FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 12, 2026: Kristian Campbell #28 of the Boston Red Sox runs out a single during the second inning of a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at Lee Health Sports Complex on March 12, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
It’s notable that Seth Martinez, who struggled out of the gate, was not meant to be the starter in this game. That slot belonged to Jake Bennett, who was scratched earlier in the day. It’s also notable that Toronto is just a three hour ride through the New York State Thruway (our version of the Pike you all know) and Ontario Highway 403 away from Rochester, where the Nationals AAA squad and the WooSox are faring off all week. The big lefty has been preserved as far as innings go this season, but still throws hard and has been unhittable, or, at least, unable to be scored upon.
But, Bennett didn’t play Tuesday, and a bunch of other WooSox did. Though, the bats were really stagnant. The team relied on extra base hits by just Kristian Campbell and Mickey Gasper, and neither scored; that honor was fittingly scored by a sacrifice grounder by Anthony Seigler to score leadoff hitter Nick Sogard, which doesn’t quite sound right. Kristian Campbell’s OPS has been climbing to a respectable level, but it’s easy to highlight him when the rest of the Worcester lineup lacks the punch. Conversely, the Red Wings had no problem scoring on the WooSox, as, in addition to Martinez’s rough start, Noah Song got hit around for six runs in seven outs.
Gage Ziehl shouldn’t have taken the loss going seven innings and allowing just two runs on five hits without walking any Patriots (Yankees AA), but the lackluster Portland bats caused the loss here. Both runs scored were off of home runs, and when you allow two home runs, it makes it tough when you can only muster one run. That’s math! If you’re on Franklin Arias home run watch, he has now reached his longest drought (two games) since he hit his first home run of the season, but he did have the Sea Dogs’ only RBI of the night. It didn’t help, though, that every starter in the lineup contributed to Portland’s 14 strikeouts.
It looked as though this game would be much different for the Drive in Hub City, aka Spartanburg (Rangers High-A) before Greenville exploded for 7 runs in the bottom of the 8 after allowing 4 runs in the top of the frame. The Drive treated that eighth inning like it was batting practice, teeing off for four home runs and quickly turning a close game into a blowout and allowed reliever Calvin Bickerstaff, who allowed the headache in the first place, to do a type of slamming the door that I’d envision would include hitting the door on your toe and jumping up and down before slamming it a second time.
Pitching was the real differene maker in this game: the Warbirds (Brewers A) managed just six runners on the night off of Myles Patton and Jacob Mayers, each of whom have looked good in their last couple of appearances. Meanwhile, no one knew it yet, but this game was over by the third batter of the game all the way in the top of hte first as the RidgeYaks’ catcher Luke Heyman hit a two-run shot to put Salem up for good.
PHILADELPHIA — Don Mattingly thew in the towel on his managerial career and all but had retired from baseball after he left his bench coach job with Toronto following the World Series.
Prodded by his son, Mattingly decided to give baseball another go, and accepted a job over the winter as Philadelphia’s bench coach, where he would be reunited with his old friend from their New York Yankees days in manager Rob Thomson.
But manage again when the Yankees great known as Donnie Baseball was about to turn 65?
“I don’t think I have the energy for that anymore,” Mattingly said in January.
Mattingly seemed candid about his future at the time because all logic and recent history showed that he was joining a heavyweight World Series contender in Philadelphia. Why even toss around the idea of ever filling out a lineup card again, especially with a high-priced, postseason-tested roster brimming with talent including Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Zack Wheeler?
Fast forward four months and the Phillies’ season has come to this: Mattingly’s last best shot at winning his first World Series ring after more than 40 years in baseball starts with managing one of the worst teams in the National League.
Mattingly indeed is the manager for the rest of the season, taking the interim job hours after the Phillies fired Thomson — and openly flirted with the idea of replacing him with former Red Sox manager Alex Cora — with the stout belief that a championship team beats in the heart of this underachieving roster.
The job either comes with a perk or the potential for awkwardness with Mattingly also the father of his new boss, Phillies general manager Preston Mattingly.
“I know how competitive he is,” Mattingly said. “Him and I are a little different. He looks at things, he’s a little outside the box at times, which I appreciate. It’s helped me grow.”
Also give 11-year-old son Louis Mattingly the bulk of the credit for flipping dad’s decision in the offseason.
Mattingly — who wore a white pinstriped suit in the 1980s Hit Man poster that was a staple in many a 1980s New York kid’s bedroom — is off to a fine start in Philly.
Thomson, who led the Phillies to four straight postseason berths, including the 2022 World Series, still would have his job had Philadelphia regularly played as well at it did in a 7-0 win over San Francisco in Mattingly’s debut.
“I’m going to watch our game,” Thomson said in a video call with reporters shortly before the game. “I really am.”
Thomson surely enjoyed the result — even if it perhaps came with a bit of frustration the Phillies failed to play more consistent complete games throughout April.
Turner became the first Phillie all season with a four-hit game. Jesús Luzardo, just two starts after the lefty allowed nine runs and 12 hits against the Cubs, tossed two-hit ball, struck out eight and walked none over seven shutout innings. He teamed with two relievers for the Phillies’ first shutout of the season.
The Phillies lost 10 straight games and 11 of 12 in Thomson’s final stretch of an otherwise successful tenure. Mattingly kept the coaching staff intact — notably beleaguered hitting coach Kevin Long, who took most of the heat for the Phillies’ woes — and third base coach Dusty Wathan was promoted to bench coach.
