Jorge Polanco | (Photo: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images)
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reports that Jorge Polanco is getting the night off in the team’s series finale against the Diamondbacks, as the 32-year-old’s Achilles didn’t feel great after he played yesterday.
Billed as the Mets’ new first baseman when the team signed him to a two-year, $40 million contract in December, Polanco played the first two game of the season at the position before his Achilles issue arose. Since then, he’s served exclusively as a designated hitter, and he’s appeared in ten of the Mets’ twelve games thus far.
In 45 plate appearances, Polanco has hit .200/.289/.275 with no home runs and a 70 wRC+. Mendoza mentioned that the Mets might have to put him on the injured list at some point, but clearly the organization hasn’t made that decision quite yet.
For now, Francisco Alvarez will serve as the Mets’ DH in the series finale, while Luis Torrens gets the start at catcher. And Mark Vientos, who has gotten off to a stellar start at the plate this year, gets the start at first base for the fifth-straight game and the seventh time in the team’s past eight games.
The WNBA and NBA Board of Governors on Thursday formally approved new expansion teams coming to Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia.
The initial announcement of expanding to those cities, totaling to 18 teams, came on June 30, 2025. The movement was subject to the approval, which is now formal.
Cleveland will begin play first in the 2028 season, with Detroit following in 2029. Philadelphia will be last in 2030.
All three cities have NBA teams in the Cavaliers, Pistons and 76ers, respectively.
The league will have two expansion teams beginning in the upcoming 2026 season: the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo. Both cities also are home to NBA teams in the Trail Blazers and Raptors, and the new teams participated in an expansion draft to set up their respective rosters.
Those cities are awaiting formal approval, which would take the NBA to 32 teams. The league would likely realign the teams in the Western and Eastern Conferences, too, to fit two new cities out West.
More details on this trio of WNBA expansion franchises will come at later dates.
Two Tigers outfielders were involved in a scary head-to-head collision Thursday, leaving one bloodied before he was carted off Minnesota’s Target Field.
With one out in the bottom of the eighth inning of a 1-1 game, Twins slugger Josh Bell lifted a fly ball to left-center field as Riley Greene and Parker Meadows both chased down the potential out.
Meadows could not stop his momentum running from center field toward Greene — who made the catch — and collided with the Tigers’ All-Star.
Greene briefly fell to one knee, but Meadows collapsed to the grass on his back and stayed on the ground for several minutes as Greene and the medical staff, including athletic trainer Ryne Eubanks, checked on him.
Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows is helped off the field after a collision with left fielder Riley Greene during the eighth inning of baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Thursday, April 9, 2026.
AP
A streak of blood could be seen down Meadows’ left cheek.
Meadows, 26, remained on his back for several minutes before he sat up and was assisted into a golf cart, appearing dazed after the collision.
Meadows had gone 0-for-3 in three plate appearances before the injury.
A streak of blood could be seen down Meadows’ left cheek after the head-to-head collision. Getty Images
Parker Meadows is carted off the field after a nasty collision in the outfield with Riley Greene pic.twitter.com/5DCBp95WK9
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Meadows would remain at a Minneapolis hospital overnight and revealed that he bit his lip during the collision, per MLB.com.
“Obviously we’re going to get him checked out for everything, but this one worries me,” Hinch said.
Veteran Javier Báez moved from shortstop to center field in the wake of Meadows’ injury, while prized rookie Kevin McGonigle entered the game at shortstop.
Later in the eighth inning, Twins shortstop Brooks Lee delivered a go-ahead two-run single as the Twins defeated the Tigers 3-1.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 08: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles as he is chased by LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 104-101 Lakers win in game four of the Western Conference Semifinal Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 08, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors play their final home game of the regular season in tonight’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM PT in San Francisco and will be streamed on Prime Video.
Golden State snapped a four-game losing streak with Tuesday night’s 110–105 win over the Sacramento Kings. It marked the Warriors’ second game with Steph Curry back in the lineup, and they responded with noticeable energy — particularly in the second quarter, where they outscored Sacramento 41–27 to take a 13-point lead into halftime.
