The biggest question that’ll be answered Sunday evening: What seed will the Lakers enter the postseason as?
With Friday’s 101-73 win over the Suns, in addition to the results involving the teams around them in the Western Conference standings, the Lakers are guaranteed to be a top-four seed in the conference for the playoffs.
The Timberwolves (48-33) are locked in as the sixth seed.
The biggest question that’ll be answered Sunday evening: What seed will the Lakers enter the postseason as? NBAE via Getty Images
The Rockets (51-30) became the fifth seed after falling to the Timberwolves on Friday, in addition to the Lakers’ win and the Nuggets’ victory over the top-seeded Thunder locking Houston in at its spot.
Now, it’s just a matter of where the Lakers and Nuggets will finish in the standings so the 3-6 and 4-5 West playoff matchups can be set.
The Nuggets (53-28) are in control of third seed, but the Lakers (52-29) still have a shot at finishing at No. 3 for the second consecutive season entering the final day of the regular season.
Lakers finish as the third seed if …
The Lakers need the Nuggets to drop their regular-season finale to the Spurs on Sunday to have a shot at taking a jump in the standings.
If the Nuggets lose to the Spurs, the Lakers would need to beat the Jazz on Sunday to claim the third seed.
The Lakers need the Nuggets to drop their regular-season finale to the Spurs on Sunday to have a shot at taking a jump in the standings. Getty Images
If the Lakers finish the season as the third seed, they would match up against the Timberwolves in the 3-6 series for the second consecutive season, while the Nuggets would play the Rockets in the 4-5 series.
The Timberwolves knocked the Lakers out of the playoffs in the first round in five games last spring.
The Rockets (51-30) became the fifth seed after falling to the Timberwolves on Friday. AP
The Lakers own the tiebreaker over the Nuggets for playoffs seeding purposes after winning the regular-season series, 2-1.
Also, in this scenario, the Lakers would also finish with their best record in an 82-game regular season since they won 57 games in 2010-11.
Lakers finish as the fourth seed if …
The Nuggets beat the Spurs on Sunday.
Or, if the Lakers lose to the Jazz.
If either (or both) scenario happens, the Lakers would play the Rockets in the 4-5 series, while the Nuggets would play the Timberwolves in the 3-6 series.
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The New York Mets (7-7), ranked third in the NL East, will host the Athletics (6-7), ranked third in the AL West, for the second game of their series. The Mets are favored with a -160 moneyline and a -1.5 spread. Starting pitchers are Jacob Lopez for the Athletics (0-1, 6.48 ERA) and Kodai Senga for the Mets (0-1, 3.09 ERA).
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs guards Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks during the game on April 10, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If there were any doubts that Victor Wembanyama would be hampered in the playoffs due to his rib injury, they were quickly silenced on Friday night. Wembanyama secured a First-team All-NBA spot and the Defensive Player of the Year award in his 65th game, putting up an eye-popping 40 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks in a 139-120 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
It was exactly the type of game the Spurs needed from their superstar big man. Wembanyama has been on a scoring tear since March. For all the external doubt about his ability to take over the game offensively… Wembanyama has been taking over the game offensively. His two-way impact has never been better than it has in the last two months. The only thing that could have held him back in the playoffs was that rib contusion.
Beyond the stats, it was the way he played on Friday that should reassure Spurs fans. He moved fluidly on the perimeter, handled the ball with ease, got up for blocks, and most importantly, didn’t look held back by his body. With Wembanyama close to 100%, San Antonio looks ready for a deep playoff run.
Takeaways:
I would like to share this clip of Wembanyama doing head calcs (short for calculations) on how many minutes players should have to play to qualify for awards. He can do it all.
The Mavericks hung around in the game despite being down several key contributors. When the Spurs finally pulled away in the third quarter, it was driven by an offensive outburst from De’Aaron Fox. San Antonio’s point guard scored 14 of his 18 points in the third. Fox has put together a nice stretch of games recently. His ability to take over games offensively will be valuable come playoff time. Fox also led the team with his passing, dropping 10 dimes for a double-double.
Carter Bryant is hooping right now. He had 12 points against the Mavericks, including three triples. He was one of the few players who could contest Cooper Flagg, blocking his jumper at one point. Overall, Bryant just looks more confident. He’s been slowly ascending all season. Now he’s a legitimate rotation player. Is he a playoff rotation player? That’s something we will find out in the next few weeks. At the very least, he looks like a player the Spurs can count on to play a more significant role next season.
Speaking of Flagg… that kid is a beast. He should be the rookie of the year, no offense to Kon Knueppel, but Flagg is on another level. He was unstoppable on Friday night with 33 points on 13-25 shooting. It felt like no matter who the Spurs put on him, he was able to get to his spots and score. It’s funny to think about what San Antonio would look like had they gotten him with the first overall pick.
