court. Then just entering flow state.”

At every turn in Game 4, the Timberwolves and Nuggets told everyone watching exactly who they are as a team.

The Timberwolves, without their starting backcourt, kept their composure. The Nuggets, on the other hand, had no response for the Wolves on either end of the court while their best playing starting a brawl because of an extra two points in garbage time.

The Wolves, every step of the way, overcame the adversity that was thrown their way, while the Nuggets seemed to succumb to the pressure.

The Timberwolves will hope to bottle up that feeling one more time to close out this first-round series. The Nuggets, meanwhile, will need some soul-searching if they’re even willing to do so.

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Bradish labors, Wolfram struggles as Orioles lose 5-3 in series finale

Apr 26, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Kyle Bradish (38) looks on during the second inning against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

A weird weekend of baseball ended in a frustratingly conventional way. Kyle Bradish had an uneven day on the mound, Grant Wolfram struggled out of the bullpen, and the Orioles bats lacked punch in a 5-3 loss on Sunday afternoon in Baltimore.

This was a laborious start for Bradish. He made it through five innings, but none of them were clean, and many of them required some serious help from his defense in order to survive them.

In the second inning, Ceddanne Rafaela led off with a double. He attempted to tag up and advance to third on the Marcelo Mayer fly ball that followed, but a strong throw from right fielder Tyler O’Neill and a slide that popped Rafaela up off of the base instead gave Bradish two outs.

In the Red Sox side of the third inning, Bradish issued two walks and uncorked a wild pitch to put two runners in scoring position with two outs. That’s as far as they would go, Bradish striking out Roman Anthony to escape the jam.

The fourth inning saw Bradish issue another walk, this one a lead-off base on balls to Wilyer Abreu. But the runner would be quickly eliminated when he got too eager to advance on a missed bunt attempt by Rafaela at the plate. Samuel Basallo fired over to first, behind Abreu, and got him scrambling back to the bag.

It was in the fifth inning where Bradish finally succumbed to his struggles. Caleb Durbin led off with a single and then stole second base. An Andrew Monasterio single brought Durbin in for the first run of the day. A few batters later, Willson Contreras launched a two-run bomb to left-center field for a 3-0 lead.

Bradish finished up the fifth inning, and that marked the end of his outing. The righty gave up the three runs on four hits, four walks, and three strikeouts. It wasn’t a disaster, but it was also far from what we normally expect from the 29-year-old. His stuff seemed to be lacking across the board. Spin rates were down. Velocities were down. And whiff rates were down. Maybe it was the colder temperatures. Or maybe it’s just part of the process that comes with building back up after missing most of the 2025 season.

It’s not as if the Orioles offense was doing much to support him. They struggled to handle Boston’s starter Connelly Early. The young lefty tossed four shutout innings to begin the game, scattering two singles and walk in that time.

The Orioles first run of the day came in the bottom of the fifth. Basallo led off the frame with a solo homer to right field, his fifth long ball of the season.

Boston answered right back in the top of the sixth inning. Grant Wolfram had come on in relief of Bradish, and immediately got smacked around. Abreu led off with a single, then came in to score on a Rafaela triple to center field. Mayer followed that with a base knock to bring Rafael home and make it 5-1.

That was all for Wolfram. He faced three hitters and failed to retire any of them. Yennier Cano came on and did an impressive job to get out of the inning without allowing any more runs. That was despite the first batter he faced, Durbin, reaching on an error by Jeremiah Jackson. Gunnar Henderson helped out with a nice snag to get the first out. Cano got the next out on his own, fielding a Monasterio ball back to the mound and then tagging out Mayer as he tried to get home. The final out of the inning came when Basallo nabbed Monasterio trying to steal second base.

Henderson followed his nice glove work with a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth inning. His ninth home run of the season came off the bat at 105.3 mph, but it counted for just one anyway. The Orioles trailed 5-2.

In the bottom of the eighth inning the Orioles would score again. Colton Cowser pinch hit for Blaze Alexander and reached base on a single up the middle. A dribbler in front of the mound advanced Cowser to second with two outs. And then it was Henderson that came through with an RBI single to make it a 5-3 game.

That is as close as it would get. Aroldis Chapman came on for the ninth inning and made quick work of the O’s lineup to secure the 5-3 win for the visitors.

What a bummer. This series had started off so well on Friday night. And given how poor the Red Sox had been playing coming in, paired with their Saturday evening/Sunday morning drama, it felt like a chance for the Orioles to get division play off on the right foot. Instead, they wilted today.

