LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 21: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets is double teamed by Rui Hachimura #28 and Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of Game Two of the NBA Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 21, 2026 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the opening quarter, he was the most aggressive player on the court. He took seven shots and converted on five of them, including a trio of threes. Smart ended the quarter with 14 points, which was part of a 25-point performance.
Defensively, Smart was also at his best.
Smart had a game-high five steals and gave Kevin Durant plenty of trouble as he turned the ball over nine times, a season high for one of the best offensive players to ever play the game.
“I think we understand that kind of stuff and what he does on the floor, it doesn’t really show on the stats,” Hachimura said postgame. “But I think it gets us going as a team, especially the start of the game, he was guarding KD full court, and then he got the ball, and Bron almost got an and-one. Those kind of plays just set the tone. That’s really important for us. He always makes the plays.”
This game featured Durant’s return after missing Game 1, and Smart immediately set the physical tone this contest would take. Just minutes into the opening quarter, Smart was guarding Durant full court. He swiped the ball loose and dove onto the floor to guarantee the Lakers would gain possession.
The first of 2 early steals from Marcus Smart.
He also just drained his second 3-pointer of the game to give the Lakers an early 12-9 lead. pic.twitter.com/xCtbykkqfV
With the Lakers shorthanded, players have to elevate their game to win these playoff matchups. Luke Kennard did this in Game 1, scoring 27 points, and Smart matched that energy for Game 2. Now LA is up 2-0 in this series.
“He set the tone for us, got us going,” Kennard said. “We know with those guys out, it could be anybody any given night right now. Again, we try to elevate each other and push each other and motivate one another to just be who we are and have fun out there and play hard. Marcus definitely got us going there in the first quarter. It’s good to see. We need him to continue to be aggressive for us.”
Smart has emerged as one of LA’s most important leaders. And as a leader, he has to do the walking along with the talking for everyone to buy in. He’s been doing that all season, and Game 2 was a prime example of this.
Every playoff team needs a Smart on its roster. He’s a selfless player, and one who can do the dirty work along with the tough defensive assignments few can handle. This was a bounce-back year for Smart, and he deserves all the adulation coming his way. He’s set the tone for the Lakers and is a big reason why they have yet to lose in the playoffs.
Despite trailing by 12 points entering the fourth quarter, the Hawks mounted a late comeback led by CJ McCollum, who finished with a game-high 32 points. The Knicks had a chance to win at the buzzer, but Mikal Bridges missed a final jumper as time expired.
It’s only the second time in franchise playoff history that the Knicks lost a game they were leading heading into the fourth quarter; they’re now 40-2 all-time.
Knicks vs. Hawks: what to know
What: NBA Playoffs First Round, Game 3
When: April 23, 7 p.m. ET
Where: State Farm Arena (Atlanta, Georgia)
Streaming: Prime Video (try it free)
The Knicks and Hawks will be back in action on Saturday for Game 4 of the series.
Knicks vs. Hawks start time:
Knicks vs. Hawks Game 3 is scheduled to begin tonight, April 23, at 7 p.m. ET.
How to watch Knicks vs. Hawks for free:
Tonight’s Hawks vs. Knicks matchup is one of the NBA Playoffs games streaming exclusively on Prime Video, so you’ll need an Amazon Prime subscription to watch.
If you aren’t a Prime Video subscriber yet, you can get started with a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial, including Prime perks like the Prime Video streaming service, free two-day shipping, exclusive deals, and more. After the free trial, Amazon Prime costs $14.99/month or $139/year.
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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 15: In an aerial view, the downtown skyline is seen during a heat wave on July 15, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. Weather forecasts today are expecting temperatures to reach 115 degrees. The Phoenix area is grappling with record-breaking temperatures as prolonged heat waves continue soaring across the Southwest. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today’s Lineups
WHITE SOX
DIAMONDBACKS
Andrew Benintendi – DH
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Munetaka Murakami – 1B
Ketel Marte – 2B
Miguel Vargas – 3B
Corbin Carroll – RF
Colson Montgomery – SS
Adrian Del Castillo – DH
Everson Pereira – RF
Ildemaro Vargas – 1B
Sam Antonacci – LF
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Chase Meidroth – 2B
Jorge Barrosa – LF
Tristan Peters – CF
Alek Thomas – CF
Reese McGuire – C
Aramis Garcia – C
Davis Martin – RHP
Michael Soroka – RHP
A rare three-hour game for the Diamondbacks last night: 3:02, to be precise. Just the third of the season, and the first at Chase Field since the home opener. I guess at least it gave the SnakePitette and her husband their money’s worth: they were at the ballpark for the first time together. She popped in to borrow some items from the extensive collection of D-backs wear possessed by Mrs. SnakePit and myself. I await a report on whether they had… what is it the young people call it? Oh, yes: “fun”. Maybe not a game for baseball purists, but with six home-runs and three triples, no shortage of action.
Despite last night, the D-backs are actually seeing shorter games in general this year, even though we now have ABS challenges. The average game has been 2:41 long, which is three minutes less than last season. However, a factor there may be the lack of extra innings: Arizona has played only three frames over regulation through 24 games. That’s one every eight games, which is below last year’s rate of one extra inning every six games. Across all of baseball, nine-inning games are on average four minutes longer than in 2025. Right now, they average 2:42, which is the longest since the pace of play changes came in for the 2023 season.
We are seeing slightly more plate appearances per game, and also the number of pitches per plate-appearance is higher. The former may be due to an increase in extra-inning games: at 9.5%, the current rate would be the highest since 2013. The latter is at 3.93 pitches/PA, the second highest since records started being kept in 1999 (it was 3.97 in 2020). I wonder if this is a result of ABS? I do note we are seeing more walks per game than any year since 2000. But strikeouts are also up on last year too, so… We are still less than a month in to the new normal though, so let’s see how things work out.
It’s rubber match time in the Battle of the Bats between two teams that have scored 34 runs, walloped 12 homers, and — most amazing — sped to six triples in the first two games of the series.
On the White Sox side, Munetaka Murakami has homered in five games in a row, tying team and MLB rookie record streaks; Colson Montgomery is right behind with a four-game streak; and — bet you didn’t have this on your Bingo card — Miguel Vargas has gone deep three in a row, giving him five for the season, in a tie with Shohei Ohtani.
Trying to ice down the torrid timber will be two pitchers who have had very good seasons so far, Davis Martin for the White Sox and Michael Soroka for the Rattlers. They’ve each only given up two homers in more than 20 innings pitched.
Martin is 3-1 with a tremendous 2.16 ERA and 1.00 WHIP and held the A’s to three hits and one run over seven innings his last time out. Soroka is 4-1 with a 2.78 ERA and 1.06 WHIP and held Toronto to five hits and two runs in seven innings during his last start.