After dropping 15 points on Friday, Harrison Barnes is sitting at 9.9 points per game with one contest left. He’ll have to score 17 points in San Antonio’s last game for the team to have 8 players average double-digit points.
Game 82, against the Denver Nuggets, could matter a lot. With a Los Angeles Lakers win on Friday, they now hold the tiebreaker for the three-seed. If the Spurs beat the Nuggets on Sunday, they’ll drop Denver down to the four seed, which means the Spurs would face either the Lakers or Minnesota Timberwolves in a potential second-round matchup. It’ll be up to Mitch Johnson if he wants to play the starters and try to avoid the Nuggets in the playoffs.
One year ago today, Chase Meidroth started his White Sox career like a banshee. | (Photo by Abigail Dean/Getty Images)
1917 The world championship season began in St. Louis, where the White Sox battered the Browns, 7-2. Jim Scott picked up the win, giving up four hits and a run in six innings of relief work for Lefty Williams. Buck Weaver drove in three runs for the Sox on the day. Slightly more than six months later, the Sox would win the World Series in six games over John McGraw and the New York Giants. Jim Margalus provided a detailed snapshot of the Opening Day win back in 2017.
1959 Early Wynn won his 250th career game, throwing a seven-hitter vs. Detroit. The victory put the White Sox at 2-0 to start the season, and the streak would reach four as a tip-off of a season that would end with the team’s first pennant in 40 years. Sherm Lollar homered twice, and Luis Aparicio clouted a round-tripper in the top of the seventh inning that broke a 3-3 tie.
Wynn went the distance, racking up six Ks against three walks, for a 68 game score.
1969 The White Sox helped initiate Major League Baseball in Seattle, as the first home opponent for the expansion Pilots. The Sox promptly rolled over and died to the new team, 7-0. They were shut out by future Sox pitcher Gary Bell,who went the distance — and was traded to the Sox that June! That afternoon, the Sox would have nine hits but strand 14 baserunners.
1982 When a great blizzard hit the Midwest and forced cancellation of the first five games on the schedule, the White Sox had to open on the road the following week, in New York, with a doubleheader. No problem, as the franchise that had already won a regularly-scheduled Opening Day twin bill in 1971 put the wood to the Yankees, winning 7-6 in 12 innings, and then 2-0. It was the start of an eight-game winning streak to open the 1982 campaign — the best start to a season in franchise history. The White Sox beat the Yankees twice, Boston three times and the Orioles three times.
1995 Despite his career clearly being on the wane, Chris Sabo was inked for the White Sox bench/platoon DH. And boy, it did not work out: The former Reds standout was released less than two months later, on June 5, having cost the White Sox -0.3 WAR over 20 games, slashing .254/.295/.366 with one homer.
2000 For a man with no speed, he got around the bases fast enough this time!
Paul Konerko hit an inside the park home run in Tampa Bay. It came in the first inning, off of Esteban Yan, and drove in two runs. The Sox won, 13-6.
2008 To commemorate their World Series win three years earlier, the White Sox unveiled their “Champions Plaza” and “Championship Moments” monument prior to the game against the Detroit Tigers. Current players still on the team from the 2005 championship roster assisted in the unveiling of a white, bronze and granite sculpture weighing more than 25 tons that honored the title and featured timeless 2005 playoff images of Paul Konerko, Joe Crede, Orlando Hernández, Geoff Blum and Juan Uribe.
Later that night, the White Sox dropped a game to the Tigers, 5-2, as World Series hero José Contreras took the loss.
2011 White Sox utility player Brent Lillibridge belted the franchise’s 10,000thhome run, driving out a fastball from Oakland’s Dallas Braden at U.S. Cellular Field. It came in the fifth inning of a game the Sox eventually lost, 2-1, in 10 innings. Jim Margalus had game coverage for South Side Sox, although it being the 10,000 team homer apparently was not yet known, as it’s not in the piece.
Lillibridgehit a career-high 13 home runs that season.
2016 The White Sox beat Minnesota, 4-1, in the Twins home opener. Josh Nelson had South Side Sox coverage. The loss dropped the team to 0-7, which was the worst start for the Twins since moving to Minnesota.
2025 It was a wonderful start to a major league career for White Sox infielder Chase Meidroth, acquired in the deal with Boston involving All-Star pitcher Garrett Crochet.
Called up to the team and starting against the Red Sox, Meidroth drew three walks and singled in a 11-1 win. He also scored two runs. Meidroth became the first player to get a hit and walk three times in his major league debut since Larry Walker of the Expos on Aug. 16, 1989.
The Boston Red Sox panic meter is cranking up, and they’ll try to turn around a dismal road start in today’s matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Boston slipped to a 3-2 loss at Busch Stadium last night, falling to 1-6 on its travels this year, and my Red Sox vs. Cardinals predictions signal another nervy contest here, with St. Louis chasing a fourth straight win.