The 5-3 scoreline feels kind to the Orioles. The Red Sox went just 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position, Rafaela got thrown out at third base because he (just barely) popped off the base, and Abreu was picked off at first base because he didn’t wait for a bunt to get down. They could/should have scored more.

The Orioles bats had just two extra base hits (the two home runs) and worked one walk. It was a bad showing against a young pitcher.

At least the Orioles bullpen, minus Wolfram, was good. Cano, Anthony Nunez, Rico Garcia, and Andrew Kittredge combined for four scoreless, hitless innings. They each have ERAs under 2.00 on the year.

The Orioles are off on Monday. They will then wrap up the month of April with a three-game set at Camden Yards against the Astros. That’s another under-performing team that you would like to see the Orioles beat. It has to happen eventually, right? Right!?

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Mets offense awful yet again in Game 1 loss to Rockies

Apr 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) tags out Colorado Rockies center fielder Jake McCarthy (31) in the seventh inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The Mets fell to the lowly Rockies by a score of 3-1 in the first game of the doubleheader. Lack of offense and poor defense was the name of the game yet again in their second straight loss to Colorado.

The Mets did load the bases with one out in the first against old friend Jose Quintana, but both Marcus Semien and Brett Baty struck out to end the threat. Baty thought he had walked but an overturned call ended the inning. That was it on the offensive side until Tyrone Taylor hit a home run to lead off the fifth inning. Quintana had retired 11 batters in a row up to that point. It was a bit of a makeshift lineup given the lefty on the mound and the doubleheader, but this team has no excuse to score only one run against a team with inflated ERAs. Baty struck out three times and Tommy Pham still does not have a hit since his call up..

Opposite Quintana on the mound Nolan McLean was good enough but allowed a run when he loaded the bases in the fourth with nobody out. After Troy Johnston singled to put Colorado on the board, McLean limited the damage with a strikeout and a double play to get out of the inning. Unfortunately the sixth was again his undoing, although in this case he was not helped by his defense. After a double and a walk to lead off the inning, he induced a ground ball, but in attempting to turn a double play, Mark Vientos hit the runner running to second and got zero outs. Huascar Brazobán entered in relief of McLean and got a double play but the go-ahead run came home. That closed the book on McLean whose final line was 5 innings pitched, five hits, two runs, one of which was earned. He also struck out seven and walked two. Brazobán would give up another run in the seventh to put the game further out of reach for this abysmal offense.

The team did manage to load the bases in the eighth but Luis Robert Jr. popped up and Mark Vientos struck out to end the inning. The team pitifully went down in order in the ninth and with the Red Sox already firing Alex Cora you have to wonder how much longer this will continue before changes will be made in the organization.

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Win Probability Added

What’s WPA?

Big Mets winner: Tyrone Taylor +12% WPA
Big Mets loser: Marcus Semien -18% WPA
Mets pitchers: -5% WPA
Mets hitters: -45% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Tyrone Taylor home run in fifth +16.1 WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Mickey Moniak single in fourth -11.3% WPA

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Mets vs. Rockies, Game 2: Lineups, broadcast info, and open thread, 4/26/26

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 31: Kodai Senga #34 of the New York Mets looks back after being taken out o the game during the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on August 31, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Vincent Carchietta/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Mets lineup

Bo Bichette – 3B
Juan Soto – DH
Francisco Alvarez – C
Brett Baty – 1B
MJ Melendez – LF
Marcus Semien – 2B
Carson Benge – RF
Ronny Mauricio – SS
Tyrone Taylor – CF

Kodai Senga – RHP

Rockies lineup

Edouard Julien – 2B
Hunter Goodman – C
Mickey Moniak – LF
Tyler Freeman – RF
TJ Rumfield – 1B
Kyle Karros – 3B
Troy Johnston – DH
Ezequiel Tovar – SS
Brenton Doyle – CF

Chase Dollander – RHP

Broadcast info

First pitch: 4:55 PM EDT
TV: SNY
Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2

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Flyers vs Penguins Prediction, Picks & Best Bets for Tonight's NHL Playoffs Game 5

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Sidney Crosby has been productive on offense for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Philadelphia Flyers, pacing all players in shots on goal in this Round 1 series.

My Flyers vs. Penguins predictions and NHL picks expect more of the same from Sid the Kid in Game 5.