“I don’t know if I’m a whole lot different from Rob, honestly,” Mattingly said. “I trust players, I believe in players, I like players. But I want us to play better baseball.”
Mattingly, who managed the Dodgers from 2011-15 and the Marlins from 2016-22, also didn’t seem to mind he was Philadelphia’s second managerial choice.
Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies’ president of baseball operations, made it clear Cora was his first choice to succeed Thomson. Dombrowski ran the front office in Boston when Cora managed the Red Sox to a World Series championship in 2018. A Philly reunion made sense on paper, though Cora ultimately passed.
“I came to the conclusion that if he took it, I would make a change. I thought he would take it,” Dombrowski said. “Until Monday morning it was apparent from his perspective he wanted to take time with his family. He wanted to be a father first and foremost and so that’s what he had decided.”
The Phillies’ woes stretch way beyond the manager.
From former All-Star third baseman Alec Bohm to second baseman Bryson Stott, the Phillies underperformed for a team with $284.7 million payroll. The Phillies are aging and the rotation was a disaster — which led to the decision to release Taijuan Walker — all part of a recipe for a team that used their most recent win to move to 10-19.
The Phillies, of course, have been here before, notably in 2022 when Dombrowski fired Joe Girardi after a 22-29 start and they went 65-46 the rest of the season under Thomson. The schedule works in Mattingly’s favor to duplicate that run with nine of the next 13 games at home with only the Athletics (out of three other teams) holding a winning record.
Mattingly thought he was out. He’s now all the way back in — and the Phillies’ World Series hopes are firmly pinned on a manager who’s never won one.
“This is not about how I’m going to do,” Mattingly said. “It’s really about club.”
For the first time in this series, Houston is no longer the favorite, with Los Angeles trading at 63¢ to prevail at home and advance to the second round.
Our prediction:Rockets to win
"A few wins, home court, and the promise of Austin Reaves’ return have flipped the script on this series, but I’m not counting out the Rockets just yet. Houston’s defense has improved greatly over the past six quarters, and I think there’s value in them stealing a victory in L.A."
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"The Rockets' offense has been a mess with Kevin Durant in and out, but Houston decided to get it done with defense in Game 4, and this team has looked much stronger on that side of the ball over the past six quarters. Those stops and turnovers translated into easy buckets, and desperation keeps things close on Wednesday."
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The Orlando Magic did the unthinkable and won Game 4, 94-88, pushing the series to Magic up 3-1. Historically, only six No. 8 seeds have won their first round matchups versus a No. 1 and two of them went on to make the NBA Finals. Orlando is one game away from being the seventh No. 8 seed to knock off a No. 1 seed.
Both Orlando and Detroit shot below 40% from the field and 30% from three in Game 4. Desmond Bane led Orlando in scoring with 22 points during Game 4, while Paolo Banchero added 18 points, and Franz Wagner dropped 19. The rest of the Orlando Magic combined for 35 points on 12-of-41 shooting (29.2%) and 3-of-18 from three (16.6%).
Cade Cunningham scored 25 points for Detroit and Tobias Harris poured in 20, but no one else on the Pistons scored more than eight points. Take away Cunningham's stats and the Pistons went 3-of-19 from three (15.7%) and 12-of-18 from the free throw line (66.6%). The winner of this series will face the winner of Cleveland versus Toronto. The Cleveland and Toronto series is tied up 2-2 and they play Game 5 tonight.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Magic vs. Pistons
Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Time: 7:10 PM EST
Site: Little Caesars Arena
City: Detroit, MI
Network/Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
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Game Odds: Magic vs. Pistons
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Detroit Pistons (-380), Orlando Magic (+300)
Spread: Pistons -.5
Total: 211.5 points
This game opened Pistons -8.5 with the Total set at 213.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Magic vs. Pistons
Orlando Magic
PG Jalen Suggs
SG Desmond Bane
SF Franz Wagner
PF Paolo Banchero
C Wendell Carter Jr.
Detroit Pistons
PG Cade Cunningham
SG Duncan Robinson
SF Ausar Thompson
PF Tobias Harris
C Jalen Duren
Injury Report: Pistons vs. Magic
Orlando Magic
Jonathan Issac (knee) is listed as DOUBTFUL for Game 5
Detroit Pistons
Kevin Huerter (hip) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for Game 5
Important stats, trends and insights: Pistons vs. Magic
Detroit is 45-41 ATS and 22-20 ATS at home
Detroit is 46-39-1 to the Under and 23-19 to the Under at home
Detroit is 18-19 ATS as a home favorite
Detroit is 20-17 to the Under as a home favorite
Orlando is 42-46 ATS and 19-23 ATS on the road
Orlando is 46-42 to the Over and 23-19 to the Under on the road
Orlando is 11-12 ATS as a road underdog and 12-11 to the Under
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s Magic and Pistons’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Pistons’ Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Pistons -9.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 211.5
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Apr 10, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) shoots the ball during the third quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
When news of Kevin Durant’s initial knee injury first released, the Houston Rockets made the injury out to be a relatively minor thing. In fact, we didn’t even hear about the injury until Friday – one day before Game 1 of the Rockets’ series against the Los Angeles Lakers. Rockets coach Ime Udoka stated that he believed the injury would just be a one-day type of thing. Durant was given a questionable tag heading into the game.