Get the lowdown on this April 11 battle with my free MLB picks and betting nuggets.
Who will win Red Sox vs Cardinals tonight: St. Louis Cardinals (+122)
At 4-9, the sky is already threatening to fall for this Boston Red Sox squad. While it’s still early days, Boston is tied for the third-fewest runs this season and managed just five hits last night against Dustin May, admittedly without Roman Anthony in the lineup.
Then you layer on some concerns around the Red Sox’s starter tonight, Ranger Suarez, who drags in an ugly 8.64 ERA and hasn’t made it past the fifth inning in either of his outings this year.
That opens the door for the St. Louis Cardinals here at plus odds, and I’m buying into their 5-2 home record.
COVERS INTEL:Suarez’s stuff hasn’t traveled well lately – he’s given up 3+ earned runs in five of his last seven road starts.
Red Sox vs Cardinals Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-117)
Despite Boston’s struggles at the plate, I like the Over on this total, particularly with St. Louis sitting inside the Top 10 in runs and OBP.
The Over is 6-2-2 in the past 10 meetings between these teams, and the Cardinals have plated 5+ runs in five of their last six contests, led by the in-form Jordan Walker, who’s put together a six-game hit streak.
Both of Suarez’s outings this year have gone past this O/U number, so given his search for form and the 5.40 ERA for St. Louis starter Kyle Leahy, we should see steady offense in this one.
Tom Oldfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 0-1, -1.0 units
Over/Under bets: 1-0, +1.0 units
Red Sox vs Cardinals odds
Moneyline: Red Sox -127 | Cardinals +122
Run line: Red Sox -1.5 (+133) | Cardinals +1.5 (-144)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-117) | Under 7.5 (+113)
Red Sox vs Cardinals trend
Dating back to last season, the Cardinals are 13-7 in their last 20 home games. Find more MLB betting trends for Red Sox vs. Cardinals.
How to watch Red Sox vs Cardinals and game info
Location
Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
Date
Saturday, April 11, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Red Sox starting pitcher
Ranger Suarez (0-1, 8.64 ERA)
Cardinals starting pitcher
Kyle Leahy (1-1, 5.40 ERA)
Red Sox vs Cardinals latest injuries
Red Sox vs Cardinals weather
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.
The Boston Red Sox, ranked fifth in the AL East with a 4-9 record, face the St. Louis Cardinals, who are tied for first in the NL Central at 8-5. Boston's Ranger Suarez (0-1, 8.64 ERA) will pitch against St. Louis's Kyle Leahy (1-1, 5.40 ERA). Despite being the away team, Boston is favored with a -145 moneyline.
How to Watch Boston Red Sox vs St. Louis Cardinals
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 6: A general view of the New York Knicks logo before a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 6, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s that time of the year.
That time of the year when we come up with a thousand possibilities, anxiously think about this and that and the other thing… only for everything to unfold and be resolved by itself in 24 hours.
We just can’t help ourselves, can we? That’s why, with just one game left to play and the Knicks locked into the No. 3 seed out East, we’re presenting you with all possible four first-round opponents and all scenarios that would lead to each of those matchups, depending on Sunday’s results.
Rest assured, New York will be hosting whoever happens to cross their path for the first two games of the series.
NY Knicks vs. TOR Raptors
Hawks win AND Raptors win
Hawks lose AND Raptors win AND Magic win
NY Knicks vs. ATL Hawks
Hawks lose AND Raptors win AND Magic lose
NY Knicks vs. ORL Magic
Hawks lose AND Raptors lose AND Magic win
Hawks win AND Raptors lose AND Magic win
NY Knicks vs. PHI Sixers
Raptors lose AND Magic lose AND Sixers win
All games with Eastern Conference-seeding implications are scheduled for 6 p.m. ET, so you can start making room for the 6-9 timespan.
The San Francisco Giants (6-8), tied for fourth in the NL West, face the Baltimore Orioles (6-7), tied for second in the AL East, in the second game of their series. San Francisco is favored with a moneyline of -120, while Baltimore is at +100. Giants' Logan Webb (1-1, 5.00 ERA) faces Orioles' Chris Bassitt (0-2, 14.21 ERA).
How to watch San Francisco Giants vs. Baltimore Orioles
WICHITA, KS - JUNE 13: Pascanel Ferreras #5 of the Corpus Christi Hooks smiles for the camera before the game between the Corpus Christi Hooks and the Wichita Wind Surge at Equity Bank Park on Friday, June 13, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Lexi Ashcraft/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (8-5) won 5-2 (BOX SCORE)
Lambert started for Sugar Land and pitched really well allowing 1 run over 6 innings while striking out 8. The offense got on the board in the bottom of the 6th when Winkler tied the game on a solo home run. In the 8th, the offense added 4 more runs on a wild pitch, a Winkler 2 run single and a Nelson RBI single. Leach allowed a run in the 9th but held on as Sugar Land won 5-2.