Righty Soroka will face a White Sox lineup that earlier in the month went seven games scoring no more than three runs, usually fewer, and now has gone five games scoring no fewer than six runs, usually more. The only Sox he’s ever faced are Andrew Benintendi and Reese McGuire, and for what it’s worth, they’re 3-for-3 against him.
Martin has almost as little experience against Arizona players, with Geraldo Perdomo the only one with a hit among the five at-bats.
First pitch is scheduled for 2:40 CST on what is bound to be a pleasant afternoon under the dome. Usual broadcast suspects.
The New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks meet in Game 3 of their NBA first-round playoff series. The Hawks rallied from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Knicks 107-106 on Monday and even the series. The next two games will be played in Atlanta.
Moneyline: Atlanta Hawks -102 (48.3%) / New York Knicks -118 (51.7%)
Over/Under: 216.5
Series results, schedule
Game 1:Knicks 113, Hawks 102 Game 2:Hawks 107, Knicks 106 Game 3: Thu., April 23, at Atlanta (7 p.m., Prime) Game 4: Sat., April 25, at Atlanta (6 p.m., NBC) *Game 5: Tue., April 28,at New York (TBD) *Game 6: Thu., April 30, at Atlanta (TBD) *Game 7: Sat., May 2, at New York (TBD)
After a remarkable freshman season at BYU, 19-year-old forward AJ Dybantsa officially announced that he will declare for the 2026 NBA Draft.
Dybantsa will turn pro as an early entry candidate after a successful and impressive one-and-done collegiate campaign. The former McDonald's All-American forward averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He is currently projected at No. 1 overall to the Washington Wizards in USA TODAY's latest mock draft.
Dybantsa led the NCAA in scoring and was named a consensus first-team collegiate All-American, also earning Big 12 Freshman of the Year and the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award.
During his sole appearance in March Madness, he scored 35 points with 10 rebounds. It was one of eight games in which he had at least 30 points, highlighted by a 43-point performance against in-rival Utah. Dybantsa also notched a 30-point triple double against Eastern Washington in December.
Dybantsa led the nation in unassisted points scored, per CBB Analytics, and is able to inject instant life in whichever NBA team selects him. While he is listed at 6-foot-9, the playmaking forward finished more of his possessions as the ball handler in pick and roll sets than any other play type.
He also scored efficiently as the ball handler in transition and one-on-one against his defender in isolation. All teams will have interest in such a talented offensive creator who also brings a solid frame.
No matter which team gets the pole position, it will highly consider Dybantsa when it is on the clock. Other candidates for No. 1 in this class include Duke forward Cameron Boozer and Kansas guard Darryn Peterson.
The NBA's draft lottery in Chicago is scheduled for May 10 with the Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets and Utah Jazz as the most likely teams to get the No. 1 overall pick. The 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled for June 23 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
SURPRISE, AZ - NOVEMBER 05: Walker Martin #12 of the Scottsdale Scorpions bats during the game between the Scottsdale Scorpions and the Surprise Saguaros at Surprise Stadium on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The excitement for the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday came from the Major League team, which shut out the Los Angeles Dodgers in a thrilling 3-0 affair. But there was excitement on the farm as well, with all four of their Minor League Baseball A-ball affiliates in action. So let’s dive into it.
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
News
Just a little bit of injury news. RHP Reid Worley (No. 36 CPL) was placed on the full-season injured list. This is more of a formality than news, since Worley — who was taken in the 9th round out of high school last year — had already announced that he recently underwent Tommy John surgery.
Unfortunately, AA RHP R.J. Dabovich was moved from the 7-Day IL to the 60-Day. Dabovich has a ton of talent, but injuries have limited him to just 18.1 innings over the last 4 seasons.
AAA Sacramento (11-9)
Sacramento River Cats lost to the Albuquerque Isotopes (Rockies) 6-0 Box score
The River Cats finally got on the field on Wednesday, after having yet another rain out on Tuesday, the latest of oh-so-many postponed games for them this year. Wednesday’s game was postponed as well, as it was a scheduled 12:05 start time but got pushed to the evening to avoid the storm.
Unfortunately, Sacramento probably wishes the game had been canceled altogether, as it did not go well for them at all. The hitting was very poor and the starting pitching was very poor. The only saving grace came from the bullpen, which was fantastic … and featured a lot of players that the Giants are likely to count on throughout the year.
Most notably, Sacramento had a pair of rehab appearances, as both LHP Sam Hentges and RHP Joel Peguero (No. 27 CPL) took the mound. Hentges wasn’t at his sharpest — he gave up a walk in an otherwise clean 6th inning, and threw just 5 of 13 pitches for strikes — but he was still quite effective. Notably, the walk is the only baserunner he’s allowed so far through 4 rehab appearances. I’d say everyone is excited for Hentges to make his way to San Francisco’s bullpen. Well, everyone except Ryan Borucki, most likely.
Peguero was even better, pitching a perfect inning with a strikeout, though he also threw just 7 of 15 pitches for strikes. The triple digit-throwing righty has an ugly ERA (7.20) due to a blowup outing, but if you remove that game, he’s been unhittable: in his other 4 rehab appearances, Peguero has allowed 0 hits and 1 walk in 4.1 innings, with 5 strikeouts.
RHP Tristan Beck, who is also on the 40-man roster, had a nice performance as well, giving up a walk but nothing else in a scoreless 8th inning. Add in showings from RHP Michael Fulmer and LHP Nick Zwack, and the River Cats’ bullpen gave up just 1 hit and 3 total baserunners in 4.2 shutout innings.
The starting pitching was not so good, however, as LHP Carson Whisenhunt (No. 8 CPL) once again labored through a not very encouraging start. Entering the game, Whisenhunt had been very bad at 2 things this year, and very good at 2 other things. The bad things: regularly throwing strikes and, when throwing strikes, making them not easily hittable. The good things: striking out batters, and limiting runs, even when in trouble.
Unfortunately, in this game, he did the 2 bad things, but didn’t do the 2 good things.
It wasn’t Whisenhunt’s worst strike-throwing performance, as he finished with 53 strikes in 88 pitches, a subpar but not horrible number. But he had issues throwing strikes when he needed to, as he walked 3 batters and hit another in just 4.2 innings of action. And those free passes hurt him in part because he was, again, getting punished for throwing hittable pitches, as Whiz gave up 5 hits, which included a home run and a double (although, in his defense, they were ceded to a pair of top-10 picks, Zac Veen and Charlie Condon, respectively).