  • UPDATE: Added who will win prediction.

Flyers vs Penguins Game 5 prediction

Who will win Flyers vs Penguins Game 5?

Penguins: Believe it or not, Pittsburgh holds a 6.41-5.94 xG edge at 5-on-5 through four games, and Arturs Silovs seems to have given them a jolt in net. 

I think Pittsburgh grinds out another win at home before bowing out in six.

Flyers vs Penguins best bet: Sidney Crosby Over 2.5 shots (-165)

Sidney Crosby has registered at least three shots on goal in every game this postseason. Even with the Philadelphia Flyers leaning on their structured defensive system, Crosby is still getting his share of looks.

That should continue in Game 5. The Pittsburgh Penguins are once again playing an elimination game, which means they’ll rely heavily on Crosby.

Considering it's also a home game for Pittsburgh, Head coach Dan Muse will control the matchups and be able to get Crosby some extra shifts away from Philly defenseman Travis Sanheim.

Flyers vs Penguins Game 5 same-game parlay

Bryan Rust has hit the scoresheet in a remarkable 73% of his games this season following one day of rest. That number jumps to 80% when isolating home dates.

Rust leads the Penguins in high-danger chances during this series and is attached to the hip of Sidney Crosby in all situations, making him a real threat to produce.

Meanwhile, the Flyers have generated more chances with Travis Konecny on the ice than with any other forward on the team.

Flyers vs Penguins SGP

  • Sidney Crosby Over 2.5 shots
  • Bryan Rust Over 0.5 points
  • Travis Konecny Over 0.5 points

Flyers vs Penguins Game 5 goal scorer pick

Egor Chinakhkov (+285)

Although Egor Chinakhkov ranks first among all Penguins in shot attempts and scoring chances, he has zero goals or points to show for it. 

Chinakhov was one of the league’s better finishers in the second half of the season and did his best work at home, where he’s found the back of the net in 10 of his past 20 games.

Flyers vs Penguins odds for Game 5

  • Moneyline: Flyers +120 | Penguins -140
  • Puck Line: Flyers +1.5 (-210) | Penguins -1.5 (+175)
  • Over/Under: Over 6 (+100) | Under 6 (-120)

Flyers vs Penguins trend

Sidney Crosby has recorded 3+ shots in 14 of his last 17 games against the Flyers. Find more NHL betting trends for Flyers vs. Penguins.

How to watch Flyers vs Penguins Game 5

LocationPPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
DateMonday, April 27, 2026
Puck drop7:00 p.m. ET
TVESPN, Sportsnet

Flyers vs Penguins latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

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Pistons vs Magic Prediction, Picks & Best Bets for Tonight's NBA Playoffs Game 4

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The Detroit Pistons will try to knot this series with the Orlando Magic at 2-2 at Kia Center tonight, but my Pistons vs. Magic predictions for Game 4 see Wendell Carter Jr. doing everything in his power to prevent that from happening.

Here are my best free NBA picks for Game 4 on Monday, April 27, with tip-off scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC.

  • UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.

Pistons vs Magic prediction

Who will win Pistons vs Magic Game 4?

Magic: For as well as Detroit played during the regular season, they are one of the most vulnerable top seeds we’ve seen in a while. Recurring injuries drove Orlando’s win total down and forced them to navigate the Play-In Tournament, but a healthy Magic team is dangerous, and I’ll take them to win this one outright.

Pistons vs Magic best bet: Wendell Carter Jr. Over 10.5 points (-115)

Wendell Carter Jr. has provided excellent numbers through the first three games of the series against the Detroit Pistons, averaging 11.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per contest. Carter scored 11+ points in 45 of 78 regular-season matchups, and he’s reached that total in two of three playoff games.

The Orlando Magic big man is an effective floor-spacer who can spread out Jalen Duren with his 3-point shooting ability. Carter has gone just 1-for-7 from deep in this series, but he’s due for positive regression in that department.

WCJ has hit the Over on this scoring line in three of his last four matchups against the Pistons, and he’s got a strong advantage on the glass that he can parlay into second-chance scoring opportunities.

Among players with 25+ playoff minutes per game, Carter is tops in offensive rebound percentage (10.7%). Detroit was also vulnerable on the glass during the regular season, surrendering the seventh-most boards and fourth-most offensive rebounds per match.

Carter presents a complete matchup nightmare for the Pistons, and his shooting and rebounding abilities will lead to another 11+ point performance at home.