He ultimately warmed up and did a shootaround, realizing he didn’t quite have the mobility to give it a go. Durant played in Game 2, scoring 23 points (20 in the first half) but suffered an additional injury, this time to his ankle. Which meant we’d have to go through the same uncertainty all over again, regarding Game 3. Durant was ultimately a scratch. He didn’t even sit with the team during the game, because he was getting treatment on the underwater treadmill (according to Rockets coach Ime Udoka).
Durant received around the clock treatment on the injured ankle but still missed Game 4. People have been coming out in droves to question the severity of Durant’s injury. Others have questioned whether Durant is injured at all.
Both factions look incredibly foolish, for a multitude of reasons. For starters, you can never question someone’s injury. It’s their body. They would know what they are feeling better than outsiders.
Especially in a situation in which team trainers are leaving it up to the athlete. But also, what reason would Durant have to mail it in? If he was going to do that, why play 78 games – his most in nearly a decade? Why pace the league in minutes in his 19th official season?
(Durant finished second in total minutes and third in minutes per game). If Durant was going to mail it in, it would seem like he would’ve done that much earlier in the season and load managed more. Durant was well ahead of the league’s 65-game participation mandate.
He could have (and would have) rested then, if that was his goal.
Furthermore, why play in Game 2 at all? Even more, why come to the Rockets in the first place, if he was going to fake an injury during the playoffs?
Again, it’s illogical to think Durant is faking an injury. Especially if you saw the play and saw his ankle turn so significantly that it touched the hardwood. I’d imagine it’s probably difficult to walk, based on how bad that looked.
Perhaps people just need something to talk about. But even then, there are a litany of other storylines to hit on. This one just seems silly.
Apr 28, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; The Edmonton Oilers celebrate a goal scored by forward Leon Draisaitl (29) during the first period against the Anaheim Ducksin game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
Perry Nelson/Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
EDMONTON, Alberta — Leon Draisaitl scored a pair of goals and Evan Bouchard chipped in with three assists as the Edmonton Oilers staved off elimination by beating the Anaheim Ducks 4-1.
The Oilers now trail the best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series 3-2 with Game 6 in Anaheim.
Vasily Podkolzin and Zach Hyman also scored for the Oilers who previously had allowed six separate leads to slip away in the first four games of the series.
Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each had a pair of assists. Edmonton is now 18-3 when scoring first in a game when facing elimination.
Alex Killorn scored for the Ducks.
Connor Ingram made 29 stops for Edmonton, while Ville Husso recorded 10 saves for Anaheim after coming in to relieve Lukas Dostal, who allowed three goals on nine shots.
For the fifth straight game the Oilers struck first, scoring on the game’s first shot just 2:22 into the contest as Podkolzin beat Dostal high for his second of the postseason.
Edmonton took a 2-0 lead 8:33 into the opening period as a point shot was deflected twice, the second time through Dostal’s legs by Hyman.
The Oilers took a 3-0 lead just 1:14 later as Draisaitl tipped Bouchard’s point shot in for his second of the playoffs. That spelled an early end of the night for Dostal.
Anaheim got on the board on the power play 8:26 into the second period as Mason McTavish dropped it back to Killorn, who extended his points streak to four games with his third goal of the playoffs.
Edmonton responded with a power-play goal a couple of minutes later on a one-timer by Draisaitl, who tied Wayne Gretzky for the most postseason power-play goals in franchise history at 23.
Edmonton has played the most playoff games of any NHL team since 2022 with 80, two more than the Florida Panthers, who beat the Oilers in the last two Stanley Cup finals before failing to qualify this season.
Playing in his 80th career playoff game, Bouchard collected his 88th point, moving into a tie for third place for players through 80 games with Brian Leetch, behind only Bobby Orr (92) and Paul Coffey (92).
McDavid (63 points) passed Adam Oates for the second-most points in NHL history when trailing in a playoff series. Only Gretzky (80) has more.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 17: Zack Littell #18 of the Washington Nationals pitches in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Nationals Park on April 17, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the third straight start, Zack Littell allowed 8 runs last night. Littell, who was brought in to stabilize the Nats rotation, has been a total liability so far. The home runs are out of control, and there is not a single pitch in Littell’s arsenal that is fooling anybody.
It has gotten to the point where I do not think Littell should make his scheduled start. However, I still think Littell deserves more time before the team totally cuts bait. After all, Litell has a recent track record of success. Between 2024 and 2025, Littell posted a 3.73 ERA across 343 innings. I do think Littell needs a re-set though, whether that is skipping his next start or putting him on the IL.
Littell just can’t make his next start. Seems like a good guy, but it is just not good enough. Whether it is a DFA or an IL stint, something is needed. This is not the same guy as the pitcher he was the past couple years
Littell signed in the middle of Spring Training, which could explain some of his struggles. He did not have a normal offseason, where he could build up properly. Littell was staying ready and preparing as much as he could, but it is not the same as the real thing. We have seen pitchers struggle after signing later in the offseason a lot over the past few years. Jordan Montgomery is an example that stands out.
An IL stint would be a helpful way to help build up Littell. You could put him on a rehab assignment where he can figure things out in a lower stakes environment. Hopefully that can help him rediscover the magic he had in 2024 and 2024.
It is also worth noting that Littell was likely due for some regression anyways. While he posted a 3.81 ERA last year, his FIP was less convincing, at 4.88 and his xFIP was 4.35. That is likely one of the reasons why it took Littell so long to get a contract in the offseason.
I figured that Littell could regress, and be a guy who posts an ERA in the low to mid 4’s. However, an innings eater who posts an ERA around 4.40 is still pretty valuable, especially for a rebuilding team that needs innings. I could have never imagined that it would be this bad.