As for the good things that Whisenhunt has been doing, they were absent in this game. He was unable to sequence his baserunners to avoid an ERA-buster of an outing, as he got tagged with 6 earned runs. And he struggled to miss bats all night, finishing with just 2 strikeouts, only 1 of which was swinging.
With the outing, Whisenhunt’s ERA fell to 5.85 and his FIP to 4.54, and the stuff under the hood isn’t all that encouraging. His strikeouts per 9 (9.9) is good but not great, while his walks per 9 (6.3) is awful. He has a very low ground ball rate (36.2%) and is just 24th percentile in expected batting average against. Despite Veen’s dinger, though, Whisenhunt has actually been doing a good job suppressing home runs (that’s the only one he’s allowed in 20 innings this year) and hard contact (his average exit velocity of 86.7 mph is 70th percentile).
But I would assume the Giants will have some hesitation turning to Whisenhunt if they need a spot in the rotation plugged. The walks are fairly antithetical to what the Giants are looking for, and they drive up his pitch count. Take a look at his starts, and you’ll see something the Giants are desperately hoping to avoid in San Francisco:
4 innings, 71 pitches
4.2 innings, 84 pitches
3 innings, 87 pitches
3.2 innings, 83 pitches
4.2 innings, 88 pitches
But Whisenhunt can at least take solace in the fact that his offense was no better than he was. Sacramento mustered just 6 hits on the day, and all of them were singles. A pair of hitters had multi-knock games, though, as right fielder Victor Bericoto (No. 35 CPL) and third baseman Buddy Kennedy both went 2-4. Bericoto, who struck out once, has had a fairly quiet start to the season after a spectacular spring, but he’s been holding his own in his 1st extended stint in AAA, posting a .780 OPS and a 106 wRC+ with a 24.0% strikeout rate. He’s not forcing the issue (yet), but he looks comfortable. Kennedy is remaining a reliable veteran emergency depth option, as the 27-year old is posting a .333 average and an 18.3% strikeout rate, en route to an .829 OPS and a 128 wRC+.
Sacramento’s top hitting prospects struggled, as first baseman Bryce Eldridge (No. 1 CPL) went 0-4 with a strikeout, while catcher Jesús Rodríguez (No. 16 CPL) hit 1-4 with a strikeout.
AA Richmond (13-3)
Richmond Flying Squirrels lost to the Somerset Patriots (Yankees) 9-8 Box score
The shoe was on the other foot for the Squirrels in this game. They’ve been full of magic all year long, but in this game, they were on the receiving end, as they held an 8-3 lead going into the 7th inning … and an 8-6 lead entering the 9th … and watched the Patriots come storming back for a victory.
That 9th inning rally was ceded by someone new to the organization, RHP Brad Deppermann, a 29-year old Minor League free agent appearing in his 2nd game with Richmond. Deppermann gave up 3 hits and 3 runs (with 3 strikeouts) in 1.2 innings, including a pair of home runs in the 9th.
And that pair of home runs? Well, Deppermann may be new to the organization, but one of the batters he was facing certainly was not, as Somerset second baseman Marco Luciano went deep in the 9th inning as part of a 2-3, 2-walk day.
It’s been a rough past year for the former top prospect in the Giants organization. He ended the 2025 season — and his Giants tenure — in the slump of all slumps, and then proceeded to be designated for assignment by 4 different teams over the offseason. He finally cleared waivers, was outrighted by the Yankees, and proceeded to hit 1-25 with 10 strikeouts in Spring Training, which resulted in what was surely a highly disappointing opening assignment in AA.
But he’s been making the most of it. His solo shot off of Deppermann, which pulled the Patriots to within a run, was his 4th of the year, and gave him a 1.119 OPS and a 181 wRC+ on the season. He’s also back to the infield, as he’s played exclusively at second base so far for Somerset. That said, it hasn’t all been good: despite the gaudy numbers, Luciano has a 26.2% strikeout rate, and on Wednesday committed his 5th error of the season as he takes his 2nd stab at learning the position.
One thing’s for sure: I’ll be rooting for him.
Anyway, talking about a hitter on another team is really a way of distracting from talking about the pitchers on Richmond, because they weren’t good. Deppermann was the worst, but the starter, LHP Greg Farone, wasn’t a ton better, as he threw just 41 of 70 pitches for strikes, walked 3 batters in just 3.1 innings, and got tagged for 3 runs. Farone did strike out 5 batters, which is nice, and he only allowed 2 hits, but those hits were a double and a home run, so it’s not like he was fooling everyone.
The 2024 7th-round pick doesn’t have very good numbers this year — he has a 5.40 ERA and a 4.16 FIP — but it is nice to see the strikeout stuff coming back. In his debut season last year, the soon-to-turn 24-year old southpaw had 13.0 strikeouts per 9 innings with Low-A San Jose, but just 7.9 with High-A Eugene. Through 4 starts with the Squirrels, the Alabama alum has bounced back to 12.0 Ks per 9.
RHP Will Bednar (No. 24 CPL) is getting reacquainted with Richmond after he was sent down a level to open up a spot on the AAA roster for the rehabbing Sam Hentges. Throwing strikes and limiting walks is what Bednar needs to work on, and Wednesday was a step in the right direction, as he tossed 19 of 28 pitches for strikes and didn’t walk any batters in 1.2 scoreless frames. He did allow 2 hits, but also struck out a pair of Somerset hitters.
The offense, on the other hand, was much better. And it was once again led by the red-hot duo of third baseman Sabin Ceballos (No. 43 CPL) and left fielder Scott Bandura, who combined for 3 of the team’s 4 extra-base hits.
For Ceballos, it was another big fly, as the 23-year old righty went 1-4 with a solo shot, while also drawing a walk, stealing a base, and striking out once.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 23, 2026
He’s up to a .939 OPS and a 138 wRC+ as he looks to put his mediocre 2025 behind him, and most notable is the re-infusion of power. After getting traded to the Giants in 2024 in the Jorge Soler deal, the 2023 3rd-rounder smacked 7 home runs in just 32 games with High-A Eugene. But last year, in his AA debut, the former Oregon star hit just 6 home runs in 108 games.
This year? He’s only played 14 games, and he already has 4 big flies. Keep ‘em coming! His 4th home run last year came on August 13, so he is way, way, way ahead of schedule!
As for Bandura, he went 2-5 and bopped both a triple and a double. The sweet-swinging lefty is having an absolutely majestic start to the season, after struggling with Richmond following a late-season promotion a year ago. During that 45-game stint, Bandura hit just .199, struck out 30.6% of the time, and had a subpar .626 OPS and 88 wRC+.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 23, 2026
This year? He’s hitting .333, he’s dropped his strikeout rate all the way to 15.2%, and he’s rocking a .940 OPS and a 141 wRC+. Just a tremendous start for the 2023 7th-rounder, who will turn 25 in August. Let’s hope he can keep it up!