Pistons vs Magic same-game parlay

The Magic are finally healthy and rolling against a Pistons team that doesn’t have any answers for their size and shot-making abilities. I’ll take Orlando to cover as a small home dog.

Two of three games have gone Under in this series, and it's thanks to strong defensive efforts on both sides. The Magic and Pistons each rank in the Top 3 in defensive rating in the postseason.

Detroit finished second in that category in the regular season, while Orlando was 13th.

Pistons vs Magic SGP

  • Wendell Carter Jr. Over 10.5 points
  • Magic +2.5
  • Under 214

Our "from downtown" SGP: Duke Double-Doubles

A couple of 6-foot-10 Duke big men delivered double-doubles in Game 3, and I’m rolling with the pair of former Blue Devils to reach that statistical milestone once again. 

Carter Jr. finished with a season-high 17 rebounds to go with 14 points in Game 3, and he’s feasted on the glass this series.

Meanwhile, Paolo Banchero has averaged 24.2 points and nine rebounds in six games against the Pistons, recording three double-doubles in the process.

Pistons vs Magic SGP

  • Magic moneyline
  • Wendell Carter Jr. to record a double-double
  • Paolo Banchero to record a double-double

Pistons vs Magic odds for Game 4

  • Spread: Pistons -3.5 (-110) | Magic +3.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Pistons -160 | Magic +135
  • Over/Under: Over 215 (-110) | Under 215 (-110)

Pistons vs Magic betting trend to know

Orlando has hit the 1Q moneyline in 12 of its last 16 games (+10.25 Units / 39% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. Magic.

How to watch Pistons vs Magic Game 4

LocationKia Center, Orlando, FL
DateMonday, April 27, 2026
Tip-off8:00 p.m. ET
TVNBC

Pistons vs Magic latest injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
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JJ Redick was impressed at how hard the Lakers played in Game 3

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 24: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round 1 Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2026 at the Toyota Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

This Lakers-Rockets series hasn’t featured pretty basketball. The Lakers have played without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, and the Rockets have had two games without Kevin Durant. With so many key stars out, scoring has been ugly and each contest has been a grind.

In that muck, the Lakers have been the better team. They’ve won all three games by simply outhustling the Rockets with Game 3 being a prime example.

With LA down by six with less than a minute to go, they were the ones forcing turnovers, making their free throws and hitting 3-pointers. They forced overtime and had more grit-and-grind plays in the extra session.

Deandre Ayton and LeBron James won jump balls, Marcus Smart was grabbing defensive rebounds and the Lakers snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat.

After the win, Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised his team’s efforts.

“Everything we needed to do, even when it wasn’t pretty, we just kind of found a way to do it,” Redick said. “We’re playing hard. You have to do that to put yourself in a position to win. There’s some things we can execute better but I thought, from the beginning of the game, we played with a sense of desperation and we played like a team that was down. As did they. They played a great game as well. A hard-fought game and I thought we matched that.”

Teams that go up 3-0 in the NBA playoffs are 159-0, so Houston was well aware that a loss essentially ended their season. They brought the appropriate fight to this game to ensure they wouldn’t lose. Alperen Şengün had 33 points and 16 rebounds, Jabari Smith Jr. hit six 3-pointers and the Rockets had twice as many offensive rebounds as the Lakers.

However, when push came to shove, Houston crumbled. LeBron forced a turnover on Reed Sheppard. Jaxson Hayes played great defense on Şengün on his game-winning attempt in the fourth. And in overtime, the Lakers were the sharper team.

Given that they were trailing on the road and shorthanded, it took a gutsy performance from everyone in a purple and gold uniform to flip the result in LA’s favor.

The fact that they were able to do so is a testament to their never-say-die attitude and team unity. This is the direct opposite of what the Rockets have.

They don’t seem like a team playing together and for one another. Kevin Durant can’t be found on the bench and their head coach, Ime Udoka, is calling out his players postgame.