Still, the Kings — despite their 21–59 record — made things interesting late. It took timely shot-making from Curry (17 points) and Brandin Podziemski (20 points) to close it out down the stretch.
Tonight’s matchup against the Lakers was initially shaping up to be the first meeting between Curry and LeBron James this season. However, the Warriors announced Curry will sit out the front end of the back-to-back as he continues ramping up from the knee injury that sidelined him for 27 games.
Steph Curry is now OUT for tonight’s Warriors game against the Lakers @NBCSWarriors
No Steph, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford or Will Richard for the Warriors
With both teams dealing with injuries to key players — including the Lakers being without leading scorers Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for the remainder of the regular season — the focus shifts to role players on both sides.
For Los Angeles, head coach JJ Redick recently made headlines for publicly challenging his team’s supporting cast following a blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
JJ Redick CALLED OUT the entire roster 😭
On Rui: “He wasn’t doing his job so I took him out.”
On Vando: “It was a confluence of things he did wrong.”
Meanwhile, the Warriors may have found a spark in big man Charles Bassey. Signed as a late addition due to frontcourt injuries, Bassey recorded a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double against Sacramento. He provided energy as a rim runner and lob threat, and with Golden State still thin up front, his role could continue to grow as the regular season winds down.
The Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas got a head start on all the other San Diego Padres minor league affiliates, playing their first game the day after the parent club. The Double-A San Antonio Missions, High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps and Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm didn’t get started until either April 2 or 3.
On April 2, San Antonio and Lake Elsinore kicked off their seasons with Fort Wayne joining on April 3. The Missions roster features top prospects catcher Ethan Salas, pitchers Miguel Mendez, Luis Gutierrez, Victor Lizarraga and Jagger Haynes as well as first baseman Romeo Sanabria who distinguished himself during the spring.
Lake Elsinore features many of the 2025 draft class, including top pick LHP Kruz Schoolcraft and two catchers, Ty Harvey and Truitt Madonna. Shortstop Jorge Quintana, outfielder Kale Fountain and outfielder Ryan Wideman are other top prospects playing with the Storm.
Fort Wayne will feature LHP Kash Mayfield atop their rotation after his debut season last year with the Storm. Both pitchers Kannon Kemp and Jaxon Dalena will be with the TinCaps but start the year in Arizona, dealing with injury issues. RHP Clark Candiotti, formerly a starter last year with the Storm, has been put in the bullpen to start this season. Catcher Lamar King Jr. will catch as well as play first and DH. Physical standout Alex McCoy will man the outfield with Kavares Tears and Kasen Wells.
El Paso Chihuahuas
The Chihuahuas went 2-2 over their first four games and played six games total versus the Tacoma Rainiers from March 31 thru April 5 with a rainout that was made up as a doubleheader. They moved on to the Albuquerque Isotopes on April 7. Through the week they went 3-4 and played host to multiple Padres players on rehab assignments. Matt Waldron, Jason Adam, Yuki Matsui, Griffin Canning and Sung-Mun Song are all working with the Chihuahuas for their rehabs.
Waldron turned in the best pitching performance as a starter, throwing seven innings over two starts with five hits and no runs allowed. He has no walks with nine strikeouts. Reliever Ethan Routzahn has a 2.08 ERA in 4.1 innings pitched for El Paso.
Outfielder Samad Taylor leads the team with a .333 batting average and has a .843 OPS. Outfielder Jase Bowen is slugging .722 with three homers and seven RBI and a 1.020 OPS.
San Antonio Missions
The Missions started their season versus the Tulsa Drillers for three games, losing two of three. RHP Victor Lizarrage started the first game with Miguel Mendez and Ian Koeing following. Mendez allowed three hits and a run over 3.2 innings
The Missions started a series versus the Corpus Christi Hooks with LHP Luis Gutierrez throwing four innings with two hits and a run getting five strikeouts in a loss. LHP Jagger Haynes only lasted 1.2 innings with three earned runs in a loss in the second game.