Center fielder Jonah Cox continued his nice start to the season, hitting 1-2, drawing 2 walks, and stealing a base (though he was also caught stealing). The 24-year old is having an absolutely blistering year, with a 1.074 OPS, a 186 wRC+, and 10 stolen bases in 12 attempts. Those are pretty remarkable numbers, especially considering he hit basically league average last year in High-A.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 23, 2026
On a less happy note, center fielder Bo Davidson (No. 4 CPL) sat for the 2nd straight game. Per Roger Munter, Davidson was a late scratch from Tuesday’s lineup after experiencing wrist or forearm discomfort during batting practice. Hopefully that’s a minor ailment.
High-A Eugene (13-4)
Eugene Emeralds beat the Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks) 6-3 Box score
Hello Walker Martin, how do you do!
One of the most fun things about Minor League Baseball is that every system has a few breakout players in it each year, and they come from the least expected places. For the Giants last year, for instance, it came largely from previously unheralded players … guys like 17th-round pick Drew Cavanaugh, and undrafted free agent Bo Davidson, and lower-budget international signings such as Argenis Cayama, Keyner Martinez, and Luis De La Torre.
Those are such feel-good stories, but an underrated feel-good story is the former top prospect who fell off and then reinvents themself. And so far, if we had to assign far-too-early labels and narratives to the season, one of the best stories of the year would be Martin fitting into that category.
It’s been a strong High-A debut for the third baseman, and Wednesday was his strongest game yet, as he was absolutely electric in every phase of the game. He hit a perfect 2-2, with both a towering solo home run and a double. He drew a pair of walks. He stole a base.
When the Giants used a 2nd-round pick on Martin in 2023, they thought they were getting an excellent athlete who had a rare blend of power and speed for an infielder. What they got instead, at least at the beginning, was someone who didn’t look so exceptional athletically, and also couldn’t make contact with the baseball.
The contact issues, if the start to the season is any indication, are getting resolved. In 2024, between the Complex League and Low-A, Martin hit .218 with a 41.0% strikeout rate. Last year, spent entirely in Low-A, he hit .234 with a 28.4% strikeout rate.
And so far this year? He’s boasting a .280 average and just a 24.1% strikeout rate. And along the way he’s started to show off some of those dynamic athletic traits. His 6 extra-base hits in just 58 plate appearances give him an isolated slugging of .240, which ranks 7th out of 45 Northwest League hitters with at least 50 plate appearances this year. And a year after stealing just 13 bases in 17 attempts, Martin has already swiped 6 bags, and hasn’t yet been caught.
He still has work to do to regain his prospect status, which once sat comfortably in the top 10 of the organization. His swinging strike rate of 18.1% is only a hair better than in his disastrous 2024, suggesting that there’s still a huge hole in his swing. And while his prospect status was propped up in part by the belief that he could play a strong shortstop, he was moved to third base last year and, after committing 23 errors in 2025 split between third and short, already has 6 errors this season.
But still. He’s been a good story this year (he has an .899 OPS and a 146 wRC+ after barely hitting league average in San Jose last season), and he’s a reminder that development takes many different paths (he also only recently turned 22). If he can keep this up, he’ll return to being a prospect that we all should pay close attention to.
Also homering was first baseman Zander Darby, who hit 1-4 with a strikeout and a 2-run shot in the 8th inning that provided the Emeralds with some insurance en route to their 13th victory.
Darby is also looking to bounce back from 2025. Unlike Martin, he was excellent in San Jose last year, but the 2024 12th-rounder had a miserable debut experience with Eugene over the course of a month. Not so this year, as he has a dynamic .918 OPS and a 147 wRC+, while regularly playing every infield position except shortstop. He does have a 31.0% strikeout rate, though.
Designated hitter Dakota Jordan (No. 5 CPL) had a solid game, hitting 1-3 with a walk and a stolen base, while striking out once. The strikeouts remain an issue with Jordan — he has a 30.1% K rate and a 16.3% swinging strike rate — but the things he does well have been on display this year. His center field defense has been strong, he’s averaging an extra-base hit every other game, and he now has 5 stolen bases without getting caught. Add in the .930 OPS and the 149 wRC+, and it’s been a strong season for him, even though there are very clear things he needs to work on.
Unfortunately, shortstop Gavin Kilen (No. 7 CPL) continued to erase his brilliant start to the year, as the 2025 1st-rounder went 0-5 with a pair of strikeouts in this contest. Kilen began the year with a 5-game hitting streak during which time he went 10-20 with 2 home runs, 3 doubles, 3 walks, and just 2 strikeouts. Since then, the lefty has hit just 8-50 with 0 home runs, 3 doubles, 2 walks, and 13 strikeouts. Over the last 6 games, he’s 3-27 with no extra-base hits and 7 strikeouts, and that’s brought his OPS and wRC+ down to .736 and 100, respectively. It’s a game of adjustments, so let’s hope they’re around the corner!
On the mound, LHP Tyler Switalski gave the farm their longest start of the year, as he went 6 innings deep in this game. As he so often does, Switalski positively lived in the zone, needing just 67 pitches to get through his 6 innings, while throwing 50 of them for strikes. He didn’t walk or hit a single batter, and gave up just 4 hits (though that included a home run and a double). In all, he got tagged for just 2 runs while striking out 3, though that raised his excellent ERA to 1.00 and his FIP to 2.90.
You wouldn’t know it from this start, but Switalski, who was a 16th-round pick in 2024 and will turn 23 soon, has really pumped up his strikeout stuff in his 2nd season. Last year he had just 7.9 strikeouts per 9 innings in Low-A, and a mere 6.7 upon his promotion to High-A. But even with the low output on Wednesday, the funky southpaw has punched out 12.5 batters per 9 innings through 4 appearances this year. Despite that, he’s also lowered his walk rate, from 3.7 per 9 last year between the 2 levels, to just 2.5 this season.
There are some funny small sample size elements — opposing batters have just a .200 BABIP against him, and his left on base rate of 95.2% is both hilariously and delightfully unsustainable — but there’s no way to paint this season as anything other than a fantastic success thus far. Let’s hope it keeps up!
RHP Gerelmi Maldonado (No. 41 CPL) continued his development as a closer, giving up 1 walk in a no-hit, no-run inning, with 1 strikeout. Maldonado needed 21 pitches to get through the inning — and threw just 11 strikes — but still, a very nice game. He will fly through the system if he can get the walks under control … he’s issued 7 of them in 5 innings, but has 11 strikeouts.