Now the Lakers know they are better than the Rockets, and even if the odds are against them, they are never out of the game. If they stay focused, they can finish this series off this weekend and earn their first playoff sweep since 2010.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

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14-15: Chart

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - APRIL 26: Emerson Hancock #26 of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning at Busch Stadium on April 26, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Our Fire TV winning moment: Rob Refsnyder, .38 WPA

Setting your TV on fire: Randy Arozarena, -.16 WPA

Game thread comment of the day:

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Cardinals Bullpen Wastes McGreevy’s Great Start as Mariners Win 3-2

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - APRIL 26: JJ Wetherholt #26 of the St. Louis Cardinals hits a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners in the third inning at Busch Stadium on April 26, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Michael McGreevy gave the St. Louis Cardinals a crucial quality start and JJ Wetherholt and Nathan Church provided the power, but the bullpen wasted all of it as the Mariners pulled out a late inning victory 3-2.

Both Emerson Hancock for the Mariners and Michael McGreevy for the Cardinals gave their teams strong starts Sunday. Both offenses were quiet until the bottom of the 3rd inning when JJ Wetherholt turned on a pitch and deposited it in the right-field bullpen with an exit velocity of 107.4 mph traveling 375 feet making it 1-0 Cardinals.

The Seattle Mariners answered in the top of the 4th inning when Cal Raleigh showed proof that his bat is starting to wake up hammering a McGreevy pitch over the wall to tie the game 1-1.

Michael McGreevy’s performance was remarkable. He threw 6 solid innings only surrendering 5 hits and 1 earned run with 6 strikeouts and no walks. He gave the St. Louis Cardinals an absolutely crucial long start at a time when the bullpen need it most. To give credit where credit is due, Emerson Hancock also threw a strong game completing 6 innings allowing 7 hits and 2 earned runs striking out 4 and walking 2.

The St. Louis Cardinals offense would flex its muscle again in the bottom of the 6th inning when Nathan Church unloaded on a Hancock pitch and deposit it in the right-field stands giving the Cardinals a 2-1 lead. Can you say 110 mph exit velocity? Yes, you can and Nathan Church did.

Matt Svanson gave the Cardinals an efficient start to the 7th inning getting two quick outs including a great defense play by Ramón Urías at third base. However, Connor Joe would double and then score on a 2-strike broken bat single by Young tying the game 2-2.

The Cardinals would threaten in the bottom of the 7th inning when JJ Wetherholt barely missed another home run flying out to deep right-center with a ball caught up against the wall by Rodriguez. Ivan Herrera walked, but was out on a force play when Alec Burleson grounded out. Burleson the pitch before had yanked a foul ball with home run distance. Jordan Walker grounded out to end the Cardinals threat in the 7th.

Ryne Stanek entered the game in the top of the 8th inning for the Cardinals to face the top of the Mariner’s lineup and he was sharp. He got Crawford out looking thanks to a nice ABS challenge by Herrera. Stanek would also punch out Cal Raleigh thanks to a 100 mph corner painter. He would strike out Rodriguez, too, with his 22nd pitch of the 8th inning which was a 101 heater that Rodriguez missed.

The only Cardinals highlight in the bottom of the 8th inning wasn’t a player, but a fan. After Nathan Church flied out to deep left field, Randy Arozarena flipped the ball into the stands which was caught by a gentleman who, without hesitation, handed the ball to a young girl. Well done, sir.

JoJo Romero came in to pitch the 9th for the Cardinals. He was able to retire Arazorena on a flyout to Jordan Walker in right field. However, Rob Refsnyder ruined everyone’s day with a pinch-hit home run into the Mariner’s bullpen in left field giving Seattle a 3-2 lead.

Jose Ferrer was brought in by the Mariners to face the Cardinals in the bottom of the 9th. He got Ramón Urías to flyout to Arazorena in left field. Yohel Pozo pinch-hit for Victor Scott II. He grounded out for the second out. That brought up JJ Wetherholt who popped out to third to end the game.

The St. Louis Cardinals begin a crucial 4-game series in Pittsburgh Monday night as Dustin May will get the start for the Cardinals. The Pirates have yet to announce their starter as of now. First pitch scheduled for 5:40pm central time at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

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Luis Gil torched by Astros, Yankees fail to sweep

Apr 26, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Gil (81) steps on first base to get an out as Houston Astros left fielder Dustin Harris (37) runs down the line during the second inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

The Yankees had already locked up their third-straight series win, but were unable to notch their third consecutive sweep on Sunday in Houston. Astros hitters had a perfect gameplan to attack starter Luis Gil — although they may not have needed one — and the Yankee lineup was unable to counter against Spencer Arrighetti. Even after some signs of life in the ninth, the Astros salvaged one game in this set, 7-4.