Closer Michael Flynn has pitched 1.2 innings over two games without allowing a hit.
Infielder Carson Tucker was signed by the Padres in the offseason after leaving the Cleveland Guardians system. A former first-round pick, the 24-year-old was released due to a significant injury history. He and infielder Luis Verdugo are leading the Missions with batting averages over .400 and an .OPS of 1.200 and 1.323 respectively.
Fort Wayne TinCaps
The TinCaps started their season against the Great Lakes Loons, going 1-2 for the three games. They were rained out on Saturday and played a doubleheader on Sunday. They are 1-4 overall.
LHP Kash Mayfield heads the rotation and pitched in the season opener for three innings with no runs allowed and 4 strikeouts. RHP Isaiah Lowe piggybacked with Mayfield and allowed one run in 3 innings of work. RHP Andrew Parra also only allowed a hit and a run in 4 innings in the first game of the doubleheader.
The next series against the Lansing Lugnuts began with a 4 inning performance from Maikel Miralles with one hit and 9 strikeouts in another loss. Reliever Braian Salazar has appeared in three games with one run allowed.
Catcher Carlos Rodriguez is hitting .364 with a .871 OPS. Outfielder Alex McCoy leads the team with two doubles and two RBI in a struggling early season offense.
Lake Elsinore Storm
The Storm started their season against the new team in the division, the Ontario Tower Buzzers. They won the first game with a good outing by Bryan Balzar over four innings and one run allowed with seven strikeouts. They lost the next two games with lefty Schoolcraft only lasting 1 inning in the second game and allowing four hits and six runs in 51 pitches with four walks. The Storm is 2-3 overall in the young season.
RHP Winyer Chourio started the series opener against the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes with four innings and three hits with one run and six strikeouts. They won their second game against the Quakes with a bullpen game.
Jose Verdugo, 18, is making his US debut after playing last season in the DSL. He is hitting .385 with a .928 OPS. Catcher Ty Harvey leads the team with two doubles and four RBI.
The Padres minor league system saw three players retire before the start of the season. Pitchers Jared Kollar, Riley Pint and Carter Loewen all announced that they were leaving baseball.
Padres pitchers Humberto Cruz, rehabbing from ACL surgery, and Emmanuel Pinales have both been removed from all rosters due to legal issues involving them.
Alex Verdugo, the former major leaguer and minor league signee who began spring camp playing with the affiliate teams, has been placed in extended spring/Arizona Complex League for further work but could be in El Paso by mid-to-late April.
Catcher Blake Hunt, outfielder Tirso Ornelas and infielder Will Wagner all started the season on the IL.
Sep 23, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Luis Gil (81) pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images
For every move there is a corresponding one, and for the first time in this 2026 season, the Yankees will have to mess around with their 26-man roster, completing a move that had been on the cards ever since the start of the season. Luis Gil will join the starting rotation, marking the end of the four-man rotation. The presence of multiple off-days and the lack of a particularly encouraging spring training from Gil led the Yankees to this decision that paid off about as well as it could have, with the pitching staff as a whole starting the year in outstanding form.
To add Gil, the Yankees will need a corresponding move, removing one of their bullpen arms, raising the question of who that reliever will be. Although the answer seems pretty obvious in Cade Winquest to the point that it’d be surprising if he wasn’t the odd man out, that selection in and of itself opens up the door for an interesting conversation — how the Yankees have utilized their first Rule 5 pick in over a decade.
After eleven games, Winquest is the only Yankee pitcher on the active roster not to have appeared in a game yet, hence the high likelihood that he’ll return to his former team. However, the lack of appearances from Winquest is a byproduct of two things, neither of which has a lot to do with him necessarily: number one, the outstanding work by the starting rotation that often limits the number of innings the bullpen is asked to cover; and number two, the production from the relievers themselves. In order for Winquest to move up the leverage ladder, opening the year on the low end of the totem pole, someone must come down, and the candidates were few and far between.