Low-A San Jose (13-4)
San Jose Giants beat the Ontario Tower Buzzers (Dodgers) 4-2 Box score
Just as Giants fans were probably happy to see a former Giant in Marco Luciano perform well, everyone is happy to see a different former Giant have a few struggles: LHP Blake Snell. Yes, the Dodgers ace made a rehab appearance for Ontario, and the Baby Giants did the correct thing by handing him the loss, as Snell gave up 4 baserunners, 2 runs, and 1 earned run in an inning of work (Snell is only credited with pitching an inning since he got 3 outs, but he did come out for the 2nd inning and faced 4 batters but, thanks to 2 hits and 2 errors, didn’t get any outs).
Hehe.
Shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL) introduced Snell to the Cal League by bopping a leadoff single against him. Level has slowly started to return from his truly scorched earth start to the season, but everything is still going delightfully well for him. He hit 1-4 with a walk and a stolen base in this game, while also striking out once and committing an error. On the year he has an 1.147 OPS, a 180 wRC+, and 5 stolen bases in as many attempts, as he appears intent on accomplishing the rare back-to-back breakout seasons.
Jhonny Level lines one up the middle against a rehabbing Blake Snell to get things started for the Giants! pic.twitter.com/no2MgiYecq
Left fielder Damian Bravo had the big hit to give Snell the L, as he knocked an RBI double in the 2nd inning. That was part of a 2-4 day for Bravo, which also featured his 1st stolen base of the year, though he had a strikeout and an error as well. The 2025 15th-round pick started the season very slow, but has caught fire lately, and currently has not just a 6-game hitting streak, but a 6-game extra-base hitting streak. During that time the 22-year old right-hander from Texas Tech has hit 10-26 with 2 home runs, 5 doubles, 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts, which has boosted his OPS to .808 and his wRC+ to 94, and almost put the tough start to the year fully in the rear-view mirror.
It was a dynamic pitching game, with all 3 arms performing quite well. RHP Jordan Gottesman got(tesman) the start and controlled Ontario admirably, allowing just 4 hits and 1 walk in 4.2 shutout innings, while striking out 5 batters.
The reigning 6th-round selection only threw 46 of 74 pitches for strikes, so it wasn’t a dominant outing, but it was one in which he was in total control. Most importantly, after back-to-back 3-run games, Gottesman had the best performance of his young career, and lowered his ERA to 3.52, albeit with a 6.52 FIP.
If dominant is what you’re looking for, however, then RHP Sam Bower provided it by throwing 2.1 no-hit innings with just a walk allowed, while recording 5 of his 7 outs by way of strikes. Yep, that will get the job done!
Bower is a feel-good story, as he’s finally healthy after a career set back numerous times by injuries. The 24-year old St. Mary’s alum was an 11th-round pick by the Giants back in 2022, but didn’t make his professional debut until this season. Now he’s finally able to pitch, and in games like this he’s certainly making up for lost time. If he gets into a rhythm, he probably won’t stay in San Jose for long.
Rounding out the star pitching was RHP Alix Hernandez, who continued his excellent season with 2 strikeouts in 2 no-hit innings. Hernandez did issue a walk, and had 2 runs scored while he was on the mound, thanks to some not-so-good defense, but they were unearned runs, which kept his ERA at 0.00. The 21-year old now has 11 strikeouts against just 2 walks in 8.1 innings this year, as his electricity is on full display.
The Philadelphia Flyers only turned to Noah Juulsen due to injury, but the veteran journeyman has responded in an encouraging way despite coming into a tough spot cold.
Juulsen, 29, has now played just four career playoff games, including Games 2 and 3 against the Pittsburgh Penguins this week.
The former first-round pick played in just 52 games for the Flyers this season, and only 10 of the team's final 26 games of the regular season. Emil Andrae had established himself next to Nick Seeler on the team's third defense pair, and that was a big portion of the team's post-Olympic turnaround.
On Wednesday night, in his second game replacing the injured Andrae, Juulsen recorded two primary assists--one on Rasmus Ristolainen's first playoff goal to make it 2-1, and one on Seeler's first playoff goal to make it 3-2--helping the Flyers put the Penguins against the wall with a commanding 3-0 series lead.
The pair of assists were the first two playoff points of Juulsen's career, and Seeler's goal stood as the game-winner. Overall, a massive impact from a forgotten depth player.
"It's great. You know what you're gonna get from Juuls. He's a competitor. He's a great defensive defenseman," Seeler said of his defense partner after the game. "He's in the right position. It's nice to see him get on the board with a couple nice assists, really good plays. And I enjoy playing with him."
Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet, who had Juulsen with him on the Vancouver Canucks for the previous three seasons, was equally impressed with the rugged defender's impact and professionalism throughout the season.
It's a common theme throughout the roster that permeates from one player to the next. Juulsen's experience and locker room presence were driving factors that ultimately led him to a reunion with Tocchet on the Flyers.
"When you're in the playoffs, if you're going to go far, you're gonna use people. The one thing with Noah or Emil, when they don't play, they're out there working hard, practicing and not complaining getting ready for their moment," Tocchet said.
"Juuls was ready for it, and a couple assists, I think he played really well. . . like, these guys, they're ready, and they're part of the team. That's what I love about them."
The Flyers needed all of Juulsen's 2:10 of shorthanded ice time with the Penguins on the receiving end of five power play opportunities.
Erik Karlsson did convert one for Pittsburgh, but any more than that could have turned the tide for the Penguins. Juulsen, goalie Dan Vladar, and many of the other vets stood tall and led the way.
Given the volatile nature of the series and the rivalry at hand, it is perfectly plausible that Juulsen remains in the lineup even when Andrae returns, and he's earned his place.
Through three games against the Penguins, the Flyers have allowed just one goal at 5-on-5, and the team's identity of having a suffocating neutral zone defense plays right up Juulsen's alley.
Our NBA player prop projections are all set for tonight's Game 3 matchup between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, with the model flagging several high-value opportunities.
By breaking down the data and stacking it up against current market lines, we’ve identified where the strongest edges lie.
If you’re building out your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Thursday, April 23.
Nuggets vs Timberwolves computer picks for Game 3
Nuggets
Timberwolves
Murray o26.5 points -105
Randle o19.5 points -115
Hardaway Jr. o1.5 threes +150
Edwards o5.5 rebounds -150
Jokic o13.5 rebounds -120
Edwards o3.5 threes +122
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Nuggets Game 3 computer picks
Jamal Murray Over 26.5 points (-105)
Projection: 26.7 points
When it comes to putting points on the board, the Denver Nuggets have been unmatched, leading the league with 121.9 points per game.