Peter Lambert, RHP: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
Sam Carlson, RHP: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Alimber Santa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (WIN)
Hudson Leach, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (4-3) won 2-1 (BOX SCORE)
McPherson started for the Hooks and was solid striking out 5 over 4.1 scoreless innings. The pen pitched well with Sanchez coming in and tossing 2 scoreless innings. True came on for the 8th and allowed a run as the Missions took the lead, but in the 9th inning, Ferreras connected on a 2 out go-ahead home run to give the Hooks a 2-1 lead. True tossed a scoreless 9th as the Hooks won 2-1.
Smith got the start for Asheville and was solid allowing 2 runs over 5 innings while striking out 3. Asheville got on the board in the 6th when Nunez connected on a go-ahead 3 run home run. They picked up another run in the 8th when a run scored on an error. Guedez pitched in relief and allowed 1 run over 3.2 innings. Wohlgemuth came on with 2 outs in the 9th and picked up a strikeout to close out the 4-3 win.
Parker Smith, RHP: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K (WIN)
Jose Guedez, RHP: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Nate Wohlgemuth, RHP: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (SAVE)
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (1-6) lost 8-2 (BOX SCORE)
Forcucci got the start making his professional debut and tossed a scoreless inning with 2 strikeouts, though he did walk three. The Woodpeckers got on the board first getting a run in the 3rd inning on an Alvarez RBI single. Weber relieved Forcucci and tossed 3 scoreless innings with 5 strikeouts. Pentecost came on in relief but struggled allowing 6 runs over 2.2 innings. After the RiverDogs got a few more runs, the Woodpeckers responded with one in the 8th on an Alvarez RBI single. The offense went down quietly in the 9th as the Woodpeckers fell 8-2.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — George Klassen landed at Long Beach Airport at 9:45 p.m. on Saturday, April 4. He picked up his bags and began driving to his hotel, uncertainty still weighing on his mind after the two-hour flight from Salt Lake City, Utah.
Klassen, the No. 3 prospect in the Los Angeles Angels organization according to Baseball America, brought the 24-year-old right-handed pitcher up from Triple-A to be on standby after Ryan Johnson — the Angels’ scheduled starter for Sunday — had fallen ill.
At 11 p.m. Pacific Time, Klassen got the call: the Angels needed him to start on Sunday. Klassen, on short notice, would be making his Major League debut.
“I didn’t really know how to react,” Klassen told USA TODAY Sports. “I was like, ‘Alright. Yeah, let’s do it!’”
The first thing Klassen did when he hung up the phone was to pick it back up and start dialing. It was 1 a.m. in Port Washington, Wisconsin, but Klassen got hold of his parents, Jim and Lani, his sister, Sarah, and his girlfriend.
“You guys need to get out here,” Klassen told them.
He got his sister a flight and within four hours, the entire Klassen family was on a plane bound for Southern California to watch him step on a big league mound for the first time at Angel Stadium.
“It meant the world to me that they could make it,” he said.
Klassen’s debut on April 5 quickly turned into a high-leverage situation after Seattle Mariners outfielder Luke Raley jumped on his first pitch — a 97 mph fastball — and lined it down the foul line in right field for a leadoff double. Raley moved up to third on a groundout by Cal Raleigh on the next pitch, putting him 90 feet away from home.
He would stay there, though, as Klassen buckled down to fan Julio Rodríguez, making the slugger reach on a slider up and outside for his first career strikeout as a Major League pitcher and drawing a flyout from Josh Naylor to work himself out of the jam.
Klassen’s day would be over just two innings later after allowing two earned runs on three hits with five walks and four strikeouts as the Angels went on to beat the M’s 8-7 in extra innings. But it was enough to leave a good impression on Angels manager Kurt Suzuki.
“You’re gonna be nervous. I know he was nervous,” Suzuki told USA TODAY Sports. “I know there was some anxiety in there. Which is good, it means he cares. I thought he handled himself great, I thought he made pitches when he had to.
“Obviously two innings is not the line he wanted, but it could’ve been two innings and six runs. Instead, it was two innings, two runs and he gave us a chance to win.”
But not too long ago, the only thing Klassen wanted was to be comfortable on the mound again.
George Klassen's 'scary' 2025 concussion
On May 11, 2025, Klassen was starting the first game of a doubleheader for Double-A Rocket City against the Montgomery Biscuits. His mom and sister were in the crowd, having made the trip to see him play on Mother’s Day.
In the top of the fourth inning, Klassen threw a pitch to Hunter Stovall. His memory goes blank from there until he woke up a few moments later, arms outstretched as he lay on the mound facing the sky, thinking to himself, “I took one to the head, didn’t I?”
