DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 02: Pitcher Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves throws against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning at Coors Field on May 02, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves are headed to The City of Angels to face off against the Dodgers after a day of rest. As it turns out, there could not be a better time in the schedule to play this series. The Braves are slotted to use their top half of their rotation, while the Dodgers will go with the bottom half of theirs.
Both teams have had injury issues with their rotations, but both have kept on winning. This series will be the biggest test yet for the Atlanta Braves that have been winning the games that they are supposed to. This will be the first series in quite some time that the Braves will be the underdog, which is always fun to see how teams respond.
The game one matchup tonight will feature Chris Sale against Emmet Sheehan, and in terms of ERA these two pitchers are having very different seasons. Sale is once again starting off strong with a 2.14 ERA and Sheehan is struggling with a 5.23. The season is still young, so the sample sizes are small, but this pitching matchup should make for the one game in the series that the Braves have the best odds of winning.
Chris Sale’s season has been no fluke. He did have the forgettable start on April sixth when he surrendered six runs, but that makes the rest of his work much more impressive. It is crazy to think that a pitcher, this early in the season, could surrender six runs in a 4.0 inning start, yet still own an ERA of 2.14 in the first half of May. Outside of that start with six ERs, Sale has pitched at least six innings in every other start and has not surrendered more than one earned run in any of them. Sale is also trending in the right direction. In his last three starts he is averaging 6.2 innings, 3.0 hits, 0.7 earned runs, 2.0 walks, and 9.0 strikeouts. Those are Cy Young front runner numbers almost every year. The one caveat is that he pitched those three games against the Phillies twice and then the Rockies.
Believe it or not, Chris Sale has not faced the Dodgers’ hitters that often. Outside of Teoscar Hernández that has faced Sale eighteen times, no other Dodger has faced him more in than nine at-bats.
Ironically enough, the player who has had the most success against Sale is former Braves hero, Freddie Freeman. Freeman has nine at-bats against Sale and currently holds a .333 average and 1.222 OPS with a HR. Hernández has an OPS of .818 against him, but no one else has an OPS above .708. Not even world superstar Shohei Ohtani.
The Braves will be facing Emmet Sheehan who has been victim of some poor luck. His ERA is much higher than his expected ERA (xERA) of 4.31. An xERA of 4.31 is not exactly elite, but it is much better than his surface numbers. What could be a recipe for success for the Braves is that Sheehan’s weakness is the Braves’ strength. Sheehan is in the top 25.0 percent of the league in strikeout and walk rates but struggles with giving up hard contact. Sheehan is currently at the bottom 36.0 percent in barrel percentage and bottom 42.0 percent in hard-hit rate. The Braves are currently third in MLB in barrels per plat appearance and eighth in hard-hit percentage. Fun side note, the Braves are first in MLB in batted balls (BBE), and second in MLB in balls hit 95.0 MPH or harder.
It should go without saying that in his young career Sheehan has not faced many of the Braves’ hitters many times. In fact, the last time he faced them was way back in 2023 before his season ending injury that kept him out all of 2024 as well. He has not faced any hitter on the Braves in more than five at-bats, and no player that was on the Braves in 2023 faced him more than twice. Ozzie Albies had two hits on him in that game.
The Atlanta Braves have a legitimate shot to win tonight but bring your coffee because the game does not start till 10:10 EDT.
Game Info
Game Time: Friday, May 8th, 10:10 pm EDT
Location: UNIGLO Field at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 02: Ryan O'Hearn (29) of the Pittsburgh Pirates singles to right field to drive in two runs in the fourth inning during an MLB game against the Cincinnati Reds on May 02, 2026 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Is this a series featuring two teams headed in opposite directions or early season mirages?
The Pittsburgh Pirates entered the offseason fresh off a seventh consecutive losing season. Their 434-598 record over that span was the second-worst in MLB behind only the Rockies (402-629). A team ERA of 4.58 (26th). 29th in runs scored!
What could be done?
The Pirates decided to retool their dreadful lineup, first by offering Kyle Schwarber a reported 4-year, $125 million deal. When that was rejected (he signed for 5/$150MM), they signed 1B/OF Ryan O’Hearn to a 2-year, $29 million contract and have gotten an .824 OPS out of it. But O’Hearn’s production does not lead the team. That honor belongs to second baseman Brandon Lowe, who was acquired for RHP Mike Burrows in a three-team trade involving the Pirates, Rays, and Astros. He has a Pirates-leading 10 home runs and .941 OPS. He hit .247/.326/.481 for the Rays across 8 seasons, but he’s off to a white-hot start. Even his defense (-23.8 Defensive Runs Above Average in those 8 seasons) has been great (+1.8 in 2026). They also signed Marcell Ozuna to be their DH, but he’s been a Deversian bust to this point, posting a putrid line of .186/.256/.288 in 129 PA.
Former Giants prospect Bryan Reynolds is off to a great start, too, hitting .254/.399/.410 and has played in every game to this point. Joey Bart has been pushed into more of a backup role at this point and in his .619 OPS (54 PA) he has 19 strikeouts against just 2 walks. The Pirates’ own farm hand, Oneil Cruz has shifted from shortstop to center field and has gotten better as a hitting, with a .773 OPS to start the year while playing the new position. He vacated shortstop so that the Pirates could call up their top prospect, Konnor Griffin, all of 20 years old. He’s hitting .257/.320/.389 with a pair of homers and 9 walks against 36 strikeouts in his first 125 major league plate appearances.
So, there’s a buzz in Pittsburgh and not just because it’s the setting of the excellent HBO Max drama The Pitt, but because their baseball team is finally competitive. They’ve been good on the road this season (10-8), though with a negative run differential, too. Regardless of how the season ends, the extra work they put in to reimagine their offense has gone a long way. They’ll be playing a Giants team tha has a distinct lack of imagination when it comes to rebuilding or reimagining any part of the roster, and the “stand pat” attitude towards the lineup coupled with the “win the lottery five times” strategy for the pitching staff seems to have set them up for a lost season just 37 games in.