Plainly put, Luis Gil was terrible. The Yankee righty lasted a couple of batters into the fifth inning, but never looked good. I wrote in the game thread that he was issuing nearly a walk per strikeout, and he actually got worse today, with three free passes and not a single punchout. He has now walked 11 of 85 batters faced this season, against just nine strikeouts. This is not the performance of a Major League-caliber starting pitcher.

Things were bad from the jump, with Christian Walker taking Gil deep for a two-run shot just four batters into the game. I may be a humble blogger, but I don’t think you’re supposed to pitch there:

Don’t worry though, the second home run he allowed on the day, another two-run blast this time off of Isaac Paredes’ bat in the third inning, was a slightly-less-terrible pitch:

The Yankees were down 4-0 before they’d barely gotten through their own batting order once. I’m not going to excuse the Yankee offense today, who outside of one Aaron Judge blast was fast asleep against a pitcher that left a lot of balls out over the zone. Still, as we had seen in the two previous games of this series, when you’re down by crooked numbers early it does impact the way your hitters approach their at-bats. Not much went right at all at Daiken Field today but being down by so much so early had the biggest impact.

Gil allowed Carlos Correa to walk to open the fifth before Yordan Alvarez doubled, and I think we’re all lucky that Darth Vader Yordan didn’t manage to leave the yard in this series for how hard the ball was coming off his bat. Still, the Astros had two men in scoring position with nobody out, and Paul Blackburn was called in to a pretty impossible situation.

He didn’t help himself out though, allowing three more runners to score and finally closing the book on Gil’s day. 4.0+ IP, 6 ER, 3 BB, 0 K. His ERA this season is now 6.05, his FIP 8.43, and his xFIP which assumes a relatively normal HR rate, stands at 6.32. The Yankees are a good baseball team, but Gil in his current form cannot be allowed to make another start in this rotation.

There’s not much else to talk about in this game. Jazz Chisholm Jr. had a horrendous challenge and slid down to 1-for-8 on the year, the current worst mark in all of baseball. He did manage a single out of the AB in question, but I think we need to start increasing the alleged $1000 kangaroo court fines for challenges missed that badly.

Jazz slightly made up for the ABS snafu with a really nice double play:

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As I said earlier, Judge did manage to push a run across all by himself, after being held hitless throughout the series:

View Link

That’s his 10th home run this season, and the third time in his career he’s gone yard on his birthday. Happy 34th, Cap.

There was something resembling a rally in the ninth, albeit everything coming with two outs. Paul Goldschmidt boomed a double into the left-center gap that brought Jazz around to score, and J.C. Escarra answered with a double of his own to make it 7-3. Ryan McMahon, who is starting to look like a representative MLB hitter again, added an RBI single of his own before José Caballero lined out to end the threat.

There are going to be bad games — there’s that old adage about how every team wins 50, loses 50, and it’s what you do with the rest that counts. More particular to these 2026 Yankees, it’s easier to stomach a loss like this when it comes at the end of an 8-1 run with series wins over bitter rivals on the road. Still, there are takeaways from everything; Luis Gil cannot continue to be a starter for this ballclub, and we might want to look at why Judge’s road splits are so off.

The Yankees can wash the taste out of their mouths right away, as they head up to Arlington for a three-game set with the Rangers. Before what should be a dynamite pitching matchup Tuesday, where Jacob DeGrom is scheduled to start against Cam Schlittler, the nominal No. 1 in the rotation goes Monday night with Max Fried tabbed to start. That’s as good as you can hope for coming off a loss, and first pitch comes at 8:05 p.m. Eastern.

Box Score

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Colorado Rockies game no. 29 thread: Chase Dollander vs Kodai Senga

DENVER, CO - APRIL 21: Chase Dollander #32 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the game between the San Diego Padres and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Colorado Rockies held the New York Mets to just one run during their 3-1 victory in the first stage of today’s traditional double-header. With that win, the Rockies have won the series against the Mets.

Now it’s time to play again, and potentially earn a sweep in Flushing.

For the first time this season, right-handed pitcher Chase Dollander will take the mound without an Opener.

The 2023 first round pick has been nothing short of excellent so far this season. Operating in a bulk relief role—usually with an opener—Dollander has a 2.88 ERA in six appearances and 25 innings of work. He has walked seven batters and leads the entire Rockies pitching staff with 32 total strikeouts.

Dollander is considered fully stretched out. His last time out against the San Diego Padres he went a full six innings while giving up just one earned run on three hits and a walk. He tied a career high for strikeouts with nine.