Stovall had made contact on his swing and hit a line drive directly back at Klassen, who tried to turn away right as the ball ricocheted off of the right side of his head. Klassen crumpled to the ground and lay motionless for a couple seconds as Trash Pandas manager Andy Schatzley and athletic trainer Dylan Culwell rushed out to attend to him on the field.
George Klassen was struck by a batted ball and had to leave the game with assistance from the trainer. pic.twitter.com/qxso0g3hrD
Mitch Farris, Klassen’s teammate, was warming up in the bullpen as he was scheduled to start the second game that day when he saw it happen. He was speechless, and could only hope that his friend was okay.
“It looked pretty bad when he went down,” Farris told USA TODAY Sports. “Didn’t look like he knew where he was at, and then it was kind of tough having to lock back in to get ready for my start the next game.”
Farris had grown especially close with Klassen as well as fellow Angels pitching prospects Sam Aldegheri and Samy Natera Jr. throughout their time together in the minors. The four regularly get together when they’re under the same roof, whether it’s Natera taking them to a local favorite Mexican food spot in Arizona during spring training or Aldegheri cooking up authentic Italian food during the season.
Farris, like most pitchers, has taken his fair share of comebackers over the years — though never one to the head — as well as some close calls.
“Sometimes, it’s hard to tell how hard they’re coming back at you,” he said. “Anything off the bat looks really hard and some of them are slower — which those too, can be dangerous because you react too quick, honestly.”
Suzuki was a catcher for 16 seasons in the big leagues and while he never saw any of his pitchers get hit in the head, he also saw a lot that came very close.
“It’s more of like, ‘Holy crap,’” Suzuki said. “The guys throw hard and then they hit the ball hard, so you don’t have much time to react. It’s a scary thing, man, it’s scary. I understand it’s part of the game, but you just never want to see it or be a part of it.”
Klassen wobbled off the field, leaning on Schatzley and Culwell, when he noticed his mom coming down the stands. She wasn’t crying, which was a reassuring sign for Klassen.
“Happy Mother’s Day!” he shouted out.
She laughed.
George Klassen's road to recovery was more mental than physical
Nine months earlier, in late August of 2024, Klassen — who had just been traded to the Angels along with Aldegheri from Philadelphia for Carlos Estévez a month before — threw a curveball that was chopped back towards him. The dirt in front of home plate usually slows down balls like that, but this one skipped the dirt entirely and bounced straight onto the infield grass, where it sped up and nailed Klassen right between his nose and upper lip.
Klassen needed four stitches and was on a smoothie diet for the next five days. On the sixth day, he could finally open his mouth enough to eat some solid food and treated himself to pasta with red sauce and ground beef mixed in.
“It was the best thing ever,” he recalled with a chuckle.
Based on that first time getting hit in the head, the second go around wasn’t as bad for Klassen, even with the three-day hospital stay. He already knew what the recovery would entail and what he needed to do.
He started running and throwing after five days, and spent a few more weeks in concussion protocol and missed three starts as it took him a couple tries at the memory reaction test before he was cleared to get back on the mound.
But once he got there, Klassen wasn’t expecting to find out that there was still a mental side of his recovery that he still had to go through.
When he started throwing off the mound, Klassen noticed that he would be pulling off at the end of his delivery. Or when he started facing live batters, he subconsciously — almost instinctually — began to shield himself.
“Your body is gonna wanna try to protect itself, so I mean it’s gonna do whatever it can without you knowing,” Klassen told USA TODAY Sports. “I wouldn’t say (it’s a) mental block, but like just another hurdle.”
And just like any physical hurdle, Klassen knew the best way for him to overcome this mental one was by tackling it head-on.
After talking it out with people around him, Klassen came to realize he was dealing with automatic negative thoughts (ANTs), a pattern of involuntary, repetitive and pessimistic thoughts that immediately affect mood and behavior and can often drive depression and anxiety, according to a 2025 study published by the National Institutes of Health.
“Your brain’s always gonna go with what went wrong or bad instead of thinking it was positive,” Klassen said. “So, that was a big thing that I stuck with and really tried to just keep on working with.”
Klassen effectively had to rewire his whole way of thinking while on the mound. He had to put aside what went wrong or what could go wrong — in this case getting hit before and the fear of getting hit again — and instead think of what could go right. Positive thinking sounds simple enough in theory, but it took a while for Klassen, about five weeks, he estimated, to fully buy into the concept.
But once things clicked, Klassen saw the end goal in sight. He could finally be himself on the mound again.
"I had a lot of support to get here."
The moment of realization for Klassen on April 5 didn’t come until he was throwing his pregame bullpen session at Angel Stadium.
“This isn’t spring training. This isn’t whatever,” he said to himself. “This is the real deal.”
Klassen had made it.
“It was an awesome feeling. It was really cool.”
For Farris, it’s been a full-circle moment simply getting to be in the Majors with one of his closest friends. Even if they’ve technically been competing against each other in trying to get called up, Farris says they’re so close that it doesn’t feel that way.