From the outside looking in, perhaps one of the easiest candidates to create an opening, Brent Headrick, who came into this season looking to prove that the success he had in a short sample in 2025 was sustainable, has been outstanding, yet to allow a run in seven appearances, the most in baseball. The worst-performing reliever early on is Camilo Doval, who’ll earn a lot more rope as he tries to settle in, coming into this season slated to be one of the primary setup men behind Bednar. Fernando Cruz is a strikeout machine, Tim Hill is your lefty specialist, and both Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn are able to provide a bit more length as needed. Jake Bird’s numbers might not look great, but they’re all a product of one terrible outing against the Marlins; he’s otherwise been excellent.
As much as the argument might be that the Yankees could’ve made better use of this final roster spot over Winquest, there haven’t been many opportunities in which this team has missed an extra reliever. For all we know, the Yankees may still like Winquest enough after getting him in the building, but there haven’t been that many opportunities to get him in there — perhaps even in certain emergency scenarios. He’ll be on the chopping block out of necessity, but the decision to take a shot on him wasn’t a costly one and had its merits.
The Los Angeles Lakers were baking one hell of a cake in the second half of the season, only to have injuries drop that sucker on the floor just before the party.
With no Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves, Los Angeles is left scooping crumbs, frosting, and championship hopes off the hardwood in these final days of the regular season.
The Lakers are grasping for the No. 4 seed in the West and praying for the best when the postseason begins, leaning on veteran star LeBron James to keep them on track.
LeBron and L.A. are underdogs in the Bay Area tonight, and our Lakers vs. Warriors predictions see James jacking up his share of shots from beyond the arc.
My NBA picks take the King to top his 3-point prop on Thursday, April 9.
Lakers vs Warriors prediction
Lakers vs Warriors best bet: LeBron James Over 1.5 made threes (+110)
LeBron James is as adaptable as they come. When Luka Doncic is out of the lineup, he picks up his playmaking, and we see his assist tallies soar. And when Austin Reaves is sidelined, James’ activity from outside increases.
LeBron is learning to live without either of his Los Angeles Lakers co-stars in the home stretch. While we have a small sample of games without Doncic and Reaves, James did fire up six 3-point attempts in the loss to Dallas on Sunday.
Looking at his last 19 games without Reaves in action, James has averaged 4.6 shots from beyond the arc, connecting for two or more in nine of those. For comparison, when Luka and Reaves were both healthy during L.A.'s red-hot run in March, LeBron was taking only 2.4 triples and making less than one of those long-range looks an outing.
Tonight's game script has L.A. playing from behind versus the Golden State Warriors, and the rest of the Lakers lineup has provided spotty production, leaving head coach J.J. Redick to blast several players during this current stretch.
James was a one-man wrecking crew vs. Dallas and will have the green light against a Golden State defense that has slipped when it comes to protecting the perimeter. The Dubs have allowed foes to shoot 37% from distance since the All-Star break, and that’s blown up to 39% over the past 10.
LeBron has faced the Warriors twice this season, going 4-for-6 and 2-for-7 from downtown in those matchups. His projections for tonight range between 1.4 and 2.4 makes from 3-point land, with the bulk of those forecasts calling for two triples and his attempts as high as seven 3PAs.
Lakers vs Warriors same-game parlay
Los Angeles can at least keep it close against a Warriors roster that could protect players in this first game of back-to-back outings. The Lakers are desperate not to fall back in the West standings, as they’ll need all the help they can get in the postseason.
Deandre Ayton has been ripped by Redick for his recent efforts, but with the L.A. lineup hurting for offense, he’s capable of putting up points against a small Golden State frontcourt. His projections sit as high as 13 points.