Jamal Murray has been a driving force behind that firepower, clearing this 25.5-point line in six of his last 10 outings.
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Tim Hardaway Jr. Over 1.5 threes (+150)
Projection: 2.1 3-pointers
The Nuggets have been the league’s most efficient team from beyond the arc this season, and Tim Hardaway Jr. has played a key role in keeping that edge.
Hardaway has cleared his 1.5 made threes line in six of his last 10 games, as the veteran continues to deliver from deep.
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Nikola Jokic Over 13.5 rebounds (-120)
Projection: 14.9 rebounds
Nikola Jokic makes rebounding look effortless, and Game 3 should be no exception.
Expect an even more aggressive effort on the glass after a quiet Game 2 — one the Nuggets will be eager to move past — as the reigning force in the paint looks to swing the series back in their favor.
Jokic has also been clearing his rebounding line consistently, eclipsing 13.5 boards in seven of his last 10 games.
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Timberwolves Game 3 computer picks
Julius Randle Over 19.5 points (-115)
Projection: 20.4 points
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been playing at a fast clip at home over the last 20 games, ranking among the league’s most up-tempo teams, and they’ll look to keep that pace rolling in this matchup.
They draw a similarly high-speed opponent in the Denver Nuggets, one of the fastest visiting offenses over the last 10 games, setting the stage for an increased number of possessions and more scoring chances for Julius Randle to stay productive within Minnesota’s offense.
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Anthony Edwards Over 5.5 rebounds (-150)
Projection: 5.54 rebounds
The T-Wolves have been dominant on the offensive glass at home, ranking near the top of the league with 13.6 offensive rebounds per game over their last five outings.
Anthony Edwards also brings strong rebounding production that exceeds that mark, and with Game 3 back in Minnesota, expect him to be especially active on the boards, fueled by the energy of the home crowd.
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Anthony Edwards Over 3.5 threes (+122)
Projection: 3.7 3-pointers
There’s no question Anthony Edwards will come into Game 3 with plenty of energy after helping the Minnesota Timberwolves steal a win in Denver.
That momentum should carry into his perimeter game, where he’ll look to bounce back from recent misses after finishing with Under 3.5 threes per game in eight of his last 10 outings. He'll change that luck for tonight.
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How to watch Nuggets vs Timberwolves Game 3
Location
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Date
Friday, April 23, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
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Liverpool legend Steve Nicol says he is unsure whether manager Arne Slot should remain as manager next season with the team currently looking "lost" on the pitch.
The Reds have struggled for form this campaign and will go without a trophy a year after storming to the Premier League title in Slot's first season at Anfield.
When asked by BBC Radio Merseyside whether the Dutchman should stay in charge, the five-time league winner with Liverpool said: "If you'd have asked me this six weeks ago, I would've 100% said yes, but as time's gone on, it's getting a lot.
"It feels as though it's getting lost on the field, and you're getting more anxious every time you're going to sit down to watch it. I don't know is the answer. "
Hit play below to listen to the full interview, in which Nicol also talks about why he is selling his medals, the 1986 FA Cup final and the current Liverpool side - or listen on BBC Sounds here
Detroit Tigers player Kevin McGonigle and Scott Harris, the president of baseball operations shake hands at his press conference at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, April, 15, 2026. McGonigle, a 21-year-old rookie infielder, agreed on Wednesday, April 15, to an eight-year, $150 million contract extension. The deal includes a $14 million signing bonus. | Eric Seals / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
If you’re an elite young ballplayer looking for long-term financial security, you picked the right time to be alive. On April 15th, Kevin McGonigle of the Tigers inked an eight-year, $150 million contract extension which will keep him in Detroit until 2034. Eight days before that, Pirates phenom Konnor Griffin signed a nine-year, $140 million pact to stay in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future. Good news for the Pirates and the Tigers; bad news for everyone else, particularly teams who were hoping to acquire their services via free agency.
Granted, because Griffin and McGonigle are so young, the length of their contracts does not completely preclude them from getting hefty free agent contracts once their current deals expire. However, they are signing away premium years; Griffin is now slated to enter free agency at age 28 rather than 25, McGonigle 29 rather than 27. For teams looking to court them in the 2034/35 offseason, that’s a big difference.
It’s not just those two who have signed long-term extensions with little to no big league service time. Earlier this year, Colt Emerson and Cooper Pratt each signed eight-year extensions without ever setting foot on a big league diamond. Last year, it was Samuel Basallo and Roman Anthony. And looking around the league, there’s no shortage of more established young stars signed to lengthy extensions with their current teams – Bobby Witt Jr., Julio Rodriguez, Fernando Tatis Jr.; the list goes on. Increasingly, elite young talent is being aggressively signed and secured while they are still under team control.
This is a worrying trend for teams who want to improve themselves via the free agent market. As the most attractive options are being increasingly signed away, it will only continue to become more difficult for teams to rely on shopping as a way to make substantive upgrades. Per FanGraphs’ Michael Baumann, out of the 141 players projected to accrue at least 7.0 WAR by the end of 2028, just 10 can become free agents after this season. That’s a pretty barren shelf.
Where does all this leave the Yankees? In pretty dangerous territory, if you ask me. Just this past offseason, the Yankees spent upwards of $180 million to secure two of their lineup mainstays in Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham. Sure, they were both re-signings, but it doesn’t change the fact that they were free agents. In the 2024-25 offseason, they were pretty quiet on the position player front, but they were reportedly in on the Juan Soto sweepstakes until the very end. Granted, it’s been a while since the Yankees were perennial buyers at the top of the market à la the current Dodgers, but even recently they’ve filled their positional needs by signing solid free agents more often than not, and especially when none of their prospects were banging on the door.
That last part is key. I won’t say that the Yankees’ recent track record of developing position players is outright bad; Ben Rice is awesome, Austin Wells has been an above-average catcher, slow start to 2026 be damned, Jasson Domínguez continues to tantalize, and Anthony Volpe has at least impressed with the glove when healthy. But as of this moment, they have a dearth of big-league ready talent at positions of need. Two up-the-middle positions, center field and second base, will be vacated at year’s end, when Grisham and Jazz Chisholm, Jr. are set to become free agents. Do you really think Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr. can immediately replace their production? I think that’s a pretty risky bet for a team with championship aspirations to make.
Sure, the Yankees can elect to re-sign both Grisham and Chisholm Jr. However, in a relatively weak free agent class they’ll be in high demand, so they won’t come cheap, especially not Jazz. And if they miss out, the other options don’t look to be all that appealing – we’re looking at names like Brandon Marsh, Cedric Mullins, or Mickey Moniak at center field, or Gleyber Torres, Mauricio Dubón, and Brandon Lowe for second base. They might be fine stopgaps, but they’re not much more.