They are, after all, going through the same process together, stride by stride.
“Any success he has, I’m happy for him. Any success I have, he’s happy for me,” Farris said. “ … So, whatever information and advice I have for him, I give him and vice versa.”
And it’s not just Farris that Klassen’s seeking advice from. Throughout the first week he’s spent in the Angels clubhouse, he’s picked the brain of every player he can. He’s asked about pitch grips, cues, how they get themselves back into the moment whenever they’re feeling off that day and how they keep the bad from taking over their headspace. Then he looks for ways he can implement that advice into his own routine.
Just under a year ago, Klassen was just trying to get back to feeling like himself. Now, he’s trying to unlock the next level of where he feels he can get to, which in itself is a testament to how far he’s come.
“It’s crazy,” he said, reflecting on his path. “I definitely had a lot of help from my family side, coaches side, players side. Asking questions, just taking all the knowledge up I can.
“... I had a lot of support to get here, for sure.”
Connor McDavid has been firing the puck with authority lately, and it's led to a lot of goals, capped by off a last-out hat trick vs. the Sharks. I expect that trend to continue today against the Los Angeles Kings.
Find out more with my Oilers vs. Kings predictions and NHL picks for Saturday, April 11.
Oilers vs Kings prediction
Oilers vs Kings best bet: Connor McDavid anytime goal (+100)
Connor McDavid has seen a sudden surge in his shot volume recently, averaging 5.66 shots on goal per game over his last six outings.
Those shots have led to six goals for the Edmonton Oilers captain in that span, including his Wednesday night hat trick vs. the Sharks.
McDavid now has at least one goal in seven of his last nine games, and with Leon Draisaitl still out during the Oilers late-season playoff push, the burden to produce is still squarely on McDavid’s shoulders.
Oilers vs Kings same-game parlay
I’ll continue to bet on one of the most automatic bets on the board for the Oilers — Over 0.5 assists for Evan Bouchard. The Oilers blueliner has piled up a staggering 70 assists this season, and has hit this prop in 17 of his last 22 games.
Lastly, Vasily Podkolzin has been a steady point producer down the stretch for Edmonton. Due to a rash of injuries, he’s been elevated to the top line alongside McDavid and is getting some PP1 time as well.
This has allowed him to record 1+ point in five of his last seven outings.
Oilers vs Kings SGP
Connor McDavid anytime goal
Evan Bouchard Over 0.5 assists
Vasily Podkolzin Over 0.5 points
Oilers vs Kings odds
Moneyline: Oilers -104 | Kings -115
Puck Line: Oilers +1.5 | Kings -1.5
Over/Under: Over 6.5 | Under 6.5
Oilers vs Kings trend
The Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings between these two clubs. Find more NHL betting trends for Oilers vs. Kings.
How to watch Oilers vs Kings
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Puck drop
4:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet West
Oilers vs Kings 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.
The San Francisco Giants seek their fourth win in a row on Saturday night when they take on the Baltimore Orioles.
It’s been a nightmare start to the season for Baltimore starter Chris Bassitt, which is why our MLB odds have the Giants favored to claim the victory and clinch the series.
My Giants vs. Orioles predictions have MLB picks for the side and total as I explain why Bassitt’s struggles are likely to continue.
Who will win Giants vs Orioles today: Giants (-113)
Getting ground-ball outs becomes important when playing in Oriole Park. Logan Webb does that well, ranking in the 91st percentile a season ago and the 86th percentile in 2026.
Baltimore Orioles starter Chris Bassitt is struggling to get outs. 54% of his pitches to RHH this season have been fastballs, which is more of a local than an express.
Command is also Bassit's issue, posting a 15% BB walk rate vs. a 7.5% K rate.
Bassitt is getting destroyed by lefty bats, who are splitting .500/.583/.813 this season. With the short porch in RF, this sets up extremely well for the San Francisco Giants to win.
COVERS INTEL:Rafael Devers has a career .500/1.100/1.600 split vs. Chris Bassitt, with three 2B and three HR in 20 plate appearances.
Giants vs Orioles Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (+103)
I love the Over in this matchup. Webb is the better pitcher, but he’s not been great. He’s been a tad unlucky, given his 5.00 ERA exceeds his 3.50 xFIP, but he’s also rocking a .281 xBA.
The Giants rank near the bottom of the league in wOBAcon and hard-hit rate, and are dead last in barrel rate. The matchup with Bassitt raises their scoring floor.
Despite just 18 runs in the last six games, the Orioles rank fourth in BABIP and eighth in wRC+.
This matchup of two sub-par starters will lead to a third straight Over for the Orioles.
Jason Ence's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 0-2, -2.22 units
Over/Under bets: 2-0, +2.0 units
Giants vs Orioles odds
Moneyline: Giants -113 | Orioles +108
Run line: Giants -1.5 (+156) | Orioles +1.5 (-163)
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.