Lakers vs Warriors SGP
Lakers +4.5
LeBron James Over 1.5 made threes
Deandre Ayton Over 11.5 Points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Royal Flush
LeBron went nuclear on the Mavericks, scoring 30 points, dishing out 15 assists, and hauling in nine rebounds. He sat out Tuesday’s matchup with OKC, so the 41-year-old has fresh legs for this trip to Golden State.
Lakers vs Warriors SGP
Lakers moneyline
LeBron James Over 24.5 points
LeBron James Over 9.5 assists
LeBron James Over 7.5 rebounds
Lakers vs Warriors odds
Spread: Lakers +4.5 (-110) | Warriors -4.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Lakers +160 | Warriors -190
Over/Under: Over 225.5 (-110) | Under 225.5 (-110)
Lakers vs Warriors betting trend to know
The Over is 9-2 in the last 11 matchups between the Lakers and Warriors. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Warriors.
How to watch Lakers vs Warriors
Location
Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Date
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Lakers vs Warriors latest injuries
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.
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 23: J.P. France #68 of the Houston Astros pitches against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on April 23, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Astros fans, at this point in the season, it doesn’t matter if you’re a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty kind of fan, I’m here to tell you there is no need to panic.
Just like after the first series of the season, when I said it was far too soon to get worked up over a rough start, the message remains the same now. Take a breath. It’s early, and everything is still in front of this team. Unlike a lot of teams in MLB, you have replacements waiting in the wings to fill-in where necessary.
Let’s start with some context. The Astros are currently on the road, playing in Colorado, where the altitude is always a factor. That alone can skew performances, especially for a pitching staff that is still trying to find its footing. Then you go to the Athletics series, where the team is playing in a Triple-A ballpark, a place where the Astros have traditionally struggled, against an A’s offense that tends to perform better at home.
Despite all of that, the offense, aside from the last two games, has been outstanding. In fact, it’s been one of the best in the American League. That’s not something to overlook. You have a big picture example of the depth that I will be focusing on in this article, with what the infield has been able to overcome. Jeremy Pena, Isaac Paredes and Carlos Correa have been able to miss games and the runs and hits keep on coming. Christian Walker has been a huge bright spot and the best should still be yet to come.
When you check the standings, the bigger picture becomes even clearer. The Astros are only a game and a half behind the Texas Rangers entering play Thursday, and the Mariners, Angels and Athletics right now are all bunched up with the Astros. In other words, there’s no ground lost that can’t easily be made up no matter how bad it has looked lately.
Pitching Concerns Are Real, But Manageable
If there is a legitimate concern, it’s the pitching staff.
Bryan Abreu has struggled while trying to fill in for Josh Hader. The starting rotation, overall, has been mediocre at best.
But here’s the good news: help is on the way, and unlike many teams, there are options.
The Astros are approaching a stretch where they’ve already indicated a desire to move to a six-man rotation. That opens the door for several arms to step in and make an impact. With Cristian Javier now dealing with a shoulder issue and headed to the injured list, the opportunity becomes even more real for others.
No, this rotation may not currently feature the same level of established aces as last season with Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez leading the way, but it does have depth. And depth matters over the course of a long season.
Options, Options, Options
The Astros have several viable candidates ready to contribute.
J.P. France has already been called up and is expected to start during the Seattle series. Beyond him, you’ve got arms like Colton Gordon, Jason Alexander, and Spencer Arrighetti, who is scheduled to take the mound Thursday night, all waiting for their chance.
Don’t forget about Miguel Ullola, who impressed in spring training and showed promise last season. He’s another name that could factor in as the season progresses.
This is the time for opportunity. With multiple starters currently sidelined, the Astros need to identify who can step up and replicate the kind of contributions they got a year ago from players like Brandon Walter and Alexander.
Reinforcements Are Coming
It’s also important to remember that no matter what happens now, it won’t affect the future. Pitchers like Ronel Blanco, Walter, and Hayden Wesneski are currently on the injured list recovering from major injuries, but down the road they will add even more depth to the Starting Pitching in the Houston system.
That kind of depth puts the Astros in a far better position than many other teams around Major League Baseball.