Sure, you can’t win the division in April, but you can lose it all in May, and so far the Giants are off to a worst month in the second month of the season (1-5) than how they started the season (2-4); but, they’ve also lost 8 of 9. They spent the offseason crowing about how they felt they had the best lineup the franchise has seen in years, but through 37 games they’re merely the absolute worst lineup going in every way. Their pitching is valued at 24th (2.0 fWAR), Pittsburgh’s is ranked 3rd (5.3 fWAR). Knowing that most Giants fans and probably the front office abhor Wins Above Replacement, I’ll look at another stat that makes the gap between these two staffs look smaller than it is: the Pirates’ team ERA of 3.70 is 7th in MLB while the Giants’ 3.99 ERA is 11th. So, there you go. There’s not much of a difference between these two teams in this one very narrow respect. So, if you focus on that, maybe that’ll make it easier to imagine that the Giants are as good as the Pirates have been — unless you’re sticking with recent history and imagining that the Pirates will pumpkin back into the Pirates of the last seven years and the Giants will similarly revert to the… around .500 team they’ve been 5 of the last 6 seasons.
Series overview
Who: Pittsburgh Pirates (21-17) vs. San Francisco Giants (14-23) Where: Oracle Park | San Francisco, California When: Friday at 7:15pm PT, Saturday at 6:05pm PT, Sunday at 1:05pm PT National broadcasts: None.
Projected starters Friday: Carmen Mlodzinski (RHP 2-2, 4.76 ERA) vs. TBD Saturday: Braxton Ashcraft (RHP 1-2, 3.02 ERA) vs. TBD Sunday: Bubba Chandler (RHP 1-4, 4.76 ERA) vs. TBD
Players to watch
Pirates
Konnor Griffin / Brandon Lowe / Bryan Reynolds: Yes, yes, I just mentioned all these guys up above, but over the past two weeks, they’ve really led the Pirates’ lineup, with wRC+s of 183, 182, and 158, respectively. Griffin’s slugging .596 and Lowe .625. Griffin has also stolen 4 bases. Reynolds has scored 11 runs in 13 games and has a walk rate of 24.1% against a strikeout rate of 25.9% — interesting!
Spencer Horwitz: Sort of the big offensive acquisition the Pirates made last offseason in a trade with the Blue Jays. He’s struggled on the road this season (.530 OPS), but the first baseman has a .920 OPS in 31 career PA vs. the Giants, but in Oracle Park he’s hitting .381/.409/.619 in 22 PA with a home run and a pair of doubles. This might be a perfect setup for him, because the Giants might try to get around the hotter hitters in the lineup and forget about him.
Mason Montgomery: He was the other part of the three-team trade that netted Pittsburgh Brandon Lowe and all the 26-year old lefty has done is strike dudes out (22 in 14 IP). Okay, and walked duded (8 in 14 IP). And, uh, even given up a lot of hits to them (1.429 WHIP). But he’s allowed just 1 home run in those 14 innings, and that’s because his stuff is really something, with a 98 mph four-seamer paired with an average-ish curve and high spin slider (2,648 rpm). He’s not the team’s closer (that’s veteran Gregory Santos, who has a 1.42 ERA in 19 IP), but it feels like he’ll come into situations late in the game that will, effectively, decide them.
Giants
Willy Adames: This series will be the definitive test to determine whether or not Willy Adames passed away at some point this season and what we’re seeing haunt the Giants lineup right now is, in fact, a g-g-g-ghost. He has a lot of experience against the Pirates from his NL Central days, and while that .790 career OPS in 299 PA isn’t among the best results against a specific team, if he has a series that good we’ll know he’s still alive.
Jung Hoo Lee: He has just a .611 OPS in his career against Pittsburgh, but let’s balance that against what he’s done over his last 24 games (96 PA): .319/.354/.462 (.816 OPS). This stretches back to that terrible Baltimore-Cincinnati road trip. He has 5 doubles, a triple, and a pair of homers to go with 5 walks against 9 Ks. Of course, he’s just 2-for-22 in the first 6 games of May, so, maybe he’s back in a cold spell along with the rest of the offense? We’ll just have to find out!
Bryce Eldridge: This will be a classic test of a rookie, especially a rookie of the modern game, and especially for Eldridge himself. The three scheduled starters in this series all average either 96, 97, or 98 mph with their fastball, and have one exceptional second pitch while the rest of their arsenals are average/sub-average. Those other exceptional pitches will play around with his tremendous height. Mlodzinski has a splitter he throws more often than that fastball (though, he has a wipeout sweeper too). Ashcraft has a 46.2% whiff rate on his curveball (throw 28.5% of the time). And Chandler has a 92-93 mph changeup.
Tony Vitello watch
He’ll be managing against another first year manager in Don Kelly. The only differences are that Kelly played in the majors for 9 years and was an organizational scout and then staffed as a coach on two major league staffs prior to being named the Pirates’ manager. But, you know, other than that, exactly the same.
Prediction time
The Giants really need to sweep this series to get to a record (17-23) that, historically, has been one that can be recovered from in the quest for a solid season. I’m pretty sure these 2026 Giants are awful, and maybe even historically so, but I’ll let this one last flimsy historical mark be the deciding factor before I delete Have Hope In Your Sports Team app from my brain.
The Sixers fell into a 2-0 series hole Wednesday in New York without Embiid and used Andre Drummond, Adem Bona and Dominick Barlow at center. Barlow gave the Sixers a strong second-half stint and Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said pregame that he’ll remain an option at center.
According to Nurse, Embiid has been “getting better all the time” and participated in the Sixers’ Friday morning shootaround.
The Knicks ruled out OG Anunoby (right hamstring strain) for Game 3. Josh Hart (left thumb sprain) and Mitchell Robinson (illness) were both available.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown said that Anunoby is “day-to-day.”
His absence is a significant development. Anunoby has been great in the 2026 playoffs, averaging 21.4 points and 7.5 rebounds.
“OG’s been unbelievable,” said Nurse, who coached Anunoby at the start of his NBA career with the Raptors. “He’s been amazing both in the Atlanta series and this series. OG has been as good as I’ve ever seen him. He just keeps getting better and better. That’s a testament to him.