Littell has always been prone to the long ball. He allowed 36 last year, which was the second most in the league behind Jake Irvin. Littell survived that by not allowing many baserunners, and not walking anybody. However, the home run numbers have ballooned to an untenable number this year. He has allowed 13 homers, and the next closest pitcher has only allowed 9. It is only the 8th time in MLB history that a pitcher has allowed 13 homers in their first 6 outings.
This is the eighth time in MLB history that a player has allowed at least 13 homers through their first six appearances of the season. Those who did it before, via a Stathead search. pic.twitter.com/I0Hh1VD7ki
Littell is allowing 4.08 home runs per nine innings right now. That is almost a homer every other inning. He is allowing dingers at an historic rate, and it is just making his outings non-competitive. Miles Mikolas drew the ire of Nats fans early in the season, but he has settled in with the Nats using him in a new role. Littell just seems to be getting worse every outing.
Right now, he is a righty who throws in the low-90’s, with no stand out secondary pitches and lackluster command. For MLB hitters, that is just batting practice. Again, I do not want to cut bait yet, but he should not make his next start.
Littell’s splitter and 4-seamer worked well for him last year, but they have been destroyed this year, especially the fastball. His fastball has generated an insane -13 run value this season, after being +5 last year. The pitch, which has lost nearly a tick of velocity, is not fooling hitters like Juan Soto.
Juan Soto hits his first homer since returning from the IL
I want it to work out for Littell. He was very good for two straight years, yet did not get the contract he was looking for this offseason. Now, on a one-year prove it deal, he is totally stinking it up. That must be a brutal feeling for him. Zack Littell is not this bad of a pitcher.
However, the Nats need to do something about this sooner rather than later. Right now, it is just an automatic loss with Littell on the mound. He has a 7.85 ERA and the underlying metrics are even worse. Usually when you have an ERA that high, there is reason to believe there will be regression to the mean. That hope is not there for Littell.
You just have to start with scratch and just totally rebuild how he is pitching and what pitches he is using. That is tough to do in the middle of a season, but that is where we are right now. Skipping a start or putting Littell on the IL seems like something the team has to do. Cutting him right now would be foolish due to his track record, but my stance on that could change if he keeps pitching this poorly.
“What a crazy but cool moment!! Thank you all for singing along,” Clune, a finalist on Season 19 of “The Voice,” wrote on Instagram.
“We have the best fans ever!” she added in a separate message.
With Buffalo situated right near the Canadian border, the Canadian national anthem is always sung before Sabres games in addition to “The Star-Spangled Banner,” even if the visiting team is not based in Canada.
Sabres anthem singer Cami Clune looks at the microphone as it cuts out during “O Canada” on April 28, 2026. X/Sportsnet
“And this is the sole reason I know the Canadian national anthem by ,” tennis star Jessica Pegula, the daughter of Sabres owner Terry Pegula, wrote on X in response to video of the moment, using a heart-hands emoji to indicate she knows the song by heart.
Sabres fans have finally had something to cheer about this season as they snapped a 14-year playoff drought, winning 50 games en route to an Atlantic Division title.
Things did not go their way Tuesday night with a chance to advance, however, as they fell to the Bruins 2-1 in overtime. Buffalo leads the first-round series 3-2 with Game 6 set for Friday night in Boston.
Rasmus Dahlin’s power-play goal 3:35 into the first period gave the Sabres 1-0 lead. Elias Lindholm tied it for the Bruins in the second period.
David Pastrnak scored the winner 9:14 into overtime to keep Boston’s season alive.
Buffalo hasn’t won a playoff series in 19 years. They reached their second consecutive Eastern Conference Final in 2007 after defeating the Islanders and Rangers in the first and second rounds, respectively, before losing to the Senators in five games.
Apr 28, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) takes a shot on goal during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres in game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
Timothy T. Ludwig/Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
BUFFALO, N.Y. — When Hampus Lindholm got the puck inside Boston’s blue line after teammate Fraser Minten broke up the Buffalo Sabres’ rush, and the Bruins defenseman knew immediately who to look for.
Sure enough, there was David Pastrnak already heading toward Buffalo’s zone.
Set up by Lindholm, Pastrnak scored on a breakaway 9:14 into overtime, and the Bruins avoided elimination with a 2-1 win in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series.
“He’s pretty special when it comes to those opportunities, too, so it was fun to see it go in,” Lindholm said.
Pastrnak said the chemistry he has with Lindholm is a result of them being neighbors.
“We always call it the neighbor connection,” Pastrnak said. “Seems like anytime he has the puck and I have an opening, I have the confidence that he’s gonna find me.”
The series shifts back to Boston for Game 6, with Buffalo still seeking to clinch its first playoff series victory since eliminating the New York Rangers in six games of a 2007 second-round series. The Sabres are in the playoffs only for the third time since, and after snapping an NHL record 14-season playoff drought this year.
Elias Lindholm also scored for Boston which overcame a 1-0 deficit. Jeremy Swayman stopped 25 shots, including foiling Jason Zucker set up in front 3:30 into the extra period.
Rasmus Dahlin scored for Buffalo and Alex Lyon stopped 27 shots.
“He’s always lurking,” Lyon said of Pastrnak, whom the goalie robbed on several chances. “Obviously, he’s one of the best players in the league,” Lyon added of a player who reached the 100-point mark for a fourth straight season. “It’s just one play at the end from a really good player. That’s usually how these things go. And now it’s just incumbent on us to move forward.”