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche wrap up a short but significant homestand Saturday night, hosting the Vegas Golden Knights at Ball Arena in a game that carries both postseason intensity and a touch of nostalgia, as Colorado unveils its Nordiques throwbacks one final time this season.
Colorado enters riding the emotional high of Thursday’s 3–1 win over Calgary—a victory that didn’t just pad the standings, but locked up the Presidents’ Trophy. Vegas, meanwhile, arrives battle-tested after a chaotic 4–3 shootout loss in Seattle.
Avalanche Hit Their Stride At The Right Time
There’s a certain inevitability to Colorado right now. Everything feels sharp, rehearsed, and just a step faster than the opposition.
Thursday was another example. Nathan MacKinnon—in the midst of a career-defining campaign—added his 52nd goal, while Gabriel Landeskog and Martin Necas supplied the rest of the offense. In net, Mackenzie Blackwood was composed and efficient, turning aside 28 of 29.
MacKinnon continues to bend the league to his will. His 52 goals lead the NHL, and his 126 points place him firmly among the game’s elite. He’s not just producing—he’s dictating. Every shift carries a sense that something could break open.
Necas has been the perfect running mate, quietly piling up 98 points, while Colorado’s structure behind the puck has tightened considerably. Since March 1, they’ve allowed just 51 goals—among the stingiest marks in the league—and their power play has clicked at a lethal 27.1%.
Even the supporting cast has teeth. Scott Wedgewood has been lights out when called upon, leading qualified goaltenders in both save percentage (.918) and goals against average (2.10). It’s depth like that which transforms contenders into favorites.
Golden Knights Finding Identity Under Tortorella
Vegas, however, isn’t limping into Denver—they’re evolving.
Since the midseason coaching change that saw Bruce Cassidy—the architect of their 2023 Stanley Cup—dismissed in favor of John Tortorella, the Golden Knights have taken on a noticeably different edge. The results speak loudly: a 4-0-1 run under Tortorella has injected urgency and structure into a group that had started to drift.
Their loss in Seattle was messy but revealing. Mark Stone set the tone early with two goals, and Vegas built a 3–1 cushion before letting it slip. Still, there’s a resilience in how they’re playing now—less free-flowing than before, but more deliberate.
Offensively, the firepower remains undeniable. Jack Eichel drives the attack with 83 points, while Pavel Dorofeyev has emerged as a premier finisher with 35 goals. Mitch Marner adds another layer of playmaking brilliance, sitting just behind Eichel in both points and assists.
The challenge against Colorado is clear: can Vegas match pace without sacrificing structure? Under Tortorella, they’ll try to grind the game into something more manageable—shorter shifts, tighter gaps, fewer odd-man rushes.
Matchup Trends And Subplots
History leans Colorado. In 30 regular season meetings, the Avalanche hold an 18-10-2 edge, and they’ve already proven this season they can outgun Vegas when games open up.
MacKinnon, in particular, has made a habit of tormenting the Golden Knights, piling up 30 regular season points against them, with another seven in the playoffs. Necas and Brock Nelson have also found consistent success in this matchup.
Colorado looks like a team peaking with purpose. Vegas looks like one rediscovering its identity.
And somewhere between those two trajectories lies a game that could feel a lot like a playoff preview. We'll get a taste of what that looks like tonight.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 10: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Micah Peavy #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at the TD Garden on April 10, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
#1 – Magnet ball
Shooting in basketball carries a big share of variance and luck. Even the greatest shooter of all time, Stephen Curry, is below 50% from beyond the arc on wide-open attempts. This means you’d still have a better chance to win a coin-flip game than to see Curry knock down a three when he is open. Not that shooting threes is like tossing a coin, but I think there are some similarities.
And yesterday, the Celtics kept benefiting from that coin flip.
It started with Derrick White, launching a 34-footer after receiving the ball with less than a second on the clock.
Seeing how responsive the ball was to their shooting attempts, the Celtics kept firing. They ended up taking 59 threes, the highest total of the season — and they made 29 of them, tying the record from last season against the Knicks in the home opener.
What’s even crazier is that every Celtic who played more than 10 minutes attempted at least one triple. Yes, even Neemias Queta. And yes, he made it!
Out of a Spain pick-and-roll action, Jordan Walsh swings it back to Nemi, and that’s a beauty.
#2 – Taking away the rim
While the offense was impressive, the defense also showed great discipline after a complicated night in NY. The threat that the New Orleans offense presented was heavy rim pressure, with 42% of their shots attempted within 4 feet (1st in the league).
Yet, the Celtics were able to bring that number down to 22%, taking away the rim from the Pelicans, who were forced to rely much more on floaters and mid-range shots than layups.
The play above is a great example of how well the Celtics protected the paint, with Queta anchoring the rim, Sam Hauser staying connected to the ball, Walsh helping at the top of the key, and White ready to help or close out on Derik Queen.