Making the start for the Mets is Japanese righty Kodai Senga 千賀 滉大. Senga is off to a bumpy start for the 2026 season. In four starts he currently holds an ERA of 8.83 with four home runs and a 1.904 WHIP across 17.1 innings. In both of his last two starts he has failed to make it through four or more innings and has given up at least six earned runs.

Senga has historically done well against the Rockies, which could provide both him and the Mets an opportunity to turn things around. In three career starts against the Rockies he has an ERA of 1.47 with only two home runs and 17 strikeouts over 18.1 innings. He uses his arsenal to make opposing batters whiff with a 96.3 MPH four-seam fastball, a cutter, a sweeper, a sinker, and his trademark “ghost” forkball. He has also thrown at least one curveball and slider this season.

First Pitch: 2:55 PM MDT

TV: Rockies TV

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)

Mets SB Nation site:Amazin’ Avenue

Lineups:

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Familiar: Braves 6, Phillies 2

Apr 26, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola (27) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

The Phillies snapped their ten-game losing streak on Saturday night by actually getting some late, clutch hits and prevailing in extra innings.

The Braves: “I took that personally”

On Sunday, the Braves reverted to their winning ways, while the Phillies were back on their B.S. Aaron Nola was rocked, the hitters looked feeble against Chris Sale, and they lost to the Braves 6-2, marking their eleventh loss in twelve games.

One of the recurring themes of the Phillies’ freefall has been a tendency for their pitchers to give up a lot of cheap hits. And far too often, those cheap hits are followed by not-so-cheap ones. We got to see that familiar sequence immediately on Sunday. Ronald Acuna, Jr. led off the first with an infield single and Drake Baldwin followed with another single. Another phenomenon we’re quite used to is Nola giving up a home run, and that’s exactly what he did next when Matt Olson sent a deep ball to right field to make it 3-0.

The game was essentially over at that point, but the Braves weren’t done. Mauricio Dubon led off the second with a triple, and Eli White followed with another home run. After Nola actually recorded an out, he walked Acuna, allowed a steal of second base, and then another single to Baldwin to make it 6-0.

To Nola’s slight credit, he held the Braves scoreless over the next 2.2 innings, and then the Phillies’ bullpen was also able to keep them off the board after that. But with Sale at the top of his game, it didn’t come close to mattering.

After being retired with ease in the first two innings, the Phillies’ offense almost showed signs of life in the third. With two outs, Rafael Marchan was hit by a pitch, Trea Turner singled, and Kyle Schwarber walked. That brought Bryce Harper to the plate.

Harper was one of the heroes of Saturday, and he clearly wanted to be a hero again on Sunday. He worked a 3-0 count and then swung at a borderline pitch. But as too often happens, when the Phillies swing on hitter’s counts, the result was a foul ball. Harper then watched strike two and was blown away by a 98 MPH fastball to end the inning, and any realistic chance the Phillies had at a comeback.

Sale cruised through the sixth inning, not allowing another baserunner. In the eighth, the Phillies took advantage of the Braves’ bullpen and some defensive sloppiness when Marchan reached on an error. One batter later, Schwarber hit a home run that did little but make his stats – and the final score – a little bit prettier.

With that, the Phillies’ disastrous road trip comes to an end. After a much needed (for the fans if not the team) day off on Monday, they’ll be home to start a three-game series with the Giants on Tuesday. With the team in free fall, we’ll see if the team’s personnel and coaching staff still looks the same when that series begins.

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Red Sox 5, Orioles 3: A New Normal

Apr 26, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Connelly Early (71) throws during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Damn, why didn’t they think of firing Alex Cora earlier? The Red Sox won Chad Tracy’s debut, 5-3. Did anything happen differently than it would have with Cora in charge? It’s impossible to say, but from a strategy perspective, things were more or less the same. Connelly Early was maybe given a longer leash than he normally would have, throwing 6 2/3 innings and 92 pitches. Zack Kelly was the first man out of the bullpen in a spot that Cora usually gives to Greg Weissert, but Weissert pitched yesterday, so it’s tough to say if that was a trust thing or a workload thing. Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman still handled the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, to protect the lead and close out the game — no change there.