The Sabres were caught up ice, and the Bruins jumped into making a line change, with Pastrnak coming off the bench as the turnover occurred.
Accepting Lindholm’s pass in stride as he crossed Buffalo’s blue line, Pastrnak drove in on net a step ahead of Buffalo’s Mattias Samuelsson. He faked cutting across the front and nearly lost his balance before slipping the puck inside the right post.
“He always gets it done. And what a nice finish from him,” coach Marco Sturm said of the 12th-year player. “I’m just very happy because this guy puts a lot of pressure on himself and he wants to be the difference. And today he was.”
The goal was the 41st of Pastrnak’s playoff career, and second in overtime. He scored Boston’s last overtime goal, also coming in an elimination game, to seal the Bruins’ 2-1 win over Toronto in Game 7 of their 2024 first-round series.
Lindholm tied it 9:24 into the second period after his bad-angle shot bounced into the slot. Lindholm got to the loose puck first and, with his back to the net, spun around and fired in a low shot through a crowd.
Dahlin opened the scoring at 3:35 with his first playoff goal, and Buffalo’s first power-play goal in nearly a month. Driving up the left wing, Zucker’s initial pass attempt was blocked before recovering the puck and feeding Dahlin for a one-timer in the right circle.
The Sabres had gone 0-of-17 with the man advantage this series, and entered the playoffs failing to convert 22 straight chances, dating to a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders on March 31.
The Bruins played without second-line forward Viktor Arvidsson, who was hurt in the first period of Game 4.
Buffalo lost rookie forward Noah Ostlund to a lower-body injury in the first period.
Coach Lindy Ruff didn’t reveal what the injury was, but said, “it doesn’t look good.” Ostlund had just returned to the lineup from an upper-body injury in Game 3, in which he had a goal and assist.
The Bruins have won back-to-back outings in Buffalo after squandering a 2-0 lead in the final 7:58 of a 4-3 loss in Game 1. The Sabres won both outings in Buffalo, and were coming off a 6-1 win.
“We’re in a good spot. We should be ready for the next one,” Dahlin said. “It’s a tight game and stuff happens, so we’re ready for going to Boston.”
Another night, another loaded slate on the ice, and my NHL player props have you covered for all three games on Wednesday, April 29.
Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy headlines my NHL picks in a pivotal Game 5 tilt against the Montreal Canadiens to begin tonight’s action.
Best NHL player prop bets today
Player
Vasilevskiy Over 22.5 saves
-105
Drysdale Over 1.5 shots on goal
-110
Sergachev Over 1.5 shots on goal
-140
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Our best NHL player props for Wednesday, April 29
Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.
Prop #1: Andrei Vasilevskiy Over 22.5 saves
-105 at BET99
The Montreal Canadiens being held to just 18 shots on home ice in Game 4 is bulletin-board material if you ask me, so I’m fully expecting a heightened emphasis from the Habs to shoot more tonight. Especially considering Montreal has attempted the fewest shots per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 this postseason.
So, while we haven’t seen the best from Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy yet, he sports a .917 save percentage across 124 postseason games and won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2021.
Drysdale’s 22 shot attempts for the series also rank third on the Flyers, and he quarterbacks the No. 2 power-play unit while averaging a healthy 20:15 of ice time per game.
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: TNT, Sportsnet 360
Prop #3: Mikhail Sergachev Over 1.5 shots on goal
-140 at BET99
Utah Mammoth No. 1 defenseman Mikhail Sergachev is living on the ice, with a series-high 104:27 logged, and he’s second on the club in shot attempts with 22. So, when I saw that the Russian blueliner has only converted three into shots on goal (13.6%), this was an easy click.
Sergachev recorded two or more SOG in 47 of his 78 regular-season games, while converting his attempts into shots at a 43.3% rate.
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.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 28: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter in Game Five of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoff at TD Garden on April 28, 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — To say that Tuesday’s Game 5 between the Celtics and 76ers was ugly is a massive understatement.
The Celtics missed 14 consecutive field goals to close out the game, got outscored by 17 points in the fourth quarter, and watched their own fans file out with several minutes left in the ball game.
A series that appeared over early in the third quarter was suddenly headed back to Philadelphia, with most of the momentum on the 76ers’ side.
And, Joel Embiid lookes eager to deliver to turn the season around; he exploded for 33 points in Game 5, 18 of which came in the second half on 7-10 shooting.
“Give him credit, he played well,” Jayson Tatum said. “He put a lot of pressure on us especially on the defensive end. We’ll go back and watch the film and make some adjustments and be ready for Game 6.”
Philadelphia is 0-2 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in these playoffs, and will be desperate (and fully healthy) when they host Game 6 on Thursday night.
“Our fans deserve a win at home,” Tyrese Maxey said after the 76ers’ 113-97 defeat over the Celtics.
The question is: will the Celtics allow it?
On Tuesday, Boston didn’t play with the attention to detail required to put away a good team on the brink of elimination. They led by 13 points with 10 minutes to play in the third quarter, but were outscored 63-26 the rest of the way.
“I thought we had a decent first half,” Payton Pritchard said. “I just think we were just a little lackadaisical at times when we could have put them away. We just messed around with the game. And when you have a team on the brink of elimination, you’ve really got to put your foot on the gas and finish it. I thought we’d let them have life at times that they didn’t need to.”