And if you’re still looking externally, there are options there too. A veteran like Lucas Giolito remains available on the open market and could be a potential addition if the team decides to explore outside help.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, this rotation may not look exactly like the one you expected coming into the season, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be effective.
There are plenty of capable arms, plenty of opportunities, and plenty of time.
So before you hit the panic button, take a step back and look at the bigger picture. The Astros are still in a good position, with everything they want to accomplish still right in front of them.
Drew Fortescue signing his three-year, entry-level contract in March has allowed the New York Rangers to see what they have in the young defenseman.
After three seasons playing at Boston College, Fortescue decided to make the jump to professional hockey and immediately go from the NCAA to the NHL.
Through seven games, Fortescue has seemed to adapt well to the NHL, impressing Mike Sullivan in the process.
“I've been really impressed with his puck poise, his vision,” Sullivan said of Fortescue. “He keeps the play simple, but he's not just an off-the-glass-and-out guy. He's looking to go tape-to-tape. He has the composure and the confidence to find the middle play, say, on a breakout. He doesn't just play safe hockey. He plays smart hockey. He doesn't play reckless hockey. There's a difference between those three, and I like the fact that he's trying to play smart hockey.”
Through most of his time with the Rangers thus far, Fortescue has been paired alongside Braden Schneider.
Sullivan believes that playing with a steady defenseman like Schneider benefits Fortescue, who is still finding his footing at the professional hockey level.
“Schneids is a bona fide, legit, solid NHL defenseman, who defends well,” Sullivan said. “He has good mobility. The lefty-righty combination is something that we liked. Schneids can help him as a stabilizing partner. Schneids is very predictable, you know where he is going to be, he’s in the right spots, those kinds of things, which I think is important for a young defenseman that is trying to find his way.”
The 20-year-old defenseman has recorded two assists, while averaging 14:58 minutes per game.
Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) celebrates his goal against the Sabres.
During the stretch after Adam Fox first returned from long-term injured reserve following the Olympic break, head coach Mike Sullivan was controlled when asked about the Rangers’ star defenseman.
His production, Sullivan said March 18, was getting better. Fox, he added, was building his game again. The ceiling for a point-per-game, Norris Trophy-winning member of the blue line had already been established, but Sullivan acknowledged it would take time for Fox to return to that point due to his extended absences this season.
Access the Rangers beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting withMollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers.
But Wednesday night, from the bowels of the Garden during his postgame press conference, Sullivan didn’t hesitate when asked about Fox, who’d just recorded a multipoint game for the third consecutive match. His goal and assist against the Sabres gave Fox 15 points in his past eight games, 24 in his past 22 and 52 in the 52 contests he has skated in this season.
“Well, I think he’s captured his game that he started the season with,” Sullivan said.
There’s no question the Rangers are a better team with Fox in the lineup, but with the offseason lingering after a three-game road trip to close the season, the future of the defenseman remains one of their most pressing questions. His cryptic comments from late February, when asked about whether he wants to remain with the Blueshirts through their retool, still loom. And that remains their dilemma: Fox, in the most injury-plagued season of his career, has once again shown his peak value, but what happens if he wants out?
“When you miss a stretch of time, it could take a little bit,” Fox said after Wednesday’s game when asked about his eight-game point streak, “but I think over the last month or so, I feel really good about my game.”
Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) skates with the puck in the third period of the Buffalo Sabres’ 5-3 win. Bill Kostroun
The uncertainty with Fox stemmed from an answer following the Rangers’ Feb. 26 game against the Flyers when, after another loss in his first game back from injury, Fox fielded a question about his thoughts on The Letter 2.0 — which president and general manager Chris Drury dropped during his time on long-term injured reserve.
Fox said he felt “a little helpless” after seeing the public commitment for a retool, but when asked if he wanted to remain with the Rangers through this next stage, Fox, in part, said, “I think that’s a conversation when we’re done playing games.”