“His shooting’s been great. His cutting game is great. You used to think, ‘Well, let’s force him inside the line and see what’s going to happen.’ Now he’s dunking on people and hitting that 17-footer. He’s been doing everything at a super-high level. … Let’s hope he’s out there. I’m a big fan of OG’s.”
The Knicks shifted to a smaller starting lineup without Anunoby, sliding guard Miles McBride up to the first unit. Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns rounded out the Knicks’ Game 3 starters.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 7: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots a free throw during the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round Two Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Houston Rockets are sitting at home for the second round of the playoffs trying to make sure they don’t suffer the same fate next season.
This could lead to another aggressive offseason where the team scours the trade market. One player that could be on the Rockets’ radar is Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell.
“The one thing they (the Rockets) do have, they’ve got assets. They’ve got the 2027 and 2029 Suns picks. They’ve got the 2029 Mavs pick. They’ve got a swap in 2027 with the Brooklyn Nets. They are loaded, and they’ve got their own picks moving forward,” MacMahon said h/t Rockets Wire reporter Ben DuBose.
“So, if they want to make a blockbuster trade… and look, we’ll see what happens with the Cavaliers. If Donovan Mitchell’s available, that is a guy I could see the Rockets being aggressive to go get.“
The Rockets should value the experience of going deep in the playoffs, much like they have with Fred VanVleet and Kevin Durant. Mitchell has won a playoff series in each of the last three years with the Cavs and has 72 playoff games under his belt since 2018, reaching the postseason in all of his nine NBA seasons.
Mitchell’s contract expires at the end of the 2027-28 campaign, so it’s possible the Cavs may look to trade him this offseason if they were to fall short once again and he doesn’t want to sign an extension.
TDS community, what do you think of the idea of trading for Mitchell? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
Ducks forward Jansen Harkins speaks to the media after their morning skate at Honda Center.
The Ducks come home for Game 3 with the series tied at one apiece. There’s a lingering thought they could have been up 2-0 in the series, much like the previous Edmonton series. But as Ryan Poehling said after Game 1, “If you linger in the past, it’s not going to change. You can’t focus on that. You’ve just go to dictate how you can play next game.”
Ducks goaltender Lukáš Dostál has been terrific through the first two games, coming 6 seconds away from his first Stanley Cup Playoffs shutout. Defensive focus has become a priority for the Ducks, as they adjust to a much more structured opponent in the Golden Knights.
“I thought our team game with a purpose all game long was strong,” Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said after Game 2. “Some of the defensive part of our game was having some good puck shifts, possession-wise, in the offensive zone.”
May 6, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Pavel Mintyukov (98) blocks a shot by Vegas Golden Knights left wing Ivan Barbashev (49) during the third period of game two of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
“I think the attention to defense has been evident, especially in this series,” Ducks forward Troy Terry said. “It’s leading to more possession time. The two teams, there's definitely a lot of differences between how they play and how the games are taking shape. There’s definitely been a lot less rush opportunities against Vegas. They're very structured. They're very good at being above the puck. But that being said, I think our play in the offensive zone and holding onto pucks and not being one and done in the offensive zone and forcing plays and all that, I think (that) has gotten a lot better in this series.”
Ross Johnston and Jansen Harkins were inserted into the lineup for Game 2, with Mason McTavish and Ian Moore coming out. After a flurry of line adjustments, both Johnston and Harkins ultimately settled into fourth line roles on the flanks of Tim Washe. Harkins iced the game with an empty net goal.
“Everyone wants to play in these important games,” Harkins said. “This is the best type of hockey to be playing, so it’s not easy to watch (from the press box). But I think everyone's doing a great job. We played so well in Round 1, just trying to be ready for my chance. Happy I could do a good job last game.”
May 6, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Jansen Harkins (24) celebrates with center Tim Washe (42) after scoring an empty net goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period of game two of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
The Golden Knights have killed off 19 consecutive penalties and have killed 24-for-25 penalties this season in the playoffs. The Ducks have had nine power play opportunities against the Golden Knights thus far, including a two-minute 5-on-3 opportunity and nearly seven consecutive minutes of power play time.
“We had some looks and our power play is out there where it's not losing momentum in the game,” Quenneville said. “But whether it’s finish or the fine tuning, certainly, there's a higher difficulty of the pressure coming at us.”
“They make it difficult on you,” Ducks defenseman John Carlson said. “They take care of the good areas of the ice. They're very disciplined in their seams, in their rotations, all that stuff. Just like the regular season, that's some of their greatest strengths. So we’ve got to figure out ways to get the puck where it needs to be to make those plays for us.”
Terry will play in Game 3 despite missing the morning skate. Defenseman Radko Gudas participated in morning skate, but is not expected to play in Game 3.
Ducks Projected Lines
Chris Kreider - Leo Carlsson - Troy Terry Alex Killorn - Mikael Granlund - Cutter Gauthier Jeff Viel - Ryan Poehling - Beckett Sennecke Ross Johnston - Tim Washe - Jansen Harkins
Jackson LaCombe - Jacob Trouba Pavel Mintyukov - John Carlson Tyson Hinds - Drew Helleson
Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)
Golden Knights Projected Lines
Ivan Barbashev - Jack Eichel - Mark Stone Brett Howden - William Karlsson - Mitch Marner Pavel Dorofeyev - Tomáš Hertl - Keegan Kolesar Cole Smith - Nic Dowd - Colton Sissons
The Florida Panthers might be in the market for a new goaltender if Sergei Bobrovsky walks in free agency, and if the Panthers want to make a bold move and solidify their crease, making a trade for Winnipeg Jets and Team USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck would do just that.
Hellebuyck’s playoff history isn’t too pretty. In his playoff career, he has a .903 save percentage, but his last three playoff appearances have been dreadful. In 2022-23, he posted an .886 SP; in 2023-24, it was .870; and last year, it was a woeful .866.
Although it’s not all bad, his first four playoff appearances saw positive results, including a .922 SP when the Jets went to the Western Conference finals in 2017-18.
While concerns about his playoff performances are reasonable, his regular-season track record is outstanding. Hellebuyck is a three-time Vezina Trophy winner, a two-time William M. Jennings trophy winner, and won the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2024-25 after posting a .925 save percentage in 63 games while helping the Jets secure the Presidents’ Trophy.
Finally, the last piece of evidence that Hellebuyck is still the best goaltender in the NHL was his dominant performances for Team USA on the international stage. Team Canada dominated Team USA in the 2026 Winter Olympics final, and likely deserved to lose, but goaltending is part of the sport, and no one does it better than Hellebuyck.
The 32-year-old allowed just one goal, giving the Americans the chance to win in overtime and take gold.
If acquired by the Panthers, Hellebuyck can give the organization a level of goaltending that even Bobrovsky may never have reached, but the issue with acquiring Hellebuyck is the cost in assets and against the salary cap.
To at the very least get the Jets front office interested in listening to offers, the deal would involve the ninth overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft. After that, a deal would involve young players like Mackie Samoskevich and Jack Devine, as well as possibly a veteran like Carter Verhaeghe.
If the deal doesn’t include a veteran who takes up a large chunk of the salary cap, the next issue would be icing a lineup that fits. Hellebuyck’s $8.5-million contract can fit with that lineup, but it does leave them with little space.
The Panthers also need to find a backup goaltender, as Daniil Tarasov is a UFA as well.
Dealing away the ninth overall pick and Samoskevich would indicate that GM Bill Zito is willing to mortgage the future of the franchise to give the current roster another few years of being top Stanley Cup contenders.
While the Panthers would be able to compete for Cups with, say, Jordan Binnington or Filip Gustavsson in their crease, Hellebuyck would make them the most balanced team in hockey and the greatest threat to win the Stanley Cup.
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TAMPA, FL - MARCH 15: Luke Voit #59 of the New York Yankees poses for a photo during the New York Yankees Photo Day at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Welcome, friends. I hope you brought popcorn and soda, because it’s time for Part 2 of my impromptu review of the Yankees’ first base situation before Ben Rice arrived on the scene. In Part 1, we covered the decline phase of Mark Teixeira and the tragic fate of Greg Bird, but ended on a high note with Luke Voit’s magical 2018 run. Today, we’ll be covering 2019-2024. Without further ado, let’s remember some guys.
As the 2019 season approached, all eyes were on Luke Voit. I guess hitting 14 home runs in 39 games the year prior has a way of heightening expectations. While Voit could not quite match that level, he had a very strong start to the year, hitting .277/.386/.497 with 16 home runs through June. Everyone in Yankee Universe was just about ready to crown him as the future at first base. However, as with Greg Bird, the injury bug would befall Voit time and time again.
First, on June 29 during the London Series against the Red Sox, Voit suffered an abdominal injury that sidelined him until July 13, forcing him to miss eight games. Then, on July 31, he was placed on the injured list yet again with a sports hernia. When he returned at the end of August, he simply wasn’t the same. Prior to the hernia, Voit’s wRC+ stood at a robust 132; post-injury, he only managed an 80 wRC+ over 94 plate appearances, with a paltry .138 ISO. Although his overall line (.263/.378/.464, 126 wRC+) was still strong thanks to his early-season performance, the way Voit’s season ended left a bad taste in many a fan’s mouth.
Fortunately, though, for 2019, the Yankees were able to weather Voit’s absences quite well thanks to two excellent backup options – DJ LeMahieu and Mike Ford. When Voit went down at the end of June, it was LeMahieu, along with the recently acquired Edwin Encarnación, who handled first base. Those of you who have followed the Yankees’ recent years might not remember LeMahieu so fondly, but in 2019, he was truly a force to be reckoned with, hitting .327/.375/.518 while handling multiple infield spots capably. With LeMahieu sliding over to first from second and third, the Yankees did not miss a beat offensively – in 135 plate appearances as a first baseman, LeMahieu hit a sparkling .338/.361/.531.
LeMahieu also saw time after Voit’s second IL stint, but this time, his first base partner was Mike Ford. A sleeper prospect who had posted strong OBPs in the Yankees’ system for many years prior, Ford was invited to spring training as a non-roster player, and had been assigned to Scranton to start the year before being called up in April when Greg Bird was placed on the IL. While he struggled in his initial April stretch, Voit’s second injury gave him another opening, and he sure made the most of it. In 84 August PAs, Ford hit eight homers with a .582 slugging percentage, good for a 121 wRC+. Between Ford and LeMahieu, first base was in good hands despite Luke Voit’s injuries and subsequent struggles, at least for 2019.
Coming into 2020, there was some uncertainty around how Voit would perform (although if that was your main preoccupation at the time, you should consider yourself lucky). However, Voit quickly silenced any doubters. In a pandemic-shortened season, Voit hit .277/.338/.610, and led the league with 22 dingers in just 234 PAs. Unfortunately, Mike Ford cratered, managing only a 37 wRC+ in 84 PAs. However, you don’t really have to worry that much about how your backup 1B is doing when your starter is running a 153 wRC+. Once again, Voit had shown that he was capable of being an elite player – the only question was whether he would be able to sustain that over a full year, and Yankeedom could not wait for that question to be answered in 2021.
So, the baseball gods being the bullies that they are, naturally it was time for Voit’s body to betray him again. On March 27, it was announced that he had partially torn his meniscus in his right knee and would undergo surgery. It wasn’t until May 11 that he would make his season debut, and just twelve games later, he landed on the IL again with an oblique strain, sidelining him for a month. Then, on July 11, Voit suffered a bone bruise, forcing him to miss yet another month. When all was said and done, Voit was only able to play 68 games, and while his 11 homers and 113 wRC+ weren’t terrible, it was a far cry from his peak form.
Unlike 2019, the 2021 Yankees’ backup options could not carry them. Fresh off winning the AL batting title, the magic was gone from LeMahieu’s bat, and he could only manage a 101 wRC+ – fine if you’re a slick defender at second and third, but inexcusable if you’re manning first. Ford could not bounce back from his awful 2020, hitting just .136 with three homers in his 21 games at first base. The Yankees tried throwing Jay Bruce and Chris Gittens at the wall, but they disintegrated upon impact. It was painfully clear that the Bombers did not have any in-house options.
So, the Yankees got creative. On July 29, they sent prospects Kevin Alcántara and Alexander Vizcaíno along with cash considerations to the Cubs for Anthony Rizzo. At the time, Rizzo was enduring the worst full season of his career since 2013, when he was still a budding major leaguer. At 31 years of age, it was abundantly clear that Rizzo had entered his decline phase. However, even a diminished Rizzo was head and shoulders above the Yankees’ other options at the time. He hit for a 115 wRC+ over 200 plate appearances with the Yanks, and coupled with Luke Voit’s struggles with injury, that was enough for Brian Cashman to hand him the keys to the first base job. On March 17, 2022, the Yankees signed Rizzo to a two-year, $32-million deal. A day later, they shipped Voit to the Padres for Justin Lange. Thus ended Luke Voit’s Bronx tenure – what an unceremonious end, given that it had started with such promise.
2022 – 2024: Rizzo falls victim to injuries, Yankees’ mismanagement; A new hope
Going into the 2022 season, there was some trepidation with Rizzo given his age and his performance in the prior year. However, Rizzo responded resoundingly with a resurgent year with the bat, hitting .224/.331/.480 (131 wRC+) with 32 homers in 548 plate appearances. Even though he was hampered by injuries, particularly in the second half of the season – first by back spasms, then by the aftereffects of an epidural injection gone wrong – Rizzo managed to be a stable presence at first base for the first time in what felt like forever. Indeed, his 117 games at 1B were the most by a Yankees first baseman since…Lyle Overbay’s 119 games in 2013. Man, that 2013 team sure was something.
In the offseason, Rizzo bet on himself, opting out of his deal and becoming a free agent. However, the Yankees weren’t going to let their first “real” 1B in nearly a decade slip away. They signed him to another two-year deal, this time for $40 million, and Yankees fans everywhere rejoiced. Then, as the 2023 season started, Rizzo did the unthinkable – he was even better than the year before. Through May 28, 2023, Rizzo hit .304/.376/.505, good for a 145 wRC+.
Why was I so specific about the date there? Because that was the day it all went south for Rizzo and the Yankees.
That day, during a pickoff attempt at first base, Fernando Tatis, Jr. rushed back to the bag, and his right hip collided squarely with the side of Rizzo’s head.
Hindsight is 20/20, but reviewing the video, it’s painfully clear that the play left Rizzo seriously disoriented. Watch the way he sluggishly rises to his full height, tries to tag Tatis again like he’s not sure where he is, and stumbles off towards second base like he’s had one too many beers. He left the game due to what was initially described as a “neck injury”, but even to the untrained eye, it seems quite obvious that Rizzo was suffering from a concussion.
Fortunately, the Yankees eventually reached the same conclusion. Unfortunately for Rizzo, it took fourty-six games for them to do so.
For more than two whole months, the Yankees kept on running Rizzo out, despite the fact that he was experiencing signs of post-concussion syndrome such as grogginess and fogginess, and the fact that his post-injury performance (a 43 wRC+ over 192 PAs) should have been cause for alarm in itself. Sure, he passed MLB’s initial concussion testing, but that’s no excuse for the Yankees to have continued to play Rizzo for as long as they did. For the record, in Chris Kirshner’s postmortem interview with Rizzo regarding the whole fiasco for The Athletic, Rizzo claimed that neither he nor the Yankees handled anything wrongly, explaining that he was hesitant to blame his struggles on the collision with Tatis because “we’re not bred to come up with excuses”.
I’m going to cut Rizzo some slack here. Although the “play through pain” mentality is just another example of how patriarchy harms men, I think it’s unrealistic to expect someone like Rizzo, who has spent nearly his entire life in a hyper-masculine, hyper-competitive field, to suddenly have a moment of clarity and concede that something wasn’t right. But I’m not inclined to extend the same courtesy to the Yankees. They have a responsibility to put their players’ health before anything else, especially for an issue as serious as this. Reading the Kirshner interview, it seemed like the team waited for Rizzo to come forward to conduct additional testing, but the onus should be on the team to look out for their players.
The hope for 2024 was that Rizzo would able to recover from this ordeal and return to his career norms. That did not happen. Limited to 92 games due to a mid-June arm fracture that sidelined him until September, Rizzo hit a pitiful .228/.301/.335 (85 wRC+). Somehow, the Yankees saw enough in him to stick with him at first base in the playoffs, but it did not end well, both offensively (he went 2-for-16 in the World Series) and defensively. After the season ended, the Yankees declined his $17 million option, making him a free agent. He went unsigned, and in September 2025, he officially announced his retirement.
However, all was not lost for the Yankees. A certain unheralded prospect made his debut in 2024. Always old for his level, no one expected much of him, but he burst on to the scene, becoming the first Yankees rookie to dinger thrice in one game. And though a hellacious slump prompted the Yankees to send him down to Scranton in late August, his peripherals suggested that he was much better than the back of his baseball card. His name was Ben Rice, and I guess you all know what happened next.
So, that concludes our trip to the pre-Rice era. The moral of the story is: don’t take what Rice is doing now for granted. Savor every moment. I hope he’s able to enjoy a long, healthy career, but you just don’t know. And if Rice ever finds himself in a slump, remember this article and remind yourself that it could always be worse.
Sale has been his typical dominant self with a 2.14 ERA, and Atlanta has come away victorious in six of his seven starts. His 114 Stuff+ ranks seventh among starters — well ahead of his pitching counterpart on Friday, Emmet Sheehan (169th among starters with a 93 Stuff+).
Sheehan’s velocity is down a full tick from last year, and he’s offered no mercy against an Atlanta lineup that has plated the most runs (213) in the MLB.
COVERS INTEL: Sale has dominated the Dodgers’ projected starting lineup, limiting them to a .535 OPS across 69 at-bats with a 21-5 strikeout-walk ratio.
Braves vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Under 8 (-110)
Two of the most effective bullpens in baseball, and one of the most lethal starting pitchers? Yeah, that’s enough for me to take the Under.
All of the top arms will be available for both teams after Thursday’s off day. Atlanta’s pen ranks third in bullpen SIERA (3.27), and the Los Angeles Dodgers are right behind (3.30).
While Sheehan’s 5.23 ERA is a worry, his 3.11 xFIP is more encouraging, and he’s turned things on lately with 18 Ks in his last two starts.
Sale, meanwhile, has held some of the Dodgers' best bats (Kyle Tucker, Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith) to a combined 2-for-21 at the dish.
JD Yonke's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 11-9, +0.57 units
Over/Under bets: 14-7, +6.64 units
Braves vs Dodgers odds
Moneyline: Braves +102 | Dodgers -120
Run line: Braves +1.5 | Dodgers -1.5
Over/Under: Over 8 | Under 8
Braves vs Dodgers trend
Atlanta is 6-1 in games where Chris Sale is the starting pitcher. Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Dodgers.
How to watch Braves vs Dodgers and game info
Location
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Friday, May 8, 2026
First pitch
10:10 p.m. ET
TV
BravesVsn, SportsNet LA
Braves starting pitcher
Chris Sale (6-1, 2.14 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcher
Emmet Sheehan (2-1, 5.23 ERA)
Braves vs Dodgers latest injuries
Braves vs Dodgers weather
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The Boston Celtics will look to upgrade their roster this offseason after a stunning first-round exit in the 2026 NBA playoffs. During his end-of-season press conference, C’s president of basketball operations Brad Stevens identified one area of the team that needs addressing.
“One of the things that we’ve got to figure out is how to have more of an impact at the rim, and I think we do need to add to our team to do that,” he said. “Everybody plays a role in that, but at the end of (Game 7), (Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel) Embiid is standing at the rim on all those possessions, or a lot of those possessions.”
Boston’s frontcourt was exposed when Embiid returned to the Sixers lineup, and that was among the biggest reasons for its collapse after taking a 3-1 series lead. While Neemias Queta and Luka Garza played significant roles all season long, the Celtics need someone they can count on to anchor their frontcourt when facing tough playoff matchups. Nikola Vucevic wasn’t the answer, and even if he re-signs this summer, it’s worth wondering whether he’d have a major role.
Unfortunately for the C’s, this year’s free agent class of centers leaves plenty to be desired. The good news, though, is that Boston can add an impactful big man via the trade market with the $27.7 million traded player exception (TPE) it gained from the Anfernee Simons/Vucevic trade back in February.
So, what are the top realistic trade options? Here are five big men the Celtics should consider acquiring with their TPE.
Nic Claxton is coming off a down year, but he’d fit what the Celtics need as a versatile defender at the five.
The Celtics have been linked to Claxton in trade rumors before, and it’s easy to see why. The 6-foot-11 center is an above-average defender who can switch and guard anyone on the court at a high level. He consistently averages double digits in points per game while racking up rebounds and blocks.
Claxton is an athletic, versatile rim protector who should be relatively affordable in a deal with the rebuilding Nets. He’s coming off a down season by his standards, but joining a contender could help him return to form.
P.J. Washington is a difference-maker on both ends of the floor.
At 6-foot-8, Washington isn’t the prototypical big man you may have had in mind, but the 27-year-old can play the five when the Celtics go small. Boston would benefit from his versatility, as he can protect the rim as well as switch and hold his own defensively against players of all sizes. Offensively, he’s capable of shooting the 3 and making his presence felt in the post.
Washington is a rell-rounded player who could help the C’s in a wide variety of ways.
Wendell Carter Jr. is an above-average defender and a versatile big man.
The Magic might look to move Carter Jr. to get under the second apron of the luxury tax. If so, the Celtics should give them a call.
Carter Jr. is a rock-solid defender who can also occasionally provide a spark on the offensive end. He isn’t the best rim protector, but he’s a versatile big who excels at switching and can anchor the paint. His play style would work well in Boston.
Daniel Gafford is a traditional center who excels in rim protection.
If the Celtics prefer a more traditional center, Gafford could be their guy. The 27-year-old averaged 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks over 55 games last season in the first year of his three-year contract extension with Dallas
Gafford is an exceptional rim protector. Offensively, he offers little upside but can do some damage in the paint.
If the C’s are looking for a Kristaps Porzingis-like big man who can shoot the 3 and provide rim protection, they should look elsewhere. If they want an elite presence in the paint, Gafford should be on their list of targets.
Santi Aldama is a jack of all trades with a versatile skill set that would help Boston in a variety of ways.
Aldama checks a lot of boxes for Boston. The 7-footer is only 25, he’s affordable, and he provides value on both ends of the court.
Last season with Memphis, Aldama averaged a career-high 14.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting 35 percent from 3-point range. He also notched just under one block and steal per game. The only concern with Aldama is injuries, as he was limited to only 43 games last season.
Too bad those long shots are reserved to the silver screen and not the purple and gold hardwood of Crypto.com Arena.
The Los Angeles Lakers are back in La-La Land buried in a 0-2 series hole to the Oklahoma City Thunder. My Thunder vs. Lakers predictions and same-game parlay for Game 3 doesn’t buy into that Tinsel Town magic, taking OKC to cover on the continued dominance of their big man in the middle, Chet Holmgren.
The Oklahoma City Thunder haven’t got the best from their top star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and honestly haven’t looked dominant in the first two games of this Round 2 series. However, OKC has won the battle over 48 minutes, wearing down a talent-thin Los Angeles Lakers squad to pull away and cover massive spreads in the first two contests.
The 8.5-point spread for Game 3 is just the second time Oklahoma City has laid single digits in the playoffs and OKC seems to have L.A.’s number, boasting a perfect 6-0 SU and ATS mark against the Lakers so far this season.
SGP leg #2: Marcus Smart Over 3.5 assists
Marcus Smart is shooting too much in the first two games of this series. Los Angeles needs the veteran point guard to be just that, prompting extra playmaking from Smart in Game 3.
He’s already dished out five and seven assists in the opening two games of this series and passing on shots and generating more potential assists will see him top four or more dimes for the seventh time in nine postseason games Saturday.
SGP leg #3: Chet Holmgren Over 16.5 points
The Lakers don’t have the size or versatility in their frontcourt to properly counter Chet Holmgren.