Jaylen Brown, who went 0-6 from the field in the fourth quarter, acknowledged the Celtics had to deal with adversity with better than they did. Outside of Sam Hauser, who went 2-3 from three in the fourth, the rest of the Celtics roster combined to shoot 1-19 from the field in the period.
Sean Grande, the Celtics’ play-by-play radio broadcaster, broke down why Tuesday’s second-half was, according to the numbers, the worst half of the year.
The Celtics allowed 1.452 points per possession, which ranked 172nd of 174 halves this year. They scored 0.881 points per possession, which ranked 166th. Their net rating? .0571 points per possession, which ranked 174th of 174 halves played.
The final ugly numbers from the Game 5 2nd half.
Celtics allowed 1.452 points/possession That ranked 172nd of 174 halves this year
Celtics scored 0.881 points/possession That ranked 166th
Net rating of .0571 points/possession That ranked 174th
In other words, they played their worst basketball of the season at the absolute worst time, with the chance to put away a 76ers team that was fully healthy for the first time in months.
“Just got to be better,” Brown said. “Got to be better. It’s not always going to go your way, so just be able to handle that and respond with maturity, and be able to score the ball, make plays for others, etc., even when the rhythm is maybe not flowing in our direction. I feel like tonight, we had a chance to win and pull away. We were up 13, and we didn’t take advantage of it. So we’re all to blame. We’ve just got to watch it and respond and get better and move forward.”
But, the reality is that while fans can sulk about the loss for the next 48 hours, the Celtics have to turn the page. They’re still in control of the series, but Philadelphia is fully healthy and fresh off some of their best basketball of the year.
“Just take a deep breath, relax and get ready to go,” Brown said. “Just have the right mentality and come out and execute your job. No need to put any extra pressure on ourselves. It’s already enough of that as it is. So, just come out and play basketball and play the right way. I think that’s what our mindset is, and that’s what we’ve got to do going forward.”
The G.O.A.T. debate in pro basketball will never end, as most hoops experts have narrowed the list down to two players: Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
James was asked about the debate and Jordan's influence on his game.
"I never have compared myself to MJ because our games are totally different," James said to ESPN.com. "I have been a point-forward/forward-point my whole life. I have always looked for the pass. MJ kind of looked for the shot. Not kind of, he did. He looked for the shot.
"There are a lot of things where I would say my game is a lot different and a little better than his, but (expletive), he was (expletive) great. We're both great. We're both great basketball players."
The 41-year-old James is the league's all-time scoring leader, and ranks No. 1 in games played as well as being the active leader in rebounds, assists, and steals.
"There are a lot of things that MJ did better than I do," James said, "and I think there are some things that I do better than him. That's just how the game goes. There's a lot of things that I can say in particular. You already know how this conversation is going to be (misinterpreted) by people, man."
James and Jordan may be different basketball players, but they agree on the GOAT conversation overall.
Jordan weighed in on the topic in March, telling CBS News, "There's no such thing as G.O.A.T. To say that one is better than the other, it's not really right," while James called the debate a "very tiring conversation" and "barbershop talk."
"I think I am one of one. I think the way I play the game, I am a one-of-one player. And MJ, as well. A (expletive) unbelievable basketball player," James said. "I think his midrange jump shot was unbelievable. He did so many things great. I grew up (expletive) analyzing everything that he did, how he could get to his spot and rise up above everybody. Obviously, his post game was elite. His will to win. I think that is a trait that we all know and that we all wanted to be like. His determination to win."
The Chicago Blackhawks ended the season as the youngest in the National Hockey League. Part of that was because of the youth they had on their blue line after the trade deadline.
Chicago’s defense doesn’t have a front-runner to be the future number one guy, but there are a couple of guys in the mix. They are also deep when it comes to players under the age of 24 who are capable of making an impact right now.
Throughout the season, some veterans played big minutes before the deadline, allowing the youth to be eased in.
This is every defender who skated for Chicago at some point in 2025-26, graded against their expectations:
Louis Crevier: A
Coming into the season, nobody thought that Louis Crevier was going to be an everyday defenseman. Not only did he do that, but he was the most important every single night. Crevier ended up dressing in 78 games out of 82, which is excellent for a guy who came in as the seventh defenseman.
In those 78 games, Crevier had 7 goals and 18 assists for 25 points, which led all blue-liners on the team.
Creivier admitted that even he didn't expect this, but he will also work to continue getting better in all three zones while putting extra emphasis on being a steady defender. This might be the most unexpected A-grade for any player at any position, but he's firmly a part of the future now.
Artyom Levshunov: C
Artyom Levshunov might be the hardest player, at any position, to evaluate in the entire organization. He has all of the skills in the world, and he has put them on display a lot, but he also makes mistakes from time to time that simply can't happen.
He trailed Crevier by one point for the team lead with 10 fewer games played, but nobody would ever think that he was the best defender on the team this year.
In the final four games leading up to the Olympics, the Blackhawks put Levshunov on a development plan that held him out of the lineup without sending him down to the AHL. He simply had to work on his skills in practice with the big club.
Once he was inserted back into the lineup, he played much better. Overall, he gets a C-grade for his up-and-down season, but he has much loftier goals for 2026-27.
Alex Vlasic: C
Overall, Alex Vlasic had a tough year by his standards. He didn't get much power-play time, he wasn't a high-end player at even strength, and he left a lot to be desired by the end of the season.
The fact is, however, that you're a great player at the base if this is your "tough year". Vlasic only had two goals and 19 assists for 21 points in 81 games played, but his role isn't to produce points as much, and it may never be.
Vlasic gets a C-grade for simply being a solid player this year; he just doesn't get anything better because you can't say he took a step. Expect somewhat of a bounce-back in 2026-27 if the team around him is significantly better.
Wyatt Kaiser: A
Wyatt Kaiser, like Louis Crevier, was unexpectedly a top defenseman on the team. With the way he played this year, Kaiser might officially be a part of the long-term core. That gets you an A-grade alone.
He was sensational and may only get better. Kaiser didn’t get power play time, despite displaying some offensive skills from time to time, but he was used a lot as a top penalty killer on the team. Every winning team has a defender like Kaiser, who should be a staple on the blue line for a long time.
Sam Rinzel: C
Sam Rinzel did not have the season he wanted, and he would tell you that. When camp began, few players on the blue line had the same level of hype as he did.
The start of the season was rough for him, though, and eventually he had a stint in the AHL. Without ever complaining about it, the rookie took it in stride as an opportunity to develop further.
Eventually, he came back and stayed. There is still another level for him to get to, but the end of the season got him back up to a C-grade.
Connor Murphy: B
Connor Murphy was traded to the Edmonton Oilers at the deadline, which put an emphasis on how impactful he was as a Chicago Blackhawks defenseman over the years.
They never won like they wanted to with him, but he helped them transition from the former core to the new core. The interesting stat that floated around when he was traded was that he played for the Blackhawks longer than Marian Hossa.
As far as this season, he didn’t impress with big offensive numbers, but he was a steady contributor on a team that wasn’t going anywhere. The young kids, especially on defense, loved having him around as a mentor, so for that, he gets a B-grade.
Matt Grzelcyk: C
The Blackhawks brought Matt Grzelcyk in on a PTO during training camp, and he earned a spot as a veteran on the team. With a solid NHL tenure surrounded by some of the legends of the game, he was perfect for the young group.
He didn’t have a big offensive season, and his time in that type of role never truly existed the way it has for him in the past, but he gave an honest effort in every game he played.
Grzelcyk was in the lineup in almost every match until the end of the year when he got hurt. His future in the NHL is uncertain, but a C-grade is good for him this year, as that’s exactly what was expected of him.
Kevin Korchinski: C
Kevin Korchinski was drafted 7th overall, so the organization is being patient with him. He was brought in as an offensive-minded defenseman who may have some deficiencies in his own end, but the juice hasn’t been worth the squeeze in terms of point producing.
Other young players have passed him by at his biggest strength, so he has a hill to climb after only seeing constant NHL time in the final month.
Ethan Del Mastro: C
Ethan Del Mastro didn’t play with the NHL club as much as he would have hoped, but he did get a look towards the end of the season.
There are players ahead of him on the depth chart, but he is certainly a C-grade replacement option for the organization. Being so young, Del Mastro has time to develop into an everyday contributor, but he must keep working.
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With 18.5 percent of the season gone, the Cubs have emerged statistically as a Top 5 offense in baseball. Where they fall in that top five depends on which metrics you value most. The point is, this offense is pretty elite so far. It’s interesting, because there are still some very key bats that the Cubs haven’t gotten a ton out of. Two of those guys who haven’t been on top of their game so far both had clutch hits in the seventh inning to put this game out of reach. It was so comfortable that I was able to nap through the late innings and didn’t have to watch the Cub bullpen after Hoby Milner work. Of course, this means that Ryan Rolison still doesn’t actually exist to me.
Pete Crow-Armstrong has been slowly turning around his slow start to the season. After the first 10 games (ending with the first game in Tampa) his OPS bottomed out at .487. With his homer and walk in this one, he’s up to .637. That the Cubs are 14-6 over that stretch is probably not coincidental. I’m just not sure which one is the chicken and which one is the egg. He’s not tearing the world up over that stretch. But he’s contributing. He’s got both his homers, his only triple and two doubles in there. Over 82 plate appearances, the pop isn’t quite there. I always love good announcer timing and hat tip to Rick Sutcliffe on the broadcast saying just before the homer that taking his walks will lead to him getting more pitches he can drive.
Rick was on fire that inning. He also went way out on a limb and said that Alex Bregman was going to come through in a clutch spot as he pinch hit right in front of PCA. Unsurprisingly, Bregman has that same break in his season line. After 10 games, he was at an OPS of .544. Now he sits at .710. Alex did have two homers before that stretch, but all three of his doubles this season and his one triple are in that stretch. Again, not setting the world on fire. But he went the other way with a ball with two outs for an RBI single that kept the line moving and set the stage for PCA’s three-run homer.
On the other side, I’ll give shout outs to Edward Cabrera looking pretty solid again, falling one out shy of a quality start. Health alone would make Hoby Milner more useful than a lot of Cubs relievers so far, but his performance has been rock solid for this team. Ryan Rolison is slowly drifting out of novelty territory and into intriguing with his early success.
All in all, a very nice road win. The Cubs have now played 12 straight games with the last five of those being on the west coast against two of the three best teams in the NL to date, and they are 9-3. The Cubs have one to go, then an off day before some home games. It won’t get a ton easier, but Fangraphs at least preliminarily gives the Cubs a slight (or better) edge in every one of those seven games on the next homestand. After the off day, the Cubs have 10 straight scheduled for a total of 23 games in 24 days. It’s going to be wild when this team reaches the end of May and the easiest teams it has faced will have been the Phillies and Mets. Changing of the guard.
Three Positives:
PCA’s big night. A walk, a three-run homer and two runs scored.
Seiya Suzuki had two hits and a walk. He scored a run. He remains scorching hot.
Hoby Milner four up four down.
Game 30, April 28: Cubs 8, Padres 3 (18-12)
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Dansby Swanson (.194). 1-1, 2 RBI
Hero: Nico Hoerner (.175). 1-5, 2 RBI
Sidekick: Pete Crow-Armstrong (.142). 1-4, HR, BB, 3 RBI, 2 R
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Matt Shaw (-.158). 0-4
Goat: Edward Cabrera (-.075). 5.2 IP, 25 BF, 6 H, BB, 3 ER, 7 K, HBP (W 2-0)
Kid: Moisés Ballesteros (-.075). 0-4, BB
WPA Play of the Game: With two outs in the sixth inning, Nico Hoerner batted with runners on second and third and the game tied at two. Nico doubled, driving in two runs. (.269)
*Padres Play of the Game: Luis Campusano batted with runners on first and second and two outs and the Padres down two. He singled, driving in a run and sending the other runner to third. (.148)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 29 Winner: Moisés Ballesteros received 129 of 137 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 3/Bottom 3)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Nico Hoerner +9.5
Michael Conforto +7
Moisés Ballesteros +6
Jacob Webb/Pete Crow-Armstrong -9
Matt Shaw -10
Current Win Pace: 97.2
Up Next: At 3:10 p.m. CT, the third and final game in San Diego. Jameson Taillon (1-1, 4.55, 27.2 IP) gets his sixth start of the season. Last time out he started in Los Angeles and didn’t go so well. He allowed four runs on four hits and three walks in five innings. As is somewhat usual for a back of the rotation guy, he’s been up and down. He had a strong start, then a decent one, then a rough one, then a good one, then a rough one. So we can hope he’ll bounce back again.
29-year-old Matt Waldron (0-1, 12.46, 8.2 IP) makes his third start of the year for the Padres. Matt was an 18th round pick of the Indians in 2019 (550th overall). He allowed six runs on eight hits and three walks over five innings in his last start at Colorado. For his career, he is 8-16 with a 5.19 ERA in 38 appearances (35 starts). He’s never faced the Cubs in his career.
Hopefully the offense can keep rolling against Waldron and Taillon can keep them in the game. That just might get the Cubs one more win on this trip.
Apr 6, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Andrew Painter (24) has a conference at the mound during the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images | Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images
The news that Rob Thomson was fired was one that still had the shock effect from afar, but judging from the reporting done around the team, it was also a shock inside the team clubhouse. Watching the game being played on Tuesday, it looked and felt like one where the players had a bit of an extra hop to their step. Jesus Luzardo had a little extra giddy-up on his fastball, a little sweep on his sweeper. The hitters actually took better swings against a pitcher in Tyler Mahle that made them look rather foolish a few weeks ago. In his postgame interview, Trea Turner spoke about the heaviness of the day and how it had affected the players in the dugout.
With Thomson now gone and a new manager in Don Mattingly installed, the bright light of the spotlight has now been shifted away from the manager’s office. Some might like it to be pointed in the direction of Dave Dombrowski and that is fair. His assemblage of this roster is always up for debate, but now has a substantial amount of criticism following it with Thomson no longer there to share in the blame for his poor start to the season. To which I ask;
Did Thomson or Dombrowski come into this series against the Giants as the worst hitter in the game? No, Alec Bohm did.
Did Thomson or Dombrowski come into this series against the Giants as one of the worst defensive teams in the game? No, the regular defensive players did.
Did Thomson or Dombrowski come into this series against the Giants with an ERA that starts with a 6? No, Aaron Nola did.
Did Thomson or Dombrowski come into this series against the Giants with one of the worst OPS numbers as a group against left handed pitching? No, the lineup did.
I could go on and on, but the picture is clear – the responsibility for this move that was made by Dombrowski falls mostly on the players that performed as poorly as they did.
We will read over and over as the rawness of this move continues to show about how Thomson had not lost the clubhouse, how the players loved him or respected him, how they didn’t think his message had been lost. That’s all well and good, but the ultimate reason for Thomson’s firing is that the players stunk, plain and simple. Their lack of production on the field is why the team has seen one of its foundational pillars to their success now been toppled over.
We see this all the time, that the players feel bad that they got a manager fired, that they wished it hadn’t happened. That’s great! It’s nice to see players with genuine affection for the person in charge of their clubhouse. However, had they truly felt that bad, they’d have played better when the going got tough instead of rolling over and showing their belly each time the other team took a lead in a game.
The next few games are probably going to see the team pick up their play for the better. There has been talk of how they will see a bit of a lighter schedule, to which I saw what in the past few weeks has the team done to make you believe that the schedule was the issue at play. Maybe improved play is actual positive regression to the mean, maybe it’s a dead cat bounce. That’s for us to look at and analyze in the future. But for now, the spotlight just got a little brighter on the players in the clubhouse. Their poor play to start this season got their manager fired. Let’s see how they choose to respond.
,” tennis star Jessica Pegula, the daughter of Sabres owner Terry Pegula, wrote on X in response to video of the moment, using a heart-hands emoji to indicate she knows the song by heart.
Vasilevskiy Over 22.5 saves
Drysdale Over 1.5 shots on goal
Sergachev Over 1.5 shots on goal