In a normal Rangers season, there wouldn’t even be a doubt about Fox’s future with the team. He’s a Long Island native who never masked his desires — or dreams — to play on Broadway. He’s a defenseman regarded as one of the top power-play quarterbacks in the league. His contract lasts through the end of the 2028-29 season, and the Blueshirts’ top priority last offseason involved signing left-handed defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to pair with Fox.
And the benefits of having Fox in the lineup have once again become apparent. The Rangers have collected the most power-play goals in the NHL since Feb. 28 (20) — a stretch beginning the game after Fox returned — and are tied for the league lead in power-play percentage (33.3) since that juncture, according to the team. They have the No. 3 power play this year after watching their constant strength crater to the No. 28-ranked unit in 2024-25.
“He obviously is an elite player offensively,” Sullivan said of Fox. “He sees it so well. The poise he has with the puck. He drives offense in so many ways.”
The Rangers didn’t have that luxury for a chunk of their season. Fox skated in just three games between Nov. 29 and Feb. 26, with a pair of stints on long-term injured reserve surrounding the midseason break — the Olympics that Fox wasn’t selected to participate in for Team USA — to create the prolonged absence. He’d never played in fewer than 70 games across a full 82-game campaign. This year, if he appears in all of the Rangers’ remaining games, he’ll log just 55.
Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) celebrates his goal against the Sabres. Bill Kostroun
But after recording just 61 points in 74 games last season, Fox has again matched the production level that made him an annual part of the Norris conversation. If there were concerns about injuries contributing to a production drop-off, he eliminated those worries. The Rangers, though, still need to figure out if they can depend on it for next season.
Even a vintage production tear from Fox isn’t enough to change that reality.
MLSE CEO Keith Pelley felt the Maple Leafs were underutilizing their resources. With Mehta’s success with analytics, he could likely be considered a favorite to land the Maple Leafs job.
But in came the Devils, who fired their GM, Tom Fitzgerald, on Monday. Mehta received his first NHL gig with the Devils, where he worked as an analyst for four years, from 2014-18.
In addition to Mehta, Lebrun mentions Brett Peterson, who has been involved in interviews for the Nashville Predators vacancy. LeBrun wonders whether the Maple Leafs and Devils will approach Peterson as part of their process, but at the moment, they haven’t.
With the Panthers’ recent success, it’s no surprise that teams around the NHL want to pry the Panthers’ management group away.
If the Panthers lose both Mehta and Peterson, they’ll need to look for assistant GMs to join Bill Zito and Gregory Campbell’s staff.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
One day late in spring training, when many Yankees and the cameras that follow them were in Lakeland for a game against the Tigers, Ryan McMahon took batting practice off a machine at Steinbrenner Field.
Almost no one was around that day, not with roster decisions being finalized and half the team on the road. But it was clear to anyone who was there that he was working on something, looking back at coaches between swings, watching the flight of each ball closely, shaking his head after mishits.
As he swung, Aaron Judge ambled out of the dugout and leaned against the back of the cage, eyes locked on McMahon. He stayed there for the next 20 to 30 minutes, sometimes popping out to start his now-iconic swing, using it to demonstrate the way he keeps his weight on his back leg and how his hands go from ready and waiting to heading toward the ball with no added motion. When McMahon hit the ball, Judge watched until it landed. Between swings, he offered encouragement.
“I’m telling you, man,” Judge said after McMahon sent a line drive to right center, as if urging McMahon to see new possibilities. “You have great power to all fields.”
McMahon, 31, has demonstrated consistent 20-home run power during his 10-year major league career. But he has never exactly been known for his hitting. What Judge seemed to be suggesting, and what Yankees coaches, tweaking things, seemed to be hoping, is that it was not too late to make improvements.
Early this season, he has struggled to provide even his usual levels of production. He, like many of his teammates, went hitless in Thursday’s 1-0 loss to Jeffrey Springs and the Athletics. That leaves him 2 for his first 29 at-bats this year — and one of those hits was a seeing-eye single on Opening Day.