With the Lakers focused on flustering SGA, Holmgren is getting plenty of space to operate down low and is killing the Lakers whenever he steps outside the arc. He’s scored 22 and 24 points so far in this Round 2 set and his Game 3 models all sit above this modest total of 16.5 points for Saturday night.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Thunder vs Lakers predictions for Game 3.
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HOOVER, AL - MAY 24: Ole Miss pitcher Cade Townsend (10) grimaces after walking a LSU player during the SEC Baseball Tournament Semifinals game between Ole Miss Rebels and LSU Tigers on May 24, 2025, at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Last night MLB’s Pipeline released their first mock draft for the 2026 MLB Draft, a draft where the Atlanta Braves have two first round picks – including their first Top 10 selection in seven years.
This mock draft only covers the first 25 picks of the draft, as well as the first selection for teams who pick after that point. This means the Braves second first round pick at #26 is not covered in this mock draft.
The first three picks shouldn’t surprise anyone, UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, Texas prep shortstop Grady Emerson, and Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey. The first pick that might surprise a little would be the Giants taking prep shortstop Jacob Lombard fourth. Then as expected the fifth pick is UC Santa Barbara right-hander Jackson Flora. The sixth pick is another surprise with Florida prep lefty Gio Rojas, leaving Mississippi prep outfielder Eric Booth Jr. to go seventh, and Arkansas catcher Ryder Helfrick to go eighth.
The Braves came up at nine and were taking Ole Miss right-hander Cade Townsend, for the second time in a mock released yesterday after Keith Law also made this pick in his mock.
The writeup for that pick is right here:
“Clubs believe that college pitchers will rise up boards by the time the Draft arrives, and Townsend could move up more than most. He can hit 98 mph with his fastball and spin a pair of plus breaking balls as well as a plus cutter.”
Others of note in this mock draft would include Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress at #10, Etowah HS outfielder Trevor Condon at #15, and Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron #16.
Thoughts
I like Townsend as a prospect in this draft, though I am not feeling like he is the guy I would target at #9. He has been great at a sophomore this year, a real improvement over his freshman season in 2025 – especially with the command. He also has potentially four pitches that could be plus offerings, though there is still some effort in his delivery which could keep his command in the more fringe-average range.
Overall this year he is 5-1 with a 2.42 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 52 IP over 11 starts. Townsend has struck out 73 to 13 walks, racking up a 12.6 K/9. He has also allowed just 37 hits, for a 6.4 H/9 and five home runs.
It is also important to know that he missed a start this year with shoulder inflammation. He has returned and looked good since then, but considering it is a shoulder, his medicals will need to be reviewed closely.
I personally would have preferred a bat here, as I believe the drop off in bats between #9 and #26 is greater than the drop off of arms in that same range.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 28: Manager A.J. Hinch (14) of the Detroit Tigers looks at the scoreboard as he leaves the pitching mound during the Tuesday evening MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Detroit Tigers on April 28, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Tigers come to Kansas City this weekend, giving the Royals an opportunity to vault ahead of them in the mediocre Central Division. Detroit was considered by many to be the favorites to win the division title, but have had an up-and-down start and have dropped six of their last nine. The Tigers’ rotation was thought to be a strength, but they have been decimated. Tarik Skubal had elbow surgery this week, Framber Valdez was suspended for throwing at Trevor Story, and they were already missing Jackson Jobe, Casy Mize, Reese Olson, Justin Verlander, and Troy Melton due to injury.
Detroit Tigers (18-20) vs. Kansas City Royals (17-21) at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
The Tigers have hit just 36 home runs, three fewer than the Royals. They are hitting .238/.323/.375 on the road. Only two teams have stolen fewer bases. Kevin McGonigle is on his way to being in the mix for Rookie of the Year after a blazing start to his career, and he is hitting .338/.410/.486 in road games this year. Riley Greene is hitting .362/.463/.580 in his last 20 games.
Spencer Torkelson has the tenth-highest strikeout rate in baseball at 31.3 percent. Kerry Carpenter is just a .212/.274/.303 career hitter against the Royals in 39 games. Colt Keith is a 7-for-20 (.350) hitter against Michael Wacha. The Tigers are without Gleyber Torres, Javier Báez, and Parker Meadows.
Keider Montero will go in the opener after winning his last start against the Rangers, allowing one run in 6.2 innings. Montero had a 3.72 ERA in 12 starts last year, with a 5.51 ERA in eight relief appearances. Salvador Perez is 4-for-7 in their career matchups, while Bobby Witt Jr. is 3-for-8 with a walk.
Ty Madden has not been announced as the starter on Saturday, but seems like a likely option after he tossed five shutout innings in his season debut last week. Madden was drafted by the Royals out of high school in Texas, but elected to attend the University of Texas where the Tigers made him a first round pick. The 26-year-old has battled injuries and missed all of last year, and was promoted after putting up a 4.71 ERA in 21 innings at Triple-A.
The Tigers have had a solid bullpen the last few seasons despite not having a lot of big name relievers, and have the 11th-lowest ERA in baseball at 3.76. Top reliever Will Vest is out with injury, but the Tigers have gotten good innings from former Royals pitcher Burch Smith. Kenley Jansen has 482 career saves, but has blown his last two opportunities, and is 6-for-9 in converting saves this year. Brant Hurter has a 59.6 percent groundball rate this year. Kyle Finnegan has a minuscule ERA despite the 8th-highest walk rate in baseball.
The Tigers swept the Royals in Detroit a few weeks ago and took 9 of 13 from them last year. The Royals seem to have the offense going better than it was operating when they last saw the Tigers. They had a missed opportunity to win a series against Cleveland, they could really use a series win this weekend against Detroit.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks is helped to his feet by Mikal Bridges #25 and Jalen Brunson #11 during the first quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Two of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 06, 2026 in New York City. 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 Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I enter tonight’s game more calm and serene than any other game this postseason. And I don’t particularly think I’m the only Knicks fan who feels that way. For many, the last 36 hours involved being an involuntary passenger on a roller coaster ride of emotions.
After seeing the Knicks win an ugly and gritty Game 2, the win almost felt meaningless due to the large void left by the uncertainty surrounding OG Anunoby’s injury. His suffering a significant injury would be a gutshot to fans, and a death sentence for a Knicks championship run.
Following hours and hours of refreshing social media feeds, trying not to have PTSD from Anunoby’s hamstring injury in 2024, and role-playing as an orthopedic doctor, fans let out a collective sigh of relief when reports started surfacing that Anunoby’s hamstring strain was mild and that he was just day-to-day.
Because fans, for the most part, were expecting the worst, his diagnosis feels like a bullet dodged, making tonight’s game against the 76ers somehow feel less dire. That being said, it’s still a road playoff game against a desperate and hungry rival looking to claw itself back into the series. A loss tonight means a little less room for error moving forward, while also giving Philadelphia a bit more confidence and momentum. Meanwhile, a win tonight would buy them, and more specifically, Anunoby, more time.
While the weight and emotions going into the game may feel different, the significance of the game doesn’t change. Nick Nurse and the 76ers will continue to change some things up. They’ll likely be better prepared to deal with the aggressive trapping of Tyrese Maxey. They’ll also likely double down on pressuring Jalen Brunson now with OG Anunoby out. And as backup point guard Kyle Lowry mentioned, they’ll make sure to pressure Karl-Anthony Towns more on the perimeter.
Unlike the fans, though, the Knicks likely aren’t going into this game as though they have multiple lives. While human nature may take over and give them at least a slight sense of relief, these Knicks have displayed more sense of urgency and focus since their Game 3 loss to the Hawks in the last round. From Brunson, Towns, and Mikal Bridges, who have been playing incredibly well, to bench players Deuce McBride, Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson, and Jose Alvarado, along with the now probable Josh Hart, and Mitchell Robinson, this team should come into the game ready to compete.
Whether they win or not is still up in the air, but they have the depth, offensive firepower, and defense to defeat what is still a fatigued and very thin 76ers team.
Prediction
If Joel Embiid is out again tonight, which I suspect will be the case with the Knicks being sans Anunoby, I expect another close back-and-forth affair between these two teams. I do think the 76ers will come up hot, much like they did in Game 1. They’ll be back home, knowing they are a loss away from going down 3-0, and will also know that the Knicks are wounded, missing one of, if not, their best postseason performers.
But this battle-tested Knicks have been like roaches, and I mean that in the most endearing way someone can use that word. Even when they look tired, or out of sorts, or are just not executing well, they have a remarkable tendency to always give themselves a chance. They’ve got the will and the grit that cannot be quantified by counting stats or analytics. And I think that bodes well for them tonight in a game where things may not go their way. But unlike the last time Anunoby missed a postseason game with a hamstring injury, this team also has depth.
McBride, Shamet, Clarkson, Robinson, and even Mo Diawara have all had huge moments for this team this season and have won multiple games. Replacing Anunoby with one player will be impossible. But they might just be able to recreate him in the aggregate (yes, that was a Moneyballreference).
Knicks win: 105–102
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (2-0) vs Philadelphia 76ers (0-2) Date: Friday, May 8, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM ET Place: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA TV: Prime Video Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
VOORHEES, N.J. — Trevor Zegras was asked about the four teams in NHL history that have come back from a 3-0 playoff series deficit.
He wanted to talk about his team, about the comeback the Flyers have made just to be one of the eight teams still remaining in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“I think a big thing for us this year is that 3.8 percent number,” Zegras said Friday. “I bet not a lot of people, maybe not a lot of people in this [media] room, would have pegged us to be in the second round of the NHL playoffs. We have life, we have opportunity. It’s 3-0, but we’re still here, we’re still playing.”
Back on March 18, the Flyers had a 3.8 percent to make the playoffs, according to MoneyPuck.com. They’ve had that number featured on a team shirt for the playoffs. Now they need to really dig into their belief to dig out of a hole. They trail the Hurricanes 3-0 in this best-of-seven second-round matchup.
This young Flyers team will face its first elimination game Saturday at Xfinity Mobile Arena (6 p.m. ET/TNT).
“We’ve been dead before, we’ve climbed out of it, we’ve played a lot of playoff games the last two, three months,” Rick Tocchet said. “And now it’s a must-win, this is a do-or-die. How do you go into this game making these guys play relaxed, but also play desperate? I don’t like the word desperate that much; I like the word determined. Can we be more determined tomorrow night? Yeah, I think we can.”
“We know what it’s like to be up 3-0, that feeling when a team wins one game and then wins another game and kind of how the locker room tightens up,” Zegras said.
The Flyers were able to fend off the Penguins with an eke-it-out, 1-0 overtime win in Game 6. It set up a second-round date with Carolina, the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The Hurricanes are still unbeaten in these playoffs after taking the first three games from the Flyers.
“When you’re up 3-0, you feel like, almost in a sense, the series should be over, you just want it be done,” Zegras said. “I think if we can go out and get one tomorrow, they’ll tighten up a little bit. They’re 7-0, haven’t lost in the postseason yet. … We’ve got to do a job to make it as hard as possible tomorrow.”
A huge key for the Flyers will be giving Frederik Andersen a more arduous outing. The Carolina netminder had to make just 18 saves Thursday night in Game 3 as the Flyers lost, 4-1.
“I think there are things we can do against Andersen,” Tocchet said. “Listen, this guy’s playing great, but I think there’s something we can do tactically. Not his weakness, but one of his things that maybe he’s not as good at, I think we can do better at. We discussed it again today. Can we apply it tomorrow? We’ll see.”
Andersen has held the Flyers to just three goals in the series.
“He’s feeling it, so we’ve got to do something different,” Nick Seeler said. “Change the angle, try to get a few more shots on net. I think we had 19 last game. Obviously put a little bit more pressure on him, getting to the net and having our anchors there. Tomorrow’s huge for us and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
The Flyers will hope it’s not their last challenge.
“We’ve shown a ton of fight all season,” Zegras said. “We’ve got a lot of belief and confidence in the room.”
COVERS INTEL: Sale has dominated the Dodgers’ projected starting lineup, 
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