On the offensive side, Tracy didn’t go to his bench at all. There weren’t any obvious spots to pinch hit late in the game, but Cora was always aggressive with his bench, so that’s an area to watch. On the basepaths, the Red Sox looked to run. They stole four bases, got thrown out another time, were picked off, and ran into an out at third base. Cora always picked his spots to run, and today could have been a matter of getting hitters on base frequently, but it’s notable to see from the Tracy-led Red Sox in game one.

That out at third base, which came in the second inning, might have been due to the coaching changes. Ceddanne Rafaela tagged from second to third on a ball hit to right field and was called out for popping off the bag after beating the throw. On review, it looked like he kept in contact with the bag through his whole slide, but Tracy elected not to challenge. Did not having a bench coach affect the review process? Was Tracy being conservative early in his first game? I don’t know. He’ll probably address it in his post-game, but I’m on a timer here.

The first one is out of the way now. We’ll continue to pick up differences between Cora and Tracy over the next few weeks and months, but this is the new normal now. On to Toronto to face the Blue Jays, where we’ll look to get the train back on track and climb back up the American League East standings.

Three Studs

Connelly Early

It was the longest outing of Early’s short career at 6 2/3 innings. The only runs came via solo home runs in the fifth and sixth innings. To his credit, he bounced back from the home runs and didn’t let it snowball. The swing and miss still hasn’t returned to his 2025 rates, but his four-seam fastball command was as good as it’s been this year. He earned four whiffs on 32 pitches, the second-best rate of his season for a single game. The two-strike command of his secondaries still needs to improve, but he didn’t let two-strike counts turn into base runners. His late-game fastball velocity was up as well, which is a great sign for the lefty. I would have liked to see him try to talk Tracy into giving him one more batter so he could finish the seventh, but it was a job well done regardless.

Willson Contreras

His fifth-inning home run extended the Red Sox’s lead to three. The team needs him to continue providing power to give the offense a boost.

Ceddanne Rafaela

Rafaela hit a leadoff double in the second inning and had an RBI triple in the sixth. I mentioned him getting thrown out at third base, but it was less a baserunning error and more an umpiring error. That’s not one to be up in arms about.

Three Sorta Duds

Nobody played particularly poorly.

Roman Anthony

0-3 with a walk. First game back from injury, oh well.

Connor Wong

Also 0-3 with a walk. Pretty serviceable day from your backup catcher.

Garrett Whitlock

He gave up a run, but it should probably be unearned. It’s hard to get an error nowadays (I think it’s a conspiracy to inflate batting average), but a runner reached on a play I expect my second baseman to make. The stuff is still sharp. On to Toronto.

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Guardians Drop Game 3 to Blue Jays

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 26: Angel Martínez #1 of the Cleveland Guardians hits a double in the fifth inning during the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Sunday, April 26, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Michael Chisholm/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

With another series on the line, the Guardians faced the Blue Jays in Game 3, behind starting pitcher Slade Cecconi.

Slade Cecconi struggled in the bottom of the first, giving up two hits, a walk, and two runs and driving his pitch count high for the starter. However, he tightened up for the next four innings and only allowed two hits and kept his pitch count to 70 pitches thrown. The sixth inning bookended the start with similar results as the first. Two hits and a two-run home run gave the lead back to the Blue Jays. Slade recorded two more outs before being replaced by Tim Herrin to retire the side. Slade finished his day having gone 5.2IP/6H/4R/1BB/5Ks.

The Guardians were looking to start the game with some momentum. Steven Kwan hit a lead off single, but Angel Martínez grounded into a force out, leaving Kwan out and Martínez on first base. With two outs and Rhys Hoskins up to bat, Angel attempted to steal second. He was called out and the team challenged the call, but it was ultimately upheld. This retired the side and took the Guards challenge away in the first inning.

Both teams were held scoreless for the second, third, and fourth innings. The bottom of the Cleveland lineup pieced together some offense to tie it up. Juan Brito and Austin Hedges hit back-to-back singles to put runners on the corner. Brayan Rocchio slapped a single of his own to center field to score Brito. Kwan hit into a double play, putting Hedgey on third. Angle Martínez doubled to left, scoring Hedgey and tying the game.

The Guardians didn’t have an answer for the two runs the Blue Jays put up in the sixth. There were two defensive gems today that are worth highlighting.

Rocchio had a great snag at short in the bottom of the third to end the inning.

Angel Martínez made an incredible jumping catch to get Vlad Guerrero Jr. out in the bottom of the eighth.

The Guardians return home to face Tampa Bay in a 3 game series before heading out west for the weekend.