Or, maybe the Yankees will be able to swing a deal for higher-quality players by offering one of their high-profile pitching prospects in Elmer Rodríguez and Carlos Lagrange. But the trade market is significantly harder to forecast, and there’s no guarantee that teams will be willing to ship out attractive targets. Plus, it’s not like the Yankees currently have a stacked farm; it’s pretty top-heavy and shallow, which is why both FanGraphs and MLB.com place it among the bottom handful in the league. That limits the possibilities of the deals they can make happen.
So, the Yankees will be faced with a pretty tough situation in the 2026-27 offseason. And if the current trend of young talent signing early extensions continue, subsequent offseasons are only going to become more difficult to navigate. The only true way that the Yankees can adapt to this new reality is by developing talent internally – however, that takes time, not to mention smarts, effort, and a truckload of luck. In the meantime, the Yankees will have to pray that their current core is good enough to win a ring, because at least when it comes to position players, neither the farm nor the free agent market look like they’ll provide much in the way of reinforcements.
Lassi Thomson bet on himself last summer, but it is fair to assume that he would not have bet on being in the position he was in on Monday night: playing in game two of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
When the Ottawa Senators announced on June 15, 2025, that they had signed Lassi Thomson to a one-year, two-way contract, it was fair to wonder why.
It was not a matter of asking, “Why would an organization want to add a then-24-year-old right-shot defenceman?” Not when every organization in the league is looking to add inexpensive and relatively young right-shot defensive depth.
Travis Green talks about the Game 2 loss and looks ahead to Game 3 back in Ottawa Thursday night.
It was simply a matter of asking, “Why would Lassi Thomson want to return to the Senators’ organization?”
Drafted out of the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL, Thomson was the 19th overall selection of the 2019 NHL Draft by the Senators. The Finnish import product was coming off a strong offensive campaign in which he tallied 17 goals and 41 points in 63 games.
Thomson would return to Finland the following season to play for Ilves in the Liiga, and once his loan to Ilves ended, he arrived for training camp with Ottawa in 2020.
The defenceman would play parts of the next four seasons in the Senators’ organization, even getting into 18 games for the Senators as an AHL recall. In September of 2023, however, it appeared that Thomson’s time with the organization was over. Unable to crack the Senators’ blue line after training camp and the preseason, the Finnish defenceman needed to clear waivers to be returned to the team’s AHL affiliate in Belleville.
The Anaheim Ducks claimed Thomson off waivers on October 8, 2023, but he would never appear in a game for them. When they subsequently tried to put him through waivers to send him to their AHL affiliate the following day, the Senators re-claimed Thomson and sent him to Belleville.
On a relatively weak Belleville team, Thomson had the worst offensive year since playing professionally in North America, compiling just six goals and 21 points in 67 games.
That performance and the offseason awareness that the Senators had Artem Zub, the recently acquired Nick Jensen, Travis Hamonic, and depth pieces like Nikolas Matinpalo and Jacob Bernard-Docker in their midst, there simply was very little opportunity for Thomson to crack Ottawa’s lineup.
Thomson looked overseas for an opportunity to reestablish himself, eventually signing with the Malmö Redhawks of the SHL.
It turned out to be a smart play, as no defenceman in the Swedish league scored more than Thomson’s 17 goals. He finished the season eighth in scoring by a defenceman, recording 29 points in 50 games.
At the conclusion of his season, the Senators came calling.
“We had a lot of talks over the summer with (management) and the coaches,” Thomson explained. “We saw an opportunity to get a couple of games in, and it was a good opportunity. Obviously, with (the Senators) making the playoffs, the (roster) was kind of settled. But I wanted to come here, have a good year, have that confidence in myself, and maybe get the chance (to play).”
Making the decision to leave Sweden, where he was enjoying success, was not easy.
“Of course it was tough,” Thomson stated while describing the decision he had to make. “Obviously, I liked playing in Europe. It was close to home, but like everything else, it was still a bit different.
“I was obviously playing good, but obviously, I've been (in Ottawa), and I know the hockey here. Everybody wants to play in the NHL. I'm still 25 years old, and kind of young. So I think I'm not losing anything by just coming over here to try, and I wanted another chance for this.”
After training camp, however, Thomson was returned to his familiar Belleville, where he simply waited for his chance.
As injuries began to mount and other defencemen were recalled, Thomson continued to focus on his game, hoping that one day the call would be his.
“Obviously, it is kind of frustrating seeing your teammates from Belleville are getting called up, and you're not getting that chance,” admitted Thomson. “But obviously, you have to try to think about it the other way and try to be positive than worry if (a recall) is going to be coming or if it's not coming.
“So, I tried not to get too frustrated. I will say, I just tried to enjoy the hockey. That was the biggest thing for me this year. Just come here and enjoy the hockey. Whatever is going to happen, it's gonna happen. Maybe everybody stays healthy, and you're not going to get a chance. So, I just try to be happy and positive around the other guys. I think it's been working.”
So, Thomson kept his head up and played hard, turning in what was arguably his best and most complete season on this side of the pond. In 55 games with Belleville, Thomson had 14 goals and 25 points while registering a positive plus-minus rating (+1) on a team that gave up the second-highest number of goals (262) in the AHL.
Eventually, it was Thomson’s turn to get a recall and play his first game.
Unfortunately, seven shifts into his first game since November 22, 2022, Thomson sustained a lower-body injury when a New York Ranger fell on his leg. Four minutes and 25 seconds into his NHL return, the defenceman’s night was done.
“I was pretty down after that,” described Thomson. “Mentally, just finally getting that chance and then getting hurt right away. It wasn't fun.”
No one could have blamed Thomson for thinking that the game at Madison Square Garden could have been his last. With other defencemen being close to returning from their own respective injuries and the uncertainty of when he would be available to play again, the possibility that he would not have another chance this season felt very real.
Having the presence of a fellow Finnish defenceman and friend in Nik Matinpalo, certainly helped Thomson.
“It helps a lot (having Matinpalo here),” Thomson laughed while looking at his friend and stallmate. “Obviously, it's always fun to have another Finnish guy. It just helps a lot of things. When you're off the ice, you have somebody else. You’re living at the hotel, so it's great to have somebody who's living there and just kind of help take care of you a little bit more. So, he’s been unbelievable.”
With the help of the team’s trainers, Thomson described the next few days as “weird”, but he recovered quickly enough and dressed in the lineup five days later.
