SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 9: Stephen Curry (right) and Kristaps Porzingis (left) of Warriors are seen before the NBA game 41 between Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors in San Francisco at Chase Center on April 9, 2026 in San Francisco, California, United States. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
Game No. 83 has arrived. The Golden State Warriors are starting the postseason where they ended the regular season: at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, visiting the LA Clippers. It’s a win-or-go-home game for both teams: the loser is eliminated, while the victor will advance to Friday’s road game against the Phoenix Suns.
Thankfully for the Warriors, they’re as healthy as they’ve been in the last three months. Steph Curry, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porziņģis are absent on the injury report, with only one name accompanying the players the team lost to season-ending knee injuries. Though as a reminder, two-way players are not eligible for playoff games, which is why LJ Cryer isn’t listed here (they are, however, allowed to travel with the team and sit on the bench).
Here’s the full injury report for both teams.
Warriors
Out — Quinten Post (right foot injury management)
Post’s foot injury really lingered. He’s only played once since mid-March, and only played a few minutes in that game. He’ll need the Warriors to win — likely at least twice — if he wants to play again in his sophomore year.
Out — Jimmy Butler III (right ACL surgery) Out — Moses Moody (left patellar tendon surgery)
Nothing to note here. We’ve known these two will be out for the rest of the year — and much of next year — for quite a while.
Clippers
Out — Bradley Beal (left hip fracture)
Beal’s first season with the Clippers didn’t go well, as he played just six games before suffering a season-ending injury. He signed a two-year deal with LAC after working a buyout with the Suns, so he’ll get a chance to run it back next year.
Out — Yanic Konan Niederhäuser(right lisfranc ligament tear)
The final pick of the first round in the 2025 draft played exactly half of LA’s games before suffering a season-ending injury.
Probable — Isaiah Jackson (right ankle sprain)
Jackson has played sparingly this year, and hasn’t appeared in a game since March. So if he plays in this game, it’s likely because the outcome has already been decided.
Enjoy the game, Dub Nation! It tips off at 7:00 p.m. PT on Prime Video.
“Both those guys are going to try to come back,” Redick said April 5. “And it’s our job to extend the season so that they can come back.”
The Lakers’ LeBron James is being counted on to keep the team afloat during the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Rockets. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Even with Redick saying Tuesday afternoon that Doncic and Reaves are out “indefinitely” and there won’t be an update on either of their statuses for the remainder of the week, the Lakers’ first-round playoff series schedule against the Rockets gives them the best shot of accomplishing their original goal.
Game 1 on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena (5:30 p.m. tipoff) was already known.
But the league announced Tuesday night that Game 2 is set for April 21 in Los Angeles and Game 3 is scheduled April 24 in Houston — giving the Lakers the maximum amount of time between games for their injury-riddled roster to get closer to whole before what could be a pivotal Game 4 on April 26 at Toyota Center.
There will be another two-day break before a potential Game 5 on April 29 at Crypto.com Arena — almost four weeks after the injuries to Doncic and Reaves — before the series shifts to playing every other day for potential Game 6 (May 1) in Houston and Game 7 (May 3) in Los Angeles.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
The spaced-out nature of the Lakers-Rockets series isn’t surprising — and not because of conspiracy theories that the NBA is favoring the Lakers to give them the best shot they can at getting their star guards back during the first round.
Let’s not forget that the Lakers’ schedule for their first-round playoff series against the Timberwolves — a series Doncic, Reaves and LeBron James were all healthy — followed the same format as this year’s Lakers-Rockets series.
And don’t ignore the fact that the Cavaliers-Raptors matchup also has the same number of two-day breaks (three) before their potential Game 5 as Lakers-Rockets.
The Rockets’ Alperen Sengun and his teammates will try to eliminate the short-handed Lakers in a first-round series. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Nonetheless, the schedule undoubtedly helps the Lakers.
Doncic is attempting to speed up a recovery that typically takes three to six weeks (and on average 35 days) by traveling to Spain to receive special treatment before coming back to the United States on Friday. The average recovery timeline would have Doncic miss the series entirely, even if it lasted seven games. But a combination of the Lakers’ first-round schedule and a sped-up recovery could see Doncic back on the floor in either Game 4 or 5.
And with Reaves’ injury, which is expected to sideline him four to six weeks, about pain management in addition to recovery, a sped-up return in which he’s back on the floor in the earlier part of his recovery window could have him playing as soon as Game 5.
There aren’t any guarantees Doncic and Reaves will be back during the Lakers-Rockets series — let alone be able to play at the MVP-caliber level Doncic was at and the All-Star level Reaves was showing before the injuries.
Reaves’ shooting after practices this week is providing optimism for a return.
More time will be good for Doncic and Reaves, even if some players said they don’t know how the schedule looks, with Rui Hachimura saying Wednesday, “I wasn’t looking at it, I’m not going to lie. … I’m just focused on this first game. So I haven’t really seen it.”
The overlooked benefit of the schedule is how it’ll help the rest of the Lakers as they hope to extend the season so the star guards can return.
Unsurprisingly, the Lakers shot more efficiently from the field after multiple days between games compared with one or zero days.
Hachimura, Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia, all of whom will be counted on more offensively to start the series, were more productive offensively with two full days between games during the regular season compared with one or none.
The Lakers’ Deandre Ayton (5) knows more rest will benefit LA during its first-round series against Houston. NBAE via Getty Images
And with Doncic and Reaves sidelined, the rest of the team will have to carry a heavier load — both in terms of minutes played and on-court responsibilities — which becomes more physically taxing the longer a series lasts.
“Just seeing what days are available, getting extra work in,” Ayton said. “What’s the practice like? When do I have a free day for myself? Things like that. So I’m always looking at the schedule.”
During a series that’ll be defined by physicality and the ability to maintain focus when fatigue settles in against a Rockets team that led the league in offensive rebounding for the second year in a row, the Lakers will need as much time to rest, recover and adjust their game plans as they can get.
Playing hard will be necessary. With narrow margins, they don’t have any other options.
“That’s why the playoffs are so hard,” Ayton said. “You play these hard games, but we got enough time to rest up and rejuvenate ourselves to play hard again. That’s why they’re so tough to win games in the playoffs because we’re all alphas, and we bring it 110% every game. It’s gonna be fun.”
Even though the numbers don’t back it up, James is arguably the individual who’ll benefit the most, with the 41-year-old having to be back in the driver’s seat and at the forefront of the Lakers’ playoff hopes until they can get their star ball handlers back — if they’re able to extend the series long enough.
“He’s 41,” Redick said. “So any extra time off is good.”
HOUSTON, TX - AUGUST 30: Houston Astros pitcher Spencer Arrighetti (41) throws a pitch in the top of the first inning during the MLB game between the Los Angeles Angels and Houston Astros on August 30, 2025 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Houston Astros (7-11) host the Colorado Rockies (6-11) for the second game of a three game series on Jackie Robinson Day.
RHP Spencer Arrighetti (season debut) will make his first Major League start of the season tonight opposite the 15-year MLB veteran LHP Jose Quitana (0-0, 4.15 ERA) and the Rockies.
TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP Spencer Arrighetti opened his season at Triple A Sugar Land where he had three strong starts, posting a 1.26 ERA (2ER/14.1IP) with 20 strikeouts, a 0.77 WHIP and a .111 opponent average.
Arrighetti has spent the majority of the last two seasons in Houston, making 36 appearances (35 starts) for the Astros, posting a 4.69 ERA (94ER/180.1IP) with 202 strikeouts in 180.1 innings pitched.
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVE: The Astros have recalled RHP Spencer Arrighetti to make tonight’s start.
In a corresponding move, the Astros placed RHP Cody Bolton on the 15-day IL with right mid-back inflammation (retro to April 13).
JACKIE ROBINSON: Today is Jackie Robinson Day, which will include seminars, pregame activities and charity work at the ballpark tonight.
In recognition of Jackie Robinson Day, the Astros will host a short “Breaking Barriers” forum in the press conference room at 5:30 p.m. with 40 high school-aged kids from the Astros Youth Academy. Brice Matthews, Cam Smith, Taylor Trammell, Dave Clark, Joe Espada and Dana Brown are scheduled to take part.
Also, all pregame activities will be dedicated to Jackie Robinson Day, which will include the Play Ball Call from JC Hartman, the Astros first African American player.
CORREA’S GUESTS: The Correa Family Foundation will make their monthly visit to Daikin Park today.
IF Carlos Correa and his foundation will host young patients battling illness and their families at the game, including having them on the field during batting practice.
HOME-COOKIN’: Tonight is the second game of a six-game homestand for the Astros, in which they’ll host a pair of National League opponents in the Rockies and Cardinals.
The Astros enter tonight’s game 6-2 overall at Daikin Park in 2026.
VS. THE ROCKIES: The Astros were swept by the Rockies last week in a three-game series at Coors Field (April 6-9), which was the Astros first sweep at the hands of the Rockies since a four-game series from May 28-31, 2012.
After the 2012 season, the Astros have not lost a season series against the Rockies, winning seven times and splitting twice.
ROCKING THE ROCKIES: 1B Christian Walker has enjoyed facing the Rockies throughout his career, posting a .334 avg. (123×368) vs. them with 29 HR and 77 RBI with a 1.022 OPS.
His career avg., RBI and OPS vs. COL are his best vs. any club (min. 10g) while his 29 HR match his most against any single opponent (also the Dodgers). His 29 home runs are also tied with 1B Paul Goldschmidt for the most homers against the Rockies among active players.
AGENT SMITH: RF Cam Smith is coming off a strong road trip, in which he hit .324 (12×37) with three doubles, two homers, seven RBI and a .927 OPS in 10 games (nine starts).
Smith continued that hot streak last night, going 1×4 with an RBI and a run scored.
HOT START:Yordan Alvarez is off to a sizzling start for the Astros in 2026.
In the American League, he currently ranks first in extra-base hits (11) and in total bases (42), tied for first in walks (16), and second in RBI (16), OPS (1.175), SLG (.700) and OBP (.475). Alvarez was named American League Player of the Week for March 30-April 5 (fourth time to win the award).
THE ORDER: The Astros have used 18 different batting orders in their 18 games so far this season. Only LF Yordan Alvarez has started every game in the same spot in the batting order (batting second).
FROM THE TRAINER’S ROOM: The Astros currently have 13 players on the Major League Injured List.
Here are updates on a few:
• RHP Cody Bolton (right mid-back inflammation) was placed on the IL today and is currently not throwing.
• RHP Hunter Brown (right shoulder sprain), RHP Tatsuya Imai (right arm fatigue) and RHP Cristian Javier (right shoulder strain) are rehabbing in Houston, but currently not throwing.
• LHP Josh Hader (left biceps tendinitis) tossed a 19-pitch live BP yesterday in Houston.
• RHP Nate Pearson (right elbow surgery) threw 2.0 innings in an extended Spring Training game on Saturday (April 11).
• LHP Bennett Sousa (left oblique strain) is out on a minor league rehab assignment now…he pitched last night for Double A Corpus Christi, working 1.0 scoreless inning on eight pitches (seven strikes).
• OF Zach Dezenzo (right elbow sprain) is rehabbing in Florida…he has progressed to a position specific throwing program while continuing normal hitting.
• OF Jake Meyers (right oblique strain) and SS Jeremy Peña (right hamstring strain) are rehabbing in Houston, focusing on rehabilitation exercises.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Wednesday, April 15, 7:10 p.m. CST
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
Updated Lineup:
Carlos Correa 3B Yordan Alvarez DH Isaac Paredes 2B Christian Walker 1B Cam Smith RF Yainer Diaz C Joey Loperfido CF Nick Allen SS Brice Matthews LF Spencer Arrighetti RHP https://t.co/JL9Cune2Sn
Let’s be honest. The worst thing that can happen with Oubre is that he makes his first 3 because then he thinks he’s all of a sudden good at it, and he keeps shooting.
He did that Wednesday night. Made his first two. Kept firing.
Only this time, he was really good. Better than he’s almost ever been.
Oubre made five of 10 3’s in a 12-point win and to put that in perspective, he’s played in 730 games in his career and this was only the 14th where he took at least 10 3’s and made at least half of them. And only the second in the last two years.
This wasn’t technically a postseason game – play-in games aren’t regular-season games or playoff games – but for all intents and purposes it was a postseason game because it propelled the Eagles into the seven seed and a showdown with the Celtics. It was Oubre’s 25th career “postseason” game and the first time he’s made more than three 3’s. And the first time he’s taken more than four and shot at least 50 percent.
So this was out of nowhere, and on a day when Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe and Paul George all shot below 45 percent from the field and were a combined 5-for-20 from 3, the 76ers needed every one of Oubre’s long-range bombs.
I didn’t have Kelly Oubre Jr. making as many 3’s as Maxey, Edgecombe and George in half as many attempts, but here we are.
Oubre finished with 19 points and three rebounds and was plus-19 in the most important game of the year.
In his defense, Oubre has shot better from 3 this year. His 36 percent shooting from 3 wasn’t good – it ranked 112th out of 191 players who took at least 200 3’s this year. But it was a career high and you have to give the guy credit for having his best season shooting 3’s in his 11th season.
And you have to give him credit for coming up huge Wednesday night when there were long stretches where nobody on the team could make a shot.
Oubre’s last 3 was his biggest.
The Magic had cut an 10-point deficit to five, and it was 94-89 76ers with 5:45 to go in the fourth quarter. The game wasn’t quite slipping away, but it was a critical situation.
Quentin Grimes passed to Oubre 28 feet out on the left wing.
Swish.
Ballgame.
Oubre may never make five 3’s in a game again and the 76ers certainly need all the other guys to shoot better just to stay with the mighty Celtics.
But for one night the 76ers won a game in a fashion they’ve only won once before. With Oubre taking double-digit 3’s and making half of them.
This was about the last way anybody could have imagined them beating the Magic. With Oubre going off from deep.
But without Oubre and his unlikely 3’s, the 76ers don’t win this game.
Sam Antonacci’s call up brings some much-needed ability to get on base, and fielding versatility | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Happy Jackie Robinson Day to all who celebrate! The White Sox (6-11) dropped the first game of a three-game set with the Rays Tuesday behind Noah Schultz in his MLB debut, and righthander Sean Burke will take the mound in an effort to create any form of positive momentum for the team. As it stands, the South Siders are 4-6 in their last 10 while holding down last place in the AL Central — 4.5 games behind the first place Twins — and they still hold the worst run differential in all of baseball (-33).
For us White Sox fans, we have more than one person to celebrate today. The White Sox announced this afternoon that utility man Sam Antonacci has finally been called up to the show, and will make his major league debut on the South Side Wednesday. Antonacci has cruised through the minor league system, making an solid first impression in Low-A ball with the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers in 2024 (.333/.471/.432 in 81 ABs), and posted an .837 OPS with the High-A Winston-Salem Dash before being promoted to the Double-A Barons and maintaining a consistent .816 OPS.
After his performance on the international stage with Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, he came into the 2026 season hot out the gates with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, slashing .313/.500/.479 with a .979 OPS in 14 games (48 at-bats). Though he’s primarily played the infield throughout his collegiate and amateur career, he’s played 100 innings in left field this season with a 1.000 fielding percentage, and has flashed his arm accuracy by throwing a few runners out — something the South Side outfield desperately needs. Welcome to the show, Sam!
Now for our pitching, Burke has been more consistent in this last two starts compared to opening weekend, sitting at a 2.45 ERA in two April outings, with three earned runs given up on six hits across 11 innings, accompanied by 10 strikeouts and just two walks. A small sample size, of course, but his statcast percentile rankings are almost night and day compared to 2025:
Burke’s 3.60 ERA on the season is nearly double his 1.96 FIP, signaling that the poor defense on balls in play are also hindering his ability to keep runs from crossing the plate. His low 4.8% walk rate also highlights that runners aren’t necessarily getting on base because of Burke alone, and the White Sox rank 7th with 12 errors so far on the year, and that doesn’t include the mental errors that we regularly see in the field. Last season, Burke struggled with batters barreling the ball at a much higher rate (10.4%), though he is down to 2.3% so far in 2026.
A week spot, however, is that he often gives up a lot of pulled fly balls, which could be trouble with the wrong batter, especially with power hitters such as Junior Caminero, Jonathan Aranda, and Yandy Díaz. Here’s how the Rays will line ‘em up today:
Old friend alert! Righthander Jesse Scholtens will make his first start of the season, and second appearance in 2026, tossing 4 2/3 scoreless innings behind the starting pitcher to finish the game. Scholtens was claimed off of waivers by Tampa Bay last August after he was designated for assignment by the White Sox following his rehab assignment from Tommy John surgery. In two outings with the Rays last season (8 1/3 innings), he allowed seven runs (five earned) on nine hits, including one home run. Scholtens had an excellent 31.6% strikeout rate last season, and was able to get batters to chase, though his one outing this year is a bit too small of a sample size to see how he will progress throughout the season.
Tonight’s lineup construction is another Will Venable classic: seemingly picking lineups out of a hat to see if anything works better. For whatever reason, Andrew Benintendi is leading off and playing left field, while last night’s leadoff batter has now shifted into the three-spot (Miguel Vargas). Munetaka Murakami at least remains in the two-hole after a pair of walks and a two-run bomb yesterday, but some of the other choices don’t necessarily make sense. For example, on Tuesday, Venable insisted on batting Everson Pereira over Colson Montgomery in the cleanup spot in his first game off of the IL, yet today he is nowhere to be found in the lineup after a three-run homer.
Sam Antonacci will make his debut batting fifth and playing second base in place of Chase Meidroth, who will get a rest day. I’m not worried about where Antonacci is batting in the lineup, but the Sox have been working him in the outfield more a couple months only to roll out a brutal outfield rotation while sitting an everyday player. Trying to understand here, Will, but we are all confused on a daily basis. Normal teams probably aren’t doing a plug-and-play in the lineup everyday, but here we are. I digress.
Another round of storms are set to roll through the Chicagoland area this evening, weather permitting, first pitch will take place at 6:40 p.m. CT. Be sure to tune in for Antonacci’s debut either on CHSN or on the radio via ESPN Chicago AM 1000.
Former Warriors guard Chris Paul still is bitter about his ugly breakup with the Los Angeles Clippers.
So, despite spending the prime of his illustrious 21-year NBA career in the City of Angels, the future Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer was repping the Bay, once again, in spirit on Wednesday night.
Paul, who spent the 2023-24 NBA season with the Warriors, took to his Instagram story after Golden State’s electric 126-121 win in the do-or-die play-in game at Intuit Dome to give the business to the Clippers he once carried.
The classic meme Paul posted is about attending an enemy’s funeral to make sure they’ve truly passed on.
And CP3 sure did tune in to Wednesday night’s thriller to make sure the Clippers went night night for good.
Los Angeles, in case you didn’t know, stunningly and literally sent Paul home early in the 2025-26 NBA season — which was supposed to be his farewell tour — and ultimately dealt him to the Toronto Raptors at the trade deadline; Paul retired before the regular season’s end.
The “Point God” literally played over 400 games with the historically lowly Clippers and helped them become the franchise that now boasts a state-of-the-art arena with a larger footprint in the city that always has been a Lakers town.
So, while Paul might’ve played just 58 games with the Warriors, he surely was loving every second of Golden State’s come-from-behind victory over Los Angeles, which extended the 10th-seeded road team’s lifespan by at least one more game.
Paul seemingly was a proud member of Dub Nation on Wednesday night.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 14: A general view from center field before game two of the National League Championship Series between Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers at American Family Field on October 14, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Game two of three in Milwaukee.
I have such a dislike of Bud Selig that I don’t I could go to Milwaukee to watch a game. I know he doesn’t own the team anymore (and that he’s over 90 years old), but he worked very hard to kill off my Expos and was just an all-round Clemensing Farrell (he says trying to stay inside the site’s language rules).
It does look like they have a nice ballpark.
I also couldn’t drink Miller beer. I didn’t drink beer at all until the last 15-20 years, because my dad bought Labatt Blue. My father-in-law bought Old Style Pilsner (he was born in Saskatchewan). Both tasted like sewer water to me. But, craft beers are interesting. I’m generally a one and done, so I like the beer to be interesting.
But it is a nice looking park and I’m there is other things to do there than drink bad beer.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 29: Jose Quintana #62 of the Colorado Rockies throws a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot park on March 29, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been a tough road trip for the Colorado Rockies as they are the losers of five straight games and dropped another close affair 7-6 on Tuesday against the Houston Astros. The offense came to life a little bit better, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a bad start on the mound, and the Rockies are looking to turn things around to snap the losing streak behind one of their free-agent starting pitchers.
Jose Quintana (0-0, 4.15 ERA) is making just his second start of the season tonight after being waylaid for two weeks with a hamstring injury. His lone start came on March 29 against Miami, in which he allowed two runs on four hits in 4.1 innings with two strikeouts. While Quintana escaped without too much damage, he did struggle with his command, issuing four walks in the start. It’s unclear how much of a leash he will have coming off the injured list, but the Rockies are in desperate need of some length out of a starting pitcher, so five innings would be ideal at the very least. This will be Quintana’s 12th appearance, 10th start, against the Astros, and he sports a 3.08 ERA in 52.2 innings of work.
Also, in a corresponding move, Kyle Freeland was placed on the 15-day IL.
As for Houston, right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (0-0, 1.26 ERA in Triple-A) was recalled from Sugar Land to take the hill. Arrighetti’s been off to a hot start in Triple-A, allowing just two runs on five hits over 14.1 innings in three starts. Last season in the big leagues, he went 1-5 with a 5.35 ERA over seven starts, allowing 21 runs over 35.1 innings. Much like the Rockies, the Astros are hoping for some length out of their starter and that he can pound the zone like he’s shown capable of doing in the past. He has made one appearance against the Rockies in his career, back in 2024, tossing seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits, recording 10 strikeouts, and walking none.
A Major League Baseball umpire did not feel any brotherly love while in the city of Philadelphia last week, and it had nothing to do with baseball.
Brock Ballou was allegedly robbed and assaulted on April 9 while in town to work the Phillies series against the Diamondbacks, according to CBS News Philadelphia.
Ballou was one of two people who were allegedly attacked by the same assailant, who Philadelphia police believe is in his teens.
Umpire Brock Ballou looks on while wearing yellow armbands to recognize Childhood Cancer Awareness Day during a game between the Colorado Rockies and the San Diego Padres at Coors Field on September 7, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. Getty Images
The MLB umpire was allegedly approached by the suspect — seen in surveillance video wearing a black hat, black pants and a light blue hoodie — while walking on the 1600 block of Walnut Street in Philly, when the individual stole his phone and took off.
Ballou attempted to give chase and ended up getting into a “physical altercation,” Capt. Jason Smit told CBS News Philadelphia, and when Ballou tried to take back his phone, he was punched in the head several times.
“They ended up on the ground, at which time the victim struck his head, causing injury,” Smith said. “The male continued his assault, violently punching him.”
The suspect ended up not making off with the MLB umpire’s phone. Ballou was able to get it back when a passerby returned it to him.
The injuries sustained by Ballou were not serious, and he umpired first base the next night and called balls and strikes behind the plate the day after.
Ballou has been an umpire in MLB since 2022.
The suspect in the alleged assault that took place in Philadelphia. Philadelphia Police
MLB has not publicly commented on the matter that occurred earlier this week.
Another person had also been allegedly assaulted by the same person on the same day at a 7-Eleven 20 minutes earlier.
The alleged assault was not the first peculiar situation that Ballou has found himself in.
In a story published by MiLB.com in 2016, Ballou was traveling to call a game in the Carolina League and was on I-95 with fellow umpire Cody Clark when an RV in front of them lost control.
The two men jumped out to assist the vehicle’s occupants.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 13: Joc Pederson #3 of the Texas Rangers bats against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on April 13, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for April 15, 2026 against the A’s: starting pitchers are Kumar Rocker for the Rangers and J.T. Ginn for the A’s.
Its Jackie Robinson Day, and the Rangers are playing game three of the four game series in Sacramento. Jake Burger gets his first day off of the season, and Wyatt Langford and Corey Seager switch places.
The lineup:
Nimmo — RF
Seager — SS
Langford — DH
Carter — CF
Pederson — 1B
Jung — 3B
Smith — 2B
Jansen — C
Duran — LF
8:40 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +105 underdogs.
The CHL is counting down its Top 50 Players of the Last 50 Years list. The league recently revealed numbers 31 to 39, which included a former Vancouver Canucks captain. That captain was Roberto Luongo, who spent over seven seasons with the organization.
Before Luongo became one of the best goaltenders in the NHL, he was a star in the QMJHL. He spent the majority of his career with the Val-d'Or Foreurs before being moved to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan at the end of his junior career. Luongo would play 180 games during his QMJHL career and made it to back-to-back Memorial Cups in 1998 and 1999.
As for his Canucks career, Luongo was acquired by Vancouver in 2006. He would play 448 regular-season games and is the franchise record holder for wins with 252. During his time with the Canucks, Luongo helped lead the team to Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final and won Gold for Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
CHL Player Rankings #31-39:
40 - Vincent Lecavalier 39 - Drew Doughty 38 - Ron Francis 37 - Roberto Luongo 36 - Shea Weber 35 - Bobby Smith 34 - Brendan Shanahan 33 - Ray Ferraro 32 - Joe Thornton 31 - Brad Richards
Val-d'Or Foreurs (Photo Credit: QMJHL/CHL)
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 14: Deni Avdija #8 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts after scoring and drawing a foul against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 14, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Play-In game against the Portland Trail Blazers was a tough loss, but was it unexpected? All of us Suns fans were optimistic going into the game and the Suns definitely could have won. It wasn’t a blowout and came down to the final possession. But the Suns didn’t pull it out in the end, and along the way, they gave up 41 points to Deni Avdija, just two points shy of his career high.
Deni spent the most time in the game being guarded by Jordan Goodwin. In the six minutes that Goodwin, the shortest player in the Suns’ starting lineup, was guarding Deni Avdija, the Trail Blazers’ star was held to just 1-of-3 from the field. Portland as a whole scored 25 total points in those minutes.
The tallest non-center in the starting lineup, Dillon Brooks, guarded Avdija for the second most amount of time. In the three minutes Brooks was guarding him, Avdija scored 14 points on 75% shooting from the field. Portland also scored 25 total points in those minutes.
Jordan Goodwin was the best defensive forward on the court against Deni Avdija last night, and Goodie is almost half a foot shorter than him.
The Phoenix Suns are just too small and every Suns fan knows it. The guys who are almost tall enough to compete with the elite forwards of the NBA just aren’t good enough to compensate for the size disadvantage. There has not been a reliable power forward option on this team all season, and Phoenix is paying the price.
“Among the biggest question marks is the power forward position.
No matter how you view it, the Suns appear either undersized or underskilled at that spot. Ryan Dunn lacks the size to battle with the league’s elite forwards. Royce O’Neale, Nigel Hayes-Davis, and Dillon Brooks fit the same mold. Oso Ighodaro brings energy and intelligence, but his offensive game remains raw. If you are identifying a weak link in the lineup, power forward stands out before any other position.”
If I had to write an assessment of the current state of the power forward position at the end of the season, I would write almost the exact same thing.
We knew coming into the year that this team had a profound weakness. Against Portland, Jordan Ott started a guard that plays like a wing, three actual wings, and a center. Why did he do this? Because he is working with a roster where somewhere between six and nine of his fourteen players would probably best fit into the “wing” category.
Here is Tuesday night’s starting lineup and their listed heights on basketball reference:
Guard 1: Jordan Goodwin – 6’ 3”
Wing 1: Devin Booker – 6’ 5”
Wing 2: Jalen Green – 6’ 4”
Wing 3: Dillon Brooks – 6’ 7”
Center: Mark Williams – 7’ 1”
And here is Portland’s starting lineup from the same game:
Guard 1: Scoot Henderson – 6’ 3”
Guard 2: Jrue Holiday – 6’ 4”
Forward 1: Toumani Camara – 6’ 7”
Forward 2: Deni Avdija – 6’ 8”
Center: Donovan Clingan – 7’ 2”
Portland came into the Play-In with balance. They have guards, they have forwards, they have bigs. They have defensive-oriented players and offensive-oriented players. They have jump-out-of-the-gym athletes (I thought Shaedon Sharpe was going to hit his head on the rim on that alley-oop over Royce O’Neale), and they have shooters.
The Suns have one of the worst rosters in the NBA among teams that made it to the postseason. Phoenix has leaned into the wing-heavy roster construction that was popular 8-10 years ago, but they have done so in the era of ultra-talented bigs and forwards. Whether that was by choice or because the players they have are the best players they could get during each individual transaction, the point remains true.
The Suns’ shooting guard cast is the best example of the profound roster imbalance. Devin Booker, Jalen Green, and Grayson Allen are all starting-quality shooting guards in the NBA, but holding on to all three past the deadline did not put the Suns in a position to succeed. Trading Allen, for example, for a fringe starting caliber power forward at the deadline may have been an overall reduction in talent, but it probably would have resulted in an overall better team.
What the Suns needed to find at the deadline was their PJ Washington. Washington was a very important trade acquisition that the Mavericks made during the season en route to their 2024 NBA Finals appearance against the Celtics.
Would the Suns be favorites to make the Finals this year if they had traded for Jalen Smith, Santi Aldama, or Jonathan Kuminga? No, definitely not. But the roster balance and the lack of a reliable power forward are holding this team back.
Maybe that power forward is already on the roster. Maybe next year, we’ll see Rasheer Fleming or Ryan Dunn make the leap that solidifies them in that spot. Maybe Oso Ighodaro becomes a reliable three-point weapon, and the Suns can run a double-big lineup. Or maybe the Suns finally go out and get the power forward they so desperately need.
But they aren’t going to make it far next year without a serious upgrade.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 14: Manny Machado #13 and Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres celebrate after defeating the San Diego Padres 4-1 in a game at Petco Park on April 14, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres continued their recent stretch of success by winning their MLB-leading sixth straight game, taking the series opener from the Seattle Mariners.
It was an all-around success, with fantastic defense, great pitching and an offense that just wouldn’t quit against one of the game’s best pitchers in Bryan Woo. They’ll look to keep their win streak tonight against right-hander Emerson Hancock.
Their recent success has been unprecedented, with their streak being the longest one of the 2026 MLB season. The Padres are doing great, and are looking to add to it as they sit just below the Los Angeles Dodgers despite their turnaround performance.
If they can continue to prove their mettle against Seattle, it’ll go a long way to showing the league who this San Diego club really is.
Taking the mound
Emerson Hancock (SEA) v. Randy Vásquez (SD)
Both Hancock and Vásquez are young guys who have been off to incredible starts to the season. Hancock has put up a 2.04 ERA and 0.74 WHIP to begin the year, allowing only four runs on 10 hits.
He’ll look to continue that run against a Padres lineup that has been downright deadly as of late. Not many in the Padres have faced him (only Fernando Tatis Jr. has seen him more than four times), so he could prove difficult. But the Friars managed to get to Woo last night, so anything’s possible.
Vásquez will look to continue his burgeoning success. He has a 1.02 ERA and 19 strikeouts across 17 2/3 innings of work this season.
Vásquez has emerged as a borderline ace for the club, dominating on the mound every time he comes out. He’ll give San Diego a great chance to win the game, but faces his first true test against a Mariners lineup that can slug. Facing stars like Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez, it will be a true test of Vásquez’s mettle.
Batter up!
With a righty on the mound for Seattle, the Padres will probably stick with what they had against Woo last night. That will look something along these lines:
Ramón Laureano, LF
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jackson Merrill, CF
Manny Machado, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Gavin Sheets, 1B
Miguel Andujar, DH
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Freddy Fermin, C
Luis Campusano got the start yesterday after a week of his bat being red-hot, but Fermin seems likely to start tonight. His bat has been cold, so hopefully he can get it going soon enough.
Bogaerts will look to build on a fantastic 3-for-4 night, driving in three of the Padres’ four runs. Merrill will do the same after a similar good night (3-4, 2B, 2 R, SB).
The Friars managed to get to the Mariners just enough to take a 4-1 win in the series opener. If they can do the same tonight, especially with Vásquez on the mound, it should be enough.
Relief corps
With the off day on Monday, the relievers got plenty of time to rest before yesterday’s game. Adding to that, King went a full six innings of work, taking the burden off of most of the bullpen.
Craig Stammen only used Adrian Morejon, Jason Adam and Mason Miller to cover the final three innings. Miller extended his scoreless streak to 29 2/3 (though, surprisingly, only struck out one batter), and Morejon looked much more like his dominant self than he has lately.
The only problem is that leaves only David Morgan as a high-leverage option for San Diego. The others available are Kyle Hart, newcomer Alek Jacob, Ron Marinaccio and Wandy Peralta. If it’s a tight game, it could be difficult for the Friars to hold on if Vásquez doesn’t go deep.
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 28: Max Strus #1 shakes hands with Dean Wade #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the game against Miami Heat during round 1 game 4 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2025 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Eric Espada/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
INDEPENDENCE — The Cleveland Cavaliers had 41 different starting lineups throughout the regular season. That was mostly due to injuries and major trades that shook up the roster at the deadline. But of those 41 different combinations, one has yet to stick out with the playoffs starting on Saturday.
As of now, head coach Kenny Atkinson isn’t ready to name a fifth starter to go alongside the core group of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. He was asked again after practice on Wednesday who the starting small forward would be, and declined to name one.
“I don’t want to say something [now and then] we change [it],” Atkinson said on Wednesday.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the Donovan Mitchell and James Harden NBA Jam shirt HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE.
Atkinson mentioned that who that fifth starter would be is matchup dependent. And those matchups depend on who’s in the lineup for their opponent.
Atkinson has been steadfast in not naming a permanent starting small forward. Dean Wade, Max Strus, Sam Merrill, and Jaylon Tyson have all gotten looks this season in that role. Each brings something different to the table that could be useful, depending on who the opponent is.
Based on those comments, it seems like we won’t get an answer on who will start at the three until just before Game 1 on Saturday. And whoever starts isn’t guaranteed to do so throughout the entire postseason.
“That position is going to be flexible in terms of starting and finishing,” Atkinson said earlier this month. “You have to earn it.”
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 01: Head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors stands on the side of the court during their game against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half at Chase Center on April 01, 2026 in San Francisco, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors play the Los Angeles Clippers tonight in a win-or-go-home play-in game, and Anthony Slater just told us Steve Kerr’s coaching future won’t get resolved in the immediate aftermath of the season. He’s taking time for “bigger picture conversations” before any ultimate choice gets made.
So let’s be clear about what we’re watching tonight: This might be Steve Kerr’s final game coaching the Golden State Warriors.
There won’t be clarity on Steve Kerr’s coaching future in the immediate aftermath of the season. He intends to take time to have the necessary bigger picture conversations before ultimate choice.
The timing almost feels scripted. The man who pushed this franchise from feisty underdogs into a dynasty that redefined basketball is coaching on the last year of his contract, leading a banged-up 37-45 squad into Los Angeles for a game that ends their season if they lose. And we just found out there’s no fast resolution coming, no matter what happens.
Think about the position everyone’s in right now. Kerr’s been here for over a decade, winning four championships and the magical rollercoaster of the 73-win season. His deadly motion offense became the league standard. The way he maximized Steph Curry’s gravitational pull while creating space for everyone else built something that felt permanent even though nothing in sports ever is.
Now he’s coaching a team that wheezed out of the regular season missing Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody to season-ending injuries. This entire season rests on tonight’s contest. And Kerr knows what win-or-go-home basketball feels like. He hit the series-clinching shot for the Bulls in the ’97 Finals. He won five championships as a player before coaching four more. He’s been in elimination scenarios his entire life, but this one carries different weight because it’s wrapped up in organizational uncertainty that won’t resolve quickly.
What makes this complicated is that Kerr wants to be here. He said it himself after the initial contract report that he’d love to continue with the Warriors beyond this year. But he also acknowledged it’s fluid, that the organization might look at where things stand and decide to move in a different direction.
So tonight becomes more than just Warriors versus Clippers for the right to advance. It becomes Steve Kerr coaching a team he built, possibly for the last time, in a game that could end their season before any of those bigger picture conversations happen. Watching Kerr navigate a win-or-go-home scenario while his own future remains unresolved adds another layer to what’s already the highest-stakes game of this season.
Championship pedigree doesn’t guarantee job security and Kerr knows this better than anyone. Tonight we find out if that pedigree can deliver one more time when everything’s on the line.