The veteran’s first few weeks have been so frustrating offensively that his manager came to his public defense Thursday, insisting to reporters that McMahon is “a good major league hitter” – something managers do not often have to say when all is well.
“It’s 10 games. He’s scuffling right now, but the reality is, he’s been on base four times, too, with walks and hits and big at-bats,” Boone said Wednesday. “We want him to improve even who he’s been, obviously, in his career. And he’s off to a slow start right now, but a number of guys are.”
Though McMahon has been somewhat vague, those improvements Boone referenced largely center on McMahon changing the way he positions his body as part of an effort to be more on time. That is what McMahon was trying to feel that day in spring training, and when asked about it weeks after the fact, McMahon needed no reminding.
“I know exactly what you’re talking about. It was right near the end of spring training, right?” McMahon said. “That day, I had been struggling. Still am a little bit, but I’ll grind through it…”
That day, McMahon recalled, he was “grinding” through cage work while Judge was waiting for his turn. At one point, Judge walked over and looked at the iPad recording McMahon’s swings. He listened to what he and the coaches were talking about. Then he pulled McMahon aside and said, “I’ve got an idea for you.”
“He started talking, told me what he thought. So I said, ‘I’m going to go out and hit this machine until I can feel it,’” McMahon said. “He completely stops his routine. Comes outside to watch me. Pauses everything he’s doing that day. Watches every swing I take. Helped me out big time.”
New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) reacts after hitting a two run home run during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
McMahon estimated Judge added an extra hour to his work that day – an otherwise quiet one that veteran hitters not in the lineup treasured for its brevity after weeks of spring training drudgery. And when presented with the idea that Judge, a massive righty with an unorthodox swing, might not be the most relatable instructor for a slight lefty with a more traditional one, McMahon interrupted.
“Yeah, but he understands. He understands how things can apply to other people,” he said. “The way he does it, what works for him is being extreme. Where I think he understands with other guys, it might not be extreme, but he can still talk the swing. They’re still mechanics that he knows and is trying to execute.”
As for those mechanics, McMahon has largely been vague about exactly what he is working on during his early-season struggles. But he said most of his work during that last week of spring training and the first days of the regular season centered on timing.
“Just trying to be able to swing as soon as that guy releases the baseball. And that’s like, a pretty well-known, obvious thing to do. But it’s hard,” McMahon said. “Being in a better spot, being close to that launch spot – where you launch your swing from. Making sure you can feel that and swing as soon as you need to.”
McMahon is not a member of the Yankees because of his bat. As long as he climbs out of his slump and into regular production levels, he will be fulfilling his duties to them. But they and their captain seem to believe he can do more offensively than he has in the past.
The start of McMahon's season has been frustrating. But for now, with an 8-4 record and other sluggers to carry them, they can afford to see if he can prove them right.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 7: Rob Dillingham #7 of the Chicago Bulls looks to pass the ball during the game against the Washington Wizards on April 7, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards play the Chicago Bulls at 7 p.m. today. Watch the game on Monumental Sports Network.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Sabres goalie Alex Lyon could miss the start of the playoffs due to a strained lower-body muscle.
Coach Lindy Ruff provided the update on Thursday, a day after Lyon was hurt during the team's pre-game skate ahead of Buffalo's 5-3 win at the New York Rangers. Ruff said the initial prognosis is the goalie missing a week, while adding there is a chance he won't be available for the start of the playoffs, which are scheduled to open April 18-19.
The Sabres, who host Columbus on Thursday night, are contending for the Atlantic Division title after clinching their first playoff berth in 15 seasons.
The 33-year-old Lyon has gone 20-10-4 in his first season in Buffalo while sharing the starting duties with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Buffalo is carrying a third goalie, Colten Ellis, who was scheduled to face Columbus in his first start since a 31-save outing in a 4-3 overtime loss at Tampa Bay on Feb. 3.
Ellis entered the day with a 7-4-1 record, and would serve as Luukkonen's backup while Lyon is sidelined.