Thomson would go on to play in 11 games for the Senators down the stretch, contributing three assists. In the 141 five-on-five minutes that Thomson played, the team would generate 52.31 percent of the shots (CF%), 55.65 percent of the shots on goal (SF%), 66.67 percent of the total goals (GF%), and 60.19 percent of the expected goals (xGF%).
To Thomson’s credit, he played well in the limited and sheltered third-pairing minutes that were afforded to him. And more importantly, he demonstrated to the coaching staff that he could be an option for them in the postseason, if needed.
The Senators continued to be beset by injuries on the blue line heading into their first-round matchup with the Carolina Hurricanes, and there was some discussion over which defenceman should play on the Senators’ third pairing to open the postseason.
Thanks to his handedness and physicality, the veteran Dennis Gilbert was called upon. But when Artem Zub sustained a lower-body injury while hitting Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis in game one and left the game, it opened the door for Thomson to enter the lineup.
No player wants to see one of their teammates get hurt to create an opportunity, but playing in an NHL playoff game is something that Thomson has dreamed about.
“(Playing in a game), it's pretty awesome,” Thomson said. “This is the point where you want to be, and that's why I came over here, to play in these games. It's pretty unreal.”
Thomson’s career took a few detours, but now he is playing in meaningful hockey games where scouts and other front offices from other franchises are watching.
As a 25-year-old on an expiring contract who has played in fewer than 80 career NHL games, Thomson is slated to become an unrestricted Group VI free agent this summer. Thomson has grown and matured a lot over the past two seasons.
Though he'll serve as a black ace on Thursday night, the way that Lassi Thomson has stepped into the Senators’ lineup and contributed, he looks poised to sign another NHL contract this summer.
Graeme Nichols The Hockey News
This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:
DENVER, CO - APRIL 21: Jake Cronenworth #9 of the San Diego Padres celebrates on second base after hitting a double as Ezequiel Tovar #14 of the Colorado Rockies looks on in the sixth inning at Coors Field on April 21, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
San Diego Padres (16-8) at Colorado Rockies (10-15), April 23, 2026, 12:10 p.m. PST
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DENVER, CO - APRIL 18: Starting pitcher Ryan Feltner #18 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field on April 18, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Compared to last season, the Colorado Rockies continue to find themselves in unfamiliar territory.The Rockies may still be below .500 but are playing largely competent, competitive baseball. Bolstered by what has been a surprisingly strong pitching core—both from starters and in the bullpen—and the occasional outburst of offense, the Rockies successfully earned their tenth win of the season last night against the San Diego Padres in one of their most complete ballgames of the young season.
For comparison, the Rockies lost 50 games last season before earning their 10th victory on June 2nd, 2025.
Now the Rockies aim to finish their homestand strong with an opportunity for a series win against the Padres this afternoon. Right-handed pitcher Ryan Feltner will be tasked with leading the effort.
Feltner has had a bumpy start to his 2026 campaign. His last start against the Padres in San Diego didn’t go as planned and he carries a 6.00 ERA into this afternoon’s game. However, he turned in a solid performance his last time out against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 5.2 innings he held the Dodgers to three runs—two earned—on five hits and a walk with five strikeouts on the way to a Rockies victory.
Making the start for the Swingin’ Friars is the right-handed Matt Waldron, who will be making his second appearance of the season.
Waldron struggled last week against the Los Angeles Angels in his first start of the season. In 3.2 innings he gave up six earned runs on eight hits—including a home run—and a walk with four strikeouts. He has a career 4.67 ERA through three starts and 17.1 innings against the Rockies entering today’s game.
What makes Waldron unique is his arsenal. His primary pitch is a high 70s to low 80s knuckleball. He backs that up with a sweeper, a four-seam fastball, a sinker, an the occasional cutter.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Brayden Taylor #80 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after drawing a walk during the fourth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the New York Mets at Clover Park on March 19, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
After treading water in Double-A Montgomery for parts of the last two seasons, here’s a hot take: Brayden Taylor appears ready for a promotion to Durham.
If you look him up, his 99 wRC+ through 14 games doesn’t jump off the page, but the underlying data suggests he’s ready for a new challenge.
Taylor was not performing well in his first full season in Montgomery last year. Through his first 64 games, he produced just a 64 wRC+ driven largely by elevated swing-and-miss, as his contact rate was sitting at just about 70%. He was removed from games for a few weeks in July to reset and adjust his swing. After he returned to action, his production improved to 97 wRC+ across his final 44 games, and his contact rate rebounded into the mid 70s.
One of the key adjustments Taylor made was reducing the hitch in his swing while getting stacked on his back leg. He still has a bit of a bat wrap and average hand speed so some swing-and-miss will likely always be part of his profile, but it’s now seemingly more manageable.
Taylor didn’t sacrifice his average power with this change either because he still holds his weight back fairly well and he’s always had a knack for getting the ball in the air pull-side. There may have also been an adjustment to his bat angle or tilt as it appears slightly flatter than in the past. That would align with the improved contact rates, though it’s difficult to confirm given the limited minor league data and video available.
While Taylor may not be filling up the box score just yet this season, his underlying data looks encouraging; his contact rate is up over 76% so far. He’s also hitting line drives and fly balls over 70% of the time in this small sample. It’s a rate that will almost certainly regress, but one that reinforces a meaningful trend: he’s continuing to get the ball in the air even with a shorter swing.
Brayden Taylor puts the Biscuits on top with a solo blast!
The 2025 Solar Sox has a ten game on-base streak and a six game hit streak after hitting his second homer of the season! pic.twitter.com/K0ZgQ554Ui
— MLB's Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) April 22, 2026
Maintaining near-average contact rates and consistently elevating the ball pull-side will allow Taylor to out-slug his roughly average exit velocities. The Southern League is a notoriously pitcher-friendly environment, so getting to Triple-A could help that underlying performance translate more consistently.
If these contact gains are sustainable, Taylor’s combination of solid defense at 2B and 3B and above average base running can help make him a productive major league player. He’s been notably passive early and taking his walks, so a promotion to Triple-A — where pitchers are in the zone more — would be a more appropriate test for his new mechanics.
Overall, his profile still looks similar to what it was coming out of the 2023 draft: a bulk platoon second baseman with no major holes in his game who can also fill-in on the left side of the infield if needed.
At the lower end of outcomes, Taylor profiles as a versatile up-and-down option. But with the swing changes, defensive value, and track record against right-handed pitching, there’s a strong case for a more meaningful role. His development against left-handed pitching may ultimately determine whether he reaches everyday status. The key question now isn’t whether Taylor can produce in Double-A; it’s whether these underlying gains will hold against more advanced pitching.
Nuggets
Timberwolves