The Celtics were helped by the lack of talent and spacing, but they remained disciplined all game long to make up for their previous defensive collapse. Looking forward to seeing that discipline when the playoffs start.
#3 – Jaylen rim pressure
On the other end, while the Pelicans couldn’t find a way to the rim, Jaylen Brown showed how relentless of a driver he has become. The 2024 Finals MVP forced seven free throws and scored on five drives throughout the game.
He did a great job identifying and attacking mismatches early in the possession so he could get downhill without being slowed by a second defender.
His handle and ability to turn the corner were on display last night, and once he gets up to speed, it becomes really hard to stop him. Very nice footwork at the end of the drive to jump off two feet for better control and go around the block attempt from Kevon Looney.
While his ability to get to the rim was elite last night, he had some trouble with the Pelicans’ aggressive coverages.
#4 – Dealing with gravity
The night before, it was Jayson Tatum who had six turnovers against the Knicks. This time, it was Brown who lost the ball seven times against the Pelicans. The young team’s game plan was to force the ball out of Brown’s hands and apply pressure whenever he had it.
In pick-and-roll situations, their big men were aggressive at the level of the screen to slow down the All-Star and force occasional turnovers.
As Brown was killing them inside, they kept bringing more bodies into the paint to force kick-outs, ready to close out wherever JB would pass the ball. Here, Poole sees Brown is stuck and forced to pass, and is able to steal the ball intended for Walsh on the wing.
These two games where JB and JT struggled to take care of the ball against aggressive defenses showed why they need each other to stretch the floor and avoid being the sole focus of the opponent’s game plan.
#5 – PP & Vooch off the bench
Speaking of duos, that new two-man scoring punch off the bench with Payton Pritchard and Nikola Vucevic could be really dangerous offensively. With PP’s scoring ability and growing gravity, combined with Vucevic’s screening and floor-spacing, this bench unit could become elite on offense.
Last night, they played a lot together, like in this action. PP throws the ball to Vooch and runs toward him to initiate a handoff at full speed. Because PP is quick and Vucevic is a threat from outside, the defense doesn’t know what to prioritize, creating hesitation and leading to open layups.
Games are won in the details, and Joe Mazzulla knows that. Safe to say he must have loved these sneaky plays from Derrick White to generate extra possessions.
It started on the very first action of the game with that sneaky offensive rebound from behind, leading to an open three.
For the 13th time this season, the Celtics recorded more than 30 assists — a rare sight for a team with the lowest assist rate in the NBA. Yet, they are undefeated when reaching that mark.
Looking at the opponents, it also feels like the ball moves more against lower-tier teams, as most of these games came against the Nets, Wizards, or Bucks.
#8 – Red Auerbach award
Payton Pritchard won’t be eligible for Sixth Man of the Year, but he most certainly deserves the Red Auerbach Award. The guard has delivered game after game, despite losing his spot in the starting lineup.
Payton Pritchard receives a huge ovation as he wins this year’s Red Auerbach Award – given for embodying the spirit of being a Boston Celtic ☘️ –@CLNSMediapic.twitter.com/OW2jmDkHb9
Whether as a starter or off the bench, Payton has consistently brought the spark that allowed the Celtics to be the best version of themselves and outperform expectations in what some saw as a gap year.
#9 – From a gap year to second seed
The last time the Celtics weren’t a top-two seed, Brad Stevens was still coaching. Even more impressive, over the last seven seasons, the Celtics have ranked top four in Net Rating in six of them.
This season might be the craziest yet in terms of performance, as the Celtics finished with the second-best offense in the NBA (third last year) and the fifth-best defense (same as last year).
#10 – Ready for a revenge playoffs run?
The upcoming playoff run could look a lot like last year’s. Orlando is very likely to be Boston’s first-round matchup, and the Knicks could be waiting in the semifinals.
Will they be ready this time? Exciting times ahead as the Celtics close out an extraordinary regular season.
Apr 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; A general view of signage depicting Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Slade Cecconi (44) as fans wait to enter before the home opener between the Guardians and the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Today feels like my first Guardians’ loss “hangover” of the year.
José Ramírez had some solid contact but his worst AB of the game came with the bases loaded as he continues to press. Slade Cecconi continued his pattern of looking like he should probably be a reliever (Cantillo had the same issue, though, so there is time). Matt Festa made me look silly for being his number one defender, or was it Stephen Vogt for thinking he is a fireman against left-handed hitters rather than Tim Herrin? Nick has the recap of an 11-5 loss here.
Good thing we have a game tonight to try to flush it. With Parker Messick vs. Martin Perez on the marquee, this would be a big one to win.
AROUND MLB:
Tigers beat the Marlins, Blue Jays beat the Twins, and Royals beat the White Sox.
COVERS INTEL:
