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Doc Rivers: Bucks don't have roster to contend with Giannis Antetokounmpo, 'That puts him in a tough spot'

Giannis Antetokounmpo will not play in the Milwaukee Bucks' season finale on Sunday. The team has ruled him out due to a knee hyperextension and bone bruise that has sidelined him for nearly a month. Antetokounmpo had hoped to play a game this season with his two brothers.

That ends what may have been Bucks fans' final chance to see Antetokounmpo in a Milwaukee uniform because a split appears all but inevitable this offseason. Current Bucks coach Doc Rivers talked about that on the Dan Patrick Show last week (hat tip Hoopshype).

"What does Giannis want?. Oh, boy. Um, I don't know. Uh, and we talk probably more than anyone. Um, you know, Dan, it's a tough one because he has done such a great job here in Milwaukee, right? And yet he still wants to win a title. And clearly we have to do a better job here with our roster to make that even look like a possibility. And if we can't do that, then he's going to look outward. And so I think that's a two-fold answer. I think one, if we had all the pieces here, I have no doubt he'd want to stay here. But we don't. And so that puts him in a tough spot."

Marques Johnson, the legendary Bucks player and color analyst for the team's local broadcast, was more direct speaking with Essentially Sports at the Wooden Awards (Johnson was the award's first winner).

"It is as toxic as it appears. It's just a bad situation. Doc Rivers talked about it. I'm not speaking out of turn. He talked about going public about the fact that Giannis was healthy enough to play and the team was holding him back. I didn't like that part about it...

It's too messy right now. So right now, he wants to play on the same court with his two other brothers. I say, 'Let him do it.' He's done enough. He deserves that moment...

"You just go down this rabbit hole of resentment, retribution and revenge. From a business standpoint, if you're trying to attract a free agent and they look at how they treated Giannis, they might think they did him dirty. We don't want that."

This offseason — and very likely before the 2026 NBA Draft on June 24 — the Bucks and Antetokounmpo will sit and discuss their future together. The expectation in league circles is that Antetokounmpo will tell them he will not sign an extension with the team, and the sides should part ways, and with that, the Antetokounmpo trade talk will heat up again. What teams throw their hats into the ring remains to be seen — and the playoffs will have something to say about that — but expect a lot of bidders. And a lot of drama.

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Islanders Gameday: Canadiens visit without their summer prize

Let’s not fold, okay? | Getty Images

As the 2025-26 NHL regular season and the Eastern Conference playoff push winds down, there are teams that have seized the moment and strung wins together like the Penguins, Flyers and Senators, and there are teams that have spiraled out of previously promising positions to leave an empty feeling like the Red Wings and Islanders.

The Red Wings were officially eliminated last night, coughing up multiple leads against the Devils in front of a quiet home crowd that turned into a minutes-long chorus of boos as Detroit officially reached a decade without a playoff appearance. Will the Islanders earn such a reaction? It probably depends on their effort over the next two games, but they’ve done themselves no favors.

Columbus (92 pts.) is still in the picture, interrupting their tailspin with a win over the Canadiens last night. The Flyers (94 pts.) put pressure on everyone by convincingly destroying the Jets in Winnipeg. The Islanders (91 pts.) and Capitals (91 pts.) still have outside chances, but only if everything goes right for them and everything wrong for Philadelphia and Columbus.

The Isles’ foe tonight is the Canadiens, who were beaten by the Blue Jackets at home last night but still have a chance to secure home ice advantage or even a division-winning seed.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News

  • Special teams killed them again. [Newsday | LHH | Post]
  • How are things looking? Not good! [Newsday | Post]
  • Takeaways: Special teams, of course, which DeBoer noted. Also: “It doesn’t feel great right now, but we’re still alive. We have to win our last two games.” [Isles]
  • Previewing tonight: here come the Habs. [Isles]
  • The Islanders created a special night for Cole, the younger brother of Connor Kasin, the varsity hockey player who lost his life during a charity game in 2024. [Post]
  • Denver University won its 11th NCAA championship, topping Wisconsin and Isles prospect Quinn Finley. [NHL]

Elsewhere

  • The Habs will be without Noah Dobson, who left yesterday’s game with a thumb injury “caused by blocking his NHL-leading 188th shot.” Re-evaluated in two weeks, so that is brutal timing for them. [Sportsnet]
  • Jared Bednar took a puck to the face and had to go the hospital. [TSN]
  • That NCAA UFA and Hobey Baker finalist TJ Hughes who was “linked” to the Isles? He is now inked with the Avs. [TSN]

Before a bell similarly tolls for the Islanders, here’s some Red Wings Collapse Porn:

  • Todd McLellan: “It’s just a microcosm of the year, really, and where we are as an organization. We have to get better top to bottom.” [NHL]
  • “If something can be unacceptable and predictable at the same time, this was it. It happened again, in the same ridiculous manner with the same ridiculous mistakes.” [Detroit News]
  • Todd McLellan: “I don’t even know if they want a Stanley Cup Championship anymore. They just want a team that’s going to come in and give them something to cheer about.” [Athletic]
  • “When it mattered most, they looked lackadaisical. It is one thing to lose on skill, but what excuse is there for being outworked, again and again?“ [Detroit Free Press]

With a better showing over the final two games, the Islanders can avoid some of those condemnations — and they’re in year 1 of a new regime, with a new coach, so it’s not the same as what’s happening in Detroit. But still, the position they were in, the additions that were made to theoretically reinforce the effort, it’s all going to bring up some core questions if/when they fall short.

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New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays: Cam Schlittler vs. Drew Rasmussen

Apr 1, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) in the dugout after being pulled from the game during the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images | Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

The first two games the Yankees played at Tropicana Field since the park’s reopening have proceeded quite…troppily, if you will. New York’s anemic offense was at least able to find a pair of go-ahead hits from José Caballero in yesterday’s 10-inning defeat, though the bullpen wasted little time coughing up the meager advantage to the Rays both times. Altogether, these games have lacked any sort of satisfying narrative flow—if you cynically expected the Yankees to trip over their own feet you were generally proven right within a couple of plate appearances.

So, with their lead over the AL East whittled down to just one game, Cam Schlittler and the Bombers will attempt to salvage the final game of this weekend set in St. Petersburg and snap a four-game skid which has halted the good vibes of their 8-2 start. Schlittler will get his first taste of action in this ersatz stadium. We’ll see how he does!

Cam’s lengthy scoreless streak was finally snapped by the Athletics in his last go-round when they tagged him for three runs in the third inning of a five-inning start. The tall righty collected himself after that point, and Amed Rosario’s heroics would deliver them the win. The Yankees haven’t won since then. Grabbing the initiative early hasn’t seemed to do the trick; they started with a lead in three of these four straight defeats. It’ll be up to Schlittler to keep down a typically pesky Rays offense and give New York some runway to finally get their bats clicking on full cylinders.

Of course, Schlittler’s opponent is yet another pitcher who has enjoyed great success against men in pinstripes. Drew Rasmussen, who was reinstated from the family medical emergency list today, has a 1.19 ERA across seven appearances (six of them starts). He’s picked up 44 strikeouts over 37.2 innings, with a mere five total runs allowed across those games. As if the Yanks didn’t have their hands full enough already! The silver lining is that the 30-year-old right-hander doesn’t tend to pitch very deep into games. He was five-and-dive in his first two starts, allowing one run to a pair of NL Central teams in St. Louis and Milwaukee.

Seeking a spark, the Yankees have shuffled their lineup around a bit. There are six lefties in today—though Rasmussen is as platoon-neutral as it gets. Ben Rice has moved up to the second spot in the order ahead of Aaron Judge, who will DH. Randal Grichuk, who is still hunting his first Yankee hit, will fill in at right field. Ryan McMahon gets another start at the hot corner and J.C. Escarra will catch the day game after a night game.

How to Watch:

Location: Tropicana Field — St. Petersburg, FL

First Pitch: 1:40 pm EDT

TV broadcast: YES/Rays.TV

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 / WDAE 95.7 FM, WQBN/1300AM

Online stream: MLB Network (out-of-market-only)

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Game 16: Twins at Blue Jays

TORONTO, ON - October 20 The Toronto Blue Jays beat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 at the Rogers Centre to win the ALCS in game 7 in MLB baseball actionPDOctober 20 2025 Richard Lautens/Toronto Star (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
First Chuck: 12:37 PM CDT (click here each week for a new anthem!)
The Tube: Twins.TV
The Dial: Treasure Island Baseball Network
Spies ‘R Us: Bluebird Banter

With the Minnesota Twins battling the 2025 AL Champion Toronto Blue Jays this weekend, it got me thinking how our boys have historically fared against the previous year’s American League pennant-winning squad. A little Baseball-Reference.com research and some simple math later, and the result is: not good—at all.

Going back to 2001, the Twins are 90-142 against the reigning Junior Circuit champion. That’s a .388 winning percentage (or a 63-99 regular season pace) if you are Bert Blyleven-ing the math at home.

The worst offenders…

  • 2002: 0-6 against the New York Yankees (gee, what a shock)
  • 2016: 4-15 against the Kansas City Royals
  • 2022: 0-6 against the Houston Astros

In fact, only three times have the Twins even been over .500 against the league champs…

But this afternoon, the Twins have a chance to flip the script and take the series from the defending champs!

Click here for Lineups!

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4/12 Gamethread: Giants @ Orioles

Side view of Adrian Houser throwing a pitch.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 06: Adrian Houser #12 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park on April 06, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s series finale time! The San Francisco Giants are facing the Baltimore Orioles one more time, and then they’re off to Cincinnati, albeit with a well-deserved day off first.

For the Giants, it will be righty Adrian Houser on the mound, as he makes his third start of the year for the team. The 33-year old is 0-1 with a 3.97 ERA, a 2.71 FIP, and seven strikeouts against three walks in 11.1 innings. In his last game, Houser gave up four runs in six innings against the Philadelphia Phillies.

He’s up against lefty Cade Povich, who celebrates his 26th birthday today. Povich, who is in his third year, has pitched just once this year, giving up two runs in 5.2 innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Enjoy the game, fans! Go Giants!

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Game #16

Who: San Francisco Giants vs. Baltimore Orioles

Where: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland

When: 10:35 a.m. PT

Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area

National broadcast: n/a

Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM

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Kings reportedly expected to keep HC Doug Christie despite 22-59 record this season

The Sacramento Kings are reportedly expected to keep head coach Doug Christie, according to the Athletic’s Sam Amick. Christie took over for Mike Brown as the Kings’ interim head coach last season before signing a three-year deal last summer.

The Kings are 22-59 and 14th in the Western Conference this season. Last year, Christie went 27-24 and was the ninth seed in the play-in before the Dallas Mavericks eliminated them.

After a slow start this season, the Kings have shown late progress under Christie. After starting the year 12-46 and setting a franchise record in February with a 16-game losing streak, the Kings have gone 10-13.

Most of the Kings’ wins down the stretch have come without the team’s star players, including Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, Russell Westbrook and DeAndre Hunter, whom the team acquired in a trade for Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder.

While there have been signs of progress, there has been much left to be desired under Christie. The 55-year-old coach was recently cleared by the NBA of intentionally trying to lose in Tuesday’s 110-105 loss to the Golden State Warriors.

Christie motioned to Doug McDermott to intentionally foul Seth Curry, who did not have the ball, with 3:15 left in the fourth quarter. The Kings were leading by one point at the time of the foul. Curry is shooting 90% from the free-throw line this season and has shot 86.4% from the stripe for his career year. Curry went 1-of-2 from the line after the Kings’ foul.

Christie reportedly attempted to use the strategy to foul and call a timeout but did not realize the Kings were in the penalty.

Christie is early in his coaching career, having spent just three seasons as a Kings assistant before becoming interim coach last season. Previously, he was the Kings' color commentator for one season. He played for the Lakers, Knicks, Raptors, Kings, Magic, Mavericks and Clippers during his 15-year NBA career.

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Western Confrence Standings Watch: Can The Kings Catch Edmonton And Anaheim?

The Western Conference playoff race is beginning to heat up. With the Oilers and Golden Knights clinching a playoff spot on Saturday, Los Angeles is now four points behind Vegas for the first seed, three points behind Edmonton for the second seed, and two points behind Anaheim for the third seed. 

It's still not clear as to how the seedings will look in the division; no team has locked in a spot yet, making the last few games an incredible watch to end the season. It's a log-jam featuring the Kings, Ducks, Golden Knights, and Oilers, all battling for the third, second, and first seed. 

Here's a look at the current playoff standings at the top of the division:

1. Vegas Golden Knights - 37-26-17, 91 points

2. Edmonton Oilers - 40-30-10, 90 points

3. Anaheim Ducks - 42-32-5, 89 points

4. Los Angeles Kings - 34-26-19, 87 points

All four teams have their flaws, making it possible for the seedings to change at the end of the regular season. The Pacific Division, especially, has been one of the worst divisions we've seen in a very long time, so it wouldn't surprise anyone if Los Angeles moves up to second or third to end the season.

 If the Kings win out their remaining regular-season games and Edmonton loses one of its two remaining games, it's very possible LA can finish at best as the third seed. 

To finish higher than that, they'll need Anaheim to lose two of their last three games or lose all of them. Vegas at this point looks like it will finish at the top of the division, now holding a four-point lead over Los Angeles, and since firing its head coach, they are 5-0-1. 

That would be remarkable if Los Angeles could somehow secure home ice in the first round of the playoffs, something that was out of the question just a week ago. 

The most important thing is for the Kings to draw a favorable matchup in the postseason. A team like Edmonton, which is missing Leon Draisaitl for probably most of the first round of the playoffs, can be a favorable matchup, or against the Ducks, who are a young team and have had trouble playing consistent team defense.

One way or another, we will just have to wait until next week to find out who the Kings will be playing or if they will be out of the playoffs.  

Let’s take a look at the big games to watch around the league for the next couple of days and who Kings fans should be rooting for.

Sunday

Canucks at Ducks - 

Unless Vancouver can pull off this upset like they did when they defeated the Colorado Avalanche last week or keep this game close, it's unlikely they can win this game on the road against Anaheim, which desperately needs this win to stay afloat in the playoff race. 

Monday

Avalanche at Oilers - 

The Avs already have the No. 1 seed locked up in the Central Division, while the Oilers are battling Anaheim and LA for the No. 2 seed. But, Edmonton didn't look good against LA today, so it's very possible Colorado can win this game. But if Edmonton wants to win this game, they can, recognizing the urgency and the potential for home ice on the line. 

Sharks at Predators - 

San Jose is pretty much out of playoff contention at this point, while Nashville is still fighting with the Kings to secure the final wild-card spot. At home, it's very likely the Predators come out and do everything they can to win this game. 

Jets at Golden Knights - 

Vegas has looked very good under John Tortorella, going 5-0-1 under him and defeating the Avalanche in a thrilling overtime game on Saturday. Winnipeg, meanwhile, is also fighting LA and Nashville for the final playoff spot, essentially needing to win all its remaining games, so it should be very motivated to pull off this upset. 

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Sunday afternoon game thread: vs Giants, 1:35

Apr 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Cade Povich (37) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the sixth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

It’s going to be a beautiful day in downtown Baltimore. Clear skies. A modest breeze. Highs near 70. That’s baseball weather, folks, and I can think of no better setting for the Orioles to take a series from the visiting Giants. It will be up to Cade Povich to make it happen.

To the surprise of many (myself included), Povich and Brandon Young have been the club’s choices to step into Zach Eflin’s spot in the rotation rather than Dean Kremer. For the time being, anyway. Povich was used as a bulk reliever after Chris Bassitt threw just two innings on April 5 and performed admirably (5.2 innings, two runs, four hits, three walks, two strikeouts). One week later, and on his 26th birthday no less, the southpaw will make his first major league start of the year.

It is entirely possible that no matter how Povich pitches today, he will be sent back down to Triple-A Norfolk on Monday. The Orioles are right at the beginning of a 13-day stretch with no off days. They also used five relievers in Saturday’s win, so another heavy workload for the bullpen today almost guarantees a move is coming. Juggling the fifth starter spot is something most teams do as they need to survive these types of runs in their schedule.

The O’s have not announced their starter for Game 1 of the upcoming Diamondbacks series. This could be where we see Kremer make his season debut. He last pitched for Norfolk on April 8th, and did well (4.2 shutout innings). Young is set to start for Norfolk today. Provided that actually happens, Kremer would be the favorite for a call up. That would buy an extra day of rest for the other members of the rotation. It seems like every member of the rotation except Trevor Rogers could use that right now.

But let’s worry about tomorrow tomorrow. The goal for today is win the series. If that means Povich gets through the order twice and then gets pulled, so be it. It won’t matter if the O’s lineup is up to the task of facing Adrian Houser. It would be great to see Pete Alonso turn things around. He’s in the middle of a 2-for-31 skid in which he is striking out nearly a third of the times he steps to the plate. This team needs more from him.

It doesn’t look like any roster changes came prior to today’s game. Samuel Basallo is starting again at catcher despite also starting the night before. There was speculation that Sam Huff would be called up to play behind the plate. But for now, it looks like Maverick Handley will remain as the understudy for the day.

If Craig Albernaz is trying to stay away from Handley for whatever reason, he may have a bench of just one healthy, truly available player, that being Blaze Alexander. Tyler O’Neill (illness) and Ryan Mountcastle (foot) are around, but seemingly not fit enough to start the game. Johnathan Rodríguez, a 26-year-old outfielder that the O’s acquired last month, was added to the taxi squad as a precaution.

Orioles lineup

  1. Gunnar Henderson, SS
  2. Taylor Ward, LF
  3. Pete Alonso, 1B
  4. Samuel Basallo, C
  5. Dylan Beavers, DH
  6. Leody Taveras CF
  7. Colton Cowser, RF
  8. Coby Mayo, 3B
  9. Jeremiah Jackson, 2B

LHP Cade Povich (0-0, 3.18 ERA, 5.2 IP, 2 K)

Giants lineup

  1. Willy Adames, SS
  2. Rafael Devers, 1B
  3. Matt Chapman, 3B
  4. Casey Schmitt, DH
  5. Jung Hoo Lee, CF
  6. Heliot Ramos, LF
  7. Daniel Susac, C
  8. Jerar Encarnacion, RF
  9. Christian Koss, 2B

RHP Adrian Houser (0-1, 3.97 ERA, 11.1 IP, 7 K)

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Trade Tree Reveals Mantha Deal Eventually Brought Red Wings Top Prospect But Also Cost Emerging NHL Superstar

Five years ago today, the Detroit Red Wings made one of the defining trades of their rebuild, sending Anthony Mantha to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Jakub Vrana, Richard Panik, a 2021 first round pick, and a 2022 second round pick.

At the time, the deal reflected two teams moving in opposite directions. Detroit was deep in a rebuild and looking toward the future, while Washington aimed to strengthen its roster for another Stanley Cup run.

In the immediate aftermath, Vrana looked like a centerpiece addition as the Czech winger exploded out of the gate with eight goals in just 11 games, showcasing the elite scoring touch that made him so highly regarded. But his tenure in Detroit never found stability. Injuries and time in the NHL Player Assistance Program disrupted his progress, and by 2023 he was moved to the St. Louis Blues.

Panik’s role proved far more limited, appearing in only 12 games for the Red Wings before being assigned to the American Hockey League and eventually moving on, leaving little impact on the rebuilding club.

Meanwhile, Mantha’s stint in Washington produced mixed results. Though he showed flashes of offensive ability, inconsistency and injuries prevented him from becoming the top-line force the Capitals envisioned. He settled more into a middle-six role during his time with the team.

As the years passed, the true weight of the trade shifted to the draft picks, which ultimately defined its long-term impact. The 2022 second round selection became Dmitri Buchelnikov, a dynamic forward who has continued to develop in Russia.

Now 22, Buchelnikov is viewed as a rising prospect with significant offensive upside and has begun drawing attention from NHL clubs, including interest from St. Louis in trade discussions, where he would be eventually dealt in the trade deadline move for defenseman Justin Faulk.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

The 2021 first round pick, however, took a far more consequential path as Detroit packaged that selection in a draft-day trade with the Dallas Stars to move up to 15th overall, where they selected goaltender Sebastian Cossa, now widely regarded as the organization’s top prospect in net.

In exchange, Dallas received the 23rd overall pick, along with additional second- and fifth-round selections. With that 23rd pick, the Stars drafted Wyatt Johnston. That decision has since become one of the most talked-about ripple effects of the original trade.

Johnston quickly emerged as a cornerstone player in Dallas with the now 22-year-old, Toronto native producing at a star level and is on pace for 87 points this season, including a record-setting 26 power play goals.

While Cossa remains a highly promising goaltender, he has yet to make the full-time jump to the NHL. Johnston, on the other hand, has already become the type of top-six center the Red Wings have been searching for. 

Detroit acquired assets that aligned with its long-term vision, while Washington addressed an immediate need. But years later, it is the indirect outcome, Dallas landing a rising star in Johnston, that continues to shape how the deal is remembered.

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Guardians vs Braves Prop Picks for Sunday Night Baseball

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Two first-place ballclubs meet on Sunday Night Baseball as the Cleveland Guardians face the Atlanta Braves. 

The game will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock at 7:20 p.m. ET, featuring a pitching matchup of Tanner Bibee and Chris Sale.

Here are my three favorite MLB player props and full Guardians vs. Braves predictions on Sunday, April 12.

Guardians vs Braves props for April 12

PickOdds
Braves Ronald Acuna Jr. Over 1.5 total bases-105
Braves Chris Sale Under 6.5 strikeouts+108
Braves Mauricio Dubon Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI+115

Guardians vs Braves player prop picks

Ronald Acuna Jr. Over 1.5 total bases

It’ll be warm at Truist Park, with a temperature of 83 degrees at first pitch. 

That’s favorable hitting weather for players like Ronald Acuna Jr. The Atlanta Braves star is off to a bit of a slow start (.224 AVG), but the underlying metrics say positive regression is on the way.

Acuna’s bat speed is still elite, and he’s in the 85th percentile or above in xwOBA, xSLG, and barrel rate. Better days are ahead. 

Tanner Bibee gets the nod for the Cleveland Guardians. He has notable reverse splits again early this year (.318 AVG to righties), a continuing trend from a year ago, so Acuna is in for a favorable matchup.

Chris Sale Under 6.5 strikeouts

Chris Sale’s strikeout prop is set at 6.5, with juiced odds on the Over, and plus money on the Under. 

The southpaw’s strikeout rate is down to 25.4%, a 7% drop from a year ago. That’s despite his first two starts coming against the Rangers, Athletics, and Angels — teams with strikeout rates above 27%. 

Cleveland has been a difficult punchout, posting a 17.1% K rate against LHP. Sale’s chase and whiff rate numbers are down, and this is hardly a bounce-back spot against a contact-heavy lineup.

Mauricio Dubon Over 1.5 hits+runs+RBI

Mauricio Dubon is off to a hot start as Atlanta’s starting shortstop, slashing .321/.345/.528 with a 146 wRC+. This is a decent matchup, and there’s friendly hitting weather, so he may not cool off immediately. 

He’s particularly raked against cutters (.377 xBA) and sinkers (.353 xBA), which are Bibee’s two most frequently thrown offerings against right-handed hitters (combined 70%). 

Dubon has strong numbers against RHP (.353 AVG) and at home (.360), so I’ll buy the plus money on him clearing 2+ hits, runs, and RBI.

How to watch Guardians vs Braves and game info

LocationTruist Park, Atlanta, GA
DateSunday, April 12, 2026
First pitch7:20 p.m. ET
TVPeacock

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

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Takeaways: Flyers Put Up Touchdown Against Jets In Last Road Game of Regular Season

It might only be April, but it was looking a little like football season up in Winnipeg.

The Philadelphia Flyers delivered an overwhelming performance against the Winnipeg Jets in a 7–1 road victory that did more than added two points to the standings and reasserted identity at the most critical moment of the year.

And yet, even in the aftermath of a dominant performance, captain Sean Couturier framed it with clarity: “The job’s not finished yet.”

1. A Statement Win That Reinforces What the Flyers Are About

The most important aspect of this victory is the manner in which it happened.

From the opening puck drop, the Flyers dictated terms. They played with pace, but not recklessness and attacked with intent, but not desperation. They controlled the game with a balance that had wavered just days earlier in Detroit.

This is what a mature response looks like.

After a loss that exposed lapses in discipline and cohesion, the Flyers went further than just correcting those issues—they eliminated them. This game never became a track meet. It remained firmly within Philadelphia’s control.

Philadelphia Flyers celebrate their OT win over the Boston Bruins on April 5, 2026. (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
Philadelphia Flyers celebrate their OT win over the Boston Bruins on April 5, 2026. (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)

2. Young Talent Is Driving Play 

Porter Martone continues to operate at a pace that feels both pleasantly surprising and increasingly sustainable.

His opening goal—his seventh point in his first seven NHL games—set the tone early, but the broader context is even more striking. Martone now owns the second-most points through a player’s first seven games in Flyers history since 2000–01, and leads all NHL rookies in scoring since his debut on March 31.

That’s impact, and it’s emblematic of a larger trend.

The Flyers’ younger players are not being sheltered. They are being trusted with the big moments, and in return, they are delivering infectious energy, impressive production and invaluable composure in these high-leverage moments.

That matters now more than ever, because in games of this magnitude and potentially into the postseason, depth simply isn’t optional.

3. Leadership Is Translating Into Production and Tone

The young guns get a lot of the attention (and deservedly so), but this was a game where you have to give massive credit to the Flyers' veterans as well. 

Sean Couturier’s two goals and one assist marked his second three-point game of the season, a standout performance from the captain that blended opportunism with control. 

Alongside him, Noah Cates delivered a three-point night of his own (1G, 2A), tying his career high and reinforcing the connective role he plays within the lineup.

His postgame assessment captured the collective mindset, telling media, “Everyone’s playing their best hockey. Everyone’s playing for the crest.”

4. Depth Production and Blueline Activation Are Elevating the Ceiling

One of the Flyers' enduring strengths this season has been their ability to change lines, swap players in and out of the lineup, and still be able to find chemistry. And that chemistry is turning into production that's coming from everywhere in the lineup.

Travis Sanheim scored his 11th goal of the season, setting a new career high and moving into a tie for fourth on the franchise’s all-time goals list among defensemen, while fellow blueliner Nick Seeler added his fourth goal of the season, continuing a quietly impactful stretch with two goals in his last three games.

Matvei Michkov (1G, 1A) and Rasmus Ristolainen (2A) each recorded multi-point performances, while Christian Dvorak reached a significant milestone with his 300th NHL point.

This is what a complete performance looks like.

The Flyers are generating offense from multiple layers without sacrificing the structure that allows them to sustain it, which is a difficult thing to achieve, but it's a formula they're comfortably maintaining.

5. Continued Road Excellence 

This victory marked the Flyers’ 23rd road win of the season, their highest total since 2011–12 and the fourth-most in franchise history in the 82-game era.

Winning on the road requires a specific kind of discipline—an ability to simplify, to remain composed in hostile environments, and to execute without external momentum. The Flyers have embraced and perfected that identity.

And should they find themselves in the playoffs, that ability to travel—both physically and mentally—becomes a serious competitive advantage.

6. The Mindset Remains Fixed

The most telling takeaway from this game is found in the messaging.

Head coach Rick Tocchet made it clear that, despite the magnitude of the win, the approach cannot change,

He told media, “We’ve just got to take care of business. If we start scoreboard watching, the other teams lose, then what? Are we supposed to relax? Matter of fact, we shouldn’t even worry about the standings. ‘We control our destiny’ type of attitude.”

That’s discipline of a different kind. The Flyers are, of course, aware of the pressure. They see the standings, and they're certainly not blind to the implications of every result. But they are choosing not to be governed by them, and that choice is what allows performances like this to happen.

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Game 16: Reds vs. Angels (1:40 PM ET) – Abbott vs. Soriano

MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 07: Andrew Abbott #41 of the Cincinnati Reds delivers during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on April 07, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cincinnati Reds will send lefty Andrew Abbott to the mound on Sunday afternoon in Great American Ball Park. Their Opening Day starter will have the chance to lead them to another series victory, as that’s what a win today over the Los Angeles Angels would provide them after Saturday’s 7-3 win.

Jose Soriano, who has been excellent so far this year, will start for LA.

The Reds are rolling out an offensive-first lineup for this one with Nate Lowe in at DH, Eugenio Suarez over at 3B, and Ke’Bryan Hayes mercifully on the pine to start.

First pitch is set for 1:40 PM ET. Lineups for both clubs are listed below.

Go Reds!

Today’s Lineups

ANGELSREDS
Zach Neto – SSTJ Friedl – CF
Mike Trout – CFMatt McLain – 2B
Jo Adell – RFElly De La Cruz – SS
Jorge Soler – DHSal Stewart – 1B
Vaughn Grissom – 2BEugenio Suarez – 3B
Nolan Schanuel – 1BNathaniel Lowe – DH
Logan O’Hoppe – CSpencer Steer – LF
Oswald Peraza – 3BNoelvi Marte – RF
Bryce Teodosio – LFP.J. Higgins – C
Jose Soriano – RHPAndrew Abbott – LHP
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Mets vs. Athletics: Lineups, broadcast info, and open thread, 4/12/26

New York Mets pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) pitches against the Pirates in the fourth inning, Thursday, March 26, 2026. | Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Mets lineup

Francisco Lindor – SS
Jorge Polanco – DH
Jared Young – 1B
Bo Bichette – 3B
Brett Baty – RF
Marcus Semien – 2B
Carson Benge – CF
Luis Torrens – C
Tyrone Taylor – LF

Freddy Peralta – RHP

Athletics lineup

Lawrence Butler – RF
Nick Kurtz – 1B
Shea Langeliers – C
Tyler Soderstrom – LF
Carlos Cortes – DH
Max Muncy – 3B
Jeff McNeil – 2B
Darell Hernaiz – SS
Denzel Clarke – CF

Aaron Civale – RHP

Broadcast info

First pitch: 1:40 PM EDT
TV: SNY
Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2

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Game #15 A’s at Mets Game Thread

At the start of the Athletics weeklong trip to New York City to play the New York Yankees and Mets, few thought the team would walk away with two series wins. The A’s have proved doubters wrong as they enter today’s series finale against the Mets with a chance to sweep their first series of the season and finish their time in “The Big Apple” with five wins in six games.

Yesterday, the A’s finally snapped their multi-game home run drought. By doing so, the team introduced its new home run celebration, a cool but somewhat creepy looking elephant mask andgold chain featuring an elephant’s head. Left fielder Tyler Soderstrom donned the mask twice, his second home run coming at a critical moment in the game. The Mets had scored five unanswered to cut the A’s lead from 7-1 to 7-6. In the eighth inning, with the game’s momentum firmly on the hosts side, Soderstrom hit a three-run home run to right-center, his blast all but sealing the A’s series-clinching victory.

Right-hander Aaron Civale will be on the mound today as the A’s vie for the sweep. Through two starts, Civale (1-0, 2.70 ERA) has been the solid veteran pitcher the A’s needed. He does not throw hard, yet he moves the baseball around and gets batters out. Having gone five innings in each of his first two starts, the A’s would love for him to pitch at least that many innings today against a reeling but talented Mets lineup.

The A’s lineup on this fine Sunday:

This morning’s A’s lineup is nearly unchanged from yesterday, except designated hitter Carlos Cortes moves up after his three-run homer Saturday. Backup infielder Darell Hernáiz starts at shortstop with Jacob Wilson getting the day off. Recently promoted infielder Zack Gelof, who took the injured Brent Rooker’s place on the team’s roster, is on the bench again. A’s manager Mark Kotsay should give Gelof, who has significantly regressed since his impressive rookie performance, some playing time in Sacramento this week to evaluate whether he is worth keeping around or not.

Civale will be opposed by Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta this morning. The Mets acquired Peralta from the Milwaukee Brewers in one of this past offseason’s biggest trades. The longtime Brewers ace is 1-0 with a 4.80 ERA through his first three starts with his new team. Peralta will pose a stiff challenge for the Athletics’ offense. A’s hitters will have to bring the solid approaches they displayed yesterday and pounce on any mistakes Peralta makes.

The Mets’ lineup:

Can the Athletics complete the sweep? Who will earn the elephant mask today? Let’s go A’s!



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Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates preview, Sunday 4/12, 1:20 CT

Today’s roster move: Here

Sunday notes…

  • NOT WINNING THE CLOSE ONES: The Cubs are 1-2 so far in games decided by one run. Last year, they finished 25-19, making 2025 the first full season they had a winning record in such games since 2018, when they were 26-25. They were 10-9 in the 60-game 2020 season. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • THROW THOSE GUYS OUT, PLEASE: The Pirates stole four bases yesterday. They were the first team with four thefts against the Cubs since the Nationals did it at Wrigley Field on Sept. 19, 2024. The Cubs won that game, 7-6. Yesterday’s game was the Cubs’ 184th game since then. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • STILL GOOD AGAINST PITTSBURGH: The Cubs are 113-70 (.617) vs. the Pirates since the start of the 2015 campaign, their best record vs. an NL opponent.
  • MAYBE TRY THIS: Since the beginning of last season, the Cubs are an MLB-best 72-21 (.774) when scoring the first run of the game. They have scored the game’s first run in 10 of their 14 games this season and are 7-3 in those games.

Cubs lineup:

The Pirates lineup was not available at posting time. Please check BCB social media for the Pirates lineup.

Jameson Taillon, RHP vs. Bubba Chandler, RHP

A long time ago (16 years, to be exact) Jameson Taillon was the Pirates’ No. 1 pick (second overall) out of high school in Florida. He pitched four years for them before moving on to the Yankees, and then the Cubs.

Taillon’s numbers this year look decent (2.53 ERA, 1.219 WHIP) but he struggled in his first start (even though it ended up scoreless), then threw a bit better in completing six innings his second time out.

He threw well against the Pirates last year, six hits and two runs in 12.1 innings. Overall current Pirates are batting .233 (24-for-103) against Taillon with one home run (Bryan Reynolds).

Bubba Chandler made his MLB debut last year and posted a 4.02 ERA in seven games (four starts). This year in two starts for the Pirates he has posted a 3.12 ERA, which isn’t terrible but this is: He’s leading the NL in walks allowed with 10 in just 8.2 innings. Oddly, walks were not an issue with him in his 31.1 MLB innings last year — just four of them. Chandler throws hard, as you can see by the chart below, but doesn’t always know where the ball is going.

So maybe Cubs hitters, who are generally patient, can work some walks. Chandler has never faced the Cubs and the only Cub who has faced him is Michael Conforto (o-for-2).

In case you were wondering, Bubba’s actualy given name is Roy. The last players named “Roy” in MLB were Roy Oswalt and Roy Halladay, whose careers both ended after 2013.

Here is the weather forecast for the area around Wrigley Field.

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network.

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Pirates site Bucs Dugout. If you do go there to interact with Pirates fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.

You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.

The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.

You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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